Editing the correspondence of a Victorian editor: William Hepworth Dixon
Masterproef voorgedragen tot het behalen van de graad van: Master Vergelijkende Moderne Letterkunde 2013-2014
Joke Pattijn Supervisor: Prof. Dr. M. Demoor
Table of Contents
1 Acknowledgements 4
2 Introduction 6
3 Nineteenth-century Press 8
3.1 History 8
3.2 Difficulties of nineteenth-century editorship 9
3.3 Reviews 11
4 The Athenaeum 13
4.1 Frederick Denison Maurice and John Sterling 14
4.2 Charles Wentworth Dilke 14
4.3 T. K. Hervey 15
4.4 William Hepworth Dixon 15
4.5 John Doran 16
4.6 Norman Maccoll 16
4.7 Vernon Rendall 16
4.8 Arthur Greenwood 17
4.9 John Middleton Murray 17
5 Biography: William Hepworth Dixon 19
6 Analysis of the Correspondence 23
6.1 Editorial Note 23
6.2 Analysis 25
7 Concluding Remarks 94
8 Works Cited 97
Words: 24 670
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1 Acknowledgements
First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Marysa Demoor, for valuable help and feedback, and for lending me a few of her books. Secondly, I wish to acknowledge Lut Baten and Marieke Pattijn for proofreading this master paper. Thirdly, I am grateful to Lorian Desmet for the support during the writing process of this thesis.
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2 Introduction
During the nineteenth century, many British periodicals and newspapers aimed to achieve excellence within the publishing world to be able to compete with each other. Some newspapers that we know even now, such as the Times, have succeeded to exist up to the present. Other periodicals, however, prominently popular during the nineteenth century, did not succeed to prolong their publication. One of those periodicals is the Athenaeum. This journal, which launched its first publication in 1828, was a weekly, entertaining its readers with critical reviews and articles on fine arts, literature, sports, politics, etc. The weekly knew many editors who each put their own stamp on it since every one of them had their own view on how to run and edit the journal. Editors such as Charles Wentworth Dilke were famous for being excellent editors who possessed the qualities that were required for making the Athenaeum a first class journal. Then again, the weekly was edited under less competent editors e.g. in light of that observation the present study and annotated edition of the correspondence of William Hepworth Dixon will be an interesting exploration of this editorship of the Athenaeum and of Victorian editorship in general. Importantly, this research focuses on the correspondence of W.H. Dixon with close friends, fellow authors or contributors to the Athenaeum. Scholars have studied many editors identical to W.H. Dixon and research shows to “have a growing respect for the achievements of the journal in every realm that it claimed for its own” (Marchand 2). Dixon was one of those editors who enjoyed a period of time as editor of the Athenaeum. Despite the fact that he was not the most successful one, he managed to remain the editing chief from 1855 until 1869. Furthermore, Hepworth Dixon contributed many articles, comments and reviews to the Athenaeum. But, surprisingly, he did not share the views of the proprietor Charles Wentworth Dilke, on what the Athenaeum should strive for. Therefore, his contribution to the periodical was less the subject of research when scholars investigated the Athenaeum. In essence, the subject of my master paper is the correspondence of William Hepworth Dixon with several authors during the period 1855-1869. During his editorship, Dixon corresponded with a wide range of authors regarding meetings, reviews and articles. Consequently, this investigation will edit the correspondence and additionally clarify and examine the authors of the letters, relevant places and references to relevant texts, objects or people.
6 This study is completed by an analysis of the letters, which W.H. Dixon received. In the first place, I transcribe the letters by preserving the original lay out of the epistles. After the word as found on the manuscript, I add, if necessary, the correct spelling or punctuation by using square brackets containing the alteration. That is to say, I did not alter any sentence structure from the original letters. In this light, the sections I could not reproduce due to material damage or unclear handwriting I referred to as ‘X’. Due to the word limit of the master paper I narrowed the entire sample of correspondences to a sample of letters from 1855 until 1869. Every letter is accompanied by an additional note, in which I explain the content and provide further details. When the author is not anonymous, I will provide a biography that originates, with a few exceptions, from the online Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. This source will reappear within my analysis but will not be stated repetitively, unless I employed a citation.
My motivation for this investigation arises from my personal interest for the publishing world. To conclude my studies, I find it interesting to gain more knowledge of the nineteenth- century press. Clearly, discussing one of its most prominent journals and editors seemed challenging to me. To draw a parallel, my research paper focuses on the early nineteenth century and my internship with a publishing house, as part of the master Vergelijkende Moderne Letterkunde concerns the present-day publishing world. Thus, both my internship and my thesis cater to my interest in the publishing world. I start my exploration with introducing the field of the Nineteenth Century Press and editorship. Chiefly, the first section examines the history of the periodical press and the difficulties nineteenth century editorship encounters. Accordingly, it points out the problems reviewers and editors had to cope with. The second section, on the Athenaeum, presents an overview of the Athenaeum’s history. Following this, an overview of the Athenaeum’s editors and their views towards the Athenaeum and the general aspects that are characteristic for the weekly are discussed. Next, in the Analysis, I look further into the life of William Hepworth Dixon, and the works he wrote and edited. Next, the Analysis clarifies the transcription of the correspondence with additional notes on the sender of the letter. Furthermore, places and names mentioned in them, which contributed to the understanding of the letters, are discussed. Lastly, I present my Concluding Remarks of the analysis. This section discusses the relevance of Dixon’s correspondence and the concept of networking in relation the same correspondence.
7 3 Nineteenth Century Press
3.1 History This section clarifies the innovations and regulations that were implemented in the nineteenth century, beginning with a recap of the nineteenth-century press and expounding on the circumstances of the periodical press were before the new century arrived. All in all, with the 16th century in hindsight, press liberty was not obvious. Especially for newspapers and journals, it was difficult to publish an uncensored opinion. First, in 1819, there was the need of an act for taxable commodity, which was legislated and amended in 1836, though this decision coincided with strong political and social turmoil. Before the act was enacted, the debate on liberty of press and freedom of speech was a prominent subject of public debate. (Jones)
Confirming this, Jones mentions an author who states the following:
had there been no stamps on newspapers, no obstruction to the free use of the press, there would have been no riotous assemblages of husbandry labourers, no destruction of agricultural machines, no burnings, no expensive proceedings, no trials, no transportations, no hangings, and consequently none of the terrible evils which ignorance and the administration of the law have occasioned. (Jones 20)
In other words, this author declares that if there had never been use of stamps on newspapers and no hindrance to free press use there would never have been so many strives and riots in order to obtain these primary rights. In fact, the law could have prevented a number of problems by allowing freedom of press use and the abolition of the stamp. As a result of all this, new policies were instructed but be that as it may, agitation was not the cause but a solution to the evolving economic, political and moral needs in the English society.
Altick explains in The English Common Reader (1957) that at the end of the 18th century the population underwent a massive growth, which had a considerable influence on the book market. All these changes that came forth from the population growth influenced “the availability of reading matter, educational opportunities, the conditions under which reading could be done, and the popular attitude toward print” (Altick 81). Concerning literature, it was the highest rank of the population who responded to this new phenomenon. Nevertheless, at one point the lower ranks acquired the ability to read and, as a consequence, their interest in
8 literature was inflamed to such an extent that the highest rank went out of its way to prevent a levelling of high and low classes. Furthermore, the rate of reading was entangled with the amount of leisure people had. Naturally, in the nineteenth century it depended on which class you belonged to if you had any spare time. It should be noted that the creation of the railway transport made a huge difference. Consequently, this kind of travelling created more leisure time for people to read. As a result, those who required this kind of transport for work as well as those who wished to visit relatives benefited from this innovation. Obviously, reading was an excellent recourse from being bored from looking out to endless landscapes. More importantly, periodical press underwent an increase as these publishers had a new spot to sell periodicals for people who were actually interested. Towns and cities naturally gained more access to reading material but the smaller, rural towns hardly had any families with copies of periodicals or books at home. When public transport extended to towards rural towns and local distributors became more prominent, the situation changed. Despite the fact that the reduction of the workweek coincides with more leisure, it does not necessarily imply the English people to read more often. Of course, it was a factor that contributed to the increase of reading literature but there was another significant factor involved: WWI. The First World War contributed to the reading industry due to the fact that the alternatives from which people now were deprived, such as motion pictures, wireless and eventually television, were not available in times of war. Therefore, the periodical press became more influential in people’s lives. In light of this, Altick confirms people were “deprived of many of their favo[u]rite recreations and seeking respite from often intolerable emotional and physical strain, turned to the printed word as they had never done before” (366). People read for the purpose that it was considered an intellectual enrichment to the mind and above all, it was easier to grasp periodical press in comparison to serious literature. Surprisingly, Marchand claims that the nineteenth century reader had the courage to struggle through the weekly despite of its lay out. However, the typical lay out was commonly used at that time for periodicals. As a result, the competition was not one of attractiveness but one of content.
3.2 Difficulties of nineteenth-century editorship According to Schelstraete, the nineteenth century press had to deal with two fundamental obstacles. First of all, the existence of limited marketplace was to be considered as one problem within editorship. In general, there was no extended basis for writers to develop
9 themselves as authors. The socio-economic circumstances between 1800 and 1900 were not fertile for this field of interest. Therefore, an author had to opt for either a life of poverty wherein s/he could write as a living or you could choose for a more independent option and ‘cooperate’ with a patron. In other words, an artist needed a patron to provide him with money and support, which the author himself lacks. Consequently, he can pursue his profession with the help of a patron. However, “Literary Adventurers triumphantly declares that these obstacles have been overcome, claiming, ‘(t)he newspaper press has put an end to “the Poor Devil Author”’”(p.153 in Schelstraete 148). The reason for overcoming these aforementioned obstacles is for one, a larger consumer base. In other words, people gain more interest in acquiring knowledge through books and journals. Secondly, when techniques for mass-production were more efficiently developed, it makes it easier to cope with a large demand in a limited period of time. More specifically, Marchand adds that the steam press was brought into use, which was rapidly introduced into the printing culture. Thirdly, industrial engineers upgraded aspects of the printing process, which lead to more efficient printing services. Next, the paper prices declined rapidly and the stamp and paper duty was reduced in 1836 due to ‘the war of the Unstamped’ (Bloy), which caused a reduction from 4d to 1d. All in all, this lead to an undeniable reduction of printing costs.
The second problem nineteenth century authors were facing, was that of a lack of purpose or a specific role in society. Schelstraete states that Literary Adventurers does not come forth with a solution but merely compares “the incompatibility of lofty, romantic authorship with an increasingly industrialised society” (150). The main concern of periodical press authors should be the use value of their articles. It is their duty to present the reader with a well- considered and well-grounded base of information that will advance their reader’s knowledge. In return for this creation of mental food for the public, “the market place supports its authors, ‘entertaining them in decency and comfort’” (151). Importantly, it is not only about providing the reader with useful knowledge but as well as presenting this information in an attractive way so the reader does not loose interest in the subject. Literary Adventurers states “that non- fiction authors writing for the periodical press have become respectable members of society, both because of their steady income as well as their independence from a ‘debasing’ patron” (Schelstraete 155). This removal from a patron resulted in the writer becoming a regular author but distinguishing himself from other workmen with use value. However, the downside of gaining respect by writing for the periodical press is that it goes hand in hand with anonymity. Who wrote an article does not matter as much as in fictional publication.
10 That being the case is a downside periodical press writers have to live with. The value and respectability of the article comes before the author. Apart from the two problems mentioned above, there is an important aspect concerning the author that Buurma addresses, i.e. the question whether in periodical press the name of the author should be mentioned or not. According to the Times, the publisher is the central authority since it is the publisher’s responsibility to redact the material, specify the genre and topics of the book and eventually edit the text. The Times implies that “the practice of issuing books by different authors in a uniform format and under the unifying publisher’s imprint and series title produces a partially corporate authority figure quite different from the individual author who claims unmediated responsibility for his or her text” (Buurma 18). The question whether the author’s name should be present was an ongoing debate that had both allies and opponents. Those in favour of signed works had various reasons to believe so. First, anonymity was regarded as the subversion of the author as an individual. Secondly, they felt that personal responsibility was a key factor for textual authority for the reason that only autonomous individuals could be seen as authors. Moreover, this anonymity of the author could construct “a strong, albeit false, impression of corporate authority” (Buurma 21) and therefore the evidence of a signature could preclude the reader from being misled. Furthermore, signed articles benefited from the quality of periodical press by preventing the creation of irresponsible reviewers of whom greedy publishers took advantage. The opponents of signed periodicals also had valid arguments. First of all, they felt that signed works allot the individual authority that actually is the product of a cooperation of authors. But most of all, explicitly mentioning the author’s name would be misattributing the intellectual ownership of its work. All in all, within periodical press “the question of responsibility for criticism is one of the most difficult with which the literary profession has to deal. Should it be signed or unsigned, personal or impersonal; should it express the opinion of an individual or of an organ?” (Buurma 21).
3.3 Reviews Marchand points out that during the 1830’s there was no recollection of independent journals. In other words, every periodical was prejudiced towards some sort of political opinion for which the paper stood. It was more important to inject a review with the proper political views than truly reviewing a book for its content. Importantly, not all journals did only publish politically biased reviews or articles.
11 Equally important, was the “friendly review” (Marchand 105), which was prominent within the periodical press. It was a disguised advertisement for a book than rather an honest review of the work. Naturally, this was instigated through the anonymity with which articles were published but “never was there a more transparent attempt to secure, under the guise of humility, a favorable review” (Thomas R. Lounsbury, The Early Literary career of Robert Browning p. 9. in Marchand 106). Despite the fact that an editor should publish unbiased and unprejudiced reviews, it is not evident to fulfill this task, since one can easily be influenced by dear friends or personal, political or moral opinions. Evidently, it was the task of the editor to appoint the reviewing of a book to an expert in the field of interest of the book and not a close friend or colleague of the author. However, Marchand asserts that this is a phenomenon in periodical press that is fairly uncommon since the Athenaeum itself states: “ [...] out of five hundred works reviewed, we doubt it twenty, or even ten, be written either by friends or enemies” (Athenaeum, Oct. 29, 1831, p. 705 in Marchand 109).
In conclusion, the nineteenth-century press has known many journals but the Athenaeum is said to be “perhaps the most notable literary achievement of the Victorian age, and one certainly not surpassed, in its kind, by any journal of our own” (Early Victorian England, ed. G. M. Young, Vol. II, Chap. IX, “The Press,” by E. E. Kellett, pp. 77-78. in Marchand 97).
12 4 The Athenaeum
The Athenaeum, first published in 1828 as a weekly under the proprietor James Silk Buckingham, had existed for almost a century, until 1921. This periodical covered an extensive area of topics, such as literature, fine arts, music, politics, theatre etc. Authors from all over the world sent in articles and reviews to be published in the Athenaeum. Obviously, the Athenaeum covered many varieties within the aforementioned topics, for example as Demoor demonstrates, “the subdivision into different types of gossip according to the subject is an indication that it was much more concerned with providing information and much less with spreading vague- and preferably sensational- rumours” (Where no Woman 33).
James Silk Buckingham, the Athenaeum’s first proprietor was known to be ambitious “but not [to have] the qualities that would make him successful in the editorship of such a journal” (Marchand 2). Preceding the Athenaeum, Buckingham launched other periodicals, which eventually were absorbed or combined with the Athenaeum. Specifically, weeklies as, for example The Sphynx, The Verulam and The Argus, which were enterprises of Silk Bickingham. (Marchand) Both Graham and Marchand assert that the weekly had to compete with several other periodicals at that time.
All in all, Graham states that the Athenaeum’s format underwent little change until 1890. More detailed, its characteristics consisted of fine print and small pages with advertisements at the beginning and the end of the periodical, which resulted in a very conservative display. From the 1890’s it “gradually [changed] into the transformed journal of literature, science, art, etc., which it became under the editorship of H.J. Massingham and J. Midleton Murray” (Graham 318). Furthermore, its volume consisted out of 30 pages containing 20 pages full with articles, reviews, literary information and “special subjects of interest to the literary world” (Graham 321) together with six pages of advertisements accompanying four pages of notices. In 1920, the volume was adjusted under Murray into a periodical with a larger print and a more attractive display. As Marchand explains, the weekly’s publishing day was altered several times in 1828, from Tuesdays to Tuesdays and Saturdays and eventually back to one publication a week. The price went down from 8d. to 7d., but simultaneously with the return of one weekly publication the price raised again to 8d. During the First World War, Demoor (The Last Years) points out that the Athenaeum coped with a few problems regarding its
13 publication, as there was a general shortage of paper, a lack of men power and the urgent need for investors, which led to a monthly publication instead of the usual weekly. In August 1828, the Athenaeum merged with the London Literary Chronicle into The Athenaeum and Literary Chronicle and successively in 1830 it became The Athenaeum and Weekly Review of English and Foreign Literature, Fine Arts and Works of Embellishment. The main focus of the editors on “literary opinions were mild and liberal […] [and] insisted on a moral message in fiction and were condescending, or coldly polite, towards literature of ‘mere amusement’” (Marchand 11) though they could not bare any critique on the school of Coleridge.
Next, I discuss the editors of the Athenaeum and their main aspects regarding their editorship to the periodical as pointed out in The Last Years of a Victorian Monument and in Their Fair Share by Demoor and in The Athenaeum: A Mirror of Victorian Culture by Leslie Marchand.
4. 1 Frederick Denison Maurice (1828-1829) and John Sterling (1829-1830) Marchand claims that Frederick Denison Maurice and John Sterling were two of the contributors to the Athenaeum before they actually became editors. Despite of the fact that the Athenaeum was not ready to compete with journals, such as the Literary Gazette and the London Weekly Review, Maurice entered as the editor in July 1828. In May 1829, Frederick Denison Maurice left his editorship to John Sterling though he maintained reviewing for the Athenaeum long after. At the beginning, Sterling asked the London Magazine group for assistance when he acquired the position of editor. Both of them have shown to have a clear political judgement if the right time presented itself. Though, “Maurice’s son and biographer think they were both wrongly accused of radicalism in politics” (Marchand 13).
4.2 Charles Wentworth Dilke (1830-1846) In the words of Marchand, Dilke studied at Cambridge and worked for the Navy Pay Office. He began to write and edit in 1814 and built a career as an antiquarian and critic before assuming the function of editor for the Athenaeum. Further, Dilke initiated his time with the Athenaeum by assisting Sterling and eventually assumed control over the periodical in 1830. The goal Dilke had in mind was to appoint experts to review a book according to their field of interest. In general, he exceeded his predecessors by reviewing “the complete coverage of every cultural interest of the time [...] [which] makes the pages of the Athenaeum not only an
14 index but a summary as well of current thought and taste from 1830 to the end of the century” (Marchand 27). In addition, he apprenticed his grandson in the periodical press. It was only in 1869 that the younger Dilke inherited the Athenaeum from his grandfather and was “to cherish this heirloom and ensure its continuation” (Demoor, The Last Years 2). It was he who laid off Hepworth Dixon for the reason that he was not satisfied with his editorial management.
4.3 T.K. Hervey (1846-1852) On 23 May 1846, Hervey took over the editorship of Dilke after being a contributor to the Athenaeum. He had already occupied a position of editor with the Friendship’s Offering. During Hervey’s editorship, Dilke continued to contribute to the Athenaeum as the proprietor. The Athenaeum’s policy basically remained untouched except for Hervey’s insertion of social problems, such as “prison reform, workmen’s housing, factory legislation, the curbing of child labor, etc” (Marchand 77) in the Weekly Gossip but this was limited to a few paragraphs. The standard of the Athenaeum knew its decline during Hervey’s time because reviews were written by friends and most of the works were assessed by “Hervey, Chorley, and Hepworth Dixon- all third rate as critics, conservative in literary tastes, and given to panygyrical kindness when handling the works of their friends” (Marchand 78).
4.4 William Hepworth Dixon (1853-1869) William Hepworth Dixon obtained the editing position in 1853, “but he had neither the personality nor the character to gain [...] respect” (Marchand 80). Not to mention, he himself commented on his own books but nevertheless Dixon’s editorship did not destroy the Athenaeum since it still outstood journals, such as the Saturday Review. Furthermore, Dilke laid him off in 1869 for the reason that Dixon wrote a report about their journey through America. But since Dilke had the same intentions, he was blind sighted by Dixon and did not appreciate this. As a result, Dilke’s trust in Dixon was severely damaged although he published his book, Greater Britain, one year later which still made its impact. Under the same circumstances but now with their latest trip to Russia as a topic, Dixon managed to blind sight Dilke again and was therefore fired by Dilke. Now, Dilke did not even bother publishing his own work about the journey. This incident was the tip of the iceberg for Dilke. After all he was not satisfied with the proceedings of Dixon as the editor of the Athenaeum. In addition, he thought Dixon even to damage the periodical with his own publications.
15 4.5 John Doran (1969-1870) John Doran had already been a long time staff member to the Athenaeum but became intern editor until Dilke found a more appropriate editor, who would be a friend and classmate, Norman Maccoll.
4.6 Norman Maccoll (1971-1900) Demoor (The Last Years) points out that Norman Maccoll succeeded to the position of editor through his friend, Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke. Although, Dilke left Maccoll in charge, the Athenaeum’s policy never changed with this editor. As Rendall states about the policy: “its editor was never photographed, so could not be included when notable editors were figured in the press, his place being taken by Dilke, the owner of both papers” (Rendall 303). Furthermore, he devoted his time to tutoring female students at Hitchin. Maccoll retired from the Athenaeum in 1900 but committed himself to the periodical long after his retirement. He, for instance, kept the publication running during holidays but died from a sudden death in 1904. Marchand claims the editorship of Maccoll was memorable in a way that it was known for the most respected authors and reviewers and especially noteworthy is “that at one time some of the major booksellers would not stock a book until they had seen the review in the Athenaeum” (Marchand 89). Overall, Maccoll’s editorship was argued to be “progressive and liberal” (Marchand 338).
4.7 Vernon Rendall (1901-1916) Rendall succeeded Maccoll in 1900 after being his subeditor and commenced his career as one of the authors of the obituary of Norman Maccoll. He “stressed Maccoll’s skilful selection of the right contributors, his independence from cliques and trade influences, and his anxiousness for “perfection of form” (Demoor, The Last Years 4). It must have been a challenging task to succeed an excellent editor as Maccoll, who, moreover, was a friend of Dilke and was never interfered in any editorial choices. This smooth relation between editor and owner changed and Rendall felt the urge to assert himself as the editor. Rendall had to work a double job and consequently he wanted to be paid properly for both of these jobs. However, he was not satisfied with his payment for his work on the Athenaeum and had a discussion with Dilke on this matter. All in all, there are a lot of similarities between the editorship of Maccoll and Rendall but Rendall stayed fairly unnoticed seeing that he did not leave a personal stamp on the weekly.
16 4.8 Arthur Greenwood (1916-1920) Greenwood, on the contrary, never wrote an obituary for Rendall for the simple reason that he lived too long and outlived all the other editors of the Athenaeum. Greenwood, as well, combined two jobs: editor of the Athenaeum and “civil servant at the Ministry of Reconstruction” (Demoor, The Last Years 14). Expectedly, there was an influence of the war topic in the Athenaeum and consequently, “the masthead changed and the classical temple on the cover page was replaced by a cameo portrait featuring a classical profile of a young male warrior” (Demoor, The Last Years15). Importantly, Greenwood’s closer circle of writers was severely adjusted and “a new generation of writers who shared his progressive attitude towards the future, post-war period” (Demoor, The Last Years 15) was appointed. Additionally, he added supplements to the Athenaeum with the goal of “[moving] readers to think about those specific aspects of life covered in the pages of the Athenaeum” (Demoor , The Last Years 18). The objective of Greenwood was that the supplements would lead to discussions, however, there is no evidence of this. The supplements tackled topics concerning for example, War and Education, Women, and Wages, etc.
4.9 John Middleton Murry (1920-1921) John Middleton Murry, an Oxford graduate, was the last editor of the weekly before it merged with the Nation. Murry argues that the reason for the merge with the Nation is due to
general public’s lack of interest in literature ‘It is useless to lament the fact that the general public is more interested in the news that the wife of a newly created peer has ‘gone in for’ bobsleighing or fortune-telling than in a careful criticism of Mr. Wells’ ‘History of the World’. There may come a time when this surfeit of sensationalism will produce nausea. But in the interval it is doubly necessary that the tradition of honest criticism should be maintained’ (Demoor, The Last Years 19)
As can be seen, Dixon had another perspective on the profession of editing than Dilke. According to Demoor in Their Fair Share, both of the Dilke’s, Charles the 3rd and his grandfather, “believed the weekly had to serve as a window on the world, and present its readers with a kaleidoscope of foreign cultures” (32). In other words, both believed the Athenaeum was the channel through which the reader could explore the unknown world. Characteristically, Dilke stuck to the tradition of the anonymous reviews and although he
17 equally favoured male and female authors, it was not explicitly stated in the periodical. Before the weekly became the property of his grandson, it was passed on to his father who had no ambition in the periodical field. As a result of a review by, the then already employed, Dixon on George Eliot, the Athenaeum was “[condemned] [...] for wielding the double critical standard” (Demoor, Their Fair Share 32). While neither Dixon himself nor his job as an editor under Charles Dilke did not profit from this move, it was clear that Dilke would never impose certain views on his reviewers and authors. This resulted in “a varied reception of temporary literature” (Demoor, Their Fair Share 33). More in detail, Dixon’s editorship with the Athenaeum did not outstand other editors. On the contrary, Demoor suggests the weekly under Dixon to be “the low-watermark of the run of the Athenaeum” (Their Fair Share 33). Still, the periodical survived since it occupied a well-established position in a way that British scholars and intellectuals had to read it to keep up with their close circle of colleagues and friends.
The international element of the weekly is another aspect that contributed to the high standard of the Athenaeum. That is to say, authors and reviewers were sent abroad to report on their foreign cultural impressions and adventures. These articles were then published in the journal seeing that the nineteenth century readers were eager to learn about unfamiliar cultures. Nonetheless, Dixon did not put effort into this international dimension of the weekly, and as a result, the weekly and its international dimension knew its decline during Dixon’s editorship. Overall, the aim of most of the editors of the Athenaeum was “to make sure the Athenaeum continued to be the cultural flagship it had been up to then” (Demoor, The Last Years 2). Inevitably, for the Athenaeum to deal with a new century, it had to appoint a new editor. At that time, this seemed the best possible solution.
To conclude, Marchand claims that the Athenaeum was the precursor of the later literary review magazines for the reason that it did not publish entire texts or books but only reviews of those works since the “public […] could not buy three-guinea books, or which did not care for the opinions of the editors” (Marchand 18).
18 5 Biography: William Hepworth Dixon
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states the following concerning William Hepworth Dixon. On 30 June 1821, Dixon was born at Great Ancoats, in Manchester and became a journalist and writer. Dixon spent his juvenile years in Over Darwen with his father, Abner Dixon and his mother, Mary née Cryer. A brother-in-law of Abner Dixon, Michael Beswick mentored Dixon and additionally Dixon turned into an assistant “to a merchant named Thompson” (Kent). While Dixon was still growing up he began to write his first play: The Azamoglan.
1842-1846 In this time frame, Dixon was a contributor to the North of England Magazine and the Illuminated Magazine. In 1844, he fell in love and walked Mary Ann McMahon down the aisle. Two years later, Dixon was appointed the editing chief of Cheltenham Journal and “won two principal essay prizes in Maddden’s Prize Essay Magazine” (Kent). In 1846, Dixon joined the Inner Temple and accordingly settled in London. Surprisingly, he did not pursue a career in law and consequently he was never approached to argue in court.
1847-1853 In 1847, Dixon commenced his contribution to the Athenaeum as well as the Daily News and wrote his first works i.e. The literature of the lower orders and London prisons, that would eventually lead to the beginning of his career as an author. Subsequently, this led to the publication of John Howard and the Prison World of Europe (1849) and The London Prisons (1850). Dixon became vice president of the Great Exhibition, “held at the Crystal Palace in London, and helped to start more than one third of the committees then formed” (Kent). In 1951, he wrote Life of William Penn, which entailed remarks for the accusations made to William Penn. The accuser, Macaulay, never gave the book any attention but surprisingly he did own a cope of Dixon’s work. Dixon was appointed editor of The Athenaeum in 1853 after his publication of The French in England or Both Sides of the Question on both Sides of the Channel and Robert Blake, Admiral and General at ea, Based on Family and State Papers. The latter attained considerable popularity, however, it was not considered of high standard by professionals.
19 1854- 1866 From the mid 1850’s, Dixon investigated the life of Francis Bacon and simultaneously he wrote The Personal History of Lord Bacon from Unpublished Papers, A Statement of the Facts in Regard to Lord Bacon’s Confession and the Story of Lord Bacon’s Life. Meanwhile, Dixon travelled through Europe (Spain, Portugal and Morocco) as “the literary executor“ (Kent) of Lady Morgan and “edited the Memoirs of Lady Morgan” (Kent). After his journey through the Middle East he returned and launched the Palestine Exploration Fund. A year later, in 1865, Dixon wrote, The Holy Land, a geographical manual of Palestine. Two years later, he visited the United States:
During his trip he discovered in the public library at Philadelphia a collection of Irish state papers belonging to the English national archives, which had been missing since the time of James II and included the original manuscript of the memoirs of Ulick Bourke, fifth earl and marquess of Clanricarde, covering 23 October 1641 to 30 August 1643. At his suggestion, they were returned to the British government. (Kent)
1867- 1877 Dixon launched his book, New America, and it was reprinted in England, France, Russia, Holland, Italy, and Germany. His next book, Spiritual Wives (1868) “brought accusations of indecency [and] brought a libel action against the Pall Mall Gazette, which had made the charge, and obtained nominal damages of 1 farthing on 29 November 1872” (Kent 2). In 1868, Dixon was invited to represent Marylebone but he kindly refused for he was not ready to change his career from author to politician. One year later, Dixon published Her Majesty’s Tower (vols. 3 and 4, 1871). In 1869, “[…] he resigned as the editor of The Athenaeum and soon afterwards was appointed justice of the peace for Middlesex and Westminster” (Kent). Dixon was let go, by Charles Wentworth Dilke, partly due to different views on the functioning of the Athenaeum. Next, Dixon published Free Russia, a book about his trip through Russia. In 1870 he became a staff member of the London School “and succeeded in carrying a resolution which established drill in all rate-paid schools in London” (Kent). Dixon lived, in 1871, in Switzerland, where he wrote The Switzers (1872). Further, he travelled to Spain for a commercial assignment and during his stay, Dixon wrote History of Two Queens. In the same year, Dixon obtained the title of “knight of the Crown by the Kaiser Wilhelm” (Kent). Henceforth, he advocated for non-paying public entrance in the Tower of London. In this light, Dixon guided tourists through the monument. Next on his literary
20 oeuvre was The White Conquest which described his journey through Canada and the United States. Following that, one year later he published The way to Egypt for the Gentleman’s Magazine. In addition, Diana, Lady Lyle (1877), Ruby Grey (1878) and Royal Windsor (1878) were published.
1878- 1879 In 1878, Dixon injured his shoulder due to a horseback riding accident and as from that moment his health never fully recovered. He wrote British Cyprus a year later but squandered his financial assets on Turkish stock. To top this, he lost his entire house at Regent’s Park as the result of an explosion at Regent’s Canal. Furthermore, Dixon was severely affected by the death of his elder daughter and son. Hepworth Dixon was editing the manuscript of Royal Windsor but “died the following morning from a seizure. On 2 January 1880 he was buried in Highgate cemetery” (Kent).
Dixon took a leading part in improving accommodation for the poor and labouring classes. He was a popular writer, but his work was sometimes questioned for its accuracy. He was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Society of Antiquaries, and the Pennsylvania Society. His wife survived him. Among their children was Ella Nora Hepworth Dixon, novelist and journalist. (Kent)
21 Overview of works by William Hepworth Dixon
1845 The Azamoglan 1842- 1846 North of England Magazine and the Illuminated Magazine 1846 Cheltenham Journal 1849 John Howard and the Prison World of Europe 1850 The London Prisons 1851 Life of William Penn 1851 The French in England, or, Both Sides of the Question on both Sides of the Channel 1852 Robert Blake, Admiral and General at Sea, Based on Family and State Papers 1853 Editor of The Athenaeum 1861 The Personal History of Lord Bacon from Unpublished Papers 1861 A Statement of the Facts in Regard to Lord Bacon's Confession 1861 Memoirs of Lady Morgan 1862 Story of Lord Bacon's Life 1865 The Holy Land 1867 New America 1868 Spiritual Wives 1869 resigned The Athenaeum 1870 Free Russia 1871 Her Majesty’s Tower 1872 The Switzers 1872 History of Two Queens 1875 The White Conquest 1876 The way to Egypt for the Gentleman's Magazine 1877 Diana, Lady Lyle 1878 Ruby Grey 1878 2 vols of Royal Windsor 1879 British Cyprus
22 6 Analysis of the Correspondence
6. 1 Editorial Note In the analysis I look further into the correspondence of W. H. Dixon. Friends, fellow authors and contributors addressed Dixon regarding various matters. The corpus consists of 42 letters addressed to W. H. Dixon, with the exception of three that were sent to Ella Nora Hepworth Dixon, Joseph Angus and J.O. Halliwell. In effect, the letters reveal invitations for meetings and dinners, requests as to publish a review or article and favours concerning the sender’s self-interest.
The selection of the corpus in this master paper is from the bundle of manuscripts I received from Prof. Dr. Marysa Demoor. Since the word limit imposed from the faculty is 25000 words, I narrowed the document down to a set of 42 letters of correspondence ranging from 1855 until 1869. Along the same line, this period coincides with the editorship of W. H. Dixon with the Athenaeum. The correspondences are chronologically ordered and numbered from 1 to 42 to preserve an overview of the letters. Further, the analysis contains the same structure for every letter of correspondence. First, a biographical note reveals the identity of the sender of the letter, and in the case W. H. Dixon is not the addressee, the addressee is examined as well. In general, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography covers most of the names mentioned, however, in case the ODNB did not cover a particular person I searched by using associations from the content of the letter and employed the Dictionary of Nineteenth Century Journalism, Google Scholar, the UGhent Library, Library of Congress, The British Library, Who’s Who, Who was Who and the Wellesley Index. Next, the transcription of the manuscript is outlined and correspondingly a note is added to explain the content of the letter. Together with this, relevant places, buildings and works are examined to gain a full understanding of the letters. To clarify, people or places, which are reoccurring in another letter, are not discussed again but instead the page number is added to refer to the previous mentioning of it. Moreover, while transcribing the manuscript I did not alter the original lay out. The original paragraphs are still intact, however, I added the full date if not stated entirely. Clearly, all letters were written in the 19th century since Dixon lived during this century. Overall, the structure of the manuscripts is identical throughout the corpus. In detail, the correspondence starts with a heading containing the address of the sender and the date of departure. Next, this
23 is followed by a salutation and the actual message. To finish, the closing expresses the most kind regards, a signature from the sender and at the bottom the addressee is mentioned. Notably, I did not modify the content, be that as it may phrases are, at times, not clear due to undecipherable handwriting, which consequently result in an incomplete sentence. Importantly, I replaced unreadable words by X and added the symbol […] to indicate that I made an adjustment to the content. Specifically, these alterations are limited to the capitalising of letters and adding a consonant/vowel for a word to be spelled correctly.
24 6.2 Analysis 1 Ferdinand Freiligrath Ferdinand Freiligrath is a German poet and translator who enjoyed an international career during his life. He was born in Detmold, Germany in 1810 and died 66 years later. At the age of 16, he quit his studies and started working in retail. Before he left his job in order to focus on his writing career, he had a career in banking. Around 1844, he was forced to leave the country because of his political ideas and eventually settled in England, after moving from Germany, to Belgium and Switzerland. Freiligrath moved back to Germany but because of his second publication, Die Toten an die Lebenden, he thought it better to move back to London together with his family. In London, Freiligrath settled down at Sutton Place, Hackney and returned to his former career in the financial world. He pursued a position at an accountancy firm owned by Mr. Oxford. Equally important, after office hours he continued to produce articles and poetic translations on German literature for English newspapers. In 1868, the bank went bankrupt but Freiligrath had the opportunity to move back to Stuttgart, Germany. During the war in 1870-1871, he added patriotic poems to his oeuvre and more importantly he was a regular reviewer to the Athenaeum. (Answer Source) The following is said of Freiligrath’s writing:
If Freiligrath lacked depth, he had a vivid imagination, a fertile gift for rhyme, and considerable technical facility [...]. His poetry has a touch of declamatory brashness, but he was a successful translator and popularizer of French (e.g. V. Hugo, Odes and Chants du crépuscule) and more especially English, Scots, and Irish poetry by Herrick, Burns, Campbell, Scott, Moore, Felicia Hemans, Macaulay, and Tennyson. (Answer Source)
3, Sutton Place, Aug.[ust] 23. 1855.
Dear Sir,
I am much obliged to you for your kind information about the “Athen[aeum]”. Miss X book has come to hand, and I hope to send you a X article about it by next week.
25 Always very truly yours F Freiligrath
Hepworth Dixon, Eng.
Note This letter referred to a review on a recently received book by Freiligrath but no further information can be deducted for the reason that some words are undecipherable. The book received by F. Freiligrath is from an anonymous Miss. Freiligrath expressed his hopes to send Dixon a new article on the previously mentioned book by the time of next week.
Sutton Place Sutton Place 3, at Hackney was the residence of Ferdinand Freiligrath.
26 2 F. Freiligrath See page 25
3 Sutton Place Wednesday X
Dear Sir, Enclosed I beg to have you some more paragraphs for the “Weekly Giving” that or X a new play I sent already on Thursday last, too late most likely for last Saturday’s number. Perhaps it has been mislaid in the mean time, and I enclose therefore another copy. For the review of P. Heyse books I have not yet found time, but hope to do so very soon. Believe me, Dear Sir, yours truly F Freiligrath
Hepworth Dixon, Eng.
Note This correspondence succeeded the previous letter of Freiligrath. It referred to several paragraphs and a play written by Freiligrath which was sent too late to be published the following Saturday in the “Weekly Giving” (L, no. 2) in the Athenaeum. Moreover, the sender referred to a book he had not yet reviewed but is planning to do so in the near future. This book was written by P. Heyse.
P. Heyse Paul Heyse is the author, which Freiligrath referred to in his letter. Freiligrath was planning to review the novel Meleager, Eine Tragodie; Novellen. Paul Heyse wrote this novel in 1855. (Athenaeum Index)
Sutton Place See page 26
27 3 F. Freiligrath See page 25
3, Sutton Place, Hackney Wednesday evening
Dear Sir,
I have again to apologize for not sending you the review, but only two paragraphs, one of which moreover, is rather an X one. The fact is, that I have been overwhelmed with business all these weeks. In a X time, however, I hope to get more leisure and shall then not fail to keep my promise. F.
Meanwhile I remain, dear Sir, Yours faithfully F. Freiligrath Hepworth Dixon, Eng.
Note This letter was again (as the two previous ones) from Freiligrath. He apologised for not sending the entire review on time. He had been too busy with other business, in other words, he still worked as director of the London branch of the Swiss bank and as a result he was not able to finish the reviews on time. He, however, promised that it will not happen again and as from the moment he had more spare time, he would send his next reviews.
Sutton Place See page 26
28 4 Anonymous
Whitefriars. London. September 26[th]. 1860
My dear Dixon I have sent the enclosed [sic] to the Athenaeum on an advertisement. I think our good friend C.K. would be grateful if you X to allude to it in your “Literary Gossip”- and surely he deserves any X. I am I am you X, if you can..[.] [sic] Yours very sincerely X
Note The anonymous writer of this note pleaded to Dixon to mention C.K. in an advertisement in the Athenaeum. C.K. would be grateful for the publication and, according to the writer of the note, he deserved any publicity he could get.
C.K. I did not find information on C. K. in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
Whitefriars Whitefriars is located in England between Fleet Street and the Thames. It is now a peaceful region but it has been otherwise. “[It] was once the riotous Alsatia of Scott and Shadwell” (Thornbury). During the nineteenth century, gas industry was a prominent feature in Whitefriars, but eventually these gas-works, together with the polluting smoke and fire were moved to a region outside of the London District. (Thornbury)
29 5 Anonymous
22. Kilburn Square Dec[ember]. 22. [18]‘60 Dear Sir I am X by your former kindness towards me to solicit a favour the granting [sic] of which would render me an important service. I am a candidate for an existing vacancy in the office of Secretary to the Rl. [Royal] London Ophthalmic Hospital, and you will doubtless be glad to learn that I have an exceeding by good chance of success, the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and several other influential members of the Election Committee as my warm supporters. It is usual, as you are aware, to send on as many as possible testimonials and recommendations from gentlemen of repute and influence. I have a great number already, but Mr. Eddison, one of the most prominent members of the Committee told me today that I do not exhibit too many. I have been induced, consequently, to ask you if you would do me the great favour to add your valuable testimony in [sic] my behalf, to the extent of your knowledge of me & of your X X X of my fitness for the post aforesaid. My present night duties are most prejudicial to my health, and I am naturally most anxious to avail of the present opportunity to obtain an easier & more healthful employment. My application goes in on Tuesday next. I X Dear sir Yours obedient & most obliged servant. J. X W. H. Dixon Eng.
Note Anonymous inquired after a favour from Dixon. He wanted to apply for the Office of Secretary at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital but therefore he needed several references and recommendations “from gentlemen of repute and influence” (L, no. 5). Although Anonymous already had many recommendations, he had been advised by Mr. Eddison to acquire some more and therefore he contacted Mr. Dixon. Anonymous kindly asked for a recommendation from Dixon and added the due date for his application.
30 Mr. Eddison There is no trace of Mr. Eddison in the sources I used.
Kilburn Square Kilburn is positioned in the southeast of Brent. It is “named after a Sacon called Cylla, or it may take its name from the Saxon for ‘the cattle stream’” (Grange Museum of Community History and Brent Archive). Kilburn Square was situated at Kilburn and lived through the only major transformation at Kilburn Square, which was the Willesden parish segment. (Grange Museum of Community History and Brent Archive).
Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital As AIM25 explains, the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital was a specialised hospital for eye and ear diseases. John Cunningham Saunders launched the hospital in 1804 at Charterhouse Square. Four years later, it developed into a specialist institution exclusively for eye problems since at that moment in history, Britain was plagued by an epidemic of trachoma (bacterial infection on the eyes). Because of the increase of patients the Royal Hospital was replaced to a larger territory on Bloomfield Street and later moved to the City Road. In 1899, the hospital contained specialised units and “was still operating as a charity and each patient received an admission card that read: ‘This letter is granted to the applicant in being poor. Its acceptance therefore by anyone not really poor constitutes an abuse of charity’” (AIM25). At the beginning of WWI, the hospital had a serious lack of staff, which caused the closing in 1919 for military reasons. Ten years later, the hospital was extended with private blocks and more infrastructures to house the staff; King George V financed all of this. During the Second World War, the hospital was hit by a doodlebug (a bomb) and needed a total reconstruction. The hospital was rebuilt and “amalgamated with the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital and the Central Eye Hospital, and took on the clinical facilities for the Medical School for the University of London” (AIM25).
31 6 Stewart Macnaghten I did not find information on Macnaghten in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
Jan[uary]. 23 1861
Dear Sir The Secretary of our Athenaeum informs me that you have kindl[y] X to attend the Soirée on the Xth X- it will give us much pleasure if you will X us with your company at dinner on that day at 5.30 o’clock. We can give you a bed[.] Yours faithfully Stewart Macnaghten
Hepworth Dixon Eng. x x x
Note Stewart Macnaghten addressed Hepworth Dixon about a matter regarding the secretary of the Athenaeum. In addition Macnaghten inquired after Dixon’s his attendance to the dinner. If he attended the dinner, he could stay the night.
32 7 Robert Cooke Robert Cooke was born in 1818 and worked as an assistant to John Murray. Cooke was the cousin of John Murray III. He started his publishing career as an assistant to the publisher Longman and eventually became part of the publishing firm of John Murray in 1837. He enjoyed a good contact with Murray and was eventually appointed as an associate since Cooke was Murray’s right hand. Especially noteworthy, Cooke bought a property in Albemarle Street, which served as a depot. Cooke died in 1891. (John Murray Archive)
50A, Albemarle Street London, W. April 25 1861
Dear Dixon Here is the X of Bacon made up to the end of the year and if you would like a cheque for £100 on X you have only to say so. We find that there are some 250 copies remaining in the hands of the booksellers and so it will be prudent, not to let any rumour get out, as to a new edition or they will not be able to dispose up there, but whatever we do, we had do [sic] quickly for the present [sic]. Yours very truly Robert Cooke
Note Cooke informed W. H. Dixon about the sale of the books on Bacon. There would appear a new edition shortly but several booksellers had not sold the previous edition. The news of the new edition could not go public yet. Reference was also made to the money that Dixon had to receive for the first edition.
Albemarle Street This is the street in central London where the publisher John Murray and the warehouse, which Robert Cooke purchased was established.
33 8 W. I. Hunt I have found many entries on W. Hunt in different sources (ODNB, Wellesley Index, etc.) but none of them reveal enough details to confirm if it is the sender of Letter no. 8. None of them show any record of affiliation with the Shakespeare Committee, the Athenaeum or any links from the content of the letter.
Stratford upon Avon 16. July 1861 Dear Sir A gentleman having kindly offered to assist the Committee in completing the planting of Shakespeare’s Garden and put himself in communication with me on the outside; will you do me the favour X to return me the list of flowers he mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays which I sent you when at Stratford, as it may be of some assistance to me at this time. [A]nd save me the trouble of wading again through Mrs. X Clarke’s concordance to make out a fresh list.
I am Dear Sir Yours faithfully W. I. Hunt W. Hepworth Dixon Eng
Note Hunt asked Dixon for a new list to complete the Shakespeare garden with the flowers that were mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. He lost the list and does not have the time to make a new one.
Shakespeare’s Garden A Shakespeare Garden can be found in several countries but has the same primary characteristics. The garden is constructed according to the Shakespearean plays. All the flowers, trees etc. that play a part in one of Shakespeare’s plays are put into one garden. (The New York Botanical Garden)
34 9 John Cordy Jeaffreson John Cordy Jeaffreson was born in 1831 and lived in Framlingham, Suffolk. He attended the Grammar School at Woodbridge and Botesdale. Afterwards his father tutored him in order to become a surgeon. In 1846 he decided on a different career and wanted to become a writer. Still, he graduated BA in 1852 from Pembroke’s College. Following this, he joined several inns but used this access rather for expanding his relationships than increasing his experience as a lawyer. Four years later, he married Arabella Ellen and raised one daughter, Caroline. In 1901, he passed away in Maida Vale, London and his wife and daughter outlived him.
From 1850 onwards, Jeaffreson began contributing to the literary world. Beginning with Crewe Rise, he published his first novel. Simultaneously he committed himself to the Athenaeum and therefore was able to quit his teaching career. Jeaffreson planted his name in the literary world and devoted himself to topics, such as literary history, which led to books as Novels and Novelists from Elizabeth to Victoria (1858), A Book about Doctors (1860), A Book about Lawyers (1866), A Book about the Clergy (1870), Brides and Bridals (1872) and A book about the Table all. All of those books received good sales numbers and his series was characterised “as anecdotal social history” (Martin). Especially noteworthy is that Jeaffreson remained prominently present in the publishing world since “a continuing flow of novels and a commissioned life of Robert Stephenson (1864) left him still with much energy for social life and travel.” (Martin) On a social level, Jeaffreson was close friends with Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy who was “the deputy keeper of the public records since 1861, and the founder of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts” (Martin), both instances were launched in the 1960s. In 1871, Jeaffreson was offered a position as inspector of historical documents and began his career in palaeography under guidance of Hardy. As a result, Jeaffreson began his investigation of many historical documents and his findings were published. “Over the next eleven years Jeaffreson reported on twenty-seven other collections, twelve of them in private hands, four held in counties by clerks of the peace, and the other eleven the records of municipal corporations, including major holdings at Chester (1881), Ipswich (1883), Leicester (1881), King's Lynn (1887), and Great Yarmouth (1883)” (Martin). The following works all received excellent reviews: Life of Byron (1883), Life of Shelley (1888), Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson (1888) and The Queen of Naples and Lord Nelson (1889).
35 Jeaffreson’s contribution to the recollection of history and manuscripts was of great value. Although he was criticised later regarding the correctness and accurateness of his work, he was never overridden by anyone. Important to realise, he had to work under unfortunate conditions since to the physical state of the manuscripts was described as “ill-housed, disordered, and dirty, and identifying and arranging it was at least as formidable a task as selecting illustrative material and preparing the reports” (Martin). Above all, at the time of Jeaffreson’s research there existed no guideline for the investigation of manuscripts. (Martin)
5. Heathcote Street Mecklenburgh Square- W.C.
Dear Dixon, Since reading “Lord Bacon’s confession: A Statement of Facts” I have read again the “Personal History” deliberately and with lively attention. This re-reading (neither the second nor the third), made in all the coldness of critical X, brings one to the same conclusion that I arrived at, when I for the first time came to the end of your splendid vindication with a quick pulse. I not only do not see a single break in the argument; I cannot seem [to] discover a weak link in the entire chain of evidence. I should of course like to have more full information as to the exact nature of the services rendered by Bacon to Essex, but such additional information I desire not for the purpose of strengthening your defence, but for the sake of the greater complements it would give to a portion of the personal biography. I wish I had an achieved reputation for clearness of perception and soundness of judgement in matters literary, that I might rest it on this decision, for I am confident that no thoughtful scholar of a future generation will gain say it. As it is, it is pleasant to see how your view is gaining acceptance with the world,- I do not mean the world of the generous and impulsive, but the world of the timid and cautious. Those who find it most difficult to throw aside the old errors into which their life has fitted itself now say they never deemed Bacon below the moral standard of his generation, but only held him blame-worthy for not having been above it. Until your book appeared however, the popular condemnation was no relative one. Unsoftened by qualification or comparison of any kind, it was a strong re-iteration of Pope’s charge that he was positively the “meanest of mankind”. At this stage of the public recantation I regard modified dissent as reluctant X that is to say, a kind of X which, more forcibly than any other verdict could do, shows how completely you have done your work.
36 As all the charges are in my opinion completely wiped out, I cannot compare the results of the different portions of your vindication. The multitude however will be slower to recognize the force of the arguments in the Essex case, than on the other counts [sic] of the long indictment. The difficulty will arise from a combination of different causes. The readers are comparatively few who can appreciate Bacon’s position towards the Earl in the hey-day of their intercourse. To the many Bacon must appear as far separated from the Earl, as a poor X barrister of the present day living in the dilapidated and forsaken Gray’s Inn of our own experience is X from the most distinguished personages moving round our own Queen. Those, who enlarge on the immense debt of gratitude due from Bacon to his patron, think of him as a mere ambitious obscurity,- not the member of a gentle house, the son of Elizabeth’s Lord Keeper, the admired ornament of that court, in which he had been settled as a child. In your argument you confined yourself to a strict and logical examination of “facts”, leaving the merely sentimental consideration to die their own death; [B]ut your picture of Bacon’s youth and early manhood- in respect of his personal cares, interests and dignity- will greatly aid your argument in convincing the romantic school that they do ill to canonize a traitor, in order that they may the more effectually traduce the captain of Modern Thought. It will teach a useful lesson to those, who with strange unsoundness of morality maintain that Bacon’s first allegiance was due to the power from whom he had received most personal advantage, - vanquishing them on their own ground, by showing them that according to their own rule Bacon was right in honourably serving the Queen from whom he had received more personal kindness and favour than from the Earl who proved himself false and corrupt in every relation of life.- Believe me to be, dear Dixon, yours very sincerely John Cordy Jeaffreson July 24 1861
Note John Cordy Jeaffreson re-read the book, Personal History, to enquire about any flaws in the work of Dixon. He firmly stated he did not find “a weak link in the entire chain of evidence” (L, no. 9). Additionally, Jeaffreson inquired after more information about the Essex case since it would complement the personal biography. He stated that Dixon’s view on Bacon gained acceptance with the world. Especially, the world of the more cautious and reserved people
37 considered Bacon as blame-worthy for not being above the moral standard of his generation. Up to the moment of Dixon’s book people considered Pope’s charge as accurate.
Francis Bacon Francis Bacon is one of history’s most famous philosopher as well as politician. Although he was born in London, he grew up at Hertfordshire. Bacon lived from 22 January 1561 until 1626. Bacon was home schooled until the age of 12 and was later sent to Trinity School at Cambridge. He enjoyed an excellent home education consisting of many classical subjects and consequently was ready to enter University. Francis Bacon preferred subjects, such as philosophy, rhetoric and history during his studies. Travelling was one of Bacon’s occupations since this was beneficial to become a learned scholar. Accordingly, he had an interesting life in that he pursued various career paths and had close relationships with important members of society, i.e. the Queen and the Earl of Essex.
The matter of Lord Bacon and the Essex case Lord Bacon became acquainted with Robert Devereux, the second Earl of Essex who was the Queen’s favourite. Their relation was build on patronage. Bacon failed to seat as Attorney General and later as Solicitor- General for which Essex tried to ease his disappointment with a property at Twickenham. Eventually, Lord Bacon became a learned counsel of the Queen and was employed in several legal cases. He became more prestigious in the eyes of the Queen as he broke off his friendship with Essex hence the second Earl was accused of treason. Bacon became part of the investigation and the legal team that led to the execution of the 2nd Earl of Essex. Afterwards, Lord Bacon wrote a paper on the events that occurred during the trial. The Queen and the ministers later adjusted his work.
38 10 Walter Lowe Clay Clay is the author of Our Convict Systems (1862) and wrote other works, such as The power of the keys, and other Sermons and The Prison Chaplain. I did not find more information Walter Lowe Clay. There should be additional biographical information in the National Biography of America but this is not available outside of the US.
Coventry Jan[uary]. 6th 1862
My dear Sir, Please pardon a series of questions. 1° Does not the Athenaeum owe the Convict Question an article? 2° Do you X admit amateur articles? 3° Will you accept one from me on the C.2. – to be – consigned, of course, to your waste paper X, if not “up to the X”? [sic] I am so hard worked in various ways that I cannot afford the time to write another unless I know there is a fair chance of its [sic] being accepted. This is my apology for the note. The accompanying address is the X on which I X to hang the article. Believe me, Dear Sir, Faithfully yours Walter L. Clay
William Hepworth Dixon, Eng.
Note Walter L. Clay asked Dixon three questions regarding the Athenaeum and the publication of articles. First of all, Clay inquired if the Athenaeum does not “owe the Convict Question an article” (L, no. 10)? Secondly, he had his doubts about the fact if non-professional articles are being published in the Athenaeum. Next, he informed after the acceptance of a review because he had worked hard on it and if there is no chance of it being published, Clay would rather not waste his time rewriting it.
39 Convict Question Walter Clay clearly defines the term Convict Question in Our Convict Systems: Until the reign of Elizabeth, transportation and imprisonment were not legal punishments in England. Banishment, […] was unknown to the common law. Untried prisoners, debtors, and felons under sentence of death, were the only lawful inmates of goals. The gallows, the pillory, the stocks, ear cropping, flogging, branding, fining, and the like, were the only means, and to deter the only end of punishment. But […] new penalties became urgently necessary. […] At first it seems that felons were to transport themselves, on pain of hanging if they loitered. But it was soon found necessary to enforce their departure more certainly, and the justices began the practice of giving away their convicts to any contractor who would undertake to clear them out of the country, and land them in the colonies. In return, the contractor acquired a property in the service of the felons during the period of their sentences […]. But […] the English felon-trade began to languish; for the planters found negroes both cheaper and safer than transports. The contractors began to demand a bounty on the export […]. Who was to pay this charge was doubtless a vexed question. (Rev. W. L. Clay 7)
On the whole, in the 16th century there did not exist a clear system for convicts and criminals. As a result, penalties were not always completed since the criminals had to organise their own transport to the colonies. The English Court finally decided on a system in which any person could transport the convicts out of the country. Clearly, as a favour those people obtained a property in turn for their service. However, this service lacked efficiency since the transporters discovered criminals to be cheap slaves. As a result, they requested a compensation for their service. Ultimately, the convict question entailed the discussion of who had to pay this compensation.
40 11 Thornton Hunt Thornton Leigh Hunt was born in 1810 in Hampstead and was the eldest of seven children. Hunt had two sons with Marianne Hunt, ten children with his second wife Kate and four with his lover Agnes. He died at Kilburn, London on 25 Jun 1873. Further, he wanted a career as a painter but due to allergies he opted for a writing career. He edited his father’s books. Next to the contribution on his father’s writing, he devoted himself to journalism. He edited several papers, such as the Constitutional, Cheshire Reformer and the Glasgow Argus. When he moved back to London, he was involved with The Spectator, The Globe, etc. “Throughout his career Hunt advocated political freedom and social improvement and allied himself with groups such as the Chartists and the People's International League, organizations which fostered democratic social reform” (Viera).
4 Euston Square N.W. Jan[uary]. 7, 1862. My dear Hepworth Dixon, Nothing prevented my coming on Monday last, except work; the X of everyday that being aggravated by my feeble condition of health. I had just emerged from rather a bad attack. I do think it absurd to quarrel with the very X of the movement for being first; but the absurdity is not uncommon. If I ought advise you, however, it would be not to reciprocate X X and combatant form of discussion; but lonely as you so well may, on the positive ground,- the very nature of the movement, and your own natural position in it. I shall make every effort to be with you on Monday; but I should like much to have half an hour’s talk with you. The obstacle X is my own proposal X of official duties; but I could most likely manage to call on you at the Athenaeum office some morning between eleven and twelve; If I can I shall take my chance; unless I hear from you to the contrary. Would the trouble to see you on Saturday evening, not X X my X? My wish is to see X superseded by a stone resolve X X with the movement well. [sic] X X, in some haste I am sincerely yours Thornton Hunt Hepworth Dixon Eng
41
Note Hunt excused himself with Dixon for not showing up on a meeting because of his health. Though, he looked forward to another meeting with Hepworth Dixon. He would like to have at least half an hour to converse with Dixon but Hunt will try to contact Dixon by phone.
42 12 Sir Robert Lush Sir Robert Lush was born on 25 October 1807 at Shaftesbury and was the eldest son of Robert Lush and Lucy Wiltshire. Lush attended Shaftesbury School and additionally joined a law firm. In 1836, he joined Gray’s Inn and wrote several books before he had to appear in court. Lush spent his life with his wife Elizabeth Ann and together they raised four sons. Hamilton suggest they had many more. Two of them became lawyers and the others died at a young age. Lush himself died on 27 December 1881 at home in London.
From 1838 onwards, Lush published several books on common law practice: The Act for the Abolition of Arrest on Mesne Process and The practice of the superior courts of common law at Westminster in actions and proceedings over which they have a common jurisdiction. Further, Lush refined himself as a special pleader and accordingly practiced law at Gray’s Inn. From 1857 onwards, he obtained the position of the Queen’s advisor. However, before he became part of Gray’s Inn, he adapted many works, such as Chitty’s General Practice of the Law. Above all, Hamilton describes Lush as a “small and unassuming, his learning and clarity of expression gave him instant success in commercial practice”. Moreover, Lush did not participate in parliamentary affairs but he was chief of the home circuit, together with Sir William Bovill. In 1865, he regularly attended the Queen’s Bench, which “is the Superior Trial Court of the Province, hearing trials in civil and criminal matters and appeals from decisions of the Provincial Court” (Alberta Courts). As a member of the Judicature Commission (1878) he worked with Sir George Jessel to develop an outline of “the Rules of Practice […] Afterwards, in May 1879, while still a puisne judge, he was appointed a member of the privy council by Lord Beaconsfield” (Hamilton). One year later, he obtained the position of the former “Lord Justice Thesiger in the Court of Appeal” (Hamilton).
Mr[.] Robert C. Lush presents his compliments to Mr[.] Hepworth Dixon, and encloses an extract from the Cambridge Independent Press for the 13th X. which he may possibly think worthy of insertion in the Athenaeum. The letter X refers to a controversy which has been recently going on between the High and Low Church Parties in Cambridge, on the subject of Lenten X – which one of the latter party in a letter to the “Independent”, stigmatized as X from the same superstition as “Popish Indults”. 60 Avenue Road N.W. 19 Feb 1862
43
Note This was the correspondence between Sir Robert Lush and W.H. Dixon. Lush enclosed an excerpt valuable to the Athenaeum. The excerpt was about a polemic between the High and Low Church.
High and Low Church The High and Low Church are two factions of the Anglican Church. Firstly, the High Church came into place in the nineteenth century because of indifferences with the view of the Puritans. Importantly, “High Churchmen placed great emphasis on liturgy and the sacraments, especially the weekly or daily celebration of the Eucharist. Their use of vestments and incense, along with their frequent devotion to Mary and high regard for the Roman Catholic Church, were often regarded with concern and even hostility” (Anglican Church of Canada). Secondly, the Low Church was established in the eighteenth century. Moreover, “the “Low” Church or Evangelical party placed great emphasis on preaching, personal piety and the authority of scripture. Evangelicals also gave much less importance to the orders of priesthood and episcopacy” (Anglican Church of Canada). Both of the factions are considered to be a part of Anglicanism. (Anglican Church of Canada)
44 13 Robert Cooke See page 33
50A Albemarle Street London, W. April 9 1862
Dear Dixon We are quite X if you prefer it, to print off only 1000 copies at first of the Bacon and to ask X to keep the type standing- only you must bear in mind that in the new form and at 7/6 retail- the 1st edition will not do more than pay its expenses, if that, as we have not yet X X[.] Yours very truly Robert Cooke
Note Robert Cooke informed Hepworth Dixon about the sale of the first copy of Bacon. He proposed to only print 1000 copies because the first edition would not pay back more than its expenses and the edition was not yet sold out.
Francis Bacon See page 38
The Story of Lord Bacon’s Life The Story of Lord Bacon’s Life was published in 1862, therefore it must be this book to which is referred in the letter.
45 14 Herman Cole I did not find any information in L. S. Herman Cole in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
Private to Finsbury Square Dec[ember] 19th [18]62
To the Editor of the Athenaeum Dear Sir, In case the enclosed rejoinder to Philobiblius is not inserted this week, would you be good enough to notify in the number appearing next week Saturday, that you have reviewed a letter from me on the X[.] I am Dear Sir, Yours obediently L. S. Herman Cole
Note Herman Cole asked Dixon if he could mention him in the next number of the Athenaeum in case he was not able to insert the rejoinder to Philobiblius this week. It was not clear what the rejoinder was about since I did not find any record of Philobiblius.
46 15 Manchester The writer of this letter is most likely a member of the Montagu family, specifically William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester since he, at the time of this letter, was the Duke of Manchester. The Peerage states that he is the eldest son of George Montagu and Millicent Sparrow and was born on 15th October 1823. He had six children, one son with Sarah Maria Morris and five with the Countess Luise Friederike Auguste von Alten. The British National Portrait Gallery states that he was an army officer and politician. “He gained the rank of Captain in the service of the Grenadier Guards [and] held the office of Member of Parliament […] for Huntingdonshire between 1852 and 1855” (Lundy). He died in 1890 in Italy. (The Peerage)
10 Jan[uary] 1863 My dear Dixon I am sorry to say I did not succeed in obtaining Lord Derby’s adhesion to the X Shakespeare X [sic] - On my X in X at 6 p.m. on Friday I X a X X to a meeting at X X on that day which of course I could not attend. I hope you have not so had a cold as I have had. Yours ever Manchester
Note Manchester referred to an action concerning Lord Derby that he did not complete. He finished his correspondence with enquiring after Dixon’s health.
Kimbolton Castle In 1100, there was a castle at Kimbolton. Kimbolton School refers to its earliest existence as “a wooden motte and bailey castle, dating from Norman times” (Kimbolton School), however this was not the castle of which we speak of in the nineteenth century. In the thirteenth century, Lord Geoffrey Fitzpiers had to organise a fair at Kimbolton. “The High Street was laid out as a market place, with the existing church at one end and a new castle, (probably a fortified manor house), at the other, on the site of the present castle. Nothing of this early castle has survived” (Kimbolton School). From 1520, the castle was in hands of the Wingfield family who styled it in a “Tudor manor house” (Kimbolton School). Katherine of Aragon lived in the castle from 1534 onwards and the legend says she still bedevils the castle. Sir
47 John Popham, is also the subject of many haunting stories related to the Kimbolton Castle. He lived there around 1600 and legends suggest that he murdered his daughter by throwing her out of the window. Fifteen years later, Edward Montagu bought the castle and it stayed in the Montagu family until 1950. He rebuilt the castle as the website of Kimbolton School explains:
Between 1690 and 1695, the courtyard was rebuilt and the main staircase added. The Great Hall of the old Castle was divided to make two rooms, the White Hall and the Red Room. The work was carried out by a local builder called William Coleman, probably to designs by the Kings Lynn architect Henry Bell. [...] Building work resumed in 1707, after the south-east corner of the Castle (the site of the Green Room) collapsed. Two of the best-known architects of that time, Sir John Vanbrugh and his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor, were called in to redesign the whole of the South Front. [...] Vanbrugh soon persuaded the Earl to let him reface the other three sides of the Castle in a similar style. Vanbrugh's main State Room was the Saloon, with, on one side, the State Bedchamber (now the Headmaster's study) and its adjoining Boudoir, on the site of Katherine of Aragon's rooms, and, on the other side, the Green Drawing Room. Work was also carried out on the Chapel and the Main Staircase. [...] In 1708, the Earl of Manchester brought over to England the Venetian painter Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini to decorate the newly-built rooms. His most important paintings can be seen on the wall and ceilings of the Main Staircase. In particular, the small musicians' gallery, on the upper flight of stairs, is regarded as one of the finest wall-paintings in England. [...] Another famous architect who worked at Kimbolton was Robert Adam, who designed the Gatehouse (built about 1764), including the Castle brew house, now the School Shop, and the Castle laundry, now the Bursary. (Kimbolton School)
During the nineteenth century, the Castle was sold by the 10th Duke of Manchester to the Kimbolton School but was first temporarily employed by the Royal Army Medical Corps during WWII. (Kimbolton School)
Lord Derby Frederick Arthur Stanley was the sixteenth earl of Derby and was born in 1841. Stanley studied at Eton College and became a politician. He died in 1908 at Kent.
48 16 Manchester See page 47
Kimbolton Castle St. Deat’s 13th January 1863 My dear Dixon Will you come and pay us a visit this week as soon as your periodical work is over. [A]nd stay till Monday the 26th. You can then tell me how your X is getting on. Yours ever Manchester
Note Manchester insisted on Dixon paying him a visit this week as early as his work on the Athenaeum is finished. Furthermore, Manchester would like to know how Dixon’s work is progressing.
Kimbolton Castle See page 47
49 17 Westland Marston John Westland Marston was born on 30 January 1819 and turned into a writer of poetry and plays. He lived in Lincolnshire but moved to London in 1834 with his uncle. He soon was enraptured by theatre and plays and consequently his engagement with the theatre influenced his law studies. Marston wrote Poetry as a Universal Nature and Poetic Culture. In 1841, Marston settled in London with his wife, Eleanor Jane Potts. Together they had two daughters, Cicely and Eleanor and one son, Philip Bourke Marston. Twenty years after his marriage, the Marston family settled at Northumberland Terrace, Regent’s Park. In 1870, Eleanor Jane died which left a huge impact on Marston. Marston himself outlived his children and died in London on 5 January 1890.
In London, Marston met with soon to become new literary friends, such as Thomas Carlyle, John Forster, Charles Dickens, Robert Browning etc. Five years later, Marston devoted himself to the Athenaeum and commented many works of authors, such as Tennyson, Thackeray, Browning and Dickens. Meanwhile, he wrote plays, which were performed at Haymarket. Westland became a prominent figure in London’s literary society “and in one of the theatre's least memorable epochs the chief author of serious dramatic literature that actually reached the stage” (Latané). Additionally, Marston co-founded the National Magazine with John Saunders, which featured “spasmodic and pre-Raphaelite writers and artists” (Latané). He eventually became an honorary doctor in Law at Glasgow University. At the end of 1880, Marston was plagued by bad health and lived a rather sober life without any financial excesses. However, in 1888 he produced Our Recent Actors and this play became “an indispensable primary source for Victorian theatre history” (Latané).
9 Northumberland Terrace Regent’s Park Road N.W 23rd January. 1863
My dear Dixon I send you by Parcels Delivery Company. The Poem entitled “X habit” which I think so poor as to deserve an important notice. “X poems in the Devonshire dialect” and worthy of similar prominence- These and this other volumes [sic] you shall have in two or three days-
50 Yours always faithfully, Westland Marston
W. Hepworth Dixon Engl-
Note This letter was about Westland Marston sending a poem entitled “X Habit” to Mr. Dixon but he felt that the poem deserved more attention since he considered it of high value. Subsequently, Westland sent Dixon other poems, for instance, “X poems in the X dialect” which Dixon would receive within two or three days from January 23rd onwards.
51 18 Duke of Devonshire This letter is from the Duke of Devonshire. More in detail, the 7th Duke, William Cavendish, who was born on 27 April 1808 and became a landowner and industrialist. He had three younger brothers and sisters and grew up in London. He studied at Eton College, Trinity College and Cambridge where he obtained his BA, MA and MP. He fell in love with a cousin, Lady Blanche Georgiana and together they had three sons and one daughter. Lady Blanche died in 1840 from a bacterial infection, though the doctor claimed it was from “great nervous debility” (Thompson). After her death, Cavendish dedicated himself to the administration of his properties while being completely devastated by the loss of his wife. Furthermore, Furness was one of the estates who got most attention from Cavendish. In 1843, he opened the Furness Railway, together with the Duke of Buccleuch. The Duke was fully occupied with the construction of an industrial district, but never adopted a self-centred attitude towards his fellow associates. With this in mind, he felt obliged to use his “mineral royalties and railway dividends [...] to finance the further development of the region; and this continuing stream of investment, coupled with his close attention to all the businesses with which he became involved, made him into a regional entrepreneur of the first rank” (Thompson). In like matter, he was involved with the Park-Vale iron ore, the Furness Railway, the steel company, the Barrow docks, and the shipbuilding company. Cavendish inherited a debt of £1 million from the former 6th duke of Devonshire and was therefore trading his properties, although he was advised not to. This could possibly lead to less authority from his part. Granted that his assets in the Barrow ventures increased, he was one of the richest men alive in England. But bad luck was eventually coming his way as the British economy and the steel industry knew many misfortunes. This led to huge debts at the end of his life which his eldest son, Spencer Compton Cavendish, inherited.
The contemporary view of the seventh duke as the prime example of the industrious, abstemious, virtuous, public-spirited, mid-Victorian aristocrat was formed at the time of his, and Barrow's, greatest material prosperity” (Thompson). Cavendish became president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (1869) and first president of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1868. At the end of the nineteenth century, among the ruins of Barrow, the great entrepreneurship of Cavendish was lost still, the public spirit remained, though. “[T]he family fortunes had been transformed into the source of embarrassments much more severe than those caused by the sixth duke's wonderful
52 conservatory and Emperor fountain at Chatsworth and the great Pugin alterations at Lismore. (Thompson)
On educational level, Cavendish obtained much recognition since he was “first chancellor of the University of London (1836-1856) [...][and] chancellor of Cambridge University from 1862 until his death” (Thompson). In addition, at Cambridge, “he was chairman of the royal commission on scientific instruction and the advancement of science” (Thompson). He contributed to the following colleges as well: Owens College, Manchester College, Yorkshire College of Science, Leeds and Victoria University.
At political level, he joined the Irish disestablishment (1869) but because of a disagreement with the rule that a part of the country could govern itself independently he became a Liberal Unionist. William Cavendish, seventh duke of Devonshire died at Holker Hall on 21 December 1891 and rests close to Chatsworth.
Chatsworth Chesterfield Nov[ember] 27. 1863
The Duke of Devonshire presents his compliments to Mr. Hepworth Dixon and in reply to his note begs to say that he can offer us objection to his name being transferred from the ground hit to that of Vice President of the National Shakespeare Committee. Duke of Devonshire
Note This letter entailed the compliments of the Duke of Devonshire to Mr. Dixon and the claim that the Duke of Devonshire was willing to object to the fact that he would become the Vice President of the National Shakespeare Committee.
Chatsworth Chatsworth is a property in Derbyshire, which was bought in 1549 by Sir William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick. The 7th Duke inherited the property from his uncle, William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire. The former inhabitant of Chatsworth was known for his
53 squandering. On the contrary, the 7th Duke “imposed strict economies” (Chatsworth). (Chatsworth)
54 19 Peter Paul X I did not find information on Peter Paul X in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
J.O. Halliwell James Orchard Halliwell-Phillips was born on 21 June 1820 and grew out to be an antiquary and literary scholar. Even though James was still studying at William Henry Butler’s School, he gathered and studied scientific and mathematical works. He later donated his research to The Parthenon. Successively, he attended Trinity College, Jesus College and Cambridge. During his studies at Cambridge, he was acquainted with Thomas Wright, who proved to be an excellent antiquarian. Later, he was appointed an associate of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Society. In the 1840’s Halliwell devoted himself no longer to antiquary topics but more literary topics, such as philology and social history. He launched the Percy Society and Shakespeare Society. Consequently, Halliwell dedicated increasingly more time to Shakespeare as he stated “[of Shakespeare] I grow fonder every day” (Freeman). In 1848, he wrote Life of William Shakespeare, Life and A New Boke about Shakespeare and Stratford- on-Avon. After the death of his wife, he stopped writing until he met his second wife. He, then, wrote Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare (1881).
Especially noteworthy, in 1842, Halliwell fell in love and married Henrietta Elizabeth Molyneux without the approval of Sir Thomas Phillips, Henrietta’s father. They raised four daughters. His father-in-law kept meddling with his personal and professional career. The reason for Halliwell’s double surname was that after his father-in-law’s death he and his wife could not inherit the estate. Ironically, they adopted the surname Phillips. Though, they never found peace with father Phillips, their grandfather insisted upon their inheritance of the estate. Surprisingly, Henrietta was already in practice of transcribing for her father so she did the same for Halliwell. In 1879, he married his second wife, after Henrietta died due to a horse back riding accident. Halliwell himself died at Hollingbury Copse on January 3 1889.
55 Mansion House Dublin
January 11th 1864
Gentlemen I am favoured with your communication of the 7th X, enclosing “Report of the National Shakespeare Community” and inviting my co-participation in the movement to honor the memory of our X and most gifted X[.] In reply, I beg to state, that, it will afford me the greatest pleasure to do everything in my power, to promote so desirable an object. Wishing the intended communication every success[.] I have the honor to do yours respectfully Peter Paul X Lord Mayor W.H. Dixon J.O. Halliwell Engl 3. X
Note Peter Paul expressed his enthusiasm for the communication with Dixon and sent him the “Report of the National Shakespeare Community” (L, no. 17) together with his own notes in memory of Anonymous. He offered to promote “so desirable object” (L, no. 17) and hoped for a positive reply.
56 20 J. Westland Marston See page 50
9. Northumberland Terrace Regent’s Park Road N.W. 3rd February 1864
Dear Dixon Mrs. Dallas’s readings have been so successful, the hall being X as the X X occasion that she is to give a third series of three. This series will only comprise plays already noticed but perhaps you will not object to mention that she has been induced to give a third series which commences at the 19th instant at St. James’s Hall. With best congratulations on the reception of “New America” with which my librarian has not yet been able to furnish me, Ever yours, Westland Marston;
We all hope your X is X perfectly recovered.
Note Westland stated that Mrs. Dallas’s readings are successful since she was about to publish a third series. This series would only contain plays that have already been noticed, however, Westland asked Dixon to mention that Mrs. Dallas had been induced to publish a third series. Moreover, Westland wanted to congratulate Mr. Dixon on his publication of New America, although he had not yet received a copy. Westland also hoped that Mr. Dixon was fully recovered but it is not clear from what.
Mrs. Dallas I did not find information on Mrs. Dallas. The Athenaeum Index showed several entries but this letter does not consist of conclusive evidence to determine who this person is.
57 New America New America was published in 1867 by Hurst and Blackett and written by William Hepworth Dixon. Dixon’s preface in New America reveals the intention of this book and the source from which he deduced his information. Dixon travelled with Charles Wentworth Dilke to America and subsequently “[he] met with new ideas, new purposes, new methods; in short, with a New America” (Dixon, New America v). Importantly, Dixon suggests the Americans have two major elements, which influence their way of living and thinking, i.e. liberty and religion and this should be taken into account when describing America. (Dixon, New America)
58 21 Manchester See page 47
Kimbolton Castle St. Deat’s 27 Feb[ruary] 1864
My dear Dixon I shall not be in London and therefore cannot attend the meeting on Monday. But I think the X X had better be signed by the person in the chair on that day. Yours ever Manchester
Note Manchester stated that he will not be attending the meeting on Monday and therefore thought the document X would be better signed by the person who was attending the meeting.
Kimbolton Castle See page 47
59 22 Anonymous
Paris 12/5/64 72 R.X X
Dear Mr Dixon I once had the pleasure of meeting you -wh [sic] you will have forgotten- In common with the read of my fellow creatures [sic] I read all you write- Allow me, then, to thank you most sincerely for the way in which the Athenaeum has treated a book of mine (published by a terrible mistake with my name)[.] They say authors of books are never content with what is said of them: perhaps the fault is with the critics who rarely take the trouble to see what a man means by his book- [A]ll that I meant by mine and I meant well has been so X X forth by the writer of the “Athenaeum” article, that I can never feel grateful enough to him- May I request of you to say this to him? [A]nd will you accept also my cordial thanks for having inserted the article and believe that I remain yours most truly. R. B. X
Note Anonymous wrote Mr. Dixon to thank him for publishing a review on his book in the Athenaeum. He mentioned that many authors are not satisfied with reviews but Anonymous felt that this is the fault of the critic for not understanding or taking the time to understand the book in question. Anonymous, however, was wholly satisfied with the review and asked Mr. Dixon to thank the reviewer for him.
60 23 Anonymous
Melton House New West End Hampstead June 15th. 1864 Dear Dixon I shall be happy to join your party on Tuesday next. My X truly yours X
Note Anonymous confirmed his attendance to a party of Dixon on Tuesday.
Melton House No information was found on Melton House. This was most likely the residence of Anonymous.
61 24 Gilbert Elliot The Very Reverend Gilbert Elliot is the son of Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, the first Earl of Minto. He married Frances Dickinson when he was sixty-three. Peters points out that Gilbert Elliot appeared to be “a remarkably handsome man, a much respected churchman and preacher, and a relation of the Earl of Minto” (Peters). (Peters)
Sept[ember] 28. [18]’64
My dear Mr. Dixon I very much fear that I must be at Bristol next Sunday, by a meepity [sic] forced on me since Mrs. Elliot wrote- On the following Saturday, I shall be here till Monday- If you cannot X your visit till Saturday the 8th of October; as I X you may be able to do, and will not mind visiting X Mrs. Elliot and my X Lady Hislop, Mrs Elliot X that you will come next Saturday[.] Yours very truly Gilbert Elliot
Please understand that I return next Monday, and that we shall be X reply X X any possible day; but X X hear that X X - X of next Saturday, will not X X of X visit altogether. [sic]
Note Elliot informed Dixon that he would be at Bristol on Sunday since Mrs. Elliot asked him to clear his agenda for her. He, however, would try to find a new date to meet with Mr. Dixon.
Mrs. Elliot Mrs. Frances Elliot, actually Frances Dickinson was born on 6 March 1820 as the daughter of Charles Dickinson. She was forty-three when she married her second husband Gilbert Elliot. Frances was married to the Dean of Bristol but ended her marriage in 1845. She was a journalist who first wrote under the pseudonym “Florentia”. Additionally, Mrs. Elliot was close friends with Wilkie Collins and therefore knew many intellectuals, such as Tackeray and Trollope. Frances contributed to several periodicals and especially to the Athenaeum. Noteworthy, her works were sold in Britain as well as in the United States. (Peters)
62 Lady Hislop I did not find any information on Lady Hislop in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
63 25 Robert C. Lush See page 43
Joseph Angus Joseph Angus known as a Baptist minister and educationist grew up in Northumberland from the day he was born, on 16 January 1816. He married Amelia who was the daughter of William Brodie Gurney, “treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society” (Gordon). Amelia was appointed “foreign secretary of the Baptist Zenana Mission” (Gordon) and her two daughters succeeded her after her death. Angus died in 1902 in Hampstead and was buried in Norwood Cemetery.
Angus initiated his career with George Ferris Whidborne Mortime as his teacher, at the Free Grammar School and it was Mortime who opted for a career at Cambridge but Angus favoured Edinburgh University because of his membership to the Baptist church. Next, he studied at King’s College and Stepney College, which later transformed into Regent’s Park College where he would be the honoured head for many years. He graduated MA from Edinburgh University and additionally obtained a price for his excellent studies in “moral philosophy” (Gordon) and won the “English essay prize” (Gordon). During the period from 1838 to 1844, Angus first worked as an assistant in Stepney College and later he shared his position with John Dyer. He contributed to the foundation “which allowed society to repay its debts, extend mission operations, and construct a new headquarters” (Gordon). His contribution to the Stepney College was remarkable, granted that during his legislature he opened a foundation to supply the school with modern, new material. Simultaneously, he changed the residential position of the college to Regent’s Park. Subsequently, in light of his earlier accomplishments, he was appointed chief executive of the Baptist Union (1865).
His academic work entailed the publication of the following books: Handbooks to the Bible (1853), Handbook to the English language (1864), an edition of Analogy and Sermons (1855), and Elements of Moral Science (1858). From 1859 to 1869, Angus worked as an inspector for the London College and the “Civil Service Commissioners” (Gordon), in other words, this is an agency, which appoints employees on the basis of qualities and not on relationships. The following ten years, Angus revised The New Testament and was appointed
64 an associate of the London School board. Gordon points out that “the hallmark of his ministry and educational career was a firm, typically evangelical, reliance on the Bible” (Gordon).
My dear sir Mr. Lush is a Young Barrister & a B.A. of Cambridge. If you have need of help? [sic] [H]ave no doubt he will work skilfully and conscientiously. Yours very truly Joseph Angus
W.H. Dixon Eng
13 Spa Buildings Cheltenham 28 September 1864
My dear D’ Angus, May I take the liberty of asking you whether you are sufficiently acquainted with Mr[.] Hepworth Dixon to fix me a word of recommendation to him, for the Athenaeum? I recollect meeting him once at X house, & finding him very courteous. I hope it is not trespassing to much on your uniform great kindness to X this; but I have Editors [sic] well & that a self-introduction is of very little use. Possibly the information that I am in the staff of the Saturday Review, & write for some other papers- the London Review, the Press, X might induce Mr[.] Dixon to be so X as to let me have a book for review by way of giving him a sample. I am kept here by ill-health under a Spine Doctor for a month or two, & want some work to amuse me. I write more for amusement than for profit, [t]hough I like to combine the two advantages. If you feel yourself able, and in great kindness willing, to grant me this favor [favour], perhaps you might enclose this to Mr[.] Dixon with a word of your own. But if I have asked too much, I beg you will forgive me, & tell me so. I am, Dear D’ Angus. Yours most faithfully Robert C. Lush The Rev. Jos. Angus D. D.
65 Note The first part of the letter was a proposal from Angus towards Dixon. He proposed a lawyer for the case Dixon had. In the second part of the correspondence, Lush inquired after the relationship between Angus and Dixon and asked to review a book for the Athenaeum. Lush was ordained to his bed due to illness and requests Angus to give a recommendation to Dixon so he could contribute to the Athenaeum.
Cheltenham, Spa Buildings The spa town, Cheltenham, part of the Gloucestershire district underwent a change in the eighteenth century when the inhabitants discovered salt deposits. They believe the water from the spring had a healing effect. Cheltenham Spa became a tourist attraction as it was rebuilt with assembly and recreation rooms. Cheltenham’s population expanded to 3000 people. It would make sense for Lush to reside in these Spa Buildings, which facilitate health departments, since he is suffering from spine problems. (Lambert)
66 26 Gilbert Elliot See page 62
F. Hill Court Oct[ober] 6 [18]64
My dear Mr. Dixon Only to remind- we shall be happy to receive you at any time next X to X we on seven miles X X- The two o[‘]clock train from X arrives at X at 3- and perhaps you will find that X X X- we are quite X[.] Yours very truly G. Elliot
Note Elliot informed Mr. Dixon he would be happy if Dixon attended the meeting. He informed him about the train he could take to get there.
Farley Hill Court Farley Hill Court was one of the properties of Charles Dickinson. Frances Dickinson, the wife of Gilbert Elliot and daughter of Charles Dickinson, was brought up at this estate near Berkshire. (Peters)
67 27 Gilbert Elliot See page 62
95. Dec[ember]. 19. [18]64
My dear Dixon Mrs. Elliot seems very determined to try and make capital out of the Romans setting me up as a X- shy- [sic] I do not exactly see how it is that he turned X X, . You will find in Hasper’s Books, in a thing which he calls an appendix, visited not at the end of the Vol. but X after the first division of his X, extracts which X latter from certain X I published, and there he claims X he the true statements of what the X of hyland hotels or the X X X X- [sic] In the copy of the- pamphlet (X of X) sent to you, on the fly leaf at the X you will find the members of the pages on which X is made true; as this X X of what the X of Hyland hotels on the matter of orders and of its our partition as a church- I presume you X X X X X as in revue X X X of what the Church X X on the X W X the X X and the X of the Protestantism after Church- [sic] For my own part, I believe their X extracts do give as X X as need be of what Protestants X the church of X X would- The pamphlet (“Comedy”) seems true X will worth reading- it is X X a magnificent price of saviour and interline as X of high X[.] [sic] Yours very Elliot
Note Mr. Elliot stated that Mrs. Elliot was determined to make profit out of the publication of the Romans. Elliot referred also to the appendix of Harper’s book. Mr. Elliot enclosed pamphlet but it was not clear what the pamphlet was about since the rest of the note was not clear due to unreadable parts.
Mrs. Elliot See page 62
68 Harper I did not find any information on Harper. The sources mentioned in the editorial note have come up with several entries for the surname Harper but I have no indications who of them is Mr. Harper.
69 28 Westland Marston See page 50
9 Northumberland Terrace Regent[‘]s Park Road N.W. 16th. January 1865
My dear Dixon I observe in this last no. of the “Athenaeum” an advertisement of a volume of poems called “Day Dreams” with an X quotation from the Athenaeum attached. I am tolerably confident that I returned this very book to you last week with a notice which has not yet appeared and which X not unfavourable was scarcely to I and X that quite [sic]. I did not observe the notice from which the guideline is made in the Athenaeum and think it possible that there has been some mistake on the part of the advertiser. At all events I think it right to bring the matter to your notice X by very X reviews- slightly different in the line- should appear of the same book. Ever yours faithfully Westland Marston
Note In this letter Westland Marston informed Dixon of a possible mistake on a notice that had not appeared in the Athenaeum yet, however, Marston sent the notice earlier. He recognized a mistake “on the part of the adverstiser” (L, no. 28) and felt obligated to inform Mr. Dixon about this mix-up.
70 29 F. Jonbert There is no record of F. Jonbert in the ODNB but I have found a record of Jonbert in the London Morning Post referring to the opening of a gallery. This evidence is not entirely based on solid facts but this could be the same person of this letter. A reason for this is the reference to the opening of a gallery similarly as this letter of correspondence refers to a exhibition of Jonbert in a gallery. Photographers, by […] [appointment] to the Queen (Oxford. Eton, and Harrow) to inform their patrons that they have OPENED a LONDON —'ABUSHMENT [sic] at 38, Porchester-terrace, Bayswater ([...] the Gallery of [...] Jonbert), replete with every convenience for taking their well-known groups, equestrian portraits, cartes de visite, and finished enlargements. The Gallery is on the ground floor. (The London Morning Post)
36, Porchester Terrace. W. April 22 1865
My dear sir In the midst of your great occupations at this time of the year, I hope you will be able to spare an hour to come and see my exhibition here, I believe I have made such improvements in my invention since you last saw and X of it, which will please you as I have attuned that which I was much anxious for: pictures that show both by reflected and by transmitted light as may be required and all X of course. Hoping yourself and family all well[.] Believe me. Yours truly F. Jonbert Hepworth Dixon Engl
Note F. Jonbert reinvited Mr. Dixon to an exhibition he was hosting to show his improvements he made in his artwork. He stated that he had attuned those elements that needed adjustments and he changed pictures, which were in need of transmitted or reflected light.
71 30 Anonymous
Clapham Park May 8 1865 My dear Dixon Thanks for the autograph on the fly leaf of the book, safely to hand during my absence from town. I have just done the early chapters. [T]he descriptions are capital. [S]pirited in the Athenaeum. [A]nd the diction your own.- If the X is X for anything use it Yours truly J. X X
Note Anonymous thanked Mr. Dixon for the autograph in a book. He had already finished the first chapters and described those as written in Dixon’s unique way.
Clapham Park Clapham park is situated in London, more specifically “it lies between Brixton, Streatham, Balham and Clapham” (Clapham Park Project).
72 31 Chatterton Henrietta Georgiana Marcia Lascelles Chatterton was born on 11 November 1806. When Lady Chatterton was eighteen years old, she married Sir William Abraham Chatterton. However, after William’s death she married her second husband, Edward Heneage Dering. Lady Chatterton repetitively contributed to the literary world with works, such as Aunt Dorothy’s Tales and Rambles in the South of Ireland. The following works were contributed to the Athenaeum: Country Coteries, The Heiress and her Lovers, Lady May: a Pastoral, Leonore: a Tale, Other Poems and Oswald of Deira. (Athenaeum Index) Boase adds “Henrietta Chatterton's works [to be] legion, and, whether fiction or biography, travel or devotional, written alone or with others, they are uniformly unmemorable. She died rich, […] [but] her financial position seems to have affected neither the quantity nor the type of her writing” (Boase).
X. X. Kent. June 2 1865
Dear Mr Dixon We shall be delighted to see you at the time you kindly propose and bring X the week following the 16th will suit us perfectly. If you will kindly let us have us [sic] the time draws nearer which day would suit you best and also by what train you would like to come to Headcome station. [W]e will send a carriage for you. It is nine miles from here so that some of us will wish to go with the carriage that we may have the pleasure of your X during the long drive. With X & my X joyful anticipation of seeing you & all our but hopes that you will be interest [sic] in this X X. X my dear Mr. Dixon Yours very sincerely J Chatterton
73 Note Chatterton pointed out that her company would be delighted with a visit from Dixon in “the week following the 16th” (L, no. 31). She asked if Dixon could inform her about the exact time and date of their meeting. Chatterton would take care of the transport for Mr. Dixon from the station to the office since it was a long drive.
74 32 Robert C. Lush See page 43
5X Bepbourgh St. S.W. 16 Feb[ruary]. 1866.
Dear Mr. Dixon, I am sorry to hear that Mr. Stramp’s X is X enough to carry his X into realities; but my opinion of his chances is not altered by his courage. I hardly like to say whether my father would or would not like to talk on the matter with you. Indicial etiquette is (as it ought to be) very strong: and especially in a case which may possibly come before him. At any rate I can run no wish of X my father by telling you that he haves [sic] X on Monday morning for the Northern Circuit. Please let me know in a X time as possible if I am wanted at Kingston, as I shall be many hundred miles away- as my Father’s Marshal. Yours very truly Robert C. Lush W. Hepworth Dixon Eng. X
Note Robert C. Lush offers his opinion on the work of Mr. Stramp. Mr. Lush informs Hepworth Dixon that he did not know if his father would like to talk with Dixon on a particular matter. Lush states that etiquette is extremely important, especially in the case he would encounter. He asks Dixon to inform him if he had to attend the case at Kingston.
Mr. Stramp I did not find any information on Mr. Stramp in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
75 33 James Marshall Sir James Marshall lived from 1829 to 1889 and worked as a colonial judge. He was the son of James, “the vicar of Christ Church” (Harris). He gave his word to Alice of Corby in 1877 and became the head of the Federal Court two years later. Marshall obtained his knighthood in 1882 but eventually died seven years later in Margate.
James Marshall could not apply for the army because of an accident with his arm and therefore entered Exeter College at Oxford. “In 1854 he took holy orders almost immediately, and for two years held a curacy” (Harris). He was never able to become a priest due to his impairment but became counsellor at Bayswater (London). In 1861, after working as a teacher he obtained the title of “classical master at Birmingham Oratory School” (Harris) and was acquainted with Cardinal Newman. Five years later, Marshall appeared at Lincoln’s Inn as a barrister and afterwards associated himself with the Northern Circuit. “In May 1873 Marshall was appointed chief magistrate of the Gold Coast and assessor to the native chiefs” (Harris).
Inupria [sic] 28th April 1866
My dear Hepworth Dixon I send you a copy of another photograph I have obtained of the other great X movement, the X of X, which is by the same X as that of the X X, X X I X , but in order to send you this copy, I am obliged to burden you with a X. As it is difficult to send the photograph by post X X will X by cardboard I have had to send all together so I must beg you to have the kindness to choose one and to let your people send the others to X X X X Revd James Marshall C X Newton X X, Putney
76 Note The anonymous writer enclosed photographs for Mr. Dixon. However, he asked him to send the remaining copies to Revd James Marshall. The photographs were taken of the Great X Movement. Anonymous sent the photographs by post but asked Dixon to be honest and only pick one.
77 34 Mark Lemon Mark Lemon was known as a magazine editor and playwright and spent his youth with his grandparents at Middlesex. He attended Cheam School but after the death of his grandmother he joined his uncle, Thomas Collis where he apprenticed the crafting of beer in Lincolnshire. In 1839, he married Helen Romer, the sister of one of his associates, Frank Romer. Together they raised ten children. From 1836, Lemon lived in London and while working at a “Kentish town brewery” (Healey) he wrote “light verse and sketches under the pen-name Tom Moody” (Healey). From that moment he wrote and devoted himself to many books and plays, e.g. Bentley’s Miscellany, The P.L., or, 30, Strand, Arnold of Winkelreid, Rob of the Fen, etc. Four years later, the brewery closed and Mark Lemon’s salary was cut off. He was soon offered another job as landlord of the Shakespeare’s Head in London. However, Lemon “proved to be an incompetent businessman, and by the close of 1840 had been sacked” (Healey).
In 1841, Lemon got acquainted with Joseph Last, who was interested in sponsoring a new comically tainted journal. Despite the fact that, two years earlier another comic journal had closed due to a lack of political extravagance in the world of politics. The comic journal, which got the title Punch was well off with the contribution of Mark Lemon for the reason that the paper did not acquire to the expected success. Thus, Lemon’s contribution by writing features on politics, fashion, police, reviews, fine arts, music, drama and sports and a playlet The Silver Thimble assisted the Punch to a more successful position. “The new paper would provide ‘pleasing instruction’ as well as harmless amusement, and would be conducted in a liberal, humanitarian spirit” (Healey). From 1842 onwards, Lemon became the editor of the Punch and was known for stimulating his writers to attain a high standard of articles and discovering promising new writers.
My dear Sir Your friend Mr. Hepworth Dixon does not, I am afraid, find my friend[‘]s work worthy of notice, “for Athenaeum [sic]” I have upon your introduction, not been able to see him, I have sent him the book but never heard of it since. It may just be possible he may have overlooked it altogether. I hope you have enjoyed New Year[']s day in the circle of our mutual friends and wishing you a happy and prosperous one for self [sic] and family. Yours very truly
78 X Henley 14 X 1 Jan[uar]y 1867
Mark Lemon Eng.
Note: This letter is addressed to Mark Lemon and claims that Dixon is probably not interested in publishing the work of Henley. Henley has asked Lemon for a recommendation with Dixon. However, Henley had not yet had contact with Dixon. There was still the possibility that Dixon overlooked his book and therefore had not yet replied.
79 35 Mary Ann Jerrold Marry Anne Jerrold is the daughter of Douglas William Jerrold who was a renowned playwright and journalist. He married Mary Anne Swan and the younger Mary Anne was their fourth child and remained unmarried.
X Train X X Frankfurt a/ main X May 16th [18]67.
Dear W. Dixon In the list you have forgotten to sent down- all the hotels and journey to Jodesberg [sic]. You sent the £30 to X X the exact date. I do not X but the receipt is tied up with some letters I asked Mrs. Dixon to mind for me. I am also in your debts for X X paid for me by Mr. Dixon. Xmas [sic] a twelvemonth against this- I paid the Madam X X this small bill for books etc[.] X before she left for Dusseldorf. There is a small error in that last account: it was £15: sent to all the best families having left for England or France since the War. Those remaining in the town do nothing but X. [B]ecause all the English have gone. There is X a trouble here just now about “Passports” (Pension) I am not taking effect [sic] here X X I expect every day the Police will pay me a visit- to know, “X X him in X X of X X of your X”. I shall look X X X . Where upon perhaps they will not say much to me. The Prussians are to [sic] hated in the town. [U]pon all the institutions X the people write. X “Sans Prusse” and in the hotels at the X d’hote. The offices sit at one side of the room quite apart from the Frankfurt people who will not keep them company. Yours truly being sorry I give you so much trouble[.] Mary Ann Jerrold X Hepworth Dixon Engl.
Note Mary Ann Jerrold reminded Dixon of a list he had not yet sent her. The list contained information about the hotels and journey to Jodesberg. She received a receipt together with some letters however she was not in the possession of the £30 sent by Dixon. She states as well that she was in great debt to Mr. Dixon since she paid a small bill for books and other things before Mrs. Dixon left for Dusseldorf. However, Jerrold points out, there was a
80 mistake in the payment. The families remaining in town were complaining because all the English had left. Also, there had been difficulties with the passports but Jerrold expected the police soon to interrogate her and solve this problem. In addition, she wrote that the Prussians were not welcome in the town and people wrote “sans prusse’, meaning no prussians, everywhere. Prussians and Frankfurt people were not to sit next to each other. Jerrold finished her letter by apologising for the trouble she was giving to Mr. Dixon.
Austro-Prussian War The Austro-Prussian War exploded in June 1866 and lasted for seven weeks. The fighting enemies were Prussia on the one hand and Austria, Bavaria, Saxony, Frankfurt etc. on the other hand. The result of this war was the expulsion of Austria from Prussia. Importantly, Prussia provoked Austria through “a dispute over the administration of Schleswig and Holstein, which Austria and Prussia had seized from Denmark in 1864 and had since held jointly” (Anderson et al.). (Anderson et al.)
81 36 Anonymous
74 Boulevard X 2d July [18]67 Dear Dixon I proposed calling as I said on P.C. this morning having spent Sunday at Fontainebleau & yesterday at the fêtes- it appears that P.C. has taken advantage of the holy days to go to Brussels, when he found your letter & has in consequence sent me yesterday a Lawyer who finding me out [sic] after telling all his business to my mother who never remembers a word of it except that he was a very nicely spoken Gentleman. [H]e sent me this enclosed. I wrote in answer asking for an appointment & we met at once & him & I like two special pleaders fought for the benefit of our respective clients- I fancy I must have had the best case for he was covered with blushes as he kept arguing and fencing with my propositions- he however took his ground on your letters which in the absence of P.C. he could not produce- said he had read them & that as a legal man he maintained you had by then relinquished in favour of P.C. all your rights who were now his property: yet! Said he P.C. as a gentleman and if the Book was very very [sic] successful & produced a lot of money P.C. might think it his duty his pleasure to give you a X- to that I X answered that my friend was a gentleman & man of business at the same time- that he could not X I was X accept a gift- if he had by indiscretion resigned his property he would as soon as the fact was realised by him withdraw X X & would not receive as to benefit that which he could not claim as a right- I drew his attention to the two different and distinct chatels [sic] in discution [discussion]- the author‘s property in the original work which was yours & this doubtful rights in the X which might be P.C.’s on being pressed he admit[t]ed X that the Book was Hill [sic] yours, but as that admission seemed to him fatal to the portion he assumed he withdrew from it & expressed his legal opinion that you had literal[l]y nothing left and all belonged to P.C.- In the absence of your letter we agreed to adjourn the meeting & we are to meet on Friday at 11 a.m. at the X P.C. X expected back this evening from Brussels- now my friend tel[l] me whether I am meeting your views & whether I must think to your rights or give them up if you are in the right & if you are wrong if I must persevere in the position I have X which may perhaps be all proud enough but might have a touch of offensiveness towards P.C.- the delay enables you to answer this by a letter that must be posted any time tomorrow.
82 Yours ever E. X
Note Anonymous was in Fontainebleau and therefore tried to call P.C. P.C. was also not in town for the reason that he was on vacation. Consequently, when P.C. found the letter of Dixon he immediately sent a lawyer to the anonymous writer. However, Anonymous was not at home except for his mother but she only remembered him being a “nicely spoken Gentleman” (L, no. 38). Fortunately, Anonymous sent P.C. a note asking for a meeting. The case of Anonymous must have been strong because the pleader argued and used evidence from P.C.’s letters. Nonetheless, in the case that the book would be very successful, P.C. would feel obligated to offer you a gift, however, Anonymous told that Mr. Dixon was a gentleman and man of business who would not accept a gift. Moreover, Anonymous made the pleaders aware of the fact that the topic of discussion belonged to both of the parties and as a consequence this made P.C. realise to give the rights of the book to the rightful owner, Mr Dixon. At the same time, he realised there would be nothing left and expressed his legal rights. As a conclusion, they decided to postpone the meeting since Dixon’s letter was absent. The next meeting would be on Friday at 11 a.m. Anonymous is asking Mr. Dixon what his desires in this case are so he can do everything in his power to fulfil Dixon’s wishes.
83 37 J. Westland Marston See page 50
9. Northumberland Terrace Regent’s Park Road. N.W. 30th. October 1867
Dear Dixon, I think upon reflection that it would be better not to say anything to Mr. Kent as to my difficulties in the way of attending the dinner on Saturday. I am better on some days than on others and may be able to go after all. And as I have forgotten my ticket I can but take my chance- I am sorry to trouble you again about this matter- I suppose all X in “The Athenaeum” go into fixed hands. Otherwise there is X X published called “A girl’s romance”, or “The Romance of a Young Girl”, which I X ask you to let me retire- that is if you could trust me to be impartial in a care where I have a personal friendship for the writer- I X think I could rely upon myself to be so- I have not sent he book in question, but it appears to me that previous works of the same author deserve more notice than they have yet attained. Ever yours sincerely, Westland Marston I sent this to look; X, thinking it will find you there on Thursday.
Note Westland Marston informed Mr. Dixon about the fact that he might not be able to attend the dinner on Saturday and it might be best not to inform Mr. Kent about this. Marston’s attendance depended on him feeling well or not. Because he forgot his ticket it would not be a disaster if he could not make it. He asked Mr. Dixon about an article in the Athenaeum because he felt that the author of A girl’s romance or The Romance of a Young Girl deserved more attention since the author had already proved his writing abilities to be excellent. Additionally, he enclosed a note or an article for Mr. Dixon to look into.
84 Mr. Kent Charles Mark Kent was born in 1823 and became a writer and journalist. He fell in love with the daughter of the owner of the Sun, which Kent would later buy and edit. Equally important, Kent became close friends with Charles Dickens through the reviews on Dickens’ books. Kent entered “the Athenaeum club” (Lee) in 1881, which was “a social club for leading artistic, literary and scientific men and for patrons of the arts and sciences” (The Athenaeum). Charles Kent passed away at his home in Kensington in 1902. (Lee) I believe Charles Mark Kent is the person referred to in the letter for three reasons. First, Kent was a journalist and writer who belonged to the same professional circle as Dixon. Secondly, Kent lived from 1823 until 1902, which corresponds with the date on which the letter was sent. Thirdly, Kent belongs to the Athenaeum Club, which consists of intellectuals, such as Charles Dickens. This club regularly held dinners and meetings for members to attend to and accordingly, in this letter Marston is referring to a dinner, which could be one organised by the Athenaeum Club. (Lee)
85 38 Charles Edward Mudie Charles Edward Mudie was the son of Thomas Mudie, who was a newspaper agent, bookseller, stationer and lending librarian. He was brought up at Chelsea where he “was born on 18 October 1818” (Finkelstein). Mudie worked in his father’s shop for many years. After this, Mudie “opened a shop [...] supplying newspapers and stationery as well as loaning books” (Finkelstein). Books became his first concern and additionally he worked as a publisher. Eventually after his brother’s death, Mudie became the proprietor of the book- lending shop. Importantly, Mudie’s book business was booming and even reached to other parts of the world. Moreover, he was “actively involved in civic duties throughout his life, serving as a member of various committees” (Finkelstein). Mudie was married to Mary Kingsford Pawling and together they raised a family of eight.
Mudie’s select library (limited) 509.510. & 511. New Oxford Street & 20.&21. Museumstreet. London.W.C. Jan[uary] 18 1868
My dear W. Dixon Thank you very much for the copy so kindly sent of your new book… I intend to carry it home this evening and have a good look at it. The object is rather a difficult one to handle-. and it is well on every ground that it should be regarded from the high moral position which you are certain to take The chief interst of the book to our little home circle, and I suppose to the wider circle I ‘the British Public’ will lie in what here is of personal observation and adventure… and X you the extracts I have seen I imagine there is no lack of that element. I have asked Mr. Blackett to send me a first supply- and I expect to have copies soon, for tomorrow[‘]s parcels. – but to whom shall I address a pathetic appeal concerning the price – is it not a little over the mark? The portrait is really the best of the kind I have ever seen- Yours very truly C.E. Mudie
Note C.E. Mudie thanked Mr. Dixon for the copy of his new book. Mudie would look into it the evening of January 18th. He points out that the book tackled a difficult subject and that “it
86 should be regarded from the high moral position which you [Dixon] are certain to take” (L, no. 36). Mudie also states that he expected no lack of personal observation and adventure in the book. Next, he said to have asked Mr. Blackett for a first supply but he was not sure whom to address concerning the price since “the portrait is really the best I [Mudie] have ever seen” (L, no. 36).
Mr. Blackett Walter James Blackett was in charge of the publishing house Hurst & Blackett during the year this letter was written. Obviously, it must be him who was addressed in this letter since the head of the publishing house was in charge of printing copies for Dixon’s book. (Kirtley, Blackett & Longbottom)
87 39 Anonymous
Pall Mall 1868. May 29 My dear Dixon, I have really been so X & busy that I have not X had a X to avail myself X you find permission to write you. I have seen Hughes who has seen X, X (who is away now) seems inclined to debate the thing in the mean time I have asked for an interview and he Stafford X is writing in my behalf [sic]. The feeling here is very X in my favour but if at X and after all, the matter X X their X trouble you. Ever grateful X J.M X W.H. Dixon
Note An anonymous writer apologized for he fact that he had been too busy to make time for Mr. Dixon. However, he had met Hughes and asked for an interview. Consequently, now Stafford was writing on his behalf.
Pall Mall George Murray Smith established the Pall Mall Gazette in 1864 and was the first editor of the Athenaeum and of the Pall Mall. Murray Smith was a good friend of Frederick Greenwood and launched the journal in London. The title, Pall Mall, originates from the journal used in History of Pendennis (W. Tackeray). The Pall Mall changed under Henry Yates Thompson and simultaneously acquired a new editor. This, however, was not beneficial to the journal and luckily W.T. Stead joined the firm in 1883. Stead was known for his articles on “numerous sensational political crusades [...], such crusades consolidated Stead’s journalistic power and, for a time, made the Pall Mall one of the most influential papers in London” (Mulpetre). (Mulpetre)
Hughes I did not find any information on Hughes in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
88
Stafford I did not find any information on Stafford. I found several entries with the surname Stafford but I have too little information to find the right person.
89 40
Max Schlesinger Max Schlesinger was born in 1822 at Eisenstadt and died in 1881 in London. Schlesinger studied at Wr. Schottengymn, Universität Prag. Phil., and Wien Medizin. He contributed to the Allgemeinen Zeitung and the Kölnischen Zeitung. In 1849 Schlesinger moved to Berlin and wrote Aus Ungarn. One year late, he moved to London and became an author of international publications. In 1869, Schlesinger became an associate to the Neuen Freien Presse, National Zeitung and Indépendence Belge. The Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon describes Max Schlesinger as a writer who carefully expressed his opinions and invited the readers into the British everyday life and journalism (my own translation, H Reitterer). (H. Reitterer) Additionally, Schlesinger wrote Count Bismarck (Part I, II) for the
Fortnightly Review in 1866. (Houghton et. al)
March 5. [18]69
Dear Mr. Dixon I send you a copy of the Allgemeine Zeitung, containing a review of the “Seelenbraeute”, and a number of the “Volkzeitung”, with a short paragraph about a X, who has mixed you up with Charles Dickens in a rather amusing way. His mistake has been taken up by X.X, I am told, and if I get the respective number of the latter I shall not fail to let you have it. Yours very truly Max Schlesinger
Note: Max Schlesinger sent Hepworth Dixon a copy of the Allgemeine Zeitung (German newspaper) featuring a review on Seelenbraeute (Spiritual Wives by W.H. Dixon) and a paragraph from the Volkzeitung (German national newspaper). The author of the paragraph had mixed W. H. Dixon up with Charles Dickens. Clearly, Schlesinger found this rather amusing, however, the mistake would be corrected since he had already informed the editor. Nevertheless, Mr. Dixon would be informed if Schlesinger was in possession of the address of the one responsible.
90 Spiritual Wives Spiritual Wives is a book written by W.H. Dixon and published in 1868. According to Dixon’s preface, he has found his information in foreign countries and cultures, i.e. the Baltic Provinces, Lake Ontario but also in West-England. This book is largely based on a paper, “which [Dixon refers to] in the original, as the chief evidence used against Archdeacon Ebel in the great trials here recounted” (Dixon, Spiritual Wives iii). Though he cannot mention how he got his hands on this source, he will use it in case the authenticity of this book would be attacked. (Dixon, Spiritual Wives)
91 41 M. Kapanstine I did not find any information on M. Kapanstine in the sources mentioned in the editorial note.
Sophia 6, Old Cavendish Street 31 July 1869.
My dear Mr Dixon,
Mr[.] E. Delmar Morgan shall be very happy to give you all information’s [sic] you want. He will be in London on Monday and Tuesday next week and begs you to fix an hour when you will be at home or call upon him on those two days. The most convenient time for him is between 11 and 1 (as Mr Michell has said me); you will be very kind to write to Mr Morgan: 5, Kensington Gardens’ Square W. With best regard for you and all your family, believe me most sincerely yours M. Kapanstine
Note M. Kapanstine states that Mr. E. Delmar would provide Dixon with all the information he required. They could meet when Delmar was in London and asked after the most appropriate time to meet or call Dixon.
Mr. E. Delmar Morgan Edward Delmar Morgan was born on 19 April 1840 in Essex and was a linguist and traveller who, from a very early age, showed to have excellent qualities in the linguistic field. After graduating from Eton College in 1857, he moved to St. Petersburg with his family. He travelled through Asia, Persia, Ukraine, Congo, East-Africa, etc. Importantly, Morgan was a council member of the Royal Geographical Society and evidently commits himself to the journal of the Royal Geographical Society. In 1873, he wedded Bertha Jardine and eventually died in London on 18 May 1909.
92 Mr. Michell John Murray Mitchell was born on 19 August 1815 and became a missionary and orientalist who studied at Kinneff School. He studied at Marischal College and “secured the second highest bursary on the strength of his Latin prose” (Ritchie). In the 1830’s he became a missionary in Bombay but due to ill health of his wife, they had to move several times between India and Great Britain. “Murray Mitchell was thoughtful, scholarly, gentle, and guileless, with a gift for languages and exposition which fitted him for his long missionary career” (Ritchie) but he eventually died in Edinburgh on 14 November 1904.
93
42 M. Kapanstine See page 94 Moscow December 20, 1869 January the 1, 1870
Dear miss Dixon,
I beg your pardon for not answering directly to the kind letter with which you have honoured me. I hope you will graciously receive, on the occasion of New Year’s Day, my true wishes for your happiness and explain my respect to your family. Let me believe that my congratulations, sent from far east [sic], will be received as those of a man, who is near to you by his affection and the strongest tie of gratefulness. Never will I forget your hospitality and friendly feelings to my wife, which have increased my debt to you. As probably I shall never have an opportunity for proving my thankfulness for all you have done, I can only pray the Allmighty [sic] God, that He will give you all happiness this year and every year. Believe me, my dear miss Dixon, your faithful and obedient servant M. Kapanstine
Note M. Kapastine apologised for the fact that he had not yet answered Miss Dixon’s letter of which he had the honour to receive. He wished to give her and her family his best wishes and thanked her for the hospitality and friendship to his wife. He wrote that he was indebted to her but would most likely never have the opportunity to pay her back therefore he wished for the Almighty God to bring happiness throughout the year.
Miss Dixon It seems most possible this letter is addressed to the daughter of William Hepworth Dixon. Ella Nora Hepworth Dixon was born in Marylebone on 27 March 1857. Ella was home schooled and later moved to France to study art. She initiated her writing career after the loss of her father. Subsequently, she worked for the press, chiefly for The World, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail. Beauman describes “[h]er life […] [as] an example of the
94 seductive rewards of literary success leaving little time for further serious literary work; also an example, perhaps, of someone whose emotional life was blighted by the death of an adored parent”. Ella remained unmarried and eventually died in London in 1932.
95 7 Concluding Remarks
All the authors of the letters are part of a highbrow social, intellectual circle. Therefore, contact between them is of major relevance. Likewise, to be acquainted with the editor of a popular nineteenth-century journal definitely contributed to a high regard for a person.
In this light, the overall majority of the letters consists of questions for and favours towards W. H. Dixon. Mostly, Dixon is invited to dinners, meetings and galleries to discuss matters of interest to him, as the editor of the Athenaeum, as well as to the other person so as to add to both persons’ recognition and extension of their social network. With this in mind, people, such as Stewart Macnaghten, Thornton Leigh Hunt, Manchester, Westland Marston, Gilbert Elliot, F. Jonbert, Chatterton and M. Kapanstine are inviting Dixon to dinners and gatherings to confer about professional matters and enlarging their social circle. Others are explicitly asking for favours from Dixon in light of a publication in the Athenaeum. For instance, F. Freiligrath, W. I. Hunt, Walter Lowe Clay, Sir Robert Lush, Westland Marston, Peter Paul X and Herman Cole are inquiring after a possible publication of a review or article they wrote. Many of those reviews were either commenting on Dixon’s books (L, no. 9) or works of fellow authors. A few of them are promoting fellow authors to Dixon since they feel some of them deserve more publicity or attention for their contribution to the literary world (L, no. 4, 17, 20). Others are concerned with their self-interest and therefore ask Dixon for i.e. a letter of recommendation (L, no. 5) or a document in possession of Dixon (L, no. 8). Some letters have the best interest of Dixon at heart. As can be seen, Robert Cooke’s correspondence (L, no 7, 13) discusses the details of the sale of Dixon’s book on Bacon and Sir Robert Lush (L, no. 25) presents a proposal for a competent lawyer to represent Dixon. In essence, all of the correspondents tend to charm Dixon into a favour. They are asking for their articles or reviews to be published in the Athenaeum. In the hope that their contributions will appear in the periodical, they invite the editor to dinners and meetings. I would not go as far as to suggest the correspondents are bribing their way into the Athenaeum but they are certainly doing everything possible to be in good grace with Dixon. The way in which the letters are composed show the sender is eager to contact Dixon. It implies that Dixon sets an example for others to strive for because he, as the editor of the Athenaeum, has reached the top in the publishing world. Many can only dream of the opportunity to obtain the position of editor. In this light, the contributors express infinite gratitude and claim to be forever indebted
96 to Dixon if he accepts their proposal. This, of course, works both ways since Dixon can in this way also depend on total dedication of his contacts for further purposes. Equally important, Dixon as an editor benefits from this correspondence since he is equally expanding his social and professional network. He can more easily assert himself as an author and editor while fully entering the appropriate network. Through this communication he is building relations with fellow authors and contributors who will be satisfied if he accepts their many invitations and reviews. In this way, Dixon is expanding his circle of contributors, reviewers and colleagues. Accordingly, Dixon embeds himself in the appropriate circle and benefits from his contacts by setting up a network. As the editing chief, he has to be socially active to surround himself with the experts in the field. In this way, he can fight of the competition if he constructs his own network of experts.
All things considered, the sample of correspondences studied in this master paper can be seen as a way of building networks, in a similar way in which online social networks, such as Facebook, are designed to maintain relations. Comparatively, both Facebook and the network, discussed in this research, set the same goal. In other words, they are created to preserve (or set up new) relationships between people. However, as Lee points out, online social networks “[...] [enable] participants in society to produce imaginary communities that seem to float on the surface of space and time” (Lee, Goede, and Shryock 137-138). Referring to Anderson’s concept of imagined communities which implies that “the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion” (Anderson 6). In my opinion, Lee’s use of the concept of imaginary communities draws attention to the fact that these networks are not to be placed on the same level as actual face-to-face networking. That is to say, online networking implies superficial and less conclusive relationships as opposed to direct contact. Significantly, the analysis of the correspondences proves that the correspondents seem to embrace this direct approach since they want to organise dinners or meetings to talk in depth about the actual topic of their communication. Subsequently, the relationships they maintain are built on trust and everlasting mutual favours. This kind of networking relates to online social networks as both of those have the same purpose. In other words, both want to extend and maintain contacts but differ in the way these contacts are preserved. In the light of this, “[o]nline communication channels reduce the distance between people and allow interactions to happen more quickly than they might otherwise. Communication [...] is shortened [...], allowing us to maintain stronger ties to a wider group of people than ever before” (2007, p. 4
97 in Lee, Goede, Shryock 137-138). Admittedly, online communication brings about advantages such as faster contact but importantly Valenzuela et. al points out that “[...] people are motivated to join these sites to keep strong ties with friends and to strengthen ties with new acquaintances, but not so much to meet new people online” (Acquisti & Gross, 2006; Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 2007 in Valenzuela, Park, and Kee 876). However, face-to-face networking seems the best solution since Dixon’s primary purpose of his correspondence is meeting new authors and contributors to enlarge his contacts and establish himself and the Athenaeum.
All in all, the correspondence of W. H. Dixon can be seen as building a social, professional network to embed himself in the nineteenth-century publishing world. Given that contemporary online networks have the same intention as Dixon has, it seems that minor differences point in favour of face-to-face networking. Especially in Dixon’s case since he is the editor of a Victorian periodical. Basically, the construction of extensive and diverse networks is a valuable asset to increase the social and professional capital of an individual. Moreover, for Dixon as an editor of a prominent Victorian journal it was of major importance to assert himself within his social circle and maintain solid relationships with this society.
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