of extracts from contemporary newspapers and other documents, and it was intended as a basis for illustration. Caulfield edited for the same person a series of reprints of Burton's (or Crouch's) topographical pieces, with full indexes and additional woodcuts, as well as a treatise on ‘The Antiquity, Honour, and Dignity of Trade’ (1813), which had come into the hands of the publisher, with other documents, from Penshurst. The writer was not a member of the Sidney family. The book contains a long list of English merchants who have attained great honour. The stock and coppers of Caulfield's ‘Memoirs, &c., of Remarkable Persons,’ passed into other hands in 1799. Originally published at fifty shillings, it became so much sought after, that copies were fetching seven guineas apiece, and R. S. Kirby arranged with the author to produce a new edition, which was issued in 1813. It contained all the characters of Granger's twelfth class, ‘such as lived to a great age, deformed persons, convicts, &c.,’ with many additions unknown to him, Bromley, Noble, and other authorities. In this edition the portraits are arranged chronologically for the first time. There are upwards of fifty more than in the former one, which only contained sixty.
In 1814 much scandal was caused by ‘Chalcographimania, by Satiricus Sculptor,’ a satirical poem after the style of Mathias's ‘Pursuits of Literature,’ full of ill-natured gossip about artists, print-sellers, and collectors. The verse is supposed to have been written by W. H. Ireland, and the notes supplied by Thomas Coram. Not many months passed before Caulfield published ‘Calcographiana,’ a serious and useful treatise, in which he vigorously denied ‘upon my oath’ any connection with ‘Chalcographimania.’ George Smeeton, his biographer, assures us that ‘the manuscript was offered to the writer of this sketch, who instantly refused it, and it was then sold to Mr. Kirby. Caulfield for a few shillings, while in banco Regis, did certainly read over the work, and added the note k on page 171.’ This note is one of the least important in the whole book, which bears in several places unmistakable signs of Caulfield's co-operation. In 1814 he issued, among other books, a useful ‘Catalogue of Portraits of Foreigners who have visited England;’ the ‘Eccentric Magazine,’ with lives and portraits of misers, dwarfs, murderers, idiots, and similar personages; a new edition of Naunton's ‘Fragmenta Regalia;’ ‘Memoirs’ of the same author; and the commencement of an important undertaking, ‘A Gallery of British Portraits.’ He now resided in Wells Street, Oxford Street, and until 1820 was chiefly occupied in the sale of engravings, the illustration of books, and the compilation of catalogues. That he should have been obliged to take to the latter occupation rather points to a decline of fortune. In more prosperous times he was patronised by the chief collectors of the day, among whom were Earl Spencer, Towneley, Bindley, Cracherode, and others. His next publication was a continuation of his ‘Portraits, &c., of Remarkable Persons,’ carrying the series from 1688 down to the end of the reign of George II. One of these, representing a lady known as ‘Mulled Sack,’ had sold for forty guineas. Another publication was ‘The High Court of Justice,’ in which the portraits of the regicides are decorated with skulls, crossbones, axes and chains. One of his sons seems to have now entered into business, as the last book is ‘printed and published by John Caulfield, print and book seller, Little Newport Street, Leicester Square.’ In 1821 Caulfield edited an edition of the ‘Memoirs of the Kit-Cat Club,’ and two years later he brought out three numbers of ‘Biographical Sketches of British History,’ of which sufficient matter was left to make three volumes. Almost his last undertaking was to edit the fifth and best edition of Granger.
Caulfield had a good memory. His knowledge of English history and biography was minute and extensive, while his acquaintance with engraved British portraits was unequalled by any person of his time. His liberality in imparting his information, and even the mysterious secrets of the trade, was viewed with great jealousy by his rivals. The numerous works written and edited by him usually attain a high standard of excellence. He was always fond of attending places of amusement, and at one time was conspicuous for neatness of dress. With advancing years Caulfield took to drink, became neglectful of his appearance, and troublesome in his social relations. He always worked hard and spent freely, but never lost the generosity which formerly led him to support his aged parents. In the last twelve months of his life, while only earning five shillings a day as a cataloguer, he kept his youngest daughter and her family. In January 1826 he broke his knee-pan, and was conveyed to the house in Camden Town of his brother Joseph. Here he remained six weeks, and then went to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where, after remaining ten days in King Henry VIII's ward, he died on 22 April 1826. He lies buried in the family vault in Clerkenwell Church. He married Miss Mary Gascoigne, who died in 1816, and by whom he had seven children; four survived him. He had several brothers, among whom was
