1693

A Year in London: 1693




 * // The Gentlemen’s Journal or the Monthly Miscellany //**

//The Gentlemen’s Journal or the Monthly Miscellany// describes itself as “Consisting of News, History, Philosophy, Poetry, Music, [and] Translations.” It was published in London by Motteux, with a Latin motto that reads: “E. pluribus unum,” or “out of many”. It is intended for male viewers of the elite class who are interested in the arts. This journal mainly consists of opinion pieces from the editor, poems, stories, and songs. It is now the typical news publication. At the end of each monthly issue, the editor lists new artistic endeavors such as novels, plays, and classes available in the London area as well as a diverse spread of advertisements. The journal is of the romantic type, with the most common topic being love. It includes endless love poems, romantic short stories, and love songs. Ironically, as one of the months featured mainly female authors and was dubbed //The Lady’s Journal,// this publication displays consistent sexist themes. They are prevalent, but most likely the undertones were conscious.

// July Issue //

The topics included paintings, goddesses, and heaven. A story by an anonymous author wrote a short story titled “//The Match Maker Matched//.” This story was an inverted version of the //Country Wife//. In this story, a knight from the country came to London and was claimed by a wealthy maiden who had ideas similar to Mr. Pinchwife. The reversal of gender roles was surprisingly progressive. This “progressiveness” is a confusing attribute of this publication. It displays a certain “feminism of the time,” and then immediately deteriorates mere pages later into print rife with sexist language and content. This is consistent throughout the publication. Another example of this is the opinion piece claiming that women should not be sheltered and instead should be taught virtue. A few pages later, an anonymous poet (most of the authors in this publication are anonymous) writes a poem detailing how women are wretched for not loving men when men love women. The word most commonly used to describe women are “nymphs.” The classical modern meaning of this word describes a mythical forest creature, but from context I assume that the insult we would use in its place would be “succubus.”

// August Issue //

The next month promised more of the same. The editor’s opening letter vetted improving education in London. It preceded a poem detailing honor and wealth that used Greek and Roman references, the most popular in this journal being Caesar. This issue was highly intellectual. An un-named story by an anonymous author penned a tale about a fop from London travelling to the country-side. He was ridiculed and mocked (Motteux 253). The most impressive article in the collection was a letter titled //“Of Dubitation and Perception to Mr. Pyke”// from Lancelot Manning. This letter explored the confines of reality and speculated about existentialism. The author wrote: “I dreamt last night, I was in Spain, and had a scarlet cloak on; how do I know I am now awake; it may be I am really there, and only dream I am here; what mark will you give me to distinguish? (Motteux 261-262).” He blurs the line of consciousness in his essay. Another interesting piece was titled “//Of Modern Names Made Latin.”// The editor meticulously disengaged Latin prefixes and suffixes so that the bourgeoisie would understand their meaning. He advocated for a revival in Latin writing and research and was fascinated by the roots of vocabulary. He commented, “Such an abuse ought to be resented by those that have a real love for the commonwealth of learning (Motteux 268).”

//September Issue// September of 1693 was mostly fluff pieces with no focus. The writings praised and summarized the recent war effort. After a poem about the fight at Flanders, the editor commented, “Poets had been unjust, had wholly left to Historians the care of conveying to posterity the memory of the late great action at Landen.” A pice with more substance was a story called //“The Generous Mistress//.” Two best friends, Courtlove and Richly, have a habit of sleeping the same women and cuckolding the same men. Courtlove finally finds a women he sees a future with, Lady Constance. Richly becomes jealous and has Courtlove arrested for tax evasion. Courtlove escapes prison and marries Lady Constance anyways, and the story ends with a duel (Motteux 290). The last section of the journal is concerned with outdated and complicated math obviously included to prove that this journal is educational and elite. I viewed this month as the editor trying to break the stigma that this journal was solely a libertine enterprise, that it was capable of being intellectual.

//October Issue// The editor decided that one monthly issue of the journal should be dedicated to women. He writes, "Since this Month’s Collection, chiefly consists of Pieces written by persons of the fair sex, I may justly call is the //Lady’s Journal.// Tis you that have been the muses who have inspired most of Gentlemen whose writings have graced this journal (Motteux 324)." There is an ongoing debate in this month about the sanctity of marriage. Several brave women submitted poems and essays on the reality of marriage from a woman’s perspective, and the editor was kind enough to include the material in the journal. Below each entry, however, was a rebuttal. “Lady” wrote a poem titled “//On Matrimony.”// It reads: “Yet, if you once consent to give your hand, From that dire moment date you last command When hymen’s past, true colors he’ll display, Forget the mistress, make the wife obey Those adorations, payed once as your due, are all neglected; and your beauties too, Trifled and unregarded, thrown aside, Tis scarce remembered you were once a bride (343).” The editor included a rebuttal: “Wedlock does not seem a necessary evil, those women whose souls are far above the trivial concerns of a family, would do better to remain free, that there are women enough without them that will take care to uphold the Race of Men (343).”

//November Issue// It begins with a poem about the “Majesty’s” upcoming birthday. Although William and Mary ruled at the time, the poem seems to be referencing Charles, who was born on November 17. The piece was titled, “An ode upon his majesty’s birthday, set to music by Mr. Staging; and performed before their majesties, Nov. 4. 1693 (359).” Another celebration of royalty followed. A poem, //“To The King//” by Mr. Tutchin recalled the Nine Year’s War Victory. In it, Tutchin compares William to Caesar and his victory in the Gallic Wars. He writes, “Like some immortal as your palms had, fix in the field, manure with Gallic blood” and “be bold in council, as you are in war (361).” Most impressive was a letter to William Congreve by Mr. William Duke. This letter obviously referenced the success of the Double Dealer, which had premiered the month before. He writes that Congreve will rise to become the next Wycherly: “This fledged with honor, let thy muse expand her infant wings, and her swift flight extend, so far, till at the last she may come to nigh Whycherly’s fame, and with his glory eye.” That there, thy genius revels in each part and lavish nature is improved by art (374)." This was a tremendous compliment, as Wycherly was one of the most celebrated playwrights of the time.

//December Issue// This month began with many soft pieces: love poems, opinions that more men should learn how to paint, as well as an allegorical essay about beauty and friendship. This essay personified beauty, goodness, desire, and friendship. It was difficult to follow and pretentiously written. The main focus of the paper was a brutal chain of essays about Descartes. These writings emphasized the holes in his theories, and hinted at preferring Catholicism to philosophy and metaphysical science. I will report on two of the essays. The first essay, “//Of the Words of Descartes//” attempted to summarize his ideas without prejudice. The author failed when he wrote: “He has justly been accused of arguing in a circle, when he would convince himself that whatever we clearly conceive is true. As to that opinion of Descartes, that god can change the essence of things though immutable in their nature, so as to make that two and three be not five, they are such paradoxes as nothing but the esteem which is on other accounts to behad for Descartes’s judgement can hinder us from terming extravagant whimsies (412).” The next essay was titled “//Against the Vortives of Descartes//.” This essay broke down Descartes theory about fluidity of motion, fluid containment in stable and unstable spaces, and fluid particles such as electrons. It was not well received. The editor writes: “Now the vortices of Descartes being real dreams or torrents, infinitely fluid, they must needs have those properties, and if they have, tis absurd to imagine them to be in equilibrium next to one another (413).” The editor shortly directs readers to a Latin Ode: //Ad Amicum//.

// **London Stage, 1693** // The 1692-1693 season reported in //The London Stage// began with tragedy. Two shareholders in the United Company passed away. William Montfort was murdered, and Anthony Leigh died of illness. For remaining shareholder [Thomas] Betterton, this action… probably indicates that, financially, the Company had improved its condition” (411). This led to a successful theatre season, as ten plays were produced. The next season, 1693-1694, also began with scandalous news. Alexander Davenant had trifled with the finances of the United Company and fled to the Canary Islands. This left the company in the hands of Sir Thomas Skipwatch and Christopher Rich, both dubious fellows who acquired full control of the company’s finances. They invaded the respective spaces of the company department by department and eventually involved themselves in the theatrical operations. The members and the shareholders were not pleased with the new circumstances, and within a year, the company and it’s partners revolted. This explains why the number of plays in this season decreased from the previous season’s ten plays, to a mere four plays. Thankfully, William Congreve’s play //The Old Bachelor// premiered to extraordinary success. Such success, that he had to write a Prologue to the play honoring the Queen because she attended multiple viewings (425-426).

//**The Double Dealer by William Congreve (1693)**// //MEN.// MASKWELL, a villain; pretended friend to Mellefont, gallant to Lady Touchwood, and in love with Cynthia,--Mr. Betterton LORD TOUCHWOOD, uncle to Mellefont,--Mr. Kynaston MELLEFONT, promised to, and in love with Cynthia,--Mr. Williams CARELESS, his friend,--Mr. Verbruggen LORD FROTH, a solemn coxcomb,--Mr. Bowman BRISK, a pert coxcomb,--Mr. Powell SIR PAUL PLYANT, an uxorious, foolish old knight; brother to Lady Touchwood, and father to Cynthia,--Mr. Dogget
 * DRAMATIS PERSONAE**

//WOMEN.// LADY TOUCHWOOD, in love with Mellefont,--Mrs. Barry CYNTHIA, daughter to Sir Paul by a former wife, promised to Mellefont,--Mrs. Bracegirdle LADY FROTH, a great coquette; pretender to poetry, wit, and learning,--Mrs. Mountfort LADY PLYANT, insolent to her husband, and easy to any pretender,--Mrs. Leigh CHAPLAIN, BOY, FOOTMEN, AND ATTENDANTS.

It is a Comedy of Manners by William Congreve titled //The Double Dealer//. It contains many traditional elements of a comedy of manners but uses a heavy hand in hyperbole. //The Double Dealer// is the story of Mellefont, the heir of Lord Touchwood and a well-known young rake. He is in love with Cynthia, daughter of Sir Paul Plyant. They wish to be married. It is a secret that Mellfont was once involved with Lady Touchwood, a vengeful woman. He rejected her advances, so she seeks revenge. Lady Touchwood is currently involved with Maskwell, Mellefont’s friend. Lady Touchwood and Maskwell scheme to make it impossible for Mellefont to marry Cynthia by spreading rumors destroying Mellefont’s reputation so that he can marry Cynthia herself. Maskwell, in turn, still pretends to be Mellefont’s friend. As the play goes on, Maskwell creates more and more schemes until he is deceiving everyone in the play. Maskwell is the double dealer. When Lady Touchwood finds out Maskwell intends to wed Cynthia, she is jealous and reveals his true nature. Thus, Mellefont is free to marry Cynthia.

//Annotations:// Congreve, William. //The Double Dealer//. London. The Literature Network. Web. 7 Jul 2016. Motteux, Peter. //Gentleman's journal, or, The monthly miscellany// 2 (Jul-Dec 1693). ProQuest. Web. 7 Jul 2016. //The London Stage, 1660-1800: a Calendar of Plays, Entertainments & Afterpieces,// //Together With Casts//. Contemporary Comment. [1st ed.] Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. Web. 7 Jul 2016.