Mary Pilkington's Applications and Communication with Members of the Royal Literary Fund (1810-1825)

The following collection of transcriptions contains Mary Pilkington’s eight letters to associated members of the Royal Literary Fund, penned between 1810 and 1825. These letters were addressed to notable figures like Charles Lamborn, Charles Symmons, and James Anderson. This collection of letters is held at the Archives of the Royal Literary Fund Collection in the British Library. Online access to these digitized letters is available at the Nineteenth Century Collections Online (NCCO) database. Please see Gale Document Number AEMUVC545227217 to view the corresponding digitizations to the below transcriptions.

Pilkington’s handwritten communications are too unclear for transcription technology to record, and her difficult handwriting makes her letters relatively inaccessible to modern readers. The NCCO, the only source where this collection is available online, is also not a free or easily accessible resource outside of academic circles. Transcribing these primary documents begins the process of circumventing barriers to the informational accessibility of this collection. These transcribed letters seek to provide currently inaccessible information in more easily reachable, digital forms, and to increase the amount of primary information available for the revision of Pilkington's several online biography resources, most of which contain contradictory or insufficient details on her life and career.

This collection of letters also contains the correspondence of Pilkington’s friends, Louisa West and Margaret Barnett (who acted as a financial representative for Pilkington), as well as letters by Royal Literary Fund members, James Anderson and S. Thomas. However, this collection of transcriptions only focuses on the eight letters penned in Pilkington's own hand to the Royal Literary Fund.

Transcription Notes:

[?] Indicates a tentative reading of a word in the transcription.

[ ] Indicates a word Pilkington has inserted above the regular line of text.

Pilkington's Eight Letters to the RLF: Relevant Information and Diplomatic Transcriptions

Letter I.

Mary Pilkington to Charles Lamborn

Dated: June 2, 1810

Sender’s address: “Brook Green Hammersmith”

NCCO Page Numbers: 2-6

RLF Grant Awarded: "£10 Voted"

Diplomatic Transcription:

                                          Brook Green Hammersmith

                                                           June 2nd 1810

Sir

              I  am aware that I ought to apologize for taking

the liberty of addressing a Gentleman to whom I have

not the honour of being personally known; yet the only

apology I can venture to offer, is, the Conviction I feel 

that the Benevolence must actuate the feelings

of that Being who undertakes the office of Secretary

to an Institution established upon the basis of 

Humanity.—

                 When first informed Sir that a fund

had been established for the Reward & Support

of Literary Merit, struggling under Sickness, or 

Misfortune, my heart glowed with sensations of

Delight, & most sincerely did I regret not being

able to add my [mite?] to such a noble proof of

Feeling & Generosity, little imagining I should be

[page break]

reduced to the necessity [of imploring aid] from that beneficent 

Institution I so much admired.—

                                     In what manner to

apply for that assistance Sir, of which I stand,

in so much need, I am wholly Ignorant, allow me

then to ask whether it ought to be in the form of

a Petition addressed to the Benevolent Society

at Large or in a statement of facts made

to one of the Benevolent Member’s.— if the

latter measure is most orderly, I should esteem 

it a particular favour Sir if you would indulge

me with a list of the Governors, & Subscribers,

as I doubt not, but there may be some amongst

the numbers to whom as an Individual, & an

Author, I may be known.—

                                  If a simple statement

of my real Situation should alone be necessary,

[page break]

I will in as few words as possible impart it.—

                            Permit me then to inform

you Sir, that I am the Daughter of the late Mr

Hopkins an eminent Surgeon at Cambridge;

I was Educated under the prospect of enjoying

an Independant, if not an affluent Fortune

but either by an Error in the form of the title

Deed of our Estate, or by the illegal Conduct

of a Brother of my Father’s, it was Claimed

by him, as Heir Male, & at the age of fifteen

I was therein destitute upon the World with

only a few Hundred Pounds the Legacy of 

my Grandfather to support me.—The same 

dark Cloud which overspread my flattering

Prospects, overshadowed those of an amiable

and tenderly attached Mother, whose Mind

dimming under the weight of afflictions [she] fell

[page break]

a Prey to the most dreadful of all human Infirmi[ties]

Insanity.— from this deplorable Situation

she was at length rescued by the kind attentions 

of Doctor Monro, & in a few years afterwards

I married Mr Pilkington a surgeon, at a 

time when my trifling Legacy was nearly 

expended in the Support of my Mother & Self—

Mr P- was endorsed with an amiable Disposition

& a generous Heart; but alas! totally devoid

of Worldly Prudence, & in very short time

[he] was compelled to resign his Situation & seek

Support in the Navy.— various were the Plans

which my friends suggested both before, &

after this second [Trial?]; Fortune however

smiled not upon my Undertakings; for

though I could have supported my Self the

expenses attending my poor Mother, exceeded

[page break]

the Income derived from Exertion.— at length

I obtained a desirable Situation as Private

Governess to four Motherless Children, which for

some years I filled with Credit to my Self, &

I trust, advantage to my youthful [unknown];

but a succession of Ill-health compelled me

to resign this comfortable Situation, & involved

me in heavy Expences.— Upon regaining

the most valuable of human Blessings, I 

resolved to convert those talents which had

been cultivated for Amusement, into the 

Mean’s of Support; & from that period Sir

my time & attention have been chiefly devoted

to the improvement of the rising Generation—

though by way of diversifying my Occupation

I have written a Biographical Dictionary

of celebrated Female Characters, & two, or three

[page break]

Moral Novels.—  A succession of Ill health

has for the past two year’s not only retarded

my Literary Pursuits, but deprived me of that

Vigour of Mind so essentially necessary to

an Author.— but this Sir I should have borne

without repining, [on?] Application, had I not

for the past six Weeks laboured under a

most dreadful Nervous Fever which prevents

me from making the Slightest Execution.—

five & twenty Pounds I paid last year for Medicines

which together with the loss of Thirty Guineas

from a Draft given me by Mr Hughes the

Bookseller, a short time before he became a

Bankrupt have involved me in difficulties

which prey upon my Feelings & render

ineffectual every Medical execution for my

Recovery.— The idea of making application

[page break]

to that Benevolent Institution which does so

much honour to Humanity struck me during 

a Sleepless Night near a Fortnight back,

but inability to state my Case prevented

me from soliciting that Aid, I so ardently

Implore, & so fervently Request.—

                                       To you Sir I again

apologize for trespassing so long upon your time

& Patience; but if through your representation

I am to receive but the Slightest assistance

the most lively emotions of Gratitude will be

excited.—

            Allow me only to add that I have for

several years been a Widow; that my poor

Mother (who is now near Eighty) still depends

upon me for Sustenance, & that it has been

the Will of Heaven, not my own Imprudence

which has reduced me to the present state of

Distress.— I have the Honour of being Sir your

          Respectful Humble Servant M Pilkington

[End Transcription]

Notes: This letter was Pilkington's first application to the Royal Literary Fund, for which she was awarded £10 assistance. Following the bankruptcy of one of her publishers, many years without a raise to the salary she received for her work on The Lady's Monthly Museum, a period of severe illness in 1810, and the continued financial strain of caring for her elderly mother, Pilkington was only then ready to apply for support and be "reduced to the necessity [of imploring aid] from that beneficent Institution." This application comes four months before her Letter to Charles Sharpe, in which she politely requests her compensation from her publisher, but does not reveal her truly dire financial situation, as she does in this letter to Charles Lamborn.

Letter II. 

Mary Pilkington to Doctor [Charles] Symmons

Dated: June 22, 1810

Sender’s address: “Brook Green Hammersmith”

NCCO Page Numbers: 10-11

RLF Grant Awarded: Unknown

Diplomatic Transcription:

                                    Brook Green Hammersmith

                                                     June 22 –

Sir

                  From a Letter which I had the pleasure of

receiving from Dr. Anderson on Saturday afternoon

I am induced to take the liberty of addressing you, which

sanctioned by that Gentlemans Recommendation, I flatter

my self you will Pardon.—

                                     An increase of that indisposi-

tion Sir, under which I have for some time laboured

renders that benevolent assistance I ventured to implore

doubly essential; for as the Mind participates in the

Bodys Weakness, I am rendered incapable of making

the slightest Literary exertion; in fact, it is with

the utmost difficulty I am capable of expressing my

sentiments upon this to me most interesting Business

                          Doctor Anderson Sir did me the 

honour of informing me, that he had represented 

my Situation to you in strong terms, adding that a

[page break]

General Committee would meet on Monday and he

did not doubt something would be done for my Relief

                                  This information Sir acted

as a balm to my depressed Feelings but from not

having had the Honour of any intelligence of the

kind from you, I begin to fear my Hopes have been

elevated but to be the more depressed.— the Disease

under which I labour is of so Lowering a nature that

I am led to consider it as Incurable, though the Medical

Gentleman assures me Time will restore me to Health.—

should they be Mistaken Sir my poor Aged Mothers Situation

will be truly Pitiable, & the idea of her Sufferings 

[illegible deleted word] affect me so deeply that I believe it increases

my Complaint.

                             If Sir through your exertion, & Doctor

Andersons recommendation, the solicitation I have made

should be thought worthy of attention, the most sentiments

of Gratitude will be excited in the breast of

                                              Your Devoted

                                                   Humble Servant

                                                       M Pilkington

Doctor Symmonds

[End Transcription]

Letter III.

Mary Pilkington to the Committee (of the Royal Literary Fund)

Dated: June 23, 1810

Sender’s address: “Brook Green”

NCCO Page Numbers: 12

RLF Grant Awarded: Pilkington acknowledges she has "received Ten Guineas"

Diplomatic Transcription:

                              Brook Green June 23d

                                                          1810

Gentlemen

              I am at a loss to find Language to

express the Grateful sense I entertain of your

Kindness in attending to my Solicitation

                          An increase of Indisposition

prevents me from expressing my Sentiments

on those Terms the nature of your liberality

requires—

                      Permit however to say that

I have this moment received Ten Guineas

from your Liberal Society by the hands

of Mr Lamborn & to [Inscribe?] my self

              Your truly obliged 

                   And Grateful Hum[ble] Serv[t]

                            Mary Pilkington

[End Transcription]

Notes: This letter to the Royal Literary Fund Committee was penned one day after her previous letter, which she sent to request the answer to her application for support. Here, Pilkington politely acknowledges that she had "[that] moment received" the assistance she required, presumably to overwrite her request in her letter from the previous day.

Letter IV.

Pilkington to Doctor [James] Anderson

Dated: Jan. 16, 1815

Sender’s address: “Barkway (Hertfordshire)”

NCCO Page Numbers: 20-21

RLF Grant Awarded: "£10 Voted"

Diplomatic Transcription:

                            Barkway (Hertfordshire) Jan 16, 1815

Sir

                  Reflecting with Gratitude upon the readiness

with which you so kindly exerted your self in my favour in

the deplorable Illness under which I laboured some few years

ago I once more take the liberty of soliciting the favor of your

benevolent executions on an occasion somewhat similar.— 

                                       Permit me to inform you Sir that

for the last Twelve months my Health has been so Indifferent

that I have only been able to obtain a trifling Resource from

my Literary Exertions; but within the last four months, a

Nervous Disorder has totally incapacited me for every 

species of Composition, and the apprehension of that Poverty

which must arise from an incapability of Mental or Bodily

Exertion is truly dreadful.—

                                        That I have an aged Mother

Sir, (now upwards of Fourscore) who in great measure

depends upon my Exertions for the necessities of Existence  

I believe you are no Stranger to; a Circumstance which

greatly adds to the anguish of my feelings at finding

my self incapable of exerting my talents; but so completely

[page break]

suspended are my [Powers of Composition] that I am forced to write

two or three Copies of a Letter before I can venture to send

one to the Post.—

                         Thus unfortunately situated Sir, permit

me once more to implore you to represent my necessities

to the Generous Supporters of the Literary Fund; and 

if through your benevolent exertions I should once

more be thought worthy of receiving Success* from that

Noble Institution, my Heart will glow with sensations

of Gratitude— 

                With the liveliest Sentiments of Respect

      and Esteem I have the Honor of being Sir 

                    your greatly Obliged

                           and Obedient Hum[ble] Serv[t]

                                 M Pilkington

Doctor Anderson

[End Transcription]

Letter V.

Pilkington to Anderson

Dated: Feb. 5, 1815

Sender’s address: “Barkway” 

NCCO Page Numbers: 22-24 [this letter is unlabelled by the NCCO “Notes” section]

RLF Grant Awarded: Unknown

Diplomatic Transcription:

                                                   Barkway Feb 5th 1815

Sir

                     Permit me to express the Gratitude of my Feelings

for the readiness with which you have undertaken to represent my

unfortunate Situation to the benevolent Supporters of the Literary

Institution, a Situation Sir which could you behold, you would

acknowledge to be truly Deplorable, for so completely does the 

Malady under which I labour affect both Mind, & Body, that I am

totally incapable of every Exertion, and that Being [illegible deleted word]

Sir, who has thought proper to afflict me, can alone tell what may

be the Consequence.—

                          If through your generous exertions Sir,

I should receive a temporary assistance grateful will be

the sensations it inspires; and my last Letter more fully

represented my Situation than I am capable of doing at the

Present time, as I grieve to say, the Nervous Malady

under which I labour, is greatly increased since that time.

                        As you express a wish Sir of knowing in

what manner my Time has been occupied since I last

received that [success?] which I venture to implore again,

permit me to inform you that I have largely contributed

[page break]

to Periodical Publications, particularly the Female

Preceptor, in which are several Sermons (or rather

Religious Discourses) from my Pen.— I have also written

a description of the Isle of Thanet, [unknown]

for young Persons.— Biography of Sacred Characters

intended to promote the general use of the Bible; a

Work which has now been at the Press more than a Twelve

-month, but which - I trust next Month will make

its appearance.— I have likewise written an other 

Moral Work Sir for young Persons, which I left with

Mr Darton previous to my quitting the Metropolis,

but which from the confusion of Ideas with which I am

affected I can not recollect the Title.— in short Sir

from the Time that the Almighty blessed me with the power

of exerting my Faculties again, I have not been one moment

Idle.— Finding that my [Necessities?] were very pressing

and that Mr Harris was not inclined to purchase my

Productions as fast as I could compose them, I was induced 

to place greater Confidence in a species of Novel

which I disposed of to Mr Newman.—

[page break]

I think I have now Sir given you a correct statement

Of my Compositions since my Recovery at least as far as

my recollection will admit; and I am convinced that your

goodness will attribute the incorrectness of the Style to that

[illegible deleted word] Disease under which I labour, and which

is the Cause of my imploring the Relief of the Benevolent –

That I have a Mother Sir – upwards of fourscore, who

depends upon my Exertions for the necessities of Existence

is a Circumstance which renders my Case doubly Pitable

But it is on your Representation Sir that I can alone

[venture?] to rely for assistance.—

                   With the liveliest sentiments of Gratitude 

For past acts of kindness I have the honor of being Sir

                               Your truly Obliged &

                                    Obedient Humble Servant

                                             M Pilkington

If it is necessary Sir for the

Medical Gentleman of this place

to state the Incapability I am

reduced to, [illegible deleted word] he will with pleasure do it, I am certain —

[page break]

To Doctor Anderson

Hammersmith

With Speed 

New London

[End Transcription]

Letter VI.

Pilkington to Anderson

Dated: Feb. 14, 1815

Sender’s address: “Barkway (Hertfordshire)”

NCCO Page Numbers: 25-26

RLF Grant Awarded: Letter includes: "Mrs. Pilkington acknowledging £10."

Diplomatic Transcription:

                               Barkway (Hertfordshire) Feb 14th

                                                                        1815

Sir

    Permit me to express my most grateful acknowledgments

for your generous interference in my behalf: and at the 

same time allow me to intreat that you will have the

goodness to convey to the Benevolent Supporters of the

Literary Fund my warm and sincere Thanks for their

acceptable Boon of Ten Pounds for alas Sir! Heaven

only knows whether I shall ever again derive support

from my Talents as I grieve to say, I Daily find them become

more Confused and Impaired.— May that Great Being

who has afflicted me, Reward you, is the Sincere wish of

                          Sir your Respectful &

                               truly Obliged Hum[ble] Serv[t]

                                          M Pilkington

[page break]

February 1815—

Mrs. Pilkington

acknowledging 

£10. rec—*

[End Transcription]

Notes: In Pilkington's previous letter to the RLF, written nine days before this response on February 5, 1815, she requests to "receive a temporary assistance." Though this letter gratefully acknowledges her "sincere Thanks for their acceptable Boon of Ten Pounds," it is clear that the small amounts that the Royal Literary Fund had been granting her could only be "a temporary" support because of how meager the amounts awarded were. By 1815, Pilkington's poor health left her hardly able to write to support herself and she had likely not received any compensation from the Museum or Lady's Magazine for a few years; her situation suggests that the RLF's insubstantial grants likely only helped momentarily and held little long term significance. 

Letter VII.

Pilkington to Unknown addressee

Dated: Jan. 4, 1825

Sender’s address: “Hammersmith"

NCCO Page Numbers: 29-31

RLF Grant Awarded: "£15 Voted"

Diplomatic Transcription:

                                 Hammersmith Jan 4[th] 1825

My dear Sir

                        Though years have elapsed since any

Personal intercourse took place between us, yet the impression

of your kindness is as forcibly imprinted upon my mind, as

when it just occurred, and having derived benefit

from your representation, I flatter my Self with the 

hope that a Similar Event may occur. —

                                    The Papers my dear Sir

doubtless announced to you, the Death of the Friend

I was so tenderly attached to, & whose Sick Bed

I never quitted for nearly six years; during which

period my Mind was so agitated between Hope

& Apprehension, as to be almost incapable of

attending to any Literary pursuit, independent

of a few Communications presented to the Proprietor

of a Periodical Work.— This circumstance Sir, 

united to a state of Health, which inevitably

renders the Mind unenergetic, has induced me

[page break]

Once more to apply to you, for the purpose of

intreating you to recommend me as a proper Object

to receive the beneficence of the Literary Institution

                                      If youth was on my side,

I should hesitate at appearing obtrusive, but when

I tell you that I am at this moment in my sixty fourth

year, you will naturally conclude that the Energies

of Application can not be expected to be called

forth, particularly when I have been destined to

encounter Trials, of no common impart.—

                                So completely has my Mind 

been devoted to One Object, for the space of Time

I have mentioned, that though I have made three

or four trials to complete my Manuscripts, in not

one have I succeeded.

                         What I have been–and what

I am, will I fear bear but little comparison—

[page break]

I have however my dear Sir the satisfaction

of knowing that only Virtue, & Morality, ever

issued from my Pen, [with?] the present

pecuniary embarrassment under which I labour

was removed from my Mind would be 

restored to its energies again.—

                              If through your recommenda

tion this desirable Circumstance can be accomplished

my Gratitude will be unbounded.— & permit me

for former acts of kindness to subscribe my self

                    Dear Sir

                         your truly Grateful Hum[ble] Serv[t]

                                             M Pilkington

Mrs Pilkington at Mr West Surgeon Hammersmith—

[End Transcription]

Notes: The "Friend [Pilkington] was so tenderly attached to, & whose Sick Bed I never quitted for nearly six years" is likely Louisa West, daughter of Lady Gertrude Cromie. Cromie is noted to have been a long-time benefactress of Pilkington, who acted as governess to West's children (Batchelor, Jennie. "UnRomantic Authorship" 86; The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Hammersmith 163). Pilkington's periodical contributions have included characters named Louisa, which may be in reference to West. 

The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Hammersmith also includes a poem Pilkington wrote "upon passing the Spot where [Gertrude Cromie] was buried" (163). This poem and the references to Louisa West in this letter highlight the close bond Pilkington had with this family. The poem is as follows:

Letter VIII.

Pilkington to [Joseph] Snow

Dated: Jan. 21, 1825

Sender’s address: “Hammersmith”

NCCO Page Numbers: 32-33

RLF Grant Awarded: Letter requests payment of previously awarded £15

Diplomatic Transcription:

Mrs Pilkington presents her Compliments to

Mr Snow & begs leave to express her most grateful

Acknowledgements for the Liberalitty of the Literary Fund

Society, & as an additional act of kindness requests

Mr Snow will have the goodness to pay the promised

fifteen pounds to Mrs Barnet the Hammersmith

Carrier, for Mrs [P— I?] use — and she will send

a Letter of acknowledgement to the Society —

                               Hammersmith

                                       Jan 21

                                         1825

[page break]

Mrs. Pilkington

     15£

[unknown]

Jany 1825.

[End Transcription]

Notes: Thomas Faulkner’s collection of Parish church records, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Hammersmith, states that Pilkington "died Nov. 1825, aged 65 years" (see A Timeline of Pilkington’s Death for further information on the contested timeline of her death) (164). Presuming that her death did occur in late 1825, this letter may be one of the last she wrote. Ultimately, this letter does appear to be the last communication Pilkington wrote that we have current online access to read.