sent age, while his colloquial language, as reported by his biographer, has perfect ease and simplicity, with equal, if not superior energy. The Life of Johnson is in itself one of the most valuable literary productions of the eighteenth century. It is the most minute and complete account of a human being ever written. Mr. Boswell, who is a native of Scotland, and a man of lively, though not powerful intellect, employed himself for many years in gathering the particulars of his friend's life, in noting down the remarks of the moralist upon men and things, and in arranging and compiling his work, which was published in 1791 in two volumes quarto. Its author has thus, by an employment to which ew men would have condescended, and a laorious exertion of powers, in themselves almost rifling, been the means of presenting to the world ne of the most instructive and entertaining books

a existence.*-Chambers.

1784, Jan. 1. The Reasoner, No. 1. 1784, Feb. 3. The New Spectator, with the age opinions of John Bull, No. 1. Probably dited by Mr. Horatio Robson.

1784. Weekly Amusement, No. 1. 1784. Minion type first used in newspapers. 1784, April 23. The Miniature, No. 1. 1785, Feb. 6. The Lounger, a work of exactly he same character as the Mirror, by the same riters, and under the same editorship, was ommenced at Edinburgh, and continued once week till the 6th of January, 1787; out of one undred and one papers to which it extended, fty seven were the production of H. Mackenzie. 1785, April 6. The idea of laying down fixed harges for different kinds of printing was not aggested for nearly two centuries after the disovery of the art, nor indeed until this year was here any published list of prices; and the merit f forming the basis of the scale for regulating e price of the compositor's labour, certainly elongs to the journeymen, who on April 6, 1785, abmitted to the masters eight propositions for is purpose, five of which were agreed to, and aree rejected by them, after they had been laid efore them upwards of seven months. Previus to this year, the price paid for composition ppears to have been regulated by the size of the ype employed; upon the principle that the comositor was less liable to interruption when enaged in picking up his thousands of small type, han he was when employed upon large type, where the interruptions for making-up, imposng, correcting, &c. were more frequent. Anteedently to this time, whenever the compositor vas paid by the thousand, he appears to have eceived for english type four-pence; for long primer, three-pence halfpenny; and for brevier, hree-pence farthing. In Scotland, at the same period, brevier type was paid two-pence halfenny, and english type four-pence per thousand.

Miss Lucy Porter once told Dr. Johnson that she hould like sometimes to purchase new publications, and asked him if she might trust to the reviewers. "Infallibly,

"y dear Lucy," he replied, "provided you buy what they abuse, and never any thing they praise."

Regarding Scotland, it appears, that about the year 1763, a dispute arose in the office of Messrs. Murray and Cochrane, printers in Edinburgh, about the price of composition, when William Smellie, then engaged as a reader, devised a scale of prices for composition.

The first regular and acknowledged compositors' scale for the payment of piece-work is by one writer stated to have been agreed to at a general meeting of masters, who assembled in the month of November 1785, to consider eight propositions submitted to them in a circular from the whole body of compositors, with a view to advance the price of labour. That part of the trade, however, who were most materially interested in the adjustment of the price of labour, namely, the compositors, do not appear to have been present when these propositions were discussed, or to have been permitted to offer any arguments in their favour; but the masters assumed the right to set a price upon the labour of others, although a short time afterwards they repelled with indignation an attempt of the booksellers to interfere with their decisions and profits. We are informed by another writer that the scale was not formed at a general meeting of masters, but by a committee, who," after much labour and considerable discussion," agreed to a scale of prices, which, although it has at different times been amplified and altered to suit the various circumstances of the times, and the different kinds of work as they occurred, has served as the basis of every other scale up to the present time. It is not essential, at this period, to know whether the scale was agreed to by a general meeting of masters or by a committee.

1785. The agency for newspapers commenced in this year by Mr. William Taylor, in London. Mr. Newton, of Warwick-square, was at first a partner with Mr. Taylor.

1785. The patent of king's printer for Scotland renewed for forty-one years from the expiration of the preceding grant in the year 1798. This grant will consequently cease in 1839.

1785, April 14. Died, WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, poet laureat, a man of amiable manners and intelligent conversation. He was the son of a baker, and born in the parish of St. Botolph in Cambridge, where, after being at Winchester, he entered at Clare hall, and in 1743 took the degree of M. A. intending to enter into orders, but was prevented by adverse circumstances, and became tutor in the family of the earl of Jersey. In 1754 he published a volume of poems, which was well received, and on the death of Cibber, was appointed laureat. From the days of Rowe, if not from an earlier period, the "egular duty of the poet laureat had been to produce an ode for the new year and one for the king's birth-day, both of which, being set to music by the master of the king's band, were sung before the court, and likewise published in the newspapers. Throughout the whole term of the eighteenth century, when there was little genuine poetry of any kind, the productions of the laureat were generally a mere tissue of tame and senseless verses; but

some allowance ought in fairness to be made for | the difficulty which a man even of superior genius must have experienced, in, year after year, forcing from his brain ideas approaching a poetical character, respecting subjects which in reality have nothing poetical about them. Indeed it must be acknowleged, that the absurdity does not lie so much in the odes, as in the custom of exacting them. In this point of view, Whitehead himself seems to have regarded the office, for in a Pathetic Apology for all Laureats, past, present, and to come, which appeared in the edition of his works published after his death, he almost redeems the serious nonsense of eightand-twenty years, by the humour with which he ridicules the envious poetasters who were in the habit of publishing rival odes.

His muse, obliged by sack and pension,
Without a subject or invention,
Must certain words in order set,
As innocent as a gazette ;

Must some half-meaning half-disguise,
And utter neither truth nor lies.

But why will you, ye volunteers,

In nonsense tease us with your jeers,
Who might with dulness and her crew
Securely slumber? Why will you
Sport your dim orbs amidst her fogs?
You're not obliged-ye silly dogs!

Mr. Whitehead was the author of the Roman Father, Fatal Constancy, and Creusa, tragedies; the School for Lovers, a comedy; and a Trip to Scotland, a farce. He was succeeded by the rev. Thomas Warton, author of the History of English Poetry, whose lyrical genius might have been expected, if such had been at all possible, to lend a grace to even this dreary task.

1785. Died, JOACHIM IBARRA, printer to the king of Spain, who carried the typographic art to a degree of perfection which had been unknown in that country. His presses produced fine editions of the bible, the Mazarabic Missal, Marian's History of Spain, Don Quixote, and Grabrial's Spanish translation of Sallust. He invented a superior kind of printing ink. He was a native of Saragossa.

1785, May 5. Died, THOMAS DAVIES, a bookseller, in Russel-street, Covent-garden, London. Mr. Davies was a man of uncommon strength of mind, who prided himself on being through life a companion for his superiors. He was born in or about the year 1712, and educated at the university of Edinburgh, and became, as Dr. Johnson used to say of him, learned enough for a clergyman. He imbibed very early a taste for theatrical pursuits; and in 1736, his name appears in the bills of the Haymarket theatre. He next appeared at York, where he married Miss Yarrow, an actress, whose beauty was not more remarkable than her private character was ever unsullied and irreproachable. He also performed at Edinburgh, where he appears to have been the manager of the theatre. He then went to Dublin, and, with his wife, performed several characters. In 1753, he was with his wife at Drury-lane, where they remained several years in good estimation with the town. In 1762, a few years before he finally quitted the theatre,

he resumed his former occupation of a bookseller, in Russel-street, and became the author, compiler, and publisher, of many useful works; but not meeting with that success which his attention and abilities merited, Mr. Davies, in 1778, was under the disagreeable necessity of submitting to become a bankrupt; when such was the regard entertained for him by his friends, that they readily consented to his re-establishment; and none, as he said himself, were more active to serve him, than those who had suffered most by his misfortunes. But all their efforts might possibly have been fruitless, if his great and good friend Dr. Johnson had not exerted all his interest in his behalf. In 1780, by a welltimed publication, the Life of Garrick, two volumes, which passed through four editions, be not only acquired considerable fame, but realized money. Mr. Davies was the writer of essays without number, in prose and verse, in the St James's Chronicle, and some other of the public newspapers. At his death he was aged about seventy-three years, and was buried by his own desire, in the vault of St. Paul, Covent Garden; and the following lines were written on the

occasion:

Here lies the author, actor, Thomas Davies;
Living he shone a very rara avis;

The scenes he played life's audience must commend,
He honour'd Garrick-Johnson was his friend.

Mrs. Davies, his widow, died Feb. 9, 1801.

1785. The Political Herald and Review; er a survey of Domestic and Foreign Politics, and a critical account of Political and Historical Publications. This work was edited by Dr. Gilbert Stuart, late joint proprietor and editor of the Edinburgh Magazine, which extended we believe only to two volumes, which are now rather scarce.

1785. The Holy Bible, with the various readings and parallel texts, by Bishop Wilson, 3 vols.-Bath. This Bible is most beautifully printed on vellum paper; the verses are marked on the sides, not to interrupt the narrative; and it is in every respect the completest English edition for study, or the library.

1785, June 28. Died, JOHN RIVINGTON, printer, in St. John's-square, London.

1785, July 2. Died, JOHN WILKIE, bookseller, in St. Paul's church-yard, and treasurer of the company of stationers. He was much respected for his pleasant and engaging manners. Mr. Wilkie left two sons, both in the trade. The eldest, Mr. George Wilkie, was in partnership with Mr. John Robinson, and carried on a very extensive wholesale trade in Paternoster-tow Mr. Thos. Wilkie, the younger son, was settled at Salisbury, of which city he had the honour of being chief magistrate.

1785, July 9. Died, WILLIAM STRAHAN, eminent printer, and many years printer to his majesty. The life of William Strahan afforde another instance of the difficulties which may be overcome by perseverance and integrity and without any usurpation of the rights of others, what can be achieved by a man's own efforts

Letter-writing was one of his favourite amusements, and among his correspondents were men of such eminence and talents as well repaid his endeavours to entertain them. One of these was Dr. Franklin, who had been his fellow-workman in a printing-house in London, whose friend-hip and correspondence he continued to enjoy, not. withstanding the difference of their sentiments in political matters, which often afforded pleasantry, but never mixed any thing acrimonious in their letters. One of the latest he received from his illustrious and venerable friend, contained a humorous allegory of the state of politics in Britain, drawn from the profession of printing, of which, though the doctor had quitted the exercise, he had not forgotten the terms.* There are stations of acquired greatness which make men proud to recal the lowness of that from which they rose. The native eminence of Franklin's mind was above concealing the humbleness of his origin. Those only who possess no intrinsic elevation are afraid to sully the honours to which accident has raised them, by the recollection of that obscurity whence they sprung. Of this recollection Mr. Strahan was rather proud than ashamed; and many of those who were disposed to censure him, blame it as a kind of ostentation in which he was weak enough to indulge. But we think "'tis to consider too curiously, to consider it so." There is a kind of reputation which we may laudably desire, and justly enjoy; and he who is sincere enough to forego the pride of ancestry and of birth, may, without much imputation of vanity, assume the merit of his own elevation. In that elevation he neither triumphed over the inferiority of those he had left below him, nor forgot the equality in which they had formerly stood. No one was more mindful of, or more solicitous to

*"But let us leave these serious reflections, and converse with our usual pleasantry. I remember your observing once to me in the house of commons, that no two journeymen printers within your knowledge, had met with such success in the world as ourselves. You were then at the head of your profession, and soon afterwards became a member of parliament. I was an agent for a few provinces, and now act for them all. But we have risen by different modes, I, as a republican printer, always liked a form well plained down; being adverse to those overbearing letters that held their heads so high as to hinder their neighbours from appearing. You, as a monarchist, chose to work upon crown paper, and found it profitable; whilst I worked upon pro patria (often indeed called foolscap) with no less advantage. Both our heaps held out very well, and we seem likely to make a pretty good day's work of it. With regard to public affairs (to continue in the same style) it seems to me that the compositors in your chapel do not cast off their copy well, nor perfectly understand imposing; their forms are continually pestered by the outs and doubles that are not easy to be corrected. And I think they were wrong in laying aside some faces, and particularly certain head-pieces that would have been both useful and ornamental. But, courage! The business may still flourish with good management; and the master become as rich as any of the company."

Passy, near Paris, Aug. 19, 1784.

During nine years and a half, from the 7th January, B. FRANKLIN. sessing a printing-press in his own house, used to divert

1777, Passy was the residence of Dr. Franklin; who, pos

himself from time to time by composing and printing for the amusement of his intimate friends several light essays and jeux d'esprits, such as the Supplement to the Boston Independent Chronicle, and the Letter from the pirate Paul

Jones, described in the "Memoirs of B. Franklin, &c." 4to. 1818. Franklin quitted Passy in July, 1785.

oblige the acquaintance or companions of his early days. The advice which his experience, or the assistance which his purse could afford, he was ready to communicate; and at his table in London every Scotsman found an easy introduction, and every old acquaintance a cordial welcome. This was not merely a virtue of hospitality, or a duty of benevolence with him; he felt it warmly as a sentiment: and that paper in the Mirror (the Letter from London, in the 94th number) was a genuine picture of his feelings, on the recollection of those scenes in which his youth had been spent, and of those companions with which it had been associated. If among the middling and busy ranks of mankind this brief sketch can afford an encouragement to the industry of those who are beginning to climb into life, or furnish a lesson of moderation to those who have attained its height; if to the first it may recommend honest industry and sober diligence; if to the latter it may suggest the ties of ancient fellowship and early connexion, which the pride of wealth or of station loses as much dignity as it foregoes satisfaction by refusing to acknowledge; if it shall cheer one hour of despondency or discontent to the young; if it shall save one frown of disdain or of refisal to the unfortunate; the higher and nee refined class will forgive the familiarity of the example, and consider, that it is not from the biography of heroes or of statesmen that instances can be drawn to prompt the conduct of the bulk of mankind, or to excite the useful though less splendid virtues of private and domestic life.

The following lines came from the heart of
one who both loved and revered him :
If industry and knowledge of mankind,
Could prove that fortune is not always blind;
If wealth acquired could prompt a generous heart,
To feel new joys its blessings to impart;
Lament with me such worth should be withdrawn,
And all who knew his worth must weep for STRABAN
In business, which became his pleasure keen,
Tho' not enough the tradesman to be mean ;
Social and frank, a zealous friendly guide,
With safe advice, and ready purse beside,
And far above the littleness of pride:

Pride that, exacting homage, meets, in place
Of true respect, contempt beneath grimace.
A breast thus warm could not with coldness bear
Those base returns the good must sometimes share;
Sincere himself, his feelings stood excus'd,
Never by one man to be twice abused:
For nature alters not; the leopard's skin
Is stained without, as hearts are stained within;
Numbers whose private sorrows he relieved,
Have felt a loss, alas! but ill conceived;
He's gone! and those who miss him, never will
Find equal excellence his place to fill,
Thy darts, oh Death, that fly so thick around,
In such a victim many others wound.
Bernard's Inn.

J. NOORTEOUTS.

Mr. Strahan had five children; three sons and two daughters: William, the eldest, carried on the profession of a printer for some years on Snow 1781, and his business was taken by Mr. Spils hill; but died in his father's life-time, April 19, bury.-George, of university college, Oxford, M. A. 1771, and B. and D. D. 1807, was prebendary of Rochester, and upwards of fifty years vicar of St. Mary's, Islington.-Andrew, who, in due time succeeded his father. The daughters