Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Macaulay in Calcutta

The Dark Blue, Vol 3, March-August 1872, edited by John C. Freund, (Google books) contains this (starting on page 633)

Let us now turn to the 'Calcutta Literary Gazette', which brings us to think of the literary labours of Capt. D.L. Richardson.   This periodical was established upwards of forty years ago {1830}, was tolerably successful for some years, when it declined and became merged into the Saturday Edition of the 'Bengal Hurkaru' (messenger), the old Calcutta journal, which had previously swallowed up and attached to its popular name the old 'India Gazette'. ......Richardson's literary fame commenced with the 'Literary Leaves'.  His 'Selection from the British Poets', with notices biographical and critical, were compiled and collected for the use of the Government Educational Institution of Bengal. ....We recollect the literary 'Chit-Chat', while it was being published in the 'Literary Gazette' of the 'Hurkaru', in 1847; ...... As a volume, the lively and earnest 'Chit-Chat' was reviewed, along with his other works, in the 'Calcutta' of September, 1848.   And a most elaborate and learned review it is—one hundred and twenty pages on the 'Literary Labours of D.L. Richardson'.
The reviewer brings out Macaulay in an arrogant light, hinting that 'D.L.R.' wished the 'mighty member of the Council', the Whig and Edinburgh Reviewer, the 'monopoliser' of all conversation, the idol for the hour in Calcutta, to write for him.  What a catch he would have been!  But fancy the brilliant man of genius, who had read every book and knew everything, fancy him 'condescending to write one line for a "Calcutta Annual", or "Literary Gazette"!'