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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
could only afford to gfire him a reiy limited education. He commenced life as a footman to the honoumble Mrs. Lowther, and, by his good conduct in that capacity, was as successful in obtaining the esteem of those around him, as he erer was afterwards, when he had moved into more important positions in society. Having employed his leisure time in cultivating his intel- lect, he began at an early age to write verses, which, being shown to his superiors, were deemeil so creditable to his abilities, that he was encouraged to publish them in a volume, under the title of The Mute in Livery. This publica- tion was dedicated to his mistress, and came forth under the patronage of a highly respectable list of subscribers. Dodsley afterwards entered the service of Mr. Dartineuf, a noted voluptuary, and one of the intimate friends of Pope ; and having written a dramatic piece, called Tke Toy- thop (founded upon a play of the preceding cen- tury), it was shown by his new master to that distinguished poet, who was so well pleased with it, that he took the author under his protection, and made interest for the appearance of the play upon the stage. 7Tu Toyihop was acted at Covent Garden, in 1735, and met with the highest success. In a malignant epistle ad- dressed about that time by Curll, the bookseller, to Pope, it is insinuated that this was owing to patronage alone. But nothing can seem more improbable than that Pope and his friends should be deceived as to the merit of this piece, or that they should interest themselves about a produc- tion glaringly destitute of merit. The profits arising from this play, and the distinction which it obtained for the author, induced him to enter upon some regular trade : he chose that of a bookseller, as the most appropriate to his taste, and that in which he might expect to turn the favour of his friends to the best account ; and accordingly he opened a shop of that kind in Pall-mall. In this new situation, comparatively difficult as it may be supposed to have been, the same prudence and worth which have gained him esteem in his former condition, were not less strikingly exemplified. He was able to secure for himself and his establishment the counte- nance of many of the first literary persons of the day, including Pope, Chesterfield, Lyttleton, Shenstone,* Johnson, and Glover.f and also of many persons of rank who possessed a taste for
- WlUiam SheoatODe, an Ingenious poet, wu boin at
Hales-Owen, in Sbiopshire, in 17U, and educated at Ox- ford. His worlis consist of sone:8, eieicies, pastorals* a poem in Spencer's manner, called the Schoolmistress, letters, and miscellaneous essays were printed by Dodsley, in three vols. Sro. His pastoral elegies possess a softness and smoothness of diction in the lilpiest degree pleasing. His life was passed in elegant retirement at his seat called the Leasowes. near Hales-Oven, and which he devoted llis fortune in ImproTlng. He died Feb. II, 1763. Besides his life by Dr. Johnson, a i^ood account of Shenstone may be found in Dr. Nash's Hittorg of WoreaterMhire, vol. i.
t Richard Glover, author of Leonidtu, an epic poem, and other works, was bora in London, 171s, and was brought np as a merchant under liis father, who was in the Ham- burgh trade. Mr. Giover distinguished liimseif as a dty politician, intaliingthe lead of the opposition at elections. In 1781 he was chosen M.F. for Weymouth, He died Nov. Si, I7SS, and wu buried in Westminster abbey.
letters; and thus, in the oonrse of a few yean, he became one of the principal persons ^ his trade in the metropolis. Proceeding at the samt time in his career as an author, he wrote a farce entitled the King and the Milter of Matufidd, founded on an old ballad of that name, and referring to scenes with which he bad bees familiar in early life. Animated by a spirit (rf adventure, uncommon in his own time, he pub- lished, in 1744, a Collection of Playt by Cm Authors, in twelve volumes, duodecimo, pre- faced by a history of the stage, and illustrated by biographical and critical notes ; the whole being dedicated to sir C. C. Dormer, to whom Mr. Dodsley acknowledges great obligations for the use of materials. Another of the more valu- able works projected by Dodsley was the Pmep- tor, first published in 1749, and designed to em- brace what was then thought a complete oooise of education. His Select Fablet of Esop (ad other Fabuliits, appeared in 1760, and was at once pronounced a work of classical el^ance. In 1748, he produced a loyal masque on the occasion of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, and, two years afterwards, a small prose work, entitled The Economy of Human Life, in which the social duties are treated in a style intended 10 resemble that of the scriptures and other oriental writings. In 1768, he ventured to rise t» trapdy, and composed Cleone, the fable ffit which he derived from a French fiction. Thon^ Garrick expressed a mean opinion of the pkj. and it was consequently taken to Covent Gar- den, it long drew full audiences, which was is part attributed to Mis. Bellamy's acting of tht heroine. Dr. Johnson admired Cleone so moci as to say, that, if Otway had written it, no other of his pieces would have been remembend; which being reported to the author, he modesil; said, " it was too much." A long and prospei'- ous professional career enabled Mr. Dodsin te retire from business, some years before his death, with a large fortune, which, however, made as alteration upon his modest and amiable chaiac- ter. His humble origin was neither a matter which he was anxious to conceal, nor a solject of vulgar boasting. He did not forget it, na did he allow it to affect his deportment in 1 manner that could be disagreeable to othtn. Mindful, says one of his biographers, "of the early encouragement which his own talents ib« with, he was ever ready to give the same oppor- tunity of advancement to those of others ; and on many occasions he not only acted aspob- lisher, but as patron, to men of genius. TTicte was no circumstance by which he was more 6b- tin^uished than by the grateful remembtaaa which he retained and always expressed towards the memory of those to whom he owed the oMi- gation of being first taken notice of in life. Modest, sensible, and humane, he retained the virtues which first brought him into notice, after he had obtained wealth to satisfy every wish which could arise from the possession of it. He was a generous friend, and acquired the esteem and affection of all who were acqnainted wid
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