Summary: Written at London, after returning from the Grand Tour, during the winter of 1741-42 and abandoned by 23 April 1742. First published in Mason'sMemoirs (1775), 125-135. Mason is the only source for the two letters (one not extant and one dated [1?] April 1742) in which Gray originally sent the prefatory matter and scene I (ll. 1-182) of the fragmented drama to West. Scene II (ll. 183-194) was probably also finished before 23 April 1742, although it has been suggested that it might have been composed as late as the winter of 1746-47.
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 169, 96; Sutton (ed.), Location Register (1995), 414; Ellner, June, "Re: MS 30/44, James Beattie papers". E-mail to the editor, 20 December 2006
Contents: Transcript of the dramatis personae and ll. 1-20, here untitled, in the hand of James Beattie, together with Beattie's comments.
[The Alliance of Education and Government. A Fragment]
Summary: Written in 1748-49 and probably abandoned by March 1749. Gray sent ll. 1-57 of the fragment in a letter, dated 19 August 1748, to Thomas Wharton. First published, entitled "Essay I", in Mason'sMemoirs (1775), 193-200.
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), 79; Sutton (ed.), Location Register (1995), 414; Ellner, June, "Re: MS 30/44, James Beattie papers". E-mail to the editor, 20 December 2006
Contents: Transcript in the hand of James Beattie, entitled "An Essay on Education and Government" and annotated in his hand "This beginning of an ethical play is finished in the Author's highest manner. He began it in the year 1748, as appears from a letter to one on his friends inclosing a part of it. In that letter, he entitles it, "An Essay on Education and Government, or rather, on the necessary alliance of them to produce the external happiness of mankind." He relinquished the prosecution of this work on the publication of M. de Montesquieu's Esprit des Loix: a book which he highly admired; and which he said had forestalled the principal things he meant to advance upon the subject. And yet we see, from what he has here left, that he differed from the Baron in one material point, viz, the influence of soil or climate on national manners."
Summary: Written between May and August 1761 at the request of one of the executors of Sir William Williams, a politician and soldier Gray briefly met early in October 1760, who died 27 April 1761 on an expedition against Belle Ile. First published, as "Epitaph II. On Sir William Williams", in Mason'sPoems (1775), 62.
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), 83; Sutton (ed.), Location Register (1995), 414; Ellner, June, "Re: MS 30/44, James Beattie papers". E-mail to the editor, 20 December 2006
Contents: Transcript in the hand of James Beattie, annotated in his hand "Sir William Williams (on whose death these lines were written at the request of his friend Mr Frederick Montagu) was killed in the last war. They were meant to be inscribed on a monument at Bellisle; but from some difficulties attending the execution of it, this design was not executed."
Summary: Written probably in 1754 or 1755. First printed privately in 1774. First published, in two versions, among the notes to the poems, entitled "Ode, On the Pleasure arising from Vicissitude", and as "Ode" in Mason'sMemoirs (1775), 78-81 (with Mason's additions) and 236-237 (ll. 1-48 only) respectively.
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), 88; Ellner, June, "Re: MS 30/44, James Beattie papers". E-mail to the editor, 20 December 2006
Contents: Transcript in the hand of James Beattie, annotated in his hand "A note which I find in a Memorandum-book of Mr Gray's 1754 will best explain the intended plan of this beautiful Lyrical fragment, and will give the poetical reader how he meant to conclude it. "Contrast between the winter past and coming spring – Joy owing to that vicissitude – many who never feel that delight – Sloth - Envy - Ambition – how much happier the Rustick who feels it though he knows not how.""
Summary: Written before October 1761 at the request of Gray's friend Henrietta Speed. Walpole transcribed and sent it in a letter to Caroline Campbell, Countess of Ailesbury, 28 November 1761. First published, beginning "With beauty, with pleasure surrounded, to languish", in Pope's Works (1797), ed. Joseph Warton, vol. II, 285n. Entitled "Amatory Lines" by Mitford and Northup, Bibliography (1917), 61.
References: Ellner, June, "Re: MS 30/44, James Beattie papers". E-mail to the editor, 20 December 2006
Contents: Transcript in the hand of James Beattie, prefaced in his hand "The following Songs being found amongst the Author's papers, with marginal corrections by his own hand which serve to authenticate them, are here inserted chiefly of that account. The former, if not the latter, has undoubtedly a degree of Lyrical merit appropriated to that species of composition."
References: Ellner, June, "Re: MS 30/44, James Beattie papers". E-mail to the editor, 20 December 2006
Contents: Transcript in the hand of James Beattie, prefaced in his hand "The following Songs being found amongst the Author's papers, with marginal corrections by his own hand which serve to authenticate them, are here inserted chiefly of that account. The former, if not the latter, has undoubtedly a degree of Lyrical merit appropriated to that species of composition."
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), 92; Sutton (ed.), Location Register (1995), 414; Ellner, June, "Re: MS 30/44, James Beattie papers". E-mail to the editor, 20 December 2006
Contents: Transcript in the hand of James Beattie, annotated in his hand "These verses were written in compliment to Mr Bentley for the designs which he drew to several of Mr Gray's poems, and which were engraved by Grignion, and published by Dodsley. Those persons who have only seen the graved prints will be inclined to think the panegyrick outreé. The Drawings themselves in the possession of Mr Walpole have undoubtedly much more merit. The original M.S. is unfortunately torn at the bottom which occasions a chasm in the last stanzas."