The Life of William Roscoe
Vol II. Contents
THE
LIFE
OF
WILLIAM ROSCOE,
BY HIS SON,
HENRY ROSCOE.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND;
AND
W. BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH.
1833.
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CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME.
CHAPTER XII.
1811, 1812.
Mr. Roscoe’s opinions on Reform in Parliament—letter to the
Duke of Gloucester.—Mr. Brougham’s
letter on this subject—Mr. Roscoe’s reply, published at
Mr. Brougham’s request.—Plans of the reformers of that
day.—Mr. Brougham’s views.—Mr. Roscoe
dissents—his reasons—his own views stated—ultimately realised in many particulars.—Answer
by Mr. Merritt to Mr. Roscoe’s
letter—Mr. Roscoe’s reply—his sentiments on the use of
influence in the House of Commons—his desire for union amongst the reformers—letter to an
illustrious correspondent.—Trade with India.—Letter to Mr.
Whitbread—he writes fully on the subject to Mr.
Creevey.—Public meeting at Liverpool to oppose the renewal of the
charter.—Resolutions drawn up by Mr. Roscoe, and adopted.—Letter to
the Duke of Gloucester thereon.—General election of 1812.—Proposals
made to Mr. Roscoe by electors of Westminster, which he declines—is
put in nomination at Leicester—address to the electors of that borough.—Election at
Liverpool.—Mr. Brougham and Mr. Creevey
jointly supported by the reformers.—Mr. Canning opposes them, and
succeeds.—Mr. Roscoe’s sentiments as to compromise
participated by Mr. Brougham.—Mr. Canning’s
speeches.—“Review” of them published by Mr.
Roscoe.—Character of Mr. Brougham.—Prospects at this time
of reform.
Page 1
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CHAP. XIII.
1812—1815.
Alterations at Allerton Hall.—Mr. Roscoe’s
illness—his study of bibliography—letter to Dr. Dibdin respecting a
Life of Erasmus—projected account of his library and other
collections—letter to Dr. Smith—verses on the Liverpool election of
1812—his intention of writing the Life of Dr. Currie—letter to
Dr. Wright—projects a translation of
Lanzi—papers in the Transactions of the Linnaean Society—is elected an
honorary member of the New York Historical Society—acquaintance with Mr. Owen of
Lanark—letter to him.—Prince Sandars.—Visit of
Miss Aikin to Allerton.—Mr. Roscoe’s
taste for agricultural pursuits—communication to the Agricultural Society of West
Derby-cultivation of Chat Moss—communication to the Board of Agriculture—letter to
Sir John Sinclair—thanks of the board.—Letter from
General Dirom—allusion to his cultivation of Chat Moss in
Mrs. Barbauld’s “Eighteen Hundred
and Eleven”—letter to her—acquaintance with Mr.
Tollet and Mr. Wilbraham—letter from the
latter.—Invitations to Holkham.—Letters from Dr. Smith.—Visit to
Holkham.—The collection of MSS. there—undertakes the arrangement of them—bound by
Mr. Jones of Liverpool.—Letters from Mr.
Wilbraham and Mr. Coke.—Poem of “Holkham.”—Letter from Mr. Coke to
Sir J. Smith.—Presentation of the “Life
of Leo” to Mr. Coke, and sonnet.—Letter from the
Bishop of Norwich to Sir J. Smith.—“The Return.”—Visit of
Mr. Coke and Dr. Parr at Allerton.
Page 51
CHAP. XIV.
1816.
Pecuniary embarrassments of Mr. Roscoe.—Letter to
Mr. M’Creery.—General meeting of creditors.—Report of the
committee.—Settlement of the affairs undertaken by Mr. Roscoe.—Sonnet,
expressing his feelings at this time.—
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Sympathy of his
friends.—Letter from Sir J. E. Smith.—Sale of his library, pictures,
&c.—Sonnet on parting with them.—Sonnets addressed to him.—Catalogue of the library
prepared—its principal contents.—The sale of the books.—Purchase of books by his friends
for his use.—Mr. Shepherd’s letter.—Mr.
Roscoe’s reply.—Books presented to the Athenæum.—Sale of the
prints—description of them.—Sale of pictures and drawings—their nature and value.—Picture
of Leo X., with the Cardinals Giulio de’
Medici and Rossi.—Its history—attributed to
Andrea del Sarto.—Madonna and Child by
Ghirlandajo, with a frieze by
Michelagnolo.—Pictures by Fuseli.—Painting of the
death of Lorenzo de’ Medici by him.—Letters from him respecting
it.—Purchased by an unknown person, and presented to Mr.
Roscoe.—Series of pictures bought by several gentlemen and presented to the
Athenæum.—Letter from Mr. Singer—John Gibson the
sculptor—letter from him.—Mr. Roscoe’s reply.—Letter from
Mr. Gibson at Rome.—He presents a bust of Mr.
Roscoe to the Liverpool Royal Institution.—Mr. Reynolds
of Bristol—his death.—Letter to Mr. W. Rathbone on that occasion, and
to Mrs. Rathbone.—Verses to his memory.
Page
101
CHAP. XV.
1817, 1818.
Meeting for the establishment of the Liverpool Royal Institution.—Report drawn
up by Mr. Roscoe.—Introductory lecture delivered by him—printed by
request of the committee.—Letters from Mr. Shepherd and from
Dr. Aikin, on this occasion—Resigns the office of President of the
Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool.—His contributions to that society.—Essay on the Application of the Principles of Morality to the Intercourse
of States.—Is elected a member of the Philadelphia Linnaean
Society—Correspondence with Sir Joseph Banks on Miss
M’Avoy’s pretensions to the faculty of discriminating colours by
the touch.—Tract on penal jurisprudence meditated.
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Hymns contributed
by Mr. Roscoe to the Collection for the use of Protestant
Dissenters.—Anthem—set to music by Mr. Webbe.—Proposal to him to write
a History of the State of Europe—declined.—He communicates with M. La
Fayette through Mr. M’Creery.—Interview of the latter with
M. La Fayette.—Letter from M. La Fayette to
Mr. Roscoe—his reply—his regret that he had been unable to carry
into effect his more extended views.—Lines expressive of his deep feeling on this subject.
Page 151
CHAP. XVI.
1819.
The nature and objects of punishment.—Mr. Roscoe’s
attention turned to the question.—Publication of his “Observations
on Penal Jurisprudence and the Reformation of Offenders.”—His idea of the
true guiding principle—of secondary punishments.—Consideration of the penitentiary
system—Apathy of the public mind to this subject.—Letter to Dr. Parr,
with copy of the tract—to Mr. Basil Montagu.—He derives assistance
from America through Mr. Thomas Eddy—letter to him.—Article in the
Edinburgh Review against Prison Discipline controverted by
Mr. Roscoe in “Additional
Observations.”—Solitary confinement in America opposed in this tract—copy
sent to Mr. Jeffrey—letter to him.—Corresponds with Mr.
Livingston and other distinguished Americans.—Letter from Mr.
Bradford, Governor of Massachusetts state prison.—Letter to Sir
James Mackintosh—his reply—his remarks in the House of Commons—letter to him
from Mr. Roscoe thereon.—Reforms in Denmark Letter from Mr.
Thorkelin of Copenhagen.—Publication of “Observations,” Part III.—Letter to Sir James
Mackintosh—to Mr. Dumont.—Publication of “Remarks on the Report of the
Commissioners for Visiting the Prisons of New York,” &c.—Letter to Dr.
Southwood Smith—to M. la Fayette, then in America—his
reply.—Controversy with Mr. Allen of New York and others.—Publication
of Letter to him on Penitentiary Discipline.
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Series of Letters to
Mr. Vaux, Dr. Mease, and Mr.
Allen, published in the Liverpool newspapers.—Change of opinion in the
United States in favour of reformatory discipline.—Mr. Roscoe
expresses his pleasure, in a letter to Dr. Hosack of New York.
Page 187
CHAP. XVII.
1820—1823.
Termination of the affairs of Mr. Roscoe in
bankruptcy.—Letters to Mr. M’Creery and Sir J. E.
Smith.—His certificate disputed.—He retires to Chat Moss.—Recurs to the
perusal of the Italian poets.—Translation from Dante.—His attention again drawn to penal
jurisprudence.—Letter expressing his motives for the promulgation of his opinions.—His
hesitation between continuing in active life or retiring.—Letter considering and
determining this doubt.—Allowance of his certificate.—He returns to Liverpool—retires
finally from business.—Sum of money raised for him by his friends.—He again visits
Holkham.—Letters from that place—Literary projects—visits London—letters from
thence—prepares a Catalogue of the MSS. at Holkham—letters to Mr.
M’Creery, describing his labours—to his daughter.—Lines to Lady Anson
on her birthday.—Letter to Mrs. Rathbone—returns to Liverpool—receives
proposals to publish a series of the Italian authors.—Letters to Mr.
Valpy—to Sir J. E. Smith.—Publication of the
“Illustrations of the Life of Lorenzo de’
Medici.”—Writers whom he refutes—M. Sismondi and
others.—It is translated into Italian by S. Pecchioli—letter to
him.—Letter from M. Sismondi.—Mr. Roscoe’s
reply—becomes acquainted with M. Sismondi.—Publication of the
“Memoir of Richard Roberts Jones,” and account of
him.—Letter to Dr. Parr.—Anecdotes of R. R.
Jones—his portrait, etched by Mrs. Dawson Turner.—Letter to
Mr. D. Turner.—Sonnet, written while publishing the
Memoirs of R. R. Jones.—Mr. Roscoe removes to
Lodge Lane—letter to his daughter.—Dr. Aikin—letters to him on the
publication of the “Life of Huet,”
&c.—Mr. Roscoe’s contri-
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butions to
the Athenæum.—Death of Dr. Aikin.—Letter to
Miss Aikin.—He proceeds with the “Life of Pope.”—Again
visits Holkham.—Letters from that place.—Liverpool Society for promoting the Abolition of
Slavery.—Mr. Roscoe chosen president.—Draws up a declaration of
the objects of the Society.—His views as to the best mode of effecting emancipation.
Page 241
CHAP. XVIII.
1824.
Death of Mrs. Roscoe.—Verses addressed to her at different
times by Mr. Roscoe.—Letter from Mr.
M’Creery on occasion of her death.—Sonnet addressed to her in early
life by her son.—Letter from Mr. Roscoe to Dr.
Wallich.—Mr. Roscoe resumes the study of botany, and
particularly of the Monandrian plants.—His new arrangement of the plants of the Monandrian
class, usually called Scitamineae, referred to by Sir J. E. Smith in
Dr. Rees’s Cyclopædia.—Letter from Sir J. E.
Smith on the merits of this arrangement.—Name of “Roscoea” given
by him to a new order of Scitaminean Plants.—Present of plants to the Botanic Garden from
Dr. Wallich.—Correspondence of Mr. Roscoe
with him.—Projected publication of Specimens of the Scitaminean plants.—Mr.
Roscoe is elected an Honorary Associate of the Royal Society of Literature,
and afterwards an Associate of the First Class—receives the gold medal of the Society—is
elected Corresponding Member of the Academy della Crusca.—Letter of the Secretary, with the
diploma.—Mr. Roscoe’s reply—is elected Member of the New
York Horticultural Society—visits London again—letter to his daughter.
311
CHAP. XIX.
1825—1827.
Edition of the Works of Pope, and new Life.—Letter on this
subject to Mr. Mathias.—Merits of former editors.—Prefatory remarks by
Mr. Roscoe—Sources from which he derived new
information.—Principle adopted by him in suppressing certain pieces.—Original Letters
furnished by
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J. L. Anderdon, Esq.—Controversy with Mr.
Bowles.—His “Final Appeal to the Literary
Public,” &c.—answered by Mr. Roscoe in his
“Letter to the Rev. W. Lisle Bowles.”—Review of
the new edition, in the Quarterly Review.—Mr.
Bowles publishes his “Lessons in Criticism to W.
Roscoe, Esq.,” &c.— Extract from a reply prepared, but not published,
by Mr. Roscoe.—His comparative estimate of the characters of
Pope and Swift.—Mr.
Fuseli—first acquaintance with him—letters from him respecting the
Milton Gallery—on Mr. Roscoe’s election, &c.—his
death—his biography by Mr. Knowles.—Letter to Mr. Knowles.—Correspondence with C.
Hughes, Esq., Chargé d’affaires from the United States to
Brussels.—Letter to him from Mr. Odevaere, the historical painter,
sent to Mr. Roscoe.—Letter to Mr. Hughes.—Decline
of Mr. Roscoe’s health.—Letter from him to Sir J. E.
Smith.—New edition of “Lorenzo de’
Medici” and “Leo the Tenth.”—Use
made by Mr. Roscoe of the notes and illustrations of foreign
translators and writers.—Present from the Grand Duke of Tuscany of a new edition of the
Poetical Works of Lorenzo.—Letter from Mr. Roscoe
in acknowledgment.
Page 331
CHAP. XX.
1827—1831.
Increasing infirmities of Mr. Roscoe.—Letter to
Sir J. E. Smith.—Completion of the Holkham catalogue.—His
remaining literary undertakings.—Is attacked with paralysis—causes of the attack.—Persists
in preparing for the press his “Letters on Prison
Discipline.”—Mode of life after his attack.—Description of his
study.—Sonnet to him.—His mode of employing his time.—Letter to Mr. Dawson
Turner.—His warmth of feeling unchanged.—His feelings with regard to his own
state.—His interest in political events:—repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts—Catholic
emancipation—the Revolution of July.—His letter to La Fayette,
interceding for the French ministers.—Letter to Mr. Coke on the same
subject.—Formation of Lord Grey’s ministry, and letter to
Lord Brougham.—Completion of all his literary labours.—Publication
of the last number of his “Monandriau
Plants.”—Opinions
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of celebrated botanists on that
work.—Loss of his friends.—Death of Sir J. E. Smith.— His surviving
friends:—Professor Smyth—the Rev. W.
Shepherd.—Dedication by the latter, of his poems.—Mr.
Panizzi.—Letter to Mr. Rogers.—Opinion of the
“Life of Dr. Currie.”—Projects a publication of
his poems.—Letter to Dr. Hosack of New York.—Letter to
Rammohun Roy, and interview with him.—Letter to Lord
Brougham.—Mr. Roscoe’s last illness and death.
Page 367
CHAP. XXI.
Mr. Roscoe’s life a useful example.—His moral qualities—his
consistency in politics—in his religious opinions—in his tastes and pursuits—in his
attachment to works of art and poetry—in his friendships.—The reward of consistency.—His
humility—his ambition, and love of literary fame—his own feelings with regard to the
success of his writings—his humanity—his charity.—Devotional feelings of Mr.
Roscoe—his early study of the Scriptures.—Letter on the presentation of a
Bible to him.—His religious poems—hymn—sentiments on religious liberty.—Mr.
Roscoe’s political opinions—his enlarged and liberal views—objects of
his political exertions—political poems—lines.—Mr. Roscoe’s
acquirements as a scholar—his acquaintance with the Classical languages—with the modern
languages—his taste in English poetry—his knowledge of botany—his love of the fine arts—his
promotion of literary and scientific institutions—his power of generalisation—his energy in
literary pursuits.—Mr. Roscoe’s friends in early life—in middle
age—his associates in political and local improvements—his political friends—the friends
acquired by his philanthropic exertions—by his literary character.—Mr.
Coke of Norfolk.—Distinguished foreigners—Americans, Italians—his botanical
friends.—The grounds upon which his friendships rested—his demeanour in
society.—Mr. Roscoe’s domestic character.—Poems addressed to
him by his children.
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