Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/31

 MEMOIR OF ISAIAH THOMAS. XXV11 in Worcester ; and in Boston and its vicinity with Mr. An- drews, a partner in business, he furnished employment for nine more. He established the first newspaper in Walpole, New Hampshire, and in Brookfield, Massachusetts; and at these places, and also at Albany and Baltimore he was concerned in extensive bookstores. From these sources, much of the litera- ture of the country was supplied. The systematic manner, in which the details of this mass of business were conducted, gave him an elevated character for skill as a merchant. In 1802, he withdrew from the more active avocations of his past life, and sought leisure and opportunity for literary pursuits. In 1810 he presented to the public his "History of Printing," in two volumes octavo, including a history of newspapers, with biographical sketches of the ante-revolutionary printers and booksellers in New England. This work manifested great re- search, persevering industry, and no inconsiderable share of learning. It passed the ordeal of the reviewers both in this country and Great Britain, and is received as a standard au- thority upon the subjects treated of in its pages. During the long period in which he contemplated the preparation of this work, and while engaged in its progress, he was continually laying aside for preservation, every book, pamphlet, and file of newspapers, that came in his way, which might aid him in this undertaking, or prove of future use to the historians of his country. He likewise took unwearied pains, and expended large sums of money, in procuring from abroad valuable materials for the same object. To collect and preserve whatever could tend to illustrate the genius and exact condition of society at dif- ferent epochs in its advancement from one state of improvement to another, was ever a favorite employment of Mr. Thomas, and formed a prominent habit of his life. Hence his library com- prised many rare works, of which no other copies could be found, and which, but for his care, would have been lost to the world. It also contained the most valuable collection of Amer-