Poems - Churchill, Charles 1732-1764 (Dublin Wilson, 1764)
The Rociad -- The Apology -- Night -- The Prophecy of famine -- Epistle to William Hogarth -- The Ghost -- The Conference - The Author -- The Duellist -
Charles Churchill (1732-1764) was a poet and satirist
Vol. 1 contains an engraved portrait (anonymous) of the author; vol. 2 contains a portrait engraving (Byrne after Miller) of John Wilkes (1725-1797). After 1761 or 1762 Churchill became a close ally and friend with Wilkes, the champion of liberty of the press, a British radical journalist and politician, as well as a magistrate, essayist and soldier.
Churchill's knowledge of the theatre prevails in the 'Rosciad', which appeared in March 1761. This reckless and amusing satire describes with the most disconcerting accuracy the faults of the various actors and actresses on the London stage; in a competition judged by Shakespeare and Jonson, Garrick is named the greatest English actor. 'The Duellist' (1763) is a virulent satire on the most active opponents of Wilkes in the House of Lords; The 'Epistle to William Hogarth' (1763) was in answer to the caricature of Wilkes made during the trial, in it Hogarth's vanity and envy were attacked in an invective which Garrick quoted as shocking and barbarous; 'In Night, an Epistle to Robert Lloyd' (1761), Churchill answered the attacks made on him, offering by way of defense the argument that any faults were better than hypocrisy; 'The Prophecy of Famine: A Scots Pastoral' (1763) is founded on a paper written originally for The North Briton. It is a violent satire on Scottish influence.
Ex libris William Laight "1767" (plate and manuscript), with volume 1 signed by the author
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Poetry; Satire; United Kingdom