The beauties of the Edinburgh Review, alias the stinkpot of literature / [John Ring].

  • John Ring
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The beauties of the Edinburgh Review, alias the stinkpot of literature / [John Ring]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of its articles.—The real object, howevef, of this se¬ lection was soon conspicuous ; for detraction and ca¬ lumny were inscribed in almost every leaf. “ What they wanted in genius, in taste, and in luiovvledge of composition, and of the elements of the English language, these bold adventurers deter¬ mined to supply, by the presumption of dogmatism, and the virulence of abuse.— Works of genius were subjected to their criticism, for the evident purposes of sarcastic insult, and biographical calumny ; and where articles did not present themselves, that could furnish sufficient food for their malevolence, excursive flights and desultory digressions were indulged.—Cri¬ ticism ran a' much, as it were, among the talents and productions of the age ; and scarcely a name, that is dear to modern literature, escaped without a stab.”— ‘These are the gentlemen, whose impartiality has never been questioned ! Mr. The]wall accuses them of deviating from their profession of being more select than other reviewers; and criticising a work, which was printed under great disadvantages, in an obscure neighbourhood, from a malicious motive. He accuses them of indecency of language, inaccuracy of statement, infidelity of quo¬ tation, and perseverance in hostility. In a letter previously addressed to Mr. Jefferay, Mr. Thelwall had accused him ot mean and contemp¬ tible calumnies, misrepresentations, and falsehoods.—In another letter he had asked him, whether there are to be no limits to the impudent calumnies, indecent scur¬ rilities, and audacious falsehoods and misrepresentations ■of Reviewers; or to the inc\ecorous confederacies of
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