The Connoisseur founded in 1754 by Colman and Thornton survived for two years and at times promised high excellence in the field of essay writing, which had been previously occupied by the Spectator and the Rambler. It died after the one hundred and fortieth number, however, and Dr. Johnson’s verdict was that it “lacked weight.” It was asserted by its editors that the essays were all their joint productions; and though this is not wholly probable, it has been accepted in mere default of refutation. Thornton had made some reputation as a parodist at the time the paper was founded, but the master mind of the combination was undoubtedly the elder Colman (born April 28th, 1732; died August 14th, 1794). He was a writer of many popular comedies, some of which have become classical. Of his method of co-operating with Thornton, he says in the last number of the Connoisseur (September 30th, 1756):—
| “We have not only joined in the work taken together, but almost every single paper is the joint product of both; and, as we have labored equally in erecting the fabric, we cannot pretend that any one particular part is the sole workmanship of either. A hint has perhaps been started by one of us, improved by the other, and still further heightened by a happy coalition of sentiment in both; as fire is struck out by a mutual collision of flint and steel. Sometimes, like Strada’s lovers conversing with the sympathetic needles, we have written papers together at fifty miles distance from each other: the first rough draught or loose minutes of an essay have often traveled in a stage-coach from town to country, and from country to town; and we have frequently waited for the postman (whom we expected to bring us the precious remainder of a Connoisseur) with the same anxiety as we should wait for the half of a bank note, without which the other half would be of no value.” |
