The Critical Review

The Critical Review was a British literary periodical that appeared from 1756 until 1817. It was founded in 1756 by Archibald Hamilton, an Edinburgh printer, and began with Tobias Smollett as its first editor. The publication was principally a review journal: its articles assessed recently published books, often at considerable length and with extensive quotations from the works under discussion. This format reflected the eighteenth-century importance of periodical criticism as a means of guiding readers through a rapidly expanding print market and of shaping reputations among authors, publishers, and intellectuals. The Review developed a recognizable political and religious character. Its contributors generally expressed Tory and High Church sympathies, distinguishing it from rival critical publications with different ideological alignments. The journal's reviews were frequently described as favorable, although its critical method could also involve detailed engagement with the arguments and language of the books it covered. Its early contributors included John Armstrong, Samuel Derrick, Thomas Francklin, and Patrick Murdoch, in addition to Smollett. The roster connected the periodical with a broad network of eighteenth-century literary and scholarly culture. One early review of note appeared in 1758, when the journal discussed James Ralph's pamphlet The Case of Authors. The review treated Ralph's work as a fair account of the difficulties encountered by professional writers, illustrating the publication's interest in the economic and social conditions of authorship as well as in literary style and content. The Review therefore functioned not simply as a list of books but as a forum for arguments about literature, publishing, and the position of writers. The periodical also became associated with a significant libel case. After publishing material concerning Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, Tobias Smollett was convicted of libel and sentenced to a fine of £100 and three months in King's Bench Prison. Smollett retired from the editorship in 1763, but the publication continued after his departure and retained influence in British literary life. Its publishing arrangements changed over time: the title was printed for different booksellers and printers during successive periods, including R. Baldwin, Archibald Hamilton, S. Hamilton, and J. Mowman, before later publication by J. Souter. These changes indicate an evolving production and distribution structure rather than a single permanent publishing house. The Critical Review remained in circulation for more than six decades, ending in 1817. It is now chiefly significant as an example of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century British review journalism and as a source for the study of literary reputation, political and religious opinion, authorship, and periodical publishing. Digitized historical copies, including holdings made available through the Internet Archive, preserve the publication for researchers.

The Critical Review was established in 1756 by Archibald Hamilton, an Edinburgh printer, with Tobias Smollett serving as its first editor. It entered an eighteenth-century print environment in which periodical criticism played an important role in directing readers toward new books and influencing the reputations of authors. The journal concentrated on book reviews, commonly presenting lengthy discussions supported by numerous quotations from the texts under examination. Its reviews were often favorable, while its contributors' political and religious outlook was broadly Tory and High Church. The early publication was produced by a group of writers associated with literary and scholarly culture. John Armstrong, Samuel Derrick, Thomas Francklin, and Patrick Murdoch have been identified among the contributors to its first two volumes. Other figures associated with the periodical included Samuel Johnson, David Hume, John Hunter, and Oliver Goldsmith. The journal's range extended beyond formal literary judgment. In 1758, for example, it reviewed James Ralph's The Case of Authors and characterized the pamphlet as a just account of the hardships experienced by professional authors. This indicates that the periodical could address the economics and social position of writers as well as the merits of individual publications. The Review's early history was marked by a libel prosecution. Following its publication of material about Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, Smollett was convicted and sentenced to pay a £100 fine and spend three months in King's Bench Prison. He left the editorship in 1763. His departure did not end the periodical: The Critical Review continued as an influential title for many years, although its publishing and printing arrangements changed repeatedly. The title was issued under a succession of commercial arrangements. Early numbers were printed for R. Baldwin, while Archibald Hamilton was associated with the period from 1758 to 1798. S. Hamilton handled the period from 1799 to 1804, followed by J. Mowman from 1804 to 1813 and J. Souter from 1814. These changes reflect the shifting bookselling and printing infrastructure through which long-running periodicals were produced and distributed in Britain. The Critical Review continued publication until 1817. Its surviving issues are valuable evidence of the period's literary marketplace, critical conventions, political and religious alignments, and debates about authorship. Historical copies are available through digitized collections, including the Internet Archive. The title is now defunct, but it remains a recognized source for research into British literary journalism from the mid-eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century.

• 1817

  Publication ends

  [1]The Critical Review (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  The periodical ceases publication after appearing for approximately sixty-one years.

• 1763

  Smollett leaves the editorship

  [1]The Critical Review (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  Tobias Smollett retires from The Critical Review after seven years as editor.

• 1758

  Review of The Case of Authors

  [1]The Critical Review (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  The periodical reviews James Ralph's pamphlet on the difficulties faced by professional authors.

• 1756

  Publication begins

  [1]The Critical Review (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  Archibald Hamilton begins publishing The Critical Review, with Tobias Smollett as founding editor.

A politically and religiously conservative British literary review periodical, combining extended book criticism with substantial quotation and commentary on the circumstances of authors and publishing.

• Literary periodical · 1756

  The Critical Review

  The title's principal and apparently sole product was a recurring British review periodical devoted mainly to books and literary criticism. Individual articles could be lengthy and included substantial quotations, allowing readers to encounter both the reviewer’s assessment and representative passages from the reviewed work. The publication also addressed questions surrounding authorship, publishing, and the intellectual culture of its period. Its editorial voice was associated with Tory and High Church perspectives.

• Libel prosecution connected with the Knowles review

  A review or related material concerning Admiral Sir Charles Knowles resulted in a libel case against editor Tobias Smollett. The proceedings ended with a £100 fine and three months' imprisonment in King's Bench Prison.

  Source

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• 1763

  Smollett retires from the editorshipStrategy

  Background

  After editing the periodical from its launch in 1756, Tobias Smollett left the Review in 1763.

  Action taken

  The publication continued after Smollett's departure rather than ending with its founding editor.

  Aftermath

  The Critical Review remained an influential periodical until it ceased publication in 1817.

  Source

1. 1The Critical Review (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Critical Review full textsarchive.org