'A Scottish flax dresser gained his "first or incipient idea of localities and distances" when he was assigned to read aloud at work from Anson, Cook, Bruce and Mungo Park'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: "Jacques", a flax dresser Print: Book
Burney's reading group reading two books - "the last voyage of Captain Cook" and the "letters of Madame de Sevigne". She makes little progress with Cook because of her fascination with Sevigne, a "siren" who "seduces me from all other reading"; she feels such an intense response to the letters that it is as if Sevigne "were alive and even now in my room and permitting me to run into her arms."
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Frances Burney Print: Book
'About this time I read also the narratives of some eminent navigators and travellers; among the former were those of Cook, P?rouse and Bougainville; of the latter I chiefly remember those of Bruce, Le Vaillant and Weld. Mr. Weld's narrative so deeply interested me, as to have well nigh been the occasion of my emigrating to the United States or Canada. The desire of seeing those countries which was excited thereby remained with me for some years: it was the cause of my reading several works descriptive of North America and the condition of its inhabitants.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter Print: Book
[Elizabeth Carter to Elizabeth Vesey, 21 August 1784:]
'Have you read Captain Cook's last voyages? I have just finished them. The description of the
savage inhabitants of the southern climates is a fine eloge of a state of nature, of
which one species of philosophers is fond of speaking in such rapturous terms! I was heartily
glad to take my leave of those barbarians, and to find myself among the harmless gentle
contented race, that dwell on the borders of the arctic circle [...] they enjoy the blessings of a
mild government, and the illumination of the Christian religion. Ever since I read this account,
I have felt a very high respect for the Russians, to whose humanity and instructions the
inhabitants of Kamtschatka owe their inestimable advantages.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
