Quarterly Review
VOLUME 13 , NUMBER 26 (July 1815)

NOTES

• This Number was published 4 Dec. 1815 [Courier advertisement, 4 Dec. 1815]
  
  
• This Number initially sold about 8000 [Harewood MS., WG to George Canning, 16 Feb. 1816]
  
  
• Murray MS., WG to JM, [1812 wm]: 'I send you Mr Vansittart's m.s. for which he will probably call. I have written to him already, so he is prepared for it.' A 'Prussian Art.' [#350?] is mentioned in this letter, which may help to date it. The letter may suggest that Vansittart's manuscript was rejected
  
  
• For this Number Canning promised something on France and Gifford pressed him to produce something on 'Sir North.' [Murray MS., WG to JM, 21 Sept 1815]
  
  
• This was the second QR to appear following the battle of Waterloo (15 June 1815). The previous Number was published only five days after the great event, too soon for it to include comments on the battle. See #350 and #352 in Number 26
  
  
• News of the great Tambora volcanic eruption in Indonesia that occurred in April 1815 reached London via a report in The Times in November. Fallout from the eruption exacerbated already difficult climate conditions in Europe that had begun in 1814; the winter of 1814-15 was severe; 1816 came to be known as the 'year without a summer.' The cold wet weather is said to have indirectly inspired Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; the startling sunsets caused by volcanic dust in the upper atmosphere are pictured in Turner's landscapes. Useful Internet links include a page on nineteenth-century weather records and a page on the Tambora volcano
  
  
• Important or otherwise interesting articles in this Number include: #344, #350, #352
  
  
• Number of definite attributions for this issue: 7
  
  
• Number of probable or possible attributions for this issue: 2

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CONTENTS, IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTORS, AND HISTORICAL NOTES

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344 Article 1. Scott, The Lord of the Isles. A Poem, 287-309. Author: George Ellis, probably.

Running Title: Scott's The Lord of the Isles.

Notes: In attributing the article to Ellis, Shine cites JM III's Register; Smiles I 126; and Graham, 41. Shine also quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, 29 Sept. 1815: 'I have spoken of Scott in the missing letter .... Since that, I have carefully looked over the revise, which I had previously modified.'. 

The following evidence is published here for the first time. The objective evidence for an attribution to Ellis is weak, relying as it does solely on JM II's marked QR. JM II's notations in his marked QR, however, tend to be most secure for prominent and frequent contributors, such as Ellis. At this time, Ellis was the QR's primary contributor of reviews of significant literary figures, such as Scott and Byron. The other sources in this case ultimately rely on JM II's attribution via JM III's Register and add no additional evidence; the letter quoted in Shine does not mention Ellis. 

The subject of this article was reviewed in ER #708, Feb. 1815, by Francis Jeffrey.

For a useful note on Scott's Lord of the Isles, including comment on its critical reception in the Quarterly Review and other contemporary journals, see the Walter Scott Digital Archive, an excellent online resource from the Division of Special Collections, Edinburgh University Library.

JM II's marked QR: [in pencil] 'G. Ellis'.

JM III's Register: attribution to Ellis, citing JM II's marked QR.

345 Article 2. Campbell, Travels in South Africa, undertaken at the request of the Missionary Society, 309-40. Author: John Barrow.

Running Title: Missionary Travels in South Africa.

Notes: In attributing the article to Barrow, Shine says to see also Young 251 and quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, 6 Sept. 1815: 'Send also to Mr. Barrow the second sheet of this No which contains the opening of his African art.' In suggesting Robert Southey as an alternative attribution, Shine cites JM III's Register and says to see also Southey 262, 269.

The following evidence is published here for the first time. The article is claimed by Barrow in articles #368, #522, and #641. In his QR articles, it was Barrow's signature practice to refer to his own works. As Barrow does elsewhere, the author praises the Serampore Baptist missionaries for their contribution to Chinese translation. In the light of Murray MS., WG to JM, 6 Sept. 1815, quoted above, Shine sets aside the attribution to Southey in JM III's Register. Misled by letters in the Murray archives, JM III attributed the article to Southey; in doing so he ignored JM II's marked QR. The article is not in Southey's definitive MS. list, and note the following letters from Southey to Murray in which he seems to propose a review of this work but retires in favour of Barrow. Murray MS., Robert Southey to JM, 10 Feb. 1815: 'The Methodist traveller in Africa is odd and amusing .... Most probably Barrow will take him in hand, & then he will fare but scurvily .... I can however steer clear of him by making a history of the mission in South Africa.' Murray MS., Southey to JM, 15 Feb. 1818, promises Wellington first [#343], Egypt [#332], and South Africa. Southey to JM, 25 Feb. 1815: 'Though the Travels are not all that might be wished they contain a great deal of curious information.' Murray MS., Southey to JM, 26 June 1815: 'You see I rightly supposed that Campbell's Travels lay within Mr. Barrow's line of demarcation.' Unlike Southey's writing, the article is uninventive and has no strong thesis. In keeping with Barrow's usual manner, the article is mainly factual with an emphasis on geographical discovery, natural history, and the study of races.

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

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

346 Article 3. Marsh, Horœ Pelasgicœ. Part the First. Containing an Inquiry into the Origin and Language of the Pelasgi or ancient Inhabitants of Greece; with a Description of the Pelasgic or Æolic Digamma, as represented in various Inscriptions in which it is still preserved; and an Attempt to determine its genuine Pelasgic pronunciation, 340-51. Author: Charles James Blomfield.

Running Title: Marsh's Horœ Peasgicœ. 

Notes: In attributing the article to Blomfield, Shine cites only JM III's Register. In suggesting Ugo Foscolo as an alternative attribution, Shine cites Gentleman's Magazine XXI 140.

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. Murray MS., JM to Charles James Blomfield, 1 Apr. 1815 [copy]: 'Can you not find some Book that will admit of a powerful and pungent Greek Article for the Quarterly?' The book under review was published at Cambridge for John Murray

 JM II's marked QR: [in pencil] 'Blomfield / Bp of / London'.

JM III's Register:: 'Ugo Foscolo ?' [the query is in red ink] and note: 'Bp Blomfield of London' and another note: 'See also Blomfield's letter July 2/15'. Cites JM II's marked QR. The suggestion that Ugo Foscolo wrote the article probably derived from the often unreliable Gentleman's Magazine XXI 140.

347 Article 4. Porter, Journal of a Cruize made to the Pacific Ocean by Captain David Porter, in the United States Frigate Essex, in the years 1812, 1813, and 1814, containing Descriptions of the Cape de Verd Islands, Coasts of Brazil, Patagonia, Chili and Peru, and of the Gallapagos Islands. Also a full Account of the Washington Group of Islands; the Manners, Customs, Dress of the Inhabitants, &c. &c., 352-83. Author: John Barrow.

Running Title: Porter's Cruize in the Pacific Ocean. 

Notes: In attributing the article to Barrow, Shine cites JM III's Register and Warter III 11-12. Shine says to compare QR XIII 367 and to see also Young 251. 

The following evidence is published here for the first time. Murray MS., Robert Southey to JM, 31 Dec. 1816, asks to be sent 'the American voyage (Porters) which was so properly dealt with by Barrow.' The article's author refers back to #68, which is also by Barrow. In his QR articles, it was Barrow's signature practice to refer to his own works. Note on page 352 the author's pride in possessing the only copy in England of this book. (Barrow was prone to self-promotion.) Compare the author's doubts about cannibalism on pg.367 with similar sentiments expressed in #68 and #311, both of which are by Barrow. Note the repetition on pp.367-68 of Dentrecasteaux's mistaking 'the bones of a kangaroo for those of a young girl' mentioned in #68 (p.30) and #311 ('the bones of a kangaroo for those of a girl,' p.23). The author transcribes Admiralty correspondence (pp.376-77) and manages to work in new information about the Bounty mutiny, another of Barrow's preoccupations. Galapagos is spelled in the article's head note as above. Cruise is spelled in the article's head note and running title as above.

JM III's Register: queries its attribution to Barrow.

Summary: Strongly excoriates Porter for his wanton destruction of native lives and property. Presents new information on the Bounty mutiny (including transcription of Admiralty correspondence).

348 Article 5. Dunlop, The History of Fiction: being a Critical Account of the most celebrated Prose Works of Fiction from the earliest Greek Romances to the Novels of the present Age, 384-408. Author: Francis Cohen and probably with George Taylor.

Running Title: Dunlop's History of Fiction.

Notes: In co-attributing the article to Francis Cohen and William Gifford, Shine cites JM III's Register and Graham 41. Shine also quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, 21 Sept 1815: 'I have also taken much pains with Cohen, & his article will be amusing.' In suggesting Taylor as an alternative attribution, Shine cites Surtees xiv. In suggesting Walter Scott as a third alternative attribution, Scott cites Grierson IV 544, 544n.

The following evidence and discussion is published here for the first time. The topic is very much in Cohen's (Francis Palgrave's) vein and bears his marks: the article is extraordinarily erudite and almost tediously comprehensive. However, the article is claimed by George Taylor in his Memoir of Robert Surtees [1852], xiv. In the absence of additional primary evidence, there is no reason to discount Taylor's claim; indeed, it needs to be accounted for. On the other hand, there is also no reason to think that at the last minute WG withdrew the article Cohen had evidently produced. There is no other article in this Number that could be by Cohen (nor, for that matter, is there an article in Number 27 that might plausibly have been written by him). On balance, there are solid reasons to speculate that Cohen produced an article, WG found it obscure or otherwise intractable, and handed it on to George Taylor for sub-editing. The pains WG says were taken were probably taken by Taylor, which is why in his list Taylor thought to lay claim to the article.

The subject of this article was reviewed in ER #698, Nov. 1814, by an unknown author.

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

349 Article 6. Translations from the original Chinese, with Notes. Printed by Order of the Select Committee, 408-18. Author:  John Barrow, probably, and possibly with another person.

Running Title: Translations from the original Chinese.

Notes: In querying its attribution of the article to Barrow, Shine follows JM III's Register. 

The following evidence was first published in VPR 27. Murray MS., WG to JM, 21 Sept. 1815, says that Barrow's article is good, referring not to #351 but to another article. The author of this article implies that the other articles in the QR on the same subject are his (#85, #119, #147, #333), all of which are by Barrow. In his QR articles, it was Barrow's signature practice to refer to his own works. Oddly, the author of #142WI (Barrow) takes credit for those articles and for #389, which is also by Barrow, but not for this article. It is possible that in #349 Barrow heavily relied upon or was even the medium for another writer, perhaps George Staunton.

JM III's Register: [in pencil] '? Barrow'.

350 Article 7. Journal des quatorze derniers Jours de la Monarchie Prussienne; Heldenthaten des G. L. Von Blucher, 418-42. Author: Robert William Hay.

Running Title: Gentz—On the Fall of Prussia.

Notes: In attributing the article to Hay, Shine cites JM III's Register and says to see also Young 251. Shine also quotes from Iowa MS., JM to John Wilson Croker, 2 Nov. 1815: 'We are waiting for a proof to be sent back from Mr Hay.' 

The following evidence is published here for the first time. Murray MS., WG to Robert William Hay, n.d., refers to Hay's article on Prussia and states that it makes reference to the Duke of Brunswick and Gentz. Murray MS., WG to Hay, <17 Feb. 1815>, says he is glad Hay is taking up Gentz. Murray MS., WG to Hay, Sat. morning, [24 June 1815], says not to forget the 'charming Queen of Prussia.' Murray MS., WG to Hay, 20 July 1815, 'I like your mode of disposing of the General very well.' Iowa MS. (f. 104), JM to John Wilson Croker, 20 Oct. 1815: 'I am anxious too for the earliest opportunity of offering my best acknowledgements for the most valuable communications which you have been so good as to make to Mr Gifford lately which render the Article in which they are comprised the most important that ever yet appeared in my Review or in any other.' The reference may instead be to #351 or 352. Murray MS., WG to Hay, 30 Nov. [1815], says the article on Gentz 'reads uncommonly pleasant' and that Frere was surprised we had such an article. Murray MS., WG to JM, [1812 watermark]: 'I take with me the Prussian Art. as I think much of it is unknown. ... In these complete histories lies our strength, & these, which are excellent to consult, as well as to read at the moment, continue a slow but certain sale.' 

JM III's Register: attribution to Hay and with the following note: 'from a letter of R W H's Dec 8, 1816.'

351 Article 8. Pillet, L'Angleterre, vue à Londres et dans ses Provinces, 442-48. Author: John Wilson Croker and John Barrow.

Running Title: Pillet—L'Angleterre, vue à Londres, &c.

Notes: In attributing the article to Croker, Shine cites JM III's Register and Brightfield 454. 

The following evidence was published in VPR 27. Iowa MS. (f. 104), JM to John Wilson Croker, 20 Oct. 1815: 'I am anxious too for the earliest opportunity of offering my best acknowledgements for the most valuable communications which you have been so good as to make to Mr Gifford lately which render the Article in which they are comprised the most important that ever yet appeared in my Review or in any other.' The reference may instead be to #350 or #352. Murray MS., WG to JM, 21 Sept. 1815, says that Barrow is 'full of his Londres Art.' and wants an early work by Whitbread (cf. p.444 of the article). In the light of this letter, it is apparent that Barrow had some role in the production of this article. However, the article is claimed by Croker in four of his Clements Library lists and it is included in the Cambridge University bound volumes of his articles. 

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

JM III's Register: attribution to John Wilson Croker citing unspecified letters.

352 Article 9. Carel, Précis Historique de la Guerre d'Espagne et de Portugal, de 1808 à 1814; Sarrazin, Histoire de la Guerre d'Espagne et de Portugal, de 1807 à 1814; General View of the Political State of France, and of the Government of Louis XVIII; An Answer to the Calumniators of Louis XVIII; Official Accounts of the Battle of Waterloo; Lieutenant-General Scott, Battle of Waterloo, 448-526. Author: Robert Southey, with John Wilson Croker.

Running Title: Life of Wellington.

Notes: In attributing the article to Southey, Shine cites JM III's Register; Robinson I 178; Warter II 411, 413, 416-17, 418, 421-22, 425, 429-30, III 5-6, 13; Cottle 242-43; Gentleman's Magazine XXI 140; Young 251; Brightfield 322; Halloway in RES X 63; Coleridge 267-78; and Southey 317. Shine also quotes from the following letters. Murray MS., WG to JM, 29 Sept. 1815: 'Of Southey's I think very highly, I carried it to our friend that he might insert the letters etc, as he desired.' [Quarterly Review Archive editor's note: The reference may be to Croker or Hay and to #350 or #351, but is more likely to #352.] Iowa MS., JM to Croker, 2 Nov. 1815: 'Mr Gifford received yesterday the Revise which is not yet worked off & we might yet be in time for the interesting account of the Battle which you mention. Should you think it right to trust it to Gifford and Southey who is here on his return from Brussels ....' Murray MS., WG to JM, [?1815]: 'Mr Southey has brought back the name of Alexander Davidson ... for Alexander Davidson read an individual or a gentleman & omit free spirit before liberal, and it may do, though I do not see the necessity of it.' [Cf. p.523.] Murray MS., WG to JM, [25 Nov. 1815]: 'I wish Southey had not been quite so obstinate, but his Article is of such surpassing merit that tis not possible to be angry. Still our friend has done it much good unperceived by S.' [Quarterly Review Archive editor's note: The friend may be Robert William Hay but is probably Croker, though in his Clements Library holograph lists, Croker does not claim co-authorship of this article.]

The following evidence is published here for the first time. The article appears in Southey's definitive MS. list of his QR articles. Murray MS., WG to JM, 21 Sept. 1815: 'Southey just called with Grosvenor Bedford & his brother.... I will... take care of the Letters &c. for the Art. I think it a fine spirited piece of writing, & such as will do us great credit.' Iowa MS. (f. 104), JM to John Wilson Croker, 20 Oct. 1815: 'I have no doubt that Mr Scott has sent you a copy of his poem Waterloo. ... I am anxious too for the earliest opportunity of offering my best acknowledgements for the most valuable communications which you have been so good as to make to Mr Gifford lately which render the Article in which they are comprised the most important that ever yet appeared in my Review or in any other.' [The reference may instead be to #350 or #351]. Iowa MS. (f. 105), JM to John Wilson Croker, 30 Oct. 1815: 'As there is just a chance of some accidents I write to say that Mr Gifford is in unutterable despair at not receiving back the Revise of our Waterloo which he sent you the week before last.' 

JM II's marked QR: [pencil] 'Southey'.

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