Henry Richard Tedder

“ The history of pamphlets being the entire record of popular feeling, all that is necessary here is to briefly indicate the chief families of political and religious pamphlets which have exercised marked influence, and more particularly in those countries—England and France—where pamphlets have made so large a figure in influencing thoughts and events. It is difficult to point out much in ancient literature which precisely answers to our modern view of the pamphlet. ”

“ In modern times the weekly journal has become so much of the nature of a newspaper that it seldom can be called a periodical in this sense. The present article chiefly deals with publications devoted to general literature, literary and critical reviews and magazines for the supply of miscellaneous reading. In the article Societies (q.v.) an account is separately given of the transactions and proceedings of learned and scientific bodies, Year-books, almanacs, directories and other annuals belong to a distinct type of publication, and are not referred to here. ”

“ Another continuator of Bayle was Jean Leclerc, one of the most learned and acute critics of the 18th century, who carried on three reviews—the Bibliothèque universelle et historique (1686–1693) , the Bibliothèque choisie (1703–1713) , and the Bibliothèque ancienne et moderne (1714–1727) . They form one series, and, besides valuable estimates of new books, include original dissertations, articles and biographies like our modern learned magazines. The Journal littéraire (1713–1722, 1729–1736) was founded by a society of young men, who made it a rule to discuss their contributions in common. ”

“ Although England can show nothing like the Journal des savants, which has flourished almost without a break for two and a half centuries, a nearly complete series of reviews of English literature may be made up from 1681 to the present day. ”

“ Down to the early part of the 18th century Halle and Leipzig were the headquarters of literary journalism in Germany. Other centres began to feel the need of similar organs of opinion. Hamburg had its Niedersächsische neue Zeitungen, styled from 1731 Niedersächsische Nachrichten, which came to an end in 1736, and Mecklenburg owned in 1710 its Neuer Vorrath, besides others brought out at Rostock. Prussia owes the foundation of its literary periodicals to G. P. Schulze and M. Lilienthal, the former of whom began with Gelehrtes Preussen (1722) , continued under different titles down to 1729 ”

“ Indexes to English Periodicals.—A large number of periodicals do not preserve literary matter of permanent value, but the high-class reviews and the archaeological, artistic and scientific magazines contain a great mass of valuable facts, so that general and special indexes have become necessary to all literary workers. Lists of the separate indexes to particular series are given in H. B. Wheatley’s What is an Index? (1879) , W. P Courtney’s Register of National Bibliography (1905, 2 vols.) ”

“ Periodicals have been specialized in Germany to an extent perhaps unequalled in any other country. No subject of human interest is now without one or indeed several organs. Full details of these serials are supplied by a special class of periodical with which every department of science, art and literature in German-speaking countries is equipped, the Jahresberichte and Bibliographien, which give each year a full account of the literature of the subject with which they are concerned. The chief of these are:—
Bibliography and Librarianship: Bibliographie des Buch- und Bibliothekswesens (1905) ”

“ Among the contributors of Fréron was another manufacturer of criticism, the abbé de la Porte, who, having quarrelled with his confrère, founded Observations sur la littérature moderne (1749–1752) and L’Observateur littéraire (1758–1761) .
A number of special organs came into existence about this period. The first, treating of agriculture and domestic economy, was the Journal économique (1751–1772) ; a Journal de commerce was founded in 1759; periodical biography may be first seen in the Necrologe des hommes célèbres de France (1764–1782) ”

“ The struggle between the two parties gave fresh life to the literature of the country but German criticism of the higher sort can only be said really to begin with Lessing. The Berlin publisher Nicolai founded the Bibliothek der schönen Wissenschaften, and afterwards handed it over to C. F. Weisse in order to give his whole energy to the Briefe, die neueste Literatur betreffend (1759–1765) , carried on by the help of Lessing, Mendelssohn and Abbt. To Nicolai is also due the Allgemeine deutsche Bibliothek (1765–1806) , which embraced a much wider field and soon became extremely influential. ”

“ In the same city was also first established L’Esprit des journaux (1772–1818) , styled by Sainte-Beuve “cette considérable et excellente collection,” but “journal voleur et compilateur.” The Journal historique et littéraire (1788–1790) was founded at Luxemburg by the Jesuit De Feller; having been suppressed there, it was transferred to Liége, and subsequently to Maestricht. It is one of the most curious of the Belgian periodicals of the 18th century, and contains most precious materials for the national history. A complete set is very rare and much sought after. ”

“ Another form of literature even more transient was the broadside, or single sheet printed on one side only, which appears to have flourished principally in England, but which had been in use from the first invention of printing for papal indulgences, royal proclamations and similar documents. Throughout western Europe, about the middle of the 16th century, the broadside made a considerable figure in times of political agitation. ”

“ While professor of morals at Leipzig, Otto Mencke planned the Acta eruditorum, with a view to make known, by means of analyses, extracts and reviews, the new works produced throughout Europe. In 1680 he travelled in England and Holland in order to obtain literary assistance, and the first number appeared in 1682, under the title of Acta eruditorum lipsiensium, and, like its successors, was written in Latin. Among the contributors to subsequent numbers were Leibnitz, Seckendorf and Cellarius. A volume came out each year, with supplements. ”

“ The Revue catholique, the organ of the professors of the university of Louvain, began in 1846 a controversy with the Journal historique et littéraire of Kersten (1834) upon the origin of human knowledge, which lasted for many years and excited great attention. ”

“ The Hausblätter (1855) , a bi-monthly magazine, was extremely successful. The Salon (1868) followed more closely the type of the English magazine. About this period arose a great number of weekly serials for popular reading, known as “Sonntagsblätter,” of which the Gartenlaube (1858) and Daheim (1864) are surviving examples.
In course of time a large number of similar publications were issued, some illustrated, for instance: Illustrierte Zeitung (Leipzig, 1843) , Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung (1892) , Die Woche (1899) the last the most widely circulated of the kind, 500,000 being printed. ”

“ Specially devoted to English literature were the Bibliothèque anglaise (1716–1728) , the Mémoires littéraires de la Grande Bretagne (1720–1724) . the Bibliothèque britannique (1733–1734) , and the Journal britannique (1750–1757) of Maty, [6] who took for his principle, “pour penser avec liberté il faut penser seul.” One of these Dutch-printed reviews was L’Europe savante (1718–1720) , founded chiefly by Themiseul de Saint-Hyacinthe, with the intention of placing each separate department under the care of a specialist. ”

“ A Dutch periodical called Elpis, algemeen tijdschrift voor Zuid Afrika (1857–1861) appealed to the farming community. The Eastern Province Magazine was issued at Port Elizabeth in 1861–1862, and the South African Magazine appeared in 1867–1868. The Orange Free State Magazine, the only English magazine published at Bloemfontein, was issued in 1877–1878; and the E. P. Magazine was published at Grahamstown in 1892–1897. The Cape Monthly Magazine, the most important of the periodicals, was issued from 1857 to 1862, and was again continued under the editorship of Professor Noble from 1870 to 1881. ”

“ The Catholic controversy during the reign of James II. gave rise to a multitude of books and pamphlets, which have been described by Peck (Catalogue, 1735) and by Jones (Catalogue, Chetham Society, 2 vols., 1859-1865) . Politics were naturally the chief feature of the floating literature connected with the Revolution of 1688. The political tracts of Lord Halifax are interesting both in matter and manner. ”

“ Since that time the American Journal of Science has enjoyed unceasing favour. The special periodicals of the day are very numerous. Among the most representative are: the Popular Science Monthly, New York; the monthly Boston Journal of Education; the quarterly American Journal of Mathematics, Baltimore; the monthly Cassier’s Magazine (1891) , New York; the monthly American Engineer (1893) . New York; the monthly House and Garden, Philadelphia; the monthly Astrophysical Journal, commenced as Sidereal Messenger (1882) , Chicago; the monthly American Chemical Journal, Baltimore ”

“ Canadian periodicals have reached a higher standard than in any other British self-governing colony. Like that of South Africa, the press is bi-lingual. The first Canadian review, the Quebec Magazine (1791–1793) , was published quarterly in French and English. ”

“ Others of interest are Antée, revue mensuelle de littérature (1904) ; L’Art et la vie (1892) ; Cosmopolis (1896) ; L’Ermitage (1890) ; Le Mercure de France, série moderne (1890) , a magazine greatly valued in literary circles; La Revue de Paris, fortnightly (1894) , and the Nouvelle Revue (1879) —both serious rivals of the Revue des deux mondes, Revue française d’Edimbourg (1897) ; Revue germanique (1905) ; Le Livre (1880) , dealing with bibliography and literary history, and La Revue latine (1902) , no longer published; La Revue, monthly. ”

“ The Journal of Australasia (1856–1858) , the Australian Monthly Magazine (1865–1867) , which contained contributions from Marcus Clarke and was continued as the Colonial Monthly (1867–1869) , the Melbourne Review (1876–1885) and the Victorian Review (1879–1886) may also be mentioned. The Imperial Review, apparently the work of one pen, has been published since 1879; the Pastoralists' Review appeals more especially to the agricultural community. A Library Record of Australasia was published in 1901–1902. An Australian edition of the Review of Reviews is published at Melbourne. ”

“ The reviews rapidly increased in number towards the end of the century. Among the principal were the London Review (1775–1780) , A New Review (1782–1786) , the English Review (1783–1796) , incorporated in 1797 with the Analytical Review (1788–1799) , the Anti-Jacobin Review and Magazine (1798–1821) , and the British Critic (1793–1843) , the organ of the High Church party, and first edited by Archdeacon Nares and Beloe.
These periodicals had now become extremely numerous, and many of the leading London publishers found it convenient to maintain their own particular organs. ”

“ The increased influence of this class of periodical upon public opinion was first apparent in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, founded in 1817 by the publisher of that name, and carried to a high degree of excellence by the contributions of Scott, Lockhart, Hogg, Maginn, Syme and John Wilson (“Christopher North”) , John Galt and Samuel Warren. ”

“ Political writing of any degree of authority was almost entirely confined to pamphlets. If the Whigs were able to command the services of Addison and Steele, the Tories fought with the terrible pen of Swift. Second in power if not in literary ability were Bolingbroke, Somers, Atterbury, Prior and Pulteney. The government viewed with a jealous eye the free use of this powerful instrument, and St John seized upon fourteen booksellers and publishers in one day for “libels” upon the administration (see Annals of Queen Anne, Oct. 23, 1711) . ”

“ In English we have “this leud pamflet" (Test. of Love, bk. iii.) , Occleve's “Though that this pamfilet” (Reg. of Pr. 2060) , Lydgate's “Whiche is a paunflet” (Minor Poems, 180) and Caxton's “paunflettis and bookys” (Book of Encydos, 1400, Prologue) . In all these examples pamphlet is used to indicate the extent of the production, and in contradistinction to book. A short codicil in a will of 1495 is called “this pampelet” (Test. Ehor. iv. 26) . In the 17th century the word was used for single plays, poems, newspapers and news letters (Murray's New English Dict. vii. 410) . ”

“ Other monthlies are the Indian Magazine (1871) ; the Irish Monthly (Dublin, 1873) ; the Gaelic Journal (Dublin, 1882) ; the African Review (1892) and the Empire Review (1900) . The Monthly Review (1900–1908) , edited till 1904 by Henry Newbolt, was for some years a notable addition to the high class literary monthlies.
The weekly reviews dealing generally with literature, science and art are the Literary Gazette (1817–1862) , first edited by William Jerdan ”