twenty deserving journeymen letter-press printers, to be paid on the anniversary of his decease, under the name of "Beale Blackwell Gift."

1817 or 1818. Mr. James Adlard, printer, of Duke-street, Smithfield, a liveryman of the Company of Stationers.

1817 or 1818. John Willes, Esq. Dulwich, a liveryman of the Company of Stationers.

1818, Jan. 7. At Bury St. Edmund's, Mr. Peter Gedge, the intelligent editor and proprietor of "The Bury and Norwich Post."

Jan. 9. Aged 99, John Smith, an eccentric character, commonly known as "Old John." He was messenger at the King's Printing Office very many years. There is a good portrait of him. See an account of him in Gent. Mag. 1818, i. 90.

Jan. 16. At Hammersmith, in the prime of life, A. B. Turnbull, Esq. editor of "The Public Ledger." See character of him in Gent. Mag. 1818, i. 92.

Jan 29. At Homerton, aged 66, Mr. Wilford Tiffin, a liveryman of the Company of Stationers.

March 29. At Bath, Mr. John Binns, bookseller.

March 30. In George-street, Blackfriars-road, Surrey, in his 73d year, Mr. Thomas Bennett, a very worthy, estimable journeyman printer, 47 years in the employ of Messrs. Bowyer, J. Nichols, and J. B. Nichols, and one of the annuitants at Stationers' Hall. (See vol. III. p. 288.) He was, though in humble life, no ordinary character as is evinced in an account of him, written by his son, Mr. James Bennett, in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1818, i. p. 380. Four of his sons were compositors. His eldest son, Mr. William Bennett, died July 2, 1801. (See p. 470 of this volume.) His second son, Thomas, left a large family behind him, unprovided for. His third son, Mr. James Bennett, was afterwards a bookseller at Kentish Town, and in 1821 published a weekly periodical entitled "The Gossip; a series of original Essays and Letters, Literary, Historical, and Critical; Descriptive Sketches, Anecdotes, and original Poetry," 1 vol. 8vo. His fourth son, John, a retired coal-meter, still survives. 1818, April 1. In Dean-street, Fetter-lane, in his 76th year, William Preston, Esq. partner with Andrew Strahan, Esq. his Majesty's printer. He studied freemasonry as a science, and published "Illustrations" of it. "Illustrations" of it. See a memoir of him in Gent. Mag. April 1818, p. 372; and in the European Magazine for May 1811, where is his portrait, and a memoir of him by his friend and relative Mr. Stephen Jones.

April 24. John Griffith, proprietor of the Cheltenham Chro

nicle.

May 11. John Gough, bookseller, Dublin, a member of the Society of Friends, son of John Gough, author of a Treatise on Arithmetic, &c. The son compiled many books for children; also, "A Tour through Ireland in 1813 and 1814," 8vo.

1818, June 23. A Tachbury, Hants, aged 78, Wm. Timson, Esq. of Moor Park, Surrey, a liveryman of the Company of Stationers.

1818, July 13. In his 81st year, Mr. Richard Beatniffe, an eminent bookseller of Norwich. See Gent. Mag. 1818, ii. 93, 286.

July 29. In Oxford-street, Mr. Richard Ryan. He was a bookseller in Dublin; but quitted that city for London, and was settled in Oxford-street for 35 years; a man of humour, exact in all his dealings, and much esteemed.

Oct. 28. At Harehills, near Leeds, aged 57, Griffith Wright, proprietor of the "Leeds Intelligencer," which he established in 1754.

Dec. 24. At Sherborne, aged 46, James Cruttwell, proprietor and editor of the Dorchester and Sherborne Gazette; and in its conduct displayed that love of his country, which in a narrower sphere he exemplified in every object around him.

1819, April 24. Near Newcastle, aged 47, Mr. J. Mitchell, proprietor of The Tyne Mercury."

April... At Tiverton, Mr. Philip Parkhouse, printer and bookseller. He had been engaged for years in preparing a Talmudic Dictionary. He was a Methodist, and a man of singular industry.

June 9. Aged 45, Mr. Robert Peck, 20 years printer and proprietor of "The Hull Packet."

June 16. At Cheltenham, aged 63, Thomas Hall, many years proprietor of "The Worcester Herald."

June... Aged 41, Mr. F. Wm. Blagdon, an active and laborious writer for the press; and co-editor of "The Morning Post." See an account of him in Gent. Mag. July 1819, p. 88. July 12. At Stockton, in his 69th year, Mr. Robert Christopher, bookseller.

July 23. Aged 66, Mr. Stephen Couchman, printer, of Throgmorton-street, London.

1819, Aug. 11. At Worthing, in his 25th year, by bursting at blood-vessel, Mr. Joseph Bensley, printer, of Bolt Court, eldest son of Thomas Bensley, Esq. His father's printing-office in Bolt Court was destroyed by fire on the 26th of June preceding.

Aug. 13. Aged 64, William Darton, senior, bookseller, Fenchurch-street, a much respected member of the Society of Friends. Sept. 19. In a fit of apoplexy, Mr. Samuel Simmons, comedian, a liveryman of the Stationers' Company.

Nov. 2. At Camden Town, in his 80th year, Mr. Henry Setchell, 45 years bookseller in King-street, Covent-garden.

Nov. 7. Mr. Bryan M'Swyny, printer of "The Courier Newspaper."

1819, Dec. 26. Aged 74, William Clarke, Esq. law bookseller, of Portugal-street. He was born at Denshanger, Northamptonshire, and was of an ancient family formerly resident at Wicken, in the same county. Being a younger son, he became a bookseller in 1767, and continued the business in conjunction with his sons, Mr. John Clarke and Mr. Walter T. Clarke, till his death. was a man of great private worth, and of strict honour and pro

He

bity. He was buried in the family vault at Hornsey, Jan. 1, 1820.

1820, Jan. 5. In Cecil-street, in his 72d year, William Winchester, Esq. an eminent stationer in the Strand, father of Mr. Alderman Winchester.

Jan. 26. At Royston, aged 76, Henry Andrews, stationer and bookseller. He was born at Frieston, near Grantham. After various services at Sleaford, Lincoln, he purchased a school at Basingthorpe, and then went as usher to a school at Stilton. He then settled at Cambridge, and afterwards removed to Royston. He was many years engaged as computer of the Nautical Ephemeris, and on retiring from that situation received the thanks of the Board of Longitude, accompanied by a handsome present, as a just tribute for his long and arduous services.

Feb. 6. At his house in the Strand, in his 75th year, Mr. Francis Wingrave. This house had been in the occupation of eminent and highly-respectable booksellers for considerably more than a century; first, by Jacob Tonson, who here, in 1709, we believe, originally published the Spectator. Tonson, removing to a new house opposite, afterwards the banking-house of Messrs. Hodsoll and Stirling (and in which he died March 31, 1767), was succeeded in the old one by Mr. John Nourse, many years bookseller to his late Majesty, both as Prince of Wales and King. On the death of John Nourse in 1780, all his bookselling concerns became the property of his brother Charles, an eminent surgeon at Oxford, who received the honour of knighthood August 15, 1786, on George the Third's visit to the University. At his decease in 1789, he bequeathed the bookselling business, with a handsome acknowledgment of his services, to Mr. Francis Wingrave, who had for several years conducted it with the most honourable assiduity, combined with the strictest integrity. There is a good portrait of Mr. Wingrave.

Feb. 7. At Oxford, aged 67, Joshua Cooke, an eminent bookseller. See a long account and character of him in Gent. Mag. 1820, i. p. 178.

March 5. Aged 66, John Evans, printer, in Long Lane, Smithfield.

March 11. At Holloway, aged 66, Mr. Robert Thorne, letterfounder, of London.

March 22. Aged 81, Joseph Clarke, bookseller, Market-place, Manchester, brother of Isaac Clarke, who died June 18, 1816. See p. 488.

April 3. Aged 60, Richard Edward Mercier, bookseller to the University of Dublin. He was of an ancient Huguenot family. The simplicity of his character, his piety, and many amiable qualities, endeared him to a large acquaintance.

1820, April 15. At Whitehaven, aged 66, John Ware, printer, proprietor, and editor of the "Cumberland Packet," from its commencement in Oct. 1774.

1820, April 28. William Davies, Esq. of the respectable firm

of Messrs. Cadell and Davies, booksellers, in the Strand. On the retirement of Mr. Alderman Cadell in 1793, he selected Mr. Davies as the partner of his son, Mr. Thomas Cadell, junr. and the business was most ably conducted by Mr. Davies for upwards of 30 years. Those who knew him best never witnessed in him anything but the most liberal conduct as a friend, and a straightforward man of business, in which he was assiduous and attentive, always giving most valuable advice, and acting with the utmost fairness and liberality in the position in which his good conduct had placed him. His connection with authors, artists, and persons of splendid acquirements, added to his superior abilities, might have given him that appearance of conscious superiority which to strangers might appear to be hauteur. Mr. Davies was many years one of the Stockkeepers of the Company of Stationers. The family of Mr. Davies was, at his death, not left so well provided for as might have been hoped, from his large concerns in business for so long a period. His widow, Mrs. Jesse Davies, died at Bushy, Herts, Oct. 14, 1854, aged 76.

1820. Sampson Parry, many years connected with the London press, as proprietor, editor, and publisher. He was once surgeon of the Middlesex Militia. See an account of him in Timperley's History of Printing, p. 877.

June 11. Aged 66, Edward Humble or Oumble, printer and bookseller, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and one of the proprietors of "The County of Durham Advertiser."

June 21. Aged 62, Mr. William Thorne, printer, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. He was 15 years Treasurer of the Charity School of St. Dunstan in the West. He was buried at Enfield.

Sept. 22. John Wheble, Esq. printer and bookseller, Warwicksquare, London, 16 years a Common Councilman for Farringdon Within; born in 1746 at Gatcombe, in the Isle of Wight. In 1758 he was apprenticed to his relative Mr. Wilkie, in St. Paul's Churchyard. He commenced business early on his own account; but, notwithstanding the steady and industrious exertions of ten or twelve years, his first attempt was unsuccessful. He was publisher of "The Middlesex Journal," at that time in repute, and which brought him into a political connexion with Wilkes, Horne (afterwards Horne Tooke), and others. This led him into trouble, at the same time imparting to him the honour of having his name handed down to posterity as, so to speak, being accessory in conferring a most important and lasting benefit on his country. About 1780, during the military arrangements in Hyde Park and Warley Common, Mr. Wheble, being out of business, held a situation in the commissariat. When peace returned, he quitted the service, and once more re-commenced bookseller. A few years after he commenced "The County Chronicle," which made so many profitable tours 100 miles round London. He next, in conjunction with Mr. John Harris, bookseller of St. Paul's Churchyard, and one or two others, projected "The Sporting Magazine," which met with great success.

These last efforts of Mr. Wheble placed him in a state of respectable independence. He was thoroughly inclined to do his duty. One trait in his character was his encouragement of meritorious youthful individuals, several of whom owe to him their first introduction to prosperity. He was fond of society, and a pleasing companion. He died at Bromley in his 75th year, leaving a widow and a long list of friends to lament his loss. (Abridged from a memoir of Mr. Wheble, by his friend Mr. J. Harris, in Gent. Mag. 1822, ii. 471.)

1820, Sept... Aged 59, Mr. Richard Sedgwick, printer and bookseller at Bradford, Yorkshire, a man of strict integrity, and brother to the Rev. Mr. Sedgwick, vicar of Mirfield.

Oct. 31. Aged 63, Mr. William Rawson, printer and proprietor of "The Hull Advertiser."

Nov. 1. In Cornhill, in his 62d year, Mr. James Asperne. In 1802 he succeeded the benevolent John Sewell in the business of a bookseller, in which he had long been a faithful assistant; and which he subsequently conducted with the same liberality, and the same firm attachment to the Crown, the Bible, and the Consitution, that distinguished his worthy (though eccentric) predecessor. See his address on succeeding to Mr. Sewell's business in Lit. Anecd. III. 738. He ranked high in the Society of Free and Accepted Masons; and, by his activity on every call of public or private charity, reflected credit on the principles of that respectable fraternity. Though naturally inclined to conviviality, he was diligent, attentive, and obliging in his profession as a bookseller, and was highly esteemed by many of the most eminent merchants. His heart was in his hand; and his word was equal to his bond. There is a good portrait of Mr. Asperne, dressed in his masonic costume, from a painting by Drummond.

Dec. 4. Mr. Philip Rousseau (See Lit. Anec. III. p. 288) was the father and grandfather of several worthy printers. I know not the time of his death. His eldest son, Mr. Samuel Rousseau, was a very superior linguist. He died in Ray-street, Clerkenwell, Dec. 4, 1820. He served his apprenticeship in the Printing Office of Mr. Nichols, by whom he was occasionally employed in collecting epitaphs and other remains of antiquity. He was a singular instance of patient perseverance in the acquirement of the ancient languages. Whilst working as an apprentice and journeyman he taught himself Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Persian, and Arabic. To these acquirements he added a knowledge of the French, and some other modern tongues. He was, for a short time, master of Joy's charity-school in Blackfriars.

A few years after the expiration of his apprenticeship he commenced printing on his own account, in Leather-lane, Holborn, and afterwards removed to Wood-street, Clerkenwell, where he carried on business for some time, but with little advantage to himself and family, having, from unforeseen circumstances and losses in trade, been obliged to relinquish business.

During the time he was a printer he taught the Persian lan