Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Long, Edward
LONG, EDWARD (1734–1813), author, born at Roselyon St. Blazey, Cornwall, 23 Aug. 1734, was fourth son of Samuel Long of Longville, Jamaica, Tredudwell in Cornwall, and Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London (who died at Jamaica in 1757), by his wife Mary, second daughter and coheir of Bartholomew Tate of Delapré, Northamptonshire. He was educated first at Bury St. Edmunds School under the Rev. Dr. Kinnesman, and then at Liskeard by the Rev. Richard Haydon. In 1752 he left Liskeard, and after some private instruction in London was entered on 28 June 1753 at Gray's Inn with Mr. Henry Wilmot. On his father's death he went to Jamaica, and as his terms were not completed he procured a call to the bar ex gratiâ. On his arrival he filled the post of private secretary to Sir Henry Moore, baronet, the then lieutenant-governor, who had married his eldest sister, Catharina Maria, and in a short time was promoted to be judge of the vice-admiralty court in Jamaica. Ill-health compelled him to leave the island in 1769, and although he retained his judgeship until about 1797, he never returned, but passed the rest of his days in England in studious retirement. Long died on 13 March 1813 at Arundel Park, Sussex, the seat of his son-in-law, Henry Howard Molyneux, M.P., afterwards Lord Henry Thomas Howard, and was buried on 20 March in the chancel of Slindon Church, where a slab of black marble was placed to his memory. He married, 12 Aug. 1758, Mary Ballard, second daughter and at length sole heiress of Thomas Beckford of Jamaica, and relict of John Palmer. She died 16 July 1797, aged 62, and was buried on the north side of East Barnet churchyard. Their issue was six children, three sons and three daughters. His son Robert Ballard Long is separately noticed.
Long's chief work was the 'History of Jamaica,' which was issued anonymously in 3 vols, in 1774, and soon became 'exceedingly rare.' It was sent to the press hurriedly, and afterwards condemned by its author's maturer taste, and he spent much time in revising it for a second edition. His son, Charles Edward Long, gave to the British Museum the Addit. MSS. 12402-40, 18269-18275, and 18959-63, and among them are the sheets of this work, 'with considerable additions and alterations in manuscript,' and several other manuscripts by the father. His other publications were: 2. 'The Prater,' by Nicholas Babble, esq., a periodical which ran through thirty-five numbers, from 13 March to 6 Nov. 1756; 2nd edit. 1757. 3. 'The Anti-Gallican, or the History and Adventures of Harry Cobham, esq.,' inscribed to Louis XV by the author (anon.), 1757. 4. 'The Trial of Farmer Carter's Dog Porter for Murder, from the corrected Manuscript of Councillor Clear-Point' (anon.), 1771. A satire on the game laws, which is reprinted with slight abridgment in Hone's 'Every-day Book,' 1827, ii. 198-210. 5. 'Candid Reflections upon the Judgments of the Court of King's Bench on what is commonly called the Negroe-Cause, by a Planter,' 1772, in favour of the planters' rights. 6. 'The Sentimental Exhibition, or Portraits and Sketches of the Times' (anon.), 1774, an imitation of Sterne. 7. 'Letters on the Colonies,' 1775. 8. 'English Humanity no Paradox: an attempt to prove that the English are not a Nation of Savages' (anon.), 1778, in reply to the censures of Voltaire and Rousseau. 9. 'A Pamphlet on the Sugar Trade,' 1782. 10. 'Memoirs of the Reign of Bossa Ahadee, King of Dahomy, by Robert Norris,' 1789. This was edited by Long, and translated into French.
Bryan Edwards, in his 'History of the British Colonies in the West Indies,' was first and principally indebted to Long for assistance, and from his 'History of Jamaica' was taken section ii., on the origin of the Maroons, in 'Proceedings of Assembly of Jamaica in regard to the Maroon Negroes, 1796.' He wrote many pieces in the 'St. James's Chronicle and London Packet,' contributed biographical particulars to Nichols's 'Literary Anecdotes,'ix. 700-1, an imitation of an ode of Horace to the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' 1789, pt. i. p. 161, and was author of the first part of the article on Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire, in 'Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica,' iv. 135-6. The correspondence of Thomas Dancer, M.D., with him on scientific matters in 1791 is in British Museum Addit. MS. 22678, and a manuscript memoir by Long of his early life is referred to in 'Notes and Queries,' 2nd ser. vii. 426 (1859).
[Gent. Mag. 1813, pt. i. pp. 490, 659, pt. ii. pp• 215-16; Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, iii. 182, viii. 32, 433-5; Halkett and Laing's Anon. Literature, pp. 136, 306, 757, 1140, 2322, 2651; Boase and Courtney's Bibl. Cornub. i. 322-3, iii. 1269; Dallaway's Sussex, i. 152, ii. pt. i. pp. 159, 184, 234; Cussans's Hertfordshire, vol. iii. pt. ii. p. 69; Cass's East Barnet, p. 43; Foster's Gray's Inn Reg. of Admissions, p. 379.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.185
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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