The Classical Journal

A precursor of modern academic journals, this quarterly periodical, published between 1810 and 1829 and now reissued in forty volumes, was founded and edited by Abraham John Valpy (1787–1854). Educated at Pembroke College, Oxford, Valpy established himself in London as an editor and publisher, primarily of classical texts. Edmund Henry Barker (1788–1839), who had studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, became a contributor and then co-editor of this journal, which fuelled a scholarly feud with the editors of the Museum criticum (1813–26), a rival periodical (also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection). Although its coverage overlapped with that of its competitor, the Classical Journal also included general literary and antiquarian articles as well as Oxford and Cambridge prize poems and examination papers. It remains a valuable resource, illuminating the development of nineteenth-century classical scholarship and academic journals. Volume 16 contains the September and December issues for 1817.

Part XXXI. The Literary and Scientific Pursuits Which Are Encouraged and Enforced in the University of Cambridge; Vindiciae antiquae; Pasigraphy; Mots ou omis par H. Etienne, ou inexactement expliqués; De carminibus Aristophanis commentarius; Latin poem; On the Sapphic and Alcaic metres; A critical examination of certain modern opinions respecting the Troad; Observations on the iambic metre of Phaedrus; Peri tou phoinikos; De l'improvisation poetique chez les anciens; Barkeri amoenitates criticae et philologicae; Collatio Codicis Harleiani 5674; Account of literary forgeries; On the science of the Egyptians and Chaldeans; Remarks on the daemon of Socrates; Stanleii notae quaedam in Callimachum; Cambridge prize poem; Ode latina; Epigrammata; Senarii Graeci; Cambridge examination for a university scholarship; Adversaria literaria; Literary intelligence; Notes to correspondents; Part XXXII. Remarks on the Similarity of Worship that Prevailed in Different Parts of the Pagan World; Manuscripts; Barkeri epistola critica; Prolusio mercurialis; Loci quidam Luciani; Walckenaer on ancient geography; On the science of the Egyptians and Chaldeans; Corrections in the common translation of the New Testament; On the character of Plutarch; Vindiciae antiquae; Collatio Codicis Harleiani 5674; Notice of Bailey's Hieroglyphicorum origo et natura; Some observations on the worship of Vesta; Collection of the Chaldean Oracles; Critique on Ossian's Temora; Miscellanea classica; De l'improvisation poetique chez les anciens; Answer to the observations of Mr Roberts's reply; Barkeri amoenitates criticae et philologicae; Remarks on the introductory chapters of Moses; Cambridge tripos; Observations on Horace; Roman inscription at Tarragona; An important passage of Photius corrected; Orchomenian inscription; Inscription on the tomb of Arrian; Adversaria literaria; Literary intelligence; Notes to correspondents; Index to vols. 15 and 16.

This influential periodical, published 1810-29 and reissued here in forty volumes, was edited by the classical scholar and London publisher Abraham John Valpy (1787-1854). Later co-edited by Edmund Henry Barker (1788-1839), it was a rival to the Cambridge-based Museum criticum and a precursor of modern academic journals.