POETIC COMMONPLACE BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS OF THOMAS GRAY, 1716-1771

From Pembroke College, Cambridge

Contents of Reels

REEL 1

CB I Gray’s Commonplace Book (in 3 volumes)
CB II See Detailed List for further description.
CB III

REEL 2

L.C.II.21 [Macpherson, James] Fragments of Ancient Poetry (Edinburgh, 1760). Gray’s own copy.

L.C.II.85 A copy of Gray’s Will; engravings; report on the Gray memorial; letters concerning Gray and his manuscripts; Gray’s notes on “Marriages”; copies of French poems in Gray’s hand; Poem – [Tophet]: Excerpt transcribed by William Cole; auction catalogue (Hodgson, 1916) including description of Gray’s 1754 diary; portraits; copies of letters from Gray.

L.C.II.86 Note on the sale of Gray’s works; letter from Gray to the Revd. Brown; Note by Gray on the “Bohemian Chatterer” (a bird); printed copy of an election squib written by Gray and entitled The Candidate; Autograph poem – In D(iem): 29am Maii; List of books bought by the College from 1774 to 1775; letter from Gray to George Birkett; Autograph poem – In 5tam Novembris; Eight autograph Latin essays, and other notes and clippings.

L.C.II.90 Nos. 5, 24, 42, 44, 52
Letters to Horace Walpole including autograph verse (Lines Spoken by the Ghost of John Dennis at the Devil Tarvern; Lines on Beech Trees; Ode on the Spring; De Principiis Cogitandi, Liber Secundus; Hymn to Adversity)

L.C.II.90 Nos. 88a-b, 106, 107, 108
Autograph poems by Gray (Corrections to Walpole’s Portrait of Lord Granville; Translation from Statius Thebiad; Alcaica; The Gaurus)

L.C.II.91 Gruner, Gottlieb Sigmund. Histoire naturelle des glaciers de la Suisse, translated by M de Kéralio (Paris, 1770). Gray’s own annotated copy.

L.C.II.92 Bergaron, Pierre. Voyages fait principalement en Asie dans les XII, XIII, XIV et XV siècles… (2 volumes in 1, Le Haye, 1735). Gray’s own annotated copy.

REEL 3

L.C.II.143 Ray, John. Select Remains of the Learned John Ray (London, 1760). Gray’s own annotated copy.

L.C.II.155 The Gentleman’s and Tradesman’s Pocket Assistant or Daily Remembrancer for the Year MDCCLV (London, 1755). Diary containing numerous entries and notes by Gray, including a note on his admission to Pembroke on 6 March 1756, a book list, a note on eloquence, observations on nature, and other items.

L.C.II.156 The New Daily Journal; or, Useful Memorandum and Account Book for the Year 1760 (London, 1760). Diary containing numerous entries and notes by Gray, including accounts, notes of callers and book purchases, observations on nature, the progress of flora, and notes on translations of works on exploration and travel.

L.C.II.188 Lister, Martin. Historiae animalium angliae… (London, 1678). Gray’s own annotated copy.

L.C.II.189 [Pennant, Thomas]. British Zoology, Vol 1 (London, 1768). Grays own annotated copy.

REEL 4

L.C.II.190-2 [Pennant, Thomas]. British Zoology, Vols II-IV (London, 1768). Annotated.

L.C.II.239 Boyle, Roger. Collection of the State Letters of Roger Boyle the First Earl of Orrery (London, 1742). Gray’s own annotated copies.

REEL 5

L.C.II.240 Miller, Philip. The Gardener’s Dictionary, Vol I (6th edition, London, 1752). Gray’s own annotated copy.

REEL 6

L.C.II.247 Wallis, John. The Natural History and Antiquities of Northumberland… (London, 1769). Gray’s own annotated copy.

L.C.II.249 Ramusio, G Battista. Delle navigationi e viaggi raccolto gia da… Ramusio (3rd ed, 2 volumes in 1, Venice, 1559-1563). Gray’s own annotated copy.

REEL 7

L.C.II.260-6 Isle, Guillaume de l’. Atlas Nouveau. (7 volumes, Amsterdam, 1735). Gray’s copy.

L.C.II.267-8 Seba, Albertus. Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri…, Volumes I-II (Amsterdam, 1734-1765). Annotated.

REEL 8

L.C.II.269-70 Seba, Albertus. Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri…. Volumes III-IV (Amsterdam, 1734-1765). Annotated.

REEL 9

L.C.II.272 Rovillius, G. Historia generalis plantarum, Volume I (Lugduni, 1587). Gray’s annotated copy.

REEL 10

L.C.II.273 Rovillius, G. Historia generalis plantarum, Volume II (Lugduni, 1587). Gray’s annotated copy.

REEL 11

L.C.II.274 Gerard, J. The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes, edited by Thomas Johnson (London, 1633). Gray’s own annotated copy.

REEL 12

10.7.7 Gesner, C. Historiae animalium, Volume I (Tiguri 1551). Gray’s own annotated copy.

REEL 13

10.7.8 Gesner, C. Historiae animalium, Volume II (Tiguri 1551). Gray’s own annotated copy.

REEL 14

10.7.9 Gesner, C. Historiae animalium, Volume III (Tiguri 1551). Gray’s own annotated copy. If Gray possessed a copy of the fourth and final volume of Gesner, it does not survive at Pembroke.

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