Reading chair

Inscription: The paper glued to the bottom of the drawer beneath the chair seat is dated T. Eyre, 1 Sept. 1815 and reads as follows:
2 Octavo Volumes of the Poor Laws published before 1793 by Edmund Bott Esq. of the Inner Temple Barrister at-Law and near Christchurch, Hants.
The late James Mowbray Esq. of Burley Manor purchased this chair at Mr. Botts Sale of Goods near Christchurch as the chair that belonged to Dr. Oliver Goldsmith who used it when writing the Traveller and Deserted Village. In the Account of his Life and Works in 4 Volumes octavo New Edition 1812 it says he was about making a Dictionary of the Arts and Sciences but his Death prevented it. He had prepared a Prospectus which with other papers and fugitive pieces fell into the hands of Mr. Bott a Gentleman in the Temple and author of a valuable Work on the Poor Laws (since dead) who had lent Dr. Goldsmith large Sums of Money and being his Principal Creditor took possession of his effects etc.
T. Eyre, 1 Sept. 1815
(Thomas Eyre was steward of the Manor of Burley, he was directed by Charles Shaw LeFevre to write out a statement on the history of the chair as it was then known which is attached to the inside of the drawer).

Dr. Oliver Goldsmith ; Edmund Bott (sale, Mr. Bott's Sale of Goods near Christchurch [no date given ]; to Mowbray); James Mowbray (until d. 1801) ; Charles Shaw Lefevre (after 1801–d. 1823) ; Rt. Hon. Charles Shaw Lefevre, Viscount Eversley of Heckfield (1823–d. 1889) ; Lefevre family (until 1895; sold at auction; to Wallis) ; Arthur W. Wallis (1895–1906; sale, Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, July 9–10, 1906, lot 211; to Jackson); Jackson (father of William C. Jackson) (from 1906) ; William C. Jackson (before 1939–68; to MMA)