Listings for Reader:
Matthew Lewis
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Lord Sligo (2nd marquis of) : [letter on punishment for adultery in Turkey]
Byron's Journal (14 November 1813-19 April 1814), 5 Deecmber 1813: 'I showed ... [John Galt] Sligo's letter on the reports of the Turkish girl's aventure [ie punishment for adultery that became source of Byron's The Giaour] at Athens soon after it happened. He and Lord Holland, Lewis, and Moore, and Rogers, and Lady Melbourne have seen it.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Gregory Lewis Manuscript: Letter
Thomas Moore : Lallah Rookh (extracts)
Byron to John Murray, 15 July 1817: 'I lent [M. G.] Lewis who is at Venice ... your extracts from Lalla Rookh -- & Manuel -- out of contradiction it may be -- he likes the last -- & is not much taken with the first of these performances.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Gregory Lewis Print: Serial / periodical
Charles Robert Maturin : Manuel
Byron to John Murray, 15 July 1817: 'I lent [M. G.] Lewis who is at Venice ... your extracts from Lalla Rookh -- & Manuel -- out of contradiction it may be -- he likes the last -- & is not much taken with the first of these performances.'
UnknownCentury: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Gregory Lewis
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe : Faust
Byron to John Murray, 12 October 1817: 'I heard Mr. Lewis translate verbally some scenes of Goethe's Faust ... last Summer ...'
UnknownCentury: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Gregory Lewis
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe : Faust
Byron to John Murray, 7 June 1820: '[Goethe's] Faust I never read -- for I don't know German -- but Matthew Monk Lewis in 1816 at Coligny translated most of it to me viva voce ...'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Gregory Lewis Print: Book
Marrie de Vichy-Chamrond, Marquise du Deffand : Letters
'How do you like Thalaba? There are always so many nothings to be done in London daily, that I have not read ten lines for the last ten weeks, till I came to Holland House, where I have galloped through two volumes of Madame Du Deffand's Letters, and with much amusement, though the anecdotes are in themselves of no great value; still, being written on the spot, and at the moment, they have a vivacity and interest which make one read letter after letter without weariness. The extracts from Lord Orford's letters contain frequently excellent things; and indeed, in Madame Du Deffand's own general observations, there is much good sense and plain truth; but that sense and truth, being generally grounded upon knowledge of the world, it unfortunately follows, of course, that the information which it conveys must be of a disagreeable and humiliating complexion. [Lewis then talks about Lord Orfor'd treatment of a blind woman] Have you read these letters? You know, of course, that they were edited by your friend, Miss Berry, who has also written the Preface, the Life, and the Notes, all of which are most outrageously abused by many persons, though, in my opinion, without any just grounds'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Lewis Print: Book
Charles Lamb : 'The Triumph of the Whale'
'I send you some verses which I read in the Examiner; I think them very witty, although very abominable'. [What follows is Charle's Lamb's poem, 'The Triumph of the Whale': Io! Paean! Io! sing To the funny people's King. Not a mightier whale than this In the vast Atlantic is; Not a fatter fish than he Flounders round the polar sea. See his blubbers--at his gills What a world of drink he swills, From his trunk, as from a spout, Which next moment he pours out. Such his person--next declare, Muse, who his companions are.-- Every fish of generous kind Scuds aside, or slinks behind; But about his presence keep All the Monsters of the Deep; Mermaids, with their tails and singing His delighted fancy stinging; Crooked Dolphins, they surround him, Dog-like Seals, they fawn around him. Following hard, the progress mark Of the intolerant salt sea shark. For his solace and relief, Flat fish are his courtiers chief. Last and lowest in his train, Ink-fish (libellers of the main) Their black liquor shed in spite: (Such on earth the things _that write_.) In his stomach, some do say, No good thing can ever stay. Had it been the fortune of it To have swallowed that old Prophet, Three days there he'd not have dwell'd, But in one have been expell'd. Hapless mariners are they, Who beguil'd (as seamen say), Deeming him some rock or island, Footing sure, safe spot, and dry land, Anchor in his scaly rind; Soon the difference they find; Sudden plumb, he sinks beneath them; Does to ruthless seas bequeath them. Name or title what has he? Is he Regent of the Sea? From this difficulty free us, Buffon, Banks or sage Linnaeus. With his wondrous attributes Say what appellation suits. By his bulk, and by his size, By his oily qualities, This (or else my eyesight fails), This should be the PRINCE OF WHALES].
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Lewis Print: Serial / periodical
J.B. Trotter : Memoirs of the latter years of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox
'You say, "I wonder what you think of Trotter's Life of Fox"? Now I wonder that, supposing I had only read two paragraphs, you could have any doubt of what I must think; and still more I should wonder if, supposing that I [italics] had [end italics] read the paragraphs, you should imagine it possible for me to read two more. I contented myself with the extracts in the newspapers, which were quite numerous enough to satisfy my curiosity, and prevent my wishing to see any more of the work. [Lewis then describes the relationship of the author to Fox's family and his feeling that he was not well enough provided for, hence his writing of the memoirs] with the benevolent intention of vexing them. The work is evidently the production of a disappointed man. His late dispute with the physicians, respecting his charge of their having accelerated Fox's death by the use of digitalis, is sufficient to show how little he is to be relied upon for accuracy; and, as to his style, it is the most inflated bombastic manner of writing that ever yet came in my way, and would be much better adapted to "The Sorrows of Lady Henrietta Heartbroke: being the First Literary Attempt of a Young Lady".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Lewis Print: Newspaper
Mary Wells : Memoirs of the Life of Mrs. Sumbel, Late Wells; of the Theatres- Royal, Drury-Lane, Covent-Garden, and Haymarket: Including Her Correspondence
'I have heard of nothing good in the literary way; but I read three volumes yesterday of the strangest, dullest, and most incomprehensible trash imaginable, two or three passages in which made me laugh above measure, owing solely (I verily believe) to the writer's being half a fool and half a madwoman. It is the life of Mrs Wells, a ci-devant actress; in which, among other things, she proves that the Duke of [-] has given himself a vast deal of unnecessary trouble; a thing of which I never should have suspected him. [Lewis then criticise Wells's way of writing about marriage, her debts, etc].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Lewis Print: Book
Anne Louise Germaine, marquise de Stael Holstein :
'[love letters represent the only subject women] 'should ever attempt to write about. Madame de Stael even I will not except from this general rule; she has done a plaguey deal of mischief, and no good, by meddling in literary matters, and I wish to heaven she would renounce pen, ink, and paper for ever more.'
