Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Richard Carlile Papers
- Description
This collection consists of letters, manuscripts and documents related to the blasphemy and libel trials of Richard Carlile, Jane Carlile, and Mary Anne Carlile. Other topics in the collection include the liberty of the press in Great Britain, Carlile's religious views and the Bible and science, and prison conditions in Great Britain. The blasphemy and libel trials are:
1. Richard Carlile, for publishing Paine's Age of Reason and Elihu Palmer's Principles of Nature in 1819 (RC 538-555) and for writing an article inciting agricultural workers to riot in 1830 (RC 604-620) 2. Jane Carlile (first wife of Richard Carlile), for printing a blasphemous article written by Carlile in The Republican, 1820 (RC 556-558) 3. Mary Ann Carlile (sister of Richard Carlile), for selling an Appendix to Paine's Theological Works, 1821 (RC 559-560)Persons represented in the collection by five or more pieces include Theophila Carlile Campbell (7 pieces), Eliza Sharples Carlile (43 pieces), Richard Carlile (265 pieces), Squire Farrar (6 pieces), George Jacob Holyoake (7 pieces), Logan Mitchell (9 pieces), Alexander Morison (6 pieces), Francis Place (7 pieces), and Robert Taylor (40 pieces).
Some notable items include:
Carlile, Richard. Papers relating to a suit for libel brought against the owners of the Nottingham and Newark Mercury for printing an alleged libel on Carlile's character contained in a letter written to the newspaper by Joseph Gilbert, Congregational divine, on Sep. 6, 1828. 1828-1834 (RC 564-603) Cobbett, William. Letter to Carlile warning him not to publish a certain letter until he has seen it again. Kensington, July 14, 1831 (RC 88) Detrosier, Rowland. Letter to Carlile. ...I have been much pained by the circumstances of this afternoon, and I cannot but think you have not done me justice. I intended good, you appear to me to have viewed it as wholly evil. I do not deserve this... [approximately 1830] (RC 96) Hone, William. Manuscript of Carlile's defense. 1819 (RC 544) Place, Francis. Letter to Richard Carlile. ...I cannot see how it can ever be possible for you or any one else ever to cause or even to compel the priests of any sect to teach science generally... July 23, 1841 (RC 185)
