Catalogue of the papers of Robert Hudson and William Cotton, 1818-60

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

Emma Davies

2003

Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts
Bodleian Library
Broad Street
Oxford
OX1 3BG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 277152
Fax: +44 (0) 1865 277187
E-mail: enquiries.sc@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/collections

Table of Contents

Introduction
A    Papers of Robert Hudson, 1818-41
    A.1  Travel Journals, 1818-34
    A.2  Miscellaneous papers and notebooks, 1819-41
B    Papers of William Cotton, 1860

Papers of Robert Hudson and William Cotton, 1818-60

Abstract:
Travel journals and related papers of Robert Hudson, 1818-41, and autobiography of William Cotton, 1860.

Shelfmarks: MSS. Eng. c. 7099, d. 3551, d. 3605, e. 3438-48

Extent: 14 shelfmarks

Biographical History

Robert Hudson was born in 1801 in Camberwell, son of Robert Hudson of the East India Company and Demetria, sister of William Cotton. He matriculated at New College, Oxford in 1823 - see J. Foster, Alumni Oxonienses, 1715-1886 (London, 1887).

William Cotton, later of Ivybridge, Devon, was born in 1794, son of William of St. Laurence Pountney, London. He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford in 1811, becoming B.A. in 1814 and M.A. in 1818 - see Foster, Alumni Oxonienses, 1715-1886. For further information see Gerald Hamilton-Edwards, An exhibition of Old Master and English drawings and European bronzes (Sotheby's, 1979), and the Plymouth City Museums and Art Gallery web site relating to the Cottonian Collection.

Scope and Content

The Hudson papers mainly comprise travel journals written by Robert Hudson, 1818-34, in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany and Switzerland. The Cotton papers comprise an autobiography and miscellaneous papers.

Arrangement

The papers of Robert Hudson are listed first, followed by the papers of William Cotton. Both series are arranged chronologically.

Acquisition

Bequeathed by Gerald Hamilton-Edwards, 1987.

Preferred Form of Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. e. 3438, fols. 1-2].

Personal names (NCA Rules)

Cotton | William | 1794-1863 | antiquary
Hudson | Robert | 1801-1883 | clergyman

Subjects (LCSH)

Diaries
France--Description and travel
Great Britain -- Description and travel
Travel -- 19th century

A   Papers of Robert Hudson, 1818-41

A.1   Travel Journals, 1818-34

Shelfmarks: MSS. Eng. d. 3605, e. 3438-47


Account of a visit to Paris, 1818
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3438
Extent: 14 leaves
Binding: Paper wrappers

Scope and Content:

Includes (fol. 3) sketch of the Calais to Paris stage coach.

Travel journal, 1819
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3605
Extent: 91 leaves, 70-87 blank
Binding: Blind-ruled parchment covered boards, inscribed on front cover, 'R. Hudson'

Scope and Content:

Fols. 2-42 have been cut out and are not present. Includes

  • (fols. 46-63) itinerary of a journey from London to the Highlands of Scotland, written in the form of a guide, [1819]
  • (fols. 65-9) journal of a journey to Lichfield (part of the journey to Scotland), 31 July-3 Aug. 1819
  • (fols. 90-88 rev.) 'A journal of a tour to Glasgow by the lakes of Cumberland and Westmorland and through the highlands of Scotland to Edinburgh in 1819', containing another version of the journal at fols. 65-9 above, 31 July-2 Aug. 1819
Separated Material:

Financial notes removed to MS. Eng. c. 7065, fol. 80 (see guard-books).



'A Fortnight at Paris with Capt. Beadle in Feby. 1821. No. 2'
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3439
Extent: 30 leaves
Binding: Paper wrappers

Scope and Content:

Journal of a visit to Paris, including (recto of end wrapper) financial accounts.

Separated Material:

Letter from R. Dayot to Robert Hudson, 1821, written in French, removed to MS. Eng. c. 7065, fols. 81-2 (see guard-books).



Journal of a tour to the West Country, 17 Jul.-30 Oct. 1821
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3440
Extent: iv + 128 pages, 118-28 blank
Binding: Tan calf, label inside upper board, 'Sold by, Willm. Winbolt. Stationer. No. 48, St. Pauls Churchyard, London.'

Journal of a tour to Wales, 14-31 Aug. 1827
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3441
Extent: 44 leaves
Binding: Quarter dark blue calf, marbled stiffened paper wrappers

Scope and Content:

Another version of the journal in MS. Eng. e. 3442 below, including

  • (fols. 33-31 rev.) financial accounts of visit to Wales
  • (fols. 44-34 rev.) notes on ancient Greek history
Separated Material:

Loose financial notes removed to MS. Eng. c. 7065, fol. 83 (see guard-books).



Journal of a tour to Wales with John Cotton, younger brother of William Cotton, 14-26 Aug. 1827
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3442
Extent: 22 leaves
Binding: Marbled wrappers

Scope and Content:

Another version of the journal in MS. Eng. e. 3441 above.

Separated Material:

Three loose items removed to MS. Eng. c. 7065, fols. 84-6 (see guard-books).



Journal of a tour to Wales, 27 Aug.-4 Sept. 1827
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3443
Extent: 28 leaves
Binding: Marbled wrappers

Scope and Content:

Continuation of the tour to Wales in MS. Eng. e. 3442 above. Includes list of journey distances and inns.


Journal of two tours to Yorkshire, 1829
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3444
Extent: ii + 178 pages
Binding: Tan calf, label inside upper board, 'Sold by, Willm. Winbolt. Stationer. No. 48, St. Pauls Churchyard, London.'

Scope and Content:

Includes

  • (pp. 174-106 rev.) first tour, 10 June-13 July 1829
  • (pp. 105-61 rev.) second tour, 24 Aug.-14 Sept. 1829
  • (pp. ii-29) journey expenses and distances travelled
  • (pp. 3-175) book lists
Separated Material:

Three loose pages of book lists removed to MS. Eng. c. 7065, fols. 87-9 (see guard-books).



Journal of a tour to Yorkshire, 10 June-13 July 1829
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3445
Extent: 60 leaves
Binding: Half red calf, marbled boards, marbled endpapers

Scope and Content:

Another version of the first tour to Yorkshire, MS. Eng. e. 3444, pp. 174-106 rev.

Separated Material:

Three loose leaves removed to MS. Eng. c. 7065, fols. 90-92 (see guard-books).



Journal of tours to the Lake District and to Edinburgh, 1830-1
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3446
Extent: 94 leaves, 83-94 blank
Binding: Red calf

Scope and Content:

Comprises

  • (fols. 6-44) tour to the Lake District, 3 July-18 Aug. 1830
  • (fols. 49-82) tour to Edinburgh, 22 Aug.-20 Oct. 1831
  • (fols. 1-5, 45-8) financial accounts and distances travelled

Account of a cruise to the Channel Islands in the yacht Vansittart, 11 July-9 Aug. 1834
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3447
Extent: 46 leaves, 9-46 blank
Binding: Half tan calf, marbled boards

Scope and Content:

Written in the form of a log with entries in two hands.

A.2   Miscellaneous papers and notebooks, 1819-41

Shelfmarks: MSS. Eng. c. 7099, e. 3448


Miscellaneous papers, 1819-41
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7099
Extent: 146 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes

  • (fols. 1-12a) notebook of financial accounts, 1819
  • (fol. 12b) itinerary of a journey through the Highlands of Scotland, written by J. Croil, n.d.
  • (fols. 13-24) journal entries of a visit to locations in England and Scotland, 1819
  • (fols. 25-7) correspondence for repairs to property and grounds, including three work contracts, 1831-2
  • (fol. 31) printed list of charges for the Ramsgate pier, 1836
  • (fols. 32-9) travel journal entries covering France, Germany and Switzerland, n.d.
  • (fol. 40) contract between Hudson and Costantino Coradi, 1840
  • (fol. 41) letter to Hudson, recommending Costantino Coradi as a courier, 1840
  • (fols. 42-50) financial expenditure of Hudson during visit to France, written by Costantino Coradi, 1840
  • (fols. 52-105, 107-38) hotel invoices from trip to France, Germany and Switzerland, 1840
  • (fols. 139-45) hotel cards from visits to France and Switzerland, n.d.

Notebook, 1836
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3448
Extent: 76 pages
Binding: Red calf

Scope and Content:

Comprises

  • (pp. 1-31, 33, 35-6, 39, 41, 43, 45) 'A List of the Proprietors of the Rock Life Assurance Company Corrected to March 1836'
  • (pp. 74-46, 44, 42, 40, 38-7, 34, 32, rev.) biography of Hudson's father, Robert Hudson (1750-1816), with some earlier genealogical notes

B   Papers of William Cotton, 1860

Shelfmarks: MS. Eng. d. 3551


'Certain reminiscences of my life', autobiography of William Cotton, 1860
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3551
Extent: 155 leaves
Binding: Blind-ruled half red calf, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, gilt stamp inside upper board, 'Walker Binder Plymouth', lower board detached

Scope and Content:

Includes

  • (fols. iiv, 5v) photographs of William Cotton III and Charles Rogers
  • (fols. 10v, 12, 17, 43, 84-5, 132-3, 147v) watercolours
  • (fols. 11v, 13v, 15, 20, 41, 47, 53v, 103v, 143) pen-and-ink sketches
  • (fols. 43v, 45v, 49-50, 55, 58v, 59v, 61, 62v, 66-7, 71v, 72v, 76, 77v, 80-1, 98, 102, 105-6, 113, 115v, 144) prints, 1814-48
  • (fols. 27-39) letters, 1799-1805
  • (fols. 52, 64, 100, 144v) newspaper cuttings, 1814-53
  • (fols. 52v, 112v) pencil sketches
  • (fol. 89) copy of the Persian alphabet
  • (fols. 122-31) 'An Account of the Cistertian Priory of Ripa Mola. In a letter to the Secretary of the Antiq=Society by J.D.', 1824, which refers to the Cotton family
Separated Material:

Miscellaneous papers removed to MS. Eng. c. 7065, fols. 93-107 (see guard-books).


Custodial History:

Armorial bookplate of William Cotton, inside upper board.
Transformation from XML to HTML by Lawrence Mielniczuk
19 May 2011