We know that Nathan Bailey's Dictionary was an important and influential book. It was shipped well beyond the shores of England and was even used by the family of Abraham Lincoln; as well as by the Chatterton family.  It is clear that Thomas Chatterton used the dictionary extensively when creating his Rowley works.  To get a taste of Chatterton's reading click the title page and read the dictionary online. 

The following story is not relevant to Chatterton but I am a romantic soul and couldn't just ignore it; now could I!  And anyway life is about the journey, not the arrival!

The 1751 edition above is from the bookcase of QE!  Click the image to read an online version from 1763, which includes H. E. Barker's headed  letter referring to Abraham Lincoln.   The Dictionary Society of North America has an article on this subject: click the image to read more...

The article about the 'Lincoln' dictionary mentions that after further research on the book they:- 'discovered the name Thomas faintly inscribed on the front endpaper' and, 'Although the title page is missing, we have also been able to date the edition to 1770 by comparing it with other copies.'

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There was a Thomas in the Lincoln family, so it is clear that the 'Thomas' they found inscribed in the dictionary, along with the date '1770,' cannot be Chatterton, as he was using his copy of the dictionary before 1770. It is also likely that Chatterton's copy of this dictionary belonged to his father, so his dictionary would date to before 1752. 

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The implication promulgated  by H. E. Barker, who was definitely a bit of a romantic and quite a storyteller, seems to be that the bullet hole in the cover of the book, saved someone's life (Abraham Lincoln perhaps? Oh the romance of it all!), but this is also impossible, as the dictionary is quite thick and not something you would carry about with you, and certainly not in your pocket - it is quite a lumpy little thing!

This edition of Bailey's Dictionary (title page is missing), was carried by Mr Harry, the boatswain, onboard the ship HMS Dartmouth. During 1827 they faced a truly horrendous engagement against the 'Turks,' which cost the lives of a thousand or more men and the loss of over 60 ships read more.....

HMS Dartmouth is the ship second from left and directly behind the two small rowing boats.

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The book is for sale on Ebay, raising funds for The Salvation Army, click the link to buy the book, or to read more about it...

(.QE!.) Analysis:  The title page is missing making it difficult to date the book; An inscription / annotation of this type is usually at the front of a book; 

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The inscription is unlikely to be a fabrication as the book is priced at only £129.99 (now reduced to £99.99); The writing and phrasing is of the period; the date of 1830 (looks more like 1330, but that is how eights and threes were sometimes written) is an approximation with the battle taking place in 1827.  All in all, the inscription imbues the book with the romance of a lost world and a famous battle - what's not to love! If I could afford it and didn't already have two of Bailey's dictionaries, I would have bought it myself - and, in any case, it's for a jolly roger good cause!

As an alternative to the Navarino Dictionary

you might empty that bulging wallet for this$3,800 model

You might notice that Bailey's is incorrectly spelled on the spine but no matter it's cheap enough at $3,855 plus postage.

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So, the Navarino edition looks like a great choice.

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Visit this rare leather bound beast on Ebay to read more....

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Don't be alarmed, we are not veering into religion - as such.

However, the Chatterton story is inextricably linked to religion in one way or another. Here, it is said, he was allowed access to the study of the Reverend Alexander Catcott, vicar of Temple Church, Bristol, and author of this work.

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The last few pages of the book includes a poem, a paraphrase of the 104th psalm by Alexander Stopford Catcott (Alexander's father). This poem seems to have influenced Chatterton's The Death of Nicou.

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This particular Catcott, there are three of them, four if you include Martha Catcott (the rose of virginity), is said to have believed that Chatterton was Rowley from the outset.

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The images above are from my own copy, which includes manuscript pages of Alexander's Will at the back of the book.

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Click the middle image to read an online copy of this work. The other images will be linked in the next few days 26/02/2021 

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You all know by now, that every page in this website will be developed further as the days and weeks roll on. This is because every cog in the wheel of Chatterton's story has a life of its own - take Temple Church as an example: It is said to lean further than the almost leaning tower of Pisa. More importantly, it has links to the Knights Templar and dates back to before the 12th C.   More on its coginess in the Chatterton story as time moves on