Vol 1. No. 3

Quarterly Review
VOLUME 2 , NUMBER 3 (August 1809)


NOTES

  • This Number was published 29 Aug. [Murray MS. Paid Contributors List]

  • Murray printed 4000 copies

  • The Number was delayed as Gifford waited for the receipt of Ellis and Canning's article on Spain (#46) [Smiles I 160]

  • Murray initially sold 3646 copies. By November 1811, all copies had been sold and Murray had gained a profit of £62

  • The Number cost Murray £638, including £90 for printing, £½2 for wrappers, £58 for stitching, £12 for Sunday work, £9 for corrections, £50 for the editor, £157 for articles, £10 for books, postage, carriage, £37 for advertising As of July 1810, Murray's loss on the number was £17. [Murray MS, accounts book]

  • Concerning #38, a review was submitted by Conybeare to JM who apparently went over WG's head by rejecting it. JM seems to have told Conybeare that WG had thought the review too flattering, an idea that got back to Dr. Kidd. According to WG, this was not true, he had liked the article and had sent it to the printers to be set up. Only then did he learn from JM that another reviewer had been commissioned, a person from Edinburgh. This interference almost resulted in WG's resignation; it did result in Kidd no longer writing for the QR [see evidence at #38]

  • Devon MS. 1149M (f.114), WG to Edward Copleston, [9 Feb. 1810 postmark], says yesterday he communicated with Thomas Dunham Whitaker for the first time [see #41]

  • In June, Gifford retreated to his house at Ryde, Isle of Wight [Murray MS., Book Loans Register, f. 36]

  • Important or otherwise interesting articles in this Number include: #37, 43, and 46

  • Number of definite attributions for this issue: 9

  • Number of probable and possible attributions for this issue: 1

  • Number of articles for which no suggestion of authorship is made: 1

CONTENTS, IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTORS, AND HISTORICAL NOTES

36 Article 1. Spence, The Radical Cause of the Present Distresses of the West India Planters &c. The second edition; A Permanent and Effectual Remedy suggested for the Evils under which the British West Indies now labour, in a Letter from a W. I. Merchant to a W. I. Planter, 1-24. Author: George Ellis.

Running Title: Pamphlets on West India Affairs.

Notes: In attributing the article to Ellis, Shine cites JM III's Register. Shine also quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, [Aug.? 1809]: 'G. Ellis, I have revised with all my care & it may be worked off.' (Perhaps refers to #46.)

The following evidence is published here for the first time. NLS MS. 3878 (f.6), WG to Walter Scott, 20 Jan. 1809, says he has in hand an article 'on West India produce'. Murray MS., George Ellis to JM, 1 June 1809, proposes a 'Colonial article'. Murray MS., Book Loans Register: one of the works reviewed was sent to 'Geo Ellis' on 10 June 1809. Murray MS., Ellis to JM, [Aug. 1809], says he has completed only one article, a long one, and now sends another, on Spain (see #46). Ellis had property interests in the West Indies.

A Permanent and Effectual Remedy was reviewed in ER #460, Apr. 1809, by an unidentified author.

JM II's marked QR: 'G Ellis'.

JM III's Register: attribution to Ellis, but without evidence.

37 Article 2. Transactions of the Missionary Society in the South Sea Islands, 24-61. Author: Robert Southey.

Running Title: Trans. of the Miss. Soc. in the S. S. Islands.

Notes: In attributing the article to Southey, Shine cites JM III's Register; Warter II 164; Cottle 242-43; Southey 577; and Gentleman's Magazine XXI 137. Shine also quotes from the following letters. Murray MS., WG to JM, [Aug 1809]: 'The discussion on the missionaries ... S writes so small a hand that my eyes are scarcely equal to it ....' Murray MS., WG to JM, [Aug? 1809]: 'If you prefer S's America to the Miss. in this Number it may be used ....' (Cp. #55.)

The article is in Southey's definitive MS. list of his QR articles.

JM II's marked QR: 'Southey'.

JM III's Register: attribution to Southey, but without evidence.

38 Article 3. Kidd, Outlines of Mineralogy, 61-74. Author: Thomas Thomson, with William Gifford and John Josias Conybeare.

Running Title: Kidd's Outlines of Mineralogy.

Notes: In co-attributing the article to Thomson and Gifford, Shine cites JM III's Register; Smiles I 161-62; Clark 178; and DNB under Kidd. Shine also quotes from the following letters. Murray MS. WG to JM, 18 June 1809: 'I do not see why Dr Cony<beare>'s Review of Kidd may not be used.' Murray MS., WG to JM, 9 Aug. 1809: 'I send you the first part of Kidd. It is very splenetic and very severe, indeed most too wantonly so; I hope, however it is just. Some of the opprobrious language I will soften. ... Pray let me have Dr Conybeare's Review, for there is one paragraph of it which I should like to insert....' Murray MS., WG to JM, n.d.: 'On looking over the proof I find a passage (p.73) which as referring to Dr T. himself, he may not like to lose. I have therefore sent it altered as I wish it should be printed. The last part of it I omit.'

The following evidence is published here for the first time. Murray MS., Thomas Thomson to JM, 30 July 1809, Thomson speaks of this article as his. Murray MS., JM III's notes in wooden 'QR' box: '1809 ... Thomson (Dr T) Mar 22'. Murray MS., Book Loans Register: the book reviewed was sent to 'Dr. Thos Thomson Edin.' on 24 Mar. 1809. Devon MS. 1149M (f.74), WG to Edward Copleston, 8 Dec. 1809, NLS MS. 3878 (ff.239-42), WG to Walter Scott, [Dec. 1808 or Jan. 1809]; NLS MS. 3878 (f.121), WG to Scott, 22 Aug. 1809; Murray MS., WG to JM, 18 June 1809: these letters together indicate that a review on this topic was submitted by Conybeare to JM who apparently went over WG's head by rejecting it. JM seems to have told Conybeare that WG had thought the review too flattering, an idea that got back to Dr. Kidd. According to WG, this was not true, he had liked the article and had sent it to the printers to be set up. Only then did he learn from JM that another reviewer had been commissioned, a person from Edinburgh (Thomson was an Edinburgh chemist). This interference almost resulted in WG's resignation; it did result in Kidd no longer writing for the QR.

JM III's Register: attribution to Thomson, and this note: 'From Mem book in office, but See W G June 18, 1809'

39 Article 4. Paley, Sermons on several Subjects by the late Rev. William Paley, D. D. Subdean of Lincoln, Prebendary of St. Paul's and Rector of Bishop Wearworth. 3rd Edition; Meadley, Memoirs of William Paley D. D. by G. H. Meadley. To which is added an Appendix, 75-88. Author: George D'Oyly, probably with John Ireland.

Running Title: Paley's Sermons, and Memoirs.

Notes: In attributing the article to D'Oyly, Shine cites JM III's Register; Smiles I 161; and D'Oyly I xxiv. Shine also quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, [Aug. 1809]: 'I was forced to beg him [Ireland] to look at Paley in the Coach & he has not yet returned it. I think it D'Oyley's best.'

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time.

Paley's Natural Theology was reviewed in ER #32, Jan. 1803, by Francis Jeffrey.

JM II's marked QR: [in pencil] 'Dr Doyly'.

JM III's Register: attribution to D'Oyly, but without evidence.

40 Article 5. Valentia, Voyages and Travels to India, Ceylon, and the Red Sea, Abyssinia and Egypt in the years 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, and 1806, 88-126. Author: Robert Southey, with significant excisions by William Gifford.

Running Title: Lord Valentia's Travels.

Notes: In attributing the article to Southey alone, Shine cites JM III's Register; Warter II 164; Cottle 242-43; and Southey 577.

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. The article is included in Southey's definitive MS. list of his QR articles. Murray MS., George Ellis to JM, 5 Nov. [1809], says that Southey's review of 'Valentia's travels was not equal to what he had hoped from his pen'. WG suppressed what he thought was opprobrious language and what he called 'nationality' in the article. J. B. S. Morritt, Walter Scott's friend, had been working on a review of the book, but was usurped in his effort by Southey.

JM III's Register: attribution to Southey, with the following note: 'From G Ellis's letter Nov 5/09.'

41 Article 6. Whittington, An Historical Survey of the Ecclesiastical Antiquities of France, with a View to illustrate the Rise and Progress of Gothic Architecture in Europe, 126-45. Author: Thomas Dunham Whitaker, probably.

Running Title: Whittington on Gothic Architecture.

Notes: In attributing the article to Whitaker, Shine cites only JM III's Register and says to see also Smiles I 161.

The following evidence is published here for the first time. Murray MS., JM II's 1808 QR notebook: 'Rev. Thomas Whitaker ... Divinity / Topography / Antiquities'. Devon MS. 1149M (f.114), WG to Edward Copleston, [9 Feb. 1810 postmark], says yesterday he communicated with Whitaker for the first time. Murray MS., Book Loans Register: a copy of the book reviewed was sent to 'Dr Whitaker' on 9 Feb. 1811.

JM II's marked QR: [in pencil] 'Dr Whitaker'.

JM III's Register: attribution to Whitaker, but without evidence.

42 Article 7. Edgeworth, Tales of Fashionable Life, 146-54. Authors: Henry John Stephen and William Gifford.

Running Title: Tales of Fashionable Life.

Notes: In co-attributing the article to Stephen and Gifford, Shine quotes from the following letters. Dudley 13-14 (11 Feb 1814): 'I was preparing to make a vigorous defence of Miss E from the canting hypocritical accusations against her on the score of religion, when luckily I bethought myself of turning back to the two former papers on Miss E in the QR [#42 and 198], in which I found this charge preferred with great earnestness and solemnity ... just at the same time, to my great surprise, [I] accidentally learnt from Murray ... that those passages were of Gifford's own manufacture, and inserted (pro salute animae) at his particular instance in an article furnished by that "serious young man" the younger Stephen.' Murray MS., Henry John Stephen to JM, n.d.: 'I returned the "Tales of Fashionable Life" last week, and am much obliged for the use of them. Before I put my review of that work into your hands I could wish to see the Treatise on Practical Education by the same Author. The loan of it for an hour or two will be sufficient for this purpose.' Murray MS., WG to JM, 21 July 1809: 'I think young Mr Stephen's criticism will do very well. It is much better than you gave me reason to expect. In short, I see nothing amiss in it, & a few trifling alterations will make it pass muster famously.' Murray MS., WG to John Ireland, [19 or 22 Aug. 1809]: 'Stephen will do well enough, perhaps.' Murray MS., WG to JM, [Aug. 1809]: 'To Mr Stevens or Stephens as you spell it (pray correct my address) I have mentioned the M.S. on Russia, & offered it to him. It is now too late to write a new letter, and I shall at all events make no scruple of using it if convenient and proper.' Shine also cites a letter quoted at entry #198, Iowa MS., JM to John Wilson Croker, n.d.: '... perhaps you will make an effort upon Miss Edgeworth who merits all your care.... we used [her] very scurvily in our Review (see no 3 or Vol 2 p 146) of the first three Vols of her Tales ....'

The following evidence is published here for the first time. Murray MS., Book Loans Register: the book reviewed was sent to 'H. J. Stephens (Henry John) / 4 Sergts Inn' on 22 June 1809. NLS MS., 3878 (f.121), WG to Walter Scott, 22 Aug. 1809: 'I was ignorant that you had taken Miss Edgeworth with you, & have therefore admitted a la la sort of Review of it by a person whom I do not know. For this we may thank Adam!! For I shall never say to thunder in your ears that you have left us this time a prey to dullness.' Smiles I 163, probably following JM III's Register, alludes to an article in this Number by Croker.

The subject of this article was reviewed in ER #475, July 1809, by Francis Jeffrey.

JM III's Register: attribution to John Wilson Croker, but without evidence.

43 Article 8. Haslam, Observations on Madness and Melancholy, including practical Remarks on those Diseases, together with Cases; and an Account of the morbid Appearances on Dissection. The Second Edition; Davis, Pinel's Treatise on Insanity; Cox's Practical Observations on Insanity. Second Edition; Arnold On the Management of the Insane, 155-80. Author: Thomas Young.

Running Title: Haslam, Arnold, &c. on Insanity.

Notes: In attributing the article to Young, Shine cites JM III's Register; Brande XXVIII 157; Smiles I 161; Gentleman's Magazine XXI 147; Young 228; and Pettigrew IV 21.

The following evidence is published here for the first time. The article is included in Young's MS. list of his QR articles published in [Hudson Gurney], Memoir of ... Young (1831), 56-60. Murray MS., George Ellis to JM, [23 postmark] June 1809, Friday Morning: the article led to ill feelings between Young and Murray over the latter's sensitivity to negative comments in the article about Dr. Playfair, Playfair being a potential contributor. See also evidence at #73 where JM mutes criticism of Playfair in an article by Olinthus Gregory.

Pinel's Traité sur l'Aliénation Mentale was reviewed in ER #68, Apr. 1803, by Henry Reeve.

JM III's Register: attribution to Young, but without evidence.

44 Article 9. Pinckney, Travels through the South of France, &c. in the years 1807 and 1808, by a Route never before performed, being along the Banks of the Loire, the Isère and the Garrone, made by permission of the French Government, 181-87. Author not identified.

Running Title: Pinckney's Travels through France.

Notes: In not assigning an author for this article, Shine cites JM III's Register and quotes from the following letters. Murray MS., WG to JM., [Aug. 1809]: 'What if this Review of Pinckney should be better than our own?' Murray MS., WG to JM, n.d.: Pillans' Article would have given displeasure to all our friends .... He [Pillans] will naturally be offended at the omission of his Article; and this gives me very serious concern; for I was fond of looking forward to much valuable support from him.' Murray MS, WG to JM, [Aug. 1809]: 'I have read Pinckney's Travels ... there is no comparison between the present & that of Mr P.' Murray MS., WG to JM, 31 Aug. 1809, says Pillan's article was kept out because of its inferiority.

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. Murray MS., Book Loans Register: the book reviewed was sent to 'J. Pillans' on 16 June 1809. Murray MS., J. Pillans to JM, 5 Aug. 1809, speaks of minor alterations to his article on the 'Travels.' Pillans was the author of #61 in Number 4, an article he submitted before the rejection and usurpation of his review of Pinckney.

JM III's Register: attribution to Pillans; also cites Cooke's Memorandum Book [probably the Book Loans Register] and includes the following note: 'Mr. Pillan's art. appears to have been omitted & one by another hand substituted. See W G. Aug 31, 1809.'

45 Article 10. Middleton, The Doctrine of the Greek Article, applied to the Criticism and the Illustration of the New Testament, 187-203. Author: Frank Sayers.

Running Title: Middleton's Doctrine of the Greek Article.

Notes: In attributing the article to Sayers, Shine cites JM III's Register and Robberds II 294. Shine also quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM [?Aug. 1809, numbered 38x]: 'Dr Sayers was incorrect in his quotations—and after looking through the whole of the Revelation (in Greek) for a single word which I could not find, I was obliged to send part of the MS to him.' [See page 202 in #45.]

JM III's Register: queries 'Dr. Sayers' and adds the following note: 'Either this art. or No. 5 appears to have been written by a Mr Stephens. See W G's July 21, 1809—See also W G's letter of July 21, 1809, and his letter of Aug 1809 (numbered 35). See also No. 38x.'

46 Article 11. James Moore, A Narrative of the Campaign of the British Army in Spain, commanded by His Excellency Lt. General Sir John Moore, K. B. &c. authenticated by Official Papers and Original Letters; Clinton, A few Remarks explanatory of the Motives which guided the Operations of the British Army, during the late short Campaign in Spain; Observations on the Movements of the British Army in Spain, in Reply to the Statement lately published by Brig. General Clinton. By a British Officer; Letters from Portugal and Spain &c. By an Officer; Ormsby, An Account of the Operations of the British Army &c.; Neale, Letters from Portugal and Spain &c., 203-34. Authors: George Ellis and George Canning.

Running Title: Spanish Affairs.

Notes: In co-attributing the article to Ellis and Canning, Shine cites JM III's Register; Smiles I 160-61; Marriot 145; QR CCX 744-75; Grierson II 236n; and Holloway in RES 62n3. Shine also quotes from Murray MS., WG to John Ireland, [Aug 19 or 22, 1809]: 'I have heard from Mr G.E. He says that in consequence of my importunity Mr C has exerted himself & produced the best article that ever yet appeared in any review.' Notation on the letter in another hand: 'alluding to Quarterly review article on Sr Jno Moore.' [Quarterly Review Archive editor's note: this same letter is quoted in part, but imperfectly, in Smiles I 161. In transcribing the passage, Smiles appears to follow JM III's Register, not the original letter.]

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. Smiles I 160 quotes from George Ellis to JM, n.d.: 'I had a large mass of materials to read and even to study; and I wish that Canning should see and, if necessary, correct what I have done. He wishes it also, but has suggested to me that it would be pleasanter to him to see it in print. Pray get it printed, if it be possible, immediately, and send me down a proof by Friday's post, as he promises to be with me on Saturday.' Murray MS., Ellis to JM, 21 Aug. 1809: indicates that the first paragraph is by Canning. NLS MS., 3878 (f.24), WG to Walter Scott, 17 Feb. 1810: 'James Moore must be out of his senses. Does he suppose that he possesses an ^ exclusive patent for the to gull and abuse whomsoever he pleases with impunity? He is full of indignation against me, and has abruptly broken off all communication ... I am perfectly satisfied with what I have done. His father was very fond of me, and had no reason to repent of his attachment. With the young man I never was extremely intimate.' NLS MS., 3878 (f.121), WG to Scott, 22 Aug. 1809: WG is sending a parcel to Scott from JM and says, 'Prick up your ears for the Spanish Article. ... WE [as opposed to the Edinburgh Review] have a grand article on Spain; the best our friend E[llis]. says, that has yet appeared in any review.—fanit! for we want something.'

The subject of this article was reviewed in ER #495, Oct. 1809, by Henry Brougham.

JM III's Register: attribution to Ellis and Canning and with the following note: 'In consequence of my importunity Mr Canning has exerted himself & produced "The best article that ever yet appeared in any review." W. G. Aug. 29, 1809'

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