The Rev. Thomas Smith & The Universal Atlas
Although the Circular Atlas apparently died after just two issues, there were a number of plates and maps available and these soon found their way into a new Atlas. The text of Cooke´s Universal Atlas is split into two quite separate parts: while the main atlas includes 25 circular maps with descriptions; the Introduction covers Astronomy in General, the Solar System, Fixed Stars, a Definition of Geography, Geographical Problems and one map of each of the Eastern and the Western Hemispheres. In addition, a Geographical Clock was included, complete with its revolving central dial (Fig. 12). It is in the first part that we find two very different engravings to those normally executed by Cooke. Both The Seven Planets of the Solar System (Fig. 34) and The Vicissitudes of the Seasons (Fig. 44) have an aquatint appearance and must, surely, be the two plates listed by the reviewer in The Monthly Epitome. (Both of these plates would be re-engraved and resurface later; once in the Synopsis of Geography; and then again in a reissue of the Synopsis.)
Fig. 14. Second title page to Universal Atlas, 1802.
This Introduction, comprised xxiv
pages of text, the two celestial engravings already noted as well as an illustration
of a pair of globes, the geographical clock and two maps of the hemispheres.
Although the maps of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres were ready by January
1801 (they are dated August 1800), the remaining 4 preliminary plates are all
dated January 1802. However, we know that two of these were ready at the end of
1800 and were included in Part One of the Ladies´ Circular Atlas. The Universal
Atlas title page is dated April 1802; the four preliminary plates have been
seen with the date altered to match this. As well as the Atlas section of
25 maps of countries and continents the letterpress accounts for 88 pages of
text with new pagination (1-88).
By January 1801, a total of 17 maps would
have been available for sale: the two hemisphere maps from the Introduction
and 15 of the 25 in what became the Universal Atlas map section;
6 of these are dated August 1800, 1 is dated December 1800, and a further 7 are
dated January 1801. In addition, the map of Africa has been seen both with date
December 1800 and January 1801 and would thus have been available. The “missing”
ten maps are all dated January 1802. Hence, together with the two maps (at least)
that did not make it into the Universal Atlas; those of Swabia
and Franconia, there would have been enough material available to begin
the Circular Atlas publication.
The Universal Atlas was on sale very soon after the Circular Atlas expired,
hence, while The Critical Review Vol. XXXV for 1802 only reported on the
Circular Atlas, in its Catalogue for November 1803, The Monthly
Review reported on both The Circular Atlas, and Compendious System of Geography
as well as the Universal Atlas.
There are actually two title pages to
the Universal Atlas: the main title page shows that Cooke worked with John
Harris at St Pauls Church Yard as co-publishers together: Printed for J Harris
… and J Cooke; however, a second title page, after the Introduction and two
hemisphere maps, bears only Cooke´s imprint (Fig. 14). This dual nature
of the atlas is borne out by both advertisements and newspaper reviews.
Nevertheless, Cooke and Harris do not
seem to be the only persons with a stake in the publishing of the work. Each one
of the 31 engravings (and both title pages) bears an imprint naming two of what
would appear to be the four original share owners, not only J Harris and J
Cooke, but also T Boone, who was obviously very involved in the original Circular
Atlas, and V Goddard (see table under entry 14).
John Harris (1756-1846) was not the same person who
co-published both the Index and the map to Hendon; this John Harris had his
permanent address at the Corner of St. Pauls Church Yard where Harris had taken
over the company of John Newbery, considered “The Father of Children´s
Literature” as Newbery was one of the very first to exploit the market for
books for children. By 1809 this John Harris was offering some 419 titles.
The four names on the individual plates are always found
in pairs. Half of the imprints are shared by Cooke and Harris, probably
representing a minimum 25% share each. Goddard´s name appears 8 times, always
with that of Boone (Published for V Goddard by T Boone) and Boone´s name
appears on 8 together with Cooke, approximating to a 12.5% share for Goddard,
25% each for Boone and Harris, leaving Cooke as the largest shareholder with
37.5%.
Only a few of the earliest dated sheets
have Goddard´s name; and, scanning the few extant copies available, it seems to
have been replaced, suggesting revisions during atlas publication reflecting that
Goddard was an early partner who left and John Harris, Boone and Cooke were the
main shareholders in the work. Goddard´s name is left on only two plates in all
examples of the atlas seen. Boone also disappears from some plates and it looks
as though Harris and Cooke took over their shares, Cooke now having 50%, Harris
35% and Boone (10%) and Goddard (5%) making up the remaining 15%. The imprints
on the second edition of 1804 indicate Cooke had 50%, Harris 45% and although Boone
still retained a small shareholding of perhaps 5%, his name appears (second)
only four times on 28 imprints: more likely is a 50% shareholding for both
Cooke and Harris.
The Universal Atlas is, despite its faltering start, an attractive work. The circular maps do have their own charm, and made them stand out from other publications of the time. Half of the engravings are signed by John Cooke with his address at 50, Howland Street, but he was clearly the engraver of all plates. The atlas is dedicated to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, Princess Royal of Prussia signed Faithful humble servant, John Cooke (Fig. 15), and she had been the patron of the Circular Atlas.
Fig. 15. Duchess of York´s dedication as Princess Royal of Prussia.
In his address to the Princess Royal, Cooke gives a
clear picture of the intended target group. The contemplation of
that beneficence which eminently distinguishes your Royal Highness´s character,
both in public and private life, emboldens me to solicit your patronage and protection
on behalf of a work which is chiefly designed for the amusement of the softer
sex, and the instruction of the rising generation. Cooke
would attempt to receive patronage later for a map of Plymouth.
As was the case with the Circular Atlas, the emphasis was on the “softer sex” as seen in the dedication as well as in many advertisements which accompanied the Universal Atlas´ publication. London newspapers such as The Sun and The Courier ran advertisements on June 24, 1802 (Fig. 16) and The British Press as late as March 12, 1803. Even provincial newspapers included adverts at the beginning of June 1802: for example, the Kentish Chronicle (4th June), The Glocester Journal and the Hampshire Chronicle (both 7th June), the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette (17th June) and the Chester Courant (15 June). Each advert began For the use of Ladies Schools and it was offered at Eighteen Shillings half-bound in Morocco but was also available with Russia Backs at one guinea. Almost invariably this advert was accompanied by a further one for some of the publications offered by J Harris.
Fig. 16. Advert from The Courier of June 24, 1802.
According to the title page of 1802: The
introduction, and geographical descriptions, by The Rev. Thomas Smith. Formerly
of Wymondley, Smith moved first to Hatton Chapel before becoming Minister at
Trinity Chapel in Leather Lane, near Holborn. The National Register was
full of praise for his sermons: “His voice is powerful; his actions always
impressive, and frequently striking; his language, though intelligibly plain,
sometimes highly figurative; and, what seems more important than these things, his
sermons are scriptural, searching, convincing, experimental, consolatory, efficacious.
He has received the truth, the whole of the truth, and he dispenses the truth”.[1]
Smith (1775/6-1830) was a prolific
writer whose works also included The Sacred Mirror, 1803 (published by
Longman and Rees but also by J Harris); The Wonders of Nature and Art
in 12 volumes, 1803; Rudiments of Reason, 1806; The Scientific Library or Repository of Useful and Polite Literature Containing
Geography, Ancient History, Astronomy, Modern History, Chronology, Mythology, 1806 (also published by Harris with John Wallis); the Naturalist´s
Cabinet in 6 vols, 1807; Compendious System of Astronomy, (New York)
1818; Concise View of Ancient History (Revised), 1818; as well as various
works on language and pronunciation. Religious works by Smith also included A
New and Complete Concordance to The Holy Scriptures (London 1820) to accompany
a new version of a Family Bible by the Rev. Matthew Henry and The History and
Origin of the Missionary Societies (London 1825).
The Introduction as well as geographical
descriptions for each of the 27 maps were by Thomas Smith, beginning with the Eastern
and Western Hemisphere maps which preceded the second, simpler title page (with
Cooke´s imprint, Fig. 14). Smith was obviously widely read and he includes
recent discoveries, e.g. Ceres Ferdinandea, the first asteroid now simply
known as Ceres, discovered by Joseph Piazzi as late as January 1801. Uranus, discovered
by Dr Herschell, is still Georgium Sidum as, although the name Herschel
was also suggested, the first planet to be discovered by telescope became
generally known by its present name only in the 1850s.[2] Although
the Description of the Globe, with Geographical Problems in the Introduction
is rather mathematical, the bulk of the text makes easy reading.
The text reveals the author´s beliefs
only three times. In the opening paragraph we discover that Astronomy has been
cultivated … to enlighten the mind, which, conscious of its divine origin,
soars beyond the bounds of earth, and anxiously investigates the nobler works of
God. The plurality of worlds is broached in the opening section: the idea that:
instead of one sun and one world only in the universe, we behold
an inconceivable number of suns, worlds, and systems, dispersed by the hand of
Omnipotence, through boundless space … with the conclusion that if our
complete sun and planets system was to be annihilated it would be unnoticed. Later,
the distribution of land and water are shown to be incontrovertible proof of the
wisdom and goodness of the Maker, and that clouds according to the elegant
language of the scripture, drop down fatness upon the wilderness.
Although it is possible that Smith
was also the nebulous “Mr Barrow” of the Circular Atlas, the text must
have been rewritten or revised. The critic of the Epitome quoted above,
had included a lengthy passage take from pages 6 and 7 from that atlas and not
only is the text not present, but the pagination is different in this later
atlas. A critic who reviewed both texts did not note any similarities (but
disliked both!).
The Monthly Review critic had not
taken kindly to the style of the text of the Circular Atlas and was just
as critical when it came to the Universal Atlas[3]: This
is one of those books which contain multum in parvo; and an useful book,
considering the quantum of information which it contains, it might have been,
if the author would have descended from his high and lofty style, and have
communicated his knowledge in plainer and more unadorned language. This is directed
against the descriptions accompanying the maps and Asia is taken as an example
where Smith shows his Christian beliefs perhaps most strongly: beginning The
subject of this map is particularly entitled to the admiration of a
contemplative reader, we are told that it is for here, … the all-wise
Creator planted the garden of Eden, and … subsequent to the destroying deluge,
he accepted the grateful sacrifices of Noah; … here where the Christian faith
was miraculously propagated, and sealed with the blood of innumerable martyrs. The
writer finishes so: “The author makes an apology for not crouding [sic] his
maps with names: there may be excess in most things: but the small maps of this
Atlas could well have borne the burden of a few more provinces, rivers and
cities”
“We do not mean, however, to condemn
the present undertaking. The maps might have been better, but we have seen
worse; they will do some good; and in reading history, if better were not at
hand, we should be very glad to make use of these.”
Some reviews were kinder: The
British Critic noted the price (1 guinea) but gave the publisher incorrectly
as Newbery. Though certainly upon a confined scale, this is, in point
of execution, one of the neatest and most elegant publications we have ever
seen. The maps are remarkably distinct and perspicuous, the descriptions
as satisfactory and comprehensive as the plan and size of the volume will permit.
It seems remarkably well adapted for a lady´s library.[4]
Like most works published in London at
the time, the atlas was listed under recently published books in foreign
journals; Journal Général de la Littérature Étrangère in France and the Geographische
Ephemeriden in Weimar, Germany listed it.[5]
When the
atlas reappeared in 1804 in abbreviated form, it was now A New Universal Atlas; Intended as a Companion to the Geography for Children
and other Introductory Works was printed for J Harris, implying he
was the sole publisher, although John Cooke is clearly named as the engraver of
the plates on the title page. This “second
edition” of the Universal Atlas now comprised only the 27 maps and but
one of the explanatory plates (that of the Solar System) –all the text was
omitted. No advertising has been seen for this edition.
Links to sections of I - London
John Cooke of Howland Street (1799-1805)
The Ladies Circular Atlas and “Mr Barrow”
The Rev. Thomas Smith & The Universal Atlas
John Cooke and the Admiralty (1802-1805)
Between the Admiralty and Plymouth (1805-1812)
Links to section II - Plymouth.
Stonehouse (1813-1845)
Napoleon and Cooke´s first Plymouth engravings
The Copper-Plate Engraving, and Printing Office (1815-21)
John Cooke of Union Street, Stonehouse (1823-1845)
Summary
Return to Introduction
Link to IV: Short List of John Cooke's works.
[1] Onesimus writing in The National Register
and included in Vol. 6 (second half year) 1813 printed and published by Henry
Hay.
[2] Dr Herschel originally believed he had discovered a
comet in 1781, but Nevil Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal pointed out its
resemblance to a planet.
[3] The Monthly Review or Literary Journal, enlarged;
Vol. XLII; T Becket; London; 1803.
[4] The British Critic for [July-December] MDCCCII:
Volume XX; London; 1802; p.448.
[5] Journal Général de la Littérature Étrangère; Treuttel
& Würtz; Strasbourg; Year 13 1st Part; 1803: and the Geographische
Ephemeriden; Gaspari & Bertuch; Weimar, Germany; Vol 11; 1803.
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