Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 15.djvu/660

PERIODICAL. and the Biblioteca volante of Cinelli and Sancassini (1676-1718 and 1733-47).

From the beginning of the eighteenth century new periodicals have appeared in these and in other countries in ever increasing numbers and diversity. In England, Daniel Defoe began in 1704 A Review of the Affairs of France and of All Europe, as Influenced by That Nation, issued at first weekly, then twice, and later thrice a week. It came to an end, in its original form, in 1712, but was carried on in a new series, called simply The Review, until June, 1713. One feature of this review—the contributions of an imaginary ‘Scandal Club’—doubtless suggested the periodical essay which became important in the history of English literature. Of these essay-periodicals the most noted are The Tatler (1709-10-11) written chiefly by Steele and Addison; The Spectator (1710-11-14) of Addison, Steele, Budgell, and others; The Rambler (1750-52) of Dr. Johnson. A French Protestant refugee, Michael de la Roche, a friend of Bayle, started in 1710 the Memoirs of Literature, a review, independent of foreign sources for its material, though modeled after French works of the kind, which he issued until the end of 1714. In 1725 he began another review, the New Memoirs of Literature, which lived for two years, and in 1730 A Literary Journal, a continuation of the Memoirs of Literature, which came to an end in about half that time. A classical periodical, entitled Bibliotheca Literaria, Being a Collection of Inscriptions, Medals, Dissertations, etc., was brought out in 1722 by Samuel Jebb and ran through ten numbers, ending in 1724. La Roche's work was taken up by Andrew Reid, who issued (1728-36) The Present State of the Republick of Letters, a review of considerable merit; and by Archibald Bower, whose Historia Literaria appeared monthly (1730-34). At this time (January, 1730-31) was published the first and one of the most famous of English magazines, the Gentleman's Magazine, or Traders' Monthly Intelligencer . . . by Sylvanus Urban, Gent., founded by the printer Edward Cave. His original plan, afterwards much widened, was that of a collection or ‘magazine’ (the first use of the word in this sense) of the essays and news which appeared in the London papers; the title was in other points suggested by Motteux's periodical mentioned above. The magazine met with great success—due chiefly to Cave's energy and practical (not literary) ability—its circulation rising within a few years to over ten thousand copies. In it, in 1732, was begun the publication of Parliamentary debates (of both Houses), under the—necessary—disguise of “Reports of the Debates of the Senate of Lilliput;” Johnson was employed during several years in writing out (largely from his own imagination) the speeches reported. His association with Cave and the Magazine is the chief title of both to fame. After Cave's death, in 1754, it was conducted by his brother-in-law, and later by John Nichols and his son. In 1868 it became a magazine of light literature. It soon had numerous imitators and rivals, the most successful of which was the London Magazine (1732-81), established by leading London publishers. Among the most important of the other magazines established during the eighteenth century are: The Scots Magazine (1739-1817, from that date to 1826, the

Edinburgh Magazine); the Royal Magazine (1759-71); the Oxford Magazine (1768-82); the European Magazine (1782-1826); the Monthly Magazine (1796-1843); and the Philosophical Magazine (1798—). To return to reviews: the History of the Works of the Learned found a successor in A Literary Journal (Dublin, 1744-49), the first review published in Ireland. The Museum, projected by the poet and bookseller Robert Dodsley, appeared in March, 1746, and was issued fortnightly until September, 1747. It was as much a magazine as a review, comprising besides notices of books, essays, mainly upon historical and social topics, by writers of repute, including Spence, Warburton, Horace Walpole, Akenside, and Campbell. From this time on the distinctive characteristics of the modern literary review became more and more prominent and before the end of the century were firmly established.

A notable advance in this direction was made in the Monthly Review, founded by Ralph Griffiths (1749) and conducted by him until his death in 1803. It included scientific and literary material as well as criticism, and among its writers (1757-58) was Oliver Goldsmith. The Review was carried on after Griffiths's death by his son (until 1825) and others until 1845. The Whig politics and non-conformity of Griffiths led to the founding of the Tory Critical Review (1756-1817) by Archibald Hamilton, to which Smollett, Johnson, and Robertson contributed; and this was followed by a number of others, including The London Review (1775-80); A New Review (1782-86); the English Review (1783-96), combined in 1797 with the Analytical Review (1788-99); The Antijacobin Review and Magazine (1798-1821); and the High Church British Critic (1793-1843), begun by Nares and Beloe. An epoch in the history of the English review was made by the establishment of the Edinburgh Review or Critical Journal—‘to be continued quarterly’—the first number of which appeared in October, 1802. It was designed to be the organ not only of literary, but also of political (Whig) opinion, and was planned so broadly and edited so ably that it almost immediately attained a position of authority which soon became, as Carlyle said, that of “a kind of Delphic oracle and voice of the inspired for great majorities of what is called the ‘intelligent public.’ ” The first of the really great English reviews, it established a standard of reviewing which (though its literary criticism, especially in the early days, has often been inferior) its rivals during the century and more of its existence have not been able to surpass. In it the English review became for the first time a really potent influence in the formation of literary taste and the shaping of political views. Its original projector was Sydney Smith, and he also edited the first number; with the second the editorship was transferred to Francis Jeffrey (later Lord Jeffrey), who retained it until 1829, when he resigned on his election as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. Among the other earlier contributors were Brougham, who largely determined its political opinions, Scott (during the first few years), Carlyle, Hazlitt, and (from 1825) Macaulay, whose influence upon its character was probably second only to that of Jeffrey. After Jeffrey's retirement the editorship was held successively by Macvey Napier (1829-47), William