Description

Welsh Tour with the Rev. Barton Bouchier [formerly Boucher], religious writer, 1795-1865.- Journal of a Tout through Parts of Monmouthshire, Glamorganshire and Brecknockshire in the Summer of 1822, manuscript, 130pp. excluding blanks, written on rectos, slightly browned, original morocco-backed boards with marbled onlays, ornate gilt decoration, 8vo, July-August 1822; and 2 others, a manuscript religious compilation in the same hand as first mentioned, and a mid Victorian photograph album, v.s., v.d. (3).

⁂ A lively and well written account of a walking tour of South Wales. Boucher, his wife Mary and his friend (the author of this diary) set off from Monmouth to Raglan, where they view the ruined castle and stay at the Beaufort Arms, "renowned only for excellent bottled cyder, & exorbitant charges... . We found the landlord Mr. Hallen, both civil and accommodating." Then to Usk where they stay at the Three Salmons, "the landlady of which Mrs. Pritchard, is a perfect & unrivalled specimen of kindness & motherly attention - Her tall gaunt figure of nearly... 6 feet, would probably daunt an inexperienced stranger...". Afterwards they walk to Caerleon where they view the Roman ruins and visit King Arthur's field and then move on to Newport. where they view through the windows of his shop numerous pamphlets published by John Frost (1784-1877), Chartist, "By a rather singular coincidence, I saw a short time afterwards... Mr. Frost tried & convicted for two libels, which were in the shop window on our visit to Newport. He conducted his own defence - tho' unsuccessfully, yet with more ability & talent, than we should have expected from his sphere of life". Other places visited include Raglan, Caerphilly, Cowbridge, Pyle (where the author copies down a poem he finds scratched on the glass) etc.

The only clues to the identity of the author is a reference to dinner at "D" in Monmouth, and Mary Bouchier's anxiety at the end of the diary that the author must return soon because of his duties in Monmouth. "D" could refer to Drybridge House, Monmouth, making the author a member of the Roberts family. Barton Bouchier had been a curate at Monmouth in 1819.

Lot 169

Welsh Tour with the Rev. Barton Bouchier.- Journal of a Tour through Parts of Monmouthshire, Glamorganshire and Brecknockshire in the Summer of 1822, manuscript, 130pp. excluding blanks, written on rectos, slightly browned, original morocco-backed boards with marbled onlays, ornate gilt decoration, 8vo, July-August 1822; and 2 others, v.s., v.d. (3).  

Hammer Price: £600

Description

Welsh Tour with the Rev. Barton Bouchier [formerly Boucher], religious writer, 1795-1865.- Journal of a Tout through Parts of Monmouthshire, Glamorganshire and Brecknockshire in the Summer of 1822, manuscript, 130pp. excluding blanks, written on rectos, slightly browned, original morocco-backed boards with marbled onlays, ornate gilt decoration, 8vo, July-August 1822; and 2 others, a manuscript religious compilation in the same hand as first mentioned, and a mid Victorian photograph album, v.s., v.d. (3).

⁂ A lively and well written account of a walking tour of South Wales. Boucher, his wife Mary and his friend (the author of this diary) set off from Monmouth to Raglan, where they view the ruined castle and stay at the Beaufort Arms, "renowned only for excellent bottled cyder, & exorbitant charges... . We found the landlord Mr. Hallen, both civil and accommodating." Then to Usk where they stay at the Three Salmons, "the landlady of which Mrs. Pritchard, is a perfect & unrivalled specimen of kindness & motherly attention - Her tall gaunt figure of nearly... 6 feet, would probably daunt an inexperienced stranger...". Afterwards they walk to Caerleon where they view the Roman ruins and visit King Arthur's field and then move on to Newport. where they view through the windows of his shop numerous pamphlets published by John Frost (1784-1877), Chartist, "By a rather singular coincidence, I saw a short time afterwards... Mr. Frost tried & convicted for two libels, which were in the shop window on our visit to Newport. He conducted his own defence - tho' unsuccessfully, yet with more ability & talent, than we should have expected from his sphere of life". Other places visited include Raglan, Caerphilly, Cowbridge, Pyle (where the author copies down a poem he finds scratched on the glass) etc.

The only clues to the identity of the author is a reference to dinner at "D" in Monmouth, and Mary Bouchier's anxiety at the end of the diary that the author must return soon because of his duties in Monmouth. "D" could refer to Drybridge House, Monmouth, making the author a member of the Roberts family. Barton Bouchier had been a curate at Monmouth in 1819.

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