• Name: Smith,
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date:
• Death Date:

See the entry for George Smith.

No bibliographic items currently available

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.

• Name: Marshall, James
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date:
• Death Date: 22  October  1832
• Occupation: writer

James Marshall was one of Godwin's oldest friends, whom he met first when at the Hoxton Academy. They remained close for the rest of their lives, although Marshall seems to have been the subordinate partner and is often described as Godwin's amenuensis. The frequency of their contact diminished after Godwin married, apparently because Mary Jane was not pleased to have Marshall constantly around the house. Marshall seems to have been involved in translating and editing, and he is thought to have transcibed a number of Godwin's letters and minor works. Marshall's independent spirit flourished only once, to our knowledge, when he read Caleb Williams and advised Godwin to consign it to the flames. There are a number of references to Marshall visiting Southampton and Guildford in September 1788 the significance of which is unclear . St Clair suggests that there was a plan for both to emigrate to the West Indies at one stage (p. 14), basing this on a letter from Mrs Marshall in 1784 (MS. Abinger c. 1, fols 16-17: 4 Sept. 1784). The letter clearly indicates a joint business investment (that went wrong) but it is not clear that emigration was their objective. It is not clear whether Mrs Marshall is James's wife or mother, but the tone of the letter suggests the former.

The two entries for Marshal on 30 July 1810 and 4 January 1811 seem likely not to be James Marshall, but sound like they are part of a law firm or similar - Charnley and Marshall.

There are problems in systematically distinguishing Marshall from Mary Shelley. because from Mary's birth, 30 August 1797, to her elopement with PBS, 28 July 1814, Godwin uses M to ref to both Marshall and Mary . She then disappears from the diary and returns at the end of 1816. From 27.5.1817 she is nearly always distinguished as MWS but in the few months from the end of 1816 to May 1817 she is denoted by several different variants: MWG, Mary and M.

The question of whether an entry is Marshall or Mary is difficult in the early years after Mary's birth. It is clear that Godwin sees Mary when she is a child much more often than he registers in the diary. TThe occasions on which she does appear in the diary when she is a child seem to be special outings but it is difficult to assess how frequent these are, and they are deduced largely by the presence of two M entries within a single event. Once Godwin is married to Mary Jane it seems likely that Mary and one or other of Mary Jane's own children might accompany her on occasion, suggesting that an entry that includes MJ, and one of F. C, or J (Fanny, Charles or Jane) and an M is more likely to be referring to Mary than top Marshall. The history of tension between Mary Jane and Marshall would reinforce such a judgment; on the other hand, the tension might be because Godwin included him so often!

We have assumed that Godwin and Mary Jane are not likely to include Mary in outings and dinners until she is at least three or four. But we cannot always be confident about this since some of the entries are ambiguous. For example, very soon after MW's death, on 23.9.1797 'E F dines: adv M, F, PV, Ht and Johnson' M has been coded as Marshall rather than Mary – but it could plausibly be Mary. However, we read the diary as suggesting that soon afterGodwin begins to restrict entries to Mary to special occasions.

On May 10.1799 F. Aurengzebe, act 4/2. J White calls: M and L J dine: Astley's, w. Fanny, M, L J and Dibbin – although it is possible that they take Mary to Astley’s the pattern of links between Louisa Jones and Godwin suggest that he records her presence largely in the absence of the children (assuming that he sees her and the children domestically on a daily basis but does not record them unless there are others present or there is some collective activity, dinner or outing). Also M and LJ feature in the Diary from the beginning of 1797, so well before the birth of Mary and the death of MW. 4.10.1799 'Dine at M's, w. F and M and Fell' This seems possibly to be Fanny and Mary and have been coded as such. Also 11.11.1799 dine at Fell's, w. F and M; adv. M . The following are coded as Marshall, not Mary - making the assumption that Mary is too young to be taken out, and that Marshall takes some interest in entertaining Fanny.

15.11.1799 see 'M dines: theatre, 1/5 Castle Spectre, and Children in the Wood, w. M and Fanny ' - this could be Mary, although she would be only two years old.
14.6.1800 M dines; adv. M Robinson : call on Ritson : Sadler's Wells, w. M, M R, M E R, F and Cha. Willis (This is difficult - the initials are probably MR (Mary Robinson), MER (Robinson's daughter Mary Elizabeth (born 1774), and possibly Fanny.
15.6.1800 tea Fell's , w. F and M.
15.9.1800 Astley's, w. M and F, 1/2 price, Gretna and the Pirate.
6.12.1800 theatre, w. M and F, Paul and Virginia.
14.3.1801 Dine at S E's , w.F and M
30.6.1801 Dine at S E's , w. F and M
15.12.1803 Theatre, w. M J, C, J, miss Mellor and M, Shylock, and Caravan
3.1.1804 theatre, Cinderella, w. M
8.2.1805 dine at H Rowan’s , w. M J, M, C and J : theatre, do , School of Reform, and H Quicksilver
8.8.1807 M, T T, M J, E C, F and C dine at S S - this looks like the family dines at Skinner Street which might indicate Mary rather than Marshall - but we have coded as Marshall because family members are grouped after MJ, while M and TT are outside guests.
25.10.1808 theatre, w. T T, M J and M, Mourning Bride
29.5.1817 meet M and Percy . MWS and S are staying at Godwin's most of the week (although 'Shelley leaves us' on 26.5.1817, so it seems unlikely that the Percy is Shelley.
Also, Godwin mentions only specific events in which they are involved. MWS's diary has Marshall dining on that evening and it seems likely that Godwin dined out and then came home and met Marshall (p.172). MWS's visit to the Godwins lasts from 23 May - 31

The following have been coded as Mary Shelley: 23.6.1809 M J and M for Notting Hill - This is likely to be Mary, especially since the entries two and five days later are coded Mary Dine at Notting Hill, w. 2 Corneys, M J, M and C'; and M J and M at home.
16.07.1809 Dine at L Ht’s , w. M J, M and J
29.01.1817 theatre, w. M J, M and W, Jealous Wife - in Mary Shelley's Journal she notes 'Go to the play - Jealous Wife and the Ravens' (p.157)
May 1817. 20.10.1817 Gig w. Mary - refers to Godwin's stay with the Shelley's in Marlow - MWS records a trip in a gig to see Hampden's monument on 20.10.1817

The above entries do sometimes questions about which it is. We have assumed that it is not Mary in the years of her babyhood, unless there is a double entry for M (and Marshall may well have had outings with Godwin and Fanny before the arrival of MJ). After the arrival of MJ the presumption would be that M might be Mary if there are other children there and if the event seems a likely one for a young child. Otherwise, we have assumed it is Marshall.

24.6.1813: 'sup at Kenney’s , w. M J, M and E Betham, and Lamb:' - has been interpreted as M Betham and E Betham (otherwise G would presumably have written 'M, E Betham and Lamb' instead of 'M and E Betham, and Lamb'.)

19.7.1814 'sup at S E’s , w. M J and M' - we believe the case is stronger for Marshall. It is just before Mary and Shelley elope.

27.2.1817: 'M and W G S call, ppc:' At the moment this has been read as having the G deleted (see manuscript for confirmation). The entry then reads reads 'M and WS call, ppc'. The context suggests strongly that this is Mary and William Shelley who call to take their leave as they depart, first for the Hunts and then for Marlow. It is possible that Godwin initially thinks of William as William Godwin Shelley. Percy Shelley calls on Godwin the following week before leaving. After that, they communicate by letter.

Godwin records Marshall's death.

See St Clair.

• Feldman and Scott-Kilvert, The Journals of Mary Shelley
• William St Clair, The Godwins and the Shelleys

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.