Autograph Letter Signed ('J Montgomery') from the poet James Montgomery to 'Miss A. Hodgson, Coupland's Lodgings', explaining his reasons for suggesting a title for her literary anthology.

3pp., 12mo. On bifolium. 50 lines. On aged and creased paper, with glue from mounting in album on reverse of second leaf, which carries the address. The letter begins: 'What think you of the Bazaar for a title for your new work. It is liable to the same objection which I made to your former one, being an outlandish word, but it is not French which is some recommendation, and it has been naturalized and associated so much with benevolent objects, of late, that I think it would be easier to find a worse than a better.' He does not know whether it has ever been 'used for a publication of any kind, and it would particularly suit one of a miscellaneous character, the profits of which (if any) were to be devoted to charity'. He admits that he 'may be quite mistaken as to its propriety, or the manner in which this oriental term may affect other persons, in such cases'. He continues to discuss the question for a full page, before giving the suggested full title: 'The Bazaar | of | Literary Contributions, | for purposes of Benevolence.' He concludes: 'Something more compact or elegant may be hereafter adopted; but this will serve for a ground work to improve upon.' There is no record in COPAC of a book published under a similar title during this period, nor of anything by 'A. Hodgson'.