| AdminHistory | Lady Pleasance Smith (1773-1877) née Reeve, English letter writer and literary editor, born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, one of six children of Robert (1739-1815) and Pleasance Reeve née Clark (1739-1820); only daughter to survive infancy together with an older brother Robert (1770-1840) and a younger brother James (1778-1827).
On 1 March 1796 she married James Edward Smith (1759-1828), Founder of the Linnean Society, in Lowestoft. In November 1796 they moved from London and settled in Norwich where they lived at 29 Surrey Street, a house owned by Pleasance's father. The year after their marriage she was painted as a "gypsy girl" and a "match girl" by John Opie. The original portraits are at the Linnean Society of London.
James Edward Smith was knighted on 28 July 1814 and Pleasance became Lady Smith, elevating her rank in society. She mixed within the upper circles of society and after Sir James died in March 1828 continued an active role. She was known for her generosity and philanthropic work, often sending gifts to her wide-ranging network. She maintained a prolific correspondence, sharing and pursuing an active interest in poetry, theology, history and current affairs. She had a sharp intellect, a keen wit and enjoyed word games. She received a personal letter from Queen Victoria to "her friend" on her 100th birthday.
Although not a botanist or a fellow, she maintained a connection with the Linnean society throughout her life, notably depositing Sir James' correspondence. Believing their interest lay only in the scientific, she destroyed much of his correspondence which included many of her own personal letters. She edited a biography of him, published in 1832, which included some of his letters.
Lady Pleasance Smith died on February 1877 at the age of 103, at her home since 1849 in High Street, Lowestoft. She is said to have retained her faculties but did suffer from gout and failing eyesight in her later years. She survived her husband by almost 49 years. |
| Description | Commonplace book belonging to Lady Pleasance Smith. This volume consists mainly of handwritten songs and poems, including some written by Sir James Edward Smith. Also contains handwritten bible verses, prayers, hymns and epitaphs. Featured authors include Thomas James Mathias, William Roscoe, William Cowper, Henry Fuseli and the Gerald of Wales.
Pages have been numbered by the Archivist from 1-136. Particular items of note from the volume are listed below:
1. First inside page. Stamped inside is the name 'P Smith'. A handwritten inscription underneath reads "Presented by the Rev. A. J. Fellowes. 1927".
2. Extract from ['To the Rev. William Cawthorne Unwin'] by William Cowper. [c1782].
3. Extracts from ['The Life Of Lorenzo De' Medici, Called The Magnificent' by William Roscoe], [William Roscoe’s translation of Lorenzo De'Medici’s sonnet 'Cerchi chi vuol le pompe e gli alti onori' (c15 Century)] and ['The happiness of a country life' by William Roscoe].
4-5. Poems including ['The Evening Walk!'] from the book 'The Pursuits of Literature' by Thomas James Mathias.
8-13. Poem 'On Friendship' by William Cowper. [1783].
13-14. ['Song On Peace'] by William Cowper.
14-15. Poem 'The Morning Dream' by [William Cowper]. [1788].
16. Extract from the play ['Edward and Eleonora'] by [James] Thomson. [1739].
16-17. Extract from the ['The Monthly Review'] by Ralph [Griffiths]. [1801].
18-22. Extracts from Henry Fuseli’s 'Aphorisms on Art, with Characters and Examples'. [1831].
23. Extracts from ['Triads of Bardism'] by [Llywelyn Sion, a Bard of Glamorgan] and ['The Triads of Wisdom'].
24. Extracts from 'Poetical triads' by [Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales)].
26-28. Poem 'The nursery' by John Taylor. [1791].
29. Pasted wood engraving printed on satin.
32-34. Poems and songs by [William Roscoe]. 1788-1789.
34-36. Copied out 'Verses To Henry Fuseli R A on his series of pictures from the poetical works of Milton' by [William] Roscoe.
37-38. Piece of writing featuring quotes from 'Dialogues of the Dead' by Lord [Baron George] Lyttelton and by Mr Wharton on the novel 'The History of Sir Charles Grandison'. 3rd April 1793.
39-43. Ode 'Monody on the death of my friend H. R.' by William Stanley Roscoe. 30 Sept 1802.
44. Poem 'To a lily flowering by moonlight' by William Stanley Roscoe.
45-48. Copied out letter from 'Lord Grenville to the secretary of the society for promoting Christian knowledge', Downing Street, 2 May 1807. Taken from 'The Traveller'. May 5 1807.
49-50. Copied out 'Address delivered at the Liverpool Theatre by Mr Holman, when a free Benefit was given to the children of the late Mr J Palmer. Comedian who died suddenly a few days before on that stage, while performing the part of 'The Stranger''.
51-54. Address 'To the Independent Freemen of Liverpool' by William Roscoe. 5 May 1807. [Taken from 'The Traveller'].
57. Poem 'The Eclipse from the Persian of [Achmed Andeibeile]' by Charles James Fox and 'Tetrastich selected by Sir William Jones from an oriental author'.
58.'Epitaph written by Sir William Jones a short period before his death & intended for his own monument' and poem 'To the Rose from the Swedish' by W.D.P..
59-60. English translation of Swedish poem ‘To the Rose’ translated by Professor Peck of Cambridge, 1807, and ‘The beautiful ballad of Tweed side’ by Robert Crawfurd. 1731.
74-76. Poem and sonnets [by William Roscoe].
77-79. Poem titled ‘Moses’, 1805 and some religious writings, including a piece by A R. [c1390s].
79-83. Poem ‘On the receipt of my mother’s picture out of Norfolk. The gift of my Cousin Anne Bodham’ by William Cowper.
84-85. Poems by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.
85-86. 'Song for the London Volunteers' by Anna Laetitia Barbauld, 1803.
87. Extract from ['De Monfort: A Tragedy'] by [Joanna] Baillie.
90. Pencil sketch of a landscape with a view of Windsor Castle in the far distance.
91-92. Poem 'The Dawn' with small inscriptions [by Pleasance Smith], one of which reads "transcribed by my dear Mother".
92-93. Poems [by Catherine Fanshawe].
94-96. Poems by [William] Roscoe, [William Stanley] Roscoe and [Mary Tighe].
98-100. Hymn 'Ye Are the Salt of the Earth' by [Anna Laetitia Barbauld], 1797.
100-103. Obituary for Sir John Moore KB by [his brother] James Moore, July 1809.
103-113. Piece of writing about 'Sir Patrick Hume, the first Earl of Marchmont' by M.R.A, 1809.
114-115. Piece of writing titled 'The following short but eloquent tribute to the memory of the Hero of Corrunna cannot be read without interest'.
126. Inscription from 'Klopstock’s Monument in the Church at Attersee, by Altona' by [W. T.].
127. Poem 'To the Rose translated from the Swedish of Oxenstierna' and a piece of writing by [Sam] [William] Turner regarding a leaf from the lime tree (Tilia auropiceus) which stands over [Friedrich Gottlieb] Klopstock’s grave in the Church yard of Attersee near Altona. A pencil annotation written by [Pleasance Smith] on the page reads “The leaf is taken out & glued to a card in my classic herbarium – PS”. [See MS/314/e/3]
132-133. Poem about the town of Lowestoft by J Ayers, 1810.
Written by James Edward Smith:
61. ‘Epitaph on Miss Mary Ann Wilkinson who died Nov’r 17th 1802, aged 12 years’ by James Edward Smith, 11 Dec 1806.
62. ‘Epitaph on John Green Baseley Esq’r who died 30th Nov 1806’ by James Edward Smith.
89 and 97. Poems by James Edward Smith. |