Houghton MS Eng 614 | Manuscript Verse Miscellanies

Title	A collection of religious poetry from various books: either in print or manuscript, begun Sunday October ye 7th, 1770 / by T.A.
Archive	Houghton Library
Call Number	Houghton MS Eng 614
Complete	Yes
Description	Rev. Thomas Austen, 1770–1783. 212 poems. Religious poems and hymns.
Format	Quarto
Book Size	20.5cm x 16.7cm
Filled Page Count	283 pages
Item Count	212
Poem Count	212
Periods	1761-1790
First Line Index	Yes
Digitized	Yes
Region	Kent Rochester, Kent
Additional Genres
Print Sources	Christian's Magazine Gentleman's Magazine Lintott's Miscellany
Major Themes	Death, afterlife Devotional writing, religio... Major themes prominent among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Minor Themes	Other themes of interest among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Links	digitalcollections.library.harvard.edu firstlines.folger.edu
Bibliography
Citation	“Houghton MS Eng 614.” Manuscript Verse Miscellanies, 1700–1820, edited by Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University, https://mvm.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/manuscript/381. Accessed 20 May. 2024.
Created	2020-04-23 6:33:15 PM
Updated	2023-07-25 11:21:30 AM

Contributor	Role
Thomas Austen	Primary compiler
John Cennick	Major author
George Herbert	Major author
John Hughes	Owner
Elizabeth Singer Rowe	Major author

First Line	Context
How gaily is at first begun	f. 41 Local title: How gaily is at first begun Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: n/a

First Line

Context

How gaily is at first begun

f. 41

Local title: How gaily is at first begun

Attributed author: n/a

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Feature	Note
Author attributions	Occasional/ frequent with occasional/ frequent source annotations, frequently including date of publication and page numbers. Sometimes the compiler notes his source, and then adds later publications of the same item later.
Binding	Bound after compilation. Writing goes into the gutter eg. pp. 242, 260. Vellum. “Hymns” printed on the fore-edge of the closed book.
Hands	Single.
Indications of use	Manicules, usually pointing to titles; I’m guessing a mark of approval or particular enthusiasm for an item eg. p. 120. Red pencil markings like in Austen’s other mss Houghton GEN MS Eng 611; sometimes underlines, sometimes annotations, sometimes crosses next to items. p. 106 item in ink: “Sent me Augt. 10. 1772 by a friend, in a Letter. Mr D—k.” Next to that in red-pencil: “Wht Dethick sent me.” The “me” of the red-pencil seems to indicate the annotator/ editor is the same as the compiler. Check-marks and crosses next to items and stanzas (eg. p. 4) could suggest recopying in other manuscripts. p. 15 annotation “I have placed this to my ms. Collection of Maxims.” and p. 142 annotation “lay this up in my MSS. Collection of occasional Meditatns. in quarto volume; as it vastly well suits them.” ie. T. A. was compiling manuscripts simultaneously or going back to make connections between them at a later date. Also used the manuscript for notes to himself. This suggests they are informal, personal items to him. p. 150 annotated “Jan. 25. began a letter to a friend with these 2 stanzas after illness.” Sharing materials from this manuscript, borrowing verses for inspiration/ correspondence.
Item formatting	Some underlining (seemingly for emphasis), but no lines between items, and items written one after another without breaks. Authors and sources frequently written in little bubbles on the side of the page eg. p. 50.
Original poetry	Maybe; T. A.’s other volume contains original poetry, so this is a possibility. That said, it's difficult to tell because he makes items that aren’t his own quite personal (eg. p. 120) so the annotations can be misleading. If there is original material, there is not much.
Ownership mark	Signed.
Page layout	Paginated.