796
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
by intemperance and consequent indiscretion, causing the world only to regret liow much may have been lost, that might have been developed had the individual's course been different, and his excellences directed so as to have produced the best results ; but, unfortunately, like too many in the same class in society, having no command over themselves, when in possession of a few shillings, live jovially ; and when that is exhausted, almost famishing, and always in a state of destitution. Roger Payne was born in Windsor Forest, and first became initiated in the rudiments of the art he afterwards became so distinguished a professor uf, under the auspices of Mr. Pote, bookseller to Eton college. From this place he came to London, where he was first employed by Thomas Osborne, bookseller, of Holbom. Disagreeing on some matters, he subsequently obtained employment from Thomas Payne, of the King's Mews, who ever after proved a friend to hira, although, of the same name, was not related. He established him in ousiness near Leicester-square, about the year 1766-1770, and the encouragement he received from his patron, and many wealthy possessors of libraries, was such that the happiest results, and a long career of prosperity, might have been anticipated. His talents as an artist, particu- larly m the finishing department, were of the first order, and such as, up to his time, had not been developed by any other of his countrymen. He adopted a style peculiarly his own, uniting a classical taste m the formation of his designs, and much judgment in the selection of such ornament as was applicable to the nature of the work it was to embellish. Many of these he made himself of iron, and some are yet pre- served as curiosities, and specimens of the skill of the man. To this occupation be may have been at times driven, from lack of money, to procure them from the tool-cutters; but it can- not be set down as being generallvso, for in the formation of the designs in which he so much excelled, it is but reasonable to suppose, arga- ing upon the practice of some others, in later times, he found it readier and more expedient to manufacture certain lines, curves, &c. on the occasion. Be this as it may, he succeeded in executing binding in so superior a manner as to have no rival, and to command the admiration of the most fastidious book-lover of his time. He had full employment from the noble and wealthy, and the estimation his bindings are still held in, isa sufficient proof of the satisfaction he gave his employers. His chef tTteuvre is Mtchylm, translated by the rev. Robert Potter,* in the
Sossession of earl Spencer, the ornaments and ecorations of which are most splendid and clas- sical. The binding of the book cost the noble carl fifteen guineas.f
• Mr. Potter Is advaDtageoaaly known in the republic of letters, by his cxceUent translaUon of Sopkocia, Earipidet, aod /Bteh^lut. He died at Ixiwcstoir, Aogust g, 1804.
t A cunous specimen of Roger Payne's bilU may be •een io the aentieman't Magtutint, vol. Uxxiv. part U. panre 440 ; and in Amett's Boo*» 0/ the Ancienl; page 1 91.
That he was characteristic or eccentric may be judged by what has been related of him. He appears to have also been a poet on the subject of his unfortunate propensity, as the following extract from a copy of verses, sent with » bill to Mr. Evans, for bmding Barry on the Winet of the Ancients, proves.
Homer, the bard, who mmg in higbeit itnins The festive gift, a goblet, for hia pains ; ndemian gave Horace, Virgil Ore, And Barley wine my British mnse inspiic. Barley wine, dist from Egypt's learned shore ) And this the gift to me of Calvert's $tore.
He commenced business in partnership nith his brother Thomas Payne, and subsequenUy wts in like manner connected with Richard Wier,* but did not long agree with either, so that sepa- ration speedily took place. He afterwardt worked under the roof of Mr. Mackinlay, bat his later efforts showed that he had lost much of that ability he had been so largely endowed with. Pressed down with poverty and disetse, he breathed his last in Duke's-court, St. Mar- tin's-lane. His remains were interred in tk burying-ground of St. Martin's in the Field*, at the expense of Mr. Thomas Payne, who, as before-stated, had been his early friend, and who, for the last eight years of his life, had rendered him a regular pecuniary assistance, both for the support of his body and the per- formance of his work. His regard did not end with his life ; for the worthy possessor of the name of Thonuu Payne had a small whole length of the man at his work, in his deplorable workaa room, engraved at his own expense, under whioi Mr. Bindley wrote the following lines :
ROGERUS PAYNE; natus VIndesor. hdccxxxix ; denatus Londin.
MDCCLXXXriI,
EAgem hanc grapliicam solertis Bibliopboi
Mvrifioavvov meritis BiBLioroLA dedit. Sumpliitu TAomr Pitpu. Etch'd and pnblish'd by S. Harding, No. \VJ, Fall HtU, . March I, 1800.
1797, Jan. Monthly Epitome, Vio. I. Discon- tinued March, 1806, nine volumes. 1797. The Friend. 1797. The Inrestigator. 1797, April. The Philanthrope. Averyvalu-
- Wier was not a whit less dissolute than his putaer.
Previoosto this, (In I774,) he and his wife were employed at Toulouse, in binding and repairing the books in coast Macarthy's library. The connexion between Wier sod Ro^er, which took place during the latter put of Payne's career, as might be expected from both of their habfO, was of short duration. They were generally qoarrelling, and Wier, being a man of strong muscular power, oflcd sometimes to proceed to thrashing his less powcrftil co- adjutor. Payne is said to have composed a sort of Jffflufr 0/ the Civil War between them. After their separatioii, Wier went abroad, and being taken prisoner by a prita- teer, he is said to have threatened to demolish haif the crew if they did not liberate him. Like his partner, Ik worked the latter part of his life with Mr. Mackinlay.
Mrs. Wier, was celebrated as the most complete book. restorer that ever lived. She was for a long time employed by Roger Payne ; and her skill in mending defective leaves was such, that, nnlcss held up to the light, the renovation was imperceptible. On her return from France, she went to Edinburgh to repair the books in the Record Offce ia that city.
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