Empson, W. (William), 1791-1852. William Empson letters1851 or 1852
MSS 099, F771
5 items (20 p. and envelope) This small collection comprises five letters written by William Empson, editor of the Edinburgh Review, regarding Leigh Hunt's review of James Dennistoun's Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino (1851).
Materials entirely in
English.
University of Delaware Library -
Special Collections
Source Purchase, 2006.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Terms Governing Use and
Reproduction Use of materials from this collection beyond the
exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S.
Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is
required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections
Department, University of Delaware Library,
http://www.lib.udel.edu/cgi-bin/askspec.cgi
Citation MSS
099, F771, William Empson letters, Special Collections, University of Delaware
Library, Newark, Delaware.
Shelving Summary
- F771: Shelved in SPEC MSS 099 manuscript boxes
Processing
Processed and encoded by Lora J. Davis, January 2009.
Biographical Note British barrister, literary reviewer, and editor William Empson was born in 1791.
After graduating from Trinity College, Cambridge, Empson was called to the bar in 1819. Empson practiced law until 1824, when he became a law professor at the East India Company College in Hertfordshire, England. In 1823 Empson began to write for the influential
Edinburgh Review, prolifically covering such topics as history, biography, literature, law, and politics. In 1847 Empson was named editor and moved the base of operations of the Edinburgh Review to London. Empson worked as both editor of the review and professor of law at the East India College until his sudden death from influenza on December 10, 1852.Shattock, Joanne. "Empson, William (1791–1852)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Available online at http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8800 (accessed January 27, 2009).
Scope and Content Note This small collection comprises five letters written by William Empson, editor of the
Edinburgh Review, largely regarding Leigh Hunt's review of James Dennistoun's Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino (1851), including at least one letter apparently written to Leigh Hunt.
Though dates on the letters do not include the year in which they were written, the interval between publication of Dennistoun's book and Empson's death would date these letters in 1851 or 1852. The letter of April 29 is presumably written to English poet and essayist Leigh Hunt, because it refers to a review in progress of Dennistoun's book, and some of the later letters (apparently addressed to a mutual acquaintance) refer to Hunt's progress on the review. All five autograph letters are written by Empson on black-bordered stationery from "E.I.C." (East India College). The five letters are accompanied by a brown envelope labeled "Mr. Dobell / 8 Bruton Street W." The envelope also bears penciled notes indicating that this small collection was for sale at one time by the London firm of P. J. & A. E. Dobell, booksellers and publishers.
Selected Search Terms
Personal Names
Hunt, Leigh, 1784-1859.
Topical Terms
Editors--England--19th century--Sources.
Form/Genre Terms
Letters (correspondence)
OccupationsEditors.
Related Materials in this
Repository This item forms part of MSS 099 Miscellaneous Literary and
Historical Manuscripts.
Detailed Contents List
51
F771
William Empson letter, E.I. College, to Leigh HuntApril 29, no year 1 item (4 p. on 1 leaf) ; folded to 18 x 11.2 cm. Autograph letter signed, written from East India College in 1851 or 1852, apparently to Leigh Hunt, regarding his work on a review of James Dennistoun's book.
51
F771
William Empson letter, E.I.C.February 25, no year 1 item (4 p. on 1 leaf) ; folded to 13.6 x 9 cm. Autograph letter signed, written from East India College in 1851 or 1852.
51
F771
William Empson letter, E.I.C.May 8, no year 1 item (4 p. on 1 leaf) ; folded to 13.6 x 9 cm. Autograph letter signed, written from East India College in 1851 or 1852.
51
F771
William Empson letter, E.I.C.June 14, no year 1 item (4 p. on 1 leaf) ; folded to 13.6 x 9 cm. Autograph letter signed, written from East India College in 1851 or 1852.
51
F771
William Empson letter, E.I.C.December 19, no year 1 item (4 p. 1 leaf) ; folded to 13.6 x 9 cm. Autograph letter signed, written from East India College in 1851 or 1852.
51
F771
Envelope Brown envelope labeled "Mr. Dobell / 8 Bruton Street W." The envelope also bears penciled notes indicating that this small collection was for sale at one time by the London firm of P. J. & A. E. Dobell, booksellers and publishers.