211075 Downing Record 07 - Downing College - University of ...

2. T. Hope, Observations on the Plans and Elevations designed by James Wyatt, architect,for Downing College, Cambridge; in a letter to Francis Annesley, Esq. M.P. (1804). TheCollege’s copy, in fine full burgundy morocco binding, bears the bookplate of Hope’sson, Alexander James Beresford Hope (1820–87), and may well have been the author’sown. A gift to the College Library by W. L. Cuttle in 1937. [Cuttle 151]3.. Letter by William Frere to Francis Annesley of 20th March 1807, making suggestionsfor the foundation stone ceremony. Much of the initiative seems to have lain withFrere, outlining a divine service with sermon, a meeting in the Senate House and then‘a procession, as it is called in academical language’. [DCPP/ANN/4/5]4. Single-sheet programme for ceremonial to be observed in the laying of the foundationstone, 18th May 1807. Several such programmes survive, which were presumablyproduced in large numbers for publicity purposes. [DCAR/2/3/1]5. Facsimile of the inscribed plate placed on the foundation stone, taken in stereotypemetal (see front cover and caption). [DCAR/2/3/1]6. Full text of the Latin oration given at the Senate House on 18th May 1807 by WilliamFrere, in his own hand. The speech rehearses at length the many merits of the newCollege, the first since Sidney Sussex: especially highlighted are the distinctiveness ofthe terms for Fellowships and Professorships, the generous provision for stipends, andthe singular nature of her architecture in establishing ‘the pure and uncorruptedbeauty of the Greek arts in the land of Britain’. [DCPP/FRE/1/4/1]7. Unattributed account of the events of 18th May 1807, also probably by Frere. Revealsthat Frere’s speech was given before the procession, departing from the order indicatedin the printed programme. [DCPP/ANN/5]8. Manuscript copy of a poem entitled ‘The Metamorphosis of Downing College’, writtenat the time of the laying of the foundation stone. Of some wit, the poem muses onthe transformation of Sir George Downing into a College, and may be the work ofWilliam Meeke or Samuel Grove. Donated to the Archives in 1973 by P. Barnwell.[DCPP/FREN/1/2/11]9. Governing Body Minute Book for the period 1800–7. Leather-bound volume includesfull printed edition of the Charter and Statutes, then handwritten summaries ofproceedings for the years 1800–5, and actual minutes for 1806–7. Early meetings wereheld in London; that of 19th May 1807 took place in the Provost’s Lodge, King’s.[DCGB/M/1/1]10. B. d’Herbelot, Bibliothèque orientale, ou Dictionnaire universel contenant tout ce quifait connoître les peuples de l’Orient, rev edn, 4 vols. (1777–82). First published in Paris,1697. The College’s copy bears a French inscription recording the book’s presentationto ‘Francis Annesley, doctor of Laws, Master of Downing College ... for the use of thestudents of that College, by his obedient servant Thomas Philipe, London 26thDecember 1809’. Thomas Philipe was a London print dealer with close connections tothe British Museum. This is the only book associated with Annesley’s Mastership, andhas a strong claim to be the earliest surviving acquisition by the College Library.[Downing 939–942]31