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King
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Alexander William Kinglake : Eothen
'Pray tell him [Mr Kinglake] that I have been an admirer of his for - Heaven knows how long! - since the days when I was shocked and delighted by "Eothen." I remember being very much amused by the opening out of two old neighbours of mine at Ealing, after a discussion of his first volume. In the enthusiasm created by it one of them, an old Peninsular officer, instructed me carefully how to make a pontoon bridge and get my (!) troops over it; while the other, Admiral Collinson, burst forth into naval experiences.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Oliphant Print: Book
Charles Beckingham : The Life of Mr Richard Savage
Supper alone. Read life of Mr Savage.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile Print: Book
anon [working people] : ["half-penny Ballads"]
William Wordsworth discusses reading habits of the local labouring classes in letter to Francis Wrangham, 5 June 1808: '... I find, among the people I am speaking of, half-penny Ballads, and penny and two-penny histories, in great abundance; these are often bought as charitable tributes to the poor Persons who hawk them about (and it is the best way of procuring them); they are frequently stitched together in tolerably thick volumes, and such I have read; some of the contents, though not often religious, very good; others objectionable, either for the superstition in them (such as prophecies, fortune-telling, etc.) or more frequently for indelicacy.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: William Wordsworth Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Westward Ho!
Either at school or at home I read all the classics considered necessary for children: 'Treasure Island', 'Kidnapped', 'Little Women', 'David Copperfield', 'Ivanhoe', 'Robinson Crusoe'. I suppose I enjoyed them; I certainly did not resent or avoid them. Very occasionally some incident would seem to connect with my own life: the doings of the Spanish Inquisition in 'Westward Ho!' for example, fitted in exactly with what I had heard about Roman Catholics. But on the whole the themes appeared completely abstract and impersonal, even when the author intended a message to strike home. 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' did not cause me a moment's concern for the plight of Negro slaves in America, and neither did 'The Water Babies' for the sufferings of the child chimney-sweeps, not because these situations had been done away with, but because no book stirred me in that way...
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Patricia Beer Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : The Water Babies
Either at school or at home I read all the classics considered necessary for children: 'Treasure Island', 'Kidnapped', 'Little Women', 'David Copperfield', 'Ivanhoe', 'Robinson Crusoe'. I suppose I enjoyed them; I certainly did not resent or avoid them. Very occasionally some incident would seem to connect with my own life: the doings of the Spanish Inquisition in 'Westward Ho!' for example, fitted in exactly with what I had heard about Roman Catholics. But on the whole the themes appeared completely abstract and impersonal, even when the author intended a message to strike home. 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' did not cause me a moment's concern for the plight of Negro slaves in America, and neither did 'The Water Babies' for the sufferings of the child chimney-sweeps, not because these situations had been done away with, but because no book stirred me in that way...
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Patricia Beer 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
A.W. Kinglake : Invasion of the Crimea
'I am delighted with Kinglake: has he steered quite clear of action for libel, or is it not within the bounds of possibility that you may be defendants in an imperial place? Such a concentration of suave hatred, malice, and uncharitableness surely never was. The narrative is perfectly delightful.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Oliphant Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Hypatia
'[In The Saturday Review, 19 November 1904], "A Mother" records the books consumed since July by her sixteen-year-old daughter ... [who is] on the point of going in for the "Senior Cambridge" ... : "Old Mortality", "The Farringdons", "By Mutual Consent" (L. T. Meade), "To Call Her Mine", "Kathrine Regina", and "Self or Bearer" (Besant); "Christmas Carol", "The Cricket on the Hearth", "Hypatia", "Concerning Isabel Carnaby", "The Virginians", "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", "The Head of the House" (E. Everett-Green), "A Double Thread", "The Heir-Presumptive and the Heir-Apparent", "Sesame and Lilies", "A Tale of Two Cities".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Westward Ho!
'Lucy Lyttelton ... continued reading as avidly as ever after her marriage to Lord Frederick Cavendish, although she seems to have been happy that he should choose the books for their honeymoon: "Westward Ho!", Carlyle's "French Revolution", and Butler's "Analogy" ... A month after they left for their travels, they were still on "Westward Ho!".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Lord and Lady Cavendish Print: Book
W.H.G. Kingston : Dick Onslow Among the Red Indians
'For a boy in a Lancashire mining village around 1880, where there were few books to read (other than twenty volumes of Methodist Conference minutes) W.H.G. Kingston's "Dick Onslow Among the Red Indians" could be hypnotic: "I was entranced. I no longer lived in Hindley. In imagination I turned native and lived among red men and hunters, tomahawks and scalps".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: William Lax Print: Book
A. W. Kinglake : Eothen
Henry James to Thomas Sergeant Perry, 27 March 1860: "Have you ever read 'Eothen' a book of Eastern travels. I have just been reading it."
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : The Greek Heroes
'Read Kingsley's Greek Heroes'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: George Eliot [pseud.] Print: Book
Miss Pilkington : Rosina
'In the afternoon, Mrs M & I walked to the quay hotel etc. where we met Mrs Hening of Chichester who was staying in lodgings at Littlehampton. We however found it so cold & blustery, that we were soon glad to return to our inn, where Mrs M amused herself with the novel of "Rosina".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: 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
Walkingham : arithmetic textbook
David Vincent notes how the nineteenth-century handloom weaver Wiliam Farish '"with Walkingham's arithmetic, and a slate and pencil at my side ... used to con over the problems as I worked the treadles"'.
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: William Farish Print: Book
Silas Hocking : unknown
'... he devotes a whole serious and excellent essay to an exploration of the fame of Silas Hocking, who wrote novels calculated to please "the taste of the Methodist million, who was unheard of in Knightsbridge but wildly popular in the dissenting provinces". Apart from any other interest, this essay throws light on Bennett's own reading background; he discusses the debate between Puritanism and the arts, describes the deep suspicion with which all fiction was regarded in Hocking circles and says: "How often have I heard the impatient words: 'This is too exciting for me; if I went on I shouldn't be able to leave it'." It must have been up in Burslem, where reading had recently been regarded as a wicked sin, that he heard such remarks.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
King : Hymns
'During our readings at our lodgings, Dr Clarke's Lake of Riberias formed an interesting portion. King's Hymns too were our companion.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: John Cole Print: Book
James Lackington : Memoirs of the First Forty Five Years of the Life
'I went to Mr Gales to order two book which I saw at Birmingham [...] I brought the "Life of Lackington" from the Library who begun trade with #5 & now sells 100,000 volumes annually.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Hunter Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Westward Ho!
'Louis and I have begun reading "Westward Ho!" together [...] He reads to me every day out of "Westward Ho!" which I think very beautiful and interesting'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Alice Maud Mary or "Princess Alice" Print: Book
Kingslake : [unknown]
J. H. Ewing's diary entry: 'Boy read me Kingslake's account of the conflict [...] of the 2nd of Dec. Horribly interesting.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Alexander (Rex) Ewing Print: Book
Dr Henry King : A sermon preached the 30th of January...1664
'I sat down and read over the Bishop of Chichesters sermon upon the anniversary of the King's death - much cried up but methinks a mean sermon.'
Century: 1600-1699 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Pepys Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : The Heroes
'Friday 10th September Today my friend Pat bought Kingsley?s ?Heroes? for Monica. I am reading it myself and then it goes away, to be out on her shelf, which I am planning with some thought, and, I hope, taste for childish requirements. It would make a nice subject for an essay. Teddie and I already have following for our childrens? bookshelf ? Kinsgley?s ?Heroes?, ?Alice in Wonderland? and ?Through the Looking Glass?. A complete ?Hans Andersen? also a selection, beautifully illustrated by Dulac Lamb?s ?Tales from Shakespeare? and Hope-Moncrieff?s ?Classic Myth and Legend?. It is a fairly good beginning.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Gerald Moore Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Westward Ho!
'Monday 11th October ?Westward Ho!? (Charles Kingsley)'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Gerald Moore Print: Book
Frances Kingsley : Charles Kingsley, his Letters and Memories of his Life
'I remember years ago reading the life of Charles Kingsley who has been called "a very perfect gentleman". Yet in that book, collated by his wife, one can read how, just as the family was sitting down to a well provided breakfast table, a poor vagrant woman called at Evesleigh Rectory for help. She had been out all night and, as Kingsley himself admits, was utterly wretched. Tired, hungry and in rags she appealed to this "very perfect Christian knight" for a little food! Did she get it? No! the "very perfect knight" sent her empty away to walk some miles to the nearest workhouse!'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Stuart Wood Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : [unknown]
'As I began to mend, the Governor, to keep me from brooding too much, gave orders that I was to have all the reading matter I wanted within the limits of the prison library, and my book changed just as often as I liked and at any hour of the day. To a man eager to improve his acquaintance with standard literature such a privilege was immeasurably great, and for the next six weeks or so I browsed among the Victorian novelists - Austin [sic?], the Brontes, Dickens, Thackeray, George Eliot, Meredith, Lytton, Kingsley, Reade, Hughes, Trollope and others.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Stuart Wood [pseud?] Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Hypatia
From Elizabeth Missing Sewell's Journal, 19 February 1856: 'I came here [Bournemouth] for a fortnight and have stayed a month. I have written a little, and read a good deal, -- the second volume of [italics]Sir Charles Metcalfe's Life[end italics], which makes me look upon him as more of a hero than many whom Carlyle would worship; and [italics]Hypatia[end italics] and two sermons of Dr. Pusey's against Germanism, and part of [italics]Hero Worship[end italics], to say nothing of pamphlets and magazines, and a diligent study of [italics]The Times[end italics] every evening.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Missing Sewell Print: Book
Alexander William Kinglake : Eothen, or Traces of Travel brought home from the East
'Read Travels in the East called Eothen, they are by a Mr Kinglake of Taunton a Chancery Barrister, and are written in a very lively manner; they will amuse Lord Grey who I presume is regularly read to every day'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sydney Smith Print: Book
William King : De origine mali
'Looked over King's "Origin of Evil"...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Green Print: Book
Henry Kingsley : Mademoiselle Mathilde
'Do you know Henry Kingsley. Read Mademoiselle Mathilde by him, now coming out in the Gentleman's Magazine ...'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert Louis Stevenson Print: Serial / periodical
Charles Kingsley : Hypatia - or New Foes with an Old Face
'I have written a little, and read a good deal, - the second volume of "Sir Charles Metcalfe's Life", which makes me look upon him as more of a hero than many whom Carlyle would worship; and "Hypatia" and two sermons of Dr Pusey's against Germanism, and part of "Hero Worship", to say nothing of pamphlets and magazines, and a diligent study of "The Times" every evening. "Hypatia" is a marvel; very painful because it gives such a miserable view of Christianity in those days. In striving to be true, the description seems as if it must be untrue, even by its own acknowledgment. There must have been self-denial and faith, and charity working beneath those turbulent outward scenes. Yet it gives one no sympathy with philosophy. Mrs Meyrick and I both agree that "Pelagia" wins our affection much more than "Hypatia".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Missing Sewell Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Hypatia or New Foes with an Old Face
'I have written a little, and read a good deal, - the second volume of "Sir Charles Metcalfe's Life", which makes me look upon him as more of a hero than many whom Carlyle would worship; and "Hypatia" and two sermons of Dr Pusey's against Germanism, and part of "Hero Worship", to say nothing of pamphlets and magazines, and a diligent study of "The Times" every evening. "Hypatia" is a marvel; very painful because it gives such a miserable view of Christianity in those days. In striving to be true, the description seems as if it must be untrue, even by its own acknowledgment. There must have been self-denial and faith, and charity working beneath those turbulent outward scenes. Yet it gives one no sympathy with philosophy. Mrs Meyrick and I both agree that "Pelagia" wins our affection much more than "Hypatia".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Mrs Meyrick Print: Book
Charles Kingsley :
'I mean to copy you out some lines of my [italics] hero [end italics], Mr Kingsley'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell Print: Book
William King : Political and Literary Anecdotes of His Own Times
Elizabeth Barrett to Robert Browning, on childhood religious beliefs and practices, 15 January 1846: 'As to the [classical] gods and goddesses, I believed in them all quite seriously, & reconciled them to Christianity [...] As soon as I began to doubt about my goddesses, I fell into a vague sort of general scepticism, .. & though I went on saying "the Lord's prayer" at nights & mornings, & the "Bless all my kind friends" afterwards, by the childish custom .. yet I ended this liturgy with a supplication wihch I found in "King's memoirs" & which took my fancy & met my general views exactly .. "O God, if there be a God, save my soul, if I have a soul".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Barrett Barrett Print: Book
Matthew Pilkington : [letters]
'During my Stay in the Country, he wrote me a great many poetical Compliments, and subscrib'd himself, [italics] Amintas [end italics]: as they were really very elegant; my Mother, who always examined my Letters, exprest great Curiosity to know the Writer'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia van Lewen Manuscript: Letter
Matthew Pilkington : [letters to her daughter]
'During my Stay in the Country, he wrote me a great many poetical Compliments, and subscrib'd himself, [italics] Amintas [end italics]: as they were really very elegant; my Mother, who always examined my Letters, exprest great Curiosity to know the Writer'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth van Lewen Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: 'a Lady of Distinction' Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Anne Wainwright Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Pilkington tells how her poem on 'Paper' was seen by a 'Lady of Distinction'] 'She would examine what I had been scribbling, and seem'd so well pleased with my Rhymes, that she did them the Honour to put them in her Pocket-Book, and I never thought more of them. About four years after this, making a visit to Baron [italics] Wainwright[end italics]'s Lady, she told me she had got a very pretty Poem from [italics] London [end italics], wrote by the Lord Chancellor [italics] Talbot[end italics]'s Daughter, a young Lady of but twelve Years of Age, and desir'd I would read them for the Good of the Company; but how great was my Surprise, to find they were the above Lines! however I went thro' my task, and Mrs [italics] Wainwright [end italics] ask'd my Opinion of them, and seem'd impatient at my Silence' [Pilkington then tells how she managed to convey diplomatically that they were hers, saying she'd seen them four years before, whereupon] the Baron said, that he also remember'd them, and that he was told by the Person he saw them with, that they were writ by a very young Girl, who was married to a clergyman in [italics] Ireland [end italics]...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: John, Baron Wainwright Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Paper
[Letter from Jonathan Swift, Pilkington having sent him her verses on paper - printed in a London newspaper, attributed to another, and a poem for his birthday] 'I send you your Bit of News-paper with the Verses, than which I never saw better in their Kind; I have the same Opinion of those you were pleased to write upon me, as have also some particular Friends of Genius and Taste, to whom I ventured to communicate them, who universally agree with me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Jonathan Swift Print: Newspaper
Laetitia Pilkington : Sent with a Quill to Dr Swift
[Letter from Jonathan Swift, Pilkington having sent him her verses on paper - printed in a London newspaper, attributed to another, and a poem for his birthday] 'I send you your Bit of News-paper with the Verses, than which I never saw better in their Kind; I have the same Opinion of those you were pleased to write upon me, as have also some particular Friends of Genius and Taste, to whom I ventured to communicate them, who universally agree with me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Jonathan Swift Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Sent with a Quill to Dr Swift
[Letter from Jonathan Swift, Pilkington having sent him her verses on paper - printed in a London newspaper, attributed to another, and a poem for his birthday] 'I send you your Bit of News-paper with the Verses, than which I never saw better in their Kind; I have the same Opinion of those you were pleased to write upon me, as have also some particular Friends of Genius and Taste, to whom I ventured to communicate them, who universally agree with me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: friends of Swift Manuscript: Unknown
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
Matthew Pilkington : [a Horatian Ode]
[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: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Unknown
Matthew Pilkington : [letter to Laetitia Pilkington, about Pope]
[Matthew Pilkington was in England and was staying with Pope, upon Swift's recommendation. Having received a letter in which he said Pope was treating him handsomely, Laetitia took it to show Swift] 'The Dean read it over with a fix'd Attention, and returning it to me, he told me, he had, by the same Pacquet, receiv'd a Letter from Mr [italics] Pope [end italics], which, with somewhat of a stern Brow, he put into my Hand, and walk'd out into the Garden [the letter is full of abuse from Pope of M. Pilkington's manner and behaviour] By the time I had read it thro', the Dean return'd, and ask'd me what I thought of it? I told him, I was sure Mr [italics] Pilkington [end italics] did not deserve the Character Mr [italics] Pope [end italics] had given of him; and that he was highly ungenerous to caress and abuse him at the same Time. Upon this the Dean lost all Patience, and flew into such a rage that he quite terrify'd me'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Jonathan Swift Manuscript: Letter
Matthew Pilkington : [alteration to her poem 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: Laetitia 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 : [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
Laetititia Pilkington : Verses on Counsellor Callaghan
'I wrote the following Ballad [abusing Mr Callaghan], and pacquetted Mr [italics]Taafe [end italics] with it [...] and threatened Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics], if he did not read it out, for the Amusement of the Company, he should be my next Subject for Satyr; but no body so earnestly insisted on seeing the Song as [italics] Callaghan [end italics] himself. To oblige him and entertain the Company, Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics] sung it to the Tune of [italics] Chevy Chace [end italics. The ballad is then reproduced] I have been credibly informed that this song made [italics] Callaghan [end italics] blush, which was more than any thing had ever done before. However he took a Copy of it, which he promised to publish; but finding he has not been as good as his Word, I must even be at the Expence of doing it my self'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Manuscript: Unknown
Laetititia Pilkington : Verses on Counsellor Callaghan
'I wrote the following Ballad [abusing Mr Callaghan], and pacquetted Mr [italics]Taafe [end italics] with it [...] and threatened Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics], if he did not read it out, for the Amusement of the Company, he should be my next Subject for Satyr; but no body so earnestly insisted on seeing the Song as [italics] Callaghan [end italics] himself. To oblige him and entertain the Company, Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics] sung it to the Tune of [italics] Chevy Chace [end italics. The ballad is then reproduced] I have been credibly informed that this song made [italics] Callaghan [end italics] blush, which was more than any thing had ever done before. However he took a Copy of it, which he promised to publish; but finding he has not been as good as his Word, I must even be at the Expence of doing it my self'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: 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
Matthew 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: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP reproduces her lengthy poem 'To Mr Cibber'] 'This met with a very favourable Reception, and Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] shewed it to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's [end italics], as means to engage them to subscribe to me, which, to oblige him, many of them did; and, to make it public, Mr [talics] Cibber [end italics] inserted it in a Pamphlet of his own called the [italics] Egotist, or Colley upon Cibber [end italics]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP reproduces her lengthy poem 'To Mr Cibber'] 'This met with a very favourable Reception, and Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] shewed it to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's [end italics], as means to engage them to subscribe to me, which, to oblige him, many of them did; and, to make it public, Mr [talics] Cibber [end italics] inserted it in a Pamphlet of his own called the [italics] Egotist, or Colley upon Cibber [end italics]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: gentlemen at White's Club Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To The Hon. Colonel Duncombe
[LP reproduces her poem 'to the Hon. Colonel Duncombe', which she sent to Lord Augustus Fitz Roy] 'Lord Augustus did not fail to shew the Lines to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's[end italics], who heartily bantered the Colonel on his Generosity to his Mistress'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: gentlemen at White's Club Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To The Hon. Colonel Duncombe
[LP reproduces her poem 'to the Hon. Colonel Duncombe', which she sent to Lord Augustus Fitz Roy] 'Lord Augustus did not fail to shew the Lines to all the Noblemen at [italics] White's[end italics], who heartily bantered the Colonel on his Generosity to his Mistress'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Augustus, Lord Fitzroy Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'A short while after he went down Stairs, he sent his Compliments up, and begg'd I would lend him a Book to amuse himself till Bed-time, so being willing to cultivate the good Opinion he seem'd to have conceiv'd of me, I sent him my own Poems in Manuscript, which, pardon my Vanity, did not fail to confirm it'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: George Turnbull Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.
[LP reproduces her poem 'To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.] 'I shewed these lines to Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], who liked them so well, that he undertook to deliver them for me. The next morning, early, he waited on him, and then call'd upon me, and, giving me ten Guineas, asked me, whether I thought them a sufficient Reward for my Poetry? I told him, I really did: Well then, said he, Mr Pelham distinguished thus: "There are five Guineas, for the Lady's Numbers; and Five more, for the good Advice they contain; and tell her, I hope God will always give me Grace to follow it". '
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.
[LP reproduces her poem 'To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq.] 'I shewed these lines to Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics], who liked them so well, that he undertook to deliver them for me. The next morning, early, he waited on him, and then call'd upon me, and, giving me ten Guineas, asked me, whether I thought them a sufficient Reward for my Poetry? I told him, I really did: Well then, said he, Mr Pelham distinguished thus: "There are five Guineas, for the Lady's Numbers; and Five more, for the good Advice they contain; and tell her, I hope God will always give me Grace to follow it". '
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Pelham Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Colley Cibber, Esq
[LP reproduces her poem 'To Colley Cibber, Esq.] 'Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] received these Lines with his usual Partiality to me, and my Performances'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Sorrow
[LP recounts her first meeting with Colley Cibber] '"Sit down", said he, "be less ceremonious to be better bred; come, shew me your Writings". I obeyed; and, upon his reading the Poem, called [italics] Sorrow [end italics], he burst into Tears, and was not ashamed to give the flowing Virtue manly Way; he desired a Copy of it - which I gave him'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'Every Poem, as I occasionally introduced them, he [Colley Cibber] made me give him a Copy of, and communicated them to the Earl of [italics] Chesterfield [end italics], who positively insisted on it, that I must understand [italics] Greek [end italics], and [italics] Latin [end italics], otherwise I never could write [italics] English [end italics] so well.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'Every Poem, as I occasionally introduced them, he [Colley Cibber] made me give him a Copy of, and communicated them to the Earl of [italics] Chesterfield [end italics], who positively insisted on it, that I must understand [italics] Greek [end italics], and [italics] Latin [end italics], otherwise I never could write [italics] English [end italics] so well.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'I ingenuously told him [Mr Parkinson], I had no other Fortune than my Pen, and, at his request, shewed him some of my Writings' [Parkinson introduced her to a patron, Sir John Ligonier]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Parkinson Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Apology for the Minister, An
[Mr Rooke tells LP] 'as I had, in the Shop, read your [italics] Apology for the Minister [end italics], I was greatly surprized to hear it was the Product of a Lady's Pen'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: George Rooke
Laetitia Pilkington : [Poems]
'Mr E-e, seeing my Table covered with written Papers, told me, my Room resembled that of a Lawyer, and asked me Leave to read my Contemplations; to which I agreeing, he had the Complaisance to seem entertained'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr E-e Manuscript: Unknown
Matthew Pilkington : [Life of Barber]
[Edmond Curll said to LP] 'I have received from [italics] Ireland [end italics], from your Husband, the Life of Alderman [italics] Barber [end italics], wherein there is an Account of the amours of [italics] Cadenus [end italics] and [italics] Vanessa [end italics], to which the Alderman was privy, and related them to Mr Pilkington: Now I have been informed you have some Letters of the Dean's, which may embellish the Work; and also, a true Character of the Alderman, written by his Chaplain; I will make you a handsome Consideration for them if you will give them to me to publish.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Edmond Curll Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [Letter]
'[Sir Hans Sloane] considered my Letter over, and finding, by the contents, Doctor [italics] Mead [end italics] recommended me to him, said "Poor Creature! I suppose you want Charity; there's Half a Crown for you".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Hans Sloane Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : Roman Father, The
[bailiffs burst into her room to take her to the Marshalsea; one of them] 'who had employed himself in looking over my Papers, cried, "Ay the [italics] Irish [end italics] Whore, here is something about some [italics] Roman [end italics] Father, that's the Pope, and be damn'd to you is it?'''
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : To Colley Cibber, esq.
[On New Year's Day, 1743, LP published verses in the 'Gazette' in honour of Colley Cibber] 'My dear old Friend was pleased with my Sense of his Goodness to me; only he told me, my Lines were more proper to be addressed to an Archbishop than to him, who had nothing to boast of more than a little common Humanity.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Print: Newspaper
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP gives the text of a poem 'To Mr Cibber'] 'I sent these Lines to my dear Gentleman, who presently came to me, as I was once more in his Neighbourhood, - and in his cheerful Way, said, "Faith, Child, you have praised me so, that I think, it is the least I can do to make you eat for a Fortnight"; - so he gave me three Guineas'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Jack Pilkington : [a letter]
[a gentleman in her shop having paid the postage due on a packet from Edinburgh, LP] 'civilly entreated his Permission to peruse my Letter, to which he agreeing, I had not read above ten Lines, when I burst into Tears, so the Gentleman insisted on my laying it aside while he stayed, telling me, I must so far oblige him as to write a Love Letter for him'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Letter
Jack Pilkington : [a letter]
'When Mr [italics] Brush [end italics] departed, I read my dear Child's Letter' [she gives the text of the letter]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : Roman Father, The; A Tragedy
'However, at all Hazards, I'll venture to stand the Test of publishing the Following, because Mr [italics] Cibber [end italics] approved it.' [LP then reproduces several pages worth of her tragedy, 'The Roman Father']
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [a love letter]
'One Day, as I was in my Shop, a Gentleman, very richly dressed, told me, he had a Letter for me; I received it very respectfully, but could not help smiling, when I found it was the Letter I wrote for [italics] Tom Brush [end italics], neatly copied and directed to me, and that, lest it should miscarry, he had brought it himself.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia Pilkington 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
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: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
John Carteret Pilkington : To Samuel Foote, Esq. on seeing his Englishman in Paris
[Jack Pilkington gives an introduction to his now deceased mother's third volume of memoirs, relating how he wrote a poem 'To Samuel Foote Esq, on seeing his Englishman in Paris' and sent it to him, proposing to insert it in the 'Daily Advertiser'; he received the following reply] 'It is impossible for me to thank you as I ought, for your inclosed Favour; and full as impossible for me, to answer the Contents of your obliging Letter; there is at present, such a Conflict in me, between Modesty and Vanity, that as neither can get the better, I must leave the destination of your elegant Piece, to your own Discretion'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Foote Manuscript: Unknown
Lord Kingsborough : [letters]
'Amongst all the Letters I have yet seen published, I never saw any so truly elegant, learned, and polite, as those with which your Lordship has condescended to honour your poor Servant'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Laetitia Pilkington Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : [notice in her shop window]
'One day as I was sitting in my Shop, a Woman who though very badly drest, had a Dignity in her Air which distinguish'd her from the Vulgar, stood reading the paper I had stuck up, with Regard to writing Letters and Petitions.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Manuscript: Sheet
Laetitia Pilkington : [Memoirs and Poems]
[Two gentlemen came in to LP's shop and saw her with an MS volume of her Memoirs open in front of her; they inquired as to whether it was her accounts] 'This Gentleman, whom I presently after found was an Earl, by his Companion's calling him by his Title, insisted on seeing the Subject of my Amusement. This was the First Volume of my Work, which once he had began [sic], he went quite through with, and gave it more Applause than ever an Author's dear Partiality to their own offspring could possibly make me believe it deserved.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: an earl Manuscript: volume
Laetitia Pilkington : To Mr Cibber
[LP went to visit Colley Cibber] 'and met, according to Custom, a very kind Reception: For his Friendship to me was inviolable. He was writing the [italics] Character and Conduct of CICERO Consider'd [end italics]; and did me the Honour to read it to me: I was infinitely pleased to find, by the many lively Sallies of wit in it, that the good Gentleman's Spirits were undepress'd with Years; - Long may they continue so. This gave me an opportunity of writing a Poem to him [the poem is then reproduced] Mr [italics] Cibber was exceedingly well pleas'd when I waited on him with it, and said, he would give it a Place, but that it wanted Correction, which he promised to bestow on it: This I readily agreed to, being convinced his Judgement far surpassed mine. I waited on him the next Morning, and found he had greatly improved my Work: I thank'd him for his obliging Pains, but remarked his Modesty in having struck out some Lines, in which he was most praised.' [LP then relates how Cibber and other gentlemen gave her money for her poem]
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Colley Cibber Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : Memoirs
[LP recounts, addressing Matthew Pilkington, how she was invited to a Dublin widower's house and in the parlour] 'a Gentleman sat reading my first Volume. I did not interrupt him, as he seem'd to be deeply engaged. The Master of the House coming in, and saying, "Mrs [italics] Pilkington [end italics], I am very glad to see you, and your Son", made the Gentleman look at us attentively: After Dinner, he told us, he had a Bond and Judgement entered on it against you, at the Suit of Mr [italics] Clark [end italics], the Brewer; that hitherto he had been compassionate, supposing us to be such Creatures as your Imagination had painted us out to the World to be: But, said he, now I am convinced of my Error, I shall shew him no further Mercy'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: a gentleman Print: Book
Laetitia Pilkington : Memoirs
[Having been told by a lady that Lord Kingsborough lived nearby, and expressed enthusiasm, the lady said] 'well, Madam, though you have made a Mystery of your Name, I am certain you are Mrs [italics] Pilkington [end italics]; I am sure you are the Person; because you speak of his Lordship, in the very same Stile you have wrote of him. I have the two Volumes'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: a lady Print: Book
Laetitia Pilkington : [letter asking for financial assistance]
'I wrote, in order to gain Relief, to a Prelate of [italics] Ireland [end italics], then resident in [italics] London [end italics]; I sent the letter by the Daughter of a Dissenting Clergyman, of whose Honour and Virtue I was confident. He received her civilly, read over my Letter, and declared he did not know me; but as he had some slight Knowledge of my Father, there was a Guinea for me'..
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert Clayton Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : [Dedication to her 'Memoirs']
[LP received a letter from Lord Kingsborough, in response to her Dedication to him] 'I return you my Thanks for the Favour of your Dedication, which tho' I am sensible is too high a Compliment, yet my Vanity will not permit me to refuse'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert, Lord Kingsborough Manuscript: Unknown
Laetitia Pilkington : [letter]
[LP having written to Lord Kingsborough in warm terms after he, having heard bad things of her, ordered her to destroy his letters, she sent him a poem pleading forgiveness. He replied] 'Madam, I am extremely honoured, by that Esteem and Friendship which you profess for me in your really fine Copy of Verses; yet, when I reflect on a late Letter of yours, which I still have by me, I cannot help thinking myself as unworthy of your Praise, as I was of your Threats'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert, Lord Kingsborough Manuscript: Letter
Laetitia Pilkington : To the Right Hon. the Lord Kingsborough
[LP having written to Lord Kingsborough in warm terms after he, having heard bad things of her, ordered her to destroy his letters, she sent him a poem pleading forgiveness. He replied] 'Madam, I am extremely honoured, by that Esteem and Friendship which you profess for me in your really fine Copy of Verses; yet, when I reflect on a late Letter of yours, which I still have by me, I cannot help thinking myself as unworthy of your Praise, as I was of your Threats'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert, Lord Kingsborough Manuscript: Unknown
Frederick II King of Prussia : [unknown]
'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: Samuel Johnson Print: Book
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
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
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: Samuel Johnson Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Alton Locke
'On the 21st February [1851] their [Alfred and Emily Tennyson's] diary reads: "We read Alton Locke"'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Alfred and Emily Tennyson Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Hypatia
Alfred Tennyson to Charles Kingsley (1853): 'Part of the conclusion [of Hypatia] seems to me particularly valuable. I mean the talk of the Christianized Jew to the classic boy. Hypatia's mistreatment by the Alexandrians I found almost too horrible. It is very powerful and tragic; but I objected to the word "naked." Pelagia's nakedness has nothing which revolts one... but I really was hurt at having Hypatia stript, tho' I see that it adds to the tragic, and the picture as well as the moral is a fine one.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Alfred Tennyson Print: Book
King James I : Daemonology
'[Johnson said] "King James says in his 'Daemonology', 'Magicians command the devils: witches are their servants. The Italian magicians are elegant beings'."'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson Print: Book
Joseph Hocking : [novels]
'amongst all else she [Causley's mother] found a little time for reading from a two-penny library: novels by the Cornish writers Silas and Joseph Hocking ("Rosemary Carew", by the latter, was a tremendous favourite) and "Stella Dallas" by the American Olive Higgins Prouty. She also had a few books of her own: "The Following of the Star" by Florence L. Barclay, "The Sorrows of Satan" by Marie Corelli, and the like. I tried them all, and enjoyed most: especially "Stella Dallas", which exercised a peculiar fascination over me. I re-read it constantly and with such devotion that she forbade me ever to read it again. I couldn't think why; and not until years later did it occur to me that the central character was a prostitute'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles Causley Print: Book
Joseph Hocking : [novels]
'amongst all else she [Causley's mother] found a little time for reading from a two-penny library: novels by the Cornish writers Silas and Joseph Hocking ("Rosemary Carew", by the latter, was a tremendous favourite) and "Stella Dallas" by the American Olive Higgins Prouty. She also had a few books of her own: "The Following of the Star" by Florence L. Barclay, "The Sorrows of Satan" by Marie Corelli, and the like. I tried them all, and enjoyed most: especially "Stella Dallas", which exercised a peculiar fascination over me. I re-read it constantly and with such devotion that she forbade me ever to read it again. I couldn't think why; and not until years later did it occur to me that the central character was a prostitute'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mrs Causley Print: Book
Joseph Hocking : Rosemary Carew
'amongst all else she [Causley's mother] found a little time for reading from a two-penny library: novels by the Cornish writers Silas and Joseph Hocking ("Rosemary Carew", by the latter, was a tremendous favourite) and "Stella Dallas" by the American Olive Higgins Prouty. She also had a few books of her own: "The Following of the Star" by Florence L. Barclay, "The Sorrows of Satan" by Marie Corelli, and the like. I tried them all, and enjoyed most: especially "Stella Dallas", which exercised a peculiar fascination over me. I re-read it constantly and with such devotion that she forbade me ever to read it again. I couldn't think why; and not until years later did it occur to me that the central character was a prostitute'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mrs Causley Print: Book
Silas Hocking : [novels]
'amongst all else she [Causley's mother] found a little time for reading from a two-penny library: novels by the Cornish writers Silas and Joseph Hocking ("Rosemary Carew", by the latter, was a tremendous favourite) and "Stella Dallas" by the American Olive Higgins Prouty. She also had a few books of her own: "The Following of the Star" by Florence L. Barclay, "The Sorrows of Satan" by Marie Corelli, and the like. I tried them all, and enjoyed most: especially "Stella Dallas", which exercised a peculiar fascination over me. I re-read it constantly and with such devotion that she forbade me ever to read it again. I couldn't think why; and not until years later did it occur to me that the central character was a prostitute'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mrs Causley Print: Book
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham : Rehearsal, The
'We talked of Dryden - Buckingham's Play said I has hurt the Reputation of the Poet, great as he was; such is the force of Ridicule! - on the contrary my dearest replies Doctor Johnson The greatness of Dryden's Character is even now the only principle of Vitality which preserves that play from a State of Putrefaction'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Hester Lynch Thrale Print: Book
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham : Rehearsal, The
'We talked of Dryden - Buckingham's Play said I has hurt the Reputation of the Poet, great as he was; such is the force of Ridicule! - on the contrary my dearest replies Doctor Johnson The greatness of Dryden's Character is even now the only principle of Vitality which preserves that play from a State of Putrefaction'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson Print: Book
Charles Kingsley :
'The programme of selections from and papers on Kingsley was then proceeded with, C.E. Stansfield reading a paper on Kingsley as a religious leader and F.J. Edminson on a visit to Warsley [?]. Readings were given by Mrs Stansfield, Mrs Goadby and A. Rawlings.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Alfred Rawlings Print: Book
Charles Kingsley :
'The programme of selections from and papers on Kingsley was then proceeded with, C.E. Stansfield reading a paper on Kingsley as a religious leader and F.J. Edminson on a visit to Warsley [?]. Readings were given by Mrs Stansfield, Mrs Goadby and A. Rawlings.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Pattie Stansfield Print: Book
Charles Kingsley :
'The programme of selections from and papers on Kingsley was then proceeded with, C.E. Stansfield reading a paper on Kingsley as a religious leader and F.J. Edminson on a visit to Warsley [?]. Readings were given by Mrs Stansfield, Mrs Goadby and A. Rawlings.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Lilian Goadby Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Hypatia
'On board the steamer between Marseilles and Malta, besides reading "Hypatia", which was "too highly coloured" for his taste, and re-reading "Tancred", and writing "more than half the preface" to his lectures, he found time to send home a long letter'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Arthur Penrhyn Stanley Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : The Water Babies
Transcript of interview: 'I don’t think there was anything that I wasn’t allowed to read. It was only when I went to school to boarding school and all my friends were reading Gone with the Wind, and my mother decided she would rather I didn’t read Gone with the Wind because of a very racy chapter where Melanie gives birth to a baby and she didn’t think that was suitable for me. I was thirteen or fourteen and I didn’t read it but I did read Vicky Baum’s Hotel Berlin which had a much worse scene where a woman gave birth in a rowing boat… I can’t think of anything that was actually banned at all. I read lots and lots of my father’s books and this was a book that I loved - Palgrave’s Golden Treasury [shows book]. My mother gave me this [shows book]. This is the one I learned to read on. This is the Water Babies. I remember sitting up in bed reading Mrs Be Done By As You Did and shouting out “I can read, I can read”! I was six. I didn’t learn to read until quite late.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Hilary Spalding Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Hereward
8 February 1875: 'We had an agreeable journey to Folkestone where we took ship [for china-collecting expedition in Europe] [...] I was driven below by the intense cold so I lay down and read, with the greatest interest, my friend Charles Kingsley's Hereward. The subject is laid in my own Lincolnshire, and I know all the scenery he describes o'er well.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Lady Charlotte Schreiber Print: Book
Charles Kingsley : Westward Ho!
Meeting held at Ashton Lodge :- 3. 7. 37.
Henry Marriage Wallis in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved
[...]
7. The Meeting then gave its attention to Witches.
H. M Wallis led off with a paper on Witchcraft and readings were given from the following
books:- MacBeth – The Witch Scene[?] by Janet Rawlings, Dorothy Brain, & Dorothea Taylor
with F. E. Pollard & V. W. Alexander as Banquo & MacBeth
Samuel – The Witch of Endor scene by Mary Robson
Westward Ho (Lucy), by Dorothy Brain
Trials for Witchcraft, by Howard Smith
Precious Bane, by Rosamund Wallis
Between all these items there was considerable discussion. Members were able to vie with one another in tale of mystery and eerie happenings, and if all the conversation was not strictly relevant at least the interest did not flag.
