MATTHEWS,, James Tilly (d. c. 1814)
[Useful architecture. Prospectus]
To the public. ... James Tilly Matthews. Oct. 31, 1812.
London (Place), 1812.
[1] leaf ; 24.1 cm. (4º)

Drop-head title. Matthews here proposes a serial work to contain designs for buildings "from the £50 Cot to the £200,000 Mansion, mostly grounded on the Grecian, Roman, Gothic, and Plain Styles of Architecture". Matthews learned to draw and engrave while confined as a lunatic in Bethlehem Hospital from 1797 to 1813. He was the subject of a book by the medical writer and apothecary to Bethlehem Hospital, John Haslam (1764--1844), Illustrations of madness: exhibiting a singular case of insanity, and a no less remarkable difference of medical opinion ..., 1810. Only the first number was published (q.v.). The proposed price for each number comprising at least four plates and printed on "the best wove Royal Quarto Paper" was to be "Six Shillings, Coloured and Sewed"; this is corrected in manuscript to "seven", and "only 4to if Uncoloured". Printer's statement from colophon: J. Bass, printer, Lambeth Hill, Doctors Commons.

Copy Notes Bound with a letter of 4 January 1826 from John Haslam to Soane presenting him with "the two numbers of the late Mr Matthew's publication". By "two numbers" he presumably means "No 1" of the book (q.v.) and the present printed proposals. Bound (2) with J. Shortess, Harmonic architecture, 1741 (q.v.) and MS. correspondence dated 30 Dec. 1812 between Soane and Richard Duppa concerning the latter's Illustrations of the lotus of antiquity, 1813 (q.v.).

Binding Later C19th black quarter pebble-grained cloth, marbled-paper boards direct-lettered in gilt 'Pamphlets'.

Reference Number 6554

Additional Names Haslam, John (1764--1844)