—British Manufactures, Series 4–6),’ 6 vols., 12mo, London, 1844–6. The work by which he was probably best known was an elaborate volume on ‘The Food of London; a sketch of the chief varieties, sources of supply … and machinery of distribution, of the food for a community of two millions and a half,’ 8vo, London, 1856. On Mr. Knight's retirement as a general publisher, Dodd became associated with Messrs. Chambers, and contributed largely to their serial publications. He also compiled for the same firm ‘Chambers's Handy Guide to London,’ &c., 8vo, London and Edinburgh [printed], 1862, and ‘Chambers's Handy Guide to the Kent and Sussex Coasts, in six routes or districts … [Preface signed G. D.], illustrated, with a clue map, &c.,’ 8vo, London and Edinburgh [printed], 1863. For over thirty years he contributed one or more papers to the ‘Companion to the [British] Almanac.’ His other writings are: 1. ‘Rudimentary Treatise on the Construction of Locks, [from materials furnished by A. C. Hobbs; compiled by G. Dodd, and] edited by C. Tomlinson,’ 12mo, London, 1853. 2. ‘Pictorial History of the Russian War,’ 1854–5–6. [Preface signed G. D.] With maps, plans, and wood engravings, 8vo, Edinburgh [printed], and London, 1856. 3. ‘A Chronicle of the Indian Revolt and of the Expeditions to Persia, China, and Japan, 1856–7–8. [Preface signed G. D.] With maps, plans, &c.,’ 8vo, London, Edinburgh [printed], 1859. 4. ‘Where do we get it, and how is it made? A familiar account of the mode of supplying our every-day wants, comforts, and luxuries. … With illustrations by W. Harvey,’ 8vo, London [1862]. 5. ‘Railways, Steamers, and Telegraphs; a glance at their recent progress and present state,’ 8vo, Edinburgh, 1867. 6. ‘Dictionary of Manufactures, Mining, Machinery, and the Industrial Arts,’ &c., 8vo, London [1871].
[Athenæum, 29 Jan. 1881, p. 167; Bookseller, 2 Feb. 1881, p. 103; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Cat. of Printed Books in Library of Faculty of Advocates.]
DODD, JAMES WILLIAM (1740?–1796), actor, born in London about 1740, is said to have been the son of a hairdresser. He was educated at ‘the grammar school in Holborn’ (Theatrical Biography, 1772). His success as Davus in a school performance of the ‘Andria’ of Terence decided his choice of the life of an actor. When only sixteen years of age he is said to have appeared at Sheffield as Roderigo in ‘Othello.’ He was met by Tate Wilkinson (Memoirs, iii. 114) in Norwich in 1763. He then played in comedy and tragedy, and was, according to Wilkinson, ‘a reigning favourite.’ An engagement in Bath followed, and proved as usual a stepping-stone to London. Dr. Hoadly, who saw him in the ‘Jealous Wife’ and other pieces, recommended him to Garrick, by whom and Lacy he was engaged. Hoadly says, in a letter to Garrick, that ‘his person is good enough, but his motion is too much under restraint and form; more the stalk and ménage of a dancing-master than the ease of a gentleman. … He has a white, calf-like stupid face that disgusted me much till I heard him speak, and throw some sensibility into it. His voice is good and well heard everywhere. … I fear there must be a dash of the coxcomb in every part in which you would see him in perfection. … He sings agreeably, and with more feeling than he acts with. … One excellence I observed in him, that he is not in a hurry, and his pauses are sensible, and filled with proper action and looks’ (Garrick, Correspondence, i. 184). This eminently judicious criticism secured his engagement for Drury Lane. Mrs. Dodd, who was acting with him as Polly to his Macheath, in Lady Townley, Mrs. Oakley, &c., was also engaged, and appeared at Drury Lane, where on 29 Jan. 1766 she played Lady Lurewell in the ‘Constant Couple.’ Martha Dodd died in the latter end of October 1769 (Reed, Notitia Dramatica MS.) Dodd's first appearance at Drury Lane took place 3 Oct. 1765 as Faddle in Moore's comedy, ‘The Foundling.’ From this time until the close of the season preceding his death, a period of thirty-one years, Dodd remained at Drury Lane, in the case of an actor of equal position an almost unique instance of fidelity. During this long period he played a very large number of parts. These chiefly consisted of beaux and coxcombs, in which he was regarded as a successor to Colley Cibber. He played also in low comedy, sang occasionally, and sometimes, chiefly for his benefit, took serious characters, appearing on one occasion as Richard III. During his first year's engagement he was seen as Jack Meggott in the ‘Suspicious Husband,’ Osric in ‘Hamlet,’ Lord Trinket in the ‘Jealous Wife,’ Lord Plausible in the ‘Plain Dealer,’ Slender in the ‘Merry Wives of Windsor,’ Sir Harry Wildair in the ‘Constant Couple,’ Roderigo in ‘Othello,’ Alexas in ‘All for Love,’ Sparkish in the ‘Country Wife,’ Sir Novelty Fashion in ‘Love's Last Shift,’ and Marplot in ‘The Busybody,’ with other characters. He was especially excellent as Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Abel Drugger. Of the many characters of which Dodd was the first exponent the most noteworthy are Sir Benjamin Backbite in the ‘School for Scandal,’ Dangle in the ‘Critic,’ Lord Foppington in the ‘Trip to Scarborough,’
