Bodleian MS Eng. poet. e. 109 | Manuscript Verse Miscellanies

Title	The Whims of E.A./afterwards Mrs. Thomas
Archive	Bodleian Library
Call Number	Bodleian MS Eng. poet. e. 109
Complete	Yes
Description	Daughter or granddaughter of Elizabeth Amherst Thomas, 1798. 46 poems. Entirely original Elizabeth Amherst Thomas poems compiled retrospectively, often whimsical, witty, resisting stereotypes about women.
Format	Wove paper
Book Size	21.1cm x 16.5cm
Filled Page Count	103 pages
Item Count	46
Poem Count	46
Periods	1791-1820
First Line Index	Yes
Digitized	No
Region	Gloucestershire Kent Montreal, Kent Nutgrove, Gloucestershire
Additional Genres
Print Sources
Major Themes	Conduct, morality Humour, wordplay Local interest Nature Women Major themes prominent among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Minor Themes	Animals, pets Courtship, marriage Death, afterlife Family Literature Visual arts Other themes of interest among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Links	firstlines.folger.edu
Bibliography
Citation	“Bodleian MS Eng. poet. e. 109.” Manuscript Verse Miscellanies, 1700–1820, edited by Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University, https://mvm.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/manuscript/148. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Created	2019-09-04 1:13:44 PM
Updated	2023-07-20 2:07:18 PM

Contributor	Role
[Anonymous]	Primary compiler Perhaps a daughter or grand-daughter of Elizabeth Amherst Thomas.
Elizabeth Amherst Thomas	Major author

First Line	Context
At Se'noke so fam'd for Virginity old	p. 38 Local title: Se'noke Nunnery: to the tune of Packington's pound. Attributed author: Elizabeth Amherst Thomas. Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a
I'm a strange composition as e'er was in nature	pp. 4–5. Local title: A prize riddle on herself when 24. Attributed author: Eliza Amherst Thomas Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: Attributed date: 1740.
Lock'd in the arms of balmy sleep	p. 6. Local title: n/a Attributed author: Eliza Amherst Thomas Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a

First Line

Context

p. 38

Local title: Se'noke Nunnery: to the tune of Packington's pound.

Attributed author: Elizabeth Amherst Thomas.

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

pp. 4–5.

Local title: A prize riddle on herself when 24.

Attributed author: Eliza Amherst Thomas

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: Attributed date: 1740.

p. 6.

Local title: n/a

Attributed author: Eliza Amherst Thomas

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Feature	Note
Author attributions	Regular.
Binding	Pre-bound paperbook. Seventy-six blank pages. Seemingly dyed calf. Simple ornamentation via a roller-type instrument as border of front & back covers.
Hands	Single, same as inside cover signature ("E.F. Amherst 1798").
Indications of use	Posthumous compilation suggests commemoration of mother or grandmother's poetry. At the end of the filled portion of book, two blank leaves have been cut out, suggesting a latter use of the book that was then excised.
Original poetry	Yes; all original Elizabeth Amherst Thomas poems.
Ownership mark	Inside cover signed “E.F. Amherst. 1798”. Note added in pencil: "Eliz. Frances Amherst (1716-1779) later wife of Rev. John Thomas, Rec\tor of Nutgrove, Gloc., dau. of Sir Jeffry A (1697-1750)" — so compilation is posthumous, perhaps by daughter or granddaughter.
Page layout	Paginated (ninety-nine pages paginated by the compiler beginning after the Table of Contents up to end of the filled portion of the book).
Table of Contents	Yes.