''The Oeconomist'', full title ''The Oeconomist, Or, Englishman's Magazine'', was an English monthly periodical at the end of the 18th century. It was published in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

, and was edited by Thomas Bigge, in partnership with

James Losh James Losh (1763–1833) was an English lawyer, reformer and Unitarian in Newcastle upon Tyne. In politics, he was a significant contact in the North East for the national Whig leadership. William Wordsworth the poet called Losh in a letter of 18 ...

Contributors and content

The contributors to ''The Oeconomist'' included some of those associated with the "Friends of Peace", an anti-war network, such as

Vicesimus Knox Vicesimus Knox (1752–1821) was an English essayist, headmaster and Anglican priest. Life Knox was born 8 December 1752, at Newington Green, Middlesex, the son of Vicesimus Knox (1729–1780), a cleric and schoolmaster, and his wife Ann Wall, d ...

Theophilus Lindsey Theophilus Lindsey (20 June 1723 O.S.3 November 1808) was an English theologian and clergyman who founded the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in the country, at Essex Street Chapel. Lindsey's 1774 revised prayer book based on Samuel C ...

offered to help Bigge by soliciting contributions, but came away empty-handed when he approached

William Belsham William Belsham (1752 – 1827) was an English political writer and historian, noted as a supporter of the Whig Party and its principles. He justified the American Revolution in excusing Americans in their resistance to the demands of England, a ...

and Ann Jebb. Graham counts Bigge an ally of

Christopher Wyvill Christopher Wyvill may refer to: * Christopher Wyvill (reformer) (1740–1822), English cleric, landowner and political reformer * Christopher Wyvill (Royal Navy officer) (1792–1863), Royal Navy admiral * Christopher Wyvill (priest) (dies 1710), A ...

. Besides Losh, the contributors included William Turner and

Thomas Beddoes Thomas Beddoes (13 April 176024 December 1808) was an English physician and scientific writer. He was born in Shifnal, Shropshire and died in Bristol fifteen years after opening his medical practice there. He was a reforming practitioner and te ...

. An article appeared signed "V.F.", praising

Count Rumford Colonel (United Kingdom), Colonel Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (26 March 175321 August 1814), was an American-born British military officer, scientist and inventor. Born in Woburn, Massachusetts, he sup ...

's workhouse in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

, and describing a Rumford

soup kitchen A soup kitchen, food kitchen, or meal center is a place where food is offered to Hunger, hungry and homeless people, usually for no price, cost, or sometimes at a below-market price (such as coin Donation, donations). Frequently located in Low i ...

in Newcastle. "V.F." was a pseudonym used by Turner. Poetry by

William Cowper William Cowper ( ; – 25 April 1800) was an English poet and Anglican hymnwriter. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the Engli ...

was featured. ''The Oeconomist'' took a moralising as well as a political tone. Scrivener identifies its values as

pastoral The pastoral genre of literature, art, or music depicts an idealised form of the shepherd's lifestyle – herding livestock around open areas of land according to the seasons and the changing availability of water and pasture. The target au ...

, the intended audience being those engaged in farming. Its thought was taken from the Country Party and

physiocrats Physiocracy (; from the Greek for "government of nature") is an economic theory developed by a group of 18th-century Age of Enlightenment French economists. They believed that the wealth of nations derived solely from the value of "land agricult ...

Practical arrangements

In London ''The Oeconomist'' was circulated by Joseph Johnson. For towns not handled by Johnson there were separate arrangements with other booksellers, such as

Joseph Cottle Joseph Cottle (1770–1853) was an English publisher and author. Cottle started business in Bristol. He published the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey on generous terms. He then wrote in his ''Early Recollections'' an exposur ...

; the announcement in the ''Newcastle Courant'' of 9 December 1797 mentioned

Benjamin Flower Benjamin Flower (1755 – 17 February 1829) was an English radical journalist and political writer, and a vocal opponent of his country's involvement in the early stages of the Napoleonic Wars. Early life He was born in London, the son of a pro ...

. It was subsidised by funds raised from Bigge, Wyvill and others. The price was reduced, from 3½d. to 2d., in February 1799; or raised from 1½d. to 2d. The woodcut for the cover was the work of

Charlton Nesbit Charlton Nesbit (177511 November 1838) was a British wood-engraver. Life Nesbit was born in Swalwell in County Durham, the son of a keelman. Nesbit became the wood-engraver Thomas Bewick's apprentice in Newcastle upon Tyne around 1789. During ...

in 1797—it was attributed though to

Thomas Bewick Thomas Bewick (c. 11 August 1753 – 8 November 1828) was an English wood engraving, wood-engraver and natural history author. Early in his career he took on all kinds of work such as engraving cutlery, making the wood blocks for advertisements, ...

in the 19th century. The publication lasted until the end of the year, printed by M. Angus. Ritchie identifies the editor of ''The Oeconomist'', working with Losh, instead as Thomas Bigge the brother of John Thomas Bigge, i.e. Thomas Hanway Bigge.

Related political tracts

A political tract, full title ''Considerations on the State of Parties, and the Means of effecting a Reconciliation between them'' and often dated 1794, spoke of a balanced tension within British politics. Its author was described as Thomas Bigge A.M.; and the same author was also responsible for ''An Address to the Inhabitants of Northumberland and Newcastle upon Tyne, who petitioned against the two bills depending in parliament'' (1795). Both works were favourably noticed in ''

The Monthly Review ''The Monthly Review'' (1749–1845) 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 contributo ...

''; the second also in '' The Critical Review''. and '' The Analytical Review''. The ''Considerations'' was an anti-war work, quoted with approval in the ''

Cambridge Intelligencer The ''Cambridge Intelligencer'' was an English weekly newspaper, appearing from 1793 to 1803, and edited by Benjamin Flower. The historian J. E. Cookson called it "the most vigorous and outspoken liberal periodical of its day". Flower suffere ...

''. Wahrman identifies its author with the editor of ''The Oeconomist''.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oeconomist, Or, Englishman's Magazine, The 1798 establishments in Great Britain 1799 disestablishments in Great Britain Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1798 Magazines disestablished in 1799