790
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
1796, Feb. 7. A forged French newspaper, called UEclair^ circulated iu London. On the 3d of July, a verdict of £100 was given against D. Stuart, proprietor of the Morning Post, for sending the above paper to the proprietors of
more of that necessary drug; than all the dty besidea. He is g;enerally seen in the same coat, though he has achanf^e of raiments — as if he thought men's hearts were rather to be changed t^an their garments. He is a man exactly made, even to a nail's-breadth, and is a great pattern of homiUty and justice. He is firm to his word and bargain, and by his beard and dress one would take him to be one of the antient philosophers. He is very quick of forgiving of Injuries — but for his wit and contentment (which has put him in the row of Christians) It is rather to be admired than commended.
Mr. Ravbn. — He is my brother both by sign (Dunton's sign was the black raven] and trade ; and I do him no wrong if I call him the pattern and standard of wit and loyalty. He has the true art of governing himself and fomily ; and, in a word, my brother raven is whatever a aober man and a good bookseller ought to be. He is also a nice disputant, and can dress his thoaglita in very neat language.
X saw him on his counter, where he sate.
Busy in controversies sprang of late ;
A gown and pen became him wondrous well,
flu grave aspect had more of heaven than hell,
Only there was a handsome picture by.
To which he lent a comer oi his eye.
iSi. Starkkt. — I formerly knew him in Fleet-street, and we renewed our acquaintance in Amsterdtun. He Would talk well on any subject, and had good-nature in his very looks. He printed a book relating to government, that forced him to leave his country. He was a brave assertor of English liberties to his last breath.
Mr. Shblt.— He is a man so well known in the sta- tioners* company, that it is character enough to name him. In days of yore he has been something, but the case is so idtered, it were well now if I could call him nothing.
Mr. Sahuxl Smith, bookseller to the Royal Society, deals very much in books of a foreign growth, and speaks Ttench 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, Bbnjamin Walvord, is a very ingeoioos man, and knows books extraordinary well.
Mr. Smith, near the Royal Exchange. His Ikir soul Is tenant to a lovely and well-proportioned body, his eyes are clear and shining, his brow proclaims fidelity, and his whole ftame of face and favour is a most perfect mixture of modesty and sweetness ; he has all the advantage of mtod and body, and an honest birth (being son to that eminent bookseller, Mr. Ralph Smith) conspiring to render him a happy person.
Mr. Smith in the Strand. He was born with auspicioas stars, has made several auctions with good success, and increases dally both in fame and ricfies.
Thomas Simmons, formerly of Ludgate-street. He as well as his father printed for the famous Baxter, and was a most accomplished bookseller. His conjugal virtues have deserved to be set as an example to the primitive age ; they apprtmch so near to singtUarity in ours, that I can scarce speak of his love to his wife, without a satire npon others. If any diffcreuce is, it is who of the two s^sU be most obliging ; so that if all be true that I have heard of them, I am ready to conclude they are a pair of angels sent below to make marriage amiable in their persons. And, lastly, if I consider Mr. Simmons as a father, how tender he is of his children. He takes care to form the minds of his daughters by the principles of virtue, and to set out his sons In the fair way to heaven ; and none are too great to follow this pious example, for it Is the duty of parents, from the highest to the lowest, to se ethdr children brought up in the fear of God.
Mr. SrasD, in Exchange- alley. He has the honour to print for sir William Dawes, Dr. Smith, and other eminent churchmen. He is a very modest quiet man. and never inrinaates his merit by any other means than the pious things he speaks or prints.
Mr. SBaowsBDRT. — The morning of his life was clear and calm, and ever since his whole life has been a con- ttnned series of honesty, then no wonder he printed for Jadge Hale. He merits the name of " Universal Book- seller ;" and is ftuniUarly acquainted with all the books that are extant in any language. He keeps his stock in exccl-
the Telegraph; and on the foUowuig day a ver- dict of jCldOO was given against Mr. Dickinson, for falsely accusing Mr. Goldsmid, the money broker, of forging the above.
1796. The Holy BibU, two vols. 4to. printed
lent order, and will find any book as ready as I can find a word in the dictionary. He is a great ornament to the sta- tioners* company, andmayjnstly becaUedwn«ra6teficirhis heavenly aspect, wherein gravity and sweetness are well compouaded. I shall only add, he is a constant fre- quenter of Sturbridge fair (where Mr. Blagravr, and be once made me free), and perhaps Ls the only bookseller that understands /mr keeping to any advantage.
Mr. Shbrmbrdine Is a nmo of very quick parts. I have heard him say be would forgive any man tibat could cat^ him. His shop is usually well furnished with valoaiu* books : out of which I once made a very choice coUectitxi. He understands his trade to a nicety, and talks much to the purpose, if one could but trace him. He will give ■• much for a library as any man whatsoever -, and I thinls. he learned this generous quality from his Master Hussey, who once gave seventy-five pounds for a parcel of books that I thought I had purchased too dear at sixty.
Mr. SouTHBY.— He had the hairiness to find a wife of a good fortune ■, but, meeting with disappointments In trade, he retired to a coffee-hotise in Foster-lane ; but no misfortunes have made honest Southby forget the daties of a husband, the ties of Mendship, or the dtung Justice to those he dealt with. He print^ for Mr. SmiUties arid other eminent churchmen ; but it was not his luck to get an estate b^ authors ; and I wish he may get it by coffee, as I believe he would, did the booksellers of London give him that generous encouragement as his fair dealing' amongst them deserved.
Mr. SwALL — He was once a rising son in trade; Imt his sun is set in a cloud, aud he is now reckoned amongst the unfortunates. He was owner of a great dal of wit and learning, and, perhaps, had he not knowm it, had still been as thriving as ever. He was much admired fior all his projects (esp^Hally that of Onplo), and even the first blossoms of his youth paid us aU that could be expected from a ripening manhood ; while he was but an apprentice in Comhill, he could outwit most other booksellers ; and when he traded for himself, he could find none to snzpass him but h'"iH eK alone.
But here John Dunton, is thy skill confinM, Thou canst not paint his nobler sool and mind ; No pen the praise he merits can indite ; Himself, to represent himself, most write.
Mr. Saundsrs. — He lived in the New Exchange, and had the honour to be personally known to very many of the nobility and gentry of the first rank in England : and there was scarce a bookseller in London bnt had a kind- ness for him. If any hated him it was the fair sex, for his living so long a bachelor ; but they might excuse him, for he vras too busy to think of love, and too hon»t to marry
for money. I discovered that robbed his warehouse^
for which be became my friend to the day of his death.
Ralph Stmpson.— He is one whose piety and virtue has measured the chains of Providence, and accordingly makes a due estimate of all occurrences. He is a po'soo of great Integrity, and much respected by all that know him. He printed some essays of sir William Temple ; and being very industrious, is like to be rich in a few years.
Mr. Tract on London Bridge. His religion is not con- fined to the church any more than the shop; his behavioar in his family is grave and exemplary} his devotion con- stant ; his care over his household is lender and impartial ; and to his servants he seems a father rather than a master.
Richard Wbllinoton. — He is industrious and inde- fatigable in his calling ; has the intimate acquaintance of several excellent pens, and therefore can never want copies } and trust him for managing and improving them. He has a pretty knack at keeping his word ; and f expect to see him master of the company at least, if not a gold chain about his neck, before he dira.
Mr, Waewv w. — He Is a person of great modesty and wit^ and if I may judge by his poems, perhaps the most in- genious bard, of a bookseller, in London. Dryden, with- out condescending, might call him brother. His mind is none of those narrow ones who know one thing and are ignorant of a thousand ; but, on the contrary. It is so very large, that although it cannot be said Walwyn knows every thing equally well, yet it is most certain he cmn give an excellent account of all things ; and far farming of titles, commend me to Herbert Walwyn ; for 1 could
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