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Presented to the
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY
by the
ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY
1980
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ANECDOTES ; ^^ s^-
•^ ~ <', *
• . x<tiA&m **
' *
OF THE
$*i EIGHTEENTH CENTURY;
COMPRIZING
OF
WILLIAM BOWYER, PRINTER, F.S.A,
AND MANY OF HIS LEARNED FRIENDS;
AN INCIDENTAL VIEW
OF THE PROGRESS AND ADVANCEMENT OF LITERATURE IN THIS KINGDOM DURING THE LAST CENTURY;
AND
BIOGRAPHICAL ANECDOTES
OF A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF
EMINENT WRITERS AND INGENIOUS ARTISTS] WITH A VERY COPIOUS INDEX,
BY JOHN NICHOLS, F.S.A.
IN SIX VOLUMES.
f. LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,
JiY NICHOLS, SON, AND BENTLEY, AT CICERO'S HEAD* RED-LION-PASSAGE, FLEET-STJKEET.
1812.
-
( Hi ) CONTENTS
OF
THE FIFTH VOLUME.
ESSAYS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
No. I. Memoirs of Mr. Edward Cave 7. . . t. 1
II. Mr. John Dunton 59
III. Rev. William Freind, M. A 84
. Rev. Robert Freind, D. D 86
— Rev. William Freind, M. A 90
John Freind, M.D 92
Rev. W. Freind, D. D. Dean of Canterbury 104
IV. , Rev. Thomas Baker, M. A 106, 662
V. Mr. Ambrose Bonwicke ,. 113
VI. Rev. William Richardson, D. D 157
VII. Rev, William Webster, D. D 16O
VIII. Remarks on Stephens's Thesaurus 176
History of Lexicons, and Anecdotes of eminent
Lexicographers, 182
IX. Memoirs of Rev. Samuel Wesley, B. A 212
— Rev. Samuel Wesley (the younger), B. A. 216
. Rev. John Wesley, M. A 221
— — — — Rev. Charles Wesley, M. A ibid.
X Memoirs of Eminent Antiquaries, Friends and Patrons of Mr. Bowyer :
Mr. Robert Ainsworth 248
Edward Alexander, Esq 255
Mr. Joseph Ames 256
John Anstis, Esq 269
Henry Baker, Esq 272
William Becket, Esq 278
Beaupre' Bell, Esq ibid.
Rev. Thomas Birch, D. D 282
Rev. William Borlase, LL. D 291
Rev. Samuel Chandler, D. D 304
Memoirs
IV CONTENTS.
Memoirs of Mr. Peter Collinson 309
William Cowper, M. D 316
Mr. George Edwards 317
Bryan Fairfax, Esq 326
Richard Frank, Esq 328
Alexander Gordon, M. A 329
William Hall, Esq 337
Nicholas Hardinge, Esq 338
Henry Hare, Lord Colerane 347
George Holmes, Esq t •, . , 353
Rev. Samuel Knight, D. P 354
Stephen-Martin Leake, Esq 363
Smart Lethieullier, Esq 368
John Locker, Esq 372
William Locker, Esq . 373
Rev. Charles Lyttelton, D.D. Bishop of Carlisle 378
Mr. William Maitland 382
Mr. Thomas Martin 384
Edward Rowe-Mores, Esq. M. A 389
Rev. Conyers Middleton, D. D 4O5
Cromwell Mortimer, M. D 423
William Nicholas, Esq 426
Rev. George North, M. A k . ibid.
David Papillon, Esq 47O
James Parsons, M. D 472
Richard Rawlinson, LL. D 489
Rev. William Stukeley, M. D < 499
Sir Peter Thompson 51 1
Rev. Nicholas Tindal, M. A 515
John Ward, LL. D 517
Rev. Francis Wise, B. D 527
No. XI. Memoirs of Bishop Warburton 529
XII. — : Mr. Ephraim Chambers 659
XIII. Addition to Mr. Thomas Baker 662
XIV. Epitaph on Bishop Halifax 664
XV. Memoirs of Mr. Joseph Strutt 665
XVI. Rev. John Free, D.D 687
XVII. Additions and Corrections 696—712
ESSAYS
ESSAYS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
KEFERRED TO IN THE
LITERARY ANECDOTES
OF THE
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
No. I.
EDWARD CAVE.
(See vol. II. p. 44; vol. IV. p. 95.)
" THE curiosity of the publick seems to demand the history of every man who has by whatever means risen to eminence ; and few lives would have more readers than that of the Compiler of Th eGentlemaris Magazine, if all those who received improvement or entertainment from him should retain so much kind- ness for their Benefactor as to enquire after his con- duct and character.
EDWARD CAVE was born at Newton in Warwick- shire, Feb. 29, 1691. His father was the youngest son of Mr. Edward Cave, of Cave's in the Hole, a lone house, on the Street-road in the same county, which took its name from the occupier ; but, having concurred with his elder brother in cutting off the intail of a small hereditary estate, by which act it
Voj.. V. *B was
2 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
was lost from the family, he was reduced to follow in Rugby the trade of a shoe-maker. He was a man. of good reputation in his narrow circle, and remar- kable for strength and rustic intrepidity. He lived to a great age, and was in his latter years supported by his son.
It was fortunate for Edward Cave, that, having a disposition to literary attainments, he was not cut off by the poverty of his parents from opportunities of cultivating his faculties. The school of Rugby, in which he had, by the rules of its foundation, a right to be instructed, was then in high reputation, under the Rev. Mr. Holyock, to whose care most of the neighbouring families, even of the highest rank, entrusted their sons. He had judgment to discover, and, for some time, generosity to encourage the genius of young Cave ; and was so well pleased with his quick progress in the school, that he declared his resolution to breed him for the University, and recommend him as a servitor to some of his scholars of high rank. But prosperity which depends upon the caprice of others is of short duration. Cave's superiority in literature exalted him to an invidious familiarity with boys who were far above him in rank and expectations ; and, as in unequal associations it always happens, whatever unlucky prank was played, was imputed to Cave. When any mischief, great or small, was done, though perhaps others boasted of the stratagem when it was successful, yet upon detection or miscarriage the fault was sure to fall upon poor Cave.
At last his mistress, by some invisible means, lost a favourite cock. Cave was with little examination stigmatized as the thief or murderer ; not because he was more apparently criminal than others, but be- cause he was more easily reached by vindictive justice. From that time Mr. Holyock withdrew his kindness visibly from him, and treated him with harshness, which the crime in its utmost aggravation could scarcely deserve, and which surely he would have
forborne,
EDWARD CAVE. 3
forborne, had he considered how hardly the habitual influence of birth and fortune is resisted ; and how frequently men, not wholly without sense of virtue, are betrayed to acts more atrocious than the robbery of a hen-roost, by a desire of pleasing their superiors.
Those reflections his master never made, or made without effect ; for, under pretence that Cave ob- structed the discipline of the school, by selling clan- destine assistance., and supplying exercises to idlers, he was oppressed with unreasonable tasks, that there might be an opportunity of quarreling with his failure ; and when his diligence had surmounted them, no regard was paid to the performance. Cave bore this persecution for a while ; and then left the school, and the hope of a literary education, to seek some other means of gaining a livelihood.
He was first placed with a Collector of the Excise. He used to recount with some pleasure a journey or two which he rode with him as his clerk, and relate the victories that he gained over the Excisemen in grammatical disputations. But the insolence of his mistress, who employed him in servile drudgery, quickly disgusted him ; and he went up to London in quest of more suitable employment.
He was recommended to a timber-merchant at the Bank-side, and, while he was there on liking, is said to have given hopes of great mercantile abi- lities. But this place he soon left, I know not for what reason, and was bound apprentice to Mr. Collins, a printer of some reputation, and deputy alderman.
This was a trade for which men were formerly qualified by a literary education, and which was pleasing to Cave, because it furnished some em- ployment for his scholastic attainments. Here therefore he resolved to settle., though his master and mistress lived in perpetual discord, and their house could be no comfortable habitation. From the inconveniences of these domestic tumults he was soon released, having in only two years at-
B £ " *. tained
4 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
tained so much skill in his art, and gained so much the confidence of his master, that he was sent with- out any superintendant to conduct a printing-house at Norwich, and publish a weekly paper. In this undertaking he met with some opposition, which produced a public controversy, and procured young Cave reputation as a writer.
His. master died before his apprenticeship was expired ; and, as he was not able to bear the per- verseness of his mistress, he quitted her house upon a stipulated allowance, and married a young widow, with whom he lived at Bow. When his apprentice- ship was over, he worked as a journeyman at the printing-house of Mr. Barber *, a man much distin- guished and employed by the Tories, whose prin- ciples had at that time so much prevalence with Cave, that he was for some years a writer in ( Mist's Journal/ which (though he afterwards obtained, by his wife's interest, a small place in the Post-office) he for some time continued. But, as interest is powerful, and conversation, however mean, in time persuasive, he by degrees inclined to another party ~j~ ; in which, however, he was always mode- rate, though steady and determined.
When he was admitted into the Post-office, he still continued, at his intervals of attendance, to exercise his trade, or to employ himself with some typogra- phical business. He corrected the " Gradus ad Parnassum," and was liberally rewarded by the Company of Stationers. He wrote an account of
* Of whom, see before, vol. I. p. 73.
•f This is by no means confined to persons that move in such humble spheres. The appreciating author of the " Decline, &c." has not only told us, p. 81. c. Ill n. 15, that " officers of the police or revenue easily adapt themselves to any form of go- vernment ;" but, for fear lest a doctrine that adds so little to the Dignity of Human Nature (on which modern Philosophers lay so much stress) should not be readily admitted, has ev'en condescended to furnish an instance of a person deep in the schemes of Opposition one week, and the next taking his seat at the Board of Trade and Plantations as a Lord thereof." T. f.
the
EDWARD CAVE. 5
the Criminals, which had for some time a conside- rable sale ; and published many little pamphlets that accident brought into his hands, of which it would be very difficult to recover the memory. By the correspondence which his place in the Post-office facilitated, he procured 'country news-papers, and sold their intelligence to a journalist of London for a guinea a week.
He was afterwards raised to the office of Clerk of the Franks, in which he acted with great spirit and firmness ; and often stopped franks which were given by Members of Parliament to their friends, because he thought such extension of a peculiar right illegal. This raised many complaints ; and having stopped, among others, a frank given to the old Duchess of Maryborough by Mr. Walter Plum mer, he was cited before the House, as for breach of pri- vilege, and accused, I suppose very unjustly, of opening letters to detect them. He was treated with great harshness and severity ; but, declining their questions by pleading his oath of secrecy, was at last dismissed. And it must be recorded to his honour, that when he was ejected from his office, he did not think himself discharged from his trust, but conti- nued to refuse to his nearest friends any information about the management of the office.
By this constancy of diligence, and diversification of employment, he in time collected a sum sufficient for the purchase of a small printing-office, and began The Gentleman's Magazine, a periodical pamphlet, of which the scheme is known wherever the English language is spoken. To this underta- king he owed the affluence in which he passed the last twenty years of his life, and the fortune which he left behind him, which, though large, had been yet larger, had he not rashly and wantonly impaired it by innumerable projects, of which I know not that ever one succeeded.
The Gentleman's Magazine, which has already subsisted three and twenty years, and still continues
equally
LITERARY ANECDOTES.
equally to enjoy the favour of the world *, is one of the most successful and lucrative pamphlets -which literary history has upon record, and therefore de- serves, in this narrative, particular notice.
Mr. Cave, when he formed the project, was far from expecting the success which he found ; and others had so little prospect of its consequence, that, though he had for several years talked of his plan among printers and booksellers, none of them thought it worth the trial -f~. That they were not restrained by their virtue from the execution of another man's design, was sufficiently apparent as soon as that design began to be gainful ; for in a few years a multitude of magazines arose, and perished : only The London Magazine, supported by a powerful association of booksellers, and circulated with all the art, and all the cunning of trade, ex- empted itself from the general fate of Cave's invaders,
* This was written at the beginning of 1754 ; and it may still with justice be said, that The Gentleman's Magazine, after a period of almost eighty years, stands foremost for literary- reputa- tion, as the respectable Correspondence it uniformly continues to enjoy abundantly evinces.
t " The invention of this new species of publication may be considered as something of an epocha in the Literary History of this Country. The periodical publications before that time were almost wholly confined to political transactions, and to foreign and domestic occurrences. But the Magazines have opened a way for every kind of enquiry and information. Tho intelligence and discussion contained in them are very extensive and various ; and they have been the means of diffusing a general habit of reading through the Nation ; which, in a certain degree, hath enlarged the public understanding. Many young Authors, who have afterwards risen to corteiderable eminence in the literary world, have here made their first attempts in composition. Here, too, are preserved a multitude of curious and useful hints, ob- servations, and facts, which otherwise might have never ap- peared ; or, if they had appeared in a more evanescent form, wopld have incurred the danger of being lost. If it were not an invidious task, the history of them would be no incurious or un- entertaining subject. The Magazines that unite utility with en- tertainment are undoubtedly preferable to those (if there have, been any such} whichf have only a view to idle and frivolous amuse- jceni." Dr. Kippis,
and
EDWARD CAVE. J
and obtained, though not an equal, yet a conside- rable sale *.
Cave now began to aspire to popularity ; and, being a greater lover of poetry than any other art, he sometimes offered subjects for poems, and pro- posed prizes for the best performances. The first prize was fifty pounds, for which, being but newly acquainted with wealth, and thinking the influence of fifty pounds extremely great, he expected the first Authors of the kingdom to appear as competitors ; and offered the allotment of the prize to the Univer- sities. But, when the time came, no name was seen among the writers that had been ever seen before ; the Universities an4 several private men rejected the province of assigning the prize •*}-. At all this Mr. Cave wondered for a while ; but his na- tural judgment, and a wider acquaintance with the world, soon cured him of his astonishment, as of many other prejudices and errors. Nor have many men been seen raised by accident or industry to sudden riches, that retained less of the meanness of their former state.
He continued to improve his Magazine, and had the satisfaction of seeing its success proportionate to his diligence, till in the year 1751 his wife died of an asthma ; with which tliough he seemed not at first much affected, yet in a few days he lost his sleep and his appetite ; and, lingering two years, fell, by drinking acid liquors, into a diarrhoea, and after- wards into a kind of lethargic insensibility, in which one of the last acts of reason he exerted, was fondly to press the hand that is now writing this little nar- rative. He died on January 10, 1754, aet. 6*3, having just concluded the twenty-third annual col- lection.
* This was actually the case in 1^54 j but The London Maga- zine ceased to exist in 1785. See vol. IV. p. 95.
f The determination was left to Dr. Cromwell Mortimer, and Dr. Birch ; and by the latter the award was made, which may be seen in the Magazine for the year 1?36, vol. VI. p. 59.
He
8 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
He was a man of large stature, not only tall but bulky, and was, when young, of remarkable strength and activity. He was generally healthful, and ca- pable of much labour and long application ; but in the latter years of his life was afflicted with the gout, which he endeavoured to cure or alleviate by a total abstinence both from strong liquors and animal food. From animal food he abstained about four years, and from strong liquors much longer ; but the gout continued unconquered, perhaps un- abated.
His resolution and perseverance were very uncom- mon ; whatever he undertook, neither expence nor fatigue were able to repress him ; but his constancy was calm, and, to those who did not know him, appeared faint and languid ; but he always went forward, though he moved slowly.
The same chilness of mind was observable in his conversation ; he was watching the minutest accent of those whom he disgusted by seeming inattention ; and his visitant was surprized when he came a second time, by preparations to execute the scheme which he supposed never to have been heard.
He was, consistently with this general tranquillity of mind, a tenacious maintainer, though not a cla- morous demander of his right. In his youth, having summoned his fellow-journeymen to concert mea- sures against the oppression of their masters, he mounted a kind of rostrum, and harangued them so efficaciously, that they determined to resist all future invasions, And when the Stamp Officers de- manded to stamp the last half sheet of the Magazines, Mr. Cave alone defeated their claim, to which the proprietors of the Rival Magazines would meanly have submitted.
He was a friend rather easy and constant, than Zealous and active; yet many instances might be given, where both his money and his diligence were employed liberally for others. His enmity was in like manner cool and deliberate ; but, though cool,
it
EDWARD CAVE. 9
it was not insidious, and though deliberate, not per- tinacious.
His mental faculties were slow ; he saw little at a time, but that little he saw with great exactness. He was long in finding the right, but seldom failed to find it at last. His affections were not easily gained, and his opinion not quickly discovered. His reserve, as it might hide his faults, concealed his virtues ; but such he was, as they who best knew him have most lamented*."
To the foregoing incomparable article I shall take the liberty of making some additions.
From the time of Mr. Cave's first connexion with the Newspaper at Norwich, he had conceived a strong idea of the utility of publishing the Parlia- mentary Debates ; and had an oppnrt unity, whilst engaged in a situation at the Post-office, not only, us stated by Dr. Johnson, of supplying his London friends with the Provincial Papers : but he also con-4 trived to furnish the Country Printers with those written Minutes of the Proceedings in the Two Houses of Parliament, which within my own remem- brance were regularly circulated in the Coffee- houses, before the Daily Papers were t ni-it 1 1/ per- mitted to report the Debates.
'I 'he Orders of the House were indeed regularly repeated, and occasionally enforced ; and under these, in April 1728, Mr. Cave experienced some inconvenience and expence ; having been ordered into the custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for sup- plying his friend Mr. Robert Haikes with the Minutes of the House, lor the use of the Gloucester Journal. After a confinement of several days, on stating his sorrow for the offence, and pleading that he had a wife and family who suffered much by his imprison-
* Thilfl far this article is given in the words of Dr. Johnson, from Gent. Mag. vol. XX V". p. 65 — 57; revised by its excel- lent Author, at my particular request, in 1781.
ment,
JO LITERARY ANECDOTES.
.men t, be was discharged, with a reprimand, on paying the accustomed fees *."
In the following year Mr. Raikes again incurred the censure of the House -f~ by repeating his offence ; Ibut Mr. Cave was at that time out of the scrape ^.
The plan- of inserting a regular series of the Par- liamentary Debates in the Gentleman's Magazine, was a project which Mr. Cave had long in contem- ptatiort before he adventured to put it into practice. At Length, in July 1736, he boldly dared ; and his method of proceeding is thus related by Sir John Hawkins :•
6t- Taking with him a friend or two, he found means to- procure for them and himself admission into the gallery of the House of Commons, or to some concealed station in the other House ; and then they privately took down notes of the several speeches, and the general tendency and substance of the arguments. Thus furnished, Cave and his asso- ciates would adjourn to a neighbouring tavern, and compare and adjust their notes ; by means whereof, and the help of their memories, they became enabled to. fix at least the substance of what they had so lately heard and remarked. The reducing this crude matter into form was the work of a future day and of an abler hand ; Guthrie, the Historian, a writer for the booksellers, whom Cave retained for the purpose/'
* Journals of the House of Commons, vol. XXI. pp. 85, 118, 1T9, 127.
t Ibid. pp. 227, 238.
* Mr. Raikes, in a Petition to the House, stated, "that, be- fore the beginning of that Session of Parliament, he gave orders to his servant, not to insert in his Journal any of the Votes or Re- solutions of the House ; that the paragraph complained of was inserted without his knowledge, and was taken (as he was in- formed) from a News-letter, sent by Mr. Gythens, clerk of the Bristol road, or his assistant, to the King's-head Inn in Glou- cester ; that the Petitioner is very ill of a fever, keeps his bed, and is not able to travel ; and praying that he may be excused from attending the House." His attendance was accordingly dispensed with j and Gythens directed to attend.
But
EDWARD CAVE. 11
But these Debates were not given till the Session was ended ; and then only with the initial and final letters of each Speaker.
Thus far all went on smoothly for two years ; ' till on the l,3th of April 1738, a complaint being made to the House, that the publishers of several written and printed News-Letters and Papers had taken upon them to give accounts therein of the Pro- ceedings of the House ; it was Resolved, " That it is a high indignity to, and a notorious breach of, the Privilege of this House, for any News-writer, in Letters, or other Papers (as Minutes, or under any other denomination), or for any Printer or Pub- lisher of any printed News-paper of any denomina- tion, to presume to insert in the said Letters or Papers, or to give therein, any account of the De- bates, or other Proceedings, of this House, or any Committee thereof, as well during the Recess, as the Sitting of Parliament ; and that this House will proceed with the utmost severity against such of- fenders *."
Some expedient was now become necessary ; and the caution (not the vanity) of Cave suggesting to him a popular fiction ; in June 1738 he prefaced the Debates by what he chose to call " An Appendix to Captain Lemuel Gulliver's Account of the famous Empire of Lilliput;" and the proceedings in Par- liament were given under the title of " Debates in the Senate of Great Lilliput."
Not thinking himself, however, perfectly secure, even by this total concealment of the speakers, he did not venture to put his own name to the Title- pages of the Magazine ; but published them under the name of one of his nephews, " Edward Cave, junior;" which was continued till 1752. In the following year he again used his own name ; and gave the Debates, as at first, with the initial and final letters.
* Journals of the House of Commons, vol. XXIII. p. 148.
A new
12 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
A new sera in politicks, occasioned by the motion to remove the Minister, Feb. 13, 1740-1, bringing on much warmer Debates, required " the pen of a more nervous writer than he who had hitherto con- ducted them ;" and " Cave, dismissing Guthrie, committed the care of this part of his monthly publi- cation to Johnson ;" who had already given ample specimens of his ability. But the Lilliputian disguise was still continued, even beyond the period of John- son's Debates ; which, as has been authenticated by his own Diaiy, began Nov. 19, 1740, and ended Feb. 23, 1742-3. And these Debates, which, every competent judge must allow, exhibit a memorable specimen of the extent and promptitude of Johnson's faculties, and which have induced learned foreigners to compare British with Roman eloquence, were hastily sketched by Johnson while he was not yet 32, while he had little acquaintance with life, while he was struggling, not for distinction, but existence.
On the 3d of April 1747, a complaint having been made in the House of Lords, against Edward Cave, and Thomas Astley, for printing in their respective Magazines (the Gentleman's and the London) an account of the Trial of Simon Lord Lovat ; they were both ordered into the custody of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. — On the 10th of April, Mr. Cave, in custody, petitioned the House ; ex- pressing his sorrow for his offence ; begging pardon for the same ; promising never to offend again in the like manner ; and praying to be discharged. — On the 30th of April, the Lord Raymond reported from the Committee appointed to consider of the offences of Astley and Cave ; "that they had ordered Cave to be brought before them ; and the book complained of being shewn to him, he owned that he printed and published it. Being asked, " how he came to publish an account of Lord Lovat's Trial, and from whom he had the account so pub- lished ?" he said, "it was done inadvertently; he was very sorry for having offended ; that he pub- lished
EDWARD CAVE. 1£
lished the said Account of the Trial from a printed Paper which was left at his House, directed to him ; but he does not know from whom it came." Being asked, " how long he has been a publisher of The Gentleman's Magazine ?" he said, " that it is about sixteen years since it was first published ; that he was concerned in it at first with his nephew ; and, since the death of his nephew, he has done it en- tirely himself." Notice being taken to him, " that the said books have contained Debates in Parliament ;'? he said, " he had left off 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 publish Debates in Par- liament ?" he said, " he was extremely sorry for it ; that it was a very great presumption ; but he was led into it by custom, and the practice of other people: that there was a monthly book, published before the Magazines, called The Political State, which contained Debates in Parliament; and that he never heard, till lately, that any persons were punished for printing those books." Being asked, {f how he carne by the Speeches which he printed in The Gentleman'*' Magazine 9" he said, " he got into the House, and heard them, and made use of a black-lead pencil, and only took notes of some re- markable passages ; and, from his memory, he put them together himself." Notice being taken to him, " that some of the Speeches were very long, con- sisting of several pages ;" he said, " he wrote them himself, from notes which he took;, assisted by his memory." Being asked, " whether he printed no Speeches but such as were so put together by him- self, 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 Mem- bers, who have taken notes of other Members'
Speeches.''
14 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
Speeches." Being asked, " if he ever had any pef- son whom he kept in pay, to make Speeches for him ?" he said, " he never had."
The Report proceeds to state, that Astley had been also brought before them ; and a former exa- mination of the 8th of April having been read to him, he said, " that contained all the information he was able to give their Lordships *."
In consequence of this Report, Mr. Astley in re- gard of his lameness with the gout as not to be able
* At this examination, Mr. Astley owned that he had pub- lished the London Magazine, but was not apprehensive it was a breach of privilege, being compiled chiefly from Newspapers. He was then examined, as to the Debates contained in those pamphlets, and how he came by them ; and said, " they were generally sent him by the penny post, or by messengers, pursuant to advertisements frequently inserted, inviting persons to furnish kim with matters of that nature." But, being more strictly in- quired of touching that affair, he acquainted the House, " that he was supplied with a great many Speeches by one Mr. Clarke, who he supposed was an attorney, and died in May last ; but whether they were fictitious or genuine, he knew not ; and, for aught he knew, they might be made by himself." Being asked, " what gratuity he made him ?" said, " he had given him ten guineas at a time; and has received no Speech since Clarke's death, but by the post." The said Astley further acquainted the House, " he was the first who printed Magazines ;" and acknowledged, te that of late the Debates have been inserted, under the notion of an imaginary Club" Being further asked, " whether the letters, mentioned in his said examination to be sent him by the penny post, had any mark by which he could know from whom they came ?" he said, " they had no such mark ; that he does not know from whom they came ; and he supposes, upon such an occasion, the persons would disguise their common hand- writing." Being asked, whether he believes the Speeches, which he mentions in his said examination to be furnished him by Mr. Clarke, were made by the said Clarke ?" he said, " he believes some of them may ; but Clarke has told him he has had helps from his friends." Being asked, " whether he thinks any of the Speeches which Clarke furnished him with were the Speeches of the Members ?" he said, " he did sometimes believe that some of them were the Members' Speeches ; that Clarke represented them as such to him." Being asked, " whether he knows that the said Clarke used to attend the House upon Debates ?" he said, " he believes Clarke sometimes got into the House, behind the Throne."
to
EDWARD CAVE. 15
t$ walk, was discharged out of custody, paying his fees ; and Mr. Cave was ordered to be brought up for the same purpose on the following day ; whvcii was accordingly done, and he was also discharged, with a reprimand, on paying his fees *..
On the morning of Dec. 7, 1784, only six days before his death, JDr. Johnson requested to see the Editor of these Anecdotes ; from whom he had borrowed some of the early volumes of the Maga- zine, with a professed intention to point out the pieces which he had written in that collection. The books lay on the table, with many leaves doubled down, particularly those which contained his share m the Parliamentary Debates ; and such was the goodness of Johnson's heart, that he solemnly de- clared, " that the only part of his writings which then gave him any compunction, was his account of the Debates in the Gentleman's Magazine ; but that, at the time he wrote them, he did not think he was imposing on the world. The mode," he said, "was to fix upon a Speaker's name; then to make an .ar- gument for him ; and to conjure up an answer. He wrote those Debates with more velocity than any other of his productions ; often three columns of the Magazine within the hour. He once wrote ten pages in one day, and that not a long one, 'be- ginning perhaps at noon, and ending early in -the evening. Of the Life of Savage he wrote forty-eight octavo pages in one day ; but that day included the night, for he sat up all the night to do it."
His portion of the Parliamentary Debates was collected into two octavo volumes ; to which the Editor has substituted the real for the fictitious speakers. "The illuminations of Johnson's Ora- tory," it is observed, " were obscured by the jargon which Cave thought it prudent to adopt, to avoid Parliamentary indignation. These Debates, like
* Journals of the House of Lords, vol. XXVII. pp. 94, 100, 101, 107, 103, 109.
the
16 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
the Orations of Cicero and Demosthenes, ought to be studied by the British youth, as specimens of splendid eloquence, nervous argument, and Par- liamentary decorum. Though few can hope to rival Johnson's performances, every youth, who from his birth or fortune expects to sit in Parlia- ment, ought to aim, by studious perusal, at John- son's perfection in oratory and reasoning. And those Debates may be usefully inspected by every public man, for felicities of expression, for the struc- ture of sentences, happy at once for point, dignity, and elegance.
" Few of the collections of Parliamentary Debates can be justly regarded as much more authentic than Johnson's Orations. The most antient are probably the most authentic. D'Ewes's 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 important Debates during the interesting period from 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 De- bates during the Civil Wars. To these follow Gray's Debates, which are still more authentic. But as to those various collections, which profess to give the Parliamentary Debates during that disputatious 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 unshackled the press. But it was still criminal, at least dan- gerous, to publish Parliamentary proceedings with- out Parliamentary permission. During King Wil- liam's reign, the Newspapers sometimes gave a de- tached speech of a particular speaker, who wished, by contributing the outlines, to gratify his vanity, or secure his seat.
"It
EDWARD CAVE. 1J
" It was in the factious times which immediately succeeded, when Parliamentary Debates were first distributed through the land in monthly pamphlets. Then it was that Boyer's* zeal propagated the Poli- tical State. This was succeeded, on the accession of George L by the Historical Registers, which were published by soberer men, and may be supposed therefore to contain more satisfactory information.
" The Gentleman's Magazine seon after furnished the publick with still more finished Debates, which were first compiled by Gutlirie, then by Johnson, and afterwards by Hawkesworth. The success of this far-famed Miscellany prompted many compe- titors for public favour, who all 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 Repre- sentatives, seem to have established the* privilege of knowing what their Representatives say -|~."
The Lilliputian names were continued in the -Magazine till 1/45 ; in which year, p. 135, Mr. Cave very fully announced his plan of publishing Mr. Anchitell Grey's Debates, from 1669 to 1(>94; and gave the particular subject of each Debate. After which no Debate occurs till November 1749, when they were given in the form of a Letter from a Member of Parliament to his Country Friend.
In 1752 the Proceedings in Parliament were re- ported briefly in the Magazine, in the shape of a letter thus introduced : " The following heads of
Speeches in the H of C were given- me
by a gentleman, who is of opinion, that Members of Parliament are accountable to their Constituents for what they say, as well as what they do, in their Legislative capacity; that no honest man, who is
* Abel Boyer, the well-known political writer, t Preface to Johnson's Debates, 1787, pp. vi— k.
VoL.V. C intrust* d
18
LITERARY ANECDOTES.
intrusted with the liberties and purses of the people, will be ever unwilling to have his whole conduct laid before those who so intrusted him, without disguise; that if every gentleman acted upon this just, this honourable, this constitutional principle, the Electors themselves only would be to blame, if they re-elected a person guilty of a breach of so important a trust. But let the arguments speak for themselves. Thus much only may be necessary to premise, that as the state of public affairs was, in a great measure, the same both last year and this, I send you a speech, in the Committee of Supply, upon the number of Standing Forces for the year 1751, and also another in the lest Session of Par- liament, for the year 1752. You may be assured they are really genuine, and not such an imposition upon the speakers and the publick, as some that have appeared in other Monthly Collections."
From the above period, the Debates were regu- larly given as formerly, with the initial letters of the several speakers, till the end of 1782; subse- quent to which, they have been printed without the least affectation of disguise; and form, in the whole, a complete and impartial report for more than se- venty years.
The tenor of this narrative, and the intimate con- nexion which subsisted between Mr. Cave and Dr. Johnson, seem to render it necessary that I should here reclaim the following correspondence *, which was first through my intervention communicated to the publick. It is too honourable to both the parties
to be omitted in a professeci Life of either of them. *
1- " SIR, Nov. 25, 1734.
:< As you appear no less sensible than your Readers of the defects of your Poetical Article, you
* Of these eleven letters, nine of the originals are in the pos- session of Miss Cave, great-niece of Edward. The other two were given by Mr. Henry to Thomas Astle, esq. and by him com- municated to Mr. Boswell.
•11 will
EDWARD CAVJE. 1£
'will not be displeased, if, in order to the improve- ment of it, I communicate to you the sentiments of a person, who will undertake, on reasonable terms, sometimes to fill a column.
" His opinion is, that the publick would not give you a bad reception, if, besides the current wit of the month, which a critical examination would generally reduce to a narrow compass, you admitted not only poems, inscriptions, &c. never printed be- fore, which he will sometimes supply you with ; but likewise short literary dissertations in Latin or English, critical remarks on authors antient or ino-
O * , '
dern, forgotten poems that deserve revival, or loose pieces, like Floyer s*, worth preserving. By this method, your literary article, for so it might be called, will, he thinks be better recommended to the publick, than by low jests, aukward buffoonery, or the dull scurrilities of either party. . " If such a correspondence will be agreeable to you, be pleased to inform me in two posts, what the conditions are on which you shall expect it. Your late offer-}- gives me no reason to distrust your generosity. If you engage in any literary projects besides this paper, I have other designs to impart, if I could be secure from having others reap the advantage of what I should hint.
" Your letter, by being directed to S. Smith, to be left at the Castle in Birmingham, Warwickshire, will reach your humble servant ;£."
* Sir John Floyejr's Treatise on Cold Baths, which \vas printed in Gent. Mag. 1734, p. 197, was probably sent by Johnson > who, a very short time before his death, strongly pressed the Editor of these Anecdotes to give to the publick some account of the life and works of Sir John Floyer, " whose learning and piety/' the Doctor said, " deserve recording." An original portrait of Floyer is preserved at Lichfield.
•j- A prize of* Fifty Pounds for the best poem " On Life, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell." See Gent. Mag. .vol. IV. p. 56o.
+ Mr. Cave has put a note on this letter, " Answered Dec. 2." But whether any thing was done in consequence of it we are not informed. Mr. Bosweii adds, " I am pretty sure Dr. Johnson told me, that Mr. Cuve was the first publisher by whom his pea "was engaged in London,"
C 2 2. " SIR,
10 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
o cc cin Greenwich, next door to the Golden Harf,
Church-street, July 12, 1737.
<( HAVING observed in your papers very un- common offers of encouragement to men of letters, I have chosen, being a stranger in London, to communicate to you the following design, which, I hope, if you join in it, will be of advantage to both of us.
" The History of the Council of Trent having been lately translated into French, and published with large notes by Dr. Le Courayer, the reputation of that book is so much revived in England, that it is presumed, a new translation of it from the Italian, together with Le Courayer's Notes from the French, could not fail of a favourable reception.
" If it be answered, that the History is already in English, it must be remembered, that there was the same objection against Le Courayer's undertaking, with this disadvantage, that the French had a version by one of their best Translators; whereas you cannot read three pages of the English History * without discovering that the style is capable of great im- provements ; but whether those improvements are to be expected from the attempt, you must judge from the specimen, which, if you approve the pro- posal, I shall submit to your examination.
" Suppose the merit of the versions equal, we may hope that the addition of the Notes will turn the balance in our favour, considering the reputation of the Annotator.
" Be pleased to favour me with a speedy answer, if you are not willing to engage in this scheme; and appoint me a day to wait upon you if you are. I am,
" Sir, your humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON -j~.**
* An old translation of SirNathanael Brent.
f " It should seem from this letter," says Mr. Boswell, " though subscribed with his own name, that he had not yet been introduced to Mr. Cave." What was done in consequence «f the proposal which it contains, may be seen u> p. 28.
John-
EDWARD CAVE. 81
Johnson'* first performance in the Gentleman's Magazine, which for many years was his principal source for employment and support, was a copy of Latin verses, in March 1 738, addressed to the Editor in so happy a style of compliment, that Cave must have been destitute both of taste and sensibility, had he not felt himself highly gratified.
Ad URBANUM*,
URBANE, nullis fesse laboribus, URBANE, nullis victe calumniis, Cui fronte sertum in erudita, Perpetud viret et virebit ;
Quid moliatur gens iinitantium, Quid et minetur, solicitus parum,
* A translation of this Ode, by an unknown Correspondent, •appeared in the Magazine for the May following. The Latin. Ode is repeated in vol. LXIV. Part I. ; and the following very elegant translation of it by the late William Jackson, esq. of Canterbury, in Part II.
" URBAN, whom neither toil profound.
Fatigues, nor calumnies o'erthrow, The wreath, thy learned brows around,
Still grows, and will for ever grow.
Of Rivals let no cares infest,
Of what they threaten or prepare \ Blest in thyself, thy projects blest,
Thy hours still let the Muses share. ,-
The leaden shafts, which Folly throws,
In silent dignity despise j Superior o'er opposing foes,
Thy vigorous diligence shall rise.
Exert thy strength, each vain design,
Each rival soon shall thou disdain ; Arise, for see, thy task to join,
Approach the Muses' fav'ring train.
How grateful to each Muse the page,
Where grave with sprightly themes are join'd j
And useful levities engage, And recreate the wearied mind !
Thus the pale violet to the rose,
Adds beauty 'midst the garland's dyes ; And thus the changeful rainbow throws
It* varied splendours o'er the skies,"
Vacare
LITERARY ANECDOTES,
care. sblis perge Musis, Juxta ammo studiisque felix,
Linguse procacis plumbea spicula, Fidens, superbo f range silentio ; ^iv«»» Victrix per obstantes catervas .W*,l gV; Sedulitas animosa tendet. Intende nervos, fortis, inanibus Risurus olim nisibtis aemuli ; Intende jam nervos, habebis Participes opera-, Camqenas.
Non ulla Musis pagina gratior, Quam quse sevens ludicra jungere Novit, fatigatamque nugis Utilibus recreare mentem.
Texente Nymphis serta Lycoride, Hosae ruborem sic viola adjuvat Immista, sic Iris refulg'et
&lU -r^ f * •>•,
-r^ f
^Etnereis variata tucis.
Ii appears that Johnson was now enlisted by Mr, Cave as a tegular coadjutor in his Magazine.
(f Castle-street, Wednesday morning.
IR' No date. [1738.]
" WHEN I took the liberty of writing to you a few days ago, I did not expect a repetition of the same pleasure so soon ; for a pleasure 1 shall always think it, to converse in any manner with an ingenious and candid man ; but, having the inclosed PoeiH in my hands to dispose of for the benefit of the Author (of whose abilities I. shall say nothing, since I send you l)is performance) I believed I could not procure more advantageous terms from any person than from you, who have so much distinguished yourself by your generous encouragement of Poetry; and whose judgment of that art nothing but your commendation of my trifle * can give me any occa- sion to call in question. I do not doubt but you will look over this Poem with another eye, an4
* His Ode Ad Urbanym, probably.
reward
EDWARD CAVE. 23
reward it in a different manner, from a mercenary Bookseller, who counts the lines he is to purchase *, and considers nothing but the bulk. I cannot help taking notice, that, besides what the Author may hope for on account of his abilities, he has likewise another claim to your regard, as he lies at present under very disadvantageous circumstances of fortune. I beg, therefore, that you will favour me with a let- ter to-morrow, that I may know what you can afford to allow him, that he may either part with it to you, or find out (which I do not expect) some other way more to his satisfaction.
(e I have only to add, that as I am sensible I have transcribed it very coarsely, which, after having al- tered it, I was obliged to do, I will, if you please to transmit the sheets from the press, correct it for you ; and take the trouble of altering any stroke of satire which you may dislike.
" By exerting on this occasion your usual gene- rosity, you will not only encourage learning, and relieve distress, but (though it be in comparison of the other motives of very small account) oblige in a ?ery sensible manner, sir, your very humble servant,
SAM. JOHNSON -f-.n
4« " SIR, Monday, No. 6, Castle-street.
" I AM to return you thanks for the present you were so kind as to send me; and to intreat that you will be pleased to inform me by the penny- post, whether you resolve to print the .Poem. If you please to send it me by the post, with a note to Dodsley, I will go and read the lines to him, that we may have his consent to put his name in the
* Dr. Johnson once observed to me, " that Mr. Cave was a generous paymaster; but, in bargaining for Poetry, he contracted for lines by the hundred, and expected the long hundred."
f The poem, or satire, mentioned in this and the following letters, must doubtless have been our Author's own " London," which was published in May 1738, and is recorded in Gent. Mag. vol. VIII. p.2G9, " as being remarkable for having got to the second edition in the space of a week."
title-
24 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
title-page. As to the printing, if it can be set im- mediately about, I will be so much the Author's friend, as not to content myself with mere solicita- tions in his favour. I propose^ if my calculation be -near the truth', to engage for the reimbursement of all that you shall lose by an impression of 500 ; provided, as you very generously propose, that the profit, if any, be set aside for the Author's use, excepting the present you made, which, if he be a gainer, it is fit he should repay. I beg that you will let one of your servants write an exact account of the expence of such an impression, and send it with the Poem, that I may know what I engage for. I am very sensible, from your generosity on this oc- casion/ of your regard to learning, even in its un- happiest state ; and cannot but think such a temper deserving of the gratitude of those who suffer so often from a contrary disposition, I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, SAM, JOHNSON."
5. " SIR, [No date*.]
" I WAITED on you to take the copy to Dod- sley's : as I remember the number of lines which it contains, it will be no longer than Eugenia -j~, with
* Tins letter must have been written in April 173S, as ap- pears from an accidental memorandum on the back of. it, and from the Epigram to Eliza, which was printed in that month's Magazine, p, 210, both in Greek and Latin. The three follow- ing letters were also written in 1738.
f " Eugenio, a Virtuous and Happy Life, inscribed to Mr. Pope," published by Dodsley in April 1737. The author of this Poem, a work by no means destitute of public spirit, and which had had the advantage of being corrected by Dean Swift, was Mr. Beach, a wine-merchant at Wrexham in Denbighshire, a man of learning, of great humanity, of an easy fortune, and much respected. He is said by some to have entertained very blameable notions in religion ; but this appears rather to be a conjecture than a well-established fact. It is certain that he •was at times grievously afflicted with a terrible disorder in his head, to which his friends ascribed his melancholy exit. On May 17, 1737, in less than a month after the publication of his poem, he cut his throat with such shocking resolution, that it was reported his head was almost severed from his body. This dreadful catastrophe is thus mentioned by Bp. Herring
(then
EDWARD CAVE. 25
the quotations, which must be subjoined at the bottom of the page ; part of the beauty of the per- formance (if any beauty be allowed it) consisting in adapting Juvenal's sentiments to modern facts and persons. It will, with those additions, very conve- niently make five sheets. And since the expence will be no more, I shall contentedly insure it, as I mentioned in my last. If it be not therefore gone to Dodsley's, I beg it may be sent me by the penny- post, that I may have it in the evening. I have composed a Greek epigram to Eliza*, and think she ought to be celebrated in as many different lan- guages as Lewis Le Grand. Pray send me word when you will begin upon the poem, for it is a long way to walk -f~. I would leave my Epigram, but have not day-light to transcribe it. I am, sir,
Yours, &c. SAM. JOHNSON."
6- " -SIR, [No date.}
" I AM extremely obliged by your kind letter, and will not fail to attend you to-morrow with Irene, who looks upon you as one of her best friends.
" I was to-day with Mr. Dodsley, who declares very warmly in favour of the paper you sent him, which he desires to have a share in, it being, as he says, a creditable thing to be concerned in. I knew not what answer to make till I had consulted you, nor what to demand on the Author's part ; but am very willing that, if you please, he should have a part in it, as he will undoubtedly be more diligent
(then Bp. of Bangor) in one of his letters to Mr. Duncombe, p. 54: " The verses you sent me are very sensible and touching ; and the sentiments in them, I doubt not, exhilarated the blood for some time, and suspended the black execution ; but his distemper, it may be said, got the better, and carried him off at last. I would willingly put the best construction upon these melancholy accidents, and thus leave the sufferers to the Father of Mercies." And an " Epilogue to Cato, for the Scholars at Wrexham, 1735," shews how much better Mr. Beach could think than act.
* Miss Carter. See p. 24.
j- He lived at that time in Castk-street, Cavendish-equarev
to
26 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
to disperse and promote it. If you can send me word to-morrow what I shall say to him, I will settle matters, and bring- the Poem with rrie for the press, which, as the town empties, we cannot be too quick with. I am, sir, yours, &c.
SAM. JOHNSON."
7. "SIR, Wednesday.
" I DID not care to detain your servant white I xvrote an answer to vour letter, in which you seem
•/ 9J •/
to insinuate that I had promised more than I am ready to perform. If I have raised your expectations by any thing that may have escaped my memory, I am sorry; and if you remind me of it, shall thank you for the favour. If I made fewer alterations than usual in the Debates *, it was only because there appeared, and still appears to be, less need of alteration.
" The verses to Lady Firebrace-j" may be had when you please, for you know that such a subject neither deserves much thought, nor requires it.
" The Chinese Stories ^ may be had folded down when you please to send, in which I do not recol- lect that you desired any alterations to be made.
* Those in the Senate of Lilliput.
f They appeared in the Magazine, vol. VIII. p. 486, with thi* title, "Verses to Lady Firebrace at Bury Assizes."
" At length must Suffolk's Beauties shine in vain,
So long renown'd in B n's deathless strain ?
Thy charms at least, fair Firebrace, might inspire Some zealous Bard to wake the sleeping lyre, For such thy beauteous mind and lovely face, Thou seem'st at once, bright Nymph, a Muse and Grace." Lady Firebrace was Bridget, third daughter of Philip Bacon, esq. of Ipswich, and relict of Philip Evers, esq. of that town. She became the second wife of Sir Cordell Firebrace, the last baronet of that name (to whom she brought a fortune of 25,000/.), July 26, 1737. Being again left a widow in 1759, she was a third time married, April 7, 176*2, to William Campbell, esq. brother to John third Duke of Argyle; and died July 3, 1782.
•J Du Halde's Description of China was then publishing by Mr. Cave in weekly numbers, whence Johnson was to select pieces for the embellishment of the Magazine.
"An
EDWARD CAVE. 2 7
" An answer to another query I am very willing to write, and had consulted with you about it last night if there had been time ; for I think it the most proper way of inviting such a correspondence as may be an advantage to the paper,, not a load upon it.
"As to the Prize Verses, a backwardness to deter- mine their degrees of merit is not peculiar to me. You may, if you please, still have what I can say ; but I shall engage with little spirit in' an affair, which I shall hardly end to rny own satisfaction, and certainly not to the satisfaction of the parties concerned *. :t ••'{• '
" As to Father Paul, I have not yet been just to my Proposal ; but have met with impediments, which, I hope, are now at an end ; and if you find the progress hereafter not such as you have a right to expect, you can easily stimulate a negligent translator.
" If any or all of these have contributed to your discontent, I will endeavour to remove it ; and de- sire you to propose the question to which you wish for an answer, I am, sir, your humble servant,
SAM. JOHNSON."
I once possessed a paper, in Johnson's hand- writing, which I gave to Mr. Boswell, intituled, " Account between Mr. Edward Cave and Sam. Johnsonj in relation to aversion of Father Paul, &c. begun Aug. 2, 1738;" by which it appears, that from that day to April 21, 17,39, Johnson received for that work 4# /. 7*. in sums of one, two, three, and sometimes four guineas at a time, most fre- quently two. And it is curious to observe the minute and scrupulous accuracy with which John-
* The premium of Forty Pounds, proposed for the best poem on the Divine Attributes, is here alluded to. A former prize «f 501. had been determined in 1/36 by three judges (I know not whether Johnson was one) whose decisions were delivered to the publick by Mr. Birch ; with whom Dr. Mortimer, Sec. R. S. was associated'. See Gent Mag. vol. V. p. 726, and vol. VI. p. 59.'
28 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
son has pasted upon it a slip of paper, which he has intituled " Small Account/' and which contains one article, " Sept. 9, Mr. Cave laid down 2s. 6d.'' There is subjoined to this account a list of some subscribers to the work, partly in Johnson's hand- writing, partly in that of another person; and there follows a leaf or two, on which are written a num- ber of characters which have the appearance of a short-hand, which, perhaps, Johnson was then try- ing to learn.
The following Advertisement, from " The Weekly Miscellany, Oct. 21, 1738," may now be considered as a curiosity: "Just published, Proposals for print- ing the History of the Council of Trent, translated from the Italian of Father Paul Sarpi ; with the Author's Life *, and Notes Theological, Historical, and Critical, from the French Edition of Dr. Le Courayer. To which are added, Observations on the History and Notes ; and Illustrations from vari-- ous Authors; both printed and manuscript. By S. Johnson. 1. The work will consist of two hundred sheets, and be two volumes in quarto, printed on good paper and letter, 3- The price will be 18*. each volume, to be paid half a guinea at the time of subscribing, half a guinea at the de- livery of the first volume, and the rest at the deli- very of the second volume in sheets. 3. Two-pence to be abated for every sheet less than two hundred. It may be had on a large paper, in three volumes, at the price of three guineas ; one to be paid at the time of subscribing, another at the delivery of the first, and the rest at the delivery of the other volumes. The work is now in the press, and will be diligently prosecuted. Subscriptions are taken in by Mr. Dodsley in Pall Mall, Mr. Rivington in St. Paul's Church-yard, by E. Cave at St. John's Gate, and the Translator, at No. 6 in Castle-street, by Cavendish-square."
* Johnson's Life of Father Paul first appeared in Gent. Mag. vol. VIII. p. 581.
Another
EDWARD CAVB. 2$
Another translation having about the same time been announced under the patronage of Dr. (after- wards Bishop) Pearce ; the design of both proved abortive *.
8. " SIR, [No date.]
" I AM pretty much of your opinion, that the Commentary cannot be prosecuted with any appear- ance of success, for as the names' of the authors concerned are of more weight in the performance than its own intrinsic merit, the publick will be soon satisfied with it. And I think the Exainen should be pushed forward with the utmost expedi- tion. Thus, * This day, &c. An Examen of Mr. Pope's Essay, &c. containing a succinct Account of the Philosophy of Mr. Leibnitz on the System of the Fatalists, with a Confutation of their Opinions, and an Illustration of the Doctrine of Free-will -[-.* [with what else you think proper.]
"It will, above all, be necessary to take notice, that it is a thing distinct from the Commentary.
" I was so far from imagining they stood still £, that I conceived them to have a good deal before- hand, and therefore was less anxious in providing them more. But if ever they stand still on my
* The account of Johnson's translation of Father Paul is accurately stated in Gent. Mag. vol. LIV. p. 891. There were only six sheets printed off ; and of these the greater part of the impression was converted into waste paper. A few copies were intended to have been reserved ; but they were so carefully put by, as to be lost in the mass of Mr. Cave's papers deposited in St. John's Gate.
f This Treatise (the production, as it now appears, of the learned Miss Carter), was published price <2s. in November 1738, under the title of " An Examination of Mr. Pope's Essay on Man ; containing a succinct View of the System of the Fatalists, and a Confutation of their Opinions ; with an Illustration of the Doc- trine of Free-Will, and an Enquiry what View Mr. Pope might have in touching upon the Leibnitzian Philosophy and Fatalism. By Mr. Crousaz, Professor of Philosophy and Mathematicks at Lausanne, &c. Printed for A. Dodd, without Temple Bar, and sold by all the Booksellers." See Gent. Mag. vol. YIII . pp. 608, 6'64.
I The Compositors in Mr. Cave's printing-office, who appear by this letter to have then waited for copy.
account,
30 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
account, it must doubtless be charged to me ; and whatever else shall be reasonable, I shall not op- pose; but beg a suspense of judgment till morning, when I must entreat you to send me a dozen Pro- posals, and you shall then have copy to spare, I
• xr • L T
am, sir, Yours, impransus, OAM. JOHNSON.
" Pray muster up the Proposals if you can, or let the boy recall them from the booksellers */'
It is remarkable that Johnson's last letter to Mr. Cave concludes with a fair confession that he had not a dinner -j~ ; and it is no less remarkable that, though in this state of want himself, his benevolent heart was not insensible to the necessities of an humble labourer in literature, as appears from the very next letter :
9. " DEAR SIR, [Xo date.]
" You may remember I have formerly talked with you about a Military Dictionary. The eldest Mr. Macbean J, who was with Mr. Chambers, has very good materials for such a work, which I have seen, and will do it at a very low rate. I think the terms of War and Navigation might be comprised with good explanations in one octavo Pica, which he is willing to do for twelve shillings a sheet, to be made up a guinea at the second impression.
* 6000 copies of these Proposals had been dispersed.
f This observation is Mr. Boswell's. Might not, however, iflipransus simply mean, before dinner, or I have not dined ? The letter perhaps was written, in a hurry, late in the day.
J Mr. Macbean afterwards published a Dictionary of the Bible j and was employed by the Booksellers in compiling the Poetical Index to Dr. Johnson's edition of the English Poets. He made also a similar Index to Mr. Nichols's " Select Collection." See in Gent. Mag. vol. LV. p. 413, a letter from Mr. Ephraun Cham- bers to Mr. Macbean, directing him to send to Caaonbury-house the apparatus he used in correcting the new edition of his '•' Cyclopaedia." In 1780, this useful compiler being oppressed by age and poverty, Dr. Johnson (who had for many years af- forded him an asylum) endeavoured to obtain for him an admis- sion into the Charterhouse. A very kind letter of Lord Thur- Ibw on this occasion is preserved by Mr. Boawell, Life of John- son, vol. III. p. 473. Of his future hbtory, I have not been able to obtain any particulars.
If
EDWARD CAVE. 31
If you think on it, I will wait on you with him. I am, sir, Your humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON. " Pray lend me Top'sel on Animals."
1 0. " SIR, [no date ; but written about the end of 1743.]
" I BELIEVE I am going to write a long letter,
and have therefore taken a whole sheet of paper.
The first thing to be written about is pur Historical
design *. *
" You mentioned the proposal of printing in numbers as an alteration in the scheme; but I believe you mistook, some way or other, my mean- ing; I had no other view than that you might rather print too many of five sheets, than of five- and-thirty.
" With regard to what I shall say on the manner of proceeding, I would have it understood as wholly indifferent to me ; and my opinion only, not my resolution. Emptoris sit eligere.
" I think the insertion of the exact dates of the most important events in the margin, or of so many events as may enable the reader to regulate the order of facts with sufficient exactness, the proper medium between a journal, which has regard only to time, and a historv, which ranges facts according to their dependence on each other, and postpones or antici- pates according' to the convenience of narration. I think the work ought to partake of the spirit of history, which is contrary to minute exactness, and of the regularity of a journal, which is inconsistent with spirit. For this reason, I neither admit num- bers or dates, nor reject them.
" I am of your opinion with regard to placing most of the resolutions, &c. in the margin, and think we shall give the most complete account of Parliamentary proceedings that can be contrived. The naked papers, without any historical treatise
* Some historical account of the Parliament, from which Cave probably desisted ; or some new mode of giving the debates, which he afterward* found impossible to continue.
inter-
32 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
interwoven, require some other book to make them understood. I will date the succeeding facts with some exactness, but 1 think in the margin.
" You told me on Saturday that I had received money on this work, and found set down 13/- 2.9. 6d. reckoning the half guinea of last Saturday. As you hinted to me that you had many calls for money, J would riot press you too hard, and therefore shall desire Qnly, as I send it in, two guineas for a sheet of copy ; the rest you may pay me when it may be more convenient ; and even by this sheet-payment I shall, for some time, be very expensive.
" The Life of Savage I am ready to go upon; and in Great Primer, and Pica notes, I reckon on send- ing in half a sheet a day * ; but the money for that shall likewise lie by in your hands till it is done. With the Debates, shall not I have business enough ? if I had but good pens.
" Towards Mr. Savage's Life -f~ what more have you got ^ ? I would willingly have his Trial, &c.
i
* On this head, see before, p. 15.
f Of this Life, which appeared on Feb. 11, 1743-4, Mr. Ralph observes, in " The Champion," that " it is, without flatten- to its Author, as just and well-written a piece, as, ®f its kind, I ever saw ; so that at the same time that it highly deserves, it certainly stands very little in need of this recommendation. As to the history of the unfortunate person whose memoirs compose this work, it is certainly penned with equal accuracy and spirit, of which I am so much the better judge, as I know many of the facts mentioned in it to be strictly true, and very fairly related. Besides, it is not only the story of Mr. Savage, but innumerable incidents relating to other persons and other affairs, which ren- der this a very amusing, and withal a very instructive and valu- able performance. The Author's observations are short, signifi- cant, and just, as his narrative is remarkable smooth, and well disposed. His reflections open to us all the recesses of the hu- man heart, and, in a word, a more just or pleasant, a more engaging or a more improving treatise on the excellences and defects of human nature, is scarce to be found in our own, or perhaps in any other language."
J Soon after the publication of this life, which was anony- mous, Mr. Walter Harte, dining with Mr. Cave at St. John's Gate, took occasion to speak very handsomely of the work. Cave told Harte, when they next met, that he had made a man very happy the other day at his house, by the encomiums he bestowed
on
EDWARD CAVE. 33
and know whether his Defence be at Bristol ; and would have his Collection of Poems, 011 account of the Preface;—4 The Plain-dealer *;'— all the Maga- zines that have any thing of his, or relating to him. " I thought my letter would be long ; but it is now ended ; and I am, sir,
Yours, &c. SAM. JOHNSON.
" The boy found me writing this almost in the dark, when I could not quite easily read yours.
" I have read the Italian -j~ — nothing in it is well.
" I had no notion of having any thing for the Inscription'^. I hope you do not think I kept it to extort a price. I could think of nothing, till to- day. If you could spare me another guinea for the History, I should take it very kindly, to-night ; but if you do not, I shall not think it an injury. — I am almost well again."
11. <f SIR, [No date nor signature.]
" You did not tell me your determination about the ' Soldier's Letter $,' which I am confi- dent was never printed. I think it will not do by itself, or in any other place so well as the Maga- zine Extraordinary. If you will have it at all, I believe you do not think I set it high ; and I will be glad if what you give, you will give quickly.
on the author of Savage's Life. " How could that be ? " says Harte : " none were present but you and I." Cave replied, " You might observe I sent a plate of victuals behind the skreen. There skulked the Biographer, one Johnson, whose dress was so shabby that he durst not make his appearance. He overheard our conversation; and your applauding his performance delighted him exceedingly."
* Published in 1724, and containing some account of Savage.
f Articles, perhaps, intended for the Magazine.
% This, Mr. Mulone thinks, might perhaps have been tl>e Runic Inscription, Gent. Mag. XII. 132. But I much doubt it, though unable to ascertain what it really was.
§ This must have been something of a friend of Johnson's, recommended by him to Cave. Had it been his own, he would not have said, " I am confident was never printed ;" but what it was I know not, and su5pcct it was never printed at all.
VOL. V. D
34 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
" You need not be in care about something to print; for I have got the State Trials, and shall extract Layer, Atterbury, and Macclesfield, from them, and shall bring them to you in a fortnight ; after which I will try to get the South Sea Report."
In a conversation with Boswell, talking of Ghosts, Dr. Johnson said, " he knew one friend, who was an honest and a sensible man, who told him he had seen a Ghost — old Mr. Edward Cave, the printer at St. John's Gate." He said, " Mr. Cave did not like the talk of it, and seemed to be in great horrour whenever it was mentioned." — B. " Pray, Sir, what does he say was the appearance ?" — J. " Why, Sir, something of a shadowy being*."
" His friend Edward Cave having been mentioned, he told us, Cave used to sell 10,000 of the Gentle- man's Magazine ; yet such was then his minute at- tention and anxiety that the sale should not suffer the smallest decrease, that he would name a parti- cular person who he heard had talked of leaving off ". Magazine, and would say, ( Let us have some-
• _-fj J *
good next month -^!" — Mr. Cave's attention to agazine may indeed truly be termed unremit*- ting ; for, as Dr. Johnson once observed to me, " he scarcely ever looked out of the window, but with a view to its improvement."
Of Mr. Cave and his early associates, so singular a character has been drawn by Sir John Hawkins, that it would be injustice to blend it with these d^- sultory Anecdotes ; but it shall be given entire at the end of this article %.
A more amiable and certainly a more candid ac- count of him is given in a recent publication :
" Mr. Cave was much connected with the literary world ; and his friendship for Mrs. Carter was the means of introducing her to many Authors and Scholars of note ; among these was Mr. (afterwards ipr.) Johnson §."
* Boswell's Life of Johnson, vol. II. p. 175,
f Ibid. vol. III. p. 344. J See p. 4#,
§ Pewwjgtoti's Lift of Mrs-. &rtejv P- %&
By
EDWARD CAVE. £5
By a letter from Mr. Cave to Dr. Birch* Nov. 28, 1 739> we find that " Johnson advised Mrs. Carter to undertake a translation of ' Boethius de Consola- tione,' because there is prose and verse ; and to put her name to it when published*."
In a letter to that lady, Jan. 14, 1756", Johnson says, " To every joy is appended a sorrow. The name of Mrs. Carter introduces the memory of Cave. Poor dear Cave ! I owed him much : for to him I owed that I have known you. He died, I am afraid, unexpectedly to himself: yet surely unbur- thened with any great crime ; and for the positive duties of Religion, I have no reason to condemn him for neglect -j~."
A poetical correspondence between Mr. Cave, Mr. Bowyer, and Mr. Richardson, has appeared in a former volume^. Two other of Mr. Cave's at- tempts at verse are here given :
The following billet was to a typographical friends
" Good Master Hughs §, '
I hope you '11 excuse, That a favour to ask I presume :
What favour is it ?
That me you will visit, Who cannot stir out of my room.
* Boswell, vol. I. p. 113. — Since this was written, "The New Boethius," on a similar plan, has been published by the late Mr. Archdeacon Shepherd, in IS06.
f Pennington, p. 27. J See vol. II. p. 75.
§ Mr. John Hughs was for many years an eminent and worthy Printer; and ranked very high in his profession. From his press almost the whole of the valuable and numerous publica- tions of the Dodsleys were produced ; and by him was laid the foundation of a business since brought to a high degree of prosperity. After a life of singular industry, integrity, and benevolence, he died Sept. 30, 1771, at the age of 68 ; and was buried on the 7th of October, in the vault underneath St. Giles's church. He left a widow, with manners as placid as his own, who survived him several years j and an only son, who, after following the laudable example which had been set him, retired from the fatigues of business, possessed of a fortune very hon- ourably acquired, at a period of life when he was capable of en- joying the benefits of it, and which it is the hearty wyh of one of his eldest friends that he may long continue to enjoy.
2 I
LITERARY ANECDOTES.
I hope you are stout,
And can trudge about, And therefore the favour I crave,
The sooner the better :
Thus ends a good letter From your humble, tres humble, E. CAVE.
, Dec. 12, 1734-, St. John's Gate."
In a poetical epistle he thus also addressed an- other intimate friend, in October 1 749 :
To Mr. MOSES BROWNE*.
" Good Moses, say, what will you have Brought to your house by Master Cave ? I know you love the food that 's staunch ; I '11 send a fine fresh venison haunch : Suppose I add another dish, And send your wife some fine fresh fish ? Moses, I know she likes fish well ; Last night she did the secret tell, When, after angling all the day, I drank your ale, and whiff' d away : The wine 's already on the road, I trust its flavour will prove good ; A cordial 'tis to drooping merit, I hope it will revive your spirit : Good wine fresh courage may inspire, Now string your long-forgotten lyre f. Tho' anxious cares disturb your breast, Some future hour may bring you rest ; Shake balmy odours from his wings, To heal misfortunes, cruel things ; Fix you in some pure calm retreat, Where you '11 a happy exit meet j And, favour'd with a tranquil breast, Serenely sink to endless rest ; This is the end I hope you '11 have, So prays sincere Yours, EDWARD CAVE."
* Of whom see some account in p. 50.
t Tiu« wae certainly good encouragement to a Poet*
Mr.
EDWARD CAVE., 37
Mr. BROWNE'S Answer.
" Good Master Cave, my generous friend, Where will your chain of favours end ? My honest heart cannot conceal Th' unbounded gratitude I feel. 'Tis true, dark cares corrode my breast, A stranger long to balmy rest ; How soon Heaven may reverse the scene ; How many hours may intervene, Before such pleasing prospects rise ; I leave to Him who is all-wise, Who, sitting at the helm above, Works all things for our good — through love. His awful will my soul obeys, And trusts to Him for clearer days. Unclouded may my exit be, Such be the end to thee and me ! May this our mutual labours crown ! So prays Your grateful MOSES BROWNE."
It will not be foreign to the purport of this Memoir, if I transcribe two letters from the lately published " Correspondence of Mr. Richardson."
" MR. CAVE, Aug. 9, 1750.
" THOUGH I have constantly been a purchaser of the Ramblers * from the first five that you was so kind as to present me with, yet I have not had time to read any farther than those first five, till within these two or three days past. But I can go no far- ther than the thirteenth, now before me, till I have acquainted you, that I am inexpressibly pleased with them. I remember not any thing in the Spectators, in those Spectators that I read, for I never found time — (alas ! my life has been a trifling busy one) to read them all, that half so much struck me ; and yet I think of them highly.
* The Rambler was undoubtedly " the paper" referred to in the undated letter in p. 25, of which Mr. Do&lcy had so fovour- able an opinion.
" I hope
3 8 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
(< I hop* the world tastes them ; for its own sake, I hope the world tastes them ! The Author I can only guess at. There is but one man, I think, that could write them ; I desire not to know his name ; but I should rejoice to hear that they suc- ceed ; for I would not, for any consideration, that they should be laid down through discouragement.
" I have, from the first five, spoke of them with honour. I have the vanity to think that I have procured them admirers ; that is to say, readers. And I am vexed that I have not taken larger draughts of them before, that my zeal for their merit might have been as glowing as now I find it.
" Excuse the overflowing of a heart highly de- lighted with the subject ; and believe me to be an equal friend to Mr. Cave and the Rambler, as well as their most humble servant, S. RICHARDSON."
<e DEAR SIR, St. John's Gate, Aug. 29, 1750.
" I RECEIVED the pleasure of your letter of the gth instant at Gloucester ; and did intend to answer it from that city, though I had but one sound hand (the cold and rain on my journey having given me the gout) ; but as soon as I could ride, I went to Whitminster, the seat of Mr. Cambridge, who en- tertained the Prince there, and, in his boat, on the •Severn. He kept me one night, and took me down part of his river to the Severn, where I sailed in one of his boats, and took a view of another of a peculiar make, having two keels, or being rather two long canoes connected by a floor or stage. I was then towed back again to sup and repose. Next morning he explained to me the contrivance of some waterfalls, which seem to come from a piece of wa- ter which is four feet lower. The three following days I spent in returning to town, and could not find time to write in an inn.
" I need not tell yen that the Prince appeared highly pleased with every thing that Mr. Cambridge shewed, though he called him upon deck often to be seen by the people on the shore, who came in
prd-
EDWARD CAVE. 39
prodigious crowds, and thronged from place to place, to have a view as often as they could, not satisfied with one; so that many who came between the tow- ing line and the bank of the river were thrown into it; and his Royal Highness could scarce forbear laughing ; but sedately said to them, ( I am sorry for your condition.'
" Excuse this ramble from the purpose of your letter. I return to answer, that Mr. Johnson is the Great Rambler, being, as you observe, the only man who can furnish two such papers in a week, besides his other great business — and has not been assisted with above three.
" I may discover to you, that the world is not so kind to itself as you wish it. The encouragement, as to sale *, is not in proportion to the high character given to the work by the judicious, not to say the raptures expressed by the few who do read it. But its being thus relished in numbers gives hopes that the sets must go off, as it is a fine paper, and, con- sidering the late hour of having the copy, tolerably printed.
( ' When the Author was to be kept private (which was the first scheme) two gentlemen, belonging to the Prince's Court, came to me to enquire his name, in order to do him service ; and also brought a list of seven gentlemen to be served with the Rambler. As I was not at liberty, an inference was drawn, that I was desirous to keep to myself so excellent a Writer. Soon after, Mr. Doddington -f~ sent a letter
* " The sale was very inconsiderable, and seldom more than 500j and it is very remarkable, and a most eurious trait of the age, that the only paper which had a prosperous sale, and may be said to have been popular, was one which Dr. Johnson did not write. This was No. 97, Feb. 19, 1750-1, written by Rich- ardson, as Mr. Nichols was assuml by Mr. John Payne, the ori- ginal publisher. Dr. Johnson indeed introduces it to his readers with an elegant compliment, as the production of an author from whom the age has received greater favours, who has enlarged the knowledge of human nature, and taught the passions to move at the command of virtue." Mr. A. Chalmers's Biographical Pre- face to the Rambler, in the British Essayists, vol. XIX. p. 14.
t Afterwards Lord Melcombe.
directed
40 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
directed to the Rambler, inviting him to his house, when he should be disposed to enlarge his acquaint- ance. In a subsequent number a kind of excuse was made, with a hint that a good Writer might not appear to advantage in conversation. Since that time, several circumstances, and Mr. Garrick and others, who knew the Author's powers and style from the first, unadvisedly asserting their (but) suspicions, overturned the scheme of secrecy. (About which there is also one paper.)
" I have had letters of approbation from Dr. Young, Dr. Hartley, Dr. Sharpe, Miss Carter, &c. &c. ; most of them, like you, setting them in a rank equal, and some Superior, to the Spectators (of which I have not read many, for the reasons which you assign) : but, notwithstanding such re- commendation, whether the price of two-pence, or the unfavourable season of their first publication, hinders the demand, no boast can be made of it.
" The Author (who thinks highly of your wri- tings) is obliged to you for contributing your endea- vours ; and so is, for several marks of your friendship, good sir,
" Your admirer, and very humble servant,
« ED. CAVE."
Among the MS Collections of Dr. Birch, in the British Museum *, are several short letters from Mr. Cave on literary subjects. From some of these it appears that Dr. Birch was occasionally a contri- butor to the " Parliamentary Debates ;" that Mr. Cave had better assistance for that branch of his Magazine than has been generally supposed ; that he was indefatigable in getting the Debates made as perfect as he could ; — and, by all of them, that Dr. Birch was his steady friend and counsellor.
* Marked 4302, vol. C.
" I trouble
EDWARD CAVE. 41
"July 21, 1735.
" I trouble you with the inclosed, because you said you could easily correct what is here given for ' Lord Chesterfield's speech *. I beg you will do so as soon as you can for me, because the month is far advanced."
" July 15, 1737.
" As you remember the Debates so far as to per- ceive the speeches already printed are not exact; I beg the favour that you will peruse the inclosed ; and, in the best manner your memory will serve, correct the mistaken passages, or add any thing that is omitted. I should be very glad to have something of the Duke of Newcastle's speech ~f~,
O , \
which would be particularly of service. A gentle- man has Lord Bathurst's speech J, to add some- thing to."
" Aug. 12, 1738.
" We still agree on Tuesday ; and I think we shall see Claremont, as we did Cannons, and then come to dine at Richmond. Had I best send Mr. Thom- son word, that we shall be at such an inn at Rich- mond by noon, his hour of rising ?
" Your humble servant, ED. CAVE.**
" Sept. 8, 1741.
" I have put Mr. Johnson's Play into Mr. Gray's ^ hands, in order to sell it to him, if he is inclined to buy it ; but I doubt whether he will or not. He would dispose, of the copy, and whatever advantage may be made by acting it. Would your Society ||, or any gentlemen or body of men that you know, take such a bargain ? Both he and I are very unfit
* See Gent. Mag. 1736, vol. VI. p. 445.
f Ibid. p. 377.
} Ibid. p. 379.
§ Mr. John Gray, a bookseller of eminence in London.
|L Not the Royal Society ; but the Society for the Encourage/ ment of Learning, of which Dr. Birch was ^ leading member. Their object was to assist authors in printing expensive Works. Having incurred a considerable debt, it was in a short time dissolved. See vol. II. p. 90.
to
42 JLITERAfcY ANECDOTES.
to deal with theatrical persons. Fleetwood was to have acted it last season; but Johnson's diffidence
or * prevented it. I am, Reverend Sir, your
most humble servant, " ED. CAVE.'*
"July 3, 1?44.
" You will see what stupid, low, abominable stuff is put -f- upon your noble and learned Friend's J character; such as I should quite reject, and en- deavour to do something better towards doing jus- tice to the character. But, as I cannot expect to attain my desires in that respect, it would be a great satisfaction, as well as an honour to our work, to have the favour of the genuine speech. It is a method that several have been pleased to take, as I could shew, but I think myself under a restraint. I .shall say so far, that I have had some by a third hand, which I understood well enough to come from thejirst; others by penny-post, and others by the speakers themselves, who have been pleased to visit St. John's Gate, and shew particular marks of their being pleased."
" Dec. 1747.
t( The Ode to Wisdom, in the second volume of Clarissa, was written by Miss Carter : it had been handed about in MS. I had not permission to print it, though I asked for it personally at Deal ; and, though I before then had it in manuscript, it was under a promise not to publish it without leave §.
" EDWARD CAVE."
" Saturday, Oct. 27, [1750].
t( I beg that you will send me the page where Mrs. C.'s letter is in the Magazine. Mr. Johnson remembers both the letters ; and he says they were the best, and put the affair in a light new to him at that time, and the reasoning excellent.
* There is no erasure here, but a mere blank ; to fill up which may be an exercise for ingenious conjecture, f I suppose in the London Magazine. J Doubtless, Lord Hardwicke. § See it in Gent. Mag. vol. XVII. 1747, p. 585,
« Did
EDWARD CAVE. 43
" Did Browne Willis, Esq. produce the scheme to the Society of Antiquaries, as said in the Re- membrancer ; or is it a joke ?
" I have procured a Latin Comus for Lander * ; of which I suppose he makes great account.
" St. John's Gate. ED. CAVE."
In the latter part of Mr. Cave's life, having an Extensive connexion in the line of his business ; at Reading particularly, at Gloucester, and at North- ampton, and several relations at Rugby ; he was a frequent traveller; and, time being more an object to him than expence, and the luxury of turnpike-roads being then but little known, he generally used four horses-^. In one of these journeys, calling on an old school acquaintance, a man of great consequence, he directed the servant of the house to inform his master, " that Ned Cave the Cobler was come to visit him;" the name by which he was known to his quondam friends at Rugby-school, and of which in his more prosperous days he never was ashamed.
* A volume of scarce Tracts, possessed by my kind and com- municative friend Mr. Bindley, contains, amongst much trash* two curious articles at least ; a Latin translation of Milton's Lycidas, and a version of Comus into the same language, both by William Hogg, a Scotchman. His Translation of Paradis^ Lost is now a very common article, though it does not appear to Itave been so at the time of Lauder's Forgeries on our immortal Poet. There is hardly any thing known of Hogg, who was a great Writer of Latin Verse. Besides these, he translated other pieces of Milton, a Poem of Blackmore's, the Book of Eccle- siastes, and other things, most of which are in Mr. Bindley's library. By the manner in which Lauder is here mentioned by Cave, it appears as if Johnson and he were visitors at St. John's Gate at the same time. Certainly, at first, Johnson did give credit (and it is to be feared not reluctantly) to Lauder's charges of plagiarism.
f He was particularly attentive to his horses; which were kept well, and worked well. If proof of this were required, it would be sufficient to refer to a letter of his in Gent. Mag. vol. XVIII. p. 390, on an efficacious remedy for the Glanders in Horses ; confirmed by an affidavit of hid coachman in p. 432. bee also vol. XIX. p. 140.
It
44 LITERARY ANECDOTES,
It is well remembered also that he was an ingeni- ous mechanic; a"nd, to the no small diminishing of his property, was continually devising plans for the improvement of mills, &c. &c.
That he was the publisher of some valuable books, may be seen by various advertisements in the early volumes of the Magazine.
His " Proposals for printing DuHalde's History of China" are worth preserving at large :
" I. This Edition, which will take up about 300 sheets besides the Cuts and Maps, to be printed on the same Paper and Letter as here used. II. The Price to Subscribers to be at Three Half-pence a Sheet ; if they amount to above Three Guineas, the surplus Sheets shall be delivered gratis. III. Every Sheet Map, or Sheet of Cuts, is reckoned as four Sheets of the Letter-press, excepting 3 Maps and 3 Plates, which must each be rated as 6 Sheets, though the Charge will exceed 7 ; Half-sheet Plates in pro- portion. IV. To publish 8 sheets once a fortnight, for One Shilling, or 20 Sheets for Half a Crown, once a month. V. A few Books on Royal Paper, at the Rate of One Shilling and Six-pence for Eight Sheets. VI. Gentlemen who subscribe for Six, to have a Plate inscribed to them. VII. That, a con- siderable Part of the Work being translated, it will be put to the press as soon as a Number of Subscrip- tions are come in sufficient to bear the Charge, which, in such Works as this, is never calculated under 1000. VIII. The Cuts to be engraved by the best Hands ; the Maps done as well as the Originals, and several better. IX. That whatever Number of these Books there shall be a Demand for over the said Thousand, during the Progress of the Work, the Profits thereof shall, at its being finished, be fairly divided (excepting the few on Royal Paper) among the Thousand first Subscribers, only deducting 50/1. to be given to such of His Majesty's British Subjects, as shall in the Opinion of the Royal Society, make (from the Hints given in this Description of China) the best and most useful Improvement in any be- neficial
EDWARD CAVE. 45
fceficial Branch of Art, and exhibit the same to the said Society within 3 Months after this Work is finished. X. Allowance to Booksellers as usual. — The Subscribers are not required to pay any Money (except for the Royal Paper) till they receive • the Sheets ; and therefore need only favour the Un- dertaker with their Orders by the General or Penny Post, directed to their humble servant,
" EDWARD CAVE."
A subsequent advertisement was thus varied : " Ready for the press, the entire Translation (il- lustrated with all the Cuts and Maps in the Original Copper Plates) a Description of China and Chinese Tartary, with Korea and Tibet, containing the Geography, and History, as well Natural as Civil, of those countries. Lately published at Paris by Pere du Halde, Jesuit, in 4 volumes, folio, and now reduced to 2 in English ; with several neces- sary improvements by the translator, as specified in the plan of this Work, 6'000 of which having been dispersed, we refer thereto.
<s This book will be delivered by E. Cave at St. John's Gate, according to the orders already received, or to be received, either, in monthly num- bers, 20 sheets each at half a crown, or 8 sheets every fortnight at one shilling, or may be had at the booksellers in town and country.
" No money to be paid till the sheets are deli- vered, except a guinea for the royal paper, of which no more will be printed than subscribed for ; half a guinea advance money for such as desire to have it
0 ... r
only in volumes.
" Those booksellers who have received subscrip- tions, are desired to send word what numbers they think they shall dispose of, that a computation may be made how many ought to be printed. Some gentlemen who have called at St. John's Gate, have been pleased to say, they have subscribed to certain booksellers, who have not sent any account thereof,
" The Undertaker having more at heart the pub- lishing a complete edition of this valuable Work for
the
46 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
the honour of this Nation, than seeking employment which he does not want, or than the view of profit, he having publicly offered to resign this Work to his Opponent, is willing to alter the first Proposals to the liking of several subscribers, who think the scheme for giving 50/. for the encouragement of Artists impracticable, notwithstanding the Under- taker has already given away one sum of 50/. and another of 5/. according to Proposals, and has had the honour of proposing a Gold Medal of 10/. (the dies for which will cost near 30/.) and also another set of prizes to the amount of above 40/. which will most certainly be paid in a short time. Instead therefore of the former disapproved scheme of 50/. he is advised to give ten Jive pounds to such sub- scribers as they shall by lot fall to. But he is willing to do more : he will be ready to give the whole profits of the undertaking to fall by lot among the first 1000 subscribers, which profits, if encou- ragements offer, may produce Jijty or a hundred Jive pounds ; or, if it be thought proper to make only a few lots of five pounds, and divide the rest into lots of two and three pounds, there may be a fortunate lot to every five or six subscribers.
" By this means great part of the subscribers, besides having a book the full value of the purchase- money, will have a chance to gain the whole or double the sums they disburse; and the Undertaker, if this method succeeds, will be secured from loss, which is chiefly his aim ;• he having 50 and 50 in- stances to produce, wherein his publications have been printed upon him, before a day, a week, or month, have passed, to his great loss and disap- pointment.
" If any books remain unsold at the conclusion of the Work, they shall be put to sale by auction, and the produce applied, with the other profits, to the benefit of the fortunate claimants ; the Under- taker desiring nothing more than the charges of printing, engraving, and interest of money to be
deducted,
EDWARD CAVE. 47
deducted, as far as shall be thought reasonable by the worthy Society for encouraging Learning*.
" The fortunate claimants to be determined by the numbers of their tickets being drawn against such lots by the Mathematical Engines ; for which purpose tickets, to the number of 1000, will be de- livered to those who continue to take the Work in parts as it comes out, or who shall pay half a guinea subscription-money, and take the first, and then the second volume in the same manner -j~."
In 1738, Mr. Cave printed a small collection of Poems, the early productions of Eliza Carter, but without her name, who was then not quite 20 years old. It consisted only of 24 pages in quarto ; and has the cut of St. John's Gate in the title-page.
The " Parliamentary Register," of which Mr. Cave published a second edition in 1741, with the names of the members complete from 1660 to that period.
I have a copy of this book continued by the Rev. Robert Smyth ^ till his own death in 176!;
* See Gentleman's Magazine for June 1736, vol. VI. p. 353.
f Gent. Mag. 1736, vol. VI. p. 624.
I He was educated at St. John's college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Dr. Ncwcome, master of that college, and dean of Rochester ; was an indefatigable antiquary, and a member of the Gentlemen's Society at Spaiding. He had made large collections for a History of the Sheriffs throughout England, to which Mau- rice Johnson, esq. founder of the Spaiding Society, prefixed an introduction, on the dignity, use, and authority, of these great civil officers.
Mr, Smyth had collected sheriffs, abbots, priors, and heads of religious houses, from Sir John Cotton's 38 MS Rolls, copied from those at Westminster, temp. Edward I. He greatly assisted Mr. Edmund Carter, a school-master, first at Chelsea, afterwards at Cambridge, in his History of that Town and University, 1753, and also in his History of that County ; and whatever is more particularly valuable fn that work must be attributed to him.
Jt was his regular custom to bathe almost every morning in the river near Peterborough bridge ; and, in the pursuit of this practice, he lost hi* life, Sept. 15, 1761. He came out of the water apparently well ; but died a few minutes after, in the shop of a friend, at Peterborough ; and was buried in YVoodston Church-yard, with tlus epitaph :
" lii memory of the Rev. ROBERT §MYTH, thirty-three years rector of this parish,
a sin-
48 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
a work compiled on so excellent a plan, that it is to be wished some spirited Publisher would bring it
a sincere honest man and a good Christian.
His utmost endeavours were,
to benefit mankind, and relieve the poor.
He was a laborious and correct Antiquary ;
died the 15th of September, 176 1, sged 62 years."
The result of a strict enquiry after his " History of Sheriffs" was, that it is supposed to have been destroyed, with many other of his papers, by an illiterate brother, who is himself since dead. He wrote a most singular hand ; and crowded his lines so close together, that they entangled in one another in a way that made it extremely difficult to read his letters. The late Mr. Cole of Milton held a correspondence with him for some time.
The " History of the Gentlemen's Society at Spalding" has afforded the greater part of the above particulars ; to which I may add, that I have in my own possession the most unequivocal proofs of Mr. Smyth's astonishing application.
Carter's "History of the University of Cambridge" I have now before me, interleaved, so completely filled by the MS additions of Mr. Smyth, that the overflowings make a considerable figure in the margin of a second copy.
Walker's " Sufferings of the Clergy," Le Neve'g " Fasti Angli- cani," and Wotton's "Baronetage, 1741," are all in like manner enriched Avith corrections and copious additions.
Mr. Smyth was an early member also, and secretary, of a So- ciety formed in 1730 at Peterborough " for the promotion of friendship and literature," of which Mr. Neve was treasurer. This institution, corresponding to that at Spalding, still con- tinues j and their library shews many marks of Mr. Smyth's at- tentive industry; many of the books there being improved by his judicious observations in the margin. Among these I particu- larly noticed (and borrowed) a copy of Burton's Leicestershire, in which many of the pedigrees are much corrected.
His topographical researches seem to have naturally com- menced in Cambridgeshire, where he received his education j to have advanced in Huntingdonshire, the county in which he was preferred ; and to have extended thence to a considerable circle.
In 17&6, when this note was first written, I possessed the fol- lowing indubitable proofs of his consummate industry:
1. A volume of Collections for Huntingdonshire, evidently finished for the press ; in which the sheriffs of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire are accurately collected on his own im- proved plan.
2. A folio volume, in which the epitaphs in Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire are fairly transcribed.
3. Another, with those of the county of Rutland.
4. A large collection for the counties of Cambridge, Hunting- don, and Lincoln ; with some few for the counties of Leicester and Nottingham,
EDWARD CAVE. 49
down to the present time. Mr. Smyth was an in- dustrious and minute collector of heraldic and mo-
5. " Inscriptlones Sepulchrales ; containing a Collection of the most remarkable Inscriptions belonging to the Persons of Fami- lies of chief Note in the County of Huntingdon, and some other Counties; copied mostly from those collected by the late Mr. John Clement, junior, of Woodston. Mr. Clement's Collection (taken in 1731, &c.) being found often faulty, and especially in the arms, many of the Churches have been reviewed since his Death, and the whole of them made exact." This is a volume of 297 pages, in 4to, closely written ; and contains many in- scriptions in the counties of Bedford, Cambridge, Northampton, Lincoln, Salop, and Stafford ; and some few in Suffolk, Derby- shire, and Nottinghamshire.
6. A folio volume (108 pages closely written) of " Additions and Corrections to the Baronetage of England, collected from, the last Edition in 1741 to 1758, by R. S.; taking, in the Trans- cript, the several Baronets in the Order of their Creation." A considerable number of Mr. Smyth's letters to Mr. Wotton are placed in this volume; is accompanied also by three folio volumes of Collections on the same subject by that very curious and un- wearied Antiquaiy Peter Le Neve, esq. (Novroy King of Arms) j to which Mr. Wotton acknowledges " more than ordinary obliga- tion, as having been of the greatest use to him" in the edition of 1741 j and " which take in," he adds, " such a variety of ma- terials, proper to such works," that they " would still be of a great deal more, if the Baiv: tage should be thought worthy hereafter, of another impression." I may add, more particularly if an extinct Baronetage should ever be undertaken.
7. " A Copy of the Visitation Book for Hampshire, 1613, b? Sir Nicholas Charles, Lancaster Herald, taken by R. S. April \G, 1751, &c. from a MS. in the Library of the Rev. Mr. Thomas Fair- fax, who died rector of Eynesbury, 1750, December 2 ; supposed with reason to be communicated to his Ancestor, a Lover of An- tiquity, from the family of Cotton, Baronets in this County, and now given back to it on Mr. Fairfax's death. This Copy i« taken verbatim, and no Additions made to it (as in the Visitation of Derbyshire, by R. S. transcribed, &c.). Where any such there is now done, or may be hereafter, it will be seen and distinguished by being placed on the Sides with proper Notes of Reference."
8. "A Copy of the Visitation Book of Cheshire, aun. 1513, taken, 1752, by R. S. from one in the Possession of Tho. Weston, of Point Pleasant, in Kingston, Surrey, Gent. In the front stands one of the most valuable Parts of it, an alphabetical List of the Gentry's arms blazoned."
Copies, transcribed by other hands, of the Visitation of Cam- bridgeshire, 1575 ; and' also of Sussex, lOd'5 ; audi Berks,
The articles marked 1 — 5 are still mine.
Ralph Bigiand, esq. Norroy king of arms, pos*e$seS No. 6.
The Visitations are dispersed.
VOL. V. E nuiflentaJ
5.0 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
numental notes ; but, unfortunately, too confined in circumstances, either to afford the leisure, or to run the hazard, of committing the result of his re- searches to the press.
Sir JOHN HAWKINS'S Account of Mr. CAVE, and of several of his EARLY ASSOCIATES *.
Speaking of the Translation of Father Paul, Sir John says, u Cave's acquiescence in the above pro- posal drew Johnson into a close intimacy with him : he was much at St. John's Gate ; [which * when Johnson first saw, he beheld with reverence' (Boswell, vol. I. p. 85) ;] and taught Garrick the way thither. Cave had no great relish for mirth, but he could bear it; and having been told by John- son, that his friend had talents for the Theatre, and was come to London with a view to the pro- fession of an Actor, expressed a wish to see him in some comic character. Garrick readily complied; and, as Cave himself told me, with a little prepara- tion of the room over the great arch of St. John's Gate, and with the assistance of a few journeymen printers, who were called together for the purpose of reading the other parts, represented, with all the graces of comic humour, the principal character in Fielding's farce of the Mock Doctor.
" Cave's temper was phlegmatic : though he as- sumed, as the publisher of the Magazine, the name of Sylvanus Urban, he had few of those qualities that constitute the character of urbanity. Judge of his want of them by this, question, which he once
put to an Author : l Mr. , I hear you have just
published a pamphlet, and am told there is a very good paragraph in it upon the subject of Music : did you write that yourself?' His discernment was also slow; and as he had already at his command
* It would be injustice to Sir John Hawkins, if I did not ob- serve, that, in a second edition, he softened several of the ex- pressions which tended to reflect on the memory of Mr. Cave. >See pp. 54, 56.
some
EDWARD CAVE. 5!
some writers of prose and verse, who in the lan- guage of Booksellers are called good hands *, he was
* ' ' Mr. Moses Browne, originally a pen-cutter, was, so far as concerned the poetical part of it, the chief support of the Maga- zine, which he fed with many a nourishing morsel. '/This person, being a lover of angling, wrote Piscatory Eclogues ; and was a candidate for the fifty pound prize mentioned in Johnson's first letter to Cave, and for other prizes which Cave engaged to pay him who should write the best poem on certain subjects ; in all or most of which competitions Mr. Browne had the good fortune to succeed. He published these and other poems of his writing, in an octavo volume, Lond. 1759 ; and has therein given proofs of an exuberant fancy and a happy invention. Some years after he entered into holy orders. A farther account of him may be seen in the Biographia Dramatica, to a place in which work he seems to have acquired a title by some juvenile compositions for the stage. Being a person of a religious turn, he also published in verse a series of devout contemplations, called Sunday Thoughts. Johnson, who often expressed his dislike of religious poetry, and who, for .the purpose of religious meditation, seemed to think one day as proper as another, read them with cold ap- probation, and said, he had a great mind to write and publish Monday Thoughts. — To the proofs above adduced of the coarse- ness of Cave's manners, let me add the following : he had under- taken, at his own risk, to publish a translation of Du Hsilde's History of China, in which were contained sunthy geographical and other plates. Each of these he inscribed to one or other of his friends ; and, among the rest, one to Moses Browne. With this blunt and familiar designation of his person, Mr. Browne was justly offended. To appease him, Cave directed an engraver, to introduce with a caret under the line, Mr. ; and thought, that in so doing, he had made ample amends to Mr. Browne for th* indignity done him.
" Mr. John Duick, also a pen-cutter, and a near neighbour of Cave, was a frequent contributor to the Magazine, of short poems, written with spirit and ease. He was a kinsman of Browne, and the author of a good copy of encomiastic verses prefixed to the collection of Browne's Poems above mentioned.
" Mr. Foster Webb, a young man who had received his edu- cation in Mr. Watkins's academy in Spital-square, and after- wards became clerk to a merchant in the city was at first a contributor to the Magazine, of enigmas, a species of poetry in which he then delighted, but was dissuaded from it by the following lines, which appeared in the Magazine for October 174O, after a few successful essays in that kind of writing :
' Too modest Bard, with enigmatic veil No longer let thy Muse her charms conceal ; Though oft the Sun in clouds his face disguise, Still he looks nobler when he gilds the skies,
E 2 Do
$3 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
the backwarder in making advances, or courting an intimacy with Johnson. Upon the first approach
Do thou, like him, avow thy native flame, Burst through the gloom, and brighten into fame.' " After this friendly exhortation, Mr. Webb, in those hours of leisure which business afforded, amused himself with translating from the Latin Classics, particularly Ovid and Horace : from the latter of these he rendered into English verse, with better success than any that had before attempted it, the Odes, <e Cjuis multa gracilis te puer in rosaj" " Solvitur aciis hyems grata vice Veris, et Favoni j" " Parcus Deorum cultor et infrequens ;" and t{ Diffugere nives, redeunt jam gramina campis ;" all which are inserted in Cave's Magazine. His signature was sometimes Telarius, at others Vedastus. He was a modest, ingenious, and sober young man ; but a consumption defeated the hopes of his friends, and took him off in the twenty-second year of his age.
" Mr. John Smith, another of Mr. Watkins's pupils, was a writer in the Magazine, of prose essays, chiefly on religious and moral subjects, and died of a decline about the same time.
" Mr. John Canton, apprenticed to the above-named Mr. Wat- kins, and also his successor in his academy, was a contributor to the Magazine, of verses, and afterwards, of papers on philo- sophical and mathematical subjects. The discoveries he made in electricity and magnetism are well known, and are recorded in the Transactions of the Royal Society, of which he afterwards became a member.
" Mr. William Rider, bred in the same prolific seminary, was a writer in the Magazine, of verses signed Philargyrus. He went from school to Jesus college, Oxford, and, some years after his leaving the same, entered into holy orders,, and became sur- master of St. Paul's school, in which office he continued many years, but at length was obliged to quit that employment by reason of his deafness.
" Mr. Adam Calamy, son of Dr. Edmund Calamy, an eminent Non-conformist Divine, and author of the Abridgment of Mr. Baxter s Histoiy of his Life and Times, was another of Mr. Wat- kins's pupils, that wrote in the Magazine ; the subjects on which he chiefly exercised his pen were essays in polemical theology and republican politics ; and he distinguished them by the assumed signature of A consistent Protestant. He was bred to the pro- fession of an attorney, and was brother to Mr. Edmund Calamy, a Dissenting teacher, of eminence for his worth and learning.
" A seminar}', of a higher order than that above-mentioned, viz. the academy of Mr. John Eames in Moor-fields, furnished the Magazine with a number of other correspondents in mathe- matics and other branches of science and polite literatxire. This was an institution supported by the Dissenters, the design where- of was to qualify young men for their ministry. Mr. Eames was formerly the continuator of the abridgement of the Philosophical
« Trans-
, EDWARD CAVE. 5J
of a stranger, his practice was to continue sitting, a posture in which he was ever to be found, and, for a few minutes, to continue silent : if at any time he was inclined to begin the discourse, it was generally by putting a leaf of the Magazine then in the press into the hand of his yisitor, and asking his opinion of it. I remember that, calling in on him once, he gave me to read the beautiful poem of Collins, written for Shakspeare's Cymbeline, ' To fair Fi- dele's grassy tomb/ which, though adapted to a particular circumstance in the play, Cave was for inserting in his Magazine, without any reference to the subject. I told him it would lose of its beauty if it were so published : this he could not see ; nor could he be convinced of the propriety of the name Fidele : he thought Pastora a better, and so printed it.
" He was so incompetent a judge of Johnson's abilities, that, meaning at one time to dazzle him with the splendour of some of those luminaries in literature who favoured him with their correspon- dence, he told him that, if he would, in the even- ing, be at a certain alehouse in the neighbourhood of Clerkenwell, he might have a chance of seeing Mr. Browne and another or two of the persons mentioned in the preceding note: Johnson accepted the invitation ; and being introduced by Cave, dressed
Transactions begun by Jones and Lowthorp, and was a man of great knowledge, and a very able tutor. Under him were bred many young men who afterwards became eminently distinguished for learning and abilities ; among them were the late Mr. Parry of Cirencester, the late Dr. Furneaux, and Dr. Gibbons ; and, if I mistake not, Dr. Price. The pupils of this academy had heads that teemed with knowledge, which, as fast as they acquired it, they were prompted by a juvenile and laudable ambition to com- municate in letters to Mr. Urban.
" To this account of Cave's correspondents might be added the celebrated names of Dr. Birch, Mrs. Carter, Dr. Akenside, the Rev. Mr. Samuel Pegge, who, by an ingenious transposition of the letters of his name, formed the plausible signature of Paul Gemsege ; Mr. Luck, of Barnstaple in Devonshire j Mr. Henry Price, of Pool, in Dorsetshire ; Mr. Richard Yate, of Chively, in Shropshire ; Mr. John Bancks; and that industrious and prolific genius, Mr. John Lockman.
in
54 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
in ;i loose horse man's coat, and sudi ;i ;;ival htishy nncomhed \\\<r as In- constantly wore, to the of Mr. lirowne, whom In- found siltinj; at tin1 upper end ol' a Ion", lahle, in ;i cloud of toharco smoke, had Ins curiosity gratified.
" Johnson saw very clearly those ollensive parti- culars th;it made a part of Cave's character; hut, as he \vas OIK: of the most <|nick sighted men I ever kncw iu discovering the ^ood and ;imi,ihle qualities of others, ;i faculty which he has displayed, as well in I lie life ol' Cave, as in that of Savage, printed amonj; his works, so was lie ever inclined to pal- liate then delects; and, though he uas ahove court - "nig (he |)atrona^;e of a man u limn, J'ur nnuiif rni -vo//,v, he could not hid hold r7/r////*, he disdained not to accept it, \\lit n tt ndeicd with any d» :;n'e ol complacency.
" Cuve, who had no idea of the powers of e.lo- (jui-nce over the human mind, hecaine sensihle of its effects in the profits it hrouoht him. lie hail lon^- thought that the success of his iMa^a/inc pro- <-e«-< led from those parts of it that, were conducted hy himself, which were, the ahrid^iiK nl of weekly papers written against the Ministry, such as the Craftsman, lion's .Journal, Common Sense, the Weekly Miscellany, the West minster Journal, and others, and also marshaling (he pastorals, the eli and the song's, the epigrams, and the r« huses, that were sent him hy various correspondents ; and was scarcely ahle to see the causes thajt at this t^ne mcreasid the sale of his pamphlet from ten to lifteen thousand copies a month. Hut, if he saw not, he frit them, and manifested his £ood fortune hy buying an old coach and a pair of older horses ; and, that he mi^ht avoid the suspicion of pride m setting up an e<|uipa^e, he displayed to the world the source of his atlhienee, hy a representation of St. Jolnf.s n-at.c, instead of his arms, on the door
This j)!n:i,r \\:is, on my n-iiiuiislr:iin:c. convclcd in llir •irond cdilioii llnis: " whom, iu rc.sjKjrt to mental ciMlowiiK-nls,
uc considered much iufciior.11
pannel
EDWARD CAVE. 55
pannel. This, In- told ei- himself, was (he r- of distinguishing his carriage from others, by what some might think a whimsical device, ;md also for causing it to be engraven on all his plate.
" It might seem that between men so different in their endowments and tempers as John.-.on and Cave- wen*, lit tie of true friendship could subsist; hut the rout rary was the case: Cave, though a man of a saturnine disposition, had a sagacity which had long been exercised in the discrimination of men, in
searching into Hi" reres--.es of their minds, and finding out what they were fit for; and a liberality <<f •cntitnentand action, whiHi, under proper rest n< tions, inclined him not only to encourage genius and merit, but to esteem and even to venemie the possessors of those qualities as often as he met with them : it cannot, therefore, be supposed but that he entertained a high regard for such a man as John- son, and, having bad a long experience of his abi- bties and integrity, that he had improved this dis- position into friendship. Johnson, on his part, sought for other qualities in those, with whom be meant to form eomu -xions : bad be determined to make only those his friends whose endowments wciv equal to his own, his life would have been that of a Carthusian; IK; was therefore more solicitous to con tract friendships with men of probity and integrity, and endued with good moral qualities, than with those whose intellectual powers, or literary attain- ments, were the most, conspicuous part of I lien meter; and'of the former, Cave had a share, suffi- cient to justify his choice. On thi'. mutual regard for each other; as on a solid basis, rcst'-d the friend- ship between Johnson and Cave. It was then-Ion; witn a degree of sorrow proportioned to bis feelings towards nis friends, which were ever tender, that Johnson reflceted on the loss he bad to sustain, and became the narrator of the most important incidents of his life. In the account which he has given, of his death, it will be readily helie.vcd, that. wh;it he had related respecting the constancy of his friend
ship
5 6 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
ship is true, and that when, as the last act of rea- son, he fondly pressed the hand that was afterwards employed in recording his memory, his affection was sincere.
Having occasion to notice Johnson's first imita* tion of Juvenal *, Sir John Hawkins observes, that " Johnson and Dodsley were soon agreed ; the price asked hy the one, and assented to by the other, was, as I have been informed, fifty pounds: a reward for his labour and ingenuity, that induced Johnson ever after to call Dodsley his patron ;" and adds, " It [w pretty certain that, in his offer of the poem to l)odsley, Cave stipulated for the printing ofit; for it "j~] came abroad in the year above mentioned with the name of Cave as the printer, though with- out that of the author."
A good portrait of Mr. Cave, by Worlidge, after the manner of Rembrandt, was inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1754, vol. XXIV. p. 55, and is prefixed to the present volume.
There is another portrait of him, by Grignion, with emblematic devices, and this inscription :
" EDWARD CAVE, ob. 10 Jan. 1754, aetat. 62.
The first Projector of the Monthly Magazines, Th' Invention all admired, and each how he To be th' Inventor miss'd."
Mr. Cave was buried in the church of St. James, Clerkenwell ; but the following inscription to the memory of his father and himself, which was written "by Dr. Hawkesworth, is placed on a table monu- ment in the North-west cnurch-yard at Rugby: " Near this place lies the body of JOSEPH CAVE, late of this parish, who departed this life Nov. 18, 1747, aged 80 years.
* Of which see before, pp. 23, 24.
f These words were properly retracted in the sefcoftd edition.
He
EDWARD CAVE. 57
He was placed by Providence in a humble station ;
but
INDUSTRY abundantly supplied his wants, and TEMPERANCE blest him with
CONTENT and HEALTH.
As he was an affectionate Father,
he was made happy in the decline of life
by the deserved eminence of his eldest son.
EDWARD CAVE ;
who, without interest, fortune, or connections,
by the native force of his own Genius,
assisted only by a classical Education,
which he received in the Grammar-school
of this Town, planned, executed, and established
a Literary Work, called
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE ;
whereby he acquired an ample Fortune,
the whole of which devolved to his family.
Here also lies the body of ESTHER his wife, who died Dec. 30, 1734, aged 69 years.'*
On the North side of the same tomb :
" Here also lies
the body of WILLIAM CAVE,
second son of the said JOSEPH and ESTHER CAVE,
who died May 2, 1757, aged 62 years ; and who, having survived his elder brother
EDWARD CAVE, inherited from him a competent estate ;
and, in gratitude to his benefactor, ordered this monument, to perpetuate his
memory.
He liv'd a Patriarch in his numerous race, And shew'd in charity a Christian's grace : Whate'er a friend or parent feels, he knew; His hand was open, and his heart was true ; In what he gain'd and gave, he taught mankind, A grateful always is a generous mind.
Here
S» LITERARY ANECDOTES.
Here rest his clay! his soul must more than rest; Who blest when living, dying must be blest.
Here also lies the body of JUDITH, wife of the said WILLIAM CAVE, who died Feb. 11, 1748, aged 56 years."
On the South side :
" Here lies the body of JOSEPH CAVE,
son of JOSEPH and ESTHER CAVE, who died Nov. IS, 1738, aged 42 years*
Also the body of
SARAH, wife of the said JOSEPH CAVE, who died March 13, 1750, aged 56 years."
The following inscription was placed on a flat stone in the old church of St. James Clerkenwell, to the memory of the late Mr. Richard Cave *, of St. John's gate, who died Sept. 8, 1766; and of his wife, who survived him about six years :
" Reader, if native worth may claim a tear, Or the sad tale of death affect thy ear, Heave from thy breast one sympathising sigh, Since here such fair examples mouldering lie. Here lies a pair, whom Honesty approv'd, In death lamented, and in life belov'd ; Who never meant a neighbour to offend ; Who never made a foe, nor lost a friend ; Whose only strife was, who should act the best; Whose only hope, to rise among the blest."
* Nephew to the original projector of the Magazine, and, from 1754 till 1760, the printer of it, in conjunction with my late worthy friend David Henry, esq . who wrote the above epi- taph, and whose laudable exertions long supported and increased the original credit of what Mr. Burke styled " one of the most chaste and instructive Miscellanies of the age." Annual Regis- ter, 1780, p. 184.
No.
No. II. JOHN DUNTON. (See vol. IV. p. 88.)
This eccentric Bookseller was born May 14, at Graffham in Huntingdonshire, where his father, John Dunton, fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge, was then rector. His mother, Lydia Dunton, was daughter of Mr. Daniel Carter, of Chesham ; and died March 3, 1660. On the loss of his wife, Mr. Dunton went to Ireland, where he continued some years ; and the son was placed, at a very early age, at the school of Mr. William Readings, at Dun- grove, near Chesham.
In 1669 his father returned into England, ob- tained the rectory of Aston Clinton, where he married a second wife, and removed the son from . school to his own immediate tuition, intending him for the Church. The acquirement of Latin he found easy ; but the difficulty of Greek overcame all his resolutions. He made some little progress in logic, metaphysics, and morality ; but at the age of fourteen was found too volatile for the Church ; to the no small mortification of his father, who was himself the third John Dunton, in a lineal descent, that had been a minister. When nearly fifteen, to suit the peculiarity of his genius, he was appren- ticed to Mr. Thomas Parkhurst, a respectable book- seller. In 16*76 he lost his father; and, when his apprenticeship was nearly expired, made himself- conspicuous in the great political dispute between the Tories and the Whigs. He, being a- prime mover on the part of the Whig apprentices, and selected for their Treasurer, the Tories, to the number of 5000, presented an address to the King against the petitioning for parliaments. The dis-
senting
60 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
scnting party made their remonstrances to the for- mer address, in another they presented to Sir Pa- tience Ward, then lord mayor of London, who pro- mised he would acquaint the King with their ad- dress ; and then bid them return home, and mind the business of their respective masters.
By his own statement, his conduct during the seven years was not very regular ; and at the expiration of the term 100 apprentices were invited to celebrate the funeral. He now entered on business as a bookseller on his own account ; but, to avoid too large a rent, took only half a shop, a warehouse, and a fashion- able chamber. " Printing," he says, " was the uppermost in my thoughts ; and hackney authors began to ply me with specimens, as earnestly, and with as much passion and concern, as the watermen do passengers with oars and scullers. I had some acquaintance with this generation in my appren- ticeship, and had never any warm affection for them ; in regard I always thought their great concern lay more in how much a sheet, than in any generous respect they bore to the common- wealth of learning ; and indeed the learning itself of these gentlemen lies very often in as little room as their honesty; though they all pretend to have studied you six or seven years in the Bodleian Library, to have turned over the Fathers, and to have read and digested the whole compass both of humane and ecclesiastic history : when, alas ! they have never been able to understand a single page of Saint Cyprian, and cannot tell you whether the Fathers lived before or after Christ. And as for their honesty, it is very remarkable, they will either persuade you to go upon another man's copy, to steal his thought, or to abridge his book, which should have got him bread for his life-time. When you have engaged them upon some project or other, they will write you off three or four sheets perhaps, take up three or four pounds upon an urgent occa- sion, and you shall never hear of them more." — t( The first copy I would venture to print; was writ^
ten
JOHN DUNTON. 1
ten by the Reverend Mr. Doolittle, and intituled * The Sufferings of Christ.' This book fully an- swered my end ; for, exchanging it through the whole trade, it furnished my shop with all sorts of books saleable at that time; and it also brought me ac- quainted with those ingenious gentlemen, Mr. Wa- ters, Mr. Shewel, Mr. Clark, Mr. Benson, Mr. Wells, and Mr. Sanders, who were then students under the care of Mr. Doolittle. There was a copy of Greek verses prefixed to this book, which occa- sioned a poetical duel between the two private Academies of Islington and Stepney ; Mr. Wesley, then pupil under Mr. Veale, endeavouring to ridi- cule the Poem ; with whom, and Mr. Kingston, his fellow student, I contracted a very intimate friendship. Mr. Wesley was much celebrated for his vein at poetry ; though those that allow of no second rate in that art have endeavoured to lessen his reputation. — The second adventure I made in printing, was a copy written by Mr. Jay, rector ofChinner, intituled, ( Daniel in the Den ; or, the Lord President's Imprisonment, and miraculous Deliverance.' It was dedicated to the Lord Shafts- bury, and published upon the occasion of his being acquitted by an ignoramus jury. This piece was well furnished with wit, and, being published at the critical time, sold well.
Books have their time of life as well as we; They live by chance, but die by destiny. Our fate is less severe, in this alone, Tliat books no resurrection have, we hope for one.
<f This extraordinary success in my first attempts, gave me an ungovernable itch to be always intrigu- ing that way. The next thing I printed was a Sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. John Shower, at the funeral of Madam Anne Barnardiston. The growing reputation of the author made the Sermon move very well. There have been three editions of it, two of my own printing, and a third by my
worthy
2 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
worthy friend Mr. John Lawrence. When I was thus fixed in the trade, I resolved to make public a Collection of Funeral Discourses preached by my reverend father, Mr. John Dunton, intituled, ' The House of Weeping.' The success was well enough ; but my chief design was to perpetuate my father's name, for whose memory I have always entertained a very great and just veneration."
Dunton's reputation grew with his circumstances; and, Aug. 3, 16*82, he married Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Dr. Annesly, who at that time was a celebrated preacher among the Dissenters. He now opened a shop at the Black Raven in Princes- street ; where he carried on business very prosper- ously, till the universal damp upon trade which was occasioned by the defeat of the Duke of Monmouth in the West; when, having 500/. owing him in New England, he determined, after much deli- beration, to make a trip thithen and, after a long and tedious voyage of four months, and the loss of a venture of 500/. in another ship, which was cast- away, he arrived safe at Boston in March 1685-^; and opened a warehouse for the sale of the books which he had taken thither. Carrying with him powerful recommendations, and his books being of a class adapted to the Puritans, the success was equal to his wishes. His rivals in trade were but few ; Mr. Usher, Mr. Philips, Mynheer Brunning, and Duncan Campbell, an industrious Scotchman, being then the only booksellers in Boston ; and Mr. Green the principal, if not the only printer. He had taken with him a steady apprentice, Samuel Palmer, to whom he entrusted the whole charge of his business ; which left him at leisure to make many pleasant excursions into the country.
He visited Harvard college particularly, and the town of Salem ; where he opened another warehouse for his books. He also visited Wenham, an inland town ; where he was most kindly received by Mr. Geery, the then minister of that place ; whose cha- racter he thus delineates : "It were endless to enter
on
JOHN DUNTON. 63
on a detail of each faculty of learning Mr. Geery is master of, and therefore take his character in short- hand. The Philosopher is acute, ingenious, and subtle ; the Divine curious, orthodox, and profound; the Man of a majestic air, without austerity or sourness ; his aspect is masterly and great, yet not imperious or haughty. The Christian is devout, without moroseness, or starts of holy frenzy and enthusiasm ; the Preacher is primitive, without the accessional colours of whining or cant ; and metho- dical without intricacy or affectation ; and, which crowns his character, he is a man of a public spirit, zealous for the conversion of the Indians, and of great hospitality to strangers. He gave us a noble dinner, and entertained us with such pleasant fruits as, I must own, Old England is a stranger to." — In a ramble to Ipswich he had an opportunity of seeing much of the customs of the Indians.
In the autumn he returned to London; and, being received by his wife and her father with all the marks of kindness and respect, expected nothing but a golden life of it for the future, though all his sa- tisfactions were soon withered ; for, being deeply entangled for a sister-in-law, he was not suffered to step over the threshold in ten months. Wearied with this confinement, he determined to take a trip to Holland, Flanders, Germany, &c. ; and stayed four months at Amsterdam; whence he travelled to Cleves, Rhineberg, Dussledorp, Cologne, Mentz, &c. ; and, returning through Rotterdam to Lon- don, Nov. 15? 1688, found his wife in health, and all her affairs in peace. On the day the Prince of Orange came to London, he again opened shop, at the Black Raven, opposite the Poultry Compter, where he traded ten years, with variety of successes and disappointments. The following books, among many others, may serve to give a taste of what he was engaged in: " Heads of Agreement, assented to by the United Ministers." — " The Morning Ex- ercises, published by the London Ministers.'' — " Malebranche's Search after Truth, which was made
English
64 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
English by Mr. Sault."— " Mr. Coke's Detection of
the Court and State of England." — " The Works of
the Lord Delamere, published by Consent of the
Earl of Warrington." — " Dr. Burthogg's Essay on
Reason, and the Nature of Spirits ; dedicated to
Mr. Locke.'' — " The Tigurine Liturgy; published
by the Approbation of Six learned Prelates." —
" Bishop Barlow's Remains; published from his
Lordship's original Papers, by Sir Peter Pet, Knight."
— '"The Life of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Brand." —
" The Life and Death of the Reverend Mr. John
Elliot, who first preached the Gospel to the Indians
in America." — " The Bloody Assizes, which contain
the Trials and Dying Speeches of those that died in
the West." — " Sermons on the whole Parable of
Dives and Lazarus, by Joseph Stephens, Lecturer
of Cripplegate and Lothbury Churches." — " The
Tragedies. of Sin, by Mr. Jay, Rector of Chinner." —
" Mr. Williams's Gospel Truth." — " Machenzye's
Narrative of the Siege of Deny." — " Mr. Boyse's
Answer to Bishop King." — " Mr. Shower's Mourners
Companion." — " Mr. Roger's Practical Discourses."
— " Poems, written by Madam Singer, the Pindarick
Lady." — " Mr. Baxter's Life."—" The History of the
Edict at Nantes, translated by several Hands." — " It
was a wonderful pleasure," he says, " to Queen Mary
to see this History made English, and was the only
book to which she ever granted her Royal Licence."
Of 600 books which he had printed, he had only
to repent, he adds, of seven : " The second Spira,"
" The Post-boy robbed of his Mail," " The Voyage
round the World," " The new Quevedo," " The
Pastor's Legacy/' "Heavenly Pastime," "The Hue
and Cry after Conscience." These he heartily
wished he had never seen, and advised all who had
them to burn them. After confessing his errors in
printing, he says, " As to bookselling and traihck,
I dare stand the test, with the same allowance that
every man under the same circumstance with me
would wish to have, for the whole trading part of
my life. Nay, I challenge all the Booksellers in
London
JOHN DUNTON. 6$
London to prove I ever over-reached them or de- ceived them in any one instance. And when you come to that part of my life that relates to the Auc- tions I made in Dublin, you will find that in all the notes I made for Dublin, that I put the same price to every man. And would any Bookseller be at the pains to compare all my notes together (though I exchanged with all the trade), for every penny he finds charged more to himself than to other men, he shall have ten pounds reward, and a thousand thanks into the bargain, for rectifying a mistake I never designed." — In 1692, having been " put in possession of a considerable estate upon the decease of my cousin Carter, the Master and Assistants of the Company of Stationers began Jo think me suf- ficient to wear a Livery, and honoured me with the cloathing. My Livery-fine upon that occasion was twenty pounds, which I paid ; and the year follow- ing, Mr. Harris (my old friend and partner), and about fifty more of the Livery-men, entered into a Friendly Society, and obliged ourselves to pay twenty shillings a man yearly to the Renter-warden, in re- gard that honour was usually once a year attended with a costly entertainment to the whole Company.
" The first year I wore the Livery, Sir William Ashhurst being then Lord Mayor, I was invited by our Master and Wardens to dine with his Lordship. We went in a body from the Poultry church to Grocers-hall ; where the entertainment was very generous, and a noble spoon he sent to our wives. To speak the truth, I do not think Sir William Ashhurst ever acted a little or a mean tiling in his whole life. The world now smiled on me. I sailed with wind and tide ; and had humble servants enough among the Booksellers, Stationers, Printers, and Binders ; but especially my own relations, on every side, were all upon the very height of love and tenderness, and I was caressed almost out of my five senses. — And now, making a considerable figure in the Company of Stationers, the Right Hon. the Earl of Warrington did me the honour to send
Voj,. V. F me
66 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
me a letter (the original of which I have still ^by me) in behalf of Mr. Humphreys, desiring all the interest I could make, to procure him the Clerk's place to the Company of Stationers. Upon my reading the Earl's letter, I did all that lay in my power to get Mr. Humphreys chosen Clerk, though by the majority of voices it was carried against him. However, the many civilities I received from the Company of Stationers, for the fifteen years I traded amongst them, do oblige me, out of mere gratitude, to draw the character of the most eminent of that profession in the three kingdoms." Here Mr. Dun- ton proceeds to characterize the principal Book- sellers, Printers, Stationers, Bookbinders, &c. who were his contemporaries (as in a former part of the volume he had the several Authors with whom he had been connected in trade) ; several of whom have already been mentioned in the present work, and others shall be noticed in future pages.
In delineating the characters of others, Mr. Dun- ton has not forgot to describe his own Projects; " for I have been sufficiently convinced," i he says, " that unless a man can either think or perform something out of the old beaten road, he will find nothing but what his forefathers have found before him. A Bookseller, if he is a man of any capacity and observation, can tell best what to go upon, and what has the best prospect of success. I remember Mr. Andrews, a learned and ingenious Scotsman of this age, has offered me several translations, and told me they would certainly sell ; the substance of the book was so and so,' and could not miss. He- added, I had printed more than any other, and yet none had printed less. This was sharp enough, I confess ; however, it is a difficult matter to atta-ck a man in his own science. I have, it is true, been very plentifully loaded with the imputation of Mag- gots, &c. And what is the reason ? Why, because I have usually started something that was new ; whilst others, like footpads, ply only about the high-roads, and either abridge another man's book,
or
JOHN DUNTON. 6j
or one way or other contrived the very life and soul out of the copy, which perhaps was the>pnly sub- sistence of the first Proprietor. I once printed a , book, I remember, under the title of Maggots*; but it was written by a Dignitary of the Church of Eng- land. However, I am willing to submit myself, and to stand or fall by the impartial judgment of the Reader. My Jirst Project was the ' Athenian Gazette.' As the Athenian Society had their first meeting in my brain — so it has been kept ever since religiously secret : but I will now oblige the Reader with a true discovery of the Question-project) and of the several persons that engaged in it.
" I had received a very flaming injury, which was so loaded with aggravations, that I could scarce get over it ; my thoughts were constantly working upon it, and made me strangely uneasy : sometimes I thought to make application to some Divine, but how to conceal myself and the ungrateful wretch, was the difficulty. Whilst this perplexity remained upon me, I was one day walking over St. George's-fields, and Mr. Lar- kin and Mr. Harris were along with me, and on a sudden I made a stop, and said, 'Well, Sirs,' I have a thought I'll not exchange for fifty guineas!' They smiled, and were very urgent with me to discover it; but they could not get it from me. The first rude hint of it, was no more than a confused idea of con- cealing the Querist, and answering his question. However, so soon as I came home, I managed it to some better purpose, brought it' into form, and hammered out a title for it, which happened to be extremely lucky, and those who are well acquainted with the Grecian History may discover some pecu- liar beauties in it. — However, the honest Reader that knows nothing of criticism may see the reason why this Project was intituled the ' Athenian Gazette/ if
* " Maggots ; or, Poems on several Subjects never before handled. 1685. " 8vo; with the portrait of the Author (Samuel Wesley) ; a maggot on his forehead. See more particulars relat- ing to this publication (which is anonymous) in Granger, vol. IV, 8vo. p.32».
F 2 he
6 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
he only turns to Acts xvii. 21. When I had thus formed the design, I found that some assistance was absolutely necessary to carry it on, in regard the Project took in the whole compass of Learning, and the nature of it required dispatch. I had then, some acquaintance with the ingenious Mr. Richard Sault; who turned Malebranche into English for me, and was admirably well skilled in the mathe- maticks ; and over a glass of wine I unbosomed my- self to him, and he very freely offered to become concerned. So soon as the design was well adver- tised, Mr. Sault and myself, without any more as- sistance, settled to it with great diligence (and Numbers 1. 2. were entirely of Mr. Sault's composure and mine). The Project being surprizing and un- thought-of, we were immediately overloaded with letters; and sometimes I have found several hun- dreds for me at Mr. Smith's coffee-house in Stocks- market, where we usually met to consult matters.
" The ' Athenian Gazette1 made now such a noise in the world, and was so universally received, that we were obliged to look out after more members ; and Mr. Sault, I remember, one evening came to me in great transport, and told me he had been in company with a gentleman, who was the greatest prodigy of learning he had ever met with ; upon inquiry, we found it was the ingenious Dr. Norris *} who very generously offered his assistance gratiss but refused to become a stated member of Athens. He was wonderfully useful in supplying hints ; for, being universally read^ and his memory very strong,
* " He search' d Malebranche; and now the Rabbi knows, The secret springs whence truth and error flows. Directed by his leading light we pass, Through Nature's rooms, and tread in ev'ry maze j A throng of virtues in his soul repose, Which, single, would as many Saints compose : Or if all graces you would see in one, View his humility for there 'tis found. He is distinguish'd by his low retreat "\
To Bemerton, far from a Bishop's seat : >
Yet dignified, for Learning makes him great." J
{This is Bunion's Character of Mr. Norris.]
there
JOHN
there was nothing could be asked, but he could very easily say something to the purpose upon it.
" In a little time after, to oblige Authority, we altered the title of 'Athenian Gazette,' into * Athenian Mer- cury.' The undertaking growing every week upon our hands, the impatience of our Querists, and the curiosity of their questions, which required a great deal of accuracy and care, did oblige us to adopt a third member of Athens ; and the reverend Samuel Wesley* being just come to town, all new from the University, and my acquaintance with him being very intimate, I easily prevailed with him to embark him- self upon the same bottom, and in the same cause. With this new addition we found ourselves to be masters of the whole design, and thereupon we nei- ther lessened nor increased our number.
" The success of Athens growing so very consider- able, Mr. Brown and Mr. Pate began to ape our design in a paper they intituled the f Lacedemonian Mercury,' which immediately interfered with us under a title, which, it is true, was pretty and perti- nent enough. Upon this, I was resolved one way or other to blow them up, in regard, it was both un- generous and unjust to interlope upon a man, where he has the sole right and property ; for the children of the brain are as much ours, as those we beget in lawful wedlock. I first of all advertized, that all the questions answered in the ( Lacedemonian Mer- cury' should be answered over again in our ' Athe- nian Mercury,' with amendments, with the life of Tom Brown, the chief antagonist. This news startled them pretty much. At that time I was altogether unacquainted with Mr. Brown. How- ever, one evening he comes to me, with all the civility imaginable, and desires to take a glass with me. I sent for my Athenian brethren, and we went to the Three Cranes, where we discoursed the matter with him at large: but, Mr. Sault being a gentleman of courage, and a little inclined to passion, was going to draw upon Mr. Brown, for an uncivil reflection ;
•* See p. 67.
upon
70 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
upon which Mr. Brown cried peccavi, and promised very faithfully that he would never meddle any more with the ' Lacedemonian Mercury;' and though they had not dropt it, yet the flaming wickedness, and the blasphemy that was in it, would have ruined the design.
"A little after this was published, 'The New Athenian Comedy,' containing, l The Politicks, GEconomicks, Tacticks, Crypticks, Apocalypticks, " Stypticks, Scepticks, Pneumaticks,Theologicks, Po- eticks, Mathematicks, Sophisticks, Pragmaticks, Dog- maticks, of our most Learned Society.' This Play was a poor performance, writ, however, on purpose to expose us ; but failed so far in the design of it, that it promoted ours. There was nothing of wit through the whole of it, and the reader may take notice that
Mr. S *s genius was quite run out towards the
conclusion of the third act, and could not carry it an inch farther.
" The Earl of ^ was once pleased to frown
.upon the e Athenian Mercury,' and forced us into silence ; but, when men are pleased to make personal application (for the offence was only taken at a question that was sent us, of a father that had two daughters), it is a sign there is a sore place, else they would never wince for the matter; however
Captain M al procured us liberty to proceed,
and had twenty-five guineas for that service. I have waded through these, and many other diffi- culties with this design; and nothing could dis- courage me, when my cause was so great and good. tf The ' Athenian Mercury' began at length to be so well approved, that Mr. Gildon thought it worth his while to write * A History of the Athenian So- ciety ;' to which were prefixed several poems writ- ten by the chief Wits of the age (viz. Mr. Motteux, Mr. Foe, Mr. Richardson, &c. and in particular, Mr. Tate (now Poet Laureat), was pleased to honour us with a Poem directed to the Athenian Society. Mr. Swift*, a country gentleman, sent an Ode to
* Afterwards the celebrated Dean j see his Works, vol. XVI. p. 23. 1 the
JOHN DUNTON. 71
the Athenian Society ; whicty' being an ingenious poem, was prefixed to the Fifth Supplement of the 'Athenian Mercury.' Many other persons did also rhime in the praise of our Questions. Our Athe- nian Project did not only obtain among the po- pulace, but was well received by the politer sort of mankind. That great and learned Nobleman, the late Marquis of Halifax, was once pleased to tell me, that he constantly perused our Mercuries, and had received great satisfaction from very many of our Answers. The late Sir William Temple, a man of a clear judgement, and wonderful pene- tration, was pleased to honour me with frequent letters and questions^ very curious and uncommon ; in particular, that about the Talismans was his. The Honourable Sir Thomas Pope Blount, when he resided in town, has very frequently sent for me to his chamber, and given me particular thanks for my Athenian Project; and the last visit I made him, he told me the Athenian Society was certainly the most useful and informing design that had ever been set on fodt in England. Sir William Hedges was pleased to tell me, he was so well pleased with the 'Athenian Mercuries,' that he would send several complete sets into the Indies, to his friends ; and that he thought the publick, and himself in parti- cular, so much obliged to me, that I should be always welcome to his house, and that he would serve me to his utmost with reference to my trade. I could mention many more honours that were done me, by Sir Peter Pett, and several others, whose learning and judgment the world has little reason to question.
"Our 'Athenian Mercuries' were continued till they swelled, at least, to twenty volumes folio ; and then we took up, to give ourselves a little ease, and refreshment ; for the labours and the travels of the mind are as expensive, and wear the spirits off as fast, as those of the body. However our Society was never formally dissolved.
" The old Athenian volumes, a while ago, grow- ing quite out of print, a choice collection of the
most
72 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
most valuable questions and answers, in three vo- lumes, have lately been re-printed, and made pub- lick, under the title of ( Athenian Oracle ;' two of which I dedicated to the most illustrious and mag- nanimous Prince, James Duke of Ormond (Chan- cellor of the Universities of Oxford and Dublin), and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. These two volumes I presented to his Grace with my own hand ; and if any thing could make me vain of the Athenian Project, it would be the generous reception his Grace gave to each of the volumes. I have no need here to shew the reason of this dedication ; for his Grace's fame is improved already to an undoubted immortality. His courage, conduct, and success in war, have raised him as far above the reach of flat- tery, as above all parallel. He has waded through blood and battles, and has freely ventured his life and fortunes in the great cause of liberty and reli- gion ; and now, at last, we cannot but applaud the judicious choice of our gracious Queen, in making him the Guardian of a Kingdom which owes so much to his Family, and where his presence is as acceptable, as it is necessary ; and therefore, as the Duke of Ormond is Patron of Learning, as well as of Arms, the Athenian Society thought they had a natural right to his protection ; and they found it in so ample a manner, that his Grace not only hon- oured each volume with his own perusal, but was pleased afterwards to mention to some Lords the great satisfaction he took in the Athenian Oracles that had been presented to him. And may his Grace live long, the great encouragement of Arms and Arts ! The copy of these three volumes I sold to Mr. Bell in Cornhill, and is all (as appears by our articles) that he has any right to; and much good may his success do him ! For it is thought he will get above a thousand pounds by it.
" A second Project of mine, which was set on foot by the Old Athenians, and lately published by the New, is intituled, l The Athenian Spy ; or the Secret Letters of Platonic Courtship, between the Athenian
i Society,
JOHN DUNTON. 73
Society, and the most ingenious Ladies in the Three Kingdoms ; with the form of solemnizing Platonic Matrimony, invented by the Athenian Society.'
" A third Project of mine, for the promotion of Learning, was a Monthly Journal of Books printed in London, and .beyond Sea ; which was chiefly ex- tracted out of ' The Universal Bibliotheque,' and ' Journal des Scavans ;' and it first appeared under the title of 'A Supplement to the Athenian Mercury/ but was afterwards called, c The Complete Library/ This design was carried on about ten months, when Monsieur Lecrose interfered with, me in a Monthly Journal, intituled 'The Works of the Learned;' upon which I dropped my own design, and joined with Lecrose's Bookseller, in publishing < The Works of the Learned.' But, Lecrose dying, it was discon- tinued; though the same design, under the same title, is yet on foot, and managed by several hands, one of which is the ingenious Mr. Ridpath.
" IV. Another Project (which I writ myself, and published a year ago) was intituled ' The Post Angel: or Universal Entertainment.'
" My fifth Project has been preparing for the press for these ten years, and is intituled, l The New Practice of Piety. Writ in imitation of Dr. Brown's Religio Medici : or, a System of uncommon Thoughts, extracted from the Experience of Forty Years.'
" My sixth Project was, ' The Challenge, sent by a young Lady to Sir Thomas , intituled The Fe- male tfatr; wherein the present Dresses and Humours of the Fair Sex, are vigorously attacked by Men of Quality, and as bravely defended by several Ladies.' " VII. My next Project was intituled, 'The Post- Boy robbed of his Mail ; or, The Pacquet broke open, containing Five Hundred Letters that were taken from several Posts, discovering the Secrets of Men and Women of all Ranks and Qualities.' The Club of Gentlemen supposed to have been concerned in this frolick make remarks upon the Letters as they break them up. This Project obtained so well, that both volumes are now out of print,
"My
74 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
" My eighth Project was a design to expose vice, intituled, f The Night Walker ; or, Evening Ram- bles in search after lewd Women * ; with the various Conferences held with them.' This Project was so well received, that I purposed to continue it monthly. " IX. My last Project (amongst many that I shall leave unmentioned) was intituled f The Merciful Assizes ; or, a Panegyrick on the late Lord Jeffreys' hanging so many in the West.' You must know, Reader, in the book intituled * The Bloody Assizes' (of which I sold above six thousand) the Lord Jef- freys is made a very cruel man: but in this new Project I (wholly) change the scene, and turn the Bloody Assizes into Merciful Assizes.' But let none be sur- prized that I make Jeffreys the subject, of a pane- gyrick; for there is a witty Author has defended the bloody Nero ; and of late, a learned gentleman has published an Apology for the Failures of Dr. Walker; and with the same design that these gentlemen writ, do I venture to praise that nonsuchman, George Lord Jeffreys." This panegyrick was so well accepted, that rny friend Mr. George Larkin was pleased to explain the Project by an ingenious Poem.
" Thus have I given a brief account of the Pro- jects I formerly engaged in ; and whether they give me the title of Maggot, or Promoter of Learning and Virtue, is left to the candour and judgment of the honest Reader." «
After this ample account of himself and of his va- rious Projects, little remains to be added, but the title- pages of three of Dunton's publications.
1 . " The Dublin Scuffle : being a Challenge sent by John Dunton, Citizen of London, to Patrick
* Dunton's greatest Project was intended for the extirpating of lewdness from London ; a scheme highly creditable to the schemer, had it been practicable. Armed with a constable's statf, and accompanied by a clerical companion, he sallied forth in the evening* and followed the wretched prostitutes home, or to a tavern, where every effort was used to win the en-ing fair to the paths of virtue ; but these, he observes, were ' perilous ad- , ventures,' as the Cyprians exerted every art to lead him astray, in the height of his spiritual exhortations.
Campbel,
JOHN DUNTON. 75
Campbel, Bookseller in Dublin ; together with the small Skirmishes of Bills and Advertisements. To which is added, the Billet DOILT, sent him by a Citizen's Wife in Dublin, tempting him to Lewdness: with his Answers to her. Also some Account of his Conversation in Ireland, intermixt with particu- lar Characters of the most eminent Persons he con- versed with in that Kingdom ; but more especially in the City of Dublin. In several Letters to the Spectators of this Scuffle. With aPoem on the whole Encounter. ( I wear my Pen as others do their Sword' OLDHAM . London, printed for the Author ; and are to be sold, by A. Baldwin, near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick- Lane, and by the Booksellers in Dublin ; 1699."
This volume is inscribed " To the Honourable Colonel Butler, a Member of the House of Com- mons in Ireland ;" as a compliment, due to the generous encouragement that gentleman had been pleased to give to his Auction of Books at Dublin in the year 1698, and the extraordinary and unmerited kindnesses he hnd received. The Scuffle relates to disputes in trade with Patrick Campbel, a Dublin Bookseller, who was jealous of Dunton' s success ; which are amusing, though not very generally in- teresting. But the "Account of his Conversation in Ireland" contains a pleasing description of several parts of that Island, not generally known to an English reader, and well worth perusing.
2. His next regular publication was, " The Life and Errors of John Dunton, late Citizen-of London ; written by himself in Solitude. With an Idea of a new Life ; wherein is shewn how he'd think, speak, and act, might he live over his days again : inter- mixed with the new Discoveries the Author has made in his Travels abroad, and m his private Conversation at home*. Together with the Lives and Characters
* At the end of this volume was advertized, as preparing for the press, " A Ramble through Six Kingdoms, by John Dunton, late Citizen of London. Wherein he relates, 1. His Juvenile Travels. 2. The History of his Sea Voyages. 3. His Conversa- tion in Foreign Parts. 'With Characters of Men and Women,
° i
and
76 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
of a Thousand Persons now living in London, &c. Digested into Seven Stages, with their respective Ideas. ' He that has all his own mistakes confess'd, Stands next to him that never has transgressed ; And will be censur'd for a fool by none, But they who see no errors of their own.'
FOE'S Satyr upon himself, p. 6. London: printed for S. Malthus, 1705." This genuine and simple narrative of his own history is a very curious performance, and abounds in literary history of an interesting nature.
3. " The Case of John Dunton with respect to Madam Jane Nicholas of St. Alban's, his Mother- in-law, 1700," 4to.
4. " A Cat may look on a Queen : or a Satyr on Her present Majesty."
5. " Plain French : or a Satyr upon the Tackers. To which is added the Character of a True Patriot : written to caution and direct English Freeholders in the Choice of a New Parliament ; and particularly the Electors in Bucks. By John Dunton, a Free- holder of the same County. The Fourth Edition, corrected and enlarged."
6. " The New Athenian Oracle ; under Three General Heads, viz. The Divine, Philosophic, and Secret Oracle. The whole resolving such nice and curious Questions as were never answered in the Old Athenian Oracle, vol. I. with a General Table. • — The Second Volume of The New Athenian Oracle will be published when a thousand of the first Volume is sold off; and then this .New Oracle will be con- tinued in Volumes, at 3>?. each, till the Question Project is completed in Six Volumes ; all which will not exceed the bulk (or price) of the Three Volumes of the Old Athenian Oracles. This Notice is given, that so the ingenious Querists may continue to send
and almost every Thing he saw or conversed with. The like Discoveries (in such a Method) never made by any Traveller before. Illustrated with Forty Cuts, representing the most pleasant Passages in the whole Adventure. With Recommenda- tory Poems, written by the chief Wits in both Universities,"
what
JOHN DUNTON. 77
what nice and curious Questions they have still by them. But take notice, that no Questions will be answered, or received, but what are sent to the Athenian (or Smith's) Coffee-house inStock's-market, and postage paid."
7. " The Athenian Catechism : containing, The Atheist's Catechism, Numb. 1. A Continuation of the Atheist's Catechism, Numb. 2. The Player's Catechism, Numb. 3. The High Flyer's Catechism, Numb. 4. The bigotted Dissenter's Catechism, Numb. 5. The Atheist at Confession : or, the Atheist's penitential Catechism, Numb. 6. A Con- tinuation of the Atheist's penitential Catechism, Numb. 7, The occasional Conformist's Catechism, Numb. 8. The occasional Nonconformist's Cate- chism^ Numb. 9. A Continuation of the occasional Nonconformist's Catechism, Numb. 10. The Lady's Catechism for Paint and Patches, Numb. 11. A Catechism for our late Pamphleteers, Numb. 12. A Catechism for Coffee-houses, Numb. 13. A Conti- tinuation of the Coffee-house Catechism, Numb. 14. TheCatechism forCoffee-houses continued. Numb. 15. The finishing Catechism for the Coffee-houses, Numb. 16. The Political Catechism, for the Im- provement of Newsmongers, Numb, 17. A Conti- nuation of the Political Catechism, Numb. 18, 19, 20. — These several Catechisms are a Continuation of the Athenian Catechism. To which is added, The Gentleman's Courant, or, News for the Inge- nious. These 20 Numbers complete the first Volume of the Athenian Catechism ; and are sold at 1 8rf. A second Volume of this Catechetical Project will be published, if due encouragement be given. — By the New Athenian Society."
8. " Dunton's Whipping-post : or, a Satire upon every body. To which is added, A Panegyrick on the most deserving Gentlemen and Ladies in the Three Kingdoms ; &c. &c. Vol. I. To which is added, The Living Elegy: or, Dunton's Letter to his few Creditors. With the Character of a
Summer
78 LITERARY ANECDOTES,
Summer Friend. Also, the secret History of the Weekly Writers, in a distinct Challenge to each of them. Printed, and are to be sold by B. Bragg, at the Black Raven in Paternoster-row. 1706."
3. " The Bull-baiting : or, Sacheverell dressed up in Fireworks. Lately brought over from Bear- garden in South wark ; and exposed, for the Diversion of the Citizens of London, at Six-pence a-piece. By John Dunton, Author of the Answer to Dr. Kennett, intituled " The Hazard of a Death-bed Repentance" Being Remarks on a scandalous Sermon bellowed out at St. Paul's on the fifth of November last, be- fore the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor,, and Court of Aldermen, by Dr. Sacheverell. Printed for the Author, and are to be sold by John Morphew, near Stationers-hall ; and take notice whatever of these Books are published, not having Mr. Morphew's name to them (or that are sold at a lower price than 6d.) are a wrong to the Author, and a cheat to the Buyers ; all such stolen and imperfect Books not containing the fourth part of Mr. Dunton's original Copies. 1709."
1 1 . The latest of his publications that I have seen * is intituled, '"Athenianism; or, the new Projects of Mr. John Dunton, Author of the Essay intituled, ' The Hazard of a Death-bed Repentance ; being,
* Dunton is honoured with an incidental notice in the Dun- ciad, II. 144 5 on which Warburton remarks, that " he was a auction bookseller, and an abusive scribler. He wrote Neck or Nothing, a violent satire 'on some Ministers of State ; a libel on the Duke of Devonshire and the Bishop of Peterborough, &c."
" I am informed," says Swift 'in the Tale of a Tub, " that worthy Citizen and Bookseller Mr. John Dunton has made a faithful and painful Collection, which he shortly designs to pub- lish in twelve volumes in folio, illustrated with copper-plates ; a work useful and curious, and altogether worthy of such a hand." • — In his ""Public Spirit of the Whigs," Swift says, " Among the present Writers on that side I can recollect but three of any great distinction, which are the Flying Post, Mr. Dunton, and the author of the Crisis. The fh'st of these seems to have been much sunk in reputation, since the sudden retreat of the only true genuine original author, Mr. Ridpath, who is celebrated b.y the
Dut«h
JOHN DUNTON. 73
six hundred* distinct Treatises (in Prose and \rerse) written with his own Hand ; and is an entire Co- lection of all his Writings, both in Manuscript and such as were formerly printed. To which is added, Duntons Farewell to Printing, in some serious Thoughts on those Words of Solomon, £ Of making many Books there is no End ; and much Study is a Weariness of the Flesh.' With the Au- thor's Effigies, to distinguish the original and true Copies from such as are false and imperfect. Take care also of being cheated by Wooden Cuts: the right is that which is drawn and 'graved by those two celebrated Artists, Knight and Zander Gucht. To this Work is prefixed an Heroick Poem upon Dun- ton's Projects, written by the Athenian Society; with an Alphabetical Table of the several Projects, Questions, Novelties, Poems, and Characters in- Dutch Gazetteer as one of the best pens in England. Mr. Dun- ton hath been longer and more conversant in books than any of the three, as well as more voluminous in his productions : how- ever, having employed his studies in so great a variety of other subjects, he hath, I think, but lately turned his genius to po- liticks. His famous tract, intituled Neck or Nothing, must be allowed to be the shrewdest piece, and written with the most spirit, of any which hath appeared from that side since the change of th" Ministry : it is indeed a most cutting satire upon the Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke ; and I wonder none of our friends ever undertook to answer it. I confess, I was at first of the same opinion with several good judges, who from the style and manner suppose it to have issued from the sharp pen of the Earl of Nottingham ; and I am still apt to thiuk it might receive his Lordship's last hand."
Dunton was certainly a most voluminous writer, as he seems to have had his pen always ready, and never to have been at a loss for a subject to exercise it upon. Though he generally put his name to what he wrote, it would be a difficult task to get together a complete collection of his various publications. As containing notices of many persons and things not to be found elsewhere, they certainly have their use ; and his accounts are often entertaining.
* This dipper into a thousand books formed ten thousand projects, six hundred of which he appears to have thought he had completely methodized. His mind seemed to be like some tables, where the victuals have been ill-sorted, and worse dressed.
serted
SO LITERARY ANECDOTES.
serted in this Volume. Printed by Tho. Darrack ; and sold by John Morphew. 17 10."
In the Preface to this volume, which breathes all the pride of self-consequence, he informs his readers, that he does not write to flatter, or for hire.
As a specimen of the better parts of this perform- ance-^, take the characters of three eminent Divines, of whom some memoirs have been given already *.
" Wise as thebest, will the learn'd Stanhopeseem, ~} But in St. Lawrence' pulpit picture him ; For, Dunton, there you '11 find the Seraphim. J Devotion is the imprese in his breast, >
Learning and Zeal below divide the rest ; >
He loaths the fools that dare to preach in jest. J His temper is harmonious as the spheres, Copious his wit, yet sparkling as the stars. Athens and Rome, when Learning flourish'd most, Could never such a famous Preacher boast ; Whose matchless beauties in the English tongue Have even rival'd the fam'd Tillotson. Judgment does some to reputation raise, And for Invention others wear the bays : Stanhope has both, with such a talent still As shews not only force of wit, but skill: So faultless are hi? works, 'tis hard to know, If he does more to Art or Nature owe.
* Other subjects are, I . " The Funeral of Mankind, a paradox, proving we are all dead and buried." 2. "The Spiritual Hedge- hog ; or, a new and surprising Thought." 3. " The Double Life, or a new way to redeem Time, by living over to-morrow before it comes." 4. " Dunton preaching to himself ; or every man his own Parson." 5. His " Creed, .or the Religion of a Bookseller," in imitation of Browne's Religio Medici, has some humour and merit. This he dedicated to the Stationers Company.
f As a Satirist, he appears to most advantage in his Poems, intituled, " The Beggar mounted 5" " The Dissenting Doctors ;" ' ' Parnassus hoa! or Frolics in verse j" " Dunton's Shadow, or the character of a Summer Friend." Throughout the whole of his writings, however, he is exceedingly prolix and tedious, and sometimes obscure. His " Case is altered, or Dunton's Re- marriage to his own Wife," has some singular notion*^ but very little merit in the composition.
Read
JOHN DUNTOtf, 8l
Read where you will, he "s musick all along, And his sense easy as his thought is strong. Some, striving to be clear, fall flat and low ; And, when they think to mount, obscure they grow. He is not darker for his lofty flight, Nor does his easiness depress his height ; But still perspicuous wheresoe'er he fly, And, like the Sun, is brightest when he 's high. He's dignify 'd by all the books he writes ; And so distinguish'd by his learned flights, His mere translations shine, and far excel What others write, thouglran original. Some men a luckless imitation try ; "|
And, whilst they soar, and whilst they venture high, > Flutter and flounce, but have not wing to fly. J Some in loose words their empty fancies bind, Which whirl about like chaflf before the wind. Here brave conceits in the expression fail, There big the words, but with no sense at all. Still Stanhope's sense might Stanhope's language trust, Both pois'd, and always bold, and always just. None e'er may reach that strange felicity, *\
Where thoughts are easy, words so sweet and free, > Yet not descend one step from majesty. J
I '11 add but this, lest, while I think to raise His fame, I kindly injure him with praise. Spotless his Pulpit, and his Sermons quaint, A finish'd Preacher, and an equal Saint."
" Let pious Hoadly next his station find, Grown man in body now, but more in mind ; His looks are in the mother's beauty drest, "Y
And Moderation * has inform'd his breast. >
He preach' d — (when he did railing fools detest). J But here, John Dunton, is thy skill confm'd, 1 Thou canst not paint his grave polemic mind, That task is for wise Calamy assign'd. J
The Painter s pencil cannot make a draught Of things unseen, nor dares he paint a thought :
•* " He L^ely published a Sermon upon that subject."
VOL. V. G Tis
82" 1ITERARY ANECDOTES.
Tis neither Art nor Nature can amend him,
I should but wrong him if I should commend him;
I '11 only add, that Hoadly 's dignify'd
By wit, and grace, and han't one spark of pride.
Merit has made hirn great, and spread his fame, ~\
He is distinguish'd by a life that's clean,
His answering Elackall is his only stain." j
" If these fam'd Preachers have thy art refin'd, I)unton, draw Moss, that's dazzling yet behind; Paint sweetness in his eyes at once, and awe, And make his looks preach Piety and Law ; No pulpit-notes^ or Angel ever sung, More harmony than dwells upon his tongue : Happy in preaching, dignity, and parts ; *\
And (which is strange) the Lawyers he converts *, > AVho, all men know, have seared, stony hearts, j But, by his pulpit art and eloquence, * These stones are flesh'd -j~, and fools made men of
sense.'
His voice sure is by nightingales advanc'dt He does but speak, and all men are entranc'd. Being thus distinguish'd for a man of sense, ~\
Tho' not my Lord, yet, as he serves his Prince, > We'll call him Bishop in the future tense ;£."
This volume, on the whole, is a strange mixture of sense and folly; containing some good articles in prose and verse, a few of a licentious turn, and some deeply tinctured with insanity ; a misfortune under which Dunton appears to have long laboured.
12. Dunton published, after this, " An Appeal tx>Her Majesty, with a List of his Political Pamph- lets ;" of which a copy is in the British Museum.
* Dr. Moss was Preacher at Gray's Inn. See vol. IV. p. 223. •\ Ezektel ii. 19.
J In like manner he describes " the most eminent Conformists" of his age ; and, after some advice to the Clergy, adds,
" These preaching rules will make you grave and neat : But that you may be fam'd and more complete, Mind Talbot, Lucas, and a thousand more, Who preach like Angels, and like them adore. Read Glanvil, South, Dove, Culverwel, and Scot,. Whose matchless Sermons ne'er will be forgot,"
I find
JOHN BUTTON. 83
J find no farther particulars of him till Oct. 17, 1723, when he advertised the volume * noticed be- low; which I have never seen. He survived till 1 733 ; and died at the age of 74.
* " Upon this Moment depends Eternity : or, Mr. John Dun- ton's serious Thoughts upon the present and future State, in a Fit of Sickness that was judged mortal ; in which many new Opinions are started and proved ; in particular this, That the sincere practice of known Duties, or dying daily to this Life and World, would of itself resolve the most ignorant Person in all the abstruse Points of the Christian Religion — being a new Direc- tory for holy living and dying ; composed of the Author's own Experience in Religion, Politicks, and Morals, from his Childhood to his Sixty- third Year (but more especially during his dangerous Disease in Ireland in the Year Ninety-eight, when his Life was despaired of) ; and completed in Twenty Essays upon such nice and curioxis points in Divinity as were never handled before. To which is added, the Sick Man's Passing-Bell, to remind all Men of that Death and Eternity to which they are hastening. Containing, 1 . God be merciful to me a Sinner ; or, Dunton at Confession ; in which he discovers the secret Sins of his whole Life ; with his Resolution in what penitent Manner (by the help of God) he'll spend the short Time he has yet to live. 2. Dun- ton's Legacy to his native Country ; or, a dying Farewell to tlte most remarkable Persons and Things both in Church and State -t with his last Prayer (or those very Petitions to Almighty God) with which he hopes to expire. 3. A living Man following his own Corpse to the Grave : or, Dunton represented as dead and buried, in an Essay upon his own Funeral. To which is added (for the Oddness and Singularity of it) a Copy of Ms last Will and Testament. His living Elegy, wrote with his own Hand ; and the Epitaph designed for his Tombstone in the new Burying- place. Together with, 4. The real Period of Dunton's Life ; or, a Philosophical Essay upon the Nature of that Grand Climacteric Year Sixty-three, in which (as few Persons outlive that fatal Time) he expects to betictually buried with the best of Wive* Mrs. Elizabeth Annesley alias Dunton ; with their Reasons for sleeping together in the same Grave till the general Resurrection ; as contained in two Letters that passed between Mr. Dunton and his Wife a few Days before she died. The whole Directory and Passing-Bell submitted to the impartial Censure of the Right Reverend Father in God William Lord Bishop of Ely. By Mr. John Dunton, a Member of the Athenian Society, and Author of the Essay intituled, ' The Hazard of a Death-bed Repentance."
We are all seiz'd with the Athenian Itch,
News, and New Things do the World bewitch. Dr. WILD.
Printed for S. Popping in Paternoster-row, prica It. W."
o a No.
No. III.
THE FAMILY OF THE FREINDS.
(See vol. I. p. 288.)
WILLIAM FRIEND*, M.A. born Aug. 3, 1634, was educated at Westminster-school, elected to Christ Church, Oxford, 1656; obtained the rectory of Croughton in Northamptonshire in 1 663 ; where he resided till his death, which is thus recorded on a handsome monument in the chancel of that church :
On the frieze :
"Natus August! iii0, 1634; obiit Septemb. xx. 1689." On the tablet:
"H.S.E.
GULIELMUS FRIEND, A. M. hujus parochiae per xxvi annos Rector, Scholae Regiae Westmonasterii ") A , deinde .SEdis Christi Oxonii / * utrique loco' charus, utriusque amantissimus.
Vir
ingenii acumine satis valens,
astutiarum omnino vacuus ;
in tuenda Ecclesiee Anglicanse causa,
cui fidem suam dedit,
integer, intrepidus;
in gerenda Parochiali cura, cui totum se devovit, diligens, indefessusj
• *
in toto vitae cursu, quod vel parum decuit, vel sordidi fuit auinii,,
nihil non aspernatus : quod justum fuit et honorificum
nihil non ausus.
Neque fuit illo usquam, quoad potuit,
vel egenis liberalior, vel vicinis beneficentior^
Tel hospitibus hospitalior, vel amicis amicior ;
nemo aut Sacerdotis, aut Mariti, aut Parentis
munera fidelius pleniusve obivit. •
* So spelt; but his sons wrote the name Freind.
Tres,
WILLIAM FRIEND. 8$
Tres, qui hodie supersunt, filios,
ROBERTUM, S.T.P. Scholse Westmonasteriensis Archididasculum,
GULIELMUM, A.M.
Manerii de Hitcham in Com' Buck', Domimim,
JOANNEM, M.D. Londinensem, sub iisdem, in quibus ipse olim adolevit, Penetralibn* erudiri probe curavit.
Qui filii
et ipsius exemplar,
et foelicissimam suam educationem
egregium fuisse Patrimonium arbitrati>
marmor hoe optimo Parenti
P.P."
Mr. Friend, besides the three sons recorded in
his epitaph, had a daughter Anne, who was married
to the successor of her father in the rectory ; as
appears by the following epitaph :
" Hie cum certH
resurgendi spe sepultus est
JOANNES MAXIMILIANUS DEL'ANGLE *
SAMUELIS DEL'ANGLE, S.T.P.-f-
DE CHARENTON juxta Parisios
Celebris olim Ecclesiae pastoris,
deinde, pulsis in exilium Protestantibus,
Ecclesiae WESTMONASTERIENSIS Praebendarii,
filius ;
et magni BOCHARTI ex Sorore Nepos ; Patria Gallus, fide omnino Anglus.
Qui hujusce parochiae curam administravit,
Rector pius, integer, industrius,
a suis omnibus et dilectus et cultus.
Uxorem duxit ANNAM FRIEND,
Gulielmi Annosque nliam,
quae Marito desideratissimo
H. M. P. Obiit An. Dom. 1719, Aug. 20, aet. 53."
* M. A. of Christ Church, Oxford, 1694. Two others of the family obtained the same degree in 1719 and 1752. | Of whom see p. 89.
ROBERT
86* LITERARY ANECDOTES.
ROBERT FREIND, the eldest son, was admitted in 1680 to Westminster-school, whence he was elected to Christ Church in 1686 ; where he was a student at the time of the inauguration of King William and Queen Mary ; and made on that occasion a good copy of English verses, which were printed in the University Collection *. In the famous dispute between Bentley ^ and Boyle, Mr. Freind was a warm partizan for the honour of his College ^.
He proceeded M. A. June 1, 1693 5 became second master of Westminster-school in 1699 ; and accu- mulated the degrees of B. andD.D. July 7, 1709.
In 1711 he published a Sermon preached before the House of Commons, Jan. 30, 1710-11, fromv Jer. iii. 25, In the same year he succeeded Duke the Poet in the valuable living of Witney in Oxford" shire ; became head-master of Westminster-school ; and is said to have drawn up the preamble to the Earl of Oxford's patent of Peerage §.
March 16, 1722-3, the day after his brother (Dr, John) was committed to theTower, Dr. Robert Freind caused much speculation in the school, and its vicinity, loy giving for a theme, " Frater, ne desere Fratrew"
In 1724, he published Cicero's "Orator;" and in ^1728 Mr. Bowyer was indebted to him for the West?
* " Vota Oxoniensia pro serenissimis Guilhelmo Rege et Maria Regina M. Britannia;, &c. nuncupata; Oxon. 1689." — These verses were also printed in the Select Collection of Miscellany Poems, 1781, vol. VII. p. 132.
f A niece of Dr. Robert Freind was married to a son of Dr. Bentley, who, after that event, conceived a better opinion of the Christ Church men ; and declared, that " Freind had more good learning in him than ever he had imagined."
% " I will tell you what Mr. Pope told tae, who had been let into the secret concerning the Oxford performance — that Boyle wrote only the narrative of what passed between him and the Bookseller, which too was corrected for him ; that Freind the Master of Westminster and Atterbury wrote the body of the cri- ticisms ; and that Dr. King of the Commons wrote the droll ar- gument to prove Dr. Bentley was not the Author of the Disserta- tion on Phalaris, and the Index. And a powerful cabal gave it a surprising run." Warburton's Letters, 8vo, p. 11.
§ He probably revised it j but it was drawn up by Swift ; and, may be seen in. tlje Dean's Woife 1808, vol. III. p. 367- _
jninster
DR. ROBERT FRE1ND. 8 7
minster Verses on the Coronation of King George the Second, which are noticed under l/tfl.
In April 1/2Q, Dr. Freind obtained a canonry of Windsor ; which in 1 73 1 he exchanged for a pre- bend of Westminster.
In the Gentleman's Magazine for 1733 *> are some verses by Stephen Duck to Dr. Freind, on his quitting Westminster-school ; by which it appears that Lord Carteret (afterwards Earl Granville), Lord Hervey, and the Duke of Newcastle, were greatly indebted to him for part of their accomplishments and future fame.
In 1734, he was desirous of resigning Witney to his son (afterwards Dean of Canterbury) ; but could not do it without the permission of Bishop H&idly, which he had little reason to expect. On applica- tion, however, to that Prelate, through Queen Caro- line and Lady Sundon-f-, he received this laconic an- swer: " If Dr. Freind can ask it, I can grant it J,"
* Vol. III. p. 152.
f This lady, more known by the name of Mrs. Clayton, was the bed-chamber woman and intimate friend of (Queen Caroline ; and for a considerable time sole arbitress of Church-preferments. Several of Bp. Hoadly's Letters to her, from 1715 to 1734, are preserved in his Works. In one of them he says, " I do not follow great precedents, and write on the outside, or in the front, To the much esteemed, To the much respected, To the highly honoured, Mrs. Clayton. But it is writ within, in lasting characters. Your own virtues have writ it. Your otter ac- complishments are great and uncommon ; but it is your sincerity and goodness which make the deepest impression, which manage the others, and give them their agreeableness." — On the business of the living of Witney, Bp. Hoadly tells this Lady, " I had no design, in my neglect of avoiding to give all the assurances that you yourself 'desired about Mr. Freind. If you and I continue upon this dirty planet, you yourself shall be satisfied of the truth of what I have said to you ; and I say this the rather, because, if you are not satisfied in what I do, I am veiy sure I shall not be to myself. You have done more in two or three words, when }ou tell me, You shall esteem it as done to yourself, to move and engage me (if I had not been already engaged to it) than all the oratory of all others could have done. And if that case should happen which you once put ; but which my heart will not suftej* me to repeat ; Friendship and Honour shall most certainly act a part, which if your spirit could then look out and see, it would say, This is exactly as it would have been, had I been st'dl there"
I "Dr. Freind could ask anything. All his letters to Lady Sundon arc still existing ; they are trifling and low beyond con- ception ; yet Dr. Freintl was a scholar that Beatiey would cou. Suit" T, F.
la
88 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
In the Gentleman's Magazine for 1737 * is an ele- gant Ode to the Duke of Newcastle by Dr. Freind (who was in that year made canon of Christ Church), and the following epigram :
" Reverendo doctis.simoque Roberto Freind, S.T. P.
Ecclesiae Divi Fetri Westmonast. Prebendario, et j3Edis Christ! Oxon. Canonico.
De te, Prelude^ duae certant socialiter .ZEdes, Haec Christi insignis nomine, et ilia Petri,
Quoe potior cha:x:m titulis ornaret alumnum, Jamque senem posset laeta fovere sinu.
Illustris fuerit Duels hanc componere litem : Utraque quern voluit Mater utrique dedit.
Dat. 14 AW. Julll, A. S. 1737." R. L.f-
Thus indifferently translated in 1738 : " For you, most learned Freind ! two Churches strove, (For you, the darling object of their love ;) This Christ was call'd, and that St. Peter's nam'd, (Hare Nursing Mothers, from past ages fam'd) Their friendly contest was, which Church should ^
grace
Her Foster Son with Dignitary's place, V
And cheer him, now grown old, with her most I kind embrace. •*
A noble Duke, this contest to decide, Each Mother's cravings graciously supply 'd, And gave to each her darling son, right nobly
dignified."
• Dr. Freind's Latin poetry J was much superior to his English, as may be seen by his Verses on the Death of Queen Caroline, inscribed to the Duke of Newcastle, principal secretary of state §. He had
* Vol. VII. p. 631.
f Probably Robert Lowth, afterwards the learned Bishop.
J Dr. Atterbury, in 1712, when Dean of Christ Church, apo- logizing to Bishop Trelawny for the Poets of his College, says, " By Dr. Freind's assistance, I hope, we shall every day do better."
§ Printed in " Pietas Academies Oxoniensis in Obitum augus- tissimae et dilectissimae Reginse Carolinae, Oxonii, 1738 ;" and copied in the •* Select Collection," 1781, vol. VII. p. 125.
before
DR. ROBERT FREIND. 89
before written the. Dedication to that Queen, prefixed to the Medical Works of his Brother *.
In 1 744, he resigned his stall at Westminster in favour of his son ; and died August 9, 1/51, aged 84.
By Jane his wife, one of the two daughters -}- of Dr. Samuel DelangleJ, he had two sons ; Charles, who died in 1736; and William, his successor at Witney, andafterwards Dean of Canterbury, of whom seep. 1 02.
Dr. Freind wrote the epitaph on Dodwell, which is printed in Ashmole's Berkshire, vol.11, p. 492; and the beautiful epitaph on Lord Carteret's younger son Philip, who died at Westminster-school, 1710, in his ipth year§.
* See p. 97-
f The other was married to Bp. Smalridge (see p. 92).
J Who had a small benefice near Oxford, and taught the French language to young gentlemen in that University. He was created D.D. 1682 ; and obtained a prebend of Westminster Oct. 13, 1683 j which he held till 1C93. See p. 85.
§ Held out on a very large marble scroll by a figure of Time on his monument in the North aile of Westminster Abbey. The Reader will not be displeased to see it here ; and may compare the annexed translation of it with that by Samuel Cobb, in the " Antiquities of Westminster Abbey, 1722;," 8vo, vol. II. p. 101»
Quid breves te delicias tuorum Naeniis Phoebi chorus omnis urget, Et meae falcis subito recisum
Vulnere plangit ? En, puer, vitae pretium caducae ! Hie tuam custos vigil ad favillam Semper adstabo, & memori tuebor
Mai-more famam. Audies clarus pietate, morum Integer, multae studiosus artis : Haec frequens olim leget, haec sequetur
Emula pubes.
Short-lived Delight of every Friend, Why do the tuneful Nine attend
To mourn my sickle's stroke ! Behold, dear Youth, what meed awaits. Thy life thus shorten'd by the Fates,
My sentence to revoke. Watchful I guard thy ashes here : In marble guard thy memory dear,
Thy piety and truth, Thy spotless life, thy studious, pain, Eternal monuments remain
T' instinct each rival youth.
LITERARY ANECDOTES.
The epitaph to Dr. Smalridge at Christ Church/* Bishop Newton, " was drawn up most probably by Dr. Freind, the head-master of Westminster- school, and also his brother-in-law ; the Bishop and he having married two sisters *. Dr. Freind was at that time the celebrated writer -of Latin epitaphs ; which yet Mr. Pope, who was as great a composer of epitaphs in English verse, and could not well bear a Kival in any way, thought too prolix and too flatter- ing, if Dr. Freind be really intended, as he was ge- nerally supposed to be intended, in that epigram :
ft Freind., for your Epitaphs I'm griev'd,
Where still so much is said, One half will never be believ'd, The other never read."
Shenstone expresses a satisfaction in possessing a name that was not liable to a pun. One has just been given. Another, on Dr. Freind's appointment to the mastership of Westminster-school, is here added :
" Ye Sons of Westminster, who still retain Your antient dread of Busby's awful feign ; Forget at length your fears — your panic end — The Monarch of this place is now a Freind"
WILLIAM FREIND, the second brother, who was one year younger than Robert, was elected from Westminster-school to Christ Church in 16*87? where he took the degree of M.A. 16*94; and ob- tained a living in Bedfordshire.
The vicissitudes of fortune which occurred to this gentleman are thus related in Mrs. Pilkington's Me- moirs : " We had a sort of chapel belonging to the gaol, where Dr. Freind, a clergyman, brother to Dr. Freind the physician, obliged us with divine service every Sunday. This gentleman was himself a pri- soner in the King's Bench ; and, after all the gran-
* Bishop Smalridge left three children j a son named Philip, and two daughters.
dew
WILLIAM FREIND. $\
deur he had once lived in, was now so low reduced, as even to be beholden to such an unfortunate crea- ture as I for six-pence ; which, unfortunate as I was, I could not refuse to so fine an orator, a gentleman ! and, by all accounts, only undone by boundless ge* nerosity and hospitality. The first day I heard him preach, I was charmed with his elocution ; but the - Yest of the congregation, mad and drunk, bade him hold his tongue. He, indeed, like Orpheus, played to wolves and bears; nor were they half so obliging to him, as the storms were to Arion ; neither could he, though uttering dulcet and harmonious sounds, make the rude crowd grow civil with his song. This fine gentleman I often invited to my lonely mansion. He was not a little surprized to hear my mournful story; and indeed it somewhat alleviated my SOITOVT to find such a companion: Poor gentleman! Death has released him ; I am sure I should have done it, had the Almighty given me a power equal to my inclination to serve him." — He died April 15, 1745. On this head my late friend Mr. Ashby observed, ft There is a traditional story that one of the name of Freind (I think it must be Mrs. Pilkington's hero) dreamt that two numbers in a Lottery of Queen Anne would be the two greatest prizes ; that he went and bought them, and they came up so ; that he went backwards and forwards to his bureau to look at them, till he was almost mad; that he spent all, and died a beggar (I believe) in gaol. This story I had from Mr. Holmes, the curate, and afterwards vicar of Wellingborough, a gentleman of uncommon good sense, who died about the year 1760, and who was sent for to the inn by Freind to drink a bottle when he was in his meridian ; and (as I recollect) had the story of the tickets from himself. Jf he would tell it on such an occasion, 'he must have told it to many: and one should like to know what one could about so extraordinary a tale. Dr. Johnson says truly, ( One must not be too positive in disbelieving, as the story may be true ; nor too credulous, as it may be false,' Mrs. Pilkington calls him ( a clergyman ;
9% LITERARY ANECDOTES.
and mentions the grandeur he had lived in.* This is not the description of a common clergyman, how- ever well provided; and you mention no preferment; sa I think he must be the man ; though I do not re- member that my informant called him a clergyman; but I always thought he was a son or a younger brother of the master of Westminsterr-school ; though
O
I could never make him out before. Yet surely Mrs, Pilkington would ha ye heard this story from him if he ever told it to a stranger ; and if so, she would surely have been glad to have swelled her Memoirs with it."
The traditional story is thus confirmed by Bishop Newton : " Dr. William Freind, brother to Dr. Ro- bert Freind, master of Westminster-school, and to Dr. John Freind the famous physician, had a prize: of 20,000/. in Queen Anne's time, and another con- siderable prize of 5 or 10,000/T. in the reign of George I. ; but yet with these lucky hits he would have died a prisoner in the Fleet *, if his old school- fellow the Earl of Winchelsea, when he was at the head of the Admiralty, had not made him chaplain to a ship of 100 guns."
One part of this strange story may gain credibility from the News-papers of the times. Whatever might be the case as to the dream, or the prizes in Queen Anne's reign, the Rev. William Freind, a clergyman in Bedfordshire, obtained a prize of 20,000/. Feb. 14, 1 714-1 5 ; and when the marriage of Mr. Smalridge-f- (son to the Bishop) was mentioned in print, May 2, 1730, his lady is called "Miss Freind, daughter to him who got the great prize." What could have afterwards involved him in distress, is not for us now to enquire.
Mrs. Pilkington's account of his profuse hospitality is confirmed by Bishop Atterbury's mention of his entertaining Royal Guests. And it is not improbable that, elated by his former success, he might have ven- tured deeply into the fatal bubble of the South Sea.
* Rather the King's Bench, a circumstance which Mrs. Pil- lyngton could not easily mistake, f See p. 89.
Dr.
JOHN FREIND* 33
Dr. JOHN FREIND, the third brother, was elected from Westminster-school to Christ Church in 1690; and> under the auspices of Dr. Aldrich, undertook, with Mr. Foulkes, to publish an edition of -ZEschines, and Demosthenes de Corona, which were well re- ceived ; and was also prevailed upon to revise the Delphin edition of Ovid's Metamorphoses, 16&6, which Dr. Bentley severely reprehended. He was Director of the Studies to Mr. Boyle ; wrote the Examination of Dr. Bentley's Dissertation on ^sop; and, says the great Critic, " was of tlie same size for learning with the late Editor* of the JEsopean Fables. If they can make but a tolerable copy <of verses, with two or three small faults in it, they must presently set up to be Authors."
Hitherto he had been employed in reading the poets, orators, and historians of antiquity, by which he had made himself a perfect master in the Greek language, and had acquired a great facility of writing elegant Latin, in verse as well as prose. He now began to apply himself to physic ; and his first care, as we are told, was to digest thoroughly the tru-e and rational principles of natural philosophy, che- mistry, and anatomy, to which he added a sufficient acquaintance with the mathematics. The first pub- Jic specimen that he gave of his abilities in the way of his profession was in l6d9, when he wrote a letter to Dr. (afterwards Sir) Hans Sloane, concerning an Hydroeephalus, or Watery Head -j~; and, in 1701, another letter in Latin to the same gentleman, " De Spasmi rarioris Historia," or concerning some extra- ordinary cases of persons afflicted with convulsions in Oxfordshire, which at that time made a very great noise, and might probably have been magnified intq something supernatural, if our author had not taken great pains to set them in a true light ^.
He proceeded M. A. April 1 2, 1 JO 1 ; B. M. June 1 , J/01 ; and, after having published " Emmenologia:
* Mr. Anthony Alsop.
f Phil. Trans, vol. XXI. p. 48. J Ibid. vol. XXII. p. 799.
in.
54 LITERARY ANECDOTES.
in qua fluxus muliebris menstrui phenomena, periodi, vitia, cum medendi methodo, ad rationes rnechanicas exiguntur *," 8vo, was chosen professor of chemis- try at Oxford in 17 04; and the next year at- tended Lord Peterborough on his Spanish expe- dition, as physician to the army there, in which post he continued near two years. From thence he made the tour of Italy, and went to Rome, as well for the sake of seeing the antiquities of that city, as for the pleasure of visiting and conversing with Baglivi and Lancisi, men eminent at that time for their skill in physic. On his return to 'England in 1707, he found the character of his Patron very rudely treated ; and, from a spirit of gratitude, pub- lished a defence of him, intituled, " An Account of the Earl of Peterbof ougli's conduct in Spain, chiefly since the raising the Siege of Barcelona, 1 706 ;" to which is added, " The Campaign of Valencia. With Original Papers, 1707," 8vo-j~. In 1707, he \vas created M. D. by diploma. In 1709 he pub- lished, " Praelectiones Chymicse : in quibus omnes fere operationes Chymicse ad vera principia et ipsius Naturae leges rediguntur ; anno 1704^ Oxonii, in Musaeo Ashmoleano habitae." These lectures are dedicated to Sir Isaac Newton, and are nine in num- ber, besides three tables. They were attacked by the German Philosophers, who were greatly alarmed at the new principles ; and therefore, the Authors of 6i Acta Eruditorum," in 1710, prefixed to their ac- count of them a censure, in which they treated the principles of the Newtonian philosophy as figments, and the method of arguing made use of in these lec-
* This work, though at first it met some opposition, and was then and afterwards animadverted upon by several writers, has always been reckoned an excellent performance ; and is, as all Dr. Freind's writings are, admirable for the beauty of its style, the elegant disposition of its parts, its wonderful succinctness, and at the same time perspicuity, and for the happy concurrence of learning and penetration visible through the whole.
j- This piece, relating to party matters, made a great noise, some loudly commending, others as loudly condepaning.it $ so that a third edition of it was published in 1703.
JOHN FREIND. $5
tures as absurd ; because, in their opinion, it tended to recall Occult Qualities in Philosophy. To this groundless charge an answer was given by Freind *.
Dr. Freind was elected F. R. S. in 171 1 ; and in that year attended the Duke of Ormond into Flan- ders, as his physician. After his return, residing chiefly in London, he gave himself up wholly to the cares of his profession. In 1716 he was chosen a fellow of the College of Physicians ; t^d the same year published the first and third books of " Hip- pocrates de morbis popularibus," to which he added, a Commentary upon Fevers, divided into nine short dissertations -J-.
In 1717 he read the Gulstonian lecture in the College of Physicians ; and in 1720 spoke the Har- veian Oration, which was afterwards published.
Dr. Freind had once a fee of 300. guineas for a journey from London to Ingestre in Staffordshire, to attend Mr. Pulteney, who lay there dangerously ill, but recovered before Dr. Freind arrived.
He was elected a burgess for Launceston in Corn- wall 1722; and, acting in his station as a senator with that warmth and freedom which was natural to him, he distinguished himself by some able speeches against measures which he disapproved. He was supposed to have a hand in Atterbury's plot, as it
* -Published, in Latin, in Phil. Trans, vol. XXVII. p. 33O.
f This work was attacked by Dr. Woodward, professor of physic in Gresham-college", in his " State of Physic and of Dis- eases, with an inquiry into the causes of the late increase of them, but more particularly of the Small-pox, &c. 1718," 8vo : and here was laid the foundation of a dispute, which was carried 'on with great acrimony and violence on both sides. Parties were