658
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
from a printed paper which was lefl at his house, directea to him ; but he does not know from whom it came." Being aslced, " how long he has been a publisher of the Gentleman's Maga- zine?" he said, " that it is about sixteen years since it was first published ; that he was con- cerned in it at first with his nephew ; and since the death of his nephew, he has done it entirely himself." Notice being taken to hun, " that the said books have contained debates in parlia- ment ;" he said, " he had lefi ofi° the debates ; that he had not published any debates relative to this house above these twelve months ; that there was a speech or two relating to the other house, put in about the latter end of last year." Being asked, " how he came to take upon him to pub- lish debates in parliament?" he said, "he was extremely sorry for it ; that it was a very great presumption ; but he was led into it by custom, •nd the piactice of other people: that there was a month^ book, publishea before the magazines, called ue Polttieal State, which contained debates in parliament ; and that he never heard, till lately, that any persons were punished for printing those books." Being asked, "how he came by the speeches which ne printed in the Gentleman's Magazine P" he saia, " he got into the house, and heard them, and made use of a black 1^ pencil, and onlv took notes of some remarkable passages ; and, from his memory, he put them together himself." Notice being uJcen to him, " that some of the speeches were very long, consisting of several pages;" he said, "he wrote them himself, from notes which he took, assisted bv his memory." Being asked, "whether he printed no speeches but such as were so put together by himself, from his own notes?" he said, " Sometimes he has had speeches sent him by very eminent persons; that he has had speeches sent him by the members themselves ; and has had assistance from some members, who have taken notes of other members' speeches." Being asked, "if he ever had any person whom he kept in pay, to make speeches for him ?" be said, " he never had."
The report proceeds to state, that Astley had been also brought before them; and a former examination of the 8th of April having been read to him, he said, "that contained all the in- formation he was able to give their lordships."
"Few of the collections of parliamentary debates can be justly regarded as much more authentic than Johnson's Orations. The most ancient are probably the most authentic. IfEweis Journals of Elizabeth's Parliaments, as they contain the oldest parliamentary speeches, are assuredly the most curious. The first volume of the Commons' Journals contains several im- portant debates during the interesting period Rom the accession of James I. till the cessation of parliaments under his unhappy son. The authentic debates of the session, 1621, were published in 1766, from a member's manuscript. The collections of Rushworth contain many of the parliamentary debates during the civil wars. To these follow Gray's Debates, which are still
more authentic. But as to those various coUec tions, which profess to give the parliamentary debates during that disputations period, from the Restoration till late times, they can be deemed of little more authority than the speeches of Johnson.
" It was the Revolution which finally un- shackled the press. But it was still criminal, at least dangerous, to publish parliamentary pro- ceedings without parliamentary permission. During king William's reign, the newspapeo sometimes gave a detached speech of a particu- lar speaker, who wished, by contributing the out- lines, to gratify his vanity, or secure his seat.
" It was in the factious times which immedi- ately succeeded, when parliamentary debates were first distributed through the land in monthly pamphlets. Then it was that Beyer's zeal pn^ia- gated the Political State. This was succeeded, on the accession of George I. by the Hittorical Registers, which were published by soberer men, and may be supposed therefore to contain more satisfactory information.
"The Gentleman's Magazine soon after fur- nished the public with still more finished debates, which were first compiled by Guthrie, then by Johnson, and aiterwuds by Hawkesworth. The success of this far-famed miscellany prompted many competitors for public favour, who aO found an interest in propagating what the people read, however contrary to parliamentary resolves. And these resolves have at length given way to the spirit of the people, who, as they enjoy the right of instructing their representatives, seen to have established the privilege of knowii^ what their representatives say."*
1736. Died, Joseph Dameb, formerly a book- seller at Dorchester, which town he nepreseDtcd in parliament in 1722. He retired to Ireland, where he died, aged 6() years, the richest private gentleman, and the greatest miser in that countir, having raised a fortune for his family, \t hich was ennobled by his son, lord Milton. ' Mr. Darner married Maiy, the daughter of John Churchill, and niece to Awnsham Churchill, noticed at page 639 ante. The following lines are taken Rom a whimsical little work, called Jemmy Carson's Collections, Sec. and form part of " an elegy on the much lamented death of Mr. Da- rner, the famous rich man, who died the sixth dayof July, 1723."t
" BenMth this verduit hillock Uea, Duner the wealthy and the vise ; His heirs, that he mipht sa/ely rest. Have put his carcase in a chest ; The very chest in which they say His other self, his money lay. And if his heirs continue kind To that dear self he left behind, 1 dare believe that four in Ave WiU think his better half alive."
1736, Died, James Knapton, of whom Dun- ton says, "he is a very accomplished person; not that sort of animal that flutters from taven
- Prel^e to Johnson's Debates, I'sr, pp. 6 -9.
t Mr. Nichols, in his account of the Chnrchllls, vol. i. p. ISO, LUerarp AnecJata, 8.iys Mr. Domer died in 17^.
