{"id":1016,"date":"2012-08-30T14:29:20","date_gmt":"2012-08-30T19:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nonsolusblog.wordpress.com\/?p=1016"},"modified":"2017-07-28T21:22:12","modified_gmt":"2017-07-28T21:22:12","slug":"the-ramblers-magazine-a-puzzlingly-popular-periodical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/2012\/08\/30\/the-ramblers-magazine-a-puzzlingly-popular-periodical\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rambler\u2019s Magazine: A Puzzlingly Popular Periodical"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The rambler’s magazine, or, The annals of gallantry, glee, pleasure and the bon ton.\u00a0<\/em>London: Printed for the authors, and sold by G. Lister, no. 46, Old Bailey; Mr. Jackson, at Oxford; Mr. Hodson, at Cambridge; Mr. Frobisher, at York; Mr. Slack, at Newcastle; Messrs. Peason and Rawlinson, at Birmingham; Mr. Crutwell, at Bath; and all other booksellers in Great Britain and Ireland, [1783-1791]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I recently cataloged an eight-volume set<\/a> of The Rambler\u2019s Magazine, or, The Annals of Gallantry, Glee, Pleasure, and the Bon Ton<\/em> (not to be confused with Samuel Johnson\u2019s The Rambler<\/em>), which was published from 1784 to 1791. The magazine’s publishers boast that it is \u201ccalculated for the entertainment of the polite world, and to furnish the man of pleasure with a most delicious banquet of amorous, bacchanalian, whimsical, humorous, theatrical and polite entertainment.\u201d The issues appeared monthly, with a supplement at the end of the year, and were each around 40 pages. These pages were packed to the gills with lectures, anecdotes, letters, poems, theatrical vignettes, songs, and general gossip \u2014 all of a very lowbrow nature. The Rambler\u2019s Magazine<\/em> is a true predecessor of those unavoidable tabloid publications that are to be found at nearly every supermarket checkout today. The lewdness of the content is often echoed in the accompanying engravings, which bear such humorous and suggestive titles as \u201cLady C\u2014e preparing to be refreshed by Mr N\u2014y\u201d or \u201cAbelard studying the use of Eloisa\u2019s Globes.\u201d<\/p>\n

At times, the subject matter aims at the intellectual, discussing and illustrating contemporary political events (the general election of 1784) or scientific advancements (the hot air balloon pioneers Gustavus Katterfelto and the Montgolfier brothers), but always from a satirical and sensationalist point-of-view.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I looked in depth at the first four volumes, collecting some the most notable headlines and columns to share with readers of Non Solus<\/em>. Memorable headlines include:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOn ogling; or, The language of the eyes\u201d <\/strong>[1783 supplement]<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cAnalysis of female attractions\u201d<\/strong> [March 1784] \u2013 focuses on the phenomenon of blushing<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cDissertation upon beards and whiskers\u201d <\/strong>[June 1784]<\/p>\n

\u201cMemoirs of the Marquis de la Bizarre\u201d<\/strong> [June 1784]<\/p>\n

\u201cFemale boxing match\u201d<\/strong> [August 1784]<\/p>\n

\u201cCapt. Cook cured of the Rheumatism, in the Otaheitean mode, by friction\u201d<\/strong> [September 1784]<\/p>\n

\u201cKissed to death\u201d<\/strong> [October 1784]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe history and adventures of a bedstead\u201d<\/strong> [December 1784]<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the necessary qualifications for lying, with illustratory specimens\u201d<\/strong> [December 1784]<\/p>\n

\u201cDissertation on breeches\u201d<\/strong> [1784 supplement]<\/p>\n

\u201cExperiments on female inflammability\u201d<\/strong> [1784 supplement]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In a March 1783 article entitled \u201cA remarkable discovery; or, Mrs. General Washington, displayed in proper articles,\u201d it is claimed that evidence was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 11 November 1782 revealing that the Revolutionary War hero and future president was \u201cactually discovered to be of the FEMALE SEX.\u201d The column is accompanied by an engraving showing a whip-wielding \u201cMrs. General Washington, Bestowing thirteen Stripes on Britania [sic].\u201d Clearly some Britons were still sore about the recent events in the colonies.<\/p>\n

Here are a few other anecdotes of note from The Rambler\u2019s Magazine:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

A Hint.<\/em> If a certain old gentleman, not an hundred miles from Cavendish-square, would wish to make a secret of his frequent visits to a lady in the neighbourhood of Mortimer-street, he is advised not to leave his furious<\/em> little terriers<\/em> at the door, as the inscription upon their collars may lead to a discovery of an amour, which can be of no credit to a man of his age! [January 1783]
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The inconveniencies attending large hoops are to be remedied, it is said, by constructing them with a sort of side wings<\/em>, which yield upon resistance; but if the wings are made to give way so easily, pray what is to become of the middle? [February 1783]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marriages in the Month of September, omitted by all the news-writers \u2026 4. Mr. Flint to Miss Steel. N.B. As this is a striking couple, many sparks will, no doubt, be produced between them, by conjugal collision. [October 1783]<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bibliophiles will certainly derive a smile from the following letter to the editor from one \u201cLothario,\u201d who claims that he has a copy of an interesting letter in his possession, which is then printed in full.<\/p>\n

Epistle from a Bookbinder to a most enchanting subject.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

My dear,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I long to fold<\/em> you in my arms, and to gather<\/em> the honey from your ambrosial lips. I could fill whole pages<\/em> in expatiating upon your perfections, and nothing can ever cancel<\/em> my esteem for you! Oh, that I had you but in sheets!<\/em> I would be bound<\/em> to give you satisfaction; and, if any man should attempt to oppose our union, his eyes should instantaneously be sewed<\/em> up, and his body put in boards<\/em> at the undertakers. Though I am neither guilt <\/em>[sic] nor lettered<\/em>, I understand collating<\/em>. I have stitched<\/em> Mrs. Newton (her trial I mean) many an hundred times; and he ought to be bound in calf<\/em> who could not enjoy such a subject<\/em>. Perhaps, Madam, you may object to my size. I confess that I am rather diminutive, but, give me leave to observe to you, Madam, that a good octavo<\/em> is better than a bad folio<\/em>. A fine foolscap<\/em> is superior to a coarse royal<\/em>. If I should be so fortunate as to obtain you for a wife, you may depend upon being well covered<\/em>, not with sheep<\/em> or blue-paper<\/em>, but elegantly in Morocco<\/em>. Oh, if I had you upon the margin<\/em> of a limpid stream! The contents<\/em> of my purse shall ever be at your service; and you may rely upon my sincerity, for my tongue is always an index<\/em> to my heart. You may probably have heard, that I have been connected with unbound<\/em> subjects, but I am now determined to turn over a new leaf<\/em> and put a finis<\/em> to all my follies.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am, my dearest Duodecimo<\/em>,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your affectionate servant,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Timothy Catchword<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Similar to our modern-day crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and other mental exercises so often found in popular print media, The Rambler\u2019s Magazine<\/em> regularly included rebuses and riddles for the entertainment of its readers. Below are two to try your hand at.<\/p>\n

The first is a cryptologic puzzle from the February 1783 issue, which is a dedication to \u201cthe doctor himself,\u201d purported author of a multi-part piece entitled, \u201cAn eccentric lecture on the art of propagating the human species, and producing a numerous and healthy offspring, &c.\u201d Can you decipher it?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The second is a rebus from February 1786. While most of the objects which here signify letters, syllables, or whole words are recognizable by 21st<\/sup>-century readers, some are not so obvious. For some clues, see here<\/a>. The solution can be found here<\/a>. (Note: a fox was misplaced where a donkey should be in line six of the second page.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

According to the British Library\u2019s English Short Title Catalogue<\/a>, this is the only copy of the run of these magazines in this country outside of Harvard University, though our copy is missing the January 1790 and February 1791 issues.<\/p>\n

Volumes 3-8 bear the armorial bookplate of Sir Edward Denny Bacon (1860-1938), a famous British stamp collector and curator of the Royal Philatelic Collection. The Library\u2019s copy was acquired from Hill in October 1961. TB<\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The rambler’s magazine, or, The annals of gallantry, glee, pleasure and the bon ton.\u00a0London: Printed for the authors, and sold by G. Lister, no. 46, Old Bailey; Mr. Jackson, at Oxford; Mr. Hodson, at Cambridge; Mr. Frobisher, at York; Mr. Slack, at Newcastle; Messrs. Peason and Rawlinson, at Birmingham; Mr. Crutwell, at Bath; and all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":115,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,35],"tags":[118,135,179,189,218,219,222],"class_list":["post-1016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-engravings-etchings","category-tb","tag-engravings","tag-gustavus-katterfelto","tag-magazines","tag-montgolfier-brothers","tag-puzzles","tag-ramblers-magazine","tag-rebus"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/115"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1016"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2825,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1016\/revisions\/2825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}