Page:A history of booksellers, the old and the new.djvu/351

311 AND JAMES NISBET, 311 suggested in this tract, evading rather than explaining the sense of the 39 articles, and reconciling subscription to them with the adoption of errors which they were destined to counteract, defeat the object, and are in- consistent with the due observance of the above- mentioned statement." The Bishop of Oxford forbade their further publication, and shortly afterwards Newman, the author of "Number 90," showed his honesty by going over to the Roman Catholic Church. The publication of these "Tracts" still further strengthened the Rivingtons in their position of High Church publishers, and their business benefited considerably by the great increase of the High Church party. In 1827 a fourth series of the British Critic was commenced, incorporated with the Theological Revieiv. In 1843, however, in consequence of the extreme views that had been expressed in its pages, the publication was discontinued, to the very great regret of the clergy; the English Review, which started from its ashes, met with but little support, and lasted only till 1853- To complete our personal account of the firm : John Rivington, who married Anne, daughter of the Rev. John Blackburn, canon of York, died 2ist No- vember, 1841, at the age of 62. His son John was admitted a partner in 1836, and is the present head of the firm. George Rivington died in 1842, having retired on account of ill health in 1857, and in 1859 Mr. Francis Rivington retired from active part- nership. The present representatives of the firm consist, therefore, of Mr. John Rivington, fifth in descent from the founder, and Mr. Francis Hansard Rivington, who is the sixth.