Listings for Reader:
Elizabeth Carter
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Dr Shuckford : Dr Shuckford's Connection
'She rejects even "good" books if she finds them tedious or ling-winded, finding unreadable Hooker's "extremely good" Laws of ecclesiastical polity and the "very profound learning" of "Dr Shuckford's Connection".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Hooker : Laws of ecclesiastical polity
'She rejects even "good" books if she finds them tedious or ling-winded, finding unreadable Hooker's "extremely good" Laws of ecclesiastical polity and the "very profound learning" of "Dr Shuckford's Connection".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Teresia Constantia Phillips : An apology for the conduct of Mrs Teresia Constantia Phillips
'She claims, for instance, a "charity to all kinds of books" which allows her to read sympathetically even the scandalous memoirs of Teresia Constantia Phillips.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Emilie de Chatelet :
'[Carter] read "a system of false philosophy" by Madame de Chatelet "for no other reason than because it was wrote by a lady".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Helen Maria Williams : various books
'[Carter] is sympathetic to women of different views, like Charlotte Smith or Helen Maria Williams whose books she finds "too democratical" but praises as "exprest with decency and moderation" and "very prettily written".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Charlotte Trotter Cockburn : works
'Having heard the work of another virtuous woman writer, Catherine Trotter Cockburn, was to be published, [Elizabeth Carter and Catherine Talbot] displayed great interest in this literary foremother, and when the 1751 edition of her work appeared, they were struck by her "most remarkable clear understanding and excellent heart".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Elizabeth Rowe : works
'[Elizabeth Carter and Catherine Talbot] read and admired the work of Elizabeth Rowe, and questioned each other excitedly about the almost forgotten Katherine Philips, the "matchless Orinda", impressed that her work is mentioned with "the highest respect, admiration and reverence by the writers of that time".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Katherine Philips : works
'[Elizabeth Carter and Catherine Talbot] read and admired the work of Elizabeth Rowe, and questioned each other excitedly about the almost forgotten Katherine Philips, the "matchless Orinda", impressed that her work is mentioned with "the highest respect, admiration and reverence by the writers of that time."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Francois-Marie Voltaire : Candide
'She began Candide but "threw it aside, and nothing, I believe, will tempt me ever to look into it again."'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Jean Jacques Rousseau : works
'she thinks Rousseau "the most dangerous writer I ever read", his work "of so bad tendency that, after a few trials, I have determined never to look into any thing he should publish".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Tobias Smollet : Roderick Random
'Carter and Talbot read fiction and corresponded about it, including "Roderick Random", the novels of Eliza Haywood, French romances, and Charlotte Lennox's "Henrietta", in which Talbot finds a number of objectionable qualities including "irreligion" and "the pride and sauciness" of the heroine. Their "favourite" among women novelists was Sarah Fielding, many of whose works they read and discussed.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Eliza Haywood : various novels
'Carter and Talbot read fiction and corresponded about it, including "Roderick Random", the novels of Eliza Haywood, French romances, and Charlotte Lennox's "Henrietta", in which Talbot finds a number of objectionable qualities including "irreligion" and "the pride and sauciness" of the heroine. Their "favourite" among women novelists was Sarah Fielding, many of whose works they read and discussed.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Charlotte Lennox : Henrietta
'Carter and Talbot read fiction and corresponded about it, including "Roderick Random", the novels of Eliza Haywood, French romances, and Charlotte Lennox's "Henrietta", in which Talbot finds a number of objectionable qualities including "irreligion" and "the pride and sauciness" of the heroine. Their "favourite" among women novelists was Sarah Fielding, many of whose works they read and discussed.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Sarah Fielding : many works
'Carter and Talbot read fiction and corresponded about it, including "Roderick Random", the novels of Eliza Haywood, French romances, and Charlotte Lennox's "Henrietta", in which Talbot finds a number of objectionable qualities including "irreligion" and "the pride and sauciness" of the heroine. Their "favourite" among women novelists was Sarah Fielding, many of whose works they read and discussed.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: French romances
'Carter and Talbot read fiction and corresponded about it, including "Roderick Random", the novels of Eliza Haywood, French romances, and Charlotte Lennox's "Henrietta", in which Talbot finds a number of objectionable qualities including "irreligion" and "the pride and sauciness" of the heroine. Their "favourite" among women novelists was Sarah Fielding, many of whose works they read and discussed.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: a number of novelists
'Carter read and enjoyed fiction until the end of her life. Pennington reveals her enthusiasm for a number of novelists "of considerable genius, as well as strict morals", who provided "a very pleasing relaxation from her severer studies" (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, vol 1, p. 69). According to him, she disliked realist fiction, though she made an exception for Burney's which she read with "increasing approbation more than once": her favourite was "Evelina" (Memoirs, p. 299). She also enjoyed Jane West (who dedicated "A Tale of the Times" to her) and Ann Radcliffe, who impressed her, according to Pennington, by "the good tendency of all her works, the virtues of her principal characters... and her accurate, as well as vivid delineation of the beauties of nature" (Memoirs, p. 300). She thought "A Sicilian Romance" "elegant" and praised its "good" moral (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, Vol III, p. 323).'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Frances Burney : Evelina
'Carter read and enjoyed fiction until the end of her life. Pennington reveals her enthusiasm for a number of novelists "of considerable genius, as well as strict morals", who provided "a very pleasing relaxation from her severer studies" (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, vol 1, p. 69). According to him, she disliked realist fiction, though she made an exception for Burney's which she read with "increasing approbation more than once": her favourite was "Evelina" (Memoirs, p. 299). She also enjoyed Jane West (who dedicated "A Tale of the Times" to her) and Ann Radcliffe, who impressed her, according to Pennington, by "the good tendency of all her works, the virtues of her principal characters... and her accurate, as well as vivid delineation of the beauties of nature" (Memoirs, p. 300). She thought "A Sicilian Romance" "elegant" and praised its "good" moral (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, Vol III, p. 323).'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Jane West : A Tale of the Times and other works
'Carter read and enjoyed fiction until the end of her life. Pennington reveals her enthusiasm for a number of novelists "of considerable genius, as well as strict morals", who provided "a very pleasing relaxation from her severer studies" (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, vol 1, p. 69). According to him, she disliked realist fiction, though she made an exception for Burney's which she read with "increasing approbation more than once": her favourite was "Evelina" (Memoirs, p. 299). She also enjoyed Jane West (who dedicated A Tale of the Times to her) and Ann Radcliffe, who impressed her, according to Pennington, by "the good tendency of all her works, the virtues of her principal characters... and her accurate, as well as vivid delineation of the beauties of nature" (Memoirs, p. 300). She thought A Sicilian Romance "elegant" and praised its "good" moral (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, Vol III, p. 323).'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Ann Radcliffe : A Sicilian Romance [and other novels]
'Carter read and enjoyed fiction until the end of her life. Pennington reveals her enthusiasm for a number of novelists "of considerable genius, as well as strict morals", who provided "a very pleasing relaxation from her severer studies" (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, vol 1, p. 69). According to him, she disliked realist fiction, though she made an exception for Burney's which she read with "increasing approbation more than once": her favourite was "Evelina" (Memoirs, p. 299). She also enjoyed Jane West (who dedicated "A Tale of the Times" to her) and Ann Radcliffe, who impressed her, according to Pennington, by "the good tendency of all her works, the virtues of her principal characters... and her accurate, as well as vivid delineation of the beauties of nature" (Memoirs, p. 300). She thought "A Sicilian Romance" "elegant" and praised its "good" moral (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, Vol III, p. 323).'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Charlotte Smith : Emmeline
'[Pennington] emphasises... that she "highly disapproved" the novels of Charlotte Smith, believing their morality "very defective" if not "positively bad" (Memoirs, p. 299). Carter's letters however show enthusiasm at least for "Emmeline", and deep sympathy for Smith's domestic situation: she tries hard to be fair even to the "democratic" Desmond, suggesting its critics are "perhaps prejudiced against it", while she has found the included poems "very beautiful" (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, vol III, 295-333)'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Charlotte Smith : Desmond
'[Pennington] emphasises... that she "highly disapproved" the novels of Charlotte Smith, believing their morality "very defective" if not "positively bad" (Memoirs, p. 299). Carter's letters however show enthusiasm at least for "Emmeline", and deep sympathy for Smith's domestic situation: she tries hard to be fair even to the "democratic" Desmond, suggesting its critics are "perhaps prejudiced against it", while she has found the included poems "very beautiful" (Letters... to Mrs Montagu, vol III, 295-333)'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Samuel Richardson : 'Rambler' [essay]
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 4 March 1751: 'You need not make any apologies about my Rambler [No. 100]. I had no idea when I sent it to you that it was worth a second reading [...] Having honestly told you my humility, I will now, with equal honesty, tell you my vanity, that upon the whole it pleases me better than Mr Richardson's Rambler [identified by source ed. as probably No. 97]. Do you like that Paper? and will you be angry with me for not liking it at all? I cannot see how some of his doctrines can be founded on any other supposition than that Providence designed one half of the human species for idiots and slaves. One would think the man was, in this respect, a Mahometan.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Serial / periodical
Samuel Richardson : 'Rambler' [essay]
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 24 March 1751: 'Well according to your advice I have given Mr Richardson another reading, and confess myself to have been too much prejudiced both by the opinions of those who read it before me, and from some of his own notions which I had lately seen on another subject, and that the Paper itself, if my head had not been full of those when I read it, might have appeared to much greater advantage.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Serial / periodical
Christopher Smart : On the Eternity of the Supreme Being
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 12 August 1751: 'I have not seen the Oxford and Cambridge Verses. The only late publication I have met with is Mr Smart's Prize Verses.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Unknown
Alison Cockburn : prose writing/s
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 20 August 1751: 'You tell me nothing of Mrs Cockburn. I have read but little yet, but she seems to have had a most remarkable clear understanding and an excellent heart. By what I have read of her prose, I should by no means suspect she had a genius formed for poetry, which is perhaps one reason why I have not yet looked into her play.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Unknown
: report of death of Bishop of Durham
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 23 June 1752: 'I am heartily sorry, my dear Miss Talbot, to find by to-day's Paper that your apprehensions were too well grounded. The loss of so great and good a man, in such a rank [Bishop of Durham], is a general misfortune, but I cannot help finding myself particularly interested in it, as it so immediately affects those for whose happiness I have such uncommon reason to be solicitous.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Newspaper
Samuel Richardson : Sir Charles Grandison
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 21 September 1753: 'Mr Richardson has been so good as to send me four volumes of his most charming work, and I heartily wish, for his sake as well as their own, that all the world may be as fond of it as I am [comments further].'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Carlo Maria Maggi : Sonnet 'Care dell'alma stanca Albengatrici...'
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 10 July 1754: 'I am beyond description charmed with the Italian sonnet you sent me. I am afraid your opinion is too well grounded of its being absolutely untranslatable, at least into our Gothic language.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Manuscript: Letter, Transcribed by Catherine Talbot in letter of 10 June 1754.
Metastasio : 'love song' opening 'Ecco qual fiero istante'
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 10 July 1754: 'After that exquisitely beautiful sonnet [by Carlo Maria Maggi, opening 'Care dell'alma stanca Albengatrici...'] you sent me, I am quite ashamed to let you see poor Metastasio's love song [as previously promised], but the simplicity of it pleased me, and simplicity is an excellence not often to be met with in any modern compositions, except those of our own country, of which I think it is the characteristic.'
UnknownCentury: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter
Sarah Fielding : The Cry
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 14 September 1754: 'Have you ever read the "Cry?" [...] It never fell in my way till very lately, and I read it with low spirits, but upon the whole it pleased me mightily. There is sometimes rather too strong a spirit of refining in it, which I believe is the case in all Mrs Fielding's compositions, and she often puts me in mind of Tacitus. But is she not in general a most excellent writer?'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Anthony Ashley Cooper : Characterisks of Men, Manners, Times, Opinions.
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 11 January 1755: 'It is very long since I read Lord Shaftesbury, and I only remember that I was in general charmed with his imagination and language, but thought him a very bad reasoner, and was greatly offended at his levity.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: Barbarossa
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 27 January 1755: 'I read Barbarossa in a great hurry, but remember in general that I was as well pleased with it as I could be with a tragedy that has so little poetry in it.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: work on Stoic philosophy
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 5 March 1755: 'I read that part of the Bishop of Norwich's quarto which relates to the Stoic philosophy, but met with nothing there that seems of any consequence to add to the Introduction [?to her translation of Epictetus]. The turn which that author gives to the doctrine of the Stoics is a very severe one.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Plato : Republic
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 5 March 1755:] 'I am obliged to you for the account of the new books, not one of which have reached Deal, except some novels, which I had not patience to read through. My present study is Plato's Republic. I have got through as much as I can read of Fielding's Miscellanies, which I never saw before. Did you ever read them? and are they not extremely good and extremely bad?'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: [novels]
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 5 March 1755:] 'I am obliged to you for the account of the new books, not one of which have reached Deal, except some novels, which I had not patience to read through. My present study is Plato's Republic. I have got through as much as I can read of Fielding's Miscellanies, which I never saw before. Did you ever read them? and are they not extremely good and extremely bad?'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Henry Fielding : Miscellanies
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 5 March 1755:] 'I am obliged to you for the account of the new books, not one of which have reached Deal, except some novels, which I had not patience to read through. My present study is Plato's Republic. I have got through as much as I can read of Fielding's Miscellanies, which I never saw before. Did you ever read them? and are they not extremely good and extremely bad?'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Samuel Johnson : Preface to Dictionary
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 13 June 1755:] 'How do you like Mr Johnson's Dictionary? I have only seen part of the Preface, which was like himself. I have just been reading Mr Swift's account of the Dean, a book at which I am greatly scandalized. I do not remember ever to have met with so open and shameful a vindication of that species of idolatry which is the absolute ruin of all virtue, the worship of the world.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Deane Swift : Essay on the Life, &c. of Dr Swift
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 13 June 1755:] 'How do you like Mr Johnson's Dictionary? I have only seen part of the Preface, which was like himself. I have just been reading Mr Swift's account of the Dean, a book at which I am greatly scandalized. I do not remember ever to have met with so open and shameful a vindication of that species of idolatry which is the absolute ruin of all virtue, the worship of the world.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Fulke Greville : Reflections, maxims, and characters, moral, critical, and satirical [extract]
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 3 May 1756:] 'I had read an extract from that book which you say is writ by Mr Greville, and concluded it must be a translation from some French author, and I can scarcely forbear wishing my notion had been right. I believe there might be some good things in it, but, Genius of Britain, forbid that any such frippery kind of writing should grow into fashion amongst us!'
UnknownCentury: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter
Thomas Browne : Religio Medici
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 26 May 1756:] 'I have not seen Sir Thomas Browne's Christian Morals, but your recommendation of it [in letter of 7 May 1756] will set me to reading his Religio Medici again, which I have utterly forgot, except that when I read it I thought it contained many excellent things.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Françoise Langlois de Motteville : Memoirs for the History of Anne of Austria
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 16 June 1758:] 'Since I came home I have picked up [reading] at Mrs Gambieu's the Memoirs of Anne of Austria, in a vile and most unintelligible translation; yet I keep reading on, and am much inclined to love Madame Motteville a great deal better than her heroine, against whom I have just now an irreconcileable quarrel for leaving her to all the dangers and miseries of a siege.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Salomon Gessner : La Mort d'Abel
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 30 May 1761:] 'To make you amends for all the nonsense which I have collected from all the frippery shelves throughout Westminster and London, I will mention a book which, if you have not read it, it is fit you should, 'La Mort d'Abel.' It is a High Dutch poem translated into French prose. This general account of it, does not, I confess, look very promising, but I think you will be pleased with the book. I believe it may not by any means be conformable to the rules of Epic poetry, but the manner and the sentiments are charming, and to me it was extremely affecting. There are two pastorals in the same volume, by the same author, which pleased me better than almost any thing I have met with of that kind.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: 'two pastorals'
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 30 May 1761:] 'To make you amends for all the nonsense which I have collected from all the frippery shelves throughout Westminster and London, I will mention a book which, if you have not read it, it is fit you should, 'La Mort d'Abel.' It is a High Dutch poem translated into French prose. This general account of it, does not, I confess, look very promising, but I think you will be pleased with the book. I believe it may not by any means be conformable to the rules of Epic poetry, but the manner and the sentiments are charming, and to me it was extremely affecting. There are two pastorals in the same volume, by the same author, which pleased me better than almost any thing I have met with of that kind.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Jonas Hanway : 'two volumes'
[Catherine Talbot to Elizabeth Carter, 9 June 1761:] 'My dear Mr Hanway has published two volumes at last, which you saw, and only told me you had seen them, but for which I love and honour him (and so far as spending thirty hours upon them I believe I shall also [italics] obey [end italics] him) as much as the world, and the wits, and the critics will, I suppose, despise him [...] Not that I would have licensed [italics] every [end italics] word in his book neither, but the whole delights me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Katherine Phillips : Letters to Sir Charles Cotterel
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 13 June 1761:] 'I never had the least doubt but Mrs Phillips's Letters to Sir Charles Cotterel were genuine; it is so long since I met with them that I remember very little what they were. All that I recollect of her poetry is, that it is very moral and sentimental; and all that I know of herself is, that her genius and character are mentioned with the highest respect, admiration, and reverence by the writers of that time. I believe her Poems are very scarce; I have two or three little pieces in a miscellany, which if you have any curiosity to see I will send you. I never saw Mr Hanway's two volumes but in an advertisement, nor do I know what they are about, but am glad they have afforded you an agreeable amusement.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Katherine Phillips : poetry
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 13 June 1761:] 'I never had the least doubt but Mrs Phillips's Letters to Sir Charles Cotterel were genuine; it is so long since I met with them that I remember very little what they were. All that I recollect of her poetry is, that it is very moral and sentimental; and all that I know of herself is, that her genius and character are mentioned with the highest respect, admiration, and reverence by the writers of that time. I believe her Poems are very scarce; I have two or three little pieces in a miscellany, which if you have any curiosity to see I will send you. I never saw Mr Hanway's two volumes but in an advertisement, nor do I know what they are about, but am glad they have afforded you an agreeable amusement.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: advertisement for work by 'Mr Hanway'
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 13 June 1761:] 'I never had the least doubt but Mrs Phillips's Letters to Sir Charles Cotterel were genuine; it is so long since I met with them that I remember very little what they were. All that I recollect of her poetry is, that it is very moral and sentimental; and all that I know of herself is, that her genius and character are mentioned with the highest respect, admiration, and reverence by the writers of that time. I believe her Poems are very scarce; I have two or three little pieces in a miscellany, which if you have any curiosity to see I will send you. I never saw Mr Hanway's two volumes but in an advertisement, nor do I know what they are about, but am glad they have afforded you an agreeable amusement.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Unknown
: report of death of Mr Chapone
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 26 September 1761:] 'I have seen an article in the newspaper which I am particularly sorry for as it will affect you -- I imagine you have heard of the melancholy situation of a very excellent friend of mine by the death of Mr Chapone.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Newspaper
Carlo Maggi : poems
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 10 May 1763:] 'Carlo Maggi is, indeed, a most excellent companion, and I agree with you in lamenting that one cannot recommend the most elegant, the most amiable, and the most useful of all the Italian poets without so many cautions and qualifications [...] I fear some of his finest pieces have often a mixture of popish wildness and absurdity. I do not particularly recollect the prologue ["to a comedy of Plautus"] you mention, and perhaps never read it, as I am apt to skip the humorous pieces, but I will look over it on your recommendation.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: 'Treatise on Gaiety'
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 4 October 1763:] 'Is your Treatise on Gaiety a poem? If it is I believe I know it -- Pray amongst your French studies have you met with a refutation of Rousseau's Emile? It is in many parts admirably well writ, and with great strength of argument; but the effect is sometimes unhappily weakened by the mixture of popish doctrines. -- Probably you have seen Rousseau's answer to the Archbishop of Paris's mandement against Emile. There are sometimes so many right things blended with Rousseau's very dangerous errors, that I suppose there are few authors whom is it so difficult to answer in a proper way.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Unknown
: 'refutation of Rousseau's Emile'
Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 4 October 1763: 'Is your Treatise on Gaiety a poem? If it is I believe I know it -- Pray amongst your French studies have you met with a refutation of Rousseau's Emile? It is in many parts admirably well writ, and with great strength of argument; but the effect is sometimes unhappily weakened by the mixture of popish doctrines. -- Probably you have seen Rousseau's answer to the Archbishop of Paris's mandement against Emile. There are sometimes so many right things blended with Rousseau's very dangerous errors, that I suppose there are few authors whom is it so difficult to answer in a proper way.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Unknown
Jean-Jacques Rousseau : 'answer to the Archbishop of Paris's mandement against Emile'
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 4 October 1763:] 'Is your Treatise on Gaiety a poem? If it is I believe I know it -- Pray amongst your French studies have you met with a refutation of Rousseau's Emile? It is in many parts admirably well writ, and with great strength of argument; but the effect is sometimes unhappily weakened by the mixture of popish doctrines. -- Probably you have seen Rousseau's answer to the Archbishop of Paris's mandement against Emile. There are sometimes so many right things blended with Rousseau's very dangerous errors, that I suppose there are few authors whom is it so difficult to answer in a proper way.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Unknown
Desiderius Erasmus : 'Dialogues'
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 15 October 1763:] 'It is more from the testimony of others than from any recollection of my own, that I had formed the idea that Erasmus was in some parts of his works a very indecent writer [...] It is I believe more than thirty years since I read his dialogues, and then only those which were pointed out to me.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Catherine Macaulay : 'History' [extracts]
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 5 December 1763:] 'Have you read Mrs Macaulay's history? I have seen only some extracts from it, which seemed to be writ with strength and spirit.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Unknown
: Lloyd's Chronicle
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 11 October 1766:] 'Fye upon you and your popish saints [...] Your whole folio [of saints' lives] is not half so well worth reading as Lloyd's Chronicle, which has often given me the comfort of seeing the archbishop [of Canterbury]'s name, and inferring because he was very busy he must be very well.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Newspaper, Serial / periodical
Carlo Maggi : Malincolia d'Alicino
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 29 April 1763:] 'I am rather scandalized that you should even ask how I like the Malincolia d'Alcindo, which is beautiful in the highest degree, and it is impossible to be unaffected by it without an absolute want of all taste and all feeling [comments further]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Oliver Goldsmith : The Vicar of Wakefield
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 6 August 1766:] 'Be so good as to tell Mrs Handcock that I do like the "Vicar of Wakefield," and likewise that I do not [...] Indeed it has admirable things in it, though mixt with provoking absurdities, at which one should not be provoked if the book in general had not great merit [comments further].'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Edward Fairfax :
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 6 August 1766:] 'I thank you for your transcript from Fairfax [translator of Torquato Tasso], which is very pretty.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Manuscript: Unknown, Transcribed by Elizabeth Vesey.
Horace Walpole : ?Royal and Noble Authors
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 18 March 1768:] 'I fancy you were not greatly edified by the study of Mr Walpole's book. There is always some degree of entertainment in what he writes, but less I think in this than usual, and it is rather more peevish and flippant. It is a great pity he should ever write any thing but Castles of Otranto, in which species of composition he is so remarkably happy [comments further on Walpole as a history writer]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Horace Walpole : The Castle of Otranto
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 18 March 1768:] 'I fancy you were not greatly edified by the study of Mr Walpole's book. There is always some degree of entertainment in what he writes, but less I think in this than usual, and it is rather more peevish and flippant. It is a great pity he should ever write any thing but Castles of Otranto, in which species of composition he is so remarkably happy [comments further on Walpole as a history writer]'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Thomas Gray : ?Ode for Music
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 28 July 1769:] 'I only saw the Cambridge Ode in a newspaper [...] I thought there were some fine stanzas in it: but in general it seemed to be the effort of a writer struggling under the necessity of saying something to a patron, and conscious how little could with truth be said. But perhaps this may be mere refining. Upon the whole I was vexed and fretted at such an application of Mr Gray's genius'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Newspaper
: Sermon on text 'It is well...'
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 3 December 1769:] ''If the text of the sermon you mention is [italics]It is well[end italics], &c. I have read it and thought it very original and striking.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
?Thomas Sherlock : Sermons
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 8 December 1773:] 'When I recommended Sherlock's Sermons, I believe I did it with some exception; many, indeed most of them, are very excellent. Most of those in which he defends the general truth of Christianity, and answers the cavils of unbelievers, are writ with a clearness and a spirit which are seldom equalled. But in others he is obscure and confused, and seems either not to have understood himself, or not to have wished to be understood by others. Archbishop Secker's Sermons are absolutely free from these objections, and are, I think, upon the whole the most calculated to awaken the conscience and amend the heart, of any that perhaps were ever published.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Thomas Secker : Sermons
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 8 December 1773:] 'When I recommended Sherlock's Sermons, I believe I did it with some exception; many, indeed most of them, are very excellent. Most of those in which he defends the general truth of Christianity, and answers the cavils of unbelievers, are writ with a clearness and a spirit which are seldom equalled. But in others he is obscure and confused, and seems either not to have understood himself, or not to have wished to be understood by others. Archbishop Secker's Sermons are absolutely free from these objections, and are, I think, upon the whole the most calculated to awaken the conscience and amend the heart, of any that perhaps were ever published.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Anna Laetitia Aikin : Essays [?on Various Subjects]
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 4 May 1774:] 'I do not recall any late productions in the literary way, except a little volume of very pretty Essays by Miss Aikin, and Mr Bryant's Analysis of Ancient Mythology, of which I have read one volume in quarto. It is a work of immense learning and very great ingenuity, but has to me the fault of almost all the mythological systems I ever read, the want of sufficient proof [discusses text and author further] [...] I am told that the second volume is much more satisfactory than the first. I find it is a fashionable book, from which one would infer that this is an age of most profound literature, and from the very nature of his subject it is scarcely possible to discover what he means but by the assistance of Greek and Hebrew.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Jacob Bryant : A New System, or, an Analysis of Ancient Mythology (vol. I)
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 4 May 1774:] 'I do not recall any late productions in the literary way, except a little volume of very pretty Essays by Miss Aikin, and Mr Bryant's Analysis of Ancient Mythology, of which I have read one volume in quarto. It is a work of immense learning and very great ingenuity, but has to me the fault of almost all the mythological systems I ever read, the want of sufficient proof [discusses text and author further] [...] I am told that the second volume is much more satisfactory than the first. I find it is a fashionable book, from which one would infer that this is an age of most profound literature, and from the very nature of his subject it is scarcely possible to discover what he means but by the assistance of Greek and Hebrew.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield : Letters to His Son
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 29 July 1774:] 'Lord Chesterfield's Letters are, I think, the most complete system of French morality that ever disgraced the English language. A system founded neither on principles of virtue, nor sentiments of heart, but upon those selfish motives, which aim at nothing higher than mere bienseance, and which never yet, through the general course of life, procured to any character, confidence, or esteem, or love [comments further].'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: A Letter to a Young Nobleman Setting out on his Travels
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 31 May 1776:] 'As you are acquainted with all possible authors, pray be so good as to tell me who is the writer of a Letter to a Young Nobleman setting out on his Travels. I found it here on my return [home], directed to me [...] I shall be much obliged to you if you will return my best thanks to the author for his favor [sic] to me, and still more for the noble and beneficial tendency of his work. Happy would it be for this nation if it was received with the attention it deserves!'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: BookManuscript: Unknown
: report of Burgoyne's actions in American War of Independence
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 2 October 1777:] 'Every body seems very impatient for important news from America; for my own part, I have so little hope of any good to the public by such a quarrel, that I chiefly wish intelligence for the sake of the poor people who are anxious for their friends. Oh that they were all safe in England! I felt for the Miss Clarkes, when I read in the papers, that General Burgoyne was going to storm a place. It is terrible to be kept in suspence [sic] about the event, till another express can cross the Atlantic.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Newspaper
Anna Laetitia Barbauld : Hymns
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 25 July 1779:] 'I do not wonder you were struck by Mrs Barbauld's Hymns. They are all excellent, but there are some passages amazingly sublime. Amongst these is the manner in which she introduces the Saviour, after the description of the devastations of death, as the restorer of life and immortality.'
UnknownCentury: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Vesey : 'Ode'
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 20 November 1779:] 'A thousand thanks to you, my dear Mrs Vesey, for your charming Ode, which breathes all the spirit of that wild unfettered genius of poetry, that transports the imagination, and touches the heart with a power unattainable by scientific rules, and cold correctness [...] [Miss Sharpe] asked, how I supposed she could think of her breakfast while she was regaling on your Ode. She desires me to tell you, with her love, that she hates you mortally, for your intention of concealing it from us [...] You will be pleased that Miss Sharpe and I agreed at being particularly struck with the same passages in your very charming poem.'
UnknownCentury: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter
James Cook : A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 21 August 1784:] 'Have you read Captain Cook's last voyages? I have just finished them. The description of the savage inhabitants of the southern climates is a fine eloge of a [italics]state of nature[end italics], of which one species of philosophers is fond of speaking in such rapturous terms! I was heartily glad to take my leave of those barbarians, and to find myself among the harmless gentle contented race, that dwell on the borders of the arctic circle [...] they enjoy the blessings of a mild government, and the illumination of the Christian religion. Ever since I read this account, I have felt a very high respect for the Russians, to whose humanity and instructions the inhabitants of Kamtschatka owe their inestimable advantages.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
: 'ancient account of India'
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 11 June 1786:] 'I have just been reading, in an ancient acount of India, that the women there were remarkably chaste, unless the gallant was able to present them with an elephant; and this temptation was considered as so very irresistible, that in that case a lady might sacrifice her virtue without forfeiting her character. This sounds very ridiculous, but it seems the riding upon an elephant is in that country a mark of the highest dignity.'
