Quarterly Review
VOLUME 19 , NUMBER 37 (April 1818)

NOTES

• This Number was published 26 Sept. 1818 [Courier advertisement, 26 Sept. 1818]
  
  
• Murray now sells up to 13,000 copies [BL MS. 34612 (ff.227-28), John Barrow to Macvey Napier, 17 Oct. 1818]. The Edinburgh Review reached this level of sales in 1811 [BL MS. 34583 (f.325), Peter Elmsley to Samuel Butler, 3 Feb. 1811]
  
  
• Murray MS., Cash Day Book, 1817-18, p.206: 'Lamb / 1 sheet : & 11 pages 4.4.' Murray MS., Copies Ledger B,  p. 31, 'Dr [i.e., debit] QR / 1816 11 Jan 1817 to Lamb, on Constitutional diseases'
  
  
• A 'NOTICE.' appears at the bottom of the Contents pages for this Number that reads: 'Our subscribers are requested to observe that Nos. XXXIX. and XL. will consist of an INDEX to the first NINETEEN VOLUMES.—It has been some time in preparation, and will be ready for publication in the course of the present year. The Number next published will therefore be XLI.'
  
  
• An 'Addendum' to #472 appears on pages 280-81, a discussion of the recent claim by Belzoni to have found a human skeleton in the sarcophagus of the pyramid of 'Cephrenes'
  
  
• A few of the first copies of this Number contain the following errata (quoted from the insert in a copy in the possession of the present writer):

Page 566, line 1. Omit the parenthesis after 'interrogatory.'
        567, line 13 from the bottom, instead of 'but of all the,' read 'of all the.'
        569, for 'the abomination of even,' read 'even the abomination of.'

• At about this time, Robert Southey was encouraging JM to approach Thomas DeQuincy for reviews on German topics. DeQuincy, however, did not become a contributor to the QR [Smiles II 43]
  
  
• In this period Murray incurred law expenses of over £215 related to the Quarterly Review [Murray MS., Copies Ledger B, p. 32, dated 9 July 1818; Murray MS., Copies Ledger B, p. 32, 'Law Expense to Mr Mullens', p. 33, '1818 Aug. 21 Law Expenses']
  
  
• Parliament, that had been in session from 24 Nov. 1812, was prorogued 10 June 1818. It was summoned again 4 Aug. 1818
  
  
• The summer of 1818 was the longest, driest, and hottest in living memory [See the interesting Internet page Historical Weather]
  
  
• Important or otherwise interesting articles in this Number include: #468, #469, #472, #473 (Croker's infamous review of Keats's Endymion), #475 (Scott's review of Byron's Childe Harold, Canto IV)
  
  
• Number of definite attributions for this issue: 12

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CONTENTS, IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTORS, AND HISTORICAL NOTES

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467 Article 1. Memoirs, illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, Esq. F.R.S. Author of the 'Sylva,' &c. &c. Comprising his Diary, from the Year 1641 to 1705-6 and a selection of his familiar letters. To which is subjoined, the private Correspondence between King Charles I. and his Secretary of State, Sir Edward Nicholas, whilst his Majesty was in Scotland, 1641, and at other times during the Civil War; also between Sir Edward Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon, and Sir Richard Browne, Ambassador to the Court of France, in the time of Charles I. and the Usurpation. The whole now first published, from the original MSS. in two volumes. Edited by William Bray, Esq. Fellow and Treasurer of the Society of Antiquaries of London, 1-54. Author: Robert Southey.

Running Title: Evelyn's Memoirs.

Notes:  In attributing the article to Southey, Shine cites JM III's Register; Cottle 242-43; Southey 577; Warter III 100, 103; Smiles II 48; Gentleman's Magazine XXI 141; and Graham 41. Shine says to see also Grierson V 140, XII 433-34; Warter III 93-94; and Smiles II 11, 12, 13. Shine quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM [Aug. 1818]: 'A great <?> was lost when Southey was set upon Evelyn, in preference to Dr W[hitaker] ....'

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. The article appears in Southey's definitive MS. list of his QR articles. Curry 183. Murray MS., Book Loans Register: the book reviewed was sent to 'Revd. Dr Whitaker' on 20 Mar. 1818. Murray MS., WG to JM, [Aug. 1818]: 'Whitaker, I fear is justly offended, for he has not answered me. I wish that you would make an effort to recover him. We have not a more valuable correspondent.'

JM III's Register: attribution to Southey, citing unspecified letters.

468 Article 2. Birkbeck, Notes on a Journey in America, from the Coast of Virginia to the Territory of Illinois, 54-78. Author: John Barrow and William Gifford.

Running Title: Birkbeck's Notes on America.

Notes: In co-attributing the article to Barrow and Gifford, Shine cites JM III's Register (that queries the attribution) and Smiles II 51. Shine also quotes from the following letters. Iowa MS., JM to [John Wilson Croker], n.d.: 'I send Birkbeck's two works.' Murray MS., WG to JM, 19 July [1818]: 'Rowarth [the printer] has the whole of Evelyn, & I only wait to know if Barrow means to notice Birkbeck's 2d work, to proceed.' Murray MS., WG to JM, postmarked Ramsgate, [Aug. 1818]: 'Your Review of Birkbeck [i.e., a review that Murray has forwarded to Gifford at Ramsgate?] is not only what you call it—mischievous—but malicious, absurd and dull—evincing no talent whatever.' Murray MS., WG to JM, postmarked Ramsgate, 4 Aug. 1818: 'I am very glad that you sent Birkbeck. He appears to me the most dangerous man that ever yet wrote from America, & is likely to do us much mischief. Our friend had missed his character; and I have nearly re-written the Art.' 

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. Murray MS., WG to JM, [1818 post mark]: 'I have not had ... the last revise of Birkbeck which I sent to Mr. B to look at.' The article's author makes a specific reference to p.532 of #282, which is an article by Barrow. In his QR articles, it was Barrow's signature practice to refer to his own works. 

The subject of this article was reviewed in ER #832, June 1818, by Henry Brougham.

JM III's Register: [in pencil] '? Barrow & Gifford' citing unspecified letters, and note: 'I am very glad that you sent Birkbeck, he appears to be the most dangerous man that ever wrote from America ... our friend had missed his character & I have nearly rewritten the Art. Wm Gifford!' 

469 Article 3. Courtenay, A Treatise upon the Poor Laws; Myers, Remarks on a Course of Education designed to prepare the Youthful Mind for a Career of Honour, Patriotism, and Philanthropy; Nicoll, A Summary View of the Report and Evidence relative to the Poor Laws, published by Order of the House of Commons, with Observations and Suggestions; Bennet, A Letter to the Common Council and Livery of the City of London on the Abuses existing in Newgate, &c., 79-118. Author: John Rickman, with Robert Southey.

Running Title: On the Means of Improving the People.

Notes: In co-attributing the article to Southey and Rickman, Shine cites Southey 361-62; Warter III 100; and Rickman 10 (by Rickman); 124, 134 (nominally by Southey), 195-204 (largely by Rickman; about two pages by Southey). As an alternative attribution, Shine suggests Robert Southey alone and cites JM III's Register; Southey 361, 577; Cottle 242-43; Southey Essays II 111; Gentleman's Magazine XXI 141; QR CCX 746; and Graham 16. Shine says to see also Warter III 88, 99.

The following evidence, published here for the first time, suggests Rickman as primary author. The article appears in Southey's definitive MS. list of his QR articles. New Letters II 318, III 499. Fetter: Rickman, with some editing by Southey. Fetter cites Murray and notes: (1) Reprinted in Essays, Moral and Political, II 113-80, but not in Southey's list. (2) Attributed to Southey in Murray, but material in Williams and a reference in a letter of 15 Aug. 1827, from Southey to Rickman, to 'your paper upon the Poor Laws' (Southey Life), which in the context almost certainly refers to this article, leave little doubt that Rickman wrote the major part of it. 

Reports on the state of the poor formed the subject of ER #828, Feb. 1818, and was written in part by Thomas Chalmers.

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

470 Article 4. Letter from the Hon. Horace Walpole to George Montagu, Esq. from the year 1736 to 1770, 118-34. Author: Walter Scott.

Running Title: Hon. Horace Walpole's Letters to Mr. Montagu.

Notes: In attributing the article to Scott, Shine cites Grierson V 109, 109n, V 130, 130n; Graham 41; Smiles II 8-12; and Lockhart V 100, 140. Shine quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, [4 Aug. 1818 postmark]: 'I wish our friend had put a little of the spirit of his novel stile into his Walpole.' In suggesting John Wilson Croker as an alternative attribution, Shine cites JM III's Register and Gentleman's Magazine XXI 141.

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. NLS MS. 3889 (ff.38-39), JM to Walter Scott, 17 Mar. 1818, says he has sent Lady Orford's Letters, hoping that Scott would review them. NLS MS. 852 (f.55), Scott to JM, 26 Apr. [1818] (copy), says he sends 'Walpole as promised.' NLS MS. 3889 (ff.79-80), WG to Scott, 30 Apr. 181[8]: 'I rejoice to find that you have taken Walpole.' 

The subject of this article was reviewed in ER #853, Dec. 1818, by William Hazlitt.

JM III's Register: attribution to 'J W Croker,' citing unspecified letters; 'Sir W Scott' citing unspecified letters, and note: 'Not mentioned in Mr Croker's own list'. 

471 Article 5. Wilson, A Sketch of the Military and Political Power of Russia, in the Year 1817. Fourth Edition, 131-77. Author: Reginald Heber.

Running Title: Military and Political Power of Russia.

Notes: In attributing the article to Heber, Shine cites the queried attribution in JM III's Register; Smiles II 77-78; and Gentleman's Magazine 141. Shine quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, [4 Aug. 1818 postmark]: '...the more I see of Heber's the more I like it. It is really excellent.' 

The article was attacked in the Letter from Sir Robert Wilson to his Constituents in Refutation of a Charge for dispatching a false Report of a Victory to the Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Peninsula in the Year 1809; and which Charge is advanced in the Quarterly Review published in September, 1818. The article was defended by William Carr Beresford in article #491. 

The power and policy of Russia formed the subject of ER #814, Nov. 1817, probably written by Henry Brougham.

JM III's Register: [in pencil] '? Reg Heber,' citing unspecified letters. 

472 Article 6. Light, Travels in Egypt, Nubia, Holy Land, Mount Libanon, and Cyprus, in the Year 1814, 178-204. ADDENDUM to the Article on Light's Travels, 280-81. Author: John Barrow, with Henry Salt.

Running Title: Light's Travels in Egypt, Nubia, &c.

Notes: In co-attributing the article to Salt and Barrow, Shine cites Salt I 491 ('the article appears "to have have been compiled by documents sent over by Mr Salt ...."'); Gentleman's Magazine XXI 41 ('compiled by documents sent over by Mr Salt."); and Murray MS., John Barrow to JM, 24 July 1818: 'What shall I do with the papers on Light. There is a drawing ... of Cephrenes that must occupy a page of the Quarterly, but it consists merely of lines [see p. 197]. I hope to be ready in 8 or 10 days.' 

The following evidence establishes Barrow as primary author of this article and is published here for the first time. Murray MS., WG to JM, [1818 postmark]: 'I have not had Mr. B's review of Light ....' Murray MS., Book Loans Register: the book reviewed was sent to 'John Barrow' on 9 Nov. 1816. Murray MS., WG to JM, 21 Sept. 1817: 'I had written to Sumner, and to Scott, and will press Mr Grey, as soon as he comes to town. Light's letter is very good—but what possesses these men to give their things away? What can Walpole do? He is at best, a feeble writer, while Light himself shows vivacity and a strength of remark. I wish we had known him before.' (Cf. #470, 'Walpole's letters to Montagu,' reviewed by Scott.)  The article is referred to in #486 (twice) and in #563, both of which are by Barrow. The article's author refers to #399 ('We have frequently been told that our review of that work contained more than was to be found in the book itself....') and #457 (twice). The note that appears on page 195 of #472 comparing the military readiness of France and Britain is cited in #514, by Barrow. In his QR articles, it was Barrow's signature practice to refer to his own works. The reviewer also mentions a MS. of Henry Salt's (p.195). Lebanon is spelled in the title of the volume under review as above. The Addendum on pp. 280-81 is a discussion of the recent claim by Belzoni to have found a human skeleton in the sarcophagus of the pyramid of 'Cephrenes.'

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

473 Article 7. Keats, Endymion: A Poetic Romance, 204-8. Author: John Wilson Croker.

Running Title: Keats's Endymion.

Notes: In attributing the article to Croker, Shine cites JM III's Register; QR CCX 754-55; CHEL XIII 266; Graham 21, 41; Graham in SP XXII 501; Clark 197-98, 232-33; Paston 31; Brightfield 455; and DNB. Shine says to see also Milman 80. In suggesting William Gifford as an alternative attribution, Shine cites DNB and says to see also Clark 232-33.

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. Croker's holograph MS. of this article is in the Murray archives. Claimed by Croker in six of his Clements Library MS. lists and included in the Cambridge University bound volumes of Croker's articles. 

Keats's poems were reviewed in ER #929, Aug. 1820, by Francis Jeffrey.

JM III's Register: attribution to Croker, citing unspecified letters, with this note: 'The original MS in the possession of J M'.

Sample: 'REVIEWERS have been sometimes accused of not reading the works which they affected to criticise. On the present occasion we shall anticipate the author's complaint, and honestly confess that we have not read his work. Not that we have been wanting in our duty—far from it—indeed, we have made efforts almost as superhuman as the story itself appears to be, to get through it; but with the fullest stretch of our perseverance, we are forced to confess that we have not been able to struggle beyond the first four books of which this Poetic Romance consists. ... it is not, we say, that the author has not powers of language, rays of fancy, and gleams of genius—he has all of these; but he is unhappily a disciple of the new school of what has somewhere been called Cockney poetry; which may be defined to consist of the most incongruous ideas in the most uncouth language. / Of this school, Mr. Leigh Hunt, as we observed in a former Number, aspires to be the hierophant.' (p.204)

474 Article 8. O'Reilly, Greenland, the adjacent Seas, and the North-West Passage to the Pacific Ocean; illustrated in a Voyage to Davis's Strait during the Summer of 1817, 208-14. Author: John Barrow.

Running Title: O'Reilly's Voyage to Davis's Strait. 

Notes: In attributing the article to Barrow, Shine cites only JM III's Register.

The following evidence is published here for the time. Gentleman's Magazine (Mar. 1844), 246-47. Barrow famously advocated exploration of the Northwest Passage. Barrow's series of articles in the QR on polar exploration includes #451, #461, #474, #503, #585, #667, #705, #97WI, and #163WI. Article #474 is referred to in #503, and by way of allusion in #667. Articles #406 and #451, also by Barrow, are alluded to in the article. In his QR articles, it was Barrow's signature practice to refer to his own works. The author has ready access to official Admiralty documents (pp.208-10). As Second Secretary to the Admiralty, Barrow had access to all Admiralty documents.

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

475 Article 9. Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Canto IV, 215-32. Author: Walter Scott.

Running Title: Childe Harold.—Canto IV.

Notes: In attributing the article to Scott, Shine cites JM III's Register; Smiles I 397, 397n, 400, II 13, 13n; Grierson V 223, 223n, XII 433-34, 434n; Lockhart V 173, 173n, IX 278; Scott; Gentleman's Magazine XXI 141; Douglas II 2; Graham 41; CBEL III 192; and Corson 280. Shine says to see also Smiles II 11 and Grierson V 140, 168, 176. Shine quotes from Murray MS., WG to JM, [Ramsgate, Aug. 1818 postmark]: 'I like Scott's Childe Harold; it is written with the feeling of a poet.'  

The following evidence and information is published here for the first time. NLS MS. 3889 (ff.79-80), WG to Walter Scott, 30 Apr. 1818]: 'The fourth Canto of Childe Harold is just out. ... I wish you would have the kindness to undertake it.' NLS MS. 852 (ff.56-57), Scott to JM, 15 May [1818] (copy), apologizes for the delay in reviewing 'that extraordinary poem' but he needs time to re-read the whole. NLS MS. 3889 (ff.185-86), JM to Scott, 3 Sept. 1818, thanks Scott for his two articles in the present Number. 

The subject of this article was reviewed in ER #831, June 1818, by John Wilson and Alexander Blair.

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

476 Article 10. Walpole, Memoirs relating to European and Asiatic Turkey. Edited from Manuscript Journals, 233-46. Author: Charles James Blomfield.

Running Title: Walpole's Memoirs on Turkey.

Notes: In querying its attribution to Blomfield, Shine follows JM III's Register. Shine also quotes from the following two letters. Murray MS., WG to JM, Ryde, 19 July [1818]: 'I shall send Rowarth [the printer], in this parcel, Mr Blomfield's ms which does very well.' Murray MS., WG to JM, Ramsgate, 6 Aug. [1818]: regarding a packet Gifford is sending that 'should be franked to Mr Blomfield ....'

The following evidence was first published in VPR 28. The evidence Shine presents is sufficient for a definite attribution as all other articles in this Number are attributed. Note the reviewer's parade of classical learning, typical of Blomfield.

JM III's Register: '? 10 Bp Blomfield (London)'. 

477 Article 11. [Barrett,] Woman: a Poem. By the Author of 'The Heroine.', 246-50. Author: John Taylor Coleridge.

Running Title: Woman: a Poem. 

Notes: In attributing the article to Coleridge, Shine cites JM III's Register. Shine quotes from the following letters. Murray MS., WG to JM, [Ramsgate, Aug. 1818]: 'Mr Barrett's parcel contained a sprightly & well-written review of his second Woman.—It is by a friend [i.e., of Barrett's], who can be useful, if encouraged.' Murray MS., WG to JM, Ramsgate, [Aug. 1818 postmark]: 'Coleridge & D'Oyly I will send to Rowarth [the printer] as soon as I have read them carefully over.' 

JM III's Register: [in pencil] 'Coleridge' citing unspecified letters.

478 Article 12. The Holy Bible, newly translated from the original Hebrew; with Notes critical and explanatory. By John Bellamy, Author of 'The History of all Religions.', 250-80.  Author: George D'Oyly.

Running Title: Bellamy's Translation of the Bible.

Notes: In attributing the article to D'Oyly, Shine cites JM III's Register; D'Oyly 24; and Smiles II 15, 15n. Shine quotes from the following two letters. Murray MS., WG to JM, [1818]: 'I send you <Bellamy> for D'Oyly ....' Murray MS., WG to JM, Ramsgate, [Aug. 1818 postmark]: 'Coleridge & D'Oyly I will send to Rowarth [the printer] as soon as I have read them carefully over.' 

The following additional evidence is published here for the first time. Murray MS., Book Loans Register: the book reviewed was sent to the 'Rev. D'Oyly' on 17 May 1817. 

JM III's Register: attribution to D'Oyly, citing unspecified letters and note: 'See G D O's letter Oct 30/18'.