1710 in literature

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1710. Events February – A year after the death of the poet, Edmund Smith prints a "Poem to the Memory of Mr. John Philips". Other memorials this year include "A Poem to the Memory of the Incomparable Mr. Philips" by Leonard Welsted. A monument to him is erected by Lord Harcourt in Westminster Abbey, between those to Geoffrey Chaucer and Michael Drayton, with the motto "Honos erit huic quoque pomo" (Honor this fruit) from the title page of Philips' work Cyder. February 8 – Antoine Houdar de la Motte is elected to the Académie française, taking the seat vacated by Thomas Corneille. April 10 – The Statute of Anne, the first modern copyright act, comes into force in the Kingdom of Great Britain. April 28 – After Thomas Betterton's death this day, the great Shakespearean roles he dominated for a generation are divided among fellow actors Barton Booth, Robert Wilks and John Mills (who gets Macbeth). September 2 – Jonathan Swift, in London, begins his series of letters to Esther Johnson, which will be collected after his death as A Journal to Stella. November 6 – Colley Cibber becomes joint manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. New books Prose Joseph Addison – The Whig Examiner (periodical) John Bellers – Some Reasons for an European State proposed to the Powers of Europe George Berkeley – A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge Laurent Bordelon – A history of the ridiculous extravagancies of Monsieur Oufle Lady Mary Chudleigh – Essays Upon Several Occasions Colley Cibber – The Secret History of Arlus and Odolphus (roman à clef) Anthony Collins – A Vindication of the Divine Attributes Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury – Soliloquy François Pétis de la Croix – Les Mille et un jours (translation and adaptation of Hazár ú Yek Rúz (The Thousand and One Days)) Daniel Defoe – An Essay Upon Public Credit (on the balance of trade) George Hickes – A Second Collection of Controversial Letters relating to the Church of England and the Church of Rome, as they passed between an honourable lady and Dr.