ABSTRACT
First published in the Glasgow Athenaeum Album (Glasgow: James Hedderwick and son, 1848), pp. 9–31. The Album is ‘respectfully Inscribed’ to ‘the Ladies of Glasgow, / The generous Patrons / Of every Scheme having the Enlightenment / And Moral Elevation of the Public / For its Aim’. The ‘Preface’, dated ‘Glasgow, 18th March, 1848’, notes that ‘this little volume has been got up as a Contribution to the LADIES’ BAZAAR, to be held on the 22d and 23d of this month, in aid of the LIBRARY of the GLASGOW ATHENAEUM’ (pp. 3–5). ‘Sortilege on Behalf of the Glasgow Athenaeum’ was printed as ‘By Thomas De Quincey.’ in a centred line following the title and immediately preceding the text. The essay opened the volume, and was dated ‘FEB. 24, 1848’.
