more extensive acquaintance, than Mr. Robinson; and it is particularly noticeable in his history, that amidst the strictest attention to business, he was throughout the whole of his early life enabled, by a due division of time, to appropriate more to social pleasures than many men could venture to do with impunity. For the social enjoyments of life, indeed, he was eminently qualified. He had improved the scanty education of a northern village by some reading, but principally by the company of literary men, and by a memory uncommonly tenacious. His own mind was shrewd, penetrating, and enriched by varied experience. He had likewise a great share of wit and vivacity; many of his bons mots, which have been pretty extensively circulated among his friends, would do credit to men of the first reputation in this minor department of genius. His sense of ridicule was remarkably strong, and few men excelled him in telling a story, of which he had a plentiful stock, and which he varied with circumstantial embellishments that were irresistibly laughable. Versed, too, in the literary and business-history of his time, his conversation was a rich fund of information, and his memory in dates and minutiae gave an authority which made him be frequently consulted when points in dispute were to be accurately ascertained. Of late years he visited less abroad, but was seldom happy without the company of his friends at home, who found themselves welcomed to a well-spread table, without ceremony and without affectation. He imposed no condition but that of punctuality to the hour of dinner; and in that particular, it is well known, he never relaxed to persons of rank or condition. Of him it may be truly said, no man discharged the duties of private life with more active zeal or more steady virtue; as a husband, a father, and a friend, he was warm and sincere, affectionate and tender. These, however, are the common features of every worthy man's character; but Mr. Robinson's death was felt and regretted on a broader and more public ground, as a loss to the world of letters. He was seized with an illness which proved fatal, on Monday, May 25, while at a meeting of booksellers, at the accustomed place, the Chapter coffee-house; from this he was obliged to retire hastily, and soon exhibited symptoms of fever; this abated so far, in the subsequent week, as to give hopes of recovery; these hopes were particularly encouraged, even on the evening, June 5, preceding his death, when he became calm, took his medicines willingly, and seemed, to all human appearance, free from fever. These symptoms, however, were fallacious; the snares of death were wound around him, and at five o'clock on Saturday morning he expired. He was interred in the burying-ground belonging to St. Faith's, in St. Paul's church-yard.
1801, June. Died, John Copeland, printer, at Reading, Berkshire, in the eighty-third year of his age. He had worked as a pressman in the office of the Reading Mercury, for sixty years, with so much assiduity, sobriety, and regularity, as to obtain the name of honest John. He enjoyed a remarkable good state of health, and worked at his business, with his accustomed regularity, till within a short time of his death.
1801, June 10. Mr. Spence, a bookseller, was sentenced to pay a fine of ₤50, and to suffer twelve months' imprisonment, for publishing a work entitled, Spence's Restorer of Society, which was deemed a seditious libel.
1801, June 27. An act of parliament was passed to indemnify all persons who have printed, published, or dispersed, or who shall publish or disperse any papers printed under the authority of any head officer of state, or of public boards, or other public authorities, from all penalties incurred by reason of the name and place of abode of the printer of such papers not being printed thereon.
1801, July 2. Irish literary property act passed, wherein it was directed, "that two copies of every printed book shall be delivered for Ireland." The claims extend only to books which should be entered in the register of stationers' hall, which entry is optional.
1801, Aug. 12. Died, Thomas Hastings, long known as an itinerant bookseller and pamphleteer. He was a native of the bishoprick of Durham, and served his apprenticeship to his uncle, as a joiner and builder. After visiting most parts of the kingdom, he went to London, and worked for a while as a carpenter. The memorable election of Charles James Fox for Westminster, (1780) gave Mr. Hastings an opportunity to exert himself in the popular cause, and he produced a quarto pamphlet, intituled, the Wars of Westminster. This was soon followed by others in the style of oriental apologues,and he got considerable sums by hawking them about the town. From this period, it is believed, he wrought no more at his trade. For many years he had been in the habit of publishing, in different newspapers, on the 12th of August, a voluntary ode on the prince of Wales's birth-day, for which he annually received some small emolument at Carlton-house; but this he had discontinued some time by order. His last publications were the Devil in London, 12mo. and the Regal Rambler; or, Lucifer's Travels, 8vo. Mr. Hastings was a constant attendant on the popular Sunday orators; and in his habit very much adumbrated a clerical appearance. His travelling name was Dr. Green. He was found dead in his bed, at his lodgings, in New-court, Moor-lane, Cripplegate, London. He was near sixty years of age.
1801, Sept. 1. Died, Robert Bage, a paper maker, and a writer of no ordinary merit in the department of fictitious composition. He was one of that class of men occurring in Britain alone, who unite successfully the cultivation of letters with those mechanical pursuits, which, upon the continent, are considered incompatible with the character of an author. The case of a paper maker, or a printer, employing their own art upon their own publications, would be thought uncommon in France or Germany; yet such
