UNRECORDED BROADSIDE From the Events which have Recently Taken Place Respecting Baptism

Mary Morris Knowles

Published by Lancaster C Clark 1809, 1809

About this Item

Unrecorded broadside by the Quaker poet, abolitionist and defender of women's liberties. Single sheet (32x16cm) printed on one side only, old folds and a few short tears and tiny chips to edges. The address to Lavinia and Lavinia's answer are printed in two columns, preceded by an introduction which mostly misprepresents the genesis of the text: 'From the events which have recently taken place respecting BAPTISM, the following Lines on the subject, written by a Clergyman to a Quaker young Lady (who had the early part of her education in this Town) to whom he was paying his addresses, and her Answer; are particularly applicable, and recommended to the perusal of the inhabitants of Kendal and its environs. Kendal, 1809'. The imprint however is placed in Lancaster, some 40 miles away. No other copies located. Throughout her life Knowles advocated liberty for English women, American colonists, enslaved Africans and French revolutionaries. Her published record is slight, much of her writing surviving in manuscript holdings. This poem however was written in the 1770s and published in A Compendium of a Controversy on Water-Baptism which opposes Lavinia and Clericus - the clergyman. Printed on one side only, this is an early reprint of Quaker Mary Morris Knowles' "A Compendium of a Controversy on Water-baptism", this copy credited to Mary Knowles in handwriting by a previous owner. It was first published anonymously in the 1770s as a controversy was between Mrs. Knowles and Rand, a clergyman of Coventry, in this copy the writer is named Lavinia. The poem is in two parts, follwoing an introduction that reads "From the events which have recently taken place respecting BAPTISM, the following Lines on the subject, written by a Clergyman to a Quaker young Lady (who had the early part of her education in this Town) to whom he was paying his addresses, and her Answer; are particularly applicable, and recommended to the perusal of the inhabitants of Kendal and its environs. Kendal, 1809". Then follows the clergyman's verse "to Lavinia, a Quaker, recommending Baptism to her", and then Lavinia's answer. Mary Knowles, née Morris (1733 1807) was a Quaker, a gifted speaker and religious activist, especially in the struggle against slavery. She was also an accomplished poet, writer and craftswoman creating embroidered pictures. Condition Quite a rare survival, this sheet has been folded once vertically, and four time horizontally. There is some creasing and slight loss to the edges, and some along the folds. The middle horizontal fold has lead to some holing over the text but it remains readable. Sold Please contact Christian White Rare Books Ltd for more information or images of this item. Seller Inventory # 8346

Bibliographic Details

Title: UNRECORDED BROADSIDE From the Events which ...

Publisher: Lancaster C Clark 1809

Publication Date: 1809