Record Number: 17210

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'My mind also had become much quieted and strengthened by the reading of Butler's "Analogy", which I had always heard mentioned with admiration, and which I stumbled upon, as it seemed accidentally (though doubtless it was a Providential help sent me), while we were spending a few days at the Hermitage. I took it up first for curiosity, and read it through nearly, but not quite to the end; feeling very much afraid all the time that some one would inquire into my studies, and being greatly humiliated by an observation made by William, who one day found me with it in my hand. His surprised tone as he exclaimed, "You can't understand that", made me shrink into my shell of reserve, and for years I never owned to anyone that Butler's "Analogy" had been to me, as it has been to hundreds, the stay of a troubled intellect and a weak faith'.

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 31 Dec 1835 and 31 Dec 1837

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

other location: 'the Hermitage'

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:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

1815

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry

Occupation:

later writer

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Joseph Butler

Title:

Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the Constitution and Course of Nature

Genre:

Other religious

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

read in situ
read at the Hermitage

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Source Information:

Record ID:

17210

Source:

Print

Author:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell

Editor:

Eleanor L. Sewell

Title:

The Autobiography of Elizabeth M. Sewell

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1907

Vol:

n/a

Page:

53-4

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell, Eleanor L. Sewell (ed.), The Autobiography of Elizabeth M. Sewell, (London, 1907), p. 53-4, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=17210, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

William was her brother