DOBSON Austin (1840-1921). Poet and essayist.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Austin Dobson") to "My dear Keary" [Charles Francis Keary] asking him to "underwrite [W. C.] Monkhouse, who is down for the "Savile""
Sodalitas Convivium
Dobson writes to Keary that he would be “very glad” if he would “underwrite Monkhouse, who is down for the “Savile”.” Despite Monkhouse not being known to Keary personally Dobson hopes that as “he has been so long known to your Aunts, that I feel you might feel justified in doing so”, concluding, “I should feel obliged if you could see your way to help him.”
The Savile’s motto is Sodalitas Convivium, which defies straight translation but communicates ideas of friendship, feasting, and good conversation. Although this slight letter says but little of the club itself, but one can imagine the conversations that would have arisen between the likes of Dobson (poet and essayist), Monkhouse (poet and critic), and Keary (scholar, historian, and writer who influenced James Joyce) when they did meet within its walls. W. Cosmo Monkhouse was elected member in 1878.
Near fine.
