Literary Life of the Rev. William Harness
William Harness to A. G. K. L'Estrange, 31 August 1869
“Worting, Basingstoke,
“Aug. 31, 1869.
“My dear L’Estrange,
“I hasten to answer your question as well as I can.
‘The Revenge’ is a
very popular tragedy, by Young (Edward, I think),
and the principal character is Zanga. The
‘Bellario’ you want I can’t
tell. There are at least fifty Bellarios in the old
English Drama; but I can’t guess, from the slight hint you give me, which this
alluded to by Miss Mitford may be, unless it be
the young lady in disguise who is the heroine in ‘Philaster,’ a celebrated play of Beaumont and Fletcher’s. George Darnley
wrote two plays, very good, on English history, about thirty years ago. I have them
both, but can’t remember the names of them. He was a very studious literary
person, and well nigh stone-deaf. I could help you, if I could see the text in full and
had my books at hand; but here, except scientific books, we have nothing but
‘Crabb Robinson’s
Life’ and a few novels.
“About ‘Clarissa’s’
work I can’t make a guess. I suppose it has some reference to Mademoiselle D’Arblay’s novel. You must not
forget to put a note on Hugh Pearson when you
insert his letters from Miss Mitford. He is a
very able and accomplished man, and from the time of ![]()
![]()
being appointed Rector of Sonning, which happened when he was
quite young in orders, a kindred taste for literature attracted him to the companionship
of Miss Mitford, to whom he eventually became a most invaluable
friend. If you look his name out in Crockford’s Clerical Guide, you will find the dates of his preferment.
“If you go to Sandwich again, do try to get me some seeds or
cuttings of the Trumpet tree. I shall be here till the 28th, if I don’t leave on
Friday. Adieu! I’m going to Basingstoke for letters.
“Yours ever affectionately,
“W. H.”
Francis Beaumont (1585-1616)
English playwright, often in collaboration with John Fletcher; author of
The Knight of the Burning Pestle (1607).
Frances D'Arblay [née Burney] (1752-1840)
English novelist, the daughter of the musicologist Dr. Charles Burney; author of
Evelina; or, The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World
(1778),
Cecilia, or Memoirs of an Heiress (1782), and
Camilla (1796).
John Crockford (1825-1865)
Editor of periodicals, including
The Critic and
The Field; he published
Crockford's Clerical Directory
(1860).
George Darley [John Lacy] (1795-1846)
Irish writer educated at Trinity College, Dublin; he wrote for the
London Magazine and
Athenaeum and published poems, plays,
and textbooks on mathematics and astronomy.
John Fletcher (1579-1625)
English playwright, author of
The Faithful Shepherdess (1610) and
of some fifteen plays in collaboration with Francis Beaumont.
Mary Russell Mitford (1787-1855)
English poet, playwright, and essayist; author of
Our Village: Sketches
of Rural Character and Scenery (1824, etc.).
Hugh Pearson (1817-1882)
Of Balliol College, Oxford; he was rector of Sonning in Berkshire (1841-1882) and was a
friend of Mary Russell Mitford.
Edward Young (1683-1765)
English poet, author of
The Complaint; or Night Thoughts on Life, Death
and Immortality (1742-44), a poem that fostered a taste for gothic
literature.
