eae
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
troversy, hence a different tnrn was given to the studies of the age. Hoadly, bishop of Bangor, attacked, with success, the narrow views of the clergy concerning the doctrine of passive obedi- ence, non-resistance, and hereditary right.
With regard to the state of poetry, it has been already observed, that Pope continued to shine in it longafter the accession of the House of Hanover. He was, indeed, the chief orna- ment of this divine art; and so far was any man from being able to be mentioned as his equal, that there was no one who could pretend to ap- proach him in excellence and reputation. Young, nevertheless, sustained an honourable rank in his peculiar work of composition. His Night Tkoughtt, in particular, amidst all their faults, contain the most striking proofs of a fruitful imagination, and of a bold and sublime genius, which if it had been refined by elegance, cor- rected by taste, and regulated by judgment, might have claimed a high station in the temple of poetical fame. Thomson's exquisite descrip- tive powers, not to mention his moral and senti- mental beauties, will render his Seasotu the object of eternal admiration ; and his Cattle of Indolence will, perhaps, prove him to have been the most pleasing and successful of all the imi- tators of Spenser. There were many others who aimed at attaining the character of poets, but the generality of them did not rise above medi- ocrity. This is true, with respect only to the early part of this period ; for towards the end of it, the poetical genius of England revived in an eminent degree.
During uiis reign, the study of oriental litera- ture was again revived under the auspices of Dr. Thomas Hunt, of Oxford ; and it probably was not a little promoted by Dr. Lowth's admirable lectures on the poetry of the Hebrews.
1727, Jan. 38. The Churchman; or LoyolMt Weekly Journal, No. 35.
1727. The Occasional Writer, No. 1.
1727. New England Journal, No. 1. Printed and published by Samuel Kneeland, at Boston. This journal, with some changes, was carried on till the year 1762.
1727, Jan. 30. The Evening Entertainment, No. 4. This paper will be published on Mon- days, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in the evening, at which time no other newspaper comes out : this is the last time they will be given gratii.
1727, Jan. The Political Mercury, No. 1.
1727, Jan. 20. The Free Briton, No. 1. This wEis a political paper in support of sir Robert Walpole's administration, and of course the an- tagonist of the Craftsman. It was published under the fictitious name of Francis Walsing- ham, esq. but was, in reality, the production of William Amall, an attorney, and the successor of Concanen in the British Journal. Amall began his political career under the age of twenty, and carried on a furious party war for several years with such virulent and scurrilous language, that even exceeded the wishes of his patrons. The commentator on Pope declares that " he writ for hire, and valued himself
upon it, and that he received. for Frte BrUamt
and other writings, in the space of four yean, bo less than ten thousand nine hundred and rn'mty- seten pounds six shillings and eightpence, out ef the treasury."* It was the custom during the M- miuistration of Wulpole, to allow newspapers sad pamphlets written in favour of the govemmeBt, to be sent post free to any part of the kingdom.
1727, July. The Weekly Miscellany, No. I, by R. Bradley, professor of botany in the ipai- veisity of Cambridge, &c.
1727, Sept. 9. Tfu! SeasonabU Writer, Ko. 1.
1727, Sept. 18. The Citizen, No. 1.
1727, OcM7. The Tatler Beritrd ; by Isaac Bickerstaff, esq.. No. 1.
1727, Dec. 1. The Evening Journal, No. 1.
1727, Dec. 12. TTie London Evening Port,
1727. The British Spy ; or Derby Postman, printed and published by S. Hodgkinson. This was the first newspaper in the county of Derby. There was a Mr. W. Camthel, a bookseller, at Derby, who sold Anthony Blackwall'st Intn- duction to the Classics, I2mo. London, printed by William Bowyer, for George Mortlack,^ 1717.
1728, Feb. 21. With the patriotic purpose of supplying Scotland with school books, at s cheaper price, the magistrates of £dinb«u|:i, upon this day, appointed James Datidfom and Thomas Ruddiman, joint printers to the uni- versity, during the lives of both, and during tie life of the longest liver. The following is a cop; of the appointment from the city records : — " The same day anent the petition given in by Mr. James Davidson, bookseller, in Edinburgh, and Mr. Thomas Ruddiman, under keeper of the
- The annotator of Pope says, that there weie |i«pei>
called the Dails/ Oaxette, each of which lasted but ■ ttey. Into this, as a common sink, was received ail ttu trash which bad been before dispersed in several Joomals, aad ciicolated at the expense of the nation. The authora weir the same obscnre men ; though sometimes relieved bf occasional essays tram statesmen, courtiers, bttbofn, deans, and doctors. The meaner sort were rewarded wfth money; others with places or benefices, from a hnndrnl to a thonsand a year. It appears from the Report trf the Secret Committee for inqniring into the conduct of Bobeit, earl of Orford, " that no less than fifty thonsand wmity- seven pounds eighteen shillings were paid to aothots and printers of newspapen, snch as Fret Britoiu, DaUg Cmt- ranti. Com Cutter f Journals, Oaxettten, and other pott- tica] papers, between Feb. 10, 1731, and Feb. 10, 1/4],*' which shews the benevolence of one minister to have ex- pended, for the current dulness of ten years in Brftaia, double the sum which gained Louis XIV. so much honoo, in annual pensions to learned men all over Europe. Ii which, and in a mach longer time, not a pension at coait, nor preferment in church or universities, of any oonsidcr- ation, was bestowed on any man distingidshed for his learning separately fhnn party-merit, or pamphlet writiag.
t Mr. Blackwall was born In Derbyshire aboat 1674. aad educated at Cambridge, where he took the degree of H. A. He was appointed head master of the l^ee school at Derby, and lecturer of All-hallows there. In I791 he was appcint- ed headmaster of Market Bosworth tOxotO, in I/eioeslct- shire, and in October, 17S6, he was presented by sir Henry Atkins, hart, to the church of Clapham, in Sorry, which living, however, he resigned in ITig, and returned to Market Bosworth, where he died April 8, 1730.— £er KichoWt Anecdotes, vol. I. p. 130.
X Mr. MoBTLACK has been master ai the compaay of stationers, and the most indefatigable shopkeeper 1 bare known. He is very exact in trade. He was much assist- ed by the friendship of the great Dr. Stillingfleet, bidtop of Worcester, and printed most of Us works. He is now pretty much np in years ; speaks slow, but speaks seUon in vain.— i)iiiifon.
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