Manuscript poem written by an unknown author, entitled 'Moderation Reviv'd', c. 1712

The manuscript is a satirical poem in two verses (3, 10 lines) entitled 'Moderation Reviv'd'. The subject matter is an attack on the war policy of Robert Harley and the Whigs. It begins: 'Ah purblind Whiggs to say that Moderation/Is like your silver, laid by and out of Fashion'.

The authorship of the poem, and the origin of this copy, are unknown. The content, an attack on the policies of the whig Robert Harley (1661-1724), 1st Earl of Oxford, puts its date of composition sometime beteween the negotiations to end war in 1711 and the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht, on 31 March 1713. It has been suggested that poet John Arbuthnot (1667-1735) may have been its author, as he was active in his opposition to the war policy of the Whigs, but it could also be the work of one of a number of satirical wits active at the time.

No archival arrangement has been necessary.

Accessible to all readers.

This description is the only finding aid available for the manuscript. Copyright in the description belongs to The University of Nottingham.

Good

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).

Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

The manuscript was acquired by the University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections in January 2002.

Papers of the Harley Family, 1602-1738, in the Portland (Welbeck) Collection (Pw2 Hy)