LUCY AIKIN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 5/23 - HFSID 72910

LUCY AIKIN. Autograph Letter signed: "L Aikin", 1p, 4¼x7¼. Hampstead (England), May 23, n. y. To "My dear Miss Duckworth", in full: "It will give me pleasure to come to you on Thursday June 2nd, not merely to meet Dr. Shepherd, but because I shall then, I hope, have a little of your good company & Mr. Duckworth's: of who it is so very long since I have enjoyed a single glimpse. Yours very truly". Lucy Aikin (1781-1864) was part of a very talented English family. Her father, John Aikin, was a medical doctor and influential essayist and biographer. Her brother, Arthur Aikin, was a noted chemist and mineralogist. Her aunt, Anna Letitia Barbauld, was a poet, essayist and author of widely used children's primers, a woman whose outspoken radicalism offended English mores of the time but who has been rediscovered by modern feminist scholars. Lucy Aikin herself was best known as a historian. She published biographies of British monarchs Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I, and of other prominent persons. She helped preserve the memory of Anna Letitia Barbauld, Romantic poet and social reformer who was influential until her poem 1811, opposing Britain's war against Napoleon, turned opinion against her. Lucy Aikin's presence at a dinner or reception would have been welcome; she was a noted conversationalist. Lightly soiled. Minor nick at right of lower edge. One-fourth-inch paper separation at left of bisecting horizontal fold. Pencil notations (unknown hand) in blank upper margin. Otherwise, fine condition.