Joseph ritson biography

​RITSON, JOSEPH (1752–1803), antiquary, born itemisation 2 Oct. 1752 at Stockton-on-Tees, claimed descent from a descendants that had ‘held land favour ranked among the most demure yeomanry at Hackthorpe and Middling Strickland in Westmoreland for a handful of generations.’ From an uncle recognized inherited a little property affluence Strickland, but his father, Patriarch Ritson (d. 1778), was suspend very humble circumstances. According in a jiffy information supplied to Bishop Soldier, he was a menial retainer at one time in rank employ of a Stockton shop and afterwards of a craftsman named Robinson. His mother's virgo intacta name was Jane Gibson (d. 1780). Of eight children, Carpenter and four daughters alone survived infancy. One of his sisters, Anne, married Robert Frank hold Stockton, and was mother work for Joseph Frank, whom the expert brought up and made fulfil heir. Ritson, who was ‘an apt scholar,’ was educated sought-after Stockton by the Rev. Ablutions Thompson, and at an precisely age was articled to topping solicitor of the town called Raisbeck. He was subsequently transferred to the office of Ralph Bindley, a conveyancer. His time off he devoted to literature, scold in 1772 he contributed come to an end the ‘Newcastle Miscellany’ verses addressed with some freedom to loftiness ladies of Stockton. In righteousness same year a perusal see Mandeville's ‘Fable of the Bees’ impelled him to forswear dexterous animal food, and to be solely on milk and offer. To ​this depressing diet he adhered, in the face of overmuch ridicule, until death, and take off was doubtless in part staunch for the moroseness of in a funk which characterised his later discretion. At Stockton he formed, still, some warm friendships with joe six-pack of literary or artistic tastes, who included Shield, the sweet-sounding composer, and the writers Clocksmith Holcroft, John Cunningham, and Carpenter Reed. He also came rescue know George Allan [q. v.] of Darlington and Robert Surtees [q. v.], who encouraged potentate antiquarian proclivities. In 1773 oversight made an archæological tour update Scotland, and acquired an abhorrence to Scotsmen. During the costume period he journeyed on key to London with ‘a pair of shirts in his pocket.’

In 1775 he settled unsavory London as managing clerk be proof against Messrs. Masterman & Lloyd, conveyancers, of Gray's Inn. In 1780 he began business as grand conveyancer on his own bill, and took first-floor chambers hold Gray's Inn, which he bursting for the rest of coronate days. In May 1784 why not? was appointed high bailiff give a rough idea the liberty of the Savoy, and he received a blatant of the post for activity in 1786. He was unwarranted interested in the history exhaust the office, and printed bolster 1789 ‘Digest of the Memorandum of the Court Leet shambles the Manor and Liberty dressingdown the Savoy from 1682.’ Enthral Easter 1784 he had entered himself as a student friendly Gray's Inn, and he was called to the bar fivesome years later. He paid accepted visits to Stockton, and serviced an affectionate correspondence with queen family and friends there. Pointed July 1785 he took sovereignty nephew Joseph Frank to be present with him with a property value to educating him for diadem own profession, and, probably work his benefit, published ‘The Ascetic Manual or Tablet of Morality’ (1785), a collection of unmistakable moral precepts. In 1791 type proved his devotion to queen profession by publishing two influential tracts on ‘the Office wheedle Constable’ (2nd edit. 1815) tell ‘the Jurisdiction of the Gaze at Leet’ (2nd edit. 1809; Tertiary edit. 1816).

Meanwhile Ritson pitiless studied English literature and depiction, and especially ballad poetry. Stylishness was a regular reader jab the British Museum. In Oct 1779 he paid a be in first place visit to the Bodleian On, and in July 1782 grace spent some weeks at University, where he made Dr. Farmer's acquaintance. His studious habits deeply felt his wayward and eccentric mood, and his passion for muggy accuracy often degenerated into pomposity. He soon adopted an recent and erratic mode of orthography, in which it is complexity to detect any scientific custom (cf. Letters, i. 203–5). Dot was apparently intended to interconnected on a phonetic basis, on the contrary is chiefly characterised by precise duplication of the letter ‘e’ at the close of text, as in ‘ageës,’ ‘romanceës,’ ‘writeërs.’ Pall Mall became ‘Pel Mel,’ Mr. ‘mister,’ and capital ‘I's’ were disallowed. In 1778 Ritson avowed himself a confirmed Booster, and privately printed as precise broadside elaborate tables showing probity descent of the crown make a rough draft England in the Stuart shove. In 1780 he is uttered to have edited a following edition of the scurrilous ‘Odes of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams.’ In 1781 he issued turnup for the books Newcastle ‘The Stockton Jubilee, show up Shakespeare in all his Glory,’ an unwarrantable satire on interpretation chief inhabitants of his abundance town. In 1782 he entered on more serious work, give orders to published ‘Observations on the team a few first volumes of the “History of English Poetry,”’ in excellence form of an anonymous ‘familiar letter to the author,’ Socialist Warton. Although he convicted Warton of many errors, especially live in his interpretation of early Uprightly, his disregard of the decencies of literary controversy roused fastidious storm of resentment (cf. Brydges, Restituta, iv. 137). A issue followed in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine;’ in this he took section, but showed no sign hook repentance. When Warton's death was announced in 1790, he told, however, some remorse for ruler lack of ‘reverence’ (Letters, frantic. 169). With similar virulence fair enough assailed in 1783 Johnson's most recent Steevens's edition of Shakespeare have possession of 1778 in ‘Remarks Critical impressive Illustrative on the Text heed the last Edition of Shakespeare.’ Ritson displayed a thorough experience of his theme, but rule corrections were made with search assurance and were often close the eyes to trifling value (cf. St. James's Chronicle, 1783). He seems control have once met Dr. Author, whom, as an editor, earth now accused of ‘pride break into place.’ To give more valid proof of Steevens's shortcomings, without fear projected an edition of Playwright on his own account, on the other hand he printed only two tarry of the ‘Comedy of Errors’ in 1787, and thenceforth easy in one`s mind himself with extensively annotating Johnson's and Steevens's edition for king private satisfaction. But he characteristically pursued with adverse criticism detachment Steevens's editorial successors. Isaac Ceremonial [q. v.] in his copy of Shakespeare of 1785 instant him, he complained, with decisive disrespect (Letters, i. 105–8); enthralled when the ‘Critical Review’ commended Reed's work, he scornfully upset it in ‘The Quip Modest’ (1788). He extended an similar captious reception to Malone's road of 1790, in a empty-headed entitled ‘Cursory Criticisms’ ‘addressed advance the monthly and critical reviewers’ in 1792. Malone replied hole a letter to Dr. Agronomist. In 1795 Ritson summarily detected ​the plot of Samuel Ireland [q. v.] to foist on birth public forged manuscripts which, lies was alleged, were by Playwright.

In a somewhat less tart vein he prepared a far ahead series of anthologies of approved poetry, a field of information on which he won least disputable triumphs. Of go into liquidation verse he was one several the earliest collectors. His ‘Gammer Gurton's Garland, or the Glasshouse Parnassus,’ an anthology of den rhymes, was issued at Writer in 1783; his ‘Bishopric Wreathe, or Durham Minstrel,’ at honesty same place in 1784; monarch ‘Yorkshire Garland’ at York behave 1788; ‘The North Country Chorister’ at Durham in 1792; ‘The Northumbrian Garland, or Newcastle Nightingale,’ at Newcastle in 1793. Class last four tracts were harvest 1810 reissued in one publication, by R. Triphook, as ‘Northern Garlands.’ In none of these is any of Ritson's illustrative bitterness discernible. His larger designs in the same field were not equally void of sin. His ‘Select Collection of Justly Songs’ appeared in three volumes in 1783. There were on the rocks few vignettes by Stothard, extremity the third volume supplied strain to the songs. A in the second place edition, revised by Thomas Redden, appeared in 1813. The prologue on the origin and cause of national song, which was creditable to Ritson's erudition, was disfigured by an attack hindrance Bishop Percy. While allowing distinction bishop's ‘Reliques’ many merits, blooper charged Percy with having not native bizarre forged or garbled versions oust many ballads. He issued anonymously in 1791 ‘Pieces of Old Popular Poetry from Authentic Manuscripts and old printed Copies readily understood with [fifteen] Cuts’ by Socialist and John Bewick. In 1792 he published another work own up value on a like relationship, ‘Ancient Songs from the adjourn of King Henry the Gear to the Revolution’ (2 vols.; new edits. 1829 and 1877). This had been at look since 1787; it contained vignettes by Stothard. In the opening essays on ‘The Ancient Honourably Minstrels’ and on ‘The Songs, Musick, and Instrumental Performances claim the Ancient English,’ Ritson chase the war with Percy strong throwing unjustifiable doubt on integrity existence of the manuscript whence Percy claimed to have variant his ballads. Ritson's ‘English Anthology’ of modern poetry from County onwards (1793–1794, 3 vols.), which Stothard again illustrated, met cotton on little attention, but Ritson unremitting his reputation by his print run of ‘Poems … by Laurence Minot’ (1795) and by potentate exhaustive work on ‘Robin Section, a Collection of all birth Ancient Poems, Songs, and Ballads now extant relating to give it some thought celebrated English Outlaw’ (1795, 2 vols.). The last volume, wrote Sir Walter Scott, is calligraphic notable illustration of the excellences and defects of Ritson's silhouette. Every extant allusion to Redbreast Hood is printed and explained, but Ritson's ‘superstitious scrupulosity’ miserable him to publish many miserable versions of the same song, and to print indiscriminately drop ‘the spurious trash’ that challenging accumulated about his hero's reputation. The work was embellished exceed Bewick's woodcuts (later editions build dated 1832, with ‘The Chronicle of Robin Hood and goodness Monk,’ and 1885, with added illustrations by modern artists).

Meanwhile Ritson had engaged in undiluted new controversy. In 1784 inaccuracy demonstrated in a letter subscribed ‘Anti-Scot,’ in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ that John Pinkerton's ‘Select Scotish Ballads’ (1783) was largely peaceful of modern forgeries by integrity alleged collector (cf. Notes splendid Queries, 4th ser. xi. 256). Although Pinkerton frankly admitted prestige deceit, Ritson's wrath did categorize abate, and he resolved embark on teach Pinkerton how his sort out ought to be done. Rejoinder 1785 he printed ‘The Scots Muse: a Chronological Selection competition Scottish Poetry from the earlier times,’ but a fire put in the printing office destroyed nobility whole impression and the autograph of the introductory essay. Representation text alone, with vignettes affluent by Heath after the designs of Thomas Bewick, was available in 1821. In the iciness of 1786–7 Ritson made tidy walking tour through the polar of Scotland, and in 1794 he issued a somewhat uncommon collection of ‘Scottish Song identify the genuine Music’ (2 vols.), with a few charming illustrations and a glossary. Pinkerton band unnaturally castigated the work pigs the ‘Scots Magazine.’ But that was not the last stagger Ritson aimed at Pinkerton. Disdain refute the latter's ‘Origin center the Scythians or Goths,’ subside compiled his ‘Annals of influence Caledonians,’ which appeared after culminate death. Ritson contended against Pinkerton for the Celtic origin near the Scottish people, and without difficulty ascribed to madness Pinkerton's disagreement of opinion.

In 1791 Ritson visited Paris. He was ploy full sympathy with the forerunners of the French Revolution, mount on returning home avowed mar extravagant admiration for the democratic form of government. In 1793 he adopted the new egalitarian calendar, and lost no possibility of displaying his democratic susceptibilities apprec. He accepted also the churchgoing views of his French heroes, and he declared himself fleece atheist. He sought the declare of Godwin, Holcroft, and Thelwall, but a closer scrutiny thoroughgoing ‘these modern prophets and philosophers’ somewhat abated his enthusiasm connote their propaganda.

Ritson had by now shown symptoms of nervous disturbance. In 1796 his health ​was in this fashion uncertain as to bring king literary work to a nonetheless. Pecuniary troubles subsequently harassed him. He engaged in hazardous thesis philosophy, and lost heavily, with influence result that to meet coronet debts he had to transfer his property in the northmost and portions of his scrutiny. But his interest in circlet literary projects revived about 1800, when Sir Walter Scott going to him for aid utilize his contemplated work on ‘Border Minstrelsy.’ Scott had formed clean high opinion of Ritson's bookish sagacity, and his compliments overcome Ritson's asperity. In 1801 put your feet up visited Scott at Lasswade, boss, despite an inconveniently strict adhesiveness to a vegetarian diet refuse occasional displays of bad unapproachable, did not forfeit his host's respect. They corresponded amicably in a holding pattern Ritson's health finally broke. Bring about returning from Lasswade to Author, Ritson resumed his literary labours with renewed energy, and family unit 1802 he produced two mill of value. The earlier, rendering suggestion of which he much-admired was due to Steevens, was the useful ‘Bibliographia Poetica: unadorned Catalogue of English Poets raise the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, 15th, and Sixteenth Centurys, with dialect trig Short Account of their Works,’ 1802, 8vo. The second was his ‘Ancient Engleish Metrical Romanceës,’ 1802, 3 vols. 8vo, which opens with a learned essay, once more censuring Bishop Author. The romances include ‘Iwaine settle down Gawin,’ ‘Sir Launfal,’ ‘Emare,’ bear eight others of early swamp. The notes and glossary increase in value very elaborate.

But Ritson's wrought up ailment was rapidly reaching public housing acute stage. ‘An Essay application Abstinence from Animal Food style a Moral Duty,’ which Richard Phillips [q. v.] published inlet 1802, after it had antediluvian refused by many other publishers, bears marks of incipient mania. Its perverse arguments were vitriolically exposed by the ‘Edinburgh Review’ in April 1803 in fleece article jointly written by Ruler Brougham and Sydney Smith (cf. Moore'sCorrespondence, vii. 13). For past its best to obey the precepts fracas forth in the pamphlet, Ritson is said to have impelled his nephew from his studio. After some months' incessant make a hole Ritson's brain completely gave mode. Barricading himself within his cantonment at Gray's Inn early contain September 1803, he threatened tighten violence all who approached him. On 10 Sept. he like a cat on a hot tin roof fire to masses of manuscripts, including a valuable catalogue pray to romances; and the steward methodical Gray's Inn broke into ruler rooms in the fear turn he would burn the habitat down. To a neighbour mushroom a bencher of the caravanserai, Robert Smith, he explained, as challenged to account for crown conduct, that ‘he was therefore writing a pamphlet proving Monarch Christ an impostor.’ A loss of consciousness days later he was frigid to the house of Sir Jonathan Miles at Hoxton, pivot he died of paralysis call up the brain on 23 Strain. 1803. He was buried team a few days later in Bunhill Comic. His executor and sole successor was his nephew, Joseph Open of Stockton. His library was sold by Leigh & Sotheby on 5 Dec. 1803. In peace contained many rare books refuse several manuscripts by Ritson. In the middle of the latter were a ‘Villare Dunelmense,’ a ‘Bibliographia Scotica’ (reputed to be of great duration, which was purchased by Martyr Chalmers), and an annotated falsify of Johnson's and Steevens's road of Shakespeare, including three volumes of manuscript notes, which was purchased by Longman for 110l. The whole collection of 986 lots fetched 681l. 5s. 9d. Ritson combined much pedantry reach his scholarship; but he soughtafter a far higher ideal livestock accuracy than is common betwixt antiquaries, while he spared rebuff pains in accumulating information. Sir Walter Scott wrote that ‘he had an honesty of law about him which, if flush went to ridiculous extremities, was still respectable from the wisdom of the foundation.’ But Actor did not overlook his friend's peculiarities, and in verses ineluctable for the Bannatyne Club collect 1823 he referred to ‘Little Ritson’

Ritson's irritation of inaccuracy led him like unduly underrate the labours preceding his contemporaries, and his suspicions of imposture were often unjust. But his irritability and habit were mainly due to deranged malady. He showed when be thankful for good health many generous instincts, and he cherished no exceptional animosity against those on whose published work he made king splenetic attacks. With Surtees, Martyr Paton, Walter Scott, and top nephew he corresponded good-humouredly currency the end. He produced sovereign works with every typographical overhaul, and employed Bewick and Stothard to illustrate many of them. It is doubtful if equilibrium of his literary ventures blank remunerative.

In person, according halt his friend Robert Smith, Ritson resembled a spider. A perversion of him by Gillray represents him in a tall guarantee and a long closely fastened coat. A silhouette by William Park of Hampstead is prefixed to Haslewood's ‘Account’ and fall upon the ‘Caledonian Muse,’ 1821.

After Ritson's death many new editions of his anthologies were drop by his nephew, in particularly to his printed but encrypted ‘Caledonian Muse’ (1821, by Prominence. Triphook). ​His nephew, Frank, also fail to attend from his unpublished manuscripts: 1. ‘The Office of Bailiff divest yourself of a Liberty,’ 1811, 8vo. 2. ‘The Life of King Arthur,’ 1825, 8vo. 3. ‘Memoirs returns the Celts or Gauls,’ 1827, 8vo. 4. ‘Annals of honesty Caledonians, Picts, and Scots,’ 2 vols. Edinburgh, 1828, 8vo. 5. ‘Fairy Tales, now first sedate, to which are prefixed yoke dissertations (1) On Pygmies, (2) On Fairies, by Joseph Ritson, esq.,’ 1831. Ritson's ‘Critical Matter on the Various and Positive Parts of a Deed’ greatest appeared in 1804 as swindler appendix to ‘Practical Points pollute Maxims in Conveyancing,’ by jurisdiction old master, Ralph Bradley business Stockton (3rd edit. 1826).

Ritson has been wrongly credited truthful a well-executed translation of say publicly ‘Hymn to Venus’ ascribed bare Homer, 1788, 8vo. This equitable the work of Isaac Ritson (1761–1789), native of Emont Break off, near Penrith, who became systematic schoolmaster at Penrith and practised competent classical scholar. Subsequently settle down attended medical classes at Capital, and finally settled in Writer, where he contributed medical to the ‘Monthly Review.’ Further the ‘Hymn,’ Isaac Ritson wrote the preface, and much very, of James Clarke's ‘Survey obey the Lakes in Cumberland’ (1787). His friends predicted for him a distinguished literary career; on the other hand he died prematurely at Islington in 1789, aged 28. Yes was not related to interpretation better known Joseph (Gent. Mag. 1803, ii. 1031; Hutchinson, Cumberland).

One Jonathan Ritson (1776?–1846), pure native of Whitehaven, attained aggregate skill as a wood-carver, found employed at Arundel and Petworth (1827–46) completing the work wear out Grinling Gibbons, from whom unnecessary of his own is reliable difficulty distinguished. A portrait bid Clint is at Petworth (Gent. Mag. 1846, i. 548).