1735+-+The+London+Magazine

= 1735  = =  January - June  = = // The London Magazine: or, The Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer // = It was originally published from 1732 through 1785 and was developed as direct competition to //The Gentleman’s Magazine.// Booksellers and publishers John Wilford, Thomas Cox, John Clarke, and Thomas Astley owned the magazine. //The London Magazine// contained “a run of extracts, poetry, news, personalia” and more, as its writers reflected upon politics, the arts, current events, and other relevant topics to Londoners of the time (Sullivan 202). //The London Magazine// in 1735, during the months from January through June, is divided into various sections, including: Arts and Sciences, History and Lives, Law, Miscellaneous, Physical, Poetry, Political, and Sermons. Many works in //The London Magazine// took a closer look at ideas like reason and tolerance that developed within the Enlightenment.
 * Introduction **

//The London Magazine// features many writers who comment on the conduct and nature of women. Some attitudes toward the conduct of women – particularly, unmarried women - appear in the articles from January and February of 1735: “Instructions to Unmarried Ladies” and “A Lottery for Old Maids.” In “Instructions to Unmarried Ladies,” the writer outlines the two “Characters” which women must maintain: their personal character (their virtue) and their public reputation. In an attempt to avoid sounding presumptuous, the writer asserts: “...without offending [the female sex], I will venture to say, I have observed some among them, that have not had as much Regard for //Reputation//,as the Importance of it requires” (24). Through an anecdote about prudence, the writer concludes that all women should work toward optimal maintenance of both virtue and reputation. In “A Lottery for Old Maids” (61), the writer adopts a humorous tone as he details a ridiculous plan: to develop a lottery where old maids must pay for tickets in hopes of winning a husband. Such a comedic piece was dependent upon the societal norm that women were expected to marry and depend upon a husband. The article picks on the stereotype of the old maid, offering an example: “MARGERY MUMBLEBEE, //a pure Virgin, aged 75, with two Stumps and one Tooth a little decayed//” (61). The writer toys with the stereotype of the ugly, old, desperate unmarried woman and shames her. Such a concern for unmarried women and their conduct reappears throughout the magazine.
 * Women **

Despite an abundance of criticism toward the conduct of women in society, //The London Magazine// features criticism of many forms. For example, general codes of conduct appear in “On Partiality to Ourselves, in Passing Censures on Others” in January. The writer discusses the concept of hypocrisy, an issue that “is the Guilt of the //whole People//, in //all// //Nations//” (4). To make his argument more relevant to English readers, he uses an example of negative reactions to violent slave revolts, while, historically, the English had similarly retaliated violently against the Danes. This article looks both critically at English hypocrites and sympathetically at slaves. In light of gendered criticism of conduct, the writer in “The Excellence of Virtue, Propos’d to the Consideration of Both Sexes” argues that men and women should be censured equally for shortcomings in virtue (144). This piece was published as a reaction to a previous article, “The Pernicious Arts of Certain Females Display’d, the Danger of their Example, with a Caution to the Men” (70). In the reaction piece, the author advocates for “sham[ing] the corrigible part of the Men, from the like Practices...in its full Proportion, as it appears in the other Sex” (144). Although the magazine may have featured criticism of the conduct of women more frequently, dissenting voices were also published.
 * Conduct **

In February of 1735, //The London Magazine// presented the public with a type of slave narrative through a transcription of a speech made by a free African American in the West Indies. The piece is preceded by an introduction: “This Paper contains a Piece, which the //Prompter// tells us is, //The Speech of// Moses Bon Sàam, a //Free Negro//, at the Head of those //revolted Slaves//, who have betaken themselves to the //Mountains//, in one of the most considerable Colonies of the //West Indies//” (13). This introduction provides basic facts for context, but also reflects a sense of awe and surprise at the circumstances in the West Indies. Moses Bon Sàam explainshis particular situation to an audience of rebelling slaves. He has been free for sixteen years at the time of this rebellion, and he imparts his wisdom upon the newly freed people. He says: “...only Education, and Accident, //not// Difference of //Genius//, have been the Cause of this provoking //Superiority//, that bids the Pride of a //white// Man despise and trample on a //black// one” (13). His statements regarding the psychological aspects of racial relations come long before the abolition of the slave trade, which occurred in 1833 for the British Isles. Moses Bon Sàam lays out a plan of peaceful freedom – not one of violent revenge (14). He instead calls for the slaves to be peaceful and understanding in an attempt to, one day, find common ground and build a positive relationship with slaveholders (15). Such a publication suggests that the London public was discussing various aspects of slavery.
 * Race [[image:Official_medallion_of_the_British_Anti-Slavery_Society_(1795).jpg width="303" height="317" align="right" caption="Antislavery Medallion, 1787"]]**

** Religion ** This section of //The London Magazine// dwells frequently upon The Church and its function. The magazine also published a plethora of sermons in its pages. Some writers take a critical approach to the Church, although there is no uniform opinion on religious practices that emerge from the publication. In April, one writer wrote “The Right of Private Judgment”, in which he argues for the “//unalienable// Right” of choice through reasoning, which is too often “//disgrac’d and// //vilified//” (187-188). Another writer later that month supported that claim again, refuting the idea that personal choice in religion would cause the downfall of religion. Instead, he appeals to the Enlightenment concept of “//every Man’s private Reason//” (194) to choose to believe in a deity or specific religion. Such a discussion ran through 1735; in May, another writer took to the pages to defend religious choice in “Of Uniformity in Religion, and the Right of Private Judgment Farther Defended” (226). Here, the writer discusses the benefits of variety and the danger of everyone following one concept of religion. This writer’s idea fell in line with Pierre Bayle’s concept of tolerance across religions from his 1682 essay “On Superstition and Tolerance.” Bayle suggested that the worst that could happen with competing religions would be a competition to be the most pious (Kramnick 79). Religious tolerance was a recurring discussion in 1735, if only within the pages of //The London Magazine//.

** Politics and Government ** Throughout the magazine are reflections on various aspects of government and society, as well as many opinions on parliamentary proceedings and specific politicians. The magazine also features philosophical approaches to government. In a May article, “Of Liberty and Government”, the writer discuses the paradox within a government founded upon liberty, since liberty implies freedom of action, but law limits human action. The writer asserts that government enables liberty so long as it enables people to have their “common Rights of Mankind” (235). In another May article, “Of Corruption in a State”, the writer condemns politicians who allow corruption in their offices. Corruption is dangerous in any man, according to the writer, but can have more grave effects in the public service (262-263). Writers take on philosophical and moral aspects of government and those who serve.

//The London Magazine// features an abundance of poetry by various writers, but it also relishes in criticism and commentary on literary works. One example appeared in May, in “Philosophical Poetry Recommended”, where the writer complains that poets do not write enough about philosophical concepts. The writer even discusses the possible obstacles that may arise when addressing philosophy through poetry: “...the common Forms of our //Language// may here be too scanty for our //Ideas//” (238). But, the writer advocates for a revival of antiquated terms to express philosophy through poetry.
 * Literature and Poetry **

Poignantly, in //The London Magazine//, John Gay writes a piece in which he takes on his critics, who claim that his poetry has caused a degradation in the taste of the public. In his article, Gay paints a picture of himself taken to court by his critics. He must defend himself and his choices in //The Beggar’s Opera// as he is accused of various crimes of literature. One criticism is that “the Characters ought to have been //painted// in a //Light to give// an //Abhorrence// of them” (143), which goes against Gay’s intended purpose of satire of class in the musical.
 * [[image:A_Scene_from_the_Beggar's_Opera.jpg width="420" height="236" align="right" caption="Scene from The Beggar's Opera"]]// The Beggar’s Opera //**


 * Theater Season ** From January through June of 1735, the theater featured a run of //The Beggar’s Opera// nine times. Interestingly in light of //The London Magazine’s// feature on slaves, Aphra Behn’s play //Oroonoko//, the story of Oroonoko, a royal African man who get tricked into slavery in the West Indies, was featured as frequently or even more frequently than //The Beggar’s Opera// that season. The season also featured the Shakespearean works //Othello//, //The Tempest//, //Hamlet//, and //King Lear//. Another frequently recurring play was a version of //The Rape of Proserpine//, which was titled in various ways throughout the year: //The Wonder//, //Rule a Wife and Have a Wife//, //The Orphan//, and //The Fond Husband// (Scouten).

//** The Rival Widows **// One show that opened in 1735 was //The Rival Widows, Or, Fair Libertine//, which is a comedy written by Elizabeth Cooper. In the play’s introduction, Cooper writes: “I shall have no Apology to make to the Ladies, for having drawn her capable of thinking for herself, and acting on the Principles of Nature and Truth” and notes that “the Stage was meant to be a Looking-Glass for the Times” (Cooper V-VI). In the play, two widows, Lady Bellair and Lady Lurcher, and two bachelors, Young Modern and Freelove, dwell on marriage and relationships. The play also looks at the way money and economic standing play into the development of relationships. Lady Bellair continuously disregards social expectations of relationships, like the importance of wealth in choosing a husband. At the outset of the play, Freelove desires Lady Bellair, Lady Bellair is interested in Young Modern, and Lady Lurcher loves Freelove. Further, Lady Lurcher manipulates Lady Bellair because she is jealous of her attractiveness and popularity.

Cooper consistently integrates female empowerment into the play. Early in the play, one male character (Modern) remarks to Young Modern: “Women are made on Purpose for our Happiness” (Cooper 5), a statement which feeds into Young Modern’s desire to sleep with Lady Bellair without commitment to marriage. Modern’s statement also echoes philosophical writing by Rousseau in his 1762 piece, “Duties of Women”, where he discusses women’s duties to fulfill the happiness of men. But, Lady Bellair directly contradicts such an understanding of women, when she later says: “I am hard-hearted, or hypocritical, because I love my own Happiness too well, to part with it in Pity of another’s sufferings” (Cooper 36) as she fends off Freelove’s affection. In the text, Lady Bellair freely rejects those in which she lacks interest and asserts her commitment to rationality and her own happiness. Even Lady Lurcher has agency; toward the end of the play, she straightforwardly expresses her love to Freelove in hopes of winning his affection. This play works interestingly with Eliza Haywood’s 1719 work, //Love in Excess, or, The Fatal Inquiry//. In Haywood’s work, the single female characters lack agency in their love lives. Here, Cooper attempts to reimagine female agency in matters of love and marriage.

** Works Cited ** Cooper, Elizabeth. //The Rival Widows, Or, Fair Libertine//. London: Half-Moon, 1735. //Eighteenth// //Century Collections Online// 11 Apr. 2015. Web. Haywood, Eliza. //Love in Excess//. Toronto: Broadview, 2000. Print. Kramnick, Isaac. //The Portable Enlightenment Reader.// New York: Penguin, 1995. Print. Scouten, Arthur H., ed. //The London Stage: 1660 – 1800, Part 3: 1729-1747//. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1968. Print. Sullivan, Alvin. “The London Magazine.” //British Literary Magazines//. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 202-205. Print. //The London Magazine.// Jan. - June 1735: 1-340. //Eighteenth Century Collections Online.// Web. 10 Apr. 2015. **Images** 1. - Wikipedia 2. - Wikipedia 3. - Wikipedia 4. - Wikipedia 5. - Wikipedia 6. - Wikipedia