The European Magazine

His book, therefore, was not a success as far as Mary's reputation was concerned, and indeed increased rather than lessened the asperity of her detractors.

It was greeted by the European Magazine for April 1798, almost immediately after its publication, by one of the most scathing denunciations of Mary's character which had yet appeared, and the opinion of the European Magazine was the one most generally adopted and almost invariably re-echoed when Mary Wollstonecraft's name was mentioned in print.

Probably the article which was most influential in perpetuating the ill repute in which she stood with her contemporaries is the sketch of her life given in Chalmers' Biographical Dictionary.

The papers and many books of the day soon passed out of sight, but the dictionary was long used as a standard work of reference.

The notice in the Gentleman's Magazine for October, 1797 —the month after her death—was friendly but guarded in its praise.

In 1798 Godwin published his Memoir of Mary Wollstonecraft together with her posthumous writings He hoped no doubt by a clear statement of the principal incidents of her life to moderate the popular feeling against her But he was the last person to have undertaken the task Outside the small circle of friends and sympathizers who really loved him He was by no means popular There were some who even seemed to think That the greatest hardship Of Mary's life Was to have been his wife Thus Roscoe After reading the memoir Expressed the sentiments It aroused in him In the following lines Hard was thy fate In all the scenes of life As daughter Sister Mother Friend And wife But harder still Thy fate in death We own Thus mourned By Godwin With a heart of stone Moreover Godwin's views about marriage as set forth in his Political Justice Were held in Such abhorrence That the fact that he approved of Mary's conduct Was reason enough For the multitude To disapprove of it His book therefore Was not a success As far as Mary's reputation was concerned And indeed Increased Rather than lessened The asperity of Her detractors It was greeted By the European Magazine For April 1798 Almost immediately After its publication By one of the most Scathing denunciations Of Mary's character Which had yet appeared And the opinion of The European Magazine Was the one Most generally adopted And almost invariably Reechoed When Mary Wollstonecraft's Name was mentioned in print Probably the article Which was most influential In perpetuating the ill repute In which she stood With her contemporaries Is the sketch of her life Given in Chalmers Biographical Dictionary The papers and many books of the day soon passed out of sight, but the dictionary was long used as a standard work of reference.

In this particular article every action of Mary's life was construed unfavorably and her character shamefully vilified.

Below in The Sexagenarian borrowed the scurrilous abuse of the biographical dictionary which was furthermore accepted by almost every history of English literature and encyclopedia as the correct estimate of Mary's character and teachings.