Houghton MS Eng 768 | Manuscript Verse Miscellanies

Title	A Collection of various kinds of Poetry
Archive	Houghton Library
Call Number	Houghton MS Eng 768
Complete	Yes
Description	Melesinda Munbee (seemingly transcribed by Elizabeth Munbee), 1749–1750. A manuscript verse miscellany assembled in childhood, based on a father's library. Two volumes, 44 poems. Many items by Swift; other bawdy contents.
Format	Octavo
Book Size	18cm x 12.2cm (vol. 1); 17.8cm x 12.2cm (vol. 2)
Filled Page Count	Vol 1: 93 leaves; Vol 2: 89 leaves
Item Count	44
Poem Count	44
Periods	1731-1760
First Line Index	Yes
Digitized	Yes
Region	Horringer, Suffolk Suffolk
Additional Genres
Print Sources	Collection of Poems by Seve... Miscellanies in Prose and V... Miscellany Poems
Major Themes	Celebrities Humour, wordplay Public affairs Major themes prominent among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Minor Themes	Bodily functions Courtship, marriage Devotional writing, religio... Family Imitation, parody Music, song, opera Solitude, loneliness, retir... Theatre, drama Other themes of interest among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Links	digitalcollections.library.harvard.edu iiif.lib.harvard.edu firstlines.folger.edu
Bibliography
Citation	“Houghton MS Eng 768.” Manuscript Verse Miscellanies, 1700–1820, edited by Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University, https://mvm.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/manuscript/347. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Created	2020-02-12 7:36:32 AM
Updated	2023-07-25 11:24:06 AM

Contributor	Role
Elizabeth Munbee	Primary compiler Same handwriting as in her book, Clark MS 1982.002. Seemingly transcribed this book for her little sister, Melesinda.
Melesinda Munbee	Primary compiler
Valentine Munbee	Dedicatee
Jonathan Swift	Major author

First Line	Context	Print Source
As some fond virgin, whom her mother's care	vol. 1, pp. 150–154. Local title: To a Young Lady on her leaving ye Town after ye Coronation. Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a	Unknown
Beneath this Stone lies Katherine Gray	f. 20v Local title: n/a Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: "Catherine Gray" instead of "Katherine Gray." Other: n/a	Unknown
Father of All! in every Age	vo. 2, f. 28v. Local title: n/a Attributed author: Alexander Pope. Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a	Unknown
The Counsels of a Friend, Belinda, hear	vol. 2, f. 75v. Local title: n/a Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a	Unknown
The Scepticks think, 'twas long ago,	vol. 1, p. 14 Local title: The Ladle Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a	Unknown
The solitary bird of night	vol. 2, pp. 15–23. Local title: An Ode to Wisdom. Attributed author: a Lady. Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a	Unknown
Ye distant Spires, ye antique Towers	vol. 2, f. 89v Local title: n/a Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a	Unknown

Feature	Note
Author attributions	Frequent, often as part of the title.
Binding	Red morocco, gilt.
Decorations - hand-drawn	Pen and ink drawings throughout; chiefly pattern designs in volume 1; designs, landscapes, still-lifes and birds in volume 2, some embellished with wash.
Hands	Single. See similarities to Elizabeth Munbee's hand in Clark MS 1982.002. Possibly transcribed by Elizabeth for her little sister.
Indications of use	Pencil lines drawn faintly on the page suggest this manuscript was used for handwriting learning or practice (given the age of the compiler). vol. 1 p. 67 Riddles, then vol. 1 p. 83 the solutions to the riddles ie. intended to be read by someone other than the compiler who wouldn’t already know the answers.
Item formatting	New items frequently begun on new pages. Double-lines between items, and each title and first line. Sometimes little drawings or beautiful symbols between items.
Organization	Dedicated to Munbee's father, Valentine Munbee.
Ownership mark	Signed. Note on the title page says "Vol. ye 1st compleated at ye age of 5 yrs & 5 mo."
Page layout	Volume 1 is paginated (on every verso page); volume 2 in unpaginated.
Table of Contents	Volume 1 yes, volume 2 no.
Title page	Yes. "Vol. ye 1st compleated at ye age of 5 yrs & 5 mo" written on first titled page.