EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
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17S1. About this period bookbinders began the lavm back, whereby the bands on which the book is sewn, were let into the backs of tlie sheets, and thus no projection appears, as is seen in all bindings of a previous date. Where it was first used is not known, but it is considered the Dutch binding first gave the idea. Although it was adopted by many of the English and French binders with repugnance, it became fashionable. Bands, or raised cords, were soon only used for school books, which species of binding is now universally known as iheep bands. The general kind of binding from this time to the end of the century, was what is termed calf gilt, being done all to one pattern, the sides marbled,* the backs being brown, with coloured lettering pieces, and full gilt Open backs had been little introduced, and the backs of the books were made remark- ably stiff, to prevent the leather from wrinkling when they were opened.
1751, ifarch. The Inspector. This periodical is a striking proof of the unwearied assiduity of sir John Hill,t that, occupied as he was in writ- ing voluminous productions on natural history, he could find time for the composition of a mis- cellaneous paper, which he agreed to publish daily, and which he executed without the least assistance, for about two years, in the London Daily Advertiser. Many of these papers are written with vivacity, and a few exhibit traits of humour, character, and imagination, though, as it might be expected, from tlie hasty manner in which they were written, they are often loose and slovenly, and frequently ungrammatical.
1751, Nov. I3.| Died, Henry Saint-John, viscount Bolingbroke, whose life is one of those lessons by which mankind are taught that genius, learning, wit, and the happiest opportunities for realising all that honest ambition can suggest to a great mind, are bestowed in vain, unless they are accompanied by prudence and integrity of principle. The opinions of posterity as to his character are likely to be as much divided as were those of his cotemporaries ; and the safe con- clusion that can be arrived at is, that he possessed an extraordinary mixture of good and evil, of greatness and meanness, of that which ennobles.
- On the fovention of this process gnat caution was
used to keep it secret, snd books were obliged to be sent to the inventor to be marbled at a high price.
t Sir John Hill was one of the most extraordinary cha- racters of the eighteenth century. He was the son of a clergyman, and born either at Peterborough or SpcUdinff, in 1716. lie was educated for the profession of medicine, and at first practised as an apothecary in St. Martin's lane, Loudon. Had his prudence and temper been equal to his Indostzy, his character with his cotemporaries, and with posterity, would have lieen higtily esteemed. The usual consequence of indecent and indiscriminate satire awaited our author ; and for a time the profits arising from his pen were so great as. sometimes, to amount to ^6*1500 per an- num. He obtained the place of superintendent of the royal gardens at Kew, accompanied by a very liberal salary by lord Bute, under whose patronage he was likewise enabled to prosecute his splendid publication of the Vegetable Spttem. About two year^ previous to his decease, on pre- seniing his botanical works to the king of Sweden, he was made a knight of the polar star. After a life of more no- toriety than respectabili;/, sir John Hill died in Nov. 1775.
t By some writers the death of Bolingbroke is placed on the 15th of December.
as well as that which disgraces mortality. He descended from one of the most ancient families in the kingdom, and was born at Battersea, Oct. I, 1678, educated at Eton, and Christ Church, Oxford. Nature appears to have been scarcely more prodigal in bestowing her favours, than he was in abusing them. A career of wild dissipa- tion left him little leisure for the pursuit of know- ledge. His extraordinary talents forced them- selves into general notice ; his prodigious strength of memoiy and quick apprehension, his dashing and brilliant style, was the admiration of his friends, and his social disposition rendered their affection equal to their admiration. Formed to excel in whatever he might undertake, he soon became as notorious for nis excesses, as he was afterwards eminent for his genius and learning. He entered parliament in the year 1700, for the borough of Wotton Basset, (a borough in which the family interest of the St. John's was predo- minant,) and joined the ranks of the tories. In 1710 he became secretary of state, on Harley* being made chancellor of the exchequer, and in 1712 he was created Wscount Bolingbroke. We have already noticed the origin of the newspaper stamp duty, which took place under the innu- ence of Bolingbroke, and the case is thus stated in Cooke's life of that nobleman : " It was pro- bably the influence of the whig newspapers, in nourishing the hopes of their party, and who proved themselves so numerous, and so powerful, that they could insult and libel the minister with impunity, that induced Bolingbroke to attempt to circumscribe the liberty of the press. The possession of power is in itself a strong tempta- tion to its exerciise ; and Bolingbroke, the object of attack as a minister and a party leader, forgot the feelings which had induced him, when es- tablishing himself upon the ruins of the former ministry, to pursue their retreat with the bitterest censures, and to heap the most unmanly insult upon their patroness at court. With the writers he could employ upon his side, it might be sup- posed he would have little to fear from any literary contest ; that argument might be safely opposed to abuse, and mere scurrility be despised and forgotten. But Bolingbroke was a minister ; he was engaged in a multitude of occupations — some of these were of doubtful propriety, all were capable of attack. The comments upon his con- duct were severe, but some of them were probably true ; and Bolingbroke, while he could retort the severity, must resent the truth. So important
• Robert Harley, earl of Oxford, was the ehlest son of six Edward Harley, and born in Bow.street, Coventgartlen, London, Dec. j, 1661. On Feb. I, 1701, be was chosen speaker of the house of commons. On March 8, 1711, he was wounded at the council table with a penknive, by the marquis de Gulssard, during an examination upon a charge of high treason. Bolingbroke rose, drew his sword, and ran it into Ouissard. In the same year he was raised to the peerage, and appointed lord treasurer, which oflice he resigned a few days before the death of queen Anne. In 1715 he was impeached of high treason by the commoDS, and committed to the tower, where he remained two years, and was then brought to his trial and acquitted. He died May 31, 1734. The earl of Oxford was a munificent patron of literature, and commenced one of the noblest collections of manuscripts, book, &c. in this country.
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