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This series comprises contemporary or near-contemporary accounts of the political, economic and social history of the British Isles during the nineteenth century. It includes material on international diplomacy and trade, labour relations and the women's movement, developments in education and social welfare, religious emancipation, the justice system and special events including the Great Exhibition of 1851.

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240 results in Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, 19th Century

Page 7 of 12

The Creevey Papers
  • A Selection from the Correspondence and Diaries of the Late Thomas Creevey, M.P.
  • Volume 1
  • Thomas Creevey
  • Edited by Herbert Maxwell
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    23 February 2012
    First published in:
    1903
  • Thomas Creevey (1768–1838) was a Whig politician, diarist and letter-writer, whose papers provide an important source for the history of the early nineteenth century. Although a relatively poor man, he was adept at making friends with important people, and received hospitality and financial help from them. His letters are full of gossip, often indiscreet, giving a vivid picture of the society and politics of the day. They form an interesting comparison with the papers of his contemporaries, J. W. Croker, who as a Tory was in power for most of the period in question, and Charles Greville (both available in this series). Living in Brussels at the time of Waterloo, Creevey is perhaps best remembered for his description of life there during Napoleon's 'Hundred Days'. This two-volume work edited by Sir Herbert Maxwell (1845–1937) was first published in 1903. Volume 1 covers the Napoleonic Wars and the Regency.

State Aid and State Interference
  • Illustrated by Results in Commerce and Industry
  • George Baden-Powell
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    08 December 2011
    First published in:
    1882
  • George Baden-Powell, KCMG (1847–98), graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, before studying at the Inner Temple in London. After a varied career as a commissioner in Victoria in Australia, the West Indies, Malta and Canada, he became the MP for Liverpool Kirkdale in 1885. He also found time to observe the total solar eclipse of 1896 in the Arctic, and co-write a paper about it for the Royal Society. He was a passionate advocate of free trade within the British Empire, and wrote extensively to support the cause. First published in 1882, this classic work on economics sets out Baden-Powell's case for imperial free trade. In the first chapter he sets out his arguments; the rest of the book is devoted to presenting his evidence and comparing the relative merits of protectionist and free trade economies around the world.

The Criminal Prisons of London
  • And Scenes of Prison Life
  • Henry Mayhew, John Binny
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    08 December 2011
    First published in:
    1862
  • Henry Mayhew (1812–87), social reformer and journalist, is well known for his classic work of research on the London poor (also reissued in this series) and as one of the co-founders of Punch magazine in 1841. While working as the metropolitan correspondent for the London Morning Chronicle, Mayhew initiated several investigations into London's poor and the state of the city's prisons. Sourcing his information from guards and from prisoners themselves, Mayhew's monumental study of London criminal life (co-written with John Binny and published in 1862) includes analyses of crime areas, crime classifications and the state of the different prisons connected to them, observations on juvenile delinquents, and methods of discipline and control of prisoners. The book also provides detailed police and criminal statistics. His survey ultimately concluded that all of London's prisons were lacking in basic human necessities and were greatly in need of reform.

The State of Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales
  • Not for the Debtor Only, but for Felons Also, and Other Less Criminal Offenders
  • James Neild
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    22 December 2011
    First published in:
    1812
  • James Neild (1744–1814), penal reformer and philanthropist, first became interested in the welfare of prisoners after visiting a friend jailed for debt. He went on to investigate prisons across Britain, France, Flanders, and Germany, fundraising to release those incarcerated for petty debt. In 1772 he helped establish the Society for the Relief and Discharge of Persons Imprisoned for Small Debts (the Thatched House Society), which succeeded in freeing over 16,000 debtors. Published in 1812, this work records the findings of Neild's thorough survey of debtors' prisons in Britain, and also discusses those imprisoned for other minor criminal offences. Neild exposes the harsh sentences assigned to debtors and petty criminals, using this evidence to support his campaign to improve the conditions of the prisoners and to stop imprisonment for debt. His efforts to improve the conditions of prisoners eventually influenced parliamentary reforms of the penal system.

‘These Eighty Years'
  • Or, The Story of an Unfinished Life
  • Volume 2
  • Henry Solly
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    24 November 2011
    First published in:
    1893
  • Henry Solly (1813–1903) was a British Unitarian minister and social reformer who supported universal suffrage, the abolition of slavery and free education. He is remembered today for his contribution to the development of the working-class movement in late Victorian Britain, and especially for being involved in the foundation of institutions such as Working Men's Clubs, the Charity Organization Society and the Garden City movement. First published in 1893, this two-volume autobiography combines the account of Solly's personal life as a Unitarian minister and father of five with the various social, religious and educational movements he was involved with during his career as an activist. Volume 2 focuses on Solly's later life as a minister and social campaigner, describing the development of the Club movement and other radical initiatives which would benefit the working classes in the nineteenth century.

A Treatise on the Industry of Nations
  • Or, The Principles of National Economy and Taxation
  • Volume 2, On Distribution, Consumption, and Taxation
  • Joseph Salway Eisdell
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    24 November 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • In this two-volume work, originally published in 1839, the relatively unknown Joseph Salway Eisdell (1791–1876) explores the political economy of 1830s Britain from a different standpoint from that of many of his contemporaries. Influenced by Adam Smith and Michael Thomas Sadler, and in concordance with his contemporary, Irish economist Mountifort Longfield (1802–84), Eisdell's focus on 'fiscal sociology' places emphasis on industrial workers and the significance of human nature in economics. He reassesses economic and population trends by rejecting the (until then) well-regarded Malthusian principles. In many ways this work is a reflection of 1830s Victorian society, which was experiencing massive shifts towards industrialisation, urbanisation and modernisation, with accompanying political changes. Eisdell's later work, An Essay on the Causes and Remedies of Poverty (1852) demonstrates his continued enthusiasm for fiscal sociology. Volume 2 focuses on distribution, the rewards of labour and taxation.

Life in London
  • Or, The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorne, Esq., and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom, Accompanied by Bob Logic, the Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees through the Metropolis
  • Pierce Egan
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    08 December 2011
    First published in:
    1821
  • Pierce Egan (1772–1849) was born near London and lived in the area his whole life. He was a famous sports reporter and writer on popular culture. His first book, Boxiana, was a collection of articles about boxing. It was a huge success and established Egan's reputation for wit and sporting knowledge. He is probably best remembered today as the creator of Corinthian Tom and Jerry Hawthorn ('Tom and Jerry'). Published in 1821 and beautifully illustrated by the Cruikshank brothers, this book is the original collection of Tom and Jerry's riotous adventures through Regency London. Its satirical humour and trademark use of current slang made it an overnight success, spawning many imitators and appearing in numerous editions. It was translated into French and inspired a number of successful stage plays that delighted audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. More recently, in 2006, an adaptation appeared on BBC Radio.

The Cambridge History of British Foreign Policy, 1783–1919
  • Volume 2, 1815–1866
  • Edited by Adolphus William Ward, George Peabody Gooch
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    22 December 2011
    First published in:
    1923
  • With contributions from leading historians of the day, alongside chapters by politicians, journalists and lawyers, this three-volume work was the first comprehensive survey of foreign policy during the rise of Britain as a major power. Published between 1922 and 1923, it is unashamed in its aim to present 'a national point of view [with] an avowed regard for the interests, and above all for the honour of Great Britain', but is all the more illuminating for that. Including some original memoranda and documents, it takes as its starting point the Treaty of Paris ending the American War of Independence, and concludes with the Treaty of Versailles (1919). Volume 2 begins with the defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna and concerns over the balance of power in Europe. The broader focus of Britain's interests in this period is reflected in chapters on the Far East, America and India.

Early Years of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort
  • Compiled under the Direction of Her Majesty the Queen
  • Charles Grey
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    16 February 2012
    First published in:
    1867
  • Originally written for private circulation among the Royal Family, this book, written by Lieutenant-General Charles Grey (1804–70), was first published in 1867. It details Prince Albert's life from his birth in 1819 through to his wedding to Queen Victoria and the first year of their married life. The Queen commissioned Grey, who had been secretary to both Albert and herself, as her husband's biographer, and the book was granted a wider publication, so that all who read it would 'tend to a better and higher appreciation of Prince Albert's great character'. Sourced from letters and memoranda, the book traces the development of Albert from an intelligent and gentle boy to the intellectual and moral compass of a nation. It records Albert's first visits to England, the wedding, his love for his adopted country and life in London, and includes details such as an attempted assassination of the Queen.

A Treatise on the Industry of Nations
  • Or, The Principles of National Economy and Taxation
  • Volume 1, On Production
  • Joseph Salway Eisdell
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    24 November 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • In this two-volume work, originally published in 1839, the relatively unknown Joseph Salway Eisdell (1791–1876) explores the political economy of 1830s Britain from a different standpoint from that of many of his contemporaries. Influenced by Adam Smith and Michael Thomas Sadler, and in concordance with his contemporary, Irish economist Mountifort Longfield (1802–84), Eisdell's focus on 'fiscal sociology' places emphasis on industrial workers and the significance of human nature in economics. He reassesses economic and population trends by rejecting the (until then) well-regarded Malthusian principles. In many ways this work is a reflection of 1830s Victorian society, which was experiencing massive shifts towards industrialisation, urbanisation and modernisation, with accompanying political changes. Eisdell's later work, An Essay on the Causes and Remedies of Poverty (1852) demonstrates his continued enthusiasm for fiscal sociology. Volume 1 focuses on production, trade, the banks and population.

The Croker Papers
  • The Correspondence and Diaries of the Late Right Honourable John Wilson Croker, LL.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Admiralty from 1809 to 1830
  • Volume 2
  • John Wilson Croker
  • Edited by Louis J. Jennings
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    23 February 2012
    First published in:
    1884
  • John Wilson Croker (1780–1857), politician and writer, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and studied for the bar before moving to London. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Secretary for Ireland when Sir Arthur Wellesley took command of the Army in Portugal, and subsequently became Secretary to the Admiralty, an important role in wartime. He was noted for his efficiency and honesty, and held the post until 1830, despite changes of government. He was a prolific letter-writer, on both professional and personal matters, and almost all his correspondents were men of importance in their field. This three-volume edition of his papers was published in 1884. Volume 2 covers the period 1829–42. Catholic emancipation and parliamentary reform dominated the political agenda in the earlier years, while the years 1841–2 were notable for the cause célèbre regarding the Marquess of Hertford's will, which, perhaps unfairly, damaged Croker's reputation.

A Gardener's Year
  • H. Rider Haggard
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    08 March 2012
    First published in:
    1905
  • H. Rider Haggard (1856–1925) is best known as the successful writer of adventure stories with exotic backgrounds such as King Solomon's Mines. However, he also served on a number of royal commissions, and in managing his wife's Norfolk estate became a recognised expert on agricultural matters. His A Farmer's Year (1898, also reissued in this series), recounts the work of the farm, together with observations on rural life and the state of agriculture in general. In 1905 he published this work, a diary of his garden in 1903. After an introductory chapter (with a plan) describing the the garden, orchard and glasshouses, and the staff he employed, the diary begins, relating the tasks and experiences of the year, from spraying against red spider mite in January to decorating the house with greenery on Christmas Eve. This beautifully written book reveals the horticultural taste and practice of the Edwardian era.

The Political Writings of Richard Cobden
  • Volume 1
  • Richard Cobden
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    15 December 2011
    First published in:
    1867
  • Richard Cobden (1804–65) was the leading liberal thinker of his generation, and it was primarily through his efforts that the Corn Laws were repealed and that classical liberalism became the dominant political theory of the United Kingdom for over half a century. His first pamphlet was published in 1835 and his last in 1862. This collection was published two years after his death, and was regularly reprinted on both sides of the Atlantic well into the twentieth century. Volume 1 includes Cobden's first two pamphlets, England, Ireland and America and Russia, which argue that British foreign policy benefited only the 'establishment' while the ordinary people were forced, through excessive taxation, to finance military adventures. Advocating free trade, low taxation, reduced military spending and improvements to popular education, he suggests Britain should concentrate on improving conditions in Ireland rather than engage in sabre-rattling in the face of Russian expansionism.

The Creevey Papers
  • A Selection from the Correspondence and Diaries of the Late Thomas Creevey, M.P.
  • Volume 2
  • Thomas Creevey
  • Edited by Herbert Maxwell
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    23 February 2012
    First published in:
    1903
  • Thomas Creevey (1768–1838) was a Whig politician, diarist and letter-writer, whose papers provide an important source for the history of the early nineteenth century. Although a relatively poor man, he was adept at making friends with important people, and received hospitality and financial help from them. His letters are full of gossip, often indiscreet, giving a vivid picture of the society and politics of the day. They form an interesting comparison with the papers of his contemporaries, J. W. Croker, who as a Tory was in power for most of the period in question, and Charles Greville (both available in this series). Creevey is perhaps best remembered for his description of Brussels during Napoleon's 'Hundred Days'. This two-volume work edited by Sir Herbert Maxwell (1845–1937) was first published in 1903. Volume 2 covers the period 1820–37, and the accession of Victoria, described here as a 'homely little being'.

Lombard Street
  • A Description of the Money Market
  • Walter Bagehot
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    29 December 2011
    First published in:
    1873
  • Walter Bagehot (1826–77), the influential political and economic essayist, wrote a number of books that became standards in their respective fields. He attended University College, London, where he studied mathematics and gained a master's degree in intellectual and moral philosophy. He was called to the bar, but instead chose a career in his father's banking business. He wrote widely on literature, economics and politics, co-founding the National Review in 1855. He became editor-in-chief of The Economist in 1860 and remained in that post until his death. This work, published originally in 1873 and described by J. M. Keynes as 'an undying classic', is a masterpiece of economics. It explains the world of finance and banking, concentrating on crisis management, and its ideas are as relevant today as ever, especially in the face of the global financial crisis that emerged in 2007.

A Statistical Account of the British Empire
  • Exhibiting its Extent, Physical Capacities, Population, Industry, and Civil and Religious Institutions
  • Volume 1
  • J. R. McCulloch
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    15 December 2011
    First published in:
    1837
  • John Ramsay McCulloch (1789–1864) wrote numerous articles, pamphlets and books about the emerging field of political economy. This two-volume work, published in 1837, focuses on 'the British Empire, exclusive of its foreign dependencies', in other words, Great Britain and Ireland. McCulloch drew information from the 1821 and 1831 census returns and commissioned contributions from experts including William Jackson Hooker, who provided the article on botany. His book was the first such overview to be compiled in more than a century and is an indispensable contemporary source on life in Great Britain and Ireland at the close of the Georgian era. Volume 1 first covers topography and population, and then focuses on agriculture, providing fascinating data on land use and the breeds of livestock reared. Additional chapters focus on crime and punishment, improvements in diet and standard of living, the economic benefits deriving from overseas colonies, and the English language.

Catalogue of a Collection of Works on or Having Reference to the Exhibition of 1851
  • In the Possession of C. Wentworth Dilke
  • Charles Wentworth Dilke
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    15 December 2011
    First published in:
    1855
  • C. Wentworth Dilke (1810–69), an influential figure at the Society of Arts, was one of the key organisers of the Great Exhibition of 1851. He played a leading part in planning the event and the catalogue, overseeing the installation of exhibits and managing the PR. The exhibition generated an enormous number of publications, official and unofficial, both in Britain and abroad, ranging from vistors' guides to London and descriptions of individual exhibits to discussions about the long-term future of the Crystal Palace, together with essays, sermons and poems. Dilke acquired several hundred such books and pamphlets, in various languages, and in 1855 privately published this catalogue of his collection, noting that it omits 'mere trade pamphlets' and that his 'departments' of relevant music and engravings are not comprehensive. Alphabetically organised and thoroughly cross-referenced, Dilke's catalogue remains an invaluable research resource for those studying the Great Exhibition and its global impact.

The Story of the ‘Domus Dei' of Portsmouth
  • Commonly Called the Royal Garrison Church
  • Henry Press Wright
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    23 February 2012
    First published in:
    1873
  • The 'Domus Dei', otherwise known as the Garrison Church, in Portsmouth is a familiar landmark to ships sailing into and out of Portsmouth Harbour. It was originally founded about 1210 as a 'hospital' for travellers - especially pilgrims - arriving at the port. After the Reformation its main building became a church, and was frequently used by naval and army personnel before embarkation. In 1814 the sovereigns and leaders of the Allies against Napoleon gathered there during the peace celebrations following his abdication, but by the middle of the century it had become dilapidated. A restoration project was begun in 1865, and this history of the building was published in 1873 by Henry P. Wright, 'chaplain to the Forces', with the intention of raising further donations towards the refurbishment, which he describes in detail. The church was severely damaged by bombing in 1941, but remains consecrated and is occasionally used for services.

A Handy Book for Guardians of the Poor
  • Being a Complete Manual of the Duties of the Office, the Treatment of Typical Cases, with Practical Examples, etc., etc.
  • George C. T. Bartley
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    08 December 2011
    First published in:
    1876
  • George C. T. Bartley KCB (1842–1910) spent twenty years as a civil servant, becoming Assistant Director in the Art and Science Department, before standing for election as a Conservative MP. He was elected in 1885 as the Member for Islington. He was a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and Westminster, and also founded the National Penny Bank. Bartley had a keen interest in social issues, particularly poverty and education, and he wrote several books on these subjects, as well as numerous penny pamphlets aimed at improving the lives of the working class. Published in 1876, this book was based on Bartley's experiences as a Guardian of the Poor - an administrator for the Poor Law of 1834. It was written as a practical guide for anyone wishing to become involved in administering poor relief under the terms of the Poor Law.

The Life of Sir Anthony Panizzi, K.C.B.
  • Late Principal Librarian of the British Museum, Senator of Italy, Etc.
  • Volume 1
  • Louis Fagan
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    22 February 2012
    First published in:
    1880
  • Anthony Panizzi (1797–1879), born in Brescello, Italy, qualified as a lawyer, but fled to Switzerland in 1823 to avoid arrest for his political activities in support of Italian unification. He then moved to England, where he became a naturalised British subject. The patronage of Lord Brougham, the Lord Chancellor, got him a post in the British Museum Library, where he remained for thirty-five years. He was responsible for the great expansion of the library, the building of the famous round Reading Room, and the compilation of cataloguing rules which remain influential today. Volume 1 of this two-part 1880 biography by his colleague Louis Fagan (1845–1903) deals with Panizzi's early life in Italy, his arrival in England, his scholarly work as editor of Ariosto and Professor of Italian, and his early years at the British Museum. Panizzi combined his career with continuing support for the cause of Italian unity.

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