Memoir of John Murray
George Henry Borrow to John Murray, 25 November 1842
Only think, poor Allan
Cunningham dead! A young man, only fifty-eight, strong and tall
as a giant, might have lived to a hundred and one; but he bothered himself
about the affairs of this world far too much. That statue shop [of Chantrey’s] was his bane! Took to
bookmaking likewise—in a word, was too fond of Mammon. Awful
death—no preparation—came literally upon him like a thief in the
dark. I’m thinking of writing a short life of him; old friend of twenty
years’ standing. I know a good deal about him; ‘Traditional Tales,’ his best work,
first appeared in London Magazine.
Pray send Dr. Bowring a copy of the
Bible—another old friend. Send one to Ford, a capital fellow. God bless you—feel quite
melancholy.
Ever yours,
George Henry Borrow (1803-1881)
English linguist and travel writer tutored by William Taylor of Norwich who published
Lavengro (1851) and
Romany Rye (1857).
Sir John Bowring (1792-1872)
Poet, linguist, MP, and editor of the
Westminster Review. He was
the secretary of the London Greek Committee (1823) through which he was wrongly accused of
having enriched himself.
Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781-1841)
English sculptor who worked as a statuary from 1804; he employed the poet Allan
Cunningham in his studio from 1814. He was knighted in 1835.
Allan Cunningham [Hidallan] (1784-1842)
Scottish poet and man of letters who contributed to both
Blackwood's and the
London Magazine; he was author of
Lives of the most Eminent British Painters, Sculptors, and
Architects (1829-33).
Richard Ford (1796-1858)
Writer on art and Spanish affairs for the
Quarterly Review; he
published a
Handbook for Travellers in Spain (1839).
The London Magazine. (1820-1829). Founded by John Scott as a monthly rival to
Blackwood's, the
London Magazine included among its contributors Charles Lamb, John Clare, Allan Cunningham,
Thomas De Quincey, and Thomas Hood.
