Record Number: 24363
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 12-15 November 1793: 'I have been reading Courtney Melmoths Liberal Opinions to-day. I know not if you have ever read the book — but it contains the history of Benignus — some parts of which pleasd me much. a young man sets out in life with this principle. To be good is to be happy. of course he becomes miserable by practising or rather by attempting to practise theoretical principles of universal benevolence. Men of feeling (I hate to use the word but no other expresses the meaning) men of feeling are exposed to a thousand pangs which the fool escapes because his faculties are too gross to comprehend them.'
Century:1700-1799
Date:15 Nov 1793
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:n/a
Type of Experience(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: 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: Title:Liberal Opinions, upon Animals, Man, and Providence
Genre:Philosophy
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:24363
Source - Manuscript:Other
Information:
"The Collected Letters of Robert Southey," Romantic Circles Electronic Edition, Letter 68. 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 68. http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/southey_letters. Accessed 24 April 2009. , http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=24363, accessed: 21 May 2025
Additional Comments:
Courtney Melmoth's real name was Samuel Jackson Pratt.
