Amelia Alderson Opie Papers: Finding Aid mssOpie
The Huntington Library
February 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on October 31, 2023 by Mari Khasmanyan.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Amelia Alderson Opie papers
Creator:
Opie, Amelia, 1769-1853
Identifier/Call Number: mssOpie
Physical Description:
3.16 Linear Feet
(2 boxes, 1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1774-1909
Date (bulk): 1813-1906
Abstract: A collection of original Amelia
Alderson Opie manuscripts and correspondence with additional family related material,
including manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera. The Amelia Alderson Opie material
includes two manuscript travel journals, poems, songs, and letters to and from various
family members.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Amelia Alderson Opie papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased for the Huntington from Dean Cooke Rare Books Ltd by the Library Collectors'
Council, March 2021.
Custodial History
Amelia Opie bequeathed her manuscripts to her friend Thomas Brightwell. The material later
came into the possession of Ethel I. Carr, who was related to Amelia Opie via the Briggs
family; Eliza Alderson Briggs and her husband, Henry Perronet Briggs were cousins of Opie.
It was through their daughter Eliza, who had married the Rev. J. H. Carr, that the papers
came into the Carr family, and thus to Ethel I. Carr. Upon Ethel's death in 1953, the
material passed to her nephew who put them up for sale at Sotheby's.
Biographical / Historical
Amelia Alderson Opie (1769-1853) was a British Romantic poet and author. She was born in
Norwich, England, to physician James Alderson and Amelia Briggs; Opie's mother died when she
was 15. Opie anonymously published her first novel, The dangers of coquetry, in 1790 at the
age of 20; she went on to publish six more novels, the most famous of which is Adeline
Mowbry (1804), as well as volumes of tales and poems. She married the painter John Opie
(1761-1807) in 1798 and through him met several artists and actors, including Sarah Siddons.
Opie was a lifelong activist and abolitionist and when she joined the Society of Friends in
1825, she vowed to give up writing novels and plays. She dedicated the last decades of her
life to abolitionist work and to asylum and prison reform; she died in Norwich in 1853.
Scope and Contents
A collection of manuscripts and correspondence by Amelia Alderson Opie; with related family
material which includes manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera. The Opie material
includes two corrected manuscript travel journals, poems, and songs; the correspondence
includes letters to various family members. There is also a poem, "To Mrs. Opie," by Sir
Edward Denny (1796-1889), the hymnist, and one letter to Opie by James Smith (1775-1839),
the writer and humorist. The manuscripts and letters are written by Opie unless otherwise
noted. The family-related manuscript material includes fair copies of poems, prose pieces,
and excerpts from Jane Austen. The correspondence includes letters from, among others,
Elizabeth Alderson Briggs, Henry Perronet Briggs, Hilda Mary Carr, and James Haslewood Carr;
many of the letters are addressed to Catharina M. Briggs. Some of these letters date from
when Amelia Opie was alive, and a few make brief mention of her, but many of these letters
date from after her death. The collection also contains the will of Samuel Dickens (1774)
and one folder of ephemera.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Gayle Richardson in February 2022.
Related Materials
Amelia Alderson Opie correspondence, mssOP.
Existence and Location of Copies
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Society of Friends -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th
century
Theater -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Tuberculosis -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century
Women authors, English -- 19th century
Brussels (Belgium) -- Description and travel
Ephemera -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Ephemera -- Great Britain -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 20th century
Manuscripts -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Poems -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Songs -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Briggs, Catharina M.
Briggs, Elizabeth Alderson
Briggs, Henry Perronet,
1792-1844
Carr, Hilda Mary
Carr, James Haslewood
Denny, Edward,
1796-1889
Smith, James,
1775-1839
Box 1, Folder 1
Edward Denny poem: To Mrs. Opie
1820 August 18
Box 1, Folder 2
Arrival at Brussels: early draft
approximately 1839
Scope and Contents
Sheets stitched together with thread. In black ink, with numerous corrections by
Opie.
Box 1, Folder 3
Journey to Brussels: later draft
approximately 1839
Scope and Contents
With paper covers, sheets stitched together with thread. The text is written in black
ink with numerous corrections by Opie in black and blue ink.
Box 1, Folder 4
"Crown, crown the passing hour with joy…:" poem
approximately 1814
Scope and Contents
Title from first line of poem.
Box 1, Folder 5
"I have seen, lucky me, what you all want to see…:" song
approximately 1821
Scope and Contents
Title from first line of song. The text of this song is very close to the published
version "Alexander in London. By J. Smith, Esq.;" with small differences to the
published version including the order of the verses.
Box 1, Folder 6
"Is there a joy I must not know…:" poem
approximately 1817
Scope and Contents
Title from first line of poem.
Box 1, Folder 7
Lines written after sleeping in the yellow garret at Earlham now usually
occupied by J: J: Gurney -- : poem
1816 February
Scope and Contents
Final page torn almost to the fold.
Box 1, Folder 8
"Nay -- do not scorn this craving up…:" poem
approximately 1816
Scope and Contents
Title from first line of poem.
Box 1, Folder 9
"O! Parry! If you be so fickle…:" poem
1814 January
Scope and Contents
Title from first line of poem. Signed: Tabitha Jay -- Grub Street.
Box 1, Folder 10
The Remonstrance: poem ; The Warning: poem
approximately 1805
Scope and Contents
Both poems with corrections and additions.
Box 1, Folder 11
"They told me I was born for love…:" 12 line song
approximately 1818
Scope and Contents
Title from first line of song. This song is part of a letter which is missing the first
page identifying the recipient.
Box 1, Folder 12
To him who will understand it: poem
approximately 1815
Box 1, Folder 13
To Thomas John Alderson on his birthday: poem
1817 November 28
Scope and Contents
Norwich. Followed by: letter from Amelia Opie to Thomas John Alderson.
Box 1, Folder 14
To Thomas John Alderson on his birthday: poem
1820 November 28
Box 1, Folder 15
To Thomas John Alderson on his birthday: poem
1821 November 28
Scope and Contents
Norwich.
Box 1, Folder 16
To T. J. Alderson on his birthday: poem
1822 November 28
Scope and Contents
Followed by: note from Amelia Opie to Thomas John Alderson.
Box 1, Folder 17
To T. J. Alderson on his birthday: poem
1825 November 27
Scope and Contents
Norwich.
Box 1, Folder 18
To T. J. Alderson: poem
1829 November 28
Box 1, Folder 19
With a Bible: poem
approximately 1816
Box 1, Folder 20
James Smith poem: Dr Gall
approximately 1811
Scope and Contents
Fair copy made by Amelia Opie of the poem by Smith, "Doctor Gall;" with slight
differences in wording from published poem.
Box 1, Folder 21
Amelia Opie letter, Norwich, to Thomas John Alderson, Gray's Inn,
London
1813 January 28
Scope and Contents
Letter contains three songs by Opie: "Let other toast beauties from morning till
night...;" "The regent may make all the knights that he pleases…;" "And may I trust to
words so sweet?..."
Box 1, Folder 22
Amelia Opie letter, Earlham, to Thomas John Alderson, Gray's Inn,
London
1814 December 18
Scope and Contents
Letter contains some lines of verse sent to the publisher: "Crown, crown the passing
with joy…"
Box 1, Folder 23
Amelia Opie letter to Thomas John Alderson
1815 November 4
Scope and Contents
Letter contains two small stanzas: "But wit may lure & beauty smile…"
Box 1, Folder 24
Amelia Opie letter, Norwich, to Thomas John Alderson, Lincoln's Inn
Fields
1815 December 26
Scope and Contents
Letter contains: Sonnet on Xmas day 1815.
Box 1, Folder 25
Amelia Opie letter to Thomas John Alderson
1816 March 13
Scope and Contents
Letter contains the stanza: "Scorn not the gift dear friend, altho' to thee…"
Box 1, Folder 26
Amelia Opie letter, Norwich, to Thomas John Alderson, London
1817 December 10
Box 1, Folder 27
Amelia Opie letter, Norwich, to Thomas John Alderson, London
1818 January 14
Scope and Contents
Letter contains the poem: To Mrs Blackwell with a present of apples.
Box 1, Folder 28
Amelia Opie letter, Norwich, to Thomas John Alderson
1826 November 27
Box 1, Folder 29
Amelia Opie letter, London, to Catharina M. Briggs, Chichester
1839 September 5
Box 1, Folder 30
Amelia Opie letter, Norwich, to Catharina M. Briggs, Chichester
1844 August 19
Scope and Contents
With envelope; the envelope contains a note from Amelia Opie on the inner flap.
Box 1, Folder 31
Amelia Opie letter, London, to Catherine Carr, South Shields
1839 June 25
Box 1, Folder 32
Amelia Opie letter, Norwich, to Catherine Carr, Darlington
1844 March 12
Scope and Contents
With envelope.
Box 1, Folder 33
Amelia Opie letter: fragment only
undated
Scope and Contents
Cut off from a larger letter.
Box 1, Folder 34
James Smith, 1775-1839, letter to Amelia Opie, Norwich
1815 October 27
Box 2, Folder 1
Chapter on Pockets ; Irish Providence
undated
Scope and Contents
Fair copies of two pieces from published journals.
Box 2, Folder 2
Excerpt from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice:" chapter 56: dialog of
Elizabeth Bennett
approximately 1820
Box 2, Folder 3
Excerpt from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice:" chapter 56: dialog of Lady
Catherine de Bourgh
approximately 1820
Box 2, Folder 4
Facsimile of signatures to a contract between Henry and Mary King and Queen of
Scotland, and Johne erle of Athole, concerning Lead-mines, Dated…26 Aug.
1565
approximately 1815
Box 2, Folder 5
"From his brimstone bed at break of day…:" poem
approximately 1827
Scope and Contents
Fair copy from "The Devil's Thoughts" or "The Devil's Walk" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
and Robert Southey.
Box 2, Folder 6
"His bed strewed with rushes…:" verses
approximately 1825
Scope and Contents
From the Irish song "The Hermit of Killarey."
Box 2, Folder 7
"Says a Pig to a Pig…"
1819-1820
Scope and Contents
Fair copy from the novel "Lucilla; or the Reconcilation."
Box 2, Folder 8
"There's a tear -- that falls when we part…:" ballad
approximately 1825
Scope and Contents
From the opera "Broken Promises;" manuscript has the title: Ballad Emma Scotch
Melody.
Box 2, Folder 9
The Turbot: A Tale
approximately 1830
Box 2, Folder 10
"The world lay in Chaos and night…"
approximately 1825
Scope and Contents
Fair copy from "The Prince and The Merchant's Daughter," published in "Tales of Fault
and Feeling."
Box 2, Folder 11
E. Alderson letter to Catherine Carr
1826 September 18
Scope and Contents
Followed by: note by Hons de Barbot, in French.
Box 2, Folder 12
A. B. letters to Catharina M. Briggs
1836-1855
Scope and Contents
With envelope.
Box 2, Folder 13
Eliza Bell letters to Catharina M. Briggs
1859-1875
Scope and Contents
With envelope.
Box 2, Folder 14
E. Briggs letters to Catharina M. Briggs
1839-undated
Box 2, Folder 15
Elizabeth Alderson Briggs letter to Catherine Carr
1839 April 6
Scope and Contents
On verso: unsigned, cross written letter.
Box 2, Folder 16
Henry Perronet Briggs letters to Catharina M. Briggs
1837-1843
Box 2, Folder 17
Henry Perronet Briggs letters to Catherine Carr
1840 May 11
Box 2, Folder 18
Henry Perronet Briggs letters to the Rev. James Carr
1839-1842
Scope and Contents
Also enclosed: envelope, with red wax seal, addressed to H. P. Briggs.
Box 2, Folder 19
Elizabeth Briggs Carr letters to unidentified recipient
1859 August 6-October 4
Scope and Contents
Letters addressed to My Dear Aunt, signed: EA Briggs; written from France and
Germany.
Box 2, Folder 20
Hilda Mary Carr letter to Elizabeth Briggs Carr
1896 May 30
Box 2, Folder 21
Hilda Mary Carr letters to Ethel Irene Carr
1896-1908
Box 2, Folder 22
James Haslewood Carr letters to Elizabeth Briggs Carr
approximately 1875-1900 January 31-July
11
Box 2, Folder 23
Clapham, Fitch and Co. - Westhorp, Cobbold and Ward business letters to William
C. Fuller
1897-1899
Scope and Contents
With envelopes.
Box 2, Folder 24
Sarah Davis (?) letter to Catharina M. Briggs
1839 July 20
Box 2, Folder 25
William Foy letter to Henry Perronet Briggs
approximately 1843
Box 2, Folder 26
Kate M. E. Carr Haynes letters to Elizabeth Briggs Carr
1896-1909
Box 2, Folder 27
Nathaniel John Hollingsworth letter to the Rev. James Carr
1824 April 26
Box 2, Folder 28
Samuel Rush Meyrick letter to unidentified recipient
1843 November 25
Scope and Contents
Letter is addressed to My dear Friend.
Box 2, Folder 29
Perrin letter to Mademoiselle de Barbot
1829 September 22
Scope and Contents
In French.
Box 2, Folder 30
Margaret Thompson (?) letters to Catharina M. Briggs
1854-1855
Scope and Contents
With envelopes; letters are signed "M. T."
Box 2, Folder 31
Margaret Thompson letter to unidentified recipient
approximately 1830 August 3
Scope and Contents
Letter is addressed to My dear Sir.
Box 2, Folder 32
S. Isabella Thompson letter to Catharina M. Briggs
1856 December 14
Scope and Contents
With envelope.
Box 2, Folder 33
T. P. Thompson letter to John Hobart Briggs
1823 February 15
Box 2, Folder 34
Unidentified author letter to Elizabeth
1870? February 9-27
Scope and Contents
Incomplete.
Box 2, Folder 35
Unidentified author letter to James
undated
Scope and Contents
Also enclosed: memoriam card for Thomas John Alderson.
Box 2, Folder 36
Ephemera
1841-approximately 1910
Scope and Contents
Includes: printed material, envelope, ribbon, and blank booklet.
Folder Oversize 1
Will of Samuel Dickens
1774 September 20
