Variations from letter-writing manuals : «humble petitions» signed by women in Late Modern London

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The present study analyses two sets of 25 petitions each. They were signed by different women who possibly belonged to lower social ranks, and they were addressed to the governors of the Foundling Hospital and the Bank of England. These were most probably men who occupied high positions in society. The study focuses on the comparison between the information present in the manuals and the petitions selected for this study. The petitioners had different needs and their circumstances also varied. This is reflected in the results, which show differences, and also similarities, between the two sets of petitions. Furthermore, most display some features found in the manuals, but not all of them follow the rules or recommendations faithfully. The writers, who cannot always be identified and may not have been the same as the signees, seem to have been aware of the existence of letter-writing manuals, but they may not have had first-hand contact with them.