'by age twenty [Mary Smith] had read and understood George Payne's Elements of Mental and Moral Science, Thomas Brown's Moral Philosophy, and Richard Whateley's Logic. But two authors in paticular offered magnificent revelations. First there was Emerson on Nature; and later, as a governess for a Scotby leatherworks owner, she discovered Thomas Carlyle: "Emerson and he henceforth became my two great masters of thought for the rest of my life. Carlyle's gospel of Work and exposure of Shams, and his universal onslaught on the nothings and appearances of society, gave strength and life to my vague but true enthusiasm. They proved a new Bible of blessedness to my eager soul, as they did thousands beside, who had become weary of much of the vapid literature of the time".'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Smith Print: Book
"By ... [January 1804 Coleridge] ... had probably ... begun to write brief notes, appreciative and explanatory, in copies of the works of Sir Thomas Browne destined for Sara Hutchinson, Wordsworth's sister-in-law, with whom he was hopelessly in love."
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Taylor Coleridge Print: Book
I believe your Ladiship will be diverted with an Octavo book on the Writings and Genius of Pope; tho' you will not approve of everything in it. A little Vol. intitled, "Christian Morals", by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, Author of Religio Medici, with his Life and Explanatory Notes, by S. Johnson, Author of "the Rablers", will, I believe, amuse you. There is a third Book written by Mr G[reville], a Man of Fashion, intitled, "Maxims", "Characters" or some such Title. Among his Subjects, he takes to Task (to severe Task, some have thought) the Writings of your Humble Servt. Thus I wrote upon it to a Lady, who was unwilling I should see it, for fear it shd. vex me; a Fear several of my Friends had on the same Account; "I have read Mr G[reville's] Censure of the Writings of a [italics] certain Author[end italics]. I sincerely think there may be Justice in the most unfavourable Part of it."'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Richardson Print: Book
'[I] could not like the "Paradise of Coquettes"'.
Unknown
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Lady Caroline Lamb
[Marginalia]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Taylor Coleridge Print: Book
[Marginalia]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Taylor Coleridge Print: Book
[Marginalia]
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Taylor Coleridge Print: Book
'Shelley reads Religio Medici aloud'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Percy Bysshe Shelley Print: Book
Elizabeth Barrett to Hugh Stuart Boyd, 24 June 1835:
'I am reading Dr Brown's Philosophy -- shall have [italics]read[end italics] it tomorrow -- and
like metaphysics better than ever, & am beginning to think it quite as
[italics]demonstrative[end italics] as mathematics the beloved! -- I am reading besides,
Anthony Collins, and Luther, [italics]on the will[end italics].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Barrett Print: Book
Elizabeth Barrett to Lady Margaret Cocks, ?4 November 1835:
'Dr Brown's philosophy! No philosophy is like it. Poetry knows the place of his soul [...] I have
gone thro' every sentence of his "philosophy of the human mind", making clear to mine that he
is so. With regard to cause and effect, I do not believe him, -- and on some other questions'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Barrett Print: Book
Thursday 12 September 1919: 'Writing has been done under difficulties. I was making way with my new experiment, when I came up against Sir Thomas Browne, & found I hadn't read him since I used to dip & duck & be bored & somewhow [sic -- misprint?] enchanted hundreds of years ago. Therefore I had to break off, send for his books (by the way, I have read him fairly often, now I come to think of it) & start little stories.'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
Friday 27 November 1936: 'Dined alone, read Sir T. Browne's letters.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
Transcribed in Elizabeth Lyttelton's hand, Sir Thomas Browne, 'Of Consumptions'.
Unknown
Century: 1600-1699 / 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Lyttelton
Transcription in Elizabeth Lyttelton's hand of lines attributed to Sir Thomas Browne, beginning, 'the Almond florisheth ye Birch trees flowe'.
Century: 1600-1699 / 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Lyttelton Print: Book
Transcription in Elizabeth Lyttelton's hand of Sir Thomas Browne, 'Fragment on meadowes'.
Century: 1600-1699 / 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Lyttelton Print: Book
Transcription in Elizabeth Lyttelton's hand of Sir Thomas Browne, 'Seignor verdero in his proper habitt'.
Century: 1600-1699 / 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Lyttelton Print: Book
'I wrote endless imitations, though I never thought them to be imitations but, rather wonderfully original things, like eggs laid by tigers. They were imitations of anything I happened to be reading at the time: Sir Thomas Brown, de Quincey, Henry Newbolt, the Ballads, Blake, Baroness Orczy, Marlowe, Chums, the Imagists, the Bible, Poe, Keats, Lawrence, Anon., and Shakespeare. A mixed lot as you see, and randomly remembered'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Dylan Thomas Print: Book
'The subject of the meeting was 'Gardens' & all members were asked to bring contributions [...] The following is a list of the contributions.
C.E. Stansfield a reading from 'Paradise Lost' followed by a short essay entitled "The Lost Art of Living - A Gardener's Life"
Mary Hayward. Song "Now sleeps the crimson petals"
C.I. Evans. Two Readings. Of an Orchard. Higson. The Apple. John Burrough.
Mrs Robson. Song. "Thank God for a Garden"
Miss Cole. Recitation. 'The Flower's Name'. Browning.
E.E. Unwin. Song. "Come into the Garden Maud"
Mrs Evans. Reading from "The Small Garden Useful" dealing with the Cooking of Vegetables.
C.I. Evans. Reading. "My Garden"
interval for supper
Miss Wallis. Reading by Request 'My Garden' - a parody
Miss Cole. Recitation. Gardens. by Kipling
Miss Hayward. Song.
R.H. Robson Violin Solo
C.I. Evans. Reading. A ballad of trees & the master
Mrs Robson. Song.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles Evans Print: Book
[Catherine Talbot to Elizabeth Carter, 7 May 1756:]
'Has Mr Johnson sent you his new edition of Sir Thomas Browne's Christian Morals? 'Tis a collection of the noblest thoughts, drest in the uncouthest language possible, for which reason few will read, and half of those despise, a book as superior to Mr Greville's [Reflections, Maxims, and Characters...] as Epictetus to Tom Thumb.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Catherine Talbot Print: Book
[Elizabeth Carter to Catherine Talbot, 26 May 1756:]
'I have not seen Sir Thomas Browne's Christian Morals, but your recommendation of it [in letter of 7 May 1756] will set me to reading his Religio Medici again, which I have utterly forgot, except that when I read it I thought it contained many excellent things.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Carter Print: Book
Meeting held at Eynsham, Shinfield Rd., 20.XII.33.
E. Dorothy Brain in the chair
1. Minutes of last read & approved
[...]
7. Schoolmasters in Literature were portrayed by a series of readings from biography and
fiction. There were ten in all and they reflected the various estimation in which these beings
are held, and were held generations ago. In spite of the dullness, the jealousy and the morbid
introspection that characterize the assistant, the profession is in part redeemed by the haloes
that flicker around its heads - generally, it must be admitted, very much in retrospect.
After all, would other professions fare much better?
We are certainly indebted to the committee who prepared the readings, and regret that
Reginald Robson felt it necessary to omit the one he had allotted to himself.
The readings were given in this order.
1. From Roger Ascham V. W. Alexander
2. [From] Westward Ho H. R. Smith
3. [From] Essays of Elia Janet Rawlings
4. [From] T. E. Brown's Clifton Celia Burrow
6. [From] Stalky & Co G. H. S. Burrow
5. [From] Life of Frederick Andrews Mary Robson
7. [From] Vanity Fair S. A. Reynolds
8. [From] Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill Dorothy Brain
9. [From] Jeremy at Crale E. B. Castle
10. [From] Rugby Chapel F. E. Pollard
'
Unknown
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Celia Burrow
'I have just been reading a little of the "Religio Medici". Just at the beginning he is
talking about the Mysteries of Religion, and how he loves to lose himself in one.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Emily Lytton Print: Book
‘I am still in the hospital and expect to be for at least two days more … Just
now I don’t know where I can keep books. I have with me Donne’s poems
and Brown’s “Religion De Medici” and must carry both in my pocket. I have
drawn some of the chaps in the hospital and can see heaps of subject
matter all over. If you could send me any small books or news that might
interest me I think I could find a place for them. A small box of watercolours
would be handy. I cannot get one in this town. I can only get Sundays off
so have no chance of finding out as the evenings are pitch black and no
shops are visible. Cigarettes or any small eatables also help to make things
pleasanter.’
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Isaac Rosenberg Print: Book
'One of the books I read then for the first time
was White's "Selborne", given to me by an old
friend of the family, a merchant in Buenos Ayres
[sic], who had been accustomed to stay a week or
two with us with us once a year when he took his
holiday. He had been on a visit to Europe, and one
day, he told me, when in London on the eve of his
departure, he was in a bookshop, and seeing this
book on the counter and glancing at a page or two,
it occurred to him that it was just the right
thing to get for that bird-loving boy out on the
pampas. I read and re-read it many times, for
nothing so good of its kind had ever come to me,
but it did not reveal to me the secret of my own
feeling for Nature [...] I found it in other
works: in Brown's "Philosophy" — another of the
ancient tomes on our shelves, and in an old volume
containing appreciations of the early nineteenth
century; also in other works.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: William Henry Hudson Print: Book
