Anything But Commonplace: The Lady Pleasance Smith commonplace books

Lady Pleasance Smith (1773–1877) was a philanthropist, naturalist and devoted correspondent to her close family and friends. Although she may be best known today as the wife of the Linnean Society’s founder, botanist Sir James Edward Smith (1759–1828), during the latter years of her life she amassed a certain fame in her own right due to her longevity, living until she was 103 years old.

Pleasance Smith (née Reeve) was born in May 1773 in the English parish of Lowestoft, Suffolk. Her mother, Pleasance Clerke, and her father, Robert Reeve, a merchant and attorney, instilled in her a deep love for nature and literature. Throughout her life, Smith maintained a wide network of family and friends with whom she corresponded, on subjects ranging from art and politics to science, literature, religion and nature. Within the Society’s archives, we hold many of her papers including letters, knitting patterns and specimens she collected. Alongside these, we have in our holdings two commonplace books belonging to Smith, the focus of this ‘Treasure of the Month’.

Commonplace books have been in use since the 16th century, becoming particularly popular in the 19th century. Similar to scrapbooks, they serve as collections of information and knowledge gathered from various sources, valued by the individual who compiles them. These books can include observations, quotations, stories, prayers, lists, poems, ideas, sketches and letters encountered throughout a person’s life.

Smith’s commonplace books feature handwritten songs and poems, including some by her husband, James. They also contain handwritten Bible verses, prayers, hymns and epitaphs. These books offer valuable insight into Smith’s personal interests, including the literature and music she enjoyed, as well as the importance of her Christian faith.

One of Smith’s commonplace books prominently features works by the banker, poet and Member of Parliament William Roscoe, including ‘The Life of Lorenzo de' Medici, Called The Magnificent’ and ‘The Happiness of a Country Life’. This comes as no surprise, as both Smiths (Pleasance and James) and Roscoe were close friends. In fact, writing to his wife in 1804, Roscoe observed, “He who could see and hear Mrs. Smith without being enchanted has a heart not worth a farthing.”

In addition to works written by her close friends, Smith’s selections of poems and other published works reflect her deep connection to nature. An excerpt from ‘Poetical Triads’ by Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) includes the quote: “The three primary requisites of poetical genius: an eye that can see nature; a heart that can feel nature; and a resolution that dares follow nature.” The commonplace books also reveal Smith’s admiration for the Romantic writers of the period, such as Irish poet Sydney Owenson. One of Owenson’s poems, ‘Dawn’, stands out among the copied works in the commonplace books, as it was transcribed by Smith’s mother and later pasted into the book.

Alongside poetry and other literary works, the commonplace books also feature two sketches. One illustrates a landscape with a distant view of Windsor Castle, while the second showcases caricature-style drawings of Punch and Jenny Lind. These sketches were inspired by the poem ‘To Jenny Lind’, which Smith transcribed from the satirical publication Punch, or The London Charivari, offering a glimpse into her sense of humour.

Much of the content in the commonplace books consists of poems, usually with just a single verse or a short excerpt written out. However, notably, for John Taylor’s 1791 poem ‘The Nursery’, which reflects on a father’s relationship with his children, Smith has transcribed all 16 verses. Was it a particular favourite of hers? Highly likely—a notion further supported by the discovery of one of her handmade bookmarks placed at this very page.

The books also contain references to her hometown of Lowestoft, where she returned after her husband's death. Among them is an untitled poem about the town by J. Ayers from 1810. Additionally, she has copied out an account of a Masquerade Ball held at Sir Everard’s of Lowestoft in August 1806. Written in the form of a poem, it humorously recounts the evening’s events, with attendees identified by playful cryptonyms such as ‘School-Girl’, ‘Young Highlanders’ and ‘Old Nurse’:

Smith’s books were her own treasury of memories, a personal snapshot of a world changing from the Georgian into the Victorian era. Though displaying much poetry, you can also find more unusual items within, including the rules of a card game called the ‘Cambridge Trick,’ which, according to Smith, was “the invention of Sir Isaac Newton”.

These two commonplace books offer a fascinating glimpse into Pleasance Smith’s life, revealing her passions, interests and hobbies, providing insight into how she perceived and engaged with the world around her.