Thomas Howes, Reverend (October 1728 - 29 September 1814) [1][2][3][4] was an English literary scholar, historian and minister. Little is known of his life except his 4-volume book, Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern, published from 1776 onwards, which is an early example of the single-authored scholarly journal.[5] The book was largely ignored in its own time, but merits reappraisal for its intriguing genre.[5]
Howes was one of Joseph Priestley's main opponents in the so-called Unitarian disputes of the 1780s.[6]
Thomas Howes was born at Thorndon, the only son of Thomas Howes of Morningthorpe, Norfolk, and Elizabeth Colman. He studied at Clare Hall, Cambridge and graduated with a B.A. in 1746. He took holy orders and after serving curacies in London he held the crown rectory of Morningthorpe from 1756.
Later life and writingsedit
After the death of his father in 1771, he moved back to Thorndon. He wrote several books, particularly his 4-volume Critical Observations on Books, Antient (sic) and Modern.
Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modernedit
The book was published in four volumes, but as noted by David Chandler, the book also includes irregular numbered parts (I to XIII), surviving copies of the book are incomplete and sometimes wrongly bound, all of which "presents a daunting bibliographical problem".[4] The following descriptions of the contents of the four volumes is based on available online versions.
Volume 1edit
Published in 1776[7] consisting of the following sections:
An examination of Mr. Wood's essay concerning the genius of Homer.
Remarks concerning Dr. Henry's History of Britain, Whitaker's History of Manchester, Bertram's Edition of Richardus of Cirencester, and Horsley's Antiquities, tending to illustrate the State of Scotland under the Romans.
Volume 2edit
Published in 1783[8] consisting of the following sections:
Conjectures concerning the Meaning of the word Venta, in Roman Names of Cities in Britain.
Remarks on the Translation of a Passage concerning the Dates of a lunar Eclipse, in lbn. Younes's History of Celestial Observations.
Remarks on Mr. Richardson's dissertation on the Literature of Eastern Nations, so far as respects Jewish and Persian History.
Doubts concerning the Translation and Notes of the Bishop of London to Isaiah, vindicating Ezechiel, Isaiah, and other Jewish Prophets from Disorder in Arrangement.
Volume 3edit
Published in 1784[9] consisting of the following sections:
Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Number IX. The introductory page lists two topics ('Vol. IV. A Preface to the 4th Volume' and 'Remarks in Vindication of Justin') but they are not included in Volume 3, but Volume 4.
An Introductory Discourse concerning the Abuse of the Talent of Disputation in Religion by all classes of men, particularly by those from whom it ought to be now least expected, who style themselves rational Christians, and Free Enquirers after Truth. (p.1)
A Discourse on the Abuse of the Talent of Disputation in Religion by all classes of men, particularly as practiced by Dr. Priestley, Mr. Gibbon, and others of the modern Sect of Philosophic Christians. (1784, pp.1-36)
Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Number XI (1800, pp.37-162)). Researches concerning Chronology continued.
Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Number XII (1805, pp.163-296).
Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Number XIII (1807, pp.297-430).
An Appendix to Vol III...
The use of the Calippic period proposed as a popular method to discover the day of the visible new Moons in all ages, past present and future... (pp.1-94).
Illustrations of the Appendix to Volume Three. (pp.95-269).
Volume 4edit
Published from 1776 to 1800[10] consisting of the following sections:
The Preface. (pp.i-xv).
Remarks, in vindication of Epiphanius, Eusebius, Hegesippus, Origen, Jerom, and other antient (sic) Christian Fathers...(pp.1-88).
(1795) Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern. Number X. To be continued occasionally. Containing additional Evidence from Philo and other Jewish Authorities that Logos was a well known Name for the Messiah... (pp.89-198).
An Appendix to the Fourth Volume of Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Containing a Defence...(pp.1-128).
Illustrations of Various Subjects in the Preceding Four Volumes. (pp.129-152).
Dispute with Joseph Priestleyedit
The theologian and scholar Joseph Priestley was one of the founders of the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in England. Its followers claimed that Unitarianism was the faith of the primitive Christian church before later "corruptions" set in (e.g. Trinity). Unitarianism was so controversial at the time that Priestley began writing a pamphlet annually in defence of the Unitarian doctrine. One of his main opponents was Thomas Howes.[6]
^Burke, J. (1835) Howes, Of Morningthorpe. In, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol I. London: Henry Colburn.
^William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845. GENUKI.
^ abcChandler, D. (2004) Howes, Thomas (1728–1814), historian and religious controversialist. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
^ abcChandler, D. (2001) A Bibliographical History of Thomas Howes' "Critical Observations" (1776-1807) and His Dispute with Joseph Priestley. Studies in Bibliography, Vol. 54, pp. 285-295.
^ abPriestley, J. (1788) Defences of Unitarianism for the Year 1787,Containing Letters To The Rev. Dr, Geddes, To The Rev. Dr. Price, Part II. And To The Candidates for Orders in the Two Universities. Part II. Relating to Mr. Howes's APPENDIX to his Fourth Volume of Observations on Books, a Letter by an UNDER-GRADUATE of Oxford, Dr. Croft's Bampton Lectures, and several other PUBLICATIONS. Birmingham.
^Howes, T. (1776) Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Number I. (To be continued occasionally). London.
^Howes, T. (1783) Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Volume II. London.
^Howes, T. (1784) Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Number IX. London.
^Howes, T. (1776-1800) Critical Observations on Books, Antient and Modern. Vol IV.
April 12, 2024
thomas, howes, cleric, thomas, howes, reverend, october, 1728, september, 1814, english, literary, scholar, historian, minister, little, known, life, except, volume, book, critical, observations, books, antient, modern, published, from, 1776, onwards, which, e. Thomas Howes Reverend October 1728 29 September 1814 1 2 3 4 was an English literary scholar historian and minister Little is known of his life except his 4 volume book Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern published from 1776 onwards which is an early example of the single authored scholarly journal 5 The book was largely ignored in its own time but merits reappraisal for its intriguing genre 5 Howes was one of Joseph Priestley s main opponents in the so called Unitarian disputes of the 1780s 6 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Later life and writings 2 1 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern 2 1 1 Volume 1 2 1 2 Volume 2 2 1 3 Volume 3 2 1 4 Volume 4 2 2 Dispute with Joseph Priestley 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly life and education editThomas Howes was born at Thorndon the only son of Thomas Howes of Morningthorpe Norfolk and Elizabeth Colman He studied at Clare Hall Cambridge and graduated with a B A in 1746 He took holy orders and after serving curacies in London he held the crown rectory of Morningthorpe from 1756 Later life and writings editAfter the death of his father in 1771 he moved back to Thorndon He wrote several books particularly his 4 volume Critical Observations on Books Antient sic and Modern Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern edit The book was published in four volumes but as noted by David Chandler the book also includes irregular numbered parts I to XIII surviving copies of the book are incomplete and sometimes wrongly bound all of which presents a daunting bibliographical problem 4 The following descriptions of the contents of the four volumes is based on available online versions Volume 1 edit Published in 1776 7 consisting of the following sections An examination of Mr Wood s essay concerning the genius of Homer Remarks concerning Dr Henry s History of Britain Whitaker s History of Manchester Bertram s Edition of Richardus of Cirencester and Horsley s Antiquities tending to illustrate the State of Scotland under the Romans Volume 2 edit Published in 1783 8 consisting of the following sections Conjectures concerning the Meaning of the word Venta in Roman Names of Cities in Britain Remarks on the Translation of a Passage concerning the Dates of a lunar Eclipse in lbn Younes s History of Celestial Observations Remarks on Mr Richardson s dissertation on the Literature of Eastern Nations so far as respects Jewish and Persian History Doubts concerning the Translation and Notes of the Bishop of London to Isaiah vindicating Ezechiel Isaiah and other Jewish Prophets from Disorder in Arrangement Volume 3 edit Published in 1784 9 consisting of the following sections Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Number IX The introductory page lists two topics Vol IV A Preface to the 4th Volume and Remarks in Vindication of Justin but they are not included in Volume 3 but Volume 4 An Introductory Discourse concerning the Abuse of the Talent of Disputation in Religion by all classes of men particularly by those from whom it ought to be now least expected who style themselves rational Christians and Free Enquirers after Truth p 1 A Discourse on the Abuse of the Talent of Disputation in Religion by all classes of men particularly as practiced by Dr Priestley Mr Gibbon and others of the modern Sect of Philosophic Christians 1784 pp 1 36 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Number XI 1800 pp 37 162 Researches concerning Chronology continued Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Number XII 1805 pp 163 296 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Number XIII 1807 pp 297 430 An Appendix to Vol III The use of the Calippic period proposed as a popular method to discover the day of the visible new Moons in all ages past present and future pp 1 94 Illustrations of the Appendix to Volume Three pp 95 269 Volume 4 edit Published from 1776 to 1800 10 consisting of the following sections The Preface pp i xv Remarks in vindication of Epiphanius Eusebius Hegesippus Origen Jerom and other antient sic Christian Fathers pp 1 88 1795 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Number X To be continued occasionally Containing additional Evidence from Philo and other Jewish Authorities that Logos was a well known Name for the Messiah pp 89 198 An Appendix to the Fourth Volume of Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Containing a Defence pp 1 128 Illustrations of Various Subjects in the Preceding Four Volumes pp 129 152 Dispute with Joseph Priestley edit The theologian and scholar Joseph Priestley was one of the founders of the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in England Its followers claimed that Unitarianism was the faith of the primitive Christian church before later corruptions set in e g Trinity Unitarianism was so controversial at the time that Priestley began writing a pamphlet annually in defence of the Unitarian doctrine One of his main opponents was Thomas Howes 6 Howes was prompted to join in the Unitarian controversy by the publication of Priestley s History of the Corruptions of Christianity in 1782 4 5 Death editHe died at Norwich unmarried on 29 Sept 1814 References edit Archbold William Arthur Jobson 1891 Howes Francis Dictionary of National Biography Vol 28 pp 119 120 Burke J 1835 Howes Of Morningthorpe In A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland Vol I London Henry Colburn William White s History Gazetteer and Directory of Norfolk 1845 GENUKI a b c Chandler D 2004 Howes Thomas 1728 1814 historian and religious controversialist Oxford Dictionary of National Biography a b c Chandler D 2001 A Bibliographical History of Thomas Howes Critical Observations 1776 1807 and His Dispute with Joseph Priestley Studies in Bibliography Vol 54 pp 285 295 a b Priestley J 1788 Defences of Unitarianism for the Year 1787 Containing Letters To The Rev Dr Geddes To The Rev Dr Price Part II And To The Candidates for Orders in the Two Universities Part II Relating to Mr Howes s APPENDIX to his Fourth Volume of Observations on Books a Letter by an UNDER GRADUATE of Oxford Dr Croft s Bampton Lectures and several other PUBLICATIONS Birmingham Howes T 1776 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Number I To be continued occasionally London Howes T 1783 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Volume II London Howes T 1784 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Number IX London Howes T 1776 1800 Critical Observations on Books Antient and Modern Vol IV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Howes cleric amp oldid 1176938277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
