Elizabeth Ryves
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth "Eliza" Ryves was an Irish author, poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and translator.
Eliza Ryves came from an old wealthy Irish family connected with Bruno Ryves
. Her father was a long-serving Irish army officer. She was left with nothing of her father's inheritance after being swindled out of it ‘by the chicanery of the law’. Poverty stricken, Eliza traveled to London in 1775 to petition the government about her inheritance (which was unsuccessful) as well as to try and make a living as a writer. Ryves wrote in an assortment of genres including plays, verses, poetry, political articles for newspapers, and a novel entitled The Hermit of Snowden (1789), which is thought to be a story of her own anguish. Eliza commonly worked writing for magazines unpaid. The poetry of her later years manifested itself as politically Whig and was directed toward public figures.
In addition to being an author, Eliza learned French in order to translate several works into English including The Social Contract (Jean-Jacques Rousseau
), Raynal's Letter to the National Assembly, and Review of the Constitutions of the Principal States of Europe by Jean-François Delacroix
. She had begun to translate Jean Froissart
's work, but gave up when it proved to be too difficult.
In 1777, Eliza Ryves had published a volume of poems entitled Poems on Several Occasions which was originally subscription based. Ryves was given £100 as payment for two of her dramatic plays, but neither were ever acted out: a comedic opera in three parts, The Prude (1777), and The Debt of Honour. According to Isaac D'Israeli
(with who she was acquainted with), Eliza had written all of the historical and political sections of The Annual Register for some time.
In The Gentleman's Magazine
67 (July 1797), one writer noted that Eliza had spent the last of her money buying a piece of meat in order to help feed a starving family that lived above her. Eliza Ryves died poor and unmarried in April of 1797 while living off of Tottenham Court Road in London. D'Israeli had extended her much compassion in his Calamities of Authors (1812) to which he expressed his praise of Ms. Ryves.
on An epistle to the Right Honourable Lord John Cavendish, late Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1784, a writer described: "This panegyrical Epistle seems to have been dictated by a sincere respect for the character which is the subject of it. The sentiments are just; and they are expressed, if not inelegant, yet in spirited verse."
An exert of one of her poems entitled A Song. (from Poems on several occasions) describes the lament of a person that held someone close:
The Hastiniad; an heroic poem. In three cantos is described by one article as a "pro-Whig burlesque
in the manner of the notable Whig satirist John Wolcot
." The poem itself is a mock epic satirizing Warren Hastings
, when he came back to England as the Governor-General of India to face corruption charges and impeachment. In a selection of the mock epic, Ryves is found to praise the Indian rulers for their patriotism in face of threat from the British:
Spenser and the Tradition: English Poetry 1579-1830 (http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/AuthorRecord.php?&method=GET&recordid=33237 accessed 16 Nov 2011)
The Cambridge guide to women's writing in English By Lorna Sage, Germaine Greer, Elaine Showalter (http://books.google.com/books?id=NB59uc9_ss8C&pg=PA549&lpg=PA549&dq=cambridge+guide+to+women's+ryves&source=bl&ots=KkYkZomA2s&sig=a04He7M-HG1Q_LT2P7oMI8UCt3E&hl=en&ei=oo3ETrWBCcW5tgfwtKnZCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false 30 September 1999 pp.549)
The Field day anthology of Irish writing: Irish women's writing and traditions By Seamus Deane, Andrew Carpenter, Jonathan Williams (http://books.google.com/books?id=qZ6W1LiIyYYC&pg=PA832&lpg=PA832&dq=The+Hermit+of+Snowden&source=bl&ots=FyYkpMDsXF&sig=CSgzA6fMau7-vWwUW3dWtLmoVqc&hl=en&ei=BRfVTq_8GYyztwfM45yDAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=The%20Hermit%20of%20Snowden&f=false NYU Press, 2002)
Eliza Ryves came from an old wealthy Irish family connected with Bruno Ryves
Bruno Ryves
Bruno Ryves was an English royalist churchman, editor in 1643 of the Oxford newsbook Mercurius Rusticus, and later dean of Chichester and dean of Windsor...
. Her father was a long-serving Irish army officer. She was left with nothing of her father's inheritance after being swindled out of it ‘by the chicanery of the law’. Poverty stricken, Eliza traveled to London in 1775 to petition the government about her inheritance (which was unsuccessful) as well as to try and make a living as a writer. Ryves wrote in an assortment of genres including plays, verses, poetry, political articles for newspapers, and a novel entitled The Hermit of Snowden (1789), which is thought to be a story of her own anguish. Eliza commonly worked writing for magazines unpaid. The poetry of her later years manifested itself as politically Whig and was directed toward public figures.
In addition to being an author, Eliza learned French in order to translate several works into English including The Social Contract (Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism. His political philosophy influenced the French Revolution as well as the overall development of modern political, sociological and educational thought.His novel Émile: or, On Education is a treatise...
), Raynal's Letter to the National Assembly, and Review of the Constitutions of the Principal States of Europe by Jean-François Delacroix
Jean-François Delacroix
Jean-François de Lacroix or Delacroix was a French politician and member of the Committee of Public Safety...
. She had begun to translate Jean Froissart
Jean Froissart
Jean Froissart , often referred to in English as John Froissart, was one of the most important chroniclers of medieval France. For centuries, Froissart's Chronicles have been recognized as the chief expression of the chivalric revival of the 14th century Kingdom of England and France...
's work, but gave up when it proved to be too difficult.
In 1777, Eliza Ryves had published a volume of poems entitled Poems on Several Occasions which was originally subscription based. Ryves was given £100 as payment for two of her dramatic plays, but neither were ever acted out: a comedic opera in three parts, The Prude (1777), and The Debt of Honour. According to Isaac D'Israeli
Isaac D'Israeli
Isaac D'Israeli was a British writer, scholar and man of letters. He is best known for his essays, his associations with other men of letters, and for being the father of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli....
(with who she was acquainted with), Eliza had written all of the historical and political sections of The Annual Register for some time.
In The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term "magazine" for a periodical...
67 (July 1797), one writer noted that Eliza had spent the last of her money buying a piece of meat in order to help feed a starving family that lived above her. Eliza Ryves died poor and unmarried in April of 1797 while living off of Tottenham Court Road in London. D'Israeli had extended her much compassion in his Calamities of Authors (1812) to which he expressed his praise of Ms. Ryves.
Works
In The Monthly ReviewMonthly Review (London)
The Monthly Review was an English periodical founded by Ralph Griffiths, a Nonconformist bookseller. The first periodical in England to offer reviews, it featured the novelist and poet Oliver Goldsmith as an early contributor. William Kenrick, the "superlative scoundrel", was editor from 1759 to...
on An epistle to the Right Honourable Lord John Cavendish, late Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1784, a writer described: "This panegyrical Epistle seems to have been dictated by a sincere respect for the character which is the subject of it. The sentiments are just; and they are expressed, if not inelegant, yet in spirited verse."
An exert of one of her poems entitled A Song. (from Poems on several occasions) describes the lament of a person that held someone close:
Oblivion! sweet balm of our woes,
Where, where thy calm spring shall I find?
Its wave shall restore my repose,
And banish his form from my mind.
The Hastiniad; an heroic poem. In three cantos is described by one article as a "pro-Whig burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
in the manner of the notable Whig satirist John Wolcot
John Wolcot
John Wolcot , satirist, born in Dodbrooke, near Kingsbridge in Devon, was educated by an uncle, and studied medicine. In 1767 he went as physician to Sir William Trelawny, Governor of Jamaica, and whom he induced to present him to a Church in the island then vacant, and was ordained in 1769...
." The poem itself is a mock epic satirizing Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
, when he came back to England as the Governor-General of India to face corruption charges and impeachment. In a selection of the mock epic, Ryves is found to praise the Indian rulers for their patriotism in face of threat from the British:
Oh, glorious Chiefs! what northern sphere
Shall e'er such gen'rous Kings revere
As you, with patriot love replete,
Who pour'd your stores at Hasting's feet?
Publications
- Poems on several occasions (1777)
- Ode to the Rev. Mr. Mason (1780)
- Dialogue in the Elysian fields, between Caesar and Cato (1784)
- An epistle to the Right Honourable Lord John Cavendish, late Chancellor of the Exchequer (1784)
- The Hastiniad; an heroic poem. In three cantos (London: Debrett'sDebrett'sDebrett’s is a specialist publisher, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of The New Peerage. The name "Debrett's" honours John Debrett...
, 1785) - Ode to the Right Honourable Lord Melton, infant son of Earl Fitzwilliam (1787)
- The hermit of Snowden: or memoirs of Albert and Lavinia (1789)
Resources
Elizabeth Lee, Rebecca Mills, ‘Ryves, Elizabeth (1750–1797)’, rev. Rebecca Mills, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24432 accessed 16 Nov 2011)Spenser and the Tradition: English Poetry 1579-1830 (http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/AuthorRecord.php?&method=GET&recordid=33237 accessed 16 Nov 2011)
The Cambridge guide to women's writing in English By Lorna Sage, Germaine Greer, Elaine Showalter (http://books.google.com/books?id=NB59uc9_ss8C&pg=PA549&lpg=PA549&dq=cambridge+guide+to+women's+ryves&source=bl&ots=KkYkZomA2s&sig=a04He7M-HG1Q_LT2P7oMI8UCt3E&hl=en&ei=oo3ETrWBCcW5tgfwtKnZCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false 30 September 1999 pp.549)
The Field day anthology of Irish writing: Irish women's writing and traditions By Seamus Deane, Andrew Carpenter, Jonathan Williams (http://books.google.com/books?id=qZ6W1LiIyYYC&pg=PA832&lpg=PA832&dq=The+Hermit+of+Snowden&source=bl&ots=FyYkpMDsXF&sig=CSgzA6fMau7-vWwUW3dWtLmoVqc&hl=en&ei=BRfVTq_8GYyztwfM45yDAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=The%20Hermit%20of%20Snowden&f=false NYU Press, 2002)