1818.]. Pocket notebook neatly penned in a single hand in brown ink throughout, small 12mo (89 x 52mm) ; pp. [iv] title page and preface, 225, ‘Appendix’, 226 - 250, 251-259 index, [1] blank, ‘Appendix continued’, 261-400, 401-405 index, 406 - 409 blank leaves (including endpaper which is nos); some occasional light foxing, with some light browning to paper throughout; an appealing stationary binding of full red polished calf with wallet style folding flap, with marbled endpapers, spine in compartments ruled in gilt with gilt oval motif, all edges gilt, top edge a little discoloured, joints and extremities somewhat rubbed, lightly scratched and a little darkened, but otherwise very good; neatly inscribed in ink at head of front free endpaper, 'John Hoult, Dudley. Dec. 20 1818'. A beautifully executed pocket compilation of psalms and hymns, penned in a single, neat and very legible hand, and is we believe, a direct transcription of an provincial edition of Richard Cecil’s compilation of canonical psalms first published in 1795. Cecil (1748-1810), a leading Evangelical Anglican priest, later expanded his version to include Hymns for the principal festivals of the Church of England, and the work reached a thirty second edition by 1840. A comparison with the twenty-first edition of 1816, published in London by Seeley, shows this to be identical - although that 1816 printed edition ends at p. 260, whereas our copy continues with a Second Appendix.
The front free endpaper has been inscribed by one John Hoult, and is dated ‘Dudley, Dec 20th 1818’, and we believe him to be the author of what must have been a true labour of love and devotion. Dudley is based in the West Midlands of England, not far from Birmingham, and a further variant of Cecil’s Psalms was published there by Beilby, Knott, and Beilby under the title ‘Selection of Psalms and Hymns used by the Congregations of St. Mary’s Chapel, Birmingham and St. James’s Chapel, Ashted’ in 1807 (described as the 7th edition, although no further issues located and copies only located at the British Library). This Birmingham version matches that of the later London edition, but includes the continued second appendix from pp. 261-405, suggesting that Hoult was working from this Birmingham edition. It too, is described as being in 12mo, and Hoult has worked hard to ensure that his work matches the printed version page for page - although has allowed himself to extend the final index to an additional page! It must have been a painstaking exercise - and Hoult was clearly a skilled copy-writer.
Richard Cecil was associated with the Clapham Sect whose best known member was William Wilberforce, and was a founding member and leader of the Eclectic Society, an evangelical Anglican society which was started along with John Newton and Henry Foster.