Call Number:

C0002

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

1 box

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Penelope Pennington Collection, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1798-1827 (inclusive)

Creator:

Princeton University. Library. Special Collections and Pennington, Penelope

Form:

Commonplace books -- England -- 19th century.

Abstract:

Consists of selected letters and manuscripts of Penelope Pennington, who was part of the social and literary women's group that was centered around the English diarist and patron of the arts Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzii (1741-1821).

Penelope Pennington was a friend and correspondent of Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, Mrs. Siddons, and Anna Seward.

The collection consists of thirty-one letters by Mrs. Pennington, mostly to her younger friend Maria Brown, whose relationship to Mrs. Pennington somewhat paralleled that of Mrs. Pennington to Mrs. Piozzi (Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi); the autograph manuscript of Mrs. Pennington's poem "The Copper Farthing"; and over 200 pages of material, mostly in Mrs. Pennington's hand, largely copies of poems by her friends and literary quotations which apparently served the purpose of a commonplace book. The gossipy letters comment on politics, criticize books just read, and complain about bad health--not unlike letters of Mrs. Piozzi. Specific topics include the deaths of Maria Siddons and Mrs. Piozzi, Byron's poetry, and the peace of 1814.