This book is one that Lyon read over the course of many months in 1826

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.

Professor Heidi Kaufman

Professor Heidi Kaufman

2016

Professor Kaufman