The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 407, December 24, 1829Various
General
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 407, December 24, 1829
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
Soon after the publication of his "Specimens," he revisited Germany, and
passed some time in Vienna, where he acquired a considerable knowledge
of the Austrian court and its manners. He remained long at Bonn, where
his friend, W.A. Schlegel, resides. Campbell returned to England in
1820, to undertake the editorship of the _New Monthly Magazine_,
and coupled with his name, it has risen to a very extensive circulation.
In 1824, Campbell published his "Theodric, a Domestic Tale," the least
popular of his works.
By his marriage Campbell had two sons. One of them died before attaining
his twentieth year; the other, while in the University of Bonn, where
he was placed for his education, exhibited symptoms of an erring mind,
which, on his return to England soon afterwards, ripened into mental
derangement of the milder species. After several years passed in this
way, during which the mental disease considerably relaxed, so that young
Campbell became wholly inoffensive, and his father received him into his
house. The effect of this upon a mind of the most exquisite sensibility
like the poet's, may be readily imagined: it was, at times, a source of
the keenest suffering.
We must now allude to an event in Campbell's life, which will ensure him
the gratitude of ages to come: we mean as the originator of the London
University. Four years before it was made public, the idea occurred
to him, from his habit of visiting the Universities of Germany, and
studying their regulations. He communicated it at first to two or three
friends, until his ideas upon the subject became matured, when they
were made public, and a meeting upon the business convened in London,
which Mr. Campbell addressed, and where the establishment of such an
institution met the most zealous support. Once in operation, several
public men of high talent, headed by Mr. Brougham, lost not a moment
in forwarding the great and useful object in view. The undertaking was
divided into shares, which were rapidly taken; but Mr. Campbell left the
active arrangements to others, and contented himself with attending the
committees. With unexampled rapidity the London University has been
completed, or nearly so, and Campbell has had the satisfaction of seeing
his projected instrument of education almost in full operation in less
than three years after he made the scheme public. Although one of the
most important,[4] this is not the only public-spirited event of this
description, in Mr. Campbell's life; for he was instrumental in the
establishment of the Western Literary Institution, in Leicester Square;
and at the present time he is, we believe, in conjunction with other
eminent literary men, organizing a club to be entitled the Literary
Union, whose lists already contain upwards of 300 men of talent,
including Sir Walter Scott and all the principal periodical writers
of the day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account