1778 in literature

In 1778, several notable literary events occurred. Sarah Scott ceased writing after receiving a legacy, while Charles le Beau and Voltaire passed away. Around November, Nathaniel Brassey Halhed's *A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Bengal Language* was printed in Calcutta, marking the first English publication on Bengali language and literature. William Jones, influenced by this work, later contributed significantly to Indology.

In fiction, Fanny Burney published her novel *Evelina* anonymously, receiving critical acclaim for its satirical portrayal of high society. Other notable works included Georgiana Cavendish's *The Sylph* and Clara Reeve's *The School for Widows*. Mrs. Barbauld released * Lessons for Children*, an early example of children's literature.

Drama saw the production of plays by Elizabeth Inchbald, Thomas Holcroft, and John O'Keeffe, among others. Poetry featured works by William Cowper and George Crabbe, with Anna Seward contributing elegies.

Non-fiction included Captain James Cook's *A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean*, detailing his third expedition. Edmund Burke published *Speech on the Nabob of Arcot's Debts*, critiquing British exploitation in India, while Thomas Jefferson wrote *Notes on the State of Virginia*.

The year also saw the deaths of prominent figures like Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influential thinkers of the Enlightenment. Births included Ugo Foscolo, an Italian poet, and William Hazlitt, a future essayist and critic. Overall, 1778 was marked by significant literary contributions and notable cultural shifts.