The Paper Chase: Joseph Hone (1711)
Joseph Hone on the origins of Enlightenment
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In this episode of Travels Through Time the historian and literary scholar Dr Joseph Hone takes us back to the early eighteenth century. We follow the twists and turns of a three-hundred year old mystery and we meet the man who many consider Britain’s first prime minister: Robert Harley.
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In 1705, an anonymous pamphlet criticising the government was published to much scandal. The pamphlet, titled The Memorial of the Church of England, argued that tolerating different religious sects did not lead to social cohesion – as the Whig Party suggested – but rather to greater conflict and division.
The trauma of the previous century’s political upheavals had left deep and lasting scars on Britain’s social and political landscapes. One such scar was this belief that religious non-conformity was a byword for radicalism and republicanism. The Memorial seemed to suggest that if political stability and religious purity were to be achieved, the current government would have to be thrown out.
A controversial view, but how to stop an idea like this from taking hold amongst the wider public?
Had a terrific time chatting to @tttpodcast_ about The Paper Chase and the exploits of Robert Harley. We go back to 1711 and peek into taverns, Whitehall interrogation chambers, and the floor of parliament. https://t.co/7U1gh7IJvL
— Joseph Hone (@JosephHone_) November 24, 2020
The lapse of the Licensing Act in 1695 – often held as the development which paved the way for the modern free press – had put a stop to pre-publication censorship. However, the state continued to censor any material it deemed treasonous post-publication, and to punish those responsible with impunity. Those convicted could be pilloried or worse and their books burnt in public.
The man set to the task of uncovering the culprits behind the Memorial was Robert Harley, then Secretary of State. Harley was an astute and effective politician, with a reputation for backstairs intrigue. Using an extensive network of spies, Harley was often able to successfully root out his enemies. Yet, although he was able to identify the Memorial’s printer, the author alluded him.
In this episode we join Harley six years after the scandal first broke. Having fallen out of favour after the Memorial was published, Harley’s career was an upward trajectory once again. 1711 would prove to be a crucial year for Harley. He would survive an assassination attempt, who try to turn politics to his advantage, and he would glimpse an opportunity to identify the mystery author of The Memorial and complete his paper chase.
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Click here to order Joseph Hone’s book from John Sandoe’s who, we are delighted to say, are supplying books for the podcast.
Dr Joseph Hone is a writer, historian, and literary scholar. He is the author of three books, the first of which, Literature and Party Politics at the Accession of Queen Anne, was shortlisted for the University English Book Prize in 2017. He is an Academic Track (NUAcT) Fellow in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University.
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Show notes
Scene One: 7 February 1711, the Bell Tavern, Westminster. A club of disgruntled Tory backbenchers are plotting against Robert Harley.
Scene Two: 8 March 1711, the Cockpit in Whitehall. A suspected French spy is being interrogated by members of the cabinet when he attempts to assassinate Harley.
Scene Three: 26 April 1711, the floor of the House of Commons. Harley makes a grand reappearance in Parliament.
Memento: The broken knife that snapped in Harley’s chest
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Presenter: Artemis Irvine
Guest: Dr Joseph Hone
Producers: Maria Nolan
Titles: Jon O
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Images
Title page of The Memorial of the Church of England
Featured images from Paper Chase
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