Commonplace Book

Latin and English verse exercises and Latin prose compositions. Authors of verses are shown only by their surnames, but most can be identified with boys from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset who matriculated at Balliol, Exeter and Oriel Colleges, and at St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, 1737-41. The book is inscribed 'Thomas Bury's book Novbr. ye 10th 1736', later altered to 'J. Chichester's book'. It has the ownership stamp of Richard Doddridge Blackmore (1825-1900), novelist, who was a pupil at Blundell's School. 93ff. There are verses by Bentham; Thomas Bury (Coliton, Devon); (Charles) Clapp (Monk Oakhampton, Devon); (Richard) Cranch (Medbury, Devon); (Arthur) Culme (Tiverton); (John) Darch (Luxborough, Somerset); (Francis) Hearle (Lansallos, Cornwall); (John) Hony (Trenant, Cornwall); (John) Pitman (Alphington, Devon); (George) Popham (Wellington, Somerset); (Charles) Richards (Kentisbear, Devon); (Thomas) Stringer (Bristol); (Thomas) Waddon (Cardingham, Cornwall); and (James or John) Yonge (Puslinch, Devon).
Blundell's School in Tiverton, Devon, was founded in 1456. J. Chichester was possibly Sir John Chichester of Youlstone, Devon, who matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford in 1739.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Purchased 1994.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.