The manuscript of a Christian Hebraist, a Wiltshire vicar in the last quarter of the 18th century, with a fascination for languages. Rev Edward Spencer has transcribed John Parkhurst’s Hebrew Grammar and followed it with an abbreviated version of Byrom’s Universal Shorthand, completing his study with several test transcriptions that he set himself: one of Dr Shylock’s sermons, a passage from the Spectator and the trial proceedings against an English Secretary of State. Already vicar of Winkfield when he began this manuscript in 1770, it overlaps with his time in Oxford at St Edmund Hall and emerges from the English scholarly engagement of the time with Jewish rabbinical commentaries as a way of gaining direct access to the Hebrew Bible - the Old Testament.
DESCRIPTION: Contemporary marbled boards over calf spine, worn but holding and vellum corners. Two inscriptions to upper cover, first by the author: ‘E Libris Eduardo Spencer Winkfield’ and above that a son or grandson: ‘Jos Bur. Spencer.’ Edward Spencer’s pencil inscription to flyleaf and the date ‘9 Nov 1770.’
John Parkhurst’s 1762 Hebrew Grammar runs to 33 paginated pages and a further 14 unpaginated, neatly written in a mixture of Roman and Hebrew lettering. A single blank precedes The Universal English Short-hand or the Art of Writing English in the Most Easy, Concise... manner (1767), [40]. Spencer concludes his manuscript, ending with shorthand transcriptions of ‘Part of Dr Sherlock Bishop of London’s first Semons’ followed by a Passage from ‘State Trials: Vol 5 page 605’, the Habeas Corpus proceedings against William Trumbull (1639-1716) for treason, transcribing in shorthand the speech of Sir Bartholomew Shower. The final bifolium is a loose addition to the bound manuscript allowing Spencer to continue his exercise.
Edward Spencer (1740-1819) was ordained in 1762, attending St Edmund Hall, Oxford, where he taught Thomas De Quincey. He became vicar of Winkfield (as it then was) in 1775 and remained in the parish until his death 44 years later to be succeeded in the living by his son.
PROVENANCE: Laid in: Maurice G Rathbone, TLS, 1973 to Rev Arthur Morris offering a brief biography of Rev Spencer & similar from John Pryor at the Church House, Dean’s Yard.
Arthur Morris letter to ‘Kenyon’ presenting the manuscript, and explaining that it had come through his wife Madeleine’s family, by descent.
