“Sir,—Seeing that you are collecting, with a view to publication, names
of authors of the nineteenth century, I beg to say that I was well
acquainted with Miss Seaman, who died about the year 1830, a notice of
whom you will find in the Ryde papers. She wrote ‘Some Observations on
Girl’s Schools and Boarding Schools,’ but whether with her name or not I
forget. Also, about 1822, was published, by Smith of London, an
interesting religious tale called Lily, and in 16o, 1825, a capital
little work on the choice of books, with advice about Miss Edgeworth’s
Novels.”
It will be evident to anyone that the whole of the above requires
verification, a labour of hours, perhaps days, which might have been
saved by a little bibliographical knowledge on the part of our
informant.
On investigation it appears, then, that our informant has scarcely given
a single date or title correctly.—1. Miss Seaman died in 1829, not
1830.—2. The reference to the Ryde papers is useless, as too wide for
verification, and inaccessible.—3. The title of each of her works is
given from recollection, or rather, from no recollection, and they are
all incorrect.—4. The titles are made up.—5. Words not in the
title-pages are interpolated without notice.—6. The size of the book is
placed before the date—_i.e._ it is interpolated, and in fact everything
is reversed.
The above information might be best put in this form.
SEAMAN (Lucy) the daughter of a Captain in the Royal Navy, born at Ryde,
the 23 May, 1801, wrote several works which are held in high estimation,
and died of consumption on the 15 September, 1829. The following are the
only publications I know of from her pen; but as she published without
giving her name, there are probably others that are unknown.
(1.) Remarks on education, as at present conducted, especially with
reference to private tuition and the system of boarding schools for
young ladies, London (printed at Ryde), for the author, 1822, 12mo, pp.
iv. 33, anon.
The authoress says, that her father’s early death making her, while very
young, acquainted with the routine of teaching, was the cause of her
publishing these remarks.
(2.) Little Lily, a moral tale for children, by a lady, author of
Remarks, &c., Lond. J. Smith, 1823, 8o, pp. 115, 2s 6d, pseudon.
This is the first edition of this excellent little book, the second and
subsequent editions of which were published with her name.
We observe that a book entitled “Little Lily’s travels, Lond. Nelson,
1860,” has been published; but it is a different work to the above.
(3.) Miss Maria Edgeworth’s tales compared with other works of fiction;
to which is added advice for the selection, and a list of works most
suitable for children, by the author of Little Lily, &c., Lond., J.
Smith, 1826 [1825], 18o, pp. xi and 200, 3s, auton.
In this she complains of her failing health, and expresses her great
respect for the writings of her friend Miss Edgeworth.
Here it will be observed that the first work is strictly anonymous, as
the abbreviation “anon,” indicates, that is to say, it has no name on
the title-page, nor any name, pseudonym, nor initials to the preface;
and has in fact no clue whatever as to who is the author, as the
reference to her in the imprint cannot be considered such. But from the
book being printed at Ryde for the author, though published in London,
it may be inferred that she resided at Ryde at the time.
The second work is pseudonymous, as the abbreviation “pseudon,”
indicates.
The third work would appear also by the title-page to be pseudonymous,
it is not so, as the preface is signed by the authoress, and the
abbreviation “auton,” warns us that it is autonymous.
In conclusion, I hope that my observations will not dishearten the
student who is ambitious of being bibliographical. Let every one strive
to do his best. But let no man suppose he can make a good catalogue
simply from his desire to do so and without previous study. It is no use
saying a man must be accurate, he cannot until he has studied the art of
bibliography, and learned what has already been done in that science; so
that by taking note of the errors of his predecessors, he may attempt a
catalogue on the most modern and improved principles, and thereby
contribute towards the advancement and improvement of bibliography.
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