SEVEN QUERIES.
1. On the 24th February, 1831, was published, at Speenhamland, the first number of the History and Antiquities of Newbury and its Environs. Was this work ever completed? If not, how many numbers were issued.
["The History and Antiquities of Newbury and its Environs, including twenty-eight Parishes situate in the County of Berks, also a Catalogue of Plants found in the Neighbourhood," was completed in 1839, and makes a volume of 340 pages.]
2. Can any information be given as to Hannah Woolley beyond what she gives in the curious autobiographical sketch prefixed to her Gentlewoman's Companion, or a Guide to the Female Sex; 3rd edition. London, 1682, 12mo. Her maiden name she omits to mention; and all she discloses as to her family and fortunes is, that her parents died when she was very young, and that she had suffered "all manner of affliction," "by loss of husband, children, friend, estate."
3. Amongst Mr. C. K. Sharpe's MSS. was sold The Force of Love, or the Ephesian Matron; a Dramatick Poem, in Three Parts. From a playbill, which was pasted on the fly-leaf, it seems that this drama was produced for the benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, at the theatre in Sadler Street, Durham, April 7, 1777. The performance was "gratis;" but 2s. 6d., 2s., and 1s., for boxes, pit, and gallery, were charged for the "Concert of Music." The title was changed into the Matron of Ephesus, and the authorship was ascribed to Mr. Wallace. No notice either of play or author occurs in the Biographia Dramatica.
4. Does any MS. of the Conquest of China, a tragedy, by Sir Robert Howard, exist? I have in my library a scene written by the Earl of Rochester for the author, and which, so far as I can trace, from the very defective state of the libraries of the north, was never printed. It is a beautiful MS., and some of the lines possess considerable vigour. It is written in rhyme.
5. Who was the author of the History of Faction, alias Hypocrisy, alias Moderation, from its first Rise, down to its present Toleration in these Kingdoms? &c. London, 1705, 8vo.
6. Where can the fourth and concluding(?) number of Wright's History of Ludlow be obtained?
[Only three Parts have been published. The last was issued in 1847.]
7. Can you inform me who was the translator of—
"The Idea of Christian Love; being a Translation, at the Instance of Mr. Waller, of a Latin Sermon upon John xiii. 34, 35., preached by Mr. Edward Young, Prebend of Salisbury. With a large Paraphrase on Mr. Waller's Poem of Divine Love. To which are added, some Copies of Verses from that excellent Poetess Mrs. Wharton, with others to her. London, 1688, 8vo."
The versification is extremely good, but as I never saw the sermon, I can have no notion whether the translation be faithful, or the reverse. I suspect a Latin "preachment" would have few hearers, especially now-a-days: but it would be interesting to see a Latin sermon which Waller thought highly of, and which he proposed should be turned into verse.
I have not been able to procure any information as to the sermon, or its poetical translation, in any bibliographical work; but perhaps some of your numerous readers may know something either about Mr. Edward Young, the father I presume of the poet, or the translator.
Mrs. Wharton was the daughter of Sir H. Lee, of Ditchly, and the first wife of the future Marquis of Wharton. A manuscript tragedy by her, and in her own handwriting, is in my possession. It is the presentation copy to Miss Mary Howe, whose autograph is on the fly-leaf. It is beautifully bound in old morocco, and formerly belonged to Horace Walpole, whose book-plate is on it. Who was Miss Mary Howe? It was purchased at the dispersion of the curious MSS. of Mr. Charles K. Sharpe, who had a great fancy for the lady's poetry. She is erroneously styled Marchioness of Wharton in Park's edition of Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors.
J. MT.
[The Rev. Edward Young was father to the poet, and Rector of Upham in Hampshire, Prebendary of Salisbury, and lastly Dean of that church. He died in 1705. The translation and paraphrase in The Idea of Christian Love is attributed to William Atwood in the Bodleian Catalogue.]