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

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Listings for Reader:  

Samuel Richardson

 

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Lady Bradshaigh : annotations to Samuel Richardson, Pamela

"When Samuel Richardson asked his friend Lady Bradshaigh for her opinion of his novels Pamela and Clarissa, she sent him her annotated copies -- and he 'devoted some of his last days to reading her comments and to making his own comments on them.'"

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      

  

Lady Bradshaigh : annotations to Samuel Richardson, Clarissa

"When Samuel Richardson asked his friend Lady Bradshaigh for her opinion of his novels Pamela and Clarissa, she sent him her annotated copies -- and he 'devoted some of his last days to reading her comments and to making his own comments on them.'"

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: annotations in printed text

  

Samuel Richardson : Pamela

'While I was writing the two volumes [of Pamela], my worthy-hearted wife, and the young lady who is with us, when I had read them some part of the story, which I had begun without their knowing it, used to come in to my little closet every night with - "Have you any more of Pamela, Mr R...?"'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Unknown, manuscript of his novel

  

Alexander Pope : Dunciad

'Methinks, Sir, Mr Pope might employ his Time, and his admirable Genius better than in exposing Insects of a Day: For if these Authors would live longer, they should not be put down as Dunces.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: BookManuscript: Unknown

  

Aaron Hill : Fanciad

'what a charming instance have you given me, good sir, of the Restoration of [your health], if I may be permitted to infer it from the noble strength and Vigor of your verses. It is impossible, Sir, not to be animated by the Subject and the Poem'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Unknown, Richardson is about to print the manuscript

  

William Whitehead : Essay on Ridicule

'[I am] pleased with Mr Whitehead's Essay on Ridicule, a Piece which shews the Goodness of the Author's Heart, so much preferable to that of the Head alone'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: UnknownManuscript: Unknown

  

Alexander Pope : Dunciad

'I have bought Mr Pope over so often, and his "Dunciad" before his last new-vampt one, that I am tired of the Extravagance; and wonder every Body else is not. Especially, as now by this, he confesses that his Abuse of his first hero was for Abuse sake, having no better object for his Abuse. I admire Mr Pope's Genius, and his Versification: But forgive me, Sir, to say, I am scandaliz'd for human Nature, and such Talents, sunk so low'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: BookManuscript: Unknown

  

Sophia Westcomb : [letter]

'While I read [your letter], I have you before me in person: I converse with you and your dear Anna, as arm in arm you traverse the happy terrace...'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Letter, Unknown

  

Lady Bradshaigh : [letter]

'There was no need to bespeak my Patience, nor anything but my Gratitude, on reading such a Letter as you have favoured me with. Indeed I admire it; and have reason to plume myself upon the Interest you take in my Story...from many passages in your Letters [I look upon you] as a Daughter of my own Mind'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Letter

  

Homer  : Iliad

'I admire you for what you say of the fierce fighting "Iliad"... I am afraid this poem, noble as it truly is, has done infinite mischief for a series of ages; since to it, and its copy the "Eneid", is owing, in a great measure, the savage spirit that has actuated, from the earliest ages to this time, the fighting fellows that, worse than lions or tigers, have ravaged the earth, and made it a field of blood'.

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

  

Virgil  : Aeneid

'I admire you for what you say of the fierce fighting "Iliad"... I am afraid this poem, noble as it truly is, has done infinite mischief for a series of ages; since to it, and its copy the "Eneid", is owing, in a great measure, the savage spirit that has actuated, from the earliest ages to this time, the fighting fellows that, worse than lions or tigers, have ravaged the earth, and made it a field of blood'.

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

  

Pliny the Elder  : [observations and transcriptions from work]

'I am very much obliged to you, for your transcriptions and observations from Pliny; as you say, I should never find time to read the book. What stores of knowledge do I lose, by my incapacity of reading, and by my having used myself to write, till I can do nothing else, nor hardly that'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Unknown, transcriptions by Susanna Highmore

  

Abraham Cowley : 

'I am glad that Cowley takes his turn with you. Cowley has great merit with me; and the greater, as he is out of fashion in this age of taste. And yet I wonder he is so absolutely neglected, as he wants not point and turn, and wit, and fancy, and an imagination very brilliant: nor puts the reader to vast trouble to understand him

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

  

Edmund Spenser : 

'I don't wonder that you are in such raptures with Spenser! What an imagination! What an invention! What painting! What colouring displayed throughout the works of that admirable author! and yet, for want of time, or opportunity, I have not read his "Fairy Queen" through in series, or at a heat, as I may call it'.

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

  

Samuel Johnson : Rambler, The

'Though I have constantly been a purchaser of the Ramblers from the first five that you were so kind as to present me with, yet I have not had time to read any farther than those first five, till within these two or three days past. But I can go no further than the thirteenth, now before me, till I have acquainted you, that I am inexpressibly pleased with them. I remember not a thing in the Spectators, in those Spectators that I read, for I never found time... to read them all, that half so much struck me; and yet I think of them highly.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Joseph Addison : The Spectator

'Though I have constantly been a purchaser of the Ramblers from the first five that you were so kind as to present me with, yet I have not had time to read any farther than those first five, till within these two or three days past. But I can go no further than the thirteenth, now before me, till I have acquainted you, that I am inexpressibly pleased with them. I remember not a thing in the Spectators, in those Spectators that I read, for I never found time... to read them all, that half so much struck me; and yet I think of them highly.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Philip Skelton : Ophiomaches: or, Deism Revealed

'Have you seen two volumes called "Deism Revealed"? 'Tis a well written piece, and much approved here. I think it is not harsh against the religion of France; but scourges our infidels, sceptics, deists, &c. as well by name as by works.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Unknown, MS of work Richardson printed

  

John Milton : Paradise Lost

'I wish you would cannonade this N[ewto]n. I cannot bear, that another of Apollo's genuine Offspring should pass down to future Times with such crude and unworthy Notes.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: BookManuscript: Unknown

  

Henry Fielding : Amelia (1st vol.)

'You guess that I have not read "Amelia". Indeed I have read but the first volume. I had intended to go through with it; but I found the characters and situations so wretchedly low and dirty, that I imagined I could not be interested for any one of them; and to read and not to care what became of the hero and heroine, is a task that I thought I would leave to those who had more leisure than I am blessed with'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: BookManuscript: Unknown

  

Lord Orrery : Remarks on the Life and Writings of Dr Swift

'I have read through Lord Orrery's History of Swift. I greatly like it.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: BookManuscript: Unknown

  

Marcus Tullius Cicero : 

'The fault of the great author, whose letters to his friend you have been reading, is, that Tully is wholly concerned for the fame of Cicero; and that for fame and self-exaltation sake. In some of his orations, what is called his vehemence (but really is too often insult and ill manners) so transports him, that a modern pleader... would not be heard, if he were to take the like freedoms... Cicero's constitutional faults seem to be vanity and cowardice. Great geniuses seldom have small faults. You have seen, I presume, Dr Middleton's "Life of Cicero". It is a fine piece; but the Doctor, I humbly think, has played the panegyrist, in some places in it, rather than the historian. The present laureat's performance on the same subject, of which Dr Middleton's is the foundation, is a spirited and pretty piece... You greatly oblige me, Madam, whenever you give me your observations upon what you read'.

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

  

Conyers Middleton : History of the Life of Marcus Tullius Cicero

'The fault of the great author, whose letters to his friend you have been reading, is, that Tully is wholly concerned for the fame of Cicero; and that for fame and self-exaltation sake. In some of his orations, what is called his vehemence (but really is too often insult and ill manners) so transports him, that a modern pleader... would not be heard, if he were to take the like freedoms... Cicero's constitutional faults seem to be vanity and cowardice. Great geniuses seldom have small faults. You have seen, I presume, Dr Middleton's "Life of Cicero". It is a fine piece; but the Doctor, I humbly think, has played the panegyrist, in some places in it, rather than the historian. The present laureat's performance on the same subject, of which Dr Middleton's is the foundation, is a spirited and pretty piece... You greatly oblige me, Madam, whenever you give me your observations upon what you read'.

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

  

Colley Cibber : The Character and Conduct of Cicero Considered

'The fault of the great author, whose letters to his friend you have been reading, is, that Tully is wholly concerned for the fame of Cicero; and that for fame and self-exaltation sake. In some of his orations, what is called his vehemence (but really is too often insult and ill manners) so transports him, that a modern pleader... would not be heard, if he were to take the like freedoms... Cicero's constitutional faults seem to be vanity and cowardice. Great geniuses seldom have small faults. You have seen, I presume, Dr Middleton's "Life of Cicero". It is a fine piece; but the Doctor, I humbly think, has played the panegyrist, in some places in it, rather than the historian. The present laureat's performance on the same subject, of which Dr Middleton's is the foundation, is a spirited and pretty piece... You greatly oblige me, Madam, whenever you give me your observations upon what you read'.

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

  

Jonathan Swift : [letters and poetical scraps]

'I remember once to have seen a little collection of letters and poetical scraps of Swift's, which passed between him and Mrs Van Homrigh, this same Vanessa, which the bookseller then told me were sent him to be published, from the originals, by this lady, in resentment of his perfidy'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Letter

  

Charlotte Lennox : The Female Quixote

'"The Female Quixote" is written by a woman...Lennox her name. Her husband and she have often visited me together. Do you not think, however her heroine over-acts her part, that Arabella is amiable and innocent? The writer has genius. She is hardly twenty four, and has been unhappy. She wrote a piece, called "Harriet Stuart''.'

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

  

Charlotte Lennox : The Life of Harriet Stuart, Written by Herself

'"The Female Quixote" is written by a woman...Lennox her name. Her husband and she have often visited me together. Do you not think, however her heroine over-acts her part, that Arabella is amiable and innocent? The writer has genius. She is hardly twenty four, and has been unhappy. She wrote a piece, called "Harriet Stuart".'

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

  

Thomas Edwards : [letter relating story of a real life 'Pamela']

'I am very charmed, my dear Mr Edwards, with your sweet Story of a Second Pamela. Had I drawn mine from the very Life, I should have made a much more perfect Piece of my first Favourite.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Letter

  

Ludovico Ariosto : Orlando Furioso

'Did you never, madam, wish for Angelica's Invisible Ring, in Ariosto's "Orlando"? - I remember when I first read of it, I laboured under a real uneasiness for a whole week, from the strong desire I had to be master of such a one. I was a very sheepish boy, and thought I should make very happy use of it on a multitude of occasions.'

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

  

Lady Bradshaigh : 'Determinta'

'In a visit the Author of the Rambler made me on Monday last, I read to him your "Determinta", and expressed my wonder that he had not made a Paper of it, as I thought it would have been a very good one. He remembered it not; and spoke handsomely of it.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: unpublished piece of writing

  

William Shakespeare : [illustrated, edited version]

'I have nothing to say in favour or disfavour of the Shakespeare illustrated. Some pieces are not calculated for more than the present Age, or Time, I should rather say. But this, endeavouring to rob Shakespeare of his Invention, proposes possibly a more durable Existence. Yet, I would not wish to be the Author of so invidious a Piece.'

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

  

Lady Bradshaigh : [comments on MS of Sir Charles Grandison]

'I have read your Objections to Sir Charles's Divided Love to Mrs Donellan. Just her sentiments, she said. And Harriet's frequent declarations of her love, she also censured; and honours you for both Opinions. Miss Mulso exulted, by clapping her wings, as I may say, on your Ladyship's Censure of the divided Love. She admires every word you say by way of Censure or Objection'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Letter

  

David Mallett : Amyntor and Theodora, or, The Hermit

'You did not tell me before, that you had read "the Hermit" and "Alfrida". There are charming Things in both. I read them when they first came out, having a great opinion of the poetical capacity of both gentlemen. I was not disappointed. I forget the story of the Hermit, and its management: But in general I was pleased with it. Mr Mason has a fine genius... But I thought his piece was rather too poetical. - A strange censure of a fine piece of poetry. In other words, that he was too lavish, in other words. of his poetical talents...'

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

  

William Mason : Elfrida

'You did not tell me before, that you had read the Hermit and Alfrida. There are charming Things in both. I read them when they first came out, having a great opinion of the poetical capacity of both gentlemen. I was not disappointed. I forget the story of the Hermit, and its management: But in general I was pleased with it. Mr Mason has a fine genius... But I thought his piece was rather too poetical. - A strange censure of a fine piece of poetry. In other words, that he was too lavish, in other words. of his poetical talents...'

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

  

Marie de Rabutin-Chantal Marquise de Sevigne : Letters

'Have you read Mad. Sevigne's Letters from the [French]? Fine passages and Sentiments there are in it, & a notion given of the French manner tho' written in the middle reign of Louis XIV. What are the Two volumes called the History of Man from the French also. There is a volume which is not chaste enough to be recommended to your Ladiship. It is truly French. Its language good. But for the knowledge of the hearts of people given up to what is called Gallantry, particularly French Gallantry, I have not seen its equal. It is called Letters of Ninon de Lenclos to the marquis of Sevigne. Son of the above-named Lady, and her contemporary. It will not offend the Ear. But I would not by any means recommend it to a very young Lady'.

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

  

 : The History of Man

'Have you read Mad. Sevigne's Letters from the [French]? Fine passages and Sentiments there are in it, & a notion given of the French manner tho' written in the middle reign of Louis XIV. What are the Two volumes called the History of Man from the French also. There is a volume which is not chaste enough to be recommended to your Ladiship. It is truly French. Its language good. But for the knowledge of the hearts of people given up to what is called Gallantry, particularly French Gallantry, I have not seen its equal. It is called Letters of Ninon de Lenclos to the marquis of Sevigne. Son of the above-named Lady, and her contemporary. It will not offend the Ear. But I would not by any means recommend it to a very young Lady'.

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

  

Ninon de Lenclos : Letters of Ninon de Lenclos to the Marquis of Sevigne

'Have you read Mad. Sevigne's Letters from the [French]? Fine passages and Sentiments there are in it, & a notion given of the French manner tho' written in the middle reign of Louis XIV. What are the Two volumes called the History of Man from the French also. There is a volume which is not chaste enough to be recommended to your Ladiship. It is truly French. Its language good. But for the knowledge of the hearts of people given up to what is called Gallantry, particularly French Gallantry, I have not seen its equal. It is called Letters of Ninon de Lenclos to the marquis of Sevigne. Son of the above-named Lady, and her contemporary. It will not offend the Ear. But I would not by any means recommend it to a very young Lady'.

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

  

John Hawkesworth : Adventurer, The

'Does your Ladiship see The Adventurer? I buy it; but have not had time to read but here and there one; But purpose from the Character judicious Friends give of them, to make them part of my Reading Entertainment when I have Leisure'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: Serial / periodical

  

William Mason : [items in Dodsley's Miscellanies]

'In Dodsley's "Miscellanies" there are two or three pretty pieces of Mr Mason. Bacon's "Life by Mr Mallet" perhaps you have seen. He is not near so good a Man, I fear, as Mr Mason'

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

  

David Mallett : [Life of Bacon]

'In Dodsley's "Miscellanies" there are two or three pretty pieces of Mr Mason. Bacon's "Life" by Mr Mallet perhaps you have seen. He is not near so good a Man, I fear, as Mr Mason.'

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

  

David Hartley : [passages from] Observations on Man, his frame, his duty, and his expectations.

'I have read the Passage in Dr Hartley which you pointed out to me. He is a good Man. One Day I hope to read him thro', tho' without Hopes of understanding the abstruser Parts'

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

  

John Hawkesworth : [items in Cave's Magazine]

'I am glad the Adventurers please your Ladiship. You think the Style of some of them uneasy and difficult. The principal Author has been thought an Imitator of Mr Johnson, the Author of the Rambler. The two Gentlemen have a high Opinion of each other. Mr Hawkesworth has written some very good things in Cave's Magazine...'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Print: Serial / periodical

  

various authors  : correspondence and other papers

'I am employing myself at present, in looking over & sorting, & classing my Correspondencies and other Papers. This, when done, will amuse me by reading over again, a very ample Correspondence: & in comparing the Sentiments of my Correspondents, at the time, with their present; and improving from both'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Letter, letters and papers

  

Edward Young : The Centaur not Fabulous; in Six Letters to a Friend on The Life in Vogue

'With us, the "Centaur not fabulous" has met with a pretty good Reception; tho' some good People wish that it had less of the Enthusiasm of Poetry in it; less of Imagination. But are there not very fine, very solemn, very noble Strokes in almost every Page of it? Is not the Author's good Design apparent in every Line?'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson      Manuscript: Unknown, printed by Richardson so presumably read in MS

  

Joseph Warton : An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Pope

'I believe your Ladiship will be diverted with an Octavo book on the Writings and Genius of Pope; tho' you will not approve of everything in it. A little Vol. intitled, "Christian Morals", by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, Author of Religio Medici, with his Life and Explanatory Notes, by S. Johnson, Author of the Rablers, will, I believe, amuse you. There is a third Book written by Mr G[reville], a Man of Fashion, intitled, "Maxims", "Characters" or some such Title. Among his Subjects, he takes to Task (to severe Task, some have thought) the Writings of your Humble Servt. Thus I wrote upon it to a Lady, who was unwilling I should see it, for fear it shd. vex me; a Fear several of my Friends had on the same Account; "I have read Mr G[reville's] Censure of the Writings of a certain Author. I sincerely think there may be Justice in the most unfavourable Part of it."'

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

  

Thomas Browne : Christian Morals

I believe your Ladiship will be diverted with an Octavo book on the Writings and Genius of Pope; tho' you will not approve of everything in it. A little Vol. intitled, "Christian Morals", by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, Author of Religio Medici, with his Life and Explanatory Notes, by S. Johnson, Author of "the Rablers", will, I believe, amuse you. There is a third Book written by Mr G[reville], a Man of Fashion, intitled, "Maxims", "Characters" or some such Title. Among his Subjects, he takes to Task (to severe Task, some have thought) the Writings of your Humble Servt. Thus I wrote upon it to a Lady, who was unwilling I should see it, for fear it shd. vex me; a Fear several of my Friends had on the same Account; "I have read Mr G[reville's] Censure of the Writings of a [italics] certain Author[end italics]. I sincerely think there may be Justice in the most unfavourable Part of it."'

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

  

Fulke Greville : Maxims, Characters and Reflections

I believe your Ladiship will be diverted with an Octavo book on the Writings and Genius of Pope; tho' you will not approve of everything in it. A little Vol. intitled, "Christian Morals", by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, Author of "Religio Medici", with his Life and Explanatory Notes, by S. Johnson, Author of the Rablers, will, I believe, amuse you. There is a third Book written by Mr G[reville], a Man of Fashion, intitled, "Maxims, Characters" or some such Title. Among his Subjects, he takes to Task (to severe Task, some have thought) the Writings of your Humble Servt. Thus I wrote upon it to a Lady, who was unwilling I should see it, for fear it shd. vex me; a Fear several of my Friends had on the same Account; "I have read Mr G[reville's] Censure of the Writings of a [italics] certain Author [ end italics]. I sincerely think there may be Justice in the most unfavourable Part of it."'

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

  

Sarah Fielding : Familiar Letters Between the Principle Characters in David Simple

'I amuse myself as well as I can with reading. I have just gone through your two vols. of Letters. Have reperused them with great pleasure and found many new beauties in them. What a knowledge of the human heart!'

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

  

Laurence Sterne : The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy

'Who is this Yorick? you are pleased to ask me. You cannot, I imagine have looked into his books: execrable I cannot but call them; for I am told that the third and fourth volumes are worse, if possible, than the two first; which, only, I have had the patience to run through. One extenuating circumstance attends his works, that they are too gross to be inflaming'.

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

  

 : 

[in prefatory essay by A. L. Barbauld] From Samuel Richardson's account of his childhood, up to about age 13: 'As a bashful and not forward boy, I was an early favourite with all the young women of taste and reading in the neighbourhood. Half a dozen of them, when met to work with their needles, used, when they got a book they liked, and thought I should, to borrow me to read to them; and both mothers and daughters used to be pleased with the observations they put me upon making.'

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

 

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