Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal, Saturday 19 June 1802, 'I sate up a while after William ... I read Churchill's Rosciad.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Dorothy Wordsworth Print: Book
'He talked very contemptuously of Churchill's poetry, observing, that "it had a temporary currency, only from its audacity of abuse, and being filled with living names, and that it would sink into oblivion".'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson Print: Book
'In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which account, as it brought him great fame and profit at the time, it must proportionally slide out of the publick attention as other occasional objects succeed. But Churchill had extraordnary vigour both of thought and expression. His portraits of the players will ever be valuable to the true lovers of the drama; and his strong caricatures of several eminent men of his age, will not be forgotten by the curious. Let me add, that there are in his works many passages which are of a general nature; and his "Prophecy of Famine" is a poem of no ordinary merit. It is, indeed, falsely injurious to Scotland, but therefore may be allowed a greater share of invention'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
'In this depreciation [by Johnson] of Churchill's poetry I could not agree with him. It is very true that the greatest part of it is upon the topicks of the day, on which account, as it brought him great fame and profit at the time, it must proportionally slide out of the publick attention as other occasional objects succeed. But Churchill had extraordnary vigour both of thought and expression. His portraits of the players will ever be valuable to the true lovers of the drama; and his strong caricatures of several eminent men of his age, will not be forgotten by the curious. Let me add, that there are in his works many passages which are of a general nature; and his "Prophecy of Famine" is a poem of no ordinary merit. It is, indeed, falsely injurious to Scotland, but therefore may be allowed a greater share of invention'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
'He was however very much nettled by Churchill's Satire that's certain; for he rejected him from among the Poets when the Booksellers begged him a Place in the Edition they are now giving in small volumes - this was I think the only unjust or resentful Thing I ever knew him do, for as to despising Churchill as a Writer - no Man has Pretensions to do it - and Johnson had more Wit to be sure than not to taste the "Prophecy of Famine".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Hester Lynch Thrale Print: Book
'He was however very much nettled by Churchill's Satire that's certain; for he rejected him from among the Poets when the Booksellers begged him a Place in the Edition they are now giving in small volumes - this was I think the only unjust or resentful Thing I ever knew him do, for as to despising Churchill as a Writer - no Man has Pretensions to do it - and Johnson had more Wit to be sure than not to taste the "Prophecy of Famine".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Hester Lynch Thrale Print: Book
'He was however very much nettled by Churchill's Satire that's certain; for he rejected him from among the Poets when the Booksellers begged him a Place in the Edition they are now giving in small volumes - this was I think the only unjust or resentful Thing I ever knew him do, for as to despising Churchill as a Writer - no Man has Pretensions to do it - and Johnson had more Wit to be sure than not to taste the "Prophecy of Famine".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson Print: Book
