Innes M. Keighren
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inneskeighren.bsky.social
Innes M. Keighren
@inneskeighren.bsky.social
2K followers 1K following 500 posts
Professor of Historical Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London. Co-convenor of the London Group of Historical Geographers. Writing a book on the global lives of William Macintosh (1737–1813). www.inneskeighren.com
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inneskeighren.bsky.social
For those who could use a palaeographical distraction: any thoughts on the words underlined in yellow? My initial transcription is in the image description. Thank you kindly! #C18
"...a preliminary condition requisite for admission, viz: of my being initiated in the Roman Catholic religion your word which you pledged to Mr. Plovits that your perfect consent should go hand in hand with my wishes in that point procured me a temporary [???] prudence will not allow zeal to go father; an unlimited admission is a [???] reserved for a line or two from you, authorising superiors to second my earnest wishes. I am sure..." Letter from Brussels, 12 July 1783.
December 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
New blog post: "Macintosh in the Eternal City" (or some hints on using archives in Vatican City and Rome). inneskeighren.com/williammacin... #C18
A view from above of part of Vatican City and Rome at sunset, showing in particular a large building, the Cortile del Belvedere.
November 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
A modest proposal: the price of coffee in all archives and libraries to be pegged to that of Bar B.A.V. (shared between the Archivo Apostolico and the Bibliotheca Apostolica in Vatican City). €1.30 for a cappuccino.
A cup of coffee on a slatted wooden table in a room whose stone walls are the ruins of a fountain.
November 4, 2025 at 2:57 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Merci! It looks like we have a possible match:
October 22, 2025 at 12:36 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
The anglophone recipient of the letters, wrote the sender's name like this (which seems to be Molnat or Mollnat") but also doesn't seem to match the signature very closely.
Three anglophone renditions of the name of the unknown sender.
October 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Dear Francophone palaeographic hive mind, any thoughts on the signature here? Possibly a Parisian banker or lawyer in 1781. Merci beaucoup!
Two signatures at the bottom of handwritten letters in French.
October 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Calling on the great palaeographical hive mind: what is the word flagged in yellow? "Without laying claim to the faculthy [sic] of foretelling the future {exactly}, I may perhaps be permitted to [???] {claim} that {power capability} of foreseeing the consequences in operation...". Thank you kindly!
Extract of a letter dated 1800, but transcribed in an 1840s hand.
September 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Emozionato ma un po' ansioso da avere permissione da usare il Archivio Storico della Segreteria di Stato (e anche il Archivio Apostolico) quest'autunno sul sentiero di William Macintosh. Spero che il mio italiano è sufficiente, ma dubito. Ho paura!
A letter from the office of the Segreteria di Stato giving permission to use its archival collections.
September 4, 2025 at 9:02 AM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Momentarily escaping the rude world with a pint of Schiehallion in one of my favourite Edinburgh pubs, Leslie's. Small pleasures.
A photograph of a pint of lager on a wooden table. In the background of the photograph are chairs, a door, and a section of the bar.
August 27, 2025 at 4:58 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
New blog post: "Imaginary readers" inneskeighren.com/williammacin...
A photograph of the cover of a novel: "El Guante Gris: Viaje Imaginario á Las Costas de Guinea" (Madrid: 1877), by Aureliano Colmenares.
August 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Just in: the National Library of Scotland centenary special issue of the Beano.
A copy of the Beano on a wooden table.
August 13, 2025 at 8:46 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Accidental Wes Anderson.
A photograph of a launderette, "Laverie". The logo is offset by clothes pegs, and washing machines are visible through the window.
August 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Just finished Miranda Spieler's "Slaves in Paris: Hidden Lives and Fugitive Histories". Beautifully written, deeply scholarly, and quite devastating in parts. #C18
A photograph showing a copy of a book, "Slaves in Paris", on a brown wooden desk.
August 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
If it's Tuesday, it must be Ajaccio on the trail of Bonaparte. Despite the mixed reviews online, the Maison de Napoléon is very good, even if it does leave you with the impression that Pasquale Paoli is more deserving of commemoration than Bonaparte. #C18
A photograph of a street corner in Ajaccio, with a sign indicating the location of Napoleon's birthplace. A photograph showing the Maison de Napoléon museum. Street art depicting Napoleon in pixelated, 8-bit style. Statue of Buonaparte as First Consul.
July 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Capu d’Orto.
A photograph of the rocky summit of a mountain, framed by the branches of a eucalyptus tree.
July 26, 2025 at 6:28 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
One for history-of-astronomy and transit-of-Venus fans: the memorial to Jérôme Lalande (1733–1808) in Bourg-en-Bresse. #C18
A photograph showing a stone memorial with a small bust of a figure at the top. The memorial is in a small park, surrounded by trees.
July 20, 2025 at 7:51 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
A (successful) archival jaunt to Maidstone today to consult some material the Kent Archives. It wasn't blistering hot and I didn't get rained on, so that's a win!
A photograph of platforms C and D at Waterloo East station looking towards the Shard. A photograph of the entrance to the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone. A photograph of a pint of Southwold Bitter on a wooden table at the Kings Arms (sans apostrophe) on Roupell Street, London.
July 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Wax seal of William Hickey (1749–1830). Kent Archives, U269/O204. #C18 Don't think I've seen one of Hickey's before.
A wax seal, reading "CALCUTTA NOTARY WILLIAM [HICKEY]". 10/08/1802.
July 15, 2025 at 10:58 AM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Google Photos reminded me today of what is possibly my favourite (albeit incredibly specific) bit of graffiti, spotted at an Egham building site five years ago. At the time I had to resist the temptation to append "with a quick recap". #misscillaaablaaack
The logo of the Graham construction company, prefaced with a graffitied invocation of one of Cilla Black's catchphrases from the 1980s gameshow "Blind Date".
July 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Another puzzle for the Francophone palaeographic hive mind. Any thoughts on the remained of the highlighted parenthetical section: "neuf mots rayé nuls..."? Merci! Context: at the foot of an 1803 marriage act.
Photograph of a hand-written French marriage act from 1803.
July 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
A commemorative two-for-one today in Mortlake: the memorial plaque to Sir Philip Francis at St Mary the Virgin, and the Burton mausoleum and memorial window (commemorating Sir Richard Francis Burton) at St Mary Magdalene. Enjoyed a fascinating chat with the parish priest at the latter church.
Here also lie interred the Remains of / Sir PHILIP FRANCIS K.B. / Father of ELIZABETH and HARRIET FRANCIS, / who departed this Life / on the 22d day of December A. D. 1818. Aged 78 Years: / in fulfillment of the earnest wish expressed in his Will / "that he might be buried in the same grave with his dearest / and most lamented Daughter ELIZABETH." A photograph of the Burton mausoleum. Stone-built and in the form of a tent, with the stone carved to represent flowing and draper canvas. It is surrounded by trees. A stained glass window commemorating Richard and Isabel Burton. Richard Burton (bottom) is surrounded by Mary Magdalene, St Joseph (with the face of Richard), and St Agnes (with the face of Isabel).
July 9, 2025 at 2:19 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
A periodic appeal to the palaeographic hive mind (especially #C18 historians of France). Is it possible that the word underlined in red is "Besançon", albeit an odd spelling? Context: an October 1798 letter sent from Stuttgart. Merci!
Screenshots of a 1798 handwritten letter that read: The president Talbert of the parliament of {Besançon ?}, with whom I have lived
July 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Just finished "The Strange History of Samuel Pepys’s Diary" by @kateloveman.bsky.social. Scholarly, accessible, and fascinating. One that book historians, in particular, will appreciate. And so to bed (well, in an hour or so...).
A photograph of a book—The Strange History of Samuel Pepys’s Diary—on a wooden desk.
July 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
Despite the caption, this is not the British Library, nor is it even the Radcliffe Camera.
A line drawing of a building that it mid way between the Radcliffe Camera and the Royal Albert Hall, but captioned "British Library".
July 6, 2025 at 9:53 AM
inneskeighren.bsky.social
A distinctive London double-decker bus in front of the Houses of Parliament.
A line drawing of a double decker bus with a more-than-usual number of windows.
July 6, 2025 at 9:53 AM