Books read by Fitzjames

The following books are mentioned in letters,
and they will give you an idea of Fitzjames’
literary education and interests.

“I have read the Vicar of Wakefield and I like it very much. I have also got half way through Falconer’s Shipwreck.”
– 27th September 1825, James Fitzjames to Robert Coningham

I sent you a present of £10 — & afterwards
an edition of Shakespeare, but whether you
have received them or not I have yet to
learn. —
– 23rd February 1831, Robert Coningham to James Fitzjames

I take this opportunity of thanking
you for the beautiful edition of Shakespeare
and also for the £10 which came very à propos
– 6th March 1831, James Fitzjames to Robert Coningham

“I have sent you Metastasio (a copy I bought for Three shilling)”
May 1831, Robert Coningham to James Fitzjames

  • Pietro Metastasio is the pseudonym of Italian poet and librettist Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi (1698–1782). Robert does not say which work of Metastasio he sent and Fitzjames does not mention receiving or reading it. Because Fitzjames was learning Italian, Robert might have sent him the original and not a translation.
    Dramas and Other Poems Of the Abbé Pietro Metastasio · Volume 1 translated by John Hoole, London: Otridge and Son, 1800

I wish to know if you received a parcel from me containing three little volumes written by Capt Hall –
– 16th May 1831, Robert Coningham to James Fitzjames

I received Basil Hall, and Life of Nelson, which I have read and like very much —
– 19th May 1831, James Fitzjames to Robert Coningham

I am now reading “Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis” by Ugo Foscolo, which I think if you have never read before, you will like.
– 6th October 1831, James Fitzjames to Robert Coningham

You will find only two Vols of Crabbe’s works, but no more
are yet published — they publish only a Volume at a
time, & you shall have the others when forthcoming —
– 31st March 1834, Robert Coningham to James Fitzjames

Robert sent these volumes along with some new shirts and handkerchiefs to Malta, but the St Vincent was just starting her journey back to England. Hopefully the package was retrieved at some point.  

  • George Crabbe (1754-1832)
    Posthumous Tales: The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his Life, by his Son (1834) in 8 volumes
    Volume 1 and Volume 2

The ruins of Seleucia on the Northern end
of our plain are most extraordinary
and what I think is still more curious I have never
seen a description of them —
[…] All the rocks about are full of square chambers
with several places in each supposed to have
contained bodies — the appearance of these rocks with the
square doors from top to bottom reminded me of
the sketches of Petra in Keith’s book —

– 1st May 1835, James Fitzjames to Robert Coningham

  • Alexander Keith Evidence of the Truth of the Christian Religion derived from the Literal Fulfilment of Prophecy; particularly as illustrated by the History of the Jews, and by the Discoveries of Recent Travellers (1826) 1835 edition

On the Euphrates Expedition there was an excellent library on board the Euphrates, including William Edward Parry’s accounts of his North West Passage voyages.

Some recommendations from William Coningham:

Get Coombe’s book on
America if you can –
               He shews that the
Federalists or men in
power have done little
for the education of
the people – That the
prestige of tradition
established opinions
is very feeble, & that
there is little understanding
among them of their duties
as citizens of the state
– 1st June 1841, William Coningham to James Fitzjames

If your ships
company should be getting
any religious books make
them get Arnold of Rugby’s
sermons, they are an anti=
=dote to the oxonians who
follow the footsteps of
Laud & the non jurors of
the 17th century —
– 1st June 1841, William Coningham to James Fitzjames

I find that Sir Bladen Capel (with whom I was
going in the Winchester) has been enquiring
about me – and “what chance I had of being
posted?” — now I also hear that he expects
the Meditn Command — and putting “that
and that together”, as Miss Medea Culpepper
did. I conceive that Sir Bladen may have
me in his Eye as his Flag Captain – You
may think this foolish – but greater fools
than I have been flag captains.
– 14th May 1844, James Fitzjames to John Barrow

  • Medea Culpepper is a character in Frederick Marryat’s Percival Keene (1842). Fitzjames’ mention of her implies that both he and Barrow have read this novel.

Throughout his 1844-1845 letters Fitzjames makes frequent mention of William Edward Parry’s accounts of his Arctic voyages.

I have been reading a french account of N.P. [North Pole] voyages from
Zeno to Ross & Back – which makes me
quite au fait in the matter –

– 2nd January 1845, James Fitzjames to John Barrow

In looking over our books [on HMS Erebus]
I find we have not got your father’s “Chronology of North Polar voyages”, which
I should much like to have if you can get it for us –
– 14th May 1845, James Fitzjames to John Barrow

I see by Lyon’s journal that they were only 9 days
getting to Cape Farewell (Greenland) from the Orkneys
– 29th May 1845, James Fitzjames to William Coningham

Read Beechy’s voyage towards the North Pole published in /43 
it is I think well done — it is curious that no account of 
Buchan’s voyage should have appeared — Franklin com 
=manded the Trent with him — 
– 29th May 1845, James Fitzjames to William Coningham

I have recommended Wm [William Coningham] to read Beechy’s North Polar 
Voyage — which is well done I think — and you will like  
it, I venture to assert. 
– 29th May 1845, James Fitzjames to Elizabeth Coningham

I do wish the Russian Govt had been asked
to send to their Governors &c that they may
Expect me. and not oppose my going on.
This was done in former Expeditions – as I
have just read in Beechy’s acct. of the Dorothea
and Trent’s voyage — The best written book I
have seen for some time & the most interesting
– 31rd May 1845, James Fitzjames to John Barrow

Sources:
Coningham letters – Originals in private collection. On microfilm at Caird Library, National Maritime Museum Greenwich. Reference: MRF/89
Barrow letters – Royal Geographical Society. Reference: LMS F 6