Folger MS M.a.186 | Manuscript Verse Miscellanies

Title	A Collection of Poems
Archive	Folger Shakespeare Library
Call Number	Folger MS M.a.186
Complete	Yes
Description	Mr. Stocker of Portsmouth, ca. 1753–1780. Lots of orginial material. 260 poems. Much local content; clearly a supporter of the Opposition in the 1730s and 40s.
Format	Quarto
Book Size	20cm x 17cm
Filled Page Count	482 pages
Item Count	260
Poem Count	260
Periods	1761-1790
First Line Index	No
Digitized	No
Region	Hampshire Portsmouth, Hampshire
Additional Genres
Print Sources	Spectator
Major Themes	Classical themes Death, afterlife Local interest Public affairs Theatre, drama Major themes prominent among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Minor Themes	Alcohol, other beverages, t... Courtship, marriage Devotional writing, religio... Family Friendship Humour, wordplay Illness Love Nature Satire - political Satire - social Shakespeare Women Other themes of interest among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Links	hamnet.folger.edu
Bibliography
Citation	“Folger MS M.a.186.” Manuscript Verse Miscellanies, 1700–1820, edited by Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University, https://mvm.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/manuscript/339. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Created	2019-11-04 10:43:10 AM
Updated	2023-07-25 11:05:35 AM

Contributor	Role
Mr. Stocker	Primary compiler Major author

First Line	Context
Hark! my gay friend, that solemn toll	pp. 158–160. Local title: On hearing a passing Bell. Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a
Since thine is the only power on earth we know	p. 422. Local title: The Dutchess of Kingston's Petition to his Holiness the Pope. Attributed author: The Dutchess of Kingston. Adaptation: n/a Other variants: First line: Since thine's the only Power on Earth I know... Other: n/a
Thou Pow'r supreme, by whose Command I live	pp. 311–313 Local title: By Miss Carter on her Birth Day 1738. Attributed author: Miss Carter. Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: Note date attribution in title.

First Line

Context

pp. 158–160.

Local title: On hearing a passing Bell.

Attributed author: n/a

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

p. 422.

Local title: The Dutchess of Kingston's Petition to his Holiness the Pope.

Attributed author: The Dutchess of Kingston.

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: First line: Since thine's the only Power on Earth I know...

Other: n/a

pp. 311–313

Local title: By Miss Carter on her Birth Day 1738.

Attributed author: Miss Carter.

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: Note date attribution in title.

Feature	Note
Author attributions	Rare, but most poems seem to be original.
Binding	Post-bound. Sense that the gatherings making up the book are not necessarily compiled in order of writing/copying; pages not trimmed. Pages quite worn, edges show separate sections of gatherings. Original vellum, lettered "VI MSS POETR."
Decorations - hand-drawn	Rather ornate capital letters. Titles tend to be printed somewhat decoratively.
Hands	Single primary hand, then a secondary hand, then the primary hand returns in later sections.
Indications of use	Brown-purple stain at top and side of pages around p. 400, perhaps a wine stain. Something dropped onto the book from the top and from the upper side. Some identities of individuals addressed in poems are pencilled in next to the items in the Table of Contents.
Original poetry	Yes, likely almost all of it.
Page layout	Paginated. Hand-ruled left-hand margins.
Table of Contents	Yes.