This manuscript of the ballad was copied by DGR from a manuscript that he had
written in 1846. The
The manuscript was printed in 1952 with transcript, facsimile, and introduction by John Robert Wahl.
DGR: Jan Van Hunks
The principal content of this book is Gabriel's poem of The Dutchman's Pipe (or Jan Van Hunks), begun towards 1847, & then nearly completed: he took it up in the last few weeks of his life, finished it, & presented the complete MS. to Theodore Watts-Dunton—The MS. in this book is of his closing weeks—There is also the draft of a letter (possibly the very last that he wrote) to Ernest Chesneau—& of another letter to some Picture-buyer, I know not whom.— Thus the book may be regarded as the last specimen of his handwriting, of any consecutive length—The Dutchman's Pipe remains as yet unpublished.
WMR 1905