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

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Listings for Author:  

Kenneth Macaulay

 

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Kenneth Macaulay : History of St Kilda

'He [Dr Johnson] said, "Macaulay, who writes the account of St. Kilda, set out with a prejudice against prejudice, and wanted to be a smart modern thinker; and yet he affirms for a truth, that when a ship arrives there all the inhabitants are seized with a cold".'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson      Print: Book

  

Kenneth Macaulay : History of St Kilda

'A Lady of Norfolk, by a letter to my friend Dr. Burney, has favoured me with the following solution [to the question of why the St Kildans always got a cold when visited by outsiders]: "Now for the explication of this seeming mystery, which is so very obvious as, for that reason, to have escaped the penetration of Dr. Johnson and his friend, as well as that of the author. Reading the book with my ingenions friend, the late Reverend Mr. Christian of Docking—after ruminating a little, 'The cause, (says he,) is a natural one: The situation of St. Kilda renders a North-East wind indispensably necessary before a stranger can land. The wind, not the stranger, occasions an epidemick cold'."'

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

  

Kenneth Macaulay : History of St Kilda

'A Lady of Norfolk, by a letter to my friend Dr. Burney, has favoured me with the following solution [to the question of why the St Kildans always got a cold when visited by outsiders]: "Now for the explication of this seeming mystery, which is so very obvious as, for that reason, to have escaped the penetration of Dr. Johnson and his friend, as well as that of the author. Reading the book with my ingenions friend, the late Reverend Mr. Christian of Docking—after ruminating a little, 'The cause, (says he,) is a natural one: The situation of St. Kilda renders a North-East wind indispensably necessary before a stranger can land. The wind, not the stranger, occasions an epidemick cold'."'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Reverend Christian      Print: Book

  

Kenneth Macaulay : History of St Kilda

He had said in the morning that "Macaulay's 'History of St. Kilda' was very well written, except some foppery about liberty and slavery. I mentioned to him that Macaulay told me, he was advised to leave out of his book the wonderful story that upon the approach of a stranger all the inhabitants catch cold; but that it had been so well authenticated, he determined to retain it. Johnson. "Sir, to leave things out of a book merely because people tell you they will not be believed is meanness. Macaulay acted with more magnanimity".'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson      Print: Book

 

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