EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
003
^mniiftg. By John Smith. London, 8vo. Owen. This is the first work printed in England ex- pressly for the use of the profession. The author, John Smith, who, from his own acknowledg- ment, appears to have produced his book under
not doabt bat he heartily dedres a closer anion between all sat^ as there is anj ^)pearaDce of accommodation withal, and certainly a "bill of compreheoBion'* would conduce to Eng:land*s strength and happiness, who must needs hare frequent qoahns and sicknesses, while little less than two nations are Btro^glinK within her,
Mn. Tact Sowlc. She Is both a printer aa well as a bookseller, and the daoj^hter of one, and understands her trade Tery well, being a good compositor her&elf. Her love and piety to her aged mother Is eininently remarkable, even to that degree that she keeps herselt unmarried for this only reason, (as I hare been informed) that it may not be ont of her power to let her mother have always the chief command in her house. I have known this eminent quaker for many years, have been generously treated at her house, and mast do her the Justice to say, I believe her a conscientious person. If any blame me for being thas charitable, I cannot help it, for I cannot think it a piece of religion to anathonatize from Christ all such as will not subscribe to every one of my articles ; but am conscious to so msmy Errors, speculative and practical, In myself, that I know not how to be severe towards others, for since Christ's church la not limited to any nation, or party, (as is owned in Robert Barctay^M Apolo/fy, &c. which Mrs. Sowie once presented to me. I do believe sincerity and holiness will carry us to heaven with any wiod and with any name, at least I have so much charity as to think all those persons go to heaven, whether they be churchmen, presbyterians, or qnakers, &c. tn whom I see so much goodness and virtue as is visible in the life and cODversation of Mrs. Sowle.
Mr. MiLBOORirx. He was no starter, having lived forty years in the same house, in Jewin-street; he has done his <taty in all relations, but most eminently in that of a has. band. Those rays of conjugal love which are diffUsedly scattered in other men, concentred in Thomas MUboame, He was fairly married to four wives (for the good man had been shoeing the horse round) and was a tender husband to all: he was free from flattery and affectation, and being a nice conformist the bestuiarchmen did copy fh)m him : his whole life was rellgioaaly timed, and it made the sweetest music in the close, for he was patient under all his weakness, and wholly resigned to the will of Ood : he had a dntifol child in Mrs. Onley, and was very happy in his daughter Bruges ; but he is gone to his long home, and "The eye that hath seen him shall see him no more." He died in his 74th year, and having learnt lUl could here be taught him, he Is gone to heaven to see more.
Mr. Onlbt, printer. He is a kind husband, a tender fetfaor, regular in his conversation, and being a good mas- ter, has the Journeymen printers Tery much at his beck. He will make a book vanish into the world as quick as spirits out of it, and bring It abroad as easily as Leeson draws a tooth, or as nimbly as a flash of lightning : he has a great respect for all that are related to the noble mystery of printing}' and being very ingenious, by his own pro- jections, he keeps two printing-houses constantly at work, in Little Britain,and in Bond's stablea, near Chancery-lane.
Mr. Rawlins, near Paternoster-row, printer, has printed several books for me ; he works for very reasonable rates, and it would be a great hardship upon him, I am sure, should yon pretend to offer less than he will ask you : he is an honest and a thriving man, and has an exceMent choice of good letter : he makes great despatch with any engagement he undertakes, and is very punctual to his word ; for he will rather refuse wotk when it is offered, than not be Just to his promise.
Mr. Hsirnv Ruonss has got a ocmslderable estate, his copies having met with good success. He had the good fortune to jnlnt the eight volomes of The Turkish Spp ; The great Hittorieal DietUmary ; and The present State of Europe f which has been continued to fourteen volumes ; and the longo: it has been published it has been the better received. Mr. Harris and myself brought Mr. Rhodes into the Monthly Merewy; but we lost by it five months successively, wUch made me a little apprehenrive of that design, and thereupon threw up my interest in It for tSb.
Mr. NoTT. We went Joint partners in the parliament Icttery ; and a prize of ten pounds per annum fsilling upon my ticket, it renewed our friendship. Upon a long ex. perience of Mr. Nott, I ftnd him to be a Just paymaster, and a good publisher. Mr. Nott was orighially a printer, and lived with Mr. Jones, in the Saroy, fbr many years j
very adverse circumstancee, and sol^ with a view to relieve himself from his embanassmenta: It is plain that he only went half way throng with his design, since his volume treats only upon the business of a compositor, omitdng all
and has always had the character of being very disereet and obliging, and now gives aa great content to those that employ him as any publisher whatsoever, Mr. Nott resided at UieQaeen's Arms, in Pall-mall, and was among the early dlstribntcffs of books by auction.
Mr. LxiBoaKH, printer. He was formerly a winter in London, and since has been a ftmious au^orj he has per- baps done as much honour to the mathematics, as moat persons yon can name. There is someOittg masterly in all he writes; as to his Curme Mathematicua and bis Panarithmalogia, they will never be equalled.
Mr. Moors was one of those good-natured printers that worked themselves into debt, so that had his bustneaa been less, he would have kept his legs the longer, how- ever, I believe him a very honest mlsUken man, andtf he is yet living I wUl drink his health.
Mr. MsAD Is a man very fit for his business, and there Is always great dependence upon what he says; he is a very obliging and dncere fHend ; printed for me a while ago, A Step to Oxford.
Mr. Ormb, printer. I never meet with him but I make him my acknowledgments for the length and the patience of the credit be has given me, though be will scarce hear the mentton of it, so that 1 am never apprehensive of Mr. Ormb's relapsing into duns unless It be '* to take a bottle ■ with him," which is a noble charity from creditors to poor debtors, when their spirits run low. Mr. Ormb is, with- out doubt, a printer that is very faithful, generous, and obliging to the last degree.
Mr. Kkblk, in Fleet-street. He is a very ingenioos, modest, humble man ; and has leamt to do much tn % little time. He printed that useful book, called, A Wee^e Preparation for the Sacrament^ and other excellent books of devotion. In his copy. Intituled Rules in the Church ^f Engtand, you are directed to the Common Prmer for every hour of the day ; and as Mr. Keble has chiefly printed religious books, so he loves serious piety wherever he finds It. Whilst others wrangle about religion, he endea- vours to practise it
Mr.TuRNiR, near Lincoln's Inn. He prints the Aiftory of Man, and other good copies, and has an exceUent diaracter among booksellers, stationers, and printers j he has a doe respect for the deigy, and Is himself a true son of the church { but whatever his own opinions are of smaller matters, he thinks well of all whom he knows not to deserve the contrary, though they differ fr<nn him ; and well of none for being of his party, unless they have other merits to recommend them. He is a man of general ctuuity, (as all true sons of the church arej] and if be continues to thrive as he has begun, he will be alderman Turner in a few years j yet the fortunate blood that has filled his veins, has not sweliM his heart, fc»r he Is stiU as humble as ever, and is such a master in the art of obliging as if he thought the only thing valuable in riches is the power they gm to oblige. He resided at the Lamb, near the Turnstile, in Holbom.
Mr. LAaaiN, senior. He has been my acquaintance for twenty years, and the first printer I had in London. He is of an even temper, not elated when fortune smiles, not cast down with her frowns , and though his stars have not been kind to him Che having had great losses,) yet he has borne all with a great presence of mind. HU conversa- tion is extremely diverting, and what he says is always to the purpose ; he is a particular votary of the muses, and I have seen some of his poems that cannot be equalled. He formerly wrote a Vieion of Heaven, ftc. (whfeh con- tains many nice and curious thoughts) and has lately pub- lished an ingenions Eseay on the noble Art tmd MjfsUrp of Printing, wnich will immortalise his name amongst afl the professors of that art, as much as the essay wUl the art itself. I ever thought my acquaintance with Mr. Lar- kin, a special blessing j for, like the glow-worm (the em- blem of true fhendship,] he has still sliined to me in the dai^. In a word, Mr. Larkln is sincerely my fHend, and was ever so from the first moment I saw him, and which makes me respect him tlie more, he Is the only friend in the world of whom I can positivdy say, he will never be otherwise, so that Mr. Larkin Is my alter ego, or rather my very self in a better edition f and to sum up his charac- ter in nine words, *' whatever he does is upon the account civil." Mr. LarUn has a son now living of the same name and trade with Um8elf,aiid four grandsons, which (hnmimly I speaking) will transmit his name to the end of time.
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