Under the arms of the Chair are drawers, with the necessary implements for writing; each drawer turns on a pivot, and has attached to it a brass candlestick. The wooden leaf for reading or writing upon, may be raised or depressed, or entirely let down, at the student’s pleasure. Under the seat is a drawer for books or paper, and behind it is the concealed drawer, in which were found the manuscripts; it is curiously fastened by a small bolt, not perceivable till the larger drawer is removed. The Chair is made of very fine grained, dark coloured mahogany; the seat, back, and arms stuffed, and covered with brown leather, ornamented with brass nails; the whole, considering its antiquity, in pretty good repair, and admirably constructed for meditative ease and literary application.
One of the poems found in the chair is “The Ladies’ Petition to the House of Commons,” the suffragettes of the day. It is founded on the old ballad of “Nice Young Maidens.”
Here’s a pretty set of us
Nice young maidens.
Here’s a pretty set of us
All for husbands at a loss
But we cannot tarry thus,
Nice young maidens.
There is a Scottish version of the same, “Puir auld Maidens,” borrowed from England.