This leaf is variously drawn on and inscribed. The cottage and figures are drawn in pencil on the left, with the sketchbook inverted. The rose is drawn in ink at upper right of centre. Among several separate inscriptions, written with the book turned upright, there is a passage of verse:
[in pencil]My honor reard and as thy smoke aspire
[in ink] But pity’s sullen eye is brightest seen
When
In yon eglantined cottage beside the lea
?Josephine lived as happy as happy could be
For rich in content she neer heeded being poor
And many a Winter & Autumn blesst the door
Those that work hardest get the least for it
Some that are idle live with the most show
Then live
There is also some arithmetic:
9206 50 4 March 8
9207 50 30 July 8
9208 100 17 Sep 8
44
_______
48
48
8
__________
5 109 4
__________
7 35 7
7 35 7
7 35 7
7 35 7
7 35 7
7 35 7
7 35 7
35 7
25 35 7
15 35 7
75 35 7
___
105
See also inside back cover
David Blayney Brown
July 2010