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Descriptive Summary

Repository: Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Location: b
Call No.: MS Hyde 82
Creator: Seward, Anna, 1742-1809
Title: Papers,
Date(s): 1781-1807.
Quantity: 1 box (.5 linear ft.)
Abstract: Letters by poet Anna Seward, mostly to Penelope Sophia Weston Pennington, often discussing literature, Samuel Johnson and Sir Walter Scott.

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Historical Note

Anna Seward (1742-1809) was born in Eyam, Derbyshire, and resided in Lichfield, England from age thirteen until her death. In addition to her career as a poet, she carried on a voluminous correspondence with many literary figures. Known as "The Swan of Lichfield," she had an uneasy relationship with her town's other famous literary figure, Samuel Johnson.

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:

• I. Correspondence
• II. Manuscripts

Scope and Content

Series I, Correspondence, includes 33 autograph letters by Seward, mostly to Penelope Sophia Weston Pennington, items (6-11), as well as three letters which Seward received from William Hayley, item (2). Many of the letters concern her literary career, and the literary efforts of other authors. Samuel Johnson and Sir Walter Scott are also recurring topics.

Series II, Manuscripts, consists of two poems in Seward's hand.

Related Material

Several related items are also part of the Hyde Collection, including seven letters from William Hayley to Seward in MS Hyde 76; and four letters and a poem by Seward in MS Hyde 77.

Bibliography

Letters of Anna Seward (Edinburgh: George Ramsay & Co., 1811)

Container List

• Series: I. Correspondence, 1781-1807
  • (1) Clarke-Whitfeld, John, 1770-1836, recipient. Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), from Anna Seward, 1807 July 25. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Critiques Clarke-Whitfeld's ballad, but explains that she no longer listens to any music since the death of her friend John Saville in 1803.
  • (2) Hayley, William, 1745-1820. Correspondence with Anna Seward, 1781-1785. 5s. in 1 folder.
    • Autograph letter, Eartham [Sussex, England] to Anna Seward, 1781 July 22. 1s.
    • Autograph letter, [no place] to Anna Seward, 1781 Dec. 2. 1s.
    • Autograph letter, [no place] to Anna Seward, 1784 Mar. 29. 1s.
    • Autograph letter,Lichfield (England), from Anna Seward, 1785 Oct. 31. 1s.
      Asks Hayley to write to Dr. Harrington on behalf of Mrs. Smith.
    • Autograph letter, signed,[Litchfield, England] from Anna Seward, 1785 Nov. 30. 1s.
      Praises Hayley's commentary on James Boswell's Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides. Encloses two untitled poems, beginning Accept, dear maid, to gild thy studious hours; and If sense, if gentle sympathy have e'er illum'd the bosom.
  • (3) Jackson, Mrs., recipient. Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), from Anna Seward, 1807 Apr. 19. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Praises Jackson's description of Sir Walter Scott; critiques Anne MacVicar Grant's Letters from the Mountains; comments in passing on Samuel Johnson's letters.
  • (4) Longsdon, William, recipient. Autograph letter, signed, Buxton, from Anna Seward, 1796 Aug. 25. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Discusses travel plans, issues invitation.
  • (5) Parry, Caleb Hillier, 1755-1822, recipient. Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), from Anna Seward, 1805 Mar. 12. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Describes her medical condition in detail.
  • (6) Pennington, Penelope Sophia Weston, 1752?-1827, recipient. 4 letters from Anna Seward, 1783 Jan. to May. 7s. in 1 folder.
    The letters frequently discuss mutual friend Thomas Sedgwick Whalley. Letter dated 1783 Jan. 3 explains that Seward is breaking her vow to never again to form a friendship with an unmarried woman and cites the contributions of Samuel Johnson to the Rambler.
  • (7) Pennington, Penelope Sophia Weston, 1752?-1827, recipient. 3 letters from Anna Seward, 1783 Oct. to Dec. 10s. in 1 folder.
    The 1783 Nov. 26 letter mentions that she has published anonymous verses attacking Samuel Johnson in the 1783 Oct. issue of Gentleman's Magazine. The 1783 Dec. 29 letter includes a poem by William Hayley beginning The lilly, the rose no more.
  • (8) Pennington, Penelope Sophia Weston, 1752?-1827, recipient. 4 letters from Anna Seward, 1784. 9s. in 1 folder.
    Discussing controversies in the Lichfield theater world at length. The 1784 Oct. 29 letter describes Sir Brooke Boothby's wife Susanna Boothby at length.
  • (9) Pennington, Penelope Sophia Weston, 1752?-1827, recipient. 4 letters from Anna Seward, 1785-1788. 9s. in 1 folder.
    The 1785 Jan. 13 and Apr. 7 letters evaluate the character of the late Samuel Johnson. The 1787 Jan. 5 letter (incomplete at 5 sheets) includes Seward's thoughts on poetry, and criticizes the manners and literary style of Hester Lynch Piozzi. The 1788 Mar. 31 letter recalls that Seward had not been paid for a long letter she had written to an editor upon the death of Samuel Johnson.
  • (10) Pennington, Penelope Sophia Weston, 1752?-1827, recipient. 3 letters from Anna Seward, 1789 and [178-] 10s. in 1 folder.
    The 1789 Apr. 27 letter (incomplete at 5 sheets) criticizes Samuel Johnson's condemnation of Joseph Addison. The 1789 Sept. 4 letter criticizes the ingratitude of Hester Lynch Piozzi to Thomas Sedgwick Whalley. The undated letter, written before the 1790 death of Thomas Seward, criticizes Samuel Jackson Pratt, and recalls that Samuel Johnson often wrote sermons for hire.
    Letters II, 319-325 (variant of 1789 Sept. 4 letter).
  • (11) Pennington, Penelope Sophia Weston, 1752?-1827, recipient. 4 letters, , from Anna Seward, 1790-1806. 7s. in 1 folder.
    The 1790 Apr. 5 letter criticizes William Hayley's The Young Widow; or, The History of Cornelia Sedley. The 1791 July 8 letter criticizes James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. as too flattering, notes Samuel Johnson's comments on Hester Lynch Piozzi, and expresses some sympathy for the French Revolution. The 1806 Aug. 31 letter praises Sir Walter Scott, and complains of the diplomacy of Charles James Fox and William Pitt the Elder during the American Revolution.
    Letters III, 7-12 (variant of 1790 Apr. 5 letter) and III, 87-90 (variant of 1791 July 8 letter).
  • (12) Polwhele, Richard, 1760-1838, recipient. Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), from Anna Seward, 1794 Sept. 14. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Argues that Lives of the Poets by Samuel Johnson has been responsible for the increasingly negative criticism of poetry, and for the decreased demand for new poetic works. Includes a sonnet beginning Lo! Modern critics emulously dare.
  • (13) Romney, George, 1734-1802, recipient. Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), from Anna Seward and her father Thomas Seward, 1788 May 31. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Includes Seward's signed autograph poem, Impromptu, beginning Thou who hast given a portion of those hours. Offers thanks for portrait of Thomas Seward.
  • (14) St. George, Richard St. George Mansergh, Sir, d. 1798, recipient. Letters from Anna Seward, 1791. 2s. in 1 folder.
    • Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), 1791 Mar. 20. 1s.
      Reports on the distress of Sir Brooke Boothby on the death of his young daughter.
    • Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), 1791 Mar. 28. 1s.
      Discusses Sir Brooke Boothby in detail.
  • (15) Warner, John, 1736-1800, recipient. Autograph letter, signed, Lichfield (England), from Anna Seward, 1787 Oct. 7. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Complains of harsh criticism.

• II. Manuscripts, 1798 and undated
  • (16) Seward, Anna, 1742-1809. To Miss Godfrey with Mr. Hayley's Life of Milton : autograph manuscript poem, signed, 1798 Jan. 15. 1s. in 1 folder.
    Apparently written as a presentation inscription for a copy of Life of Milton by William Hayley.
  • (17) Seward, Anna, 1742-1809. Song : autograph manuscript, signed, [17--?] 1s. in 1 folder.
    Noted on verso as Song of my youthful days. The first verse is taken from a traditional ballad. The remaining verses begin, For this, when summer mornings glow.