Title

Letter from Thomas Chatterton to William Barrett, 1769.Artist: Thomas Chatterton

Caption

Letter from Thomas Chatterton to William Barrett, 1769. Letter from the poet Thomas Chatterton to William Barrett, surgeon of Bristol, who had remonstrated with him for a letter he had written to Michael Clayfield avowing an intention of suicide. The circumstances under which the letter was written are explained by the following endorsement: Mr Lambert, Chatterton's Master, found a letter on Chatterton's desk to Mr Clayfield telling his wants and distress and that on Clayfield's recieving that, he (Chatterton) should be no more. This letter Mr Lambert sent to Mr Barrett; on which he sent for Chatterton, questioned him on the occasion in a very friendly manner, shewed the horrible crime of suicide and the cursed principle he had adopted, and Chatterton afterwards sent Mr Barrett this letter. From the fourth series of Facsimiles of royal, historical, literary and other autographs in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum: Series I - V, (London, 1899).
The Print Collector collection

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Reference

HRM19C17_245

Model release

No

License type

Rights managed

Available size

50,2Mb (2,8Mb) / 11,3in x 17,3in / 3379 x 5195 (300dpi)

Keywords

arts letter color colour death century handwriting literature concept suicide correspondence signature manuscript facsimile poetry poet 18th century Eighteenth Century The Print Collector photograph William Thomas Chatterton William Barrett Barrett Chatterton Thomas William Barrett photograph