Record Number: 20786
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'[extract of a letter from the Earl of Orrery to Dr Birch] I have just now seen the specimen of Mr Johnson's dictionary, addressed to Lord Chesterfield. I am much pleased with the plan, and I think the specimen is one of the best that I have ever read. Most specimens disgust, rather than prejudice us in favour of the work to follow; but the language of Mr Johnson's is good, and the arguments are properly and modestly expressed'.
Century:1700-1799
Date:30 Dec 1747
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:n/a
Type of Experience(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader:John Boyle, 5th Earl of Orrery
Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:13 Jan 1707
Socio-Economic Group:Royalty / aristocracy
Occupation:man of letters and peer
Religion:n/a
Country of Origin:England
Country of Experience:England
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:[Plan or prospectus for his dictionary]
Genre:Reference / General works
Form of Text:Manuscript: Unknown
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceborrowed (other)
the copy sent to Lord Chesterfield
Source Information:
Record ID:20786
Source:James Boswell
Editor:R.W. Chapman
Title:Life of Johnson
Place of Publication:Oxford
Date of Publication:1980
Vol:n/a
Page:134
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
James Boswell , R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 134, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=20786, accessed: 17 August 2024
Additional Comments:
Originally published 1791.