Shelley's Ghost

Sir Percy and Lady Shelley were willing buyers of Shelley material, but were fully prepared to decline any offers they judged unreasonable. In this draft letter Sir Percy refuses an invitation from Claire Clairmont to purchase her Shelley papers: she was no relation of his; she should have made her papers available to Mary when she was preparing her editions of Shelley’s work; she had received a generous legacy from Shelley and had no further claims to make on the family. There were others, however, who coveted Claire Clairmont’s papers, including Edward Silsbee and Harry Buxton Forman, scholar and collector, who would eventually acquire many of them from Claire's relatives.

I have received a note from Mr R^t. Browning who forwards me a letter from you to him – in which you mention that Miss Clairmont wishes to sell me certain letters and papers.

 If these documents are of any importance they should have been given to my mother when she was engaged in publishing my father’s letters in [space left in MS].

 I heard at the time that Miss Clairmont gave everything of any biographical or literary value to my mother for the purposes of publication.

 You are right in supposing that the relations between Miss Clairmont and myself are not those of intimacy. Since nearly 25 years ago by reason of circumstances which I will not trouble you with detailing I have not seen Miss Clairmont – though as in the present instance she has twice endeavoured to communicate with me through the medium of a third person.

 Miss Clairmont is no relation of mine. She is the daughter of M^r & M^rs Clairmont which last on the death of her husband became the wife of William Godwin.

 In answer to your application therefore I have simply to say that I decline to purchase these documents – & I may add that I feel the less disposed to make a move in the matter inasmuch as Miss Clairmont being a stranger in the Shelley family received £12000 from money raised upon the Shelley estates. I have no right or wish of course to grudge the payment of this legacy – but I think the sum above named ought to have satisfied the lady.

Sir Percy Shelley; (bequest, 1889) Lady Shelley; (bequest, 1899) Shelley Scarlett (later 5th Baron Abinger) and/or Robert Scarlett (later 6th Baron Abinger); (bequest, 1917) Robert Scarlett, 6th Baron Abinger; (bequest, 1927) Hugh Scarlett, 7th Baron Abinger; (bequest, 1943) James Scarlett, 8th Baron Abinger; (bequest, 2002) James Scarlett, 9th Baron Abinger; (purchase, 2004) Bodleian.