Letter from Maria Hackett to Mr. Nichols

By Bradley F.

Introduction
The letter appears to be sent by Maria Hackett to a man addressed as Mr. Nichols who seems to be her printer. The letter shows Miss Hackett is ordering five-hundred more sheets for her book to be printed. She indicates that Mr. N. will be available to give the “necessary directions” to the copper plate printers for engravings.

Notes on the Letter
The letter appears to have no date written on it, is only one page in length, and does not seem to be stamped. At the top of the letter, has Miss Hackett’s last name and first initial as well as her position in relation to the book as its authoress are written, which was mostly likely done from William Upcott to note who the author was since the letter is unsigned. Miss Hackett writes in third-person as well as in an authoritative and confident manner in approving the sheet's printing. The handwriting is relatively well spaced and clean but does have certain messier points. This seems to be the case with small letters in the endings of the words that tendency to blend, as well as small rounded letters having ink bleed which can make it difficult to interpret at some points. One habit she seems to have in her writing is in how she writes the letter “p” in not closing-off the loop. Lastly, the letter also leaves white spaces in between what is mostly likely Upcott’s signing at the top, and at the bottom of the letter from the main body.

Analysis

The contents of the letter suggest that it is business by nature. The purpose of the letter is that Hackett is approving sheets to be printed as she is checking and correcting them for her book in production. Hackett’s letter discusses that the “first sheet” can be printed immediately from the copper plate printer due to there being “so few capitals”. What Miss Hackett is discussing in context of the book is the copper plate printing process for the engravings of images within her book as this was done separately from the letter press’s own process.

Additional Details

As Maria Hackett only published one book A Popular Description of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the printing most likely refers to one of the many editions of the book, although it cannot be identified which it is due to the lack of signed date. What lead into its creation was a concern with the St. Paul’s cathedral in how they treated the choristers. Her interest in this sparked when she enrolled a boy named Wintle in the cathedral as part of the choir  (Gedge, 466). When she then learned of the poor treatment of the choristers, she began researching what rights they were entitled to, she began sending a series of letters to the heads of the church to better their treatment (Gattens). From then on, she became involved in bettering the choristers’ lives and her interest in the church that stemmed from her research then led into her publishing. (Gedge, 470).