Listings for Reader:
James
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Robert Nelson : Life of Dr. George Bull
Last night sleep departed, I read almost all night Nelsons life of Bp Bull James Clre
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clegg Print: Book
Richard Baxter : The Saints Everlasting Rest.
At night I read some of the lives and characters of of the Ejected ministers in Dr Calamys account and was much affected with their piety, Zeal and steadiness[...] concluded with reading Mr Baxters Saints. Rest and prayer as usual.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clegg Print: Book
Richard Baxter : An abridgement of Mr Baxter's life and times. With
At night I read some of the lives and characters of the Ejected ministers in Dr Calamys account and was much affected with their piety, Zeal and steadiness[...] concluded with reading Mr Baxters Saints. Rest and prayer as usual.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clegg Print: Book
William Law : A Practical Traetise Upon Christain Perfection
at home all day [...] at Oaks I met with Mr Laws practical discourse on christian perfection [...] I am now reading it
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clegg Print: Book
Thomas Carlyle : Sartor Resartus
'Keir Hardie remembered that a "real turning point" of his life was his discovery of Sartor Resartus at age sixteen or seventeen. He had to read it through three times before he understood it: "I felt I was in the presence of some great power, the meaning of which I could only dimly guess at".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Keir Hardie Print: Book
: Daily Advertiser
Witness statement in the trial of James Stewart for theft: James James (Witness): "afterwards I saw the advertisement in the 'Daily Advertiser' about the prisoner at the bar being detained with a piece of ticking on his shoulders, I went in consequence of that..."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James James Print: Newspaper
:
Witness statement in trial for burglary: James Gideon: "On the 29th of October, between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, the prisoner Chord came and offered a small gold brooch set... I suspected him and sent for a constable who came; I showed him the brooch, which appeared to answer the description of one in a handbill which I had received before; I showed the constable the handbill in the prisoner's presence..."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Gideon Print: Handbill
: Advertiser
Witness statement in trial for highway robbery: James Palace: "A night or two after I read in the Advertiser a watch, name Ingraham, describing it to be the same as I had received. I went away to the prosecutor's house by the direction of the advertisement..."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Palace Print: Newspaper
:
Witness statement in trial for theft: James Collins: "I was sitting near the bar reading the newspaper, when I turned my head, and saw the prisoner come out of the room, go up stairs, and come down again..."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Collins Print: Newspaper
:
Witness statement in trial for burglary: James Harrison: "I know both prisoners. On the 7th of September, I was in company with Underwood, at the Angel, Mr Fitzpatrick's, at Hoxton, between nine and ten o'clock. I took up the newspaper, to read it: I saw an account of the robbery of Mr Sharpe's house: I told him it was a great robbery..."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Harrison Print: Newspaper
:
Defence of prisoner in his trial for theft James Lewis: "...we went to the Gun, and he asked me to go in; the gentlewoman said come into the parlour, we staid there, and drank the liquor out, then we went into the kitchen, I was reading the newspaper, I went out to the door..."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lewis Print: Newspaper
:
Witness statements in trial for theft: James Streeter: "...says I, Mich, how did you come by this, I am afraid you did not get it honestly; he persisted in it, that he had received it for his cousin's prize money; the next morning, I saw it advertised in the newspaper and sent for a constable..."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Streeter Print: Newspaper
:
Witness statement in trial for burglary: Robinson: "I was reading the newspaper..."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Robinson Print: Newspaper
Robert Southey : Madoc
' ... James Losh reported in his diary for 4 Sept 1800 that Madoc "is ready for publication ... Southey showed me about two years ago two books of this poem which I admired but thought deficient in dignity of sentiment and style."'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Losh Manuscript: Unknown
:
Witness statement in trial for libel; witness reads to the court the offending paragraphs published in newspaper. James Chetham: "...in that newspaper is the paragraph, which I will read, if you think proper..."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Chetham Print: Newspaper
:
Witness statements in trial for coining/forgery: John Limbrick: "I am an officer of Hatton Garden. I was with Read at the Lincoln's Inn coffee-house; we sat down and had a pint of beer, and saw the prisoner there, reading the newspaper, and leering under his hat at us"
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clark Print: Newspaper
:
Witness statement in trial for theft: Joseph Canes: "I was reading in the newspaper at the public house that a man was taken about some pictures, and one of the people said that was Mulberry's name. George Dufflet was drinking with us."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Canes Print: Newspaper
:
Witness reads letter aloud to court as evidence in trial for assault: James Locke: "I have the letter. (reads) 'To Mr Reynolds, No.2 Little Peter Street...'"
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Locke Manuscript: Letter
Daniel Defoe : Robinson Crusoe
'"The words I didn't understand I just skipped over, yet managed to get a good idea of what the story was about", wrote James Murray, the son of a Scottish shoemaker. "By the time I was ten or eleven years old I did not need to skip any words in any books because by then I had a good grounding in roots and derivations". Crusoe so aroused his appetite for literature that, when his school teacher asked the class to list all the books they had read, Murray rattled off titles by Ballantyne, Kingston and Dickens until "I realised the eyes of everyone in the room were on me..."'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Murray Print: Book
Charles Dickens : [novels]
'"The words I didn't understand I just skipped over, yet managed to get a good idea of what the story was about", wrote James Murray, the son of a Scottish shoemaker. "By the time I was ten or eleven years old I did not need to skip any words in any books because by then I had a good grounding in roots and derivations". Crusoe so aroused his appetite for literature that, when his schoolteacher asked the class to list all the books they had read, Murray rattled off titles by Ballantyne, Kingston and Dickens until "I realised the eyes of everyone in the room were on me..."'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Murray Print: Book
Robert Michael Ballantyne : [novels]
'"The words I didn't understand I just skipped over, yet managed to get a good idea of what the story was about", wrote James Murray, the son of a Scottish shoemaker. "By the time I was ten or eleven years old I did not need to skip any words in any books because by then I had a good grounding in roots and derivations". Crusoe so aroused his appetite for literature that, when his schoolteacher asked the class to list all the books they had read, Murray rattled off titles by Ballantyne, Kingston and Dickens until "I realised the eyes of everyone in the room were on me..."'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Murray Print: Book
William Henry Giles Kingston : [novels]
'"The words I didn't understand I just skipped over, yet managed to get a good idea of what the story was about", wrote James Murray, the son of a Scottish shoemaker. "By the time I was ten or eleven years old I did not need to skip any words in any books because by then I had a good grounding in roots and derivations". Crusoe so aroused his appetite for literature that, when his schoolteacher asked the class to list all the books they had read, Murray rattled off titles by Ballantyne, Kingston and Dickens until "I realised the eyes of everyone in the room were on me..."'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Murray Print: Book
St Augustine : St. Augustines Meditations
About the same time also he read over St. Augustines Meditations, which so affected him, that he wept often in the reading of them.
UnknownCentury: 1500-1599 Reader/Listener/Group: James Usher
Sleidans : Book of the Four Empires
At twelve years old he was so affected with the study of Chronology and Antiquity, that, reading over Sleidans Book of the four Empires, and some other Authors, he drew forth an exact Series of the times wherein each eminent person lived;
Century: 1500-1599 Reader/Listener/Group: James Usher Print: Book
: [various unknown]
At twelve years old he was so affected with the study of Chronology and Antiquity, that, reading over Sleidans Book of the four Empires, and some other Authors, he drew forth an exact Series of the times wherein each eminent person lived;
Century: 1500-1599 Reader/Listener/Group: James Usher Print: Book
Stapleton : Fortress of the Faith
Before he was Bachelor of Arts he read Stapletons Fortress of the Faith, and therein finding how confidently he asserted Antiquity for the Popish Tenets, withall, branding our Church and Religion with novelty in what we dissented from them, he was much troubled at it, not knowing but that his quotations might be right; and he was convinced that the Ancientest must needs be best, as the nearer the Fountain the sweeter, and clearer are the streams; yet withall, he suspected that Stapleton might mis-report the Fathers, or wrest them to his own sense; and therefore he took up a setled resolution, that in due time, if God prolonged his life and health, he would trust onely his own eyes by reading over all the Fathers for his satisfaction herein;
Century: 1500-1599 Reader/Listener/Group: James Usher Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Rasselas
'James Murray, a Glasgow woodcarver, represented the kind of reader Dent and Rhys were trying to reach. He credited Everyman magazine with "opening up an entirely new set of ideas to which I had previously been a stranger. I became familiar with the names and works of all the truly great authors and poets, and was now throughly convinced I had been misplaced in my life's work". His reading ranged from Rasselas to Looking Backward'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Murray Print: Book
: Everyman
'James Murray, a Glasgow woodcarver, represented the kind of reader Dent and Rhys were trying to reach. He credited Everyman magazine with "opening up an entirely new set of ideas to which I had previously been a stranger. I became familiar with the names and works of all the truly great authors and poets, and was now throughly convinced I had been misplaced in my life's work". His reading ranged from Rasselas to Looking Backward'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Murray Print: Serial / periodical
Edward Bellamy : Looking Backward: 2000-1887
'James Murray, a Glasgow woodcarver, represented the kind of reader Dent and Rhys were trying to reach. He credited Everyman magazine with "opening up an entirely new set of ideas to which I had previously been a stranger. I became familiar with the names and works of all the truly great authors and poets, and was now throughly convinced I had been misplaced in my life's work". His reading ranged from Rasselas to Looking Backward'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Murray Print: Book
Anthony Trollope : unknown
'... [J. M.] Barrie's secretary wrote, "One of his great solaces was Anthony Trollope, whom, like many others, he rediscovered after the First World War."'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Matthew Barrie Print: Book
anon : Land and Water
'One enthusiastic reader of "Land and Water" was the poet James Elroy Flecker, who, in the process of dying in a Swiss sanatorium, requested his parents to take out a subscription to the paper for him.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Elroy Flecker Print: Serial / periodical
Karl Marx : Das Kapital
'For Dunfermline housepainter James Clunie, Das Kapital and the Wealth of Nations both demonstrated that industrialism inevitably increased economic inequality, the exploitation of labour and class conflict. To this The Descent of Man added "the great idea of human freedom... It brought out the idea that whether our children were with or without shoes was due to poverty arising from the administration of society".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clunie Print: Book
Adam Smith : Wealth of Nations
'For Dunfermline housepainter James Clunie, Das Kapital and the Wealth of Nations both demonstrated that industrialism inevitably increased economic inequality, the exploitation of labour and class conflict. To this The Descent of Man added "the great idea of human freedom... It brought out the idea that whether our children were with or without shoes was due to poverty arising from the administration of society".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clunie Print: Book
Charles Darwin : The Descent of Man
'For Dunfermline housepainter James Clunie, Das Kapital and the Wealth of Nations both demonstrated that industrialism inevitably increased economic inequality, the exploitation of labour and class conflict. To this The Descent of Man added "the great idea of human freedom... It brought out the idea that whether our children were with or without shoes was due to poverty arising from the administration of society".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Clunie Print: Book
n/a : Mercure de France
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Serial / periodical
Moliere : [unknown]
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Gerhart Hauptmann : [unknown]
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Pedro Calderon de la Barca : [unknown]
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Hermann Sudermann : [unknown]
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Henrik Ibsen : [unknown]
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Jonas Lie : [unknown]
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
August Strindberg : [unknown]
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Miguel de Cervantes : Don Quixote
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Honore de Balzac : Eugenie Grandet
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev : Fathers and Sons
'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
: The Bible
" ... Barbara Bodichon ... used to remember with delight the books whch James Buchanan, their father's friend and their own teacher, used to read them: 'the Bible, the Arabian Nights and Swedenborg'."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Buchanan Print: Book
: The Arabian Nights
" ... Barbara Bodichon ... used to remember with delight the books whch James Buchanan, their father's friend and their own teacher, used to read them: 'the Bible, the Arabian Nights and Swedenborg'."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Buchanan Print: Book
Emanuel Swedenborg :
" ... Barbara Bodichon ... used to remember with delight the books whch James Buchanan, their father's friend and their own teacher, used to read them: 'the Bible, the Arabian Nights and Swedenborg'."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Buchanan Print: Book
: The Gem
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Serial / periodical, comic
: Magnet, The
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Serial / periodical, comic
: [Sexton Blake Stories]
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Serial / periodical, comics
George Alfred Henty :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
Robert Michael Ballantyne :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
Frederick Marryat :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
James Fenimore Cooper :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
Mark Twain :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
Charles Dickens :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
Walter Scott :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
Anne/Charlotte/Emily Bronte :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
George Eliot :
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
William Prescott : Conquest of Peru, The
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
William Prescott : Conquest of Mexico, The
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
Geoffrey Chaucer : Canterbury Tales, The
'James Williams admitted that, growing up in rural Wales, "I'd read anything rather than not read at all. I read a great deal of rubbish, and books that were too 'old', or too 'young' for me". He consumed the Gem, Magnet and Sexton Blake as well as the standard boys' authors (Henty, Ballantyne, Marryat, Fenimore Cooper, Twain) but also Dickens, Scott, Trollope, the Brontes, George Eliot, even Prescott's "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico". He picked "The Canterbury Tales" out of an odd pile of used books for sale, gradually puzzled out the Middle English, and eventually adopted Chaucer as his favourite poet'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Williams Print: Book
: notice of political meeting
"As a young man ... [James Watson] moved to Leeds, and was immediately immersed in the clandestine world of the unstamped press: "'It was in the autumn of 1818 that I first became acquainted with politics and theology. Passing along Briggate one evening, I saw at the corner of Union Court a bill, which stated that the Radical Reformers held their meetings in a room in that court."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Poster
Fidelis, pseud. : Thirty short addresses for family prayers or cottage meetings by Fidelis author of 'Simple preparation for the Holy Communion' containng addresses by the late Canon Kingsley, Rev. G.H. Wilkinson and Dr. Vaughan
A volume of sermons, marked with dates and what appears to be a system of initials - possibly some sort of reminder? Examples: [Sermon 1.] "SSC [?] 15 Jan 1922 & M.../ SSC 3/4/17/ Sunday morning". In addition, passages of text are sometimes deleted or marked up. Examples: [sermon 1, p.1] The title is ticked, the phrase "not interrupt him" is deleted from the 2nd para. and the word "see" is deleted from the 4th last line on the same page. On the following 2 pp of the same sermon, further single words, phrases and one complete paragraph are deleted.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Walker Harper Print: Book
Sir Philip Sidney : The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
"According to [James] Johnstoun, his supplement [to Sidney's Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia] grew out of his affection for Sidney's romance. Having read the Arcadia over and over, he became inspired by the two pairs of lovers ..."
UnknownCentury: 1500-1599 / 1600-1699 Reader/Listener/Group: James Johnstoun
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus : Meditations
" ... to the coda of his copy of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, 'depart, therefore, contented and in good humour ...' [Leigh] Hunt courteously adds, 'Thanks, and love to you, excellent Antoninus. L. H. Feb. 7th 1853. His second regular perusal.'"
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Henry Leigh Hunt Print: Book
Thomas Gray : Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
H. J. Jackson describes and discusses ninth edition copy (1754) of Thomas Gray, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard annotated (with 'reflective remarks') by owner, General James Wolfe, to whom it was given by his fiancee Katharine Lowther.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: General James Wolfe
John Burke : A general and heraldic dictionary of the peerage and baronetage of the British Empire ?
[Marginalia]: Copious marginal updates throughout the text. Many relate to entries and are linked to the item by an * in the text but some are for people not in the directory and are simply added at the appropriate alphabetical slot. Content varies from dates of death, marriage etc to more elaborate information e.g p.669 "Dowager - 84 rides every morning all seasons in Kings Ride Pimlico" [relates to the entry for James, seventh earl of Salisbury]; p.18 "Earl of Lichfield = Whig earl" [relates to entry for Viscount Anson];p.286 "Hop ... jump = 15 1/2 yds on the level = 46 1/2 feet. ... leaper cleared a few inches more at Innerleithen ... 1832" [relates to a new entry for Wilson]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Ker Print: Book
Edmund Lodge : The peerage of the British Empire, as at present existing, arranged and printed from the personal communications of the nobility ? to which is added a view of the baronetage of the three kingdoms
[Marginalia]: copious annotations throughout text, usually of the form of a marked item within the text followed by annotation in the margin but some are new entries inserted at the appropriate alphabetical slot. Contents vary from simple additions of dates of death, marriage etc to more detailed notes, mainly dated 1836-38. e.g. p. 534 "To Asia/ 8 yrs" [&] " Egypt - Arabia - Turkey - Archipelago" [refers to entry for Major Sir Grenville Temple]; "Ordered by Louis Philippe to quit Bayone in 24 hours for meeting the mercenary ... of the Whigs. Earliest .... = Constructive Treason Jany 37" [refers entry for Viscount Ranelagh]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Ker Print: Book
James Boswell : Life of Johnson
H. J. Jackson discusses Leigh Hunt's responsive annotations, including personal reminiscences and observations, as well as critical remarks, to his copy of James Boswell's Life of Johnson.
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Leigh Hunt Print: Book
William Wycherley : Plays
H. J. Jackson notes observations by Leigh Hunt written into back of a copy of William Wycherley's Plays originally belonging to Charles Lamb, as well as other annotations by Hunt and by Lamb.
Century: 1700-1799 / 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Leigh Hunt Print: Book
Thomas Babington Macaulay : Lays of Ancient Rome: with "Ivry" and "The Armada"
H. J. Jackson notes annotations made by John James Raven over period of around 40-50 years in copy of Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome given to him in 1848, "when Raven was a schoolboy of fifteen."
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: John James Raven Print: Book
: [A history of Europe]
During my stay with the clergyman my mother again became a servant in the family and well do I remember reading by the kitchen fire, during the long winter nights. My favourite books were two folio volumes, with illustrations- one a history of Europe, the other a history of England. My interest in those books was intense, and many times have I thought whilst poring over them, 'shall I ever see any of the places here described?'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Book
: [A history of England]
'During my stay with the clergyman my mother again became a servant in the family and well do I remember reading by the kitchen fire, during the long winter nights. My favourite books were two folio volumes, with illustrations- one a history of Europe, the other a history of England. My interest in those books was intense, and many times have I thought whilst poring over them, "shall I ever see any of the places here described?"'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Book
n/a : [a 'bill' advertising a meeting].
'It was in the autumn of 1818 that I first becam acquainted with politics and theology. Passingalong Briggate one evening, I saw at the corner of Union Court a bill, which stated that the Radical Reformers held their meetings in a room in that court. Curiosity prompted me to go and hear what was going on. I found them reading Woller's Black Dwarf, Carlile's Republican, and Cobbett's Register. I remembered my mother being in the habit of reading Cobbett's Register, and saying she '"ondered people spoke so much against it; she saw nothing bad in it, but she saw a great many good things in it." After hearing it read in the the meeting room, I was of my mother's opinion.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Advertisement, Handbill, Poster
Johann Lorenz von Mosheim : An Ecclesiastical History, ancient and modern
'During these twelve months [in prison] I read with deep interest and much profit Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", Hume's "History of England", and many other standard works- amongst others, Mosheims "Ecclesiastical History". The reading of that book would have made me a freethinker if I had not been one before.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Book
Edward Gibbon : Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
'During these twelve months [inprison] I read with deep interest and much profit Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Hume's "History of England", and many other standard works- amongst others, Mosheims "Ecclesiastical History". The reading of that book would have made me a freethinker if I had not been one before.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Book
David Hume : The History of England
'During these twelve months [in prison] I read with deep interest and much profit Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", Hume's "History of England", and many other standard works- amongst others, Mosheims "Ecclesiastical History". The reading of that book would have made me a free thinker if I had not been one before.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Book
William Cobbett : Political Register
?His [James Watson?s] mother, who was left a widow soon after he was born, obtained a situation at the parsonage, where she read Cobbett?s "Register" and "saw nothing bad in it". James himself was apprenticed to the clergyman to "learn field labour" but his indentures, owing to the reverend gentleman leaving Yorkshire for another part of the country, were cancelled before he had finished his time. Thereupon the youth set out for Leeds in search for friends and employment. While working in a warehouse, he too began to read Cobbett?s "Register" and "saw nothing bad in it". Besides Cobbett?s writings, he early made the acquaintance of the Radical literature of the day ? Wooler?s "Black Dwarf" and Carlile?s "Republican".?
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Serial / periodical
Thomas Jonathan Wooler : Black Dwarf
?His [James Watson?s] mother, who was left a widow soon after he was born, obtained a situation at the parsonage, where she read Cobbett?s "Register" and "saw nothing bad in it". James himself was apprenticed to the clergyman to "learn field labour" but his indentures, owing to the reverend gentleman leaving Yorkshire for another part of the country, were cancelled before he had finished his time. Thereupon the youth set out for Leeds in search for friends and employment. While working in a warehouse, he too began to read Cobbett?s "Register" and "saw nothing bad in it". Besides Cobbett?s writings, he early made the acquaintance of the Radical literature of the day ? Wooler?s "Black Dwarf" and Carlile?s "Republican".?
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Serial / periodical
Richard Carlile : Republican
?[James Watson?s] mother, who was left a widow soon after he was born, obtained a situation at the parsonage, where she read Cobbett?s "Register" and "saw nothing bad in it". James himself was apprenticed to the clergyman to "learn field labour" but his indentures, owing to the reverend gentleman leaving Yorkshire for another part of the country, were cancelled before he had finished his time. Thereupon the youth set out for Leeds in search for friends and employment. While working in a warehouse, he too began to read Cobbett?s "Register" and "saw nothing bad in it". Besides Cobbett?s writings, he early made the acquaintance of the Radical literature of the day ? Wooler?s "Black Dwarf" and Carlile?s "Republican".?
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Watson Print: Newspaper, Serial / periodical
Jane Austen : Mansfield Park
'My Eldest Brother - a warm admirer of it in general. - Delighted with the Portsmouth scene.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Austen Print: Book
Jane Austen : Mansfield Park
'Edward - Much like his Father. - Objected to Mrs Rushworth's Elopement as unnatural'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Edward Austen-Leigh Print: Book
Jane Austen : Mansfield Park
'Mrs James Tilson - Liked it [Mansfield Park] better than P. & P.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: [Mrs James] Tilson Print: Book
Jane Austen : Mansfield Park
'Sir James Langham & Mr Sanford, having been told that it was much inferior to P.& P. - began it expecting to dislike it, but were very soon extremely pleased with it - & I beleive [sic], did not think it at all inferior.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sir James Langham Print: Book
Jane Austen : Emma
'Mr & Mrs J. A. - did not like it so well as either of the 3 others. Language different from the others; not so easily read.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Austen Print: Book
Jane Austen : Emma
'Mr & Mrs J. A. - did not like it so well as either of the 3 others. Language different from the others; not so easily read.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: [Mrs James] Austen Print: Book
Jane Austen : Emma
'Edward - preferred it to M.P. - only. - Mr. K liked by every body.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Edward Austen-Leigh Print: Book
Jane Austen : unknown
'There is no book which that word ["vulgaire"] would suit so little... Every village could furnish matter for a novel to Jane Austen. She did not need the common materials for a novel - strong passion, or strong incident.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sir James Mackintosh Print: Book
Jane Austen : Pride and Prejudice
'Mrs James Tilson - Liked it ["Mansfield Park"] better than P. & P.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: [Mrs James] Tilson Print: Book
[unknown] : [unknown]
[description of work while employed as an apprentice at the warehouse of Mr Tait, proprietor of 'Tait's Edinburgh Magazine'] 'This accomplished, my next duties were to sweep the floor and dust the counter and desks in the front shop, in the course of which an occasional brief pause on my work was made that I might take a peep at the contents of some book, the title of which took my fancy.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
[unknown] : [various English periodicals]
'At the beginning of each month, too, there fell to be collected from the various agents a large number of English magazines for Mr Tait's customers, as also a few copies of "Blackwood"; and at the contents of some of those I often contrived to get a surreptitious "read".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
[n/a] : Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'At the beginning of each month, too, there fell to be collected from the various agents a large number of English magazines for Mr Tait's customers, as also a few copies of "Blackwood"; and at the contents of some of those I often contrived to get a surreptitious "read".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
William Cobbett : Advice to young men
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
George L. Craik : Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
William Tait : Tait's Edinburgh Magazine
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
Walter Scott : Guy Mannering
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
Walter Scott : The Heart of Midlothian
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
Walter Scott : The Bride of Lammermoor
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
Walter Scott : St Ronan's Well
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
Walter Scott : Waverley
'Much is being said and written now-a-days about the influence of books on the formation of character; let me therefore mention that my prime favourites while at Tait's were "Cobbett's advice to young men", and Charles Knight's "Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"; which I read over and over again with great zest, and, I hope, much benefit. As a matter of course, I also read "Tait's Magazine" regularly, making myself familiar with its contents even before publication; the elaborate reviews of many of the best books of the period affording me the opportunity of picking up a considerable amount of useful information. Curiously enough, the reading of the "Waverley novels" was to me a task of difficulty; and I am ashamed to say that I have only read few of them, "Guy Mannering", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "St Ronan's Well". "Waverley", although attempted more than once, failed to attract.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
John Galt : Lives of the players
'The novels of John Galt were always much to my taste. I fancy I have read every book that came from his pen, including his "Lives of the players", and once every year I peruse "Sir Andrew Wyllie"; also that most realistic production, the "Annals of the Parish": both books undeserving of the neglect which has befallen them.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
John Galt : Sir Andrew Wyllie
'The novels of John Galt were always much to my taste. I fancy I have read every book that came from his pen, including his "Lives of players", and once every year I peruse "Sir Andrew Wyllie"; also that most realistic production, the "Annals of the Parish": both books undeserving of the neglect which has befallen them.'
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
John Galt : Annals of the Parish
'The novels of John Galt were always much to my taste. I fancy I have read every book that came from his pen, including his "Lives of players", and once every year I peruse "Sir Andrew Wyllie"; also that most realistic production, the "Annals of the Parish": both books undeserving of the neglect which has befallen them.'
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
Samuel Smiles : [biographies of men]
'As an apprentice I was a subscriber to the Mechanic's Library, from which I borrowed a great supply of books - my tastes lying largely in the direction of biography ... series of books of Mr Smiles, is still worth the attention of young men in search of wholesome reading.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
James Lackington : [autobiography]
'Another book I read with much zest was the autobiography of Lackington, the bookseller, a copy of which amusing and instructive work I still possess and read occasionally.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
James Hogg : Shepherd's Calendar
'In Mr Tait's warehouse I read Hogg's "Shepherd's Calendar" and some of his poems also, while, at various times, many opportunities of hearing much about him.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Book
[n/a] : Bentley's Miscellany
'I pursued a similar plan with others of the magazines whenever I got a chance, especially "Bentley's Miscellany", which contained in my young days "Jack Sheppard".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
Robert Chambers : Chambers's Journal
'One Saturday afternoon in the summer of 1838, whilst crossing Brumsfield links on my way home to Morningside, endeavouring as I walked over the grass to read a story in one of the volumes of "Chambers's Journal", then of a somewhat unwielding size, I was stopped by two gentlemen, one of whom asked what I was reading...'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
William Harrison Ainsworth : Jack Sheppard
'I pursued a similar plan with others of the magazines whenever I got a chance, especially "Bentley's Miscellany", which contained in my young days "Jack Sheppard".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
Mrs Johnstone : The Schoolmaster
'When, in the course of a year or two, we removed to the vicinity of Edinburgh, matters in respect of books brightened a little. I then obtained access to a greater variety, and, as I well remember, greatly enjoyed reading some numbers of a periodical called "The Schoolmaster", edited by Mr Johnstone, or, to speak more correctly, by Mrs Johnstone.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
Chevalier Ramsay : Life of Cyrus
James Burn, on his first contact with literature after years of having seen none: '"In the latter end of the year of 1826, a friend made me a present of an old edition of Chevalier Ramsay's "Life of Cyrus". This little volume opened up to my enquiring mind a rich field of useful knowledge. The apendix to the work contained the [italics]heathen mythology[end italics]: this part of the work completely fascinated me, and for a considerable time became my constant companion."'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Dawson Burn Print: Book
Samuel Warren : Diary of a late physician
'When in my early apprentice days I was first enabled to dip into the pages of "Maga", its chief attraction was the later series of "The Diary of a late physician". I greatly enjoyed the papers, and also, later on, the same author's story of "Ten Thousand a Year". [when the journal came out] I would sit on the steps [of George Street] for nearly an hour engrossed by the perusal of some interesting portion of its pages, munching at the same time my dinner of bread-and-cheese. The pages of the copies of the magazine in my custody as collector were, of course, uncut, but having as many as eight or ten in my charge, I managed without it being discovered to cut open one leaf in each of the numbers in order to master the narrative.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Warren : Ten thousand a year
'When in my early apprentice days I was first enabled to dip into the pages of "Maga", its chief attraction was the later series of "The Diary of a late physician". I greatly enjoyed the papers, and also, later on, the same author's story of "Ten Thousand a Year". [when the journal came out] I would sit on the steps [of George Street] for nearly an hour engrossed by the perusal of some interesting portion of its pages, munching at the same time my dinner of bread-and-cheese. The pages of the copies of the magazine in my custody as collector were, of course, uncut, but, having as many as eight or ten in my charge, I managed without its being discovered to cut open one leaf in each of the numbers in order to master the narrative.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
Otto Weinginer : ?ber die letzten Dinge
Er kehrt zum Vater wenn er die Erbs?nde verneint [...] Der Raum enth?lt in Nebeneinader was nur in zeitlicher Nacheinander erlebt werden kann [...] Gravitation, Symbol des Gnadelosen
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Joyce Print: Book
Plato : On the immortality of the soul
'I was but about twenty-two years of age when I first began to read them, and I assure you, my friend, that they made a very deep and lasting impression in my mind. By reading them [Plato's On the Immortality of the soul and Plutarch's Morals and Confucio's texts] I was taught to bear the unavoidable evils attending humanity, and to supply all my wants by contracting or restraining my desires.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Plutarch : Morals
'I was but about twenty-two years of age when I first began to read them, and I assure you, my friend, that they made a very deep and lasting impression in my mind. By reading them [Plato's On the Immortality of the soul and Plutarch's Morals and Confucio's texts] I was taught to bear the unavoidable evils attending humanity, and to supply all my wants by contracting or restraining my desires.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Confucius : various
'I was but about twenty-two years of age when I first began to read them, and I assure you, my friend, that they made a very deep and lasting impression in my mind. By reading them [Plato's On the Immortality of the soul and Plutarch's Morals and Confucio's texts] I was taught to bear the unavoidable evils attending humanity, and to supply all my wants by contracting or restraining my desires.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
anon : various scraps of writing
'My master said to me one day, he was surprized that I did not learn to write my own letters, and added, that he was sure that I could learn to do it in a very short time. ... Without any delay I set about it, by taking up pieces of paper that had any writing on them, and initiating the letters as well as I could. I employed my leisure hours in this way for near two months, after which time I wrote my own letters, in a bad hand, you may be sure; but it was plain and easy to read, which was all I cared for.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Manuscript: Unknown
Thomas Amory : The life of John Buncle
'It was in one of those cheerful moods that I one day took up The Life of John Buncle; and it is impossible for my friend to imagine with what eagerness and pleasure I read through the whole four volumes of this sensible pleasing work; it was wrote by the late Mr Amory of Wakefield, and I know not of any work more proper to be put into the hands of a poor ignorant bigotted superstititous methodist... In short I saw that true religion was no way incompatible with or an enemy to rational pleasures of any kind. ... I now also began to read with great pleasure the rational and moderate divines of all denominations.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
anon : various on divinity and moral philosophy
'As to the little knowledge of literature I possess, I acquired that by dint of application. In the beginning I attached myself very closely to the study of divinity and moral philosophy; so that I became tolerably acquainted with all the points controverted between the Divines.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Hesbert : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Tindall : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Chubb : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Morgan : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Collins : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.? 237
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Woolston : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Annet : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Mandeville : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Sheftesbury : [?] Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Bolingbroke : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.? 237
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Williams : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.? 237
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Voltaire : unknown
?After having read the great champions for Christianity, I next read the works of Lord Hesbert, Tindal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Woolston, Annet, Mandeville, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Williams, Voltaire, and many other Free-thinkers.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
unknown : [English poets]
?I have also read most of our English poets, and the best translations of the Greek, Latin, Italian and French poets; nor did I omit History, Voyages, Travels, Natural History, Biography, etc.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
unknown : Various
?I have also read most of our English poets, and the best translations of the Greek, Latin, Italian and French poets; nor did I omit History, Voyages, Travels, Natural History, Biography, etc.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
unknown : various English plays
?I have also read most of our best plays.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Miguel de Cervantes : Don Quixote (probably)
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Henry Fielding : unknown
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Tobias Smollet : unknown
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Samuel Richardson : unknown
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Frances Burney : unknown
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Voltaire : unknown
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Lawrence Sterne : unknown
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Le Sage : Gil Blas (probably)
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Goldsmith : Vicar of Wakefield
Another great source of amusement as well as knowledge, I have met with in reading almost all the best novels (Cervantes, Fielding, Smollet, Richardson, Miss Burney, Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldsmith and others).?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
unknown : various
'But these extraordinary accounts and discourses, together with the controversies between the mother and sons, made me think that they know many matters of which I was totally ignorant. This created in me a desire for knowledge, that I might know who was right and who was wrong. But to my great mortification, I could not read. I knew most of the letters, and a few easy words, and I set about learning with all my might. My mistress would sometimes instruct me; and having three-halfpence per week allowed me by my mother, this money I gave to John (my master's youngest son) and for every three-halfpence he taught me to spell one hour. And this was done in the dark, as we were not allowed a candle, after we were sent upstairs to bed.'
UnknownCentury: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington
: Bible
?The enthusiastic notions which I had imbibed, and the desire I had to be talking about religious mysteries, etc answered one valuable purpose; as it caused me to embrace every opportunity to learn to read; so that I could soon read the easy parts of the Bible, Mr Wesley?s Hymns etc and every leisure minute was so employed.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Wesley : Hymns
?The enthusiastic notions which I had imbibed, and the desire I had to be talking about religious mysteries, etc answered one valuable purpose; as it caused me to embrace every opportunity to learn to read; so that I could soon read the easy parts of the Bible, Mr Wesley?s Hymns etc and every leisure minute was so employed.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Wesley : Tracts and Sermons
?? for a long time I read ten chapters in the Bible every day, I also read and learned many hymns, and as soon as I could procure some of Mr Wesley?s Tracts, Sermons etc. I read them also; many of them I perused in ?Cloacina?s? Temple, (the place where my Lord Chesterfield advised his son to read the classics.) But I did not apply them after reading to the farther use that his Lordship hints at.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
unknown : various
?I had such good eyes, that I often read by the light of the moon, as my master would never permit me to take a candle into my room.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Epictetus : Morals
?? in looking over the title pages, I met with Hobbes translation of Homer, I had some how or other heard that Homer was a great poet, but unfortunately I had never heard of Pope?s translation of him, so we eagerly purchased that by Hobbes. At this stall I also purchased Walker?s Poetical paraphrase of Epictetus?s Morals; and home we went, perfectly well pleased with our bargains. We that evening began with Hobbes's Homer; but found it very difficult for us to read, owing to the obscurity of the translation, which together with the indifferent language, and the want of poetical merit in the translator somewhat disappointed us; however we had from time to time many a hard puzzling hour with him. But as Walker's Epictetus, although it had not much poetical merit, yet it was very easy to be read, and as easily understood; and the principles of the Stoic [underlined] charmed me so much, that I made the book my companion wherever I went, and read it over and over...?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Homer : unknown
?? in looking over the title pages, I met with Hobbes translation of Homer, I had some how or other heard that Homer was a great poet, but unfortunately I had never heard of Pope?s translation of him, so we eagerly purchased that by Hobbes. At this stall I also purchased Walker?s Poetical paraphrase of Epictetus?s Morals; and home we went, perfectly well pleased with our bargains. We that evening began with Hobbes's Homer; but found it very difficult for us to read, owing to the obscurity of the translation, which together with the indifferent language, and the want of poetical merit in the translator somewhat disappointed us; however we had from time to time many a hard puzzling hour with him. But as Walker's Epictetus, although it had not much poetical merit, yet it was very easy to be read, and as easily understood; and the principles of the Stoic [underlined] charmed me so much, that I made the book my companion wherever I went, and read it over and over...?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
unknown : various
'We all worked very hard, particularly Mr John Jones and me, in order to get money to purchase books; But what we wanted in judgement in choosing our library, we made up in application; and so anxious we were to read a great deal, that we allowed ourselves but about three hours sleep in twenty-four, and for some months together we never were all in bed at the same time, (Sunday nights excepted). But lest we should oversleep the time allowed, one of us sat up to work until the time appointed for the others to rise, and when we all were up, my friend John, and your humble servant, took it by turns to read aloud to the rest, while they were at their work.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
George Gordon, Lord Byron : Lara
Mary Berry, Journal, 20 August 1814: 'Lord Rosslyn read to us "Lara," Lord Byron's new tale. It strongly marks his manner of thinking and writing. It is a sort of continuation of the "Corsair."'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Alexander, second Earl of Rosslyn Print: Book
John Milton : Paradise Regained
Mary Berry, Journal, 19 December 1818: 'Sir James Mackintosh in my room this morning; hearing me read over and commenting on my "Memoir of Lady Russell," spoke frankly, seemed pleased, and satisfied me very tolerably with his opinion [...] In the evening he read some of Milton's "Paradise Regained" to us.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sir James Mackintosh Print: Book
Coxe : Life of Marlborough
The Hon. James Abercrombie to Mary Berry, 5 January 1820: 'I am reading Coxe's "Life of Marlborough;" the subject, in spite of the dulness and want of capacity in the writer, renders it most truly interesting.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: The Hon. James Abercrombie Print: Book
James Hogg : [poems]
'In Mr Tait's warehouse I read Hogg's "Shepherd's Calendar" and some of his poems also, while, at various times, many opportunities of hearing much about him.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Unknown
[n/a] : Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'When in my early apprentice days I was first enabled to dip into the pages of "Maga", its chief attraction was the later series of "The Diary of a late physician". I greatly enjoyed the papers, and also, later on, the same author's story of "Ten Thousand a Year". [when the journal came out] I would sit on the steps [of George Street] for nearly an hour engrossed by the perusal of some interesting portion of its pages, munching at the same time my dinner of bread-and-cheese. The pages of the copies of the magazine in my custody as collector were, of course, uncut, but, having as many as eight or ten in my charge, I managed without its being discovered to cut open one leaf in each of the numbers in order to master the narrative.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Glass Bertram Print: Serial / periodical
Dr Edward Jenner : pamphlet on the cow pox
'We had a very pleasant day on monday at Ashe [...] There was a whist & a casino table, & six outsiders. - Rice & Lucy made love, Mat: Robinson fell asleep, James and Mrs Augusta alternately read Dr Jenner's pamphlet on the cow pox, & I bestowed my company by turns on all.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Austen
Daniel Defoe : Robinson Crusoe
'Jenny & James [the Austen's servants] are walked to Charmouth this afternoon; - I am glad to have such an amusement for him - as I am very anxious for his being at once quiet and happy. - He can read, & I must get him some books. Unfortunately he has read the 1st vol. of Robinson Crusoe. We have the Pinckards Newspaper however, which I shall take care to lend him.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James anon Print: Book
Walter Scott : Marmion, or A Tale of Flodden Field
'Ought I to be very much pleased with Marmion? - As yet I am not. James reads it aloud in the Eveng - the short Eveng - beginning at about 10, & broken by supper.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Austen Print: Book
John Tomkins : Piety Promoted in Brief Memorials ... Society of F
'In the 9th mo. [1800] died Thos Rutter, of Bristol ... His amiable character is so ably pourtrayed [sic] in 142 & c of the 1oth part of "Piety Promoted", 43 that it is needless for me to attempt any farther delineation.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Jenkins Print: Book
Eaton Stannard Barrett : The Heroine; or, Adventures of Cherubina
'I finished the Heroine last night & was very much amused by it. I wonder James did not like it better. It diverted me exceedingly.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Austen Print: Book
Jane Austen : [novels]
'Accept my sincere thanks for the pleasure your Volumes have given me: in the perusal of them I felt a great inclination to write & say so.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Stanier Clarke Print: Book
Jane Austen : Emma
'You were very good to send me Emma - which I have in no respect deserved. It is gone to the Prince Regent. I have read only a few Pages which I very much admired - there is so much nature - and excellent description of Character in every thing you describe.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Stanier Clarke Print: Book
[n/a] : Lloyd's Weekly London News
'Abraham Austin, carpenter and joiner, examined. I saw James... on Sunday morning again at my house, when he read the newspaper aloud about the murder and other things...'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hocker Print: Newspaper
George Gordon, Lord Byron : Doge of Venice
'During Mr Montgomery's stay he read books from my library, and on his returning Byron's Doge of Venice.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Montgomery Print: Book
[n/a] : Kelso Mail
From Rev. John Hastie's diary, 29th September [1797]: 'Newspaper "Kelso Mail" begun to be taken this first week of October between Knox [William Knox, schoolmaster, Edrom], James [James Herriot, farmer, Allanbank Mains, Stuartslaw and Kelloe Mains] and David Herriots [David Herriot, son of above James] and me twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Herriot Print: Newspaper
: Bible
'Whenever I read in St Paul's Epistle on justification by faith alone, my good mistress would read in the Epistle of St James, such passages as say that a man is not justified by faith alone, but by faith and works, which often embarrassed me not a little. However, I comforted myself with the conceit of having more texts of Scripture on my side of the question than she had on her side. As to St James, I was almost ready to conclude, that he was not quite orthodox, and so at last I did not much mind what he said.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
: Bible
'I often privately took the Bible to bed with me, and in the long summer mornings read for hours together in bed'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Tate Wilkinson : The memoirs of Mr Tate Wilkinson
'Since the publication of the first edition of these memoirs, I have read "The Memoirs of Mr. Tate Wilkinson" patentee of the Theatres Royal of York and Hull, and was much surprized to learn that the famous Ned Shuter was a gracious soul.' [Lackington goes on to quote a long passage from this work, vol iii, page 27; and pages 5 & 6].
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Henry Coventry : Philemon to Hydaspes: or the history of false religion in the earlier pagan world related in a series of coversations
'I also received great benefits from reading Coventry's Philemon to Hydaspes; it consists of dialogues on false religion, extravagant devotion, etc. in which are many very curious remarks on visionaries of various ages and sects. This work is complete in five parts octavo. There has also been a decent Scotch edition, published in twelves, both editions are now rather scarce.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
John Biggs : [conversion narrative]
'I was one day called aside, and a hand-bill was given me; and thinking it to be a quack doctor's bill for a certain disease, I expressed my suprise at its being given to me in such a particular manner; but on reading it, I found it contained a particular account of the wonderful conversion of a John Biggs, when he was twenty-one years of age. Mr Biggs says, that ever since that time he has had communion with God his Father every hour. He publishes this bill (he says) for the glory of God; but that the public might have an opportunity of dealing with this wonderful saint and perfectly holy man, he put his address in capitals, John Biggs, No. 98 Strand. I keep this bill as a curiosity.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Handbill
Jean-Jacques Rousseau : Thoughts of Jean Jacques Rousseau, Citizen of Geneva, selected from his writings by an Anonymous Editor
'There is a very extraordinary passage in Rousseau's Thoughts on Fanaticism. It is printed in his Thoughts, published by Debrett, Vol.i. page 11. Bayle (says he) has acutely proved that Fanaticism is more pernicious than Atheism. This is incontestable. What he has been very careful, however, not to mention, and, what is not less true is, that Fanaticism, although sanguinary and cruel, is still an exalted passion, which elevates the heart of man, raises him above the fear of death, multiplies his resources exceedingly, and which only wants to be better directed, to be productive of the most sublime virtues. (He adds) The argumentative spirit of controversy and philosophy, on the contrary, attaches us to life, enervates and debases the soul, concentrates all passions in the baseness of self-interest, and thus gradually saps the real foundation of all society.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Voltaire : (possibly) The Philosophical Dictionary for the pocket, Written in French by a society of men of letters and translated into English
'A much greater man than Rousseau says, "The only remedy for the infectious disease of Fanaticism, is a philosophical temper, which spreading through society, at length softens manners, and obviates the excesses of the distemper; for whenever it get ground, the best way is to fly from it and stay till the air is purified. The laws and religion are no preservative against this mental pestilence; religion so far from being a salutary aliment in these cases, in infected brains becomes poison" (Lackington continues to quote 2 further paragraphs).
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
: Monthly Review
"The following remarks made by the compilers of the Monthy Review for 1788, page 286, are so applicable to the present subject, that I hope my introducing the passage will not be deemed improper." Quotes "Such doctrine no doubt must be comfortable to poor wretches so circumstanced as those were to whom this pious preacher had the goodness to adedress his discourse; but some (and those not men of shallow reflection) have questioned whether it is altogether right, thus to free the most flagitious outcasts of society from the terrors of an after-reckoning; since it is too well known, that most of them make little account of their punishment in this world. Instead of the 'fearful looking for of (future) judgement;' they are enraptured witht the priospect of a joyful flight 'to the expanded arms of a loving Saviour__ longing to embrace his long lost children' Surely this is not the way (humanly speaking) to check the alarming progress of moral depravity; to which, one would think no kind of encouragement ought to be given."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Serial / periodical
Antoine-Joseph Pernety : The History of a Voyage to the Malouine (or Falkland) Islands, made in 1763 and 1764, under the Command of M. de Bouganville in order to form a Settlement there; and of Two Voyages to the Streights of Magellan, with An Account of the Patagonians.
'Should you, my dear friend, be desirous of perusing a variety of remedies, equally judicious as well as efficacious with those of Mr Wesley, you will meet with ample satisfaction by turning to "Dom Pernety's Voyage to the Falkland Islands", page 153 to 162 quarto edition.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
[unknown] : [paper on the faults of the Navy]
'and the Duke of York and Wren and I, it being now candle-light, into the Duke of York's closet in White-hall and there read over this paper of my Lord Keeper's; wherein is laid down the faults of the Navy, so silly and the remedies so ridiculous, or else the same that are now already provided, that we thought it not to need any answer, the Duke of York being able himself to do it'
Century: 1600-1699 Reader/Listener/Group: James, Duke of York Manuscript: Unknown
Uvedale Price : An Essay on the Modern Pronunciation of the Greek and Latin Languages
James Commeline to Elizabeth Barrett, 1 December 1827: 'Together with Mr Price's book, allow me to return you my best thanks for the perusal of it. Though written [...] with great elegance & felicity of composition, it really strikes me as a remarkable specimen of that order of architecture [...] of which all the parts are perfect in their kind, except the foundation [goes on to criticise work in detail].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: The Rev. James Commeline Jr Print: Book
Thomas Gray : 'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard'
'Wolfe was a great admirer of Gray's "Elegy"; and as he was going down the river with his officers, previous to the storming of Montreal, he read the poem to them to while away the time, for it was then a new thing, just published. When he had finished he turned to them and said, "Gentlemen, I had rather have been the author of that poem, and have given utterance to the sentiments expressed in it, than I would enjoy all the honour which I believe awaits us in this expedition".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Wolfe Print: Book
Thomas Day : The History of Sandford and Merton
'Mister Cairlil it appears has read Sandford and Merton: he may lend it to the rest if he sees good.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Carlyle Print: Book
Jane Harrison : Epilegomena to the Study of Greek Religion
12 September 1921: '[James Strachey] is the easiest & gayest of companions. Here he leapt onto my bed, directly I left it, & lay reading Jane's pamphlet.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Strachey
Walter Scott : Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, The
'I have been perusing your minstrelsy very diligently for a while past, and it being the first book I ever perused which was written by a person I had seen and conversed with, the consequence hath been to me a most sensible pleasure: for in fact it is the remarks and modern pieces that I have delighted most in, being as it were personally acquainted with many of the antient pieces formerly'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
James Grahame : Sabbath, The
'I received yours yesternight with the poem of [italics] the Sabbath [end italics], a good part of which I have already perused and have concluded that the Cameronian hath more in his head than hair'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
Walter Scott : Lay of the Last Minstrel, The
'I had a present of a very elegant copy of the "Lay" lately from a gentleman in Edin. to whom I was ashamed to confess that I had it not. This is g[TEAR] you a hint that the present should have [TEAR] from some other hand. I am delighted beyond measure with many of the descriptions and with none more than that of William of Deloraine but I have picked some faults which I have not now time to explain but in Stanza 3d 1.1st were the knights squires and yeomen all knights? Should it not be rather [italics] The knights were all of mettle true? [end italics] - I have not yet discovered what the terrible parade of fetching Michael Scott's black book from the tomb served or what was done with it of consequence before returned and fear it will be construed as resorted to for sake of furnishing the sublime and awefull description'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book, Unknown
Walter Scott : 'Glenfinlas; Or, Lord Ronald's Coronach'
'either I am grossly mistaken or there are more [italics] natural [end italics] beauties in Marmion than all your others and as long as that is admired (which it ever will be by a part) so will Marmion. You gave the truest picture of your manner of writing in the introduction to Mr Erskine that ever was given [SEAL] ever will and I am particularly partial to that epistle I think it extremely beautifull. I should like extremely well to see another poem of yours in the same stanza with Glenfinlas my first and I believe still greatest favourite'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Walter Scott : Marmion
'either I am grossly mistaken or there are more [italics] natural [end italics] beauties in Marmion than all your others and as long as that is admired (which it ever will be by a part) so will Marmion. You gave the truest picture of your manner of writing in the introduction to Mr Erskine that ever was given [SEAL] ever will and I am particularly partial to that epistle I think it extremely beautifull. I should like extremely well to see another poem of yours in the same stanza with Glenfinlas my first and I believe still greatest favourite'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Walter Scott : 'To Henry Erskine, Esq'
'either I am grossly mistaken or there are more [italics] natural [end italics] beauties in Marmion than all your others and as long as that is admired (which it ever will be by a part) so will Marmion. You gave the truest picture of your manner of writing in the introduction to Mr Erskine that ever was given [SEAL] ever will and I am particularly partial to that epistle I think it extremely beautifull. I should like extremely well to see another poem of yours in the same stanza with Glenfinlas my first and I believe still greatest favourite'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: [reviews of The Mountain Bard and The Shepherd's Guide]
'I have read several English reviews of my books at great length which are favourable in the extreme'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Janet Stuart : 'Ode to Dr Thomas Percy'
[a long anecdote about how Hogg found his correspondent Janet Stuart's book in an Edinburgh bookshop and had to pay 7/6 for a 'pamphlet' which the bookseller argued was 'a very extraordinary production'] 'I did not only read it I devoured it: the man was right; it is an [italics] extraordinary production [end italics]. I do not think a man is flattering when he tells what he thinks I think there is not a more beautiful poem in the English language of its kind. Some of my friends, though they acknowledge it contains great beauties, blame it for what they are pleased to call a [italics] mysterous [sic] obscurity [end italics], while to me who am luckily versant in ancient ballads, it is as plain as the ABC. Yet I acknowledge I should be happy to see in my Adeline's next piece a little more of the unaffected simplicity so visible in her whole character and deportment'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg
Robert Southey : Curse of Kehama, The
'Kehama has not got justice take a bards word who never flatters he will live for ever'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
Walter Scott : Bridal of Triermain, The
'[italics] The Bridal [end italics] of Triermain is published. It is quite a romance of a lady that lay enchanted 500 years &c a servile imitation of Scott and possesses some poetical merit. It will not however be regarded'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
John Morrison : Hoggiad, The
'A gentleman who deems himself libelled at in the Wake has sent a long poem to Edin. to be printed [italics] in quarto [end italics] which he denominates [italics] The Hoggiad [end italics] or [italics] A Supplement to the Queen's Wake [end italics] It is the most abusive thing I ever saw but has otherwise some merit'..
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
Bernard Barton : 'To James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, author of The Queen's Wake. By A Gentleman of Suffolk'
'I recieved yours accompanying the beautifull complimentary verses, which are judged by the small circle of my friends to be the best that ever have appeared in our language addressed to any poet while alive. Goldie published them in the Courant the principal paper of this country as addressed to the Ettrick Shepherd by a gentleman of Suffolk. I admired the verses very much indeed for their poetical merit but much more for the spirit of enthusiasm and kindness that breathes throughout towards a friendless and un-noted Bard'.
UnknownCentury: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg
Bernard Barton : 'To James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, author of The Queen's Wake. By A Gentleman of Suffolk'
'I think the stanzas greatly improved and they are in the press as an introduction to the second edition of the [italics] wake [end italics]. There was one term which I was thinking should have been altered as it rather struck me to be bordering on the extravagant I think it was [italics] heaven-born [end italics] which I thought should only have been [italics] gifted [end italics] or something to that effect but you may trust that to me I will think of it when the proof comes to my hand'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
: Edinburgh Review
'The Edin. and the Scottish Reviews were both published yesterday. Neither Rokeby nor the Wake is in the former. Rokeby it is certain is never to be in, but it is still reported that the Wake is. It is reviewed at great length in this number of the Scottish. It is an excellent article and said to be written by the editor. He has placed my character as a poet in a much higher point of view than any has yet ventured to place it perhaps you may think that impossible after reading the following extract out of a London Monthly publication. After giving the analysis he says, the English writer I mean "This subject, so fertile of poetic beauty the most diversified and contrasted, yields an harvest fully adequate to all that could be expected from the advantages of the field. Greater ease and spirit, a sweeter, richer, more animated and easy flow of versification, more clearness of language, more beauty of imagery, more grandeur, fervor, pathos, and occassionally more vivid and aweful sublimity, can hardly be found". [this quotation continues for two pages, forming the greater part of this letter]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Scotish Review
'The Edin. and the Scottish Reviews were both published yesterday. Neither Rokeby nor the Wake is in the former. Rokeby it is certain is never to be in, but it is still reported that the Wake is. It is reviewed at great length in this number of the Scottish. It is an excellent article and said to be written by the editor. He has placed my character as a poet in a much higher point of view than any has yet ventured to place it perhaps you may think that impossible after reading the following extract out of a London Monthly publication. After giving the analysis he says, the English writer I mean "This subject, so fertile of poetic beauty the most diversified and contrasted, yields an harvest fully adequate to all that could be expected from the advantages of the field. Greater ease and spirit, a sweeter, richer, more animated and easy flow of versification, more clearness of language, more beauty of imagery, more grandeur, fervor, pathos, and occassionally more vivid and aweful sublimity, can hardly be found". [this quotation continues for two pages, forming the greater part of this letter]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Monthly Magazine
'The Edin. and the Scottish Reviews were both published yesterday. Neither Rokeby nor the Wake is in the former. Rokeby it is certain is never to be in, but it is still reported that the Wake is. It is reviewed at great length in this number of the Scottish. It is an excellent article and said to be written by the editor. He has placed my character as a poet in a much higher point of view than any has yet ventured to place it perhaps you may think that impossible after reading the following extract out of a London Monthly publication. After giving the analysis he says, the English writer I mean "This subject, so fertile of poetic beauty the most diversified and contrasted, yields an harvest fully adequate to all that could be expected from the advantages of the field. Greater ease and spirit, a sweeter, richer, more animated and easy flow of versification, more clearness of language, more beauty of imagery, more grandeur, fervor, pathos, and occassionally more vivid and aweful sublimity, can hardly be found". [this quotation continues for two pages, forming the greater part of this letter]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Scotish Review [sic]
'In the last No of the Scottish Review there is a very long and exquisite review of the [italics] Wake [end italics]. It is a good article, said to be written by the editor of that work, who has placed my poetry in a point of view where none has hitherto ventured to place it'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
William Roscoe : [pre-publication comments on Hogg's 'The Hunting of Badlewe'
'I inclose you Roscoe's and Mr. Scott's letters of criticism but besides this Scott has written the margin from beginning to end and his hints are most rational - these letters will well make up to you what is unfilled up in my sheet. I send you likewise a volume of poems by a young friend of mine of very great poetical powers. I have been greatly instrumental in bringing them forward, and subscribed for ten copies and I beg you will accept of this as a small present to the neat collection upstairs which has erst been free to me'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: presumably in MS
Walter Scott : [pre-publication comments and marginal notes on Hogg's 'The Hunting of Badlewe'
'I inclose you Roscoe's and Mr. Scott's letters of criticism but besides this Scott has written the margin from beginning to end and his hints are most rational - these letters will well make up to you what is unfilled up in my sheet. I send you likewise a volume of poems by a young friend of mine of very great poetical powers. I have been greatly instrumental in bringing them forward, and subscribed for ten copies and I beg you will accept of this as a small present to the neat collection upstairs which has erst been free to me'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: presumably in MS
Walter Paterson : Legend of Iona, The
'I inclose you Roscoe's and Mr. Scott's letters of criticism but besides this Scott has written the margin from beginning to end and his hints are most rational - these letters will well make up to you what is unfilled up in my sheet. I send you likewise a volume of poems by a young friend of mine of very great poetical powers. I have been greatly instrumental in bringing them forward, and subscribed for ten copies and I beg you will accept of this as a small present to the neat collection upstairs which has erst been free to me'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
George Gordon, Lord Byron : [juvenile poems]
'if you have no [italics] odd things [end italics] lying about you which I daresay you do not lack there are many pieces among those you published in your youth which are I deem not much known and which I think extremely beautifull if you would deign to favour us with something of either the one class or the other you can hardly conceive how much it would oblige [italics] me [end italics] in particular and turn as it were every letter of our little repository into gold'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
J. H. Craig : Hunting of Badlewe, The
'By the by have you read my friend Mr Crag's [sic] "Hunting of Badlewe" published by Colburne. If you have not I wish you would and tell me punctually what you think of him, and the utmost that may be anticipated of him as a poet and dramatist'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Tenant : Anster Fair
'Pray have you seen a poem that was published last year entitled "Anster Fair" I am vexed that it has never been noticed for their [sic] is a strength of mind and a [TEAR] originality of conception manifested in it which I n[TEAR] before witnessed - it is anonymous but I understand it is written by a poor schoolmaster in Fife you must by all means see it'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Tenant : Anster Fair
'There are two poems that I desire you at all events to read the one entitled "Anster Fair" the most original production that ever this country gave birth to and another thing published lately by Colbourn London called "The Hunting of Badlewe". There is hard struggling here with some kind of very sublime and metaphysical productions called "Reviews" some of them will I fear prove [italics] Ephemeral [end italics] or very short lived. Mrs Grant's 1813 has excited little or no interest here and if some exertion is not made to save it in London it is lost, yet the second book in particular certainly contains something very good'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
J.H. Craig : Hunting of Badlewe, The
'There are two poems that I desire you at all events to read the one entitled "Anster Fair" the most original production that ever this country gave birth to and another thing published lately by Colbourn London called "The Hunting of Badlewe". There is hard struggling here with some kind of very sublime and metaphysical productions called "Reviews" some of them will I fear prove [italics] Ephemeral [end italics] or very short lived. Mrs Grant's 1813 has excited little or no interest here and if some exertion is not made to save it in London it is lost, yet the second book in particular certainly contains something very good'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Anne Grant : Eighteen Hundred and Thirteen: A Poem
'There are two poems that I desire you at all events to read the one entitled "Anster Fair" the most original production that ever this country gave birth to and another thing published lately by Colbourn London called "The Hunting of Badlewe". There is hard struggling here with some kind of very sublime and metaphysical productions called "Reviews" some of them will I fear prove [italics] Ephemeral [end italics] or very short lived. Mrs Grant's 1813 has excited little or no interest here and if some exertion is not made to save it in London it is lost, yet the second book in particular certainly contains something very good'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: [review in the Edinburgh Review of Southey's 'Carmen Triumphale for the Commencement of the Year 1814']
'The attact [sic] upon you in the last Edin. Review was too palpably malevolent to produce any bad effect on the public feeling with regard to you, and it was (besides being evidently the words of a [italics] hurt person [end italics]) a very shabby article'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: [review in the Scottish Review of JH Craig's The Hunting of Badlewe]
'Badliewe [sic] has not yet made great noise but has excited a deep interest in a limited sphere. It is reviewed in both our minor reviews in the one with a good deal of asperity but they allow the author to be posessed of some kind of unaccountable fund of poetical genius. In the "Scottish" published yesterday there is a long and able review of it - the writer is quite misled likewise with regard to the author too - He blames the plot but extols the poetry some of it even above all others - says that the author is no common man and though he has great faults which it becomes him to mention the author if he continue writing his own way cannot go far wrong'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Walter Scott : Waverley; or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since
'[Scott] denies "Waverly" [sic] which it behoves him to do for a while at least; indeed I do not think he will ever acknowledge it; but with regard to the author there is not and cannot be a doubt remaining - the internal evidence is of itself sufficient - it may be practical enough to imitate either your lordship or him for a few verses but that the same turn of thought characters and expression in a word that the whole structure of mind sholud so exactly coinincide in two distinct individuals is not in nature. - By the by this seems to have brought a curious fact to light. I heard Ballantyne with my own ears attest when Waverly went first to the press which is now a long while ago that it was by the author of "The Bridal of Triermain" who in all the surmises [italics] had never yet been named [end italics] What are we to think here my Lord? However I like Waverly exceedingly and never was more diverted than by some of the pictures there of Scottish manners and I am much pleased to hear you commend it'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book, Serial / periodical
Walter Scott : Bridal of Triermain, The
'[Scott] denies "Waverly" [sic] which it behoves him to do for a while at least; indeed I do not think he will ever acknowledge it; but with regard to the author there is not and cannot be a doubt remaining - the internal evidence is of itself sufficient - it may be practical enough to imitate either your lordship or him for a few verses but that the same turn of thought characters and expression in a word that the whole structure of mind sholud so exactly coinincide in two distinct individuals is not in nature. - By the by this seems to have brought a curious fact to light. I heard Ballantyne with my own ears attest when Waverly went first to the press which is now a long while ago that it was by the author of "The Bridal of Triermain" who in all the surmises [italics] had never yet been named [end italics] What are we to think here my Lord? However I like Waverly exceedingly and never was more diverted than by some of the pictures there of Scottish manners and I am much pleased to hear you commend it'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book, Serial / periodical
George Gordon, Lord Byron : Lara
'I have had such a pleasant morning perusing Lara to day that I cannot risist [sic] the impulse of writing to you and telling you so. The last Canto of it is much the best thing you ever wrote - there are many pictures in it which the heart of man can scarcely brook. It is besides more satisfactorily and better wind up [sic] than any of your former tales and the images rather more perceptible. You are constantly improving in this Your figures from the very first were strong without parallel but in every new touch of your pencil they are better and better relieved. In the first Canto there is haply too much painting of the same and too close on that so much dwelt on in the Corsair; Yet still as it excels the rest in harmony of numbers I am disposed to give it the preference to any of them. [Hogg then advises Byron not to attempt writing drama] I have been extremely puzzled to find out who Sir Ezzelin is sometimes I have judged him to be some sea captain at others Medora's uncle or parent from whom the Corsair had stole her but I have at last pleased myself by concluding that Lord Byron does not know himself - what a wretched poet Mr Rogers is. You are truly very hardly set for great original poets in England at present when such as he must be extolled. I could not help smiling at his Jacqueline'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
George Gordon, Lord Byron : Corsair, The
'I have had such a pleasant morning perusing Lara to day that I cannot risist [sic] the impulse of writing to you and telling you so. The last Canto of it is much the best thing you ever wrote - there are many pictures in it which the heart of man can scarcely brook. It is besides more satisfactorily and better wind up [sic] than any of your former tales and the images rather more perceptible. You are constantly improving in this Your figures from the very first were strong without parallel but in every new touch of your pencil they are better and better relieved. In the first Canto there is haply too much painting of the same and too close on that so much dwelt on in the Corsair; Yet still as it excels the rest in harmony of numbers I am disposed to give it the preference to any of them [Hogg then advises Byron not to attempt writing drama] I have been extremely puzzled to find out who Sir Ezzelin is sometimes I have judged him to be some sea captain at others Medora's uncle or parent from whom the Corsair had stole her but I have at last pleased myself by concludoing thatg Lord Byron does not know himself - what a wretched poet Mr Rogers is You are truly very hardly set for great original poets in England at present when such as he must be extolled. I could not help smiling at his Jacqueline'.'I have had such a pleasant morning perusing Lara to day that I cannot risist [sic] the impulse of writing to you and telling you so. The last Canto of it is much the best thing you ever wrote - there are many pictures in it which the heart of man can scarcely brook. It is besides more satisfactorily and better wind up [sic] than any of your former tales and the images rather more perceptible. You are constantly improving in this Your figures from the very first were strong without parallel but in every new touch of your pencil they are better and better relieved. In the first Canto there is haply too much painting of the same and too close on that so much dwelt on in the Corsair; Yet still as it excels the rest in harmony of numbers I am disposed to give it the preference to any of them. [Hogg then advises Byron not to attempt writing drama] I have been extremely puzzled to find out who Sir Ezzelin is sometimes I have judged him to be some sea captain at others Medora's uncle or parent from whom the Corsair had stole her but I have at last pleased myself by concluding that Lord Byron does not know himself - what a wretched poet Mr Rogers is. You are truly very hardly set for great original poets in England at present when such as he must be extolled. I could not help smiling at his Jacqueline'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Samuel Rogers : Jacqueline
'I have had such a pleasant morning perusing Lara to day that I cannot risist [sic] the impulse of writing to you and telling you so. The last Canto of it is much the best thing you ever wrote - there are many pictures in it which the heart of man can scarcely brook. It is besides more satisfactorily and better wind up [sic] than any of your former tales and the images rather more perceptible. You are constantly improving in this Your figures from the very first were strong without parallel but in every new touch of your pencil they are better and better relieved. In the first Canto there is haply too much painting of the same and too close on that so much dwelt on in the Corsair; Yet still as it excels the rest in harmony of numbers I am disposed to give it the preference to any of them. [Hogg then advises Byron not to attempt writing drama] I have been extremely puzzled to find out who Sir Ezzelin is sometimes I have judged him to be some sea captain at others Medora's uncle or parent from whom the Corsair had stole her but I have at last pleased myself by concluding that Lord Byron does not know himself - what a wretched poet Mr Rogers is. You are truly very hardly set for great original poets in England at present when such as he must be extolled. I could not help smiling at his Jacqueline'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Robert Southey : Roderick, The Last of the Goths
'Wilson who is one of the most noble fellows in existence swore terribly about the [italics] fishing [end italics] and challenges you fairly to a trial but after a serious perusal of "Wordsworth's excursion" together and no little laughter and some parodying he has with your assistance fairly confessed to me yesterday that he now holds the [italics]school [end italics] in utter contempt Wordsworth is really a fine intelligent man and one that must ever be respected but I fear the [italics] Kraken [end italics] has peppered him for this world - with its proportion of beauties (by the by they are but thin sown) it is the most heavy and the most absurd work that I ever perused without all exception - Southey's new work will be published in Novr. I have had the peculiar privilege of perusing it from end to end. It is much the best thing that was ever produced by the [italics] pond school [end italics] I assure you my lord it is and will raise Southey much in character as a poet The story moves a little heavily for some time but it is wild tragical and the circumstances in which the parties are placed extremely interesting'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
Robert Southey : Roderick, The Last of the Goths
'Roderick is safe depend upon it I venture my judgement on it very publickly that it is the first epic poem of the age - its great merit consists in the extent and boldness of the plan its perfect consistency and the ease with which it is managed - in these respects you are so far above your cotemporaries [sic] as not to admit of a comparison - I should like above all things to review it in some respectable work'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
Robert Southey : Roderick, The Last of the Goths
'Wordsworth and Southey have each published a new poem price of each /2:2. Southey's is a noble work the other is a very absurd one but has many most beautiful and affecting passages - Scott is in the press - the beginning is beautiful'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
William Wordsworth : Excursion, The
'Wordsworth and Southey have each published a new poem price of each /2:2. Southey's is a noble work the other is a very absurd one but has many most beautiful and affecting passages - Scott is in the press - the beginning is beautiful'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Walter Scott : Lord of the Isles, The
'Wordsworth and Southey have each published a new poem price of each /2:2. Southey's is a noble work the other is a very absurd one but has many most beautiful and affecting passages - Scott is in the press - the beginning is beautiful'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
Robert Southey : Roderick, The Last of the Goths
'I have read Roderick over and over again and am the more and more convinced that it is the noblest Epic poem of the age I have had some correspondence and a good deal of conversation with Mr Jeffery [sic] about it who though he does not agree with me in every particular. He says it is too long and wants [italics] elasticity [end italics] and will not he fears be generally read though much may be said in its favours' [Hogg was trying to get Jeffrey to allow him to review the poem]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book, Hogg had also read the poem in MS
Francis Jeffrey : [review of The Excursion in The Edinburgh Review]
'I suppose you have heard what a crushing review [Jeffrey] has given [Wordsworth]. I still found him persisting in his first asseveration that it was heavy but what was my pleasure to find he had only got to the 17 division I assured him he had the marrow of the thing to come at as yet'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book, Serial / periodical
Walter Scott : Lord of the Isles, The
'I have read "Ronald" with great care and much pleasure I think it is the most [italics] spirited [end italics] poem Scott ever wrote - He has availed himself of his particular forte, a kind of easy elastick rapidity which never once flags from beginning to end. It is a pity that the tale should be again butched the two females are but a clog upon it, and no one natural occurrence connected with them takes place - I likewise expected some finer bursts of feeling with regard to Scottish independence - the coaxing apology to England is below any Scot to have uttered - But these are quite subordinate matters and can never materially affect the poem and I have not a doubt, tho' the public seem to be receiving it with select caution, that it will finally succeed to the author's highest anticipation - If it do not none of his ever deserved to do so which is enough for you and me'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Walter Scott : Lord of the Isles, The
'I confess I was pleased with ['The Lord of the Isles'] save the plot and augured good of it but I have heard very different breathings of late and some of these from headquarters but the Scots are chagrined at the fear he has shown of giving offence to the English in his description of the final battle and they maintain that he is himself the English bard who was taken captive there and [italics] compelled [end italics] to celebrate the Scotish [sic] victory If a right strong effort is not made to support Scott at this time, Like the snow on the mountain Like the foam on the river Like the bubbles on the fountain, He is gone! and for ever.'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Quarterly Review
'A friend brought me in the last "Quarterly" which I looked at tho' but slightly as yet not being able. There are by far too little variety in it though I think some of the articles good - I have always been afraid your Review would lose all character of independance [sic] by the system of one friend reviewing another but I never before thought you would suffer a poet to review himself'.
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Quarterly Review
'I was much pleased with your last Review upon the whole which was the only No. I ever read; it is a much more amusing Review than the Edin. and I should think more engaging to common readers'.
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Edinburgh Review [review of Scott's 'Lord of the Isles']
'"The Lord of the isles" is in [the Edinburgh Review] and seems meant as a favourable review, in my opinion however it is [italics] scarce middling [end italics] as we Scots folks say'.
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Quarterly Review
' I have got hold of the "Quarterly" but have not yet got far on with it. The review of Gibbon is certainly a first rate article as indeed I think all your principal articles are, but O I am grieved to see such an ignorant and absurd review of Mannering so contrary to the feelings of a whole nation for I certainly never saw high and low rich and poor so unanimous about any book as that [... Hogg berates the reviewer] Scott has been the most strenuous supporter of the character of your Miscellany as excellent, and there is an indelicacy in the the [sic] whole thing that cannot be thought of'.
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Walter Scott : Guy Mannering
' I have got hold of the "Quarterly" but have not yet got far on with it. The review of Gibbon is certainly a first rate article as indeed I think all your principal articles are, but O I am grieved to see such an ignorant and absurd review of Mannering so contrary to the feelings of a whole nation for I certainly never saw high and low rich and poor so unanimous about any book as that [... Hogg berates the reviewer] Scott has been the most strenuous supporter of the character of your Miscellany as excellent, and there is an indelicacy in the the [sic] whole thing that cannot be thought of'.
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Wordsworth : Poems by William Wordsworth, including Lyrical Ballads
'I hear nothing of the literary world very interesting except that people are commending some of Lord Byron's melodies as incomparably beautiful and laughing immoderately at Mr Wordsworth's new prefaces which certainly excel all that ever was written in this world in egotism vanity and absurdity'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
George Gordon, Lord Byron : Hebrew Melodies
'The "Melodies" bear a few striking marks of the master's hand but there are some of them feeble and I think they must be Lady B's. He is not equal to Moore for [italics] melodies [end italics].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Thomas Moore : Irish Melodies
'The "Melodies" bear a few striking marks of the master's hand but there are some of them feeble and I think they must be Lady B's. He is not equal to Moore for [italics] melodies [end italics].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
George Gordon, Lord Byron : 'Siege of Corinth, The'
'After an absence of 9 months in Yarrow I returned here the night before last when for the first time I found a copy of your two last poems kindly sent to me by Murray, the perusal of which have so much renewed my love and admiration of you as a poet that I can no longer resist the inclination of once more writing to you'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
George Gordon, Lord Byron : 'Parisina'
'After an absence of 9 months in Yarrow I returned here the night before last when for the first time I found a copy of your two last poems kindly sent to me by Murray, the perusal of which have so much renewed my love and admiration of you as a poet that I can no longer resist the inclination of once more writing to you'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
George Gordon, Lord Byron : 'Parisina' and 'The Siege of Corinth'
'I am highly dilighted [sic] with your two last little poems. They breathe a vein of poetry which you never once touched before and there is something in "The Siege of Corinth" at least which convinces me that you have loved my own stile of poetry better than you ever acknowledged to me. Some of the people here complain of the inadequacy of the tales to the poetry I am perfectly mad at them and Mr Jeffery [sic] among the rest for such an insinuation. I look upon them both as descriptive poems descriptive of some of the finest and boldest scenes of nature and of the most powerful emotions of the human heart. Perdition to the scanty discernment that would read such poems as they would do a novel for the sake of the plot to the disgrace of the age however be it spoken in the light romantic narrative which our mutual friend Scott has made popular this is the predominant ingredient expected and to a certainty the reviewers will harp upon the shortcoming of it in your poems as a fault'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
John Wilson : City of the Plague, The
'Wilson is publishing a poem entitled "The City of the Plague". It is in the dramatic form and a perfect anomaly in literature. Wilson is a man of great genius and fancy but he is intoxicated with Wordsworth and a perfect dreamer of moons ships seas and solitudes were it not for this antihydrophobia (forgive my mangling of that long Greek word) I do not know what he might not be capable of'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
George Gordon, Lord Byron : Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (canto III)
'I have had a great treat this morning in perusing L. Byron's 3d Canto - Considered as a continuation of Child-Harold [sic] it has some incongruities and perhaps too much egoism still it is a powerful and energetic work and superior to every long poem of my noble friend's - I have had only time to read two articles of the Review which I was in a great hurry to do because I knew the authors of both and was informed of their being in Giffords hand before they were put to press, but I hope all the other articles are better'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
: Quarterly Review
'I have had a great treat this morning in perusing L. Byron's 3d Canto - Considered as a continuation of Child-Harold [sic] it has some incongruities and perhaps too much egoism still it is a powerful and energetic work and superior to every long poem of my noble friend's - I have had only time to read two articles of the Review which I was in a great hurry to do because I knew the authors of both and was informed of their being in Giffords hand before they were put to press, but I hope all the other articles are better'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical, Unknown
Gillies : [review of Hogg's 'Dramatic Tales']
'I have had a proof of a review of my dramas by Gillies - the analysis is good but the whole of the part that refers to me as the author I dislike but an author has no right to be either satisfied or dissatisfied with a review - it is kindly meant in honest G. and I think must be admitted'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
James Hogg : 'Translation from an Ancient Chaldee Manuscript'
'I have laughed at least as heartily at the continuation of "Daniel" as you did at the original the conceit is excellent indeed I see that mine was quite an imperfect thing without some description of the forces on the other side - the third chapter however is very faulty - the characters are made too plain and the language of scripture compleatly departed from. I have remedied that in proof in great measure but alas it is out of time! - As it is it will create great interest I am certain of its popularity as well as its being blamed. "Maggy Scott" is likewise a good fancy it has no faults but one the name should not have been "Dinmont" else he should have spoken [italics] Scotish [sic, end italics]'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
: 'Letter to the Lord High Constable, from Mr Dinmont'
'I have laughed at least as heartily at the continuation of "Daniel" as you did at the original the conceit is excellent indeed I see that mine was quite an imperfect thing without some description of the forces on the other side - the third chapter however is very faulty - the characters are made too plain and the language of scripture compleatly departed from. I have remedied that in proof in great measure but alas it is out of time! - As it is it will create great interest I am certain of its popularity as well as its being blamed. "Maggy Scott" is likewise a good fancy it has no faults but one the name should not have been "Dinmont" else he should have spoken [italics] Scotish [sic, end italics]'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodicalManuscript: Unknown
: Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine
'I cannot tell you how much I think of the Magazine it is so interesting and spirited throughout it is safe'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - anonymous poem and articles
'I am much pleased by your attention in sending me such [CUT] and confess my weakness that such [CUT] and Z. to Leigh Hunt are quite delicious pray may I ask if the Indian Officer is from the same pen of masterly humour as the article on Cookery? I wish Z. had left out the allusion to primrose and Mildmay altogether all the rest is in his best genuine stile The Shepherd's dog is also very well indeed Hoy was my uncle the anecdote is quite true'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
William Laidlaw : 'Sagacity of a Shepherd's Dog'
'I am much pleased by your attention in sending me such [CUT] and confess my weakness that such [CUT] and Z. to Leigh Hunt are quite delicious pray may I ask if the Indian Officer is from the same pen of masterly humour as the article on Cookery? I wish Z. had left out the allusion to primrose and Mildmay altogether all the rest is in his best genuine stile The Shepherd's dog is also very well indeed Hoy was my uncle the anecdote is quite true'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Aitken : Frogs, The: A Fable
'Some of my friends think that the introduction and moral of the "Frogs" are too highly wrought and polished for the simplicity of the fable; it is however a very ingenious little thing'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg
George Gordon, Lord Byron : Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (canto IV)
'I have got the fourth canto to day - It is a glorious morsel!'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, including the poetic 'Notices'
'There are some very able papers in the last Magazine as usual but I do not think the selection likely to add much to its popularity The Notices however are inimitable more finished but scarce so [italics] piquant [end italics] as the former ones'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'This last is not near so interesting as the former, there is too much of pompous fine writing in it at least attempts at it. Such papers as that declamatory one on the state of parties are not the kind of political papers that will stand the test. Besides how absurd is it to praise Madam [sic] de Stael and attack Playfair?!!'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'I have read the Review and no 23 of the Magazine and never did I read any works with so much interest Though quite different messes they are both exquisite in kind a feast of fat things. No previous number of the Review has been better; no one of the Magazine has been near so good: for some months past I felt as if I suspected a falling off, but this must give it a heeze again else originality of composition has lost its value'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Quarterly Review
'I have read the Review and no 23 of the Magazine and never did I read any works with so much interest Though quite different messes they are both exquisite in kind a feast of fat things. No previous number of the Review has been better; no one of the Magazine has been near so good: for some months past I felt as if I suspected a falling off, but this must give it a heeze again else originality of composition has lost its value'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'I find your Mag. a great favourite in Dumfriesshire especially with the ladies. Macculloch had been trying to stir up a party against it - It is little wonder With all the cleverness and carelessness of composition (which has generally I think a good grace) I cannot help feeling that the last two numbers are too egotistical which never has a good grace But perhaps this will not be generally felt if they have not that fault they have no other I am wearying terribly for this month's one.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
anon : Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - anon. political article entitled 'The Warder'
'I love the Warder as much as I detest these radicals and the general harping spirit of the Whigs Pray is my dear friend Cunninghame the author of The Cameronians Surely he must it is so like him and so graphic'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Allan Cunningham : 'Recollections No. I. - The Cameronians' [in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'I love the Warder as much as I detest these radicals and the general harping spirit of the Whigs Pray is my dear friend Cunninghame the author of The Cameronians Surely he must it is so like him and so graphic'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Robert Surtees : History and Antiquities of the County Palatinate of Durham, The
'I received your splendid work the other day; and have placed it in my little library, having only looked over the plates, and some references from these; and read the general history, in which I have found many things that interested me in no ordinary degree.' [Later in the same letter, after recounting a local farmer's amazement at the size of the book, Hogg calls it 'your extraordinary work, in which the labour and research truly confounds me']
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Charles Howard : Historical Anecdotes of Some of the Howard Family
'The Howard book I had read, but had not a copy of it. I have the Sonnet to Sharpe, which I admired greatly for its simplicity, and truly antique style, long ere I knew who was the author'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: [unidentified sonnet]
'The Howard book I had read, but had not a copy of it. I have the Sonnet to Sharpe, which I admired greatly for its simplicity, and truly antique style, long ere I knew who was the author'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Charles Howard : Historical Anecdotes of Some of the Howard Family
'The Howard book I had read, but had not a copy of it. I have the Sonnet to Sharpe, which I admired greatly for its simplicity, and truly antique style, long ere I knew who was the author'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Thomas McCrie : Life of Andrew Melville, The
'Melville is a terribly dull book: I do not think it will take so well as Knox'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Thomas McCrie : Life of John Knox, The
'Melville is a terribly dull book: I do not think it will take so well as Knox'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Allan Cunningham : 'Recollections of Mark Macrabin the Cameronian'
'I like some things in the last Mag. very well but there is a grievious [sic] falling off in Cunningham's Cameronian The one is a drawing from life the other a composition and not at all in keeping'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
James Laidlaw : [Letter from America to his son]
'I inclose you a very curious letter from a cousin german of my own to his son who still remains in this country. It has given me so much amusement that I thought it might be acceptable to you for publication in the Magazine. If you think it proper to give it a corner, do not alter the orthography, or the writer's singular mode of grammar in any other way than by pointing it What he says with regard to the riches and freedoms of the United States must be taken with reserve, it being well known here that he is very dissatisfied, but that he wants the son to whom he is writing and others of his family to join him. This indeed is apparent from the tenor of the letter.' [there are several pages of explanation of the letter and its writer]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Letter
Allan Cunningham : 'Recollections of Mark Macrabin, the Cameronian'
'When ever I saw your Cameronians I knew the hand but I do not like your last ideal picture half so well as the one you drew from life.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Wilson : [ review of 'Hogg's Tales, &c.']
'Send me word directly about Wilson's success. I cannot tell you how anxious I am about. I would not even wish him to know how anxious I am about as I look on it to be a desiderratum in his literary life. It is a most friendly review and will help the sale of the tales greatly but the Magazine on the whole is not a superior one. The first article is however [italics] very good [end italics]'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: [ essay on H.H. Milman's painting 'The Fall of Jerusalem']
'Send me word directly about Wilson's success. I cannot tell you how anxious I am about. I would not even wish him to know how anxious I am about as I look on it to be a desiderratum in his literary life. It is a most friendly review and will help the sale of the tales greatly but the Magazine on the whole is not a superior one. The first article is however [italics] very good [end italics]'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Gibson Lockhart : 'Testimonium, A Prize Poem by James Scott, Esq.'
'I have not got all the Mag. read but think it is an exceedingly good one. I only wish the term [italics] Galloway Stott [end italics] had been left out of Scott's prize poem It is exceedingly shrewd and clever. New York I do not understand The poetry of Cunningham is perfectly beautiful'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Gibson Lockhart : 'Dietrich Knickernocker's History of New York'
'I have not got all the Mag. read but think it is an exceedingly good one. I only wish the term [italics] Galloway Stott [end italics] had been left out of Scott's prize poem It is exceedingly shrewd and clever. New York I do not understand The poetry of Cunningham is perfectly beautiful'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Allan Cunningham : 'Cameronian Song'
'I have not got all the Mag. read but think it is an exceedingly good one. I only wish the term [italics] Galloway Stott [end italics] had been left out of Scott's prize poem It is exceedingly shrewd and clever. New York I do not understand The poetry of Cunningham is perfectly beautiful'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Thomas Gillespie : [various pieces in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, September 1820]
'I do not rank this Maga very high but would like much to know who this new village poet is this juvenile Crab Coleridge's letter is great stuff but correspondence of the Pringles continues to be excellent'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Taylor Coleridge : 'Letter to Peter Morris, M.D. On the Sorts and Uses of Literary Praise'
'I do not rank this Maga very high but would like much to know who this new village poet is this juvenile Crab Coleridge's letter is great stuff but correspondence of the Pringles continues to be excellent'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Galt : 'The Ayrshire Legatees; Or, The Correspondenceof the Pringle Family. No IV'
'I do not rank this Maga very high but would like much to know who this new village poet is this juvenile Crab Coleridge's letter is great stuff but correspondence of the Pringles continues to be excellent'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
T. Brown : Art of reading and conversing on the works of the living poets of Great Britain
'I have had within these few days a curious MS. sent to me by an English gentleman a Dr T. Brown who intreats me to take a hand in editing it and I think it would take remarkably well both in schools and as a cabinet work. It is "The art of reading and conversing on the works of the living poets of Great Britain" with many most beautiful extracts [...] If close printed it would be 7/ and you might have it on your own terms. I go over it every word and will answer for the ingenuity of it but it is not really mine so cannot be in my name but I declare on honour it is a great deal more ingenious than I could have written it'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
John Galt : Annals of the Parish
'I have read the "Parish Register" with great attention. It is rather lifeless and wants character and point but I like it for its simplicity and extraordinary resemblance to truth in my estimation the first properties that any work of the same stamp can possess. It will not however sell extensively for the matter was much better calculated for a periodical work. If it had appeared piecemeal among other things it would have taken very well but as the old proverb runs "ower muckle o' ae' thing's gude for naething".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: [traditional tales]
'I likewise received the Tales you sent me before from your friend in Edinburgh, and should have acknowledged them long ago; but a multiplicity of family and farming concerns have put literary correspondence out of my head [...] The Tales are all ingenious and bear evident marks of old tradition; but, unfortunately, I have finished my "Winter Evening Tales", and can make no use of them. In the mean time I am as much obliged to you as though I could, and if ever I think of making another collection I shall apply to you'.
UnknownCentury: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'Have received the Mag. and like it exceedingly. The best for a good while'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
David Laing : [review of new edition of 'the Mountain Bard' - Edinburgh Monthly Review]
'I hope you do not estimate my mind by Davie Laing's canting and insolent review or by your friend Goldie's lies [Hogg then complains at Boyd's unwillingness to publish "The Three Perils of Man"] I neither could have expected such an insolent nor such an ignorant review from D. Laing.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: [MS volume of Jacbite material]
'I received the Mag. with the inclosures last night; a great store of amusement The former I have not got time to read but I see there are some excellent articles in it as well as true comic ones. I like "Mediocrity". The Jacobite relics are doubtless very curious but they are totally English. They appear to me to be all the work of one man and I think them Tom D'Urfys I know they are; and I think that perhaps they are in his hand writing'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'I received the Mag. with the inclosures last night; a great store of amusement The former I have not got time to read but I see there are some excellent articles in it as well as true comic ones. I like "Mediocrity". The Jacobite relics are doubtless very curious but they are totally English. They appear to me to be all the work of one man and I think them Tom D'Urfys I know they are; and I think that perhaps they are in his hand writing'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: [attack on Hogg's 'Memoir' in the new edition of 'The Mountain Bard' -Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'Well sir you have now put the crown on all the injurious abuse that I have suffered from you for these three years and a half, and that in despite of your word of honour which no miserable pretext can justify. If I have ever done ought either to you or your correspondents to deserve this it was unintentional. For my own part I would have regarded this wanton attack as I did all the rest of the ribaldry and mockery that has been so liberally vomited forth on me from your shop but there are other feelings now besides my own that I am bound to respect, and on these the blows that you inflict wound deeper and smart with more poignancy' [Hogg is referring to his wife]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
William Clerk : 'True, but Stupid History of Tom MacFribble, The'
'The article which I inclose "The History of Tom M. Fribble" is not mine. It is written by a Mr William Clerk a teacher here who copies a good many things for me therefore the allowance for it (if published) must be mentioned by itself. It is a very ingenious allegorical tale but ill wound up at the close'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
John Wilson : Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life
'I think very highly of both the books you have sent me but far most highly of Lights and Shadows in which there is a great deal of very powerful effect purity of sentiment and fine writing but with very little of real nature as it exists in the walks of Scottish life The feelings and language of the author are those of Romance Still it is a fine and beautiful work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
John Galt : Provost
'I think very highly of both the books you have sent me but far most highly of Lights and Shadows in which there is a great deal of very powerful effect purity of sentiment and fine writing but with very little of real nature as it exists in the walks of Scottish life The feelings and language of the author are those of Romance Still it is a fine and beautiful work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
David Laing : [review in 'Edinburgh Monthly Review' of Hogg's 'The Mountain Bard'
'I cannot think one thing and say another to a friend or indeed to any man and it was owing to a review written by you in the Edin. Quarterly of The Mountain Bard that hindered me to call as I was wont. I thought that article illiberal from a friend and wrong view taken of the Memoir but I am so used to these rubs that I have learned the virtue of forgiveness a good deal; and hereby promise and swear that now when I have told you what I felt that article shall never be mentioned nor thought of more between the writer and me, [italics] whoever he may be [end italics].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Wilson : [various items in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'I am indeed highly delighted with the magazine as I well may for in all my life I never saw a more original miscellany. I think the letter from THE GOTH the shrewdest and cleverest thing I ever saw but every thing is a gem though they are all of different waters. The Stott is rather too bad. It was hardly worth while tearing the guts out of the thing in such a turgid butcherlike stile. Believe me there will be some kick up about it. The critique on the [italics] jubilee [end italics] is a real good natured thing one would have thought it hardly possble to have made as much out of a trifle'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Wilson : Trials of Margaret Lyndsay, The
'I am delighted more than I can tell you with Margt Lindsay. It is a charming work pure, elegant, and perfect; all save two or three trivial misnomers regarding the character of Scottish peasantry [Hogg then compliments the author] The part that I like a thousand times best is what no other seems to regard namely the whole of Daniel Craig's character and its renovation. There is a charm in that which few will have the good taste to discover But it is nature; at least far closer on genuine nature than aught the author ever touched on. I dare say it was merely by accident but it shows what he can do'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
John Gibson Lockhart : Reginald Dalton
'I have read Reginald with great care and with great interest. It is a masterly work upon the whole, particularly in stile grouping and plot. In these its excellencies lie, and they are of a high class. But it strikes me that so masterly an architect might have made a far more imposing fabric on the whole. Its faults are these. A damned affectation of inserting short classical and French quotations without end and without measure which to common readers like me hurts the work materially - The work is too long for the materials two volumes would have been rather so - The plot is an excellent plot. I have seen nothing better concieved in the present age, and every thing bears upon it turning on it as a hinge. The author has prodigious merit in the conception of the plot, and therefore it is the greater pity that there is some manifest defects in the conducting of it. The final event is far too soon seen. From the moment that the Vicar tells the story of his sister-in-law's seduction it is palpable. I saw it perfectly, and my chief interest afterwards was incited by my anxiety to see how the author was going to bring it about. This is Sir W. Scott's plan, but it is not to be made a precedent of. In fact it will not do with any body but himself to let the events be seen perfectly through. However he could not have conceived such a true dramatic plot, all so perfecty in bearing; that he could not; but he could have made more of the characters and incidents; a great deal more. There is a fascination in the stile and in the abstract ideas that often delights me. The hand of a master is apparent there; and after all I think the sole failure is in the conducting of the plot, which you may depend on it will hurt the popularity of a grand work. There was great scope for pathos in it- there is not an item - several scenes of powerful impression seem just approaching - they pass over without taking due effect; and besides, the leaving out of the Christian name in the will was a misnomer unlikely enough for so much to hinge upon [Hogg critiques some further aspects of the plot].
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine; 'Noctes Ambrosianae. no. IX'
'This last is indeed a [italics] redeeming Number [end italics] even if the fallings off had been greater Nothing like it has I think appeared'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
James Hook : Percy Mallory
'Piercy Mallory is an extraordinary work. In character it is inimitable not in original design but in amazing strength of colouring. In nature and interest it is defective but I cannot tell you the half I would say about it in this line. The Maga. is excellent. no dross. But I think I am still most delighted with old Tim of them all. He is uniformly the first I read and Wrestliana is the very thing for me.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Maginn : 'Letters of Timothy Tickler Esq. to Eminent Literary Characters. No XII. To Christopher North, Esq.' in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'Piercy Mallory is an extraordinary work. In character it is inimitable not in original design but in amazing strength of colouring. In nature and interest it is defective but I cannot tell you the half I would say about it in this line. The Maga. is excellent. no dross. But I think I am still most delighted with old Tim of them all. He is uniformly the first I read and Wrestliana is the very thing for me.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Wilson : 'Wrestliana', in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'Piercy Mallory is an extraordinary work. In character it is inimitable not in original design but in amazing strength of colouring. In nature and interest it is defective but I cannot tell you the half I would say about it in this line. The Maga. is excellent. no dross. But I think I am still most delighted with old Tim of them all. He is uniformly the first I read and Wrestliana is the very thing for me.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Eliza Logan : St Johnstoun; or, John, Earl of Gowrie
'I would like well to know who is the author of ST JOHNSTON. It is rather better than ordinary. Pray does any of you know who is the editor of "The Northern Whig"? It comes hither from Belfast. Can it be Gray?'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Northern Whig, The
'I would like well to know who is the author of ST JOHNSTON. It is rather better than ordinary. Pray does any of you know who is the editor of "The Northern Whig"? It comes hither from Belfast. Can it be Gray?'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Newspaper
Susan Edmonstone Ferrier : Marriage
'I should like much to address a song ode or sonnet to the authoress of Marriage &c and if I do it shall be to her as the sister of David Wilkie. Never was there such a painter as she is (if a she it be of which I have strong doubts) Sir W Scott's portraits are sometimes more strongly defined but they are not more unique and rarely or never so humourous [sic]. He can paint an individual well the hero of the story But can he paint a group like the family of the Fairbairns? No I defy him or any [italics] man [end italics] alive save David Wilkie as for [italics] women [end italics] there's no saying what [italics] they [end italics] can do when men and children are the objects. In short if the author of MARRIAGE and THE INHERITANCE be a woman I am in love with her and I authorise you to tell her so.' [the letter has a postscript: 'You have sent the two [italics] first [end italics] vols of The Inheritance and I want the [italics] third [end italics] I return one']
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Susan Edmonstone Ferrier : Inheritance, The
'I should like much to address a song ode or sonnet to the authoress of Marriage &c and if I do it shall be to her as the sister of David Wilkie. Never was there such a painter as she is (if a she it be of which I have strong doubts) Sir W Scott's portraits are sometimes more strongly defined but they are not more unique and rarely or never so humourous [sic]. He can paint an individual well the hero of the story But can he paint a group like the family of the fairbairns? No I defy him or any [italics] man [end italics] alive save David Wilkie as for [italics] women [end italics] there's no saying what [italics] they [end italics] can do when men and children are the objects. In short if the author of MARRIAGE and THE INHERITANCE be a woman I am in love with her and I authorise you to tell her so.' [the letter has a postscript: 'You have sent the two [italics] first [end italics] vols of The Inheritance and I want the [italics] third [end italics] I return one']
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: [articles concerning Hogg's poem 'Queen Hynde' in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'I have looked over the articles Hogg v. Campbell and Noctes and am not only not angry but highly satisfied and pleased with both. I had forgot to mention to you that I was afraid terrified for high praise in Maga because our connection considered it would have been taken for puffing a thing of all things that I detest and one I think has ought but a good effect a bitter good humoured thing like this was just what I wanted'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'I did not think very highly of last Maga This appears more spirited the former part of the NOCTES is very good my part abominable'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: [article on 'Agriculture' in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'It is amazing how many clever things are written about the embarrassments of the country there has one appeared in Blackwood and another in the weekly journal which I cannot but admire'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Walter Scott : [letters in ] Edinburgh Weekly Journal
'It is amazing how many clever things are written about the embarrassments of the country there has one appeared in Blackwood and another in the weekly journal which I cannot but admire'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Wilson : 'Hints for the Holidays. No. III' [in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'I have only read the first article of Maga which is a glorious confusion a miscellany of itself the other long articles I dont like'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
R.P. Gillies : German Stories, selected from the works of Hoffmann, De la Motte-0Fouque, Pichler, Kruse, and others
'Of all the new works you have sent me I admire Gillies' stories by far the most. I have scarcely ever met with a work that pleased me better and was so truly congenial to my mind. The ease and simple elegance of the stile is exquisite. That work should certainly have a great circulation I have great faults with Mrs Johnston's work in which there is however great genius but the anachronisms are without end and the characters too much borrowed from Scott Beyond all the story is forced and confused beyond all measures. Our ladies were pleased with it beyond measure so it must have something very fascinating'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Christian Isobel Johnstone : Elizabeth de Bruce
'Of all the new works you have sent me I admire Gillies' stories by far the most. I have scarcely ever met with a work that pleased me better and was so truly congenial to my mind. The ease and simple elegance of the stile is exquisite. That work should certainly have a great circulation I have great faults with Mrs Johnston's work in which there is however great genius but the anachronisms are without end and the characters too much borrowed from Scott Beyond all the story is forced and confused beyond all measures. Our ladies were pleased with it beyond measure so it must have something very fascinating'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'I have recieved your's with the £5 inclosed and also the two Magas the last article of each only I have read and dread that you are too hard on Canning and his party'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Thomas Hamilton : Youth and Manhood of Cyril Thornton, The
'I have only got about half through Cyral Thornton as yet and cannot therefore be decided on its merits. But I suspect it to have one grievious fault that of introducing innumerable curous [sic] and original characters of whom you would like to be well acquainted and of whom you hear no more. I have no patience at all with this rambling and deesultory mode of running through a life, and if it do not turn out better embodied ultimately than it has done thus far I shall damn it as the work of a man of high accomplishments given to prosing and garrulity'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
More : 'Hymn to Hesperus'
'I have recieved Maga with the inclosures safe to night but have only as yet got her looked over. For one thing I percieve that Mr More's hymn to the Evening star is perfectly beautiful and I think the masterpiece of all he has yet written'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Thomas De Quincy : [articles in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'I hate these things of de Q-s in Maga'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
James Hogg : Shepherd's Calendar, The
'Robert has in several instances spoiled the effect of the tales at the close by winding them too abruptly up The Marvellous Doctor is quite ruined for though previously shortened one half to suit Maga that was no reason the other half should now have been withheld'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: 'Noctes Ambrosianae. No. XLII' [Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'I am exceedingly disgusted with the last beastly Noctes and as it is manifest that the old business of mockery and redicule [sic] is again beginning I have been earnestly advised by several of my best and dearest friends to let you hear from me in a way to which I have a great aversion'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Jacobite Minstrelsy, with notes Illustrative of the Text, and Containing Historical Details in Relation to the House of Stuart from 1640-1784
'There is a new work lately come to my hand "The Jacobite Minstrelsy of Scotland" which is the most bare-faced plagiarism that ever was attempted. It is by a Griffin & Co Glasgow Nearly one half of the songs are my own genuine copyright attained by myself at great trouble and expense'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Henry Scott Ridell : 'Ode to the Harp of Zion'
'I enclose you two poems one by Mr Riddell which I have copied and corrected a sublime and beautiful thing, its only fault being a small shade of redundancy of thought but that I cannot help. It gives great promise and I want to bring him in as my [italics]assistant [end italics] and [italics]successor [end italics]'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Thomas Pringle [ed.] : Friendship's Offering
'I have within these few minutes recieved Friendship's Offering. It is splendid and far outvies any of the foregoing numbers. I really anticipate good news of it this year.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
John Wilson : 'The Age - A Poem - in Eight Books' [Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]
'Though Maga would have the better [sic] of something of mine it is nevertheless an excellent number. "The Age" is inimitable so is "The Currency"and indeed the whole is excellent save that our friend has rather overstrained the "wishing Gate"'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'I have not yet had time to read through the Twin Sisters but there is a certain stile apparent in the Fall of Nineveh &c which is always irrestible [sic] though not equal to "Stop Stop Snip" I would not wonder to see the sale of Maga extend to 50=000.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Mr Brooks : [poem]
'I have received the foregoing little poem from a townsman of your's which I think so good I transmit it to you for insertion in the Juvenile Keepsake and hope you will oblige me by giving it a place'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Sheet
: ['Literary Gossip' articles in Newcastle Magazine]
'In as far as regards Maga I consider Lockhart blameless so many others having represented me in a far more ludicrous light witness the long Noctes's in the Newcastle Magazine. Bobby Chambers' paper, and the Lit. Jour. &c &c'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Quarterly Review
'In as far as regards Maga I consider Lockhart blameless so many others having represented me in a far more ludicrous light witness the long Noctes's in the Newcastle Magazine. Bobby Chambers' paper, and the Lit. Jour. &c &c'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: [possibly] the 'Edinburgh Advertiser'
'In as far as regards Maga I consider Lockhart blameless so many others having represented me in a far more ludicrous light witness the long Noctes's in the Newcastle Magazine. Bobby Chambers' paper, and the Lit. Jour. &c &c'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Newspaper
Caroline Bowles Southey : 'La petite Madelaine'
'The twin Magas are excellent with the exception of "La petite Madelaine" which to me is quite despicable! To slight your old friend for such feminine frible-frable! Wilson [TEAR] poem is most splendid but I have never been able to get straight through it nor I don't think any man ever will'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Newspaper
John Wilson : 'Unimore. A Dream of the Highlands'
'The twin Magas are excellent with the exception of "La petite Madelaine" which to me is quite despicable! To slight your old friend for such feminine frible-frable! Wilson [TEAR] poem is most splendid but I have never been able to get straight through it nor I don't think any man ever will'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Newspaper
Robert Southey : [possibly] 'A true Ballad of St Antidius, the Pope, and the Devil'
'I send you two pieces which were sent me for the proposed Poetic Mirror long ago and which are not in print to my knowledge. Southey's is one of his very best'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine
'I have recieved Maga to night and looked it over but think very poorly of it You need not send any more of them as I would not be at the pains to cut them up for the sake of their endless repetitions of political dogmas'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
: Quarterly Review
'Who the devil was it who wrote the last article of the Quarterly? He is a lad of some spirit and I must have a half mutchkin with him.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Serial / periodical
Jane Austen : Mansfield Park
'Finished reading Mansfield Park, which more than ever convinces me that Jane Austen is trivial, facetious and commonplace.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lees-Milne Print: Book
Laetititia Pilkington : [verses on 'Stella']
[Pilkington tells of how she wrote poems for a Mr Worsdale to pass off as his own and reproduces the Song 'Stella, Darling of the Muses'] 'Mr Worsdale shewed this Ballad to Mr Pilkington, who thought proper to alter the last verse, giving it this prophane and nonsensical turn; Cou'd the Gods, in blest Condition, Aught on Earth with Envy view, Lovely Stella, their Ambition Wou'd be to resemble you. As for the Gods envying Mortals, and wishing to be like them, it has neither Sense, [italics] English [end italics], nor even Novelty to recommend it; nor is it agreeable to the Dictates of Reason or Religion; for even a Heathen Author stands condemned for setting [italics] Cato [end italics] in a Light superior to the Gods; but a Christian Divine may say any thing, and so much for an old song'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Worsdale Manuscript: Unknown
Thomas Carlyle : Letter dated 4 August
'My dear Carlyle, I received your letter with the inclosed addressed to Mr Burns, which I had the pleasure of delivering to him about three weeks ago. I reached Edinburgh about mid-day; took the coach at three o'clock, and arrived in Haddington about seven.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Johnston Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : To his Excellency the Earl of Chesterfield
[LP wrote a poem 'To his Excellency the Earl of Chesterfield'] 'just as I had finished this poem, [italics] Worsdale came in, and snatched it from me, saying, he would send it himself to his old Friend [italics] Philip [end italics]. I could not get it from him, but as I remembered every syllable of it, I wrote it in a better Hand than that rough Draft I had given Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], and having the Honour of his Correction, who is a fair and candid Critic, sent it again to him.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Worsdale Manuscript: Unknown
Germaine de Stael : [writings about England, never published as 'De L'Angleterre', as originally planned]
' have not yet seen him [Sir James Mackintosh], but I hear that he has read or has heard some chapters of "L'Angleterre". He says it is full of talent, but that there are some strange mistakes as to English Manners; but that a dinner at Lord Grey's is very well described'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Mackintosh Manuscript: Unknown
Walter Scott : Lord of the Isles, The
'The "Edinburgh Review" will have praised "Waverley" to your hearts content. I think however they left out one of the most affecting parts of the work, which is the return of W. to the Barons, and the conduct of the poor innocent David Gellatley. Surely there is no doubt but that Walter Scott is the principal Author of it. The learned here do not affect to speak of it as belonging to anyone else -- I read "The Lord of the Isles" last night it being lent me for the Evening. There is some beautiful description indeed in it, particlarly to my fancy a barren scene in one of the Isles. I own I expected more from the two opening cantos than I afterwards found, and on the whole was disappointed. The story of the Page is so hackneyd, and there is nothing to redeem it but a greater power of holding the tongue than is commonly given to Women, and, as in every thing Walter Scott writes one can never feel great interest for the Lover, which one certainly ought to do, Malcolm Graeme in the "Lady of the Lake", "Waverley", and the Lover in "Marmion", and now Ronald, altho' I expected a great deal from him from the opening. I am however in love with the description of Robert Bruce, I think it beautiful. It is very presumptuous in me thus to give my opinion, [particularly as I have this morning heard that Sir James Mackintosh says it is by far the best thing Walter Scott has done, but then he is puffer general particularly to Scotsmen.] ' [Words inside brackets crossed out in original]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Mackintosh Print: Book
Walter Scott : Lord of the Isles, The
'Since I wrote the first two pages of this letter I have read Eugene and Guilliaume, and quite agree with you. Pray correct Sir James Mackintosh's opinion [about "Waverley"], and for [italics] best [end italics] read [italics] worst [end italics] which was his opinion, altho' I was told the contrary. He is now I understand a little softened, and says it comes before Rokeby but after all the others. Have you read "Discipline" by Mrs Brunton? With many defects it is much above the common class, and the last Volume is very pretty indeed some scenes nearly as good as "Waverley" who I might have added to my list of Lovers belonging to Walter Scott one can take no interest in. - Have you read La Baume's act. of the Campaign in Russia? I am told it is very well done. I am sure you will be pleased with Mr Rocca's Book if you read it'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Mackintosh Print: Book
Walter Scott : Rokeby
'Since I wrote the first two pages of this letter I have read Eugene and Guilliaume, and quite agree with you. Pray correct Sir James Mackintosh's opinion [about "Waverley"], and for [italics] best [end italics] read [italics] worst [end italics] which was his opinion, altho' I was told the contrary. He is now I understand a little softened, and says it comes before Rokeby but after all the others. Have you read "Discipline" by Mrs Brunton? With many defects it is much above the common class, and the last Volume is very pretty indeed some scenes nearly as good as "Waverley" who I might have added to my list of Lovers belonging to Walter Scott one can take no interest in. - Have you read La Baume's act. of the Campaign in Russia? I am told it is very well done. I am sure you will be pleased with Mr Rocca's Book if you read it'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Mackintosh Print: Book
Jane Haldimand Marcet : Conversations on Political Economy
'Have you not been delighted with Mrs Marcet? What an extraordinary work for a woman! Everybody who understands the subject is in a state of astonishment, and those, who like me know very little or nothing about it, are delighted with the knowledge they have acquired. One of our ci-devant Judges, Sir James Mansfield, who in his 83rd year devours all that is new in Literature, is charmed and laments extremely that he did not know as much as that Book has taught him when he was at the Bar'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Mansfield Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [papers left at his death]
'In this [producing a biography of Johnson] he has not been very successful, as I have found upon a perusal of those papers, which have been since transferred to me. Sir John Hawkins's ponderous labours, I must acknowledge, exhibit a [italics] farrago [end italics], of which a considerable portion is not devoid of entertainment to the lovers of literary gossiping; but besides its being swelled out with long unnecessary extracts from various works [...], a very small part of it relates to the person who is the subject of the book; and, in that, there is such an inaccuracy in the statement of facts, as in so solemn an author is hardly excusable, and certainly makes his narrative very unsatisfactory'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
John Hawkins : Life of Samuel Johnson
'In this [producing a biography of Johnson] he has not been very successful, as I have found upon a perusal of those papers, which have been since transferred to me. Sir John Hawkins's ponderous labours, I must acknowledge, exhibit a [italics] farrago [end italics], of which a considerable portion is not devoid of entertainment to the lovers of literary gossiping; but besides its being swelled out with long unnecessary extracts from various works [...], a very small part of it relates to the person who is the subject of the book; and, in that, there is such an inaccuracy in the statement of facts, as in so solemn an author is hardly excusable, and certainly makes his narrative very unsatisfactory'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Dr Warburton : [Letter to Thomas Birch]
'There is, in the B. Museum, a letter from Bishop Warburton to Dr Birch, on the subject of biography; which, though I am aware it may expose me to a charge of artfully raising the value of my own work, by contrasting it with that of which I have spoken, is so well conceived and expressed, that I cannot refrain from here inserting it: [the letter follows, including this passage] "Almost all the life-writers we have had before Toland and Desmaiseaux, are indeed strange inspid creatures; and yet I had rather read the worst of them, than be obliged to go through with this of Milton's, or the other's life of Boileau, where there is such a dull, heavy succession of long quotations of disinteresting passages, that it makes their method quite nauseous".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Letter
William Mason : Memoirs of Gray
'Instead of melting down my materials into one mass, and constantly speaking in my own person, by which I might have appeared to have more merit in the execution of the work, I have resolved to adopt and enlarge upon the excellent plan of Mr Mason, in his Memoirs of Gray [ie connecting quotations, conversation and letters with narrative]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Mason : [Memoir of William Whitehead]
'That the conversation of a celebrated man, if his talents have been exerted in conversation, will best display his character, is, I trust, too well established in the judgment of mankind, to be at all shaken by a sneering observation of Mr Mason, in his "Memoirs of Mr William Whitehead", in which there is literally no "Life", but a mere dry narrative of facts'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [memoranda of his reading]
'He appears, from his early notes or memorandums in my possession, to have at various times attempted, or at least planned, a methodical course of study, according to computation, of which he was all his life fond, as it fixed his attention steadily on something without, and prevented his mind from preying upon itself. Thus I find in his handwriting the number of lines in each of two of Euripides' Tragedies, of the Georgicks of Virgil, of the first six books of the Aeneid, of Horace's Art of Poetry, of three of the books of Ovid's Metamorphosis, of some parts of Theocritus, and of the tenth satire of Juvenal; and a table, shewing at the rate of various numbers a day (I suppose verses to be read), what would be, in each case, the total amount in a week, month, and year'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Samuel Johnson : [original notes for "Irene"]
'The hand-writing [in the original sketch for "Irene"] is very difficult to read, even by those who were best acquainted with Johnson's mode of penmanship which at all times was very particular. The King having accepted of this manuscript as a literary curiosity, Mr Langton made a fair and distinct copy of it, which he ordered to be bound up with the original and the printed tragedy; and the volume is deposited in the King's library.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
[n/a] : Scot's Magazine, The
'I myself recollect such impressions [of reverence, like Johnson displayed for the "Gentleman's Magazine"] from "The Scots Magazine", which was begun at Edinburgh in the year 1739, and has been ever conducted with judgement, accuracy, and propriety'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Robert Dodsley : Preceptor, The
'Mr Dodsley this year brought out his "Preceptor", oned of the most valuable books for the improvement of young minds that has appeared in any language'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Vanity of Human Wishes, The
'His "Vanity of Human Wishes" has less of common life, but more of a philosophick dignity than his "London". More readers, therefore, will be delighted with the pointed spirit of "London", than with the profound reflection of "The Vanity Of Human Wishes". Garrick, for instance, observed in his sprightly manner, with more vivacity than regard to just discrimination, as is usual with wits, "When Johnson lived much with the Herveys, and saw a good deal of what was passing in life, he wrote his 'London', which is lively and easy. When he became more retired, he gave us his 'Vanity of Human Wishes', which is as hard as Greek. Had he gone on to imitate another satire, it would have been as hard as Hebrew".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
Samuel Johnson : [notes collected for periodical articles]
'he was not altogether unprepared as a periodical writer; for I have in my possession a small duodecimo volume, in which he has written, in the form of Mr Locke's "Common-Place Book", a variety of hints for essays on different subjects. He has marked upon the first blank leaf of it, "to the 128th page, collections for 'The Rambler'"; and in another place, "In fifty -two there were seventeen provided; in 97-21; in 190-25".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: UnknownManuscript: duodecimo book
Samuel Johnson : Rambler, The
'I profess myself to have ever had a profound veneration for the astonishing force and vivacity of mind which "The Rambler" exhibits [Boswell then talks at length of the philosophical merits of the essays] I may shortly observe that the "Rambler" furnishes such an assemblage of discourses on practical religion and moral duty, of critical investigations, and allegorical and oriental tales, that no mind may be thought very deficient that has, by constant study and meditation, assimilated to itself all that may be found there'. [Boswell singles out numbers 7, 110, 54 and 32]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Johnson : Rambler, The
'["Rambler"] No 32 on patience, even under extreme misery, is wonderfully lofty, and as much above the rant of stoicism, as the Sun of Revelation is brighter than the twilight of Pagan philosophy. I never read the following sentence without feeling my frame thrill: "I think there is some reason for questioning whether the body and mind are not so proportioned, that the one can bear all which can be inflicted on the other; whether virtue cannot stand its ground as long as life, and whether a soul well principled, will not be sooner separated than subdued".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Johnson : Rambler, The
'I have seen some volumes of Dr Young's copy of "The Rambler", in which he has marked the pasages which he thought particularly excellent, by folding down a corner of the page; and such as he rated in a super-eminent degree, are marked by double folds'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book, Serial / periodical
Joseph Addison : [essays]
'It has of late been the fashion to compare the style of Addison and Johnson, and to depreciate, I think very unjustly, the style of Addison as nerveless and feeble, because it has not the strength and energy of that of Johnson. Their prose may be balanced like the poetry of Dryden and Pope. Both are excellent, though in different ways. Addison writes with the ease of a gentleman. His readers fancy that a wise and accomplished companion is talking to them; so that he insinuates his sentiments and tastes into their minds by an imperceptible influence. Johnson writes like a teacher'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book, Serial / periodical
John Hawkesworth : Adventurer, The
'Let me add, that Hawkesworth's imitations of Johnson are sometimes so happy,that it is extremely difficult to distinguish them, with certainty, from the compositions of his great archetype'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
James Boswell : [account given to him by Mrs Williams]
'[referring to a dispute over whether Johnson wrote certain papers in "The Adventurer"] Mrs Williams told me that, "as he had [italics] given [end italics] those Essays to Dr Bathurst, who sold them at two guineas each, he never would own them; nay, he used to say that he did not [italics] write [end italics] them: but the fact was, that he [italics] dictated [end italics] them,while Bathurst wrote". I read to him Mrs Williams's account; he smiled, and said nothing'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke : Philosophical works
'On the 6th of March came out Lord Bolingbroke's works, published by Mr David Mallet. The wild and pernicious ravings, under the name of [italics] Philosophy [end italics], which were thus ushered into the world, gave great offence to all well-principled men.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [memoranda for a projected literary journal]
'In one of his little memorandum-books I find the following hints for his intended "Review or Literary Journal": "[italics] The Annals of Literature, foreign as well as domestick. [end italics] Imitate Le Clerk - Bayle - Barberac. Infelicity of Journals in England. Works of the learned. We cannot take in all. Sometimes copy from foreign Jouralists. Always tell".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Codex, memorandum book
Samuel Johnson : Dictionary
'Let the Preface [to Johnson's Dictionary] be attentively perused, in which is given, in a clear, strong, and glowing style, a comprehensive, yet particular view of what he had done; and it will be evident, that the timed he employed upon it [the Dictionary] was relatively short. [Boswell then comments on the great praise the Dictionary received] One of its excellencies has always struck me with peculiar admiration: I mean the perspicuity with which he has expresed abstract scientifick notions.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [essays]
'all the esays [in the "Universal Visitor"] marked with two [italics] asterisks [end italics] have been ascribed to him; but I am confident, from internal evidence, that of these, neither "The Life of Chaucer", "Reflections on the State of Portugal", nor an "Essay on Architecture", were written by him. I am equally confident, upon the same evidence, that he wrote "Further Thoughts on Agriculture"; being the sequel of a very inferiour essay on the same subject, and which, though carried on as if by the same hand, is both in thinking and expression so far above it, as to leave no doubt of its true parent; and that he also wrote "A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors", and "A Dissertation on the Epitaphs Written by Pope".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
[n/a] : The Universal Visitor
'all the esays [in the "Universal Visitor"] marked with two [italics] asterisks [end italics] have been ascribed to him; but I am confident, from internal evidence, that of these, neither "The Life of Chaucer", "Reflections on the State of Portugal", nor an "Essay on Architecture", were written by him. I am equally confident, upon the same evidence, that he wrote "Further Thoughts on Agriculture"; being the sequel of a very inferiour essay on the same subject, and which, though carried on as if by the same hand, is both in thinking and expression so far above it, as to leave no doubt of its true parent; and that he also wrote "A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors", and "A Dissertation on the Epitaphs Written by Pope".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Johnson : Idler, The
'Yet there are in the "Idler" several papers which shew as much profundity of thought, and labour of language, as any of this great man's writings'. [Boswell mentions numbers 14, 24, 41, 43, 51, 52, 58 and 89]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Johnson : History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
'This Tale ["Rasselas"], with all the charms of oriental imagery, and all the force and beauty of which the English language is capable, leads us through the most important scenes of human life, and shews us that this stage of our being is full of "vanity and vexation of spirit". [Boswell comments on its value] Voltaire's "Candide", written to refute the system of Optimism, which it has accomplished with brilliant success, is wonderfully similar in its plan and conduct to Johnson's "Rasselas"; insomuch, that I have heard Johnson say, that if they had not been published so closely one after the other that there was not time for imitation, it would have been vain to deny that the scheme of that which came latest was taken from the other. Though the proposition illustrated by both these works was the same, namely, that in our present state there is more evil than good, the intention of the writers was very different. Voltaire, I am afraid, meant only by wanton profanness to obtain a sportive victory over religion, and to discredit the belief of a superintending Providence: Johnson meant, by shewing the unsatisfactory nature of things temporal, to direct the hopes of man to things eternal'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Voltaire [pseud.] : Candide: Or, All for the Best
'This Tale ["Rasselas"], with all the charms of oriental imagery, and all the force and beauty of which the English language is capable, leads us through the most important scenes of human life, and shews us that this stage of our being is full of "vanity and vexation of spirit". [Boswell comments on its value] Voltaire's "Candide", written to refute the system of Optimism, which it has accomplished with brilliant success, is wonderfully similar in its plan and conduct to Johnson's "Rasselas"; insomuch, that I have heard Johnson say, that if they had not been published so closely one after the other that there was not time for imitation, it would have been vain to deny that the scheme of that which came latest was taken from the other. Though the proposition illustrated by both these works was the same, namely, that in our present state there is more evil than good, the intention of the writers was very different. Voltaire, I am afraid, meant only by wanton profanness to obtain a sportive victory over religion, and to discredit the belief of a superintending Providence: Johnson meant, by shewing the unsatisfactory nature of things temporal, to direct the hopes of man to things eternal'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Thomas Sheridan : Life of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Swift, The
'I could not but smile, at the same time that I was offended, to observe Sheridan, in "The Life of Swift", which he afterwards published, attempting, in the writhings of his resentment, to depreciate Johnson, by characterising him as "A writer of gigantick fame in these days of little men"; that very Johnson whom he once so highly admired and venerated'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Frances Sheridan : Memoirs of Miss Sydney Biddulph, The
'Her [Mrs Sheridan's] novel, entitled "Memoirs of Miss Sydney Biddulph", contains an excellent moral, while it inculcates a future state of retribution; and what it teaches is impressed upon the mind by a series of as deep distress as can affect humanity, in the amiable and pious heroine who goes to her grave unrelieved, but resigned, and full of hope of "heaven's mercy". Johnson paid her this high compliment upon it: "I know not, Madam, that you have a right, upon moral principles, to make your readers suffer so much".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Whitehead : [poem on Garrick]
'"Cibber's familiar style, however, was better than that which Whitehead has assumed. [italics] Grand [end italics] nonsense is insupportable. Whitehead is but a little man to inscribe verses to players". I did not presume to controvert this censure, which was tinctured with his prejudice against players; but I could not help thinking that a dramatick poet might with propriety pay a compliment to an eminent performer as Whitehead has very happily done in his verses to Mr Garrick'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
Charles Churchill : [poems]
'In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which account, as it brought him great fame and profit at the time, it must proportionally slide out of the publick attention as other occasional objects succeed. But Churchill had extraordnary vigour both of thought and expression. His portraits of the players will ever be valuable to the true lovers of the drama; and his strong caricatures of several eminent men of his age, will not be forgotten by the curious. Let me add, that there are in his works many passages which are of a general nature; and his "Prophecy of Famine" is a poem of no ordinary merit. It is, indeed, falsely injurious to Scotland, but therefore may be allowed a greater share of invention'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Charles Churchill : Prophecy of Famine, The. A Scots Pastoral
'In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which account, as it brought him great fame and profit at the time, it must proportionally slide out of the publick attention as other occasional objects succeed. But Churchill had extraordnary vigour both of thought and expression. His portraits of the players will ever be valuable to the true lovers of the drama; and his strong caricatures of several eminent men of his age, will not be forgotten by the curious. Let me add, that there are in his works many passages which are of a general nature; and his "Prophecy of Famine" is a poem of no ordinary merit. It is, indeed, falsely injurious to Scotland, but therefore may be allowed a greater share of invention'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[n/a] : Connoisseur, The
'I mentioned the periodical paper called "The Connoisseur." He said it wanted matter. No doubt it has not the deep thinking of Johnson's writings. But surely it has just views of the surface of life, and a very sprightly manner. His opinion of "The World" was not much higher than of "The Connoisseur".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Paley : Evidences of Christianity
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion;Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Robert Jenkin : Reasonableness and Certainty of the Christian Religion
'Jenkin's is the most copious and the best work I ever read in defence of divine revelation. It treats in a clear manner of the necessity of a divine revelation, antiquity of the scriptures, God's dispensations under the Patriarchs, Moses, Judges, Kings, and Christ; the wisdom and goodness of God is excellently displayed in the manner of the promulgation and preservation of the scriptures; various difficulties are cleared and objections answered. The author has, through the whole, discovered great depth of thought, a thorough knowledge of the history of the four great monarchies mentioned in the Old Testament, and of other ancient nations; which he has brought forward in confirmation of the truth of divine revelation. In reading this excellent learned production I could not help remarking the wonderful difference that therre is between this work and the poor superficial works of freethinkers.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Unknown
David Dalrymple : [letter to Boswell]
'I at this time kept up a very frequent correspondence with Sir David [Dalrymple]; and I read to Dr. Johnson to-night the following passage from the letter which I had last received from him: "It gives me pleasure to think that you have obtained the friendship of Mr. Samnel Johnson. He is one of the best moral writers which England has produced. At the same time, I envy you the free and undisguised converse with such a man. May I beg you to present my respects to him, and to assure him of the veneration which I entertain for the author of the 'Rambler' and of 'Rasselas'? Let me recommend this work to you; with the 'Rambler' you certainly are acquainted. In 'Rasselas' you will see a tender-hearted operator, who probes the wound only to heal it. Swift, on the contrary, mangles human nature. He cuts and slashes, as if he took pleasure in the operation, like the tyrant who said, [italics] Ita feri ut se sentiat emori [end italics]." Johnson seemed to be much gratified by this just and well-turned compliment.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Letter
Frederick II King of Prussia : Memoirs of the house of Brandenburg. From the earliest accounts, to the death of Frederick I.
'On Tuesday, July 18, I found tall Sir Thomas Robinson sitting with Johnson. Sir Thomas said, that the King of Prussia valued himself upon three things;—upon being a hero, a musician, and an author. Johnson. "Pretty well, Sir, for one man. As to his being an author, I have not looked at his poetry ; but his prose is poor stuff. He writes just as you may suppose Voltaire's footboy to do, who has been his amanuensis. He has such parts as the valet might have, and about as much of the colouring of the style as might be got by transcribing his works." [Boswell tells how he repeated this to Voltaire, who was amused as he was on bad terms with Frederick the great]. But I think the criticism much too severe; for the "Memoirs of the House of Brandenbergh" are written as well as many works of that kind. His poetry, for the style of which he himself makes a frank apology, "[italics] Jargonnant un francois barbare [end italics]", though fraught with pernicious ravings of infidelity, has, in many places, great animation, and in some a pathetick tenderness.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Frederick II King of Prussia : [poems]
'On Tuesday, July 18, I found tall Sir Thomas Robinson sitting with Johnson. Sir Thomas said, that the King of Prussia valued himself upon three things;—upon being a hero, a musician, and an author. Johnson. "Pretty well, Sir, for one man. As to his being an author, I have not looked at his poetry ; but his prose is poor stuff. He writes just as you may suppose Voltaire's footboy to do, who has been his amanuensis. He has such parts as the valet might have, and about as much of the colouring of the style as might be got by transcribing his works." [Boswell tells how he repeated this to Voltaire, who was amused as he was on bad terms with Frederick the great]. But I think the criticism much too severe; for the "Memoirs of the House of Brandenbergh" are written as well as many works of that kind. His poetry, for the style of which he himself makes a frank apology, "[italics] Jargonnant un francois barbare [end italics]", though fraught with pernicious ravings of infidelity, has, in many places, great animation, and in some a pathetick tenderness.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
David Hume : Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
' [Johnson said] "Hume, and other sceptical innovators, are vain men, and will gratify themselves at any expence. Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken themselves to error. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull. If I could have allowed myself to gratify my vanity at the expence of truth, what fame might I have acquired Every thing which Hume has advanced against Christianity had passed through my mind long before he wrote. Always remember this, that after a system is well settled upon positive evidence, a few partial objections ought not to shake it. The human mind is so limited, that it cannot take in all the parts of a subject, so that there may be objections raised against any thing. There are objections against a plenum, and objections against a vacuum; yet one of them must certainly be true." I mentioned Hume's argument against the belief of miracles, that it is more probable that the witnesses to the truth of them are mistaken, or speak falsely, than that the miracles should be true. [Johnson then argues against this]'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Joseph Warton : Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope
'He said, Dr. Joseph Warton was a very agreeable man, and his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope," a very pleasing book. I wondered that he delayed so long to give us the continuation of it. Johnson. "Why, Sir, I suppose he finds himself a little disappointed, in not having been able to persuade the world to be of his opinion as to Pope." We have now been favoured with the concluding volume, in which, to use a parliamentary expression, he has explained, so as not to appear quite so adverse to the opinion of the world, concerning Pope, as was at first thought; and we must all agree, that his work is a most valuable accession to English literature'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : London: A Poem in Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal
'I was much pleased to find myself with Johnson at Greenwich, which he celebrates in his "London" as a favourite scene. I had the poem in my pocket, and read the lines aloud with enthusiasm : On Thames's banks in silent thought we stood, Where Greenwich smiles upon the silver flood : Pleas'd with the seat which gave Eliza birth, We kneel, and kiss the consecrated earth.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Gisbert Japix : Rymelerie
'[Boswell to Johnson] Of the modern Frisick, or what is spoken by the boors at this day, I have procured a specimen. It is [italics] Gisbert Japix's Rymelerie [end italics], which is the only book that they have. It is amazing that they have no translation of the bible, no treatises of devotion, nor even any of the ballads and story-books which are so agreeable to country people. You shall have Japix by the first convenient opportunity.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : London Chronicle [review of Grainger's "Sugar Cane, a poem"]
'He wrote a review of Grainger's "Sugar Cane, a Poem", in the "London Chronicle". He told me, that Dr. Percy wrote the greatest part of this review; but, I imagine, he did not recollect it distinctly, for it appears to be mostly, if not altogether, his own'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Johnson : [journal]
'From one of his Journals I transcribed what follows : "At church, Oct.—65. " To avoid all singularity; [italics] Bonaventura [end italics] " To come in before service, and compose my mind by meditation, or by reading some portions of scripture. [italics] Tetty [end italics]. " If I can hear the sermon, to attend it, unless attention be more troublesome than useful. " To consider the act of prayer as a reposal of myself upon God, and a resignation of all into his holy hand." '
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
James Boswell : [letter to Johnson from Corsica]
'He kept the greater part of mine [letters] very carefully; and a short time before his death was attentive enough to seal them up in bundles, and ordered them to be delivered to me, which was accordingly done. Amongst them I found one, of which I had not made a copy, and which I own I read with pleasure at the distance of twenty years. It is dated November, 1765, at the palace of Pascal Paoli, in Corte, the capital of Corsica, and is full of generous enthusiasm. After giving a sketch of what I had seen and heard in that island, it proceeded thus: "I dare to call this a spirited tour. I dare to challenge your approbation."'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Letter
Bishop Watson : Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion; Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Bishop Porteus : Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion; Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Addison : Evidences of the Christian Religion
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion; Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Madame de Genlis : Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion; Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Bishop Butler : Divine Analogy
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion; Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Bentley : Sermons on the Folly of Atheism
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion; Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Jenkins : Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion
'If among the books of divinity that you are so kindly offered the use of, you can borrow any of the following, they will help to establish you in the belief of the truth of Divine Revelation:- Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to Thomas Paine; Bishop Porteus' Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity; Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion; Madam Genlis' Religion the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy, in which the Principles of the modern pretended Philosophers are laid open and refuted, 2 vols. Butler's Divine Analogy; Bentley against Collins; Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism; Jenkins Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chrisian Religion, 2 vols. I have lately read the whole of these works with great satisfaction. If you are fond of real philosophy and astronomy, you will be highly pleased with Bentley's Sermons on the Folly of Atheism. Paley's is an extraordinary good work. Butler's Analogy is a very great work.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
James Edward Austen : unpublished manuscript story
'[James Edward Austen] read his two Chapters to us the first Evening; - both good - but especially the last in our opinion. We think it has more of the Spirit & Entertainment of the early part of his Work, the first 3 or 4 Chapters, than some of the subsequent...'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Edward Austen Manuscript: Sheet
Jean Jacques Rousseau : Emile
'This violence [of Dr Johnson against Rousseau] seemed very strange to me, who had read many of Rousseau's animated writings with great pleasure, and even edification; had been much pleased with his society, and was just come from the Continent, where he was very generally admired. Nor can I yet allow that he deserves the very severe censure which Johnson pronounced upon him. His absurd preference of savage to civilized life and other singularities are proofs rather of a defect in his understanding than of any depravity in his heart. And notwithstanding the unfavourable opinion which many worthy men have expressed of his "Profession de Foi du Vicaire Savoyard," I cannot help admiring it as the performance of a man full of sincere reverential submission to Divine Mystery, though beset with perplexing doubts: a state of mind to be viewed with pity rather than with anger.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Jean Jacques Rousseau : Discourse on Inequality
'This violence [of Dr Johnson against Rousseau] seemed very strange to me, who had read many of Rousseau's animated writings with great pleasure, and even edification; had been much pleased with his society, and was just come from the Continent, where he was very generally admired. Nor can I yet allow that he deserves the very severe censure which Johnson pronounced upon him. His absurd preference of savage to civilized life and other singularities are proofs rather of a defect in his understanding than of any depravity in his heart. And notwithstanding the unfavourable opinion which many worthy men have expressed of his "Profession de Foi du Vicaire Savoyard," I cannot help admiring it as the performance of a man full of sincere reverential submission to Divine Mystery, though beset with perplexing doubts: a state of mind to be viewed with pity rather than with anger.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Richardson : [unknown]
'"Sir, (continued he) there is all the difference in the world between characters of nature and characters of manners; and [italics] there [end italics] is the difference between the characters of Fielding and those of Richardson. Characters of manners are very entertaining; but they are to be understood, by a more superficial observer, than characters of nature, where a man must dive into the recesses of the human heart." It always appeared to me that he estimated the compositions of Richardson too highly, and that he had an unreasonable prejudice against Fielding. In comparing those two writers, he used this expression ; "that there was as great a difference between them as between a man who knew how a watch was made, and a man who could tell the hour by looking on the dial-plate." '
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Henry Fielding : [unknown]
'"Sir, (continued he) there is all the difference in the world between characters of nature and characters of manners; and [italics] there [end italics] is the difference between the characters of Fielding and those of Richardson. Characters of manners are very entertaining; but they are to be understood, by a more superficial observer, than characters of nature, where a man must dive into the recesses of the human heart." It always appeared to me that he estimated the compositions of Richardson too highly, and that he had an unreasonable prejudice against Fielding. In comparing those two writers, he used this expression ; "that there was as great a difference between them as between a man who knew how a watch was made, and a man who could tell the hour by looking on the dial-plate." '
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Richard Watson : An Apology for the Bible
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Beilby Porteus : A Summary of the Principle Evidences for the Truth and Divine Origin of the Christian Revelation
I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . .
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Joseph Butler : The Analogy of Religion
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Divine Analogy, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
William Paley : A View of the Evidences of Christianity
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Divine Analogy, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Burges : The Progress of Pilgrim Good-Intent
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Divine Analogy, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Blaise Pascal : Thoughts on Religion and Other Subjects
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Divine Analogy, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Joseph Addison : Evidence of the Christian Religion
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Divine Analogy, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Stephanie de Genlis : Religion considered as the only Basis of Happiness and true Philosophy
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Divine Analogy, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Robert Jenkin : Reasonableness and Certainty of the Christian Religion
'I also sent for Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in Letters to T. Paine; Bishop Porteus's Compendium of the Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Divine Analogy, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Pilgrim's Good Intent, Pascal's Thoughts, Addison's Evidences of Christianity, Conibeare on Revealed Religion, Madam de Genlis's Religion the only Basis of Happiness and sound Philosophy, with Observations on pretended modern Philosophers, 2 vols. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of Christianity, and several others of the same tendency. Those excellent defences of revealed religion I read through, during which I had many struggles . . . '
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Bishop Horne : Sermons (4vols)
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Samuel Carr : Sermons
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Hugh Blair : Sermons (5 vols)
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
John Scott : Christian Life(5 vols)
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Augustin Calmet : Dictionary of the Bible
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Flavius Josephus : Works
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Humphrey Prideaux : The Old and New Testament connected in the history of the Jews and neighbouring nations
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Hannah More : Works
'I meant to inform you, that besides those books already mentioned, I sent for Bishop Horne's Sermons, 4 vols. Carr's Sermons, Blairs Sermons, 5vols. Scott's Christian Life, 5vols. several leaned and sensible expositions of the Bible; Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments; Josephus' Works, Prideaux's Connections, 4vols. Mrs H. More's Works, and various other excellent Works. For some time one sermon was read on every Sunday, but soon Mrs L. began to like them, and then two or three were read in the course of the week; at last one at least was ready every day, and very often part of some other book in divinity, as Mrs. L said that she preferred such kind of reading far beyond the reading of novels.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Lives of the Poets
'He allowed high praise to Thomson, as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with very great warmth, accusing him of gross sensuality and licentiousness of manners. I was very much afraid that in writing Thomson's "Life", Dr. Johnson would have treated his private character with a stern severity, but I was agreeably disappointed; and I may claim a little merit in it, from my having been at pains to send him authentic accounts of the affectionate and generous conduct of that poet to his sisters, one of whom, the wife of Mr. Thomson, schoolmaster, of Lanark, I knew, and was presented by her with three of his letters, one of which Dr. Johnson has inserted in his "Life".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
James Thomson : [letters to his sister and accounts by them of his character]
'He allowed high praise to Thomson, as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with very great warmth, accusing him of gross sensuality and licentiousness of manners. I was very much afraid that in writing Thomson's "Life", Dr. Johnson would have treated his private character with a stern severity, but I was agreeably disappointed; and I may claim a little merit in it, from my having been at pains to send him authentic accounts of the affectionate and generous conduct of that poet to his sisters, one of whom, the wife of Mr. Thomson, schoolmaster, of Lanark, I knew, and was presented by her with three of his letters, one of which Dr. Johnson has inserted in his "Life".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Letter
[n/a] : London Chronicle
'"The London Chronicle", which was the only newspaper he constantly took in, being brought, the office of reading it aloud was assigned to me. I was diverted by his impatience. He made me pass over so many parts of it, that my task was very easy. He would not suffer one of the petitions to the King about the Middlesex election to be read.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Newspaper
Samuel Johnson : Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands
'His description of its [the situation in the Falklands] miseries in this pamphlet ['Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands'] is one of the finest pieces of eloquence in the English language. Upon this occasion, too, we find Johnson lashing the party in opposition with unbounded severity, and making the fullest use of what he ever reckoned a most effectual argumentative instrument,—contempt. His character of their very able mysterious champion, Junius, is executed with all the force of his genius, and finished with the highest care.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell
Samuel Johnson : Thoughts on the Late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands
'We talked of his two political pamphlets, "The False Alarm," and "Thoughts concerning Falkland's Islands." Johnson. "Well, sir, which of them did you think the best?" Boswell. "I liked the second best." Johnson. "Why, sir, I liked the first best; and Beattie liked the first best. Sir, there is a subtlety of disquisition in the first that is worth all the fire of the second".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell
Samuel Johnson : False Alarm, The
'We talked of his two political pamphlets, "The False Alarm," and "Thoughts concerning Falkland's Islands." Johnson. "Well, sir, which of them did you think the best?" Boswell. "I liked the second best." Johnson. "Why, sir, I liked the first best; and Beattie liked the first best. Sir, there is a subtlety of disquisition in the first that is worth all the fire of the second".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell
Charles Drelincourt : Christians Defense against the Fears of Death
'Boswell. "I do not know whether there are any well attested stories of the appearance of ghosts. You know there is a famous story of the appearance of Mrs. Veal, prefixed to 'Drelincourt on Death.'" Johnson. " I believe, Sir, that is given up. I believe the woman declared upon her deathbed that it was a lie".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Mark Akenside : Pleasures of Imagination, The
'[Johnson said] "I see they have published a splendid edition of Akenside's works. One bad ode may be suffered; but a number of them together makes one sick." Boswell. "Akenside's distinguished poem is his 'Pleasures of Imagination': but, for my part, I never could admire it so much as most people do." Johnson. "Sir, I could not read it through." Boswell. "I have read it through; but I do not find any great power in it".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[unknown] : [legal trial papers]
'I mentioned Elwal the heretick, whose trial Sir John Pringle had given me to read.'
UnknownCentury: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell
Joseph Warton : Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope
'He censured Ruffhead's "Life of Pope"; -and said, "he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry." He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's "Essay on Pope"; but said, he supposed we should have no more of it, as the author had not been able to persuade the world to think of Pope as he did. Boswell. "Why, sir, should that prevent him from continuing his work? He is an ingenious counsel who has made the most of his cause: he is not obliged to gain it." Johnson. "But, sir, there is a difference when the cause is of a man's own making".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
George Villiers, Second Duke of Buckingham : Rehearsal, The
'The conversation now turned on critical subjects. Johnson. "Bayes, in 'The Rehearsal', is a mighty silly character. If it was intended to be like a particular man, it could only be diverting while that man was remembered. But I question whether it was meant for Dryden, as has been reported; for we know some of the passages said to be ridiculed were written since 'The Rehearsal'; at least a passage mentioned in the Preface is of a later date." I maintained that it had merit as a general satire on the self-importance of dramatick authours. But even in this light he held it very cheap.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Henry Fielding : Tom Jones
'Fielding being mentioned, Johnson exclaimed, "he was a blockhead :" and upon my expressing my astonishment at so strange an assertion, he said, "What I mean by his being a blockhead is, that he was a barren rascal." Boswell. "Will you not allow, sir, that he draws very natural pictures of human life?" Johnson. "Why, sir, it is of very low life. Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's than in all 'Tom Jones'. I indeed, never read 'Joseph Andrews.'" Erskine. "Surely, sir, Richardson is very tedious." Johnson. "Why, sir, if you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be so much fretted that you would hang yourself. But you must read him for the sentiment, and consider the story as only giving occasion to the sentiment." I have already given my opinion of Fielding ; but I cannot refrain from repeating here my wonder at Johnson's excessive and unaccountable depreciation of one of the best writers that England has produced. "Tom Jones" has stood the test of publick opinion with such success as to have established its great merit, both for the story, the sentiments, and the manners, and also the varieties of diction, so as to leave no doubt of its having an animated truth of execution throughout.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Tacitus : Histories
'We talked of Tacitus, and I hazarded an opinion that with all his merit for penetration, shrewdness of judgment, and terseness of expression, he was too compact, too much broken into hints as it were, and therefore too difficult to be understood. To my great satisfaction Dr. Johnson sanctioned this opinion. "Tacitus, sir, seems to me rather to have made notes for an historical work than to have written a history".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Prayers and Meditations
'At this time it appears from his "Prayers and Meditations," that he had been more than commonly diligent in religious duties, particularly in reading the Holy Scriptures'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Francis Osborne : [unknown]
'I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, "A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boys would throw stones at him." He, however, did not alter my opinion of a favourite authour, to whom I was first directed by his being quoted in "The Spectator," and in whom I have found much shrewd and lively sense, expressed indeed in a style somewhat quaint, which, however, I do not dislike. His book has an air of originality. We figure to ourselves an ancient gentleman talking to us.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Joseph Addison : Spectator, The
'I expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, "A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boys would throw stones at him." He, however, did not alter my opinion of a favourite authour, to whom I was first directed by his being quoted in "The Spectator," and in whom I have found much shrewd and lively sense, expressed indeed in a style somewhat quaint, which, however, I do not dislike. His book has an air of originality. We figure to ourselves an ancient gentleman talking to us.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
: London Chronicle
'On Saturday, April 3, the day after my arrival in London this year, I went to his house late in the evening, and sat with Mrs. Williams till he came home. I found in the "London Chronicle" Dr. Goldsmith's apology to the publick for beating Evans, a bookseller, on account of a paragraph 5 in a newspaper published by him, which Goldsmith thought impertinent to him and to a lady of his acquaintance. The apology was written so much in Dr. Johnson's manner that both Mrs. Williams and I supposed it to be his; but when he came home, he soon undeceived us. When he said to Mrs. Williams, "Well, Dr. Goldsmith's manifesto has got into your paper;" I asked him if Dr. Goldsmith had written it, with an air that made him see I suspected it was his, though subscribed by Goldsmith. Johnson. "Sir, Dr. Goldsmith would no more have asked me to write such a thing as that for him than he would have asked me to feed him with a spoon, or to do any thing else that denoted his imbecility. I as much believe that he wrote it as if I had seen him do it".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Newspaper
John Dalrymple : Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland
'I mentioned Sir John Dalrymple's "Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland", and his discoveries to the prejudice of Lord Russel and Algernon Sydney. Johnson. " Why, Sir, every body who had just notions of government thought them rascals before. It is well that all mankind now see them to be rascals." Boswell. "But, Sir, may not those discoveries be true without their being rascals?" Johnson. "Consider, Sir, would any of them have been willing to have had it known that they intrigued with France? Depend upon it, Sir, he who does what he is afraid should be known has something rotten about him. This Dalrymple seems to be an honest fellow; for he tells equally what makes against both sides. But nothing can be poorer than his mode of writing, it is the mere bouncing of a school boy: Great He! but greater She! and such stuff." I could not agree with him in this criticism; for though Sir John Dalrymple's style is not regularly formed in any respect, and one cannot help smiling sometimes at his affected grandiloquence, there is in his writing a pointed vivacity, and much of a gentlemanly spirit.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[unknown] : [books belonging to Johnson]
'[on Good Friday] We went to church both in the morning and evening. In the interval between the two services we did not dine; but he read in the Greek New Testament, and I turned over several of his books.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Laud : [diary]
'In Archbishop Laud's Diary I found the following passage, which I read to Dr. Johnson: "1623. February 1, Sunday. I stood by the most illustrious Prince Charles, at dinner. He was then very merry, and talked occasionally of many things with his attendants. Among other things, he said, that if he were necessitated to take any particular profession of life, he could not be a lawyer, adding his reasons: 'I cannot (saith he) defend a bad, nor yield in a good cause.'" Johnson. "Sir, this is false reasoning; because every cause has a bad side: and a lawyer is not overcome, though the cause which he has endeavoured to support be determined against him".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Allan Ramsay : Gentle Shepherd, The
'I spoke of Allan Ramsay's "Gentle Shepherd," in the Scottish dialect, as the best pastoral that had ever been written; not only abounding with beautiful rural imagery, and just and pleasing sentiments, but being a real picture of manners; and I offered to teach Dr. Johnson to understand it. "No, sir (said he), I won't learn it. You shall retain your superiority by my not knowing it".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[unknown] : [a recently published book]
'Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. Johnson. "I have looked into it." "What (said Elphinston), have you not read it through?" Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, "No, sir; do [italics] you [end italics] read books [italics] through [end italics]?"'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Elphinstone Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [tale in Mrs Williams's 'Miscellanies']
'Johnson, though remarkable for his great variety of composition, never exercised his talents in fable, except we allow his beautiful tale published in Mrs. Williams's "Miscellanies" to be of that species. I have, however, found among his manuscript collections the following sketch of one: " Glowworm lying in the garden saw a candle in a neighbouring palace,—and complained of the littleness of his own light;—another observed wait a little ;—soon dark,—have outlasted [many] of these glaring lights which are only brighter as they haste to nothing".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [manuscript plan for a fable]
'Johnson, though remarkable for his great variety of composition, never exercised his talents in fable, except we allow his beautiful tale published in Mrs. Williams's "Miscellanies" to be of that species. I have, however, found among his manuscript collections the following sketch of one: " Glowworm lying in the garden saw a candle in a neighbouring palace,—and complained of the littleness of his own light;—another observed wait a little ;—soon dark,—have outlasted [many] of these glaring lights which are only brighter as they haste to nothing".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
William Robertson : History of Scotland 1542 - 1603
' [Johnson said of Goldsmith] "Take him as a poet, his 'Traveller' is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his 'Deserted Village,' were it not sometimes too much the echo of his 'Traveller.' Whether, indeed, we take him as a poet,—as a comick writer,—or as an historian, he stands in the first class." Boswell. "An historian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age ?" Johnson. "Why, who are before him?" Boswell. "Hume, —Robertson,—Lord Lyttelton." Johnson. (His antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). "I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's 'History' is better than the [italics] verbiage [end italics] of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple." Boswell. "Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose 'History' we find such penetration—such painting?" Johnson. "Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir Joshua paints faces in a history piece: he imagines an heroick countenance. You must look upon Robertson's work as romance, and try it by that standard. History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 'History'. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight,—would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot."'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Paley : View of the Evidences of Christianity
'The first entire work that I read in defence of revealed religion, was Archdeacon Paley's View of the Evidences of Christianity. This very excellent work I perhaps never should have read, had I not met with a pirated edition of it, (the whole being printed in one volume duodecimo, on decent paper) which I bought bound, for three and sixpence.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
Alfred Tennyson : sonnets
'[W. H.] Brookfield writes [to Tennyson] from Sheffield: '"You and Rob Montgomery are our only brewers now! A propos to the latter, Jingling James, his namesake, dined with us last week [...] I sent him copies of both you and Charles [Tennyson] yesterday, and met him in the street this morning [...] 'I read,' he said, 'twelve of the sonnets last night, which if I had not liked them better than other sonnets I could not have done. There are great outbreaks of poetry in them.' Omitting my own interjectional queries, etc., which leave to Jemmy's remarks an over-pompous connectedness which they had not viva voce, I give you his words as nearly as I remember."'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Montgomery Print: Book
anon [Religious Tract Society] : tracts
'Last summer, being in Taunton, at the house of Mr J Smith, brother to my first wife, his son brought in a parcel of those religious tracts which are published by the Religious Tract Society, and sold cheap by T. Williams, Stationer's-court, Ludgate-street, London. . . I was much pleased with an opportunity of procuring some of them. I took one of each of more than thirty sorts; and when I got home, Mrs L and I read them over together, in order to know if they were proper to be dispersed abroad, and whether they were calculated to do good to such as should read them.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: tracts
John Whitehead : The Life of the Rev John Wesley
'Not long ater this he brought from Bristol Dr Whitehead's Life of Mr Wesley, 2 vols. 8vo. I having expressed a wish to see in what state of mind Mr Wesley died. After having satisfied myself on that head, I returned the set of books, as I had no intention to read any more of the work, but the account of his death.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Lackington Print: Book
John Whitehead : The Life of the Rev John Wesley
'I again took up Dr Whitehead's Life of Mr Wesley, and as I saw by the title-page that it contained an account of Mr Wesley's ancestors and relations, the life of Mr Charles Wesley, (whom I had often heard preach) and a history of Methodism, I requested Mrs L to help me in reading it through. // To describe the conflict, and the difference commotions which passed in my mind while we were reading this excellent work is impossible. I have been instructed, delighted, much confounded, and troubled.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James and Mary Lackington Print: Book
Daines Barrington : [Essay on bird migration]
'Talking of birds, I mentioned Mr. Daines Barrington's ingenions Essay against the received notion of their migration'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes : Annals of Scotland
' [Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Your critical notes on the specimen of Lord Hailes's "Annals of Scotland" are excellent. I agreed with you on every one of them. He himself objected only to the alteration of [italics] free [end italics] to [italics] brave [end italics], in the passage where he says that Edward "departed with the glory dne to the conqueror of a free people". He says to call the Scots brave would only add to the glory of their conqueror. You will make allowance for the national zeal of our annalist. I now send a few more leaves of the "Annals", which I hope you will peruse, and return with observations, as you did upon the former occasion. Lord Hailes writes to me thus: "Mr. Boswell will be pleased to express the grateful sense which Sir David Dalrymple has of Dr. Johnson's attention to his little specimen".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Izaak Walton : Lives of Dr John Donne, Sir Henry Wotton, Mr Richard Hooker, Mr George Herbert and Dr Robert Sanderson
'[letter from Boswell, to Johnson] It gives me much pleasure to hear that a republication of "Isaac Walton's Lives" is intended. You have been in a mistake in thinking that Lord Hailes had it in view. I remember one morning, while he sat with you in my house, he said, that there should be a new edition of "Walton's Lives"; and you said that "they should be benoted a little." This was all that passed on that subject. You must, therefore, inform Dr. Horne, that he may resume his plan. I enclose a note concerning it; and if Dr. Horne will write to me, all the attention that I can give shall be cheerfully bestowed, upon what I think a pious work, the preservation and elucidation of Walton, by whose writings I have been pleasingly edified'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [diary]
'In his [Johnson's] manuscript diary of this year, there is the following entry: "Nov. 27. Advent Sunday. I considered that this day, being the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, was a proper time for a new course of life. I began to read the Greek Testament regularly at 160 verses every Sunday. This day I began the Acts. In this week I read Virgil's 'Pastorals'. I learned to repeat the 'Pollio' and 'Gallus'. I read carelessly the first 'Georgick'." Such evidences of his unceasing ardour, both for "divine and human lore," when advanced into his sixty-fifty year, and notwithstanding his many disturbances from disease, must make us at once honour his spirit, and lament that it should be so grievously clogged by its material tegument. It is remarkable, that he was very fond of the precision which calculation produces. Thus we find in one of his manuscript diaries, "12 pages in 4to Gr. Test, and 30 pages in Beza's folio, comprize the whole in 10 days".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Samuel Johnson : Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.
'[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] Be pleased to accept of my best thanks for your "Journey to the Hebrides", which came to me by last night's post. I did really ask the favour twice; but you have been even with me by granting it so speedily. [italics] Bis dat qui cito dat [end italics]. Though ill of a head cold, you kept me up the greatest part of last night: for I did not stop till I had read every word of your book. I looked back to our first talking of a visit to the Hebrides, which was many years ago, when sitting by ourselves in the Mitre tavern, in London, I think about [italics] witching time o'night [end italics]; and then exulted in contemplating our scheme fulfilled, and a [italics]monumentum perenne [end italics] of it erected by your superiour abilities. I shall only say, that your book has afforded me a high gratification. I shall afterwards give you my thoughts on particular passages. In the mean time, I hasten to tell you of your having mistaken two names, which you will correct in London, as I shall do here, that the gentlemen who deserve the valuable compliments which you have paid them, may enjoy their honours. In page 106, for [italics] Gordon [end italics], read [italics] Murchison [end italics]; and in page 357, for [italics] Maclean [end italics] read [italics] Macleod [end italics].'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
'His "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland" is a most valuable performance. It abounds in extensive philosophical views of society, and in ingenious sentiment and lively description. A considerable part of it, indeed, consists of speculations which many years before he saw the wild regions which we visited together probably had employed his attention, though the actual sight of those scenes undoubtedly quickened and augmented them. Mr. Orme, the very able historian, agreed with me in this opinion, which he thus strongly expressed:— "There are in that book thoughts which, by long revolution in the great mind of Johnson, have been formed and polished like pebbles rolled in the ocean!"'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
James Macpherson : [Ossian poems, culminating in] Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem in Six Books, together with Several Other Poems composed by Ossian, the Son of Fingal, translated from the Gaelic Language
'His disbelief of the authenticity of the poems ascribed to Ossian, a Highland bard, was confirmed in the course of his journey by a very strict examination of the evidence offered for it: and although their authenticity was made too much a national point by the Scotch, there were many respectable persons in that country who did not concur in this; so that his judgment upon the question ought not to be decried, even by those who differ from him. As to myself, I can only say, upon a subject now become very uninteresting, that when the fragments of Highland poetry first came out, I was much pleased with their wild peculiarity, and was one of those who subscribed to enable their editor, Mr. Macpherson, then a young man, to make a search in the Highlands and Hebrides for a long poem in the Erse language, which was reported to be preserved somewhere in those regions. But when there came forth an Epick Poem in six books, with all the common circumstances of former compositions of that nature; and when, upon an attentive examination of it, there was found a perpetual recurrence of the same images which appear in the fragments; and when no ancient manuscript to authenticate the work was deposited in any publick library, though that was insisted on as a reasonable proof, [italics] who [end italics] could forbear to doubt?'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress
Unfavourable as I am constrained to say my opinion of this pamphlet [Johnson's 'Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress'] was, yet, since it was congenial with the sentiments of numbers at that time, and as every thing relating to the writings of Dr. Johnson is of importance in literary history, I shall therefore insert some passages which were struck out, it does not appear why, either by himself or those who revised it. They appear printed in a few proof leaves of it in my possession, marked with corrections in his own handwriting. I shall distinguish them by Italicks. [various passages are then reproduced]'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell
Samuel Johnson : Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress
Unfavourable as I am constrained to say my opinion of this pamphlet [Johnson's 'Taxation no Tyranny; an answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress'] was, yet, since it was congenial with the sentiments of numbers at that time, and as every thing relating to the writings of Dr. Johnson is of importance in literary history, I shall therefore insert some passages which were struck out, it does not appear why, either by himself or those who revised it. They appear printed in a few proof leaves of it in my possession, marked with corrections in his own handwriting. I shall distinguish them by Italicks. [various passages are then reproduced]'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: proof leaves of a pamphlet with handwritten corrections
Thomas Gray : The Bard: A Pindaric Ode
'Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's. He attacked Gray, calling him a "dull fellow." Boswell. "I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; but surely he was not dull in poetry." Johnson. "Sir, he was dull in company, dull in his closet, dull every where. He was dull in a new way, and that made many people think him GREAT. He was a mechanical poet." He then repeated some ludicrous lines, which have escaped my memory, and said, "Is not that GREAT, like his Odes?" Mrs. Thrale maintained that his Odes were melodious; upon which he exclaimed, "Weave the warp, and weave the woof;" I added, in a solemn tone, "The winding sheet of Edward's race". "[italics] There [end italics] is a good line."—"Ay (said he), and the next line is a good one," (pronouncing it contemptuously;) "Give ample verge and room enough.—" "No, sir, there are but two good stanzas in Gray's poetry, which are in his 'Elegy in a Country Churchyard.'" He then repeated the stanza, "For who to dumb forgetfulness a prey," &c. mistaking one word; for instead of [italics] precincts [end italics] he said [italics]confines [end italics]. He added, "The other stanza I forget".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
Thomas Gray : Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
'Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's. He attacked Gray, calling him a "dull fellow." Boswell. "I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; but surely he was not dull in poetry." Johnson. "Sir, he was dull in company, dull in his closet, dull every where. He was dull in a new way, and that made many people think him GREAT. He was a mechanical poet." He then repeated some ludicrous lines, which have escaped my memory, and said, "Is not that GREAT, like his Odes?" Mrs. Thrale maintained that his Odes were melodious; upon which he exclaimed, "Weave the warp, and weave the woof;" I added, in a solemn tone, "The winding sheet of Edward's race". "[italics] There [end italics] is a good line."—"Ay (said he), and the next line is a good one," (pronouncing it contemptuously;) "Give ample verge and room enough.—" "No, sir, there are but two good stanzas in Gray's poetry, which are in his 'Elegy in a Country Churchyard.'" He then repeated the stanza, "For who to dumb forgetfulness a prey," &c. mistaking one word; for instead of [italics] precincts [end italics] he said [italics]confines [end italics]. He added, "The other stanza I forget".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
William Mason : Elfrida
'The "Odes to Obscurity and Oblivion," in ridicule of "cool Mason and warm Gray", being mentioned, Johnson said, "They are Colman's best things." [Boswell reports a conversation about their possible joint authorship] Johnson. "The first of these Odes is the best: but they are both good. They exposed a very bad kind of writing." Boswell. "Surely, sir, Mr. Mason's 'Elfrida' is a fine Poem: at least, you will allow there are some good passages in it." Johnson. "There are now and then some good imitations of Milton's bad manner".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Mason : Elfrida
'I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mason I have ever entertained a warm admiration. His "Elfrida" is exquisite, both in poetical description and moral sentiment; and his "Caractacus" is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying my tribute of praise to some of his smaller poems, which I have read with pleasure, and which no criticism shall persuade me not to like'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Mason : Caractacus: A Dramatic Poem
'I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mason I have ever entertained a warm admiration. His "Elfrida" is exquisite, both in poetical description and moral sentiment; and his "Caractacus" is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying my tribute of praise to some of his smaller poems, which I have read with pleasure, and which no criticism shall persuade me not to like'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Mason : [minor poems]
'I often wondered at his [Johnson's] low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have, in a former part of this work, expressed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mason I have ever entertained a warm admiration. His "Elfrida" is exquisite, both in poetical description and moral sentiment; and his "Caractacus" is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying my tribute of praise to some of his smaller poems, which I have read with pleasure, and which no criticism shall persuade me not to like'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Thomas Campbell : Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland, in a series of letters
'[Dr Thomas Campbell, who dined with Johnson on 3 April 1775] has since published "A Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland," a very entertaining book, which has, however, one fault:—that it assumes the fictitious character of an Englishman.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
John Scott : [Elegies]
'Mr. Scott of Amwell's "Elegies" were lying in the room. Dr. Johnson observed "They are very well; but such as twenty people might write." Upon this I took occasion to controvert Horace's maxim, " [italics] mediocribus esse poetis Non Di, non homines non concessere columnae:" [end italics] For here, (I observed,) was a very middle rate poet, who pleased many readers, and therefore poetry of a middle sort was entitled to some esteem; nor could I see why poetry should not, like every thing else, have different gradations of excellence, and consequently of value. Johnson repeated the common remark, that "as there is no necessity for our having poetry at all, it being merely a luxury, an instrument of pleasure, it can have no value, unless when exquisite in its kind".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[n/a] : [various Scottish magazine reviews of Johnson's 'Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland']
'I had brought with me a great bundle of Scotch magazines and newspapers, in which his "Journey to the Western Islands" was attacked in every mode; and I read a great part of them to him, knowing they would afford him entertainment. I wish the writers of them had been present: they would have been sufficiently vexed. One ludicrous imitation of his style, by Mr. Maclaurin, now one of the Scotch Judges, with the title of Lord Dreghorn, was distinguished by him from the rude mass. "This (said he) is the best. But I could caricature my own style much better myself." He defended his remark upon the general insufficiency of education in Scotland; and confirmed to me the authenticity of his witty saying on the learning of the Scotch;—"Their learning is like bread in a besieged town : every man gets a little, but no man gets a full meal".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Giuseppe Baretti : [unidentified 'Dialogues']
'I censured some ludicrous fantastick dialogues between two coach horses and other such stuff, which Baretti had lately published. He joined with me and said, "Nothing odd will do long. 'Tristram Shandy' did not last".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
James Grainger : Sugar Cane, The
'He spoke slightingly of Dyer's "Fleece".— "The subject, Sir, cannot be made poetical. How can a man write poetically of serges and druggets ? Yet you will hear many people talk to you gravely of that [italics] excellent [end italics] poem, "The Fleece." Having talked of Grainger's "Sugar-Cane", I mentioned to him Mr. Langton's having told me that this poem, when read in manuscript at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, had made all the assembled wits burst into a laugh, when, after much blank-verse pomp, the poet began a new paragraph thus: "Now, Muse, let's sing of [italics] rats [end italics]". And what increased the ridicule was, that one of the company, who slily overlooked the reader, perceived that the word had been originally [italics] mice [end italics], and had been altered to [italics] rats [end italics], as more dignified. This passage does not appear in the printed work. Dr. Grainger, or some of his friends, it should seem, having become sensible that introducing even [italics] Rats [end italics] in a grave poem might be liable to banter. He, however, could not bring himself to relinquish the idea; for they are thus, in a still more ludicrous manner, periphrastically exhibited in his poem as it now stands: "Nor with less waste the whisker'd vermin race, A countless clan, despoil the lowland cane." Johnson said, that Dr. Grainger was an agreeable man; a man who would do any good that was in his power. His translation of "Tibullus", he thought, was very well done; but "The Sugar Cane, a Poem," did not please him; for, he exclaimed, "What could he make of a sugar cane? One might as well write the 'Parsley Bed, a Poem ;' or ' The Cabbage Garden, a Poem'".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
James Grainger : Sugar Cane, The
'He spoke slightingly of Dyer's "Fleece".— "The subject, Sir, cannot be made poetical. How can a man write poetically of serges and druggets ? Yet you will hear many people talk to you gravely of that [italics] excellent [end italics] poem, "The Fleece." Having talked of Grainger's "Sugar-Cane", I mentioned to him Mr. Langton's having told me that this poem, when read in manuscript at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, had made all the assembled wits burst into a laugh, when, after much blank-verse pomp, the poet began a new paragraph thus: "Now, Muse, let's sing of [italics] rats [end italics]". And what increased the ridicule was, that one of the company, who slily overlooked the reader, perceived that the word had been originally [italics] mice [end italics], and had been altered to [italics] rats [end italics], as more dignified. This passage does not appear in the printed work. Dr. Grainger, or some of his friends, it should seem, having become sensible that introducing even [italics] Rats [end italics] in a grave poem might be liable to banter. He, however, could not bring himself to relinquish the idea; for they are thus, in a still more ludicrous manner, periphrastically exhibited in his poem as it now stands: "Nor with less waste the whisker'd vermin race, A countless clan, despoil the lowland cane." Johnson said, that Dr. Grainger was an agreeable man; a man who would do any good that was in his power. His translation of "Tibullus", he thought, was very well done; but "The Sugar Cane, a Poem," did not please him; for, he exclaimed, "What could he make of a sugar cane? One might as well write the 'Parsley Bed, a Poem ;' or ' The Cabbage Garden, a Poem'".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Grainger Manuscript: Unknown
Robert Barclay : Apology for the True Christian Divinity
'[At the home of the Quaker Mr Lloyd] I having asked to look at Baskerville's edition of "Barclay's Apology", Johnson laid hold of it; and the chapter on baptism happening to open, Johnson remarked, "He says there is neither precept nor practice for baptism in the scriptures; that is false." Here he was the aggressor, by no means in a gentle manner; and the good Quakers had the advantage of him; for he had read negligently, and had not observed that Barclay speaks of infant baptism; which they calmly made him perceive'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Patrick Brydone : Tour Through Sicily and Malta. In A Series of Letters to William Beckford Esq.
'Mr. Seward mentioned to us the observations which he had made upon the strata of earth in volcanoes, from which it appeared, that they were so very different in depth at different periods that no calculation whatever could be made as to the time required for their formation. This fully refuted an antimosaical remark introduced into Captain Brydone's entertaining tour, I hope heedlessly, from a kind of vanity which is too common in those who have not sufficiently studied the most important of all subjects. Dr. Johnson, indeed, had said before, independent of this observation, "Shall all the accumulated evidence of the history of the world;—shall the authority of what is unquestionably the most ancient writing be overturned by an uncertain remark such as this?"'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Translation of Lobo's Account of Abyssinia
'On Sunday, March 31, I called on him, and shewed him as a curiosity which I had discovered, his "Translation of Lobo's Account of Abyssinia", which Sir John Pringle had lent me, it being then little known as one of his works. He said, "Take no notice of it" or "don't talk of it". He seemed to think it beneath him, though done at six-and-twenty. I said to him, "Your style, Sir, is much improved since you translated this".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Shakespeare : Othello
'I observed the great defect of the tragedy of "Othello" was, that it had not a moral; for that no man could resist the circumstances of suspicion which were artfully suggested to Othello's mind. JOHNSON. "In the first place, Sir, we learn from "Othello" this very useful moral, not to make an unequal match; in the second place, we learn not to yield too readily to suspicion. The handkerchief is merely a trick, though a very pretty trick; but there are no other circumstances of reasonable suspicion, except what is related by Iago of Cassio's warm expressions concerning Desdemona in his sleep; and that depended entirely upon the assertion of one man. No, Sir, I think "Othello" has more moral than almost any play".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: [Monthly and Critical Reviews]
'We talked of the Reviews, and Dr. Johnson spoke of them as he did at Thrale's. Sir Joshua [Reynolds] said, what I have often thought, that he wondered to find so much good writing employed in them, when the authours were to remain unknown, and so could not have the motive of fame. JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, those who write in them, write well, in order to be paid well".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Robert Blair : 'The Grave, a Poem'
'He told me that "so long ago as 1748 he had read 'The Grave, a Poem', but did not like it much." I differed from him; for though it is not equal throughout, and is seldom elegantly correct, it abounds in solemn thought, and poetical imagery beyond the common reach. The world has differed from him; for the poem has passed through many editions, and is still much read by people of a serious cast of mind.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
Thomas Chatterton : [poems supposedly by Thomas Rowley]
'On Monday, April 29, he and I made an excursion to Bristol, where I was entertained with seeing him enquire upon the spot, into the authenticity of 'Rowley's Poetry,' as I had seen him enquire upon the spot into the authenticity of 'Ossian's Poetry.' George Catcot, the pewterer, who was as zealous for Rowley, as Dr. Hugh Blair was for Ossian, (I trust my Reverend friend will excuse the comparison,) attended us at our inn, and with a triumphant air of lively simplicity called out, "I'll make Dr. Johnson a convert". Dr. Johnson, at his desire, read aloud some of Chatterton's fabricated verses, while Catcot stood at the back of his chair, moving himself like a pendulum, and beating time with his feet, and now and then looking into Dr. Johnson's face, wondering that he was not yet convinced. We called on Mr. Barret, the surgeon, and saw some of the originals as they were called, which were executed very artificially; but from a careful inspection of them, and a consideration of the circumstances with which they were attended, we were quite satisfied of the imposture, which, indeed, has been clearly demonstrated from internal evidence, by several able criticks.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Francis Hutcheson : System of Moral Philosophy
' [Johnson said] "There is much talk of the misery which we cause to the brute creation; but they are recompensed by existence. If they were not useful to man, and therefore protected by him, they would not be nearly so numerous". This argument is to be found in the able and benignant Hutchinson's [sic] "Moral Philosophy".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [a legal argument]
'When I read this [Johnson's argument regarding a legal case on the liberty of the pulpit in which Boswell was involved] to Mr. Burke, he was highly pleased, and exclaimed, "Well; he does his work in a workman-like manner".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Colley Cibber : Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber
'BOSWELL. "Yet Cibber was a man of observation?" JOHNSON. "I think not." BOSWELL. "You will allow his 'Apology' to be well done". JOHNSON. "Very well done, to be sure, Sir. That book is a striking proof of the justice of Pope's remark: 'Each might his several province well command, Would all but stoop to what they understand' BOSWELL. "And his plays are good". JOHNSON. "Yes; but that was his trade; [italics] l'esprit du corps [end italics]; he had been all his life among players and play-writers".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Colley Cibber : [Plays]
'BOSWELL. "Yet Cibber was a man of observation?" JOHNSON. "I think not." BOSWELL. "You will allow his 'Apology' to be well done". JOHNSON. "Very well done, to be sure, Sir. That book is a striking proof of the justice of Pope's remark: 'Each might his several province well command, Would all but stoop to what they understand' BOSWELL. "And his plays are good". JOHNSON. "Yes; but that was his trade; [italics] l'esprit du corps [end italics]; he had been all his life among players and play-writers".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
James Granger : Biographical History of England from Egbert the Great to the Revolution
'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] I have, since I saw you, read every word of Granger's "Biographical History". It has entertained me exceedingly, and I do not think him the [italics] Whig [end italics] that you supposed'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [paper on an aspect of Scottish law]
'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Your paper on "Vicious Intromission" is a noble proof of what you can do even in Scotch law.'
UnknownCentury: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell
Samuel Johnson : Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
' [letter from Boswell to Johnson] I have not yet distributed all your books [presumably a new edition of the "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland"]. Lord Hailes and Lord Monboddo have each received one, and return you thanks. Monboddo dined with me lately, and having drank tea, we were a good while by ourselves, and as I knew that he had read the "Journey superficially", as he did not talk of it as I wished, I brought it to him, and read aloud several passages; and then he talked so, that I told him he was to have a copy [italics] from the authour [end italics]. He begged [italics] that [end italics] might be marked on it'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
' [letter from Boswell to Johnson] I have not yet distributed all your books [presumably a new edition of the "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland"]. Lord Hailes and Lord Monboddo have each received one, and return you thanks. Monboddo dined with me lately, and having drank tea, we were a good while by ourselves, and as I knew that he had read the "Journey superficially", as he did not talk of it as I wished, I brought it to him, and read aloud several passages; and then he talked so, that I told him he was to have a copy [italics] from the authour [end italics]. He begged [italics] that [end italics] might be marked on it'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Burnett, Lord Monboddo Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [proposals for the publication of William Shaw's 'Erse Grammar']
'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] You forget that Mr. Shaw's "Erse Grammar" was put into your hands by myself last year. Lord Eglintoune put it into mine. I am glad that Mr. Macbean approves of it. I have received Mr. Shaw's Proposals for its publication, which I can perceive are written [italics] by the hand of a MASTER [end italics]' [Master here refers to Johnson]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
: [newspapers]
'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Our worthy friend Thrale's death having appeared in the newspapers, and been afterwards contradicted, I have been placed in a state of very uneasy uncertainty, from which I hoped to be relieved by you: but my hopes have as yet been vain.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Newspaper
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield : Memoirs and Last Letters
' [letter from Boswell to Johnson] What do you say of Lord Chesterfield's "Memoirs and last Letters"?'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Theophilus Cibber : Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland
'[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [Thomson's] "Life", published under the name of Cibber, but as you told me, really written by a Mr. Shiels; that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of the "Seasons", published at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anecdote of Quin's relieving Thomson from prison; the abridgement of Murdoch's account of him, in the "Biographia Britannica", and another abridgement of it in the "Biographical Dictionary", enriched with Dr. Joseph Warton's critical panegyrick on the "Seasons" in his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope": from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Patrick Murdoch : [Life of Thomson, prefixed to an edition of 'The Seasons']
'[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [Thomson's] "Life", published under the name of Cibber, but as you told me, really written by a Mr. Shiels; that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of the "Seasons", published at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anecdote of Quin's relieving Thomson from prison; the abridgement of Murdoch's account of him, in the "Biographia Britannica", and another abridgement of it in the "Biographical Dictionary", enriched with Dr. Joseph Warton's critical panegyrick on the "Seasons" in his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope": from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
anon. : [Life of Thomson, prefixed to an edition of 'The Seasons']
'[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [Thomson's] "Life", published under the name of Cibber, but as you told me, really written by a Mr. Shiels; that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of the "Seasons", published at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anecdote of Quin's relieving Thomson from prison; the abridgement of Murdoch's account of him, in the "Biographia Britannica", and another abridgement of it in the "Biographical Dictionary", enriched with Dr. Joseph Warton's critical panegyrick on the "Seasons" in his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope": from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: Biographia Britannica
'[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [Thomson's] "Life", published under the name of Cibber, but as you told me, really written by a Mr. Shiels; that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of the "Seasons", published at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anecdote of Quin's relieving Thomson from prison; the abridgement of Murdoch's account of him, in the "Biographia Britannica", and another abridgement of it in the "Biographical Dictionary", enriched with Dr. Joseph Warton's critical panegyrick on the "Seasons" in his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope": from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: Biographical Dictionary
'[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [Thomson's] "Life", published under the name of Cibber, but as you told me, really written by a Mr. Shiels; that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of the "Seasons", published at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anecdote of Quin's relieving Thomson from prison; the abridgement of Murdoch's account of him, in the "Biographia Britannica", and another abridgement of it in the "Biographical Dictionary", enriched with Dr. Joseph Warton's critical panegyrick on the "Seasons" in his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope": from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Joseph Warton : Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope
'[ letter from Boswell to Johnson, responding to the latter's contention that there existed no adequate 'Life' of Thomson] Since I received your letter I have read his [Thomson's] "Life", published under the name of Cibber, but as you told me, really written by a Mr. Shiels; that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of the "Seasons", published at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anecdote of Quin's relieving Thomson from prison; the abridgement of Murdoch's account of him, in the "Biographia Britannica", and another abridgement of it in the "Biographical Dictionary", enriched with Dr. Joseph Warton's critical panegyrick on the "Seasons" in his "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope": from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
David Hume : My Own Life
' [letter from Boswell to Johnson] Without doubt you have read what is called "The Life of David Hume", written by himself, with the letter from Dr. Adam Smith subjoined to it. Is not this an age of daring effrontery?'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia , the
'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] I lately read Rasselas over again with great satisfaction'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [sermon written for Dr Dodd]
'He [Johnson] wrote also "The Convict's Address to his unhappy Brethren", a sermon delivered by Dr. Dodd [ a clergyman condemned to deatn for fraud], in the chapel of Newgate According to Johnson's manuscript it began thus after the text, What shall I do to be saved?-- "These were the words with which the keeper, to whose custody Paul and Silas were committed by their prosecutors, addressed his prisoners, when he saw them freed from their bonds by the perceptible agency of divine favour, and was, therefore, irresistibly convinced that they were not offenders against the laws, but martyrs to the truth". Dr. Johnson was so good as to mark for me with his own hand, on a copy of this sermon which is now in my possession, such passages as were added by Dr. Dodd. They are not many: whoever will take the trouble to look at the printed copy, and attend to what I mention, will be satisfied of this.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
William Hamilton : [poem on Winter]
'In the afternoon I tried to get Dr. Johnson to like the Poems of Mr. Hamilton of Bangour, which I had brought with me: I had been much pleased with them at a very early age; the impression still remained on my mind; it was confirmed by the opinion of my friend the Honourable Andrew Erskine, himself both a good poet and a good critick, who thought Hamilton as true a poet as ever wrote, and that his not having fame was unaccountable. Johnson, upon repeated occasions, while I was at Ashbourne, talked slightingly of Hamilton. He said there was no power of thinking in his verses, nothing that strikes one, nothing better than what you generally find in magazines; and that the highest praise they deserved was, that they were very well for a gentleman to hand about among his friends. He said the imitation of "Ne sit ancillae tibi amor", &c. was too solemn; he read part of it at the beginning. He read the beautiful pathetick song, 'Ah the poor shepherd's mournful fate', and did not seem to give attention to what I had been used to think tender elegant strains, but laughed at the rhyme, in Scotch pronunciation, [italics] wishes [end italics] and [italics] blushes [end italics], reading [italics] wushes [end italics]--and there he stopped. He owned that the epitaph on Lord Newhall was pretty well done. He read the 'Inscription in a Summer-house', and a little of the imitations of Horace's 'Epistles'; but said he found nothing to make him desire to read on. When I urged that there were some good poetical passages in the book. "Where (said he,) will you find so large a collection without some?" I thought the description of Winter might obtain his approbation: 'See Winter, from the frozen north Drives his iron chariot forth! His grisly hand in icy chains Fair Tweeda's silver flood constrains,' &c. He asked why an 'iron chariot'? and said 'icy chains' was an old image. I was struck with the uncertainty of taste, and somewhat sorry that a poet whom I had long read with fondness, was not approved by Dr. Johnson. I comforted myself with thinking that the beauties were too delicate for his robust perceptions'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Hamilton : [poems]
'In the afternoon I tried to get Dr. Johnson to like the Poems of Mr. Hamilton of Bangour, which I had brought with me: I had been much pleased with them at a very early age; the impression still remained on my mind; it was confirmed by the opinion of my friend the Honourable Andrew Erskine, himself both a good poet and a good critick, who thought Hamilton as true a poet as ever wrote, and that his not having fame was unaccountable. Johnson, upon repeated occasions, while I was at Ashbourne, talked slightingly of Hamilton. He said there was no power of thinking in his verses, nothing that strikes one, nothing better than what you generally find in magazines; and that the highest praise they deserved was, that they were very well for a gentleman to hand about among his friends. He said the imitation of "Ne sit ancillae tibi amor", &c. was too solemn; he read part of it at the beginning. He read the beautiful pathetick song, 'Ah the poor shepherd's mournful fate', and did not seem to give attention to what I had been used to think tender elegant strains, but laughed at the rhyme, in Scotch pronunciation, [italics] wishes [end italics] and [italics] blushes [end italics], reading [italics] wushes [end italics]--and there he stopped. He owned that the epitaph on Lord Newhall was pretty well done. He read the 'Inscription in a Summer-house', and a little of the imitations of Horace's 'Epistles'; but said he found nothing to make him desire to read on. When I urged that there were some good poetical passages in the book. "Where (said he,) will you find so large a collection without some?" I thought the description of Winter might obtain his approbation: 'See Winter, from the frozen north Drives his iron chariot forth! His grisly hand in icy chains Fair Tweeda's silver flood constrains,' &c. He asked why an 'iron chariot'? and said 'icy chains' was an old image. I was struck with the uncertainty of taste, and somewhat sorry that a poet whom I had long read with fondness, was not approved by Dr. Johnson. I comforted myself with thinking that the beauties were too delicate for his robust perceptions'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: Critical Review
'He [Johnson] was much diverted with an article which I shewed him in the "Critical Review" of this year, giving an account of a curious publication, entitled, "A Spiritual Diary and Soliloquies", by John Rutty, M.D. Dr. Rutty was one of the people called Quakers, a physician of some eminence in Dublin, and authour of several works. This Diary, which was kept from 1753 to 1775, the year in which he died, and was now published in two volumes octavo, exhibited, in the simplicity of his heart, a minute and honest register of the state of his mind; which, though frequently laughable enough, was not more so than the history of many men would be, if recorded with equal fairness.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Thomas Arnold : Observations on Insanity
'Some of the ancient philosophers held, that all deviations from right reason were madness; and whoever wishes to see the opinions both of ancients and moderns upon this subject, collected and illustrated with a variety of curious facts, may read Dr. Arnold's very entertaining work'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
George Forster : Voyage Round the World in his Britannic Majesty's sloop, Resolution, A
'I talked to him [Johnson] of Forster's "Voyage to the South Seas", which pleased me; but I found he did not like it. "Sir, (said he,) there is a great affectation of fine writing in it". BOSWELL. "But he carries you along with him". JOHNSON, "No, Sir; he does not carry me along with him: he leaves me behind him: or rather, indeed, he sets me before him; for he makes me turn over many leaves at a time".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [sermon written for John Taylor]
'I have no doubt that a good many sermons were composed for Taylor [with whom Johnson and Boswell were staying] by Johnson. At this time I found, upon his table, a part of one which he had newly begun to write: and [italics] Concio pro Tayloro [end italics] appears in one of his diaries. When to these circumstances we add the internal evidence from the power of thinking and style, in the collection which the Reverend Mr. Hayes has published, with the [italics] significant [end italics] title of "Sermons [italics] left for publication [end italics] by the Reverend John Taylor, LL.D.", our conviction will be complete. I, however, would not have it thought, that Dr. Taylor, though he could not write like Johnson, (as, indeed, who could?) did not sometimes compose sermons as good as those which we generally have from very respectable divines. He showed me one with notes on the margin in Johnson's hand-writing; and I was present when he read another to Johnson, that he might have his opinion of it, and Johnson said it was "very well". These, we may be sure, were not Johnson's; for he was above little arts, or tricks of deception.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
John Taylor : Sermons left for publication by the Reverend John Taylor LL.D.
'I have no doubt that a good many sermons were composed for Taylor [with whom Johnson and Boswell were staying] by Johnson. At this time I found, upon his table, a part of one which he had newly begun to write: and [italics] Concio pro Tayloro [end italics] appears in one of his diaries. When to these circumstances we add the internal evidence from the power of thinking and style, in the collection which the Reverend Mr. Hayes has published, with the [italics] significant [end italics] title of "Sermons [italics] left for publication [end italics] by the Reverend John Taylor, LL.D.", our conviction will be complete. I, however, would not have it thought, that Dr. Taylor, though he could not write like Johnson, (as, indeed, who could?) did not sometimes compose sermons as good as those which we generally have from very respectable divines. He showed me one with notes on the margin in Johnson's hand-writing; and I was present when he read another to Johnson, that he might have his opinion of it, and Johnson said it was "very well". These, we may be sure, were not Johnson's; for he was above little arts, or tricks of deception.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Robert Plott : Natural History of Staffordshire
'We viewed a remarkable natural curiosity at Islam; two rivers bursting near each other from the rock, not from immediate springs, but after having run for many miles under ground. Plott, in his "History of Staffordshire", gives an account of this curiosity; but Johnson would not believe it, though we had the attestation of the gardener, who said, he had put in corks, where the river Manyfold sinks into the ground, and had catched them in a net, placed before one of the openings where the water bursts out. Indeed, such subterraneous courses of water are found in various parts of our globe.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Gilbert Burnet : Some passages of the life and death of the Right Honourable John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
'Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the only time I ever heard him say any thing witty) observed, that "if Rochester had been castrated himself, his exceptionable poems would not have been written". I asked if Burnet had not given a good Life of Rochester. JOHNSON. "We have a good [italics] Death [end italics]: there is not much [italics] Life[end italics]".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Matthew Prior : [Poems]
'I asked whether Prior's Poems were to be printed entire: Johnson said they were. I mentioned Lord Hailes's censure of Prior, in his Preface to a collection of "Sacred Poems", by various hands, published by him at Edinburgh a great many years ago, where he mentions, "those impure tales which will be the eternal opprobrium of their ingenious authour". JOHNSON. "Sir, Lord Hailes has forgot. There is nothing in Prior that will excite to lewdness. If Lord Hailes thinks there is, he must be more combustible than other people". I instanced the tale of Paulo Purganti and his Wife. JOHNSON. "Sir, there is nothing there, but that his wife wanted to be kissed when poor Paulo was out of pocket. No, Sir, Prior is a lady's book. No lady is ashamed to have it standing in her library".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
David Mallet : Life of Francis Bacon, The
'Mallet's "Life of Bacon" has no inconsiderable merit as an acute and elegant dissertation relative to its subject; but Mallet's mind was not comprehensive enough to embrace the vast extent of Lord Verulam's genius and research. Dr. Warburton therefore observed, with witty justness, "that Mallet, in his "Life of Bacon", had forgotten that he was a philosopher; and if he should write the Life of the Duke of Marlborough, which he had undertaken to do, he would probably forget that he was a general".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
John Ranby : Doubts on the Abolition of the Slave Trade
I have read, conversed, and thought much upon the subject, and would recommend to all who are capable of conviction, an excellent Tract by my learned and ingenious friend John Ranby, Esq. entitled "Doubts on the Abolition of the Slave Trade." To Mr. Ranby's "Doubts," I will apply Lord Chancellor Hardwicke's expression in praise of a Scotch Law Book, called "Dirleton's Doubts"; "HIS [italics] Doubts [end italics], (said his Lordship,) are better than most people's [italics] Certainties [end italics]."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell
Florentius Volusenus [pseud.] : De Animi Tranquillitate
'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] Did you ever look at a book written by Wilson, a Scotchman, under the Latin name of Volusenus, according to the custom of literary men at a certain period. It is entitled "De Animi Tranquillitate" I earnestly desire tranquillity'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: London Chronicle
'[Letter from Boswell to Johnson] The alarm of your late illness distressed me but a few hours ; for on the evening of the day that it reached me, I found it contradicted in 'The London Chronicle,' which I could depend upon as authentick concerning you, Mr. Strahan being the printer of it'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Newspaper
Robert Sibbald : [manuscript Life]
'I mentioned that I had in my possession the Life of Sir Robert Sibbald, the celebrated Scottish antiquary, and founder of the Royal College of Physicians at Edinburgh, in the original manuscript in his own hand-writing ; and that it was, I believed, the most natural and candid account of himself that ever was given by any man'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Francis Atterbury : [Funeral Sermon for Lady Cutts]
'[in a conversation about journals, Boswell said] "And as a lady adjusts her dress before a mirrour, a man adjusts his character by looking at his journal." I next year found the very same thought in Atterbury's "Funeral Sermon on Lady Cutts" where, having mentioned her diary, he says, " In this glass she every day dressed her mind." This is a proof of coincidence, and not of plagiarism ; for I had never read that sermon before'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Henry Home, Lord Kames : Sketches of the History of Man
'I looked into Lord Kaimes's "Sketches of the History of Man"; and mentioned to Dr. Johnson his censure of Charles the Fifth, for celebrating his funeral obsequies in his life-time'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Ogden : [Sermons]
'Sir John Pringle had expressed a wish that I would ask Dr. Johnson's opinion what were the best English sermons for style. I took an opportunity to-day of mentioning several to him. "Atterbury?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir, one of the best". Boswell. "Tillotson?". Johnson. "Why, not now. I should not advise a preacher at this day to imitate Tillotson's style: though I don't know; I should be cautious of objecting to what has been applauded by so many suffrages. — South is one of the best, if you except his peculiarities, and his violence, and sometimes coarseness of language. — Seed has a very fine style; but he is not very theological. — Jortin's sermons are very elegant. — Sherlock's style too is very elegant, though he has not made it his principal study. — And you may add Smallridge. All the latter preachers have a good style. Indeed, nobody now talks much of style: everybody composes pretty well. There are no such inharmonious periods as there were a hundred years ago. I should recommend Dr. Clarke's sermons, were he orthodox. However, it is very well known where he is not orthodox, which was upon the doctrine of the Trinity, as to which he is a condemned heretic: so one is aware of it." Boswell. "I like Ogden's "Sermons on Prayer" very much, both for neatness of style and subtilty of reasoning. "Johnson. "I should like to read all that Ogden has written." Boswell. "What I wish to know is, what sermons afford the best specimen of English pulpit eloquence." Johnson. "We have no sermons addressed to the passions, that are good for anything; if you mean that kind of eloquence".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
Homer : Iliad and Odyssey
'After wandering about in a kind of pleasing distraction for some time, I got into a corner, with Johnson, Garrick, and Harris. GARRICK: (to Harris.) "Pray, Sir, have you read Potter's Aeschylus?" HARRIS. "Yes; and think it pretty." GARRICK. (to Johnson.) "And what think you, Sir, of it?" JOHNSON. "I thought what I read of it verbiage: but upon Mr. Harris's recommendation, I will read a play. (To Mr. Harris.) Don't prescribe two." Mr. Harris suggested one, I do not remember which. JOHNSON. "We must try its effect as an English poem; that is the way to judge of the merit of a translation. Translations are, in general, for people who cannot read the original." I mentioned the vulgar saying, that Pope's Homer was not a good representation of the original. JOHNSON."Sir, it is the greatest work of the kind that has ever been produced" BOSWELL. "The truth is, it is impossible perfectly to translate poetry. In a different language it may be the same tune, but it has not the same tone. Homer plays it on a bassoon; Pope on a flagelet".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Homer : Iliad and Odyssey
'After wandering about in a kind of pleasing distraction for some time, I got into a corner, with Johnson, Garrick, and Harris. GARRICK: (to Harris.) "Pray, Sir, have you read Potter's Aeschylus?" HARRIS. "Yes; and think it pretty." GARRICK. (to Johnson.) "And what think you, Sir, of it?" JOHNSON. "I thought what I read of it verbiage: but upon Mr. Harris's recommendation, I will read a play. (To Mr. Harris.) Don't prescribe two." Mr. Harris suggested one, I do not remember which. JOHNSON. "We must try its effect as an English poem; that is the way to judge of the merit of a translation. Translations are, in general, for people who cannot read the original." I mentioned the vulgar saying, that Pope's Homer was not a good representation of the original. JOHNSON."Sir, it is the greatest work of the kind that has ever been produced" BOSWELL. "The truth is, it is impossible perfectly to translate poetry. In a different language it may be the same tune, but it has not the same tone. Homer plays it on a bassoon; Pope on a flagelet".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Daniel Defoe : Robinson Crusoe
'He [Johnson] told us, that he had given Mrs. Montagu a catalogue of all Daniel Defoe's works of imagination; most, if not all of which, as well as of his other works, he now enumerated, allowing a considerable share of merit to a man, who, bred a tradesman, had written so variously and so well. Indeed, his "Robinson Crusoe" is enough of itself to establish his reputation'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Dodd : Thoughts in Prison
'On Sunday, April 12, I found him at home before dinner; Dr. Dodd's poem entitled "Thoughts in Prison" was lying upon his table. This appearing to me an extraordinary effort by a man who was in Newgate for a capital crime, I was desirous to hear Johnson's opinion of it: to my surprize, he told me he had not read a line of it. I took up the book and read a passage to him. JOHNSON. "Pretty well, if you are previously disposed to like them". I read another passage, with which he was better pleased. He then took the book into his own hands, and having looked at the prayer at the end of it, he said, "What evidence is there that this was composed the night before he suffered? I do not believe it". He then read aloud where he prays for the King, &c. and observed, "Sir, do you think that a man the night before he is to be hanged cares for the succession of a royal family?--Though, he may have composed this prayer, then. A man who has been canting all his life, may cant to the last.--And yet a man who has been refused a pardon after so much petitioning, would hardly be praying thus fervently for the King".
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Soame Jenyns : View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion
'Dr. Mayo having asked Johnson's opinion of Soame Jenyns's "View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion";--JOHNSON. "I think it a pretty book; not very theological indeed; and there seems to be an affectation of ease and carelessness, as if it were not suitable to his character to be very serious about the matter". BOSWELL. "He may have intended this to introduce his book the better among genteel people, who might be unwilling to read too grave a treatise. There is a general levity in the age. We have physicians now with bag-wigs; may we not have airy divines, at least somewhat less solemn in their appearance than they used to be?" JOHNSON. "Jenyns might mean as you say". BOSWELL. "[italics]You[end italics] should like his book, Mrs. Knowles, as it maintains, as you [italics] friends [end italics] do, that courage is not a Christian virtue".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Jonathan Edwards : [on Grace]
'DR. MAYO (to Dr. Johnson). "Pray, Sir, have you read Edwards, of New England, on "Grace"?" JOHNSON. "No, Sir". BOSWELL. "It puzzled me so much as to the freedom of the human will, by stating, with wonderful acute ingenuity, our being actuated by a series of motives which we cannot resist, that the only relief I had was to forget it". MAYO. "But he makes the proper distinction between moral and physical necessity".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Marshall : Minutes of Agriculture
'Mr. Allen, the printer, brought a book on agriculture, which was printed, and was soon to be published. It was a very strange performance, the authour having mixed in it his own thoughts upon various topicks, along with his remarks on ploughing, sowing, and other farming operations. He seemed to be an absurd profane fellow, and had introduced in his book many sneers at religion, with equal ignorance and conceit. Dr. Johnson permitted me to read some passages aloud.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia
'I told him, that his "Rasselas" had often made me unhappy; for it represented the misery of human life so well, and so convincingly to a thinking mind, that if at any time the impression wore off, and I felt myself easy, I began to suspect some delusion.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: [list of Johnson's works compiled by Mr Levett]
' [Boswell lamenting the dificulty of compiling a definitive Johnson bibliography] I once got from one of his friends a list, which there was pretty good reason to suppose was accurate, for it was written down in his presence by this friend, who enumerated each article aloud, and had some of them mentioned to him by Mr. Levett, in concert with whom it was made out; and Johnson, who heard all this, did not contradict it. But when I shewed a copy of this list to him, and mentioned the evidence for its exactness, he laughed, and said, "I was willing to let them go on as they pleased, and never interfered". Upon which I read it to him, article by article, and got him positively to own or refuse; and then, having obtained certainty so far, I got some other articles confirmed by him directly; and afterwards, from time to time, made additions under his sanction'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Samuel Johnson : Lives of the Poets
'[letter from Boswell to Johnson] 'I am eager to see more of your Prefaces to the Poets; I solace myself with the few proof sheets which I have'.
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: proof sheets
Joshua Reynolds : Discourses Delivered at the Royal Academy
'Johnson this year expressed great satisfaction at the publication of the first volume of "Discourses to the Royal Academy", by Sir Joshua Reynolds, whom he always considered as one of his literary school. Much praise indeed is due to those excellent "Discourses", which are so universally admired, and for which the authour received from the Empress of Russia a gold snuff-box, adorned with her profile in bas relief, set in diamonds; and containing what is infinitely more valuable, a slip of paper, on which are written with her Imperial Majesty's own hand, the following words: "Pour le Chevalier Reynolds en temoignage du contentement que j'ai ressentie a la lecture de ses excellens discours sur la peinture".'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Richard Allestree : Government of the Tongue, The
'On Friday, April 2, being Good-Friday, I visited him in the morning as usual; and finding that we insensibly fell into a train of ridicule upon the foibles of one of our friends, a very worthy man, I, by way of a check, quoted some good admonition from "The Government of the Tongue", that very pious book.'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Blaise Pascal : Pensees
'In the interval between morning and evening service, he [Johnson] endeavoured to employ himself earnestly in devotional exercises; and as he has mentioned in his "Prayers and Meditations", gave me "Les Pensees de Pascal", that I might not interrupt him. I preserve the book with reverence. His presenting it to me is marked upon it with his own hand, and I have found in it a truly divine unction.'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Thomas Parnell : Hermit, The
'On Monday, May 3, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly's; I pressed him this day for his opinion on the passage in Parnell, concerning which I had in vain questioned him in several letters, and at length obtained it in [italics] due form of law [end italics]. CASE for Dr. JOHNSON'S Opinion; 3rd of May, 1779. "PARNELL, in his "Hermit", has the following passage: "To clear this doubt, to know the world by sight, To find if [italics] books [end italics] and [italics] swains [end italics] report it right: ( For yet by [italics] swains alone [end italics]the world he knew, Whose feet came wand'ring o'er the nightly dew.)" "Is there not a contradiction in its being [italics] first [end italics] supposed that the [italics] Hermit [end italics] knew [italics] both [end italics] what books and swains reported of the world; yet afterwards said, that he knew it by swains [italics] alone? [end italics] [italics] I think it an inaccuracy.--He mentions two instructors in the first line, and says he had only one in the next.[end italics]".'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Hugh Blair : [letter concerning Pope and Bolingbroke]
'shall insert as a literary curiosity. [The letter is given. It begins as follows] "TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. DEAR SIR, In the year 1763, being at London, I was carried by Dr. John Blair, Prebendary of Westminster, to dine at old Lord Bathurst's; where we found the late Mr. Mallet, Sir James Porter, who had been Ambassadour at Constantinople, the late Dr. Macaulay, and two or three more. The conversation turning on Mr. Pope, Lord Bathurst told us, that "The Essay on Man" was originally composed by Lord Bolingbroke in prose, and that Mr. Pope did no more than put it into verse: that he had read Lord Bolingbroke's manuscript in his own hand-writing; and remembered well, that he was at a loss whether most to admire the elegance of Lord Bolingbroke's prose, or the beauty of Mr. Pope's verse..."'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Letter
Samuel Johnson : Lives of the Poets
'So easy is his style in these "Lives", that I do not recollect more than three uncommon or learned words; one, when giving an account of the approach of Waller's mortal disease, he says, "he found his legs grow tumid"; by using the expression his legs swelled, he would have avoided this; and there would have been no impropriety in its being followed by the interesting question to his physician, 'What that swelling meant?' Another, when he mentions that Pope had emitted proposals; when published or issued would have been more readily understood; and a third, when he calls Orrery and Dr. Delany, writers both undoubtedly veracious, when true, honest, or faithful, might have been used. Yet, it must be owned, that none of these are hard or too big words; that custom would make them seem as easy as any others; and that a language is richer and capable of more beauty of expression, by having a greater variety of synonimes. His dissertation upon the unfitness of poetry for the aweful subjects of our holy religion, though I do not entirely agree with with him, has all the merit of originality, with uncommon force and reasoning.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Herbert Croft : Life of Young
'[Croft's 'Life of Young, adapted by Johnson for his 'Life'] has always appeared to me to have a considerable share of merit, and to display a pretty successful imitation of Johnson's style. When I mentioned this to a very eminent literary character [Edmund Burke], he opposed me vehemently, exclaiming, "No, no, it is not a good imitation of Johnson; it has all his pomp without his force; it has all the nodosities of the oak without its strength". This was an image so happy, that one might have thought he would have been satisfied with it; but he was not. And setting his mind again to work, he added, with exquisite felicity, "It has all the contortions of the Sybil, without the inspiration".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Edward Young : Night Thoughts
''It gives me much pleasure to observe, that however Johnson may have casually talked, yet when he sits, as "an ardent judge zealous to his trust, giving sentence" upon the excellent works of Young, he allows them the high praise to which they are justly entitled. "The 'Universal Passion' (says he) is indeed a very great performance,--his distichs have the weight of solid sentiment, and his points the sharpness of resistless truth." But I was most anxious concerning Johnson's decision upon "Night Thoughts", which I esteem as a mass of the grandest and richest poetry that human genius has ever produced; and was delighted to find this character of that work: "In his 'Night Thoughts', he has exhibited a very wide display of original poetry, variegated with deep reflections and striking allusions; a wilderness of thought, in which the fertility of fancy scatters flowers of every hue and of every odour. This is one of the few poems in which blank verse could not be changed for rhime but with disadvantage". And afterwards, "Particular lines are not to be regarded; the power is in the whole; and in the whole there is a magnificence like that ascribed to Chinese plantation, the magnificence of vast extent and endless diversity". But there is in this Poem not only all that Johnson so well brings in view, but a power of the [italics] Pathetick [end italics] beyond almost any example that I have seen. He who does not feel his nerves shaken, and his heart pierced by many passages in this extraordinary work, particularly by that most affecting one, which describes the gradual torment suffered by the contemplation of an object of affectionate attachment, visibly and certainly decaying into dissolution, must be of a hard and obstinate frame. To all the other excellencies of "Night Thoughts" let me add the great and peculiar one, that they contain not only the noblest sentiments of virtue, and contemplations on immortality, but the Christian Sacrifice, the Divine Propitiation, with all its interesting circumstances, and consolations to "a wounded spirit" solemnly and poetically displayed in such imagery and language, as cannot fail to exalt, animate, and soothe the truly pious. No book whatever can be recommended to young persons, with better hopes of seasoning their minds with [italics] vital religion [end italics], than Young's "Night Thoughts".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : [Life of Young in 'Lives of the Poets']
''It gives me much pleasure to observe, that however Johnson may have casually talked, yet when he sits, as "an ardent judge zealous to his trust, giving sentence" upon the excellent works of Young, he allows them the high praise to which they are justly entitled. "The 'Universal Passion' (says he) is indeed a very great performance,--his distichs have the weight of solid sentiment, and his points the sharpness of resistless truth." But I was most anxious concerning Johnson's decision upon "Night Thoughts", which I esteem as a mass of the grandest and richest poetry that human genius has ever produced; and was delighted to find this character of that work: "In his 'Night Thoughts', he has exhibited a very wide display of original poetry, variegated with deep reflections and striking allusions; a wilderness of thought, in which the fertility of fancy scatters flowers of every hue and of every odour. This is one of the few poems in which blank verse could not be changed for rhime but with disadvantage". And afterwards, "Particular lines are not to be regarded; the power is in the whole; and in the whole there is a magnificence like that ascribed to Chinese plantation, the magnificence of vast extent and endless diversity". But there is in this Poem not only all that Johnson so well brings in view, but a power of the [italics] Pathetick [end italics] beyond almost any example that I have seen. He who does not feel his nerves shaken, and his heart pierced by many passages in this extraordinary work, particularly by that most affecting one, which describes the gradual torment suffered by the contemplation of an object of affectionate attachment, visibly and certainly decaying into dissolution, must be of a hard and obstinate frame. To all the other excellencies of "Night Thoughts" let me add the great and peculiar one, that they contain not only the noblest sentiments of virtue, and contemplations on immortality, but the Christian Sacrifice, the Divine Propitiation, with all its interesting circumstances, and consolations to "a wounded spirit" solemnly and poetically displayed in such imagery and language, as cannot fail to exalt, animate, and soothe the truly pious. No book whatever can be recommended to young persons, with better hopes of seasoning their minds with [italics] vital religion [end italics], than Young's "Night Thoughts".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Hannah More : Bas Bleu; or Conversation
'Miss Hannah More has admirably described a [italics] Blue-stocking Club [end italics], in her "Bas Bleu", a poem in which many of the persons who were most conspicuous there are mentioned.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
John Shebbeare : Letters on the English Nation
'that gentleman [Dr Shebbeare], whatever objections were made to him, had knowledge and abilities much above the class of ordinary writers, and deserves to be remembered as a respectable name in literature, were it only for his admirable "Letters on the English Nation", under the name of "Battista Angeloni, a Jesuit".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
William Mason : Heroick Epistle to Sir William Chambers
'Johnson and Shebbeare were frequently named together, as having in former reigns had no predilection for the family of Hanover. The authour of the celebrated "Heroick Epistle to Sir William Chambers", introduces them in one line, in a list of those "who tasted the sweets of his present Majesty's reign". Such was Johnson's candid relish of the merit of that satire, that he allowed Dr. Goldsmith, as he told me, to read it to him from beginning to end, and did not refuse his praise to its execution'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
William Whitehead : 'Elegy to Lord Villiers'
'Johnson praised the Earl of Carlisle's Poems, which his Lordship had published with his name, as not disdaining to be a candidate for literary fame. My friend was of opinion, that when a man of rank appeared in that character, he deserved to have his merit handsomely allowed. In this I think he was more liberal than Mr. William Whitehead, in his "Elegy to Lord Villiers", in which under the pretext of "superiour toils, demanding all their care," he discovers a jealousy of the great paying their court to the Muses:-- "------to the chosen few Who dare excel, thy fost'ring aid afford, Their arts, their magick powers, with honours due Exalt;--but be thyself what they record".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
George Crabbe : Village, The
'Soon after this time I had an opportunity of seeing, by means of one of his friends, a proof that his talents, as well as his obliging service to authours, were ready as ever. He had revised "The Village", an admirable poem, by the Reverend Mr. Crabbe. Its sentiments as to the false notions of rustick happiness and rustick virtue were quite congenial with his own; and he had taken the trouble not only to suggest slight corrections and variations, but to furnish some lines, when he thought he could give the writer's meaning better than in the words of the manuscript'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Richard Hurd : Moral and Political Dialogues: being the substance of several conversations between divers eminent persons of the past and present age
'That learned and ingenious Prelate [Dr Hurd] it is well known published at one period of his life "Moral and Political Dialogues", with a woefully whiggish cast. Afterwards, his Lordship having thought better, came to see his errour, and republished the work with a more constitutional spirit.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Giovanni Paolo Marana : Letters written by a Turkish spy, who lived five and forty years undiscovered at Paris: giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople, of the most remarkable transactions of Europe: and discovering several intrigues and secrets ...
'BOSWELL. "Pray, Sir, is the 'Turkish Spy' a genuine book?" JOHNSON. "No, Sir. Mrs. Manley, in her 'Life', says that her father wrote the first two volumes: and in another book, 'Dunton's Life and Errours', we find that the rest was written by one Sault, at two guineas a sheet, under the direction of Dr. Midgeley".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Horace :
'Horace having been mentioned; BOSWELL. "There is a great deal of thinking in his works. One finds there almost every thing but religion". SEWARD. "He speaks of his returning to it, in his Ode 'Parcus Deorum cultor et infrequens'" JOHNSON. "Sir, he was not in earnest: this was merely poetical".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Anacreon :
'I wrote to him, begging to know the state of his health, and mentioned that Baxter's "Anacreon", "which is in the library at Auchinleck, was, I find, collated by my father in 1727, with the MS. belonging to the University of Leyden, and he has made a number of Notes upon it. Would you advise me to publish a new edition of it?".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Hester Lynch Thrale : Letters
'A pleasing instance of the generous attention of one of his [Dr Johnson's] friends has been discovered by the publication of Mrs. Thrale's collection of "Letters". In a letter to one of the Miss Thrales, he writes,-- "A friend, whose name I will tell when your mamma has tried to guess it, sent to my physician to enquire whether this long train of illness had brought me into difficulties for want of money, with an invitation to send to him for what occasion required. I shall write this night to thank him, having no need to borrow".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Thomas a Kempis : Imitation of Christ
'Johnson was very quiescent to-day [17th May 1784] . Perhaps too I was indolent. I find nothing more of him in my notes, but that when I mentioned that I had seen in the King's library sixty-three editions of my favourite "Thomas a Kempis", amongst which it was in eight languages, Latin, German, French, Italian, Spanish, English, Arabick, and Armenian, he said, he thought it unnecessary to collect many editions of a book, which were all the same, except as to the paper and print; he would have the original, and all the translations, and all the editions which had any variations in the text'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Richard Hurd : Sermons
'I brought a volume of Dr. Hurd the Bishop of Worcester's "Sermons", and read to the company some passages from one of them, upon this text, "Resist the Devil, and he will fly from you". James, iv. 7. I was happy to produce so judicious and elegant a supporter of a doctrine, which, I know not why, should, in this world of imperfect knowledge, and, therefore, of wonder and mystery in a thousand instances, be contested by some with an unthinking assurance and flippancy.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Jeremy Taylor : Golden Grove; or a Manuall of daily prayers and litanies
'I mentioned Jeremy Taylor's using, in his forms of prayer, "I am the chief of sinners", and other such self-condemning expressions. "Now, (said I) this cannot be said with truth by every man, and therefore is improper for a general printed form. I myself cannot say that I am the worst of men; I will not say so".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Fulke Greville : Maxims, Characters, and Reflections, Critical, Satyrical, and Moral
'We may apply to him [Johnson] a sentence in Mr. Greville's "Maxims, Characters, and Reflections"; a book which is entitled to much more praise than it has received: "ARISTARCHUS is charming: how full of knowledge, of sense, of sentiment. You get him with difficulty to your supper; and after having delighted every body and himself for a few hours, he is obliged to return home;--he is finishing his treatise, to prove that unhappiness is the portion of man".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: [books of Voyages to the South Seas]
'These Voyages, (pointing to the three large volumes of "Voyages to the South Sea", which were just come out) who will read them through? A man had better work his way before the mast, than read them through; they will be eaten by rats and mice, before they are read through. There can be little entertainment in such books; one set of Savages is like another." BOSWELL. "I do not think the people of Otaheite can be reckoned Savages". JOHNSON. "Don't cant in defence of Savages". BOSWELL. "They have the art of navigation". JOHNSON. "A dog or a cat can swim". BOSWELL. "They carve very ingeniously". JOHNSON. "A cat can scratch, and a child with a nail can scratch".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: [a newspaper]
'When I pointed out to him in the newspaper one of Mr. Grattan's animated and glowing speeches, in favour of the freedom of Ireland, in which this expression occurred (I know not if accurately taken): "We will persevere, till there is not one link of the English chain left to clank upon the rags of the meanest beggar in Ireland"; "Nay, Sir, (said Johnson,) don't you perceive that one link cannot clank?".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Newspaper
Anna Seward : [poem on Lichfield]
'I shewed him some verses on Lichfield by Miss Seward, which I had that day received from her, and had the pleasure to hear him approve of them. He confirmed to me the truth of a high compliment which I had been told he had paid to that lady, when she mentioned to him "The Colombiade", an epick poem, by Madame du Boccage:--"Madam, there is not any thing equal to your description of the sea round the North Pole, in your Ode on the death of Captain Cook".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: Unknown
Robert Burrowes : [Essay on Johnson's style]
'I shall now fulfil my promise of exhibiting specimens of various sorts of imitation of Johnson's style. In the "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, 1787", there is an 'Essay on the Style of Dr. Samuel Johnson,' by the Reverend Robert Burrowes, whose respect for the great object of his criticism is thus evinced in the concluding paragraph:-- "I have singled him out from the whole body of English writers, because his universally-acknowledged beauties would be most apt to induce imitation; and I have treated rather on his faults than his perfections, because an essay might comprize all the observations I could make upon his faults, while volumes would not be sufficient for a treatise on his perfections". Mr. BURROWES has analysed the composition of Johnson, and pointed out its peculiarities with much acuteness; and I would recommend a careful perusal of his Essay to those, who being captivated by the union of perspicuity and splendour which the writings of Johnson contain, without having a sufficient portion of his vigour of mind, may be in danger of becoming bad copyists of his manner.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Henry Mackenzie : [imitation of Johnson]
'A distinguished authour in "The Mirror", a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16,-- "The effects of the return of spring have been frequently remarked as well in relation to the human mind as to the animal and vegetable world. The reviving power of this season has been traced from the fields to the herds that inhabit them, and from the lower classes of beings up to man. Gladness and joy are described as prevailing through universal Nature, animating the low of the cattle, the carol of the birds, and the pipe of the shepherd." The Reverend Dr. KNOX, master of Tunbridge school, appears to have the [italics]imitari aveo [end italics] of Johnson's style perpetually in his mind; and to his assiduous, though not servile, study of it, we may partly ascribe the extensive popularity of his writings. In his "Essays, Moral and Literary", No. 3, we find the following passage:-- "The polish of external grace may indeed be deferred till the approach of manhood. When solidity is obtained by pursuing the modes prescribed by our fore-fathers, then may the file be used. The firm substance will bear attrition, and the lustre then acquired will be durable." There is, however, one in No. 11, which is blown up into such tumidity, as to be truly ludicrous. The writer means to tell us, that Members of Parliament, who have run in debt by extravagance, will sell their votes to avoid an arrest, which he thus expresses:-- "They who build houses and collect costly pictures and furniture with the money of an honest artisan or mechanick, will be very glad of emancipation from the hands of a bailiff, by a sale of their senatorial suffrage". But I think the most perfect imitation of Johnson is a professed one, entitled "A Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Church-Yard", said to be written by Mr. Young, Professor of Greek, at Glasgow, and of which let him have the credit, unless a better title can be shewn. It has not only the peculiarities of Johnson's style, but that very species of literary discussion and illustration for which he was eminent. Having already quoted so much from others, I shall refer the curious to this performance, with an assurance of much entertainment'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Vicesimus Knox : Essays Moral and Literary
'A distinguished authour in "The Mirror", a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16,-- "The effects of the return of spring have been frequently remarked as well in relation to the human mind as to the animal and vegetable world. The reviving power of this season has been traced from the fields to the herds that inhabit them, and from the lower classes of beings up to man. Gladness and joy are described as prevailing through universal Nature, animating the low of the cattle, the carol of the birds, and the pipe of the shepherd." The Reverend Dr. KNOX, master of Tunbridge school, appears to have the [italics]imitari aveo [end italics] of Johnson's style perpetually in his mind; and to his assiduous, though not servile, study of it, we may partly ascribe the extensive popularity of his writings. In his "Essays, Moral and Literary", No. 3, we find the following passage:-- "The polish of external grace may indeed be deferred till the approach of manhood. When solidity is obtained by pursuing the modes prescribed by our fore-fathers, then may the file be used. The firm substance will bear attrition, and the lustre then acquired will be durable." There is, however, one in No. 11, which is blown up into such tumidity, as to be truly ludicrous. The writer means to tell us, that Members of Parliament, who have run in debt by extravagance, will sell their votes to avoid an arrest, which he thus expresses:-- "They who build houses and collect costly pictures and furniture with the money of an honest artisan or mechanick, will be very glad of emancipation from the hands of a bailiff, by a sale of their senatorial suffrage". But I think the most perfect imitation of Johnson is a professed one, entitled "A Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Church-Yard", said to be written by Mr. Young, Professor of Greek, at Glasgow, and of which let him have the credit, unless a better title can be shewn. It has not only the peculiarities of Johnson's style, but that very species of literary discussion and illustration for which he was eminent. Having already quoted so much from others, I shall refer the curious to this performance, with an assurance of much entertainment'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
John Young : Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard
'A distinguished authour in "The Mirror", a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16,-- "The effects of the return of spring have been frequently remarked as well in relation to the human mind as to the animal and vegetable world. The reviving power of this season has been traced from the fields to the herds that inhabit them, and from the lower classes of beings up to man. Gladness and joy are described as prevailing through universal Nature, animating the low of the cattle, the carol of the birds, and the pipe of the shepherd." The Reverend Dr. KNOX, master of Tunbridge school, appears to have the [italics]imitari aveo [end italics] of Johnson's style perpetually in his mind; and to his assiduous, though not servile, study of it, we may partly ascribe the extensive popularity of his writings. In his "Essays, Moral and Literary", No. 3, we find the following passage:-- "The polish of external grace may indeed be deferred till the approach of manhood. When solidity is obtained by pursuing the modes prescribed by our fore-fathers, then may the file be used. The firm substance will bear attrition, and the lustre then acquired will be durable." There is, however, one in No. 11, which is blown up into such tumidity, as to be truly ludicrous. The writer means to tell us, that Members of Parliament, who have run in debt by extravagance, will sell their votes to avoid an arrest, which he thus expresses:-- "They who build houses and collect costly pictures and furniture with the money of an honest artisan or mechanick, will be very glad of emancipation from the hands of a bailiff, by a sale of their senatorial suffrage". But I think the most perfect imitation of Johnson is a professed one, entitled "A Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Church-Yard", said to be written by Mr. Young, Professor of Greek, at Glasgow, and of which let him have the credit, unless a better title can be shewn. It has not only the peculiarities of Johnson's style, but that very species of literary discussion and illustration for which he was eminent. Having already quoted so much from others, I shall refer the curious to this performance, with an assurance of much entertainment'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Unknown
Samuel Johnson : [MS Autobiography]
'Two very valuable articles, I am sure, we have lost [when Johnson, dying, burnt many of his papers] , which were two quarto volumes, containing a full, fair, and most particular account of his own life, from his earliest recollection. I owned to him, that having accidentally seen them, I had read a great deal in them; and apologizing for the liberty I had taken, asked him if I could help it. He placidly answered, "Why, Sir, I do not think you could have helped it". I said that I had, for once in my life, felt half an inclination to commit theft. It had come into my mind to carry off those two volumes, and never see him more. Upon my inquiring how this would have affected him, "Sir, (said he,) I believe I should have gone mad".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Manuscript: quarto volumes
: [pamphlet on benefits of children]
'there came out a Pamphlet setting forth the Felicity & Benefit of a numerous Offspring; some Arch Body of his acquaintance sent it to Dr Stonehouse in a Joke; he read it, and profess'd himself so changed in his Opinion, & so convinced by the Arguments of the Writer that he was now perfectly delighted to see his Wife with Child every Year after he had so complained of his nine Young ones. - The Characteristick of this Man's Mind seems to be ductility'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Stonhouse
: Bible
'In a Conversation the King of Prussia had once with Marshal Keith the latter quoted Scripture: why Keith have you been reading the Bible lately; Yes, Sir, replies the Marshal, & whatever our Majesty may think of the book in general, one must allow that Joshua understood a Line of Battle special well'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Francis Edward Keith Print: Book
Edmund Spenser : Faerie Queene, The
'[James Mathias was on summer vacation and] when he came back my Father asked him what Books he had read - I read says he a strange Account of a Beast which however is dead, & I believe there are no more of them in England, it was a horrible one though with a long Tail, & was of the Serpent kind I think; he eat people up and [italics] churned [end italics] them into [italics] Gobbets [end italics] the Book says, - what the Devil Beast could this be says my Father? what was its name Jemmy? The [italics] Blatant Beast [end italics]. as I remember replied Mathias - he had been reading Spenser's Fairy Queen'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Mathias Print: Book
James Martineau : 'Is there any Axiom of Causation?'
James Martineau to Hallam Tennyson (1893), recalling meetings of the Metaphysical Society: 'I remember a special interest shown by your father in a paper contributed by the Rev. F. D. Maurice on the meaning of the words "Nature," "Natural," "Supernatural," November 21st, 1871 [...] 'The other subjects on which papers were read in your father's presence were the following: 'July 14, 1869. The commonsense philosophy of causation: Dr W. B. Carpenter. 'June 15, 1870. Is there any Axiom of Causation? Myself. (Mr Tennyson in the chair.) 'July 13. The relativity of Knowledge: Mr Fred. Harrison. 'Dec. 13. The emotion of Conviction: Mr Walter Bagehot. 'July 11, 1871. What is Death? Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. 'July 9, 1872. The supposed necessity for seeking a solution of ultimate Metaphysical Problems: Mr F. Harrison. Nov. 12. The five idols of the Theatre: Mr Shadworth H. Hodgson. Dec. 16, 1873. Utilitarianism: Professor Henry Sidgwick. Feb. 12, 1878. Double truth: Rev. M. Pattison, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford.'
UnknownCentury: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Martineau
[n/a] : Bible (New Testament)
Journal of Miss Fraser, Newgate prison visitor, dated 29 Nov 1834: 'I spent an interesting time in Newgate, Mrs Fry and I went there together for several hours. She went with me to the cells and read to the men just sentenced to death. Amongst them, there were two brothers, convicted, I believe, for housebreaking. The youngest was drawn into the commission of the crime by the elder brother. James, the youngest, could not read; he was married to a very pleasing looking young woman, and had two children. I recollect Mrs Fry told the poor men who could not read that if they would try to learn while they were in Newgate, she would give those who succeeded, each a Bible. James took very great pains, and before he left the prison to be transported he could read tolerably. On the 7th of January following, Mrs Fry again went with me to the cells. James then read the 7th chapter of St Matthew's gospel, and received his Bible. He became a valuable servant to the gentleman to whom he was assigned in New South Wales'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Print: Book
: Shorter Catechism
'The schoolhouse, however, being almost at our door, I had attended it for a short time, and had the honour of standing at the head of a juvenile class, who read the Shorter Catechism and the Proverbs of Solomon'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Bible
'Next year my parents took me home during the winter quarter, and put me to school with a lad named Ker, who was teaching the children of a neighbouring farmer. Here I advanced so far as to get into the class who read in the Bible'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Bible [Psalms]
'All this while [between the ages of 7 and 15] I neither read nor wrote; nor had I access to any book save the Bible. I was greatly taken with our version of the Psalms of David, learned the most of them by heart, and have a great partiality for them unto this day'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Allan Ramsay : Gentle Shepherd: A Pastoral Comedy
'It was while serving here [Willenslee at the farm of Mr Laidlaw] , in the eighteenth year of my age, that I first got a perusal of "The Life and Adventures of Sir William Wallace", and "The Gentle Shepherd"; and though immoderately fond of them, yet (which you will think remarkable in one who hath since dabbled so much in verse) I could not help regretting deeply that they were not in prose, that every body might have understood them; or, I thought if they had been in the same kind of metre with the Psalms, I could have borne with them. The truth is, I made exceedingly slow progress in reading them. The little reading that I had learned I had nearly lost, and the Scottish dialect quite confounded me; so that, before I got to the end of a line, I had commonly lost the rhyme of the preceding one; and if I came to a triplet, a thing of which I had no conception, I commonly read to the foot of the page without perceiving that I had lost the rhyme altogether. I thought the author had been straitened for rhymes, and had just made a part of it do as well as he could without them. Thus, after I got through both works, I found myself much in the same predicament with the man of Eskdalemuir, who had borrowed Bailey's Dictionary from his neighbour. On returning it, the lender asked him what he thought of it. "I dinna ken man", replied he: "I have read it all through, but canna say that I understand it; it is the most confused book that ever I saw in my life!".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Henry the Minstrel : Life and Adventures of Sir William Wallace
'It was while serving here [Willenslee at the farm of Mr Laidlaw] , in the eighteenth year of my age, that I first got a perusal of "The Life and Adventures of Sir William Wallace", and "The Gentle Shepherd"; and though immoderately fond of them, yet (which you will think remarkable in one who hath since dabbled so much in verse) I could not help regretting deeply that they were not in prose, that every body might have understood them; or, I thought if they had been in the same kind of metre with the Psalms, I could have borne with them. The truth is, I made exceedingly slow progress in reading them. The little reading that I had learned I had nearly lost, and the Scottish dialect quite confounded me; so that, before I got to the end of a line, I had commonly lost the rhyme of the preceding one; and if I came to a triplet, a thing of which I had no conception, I commonly read to the foot of the page without perceiving that I had lost the rhyme altogether. I thought the author had been straitened for rhymes, and had just made a part of it do as well as he could without them. Thus, after I got through both works, I found myself much in the same predicament with the man of Eskdalemuir, who had borrowed Bailey's Dictionary from his neighbour. On returning it, the lender asked him what he thought of it. "I dinna ken man", replied he: "I have read it all through, but canna say that I understand it; it is the most confused book that ever I saw in my life!".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Bible [Proverbs]
'The schoolhouse, however, being almost at our door, I had attended it for a short time, and had the honour of standing at the head of a juvenile class, who read the Shorter Catechism and the Proverbs of Solomon'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: [newspapers]
'The late Mrs Laidlaw of Willenslee took some notice of me, and frequently gave me books to read while tending the ewes; these were chiefly theological. The only one, that I remember any thing of, is "Bishop Burnet's Theory of the Conflagration of the Earth". Happy it was for me that I did not understand it! for the little of it that I did understand had nearly overturned my brain altogether. All the day I was pondering on the grand millennium, and the reign of the saints; and all the night dreaming of new heavens and a new earth - the stars in horror, and the world in flames! Mrs Laidlaw also gave me sometimes the newspapers, which I pored on with great earnestness - beginning at the date, and reading straight on, through advertisements of houses and lands, balm of Gilead, and every thing; and, after all, was often no wiser than when I began'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Newspaper
: [theological books]
'The late Mrs Laidlaw of Willenslee took some notice of me, and frequently gave me books to read while tending the ewes; these were chiefly theological. The only one, that I remember any thing of, is "Bishop Burnet's Theory of the Conflagration of the Earth". Happy it was for me that I did not understand it! for the little of it that I did understand had nearly overturned my brain altogether. All the day I was pondering on the grand millennium, and the reign of the saints; and all the night dreaming of new heavens and a new earth - the stars in horror, and the world in flames! Mrs Laidlaw also gave me sometimes the newspapers, which I pored on with great earnestness - beginning at the date, and reading straight on, through advertisements of houses and lands, balm of Gilead, and every thing; and, after all, was often no wiser than when I began'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Thomas Burnet : Sacred Theory of the Earth
'The late Mrs Laidlaw of Willenslee took some notice of me, and frequently gave me books to read while tending the ewes; these were chiefly theological. The only one, that I remember any thing of, is "Bishop Burnet's Theory of the Conflagration of the Earth". Happy it was for me that I did not understand it! for the little of it that I did understand had nearly overturned my brain altogether. All the day I was pondering on the grand millennium, and the reign of the saints; and all the night dreaming of new heavens and a new earth - the stars in horror, and the world in flames! Mrs Laidlaw also gave me sometimes the newspapers, which I pored on with great earnestness - beginning at the date, and reading straight on, through advertisements of houses and lands, balm of Gilead, and every thing; and, after all, was often no wiser than when I began'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: unknown
'Mr Laidlaw having a number of valuable books, which were all open to my perusal, I about this time began to read with considerable attention; - and no sooner did I begin to read so as to understand, than, rather prematurely, I began to write.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Hogg : 'Urania's Tour'
'[regarding a poetry contest with his brother William, himself and another, Hogg says of William's poem] it was far superior to either of the other two in the sublimity of the ideas; but, besides being in bad measure, it was often bombastical. The title of it was "Urania's Tour"'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
James Hogg : [a pamphlet of poems]
'[on receiving the first printed copies of his poems] no sooner did the first copy come to hand, than my eyes were open to the folly of my conduct; for, on comparing it with the MS. which I had at home, I found many of the stanzas omitted, others misplaced, and typographical errors abounding in every place'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg
James Hogg : 'The Queen's Wake'
'I was very anxious to read it ['The Queen's Wake'] to some person of taste; but no one would either read it, or listen to my reading it, save Grieve, who assured me it would do. As I lived at Deanhaugh then, I invited Mr and Mrs Gray to drink tea, and to read a part of it with me before offering it for publication, Unluckily, however, before I had read half a page, Mrs Gray objected to a word, which Grieve approved of and defended, and some high disputes arose; other authors were appealed to, and notwithstanding my giving several very broad hints, I could not procure a hearing for another line of my new poem. Indeed, I was sorely disappointed, and told my friends so on going away; on which another day was appointed, and I took my manuscript to Buccleugh Place. Mr Gray had not got through the third page when he was told that an itinerant bard had entered the lobby, and was repeating his poetry to the boarders. Mr Gray went out and joined them, leaving me alone with a young lady, to read, or not, as we liked'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
John Wilson : Isle of Palms, and Other Poems
'On the appearance of Mr Wilson's "Isle of Palms", I was so greatly taken with many of his fanciful and visionary scenes, descriptive of bliss and woe, that it had a tendency to divest me occasionally of all worldly feelings. I reviewed this poem, as well as many others, in a Scottish Review then going on in Edinburgh'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
:
'[on a visit to his publisher, Constable] I read the backs of some books on his shelves, then spoke of my poem; but he would not deign to lift his eyes, or regard me'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Walter Scott : Old Mortality
'I suffered unjustly in the eyes of the world with regard to that tale ['The Brownie of Bodsbeck'], which was looked on as an imitation of the tale of "Old Mortality", and a counterpart to that; whereas it was written long ere the tale of "Old Mortality" was heard of, and I well remember my chagrin on finding the ground, which I thought clear, pre-occupied before I could appear publicly on it, and that by such a redoubted champion.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Wordsworth : [poems]
'I admired many of his [Wordsworth's] pieces exceedingly, though I had not then seen his ponderous "Excursion"'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
William Wordsworth : [poems]
'There is nothing in nature that you may not get a quotation out of Wordsworth to suit, and a quotation too that breathes the very soul of poetry. There are only three books in the world that are worth the opening in search of mottos and quotations, and all of them are alike rich. These are, the Old Testament, Shakspeare, and the poetical works of Wordsworth, and, strange to say, the "Excursion" abounds most in them'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Wordsworth : Excursion, The
'There is nothing in nature that you may not get a quotation out of Wordsworth to suit, and a quotation too that breathes the very soul of poetry. There are only three books in the world that are worth the opening in search of mottos and quotations, and all of them are alike rich. These are, the Old Testament, Shakspeare, and the poetical works of Wordsworth, and, strange to say, the "Excursion" abounds most in them'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
William Shakespeare :
'There is nothing in nature that you may not get a quotation out of Wordsworth to suit, and a quotation too that breathes the very soul of poetry. There are only three books in the world that are worth the opening in search of mottos and quotations, and all of them are alike rich. These are, the Old Testament, Shakspeare, and the poetical works of Wordsworth, and, strange to say, the "Excursion" abounds most in them'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
: Old Testament
'There is nothing in nature that you may not get a quotation out of Wordsworth to suit, and a quotation too that breathes the very soul of poetry. There are only three books in the world that are worth the opening in search of mottos and quotations, and all of them are alike rich. These are, the Old Testament, Shakspeare, and the poetical works of Wordsworth, and, strange to say, the "Excursion" abounds most in them'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
Allan Cunningham :
'Young as he [Allan Cunnigham] was, I had heard of his name, although slightly, and, I think, seen one or two of his juvenile pieces. Of an elder brother of his, Thomas Mouncey, I had, previous to that, conceived a very high idea, and I always marvel how he could possibly put his poetical vein under lock and key, as he did all at once; for he certainly then bade fair to be the first of Scottish bards'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
Thomas Mouncey :
'Young as he [Allan Cunningham] was, I had heard of his name, although slightly, and, I think, seen one or two of his juvenile pieces. Of an elder brother of his, Thomas Mouncey, I had, previous to that, conceived a very high idea, and I always marvel how he could possibly put his poetical vein under lock and key, as he did all at once; for he certainly then bade fair to be the first of Scottish bards'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Unknown
Allan Cunningham : [imitations of Ossian]
'I was astonished at the luxuriousness of his [Allan Cunningham's] fancy. it was boundless; but it was the luxury of a rich garden overrun with rampant weeds. he was likewise then a great mannerist in expression, and no man could mistake his verses for those of any other man. I remember seeing some imitations of Ossian by him, which I thought exceedingly good; and it struck me that that style of composition was peculiarly fitted for his vast and fervent imagination. When Cromek's "Nithsdale and Galloway Relics" came to my hand, I at once discerned the strains of my friend, and I cannot describe with what sensations of delight I first heard Mr Morrison read the "Mermaid of Galloway", while at every verse I kept naming the author'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Manuscript: Unknown
R.H. Cromek : Remains Of Nithsdale And Galloway Song
'I was astonished at the luxuriousness of his [Allan Cunningham's] fancy. it was boundless; but it was the luxury of a rich garden overrun with rampant weeds. he was likewise then a great mannerist in expression, and no man could mistake his verses for those of any other man. I remember seeing some imitations of Ossian by him, which I thought exceedingly good; and it struck me that that style of composition was peculiarly fitted for his vast and fervent imagination. When Cromek's "Nithsdale and Galloway Relics" came to my hand, I at once discerned the strains of my friend, and I cannot describe with what sensations of delight I first heard Mr Morrison read the "Mermaid of Galloway", while at every verse I kept naming the author'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hogg Print: Book
John Gay : [unknown]
'I told him that from reading Gay's writings, I had taken an affection to his Grace's family from my earliest years.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
David Hume : History of England
'I have now one great satisfaction, which is reading Hume's "History". It entertains and instructs me. It elevates my mind and excites noble feelings of every kind.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
David Hume : History of England
'David Hume and John Dryden are at present my companions'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
John Dryden : [unknown]
'David Hume and John Dryden are at present my companions'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[n/a] : The North Briton
'Some time ago I left off the pamphlet shop in the passage to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, and took "The North Briton" from the publisher of it, Mr Kearsley in Ludgate Street, hard by Child's. I have it now sent to me regularly by the Penny Post, and I read it with vast relish. There is a poignant acrimony in it that is very relishing. Noble also sends me from time to time a fresh supply of novels from his circulating library, so that I am very well provided with entertainment'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
[unknown] : [novels]
'Some time ago I left off the pamphlet shop in the passage to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, and took "The North Briton" from the publisher of it, Mr Kearsley in Ludgate Street, hard by Child's. I have it now sent to me regularly by the Penny Post, and I read it with vast relish. There is a poignant acrimony in it that is very relishing. Noble also sends me from time to time a fresh supply of novels from his circulating library, so that I am very well provided with entertainment'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[n/a] : Bible
'This forenoon I read the history of Joseph and his brethren, which melted my heart and drew tears from my eyes. It is simply and beautifully told in the Sacred Writings. It is a strange thing that the Bible is so little read. I am reading it regularly at present.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
David Hume : History of England
'I employed the day in reading Hume's "History", which enlarged my views, filled me with great ideas, and rendered me happy'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
[n/a] : The North Briton
'I then got "The North Briton" and read it at Child's. I shall do so now every Saturday evening'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
[n/a] : [Church service]
'At night at home, I read the Church service by myself with great devotion'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
Joseph Addison : The Spectator
'I returned to my friend's chambers and we read some of Mr Addison's papers in "The Spectator" with infinite relish'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
[unknown] : Lives of the convicts
'In my younger years I had read in the "Lives of the Convicts" so much about Tyburn that I had a sort of horrid eagerness to be there'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
: report of death of Lady Follett
Sir James Graham to John Wilson Croker, 18 September 1847: 'I have read in the newspapers with great regret, but without surprise, the report of the death of Lady Follett.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sir James Graham Print: Newspaper
[n/a] : The Times
witness statement in trial for theft: James Dignum: 'I had heard something about the state of Lord Fitzgerald's health at that time—I had read in the "Times" newspaper of his lordship's state of health—I cannot say whether it was the day I read that account that Howse first called on me—I think he called on me before his lordship's death.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Dignum Print: Newspaper
[n/a] : The Times
Witness statement in trial for deception: William James Bedel: 'On Monday, 6th Nov. last, I saw this advertisement in the Times newspaper:—"A pair of brown geldings...'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: William James Bedel Print: Advertisement, Newspaper
: [example of Vers de Societe]
'The subject of the evening Vers de Societe was introduced by H.M. Wallis & illustrative readings from various authors were given by H.M. Wallis, C.E. Stansfield, C.J [?]. Evans, H.R. Smith, J.J. Cooper, A. Rawlings & others'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: John James Cooper Print: Book
John James Cooper : [Essay on life and work of Goldwin Smith]
'J.J. Cooper introduced the subject of the life and Work of Goldwin Smith in an interesting essay. F.J. Edminson dealt with his historical work & his position as an historian & A. Rawlings read some extracts from his Life of Wm Lloyd Garrison'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: John James Cooper Manuscript: Unknown
Goldwin Smith :
'J.J. Cooper introduced the subject of the life and Work of Goldwin Smith in an interesting essay. F.J. Edminson dealt with his historical work & his position as an historian & A. Rawlings read some extracts from his Life of Wm Lloyd Garrison'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: John James Cooper Print: Book
John James Cooper : [Paper on Robert Bridges]
'J.J. Cooper read a paper on Robert Bridges & some selections from his poetry. C.I. Evans dealt with Newbolt & E.E. Unwin with Masefield in a similar way. Alfred Rawlings gave brief readings from Beeching, Alice Maynell [sic] & Frogley's Voice from the Trees'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: John James Cooper Manuscript: Unknown
Robert Bridges :
'J.J. Cooper read a paper on Robert Bridges & some selections from his poetry. C.I. Evans dealt with Newbolt & E.E. Unwin with Masefield in a similar way. Alfred Rawlings gave brief readings from Beeching, Alice Maynell [sic] & Frogley's Voice from the Trees'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: John James Cooper Print: Book
George Gordon Lord Byron : Monody [on Sheridan]
John Murray to Byron, 12 September 1816: 'Respecting the "Monody," I extract from a letter which I received this morning from Sir James Mackintosh: "I presume I have to thank you for a copy of the "Monody" on Sheridan received this morning. I wish it had been accompanied by the additional favour of mentioning the name of the writer, at which I only guess: it is difficult to read the poem without desiring to know." 'Generally speaking it is not, I think, popular, and spoken of rather for fine passages than as a whole [...] Gifford does not like it; Frere does.'
UnknownCentury: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sir James Mackintosh
Ann Radcliffe : novels
'We must not judge [Ann Radcliffe's novels], now that the taste in which they were written is exhausted and palled, by our modern feelings. The best test of their worth is contemporary opinion, and tales which delighted Burke, Fox, and Sheridan, must, when compared with the novels then published, have possessed a singular amount of merit.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles James Fox Print: Book
Amelia Opie : verses opening 'Go, youth beloved...'
'In [1802] [...] [Amelia Opie] published a volume of poems. It included those charming and well-known lines, which, as giving the key to her nature -- tenderness -- we shall quote here [reproduces two stanzas opening "Go, youth beloved, in distant glades"] [...] It was of this very sweet song that Sir James Mackintosh playfully wrote to Mr. Sharpe, saying: "Tell the fair Opie that if she would address such pretty verses to me as she did to Ashburner, I think she might almost bring me back from Bombay, though she could not prevent his going thither."'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Mackintosh Print: Book
Branwell Bronte :
[Branwell Bronte to Francis H. Grundy, 9 June 1842:] 'Mr James Montgomery and another literary gentleman who have lately seen something of my "head work" wish me to turn my attention to literature, and along with that advice, they give me plenty of puff and praise. All very well, but I have little conceit for myself, and great desire for activity.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Montgomery Manuscript: Unknown
Charlotte Bronte : Jane Eyre
[Charlotte Bronte (as 'Currer Bell') to her publisher, W. S. Williams, 11 December 1847:] 'There are moments when I can hardly credit that anything I have done should be found worthy to give even transitory pleasure to such men as Mr Thackeray, Sir John Herschel, Mr Fonblanque, Leigh Hunt, and Mr Lewes -- that my humble efforts should have had such a result is a noble reward.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: James Henry Leigh Hunt Print: Book
:
'Once or twice I left the safety of the trench and went out alone, down the hill towards Sailly-le-Sec ... I told myself that I might obtain some useful information ... But I saw no-one and it was frightening ... I stopped going out on these adventures. I talked to my signallers instead, I read my book. I reckoned I could read a book a day at the O.P. [observation post], the kind of book I took with me, I did not feel able to read any other sort.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Patrick James Campbell Print: Book
:
'Three o'clock. I was trying to read my book, but I did not take in what I was reading. Instead of words on the page, I saw Germans, Germans coming over the crest, lines of Germans advancing down the hill, single Germans crouching behind their derelict huts.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Patrick James Campbell Print: Book
:
'"Read that," [Major Cecil] said, when he came to where I was standing. It was an envelope, an ordinary envelope, addressed in Cherry's handwriting to the O.C. A Battery. It was only orders for the day, but when I opened the envelope I saw there was only a single sheet inside, instead of the usual sheaf of papers. I opened it and read: "Hostilities will cease from 11.00 hours today, November 11th." "What does it mean?" I asked him. "The War's over," he said.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Patrick James Campbell Print: Orders for the day.
:
[Campbell is describing entering a German dugout captured after a successful offensive] 'Their home was very like one of ours, maps and pictures stuck on the walls, shelves cut out of the earth, a sheaf of orders on the hook, newspapers on the table, a half-written letter, a pair of spectacles. I looked at their books, but I could not tell whether they were like ours, whether they were novels or not.'
