Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/629

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630

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

says Dr. Young, who fiist related this affect- ing circumstance ; " but life now glimmering in the socket, the dying friend was silent. After a decent and proper pause, the youth said, 'Dear sir! you sent for me, I believe: I hope that you have some commands; I shall bold them most sacred.' May distant ages not only hear, but feel, the reply ! Forcibly grasp- ing the youth's hand, he sohly said, ' See in what manner a Chrittian can die!' He spoke with difficulty, and soon expired."* On nis death- bed, he gave directions to Mr. Tickell for the publication of his works, and dedicated them to his friend, Mr. Craggs. Addison left no child, but a daugliter, who died at Bilton, in War- wickshire, Feb. 1797, when his library was sold.f

The literary character of Addison has been so often and so ably pourtrayed, that little remains for us to say. Dr. Johnson well observes, " Who- ever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison. Dr. Blair, noticing the character of this good man says, " Addison is, beyond doubt, in the English language, the most perfect example ; and, therefore, though not without some faults, he is, on the whole, the safest model of imitation, and the freest from con- siderable defects, which the language affords."

1719, Aug.QS. Died, Henry Clement.s, an eminent bookseller, of London. His funeral sermon was printed by his very early friend, Mr. William Bowyer, (to whose loss he had sub- scribed) and published October, 3, 1719, under the title of the Christian's Support under the Lots of Friends ; by a friend of Ine deceased.

1719, 5«>/.Z>jW, John Harris, A.M.,F.R.S., compiler of Lexicon Technicum ; or, an Histori. cal English Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, explaining not only the terras of art, but the arts themselves. London : folio, 1704. This is a work of considerable importance, and the expenses of its completion and printing was fur- nished by a body of respectable booksellers; Daniel Brown,J Timothy Goodwin, John Wal-

  • Tickell told Dr. Young, that in the foUowin); coaplet

of hU EUgjf on the Death of Addieony he alladeft to the earl of Warwick :

He taaght us how to live ; and, oh ! too high The price of knowledge, taught us how to die.

Thomas Tickell was a contributor to the Spectator, and an elef>;aot versifier, with somewhat more tenderness than his cotemporaries. He was born in \6s6, and died in 1710. The elegy of Ticliell upon the death of Addison, may be termed, without dispute, one of the most alTecting ele^es in our language ; and what L^ stiil more exalted praise, worthy the object it laments ! — Drake. It was ad- dressed to the earl of Warwick, and prefixed to the 4to. edition of his patron's works.

t On the 27th of May, 1799, and the three followbig days, Mr. Addison's Mbrary was sent to London for sale ; it was divided into eight hundred and fifty-six lots, and sold bj Messis.Leigh and Sotheby, fnr the sum of .£4s6 2i. gd. ITie medals and jewels, which were disposed of on the filth day, produced the sum of ^t7 2»- xt

t I have always thought there is an unusual sweetness that reigns in this man's countenance ; he is very humble, and I belicrc him a good man. He is a sincere lover of the established church ; and yet his pinciples are moderate enough ,—Dttnton.

thoe,* Thomas Newborough,t John Nicholaon^ Thomas Ben8kin,§ Benjamin TookeJ) Danid Midwinter, Thomas Leigh,^ and Thomas Cog- gan.** This work was dedicated to piiDce George of Denmark. The first volume was re- published in 1708, and a second part was added in 1710. From these two volumes have ori- ginated all the other Dietionaries and Cydofte- dias that have since appeared. Mr. Harris was also engaged in anotfaer important work to literature, entitled Navigantitm atqve Itineran- tiwn Bibliotheca; or, a complete collection of Voyages and Travels that have been writ in any language ; containing what is in HucUnit, Furchass,and all others of note to the presoit time, in two volumes folio, illustrated with very many curious copper cuts. With an introductioB ; being an account of the magnet progress of navigation, Scctt The booksellers were the nn- dertaken, Thomas Bennet, John Nicholson, J. Leigh, and D. Midwinter. The personal his- tory of this elaborate author and promoter of sciences and general knowledge, is still involved in obscurity. He was born about 1667, probably in Shropshire, and educated at Cambridge, and was elected a fellow of the royal society, April 29, 1696. Dr. Harris obtained some valuable church preferments ; he had a prebend stall in the cathedral of Rochester, and the rectory of the united parishes of St. Mildred, Bread-stieet, and St. Margaret Moses, London, &c.

  • Mr. Walthoe Is very punctual in his payments, aad

very nicely Jost. Civility is a part of his nature, and he never makes any advantage of another man's ignorance- He is kindly disi>o8Cd to tiiOBe who ore unhappy, aod has never overlooked me at my lowest ebb. He prints and deals much in law books. — DvnioH.

t His zeal for the church is the most eminent quality in him, and so perfumes the actions of his whole life, that it makes him wtiatever is Just and mercifuL He is xeolovs to suppress debauchery, and as he endeavours to reform others, so he is a thoughtful just man, and knows bow to encourage a good author, for none can tliink that the Supplement to the Historical Dictionary, written by the learned Collier, is made at a small charge. — Dunton.

t His talent lies at projection, though 1 am thinldnghis Voyagea and Traeels will be a little posthumous. He is usually fortunate in what he goes upon. He is a man of good sense } for 1 have known tiim lay the first nidlmeiits and sinews of a design with great judgment, and always according to the rules of art or interest. He pordutsed part of my stock when I threw up all concerns in trade, and I ever found him a very honest man. — Duntom. His residence was at the King's Arms in Little Britain.

( He bad no great estate to bef^in the world with. iMit Ids stars have been very kind. He makes a considerable figure in trade, and has a general knowledge in books. He is a fair dealer, and a true son of the church ; bat has little charity for censorious men, be they of what party they will.— Dwn/oii.

n Mr. Tooke, near Temple- bar. He is descended tram the ingenious Tooke, that was formerly treasurer. Be is truly honest, a man of refined sense (as he could never have licen related to Ben TooJIre) and is unblemished in his »- putation . — Dunton, Mr. 'Tooke died 1 7U , see po*i.

II Mr. Leigh and Mr. Midwinter are in topping bosi. ncss, and no way inferior to their known predecessor for justice and industry, &c. — Dunton. Mr. Midwinter'a riup was at the Rose and Crown, St. Paul's Church-yard, ITOS, and in 1 7M.— i>i«»<<m.

    • Mr. Coggan, in the middle temple. He is socoutkns

and wise, that he is noted for it through the whole trade, and is often proposed as an example to persons of bat and imprudent tempers. He has a piercing wit, a qni^ apprehension, and is as well a judge as a seller of books-

tt A new edition of this work, considerably enlarged and improved, was published in 1745, by Dr. Caroplxfl. and again in 176-1.

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