Page:A history of booksellers, the old and the new.djvu/76

56 $6 THE BOOKSELLERS OF OLDEN TIMES. Richardson was not then above his daily work. He writes to his friend Mr. Defreval, " You know how my business engages me. You know by what snatches of time I write, that I may not neglect that, and that I may preserve that independency which is the comfort of my life. I never sought out of myself for patrons. My own industry and God's providence have been my sole reliance." In 1754, he was, to the great honour of the members, chosen master of the Stationers' Company, the only fear of his friends being that he would not play the gourmand well. . " I cannot," writes Edwards, " but figure to myself the miserable example you will set at the head of their loaded tables, unless you have two stout jaw-workers for your wardens, and a good hungry court of assistants." The honourable post he occupied shows his position in the trade at this time. This was improved in 1760, by the purchase of a moiety of the patent of law- printer, which he carried on in partnership with Miss Lintot, grand-daughter of Bernard Lintot. He died in the following year, leaving funeral-rings to thirty- four of his acquaintances, and adding in his will, " Had I given rings to all the ladies who have honoured me with their correspondence, and whom I sincerely venerate for their amiable qualities, it would, even in this last solemn act, appear like ostentation." It is impossible in treating of Richardson not to refer to his vanity ; but the love of praise was his only fault, and it has grown to us, like the foible of a loved friend, dearer than all his virtues. It is not un- pleasant to think that the ladies of that time, by the way in which they petted, coaxed, and humoured him, conferred an innocent pleasure upon the truest of all the delineators of their sex, except perhaps