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 EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

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nj were intended to have been prefixed to the third edition of that beautiful poem ; but were cnnitted amidst the huny of the author on leaving En^and for India.

" Brompt<M, Kent, I6tk Oct. 1766. " Dear Will, " Since I saw you, I hare had the intention of embarking in a scheme that I think will prove successful, and in the progress of which I had an eye towards your participating. Mr. Sandby, boolcseller, opposite St. Dunstan's church, has entered into company with Snow and Denne, bankers. I was introduced to this gentleman about a week ago, upon an advantageous offer of succeeding him in his old business; which, by the advice of my friends, I propose to accept. Now, although I have little reason to fear suc- cess by myself in this undertaking ; yet I think so mauy additional advantages would accrue to us both, were your forces and mine joined, that I cannot help mentioning it to you, and making you the offer of entering into company. He re- signs to me the lease of the house ; the good-will


 * and I only take his bound stock, and

fixtures, at a fair appraisement ; which will not amount to much beyond £400; and which, if ever I mean to part with, cannot fail to bring in uearly the same sum. The shop has been long established in the trade ', it retains a good many old customers ; and I am to be ushered immedi- ately into public notice by the sale of a new edi- tion of lord Lyttleton's Ditdogvet; and after- wards by a like edition of his History. These works I shall sell by commission, upon a certain profit, without risque ; and Mr. Sandby has pro- mised to continue to mc, always, his good offices and recommendation. — ^These are the general outlines ; and if you entertain a notion that the conjunction will suit you, advise me, and you shall be assumed upon equal terms ; for I write to you before the affair is finally settled; not that I shall refuse it if you don't concur (for I am determined on a trial by myself) ; but that I think it would still turn out better were we joined ; and this consideration alone prompts me to write to you. Many blockheads in the trade are mak- ing fortunes ; and did we not succeed as well as they, I think it must be imputed Only to ourselves

Consider what I have proposed;

and send me your answer soon. Be assured in the mean time, that I remain, dear Sir,

" Your affectionate and humble servant,

"John Mc. Mvbrav. " P. S. My advisers and directors in this affair have been, Thomas Cumming, esq. Mr. Archi- bald Paxton, Mr. Samuel Paterson, of Essex- house,andMe8si8.J.and W. Richardson, printers. These, after deliberate reflection, have unani- mously thought I should accept of Mr. Sandby's offer." " No reason," Mr. Alexander Chalmers observes, " can be assigned with probability for Mr. Falconer's refusing this liberal offer, than his appointment, immediately after, to the pur- sefship of the Aurora frigate, which was ordered to carry oat to India Messrs. Vansittart, Scraftou,

and Forde, as supervisors of the affiun of the oompany. He was also promised the office of private secretary to those gentlemen, a situation uom which his Mends conceived the hope that he might eventually obtain lasting advantages. — Dii tUiter vitum."

Mr. Murray, in the mean time, engaged in an old and well-established trade ; which from his connections in India and at Edinburgh, he considerably extended. For a short period, as might be expected, he was a novice in the art and mystery of bookselling ; but soon became a regular proficient; and under his auspices many useful and elegant works were offered to the learned world. He began, in 1780, a volume of annual intelligence ; under the title of the LemdmMercwry ; and in January 1783, com- menced the Engliik JRtview, with the assist- ance of a ^alimx of able writers; amongst whom were Dr. Whitaker the historian of Man- chester, Gilbert Stuart, &c. He wrote more than the public were generally aware of, and was an author in various shapes. He was suc- ceeded by his son, Mr. John Murray, the present eminent and enterprising bookseller, in Albe- marle-street.

1793, Nov. 26. George Robinson, the elder, George Robinson, the younger, John Robin- son, and James Robinson, wholesale book- sellers of Paternoster-row, London, who had been convicted at the Bridgewater assizes, of selling three copies of Paine's Right* of Man to Mr. Pyle, bookseller, at Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, in Somersetshire, were sentenced in the court of king's bench. John Robinson, who had seen the parcel before it was sent off, to pay a fine of £100, and the three other defend- ants £bO each.

1703, Dee. 1. Died, William Owbn, an eminent bookseller, in Fleet-street, publisher of the Gazetteer, and proprietor of the mineral water warehouse, in Fleet-street. He was mas- ter of the stationers' company in 1781.

1793, Dec. 9. John Lambert, printer, and others, proprietors of the Morning Chronicle, were tried in the court of king's bench for pub- lishing in that paper. An Addrett of the Society for PolitieiU Information, held at the Talbot inn, in Derby, July 11, 1792. The jun^ returned the following verdict : Guilty ofjoMithing, hut with no nuUtcioui intent. Lord. Kenyon refused to record the verdict, and at five o'clock in the morning the jury found a verdict of not gmUty.

1793. The Female Mentor ; concluded 1798.

• OUbett Stuart wu bora at Ediobnigfa In 174t, and received his education at that univeralt;, where U* tether was professor. Abont the age of twenty he wrote a dlncr- tatioD concerning the antiqnity of the British constitatioD, for which lie was complimented wiUi the degtee of doctor of laws. Being disappointed of the professorship of law at Bdinborffb, he removed to London, and became a writer Intbe MontUji Review. In 1774 be returned to Sdinbnrgh, and began a Xagaxtne arid Remewt wlilch failed, and he ai^n went to London, where he engaged in the PoUUcat Herald and the Snglith Rmleie. He died at Edinburgh, AngostlS, 1796. He wrote the Htftonr o/ScoMoimI /mil the Reformation lo the death ofqueat Marf. Odtertitttiont amctmingtiu Puttie Law and ComHtutiim 0/ Scotlamd. And, the aittom a/ the Be/ormatUm in Scoilund.

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