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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
1793, Dee. 26. Died, William RusiiELL, a historical and miscellaneous writer, and author of the Hutory of Modern Europe, five vols. 8vo. which has ever since its appearance been reckon- ed the best and most convenient work on the subject which it treats. William Russell was bom at Windydoois, in the county of Selkirk, in Scotland, in the year 1741. He received the early part of his education at Innerleithen, where ne acquired a slender knowledge of Latin and Greek, and having removed in 1796, to Edinburgh, he there studied writing and arith- metic for about ten months. He now commenced an apprenticeship of five years, under Messrs. Martm and Wotherspoon,booksellers and printers, during which period: he added considerably to his stock of knowledge by private study. In 1763, while working as a journeyman printer, he became a member of a literary association styled the Miscellaneous Society, of which Mr. Andrew Dalzell, afterwards professor of Greek in the Edinburgh university, and Mr. Rt. Listen, after- wards sir Robert, and ambassador at Constan- tinople, were also members. Not long after he seems to have formed an intimacy widi Patrick lord Elibank, who invited him to spend some time at his seat in East Lothian, and encouraged him in the prosecution of a literary career. He therefore relinquished his laboun as a printer, and after spending considerable time in study at his father's house in the country, set out, in May 1767, for London. There 4ie was disappointed in his best hopes, and found it necessary to seek subsistence as corrector of the press in the office of William Strahan, which in 1769 he exchanged for the office of oveiseer in the office of Brown and Aldred. While prosecuting these employ- ments, he published several essays in prose and verse, but without fixing the attention of the world in any eminent degree. Uis success was nevertheless such as to enable him to relinquish the printing business. In 1780, be went to Ja- maica for toe purpose of recovering some money left there by a deceased brother. In 1787, he married Miss Scott, and retired to a farm called Knottyholm, near Langholm, where he spent the remainder of his days in an elegant cottage on the banks of the Esk. In 1792, he received the degree of doctor of laws from St. Andrew's, and in the ensuing year published the two first volumes of a Hutory of Ancient Europe ; but did not live to complete this undertaking, being cutoff by a sudden stroke of palsy. He was buried in the church-yard of Westerkirk, and left a widow and one daughter. Dr. Russell was a man of indefatigable industry. Before he had perfected one scheme another always presented Itself to his mind. " Without exhibiting the graces of polished life," says Mr. Chalmers, "he was an agreeable companion, and possessed a considerable fund of general knowledge, and a zeal for literature and genius which approached to enthusiasm. In all his undertakings he was strictly honourable, and deserved the confidence repos^ in him by his employers." Among the works of Dr. Russell may be noticed his Senti-
mental Talei, in 1770. In 1773, a collection of Fablet, Moral tend Sentimental, and an Ettayon the Character, Mannm, and Geniut of Women, from the French of M.Thomas. Jtiita, a poetical romance, appeared in 1774 ; and the Hittory of America, published in numbers, was completed in 1779. In 1783, the Tragic Mute, a poem addressed to Mrs. Siddons.
1794, Jan. 23. George Wilkinson, a jour- neyman printer working at Bath, was tried at the quarter sessions in tnat city, and sentenced to four months' imprisonment, to pay a fine of 20s., and to find security for one year, himself in £50, and two others in £2/1 each, for uttering the following leditvmt expression; "Success to the French, and down with the allies."
1794, Jan. 28. Died, John Gottlieb Im- MANUEL Bbeitkopf, an ingenious printer, let- ter-founder, and bookseller of Leipzig. He was born in that city, November 23, 1719. An accidental pemsal of a work by Albert Durer, in which the shape of the letteis is deduced from mathematical principles, appears to have sug- gested to him some valuable improvements in the art of casting types, which gave his printing office and foundiy great reputation. He was also the first who cast musical types, now so common, although they possess so little of the beauty or accuracy of copper-plates as to be sel- dom used. He also continued to print maps with moveable types, and even to copy portraits by the same means, but neither of these were found of much utility. In 1793, he succeeded in printing the Chinese characters with moveable types, and his specimens were much admired. He is said also to have discovered some improve- ments in the composition of type metal, and the process of melting and casting; but what these were he concealed. He was the author of seveaal publications concerning Wpography. His last work was a treatise on bibliography. His father was also a printer and bookseller at Leipzig.
1794, Feb. 28. Mr. Swinton brought an action against Messrs. Robinson, booksellers, of Patemoster-row, and publishers of the Critical Review, for a critique published in that work, upon Mr. Swinton's TraveU in Norway, Den- mark, and Russia. A verdict was given for the defendants on the principle that fair criticism is allowable.
1794, March 9. Died, Benjamin White, bookseller, who carried on for several years an extensive business, particularly in the line of natural history, and other expensive books. He was originally a partner with Mr. John WhistoD, the well-known and worthy sou of the celebrated William Whiston, who afterwards opened a separate shop. He retired from business with a plentiful fortune, and died at his house in South Lambeth. Benjamin, his eldest son, retired also in a few years after him, leaving the business to a younger brother, John, who also retired with an easy competency, to the enjoyment of a country life.
1794, May 28. John Rabb, printer of the Belfast Northern Star, and twelve proprietors,
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