Manuscript commonplace book and album of Emily Griffin, perhaps a gift to be filled in by her friends before she left for India and kept for new friends when she arrived there. Included are a number of poems from well wishers before her voyage out to India in 1826, together with quotes and extracts from Byron, Cowper, H.H. White and other contemporary poets. Also before she left, Mary Ann Bloxam (1807-1880), an accomplished porcelain painter, contributed two pages to the album with fine watercolors of flowers and a poem. Among the material collected when in India are the contributions by the orientalist and antiquary James Prinsep (1799-1840), including watercolors and sketches.
- Author: Griffin, Emily, 1803-1884.
- Title: Emily Griffin commonplace book : manuscript.
- Production: London and India, 1827-1835
LWL Mss Vol. 281
Acquired February 2023
Ten hand-colored engravings, depicting scenes from the Battle of Seringapatnam, form the border of a writing sheet, one each along the upper and lower edges and four on either side. Illustrations include, at the top, a battle scene; portraits of the British generals, Harris and Stuart; Tippoo Saib discovered among the slain, Tippoo’s sons surrender; A sepoy upon a charge, An Indian soldier; Tippoo Sultan, Tippoo Sultan’s wife; a design with flags, drums, cannons, swords and bugles. The battle scene and the image with the two sons include images of elephants.
