The+Monthly+Catalogue

//The Monthly Catalogue // John Wilford London, United Kingdom 1723-1730 February 2, 1723 Dear my beloved Ms. Jones,

 I want to give my utmost appreciation to you as I embark on the next chapter of my life. I am unbelievably lucky to have gained such a great education experience. Many of my closest friends in this town never even set foot into a classroom, let only read a book. Your encouraging teaching and immense caring has given me a special inspiration and dedication to further my education (hope to soon be accepted to Oxford)! Now, every time I pick up a book or help my siblings learn a new word, I think of you. Maybe even one day I will become a teacher just like you! I would like to keep in touch with you as I continue learning and exploring the world around me. Please write me back and tell me how you are doing.



Love,

 Your beloved student

April 1, 1723

Dear Ms. Jones,

 Thank you for writing me back so quickly! I am delighted to hear that you are doing well and still teaching. Thank you for providing the first edition of the new newspaper, //The Monthly Catalogue//. I am ecstatic that it includes new and popular books, sermons, plays, poetry, p amphlets, and other miscellaneous prints. Now I can read a variety of the best literature before I enroll as a college student. John Wilford, the editor, offers quick summaries on the mo  ndex and re st significant texts published from London and the universities. The first edition of this newspaper was published in March of this year and includes a colossal i s, observations, and a secret history of Lewis XI! (March, 1723). I am so excited to dive into this historical novel and become familiar with these famous rulers. // The Monthly Catalogue // also has reviews on foreign literature. This knowledge will become extremely useful as I prepare for college classes. My colleagues will be surprised to see how educated and ‘worldly’ I am. I owe all of my excitement over literature and these newspapers to you! views of these books, sermons, plays, poetry, and pamphlets. I cannot wait to start reading! //The Memoirs of Philip de Comines// and //The Scandalous Chronicle//,

are among the first books I will be searching for in the library. The first novel contains the history of Lewi XI. And Charles VII. Of France. It also includes stories of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, Edward IV. And Henry VII. And guess what?! The book also includes actual supplements of several original treaties, note

Please send me the next issue and I hope you have a productive month.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Love, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">your student

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">May 8, 1723

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Dear Ms. Jones,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Thank you for the second edition of //The Monthly Catalogue// (April, 1723). One of the first books listed on this edition is about cooking. Most of my fellow women in town owe their lives to cooking although, I have never been interested. I hope to push through my destiny as a housewife and become an educated woman. The book is called //The Cooks and Confectioner’s Dictionary: Or, The Accomplish’d Housewife’s Companion//. Inside these pages contain recipes for many different branches of cookery such as, the newest ways of dressing all sorts of flesh, fish, and fowl, and gives a taste of some new garnitures and sauces. It also entails ways of making bisks, farces, meats, marinades, olio’s puptous, ragoos, soops, potages cakes, custards, puddings, pastes, patties, pyes, tarts, liquour, beer and many more! I may just have to get my hands on this book because it all sounds so delicious! John Wilford also gives high remarks to a book on math called //Navigation new Modell’d; or a Treatise of Geometrical, Trigonometrical, Arithmetical, Instrumental, and Practical Navigation//, written by H. Wilson. This book teaches how to understand directions, both in latitude and longitude, without tables or instruments. These innovative skills are knowledgeable to an experienced traveler. I hope to one day travel this beautiful world and see new cultures and landscapes. Maybe I should save up to buy this book. What do you think?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Hope spring brings warm ambiences into your life!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">your student

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">June 4, 1723 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Ms. Jones,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I hope your primary school students are looking forward to their summer break. I know I was during your class, but now I miss those tranquil days of childhood. The third edition of //The Monthly Catalogue// (May, 1723)is composed of a selection of sermons and plays. I have been attending church all of my life, but I would like to explore new forms of religion. My mother would not be too pleased with my curiosity but I can’t help to love learning. I am interested in reading //Our Health and Safety owing to the Mercies of God,// a sermon preached by Reverend Mr. S. Wright. This sermon tells of all the plagues that have effected England from the last four hundred years. The //Bibliotheca Biblica// or a Commentary on the Holy Bible is a sermon discussing Nadab and Alibu’s Judical Death, prohibited Animals, and the purification of woman after child-birth. I am excited to see what C. Rivington says on these controversial topics. This month, two tragedies were written and performed; //The Fatal Constancy// and //The Fatal Legacy.// Both of these plays are being performed at the Theatre Royal. Maybe one day I will get the opportunity to go to this theatre. I cannot thank you enough for sending me these articles. They really encourage me to continue to read.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Love, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">your student

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> July 11, 1723 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Ms. Jones,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I have come to realize that I wish John Wilford would put more information about these books in his reviews. I know I will not be able to get my hands on everyone, but I want to know at least a summary about everyone one. For example, he writes only a small blurb about the novel, //Mrs. Barker’s Patch-Work Skreen for the Ladies// (June, 1723)//.// According to Wilford, it is a collection of new instructive novels about love and virtue with poems describing the pleasures of a country life. This seems like a novel I would not be able to put down. But, where can I find it and what else does it include? I guess I should start looking at the libraries around me. Under the new miscellaneous pamphlets section, one of the pamphlets caught my eye; //The Second Interview in the realms of Death, between Charles V. (Roman Emperor) and Francis I. (King of France//). This pamphlet contains the history and policy of these two leaders. It also includes an accurate account of the Reformations, the troubles of Germany, important news, political reflections, a short relation of the growth and glory, ideas of government, and the fall of the Spanish monarchy. Wow! So much information! The advertisement section of this edition gives even more information on a collection of texts. These texts touch on topics architecture, science, philosophy, and love. How will I ever have the time to read all of these? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Talk to you in a month! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your student

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">August 3, 1723

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Ms. Jones,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I have become quite interested in this Mr. John Wilford. So, I began to search high and low for his life story. I have learned that he is a prosperous bookseller and lives in Little Britain. He opened up his first shop in 1715 and gave it the name Three Flowers de Luces. This book shop has received some popularity over the years. Even Alexander Pope printed some of his greatest works at Three Flower de Luces! He began his career as an apprentice to George Sawbridge during the year 1706. After his business took off, he also co-published in some major articles like the //Daily Post Boys//, the //Grub Street Journal//, and the //Fog’s Weekly Journal//. John Wilford also composed a text containing some of the most honourable sermons. This collection is called, //To the Honourable Sir William Milner, Bart//. (One of the representatives in Parliament for the City of York). This //Second Volume of the Most Reverend Author’s Works//, is most humbly inscrib’d by his most obedient and devoted Servant. This book contain seventeen sermons from a variety of preachers and on a selection of topics. Wilford was caught in some trouble with political issues and was arrested from voicing his opinions (Hugh, 1). Did you know that Edward Earl of Claredon wrote an entire book for John Wilford? It is titled //The Appendix to the History of the Grand Rebellion// (Claredon, 1). This text also contains a four page list of books printed for specifically for John Wilford. After investigating more into John Wilford’s life, I found that there are countless amounts of essays, books, and texts written especially for him. He must be a very important fellow. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your student



<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">August 22, 1723

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Ms. Jones, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for sending me the fifth issue of //The Monthly Catalogue// (June, 1723). My anticipation grows stronger every month as I wait for your letter! This month, I found the book titled //Placita Corone// very interesting. The review says it a collection of precedents, appeals, convictions, certioraris, pleadings, traverses, indictments, and information about criminal law. I do not know much about the law and crime in London, but I want to become an expert before going off to school in the city. There is a pamphlet listed that caught my eye; //The Folly of Opposing Natural Reason to the Doctrine of the Trinity.// It was written by George Conings and preached at the University of Oxford on December 30, 1722. Maybe one day I will get to meet this man at the university! Did you hear that Joseph Bingham died on August 17 (Bingham, 1)? He was a very influential yet controversial man at the University of Oxford and there is a lot of hype being discussed over his death. I hope I receive my acceptance letter from the University soon. Although, I do not know what to study! I have been reading so many books, pamphlets, sermons, and plays that the catalogue has listed. All of them are so thought-provoking and I am still debating on what area to study. I am looking forward to hearing from you and reading the next edition of //The Monthly Catalogue.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your student

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">September 4, 1723 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Ms. Jones, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am proud to announce that I have been accepted into the University of Oxford! I want to thank you for your dedication as a teacher and for helping me find my love for learning. I have read this month that two new plays will be performing. //A Wife to be Let// and //The Impertinent Lovers//; //or a Coquet at her Wits End// (August, 1723)//.// Both of these plays are comedies and are being performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. //A Wife to be Let// is written by Eliza Haywood! I am an admiring fan of her work, especially //Love in Excess.// I hope to be able to see this play live and I would love for you to join me! I also found an interesting book in this edition of //The Monthly Review// called //An Account, shewing in Numerical Order, the Tickets entitled to Benefits in the Lottery for 750,000l.// This book includes the benefits to which the tickers are entitled to, the days in which they were drawn, and how the money and tickets are accounted for. This book was published by the Special Orders of the Managers and Directors. It would be my dream to win the lottery! I would certain give you some of my winnings for sending me this catalogue. One of the last books listed on this month’s issue is called //The Hive// which is a collection of the most cherished songs of the best English poets. This collection was written by J. Walthoe. I love to read poetry and remember learning English sonnets in your class. I hope to write my own poetry one day and maybe I can begin in my college career. Overall, //The Monthly Catalogue// (March-August, 1723) has a plethora of great books, sermons, poems, pamphlets, and plays. I will treasure this catalogue for as long as it runs and hope that we can continue to discuss these contents of the articles. I can agree that John Wilford is interested in religion because each issue consists of a variety of church sermons. It would be a dream to meet John in person and discuss his favorite literature. I believe that I will study Literature at the University of Oxford and become my own author. Thank you for your incredible teaching and for keeping in touch. Ms. Jones, you are the most inspiration person and I would not be where I am today without your guidance.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Your admirer

Work Cited Bingham, Joseph. Works of the Rev. Joseph Bingham, M.a. Place of publication not identified: Rarebooksclub Com, 2012. Print. Clarendon, Edward Hye, Earl of. An appendix to the History of the grand rebeliions. Consisting of some valuable pieces, written by the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Clarendon To which is prefix’d a new and particular account of His Lordship’s Life; … London, MDCCXYIV [sic] [1724]. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale. University of Maryland College Park. 5 Apr. 2016<http://find.galegroup.com.proxy- um.researchport.umd.edu/ecco/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=ECCO&userGroupN ame=umd_um&tabID=T001&docId=CW3301917274&type=multipage&contentSet=EC COArticles&version=1.0&docLevel=FASCIMILE>.

Dawes, William, Sir. The whole works of the most Reverend Father in God, Sir William Dawes, Brt, Late Lord Archbisop of York. Primate of England and MEtroplitan. In three volumes. Vol. I. With a prefece, givingsome account of the life, writings, and character of the author. Vol. Volume 2. London, M. DCC.XXXIII. 1732-[1733]. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. University of Maryland College Park. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://find.galegroup.com.proxy- um.researchport.umd.edu/ecco/infomark.do &source=gale&prodId=ECCO&userGroupN ame=u md_um&tabID=T001&docId=CW3320400609&type=multipage&contentSet=ECCOArti cles&version=1.0&docLevel=FASCIMILE>. Hugh Amory, ‘Wilford, John (fl. 1706–1747)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com.proxy um.researchport.umd.edu/view/article/29407, accessed 5 April 2016] Wilford, John. The Monthly Catalogue. [London] Mar. 1723- Aug. 1723.

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