1750,+The+Student

= Letters to a Brother Reading at Oxford from a Sister Reading in London = **//February, 1750 //** Dear Brother,

My parents are forlorn! You have not written to them at all since you left home to read at Oxford. Yet, although we have not received news from you, we trust that you have settled at — College . Daddy has taken to reading a new periodical call’d //The Student: or, The Oxford and Cambridge monthly miscellany// in order to satiate his craving for stories relevant to the University. He shared the contents of the January issue with me. I hope you have been reading the new periodical as well, so that we might have something mutual to discuss.

One of the articles that Daddy described to me was “Of Wit and Good Nature.” We both agree with its argument that Good Nature should always be tempered by Wit and vice versa. For, without Wit, an affable person is a fool. Daddy suggested that the maid suffers from such an affliction because, tho’ she is amiable, she lacks good taste. He explained that she has a limited capacity for good traits because she has been poor since birth. As for me, I am glad that Peggy is Good rather than Clever. The author of the article writes, “Malicious WIT is impaired is impaired by its own vivacity. It may make us feared in the vigour of our age and understanding, but all mankind will rejoice at the decline of so pernicious a faculty. GOOD NATURE, tho’ imperfectly amiable, is more desirable for its own sake than WIT […]”

Even tho’ I know that you are both Good Natured and Witty, I hope you take the writer’s words to heart as you study at — College. “A LETTER to a YOUNG GENTLEMAN on his entrance at the UNIVERSITY” cautions students from allowing their intelligence to obscure their humility. The author asserts that, if a student thinks of himself as a scholar, he will ultimately hinder his own intellectual growth. Therefore, ‘tis important that students of your caliber do not become complacent when they pass their lectures with ease. Instead, the author says that the student should take up additional work and remain modest. Doing so will lead them to the path of eminence and usefulness in their eventual professions.

I apologize if my chastisement and recommendation of articles have offended you. However, I think that that //The Student //contains good, moral advice. Please consider reading the periodical and write back to me! Your very affectionate Sister, &c. //**March, 1750 **// Dear Brother,

How do you do? How does all at Oxford? My parents became dispirited when they did not receive correspondence from you this month. I told them that the contents of my last letter were too severe and that you may have been discouraged from writing back.

The February issue of //The Student// was very interesting. “Of the ARABICK LANGUAGE” describes the heated debate between those in favor of the study of //Arabick// at Oxford and those against. Are you engaged in this discussion? The //Student// is in favor of //Arabick// instruction because it might serve to enhance the study of //Hebrew// and the Old Testament. After all, the two tongues are related. He argues that, if the //Arabick// language is used to better understand The Bible, there is nothing inherently ungodly about its study. Furthermore, the writer recommends that scholars should rejoice in the //Arabick// language because many destroyed Latin and Greek texts are preserved in //Arabian// libraries. To be true blue, I must confess that I did not understand the entirety of the article due to my limited knowledge of //Arabian// History, //Latin//, and //Greek//. To be sure, Brother, you know these matters better than I. Therefore, I am eager to read about your opinion on the matter.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">I am confident that //The Student// is a good, Christian publication because Daddy and I have not detected any hints of skepticism. Instead, the writer supports his controversial defense of //Arabick// with Christian motives. Additionally, a poem call’d “An HYMN to the CREATOR” appears in the issue. The speaker of the piece alludes to the Book of Genesis in his description of man being made from dust in God’s image and he rejoices. God is like a scholar in the text because He writes volumes of books and produces drafts with a pencil. The author writes, “From thee my parts their fashion took, / And e’er my life begun, / Within the volume of thy book / Were written one by one. / Thy eye beheld in open view / The yet unfinish’d plan; / The shadowy lines thy pencil drew, / And formed the future man.” Later, he writes that following God’s instructions is studious. To my understanding, the poem’s message is that God is the Professor of Professors. I think that this is an apt message to relay to students at University.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Please write back to me if ‘tis convenient! <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Your very affectionate Sister, &c. //**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px;">April, 1750 **// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Dear Brother,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Your letter was extremely well met at home! And I hope that mine finds you well at school <span class="st" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">. I am sorry for being presumptuous about the amount of leisure time you encounter in your day at Oxford. In any case, I will continue to write to you about the interesting articles that Daddy and I find in //The Student//,seeing as you haven’t the time to read it yourself. Without further ado, I shall describe the contents of the March issue.

<span class="st" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">A passionate letter to Mr. //Student// appears within the periodical’s pages titled “FIDDLING considered, as far as it regards an UNIIVERSTY.” The writer of theletter declaims musick because it makes men vain and impudent. His description of Fiddlers is very similar to the popular characteristics of Highwaymen. For instance, he asserts that fiddlers undeservedly raise themselves to the status of intelligent men like authors. Meanwhile, tho’ they are criminals, Highwaymen act like they are gentleman. Next, both types of men are said to dress lavishly. The author writes, “Not but the //whole apparel// of a compleat FIDDLER ought to be of the gayest and genteelest order.” Finally, both men are known to make women swoon. The letters reads, “[…] FIDDLERS //of fortune// often display a striking decoration on the little finger, call’d a //Brilliant//, which is said to have sometimes a surprising effect on the //female// part of the audience.” I think my observation is astute. Therefore, I am disposed to agree with the writer, for neither a Highwayman nor a Fiddler belongs at University. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Your very affectionate Sister, &c.

//**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px;">May, 1750 **// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Dear Brother,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">How do you do? My parents were merry when they read your most recent letter. It lifts their spirits to read that you are doing well at — College. Yet Mother worries that your apartment is not cosy. Her anxiety has been getting the best of her for the last month. In order to soothe her nerves, I volunteered to read the April issue of //The Student// to her.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">The issue included an article of particular interest to Mother and me titled “On FEMALE PATRIOTS.” The popular opinion is that only //men// possess the heroic trait of Patriotism. The author argues that, tho’ women are delicate and sentimental, they too are Patriots. For example, the nurses who tended to wounded soldiers during the war are the most noble, affectionate creatures on Earth. Fair Patriots never want for admirers because it is impossible not to admire a Lady who has so much love for her country. According to the author, all females should aspire to Patriotism and all males should adore Patriotic Ladies.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">A woman is admired in the poem “On a YOUNG LADY playing and singing.” The speaker of the poem observes a young lady call’d Euphemia as she plays and sings. He listens to her musick with rapture and faints because it is so beautiful. Although the poem never blatantly states that Euphemia is a Patriot, she plays the role of the nurse after the speaker faints. The poet writes, “What kind of surprize my sudden fall she view’d, / And rais’d me pale and breathless from the ground; / Her angel-touch the springs of life renew’d, / And with new joy my vig’rous pulses bound.” Like the Fair Patriot who rescues soldiers from death, Euphemia revived the speaker from his swoon. I believe Nurses are very popular right now.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">The reading calm’d Mother quite a bit, but, if you would, please write to her so she might be further sooth’d. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Your very affectionate Sister, &c. //**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px;">June, 1750 **// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Dear Brother,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">I am writing to you from the countryside! Reading your letter did wonders for Mother’s nerves. She said that she could get on perfectly fine without me for at least a fortnight. Then she suggested I visit my Uncle in the country! I happily obliged. Uncle Richard, Aunt Maggie, Caroline, and Augie send their love and wish you many happy returns. Aunt Maggie urges you to come visit at your convenience.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Before I left home, Daddy gave me the May issue of //The Student//. My cousins have been endlessly entertained by its stories! We took a special interest in a fable call’d “The CITY MOUSE and COUNTRY MOUSE.” The fable is about a mouse from the city who visits his friend in the country. The country mouse is a frugal individual but very hospitable to his guest. But the city mouse proposes that they visit town, for it is a place steeped in luxuries like feasts and purple adornments. Upon his arrival to town, the country mouse learns that it is also a dangerous place due to the presence of large dogs. The fable ends with the words, “Are these, my city-friend, are these your joys, / Perpetual tumult, all-confounding noise? / Adieu! deluded mouse; secure from harm, / I’ll rest contented in my little farm; / No danger threatens there; in peace I’ll eat / My slender pulse, and bless the calm retreat.” Caroline was delighted by the charming rhyme scheme. My cousins have never visited the city, but I assured them that the sentiments of the poem were correct. I find it much more relaxing in the country! Uncle’s home is in a lovely bucolic setting, and, tho’ I have only been here for a short time, I find life in the country much easier! <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Your very affectionate Sister, &c. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">//**January, 1751**// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Dear Brother,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">I was glad to see you at Christmas! I hope your return to Oxford was pleasant and that you are cosy at <span class="st" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">— College <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">. The December issue of //The Student// is in my possession, but please excuse me for not dwelling on its contents. I cannot stop thinking about theater! The performance of //The Mourning Bride// by William Congreve has not yet left me. ‘Tis no secret that I would have rather seen //The Beggar’s Opera// or //Romeo and Juliet//, of which there were many performances last month, but I am glad to have seen the play by Mr. Congreve.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Since I did not have the opportunity to describe the production to you whilst you were home, I shall tell you about it in this letter. Daddy inform’d me that //The Mourning Bride// is an old play, having been first performed in 1697. And to think we saw it performed on 7 December, 1750! ‘Tis a tragedy intended to stress the importance of vertue to the audience. The story unfolds in Granada and features King Manuel and Princess Almeria. Conflict arises when Almeria marries Alonzo, the son of one of her father’s enemies. But they are soon divided when a shipwreck leads to a disguised Alonzo’s capture by the King. In addition, a foreign queen call’d Zara is taken from the wreck. Ultimately, Almeria is reunited with her love, but only after her father is executed and Zara commits suicide.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Daddy says that the first line of the play is very famous. If my memory serves me right, it goes, “Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, / To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.” Almeria says these words when she finds that her grief over her father’s death is so great that she cannot be sooth’d by musick. She contends that even inanimate objects like rocks can find solace in its gentle rhythms, but she cannot because she has less feeling than a rock. Another famous quotation from the play reads, “Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, / Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.” The proclamation that Zara makes signifies that a woman will torment the men who reject her. I enjoy’d these lines greatly. Overall, ‘twas a good play!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">As for //The Student//, I failed to gather much pleasure from the new issue. Among its contents is “Translation of HAMLET, Act I. Scene 2.” The author of the piece translated Shakespeare’s Hamlet from //English// into //Latin//. I am not sure why the translation was necessary, for I prefer to watch plays in //English//! But maybe the students at Oxford and <span class="st" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">— College like their plays in //Latin//.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">I look forward to your reply! Thank you for writing to me for all these months.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Your very affectionate Sister, &c.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Images <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">//Mrs. Crawford in the Character of Almeria//. 1781. Mary Evans Picture Library. //Yooniq Images//. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">//Photograph of Oxford//. Oxford, England. //University of Oxford//. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Van Honthorst, Gerrit. //The Merry Fiddler//. 1623. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. //Essential Vermeer//. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Congreve, William. //The Mourning Bride, A Tragedy. Written by Mr. Congreve. Eighteenth// //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">Century Collections Online //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Stone, George Winchester, Jr. "Season 1750-1751." //The London Stage 1660-1800, Part 4: 1747-1776//. Vol. 1. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois UP. Print.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">//The Student: or, The Oxford monthly miscellany//, Jan.1750-May 1750 1 (1750): 10-2. //ProQuest//. Web. 07 Apr. 2015 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">.