794
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
llsed that he should continue in business, and re-solicited the favour of his friends. For some years prenous, however, he kept no public shop, but continued to be a large wholesale dealer in books, of his ov»n copy-right. Of these, a part, to the amount of several thousand pounds, was burnt by an accidental fire in a, warehouse which he had not prevailed on himself to insure ; but the loss of which he was philosopher enough to bear without the least apparent emotion ; and sold to a gentleman, the chance of the fragments of waste-paper that might be saved, for a single hundred pounds. This agreement was not ful- filled, but the whole remainder was afterwards •old for 80 guineas. He kept a carriage many years; but studiously wished that his friends should not know it; nor did he ever use it on the eastern side of Temple-bar. He purchased an estate, with a small house upon it, between Chislehurst and Bromley ; on the house he ex- pended an incredible sum, more than would have re-built one of twice the size, which after- wards he rarely visited, and at length let, with the estate, on along lease, at a very low rent — Though he often expressed his apprehension that the law (if he should die intestate) would not dispose of his property as he could wish, he never could persuade himself to make a wiU till be was turned of 70 ; after which time he made four; the last of them Jan. 4, 1797, not long before his decease. He was buried in St. James's church, Westminster ; and in the chan- cel on an open book of marble is inscribed:
Sacred to the memory of Jambs Dodiliv,
muiy yean an eminent bookaeller in Fall Mall.
He died Feb. ig, 17»7, aged 74.
Bis body lie* boiled in this chnrch.
He was a man of a retired and contemplative turn of mind,
though engaged tn a very extensive line of pabUc bosiness.
He was upright and liberal in all his dealings ;
a friend to the afflicted in general,
and to the poor of this parish in particular.
Mr. Dodsley left nearly £400 to the company of stationers ; £1000 each to Mr. George Nicol, and Mr. John Walter,* booksellers, two of his executors ; £4000 to Mr. John Freeborn, who had been several years his assistant in business; to Webster, his attorney, £1000 ; to his maid- servant £500 ; to his coachman £500, and also his carriage and horses ; and to the poor of St. James's, Westminster, £200 three per cent.
1797, March 3. Died, Thomas Wbioht, printer, who was first employed in the office of Mr. Archibald Hamilton, who died in 1793. He commenced business about 1766, first in Chancery-lane, and afterwards in Peterborough- court, till his death. Mr. Wright was a well- educated, sensible man, printed several works of consequence, and was much respected by many literary men of the first eminence. He planned some works for others, and meditated some for himself, particularly one on the same plan as Nichols's Literary Anecdotet, which, says Mr. Nichols, his own professional knowledge would have enabled him to have performed with credit.
• Served his apprenticeship with Robert Dodsley.
He printed the We$tminiter Magazine, in which he had marked the writer of every article, in a copy which probably still exists. He had, in like manner, when at Mr. Hamilton's, prefixed the names of the writers to the Critical Revieit. In a preface to the second volume of Euayi and Criticisma, by Dr. Goldsmith, 1798, Mr. Seward says, " The late Mr. Thomas Wright, printer, a man of literary observation and experience, had, during his connexion with those periodical pub- lications in which the early works of Dr. Gold- smith were originally contained, carefully marked the several compositions of the different writers as they were dehvered to him to print. Being, therefore, it was supposed, the only person able to separate the genuine performances of Gold- smith from those of other writers in these mis- cellaneous collections, it became the wish of several admirers of the author of the Traveler and Deterted Village, that his authentic writings should no longer be blended with other doubt- ful or spurious pieces. Mr. Wright was theie- fore recommended, and prevailed upon, to print the present selection, which he had just com- pleted at the time of his death."
1797, March 28. Died, John Merrt, an eminent stationer in Bishopsgate-street witbiii, and for twenty-seven years one of the common- council for that ward. He was possessed of an uncommon strength of understanding, and an inflexible integrity. He resided at Lewishun, and had been for two or three years past tor- mented with an unconquerable asthma. See- ing his approaching death, he in the preceding month resigned the key of the city seal, witfl which the corporation of London had long en- trusted him.
1797, April 18. Died, Abraham Badcock, bookseller, at the comer of St. Paul's church- yard. His judgment of books was good; and he possessed literary talents himself which might have been greatly useful to the world, had cir- cumstauces called them into exercise. A few of the best-designed books for children were written by him at moments of leisure : and it is believed that few of the numerous writers of either sex, whose labours have first met public attention from that long-famed receptacle, were without considerable obligations to nis friendly and Ju- dicious suggestions. To the chasteness, delicacy, and decorum of style, so peculiarly necessary to be preserved in books intended for the amuse- ment and instruction of youth, his attention was particularly directed ; and to this object be has been frequently known to sacrifice what, by lest considerate judges, might have been deemed well worthy of publication. To the character of this worthy man, the pen can scarcely do jus- tice, without seeming to bestow panegyric. On general subjects few men, perhaps, thought more justly; in all transactions of business no one could conduct himself with more urbanity. With the diligence and accuracy of a trades- man, he most happily blended the manners and principles of a gentleman. Superior to the petty attentions to immediate proht, which actuate
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