File 90 - Letters from Fr Nicholas Wiseman to Dr Charles Russell on the 'Dublin Review'

A file of letters from Fr Nicholas Wiseman (later Cardinal) to Dr Charles Russell. Includes a letter remarking that due to ill health he cannot edit the next issue of the Dublin Review. Remarks that he has been in contact with Thomas Richardson regarding the impending ownership of the Dublin Review 'Let us get over this one crisis more and please God the Review will be safe. Richardson is determined to push it, it will succeed.' ([ ]1844, 7pp). Includes a letter remarking 'Richardson takes the 'Review' upon our terms...I feel confident...that in his hands the 'Review' will be pushed forward very differently from the past.' Remarks that he hopes Dr. Russell '...may be able to get your friends to write for us.' Concludes 'If the [secret] history of the D.R. were known to the public how strange it would appear - so often in the pains of sinking yet always rescued.' ([ ] 1844, 6pp). Discusses potential articles for the Dublin Review (27 April 1846, 4pp). Refers to the quality of articles appearing in the Review and remarks 'The Review is not deep. It wants some more reasoning and original articles...As for my own article...I ran off the rails and could not bring out what I wanted. Let us get something good for next time.' (2 October 1952, 2pp). Refers again to the type of articles published by the Review. Remarks 'Do you think we are getting into too few hands? Ward, De Morgan, Christie, Newman, Allies etc. have written for us...surely the convert element ought to be more cultivated and I must own I believe the fault lies in our having a mere business editor and no recognised literary one who enjoys the confidence of our learned men. I see the growing narrowness of our work and deplore it. Never a paper on Physics, Astronomical discoveries, Chemistry, Electricity, Steam, Railroads, Physiology, Medicine, Geology, Botany, Law Reform nor even on Politics in the wider sense. Never any article on foreign countries except the bleak north - I mean an original paper. W. B. cannot possibly attend to getting people to write and he has no influence. We shall never do as we ought till something is done to widen our range of topics and writers (18 February 1853, 8pp). Refers to a letter he has written to Dr Newman concerning the Dublin Review and '...begging of him not to enter into any plans for a new Review as we might get all we wanted out of our present one.' (3 January 1857, 3pp). Discusses the unsatisfactory situation regarding the publisher of the Dublin Review. Remarks 'I am satisfied that our only chance of success is a new publisher. If this is not feasible the 'Review' must drop for we cannot possibly go on in the present unsatisfactory manner.' Refers to a 'coalition' with the Rambler and remarks this is impossible. (11 April 1862, 4pp).