Mary Pilkington’s Anonymous or Unattributed Periodical Contributions to The Lady’s Magazine
Cataloguing Pilkington’s Anonymous or Unattributed Periodical Contributions to The Lady's Magazine; or Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, Appropriated Solely to Their Use and Amusement
By: Belle Eist
After numerous refusals from the publishers of The Lady’s Monthly Museum to raise her annual salary for her writing and editorial work on their periodical, Pilkington began to covertly shift her labour to George Robinson’s The Lady’s Magazine in 1809 (Oxford History of the Novel 463).* Though the Oxford History of the Novel in English notes that writers for Robinson’s magazine were “mostly amateur and unpaid,” Jennie Batchelor asserts that “Pilkington’s serials, however, were written in batches…[and] the established, yet financially distressed, Pilkington must have bucked the trend and been paid for her work.” (Oxford History of the Novel 463; “UnRomantic Authorship” 87). Batchelor’s research in “UnRomantic Authorship” is also useful for tracking some of Pilkington’s contributions to The Lady’s Magazine.
Though Pilkington was more often credited for her work on The Lady’s Magazine than she was for her contributions to the Museum, her work was still very often anonymous in Robinson’s magazine. The following catalogued titles were all directly or contextually contributed to Pilkington, but there are likely many more of Pilkington’s works in The Lady’s Magazine between 1809 and 1813 that are anonymous and unattributable.
As the majority of Pilkington’s contributions to The Lady’s Magazine occurred between 1809-1813, these are the dates that the following catalogue will focus on.
*The Oxford History of the Novel states that Pilkington began working on Robinson’s magazine in 1810; however, her credited work appeared in The Lady’s Magazine starting in late 1809.
Catalogue
Work: “The Shipwreck”
Author: Mary Pilkington
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Publisher: George Robinson
Author Attribution: Attributed to Pilkington
Continuing Contribution: October 1809: non-continuing.
Publication of Title:
Title: The Shipwreck.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 40
Issue: For October, 1809
Source: Google Books (https://books.google.ca/books?id=NtoRAAAAYAAJ&printsec)
Location (Pages): 459-465
Notes: Non-continuing
Page 459 notes that this contribution is “[From a Novel lately published, entitled, The Ill-fated Mariner; or, Richard the Runaway, by Mrs. Pilkington*.],” and states, “Our readers will find an original Tale, communicated by this ingenious lady at page 441 of our present number. In our next, we shall begin a new Novel, entitled BENEDICT, by the same writer.”
Work: “The Resuscitated Mariner; or, the Incidents of Myrtle Grove. By Mrs. Pilkington.”
Author: Mary Pilkington
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Publisher: George Robinson
Author Attribution: Attributed to Pilkington
Continuing Contribution: October 1809- December 1809
Part-Publications of Title:
Title: The Resuscitated Mariner; or, the Incidents of Myrtle Grove. By Mrs. Pilkington.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 40
Issues: For October, 1809; For December, 1809
Source: Google Books (https://books.google.ca/books?id=NtoRAAAAYAAJ&printsec)
Location (Pages): 441-446; 537-543
Note: Continuing in October 1809. Concluded in December 1809.
Work: “Benedict. A True History.”
Author: Mary Pilkington
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Publisher: George Robinson
Author Attribution: Anonymous
Continuing Contribution: November 1809 – March 1812
Part-Publications of Title:
Title: Benedict. A True History.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 40
Issue: For November, 1809
Source: Google Books (https://books.google.ca/books?id=NtoRAAAAYAAJ&printsec)
Location (Pages): 489-502
Notes: Continuing
Pilkington is indirectly credited with authoring this work in the “To Correspondents” section of Oct 1809 issue, which states, “In our next will be begun a Novel, intitled Benedict. By Mrs. Pilkington” (459).
—
Title: Benedict. A True History.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 41
Issues: For January, 1810; For February, 1810; For April, 1810; For May, 1810
Source: Google Books (https://books.google.ca/books?id=EtsRAAAAYAAJ)
Location (Pages): 9-21; 57-66; 153-163; 209-218
Notes: Continuing
Volume 41 also contains the following information about Pilkington’s contributions:
“The Continuations of the Novels of Benedict and the Fleet Prison having been received late, are unavoidably postponed: they shall certainly appear in our next.” (98)
“The Continuations of the Tales of Benedict and the Fleet Prison are unavoidably postponed, from the serious indisposition of the Author.” (242)
“To the inquiries of Belinda and F.L.R., relative to the Continuations and Conclusion of Benedict and the Fleet Prison, we have only to reply, that the delay is merely occasioned by the indisposition of the Lady from whom we received the communications.” (386)
—
Title: Benedict; a true History.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 42
Issues: For November, 1811; For December, 1811
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.21285)
Location (Pages): 516-522; 563-566
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: Benedict; a true History.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issues: January, 1812; February, 1812; March, 1812
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 21-26; 54-57; 99-103
Notes: Continuing in January and February issues. Concluded in March 1812.
Work: “The Fleet Prison; or, A Cure for Extravagance; and a convincing Proof of the Fallacy of Fashionable Friendship.”
Author: Mary Pilkington
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Publisher: George Robinson
Author Attribution: Anonymous
Continuing Contribution: February 1810 – June 1812
Part-Publications of Title:
Title: The Fleet Prison; or, A Cure for Extravagance; and a convincing Proof of the Fallacy of Fashionable Friendship.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 41
Issues: February 1810; April 1810
Source: Google Books (https://books.google.ca/books?id=EtsRAAAAYAAJ)
Location (Pages): 76-84; 167-173
Notes: Continuing
Volume 41 also contains these notes on “Fleet Prison”:
“The Tale entitled the Fleet Prison, or a Cure for Extravagance, is received, and shall appear in our next.” (2)
“The Continuations of the Novels of Benedict and the Fleet Prison having been received late, are unavoidably postponed: they shall certainly appear in our next.” (98)
“The Continuations of the Tales of Benedict and the Fleet Prison are unavoidably postponed, from the serious indisposition of the Author.” (242)
“To the inquiries of Belinda and F.L.R., relative to the Continuations and Conclusion of Benedict and the Fleet Prison, we have only to reply, that the delay is merely occasioned by the indisposition of the Lady from whom we received the communications.” (386)
—
Title: The Fleet Prison; or a Cure for Extravagance, and a convincing Proof of the Fallacy of Fashionable Friendship.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issues: April, 1812; May, 1812; June, 1812
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 147-150; 211-217; 262-269
Notes: Continuing in April and May issues. Concluded in June 1812.
Volume 43 notes:
‘“The Fleet Prison.”— We have the pleasure of announcing to our fair readers that this interesting history—so long interrupted and discontinued through the ill health of the ingenious authoress—will be resumed in our next Number.” (98)
“In presenting to our fair Readers the continuation of this interesting History—so long delayed by the unfortunate illness of the ingenious Authoress—we think it right to inform them that some of the principal Characters and Incidents are actually taken from real life, without the smallest exaggeration.” (147)
Work: “The Old Woman.”
Author: Mary Pilkington
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Publisher: George Robinson
Author Attribution: Anonymous (only Essay No. 15 and No. 16 are directly attributed to Pilkington)
Continuing Contribution: January 1812 – May 1813
Part-Publications of Title:
Title: Essays, by an Old Woman, No. 1. On the proper Application of Time.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 1, for January, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 33-36
Notes: Continuing. Includes an epigraph by Seneca, whom Pilkington frequently quoted. Stated to be inspired by Mrs. Hannah More.
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 2. On Good Temper, and the Duties of the Marriage State.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 2, for February, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 71-75
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 3.—On the Duty of Children to their Parents.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 3, for March, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 124-128
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 4.— On the Diversity of human Pleasures, and the Gratification which may be derived from the Return of Spring.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 4, for April, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 171-174
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 5.— On Novel-Reading, and the Mischief which arises from its indiscriminate Practice.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 5, for May, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 222-224
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 6.— On the Misery arising from Domestic Altercations.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 6, for June, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 247-249
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 7.— On the Comfort arising from the Recollection of a well-spent Life.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 7, for July, 1812
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 300-303
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 8.— On Friendship
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 8, for August, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 346-349
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 9. — On Female Education
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 9, for September, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 401-406
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 10.— On Female Celibacy
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 10, for October, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 462-465
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 11.— Happiness independent of Rank and Fortune.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 11, for November, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 499-503
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 12.— The real Enjoyment of Riches.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: No. 12, for December, 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 555-558
Notes: Though not stated to continue at the end of this essay, we see “The Old Woman” again in the Supplement to Vol. 43. For the Year 1812.
—
Title: The Old Woman. No. 13.— The Gig; or, Conjugal Obedience.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 43
Issue: Supplement to Vol. 43. For the Year 1812.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14026)
Location (Pages): 590-592
Note: Though not stated to continue after this volume, “The Old Woman” appears in Volume 44.
—
Title: The Old Woman. — No. 14. A Christmas Adventure.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 44
Issue: No. 1, for January, 1813.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14004)
Location (Pages): 31-34
Notes: Continuing
—
Title: A Christmas Adventure.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 44
Issue: No. 1, for February, 1813.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14004)
Location (Pages): 73-77
Notes: Continuing. Title noted to be “(Concluded from page 34.)”
—
Title: The Old Woman. By Mrs. Pilkington. No. 15.— Treachery rewarded (With a Plate.)
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 44
Issue: No. 4, for April, 1813.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14004)
Location (Pages): 155-159
Notes: Continuing. Attributed to Pilkington.
—
Title: The Old Woman. By Mrs. Pilkington. No. 16.— On the Causes and Prevention of Matrimonial Infelicity.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 44
Issue: No. 5, for May, 1813.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14004)
Location (Pages): 227-230
Notes: Concluded. Attributed to Pilkington.
Work: “Time and Eternity. By Mrs. Pilkington.”
Author: Mary Pilkington
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Publisher: George Robinson
Author Attribution: Attributed to Pilkington
Continuing Contribution: May 1813: non-continuing.
Part-Publications of Title:
Title: Time and Eternity. By Mrs. Pilkington.
Periodical: The Lady’s Magazine
Volume: 44
Issue: No. 5, for May, 1813.
Source: Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.14004)
Location (Pages): 233-253
Notes: Concluded. One issue.
