Description of University of Pennsylvania Ms. Codex 1638: Commonplace book The University of Pennsylvania Libraries This description is ©2016 University of Pennsylvania Libraries. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License version 4.0 (CC-BY-4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. For a description of the terms of use see the Creative Commons Deed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. All referenced images and their content are free of known copyright restrictions and in the public domain. See the Creative Commons Public Domain Mark page for usage details, http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. Ms. codex. Title supplied by cataloger. Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Rare Book & Manuscript Library Ms. Codex 1638 5790408 http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/medren/5790408 This commonplace book was written by Wright to impart knowledge and ideas to his son Charles and daughter Euphemia. The first seven leaves of the book contain patient prescriptions for various medical ailments in abbreviated Latin. The entries are listed chronologically beginning 16 May 1780, with the inclusion of patient name and age. A table of contents follows, listing the title, author, and page of each of the poems, prose passages, quotes, elegies, hymns, and prayers copied by Wright. The items are by various English authors and there are some quotations from the Bible. The items recorded by Wright are often followed by his comments, explanation, interpretation, or advice that are sometimes addressed to Charles and Euphemia. Some of the authors Wright copied are, Alexander Selkirk, William Cowper, Alexander Pope, James Beattie, and Mrs. (Anna Letitia) Barbauld. Following the excerpts of prose and poetry are original writings by Wright on various topics from his life experience. He has titled some Maxims or axioms. Other topics by Wright include love, marriage, truthfulness, bashfulness, modesty, the keeping of birds and beasts, and sense and nonsense. The last two leaves of the volume are written upside-down. On these leaves Wright has recorded information regarding correspondence related to his wine importing business. The leaves include names of clients, dates, amount of port, and costs. English with the first 13 pages in Latin Commonplace book Wright, John, M. D former owner Stratham, Ann recipient Wright, Euphemia recipient Wright, Charles William Henry

paper

 62 leaves : 187 x 123 mm. bound to 187 x 123 mm Paper, 62 leaves; 1-16, [i-ii], 17-115, [116-122], contemporary pagination in ink, upper outside corner. Each page written in black ink. on unlined paper, some pages are divided into columns or quadrants, some pages written oblong, starting from the back cover the last two leaves written upside-down. Written in cursive and print by John Wright.

Contemporary brown cardboard covers with illegible ink writing, leather spine.

probably written in London, England.

1780-1800 London, England Formerly owned by Ann Statham (inscription on inside front cover: Book written by my great grandfather (maternal) Dr. Wright. Ann Statham). Sold by Justin Croft Antiquarian Books (Faversham, England), 2012. English poetry--18th century Port wine--Early works to 1800 Medicine--Formulae, receipts, prescriptions--Early works to 1800 Codices Commonplace books Poems Prescriptions Maxims Manuscripts, English--18th century Manuscripts, European