Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/246

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Moxon
240
Moxon

publisher. In April 1831 he started under his own editorship the 'Englishman's Magazine,' a monthly publication, to which Lamb regularly contributed and Tennyson sent a sonnet; but Moxon deemed it prudent to abandon the venture in October (ib. ii. 272, 274). In 1832 he produced Allan Cunningham's 'Maid of Elvar,' Barry Cornwall's 'Songs and Ballads,' and a selection from Southey's prose works. In 1833 he issued a new edition of Lamb's 'Essays of Elia,' and a volume of 'Last Essays,' which involved him in some litigation with John Taylor, the original publisher (ib. pp. 287, 355). After Lamb's death in 1834 he penned a sympathetic paper of reminiscences. Lamb left his books to Moxon, who brought out a collection of his friend's prose works, with Talfourd's memoir, in 1836, and he undertook the first collection of Lamb's prose and poetry in 1840. In 1834 Wordsworth, always a steady friend, allowed him to publish a selection of his poems; next year he transferred all his works to Moxon, and in 1836 a full edition in six volumes was published. Many other works by Wordsworth proceeded at brief intervals, until the poet's death, from Moxon's publishing house. In 1838 Moxon produced the well-known illustrated edition of Rogers's 'Poems,' as well as a reissue of the illustrated edition of Rogers's 'Italy.' Many of Sheridan Knowles's dramatic works were issued between 1837 and 1847, and proved very profitable. One of Moxon's largest undertakings was Dyce's edition of Beaumont and Fletcher in eleven volumes (1843-6).

But it was as the discriminating patron of young or little known poets that Moxon deserves to be remembered. In 1833 he produced the 'Poems' of Tennyson, who, until Moxon's death, entrusted each new work to Moxon's care. In the same year he initiated a similar connection with R. Monckton Milnes, with the issue of Milnes's 'Tour in Greece.' In 1834 Moxon brought out Benjamin Disraeli's 'Revolutionary Epick;' he told Charles Greville in 1847 that Disraeli asked to enter into partnership with him, but he refused, 'not thinking that he was prudent enough to be trusted' (Greville, Memoirs, 2nd ser. iii. 75). Isaac D'Israeli's 'Genesis of Judaism' (1833) was one of Moxon's early issues. In 1836 he privately circulated Serjeant Talfourd's 'Ion.' His relations with Robert Browning were mainly confined to the production of 'Sordello' in 1840, and of 'Bells and Pomegranates.' 8 pts., 1843-6. Poems by Lord Hanmer appeared in 183940; 'Edwin the Fair' and other plays by Sir Henry Taylor in 1842; and 'Poems' by Coventry Patmore in 1844. An older writer, Landor, proved a less satisfactory client. Moxon undertook the publication of Landor's 'Poemata et Inscriptiones' in 1847, and John Mitford wrote in his impression (now in the Dyce Library), 'Moxon the publisher told me he had sold only one copy of this book to whom? to [Connop Thirlwall] the Bishop of St. Davids.'

Moxon's literary and social ambitions grew with his success in business. As early as 1830 he had issued a volume of sonnets by himself, which he dedicated to his brother William, a barrister. A second volume of sonnets appeared in 1835, with a dedication to Wordsworth, and reached a second edition in 1837. Croker, in a severe article in the 'Quarterly Review,' lix. 209 seq., denounced the work with much justice as a puny imitation of Wordsworth; but when he ridiculed the dandy-like care which Moxon had bestowed on the form of the book, he unfairly depreciated the neatness and delicacy in external details that characterised all Moxon's publications. Both volumes were reprinted together in 1843, and again in 1871. Croker's sneers were repeated in Thomas Powell's 'Living Authors of England,' New York, 1849, pp. 226 seq.; but, despite his defects as a writer of verse, Moxon long held an assured position in literary society. John Forster was a constant friend and adviser. Rogers proved an unswerving ally, and Moxon was a regular visitor at Rogers's breakfast parties. In 1837 he accompanied Wordsworth and Crabb Robinson to Paris, and in 1846 spent a week at Rydal Mount, when Harriet Martineau came over to see him (cf. Clayden, Rogers and his Contemporaries, ii. 70, 232; Crabb Robinson, Diaries, iii. 113, 274). Moxon maintained affectionate relations with Mary Lamb till her death in 1847, when Mrs. Moxon was appointed Mary's residuary legatee (ib. pp. 73, 293).

In 1840 Moxon projected a series of single-volume editions of the poets, and initiated it in April with the complete works of Shelley, edited by Mrs. Shelley. At the time Henry Hetherington [q.v.], a small publisher who was being prosecuted for issuing blasphemous publications, caused copies of Moxon's 'Shelley' to be purchased at the shops of Fraser and Otley, two well-known booksellers, and at Moxon's office in Dover Street. Hetherington then instituted a prosecution against the three men for publishing a blasphemous libel. Moxon accepted the sole responsibility, and obtained the removal of the trial to the court of queen's bench. The case was heard at Westminster before Lord-chief-justice Denman and a special jury on 23 June 1841. The crown chiefly relied on passages from Shelley's 'Queen Mab.' Moxon'e friend, Ser-