BIB_ID
416590
Accession number
MA 14050.42
Creator
Donne, William Bodham, 1807-1882, sender.
Display Date
London, England, 1847 March 20.
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Description
1 item (9 pages) ; 17.7 x 11.5 cm
Notes
Written from "West Gate Street / Bury St. Edmunds."
Dated "March 20th."
Year of writing suggested by internal evidence: Donne refers to the current vacancy at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital as a result of the recent death of Dr. [Edward] Lubbock, who, according to local historical sources, died on March 4, 1847. The position was awarded to Dr. Arthur Tawke. Dr. Ranking was later elected to the staff of the hospital in 1850. Cf. Fletcher's Norwich Hand-Book / compiled by Mrs. Madders. Norwich : Josiah Fletcher, 1857.
Donne's reference to an upcoming fast almost certainly refers to the Natonal Fast observed in Britain on Wednesday, March 24, 1847, in recognition of the tragedy of the famine in Ireland.
Dated "March 20th."
Year of writing suggested by internal evidence: Donne refers to the current vacancy at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital as a result of the recent death of Dr. [Edward] Lubbock, who, according to local historical sources, died on March 4, 1847. The position was awarded to Dr. Arthur Tawke. Dr. Ranking was later elected to the staff of the hospital in 1850. Cf. Fletcher's Norwich Hand-Book / compiled by Mrs. Madders. Norwich : Josiah Fletcher, 1857.
Donne's reference to an upcoming fast almost certainly refers to the Natonal Fast observed in Britain on Wednesday, March 24, 1847, in recognition of the tragedy of the famine in Ireland.
Provenance
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Summary
Recommending Dr. Ranking as a candidate for a position as a physician at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, enclosing a "poetical correspondence" between himself and Bernard Barton (in the form of a poem by Barton complaining that Donne owes him a letter, and Donne's response in verse), expressing his unwillingness to fast on Wednesday, despite being "bidden to do so both by the rulers of the people and the priest here", describing how he was induced by a Mr. Atkinson to donate 5 shillings towards the rebuilding of a church in Beverley in Yorkshire, and commenting on a lecture he attended on the subject of Shakespeare.
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