Overview
A summary of the history of the Literary Debating Society is available on our sister website, Glasgow’s Literary Bonds (see ‘Additional Notes’ below).
Whilst becoming more proficient in their rhetorical skills at their meetings, the purpose of starting a society magazine was so that members might improve their writing. The preface is in part a manifesto for the magazine, and quotes Lord Bacon: ‘reading makes a full man, speaking a ready man, and writing a correct man’. This was to become an oft-used phrase by literary societies more generally over the course of the nineteenth century.
Name of Club, Society or Group That Produced the Magazine
Literary Debating Society (Glasgow)
Date of Existence
1845?-1846?
Date of Magazine
Nos. 1-3, 1 December 1845 – 13 February 1846
Number of Issues
3
Manuscript/Published Magazine
Contents and Contributions
Articles (non-fiction); Notice (printed); Poem (translation); Preface; Song (vernacular)
Repository
University of Glasgow Special Collections
Reference
The Literary Magazine, ed. by members of the Literary Debating Society, No. 1 (Glasgow: Printed by George Richardson, 1845); The Literary Magazine, ed. by members of the Literary Debating Society, Dec. 1845-Feb. 1846 (Glasgow: George Richardson 1846) (Sp Coll Mu1-d.13; Sp Coll RB 3049)
[Note: the University of Glasgow Special Collections holds two copies]
Additional Notes
From the University of Glasgow online catalogue: ‘Library holds: No. 1-3, 1 Dec. 1845-13 Feb. 1846. Copy at Mu1-d.13 has front and back covers of no.1 & 2, and front cover of no. 3, bound in. Copy at RB 3049 is item 1 of 5 bound together’ [accessed 31 January 2018].
See also entry for Literary Debating Society on our sister website, Glasgow’s Literary Bonds.