Lot 373
Cowper (William).- Hill (Joseph, attorney, close friend of William Cowper, 1733-1811) 12 Autograph Letters signed to Joseph Hill, 1769; and 4 receipts signed by George Legge, first Baron Dartmouth, bound for Sir Thomas Phillipps in Middle Hill boards.
Hammer Price: £1,300
Description
Cowper (William, poet and letter-writer, 1731-1800).- Hill (Joseph, attorney and solicitor, close friend of William Cowper, protégé of Ashley Cowper's, 1733-1811) 12 Autograph Letters signed to Joseph Hill (1 from M Lambe and 11 from Hill's aunt Mary Parsons), together 13pp. & address panels, n.p. & Blandford, 27th September 1769 - 7th April 1770, to Hill variously at Savile Row, Wargrave near Twyford, Berkshire, and Chancery Lane, with 5 mentions of the Cowper family, "I might direct a letter directed to Mr Cowper [Ashley Cowper], so ventured to send it by ye post Mr & Mrs Cowper & are wele & in town, my complements if you pleas, to that good famile", thanking him for paying her annuity, asking him to inspect a house she is thinking of buying as her present rented house is damp, thanking him for sending two gallons of rum "but pray dont send it in a stone bottell which are dear things", apologising to him for causing him so much trouble, the death of Lord Howe, "hope he has not Left all his Estat from His Mothers family", attending a ball, "Miss Hemming... in High spirits getting her things ready for ye Ball, which is to be at the Assemble roome when she is to Dance ye Lovere, wher she shines & dances it very well & also ye Corilerons [?Carillon]", bound with 4 receipts issued from Sheerness and signed by George Legge, first Baron Dartmouth (c. 1647-1691), naval officer, 1671, folds, browned, modern bookplate on front pastedown, bound for Sir Thomas Phillipps in blue Middle Hill boards, tear at tail of spine, sm. 4to & smaller, v.d.
⁂ Cowper's "Sephus".
Ashley Cowper (d. 1788), uncle of William Cowper; Barrister-at-Law; Clerk of the Parliaments.
Joseph Hill was the son of Francis Hill (d. 1741), attorney; nephew and secretary of Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls and his wife Theodosia Sedgwick (d. 1784). William Cowper met Joseph Hill when he was articled to Mr Chapman, a solicitor in Greville Street and thereafter Hill looked after much of the poet's finances.
Provenance: Puttick & Simpson. Catalogue of the Second and Concluding Portions of the Extensive Collection of Autographs & Historical MSS. Formed by the Late Robert Cole... Monday, July 29th 1867. Pencil inscription on letters, "[Lot] 875 Putticks 1867". Part of lot sold to Holt 5 shillings; and on receipts, "[Lot] 660 Putticks 1867". Part of lot (unmentioned) headed Sir Evan Nepean, sold to Scott, 13 in the lot 9 shillings and 6d.
Description
Cowper (William, poet and letter-writer, 1731-1800).- Hill (Joseph, attorney and solicitor, close friend of William Cowper, protégé of Ashley Cowper's, 1733-1811) 12 Autograph Letters signed to Joseph Hill (1 from M Lambe and 11 from Hill's aunt Mary Parsons), together 13pp. & address panels, n.p. & Blandford, 27th September 1769 - 7th April 1770, to Hill variously at Savile Row, Wargrave near Twyford, Berkshire, and Chancery Lane, with 5 mentions of the Cowper family, "I might direct a letter directed to Mr Cowper [Ashley Cowper], so ventured to send it by ye post Mr & Mrs Cowper & are wele & in town, my complements if you pleas, to that good famile", thanking him for paying her annuity, asking him to inspect a house she is thinking of buying as her present rented house is damp, thanking him for sending two gallons of rum "but pray dont send it in a stone bottell which are dear things", apologising to him for causing him so much trouble, the death of Lord Howe, "hope he has not Left all his Estat from His Mothers family", attending a ball, "Miss Hemming... in High spirits getting her things ready for ye Ball, which is to be at the Assemble roome when she is to Dance ye Lovere, wher she shines & dances it very well & also ye Corilerons [?Carillon]", bound with 4 receipts issued from Sheerness and signed by George Legge, first Baron Dartmouth (c. 1647-1691), naval officer, 1671, folds, browned, modern bookplate on front pastedown, bound for Sir Thomas Phillipps in blue Middle Hill boards, tear at tail of spine, sm. 4to & smaller, v.d.
⁂ Cowper's "Sephus".
Ashley Cowper (d. 1788), uncle of William Cowper; Barrister-at-Law; Clerk of the Parliaments.
Joseph Hill was the son of Francis Hill (d. 1741), attorney; nephew and secretary of Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls and his wife Theodosia Sedgwick (d. 1784). William Cowper met Joseph Hill when he was articled to Mr Chapman, a solicitor in Greville Street and thereafter Hill looked after much of the poet's finances.
Provenance: Puttick & Simpson. Catalogue of the Second and Concluding Portions of the Extensive Collection of Autographs & Historical MSS. Formed by the Late Robert Cole... Monday, July 29th 1867. Pencil inscription on letters, "[Lot] 875 Putticks 1867". Part of lot sold to Holt 5 shillings; and on receipts, "[Lot] 660 Putticks 1867". Part of lot (unmentioned) headed Sir Evan Nepean, sold to Scott, 13 in the lot 9 shillings and 6d.