Revolutions in Romantic Literature: An Anthology of Print Culture, 1780–1832

379 Pages·2004·3.33 MB·English

by  Paul Keen

~18mm
broadview anthol ogies of english litera ture
r
e This electronic material is under
v copyright protection and is
o provided to a single recipient
l for review purposes only.
u
This concise Broadview anthology of primary source materials is t
i
unique in its focus on Romantic literature and the ways in which the o
n Revolutions
period itself was characterized by wide-ranging, self-conscious debates
s
about the meaning of literature. It includes materials that are not avail-
i in Romantic
able in other Romantic literature anthologies. n

The anthology is organized into thirteen sections that highlight the r
Literature:
o
intensity and sophistication with which a variety of related literary
m
issues were debated in the Romantic period. These debates posed fun-
a
damental questions about the very nature of literature as a cultural n An Anthology of
phenomenon, the extent and role of the reading public, literature's t Print Culture,
i
relation to the sciences and the aesthetic, the influence of contempo- c
1780-1832
rary commercial pressures, and the impact of perceived excesses in con- l
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sumer fashions. The anthology foregrounds the ways that these literary t
e
debates converged with broader social and political controversies such
r
as the French Revolution, the struggle for women’s rights, colonialism, a
t
and the anti-slave trade campaign.
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This anthology includes an impressive range of writings from the r
e
period (including literary criticism and philosophical, political, scien-
tific, and travel writing) which embodies the collection’s broad
approach to Romantic literature. Both lesser-known and more canoni-
cal writings are included, and the selections are organized by topic in
such a way as to dramatize the debates and exchanges which character-
ize the Romantic period.
Paul Keen is an Associate Professor in the English Department at Carleton
University. He is the author of The Crisis of Literature in the s: Print Culture
and the Public Sphere(Cambridge University Press, ) and editor of The Radical
Popular Press in Britain, -(Pickering & Chatto, ).
Cover: Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, “Coalbrookdale By Night,” .
(Science Museum / Science & Society Picture Library).
Design by George Kirkpatrick
edited by
Paul Keen
broadview EDITED BY PAUL KEEN
Review Copy
Revolutions in Romantic Literature:
An Anthology of Print Culture,
1780–1832
Review Copy
Review Copy
Revolutions in Romantic Literature:
An Anthology of Print Culture,
1780–1832
edited by
Paul Keen
broadview press
Review Copy
© 2004 Paul Keen
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NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION
Revolutions in Romantic Literature: an anthology of print culture, 1780–1832 / edited by Paul Keen.
Includes index.
ISBN 1-55111-352-x
1. English prose literature—18th century. 2. English prose literature—19th century. 3. Great Britain—Intellectual life—
18th century—Sources. 4. Great Britain—Intellectual Life—19th century —Sources. 5. Books and reading—Great Britain—
History—18th century—Sources. 6. Books and reading—Great Britain—History—19th century—Sources. 7. Social
problems—Great Britain— History—18th century—Sources. 8. Social problems—Great Britain—History—19th century—
Sources. I. Keen, Paul
PN603.R49 2004 828'.70808 C2003-907047-6
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Table of Contents
1
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xxi
Section One: The Nature of the Word, Literature 1
1
William Godwin, An Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence on
General Virtue and Happiness (1793) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3
Monthly Review, Review of An Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its
Influence on General Virtue and Happiness (1793) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 5
British Critic, Review of An Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence
on General Virtue and Happiness (1793) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
T.J. Mathias, The Pursuits of Literature: A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues
(1797) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 7
Analytical Review, Review of
1. Requête au Roi, &c.—Address to the King, by M. de Calonne. London, 1787.
2. Réponse de M. de Calonne &c.—M. Calonne’s Reply to M. Necker’s
Pamphlet published in April 1787, containing the Examination of his
Report of the State of the Finances of France in 1774, 1776, 1781, 1783,
1787, &c. London, 1788.
3. Sur le Compte rendu au Roi, &c.—Explanations of the Account
rendered to the King in 1781. By M. Necker. Paris, 1788.
4. Motif de M. de Calonne, &c.—M. de Calonne’s Motive for delaying
his Refutation of M. Necker’s Explanations till the meeting of the
States-General. London, 1788. (1788) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Anna Letitia Barbauld, An Address to the Opposers of the Repeal of the
Corporation and Test Acts (1790) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 9
Monthly Magazine, Letter (1798) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 9
Edinburgh Review, “The Periodical Press,” A Review of:
The St. James Chronicle—The Morning Chronicle—The Times—The New
Times—The Courier, &c.—Cobbett’s Weekly Journal—The Examiner—The
Observer—The Gentleman’s Magazine—The New Monthly Magazine—The
London, &c. &c. [William Hazlitt] (1823) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leigh Hunt, “On the Connection and the Mutual Assistance of the Arts and Sciences,
and the Relation of Poetry to them All,” The Reflector, A Collection of Essays,
on Miscellaneous Subjects of Literature and Politics (1812) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 12
Thomas De Quincey, “The Poetry of Pope” (1848) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 13
1 Please note that the texts listed are selections; works are not reproduced in their entirety.
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Revolutions in Romantic Literature
Section Two: The Reading Public 17
S.T. Coleridge, The Statesman’s Manual: A Lay Sermon (1816) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
John Stuart Mill, “The Present State of Literature” (1827) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 21
New Monthly Magazine, “The Influence of Books” [William Hazlitt] (1828) . . . . . . 23
Political Register, “Letter to Alderman Wood on the Subject of Teaching the
Children of the Poor to Read” [William Cobbett] (1813) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24
William Godwin, “Of Learning.” The Enquirer: Reflections on Education,
Manners and Literature (1797) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 29
Sir Archibald Macdonald, Speech as Prosecution in the Seditious-Libel
Trial of Thomas Paine for Rights of Man Part Two (1792) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31
Thomas Erskine, Speech as Prosecution in the Seditious-Libel Trial of
Thomas Williams for Publishing Age of Reason, by Thomas Paine (1797) . . . . . . . 32
Gentleman’s Magazine, Letter: “On Reading Novels” (1797) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33
Gentleman’s Magazine, Letter: “Eusebius’s Final Reply on the
Subject of Sunday Schools” (1798) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34
Gentleman’s Magazine, Letter: “Some former Articles Reviewed by an old
Correspondent” (1789) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 35
Leigh Hunt, “My Books” (1823) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 36
Section Three: Literary Autobiographies 40
James Lackington, Memoirs of the Forty-Five First Years of the Life of
James Lackington, Bookseller (1791; 1792) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Mary Robinson, Memoirs of Mary Robinson. Written by Herself (1800) . . . . . . . . . . . 51
William Gifford, Esq., The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis and of Aulus
Persius Flaccus, Translated Into English Verse. Prefaced by a Life of Gifford
(1802) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 61
Francis Place, The Autobiography of Francis Place (1824) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 70
Section Four: The Book Trade 79
James Lackington, Memoirs of the Forty-Five First Years of the Life of
James Lackington, Bookseller (1791; 1792) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Gentleman’s Magazine, “Bibliographic Account of the late Mr. Joseph
Johnson” (1809) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Isaac D’Israeli, The Case of Authors Stated, Including the History of
Literary Property (1812) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 87
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Anonymous, An Address to the Parliament of Great Britain, on the Claims
of Authors to Their Own Copy Right. By a Member of the University
of Cambridge (1813) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 92
Sir Egerton Brydges, Bart. M.P., Reasons for a Further Amendment of the
Act 54 Geo. III. C. 156: Being an Act to Amend the Copyright Act
of Queen Anne (1817) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 96
Gentleman’s Magazine, Letter: “Mr. Fisher’s Publication on Stratford-upon-Avon”
(1817). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 98
S.T. Coleridge, “Advice to Young Authors,” Biographia Literaria (1817) . . . . . . . . . 100
Section Five: The Vanity Fair of Knowledge: Literary Fashions 104
Vicesimus Knox, “Of Reading Novels and Trifling Books Without
Discrimination,” Winter Evenings: or, Lucubrations on Life and Letters (1788) . . 107
Gentleman’s Magazine, Letter: “Libraries Recommended in Market
Towns” (1794) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
T.J. Mathias, The Pursuits of Literature: A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues
(1797) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 109
Isaac D’Israeli, Preface to An Essay on the Manners and Genius of the
Literary Character (1795) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 110
Monthly Review, Review of A View of Universal History, from Creation to
the Present Time. By the Rev. J. Adams (1796) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 112
Hannah More, Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (1799) . . . . . . . 113
Gentleman’s Magazine, Letter: “A Modern Requisite Towards the
Character of a Gentleman” (1799) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Anna Letitia Barbauld, “On the Origin and Progress of Novel-Writing” (1810) . . . 119
Monthly Magazine, “On Reading New Books” [William Hazlitt] (1827) . . . . . . . . 120
Section Six: The Arts and Sciences 124
Monthly Review, Review of An Inquiry into the History of Scotland Preceding
the Reign of Malcolm III or the Year 1056. By John Pinkerton (1790) . . . . . . . . . 126
James Lackington, Memoirs of the First Forty-Five Years of the Life of
James Lackington (1791; 1792) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 127
British Critic, Review of The History of Great Britain, Connected with
the Chronology of Europe. By James Pettit Andrews (1794) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Gentleman’s Magazine, Review of Sheridan and Henderson’s Practical Method
of Reading and Reciting English Poetry; Designed as an Introduction to
Dr. Enfield’s “Speaker” (1798). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 128
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Revolutions in Romantic Literature
Monthly Magazine, “A Tribute to the Memory of the Late Excellent and
Celebrated Bibliographer, Mr. Samuel Paterson” (1803) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 128
Preface to Encyclopaedia Britannica; Or, a Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and
Miscellaneous Literature; Enlarged and Improved. The Fourth Edition (1810) . . . . 130
Monthly Review, Review of Experimental Researches Concerning the Philosophy of
Permanent Colours. By Edward Bancroft (1795) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 132
Monthly Review, Review of FLORENTII JACOBI VOLTELEN Oratio, &c. i.e. An
Oration delivered in the University of Leydon. By F.J. Voltelen, on his
retiring from the Office of Rector Magnificus (1791) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 133
Preface to Gentleman’s Magazine (1795) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Preface to Dissertations and Miscellaneous Pieces Relating to the History and
Antiquities, the Arts, Sciences, and Literature, of Asia (1793) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Joseph Priestley, Dedication and Preface to Experiments and Observations on
Different Kinds of Air and Other Branches of Natural Philosophy (1790) . . . . . . . 135
Erasmus Darwin, The Loves of the Plants (1791) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 139
Humphry Davy, A Discourse, Introductory to a Course of Lectures of
Chemistry (1802) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
William Wordsworth, Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1802) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 144
Humphry Davy, Address of the President on Taking the Chair of the Royal
Society, for the First Time; December 7th, 1820.—on the Present State of That
Body, and on the Progress and Prospects of Science (1827) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 146
Section Seven: The Periodical Press 149
Preface to the Analytical Review, Or, History of Literature, Domestic And
Foreign, on an Enlarged Plan (1788) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Preface to Gentleman’s Magazine and Historical Chronicle (1790) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Monthly Review, Review of The Patriot: or, Political, Moral, and Philosophical
Repository, consisting of Original Pieces, and Selections from Writers of Merit,
a Work calculated to disseminate those Branches of Knowledge among all Ranks
of People, at a small Expence. By a Society of Gentlemen (1792) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Monthly Magazine, Letter (1799) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 155
Samuel Pratt, Gleanings in England: Descriptive of the Countenance, Mind,
and Character of the Country (1799) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Prospectus, The Reflector, A Collection of Essays, on Miscellaneous Subjects of
Literature and Politics [Leigh Hunt] (1812) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 160
S.T. Coleridge, “The Author’s Obligations to Critics, and the Probable
Occasion,” Biographia Literaria (1817) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Introduction to Retrospective Review (1820) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Edinburgh Review, “The Periodical Press,” A Review of:
The St. James Chronicle—The Morning Chronicle—The Times—The New
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Table of Contents
Times—The Courier, &c.—Cobbett’s Weekly Journal—The Examiner—The
Observer—The Gentleman’s Magazine—The New Monthly Magazine—The
London, &c. &c. [William Hazlitt] (1823) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 165
Section Eight: Romantic Literature 170
William Gilpin, Three Essays: On Picturesque Beauty; On Picturesque Travel;
and on Sketching Landscape: to which is added a poem, on Landscape
Painting (1792) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Monthly Magazine, “On Artificial Taste” [Mary Wollstonecraft] (1797) . . . . . . . . . 176
Monthly Magazine, “On the Characteristics of Poetry” (1797) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Charles Lloyd, Edmund Oliver (1798) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
William Wordsworth, Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1802) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 182
Edinburgh Review, Review of Thalaba, the Destroyer. By Robert Southey (1802) . . . 185
Leigh Hunt, The Feast of the Poets (1814) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Humphry Davy, “Parallels Between Art and Science” (1807) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Percy Shelley, A Defence of Poetry (1821) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Section Nine: Reflections on the Revolution in France 196
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France and on the Proceedings
in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event (1790) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Men, in a Letter to the
Right Honourable Edmund Burke; occasioned by his Reflections on the
Revolution in France (1790) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 203
Thomas Paine, Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke’s Attack on
the French Revolution (1791–92) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 205
Anonymous, Remarks on Mr. Paine’s Pamphlet, Called the Rights of Man
(1791) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 208
Thomas Paine, Letter Addressed to the Addressers on the Late Proclamation
(1792) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 209
Hannah More, Village Politics, Addressed to All the Mechanics, Journeymen
And Day Labourers, in Great Britain (1793) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 211
Daniel Isaac Eaton, The Pernicious Effects of the Art of Printing Upon Society,
Exposed (1793) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
John Bowles, Letters of the Ghost of Alfred, Addressed to the Hon. Thomas
Erskine, and the Hon. Charles James Fox, On the Occasion of the State Trials at
the Close of the Year 1794, and the Beginning of the Year 1795 (1795) . . . . . . . . . 219
John Thelwall, Peaceful Discussion, and Not Tumultuary Violence the
Means of Redressing National Grievance (1795) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 222
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