the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Record Number: 24387


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Robert Southey to Robert Lovell, 5-6 April 1794: 'I have not yet seen Priestleys reasons for quitting this country. from the review I collect that he compares the present state of Europe with ancient prophecies & foretells the most dismal scenes of devastation. �Oh I could prophesy� says Hotspur & so say I but to prophecy no good evil is melancholy � & good impossible, when indeed after evil. Belsham is elected Pastor in his place & by the little I know of this man he is more qualified to succeed, Joseph Priestley than the generality of dissenting preachers. he is the author of one or two very good works �thoughts on parliamentary reform & Memoirs of the house of Brunswick�Lunenburg. my knowledge of this is from the reviews.'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Until: 6 Apr 1794

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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:

Robert Southey

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

12 Aug 1774

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer

Religion:

n/a

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:

anon

Title:

Review of Joseph Priestley, The Present State of Europe Compared with Antient Prophecies; A Sermon, Preached at the Gravel Pit Meeting in Hackney, February 28, 1794

Genre:

Essays / Criticism

Form of Text:

Print: Serial / periodical

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

24387

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

"The Collected Letters of Robert Southey," Romantic Circles Electronic Edition, Letter 85. http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/southey_letters. Accessed 24 April 2009.

Additional Information:

n/a

Citation:

"The Collected Letters of Robert Southey," Romantic Circles Electronic Edition, Letter 85. http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/southey_letters. Accessed 24 April 2009. , http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=24387, accessed: 15 February 2026


Additional Comments:

None