Worplesdon Rectory, Guildford. - Don [Donald Tovey] has been 'on one of his very fugitive visits' and read Trevelyan's "Ariadne" ["The Bride of Dionysus"], which gave them so much pleasure that Tovey is writing to tell Trevelyan. Is sure that Trevelyan and Donald's joint work [on the opera] will be 'epochmaking in the history of English history and music'. Only has criticism of the 'most pedantic kind', which he will not bother to write; if the public can stand the Wagnerian legend for the sake of the music, they should really appreciate 'what is truly classical in the best sense'. Encourages Trevelyan to visit, as he promised after they had 'deposited [Henry?] Jackson at the Charing Cross Hotel after that miraculous & bewildering ride in the motor omnibus'. A postscript asks whether [Thomas Babington] Macauley did indeed call Versailles 'a huge heap of littleness'; is sure he did, following [Thomas] Gray's use of a phrase from [Alexander] Pope; invites Trevelyan to see 'how minute [he is] becoming or become'. Also asks Trevelyan whether he is aware that the Arthurian legend exists in Scotland, and that at Meigle in Perthshire 'they show you the tomb of Queen Wander' who was pulled apart by wild horses 'for nae gude that she did', and Wander is Guinevere [see Gray, '"Works" (1825) vol II p. 274].
Worplesdon Rectory, Guildford (though the heading also reads 'c/o of Donald at present). - Thanks the Trevelyans for their welcome of him at their house, which he will always remember affectionately. Would like to send her husband his own 'almost worthless verses', and is 'procuring copies of his book on [Thomas] Gray'; Don [Donald Tovey] has ordered the verses at Guildford. Would send love to 'his Imperial Majesty' [Paul Trevelyan], but fears he is 'under the royal displeasure for attempting to sing "Fiddle-de-dee" in lieu of the only authorized performance'.
Worplesdon. - Very kind of Bessie to invite him to stay next week; would 'gladly come' but is 'still terribly lame, and... wanted here then on very troublesome business'. Had not heard about Don [Donald Tovey]'s chill; 'they never tell [him anything] and [Don] never writes'. Very glad to hear the baby [Julian Trevelyan] is doing so well; it must be a 'great joy' to her. Nearing the end of his third volume of [Thomas] Gray's letters; thinks it will please his 'few readers'. Asks if he may write again next week, as he is reluctant to give up such an 'alluring' prospect'; doubts sometimes however whether he will ever quite recover the use of his limb.
Worplesdon. - Is very sorry that he cannot come to the Shiffolds: there are two weddings, he must take the Saturday one, and the curate is probably going away for his outing. Is glad to learn that Don [Donald Tovey] is better, but 'really never knew that he had been ill'. Thinks the Trevelyans will be glad to know he has nearly finished the third volume of [Thomas] Gray's letters, if only as he will now not 'bore his friends with it'. Some people here are 'worrying' him very much; with 'much taste and judgement' they choose now to complain he does not visit enough, while his 'Sunday work is enough to kill a man'.
Clarendon Press, Oxford.—Comments on a passage about fakes.
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The Clarendon Press, Oxford
3 January 1927.
Fakes
The faking of half-titles and the like is being practised on a pretty large scale. Pickering showed me a year or two ago a Gray’s Odes 1757 in which he said “he thought the half-title was wrong”. The “1913 Chance” (the earliest state of Conrad’s novel) has been faked in two different ways—first (if I remember right) the faker reprinted 4 pages; then when it was pointed out that the real 1913 issue had a 2-page cancel, he faked a single leaf—but failed to use the right type for the imprint.
Wise says that if he were to go to America he could pick up dozens of fakes in famous collections!
One of the happiest hunting-grounds is the rare Shelleys.
RWC
R. B. McKerrow, Esq.
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Typed, except signature and some corrections. At the head is the reference ‘Pkt. 428/RF’.
Declares that the author of the poem Contemplation was the Reverend Richard Gifford, who lived until 1807. States that the poem appeared in 1753, three years after the Elegy [Written in a Country Churchyard], and claims that there is no doubt that the form of Contemplation 'was suggested by Gray's successful precedent.' Relates that Birkbeck Hill thought that he had discovered the poem in the British Museum, but that it had been well known before this, and it is quoted in Chambers' Cyclopaedia of English Literature, volume one. States that the name is sometimes given as 'Giffard', and that he was domestic chaplain to the Marquis of Tweeddale, and related to that family.
Tovey, Duncan Crookes (1842-1912), clergyman, biblical commentator, and literary essayist(Transcript by Turner. At the head is written, ‘The original inserted in Mr Mathias Memoirs of Gray’.)
(Transcript in Turner’s hand. At the head is written in pencil, ‘The original is inserted in Mathias’ edition of Gray.’)
(Transcript by Turner. At the head is written, ‘The original is among Autographs, Series A’.)
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Transcript
London Institution.
June 20. 1816.
My dear Sir,
Most of us have our Hobbies: we are poor creatures without them. Mine have capered me through many a quagmire, and have led me many a dance to the tune of “Empty Pockets” more than once; have galloped me into half the Sale Rooms of this overgrown Metropolis, as well as in the Printsellers, Booksellers, Coindealers, and I know not how many other dealers besides, till I have been jaded with the ride & almost pennyless from the pursuit. But n’importe has been my motto, and may so continue even to the end of the chapter. Have you a wish to know what produced this ceaseless thirst for accumulation that to my cost has filled up all my heretofore spare room, and has removed from my sight too many a favorite Henry Hase? {1} I’ll e’en till tell you the plain unvarnish’d tale. When a mere urchin, scarcely three feet high, a curious pair of carved bellows dated 1594, were given to me, because being {2} very much struck with the singularity of their form, & the oddity of the figures cut thereon,—round the edge was inscribed this apposite couplet:
“Bellows, like a quiet Wife,
“Sends out breath, & makes no strife.”
I was as proud of my treasure, as is a Lord Mayor of his gilded coach: & they were preserved with the greatest care, & exhibited only on highdays & holidays.—When I came to London for the first time, now nearly 20 years {3} agone, they were consigned to a relative with a few other trifles, who, to use a homely phrase, had just about as much relish for these matters, “as, {4} a Cow has for a new Shilling”. The consequence was, when I made enquiry about my favorites, I received the melancholy tidings, “that the poor Bellows, worn out with age, were consigned to the flames; & the remaining odds & ends were scattered and lost.” Though never to become possessed of my old favorites more, while in my possession they certainly kindled such a flame within me, such an ardor was blown up, as, I much fear, will eventually reduce me to a Crater, or cease only with myself. I well remember that, when at school, the Provincial Halfpence were getting much into circulation. Wilkinson’s Iron works & the Anglesea Mining Company took the lead. I was much struck with the ingenuity of some of the devices & a longing to form a collection of them. Confined to a Schoolroom, my opportunities were of course very limited: my wits were at work to devise means to carry my plan into execution; & at length I hit upon one which partly succeeded. I employed my playmates for the purpose. The Grocers’ Shops, Public houses and every place likely to further my object were resorted to; & Time crowned me the Hero of Collectors within the four walls of a Country School-Room. My Cabinet, aliàs a strong canvas bag, was visited by those around me, as one containing Gems of the first water, & in idea, I sprang up from four feet to six; & the letter I soon became the greatest in the Alphabet; for there was none great than I, no, not one.
This mania lasted thro’ three or four succeeding years after coming to London, & produced indescribable pleasure. Indeed, words cannot convey the delight afforded me whenever chance threw any in my way which were not already in my possession. Whole nights have I sat up arranging & comparing; & the leisure moments by day have been devoted in visiting the various shops from one end of London to the other: in short, no pursuit did I ever take up with more ardor, or continue with more steadiness, than the collecting of Provincial Coins; but that ardor is now completely burnt out. The whole mass of coins, more than 2000 varieties, are now never looked at; so that they, together with a volume of more than 300 pages, which I compiled & wrote fairly out on the subject, are at this time lying buried amongst the rubbish in some one of my drawers. Sic transit gloria mundi! Another Hobby soon supplied its place. Seventeen years ago an elderly gentleman who had taken a fancy for some of [my] {5} whims, started the idea of collecting Portraits; &, as a bait to draw me into the snare, gave me a few specimens with this motto “that a long line commences at a point, & that a Giant was once a Dwarf”; which was as much as telling me I might as well spend my money in this way as in any other. Alas! this tempting bait proved too delicious to withstand. I swallowed it eagerly, & to this day have not been able to disgorge it. Poor man! he is gone to the world of spirits; but could he now witness the truth of his remark, he would find that the small point had run out to a considerable length, & that the puny dwarf is growing fast to a giant. I was saying that my collection in copper is grown into disuse: in fact, Silver Coin has ousted them; nay, has so much taken the lead that the poor Rider has been woefully crippled in distancing the more humble Copper. Indeed the Hobby has become so much galled in the chace, that I found it necessary to lay it up in Ordinary {6} for a more propitious season.
To these Bedlamite pursuits I must forsooth add another or two. Like my neighbors I must possess a few rare books, also a sprinkling of Bibliography, & that at a time when I have an hourly access to one of the finest public libraries. What strange infatuation! Besides, my spare hours must likewise be filled up in using my Prints in a way that Maniacs term illustrating. {7} Such a scheme was ever a fund of amusement; for whenever opportunities offered. {8} I was turning over the portfolios of printsellers by day, & inlaying such prints as were too small for my purpose by night {9}. By degrees, I had got together a few volumes that please me even now to turn over: viz: Cowper, Gray, life of Garrick, &c. The only volume I parted from, was an edition of Goldsmith’s Poems, having a number of additional plates. I observed it some time since in one of Longman’s Catalogues. This propensity in some measure still continues: at least, I feel a desire to complete the tasks long since begun; such as Reynolds’s Life by Northcote, Edwards’ Anecdotes of Painters, Life of Romney, a MS Life of the late Ozias Humphrey {10} in Folio, dictated by himself & written by me, containing Proofs, etchings & plates in every stage, engraved from his pictures, altogether unique of its kind.
The disease, however, that has the strongest hold of my inclinations is the Autographic Mania. Had it seized me earlier, ’twould have saved me many a pound, as well as being the possessor of more considerable specimens than I own. Even those lying by me present a chaos not to be described; & when they are to be arranged I know not. ’Tis a whimsical Hobby this; but experience teaches me that I am not a solitary instance of being a sufferer from this malady. Your kind letter announces its arrival at Yarmouth, & that it has taken up its abode on the Quay: {11} this I know, ’tis a Hobby, & a good one too; because it is attended with little expence. I prefer it to all other Hobbies, & have rode it further without accident, save & except a few disappointments after the most faithful promises from my various friends to assist me. Most happy shall I be at all times to give your’s a feed at my Manger; but I too much fear that it has been long used to choicer fare than my stable will produce, tamely to submit to such sorry provender. However, let me entreat you to take the will for the deed, to pardon this rambling Hobbyhorsical farrago, to make my respectful compliments to your family, & to believe me to remain, with great truth,
Most sincerely & most faithfully your’s
Wm Upcott
[Added at the head:] The original is among Autographs, Series A.
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Most of the marks printed as full stops resemble short dashes. The printed text of this letter is referred to below as G.
{1} i.e. banknote. Hase was cashier of the Bank of England from 1807 to 1829.
{2} In place of ‘being’ G has ‘I was’.
{3} ‘20 years’ has been altered from something else, rendering the second figure a little indistinct, but ‘20’ was evidently the number intended, and ‘twenty’ was printed in G. Upcott left Oxford for London early in 1797.
{4} Opening inverted commas supplied. They appear here in G.
{5} Omitted by mistake. The preceding word is at the end of a line. The word appears in G.
{6} A naval term, referring to the decommissioning of ships.
{7} i.e. grangerising.
{8} The punctuation mark after ‘offered’ appears to be superfluous. There is no mark here in G.
{9} i.e. inserting prints into spaces cut in larger pages. See OED, inlay, v. 2b.
{10} Ozias Humphry was Upcott’s father.
{11} ‘Yarmouth’ and ‘Quay’ were omitted from G.