and he wrote 'Bannian Day,' a musical entertainment in two acts, which was published and performed at the Haymarket in the same year for seven or eight nights, though but 'a poor piece.' In 1799 the 'Man in the Moon,' one act, attributed to Brewer, was announced for the opening night of the season at the Haymarket, but its production was evaded, and it disappeared from the bills. The next year (1800) Brewer published a pamphlet, 'The Rights of the Poor,' &c., dedicating it to 'Men who have great power, by one without any,' and this received copious notice in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' (lxx. 1168 et seq.) He was writing at this time also in the 'European Magazine,' some of his contributions being 'Siamese Tales' and 'Tales of the 12 Soubahs of Indostan;' and some essays, announced as after the manner of Goldsmith, which were collected and published by subscription in 1806 as 'Hours of Leisure.' In 1808 Brewer produced another two-volume tale, 'The Witch of Ravensworth;' and about the same time he published 'The Juvenile Lavater,' stories for the young to illustrate Le Brun's 'Passions,' which bears no date, but of which there were two or more issues, with slightly varying title-pages. A periodical, 'The Town,' attempted by Brewer after this, and stated by the authors of the 'Biog. Dram.' in 1812 to be 'now publishing,' would appear to have had but a short existence. The date of Brewer's death is not known. In his allusions to himself he speaks of having been 'misplaced or displaced in life,' of having had Vicissitude for his tutor, and of being luckless altogether.
Another work, 'The Law of Creditor and Debtor,' is set down in 'Biographica Dramatica,' and in Allibone, as by Brewer; and Allibone gives in addition 'Maxims of Gallantry,' 1793, and states 1791 as the date of publication of 'Tom Weston,' but there is no trace of either of these works in the British Museum.
[Baker's Biog. Dram. i. 67, ii. 48, 311, iii. 13; Introd. to Brewer's The Motto, pp. v-vii; Introd. to Brewer's Hours of Leisure, pp. xiv, xvi; Genest's Hist, of Engl. Stage, vii. 275; Biog. Dict, of Living Authors, p. 37.]
BREWER, JAMES NORRIS (fl. 1799–1829), topographer and novelist, was the eldest son of a merchant of London. He wrote many romances and topographical compilations, the best of the latter being his contributions to the series called the 'Beauties of England and Wales.' All the former are now forgotten. The titles of his works are as follows:
- 'A Winter's Tale, a romance,' 1799, 4 vols. 12mo; 2nd edit., 1811.
- 'Some Thoughts on the Present State of the English Peasantry,' 1807, 8vo.
- 'Secrets made Public, a novel,' 4 vols., 1808, 12mo.
- 'The Witch of Ravensworth,' 2 vols., 1808, 12mo.
- 'Mountville Castle, a Village Story,' 3 vols., 1808, 12mo.
- 'A Descriptive and Historical Account of various Palaces and Public Buildings, English and Foreign; with Biographical Notices of their Founders or Builders, and other eminent persons,' 1810, 4to.
- 'An Old Family Legend,' 4 vols., 1811, 12mo.
- 'Sir Ferdinand of England, a romance,' 4 vols., 1812, 12mo.
- 'Sir Gilbert Easterling, a romance,' 4 vols. 12mo, 1813.
- 'History of Oxfordshire' ('Beauties of England and Wales'), 1813, 8vo.
- 'Warwickshire,' 1814.
- 'Middlesex,' 1816.
- 'Introduction to the Beauties of England and Wales, comprising observations on the Britons, the Romans in Britain, the Anglo-Saxons, the Anglo-Danes, and the Normans,' 1818, 8vo.
- 'Histrionic Topography, or the Birthplaces, Residences, and Funeral Monuments of the most distinguished Actors,' 1818, 8vo.
- 'The Picture of England, or Historical and Descriptive Delineations of the most curious Works of Nature and Art in each County,' 1820, 8vo.
- 'The Delineations of Gloucestershire,' 4to.
- 'The Beauties of Ireland,' 1826, 2 vols. 8vo.
- 'The Fitzwalters, Barons of Chesterton; or Ancient Times in England,' 1829, 4 vols. 12mo. Brewer was a contributor to the 'Universal,' 'Monthly,' and 'Gentleman's' magazines.
[Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816; Walt's Bibl. Brit.; Monthly Review, 2nd ser., lviii. 217.]
BREWER, JEHOIADA (1752?–1817), dissenting minister, was born at Newport in Monmouthshire about 1752. Influenced by a minister of Lady Huntingdon's connection, he took to preaching in the villages around Bath, and afterwards preached with remarkable popularity throughout Monmouthshire. Intending to enter the national church, he applied for ordination, but was refused by the bishop. Brewer persisted in preaching, whether ordained or not, and for some years he settled at Rodborough in Gloucestershire. He afterwards attracted a large congregation at Sheffield, where he spent thirteen years, and ultimately settled at Birmingham, where his ministry at Livery Street was numerously attended to the close of his life. He died 24 Aug. 1817. A spacious chapel was being built for him at the time he died, and he was buried in the grounds adjoining the unfinished edifice. A specimen of Brewer's
