EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
797
able and elegant series of essays, and, in the title- page, said to be after the manner of a periodical paper. It was published in crown 8vo.
1797. The KeUo Mail, printed and edited by James Ballantyne, the well-known printer, who first introduced a taste for typographical elegance into Scotland.
1797. TAe /^o«r j4^e», by William Jackson, of Exeter, celebrated for his musical talents, and the author of a well-known and very ingenious work, under the title of Thirty Letten.
17S7, April. The Medley.
1797, Oct. 7!^ iZeporter, a political periodical, written with considerable powers both of diction and argument.
1797, Nov. 20. The Anti-jacobin. This paper arose from the determination of George Cannmg and other literary men, to establish a weekly newspaper, for the purpose of exposing to ridi- cule the political a^tators of that time. Dr. Grant, well known as a writer in the reviews and other periodicals, was the first person chosen to be the editor, but upon his declining the office, William Giffbrd accepted the situation. It con- tinned to be published until July 9, 1798. Mr. Wright, in Piccadilly, was the publisher.*
1797. When the legislative union of Ireland came to be agitated this year in Dublin, the Irish press teemed with writing of a kind appropriate to the state of the national mind at that unhappy era. Some of the temporary prints openly coun- selled assassination as a legitimate aid to politicai warfare; and one, called the Union Star, in reference to a particular individual, took for its motto the well-known lines —
" Perhaps some uni more luckjr than the rest.
May reach his heart and free the world from bondage."
Although £700 was offered for the discovery of the auuor and publisher of this print (it was secretly posted up in the streets during the night) be was never betrayed, though known to hundreds.
1798, Jan. 5. Died, William FLACKTON,who had been more than sixty years an eminent book- seller and stationer at Canterbury, beloved, es- teemed, and regretted by all who knew him, at the age, nearly, of eighty-nine years. He was
- It was about this period that the redoabtable fray took
place between Mr. Gitrord and Or. Wolcot (Peter Pindar.) Mr. Oiflbrd began the attack, by discharging against Peter one of the sharpest arrows from his satiric bow, in the Ibrm of An EpUtle to Peter Pindar. Woicot, though a lampooner of others, coold not bear to be satirized him- self ; and atong to the soul by the assault, determined upon revenge. Instead, however, of applying in the first place to his most power^ weapon, " the grey goose quill,'* he asstuned the orgvmgntum baeultnum, and sallied forth is qneat of his adversary. Waiting his opportunity, and seeing: Blr. Oiflbrd. enter Mr. Wright's shop, he rushed in after him, and aimed a blow at Mr. GifTord's head, with a cudgel which he bad provided for the occasion. Foitu- nately, a gentleman standing by, saw the movement in time to seize the arm of the enraged poet, who was then bundled into the street, and rolled in the mod, to the amusement of the gathered crowd. Nothing further took place at that time, but the disappointed satirist went home, and soon after published a piece under the title of A Cut at a Cobbler. Mr. GiffoTd was originally a shoe- maker. For his services npon the Antijacobin. he was rewarded with the paymastership of the band of gentle- men pensioners, and at a subsequent period, he was made a doable commissioner of the lottery.
the last of an ancient and reputable family, and of a decent, though not learned, education. But he had much cultivated his mind by reading, which, with music and gardening, formed, almost to the very last, the solace of his leisure hours. His conversation was instructive, pleasant, and intelligent ; and the cheerfulness of his temper never left him till the lamp of life was extin- guished. As a bookseller of the old school, he deserves to be spoken of with respect. His knowledge of scarce and valuable books was in general very good, though it suffered some ridi- cule in the Gentleman's Magazine, by his per- mitting a copy of 7^ lamentable tragedy of Qtieen Dido to be sold for two shillings. He had a very curious collection of English and foreign heads, and other scarce and valuable prints, chiefly ancient. He was passionately attached to sacred music ; and in the choir books of Canterbury cathedral, are to be found several of his anthems and services, bearing evident marks of judgment and feeling. The institution of Sunday-schools in that city owes much to his early support and encouragement. In pecuniary aid, also, he was not wanting to that as well as other charities, private and public ; and we may conclude his character by affirming, that he lived and died a warm friend, an honest and upright man, and a sincere Christian.
1798, Jan. 16. Died, Thomas Greenrill, many years a wholesale stationer in Gracechurch- street, London, He was master of the company of stationers in 1787 ; but having retired from business, he died at Watford, Herts. George Greenhill, who was appointed treasurer to the stationers' company in 1797, was a younger son of the above gentleman.
1798. The Works of Horatio Walpole, Earl o/ Oxford, five vols, royal 4to., edited b^ Robert Berry, esq. a native of Scotland. This gentle- man, during a residence in Italy with his two daughters, became acquainted with Horatio Walpole,* who at his death bequeathed to the latter handsome legacies, and to the father the copyright of his works, which is said to have produced £3000. Mr. Berry accordingly under- took the task of editor, and the preface was written by one of his daughters.
- Horace Walpole, a yonngerson of the celebrated prime
minister, (died March 13, 174(1,) was born at Wareham, in Dorseahire, Oct. i, 1717, and died at London, March 2,1797. He was an eminent cultivator of miscellaneous literature. His principal works are ; A Catalogue of Rojfol and Noble Authort, 17^8; Anecdotes 0/ Painting in England, 1791; Caiaiogue of Engravers in England, 1 763 ; History of the last ten peart of Oeorge IL; and a romance called the Castle of Qtranto, which acquired great popularity, and was successfully Imitated by Miss Clara Reeve, in her story of the Old English Baron, In 1777. Personally, and also in his manner of writing, Walpole was eccentric and heartless ; but the ease, pungency, and brilliancy of his style, will long keep his works before the public. He suc- ceeded a nephew in the earldom, nearly at the close of his long life.
In October, 1797, appeared the following lines: The Printer's Farewell to Strawberry Hilt; four stanzas, six lines each. This was written by Silvester Harding, minia- ture painter, who published an edition of Orammont; but is signed T. K. (Thomas Kirk,) and was the last article printed at the press. His lordship left Mr. Kirk only a gift of seiOO.
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