I, who was the reader, had not seen it for several years, the rest did not know it at all. I am afraid I perceived a sad change in it, or myself ? which was worse; and the effect altogether failed. Nobody cried, and at some of the passages, the touches that I used to think so exquisite ? Oh Dear! They laughed.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Lady Louisa Stuart Print: Book
I remember so well its first publication, my mother and sisters crying over it, dwelling upon it with rapture! And when I read it, as I was a girl of fourteen not yet versed in sentiment, I had a secret dread I should not cry enough to gain the credit of proper sensibility.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Lady Louisa Stuart Print: Book
'I was unable to work for a fortnight through lameness... While laid by from work, I read Mr. MacKenzie's "Man of Feeling" and other tales. I thought them a little too highly coloured to be of any great use, considered as pictures of men and manners.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter Print: Book
'read greek - read Mackenzies works'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Shelley Print: Book
'Here is Mr Mackensie - with the Surprise I heard it - the Author of "the Man of Feeling" & indeed he is so called.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: George Crabbe Print: Book
'She comments, with discrimination, on Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, Rousseau and Cervantes, "Tom Jones", "Emma", "A Man of Feeling", Coleridge, Mrs Shelley, and Crabbe'.
Century: 1700-1799 / 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Louisa, Lady Stuart Print: Book
'A distinguished authour in "The Mirror", a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16,--
"The effects of the return of spring have been frequently remarked as well in relation to the human mind as to the animal and vegetable world. The reviving power of this season has been traced from the fields to the herds that inhabit them, and from the lower classes of beings up to man. Gladness and joy are described as prevailing through universal Nature, animating the low of the cattle, the carol of the birds, and the pipe of the shepherd."
The Reverend Dr. KNOX, master of Tunbridge school, appears to have the [italics]imitari aveo [end italics] of Johnson's style perpetually in his mind; and to his assiduous, though not servile, study of it, we may partly ascribe the extensive popularity of his writings.
In his "Essays, Moral and Literary", No. 3, we find the following passage:--
"The polish of external grace may indeed be deferred till the approach of manhood. When solidity is obtained by pursuing the modes prescribed by our fore-fathers, then may the file be used. The firm substance will bear attrition, and the lustre then acquired will be durable."
There is, however, one in No. 11, which is blown up into such tumidity, as to be truly ludicrous. The writer means to tell us, that Members of Parliament, who have run in debt by extravagance, will sell their votes to avoid an arrest, which he thus expresses:--
"They who build houses and collect costly pictures and furniture with the money of an honest artisan or mechanick, will be very glad of emancipation from the hands of a bailiff, by a sale of their senatorial suffrage".
But I think the most perfect imitation of Johnson is a professed one, entitled "A Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Church-Yard", said to be written by Mr. Young, Professor of Greek, at Glasgow, and of which let him have the credit, unless a better title can be shewn. It has not only the peculiarities of Johnson's style, but that very species of literary discussion and illustration for which he was eminent. Having already quoted so much from others, I shall refer the curious to this performance, with an assurance of much entertainment'.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Serial / periodical
Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 4-20 April 1793: 'I have lately read the Man of Feeling — if you have never yet read it — do now from my recommendation — few books have ever pleasd me so painfully or so much — it is very strange that man should be delighted with the highest pain that can be produced — I even begin to think that both pain & pleasure exist only in idea but this must not be affirmed, the first twitch of the toothache or retrospective glance will undeceive me with a vengeance. It is Mackenzies writing if I am not mistaken the author of Julia de Roubigne & La Roche & Louisa Venoni in the Mirror.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert Southey Print: Book
The whole three are sitting sewing in the most peaceful manner at my hand: our Mother has been reading the Man of Feeling and my last Paper (with great estimation) in the Edinburgh Review.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Carlyle Print: Book
Monday, 5 December 1825: 'Dined at the Royal Society Club where as usual was a pleasant
meeting of from 20 to 25. It is a very good institution. We pay two guineas only for six
dinners in the year present or absent. Dine at 5 or rather 1/2 past 5 at the Royal hotel [...] till
half past seven then coffee and we go to the Society [...]
'Henry Mackenzie now in his eighty second year read part of an Essay on Dreams.'
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Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Mackenzie
'Now hating to deal with ladies when they are in an unreasonable humour I have got the goodhumoured Man of Feeling to find out the lady's mind and I take on myself the task of making her peace with Lord M-' (Footnote: Henry Mackenzie (1745-1831) author of Man of Feeling).
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Scott Print: Book
A rare thing this literature or love of fame or notoriety which accompanies it. Here is Mr H.M. [Henry Mackenzie] on the very brink of human dissolution as actively anxious about it as if the curtain must not soon be closed on that and every thing else...No man is less known from his writings.
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Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Scott
