Browse Items (161 total)

• History of England

  A narrative and visual of Hume and Smollett's bestselling book, _A History of England_. On March 20, 1826 Lyon begins reading a book he calls, H. Eng or H. England, which was likely _A Complete History of England_ written by David Hume in four volumes but with an additional volume by Tobias Smollett titled, _Continuation of the History of England_. Together these volumes were published from 1760–1765. On May 30, 1826 Lyon is still reading this text, almost daily. It’s difficult to know how many volumes he read. Lyon’s interest in Scottish writers and Scotland is noteworthy. He makes several trips to Scotland where we meets prominent men in Anglo-Jewish circles—members of the Franklin family and the Ashenheim family. Both men would spend time in Jamaica during the period when Lyon lived there. Lyon also sees Sir Walter Scott on his journey to Scotland and recounts in his diary on January 24, 1826 “Had a sight of the great unknown Sir Walter Scott, but whose countenance [ ] not the least sunshine of intellect” (3). In addition to reading Scott’s novel, _The Betrothed_, Lyon’s interest in _A Complete History of England_ also had Scottish ties. Both of its authors, David Hume and Tobias Smollett, were born in Scotland. According to Wikipedia, Smollett’s “career in medicine came second to his literary ambitions; in 1739 he went to London to seek his fortune as a dramatist. Unsuccessful, he obtained a commission as a naval surgeon on HMS Chichester and travelled to Jamaica, where he settled down for several years. . . On his return, he set up practice in Downing Street and married a wealthy Jamaican heiress, Anne "Nancy" Lascelles (1721–1791), in 1747.”
  
  Their _Histories of England_ became bestsellers in their day. Perhaps it's not surprising that Lyon might have read a best-selling work. Noteworthy, however, is the connection between Scotland, London, and Jamaica that Lyon shared with Smollett.
  
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  HMS Barham at Malta on 25 September 1833

  A digital image of the painting, HMS Barham at Malta on 25 September 1833 by James Kennett Willson. The painting is housed at the National Maritime Museum.
  
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  Illustration of a ball at Almack's Assembly Rooms, King Street, London

  This illustration depicts couples dancing within Almack's in London.
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  Inconveniences of a Crowded Drawing Room

  This illustration by George Cruikshank portrays the colorful and chaotic scene of a drawing room overcrowded by guests.
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  Interior of late 19th century terraced house - National History Museum of Wales, St Fagans

  This photo shows the interior view of a late nineteenth-century worker's home in St. Fagans, Wales, rebuilt for display at The National Maritime Museum.
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  Isle of Wight

  An article from The Weekly True Sun, detailing events in the Isle of Wight in 1837, about 8 years after Lyon's visit. The periodical shares information about what Lyon may have seen or experienced during his visit.
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  James Johnson 1777-1845

  A digital image of a painting of Dr. James Johnson, one of A.S. Lyon's doctors. Painted by J. Wood and engraved by G.H. Phillips.
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  John Braham as "Lord Aimworth"

  This 1818 portrait portays John Braham in character as "Lord Aimworth"
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  John Bull

  This item is a digital reproduction of a (potential) lithograph included at the beginning of John Bull: The Englishman’s Fireside: A Comedy, in Five Acts, published in 1807 by George Colman, the Younger.
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  Kitty Stephens, later Countess of Essex, playing a harp lute

  This is an early nineteenth-century portrait of Catherine "Kitty" Stephens playing a harp lute by George Henry Harlow.
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  Knight Chess

  This photograph highlights the knight in a game of chess.
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  Knucks Down

  This painting shows three boys as they play a game called "Knucks Down" with marbles.
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  L’été

  This 1818 print depicts four couples as they dance a quadrille.
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  Leadenhall Street

  Leadenhall Street in the City of London. Engraving by J Hopkins after a drawing by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd. Published 1837.
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  London

  A digital rendering of a "Proof before letters" map of 1830s London surrounded by pictorial views of London landmarks including East India House, Marble Arch, Westminster Abbey, and Waterloo Bridge.
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  London Merchant Seamen's Home and Red Ensign Club, 1942

  Merchant seamen enjoy a game of billiards in the Billiard Room.
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  Lottery Drawing, Cooper's Hall

  This print depicts a lottery drawing by the English State Lottery at Cooper's Hall in 1809 London. The English State Lottery, established in 1694, was eventually shut down by Parliament in 1826.
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  Lucy Henry's The Roll Call (1892)

  Pages reproduced from published volume.
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  Man Writing a Letter

  This painting by Gabriel Metsu depicts a seventeenth-century man as he writes a letter at home.
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  Map image of Goodman's field in 1746

  This map depicts Goodman's Fields in London, England.
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  Map of Jamaica

  Digital reproduction of a map of Jamaica in 1671.
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  Maria Foote, afterwards Countess of Harrington

  A digital image taken from a book (previously taken from an engraving) featuring the Countess of Harrington. Miss Maria Foote was a stage actress and musician who became the Countess of Harrington in 1831. Lyon saw her perform jut five years before her marriage in the role of Virginia opposite William Macready at the Drury Lane Theatre.
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  Maria Foote, Afterwards Countess of Harrington, as Maria Darlington in the Farce of "A Rowland for an Oliver" (1824)

  Black and white digital image of a book plate featuring Maria Foote, British stage actress renowned for her beauty and musical talents. She later became the Countess of Harrington and left the stage. This illustration was done in 1824, two years before A.S. Lyon would've seen her perform as Virginia in the play Virginius at Drury Lane Theatre.
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  Men Dancing in a Coffee House, an illustration from Tobias Smollett's "The Expedition of Humphry Clinker" (London, 1793), Vol. 1

  This illustration depicts men dancing, laughing, and generally taking pleasure in their visit to a coffee house.
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  Mention of Somerset House in the Yorkshire Gazette

  This column in the Yorkshire Gazette from May 31st, 1823 details the exhibition of paintings at Somerset House taking place the same day. A.S. Lyon mentions visiting this exhibition in his own diary.