The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 6)

[waiteohman]

Nathaniel Bryceson's Book Bag (books, maps, etc.) per diary entries:
Jan 7: small book for accounts ...
Jan 26: book … on Human Longevity …
Human longevity: recording the name, age, place of residence, and year, of the decease of 1712 persons, who attained a century, & upwards, from A.D. 66 to 1799, comprising a period of 1733 years, with anecdotes of the most remarkable / compiled by James Easton, 1823.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09l6/
Feb 21: print of William Hogarth in gilt frame … date thereof 1795.
Feb 24: antique Pocket Bible … date 1648
Pious annotations upon the holy Bible by Giovanni Diodati (2nd edition) translated by R.G, 1648. A 40 page book. Google books notes a reference with this ‘Giovanni Diodati, the uncle of John Milton's best friend, Charles’ and Nat did purchase a print with subject John Milton. Surely must be the book.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09l7/
Apr 2nd:  'The Portrait of John Milton the Poet at the age of 21 years’ http://www.rootschat.com/links/09ky/
Apr 30: five maps – parts of London and its suburbs – dated 1790 to 1800
May 22: Ainsworth’s ‘Latin-English and English-Latin Dictionary’ dated 1761
Thesaurus linguæ latinæ compendiarius: or, a compendious dictionary of the Latin tongue: designed for the use of the British nations: In three parts. ... By Robert Ainsworth. – printed by H. Woodfall and C. Rivington, for W. Mount and T. Page, C. Hitch and L. Hawes, B. Barker, J. Pote [and 19 others in London], 1761
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09l8/
Jul 6: eight old prints 
Jul 17: engraving ‘Death of General Wolfe’ by Woollett, framed and glazed, dated 1776
http://website.nbm-mnb.ca/Wolfe/ThePhenomenon.html
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09l9/
Aug 14: ‘Johnson’s Dictionary’ 1786 … condition first rate, bound in russet leather
Johnson’s dictionary / Samuel Johnson. – printed for J.F. and C. Rivington, L. Davis, T. Longman, 1786
A later entry, Aug 23 emphasis’ his interest in literary works and persons. “ before 8 o’clock took walk with Ann through the Strand and Fleet Street, Gough Square and Johnson’s Court where Dr Johnson composed his English Dictionary”
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09la/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson
He must have influenced Ann as Aug 21st she bought old edition of ‘The Whole Duty of Man’, with very good plates.

[waiteohman]

Mrs Patton & Mrs. S were a real interest to Nat as they lived and were living long lives. I doubt it had anything to do with the sex of the person.

He also noted older men. Aug 17 entry mentions Sir Charles Wetherell's death and he of age 75 years.

Linda

[Ruskie]

Thanks for compiling that list Linda!  It makes interesting reading.

[Siamese Girl]

Thanks for compiling that list Linda!  It makes interesting reading.

Interesting reading? I'm not sure that was my first thought reading through that list! 
Even for 1846 that was a heavy reading list for a 20 year old. He should have been amusing himself reading novels by people like Sir Walter Scott and Captain Marryat - or, considering I'm increasingly seeing him as one of those quirky characters that inhabit his novels - Charles Dickens.

Carole

[steve_gus]

Nowadays Ann would have bought a copy of "OK" or "Hello Magazine, whilst Nat read FHM or Nuts.

 

 Ive read FHM whilst waiting at my Barbers. I found some quite nice 'plates' and illustrations on those pages too. Guess it was the wrong magazine if you were more interested in carpentry. 

[nestagj]

Nowadays Ann would have bought a copy of "OK" or "Hello Magazine, whilst Nat read FHM or Nuts.

[Ruskie]

Thanks for compiling that list Linda!  It makes interesting reading.

Interesting reading? I'm not sure that was my first thought reading through that list! 
Even for 1846 that was a heavy reading list for a 20 year old. He should have been amusing himself reading novels by people like Sir Walter Scott and Captain Marryat - or, considering I'm increasingly seeing him as one of those quirky characters that inhabit his novels - Charles Dickens.

Carole

No no no  - I didn't mean that the books would have been interesting to read ... I meant that it was interesting to see the list of books that Nathaniel bought. 

[waiteohman]

I suspect the interesting reading may be a desire of a further education, which may not have been in reach. A cut above others, being able to read & write, but not enough to pursue his interests, possibly architecture or writing and/or taken seriously as Carole mentioned. Likely many of the young men in his immediate surroundings didn't share his interests / desires. He went off viewing the buildings, buying books of interest, doing his own thing.

In human longevity, this might be the oldest man NB has noted so far.
Feb 1: Saw a very aged man at the top of Maiden Lane near Copenhagen House, with a large placard on his breast stating his age to be 92 years.  Gave him a penny for the curiosity of himself, for old age was written in his face and limbs.

Linda

[waiteohman]

Feb 1 Top of Maiden Lane near Copenhagen House NB passes the 92 year old man.
http://www.londonancestor.com/views/vb-copen.htm
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09lk/
http://archivemaps.com/mapco/cary1837/cary11.htm

One could insert the old man and NB giving him a penny near Copenhagen House. The second link has a pic and is a book with publication date 1881, so no violation of copyright. Maybe something the restoration board would consider doing. Would make an interesting addition to a life story, if one was written. I will ask them.

Update: Link to representative image for Feb 1 diary entry
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=478344.new

Linda