[Day, F. Holland] Two Small Manuscripts, and Two ALS to FHD Regarding William Hazlitt Brass Memorial]

Offered here are two one-page Fred Holland Day manuscripts, and two letters to Day (both 1890, see descriptions following) concerning a plan, along with his close friend Louise Imogen Guiney, to put up a plaque in memory of William Hazlitt (at Hazlitt's church). FHD (1864-1933) was a prominent American photographer and publisher, circling in both literary and photography circles in the late Nineteenth Century, and co-founder of Copeland & Day, a Boston publisher who produced Beardsely's Salome and about 100 titles. 1) Two autograph letters signed: the first, dated Sept. 10, 1890, from Edwin F. Dyke, Maidstone, from the Vicarage, Sept two pages. "... if you will send me the design for the brass tablet you would desire to place in my church in memory of William Hazlett and will be content to omit the last 3 lines of the enclosed inscription, I will see what I can to fall in with your wishes... etc." The second letter is dated Sept. 9, 1890, two pages, from Nigel Wade at St. Anne's Rectory in Soho answering Day's request to erect a Hazlitt memorial... Wade replies (in part) "You mention that you found there is no memorial to William Hazlitt in "Anne's".. you can scarcely be aware that in the will arrangement of the Church fund we carefully requested that a William Hazlitt large memorial stone...[be erected, etc]" He goes on to say he can't think it possible to establish a new memorial, and returns the manuscript Day sent him, etc. 2) Two corrected manuscript pages (in FHD's hand, of the inscription he and Guiney wanted to have on the plaque. The first, 4 x 5 inches in Day's hand: "To William Hazlitt [date of birth and death crossed out]. 2 [sic] young Americans in the year of grace 1890 with heartfelt homage dedicate this brass [underscore line] Keep time, in dark Soho what once was Hazlitt/ Truth, having there her lover and outrider/ Forgets not her great power, herself shall claim it." This was the infamous three lines which Dyke (see above) asks Day to delete. The second, 4 x 5 1/2 inches, on blue paper and red ink has changes to the plaque and a big X over the last three lines! A rather elongated story, but a significant one, with Day writing in earnest, but meeting some opposition, and a fascinating record herewith of the process in which Day was committed to completing the project.