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This thesis attempts to identify authors' attitudes toward late eighteenth century London prostitutes. Through the examination of several selected sources, one can isolate feelings that eighteenth century writers had about prostitution and those who practiced it. In these works, prostitutes were always rendered as of the lower orders, which the authors acknowledged and emphasized in their writings. What is striking is that none of these authors acknowledged the culpability of the male in the client-prostitute relationship. Therefore, in a close examination of eighteenth century authors' views of prostitutes, one can find both classist and sexist attitudes. The incorrect formulation of the situation is ironic, given that most of the writers of such works were attempting to reform English society and devalue the debauchery and lust that prostitution represented to them. The thesis begins by providing historical background of the lives of prostitutes in late eighteenth century England, showing that the prostitutes provided services to men of higher social and economic classes than they were, and were often young and economically disadvantaged. The main textual chapters are divided into three sections: the first examines works directly related to the Magdalen Charity for repentant prostitutes, namely sermons and titles written to govern or establish the charity, and finds that the authors of these works viewed the prostitute as someone who needed to be instructed in the correct ways to live her life. The second analyzes short works written to address what their writers saw as the problem of prostitution, and discovers that although these writers found different reasons for the causes of prostitution, they all agreed that prostitutes debased society and needed to reform so that the nation would not be ruined. The third researches works of fiction and advice literature, and determines that although women in these works were presented as wealthier than actual prostitutes were, they nonetheless were of the lower orders and should protect themselves from clever and seductive men. The conclusion emphasizes the ways that this study provides new insight into the problem of prostitution and how that relates to race and class in modern society.

This thesis attempts to identify authors' attitudes toward late eighteenth century London prostitutes. Through the examination of several selected sources, one can isolate feelings that eighteenth century writers had about prostitution and those who practiced it. In these works, prostitutes were always rendered as of the lower orders, which the authors acknowledged and emphasized in their writings. What is striking is that none of these authors acknowledged the culpability of the male in the client-prostitute relationship. Therefore, in a close examination of eighteenth century authors' views of prostitutes, one can find both classist and sexist attitudes. The incorrect formulation of the situation is ironic, given that most of the writers of such works were attempting to reform English society and devalue the debauchery and lust that prostitution represented to them. The thesis begins by providing historical background of the lives of prostitutes in late eighteenth century England, showing that the prostitutes provided services to men of higher social and economic classes than they were, and were often young and economically disadvantaged. The main textual chapters are divided into three sections: the first examines works directly related to the Magdalen Charity for repentant prostitutes, namely sermons and titles written to govern or establish the charity, and finds that the authors of these works viewed the prostitute as someone who needed to be instructed in the correct ways to live her life. The second analyzes short works written to address what their writers saw as the problem of prostitution, and discovers that although these writers found different reasons for the causes of prostitution, they all agreed that prostitutes debased society and needed to reform so that the nation would not be ruined. The third researches works of fiction and advice literature, and determines that although women in these works were presented as wealthier than actual prostitutes were, they nonetheless were of the lower orders and should protect themselves from clever and seductive men. The conclusion emphasizes the ways that this study provides new insight into the problem of prostitution and how that relates to race and class in modern society.

This thesis examines the specifically literary aspects of the Midlands Enlightenment. This movement of cultural, social, political, and economic modernisation took place in the Midlands in the late eighteenth century. The movement involved leaders in many fields of culture, science, technology, and commercial enterprise. A major channel for its development and dissemination wiS literary. The rise of the reading public ensured a wide readership for literary works and lent high cultural status to the enlightenment project, for those involved in this movement appropriated many literary genres to their cause. The thesis consists of an introduction, describing the Midlands Enlightenment, followed by chapters on key figures, their circles, and their writings: Erasmus Darwin, Anna Seward, Richard Lovell Edgeworth and Maria Edgeworth, and Robert Bage. The Industrial Revolution in Britain had its origins in the Midlands, led by members of the Midlands Enlightenment, including Matthew Boulton, James Watt, James Keir, Joseph priestley, Josiah Wedgwood. These men were all members of the Lunar Society of Birmingham and they made major contributions to science, technology, commerce, and education, as well as contributing to a growing regional political consciousness. Their ideas on many kinds of social, cultural, political, and economic reform were discussed and disseminated not only through such circles as the Lunar society but also through writing of various kinds, including educational treatises, poems, novels, scientific reports, and other kinds of literature. Women were also able to participate in this enlightenment through print culture and education. The thesis will show how the incorporation of the ideas of the Midlands Enlightenment required innovation in literary form as well as theme and content. The thesis will constitute historical recuperation and increase understanding of the way writing and literature were implicated in broader social, political, and economic development.

Eighteenth Century Berkshire was a relatively prosperous agricultural county, with a steadily growing population and several thriving commercial centres. This thesis has examined the recorded incidence of the most common criminal offences against the person and against property in the fifty years between 1740 and 1789. Common assault was the most frequent offence against the person, but its incidence remained fairly steady until the 1770s, and only thereafter did it cause the authorities any real concern. The incidence and variety of assaults was examined and so too were murder, infanticide, manslaughter and rape. It is suggested that violence was never far below the surface of the small, close-knit communities of rural Berkshire, yet it was not indiscriminate. Recorded theft was also examined and there was a considerable increase in prosecutions during the period. Convictions for petty larceny were particularly large. Factors which might have been responsible for this increase in recorded crime were examined and so too was the process of detection, apprehension and conviction. Justices of the Peace, although diligent, prudent and severe when required to be, were too few in number and too widely scattered throughout the county to be entirely effective. Personal initiative was found to be an important and integral part of the fight against crime. Litigants predominated amongst the middling groups in rural society, yet labourers did use the law, albeit when informal arbitration and sanctions had failed. It is suggested that they initially depended on "community justice" to resolve their differences.

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