Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 13.djvu/336

 Mag. xciv. pt. i. 318, 410, 513). He was active in bringing out lives and wills of noted persons; in the ‘Life of Barber’ (1741) is a list of thirty-one, some of considerable biographical value. In 1730 he was busy producing a collection of antiquarian volumes, including Ashmole's ‘Berkshire’ and Aubrey's ‘Surrey,’ and Browne Willis allowed his opinion to be advertised to the effect that ‘Mr. Curll, having been at great expense in publishing these books (now comprised under the title of “Anglia Illustrata,” in 20 vols.), and adorning them with draughts of monuments, maps, &c., deserves to be encouraged by us all, who are well-wishers to this study; no bookseller in town having been so curious as he’ (Daily Post, 7 Feb. 1729–30). A graphic picture is to be found in Amory's ‘Life of John Buncle’ (1770, iv. 137–68): ‘Curll was in person very tall and thin, an ungainly, awkward, white-faced man. His eyes were a light grey, large, projecting, gogle, and purblind. He was splayfooted and baker-kneed. He had a good natural understanding, and was well acquainted with more than the title-pages of books. He talked well on some subjects, and was not an infidel. … He was a debauchee. … His translators in pay lay three in a bed at the Pewter Platter Inn in Holborn. … No man could talk better on theatrical subjects.’

During the forty years Curll was in business many of his publications were edited by himself. Besides the Popean volumes, the following is a list of some to which his name can be fixed with some degree of certainty: 1. ‘The Case of Dr. Sacheverell represented in a Letter to a Noble Lord,’ London, 1710, 8vo (‘by E. Curll,’ in British Museum copy). 2. ‘Some Considerations humbly offer'd to the Bp. of Salisbury [G. Burnet], occasioned by his speech upon the First Article of Dr. Sacheverell's Impeachment, by a Lay Hand’ (‘i.e. E. Curll,’ in British Museum copy), London, J. Morphew, 1710, 8vo (two editions). 3. ‘An impartial Examination of the Bishop of Lincoln's and Norwich's Speeches at the opening of the Second Article of Dr. Sacheverell's Impeachment,’ London, E. Curll, 1710, 8vo (‘by E. Curll,’ on title of British Museum copy; at the end is an advertisement of pamphlets on the Sacheverell controversy, and of theological works published by Curll). 4. ‘A Search after Principles in a Free Conference between Timothy and Philatheus concerning the present times,’ London, J. Morphew, 1710, 8vo. 5. ‘A Meditation upon a Broomstick [by Swift] and somewhat beside of the same author's,’ London, E. Curll, 1710, 8vo. 6. ‘A complete Key to the Tale of a Tub; with some account of the authors, the occasion and design of printing it, and Mr. Wotton's remarks examin'd,’ London, 1710, 8vo (in the British Museum copy the preface is signed in manuscript ‘E. Curll,’ who also noted that the annotations were ‘given to me by Ralph Noden, esq., of the Middle Temple.’ Nos. 5 and 6 were reprinted by Curll in 1711 as ‘Miscellanies by Dr. Jonathan Swift’). 7. ‘Some Account of the Life of Dr. Walter Curll, Bishop of Winchester,’ London, E. Curll, 1712, 12mo. 8. ‘The Character of Dr. Robert South, being the Oration spoken at his Funeral, on Monday, July 16, 1716, in the College Hall of Westminster, by Mr. Barber,’ London, E. Curll, 1716, 8vo. 9. ‘Posthumous Works of the late Robert South, D.D., containing Sermons, &c.,’ London, E. Curll, 1717, 8vo (edited by Curll, who contributed ‘Memoirs,’ and added No. 8). 10. ‘Curlicism Display'd, or an Appeal to the Church, being observations upon some Books publish'd by Mr. Curll. In a letter to Mr. Mist,’ London, 1718, 8vo (signed ‘E. Curll,’ see, Curll Papers, pp. 46–9). 11. ‘Mr. Pope's Worms, and a new Ballad on the Masquerade,’ London, 1718, 8vo. 12. ‘A Discourse of the several Dignities and Corruptions of Man's Nature since the Fall, written by Mr. John Hales of Eton, now first published from his original manuscript,’ London, E. Curll, 1720, 8vo (preface signed ‘E. Curll’). 13. ‘Doom's Day, or the Last Judgment; a Poem written by the Right Honourable William, earl of Sterline,’ London, E. Curll, 1720, 8vo (preface signed ‘A. Johnstoun,’ i.e. Curll, see, p. 55). 14. ‘The Humble Representation of Edmund Curll, bookseller and citizen of London, concerning five books complained of to the Secretary’ [London, 1726?], 8vo (ib. p. 63). 15. ‘An Apology for the Writings of Walter Moyle, Esq., in Answer to the groundless Aspersions of Mr. Hearne and Dr. Woodward, with a word or two concerning the frivolous cavils of Messieurs Whiston and Woolston relating to the Thundering Legion,’ London, 1727, 8vo (contains letters to and from Curll). 16. ‘An Answer to Mr. Mist's Journal of the 28 Jan. No. 93,’ London, M. Blandford, 1727, 8vo (signed ‘Britannus,’ i.e. Curll). 17. ‘Miscellanea,’ London, 1727, 5 vols. 12mo (these volumes were sold separately, and some sets contain more than others; the third volume is ‘Whartoniana,’ and the fifth ‘Atterburyana’). 18. ‘The Curliad; a hypercritic upon the Dunciad Variorum, with a further key to the new characters,’ London, printed for the author, 1729, 8vo (some anti-Popean skits are advertised at the back of the title; signed at the end ‘E. Curll, Strand,’ 25 April 1729). 19. ‘The Life of that eminent Comedian,