1759


 * Introduction**

The Critical review, or, Annals of literature, was a monthly publication in London that ran from 1756 to 1817. This journal covered literature, politics, medicine, science, philosophy, and various other cultural issues of the time. Tobias Smollett was the publications first editor from the publication’s inception until 1763 when he retired.

= Science =

Issues of Science were widely publicized during this year, as it’s methods continued to develop since the revolutions of the previous century. At this time, many men traveled the world to contribute to a rising area of study called Natural History. This field sought to research and study the various organisms which inhabit the natural world through the scientific methods of observation and experimentation. English men traveled to places throughout Europe and began to explore the Orient to expand their knowledge. Attention was given to the nature of farming throughout different cultures, as farming sustains the society.

= Religion and Philosophy =

Perhaps as a precursor to the coming “Age of Reason” and scientific thought, which undoubtedly had been growing as a broad movement for decades, the nature of religious zeal and fanaticism was examined in a work that was reviewed by this publication (Art VIII). The reviewer cites examples of religious zeal turning out badly for people of particular cultures, stating “zeal tampered with, is inflamed to fanaticism, and this is one species of madness.”

One essay published this year and reviewed in The Critical Review attempts to convert the agnostic or “freethinker” to the belief in God and the immortality of the soul (Art 24). Going along with the issue of reason and scientific thought, the reviewer of this piece drills the essays author, saying he is inconsistent and takes so called “facts” from scripture to be proof of the truths he asserts. The reviewer continues: “Nothing can be weaker than such reasoning; for a person that admits the authority of the scriptures, must of consequence believe the immortality of the soul.” Instead, the author of the essay should have “considered his subject independently of revelation, and have proved his position by abstracted and metaphysical reasoning.” We see here a very modern critique of religious discourse.

= Social-Political Issues =

Seemingly a result of restoration era social questioning, literature works about class were reviewed in the publication. People were writing about class distinctions, the plight of the poor, and how people can help one another. In a tract written in this year (Art. 14), the author establishes the miseries felt by the poor on a day to day basis, the causes of these calamities, and how society can help out especially through acts of charity.

1759 marked a mid-point of the Seven Years War. During this year, Lord George Sackville, a British commander, was court martialed for refusing to obey orders. He wrote a short address to the public on this matter, which was reviewed in The Critical Review (Art. 34). He made a large enough public dispute and publishment of this, but was eventually stripped of his military service.

= The Continuing Rise of Commerce =

As the growth of trade increased, tensions grew between nations during this year and following years. In “Art. 17. A Letter to the Dutch Merchantsin England,” the author highlights some aspects of the trade relationship between the Dutch and the British in this particular year. In this letter, the author refutes claims made by the Dutch against the conduct of the English. Also within this short review, the editor remarks that the Dutch “have been cruelly treated in some of our plantations.” So we can see here that the relationships brought on by colonial expansion and the rise of commercial trading were tense between the various competing nations

= Expansion of other cultural knowledge =

The English, with the rise of colonialism, sought to expand their knowledge of other cultures. They examined cultural customs in places like Lapland, in Northern Sweden, where it was noted that the inhabitants live without any form of made liquor (Art 5.) A lot of attention was given to cultural customs, such as the different kinds of food and drink different societies lived off of. It was noted that many diseases prevalent in different regions were caused by what kind of food the people consumed. With this expansion of cultural knowledge from places around the world came certain feelings of mistrust or even fear of other cultures, which certainly played a role in wanting to expand the colonial empire. The Arabians were seen as an object of fear, in part, as they were of a completely foreign faith which served to unite and strengthen a previously weak and divided cultural group (Art. VIII)

In a reviewed work of history, the culture and landscape of Japan is examined (Art II: The Modern Part of an Universal History from the earliest account of time). At this time, Japan was still in its isolationist phase, which wouldn't truly end until 1854. However, this review shows that the English still possessed a decent level of knowledge of this eastern island country. The author compares Japan to English, stating that the history of this country is important with “respect to the power, wealth, and commerce of that empire.” He states that both countries export great amounts of grain and corn, both are famous for their sheep and oxen, and both countries have vast quantities of minerals and metals residing in the physical landscape.

= Literature =

Works by women continued to be printed in this year. The Brothers. In two volumes, by Miss Smythies, was favorably reviewed in The Critical Review (Art. 13). The review encouraged the author to keep writing. The Critical Review sometimes features extremely short, one sentence reviews of works, particularly if the reviewer does not like to work (Art. 20). For instance, in a review of an essay by Britannicus, the total review is as follows: “A rhapsody of bombast by which the wretched author could propose to himself neither profit or credit.” Another review (Art. 35) lasts a short paragraph and states that the work “should be damned to the lowest pit of oblivion.”

People were concerned with exploring and archiving literature from past decades, as there is a review of a work from 150 years ago titled “A Father’s Advice to his Son: an Elegy” (Art. 18). This work was first published in this year, as it was found among the papers of a member of past nobility.

The influence of the ancient Greeks and Romans continues to show in the works done by the English. For instance, one literature work that was reviewed in this year is titled “Caractacus, a dramatic poem : written on the model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. In the work, the overall structure or frame is similar to that of the ancient Tragedy’s in poem form.

= The Theater =

The Theater season this year produced over 500 productions. The public was very much invested in Theater; they demanded more plays, more new plays, and better training for young actors. However, and this is perhaps a hangover from the restoration era plays, people also demanded less immoral plays. In particular, the Drury Lane theater had a very good season and put on both older plays from years past, and new plays which were welcomed by the public.

= Antony and Cleopatra as performed by the Drury Lane Theater. =

This play follows Marc Antony and his love Cleopatra in Alexandria, Egypt. Antony has to return home when Roman Pompey decides to wage war on Anthony and the other Triumvirs. Anthony is eventually betrayed by Caesar, another of the Triumvirs. All the while, Antony’s relationship with Cleopatra struggles, as she finds out he was married. The two have to team up to defeat Caesar, with Cleopatra commanding the Egyptian sea force. The Egyptian’s retreat and Anthony thinks Cleopatra has betrayed him, and so he sets out to kill her. To protect herself, Cleopatra gets a servant to lie and say she has committed suicide; upon hearing this, Antony kills himself. Cleopatra is captured by Caesar, but manages to commit suicide with the aid of a poisonous snake.

This showing of the Shakespeare tragedy was shown early in the year on the Third of January. The play did not do well with the English audience of the time, and drew no applause (The London Stage).

= Conclusion =

Within this year, we see the how the influence of other cultures, both past and present, plays into various aspects of English life. With the rise of commercialism, trade continued to expand in this year. Along with this, came the expansion of knowledge of other cultures: there were various works reviewed in The Critical Review which went extensively into the life and landscape of other cultures. We also see how the past manifests itself in the present, as writers of the day continued to be influenced by the literary forms of past ages. We also see how taste changes over time, as the production of Antony and Cleopatra did terribly this year, over a century past the time it was written. On another note, women were becoming known in the literary world, as there were several works reviewed this year that were by female authors. Lastly, scientific and rational thought continued to be developed and employed; we see this in a number of reviews related to science. Also, we see criticism within The Critical Review that stresses the need for people to rationally evaluate the claims of others.

= Works Cited =

“Art. II. Caractacus, a dramatic poem: written on the model of the antient Greek Tragedy.” The Critical Review 8 1759: 11-16. Print.

“Art. II. The Modern Part of an Universal History, from the earliest account of time.” The Critical Review 8 1759: 189-199. Print.

“ Art. V. Travels through Part of Europe, Asia Minor, the Islands of the Archipelago, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Mount Sinai, &c.” The Critical Review 7 1759: 504 - 512. Print.

“ Art. VIII. The Safety and Perpetuity of the British State, under the influence of political and religious zeal. Being the substance of several discourses preached before the university of Cambridge during the late rebellion and present war.” The Critical Review 7 1759: 426-434. Print.

“ Art. 13. The Brothers. In two volume, 12mo. By the Author of the Stage-Coach, and Lucy Wellers.” The Critical Review 7 1759: 79. Print.

“ Art. 17. A Letter to the Dutch Merchants in England.” The Critical Review 7 1759: 557. Print.

“Art. 18. A Father's Advice to his Son: an Elegy.” The Critical Review 7 1759: 462. Print.

“ Art. 20. An Essay to prove the Superiority of the present Age and Nation over that of any former. In answer to the ingenious, but malevolent writer, of an Estimate of the Manners and Principles of the Times. ” The Critical Review 7 1759: 179. Print.

“ Art. 14. A Plea for the Poor: in which their inexpressible hardships and sufferings are verified from undeniable facts, &c.” The Critical Review 7 1759: 380. Print.

“ Art. 24. An Essay on the Divine Prescience, and Man's Free-Agency. Delivered at a Conference, in which a celebrated Doctor in Divinity was President, April 2, 1741. Octavo. Price 6d. Noon.” The Critical Review 8 1759: 166-167. Print.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Art. 34. A short Address from Lord George Sackville to the Public.” The Critical Review 8 1759: 258. Print.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Art. 35. Much ado about Nothing. To which is added, All's Well that ends Well.” The Critical Review 8 1759: 332. Print.

Schneider, Ben Ross. Index to The London stage, 1660-1800. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1979. Print.