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the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Listings for Reader:  

Matthew Pilkington

 

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Laetitia Van Lewen : Petition of the Birds, The

'[Pilkington reproduces her poem 'The Petition of the Birds', written for her fiance] This little poetical Essay met with more Applause than it really merited, on Account of my Youth, and was extremely acceptable to Mr [italics] Pilkington [end italics], who with the Raptures of an enamour'd Bridegroom, read it to every Person whom he thought possesst of Taste or Genius'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Alexander Pope : [letter to Swift]

[reported speech of Jonathan Swift] 'In the first Place, Mr [italics] Pilkington [end italics], she had the Insolence this Morning, not only to desire to read the Writings of the most celebrated Genius's of the Age, in which I indulged her; but she must also, forsooth, pretend to praise or censure them as if she knew something of the matter; indeed her Remarks were not much amiss, considering they were guess Work; but this Letter here of Mr [italics] Pope[end italics]'s she has absolutely condemned. Read it' (he did so)'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Letter

  

Horace : Odes

'He [Matthew Pilkington] was one Winter's Evening reading [italics] Horace [end italics], and said he would engage to write an Ode exactly in his Manner; so he directly set about it'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Print: Book

  

Laetitia Pilkington : Ode, An

[Having written an ode in the manner of Horace, she showed it to her husband who had also written one and] 'who, contrary to my Expectation (for I imagin'd he would be pleas'd), was very angry, and told me the Dean had made me mad, that the Lines were nonsense, and that a Needle became a Woman's Hand better than a Pen and Ink. So to bring him into Temper I prais'd his Ode highly, and threw my own into the Fire'. [the ode is reprinted on pp49-50]

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Unknown

  

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: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Laetititia Pilkington : [poems claimed by James Worsdale as his own]

'as he [Mr Worsdale] was not willing that either of us shou'd believe him incapable of Writing, he used to shew Mr [italics] Pilkington[end italics]'s Work to me, and swear it was his own, and in return, he, with the same modest Assurance, presented mine to him, but we were too well acquainted with each other's Stile to be deceiv'd'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Charles Wogan : [various works sent to Jonathan Swift]

'the Dean received from [italics] Spain [end italics], from one Mr [italics] Wogan [end italics], a green Velvet Bag, in which was contained the Adventures of [italics] Eugenius [end italics]; as also an Account of the Courtship and Marriage of the Chevalier, to the Princess [italics] Sobiesky [end italics], wherein he represents himself to have been a principal Negotiator. It was wrote in the Novel Stile, but a little heavily. There was also some of the Psalms of [italics] David [end italics], paraphras'd in [italics] Miltonick [end italics] Verse, and a Letter to the Dean, with Remarks on the [italics] Beggar's Opera [end italics]; in which he says he believes the People of [italics] England [end italics] and [italics] Ireland [end italics] had quite lost all Remains of Elegance and Taste, since their top Entertainments were composed of Scenes of Highwaymen, and Prostitues, who all remain unpunish'd and triumphant in their Crimes: He concluded with paying the Dean the Compliment of intreating him to correct the Work. The Dean said, he did not care to be troubled with it, and bid Mr [italics] Pilkington [end italics] take it to [italics] London [end italics], and look over it at his Leisure, which accordingly he did.' [LP then relates how Swift changed his mind and there was a violent row]

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Unknown

 

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