EIGHTEENTH CENTUB '
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any of the said editions, the sole property of the said book being EU»M>rding to act of parliameDt veste(t in the author, for whom the book is printed with the music in copper-plates in quarto. Prosecutions with the utmost severity will be put in execution against any one who shall presume to sell any of the aforesaid illegal spurious editions."
1729. The library of sir Richard Gibbs, knt., of Great Waltham, and Bury St. Eldmunds, was sold by auction, by T. Green, Spring-gar- dens, bookseller, with fixei prices : qu. if not the earliat. Prices were at first fixed in the first leaf of each book ; afterwards, as at present, transcribed from thence with the printed cata- logue, where some books, howerer, of great viUue, are left without price.*
1729, Sept. 29. Died, Sir Kichard Steele, a celebrated writer, of whom it is but justice to say, that " as long as elegant literature shall be cultivated in this country, the name of Steele will always have a respectable portion of esteem and praise. Whether we consider bis polished diction, his acuteness in controversy, or the variety and depth of his observation ; his claims to our esteem are so strong, that it seems probable they will be the more readily acknowledged, the far- ther our advances in refinement shall incline us to examine them." He was a native of Dublin, where his father was a barrister. He obtained an ensigncy in the guards, and wrote his first
- The evUeat known aale of books by auction in tliii
coontry oat o^ London, is the following -.—"A Catidogut o/cAofee Bookt, eotuUting of DitinUg, Law, HUtorp, Ire, both in BHgliMh and Latini will be sold by auction at Mr. Edward Pawletfs hoose, bookseller, in Orantham. on Wednesday the 4th day of AOKUst, IIMI. 11* catalogues are distriboted gratii at Mr. Yates's, in Dock-lane, Lon- don, and at the said Mr. Pawletfs, at Grantham."— This catalogae, remarkable as one of the earliest recollected, began with the following address to the readers : " Gen- tlemen, I doubt not but most an sensible, that Uirongh the booksellers' care In collecting choice books, and ex- posing them to sale by way of auction, many are not only ftimlshed with what ttiey desire, at easy rates, but save themselves much trouble in a tedious and fruitless search after books, which are not always to be found in book- sellers' Shops. And though the books in tills catalogue have soiltered much from the nnskilfUness of its taker) yetthecnrioas pemser will And a great nomber of scarce and choice books on all subjects. Great indeed has the care been in fiimlshtng this auction, that the bookseller might find encouragement in obliging those gentlemen whose study it is to render our nation as illusttious for men of learning as any in the world,"
The conditions of the sale are these; I. lliathewho bids most is the buyer : and if any dUference arise which the company cannot decide, then the book or books shall be exposed to sale again. II. That all the books in this catidagiie, not otherwise expressed, are (for oogbt we know) pofect g but if any of them appear to be otherwise before ttiey are taken away, the buyer shall have his choice of taking or leaving them. IIL That Qie money fer the books so bought, be paid within one week after the sale be ended, at the place where they are sold : where, upon payment thereof, the books shall be delivered. — The sale will begin at eight in the morning and continue till twtiM ; and from two in the afternoon till eight. The books to be seen two days before the sale begins.
Of Mr. Yates, associated above, JohnDunton says, " He has met with losses as well as myself; yet, when his stars wera the most unkind, he was still as honest as ever g and being idways Just in his dealings, he now, like the sun (Jost come from behind a cloud) shines brighter and fairer than ever — some men are only just whilst the world smiles ; but when it frowns, they set such litUe tricks, as renders their virtues suspected ; but Yates ever preserved his inttgiity, and is the sanu good man, under all events.
work, entitled th.^ CkritHan Hero, for which lord Cutis procured him a captain's commission in the fusileers. In 1702 appeared his comedy of the Funeral ; or, Grief a la Mode, which had great success. This play was followed by the Lying Lover; for which Lintot, the bookseller, gave him £21 \0t. The Tender Huiband and the Conteiout Lovers succeeded. The commence- ment of the Tatler, Spectator, and Gvardian,* has already been noticed, and the reputation he acquired by th^ and other writings, procured him several lucrative situations under govern- ment, and a seat in parliament. On the accession of George I. he received the honour of knight- hood, and was appointed surveyor of the stables at Hampton court, and governor of the royal company of comedians. HediedatLlangunnor, in iCaermarthenshire. " There was a great simi- litude," observes lady Mary Montagu, " between the character of Heniy Fielding and sir Richard Steele.f They both agreed in wanting money, in spite of all their friends, and would have wanted it, if their hereditary lands had been as extensive as their imaginations ; yet each of them was so formed for happiness, it is pity he was not im- mortal." John Kichols,esq. to whom the friends and admirers of Steele owe many obligations, presented to the company of stationers a good portrait of this eminent writer. This picture exhibits a large man inclined to corpulency, with handsome dark eyes and brows, with a velvet cap on his head, and his collar open.
1729, Feb. 27. The Knight Errant, No. 1.
1729, April b. Fog't Weekly Journal, No. 28. This paper was written in opposition to the go- vernment, and became so popular that it con- tinued to be published for nearly eight years.
1729. The WaUrford Flying Pott, containing " the most material news both foreign and do-
- Steele's expmu in his periodical publications, says
Dr. Birch, was very considerable g and laudable as his views certainly were, his auxiliaries, in general, did not assist him gratis. Of this espense, trom which his genius might well have exempted him, and to which his indo- lence only, and his fashionable life subjected him, it is now impassible to state with precision to Che full amount It may, however, enable the curious to form some esti- mate to inform them, and on filial authority, that the celebi^ed bishop Berkeley had one guinea and a dinner with Steele, (or every paper of his composing published in the Outtrdian.
t Mr. Samvxl HraiNT, senior, thrives much in trade, and is punctual and honest. He has been very fortunate In several engagements. He printed Mr. Fox, of Time, Mr. Dodlittle, on Iht Saerament, and was engaged the same way for Mr. Steele, and other eminent authors ; so that it is easy to know what success he has had in the wwld.
Mr. BrniMT, lontor.— His worthy father Is character- ized above. Mr, John Sjvint does paMxare, he has a ready wit, a great deal of good humour, and is owner of as much generosity as any man of the trade ; there is an humble sweetness in all his actions, and to render him the more agreeable, this braee soul of his has the happiness to live in a very beautiful tenement, and it had b<«n pity it should have lived in any other. In a word (if I have a right notion of John Spriikt; he is the handsomest man in the stationen^ company, and may wtthont oompUment be called " a very accompltthed bocdcseller." His father find- ing hima sober religioos person, has made him a partner in bis trade, and they are now reprinting three great and useful books, entitled the History of the Bible, tcith cuts i Le Onmd Bodj/ of PhUosophj/, and OwiUiam's HeraUrf, with great improvements.— Dmlaii.
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