Christopher Smart

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Christopher Smart (11 April 1722 – 21 May 1771) was an English poet. He was a major contributor to two popular magazines as well as a mentor to influential cultural figures like Samuel Johnson and Henry Fielding.

Smart, a renowned Anglican diocese, was well-known in London as the pious midwife "Mrs."

Mary Midnight" and other sources of his father-in-law, John Newbery, had him put away for many years because of Smart's apparent religious "mania" in his family home.

Even after Smart's eventual release, a negative reputation remained adamant against him because he was always having more debt than he could repay; this culminated in his time in debtors' prison until his death; A Song to David and Jubilate Agno are two of Smart's most well-known scripts, both of which were at least partly written during his time in asylum.

However, Jubilate Agno was not published until 1939, and A Song to David received mixed critiques until the 19th century.

Smart was best known for his many contributions to the journals The Midwife and The Student, as well as his celebrated Seaton Prize poems and his mock epic The Hilliad, to his colleagues.

Though he is best known as a religious poet, his poetry explores various other topics, including his theories of nature and the promotion of English nationalism.

Early life

Christopher Smart was born in Shipbourne, Kent, England, on the Fairlawne estate of William, Viscount Vane, the younger son of Barnard Castle's Lord Barnard. "He was born earlier than the normal period," his nephew said. On May 11th, 1722, he was baptized in Wrotham parish. Fairlawne's father, Peter Smart, was a prisoner or bailiff. Winifred (née Griffiths), his mother, was from Radnorshire, Wales. Margaret and Mary Anne, Winifred's two children before giving birth to Christopher, had two daughters Margaret and Mary Anne.

Fairlawne was the home of Christopher Vane, 1st Baron Barnard, and Lady Barnard, who bequeathed £200 to Smart during his youth. Smart being named after Christopher Vane's closeness to the Vane family, and the young boy being regarded as "the pride of Fair lawn." Peter Smart bought Hall-Place in East Barming, which included a mansion house, fields, orchards, gardens, and woodland, a property that was prominent throughout Smart's later life. He spent a lot of time on the farms from the age of four to eleven, but did not participate in any of the myths that he died from asthma attacks. However, not all scholars agree that he was a "sickly youth." The only written record of events during his childhood comes from his writing of a short story in which he challenges a rival to the affections of a twelve-year-old teen.

Smart was sent to the local Maidstone Grammar School, where he was taught by Charles Walwyn, a scholar from Eton College who had earned an MA from King's College, Cambridge, Cambridge, in 1696. Smart was born in Latin and Greek at a young age. He did not complete his education at Maidstone, however, because his father died on February 3rd, and his siblings and his siblings were able to live near relatives in Durham after selling off a large portion of the estate to pay Peter Smart's debts.

Smart then attended Durham School, where Reverend Mr. Richard Dongworth was headmaster; it is unknown if he lived with his uncle, John Smart, or with a schoolmaster. He spent vacations at Raby Castle, which was owned by Henry Vane, the grandson of Christopher Vane. Henry Vane and his wife Grace, brother and sister to William and Henrietta Fitzroy of Cleveland, Duke and Duchess of Cleveland, had four children, Henry, Frederick, Anne, and Mary. They were just a few years younger than Smart and became playmates, with Anne and Henry "pairing off" with Christopher and Margaret respectively. Although the match did not go well, Anne has been described as his "first love" in history. Smart dedicated many poems to Henrietta, Duchess of Cleveland, during his time with the Vane family. It was Henrietta's closeness with the Vane family as well as his ability for learning that prompted him to receive a pension of 40 pounds a year, which was continued by her husband after his death in 1742. Smart was able to attend Pembroke College, Cambridge, as a result of this.

Smart was admitted to Pembroke College on October 20th, 1739, as a sizar under Leonard Addison. Despite the fact that he picked Pembroke College, Addison was named in Peter Smart's trust (1729). He'd often had to sit on the "Fellows' table" and do other non-important duties as a sizar. On July 12, 1740, he was given the "Dr. Watt's Foundation scholarship," which gave him six pounds a year until he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition to this wealth, he was also awarded four pounds a year for scholarship. Though he was successful academically, he started to incur debt in order to pay for his luxury lifestyle while attending the college.

Smart borrowed many books from literature, faith, and science during his time in Pembroke. These were useful when he wrote the three "Tripos Verse" at the end of each year. These poems were published in Latin, and they, along with his other Latin poems, including Alexander Pope's Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, earned him the Craven scholarship for classics on June 10, 1742, which cost £25 a year for 14 years, which was worth £25 a year for 14 years. These scholarships, along with his appointment as a fellow in 1743, aided Smart in naming himself "Scholar of the University."

Smart's Ode translated by Pope Stephen on St. Cecilia's Day in 1743 as Carmen Cl. Alexandri Pope of S. Caeciliam Redditum bought the magazine himself. With this translation, he wanted to win Pope's respect and translate Pope's Essay on Man, but Pope refused, and instead, Smart translated Pope's An Essay on Criticism (De Arte Critica). Smart lauded Pope's initial letter recommending the future translation. The Pembroke Fellows honoured him with a portrait depicting him holding the letter from Pope and encouraging him to write a poem in honor of Jubilee's 400th year in 1744.

Smart was named Praelector of Philosophy, which cost one pound per year, in October 1745, and was one of three Keepers of the Common Chest. On February 11, 1746, he became a Master of Arts, Praelector of Rhetoric, and Keeper of the Common Chest. However, he had accrued more debt than twice his annual income, and he had not been re-elected in 1747 to the Praelectorship and was not denied his authority over the Common Chest accounts. However, he was called a "Preacher" at the Cambridge University under the name "Conditionatori Coram Praetore oppidano," and his modest life during this year enabled him to regain Praelectorship in Philosophy while also being made a catechist.

Smart became tutor to John Hussey Delaval in 1746, but the appointment was abruptly ended because Delaval was barred from Peshawe due to a patch of broken laws and mischief. Smart returned to school after recovering from this. Smart himself appeared in Pembroke College Hall in April 1747, a comedy he wrote just months before, A Trip to Cambridge, or The Grateful Fair, with several scenes, including female roles, written by Smart himself. In The Cambridge Journal Weekly Flying-Post, the prologue was published, announcing that the play has been awarded "universal Applause."

Smart was writing and publishing many poems during his remaining years at Pembroke. Three designs for "A Collection of Original Poems" by Christopher Smart, M.A., Fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge University, "The Hop Garden," "The Judgment of Midas," his odes, his translations into Latin, and some original Latin poems were included on January 9, 1748. On March 17, 1747, Thomas Gray referred to this work as "Collection of Odes" by Smart's Smart. This collection was not published in 1748, but it was postponed until 1752, and was re-titled Poems on several Occasions.

He was introduced to Harriot Pratt in 1740 and 1746, and he began to write poetry about her. He was in love with her by 1749 and wrote to her sister, Charles Burney (father of Fanny Burney), "I am located within a mile of my Harriote & Love has robbed Friendship of her just dues." At Cambridge, England, there was a major musical tragedy that was much admired, but I was not there to hear Harriote on her spinnet and organ at her ancient mansion, implying that he was living permanently in Market Downham, London. Despite writing several poems dedicated to Harriot, his poem "The Lass with the Golden Locks" (1752) argues that he was done with both Harriot and Polly, as well as other women. Anna Maria Carnan, "the lass with the golden locks" who revived Smart's previous dreams, was the "lass with the golden locks" who replaced Smart's old fancies. Anna will be Smart's future wife, and she will be the stepdaughter of John Newbery, Smart's future publisher.

Although Smart seemed to be able to turn his life around at Pembroke, he gradually left the college for London. He appeared on Pembroke's "Liber Absentiae" in 1749 and 1750, and Pembroke would occasionally return to Pembroke. He was able to keep his name in the college's files because he was eligible and registered as a student at Pembroke. By 1750, he was living near St. James' Park and was busy familiarizing himself with Grub Street. Smart developed a commercial relationship with John Newbery this year. In 1752, he worked for Newbery and married his stepdaughter. Smart and Newbery met in a mystery, but Smart's daughter believes Charles Burney introduced the two children. Smart was a contender to his The Midwife and The Student magazines in Cambridge, and it's likely that Smart's winning of Cambridge's "Seatonian Prize" on March 25th attracted Newbery's interest.

"The Perfections or Attributes of the Supreme Being" was a competition held each year in the name of "the Perfections or Attributes of the Supreme Being," with the prize being the "Reign of the [Kislingbury, Northamptonshire] estate. Smart wrote in the Miltonic blank verse tradition in the "poetic essay" style. He received the award in 1750 for his poem On the Eternity of the Supreme Being. Before the publication of the poem, the reward was only worth 17 pounds per year. Smart became a regular contributor to The Student after the book's publication.

The Student, before Smart's publication, was a serious publication that featured a few poems and critical essays. However, when he joined and began writing under various pseudonyms, the magazine became brimming with satire, parody, and amusing essays and poems. He also appended three of The Inspector, a "humorous news review," to the second of the volumes along with 15 of the essays and the majority of the poems published in the magazine's two volumes. These papers included many "puff pieces" promoting Smart's books as well as several stories written by his colleagues and colleagues, including the famous writers/poets Henry Fielding, Samuel Johnson, William Collins, and Tobias Smollett. However, this was not the only important journal he produced during his lifetime.

Smart's collection of "wild tavern entertainments" during his time in London included Mother Midnight's Oratory, a series of "wild tavern entertainments" in which Smart performed as both narrator and performer.

The Midwife, first published on October 16, 1751, and until April 1753, was mainly designed by Smart while on The Student. This magazine was so popular that it was released in four different editions. He adopted the persona of a midwife, as well as a "Mrs. Midwife" in slang, and referred to her as "Mrs. Mary Midnight" in order to mask his identity for practical and amusing purposes.

Smart used The Midwife in December 1750 to strike back at Kenrick, possibly as a result of a preplanned publicity stunt, promising that an Old Woman's Dunciad be published against the other poet. Kenrick, on the other hand, defeated Smart with the use of the name and printed his own in January 1751. This feud lasted for several issues of The Midwife, but it soon fell out when Smart concentrated his attention to writing a prologue and epilogue for a production of Othello and promoting it with the magazine.

As he began writing for and received the "Seatonian Prize" for his "Immenseness of the Supreme Being," he gradually moved away from The Midwife, and started working with The Lilliputian Magazine in Newbery. Smart, on the other hand, returned to this role as he founded The Old Woman's Oratory, or Henley in Petticoats in December 1751. Smart was Mrs. Oratory at the Oratory, and she was regarded as Mrs. Midnight, many songs and dances, animal performances, and "miscellany" performances are among the evening's program. On January 21, 1752, the Oratory was a hit and was completely redoned. However, not everyone enjoyed the show, and Horace Walpole described it as "the lowest buffoonery in the country" even to me, who is used to my uncle Horace. Smart completed and published a series of his Poems on several occasions, resulting in the Oratory and The Midwife's demise.

Christopher Smart was gradually drawn into a huge "paper war" that included several of London's writers in 1752. John Hill launched a major assault on Smart's poetry following the publication of Poems on several Occasions, including The Hop-Garden in June 1752. Smart responded to his mock-epic The Hilliad. Hill was embroiled in a big literary contest among several members of Grub Street's and London's writing community, especially Henry Fielding, prior to the publication of Smart's poem. This war may have only been for publicity, and it lasted for many months before Smart involved himself. Despite such a late entry, his Hilliad was the "loudest broadside" of the war.

Smart was incurring multiple debts and began publishing as much as possible during this period to help his family; he had married Anna Maria Carnan about 1750, and Elizabeth Anne (1754) and Elizabeth Anne (27 October 1754). When his marriage and children were made apparent to the college's leaders, he could no longer be enrolled at Pembroke and collect his scholarship money. Smart, his wife and their children, and their children were able to live at Canonbury House in Islington, according to Newbery. Despite the fact that Newbery had a good reputation for charity, he was determined to have absolute control over his writers. It is likely that such an attitude, as well as financial difficulties, contributed to a rift between the two countries in 1753.

Smart published or republished at least 79 works between 1753 and 1755. However, even if he received money from each of these publications, they were still unable to provide enough funds to sustain a family, particularly to his level of living. Although he was composing a poem each year for the Seatonian Prize, this amounted to little of his writing; his contemporary, Arthur Murphy, said, "a bookseller is his only friend," but for that bookseller, "understandable" means toil and drudge. He finished The Works of Horace, Translated Literally into English Prose, a Horace translation that was widely used but didn't bring him much money in December 1755, but he didn't succeed him.

Thomas Gardner and Edmund Allen's 99-year apprenticeship ended in November 1755 to produce The Universal Visitor or Monthly Memorialist. Smart, however, was suffering from a fit as a result of the paper's publication. Allen, Samuel Johnson, and several other Smart people who contributed to the publication in order to help Smart keep up with his job. On the Goodness of the Supreme Being, Newbery published his last "Seatonian Prize" poem on March 1756, without Smart's permission, and on June 5, he published his Hymn to the Supreme Being, a poem that thanked God for recovery from an illness of some sort, possibly a "disturbed mental condition." The Hymn to the Supreme Being marks a period in Smart's life after the mysterious "fit" was established and the beginning of his obsession with religion and his prayer "without ceasing" was apparent.

Smart was arrested as a "Curable Patient" and admitted to St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics on May 6, 1757. Smart may have been restricted by Newbery due to old debts and a bad friendship between the two people; in his A Collection of Pretty Poems for the Amusement of Children six Foot High, Newbery had previously mocked Smart and his immorality. Regardless of the exact reasons, there is evidence to show that Newbery's admission of Smart into the mental asylum was not motivated by "madness." However, there are also reports that an incident of some sort took place in St. James' Park, where Smart began to pray loudly in public until he had "routed all the company" (Jubilate Agno B89).

It's unclear what happened during his detention, but Smart did work on two of his most popular poems, Jubilate Agno and A Song to David, although it's not clear what happened during his confinement. What is known is that he may have been in a private madhouse before St Luke's funeral and that he was later moved from St Luke's to Mr. Potter's asylum before his release. He went from being "curable" to "incurable" at St Luke's, and was moved to Mr. Potter's asylum for monetary reasons. Anna left and carried the children with her to Ireland at this time. His loneliness led him to writing religious poetry in the 18th century, but he didn't write Jubilate Agno, which characterized his earlier poetry. Although it is debating whether his turning inward to examine himself in his poetry reflects an evangelical version of Christianity, his poetry during his exile reveals a longing for "unmediated revelation." Smart and his poems have a "inner light" that is a focal point, and the inner light connects him to the Christian God.

Smart was left alone, save for his cat Jeoffrey and the occasional gawker. During this period, it is likely that he felt "homeless" and that he had felt "limbo... between public and private space." Only a few of his works were being released in London. Smart's "madness" was not viewed as threatening by some people, but many times, Johnson defended him, sometimes seriously and other times comedically. Robert Browning remarked that A Song to David was amazing because Smart was mad, and that the poem enabled him to rank alongside Milton and Keats.

After one year, he was released from St. Luke's asylum uncured. He was supposed to be detained in another country for the next seven years, during which he wrote Jubilate Agno. "He grew better" and some misjudging friends who mistook Mr Newbery's great kindness in bringing him under the most suitable and salutary ban, which may have resulted in a cure, Elizabeth, his daughter, said, "and some misjudging friends who misinterpreted him." Although this may be a misrepresentation of the events, Smart did leave the asylum on January 30th, 1763.

On April 6, 1763, a Song to David was published, as well as a plan for a new translation of the Psalms. Smart is said to have written the poem during his second week of being housed in an asylum during a period of religious persecution. The poem was certainly delivered with a scathing critique of Smart's being released from the asylum only weeks before. On the 25th of May 1763, Kenrick, Smart's former adversary, praised the poem in one of his own published. In addition, John Lockman performed his own poem in honor of Smart's birthday on June 21, 1763, and Samuel Boyce followed this on July 1563 with another. Smart responded to his colleagues at the Critical Review; in response to Smart's words, the Critical Review said that they would "say no more of Mr. Smart."

He attempted to publish a series of his Psalms translations after A Song to David, but Newbery threatened to destabilize him by recruiting James Merrick to produce his own translations. Smart's current publisher, James Fletcher, was then hired by Newbery, who in turn compelled Smart to seek a new publisher, but Psalms' printing has been delayed. On August 12, he published A Translation of the Psalms of David, which included Hymns and Spiritual Songs, as well as a second edition of A Song to David. Tobias Smollett, who was living in Newbery at the time, had criticized this book, and Merrick's Newbery's Newbery version was always compared to Smart's. Smart's version of modern criticism has, on the other hand, has been seen in a more favourable light. He was also working on a translation of the Phaedrus and a verse translation of Horace when he was on this project. In July 1767, Horace's verse included a preface in which he attacked Newbery, but the assault was in vain because Newbery died soon after.

Smart was arrested for debt on April 20th, 1770. On January 11, 1771, he was tried by Lord Mansfield, the man who gave Smart to Alexander Pope, and he was soon admitted to King's Bench Prison. Although he was in jail, Charles Burney bought the "Rules" (allowing him some freedom), and Smart's last weeks may have been quiet yet sad. Smart begged for money from Rev. David in his last letter. "I beg you to send me two or three shillings as I return from a bout of illness and have nothing to eat," Mr. Jackson said. (God willing) I will return in two or three days." Smart died of liver disease or pneumonia soon after completing his final work, Hymns, for the Amusement of Children, on May 20th, 1771.

Fanny Burney, in her journal, wrote:

A jury of twelve fellow prisoners of the King's Bench Prison announced on May 22nd that Smart "upon the Twentieth day of May Instantly died a Natural Death within the confines of the Prisoner." On May 26, he was buried in St Paul's Covent Garden.

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Later career

Christopher Smart was gradually drawn into a big "paper war" that involved many of London's writers in 1752. In June 1752, John Hill launched a serious attack on Smart's poetry after the publication of Poems on Several Occasions, including The Hop-Garden. Smart replied with his parody The Hilliad. Hill was involved in a massive literary contest between several members of Grub Street's and London's writing community, particularly Henry Fielding, long before the publication of Smart's poem. This war may have only been about publicity, and it lasted for months before Smart involved himself. However, despite his tardy appearance, his Hilliad was the war's "loudest broadside."

Smart was racking multiple debts and began releasing as much as possible during this period to help his family; he had married Anna Maria Carnan about 1753, and Elizabeth Anne (17 October 1754). When his wife and children were made known to the college's heads, he could no longer enroll in Pembroke and collect his scholarship money. Smart, his wife, and their children were able to live in Canonbury House, Islington, under Newbery. Although Newbery had a good reputation for charity, he was determined to have absolute control over his writers. It is likely that such an attitude, as well as financial difficulties, contributed to a divide between the two countries by 1753.

Smart published or republished at least 79 books between 1753 and 1755. However, even if he earned money from each of these publications, they were still unable to provide enough funds to sustain a family, especially to his level of living. Though he was writing a poem each year for the Seatonian Prize, this amounted to little of his writing; Arthur Murphy's "a bookseller is his only friend," but for the bookseller, who is liberal, he must toil and drudge." He finished The Works of Horace, Translated Literally into English Prose, a Horace translation that was widely distributed but failed to bring him little money in December 1755.

In November 1755, Thomas Gardner and Edmund Allen began a 99-year contract to produce The Universal Visitor or Monthly Memorialist. Smart, however, was struggling to keep up with the paper's publication, and he was unable to cope with the pressures of publication. Samuel Johnson was a good friend of Samuel Johnson, and it was along with many others of Smart who contributed to the magazine in order to help Smart keep up with his contracts. Newbery published On the Goodness of the Supreme Being in March 1756, but without Smart's permission, he published his final "Seatonian Prize" poem On the Goodness of the Supreme Being, and then, without Smart's permission, his Hymn to the Supreme Being, a poem that praised God for recovery from an illness of some kind, possibly a "disturbed mental condition." The homage to the Supreme Being marks a point in Smart's life after the mysterious "fit" was clarified and the beginning of his obsession with religion and his prayers "without ceasing."

Smart's "Commission of Lunacy" was rejected, and he was admitted to St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics on May 6th, 1757, as a "Curable Patient." Smart may have been jailed by Newbery because of old debts and a bad marriage between the two parties; the two men appeared in his A Collection of Pretty Poems for the Amusement of Children six Foot High. Regardless of the exact reasons, there is evidence to show that Newbery's acceptance of Smart into the mental asylum was not motivated by "madness." However, there are also signs that an incident of some sort occurred in St. James' Park, in which Smart started to pray loudly in public until he had "routed all the company" (Jubilate Agno B89).

Smart isn't clear what happened during his confinement, but he did work on two of his most popular poems, Jubilate Agno and A Song to David. He may have been in a private madhouse before St Luke's burial and was later transferred from St Luke's to Mr. Potter's asylum until his release. He went from being "curable" to "incurable" at St Luke's, and was moved to Mr. Potter's asylum for monetary reasons. Anna left and carried the children with her to Ireland at this time. His loneliness led him to write devotional poetry in the 18th century, although he left the romantic traditions of his earlier poetry when he wrote Jubilate Agno. Although it is unclear if his turning inward to see himself in his poetry reflects an evangelical kind of Christianity, his poetry during his solitude does express a longing for "unmediated revelation." Smart and his poems are based on an "inner light," and the Christian God connects him to the Christian God.

Smart was left alone, save for his cat Jeoffrey and the occasional gawker. It's likely that he felt "homeless" at this time and that he must have felt "in a "limbo... between public and private space." Only a few of his creations were still being published in London. Smart's "madness" was not understood by many, and Johnson defended him, often referring to Smart's "madness" as troubling, occasionally in a comedic manner. Robert Browning remarked that A Song to David was wonderful because Smart was mad, and that the poem enabled him to rank alongside Milton and Keats.

After one year, he was banned from St. Luke's asylum, which had been uncured. He was expected to be detained in another country for the next seven years, during which he wrote Jubilate Agno. "He grew stronger, and some misjudging Mr Newbery's generousness in putting him under the most crucial and salutary restriction, which may have resulted in a cure," Elizabeth, his daughter, said. Despite the fact that this may be an exaggeration of events, Smart did leave the asylum on January 30.

On the 6th of April 1763, a Song to David was published as well as a plan for a new translation of the Psalms. Smart is said to have written the poem during his second period of incarceration to an asylum during a period of religious mania. Smart's book was reportedly criticized vehemently by those who had just openly denied personal allegations regarding Smart's release from the asylum just weeks before. However, Kenrick, Smart's former adversary, praised the poem in a one of his own published on May 25, 1763. In addition, John Lockman appeared on June 2163 with his own poem in honor of Smart's. Samuel Boyce followed this on July 1563 with another. Smart responded to his readers at the Critical Review; in reaction to Smart's words, the Critical Review said that they would "say no more of Mr. Smart" as a result.

He attempted to publish a series of his Psalms translations after A Song to David, but Newbery threatened to ruin him by using James Merrick to produce his own translations. Smart's latest publisher, James Fletcher, was fired by the company, requiring Smart to find a new publisher, which delayed the printing of his Psalms. He also published A Translation of the Psalms of David, which included Hymns and Spiritual Songs, as well as a second edition of A Song to David on August 12th. Tobias Smollett, a Newbery engineer at the time, had sluggish criticism of this work, and Merrick's Newbery edition was constantly compared to Smart's. Smart's version of modern criticism, on the other hand, has been seen in a more favourable light. While on this project, he was also working on a Phaedrus translation and a verse translation of Horace. His verse Horace appeared in July 1767, which included a preface in which he attacked Newbery, but the assault was in vain because Newbery died shortly after.

Smart was arrested on April 20th, 1770, for debt. He was tried by Lord Mansfield, the gentleman who gave Smart to Alexander Pope, on Monday, and he was later recommended to the King's Bench Prison. Despite being in jail, Charles Burney purchased the "Rules" (giving him some liberty), and Smart's last weeks may have been quiet but sad. Smart begged for money from Rev. John in his final letter. "Being recovering from a bout of illness and without having anything to eat, I beg you to give me two or three shillings, which (God willing) I will return in two or three days." Smart died of liver disease or pneumonia within minutes after finishing his final work, Hymns, for the Amusement of Children.

Fanny Burney, in her journal, wrote:

Smart "upon the Twentieth day of May Instantiation died within the confines of the jail," a jury of twelve fellow prisoners of the King's Bench Prison announced on May 22. In St Paul's Covent Garden, he was buried on May 26.

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