Record Number: 13414

---

Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I am much obliged by your kindness in sending me The Pirate. You know how much I admire the genius of the author, but even that has its limits and is exhaustible. I am afraid this novel will depend upon the former reputation of the author, and will add nothing to it [...] I do not blame him for writing himself out, if he knows he is doing so, and has done his [italics] best [end italics] and his [italics] all [end italics]. If the native land of Scotland will supply no more scenes and characters, for he is always best in Scotland [...] pray (wherever the scene is laid) no more [italics] Meg Merrilies and Dominie Sampson [end italics] - very good the first and second times, but now quite worn out, and always recurring. All human themes have an end (except Taxation); but I shall heartily regret my annual amusement if I am to lose it'.

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Until: 21 Dec 1821

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Foston
county: Yorkshire

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

---

Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Sydney Smith

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

3 Jun 1771

Socio-Economic Group:

Clergy (includes all denominations)

Occupation:

clergyman

Religion:

Christian

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

---

Text Being Read:

Author:

Walter Scott

Title:

The Pirate

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned
present from Constable

---

Source Information:

Record ID:

13414

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Nowell C. Smith

Title:

The Letters of Sydney Smith

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1953

Vol:

I

Page:

385

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Nowell C. Smith (ed.), The Letters of Sydney Smith, (Oxford, 1953), I, p. 385, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=13414, accessed: 29 April 2024

---

Additional Comments:

Letter to Archibald Constable