Thomas Chatterton Manuscript Project
Timeline
To John Ladgate.
Songe to Ella.
John Ladgate's Answer.
All Written 1768 - Published 1775
Songe to Ella -
In "Bristol an Abstract of the City Charter"
This is not a first printing, but it is presented here to highlight that Chatterton's works were still being given to Rowley in 1792, in what appears to be a very learned Bristol tome:
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Bristol: an abstract of the city charter. Containing the institution of mayors, recorders, sheriffs, town clerks, and all other officers whatsoever: as also a common council. To which is added, by way of Appendix, a brief historical account of the antient Lords, Constables, & Wardens of Bristol Castle. (They knew how to write a title in those days).
The edition includes 'Song to Ella,' from the 'justly celebrated Rowley,' which is a little strange considering that by this time it was commonly accepted that Chatterton was the author of Rowley. The copy shown here is marked as a second edition, and I have seen one with the same date, which is stated to be a first edition because it was unmarked. There was also an edition in 1832, which still contains the 'Song' with Rowley as the author. It is possible that there was an earlier edition of the supposed 1792 'first edition.'
Click the images above to go to the title page or to the Song to Ella.
By Turgotus
Translated by Roulie for
W. Canynge Esq.
Written 1768 - Published 1777
The above is the Start of the Poem, it runs to 38 pages in Tyrwhitt's 1777 edition of Rowley's Poems.
The original manuscript is missing, Tyrwhitt used the text from a copy made by Barrett, from the original in
Chatterton's handwriting.'
The Parlyamente of Sprytes
Written 1768 - Published 1782, 1789
Age: 15, Colston's School
An ENTYRLUDE,
Plaied bie the
Carmelyte Freeres at
Mastre Canynges
Hys Greete Howse,
Before Mastre Canynges
And Byshoppe Carpenterre,
On dedicatynge the chyrche of
Oure Ladie of Redclefte, hight.
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THE PARLYAMENTE OF SPRYTES.
Wroten bie T. Rowleie and J. Iscam
Part of the Title Page to
from Dr Milles, 1782, edition.
The Auction, A Poem
Written January / February 1769
Contentious or what! Meyerstein accepts 'The Auction, A Poem' (& The Beckford Elegy) as Chatterton's.
Taylor disagrees, as do other academics. Parts were first printed as A Familiar Epistle to a Friend In the February & March 1769 editions of the London Magazine.
The first full printing of The Auction, A Poem, was by Kerslake in 1770.
Ǽlla: A Tragycal Enterlude,
or Discoorseynge Tragedie.
Epistle to Mastre Canynge on Ǽlla.
Letter to the Dynge Mastre Canynge.
Written 1769 - Published 1777
Age: 16, Colston's School
Dr. Fry's Transcript. BPL: B6493
The image above is a snippet from Dr. Fry's transcript of a Catcott transcript of Chatterton's original manuscript of Ǽlla: A Tragycal Enterlude, or Discoorseynge Tragedie.
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No complete Ms. of Ǽlla in Chatterton's hand is known to exist, which is strange; it must be out there somewhere (he says hopefully). Even the first printing of it, in 1777, was from a Catcott transcript.
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Chatterton's letter to Dodsley, 15th February, 1769, has an extract, 'Part of Ǽlle's Speech to his Soldiers going to give Battle to the Danes.........
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It is possible that Dr Fry sometimes used a 'copyist,' to transcribe works for him; so, is this a copy in Dr. Fry's handwriting, or not? What would certainly help is a book once owned by Dr. Fry and complete with his annotations - that would be definitive.
The Challenge
Here's hoping that a Collaborator will help with the following:
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ULC (Cambridge), Add. 6295 (unknown hand), f.55.
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Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Letter to Dodsley, 15th February 1769
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British Library : f.36 v.
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British Library : (Barrett and an unknown hand) f.87a
Links to All Works & Correspondence
Call it what you will, authentic, doubtful, lost, or plainly wrong - if it was linked with Chatterton it will be included in Chatterton's Works & Correspondence. This will be the base point from which we can examine every piece of work, and add notes and links accordingly.