EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
697
tion, that dtamatic cast and union which have rendered the genuine periodical paper so singu- larly interesting.
" A series of papers thus constituted, and forming a whole, replete with wit, fancy, and instruction, has heen proved by long experience not only the most useful but the most interesting and popular of publications. Each sex, every rank, and every stage of society hare been alike amused and benefited by these productions. Courtesy, etiquette, and dress, as well as morals, criticism, and philosophy, have learnt to obey their dictates; and many important truths, many sage lessons for life, have, by approaching under the disguise of a trivial and fashionable topic, found their way to, and made their due impres- sion upon, those whom no other channel could reach.^
The Spectator appeared daily (Sundays ex- cepted) and gained so much on the public favour, that Addison's friend. Tickle, says that the sale frequently amounted to twenty thousand copies. This statement, however, is evidently exagge- rated. Mr. Samuel Buckley, the publisher, at the Dolphin, in Little Britain, statea in the tenth number, that the sale had already reached three thousand a-day, and it seems questionable if it ever exceeded that number. Dr. Johnson says, " I once heard it obserred, that the sale may he calculated by the produce of the tax, related in the last number to produce more than £20 per week, and therefore stated at £21, or £3 \0t. a-day; this, at a halfpenny a paper, will give 1680 for the daily number." Johnson ought to have considered, however, that this calculation was founded upon the average sale, after the imposition of the halfpenny tax, by which the SpeeUUor was at once reduced one half. The last untaxed number appeared on the 31st July, 1712, and intimation is therein given, that the price would thereafter be twopence — one addi- tional halfpennv to pay for the stamp, the other to compensate lor the reduced circulation. The Spectator was the only publication that ven- tared to double its price.
1711. Died, THOMiis James, a noted printer in London, who was thus characterised by Dun- ton. " He is a man that reads much, knows his business very well, and is extremely obliging to his customers, and is something the better known for being husband to that she-state poli- tician Mrs. Eleanor James." This Mrs. Eleanor James was a very extraordinary character, a mixture of benevolence and madness; an asser- tion that a perusal of her letters will fully justify. The two following are entitled, —
Mn. Jamaft Admce to all Printen in general.
" I have been in the element of Printing above forty years, and I have a great love for it, and am a well-wisher to all that lawfully move therein, and especially to you that are masters; therefore I would have you wise and just, and not willingly break the laws of God nor man, but that you would do by all men as you would
derire they should do by you : and you cannot be ignorant of the great charge in bringing up of servants in the art of printing; neither can you be insensible how remiss, provoking, and waste- ful some servants are, especially when they are encouraged therein, by the unjust hope of getting away from their masters, and having over-work from other masters that have not had the charge and trouble of bringing them up, which is too frequently practised among you, to the ruin of the trade in general, and the spoiling of youth. For when a boy has served half his time, and has gained some experience in his trade, he
Eresently begins to set up for conditions with is master; then he will not work unless he has so much for himself, and liberty to g^ where he pleases, which if his master denies, he then strive to vex his master, and waste his time and goods; and then when he beats him, away he runs with great complaints, when the master is all the while the sunerer; and it is no wonder to hear a bov that wants an honest principle to do his own auty, rail against and bely his master and mistress; for he thinks to excuse himself by blackening them. Now I would have this great evil prevented, and that you may easily do, u you will resolve to take no man's servant from him, and then a master may (as he ought) have the benefit of the latter part of his time, to make him amends for his trouble and charge, which is according to die will of God and good men. For if it should happen, that an apprentice by any trick should get away from his master, I would not have you give any encouragements, as money, but that he serve the term of his inden- ture as an apprentice without; for giving him money makes him a journeyman before his time : for indeed, if there be any consideration, it ought to be given to the roaster that had the trouble and charge of bringing him up; and who will serve seven or eight years, if they can get off before? For besides, boys will have a thousand tricks to provoke their masters to anger, in trifling away their time, and flinging their houses into
Sie, except their masters will be under con- itions to give them encouragements, and to give that liberty to go where they will, and have money to spend, and this is to make the master the servant and the boy the master; therefore, pray, brother, do not be guilty in destroying of youth, for it is the destruction of the trade. I desire vou to take care not to bind any boy except ne be above the age of fourteen, and the fewer the better. So 1 rest your sister and souls' well-wisher. Elunor James."
"Now to you, journeymen; you are mv bro- thers, for my husband was a journeyman ()cforc he was a master, and therefore I wish you well : and take care that you are not guilty of any ill thing, as shewing servants any ill examples, and giving bad counsels; for if you should, you would be like Judas, in betraying your master that employs you; for sober men, they scorn to be guilty of this crime; but for you of the worser sort, you are like devils, for you study
VjOOQ IC
