atljara, Sfew fotk 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY 
 
 COLLECTED BY 
 
 BENNO LOEWY 
 
 1854.1919 
 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
Cornell University Library 
 Z325.W52 A3 
 
 olin 
 
 3 1924 029 510 686 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tlie Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029510686 
 
\A,1 ^- vsc,5,^ 
 
 oi 
 FIFTY YEARS' RECOLLECTIONS 
 
 or AN OLD BOOKSELLER. 
 
Fart \, Price is, Qd, 
 FIFTY YEARS' 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 AN OLD BOOKSELLER; 
 
 COKSIBTIXG OF 
 
 ANECDOTES, CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES, 
 
 ANP 
 ORieiNAI- TEAITS AND ECCENTRICITIES, 
 
 OB 
 
 AUTHORS, ARTISTS, ACTORS, 
 BOOKS, BOOKSELLERS, 
 
 AND or THE 
 
 l^BIODICAL PRESS FOR THE LAST HALF CENTUBV, 
 WITH APPROPRIATE SELECTIONS; 
 
 AND AN UNLIMITED 
 
 RETROSPECT, - 
 
 INCLUDING 
 SOME EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES RELATIVE TO 
 THE LETTERS OF JUNIUS, 
 
 And a Chain of Corroborative Evidence respecting their Author. 
 "He has been at a Feast of Aaecdotes, and Stolen all the Scraps," 
 
 * 
 PRINTED BY AND FOR THE AUTHOR, 
 
 67, SOUTH MALL, 
 
 1835. 
 
TO THE PUBLIC, 
 
 Ten years have elapsed, since I intended to publish my 
 Jteinmiscences^ or, Forty Years RecolUctions of an Old BooTc^ 
 seller ; foV the manuscript of the first Volume, a Bookseller in 
 Dublin liberally offered twiJ hundred pounds^ as soon as it 
 should be completed ; and anpther old friend, (now no more,f) 
 generously and voluntarily offered to Subscribe for 50 Copies 
 ' — at whatever price I m5ght publish, if on my own account. — 
 Many circumstances occurred to prevent it, the work however was 
 shortly after commenced in England, surrounded as I was, in the^ 
 circle of a large family, including 12 of my Grand^children, &c., 
 but a variety of vicissitudes, and my subsequent labours in pro- 
 moting the sale of a General Topographical Dictionary, in four 
 volumes, quarto^ and making a pedestrian tour of 7000 miles, for 
 the purpose of compiling and completing my County History, To- 
 pography, &c. of Warwickshire, consisting of 800 pages, together 
 •with my Historical, Topographical, and Picturesque descriptions 
 of the two adjoining Counties, (Staffordshire and Shrdpshire,) 
 diverted, or, rather laboriously arrested my attention from a favo- 
 rite object, long since commenced, and which I now resume, under 
 the title of "-Fifty Years' Recollections of an Old Bookseller;" 
 " Who has been at a feast of Anecdotes, and Stolen all the Scraps." 
 
 The Work is now preparing for Publication, by Subscription, 
 to be paid for on delivery of the Book, The first part 
 is nearly ready, and will with the Original Preface, be published 
 at Half a Crown, illustrated with Copper-plate and Wood 
 Engravings. 
 
 In the course'of the Work, several hundred literary and public 
 characters will be introduced ; as well as numerous Artists, Ac- 
 tors, Editors, Booksellers, &c., of the Old and Modern School, 
 with Anecdotes of them ; and of the rise and fall of the 
 Periodical Press, for the last half Century. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 The late Mr. M'Arthur, Bookseller, of College Green, Dublin, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Tbe Author and compiler of the following sheetfi 
 ha$ to introduce so many amusing circumstances and inter- 
 esting events, and so many characters to delineate and portray, 
 as associated with his Literary and other Recollections, for 
 nearly half a century, that he begs leave to offer no apology in 
 commencing with a slight sketch and outline of himself. — The 
 earlier that he and his readers (the greater number the better) 
 become acquainted, the sooner will any imputation of vanity oi' 
 egotism be disposed of. 
 
 He has considered it appropriate, and correct, to 
 place himself in the foreground, at the front of the stage, before 
 his audience, for the purpose of exhibiting the more talented 
 characters which will follow, and who arc to figure and shine 
 upon it to the best advantage. 
 
 This work is professedly that of a Bookseller, 
 and like our lives — "of a mingled yarn" — but it is. intended to 
 amuse all descriptions of persons — young and old of either sex-~ 
 to gild, like the eastern sun, the morning of life, and after its 
 mid-day career, to fill' up, like our modern Scrapianas, the va- 
 cant hour before dinner; to sweeten the desert, and to. give a 
 zest to the cheerful glass after it — to loiter with the gay and 
 the innocent in the garden, and " the sunshine of the breast" — • 
 or to recline with themin the arbour pf shade : nay, more — to 
 join hi their fire side circle, and to share their converse in 
 welcoming "peaceful evening in," eoen in the winter of age and 
 of the season — the Author hopes, like Robin Gdodfellaw, to maka 
 "aged ears play truant at his tales." 
 
 To enumerate the variety of characters, that will 
 figure in this "Microcosm," or the number 'of persons of whom 
 portraits and anecdotes will be given, is not, at present, 
 in the Author's power. He was anxious in the first in- 
 stance, to introduce some one of the following personages, with 
 whom he has been acquainted, or with whom his recollections are 
 connected ; they will however follow him in chronological order, 
 viz. his late Arch-friends, John Wilkes, and Home Tooke-^ 
 
PREFACK. 
 
 Am antiqtiariau and laughj^g tx^en^, Qg;ptain Grose — Aw wittjr 
 friends, Peter Pindar, Charles Wilson, and Mark Supple — 
 his sentimental friends, Mr. Pratt, George Saville Carey, and 
 Mr, James— his nOYel, poetical, and dramatic; frj|ends. Lady 
 Morgan, Robert Owenson, and poor JXermfidy, vfith a,n host of 
 other amiable, eccentric, humourous, and extraosfdinft/ry ckaxq.er 
 ters; among whom, will be brought fwwfn4> the yeal JuNiXis, 
 with an account of the Author's knowledge ofhimz •<?>*,<;? * c^«» 
 of corroborative evidence relative to the Author of t^se, cghr- 
 brated letters. 
 
 The interesting features of the most distinguished 
 Booksellers, Printers, and other objects concermed with Litera- 
 ture, and a retrospect of the Periodical Press, will also be 
 adverted to in the succeeding pages. 
 
 In concluding his Preface, the Author cannot avoid 
 the reflection of what yet devolves upon him. Should provi- 
 dence spare him, he has yet much to perform in this world, and 
 much to prepare for the next. 
 
 Planted in the bosom of a large family, with all its 
 affections, anxieties and cares ; the present W6rk is ushered 
 from it into the world, as he intended it should be, on his birth- 
 day,, and on his becoming a Sexagenarian — a period of life at 
 which he is most grateful to the great Creator, for the almost 
 uninterrupted enjoyment of that state of health and strength, 
 which has fitted him for exertion ; and, whether successfully 
 employed or otherwise — he may exclaim, in the language of the 
 translator of "Timgelhergms on Study." (just published) 
 
 "Let our reward be that of industry. Whatever may be onr 
 conduct in this respect, of one thing we are certain — that un- 
 less we are vigilant to gather the frujt of time, whilst the 
 autumn of life is yet with us, we shall at the close of its 
 winter, descend into the grave as the beasts which perish, with- 
 out having left a record behind us to inform posterity that 
 we ever existed." 
 
 October 23,1830, W. W, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 We are all sons and daughters of ^dam, and we can all 
 boast of the great antiqxuty of our families. 
 
 Like Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, and other great 
 heroes and self biographers, the Author Was born at a cer- 
 tain hpur, on a certain day of the week, month and year ; at a 
 certain village, and under a certain planet : of the precipe 
 second, it is perhaps of little moment unless to the astrologer, 
 wrho may wish to fipe-dratij-an horoscope, or cast a nativity; 
 but, as fortunately for mankind, all the cobwebs spun by this 
 ragged race of foretellers of future events, are swept away ; 
 the Author is left to tell his own tale. Without entering into 
 particulars, — the sun had just sloped her western wheel 
 when the Author was born. Sixty summers suns have since 
 rolled over his head, and from a slight view of the shad«3. 
 upon that dial, the setting of the bright orb of day, is ap- 
 proaching; it therefpre behoves him in every sense, to esaploy^ 
 the fl'eeting moments to the best advajitage-, , 
 
 " O gentlemen, the time of life is &hoit, 
 
 To spend that shoitness basely, were too long, 
 
 Though life did ride upon a dial's point, 
 
 Still ending at th' arrival of an hour." Shakzspea rb. 
 
 In interweaving the Author's life throughout the following 
 recollections and selections, it is requisite to say something 
 of himself and family. However humble their origin and 
 pretensions, some interesting branches may spring out of the 
 Genealogio tree. We shall not trace them with the ardour 
 of a newly made peer — a page or two will suflSce. 
 
 Some branches of the Author's family have been remark- 
 able for longevity, others through the ties of consanguinity 
 have been particularly noticed as early settlers, and as being 
 the longest residents upon one spot, of any family in England, 
 others as wandering Islanders, and others as persons of travel; 
 
( " ) 
 
 but, the whole are now brought within so limited a circle, 
 that the Author believes, that he and his son are the last 
 surviving male stems of the family bearing his natne. 
 
 His ancestors were owners of considerable flocks, and cul- 
 tivated extensive tracts of land. Often has the atithor sighed 
 for a few paternal acres, but unless he held them only by 
 the tenure of a pepper corn to his country, and his only land- 
 lord, the lord of all land, perhaps his anxieties and cares 
 would be the same as they now are. If he has not many rich 
 relatives to boast of — he has the lot of as few poor ones to 
 deplore. 
 
 His great grandfather, on his father's side, with a single 
 dash of the pen for a faithless friend — lost his farm, his for- 
 tune, and destroyed the prospects of his family. They with- 
 drew from the border, and painful and extensive scene of 
 Salisbury Plain, and the druidical and mysterious monu- 
 ments of Stonehenge. They became settlers in a delightful 
 village in Surrey ; where their experience and industry was 
 appreciated by an eccentric, but a philosophical farmer, 
 (of whom more hereafter). He, upbn a farm of two thousand 
 acreSj gave ample scope for my grandfather's exertions; which 
 continued to a very extended period ; having lived to a very 
 advanced age, and was actively employed on horseback after 
 he was eighty years of age. One Grave opened at the same 
 hour for him and my grandmother ; the latter dying in the 
 evening, and the former on the following morning, after 
 having lived together, to the number of years that almost 
 amount to the natural age of man. 
 
 The Author's grandfather, on his mother's side, died at. 
 ninety, with the small pox, caught from some children in the 
 village. His wife at an age little short of that of her hus- 
 baiid. The joint ages of the four personages embraced about 
 three hundred and fifty years. 
 
 The Author's father died at seventy-six, his mother at 
 eighty-one, the Author is, (this 23d day of October, 1830) 
 sixty. In summing up this merely introductory outline, it 
 will be necessary to the subsequent developement of events, 
 causes and eifects, to divide the Author's life into seven stages. 
 
in the eourse of irhich, the adventures, appointments, enjoy« 
 ments, blessings, comforts, disappointments, events, exertions, 
 fears, grief, happiness, health, hopes, joys, of the author, 
 and all — all the auxiliaries, &c. that can aid him in render- 
 ing the following pages amusing and interesting, are yet to 
 be developed. He has only to entreat the reader's patience 
 and perseverance, in contemplating him through all the mazes 
 of a chequered and eventful life. It may prove a lesson to 
 others, as well as to his childrens' children. He has con- 
 sidered himself in some respects, as a youthful patriarch. 
 A friend has designated him — father Abraham ! ! ! 
 
 If his age, experience, and literary stores will not avail 
 him su£Scient materiel for the magazine, or library of anecdote 
 and biography, he trusts, that he can, as well as some of our 
 ingenious historical novelists of the day, resort to the " olden 
 time," with a good grace. 
 
 The author in the ties of consanguinity, by his second mar- 
 riage, can without the aid of fiction, not only advert to, but 
 join within twenty-four hours, the family circle of the owners 
 of a spot, granted to their family by Alfred the Great. (The 
 author glories in that name.) They have enjoyed, and re- 
 sided upon the farm in lineal descent, and uninterrupted pos- 
 session and succession for nine hundred years, (more of this 
 hereafter). The Spaniard wishes his friend might live a 
 thousand years. The author has no desire to live nine hun- 
 dred and ninety-nine. The reader perhaps is beginning to 
 yawn, — ^the author therefore closes his introduction. 
 
t..>^^<4^jL^^^^€Z^^,r>Z^/^?tat^?t^ 
 
 "^^ 
 
RECOLLECTIONS, &c. 
 
 " Off-hand and i various^ as occasion leads, , 
 
 The bards unstudied devious theme proceeds ; 
 
 He scorns the line however smooth it flow, ' ■ 
 
 Xhat tends to make one honest man his foe ; 
 
 He, travelling life's eventful joad along, 
 
 Begujles his moments with disportive song ; 
 
 Whistles and sings, his 3^4^nt breast to cheer. 
 
 Thinks for himself, dares laugh, and be sincere." T; C, R. 
 
 1. HE Hecollections of the author carry him back to a very 
 early period of his life ; the first stage of which, he will con- 
 fine to that of fourteen. At four years of age, he recollects 
 he had the honour of dining with his mother during her ac- 
 couchement with his third brother ; at whose christening he 
 displayed considerable anger, from the rough salute, and 
 rough' beard of his godfather.* At six years of age he was 
 highly delighted at' the eccemfic and philosophic farmer, to 
 whom he alluded^n his introductory chapter. This extra- 
 ordinary character, (John Parker, Esq.) always dressed with 
 extreme neatness, in a looSe coat, ^ith wide and long bang- 
 ing sleeves, ornamented with gold 't)asket covered buttons, 
 but was never known to wear a waistcoat. His shoes short 
 quai'tered, high tojigued,- Square toed, and pinchbeck buckles. 
 His gardeners were strictly enjoined to produce him a nose- 
 gay of the finest flowers, ere he proceeded on his morning 
 ride, always accompanied by a monkey, who was well dressed, 
 with a cocked hat, and sat behind him upon a fine spirited 
 horse, followed by a respectahle man servant. He kept the 
 best society, and died at the advanced age of one hundred 
 and two ; but notwithstanding Jiis supposed riches, and hav- 
 ing had one of the finest farms in the country, consisting of 
 
( 10 ) 
 upwards of two thousand acres ; lie left his son involved. 
 The latter gentleman, was a captain in the Surry Militia, at 
 the same period, that the celebrated Captain Grose held a 
 similar commission in that corp. The society, which, at that 
 period assembled at Parkers seat, at Waddon Court, was of 
 the first order. Several of the Boscawens' were visiters. 
 Mr. Marshall, the great Agriculturist, and author of many 
 popular publications on agriculture, also, frequently joined in 
 the gay circle — of a house kept more in the style of a noble- 
 man, than a farmer. Grose was then in the hey-day of life, and 
 perhaps, one of the mosit witty and pleasant companions in 
 the world. We shall have much to say of him hereafter, 
 and of characters with whom he assoei^lted^ and we were ac- 
 quainted with at that time. One person in particular, claims 
 our attention. He is worthy of notice, and was known to the 
 author when he had 80 large a family as twelve children. 
 His eldest daughter, a beautiful girl, had nearly won the 
 heart of the auttor's fcldest brother. The following account 
 of him was written by Captain Grose, and communicated to 
 his friend, James Pettet Andrews, Esq. F. S. A. who thus 
 acknowledges it : — 
 
 The following letter, contains an instance of the most ex- 
 cellent domestic management, which imagination can con- 
 ceive. « It may be depended on, for, facetious as the writer 
 is known to be, he never indulges his humour at the expence 
 of his veracity ; and he avers every circumstance there related 
 to be literally true. 
 
 ECONOMY. 
 
 " You ask me, what I have seen in my ramble, worth re- 
 lating. Yon are no antiquarian, I will not therefore- tease 
 you with ruined abbeys, Gothic castles^ Roman and Danish 
 camps, or Druidical circles, but confine my narrative to a 
 human curiosity. This is a Mr. Osbaldeston, an attorney's 
 clerk ; and in spite of the popular prejudices agaitist his pro- 
 fession, said to be an honest man. This you Will allow to be 
 a curiosity, but that is not all. This honest limb of the law is 
 married, and has at least, half a dozen children, all whom, 
 with as many couple of hounds, and a brace of hunters, he 
 
( n ) 
 
 mamtains out of^^te)w mucli Ao ydu think ? Guess a little I 
 pray you — why 'tlten, to support liimself, a wife and six chil- 
 dren, t^^elt^e dogs, and 'two hoftes, he feas not a penny more 
 than sisctylpounds p^ aii'nwm ! Aad if |^ssible to increase the 
 miracle, he did this iii Loiidoti foi* ibany yeats ; paying every 
 body tbeir own, and kebpifig a tight cOat for Sundays and ho- 
 lidays : but I will try to explain this seeming paMdox. After 
 th'e ekpiratioH of the time which Mr. Csbald^ston owed his 
 master, he acted a,k aii accountatit for tte butchers in Clare- 
 matfcet, who paid Mfii in offal ; the choicest morsels of this, 
 he selected for hiiiisfc^lf and faniily, and with the rest he fed his 
 hounds, which he kept in his garret. His horses were lodged 
 in his cellar, and fed on grains fronl a neigbbouring brew- 
 house, and on damaged corn, with which he was supplied by 
 a corn-chandler, whose books he kept in order, Oftce Pr 
 twice a Week in the season he hunted, aiid by giving a hare 
 now and then to the fariners, over whose grounds he sported, 
 he secured their good will and permission. Besides which, 
 several gentlemen, struck with his extraordinary economy, 
 winked at his going over their manorSj with his moderate pack. 
 
 " Accident has since removed this uncommon man to Lewes 
 in Sussex ; whete, on the sanie stipend, hfe continues to maiur 
 tain the same family. Curiosity led me to visit this extraor- 
 dinary party, about their dinner time. Th6 two-legged party 
 werfe cle^n, though nOt superfluously clothied, and seemed to 
 live like brothers with the surrounding animals. It looked, in 
 short, somewhat like the golden agei. Mr. O. himself, sjeemed 
 and acted like the father of the quadru{ieds as well as t^e bi; 
 peds, and as, such, decided with thfe utmost impartiality ; for 
 master Jackey having tak^u a bonB' from Jowler, he command- 
 ed iiiiihediate restitution ; and on the other hand. Doxy ha- 
 ving snatched a piece of liver from miss Dorotjiea, was oblig'd 
 on the spot, to restore it to the youiig lady. 
 
 " Oil enquiry, I found that Mr. O. was the younger son 
 of a gentleman of good family, bdt small fortune, in the nOrth 
 of England, and that, haWng iinprtidently married one of his 
 father's servants, he was turned out of doors, with no other 
 fortune than a sdutheffa hound bi^ with piip, whose offspring 
 baviB 'Since been a source of pVofet arid aihiiseiHent to hiiii," F.Cr, 
 
r 12 > 
 
 "The writer of the above letter has informed the Editor, 
 that this very extraordinary character has lately resided with 
 the same family at Croydon, ins Suirey. J. P. A. 
 
 At the time the Author of this Publication, knew Mr. 
 Osbaldeston,he had the numerous family of twelve children; 
 the eldest son was somewhat defQrmed,and the old gentleman 
 being in the vale of years, was almost incapable of following 
 his profession — the poor man had frequent occasion to obtain 
 temporary credit of the author's mother, but whom he paid 
 most honourably. This was about the year, 1780 ; during the 
 residence of Mr, Osbaldeston, at JJeddington,* He retained 
 
 * As considerable historical interest is associated with the village of Bed- 
 dington, the following account of it, from the " Ambulator," and "Lysons' 
 Environs of London," cannot but be acceptible to the reader. 
 
 " Beddington, a village two miles west of Croydon ; Here is the seat of 
 the ancient family of Carew, which descending to Richard Gee, Esq. of Or- 
 pington, in Kent, that gentleman, I^SO, took the name and arms of Carew. 
 It was forfeited in 1539, on the attainder and execution of Sir Nicholas Carew, 
 for a conspiracy. His son, Sir Francis, having procured the reversal of the 
 attainder, purchased this estate of Loi4 Darcy, to whom it had been granted 
 by Edward VI. He rebuilt the mansion house, and planted the garden wilh 
 choice fruit trees, in the cultivation of which he took great delight. Sir 
 Francis spared no expence in procuring them from foreign countries. The 
 Eirst orange trees seen in £ipgland, are said to have been planted by him. 
 Aubrey says they were brought from Italy by Sir Francis Carew. But the 
 editors of the Biographia, speaking from a tradition preserved in the family 
 t^U us, they were raised by Sir Francis Carew from the seeds of the first oranges 
 which were imported into England by Sir Walter Raleigh, who had married 
 his neice, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Throckmorton. The trees were plant- 
 ed in the open ground, and were preserved in the winter by a moveable shed. 
 They flourished for about a century and a half, being destroyed by the hard 
 frost in 1739-40. In the garden was a pleasure house, on th« top of which 
 was painted the Spanish Invasion. Jn August 1599, Queen Elizabeth paid a 
 visit to Sir Francis Carew, at Beddington, for three days ; and again in the same 
 month the ensuing year. The queen's oak, and her favourite walk are still 
 pointed out. ' Sir Hugh Piatt tells an anecdote, in his Garden of Eden, rela- 
 ting to one of these visits, which shews the pains Sir Francis took, in the ma- 
 nagement and cultivation of his fruit tices. " Here I will conclude'* says he, 
 ' ' with a conceit of that delicate knight, Sir F. Carew, who for the better ac- 
 complishment of his royal entertainment of our late Queen Elizabeth, of hap- 
 py memory, at his house at Beddington, led her majesty to a cherry tree, 
 whose fruit he had of purpose kept back from ripening, at the least one month 
 after all other cherries had taken their farewell of England . This secret he per- 
 formed, by straining a tent, or cover of canvas, over the whole tree, and wet- 
 ting the same, now and then, with a scoop or horn, as the heat of the weather 
 required ; and so, by witholding the sun beams from reflecting upon theber- 
 X\es, they grew both great, and were very long before they had gotten theiif 
 
( 13 > 
 and foUewed bis professionalj employment until an advanced 
 age ; his athletic, an,^ grotesque figure, dressed in the old 
 English style, with a laxgp cocked hat, and full bushy wig, 
 gave him an air of consequence, and importance among the 
 peasantry of the place ; and the author perfectly recollects, 
 although a child at the time, the curious corrupted appel- 
 lation applied to him, which was that of Lawyer Distance, 
 (a corruption of Lawyer Osbaldeston.) At a more advanced 
 period the author would willingly have made, a contract in 
 haying thatcontraction literally verified ;, but, to do the gentle- 
 men of that {trofession ample justice,he has,throughout all his 
 vicissitudes, received not only professional indulgence, but 
 also much personal kindness from them. 
 
 Capt. Grose famishes a curious instance of 
 PARSIMONY. 
 
 An extreme attention to the smallest points of economy, is 
 said to have been ever a striking feature in the character of a 
 person, not long deceased,* whose memory will long be re- 
 membered for the distinguished preference which he gave in 
 his last will, to public charities, over his nearest relations. 
 A very singular, a,nd laughable instance of this is reported. 
 
 perfect cherry colour ; and when he was assured of her majesty's coming, he 
 removed the tent, and a few sunny days brought them to their full maturity. 
 
 The Park is still famoas for walnut trees. The manor house, situated neur 
 the chqrch, is bailt ofbriolt, and occupies three sides of a square. It was re- 
 built in its present form in 1709. The great door of the hall, has a curious 
 anti.ent lock, richly wrought ; a shield with the arms of England, moving in a 
 groove, conceals the key-hole. In this hall is the portrait nf a. lady, falsely 
 shewn as queen KUzabeth ; a small room, adjoining to the ball, retains the an- 
 cient pannels, with mantled carvings ; over the chimney is a small portrait of 
 the Carews, surrounded by a pedigree. Anothec room has several portraits of 
 the Hacket family ; particniarly one of Bishop Hacket,. by Sir Peter Le!y. 
 lo' the parlour, at the north-end of the hall, are some other family portraits, 
 among which is one of Sir Nicholas Carew, who was beheaded in the reign of 
 Henry VIII. In the aisles of th,e chnrch, which is aheautiful Gothic pile, 
 are several stalls, after the manner of cathedrals, having tormerly belonged to 
 
 . Mertoo Abbey. 
 
 * From a note by the late Isaac Reed, Esq. to the author's copy of Andrews's 
 anecdotes, it would appear that this singular personage was, a Mr, Kussel, of 
 
 Bermondsey. • ' 
 
( 14 ) 
 He loved to attend dramatic exhibitions, and for his health's 
 sake, he chose to take a great coat with him ; but where 
 should he leave this useful appendage during the perform- 
 ance ? The box-keepef s Would expect, at least sixpence ; the 
 orange girls #ould take little l«ss ; and shoifld he leave it in 
 the coffee-house, he must spend threepence to obtain house 
 room for it. His invention supplied him with a method 
 cheaper and equally secure. H« pawned ras garment every 
 evening that he attended the play, at a shop near the Hoor, 
 for a shilling, which he carried back, to it, at the close of the 
 . play,ad.ding onepenny for interestj^?.rid received his great coat 
 again safe and sound, its it had 'literally been laid up in 
 lavender. V ' ,, / .^ G-. 
 
 ', .' /';''■' ^ 
 
 The author in recurring to th^ first stage, or first ten years 
 of his existence, is desirous, of reminding his readers, that 
 considerably interest will sv^b^quently ' 'attach to the exten- 
 sive and numerous digre^sior^, and the unlimited retrospect 
 adverted to in his original address ; he will however for the 
 present, confine himself chronologically to objects associated 
 with literature, &c^ from the year 1770, (the year of his birth,) 
 and as connected with the chain of his literary recollections, 
 and the events of a chequered life. 
 
 In 1770,' John Wilkes, after^liaving been expelled the 
 House of Commons, and-confined for publishing No. 45, of 
 the North Briton, was liberated upon giving security for his 
 good behaviour for /seven years. London was illuminated 
 upon the occasion, and after the Committee of the Bill of Rights 
 had paid all his debts, the illumination was^generaJLthrough- 
 out the kingdota.- He had a shcart timl@efore been elected 
 a third time member for Middlesexv biit^ls election was de- 
 clared null and-void by the Commons, although he had been 
 returned by 1143 votes, against 296, given for his ministerial 
 opponent. Colonel Luttrell, who was elected with only the 
 latter number ; this was deemed a most arbitrary proceeding. 
 Mr. Wilkes was subsequently re-elected, but his return was 
 declared of no avail. He was shortly after sworn in an Alder- 
 man of London. At a late period of his life, the author recol- 
 lects him with his street dress — a scarlet coat, lined with 
 
'&i(h^o/^ 
 
( 13 ) 
 white silk, cocked hat, bag wig, can«, Ac— and coftversed 
 with him upon the sufeject of the author of the history of the 
 first and second ten years, of the reign of George the third ; 
 of which, and presenting the author with his freedcKm of the 
 city of London, be will speak in tshionological order. 
 
 ■tfhis year (17'70) was one of Considetable intfitest in the 
 political world — the most numerous assemblage of tnembeW, 
 fook place in the House of Commons ever witnessed, 451 
 meitobers 'were ptcsent, nearly 200 of whoiftt held sifflations 
 under Government and the ptiblic offices, were said to be 
 double to those of 1740. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes, who had made so much noise, was admirably 
 portrayed by Hogarth, sitting with the standard, and cap of 
 liberty in his hand. It was etched in a very Sptritfed style by 
 Hogarth hiniself — St)mC considered it a. cariacalure, but the 
 author can votich for its being a capital likeness. About this 
 period Hogatth dretv a htimourous sketch of a politician, 
 which was ably etched by poor Sherwin, (of whom more 
 hereafter.) We have endeavoured to pteservB the spirit of 
 both sketches, which appear in this Work. 
 
 In this year, the Letters of Junius created an extraordinary 
 sensation; Woodfall, the Publisher of the Public Advertiser, 
 was found guilty of printing and publishing Junius's letter to 
 the King. Miller and Baldwin, were also tried for selling 
 this letter, but were acquitted. The Letters of Junius con- 
 tinued to cause great excitation ; and as Mr. Boyle truly re- 
 marks, they are as conspicuous for the force and elegance of 
 their style, as the satyrical and vindictive attacks levelled at 
 individuals ; the most remarkable of those papers was, the 
 before mentioned letter addressed to the king, in the Public 
 Advertiser, of December 19, wherein his ministers were 
 treated with the mostprofound contempt and virulence. The 
 attorney general therefore filed a bill against Woodfall, the 
 printer, for uttering a libel, and the trial came on in the 
 Court of Kings Bench, before Lord Mansfield.. The Jury, 
 after being out nine hours, found a verdict guilty of printing 
 and publishing only, which at that period^ amounted to an 
 acquittal. 
 
( 16 ) 
 A subsequent portion of the author's life is interestingly- 
 connected with the preceding events, and in fulfilment of the 
 assertion already made in his title page ; he hopes to create 
 a lively interest with regard to those letters, even at the pre- 
 sent day : he has only to entreat his readers patience, to fol- 
 low him thoughout his history, and the chain of corroborative 
 evidence respecting them ; and he feels the conviction that 
 they will producfe a similar gratification, to what he has ex- 
 perienced. In this year died W. Guthrie the historian, 5,,u- 
 thor of the history of the world, a dull and heavy book, fetch- 
 ing little more than waste paper ; but the Geography under, 
 his name has been eminently successful, particularly after it 
 was edited by Ferguson. 
 
 A bookseller's trick was practised in Ireland, by issuing a 
 a Gazetteer under his name, which Guthrie never wrote or 
 compiled. About the period of Guthrie's death, Mr. Millar's 
 (a celebrated bookseller,) executors obtained an injunction 
 against a Mr. Taylor, a bookseller at Berwick upon Tweed, for 
 the sale of a pirated edition of Thompson's Seasons, and Mr. 
 Millar having been the sole proprietor of that inimitable pro- 
 duction, his executors obtained a perpetual injunction. It is 
 rather remarkable, that another, and more celebrated histo- 
 torian, Tobias SmoUet, author of the History of England, 
 and Continuator of Hume, died in the same year with 
 Guthrie ; but perhaps he was as inferior to Hume, as Guthrie 
 was to Smollet. Dr. Mark Akenside, author of the Pleasures 
 of Imagination, &c. died this year; as did poor Chatterton, 
 the youthful and ill-fated poet of Bristol. George Whitfield , 
 one of the sect of Methodists, also died in 1770 at Newberry 
 Port in America, he was the original founder of the great 
 chapel in Tottenham Court road, which has recently been 
 sold by auction, for £8000. 
 
 In 1771 Mr. WilKes. ;;nd Mr. Hdrne had a literary war, 
 which is humourously alluded to in the chorus, of an heroic 
 ballad, entitle ." the renowned history and rare achievements 
 of John Wilkes which runs thus, 
 
 J i-iN Wilkes, he was .for Middlesex, 
 They chose him knight of the shire ; , 
 
 And he made a fool of Alderman BuLLJ 
 And caU'd paison Hokne a liar 
 
( 1? ) 
 
 In another place, it is thus alluded to — 
 
 " Fbr love of Parson Horne's* laced coat 
 John— stole away his wardrobe.! 
 
 In this year, according to a modern chronologist, " An 
 important question was canvassed in parliament, concerning 
 the privileges of the house of commons." The newspaper 
 writers had Isltely heen in the practice of printing the mem- 
 bers speeches under their respective names ; many of them 
 were spurious productions, and in opposition to the orders of 
 the house. A complaint having been made by a member 
 against two of those publishers, an order was issued for their 
 appearance, with which they refused to comply; when another 
 order was setit with no better success. One of the publishers 
 was then taken into custody by the speaker's warrant, 
 and carried before Alderman Wilkes and the Lord Mayor 
 Crosby, by whom he was discharged. The anger of the house 
 was then directed to the city magistrates, and many measures 
 resorted to ; but the contest terminated in favour of the pub- 
 lishers, who have ever since continued to report the proceed- 
 ings of parliament and the speeches of the members, without 
 opposition. In a more advanced portion of this work, many 
 pleasant anecdotes will be related on this subject. Among 
 the reporters, Mr. Woodfall was considered as the first and 
 most celebrated. The last letter he ever wrote, was to the au- 
 thor, a fac simile of which will appear in its proper place- 
 Gray the celebrated poet, died in 1771, as did also the na- 
 turalist Linnaeus. 
 
 * Mr. Home, at this time, had not taken the name of Tooke. The author 
 has to advert to that change hereafter. 
 
 t " The articles comprised in this clerical wardrobe, for the satisfaction 
 of the curious reader, are subjoined : 
 
 One suit of scarlet and gold cloth 
 One suit of white and silver d'.to 
 One suit of blue and silver oi^MeC 
 One suit of flowered silk ' 
 
 One suit of black silk , 
 
 One black velvet surtout ^ 
 
 These many coloured canonicals, are said to have beeii entrusted to the cus- 
 tody of Mr. W. in May 1767, and which Mr. H. charg</!"him with having 
 pledged in Paris, ior necessaries, in the September following," 
 
 C 
 
( 18 ) 
 In 1772, an interesting decision was given in favour T)f 
 Somerset, a negro slave, whose cause, the literary, , talented 
 and philanthrophic Granville Sharpe took up and carried 
 through the superior courts, from having seen him chastised 
 by his master, in the public street; subsequent to that period, 
 to the disgrace of many, negro servants were treated as slaves ; 
 but from the settled point obtained by Mr. Sharpe, judgement 
 was given, that any person, of whatever complexion, should 
 in future be considered as free, from the moment they set foot 
 upon English ground. 
 
 The author felt peculiar pleasure about thirty years since, 
 sit being introduced to Mr. Sharpe. In this year, 1772, Henry 
 Cromwell, great-grandson to Oliver Cromwell^ died. In 1773, 
 the great traveller, Mr. Bruce, returned in safety to Eyg'pt, 
 from his journey through Abyssinia, to the source of the Nile. 
 The author (who digresses,) saw this athletic traveller, at a 
 subsequent period in England, previously to the publication 
 of his travels, which were originally in five ponderous vo- 
 lumes. His work gave rise to "Gulliver revived, or the travels 
 of Baron Munchausen," written by Mr. St. John, of Oxford, 
 in a vein of irony upon poor Bruce ; who, after exploring 
 the most dangerous and distant climes, met with an acci- 
 dental death at home. Stephen Jones, a literary friend of 
 the author, gives the 'following account of- him — "James 
 Bruce ofKinnaird; near Falkirk, ia Scotland, a celebratpd 
 traveller in Abyssinia ; who, after having encountered innu- 
 merable perils in distant regions, in search, of the source of 
 the river Nile, mpt an untimely death by a fall down a stair 
 case, at his seat at Kinnaird, April 1794. The account of 
 his travels, which occupied the space of near six years, from 
 1768 to 1773, abound with events so''extraordinary, present 
 instances of perseverance and intrepidity so wonderful, that 
 were it the production of a man whose character was less 
 disputable, it would appear to be the fabrication of a romantic 
 brain. From the discoveries of Mr. Bruce, however. Geogra- 
 phy has received material improvements ; and, that natural 
 history has acquired new and valuable information, is at- 
 tested by the celebrated French naturalist, Count de Bufifon, 
 in an advertisement prefixed to the third Volume of his his- 
 
( 19 ) 
 tory of birds" Since Mr. Jones's account of thirty years ago, 
 tlie name of Bruce, has continued to gain additional fame 
 from his travels, and many circumstances which he related, 
 that were deemed almost fabulous, have been proved to be 
 facts. 
 
 In 1773, Poster Powell, the celebrated Pedestrian, walked 
 from London to York in six days. (The author saw him enter 
 London after a similar walk in 128 hours, about twenty-five 
 years after the above period). In this year (1773,) the use 
 of coffee was prohibited by the Landgrave of Hesse-Castle, 
 and a schoolmaster having tresspassed this law, was found 
 guilty, banished and condemned to hard labour. During this 
 year Lord Chesterfield, author of the celebrated letters to 
 his son, (Lord Napier of Scotland) died, as did also Dr. 
 Hawkesworth, the author of several miscellaneous works, and 
 editor of Captain Cook's voyages round the world. It is rather 
 a singular circumstance, that a person (Captain Colnet,) who 
 accompanied Captain Cook, and who was afterwards Captain 
 of the Ratler Sloop of war, should have employed so extra- 
 ordinary a character as hath been stated, to write the narra- 
 tive of his Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 The author published the above work about thirty years 
 ^ince, but never saw the editor of Coln^t's Book, whiclt 
 was well got up, and the maps and caarts where well exe- 
 cuted by Arrowsmith. The writing was attributed to Coorabe, 
 a fortune teller in Westminster. The Author conceives there 
 must have been an error in this, from a similarity of names 
 and residence, and that the work was written by. Dr. Goombe,, 
 the celebrated Dr. Syntax." 
 
 In 1774, Mr. Wilkes was elected Lord Mayor of London. 
 The transitions and vicissitudes he experienced were so nu- 
 merous, that we barely, presejnt an outline of him, as drawn 
 (we suspert)by the literary and talented Alexander Chalmers,. 
 Esq., which statejs that this gentleman was introduced to 
 public notice, under the patronage of Sichard, late Earl 
 Temple, and was for some tiine Colonel of the Buckingham 
 militia. Ruined with respect to fortune, he commenced a 
 political writer against the Efirl of Bute, and instituted the 
 
( 20 ) 
 periodical paper of the North Briton, before alluded to. For 
 the celebrated No, 46, of that paper, in which speech to the 
 the fcing,at the close of a session in parliament, was freely dis- 
 cussed, Mr. Wilkes was prosecuted by the administration of 
 Mr. Geo. Grenville ; and the Essay on Woman, a licentious 
 and obscene compositon, of which a few copies had been 
 privately printed, but which was never intended for the publie 
 eye, being discovered, he was expelled the house of com- 
 mons, obliged to fly the kingdom, and declared an outlaw. 
 The friends to whom Mr. Wilkes had been introduced by 
 Earl Temple were, among others, the Duke of Grafton, the 
 Earls of Chatham and Sandwich, and Lord le Despenser; 
 and Mr. Wilkes was not sparing of his invective against these 
 noblemen, for having deserted him in so critical a situation. 
 He was followed in Exile by his friend, the celebrated 
 Charles Churchill, who died d!uring his journey. Mr. 
 Wilkes also commenced during his residence in France, an 
 intimate acquaintance with Mr. Andrew Baxter, author of 
 the enquiry into the nature of the human soul, who professes 
 in a dedication to the third volume ol that work, to have de- 
 rived great information in the most abstruse points of meta-^ 
 physical controversy from the conversation of his friend. 
 
 In the affair of his banishment, Mr. Wilkes was the occa- 
 sion of bringing into'question the business of general warrants,, 
 and of ultimately gaining an importaut point in favour of the 
 popular part of our constitution. Having suddenly returned to 
 England at the time of the' general election, 1768, it was. 
 again his fortune to involve the country in a great constitu- 
 tional question, respecting the right of election. Mr. Wilkes 
 was an unsuccessful candidate to represent the city of Lon- 
 don, but was immediately after elected by the freeholders of 
 Middlesex. By the absurd policy of the administration,he was 
 three times expelled from the house of commons, and being 
 as often re-elected by the county, they thought proper, finally 
 to accept a candidate (Col. Luttrell,) whose number of votes 
 fell-short of Mr Wilkes's in thie proportion of near five to one. 
 The publications of this celebrated politician, besides those 
 we have mentioned, have been principally, An introduction to 
 A History of England, written in 1768, and Speeches de« 
 
r 21 ) 
 
 livered in the house of coiamous. His Correspondence has 
 been subsequently published. 
 
 In the year of Mr. Wilkes's Mayoralty, his old opponent, 
 the Rev.' John Home, was ordered to appear at the bar of the 
 house of commons, for a breach of privilege voted against 
 him by the house, for publishing a letter' addressed to the 
 speaker of that house, inserted in the Public Advertiser. 
 The printer was ordered to attend, which he accordingly did, 
 and gave up the Rev^ Mr. Home, as the writer. Mr. Home 
 was then ordered to appear, and upon his compliance, he de- 
 manded to have evidence brought against him, when, there 
 not being any but the printer, who was in custody, he was 
 discharged. That gentleman was subsequently famous, and 
 known by the name of John Home Tooke. Anecdotes of him 
 will appear in our future pages. 
 
 In this year (1774) The new excise oflSce was built on the 
 site where Gresham college stood. The author's singular 
 affinity to the family of Sir Thomas Gresham, (founder also 
 of the royal exchange) will be alluded to in its proper place. 
 The celebrated Dr. Goldsmith, of popular poetic and drama- 
 tic fame, and Henry Baker, the natural philosopher, died 
 in 1774. 
 
 In 1775, the two Perreaus, twins, were executed for for- 
 gery, at tybum. The notorious Mrs. Rudd, who appeared 
 to be so much implicated in that transaction, died many years 
 afterwards, in great distress ; as did also her husband. She 
 was said to be the authoress of the " Belle Widows," a novel. 
 Her husband wrote for several periodicals ; and afterwards 
 for the law stationers. In this year, Dr. Hawkesworth and 
 Campbell the historisli^ died. The stationer's company's in- 
 junction against Mr. Carnan, for printing Almanacks, was 
 dissolved. Carnan was an eccentric and singular character. 
 Upon obtaining his victory over the stationer's company, he 
 drove repeatedly, in triumph, round St. Paul's church yard, 
 and through Paternoster row, in his lofty phaeton and pair. 
 Mr. Carnan was successor to the good and great John New- 
 berry, well known to the children of the last century, as the 
 publisher of Toja Thumb's folios. He was also the first pub- 
 
( 22 ) 
 lisherof Goldsmith's Traveller, Deserted Village, and his 
 Vicar of Wakefield, for one of these publications, (we believe 
 the Traveller,) he ha.d given to Goldsmith so large a sum 
 that the Doctor said, he thought " it would be ruinous to the 
 poor man," and sent back half his purchase money — this how- 
 ever, the Bibliopolist generously refused the acceptance of. 
 
 Mr. Catnan was succeeded by Power and Hancock, the 
 former gentleman became an eminent wine merchant, and the 
 concerns have recently become the property of two spirited 
 and enterprising booksellers, (Hurst and Chance,) who have 
 made the house once more a celebrated depdt for some of the 
 brightest gems of the graphic and typographic art. 
 
 In 1776, Mr. Garrick, took his farewell of the .stage ; after 
 having a short time before disposed of his share in the theatre 
 to Mr. Sheridan and others for £35,000. This year was very 
 prolific in literary productions of merit; for in the course of 
 it appeared Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, Gibbon's de- 
 cline and fall of the Roman Empire, Dr. Priestley's observa- 
 tions on the blood, and Macpherson's History of Great Bri- 
 tain, and original state papers. In the same year died David 
 Hume, the celebrated Historian, and Dr. Maty, Librarian to 
 the British Museum, and Editor of a Review, published for 
 many years after his death, under the title of Maty's Review. 
 Thomas Weston, a noted comedian, and John Harrison, 
 the inventor of the time keeper, also died in 1776, the former 
 constantly played with Garrick, with great eclat, the latter 
 did not survive to witness the extent of his researches in pro- 
 ducing perpetual motion. 
 
 In 1777, the late Mr. Colman, or as the present Mr. Col- 
 man styles him, in the preface to his Iron Chest — "George 
 Colman the elder, translator of the comedies of Terence," 
 purchased the Haymarket theatre of Mr. Foote, for an an- 
 nuity. Foote, (as well as his two . successors, the Colmans) 
 ■was an extraordinary and talented man ; his sharpness at 
 repartee, and his contest with Miss Chudleigh,afterwards Du- 
 chess of Kingston, will never be forgotten. His having one of 
 his plays, (the Minor,) suppressed by the Lord Chamberlain, 
 produced a curious interview with the then Archbishop of 
 
( 23 ) 
 Canterbury. The Character of Mother Cole, in the minor, 
 and in fact, the play altogether was considered objectionable ; 
 upon this occasion Foote waited upon his gracp with an aU 
 teredcopy, and asked him if he would be good enough to sug- 
 gest further alterations — No, Mr. Foote, replied his grace 
 
 it shall not be said that Mr. Foote has brought out a second 
 edition of his minor, revised and corrected by the Archbishop 
 of Canterbury ! 
 
 A melancholy event occurred on the 22nd of April, 1777, 
 the Rev. Dr. Dodd, was found guilty of forging a bill for 
 £4,200, upon his pupil. Lord Chesterfield. He was con- 
 Ticted, and executed on the 27th of the following month, 
 (May;) and the author perfectly recollects with what an 
 emotion' he heard vociferated in his native Village, the 
 speech Dr.D. had made at the place of execution. As perhaps 
 many of our readers may not have read this speech, addressed 
 to the judge and to the ordinary of Newgate ; which was 
 said to have been partly written by the celebrated Dr. Johnson, 
 we present it entire. 
 
 The sessions being ended at the Old Bailey Dr. Dodd was 
 brought to the bar, when the clerk of the arraigns addressed 
 the Doctor as follows " Doctor. William Dodd, what have 
 you to say, why judgment to die should not be passed upon 
 you according to law." The Doctor then addressed himself 
 as follows ; 
 
 My LORD, 
 , " I now stand before you a dr^dful example of human in- 
 firmity. I entered upon public life with the expectation com- 
 mon to young men, whose education has been liberal, and 
 whose abilities have been flattered — and when I became a 
 clergyman, considered myself as not impairing the dignity of 
 the order. I was not an idle, nor, I hope, an useless minis- 
 ter. I taught the truths of christianty with the zeal of con- 
 viction, and the authority of innocence. My labours were 
 approved — my pulpit became popular — and I have reason to 
 believe, that of those who heard me, some have been pre- 
 served from sin, and some have been reclaimed. Oondescend, 
 my Lord to think, if these considerations aggravate my crime, 
 how much they must embitter my punishment. 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 " Being distinguished and elated by the confidence of man- 
 kind, I had too much confidence in myself; and thinking my in- 
 tegrity— what others thought it — established in sincerity, and 
 fortified by religion, I did not consider the danger of vanity, 
 nor suspect the deceitfulness of my own heart, 
 
 -' " The day of conflict came, in which temptation surprised 
 and overwhelmed me ! I committed the crime, which, I en- 
 treat your Lordship to believe that my conscience hourly re- 
 presents to me in its full bulk of mischief and malignity. 
 Many have been overpowered by temptation, who are now 
 among the penitent in Heaven ! 
 
 " To an act, now waiting the decision of vindicative justice,, 
 I will not presume to oppose the counterbalance of almost 
 thirty years (a great part of the life of man) passed in exci- 
 ting and exercising charity ; in relieving such distresses as I 
 now feel ; in administering those consolations which I now 
 want. I will not otherwise extenuate my offence than by 
 declaring — ^what many circumstances make probable — that 
 I did not intend to be finally fraudulent. Nor will it be- 
 come me to apportion my own punishment, by alleging that 
 my sufferings have not been much less than my guilt. I 
 have fallen from repiitation, which ought to have made me 
 cautious ; and from a fortune which ought to have given me 
 content. I am sunk at once into poverty and scorn; my 
 name and my crime fill the ballads in the streets ; the sport 
 of the thoughtless, the triumph of the wicked ! 
 
 " It may seem strange, m^ lord, that remembering what I 
 have lately been, I should still wish to continue what I am. 
 But contempt of death, how speciously soever it might mingle 
 with heathen virtues, has nothing suitable to christian peni- 
 tence. Many motives impel me earnestly to beg for life.— 
 I feel the natural horror of a violent death, and the univer- 
 sal dread of untimely dissolution. I am desirous to recom- 
 pence the injury I have done to the clergy, to the world, and 
 to religion ; and to efface the scandal of my crime, by the 
 example of my repentance. But, above all, I wish to die 
 with thoughts more composed, and calmer preparation. The 
 gloom and confusion of a prison ; the anxiety of a trial ; the 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 horrors of suspence ; and the inevitable Vicissitudes of passion, 
 leave not the mind in a due disposition to the holy exercise 
 of prayer and self-examination. Let not a little life be de- 
 nied me, in which I may, by meditation and contrition, pre- 
 pare myself to stand at the tribunal of Omnipotence ; and 
 support the presence of that judge, who shall distribute to all 
 according to their works ; who will receive to pardon the re- 
 penting sinners ; and from whom the merciful shall obtain 
 mercy ! 
 
 " For these reasons, my lord, amidst shame and misery, 
 I yet wish to live ; and most humbly implore that I may be 
 commended by your lordship to the clemency of his Majesty." 
 
 Here he sunk down, quite overwhlemed with agony, and, 
 after some little time, the Recorder spoke to him as follows ; 
 
 " Dr. William Dodd, 
 You are convicted of the crime of uttering a bond as true, 
 knowing the same to be forged : you have had a very fair 
 candid trial, and every opportunity of exTculpating yourself 
 the law can give you. You, yourself, have admitted the crime 
 which you have committed, and I am glad to see the contri- 
 tion and sorrow which you express for the same, which is the 
 best preparation you can make for the dreadful consequence : 
 — It would therefore be highly improper for me to enlarge 
 upon the heniousness of the crime which you so fully acknow- 
 ledge. But one thing I could wish you to avoid, that is, 
 every attempt, to palliate or extenuate a crime of such mag- 
 nitude. Your education, abilities, rank in life, and above 
 all, your sacred function, are the circumstances that aggravate 
 the matter, and spread the pernicious effects of the bad exam- 
 ple among mankind. By no means, therefore, go about to ex- 
 tenuate your crime, but prepare yourself for the awful event. 
 It remains, therefore, only for me to perform the painful task 
 of passing the sentence upon you, which the law has provided, 
 that is, You, Dr. William Dodd, are to be taken 'to the place 
 from whence you came, and from thence to the place of Exe- 
 cution, where you are to be hanged* till you are dead, and so 
 the Lord have mercy upon your soul !" 
 
 D 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 The unhappy Divine then retired with tremblings, groan 
 ing with unutterable anguish, and exclaiming in the most la- 
 mentable moanings, " Lord Jesus receive my soul." 
 
 The following gentlemen attended Dr. Dddd in Court ; the 
 Rev. Mr. Butler, Dr. Cogan, Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Hatcher, 
 Mr. Denham, afid Mr. Hawes. 
 
 It appears that Lord Chesterfield was somewhat reviled at 
 the time, for giving evidence against Dr. Dodd, who had de- 
 clared to him his intention of making good the amount ; but 
 it also appears that his lordship, under some pretence, had 
 quitted his room, and left the fatal instrument under Dr. 
 Dodd's cgntroul, and gave him the opportunity df destroying 
 the bill in question. ISTo hopes were howe-ver left, when it 
 appeared against him ; and notwithstanding the parchment 
 measuring many yards, petitions signed in his favour by many 
 thousand persons of the first consequence, it could prove of 
 no avail, when the two unfortunate Pereaus had been recently 
 executed for a similar crime. 
 
 Dr. Dodd's last solemn declaration which he delivered to 
 t"he ordinary of Newgate, at the place of execution, on the 
 27th May, 1777. 
 
 " To the words of \lying men regard has always been paid. 
 1 am brought hither, to suffer death for an act of fraud, of 
 which I confess myself guilty with shanie, such as my former 
 state of life naturally produces, and I hope with such sorrow 
 as he to whom the heart is known, will not disregard. I re- 
 pent that I have violated the laws by which peace and con- 
 fidence are established among men ; I repent that I have at- 
 tempted to injure my fellow creatures, and I repent that I 
 have brought disgrace upon my order, and discredit upon re- 
 . ligion ; but my offences against God are without name or 
 number, and can admit, only of general confession and re- 
 pentance. — Grant Almighty God, for the sake of Jesus Christ, 
 that my repentance, however late, however imperfect, may 
 not be in yain. 
 
 " The little good that now remains injmyrpower, is to. warn 
 others against those temptations by which I have been se- 
 duced, I have always sinned against conviction, my principles 
 
( 27 ) 
 have never been shaken, I have always considered the 
 christian religion as a revelation from God, and its divine Au- 
 thor as the Saviour of the world, but the laws of God, though 
 never disown«d by me, have often been forgotten. I was led 
 astray from religious strictness by the delusion of shew,, and 
 the delight of voluptuousness. I never knew or attended to 
 the calls of frugality, or the needful minuteness of painful 
 economy. Vanity and pleasure into which I plunged, re- 
 quired expence, disproportionate to my incoflne ; expence 
 brought distress upon me, and distress, importunate distress, 
 urged me to temporary fraud. 
 
 For this fraud I am to die ; and I die, declaring in the 
 most solemn manner, that however I have deviated from my 
 own precepts, I have taught others to the best of my know- 
 ledge, and with all sincerity the true way to eternal happi- 
 ness. My life, for some few unhappy years past, has been 
 dreadfully erroneous ; but my ministry has been always sin- 
 cere. I have constantly believed, and I now leave the world, 
 solemnly avowing my conviction, that there is no other name 
 under heaven by which we can be saved, but only the name of 
 the Lord Jesus ; and I entreat all who are here, to. join wi-th 
 me in my last' petition, that, for the sake of that Lord J.esus 
 Christ my sins may be forgiven, and my soul received into 
 his everlasting kingdom. William Dodd., 
 
 REMARKABLE ANECDOTE OE Dk. D,ODP, 
 
 Several years ago, the Doctor and Mrs.. Dodd went on a 
 pleasurable jaunt to Bristol. Whilst they were there, it 
 was usual with them to ride out in the morning for the bene- 
 fit of air, in the outskirts of the town. Tn one of these 
 excursions they met a flock of gypsies who surrounded them, 
 and begged they might lay open to them the future incidents 
 of their lives. 
 
 Mrs. Dodd was for complying to their humour, not 
 through any reliance "apon their predictions, but merely to 
 divert herself with a little harmless merriment. Accordingly 
 she told one of the Sybils that she might begin her prognos- 
 tications. The ^Doctor, all this time, heard with silent dis- 
 approbation, the researches of the old hag, who was trumping' 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 Bp a long string of fartunate events that were to happen to 
 his wife. But when the dame had finished, and *as going 
 to proceed with a solution of the Doctor's destiny, he conld 
 no longer keep his patience ; but in very severe terms repre- 
 hended the insolence of the woman, in interrupting him, 
 and amusing his wife with a jargon of ridiculons stories. 
 The gypsies however continued to entreat ; the Doctor in a 
 tone of anger, persisted in his refusal to hear a syllable of 
 the pretended disclosure. 
 
 Mrs. Dodd paid the gypsies something ; the Doctor, hav- 
 ing had no consideration, they consequently had no demand 
 upon him. One of the gypsies, when the chaise moved, 
 hawled out, " sinee you will not give us anything, I'll tell 
 yon your fortune for nothing. You seem to carry your head 
 very high now, but it will be raised higher yet before you 
 die, for you will be hanged." The Doctor was so far from 
 paying any serious attention to what the [woman said, that 
 the_same day he related the affair to Sir Richard Temple 
 and his Lady, with whom he dined, in such a vein of ridicule 
 and pleasantry, that created no small degree of mirth among 
 the company present. 
 
 Some time afterwards, the Doctor and Mrs. Dodd goii,^ 
 together with Mr. Angelo and several others, in the packet 
 from Dover to Calais, a violent storm arose, and the passen- 
 gers were under dreadful apprehensions of being cast away. 
 Doctor Dodd, who thought there was danger, in order to 
 cheer up the drooping spirits of the company very facetiously 
 said, " you may be assured that no harm will arise ; for as / 
 am to be hanged, you cannot be drowned." 
 
 The few following passages are selected from, the convict's 
 address to his unhappy brethren ; delivered in Newgate on 
 Friday the 6th of June 1777, by Dr. Dodd. 
 
 " To teach others what they must do to be saved, has long 
 been my employment and profession. You see with what 
 confusion and dishonour I stand before you — no more in the 
 pulpit of instruction, but on this humble seat with yourselves. 
 You are not to consider me now as a man authorised to form 
 the manners, or direct the conscience, and speaking with the 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 authority of a pastor to his flock ; I am here guilty, like your- 
 selves, oif a capital offence ; and sentenced like yourselves, 
 to public and shameful death. My profession, which has 
 given me stronger cbnvictions of my duty than most of you 
 can be supposed to have attained, and has extended my views 
 to the consequences of wickedness farther than your observa- 
 tions may have reached, has loaded my sin with peculiar ag- 
 gravation, and I entreat of you to join your prayers with mine, 
 that my sorrow may be proportionate to my guilt ! 
 
 "I am now like yourselves, enquiring— ^wAo< must I do to he 
 saved? and stand here to communicate to you what that en- 
 quiry suggests. Hear me with attention my fellow prisoners, 
 and in your melancholy hours of retirement, consider well 
 what I offer to you from the sincerity of my goodwill, and 
 from the deepest conviction of my heart. 
 
 " Salvation is promised to us christians on the terms oi faith, 
 obedience, and repeiitance. I shall therefore endeavour to 
 show how, in the short interval between this moment and 
 death, we may exert faith, perform obedience and exercise 
 repentance in a manner which our heavenly Father may, in 
 his infinite mercy vouchsafe to accept." 
 
 The imfortunate Divine then proceeds to explain and en- 
 force the above duties ; for his arguments on which heads the 
 reader is referred to the Pamphlet itself; and we shall only 
 add here the following sentiments of this gentleman on the 
 repentance of persons in the unhappy situation of himself and 
 his fellow prisoners. 
 
 " Our repentance is like that of other sinners on the death 
 bed ; but with this advantage, that our danger is not greater, 
 and our strength is more. Our faculties are not impaired by 
 weakness of body. We come to the great work not withered 
 by pains nor clouded by the fumes of disease, but with minds 
 capable of continued attention, and with bodies, of which we 
 need have no care ! we may therefore better discharge this 
 tremendous duty, and better judge of our own performance. 
 
 " Of the efiBcacy of a death bed repentance many have dis- 
 puted; but we have no leisure for controversy. Fix in your 
 
( 30 ) 
 minds this decision " Repentance is a cliange of the heart, of 
 an evil to a good disposition." When that Change is made, re- 
 pentance is complete. God will consider that life as mended 
 if he had spared it. Repentance in the sight of man, even 
 of the penitent, is known hut by its fruit ; but the Creator 
 sees the fruit, in the blossom or the seed. 
 
 CHEVALIER D'EON.' 
 
 On the 1st of July 1777, came on in the court of king's 
 bench, before Lord Mansfield and a special Jury at Guildhall, 
 an extraordinary cause, wherein Mr. Hayes, Surgeon, was 
 plaintifi^, and Jaques — Broker, defendant. The plain- 
 tiff had paid the defendant one hundred guineas, for which 
 the defendant had signed a policy of insurance, to pay the 
 plaintiff seven hundred guinea's whenever he could prove that 
 the chevalier D'Eon was a female. Mr. BuUer opened for 
 the plaintiff, and concluded he should prove he was a woman, 
 which occasioned much laughter 
 
 , Mr. Wallace opened at large, and though he said he could 
 not go so far as his friend required, he should prove that the 
 person called the chevalier D'Eon is woman. 
 
 Two physical French Gentlmen were called to prove that 
 from their own certain knowledge and observation, th.e 
 chevalier D'Eon is a female ; one of these medical gentle- 
 men could not speak a word of English, therefore Monsieur 
 De Morande was called to be his interpreter. This gentle- 
 man had previously undergone a very long examination him- 
 self, and after much ceremony, circumlocution, and relation 
 of presumptive circumstances, proved the last demonstration 
 — that he was sure she was a woman. The other gave positive 
 proofs of- the same, by relating particulars too indelicate for 
 us to mention. 
 
 •, Mr. Mansfield, on the part of the defendsnt, pleaded, that 
 this was one of those gambling incidents and unnecessary cases, 
 that ought never to be permitted to come into a court of jus- 
 tice, that, besides the inutility and indecency of the case, the 
 plaintiff had unfairly taken in his client, being in possession 
 of intelligence that enabled him to lay with greater certainty, 
 although with such great odds on his side ; that the plaintiff, 
 at the time of laying the wager, knew that the court of France 
 treated with the chevalier as a woman, to grant her a pen- 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 . sion ; and that the i'rench Court must have some very strong 
 circumstances to imbibe the idea, therefore he hoped the 
 juf y T*^oiild reprobate such fl-audulent wagers. The defend- 
 ant's counsel did not attempt to contradict the plaintiffs evi- 
 dence, by proving the masculine gender. 
 
 Mr. Wallace in feply, observed, that the defendant thought 
 it no indecent thing to take a hundred guineas of his client, 
 and sign a policy, and to keep the money threfe or four years, 
 leaving the plaintiff under the onus probandi, the difficulty of 
 proving the sex in question ; that even since the institution 
 of the suit, he had not thought proper to pay into court the 
 hundred guineas, but had prudently kept all the money, 
 trusting to the-impracticability of the proof; but now it was 
 come to the proof, truly it was indecent. It would not have 
 been indecent to let him keep the money. That so far from the 
 plaintiff being in possession of certain intelligence about the 
 wager, he had sold Baron Nolleken a moiety of his chance, 
 upon the same terms he had laid, eleven or twelve months 
 after signing the policy, which he would not think of doing 
 f he had been sure of winning.' 
 
 Lord Mansfield, with his usual delicacy and precision, ex- 
 pressed his abhorrence of the whole transactidn, and the more 
 so, their bringing it into a court of justice, when it might 
 have been better settled elsewhere ; wishing it had been in 
 his power, in concurrence with the jury, to have made both 
 parties lose ; but as the law has not expressly prohibited it, 
 and the wager was laid, the question before them was — Who 
 had won? His lordship observed, that the indecency of the 
 proceeding arose more from the iftinecessary questions asked, 
 than from the case itself; that the witnesses had declared, 
 they perfectly knew the Chevalier D'Eon to be a woman. If 
 she is not a woman they are certainly perjured. There is 
 therefore, no need of enquirng how and by what methods 
 they knew it, which was all that was wanted to be,known. 
 
 As to the fraud suggested, Of the plaintiff's knowing more 
 than the defendant, he seemed to think there was no founda- 
 tion for it. His lordship then recited a wager entered into by 
 Iwo gentlemen, in his own presence, about the dimensions of 
 
( 32 ). 
 Veaus of Medicis, for a hundred pounds. One of the gen- 
 tlemen said — " I will not deceive you ; I tell you fairly, I 
 have been there and measured it myself." "Well, says the 
 other, and do you think I would be such a fool as to lay, if 
 I had not measured it ? — I will lay for all that." 
 
 This short anecdote, accompanied by a facetious pointed 
 manner of telling it, set the whole court, which was very full, 
 into one universal fit of hearty laughter and good humour, 
 beyond all that the indelicate part of the trial had done. 
 His lordship then went on with becoming dignity to state to 
 the jury, that this chevalier had publicly appeared as a man, 
 had been employed by the court of France as a man, as a mi- 
 litary man, in the civil ofiice, and as a minister of state here 
 and in Russia ; that there was all the presumption against the 
 plaintiff, and the onus proband! lay upon him, which might 
 never have been come at ; for it appeared, the only proposi- 
 tion of a discovery of sex that had been made to the chevalier, 
 by some gentlemen upon an excursion, had been resented by 
 D'Eon, who had instantly quitted their company on that aor 
 count, it might therefore have never been in his power to 
 have proved his wager, but for some accidental quarrels be- 
 tween D'Eon and some of her countrymen. 
 
 His lordship was therefore of opinion, that the jury would 
 find a verdict for the plaintifi: The jury, without going out 
 of court, after consulting about two minutes, gave a verdict 
 for the plaintiff of seven hundred pounds and forty shilUings. 
 Lord Mansfield seemed to think, that the court of France 
 knew not the secret respecting her sex, until the demise of 
 the late king ; but the French ministry knew D'Eon 
 to be a woman. It was known to many of them, that she 
 had appeared in her true female capacity at the court of 
 Russia. Having recognized her as Chargfe des Affaires at 
 the court of London, it would have comported with the dignity 
 of France, to have entrusted that nation to the management 
 of a woman. This accounts for the secrecy observed by 
 France on the occasion. 
 
 Besides the seven hundred pounds given by the verdict to 
 Mr. Hayes, he recovered three thousand pounds on other 
 policies. Immense sums in policies were depending on the 
 above suit. 
 
. ( 33 ) 
 
 In the early part of the year 1777, the Rev. John Home 
 was tried and found guilty of writing and publishing an ad- 
 vertisement, stating that his Majesty's troops at Lexington, 
 in America, had committed murder. He was in consequence, 
 seintenced to one year's imprisonment, two hundred pounds 
 fine, and to find security for his good behaviour for three 
 years. 
 
 The author having the original advertisement in his com- 
 mon place book, taken from the London Evening Post of 
 January 1777, inserts it from the circumstance of keeping up 
 the political feature of Mr. Home's political life. 
 
 Tuesday morning at nine o'clock, came on in Guildhall, 
 before Lord Mansfiejd and a special jury, the trial oi the 
 Printer of the London Evening Post, on an information filed 
 against him by the Attorney General, for printing and pub- 
 lishing, so far bacfe as June 1775, the following adver- 
 tisement : 
 
 " King's Awns Tavern, Cornhill, June 7, 1775. 
 " At a special meeting this day of several members of the 
 Constitutional Society, during an adjournment. 
 
 *' A Gentleman proposed that a subscription should be im- 
 mediately entered into (by such of the members present who 
 might approve the purpose) for raising the sum of one hun- 
 dred pounds, " to be applied to the relief of the widows, or- 
 phans, and aged parents of our beloved American fellow- 
 subjects, who, faithful to the character of Englishmen, pre- 
 ferring death to slavery, were, for that reason only, inhu- 
 manly murdered by the King's troops at or near Lexington 
 and Concord, in the Province of Massachusets, on the 19th 
 of last April." 
 
 ' Whi<^ sum being immediately collected, it was thereupon 
 resolved, 
 
 ' That Mr. Home do pay to-morrow into the hands of Mess^ 
 Brownes and Collison, on the account of Dr. Franklin, the 
 said sum of one hundred pounds ; and that Dr. Franklin be 
 requested to apply the same to the above-mentioned purpose. 
 
 JOHN HORNE." 
 
 E 
 
( 34 ) . 
 
 Mr. Buller op&ned on the side of the prosecution, by ge- 
 nerally setting 'forth the substance of the recordv 
 
 He was followed by Mr. Attorney General, on the same 
 side, who reprobated in very severe and general terms the 
 conduct of newspapers ; said the publishers of them carried 
 on an infamous trade of describing every respectable charac- 
 ter in the kingdom they thought proper, in the most indecent 
 and abusive terms ; he then stated the particvfiars of the ad- 
 vertisement which caused the prosecution, and called it a 
 scurrilous and inflammatory libel on'Governmedt; said it must 
 be particularly designed as such, as it was Worded in such 
 a manner that it was impossible to -mistake it for any -thing 
 else; and he was sure the persons who wrote and published it 
 could mean no other, and wish for no other at the time, than 
 to call forth the attention of the legislature, which it was ori- 
 ginally and obviously-calculated to insult. After ringing the 
 changes on this doctrine for about ten minutes, he called -up 
 the witnesses on the'side of the prosecution. 
 
 The first evidence was Joseph Morris, trho only proved he 
 bought the paper wherein the advertisement was contained, 
 at No. 6, in the Old Bailey ; -but on cross ejtamiuation, cotlld 
 not say it was from Mr. Miller he bought it, or of his ser- 
 vant, or that he even so much as knew him. 
 
 The next evidence, Robert Harris, generally swore to Mil- 
 ler, or his order, paying the stamp duties, but could not swear 
 that he .paid them at the time, June 1775 ; on the contrary, 
 he confessed, and as was confirmed -by a receipt produced in 
 Court, that it was Robert Page who paid the duties at that 
 time, and the receipts where given in his name. 
 
 Charles Edward Berresford swore to Miller's giving in a 
 bond to the Stamp-Office, in conjunction with two others, for 
 the payment of the duties ; but this bond appeared-to be given 
 in the year 1768 ; whereas the advertisement for which Miller 
 was prosecuted, was not inserted till June 1776, some time be- 
 fore which, and since, it was given up by the other two evi- 
 dences, the printer did not appear as the ostensible person, the 
 receipts for the duties being given in the name of R, Page. 
 
.( srs ) 
 
 Tn the cour&e of cross exauiltf»tion, he was aakei whether 
 Mr. Page had not given a subsequent bond to thait of 1768 to 
 the Stamp-c^iiee, which he positively denied. 
 
 This evidence being concluded, Mr. Leigh replied on the- 
 part of the defendant. He observed, it was stated on the side 
 of the prosecution, that the advertisement forwhich Miller waa. 
 prosecuted, arose from a wicked, malicious intention, injurious- 
 to government, to all laws, and good order ; but he contended, 
 to prove this, it would be first necessary to establish that this 
 was really, obviously the case ; in all criminal prosecutions he 
 suid it was the mientien alone constituted the crime, and gave 
 it its Complexion ; and who can say, or suppose t]ja,t this was 
 the case with the printer? Atthotime that this advertisement 
 appeared there was a very divided opinion respeeting the dis-, 
 cription of the Americans ; and some of the most respeQtjible 
 persons ctf &is kingdom differed widely respecting the con- 
 struction that is now put on this advertisement.. 
 
 It came not as a paragraph of news, whieh in some respect 
 would bring it home to the publisher, but it came in the form of 
 an advertisement, not even originally to. his paper, but after- 
 first being printed in others. He said, therefore, it would be 
 a very hard circumstance if for ev^ry 4idvertisement which 
 should slip into a paper, with the name of the: author pml^lidy at 
 the battam of it, as in the present case, a,pd which, in some re- 
 spect, presupposes it would not be done without its b^ing ma- 
 turely considered, should ;he imputed, to the ,pi:ipter as & mali- 
 cious 8f libellous act. That in respect to the iiupprt.Pf the ad- 
 vertisement, " arr£iigning the military at Lesiflgtop, and, Con- 
 cord," it had.bpen frequently done, without the least imputa- 
 tion to government, as was the case in St. Qeorge's-fields, 
 which had been frequently arraigned as a murder, without 
 carrying any implication upon government ; and some persons. 
 Stood their trials for the charge at the Old Bailey.; 
 
 He then adverted to the nature of the evidence produced ; 
 here says he, is only proved the paper in q;uestion beingbought 
 at No. 6. in the Old Bailey : no body swears. Miller sold it ; 
 no body swears Miller lives there; the only fact comes out 
 that J. Miller is at the bottom of the paper. The evidence 
 
V 36 ) 
 
 respecting the bond likewise is equally inconclusive, as this 
 bond was given in 1768 : whereas the information is laid in 
 1775, a kind of evidence, says Mr. Leigh, I hope not suffi- 
 cient to conviet a man of a great crime, as it cannot possibly 
 be taken as a fair inference, that because a man published a 
 paper seven years ago, he should publish the same within 
 a year and a half. 
 
 The Attorney General in reply, said little more than to 
 freshen the memory of the jurors in what he had said before ; 
 except in reply to one part of Mr. Leigh's speech, when he 
 said a name had been given at the bottom of the advertise- 
 ment, which should screen the publisher. Here he observed, 
 if he filed his information against that reverend gentleman, 
 (meaning Mr. Home,) it would be difficult to prove it, and 
 he 'did not doubt, (speaking ironically) but that reverend 
 gentleman, might say that he was traduced, he therefore 
 thought it readier to his proof to apply to the printer at once. 
 
 The arguments being finished. Lord Mansfield, briefly re- 
 eapitulated the jut of the evidence, told the jury, that it 
 rested with th^ir consciences to judge of the nature of the 
 evidence, and publication,, and bring in a verdict accordingly. 
 
 Upon which the jury, after conferring for some minutes, 
 brought in the defendant Guilty. 
 
 The conviction principally turned on its being denied that 
 a second bond in the name of R. Page had been given to the 
 Stamp-office, subsequent to that of 1768 ; whereas the fact is, 
 a bond had been given to R. Page in 1773, when he became 
 printer of the paper, as may be hereafter particularly proved. 
 
 Immediately after which came on the trials of Messrs, 
 Wilkie, Randal, and Baldwin, for the publication of the 
 same advertisement, and who were severally found guilty." 
 
 In the course of this year, 1777, Mr. Bowyer the celebrated 
 printer, &c. Dr. Haller, author and physician, and Wood- 
 ward, Foote and Fierville, three popular comedians, died — .: 
 Peter Fierville lived to the advanced age of 107. A few 
 months afterwards, (1778,) Yates and Brook sold the opera- 
 house to Messrs, Harris and Sheridan for £22,000 ! In the 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 same year the following celebrated characters died, viz. 
 the great Earl of Chatham, Voltaire, Rousseau, Dr, Linnaeus 
 the naturalist, and Dr. John Gregory. 
 
 In 1779, the British stage lost its greatest attraction — the 
 celebrated David Garrick ; he died at the latter end of Jami- 
 ary,- and was interred in Westminster Abbey with great 
 funeral pomp and solemnity. The Rev. Dr. Ashe, author of 
 an English Dictionary, also died this year ; the work would 
 have done him great honour had he survived to finish it ; but 
 being slighted in the finishing by other hands, prevented its 
 rising into celebrity ; he also wrote an Essay upon Education, 
 and a short Introduction to Lowth's Grammar. Dr. Arm- 
 strong the Poet, and Dr. Wm. Warburton, Bishop of Glou- 
 cester died in the. same year, as did also the celebrated and 
 caustic critic, Dr. ^=.nrick. 
 
 In 1780, Lord George Gordon presented a petition to par- 
 liament from the protestant association, for the repeal of the 
 law in favour of the Roman Catholics; and in less than 
 six months afterwards he headed 50,000 men who pre- 
 sented their petition to the house of commons, out of which 
 arose the most alarming riots; in which several persons were 
 killed, many were hanged, and numbers became intoxicated 
 from drinking the spirits out of the channels in the streets, 
 that flowed from Langdale's distillery in Holborn, which was 
 attacked by the infuriate mob. Upwards of £20,000 damage 
 was done to the public prisons ; and the author perfectly re- 
 collects there was scarcely a building in the town of Croydon 
 and the neighbouring villages, but had the inscription of 
 " No Popery" written upon it. The persons who had the 
 care of the old palace at Croydon (in the Archbishop of Can- 
 terbury's jurisdiction) removed from alarm, and the author, 
 then a school boy of ten years of age, daily expected a visit 
 from the mobility. At the latter end of January, Lord George 
 Gordon was arraigned for high treason, and acquitted. The 
 planet of the Georgium Sidus was discovered in this year by 
 Herschel. 
 
 In the following year, (1781) several of the proprietors and 
 printers of the London Newspapers were visited with fines 
 
( 38 ). 
 
 and imprisonment for a libel on the Russian Ambassador. 
 Admiral Lord Hawke died in this year. 
 
 In 1782, the celebrated Mr. Grattan had the sum x)f 
 £50,000 voted to him by the Irish Parliament, for the pur- 
 chase of an estate that was settled upon him. Dr. Solander 
 who sailed round the world with Captain Cook and Sir 
 Joseph Banfcs,died in 1782, also Mons. Bernonille, the great 
 Swiss Philosopher, ^d H. Home, Lord Kaimes, and the 
 the famous Hyder Ally, the talented Ryland the engraver, 
 was tried, found guilty ajid executed, for forgery ; he was dis- 
 covered from the name in Ms shoe, and was in the act of de- 
 stroying himself as the oiBicers entered the room. 
 
 He was the last person that was hanged at Tyburn — 
 His engravings, from the exquisite drawings of Angelica 
 Kauffman, were beautifully executed. / 
 
 In 1783, the legislature instituted a prosecution against 
 i&overnor Hastings, and Sir Thomas Rumbold, for extortion, 
 peculation and cruelty to the natives of the East Indies ; and 
 in this year General Washington gave up the command, and 
 took leave of the American Ariny, and retired into private 
 life, with the blessings of his countrymen, after a contest of 
 Eight years war with England. The author particularly re- 
 members the peace of 1783, and the general illuminations 
 upon that occasion. The silent attention which he paid to 
 a village Politician from time to time during the progress of 
 the old American war, is now so strongly imjSfessed upon his 
 mind, and the character so appropriate tg the sketch drawn 
 by Hogarth (not included in his works) that we present it to 
 our readers. "" ' 
 
 The expence incurred by the American war, amounted 
 to £129,123,091. 
 
 In this year 1783, died the celebrated John Dunning, 
 Lord AshburtoD, to whom the Letters of Junius have often 
 been attributed, as well as to John Home Tooke, but without 
 foundation. That great Anatomist, Dr. Wm. JIunter also 
 died in the above year ; and Prince Octavius, the eiglith son 
 Of George III. The great Prench philosopher, D'Alembert, 
 tind Euler, the famous mathematician, likewise died in 1783. 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 In 1784, Charles Macklinthe player, had £5Q0. awafxlcd 
 to him by Lard Man^eld, fram the manager of Covent Gar- 
 den Theatre. JMr. Lnnardi ascended in the first balloon that 
 went up in England ; he ascended from the artillery ground, 
 Moorfields. Charles Edward Louis Stuapt, grandson to 
 James IL died. Dx. J. Mills, .president to the royal society, 
 W. Whitehead, -the poet laureat, and lastly, on the 13th ;of 
 December, Dr. Samuel Johnson, the LexicograpJier, and 
 ^reat and powerful moral writer. 
 
 The author was much interested with the latter event, as 
 it, produced a conversation that caused his going to London 
 and becoming a bookseller. Several trades had been pro- 
 posed to him, but ie' disliked them all ; until his brother, 
 in announcing the death of Dr. Johnson, from BaldwinJs 
 Weekly Journal, exclaimed — that great man .that I have so 
 often seen is gone ; and observing at same time, that thereiwas 
 so much amusement, improvement, and instruction, to be de- 
 rived from authors, books and booksellers, that he could never 
 reconcile himself to any trade, but that of a Bookseller, (in 
 which business he had served five years). This had a simul- 
 taneous effect on the author J a journey to London was de- 
 terniined upon, an opening occurred, the result of which, 
 will form a variety of incident in the following pages. The 
 author, however in closing the first and most uninteresting 
 stage of his Recollections said B,etrospect, up to the 14th 
 year of his age, cannot take leave of his native village, with- 
 out drawing a sketch of the principal. character, who with his 
 predecessors hajd for many years adorned it with a dignity .hos- 
 pitality, and liberality, that, in that spot, appears to have 
 died with their family. 
 
 The charaeter^akd costume of John iParker, Esq. father of 
 the late John Dejwy Parker, Esq.> has already been alluded 
 to ; that of his son was as..follows : 
 
 John Dewy Parker, iEsq. was jhighly educated, and 
 intended for the bar ; but his apparently affluent fortune, and 
 havipg to cultivate the (extensive tract of upwards of 2,000 
 acres of the finest land in 4he county of Surrey, to which he 
 belonged, caused him to give up all thoughts of the-profession 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 of the law ; although it was believed that his father left him 
 involved. He was gifted with a good education and high- 
 minded feelings, was also a magistrate of the first order, 
 and of great loyalty. A court leet was held at his mansion at 
 Waddon Court ; and the society that joined the social board 
 at this mansion, were of the first respectability such as the dis ■ 
 tinguished agriculturists Marshall, Arthur Young, &c. The 
 celebrated Captain Grose, as we have before remarked, was 
 a constant guest under the roof of Mr. Parker, indeed they 
 were brother ofiicers and Captains in the Surrey militia. 
 Parker . raised a corps at his own expence ; and his short 
 squat figure was so similar to that of his friend Grose, that the 
 annexed cariacature of Grose, drawn by himself, as a cap- 
 tain accoutred according to the absurd order of the com- 
 mander. Lord O-^ — w, was equally applicable to the figure 
 of his friend. 
 
 Grose's Caricature of himself as Captain in the Siirrey Militia, 
 
'{ ii ) 
 
 Parker was as eccentric in his Military as ih life prlVzite 
 ■ capacity. He raised a corps, cbiiiposed of his own yfeoinarir^- 
 Military evolutions were performed with the utmost preeisibh, 
 tipon ■ the lawn surfotinding his mansion. Some order or 
 tifessage froih government, hftwever, displeased him, iipon 
 which he loudly addressed his men, exclaimed^ " my lads, I 
 am no lotiger yoiir commander," drew his sword from its sejib- 
 "barcl, threw it up in the air, and disbanded his troop, 
 
 Ih his private character he was sometimes proud and. 
 austere, and even upon trifles, litigious ; at other periods 
 he was not only frank, open, amiablp and kind ; but also 
 liberal to profusion. He was more careless, indolent^ anfl 
 indifferent in receiving his rents and other large sums oi 
 money due to him, than Tie was in paying- the constant and 
 tieavy demands upon him, both upon his estate and in the me- 
 tropolis. From .these circumstances, his affairs became em- 
 barrassedj and the author's father, (at the risque of a large 
 sum of money he had placed in his hands) pointed out the 
 dangers to which he was exposed ; a commission of Bank- 
 ruptcy was soon after issued against him, which made a great 
 tioise in the law courts, and caused several trials in the mak- 
 ing him a Bankrupt as a, trader ; it was however accomplished, 
 by subsequently proving that he made an immense quantity 
 of ibricks, not only for building upon his own estate, but had 
 sold the residue ; this constituted him a trader, and he failed 
 for nearly £30,000. His property was sold during his absence 
 in France for upwards of £60,000 ; his creditors were paid ia 
 full, and he superseded the commission, f 
 
 In his usual dress, his appearance was most grotesque. 
 He wore an immense large flat top'd Cocked hat, with a 
 kaig queue, descending below his waste. His boots were 
 like boardis, for they were mads of thick boar skin, and 
 Ids whip, of part of a bull's hide ; sometimes he wore his 
 amazing long white hair flowing over his shioirlders; but in 
 hk military capacity had it shortened and tied as represented 
 in the atoeied spirited wood 6ut. 
 
 During: his journey to' London he visited many literary- 
 
( 42 ) 
 characteh, was fond of exploring: the old book shopsj ana 
 of purchasing largely, solid works upon Gene/al History 
 —Agriculture — Irrigation, &c. — He was also attached to, 
 and well versed in several languages -^Old Minshew's Dic- 
 tionary of Nine Languages, was a great -favourite of his, 
 and he used to boast, that he alniost intuitively knew them all. 
 On Parker's estate, upon the summit of one of the loftiest 
 of the Surrey-hills, the ploughlands were divided from the 
 sheep walks, by a land-mark formed of a ifine cluster of fir 
 and holly trees, planted by the author's father, in the year of 
 ihe Scotch Rebellion,. 1745.* They have however, many 
 years since, from their exposed situation, been shiveied with 
 the wintry blast, but still retain a picturesque appearance. "" 
 They stand between Lambert's Oaks, the se.at of the Earl of 
 Derby, and Purley, the farm house of the late Mr. Tooke, 
 whose name was taken up by the late Rev. John Home, 
 at the wish of Mr. Tooke, who left him a handsome pro- 
 perty, merely from an attachment formed from the lively and 
 ianimated manniers of Home ; at an early period, when each 
 of them had hired chambers in one of the Inns of the law 
 courts. It was at Tooke*s country farm house, that John 
 Home tooke wrote his celebrated grammatical treatise^ 
 " The Diversions of Purley," a work that has ever since con- 
 tinued in high repute, and in great request. Some laugh- 
 a,ble incidents have occurred from its Title Page ; certain 
 literary cochieys, country gentlemen ^ hoarding school misses 
 have been caught by it, for instead of meeting with the light 
 and airy diversion of a novel, a more solid mental treat, in 
 that work is presented to them. 
 
 In writing the preceding Retrospect and Recollections in 
 chronological order, and in the third person, it ha? been awk- 
 ward enough ; and many unforeseen inconveniencies in using 
 the term author, an d clashing that term with other authors so 
 
 " In commemoration of this event, as a token of remembrance ofln affec- 
 tionate father and from local attachment, I have preserved my favorite walk, 
 ing stick, cyt from an holly tree in the above cluster. And as perhaps it may 
 dlLlfhri?^ ^ poehcal strain as many other objects. Jtis probable the rea.. 
 pfrt th sfmk *'^ """' " ''"'" ^ff'-^i^^^PO" ">« subject,^n a subsequent 
 
( 43 ) 
 fepeatedly and unavoidably referred to ; will Hereafter fae 
 avoided. An ingenious familiar writer, Mr. Hutton, in the 
 preface to his life observes *' that a man cannot speak of him- 
 self without Tunning into egQtism^but 1 have adhered to facts." 
 " Some writers, in speaking of themselves, sappear in the third 
 person ; as the " author, the recorder, or the rvriter of this 
 narrative ; which seems rather far fetched. I see no reason 
 \^hy a man may not speak in thelfirst, and use the simple /." 
 
 " But without entering into the propriety of these methods,' 
 I have adopted the last. If I speak of myself why not frjom 
 myself? A raree-showman may be allowed to speak through 
 a puppet, but it is needless in an author." 
 
 On the day of Decenaber, 1784, having |ust turned 
 
 my fourteenth year, I set out on foot, accompanied by my elder 
 brother, upon a journey to I,ondon, with a view of being 
 bound to the trade of a bookseller, and to the person with 
 •whom he had been several years, The distance was about 
 eleven miles from my native village, which I left with all the 
 unsophisticated feelings of a lad brought up in the country 
 with the greatest tenderness. My mother, who had eleven 
 children, and had bestowed rather an ill judged liberality 
 upon my elder brother, (who h^d expended his own patri- 
 mony and drawii largely upon her) was not however \he less 
 affectionate and carefnl of me. The day was excessively 
 severe, she caused me to be doubly clad, (even with two pair 
 of small clothes,) and I set off ere break of day. After walk- 
 ing to London, making the necessary arrangements, and ex- 
 ploring the city, seeing all the lions that casually came in our 
 way ; we proceeded to the Tower for the purpose of a real 
 gratification in that way ; from thence we returned to the city, 
 proceeded to the then extreme end of the town westward, be- 
 yond Oxford-street, and at a late hour returned home on 
 foot, the whole journey amounting to about 36 miles. Tiiis 
 was my first, and considering my age, a very severe trial, for 
 my feet were blistered and the night so intensely cold, that it 
 was with difficulty I could keep myself warm in walking. 
 When- 1 reached the cheerful fire side of my paternal roof, I 
 \vas unable to answer t,he most anxious enquiries respectiiig my 
 
( ^4 }. • •. 
 
 joy,Tney to the great metropolis, wnicli strange to say, m a viir 
 fage at so stort a distance, was thcQ thought as important, as 
 though it were an hundred miles off,, 
 
 , After a few weeks had elapsed I repeated my journey and 
 ^n' ap evening of January (1785,) passing over Blackfriars 
 bridge, I could just only perceive St. Paul's with its dome 
 towering amid the smoke and fog that surrounded it. As I pro- 
 ceeded to paternoster-row, through a dark and narrow entry^ 
 (I/ondon-house-yardl. my mind was pervaded with a kind of awe. 
 at the gloomy appearance of the stores of literature before me. 
 
 The scene of action for my future exertionSj was planted 
 exactly facing the narrow entry, which I have since con- 
 templated upon a thousand times. It was a large old fashion- 
 ed house, with a long range of low windows, which have 
 undergone little change for the last century. The person 
 ■Who possessed it at that period, and for several years pre-, 
 ceeding was Thomas Evans, a considerable wholesale book- 
 seller, and well known to the literary world, as the original 
 publisher of the Morning Chronicle, the Londgu Packet, th^ 
 Antiquarian Repertory ; and, of a perbdical work undei: the 
 title of the London Review,^ conducted by the caustic and 
 celebrated Dr. Kenrick. Evans was also the publisher of the 
 trial of Sir Thomas Rumbold, (who like W. Hastings, was 
 termed the peculating governor of India), and of reports of the 
 secret and select coipmit^ees of the House of Commons,^ 
 which caused so rnuch noise upwards of half a century ago, 
 He subsequently published the principal works of the great; 
 Richard Watson, late Bishop of Landaff ; b,ut as I shall have 
 much to notice respecting these and other personages, suf-. 
 fice it to say, I was placed here under the most agreeable and 
 favourable auspices. From roy early application to agricul- 
 tural pursuits, my education was very limited, still I was pas- 
 sipnately fond of readipg, and in idea, conceived that I could 
 almost swallow the contents of my employer's, shelves ; being 
 placed as is usual, upon liking, as it is termed,, for a month or 
 two previously to being bound an apprentice, an incident oc- 
 curred, characteristic of A,l;exiJnder Chalmers, Esq. that great 
 labourer in the field of literature. At that time it was usual 
 

 BISHOP OF LLANDAFF. 
 
 Jn'T/rvhUi LHA-zeSo lifcJl CorTc, 
 
(, 4^^ )^ 
 f^t b(5n?ka(?ll|rs,tQ t^^ebagk tK^TJBirslj nymb?); of any aew wo A 
 if not approved; Chfilmers perceiving me £t ^tr^nger, and of 
 the young foy, pUoed his hand iipon my head (bow forty-gjx 
 yeajs since) smd ewJ^iwftd — Evans,, fi I suppose thi? is num- 
 ber one, if you (Jo not appTOve of it yon can return it." Evans 
 tQok his pinch of sjiuflF, ivit,h his usual arch and sarcastic smile, 
 and with an eys a,s piercijig as that of a rattlesnake, replied 
 ^'just so," however he was very kind to me, and l spon 
 became a favqurite. My ns^tural bashfulncss and, timidity 
 was so great, that I dreajded the? idea of being sent out la 
 the great mart of bu^tl^ and gay confusion, in which I fre- 
 quently lost myself by missing some turnings, explorinaf-. 
 others, and always tenacious of asking my way of any one. At 
 Lome under the austere manners of Evans, I wa? not less timid^ 
 which even effected my Writing — insomuch that as I gradually 
 giined a little confidence, and my usual style of writing, mj 
 ertipToyer was astonished at what he conceived to. be a rapid 
 improvem^Mt, uiider his discipUne-,^\nc}x had in reality retarded 
 it. But I was snugly fixed in the field of literature,, in whicli 
 I shall endeavour to delineate the ifariety of cliaractsj" and 
 feMures of objects E^nd person? that lia^'e from thai; period 
 come under my notiee. 
 
 ' 1 was approved by my employer and bound as an apprentice 
 in 1785, to Robert Colley, a ffeeman and liveryman of th? 
 Stationers (Hompany, for the purpose of being free af that. 
 body, and of being turned over to Evans^ who belonged to. 
 that of the Musicians, in which from economy, he became free 
 by purchase, ~^ . 
 
 'The gentleman that presided as Master, of the Stationers. 
 Company fct the period of my being bound, and who. preseated 
 me with a \ ^blor (as is usual) and his best advice, was 
 
 ALDERMAN WEIGHT, 
 the eio'hty-seventh benefactor of the Stationers . Compai?^ 
 (frdm 15S5 up to that period,) and of whom the late venerable 
 veteran in Ifteratnre, John Nichols, Esq, thus speaks, "This 
 gentfemaw (Alderman Thomas Wright) was for upwards of- 
 50 years, in partnerhip v;ith Mr Gill, as a wholesale sta- 
 lisaei' in Abchnrch-lane,- and' survived his partner onlj 
 
( 46 ) 
 a fortnight. He died suddenly after taking a Wallc in hi* 
 grounds, at Dulwich in Surrey, and without any previous 
 complaint. He was attacked by an epileptic fit, and ex- 
 pired before any medical assistauce could be procured. Al- 
 derman Gill was supposed to have amassed the sum of 
 £300,000, and the fortune of Alderman Wright was supposed 
 to have been ecjual, if not to a greater amount. They com- 
 menced business together, as stationers on London bridge, 
 retained the most respectable characters, and were remark- 
 able for great attention and frugEtlity." 
 
 Mr Wright was several years pne of the commoii-council 
 foT Candlewick Ward, where he was elected alderman, 1777, 
 He was Sherriff in 1773, and Lord Mayor iti t785. In 1786 
 he presented to the Stationer's Company a large silver tea urn. 
 He died April 7, 1798; and in his will, dated Nov. 24, 1794, 
 he left £2000 to the company to which he was an ornament, 
 for various beneficient purposes. His partner 
 
 ALDERMAN GILL, 
 who was for many yeg^rs one of the comnion couucil of the 
 ward of Candlewick, and was in 1781 elected alderman of 
 Walbrook, during which year he also' served the office of she- 
 liif. In 1785 he was elected treasurer of Christ's hospital, 
 and served the office of Mayor in 1788, he died, the 26th of 
 March 1798, bequeathing by his will, thirty shillings a year 
 to be added tq C^ter's dinner! ! !" — I-Ie was, as may be ima- 
 gined, very parsimor^ious, and if what I. hive heard currently 
 reported be true, his wife was still more so ; for what will the 
 reader conceive of her economy, in the saying of her grain 
 from the fowls, in wishing thgn^ to provide for themselves, 
 ilk follo.ving the horses, as the sparrows do on upon the public 
 lO-xds? 
 
 Mr, DALTON. 
 
 This get^tleman, at a late period of the above business b^ 
 came an active partner, and a more amiable or more worthy . 
 character could not exist. He retired with a competence 
 and made way for Key and Sons, the present wealthy proprie^ 
 tor^i of this great concern. Quitting digression I return tft 
 
< 47 ) 
 MY INITIATION. 
 Having now become a member, of a body just alluded to> 
 I shall endeavour id describe my initiation at home, after 
 quitting the stationers hall. Reader imagine if you can the 
 situation of a boy— ^giving a treat to his fellow apprenticeSj 
 on the above occasion, and you may form some estimate qf my 
 importance. A grand supper provided, (diiiner 'and dissipa^ 
 tion not agreeifig with the hours .of business) at the head of 
 the table two chairs^ one fixed within the other^ was placed 
 for me, where being seated as the nobie grand or president) 
 with a smart looking cocked hat placed askance^ till the 
 supper was announced ; it was with some difficulty that I 
 could summons a serious face or command it from others, 
 until the music of knives, forkSj atid plates struck up a tune^ 
 ©f a more playful nature than my own countenance. 
 
 Supper removed, the rosy god unlocked his pufple store, 
 and two immense bowls {^the custom of that day) of negus, and 
 punch graced the head and foot of the table. 
 
 Up to this period I had never tasted ardent spirits, except 
 some brandy, administered in a fever, nor had I scarcely 
 drank half a dozen glasses of wine or punch in my >life. 
 I had such a dread and horror of inebriety upon this 
 alarming and trying occasion ; it occurred to me, that great 
 caution, a strong resolution, and saying little among my noisy 
 companions, would alone preserve me from intoxication ; I 
 found by experience that I was right, and I might in a 
 wordly sense exclaim, as Broome does in a scriptural one. 
 
 "Silence is the first thing that taught us our initiation into 
 sacred mysteries." Besides I had a serious warning from one 
 o-f my companions, who, like a character in the Spectator, 
 
 " Had been initiated into half a dozen clubs before he was 
 one and twenty." I was aware that his time, talent and 
 patrimony had vanished in his too fatal experience, and all 
 must agree with the immortal poet, that ''' Providence woiild 
 only initiate mankind into the useful knowledge of her trea- 
 sures, leaving the rest to employ our industry." 
 
 The festive board being cleared, and the scene of revelry of 
 "ifrcriticed kings "' haVing passed fairy time, I talie my leave 
 
( 'is j 
 
 of it. It made a stronf impression — It was indelible, and I 
 tiivet have forgotten it; 
 
 THOMAS EVANS, 
 
 To return to my fetriployer, Eivans, ht was a tnan of the tn6rt 
 regular habits, possessed a strong natural uitdfer^ta-ndhig, was 
 Strictly bOnourSible, rigidly pUttOtual ill busifi^, and iii 
 principle. His industry was aS unefeasiflig as "his acc«t6*eg4 
 was ready atod perspJeflous. His remarks l^erfe fehtSr&Hjf 
 bitter aod sarc^astic. Undei- the plain, simple arid uaadorned 
 cfress of tte people called Quakers, (to whom he was ver^ 
 partial, ^nd by whom he was iHach respected,^ lie ei?iaced 
 imich soufad Sense and some pride. 
 
 His garaient of coat^ waistcoat, and small clothes, were 
 universally cut from one, or a similar piec6 of doth* He 
 dispensed with knee buekks, or strings, always wore plain 
 worstead stockings, plain Steel &hoe buckles,, and a neat 
 scratch wig-, covering as clear a 'bea4 as most of his superiors 
 in education and fortune could boast of, I frequently in tlja 
 language of Goldsmith, "traced the days disasters in his 
 morning's face." Upon one occasion he cast his piercing 
 bla<jk eye upon me while I was gazing into the wia-dow of % 
 prisnt shop, at another time he met, me whistliijg ; On thg 
 slightest forgetfiilness or omission in business, ,fbr months 
 afterwards, he, with his satirical smile, aeoompanied with a 
 Resentful pinch of snuS, would exclaim — No woBid-er at an 
 emission, when a -kd will gaz^ in a print sltop, or wMstle ia 
 the street-" This soon cured me of inattention ; and after 
 slaving six days in the week, I had the honour of being em- 
 ployed with him and others in checking his books on Sundays. 
 One pean;y n&dertharged Or overcharjged to a country oorreg-> 
 pondent, was, noted upon a large sheet of parch»eht, poiiit- 
 ing out the page .&e. .to be corrected in flie hest invoice ; hk 
 extreme punctuality proCfured him the best, and most select 
 customers in England, Ireland aad ScDtklKJ. He always 
 kept a good accDujit at the bank of England, where fee was by 
 some of the clerks, taken for .his own porter, and used witfa : 
 tfe pri^s m he teraafed them, ©lajby their mfetake, although 
 hg had actually at a former period of Jiis .life filM a similat' 
 
( 49 I 
 
 capacity. He never suffered a banker's clerk to call twice, and was 
 a strict disciplinarian. If any person in his establisliment attempted 
 to cut the string in opening a parcel, or to use a sheet of new brown 
 paper in packing one, when an old one would answer the purpose, 
 they could not escape his severe censure. On one occasion, I recol- 
 lect a poor fellow, David Jones, his porter, a countryman of his own, 
 was tricked out of a parcel by two swindlers in the street; it 
 amounted to about £8. he made him pay for it at £2. per annum, al- 
 though he had but £10. per year wages at the time : but I recollect 
 his living in the house until he had four times that amount, sported a 
 powdered head and pig-tail, black satin breeches, stone set knee 
 buckles, silver shoe buckles, blue silk stockings, and frilled shirts, 
 such was the foppery and frippery of " by gone, days." The old 
 French revolution and the poll, or hair powder, fax corrected these 
 follies. 
 
 Of Mr. Evans, a still more faithful description (with one or two 
 exceptions] has been drawn by the late John NichoUs, Esq. who thus 
 speaks of him ; — " Mr. Thomas Evans, who died July 2, 1803, aged 
 sixty-four, had been for some years a considerable bookseller in Pa- 
 ternoster-row, to which situation he advanced himself by industry 
 and perseverance, as he had, in common with many other respect- 
 able characters who have trod in the same path, very little to boast of 
 in point of origin ; living, when he first came to town, with Mr. W. 
 Johnston, a bookseller on Ludgate-hill, in the humble capacity of 
 porter. He afterwards became publisher of the Morning Chronicle 
 and London Packet, which introduced him to the acquaintance of Dr. 
 Kenrick, Mr. Macfarlane (author of the History of George III.) 
 and several other literary characters, from whose friendship and con- 
 versation he obtained much valuable information. During the pub- 
 lication of the former of these papers, a paragraph appeared in it 
 against Dr. Goldsmith, which so incensed the poet, that he was de- 
 termined to seek revenge : and no fitter object presenting itself than 
 the publisher, he was resolved all the weight should fall upon his 
 back, accordingly he went to the office (No. 54, Paternoster-row,) 
 caae in hand, and fell upon him in a most unmerciful manner. This 
 Mr. Evans resented in a true pugilistic style; and in a few moments 
 the a\ithor of " The Vicar of Wakefield" was disarmed and extended 
 on the floor, to the no. small diversion of the by-standers. Mr. 
 Evans next succeeded to the business and connection of Messrs. 
 
 a 
 
( 30 J 
 
 Hawes, Clarfccj and CoJHnSj No. 32, Patettioster-row : the Success 
 he met with in tHiS house is well known, and the youths who were 
 bred up undfer his instruction, are now the ornaments of the profes- 
 sion. He had for sottib years retired from business. By his willj. 
 made ttvo years before bis death, he bequeathed the bulk of his for- 
 tune to Mr. Christbpher Brown (late assistant to Mr. Longman and 
 father tff Mr. Thomas Brown, how a partner in that respectable 
 house), with whom he had continued on terms of the closest friend- 
 ship for above forty yeare, A nephew of his was a eferk in the 
 bouse of Messrs. Longman and Co. To his wife, with whom be had 
 not lived duriiig the last five years, he bequeathed £4D. a year, and 
 also f,20, a year to a niece. The cause oF separating from his wife 
 has been attributed to her ^aHiality for one of her sons, who failed 
 in business as a botokseHer a few years ago i*i Paternoster-row, and 
 afterwards was literally reduced to beggary, and died in the street 
 a year and a half before his father : he had another son at sea. Mr. 
 Evans requested in bis will that he might hie buried without coffin or 
 shroud, and that the Inhale of his funeral ex,penses should not ex- 
 ceed 40s." 
 
 Such is the statement of Mr. Nioholls, and which is correct, witir 
 one or; two trifling exceptions, which I take the liberty of explaining, 
 amd'of including a few additranal particulars of an eccentliie and ex- 
 traordinary man. 
 
 Mr. Nicholls, Jn page 712 of vol. V. of his Anecdotes, corrects 
 Uie principal error in bis Statement, in vol. 111. page 720, 721. This 
 correction is as follows •.^^" Mr. Thomas Evans never hatf more 
 than one son, who married, in 1790, a daughter of the second Mr. 
 Archibald Hantilton. He commenced business for himseif-in his 
 fether's Kfe time, whrt^ he ruined in a few yefars, deserted bis family, 
 and went to America ; came ifack, and died in absolute distress." 
 
 The fact is, Evans, notw'itlfstandiflg his great industry, integrity, 
 atd apparently strong mind, had, like all other men, his weak side — 
 but as it originated in a kind feeling, and the disappointment in his 
 great expectations centred in an only son, was the more acute, and 
 must serve to shield, or 'throw a veil over a subsequent part of his 
 conduct, or at least to palliate the painful antipathies and extraor- 
 dinary decisions which were so strtmgly tooted in his mind, that no- 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 arguraput, or iatevference qf f^ippijg^ couVjl overcome, but which is 
 worthy of bejpg noticed si.S H fi^f^ij^ \a every parent I)Ia.ced in a si- 
 milar situatiisD. 
 
 As regard my recollections respecting Mr. Evans and his femily, 
 as well as his literary and commercial connections, I have alvpays 
 felt a, peculiar sensation, and so lively an interest in the variety of 
 incidents attached to them and his friends, with my own vicissitudes, 
 that I trust I shall be pardoned for entering into minutise. At the 
 time my brother was bound an apprentice to Evans, about the year 
 1778, his principal assistant was Mr. John Harris, a gentleman wh.9 
 had then been with him several years, possessing considerable abi- 
 lity, with every other requisite, in attentioii, expedition, and perse- 
 verance^ to acquire a fortune, and which has been realized. I be- 
 lieve, that after remaining with Mr. Evans for nearly fourteen yeans, 
 he, in compliance with his employer's wish, settled, for a short pe- 
 riod, as a bookseller at Bury S.t, Edmund's, but, from the activity of 
 his disposition, and (he energies ^f bis mind, he soon became dis- 
 gusted with so dull and inactive a life, compared with the extraordi- 
 nary and necessary exertion required of a wholesale bookseller in 
 jPateruoster-row, At the period i?f his return, in J785j vajf brother 
 had left Evans, and I supplied the vacancy. Mr. Harris returned to 
 km avocation as manager, pro tempqre, but his disposition, and 
 Evaijs'.s eccentric and positive habits, (added to a blind partiality to 
 Jiis son) but m accorded. A separation took plaqe, apd, for a very 
 short per;iod, Mr. H. conducted tljie business of tjie late John Mur- 
 jay, (father of the present well-known bookseljer pf that name) a gen- 
 tleman ^ good education and of considerable tact in that day, but 
 .being a ma? of strong passions, as well as of a ^trwg wgd, t,he irri- 
 i^ibility of the Scotchman (Murray) even surpassed that of,the Welcft- « 
 man (Evans) and Mr. Harris gladly made his retreat to a spot more 
 congenial to his mind, which was to the celebrated and respectable 
 establishment of the late Mr, Francis Newberry, ibookseU^, at the 
 west end of St. Paul's, who was, for several years, publisher of rfie 
 Gentlemen's Magazine, he died January 8, 1780. His widow sur- 
 vived him many years, but retired from a business whicjh ^r. Har- 
 ris conducted for a length of time, succeeded to, and has retired from, 
 with an ample fortune, leaving the establishment to, his son, the pre- 
 sent Mr. John Harris, who can boast of one of the most respectable 
 concerns, in its way, ii;i the kingdom. 
 
( 52 ) 
 
 The person next in Mr. Evans's confidence to Mr. Harris, was 
 
 THE LATE MR. CHRISTOPHER BROWN, 
 
 before alluded to ; a gentleman whom I have often been glad to 
 see entering Mr. Evans's shop, to assist and get over the labours of 
 what the booksellers term Magazine Night. This, generally, on 
 the lasta^ fijstdays ofj[he month, ,brougl3t on the hours of one or 
 two o'clock in the morning,' ere the piacking of Country orders was 
 finished. In this arduous duty Mr. Brown .assisted Mr. Evans for 
 many^ years, on those pressing occasions, after the business of his em- 
 ployers* establishment had ceased. 
 
 In a late publication, (Tavern.Anecdotes) I gavS a short Sketch of 
 this gentleman, accompanied with a portrait, as I do in this. One 
 ,apolog^nust suffice in both instances. The ac(ft)nnt is as follows : — 
 
 THE. FREE AND EASY COUNSELLORS UNDER THE 
 CAULIFLOWER. 
 
 f'From Tavern Anecdotes.) 
 
 The antroduction -of the portrait of the late Mr. Christopher 
 Brown jnto this publication requires, perhaps, some apology, or an 
 explanation, without which justice would -not be done to his charac- 
 ter; for let it not be imagined that Mr. Brown was a .wine-bibber — 
 an advocate for, or frequenter, of, taverns or coffee houses, merely 
 from the circumstance of his having been secretary, for many years, . 
 of a respectable society, where several, eminent tradesmen, particu- 
 larly booksellers, retired after the fatigues and labours of the day, to 
 unbend, over a bowl of Tabby's exquisite punch,* or a tankard of 
 Whitbread's,entire,at the Three Jolly Pigeons,-|- that .will be remem- 
 
 * Tabby, a famous paiich-maker of that day, as the fathei-.bf a late eminent 
 publisher of periodicals, and many other respectable bookstUers, experienced, 
 and which perhaps, caused the interest in so apparently trifling a house to sell for 
 near £2000. 
 
 ^ The Three Pigeons is situate in Butcherhall-lane, bounded by Christ Church 
 and Snow-hill on the west, St. Martin''s-le-Grand and Cheapside on the east, by 
 Newgate -street and Ivy-lane (where Dr. Johnson's club was held) and Paternos- 
 ter-row (which we have already adverted to) on the south, and by Little Britain 
 on the north : of the last mentioned, Washington Irving has given an :.dmirab1e 
 picture in bis " Sketch Book," but, as he has not given a portrait of the 
 
TMs Portrait of M? BKOWN flieii- -woxtlry Secretary, 
 
 ^ ^ t^' .InOAJVlVJiS ECKSTEIN. 
 
C 53 ) 
 
 bered as long as Goldsmith's comedy of " She Stoops to Conquer" 
 shall be admired, and as long as that sign shall continue to have a 
 Tony Lumpkin for its advocate. 
 
 Mr, Brown was of the old school of booksellers, and, perhaps, 
 there never was an assistant, in any establishment, that possessed 
 more assiduity and integrity, with an acuteness of feeling for the in- 
 terest of his employer that could not be exceeded ; it was naceasing 
 •for upwards of thirty years ; and the business he got throughi even 
 at an advanced period of life, with clearness, precision, and expe- 
 
 last resident bookseller of eminence, in thai ancient mart of bibliopoUsts, fae 
 has left us the pleasing task of performing an humble attempt in that way; 
 but even we, who knew the character, are almost spared the trouble ; for 
 could the old literary frequenters of Button's and Wills' cofl'ee houses again 
 appear in human shapes, with their large, wiry, white, curled wigs, coats 
 without It collar, raised hair buttons, square perpendicular cut in front, with 
 immense long banging sleeves, covering a delicate baud, further graced by fine 
 ruffles ; a long waistcoat, with angled-off flaps, descending tt^tbe centre of the 
 thigh, the small clothes slashed in front, and closed with three small buttons; 
 with accurate and mathematically cut, square-toed, short-quartered shoes, with a 
 large tongue, to prevent a small sized square silver buckle burling the instep or 
 soiling the fine silken hose, they would present an exact and faithful portrait of 
 the late Edward Ballard, standing at his shop, at the Globe, over against the 
 pump, in Little Britain. He was the last remaining bookfeller of that school, if 
 we except the late James Buckland, at the sign of the Buck, in Paternoster-row, 
 with one or two others, and put one in mind of Alexander Pope, in stature, 
 size, dress, and appearance. The writer of this article recollects, when a boy, 
 frequently calling at Ballard's shop and purchasing various books, in a new and 
 unbound state, when they were considered to be out of print, and some of them 
 really scarce. This arose from the obscurity of the once celebrated Little Bri- 
 tain, and the great age of its last resident bookseller, who, till bis demise, retained 
 some shares and copyrights (notwithstanding he andhis brother had sold the most 
 valuable to Lintot), in school and religious books; with the last remains of a 
 stock, principally guarded and watched by an old faithful female servant. Mr. 
 John NichoUs gives the following interesting account of the family: 
 
 " The BuUards of Little Britain, famed, for more than a ceuluiy, as the sup- 
 norters of literature, were noted for the soundness of their principles in church 
 and state. The father of tliem was celebrated by John Dunton CaJ; and, of the 
 second grandson, there are a few Bibliomaniacs still living, who recollect his in- 
 tegrity and civility. School-books and divinity catalogues were their particular 
 forte. The father, Samuel, who was many years deputy of the ward of Alders- 
 gate Within, died August 27, 17S1. The only son, Edward, died January 2, 1796, 
 
 raj The original name, as appears by the auction catalogues^, wasBullard. 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 dition, was truly astonishing. The writer of thU sHetch p-eniemhiefs 
 Jiim, with all the early associations and pleasing recollections of that 
 period of his life, above forty years bacjk ; andj even then, his thin 
 Spare form and bending figure would almost convey the idea that he was 
 worn out by exertion. But it was otherwise, for his cheerfulness 
 ^^m exertions continued unabated for upwards of twenty years after- 
 wards. It was owing to his natural cheerfulness, the suavity of his 
 manners, and amiability of disposition, {to which was added a great 
 portion of huQiour] that he was chosen a permanent secretary in the 
 socie^ty of "Free aifid Easy CQu^sellors under the Cauliflower.''^* 
 and never was there a society conducted with more decorum and pru- 
 dence. It consisted of steady men of business, who at that day re- 
 tired from fatigue^ and enjoyed a glass in ijioderation, a pipe, and a 
 cheerful song ; and the writer, with hundreds of others, well remem. 
 bers the vocal powers of Mr. Brown, when poured forth in favour of 
 4-nacreon, or the gods and goddesses ;f but, to turn to his more se- 
 rious avocations, as a man of })usiness, as a faithful assistant, as an 
 affectionate husband and father, no man could possibly stand higher. 
 Of his talents and industry we shall endeavour to give a. faint idea. 
 So long ago as the year 1784, he presented the figure that has al- 
 ready been described, and of which our portrait may be relied upon 
 to be an accurate resemblance, and, we trust, an acceptable one, 
 both to the young as well as to the o\Afry. Nursed in the cradle of 
 the wholesale book trade, Mr, Brown had, as before noted, been 
 
 at the age of eighty-eight, in the same ^puse ia yrhicfa he was boiTi. He had'ont- 
 Jived his mental faculties, and for some time used to be carried about in a chair. 
 He was the last of the profession in Little Britain, once the grand emporium of 
 books (hj. 
 
 CbJ It is not many years since two bookselleii's, who resided there, were used 
 ,*o sport their rubric posts c'ose to each other, as Tom Davies did in Russell- 
 street. Perhaps Sewell, in Gornhill, was the last who exhibited the leading au- 
 thors in his shop in that ws^. How f6«r remember when it was not an uncommon 
 thing to do so! 
 
 Jfote.—T\ie writer recollects Mr. Bueklaqd, of Paterauater-row, and one or 
 two persons in the Strand, adopting three rubric posts, that prevented many 
 ^ood works being soiled, by placing them in the windows. 
 
 *Thc large cauliflower paicted on the ceiling was intended to represent the 
 «auliflower-top on the gailon of porter, whic(i was paid for by every member 
 who sat under it at his initiation. 
 
 fioyal, Anacreontic, and classical songs, upon the gods and goddesses, w£re 
 the vvortliy prcsidcntV; favourites. 
 
{ 55 ) 
 
 many years an assislant to the late Mr. Thamas Lon^raati, of Pater- 
 noster-row, until the death of that truly respectable gentleman, by 
 tvhom he was not forgotten in his last moments for his long and faithful 
 services ; nor did Mr./ Brown quit that great establishment for se- 
 veral years, nor until a vast extension of the wholesale foreign and 
 domestic trade, and a new and general system of publishing modern 
 works, and his good old age, rendered it necessary for him to retire 
 into the bosom of his femily.* 
 
 A few years subsequent to the above period, Mr. Brown's friend, 
 (Evans) whom he used occasionally to assist, resigned business in fa- 
 vour of an only son, who was unfortunate, when the whole of the 
 ■ finest and "best selected wholesale book connection in the trade was 
 banded over to the respectable finn of Messrs. Longman, Hurst, and 
 Co. This, with the original capital, stock, and connections, of that 
 house, together with subsequent exertions in increasing the wholesale 
 country and foreign trade, and in publishing the most expensive, va- 
 luable, and useful works, has rendered an establishment, formerly 
 conducted by two principals and three assistants, now the first of its 
 kind in the world ! and it affords us peculiar satisfaction to state, 
 that the eldest son of our friend is a partaker of the harvest reaped 
 in the field where his father was so many years a faithfiil steward 
 and a constant labourer. 
 
 The portrait which accompanies this work was taken from an ad- 
 mirable likeness by John Eckstein, sen. He (Etdtstein) was well 
 known in London and BirminghMn aboxrt 40 years ago. In the lat- 
 ter place he was a cotistant visitor, ahd, I believe, a member of a 
 club, held at Freeth's Coffee House. Freeth was a poetical pub- 
 lican, and some of the most respectable men in Birmingham 
 frequented his house. Eckstein painted portraits of twelve of 
 the principal members of the dub, in one latge oil picture. The 
 likenesses are said to be good, and the conditions were, that the last 
 of the survivors should have the painting. Only two are now livings 
 
 * His friend, ]VIr. Thomas £vans, frequently offered to forward bis prospects 
 in business, by advancing him money for that purpose ; bnt Mr. Brown as con- 
 stantly refused, saying, he could not tliink of leaving Mr. Longman : nor did he 
 ever attempt to do so. 
 
( 56 I 
 
 of whom the well-known Mr. Bissett, of Leamington, is one, and 
 Mr. Wilkes, of Birming'hani, the other. The painting' still re- 
 mains in its original station. 
 
 SPOUTING CLUBS, 
 
 In my youthful ddys, were greatly in vogue, but the vein of ridi- 
 cule thrown on them, in the prologue to " The Apprentice," not 
 only checked the mania at the time, but brought them into a disre- 
 pute, from which, fortunately, they have not recovered. The fol- 
 lowing will serve to convey an idea of them :— 
 
 PROLOGUE TO THE APPRENTICE. 
 
 Prologues precede the piece, in moumfal verse, 
 
 As undertakers walk before a hearse ; 
 
 Whose doleful march may strike the harden'd mind. 
 
 And wake its feelings for the dead, behind. 
 
 To-night, no smuggled scenes from France we show, 
 
 'Tis English— English, sirs ! — from top to toe. 
 
 Though coarse the colours, and the hand unskiird. 
 
 From real life our little cloth is fill'd. 
 
 The hero is a yoath, — by Fate design'd 
 
 For culling simples, — but whose stage-struck mind 
 
 Nor Fate could rule, nor his indentures bind. 
 
 A place there is where such young-.Quixotes meet, 
 
 'Tis cali'd the "Spouting Club, — a glorious treat," 
 
 Where 'prentic'd Kings alarm the gaping street : 
 
 There Brutus starts and stares by miduigbt taper. 
 
 Who, all the day, enacts — a woollen-draper. 
 
 There Hamlet's ghost stalks forth with doubled fist. 
 
 Cries out with liollow voice,—" List, list, O list !" 
 
 And frightens Denmark's prince a young tobacconist. 
 
 The spirit, too, clear'd from his deadly white, 
 
 Rises, — a haberdasher to the sight ! 
 
 Not yonug attorneys have this rage withstood. 
 
 But change their pens for truncheons, ink for blood ! 
 
 And (strange reverse !) die, for their country's good. 
 
 To check these heroes, and their laurels crop. 
 
 To bring 'em back to reason — and their shop. 
 
 Our author wrote ; — O you, Tom, Jack, Dick, Will ; 
 
 Who hold the balance, or who gild the pill ! 
 
 Who wield the yard, and simpering pay your coiut. 
 
 And, at each flourish, snip an inch too short. 
 
 Quit not your shops ; there thrift and profit call, 
 
 Whilst here young gentlemen arc apt to fall ! 
 
 [JSeW rings. 
 
( 5? ) 
 
 But soft '. — the prompter calls ! — brief let me 'be- 
 Here groans you'll bear, and flying apples see, 
 Be dama'd perhaps ; farewell ! — remember me '.* 
 
 Returning' to the subject of booksellers, it may not be uninteresting 
 to give some of their. 
 
 SIGNS. 
 
 The reader has doubtlessly, heard of the origin of many signs, and 
 the cause of the discontinuance ofthose projections, that not only dark- 
 ened the metropolis, but, among other hpiiefits, in heavy city show- 
 ers, bestowed gratis, those baths that were not considered the most 
 salutary. Striking instances of this nature were produced at the 
 various inns, &c. where separate signs where hung across the street, 
 describing the places of destination they had conveyances to; but 
 what appears most ridiculous in the signs of our forefathers was, the 
 inapplicability of many of them. I shall instance a few, particularly 
 such as attach to literary friends. 
 
 Amongst the booksellers, of no very early date, may be enumer- 
 ated; Crowder at the sign of the Loohing-glass • but, as knowledge 
 is the mirror of the mind, perhaps it was not objectionable. Next 
 comes Longman, at the sign of the Ship ; and, as the members of 
 that respectable house have sailed through with so higli a character, 
 no objection ought to be made to their symbol : but Baldwiu, at the 
 sign of the Rose, and Evans (with whom I served my appren- 
 ticeship), at the sign of the Red Lion, cannot so well be, ac- 
 counted for. Of Buckland, at the sign of the Buck, except from 
 etymology or similarity of sound, we cannot perceive the sense. Key 
 at the sign of the Hare, perhaps, may be more allowable; for Jona- 
 than, like his Transatlantic namesake, was early in the field of the 
 book tribe, with his specimens of paper. White, at Horace's Head, 
 in Fleet-street, and Rivingtons, at the Bihle and Crown, in St. 
 Paul's Church-yard,. were. classically and religiously correct; the lat- 
 ter have, continued their sign for about a century» Cobbett put up 
 the Bible, Crown, and . Constitution, in Pall-Mall ; but, if we may 
 
 * Among the heroes of the Sock and Buskin, may be enumerated several print- 
 ers of some celebrity, among whom were Munden, Eoote, &c. besides some of 
 their companions, who returned to .their legitimate profession, and one of them 
 has since shone conspicuously in city honors ! ! ! 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 judge from his general habits, he could only have done so, that he 
 might be afterwards able to say hejiad pulled them down. 
 
 As the following title-pages, copied from old books, give a tolera- 
 ble idea of the whimsicality of booksellers' signs, at a time when every 
 tradesman had his distinguishing emblem, and may not be altogether 
 unacceptable to the bibliomanist, they are here preserved : they will, 
 at least, be an excuse for any absurdity that may present itself, in 
 that way, in modern times : — 
 
 Barclay's Shyp of Folys. Imprentyd in the Cyte of London, in 
 Flete Stre, at the signe ofSaynt George, by Richard Pynson, to hys 
 coste and charge. Date, 1509, 
 
 Berner's (Juliana) Booke of Hawking, Hunting, Fyshing. Im- 
 prynted at London, in Flete Streate, at the sygne of the. Rose Gar- 
 Jande, by William Copland. 
 
 Barnes' (Barnabe) Divine Centvrie of Spirituall Sonnets. Lon- 
 don, printed by John Windet, dwelling at Poule's Wharf, at the 
 signe of the Crosse Keys. 
 
 The Workes of Geoflfrey Chaucer. Imprinted at London, by 
 Wyllyam Benham, dwelling in Paule's Church Yarde, at the signe 
 of the Reed Lyon. 
 
 Chaucer's Assemble of Foules, Imprynted in London, in Flete 
 Strete, at the sygne of the Sonne, agaynst the Condy te, by me, Wyn- 
 kyn de Warde, the xxiiii day of January, in the yere of our Lorde, 
 1530, 
 
 Churchyard's General Rehearsall of Warres. Imprinted in Lon- 
 don, by Edward White, dwellyng at the little north door of Paule's 
 Church, at the signe of the Gunne. 1579. 
 
 Goodall's Tryall of Trauell. London, printed by John Norton, 
 and are to be sold by James Upton, at his shop in Paul's Church 
 Yard, at the sign of the Fox. 1630. 
 
 Hey wood's Pleasant Dialogues and Drammas. Printed by Tho- 
 mas Slater, in Duck Lane. 1637. 
 
 Hayman's Quodlibets, &c, London, printed by Elizabeth All-de, 
 for Roger Mitchell, dwelling in St. Paul's Church Yard, at the 
 signe of the Bull's Head. 
 
 Willfride Holmes' Fallatid Euil Successe of Rebellion, &c. Im- 
 printed at London, by Henry Binnemann, dwelling in Knightrider 
 Streate, at the signe of- the Mermaide, 1573. 
 
( 5B ) 
 
 Ben Jonson's Poems. Printed for Thomas Passenger, at the 
 Three Bibles, about the middle of London Bridge, 1672. 
 
 Literature from the North, and News from All Nations. Printed 
 for John Dunton, at the Black Raven, in the Poultry.. 
 
 £1 believe this was the first review of books published in London ; 
 but Mr. NiehoHs does not refer to it in his entertaining book, " The 
 Life and Errors of John Dnnton." I remember meeting with a copy 
 of Dunton's review at Clonmell, in Ireland. It had a copy of his 
 sign, " The Black Raven," as a frontispiece, and a very curious 
 woodcut of a beehive, as a vignette,] 
 
 Of Milton's Paradise Lost, it may not be amiss to insert the names 
 and signs of the early printers and publishers. We iiud a copy noted 
 in the " BibUotheca Anglo Poetica," — London, printed and are to . 
 be said by Peter Parker, under Creed Church, near Aldgate, and by 
 Robert Boulter, at the Turk's Head, in Bishopsgate Street, &c. 1667. 
 Ist edition. 
 
 Another Edition, being also the first, with an altered title-page. 
 London, printed by S. Simmons, and to be sold by S. Thomson, at 
 the Bishop's Head, in Duck Lane, &c. 1668. 
 
 Another Edition, to be sold by T. Holder, at the Angel, in Little 
 Britain. 
 
 Anthony Munday's Banquet of^Daintie Conceits. At London, 
 printed by J. C, for Edward White, and are to be sold at the signe 
 «f the Gunne, at the little north door of Paule's. Anno 1588. 
 
 A Night's Search, by Humphrey Mill. ' London, printed by Ri- 
 chard Bishop, for Laurence Blaicklock, at the Sugar Loaf, next Tem- 
 ple Barre. 
 
 Men, Miracles, &c. Printed for William Sheares, Jun., at the 
 Blue Bible, in Bedford Street, in Covent Garden, 1656. 
 
 Manby's Triumph of Oliver Cromwell. London, printed for John 
 Tey, at the White Lion, in the Strand, near the New Exchange, 1652. 
 
 The Mysteries of Love and Eloquence ; or, the Arts of Wooing 
 apd Complimenting, as they are managed in the Spring Garden, Hide 
 Park, the New Exchange, &c. &c. London, printed by James Raw- 
 lins, for Obadiah Blagrave, at the Black Bear and Star, in St, Paul's 
 Church Yard. 1685. 
 
 In conclusion, ^nd in further reference to " Tavern Anecdotes," 
 and the inconsistency of 
 
 OLD SIGNS. 
 
 Before 1766, the signs'are described as large, finely gilt, and very 
 
(.60 )j 
 
 absurd ; golden perriwigs, saws, axes, razors, trees, lancets, knives, 
 cheese, salmon, blacks' heads with gilt hair, half-moons, siigar- 
 loaVes, and Westphalia, hams, were irepeated unmercifully from 
 Whitecbapel to Piccadilly. One perambulating the streets must 
 have felt rather unpleasantly during a high wind, when hundreds of 
 signs were swinging on rusty hinges above him, threatening a des- 
 cent ; and pent-houses and spouts pouring casCadets upon his luck- 
 less head. 
 
 To return to Mr. Evans, and the internal arrangement of his 
 family and household. His son, James, received every pecuniary 
 and other indulgence from his father while at school with the 
 lalented Mr. Macfarlane, author of the " History of George III." 
 and, subsequently, with the Rev. Vicessiraus Knox, master of Tun- 
 bridge School, author of " Essays," 2 vols. " a Treatise on Educa- 
 tion," in 2 vols. " Personal Nobility," &c. &c. and the original com- 
 piler of the " Elegant Extracts."* Under such men, young Evans 
 received a liberal education, and his instructors were always welcome 
 guests at his father's house. On his leaving school, to pursue his 
 father's profession, the greatest expectations were formed by a fond 
 parent, but a froward and untoward disposition on the part of the 
 son, soon blighted those hopes, and which a previous over indul- 
 gence, and the after coercive measures, and satirical disposition of 
 the father, was not calculated to restore, although he put him at the 
 head of his establishment. 
 
 Mr. E. had two apprentices elder than young Evans ; one the son 
 of a gentleman in Cheshire, the other the son of the Rev. Wm. Ri- 
 der .f I was a year or two younger than either, and only a silent ob- 
 
 * Such was the success. of this Selection, that, in addition to the compiler's 
 profits shared with the late Mr. Dilly, it is said the latter gentleman made Dr. 
 Knox a present of a carriage and a pair of horses. 
 
 f The Rev. William Eider, B. A. was lecturer at St. Vedast, Foster-lane, 
 CheapSide, and curate of St. Faith's, at which latter church I frequently attend- 
 ed his sermons, in company with Mrs. Evans, his friend, and the wife of my em- 
 ployer. He was rather a pompous but talented little man ; he occasionally wrote 
 some witty productions for Evans, and edited the "Lady's Magazine" for seve- 
 ral yeais, but the reader will be surprised, on referring to Walts' " Bibliotheca'' 
 td perceive his numerous other elaborate productions ; among which were his 
 
(( ei )i 
 
 server of thejSrring ihteriests between them. From some indiffer- 
 ent family arrangements, "the two former, left the house ere their ap- 
 prenticeship was expiredj'IeaTingme to witiiess^the disunion between 
 the father and son. The latter, at .about 19, married (as Mr. Ni- 
 cholls has stated) the daughter of the second Archibald Hamilton, 
 the well-khbwn printer of the "Critical Review," "New Annual 
 Register," &c'. Evans became a partner with his father in a fine 
 wholesale trade, and Miss Hamilton had a handsome marriage por- 
 tion. Nofwithstandilig these circumstances, ;/raea* between the fa- 
 ther and son became more frequent ; a separation in trade took place ; 
 the son had a separate maintenance, kept his livery servant, and, 
 unfortunately, remained unemployed^ I, atanearly age,' (18) became 
 manager. At this period, unknown to my employer Or 'parents, 'I 
 had also contracted marriage, soon became ' the father of a family, 
 having' three of my children born, ere my apprenticeship had expir'ed. 
 
 To do ?Jr. E^ans,-sen. justice, he behaved generously to me, atid 
 soon after gave up the business to his son, who requite my servi- 
 ces still more liberally. It is impossible to describe' the anxiety of 
 my mind, from the necessarily incessant attention and application to 
 business, blended with my family cares, at so early an age, and the 
 privation of advantages, from the fortune my brother 'hsid not 'only 
 passed through, but drawn considerably upon the slender fund of 
 fond parents: Young Evans's feeling and kindness can never be 
 forgotten by me, for, notwithstanding an overbearing disposition, he 
 had many amiable and good qualities. I have witnessed him as an 
 affectionate husband, and an affectionate and tender father, weeping 
 over his sick child. I experienced in him a friend, allowing me, 
 (although still an apprentice) a handsome weekly stipend, and an ad- 
 ditional annual one of £50, for accompanying him in exertions and 
 an increase of trade that would have produced him an ample fortune, 
 but from an unfortunate turn he suddenly took to a train of expences 
 in town and country, associating with expensive and gay companions, 
 keeping unseasonable hours, and not only neglecting business and 
 
 "History of England" in 50 volnines"(origiually intended to be 25 vols) 18mo. 
 He also compiled "a Dictionary of Arts and Sciences" and wrote an extensive 
 "Commentary on the Bible," which was published with the Bible itself in 3 
 Volumes, in folio, with his name affixed. 
 
( 62 ) ' 
 
 relarding those under him, but also of putting it out of his own powei* 
 of protecting them. 1 had, at length, not only served out my seven 
 years' apprenticeship, but continued, partly from a feeling of grati- 
 tude, and partly from necessity, nearly three years longer, in almost 
 a state of slavery, and a series of anxieties and trials that I shall here- 
 after describe, both on the part of young Evans and myself. For the 
 present 1 shall quit the painful task, for the more pleasing one of re- 
 tracing my steps and earliest recollections of the elder Evans's lite- 
 rary friends, up to the latest period of my connection with that family. 
 
 Soon after ! was placed under Mr. Evans's roof, I paid much at-< 
 tention to his conversation respecting literary men. Among the 
 first, it referred to Dr. Kenrick, the person who was suspected to 
 have written the ofiensi've paragraph in the 3Iorning Chronicle of 
 that day, against Dr. Goldsmith, to which I have before alluded. 
 I heard Mrs. Evans say that Kenrick, who had caused the Jracas, se- 
 parated the combatants, and that Goldsmith was much condemned for 
 striking a man in his own house ; in fact, legal proceedings com- 
 menced, but the Welch bookseller forgave the Irish poet, upon his 
 paying £10 to the Welch Charity School. At all events, there 
 was more to forgive in the poet than in the critic, Kenrick was 
 extremely bitter and caustic ; he was said to be the author of " Lex. 
 iphanes," a satire en the style of Dr. Samuel Johnson, and of the 
 following epigram, upon a celebrated medical writer, who had also 
 written a farce or two : 
 
 " For Physic and Farces, 
 
 His equal there scarce is ; 
 His Farces are Physic, 
 
 His Physic a Farce is" 
 
 Of Dr. Kenrick, the following biographical memoir, written by a 
 more able hand than mine, will best illustrate his character. 
 
 " William Kenrick, the son of a stay maker, at or near Watford, in 
 Hertfordshire, is said to have been brought up to some mechanical 
 employment in London, most probably that of mathematical instru- 
 ment maker, or, as others have reported, that of scale maker. What- 
 ever it was he seems to have early abandoned it, and devoted his ta- 
 lents to the cultivation of literature by which he supported himself 
 during the remainder of a life, which from his unhappy temper, and 
 
( 63 ) 
 
 irritable vanity may be said to have passed in a state of warfare, as 
 he was seldom without an enemy to attack or defend himself from. 
 One account informs us that he was for some time a student at Leyden, 
 and there received a degree of L.L. D. it was, however, more gene- 
 rally current that he had been indebted for this honour to some of 
 the Scotch Universities. In, either case it was not unworthily be- 
 stowed, for Dr. Kenrick was really a man of talents, and deficient 
 only in the knowledge of making a proper use of them ; it was his 
 misfortune likewise to settle upon no regular plan of study, and to 
 fancy himself equal to any task which his necessities imposed upon him. 
 
 " The first appearance he made as an author, as far as we can trace 
 him was in a pamphlet, entitled ' The Grand Question debated ; or, an 
 Essay to prove that the Soul of Man is not, neither can it be. Immortal,^ 
 1751, which was immediately followed by a" Reply to the Grand 
 Question debated, fully proving that the Soul of Man is, and must be, 
 Immortal.' Both are superficial enough, and seem intended as a tr-ial 
 of that author-craft, which he afterwards so often practised in attack- 
 ing or defending himself under anonymous signatures, when he found 
 DO one else disposed to do either. About the same time, he pub- 
 lished a poem, entitled, ' Kapelioo; or, the Poetical Ordinary,' which 
 was followed, in 1753, by the first of those attacks on his brethren, 
 which kept him in perpetual warfare. It was entitled the ' Pasquinade 
 with Notes variorum, book the first, 4to.' and intended as an imitation 
 of the Dunciad ; Dr. (afterwards Sir John) Hill, and Christopher 
 Smart, were tbe chief heroes. This was imniediately followed by 
 another imitation, equally unsuccessful, of Dodsley's 'Economy of 
 Human Life' (which then passed for Lord Chesterfield's} entitled, 
 *The Whole Duty of Woman, 12mo.' 
 
 " His ' Epistles, Philosophical and Moral ; or. Epistles to Lorenzo,* 
 appeared in 1758, and may be reckoned among the best specimens 
 of his poetry, which is not without ease aiid elegance. As it was ra- 
 ther severely handled in the Critical Review, he defended himself in 
 a pamphlet without bis. name, entitled ' A Scrutiny ; or, the Critics 
 Criticised.' It was not easy for him, however, in any shape to vin- 
 dicate what was too plainly a defence of infidelity, nor was it much 
 excuse that it was written while under confinement for debt. About 
 Ihis time he probably obtained an engagement as a writer in the 
 Monthly Review, which ceased in 1766, silently on the part of the 
 
{ 64 ) 
 
 proprietors of that work ; but Dr. Kenrick thought the rupture of 
 too much consequence to be concealed, and therefore announced in 
 the newspapers, in 1766 " that he declined to write any more in the 
 Monthly Review ; that he had been author of the appendix to that 
 work, consisting of a review of foreign publications, for the volumes 
 28 to 33 inclusive ; and that he had formed connections with several 
 gentlemen of the first rank in the world of letters for establishing a 
 Literary^ Review on a new, liberal, and independent plan.' 
 
 " This last threat he did not carry into effect for some years ; but 
 as a specimen of his ' liberal and independent' style, he published 
 about this time^ 1765, * A Review of Dr. Johnson's new edition 
 of Shakspeare,' which being answered by a young man of Oxford, 
 of the name of Barclay, in a pamphlet called ' An Examination of 
 Mr. Kenrick's Review, 1766', he immediately, published ' A De- 
 fence of Mr. Kenrick's Review,' under the name of ' A Friend,' 
 which was a very proper assumption, as he seldom had another. In 
 this last year, he produced his ' Falstaff's Wedding,' a comedy, in 
 imitation of Shakspeare, and, as far as the language of Falstaff and 
 his companions are concerned, not an unpleasant one, although ra- 
 ther approaching to the extravagant. It went through two editions, 
 but was acted only once, for a benefit. This was followed by ano- 
 ther comedy, ' The Widowed Wife,' with some difficulty, which 
 the author, with a degree of gratitude peculiar to himself, attributed 
 to the very person to whom he had been most indebted. In 1768, 
 he published an ' Epistle to George Colman,' poems, ludicrous, 
 satirical, and moral ; and ' An Epistle to James Boswell, Esq.' 
 occasioned by his having transmitted the moral writings of Dr. 
 Johnson to Pascal Paoli. By all these he acquired but little repu- 
 tation, and no enemies ; for Cowman, Johnson, and Boswell, dis- 
 dained to notice him. In 1770 and. 1771, he published two pieces 
 connected with his discovery of the perpetual motion ; the one, ' An 
 Account of the Automaton ; or. Perpetual Motion of Orfxyreus, 
 with additional remarks, &c.' the other, ' A Lecture on the Per- 
 petual Motion,' which harmlessly, if not successfully, employed him, 
 and certainly evinced a considerable knowledge of the science of me- 
 chanics. About the same time he published a translation of, ' De 
 Lolme on' the Constitution,' which we presume he did not execute. 
 
 " In 1772, he disgraced his character by an atrocious attack on 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 Garrick, called " Love in the Suds" for wliich that gentleman com- 
 menced a prosecution in tlie Court of King's Bencli. Kenrick im- 
 mediately published a " Letter to David Garrick, &c." in vrhich he 
 informed the puhlic tlie cause of his quarrel with him, and the mo- 
 tives of his writing " Love in the Suds-." A public apology ap- 
 peared also in the newspapers, November 26, as mean and false as 
 the libel itself. The issue of the prosecution we have not dispovered. 
 
 In 1773, lie collected the works of Lloyd, 2 vols. 8vo. with a 
 life of that unfortunate poet, remarkable for being written without 
 any dates. In the same year, ho produced " The Duellist," a co- 
 medy, acted only one night; and published a " Dictionary bf the 
 English Language, 4to." in the preliminary parts of which are ma- 
 ny shrewd and useful discussions and remarks. Theiittle credit he 
 had OTth the world at this time, must, we think, have impeded the 
 success of this work, in which he shews himself a philobger of no 
 mean talents. 
 
 In 1774, wo find him giving lectures at the Devil Tavern, which 
 he called " A School of Shakspeare," and about the same time ad- 
 dressed the artists and manufacturers of Great Britain respecting an 
 application to Parliament for ascertaining the right of property in 
 new discoveries and inventions. E'ancying that'he had discovered 
 the perpetual motion, he was at this time alarmed by tlie literary 
 property bill ; but we hear no more afterwards of his discovery. 
 
 In January, 1775, he commenced his " London Review," and, 
 along with his own name, placed in the title those of H. Reimarus, 
 J. U. D. ; R. Williams, M. D. ; E. Warner, A.M.; and the Rev. S. 
 Maty.* Except Reimarns, we believe it will be difficult to find 
 these names in any list of " gentlemen of the first rank in the world 
 of letters." The Review, however, went on for some years, and 
 contains, from the pen of its chief author, repeated attacks upon 
 
 " I must be pardoned for making a remark here. A Review continued for some 
 years after Kenrick's death, under the title of " Maty's Review." IMaty I believe 
 was Under-Libi-arian at the British Museum. It was publislied by the elder Wil- 
 kie(John) whose healtlr, it was in the year 1785, my office for some time to enquire 
 the state of—rf. W. 
 
 I 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 Iris brethren in every profession. It continued a few months after 
 his death, and then sunk into oblivion. In the same year, 1775, he 
 began a translation of Buffon, to be published in numbers, and in 
 1778, a translation of Voltaire's works. His last dramatic attempt 
 was " The Lady of the Manor," a comic opera, taken from John- 
 son's " Country Lasses ;" and, his last original publications, both of 
 some degree of merit, were " Observations on the Marriage Con- 
 tract ;" and " Observations on Jenyns's View of the Internal Evi- 
 dence, &c." This last had formed an article in his Review, whence 
 other articles of equal ability might be selected, were they not all 
 contaminated by a style vituperative , and malignant. In his latter 
 days, his constitution was so much injured by inebriety, that he, ge- 
 nerally wrote with a bottle of brandy at bis elbow, which at length 
 terminated his career, June 10, 1779, less lamented than perhaps 
 any person known in the literary world, yet possessed of talents, 
 vphich, under a steady and virtuous direction, might have procured 
 him an honourable place among the authors of his time, 
 
 Thomas Evans was the publisher of Kenrick's London Review, in 
 eleven volumes, and after the author's death, frequently relieved bis 
 family. 
 
 Gilbert Stuart *for Gibby Stuart, as he was frequently called,) 
 •was also another literary friend of the elder Evans, and of the late 
 Mr. Goldsmith, another bookseller of the old school, with whom, and 
 many literary characters of that period, it was their afternoon's prac- 
 tice of taking their Nips of Burton Ale, at a once celebrated house in 
 Gray's Inn-lane. 
 
 The talented Mr. Alexander Chalmers has given an admirable bio» 
 graphical memoir of his countryman,, Stuart, which I conceive will 
 befound interesting. 
 
 "GILBERT STUART, 
 
 a Scottish historian, was born at Edinburgh, in 1742. His father, 
 Mr. George Stuart, who died in 1793, was professor of humanity in 
 that University, and a man of considerable eminence for classical 
 taste and literature. Gilbert Stuart having made the usual pre- 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 parations in the Granaraar School and the University, applied himself 
 to the study of jurisprudence. l?or that profession, however, he is 
 said to have been disqualified by indolence; and he early began to 
 indulge his passion for general literature and boundless dissipation : 
 yet his youth was not altogether wasted in idleness, for before he had 
 completed his twenty-second year, he published ' An Historical Dis- 
 sertation concerning the Antiquity of the British Constitution/ which 
 had so much merit as to obtain for him the d^ree of doctor of law, 
 trom the University of Edinburgh. After an interval of some years, 
 in which be couki not have neglected his studies, he produced 'A 
 View of Society in Europe, in its progress from Rudeness to Refine- 
 ment; or. Enquiries concerning the History of Laws, Governraerit,and 
 Manners.' This is a valuable work, and proves that he had meditat- 
 ed with much attention on the most important monuments of the 
 middle ages. About the time when the first edition of this book ap- 
 peared. Dr. Stuart applied for the professorship of public law in the 
 University of Edinburgh ; but being disappointed, removed jsoon af- 
 ter to London. He there became, from 1768 to 1773, one of the wri- 
 ters of the Monthly Review : he then returned to Edinburgh, where 
 he began a Magazine and Review, called from the name of that City, 
 the first number of which appeared in October 1773. In this he was 
 assisted by William Smellie, but owing to the virulent spirit displayed 
 by the writers, it was obliged to be discontinued in 1776. In 1778, 
 his 'View of Society' was republished. In 1782, be again visited 
 London, and engaged in the ' Political Herald' and the ' English Re- 
 view;'* but being attacked by two formidable disorders, the jaundice 
 and the dropsy, he returned by sea to his native country, where he died, 
 io his father's house, August 13, 1786. 
 
 The other works of Dr. Gilbert Stuart were, " An Anonymous 
 Pamphlet against Dr. Adam", who had published a Latin Grammar, 
 in 1772. — " Observations concerning the Public Law and Constitu- 
 tional History of Scotland," Edinburgh, 1779, 8vo. In this work 
 he critically examined the prelimijjajry book to Dr. Robertson's "Hisi» 
 tory of Scotland." " The History of the Establishment of the Re- 
 formation of the Reli.f ion in Scotland," London, 1780, 4to, a work 
 commended for the easy dignity of the narrative, and for the more 
 extraordinary virtue of strict impartiality. " The History of Scot- 
 
 " These two pcj-iodicals were published by the late Joliii Mnnay. 
 
( 68 \ ' 
 
 land, from the Establishment of the Reformation to the Death of 
 Queen Mary,*' London, 1782, 2 vols. His diief purpose in this 
 book, was to vindicate the character of that queen, but th« whole is 
 well written, and has been very generally read and admired. He 
 also revised and published " Sullivan's Lectures on the Consti(u(ion 
 of England," this was about 1774. Dr. Stuart was about the mid- 
 dle size*, and j ustly proportioned : his countenance was modest and 
 expressive, sometimes announcing sentiments of glowing friendship, 
 of which he is said to have been truly susceptible ; at others, dis- 
 playing strong indignation against folly and vice, which he had also 
 shewn in his writings. With all his ardour for study, he yielded to 
 the love of intemperance, to which, notwithstanding a strong consti- 
 tution, he fell an early sacrifice. 
 
 His talents were great and his writings useful ; yet in his charac- 
 ter altogether, there appeared to have been little that is worthy of 
 imitation. He is painted in the most unfavourable colours by Mr. 
 G. Chalmers,* in bis "Life of lluddiman" who says, "such was 
 Gilbert Stuart's laxity of principle as a man, that he considered in- 
 gratitwdef one of the most venial &f sins. Such was his conceit as 
 a writer, that he regarded no ones merits but his own. Such were 
 his disappointments, both as a writer and a man, that he allowed his 
 peevishness to sour into malice ; and indulged his malevolence till it 
 settled in corruption. If this character be not too harshly drawn, 
 it is impossible that much should be alledged in its defence."' 
 
 The next literary character in succession, within my recollection, 
 was of a very different cast to the preceding ones ; he was not, in- 
 deed, even in bis decline (at the period I knew him) what was term- 
 ed a Grub-street writer, but like others of his brethren, termed a 
 hackney writer, or rather a garretteer, it may Ije well to give a 
 definition of each, ere I draw his portrait : a Grub-street writer has 
 generally been consideredofthelowest grade, in the world of letters, a 
 mere fabricator of false tales, wonderful narratives, the composer of 
 common ballads, and of making the last dying words which never 
 were spoken ; this is, however, an error, for upwards of a century 
 
 * Chalmers's Life of Rnddiman, p. 289 
 t Ken's Life of Smellie, vol I. p. 393. 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 ago, many -productions of nierit Issaed from it, and a paper entitled 
 the" Grub-street Journal," contained some curious controversial 
 effusions, among uthors Joseph Trapp, D. D. contributed several 
 {>i«ces, viz. upon Impudence, ujpon Henley's Grammar, upon An- 
 swering and not Answering lJooks,&c. and Mr. Nicholls, in speaking 
 of Ur- Middleton's " Dissertation on the Origin of Printing," 
 notices the following animadversions upon it from Mr. Bowyer, 
 {ironically it is true) in the " Grub-street Journal," March 20, 1736, 
 the substance of which is preserved in the notes to " The Origin of 
 Printing." 
 
 *' To Mr. Barius, Secretary to the Society of Grub-street. 
 
 "Sir, — As thenumerous writers of your Society are the chief sup- 
 port and ornament of printing, jou must I*e nearly interested in every 
 circumstance that contributes to the honour of Jt. I congratu- 
 late you, therefore, upon the advantageous figure which Caxton, our 
 countryman and fellow citizen, makes, in Dr. Middleton's " Disserta- 
 tion concerning the Origin of the Art of Printing in England." 
 But, good Mr. Barius, is not the old man's authority placed a little 
 too high, when most, if not all, our Euglish Chronicles are made to 
 submit to his ; and a new oera is prescribed to one of our kings by 
 it? Dr. Middleton maintains from him, p. 3, that Edward IV. was 
 proclaimed in London at the end of 1459^ according to our compu- 
 tation, upon the 4th of March, and crowned about the Midsummer 
 following (i. e. 1460). Is not Caxton, you'll say, a good evidence 
 of a fact that happened in his own time ? may be so ; but the good 
 doctor's dissertation is even built upon tlie suppusition tliat the press 
 was not infallible in those days ; and might not MCCCCLIX, by an 
 easy transposition, escape instead of MCCCCLXI ? I- need not ap- 
 ' peal to other contemporary historians, where we are capable of pro- 
 ducing demonstration. The first instrument in Rymer, under Ed- 
 ward IV. begins thus : ' Memorandum cjuod die Martis decimo die 
 Martii, anno regni regis Edwardi primo, &c,' Now in the year 
 1460-1, the tenth of March fell on a Tuesday ; but in 1459-60, on a 
 Monday. I will venture, therefore, to vindicate the true reading of 
 our old Almanacks, and. to exterminate a false one from Caxton's 
 Chronicle." 
 
 At a subsequent period to 1735, Grub-street fell into decay and 
 
( -70 ) 
 
 disrepute, and the houses were miserable residences : a pontemporary 
 describes Grub~street as " the proverbial residence of poor author^, 
 and which now gives a name to mediocre and silly productions, was 
 formerly entitled Grape-street. Perhaps the corruption has arisen 
 from the said authors writing' for merely the means of existence, vul- 
 garly called their grub, the juice of the grape never being tasted 
 by them; consequently their writings were uninspired, mere matters 
 of fact, shewing no signs of genius. The makers of every thing re- 
 latiug to archery ancientl}' hjd their residences here. Here lived, 
 in total seclusion from the sight of any living person, for the space 
 of forty-four years, Henry Welley, Esq. whose life being attempted 
 by a younger brother, he resolved to seclude himself from the world, 
 notwithstanding he was possessed of an ample fortune, this he found 
 means to apply to charitable and pious purposes, and in other re- 
 spects his life was most exemplary, to the day of his death, which 
 happened on the 29th October, 1636." This is another proof, if 
 any were wanting, that persons may reside for a long time '* un- 
 known in London." 
 
 Quitting Grub-street, I proceed to give a sketch of a hackney 
 writer: — a hackney writer is of a higher class, for amongst them 
 may be included many of our best authors, employed by the book- 
 sellers to write or compile books, or to review them at certain agreed 
 suras per sheet. The members of the Old Beef Steak Club, in Ivy- 
 lane, Paternoster-vow (now a bookseller's warehouse) came nnder 
 this class, even Dr. Samuel Johnson, the founder of it, Dr. Smollett, 
 Oliver Goldsmith, and others, executed a large portion of their li. 
 terary labours upon these terms. Dr. Goldsmith evidently alludes to 
 the fraternity of authors, bookmakers, and literary drudges, in his 
 epitaph : 
 
 " Here lies poor Ned Purden, from misery freed. 
 Who long was a bookseller's hack ; 
 He led such a damnable life in this world, 
 I dont think he'll wish to come baclf." 
 
 poor Chatterton too, composed many of his poems upon these terms, 
 at the Chapter Coffee House,* in Paternoster-row, for the Town and 
 Country Magazine, published by the Robinsons. Authors of the 
 
 * The Coifse-house is situated, &c, See 'Tavern Anecdjtes,' p. 119." 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 present day, however, whether they are paid by the sheet,, volulrie, 
 or entire work, or for miscellaneous contributions to the periodical 
 press, now rank very differently, and wherever talent is displayed, 
 they are very handsomely and liberally .paid by the booksellers. 
 
 The Garretteer is ia one sense of a higher order of writer, and 
 seldom condescends to descend from his elevated garret, or, if you 
 like it better, attic story. His business is to abridge, compile, 
 write notes, and make a liberal use of the scissors, paste, and brush, 
 for the publishers of weekly or monthly numbers of Bibles, Voya- 
 ges, and Travels, Dictionaries of Arts and Sciences, Histories of 
 Wars ; and of the World, &c. for which all the names of the great- 
 est divines, historians, and travellers, are sometimes adopted, with 
 the alteration of a letter or two, or a different christian name ; many 
 laughable instances of which may be produced hereafter, suffice it 
 for the present to State, the personage that I am about to introduce 
 was, for many years, reduced to the third or last class, but I shall 
 place him under his real name of John Huddlestone Wynne. I have 
 his form at this moment' in my mind's eye : a small thin worn-out 
 emaciated figure, worn down more from disappointment than dissipa- 
 tion, and with a disposition naturally honourable but irritable ; ren- 
 dered still more petulent from the heavy imposing daily labours of the 
 mind to procure a daily support for the body ; he was lame from ac- 
 cident, and always walked with a cross handled crutch cane, which 
 he was almost as ready to raise on being thwarted on the slightest oc- 
 casion, as the celebrated Worthington,* of street writing notoriety. 
 I recollect being sent by Mr. Evans {his countryman) with a message 
 in which the rendering him a service was the object, but upon my de- 
 livering my errand, he displayed the greatest contempt and irony. 
 
 ♦ Worthington was well known, about forty-five years ago, for bis nncom- 
 monly fine writing with chalk on the flags in the streets, or more particularly in 
 Westminster Hall : he always wrote backwards, and his letters. and flourishes 
 were as finely formed as the penmanship of Ashby, Milne, Tompkins, &c. He 
 was excessively passionate, felt his importance in the World of Lettert, in which, 
 although he had a wide scope, if any approached the boundary he prescribed, 
 his crutch cane was called into requisition. He wore an old stocking under a 
 small cocked hat, and my ardent curiosity in pressing through the crowd to wit- 
 ness his extraordinary writing, caught his penetrating eye, and awakened his ire 
 upon more than one occasion. 
 
( 72 ) 
 
 and retreated in an nngovernable passion, but which will b;i fully ac- 
 counted for in the following biographical sketches of, this eccentric 
 character. Tlipy are written by different hands, but agree in the 
 main jjsints. Mr. Nicholls,.in miticiug his" Fah,les of Flora" for 
 the female sex, written for the amusement of the Princess Uoyal, 
 observes, that " Whilst I was compiling a short biographical article 
 for this ingenious but unfortufiate writer, a friend pointed out to me 
 the following memoir, which was written by his son in 1606; and 
 being well worth preserving, I shall only add to it the titles of a few 
 of Ms works :. 
 
 "Edward Wynne, Richard Wynne, and Thomas Wynne, were 
 sons of a gentleman of Welsh extraction, who gave them rcsppctively 
 a liberal education. Edward enjoyed a situation under government, 
 and resided on a small estate in Suuthan)pton. Richard had a clas- 
 sical education, obtained the degree of Master of Arts, became Chap- 
 lain to tlie Earl of Dunmore, and Rector of St. Alphage, London ; 
 was author of ' An Universal Grammar of the Learned Languages,' 
 * Letters on Education,' and several other productions ; and Tho» 
 mas held a sitnatioa in>the office of the Duke of Bedford. Edward 
 was considered handsome, and had a good address : he married 
 thrice, and had portions wifli all his wives. By the first of these 
 ladies he had one son only, who was christened John Huddlestone, 
 the subject of the present memoir. Mr. John Huddlestone Wynne, 
 a character pretty generally kpown in the literary world, vpas born 
 in the year 1743, and flourished between the years 1760 and 1786. 
 Being an only child, his mother was particularly solicitous for his 
 safety ; and as it generally happens that the impressions received in 
 childhood are retained, and pervade our ideas the rest of our lives, 
 so it happened with the subject of the present essay, who imbibed 
 some eccentricities from his too-indulgent mother, of which he never 
 afterwards became entirely divested of. Her anxiety for his health 
 and preservation kept her in a perpetual state of alarm. He was en- 
 compassed with flannels winter and summer, and bled and physicked 
 for the most trilling indisposition. And, calling him to her bed-side, 
 when on the point of death, she made hhn solemnly promise that he 
 would attenfl to her injunctions ; which, among several others, were 
 to shun horses, never to go into a boat, or enter a belfry. Had not 
 these cautions been too much heeded, and occasioned a peculiarity of 
 
{ ^3 ) 
 
 manner in Ijis conduct, whic^, seemed, unaccountable, tliese circum- 
 stances would not have been noticed ; but, t^iougVi the care and a^^n- 
 tjon he repeived from his mother during^ ^her life, time, plaiulyindicated 
 he was a great ta^yourite with her, yet it' seems he, was in no higl^ 
 estimation with his father and other, p^ his ^^lations, who, as appears 
 by their conduct to him, rather en,vied pr strove to suppress his dawn- 
 ing genius, than used any endeayourjp foster it. Taught by his fa- 
 ther early to contemn mechanical employment and expecting he should 
 be bred to some liberal profession, he was much disappointed by being 
 contrary to his. expectations, prematurely apprenticed jit the age of 
 thirteen, as a compositor to a letter press. printer. His education was 
 by. no means finislied; he. had been initiated in latin at St, .Paul's 
 School : the,progress he afterwards made in classical knowledge must 
 have been attaiiied during, his leisure hours, when the business of the 
 day was over, undirected by any, and the sole rpsult of his own exer- 
 tions. Very early in life he evinced his poetical talent, haying, when 
 scarcely eight.yearsof age,, written a Poem which he afterwards dec 
 dared would not have, disgraced his riper years. During his apprentice^ 
 ship, he sent many, of ,lus effusions to different periodical publica? 
 tioBS, where they obtained a ready insertion, and were generally ap- 
 proved ,by, those who read them. , Shortly ;after completing his term, 
 not choosing to follow the business of a printer, he obtained a lieu- 
 tenancy in the East-India service, whither he went ; but, on account 
 of ^pme unhappy controversy with a superior officer, and from a dis? 
 gust he had taken to some unfair proceedings in that hemisphere, he, 
 in less ,than two years from his departure, returned to England ; ,and. 
 haying been j-eceived coldly by his relations, who were not pleased 
 /at his quick return, he resolved on thpe,xpedient of trying his success. 
 ifs an author. He got, accordingly, introduced to several booksel- 
 lers of that day, among whom were Kearsley, Riley, Bell, Evans, and 
 Wilkie, who gladly availed themselves of his literary talent^. Mr. 
 Vfheble engaged him to cpnduct the Lady's Magazine, for which, he 
 received a regular monthly stipend : nor had ^e any reason to com- 
 plain of their liberalitj' for. his labours, as it is certaip several of 
 these gentlemen were great friends to him in future life. Many of 
 Mr. Wynne's poetical productions are to be found in a publication 
 intituled,. 'The British Magazine and Review.' Some of these ap- 
 peared in his own name, others under the fictitious signature of 
 * George Osborne, Esq.' Mr. Wynne also wrote 'The History of 
 England in Verse,' which has not yet appeared in print. Though 
 
 K 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 Mr. Wynne excelled as a poet, his prose productions are likewise 
 numerous. It was by the advice of Dr. Goldsmith, who was his 
 contemporary, that he first began the ' History of Ireland,' which 
 he afterwards dedicated to the Duke of Northumberland. The Doc- 
 tor jocosely observed, 'that it would be better to relinquish the drag- 
 gle-tail muses ; as, for his part, he found productions in prose were 
 more sought after and better paid for.' 
 
 Mr. Wynne's reputation as an author soon became established, 
 and had his economy kept pace with his success, it is certain be 
 might have parsed through life, if not in affluence, at least above in- 
 digence; but want of economy was his prevailing fault. Possessing 
 a sanguine. imagination, and having the highest sense of honour and 
 rectitude himself, he was easily imposed upon ; and' while he had 
 money, he considered but little the value of it ; yet, wanting it, per- 
 haps none suffered more from the poignancy of poverty than he did. 
 His acquaintances, knowing his failings, took advantage of his un- 
 suspecting benevolent disposition, by soliciting him to become surety 
 for a person of the name of Stevenson, which he did, for goods to a 
 considerable amount, which were tobe disposed of in India, whence 
 Stevenson was to remit the value at a stated period ; but, through 
 change of climate and inebriety, Stevenson died, — no remittances 
 came from India,^and his security, unable to pay the demand, was 
 forced to prison, where he remained, in great distress, for a consider- 
 able time; until, by the assistance of his uncle Edward, the debt wds 
 paid, and he obtained his discharge. In the beginning of the year 
 1770, he married the daughter of an eminent mason of Lambeth, who 
 had at his death bequeathed £1000 to each of his daughters ; but the 
 brother, being principal executor to the will Of his father, applied 
 his sister's fortune to his own use in trade ; and, through his ill suc- 
 cess, not a guinea of Mrs, Wynne's portion was ever paid. This 
 lady, however, had received a good education, possesssed an agree- 
 able person, and was not more than seventeen when she was mar- 
 ried. She was accomplished, and had an excellent understanding, 
 which became afterwards materially improved by her connexion. 
 Before she was eighteen, the produce of their union was the writer 
 of this memoir. From the great number of acquaintances Mr. 
 Wynne at this time had, some of whom were persons of wit and eru- 
 dition, it was almost impossible, for a man of his ardent imagination, 
 to avoid on every dccasion sacrificing too freely at the shrine of Bac- 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 chus ; and it frequently bap{]tened that it was one or two o'clock in 
 the morning when be returned home. This occasioned an unquiet 
 house ; and his bride, being very abstemious herself, often adniion- 
 ished him, in strong terms, on the impropriety of his conduct; but, 
 ilotwithstanding such remonstrances, he was too frequently led to 
 err in the same way ; and though gentle means would probably have 
 brought him to reform, harsh treatment >had a contrary effect. Had. 
 his wife's good sense led her to adopt those tindearing methods of: 
 persuasion which some few women of discernment know how to em- 
 ploy with such great effect, she would ultimately have succeeded; 
 but alas ! in this respect she only copied the generality of her sex. 
 Repeated brawls at home not suiting her husband's iritable disposi- 
 tion, and tending to disturb his studies, constrained him at length to 
 seek an asyhim elsewhere, so that the remainder of his Ijfe passed 
 more like a single than a married man. Nor can it occasion much 
 surprize that a man of literary pursuits, should, under such circum- 
 stances, abandon his home, especially when it is so well known that 
 a Xantitppe was never a friend (o the students in philosophy, or 
 the suitors of the muses. 
 
 Mr. Wynne was for a considerable time Editor of the Gazetteer, 
 and was a well known speaker at the Robin Hood and Coach Makers 
 Hall Debating Siicieties ; but, being unhappily a staunch supporter 
 of an Administration whose measures were extremely unpopular, he 
 obtained little good by his political speculations. Id( those days such 
 topics were freely discussed, and often agitated with much warmth. 
 Mr. Wynne in this respect acted the part of a Champion, and under- 
 took to defend the Ministry in their war with America, and other ru- 
 inous measures. This was done in the most disinterested and inge- 
 nuous manner possible, as he acted purely from the dictates of his own 
 opinion. On his return from these heated debates, way-laid by some 
 of the opposite party, many an unmerciful rubbing has he suffered, 
 and twice was so cruelly beaten that his life was endangered. It was 
 in one of these rencounters that the lachrymal vessels of his right eye 
 became contused, and occasioned him to undergo at times the most ex- 
 cruciating agonies, to alleviate which he had recourses to large doses 
 of opium. But the most fatal accident happened at the time he was 
 in the zenith of his fame,' about the year 1778, when, crossing Snow- 
 hill on a dark night, he was run over by a hackney coach, and his leg 
 broken in tliree places. Surgeon Young reduced the fracture as well 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 as he could, being loth to amputate the* limb; but owing- to the ter-, 
 ribje manner ia which it Was shattered, sixteen weeks elapsed ere it 
 was judged proper to, shift the leg from the cradle that encompassed 
 it.* The limb, from remaining so long in one posture, became con- 
 stricted,- and an instrument was obliged to be had to enable him to 
 walk^ and by degrees to, reduce the contraction of the sinews,; which 
 in time it nearly effected. It was during this confinement (although, 
 obliged to remain nearly in a horizontal position) that he, wrote, the 
 Elegy on the Death of Garrick, published by Mr. Harrison.* This 
 aiccident was severely felt by his family, and occasioned himself much 
 pain and'anxiety. After writing many volumes, of which the writer of 
 this article can give no satisfactory account,^n asthmatic complaint, 
 with whitsh he had long been aiBicted, opcasioned his death, Novemu 
 ber, 1788,:in the 45th. year of hi^ ^igei. , His wife survjlved. him but a 
 few days, leaving three children totally unp;rovided.fqr,. the, eldest, of 
 whom alotie survives,'and has now a wife and six children of his own. 
 Mr. Thomas AVynne died at an advanced -age. The. Rev. Richard 
 Wynne lived till the year 1793, being more th»ij eighty years of age 
 when he died. The whole of his fortune he left to, his only daughter. 
 Mr. John Huddleston Wynne was below the middle size (about five 
 feet four inches in height) of a clear complexion, dark hair, of a san- 
 guine temperament, irritable and nervous. Previous to his lameness 
 though he always took short steps, yet he Valked remarkably fasti 
 Inhis'youth he aciquired a bad habit of stooping^ which his subse- 
 quent infirmities tended to increase ; his eyes were piercing ; his 
 brow remarkably fine, and had the appearance of being pencilled ; his 
 nose acquiUine,' which, as LavateP well observes, always indicates a 
 good arrangement of features. He certainly had many peculiarities^ 
 was very absent and negligent' in his externa.! appearance, ancl the 
 dress worn when himself a youth he seemed always to prefer, and 
 would probably have done the same had be lived in affluence. 
 
 ♦ Mr. Harrison was the original publisher of the Old P^ovelist Magazine, in 23 
 volumes, 8to ornamented With a number of beautiful engravings, which gave em - 
 ployment to the most celebrated artists of that day. Mr. Harrison was an ex- 
 cellent poet, as well as a prose writer of considerable talent, but his writings do- 
 ring the 20 years that I knew him were chiefly confined to his own publications, 
 "The Poetical .Wagazine," "The British Magazine," "The Vocal iviagazine," 
 " The New Novelist Magazine; &c." At the la:tter pei-iod of his life, he wrote for 
 several of the booksellers, and for the Newspapers. His resemblance to the late Hon. 
 Charles James Fox, was very great. — Tlie Author. 
 
Af^. 
 
 'XllOiS fel?j©S< 
 
 
skETCHES 
 
 as THE ilEE OF 
 
 CAPTAIN GROSE. 
 
 Cf^tain XjiiGise was associated with my earliest " ftedcJlIe<!' 
 tions;" on his first .visit Jto Ireland, he was most anxious that 
 my brother should accompaay him in the prosecution of fhis 
 Antiquarian researches, but some family arrangementgpreven- 
 tedit. I'believe'he took over a clever lad with him that might 
 be considered a rough diamond i he was sometimes known 
 by.lhe terra of JBaw?^CT% .but Grose palled him his Guinea JPigf 
 
 My first old and resipected friend in Ireland, Mr, R.E. 
 Mercier j was particularly kind to "Grose, and -had in his p^^s- 
 session an original drawing of him on Vellum, from which 
 Bartolozzi made an Etching; and from which the full 
 length Portrait I have given is taken. 
 
 Being anxious to collect the scattered.»*e?MW of this^reat 
 Antiquarian, I have herev^ilh .given from Mer.cjer's.y/??ifilc*|o' 
 £fia ffibemica, a short dietch of his Life and Ciiaracter^ and 
 also Burns's poetjcal description of his Peregrinations tliM>ueh 
 Scotlandj his Poetical Envelope covering his Letterto a Bro- 
 ther Antiqustry of.tiie Nopth ; together with Mr. Allan Cun- 
 ningham's Commentary; The intimacy between Grose and 
 Burns is well-known, and I believe the cslebrated Poem of 
 Burns'sTam.O*Shanter first appeared in the pages of Grose's 
 Antiquities of Scotland. 
 
 In the following pages will be found another poetical 
 sketch of Grose, written by his friend Mr. .Davis of Wands- 
 worthj which is admirably Characteristic of liim ; a shortsketch 
 of his Life, by Hone.; and, his Rules for drawing .Caricatu- 
 res with his Essay on comic painting. 
 
 TO tHe editor of the asiholocia. , 
 SrE, 
 
 Unowijig that literary biogtaphymal^s a distingiuistied partof your plan, 
 1 shall make no apology for > sending you ibe fojUowli^gJll^moir. It ap- 
 perared, anonymously, for the first tune, in the Dubiiii Chronicle fior,the 
 25th of May 1791 ; but was.-gi^nerally known to have fallen from the. pen 
 ol Joseph C. Walker, Esq. 
 
 JDublin, Nov. 1 17*4. « T. Z. 
 
 Th€ author of this little rtiemoir cannot boast an eafly-acquaintance-With 
 Captaj^ Grose,; he only.kaew blin since hi? second. visit to Ireland in the 
 year '1790. The Captain then introduced himself to him in a very flatter- 
 ing manner ; an event on which he now reflects with pleasure mingled with 
 pain. As an Artist amd Antiquary, , Captain Grose is known to all the 
 enlightened part of Europe ; and where his character is known it is a'lmiiwl. 
 His pencil and his pen were guided by taste and genips-j-sometinies they 
 were directed by humour. Nor was he less admirable I'or'his coinpanicn- 
 abls qualities. Few men shone more in conversation'than Mr. (jrose. — 
 In his society time passed with an-audible,step ;' naturally cheerful himself 
 he flashed merriment around him-j nor did his sallies of pleasantry or poig- 
 nant humour ever give paia, for they were not e«cileJ either by the mental 
 or personal defects of-l4is.,aiiditors. Associating with the ornaments of lite- 
 rature, he abounded in literary anecdote ; land having ruad extensively, and 
 observed narrowly, hsedilied while hs' exhilarated. 
 
Tlie author of this feebU attempt to do justice to the memory of Captain 
 GrOse, is ignorant of the year in which he commenced his literary career ; 
 but he believes he began at an early period, to exercise his pencil on the 
 military and ecelesiastical ruins'of J&gland. To this he was not excited 
 by the hope of eniolumeiit ; for he made a free gift to his printer, Mr, -Sam- 
 uel Hoofer, of the drawings for The Antiquities of Eriglfiitd and Wales 
 But it should not be forgotten, that the great success of this work enabled 
 Mr. Hooper, with unparalleled generosity, to present Mrs. Grose with a 
 tfank note for 800(. 
 
 The Antiquities of England and Wales were followed by A Treatiie pn 
 aneient Armour and Weapons and Military Antiquities, Nor did his hu- 
 mour sleep during the execution of those laborious works; for while tbey 
 were pasling through the press, he published A Provincial Glossary— 'A 
 Guide to Health Honor smd Eic/ws-7-and Rules for Drawing Caricatures ; 
 works abounding in genuine humour. He occasionally too, furnished the 
 diflerent editors of Shakespeare with valuable note?. 
 
 Thestate of his health demandingthe exercise of travel, and encouraged 
 by the success of his first Antiquarian Essays, he was induped to undertake 
 The Antiquities of Scotland in the year 1789. 
 
 Having completed this arduous undertaking, he engaged in a work of a 
 similar nature for Ireland, and had actually put several drawings, which he 
 bad made in the North of Ireland, into the hands of his engraver, when Ije 
 ■was suddenly snatched away from the anxious public, and his inconsolable 
 friends, on the 16th of May 1791. 
 
 The author of this desultory memoir cannot conclude without mention- 
 ng tlie liberal mannerin which Captain Grose difTused his drawings among 
 bis friends. They were never known to solicit oije in vajn. Nor was his 
 portefeuille ever clqsed to those engaged in any, literary undertaking which 
 his elegant pencil could illustrate. '" ' ' ' ' 
 
 And it is with pleasure the author adds, that Ireland, with her wonted 
 generosity and respect for literature, is now about to raise a ilonument to 
 the memory of him, who, had Heaven spared him a few m'joths longer, 
 \yoiild have eternized the venerable remains of her antiquities. 
 
 A very beautiful model was made for this purpcse by thei ingenious and 
 celebrated Mr. Gandon, an ingenious English afdliitect, who studied his pro- 
 fession under sir William Chambers. He was the fir^t who gained the gold 
 medal as an architectural prize from the Royal Academy, and early acqui- 
 red considerable professional reputation, which was much enllancei) by the 
 publication of his " Vilruvius Britanniciis." 3 vols.' folio. He soon after 
 went to Ireland, where he built the Royal Exchange at Dublin, the portico 
 of tlie house of Lords, the four courts, and other hit^hly esteemed buddiiigs 
 in that Capital. He was a fellow of the Sociely'of Antiquaries, as also'of 
 the Royal Irish Academy, and died at Canon-brook near Lucan, in 1824, 
 being then in hiseighty-ftflh year. He was buried at Drumcondra Chcrch, 
 near Dublin, by the side of his friend Grose. 
 
 0:< CAPTjlIN GROSE'S PERECniNATIONS TIIROCOH SCOTLAND. ' 
 
 Hear, Land 0' Cakes, and brither Scots, 
 I'rae Maidenkirk to Johnny Groat's ; 
 If there's a hole in a' your coats, 
 
 1 rede you tent it : 
 A chiel's amang you taking notes. 
 
 And faith he'll prent it^J 
 
 If in your bounds ye chance to light 
 Upon afine, fat, fodgeV wight, 
 O'statuie short, but genius bright, 
 
 'J'hat's he, mark weel-^- 
 Andwow! he has an unco slight 
 
 O' cauk and keel, "■ ' 
 
By some auld'houlelJiaunted Wgin, 
 ~ Wr kiik deserted by its riggin; 
 
 It'it ten to one ye'll find him snug in 
 
 ^- ' Some eldritch fait, ^. ■ r.. , 
 
 Wi' deila, tlrey say, L d safe's coUeajuin'- 
 
 At some black art. 
 
 Illc ghaist that hiuunts auld ha' or chamer, 
 
 Ye gipsey gang that deal in glamor. 
 
 And you deep r^ad in hell's black grammar, 
 
 \yarlocks and witches ^ 
 Ye'll quake a,t h.i^ conjuring jammer. 
 
 Ye midnight b — >-, — ;es^ 
 
 It's tauld lie was a, sodger bred. 
 And aoe vrad rather fa'n than fled ; 
 jBut now he's quat the spurtje-blade^ 
 
 And dog-skin wallett. 
 And ta'en the — Antiquarian trade, 
 I think they call it. 
 
 He has a Touth o' auld nick-nackets ; 
 Kusty aim caps and jinglin jackets, 
 ^ad baud the Lbthiana three in tackets, 
 
 A towmont guid ; 
 And parritch-patsj and auld saut-backet> 
 
 Afor« the flood. 
 Of Eve's first Are he has a cinder ; 
 Auld Tubalcaiii's fire-school and fender ; 
 That whicn distinguished the gender 
 
 U' Balaam's ass ; 
 A broom-stick O' the witch'o' Ehdor, 
 VVeel shod wj' brass, 
 
 Torbyc, he'll sh^pe you afF fu'^Iej, 
 'I'be C;at of Ailam's philibeg : 
 The knife that hicket Abel's craig 
 
 He'll prove you fully. 
 It was a faulding Jocteleg, 
 
 'p,r Ifing-kail gully. — 
 
 But wad yee see him iji his glee, 
 I or meikle glee and fun has be, 
 Then set him down, and twa or three 
 
 Guid fellows wi' him ; 
 And pott, O port ! shine thou a wee, 
 
 ^nd (hen ye'll see him ! 
 
 Now by the pow'rs o' verse and prose ! 
 Thou art a" dainty chiel, O Grose 1-^ 
 VVha'er o' thee shall ill suppose; 
 
 They sairmisca' theej 
 I'd take the rascal by the nose, * 
 
 Wad say Shaiae fa' thee ' ■ 
 
 " The person wbom.this facetious poem celebrates was a^^alous antiquanr 
 and food of wit aad wipe. He had served in the army, and" letirmg from 
 it, dedicated his leisura and his talents to Investigate tiie antiquities of liis 
 country, lie found his wayto Friars-Cause, where some of Uke ablfst an- 
 tiquaries of Scotland occasionally met: and at the " board pfGlenriddlel " 
 Jie^aw Burns for the first time. It is a tradition in the vale that the Enfc- 
 lishman heard with wonder the sarcuslic sallies, c|jigiamatic remarks, atjfl 
 ■eloquent bursts of the Scot j while the latter was struck with the "reinarka- 
 lile corpulency of the " little round lat oily man," and the almost poetMS 
 Itelin^- with wiiich he talked ~ " 
 
 Allien ne taisea 
 
 " Of par-ritch pats and all sautbackets 
 Afote tb* flood," 
 
Tht wine of QlenriddEl, tao,.aided'ia t^hieniog'theiianilia orf^icquaialance- 
 »hip. The poem Aevr berore (jrose ^ver Scotlaiii)— ;it U said he was not 
 pleased to be so heralded, and above all, little relisjied the allusions to his 
 corpulency— he thought too, that his researches were treated with too little 
 gravity. These sentiments had not, however, reached the Poet, when he 
 writes to Grose to call on his friend Dugald Stewart. — "Mr. Stewart's 
 principal cliaracteristic is yoUr favourite feature.; that sterling independence 
 of niind, which though every man's right so Tew have tliBcouiage to claim, 
 and fewer still the magnanimity to support : unseduced b^ Splendour and 
 undisgusted by wretchedness, he appreciates tiie merits of the actors in the 
 great drama of life, merely as they perform their parts — in short he is a 
 man after your own heart, tntd 1 conrrply with his e'airnest tefc^est in letting 
 you know that he wishes above all thiij^s tomeel with you." The meeting- 
 took place ait Catrine as the aiitiqiiat^ was.on his wa^ .to ea&diine the ruins 
 ef Sorn Castle.'' 
 
 WKITTEN IN A WnAPPEK; ENCLOSTNO A LETTER TO CAPTAIN GHOSe; 
 
 Ken ye ought o' Captain Grose ? 
 
 igo and ago. 
 If he's amang his friends or foes '! 
 
 Irat'n, coram, dago. 
 Is he south or is he north J 
 
 Igo and ago. 
 Or drownded ia the river Forth ? 
 Iram, Coram, ^ago. 
 
 Is he slain by Uighlan' bodies ? 
 
 Igo, and ago. 
 And eaten like a Wether haggis ? 
 
 Iram, coram, dago. 
 is he to Abram's bosome gane 1 
 
 • 1*0 aM ago. 
 Or haudin Sarah'by th^ wame ? 
 
 Iram, coram; dago. ' 
 
 tVhere'er he be, the Lord be near him i 
 
 Igo a:nd ago, 
 As for the deil, he daur na steer him ! 
 
 Iram, coram, dago. ' 
 But please transmit the enclosed letter,- 
 
 .Igo, and ago, 
 Which will oblige your humble debtor, 
 
 Iram, coram, dago . 
 
 So'may ye hae aiil'd stanes in store, 
 
 Igo, and ago, 
 The'VeCy^taoes that Adam bore; 
 
 Iram, coram, dago. 
 So may ye get in glad possession, 
 
 Igo, aind ago. 
 The coins o ' Satan's coroaation ! 
 
 Iram, coram, dago. 
 
 " It appears that BArns made out somemntiquarianand legendary m*tti6- 
 randa respecting the ruins in Kyle, and adjressei! them to his late facetious 
 vgossip Grose, binder covey to Catrdonnel; a well-known -northetn antiquary. 
 As his mind teemed with poetry, be could- not let tliis- opporliinity pass, but 
 ibummiog.ashe folded up the letter, the well-kiiown airof " Sir John M-al- 
 eolm," *rote these lines on thfr wrapper. Here, again, he touched on the 
 captam'E corpulency, and laisedS laugh louder than fbe latter Kited. CSr- 
 •doranel read tlie verses wherever he went, and' the coridolino- enduirv over ill 
 i-Edmgurghwas — 
 
 ; " Is he slain hy Highlan' bodies, 
 . ' 'Andeaten like a wether haggis 1" 
 
 The old soag of " Sir John Malcolm," whi61i ihePoet had in his mihtl 
 wben^he wrote to Oatdottnelj-ii tct'be found in " Yajr's OharKer •" it haa 
 •ome humour." •• , " uaa 
 
SKETCH 
 
 O F 
 
 FRANCIS GROSE, Esq. P. A. S. 
 
 BY HIS FRIEND 
 
 Mr. DAVIS, of Wandsworth. 
 
 ' Which will give to those unacquainted with Mr. Crose some idea of his 
 character and person ; while to those who had the good fortune to know him, 
 it will be recognized as a spirited and well-drawn portrait. 
 
 SINCE, thanks to heaven's high bounty, free. 
 And blest with independency, 
 I taste, from busy scenes remote. 
 Sweet pleasure in a peaceful cot; 
 While other bards, for int'rest, chuse 
 To prostitute their venal muse. 
 And offer incense, with design 
 To please the great, at falsehood's shrine ; 
 Suppose for pastime I portray. 
 Some valu'd friend in faithful lay. 
 
 Grose to my pen a .theme supplies. 
 With life and laughter in his eyes. 
 Oh ! how I can survey with pleasure, 
 His breast and ^shoulders ample measure ; 
 His dimpled chin' and rosy cheek. 
 His skin from inward lining sleek. 
 
 When to my house he deigns to pass 
 Through miry ways, to take a glass, 
 How gladly ent'ring in I see 
 His belly's vast rotundity ! 
 But though so fat, he beats the leaner 
 In ease, and bodily demeanour; 
 And in that mass of flesh so droll 
 Resides a social, gen'rous soiil. 
 
A SKETCH OF 
 
 Humble — and mode&t to excess, 
 Nor conscious of his worthiness, 
 He's yet too proud to worship state. 
 And haunt with courtly bend the great 
 He draws not for an idle word, 
 Like modern duellists, his sword. 
 But shews upon a gross affront. 
 The valour of a Eellamont. 
 On comic themes, in grave disputes, 
 His sense the nicest palate suits; 
 And more, he's with good-nature blest. 
 Which gives to sense superior zest. 
 
 His age, if you are nice to know. 
 Some two and forty years ago, 
 Euphrosyne upon his birth 
 Smil'd gracious, and the God of mirth 
 O'er bowls of nectar spoke his joy. 
 And promis'd vigour to the boy. 
 
 With Horace, if in height compar'd. 
 He somewhat overtops the bard ; 
 Like Virgil too, I must confess, 
 He's rather negligent in dress ; 
 Restless besides he loves to roam. 
 And when he seems most fix'd at home. 
 Grows quickly tir'd, and breaks his tether. 
 And scours away in spite of weather ; 
 Perhaps by sudden start to France, 
 Or else to Ireland takes a dance ; 
 Or schemes for Italy pursues, 
 Or seeks in England other views ; 
 And though still plump and in good case. 
 He sails or rides from place to place. 
 So oft to various parts has been. 
 So much of towns and manners seen, , 
 He yet with learning keeps alliance. 
 Far travell'd in the books of science ; 
 Knows more, I can't tell how, than those 
 Who pore whole years on verse and prose ; 
 
FRANCIS GROSE, ESQ. 
 
 And while through pond'rous worka they toil, 
 Turn pallid at the midnight oil. 
 
 He's judg'd as artist, to inherit 
 No small degree of Hogarth's spirit ; 
 Whether he draws j&om liondon lair 
 The cit, swift driving in his chair, 
 O'erturn'd, with precious sirloin's load 
 And frightened madam in the road; 
 While to their darling vill they haste, 
 So fine in Asiatic taste ; 
 Or bastard sworn to simple loon : 
 Or sects that dance 'to Satan's tune. 
 
 Deep in antiquity he's read, 
 And though at college never bred. 
 As much of things appears to know, 
 As erst knew Leland, Heme, or Stowe : 
 Brings many a proof, and shrew'd conjecture 
 Concerning gothic architecture : 
 Explains how by mechanic force 
 *Was thrown of old stone, man or horse : 
 Describes the kitchen^ high and wide. 
 That lusty Abbot's paunch supply'5 : 
 Of ancient structures write the same, 
 And on their ruins builds his name. 
 
 t O late may, by the fates decree, 
 My friend's Metempsychosis 'be ; 
 iBut when the time of change shall eome. 
 And Atropos shall seal his doom. 
 Round some old castle let him play. 
 The brisk Ephemeron of a day ; 
 Then from the -^ort-liv'd race escape, 
 To please again in human shape. 
 
 • VM. Pref. to Antiquities, p. II. 
 t Hewas partial to the doctrine of transmigration. 
 
THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 By Mr. HONE, 
 
 This gentleman died on the 12th of May, 1791 ; he was son of 
 Francis Grose, esq. jeweller, at Richmond, who fitted up the 
 coronation erown of George II. He was a captain in the 
 Surrey militia, an eminent antiquary, and a right worthy man. 
 His " Antiquities of England and Wales, Scotland and Ire- 
 land," are more generally known perhaps than other topogra- 
 phical works of more profound inquiry. They were commen- 
 ced in numbers, and published by " Master Samuel Hooper," 
 so he called his bookseller, to whom he was a steady and 
 affectionate friend, though he says, in one of his letters, " he 
 never did any one thing I desired him." His " Classical Dic- 
 tionary of the Vulgar Tongue," Mr. Nichols says, " it would 
 have been for his credit to have suppressed." The truth of 
 this observation is palpable to every one who is not. sophisti- 
 cated by the wretchedly mischievous line, that 
 " Vice, to be hated, needs but to be seen." 
 
 " A more mischievous sentiment was never promulgated. 
 Capt. Grose's " Olio" is a pleasant medley of whimsicalities. 
 He was an excellent companion, a humorist, and caricaturist : 
 he wrote Rules for Drawing Caricatures, and drew and etched 
 many, wherein he took considerable liberties with his friends. 
 Yet he seems to have disliked a personal representation of 
 himself sleeping in a chair, which Mr. Nichols pronounced 
 " an excellent" likeness ; a copy of which we have here given. 
 Another of him, at whole length, standing, from an engrav- 
 ing by Bartolozzi, after a drawing by Dance ; we give as a 
 frontispiece. The sleeping portrait is attributed to the Rev. 
 James Douglas, one of his brother antiquaries, who dedica- 
 ted the print to their " devoted brethren" of the society. Be- 
 neath it were inscribed the following lines : 
 
" Now Grose, like bright Phoebus, has sunk into rest, 
 
 Society droops for the loss of his jest ; 
 
 Antiquarian debates, unseasoned with mirth. 
 
 To genius and learning will never give birth* 
 
 Then wake, brother member, our friend from his sleep. 
 
 Lest Apollo should frown, and Bacchus should weep." 
 
 He was remarkably corpulent, as the engravings show. In 
 a letter to the Rev. James Granger, he says, " I am and ever 
 have been, the idlest fellow living, even before I had acquired 
 the load of adventitious matter which at present stuffs my 
 doublet' On the margin of this letter, Mr. Granger wrote, 
 " as for the matter that stuffs your doublet, I hope it is all 
 good stuff: if you should double it, I shall call it morbid 
 matter and tremble for you. But I consider it as the effect 
 of good digestion, pure blood, and laughing spirits, coagu- 
 lated into a wholesome mass by as much sedentariness (I 
 hate this long word) as is consistent with the activity of your 
 disposition." In truth, Grose was far from being an idle man; 
 he had great mental activity, and his antiquarian knowledge 
 and labours were great. He was fond however of what are 
 termed the pleasures of the table ; and is represented in a fine 
 mezzotiuto, drawn and engraved by his friend Nathaniel Hone, 
 with Theodosius Forrest, the barrister, and Hone himself, 
 dressed in the character of monks, over a bowl which Grose 
 
is actively preparing fciir their carousal. Re died of apo- 
 plexy in Mr. Hone's house in Dublin, at the age of fifty-two. 
 In reference to his principal works, the following epitaph 
 quoted by Mr. Nichols in his "Anecdotes" was proposed for 
 him in the "St James's Chronicle : 
 
 Here lies Francis Grose. 
 'On Thursday, May 12, 179], 
 
 Death put an end to 
 His VIEWS and fkosfjects. 
 
 He was buried at Drumcondra church, near Dublin ; and a 
 stone erected to his memory, on the 8th of July 1791. 
 
 A View of this Church Yard, and the spot where he was 
 buried, will be inserted in this work. 
 
 The Vmting Card of Capt, Grose, with his Walking Stick-— Cuddy ! 
 
RULES 
 
 FOR 
 
 DRAWING CARICATURAS. 
 
 The art of drawing Caricaturas is generally considered as a dan- 
 gerous acquisition, tending rather to make the possessor ifeared than 
 esteemed ; but it is certainly an unfair mode of reasoning, to urge 
 the abuse to which any art is liable, as an argument against the art 
 itself. 
 
 In order to do justice to the art in question, it should be consider- 
 ed, that it is one of the elements of satirical painting, which, like' 
 poetry, of the same denomination, may be most efficaciously employed 
 in the cause of virtue and decorum, by holding up to public notice 
 many offenders against both, who are not amenable to any other tri- 
 bunal ; and who, though they contemptuously defy all serious re- 
 proof,, tremble at the thoughts of seeing their vices or follies attacked 
 by the keen shafts of ridicule. 
 
 To obtain this art, the student should begin to draw the human 
 head, from one of those drawing-books where the forms and pro- 
 portions, constituting beauty, according to the European idea* are 
 
 • The features of the humaa face, and the form and proportions of the body 
 ••^d limbs, are in particular countries subject to certain peculiarities ; an agree- 
 jnent with, or material deviation from which, constitutes the local idea of beauty 
 or defui-mity. I say local, because it does not appear that there are any tixed or 
 positive ideas of either; if there were, tbey must necessarily be the same every 
 where, which is by no means the fact ; for they differ so greatly in different pla- 
 ces, tbat what is esteemed a perfection in one coijutry, is in another pronounced 
 a deformity. 
 
RUJ:,£S for DRAWtNG 
 
 laid down. These he should make himself master of, and endeavour 
 to remember, and then proceed to draw from casts in plaister of Pa- 
 ris, and, if convenient, from nature. As soon as he has acquired a 
 facility in drawing a head, he may amuse himself in altering the dis- 
 tances of the different lines, marking the places of the features, 
 whereby he will produce a variety of odd faces that will both please 
 and surprise him ; and wHl besides enable him, when he sees a re- 
 markable face in nature, to find wherein its peculiarity consists. 
 
 In profiles, conceive a line touching the extremities of the fore- 
 head, nose, and chin, and inclosing the whole face as in fig. 1, 2, 3, 
 4, &c. plate I. Observe whether this line is angular, concave, con- 
 vex, right lined, or mixed, compounded of any two of them. This 
 line being the general contour, is to be considered as constituting 
 the gentiSy and the accidental variety in the features as forming the 
 species of ttie human head. 
 
 In China and Morocco, excessive corpulency is esteemed a beauty ; and among^ 
 the Tallies of the Alps, the natives return thanks to God for his partiality to them 
 in decorating their necks with the comely goiter or craw, here lately shewn as an 
 object of the most shocking deformity. 
 
 Great eyes and small ones, white and black teeth, have each the sanction of na- 
 tional admiration. Broad and flat noses are admired in part of Africa ; and the 
 Tartars are so peculiarly fond of small ones, that it is recorded as a circumstance 
 of the great beauty Of a woman in the seraglio of Tamerlane, that she was entire- 
 ly without a nose ; having no mark of that feature, except two small apertures 
 through which she drew her breath. 
 
 The sculptors of ancient Greece seem to have diligently (^served the forms 
 and proportions constituting the European ideas of beauty ; and upon them to 
 have formed their statues. These measures are to be met with in many drawing 
 books ; a slight deviation from them, by the predominancy of any feature consti- 
 tutes what is called Character, and serves to discriminate the owner thereof, and 
 to fix the idea of identity. This deviation or peculiarity, aggravated, forms 
 Carieatura, 
 
 On a slight investigation it would seem almost impossible, considering the 
 small number of features composing the human face, and their general similarity, 
 to furnish a sufficient number of characterizing distinctions to discriminate one 
 man from another; but when it is seen what an amazing alteration is produced 
 by enlarging one feature, diminishing another, encreasing or lessening their dis- 
 tance, or by any means varying their proportion, the power of combination will 
 appear infinite. Caricaturists should be careful not to overcharge the peculiari- 
 ties of their subjects, as they would thereby become hideous instead of ridiculous, 
 and instead of laughter excite horror. It is therefore always best to keep within 
 the bounds of probability. Ugliness, according to our local idea, may be divi- 
 ded into genteel and vulgar. The difference between these kinds of ugliness seems 
 
CARICATURAS. 
 
 The different geflera of contours may be divided into the stngiiUir, 
 as fig. 1 ; the right lined, fig. S ; the convex, fig. 3 ; the concave, 
 fig. 4 ; the reeto-convexo, fig. 5 ; the convexo-reetoi as fig. 6 ; the 
 convexo-concavo, fig. 7 ; and the concavo-convexo, fig. 8. . It is 
 to be noted, that to prevent confusion in all mixed contours, the fi- 
 gure first named shouki be ^aced uppermost. Thus, in the convex, 
 concavo, fig^ 7, the upper jwirt of the head is convex, and the lower 
 concave. 
 
 The aose may be divided into the angular ; the aquiline or Ro- 
 man ; the parrot's beak ; the straight or Grecian ; the bulbous or 
 bottled; the turned up or snub; and the mixed or broken. These 
 are expressed in plate It. under the natnbers I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 
 Of these species there are great and small, and also several Varieties 
 of the mixed or broken. 
 
 Mouths may be arranged under four different genera or kinds. 
 Of each of these there are several species. The nnder-hnng, fig. 9; 
 the pouting or blubber^ fig. 10; the shark's mouth, %, 11; and 
 the bone box, fig. 12. 
 
 Of chins, the most remarkable are the nut-cracker, fig. 13 ; the 
 convex advancing, fig. 14 ; the convex retiring, fig. 15 ; the con- 
 cave advancing, fig. 16 ; the double, iig. 17 ; and the cucumber, 
 fig. 18. 
 
 Eyes admit of many distinctions. The first are tliose of position, 
 with respe<A to right lines drawn ifarough their pupils and corners ; 
 some lines so drawn and prolonged, till they meet, form an angle io 
 the forehead, and in others concur in the middle of the nose. Ac- 
 cording to Le Rrun, most animals of the brute creation have their 
 eyes placed in the manner kst described. 
 
 to be, that the former is positive or redundant, the latter wanting or negntire. 
 Convex t^es, prominent feat-ufes, and larg'e aqniliae noses, though cli£Fering much' 
 from beauty, still give an air of dignity to their ownere; whereas concave faces, 
 flat, snub, or broken noses, always stamp a meanness and vulgarity. The one 
 seems to have passed through the limits of beauty, the other never to have arrived 
 at them : the straight or right-lined face, which was nearly the Grecian character 
 of beauty, being a medium between the negative of vulgar,and the redundancy of 
 genteel ugliness. Perhaps thjs idea may arise from our early impressions receiv- 
 ed from the portraits of the famous men of antiquity, most of whom,, except So- 
 crates, are depicted with prominent features or aqniline noses. The portraits 
 oSlhe twelve Csesars have caused the aquiline nose to be styled Roman. 
 
RULES FOR J)RAWING 
 
 Fig. I, plate III. shews a face with the eyes placed in the ordi- 
 nary manner ; so that a right line, drawn through the two pupils, 
 and corners of the eyes, will intersect the line of the nose, at right 
 angles. . 
 
 Fig. 2 shews the position whereby a right line passing through 
 the corners and pupils of the eyes, forms an angle ^n the forehead. 
 Fig. 3, lines being drawn, as before mentioned, the point of, the 
 angle is formed near the middle of the nose. 
 
 Another distinction in eyes, is that of their distance from each 
 other, the common proportion being the length of an eye. 
 
 Eyes themselves differ exceedingly in shape as well as magnitude ; 
 and also in the form of their lids; some being globular and projec- 
 ting, vulgarly called goggles; others small and hollow, seeming only 
 like narrow slits. The Chinese and Tartars are commonly repre- 
 sented with this kind of eyes. 
 
 Eye-brows differ in size, distance, directions, and shape ; some 
 being arched and raised high on the forehead, others low and over- 
 hanging the eye, like a pent-house. 
 
 ■ The mouth and eye-brows are the features that chiefly express the 
 passions ; thus an open mouth, with elevated eye-brows, marks as- 
 tpnishment and terror. The protruded under-lip, and contracted 
 eye-brows, express anger; the corners of the mouth drawn up, laugh- 
 ter ; and drawn down, grief and weeping. 
 
 Peculiarities of the eyes are best shewn in a front face; those of 
 the nose, forehead, or chin, in profile; for by these distinctions the 
 the different features of a face may be so described as to convey a 
 pretty accurate idea of it ; wherefore when a caricaturist wishes to 
 delineate any face he may see in a place where it would be improper 
 or impossible to draw it, he may commit it to his memory, by pars- 
 ing it in his mind (as the school-boys term it) by naming the contour 
 and different species of features of which it is constructed, as school- 
 boys point out the different parts of speech in a Latin sentence. 
 
 For example, the head, fig. 5, plate III. ; the contour is convexo- 
 concavo ; nose snubbed, mouth blubbered, chin double, eyes goggle, 
 eye-brows pent-housed. Fig. 4, plate III. the contour is composed 
 angular and right-liued ; nose right-lined ; eyes Chinese ; eye-brows 
 arched, chin retiring, &c. 
 
 Many human faces have striking resemblances to particular ani- 
 mals ; consider what are the characteristic marks of each animal, and 
 
CARICA,TURAS. 
 
 procure or make accurate drawings of their lieads and features ; and 
 from them sketch out the human face, retaining, as much as possible, 
 the leading character of the particular animal resembling your sub- 
 ject. Many examples of this kind are exhibited in Baptista Por- 
 to's Treatise on Physiognomy. Hogarth has also given some 
 instances of these resemblances : one in the Gate of Calais, where 
 two old fish- women are pointing- out their likeness to a flat fish ; 
 another in the portrait of the Russian Hercules, where, under the 
 figure of a bear, he has preserved the lineaments of his poetical 
 antagonist. 
 
 In addition to what has been said in behalf of this art, it may be 
 observed, that the study of it, on the principles here laid down, may 
 be singularly useful to portrait painters, by accustoming them to dis- 
 cover what constitutes the peculiar character of each person they are 
 employed to paint. 
 
 In like manner the contour of the body, and shapes of the limbs, 
 may be considered and arranged. . Hogarth, in his Analysis uf 
 Beauty, has given an admirable method of sketching the forms and 
 attitudes of different figures, in what may be styled a short.hand de- 
 lineation of his country-dance, . 
 
 To conclude ; the author of this little piece begs it may be under- 
 stood, that the sketches given in the different plates are not to be 
 considered in any other light than as mathematical diagrams, illus- 
 trating the principles here laid down. 
 
AN ESSAY 
 
 ON 
 
 COMIC PAINTING. 
 
 Vakiods have been the opinions respecting the canse of laughter ; 
 I mean that species arising from the contemplation of some ludicrous 
 idea or object presented to the mental or corporeal eye. Mr. Hobbes 
 attributed it to a supposed consciousness of superiority in the laugher 
 to the object laughed at. Hutcheson seems to think that it is occa- 
 sioned by a contrast or opposition of dignity and meanness ; and Mr. 
 Beattie says, " that quality in things, which makes them provoke- 
 that pleasing emotion of sentiment, whereof laughter is the external 
 sigil, is an uncommon mixture of relation and contrariety, exhibited 
 or supposed to be united in the same assemblage. And again, adds 
 he, if it be asked whether such a mixture will always provoke laugh- 
 ter, my answer is, it wiH always, or for the most part, excite the 
 risible emotion : unless when the perception of it is attended with 
 some emotion of greater authority." 
 
 This system clearly points out a very simple though general rule, 
 applicable to all compositions of the ludicrous kind in painting — a 
 rule comprised in these few words : let the employments and prop'er- 
 ties or qualities of all the objects be incompatible ; that is, let every 
 person and thing represented, be employed in that office or business, 
 for which, by age, size, profession, construction, or some other ac- 
 cident, they are totally unfit. And if the persons ridiculed are also 
 guilty of any trifling breach of morality or propriety, the effect will 
 be the more complete, and will stand the test of criticism. I say 
 trifling, for great crimes excite indignation, and tend lo make us 
 groan rather than laugh. Thus a cowardly soldier, a deaf musician, 
 a bandy-legged dancing-master, a corpulent or gouty running foot- 
 man, an antiquated fop or coquet, a methodist in a brothel, a drunk- 
 en justice making a riot, or a tailor on a managed horse, are all lu- 
 dicrous objects ; and if the methodist has his pocket picked, or is 
 stripped, the justice is drawn with a broken head, and the tailor ap- 
 pears just falling off into the kennel, we consider it as a kind of po- 
 etical justice, or due punishment, for their acting out of their pro- 
 per spheres : though in representing these kinds of accident, care 
 
AN ESSAY ON COMIC PAINTING. 
 
 should be taken to shew, that the sufferers are not greatly hurt, 
 otherwise it ceases to become ludicrous ; as few persons will laugh at 
 a broken arm, or a fractured scull ; this is an oversight of which the 
 managers of our theatres are sometimes guilty in their ffan|omimicat 
 representations ; where, among the tricks put upon the doctor and 
 Pierrot by Harlequin, I have seen such a bloody head given to the 
 clown by a supposed kick of the statue of a horse, that many of the spec- 
 jators, particularly those of the fair sex, have expressed great hor- 
 ror at the sight. 
 
 Of all the different artists Who have attempted this style of paint- 
 ing, Hogarth and Coypel seem to have been the most successful : 
 the works of the first stand unrivalled for invention, expression, and 
 diversity of characters. The ludicrous performances of Coypel are 
 confined to the history of Don Quixote. Most of the Dutch painters 
 in this wa]k of painting, have mistaken indecency, nastiness, and 
 brutality, for wit and humour. 
 
 On examining divers of Hogarth's designs, we find he strongly 
 adopted the principle here laid down. For example, let us consider 
 the Prison Scene in the Rake's Progress. How incompatible is it 
 for a man who possesses wings, and the art of flying, to be detained 
 within the walls of a gaol ! and equally contradictory is the idea of 
 one suffering imprisonment for the non-payment of his own debts, 
 who has the secret of discharging those of the nation ! 
 
 In the Four Times of the Day, what can be more truly consonant 
 with these principles, than the scene near Islington, where, in the 
 sultry heat of summer, a number of fat citizens are crowded together 
 in a small room, by the side of a dusty road, smoaking their pipes, 
 in order to enjoy the refreshment of country air ? In the Gate of 
 Calais, how finely does the fat friar's person and enthusiastic admi- 
 ration of the huge sirloin, mark that sensuality so incompatible with 
 his profession ; the fundamental principles of which dictate absti- 
 nence and mortification ? In that Sidmirable comic print, the Enrag- 
 ed Musician, the humour lies solely in the incompatible situation of 
 the son of Apollo, whose ear, trained to melodious and harmonic 
 sounds, is thereby rendered extremely unfit to bear the tintamarre, 
 or confusion of discordant noises, with which the painter has so lu- 
 dicrously and ingeniously surrounded hiro. 
 
 The picture of Grown Gentlemen learning to Dance, painted by 
 Collett, was well conceived ; and though infinitely short of Hogarth'a 
 
AN ESSAY ON COMIC PAINTING. 
 
 executioDj, had a very pleasing effect, both on the canvass and on the 
 stage, wjiere it was introduced into a pantomime. In this piece every 
 persoa was by form, or age, totally unfit for the part he was acting. 
 In addition, to the rule here mentioned, there are other inferior 
 considerations not unworthy the notice of an artist; contrast alone 
 vifill some.times produce a ludicrous eifect, although- nothing ridicu- 
 lous exists separately in either of the subjects; for instance, suppose 
 two men, both well 'made, one very tall,and the other extremely short, 
 were to, walk down a street together, I will answer for it, they would 
 not escape the jokes of the mobility, although alone either of them 
 ipight have passed unnoticed. Another kind of laughEtble contrast, 
 is that vulgarly styled a . Woman and her Husband : this is a large - 
 masculine woman, and a small effeminate man ; but the ridicule here 
 chiefly arises from the incompatible ; tlie man seeming more likely to 
 receive protection from the woman, than to be able to afford it to her. 
 Anachronism^ have likewise a very laughable effect. King Solo, 
 mon in all his glory, delineated in a tie or bag.^wig, laced cravat, long 
 ruffles, apd a full-dressed suit, will always cause a smile; as would 
 a)sothe siege of Jerusalem, wherein the Eniperor Titas, and his aid. 
 d,^-caipps,,sho.uld be represented in the fore-ground, dressed in great 
 wig§ and jack, boots, their horses decorated ^with laced furniture, 
 holsters, and pistols : in tlje distance, .a view of the town, amidst the 
 fire of cannons and mortars. Our theatrical representations afford 
 plenty of these ridiculpu? absurdities-, where we frequently see the 
 chaqiber of Cleopatra furnished with a table-clock and a harpsichord, 
 or a piano-forte ; or the hall of Marc. Antony with a large chimney 
 garnished with muskets, blunderbusses, fowling pieces, &c. and a 
 picture of the taking of Porto-Bello, by the brave Admiral Vernon. 
 Noting affords, greater scope for ludicrous representations than 
 the. universa.1 rage with which particular fashions of dress are follow, 
 ed by persons of all ranks, ages, sizes, and makes, without the least 
 attention to their, figures or station^. Habiliments also, not ridicu- 
 lous in thom^selves, become so \>j being worn by improper peusons, 
 or at improper places. Thus, though the full-bottomed wig adds 
 dignity to a venerably judge, we should laugh at it on the head of a 
 boyish counsel ; and though a tye-wig lends gravity to the appear, 
 ance of a counsellor or physicijatt, it contributes greatly to the lu- 
 dicrous equipment of a mountebank, a little chimney-sweeper danc- 
 ing-round the May-day garland, or one of the candidates for the Bo- 
 rough of Garrat in the procession to that election : a high head, and a 
 
AN ES5AY 0^f COMIC PAINTINtl. 
 
 Ihrge hoop, worn in a stage-coachj or a full.dressed suit and asnord , 
 at a horse-race, are equally objects of ridicule. 
 
 Respectable characters, unworthily employed^ are objects- for the 
 ludicrous pencil.- ■ Such would be a lord mayor or an alderman in his' 
 gold' chain, dancing a' faornpifie; or a Serjeant' at law, in his'coifj 
 band, and' spectacles, standing- up- at' a reel or cotillon. Einploy- 
 ments accidentally improper, may make a character ridiculonsj and< 
 that ' for those very cirenmstances which in- another situation render 
 it respectable; thus, a military or naval officer dancing a minuet with' 
 a wooden leg, exhibits a truly ludicrous appearance; consider the' 
 same person. walking or standing-, and his wooden lig- makes lnm^&^n• 
 object of respect,' as a suflferer in the cause of his countryi 
 
 Besides these general subjects, there, are others whiebi likeih^B' 
 stage trtckis, will always ensure the suffmges of the vulgar ; - among^^^ 
 them are national jokesj as an Irishman on. horseback^ carryinga' 
 Heavy portmanteau onhisheadj to-easehis horse'of its 'weight; a° 
 Welchman with his goat, leek, hay«b'oots, and long pedigree.; a'> 
 Scotchman with his scrubhing-post ; and 'a meagre Frenchman in his--- 
 lacedjacket and bag, baviiig long ruffles to-Ms sleeves, without'^a'-i 
 shirt. Of this kind are professional allusions; a -physician "and^po- 
 thecary are 'lawful game by prescription, a tailor 'by -' trade, and -.a^- 
 mayor, alderman, or church'warddw, ex officio. 
 
 Vebidles, signs, utensils, and other inanimate accompanifheuts, 
 may be made auxiliaries to ludicrous pictures;- with great success ; ■ 
 for example; a heavy overloaded 'stage#-coach;dragged by four -miser-4 
 able jades, and dignified with the title of-the Flying- Coach; the - 
 stocks serving as a prop or support'to-a drunken constable; a mis^ 
 spelt board- or'sign over the gate of an academy. 
 
 Injudicious representations of snbMrae or- sericius subjects,: haven 
 often unintentionally been prodflotive-of'^iotures-highly'lildicrous; 
 of this a striking'instaneeoccurs in- a- History-of'tbe'Bible, adorned"' 
 with plates^ intone of which the fctHtiwing textof. the'Tth-chapter-pf-^ 
 St; Matthew, vwse the third, is' illUstraladi"' And why beholdeSst-' 
 thou the mote that is-in thy'brother's'eye,bBt 'considerest not the ■ 
 the beam that is in thine own eye ? " The slate of these two men-is^ 
 thus delineated by the artist: one of them has in his eye a complete 
 castle, with a moat and its appurtenances, and in the eye of the other 
 sticks a large beam like the girder of a house. 
 
 Another picture still more ridiculous was, it is said, to be seen not 
 long ago in a church near Haerlem, in Holland; the subject was 
 
AU ESSAV ON COMIC PArNTlNO. 
 
 Abraliam pflefing up his son Isaac, where that patriarch was dravrrt 
 presenting a large horse pistol which he has just snapped at the de- 
 voted victim, kneeling on a pile ot wood before him ; but the 
 catastrophe is prevented by an angel, who, flying over is head^ 
 moistens the prime by a copious stream produced in the same man- 
 ner, as that wherewith Gulliver extinguished the fire in the palace of 
 the Emperor of Lilliput. 
 
 We meet with another instance' of this sort of unintentionally ri- 
 diculous composition, in the Military State of the Ottoman Empire, 
 written by the Count de Marsigli, member of the Royal Academies 
 of Paris and Montpelier, and of the Royal Society of London. 
 
 That gentleman, desirous of conveying the idea that he had tho- 
 roughly investigated his subject, by the common metaphor of having 
 sifted it to the bottom, his artist has endeavoured in a vignette, 
 literally to, express it by delineating that operation; and has repre-. 
 sented the Count in a full dressed coat, hat, and feather, tye-wig 
 and jack-boots, shaking through a small sieve, supported by a tri- 
 angle, little Turkish soldiers of all denominations, many of whom ap- 
 pear on the ground in a confused heap ; camels, horses, and their 
 riders^ cannons and. cannon-balls, all tumbling promiscuously one 
 over the other. On the other side of the picture are some soldiers 
 and periwigged officers looking on, as at an ordinary occurence. 
 
 To conclude the instances of these accidentally ludicrous pictures 
 I shall just mention one which a gentleman of veracity assured me 
 he saw at the Exposition des Tableaux at Paris. The subject was 
 the death of the late Dauphin, which the painter had treated in the 
 manner following : on a field-bed, decorated with all* those fluttering 
 ornaments of which .the French are so peculiarly fond, lay the Dau- . 
 phin^ pale and emaciated ; by it stood the Dauphiness, weeping over 
 him in the afiected attitude of an opera-dancer. She was attended by 
 her living children, and in the cjouds, hovering over them, were the 
 Duke of Burgundy, their deceased son, and two embryos, the pro- 
 duct of as many miscarriages ; the angel Duke was quite naked, ex. 
 cept that the order of tbe Saint Esprit was thrown cross his shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 -Jon^oti), W?6 M .<?2-u^. 489-^.. 
 
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 ^»_X*? A.-^#<, ^^a^ 
 
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BORN 16S9,DI^D 1733. 
 
 TJnkU!'Liik.26 SaM^Jl Crrh. 
 
,,[Mi?[B®i[Pi©T;a®[R3 
 
 OF AN 
 
 eONTAININO AM ACCODMT OF XHE OBICIN AND I-ROOR£S> »I 
 
 PRINTING, TYPE FOUNDING, AND ENGRAVING, 
 
 XN THEIR VARIOUS BRANCHES ; 
 
 ALSO TIIE OniGIN OF THE EARLIEST 
 
 JOOKS, PAMPHLETS, MAGAZINES, "REVIEW^, 
 PERIODICAL ESS-Ay§( AND NE:\ySPAPERSi 
 
 WITH 
 
 AND PORTRAITS. 
 
 " By this Retbospection — vast 
 I view the glorious ages past," Swift, 
 
 ^ovk: 
 
 JPRINTED BY AND POR THE AUTHOB, 
 ez, SOUTH MALL, 
 
 1835. 
 ■ 3 
 
PROSPECTUS-. 
 
 1*HE Author of " Fifty Years Recollections of an Old Bookseller," haV-" 
 ing Published the first part of bis Book without an Advertisement or 
 Prospectus (except himselt as walking ones,) relifed upon' the kind indul- 
 gence and liberal patronage, which he' bad at all times received from the 
 Inhabitants of Cork ; and which on this peculiar occasion, has exceeded 
 his most sanguine hopes and expectation ; being fully aware of tlie disad^ 
 Vantages under which he laboured in ushering into the World, with his 
 feeble efibrts,i th&first and most uninteresting portion of his Work. 
 
 It commenced at t!he year o^his With 1770, arrived only to his iSth 
 year, 1785, and was merely Ketrospective of casual events, and introduc- 
 tory to the more important ones of " Fipry Years REcoLtEcrtONs" which 
 he proposes to Isry before his Friends and the Public.'' 
 
 He is still compelled to solicit the indulgence of the Public, in avail- 
 ing himself of the latitude which he allowed himself in his title page, tX 
 an Unlimited Retrospect, for the purpose of bringing in the chain of Lite- 
 rary Anecdotes of his" Own Times." He has therefore brought within 
 he limits of Oni Hundred Pages ; A Retrospection ef 3)50 years. 
 
 This Retrospect commences with the Origin of PriHtmg in 1475, with 
 accounts of ^ome of the Antient Printers, and Portraits of them, the titles of 
 the earliest Printed Books, and their value ; the origin, titles, and dates of 
 the first Newspapers, as they were issu^ed in succession, in England, France, 
 Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales ; 
 with curious Anecdotes of some of them, from 1588, to the commencement 
 of the Eighteenth Century, and their rise and progress tO' 1785, from 
 which period they will again be noticed, and brought down to 1'835. The 
 History and Origin of Pamphlets, Reviews, Magazines, and Periodical 
 Essays, are also given, and will be continued from' the Harleian MSS. and 
 various other authentic documeafe. 
 
 Of Type Founding, and Founders ; of Stereotype Printing ; of Engra- 
 ving upon Stone, Copper, Steel and Wood; of Lithography and Zinco- 
 graphy, an account will be given of their origin, with a variety of objects 
 connected with Literature asd the Fine Arts. 
 
 In conclusion — the Author hopes that he will be' pardoned for indulging 
 in a small portion of vanity, in saying that it is gratifying to him to state 
 that he has amid anxieties, and manv avocations — Written, Compiled, 
 Printed, and completed within One Calendar Month, this portion of his 
 labours in his Cottage; that the Lithographic Portraits have been executed 
 by his Son, and that the Fac simile W ood Cuts have been Engraved by 
 his Grandson, under the same roof; circumstances perhaps reaching 
 almost to tlie summit of his ambition I 
 
 ■>*9«e 
 
 Cobb— Prmteo bt and por the Afthoh, 67, Sol'tm-Mah, 
 1835. 
 
In (JOmniericing tiiy Hemihiscencesj or RlcoLiEcfioNi, t 
 trailed myself of* ttid latitude ai an unlimited TIetrospect ; — 
 t an- glad that I a\A so, it will Jierrait me to glance at f aii- 
 dom, at the Literature oF tlie l7th 18tli & I9th centuries, 
 witHout tiring my readers.— «ijfew arid iBoalcs are iiay objietts ; 
 I shali briiig them together from a remote, to a fecen't period, 
 as conci^elj^ as the links of the chain will admit. 
 
 In taking a review of events from my birth in 1770, I 
 proposed to divide my life into Sevei* StagSs, making tha 
 first fifteen years (ttie most uninterestmg,) d cldutte one ; I 
 tmttoik mmM tb ths yeir itss. 
 
 tti tfcJildltJtf piHiCulat e\ffeiit§, tljfe tSrifes ^d( de'athS 6f effiU 
 netit \VritfefS, bfogfapfrical sketches, kt. ds CHroftbfog^ 
 rtiay b^ .sSid ftl is& one ctf th^ eyefe of hkoi^j^'i I artariffed 
 tbetn ih thit «Mdr, and as riteii are tittt bbrh, aM db HHi 
 depart Alphabetically, I inserted thera in the siiiife 'Wa^ j 
 , still as I fotirid this mods, a'nd that of writing in the tBird 
 BoBy dry indtedieifsy I shall avoid both in future. 
 
 Whffeh I ettinmenced m^ bobk, I bati not perused tiifc 
 " Life awd Erffcrrs of John DrntoB," whfo, ift tlie 17th Oeri« 
 ittfy divided his life int6 seve'tf sta^fes'j in whieH s6 hikfay 
 eaWdtrs dotnGideaeefe otciir/ that I SltaH frequesHtily adveft to 
 therti. 
 
 At the end of eadh Stage, he gibes' '' Ati idea of a tie\(r 
 life, at the ftKKiner iinfrhirih be<SrouId spefak, andthlAk, and 
 aety mi^t hts live over :again"'^bit as YotiNs, tBTaied the 
 gtoOlh^ pbelj (frata th6' Strains ih hi# Night THaugh*»>) 
 observes^ 
 
 " Man resolves, and re-resolves and dies the saatew" 
 
 Why speak of Young as a gloomy poet, the great Ed- 
 nund Burke, (the gift to Ireland qf a Gentufy) onoe 
 
 exclaimed, ^ ;ii.. . .,t- .^.i 
 
 " JOVE p'raised the verse old IlqMtH sung, 
 
 Bill aOb tiimlelf inspired Y'ovi^i:'\ 
 
( 102 ) 
 i have many iriducements for noticing Duhton, and his 
 times, he appears to have been amongst the ripest of the 
 publishers of JVewspapers^ Reviews of Books, and other' 
 periodicals— yiis " News from all Nations," and his "Athe- 
 nian Oracle," established his ifam'e. I once met a copy" of 
 his i2ecie«>— r(now extremely scarce and valuable) with a Pe- 
 destrian ioohsetler at Clohmell, in Ireland, white un- 
 strapping his Collection, a Copy of Dunton's Eeview pre- 
 sented itself, which was immediately seized by a highly 
 respectable Quaker, or Friend,, who instantly paid six 
 ^shillings, for it. I regretted not being the purchaser — 
 however, this gentleman invited me to breakfast the follow- 
 ing morning, and kindly lerLt me the Book. 
 
 Dunfon gives a good account of the periodicals and theic 
 contributors; J\recAofe continued to notice the prmcipal ones 
 for more than a century afterwards. As Anecdotes respecting 
 the rise and fall of the periodical press will form a feature in 
 this Work,. I claim the indulgence of my readers as I jour- 
 ney onwards^ 
 
 Dunton's biographer remarks, that "abrief Arialysisofthe . 
 Xife of this ingenious, but eccentric bookseller, whose lattes 
 -years were strongly tinctured with insanity, will give. the rea- 
 der an; idea of the undisguised and desultory narrative 
 tirhich he lias given of himself anfd his numerous friends and 
 contemporaries ; amongst whom will be found iiearly all the 
 Printers, Engravers, Booksellers, Stationers and Binders, 
 of that peri6d."^-for these vre must refer to-- the work itself, 
 and to the venerable John Nichols, his biographer, a very 
 superior man-, of whom I liave given a portrait,, and whose 
 literary labours in Anecdotes and Illustrations of the Litera- 
 ture of the 18th Century, exceed those of any other man of 
 his time. ! : .- 
 
 John Dunton was a most voluminous Writer, as he seems 
 ■to have had his f>en always ready, and never to have been 
 at a loss for a subject to exercise it upon : but though he 
 generally put hi? name to what he wrote, it would be a 
 difficult task to get together a complete collection of his 
 various publications. As containing notices of many per- 
 
( 103 ) 
 «i3ns and things not tp be found elsewhere, tliey certainly 
 haye their use; and his accounts, it must be acknowledged, 
 are often interesting. 
 
 Still it is remarked that " this dipper into &: tltousand ■ 
 Books formed ten thousand Projects ; six hundred of which • 
 he appears to have thought he had cOmpfetely methodized. 
 His mind seemed to be like some tables, where the \actual» 
 have been ill-sorted and worse dressed." 
 
 As a wholesale Writer, Compter, and Dealer^Duntoi*-' 
 may be compared tQ Peiep. Vander, (aji eminent Bookseller,' ' 
 «f his own day) at •Le.yden, and a laborious publisher of 
 Voyages, Travels, and Geographical collections, in the 
 Dutch and French Languages. — .What will the reader think 
 of his Gallerle due Monde, in Sixty-six Volumes folio ? ! ! ! 
 
 When nearly 15, to suit the peculiarity of his genius, Dii'n- 
 ton was apprenticed to Mr. Thomas Parkhurst, a respectably ' 
 Bookseller." • . ■- 
 
 In 1084, when, his appreriticeship was nearly expired, 
 young Dunton made himself conspicuous, in a political dis,- 
 pute betvifeen the Torjes and the Whigs, Being a,prinie mover 
 on the part of the Whig apprentices, and selected for their 
 Treasurer, the Tories to the number of 50-00, greseptedan 
 Address to the King against the petitioning for Parliaments. 
 The dissenting parJ;y made their remonstrances to the former 
 in a Qounier, Address which they presented to Sir Patience. 
 Wardj then Lord Mayor of London,- who promised he would 
 acquaint the King with their Address; and then, ordered 
 them to return home, jindmind the business of their respec-. 
 tive Masters." ' ■ ' > 
 
 " By Dunton's own statement, his , conduct during the. 
 seven years was not very regular ; and at the expiration »f 
 the term, no less than 100 Apprentices were inyited to Cele- 
 brate the Funeral/' 
 
 ■Dunton soon become successful in business, his reputa- •. 
 tipn grew with, his circumstances; and August 3rd 1,682, he- 
 niarried Elizabeth, one of- the daughters of Dr. Samuel-, 
 Annessley,' who at that time was ' a ' celebrated preacher 
 ■a^nong the Dissenters" 
 
C 104 ) 
 
 Matrimonial Connection with Miss Anneslgy,, $ j^^Jjl ^rf ijf- 
 te? S^t?. ^n AjaSpdjQit«! of "^VUtof^ wi% ^ CWfolW .^owpjr 
 depeg.; in );hft Ji^. of a, p^r^On Telate^ ^9 tl\e,.Anfle§Jey ai>cl 
 W.e^JsS fe|8}i;e%;. aa<|., ^i^ ^y prticip^tion in | r9Ki^»^(; 
 aivSBlW*, ^hich I ?hatll detsiil ii;^ i]^j jro.p^ir placfi. 
 
 " He now opepcfl a s^ipg atifh? Mf"f)f ]R^?>ven, at };l]e eprpsr 
 of Ppnc,es Street, near the Boyal Exchaijge;, an^ published 
 in 1685, IJf^gots; or Popms. pn several suhjects never 
 before ha,in41edby a Scholar."^ ^his,'W"ork is here pa;-^ 
 ticuJurlv noticed af a production, (^t the age, of 19) of Mr- 
 Sa^iu^l ^e^ley who bv marrying a ^aughter* 'pPDr, 
 Ann^sley, becanpe, the bVoth^r-jn-liiw pf D'untpn, and wai 
 connected with hjn} in sev^raj of his. speculatrons in trade j 
 thqugh they afterwarpi pa^rted witl\ irreponcilable hatred." f 
 
 " The general business of Punton, was carri^, on very, 
 prpsperously, till the univ.ey sal. damp upon Trade^ which was 
 occasipned by the defeat pf the Ifjuke pf Mohmotith jn the 
 West; wiieri having i}OQ^, owing him in New England 
 Jie determined, aftpr much deliberatipp, tp make a trip thi- 
 ther;, and, after a long and tediou? voyage of four months,^ 
 and the Ipss pf s,. Venture pf Sftff'. \n another ship, which 
 
 %. Sf!l once; prihteia BoflV, \ reflie\nnjaej-, Vis^m %f tUie oiC ' Maggfl'siu' 
 l)ijt, it ^,as wnttf n by a DiffiHary of tlje piiurch ()f. Kngland.'Wl'ha 
 FroHtisjjiece tome Volume is an anonymous Portrait- of the' AUttior; th« 
 ■PipJBVe, oj a mgn i|v,ritiDg at a table, ^ ijagoot on hi^ Eoif^Jifiijil, ^%^ 
 IWderneatli are tliese lines: — 
 
 " In's own defence tlie Author writes : 
 gpcause, w^e.n tlii%tpi(l B^aggQl bijes^ 
 
 He ne'er can rest in quiet: 
 Which makes him make so sad a face, 
 He'd bjCg your VVorship, or your Grace, 
 
 " Dnsi^b't, unseen, to- lay. iti ' . . .; 
 
 * Who is saitl ta havA been, a wfljipftBof e,4EV^I"35 ^l^yife. ^t 
 lettersf to Iver. tbildr^n bear the marks o( ^ij^lime piety an^ great tense ; 
 pafticiilarly one to her elJltest iSon ori''tbe principWs 'ot natural religtoBj 
 which was for some time in the possession of Dr. Prjifistjy^ vfiil^ n^njr 
 others equally sensible and curious. By this excellent woman Mr. 
 samuH WesJ^y '**'' ""^ Danghlisri ipeJi*it'SBb«> Wright, Awtboras^ pfeevie-, 
 raj, ingenious P(X6n^s; an(^. three Sons, Samuel, Head-maslpr of Tiverton 
 SchoJr.'an^ Jobfi and Charhis,' the two cflebrited Founders oj the 
 modem sflct of Mejjjiodjsts^ •" Liiiera;j) iVi^cc^ot^," v.ol. Y. g, 212 247, 
 
 % Dunton, however, sgyi." I eouW n<)H(^.y^Ty itia^^oitj on the, char 
 racter of ttiis Coiiformirig Dissenter : but except lie further provokes me, ' 
 J bid him faiewell, till we meet in jleav^n; ati^l^fjfij,! bp^fi \ye, ^i jll, 
 i^n^yv our friendship, for I b^lievg Sam Wesley a piousinan. 
 
w%» ca»t->way, lie arrived safe 3^\ Boston in February 1085,8} 
 apd opened a .yarehpuse for the gaje of tlie BiOQ^s which h« 
 bad tak^n thither." 
 
 Cftrryipg wUh him noweffi^l rec<?mijien4atiom, and his 
 ^qojf^ hmgf^f ft Cil»s5 ?,dapted t9 th? P^ritaos^ the success 
 Vf5^^ e^,UiSl t? his W^tes. 
 
 On the day tie Pimica of Quanga came to London he 
 again opened a shop, at tlie Bdack Raisen, opposite tha 
 Poaltrp, Oemf»te«^ whene he tiided tea^ yeaia, vdtb a TftriAtjr 
 of success and diaappeip>fiineiit§. 
 
 ?'0f 6QQ Roolfs w^hich he had printed, he had only to 
 repent," he says, ^^qf Seven. He made great exchanges. • 
 
 In 1692, **having been put in possession of a considera- 
 ble estate upon the decease of a Cousin, the Master and 
 Assistants of the' Cqmp.any of Stationers began to think him 
 sufficient to we^ a jjiverjr, and lionoured him with ths 
 Cloathing; and the year fbflowtng, Mr. Harris (his old 
 Friend and Partner), and about fifty more of the Jiivery 
 entered into a Friendfy- Society, and obliged themselves 
 tb pay 26s. stnnua^ly for a humispme Dinner, 
 
 " The first year Iwore the, li^^ery," he. adds, *' Sir Wilh'am 
 Ashburs); bejng then Lord Maypr, I wa^ invited by our Mas- 
 ter and Wardens to d^ne with his Ljjrdship.' We went in a 
 body from the Poultry Church to Groc.ers Hall ; where the 
 entertainment was v^ry generous, ai^d a iiobl^ Sjpoon, he sent 
 to our Wipes, 
 
 ' ' The VPrW HQ^ swiM Q^ise^ fr. } ^aile^ wi)^ wind and, 
 tide; and had humble servants £\fno,ftg ^h^ Bpoksellers^ 
 Stationers,. Printers, and, Binder* I b»t, ^pepially nxy own 
 {lelations, on, every sid.e^ wlip wgire all unoQ the veFy height p£ 
 Iqyc and te.iiderrie§Si a,n,d I. wa.s cafe^iaed aljapst; pujt p.f niv 
 ^ve, seuLse^.. 
 
 *-Ab extensive exchange of Books ?,pp,?ars ta liave been ^t this perioii 
 a very material eircuiHgtanC^ in t(>e BpokleKjpg T>''^'ls» 3°<1 wliiclii%G,er- 
 Biany is still carried on, at the Book Fairs of Leiusic,, sq that the Printer 
 pf one or two good Publieatio8,s, caij (urnisl) liiraself wiiji tile sfopk o? 
 all liis brethern, at. first cost. 
 
 fDunton atva)!iou;times.eqiplayedmor«tlian-tUirty<]KFitit$r«i a»d-d«al't 
 
 largely w^h the principal Staitioners in llie Metropolis. 
 
( 106 ) , 
 
 One of tlie most ingenious (and, perUaps, the most iiieful) 
 eT his variolas Projects was, " The Athenian Gazette," af- 
 •Serwards called " The Athenian Mercury," commenced 
 March 17, 1689-90, and continued till February 8, 1695-0. 
 The plan of this Work originated in his own prolific brain ; 
 liutin a short time he entered into a sort of partnership in 
 the publication, with his brother-in-law Samuel Wesley, and' 
 Mr. :Richafd Sault,: and was occasionally assisted by: Dr. 
 W,orris» The Work was also countenanced by several of the 
 most eminent wjiter^of the age; and was honoured \n par- 
 ticular with a commendatory poem by SwiftiS ' : 1 
 , In 1697 PuRton lost- his, wife, • whose death he fitted y 
 lamented; though in the same year he consoled himself. by, 
 another marriage wjth ^aTah^ daiffih|er,of ,J\Irs. Nicholas, 
 ef St. Alban's, Wjth thi'^ la,dy hedoes iioit appear ,ta have- 
 added much tC! his, comforts or his fortune. He left her, 
 soon after the ma.rriagej on an expedition to .Dublin "with a, 
 Ifirge cargg- of Bookjs. fhese were carried- to a good matket, , 
 tlioiigh he became involved in a ridicxulous dispute, which he 
 afterwEu-ds detailed at lar^e in 'J Tke Bublin Sct0e ; 9., 
 Challenge sent by John Duiiton, Qitizen of tondon, . tqj 
 Fatrick Campbell, Bookseller in IJublin ;. together, with the 
 small Skirmishes of Bills and Ad.veirtisgmeiits. Tp which 1$ 
 added, som^ .Recount of his Ponversation in H'eland,. inter- 
 mixed with particular Ch,aracters of the ,mo>t eminent per- 
 sons he conversed with in that Kingdom ; but more especially 
 ian the City of Dublin : 1699." 
 
 Duinton possessed a quaint Style and Eccentric manne? 
 ©r describing his thousand fiiends,. and acquaintance. I se^t 
 lect a' ftw as specimens r 
 
 ' torn Brown is a good Scholar, and knows to translate' 
 either the Latin or the French incomparably well. He is 
 enriched with a noble genius, aYid understands our own 
 Tongue as well, if not better, than any man of the age. The 
 *' Poems" he has'written are very beautiful acd. fincj, but the 
 
 * This was one of the earliest poeikal productions of the Dean. Dr., 
 Johnson says, *' I have been told that Dryden having perused these verses 
 «-.cid, ' Cousin Swift, you will never be a Poet ;' and tliat,this denunciatioi^ 
 was the motive of Swift's perpetual malevolence to Dryden," SSe ihft 
 . in the Dean's" VYpiks, edit. 1808,, vol;- -X Vl. p. ,23. ' ' 
 
iUi'gency of Kis circumstances will not allow him time ehotii^ 
 to lay out his talent that way. After all, I cannot but sa'^ 
 tliat his Morals are wretchedly out of ordeir ; and it is'extreine 
 pity that a itian of so fine parts, and so well accomplished 
 every other way; should ^pend his time upon a few romantic 
 Letters; that seem purely designed to debauch the Age, aai 
 bverthroW the foundations of Rfeligton and Virtue, 
 
 Mr. Z)' Xtrfey tas tut 4 low genius, and yet some of his 
 Farces would make a body laugh. He has writteii consider- 
 ably in his time, arid there are- few Authors thrft have bSeai 
 more diverting. Yes, D'Urfey, 
 
 Thou canst play, thou canst sing. 
 To a Mayor, or a King, 
 
 Tho' thy luck on the Stage' is so scurvy ; 
 Such a Beau, such a Face, 
 Such' a Voice to disgrace^ 
 
 Saeb a Mien— 't is the De'il, Mr. D'Urfey. 
 
 Mr. Danwl De Foe is a man of good parts, aitd very cleai' 
 Sense. His conversattioii is ingenious and tjrisTi: enough. The 
 world is well satined that he is enterprising and hold ; but, 
 atas ! bad his prudence only weighed a few graftis rnore, lie 
 ■Would certainly have wrote his " Shortest Way" a Jitlilfi 
 fiiore act length. 
 
 There have been some men in all ages, who have taliea 
 that of Juvenal for their motto : 
 
 " Aude aliquid Wevibus Gyaiis, et 6:trcere ctignum, 
 Si vis esse aU(jui&." 
 
 . Mad he wxitfea bo more than his " True-born English- 
 man," and spared some particular Characters that are too 
 vicious for the very Originals, he had certainly deserved 
 applause ; but it is hard to leave off when notx)n]y llie itck 
 and inclination, but the necessityof writing, lies so heavj 
 upon a man. Should I defeijd his good nature and, his hon- 
 esty, and the world would not believe me, it would be labour 
 in vain. Mr. Be Foe wrote, for me the " Character of ,Df. 
 Annesley, and a " Pindaric in honour of the Atlieniran Soci- 
 ety," which was prefixed to the Histony of it. And he might 
 liave asted me the question, before he had inserted either of 
 
( 108 ) 
 them in tl»a Collectian of his vrorlcs, ia regard he write* ta 
 bitterl|y against tlie same injustice ih others.* 
 
 Mr, Fulled is not ftnly a yUMin, but he is known to be 
 sb . He has son!k6{hing peeuliar in his f ac«, that distinguishes 
 him from the rest of mankind. However, he Las been such 
 ii mystery o/it^tt^p, that the world bad much ado to uh-' 
 riddle him. His looks are bo honest and innocent, that you 
 would think it was impossible tliat any miscliief should be 
 lodged in his heart. He has told the World, ih the '' History 
 of his Life," that Mr. Baldwin and I did improve bis '^ Nar- 
 rative of the sham Prince of Wales," on purpose to make it 
 sell ; Tti'hicb is the most formal lie I have niet With, in regarii 
 the Copy was printed 6ff befbter Wfe gftv? tt. In tfee same 
 " History of his Life^" he pretends tb triake public etery ro- 
 guery he committed; but says nothing of his carrying Mr. 
 Hayhurst and myself to Cantertmry, and several other places, 
 in quest of sorod *' State Letters" whieh were never in being, 
 and of the great sum he is yet indebted to us upon that ac- 
 count; so that, \i hii penitence and ^ts coiifessidn be in the 
 same condition, they neither of them signify a farthing; 
 
 Mr. ^mes, originally a coat-seller ; bnt had always some 
 yammerinrgs upon him alter Learning and the Muses. He 
 has almost written as many pretty little pleasant Poems as 
 Taylor the Water Poet. You might engage him upon what 
 Project you pleased, if you would but conceal him, for hi.s 
 principles did never resist in such cases. I printed a Poem' 
 for him, under the title of " The Double liesceht.*' At that 
 time the French talked big, of invading- England ; and we 
 ■were making ready for a Descent up6T» their cOdfetS. Wine 
 and "Wf^omen were the great barie of hiS'Iife Stud h&|>pines«; 
 He died in an hospitaf : but I hope he wSs Ifoiype^rtfeftf i 
 for a little- before his decease, hesai'd t6me, ^ith a great de«f 
 of concern •' Ah, Mr. tJuht^fl ! v^ith \vhit' anbthef fadi* d(l«S 
 the world appear, liow I -have' B^ath iit ViB^. !" 
 
 • The- famous Dariiel De FeS^ iuthot o€ Eibi'Aioti (trtim, and tMny 
 ether distinguished Writings,, died on the 9th of Aoril 17»1.— HeperfMtljr 
 Understood nnmanniiture, and how to fotich fKe pSSsiofti ST his codtr^mlSrt^ 
 beiag Otiftof the best EngKih Writ*'*, eonridsrijijf h» had receive^ ''•cl* * 
 eircunscribod Education^ Bovli. 
 
"The Athenian Gazette" made now such a noise in tljP 
 world, and was so universally received, that we were obliged 
 to look out after some members ; and Mr. Sault, I remember 
 one evening came to me iii gi-eat transport, and told me, "he ■ 
 had been in company with a Gentleman who was the greatest ' 
 prodigif of Learning he had ever met with." IJpon enquiry, 
 we found it was the ingenious Dr. Norris, who very gener ■ 
 rously offered his assistance^m^j»> but refused to become a, 
 stated; Member of ^ihett^. He was wonderfully useful in 
 supplying hints ; for, bein^ universally read, and his mernory 
 very strong, there was nothing could be asked, but he could . 
 very easily sa.y something to the pwtpose i^ppn it. 
 
 In a little time after, to oblige Authority^, we altered the ' 
 title of .".Athenia,A Gazette;" into, " Atheiiian. Mercury'' ar^ 
 it wEtSt subsequefltly t:h£|.nged ipto the name of -" The Afi^^-,.r 
 nian Oracle." 
 
 A little after this, was published " The new Athenian 
 Comedy ; containing the Politieis, yEconomicks, Tacti'cks, 
 Crypticks, Apocalypticks, Stypticks, Scepticks, Pneuma- 
 t'rcks, Theologicks, Poeticks, Mathematicks, Sophisticks; 
 Pragmaticks,' Dogmaticks, of.6ur most learned society." 
 This Play wa's a poor performance, written, however, on 
 purpose to expose us, but failed so far in the design of it, that 
 it promoted ours." 
 
 From the days of Dryden, Pope and Swift, down to those 
 of Nichols', Lord' Byron, and others ; the most eminent Bbok-- 
 sellers have frequently been honored with effective notice,^— 
 and ^untoi\ in the double capacity of Author and Booksel- 
 ler, Jias enumerated such avast number cjf tlie latter frater^ 
 nity, in a manner so peculiar to himself, that I ani iriduce^, 
 tg select thejfojlpwing specimens, hoping, with the aid of , Mr. 
 Nichols, and 50 years; of my own observations, to present a 
 •variety of Entertaining Subjects, cgrjnected with them, and 
 as assimilated with Authors, and the Periodical Pre§s. 
 
 " Mr. Thomas GiJOf^ in. Lombatd-street. He make&^an 
 e(ii|ii^nt figure in the Gompspy of Stationers, havijigbeen 
 chosen Sheriff of London, aijd paid' the Fine ; and is nqw a 
 Menaber of Parliament for Tamw-orth. . He entertains a very 
 
 p 
 
c 110. y 
 
 sincere respect for Eaglish Liberty, He is ft man of strong? 
 reason, and can talk very much to tfie purpose upon anjr 
 i^bject you will propose. He is truly charitable, of which 
 his Almshouses for the poor ate standing testimonies. * 
 
 ■Mr. Bichard Chisrvell, who well desferves the title of 
 ' -Metropolitan Bookseller of England,' ifnotofall the World. 
 His Name at the bottom of a Title-page dofes sufficiently 
 retommend the Book, He has not been known tv> print 
 either a bad &ook., or oii^ bad Paper. He is admirably weli 
 qoalified for his business,- and knows how to value a Copy* 
 according to its worth :" witness the purchase he has made- 
 of " Archbishop Tillotson's Octavo Sermons." 
 
 Mr. Samuel Manship is lllr.. Norris's Bookseller; and so' 
 long as he Can turn Metaphysicks into Money, he is like to' 
 fee continued-- 
 
 Mr. Nathaniel Crouch. I think t have given you the; 
 very soul of his Character, when I have told you that his- 
 talent lies in- Collection. He has melted down the best of' 
 our English Histories into Twelve-penny Books, -which are 
 filled with Wonders, Rarities,. and Curiosities;? for you must 
 know his Title-pages are a little swelling. {Fronii nulla 
 fides.) I have a hearty friendship for him ; but. he has got 
 a habit of leering under his hat and once made it a. great 
 part of his business to bring down the reputationof 'Second, 
 Spira.' 
 
 Mr. Samuel Smitfi, Bookseller to the Royal Society, deals 
 very much in Books of a Foreign growth, and speaks Prench 
 and Latin with a great deal of fluency and ease. His Shop- 
 is very beautiful, and' well furnished. He was one of those- 
 I invited to the "Funeral- of my Apprenticeship; His Partner, 
 jSenJamin Walford, is a very ingenious man, and' knows' 
 books extraordinary well'.- 
 
 * Thomas Guy Esq. formerly a great Uooltseller, and Member for 
 Tamworth, died. Deoembej 27, 1724, aged 80. He bequeathed 20Q,000£.. 
 t!o an hospital for incurables, built by himself, and nearly finished during 
 his life time; he left man J othei charities, and lOOil a piecs to 50 of hi* 
 sSatioDs. £oY.LE.- 
 
{ 111 ) 
 
 ^r. TFiat, if Trim Tram have any truth in it, is ah 
 Tionest and ingenious bookseller ; but indeed it is character 
 enough for hiin, that he was Mr. Robinson's Apprentice.-^ 
 He prints Mr. Dorrington's Books. Howe*«r a Bookseller 
 is not always accountable for the Errors and Bigotry of his 
 Authors. 
 
 Mr. Richard Parker. His body is in good ease ; his 
 face red and plump; "hiii eyes brisk and sparkling; of aa 
 humble look and behavit)ur; naturally witty ; and -fortunate 
 in all he prints, Eindis univsTsaVly known and beloved by the 
 Merchants that freguent the Royal Exchange, 
 
 Mr. John Salusbury was a desperate Hypergorgonic 
 yi'^elshman. He would dress as it were in print, only to 
 have the Ladies say, "Look what a delicate .sliape and fbdt 
 .that gentleman hasi" He was a silly, empty, morose fellow. 
 He had as much conceit, and as little reason for it, as any 
 man that I ever knew. He was the first that printed "The 
 Flying Dutch Post," and (to grief of his Author) did often 
 fill it with, stolen Copies. He went to law with the 
 Company of Stationers (to keep himself frojn the Livery) ; 
 would "hector the best man of the Trade; but now lies as 
 hush and quiet" as a body would wish, in the New Burying^ 
 place. 
 
 Mr. GilViflower. ^oth his eyes were tiever at once 
 ■from home ; for one kept house, and observed the actions of 
 ■men, while the other roamed abroad for intelligence. Pfe 
 ^oved his Bottle arid his Friend with an equal affection. He 
 was very tetchy upon some occasions : yet thriving was part 
 •of his character. . He printed " L'Estrange's .iEsop," "Lord 
 Halifax's Advice to his Daughter," and many excellenj; 
 -Copies. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Alsop. He was a first-rate Booksellerr 
 for some years. Bat see the rambling fate of some men.; 
 for Ben being a wild sort of a Spark, he left his shop to get 
 a commission in Monmouth's Army; and as Ben told mp 
 in Holland, had the Duke succeede^i, he had been ma^e 
 Earl, or a Baron at least; i. e. If the sky had fell, he hjid 
 patched' a lark." 1 succeeded Captain Alsop, in his -i hop 
 
( 112 ) ^ ■ 
 •in the Poultry ; and had lived there to this yery hour, had 
 I found any pleasure in noise and hurry. 
 
 Mr. Lee, in Lombard-street. Such a Pirate, such a 
 Cormorant, was never before. Copies, Books, Men, Shops; 
 all was one ; he held no propriety, right or wrong, good or 
 bad,- till at last he began to be known ; and the Booksellers, 
 •not enduring so bad a man among them, to disgrac e them, 
 cast him out, and off he marched for Ireland, where he 
 acted as felonious- Lee, as he did in London. And as Lee. 
 lived a thief, so he died a hypocrite; for being asked on 
 his death-bed, if he would forgive Mr. t (that had for- 
 merly wronged him), "Yes," said Lee, "if I die,! forgive 
 him; but if I happen to live, I am resolvecl'to be revenged 
 on him. 
 
 Mr. Hodgson. He "calls a spade a spade;" and is so 
 just in his dealings, that I verily think (were it not discre- 
 tion) he would never think a thought whereof he would 
 avoid a witness. His Word is his Parchment, and his Yea 
 his path, which he will'not violate for fgar or gain. He ha^ 
 jgood Success in his Trade ; and, having an honest design 
 in every thing he does, dares; publish that to the World 
 which others would keep as a secret. 
 
 Mr. Tonson. He was Bookseller to the famous Dryden; 
 and is himself a very good judge of Persons and Authors; 
 and as there is nobody more competently qualified to give 
 their opinioii of another, so there is none who does it with 
 a more severe exactness, or with less partiality; for, to dp 
 Mr. Tonson justice, he'speaks his mind upon all occasions, 
 'dnd will flatter nobody, 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Ilarris, in Gracechurch-street, He Las^ 
 •been a brisk asserter of English Liberties, and once printed 
 'a Book with that very Title. He sold a " Protestant Peti- 
 tion" in King Charles Eeign for which they fined him five 
 hundred pounds, and set him once in the Pillory: but his 
 Wife (like a kindEib) stood by him, to defend her Husband 
 against the Mob. — After this (having a deal pf mercury in 
 ^his natural temper) he travelled to Nevv-England, where lie 
 followed Bookselling, and then Cofiee-selling, and then 
 
< 113 ) 
 Printhig, Tjut coritihued Ben H&iTis Still; an3 is now Ijofli 
 Bookseller'aud Printer in Grracfechtircfe^treet, as -we find Ijy 
 his •'London Post;" sO that his Cotttersation is getw^al 
 Ijiit never impertinent, ^nd his Wit pKttMe 'to all inventions. 
 But yet his vanity (if helias Htty) gives no slUoy to htt wit, 
 and is no more than mishjt justly spring f<^9ii^ conscientious 
 virtue ; a][id I do him Taut justice in this part o^ his chaT 
 rapter, -for, in once travelling with him from "Biiry fair, I 
 found him to be th^ most itigeqioi^s and innocenj: companion 
 that I had ever met with, 
 
 Mr. Knaptom. He is a very accomplished person; not 
 that thin sort of animal that flutters from lavern to Play- 
 house, and ))ack again ; all his life made up with wig anfl 
 cravat, without one drani of thought in his co,jppositioh;^- 
 but a person made up with solid worth, brave and generous; 
 and shews by his purchasing " Dampier^s Voykges"; he 
 knows how to value a good Copy. 
 
 Mr. Burroughs, in Little-Britain. He is a very beau- 
 tiful person, and his Wit sparkles s^ well as hjs e^s. He 
 has much address and' as great a presence ofimind as I ever 
 met with. He is diverting company, and perhaps as well 
 qualified to make aii Ajdsnjian as. any Bookseller in Little- 
 Britain. (Little Britaifi was as great a inart for j^ookselling 
 in that Day as Eaternoster-rbw, is at the present.) 
 
 Mr. Mount, on Tower-hill. He is not only moderate;, 
 but has a natural antipathy to all excc^. He hates hoar- 
 ding either Mon^^y or Goods; -and, being a charitable man, 
 values nothing but by the use of it, and has a great and ten-j^ 
 der love for truth. Hedeals <;hie%-in Paper and ^ea Bo(>ks, 
 dnd'is a hearty 'friend to ihe ■ present Q-oveKnment, 
 ' This Ge^ntleman's -name has a] peared in this .establih-; 
 toent over a century. 
 
 Mr. 'Maltlms. He midwifed "several Books into the 
 World, aye! and that of his b\?n eoncEiving,'assure as ever 
 young Perkin was his who owned him! He madp-af-shew of 
 a great trade, by continually sending out large parcels. — 
 But all I can. say of his industry is, he took a great deal of 
 paiiis to ruin himself. But though Mr. Malthits was very 
 
X 114 ) 
 Unfortunate, yet I hope his Widow (our new Publisher) will 
 hstve all the encouragement the Trade can give her; for she 
 is not only a 3ookseller's Widow but a Bookseller's Daugh? 
 ter, and herself free fropi all that pride and arrogance that 
 is -found in the carriage of some Publishers. 
 
 Mr. Small. He was once a Rising Sun in Trade ; bu| 
 his Sun is set in a Cloud., and lie is now reckoned among 
 the unfortunate. He was owner of a great deal of Wit and 
 Learning and perliaps, had he not kiiown it, had still been 
 as thriving as ever. He was much admired for all his Pro^ 
 jects (especially that of Dftpiri] ; and even the first bloS'- 
 soms of his youth paid us all that could be expected from a 
 ripening manhood; while Tie was "but an apprentice in Cornr 
 hill he could out-wit most other Booksellers and when 
 for himself, he could find iiQne to surpass him but himself 
 alone: 
 
 " But here, John Dunton, is thy skill confin'd, 
 Thofl cans't not paint his noMer Soul and MinJ^ 
 !No pen the praise he merits can inclite ; 
 Himself, to represent himself, must write." 
 
 Mr. Ballard, He is a young Bookseller in Little'-Brita-ifl; 
 but is grown man in body now, but more in mind. 
 
 " His looks are in the Blother's beauty dress'd. 
 And all the Father hasinform'd liis breast."* 
 
 Mr. HuVbald, in Duek-laae. He has been umfoitunate, 
 and so is every body one time or another. If we eye his 
 carriage to his rich Uncle, we shall find how his courage arid 
 wisdom carried him with an unwearied course through both. 
 Hemispheres of Prosperity and Adversity ; compassin'g as J 
 
 may say, the whole Globe of both Fortunes: so that, if 
 we look upon Frank Hubbald, we may all learn that nq 
 
 Cross is too heavy for a Christian Resolution, nor any diffi- 
 culty too hard for Honesty to conquer. 
 
 "Mr. Ballard was the last of his fraternity that resided in Little Britain ; 
 I knew, him extremely well, and have already given an account of him, 
 and his antiquated Costume ; he lived to the advajiced age of 38, and died 
 in ._n96j in thp same house in wljich h? v\as born. W. W, 
 
I shall next characterize my honest Friend Mr. Johi)i 
 
 Harris, which is an epithet so deservedly due to his memory^ 
 
 that I do not think there is a Bookseller in London but what 
 
 will own him a just Man as they ever kneVv. His little body* 
 
 (as Cowley calls it) was a sort of Cupid's lord; but what 
 
 I'i'ature denied him in bulk and straightness, s6e gave kiih m 
 
 wit and vigour 
 
 " Of all* hinesl Booksellers t if ydii'd'have tlie marrow. 
 Repair to Kiag John, at the sign of the harrow." 
 
 Mr. Bernard Lintott. He lately published " A Collec- 
 tion of Tragic Tales, &c." by which I perceive he is angry 
 with the World, and Scorns it into the bargain : and I can- 
 iioi blame him ; for D'Urfey (his Autlior) totli treats and 
 esteems it as it deserves — too hard a task for those. whom it 
 flatters, or perhaps for Bernard himself, should the World 
 ever change its humour, and grin upon him. However, t» 
 do Mr. Lintott justice, he is a man of very good principles ; 
 and, I dare eagage, will never want an Author of Sol-fa sa 
 Jong as the Play-ho'use- will encourage his Comedies. 
 
 Mr. iSfamiiel Buckley. Re was origiiially a bookseller,, 
 but follows Printing. He is an excellent Linguist, under- 
 stands the Latin, French, Dutch, and Italian Tongues, and 
 is master of a great deal of Wit. He prints " The Daily 
 Courant," and " Sionthly Register" fwhich I hear, he 
 translates out of the Foreign Papers himself). But I shall, not 
 enlarge in his Character (for I never ^new himj ; but will 
 venture to say, as to his morals,, he is an honest man. 
 
 Mr. Haven. He is my brother both by sign and trade,; 
 and 1 do liim no wrong if I call him the pattern and standard 
 of Wit and Loyalty. He has the true art of governing him- 
 self and family ; and, in a word, my Brother Raven is what- 
 ever a sober man and a good Bookseller ought to be. He is 
 also a nice Disputant,, and can dress, his thoughts In very neat 
 language. 
 
 * This reminds me of a compliment paid in the true Johnsonian style, 
 by the late great and learned'Dr. Parr, to Mr. James Belcher, an eminent 
 Bookseller, in Birmingham, and formerly a pupil of Dr. Parrs. He. 
 was very slight in his body and legs — Pair'observed of him that " He had 
 the body. ofa Butterftp, withthe head bfjan Elephant.'." yf..W^ 
 
 t I recollect in 1785, when Bichard Watson, late Bishop of Landaff, 
 was bringing out his " Theological Tracts" in 6 Volumes, published by 
 my old Master Evans. The Bishop upon introducing a brother Bishop, ob- 
 served " If there is aa honest fool^eller ia London — ii is Thomas. 
 
(, 116 )■ 
 I.saw.liitn on his counter, where h« sate ; 
 Biisy in controversies sprung of late ; 
 A Cowtt a^^ f en Cetame him- wondroup welt, 
 Bk grave aspect had more of Heaven tban HsU ; 
 On)y therfr was a handsotter piqtBiio by. 
 • Xo vthieh he lept a corner of bis sy^ 
 Mr. Uf — iOTh He is happy in a very beautiful Wife, ^nd 
 she in as kfnd a ttusbanfl ; they hate lived so happily since 
 their M^rriaige, that, sure eniough, th» Baions of their Matri- 
 mony were asked in Heaven. As Mr- D— ton may value 
 himself upon his beautiful choice, so 
 
 That bright Soul wfeich Heaven has giv'n his Spouse 
 Make all her charms vf ith double lustre shine : 
 
 And therefore, as the ingenious Hopkins once saJd ih ano- 
 ther case, 
 
 " Make beauteous D — ton vpith the first atfvsnce, 
 Charmriiof at' evarj step, with every gJanee ; 
 Sweet as her temper paint hei heavenlji face ;■ 
 Draw her b,ut like, you giye your piece a gtacp. 
 . Blend for he? aH the Beauties e'er yon \.mw, 
 Tor so his Venus fam'd Apelles drew. 
 But hoH — to make her most divinely fair, 
 Consult hersfelf, you*Il find all beauty there.'' 
 
 Dunton was not deficient in gallantry, witness the com- 
 pliment paid to his Wife and also to 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Harris. She is the beajutiful Relict of 
 my worthy Friend Mr. John Harris-, Her most remark- 
 able graces are. Beauty, Wit, and Modesty. So pretty a 
 fabric was never framed by an Almighty Architect for a vul- 
 gar .guest. He shewed the value which he set upon her 
 mind, when he took care to have it so nobly and so beauti- 
 fully lodged. And to a graceful carriage and deportment of 
 body there is joined a pleasant conversation, a most exact 
 justice, and a generous friendship ; all which; as myself and 
 Ite* Bhe~friend can testify, she possesses in the height of 
 their perfection. She printed my " Panegyrick on the 
 JiQrd Jeffreys ;"' "The Great Historical Dictionary ;" "The 
 Present State of Europe ;" and other Copies that have 
 Sijil^ well. 
 
(• 117. ) 
 Mrs. Tacey Scmh> She is both a Printer as well as a 
 Bflokseller an(J the Daughter of one; and understands the 
 Trade very well, being a good Compositor* herself. Her 
 Ipve and piety to her aged Mother are remarkable; even to 
 tj)at degree that she keeps herself unmarried for this only 
 reasoji (as I have been i^iformed) that it inay not.be out of 
 her power to let her Mother have always the chief command 
 in her Ijouse., I Jiave known this eminent Quaker for many 
 years; have been generously treated at her house; and 
 must do her the justice to say, I believe her a conscientious 
 person. If any bkipeme for being thus charitable, I cannot 
 lielp it; for I cannot think it a piece of Religion to anathema- 
 tize froin Christ, all such as will not subscribe to all of my 
 articles ; but am conscious to so many Errors, speculative 
 and practicable, in myself, that I know not how to be severe 
 tpwards others; for, since Christ's Church is not limited to 
 any nation or party (as is owned in "Robert Barclay's 
 Apology," &c. which Mrs. Sowle once presented to me), 
 I do believe sincerity and holiness will carry us to Heaven 
 with any w'nd and with any narne. At least I have so much 
 charity as to think all those persons go to Heaven, whether 
 tliey be Churchmen, Presbyterians, or Quakers, &c. in 
 whom I see so much goodness and virtue as is visible in the 
 life and conversation of Mrs. Sowle. 
 
 *.TIie celebrated Mrs. Constantia Grierson, Wife of liis Slajcsty's 
 Printer, in Dublin, was an excellent Compositor, and a learned Woman. 
 I, here insert her line? oi> Printing, which were formerly distributed to tha 
 Populace, from a Printing Press, ona moving Carriage, in the Annual Pro- 
 cession of the Printers and other trades, on the LordiMayors Day, in DubUa>. 
 
 Hail, Mystic Art ! which men, like angels, taught 
 
 To speak to eyes, and paint embody'd thought ! 
 
 Though deaf and dumb, — blest skjll ! r*ll.ev'd by thee. 
 
 We make one sense perform the task o( three ; 
 
 We sce,T-Twe hear, — we touch, — the head and hearl,- 
 
 And take, or give, what each but yields ,in part ; 
 
 With the hard laws of distance we dispense. 
 
 And, without spund,,^ apart commune in sense ; 
 
 View, though confin''d, nay, r«fe this earth'ly ball. 
 
 And travel o'er the wide expanse of o/(. "' . 
 
 Dead letters, thus with living notions fraught. 
 
 Prove to the soul itlie telescope of 'thought ; 
 
 To mortal life immortal ihonours give, 
 
 And.bidall deeds and titles last and live. 
 
 in«eahtylife — ETznmTy we teste, ' ' ■ " 
 
 A'iew thefirst ages, and inform .thelast. 
 
 Arts, histoty, laws, we purchase with a look. 
 
 And keep like fate all nature in a bdok. 
 
- ( lis ) 
 
 "Mr. RlGliard Baldwin. He printed a great ct^ai, Ijutgot 
 as little by it as John Dunton. lie bound for tne and' 
 others when he lived in the Gld Bailey ; but, removing to 
 Warwick-lane, his fame for publishing spread so fast, he 
 grew too hig to. handle his small iools. Mr. Baldwin having' 
 got acquaintance with Persons of Quality, he was Aow for 
 taking a Shop in Fleet-street ; but Dick, soaring out of his' 
 element, had the f.onour of being a Bookseller but a few 
 itiDnths. However to do Mr. Baldwin justice, his inclina- 
 tions were to obfige all men,, and only to neglect himself. 
 He was a man of a generous temper, and would take a cheer- 
 ing glass to oblige a Customer. His purse and his heart 
 were open to all men that he thought were hoftest: arid his 
 conversation was very diverting. He was a true lover of 
 King William ; and, after he came on the Livery, always 
 voted on the right side. His Wife, Mrs, .A Baldnin, in a 
 literal sense, was an lielp-mect, and eased him of all his^Mft- 
 lisMnff morji ; and since she has been a Widow, might vie- 
 with all the women in Europe for accuracy snd ficstice in- 
 keeping accompts : and the same I hear of her beau- 
 tiful Daughter, Mrs. Ma)-y Baldwin, of whom her Father 
 was very fond. He was, as it were flattered into his grave- 
 by a long consumption ; and now lies buried in Wickam 
 parish, his native place. 
 
 The preceding, and foIk)wii>g characters, appear rather 
 out of place,, but they are such eccentric ones, that I could 
 net avoid inserting them., 
 
 Mr. Samuel- Bourn. He was a man of a gay rambling 
 temper, but was very just to those that employed him. He 
 had liis Religion to choose, which was a great grief to his. 
 pious Wife, fiourn being seized with a dangerous fever, he 
 made great protestations how good he would be if God would 
 please to restore him ; but, 
 
 " The Devil was sici the Devil a SaintwouIJbe; 
 Tlie Devil was well, the Devil a Saint was he." 
 
 After his recovery, he turned Projector,, and tlien Picture sel- 
 ler, and then Eake-hell ;and„I hear, came at last to an uii- 
 timely end. 
 
( 115 ), 
 "Having, given a Character of the most eminent Bcokspl- 
 aers in London and Westminister, I shall next (for method, 
 sake) proceed to the Auctioneers; andbegin wih the famous 
 
 " Mr. Edward MiUiriffton. He commenced and con- 
 tinued Auctions upon the authority of Herodotus, who com- 
 mends that way of sale for the disposal of the most- exquisite^ 
 and finest Beauties to their ■^morosQs, and further informs 
 the World, "that the sum so raised was laid out for the 
 portions of those to whom Nature had been less kind;'' so 
 tliat he w4U never be forgotten while his name is tied, or he, 
 a man of remarkable Elocution, Wit, Sense and Modesty — 
 characters so eminently his. that he would be known by, 
 them among a thousand. Millington (from the time he sold 
 Dr. Annesley's Library) expressed a particular friendship to. 
 me; and was so much coacsraed at my ppeseut misfortuncii,^:- 
 tiat (meeting me one day in Bartholomev-close) he offered; 
 to go to St. Alban's on purpose to make tue (as he expressed, 
 it) happy again in my dear Wife.-r-To conclude his'Oiiarac- , 
 t£r: He was originally a Bookseller, which he left o% being, 
 better cut out for an Auctioneer. He had a quick wit, and- 
 a wonderful fluency of speech. There was usually as much. 
 Comedy in his " Once, Twice, Thrice," as can be met with 
 19 a modern Play. "Where" said MilUngton^ "is your, 
 g;enerous .flame for Learning? Who but a Sot or a Block- 
 liead would have moqiey in his pocket, and starve his brains?" 
 Thougli I suppose he had a round of jests., DcCuve once, 
 bidding too leisurely for a Book, says Millington, " Is this 
 your 'Primitive Christianity?" alluding to a Book the honest 
 Doctor had published under that title. He died in Cam- 
 bridge, and I hear they bestowed an Elegy on his memory, 
 and design to jaise a Monument to his a,shes." 
 
 " But I will stop here,; fpr it would he tedious and, uncon^r . 
 scionable to go through all Cheapside, Paul's Church-yard,, 
 Little Britain and Duck-lane, ta- describe every Man, Wo- 
 ipan, and Sucking Child, Bookseller, Auctioneer, Stitcher., 
 Hawker, c^jc. — ^This in general may sufficefor an impartial 
 chijracter of that honourable and honest employment, as fiy 
 jiiy own obiervalions give die in London," 
 
( ^20 ) , .. . , 
 
 Dunton then takes a complete range among tlie princ.pai 
 
 Booksellers throughout England, Ireland and Scotland,-- 
 
 1 shall barely give a specimen of his idea of two or three 
 
 for fiihims sake. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Wall, in Bristol, ftis character resembles 
 that of Old Jacdb, being a plain, but sincere-hearted Man. 
 He is well accomplished for his Trade, which is very consi- 
 derable. He was first a Goldsmith, but made an exchange. 
 61 that way for this of Bookselling. He is a sure Trieitfl, 
 and extremely civil; I have dealt very much with him, and 
 for those two years that I kept Bristol Fair, I was ti<eated 
 very kindly at his house. 
 
 Mr. J\torman. He is a middling squat man, that loves 
 to live well, and has a Spouse who understands preparing 
 good things as well as the best l^dy in Ireland. He haiS a 
 hole in his nose, occasioned by a brass pin in his nurse's 
 waistcoat, which happened to run in it; and for want of a 
 skilful hand to dress it, the hole remains to this day, and 
 yet without disfiguring his face. He invited me to his house 
 when I made my Auctions in Dublin; and when I came, 
 gave me a hearty welcome. I found Mr. Norman an excel- 
 lent Florist (and he has this peculiar to himself, that what- 
 ever he has in his Garden are of the most excellent of its 
 kind). He is a very grave, honest, man, understands his 
 Trade extraordinary well, and h^s the honour to have been 
 Master of the Booksellers' Company in Dublin. 
 
 Mr. Ray. He is slender in body ;" his head ratlieij- big 
 than little; his face thin, and of a moderate size; a smooth' 
 tongue, and voice not shrill. His countenance is ever inter- 
 mixed with joy and sweetness. He is a courteous man in 
 his Shop; and being both Printer and Bookseller, has got a 
 good estate in a few years. He is the best situated of any 
 Bookseller in Dublin. 
 
 " But I shall leave Mr.E;ay, to ramble to CaStle-street, 
 where P,liphal J)c^on with his wooden leg sta,rtled me with 
 the creaking of it; for I took it for the Crepitus Ossiuniy 
 which 1 have heard some of our Physicians speak of. Mr, 
 Pobson is a great Dissenter, but his pretence to Religion, 
 
( m ) 
 
 does not make him a jot precise. He Values no man for 
 his starched looks dt s^ipeWiliQtig gravity, Or for being a 
 Churchman, Presbyterian, Independent, &c, provided he is 
 in the main points, wherein all good men aie agreed." 
 
 Mr. Knox, Mr. Henderson, and Mr. t^altenge. I shall 
 dispense with myself as to theiif Cbatactets; for I could 
 never see through a Scotsman in a little tihie. ■ 
 
 " I might proceed to other Cbttntry Booiksdlers, and give 
 you Epithets suitable for theia all, and take in the rest 
 of the Irish and Scotch Booksellers; but for Want of room, 
 I must beg their patience till 1 come to the ^ixth Stage pf 
 my Life, and there I shall meet them agetin by wholesale; 
 but though 1 cannot descend to particulars now, yetf will 
 so far Itimn their Characters as to say, that of Three Hun- 
 dred Booksellers now trading in country Towns, 1 know not 
 of one Knave or a Blockhead among them all, 
 
 " And now Reader, hs.virig in these sheets given you the 
 Character of the chief Booksellers in the Three Kingdoms, I 
 hope you Will .pardon me if (in the last place) I allow myself 
 a Character among the rest, 
 
 It is true Cowley says, 
 
 " The voyage Life is longest made at home," 
 However, from that small acquaintance I have with myself, 
 I may venture to say, as to my Birth I account it no small 
 honour that I descended from the Tribe of Levi ; and I find 
 an ingenious Author of this ppinion, who sajs, "I reckon it 
 among the felicities of my life to h^ve been a Prophet's 
 Son." And if you have faith to believe a Post, tlieir ChiU 
 dfeii. 
 
 Do all breathe Sffmething more than common air ." 
 
 " My first entrance upon the stqga of life was attended with 
 all the symptoms of death, as if I had be( n sensible of my fu- 
 ture miseries^ and willing to, steal into the grave from the very 
 womb of Hature ; but some of the attendants werespco^^i- 
 passionate and cruel, as. to sprinkle water on my forehead, 
 ^nd raise me to. life, though, alas ! it proved but an unkind 
 office, to chain me dovpn to this world, when I was making, 
 my retreat, and taking wing for another ; upon which emer- 
 gency the following lines were written :"■ 
 
I 122 ) 
 
 "■So the infant day does rise 
 Gilding hills, and painting skies, 
 Till some envioas pregnant cIoihI 
 Does its blooming glories shroud. 
 
 So a short-lived Winter's sun 
 Sets almost as soon's begun ; 
 Weeping Heaven laments its fallj 
 Mourning Earth, its funeral. 
 
 So a Rose-bud does prepare 
 Tosalute the calmer air, 
 Tiii some piercing Northern gust 
 itendsand spreads it in the dust. 
 
 Such, poor Infant, was thy birth. 
 Such thy parents' joy and mirth ; 
 Hoses, suns, and days can be 
 But a Meiosis of thee." 
 
 "The first appearance which I made was very mean and 
 contemptible ; and, as if JJature bad designed me to take up 
 only some Insignificant and obscure corner of the universe, I 
 ■was so diminutive a cieature, tliat a quart pot could contain 
 th e whole of me with ease enough ; whereupon jvas written ;■" 
 
 " There lies a pretty little Knave, 
 
 Ib's cradle, dressing.rcom, and grave." 
 
 During 'Childhood and youtli lie liad several narrow eS' 
 
 capes from death, on one occasion from slipping headlong into 
 
 a river, on another while playing with a bullet it slipped down 
 
 Ills throat to his breast, and when nearly past hope, it sud-: 
 
 denly bolted up, upon which he says : 
 
 Thus oft we take our leave of life and pain, 
 And both, yet linger, and we live again ; 
 Thus oft we stretch, tl>e fatal gulph to pass. 
 And Ueath 'flies oR^, and turns tlie vital glass : 
 Thus oft we're willing whee we cannot die, 
 And wish in vain for immortality, 
 Beatli hags the mind, then vanishes away. 
 And oft adjourns the last decisive day. 
 
 -*' I shall next clmra.cteiize'm^ Cutters in Wood; who ware 
 Mr. W — st and the ingenious S ." 
 
 Mr. TF—st made all the Cuts for " The Man in the 
 Moon*," &c- and S — ^ such as I wanted for " Athens," 
 &c. Mr. W— st did tlie curious flowe^-s for " Salmon's 
 Herbal ;" and exceeds all the town for cutting in "Wood, 
 He has got a habit of melting his penny, and once a month 
 33 as great as a King ; but, abating that reeling vice, 
 W. 3t is an honest man, and has about him all that ,un- 
 
 * Dunton printed a Book, ivitli tliat Title. 
 
( 123 y 
 
 iflecled neglect of pomp in clothes, lodging, affit^umrtarcr, 
 ■which agrees with his grave and sedentary course of life. 
 
 Dunton then proceeds to characterise all his Engravers,. 
 Eolling-press printers. Authors, Licensers of the Press, his 
 noble friends and customers, and a comprehensive view of 
 the life and death of Iris, his fit^t wife, and closes his first 
 volume with some highly interesting characteis of Emihene 
 persons and his last Prayen 
 
 " Dunton commences the 2nd part of his Journal with a 
 {•anegyrick on the most eminent persons for piety, learning, 
 courage, moderation, charity, and other accomplishments, 
 living in the three kingdoms." I cannot attempt to follow him 
 beyond two or three curious articles, selected from a small 
 and very scarce volume, published by Dunton in 1706, en- 
 titled "The Whipping Post." His Secret history of the 
 Weekly Writers, &c. at that day, will give the reader some 
 idea of their character and principles. — he says " I call it-^ 
 Secret lUstoty, as it discovers isuch things of our Town 
 Authors, as have hitherto lain concealed. And 1 call them 
 WeeMy Writers:, to distinguish them from " The Modera- 
 tor," " Wandering Spy," " Rehearsal," " London Post," 
 " Interloping," " Whipster," and that rabble of scandalous 
 Hackneys, who merit no place in our " Panegyrick ;" and 
 for that reason, are kicked to my " Living Elegy," as being 
 fit for no company or honour but a House of Correction, 
 And there I leave them, whilst I give the World " A Secret 
 History of those Weekly Writers that deserve a Panegyrick." 
 
 " And here I shall send a distinct challenge to " The 
 Review," " Observator," "Gazette," "Post Master," 
 "Post-Man," " Post-Boy," " Daily Courant," "English 
 Post;" for these eight are Authors of credit; and for that 
 reason 1 will say the worst that I know of them, to provoke 
 them to a Paper Duel." 
 
 "Every Weekly Writer I have yet named has some excel- 
 lence that the rest are strangers ta; and that which recom- 
 mends Boyer above the rest is that nice and large account 
 he gives of the "Spanish and Home News." So that Boyer'-s 
 V Post Boy" (published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Satur- 
 
( 1-2.4 ) 
 day,) B>ig^t propfirjy bi? called "The Spapish and Englisli 
 IntelUgencp." U'ls no sn»H reC<?miaendation of tJ»e Po?t 
 Boy> to tell tljie world tljat the ingenious Boyer write? it. 
 The bare namiang the Author is ?i Panegyrici upon thi^ 
 ffipef; for it is that Boyer who writes #tid tran^l^ps like 
 the famous L'Estrange. Mr. Boyer is the greatest Master 
 ©fcthe FreiKkcU Tongue (witness his " E're^ch Qxm^m^i" m^ 
 "French Dictionary") and the most impartial Historian 
 (witness his '.' Annalsof Queen Anne") of any inEngland. 
 
 " Thug have I fipished "^The Secret History of the Weekly 
 Writers ;" viz. " The Review ;" '' Ohservatpr ;•' " Gazette ;" 
 "Flying Post," "Post-Man/' "Po^t-B.oy," " Daily Cour- 
 ajit ;" and the "' English-Post." Now, if you ask me which 
 of these Eight ]Sfe^yspapers are the best, I should answer, 
 "They are all best ;" for " The Qbservator" is the best to 
 toivel the Jacks, &c. ;" " The Review*' is the best to pro- 
 ipote Peace; "The Flying-Rost" is the best for Scotch News; 
 " Tlie Post-Boy" is besj. forthe English and Spanish News ; 
 "The Paijy Couranf ' is the best Critick ; " The English 
 Post" is the best Collector ; " Tiie London Gazette" has the 
 best authority ; and " The. Pott- Man" is the best for every 
 thing. And they ai-e all so ffood, or rather best, as to 
 deserve an answer, if they quarrel with this "Journal." 
 
 " I have here challenged eight of our "Weekly Writers to a 
 Paper Duel ; and, as they are' men of Learning and worth, 
 I hope they will accept of it. But as to "The Rehearsal;" 
 '.'.Moderator;" "Wandering Spy;" "London Post;" 
 Interloping Whipster, &c. ; they are sucli a Rabble of 
 Hackney Scribblers, they merit no place in our " Panegyrick 
 Journal ." But, though they are kicked out for Wranglers 
 in this place, yet they are all whipt in " The Secret History" 
 annexed to my ■" Living Elegy." I have often wondered 
 what should persuade " The Rehearsal" and his Hackney 
 Brethern to write so much of Religion and Government (for 
 fliat is th^ir usual theme). If you say their eyes are not open 
 to discern their own weakness, and the ill suc>iess of their 
 Tacking Projects. I wonder the more how they can see to 
 write in the dark. But, be it as it v?ill, they have no right to 
 a Panegyrick, and indeed, are not worth my Satire ; but for 
 this once I have given them a few lashes in my ' Living Elegy.' 
 
( 125 ) 
 Dunton then commences his "Living Elegy" with a curi- 
 oiis address to his Creditors, his Summer Friends, Weekly " 
 atod Hackney Writers, and an almost endless variety of Male 
 and Female Characters; — congratulating himself, amid all 
 his misfortunes,-^that " with the Phoenix he did as it were, ' 
 flourish ill his own Ashes"-*— Of his religion he says, in reply 
 to the following :— ^ 
 
 "Dunton, we find you have enemies in all Religions: 
 Lesley is High-church ; The Moderator, Low-church ; TThe 
 
 Whipster, No-church ; S ge, a Tacker ; F , a 
 
 Dissenter ; Malthus, a Trimmer, &c. Then what are you, 
 that oppose them all. 
 
 To this I answer, "My Religion is — Christian; I mean, 
 eritirely disendumb'^red of all those Names, and Sects, and 
 Parties that have raised so much dust and noise, and have 
 done the gteatest prejudice to Christianity and the Re- 
 formation. The World, it is truef has given that partial and . 
 precise name of Preshyterian, which I renounce for ever ; 
 and take this opportunity to tell those strait-laced souk, 
 who are for fixing bounds and enclosures in the flock of;; 
 Christ, that I am neither Churchman, Presbyterian, or Inde- 
 pendent, Anabaptist, Quaker, &c; That this title is the 
 best, and sufficient for me, which I obtained at Antioch under 
 Christian Dispensation. I desire no character for the future 
 but Christian ; a lover of Jesus, and one that intends for. 
 Heaven and happiness in the life to come : and it is of sinall 
 moment *ith me, whether a malignant World will allow me^ 
 this measure of charity. My right to the Covenant of Grace, 
 and my etern al Interest, have no dependence upon ill-nature 
 and envy. This, Gentlemen, is the Religion (call it what 
 you please) that I desire! to live and die in ; and, whilst 
 dthers wrangle for this or that party, or wjiy of worship, I 
 desire to practice it. But though, as I said before,'' my 
 Religion is entirely disencumbered of all those names and 
 parties which promote divisions, and as it were, pine iand 
 shrivel Christianity into a bare skeleton ; yet I profess mf self 
 an impartial lover of all good men, by what names soever dig-- 
 nified and distinguished: and do presume every man t« be 
 
( M6. ) , 
 good till. I find him otherwise. I' Have as little zeal about- 
 thihgs that are manifestly indifferent (either pro or con}' 
 as any man in the world, and; chose to reserve it for those- 
 things which are truly worthy of it. It is a great principfe 
 with me, that the real? differences betw-een good and intelli- 
 gent people are not so wide as they seem ; and that through; 
 prejudice and interest they doi many times- contest about 
 words,, whilst they do^ heartily think the same thing.^ — And-, 
 this in answer to the q.uestion- " What are you ?"'is Dunton's- 
 
 Religion, or the uncommon principle upon, which, he is to be 
 ^ved." 
 
 Dunton, out of his thousand; Characters concliides the«' 
 sd'coted part bf his J^ournal , with that of 'George Larkin, sen. 
 Author of an "-Essay on the Noble Art of Printing," of 
 whotB he says — " Ifis VBTy life is a sort of Panegrick on his 
 (Duiiton's) -Misfortun'es, that he had been his -first Prmter ■ 
 atid cotistantfrieitd for twenty ifisve years, and thus? eoiisolesr 
 himself. 
 ■ "" So that nothibfg can deprive me of the enjoyment of my. 
 Friend, while I-eBjoy myarelf. If I have any joy when -he is. 
 absent, were Such a thing' possible, it is in his picture, which; 
 adorns my chamber, or in his letters, that divert my mind^ 
 Gowley says,. 
 
 '' Thete ire fewer ftiendscmBirlh than -Kings^" 
 And George Larkin is one of them." 
 
 His Poem of " joha Dunton's Shadow; or the character 
 of a Summer Friend, has some excelllent points in it, and; 
 his "Dublin Scuffle, or John Bunton's account of 
 
 " Three Auctions to be held; in the City of Dublin " was- 
 &as stated : 
 
 To the Wise, Learned,, and Studious Gentlemen in the- 
 Kingdom of Ireland, but more especially to those in the; 
 City of Dublin.. 
 
 Gentxemebt, JDullinr Junell. \6m. 
 
 Though the Summer be a time for Rambling, .and t^e-." 
 season of the year invite all men abroad that love to see- 
 For^gn^ Couptries ; yet it was not this alone, but the good, 
 acceptance the way of Sale by Auetion has met with froia 
 
( 127 ) 
 rtilP lovers of Books that encouraged me to bring to this 
 kingdom of Ireland a general Collection of the most valu- 
 _able pieces in I)ivinity, History, Philosophy, La*, Physiek, 
 Mathematicks, Horsemanship, Merchandize, Limniag, Mili- 
 tary Discipline, Heraldry, Music, Fortification, Fireworks, 
 Husbandry, Gardening, Romances, Novels, Poerfls,- Plays, 
 Sibles, and School-Books, that have been printed in En^ 
 land si^ce the ^eat Fire in London rn i.66%, to this present 
 ■time, in this general Collection you will find that many a 
 good Book has lain asleep, as not being known ; and when 
 a Book is not pi|blished^ it cannot be iiourished by the 
 favourable acceptance of the World. I might instance ia 
 Mr. Turner's " History of the remarkable Providences which 
 4ave happened in this 4ge,""of which there are near a thou- 
 sand disposed of in London, and scarce twenty of them sold 
 in Ireland ; though in viewing the Conteiits ef this Work 
 j( which are givea gratis at Bick's Coffee-house in Skinner- 
 tOw) it will evidently appear th%t there j§ not a more ussful 
 iSorik." 
 
 He include^ some amusing addresses to the Nobility and 
 'Gentry. His allusions to his fictions at Mick's and Patt's 
 •Coffee-houses and qf the former letting his rqo.m, over his 
 'head, to his (SfcoteA -rival, Patrick Gamjpbell, are bitter and 
 garcastic— Of the unfairness qf iJjtfit he remarks " I say, 
 -iad Dick reflected on these things, his eyes had been proof 
 against the double price, that Dick i^ his Letter tells me 
 Patrick had agreed to giye him ; and the Scot might have 
 ganged with his Pofik of Bemks to anotljer place. " 
 
 In an appeal to his customers on the condijct of Pater- 
 ton— -he thus coinraences — "Qentieraen by w;hat I have 
 mentioned, you see what the Scotchman itcli^d to be at ; 
 and to add to his favours, he now take's ray room over my 
 >head ; which I nijist tell him resembles a nri^n I once met 
 in my Travejs, who sold the same Book witli two dfferent 
 'T'ltXes, twn'mg Hodder inXo Cocker^ Cumpstey into Whalet/, 
 Sec. according as his Customer wanted, with as- much dex- 
 terity as the Suttler in King James's Camp,- who drew Ale 
 out of one end of the barrel, and Beer -at the other." 
 
( 123 ) 
 
 This reminds n)e of a double Literary Christening, in ^ 
 similar way. A work was published some years since unde^ 
 the title of " Collards Logic " and the same Bppk appeare4 
 ^nder the title of " Lfmlloc's Logic "-^thu| spelling thcj 
 name of Collard, backwards — I never have questioned the 
 Logic or the policy ftf this. Dunton's farewell to Dubli^ 
 J3 highly entertaining, and his Couversatjons in Ireland, 
 (^mb^ace a variety of curious aiid novel information, not to 
 be found elsewherg. 
 
 To follow him thrpugh all th^ mazes of his Adveiitures^ 
 ficcentricities, ]Sxertions,and extraordinary Flights of Fancy, 
 Opinions and Speculations, would fill an entertaining vol- 
 ^iroe. — Swift gratified his vanity by rioticing him, and Pope, 
 who was born in the year 1688, (the year that Dunton com- 
 menced busiriess at the !^lack Haven, in the PpuUry,) noti- 
 ces him jn hi§ Dunciadi which Poem Pope said " Cost him 
 as much pains as any thing he ever wrote,". 
 
 Dunton certainly threw more light upon the periodica^ 
 publications and the general Literature of his day, than any 
 ether "Writer. He appears to have laid the foundation of the 
 plan, upon which Mr. T^ichols has so much improved ; and 
 pursued with unwearied industry, and talent during the 18th 
 Century. 
 
 Mr. Nichols improved upon the ideas o,f D.unton, in not 
 only giving interesting sketches of works issued from the 
 learned Bowyer's, his own, and other presses during the 18th 
 century, but also Biographical sketches of the most eminent 
 Authors, Booksellers, Engravers, and all persons connected 
 with the Fine Arts ; it will be my endeavour to add a few to 
 ^e number, bringing the feature down to the close of thi* 
 Publication. 
 
 JOHN NICHOLS, Esq. F. S. A. 
 
 (^Late Editor of the Gentleman's Jifagazine, S^c.y 
 To give ^ correct Biographical men^oir.of this Gentle- 
 pian, and a fair outline of his labours, would fill more than a 
 quarto volume. I can pnly refer my Readers tp an admira- 
 ble Meinoir from the able pen of Alexander Chalmers, Esq,, 
 (o^ming 30 closely printed columns in the Gentleman's MaV 
 
F.SA OF LON: EDINrft PERTH , 
 
 Sarn, Fe6.2 )74-l'-S:it.yin,f 7S22. 
 
( IM ) 
 4^a3;iQe fc(r December 1826, iii w^ich his truly amiable cha-< 
 racter, bis great ability, and extraordinary labour^ are dere-^ 
 loped. What can the reader 'jmagine of one individual, Com-' 
 piling Writingi or Editing, at least one hundred volumes in 
 OQtavp, nearly half that number in quarto, and about half a 
 dozen volumes in folio, altogether 'exceeding in quantity the 
 productions of Voltaire or Cobbett, and to so much better, 
 and very different a purpose— and, in addition to all this^' 
 what will hereafter be thought of this extraordinary ban, who' 
 not only passed through all this great labour of mind, 
 but was also the Printer of all his own Works, as well as 
 a general Printer to several eminent Authors,' and to many 
 of the most respectable Booksellers ; added to all this he 
 Printed the votes of the House of Commons for 50 y^ars, as 
 well as the Gentleman's Magazine ' (containing more than 
 any other) for 50 years, and Edited it for nearly half a 
 century. I know of nothing equal to those labours upon 
 record, and regret, that my space will only admit of the very 
 abridged sketch of him, from the Autobiographical Memoirs 
 in the Literary Anecdotes, thus transcribed in Gorton's Bip-^ 
 graphical Dictionary: 
 
 " Nichols (John) fellow of the antiquarian societies of 
 London, Edinburgh, and Perth, and for nearly half a cen- 
 tury editor of th^ Gentleman's Magazine. He was born at 
 Islington, February 2, 1744, and having received a liberal 
 pducation, he became at an early age an apprentice tp 
 Bowyer, |;he learned printer. He was subsequently admit- 
 ted into partnership with his master, on whose death he sue-: 
 ceeded to the management of one of the first typpgraphical 
 establishments jn the metrop3lis, and long conducted it with 
 high reputation. In 1778 hs became coadjutor, with Mr. 
 David Henry, in the publication of the (gentleman's Maga- 
 zine ; and on the decease of that gentleman, the duties of 
 editor devolved on Mr. Nichols, who, besides his regular 
 contribution as conductor of that useful miscellaniy, inserted 
 in almost every number some of the productions of his pen, 
 relating chiefly to British topography and antiquities. He 
 Tjfas admitted into the common council of the city of London 
 
i m X 
 
 in 1734, to whicb.he belonged till 1801 ; and in 1804 he 
 'vras ehosen master of the Stationers' company. In 180^ 
 hii printing office was destroyed by fire, when a great numr 
 feer of valuable works perished in the flames. Among his 
 (numerous literary publications i^ay be mentioned. "Anec- 
 4otes, literary and biographical, of William Bowyer," 1778, 
 «vo, which formed the basis of his " Literary Anecdotes of 
 the Eighteenth Century," 9 vols. 8vo. Illustrations of the 
 Literature of the 18th Century, supplementary to the 
 preceding work, ^ vols, and " The History and Anti- 
 tjuities of Leicestershire," 4 vols, folio. J^r. Nichols died 
 iNov. 26. 1826." 
 
 I regret extremely that I cannot furnish more than the 
 above imperfect sketch, and do no more than refer to Mr. 
 C!ha]mers^ admirable account of him, and to a chronological- 
 list of the very numerous (sixty seven) publications of which 
 Sir. Nichols was either the Author or Editor. I shall have 
 to refer to his Authorities during the whijle of the 18th and 
 fiart of the 19th Centuries, and shall for the present con- 
 clude with a tribute to bis Memory, by W- Hersee— and aij. 
 ppitaph on him by John Taylor Esq. 
 
 A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY QF THE LATE 
 J. NICHQLS, Esq. 
 
 JCiATS in the vale of life, and full of years, 
 
 CUeerful a,n4 h^ppy was his cloudless clay. 
 When lo ! bewegt Jjy friendship's grateful teart, 
 
 He slept in peace— his spirit pa§s'd away. 
 
 While Earth admir'd the Historian of his time^ 
 
 Domestic virtues were his highest praise, 
 These gave to life an energy sublime, 
 
 A beauteous lustre to his lengtlien'd day*. 
 ITnfeign'd afTection liv'd within his heart, 
 
 A store of blessings which he fieely gave, 
 Blessipgs that lie delijhted to impart 
 To numerous friends now rnourning o'er hij gj-ave, 
 Various his talents, as^ his heart was kiijd. 
 
 The page of ancient lore he lov'd to scan ; 
 S.eaming's bright gems enrich'd his liberal mind. 
 
 And form'd his studies thro' the aje of man. 
 
( 131 ) 
 
 With patient industry and* wondrous toif. 
 
 Thro'' dark antiquity he sought hig way p 
 And persevering in the hard turmoil. 
 
 He brought its- treasures ta the light of-day^ 
 
 In later years instruction £rom his pen 
 
 Delighted thousands by his pleasing page ;. 
 
 A faithful painter of the lives of men. 
 He gave the history of a learned age. 
 
 His labours o'er, he rests beneath the sod. 
 
 His lamp consum'd his various^stndies cease; 
 His happy spirit soars to meet his •Ge^,. 
 
 And-r«st for ever in the realms of peace. W. Hirsei 
 
 EPITAPH 
 ON THE LATE JoHN NiCHOLS, Es*. 
 
 By John Tavlob, Esq. > 
 
 31 EKE Nichols- rests, whose pureand active nund 
 
 Thro' life stillaim'd to benefit mankind. 
 
 For useful knowledge eager from his youth, 
 
 To lengtheu'd; age in keen pursuit of Truth. 
 
 What ruthless time hath destin'd todecay. 
 
 He well ex'plor'd and brought to open day. 
 
 Yet still he search'd not with aSigot-s zea^ 
 
 To gain what time would for Oblivion steals. 
 
 But that such works recorded should remaia 
 
 As taste and virtue gladly would retain. 
 
 And though intent to merit pilblic faoie^ 
 
 Warmly alive to each domestic claim i- 
 
 He like the Patriarchs FeverM of yore, 
 
 To all his kindred'due affection bore. 
 
 Prompt with, good humour all he knew to cheer» 
 
 And wit with him was playful, -not severe^ 
 
 Such was the Sage whose reliques^rest below, 
 
 BelovM by many a friend, without one foe. 
 It is somewhat extiraordinary , that in the jwecedfng aecotrnt 
 given of him, that his-great labours should have been so>, 
 sliffhtly passed over, and so maayoiiginal productions of his 
 ommitted ; — witness^ — His poetical ipFoductions, his oiiginof 
 Printing, -his^oyal and noble Wills, his histcwy of'the Royal- 
 Abbey of Bee,, and his account of Alien Prior jes, his Biblio- 
 theca Topo^apbicaBritanica, (ihicoBJunctiop withGo^gh,) 
 in about 20 Volumes quarto; His -BiograjJjical Anec-, 
 dotes of Hogarth; His progresses of Queen £lizabe&, rafoo? 
 
( 132 ) , 
 Volumes, quarto. His progresses of Jtimes 1st, 2 vols, 4to. 
 besides numberless other Works; and the editions he edited 
 and Completed of Swift, Shakespear, Lyttleton, Chester- 
 field, Atterbury, King, Steele, and numerous others, exclu- 
 sive of conducting neiarly 100 Volurties of the Gentleman's! 
 Magazine, and cbmpleting its Index. ! 
 
 In agreeably wandering through his 14 Octavo Volumes- 
 of Anecdotes, of nearly 800 pages each, I shall have an op- 
 portunity of sarying something more of that truly great and 
 good man, who has shewii himself more closely cdnnected,' 
 than any other individual, with the Literature of his day. 
 
 In the preface to the Second Edition of his Anecdotes, itf 
 1812 he says >-<• 
 
 " During an interval of Thirty Years, amidst the cares and 
 anxieties attendant on an unremitted application to a great 
 variety of prefessioiial duties, it has been one of my araiise- 
 ments to revise occasionally the former Edition of these 
 "Anecdotes;" and to avail myself of the several hints for 
 improving it, which the kindness of ray friends, or the criti-- 
 cism of various writers who harve borroured it with their notice, 
 have from time to time thro'wii out. My stock of intelligence 
 having thus imperceptibly increased, I had aft inclination, in 
 the year 1790, to have ventured on a new Edition ; butwa» 
 diverted from that intention by the accumulated- toil of k 
 County History, which demanded no small portion of the 
 time I was aWe to allot to the anrusements of Litei'ature." 
 
 '^ Still, however, havitig persevered in filling the inargias of 
 my interleave^ copy, and in reducing the chaotic form of my 
 original volume to somewhat of a more regular consistence ; 
 in May 1802 I once more began- to print; and, by slow 
 degrees, had got through nearly half the Work,' when my . 
 progress was suddenly retarded , by a calamity which- had well- 
 nigh disheartened me from again resuming the task either of 
 Editor or Printer. But on a serious conviction that despair 
 was equally useless and criminal, I detei'tain^d to begin my 
 labour ane-vv ; the fruits of which, such as they are, after 
 being four years longer in the press, are ag»in swb?ftitt«d to 
 the public. 
 
( 133 ) 
 To use the words pf a learned critic, "Tte fire which 
 destroyed the first part of the impression has given an 
 opportunity of increasing the materials, and of improving |.he 
 Work : thi<s it may be truly said, that 
 
 ■ inoendiiii lumen 
 
 Prcebebant, aliquisque malo fuit usus in illo" 
 
 . After acknowledgijjig the reception which the first edi- 
 tion of his truly entertaining Work received, i^ot only from 
 the partiality of Friends, but from the Editors of evey peri- 
 odical pubUc?i±ion without exception, he observes that " One 
 of the most melancholy retr.oSipects I have to notice is, the 
 loss of nUHiberless Friends who were literary contributors to 
 the former Edition, and by whom the present volumes have 
 ^een consid^abjy benefited. Among these the most proipni- 
 nent are. Da. JouJiisoN, Mr. Steevens, Mr. Coie, 
 Mb. Reed, and .above all, my steady ,and indefatigable 
 coadjutor Mr. Gough." 
 
 At a very advanced period of life, and after having brought 
 his work from the commencement of 1700,down to 1804, Mr.- 
 N. concludes his preface " I had some thoughts of continu- 
 ing the Work to a later period." " But I hear the Cock's 
 proclaiming the dawning day, being now come within the ken 
 of many alive ; and when men's memories do arise, it is 
 time for History to haste to bed*." 
 
 His first volume commences in the following beautiful 
 language. 
 
 " The Traveller,, who in early .life explored a region famed 
 for natural pr artificial, curiosities, and with the eye of an 
 Antiquary trapcd the ygstiges pf architectural spli^ndour^ 
 vrl^ther ithe last remains pf the .Grecian temple, the Roman 
 amphitheatre, or Gothic aisle or cloister, resum;es his visit at 
 a maturer age .with augmented pleasure. Nqw beauties 
 meet his.vie,w; new ideas are impressed on his imagination, 
 aa new »uggest;ions offer theraselv.es, to his .reflection, fie 
 perceives, and.is astonithed to perceive, .that some of the 
 finest pajrt of the Landscape, soniie of the mpst beautiful 
 features in the vigw, fai.led to meet his first resewches. — 
 
 • Fulter's Worthies) Essex, cd. 1311,. vol. 1 p.. 3.4-9.- 
 S 
 
C- 134 ) 
 Having MvolVed, after aiv interval of many' years, the iina- 
 gery which as it were crowded on- the mind at a first glance; 
 Re treads the ground again with caution ; he confines himself 
 to the more immediate object of his pursuit ; and employs 
 the pen or the pencil on subjects which had before entirely 
 escaped hrs attention. 
 
 " The sceriery to which the Reader is now recalled is of a 
 Aore confined and humble nature ; yet therfe are gleanings in 
 our biographical harvest, which, it is hoped will be thought 
 not undeserving notice. Of the very early period indeed 
 the recollections are few, but they are interesting; and, as we- 
 advance-, the discoveries produced by diligent enquiry and 
 friendly Communications, and even by the loss of friends 
 -whom it would have been indelica't'e to mention whilst living, 
 have removed the veil under which many curious particu^ 
 1-ars, highly honourable to the persons of whom they aref- 
 lelated, we^-e unavoidably concealed.-" 
 
 " To whatever cause it may be owing, the lives of literary, 
 men are seldom recorded, while any remembrance of them, 
 remains. Except in a few cases, where interest, vanity, or 
 .gratitude a)»e' concerned, men of letters,, who in general 
 deserve better of the world than the more brilliant characters 
 of the hour, the courtier or the pseudo-patriot, pass unno- 
 ticeed to the grave ; and curiosity is seldom awakened about 
 them until the opportunity of gratifying it is irrecoverable." 
 
 '■' The information, therefore, which, I fl'attier myself, was 
 conveyed to the world in the former' edition of the Memoirs 
 of my late excellent Friend, encourages me, after an inter-- 
 val of more than sik-and-twenty Jeas-s, when so much freshf 
 Matter has occurred,- to pursue a similar method." 
 
 The first Literary character which Mr. Nichols very appro- 
 priately introduces is " William Kowyeb, confessedly the 
 most learned! PVinter of the 18th Century, he was born in 
 Dogwell Court, in the extraparocnial precinct of White' 
 Friars, London, Dec. 19, 1699; and may be said to have 
 been initiated from his infancy in the rudiments of the art. 
 in. which, he so eminently excelled." 
 
} 
 
 I- 
 
 •( 135 ) 
 
 Mr. N— then gives his Genealogy, a portrait -and otJier n^'i- 
 
 aiyte particulars, which I §hall not enter into, — but proceed 
 
 ■to take a retrpspective view of liisj and the public press from 
 
 ithe above period, at vifhjeh ,it appears the following Newspa- 
 
 jjers were published, in I^ondon. 
 
 The Daily Courant (^s its title diews) 6 times, a week 6 
 
 The Supplement, * "\ ' 
 
 The Qeneral Remark, f ,*,,„, , 
 
 The Female Tatler,' > Monday, Wednesday and Friday, \% 
 
 The General Postscript, J 
 
 The giitish Apollo, Mopday, and Friday, ........ 2 
 
 ■j"he London &a?ette, % ' 
 
 The Postman, f 
 
 'I'he Postboy, f Tuesday, Thursday & 'Saturday, 13. 
 
 The Flying Po§^, 
 
 The Review 
 
 The Tatler, 
 
 U'he Rehearsal Revived, 
 
 The Evening Post, \ Tuesday, ThursJ&y & Saturday, 21 
 
 The Whisperer, 
 
 The Postboy Junior, 
 
 The City IntelUgencer, ' 
 
 The OJiseryer, Wednesday, and Saturday, 2 
 
 Total, , ,. , 55 
 
 t)F PUBLICK NEW5 AN© WEEKLY PAPERS; 
 
 WHEN TIIEY FIRST BEGA\ ; THEIR PROGRESS, 
 
 INCREASE, AND USES AiJD ABUSES 
 
 TO THE PEOPLE. 
 
 (From the Harl. MS8. 5310; 
 
 " IN the days of King Henry VIII. we had none thaj, 
 ifver I could see, that is to say, in single sheets, except 
 some invectives against the Pope and the Church of Rome. 
 It is true there were, several tracts wrote against Cardinal 
 Wolsey ; but they were in books, in octavo,; and severed 
 others, relating to several tnatter^, as abput the Sacrament, 
 against Gardiner, Bishop Bonrjer, &c. ; but these migh.t 
 rather be caviled Ijbels than pamphlets, . These were most 
 pryited beyond the Seas. Qnly one I remember, which 
 was " The supplication of Beggars," wrote against the 
 Faars Begging, by one Pish. 
 
 But in the days of Queen Mary they began to fly about in, 
 thp City of London; as several Ballads and other Songs and 
 foems, as a Ballad o.f the Queen's being with phil4. 
 
( 136 ) 
 
 And these, I say, were the forerutiners of the Newspa. 
 pers. In the days of Queen Elizabeth we had several Papers 
 pfinted relating to the affairs in France, Spain, atid Holland; 
 about the time of the Civil Wars in France. And these 
 were, for the most part, translations from the Dutch and 
 French, And were Books, or Pamphlets rather, which, I 
 take, if I mistake not, the word signifieth to be held in the 
 hands and quickly read, 
 
 We must come down io the reign of King James the I, 
 and that towards the latter end,, when News began to be ift 
 fashion : and then if I mistake not, began the use of Mer- 
 cury women ; and they it was that dispersed them to the 
 Hawker which word hath another signification. Look more 
 in the Bellman of London. 
 
 These Mercuries and Hawkers their business at first was 
 to disperse Proclamations, Orders of Council, and Acts of 
 Parliament, &c. And we may see thehumours of the times 
 out of Ben Johnson's Plays. At that time, News was 
 become a great fashion, as may be discerned in that play, 
 by him wrote, entitled, " The Staple of News," and the 
 scene settled at the West end of St. Paul's ; apd wrote 
 1625." 
 
 " Peni-loy^ Cymlal, Fitton Tho, Barber, Canter. 
 In troth they are dainty rooms; what place is this ? 
 Cymbal. This is the outer room, where my clerks sit. 
 And keep their sides, the Register i' the midst ; 
 The Examiner, he sits private there, within ; 
 And here I have my several rpwls and fyl'es 
 Of News by the alphabet, and all put up 
 Under their heads f. jun. But thoSe too subdivided 'b- 
 Cymb. Into Authenticall, and Apoopyphalli 
 Fitton. Or News of doubtful credit ; as Barbers' Ne^'a. 
 Cymh. And Taylors' News, Porters', afid Watermens' 
 
 News. 
 
 Ben Jonson a cotemporary of Shakespear, here refers 
 
 to Barbers,' Taylors,* itnd Smiths' News, for which they 
 
 appear to have been celebrated at that period, and some of 
 
 the Craft are greauVgres»2o«yer« i?i the present day.-. 
 
( 137 ). 
 Jonson cOAtiAues his happy description, tliroughout theaboTt 
 Drama, Kiit not so happily as Shakespear iii his King Joha, 
 where he has *ith such effect blended the three artificers. 
 >' 1 saw a smitVi stand with his hammer> thus^ 
 The whilst ^is iron did on the anvil cqoI, 
 With open mouth, swallowing a tailor's news ; , 
 Who, with his Shears and measure in his hand. 
 Standing on slippers (whibh his' nimble ha:st« 
 Had fdsely thrust upon contrary ftet,) 
 Told of a many thousand warlike French, 
 That were embatteled and rai^'d in Kent : 
 Another lean unwash'd artificer 
 Cuts off his tale, and talks of Arthur's death." 
 Next follows a very curious List of Newspapers, Maga- 
 zines, and Reviews for neairly two Centuries {/rom 1611 to 
 1804, to *bich Mr. Nichols adds at least 200 more in the 
 6th Volume of his Anecdotes. I find some omissions in the 
 Harleian MS., and also in Mr. Nichols's account, but they 
 are altogether so extensive in number as to occupy too much 
 room for my present undertaking. I shall therefore, select 
 and confine myself to the naost interesting details, and notes 
 respecting then>, stating at what period the first Neivs^ and 
 other Papers, were issued from each Country : — 
 
 The English Mercuries appeared in 1588 
 
 The Mereurie Oallo Belg;ci 1594 
 
 News from Spain, 12 pages, 4 to 1611 
 
 News ovItoP G«B»ANY 1612 
 
 Good News from Fi.on£^c!X, 1614 
 
 News from Itj^ily, i.. • ...161^ 
 
 News from Poland ..■■>..... .1621 
 
 The German Intelligencer, 16S0 
 
 The Swedish Intelligencer, 1631 
 
 Wai'ranted Tidings frbm Irelasd, 1641 
 
 iREt aind'S True £{iurnal , ........i 1641 
 
 A speedy Post, or more News ffosii Hi l- 1642 
 
 MerCttries Aulicus; or News from Oxfihd, 1642 
 
 The Scotch Intel Hgeneer ; or the Weekly News from J ig^g 
 Scotland and the Court, S 
 
 The Welch Mercury 1643 
 
 Mercuries Hibernicus, Printed at Bristol, 1644 
 
 Thus have I given a Selection of the first Paper from each 
 
 Country, from their origin, to the middle, of the 17th 
 
 Century. 
 
( rss ) 
 
 The latter will serve to show the progress of the Periodi- 
 cal Press to the middle of the 17th Century, as to the com- 
 mefteement of promulgating News in different parts of tlie.- 
 Globe. But there were no less than Two-hundred and 
 thirtydifFerentPapers,&c., published up to that time, and 
 upwards of One .thousand more *up to the close of the 
 Eighteenth Century. Many notes and observations, upon 
 those of the ol-den time, claim attention, and will be found 
 interesting. 
 
 In a note to jthe ReaSer, Ben Jpnaon speaks of the Times Kew? as a 
 weekly cheat to draw money, which " could not be fitter reprehended, than 
 in raising this ridiculous office of the Staple, wherein the Age may see her 
 own folly, or hunger and thirst after published Pamphlets of News, set out 
 every Saturday, but made all at home, and no syllable of truth in them ; 
 tl»an. which there cajinoi be a greater disease in Nature, or a fouler scorn 
 pat upon the time." 
 
 ■fiallb-Belgicus (a copy of which is now amon^ ^he King's collection 
 in. the British Museum) is not a neiespaper ; but may with greater pro- 
 priety be called Tlie Annual Register of the Times, or The State of Europe. 
 It was originally compiled by M. J'ansen,a Frisian, and was not printed 
 until the year 1598, ten years after the " Merciirie," although it dates thg 
 citmmencement of its accounts from the same period. It is written in Latiu, ■ 
 gnd was printed in octavo at Cologne, and ornamented with awooden cut of i 
 Mercury standing on a Globe with his usual attributes. Thus, even if 
 Gallo-Belgicus could be correctly termed a sewepape:!, ^hich it cannot, 
 " The English Mercurie'' would claim precedence by the space o,f ten 
 years ; and Holland raual consequently yield the credit of origin^litj to 
 Great Britain. 
 
 O^ the Mercurius Britannicus published in 1643, Chal- 
 shers says that, 
 
 Marchmont Needham, the ver^tile a.utV.or ef this paper, was born in 
 1620, and educated at Oxford. He assumed all colours of the chameleon 
 during those contentious times; and, being discharge4 from writing public 
 intelligence by the Council of State io March ifi60, was allowed to live at 
 the Restoration; till at length, says Anthony Wood, " this most seditious, 
 mutable^ and reviling Author died suddenly, in Devereux Court, in No- 
 Jsember 1678." 
 
 _ Of the ImpartiaLIntelligencer, p«i,^l^hed in J(3'|^. 
 
 In No. 7 of this paper is the first regular Advertisement which I have 
 jnt;twith. It is from ^gentleman of Candish in Suffolk, from whom two ' 
 Morses liad be.ea stolen. 
 
( 139 ) 
 Of the Mercurius Caledonius, comprising the affairs' in 
 agitation in Scotland. Mr. CbaTftiers says, 
 
 This paper, which was published once a week by a Society of Stationer's 
 at Edinburgh, is the earliest that occurs of Scotch Manufacture ; each army; 
 I>efore that period, having carried with them an English printer. Thus 
 Hobert Barker {)tinletl!at Newcastle for King Charles in 1639 ; etnJ Chris- 
 topher Higgins, under the same auspices of Cromwell, reprinted at Leith; 
 the Loiidon Dittrnoi ofsomepdssage^andaffamia 1652, for'the information; 
 of the EngBsh soWiers ; and in 1653 the Mercurius Politicus ; which in 
 1654 was transferred to Edinburgh, where it continued to be published tiI4 
 April 11, 1660 ; and was then repriated under the name of Mercurius Pub-' 
 licus. — The Caledonian Mercury was compiled by a son of the Bishop of 
 Orkney, Thomas Sydserfe ; who now thought he had the wit to amuse, the 
 knowledge to instruct, and the address ta captivate, the lovers of New« in 
 Scotland. But he was only able, with all his powers, to extend his public 
 cation to ten nunibers, which were very loyal, very illiterate, and *ery affecf- 
 »ed. Chalmer's p. 118. 
 
 The Intelliffeneer^hy Ro&er L'Estb.'VN&e,. Esq,. 
 
 In Augusi 166?, Koger L'Estrangfe, esq. (after more tha'n twenty year* 
 spent in serving the Royal cause, near six of them in gaols, and almost 
 four under sentence of death in Newgate,) had interest sufGcient to obtain 
 an appointment to a new created o6Sce, under the title of Surveyor of the 
 Imprimery and ftintfing Presses ;" together with " the sole licensing of all 
 ballads, charts, printed portraitures, printed pictures,, books, and papers ^ 
 exceptbooks concerning common la<Wy affairs of state, heraldry, titles of lio- 
 nours and arms, the office of Earl Marshal, books of divinity,, physick, phi- 
 losophy, arts and sciences, and such as are granted to his Majesty's peculiar 
 printer ; and except such books as by a late act of parliament are other 
 wise appotnted to Be licensed. " tie- had also a grant of " all the sole' pri- 
 vilege of writing, printing, and publishing, all Narratives-,. Advertisements, 
 Mercuries, Intelligencers, Diurnals, and other books of public intelligence i 
 and printing all Ballads, Plays, Maps; Charts,. Portraitures, and Pictures, 
 not previously printed ; and all Briefs for Collections, Playbills, Quack- 
 salvers Bills, Custom and Excise Bills, Post-office Bills, Creditors Bills ani! 
 Tickets in England and Wales ;• with power to search for and seize .un- 
 Ifcensed and treasonabVe, schismatiia! and scandalous books and 
 papers. (.Bagfird's coUectinns, in Harl MSS. 6900 vol. 2.) 
 
 The Xingdmris Intelligencer of the affairs in agitation iia 
 England, Ireland, and Scotland contains many regular Ad- 
 vertisements of Books, and the following, ■which Mr, Ki-r 
 diols tliflught worth transcribing : (1663^ 
 
( 140 ) 
 "There i»stclen abrpada most&lseandjmpertect e^py of a poem, cajled 
 Sudibras without same ofjeither printer or bookseller, as £t for so }aine 
 and spurious an impression. The true and perfect edition, printed by the 
 Author's original, is sold by Richard Marriott, un(}er Str Dunstan's Chujicli 
 in Fleet-street ; that pther nameless impression is a cheat, and will but 
 abnse^the Buyer as well -as the Author, wJic(se poem deserves to have' 
 iallen into,better rhar»d,s." A .kind ol Obituary found ,alao a placein -thji^ 
 paper; with some acconnt of tlie I'roceedings (»f Parliament, and in the 
 Court of Claims ; a list of the Judges Circuits, the Sheriff's, the Lent 
 Preachers, &c. &c. And in No. 8, February. 23td notice is given 'th^ 
 The " Faculties office far gTaotii^ Ifjipenses (^y Act of Parliament^ to ea* 
 Flesh in any part of England, is still kept at St. Paulls Chain, near St. 
 Paul's Church yard." 
 
 At this period Newspapers were publislied at 3d. each. 
 L'Estrange's paper was superseded ■ by the London 
 Gazette, which was first published on the 1st February,! 655. 
 
 The name Gazette was taken from a Newspaper first printed! at. Venice, 
 and sold for a coin of that denomination.: — "not a sol, not a gaset," says the 
 Antiquary, in Dodsley's.Oid Plays,.aod "a gazpt," ^Jopyat tejl^ us, "is 
 ailmost a penny;, whereof ten do make a livre, that is, nine-pence." 
 
 In the I9th number of the Gazette, September 9, 1678 — - 
 is, 
 
 "A Resolution of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, to sfiew their gre ail 
 care and tenderness of his Majesty's, health, that two of the Aldermen should 
 iaily wait uponhim in his bed-chamber at Windsor during his illness. ' In- 
 No. 50, December 26,13 this advertisement : — " Whereas on Thursday the 
 18ih instant, in the evening, Mr. John Dryden was assaulted and wounded 
 in Rose-street in Covent-gaiden, by divers men unknown. If any person 
 shall make discovery of the said offenders to the said Mr. Dryden, or ta 
 any justice of peace for the liberty of Westminster, he shall not only receive 
 fifty pounds, which is deposited in the hands of Mr. Blanchard, goldsmith, 
 next door to Temple Bar, for the said purpose; but if the discoverer be 
 himself one of the actors, be shall have the fifty pounds, without letting his 
 name ]ye known, or receiving the least trouble by any prosecution."" 
 
 In N. Thompson's "True Domestic Intelligence," for 
 
 September, 30. 1679 it states that '* 
 
 " Mr. Garraway, master of the famous Coffee-house near the Royal 
 Exchange, hath store of good Cherry-wine ; and 'tis said, that the Black 
 Cherry and other wild Cherries do yield good and wholesome. Aquavita;* 
 and Brandies. — In somepart of BuckinghanMhire they are sail) to have got 
 from the (Canaries a sort of Barley, whi<!h hath roes of .Barley up,on ejery 
 ear. In some other places they have-a sort of -Wheat v»hicb bears four, five, 
 or six ears of Wheat upon every stalk ; but it is not much commended. 
 
 • The above well known e3tabli.shm?.at, slill .bijars ,the name of 
 Garraway's Coffeehouse; W. w. 
 
( -141 ) 
 The f6llo\¥ing ctirious Article appears in the 'jfV«evVVws' 
 No. 37, 1679— 
 
 " A Project was setting on foot for conveying of letters, notes, rrisssag**,' 
 amorous billets, and all bundles whatsoever, under a pound weight, and 
 all sorts of writings (challenges only excepted), to and from any part oE 
 the city and suburbs ; to which purpose the projectors have taken a house 
 in Lime-Street for a General Office, and have appointed eight more stages 
 in otiier parts at a convenient distance : a. plot, if not timely-prevented by 
 the Freemen Porters of the City, is like to prove the utter subversion o£ 
 them and their Worshipful Corporation." 
 
 . In. the Mercurius Librarius, or a faithful account 6? all 
 Books and Pamphlets, No. 2 April, 1680 is the following 
 curious article 
 
 " All Booksellers that approve of the design of publishing this Cata-' 
 logue weekly, or once in 14 days at least, are desired to send in to one o£ 
 , the Undertakers any book, pamphlet, or sheet, they would have in it, so 
 soon as published, that they may be inserted in order as they come out : their 
 books shall be delivered them back again upon demand. I'o shew they 
 design the public advantage of the trade, they will expect but 6(1. for in- 
 serting any book ; nor but 12(2. for any other advertisement relating to tha 
 trade, unless it be .excessive long." 
 
 . In 1682,. Benjamin Harris published " Domestic Intelli- 
 gence," every Thursday, (gratis)* for the promotion of Tirade. 
 
 ■ The " Jockey's Intelligencer," or Weekly Advertisements 
 oT Horses and Second-hand Coaches, to be bought or sold ; 
 cha'fgrfed One Shillina: for the Notification of Sale of a Horse 
 or' Coach; and Six- pCn'ce for the Renewal. (1683) 
 
 TFeeTcly Memorials, or accounts of Books lately set forth 
 ■^ith other accounts relating to Learning by Authority No. 1. 
 Jan; 19. 1688—9— 
 
 '. Tlii? is the eajHe'St specimen of an English Ilejjieic.r^The Edinburgh 
 Iteoiewer began a few mdntlis earlier." 
 
 An Account of the Proceedings of the Meeting of the Es- 
 tates of Scotland ; with Licence. Published by Richard 
 ChisweU, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Cliurch-yard;. 
 No. 1-, March 25, 1689. ' 
 
 * I Printed '" the Daily. Advertisements" in the City of Cork, in ISIl, 
 and distributed them Grafis Daily, for three months', to the number 
 of 50,000! W. W-, 
 
 X- 
 
^ MS ')■ 
 
 This paper, printed eiia foKo Ualf-dieet, was continued by Diehard Bald- 
 win till October 1 690 ; and, tbgether with the proceedings .«rf the GonveK- 
 tion, containsid news and! advertisements. When the Revolution had beeo 
 accomplished in Scotland,! it seems to have ceased in Englandv 
 
 Tbe Londoii Mercury, 1Q91. 
 
 Theantiband seventh numbers of this paper; were ornamented with a ctf- 
 lious weod-cur, repieseating a* owl pejthed on a .rav»i, witfi the word* 
 " Par pari,: as Biisdsof a Feather." (Doubtless A hit on Duktok.) 
 
 "By iai advertjsemeot in tiie Ahenian Gaaette, daited, Feb. 8, 1696 ^ 
 it appears, that the coffee-houses of London had then,(ex6lusiA'e<jfthe Votes 
 tf' Parliamevt every Aayi)-nine Kewspajiers every week. 
 
 Dawk's News Letter, Ipn a type to imitafe' Writing^ 
 No. ^,k^x%. 4, 1696. 
 
 " This letter *ill be done upon good writing-paper, and blank space left, 
 tlrat any gentleman may write his own private business. It does undoubt- 
 edly exceed the best of the -written news, contains double the quantity, is 
 read with abundance more ease and pleasure, and will be useful to improve 
 die younger sort in writing a curious hand." 
 
 The Edinburgh Gazette, printed by James Watson, No. 1, 
 FeT). 28-, 1699. 
 
 Authorof "The History of Printing," and/or several yeajs, the great 
 news-monger of Scotland, as Butter had been during a prior age. In 1699, 
 after having published 41 numbers,, he transferred the Edinburgh Gazette to 
 £ohn Keid. 
 
 TJie last paper published in London, in the 17th Century, 
 ■was the Weekly Comedy., as it is daily acted at most Coffee- 
 Houses in LondoH, it commeneed on the 4th of May, 1699.- 
 
 Having thus closed with an outline of some of the eccen- 
 tricities of the times, I shall merely state that at the com- 
 mencement of 1700, were ushered, in sosae papers of quite aS: 
 extraordinary a character ;, the following are the ,thce@ first 
 specimens,. 
 
 The Dutch Prophet ; or, the Devil of a Conjuror ; No. 1, 
 being infallible Predictions of what shall happen in and about 
 the Cities of London and Westminster, by Peter Nicholas 
 Van-grin, late Superior of the College' of Lapland 
 Witches, and Chief Negromancer to the Dutch at Japan : 
 to be continued weekly. (1700) 
 
 The Merry Mercury; or, a Farce of Fools, No. I, Nov« 
 29, 1700. 
 
 The Infallible Astrologer, 1700, 
 
( 143 ) _ 
 To these whim^es may be added the Flying Post, the 
 farthing Chranicle, the ffc^lfpenny Journal, The Penny 
 Post, The i&romler, or Diogenes robbed of his Tub, The 
 Balm ^ Qilead , or healer of Divisions. The Msmihiy 
 feather Viper ; " being some baroscopical Discoveries from 
 what part or parts of the compass tlie wind may be likely te 
 Jjlow ; with what other sorts and alteration of the weather 
 may be expected every 4ay and night." 
 
 At the commencement of the 18 th Century. Adver- 
 tisements were inserted in the Obsefpator M0/orme(ir^'E,\^hi 
 lines for one shilling ! 
 
 The following excellent plan was adopted in ^' T/ie Cottnit'^ 
 Gentleman's Cotiratii, on Saturday, October, 6, 1706. 
 
 " This papej tile Proprietors arepleftsfcd to give awiiy on this day only, 
 ithat the design mi^y be the better kqawn, ;ind the sale encouraged as ft de- 
 erves. — Among the crowd of newspapeis that come oiit weeVty, it is hoped 
 this may find as favourable a reception as any, when its usefulness is rightly 
 considered ; for here the reader is flot ojily diverted with a faitlifol register 
 of the most reinarkable and momentary transactiass both at home and 
 abroad, which occnr to our fenowletlge in a week's time ; b«tt !ilso with a 
 geographical description of the mpst njaterial places mentioned in every 
 article of news ; whereby he is freed the trouble of loolcing into r^ap!' o; 
 books of geography for his mfprnjation, and hist reading is rendered easy, 
 profitable, and pleasant. Besides this advantage, there are others to-be 
 considered for its recomoiendatioQ ; for, as this paper conti^ins all that is 
 pfmomentin all other newspapers that are published every weelj (which 
 many gentlemen and others have not the opportunity of seeing or perusing, 
 fither because of their distance from, this City, of London, or the 
 emergency of their private affairs. Or by reason of the clurge of the several 
 newspapers and postage, whi<;h is very considerable) ; so it is hoped many 
 gentlemen will encourage this so useful a design, since no one can read 
 bnt must understand, it being suited for the meanest capacities' irnprov&- 
 ment and satisfaction, by obliging tlieir friends in the country with it, the 
 charge being no more than 2d. per paper. And as promotion of trade is a 
 inatter which ought to be encouraged, advertisenieats will be taken in by 
 the publisher hereof at 2d. per line." 
 
 The following Anecdqte of Abel Boyer, author of the 
 French Grammar, French Dictionary, &c. appears in hiscase, 
 right and title, in writing of the " True Poitboy," a News- 
 paper published in 1709. He observes, 
 
( ,144 ) 
 "All gentlemen, shop-keepers, coffee-meo, and otlrers, who will ihinfc fit 
 to continue the true Post-Boy by A. Boyer, are desired to give particular 
 directions about it to the Hawkers that serve them ; because Mr. Koperuses 
 all mean endeavours to hinder its being dispersed. Mr. Eoper, in particu- 
 lar, ought gratefully to reflect, that Mr. Boyer has written for him, ' The 
 History of King William,' in thiee volumes ; ' Seven Volumes of tlie 
 Queen's Annals ;' some other books ; and the Post-Boy for four jears ; by 
 all which he has got considerable sums of money. 
 
 The British Mercury, No. 1, March 27, 1710. 
 
 This paper was established by ihe first prpiecilors of The Sim Fire Office; 
 who appear to have then lately purchased the interest of a preceding office 
 which had been managed by Mr. Pooej/.--" In a few days," they state, 
 ," the Company's Policies will be ready, and delivered gratis to all person* 
 who had siibscribed to the Exchange-house Fire-office, and continue to in- 
 sure their houses or goods from loss by fire with the Company of London 
 Insurers, they only paying their quarterage as usual." — The top of the paper 
 is ornamented with a bold Sun, resembling the present badge of the Sun-fire 
 office. — At No. 38, they added the figuie of Mercury. 
 
 lYin British Mercury, '^o. 12, October 24, 1710, con-, 
 tains a catalogue of the Newspapers pubHshed in London oi^, 
 each day of the week ; the numbers were— on Monday 6,_ 
 on Tuesday 12, on 'VVednesday 6, on Thursday 12, on Fri- 
 day 6, on Saturday 13, in all 55—2 or 3 being published' 
 daily, and most of the others oiji alterna,te days, 
 
 The British Mercury ; published by the Company 9f the, 
 Tire-office in ThrejidneedleTStreet, Augflst 2, 1712. 
 
 It is worthy of remark that on the 30th of July 1712, No. 
 369, of the a,bove paper was published, and was the begin- 
 ning of a new series occasioned b,y 
 
 "The Stamp Dutj, which tpclfplaceon the 2nd ofAug. 1712, on all',' printed 
 single sheets and half-sheets," which was extended to a sheet and a half ; 
 and contains an introductory history of Newspapers; some extracts of whipli^ 
 will not be inapplicable to tlie present article : " It does not appear that this 
 method of s,preading new§ in print vvas much in use before the reign of King 
 CJiarles I.; and even then it had its beginning with tho^e calamities which 
 involved the who]e nation, and, no doubt, contributed much towards thein. 
 The Rebellion then set all the presses at liberty ; and the two contending 
 parties attacked one another as fiercely in paper, as they did in the field. 
 ^lercurius Pqliticus, Mercurius Aulicus, Intelligences, and many more voi- 
 der several denominations, flew about in the cities and towns, as the bullets 
 did in the open country. The Restoration, biingingback llie blessing of 
 peace, foi; a time put a period tj that dislemper, suppressing that furious run 
 of B6WS and slander, U he famous Muddiman was then the only ncws-monT - 
 
( 1« ) 
 
 g«r, supplykg the Nation with gam* intelligence, ai to public affairs, by 
 written letters . This furnished him with a plentiful maintenance, and satis- ' 
 fied the then less carious people ; nothing of that nature being yet in print, ' 
 eifcept, I think, for some time, a single paper, by the name of an Intelligence, 
 la the year 1655, The London Gazette, published by authority, first ap- 
 peared in the world, and continued the paly paper of that sort ; till, about 
 1677 or 1678,the old ferment begmning to work up again in the nation, those 
 'who desired to increase it again revived the dormant practice of alarming the - 
 multitude by the help of the press, wherein they were not disappointed of ' 
 their expected success, King Charles II, having, in some measure, allay- 
 ed those storms, a suitable stop was put to that exorbitant liberty of printing. 
 The Gazette again became the most regarded, and, as I take it, the only 
 news in vogue; and so held on during the remaining part of that Prince's 
 leign and the-beginning of his successor's Some time before the Revolution, 
 the press was again set to wprk ; aqd such a. fiiriousitich of novelty has ever i 
 since been the epidemical distemper, that it has proved fatal to many fami- 
 lies ; the meanest of shopkeepers and handicrafts spending whole days in 
 coffee-houses, to hear news and talk politicks, whilst their vyives and chil- 
 dren wanted bread at home ; and, their bnsine^s, being neglected, they were 
 themselves at length thrustinto gaol$, or forced to tak^ sanctuary in the army, 
 Hence sprung that iiinundation of Ri/stmfia, Postboys, Evetting Posts, Sap- ' 
 plements. Daily Courants, Protatant Postboys^ arnountji^g jo 21 every week, .' 
 besides many more which have not survived to this time \ ajid besides the 
 Gazette which has the sanction of public authority ; and this Mercyry, only 
 intended for and delivered to those persona whose goods or houses are insured 
 by the Sun Fire-office. Yet has not all this variety been sufficient to sati^ 
 ate the immoderate appetite of intelligence, without ransacking France, 
 ll'olland, and Flanders, wliepce the foreign mails duly fiirnish us with the 
 Gazettes or Courants of Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hague, 
 Kotterdam, Leyden, and some others not so common, besides the French 
 and Holland Gazetles-a-layMain. The new du,ty imposed on printed single 
 sheets and half-sheets will doubtless somewhat lessen the number of English • 
 newspapers; an<i a peace may perhaps be fatal to such as survive the first 
 blow. — However, this Mercury may, in all likelihood, subsist after the sup- 
 presion of the others above-mentioned, because, having never been designed . 
 for nor exposed to common sale, its being does tipt so much depend on chance. . 
 and the inconstant humour of the multitud:. It is to be believed there will 
 be insuring as long as there are goods and houses to insure ^ and this Office 
 having met with sufficient encouragement, not to^ question its establishment, 
 the Mercury, which stands upon the-sa,mq foundation, may well promise 
 itself a continU|ance." . ... 
 
 Dr. Swift, in his Journal to Stella, thus notices the Stamp-duty : " Grub- 
 street has but ten days to live ; then an act of parliament takes, place that . 
 piins it, by taxing every half-sheet a halfpenny." Journal to Stella," July^„ 
 9, 1712. — "Do you know that C-ruS-iireet is dead and gone last weekl 
 
( 146 ) 
 
 No mow ghosts or murders now for lore or money. I plied it close the la^ 
 fortnight, and published at least seven papers of my own, besides some of 
 other people's ; but now every single halfrsheet pays a halfpenny to the 
 Queen. The Observator js fallen ; the Medleys are j umbled together with 
 the Flying Po^ ; the 'Examimr is deadly sick ; the Spectator keeps up, and 
 doubles its price; I know not how long it will hojd. Have you seen the rei 
 jst^rifg the papers are marked wijh ; Methinks the stamping is worth a half- 
 penny," Ibid. Aug. 7 , 1712.— The duty first took place , A^g. 12, 1712 ; 
 l^nd on the same day in the yearl789 was enlarged to two pence. 
 
 On the J8th ftfay, 1713—" The i?e<ro«ffJ/^," published 
 Jwo papers at once (a sheet and a half) to evade the Stamp 
 JJuty. 
 
 . The ffieteryal Register' was published in 1717, at the 
 texpence of the Sun Fire Office, it wa^s an excellent work, and 
 pontinued tilings!. 
 
 ' Having given the History of Newspapers, I shall sum up 
 this article with the remarks of Ch^ln^ers, and an extract 
 from the late Bishop of Cloyne's (Wm. Bennet) , Scrap book, 
 which I have in my possession ; many valuable extracts from 
 vpbich, will I hope enridi my future pages. 
 
 Mi:. CljALMERS observes that it may gratify our national 
 pride to l^ehold that to the wisdom of Elizabeth, and the 
 prudence of Burleigh, we qwe the Introduction of Newspa^ 
 pers, the First of which vas called '' The English Mer- 
 curie," aad was printed during the Spanish Arihada, and 
 is still preserved in the British Museum, being dated 23rd 
 July, 1558, from 155? to |662, few of these publications ap,T 
 peared ; but the Victories of Gustavus 44<?!phus having ex- 
 cited the gur|c|sjty of our Countrymen, a Weekly Paper 
 called " The Mews of the present Week" was printed. 
 After sometime this was continued under another title, and 
 ultimately it was succeeded by the Qerman and Swedish 
 Intelligencer. These papers were originajly issued in 
 |.he shape qf Pamphlets, and continued to 1661.-^ 
 Roger L'Estrange, published;:— The Public Intelligencer in 
 the present shape of Newspapers. The London Gazette, 
 was published in 1665, under the title of Oxford Gazette 
 itJiaving been printed at Oxford during a Session of Parlia- 
 ment held there on account of plagues then raging in Lon-. 
 
( 147 > 
 don, and from this period it is curious to trace tlie progres- 
 sion and encreasepf these interesting vehicles of ipforiuatjan . 
 — From 1661 to 66, jio legs than 70 ]^apers were published 
 nnder d liferent titles, after the Revolutio« the 'Oraw^^ /«te^- 
 liffencer, appeaired and thence to 1692, diwe were 26 diffe- 
 rent others brought forward. From an Advertisement in 
 the Athenwm, Gazette of 1696, it appears that the Cbfiee- 
 Mouse in London, were theij pupplied with 9 papers every 
 week, exclusive of votes of Pf^rliaments, but there is no men- 
 tion of any one printed daily. July 18, 19, papers were 
 published , of which only the London Coutant, was a dafly pa- 
 per in 1724, 3 daily, 6 we^ly and 3 new EveiiMig papers 
 every week— in 1712, the number of copies issued in Eagland 
 amounted to 15,005,760. The total number of septate 
 papers published in Great Britain and Ii«land, in 1808, 
 was 215. 
 
 The following paragraph ftom the Bishop of Cloyne''3; 
 Serap?-boofe, states, - 
 
 "It is not generally known that it was in the reign of Aq^> 
 London first " enjoysd the luxury of a news- paper " every 
 day;" jhat, in 1709 there was one d,^ily paper, and seven' 
 teen other papers ; that, in 1724 three daily papers were 
 publis'hed, and eighteen other papers; that, in 1753 the 
 number of news-papers sold in all England, according to 
 an average of three years preceding, was 7,411, 757; that, 
 at the close of the late reign in 1760, it was 9,404,790; 
 thai, in 179'0, it was 14,035,639; in 1791, was 14,794, 153; 
 and in 1792, was 15,005,760. This forms such a phoeno- 
 menoft of curiosity political and literary, of- riches nniv^rsally 
 diffused, and of enquiry nniversajly awake, as has not beef» 
 paralellod in, any other part of the , world." 
 
 I now conclude by ob^^ejrving that upwards of Fiv,e hun- 
 dred different New^pg^wrs and other periodicjJs,. were p^b- 
 Iishe,d during tlie Eighteenth Cent)?ry, under saph a .variety 
 of heads and titles, that a concise Dictionary pf them may »ot 
 be unacciqitible to my readers, or to thefuture Projector, who 
 in coining a title — without having seen the following list — 
 will on perusing it, find that there is scarcely any tiring "New 
 
( 148 ) 
 .Under the Sun v_for we have bdd itj yarious forms tbe- 
 
 Advenlurer, 
 
 Advertiser, 
 
 Advocate, 
 
 Albion, 
 
 Atlas, 
 
 Apollo, 
 
 Aurora, 
 
 Babler, 
 
 Bachelor, 
 
 Benefactor, 
 
 Briton, 
 
 Censor, 
 
 Champion, 
 
 Chronicle, 
 
 Citizen, 
 
 Connoisseur, 
 
 Correspondent, 
 
 Courant, 
 
 Courier, 
 
 Craftsman, 
 
 Critic, 
 
 Dazzler, 
 
 Uiary, 
 
 Director, 
 
 Doctor, 
 
 Examiner, 
 
 Flapper,' 
 
 Freeholder, 
 
 Freethinker, 
 
 Gazette, 
 
 Gazetteer, 
 
 Globe, 
 
 Growler, 
 
 Grumbler, 
 
 Guardian, 
 
 Herald, 
 
 Idler, 
 
 Incjuisitor, 
 
 Informer, 
 
 Intelligencer, 
 
 Inspector, 
 
 Ledger, 
 
 Looker- on. 
 
 Lover, 
 
 Lounger, 
 
 Mail, 
 
 Medley, 
 
 Mercury, 
 
 Mirror, 
 
 Moderator, 
 
 Mocutorj 
 
 News, 
 
 News Letter, 
 
 Observer, 
 
 Old Maid, 
 
 Olio, 
 
 Oracle, 
 
 Overseer, 
 
 Packet, 
 
 Parrot, 
 
 Patrician, 
 
 Patriot, 
 
 Peeper, 
 
 Phoenix, 
 
 Pilot, 
 
 Plain- dealer. 
 
 Plebeian, 
 
 Post Angel, 
 
 Post Boy, 
 
 Post Man, 
 
 Pratler. 
 
 Projiector, 
 
 Prompter , 
 
 Rambler, 
 
 Reader, 
 
 Reconciler 
 
 Register, 
 
 Remembrancer, 
 
 Repository, 
 
 Reprisal, 
 
 Review, 
 
 Rhapsodist, 
 
 Scourge, 
 
 Spectator, 
 
 Specvlator, 
 
 Spy. 
 
 Staiidard, 
 
 Student, 
 
 Star, 
 
 Sun, 
 
 Times, 
 
 Telegraph, 
 
 Tatler, 
 
 Test, 
 
 Tern pier, 
 
 Tory, 
 
 Visiter, 
 
 Volunteer, 
 
 Wande rer, 
 
 the 
 World, and 
 endless other;;. 
 
 A voice whispers me to stop at this World of invention, 
 even of Titles. 
 
 In 1785, London alone produced 10 daily papers, and 
 9 which appear, each three Evenings in a week. One Sunday 
 Paper, and a great variety of Weekly Miscellaneous; the 
 Country Papers were also very numerous. And as I shall 
 hereafter- .EjT^ro/? in my '' Fi/ty Years SecoUections." 
 A list from 1785, to 1835,* with Anecdotes respecting iVew«- 
 papers, Magazines, Reviews, Annual Registers, and other 
 Publications, I shall for the present only remark that 
 — / have during my Fifty Years vicissitudes, published 
 besides various Books, Pamphlets, Magazines, Reviews, &c., 
 the^dvertiser , the Globe, the Mercury , the Olio, the Peeper, 
 the Phcenix, the Press, the Remembrancer, the Speculator, 
 the Volunteer and the Times. And I now Volunteer, to 
 print for any person that will employ and pay me, any Work 
 divested of the plague and pestilence of Political party Spirit, 
 Religious Controversies, or private pique. 
 
 * It ia my intention to give a aelaiJed list of all the Newspapers of 
 England, Ireland and Scotland ; up to the closs of this publication. W. 
 
(• 149 ) 
 
 HISTORY or THE ORIGIN OF PAMPHLETS. 
 
 (From u bissertation, signed W. 0. [William Oldys, Esq.] annexed to 
 Morgan's Phoenix Britannicus, 1732," '4to.) 
 
 The derivation of the word Ptmvphlet may be found in 
 Minshew*s " Guide to Tongues," fol. 1637; i%the Preface 
 to " Icon Libellorum ;" Skinner's Etym. Ling. Angl. fol. 
 1671 ; and Spejman's Glossary. 
 
 The word Pamphkt, or little paper book, imports no re- 
 proachful character, any more than the word ffreat book ; 
 signifies a pasquil,, as little as it does a panegyric of itself : 
 is neither good nor bad, learned nor illiterate, tf'ue nor false, 
 serious nor joGulat, of itsown naked meaning or construction; 
 but is either of them, according as the subject makes the' 
 distinction. _ Thus, of scurrilous and abusive pamphlets, to 
 be barned in, 1647, we read in Rushworth j and by the 
 name of Pamphlet is the Encomium of Queen Emma called in 
 Holinshed. . 
 
 As for the antiquity of pamphlets,, it is not only question- 
 able, whether the Art of Printing should set a bound to it, 
 but even the adoption of the name itself, which yet I take to 
 be more inpdern than that Art ; for I look upon them as the 
 eldest offspring of paper, and to claim the rights of primo- 
 geniture even of bound volumes, however they may be short- 
 er-lived., and the younger brother has so much out-grown the 
 elder ; inasmuch as arguments do now, and more especially 
 did in the minority of our erudition, not only so much more 
 rarely require a larger compass than pamphlets will comprise ; 
 but these being of a more ready and facile, more decent and 
 simple form, suitable to the character of the more artless 
 ages, they seem to have been preferred by our modest ances- 
 tiry for the communication of their sentiments,, before book- 
 writing became a trade : and lucre^ or vanity let in deluges 
 of dlgfesSOfy Tearning, to swefl up unwieldy folios. Thus I 
 find', not a little to the honour of our suliject, no less a per-' 
 son tliart the renowned King Alfred', collecting his sage pre- 
 cepts and divine seritences, with his own Royal' haiid', into 
 " quaterni'ofts of leaves stiicUed together ;"' wliich he wouTd' 
 enlarge wil^- additional quaternions, as occasion ofiered : 
 
 u. 
 
( 150 ) 
 yet lie seemed to keep his collection so much within the limit* 
 of a pamphlet size (however bound together at last,) that he' 
 called it by the name of his hand-book*, because he made it 
 his constant companion, and had it at hand wherever he was. 
 
 It is so difficult to recover evert any of our first books or 
 volumes, wliiSh were printed by William Caxton,- though it iss 
 certain he set forth near half a hundred of them in folio, that 
 it were a wonder if his pamphlets should not be quitelost. 
 There are more eistant of his successor Wyakin d'e Worde's 
 printing in this lesser form, whereof, as grfeat rarities, I have' 
 seexubotli in quarto arid octavo, though holding no compar- 
 ison probably with those ofTiis also, which are destroyed. 
 
 The civil wars of Charles I. and the Parliament party 
 produced an innumerable quantity of these paper lanthorns,. 
 as a Wit of tliattime called" them, which, while they illumi- 
 nated the multitude, did not always escajie the ffames them- 
 selves. 
 
 At this time might be mentioned the restless John Lilburne 
 and the endless William Prynne, who wrote in earnest, for 
 bbtlibled in the cause. There are near a hundred pamph- 
 lets written by- and' coricerning the first of these authors. — 
 But, the labours of the last being unparalleled, I may here 
 not improperly observe, that, during the forty two years he. 
 was a writer, he published above a hundred and sixty pamph- 
 lets, besides several thick bound volumes in quarto- and folio,, 
 all said to be gathered into about 40 tomes, arid extarit in 
 Iiincoln's tnn Library. I think the printed catalogue of his 
 writings exten3s not Jri their whole number beyond one hun- 
 dred arid sixty-eight different pieces ; but Anthony Wood to 
 above one huridred arid fourscore ; who also computes, he 
 miist rieeds have composed' at the rate of a sheet every day, 
 from the time- that he came to man's estate.. 
 
 This particular notice of our most voliiminous- Pamphleteer 
 will lead us to a general review of the numerous produce 
 of the press, during that turbulent series aforesaid,, wherein, 
 he was such a fruitful instrument,, to impregnate the same 
 and promote the superfoetation thereof. For by the grand. 
 
 * A« r do ray " Fifty Yiare of in Old ooksellef." TC. 
 
< 151 ) 
 ttoMection of Pamphlets, which was made by ToittKnsoju the 
 bookseller, from the latter end of the year 1640 to the begin- 
 ing of 1660, it appears there were published in that space 
 near thirty thous?ind. several .tracts : and that these were not 
 the complete issue •of that period, there-is good presumption^ 
 and Ibelieve, proofs in being: notwithstanding, it is -enriched 
 with near a hundred manuscripts, which nobodythen(being; 
 written on the side of Royalists) would venture to put iri 
 print; the whtrle, "however, for it is yet undispersed, is pro- 
 gressipnally and uniformly bound, in upwards of two thou- 
 sand volumes, of all sizes. The catalogue, which was taken 
 by Marmaduke Foster, the auctioaeer, coHsigtsof-'twelvc 
 voluises in "folio; "wherein every piece has such a punettial 
 register aad reference, that the smaliest even of a single leaf, 
 may be readily repaired to thereby. -Kjey were coUectfed, 
 no doubt, with great assiduity and expense, and -not preser- 
 ved, in those troublesome timeis, without greater danger and 
 difficulty ; the books being often shifted from place to place 
 out of the Army's reach. And s© scarce were many -of these 
 ■tracts, even at their first publication, that ^King Charles i, 
 is reported to have given ten pounds for only reading one of 
 them over, which he could no where else procure, at thts 
 ■owner's house in St. Paul's Church-yard. 
 
 ■By the munificence of his Maj^ty Geo. ^rd. ^^he British, 
 Museum was some years -since e.Qriched with this most valua- 
 ble collection of 30,000 tracts, bound in 20O0 volumes ; 
 100, chiefly on the l^irig'$ sjde, weje printed but never pub- 
 lished, the whole was intended for Charles tlie First's use, 
 carried about England as the Parliament-army- marched, 
 kept in the collectors warehouses disguised as tables covered 
 with canvas and .lodged last at Oxford under the care tof Dr. 
 Barlow till he was made Bishop of Lincoln. They were off- 
 ered to the Library at XUfprd, and at leagth bought for 
 Charles IL by his stationer Samuel M.eacpe, wligse widow^ 
 afterwards was obliged to dispose of them by leave of the said 
 .King, 1684 ; but it is believed, they continued unsold till 
 his present Majesty ,-bought them, of Mearne's representar 
 tivep*. In a printed paper it is said the collector refused 
 ivOOl. for Ihem. " ' 
 
( J52 ) 
 
 Out of this immense collection Rushwprth' furnished hii«i- 
 self with authorities; and, if the spirit of party was not, so 
 prevalent among them, we might still Ipok them ovet witl> 
 profit ; but they are top much spoiled by the canting divinity 
 pf lie times, wliicl^ suits not the present age. Yet we Jiave 
 pot beeu totally wanting in taste for these ephemerous pro- 
 ductions, or of purchasers at an extravagant price, as Lord 
 Spmers, who gave more than 500^. for Torn Brittpn the 
 smaUcoal man's collection in this Wfiy ; and Anthony CoUips, 
 whose collection afterwards produced above 1800/. ; encou- 
 ragement sufficient to induce other collectOTS to gather wjiat 
 ^he squalls of fate and ^hance may th«)w up. 
 
 Dr. Francis Bernard, who was physicjan tp King James 
 JI. was a man of leariimg and well versed in literary kistory, 
 JJe had the hest private cQllection of scarce ^pd curious books 
 ^hat h^d beeri seen in E^igland, and was a gppd j«}dg.e pf 
 their value. He died Feb. 9, 169.7, in lijs 7Qth y^g^r. Th«;, 
 Catalogue of his b.poks, which were ^pld by auction, is dialed 
 \n 1698. The amount of this Auction (sffter deductiijg 4s, 
 in the pound, which ^ere the expenses of the ssile( was 
 1600/. a large sum in that time, -when the passion for rare 
 books was much more moderate than it is at present. 
 
 Pamphlets have been the terror of oppression . Thus Phi- 
 lip the Second's vficked employment, treacherous desertion, 
 and barbarous persecution of his secrertary Antonio Perez, 
 upbraids him out of that Author's LibriUo, through all Eu- 
 rope, to this day. Mary Queen of Scots has not yet. g>ot 
 clear of ", Buchanan's Petection." Robert Earl of Leices- 
 ter cannot shake off •' Father Parsons's Green-coat. " — 
 George Duke of Buckii^liam will not speedily outstrip "Dr. 
 Eglishams Fore-runner of Revenge." Nor was Oliver 
 promwell far from killing himself, at the pamphlet which 
 argued it to be no Murder, lest it should persuade others to 
 think so, and he perish by ignobler hands than bis own. 
 
 Mr. Oldys then goes into a mass of arguments and valuafr 
 bie information, but I shall close with one of his arguments 
 in favor of carefully preset-pine/, pamphlets " they stand in 
 greater need of such 'care, than wr-itings better secured bv 
 
( 153 ) 
 ^heir bulk and bindings do. Many good old family books 
 are descended to us, whose backs and sides our careful grand- 
 sires buiFed and tossed and boarded against the teeth of 
 time, pr more deyousing ignorimce, wid -whose leawes iSiey 
 g-uarded with brass, nay silver dosps, against the assaults of 
 worm and weather. ' iBut these defenceless conduits el advet.- 
 tisement are so mach more obnoxious, by reason of their 
 nakedness and debility, to all destructive casualties, that it 
 is more rare and difficult, for w^nt of a proper asylum, to 
 meet with some trg.cts which have not been printed ten yeara, 
 than with many books which are now more than ten -times 
 their age." o ^ 
 
 Several scarce tracts, have been reprinted and tieir ideal 
 value of course lessened, scarce tracts have at all peHods 
 hrought great prices, until reprinled. At the Auction of ^he 
 Books of Mr. Charfes Bernard, Serjeant Sui^ieon to Queen 
 Anne, small tracts brought from 3 '& 4 Guineas to 30£.* 
 
 • The 'i Spaccip della Besta Triomfanle," by Jordano Bruno, an Italian 
 atheist, is said in the Sp!?ctator, No. 389, to have sold for 301. But, by a 
 priced Catalogue of this sale in Mr. Bindley's possession, it appears, that 
 the price actually given for it was twenty.eigiht. It was by Walter<!)avel, 
 Esq. The same copy becam? successively the property of Mr. John Ni- 
 chols, of Mr. Joseplj Ames, of Sir Peter Thompson, and of C. Tutet,. 
 Esq. among whose books it was sqld by auction at Mr. Gerard's in Litch- 
 field-street. A catalogue of Charles Bernard, 1676, is in the Sloane collec- 
 tion. No. 1770 ; and a Leltei of Mr. Charles' Bernard says he wss not 
 himself witty ; bat hewas atleast the cause of wit in others. " 
 
 " I went to-day," says Swift in his Journal to Stella, March 19, " to see 
 poor Chaf les Bernatil'« books ; and I itcli. to lay out nine or ten pounds, 
 for some fine editions of fine authors." And on the 29th he adds "I 
 walked to-day into the City, and went to see the auction of poor 
 Charles Bernard's books. They were in the middle of the Physic 
 books, so I bought none ; aijd'they are so dear, I bdifevet shall buy none." 
 
 Ac:uri:ous ciccumstance took; place sc$nte yeans since, in the Sale of th« 
 valuable Books of J. — tl. — , £sq. ; at Cork, in which I ofljciated as 
 AucTioNEEn.— In the collection vvas a common Jidition, in a single volume, 
 of Swift's Gulliver's Travels, which Mr. R — purchased of an old Woman, 
 a'dea'ler in Beds and Books, to whom he gave about Eighteen Pence for 
 it : — It co.ntained some'Manusctipt Notes of tlie Dean's— and when put up 
 for Sale.a sharp contest took place, between my late vyorthy friend Mr. 
 ^'Arthur, Bookseller of Dublin, and the Rev. Mr. Morritt, -when it was 
 finally knocked down to the latter for Ten Guinisas! Mr. M'Arthur regret- 
 ted not being the purchaser, as he was commissioned (o go to any price for 
 iti — Could the Dean have witnessed this, lie would havefelt more eratified 
 at his ownfame, than he was disappointed at the Sargeons^ Sale. W. W. 
 
< 154 1 
 MAGAZINES, REVIEWS, 
 
 4Np OTHER FERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Anjong the most conspicuous of these entertaining and 
 instructive sources of Literature, information, &c., the Gen-, 
 sdenaan's Magazine stands pre-eminent. It c-ommenced in Jan- 
 uary 1731 — and has, sustained it-s high character and cele- 
 brity upwards of a Century. Mr. Nichols in his Essays and 
 Illustrations of the literature of Ae, Eighteenth Getttury, -ia 
 speaking of Edward Gave,itsbriginaiprojectorj justly remarks 
 thatiiT- 
 
 The curiosity of the public seems to demand the history 
 ■of every man who has by whatever means risen to eminence ; 
 and few lives would have more readers than that of the Com-' 
 piler.of The Gsntleman's Magazine, if all those who recei- 
 vied iraiprovement or entertainment from him should retain so 
 much kindness for their .Benfifactor as to enquire after Jus 
 conduct and character. 
 
 Edward Cave was born at Newton in Warwickshire, 
 Eeb. 29, 1691. His father was the youngest son of Mr. 
 Edward Cave, of Cave's in the Hole, a lone house, on tjie 
 Street-road in the same county, which took its name from 
 the occupier ; but, Slaving concurred with his elder brother 
 in cutting off the intail of a small hereditary estate, by which 
 act it was lost from the family, he was reduced to follow in 
 Hugby, the trade of a shoe-maker. He was a man of good 
 reputation in his narrow circle, and remarkable for strength 
 and rustic intrepidity. He lived to a great age, and was in 
 lys latter vyea;rs supported by his^on." 
 
 I shaU not attempt to follow Ma N. in his long and4ruly 
 interesting Biographical Memoir of Mr. Cave, of sixty 
 pages, but merely state that he succeeded in his scholastic 
 •duties amidst the severities imposed upon hiro, from a youth- 
 ful frolic. He successively became Exciseman, then 
 :^n assistant to a. Timber Merchant, and subsequently a 
 Printer, and Editor of a Newspaper at Norwich; and after- 
 wards Clerk of Franks in the Post Office;— in which it is 
 stated— 
 
)^mw^m,W) ®Mwm 
 
 Tip 
 
 PRINTER 
 Bom in 16 9 1, die din 3 7,5'4.. 
 
 rjnWes LitK: Sfi b'o Ma,ll Cork. 
 
( 155 ) 
 
 "He often acted with great spirit and firmness; and often; 
 stopped franks which were given by Members of Parliament 
 to their friends, because he thougl:^t such extension of a pe- 
 culiar right illegal. This raised many complaints ; and 
 having stopped, among others, a frank given tO' the oldl 
 Duchess of Marlborough by Mr. Walter Plummer, he was 
 cited before the House, as for breach of privilege, and accu- 
 sed, I suppose very unjustly, of opening lettfers to detect them. 
 He was treated with great harshness and severity ; but de- 
 cHhing their questions by pleading his oath of secrecy, Was- 
 at last dismissed. And it must be recorded to his honour, 
 that when he was ejected from his office, he did not think 
 himself discharged from his trust, but continued to refiise to* 
 his nearest friends any informatioa about the management of 
 the office. 
 
 "By this constancy of diligence, and diversification of em- 
 ployment, he in time collected a sum sufficient for the pur- 
 chase of a small printing-office, and began The Gentleman'^ 
 Magazine, a periodecal pamphlet, of which the scheme is- 
 known wherever the English language fs spoken. To this, 
 undertaking he owed the affluence in which he passed) the lasC 
 twenty years of his life, and the fortune which he left behind 
 him, which, would have been larger, had hfe not rashly and 
 wantonly impaired it by innumerable projects, of whichi 1 
 know notthat one ever succeedecJ. 
 
 The Gentleman's Magazine,, which has already subsisted 
 over a Century, and still continues equally to enjoy- 
 the favour of the world, is one of the most successful and 
 lucrative- pamphlets which literary history has upon record,, 
 and therefore deserves, in this narrative, particular notice. 
 
 " Mr. Cave, when he formed the projjsct was far from ex- 
 pecting the success which he found. ; and others had so little- 
 prospect of its consequence, that, though he bad for seve- - 
 ral years talked of his plan amongst printers and booksel- 
 lers, none of them thought it worth the trial. That they 
 were not restrained by their virtue from the execution of 
 another man's design, was sufficiently apparent as soon a& 
 that design, began to be gainful ; for in a few year* a muUi- 
 
( 156 ) 
 tudei of Magazines arose, aind peariabed ; oiily ' TM Leridon 
 Magazine, stopp«wted by a powerful association of booksel- 
 lers, Eknd eireitlated with all the art, and all the cuniiing of 
 tuade, exeatpted itself from the general fate of Clave's in- 
 vaders, and obtained, though not an equal, yet a conside- 
 rable salef/' 
 
 Cave now became ambitioua and began to aspire at popw- , 
 larity, proposed prizes for Poems, and cttfltiitued to improve 
 his Magazine — ^Dr. Samuel Johmson descKihes him as a man 
 of large statai%, healthy, strong, and active, of un- 
 common perseverance and resolution, neither fatigueor ex- 
 pense retaided' him — Dr. J. Says "He' was a frielid rather, 
 easy and constant,, than zealous and active ; yet many instan- 
 ces might bfir given, where both his tnoney and his diligence., 
 were employed liberally for others. His enmity was- in like , 
 manner cool and deliberate ; but, though cool, it was insidi- 
 ous, and tlioisgh deliberate, not pertinacious. 
 
 His mental faculties were slow ; he saw little at a time, 
 but that little he saw with great exactness. He was long in 
 finding the right, but seldom failed to find it at last. . .His 
 affections were not easily gained, and his opinion not quickly 
 discovered. His reserve, a-s it might hide his faults, con- 
 cealed his virtues ; but such he was, as they whoi best knew 
 him have most lamented." 
 
 " It The invention of tiis. new speuies of pnl^Iicatian may be considered 
 as something of an epoch in the l<iterary History of fhi«,,Countrj. The 
 periodical publications before that time were almost wholly.confined to po- 
 litical transactions, and to foreign and domestic dccurrettce But tlie 
 Magazines have opened'a vpay for every kind of enquiry and iiifoitnation.-— ' 
 The inlelligBnce and discussion contained in them are very extensive and 
 various ; and, they ha>ve been the means of diffusing a general- habit of , 
 reading through the Nation ; which in a certain degree, hath enlarged the , 
 public understanding. Many young Authors, who have afterwards risen to 
 considerable eminence in the literary world, have here made their fi rst at- 
 tempts in cfompositibn. Here too, are preserved a multitude of curious and' 
 useful hin'ts,and obsesrvations, andfectsi which otheTwisfe might have never 
 appeared ; ctfjitthey had appeared in imoreevanescont foriBj *ottld have 
 incurred ths' danger of being lost. M it were not an invidious task, the 
 history of them would be no incurious or unentertaining subject,. The , 
 Magazines that unite utility with entertainment are undoubtedly preferable 
 to IhoSe (Jf tKere ftaw hein any such) wiich have only a view to idle and 
 frivolous- amusement " Dir. KipWs; 
 
< 157 1) 
 ' Frorn the'tiinaof Mr. Cave's first connection with^tha 
 Newspaper at Norwich, he^had conceived a strong idea, oi 
 the utility af publishing the Parliamentary . Debates ; . He 
 had an opportunity, whilst engaged in a situation at the P,ost-f 
 Qffice, not only, as stated by -Dr. Johnson, of supplying his 
 London friends with the Provincial Papers : but he also con- 
 trived to furnish the Country Printers with those . written 
 Minutes of theProceedings in the Two houses of Parliament, 
 which within my own remembrance were regularly circulated 
 in the CofToe-houses, before the Daily Papers were tacithf 
 permitted to report the Debates. ■. ,- 
 
 The Orders of the House were indeed regularly repeated,, 
 and occasionally enforced; and under these; in April 1728,' 
 Mr. Cave experienced - some inconvenience and expense,' 
 having been ordered into the custody of the Serjeant at Arms,' 
 for supplying his friend Mr. Robert Raikes with the Minutes ' 
 of the House, for the use of the Gloucester JoUrhal. After! 
 a confinement of several days on stating his sorrow for the 
 offence, and pleading that he had a wife and family- who' 
 siiffered much by his imprisonment, he was discbatgedvvith 
 a reprimand on paying the accustomed fees. 
 
 In this year Mr. Raikes again incurred the censure of the 
 House by repeating his offence ; but Mr. Cave was at that 
 tirne.out- of the scrape. 
 
 Thd plan oFliiserting a regular series of the Parliamentary; 
 Debates in the Gentleman's Magazine, was a project, which 
 Mr. Cave had long in contem,plation before he had ventured . 
 to put.it in practice. At length in July 1736, he boldly, 
 dared ; and his method of proceeding is thus related by Sir 
 John Hawkins : 
 
 " Taking with him a friend or two, he found means, to 
 procure for them and himself admission into the gallery of ^ 
 the House of Commons, or to some concealed station in the 
 other' House ; and then they privately took down notes of the 
 several speeches, and tlie gen eraL tendency and substance of 
 the arguments'.' Thus furnished, 'Gave, and his associates 
 would adjotirn to a neighbouring tavern, and compare and 
 adjust their notes; by means whereof, and the help of their 
 
 V 
 
( 15S ) 
 Bje«»x>riea, tKey bccam* enabled to fix at least the suistaiiee^ 
 *f whit they had so latdy heard and remarkfid. The rsdu- 
 KBtg Uiis cniJe matter mio form was the work of a f Btute 
 4ay, asd, of aa abler handi; ©jithrie, the Historian, a writes 
 (fbr t|ie bo«|iSEnbr?v, whom CaMe retained for the purpose. "-?— 
 Bnt these Debates were n»fe given till! the Session was ended ; 
 a«id then xinly with the laitiEM and final fettei* of eaefc 
 §gijaker. 
 
 Thus far all w^t on smoothlY for. two years ; till on the- 
 13lh of April 1¥38, a complaint being nA&^fe to the House;, 
 fliat the pubi«hets>ofsevflralt written and printfed I^«ws-Let-. 
 tpr§ Sfld Papers hatt t^kes' up^as ^em' to give account* 
 ^(^eip^ ^ the ^o^sedipgS h th,e House ; it *as^ Resold 
 Yf4, '* ThaJJrt iSaJJig^h. Indignity tqi, and a liotteiriQUs breach 
 pf th? Ppivifeg^ ftf t?lis IftjJise,. for- any N«ws--W'riter,, in tet- 
 U^a er ethe^ ]^feper? (as Minutes, or under any other 4eno- 
 ^iuation), (Bf f^p aay P.rint0Jr or Fufeli^hec of any printed 
 Ifgvs-pap^r pf'any detiOTOJRBtiiortyto pr^swine-to insert in the; 
 sgjd Letters 01 Fitpgrs, ©f to give tjiergin, any account of the*' 
 :^gbPtei, er 9\h^^ FiTQP'eediftgS' of fihis HoHse, or any Com-; 
 Wiittee thereof^ as M'il^ dHring the Reqess,; as the Sitting o6' 
 t*ajliain.gnt ; und fet this floyse w}^ proeeed" with the-' 
 8tHBp?t severity aggiii^t stlch offend?r«i"'' 
 
 Sbraeex-pediefttfwas now become necessary;' andtlie eau- 
 ^m {Hot die' vanity)', of Cave suggesting to him a popular 
 fiction ;. in ^ne f738 he prefaced tJie Debates by what he 
 ehosetocali '^ Aw Appendix, to' Captain £emueF Gulliver's^ 
 Account of the ^raou* Empire of Lilliput ; " and the pro- 
 ceedings in Parliament *,ere given .under tlie title ofi "Debate* 
 in the- Senate of Gi-eate lilliput." 
 
 Not thiiikihg himself, however pej-i^efcly spcnr«-, even by hi*- 
 tot^l concealment of the speakers,, he did not venture to py^ , 
 Ids ovyn. name to= tjie Title-pages of the Pagazjine ; but pub- 
 lished them uiider the name of one'of hi^ nephe>ys, " Edward 
 Cave, junior ;" which was cpntinued till 1752. In the fol- , 
 Ipwing year he again used hi^ owji name; and gave th*. 
 ^fb^t^s,. as ^t first, with the initial ajid fin^l letters. 
 
A ne# sra l« poikieks, eeoa»ioned by tJie ntotton to Fe<- 
 moVe t^e Mkist<»r Feb. 13, 1740rl, bringing <m niuch, 
 wartider DebsftfeSi reqUffed '" tJie pen of a more iiprv^us yfji>- 
 ter tbdn he who ha;4 hithectl0 G<MftElu(sted thecft ;" and " Gavgi^ 
 dtamis»i^g GUth'Tie^ oemmiMed the eaTS of Uiis prart- af itk 
 li^^nlthly pubUcatioii tcr Dr. Johnseit;" who had already gifea- 
 '.acR^g specifneiis of his ^bUity. Bat the Ltlliputkti disguise, 
 wascohtiiiued, even beyond tlie period- of. Johnson's D^at«^ 
 ;VFlncb, as has beeti aiiithtiMcated by his- bWit Wiarf^ begaftt 
 Nov. 19, 1740, and ft»d«d ;|?^, 33, 17# 3. 4nd fliete 
 Rebates, whkh, ev^Fy dotnp^eliC j>udge iftust' aUoW, exlwbki 
 a memorable specimen of the extent a6d pf€dip6Ltu<dei ef, 
 Johnson's faciclties, and v^hieh hive iiidircNi lea^aed foreigoir 
 &s to compaTe ]^itt4b w^' ^o»^W 6lo%H&RGJe, were ha»t% 
 sketched by Johttsoa Wlnle ke v^as riot yet 32, while he itii 
 littlfe acquait).tance with life arid wljile b6 was struggKng, 
 Ijfot for distinction;, but 6iiEfetS»ee." 
 
 From the Access of the Gen'tlfertiaii'4 Mdgazittie, wfttoK; 
 p(jmi(»ertce4 in 1731 ; tlie London JMagalsitie' made ifs ecp-. 
 ^ef&raiiceia 1-732, and numetcius others sqQii foHowe^; the 
 "Dni^ersal cottinien'ced in 174?, the Literary in 17^, the 
 Oxford in 1769, the Town an'd Cotfntry itt the stfme yesfr, 
 ihe Lady's in 1770, the WestflSihstet te 1772, and th^ £un^ 
 peaft iili l782.^^Sfevirfal of the afeote feigtted over Ws^i A 
 Cettturj' ; add the Lady's Mafraziii&coiWiffute^ to tfte pibseM^ 
 d%. The Gfehtlenijtn's stnd the Lbrldcte- JJ^g^^girieS ^verte fe- 
 piShted altaost ver'bcttim in Dtibiin, &6me!-y6at% pi^vio-n? tcj 
 the Bffitdii ; biit ^itrige ttj Say (WithbCit adftoteg to'the pK- ' 
 §etit) tt6 periodtcal work appears to have succeeded tlle^fe' 
 tcSi aiiy ^rgaff length of time, except t^& old " Hifa«frnia!if( ' 
 Ma^aSittsV of Wstlfcer's, ■«yhich was'pe*rliaj« hijfWioi^ Xo ill 
 
 'phe tonJon IVfagazine continued Fifty-one years and^'was 
 a|ways publishe4 by the highly respected famtfy otftfie !^aldr ' 
 win's, it was disco^tique^ in i783, and' after a lapse of thiny 
 §e*efi yeafs', a branch of the same family, tacik it ti:p<^d 
 jpsumed the same title of "Tlie Lonclon Mia@a.zii«e" in 1830^ 
 |!t wa§ ably coaJacted, at a vast ex-pence, and siieceeded ta 
 
( 160 ) 
 some extent, but the great tact and improvement wliich had 
 preyiousl^ taken place in this species of Literature, together 
 with the field beihgpre-occupied for 25 ye&rsbyFhtllips'a 
 Monthly Magazine, which was followed by a combination of 
 talent in Colbum'sNeiv Monthly, and the palm further car- 
 ried by the transcendent qualities of Blackwood, (all of 
 which continue their station) it is not a circumstance of sur- 
 prize that its success, was not commensurate with, its ex- 
 pence; ]yir. Baldwin therefore discontinued or I believe dis- 
 posed of it.^ It contained a number of well-written articles, 
 amotlg others "Wine and Wallnuts" which were I believe, 
 published afterwards in a different form, with success. In . 
 the course of publication of the Magazine, a truly unfor- . 
 tnnate event took place, between Mr. John Scott, its original' 
 Editor and the Editor pf-Blackwood's Magazine : Mr. Scott,: 
 was an ingenious Writer, and, as was subsequently stated in . 
 the.Magazirie itself, it appears-rrr" After the, restoratioii of the; 
 rqyal family he went to France, and on his re^urij published 
 ^'i A visit to Paris in 1814, being a review of the moral, poli- 
 tical, intellectual, and social, condition of the French Capi- 
 tal,.'' He was alsp, author of Paris revisited in 1815, byway 
 of-5prussels,-iaclud.ing a walk over the field at Waterloo, 8vo. , 
 and "The House of Mourning" a poem on the Death of. 
 h|s Son — In January 1820, he commenced the publication of, 
 the London Magazine, which he co^pducted with great suc- 
 cgss till the beginning of the following year. His remarks on 
 some articles in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, having 
 given offeiice tg the Editor of that work, a quarrel took place, 
 and Mr. Scott, after having refused the challenge of the 
 individual whose displeasure. lie ha4 provoked, was wounded, 
 in a duel with a frieiid of tjiat Gentleman on the 16th Feb. 
 1821, and he died a few days after, leaving a widow and two. 
 children. A Volume of pbservations during a Journey gn. 
 the continent appeared after his death," 
 
 REVIEWS, &c. 
 
 The MontJily JReview, commenced on the 1st of May 174a 
 the following account of itsoriginal projector and proprietor 
 will be found interesting. 
 
( 161 ) 
 
 RALPH GRIFFITHS, ESQ. LL. D. ' 
 (From Mchols's Jinecdoiesij 
 
 This gentleman, who was born in the year 1720, was the 
 original institutor of " The Monthly Review ;" which,; with' 
 unremitting perseverance, he conducted 54 yea^, assisted 
 only by his son in the latter period pjF his life. 
 
 The First Number of the Review was published in IJIay X749, at Tht 
 Ounciad in St. Paul's Church-yatd, whence in 1754 the Publisher removed: 
 to Paternoster-row, and in 17S9 into the Strand, stiU retaining the sign of: 
 the Dunciad, In 1764, the name of Mr. Becket first appeared in the title 
 
 Qne of his earliest coadjutors was Dr. Hose, who has the credit of having 
 written the first article in that valuable work: He was the friend anl 
 couDsellor of Andrew Millar ; and is thus noticed by the Uev. D. Lysons : > 
 
 '.' Dr. Rose, a man of amiable manners, and muirh ipsteemed in the literary 
 jvorld, had been for about 30 years an inhabitant of Cliiswick ; where he 
 kept an academy. He was author of a well-known translation of Sallust, - 
 and editor of several useful compilations in Latin, French and English." 
 His able criticisms greatly contributed towards establishing Ihe credit of the ' 
 Monthly Review, in which he was one of the earliest writers. Dr. Rose 
 was born in the county of Aberdeen ; he died the 4th of July, 1786, aged 
 ^7. The following lines to his memory, written by Arthur Murphy, Esq- 
 are inserted upon his tomb :. - 
 
 «' Whoe'er thon art, with silent footsteps tread 
 Theballow'd, mould wheie Rose reclines his head. 
 Ah I let not folly one kind tear deny. 
 But pensive pause where truth and honour lie : 
 His, the gay wit that fond affection drew : 
 Oft heard, and oft admir'd, yet never knew; 
 The heart that melted at another's grief; 
 The hand in secret tin bestow 'd relief; 
 Science untinctar'-l witii the pride of schoolf, 
 , And native goodness f. i from formal rules : 
 With zeal through life he toil M ii! Learning's cause. 
 But more, fair Virtue to promote thy laws : 
 Kis every action sought the noblest end, 
 The tender husband^ father, brother, .friend. 
 Perhaps e'er now, from yonder realms of day, 
 'J'o his lov'd relatives he sends a ray ; 
 Pleaa'd to behold affections like his own 
 \Vitfc filial duty raise this votive stone." 
 
: Br. Griffitbs -wai a steady- advocate . of literature ; a firm , 
 friend, a cordial lover of the w^ftM^s of domestic happi- 
 pess, and a jsealous and successful promoter of the charms of 
 social intercourse. 
 
 ^ pSifi%ft of Dr.<jriiffitli»)S<flvM'ia'bh6 Eurspwn MagazmS far 
 Jtbouary I804r with t^fi^llffifriagbiagi«phic«} notice : 
 
 f In contemplating the Portrait of this Qentleman, in whose, character 
 iDilustry anj jin|eduity were in an eminent' degree comhiiled, there is one 
 question very nataratiy siigfestiiiftdeYiSjr fifgfary fliind ;' amd tliit is, HoW 
 ^g ithSatiatroi orrdm^mh^, t^0Ti|iimI ? Atad thi^lea£ to the reflfec- 
 tkm, (bit Mi nbingibas Seein' heferre em-e^ t^'fjo' IMfrk as r^rospectioa eau 
 rinorh, aa^lie PaMbh^ find- P»^i«tdr df tB« MontMy Berrew. 
 
 " ^t this jaiR^e dte^ W4» iilb i^idar esttalxliith^ literary. Hevie'vt' ia 
 {Great Britain ; nor w^ the 'Monthly Review very soccessful on its fiTstJ 
 |)uUUciftknr. Serehtlttitiieikiyas ^bo«A t9 he abjindoned, as Dr. Griffiths 
 iffteA told bis fnends ; but pati«>i^^, persevc^iicei and alteutiaA, stinnoa^tr 
 «d Gvc^ ob^taei^. anA gro^i^red'it a 6ita e'staUishtii^At. 
 . Of the I^ilerafy Journals wluch preceded ity the following is as aerurate » 
 figb^a we can ^t present obtain : ^..It^eniiairs ^f. L'^^ture, 8 vols. Svo, 
 1722. 2. New Memoirs of £j^ratqa!$, by &iiuhael de )a Boche, begun 
 January 1725, and ended I^ecembef ?7^7« Q yojs. 3. Present State of 
 the Republic ot Letters, by Andrew Reid, began January 1728, ended 
 J736 18 vala. 4. Historia Literaria, by Archibald Bower, begun 1730j 
 ended 1732j 4 vrfs. 5, History of the Works qf the J^etH'oed, begun Ja- 
 fiuary 1737, ended June 1743, 13 vols. 6, Literary Journal, printed at 
 Dublio, began October 1744, and ended June 1749,.5 vols,— The Monthly 
 Review (although it has, perhg^ps, for what .piiglit be deemed the morality ■ 
 of oir'iticism, taken too mne^ the colour, as its authors adopted too much the 
 passions of the time^} has been vnifon^ly sB^cce^sfulj and it has also this 
 singular circumstance attending its introductioni that ft oame into the world 
 ^jmost un-annouDced. In coniradjction (.0 the-, prdmises, p^xarle, and ver- 
 bosty, which are genei^Uy the'preci)rsi)rs qf" periodical work's, (he tuo first 
 lines of an advertiseibeiit, which scafcety contains twenty, . most truly state, 
 that " Undertakmgs which,i4 tljeir execution, carry ll^e designation of 
 their use, need very littlb preface.** — '^ At tlw? period the <3entleman's 
 Magazine occasionally noticed w6r6s cif genius ; but much more frequent 
 ly those of a political or par{y1£e"ndency, in which aFl'tde worlff knows tliat 
 genius is the^ last tliifig espe<;ted, or perliapls adrajr,ed : yet what might be 
 termed a regular Review was unkns>ft iii this couritiy. It is true, that 
 jearly in the eigliteenth century a publida^ti of fhis nature, entitled, " The 
 present State of '^he liepuhlte of LefteVs," was aftenjpteJ ; biit, jwpbably 
 cwing to the extensile n^tnre «if hs plaii, wl^ich includes abridgements ra; 
 ^herthan opinions of work's, without much success. Copious, pompous, 
 and florid title-pages, though reprobated by '^yrUi, ridiculed by Arbuthnpt, 
 and mtifluslj laiached by eye'r^ respcctabre autltof, had yci, la defiaaceto 
 
( m ) 
 
 sflBBjpn ?PM?, plowed l^ kHUl »f g»iB»i*l t»l»r^«» ijti^ f »'(>%a«H» 
 givjn tQ .things of f;^r gr?ftti?.r iiBpsrtMce ; «o tb«$ a fpadsqi fStSOjj WeuWi 
 h^vebeepasdifficlefit of jud|^i^ pJthe-contM^of ^ bool^ /ronii the ^le^ a^ 
 he would of taking the character of tiiose exalted personages, nhosg namj^ 
 were generally the precursors to move solid matter frrai the dedication. 
 
 This kind of titulary pu'fifing'., whiclis it is said', ined to piit ^oKsn^ Sari)er 
 so much out of temper, t}iat h^ yi%^ Tfi^ to, turi^ ao it^tlio^ aut isf h:» 
 shop'if the frontispiece of his panu^cript exceed^(t the bound; ofmo^era* 
 tibn, had not passed unobserved by Mt. Griffiths ; and it is very proba^le^^ 
 that a deare t»' repress it fiiet gave him the idea of the Monthfy Review ; as 
 he says, ia the- advertie^en^ altudfed to,. ^ T4ie abwe of tiHe-p^es is o1|-' 
 vi(t;isly «pm^ to-jfifb » fm>t t^i few Nafle» aim' to taie ia » boi^, any 
 nfof e tliaQ ,a servant, yiit^cij^t ^ icba^ijf ^ct-"' 
 
 •■ Qf eHif^ th^ )imj.ry Uf) orAfflW^ !»a«'i*<!f Efe. 6«iff!*'v}it)tei9«l 
 
 present Iqiown ;. which' ^tMyni^aTicp wf shpBld I^tn^nt a^ a iqisfprtupf^,, 
 were we not informed, that it is the intention efhis son, whaat otesent cpn;- 
 ducts the Monthly Review, to publish his Memoirs. 
 
 " When we observe that,, but fpr this intijnatiaiiv. we should hapient our 
 want of materials as a misibjtttnei,~it'ucises from our reflectioBv that in l\if 
 variety of situations where this, venerable eritic and valuable member of so- 
 ciety has resided, from the Buneia4 in St. Paul's Chuicb-yted, 1747, to th» 
 BjMipiad near Cathefjne-^iertj' 177)J, vljW^ we pgffeefly lemeinbeT bii shop 
 to b^ a favq^rite JQunge ef ttif latf I>f . £i«ldsmjtb. be tpu^t h:^^ beco^si^; 
 acquainted with niore charap|ers, an^cdptes^ aad cicpiimstance, mapy ojB, 
 which we hope he has preserved, tban perhaps any other Critic frojn Dioa- 
 ysius of HalUcarnassus, who, we gather from. Potybiusaad ethers, was th» 
 first Reviewer, downward, ec indfeAany other peioeaef the bibliepslicat 
 o; literary professions. 
 
 ■■ Br. Griffith's retired b<^ |ii»piib)ic afiiatiait aa ^ l;ippl!i$el]ler tos(q4w%, 
 mpre congenial to his dispasitipp about diiitty jears sinc<;." 
 
 Dr. Gii&lis died ^t Tqruli^pi GsregP, in fte f3d.;(ar gf 
 tis ^ge,Sept. 28, 1§03.. 
 
 It has been ass^Hed thM Mv. 6rilEtli% clkpesed ofsfnall 
 sjiaies of this great Wark in its eai^en dayq^ when it wad not 
 S0 emiBently ^ue^es^ul,. but ik%i he Ikad fr«in time tp time re~ 
 purchased all p£ them and realTied a Fei^june from the Werfe 
 which so much diBtinguislied his aasMuitv, and Industry^, t 
 think the fkstauinbejf was puUished at solow aprlee as Six- 
 peiuse, and oontaiaod a Review of only two or three artict^. 
 I have known it fqr Sj9 yaavg^ apd Femember it for some t\m» 
 at the published prices of onf shilling, ana shtllij9ga»^8i^' 
 panc§,tWQ 8hi.Uingff,aHd li^s%«ltwa«^liHgaan4 sfai-f«»ee»- 
 
C 164- ) 
 It now fdrtna nearly two hundred volumes, and may be pro- ' 
 cured at a moderate price, in consequence of its more mo- 
 dern Rivals— the Edinburgh and London Quarterly and 
 other Reviews, in which so much talent is dis.played, and 
 so great a competition exists. 
 
 The Critical Rehiew commenced in January 1756, and 
 - continued to succeed for more than half a Century. — John 
 Reinhold Forster, the celebrated Navigator, was employed ; 
 upon it when in England; a short Biographical Memoir of 
 this extraordinary man may not be unacceptable to my rea- 
 ders. Mr. Nichols gives a long and interesting account of' 
 him', with' an extensive list of his various works; but, Mr. 
 Gorton iias given from .^i^i??, and the Biog. Univ. the' fol- 
 lowing more concise outline : ^ 
 " JohnReinhpld Forster an eminent writer on natural his- 
 tory and geograhpy, was born in 1729 at Dirschan, in Polish, 
 Prussia, where his- father was burgomaster. After previous 
 studies at other places he entered the university of Halle, in 
 1748, where he attended to theology and the oriental langua- 
 ges. In 1751 he became a minister at Efemtzic, wliience in 
 1753 he removed to Nassenhuben. Here he devoted his lei- 
 sure to the acquirement of a knowledge of philosophy,, geom- 
 etry, and mathematical science, which were his favourite 
 pursuits. Having married his cousin Elizabeth Nikolai, and 
 finding his income too small for his family, he accepted 
 an offer of going to Russia to superintend 'the new colonies at 
 Saratow. He was however disappointed of the situation, and 
 after having refused advantageous offers made him by the 
 Acadeftiy of Sciences' afPetersbbrgh, and by that of Moscow, 
 he removed to England. Here he became teacher of French, 
 German, and natural history at the dissenting academy at 
 "Waffihgton. This place however he soon left, and went to 
 London, Where!he resided in very confined circumstances till 
 1772, when he accompanied Captain Cook in his second ■■ 
 vpyage round the world, as a naturalist tO' the expedition. 
 His son, a yoiith of seventeen, was his companion. On his 
 return to England in 1775 the degree of L.L.D. was confefred 
 on him by the university of Oxford ; and be might probably 
 
( 165 ) 
 h^ve.exp^rienced tliebeneRcial patronage of tlie English go- 
 vernment, if he had not given offence by publishing an ac- 
 count of the voyage under the name of his son, in evasion of 
 an express agreement which he had made previously to the 
 undertaking; This work also abounded with observations 
 unfavourable to the government by which the writers had 
 been employed, and to the naval officers and others ; render- 
 ed Forster's situation unpleasant in this country, and after 
 struggling with poverty and distress for some time in Lon- 
 don, he fortunately received an invitation to become profes- 
 sor of natural history at Halle in 1780. He was also ap- 
 pointed inspector of the botanical garden at that place, 
 where he continued till his death, December 9, 1798. He 
 translated a great number of books of travels into the German, 
 language, and published a " History of Voyages and Dif- 
 eoveries in the North," 4to ; and other original works."' 
 
 " Percival StocJtdale, of Branxton, in Northumberlarid, a 
 person of various occupations; was also employed on tlie 
 Critical Review. He was sent to Scotland for education, 
 and' studied at the university of St. Andrews, where he-grad- 
 uated^ but afterwards embraced a military life, and served 
 abroad. 
 
 His predilection for the Army at length gave way to cir- 
 cumstances, and on his return to England he recurred to the 
 line of life for which he had been originally designed, and en- 
 tered the Church in 1 759; settling in the Metropolis, he con- 
 tinued to support himself by combining the professioii of an 
 Author with that of his adoption, 'till an opportunity offering 
 in the royal Navy, — he again entered the service, in capa- 
 city of chaplain to a King's Ship, and eventually obtained 
 the livings of Long Houghton and Lesbury in his native 
 county: He was a tolerable Critic, and published a series 
 of " Lectures on the Poets,'.' an •' Essay on the Genius of 
 Pope"— and a Biographical Memoir of Waller,'' besides a 
 volume of miscellaneous poems of no great merit, and a few 
 Sermons adapted for th^ Navy. . He also wrote his own life 
 with a surprising degree of variity and self-sufficiency — His 
 death took' place at the Rectory Hpuse, in Long Houghton 
 in 1811." ■■ w 
 
C r66' )■ 
 
 ' The Critical Review was commenced by Mr. ATchibaM' 
 Hamilton, and printed by himabout 59 years. — Mr. NicholS' 
 gives the following- account of him. 
 
 MR. ARCHIBALD HAMILTON, 
 a native of North Britain, was Bred to the profession of a< 
 Printer at Edinburgh ; but quitted that city in 1736, after 
 the riots occasioned tfiere by the popular vengeance against: 
 Captain-. Pbrteus ; in which he was in some degree implicated,, 
 by having' been present at the illegal execution of that unfor- 
 tunate culprit ; whose melancholy history may be found ini 
 the Gentleman's Mkgazine, and in tlie other periodical pub-- 
 lications of that period. 
 
 On-his arrival in London, Ke had the good fortune to be- 
 come associated with the late Mr.Strahanr ; whose printing-^ 
 ofHce he for some time superintended in thecapacity of prin- 
 cipal manager. But this was not a field wide enough for his* 
 talents, or his- ambition ; and he very soon commenced busi^ 
 ness on his own account ; which He carried on with great? 
 success for many years. Amongst other fortunate con- 
 nexions, his acquaintance with Dr. Smollett was- not the 
 Feast ; whose Histtiry of England albne proved a little fort- 
 tune both to the Printer and Bookseller,, as- well? a^ tJie Au- 
 thor and Stationer.. 
 
 In 1756', with the assistance of Dr. Smell'ett, and other 
 literary friends, he commenced the " Critical Review ;" 
 which, aided afterwards by the critical acumen of the Rev'.. 
 Joseph Robertson, he carried on with considerable success to- 
 the time of his death. For a few of the last years of his life- 
 he was a partner with Mr. Jackson of Oxford in the Univer- 
 sity press ; but, at the same time, relieved himself from the 
 more immediate labour of personal attendance in his printing 
 office, by purchasing a villa at Ash in Hampshire, in the- 
 neighbourhood of Farnham, to which he frequently retired. 
 He had also a town residence in Bedford-row, where he died! 
 March 9, 1793, in his 74th year. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton was also Printer of the Ladies and Town* 
 & Country Magazines, the New Annual Register and a vast 
 Humber of extensive Works for his friends the. Eobinson.'s.. 
 
'( 167 ) 
 /The London Beviem, hj Dr. Kenriek, comraenced in 
 1775, and continued to be published till the Eleventh Vo- 
 llume, by my old Master, Evans ; I have before noticed 
 both, and it has been acknowledged by the Editors of the 
 MontMy Review, and of the Encyclopaedia Britannira, 
 that the X<ondon ILeview contained many critiques of merit, 
 but it was contamieated by peitsoqal malignity, aijd a vitu- 
 perative style. 
 
 Kenriek died in If 79, less lamented than he might have 
 ibeen, had he exerted the talents whieh he possessed in a 
 manner more honorable to Literature^ and iiiconsideration 
 \0f the claims and feelings of others. 
 
 Matifs Heviem, commenced in 1782, and continued 'for 
 .about four years only. It was conducted solely by Paul 
 Henry Maty, who was born in 1745, 
 
 "He received bis education at Westminster school, and 
 Trinity college, .0ambri(%e, where he took the degree of M. A. 
 and obtained a travelling fellowship. He took orders in the 
 ichurch, but afterwards resigned the clerical office, and de^ 
 .dicated his time to :literary pursuits, He was assistant librar 
 rian at the British Museum, and for a time foreign secretary 
 ■to the Royal Society ■; but he relinquished that situation in 
 ■consequence of a dispute with Sir ..Joseph ;Banks, InJa^ 
 jiuary 1782, he commenced the publication of a monthly 
 criticalJournal, called, " The New Review," which he con- 
 ducted with greatspisit and ability, unassistedjfor four years; 
 -but his unremitted application injured bis health, and even- 
 -tually caused his death, which took place in 1787. He 
 ■translated baron Riesbeck's travj^ls into English, and a pos- 
 .Jthumous volume of -his sermons was published in 1782." 
 
 Dodsley's ^J^n,ifal Meffister— This well known Work, - 
 commenced in 1758j at the sug^stipn ;of1.he Right Honor- 
 able Edmund Burke, whose " Essay on the Sublime and 
 Beautiful, from the elegance of its language, and the spirit 
 ■of Philosophical investigation displayed in it^ raised him to the- 
 first class of writers on taste and criticism, and introduced 
 :,him to Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr. Johnson, and others. From 
 ijthe commencement of the 'Annual Rer/ister, he took upon 
 ijiimself the composition of the historical part which he coht 
 
( 168 ) 
 tinued for a number of years to the great benefit of that pub- 
 lication," which has continued, with undiminished repute 
 to the present period. 
 
 The New Annual Register, was commenced in 1780, by 
 the jRohinsons and was Edited principally by Dr. Gregory, 
 for a number of years ; Mr. Alexander Chalmers is said to 
 have written largely for it, as did many other celebrated 
 characters. It has not however, eclipsed its predecessor. 
 
 Periodical Essays and Papers.— Vm Tatler, stands 
 foremost in this popular arrangement, and entertaining series 
 of Literature, it commenced under the title of the Tatler, by 
 Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq. No. 1, 1709, thiswas followed by 
 the Spectator,'No. 1, March 1st, 1710, and by the Guardian 
 No. 1, March 12, 1712, these were followed by Sir Richard 
 Steele's "Lover, and Header," Town Talk, §c'.,in 
 1713, 14, 15, and by Mr. Addisons, Freeholder in 1716.— 
 Myriads of others soon presented themselves, but none of 
 celebrity, until Dr. Johnson's Rambler made its appearance 
 (in small folio numbers like its predecessors); No. 1, was 
 published on the 20th of March 1750 — It was published by 
 Mr. John Payne. Mr., Robert Dodsley, and Samuel Rich-r 
 ardson had the highest opinion of it, on its appearance, 
 and the world have evinced theirs ever since. — It has been 
 translated into the Russian and other Languages. The first 
 number of Dr. Hawkesworth's Adventurer, in all its elegance 
 of language appeared on the 7th of Nov. 1752. The Would., 
 on the 4th of January 1753 — The Connoisseur, on the 31st 
 'of January 1754, — ^The Mwror, on the 17th March 1757, 
 — and the Idler, on the 5th of April, 1758. 
 
 The character of these Works, and their various authors, 
 and contributors to them, are too well known to require fur^ 
 ther observation from me. 
 
 On the 12th of February 1767. The Babler by Hugh 
 Kelly appeared, upon which as Mr. . John Nichols ob- 
 serves — " many similar Works have since been engrafted." 
 Mr. Nichols himself furnished a few numbers, of the Babler. 
 
 The Edinburgh Mirror appeared 1779— the Lounger com- 
 menced ou the 8th of October 1786. 
 
( lea ) 
 
 Origin of Printing, Type Founding, Block, or ^ereoiype^ 
 
 Printing, Logographio Printing, S^c. 
 
 These subjects perhaps ought to have been noticed in an 
 earlier portion of my pages, but as it was. not intended to go 
 into any regular or systematic details or elaborate discussion, 
 I shall introduce a few remarks from Ernes'* Typographi- 
 cal Antiquities, or an Historical account of the origin and 
 progressof Printing in Great Bril;ain^nd Ireland, being by far 
 the most extensive work on the subject, and which has from 
 time to time, been considerably enlarged by Mr. Herbert, 
 and Mr. Dibdin; added to these, there are other admirable 
 histories of the art, by Meerman,Bowyer, JVic?iols, Watson, 
 Palmer, Luolcombe, Le Maine, Hansard, Stomer, Sfc. — 
 But as it would be impossible to do ample justice to them all, 
 I shall advert to the leading features of a few of the 
 Printers, and their Biographers, 
 
 Joseph ,4'nes\lie historian of British Topography, was 
 born at Yarmouth, 1688-9, aijd apprenticed by his father, 
 the master of a Yarinouth trading vessel, to a plane-maker 
 in London. After serviqg put his time, he became a ship- 
 chandler in gapping, which business, notwithstanding his 
 antiquarian pursuits, he carried pn uiitil his death. He early 
 discovered a taste fof English history and antiquities ; and in 
 1730, the composition of a history of printing in England 
 being suggested to him, after a labour of twenty-five years, 
 Le brought out in one vol. 4to,' 1749, " Typographical A nti- 
 quities, being an historical account of Printing in England, 
 with some memoirs of our anjient Printers, and a j'egister of 
 the books printed by them frjm 147!1 to 1600 ; with an ap- 
 pendix concerning Printing in Scot' and and Ireland to the 
 same time." He inscribed his work to lord cljancellor Hard- 
 wicke, and was at the same time fellow of the Royal and 
 Antiquarian Societies, being chosen secretary to the last of 
 4hem. Sir Hans Sloane in particular showed him very great 
 countehance, and left him trustee to his will. Mr. Ames 
 died in 1739, much esteemed. Besides his great work, he 
 wrote " A Catalogue of Englisb Printers from 1471 to 1700,'' 
 
( 170 > 
 4to ; 2. " An Index to Lord Pembroke's Coins ;" 3. " A 
 Catalogue of English Heads ; or an account of 2000 English 
 prints, describing vchat ia pecuKar to each ;" 4. " Parentalia, 
 ior Memoirs of the family of Wren," 1750, folio. An enlar- 
 ged edition of the " Typographical Anticjuities" was publish- 
 ed by the late Mr. W. Herbert, vd. I, 1785, vol. 2j,1786, 
 and vol. 3, 1790. A new assid spleadid edition of Ames and 
 Herbert has since been presented to the world by the Rev, 
 T. F. J>ihd'in.-^Gmffh''s Life of :jimes. 
 
 It is somewhat extraordinary that Mr. .Cede., a celebrated 
 Antiquary aod collector, who was on friendly terms and cor- 
 responded with Ames, should have drawn the following 
 severe character of him, and which appears usder the headl 
 *' Biographiana" in the 24th Number (of Sir Egertoa 
 Srydges's Restitutaj in article 3,— -After copying the full title 
 page of Ames's TypographicaJ Antiquities he says, 
 
 " I have written as follows on tlie back, of the title-page 
 — "The author, Mr. Ames, I was well acquainted with, having 
 been several times to see liim, in order to look over his curi- 
 ous prints, of which he had no small colleetion, especially of 
 English heads; many of which at difierent times I purchased 
 »f him to add to my collection of the same sort. He lived in 
 « strange alley or lane in Wapping : was a patten-maker, ao 
 Anabaptist, with a spice of Deism njixed with it, I have 
 often thought it no small reproach and disgrace to the Anti- 
 quarian Society, to hare so veyy illiterate aperson to be their 
 Secretary: he could not spell, much more write^ English: J 
 ?&ave several letters of his by me at this time which prove it. 
 It was by no means proper to have such a person in that sta- 
 tion, which, required reading aloud at the meetings of the 
 Society, several papers in various languages often, of which 
 he was used to make miserable work ; more especially when 
 strangers and foreigners happened to be there, which was 
 ©ften tlie case. 
 
 " He was a little, friendly, good-tempered man; a person of 
 yast application and industry in collecting curious old printed 
 l)ook5, prints, and other curiosities both natural and artificial, 
 Jtis. to Uiis must be attributed iiis office of Secretary to.tjii? 
 
( 171 ) 
 Society: but surely, a Secretary who could neitlier read nor 
 write, was an odd appointment for a learned Society ! He 
 must have procured some one to have perused> his book for 
 him, which yet is full of blunders, and prove my assertion 
 ih' an hundred places : the printers would correct the false- 
 English and spelling. W. Cole'. 
 
 " What is singular Mr. Stephen Wren employed Mr. Ames, 
 an Independent, and Deist professed, to usher into the world 
 the ParentalSa, or Memoirs of ihe Family of tlie Wren's 
 in 1750, which througSout is a most orthodox book, full of 
 reflections upon the fanatics of King Charles's time." 
 
 " The origin of Printmf, by multiplying lettess,. is intitled) 
 to the first place after the invention of letters themselves, 
 (though it gives light to all other arts), remains itself in ob- 
 scurity. It has been the subject of repeated discussions. — 
 Mr. Meerman is the last who- has' written upon it, and he has 
 endeavoured to reconcile some difficulties on this head in his: 
 " Origines Typographicae," printed in 1765 j and translated 
 and abridged by Mr. Bowyer, in hh- two Essays on the 
 Origin ©f Frmtiag, 1784. 
 
 " The more we reflect on the accidental discovery fey Lau- 
 lentius, of the ' effect produced by concave wooden types, 
 the more we wonder that the mechanics of antiq.uity should 
 never have applied the concavity of their metal inseriptions. 
 to the same use as those of their intaglios, and their liquid 
 colours to an use similar to that which they aasade in wax. — 
 But we are not here to extend our views beyond our own 
 eouotry. Whether Laurentius of Haerlem, iSeinsStech, of 
 Mentz,. or Guttenburg', at Strasburgh, invented single wood- 
 en typeSy much certainly may be concluded, that the inven- 
 tion took place rather before the middle of the fifteenth cen- 
 tury in Holland or Germany. We have a fact established 
 beyond controversy,, that Wullam Caxton first intraduced 
 the Art of Printing with fusile types into England ? and some- 
 suppose that Frederic Corseliis, or some foreigner,, used wood- 
 en tyes- a few years before him. Be this as it may, Caxtoa 
 {an eminent mercer and negotiator} within a few years of the 
 discovery of printing, is thought to have printed a French 
 romance at Cologne in 1464."' . 
 
( m > 
 
 WiiiUBim (BKVton. 
 
 " JFilliam Caxton an Englishman, memorable for "having 
 first introduced the art of printing into his native country, 
 was born in Kent about 1410, and served an apprentice- 
 ship to Robert Large, a London mercer, who in 1439 was 
 Lord iVTayor. On the death of his master, Caxton went to 
 the Netherlands, as agent for the Mercer's company, in which 
 situation he continued about twenty-three years. His repu- 
 tation for probity and abilities occasioned his being employed, 
 in conjunction with Richard Whitchill, to conclude a treaty 
 of commerce between Edward IV, and Phillip duke of Bur- 
 gundy. He appears subsequently to havaheld some office in 
 the household of duke Charley, the son of Phillip, whose wife, 
 the lady Margaret of York, distinguished herself as the pa- 
 troness of Caxton. Whilst al^road he becam* acquainted 
 
( 173 ) 
 with tlie then newly discovered inventian of printings h^ 
 JoHX t'lJST. At the, request of the duchess, his mistress, 
 he translated from the French, a wprk, which he eptitled _ 
 "TheljLecuyelloftheHistoryesofTroye, byRaoul leFeure," 
 which he printed at Cologne, 1471, in folio. This book, con- 
 sidered' as the earliest specimen of Typography in the English 
 Language, is reckoned, very ,v.alua,ble.. At the famous sale.of the 
 Duke of Roxburgh's library in 18 12^ 9 copy was purchased 
 by the Duke pf Devonshire for, lofioi. lOs., which origi- 
 nally belonged to. Elizabeth Gray, Queen of Edward the 
 Fourth. A co^y sold in "West's Sale, 1773, for 32?. lis., an . 
 imperfect copy sold at Lloyd's Sale in 1816, for 126?. After 
 this he printed other works abroad, chiefly translations from 
 theFiench ; at length having provided himself with the means 
 of practising the art in England, he returned thither, and in 
 1474 had a press at Westminster abbey, where he printed 
 the " Game and Playe of the Chesse," generally admitted 
 to be the first typographical wv^rk, executed in England. 
 Caxton continued to exercise his art for nearly twenty years, 
 duting which space he "produced between fifty and sixty vol- 
 umes, most of which were composed or translated by himself. 
 Among his most distinguished patrons were John Islip, abbot 
 of Westminster, and those two learned noblemen John Tibe- 
 tot, earl of Worcester, and Anthony Wydeville, earl Rivers, 
 Caxton died about 1492, and Was buried according to some 
 accounts at Campdenin Gloucestershire; though others iffate 
 his interment as having taken place at St. Margaret's, West- 
 minster. The following lines from his epitaph are charac- 
 teristic of the age : ' 
 
 " Moder of merci, shylde him from th' orribul fynct, 
 And bring bimlyff eternal, that never hath ynd." 
 
 Allies devotes 116 quarto pages to a-n account of Caxton, 
 arid of the Works that passed through his press; to Wyrifcen ' 
 dd Worde, the second Printer of note, he has bestowed 120 " 
 pages, and to Richard Pinsoti, 84 pages, tie has also giv^n 
 portraits of the above personages, with one or tv/o others, ■ 
 which I insert as fac simile's of the rude wood block dfevitfes, 
 ^hSrkcte'ristic of the time. ■ ' ' • ' 
 
 "-" ■ ■ ■ ■ X' ■- ■ 
 
( m ) 
 
 John LettOM an4 WiUidm, Machlinia, or MacM^rpf were 
 coteroporaries, of Caxton, as well as Wynken de Worde, 
 " Lytihtoi}S, Tenure,g" is supposed by Sir William Dug- 
 dale, to haye been Printed by them in the reign of Henry 
 VIIL, and Dr. Middleton^in his discourse on Printing, sup- 
 posjes the above book to. haye bpen put to press by the Au- 
 thor, Littleton, who died 1481. It contains 108 leaves folio, 
 
 Mr. Ames has placed, John Lettou with, William Mach 
 liniff between Caxtori, and, Wynken de Word? whiph 
 authorizes t^ie s,vip.position of Sir Win. Dugdale, and of 
 ]y{i4d}eton. 
 
 " This famous printer, was a foreigner, born in the duke- 
 dom of Lorrain, as appears by the patent-roll in the 
 the chapel of the Rolls. Our first printer, Caxton, when 
 resident abroad, might probably meet with him there, and en- 
 gage him to come over to England for, a servant or assistant, 
 like as John Faust at Mentz had his lad, or servant, Peter 
 Sheofier, whom they chose for their ingenuity and promising 
 parts ; , and their after works shew they were not mistaken, in 
 their choice. However this be, he continued in some capaci- 
 ty with Caxton till his death, 1491 ; and printed at his house 
 in Westminister afterwards. 
 
(175 ) 
 If he was married or not, or had relations that came over 
 ■with him does not appear by his will ; yet we find in the 
 church-wardens accounts for St. JMargarets Westminster, 
 an entry made in the year 1498. " Item for the knell of 
 Elizabeth de Wofde vi pence, Item, For iii torches, with 
 thegrete belle for her, v., iii." Again, in the year 1500, — 
 item for the knelle Julian de Worde, with the grete bell, vi. 
 pence." 
 
 " By his connection with Mr. Caxton, and on aecounl of this 
 new art, he occasionally fell into the company and acquain- 
 tance of the learned and noble of this kingdom; and at length 
 was appointed priiiter to Margaret mother of king Hen. VII. 
 and grandame to Henry tlie VIII. as he styles himself in 
 1509 ; which is the first year of thus describing himself." 
 
 ".After the death dt Sir. GS^JEt&n, he printed, in his 
 house as aforesaid ; j^tim^rfly it ftiay be supposed with 
 his types, sometimes using his cypher only, without the 
 printer's name ; sometitnes adding "inCaxton's house;" and 
 at other times, probably the the latter part of his dwelling 
 there, adding thereto hi^. own liame also. 'By his colophons 
 we learn that he continued at Westminister iintil the year 
 1500,or very likely 1501; in which year we find in Mr. Ames, 
 an account of only one book,' Mens perfectionis,' without any 
 account where if ^as printed; bu£ fainter'^ dtotinuator has 
 /added "ibid," which miust refer to Westriiii^^fer preceding; 
 and he does not munition any book printed by Kim at the Sun 
 in Fleet-street before 1503 : however I find "Thejjrdynarye 
 of crysten men" was printed there in 1:502. We d6 not find 
 any sign mentioned by him while at Westminster, It has 
 been supposed that Caxtpir's cypher might have be^n exhi- 
 bited as a sign, but we find no inlitation of this by either 
 Caxton or himself," r= 
 
 He printed' BartholDentiBua de Propribtatihts Reruw.-^ 
 The first baok printed oft' paper made in Eftgknd. 
 
 At the Duke of Roxburgh's in 1812, a copy sold for 
 fdl. 7s. An imperfect copy at th& Sale of St'ariesby Al- 
 chorne, 1^*^. in IS'IS, sold td fl^e t)uke of DevdnsHire for 
 W. 13s. 
 
( 176 ) 
 Rowe Mores was of opinion that Wynken de Worde was 
 his own Letter Foiinder, a circumstance that shews the rapid 
 progress of the Art in England at so early a period ; in fact, 
 the circumstance canriot be doubted, for it appears thatCax- 
 ton had him' employed with Fust's servfints, at Cologne; — 
 amongst whom were also said tp be, Pynson, Rood, Macklin, 
 and Lettou. 
 
 fhe great advancement and improvements in this beautiful 
 Art, during the whole of the last and present centuries, has 
 been truly astonishing ; aided by the taste and talents of the 
 Caslon's, Baskerville, Fry, Figgins, Thorowgood, and others, 
 8S T^j7e Founders, 
 
 '■' Was born in Normandy in France, as appears by king 
 Henry's patent of naturalization, wherein he is styled " Ri- 
 chardus Pynson, in partibus Normand, oriund." However 
 there were of the same name in England, as may be seen in 
 the church-warden's account for St. Margaret's Westmin, 
 ster, in the year 1504 ; " Item, received of Robert Pynson 
 for four tapers iiii d." Perhaps some relation of his. There 
 was also one Philip Pinsonan Englishman, who died of the 
 plague, the 2d of December, 1503 ; three days after he had 
 feecp nominated to the wchbi&hoprick- of Tuam, in Ireland.;; 
 
(■ 177 ) 
 " Whether this artist was apprentice to Mr. Caxton, as in- 
 timated by Mr. Lewis, is rather uncertain ; nor can I see any 
 reason for such a supposition of him any more than of W. 
 de Worde, whom he styles his foreman or journeyman : per- 
 Jiaps these characters may Hbe equally true of them both, at 
 different periods of time. However this be, Pynson himself 
 in his first edition of Chaucer, calls Caxton his worshipful 
 master — " whiche boke diligently ouirsen & duely examined 
 by his poUitike rjeasbn and ouirsight of iny worshipful master 
 William Caxton" &c." 
 
 Mr. Ames intimates that our artist was in such esteem with 
 |the lady Margaret, King Hen. VII's mother, and other great 
 personages, that he printed for- them all his days ; but this 
 does not particularly appear. 
 
 He printed " The life of a Virgyncalbjd Petronylla, 
 whom Erie Flaccus desired to 'his Wyf." 18 mo. 
 
 "A very rare Poetical Tract; cotisistingouly oUhree leaves, 
 18mo. and which at- To wnle'y's Sale in 1814, was sold for 
 the very moderate suin of six gidttBaS^ or two guineas per 
 leaf, to Messrs. Longman and Co." 
 
 Mr. Heber bought a copy at IJorne Tcjoke's Sale in 1813, 
 for the sum oi six pounds, two shillings, and sixpence. 
 
 " Pynson was the first who introduced Roman letter to this 
 country,' and he was eminently successful in his publications, 
 which consist chiefly of law books. He is suppossed to have 
 died about 1539. 
 
 Fsalmanaazaar intimates that this printer lived in the utr 
 jpost familiarity and frienasl.ip wi;h W. de Worde, and 
 quite undisturbed by any:mntiial emulation or rivalship in 
 trade ; the contrary rather appeas by their works, for they 
 are found frequently printing diiFerent editions of the same 
 books, at or near the same time ; not as partners, or the one's 
 pame taken out, and the other's inserted to a certain number 
 of. the same edition. He telig us indeed that they printed 
 several year books together : perhaps they might be joined 
 \R the same privilege or licence for printing them. 
 
( 178 ) 
 
 ^ 
 
 \w r 
 
 KIKG'S PRINTER. 
 
 "He was a man of emineace, a good antiquary,'great pro- 
 mater of the reformation^ and in favour with King Henry 
 Vni. lord CromweUf archbishop Craamcr, &c, John 
 Leland was of his acquaintance, Qur learned Kentish anti^ 
 q,uary John Twine calls him a German by nation, good man, 
 and well learned, and a very faithful friend of his, whose 
 kindness he had experienced in prosperity and adversity,. and' 
 ■whOy when he was set at liberty from his imprisonment in the 
 Tower,' took him into his house, situ sq^ualoreque obsitum, 
 sind entertained him there till he could return to Canterbury, 
 to his own house and family. John Stowe observes of him^ 
 that in the year 1549, the bones of the dead, in the Cbarnel 
 h«.u,seofSt. Paul's, amounting to more than lOOt) cart loads, 
 were carried to Finsbury field, and the expense paid by him.' 
 Me spent 25s years in collecting materials for an universal 
 cosmography of all nations, which though at his death he 
 left undigested, he thereby laid the fouadfttion of those chron- 
 icles, which afterward'S were cowpiled by Ralph HoMn^lied, 
 who frankly aeknowledged so much in his dedication to lord 
 Kurghkigh. Those chronides vi>ere -published in J577 by 
 JaJjii Harrison his son ink^; and again with large Sddi- 
 
( iw ) 
 
 tions, in 1587, by the said John Harrison, and others. We 
 are further informed by Edmund Howes, the continuer of 
 Stow's Annals, that if Stow had* lived but one year longer, he 
 purposed to have put ia priat Reyije Woolfes chronicle, 
 which he began and ^shed at the request of Dr. Whitgift, 
 late archbishop of Caaterbury ; but, being prevented by 
 death, left the same in hist srtudy, orderly written, ready for 
 the press.; but it came to nothing." 
 
 " He settled his priating-o:flice in Paul's Church-'yard, and 
 set up the sign of the Brazen Sergenl?,. which device he used 
 to most of his books:, tftot(gh he sometijnes used that of the 
 tree of charity ; his rebus you will sea ia the frontispiece,''' 
 
 The house, says Stowe, as I guesSj he builtfiom the ground^ 
 out of the old chapel, which he puiehased of the- king at the 
 dissolution of monasteries, where on the same ground be had 
 several other tenements, and afterward purchased several 
 leases, qf the dean aifid chapt^i^ of St. PatilJs, He; fdiJiDwed 
 his business, of printing with great reputation for many years 
 and priujbed^for archbishop Cranmermost of his pieces, and' 
 for o&ers of great note. Henry Binneman was' servant 
 tq, him,, who afterwards proved a good, printer, and used the 
 sanie device of the Brazen Serpent ; as also did John Sbep^ 
 peide, anpther of his apprenticesr, 
 
 " Hewas^the-firsfc whohad a patent for being; a; printer- to 
 the king in Latiiv, Greek; and. Hebrew ;~by whiehf herW-a*- 
 authorized to-be- his bookseller and; stationer, and to jjfitit'' 
 andpublish' all sorts of-books in the saidJanguagesi, asak&i ■ 
 Oreek and-Latin- Orammicrs, although, mixed with E«gHsfe-; 
 and" likewise ^jfeapts, maps, and such other things, Whidi' 
 might be at any time useful aod-necessaryi" He printedj 
 
 "James Servi^gjiam Yates's, CastellofCpurfesie, where- 
 unto.is,a(ijoyn?d the Holde of Humlitie, with the Chariot 
 of Chast\tig thereunto annei^ed, 1582." 
 
 •A Copy sold attlaeSale-of G..St€ev!en'sj 1809^- for £2 
 10s. A^d-another at'Saunders.'s SalesBbDmi, 1818-foT.:£2^ 
 lOs; 
 
( 180 ) 
 
 SoHn isai^, Mage, or Wit* 
 
 •was born in St. Petei's parisTi^ Dunwichjin Suffolk, to whicli 
 he left a gift ; as appears by the papers of the late Thomas 
 Martin, Esq. ; of Paulsgrave, from Mr. Le Neve. He is 
 Euppussd to have been descended from a good family, buried 
 at Bradley-Parva, in that county. He bore for his arms, 
 ermin, on a fess indented, two eaglets displayed ; his crest, 
 out of a ducal coronet, a demi eagle with wings expanded 
 ermin. He first begaw printing a little above Holborn con- . 
 duit ; and about 1549 removed into Alder^ate, where he 
 printed, and, for his greater convenience, according to Stow,., 
 built much on the wall of the city, towards St. Ann's> 
 church ; he kept also, at the same time, several shops in dif- 
 ferent parts of the town, where his books were sold. He had 
 a license in September,. 1.^52, to. print the Catechism, which 
 K. Edw. yi. h^d caused to be set forth, both in Latin and 
 in English : but as Raynold Woulfe had a former privilege 
 for all Latin books, he seems to have applied for redress ; ' 
 accordingly among Cecil's jpapers, published by the Rev. 
 Mt. Hains in 4740, page 128^ ts this memorandum :; — 
 " Item, thst were one Day, hath a priviledga for the cater 
 
( . 181 ) 
 cliiiime, and oiie Reyne Wolfe, who hatli a former priviledga 
 for Latyn Books they may joyne jn printipg of the sayd ca- 
 techism^." However, it appears to have been determined 
 that Wolfe should print it in Latin, and Day in English ; fgr 
 thus we find it printed ; and t)^y iji aiiother licepi^, dal^d 
 '45 M^archj 1553, had privilese to print it only in g,ngjisji„ 
 witji a brief of an A'B C, thereunto annexed : Also, for the 
 printing and reprinting all such works atid book?, devi??^ aiyi 
 qompil,ed by John (Pdnef) now bjsjiop of Winton, or by 
 Tho. Beac,oni professor of divinity ; so that no suclji bpgk, 
 be ni any wise repugnant to the holy scriptures, or proceed- 
 ings in religion,,' arid -the laws of the realm." 
 
 He printed " The WTiole Psaltet^ translatedinto En- 
 glish Metre, which containeth an hundred and ffiy 
 Psalms," 
 
 It is so scarce, th^t l^r. Strype lells u? hs could never gf t 
 sight pf it; ?ind )V^rt9n, in hi? " jHistory of Engljfh 
 Pqetry," points it oyj as ^ gi^eat rarity^ adding " Jt c?r- 
 t^li^y 'ropwid ^f de^mgd a ff^tftnate apgutsitimi to those 
 PSfP^WV^U^ '%!?#»/|'j ^J*^? laliour to collect a library qf 
 raritief." 
 
 " Its rarity is conjectured to arise from the circumstance of 
 only a few copies having been given away to the nobility, 
 by the Arcbbishop's wife Margaret, to whom Fuller, in>his 
 " Ohurch 'rtistory," has given a very high character," 
 
 Mr- Ames tl^en continue^ to giye a full accpunt of a,ll tl^e 
 erai^e^Dt .Rrir^ters from Julian J^otary In 1^98, aod ■\yilliapi 
 F|\g,vi?s in ISPO^ ,down to William Agpley. ^"d John B,ailip, 
 1^,1,500, with a general l^istory of Printing from its origin to 
 that period ; tbU fila^rojate Work, with. Mr. Herbert's addi- 
 tions form 1875 quarto page^, an^ ]VIr. Dibd^en's edi^op fitill 
 enlarges it. 
 
 Mr. Herbert, after hi^ Jl^tf^ittrs ,p corsectin^ an^,ej\lar|f" 
 i9g Ames's Tyjpography, from a single ypln|ne, to ;tl«rQ^ g:^- 
 tensive fln^^, concludes JiisJiistory of iPrint^x?, and Printing 
 in England ,5it,pf|,g.e 14^7, arid in the fqlbwj^ .qi\,e, tJa^s 
 cojapmepces hia history of 
 
 y 
 
( 182 ) 
 
 PRINTING IN SCOTLAND. 
 
 INCE an accpunt has becB' 
 given of printing in England, I 
 shall now proceed to offer a 
 few hints, relating to the rise 
 and progress of the art in Scot- 
 land, which may be of use to 
 such as would pursue this sub- 
 ject further, in that formerly an- 
 tient kingdorn. 
 
 The late ingenious James Watson, wha with Freebairn 
 obiained a patent from Q. Anne, for printing in Scotland 
 and was afterwards one of his majesty's printers there in the 
 time of K. George the first, did in the year 1713, pub- 
 lish a short history of the airt of printing, containing an ac- 
 count of its invenirion and progress fn Euro'pe ; to' which Re 
 added a jJreface, wherein he mentions three or four books, 
 and as many printers of Scotland withiii rny assigned time ; 
 tha£ is, from the introduction of the' art there, to the year 
 1600, which I shall take notice of in their proper place. He 
 indeed supposes they had the art of printing early from their 
 having a constant trade with. the Low Countries; from their 
 cases and presses being all of the Dutch make, till of late 
 years ; from their manner of working, in distributing the let- 
 ter on hand with the face from us and the nick downwards ; 
 and their making ink, as the pfihters there do at this day; but 
 that the books may be lost, being either lives of saints and 
 I'egendary miracles, or of devotions then in vogue, carried 
 aWay by the priests, who fJed beyond the sea, or destroyed by 
 the zeal of the refbrmers. His further accounts of the Scotch 
 printers are later than my time." 
 
 " The first book I have found mentioned by any, is, A 
 breviary of the church of Aberdeen, printed at Edinburgh 
 1509, thirty-five years after the introduction of this art by 
 William Caxton. The account Mr. Ames had of this, is in 
 a letter directed to his good friend, Dr. John Mitchell, from 
 Me, Charles Mackey, professor of history in the university; of 
 
X 183 .) 
 Edinburgh. " The art with ug is at early as 1503. I ima- 
 gine. thpugh lam not certain, that I have found Mr. Ames's 
 voucher for it. Mr. John Ker. late humanity professor 
 here, gave mto the lawyers library an old breviary in octavo 
 /orthe use of Aberdeen, but the title page, and some sheets 
 at the end are wanting." 
 
 fn 1510, another Bxeviary, was printed atEJinburgh, and 
 Mr. Herbert remarks that -they evince that Mr. Watson's 
 conjectures were well founded. 
 
 During the succeeding space of forty years, to the middla 
 of the 15th ceptury, about twelve books only, were printed ' 
 Jn Scotland. 
 
 Mr. Herbert, after devoting upwards of fifty pages in des- 
 cribing Printing in Scotland, from 1509 to the close of 
 1600 ; proceeds to the following account of 
 
 PRINTINQ IN IRELAND, 
 
 RELAND was one of the last Euro- 
 pean states into which the art of print- 
 ing was introduced. Mr. Ames used 
 his best endeavours to form thence an 
 account of its rise and progress in that 
 kingdom before 1600 ; but all the in- 
 formation he received was the "foHow- 
 ing : 
 
 Extract, ojfa JLetter Jj^rom Doctor. 
 iRuTTY, of Dublin, dated .June 28, 
 1744, fo 2?r. William Clauk, of I^ondqn. 
 
 Thy commission for furnishing a catalogue of books prin- 
 ted in Ireland before the year 1600, I think I have had pret- 
 ty good opportunities of executing, and have accordingly 
 made use of tbera. First, I had an acquaintance with a lear- 
 ned antiq.uary, who has made things of this sort his particu- 
 lar study for many years, who is able to furnish me with but 
 ■one book, which he can assure me to have been printed within 
 ithat' period, .which is this ; 
 
( 184 ) 
 "The-book of common prayer, and administration of the 
 sacraments, and other ceremonies of the church of England. 
 Publinee in officina Humphredi Poweli. Giivq. privilegio ad 
 imprimendum solum, anno Domini 1551." In black letter, 
 a large quartg. 
 
 Next, I had recourse to the large library of Dr. Worth, 
 a late emitient physician here, who wa^ eminently curious in 
 collecting antient pieces, but there I found but one printed 
 here so early as 1633. Lastly, on perusing the catalogue of 
 It 'le college libraryjl found within the period by thee llihitec), 
 but that one individual book, as above fecited. The truth 
 is, printing is but of a very late date in Irelaiid. Here were 
 indeed some few authors -Within that period, but thfcir wotks 
 were printed abroad aS in Etigland, Francfe, Flanders, Italy, 
 «&c. Even down to 1700 very few bddks were printed herfe, 
 but whatever was written here, was generally printed in Lon- 
 fdon; even now the printing trade here consists chiefly in re- 
 printing books printed in London, and they that value their 
 reputation, coiiimonly send their wi-itiiigs tb England to be 
 printed. And this is all the satisfactioii in my power to giyt} 
 pij friend, bii this account.' 
 
 " The following books purporting to have beeh printed at 
 Waterfprd, are thought to have ]jeen printed in Eilglatid, 
 having no assurance of any press being, set up so iearly at 
 Waterford ; besides it must have been as dangerbiis piririting 
 these books openly there during queen Mary's rteign as ii^ 
 England ; therefore they more propbrly belong to dUr Gen- 
 ial History : howeVer we hav^ given them a place herfe ; one 
 of them bearing the superscription; and thg otlifer having 
 the same types, on the authority of Maunsell." 
 
 " Warraijted tidings from Ireland," was the first Nfews: 
 paper printed hefe, vvhich was in 1641." 
 
 In noticing Printitig in England, at the commencement of 
 the 17th Century, I alluded to the Elder Homyer, and re- 
 ferred to the works that passed througli, or were connected 
 >vithhis press to the year 1732, which with Mr. Nichols's, 
 fnass ofLiterary information, occupies a volume of 700 pagfes. 
 

 
 PRINTER 
 B om in 1663, died in 1757. 
 
 V-nkJes Lltk 26 3o Mall OoA 
 
... .( 185 > 
 
 ib. ni2-13, theeldfer &d«fei-, Mer IraVikg for thirteen 
 yeiM pursued biisi&efes With iiilreinitted ihduMfy kh d unsulUM 
 reptit&tidtr; tviis, ih one ftital iiight, reduced to Absolute vfatit, 
 by a fcahrtiitioilS fire. EVerj/ 6He *ho U.Mi/ tTife reS(|)e<i:tabte 
 BilfTeter ¥a& iftstattt and anxious, feitHBf tb fellevfe, or tosyift- 
 patlii2fe in his gffeat affliclibti ; atid Bit. Bowyer, on this oc- 
 cafeibii, rfeceived frdfc Ddah StaniidjJfe oiie bf t!i6 Vaoki fexijel- 
 lent arid afffecting letters that so rfieltnchbly ah eVeiit cdiiid 
 be Siippdsfed to Suggest. It vrik vfrHttfeh ih Mslfe the vBry 
 day kfter; and spaks ihdUbitably, tfte 'Itlhgffap oT to 
 
 "the ^oitflgfer Bo^ytei- h^vfei: fbrgot lliib slHkibg teitiihdhy 
 ,of regard tor his parent. 
 
 A similar accident occurred in the Office of Bir. NicTidl's, 
 in 1808, nearly a cehtiiry afterwards.— ^lii both instances 
 Literary property tb ^ vast aftiount *as destreySd. 
 
 Of the second Wra. Bowyer, (bb'r'n l699, died iHT,) son 
 of the preceding — Mr. Nidhols giVes a Vbluffiihoiis accbiint, 
 .and of the annals , 9? his Press from i^A'2. to 1777. Mr. JI. 
 .entered into partnership With him in 1766. 
 
 I shall now select the following abridged account of liun, 
 .which appeats in Go.^ro?r, from the Gentleman's Magazine. 
 ".William Bowyer an English printer and classical scholar 
 of eminence ii? the l^st century," was a n'alive of Londoii, 
 >vhere his father, also a printer, cairied on business. The son 
 acquired the rudiments of learning under Ambrose Boii- 
 wicke, a nonju^ing clergyman, and was afterwards adinittiid 
 a sizar of St John's College, Cainbridge,&ut left the univer- 
 sity without a degree in 1722, aiid becaiii'e an associate in 
 trade with iiis father. In 1729 he obtained the office of prin- 
 ter, olfthe votes of the house it' cpmrnons, which he held nearly 
 50 years. He wa s subsequently h j) c inted printer to the Soci- 
 ety of Antiquarians, of which learned body he was adinitted 
 a member; and on the death of Samuel Richardson in 1761, 
 the interest of Lord Macclesfield procured him.tiie appb!nt- 
 ment of printer to the Royal Society. In 1768 he was no- 
 piinated printer of the journals of the house of Lords and the 
 plls of Parliament. He died in 1777, agfed 78, and was 
 
( 18<j ) 
 interred in the clmrch of Low Layton in Essex. By his wiH 
 lie beque3.thed a considerable sum of nibney, in trust to the 
 Stationers' Company, for ihe relief of decayed printers or 
 campositors. His principal literary production was an edi- 
 tion of the New festament in Greek, with critical notes and 
 eaiendations. He also published several phikrlogieal tracts, 
 and added notes and observations to some of the learned 
 •wgrks that issupd from his press. 4-bout ten years previous 
 to his decease, be entered, into p9,rtnership with jV| r. John 
 Nichols^ who shortly after that event published a &mal} 
 volurne of biographiaal anecdotes of Bowyer and his learned 
 cotemporaries, which formed the basis of his " Literary Anec- 
 dotes of the 18th Century," 9 vols. 8vo. a worji containing a 
 vast mass of i^idigested materials for a history of English 
 literature duripg the period to vphich it relates." 
 
 It is highly creditable to Bowyer and to Nichols, in having 
 maintained the highest respect from the first rate Literary 
 characters for more than a century, %nd it is no less remark- 
 ably, th^t they have printed the Votes of Parliament not only 
 daring that period, than it must be gratifying, that they are 
 now printed by J. B. Nichols, Esq., Son and successor to as 
 extraordinary a man, as an author and printer, as the last 
 century has produced. 
 
 Mr. Nichols does not appear to have been ambitious of 
 printing, wha t is called_^»e work, hot pressing, &c., He left 
 that to Bensley,Bulm€r, Davison, WMttingliam and others, 
 who were particularly laid out for \he,fine, or superior style of 
 Printing— in fact Mr. N — from the very nature and extent 
 of his avocations and occupation, could not attend to the 
 minutiae of that branch of the trade, sopecuKar to itself. I 
 h^ve before observed that fromthisvoluminous Writer, having 
 not only Printed all his own Works, (exceeding upwards of 
 onehundred Volumes,) but also ^rfitec? and Printedlhe most 
 extensive I^Ioiithly Periodical the gentleman's Magazine, 
 and the Votes of the House of Commons, besides general 
 work, for more than half a century, the tedious process of 
 fine Work, pressing, and hot-pressing, &c-. could not beoon- 
 iemplated or expected, The Gentlemen's Magazine alone 
 jnay almost be considered a closely printed Monthly Volurap, 
 
{ W ) 
 Mr. John Sorvyer ^'vshols is following similar no&lff 
 pursuits to those of his late amiable Father, who states, that 
 his son was enjoined by the great antiquarian Gough, to assist 
 his executors in transmitting his Library to Oxford ; aiKl 
 Owen Manning acknowledges his great obligations to hini, 
 for his indefatigable attention in correcting his History of 
 Surrey. — Mr. J. B. Nichols also edited the last edition of the 
 Life and Errors of John Dunton, has displayed consid- 
 erable literary taste,, and been an ornament to his profession 
 as a printer. 
 
 TYPE FOUNDING. 
 
 Of the improvement in Type Founding from the time of 
 our predecessors^ down to the commencement of the 18th 
 century,. Gaslon appears the first, aiKl the family ever since 
 have continued to maintain its pre-emmenCB, 
 
 Mr. Nichols gives a long and interesting account of him fa 
 different parts of his Work. I can only select the following : 
 
 Mr. William Caslon born in that part of the town of Hales Owea 
 which is situated in Shropshire, in 1692, and who is justly styled by 
 Mr. Rowe Mores the " Coryphajus of Litter-founders/' was not traift- 
 ed to that business ; " which is a h^ndy work, so concealed among 
 the artificers of it.'' that IVtr. Moxon, in his indefatigable researches an 
 that subject," " could noi discover that any one had taught it any other; 
 but every one that had used it, learnt it of his own genuine inclination." 
 
 Mr. Caslon^s first resideBce was in Vine-street in the Minories, where 
 «ne considerable branch of his employment was to make tools for the book- 
 binders and for the chasing of silver plate. Whilst he was engaged in tins 
 employment, the elder Mr, Bowyer accidently saw in the shop of Mr. 
 Daniel Browne, bookseller, near Temple Bar, the lettering of a book ua- 
 commonry neat; and enquiring who the Artist was by whc m tha letters were 
 made, Mr; Cation was introduced to his acquaintance, and was taken by 
 bim to Mr. James's Foundry in Bartholomew close. Caslon had never 
 before that time seen any part of the business ; and being asked by 
 his friend if he thought he could undertake to cut types, he request- 
 ed, a single day to consider of. the matter, and then replied he had na 
 doubt but he could. . From this answer Mr. Bowyer lent Inm 200/. Mr. 
 B'etTenham lent him the same sum, and Watts lOOi.; and by that as- 
 sistance our ingenious Artist applied himseff assiduously to his new pursuit,, 
 and was eminently successful.^ — The three printers above mentioned were 
 ef course his coiistant custoibers. 
 
 In the Universal Magazine for June 1750, is a g(UHl view of Mr. CasIonAi 
 workshop in Cbrswell -street,, with portraiu of six of his weilimen, Mr, Caa» 
 
( 1S8 ) 
 ]on was tlf rej times martieJ . The naine of his ^econdwife was Loii|jnsn> o( 
 the third Water?, and with ]6ac|i,of these ladies he had a good fortu.ne. The 
 abilities of his son William appeared to great advantage in a specimen of 
 types of the learned languages in 1748— His younger son, Mr. Thomas 
 Caslon, was Master of the Sutioners' Company in 1782; and died Mardi 
 .39. 17P3. 
 
 Ml- William Cjslafl died in 1778, 3«a.vJBg » Wi<iow whcf conducted the 
 l)j{sin,e|ij Svjfh pxtrjqrdiimry gbility, untU her djath, ontjie ^ri of Ocfob^r, 
 l795_Age.d ?V.ovt 70, After th? death of th.e mother^ there wemstilj two- 
 very large founderies carried on J one of Jh/em by a third William Cas/m, 
 who having quitted Moor6elds, had become the purchaser of the Jackson 
 foundry in Dorset-street ; since given up to his son, a fourth William-Caslonf 
 a young man of considerable abHi.tief, to whqm I cannot recommend a 
 better model than his great grand-father, who was universally esfeeirif d as 
 a first-rate artist, a tender master, and an honest, friendly, and benevolent 
 man. — The original folinelty in Ohiswell-strcet was purchased by 'Mr. 
 Charles Csithfirwood, a, distant relation, who di^gd Jane?, 1809, »t. 45 > 
 and isnow carried on by Mr. ilenry Cjslon (another grea,t-grandgo|iofithe^ 
 first William) under the firm of Caslon and Livermo.re. 
 
 JacJfSQn and Cottnell, were eminept in t)beir4?y^ Mr, 
 Jackson had acquired some consiclerable property, the 
 bulk of ^liich, having left no child, he jiire;ctedto be equally 
 djy/deql bj^tweej? founteen iiepliews aad nieces. Oft his only 
 apprentice, Mr. Vincent Figgins, the mantle of his prede- 
 cessor has fallen. With an ample portipn of his kigd ip-- 
 ' structor's reputation he inherits a considera,ble sli|ir^e pf 1)^ 
 talents and Ijis |i,ndustry ; a;id ha? .dis.ting.uishfid bipiself by 
 itlje!p:Hiy J)g^utiful .■sjMic.imeos he h*s prod ucfid, and particu- 
 larly of Oifiefttal typies. 
 
 Mgffins and Thovo-ngood, hare always stood 'high in the 
 estimation of first rate judges, they are sucqeedin^ in all the 
 beauties, fchasteness, and impro,vem.en^s qf th,e Ar,t. 
 
 'Yh^Fry'? have al^ b^p fimiBeat ip this bea,utiful aot, 
 paiticjilgi-ly ^(^■ffiy,^4.j wJiQ^i WaU in his Mbliotkeea Brit. 
 thus designates. 
 
 "Edmund Fry,. M. D., prodtjced specimer.s of Pj-intiixg 
 Types, 1785-98. also Pantographia ; contj^ining .copies of |J1 
 the known Alph,abets in t|)B jwftld^ .|ind ^^ivasns of ^11 JvbU 
 authenticate^ l^pgpages,.^ la.ljaijge/OcAa/V^ y<nlu«ue, ^nc« »S 
 guineas, this interesting and laborious W»rk, is ejtccuted 
 .■wi'thjgrj&at neatness.^:' 
 
(189 ) 
 Mr. JOHPJ BASKERVILLE. 
 
 t cannot slightly pass by this extraordinary Letter Foundei', 
 Printer, Paper maker, Ink maker, &c. — Jn my " History and 
 Topography of Warwickshire," I devoted, with the aid of his 
 Biographers, about a dozen pages to him, of which I here 
 present a small portion. — Mr. Hutton says, "he was insuc- 
 <;ession'i--a stone cutter, a schoolmaster, a japaniier, and 
 lastly an eminent type founder and printer ; he gave his narne 
 to the first, and his establishment and fame to that of the 
 other. The pen of the historian rejoices in the actions of the 
 great ; the fame of the deserving, like an oak tree is of slug- 
 glish growth, the present generation becomes debtor to hint 
 who excels, but the future will repay that debt with more thaii 
 simple interest. The still voice of fame may warble in his 
 ears towards the close of life, but her trumpet Seldom sounds 
 in full clarion, till those ears are stopped by the finger of 
 death." 
 
 Of Mr. John Baskerville, Mr. Nichols who appears like 
 myself to have been indebted to Mr. Hutton,- states that 
 " this celebrated printer was born at Wolverly, in the county 
 of Worcester, in 1706, heir to the paternal estate of £60 per 
 annum, which in 50 years after, while in his own possession, 
 had increased to £90, and this estate, with an exemplary filial 
 piety and generosity, he allowed to his parents until theic 
 deaths, which happened at an advanced age." Mr. Nichols 
 says that he was brought tip to no occupation, but Mr. Hut- 
 ton asserts that he was trained to that of a stone cutter, but 
 they agree as to his becoming a schoolmaster in 1726, and 
 that in about ten years after he taught school in Birming- 
 ham, and wrote an excellent hand. Both circumstances ac- 
 count for- his subsequent skill and talent in the formation of 
 letters. It appears that he was not cvetj confined to his early 
 predilections, for previously to his attempt at printing, he 
 fouiid that painting accorded-with his taste, and in despite 
 of the odium cast upon, what is termed " tea board painting," 
 he entered into that lucrative branch at his then residence. 
 No. 22, in Moor-street. His biographer, Hutton, observes 
 that, in ni*?, " he took a building lease of about eight acros 
 north west of the town, to which he gave the name of Easy 
 
 z 
 
( 190 ) 
 hill, converted it into a little Eden, and built a liause in the 
 eentre; but the towO, as if conscious ef bis merit, followed- 
 his retreaty and surrounded it with buildings. Here he con- 
 tinued th-e business of a japanrier for life; Bis- darriage, 
 (eachpannelofwhich wasa distinct picture, andmight be con- 
 sidered as the pattern card cf his trade,) was drawa hy 
 a beautiful pair of cream coloured horses. His inclination 
 for letters induced: him in 1.750, to turn his thoughts to the' 
 yress. He spent many years in the uncertain pursuit, sank; 
 £600 before he could ptoduce one letter to please hitnself, 
 and some thousands befoJ^' the shallow st ream of profit began 
 to flow. His first attempt, iit 175(3,. was a quarto edition of 
 Vugil, — price one guinea, now worth several." This accor- 
 ding to Nichols, he repjrinted in 1758, and was employed by 
 the University of Oxford upon an entirely new-faced Greefe 
 type. 
 
 The talents ef Mr. Baskerville were now very generally 
 appreciated ; the celebrated Mr. Derrick, in a letter to the 
 Earl of Cork, July 16, 1760-, containing a description of 
 Birmingham, says, " I need not remind your Lordship, that 
 Baskerville, one of the best printers in the wo-rld, resides neaf 
 this town . His house stands at about half-a-mile's distan ce> 
 cm an emiRcnce that commands a fine prospect.* Fpaid him; 
 a visit and was received with great politeness,- though an en- 
 tire stranger. His apartments are elegant ; hisi staircase ia> 
 particularly curious;, and the room in which he dines, and' 
 ealls a smoaking room, is very handsome. The grate and fur-- 
 niture beloivging to it are,. 1 tliink,:of bright wrought irOil,. 
 and cost him a good round sura. He has just completed an 
 elegaiit octavo common prayer book ; has a scheme for pub- 
 lishing a folio edition of the Bible ; and will soon finish a 
 beautiful collection of fables, by the ingenious Mr.Dodsley. 
 He manufactureshis own paper, types arid ink ; and they are 
 remarkably good. This ingenious artist carries on a great 
 trade in the japan way, in which he shewed several useful 
 articles such -as candlesticks, standsj-salvers, waiters, bread 
 baskets, tea boards, &c. elegantly designed and highly finish- 
 ed. Baskerville is a great cherisher of genius, which,, ha- 
 loses no opportunity of cultivating." 
 
( m ) 
 
 la i764, Mr. Baskerville received the following curious 
 i^tter from the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Ej'anklin. 
 
 " Graven-street, Lonaon, 1764.'' 
 " Pear Sir, 
 
 " Let me give you a pleasant instance of the prejudice some 
 ■have entertained against yourwork. Boon after Iretga-neiJ, 
 discoursing with a gentleman respecting the artists -eiff Bir- 
 mingham, he said, ." you ^ould be the meams of blmding all 
 the peopje in the nation,, for the -Strokes df your letters, being 
 too thin and narrow, hurt the eye, and he never could read 
 a line of them witlioiit pain." " I thought (said I) you were- 
 ^oirig to complain of the gloss on the papersome-pbjeofto.'' 
 " No, noj (says be) I have heatd that raeatioaed, but it is 
 pot that, it is in the natural and easy proportion between the, 
 height and thickness of the stroke, iVhich makes the common 
 jprintmg so much more corafoftabie to the eye.'- Yoo see 
 ^his gentleman was a connoisseur. In vain I emieaiVOUred to 
 support your character agaifist the cjiarge ; iieknew wbatJie 
 felt, asttd :coiild see. the reason o/it, and:several other gen tJ.^-^ 
 ■men among I^s friends had made the same observations, <Sjc. 
 Yesterday he cal;!ed4;o v-jait me, wheij mischjevQusly bent to 
 try his judgment, 1 stept-into my closet, tore off the top of 
 Sir. Caslon's specimen, and produced it to him as yourSj 
 i)rought with me from Birmingham, saying, " I had been ex- 
 amining it since h^ spoke to ms, and could not for my life 
 perceive the disproportion he mentioned, desiring liim to 
 point it out to me." IJe readily undertook it, and went over 
 Jhe-several founts, shewing me every where what he tliouglit 
 instances of that disproportion, and declared, " that he could 
 aiot then read the specimen without feeling very strongly the 
 pain he had mentioned to me." I spared him that time the 
 confusion of being told, that these were the typqs he had bee^ 
 reading all his life, with so much ease to his eyes ; the types 
 his adored Newton is printed with, on which he has pored no^ 
 a little ; nay, the very types his o\yn book is printed .with, for 
 ■ita is himself an author, and yet never diseovered-this pain- 
 /ul disproportion in them, till bethought they were yours." 
 ' ' " «' I am, &c." 
 
 " B. FRANKLIN." 
 
( 19? .) 
 In 1765, he applied to Dr. Franklin, tlien at Paris, and 
 afterwards ambassador from.Americ.a, to sound the Literati, 
 respecting the purchase of his types; but received for answer,, 
 "That the French reduced by the war in 1756, were so far 
 from pursuing schemes of taste, that they were unable to re-. 
 pair the public buildings, but suffered the Ecaflfolding to rot 
 before them." After this we hear nothing of Mr. Basker- 
 ville as a printer. He died without issue, in Jan. 8, 1775: 
 but it is painful to observe, that in the last solemn act of his 
 life, he seriously avowed his total disbelief of Christianity. 
 
 I have a copy of his Will, but some parts of it are objec- 
 tionable, which the following inscription on his tomb would- 
 imply :-^ 
 
 " Stranger, 
 
 " Beneath this stone, in unconsecrated ground, a friend 
 to the liberties of mankind directed his body to be inurned." 
 
 ^' May his ei^ample contribute to emancipate thy mind — 
 from the idle fears of Superstition, and the wicked arts of 
 Priesthood." 
 
 The principal part of his fortune, amounting to about 
 £12,000, he left to his widow ; who sold the stock, and re- 
 tired to the house which her husband had built. 
 
 Many efforts were used after liis death to dispose of the 
 types ; but no purchaser could be found in the whole com- 
 monwealth of letters, The universities rejected the offer. 
 (Hutton says coldly) " The London booksellers (Mr. Nichols 
 says) preferred the sterling types of Caslon and his appren- 
 tice, Jackson." Hutton says, " they understand no science 
 like that of profit. The valuable property, therefore, lay a 
 dead weight, till purchased by a literary society at Paris, in 
 1779, for £3700. Invention seldom pays the inventor. If 
 you ask what fortune Baskerville ought to have been rewarded 
 with ? The most that can be comprised in five figures. If 
 you further ask what he possessed ? — the least ; but none of 
 it squeezed from the press. What will the shade of this great 
 man think, if capable of thinking, that he has spent a fortune 
 of opulence, and a life of genius, in carrying to perfection the 
 greatest cf all human inventions, and that his productions, 
 
t m ) 
 
 slighted by his country, Were hawked over Europ« in quest 
 of a bidder." Mrs. Baskerville died in March, 1788. 
 
 " We must admire, if we do not imitate, the taste and 
 ecoriomy of the French nation, who, brought by the British 
 arms, 1762, to the verge of ruin, rising above distress, were 
 able in seventeen years to purchase Baskerville's elegant 
 types, refused by his own country, and to expend an hundred 
 thousand pounds in poisoning the principles of mankind, by 
 printing with them the works of VoltalrS." 
 
 Near bis residence a conic urn, was placed to the memory 
 of Mr. Baskerville, but was lost in the ruiri$, or destroyed by 
 the riots of 1791, a remarkable circumstance has, however,- 
 recently occured in determining the spot where he was en- 
 tombed. In levelling the grouiid for the formation of wharfs,' 
 his coffin, standing in an upright position, and in an entire 
 state, was dug up; upon opening it, the body was not de- 
 composed, and the teeth had the appearaace of being per- 
 fectly sound, although he died at the age of 60, and had 
 been interred for nearly half a century. 1 have by me a 
 small piece of the Shroud with which he was surrounded ! 
 It has been asserted, that, a little before his death, he jocu- 
 larly said he should " again appear uporj q, white horse," 
 which saying, connected with his extraordinary exhumation, 
 has' met with believers in the credulity of some connected 
 with the manufactory estal^lishe4 on this spot. 
 
 Baskerville's ambition to excel caused him to spare no ex- 
 pence ; he even went to that of casting some founts of type 
 in Silver, instead of the usual metals, and their agents ; and 
 certainly the face and form of his letter was extremely beau- 
 tiful and chaste. Dr. Franklin speaks of its lean and sharp 
 strokes being too fine, but it is the plan of the French to this 
 day, who have by, far exceeded Baskerville in the length and 
 sharpness of their letters, and although they appear (as most 
 of our modern types do, in one way or other,) a sort of caric- 
 ature, still they are very beautiful. 
 
 BLOCK PRINTING. 
 
 WiUiam Ged. — In 1781, Mr. Nichols printed and pub- 
 lished Bio_graphical Memoirs of William Ged, including a, 
 
'( 194 ) 
 fiarticultir accQi^it of his progress in the art of Rlock Prinir 
 inff, on which'the Monthly Review, sp&ke favorably. 
 
 It appears that ,(5bp gave -a jn.9,rf Pitive of his scheme for 
 Blocki-prirtting, in 1730, and stated tha.t " he had eclipsed 
 liis compfititors in the ajtof Letteivfounding,, but found more 
 difficulty thfto he a,pprehended in s^n attempt to make p lates 
 lor itiilock-,prin.tWg-" JJr. I]f-^ gives the following interest- 
 i^ narrative of him :-r 
 
 " WiiiiAM Ged, an iajenipus art)*, vr*; a |goJ4smiith in Eiipbutg!! 
 and made his .improvement in the art ef printing in i72&. The invention 
 was simply this. From any typesof Greek, Roman, Or any other cha- 
 racter, lie formed a plateforeTerypag^ or sheet of a book, from which he 
 printed, instead of using a ty^lior every letter, as -is done in tlie epmrno? 
 viray, Thiswas the^c^t pmetisedi butob l^lo^is of wood, by the Chinese 
 and Japanese, and pursued in the first essays o.f .Coster, Uultenberg, and' 
 Faust, the European inventors of the present art. " This improvetnenj,'' 
 «ays James Ged, " is prinui^aJly- considerable in four most important articleix; 
 fliir. expense corractnes'!, beasty, and uniforniity." But these improve- 
 ments were coatrovetted by Mr. Mores and others. In July 1729, Wil- 
 liam Ged entered into partnership with William Fenner, a fj^ndon Sta- 
 tiotier, whb was to have half the promts, is iCQi^d^riUioQ of bis advancing 
 ajl the' money requisite. To sttpply this, Mr. John Jame-s-then an Archi- 
 tect at Greenwich (whp built Sir Gregory Page's house, Bloomsbury 
 Church, &c.) was taken into the schem.e ; and afterwards his brother, Mr 
 Thomas James, a Founder, and James .Ged, the inventot's son. In 173Q 
 these partners applied to the University of Cambridge foi printing Bibles 
 atidfCommon Prayerrbooks by blocks insteadof single types, and, in GOHse- 
 .qutniee, a lease was?ealed to them April 33, 1731. In their attempt, they 
 ?unk a large swm otmoney, and finished only two Prayeivboeks,; so that ii 
 was forced to be relinquished, and the lease was given ijp in 1738. Ged 
 ^puted his disappointment to the villainy of the pressmen and the ill- 
 Jreatment efht? partners ; (which he specifies atilarge,) particularly Fcn- 
 jner,. whom John James and hevKere advised t:p prosecute, but declined it. 
 Jle returned to Scotlapdjn 3 73$, and had no j^dress. He there, however^ 
 *et about Sallust, which he printed at Edinburgh in 1736, 12mo. Fenner 
 4ied insolvent in or before the year 1735; and h'S widow married Mr. 
 Waugh, an Apothecary, who carried on the printiiig-business with her, 
 and wliom!she survived. Her printingmaterials were sold in.l768. Jame» 
 ©ed, wearied with disappointments, engaged in *)ie Rebellion of 174.5 in 
 ^aptain Perth's regiment ; and, Ijeing taken at Carlisle, was condemned, 
 but, on his father's account, by Dr. Smith's interest with the Duke of New. 
 eastle, was pardoned, and released in 1748. He afterwards . worked for 
 jsome time, as a journeyman, with Mr. Bcateijham, and then commeaced 
 nas<cf ; but Icing unsuccessful, htwent privately to Jamaica, whers 
 
( 195- > 
 
 his younger brother V^illiam wasretded as areputable Printer. Bis toolr,. 
 &c. he left to be shippe* by a fol'se Wend, vcho most ungenerously detained 
 them to tVy hiar Aill hiftisetf. J%ime9 Ged died the" year after he left En- 
 gland ; aa did liis-brotber in 1767. la the above pursuit Mr. 'J'bomatf 
 Jamds, who <]ied in 1738, wpendsd, much o{ his roitnoe, and su6fere4 iw 
 his proper business; " for the printers," says Mr. Mores, " wqul* 
 not employ liim, because the blockprinting, had it snceeeded, would hav« 
 been prejudicial to theirs." Mr. William Ged died in very indifferent cir- 
 cUtoStances, Oct. 19, 1749, afterhis utensils weresentfbrto Eeifli fob* 
 sittpped for iionden, fo ha^v■e jijined:v«ith his son Jamesias a.psiiHier tborei 
 Thus endsd his life and' ppject: which, iqgeniQiis as it seeinted, must," 
 says i/ix. Mores, " had it succeeded have soonsunk under its owji burthen," 
 for reasons, needless here to recapitulate. It is but j ustice, however, to add,^ 
 that, since that period, the plan has been revived^ first by my friend Mr. 
 Alexander Tilloch, the Iteatrsgd Editor of "The Philosophical Magazine," 
 who, without having-known of Ged's plan, obtained a patent for a similar^ 
 inv^ntiBA, which he afterwards celiitquished. I^ut the enertions of Mr.; 
 Andrew Wilson have been more sucessful ; as he has been able to accom~ 
 ^vsb several very considerable Stereolifpt Editions-, 
 
 It will be reotslleoted thatStereotype-prifflting was practised 
 m Paris', ere it was generally adoptsd in E-ng-ktid, and niime- 
 rbus beautiful -Editions of the classics w-ere printed there fioiw 
 Stereotype plates. A work ow ti>e Christian Religion saio^ 
 to be translated fr6m the German, * by the late'Queen Oliar- 
 Sotte, was the fifet book Stereotyped and Trinbed in En- 
 gland,' executed by Andrew Wilson, and published by- 
 Harding of Fall'-malL This -wode of Printing being now 
 so general and so well kaown, and ataple desetiptions beingf 
 ^17611. in the vario^is Encyclopsedias, render it unnecessary 
 here. 
 
 The LogK^ruphis mede of Printing was iiartseafed about 
 50 yeats ago by ai* iti-geitioiis Irish Gentleflffan cif the name' 
 of Johtistoti : — -this systeta was arranged by the casting of 
 whole words upon one piece of Metaf, and arrapging those 
 more generally in use,, iw the most convenient^m^itjon, to tlijas 
 Compositor, in a siiailar wa.y to single types, as now placed 
 In tlifi Cases. — 
 
 * John Anastatius Preylinghrausen's. abstract of the whole dactriiie df 
 
 the Christian religion, London 1804,, was the' first book sterebtypca oft 
 
 a. new process- W'afH'j 'SJWiVtteca'JSj'if. 
 
( 196 ) 
 
 Tlie only person that took up this mode of Printing was 
 the late John Walter Esq. the original proprietor of the 
 Times Newspaper. At this time he printed for a few Authors, 
 and one or two Booksellers---among the former was the cele- 
 Ib rated. Rev.- Dr. Trusler, among the latter the late Mr. 
 Owenof Piccadilly ; but this mode of Printing, was soon fourid 
 not to answer— in fact a very unlucky accident occurred at its 
 commencement, which was as follows. An elegant edition of 
 Rohinson Crusoe was printed in 2 handsome volumes in 
 octavo J it was intended to havfe been dedicated to ^is Ma^ 
 Jesty but unfortunately the Letter M broke from the 
 *est, and a large portion of the impression went into cir- 
 culation, (before the accident was discovered) dedicated to 
 his ajesty ! this created an unfavourable impression in the 
 trade, and the LogograpMc Art of Printing fell . to the 
 ground'. 
 
 ENGRAVING on StONE, ENGRAVING on COPPER. 
 
 DRAWING BPON STONE, or LITHOGRAPHY; 
 
 DRAWING UPON ZINC, on ZINCOGRAPHY. 
 
 Engraving, on Stone rested with the ancients for a length 
 of time ; but was lost iii the middle agps, iior was it revived 
 or. practiced with any success in Britain, until about the mid- 
 dle of the 18th Century. Soon aftei- which, Mr.,Tassie pro- 
 duced a catalogue of his extraordinary performances. The 
 following very ii>teresting account of this talenled man is 
 given in the Encyclopcedia Britannic a. 
 
 •'This truly ingenious. Modeller, whose history is- intimately connected 
 ■with a branch of the Fine Arts in Britain, was torn in the neighbodthooit 
 ef Glasgow, of obscure parents; and began his life as a country stbne- 
 Biason, without the expectation of ever rising higher. Going to Glasgow on 
 a fair-day, to enjoy hiinselfwith his companions, at the time when the Foulis's 
 were attempting to establish an Academy for the Fine Arts in that city, he 
 saw their collection of paintings, and felt an irresistible impulse to become 
 a Painter. He removed to Glasgow ; and in the Academy acquired a 
 tnowledge of drawing, which unfolcled and improved his natural taste.— 
 He was frugal, industrious, and persevering ; but he was poor, and was 
 under the necessity of devoting himself to stone-cutting for his support : 
 not without the hopes that he might one day be a Statuary if he could not 
 be a Painter. Resorting to Dublin for employment, he became known to 
 Br. Quin, who was amusing himself in his leisure hours with endeavouring 
 t» imitate the preciouj stones in coloured paste, and t»ke accurate impres- 
 
( 197 ). 
 
 sions of tli« ehgraviiTgs that were on tliem. That art was known to'tlie An 
 tients ; many specimens from them are now in the Cabirietsof the curious. 
 Ij; seems to have been lost in the IVIiddle Agis; was revived in Italy' under 
 Leo X. and the Medici Family at Florence ; became more perfect in France 
 under the Regency of the Diike of Orleans, By his labours and those of 
 Homberg. By those whom they instructed as Assistants in the Labora- 
 tory it continued to be practised in Paris, and was carried to Rome. Their 
 art was kept a secret, and their Collections wej-e small. Itwas owing to 
 Quin and to Tassie that it has been Carried to such perfection in Britain, 
 and attracted the attention of. Europe. Dr. Quin, in looking out for aa 
 Assistant, soon discovered Tassie to be one in whoin he could place perfect 
 confidence. He was endowed with fine taste : he was modest and unas. 
 auming: he was patient) and possessed the highest integrity. The Doctor 
 committed his laboratory and experiments to his care. The associates wera 
 fully successful ; and found themselves able to imitate all the gems, and 
 take accurate imm p'ressidns of the engravings. As the Doctor had'fol- 
 Ipwed the subject only for his amusement, when tlie Discovery was com- 
 pleted he encouraged Mr. Tassie to repaijtojiondon, and to, devote him- 
 self to the preparation and sale of those pastes as his profession. . In 1766 
 he arrived in the Capital. But he was diflSdent and; modest to excess;' 
 very unfit to introduce himself to the attention of persons of rank and afflu- 
 ence : besides the number of engraved Gems in Britain was small ; and those 
 few were little noticed. He long struggled under difficulties which wquld 
 have discouraged any one who was not possessed of the greatest patience 
 and the warmest attatchment to the subject. He gradually emerged from 
 obscurity ; obtained competence ; and, what to him was much more, he 
 was able to increase his Collection, and add higher degrees of perfection to 
 his Art. His name soon became respected, and the first Cabinets in Europe 
 were open for his use ; and he uniformly preserved the greatest attention 
 to the exactness of the imitation and accuracy of the engraving, so that 
 many of his Pastes were sold on the Continent by the fraudulent for real 
 Gems. His fine taste led him to be peculiarly careful of the impression j 
 and he uniformly destroyed those with which he-was in the -least dissatisfied. 
 The Art has been practiced of late by others ; and many thousands of pastes 
 have been sold as Tassie's, which -he- won Id have considered as injurious^to 
 "his fame. Of the fame of others he was not envious ; for he uniformly spoke 
 with frankness in praise of those who executed them well^ though they were 
 endeavouring to rival himself. To the antient Engravings he added a 
 numerous Collection of the most eminent modern ones ; many of which 
 ■approach in excellence of workmanship if, not in simplicity of design and 
 chastity of expression to the most celebrated of the antient. Blany years be- 
 fore he died he executed a commission for. the late Empress of Russia, 
 consisting of about 15,000 different engravings (see article GEitt,-in the 
 Encyclopedia Britannica"). At his death in 1799, they amounted to neair 
 20,000 ; a Collection' of Engravings unequalled in the world. Every lo- 
 ver of the Fine Arts must be sensible of the advantage of it for iijaprovement 
 in knowledge and in taste. The Collection of Feloix at Paris consisted of 
 1800 articles ; and that of Dhen at Rome of 2500. For a number of years, 
 .. Mr. Tassie practised the modelling of pptraits in wax, which he afterwards 
 moufded & cast in paste. By this.the exact likeness of many eminent men of 
 the present age will be transmitted to posterity as accurately as those of the 
 philosophers & great men who have been by the antient statuaries. In takinj 
 likenesses he was in general uncommonly iiappy ; and it is remarkable, that 
 he believed there was akind of inspiration (like that mentioned by the Poets) 
 necessary to give him -success. The Writer of this article, in' conversing- 
 with him repeatedly on the subject, always found him fully persuaded of it. 
 He mentioned many instances in which he had been directed by it; anil 
 'even some, in which, after he had laboured in vain to realize his ideas oa 
 ■ the wax, he had been able by a sudden flash of imagination, to please him- 
 self in the likeness several days after he hadlastseen the original. He pos- 
 sessed also an' uncommonly fine taste in Architecture, and would have 
 .been eminent in that branch if ha had followed it. — In private life Mr. 
 'Tassig was universally esteemed for his UnifoTin piety, and foi the -Sim- 
 
 2 A 
 
C 198 ) 
 
 plicity, the modesty, and benevolence, that thone throogh his charac - 
 Ur." — Encycloptcdia Britamtica, 
 
 The great Prize of the "Shakejjsaj'e Gallery" — ^rawn in Mr. Eoydell's 
 Jjottery on the 28jh of January ^ 1805 fell to t^e lot of &. Tassje ihj 
 above ingenious modeller. 
 
 En|;raving is divided into so many bramches, and is so im- 
 portant and iiiteresting an art, that numerous vqlumes have 
 Ijeen written upoji the subject; and the EncyclopEedias apd 
 Dictionaries of Engravers, and ti>e ¥i»e 4-rts, presenjt sue!} 
 ample details and directions for the execution of each' seper 
 rate branch, that I shall only give an outline of each. Mr, 
 Elmes in lu? yaljiajjle " Bibl)p,graphical Dictionary of the 
 !Fine Arts," not only describes the whole of thenn, but iiji 
 many instances gives valuable information for practisirig. each, 
 particularly that of the more modern invention of Engraving 
 pr drawing upon Stone, termed Lithography, with" which 
 Senefelder, the Inventor, has furnished h'm witlj the means 
 ■which he acknowledges, and other valuable communications 
 ■phathe has given. 
 
 It is stated in the B^tionajium, Polygrapiifiuvi, that the art of Eij^gr.ayipg 
 s fbr the gceatek part of rno.dern iaivenlion, not being old,er than tbe l^lti 
 iCentury. 
 
 " It is true, indeed, the anoiejits did practice jMgfavins SB precious stones 
 and chrystals ; some of which w.Orlis are still to be seen; eqiua,! tb, any pro- 
 duction 0/ the latter ages ; but the art of Engraving on plates of metal of 
 ijlocks of .wood in order to form prints from them, vvas jjol knowatill aiter 
 tlie invention of painting in oil ." 
 
 Elmes in his General and pibliogiaphic Pictionary of t^ie Fine Arts, 
 states,-^^ ■" ■ ■■} '■ ■■■•■'.'.''• 
 
 ' The a,rt of engravjng is divided into vjirions branches or 'classes : as engra- 
 ving on stones fop: 'seals, signeti called gepi iculpture ; die sinking for coins, 
 in^dals, &c. called meri,a((«rgy ; on copper-plates after vaHous manners, as 
 line engraving, etching or engraving with aqua fortis, mezzotinto, engracmg 
 pr scraping i"/xqu'dt!ntaeng)\aving, stipple dot di chalk engraving', engraving 
 era wood, ^graving an steel, on sii^ne, called lithography, etching on glass, and 
 some other minor branches of the arts."' 
 
 The art of engraving is of great antiqjiity, and was originally only 
 lude deiineatipjiS' expressed by Imple o,utlines, such as are described by 
 JJerodotus, as tr9,'cjea upon the sfiields of t(i,e' Cariaiis. Tb? importance and 
 utility of this art is acknowledged by every person of taste and knowledge j 
 and its dignity as an art is undoubted. " It multipli,es the works of other artists 
 and preserves them to posterity ; it rec6jds th,e talents of eminent artists by 
 an art which reqtiirjBS e&iial, taleht, arid scarcely less genius.. Bezaleel and 
 iyifolial? 'are 'roentibned in the book of Genesis as "filled wilh wisdom of 
 heart to work all manner of work with tjie gjaver." The hierogiyjlhics of 
 tl'S- Egyptians afe al.so a species of engraving, c f which there are ipany fine 
 Specimens in the British Museum. ' Among the Etruscan antiquities in the 
 sairie coUection are two specimens of the art of engraving at a very remote 
 period ; a representation of wljich forms the, frohti'spiece to one of the \o\\\- 
 jnes o,i Strvti^s Dictionary of ^Engrcivers,, '■ > ' '~ ' ■ ' " 
 
 The art of engraving in this country, like Uie practice in every other 
 country, commenced and increased with civilization and knowle'dge. Under 
 Alfreil the Great the art met with- great encouragement, and remains of 
 it as practised in his days are still in existence. There is still preserved in 
 the Museum at Oxford a valuable jewel of; this period repiesenting St. 
 Pilthbert, the back of which is ornamented with foliage very jikiKully 
 engraved, " ■ ■ ■ :■ 
 
( 199 ) 
 
 Xhspiasl a^oient?s IbbU a? ihp most legitiiijiiitp and tsautiful mpde of 
 prapteing ike art is Jtat wlijoh is,ca,l}ed line engraving or eAgraving prpper ; 
 ;att4 is tli;e art of cutting lines upon Sf, copppr-platej by means of a sleiel jnstru- 
 mepf cajlgd !^ graver qr burin , without the use of a^ua I'prtis. This was tlie 
 first Tjva-y pf iPf,o<J."ci«'g copper-plate prints that was prurfised, and i? stijl 
 jnuch used in historical subjects, portraits, and in finishing landscape. 
 
 Of Me^zqtinto Engraving or Scvajifng. — This art, which is of modern 
 date, is reqominendied by the ease wiiSi winch it is executed, especially by 
 those who understand 4fawrng. Meiiptinto prints are those which have no 
 strokes of tl^e gia,ver,'but whose lights and shades areljlended together, anil 
 appear ljk§ drawing jn In4ia iolf . They are different from aquatinta, but as 
 iopU feg^bje Iiidran ink, the difljsrence is more easily perceived than descri-, 
 Tassj. lVI^jq,tinto' i§ applied 'tp portraits and historical ojijepts, aiid aquatiiita 
 js.'glug^^ "fef^: ^^ liwscape and archftgf'tur?. ' " ' 
 
 The invention of mezzoiinto engraving ij penerally atlritated to Piinc» 
 Bwpstt ; Jflit iij thp Life pf Sir Christopher Wren it is given t,o that eminent 
 arcbUpPt. " J^e inade pf impressing pictuips by light and shade on coppe r. 
 
 self in a new way, wher«by he could alinqst as sjjpn dp a subject on a plata 
 of brass or cppper ^s another could (it^W it with a cra!yon on paper. Qa 
 this subjepl t^ pditpr o.f P^reotalia speaks with decision, that " he was il;l>e 
 <i|rst (nventdf pf th^ .ar^' of graving % Aleziotioto ; wiiich v^as afterwards 
 prosecptpd i(nd iOT,pr0.v«d bj hia »pjal Hif;lipess fjunce Rupert, in a inan- 
 njpr joTOPwhait .dj^ipreui, u.ppi tfie's»igj,esticifl,'as it is iaidj o-f'N ^??^t"?'l- 
 3o\tu Evelyn, Esq." - . ■• ' 
 
 Of ^/i^roujng, ?» ^aiio^^yta.^— ^quatipta is a jne^hodpf producing prints 
 very much re^pmbling drav^ings in ipdiaQ ink'. The piinciple pf -the pro- 
 cess ppnsists in corroding the copper with aquafortis in such a mani^er that 
 a.n impression frptp it has the appe^tancp of a V'nt laid on the paper, ^"bi* 
 is efscted by covering the copper with a powiler", or some substance wnich 
 takes* gfiinju^ited form, so as to prevent Ihfe aquafortis Iropi acting where 
 the particles adliere, and by this piegns c^use it to coriode the copper par- 
 tially, and in the intersticPs only; ivhen these pai tides are extremely 
 iniraute %nd npar topacl^ other, tb^^mpr^^-i^m frcyn tiip plate appe^^ tp ttie 
 iiaked eye exactly like a w^sji pf indipB iat ; but wben t^v ire lar^er^ tli/» 
 Cranulation is more distinct, and as this may be varied at pleasiire, it is ca- 
 pable of beiog adaptficl with Biiccess to a'iiarie[ty of purposes and objects. 
 
 Thp art oteij";) nviiig on, visip4 i? "9' "P.'y "f very %BpJent dtrte,, bjit is a 
 legitJma:t«, beauti-ful, and'ar,tisi,like rood,e pf operation, for the production, of 
 prints, particularly for books. The first engravers ou wood whose name| 
 have reached our times are Williarn Pluydenwuiff and x^Wchael JVolge- 
 inuth,.veliffi engraved thpcittf? of t''? Nuremburg ChronkU which was 
 published in folio in 1493, which are marked with all the stiffness, and 
 inaccuracy which characterize the works pf the GerEian ai^tists «fthat liwe. 
 
 Sngmi'iJ'g. on wood. '^,3 very artiss^-Uke mode oX e;[;eculioci5 ?ud teq,u;refj 
 conaidecablegrapluc ahilij;fes' tDe;(ei-ute it well. " IJtnce rojany paii)t«ris, oj 
 ei^cpllence hav§ practised, it with^ success. Among tlje best engravers on^ 
 -wood, we must particularly jnftn;,ionj Pierre Spa-ftijr or i^hoifc'r, lyhose po- 
 ured ^gures in tvis celebrated^ Psaltw (fflJio Uf7).,pjj9v,e tl^aithis mode of, 
 eniravi'ng, the invention of which is coipmoply attril^.ijtcd to Hugo Pa 
 Cap", had its rise in tje'rmany. 
 
 ' Albert Dureb also practised the art of wood engraving with great suc- 
 cess whiehbegar»-now toasawnea higher cjiaracier ; and; as far as regards 
 the executive part, he brought it to a perfection which has hardly been 
 equalled by any succeeding artist^ 
 
 Bewick of Newcastle, Harvey his pupil, the Thompsons (brothers), 
 Branston, and other artists, liav.e carried this art to the highest perfpclion. 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 Engraving on Steel is performed in nearly a similar way to engraving on 
 copper. For etching on steel the plate or block is bedded on glazier's 
 putty, and etched with a needle through a ground of Brunswick black ia 
 the common way. Messrs. Perkins and Heath have carried the art of en-? 
 graving on piates of softened steel, afterwards hardened by a scientific pro- 
 cess, to a great degree of perfection. 
 
 Engraving on stoneis a. recent invention now in great vogue. Itis cheap 
 and, when well performed, produces impressions of great beauty in imita- 
 tion of chalk, Mezzotinto, pen and ink, and even of etching. 
 
 Eii^aving ffr etching on glass is performed by laying oti a ground consist- 
 ing ofa thin coat of bees wax, and drawing the design therein with an etoh- 
 fng needle. It is then to- be covered with sulphuric acid, sprinkled over 
 with powdered fiuor spar or fluoric acid. It must be taken off after four or 
 £ve hours, and cleansed with oil of turpentine. 
 
 Etching is a mode pf engraving on copper and other metals or suhstances 
 by drawing with a needle inserted in a ban die, called an etching needle, 
 on'ahd through a thin ground, which being corroded or bitteB by aquafortis, 
 forms the lines upon the plate. 
 
 Lithography. A little reflection will suffice to show that this invention, of 
 only a few years' date,' is calculated to be in many ways of ihe highest pos- 
 sibile utility. The facility with which, through its medium, any thing 
 whatever in the shape of writing or pictorial display can be multiplied is 
 truly astonishing. By means of itthe painter, the sculptor, the architect, 
 are enabled to hand down to posterity, as many fac similes of their original 
 sketches as they please. The collector or antiquarian is enabled, to multi- 
 ply his originals, and the amateur the fruits of his leisure hours. The por- 
 trait painter can gratify his patron by supplying him with as many copies as 
 he wishes to have of a successful likeness. Men in office may obtain 
 copies of the most important despatches or documents, without a moment's 
 delay, and wilhout the necessity of confiding in the fidelity of secretaries 
 and clerks ; whilst the merchant and the man of business, to whom time is' 
 often of the most vital importance, can. with similar promptitiide, preserve 
 what copies they may require, of their tables or accounts. 
 
 ■ My Son-in-law, the late F. Calvert, Esq. executed a greater variety of 
 Subjects in this branch of the art, than perhaps any other person in Europe, 
 
 It is gratifying to me to state, that at my request, my Son has enabled 
 me, by his execution of the four Lithographic Heads, which accompany 
 this Retrospect — to present ths earliest specimens of his ability in that art ; 
 my second Grandson has also Engraved the five fac simile Wood Cuts 
 of the ancient Printers. 
 
 Drawing, or Etcliitig upon Zinc called Zincography. 
 
 This is the very latest invention^ or improvement in the fine Arts. — The 
 process and progress is similar to the drawing on, and printing from Stone. 
 It was invented by Messrs. Chapman & Co. of London, who have obtained 
 a patent for this branch of art, and have extensive Mills at Dartford, in 
 Kent, for preparing the Zinc Plates, which possess a great advantage over 
 Stone , from being light and portable ; I have some Impressions from this 
 mode of Printing, executed by my Eldest Grandson, from the original 
 drawings, which are very beautiful, - " "" 
 
 EXD or 350 YEARS RETRO&PECTION 
 
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