WOODVILLE

Corrie was the son of Rev. Josiah Corrie (1725-1800) of Kenilworth. He was educated at Daventry Academy and New College, Hackney. He was a schoolmaster and a Unitarian minister at the Old Meeting House (1817-19), and president of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, to which, in 1819, he introduced Maria Edgeworth, who notes in a letter her admiration for his 'very agreeable benevolent countenance, most agreeable voice'. In William Field's memoir of Dr Samuel Parr he is numbered among the 'clerical friends' in whose company Parr 'delighted'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, aged and with spike hole through the two leaves. According to Woodville's entry in the Oxford DNB he 'had expensive tastes, moved with a fast bohemian and sporting set, and enjoyed big-game hunting, pig-sticking, fishing, and, it is said, many extramarital affairs', and the present item supports that evaluation. After requesting the three double rooms he states: 'Our party is: Ourselfs. [sic] Mr. & Mrs. A. Broadwood Col. & Mrs. Holman'. He asks to be informed 'if it is allright [sic]' at his London address of 107 Queen's Gate, SW.

1p., 4to. The first page only; 42 lines. Addressed to 'Dear Mr Lynd'. On aged and heavily-worn paper, with holes causing loss to a few words of text. An interesting document, written within days of the atrocity. The author - presumably the owner of Woodville, W. E. A.