Derived from dealer description: This collection consists of one leatherbound gilt-edged commonplace book of original essays and poems, titled Hidden Treasure, kept jointly by a society of men, likely in Baltimore, Maryland. Dates of composition range from 1833 to 1834. The essays and poems often focus on religious topics, sentimental thoughts, and death, such as “Christian Fortitude,” “A Night at Camp Meeting,” “Ode to the Bible Class,” “Conversion,” “Reflections in a Grave Yard,” “Remarks on Pride,” and “A Mother’s Smile.” Some of the essays suggest their common bond with the Methodist Church, such as two entries by David Creamer, likely the Baltimore hymnographer of same name (1812–1887) and author of Methodist Hymnology (1849). In addition, there are two essays of a more political or economic valence, including one Luddite essay against new manufacturing technologies and one essay about the public policy of the bank of the United States. There are twenty-one contributors in all, over half of whom penned more than one entry. Some entries include pressed flowers and plant leaves.