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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
1810. Sib Thomas Phillips, bart, of Mid- dlehill, in Wiltshire, a diligent collector of manuscripts and rare books, erected a private press at his residence, at which he struck off from time to time a few catalogues of some of his collections, and other pieces, but none of them bears an imprint, except one, the Cata- logue of Anthony a Wood's manuscripts, which has, Typis medio-montcmit, in turn Lativienn reimpretsut. 1824.
1819, March. Benjamin Foster, of Black- friars-road, London, invented an inking cylinder for the purpose of distributing the ink in more equal proportions before it is taken on the roller that passes over the types.
1819, April. Died, J. Parkhouse, printer and bookseller, of Tiverton, in Devonshire, of which place he was also a native, and was descended in the female line from tlie family of Gay, the poet. He was originally designed for the church ; but on the death of his patrons, or some other disap- pointment, he commenced printer and bookseller. For many years he had been engaged in pre- paring for the press a Talrmidic Lacieon. He was a member of the corporation of Tiverton, and a man of singfular industry and unbounded reputation.*
1819, May 18. Died, William Core, book- seller, at Leith, who carried on business, in the same premises, for the long period of fifty-five years, and was &ther of the bookselling pro- fession in Scotland. He commenced bookseller in 1764, in the shop now occupied by Messrs. Reid and Son ; and his stock, consisting princi- pally of minor publications, and the common articles of stationerv, was not very extensive. Bt perseverance and economy, his trade gradu- ally increased, though it is somewhat doubtful if ever he attained to easy circumstances. He was a most indefatigable person, however ; for he has been known to travel to Fdinburgh three or four times in one day for the purpose of sup- plying the orders of nis customers; and he would have performed the journey to obtain a sixpenny pamphlet.f He was a ready-money dealer; and whatever he purchased was paid in cash, and carried away by him on the instant. Mr. Coke possessed a rather quick and irritable temper, and his politics being decidedly of the
• iin. Hmmh Cowtey, antborof the BelUft Stratagem, and other comedies, was the danchter of Mr. FarkhooK, and was bora at Tiverton, in 174s. In 1773 ahe married Mr. Oowlev, in the service of the Seat India Company at Bencal, tj whom ahe had aereral children. It was not nnttfthe year I77<l that Mn. Cowley appeared aa a dra- matic writer, hot snch was the •neeeas of her iint piece Uiat she was indnced to proceed, and produced many comedieaandfkrcesinquiclcaooceaaion. In all, with con- ■iderable elegance and variety of style, she comUneatliat happy observation of natoral life and manners which fdr- nishes well.dlacriminated characten, and appoaite hnmoor and satire, &ree from the nnieal ezagcentions of imsgina- tion. Mra. Cowley wasthe'-AnnaMatilda"arthe "Delia Cmaea" school. She died at Tiverton, March II, iBOt.
t A ealcnlation was made from Mr. Coite's own in- formation, respecting his Journeys between Leith and Bdin- burgh, when it was found that he had wallied a distance more tlian twice equal to tbe circumference of the globe. The late Mr. David Ramsay, pabllsher of the Courtmt, used to compare him to a sqntnel in a cage, always en- deavouring to get to the top.
Pitt school, he was often embroiled in some laughable altercations. One day, having orer- heated himself so much in walking from Leitli to Edinburgh, that on arriving at bis fiieiid bailie Creech, the publisher's shop, he sent for a small quantity of whiskey to bathe his foniiead, as the fatigue had produced a very severe head- ache. Creech, who entered whilst the remedy was applying, exclaimed — " Bless me ! wbu 5 that you are doing Mr. Coke ?" " Rubbing mj head with whiskey," was the reply. " No won- der," rejoined the civic Joe Miller, " thit you are so verv hot-headed .'" Mr. Coke lived to be above eighty years of age. He was married and had a family. His son wentto sea, and was nerer heard of. Three of his daughters resided in Edinburgh ; we cannot say how many are alire. — From Kay's Edinburgh Portraitt.
1819, May 24. William Rutt, printer and stereotype founder at Shacklewell, near London, obtainea a patent for improvements in printing machines, which improvements do not exteno to the inking apparatus.
1819. Messrs. Perkins and Co. of Philadel. phia, introduced into London a mode of engnr- mg on soft steel, which, when hardened, will multiply fine impressions indefinitely.
1819, /une. Died, Francis William Buc- OEN, an active and laborious writer for thepiev, and some time co-editor of the Morning Pott. He began his career as a hom-boy to vend the Sun, whenever it contained extraordinarynevs; then became amanuensis to the late Mr.Willich, under whom he studied the German and Frencl languages, and afterwards set up for himself is editor of a monthly volume of translated tiarek He soon after appeared as editor of an annual volume, called the Flowert of Literature,* and as conductor of a newspaper called the Phcnix.— He commenced a Sunday newspaper, called the Political Register, in opposition to Mr. William Cobbett,but was ruined by the speculation. As none of these, nor other projects, would proride for a powing family, he latterly Uvea on a salary derived from assisting in tlie management of the Morning Pott. Incessant care undennined his constitution, and he sunk under a general decline in the forty-second year of his age. Hit connections and immediate interests led him to support the administration and measures of the day ; but in his private character he was amiable, ingenuous, and benevolent. Mr. Blagden had long in his possession a copy of the Booh,\ as it was emphatically denominated, and announced his intention of publishing its contents in his newspaper, but was prevented by an injunction from the lord chancellor.
1819, June 9. Died, Robert Pbck, for up- wards of twenty years the printer and proprietor of the Hvdl Packet- He died at Kingston-upon- Hull, aged forty-five years, much respected.
- Flowtrto/ LUerature, lSOa-9, 7 vols. ISmo. The eaiir
volumes were compiled in association witii the late ler P. Prevost.
t Leiten (0 the PrUieeu of Walei, comfirMiv '*' "'> true HUlory of the celetralei Book. Sro. I81S.
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