Record Number: 22186

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Johnson and Shebbeare were frequently named together, as having in former reigns had no predilection for the family of Hanover. The authour of the celebrated "Heroick Epistle to Sir William Chambers", introduces them in one line, in a list of those "who tasted the sweets of his present Majesty's reign". Such was Johnson's candid relish of the merit of that satire, that he allowed Dr. Goldsmith, as he told me, to read it to him from beginning to end, and did not refuse his praise to its execution'.

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Until: 31 May 1781

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

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Oliver Goldsmith

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

10 Nov 1730

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

Ireland

Country of Experience:

England

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

Dr Johnson

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

William Mason

Title:

Heroick Epistle to Sir William Chambers

Genre:

Poetry

Form of Text:

Print: Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

22186

Source:

Print

Author:

James Boswell

Editor:

R.W. Chapman

Title:

Life of Johnson

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1980

Vol:

n/a

Page:

1151

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

James Boswell, R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 1151, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=22186, accessed: 17 March 2025

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Additional Comments:

Originally published 1791. Goldsmith's date of birth could have been 1728