LITERARY MEN, GENERAL MEN, GENERAL READERS, ETC. "When found, make a note of."-CAPTAIN CUTTLE. NINTH SERIES.-VOLUME VIII. JULY-DECEMBER 1901. LONDON: PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, BREAM'S BUILDINGS, CHANCERY LANE, EC. QUERIES :-"Kentish fire"- Goldsmith's Publishers- - buted so greatly to advance the prosperity and renown of their country." On the 2nd of December, 1854, LIBERAL gives the following quotation from Madame de Staël : : "Quelques pensions accordées aux gens de lettres n'exerceront jamais beaucoup d'influence sur les vrais talens. Le génie n'en veut qu'à la gloire, et la gloire ne jaillit que de l'opinion publique.' that in the year 1663 Louis XIV. granted On the 31st of July, 1858, J. M. H. notes pensions to several literary men, and asks for a copy of the list. To this CLERICUS (D.) replies on the 21st of August. On the 1st of February, 1862, MR. J. W. BRYANS proposes the founding of an Order of Merit, to take the name of the "Order of the Albert Cross," in memory of the late Prince Consort. done in the field; might we not have the pendant "We have already the 'Victoria Cross' for deeds to it, for exploits no less worthy in the peaceful NOTES ON BOOKS: -Memorials of the Duttons of paths of science?" Notices to Correspondents. Fotes. CIVIL LIST PENSIONS. ON the 16th of May, by an Order of the House of Commons, a Return was printed of "Persons now in receipt of Pensions charged on the Civil List of Her late Majesty under the Act 1 Vict., c. 2, s. 5." On looking over this publication I felt what an interesting permanent record it would be if we could place it in the pages of "dear old 'N. & Q.," and with the Editor's cordial approval I wrote to the printers, Messrs. Eyre & Spottiswoode, asking them for permission to reprint it. Their reply was that the copyright did not rest with them, but they courteously suggested that I should place my request before the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office, who has kindly acceded to my wish upon the understanding that "mention is made of the fact that the permission of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office has been obtained," and I am now able to place the Return before the readers of 'N & Q.' The following references to the subject of literary pensions have appeared in these columns: On the 21st of October, 1854, INDIGNANS calls attention to 66 the pittance of 1,2007. distributed among some thirty or forty individuals, all of whom, by the force and splendour of their genius......have contri On the 1st of February, 1868, appears a note, 'The Literary Pension of the Civil List,' signed J. A. G., who suggests that 5,000l. per annum should be the very minimum sum devoted to literary pensions, and leaves it "in the hands of the Editor and those of his able contributors for an influential and successful advocacy." for records of royal bounty funds. I have, as will be seen, not given the pensions in the order of the printed list, but have classified them under their respective heads. The name of the Prime Minister under whose administration the pension was granted has also been added. One name dear to all lovers of literature, that of Sir Robert Peel, appears but once, there being now only one recipient among the many who received pensions at his hands. This survivor is a daughter of the late Sir Hudson Lowe, the pension being granted as far back as 1845. Of Sir Robert Peel's sympathy with literary men full mention was made by the Athenaeum in the obituary notice of him which appeared in the number of the 6th of July, 1850. The grant of 300l. a year to Southey, with an offer of a baronetcy, a like sum to Wordsworth, 2001. a year to Tennyson, 150l. a year to James Montgomery, 2001. a year to Mr. Tytler, the same to Mr. M'Culloch, 100l. a year to the widow of Thomas Hood, proved his appreciation of literature, while for the sons of Mrs. Hemans he found places under the Crown, and the first appointment of his first administration was given to Allan Cunningham. He also bestowed pensions on Mrs. Somerville and Faraday, and it is pleasing to record that a niece of the great chemist, Miss Jane Barnard, still enjoys a pension. N. & Q.' of the 8th of May, 1852, opens with a note by the Editor on Sir Robert Peel, and his claims to be remembered by the literary men of England. Mention is made of the many literary pensions granted during the time he was Prime Minister, as well as of his generosity towards Dr. Maginn, and it is proposed that a bust or statue of him should be placed in the vestibule of the British Museum. In 1888 an investigation as to the Victorian administration of the Pension List, in reference to literature, was conducted for the committee of the Incorporated Society of Authors by Mr. William Morris Colles, and the result published. Mr. Colles proposes that "the sum of 1,2001. be yearly voted for the purpose of assisting distinguished men and women of letters, art, and science by granting pensions when they have arrived at the age of fifty-five or are incapaci tated from work by ill health, mental or bodily, and their widows or daughters if they are in distressed circumstances.' LITERATURE. 1851, October 10th (Lord John Russell). MRS. MARY REID. เ "In consideration of Dr. Reid's valuable contributions to literature, and of the distressed condition in which his widow and children are placed by his decease.' 50l." Mrs. Reid is the widow of James Seaton Reid, D.D. (1798-1851), Church historian, author of 'History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland,' the third volume of which was completed by Prof. Killen, of Belfast (Dictionary of National Biography,' vol. xlvii. p. 429). 1856, November 10th (Lord Palmerston). MR. PHILIP JAMES BAILEY. "In consideration of his literary merits. 1007." Born at Nottingham, 22nd of April, 1816. Author of 'Festus,' published in 1839. He was included in the honorary LL.D.s at the recent celebration at Glasgow University. Mr. Theodore Watts in the Athenæum for April 1st, 1876, writes that "there is, in fact, both here and in America, a large section of the public, both cultivated and uncultivated, which-free from the bonds of Calvinism on the one hand, and from hedonic nescience and art-worship on the other-feels a warm and passionate sympathy with Mr. Bailey's poem and the universalism it teaches. And this sympathyin religious circles, at least-is, as a matter of fact, widening. It might almost be said, indeed, that Christianity can never-even in the highest development possible to it-get beyond the loving universalism of such opposite poets as Bailey and Burns. Had not Festus' been itself preceded (by something like four years) by Mr. Browning's Paracelsus, and not followed by it, the influence of Bailey would, through Dobell, have been so great upon our youngest school that his place in the history of nineteenth-century poetry would have been more important than it even is now. Yet, in the study of English poetry, it is always necessary to consider the influence of Paracelsus' upon 'Festus,' the influence of Festus' upon Balder' and 'England in Time of War'; and the influence of these upon most subsequent poetry." 1858, February 15th (Lord Palmerston). MR. STEPHEN HENRY BRADBURY. "In consideration of his contributions to literature. 50%." 1861, April 19th (Lord Palmerston). Second grant. "In consideration of his literary merit. 251." A poet of the middle of the century. MRS. SUSANNA BArtlett. "In consideration of the literary merits of her husband, the late William Henry Bartlett. 757." His her father, the late Mr. Douglas Jerrold. 50l." "In consideration of the literary merit of first article in Punch, signed Q., appeared in Douglas William Jerrold (1803-57). the second number, September 13th, 1841, and he was a constant contributor until ten days before his death. From 1852 he was editor of Lloyd's Newspaper at a salary of 1,000l. a year. He contributed three columns of leaders each week as well as literary reviews. He was also an early contributor to the Athenæum. For a list of his works, &c., see 'D.N.B.,' vol. xxix. pp. 349-52. 1863, June 18th (Lord Palmerston). MR. GERALD MASSEY. "As to a lyric poet, sprung from the people. 70l." 1887, April 1st (Marquis of Salisbury). Second grant. "In consideration of his literary merit, and of the smallness of his means of support. 301." Born at Gamble Wharf, near Tring, 1866, December 10th (Earl of Derby). MISS MARY CRAIK. "In consideration of the services of her father, the late Dr. Craik, as Professor of History and English Literature in the Queen's College, Belfast. 307." George Lillie Craik (1798–1866), born at Kennoway, Fife. He came to London, and became connected with Charles Knight, and contributed largely to the publications of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge; also to the Penny Magazine and Penny Cyclopædia. In 1849 he was appointed to the above-mentioned professorship ('D.N.B.,' vol. xiii. p. 1). 1870, April 12th (W. E. Gladstone). MR. ROBERT WILLIAM BUCHANAN. "In consideration of his literary merits as a poet. 1007." Born August 18th, 1841; died June 10th, 1901. Obituary notice in Athenæum, June 15th. M.A.P. of same date: 'Robert Buchanan's Youth.' The Spectator, June 29th, 1901, contains a communication signed W. W., stating that "lines from the Siren' adorn the drawing-room of the beautiful châteauobservatory of Abbadia, near Hendaye, now belonging to the Institute of France. They well express the feelings of the late owner when he built the château." A translation is given. The lines commence Oh melancholy waters, softly flow! 1877, June 1st (Earl of Beaconsfield). MISS MARY ANN DE FOE. "The lineal descendant of the author of 'Robinson Crusoe.' 757." In the Athenæum of June 1st, 1895, Mr. George A. Aitken gives a list of books from the catalogue of Defoe's library. The missing catalogue had been lying all these years in the British Museum. 1877, November 28th (Earl of Beaconsfield). MR. GEORGE MACDONALD. "In consideration of his contributions to literature. 1007." Born 1824. Was an Independent minister, but retired on account of his health. His first book was a poem, published in 1856, 'Within and Without'; his long series of "In recognition of the literary services of her late husband, Sir Edward Creasy. 150l. Edward Shepherd Creasy, born 1812; died January 27th, 1878. His 'Biographies of Eminent Etonians' appeared in 1850, and his 'Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World,' 1852 (D.N.B.,' vol. xiii. p. 64). 1880, April 28th (Earl of Beaconsfield). MRS. MARIAN HEPWORTH DIXON. "In consideration of the literary services of her late husband, Mr. William Hepworth Dixon. 100/." William Hepworth Dixon (1821-79). His life of Howard (published 1850) went through From 1853 to three editions in one year. 1869 editor of the Athenæum. It was at his suggestion greater facilities were given to the public to visit the Tower of London, and during his first trip to America he arranged for the recovery of the Irish State Papers, for which he was offered the honour of knighthood (D.N.B.,' vol. xv. pp. 128-9). 1881, October 31st (W. E. Gladstone). DR. CHARLES WELLS. "In recognition of his services in connexion with Oriental languages and literature. 50l." Born 6 September, 1838; special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in the Schleswig-Holstein War, 1864 (Who's Who,' 1901). 1881, October 31st (W. E. Gladstone). MR. CHARLES PATRICK O'CONOR. "In consideration of his merit as a poet, and of his narrow means of subsistence. ́501.' 1882, August 16th (W. E. Gladstone). MR. SAMUEL RAWSON GARDINER. "In recognition of his valuable contributions to the history of England. 150%." Born March 4th, 1829 ('Who's Who,' 1901). 1884, February 9th (W. E. Gladstone). MR. FREDERICK JAMES FURNIVALL. "In recognition of his services to English philology and literature. 150%." Born February 4th, 1825 (Who's Who,' 1901). 1884, May 1st (W. E. Gladstone). MR. JAMES AUGUSTUS HENRY MURRAY, LL.D. "In consideration, and for the promotion, of his valuable services to philology, especially in connexion with his work as editor of the New English Dictionary.' 2501." Born 1837 ('Who's Who,' 1901). |