Poems

P O E M S

B Y

WILLIAM MASON, M. A.

THE FIFTH EDITION

Y O R K

T. CADELL

__________

MDCCLXXIX

DESCRIPTION

(ii) + 296 + (ii)

Book measures 190mm x 120mm approximately.

Bound in quarter calf over marbled boards. Probable 19th century spine with five raised gilt-ruled bands with elaborate herringbone style decoration to compartments, and maroon author label.

CONDITION

The binding is holding very firm. Both boards exhibit reasonable wear, scuffs and knocks with bumping to corners. Sympathetic repair marks of boards attachment to later spine visible, but not obtrusive. Spine in nice bright good condition. Internally the pages are uniformly aged with consistent browning although clean. Some foxing to paste-downs and end-papers. Previous owner inscription to front paste-down, plus ink inscriptions to front end-papers.

A very nice example of this rather rare volume.

INTERESTING

William Mason (1724 to 1797) was an English poet, amateur draughtsman, author, editor and gardener. He was born in Hull and educated at Hull Grammar School and St John's College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1754 and held a number of posts in the church. In 1747, his poem "Musaeus, a Monody on the Death of Mr. Pope" was published to acclaim and quickly went through several editions.

Among his other works are the historical tragedies Elfrida (1752) and Caractacus (1759) and a long poem on gardening, The English Garden (three volumes, 1772–82). His garden designs included one for the Viscount Harcourt. He entered the Church in 1754, and in 1762 became the precentor and canon of York Minster.

He was the friend, executor, and biographer of Thomas Gray, who was a great influence on his own work. In 1775 The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W[illiam]. Mason. York, was published. He was also a friend of Horace Walpole and Joshua Reynolds. Mason's artwork was considered worthy of showing at the Royal Academy between 1782 and 1786. In 1785, he was William Pitt the Younger's choice to succeed William Whitehead as Poet Laureate but refused the honour.

In 1797, Mason hurt his shin on a Friday while stepping out of his carriage. He was able to officiate in his church at Aston on the following Sunday. He died from the injury on the following Wednesday.