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Proposals for Printing Anchitell Grey's Debates

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By Johnson, Samuel

Samuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

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PROPOSALS FOR PRINTING ANCHITELL GREY’S DEBATES (1745)

[Editorial Introduction]

Anchitell Grey (c. 1624–1702), second son of Henry Grey, first Earl of Stamford, and younger brother of the regicide Thomas Grey, Lord Grey of Groby, compiled fourteen manuscript volumes of notes on debates in the House of Commons. The notes, most taken firsthand with some material supplied by other members, were for his own use. Cave’s proposal to publish these notes appears to have been an attempt to capitalize on the success of reports of the current parliamentary debates in the Gentleman’s Magazine. Johnson and Cave had been planning to produce a history of Parliament: we have Johnson’s positive reaction to the plan in a letter to Cave in autumn 1743 (Letters, I.34–35), but nothing further. A scheme to publish Grey’s debates by subscription was another of Cave’s aborted projects.

The proposals, first attributed to Johnson by Alexander Chalmers,1 were published in the Gentleman’s Magazine for March 1745 (XV.135–42). A sentence in the paragraph introducing the proposals suggests that, at least at this time, the proposals were not published elsewhere, either independently or as front or back matter in a book: “we should have printed these proposals independent of the magazine, had it not been the practice of some booksellers (who may think their interest now affected) to tear out whatever they judged prejudicial to their own projects, when it might be done without making the book imperfect.” Subscriptions came in slowly, and it was necessary to publish apologies for delays in the May and July numbers (XV.226, 338). Then, on the last page of the August number, appeared an advertisement announcing that the proposals were “Just Published”: “Proposals at large may be had and subscriptions are taken in by E. Cave at St. John’s Gate, who, if required by a line, will send the proposals or receipts to gentlemen in town or country” (XV.448). The advertisement, which fills two-thirds of a column, splices parts of the first and second, the fourth, and part of the sixth sentence from the proposals printed below, adding a concluding sentence. If the proposals were actually issued, no copy is known to survive. The prospective edition then disappeared from view for a long time.

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Seventeen years later, however, the project was revived by David Henry and Richard Cave. In the John Johnson Collection in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, is a unique copy of an announcement with the penciled date “1762” (Prospectus 155). This announcement abridges and revises the earlier proposals to adapt them to a new context. The revisions were made by an unknown editor, possibly Johnson.

When the Debates were published in 1763, the introductory remarks “To the Reader” essentially reproduced the text of the 1762 announcement with small verbal changes, but the editor abandoned the 1762 text at one point to return to the text of the 1745 proposals, doing some rewriting at the same time.

The Debates appear as the first item in the “List of Books just publish’d” in the January 1763 number of the Gentleman’s Magazine. The ten volumes sold slowly and were reissued with cancel titles in 1769 under the imprint of T. Becket and P. A. DeHondt. For a discussion of the proposals, see “Prospectuses,” pp. 224, 233. The copy-text is taken from the Gentleman’s Magazine, March 1745. It has been collated with the unique copy of the proposals (1762) in the Bodleian Library and with the version printed in volume 1 of the Debates (1763) as an address “To the Reader” (pp. v–viii). Differences from the copy-text are recorded in the textual notes, but only corrections of obvious errors have been accepted into the text.

[Proposals]

The vast number of curious questions, and important affairs, enumerated in the following Proposals, cannot but afford some entertainment, even to those whom it may not suit to subscribe to the publication of the volumes that contain them, for which, as they have been pronounced, by gentlemen of unquestioned judgment, a most valuable treasure of parliamentary deliberations, and the undertaking of public use, we are encouraged to expect a ready subscription. We hope, therefore, no apology will be necessary for inserting the ensuing account, tho’ long, effectually to apprise the world of the design, since every reader, attentive to the English history, will receive some information by a perusala only of the subjects which so many years employed the house of commons; and as the conjunctures required their utmost prudence, sollicitude and resolution, the detail, especially as it has such variety, may not be unacceptable.—— However,

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we should have printed these proposals independent of the magazine, had it not been the practice of some booksellers (who may think their interest now affected) to tear out whatever they judged prejudicial to their own projects, when it might be done without making the book imperfect.—— Promising ourselves, therefore, the indulgence of our readers in thus once seeming to consult our own interest, we beg leave further to observe, that as such booksellers also have frequently inserted in our magazine proposals concerning their own schemes (and one bookseller very scurrilous advertisements against us) it is become necessary, to obviate mistakes which have arisen, to declare that we have no concern in, or ought to be accountable for any independent leaf or leaves not paged for the volume, except our name appears to be affixed, by us, to such papers.1

Proposals for Publishing

The Debates of the House of Commons,

From the Year 1667 To the Year 1694.

Collected By

The Honable Anchitell Grey, Esq; who was thirty years representative of the town of Derby, chairman of several committees, and decypher’d Coleman’s letters for the use of the house.2

I. That these debates, which are comprised in fourteen manuscript volumes in quarto, be published about the end of next sessions, in ten volumes in octavo, of which each volume will contain thirty sheets on good paper and print. II. The price to subscribers, whose names will be printed, to be fifty shillings, of which one guinea to be paid at the time of subscribing, and the rest on delivery of set in sheets, or at five shillings for each volume, if more or less than ten.

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If it should be desired by a sufficient number of subscribers, part of the impression shall be printed in two volumes in folio, of the same form and size with the Journals of Parliament, which are now in the press, and with which these debates have a close connection.3

Subscriptions are taken by E. Cave at St John’s Gate, and his friends who have receipts.

Theb importance of these debates may be easily conjectured by the dates from 1667 to 1694; a period of time remarkable for the multitude of schemes which were formed, the variety of events produced, the diversity of interests which prevailed;c the struggles between prerogative and privilege, the out-cries of abhorrence and prosecution, efforts against popery and arbitrary power, the number of plots and conspiracies, either real or imaginary; impeachments of ministers, attempts to set aside the heir of the crown, the expulsion of a king, and the re-establishment of the constitution.

An authentic representation, therefore, of the part, whichd the house of commons bore in those momentous affairs, must naturally fix the attention, and raise the expectation. Every man of fortune in the kingdom must surely desire to view the gradations of these memorable events,e to trace revolutions to their causes, and to know to what names the nation is indebted for its honour,f and its liberty: informations that cannot be easily obtained, but from the collection which is now offered to the publick.4 For tho’ Debates of the Commons

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have been advertised with great ostentation, the volumes that have reference to those distant days contain not any regular series of their deliberations, being little more than speeches and messages from the throne, addresses and resolutions of the house, the conferences which had been before printed, and extracts from the journals or votes. What they have further is in a desultory manner, and collected from historical narratives, and authors who could pretend only to probable harangues, as appears by their doubts to what members they should be attributed, and by their prefixing5 wrong names. But in this relation, in which the names of the speakers are at length, the reader is led forward from day to day, and from question to question, and enjoys the view of all the variations of that uncertain time; observes the birth, the progress, the maturity of designs, sees the colours6 of party change before him, and patriotism7 sink in one year, and rise in another.

Besides the preference to be given to this work for its regularity, manifest upon a cursory view of the manuscript, its excellence and authority will appear from the character of the collector; who was a person of eminent rank and distinction,g of remarkable sobriety and diligence, of strict honour and *piety, greatly respected in the senate, and *beloved and adored8 as a

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magistrate. He was present at all the transactions which he relates, excepth a very few, communicated to him by membersi whom he generally names; andj as he wrote them without any view of publication, cannot be supposed to have added or suppressed any thing by design.

Another excellence is thek artless and concise manner of expression, without circumlocution, or the embellishmentl which even an extempore discourse might admit; preserving only the naked arguments, but so as not to conceal the ability and spirit of the speaker.9

Together with these advantages, the bulk of this collection is another recommendation. For, though brevity is so much consulted, the following lists of speakers and subjects will shew that it contains above fiftym times more of the secret deliberations of the house, than all the accounts of debates for the same time yet published. For,n were any part of them genuine, yet, in several sessions, they giveo no debate at all; whereas the conviction which the reader here findsp that he is not misled, but enters on every day’s real business, induces him to consider himself present in this active and honourable assembly, partaking the ardour and anxiety of the unbyassedq Englishman, and resenting the subtleties and evasions of his opponent.r

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Thus no objection can be made to this works in point of authority, which in former collections may be much doubted,t becauseu they appear to have been drawn up for publication, and might, therefore, bev intended for the service of a party;w and because the writers were either unknown, or for the most part obliged to receive their informationx from others. But as the honourable collector of these volumes set himself the task of taking the notes, only for his own use or amusement, he was under no temptation either to suppress or misrepresent any argument or occurrence. He appears, indeed, to have been solicitous that nothing either of greater or less importance mighty escape him, and accordingly has preserved the minutest circumstances at the bar, though they relate chiefly to private persons; and of the precedents, rulesz and customs of parliament, perhaps,a there is no where to be found so accurate an account.

For all these reasonsb it is imagined that no compilation can be met with of greater, or of equal, use,c for giving light to the journals of the commons, which are now printing by their order, for clearing upd the history of the reign of Charles II. and for shewing the progress of the settlement of the nation at the revolution.

At a time,e therefore, when the history of our own country appears to be so far the prevailing object of literary curiosity, that not only three or four several editions, now publishing on this subject in folio, find reception, but annuities are

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settled to promote another yet in embryo,1 it is hoped that this proposal, which has a particular tendency to its amplification and advancement, will not fail of encouragement.

Notwithstandingf the writer’s diligence,g and undoubted integrity, it will beh necessary to make a fewi insertionsj for the sake of the connexion.k But that the reader may not suspect a design of leading him aside from truth, when it is only intended to smooth his way,l every addition shall bem distinguished from the words of the original by a difference in the print,n,2 and the manuscript be deposited in some public office, as a proof of the fidelity and care employed in this edition.

The obscurities also, arising from allusions to the history of former times, will be removed by proper explanations of the debates, and notes upon particular passages, extracted from histories, state-tracts, and authentic records. And that nothing may be wanting to the completion of the work, an account will be given of all the speakers concerning whom information can be obtain’d, to which, if their descendents, or any other person, will be pleased to contribute, the favour will be thankfully acknowledged.3

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Members mentioned in the debates already printed, with the number of their speeches there, prefix’d before the name; and after it the number of times they spoke in the manuscript debates, which are proposed to be printed.

5 Birch, Col.	531
7 Booth, Henry	29
5 Boscawen, H.	161
9 Capel, Sir Hen.	151
3 Carew, Sr Nic.	195
2 Cavendish, Ld	137
1 Clargis, Sr Tho.	511
2 Clayton, Sr Rob.	29
2 Coventry, H.	432
1 Courtnay, Sr W.	4
1 Cowper, Sr W.	3
1 Dering, Sir E.	75
1 Downing, Sr G.	84
5 Ernley, Sr J.	129
3 Finch, Dan.	92
1 Fleetwood, Mr.	2
3 Foley, Paul	95
2 Garraway, Mr	524
2 Gerrard, Sir Gil.	45
7 Gower, L.	8
9 Hampden, Mr	220
6 Harbord, Mr	126
1 Harvey, Sir E.	59
1 Hickman, Sr W.	45
9 Hungerford, Sr G.	20
Page 128 4 Hyde, Laur.	88
16 Jenkins, Sr Lion.	31
16 Jones, Sr Wm	48
1 Littleton, Sr T.	481
3 Lee, Sir Tho.	745
2 Leg, Col.	2
2 Love, Wm	40
1 Markham, Sr R.	7
1 Maynard	152
4 Meres	367
6 Mildmay, Col.	59
5 Montagu, Ralph [blank]
1 Musgrave, Sr C.	63
1 Parkhurst, Jno	3
1 Player, Sr Tho.	18
3 Powle	360
3 Pulteney, Sr Wm	27
2 Roll, Sr Fra.	13
4 Russel, Ld	27
3 Sacheverel	484
1 Sedley, Sr Cha.	236
1 Seymour, Edw.	15
1 Swinfen	138
4 Temple, Sr Wm	14
13 Titus, Silas	225
3 Trenchard	28
7 Vaughan	207
2 Vernon, Geo.	11
1 Walden, Lionel	1
1 Waller, Mr.	189
1 Whorwood	3
1 Williams, Mr.	19
2 Williamson, Sec.	118
17 Winnington	96

N.B. Besides those, the MS debates represent 440 more gentlemen to have spoken.4

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Editorial Notes

1 Donald Greene, Notes and Queries, CCXII (1967), 180–81.

a perusal emend] perrusal GM

1 For a report on the competing booksellers’ defacements, see GM for February 1738 (VIII.78); cf. preface to the GM for 1738 (p. 30, n. 3 above).

2 Edward Colman (1636–78), a Catholic implicated in the “popish plot” by Titus Oates, was convicted and hanged on the basis of his cache of letters written in code to French officials.

3 The Journals of the House of Commons, 1547–1741 was ordered to be printed in 1742, but publication proceeded slowly. The volumes are large folios.

b 62 and 63 begin here.

c prevailed, 62

d therefore^ of the part^ which 62

e . . . must naturally fix the attention, and raise the expectation of every man of fortune in the kingdom, who desires to view the gradations of these memorable events. . . 62, 63] expectation, 63

f Honour^ 63

4 The remainder of this paragraph is absent from 62. In 63 the paragraph is contracted as follows: “informations that cannot be easily obtained but from the following collection; in which the names of the speakers are at length, and the reader is led forward from day to day.”

5 [Note in GM] As B. for Bennet Gee for Garway Mompesson for Meres Basset for Birch Hartop for Hotham Proby for Player Boscawen for Booth Howe for Howard Stratford for Swinfen Foley for Finch Lee for Littleton Smith for Swinfen &c.

6 Colours: specious arguments (OED, sense 8).

7 Patriotism: “Love of one’s country; zeal for one’s country” (Dictionary), but zeal often suggests excessive interest for SJ, and the second definition of patriot, added in 1773, makes explicit the negative sense in which patriotism could be employed: “It is sometimes used for a factious disturber of the government.” The political opposition often adopted the word as a rubric for their beliefs; those in power therefore often cast the word in a negative light.

g regularity, its excellence and authority will appear from the character of the collector, who was a person of eminent rank and distinction, 62, 63

8 [Note in GM] * Expressions in a letter lately received from Derbyshire.

h relates^ except 63

i members, 62, 63

j and, 62

k Another excellence is, the 62, 63

l embellishments 63

9 Grey’s entries read more like minutes than representations of the speeches.

m For^ though brevity is so much consulted, yet it contains above fifty 62] For, though brevity is much consulted, it contains fifty 63

n published; for, 62, 63

o have 62, 63

p finds, 62

q unbiassed 63

r oppotent 62

s work, 62 and 63

t may be doubted, 62, 63

u because 62, 63] beause GM

v might^ therefore^ be 62

w party, 62, 63

x informations 62

y nothing, either of greater or less importance, might 62

z rules, 62, 63

a perhaps 62

b reasons, 62

c or equal use, 62] or of equal use, 63

d commons, for clearing up 62, 63

e paragraph absent 62, 63

1 Thomas Carte’s A General History of England, 4 vols. folio (1747–55), which was supported by several societies, was then “in embryo.” The earlier works may be William Guthrie, A General History of England, 4 vols. folio (1744–51); Paul Rapin de Thoryas, The History of England, translated and augmented by N. Tindal, 4 vols. folio (1743–47); and, although it is not restricted to Britain, Thomas Salmon, Modern History: or, the Present State of All Nations, 3rd ed., 3 vols. folio (1744–46).

f But notwithstanding 63

g diligence, 62, 63

h hath been 62, 63

i some 62, 63

j insertions, (chiefly from the journals) 63

k connection: 62] connection; 63

l (that . . . way) 62

m is 62, 63

n original by being inserted within crotchets. 62, 63

2 Insertions are sometimes in square brackets, sometimes in a smaller type font. The manuscript is apparently lost.

3 62 and 63 give a more accurate description of the annotation provided in the edition. Instead of the final two paragraphs, 62 has, “Several notes are also added by the editor, illustrating, from the histories of the times, the characters of the principal speakers, and explaining, where necessary, the subject of the debate.” 63 reads, “Several notes also are added by the editor, illustrating from the histories of the times, the characters of the principal speakers, and explaining (where necessary) the subject of the debates. And, that reference may easily be had to any particular incident, a large table of contents is annexed to the end of the work, containing, in a regular series, the subject of every debate.” The notes are sparse after volume 1.

4 On pp. 137–42 of GM appears a lengthy “Abstract of the table of contents of the manuscript volumes mentioned in the preceding page.” A version of this abstract is printed at the end of volume 10 of the Debates.

Transcription

Document Details

Document TitleProposals for Printing Anchitell Grey's Debates

AuthorJohnson, Samuel

Creation Date1745

Publ. DateN/A

Alt. TitleN/A

Contrib. AuthorN/A

ClassificationSubject: Parliament; Subject: Politics; Subject: Faction; Genre: Proposal; Genre: Preface

PrinterN/A

PublisherCave

Publ. PlaceLondon

VolumeSamuel Johnson: Johnson on Demand

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