Details

Subjects:

English poetry -- 18th century.
English poetry.
Port wine -- Early works to 1800.
Medicine -- Formulae, receipts, prescriptions -- Early works to 1800.
Medicine -- Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.
Port wine.

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Commonplace books.
Poems.
Prescriptions.
Maxims.
Manuscripts, English.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

English with the first 13 pages in Latin.

Biography/History:

An army surgeon circa 1765, he practiced medicine, and later became a wine merchant, specializing in the import of port wine. Wright wrote an essay entitled, An Essay On Wines, Especially On Port Wine, published in London, 1795. He had two children, Charles William Henry and Euphemia Wright.

Summary:

This commonplace book was written by Wright to impart knowledge and ideas to his son Charles and daughter Euphemia. The first seven leaves of the book contain patient prescriptions for various medical ailments in abbreviated Latin. The entries are listed chronologically beginning 16 May 1780, with the inclusion of patient name and age. A table of contents follows, listing the title, author, and page of each of the poems, prose passages, quotes, elegies, hymns, and prayers copied by Wright. The items are by various English authors and there are some quotations from the Bible. The items recorded by Wright are often followed by his comments, explanation, interpretation, or advice that are sometimes addressed to Charles and Euphemia. Some of the authors Wright copied are, Alexander Selkirk, William Cowper, Alexander Pope, James Beattie, and Mrs. (Anna Letitia) Barbauld. Following the excerpts of prose and poetry are original writings by Wright on various topics from his life experience. He has titled some Maxims or axioms. Other topics by Wright include love, marriage, truthfulness, bashfulness, modesty, the keeping of birds and beasts, and sense and nonsense. The last two leaves of the volume are written upside-down. On these leaves Wright has recorded information regarding correspondence related to his wine importing business. The leaves include names of clients, dates, amount of port, and costs.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Pagination: Paper, 62 leaves; 1-16, [i-ii], 17-115, [116-122], contemporary pagination in ink, upper outside corner.
Layout: Each page written in black ink. on unlined paper, some pages are divided into columns or quadrants, some pages written oblong, starting from the back cover the last two leaves written upside-down.
Script: Written in cursive and print by John Wright.
Binding: Contemporary brown cardboard covers with illegible ink writing, leather spine.
Origin: probably written in London, England.

Local notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Rosengarten Family Fund.
Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Craig D. Ritchie Bequest Fund.
Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Martin and Margy Meyerson Endowment Fund for Special Collections.
Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Julia B. Leisenring Book Fund.

Penn Provenance:

Formerly owned by Ann Statham (inscription on inside front cover: Book written by my great grandfather (maternal) Dr. Wright. Ann Statham).
Sold by Justin Croft Antiquarian Books (Faversham, England), 2012.

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1638.

Contributor:

Stratham, Ann, former owner.
Wright, Euphemia, addressee.
Wright, Charles William Henry, addressee.
Rosengarten Family Fund.
Craig D. Ritchie Bequest Fund.
Martin and Margy Meyerson Endowment Fund for Special Collections.
Julia B. Leisenring Book Fund.

OCLC:

851583831

Web link:

The Rosengarten Family Fund Home Page

The Craig D. Ritchie Bequest Fund Home Page

The Martin and Margy Meyerson Endowment Fund for Special Collections Home Page

The Julia B. Leisenring Book Fund Home Page