1730

//Margaret Abbott // October 1730 //Dear Diary, // //I have never been a woman to pry much into politics or what is going on in Britain because I have always trusted the greater powers of men. However, as I am aging, I find myself becoming more and more curious. A lot is going on in this world and I feel I should know what, regardless of what my husband says. He may try and keep me guarded, but he will blame himself in the end for my knowledge for making me so curious. My husband likes to read //The Free Briton//, a weekly journal that comes out in our area. When he has finished with his readings, I have been fetching the material from the trash and then devoted me time to reading and understanding. Most of the tone created within this journal is rhetorical, so I can’t help but get excited about these different issues. The journal discusses how a revolution government would be the ruin of the church since the ministry has the power to shut down the press. However, the author believes the spirit of sedition should be raised amongst the people and we should rebel against authority. This is only because the courts are corrupted. But, if the courts are corrupted as a people we can only then rely on the ministry for structure. Laws need to be daily and honestly executed because it important to protect people’s liberty and their property. As a people, if we are to make sure these things are protected, general impeachments come from the power of us! This would be nothing but empowering to stand together as a people, but our society looks to a King and we are taught to stand by this king no matter what invectives are presented. In a sense, this is using our voice because we would be there to defend our king as well. The journal mentions to rise in cause of “abused people, injured prince, and violated constitution.” I would be this worthy patriot and someone could look to me. But, how? I have other obligations as a woman and in regard to a happy establishment I am forced to not like anyone the royals don’t. All is see with this is an abuse to royal character because credit could be given to a wretched man. But, then am I a bad citizen for not believe in my king? Maybe this is why the ministry is still involved within the states; to provide this peace. In truth, who shall be king doesn’t really affect us. It is if the crown is ever disposed we are affected because our whole system of government is destroyed. But, the journal asks me to remember when we were just pure creatures of our lords and the King was canvassed by the people. There was more revolution and more plotting. Little do we know, this is our present position today! We should be lords of ourselves and the people immediate the right of election, if it is our true power to stand up and rebel! But, under power we are nothing by precarious because there is always a want for freedom and a need for establishment. Should we have the right to remove a successor if they do not succeed? The risks are high if given this opportunity. However, the journals ask me to remember what our ancestors have done, look to the children, and overlook folly. All I am reading is that a person’s stature is more important than folly, or in other words, mistakes.//
 * ATTENTION **: The diary of the young woman Margaret Abbott has been discovered in Britain. From the diary, we can tell that Abbott was probably in her mid 20s, a woman of some wealth, and educated. The purpose of her journal was to respond to the particular journals within //The Free Briton.// Most of these journals are addressed to Francis Walsingham from the //Inner Temple//, or responses from Walsingham himself. Abbott takes a very interesting perspective by questioning the opinion and facts of these journals produced in 1730. It is also perplexing that one of her entries is themed around a play she had seen during this year. Though, it eighteenth century theatre was a large part of the culture, her entries are more concerned with politics.

November 1730 // Dear Diary, // //This //Free Briton //loves to respond to the writing of a certain Craftsman. To begin, the French are executing duties and 750 of our men have been sent there. The Craftsman believes that they are considerable men and prepared for any sudden invasion; there are not better troops. The journal points out the hypocrisy the Craftsman is selling because this should be said of all our troops and not just them. “It is made felon by Act of Parliament in Ireland, for any subject of the kingdom to enlist himself or to enlist others in the service of Foreign States, without license obtained from the crown.” Before this law, it was very public for people to enlist themselves and go to the aid of other land. However, this is not a service without the underlying layer of want. It has been agreed that the French can have these men if the town demolishes its works. So, there is this little condition to helping a nation in need. Shouldn’t it be one of our standing grounds to help a nation in need?// //The Revolution of 1688 has been brought to attention. The succession of the throne and the fate of the King at public debate. When this happened, the British laws were restored and the constitution was recovered. And we had the freedom to enjoy our religion. However, none of this was possible if the Prince of Orange hadn’t come to our aid. It is important to be able to have these relations with other countries with no underlying opportunity. Helping one country can simply save another. The journals continue by reflecting on the character and conduct of great reformers. These are people who have unlimited confidence and ambitious principles. They are meant to have grown up this way. This statement amuses me because I was grown up with confidence and in an ambitious family, and here I am sneaking around and hiding just to read some type of intellectual material that I have missed so much. What good justice can be expected from me, or even others, if our authority proves to be a tyrant? There is danger in giddy popularity and the trusting of one man over another. It only causes secrets. Take the alliance between Great Britain and the French. The late French King was a terrible man; therefore, this relationship can be seen as unnatural. But, even with this alliance there are still secrets and separate negotiations. It’s stated that our own allies to Britain are our ancient enemy. How is this possible? To forget a past? Or are we trusting a new leader? Overall, there are better relations with our nation. //

December 1730 //Dear Diary, // //The talks of prejudice are arousing in //The Free Briton. //In example of this, the representation of the WHIGG party is brought up. Differences and diversions will always occur, and if you associate with a party you will never give your opinion unless you are willing to dispose of your own understanding. This is why I am keeping this journal. To keep my opinions to myself and to be free of judgment because no party adheres to their 1st principles. And now there are Irish troops in the service of France. The ministry is preserving this friendship. Although, France is being favored, there will still be a demolition. This is where prejudice makes us mistrust alliance. You are there to help, but since they are not you, you take something from them. It is this effect of dependency our country doesn’t like, but in truth, no country is independent. Especially if trade is involved. Authority can so easily be put in hands we dislike. However, appearance seems to be on the higher end over what is right. The author gives an example by alluding to the fact that the WHIGGS and Tories have an alliance. But, he is a WHIGG and brought up this way through education. The author can’t understand how their opinions can be the same. But, it is true that no matter who is in power, someone will always oppose them.//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">January 1730 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Diary, // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Craftsman is brought up again in relation to his scheming. But really what scheming? When it comes to power and press there are too many shifts and contradictions. No power can truly be established because there are so many legal remedies for all abuses of legal power. Basically, what one man is promoting is no better than the other. The law is absolutely perverted that I am so amazed as to how we are even functioning as a nation. People seize on the printers and publishers and believe the rumors. Maybe this is what my husband was trying to protect me from. Because no case of a single man is a public concern. As a people we just need to make use of the common law. But, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Free Briton //is guilty of singling out a man. There was a whole journal acknowledging a man by the name of Will Towzer. He was honorable and truly loved. I believe the papers put this type of information out there to show that in spite of all the corruption there are still good people. Whether it be true, or not. The arts can be mean to little minds and strip good qualities of people to replace them with bad ones. This is a master of political portraits.//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">February 1730 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Diary, // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Free Briton //expresses purposes of writing explaining that writers confine themselves to truth and can examine all matters. But, it questions the amount of sides writing has. I don’t understand why this is such a shock to this journal because a main purpose of writing is to express all sides. It is why I write. It is also why we are blessed with different literatures and dramas; a whole different type of expression. Aside from this, I came across material regarding treaties and negotiations. The journal wants to see our nation as an island. But, no nation is very secure within itself. Treaties are there for mutual defense or commerce. As I stated before, a trading nation cannot live within itself. Though a sea may be a boundary, invasions are what to be most feared within a country. This is why I think alliances are so skeptical because we are letting another part of a nation into our own. That seems invading enough. Everything needs to be under contract because in contrast, writing raises the spirit of complaint in a time of calm. Writing sparks new thoughts and feelings. It is very risky that information can be misinterpreted.//

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Diary, // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">How could I have forgotten to mention I went to the theatre! Drury Lane that is. I saw a wondrous comedy entitled //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Lovers //by Theophilus Cibber. I found his work credible and worth seeing since he is the son of Colby Cibber. This play was written especially for his wife. I had heard that Theophilus had been running around on his wife and that he has quite that nasty temper. He wrote this a peace offering to her and Jane was the lead! The theatre season has been very active this year, especially since the opening of Goodman’s Fields. The operas are even showing twice a week! The Daily Post is covered in theatre advertisements. At least I don’t have to sneak that paper away from my husband. But, we did have such a lovely time together. I am truly spoiled sometimes in having the liberty to afford going to the theatre. And thank goodness I do not have to sit anywhere in the pit! The play went through the events of marriage, over exaggerating what it takes to be faithful and what true love is. It was almost watching the face of a lie. But, I couldn’t help but thinking how this relates to what I have been reading in// The Free Briton. //The secrets of politics are a lot like the secrets of marriages. You can never trust because there is always this appearance that must be displayed. I can relate because I am restricted by my husband. And although I am not unhappy, I would not say I am fully happy. The play made me question the good nature of someone. Something that has been brought up in the journals. How do men have this power over women, and power in general? What defines a good man and a good person? How do we trust when infidelity and corruption stare us in the face everyday. I am scared for the nation we live in.//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">March 1730 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Diary, // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The journals touch on the definition of popularity within our nation. To promote the labors of other good men is something that should always be done. I believe everyone deserves their credit as well. To hurt an unoffending man is sinful, yet it still happens. Applause is raised to those mean who are fair and ambitious. Now, I can completely put my husband in this category because he is an honest man, but there is something he lacks that doesn’t allow him the stature of popularity or applause. That is: the act of forgetting your own views in help of others. I think this means to be a very selfless person, and that is one gold star quality. And an unpopular man is a wicked man, but the wise and good men are often unheard in public. It is our duty to spread the word of these good men because then maybe we can finally turn our government away from corruption and lies. Because I do not necessarily believe that all people who don’t have property don’t have knowledge. But, how do we celebrate extraordinary names? And if they are already celebrated, what can you really entertain, if all men know that person’s worth? How do we recognize every noble person? And is popularity that significant? It seems fair that recognition of simple praise from a friend can be satisfying. But, this is questioned when the errors of a governor are blasted everywhere. These types of secrets are never kept long, and the goodness of people is. This seems a complete paradox. A crowd enraged against the truth due to false information turns people against the public and against each other. This is why there is so much mistrust. We don’t truly know a good soul, even though men of power of suppose to be defined as: “power to public welfare, tender of national liberty, and moderate in own private pursuits.” I worry that a common ground will never be reached. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Works Cited: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arnall, William. “News.” //The Free Brition.// London, October. 1730. //Eighteenth Century Journals.// Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arnall, William. “News.” //The Free Brition.// London, November. 1730. //Eighteenth Century Journals.// Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arnall, William. “News.” //The Free Brition.// London, December. 1730. //Eighteenth Century Journals.// Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arnall, William. “News.” //The Free Brition.// London, January. 1730. //Eighteenth Century Journals.// Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arnall, William. “News.” //The Free Brition.// London, February. 1730. //Eighteenth Century Journals.// Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arnall, William. “News.” //The Free Brition.// London, March. 1730. //Eighteenth Century Journals.// Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lennep, William. //The London Stage, 1660-1800: A Calendar of Plays, Entertainments & Afterpieces, Together with Casts, Box-Receipts and Contemporary Comment.// Carbondale: Southern Illinoise University Press, 1960, Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cibber, Theophilus, and Susannah Maria Arne Cibber. "The Lovers." //The Plays of Theophilus and Susannah Cibber//. New York: Garland Pub., 1981. . Print.