Original Sources and Texts from the 19th C.

Jane Austen’s World is all about this page: Original online resources, publications, first-hand accounts, and records that make the Regency Era come alive using the voices of the era. Resources are categorized in alphabetical order. Found a broken link? Email janeaustensworld at gmail dot com.

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General sources

• 18th Century Reading Room
• 18th Century and Regency Documents
• Bibliography: Proceedings of the Old Bailey
• Chambers Book of Days
• (The) Every Day Book
• Mrs. Spectator’s Coffee House:18th Century Online Resources
• Great Books Index: Jane Austen
• How to Read 18th Century British-American Writing
• The Gentleman’s Magazine and Historical Chronicle, From July to December, by Sylvanus Urban, gent, 1816
• Gen Docs: Genealogy Charts
• Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue: Revised and Corrected, 1823
• Gross’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811; Words are easy to find on this site in searchable format
• Canting Dictionary, Thieving Slang, 1736. A Collection of the Canting Words and Terms, both ancient and modern, used by Beggars, Gypsies, Cheats, House-Breakers, Shop-Lifters, Foot-Pads, Highway-Men, &c; Taken from The Universal Etymological English Dictionary, by N. Bailey, London, 1737, Vol. II, and transcrib’d into XML Most Diligently by Liam Quin.
• Genealogy Records: England
• A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronage of the British Empire, Burke, 1832
• The Family Topographer, Samuel Symms, 1837
• The Georgian Era, Memoirs of the Most Eminent Persons, 1833
• The Georgian Era, 1834
• The Official Baronage of England, 1886, illustrated
• The Online Books Page

Architecture, Art, and Furniture

• Illustrated History of Furniture, Frederick Litchfield, 1851
• An Historic Sketch of the Art of Caricaturing, James Peller Malcolm, 1813
• British Architecture: Megasite of sources
• Brighton As it Is 1836: A Guidebook
• Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles
• The Village Homes of England, Sydney R. Jones, 1912

Children’s Books

• Harrison’s New Nursery Picture Book, Project Gutenberg, 1810
• The Picture Exhibition: A Collection of Neat Wood-cuts For Juvenile Amusements, 1839
• Little Mary, or the Picture Book, 1823
• Search: Picture Books for Children, Internet Archive

Criminal justice

• A History of Crime in England, Luke Owen Pike, 1837
• Capital Punishment in the 18th & 19th Centuries
• Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 1674-1834
• A Digest of the Law of Scotland, Hugh Barclay, 1855

Cookery

• The Book of Household Management, Isabella Beeton, 1859
• The Art of Cookery, Hannah Glasse, 1747
• The Confectioner’s Oracle, 1830 (Gunter’s)
• The Universal Cook: And City and Country Housekeeper, John Francis Collingwood and John Woollams, Principal Cooks at The Crown and AnchorTavern in the Strand, 1792
• 18th Century British Recipes
• Old Cookery Books, by W. CarewHazlitt, 1902
• Feeding America, a site designed by the University of Michigan, provides a list of cookbooks published in America during the 18th and 19th centuries; more interestingly, this site includes a pictorial collection of the cooking utensils and kitchen ware popular during this era.
• Science in the Kitchen, Mrs. E.E. Kellogg, 1893
• Treatise on Domestic Economy for Young Ladies at Home and at School, Catherine Esther Beecher, 1849

History

• Britannia History
• British History Online
• Full Text Documents by Period, Rutgers
• Historical Autographs: British History, 1800-1950
• History Digital Library
• Historical Text Archive
• Find Social and Historical Resources, such as postage and transportation on this site.
• National Archives of the United Kingdom
• The Constitutional History of England Since the Accession of George III, Sir Erskine, May 1861
• Rural Rides, William Cobbett, 1802
• The Life of Lord Nelson, Robert Southey, 1813

Industrial revolution

• The Golden Falcon: Silk
• The Life of the Industrial Worker in 19th Century Britain,Michael Sadler, 1832
• Online Books Page: Great Britain and the Working Class

Home

Jane Austen Biography

• Jane Austen and Her Times, G.E. Mitton, 1905
• Jane Austen: Her Homes and Her Friends, Constance Hill, 1901
• Memoir of Jane Austen, Edward Austen Leigh, 1871
• Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters, William Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh, 1913
• Leigh Family Tree, Project Gutenberg
• Biographical Notice of the Author, Henry Austen, 1817-1818
• My Aunt Jane Austen: A Memoir, Caroline Austen, March 1867
• Memoir of Jane Austen, Letter to Her Younger Sister, Fanny Knatchbull Knight (written when Fanny was in her 70’s)
• Jane Austen by Harold Child, The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Vol. 12, Edited by A. W. Ward & A. R. Waller
• Austen Family Historical Documents in the National Archives
• Jane Austen’s Baptism Records
• Jane Austen’s Will at the National Archives
• The Unique Friendship Book of Rev. James Stanier Clarke (1765-1834)
• Placing Jane Austen, Displacing England: Touring Between Book, History and Nation, Mike Crang
• Jane Austen’s Illness: British Medical Journal
• Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Jane Austen’s Hair
• Jane Austen: A Pilgrimage To Her Home and the Scenes of Her Novels, Constance Hill, 1902, New York Times
• Jane Austen: Eminent Women Series, Mrs. Charles Malden, London,1889

Jane Austen Novels & Critiques

• Pride & Prejudice, with Criticisms and Interpretations by Sir Walter Scott, Lord Macaulay, etc.
• The History of England, Jane Austen
• Three Prayers, Jane Austen
• Recreating Jane Austen, John Wiltshire

Letters

• Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale) (2nd ed.) (2 vols.), Edited with notes and Introductory Account of her life and writings, Mrs. Hester Lynch Piozzi, 1861, Project Gutenberg Book
• Jane Austen’s Letters to Cassandra, University of Virginia Library
• Jane Austen’s Letters, Jane Austen, With general notes on the letters, Deirdre Le Faye
• Letters of Jane Austen, Selected from the Compilation of her Great Nephew, Edward Lord Brabourne, by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey, Boston, 1892
• Jane Austen’s Letters, Edited by Deirdre Le Faye, Google
• Lord Byron’s Letter to Lady Caroline Lamb
• Lord Byron: Selected Letters
• The Earl of Chesterfield’s Letters to His Son, Project Gutenberg

London

• London Labour and the London Poor, Volume 1, Henry Mayhew
• The Bolles Collection on the History of London, Tufts University
• The Clubs of London, Charles Marsh, 1828
• The Great Metropolis, James Grant, 1837
• Directory of London and Westminster, & Borough of Southwark, 1797: An Alphabet List of the Names and Places of Abode of the Directors of Companies, Persons in Public Business, Merchts., and other eminent Traders.
• Hogarth’s London, Henry Benjamin Wheatley, late 1800’s.
• London, Past and Present, Vol 1, Henry Benjamin Wheatley
• London, Past and Present, Vol 3, Henry Benjamin Wheatley
• Old London Street Cries and The Cries of Today, Andrew White Tuer, The Leadenhall Press, 1885 (Document made available by the University of Wisconsin)
• Parish Register.com
• Real Life in London, Pierce Egan, 1821
• Real Life in London, Pierce Egan, Project Gutenberg (with illustrations)
• Reliques of Old London Suburbs North of the Thames, Thomas R. Way, 1898
• Roundabout Piccadilly and Pall Mall, Henry Benjamin Wheatley, 1870
• The Microcosm of London, Vol 1, Rudolph Ackermann, Henry Pynne, William Combe, Augustus Pugin, Thomas Rowlandson
  Illustrated by Augustus Pugin, Thomas Rowlandson, Methuen, 1904
• The Microcosm of London, Vol 2, Rudolph Ackermann, Henry Pynne, William Combe, Augustus Pugin, Thomas Rowlandson
  Illustrated by Augustus Pugin, Thomas Rowlandson, Methuen, 1904
• Old and New London, Walter Thornberry, 1872-1878
• A Topographical Dictionary of London and its Environs, James Elmes, 1831

Manners and etiquette

• Letters to His Son, Earl of Chesterfield, 1750
• The Mirror of Graces, A Lady of Distinction, 1811
• The Gentleman’s and Lady’s Companion, Containing the Newest Cotillions and Country Dances, 1798
• The Dandy’s Perambulations, Author Unknown, 1819
• The lady’s guide to perfect gentility, in manners, dress, and conversation … also a useful instructor in letter writing, toilet preparations, fancy needlework, millinery, dressmaking, care of wardrobe, the hair, teeth, hands, lips, complexion, etc. By Emily Thornwell …1858
• Diaries of a Lady of Quality, Written between 1797 and 1844 by Miss Frances Williams Wynn
• The Laws of Etiquette by a Gentleman, 1837 (Philadelphia)
• Essays on Men and Manners , William Hazlitt, 1822
• Social England Under the Regency, John Ashton, 1899
• The Young Lady’s Friend, Eliza Farrars, 1837, Boston
• Fashion Then and Now, William Pitt Lennox, 1878

Maps

• Antique Maps and Prints
• Greenwood’s Map of London, 1827
• Old London Maps

Memoirs, Journals, and Biographies

• Almack’s Revisited, Charles White, 1828
• An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy: Late of Covent-Garden Theatre. Written by Herself. To which is Annexed, Her Original Letter to John Calcraft, … The Third Edition. In Five Volumes. …
  By George Anne Bellamy, Alexander Bicknell, Published by printed for the author, and sold by J. Bell, 1785
• Diary of an Ennuyee, Mrs. Jameson, 1876
• Diary of George Marsh, Commissioner of the Navy, 1722-1800
• Journal of a Tour and Residence in Great Britain, During the years 1810 & 1811, Louis Simond
• Memoirs of Her Late Majesty, Charlotte, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, by W.C. Oulton, Esq, London, 1819
• Memoir of Jane Austen, Edward Austen-Leigh, 1871
• Memoirs of Mary Darcy Robinson, 1801
• Memoirs of William Lord Beckford, Twice Lord Mayor of London, 1859
• Reminiscences of Captain R.H. Gronow, 1794-1865, Project Gutenbers
• The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow, 1810-1860, illustrated, Google books
• Short Biographical Sketch of Charles Lamb, 1775-1834
• The Diary of Samuel Pepys, 17th c.
• The Georgian Era: Memoirs, Vol II, Military and Naval Commanders, Judges and Barristers, Physicians and Surgeons, 1833
• The Georgian Era: Memoirs, Vol III, 1834, Memoirs of the Most Eminent Persons Who Have Flourished In Great Britain
• The Georgian Era: Vol IV, 1834, Political and Rural Economists; Painters, Sculptors, Architects, and Engravers; Composters, Vocal, Instrumental, and Dramatic Performers.
• The Life and Letters of Lady Sarah Lennox, 1745-1826
• The Life of Richard Nash of Bath, Oliver Goldsmith, 1762
• The Natural History of Selburne, Gilbert White, 1768-1793
• The Works of Samuel Johnson, 1824, Google Books
• The Works of Thomas De Quincy: Autobiographic Sketches, 1790-1803, Google Book
• Dr. Neil Arnott, 1788-1879, Scottish physician and inventor
• Women Writers Living Between 1701-1800

Newspapers and Publications

• Ainsworth Magazine, 1845
• La Belle Assemblee, v. 2, published by J.Bell, 1807, Google book

Nature and Science

• A History of British Birds, Vol II, The Figures Engraved in Wood by T. Bewick, 1816

Novels of the Era

• Castle Rackrent, Maria Edgeworth, 1800
• Moral Tales : Angelina; or L’amie inconnue. The good French governess. Mademoiselle Panache. The knapsack.: In Two Volumes, y Maria Edgeworth, 1834 (Initially published 1801)
• Evelina, Fanny Burney, 1778
• The English Spy, Charles Malloy Westmacott, 1825, illustrated (Satiric and humorous, drawn fromlife)
• The Monk, M.B. Lewis, 1796
• The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Ward Radcliff, 1794
• Waverley, Sir Walter Scott, 1814
• Dr. Birch and His Young Friends, William Makepeace Thackeray (Victorian Era)

Objects and Possessions

• A History of the Fan
• Eye Antiques
• Vintage Eye Wear for Every Day Use

Poetry & Plays

• The Art of Walking the Streets of London, John Gay, 1685-1732
• The School for Scandal, Richard Sheridan, 1777

Records

• Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild-Brethren, 1406-1841
• The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature for the Year 1830, Edmund Burke, 1831
• History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Warwickshire: Comprising a General Survey of the County with a Variety of Historical, Statistical, Topographical, Commercial, and Agricultural Information … By Francis White & Co, Francis White, & co, Francis White & Co, Published by F. White, 1850, 915 pages, partial Google book available

Servants

• A Manual of Domestic Economy: Suited to Families Spending From 100 to 1,000 Pounds a Year, J. H. Walsh, 1854
• The Complete Servant: Being a Guide to All Servants, Samuel and Sara Adams, Fifty Years Servants in Different Families, p 557 – 569, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume XVIII, July – December, 1825

• The House Servants Directory, Robert Roberts, 1827 Online resource

• The Footman’s Directory and Butler’s Remembrances, Or the Advice of Onesimus to his Young Friends, A Marcus Alfred, Hatchard & Son, 1823 (Available for purchase in the U.K.)

Social History and Satire

• Gentleman’s Magazine, 1731-1750
• The English Spy by C.M. Westmacott, illustrated by Robert Cruikshank
• The Wits and Beaux of Society, Philip and Grace Wharton, 1890
• Life in Regency England, R. J. White, 1963 (Some free pages)
• The Cock of Cotton Walk and the Maid of All Work: A Poem, 1820
• Social England Under the Regency, John Ashton, 1899

Transportation (for more resources, visit the History section)

• A New and Accurate Description of All the Direct and Principal Crossroads, Daniel Paterson, Francis Freeling, 1811
• A Treatise on Carriages and Harness, William Felton, Volume 1, 1798
• The Night Coach, P 570 – 573, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume XVIII, July – December, 1825
• Highways and Horses, Athol Maudslay, 1888, Partial book available

Travels

• A Journal of Residence During Several Months in London, Including Excursions Through Several Parts of England, and a Short Tour in France and Scotland in the Years 1823 and 1824, Alexander Wheaton, 1830
• Arthur Young’s Travels In France During the Years 1787, 1788, 1789
• England in 1815 as seen by a young Boston merchant; being the reflections and comments of Joseph Ballard on a trip through Great Britain in the year of Waterloo (1913), Joseph Ballard, Internet Archive
• The Stranger in England, or Travels in Great Britain, By Christian Augustus Gottlieb Goede, 1807
  
• The Travels of Dean Mahomet: An 18th-Century Journey Through India, Edited with an introduction and biographical essay by Michael H. Fisher, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS, Berkeley · Los Angeles · London © 1997 The Regents of the University of California, Includes a section on Dean Mahomet in Ireland and England.
• Tour in England, Ireland, and France: In the Years 1826, 1827, 1828, and 1829, by Hermann Puckler-Muskau, translated by Sarah Austin

Working Classes

• Women in the Fine Arts from the 7th Century BC to the Twentieth Century AD, Clara Erskine Clement, 1904
• Online Books Page: Great Britain and the Working Class
• The Village Labourer: 1760-1832: A Study in the Government of England, By John Lawrence Hammond, Barbara Bradby Hammond, 1913

Victorians

• George du Maurier, The Satirist of the Victorians, T. Martin Wood, 1913
• Illustrated London News, Christmas Covers, 1850-2001

Home

Scholarly Journals, Books, and Collections

• A Guide to the Jane Austen Collection, Goucher College
• Emma: A Discussion, Fall 2006, Brooklyn Univ
• Jane Austen in Context, edited by Janet Todd, 2005, Cambridge University Press, ISBN# 0-521-82644-6
• Journals and articles (Georgian Resources)
• Journals (Georgian Resources)
• Observations, Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the Year 1772, William Gilpin, published 1788
• Re-Drawing Austen: Picturesque Travels in Austenland, Edited by Beatrice Battaglia and Diego Saglia

Miscellaneous

• Popular Culture in America: 1800-1925 Contains anecdotes about British Isles