Record Number: 13433

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I can make nothing of Craniology, for this reason: [Smith then discusses why he is not convinced by the idea] But to state what are original propensities, and to trace out the family or genealogy of each, is a task requiring great length, patience and metaphysical acuteness; and Combe's book is too respectably done to be taken by storm.' Instead of this I will send you as you seem to be prest the review of [italics] Granby [end italics], a novel of very great merit'.

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Until: 28 Feb 1826

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

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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

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Text Being Read:

Author:

George Combe

Title:

[probably] A System of Phrenology

Genre:

Science, Medicine

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

13433

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:

423-4

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Nowell C. Smith (ed.), The Letters of Sydney Smith, (Oxford, 1953), I, p. 423-4, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=13433, accessed: 26 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

Letter to Francis Jeffrey - Smith had undertaken to review this book for the Edinburgh Review.