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Laetitia Pilkington
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Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: 'a Lady of Distinction' Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Anne Wainwright Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: John, Baron Wainwright Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Letter from Jonathan Swift, Pilkington having sent him her verses on paper - printed in a London newspaper, attributed to another, and a poem for his birthday] 'I send you your Bit of News-paper with the Verses, than which I never saw better in their Kind; I have the same Opinion of those you were pleased to write upon me, as have also some particular Friends of Genius and Taste, to whom I ventured to communicate them, who universally agree with me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Jonathan Swift Print: Newspaper
Laetitia Pilkington : Sent with a Quill to Dr Swift
[Letter from Jonathan Swift, Pilkington having sent him her verses on paper - printed in a London newspaper, attributed to another, and a poem for his birthday] 'I send you your Bit of News-paper with the Verses, than which I never saw better in their Kind; I have the same Opinion of those you were pleased to write upon me, as have also some particular Friends of Genius and Taste, to whom I ventured to communicate them, who universally agree with me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Jonathan Swift Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Sent with a Quill to Dr Swift
[Letter from Jonathan Swift, Pilkington having sent him her verses on paper - printed in a London newspaper, attributed to another, and a poem for his birthday] 'I send you your Bit of News-paper with the Verses, than which I never saw better in their Kind; I have the same Opinion of those you were pleased to write upon me, as have also some particular Friends of Genius and Taste, to whom I ventured to communicate them, who universally agree with me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: friends of Swift Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Ode, An
[Having written an ode in the manner of Horace, she showed it to her husband who had also written one and] 'who, contrary to my Expectation (for I imagin'd he would be pleas'd), was very angry, and told me the Dean had made me mad, that the Lines were nonsense, and that a Needle became a Woman's Hand better than a Pen and Ink. So to bring him into Temper I prais'd his Ode highly, and threw my own into the Fire'. [the ode is reprinted on pp49-50]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP reproduces her lengthy poem 'To Mr Cibber'] 'This met with a very favourable Reception, and Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] shewed it to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's [end italics], as means to engage them to subscribe to me, which, to oblige him, many of them did; and, to make it public, Mr [talics] Cibber [end italics] inserted it in a Pamphlet of his own called the [italics] Egotist, or Colley upon Cibber [end italics]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP reproduces her lengthy poem 'To Mr Cibber'] 'This met with a very favourable Reception, and Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] shewed it to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's [end italics], as means to engage them to subscribe to me, which, to oblige him, many of them did; and, to make it public, Mr [talics] Cibber [end italics] inserted it in a Pamphlet of his own called the [italics] Egotist, or Colley upon Cibber [end italics]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: gentlemen at White's Club Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To The Hon. Colonel Duncombe
[LP reproduces her poem 'to the Hon. Colonel Duncombe', which she sent to Lord Augustus Fitz Roy] 'Lord Augustus did not fail to shew the Lines to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's[end italics], who heartily bantered the Colonel on his Generosity to his Mistress'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: gentlemen at White's Club Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To The Hon. Colonel Duncombe
[LP reproduces her poem 'to the Hon. Colonel Duncombe', which she sent to Lord Augustus Fitz Roy] 'Lord Augustus did not fail to shew the Lines to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's[end italics], who heartily bantered the Colonel on his Generosity to his Mistress'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Augustus, Lord Fitzroy Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'A short while after he went down Stairs, he sent his Compliments up, and begg'd I would lend him a Book to amuse himself till Bed-time, so being willing to cultivate the good Opinion he seem'd to have conceiv'd of me, I sent him my own Poems in Manuscript, which, pardon my Vanity, did not fail to confirm it'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: George Turnbull Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.
[LP reproduces her poem 'To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.] 'I shewed these lines to Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], who liked them so well, that he undertook to deliver them for me. The next morning, early, he waited on him, and then call'd upon me, and, giving me ten Guineas, asked me, whether I thought them a sufficient Reward for my Poetry? I told him, I really did: Well then, said he, Mr Pelham distinguished thus: "There are five Guineas, for the Lady's Numbers; and Five more, for the good Advice they contain; and tell her, I hope God will always give me Grace to follow it". '
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.
[LP reproduces her poem 'To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.] 'I shewed these lines to Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], who liked them so well, that he undertook to deliver them for me. The next morning, early, he waited on him, and then call'd upon me, and, giving me ten Guineas, asked me, whether I thought them a sufficient Reward for my Poetry? I told him, I really did: Well then, said he, Mr Pelham distinguished thus: "There are five Guineas, for the Lady's Numbers; and Five more, for the good Advice they contain; and tell her, I hope God will always give me Grace to follow it". '
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Pelham Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Colley Cibber, Esq
[LP reproduces her poem 'To Colley Cibber, Esq.] 'Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] received these Lines with his usual Partiality to me, and my Performances'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Sorrow
[LP recounts her first meeting with Colley Cibber] '"Sit down", said he, "be less ceremonious to be better bred; come, shew me your Writings". I obeyed; and, upon his reading the Poem, called [italics] Sorrow [end italics], he burst into Tears, and was not ashamed to give the flowing Virtue manly Way; he desired a Copy of it - which I gave him'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'Every Poem, as I occasionally introduced them, he [Colley Cibber] made me give him a Copy of, and communicated them to the Earl of [italics] Chesterfield [end italics], who positively insisted on it, that I must understand [italics] Greek [end italics], and [italics] Latin [end italics], otherwise I never could write [italics] English [end italics] so well.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'Every Poem, as I occasionally introduced them, he [Colley Cibber] made me give him a Copy of, and communicated them to the Earl of [italics] Chesterfield [end italics], who positively insisted on it, that I must understand [italics] Greek [end italics], and [italics] Latin [end italics], otherwise I never could write [italics] English [end italics] so well.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'I ingenuously told him [Mr Parkinson], I had no other Fortune than my Pen, and, at his request, shewed him some of my Writings' [Parkinson introduced her to a patron, Sir John Ligonier]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Parkinson Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Apology for the Minister, An
[Mr Rooke tells LP] 'as I had, in the Shop, read your [italics] Apology for the Minister [end italics], I was greatly surprized to hear it was the Product of a Lady's Pen'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: George Rooke
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'Mr E-e, seeing my Table covered with written Papers, told me, my Room resembled that of a Lawyer, and asked me Leave to read my Contemplations; to which I agreeing, he had the Complaisance to seem entertained'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr E-e Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Letter]
'[Sir Hans Sloane] considered my Letter over, and finding, by the contents, Doctor [italics] Mead [end italics] recommended me to him, said "Poor Creature! I suppose you want Charity; there's Half a Crown for you".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Hans Sloane Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : Roman Father, The
[bailiffs burst into her room to take her to the Marshalsea; one of them] 'who had employed himself in looking over my Papers, cried, "Ay the [italics] Irish [end italics] Whore, here is something about some [italics] Roman [end italics] Father, that's the Pope, and be damn'd to you is it?'''
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Colley Cibber, esq.
[On New Year's Day, 1743, LP published verses in the 'Gazette' in honour of Colley Cibber] 'My dear old Friend was pleased with my Sense of his Goodness to me; only he told me, my Lines were more proper to be addressed to an Archbishop than to him, who had nothing to boast of more than a little common Humanity.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Print: Newspaper
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP gives the text of a poem 'To Mr Cibber'] 'I sent these Lines to my dear Gentleman, who presently came to me, as I was once more in his Neighbourhood, - and in his cheerful Way, said, "Faith, Child, you have praised me so, that I think, it is the least I can do to make you eat for a Fortnight"; - so he gave me three Guineas'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Roman Father, The; A Tragedy
'However, at all Hazards, I'll venture to stand the Test of publishing the Following, because Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] approved it.' [LP then reproduces several pages worth of her tragedy, 'The Roman Father']
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [a love letter]
'One Day, as I was in my Shop, a Gentleman, very richly dressed, told me, he had a Letter for me; I received it very respectfully, but could not help smiling, when I found it was the Letter I wrote for [italics] Tom Brush [end italics], neatly copied and directed to me, and that, lest it should miscarry, he had brought it himself.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : To his Excellency the Earl of Chesterfield
[LP wrote a poem 'To his Excellency the Earl of Chesterfield'] 'just as I had finished this poem, [italics] Worsdale came in, and snatched it from me, saying, he would send it himself to his old Friend [italics] Philip [end italics]. I could not get it from him, but as I remembered every syllable of it, I wrote it in a better Hand than that rough Draft I had given Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], and having the Honour of his Correction, who is a fair and candid Critic, sent it again to him.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Worsdale Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To his Excellency the Earl of Chesterfield
[LP wrote a poem 'To his Excellency the Earl of Chesterfield'] 'just as I had finished this poem, [italics] Worsdale came in, and snatched it from me, saying, he would send it himself to his old Friend [italics] Philip [end italics]. I could not get it from him, but as I remembered every syllable of it, I wrote it in a better Hand than that rough Draft I had given Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], and having the Honour of his Correction, who is a fair and candid Critic, sent it again to him.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [notice in her shop window]
'One day as I was sitting in my Shop, a Woman who though very badly drest, had a Dignity in her Air which distinguish'd her from the Vulgar, stood reading the paper I had stuck up, with Regard to writing Letters and Petitions.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Manuscript: Sheet
Laetitia Pilkington : [Memoirs and Poems]
[Two gentlemen came in to LP's shop and saw her with an MS volume of her Memoirs open in front of her; they inquired as to whether it was her accounts] 'This Gentleman, whom I presently after found was an Earl, by his Companion's calling him by his Title, insisted on seeing the Subject of my Amusement. This was the First Volume of my Work, which once he had began [sic], he went quite through with, and gave it more Applause than ever an Author's dear Partiality to their own offspring could possibly make me believe it deserved.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: an earl Manuscript: volume
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP went to visit Colley Cibber] 'and met, according to Custom, a very kind Reception: For his Friendship to me was inviolable. He was writing the [italics] Character and Conduct of CICERO Consider'd [end italics]; and did me the Honour to read it to me: I was infinitely pleased to find, by the many lively Sallies of wit in it, that the good Gentleman's Spirits were undepress'd with Years; - Long may they continue so. This gave me an opportunity of writing a Poem to him [the poem is then reproduced] Mr [italics] Cibber was exceedingly well pleas'd when I waited on him with it, and said, he would give it a Place, but that it wanted Correction, which he promised to bestow on it: This I readily agreed to, being convinced his Judgement far surpassed mine. I waited on him the next Morning, and found he had greatly improved my Work: I thank'd him for his obliging Pains, but remarked his Modesty in having struck out some Lines, in which he was most praised.' [LP then relates how Cibber and other gentlemen gave her money for her poem]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Memoirs
[LP recounts, addressing Matthew Pilkington, how she was invited to a Dublin widower's house and in the parlour] 'a Gentleman sat reading my first Volume. I did not interrupt him, as he seem'd to be deeply engaged. The Master of the House coming in, and saying, "Mrs [italics] Pilkington [end italics], I am very glad to see you, and your Son", made the Gentleman look at us attentively: After Dinner, he told us, he had a Bond and Judgement entered on it against you, at the Suit of Mr [italics] Clark [end italics], the Brewer; that hitherto he had been compassionate, supposing us to be such Creatures as your Imagination had painted us out to the World to be: But, said he, now I am convinced of my Error, I shall shew him no further Mercy'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: a gentleman Print: Book
Laetitia Pilkington : Memoirs
[Having been told by a lady that Lord Kingsborough lived nearby, and expressed enthusiasm, the lady said] 'well, Madam, though you have made a Mystery of your Name, I am certain you are Mrs [italics] Pilkington [end italics]; I am sure you are the Person; because you speak of his Lordship, in the very same Stile you have wrote of him. I have the two Volumes'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: a lady Print: Book
Laetitia Pilkington : [letter asking for financial assistance]
'I wrote, in order to gain Relief, to a Prelate of [italics] Ireland [end italics], then resident in [italics] London [end italics]; I sent the letter by the Daughter of a Dissenting Clergyman, of whose Honour and Virtue I was confident. He received her civilly, read over my Letter, and declared he did not know me; but as he had some slight Knowledge of my Father, there was a Guinea for me'..
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert Clayton Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : [Dedication to her 'Memoirs']
[LP received a letter from Lord Kingsborough, in response to her Dedication to him] 'I return you my Thanks for the Favour of your Dedication, which tho' I am sensible is too high a Compliment, yet my Vanity will not permit me to refuse'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert, Lord Kingsborough Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [letter]
[LP having written to Lord Kingsborough in warm terms after he, having heard bad things of her, ordered her to destroy his letters, she sent him a poem pleading forgiveness. He replied] 'Madam, I am extremely honoured, by that Esteem and Friendship which you profess for me in your really fine Copy of Verses; yet, when I reflect on a late Letter of yours, which I still have by me, I cannot help thinking myself as unworthy of your Praise, as I was of your Threats'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert, Lord Kingsborough Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : To the Right Hon. the Lord Kingsborough
[LP having written to Lord Kingsborough in warm terms after he, having heard bad things of her, ordered her to destroy his letters, she sent him a poem pleading forgiveness. He replied] 'Madam, I am extremely honoured, by that Esteem and Friendship which you profess for me in your really fine Copy of Verses; yet, when I reflect on a late Letter of yours, which I still have by me, I cannot help thinking myself as unworthy of your Praise, as I was of your Threats'.
