Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/807

 798

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

1797. Joseph Jobnson, bookseller, in St. Paul's church yard, London, seutenced to nine months' imprisonment, and amerced in a fine of £50, for selling a pamphlet which had been written by the rev. Gilbert Wakefield,* against the interference of Great Britain with the French revolution, for which he suffered two years' im-

Srisonment. Mr. John Cuthen,t bookseller, in liddle-row, Holbom, was likewise sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment, for selling a copy of the same.

1798, Feb. Died, Job Bradley, printer and bookseller, at Chesterfield, Derbyshire, of which corporation he was an alderman.

\79S, Feb. Died, Edward Fisheb, bookseller, at Rochester ; he was the eldest son of Thomas Fisher, bookseller, who died in 1786. A younger brother, Thomas Fisher, esq. F. S. A. died July 20, 1836, aged sixty-five.

1798. To enter a book at stationers' hall was considered optional, and the books given to cor- porate bodies were only those so entered and so acknowledged by 41 Geo. III., and in the case of Beckford and Hood in the king's bench, the foregoing doctrine was confirmed. The omission to enter at stationers' hall presented a prosecu- tion for the penalties inflicted by the statutes, but left a satisfaction for the violation of copy- right at common law still the same.

1798, March 4. Died, Robert Hoesfield, for several years a bookseller in Ludgate-street, and treasurer of the stationers' company from 1785 to 1797. He succeeded to the extensive business of Messrs. Knapton.

1798. Samoel Falka, a printer, and a native of Hungary, commenced the experiment of ste- reotyping at Vienna. Being refused a privilege for the practice of his art, he quitted Vienna, and settled in the printing office of the university of Buda, the capital of Lower Hungary, from whence he issued several specimens.

1798, March 26. Died, William Gill, an eminent wholesale stationer, in partnership with Mr. Wright, in Abchurch-lane, who was several

< Gilbert Wakefield wu born at Nottioghain, Feb. SS, l/SS* and was educated at Jesna' college, Cambridge. Xn 1778, be entered into deacon's orders, and became carate at Stockport, in Cheshire, Irora whence he removed to Liverpool. In 1779, he married and retired fiota the established church for conscientious reasons, and under- took the oAce of classical tutor in the dissenting academy at WaningtOD. While in that situation, he publtahed a number of works, tbe principal of which were, a Tram. ioHon o/the Firtt Epistle to the ThestaloniatUi another of the Oo^et of St. Matthew ; an InqtUry inio the Opimone of the Christian Writers of the first three Centuries, concern, ing the Person of Jesus Christ, < vols. Svo. and the 5i7ra Critictu In 1790, he removed to the dissenting college at Hackney, his connexion with which ended in about a year. He wrote some pamphlets against the government, of which no notice was taken, until his Letter to the Bishop o/Liotui^^ appeared, when the attorney-general instituted a prosecution against talm and the publisher. Mr. Wake- field was sentenced to be imprisoned two yearsin Dorches- ter gaol, from whence he was liberated in May, 1801, but died of a fever on the 9th of September following. The principal of his works are, A Translation of the New Testa- ment, 3 vols. 8vo.; Tragediatum Ortecarum Delectus, 9 vols. I2mo.; and an edition of Lucretius, 3 vols. 4to. Mr. Wakefield deserves the character of an amiable man, an indostrious scholar, and an eminent biblical critic.

t Flamous for his catalogues, particularly in the medical line, and every branch of general science.

years one of the common coimcil of the ward of Candlewick, and elected alderman of Wal- brook in 1781. He served the office of sheriff the same year; and that of lord mayor in 1788 ; and was elected treasurer of Christ's hospital ia 1785. He gave to the stationers' company thirty shillings a-year, to be added to eater's dinner.

1798, April 7. Died, Thomas Wright, who was for fifty years in partnership with Mr. Gill, as a wholesale stationer, in Abchurch-lane ; and survived his partner only a fortnight. He died suddenly, after taking a walk in his grounds in Dulwich, Surry, and without any pre>'iou8 com- plaint He was attacked with an epileptic fit, and expired before any medical assistance could be procured. Alderman Gill was stated to have amassed the sum of £300,000. ; and the fortune of alderman Wright was supposed to have been equal, if not to a greater amount. They com- menced business together, as stationers, on Lon- don-bridge, retained the most respectable cha- racters, and were remarkable for great application and frugality. Mr. Wright was several yean one of the common council for Candlewick ward, where he was elected alderman in 1777. He was sherifl" in 1779 ; and lord mayor in 1785. In 1786 he presented to the company a large silver tea urn; and in his will, Nov.24, 1794, says,

" I give to the masters and keepers or wardens and commonalty of the mystery or art of a sta- tioner of the city of London, two thousand pounds, four per cent, bank annuities, upon trust, to pay, apply, and distribute the dividends and

J early produce thereof upon the first day of anuary in each year, or as soon after as conve- niently may be, in manner following, that is to say, the sum of fifty pounds eight shillings, part of such dividends, unto and amongst twenty-four poor freemen of the said company, not receiving any other pension from die company, in equal shares and proportions at two pounds two shillings each. To tlie clerk of the said company for the time being, the sum of three pounds three shil- lings, other part of such dividends, for his trouble upon this occasion. And the sum of twenty-six pounds nine shillings, residue of such dividends, in and towards the providing and defraying the expense of a dinner for the master, wardens, and assistants of the said company upon the day of such distribution." [The said sum of £2000. was, soon after the death of Mr. alderman Wright, transferred by his executors to, and now stands in the name of the corporation ; the yearly dividends being £80.]

1798, April 15. Died, John March, many years a jprinter of considerable eminence on Tower-hill, and master of the stationers' com- pany in 1790. He was a man of the most ami- able disposition. By industry, frugality, and a train of fortunate events, he "left an ample for- tune to his widow (who died April 15, 1800,) and to an only son, who succeeded to his business, but died in the prime of life, July 13, 1804.

1798, May 20. Died, James Fletcher, son of James Fletcher, noticed at page 787, ante. He had formcriy been partner with Mr. James

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