II
Existing correspondence between the Rev. James Hervey and
Richardson and other references in their letters give fairly full information
about Richardson's printing of Hervey's Meditations among the
Tombs, Reflections on a Flower-Garden, and later the collected
Meditations and Contemplations. The evidence is gathered by
Sale, pp. 174-175, and the present note includes only additional details
gathered from a few other letters. The earliest surviving reference to the
project seems to be in a letter of May 25, 1745, dated from Thomas
Hervey's, Basinghall Street, from James Hervey to an unnamed
correspondent, possibly a printer associated with Richardson:
Your last two favours I received together. I thank you for the
specimen of types. I hope better paper is intended to be used, than that
whereon the types were printed; which I think coarse and slovenly. I am
most inclined to send abroad the pieces in a matrimonial state: I mean, not
in separate pamphlets, but united in a volume. They seem to be a contrast
to each other, and may, perhaps, mutually recommend one another.
Probably the 'Meditations among the Tombs' may carry too doleful an
aspect; and, if not enlivened a little with the brighter scenes of 'The
Garden,' may terrify the reader, and create disgust. I shall take an
opportunity of talking with Mr. Richardson on this affair; and shall, if he
take the trouble of perusing it, put one of the letters into his hands: though
it must be the mourning piece, because I have no copy of the gayer essay,
but what is in shorthand. What you hint at, with regard to the largeness of
the character, that old and enfeebled eyes may be able
to read it, is perfectly right. I shall desire that this suggestion may be
observed.
[2]
On June 28, 1746, Hervey wrote to the Rev. Mr. Thompson of St.
Ginnys: "My little piece, entitled 'Meditations among the Tombs' and
'Reflections on a Flower Garden,' has been published a considerable time.
. . . Mr. Richardson, the author of 'Pamela,' is my printer. Seven hundred
and fifty copies are struck off; the printer and writer are joint adventurers
with regard to pecuniary advantages, if any such should accrue from the
sale."[3] Though the
Meditations and the Reflections have separate
titlepages,
collation, and pagination, they were simultaneously published as a single
piece; the Dedication and the Preface, printed as pp. i-viii of the
Meditations, are designed for and refer to both parts.
Richardson also brought out the second edition, and took so long
about it that Hervey had time to add contemplations on night and on the
"Starry Heavens." On August 22, 1747, he wrote to Dr. Stonhouse asking
to borrow a copy of Andrew Baxter's Matho for use in
completing the latter piece: "If your Matho is not lent out of
Town, I wish you woud be so good as to send for it, & favour me
with
a Sight of it by the Bearer. The Reason of my requesting this, is, that
Mr. Richardson informs me by my Brother, if He has not
this last
Piece by the middle of next Week, his Press must stand still. And,
methinks, I wd gladly peruse Matho, before I suffer my
last Essay to
depart."[4]
