COLE, Edward William. A notebook containing his original verse, and also copies of various letters [one to Earl Chichester] apparently written for his brother William in the hope of obtaining employment in the Foreign and Colonial Office (?). A copy of a letter to ‘The Editor’ notes his home to be Bermondsey. 40 pages of entries, 2 pages with pencil sketches of ‘the eye of an old cousin’. Following some blank pages a number of leaves are excised at the end. With his name on the front end-paper together with slightly later signature of Philip George Thompson. Some dustiness and finger marks mainly to the end-paper, and traces of old wax seals on some pages. Original limp calf notebook, rubbed but sound. 180mm x 115mm. 1815-1818. The original poetry includes: Verses addressed to his ‘Dear Aunt’, Lines written to my Cousin S. Chatfield upon her Accouchement 9th Jan 1816. Verses written for Thanksgiving Day, the 18th Janry 1816. The day on which 2 French Eagles were deposited in Whitehall Chapel - the Trophies of that ever-memorable Battle of Waterloo. Her Royal Highness The Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales died 6th Nov 1817 in Childbed, aged 22yrs. Lines written and spoken by E.W. Cole at the anniversary supper of the Queens Independent Lodge of Odd Fellows, on the Queen’s birth day 18 Janry 1815. An acrostic to Frances Johnson Cole. Written on being chosen to take Vice President’s chair at a Singing Society, 1816. Copy of a long letter “written to Mr Jn. Murray [a distant relation] for my brother William.” An Edward William Cole, is recorded as Secretary of the Newsvendors’ Benevolent Institution. Charles Dickens had spoken at the Annual Meetings of 1849 and 1852. On 13 Apr to Cole (Pilgrim Letters 7, p. 311) he indicated his willingness to become President of the Institution and was elected 22 May at the annual meeting. He presided at the next annual meeting, 21 May [18]55.