Lot 337: [ Books ]

* Basire (James, the Younger, 1769-1822). Manuscript Journal kept by the printer/engraver in London, 1813-19, written to both sides of sixty-eight leaves in a legible hand, eighteen leaves blank at rear, beginning with family details concerning parents, wife and children, continuing with sporadic entries with notes on sermons, occasional notices of apprentices including on the first page James Dix (c. 1800-1855), '1st May 1813 ... he was bound this afternoon - seems a quiet study boy - I hope he'll prove a good boy in the best sense of the word - his father is by the same trade and works at the Bank', lengthy entries for attending a trial at the Old Bailey (2nd June 1813) where he sees many convictions for theft, forgery, etc., 'The trials being so numerous it would fill almost the book to enter them all ... I attended the day sentence was passed which was most awful & solemn - a scene which I think every youth should once in his life behold - the address of the reader to those sentenced to die was truly excellent. He recommended them in this most impassive manner to comply the remainder of the short time they had to be in this world in seeking the mercy of God ...', and feeling obliged to see the whole thing through Basire attends the executions on Thursday 29 July 1813, '... and at last came Birkett and he looked completely emaciated and not at all like the same man as he did at his trial - the ordinary standing before them could see but better of their countenances and their caps being pulled over their faces directly they were on the scaffold - the ordinary was particular in adjusting the fatal cord for the poor creatures but did not seem to me (in appearance) to take that pain with their souls I would have wished or expected to see - he might have done so before I do not judge him - but he was not five minutes with them before the board dropped from under them and they were launched into eternity - I understand by those around me the fatal signal is given by the ordinary which in his lifting his hand and wiping his mouth with his handkerchief - and this I observed he did and immediately the board fell down under their feet ...', plus occasional trips and day to day activities, loosely inserted a manuscript three-page memorial of J[ohn] Carter (1748-1817, draughtsman and architect), seemingly written by Basire and read at the funeral, contemp. vellum, sl. rubbed and soiled, small 4to (21 x 16cm). The Basire family of engravers including Isaac (1704-1768), James (1730-1802), James (1769-1822), and James (1796-1809), all four worked as engravers with overlapping periods of productivity, three not only showing the same name, but producing work that is difficult to tell apart. (1)