:: :: University of Virginia Library

One frustrating aspect of many nineteenth-century American periodicals is that their contributors remain anonymous, usually with no marked set or other records left behind to identify them. While many of the writings justly deserve their anonymous entombment, others may add to the fugitive writings of well-known authors and increase our understanding of them.

The American Quarterly Review is a case in point. Taking all knowledge for its province, it noticed everything from legal commentaries to histories of German and Italian music and systems of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Along with these more unconventional and esoteric subjects the magazine also discussed many of the important histories, biographies, travel books, and scientific works which had recently appeared or which continued to arouse interest despite their age. Linguistic barriers did not exist for the Review; volumes in all languages ancient and modern which came under its critical scrutiny were dispatched with sureness and authority. The quarterly appealed to the serious cultured reader who had the patience to plumb the prolixities of the pages and dig out the nuggets buried therein.

Edited by Robert Walsh, the American Quarterly Review was published by Carey and Lea in Philadelphia during its first six years. From the entries in the publishers' account book (now in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania) we learn some pertinent details about the contributors, most of whom heretofore have not been positively identified.[1] Even in these entries we find the name of an occasional reviewer

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omitted; frequently in these instances he was an editorial assistant who wrote just enough copy to pad out the issue. In the account book the usual pattern for the entry for each issue is to list, in order of appearance, the reviewers, the total number of pages they contributed, and the payment they received. In a few instances the order of the contributors in the listing in the account book does not correspond to the order in the magazine, but usually these discrepancies can be worked out by checking the number of pages in the review with the number assigned to contributors in the account book.

Although Robert Walsh often assigned books to the best authorities in the field, he still drew heavily upon the intellectuals of the Philadelphia area to write the essay-reviews for his journal. Professors, lawyers, physicians, and writers contributed articles which are thorough, searching discussions but all too frequently written in a heavy-handed style that today repulses all but the hardiest reader. The dullness of the pages of the American Quarterly Review is no greater than some of its contemporaries, and it doubtless appealed to a thoughtful segment of the population which passed its time in reading learned discourses such as these. Reader interest is reflected in the size of the printings, which varied from 4500 copies per issue to 1250.

In the following list, details from the account book and the magazine are combined. First, the reviewer is identified, together with the pages which his article occupies in the issue and his payment as listed in the account book. Following is the title of the topic under consideration.

Volume I, no. 1 (March, 1827)

I Robert Walsh,[2] 2-38. "American Biography."
II James Renwick,[3] 38-54; $32. "Trigonometry."

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III Frederick Beasley,[4] 54-77, $40. "Eulogies on Jefferson and Adams."
IV John D. Godman,[5] 78-105, $56. "Fossil Remains."
V Joseph Hopkinson,[6] 106-129, $75. "Doctrine of Contracts."
VI Timothy Pitkin,[7] 129-153, $35. "Secret Journals of the Old Congress."
VII George Bancroft,[8] 153-162, $10. "Mrs. Hemans's Poems."
VIII Peter S. Duponceau,[9] 162-188, $54. "Kent on American Law."
IX Walsh, 189-222. "French Revolution."
X James Kirke Paulding,[10] 222-234, $25. "English Fashionable Life."
XI Robert Patterson,[11] 235-253, $38. "Symmes's Theory."
XII William Rawle, Jr.,[12] 254-286, $60. "Greek Controversy."
XIII Hopkinson, 286-307. "Souvenirs."

Volume I, no. 2 (June, 1827)

I ------- Tucker,[13] 309-331, $44. "Political Economy."
II Paulding, 331-357, $50. "American Drama."
III Dr. Isaac C. Snowden,[14] 357-371, $28. "Epicurean Philosophy."
IV René La Roche,[15] 371-400, $58. "Italian Music."

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V Walsh, 401-437. "American Biography."
VI Renwick, 438-458, $40. "Egyptian Hieroglyphics."
VII Godman, 458-472, $30. "Natural History."
VIII Rawle, 473-494, $40. "Australia."
IX Thomas I. Wharton,[16] 494-520, $50. "Political System of America."
X Walsh, 521-550. "Segur's Memoirs."
XI John Sanderson,[17] 550-578, $50. "French Literature."
XII Walsh, 578-605. "Life of Napoleon."

Volume II, no. 3 (September, 1827)

I Renwick, 1-19, $36. "Theory of Ships."
II Paulding, 19-46, $50. "Historical Romance."
III Henry Vethake,[18] 47-69, $45. "Political Economy."
IV ------- Metcalf,[19] 70-102, $60. "Law of Marriage and Divorce."
V Walsh, 102-120. "Biography of Chatham."
VI Godman, 120-134, $25. "Southern Africa."
VII Rawle, 134-171, $60. "Barrington's Sketches of His Own Times."
VIII Bancroft, 171-186, $30. "German Literature."
IX Hopkinson, 186-214, $55. "Constitutional Law."
X Achille Murat,[20] 214-237, $25. "Florida."
XI Tucker, 237-267, $60. "Negro Slavery."
XII [Author not indicated],[21] 267-306. "British Colonial and Navigation System."

Volume II, no. 4 (December, 1827)

I Thomas Cooper,[22] 307-337, $60. "Origin of the Homeric Poems."

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II John Read,[23] 338-362, $40. "Mexico."
III ------- Wallenski,[24] 362-395, $60. "Life of Bernardin de St. Pierre."
IV Paulding, 395-422, $50. "Travels of Lieutenant De Roos."
V Dr. Robley Dunglison,[25] 422-458, $70. "Gastronomy of the Romans."
VI George Ticknor,[26] 458-482, $45. "Works of Chateaubriand."
VII Bancroft, 482-509, $50. "Early American Poetry."
VIII Renwick, 509-533, $60. "Egyptian Chronology."
IX Renwick, 533-539. "Weights and Measures."
X Walsh, 539-584. "Carter's Letters from Europe."

Volume III, no. 5 (March, 1828)

I Renwick, 1-26, $70. "Atmospherical Phenomena."
II Rawle, 26-61, $60. "Hallam's Constitutional History."
III Dunglison, 61-88, $50. "Voyage to the Moon."
IV Walsh, 88-115. "Sparks's Life of Ledyard."
V Ticknor, 115-126, $20. "Dana's Poems."
VI Francis Lieber,[27] 126-150, $45. "Gymnastics."
VII Bancroft, 150-173, $45. "German Literature."
VIII Renwick, 173-190. "Irving's Life of Columbus."
IX Paulding,[28] 190-220, $50. "The Greeks and the Turks."
X Walsh, 220-255. "Bausset's Napoleon."
XI Wallenski, 255-286, $50. "Russian Mission to China."

Volume III, no. 6 (June, 1828)

I Renwick, 287-320, $65. "Astronomy."
II Francis Wayland,[29] 321-342, $45. "Lawrence's Lectures."

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III Robert Rantoul, Jr.,[30] 342-369, $40. "The Sandwich Islands."
IV Dr. John K. Mitchell,[31] 370-391, $40. "Bees."
V Dr. Thomas C. James,[32] 391-422, $60. "Indian Language and Condition."
VI Dunglison, 423-469, $90. "Popular Superstitions."
VII Walsh, 469-480. "Austin's Life of Elbridge Gerry."
VIII Henry Wheaton,[33] 481-490. "Scandinavian Literature."
IX Hopkinson, 491-505, $25. "The United States, and the London Quarterly Review."
X Isaac Lea,[34] 505-542. "North-West Passage."
XI Henry D. Gilpin [?],[35] 543-573. "Joseph Napoleon."

Volume IV, no. 7 (September, 1828)

I [Author not indicated], 1-27, $50. "Brown's Philosophy."
II Renwick, 27-53, $50. "Egyptian History."
III [Author not indicated], 53-85, $60. "Jurisprudence of Louisiana."
IV Read, 85-115, $56. "Ward's Mexico."
V Walsh, 115-156. "Bishop Heber's India."
VI Bancroft, 157-190, $65. "German Literature."
VII John Pickering,[36] 191-214, $45. "English Orthoepy."
VIII Gilpin, 215-243, $50. "Franklin's Second Expedition."
IX Duponceau, 244-266, $40. "Saxe-Weimar's Travels."
X [Author not indicated], 266-270. "Controversy respecting the pretensions of Marcus Bull to the Rumford Premium."

Volume IV, no. 8 (December, 1828)

I Gregory T. Bedell,[37] 271-286, $28. "Heber's Palestine."
II Cooper, 286-308, $44. "Malaria."
III Ticknor, 308-349, $80. "Early Spanish Drama."
IV Wheaton, 350-366, $35. "Maritime Expeditions of the Normans."

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V Renwick, 367-395, $55. "Niebuhr's Roman History."
VI Samuel Bayard,[38] 395-426, $60. "African Colonization."
VII ------- Suffitt,[39] 426-448, $40. "Animal Magnetism."
VIII Walsh, 448-480. "Siam and Cochin-China."
IX [Author not indicated], 480-507, $40. "New Maritime Artillery."
X [Author not indicated],[40] 507-538. "Travels to Russia."

Volume V, no. 9 (March, 1829)

I Renwick, 1-41, $80. "Egyptian Architecture."
II Cooper, 41-50, $18. "Instructions to Representatives."
III Caleb Cushing,[41] 50-70, $40. "Restrepo's Colombia."
IV [Author not indicated],[42] 71-85, $25. "The Law of Libel."
V ------- Tollin,[43] 85-99, $25. "History."
VI Rawle, 99-117, $35. "Greek Revolution."
VII Bancroft, 118-143, $50. "Doctrine of Temperaments."
VIII ------- Ware,[44] 143-190, $90. "Darby's View of the United States."
IX Gilpin, 190-221, $50. "Irving's Conquest of Granada."
X Walsh, 222-258. "Memoirs of Dr. Parr."

Volume V, no. 10 (June, 1829)

I Gilpin, 259-300, $75. "Discoveries in Central Africa."
II J. W. Alexander,[45] 301-310, $16. "Milton's Letters."
III Renwick, 310-343, $60. "Astronomy of Laplace."
IV James Hall,[46] 343-358, $28. "Flint's Geography and History of the Western States."
V Cooper, 358-387, $55. "Chancery Law."
VI Henry Brevoort,[47] 388-407, $40. "Horne Tooke."
VII [Author not indicated], 408-437. "History of Pennsylvania."

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VIII Walsh, 438-473. "Female Biography."
IX R. M. Walsh,[48] 473-495. "Hosack's Life of Clinton."
X Bancroft, 495-506, $20. "Russia."

Volume VI, no. 11 (September, 1829)

I Cushing, 1-22. "Miller's Memoirs."
II Gilpin, 22-55, $100. "Memorials of Shakespeare."
III Walsh, 55-72. "Southey's Colloquies."
IV ------- Ray,[49] 73-104, $60. "Geology."
V Antony Laussat,[50] 104-116, $20. "Codification."
VI Wallenski, 116-144, $50. "Spain."
VII Renwick, 145-171, $50. "Education."
VIII William M. Meredith,[51] 172-189, $30. "Diplomacy of the United States."
IX Bancroft, 189-216, $50. "Dwight's Germany."
X [Author not indicated], 216-239. "Sketches of Naval Life."
XI Walsh, 240-262. "American Poetry."

Volume VI, no. 12 (December, 1829)[52]

I 263-283. "The Public Domain of the United States."
II 283-303. "Arabian Tales."
III 303-331. "Latin Studies."
IV 331-360. "Encyclopaedias."
V 360-378. "Stewart's Philosophy."
VI 378-408. "Pitkin's History of the United States."
VII 408-437. "The Steam Engine."
VIII 438-455. "The Life of Arthur Lee."
IX 455-467. "The Republic of San Marino."
X 467-494. "Lafayette in America."
XI 494-524. "Jefferson's Posthumous Works."

Volume VII, no. 13 (March, 1830)

I James R. Eckard,[53] 1-23, $30. "The Loves of the Poets."
II Bancroft, 24-64, $60. "Russia and Turkey."
III Alexander, 64-92, $40. "Mohammedan History."

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IV Henry Schenck Tanner,[54] 92-111, $25. "Texas."
V Hopkinson, 111-136, $45. "Supreme Court of the United States."
VI Walsh, 136-162. "The Burmese Empire."
VII Paulding,[55] 162-188, $45. "Anti-Masonry."
VIII Gilpin, 188-213, $40. "Canada."
IX La Roche, 213-240, $40. "Music and Musicians of Europe."
X Walsh, 241-254. "The Life of Summerfield."

Volume VII, no. 14 (June, 1830)

I Renwick, 255-279, $45. "Astronomy of Laplace."
II La Roche, 280-305, $40. "Corneille."
III Lorenzo Da Ponte,[56] 305-337, $48. "Italian Comedy."
IV Gilpin, 337-361, $35. "Wheaton's Travels in England."
V ------- Keating,[57] 361-409, $55. "Geology."
VI Paulding, 409-436, $45. "John Paul Jones."
VII Bancroft, 436-449, $40. "Taylor's German Poetry."
VIII Walsh,[58] 450-475. "Mexico."
IX [Author not indicated], 475-513. "Cuba."

Volume VIII, no. 15 (September, 1830)

I Alexander, 1-32, $50. "The Gulistan of Sadi."
II Charles J. Ingersoll,[59] 32-71, $50. "Napoleon and Bourienne."
III Alexander, 72-93, $30. "Anthon's Horace."
IV James McHenry,[60] 93-108, $25. "Falkland and Paul Clifford."
V Keating, 108-134, $40. "Tanner's Indian Narrative."

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VI Paulding, 134-161, $45. "Dramatic Literature."
VII [Author not indicated], 161-175. "British Debate concerning Mexico."
VIII Hopkinson, 175-197, $40. "Sunday Mails."
IX [Author not indicated], 197-226. "Life of Sir Thomas Munro."
X ------- Candler,[61] 227-248, $30. "Fanatical Guides."

Volume VIII, no. 16 (December, 1830)

I Francis Markoe, Jr.,[62] 249-281, $50. "Buenos Ayres and the Pampas."
II Renwick, 282-311, $45. "Internal Improvement."
III McHenry, 312-337, $40. "Brown's Novels."
IV Gilpin, 338-359, $25. "Watson's Annals of Philadelphia."
V [Author not indicated], 360-380. "Wilson, the Ornithologist."
VI Dunglison, 380-409, $45. "Longevity."
VII Walsh [?],[63] 409-421. "Don Juan Van Halen."
VIII Albert Gallatin,[64] 422-441. "Mirabeau."
IX [Author not indicated],[65] 441-528. "Banks and Currency."

Volume IX, no. 17 (March, 1831)

I Walsh, 1-33. "Lady Morgan's France in 1829-30."
II Bancroft, 33-51, $36. "Ennui."
III Gilpin, 52-81, $40. "Dobell's Travels in China and Siberia."
IV Renwick, 82-115, $60. "Physical Geography."
V [Author not indicated], 116-136, $30. "Auto-Biography of Thieves."
VI Markoe, 136-163, $40. "Tobacco."
VII Gilpin, 163-186, $32. "Irving's Spanish Voyages of Discovery."
VIII Hopkinson, 186-232, $50. "Martin's History of Louisiana."
IX [Author not indicated], 233-246. "Halsted on Dyspepsia."
X Ticknor, 246-282, $70. "Bank of the United States."

Volume IX, no. 18 (June, 1831)

I Dunglison, 283-314, $60. "College - Instruction and Discipline."
II Walsh, 314-338. "Croley's George the Fourth."
III Bedell,[66] 339-351, $18. "Hieroglyphic System."

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IV Renwick, 352-385, $50. "Iron."
V McHenry, 385-398, $20. "The Siamese Twins."
VI Paulding,[67] 398-419, $35. "Europe and America."
VII [Author not indicated],[68] 420-457. "Webster's Speeches."
VIII Bancroft, 457-482, $50. "Poland."
IX [Author not indicated],[69] 483-511, $42. "History of Maryland."
X Gilpin, 512-533, $30. "Peale's Notes on Italy."

Volume X, no. 19 (September, 1831)

I Markoe, 1-28, $42. "Dr. Francia, Dictator of Paraguay."
II [Author not indicated], 29-47. "Criminal Jurisprudence of Ohio."
III Paulding, 48-68, $35. "Parliamentary Reform."
IV Candler, 68-93, $36. "Society Tracts."
V Alexander, 93-126, $48. "The Missionary Question."
VI Markoe, 126-156, $38. "Brazil."
VII Bayard, 156-194. "French Spoliations, Prior to 1800."
VIII Bancroft, 194-210, $30. "German Poetry."
IX Gilpin, 210-230, $30. "Life and Correspondence of Sir Thomas Lawrence."
X -------Reed,[70] 230-243, $24. "History of Cuba."

Volume X, no. 20 (December, 1831)

I Candler, 245-258, $20. "Ornithological Biography."
II R. Walsh, Jr.,[71] 258-291. "Memoirs of the Dutchess of Abrantes."
III Theophilus Parsons, Jr.,[72] 291-311, $30. "Cousin's Philosophy."
IV Gilpin, 311-334, $30. "Wheaton's History of the Northmen."
V Dr. Charles D. Meigs,[73] 334-355, $30. "Cholera."
VI Markoe, 356-385, $40. "Tod's India."
VII Duponceau, 385-416. "Silk."
VIII Read, 417-443, $50. "Diplomatic Correspondence of the Revolution."

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IX ------- Johnson,[74] 444-474. "Free Trade and the Tariff."
X Walsh, 475-505. "Griffin's Remains."

Volume XI, no. 21 (March, 1832)

I Hopkinson, 1-30, $50. "Cherokee Case."
II La Roche, 30-66. "The French Opera."
III Renwick, 66-102, $60. "Gold Districts."
IV Charles Follen,[75] 103-120, $25. "Constant on Religion."
V ------- Ward,[76] 120-153, $50. "Renwick's Mechanics."
VI McHenry, 154-174, $30. "American Lake Poetry."
VII Walsh, 175-212. "Memoirs of the Dutchess of Abrantes."
VIII Markoe, 212-245, $48. "Central America."
IX ------- Blunt,[77] 245-264, $40. "The Bank Question."

Volume XI, no. 22 (June, 1832)

I J. Hall, 265-284, $35. "The Public Domain."
II Charles Caldwell,[78] 284-309, $35. "Flint's Mississippi Valley."
III Walsh, 309-345. "Lord Dover's Frederic the Second."
IV Thomas R. Dew,[79] 345-391. "The Tariff Question."
V Alexander, 391-411, $30. "Oxford Prize Essays."
VI Renwick, 412-449, $55. "Bouchette's British North America."
VII Wharton, 449-472, $35. "Life of Gouverneur Morris."
VIII Ward, 473-494. "Doctrine of Probabilities."
IX ------- Clay,[80] 495-504. "West Point Academy."

Volume XII, no. 23 (September, 1832)

I Candler, 1-24, $32. "Travels of Tyerman and Bennet."
II Robert Hare,[81] 24-56, $48. "Chenevix on National Character."

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III Joseph Emerson,[82] 57-87, $40. "Mysteries and Masonry."
IV Wharton, 87-109, $30. "Beechey's Voyage to the Pacific."
V ------- Simmes,[83] 109-133, $35. "Mrs. Trollope and the Americans."
VI ------- Minot,[84] 133-153, $30. "Mackintosh on Ethical Philosophy."
VII ------- Elwyn,[85] 153-189. "The British Revolution of 1688."
VIII Dew, 189-265. "Abolition of Negro Slavery."

Volume XII, no. 24 (December, 1832)

I Wharton, 267-299, $45. "Eminent British Lawyers."
II Syd. Fisher,[86] 299-315, $20. "Results of Machinery."
III Walsh, 315-354. "Travels of a German Prince."
IV Ward, 354-379, $48. "Locke."
V ------- Harmon [?],[87] 379-426. "Slavery Question in Virginia."
VI Bancroft, 426-441, $30. "Early Colonial History."
VII ------- Lawrence,[88] 442-457. "Italian Republics of the Middle Ages."
VIII Paulding, 457-485, $42. "Two Years and a Half in the Navy."
IX William Wood Gerhard[89] & Walsh, 486-509, $20. "Sarrans' Memoirs of Lafayette."
X Hopkinson, 509-531, $35. "Dunlap's American Theatre."

Volume XIII, no. 25 (March, 1833)

I Wharton, 1-30, $40. "Life of Commodore Barney."
II Samuel Hood,[90] 30-60, $45. "Revised Code of Pennsylvania."
III [Author not indicated], 60-93. "Life of Schiller."

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IV ------- Walker,[91] 94-126, $45. "View of Ohio."
V ------- Lampar,[92] 127-143, $24. "Memoirs of the Dutchess of St. Leu."
VI Renwick, 143-167, $35. "The Girard College."
VII Candler, 167-187, $30. "New Zealand and Tristan d'Acunha."
VIII [Author not indicated], 187-224. "Hampden and his Times."
IX Thomas A. Budd,[93] 224-260, $45. "Nullification."

Volume XIII, no. 26 (June, 1833)

I Wharton, 261-298, $50. "Froissart and his Times."
II [Author not indicated], 298-313. "Army of the United States."
III Candler, 314-336, $30. "Morrell's Voyages."
IV Renwick, 337-375, $50. "Fortification and Sieges."
V Patterson, 375-403, $40. "Dunglison's Physiology."
VI Elwyn, 403-436. "Life of Sir Humphrey Davy."
VII [Author not indicated], 436-469. "Negro Slavery."
VIII W. Fisher,[94] 469-485, $24. "Stuart's North America."
IX Budd, 485-524, $50. "The Rise and Progress of the English Commonwealth."