In the last thirty years there has been a surprising amount of
speculation about the influence of the enthusiastic Platonist Thomas Taylor
upon most of the major poets of the Romantic Movement.[1] There is great difficulty in
establishing
these claims, because, although Taylor was notorious as "the English
Pagan," his life and friendships are shrouded in considerable
obscurity, and there are important bibliographical problems connected with
a number of his works. Our knowledge of Taylor's life comes principally
from an anonymous article entitled "Mr. Taylor, the Platonist" which
appeared in a history of some
Public Characters of 1798.
Much
of the information in this article is of an extremely minute and personal
nature (though there is a large and troubling unconcern for dates), and the
assumption among scholars has been that it was written either by Taylor
himself or by a very close friend. On the other hand, the statement that "the
celebrated Mrs. Woolstoncraft and her friend Miss Blood, resided with our
philosopher for nearly three months" distressingly lacks the warranty of
correct spelling.
[2] It is a matter of
considerable interest, therefore, to verify the authorship of this essay. In
particular, it would be interesting to know the authority for the statements
that Taylor made many friends "through the
means of Mr. Geo. Cumberland," and that one of his first efforts "to
emerge from obscurity" was to give a series of lectures on Platonism "at
the request of Mr. Flaxman . . . who very benevolently permitted him to
read his Lectures in the largest room of his house." About this time, the
early 1780s, Flaxman and Cumberland were probably among Blake's
closest friends.
[3] The following
letter, addressed to Cumberland at "Bishops Gate, near Egham, Surry," is
therefore of some importance.
Adelphi, Society of Arts
Octr: 7th 1798
Dear Sir
A volume will be published next month entitled "Public Characters
of the Year 98". In this volume I am to make my appearance: and as the
Editor requested me for this purpose to give him some memoirs of my
stormy life, I have drawn up as accurate an Account of myself as memory
would permit; thinking it was better to be my own executioner, than to be
murdered by any editor, or hierling Author in Great Britain. In the course
of these memoirs, I have taken care to inform the world, that it was
principally owing to you, that I was enabled to emerge from the obscurity
& servility of a Bankers Clerk; & have mentioned you as well
known,
by the publication of several ingenious
works. This I thought no more than justice, & hope you will consider
what I have done in that light. Wishing you health, peace &
temperance,
I remain
Yours sincerely
Thomas Taylor
[4]
Scholars interested in the career of Thomas Taylor may therefore accept as
absolutely authoritative the essay in Public Characters of
1798.
