A personal account book belonging to Henry Collingwood Selby (1748 -1839) of Swansfield House, Alnwick and Holy Island covering the period circa. 1777 -1797. Page after page records his observations and his financial dealings with the great, good and notable persons of the area. Names and places are peppered throughout. Money is lent to Dr Thomas Percy, Dean of Carlisle and Chaplain to George III; also to Reverend John Brand the Chaplain to the Duke of Northumbria. The Reverend Percival Stockdale, distinguished poet, writer, reformer and abolitionist appears also on the pages. Financial dealings on behalf of the Duke of Northumberland are also recorded.
Accounts are kept for family members including his brother George Selby of Foxton Hall, his sister Mary and his father George Selby. An account under the name of his father dated 1782 on pp.38 refers to ‘the late Duchess’s portrait for me …. £5.0.0.’ and might possibly refer to the famous portrait by Joshua Reynolds at Alnwick Castle. Additional mention is made of his brother Prideaux Selby, a distinguished soldier who became a Canadian politician.
Collingwood’s own personal accounts are also included appearing in a very healthy state and his investments diverse. He owns a £200 share in the ship Jason. He holds India bonds and Exchequer Bills and in 1783 he buys for £500 a cottage, summer house and curtilage on Twickenham Common. A philanthropic spirit is also evident. pp.29 notes a loan of £50 cash to Samuel Pohl of London noting ‘Mr Pohl became a bankrupt in the year 1781….. I do not believe or expect I shall ever receive one sixpence of this pretty bargain’. On pp. 68 dated 1783 a loan of £18.2.0 is given to Sarah Wright, a poor woman in distress who signs with a crude mark. pp. 24 reveals ‘I hired Sebastian Henderson of Paston to be my gardener at Swansfield….. I agreed to give S Henderson £20 a year…(far too high wages for so old a man).
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Contemporary calf bound ruled accounts book in good condition. Boards are scuffed, the calf peeling in places particularly to the top. ‘Book [5]’ written to front. Spine worn to tip. Joint with front board cracking revealing binding below. Marbled endpapers faded, clean. Internally text block is clean and legible throughout, densely filled. A sound volume overall. 4 pp. alphabetical index followed by 135 numbered leaves of double page accounts including observations and notes. Inlaid are several slips of paper noting accounts, a piece of pink well used blotting paper and a pink page ribbon.
