1760

=**1760**=


 * //The British Magazine. Or Monthly Repository for Gentlemen & Ladies//**

//The British Magazine. Or Monthly Repository for Gentlemen & Ladies// was a monthly periodical published in London, England from 1760-1767 edited by Tobias George Smollett. The magazine covers a range of topics, including politics, science, religion, literature, and culture; it also features fictional short stories. The magazine’s first issue is dedicated to William Pitt, Secretary of State for the Southern Department and Leader of the House of Commons. Pitt was known for his outspoken opposition to political corruption, advocacy for England expansionism and greatness, and as the leader of wartime policy, which led to victory England’s in the Seven Years War (1754-1763). The dedication to Pitt gives insight into the tone and context of //The////British Magazine// in the year 1760, which was a time of war, fear, unrest, and opposition in England.

//The British Magazine// contains fictional short stories. Several of the stories are allegories about issues or events in England at the time. For example, “The History of Omrah, the Son of Abulfaid is an allegorical story about a young man who travels the world in search of knowledge, but his arrogance and vanity leads him to ruin and destitution. Hopeless, Omrah plans to commit suicide, but is stopped by a dervish, (a Muslim ascetic searching for the path to enlightenment), who tells him that committing suicide would dishonor his family, country, and community. Omrah is moved by the man’s reason, decides to live, and comes to understand that “adversity was the most useful school of life” (Smollett 8). The story can be seen as symbolic of England’s conflicted time during the Seven Years War. The writer offers a message of hope and encouragement to the readers, and an affirmation of England’s greatness.

Several articles in //The British Magazine// discuss ideas, customs, and practices of different cultures. This indicates England’s growing expansionism, colonialism, and integration of knowledge from other cultures. Many ideas discuss remedies used in various cultures to treat ailments.

//The British Magazine// includes many articles on the subject of war, including stories written by officers and soldiers giving accounts of incidents during battle, different views on England’s policies regarding the war, and both negative and positive remarks about England’s involvement in the war. In addition, there are articles on broad subjects of history, such as “The History of Canada,” and articles that discuss social issues such as marriage, such as “Some Remarks on Licenses and Marriage.”

//The British Magazine// is an eclectic mix of articles and short fiction stories, and the overall tone is generally accepting and open to different points of view. The writers of the magazine are advocates for England as a whole, and the country’s victory, perseverance, and expansionism. The magazine also includes articles, letters, and stories written by the public, from people of different professions, background, and class.


 * //The Minor, a Comedy//**

//The Minor, a Comedy//, by Samuel Foote, first premiered in 1760 at Crow Street Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, but was largely unsuccessful. A revised version of the play was performed later that year at the New Theatre in the Hay-Market in England, which was better received and performed to a full house for thirty-eight consecutive nights. Foote, in addition to being a playwright, was a talented mimic and imitator, and acted in the play as the characters Mrs. Cole and Shift. The play satirizes the growing evangelical movement in England during the eighteenth century, and in particular, George Whitefield, one of the founders and most publicized preachers of Methodism. Whitefield is satirized in //The Minor// as the preacher Mr. Squintum, a character who is mentioned but does not actually appear onstage. Mrs. Cole, a madam, refers to Mr. Squintum as the man who absolved her of her sins and as “the precious instrument of (her) spiritual sprinkling” (//The Minor// 23). The plot of //The Minor// revolves around the main characters of Sir William Wealthy, a merchant, and his extravagant and rebellious son, Sir George Wealthy. George has been living abroad in Germany for 4 years, and Sir William disapproves of his lifestyle of “gaming and gluttony.” In addition, Sir William fears that upon his death, and George’s inheritance of the estate, “the wou’d soon be an end to an ancient and honorable family” (//The Minor// 15). In order to prevent this, and to “snatch (George) from perdition,” Sir William develops a scheme. He plans to fake his own death in order to lure George back to England in hopes of claiming the estate, then disguise himself and employ actors to tempt George with extravagances and put him into debt. Once George is in financial ruin, Sir William plans to reveal himself. If George reacts with shame and becomes conscious of his errors, Sir William will consider him saved and forgiven. If George reacts with indifference or continues to be rebellious, then Sir William will disinherit and disown him as his son. In the end, George shows himself to be a man of morals by saving a young woman who is brought to him by Mrs. Cole as a prostitute, but was actually cast out by her father and tricked by Mrs. Cole into prostitution. The woman is then revealed to be Lucy, George’s cousin, who was proposed for marriage by Richard Wealthy, George’s uncle. Though George refused his uncles initial proposal, he agrees to marry Lucy after saving her and promising to be her protector. Many new and original plays were produced and performed during the year 1760. However, the theater was greatly affected by the Stage Licensing Act, enacted in 1737, which granted the lord chamberlain the authority to censure or cancel the production of any play in England. Foote’s plays were renown for creating controversy, and frequently censured. The version of //The Minor// performed in 1760 at the New Theater in the Hay-Market includes several changes made by authorities to make the play less controversial. These changes also reflect changes in public interest regarding theater, as audiences became more concerned with ethics, virtue, and the perseverance of reason and strong principles. //The Minor//, like other plays of the period, includes an epilogue in which a character gives a soliloquy reflecting the moral or purpose of the play overall.


 * Conclusion**

//The British Magazine// and Samuel Foote’s play //The Minor// demonstrate the growing opposition to those in power, and the free expression of this opposition. //The British Magazine// includes articles that openly criticize political officials, and the government. //The Minor// satirizes the rising influence of religious fervor and the power of individual leaders of religious movements. Both works indicate the importance of reason, the dangers of arrogance and vanity, and the necessity of rational thinking in overcoming adversity.

Works Cited

Foote, Samuel. //The minor. A comedy. Written by Mr. Foote. As it is now acting at the// //New Theatre in the Hay-Market. By Authority from the Lord Chamberlain// 1760. //Eighteenth Century Collections Online//. Gale. University of MarylandCollege Park. Web. 11 Aug. 2013.

Greatbach, William. //Samuel Foote, from the original at the Garrick Club//. 1802. British Museum, London, UK. //Cornell////University// //Library//. Web. August 15, 2013.

Smollett, Tobias George, ed. //The British Magazine. Or Monthly Repository for Gentlemen & Ladies// 1 (1760): n. pag. //Eighteenth-Century Journals//. Web. 11 Aug. 2013.

Stone, George Winchester, Jr. //The// //London// //Stage 1660 - 1800//. 1st ed. Vol. 2. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1960. Print. August 15, 2013.