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Record Number: 28673

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I now, after too long delays, return you the Westminster Review, with Chalmers' Picture of Scotland; both of which I was very glad to see. The Picture is a very amusing work, of a proper plan and tone; only, I fear, it is defective in accuracy.'

Century:

Date:

Between 27 Jan 1830 and 24 Jul 1830

Country:

Scotland

Time

n/a

Place:

county: Dumfries
specific address: Craigenputtoch

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:

Thomas Carlyle

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

4 Dec 1795

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer / Academic

Religion:

Lapsed Calvinist

Country of Origin:

Scotland

Country of Experience:

Scotland

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Robert Chambers

Title:

The Picture of Scotland

Genre:

Geography / Travel

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

2 vols, first published Edinburgh 1829

Provenance

borrowed (other)

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Source Information:

Record ID:

28673

Source:

Print

Author:

Thomas Carlyle

Editor:

C. R. Sanders

Title:

The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle

Place of Publication:

Durham, North Carolina

Date of Publication:

1970

Vol:

5

Page:

147

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Thomas Carlyle, C. R. Sanders (ed.), The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle, (Durham, North Carolina, 1970), 5, p. 147, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=28673, accessed: 03 February 2026

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Additional Comments:

Taken from letter from TC to William Tait, dated 23rd August 1830, written at Craigenputtoch. Pages 147-148 in this edition. Date range based on a letter to Tait dated 30th January 1830 he asks for Tait to lend him a copy of this book. Carlyle's subsequent letter (dated 24th July) thanks him for 'the welcome volumes' and says that they are safe and read. I believe he is referring to the works referred to above. However, he has clearly definitely read them by the time he writes this letter on 23rd August.