EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
763
in which situation he gave frequent proofs of the versatility of his genius, and the promptness of his poetic fiincy. His employer, who well knew his abilities, contracted with him to supply a short article of poetry for erery day's publication, at a verf small sum. One day, having forsfot this part of his engagement till reminded of it by a fellow- workman, and the day being then too far advanced to have it deliberately written oat, he obtained the assistance of another com- positor, and thos, on the spur of the moment, while he himself composed the first six lines im- promptu, he dictated Uie last six to his coadjutor ; by which rapidity of composition he saved his credit, and secured his usual weekly remunera- tion. In the beginning of the year 1770 he Biairied the daughter of an eminent mason of Lambeth, who ^d at his death bequeathed £1000 to each of his daughters ; but the brother, being principal executor to the will of his father, applied his sister's fortune to his own use in trade ; and, through his ill success, not a guinea of Mrs. Wynne's portion was ever paid. Mr. Wynne was for a cousiderable time editor of the Cfazetteer, and was a well-known speaker at the Robin Hood and Coach-makers'-uall debating societies ; but, being unhappily a staunch sup- porter of an administration whose measures were extremely unpopalar, he got little good by bis political speculations. In those days such topics were freely discussed, and often agitated with much warmth. Mr. Wynne in this respect acted the part of a champion, and undertook to defend the ministry in their war with America, and other minous measures.
1788, Dec. 8. Died, Henry Dench, who filled with reputation each department of Uie narrow circle of life which was nis lot, was a good bus- band, and a tender father. In his profession, that of a compositor, he was remarkably atten- tive and industrious. He died of a violent asthma, in the 50th year of his age. Tu say more of him would be impertinent. Not to have said so much, would have ill accorded with the feelings of one who in the early part of life regarded him as a friend, and to whom for a long series of years he was an affectionate servant. He left one infant son, who was afterwards bred to the profession of a printer : and to whose talents ana integrity I gladly pay this tribute. — NiekoU.
1788. The first daily evening pi^>er com- menced.
1788. The motto of the stationers' company first nsed : Verbum Domini vumet in tetemum.
1789, Jan. 23. Died, John Cleland, author of a well known immoral romance, entitled the History of Fanny Hill; or Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. This notorious book was sold to Griffiths, the bookseller, for twenty guineas, though its sale has produced as many thousands. It was one of GrifSths's first adventures in trade, and he had the assurance, as editor of the Monthly Review, to recommend it to the public as a rival of Tom Jones, in one of the early num- bers of that work. He was, however, appre- hended under a general warrant as the publisher;
but having contrived to remove the copies out of his house by the back door, in Patemoster-row, while the ofiicer was g^ne to get the warrant backed by the lord mayor, be escaped the punish- ment which otherwise would have befallen him. Cleland was called before the privy council, and having pleaded poverty as the cause, the earl of Grenville procured him a pension of jClOO.a-year, on condition that he should abstain from such kind of writing for the future. He was a native of Scotland, and a man of some literary ability. He lived upon his pension in a private manner, in London, where he died at the age of eighty- two years. Bishop South truly observes, " he who has vented a pernicious doctrine, or pub- lished an ill book ; must know that his guilt and his life end u^ether. No! Such an one being dead, yet speaketh. He sins in his very grave ; corrupts others while he is rotting himself; and has a growing account in the other world, after he has paid nature's last debt in this ; and, in a word, quits this life like a man carried off by the plague, who, though he dies himself, does exe- cution upon others by a surviving infection."
1789. EaUm Chrtmicle; or theSalt Box, royal 8vo. pp. 166.
At ta Eatonii lepidoa sale tinge UbellcM, Acnoecat mores qulsqae legatqae sua* :
An^ostk csatare licet ridearia avenA, Dam toa moltorom viocax avena tabas.
This volume is edited by the late William Gifford, esq., and is inscribed to the noble origi- nator, earl Grosvenor, the father of the present marquis of Westminster. The following is a copy of the address to the reader, dated Eaton HaU : " In the summer of 1788, lord Grosvenor invited a numerous party of his relations, friends, and acquaintance, to Eaton Hall, to celebrate the birth day of lord Belg^rave, who came of age iq the spring of that year. As they met before the arrival of the period peculiarly set apart for the festival, his lordship proposed in a sportive mo> ment that a little journal should be kept of thek proceedings, and produced every morning at breakfast. As this could not occupy a large space, he further proposed to admit any litue piece of prose or verse, whose subject might net be entirely foreign from the company; and it was hoped by these means that a sheet might be served up every morning with tea. The paper took its name from a salt box, which was ap- pointed to receive the contributions. This was examined every evening ; and the contents were arranged and transcribed by the writer of this introduction, who had the honour of being ap- pointed editor." Arehbishop Wrangham possesses two copies of this volume. — Martin's Catalogue of Books Privately Printed, p. 72.
1789, Jan. Died, Samuel Clabk, (one of the society of friends,) a printer, and some time a partner with William Richardson, nephew to the celebrated writer. Mr. Clark bad retired from business abQUt 1768. He was a most amiable man; in temper he was cheerful and serene; in manners mild and unassuming; his benevolence was boundless.
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