British Library Add. MS 28102 | Manuscript Verse Miscellanies

Title	Untitled
Archive	British Library
Call Number	British Library Add. MS 28102
Complete	Yes
Description	Ashley Cowper, ca. 1757–1780. Indications of retrospective copying into this collection, and perhaps even later annotation. 19 poems. All occasional original poetry, often involving women or public affairs.
Format	Folio
Book Size	38 cm x 24.9 cm
Filled Page Count	18
Item Count	19
Poem Count	19
Periods	1731-1760 1761-1790
First Line Index	Yes
Digitized	No
Region	Kent
Additional Genres	Prose
Print Sources
Major Themes	Public affairs Women Major themes prominent among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Minor Themes	Animals, pets Family Other themes of interest among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Links	firstlines.folger.edu
Bibliography
Citation	“British Library Add. MS 28102.” Manuscript Verse Miscellanies, 1700–1820, edited by Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University, https://mvm.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/manuscript/159. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Created	2019-09-04 1:13:44 PM
Updated	2023-07-20 3:37:15 PM

Contributor	Role
Ashley Cowper	Primary compiler Major author

Feature	Note
Author attributions	Never, although the heading on p. 196 implies all the poetry was by Ashley Cowper.
Binding	Pre-bound paperbook. Blank pages between headings in the commonplace section; handwriting goes near the gutter and outer edge of page on right hand sides, but never beyond; uniform watermarks throughout the book—could be a paperbook that was completed with the retrospective prose and poetry pages later in life. Modern covers.
Hands	Single. On the final poetry pages (dated 1780) the hand has become very shaky.
Indications of use	Annotations indicate retrospective copying into this collection, and perhaps even later annotation (e.g. f. 202, Abu-Zelim to Selima–a Letter In Imitation of the Turkish Spy is annotated: "This, & the Four following Letters were first written above 40. Years ago & Transcribd, Anno 1767").
Item formatting	A flourish in the right-hand margin marking the end of each item (in prose/ poetry section).
Original poetry	Yes, heading implies all poetry/ prose section of the book by Ashley Cowper.
Page layout	Paginated (in folios, including blanks).
Table of Contents	Not for the poetry section (which this database entry is concerned with).
Title page	Not for the book overall, but the section beginning f. 196 is titled: "Occasional Pieces, publish’d at different Times in the Newspapers etc."