The Thomas Chatterton Manuscript Project
Chatterton's Search for a Patron
Letters to James Dodsley
Bookseller & Publisher
Chatterton is 16 years old and still an Apprentice at Lambert's
Thomas Chatterton
No image of James Dodsley.
Here's one of his brother -
A family likeness perhaps.
The Search for a Patron is Underway
Chatterton's Two Letters to Dodsley
First published in 1813
Before he wrote to Walpole, Chatterton first wrote to James Dodsley, the Bookseller and Publisher. It was only after he failed to hook Dodsley with a sample of his work, that he moved his search for a Patron to Horace Walpole.
Chatterton's First Letter to Dodsley
21st Dec, 1768
Location of Manuscript:
Donald F. Hyde Collection
Houghton Hyde Room
Harvard University
From First Printing in:
Chatterton's Second Letter to Dodsley
15th February, 1769
Location of Manuscript:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
From First Printing in:
It seems that Chatterton wrote only these two letters to Dodsley. Unfortunately, Dodsley's replies (if he did reply), are missing. It is likely that Chatterton didn't take rejection very well, it is also likely that he destroyed any negative replies he did get. I wonder if Dodsley, recommended that Chatterton approach Walpole?