any country. Indeed, it seems almost impossible that such delicate effects could be obtained from blocks of wood.* "Of the Paper it is only necessary to say, that it comes from the manufactory of Mr. Whatman." The chief wood-engravings in this beautiful volume are the following: The Traveller, T. Bewick sculp.; The Sad Historian, John Bewick del. and sculp.; The Departure, R. Johnson del. T. Bewick sculp.; The Hermit at his Morning Devotion, R. Johnson del. T. Bewick sculp.; The Hermit, Angel, and Guide, R. Johuson del. T. Bewick sculp. Besides the above, the work was embellished with eight very superior vignettes.-The biographical Sketches of Goldsmith and Parnell, prefixed to the work, were by Isaac Reed. This volume was highly appreciated by the public; two editions of it in quarto were sold, and they produced a profit to the ingenious printer, after payment of all his expenses, of fifteen hundred pounds. 7. Stimulated by the great success of the work, Mr. Bulmer, in 1796, was induced to prepare an embellished quarto edition of Somerville's Chase." Three copies were printed ON VELLUM. It is thus dedicated, To the Patrons of fine Printing:" "When the exertions of an individual to improve his profession are crowned with success, it is certainly the highest gratification his feelings can experience. The very distinguished approbation that attended the publication of the ornamented edition of Goldsmith's Traveller, Deserted Village, and Parnell's Hermit, which was last year offered to the public, as a specimen of the improved state of Typography in this country, demands my warmest acknowledgments; and is no less satisfactory to the different artists who contributed their efforts towards the completion of the work. "The Chase, by Somerville, is now given as a companion to Goldsmith; and it is almost superfluous to observe, that the subjects which ornament the present volume, being entirely composed of landscape, scenery, and animals, It is said that his Majesty George III. entertained so great a doubt on the subject, that he ordered his bookseller, Mr. George Nicol, to procure the blocks from Mr. Bulmer for his inspection, that he might conviace himself of the fact. 46 307 are adapted, above all others, to display the beauties of wood engraving. Unfortunately for his friends, and the admirers of the art of engraving on wood, I have the painful task of announcing the death of my early acquaintance and friend, the younger Mr. [John] Bewick. He died at Ovingham, on the banks of the Tyne, in December last [1795], of a pulmonay complaint. Previously, however, to his departure from London for the place of his nativity, he had prepared, and indeed finished on wood, the whole of the designs, except one, which embellish the Chace; they may therefore literally be considered as the last efforts of this ingenious and much-to-be-lamented artist. "In executing the engravings, his brother, Mr. Thomas Bewick, has bestowed every possible care; and the beautiful effect produced from their joint labours will, it is presumed, fully meet the approbation of the subscribers." "The Chase" is embellished with twelve uncommonly fine cuts, all drawn on the block by Mr. John Bewick, and engraved by his brother Thomas, and may perhaps be considered as chefsd'œuvre of those celebrated engravers on wood."-The biographical sketch of Somerville was by Isaac Reed. In 1804 the above two works were reprinted in one octavo volume, by Mr. Bulmer, with the same embellish ments, for Messrs. Cadell and Davies, who had purchased the blocks. 8. Odes, English and Latin, 1798 [by T. J. Mathias, esq.], sm. 8vo. not published. Mr. Bulmer printed several other publications on Italian literature, for Mr. Mathias. 9. Museum Worsleyanum, 1798-1803, 2 vols. fol. English and Italian. Sir R. Worsley expended 27,000l. on this work, which was never published. 400/. has been given for a copy at a book-sale. 10. Dissertation on the Greek Games. 4to. 1800, with engravings. [By James Christie.] 11. The Father's Revenge, a Tragedy, and other Poems, by the Earl of Carlisle. 1800, 4to. Not published. 12. The Passage of Mount St. Gothard, a Poem, by the Duchess of Devonshire, with an Italian translation by Sig. Poliodori. Privately printed. 13. Anacreontis Odaria, Greek, à E. Forster, A. M. 1802. Ornamented with vignettes by Miss Bacon (after wards Mrs. Forster). Mr. Bulmer justly prided himself on this beautiful work, the effect of which is like copper plate of exquisite workmanship. A few copies were taken off on French paper, and certainly nothing ever exceeded the clearness of these impressions. 14. Giraldus Cambrensis Itinerarium Cambria, 4to. à R. C. Hoare, Bart. 4to. 1804. 15. The Itinerary of Abp. Baldwin through Wales, 2 vols. 4to. Translated by Sir R. C. Hoare; illustrated with views drawn by Sir Richard, and engraved by Byrne, 2 vols. 4to. This publication is in every respect admirable. 16. A Tract on the Architecture of Wales. By Sir R. C. Hoare and John Carter. Only 20 copies for private circulation, 1806. [This tract has recently been reprinted for sale. See P. 237.] 17. A Disquisition on Etruscan Vases, 1806 [by James Christie]. Small folio, with engravings, privately printed. 18. Bentleii et doctorum virorum Epistola, à Rev. Car. Burney, 1807, 4to. Privately printed. 150 large, and 50 small copies. 19. Prolegomena in Homerum, &c. à R. P. Knight, 1803, 8vo. Privately printed; 50 copies. 20. Memoir of the Life of the late Duke of Devonshire, 1811, sm. 4to. Privately printed; 25 copies. 21. History of Ancient Wiltshire, by Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart. 4 vols. folio. 22. A Catalogue of Books relating to the History and Topography of Italy, collected 1786--1790. 8vo. 1812. By Sir R. C. Hoare, Bart. privately printed. Only 12 copies. This valuable collection of topography has since been given by the public-spirited Baronet to the British Museum. 23. Letters and Miscellaneous Pupers of Barrè Charles Roberts, 1813, 4to. privately printed. 24. Translation of the Andria of Terence, 1814, sm. 8vo. By a wellknown Baronet; privately printed. Eight copies on Imperial 4to. 25. Life of Lord Viscount Barring ton. 1814, 4to. By his brother, Shute Bp. of Durham. Privately printed; 100 copies. This was reprinted in 8vo. in 1815. 26. William of Malmesbury, trans lated by Rev. John Sharpe, 4to. 1815. Only 57 on large paper. 27. A Catalogue of Books relating to the History and Topography of Eng land, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland; 1815, 8vo. 25 copies; only six of which were on LARGE PAPER. 28. Portrails of the Sovereigns of the Turkish Empire, with biographical sketches in French and English; large folio. By John Young, esq. This work was at the expense of the Sultan Selim, and the whole impression was sent to the Ottoman Court. 29. The Antiquities of the Arabs in Spain, by Cavannah Murphy, 1816, large folio. This herculean folio rivals Denon's Egypt, in nobleness of design, splendour of execution, and richness of material. 30. The History of the Arabs in Spain, &c. 4to. 1816. This volume is a companion to the above. 31. The Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain, by T. F. Dibdin. Vols. II. III. and IV. The union of the red and black inks, the proportioned spaces, and the boldness and singularity of the cuts, render these books very beautiful of their kind. 32. Bibliotheca Spenceriuna, 4 vols. 8vo. This work, considering the bulk of the volumes, and the quantity of matter introduced, is perhaps the most brilliant bibliographical production in existence, on the score of mere typographical excellence. Only 55 copies were struck off upon LARGE PAPER, in royal 4to., eight of which were reserved by Earl Spencer for presents. Upon the completion of this work, carried on without intermission for nearly four years, the printer presented Dr. Dibdin with a richly-wrought silver cup, of an antique form. (See Bibliographical Decameron, II. p. 394.) 33. The Bibliographical Decameron; by T. F. Dibdin. Of all the works executed at the Shakspeare Press, the present is acknowledged to be the most eminently successful in the development of all the skill and beauty attached to the art of printing. Mr. Hansard (vide postea) has not overpraised its excellence on this score. Never was such a variety of ornamentin the way of wood-cuts and red and black ink-exhibited. The quantity of matter, by way of note, is perhaps no where exceeded, in a performance which unites splendour of execution with curiosity of detail. The paper is 1830.] Memoir of W. also of the finest quality. This work continues to maintain a high price. We have not space to enumerate the private reprints by Mr. Bulmer, for the Roxburgh Club, the history of which will be found in Dr. Dibdin's Bibliographical Decameron, vol. III. pp. 69–74. [See also our vol. LXXXIII. part ii. pp. 3, 340, for an account of the first anniversary of the Club; and its proceedings are recorded in various subsequent volumes.] One of the chief difficulties Mr. Bulmer had to contend with, was the providing of good black printing ink. That formerly used by printers was execrable. Baskerville had made his own ink, as well as type, about 1760, which enabled him to produce such fine work; and Mr. Robert Martin, his apprentice, was still living, when Mr. Bulmer began business. He first supplied Mr. Bulmer with fine lampblack, for his experiments in fine printing. But the difficulty of obtaining any adequate supply, induced Mr. Bulmer to erect an apparatus for the purpose of making his own ink, and he succeeded to the extent of his wishes in producing a very superior black. "The most anxious scrutiny (observes Mr. Hansard, in his Typographia) cannot, in his Shakspeare or Milton, find the least appearance of failure of that beautiful velvet richness of colour which the ink originally possessed. In the Shakspeare, which was nine years in hand, the same harmony of tint and richness of colour prevail, as if the ink had been all made at one time, and the last sheet inked by the same hand in the same hour as the first: this single work probably contains more pages than all that Bodoni ever printed. But the finest criterion by which to judge of the perfection of ink and work is offered in the volumes printed by Mr. Bulmer, of Dr. Dibdin's Decameron; the numerous wood engravings in which the ground is an entire black, and others with parts of the figures black on white ground, exhibit such an evenness and intensity of colour, as nothing but ink of the most perfect compound for the purpose could effect. Much, of course, must have been owing to the aid of good and congenial quality in the paper, and ensured in effect by the experience and skill which Mr. Bulmer was so competent to impart to his workmen; and that a great deal must have depended on, and been effected by the two last named requisites, is very apparent, from his being able to produce the same effect in ink of another colour, namely red." After continuing in business with the highest credit for about 30 years, Mr. Bulmer retired in 1819, with a well-earned fortune, to a genteel residence at Clapham Rise, and was succeeded at the Shakspeare Press by his partner Mr. W. Nicol, the only son of Mr. Bulmer's firm friend, the late G. Nicol, Esq. Mr. Nicol, in his Octoglot folio edition of Virgil, edited by W. Sotheby, Esq. has proved himself a most diligent and able successor; while, in publications of smaller dimensions, such as Major's editions of Walton's Angler and Lives, he has not been less eminently successful. But whilst we have justly placed Mr. Bulmer in the first rank of his profession, let us not forget that he had equal claims to distinction among those whose memory is revered for their many private and domestic virtues. We may then truly say, that his art has been deprived of one of its brightest ornaments, and his friends have to lament the loss of one not easily surpassed in every moral excellence. Mr. Bulmer was younger brother of Sir Fenwick Bulmer, who died May 4, 1824, aged 79, the senior member of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. The late Mr. Bulmer was also for a long time one of the Gentlemen Pensioners; to which corps the late Wm. Gifford, esq. was Paymaster. Some pleasant poetical letters from Mr. Gifford to Mr. Bulmer will soon appear in a sixth volume of Nichols's "Lite rary Illustrations." Mr. Bulmer died at Clapham Rise, on the 9th of September, in his 74th year, and his remains were interred on the 16th, at St. Clement Danes, Strand, (in which parish his brother had long resided,) attended to the grave by a numerous and respectable company of mourning friends. He has left a widow; but had no children. A portrait of Mr. Bulmer will be found in vol. II. of Dr. Dibdin's Biblio graphical Decameron; but having been taken when he was a young man, the resemblance is not recognisable by us. Nor can we speak favourably of an engraving in wood of Mr. Bulmer in Hansard's "Typographia." A more faithful portrait was executed in litho graphy, in 1827, painted fand drawn on stone by James Ramsay. Of this portrait a correct copy is herewith presented to our readers. WALK THROUGH THE HIGHLANDS. (Continued from p. 109.) A o'clock the left Ulva. Both our host and hostess accompanied us to the door, and we parted from them much satisfied with the attentions we had received under their roof. The day was extremely fine, and the road though somewhat rough, yet far from being unpleasant. While in some little doubt about our way, we were fortunately joined by a good "auld wife," who very desirous of entering into conversation, said she was travelling for some distance on our road, and would direct us. From her as well as from every one else to whom we mentioned his name, we had an excellent account of the Laird of Staffa, as well as of his lady, whom she represented to us as equally charitable with himself,-equally solicitous on all occasions to do good. Staffa, it appeared, had been much interested about the instruction of his poor islanders, and had instituted schools for their advancement in useful learning. The old woman spoke of the Laird and his family with much affection, and we were pleased at the artless and apparently sincere expression of her gratitude. She informed us that she liked much to talk with us, for the sake of improving herself in our language. Like all the Highlanders, she was perfectly conscious of speaking it with a much better accent than those of the Low Country; and this idea gave her no little satisfaction. We put some questions to her relative to emigration. She informed us that great numbers had gone off from her village some years ago, but none lately. Indeed we never heard of any actual departures, or even projected expeditions, during our whole tour through the Highlands; and this circumstance would seem to prove satisfactorily that the condition of the poorer inhabitants of these remote regions had, within these few years, been * One of the Hebrides, in the district of Mull, and shire of Argyle. much ameliorated, or that those who had tried the experiment of removal, had failed to observe their hopes realized in foreign and not less inhospitable shores. We now for the first time in our tour, felt it extremely hot. The flies too were very troublesome, though we were passing close to the sea-shore on an elevated situation, and open to the breeze. From this point we had our last view of Staffa, now surrounded by a sea calm and placid as it had yesterday been rough and boisterous. Besides Staffa, we enjoyed an excellent prospect of Collonsay, Dutchman's Cape, and several other islands, the appearance of which in a rippling sea, and under an azure sky, was highly exhilarating. Several vessels in motion, their sails swelled by the wind, added to the cheerfulness of the scene, which we had an opportunity of con. templating for a considerable distance with the greatest satisfaction. According to the expression of our Highlanders, this was "a grand day" indeed, yet we experienced considerable fatigue, and had occasion to observe with how much less alacrity we pursued our march, after having only oatcake instead of wheaten bread for breakfast, and we began to grumble at the horrible Mull miles. The hills too were steepish, yet the road hitherto was tolerably good. At length we found ourselves uncertain of our course, on a bleak and trackless moor. We tried two or three apparently sheep walks without any satisfaction, and at last abandoned ourselves nearly to the direction of chance. We arrived at one of the hills of this well-named gloom of desolation, down whose steep sides we wound in an oblique direction, and crossed a ford which lay beneath us. From this spot we had a view of a farm house, which gave us considerable relief, and towards which we directed our steps. Hence, after much fatigue, we arrived at a rude bridge at the head of a loch, and finally reached Ballacray, at four. Here we rested and refreshed, after which we proceeded and marched into Tobermory about eight, without having encountered one single drop of rain! The principal inn is built on a very respectable quay, lately erected at a considerable expense, for the use as well as ornament of this remote harbour. On our expedition to Staffa, one of the boatmen 1836.] Walk through the Highlands.-Strontian. had given us a most splendid and exaggerated account of this metropolis of the Islands. The harbour, he informed us, was fully equal to that of Leith, and from his description we had expected in this, the port of Tobermory, to behold the masts " clustering like reeds in the Lake of Lego." In this, indeed, we were disappointed, yet the harbour appeared sufficiently commodious, and we were informed that King's ships had not unfrequently anchored in the roads. On the morrow we delivered our credentials or letters of recommendation to the friend of Dr. M. to whom they were addressed. As soon as the weather permitted, which was not till four o'clock, this gentleman, with much civility, procured us a boat, and having kindly furnished us with letters, witnessed our embarkation on Loch Sunart for Salem. Our boat appeared rotten, leaky, and without proper tackle of any description, and our sailors themselves remarked that theirs was " very like a drunken man's boat, a good deal out of order." Before quitting the harbour, we hauled up to shore for the purpose of taking in ballast, which was fortunately plentiful, and the business soon accomplished. We had but little wind, and made but indifferent way even with the assistance both of the oars and sail. Our boatmen, however, were very civil and intelligent, and amused us by many nautical anecdotes. One of them had sailed, he said, fifty times close by Staffa, but had never the curiosity to look into it; neither could we make him believe that he would have seen any thing worthy his notice if he had. The older of the two amused us much by his superstitious whistling for a breeze, and though we laughed at it, he appeared to regard it as a very serious and all-availing ceremony, and at intervals continued whistling on without a smile. We had witnessed the same thing amongst our boatmen of Staffa, who also added the no less powerful entreaty or command of "Come, breeze!" in a tone of voice, and with a peculiarity of manner which was pleasing. very Mr. C. had very obligingly furnished us with letters to two of his friends living near each other, but on opposite sides of the Loch, in whose mansions he recommended us to take shelter if 311 the night should prove unruly, and in either of which we might make sure of an excellent bed. At first we had prepared to avail ourselves of these letters, but getting on better than we expected, and the evening again becoming fine, we passed pretty quickly by their houses, and arrived at Salem at eight. Here there was only a miserable hovel by way of inn, so that, late as it was, and though we had a long walk before us, we determined to proceed to Stroutian at all hazards. The road, as it had been described to us, was extremely good, pleasant, and romantic. We now passed close by the side of the Loch, through flourishing and very extensive plantations,now lost sight of it for a time, and appeared to strike deeper into the woods. Speedily the Loch re-appeared, and served very much to cheer us on our way. After the first six miles, it became misty and dark, and the road rather intricate. We came to two paths, took the wrong, and got into a stone quarry. After extricating ourselves with some difficulty, we were at a loss whether to go onwards or retreat to the road we had left. We determined on the latter, but without finding it practicable; returned to the quarry, and finally discovered something like a track. Here it began to rain. We were totally ignorant of our way, the night wearing apace; and we began to consider ourselves far from wise, at having wandered thus unknowing and unknown, unaccompanied by a guide, and on foot, into these dark territories. Yet, after getting safely through the quarry, the road improved; we arrived at some huts, whose inhabitants we with difficulty roused, obtained information, as well as a refreshing draught of milk, and arrived at Strontian at half an hour after midnight. The gentleman at Strontian to whom we had letters, was from home, but * Strontian is a small village situate in the district of Sunart, and erected for the accommodation of the miners. It has lately become famous for having given to the world a new mineral, which is distinguished by the name of Strontites; the chemical properties whereof are ably described by Dr. Kirwan, in the Transactions of the Royal Hope, M.D. in vol. IV. p. ii. p. 3, of the Irish Academy; and by Thomas Charles Transactions of the Royal Society of Edin burgh. |