Voisey & Rontgen

Submitted by edpope on

28.1.1810 tea Boinville's, w. Newtons, Voisy, T(homas) T(urner), M(ary) J(ane), F(anny) & C(harles) / 18.2.1810 H(arriet) Boinville, mrs Newton, 4 Colliers, H(enry) Robinson, Voisy, T(homas) T(urner) & H(annah) Hopwood, evening / 24.2.1810 Voycy calls / 22.3.1810 Voycey calls / 30.3.1810 Voycey & Turner sup / 29.4.1810 Newton & Voycy call / 13.6.1810 T(homas) T(urner) & Voycy call / 1.7.1810 coach, w. H(arriet) Boinville: Bishopsgate Heath; adv. 2 Voisys, 3 Lambs & T(homas) T(urner) / 5.7.1810 coach, w. H(arriet) B)oinville), F(?) V(oisy)  &c / 5.8.1810 T(homas) T(urner), P(eter) P(ilcher) & Voisy sup; invité Flather / 8.9.1810 meet T(homas) T(urner), Flather & Voisy / 16.9.1810 dine at H(arriet) Boinville's, w. M(ary) J(ane) & T(homas) T(urner); adv. Voisy, Flather, Dawe & C(harles) C(lairmont) / 18.10.1810 2 Newtons, 2 Boinvilles, Knowles, Hume, Voisy & Patrickson & H(annah) Hopwood at tea / 23.10.1810 J Smith at tea; adv. Voisy, Patrickson & T(homas) T(urner) / 30.10.1810 A(melia) Curran, Wolcot & T(homas) T(urner) dine; adv. Voisy / 31.10.1810 tea Dawe's, w. Newtons, 3 Boinvilles, Northcote, A(melia) Curran, Voisy, T(homas) T(urner) & M(ary) J(ane) / 14.11.1810 dine at H Boinville's, w. Rontgen, Newton, T(homas) T(urner) & M(ary) J(ane) & F(anny); adv. Cornelia Newton & Dawe / 18.11.1810 Coleridge, Northcote, 2 Dawes, 3 Fenwicks, H(enry) Robinson & T(homas) T(urner) dine; adv. Voisy / 21.11.1810 T(homas) T(urner), Voisy & Patrickson sup / 26.11.1810 Patrickson (ppc), T(homas) T(urner) & Voisy dine / 1.12.1810 Rontgen, T(homas) T(urner) & Voisy sup / 7.12.1810 Rontgen & T(homas) T(urner) dine; adv. Northcote & Dawe / 11.12.1810 theatre, w. M(ary) J(ane); adv. T(homas) T(urner), Rontgen & 2 Boinvilles / 12.12.1810 Rontgen & T(homas) T(urner) call / 21.12.1810 Voisy calls / 28.12.1810 T(homas) T(urner), Flather & Voisy dine / 14.1.1811 tea Newton's, w. Salomon, Saoust; adv. Voisy & Crowser / 19.5.1811 dine at Boinville's, w. Newton, T(homas) T(urner) & Voisy, & C(harles) C(lairmont) / 23.5.1811 Voisey, from T(homas) T(urner) calls / 25.5.1811 call on T(homas) T(urner); adv. H(arriet) Boinville & Voisey / 22.9.1811 Voisey & Boinville dine / 10.10.1811 dine at H Boinville's, w. M(ary) J(ane) & F(anny); adv. Voisey / 16.10.1811 Voisey calls / 20.10.1811 call on mrs Newton; adv. Voisey & 2 / 7.7.1812 Voisey calls / 21.7.1812 Hamond, Voisy & Hogan at tea / 8.8.1812 Voisey calls

To get a picture of the social whirl above it's worth noting how many young people were there. In 1810 Thomas Turner was 25, John Flather 24, Henry Voysey 20, his brother Annesley 17, G H Rontgen 20, Henry Dawe 20, Procter Patrickson 18, Peter Pilcher 16, Charles Clairmont 15, John Boinville 13, while the young women were Eliza Fenwick 19, Hannah Hopwood 17, Fanny Imlay 16, Cornelia Boinville 15, Mary Godwin 13, Jane Clairmont 12. That Thomas Turner appeared so often is less surprising when you consider that Godwin noted him in his diary on nearly half the days of 1810. He was to marry Cornelia Boinville in 1812.

I think it very likely that Henry Wesley Voysey DNB 1791-1824 geologist was the main Voisy (note Godwin spelt him four different ways and never got it right) and his brother Annesley Voysey DNB c.1794-1839 architect was probably the other half of 2 Voisys (if so could he have been known by some nickname and been the FV of 5.7.1810?). It seems that Godwin met both Voysey and Rontgen through Mrs Boinville. Although Godwin knew Newton from the mid 1790s he hadn't appeared in the diary since 1802, and in September 1809 Mrs Boinville called on Godwin for the first time, and in January 1810 James "Chevalier" Lawrence made his first call, probably bringing his newly pubished Empire of the Nairs with its proposals for sexual liberation, which Godwin dipped into on 18.1.1810. See my entry for Newton, John Frank.

Lancaster Gazette 25.5.1811: "A German, of the name of Rontgen, a scholar of the celebrated Brumenbach, in Gottingen, has announced his intention to endeavour to penetrate into the interior of Africa, nearly in the track pursued by Mr Hornemann, who, as he has not been heard of for nearly seven years, is supposed to have perished in the enterprize. This young man is about twenty years of age, and seems to have obtained all that kind of knowledge which is particularly necessary for his purpose. He understands the Arabic language, is remarkably abstemious, and has accustomed himself to make raw flesh and insects his food. At Gottingen he submitted to circumcision, that he might appear to be a true believer in the Koran, and, in the character of a physician, travel through those countries, where the name of a Christian would infallibly lead to slavery or death. In his peregrinations on foot through Germany and Switzerland, he always chose the worst lodgings and accomodations, to inure himself to hardships. He means to endeavour to accompany a mercantile caravan, from Mogador to Tumbuctoo,"

Sun 1.5.1812: "The young German Gentleman of the name of Rontgen, who left England about a twelvemonth since for Africa, in order to prosecute discoveries in the interior of that country, has, it is said, been murdered by the Arabs, before he had proceeded any great distance from Mogadore, where he spent some time perfecting himself in the Arabic language. His father was a character well known in Europe, who raised himself from obscurity to the greatest celebrity by his talent for mechanics; he was at one time worth a million, but ruined by the French Revolution."

Public Ledger 22.8.1812: "There was a report, some time ago, that Rontgen, the African traveller, employed, it is said, under the auspices and at the expence of Lord Kinnaird, had been murdered by the Moors while endeavouring to reach Tombuctoo by the caravan fron Morocco. It is mentioned, however, in the German Papers, that he is not dead; and that letters have been received from him, stating his recovery from his wounds, and his intention to set out again as soon as possible."

There are four letters dated 1810 in the Joseph Banks Research project between Banks and G H Rontgen, and a letter to Banks of 1819 at Kent History Centre (U951/Z32/96) introducing Lt Roentgen of the Dutch Navy, brother of the unfortunate traveller who died on the African Society expedition.