SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
661
a Mr. Reilv, a person well versed in the Irish language, tnough born in France. An excellent preface was prefixed, written either by Mr. Boyle, or one of his friends : it is copied in the Appendix to the Lift of the Hon. Robert Boyle, by Birch, No. 11, Works, vol. i. London, 1772, 4to.
The printing of the New Testament in Irish, was soon followed by the publication of the Old, under the patronage of the same benevolent person. The following curious account of the expenses of transcription, is given by Dr. Nar- cissus Marsh, in a letter to Mr. Boyle, dated August 24, 1685 :
it : i. Paid for transcribing 719i sheets... 35 Itf 6 For pens, ink, and paper (whereof 18 quires were fid per quire, the
resterf.) 18
For translating 17 psalms that
were wanting 3
To Mr. Mullui, for revising the
transcript 4 10
At the custom for the Irish testa- ments 9 2
£44 16 8
Mr. Mallan received £2 7*. 6d. more, after- ward. These expenses included the transcription of the Apocrypha, (about 157 sheets) which was not printed. The whole Bible being transcribed and corrected, it was put to press, and an edition of five hundred copies iu the Irish character was issued, printed at Ldndon, in two volumes 4to. Mr. Boyle contributed £700 towards defraying the expenses of printing these two editions.
1680. From Clavel's Catalogue it appears, that the whole number of books printed in Eng- land, from the year 1666 to 1680, was 3,550 ; of which 947 were divinity, 420 law, and 135 physio — so that two-fiflhs of the whole were professional books, 397 were school books, and 263 were on subjects of geography and naviga- tion, including maps. On the average of the fourteen years the total number of works pro- duced annually was 253; bat deducting reprints, pamphlets, single sermons, and maps, the average would be much under one hundred. This will show an increase upon a former period, namely, from 1471 and 1600, a period of about 130 years, the average number of distinct works published each year in this country was seventy- five.
1681. The Spanish Friar, by John Dryden, was printed for Richard and Jacob Tonsoo, at Gray^s Inn-gate, in Gray's Inn-lane, and at the Judge's Head, in Chancery-lane. This appetus to be the first work published by the Tonions.
Mr. J. ToNSON was bookseller to the famous Dryden : and is himself a very good judge of persons and authors : and as there is nobody more competently qualified to give their opinion of another, so there is none who does it with a more severe exactness, or with less partiality : for, to do Mr. Tonson justice, he speaka his mind upon all occasions, and will flatter nobody. — Dynton.
1681. Died, John Foster, printer, of Bos- ton, North America. He was graduated at Havard college, in North America, in 1667. In the year 1676, about forty years after the be^n- ning of the settlement, he conducted the press, from which issued the /int booh ever printed in Boston. The following epitaph, in black letter, was placed on his grave-stone.
Thy body, whlcta no acttvenCM did lack, Now'a laid aside, like an Old almanack i Bat for the present oal7*8 oat of date, Twill bare at length a ta more active state ; Yea, thoagh with dust the body aoU'd be, Yet at the resurrection we shall see A lair edition, and of matfhlww worth. Free from nrato, not in heaven set forth : Tls bat a word from God, the great Creator, It shall be done when he says Imfrimaiur.
1681. LHed, George Sawbridge, printer* He was master of the stationers' companv in 1675, and in 1677, he gave to them a large silver bowl, 46 oz. 3 dwts. He was treasurer to the company from the year 1647 to 1679.
George Sawbridge, esq. was the greatest book- seller that has been in England for many years, as may sufficiently appear by the estate be has left behind him ; for, besides that he was chosen sheriff' of London, and paid his fine, he leil be- hind him four daughters, who had each of them for their portion £10,000 a-piece. And if Mr. Awnsham Churchill, his apprentice, continue to thrive as he has begun, he will be as rich as his master in a few years. Mr. George Sawbridge succeeds his father in the trade, and prints many valuable copies. He has good skill in military discipline, and made a very handsome figure in captain Robinson's company. — Dunton.
1681, Dec. 26. Died, Thomas Newcombe, printer to king Charles II. He left to the sta- tioners' company a silver bowl, weight 68 oz. 12 dwts., which was presented by his executor, Mr. Henry Herringman. In the south aisle of the church at Dunchurch, in Warwickshire, on a white marble tablet, with open marble doors, is the following inscription : —
Here UeOt interred the body of Thomas Newcombe, Esq. a worthy Citizen of London, and Serrant to his late Malesty K. Charles II. in Us Prlntlng-ofllce j who departed this life 3t December, ItSI, In the ssd year of his age. In memory of whom, his son, Ttao. Newcombe, Esq., Servant likewise to his late Majesty and his present Ma- jesty King James H. in the same offlce, erected this
monument.
He likewise departed this life March si, I691, being
Good Friday.
On the left door : —
Mrs. Dorothy Hutchinson, relict of Thomas Neweombo; sen. Esq. departed this life Feb. S8, 1718.
Near the church, to the west, are six alms- houses, with this inscription : —
These Almeshouses are the Legade of Tho. Newcombe, Esq. Printer to King Charles the 3d, King James the 3d, and his present Ma^sty King William 3d, for the main- tenance of s poor men and 3 poor widows borne in this parish, built and endowed by his Widow and Zxecntllx in the year of our Lord Qod l(is.
Thomas Newcombe, jun., gave by will i)60& for this purpose ; the building cost £150 ; and the rest was laid out in the purchase of land at
4 «.
VjOOQIC
/-"
