Record Number: 20074

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Had Mr [italics] Hutcheson [end italics] stop'd at this Book [his 'Inquiry into the Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue'], by which he had acquired some Degree of Reputation, both as a Writer, a Divine and a Mathematician, he had done wisely; but O! his Essay on the Passions overturned his scarce established Praise; if it has any Meaning, it is like dark veil'd [italics] Cotyto [end italics], in her Ebon Chair, close curtained round, impenetrably obscure, or from his Flames, [italics] No Light but rather darkness visible [end italics; allusions to 'Comus' and 'Paradise Lost']. I really thought it was the Defect of my Head that made me not comprehend this Piece, till I heard the present Lord Bishop of [italics] Elphin [end italics], whose Learning or Judgment was never yet doubted, declare he did not understand it. After all, whether the Defect lay in the Book or the Bishop let the Reader determine'.

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Until: 29 Jul 1750

Country:

Ireland

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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:

Edward Synge

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1691

Socio-Economic Group:

Clergy (includes all denominations)

Occupation:

bishop

Religion:

Anglican

Country of Origin:

Ireland

Country of Experience:

Ireland

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

Bishop of Elphin

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Francis Hutcheson

Title:

Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections

Genre:

Philosophy

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

20074

Source:

Print

Author:

Laetitia Pilkington

Editor:

A.C. Elias

Title:

Memoirs of Laetitia Pilkington

Place of Publication:

Athens GA

Date of Publication:

1997

Vol:

I

Page:

304-5

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Laetitia Pilkington, A.C. Elias (ed.), Memoirs of Laetitia Pilkington, (Athens GA, 1997), I, p. 304-5, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=20074, accessed: 25 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

Synge was a close friend of Hutcheson.