Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/769

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HISTORY OF PRINTING.

anonymous labouis were also associated. The native goodness of his heart endeared him to a numerous and respectable literary acquaintance, among whom he reckoned John Newbery, book- seller, WotT, Goldsmith, and Johnson ; to the latter of whom he was for several years a near neighbour in Bolt-court His madesty shrunk from public attention, but his labours were very frequently directed to the improvement of the younger and more untutored classes of mankind ;

" To Tear the tender thonght,

And teach the yonng idea how to ahoot."

His translations from the French were very numerous ; but as he rarely, if ever, put his name to the productions of his pen, they cannot now be traced. One little pubbcation, entitled Great Eventt from Little Causes, wa^ his composition, and met with a rapid and extensive sale. It is not, perhaps, generally known, that to GrifiBth Jones, and a brother of his, Giles Jones, in con- junction with John Newbery, the public are indebted for the origin of those numerous and popular little books for the amusement and instruction of children, which have been ever unce received with universal approbation. The LilUputian histories of Goody Two-Shoes, Giles Gingerbread, Tommy Trip, &c. &c. are remark- able proofs of the benevolent minds of the projectors of this plan of instruction, and re- spectable instances of the accommodation of superior talents to the feeble intellects of infan- tine felicitv. To Stephen Jones, son of the above Griffith Jones, the public are indebted for the new and improved edition of the Biographia Dramatica, 1812, and for many other valuable publications.

1786, Sept. 29. Died, Thomas Fisher, the first printer who established a regular printing- o£Sce in the city of Rochester, who for many years exhibited a pattern of extreme assiduity in business, and became an alderman of that cor- poration. At the time of his death he was pre- paring a new edition of the History of Roches- ter, of which Mr. Shrubsole, of Sheemess, was the original compiler. But though Mr. Fisher was not the actual editor of that work, it is cer- tain that much of its success was due to the zeal with which he solicited and procured communi- cations for it. He was the lather of Mr. Thos. Fisher, of the India house, the very excellent antiquarian draftsman, whose deciphering of the Stratford records is sufficient to immortuize his name.

1786. Nov. 6. The Microcosm. These papers were principally written by four young gentle- men of Eton college; namely John Smith, George Canning, Robert Smith, and John Frere, assuming the feigned name and character of Gregory Griffin; and the work was continued weekly, to July 30, 1787, with the 40th number.

1786, Nov. 7. The Pharos.* These essays were the production of a lady, the author of Constance, a novel, and were published twice

  • A Hrht boow.

a-week, every Tuesday and Saturday, for about half a-year, and concluded with the 50th num- ber, April 28, 1787, forming two volumes 12ino.

1786. Died, Matthew Jenodr, the well known printer of the DaUy Advertiser, and master of the stationers' company in 1769. His younger brother and partner, Joshua Jenour, master of the company in 1772, died 1774. Matthew Jenour, the father of the above gentle- man, was, in 1724, printer of the Flying Pott, and afterwards the first establisher of the Daily Advertiser, a paper which for many years stood at the head of all the diurnal publications, and the property in which was considered to be as permanent as a freehold estate (shares having been frequently sold by public auction as regu- larly as those of the new river company.) It received its death-blow Feb. 8, 17d4, by the publication of the publican's Morning Advertiser. The last number of the Daily Advertiser, however, was published Sept. 8, 1798 ; so that it lingered about four years, and then expired. Mr. jenour was a man of very respectable character; and the Daily Advertiser enricfaed his family.

1787, March 3. Died, Joseph Pote, a very intelligent printer and bookseller of Eton, where he prmted and published many learned works, and was himself the editor of several ; among which may be mentioned, TTie History and Antiquities of Windsor Castle, and tat Royal College, and Chapel of St. George, ^c. ^e. 4to. illustrated with cuts; treating of many particulars not in Ashmole, Anstis, or any other writers. He died at Eton, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Pote left two sons and a daughter, the eldest son, Joseph, entered the church and obtained some valuable preferments; he died July 29, 1797, in bis sixtieth year. The younger, Thomas, was a printer, and succeeded to his father's business ; was master of the stationers' company in 1791, and was very generally esteemed, as a cheerful lively companion, and a open-hearted friend ; be died Dec. 28, 1794, leaving a widow and four children. The daughter was married to Mr. John Williams, bookseller, of Fleet-street, London, well remem- bered in the days of Wilkes and libertv, see page 713 ante. His son, Mr. John Williams, carried on his grandfather's business at Eton, with considerable reputation, in partnership with Mrs. Maria Pote, widow of his uncle Thomas.

1787. Mb. Wedoewood, who established a famed pottery for the manufacture of articles in imitation of the ancient Etruscan vases, at Etruria,in Staffordshire, had a printing press at this place, at which he printed a Catalogue of Cameos, ire. 4rc. made and sold by Josiah Wedgewood, 8vo. Etruria, 1787. Mr. Wedge- wood died Jan. 3, 1798.

1787, March 17. Olla Podrida. The public is indebted to Mr. Thomas Monro, A.B., of St. Mary Magdalene college, Oxford, for the origin and conduct of this paper, assisted by Dr. Home, late bishop of Norwich, and others. It consists of forty-four essays, published weekly.

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