864
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
his unspeakable comfort saw the words " Ood's Gift;" and a gracious eift it was, for if it had not bieen so, he might, ur ought he knew, hare been obliged to seek pariah relief, as his eyes failed him so much, mat soon after his induc- tion he was totaUj unable to work at his profes- sion; and as he nequently said, " God sent him there to fit him for heaven." His heart was filled with gratitude to his very reverend patron, Dr. Percy,* and he continued to discharge his duty until within a short time of his decease, which took place in his sixty-eigth year.
1616, Mty 23. Died, Caleb Stowbb, a very ingenious and industrious printer, of Hackney, where he carried on a respectable business, and died, aged thirty-seven years, leaving a widow and four children to de{»ore his loss. He was a native of Taunton, in Somersetshire, and first commenced business in Paternoster-row, London. Mr. Stower was the author of Typogrt^hical Mmrh* %ted in correcting Proofs explained and txemj^ified, 8vo. ISOd. The Ckmpoiitor't and Pnuman'i Guide to the Art of Ptinting, royal 12mo. 1808. The Printer's Grammar, 8vo. 1808. The Pnntei'i Price Book, 8vo. 1814.— " The press," says Mr. Stower, " is the great en^ glue by which man is enabled to improve the foculties of his nature; it is the preserver of the knowledge and acquirements of former genera- tions, and the great barrier when not preverted br the hand oif power, against the debasement of the human mrad, and the equalizing effects of despotism."
1816. Bibliotheea Anglo Poetiea. This pub- lication is a splendid catalogue of old English poetry, compiled by Mr. Griffiths, for Messrs. Longman, in Paternoster-row, London, which excited great interest among the book collectors. In this catalogue it is stated, that, as many gen- tlemen mig^t wish to possess one of the precious volumes, the " afiair" would be decided by ballot. At the present suoh an announcement would be considered a jest. Even the books which ema- nated from the press of William Cazton, which a few years back would have produced from £150 to £200 and upwards, may be now occa- sionally met with for jCld or £20. To prove that even at the above period books had began to fall in price, the far-famed Bedford Missal, at the sale uf James Edwards, esq. of Harrow,
- Thomas Percy, whon llteraiv talents need no en-
comium, was a native of Bridgenotth, In ShropalilTe, and edocated at Oxford. He was rector of Wilbye. and vicar of Easton Mamlitt, In Northamptonshire) In 177s, he was dean of Carlisle, atid in 178S, bishop of Dromore, in Ire- land, where he died Sept. SO, 1811. In 17S4, he foniished notes fcHT an edition c^ the Spectator and Ouardiim, for which the Tonsons gave him one handled golneas. In 17S5, he gave to the world his ReUqua of Ancient BngUsh Paetrg, which constitntes an era in the blstory of English litentnre in the eighteenth century, and may lie described as having been the means of amdtening a taste for the nnaflteted stnins of simple nanatlve and genuine passion. Thia woik lias gone throogh several editions. In 1 770, he condoeted the Strtkumterland HoumAoM Book throngh the press. For more than half a century Dr. Percy was weU known by varlons learned and ingenions publica- tions, and distinpiished by the most active and exem- plary pobUc and private virtaes. His only son died April », irss.
April 11, 1816, was sold tothemarquisof Bland, ford for £687 11*. Sic transit gloria mtmdij— At this sale was also sold a very curions ud valuahle manuscript, entitled Psoftmitni Gran Latinum, folio, of the ninth centuiT, upon vdlnoi, written in a very fair and legible nana, with tUt peculiarity, the Greek is written in Roman. The marquis of Douglas was the purchaser at£llO&.
1816. The Holy Bible, 32mo. bemtifiilly printed by Mr. Corrall, of London. TUi diamond cation of the bible and prayer liaek, in the beauty of eye-stiainiag nunuteness snr- paased all others, and took the lead of all inbne efforts. Charles Whittingfaam, in smaU editioai of the Common Prayer, was eminently succesrfnl.
1816, TttM 1 8. i>M, Isaac CLABKE,booksdler, Market-place, Manchester, aged seventy-thice years. By his general int^rity of character, and accuracy and punctuality in bnaness, iew tradesmengainedhigher req>ect than Mr.Claile.
1816. "ne rev. J. Kam, a missionary fipomtbe London sode^, erected a printing press at Am- boyna, metropolis of the Dutch Molucca isles, in the Indian ocean. In 1820, a second press wm sent from London.
1816. The first circulating library in Olasfpiw, established by John Smith : it oontiuned 30/100 volumes.
1816. Bibles issued from the Glasgow uni- versity printing-office, during the year, 200,000; and about 2,500,000 other books and tracts.
1816. The EncycltymtiaEdiensiscoaaaeacei, edited by J Miller, forms six volumes 4to.
1816. Journal of Science and the Arts, jmb- lished quarterly, edited at the royal institutioii of Great Britain.
1816. The Colonial Times, printed and pub- lished by Mr. A. Bent, at Hobart town, a British settlement, established on the south-east coast of (Van Dieman's land, in 1804. lit Hobart Town Gazette was instituted in 18I& The first book from this press was the /firtorjf «f a fugitive exile named Michael Howe, who at tie head of twenty-eight other runaways disturM the tranquillity of the colony far six yean, 8vo. 1818. This work derives importance from the singularity of the circumstance, and from the story. A copy is'in the Bodleian library, Oxfoii
1817, Feb. Cobbett's Political Begisler ob- tuned a sale of fifty thousand copies weekly.
1817. The Literary Gazette commenced.il was the first newspaper devoted to literature is England.
1817,Jlf«rc/i 14. Died, James Gibson, priniw and bookseller, as Malton, Yorkshire, in the 36li year of his age. Mr. Gibson went to the assiies at York, as a witness,in apparently perfect healtk; he was suddenly seized at his inn during the evening of the 13th, and died the follovisg morning. A very awful instance of the nn- certainty of human life. He was most exact and punctual in all his transactions as a trades- man, and in all his public duties; a cheerful companion; a warm sincere friend; never 10'- getful of benefits received; and exemplary '« all the relative duties of life.
VjOOQ IC
