MEMOIRS 
 
 JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 TRIBUTES OF RESPECT TO HIS MEMORY. 
 
PORTRAITS OF MR. NICHOLS. 
 
 1. 1782 At the age of 37 . . . Frontispiece. 
 
 2. 1800 At the age of 55 xvii 
 
 3. 1811 At the age of 6G xix 
 
 4. 1825 At the age of 80 xxi 
 
 House at Highbury inhabited by Mr. Nichols 
 
MEMOIR OF 
 JOIIN NICHOLS, ESQ. RS.A. 
 
 [Written in 1S26, by Alexander Chalmers, Esq. F.S.A.] 
 
 John Nichols, a man who afforded an eminent exemplar of 
 personal probity, and whose long life was spent in the promotion of 
 useful knowledge, was the descendant of a respectable family. His 
 grandfather was Bartholomew Nichols, of Piccadilly, in the parish 
 of St. James's, Westminster. His father, Edward Nichols, was born 
 in the same place, Oct. 18, 1719, but resided during the greater part 
 of his life at Islington, in Middlesex, where he died Jan. 29, 1779, 
 in the sixtieth year of his age. He married Anne, daughter of 
 Thomas Wilmot of Beckingham, near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. 
 She was born in the same year with her husband, and died Dec. 27, 
 1783, aged 64. Of all their children, two only survived, John, the 
 subject of this Memoir, and Anne, wife of Edward Bentley, Esq.* 
 
 Our author was born at Islington, Feb. 2, 1744-5. For the place 
 of his nativity he always retained a great affection. It was the scene 
 of the happy days of his childhood, to which he adverts in the follow- 
 ing affecting lines, part of a sketch of his life, printed, but not published, 
 in 1803 : — "In the summer of 1803, he in a considerable degree with- 
 drew from the trammels of business to a house in his native village, 
 where he hopes (Deo volente) to pass the evening of a laborious life 
 in the calm enjoyment of domestic tranquillity; and that his earthly 
 remains may (at a period which he neither looks forward to with 
 terror, nor wishes to anticipate,) be deposited with those of several 
 near relations, whose loss he has long deplored, in the church-yard 
 where many of his happiest days were passed in harmless sports." 
 How little do we see of the future ! Mr. Nichols had then before 
 him twenty-three years devoted to as arduous labour as any which he 
 had ever sustained. 
 
 He was educated at an academy kept by Mr. John Shield, a man 
 
 * Mrs. Anne Bentley died Nov. 19, 1836, aged 80 ; and Edward Bentley. 
 esq. who was Principal of the Accountant's Office in the Bank of England, died 
 July 2-1, 1838, aged 85. There is an excellent portrait of him by Daniel 
 Haclise, esq., R.A. See an account of Mr. Bentley in Gent. Mag. 1838, ii. 
 337. They had four sons : 1. Samuel Bentley, printer; 2. John, Secretary 
 of the Bank of England ; 3. William, one of the Chief Clerks of the Bank ; 
 4. Richard, publisher in ordinary to Her Majesty. Also, five daughters ; two 
 only of whom survive, Sarah and Isabella. 
 
: vi : '•• : : MBMO*m*bF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 of considerable learning, who appears to have taken great pains in 
 cultivating the talents of such as, like the subject of this Memoir, 
 recommended themselves by attention and docility. 
 
 The profession which Mr. Nichols followed, with so much success 
 and rejjutation, during the whole of his long life, was not that for 
 which he was originally destined by some part of his family. It is 
 frequently the case with the guardians of youth, or their advisers, to 
 be determined by petty circumstances and indistinct prospects, in the 
 disposal of those who are under their care. Mr. Nichols had a maternal 
 uncle, Lieutenant Thomas Wilmot, a brave officer, who in 1747 was 
 serving under Captain, afterwards Admiral, Barrington, when he 
 captured the Duke of Chartres East Indiaman, and was in a fair way 
 to higher promotion. This appears to have induced the friends of 
 Mr. Nichols, who was of a good constitution and lively temper, to 
 propose that, at a proper time, he should be taken under this uncle's 
 protection, and educated for the naval service. Mr. Wilmot's death, 
 however, which happened in 1751, put an end to the hopes derived 
 from this scheme. Our author remarks, but with no great regret : 
 " Had his life been spared, I should, instead of having been employed 
 as a pioneer of literature, probably have been engaged, under the 
 banners of the gallant Admiral, in the naval defence of my country." 
 
 He was too young, when his uncle died, to feel the loss, or to indulge 
 dreams of naval glory, and soon had the happiness to be placed in 
 a situation which proved more suitable to his inclinations, and more 
 adapted to his talents. The kindness of Providence guided him to a 
 master who soon discerned his worth, and to a branch of literature in 
 which his success and industry have never been exceeded. 
 
 This master was the celebrated Mr. William Bowyer, who, at his 
 death, was termed " the last of learned English printers," a title which 
 may now be dropped, while it is still allowed that he was almost the 
 first of that distinguished class in England, and qualified both by 
 education and learning to be the companion and adviser of the most 
 eminent scholars who flourished in the early part of the eighteenth 
 century. He came into business with the advantages of an university 
 education, and an intercourse with many learned men who had been 
 his contemporaries at Cambridge. 
 
 It was in 1757, before Mr. Nichols was quite thirteen years of age, 
 that he was placed under Mr. Bowyer, who appears to have quickly 
 discovered in his pupil that amiable and honourable disposition which 
 distinguished him all his life. He had a tenacious memory, which 
 was but little impaired even in his latter days. He was likewise very 
 early a lover of books, although, like most youths, who think more 
 of gratifying curiosity than of procuring permanent advantages, his 
 reading was desultory, and for some years his choice depended on 
 the works submitted to his master's press, few of which, happily for 
 him, were of a trifling, and none of a pernicious kind. From the 
 moment he became Mr. Bowyer's apprentice, he was intent on the 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. vii 
 
 acquisition of solid knowledge, and to this he was continually 
 prompted, not only by the instructions of his master, but by the 
 nature of his employment. He was gradually inspired with a certain 
 degree of ambition, of which he probably knew neither the extent or 
 end, in consequence of intercourse with the men of learning for whom 
 Mr. Bowyer printed. 
 
 Mr. Nichols had not been long in this advantageous situation, when 
 his master gladly admitted him into his confidence, and intrusted him 
 with cares which, in case of many young men, would have been 
 considered as unsuitable to their age, and requiring a more lengthened 
 trial. But, besides the indispensable qualities of industry and in- 
 tegrity, Mr. Bowyer found in his young apprentice another merit 
 which was of great importance to his press. Mr. Nichols brought 
 with him no small portion of classical knowledge and taste, acquired 
 at school, and cultivated at his leisure hours. 
 
 Of this he speaks with his accustomed modesty : " He never affected 
 to possess any superior share of erudition ; content, if in plain and 
 intelligible terms, either in conversation or in writing, he could con- 
 tribute his quota of information or entertainment." The present 
 writer, however, has seen some early as well as later proofs that his 
 acquaintance with Latin was never dropped, and it is certain that his 
 employment was a continual excitement to acquire some knowledge 
 of the learned languages. At a very advanced period of life he speaks 
 with exultation of his having been first employed, as a compositor, 
 on Toup's " Emendationes in Suidam," and other works of classical 
 criticism. 
 
 Mr. Bowyer appears to have been not only the instructive master, 
 but the kind and indulgent friend to his apprentice, and was often 
 anxious to amuse him by conveying a taste for poetry ; of which Mr. 
 Nichols had afforded some specimens. Of these Mr. Bowyer thought 
 so favourably, that in 1760, when our author was only in his sixteenth 
 year, he enjoined him, as an evening's task, to translate a Latin poem 
 of his own, published in 1733, and entitled " Bellus homo et Academicus ." 
 This Mr. Nichols executed with considerable spirit and humour, and 
 in the following year (1761) Mr. Bowyer associated him with himself 
 in translating the Westminster Verses which had been spoken on the 
 previous Coronation of George the Second. 
 
 The applause bestowed on these efforts very naturally led Mr. 
 Nichols to become a more constant votary of the muses, and from 
 1761 to 1766 his productions made no inconsiderable figure in the 
 periodical journals. In 1763 he published two poetical pamphlets in 
 4to. the one entitled "Islington, a Poem," and the other "The Buds 
 of Parnassus," which was republished in 1764, with some additional 
 poems. In 1765, lie contributed several poems to a miscellaneous 
 collection, published by Dr. Perfect of Town Mailing, under the title 
 of "The Laurel Wreath," 2 vols. 8vo. His occasional productions of 
 this kind, when further advanced, will be noticed hereafter. 
 
viii MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 During his minority he produced some prose essays on the manners 
 of the age, such as they appeared to one who had been no inattentive 
 observer. These were published in a periodical paper, written chiefly 
 by Kelly, entitled " The Babbler," and in the Westminster Journal, a 
 newspaper, under the signature of " The Cobbler of Alsatia." 
 
 These were merely his amusements, and indicative of an ambition 
 which at his early age was surely pardonable. His more serious hours 
 were devoted to the business of the press. His leading object was to 
 please his master in the superintendence of the learned works printed 
 by Mr. Bowyer, and in this he succeeded so well, that the relative 
 situations of master and servant soon merged in a friendship, the 
 compound of affection on the one side, and of reverence on the other. 
 
 So amply had he fulfilled Mr. Bowyer's expectations as to prudence 
 and judgment, that before his apprenticeship expired he sent him to 
 Cambridge to treat with that University for a lease of their exclusive 
 privilege of printing Bibles. This was a negociation which required 
 great delicacy and presence of mind, and these Mr. Nichols preserved 
 on every interview. His endeavours proved unsuccessful only be- 
 cause the University determined, on a due consideration of the matter, 
 to keep the property in their own hands. 
 
 This journey, however, to our young aspirant was delightful. He 
 had never before travelled but a very few miles from his native place, 
 and in Cambridge and its colleges he found every thing that could 
 increase his enthusiasm for literary pursuits. He made minutes of 
 this tour, which, he used to say, afforded him the most pleasing recol- 
 lections at a far distant period of life. His remarks on the passing 
 objects on the journey, prove that he had already imbibed somewhat of 
 the topographer's inquisitive spirit ; and at Cambridge he indulged in 
 the delights of " local emotion," by contemplating with reverence the 
 colleges in which some eminent scholars, with whom he had already 
 become acquainted, had studied. On one occasion, he says, " Visited 
 Peter-house, not without a respectful thought of Mr. Markland." 
 During his return likewise he exhibited some promising appearances 
 of the viator curiosus. 
 
 Soon after, Mr. Bowyer gave another proof of the value he placed 
 on Mr. Nichols's services, when the period of them expired, by return- 
 ing to his father half of his apprentice-fee. But the high estimate he 
 had formed of him did not end here. He appears to have been long 
 convinced that Mr. Nichols's assistance was of great importance in his 
 printing establishment. Accordingly, in 1766, he took him into part- 
 nership, and in the following year they removed their office from 
 White Friars to Red-lion-passage, Fleet-street, where it remained 
 until 1820. This union, one of the most cordial that ever was 
 formed, lasted until the death of Mr. Bowyer in 1777. 
 
 As Mr. Bowyer continued to be not only the printer, but the inti- 
 mate friend and assistant in the learned labours of some of the first 
 scholars of the age, Mr. Nichols had frequent opportunities, which he 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. ix 
 
 never neglected, of acquiring the notice and esteem of those gentle- 
 men. He had not, indeed, been long associated with Mr. Bowycr as 
 B partner, before he began to be considered as his legitimate successor, 
 and acquired the esteem and patronage of Mr. Bowyer's friends in no 
 common degree. This he lived to repay by handing dovvn^o posterity 
 many important circumstances of their lives, frequently derived from 
 personal knowledge, which but for his industry and research, and the 
 confidence bestowed upon him by their families, must have been lost 
 to the world. 
 
 The first publication in which he was concerned as an author, was 
 " The Origin of Printing, in two Essays: 1. The substance of Dr. 
 Middleton's Dissertation on the Origin of Printing in England. 2. 
 Mr. Meerman's account of the invention of the art at Harleim, and 
 its progress to Mentz, with occasional remarks, and an Appendix," 8vo. 
 1774. Mr. Nichols informs us that the " original idea of this pam- 
 phlet was Mr. Bowyer's; the completion of it his partner's." Mr. 
 Nichols's share, therefore, must have been very considerable. It was 
 published without a name, and at first was attributed to Mr. Bowyer, 
 but the respective shares of him and his partner were soon discovered. 
 A second edition, with many improvements, appeared in 1776, and a 
 supplement in 1781. The foreign journals spoke with as much 
 respect of this work as those at home. 
 
 Mr. Nichols derived considerable fame from it. He was now 
 enabled to add to the number of his literary friends the names of Sir 
 James Burrough and Sir John Pringle, as he had before acquired the 
 esteem and acquaintance of Dr. Birch, Dr. Parsons, Dr. Warton, Dr. 
 Farmer, and the Earl of Marchmont. Sir John Pringle was accustomed 
 to submit his prize-medal speeches, which he intended for the Royal 
 Society, to Mr. Nichols's perusal, before delivery, an honour of which 
 so young a man may be forgiven if he was somewhat proud. 
 
 As the works which passed through Mr. Bowyer's press engaged a 
 more than common attention on the part of Mr. Nichols, he happened 
 very early in life to conceive a high opinion of the merits of Dean 
 Swift, in consequence of Mr. Bowyer's having printed the 13th and 
 14th volumes of his Works in the year 1762. Of Dean Swift Mr. 
 Nichols appears never to have lost sight from this time, and, applying 
 himself closely in search of materials, he published three supplemental 
 volumes, 1775, 1776, and 1779, 8vo. to Dr. Hawkesworth's edition. 
 These were republished afterwards so as to correspond with Hawkes- 
 worth's 4to. 8vo. and 12mo. editions ; and afterwards incorporated, 
 with many additions and valuable biographical notes, in what may be 
 now justly considered as the standard edition, first printed in 19 vols. 
 8vo. in 1800, and reprinted in 1808. Mr. Nichols's accuracy and 
 judgment as an editor were so completely established by the appear- 
 ance of the first-mentioned volume, that information respecting un- 
 published letters and tracts was sent to him from all quarters. 
 Sheridan's Life was the only part which he considered necessary to 
 
x MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 retain as originally published, since it was supposed by many (but 
 certainly not by the writer of this memoir) to furnish a defence of the 
 objectionable parts of Swift's personal history. But, whatever the 
 merits of this celebrated author, it appears incontestably from the 
 preface to the second volume that the public is indebted to Mr. 
 Nichols for the xery complete state in which his Works are found. 
 
 The next publication of our author, the " Original Works, in Prose 
 and Verse, of William King, LL.D. with Historical Notes," 3 vols, 
 small 8vo. 1776, afforded another decided proof of that taste for lite- 
 rary history and illustration to which we owe the more important 
 obligatious which Mr. Nichols conferred by his recent and voluminous 
 contributions to the biography of men of learning. It is evident that 
 he must have been very early accustomed to inquiry and investiga- 
 tion, which enabled him to satisfy the curiosity of the reader so amply 
 as he has done in King's Works. This publication likewise exhibits 
 an extraordinary proof of diligence both in business and study, when 
 we consider that at this time he had scarcely reached his thirty-first 
 year, and had the cares of a young family, just deprived of their ma- 
 ternal parent, to perplex and afflict his mind, with the numerous en- 
 gagements in which his partnership with Mr. Bowyer, and intimacy 
 with their common friends, necessarily involved him. But it may be 
 noticed here, although not for the last time, that Mr. Nichols pos- 
 sessed not only extraordinary judgment in the allotment of his hours, 
 but had equally extraordinary health and spirits to sustain him, 
 amidst the intenseness of industry, and the frequent calls of compli- 
 cated avocations. In both the above-mentioned works he acknow- 
 ledges having been assisted by his friend Isaac Reed, of Staples Inn, 
 a man who never was consulted on points of literary history without 
 advantage. 
 
 In 1778 Mr. Nichols obtained a share in the Gentleman's Magazine, 
 of which he became the editor. This was an event of the greatest 
 importance to all his subsequent pursuits, as well as to the public at 
 large. Of this publication it would be superfluous to say much in 
 this place, after the ample history of its rise and progress published 
 by its Editor in 1821, as a Preface to the General Index from 1787 to 
 1818. It had not been long under his care before it obtained a 
 consequence which it had never before reached, although the preced- 
 ing volumes were formed from the contributions of some of the most 
 able scholars and antiquaries of the time. The celebrated Burke 
 entitled it " one of the most chaste and instructive Miscellanies of the 
 age." This Mr. Nichols found it, and this he left it, with such im- 
 provements, however, as rendered it of paramount importance to 
 men of literary curiosity, and of great effect in the promotion of 
 right principles. In 1782, Dr. Warton complimented him in these 
 words : " Your Magazine is justly in the greatest credit here (Win- 
 chester), and under your guidance is become one of the most useful 
 and entertaining Miscellanies I know." 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xi 
 
 It might be easy, were it necessary, to add to these the suffrages of 
 some of the most eminent writers of the last half-century. As a 
 repository of literary history and of public transactions for a much 
 longer period, it is without a rival, a circumstance at which we cannot 
 be surprised, when we consider that it contains the early, as well as 
 the more mature, lucubrations of many hundred authors in every 
 department of literature. In the history of the Magazine, noticed 
 above, Mr. Nichols has given a list of above five hundred men of 
 note, who had been correspondents in his time, and whom he had 
 survived. Nearly an equal number might be added of those who 
 have died since that list was made out, and of those who are still 
 living, and lamenting the loss of one who afforded many of them the 
 means of being first introduced to public notice. 
 
 In order to render the various information contained in this Maga- 
 zine more easily accessible, Mr. Nichols published in 1786 a complete 
 Index to the first fifty-four volumes, compiled by the Rev. Samuel 
 Ayscough; and in 1819 two more volumes of Indexes were printed. 
 Both Indexes served to increase the demand for complete sets of the 
 Magazine. 
 
 Gibbon the historian had such a value for this Miscellany, that he 
 recommended to Mr. Nichols a selection of the most curious and useful 
 articles. Mr. Nichols was too much employed to have leisure for such 
 an undertaking; but it was afterwards accomplished with great judg- 
 ment, in 4 vols, by the Rev. John Walker, of New College, Oxford.* 
 
 In noticing the Gentleman's Magazine while under Mr. Nichols's 
 care, the present writer will not attempt that which Mr. Nichols would 
 have disdained, any comparison between it and its rivals. This indeed 
 becomes the less necessary, as they have all dropped into oblivion with 
 the exception of a few of recent date, in which no rivalship seems 
 intended. It may be added, however, that his plan was calculated for 
 permanence. It depended on none of the frivolous fashions of the age. 
 Its general character was usefulness, combined with rational entertain- 
 ment. Its supporters were men of learning, who found in its pages an 
 easy mode of communicating their doubts and their inquiries, with a 
 certainty that their doubts would be resolved, and their inquiries 
 answered by men equal to the task. The Miscellany was particularly 
 recommended by the impartiality of the Editor, who admitted contro- 
 versialists to the most equal welcome, and never interfered but when, 
 out of respect to his numerous readers, it became his duty to check the 
 rudeness of personal reflection. In the course of such controversies 
 lie must not be suspected of acceding to every proposition advanced 
 either in warmth or in calmness, and much was no doubt admitted of 
 which he could not approve. But his own principles remained un- 
 shaken, principles early adopted, and favourable to piety and political 
 
 * [Mr. Walker was one of the proprietors of the Oxford Mercury. He 
 published " Selections from the Bodleian," 3 vols, and other works. He was 
 Vicar ot 'Hornchurch, Essex, where ho died April 5, 1831, aged 61.] 
 
x MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 retain as originally published, since it was supposed by many (but 
 certainly not by the writer of this memoir) to furnish a defence of the 
 objectionable parts of Swift's personal history. But, whatever the 
 merits of this celebrated author, it appears incontestably from the 
 preface to the second volume that the public is indebted to Mr. 
 Nichols for the xery complete state in which his Works are found. 
 
 The next publication of our author, the " Original Works, in Prose 
 and Verse, of William King, LL.D. with Historical Notes," 3 vols, 
 small 8vo. 1776, afforded another decided proof of that taste for lite- 
 rary history and illustration to which we owe the more important 
 obligatious which Mr. Nichols conferred by his recent and voluminous 
 contributions to the biography of men of learning. It is evident that 
 he must have been very early accustomed to inquiry and investiga- 
 tion, which enabled him to satisfy the curiosity of the reader so amply 
 as he has done in King's Works. This publication likewise exhibits 
 an extraordinary proof of diligence both in business and study, when 
 we consider that at this time he had scarcely reached his thirty-first 
 year, and had the cares of a young family, just deprived of their ma- 
 ternal parent, to perplex and afflict his mind, with the numerous en- 
 gagements in which his partnership with Mr. Bowyer, and intimacy 
 with their common friends, necessarily involved him. But it may be 
 noticed here, although not for the last time, that Mr. Nichols pos- 
 sessed not only extraordinary judgment in the allotment of his hours, 
 but had equally extraordinary health and spirits to sustain him, 
 amidst the intenseness of industry, and the frequent calls of compli- 
 cated avocations. In both the above-mentioned works he acknow- 
 ledges having been assisted by his friend Isaac Reed, of Staples Inn, 
 a man who never was consulted on points of literary history without 
 advantage. 
 
 In 1778 Mr. Nichols obtained a share in the Gentleman's Magazine, 
 of which he became the editor. This was an event of the greatest 
 importance to all his subsequent pursuits, as well as to the public at 
 large. Of this publication it would be superfluous to say much in 
 this place, after the ample history of its rise and progress published 
 by its Editor in 1821, as a Preface to the General Index from 1787 to 
 1818. It had not been long under his care before it obtained a 
 consequence which it had never before reached, although the preced- 
 ing volumes were formed from the contributions of some of the most 
 able scholars and antiquaries of the time. The celebrated Burke 
 entitled it " one of the most chaste and instructive Miscellanies of the 
 age." This Mr. Nichols found it, and this he left it, with such im- 
 provements, however, as rendered it of paramount importance to 
 men of literary curiosity, and of great effect in the promotion of 
 right principles. In 1782, Dr. Warton complimented him in these 
 words : " Your Magazine is justly in the greatest credit here (Win- 
 chester), and under your guidance is become one of the most useful 
 and entertaining Miscellanies I know." 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xi 
 
 It might be easy, were it necessary, to add to these the suffrages of 
 some of the most eminent writers of the last half-century. As a 
 repository of literary history and of public transactions for a much 
 longer period, it is without a rival, a circumstance at which we cannot 
 be surprised, when we consider that it contains the early, as well as 
 the more mature, lucubrations of many hundred authors in every 
 department of literature. In the history of the Magazine, noticed 
 above, Mr. Nichols has given a list of above five hundred men of 
 note, who had been correspondents in his time, and whom he had 
 survived. Nearly an equal number might be added of those who 
 have died since that list was made out, and of those who are still 
 living, and lamenting the loss of one who afforded many of them the 
 means of being first introduced to public notice. 
 
 In order to render the various information contained in this Maga- 
 zine more easily accessible, Mr. Nichols published in 1786 a complete 
 Index to the first fifty-four volumes, compiled by the Rev. Samuel 
 Ayscough; and in 1819 two more volumes of Indexes were printed. 
 Both Indexes served to increase the demand for complete sets of the 
 Magazine. 
 
 Gibbon the historian had such a value for this Miscellany, that he 
 recommended to Mr. Nichols a selection of the most curious and useful 
 articles. Mr. Nichols was too much employed to have leisure for such 
 an undertaking ; but it was afterwards accomplished with great judg- 
 ment, in 4 vols, by the Rev. John Walker, of New College, Oxford.* 
 
 In noticing the Gentleman's Magazine while under Mr. Nichols's 
 care, the present writer will not attempt that which Mr. Nichols would 
 have disdained, any comparison between it and its rivals. This indeed 
 becomes the less necessary, as they have all dropped into oblivion with 
 the exception of a few of recent date, in which no rivalship seems 
 intended. It may be added, however, that his plan was calculated for 
 permanence. It depended on none of the frivolous fashions of the age. 
 Its general character was usefulness, combined with rational entertain- 
 ment. Its supporters were men of learning, who found in its pages an 
 easy mode of communicating their doubts and their inquiries, with a 
 certainty that their doubts would be resolved, and their inquiries 
 answered by men equal to the task. The Miscellany was particularly 
 recommended by the impartiality of the Editor, who admitted contro- 
 versialists to the most equal welcome, and never interfered but when, 
 out of respect to his numerous readers, it became his duty to check the 
 rudeness of personal reflection. In the course of such controversies 
 he must not be suspected of acceding to every proposition advanced 
 either in warmth or in calmness, and much was no doubt admitted of 
 which he could not approve. But his own principles remained un- 
 shaken, principles early adopted, and favourable to piety and political 
 
 * [Mr. Walker was one of the proprietors of the Oxford Mercury. He 
 published " Selections from the Bodleian," 3 vols, and other works. He was 
 Vicar of Hornchurch, Essex, where he died April 5, 1831, aged 61.] 
 
xii MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 happiness; and such he preserved and supported amidst the most 
 alarming storms to which his country had ever been exposed. What- 
 ever anomalies may be occasionally perceived in the effusions of some 
 of his correspondents, if the whole of his administration be examined* 
 it will be found that the main object and tendency of the Magazine 
 was to support our excellent Constitution in Church and State, espe- 
 cially when in some latter years both were in danger from violence 
 without and treachery within. 
 
 The sentiments of two very eminent and learned dignitaries of the 
 Church, with the perusal of which we have been favoured since Mr. 
 Nichols's death, may, we hope, without breach of confidence, be added 
 to the above. Mr. Nichols " was an able, and, what is much more, he 
 was a perfectly honest man. We can ill afford to lose him. As an 
 excellent antiquary, as a friend to literary men, and as a liberal, but 
 thoroughly attached, son of the Church of England, his memory will 
 long live in the esteem and recollection of his friends."* — " It is my 
 firm opinion, that, in the various productions which during so long a 
 period issued from his press, not a line escaped which could be detri- 
 mental to the influence of Christianity ; but, on the contrary, particu- 
 larly in the conduct of that leading work, the ' Gentleman's Magazine,' 
 the genuine principles of orthodox religion have been advocated and 
 diffused in this nation by its channel for the longest portion of a cen- 
 tury. And, even in the amusing and instructive articles of a literary 
 and antiquarian cast, this leading purpose seems not to have been lost 
 sight of. While he (Mr. Nichols) sojourned with us, he was by the 
 kindness and benevolence of his heart the delight of his friends, and 
 must be considered as an eminent benefactor to his country ."t 
 
 There was no part of the Magazine on which Mr. Nichols bestowed 
 more attention than on the record of deaths, now known by the name 
 of Obituary. In order to render this an article of authority, and 
 often indeed it has been quoted as such, he was indefatigable in his 
 inquiries, anxiously consulted his numerous friends, and had very often 
 the advantage of original documents from the relatives of persons of 
 various classes, whose history might be interesting to the public. In 
 this he not only gratified immediate curiosity, but laid the foundation 
 of those more extended accounts which afterwards appeared in works 
 professedly biographical. The warmth of friendship and the recency 
 of grief might no doubt sometimes give a high colouring to these 
 reports, which became chastened on further reflection and inquiry ; 
 but corrections or additions were impartially admitted, and the Editor 
 at least was accessible to every communication which tended to esta- 
 blish the truth. 
 
 It may here be noticed that many of the additional articles in the 
 Biographical Dictionary which he edited, in conjunction with Dr. 
 Heathcote, in 1784, came from Mr. Nichols. How ably, and kindly, 
 he assisted in the late edition of that work, completed in 1817, 32 vols. 
 
 * Bp. Law. See p. xxix. t Dean Rennell. See p. xxxi. 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xiii 
 
 8vo. can never be forgotten by its Editor, who hopes hereafter* to 
 acknowledge it more amply than merely by a reference to Mr. Nichols'3 
 printed works. 
 
 Although Mr. Bowycr's press had not issued many works interesting 
 to English antiquaries, Mr. Nichols appears, before the period to 
 which we are now arrived, to have formed such connections as gra- 
 dually encouraged what was early in his mind, until his inquiries 
 became fixed on subjects relating to the antiquities of his own country. 
 Among these preceptors we may notice Dr. Samuel Pegge, Dr. Borlase, 
 Samuel Denne, and Dr. Ducarel. With the latter he was long linked in 
 friendship, and, in conjunction with him, published in 1779 the "His- 
 tory of the Royal Abbey of Bee, near Rouen," and " Some Account 
 of the Alien Priories, and of such Lands as they are known to have 
 possessed in England and Wales," 2 vols. But he had another coad- 
 jutor in these two works, of incalculable value, the celebrated Richard 
 Gocgh, Esq. 
 
 This very eminent antiquary, justly entitled the Camden of the 
 Eighteenth Century, was, like Bowyer, an early discerner of Mr. 
 Nichols's worth, and saw in him an able and useful assistant in his 
 multifarious endeavours to illustrate the antiquities of Great Britain. 
 Mr. Gough was his senior by ten years, and a higher proficient in his 
 favourite studies. At what precise time they became acquainted we 
 have not been able to discover, but it seems, with much probability, 
 to have been about the year 1770, when the first volume of the 
 Archajologia was printed by Mr. Nichols, to whom Mr. Bowyer, from 
 declining health, had almost entirely resigned the business ©f the press. 
 Some years before this Mr. Gough had been a frequent correspondent 
 in the Gentleman's Magazine, a publication constantly read by Mr. 
 Nichols,! when there was little prospect of his becoming its chief sup- 
 port, or of Mr. Gough's taking so active a part in the management of 
 it as to become nearly a co-editor. It is probable that their intimacy 
 was perfected whilst Mr. Gough was superintending his friend Mr. 
 Hutchins's "History of Dorsetshire" through the press. That work 
 was issued in two volumes, fol. 1774. 
 
 Their connexion, at whatever time begun, ended in a strict intimacy 
 and cordial friendship, which terminated only in the death of Mr. 
 Gough in 1809. It was a friendship uninterruptedly strengthened by 
 congeniality of pursuits, mutual esteem, and the kindness of domestic 
 intercourse. On their final separation Mr. Nichols says with unfeigned 
 feeling: "The loss of Mr. Gough was the loss of more than a brother; 
 it was losing a part of himself. For a long series of years he had 
 experienced in Mr. Gough the kind, disinterested friend ; the prudent, 
 
 [* This alludes to the proposed edition of the Biographical Dictionary upon 
 which Mr. Chalmers was engaged.] 
 
 f [One of the first communications of Mr. Nichols to the Gentleman's Ma- 
 gazine was in July, 1765, p. 335 : "Spring, a Poem," inscribed to Mr. Tooke.] 
 
xiv MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 judicious adviser; the firm, unshaken patron. To him every material 
 event in life was confidentially imparted. In those that were pros- 
 perous, no man more heartily rejoiced ; in such as were less propitious, 
 no man more sincerely condoled, or more readily endeavoured to alle- 
 viate." Mr. Nichols has since lost no opportunity of honouring the 
 memory of his departed friend, both in his "Literary Anecdotes" and 
 in his " Illustrations of Literary History." His last office of duty was 
 to select and transfer to the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the valuable 
 collection of Topography, printed and MS., which Mr. Gough be- 
 queathed to that noble repository.* 
 
 In 1780 Mr. Nichols published a very curious " Collection of 
 Royal and Noble Wills," 4to. In this work he acknowledges his 
 obligations to Mr. Gough and to Dr. Ducarel, for obtaining tran- 
 scripts and elucidating by notes. It was a scheme originally suggested 
 by Dr. Ducarel, probably in consequence of the publication of the 
 Will of Henry VII. by Mr. Astle some years before. To this work, in 
 1794, Mr. Nichols added the will of Henry VIII. which is now seldom 
 to be found with the preceding, itself a work of great rarity. 
 
 Amidst these more serious employments, Mr. Nichols diverted his 
 leisure hours by compiling a work, which seems to have been entirely 
 of his own projection, and the consequence of early predilection. 
 This appeared in 1780, with the title of "A Select Collection of Mis- 
 cellaneous Poems, with Historical and Biographical Notes," 4 vols, 
 small 8vo. To these were added, in 1782, four other volumes, with a 
 general poetical Index. In this curious work, he has not only revived 
 many pieces of unquestionable merit, which had long been forgotten, 
 but produced some originals from the pens of men of acknowledged 
 genius. In so large a collection are some which might perhaps have 
 been allowed to remain in obscurity without much injury to the 
 public, but even in the production of these he followed the opinion, 
 and had the encouragement, of some of the best critics of the time, 
 Bishops Lowth and Percy, Dr. Warton, Mr. Kynaston, &c. The 
 biographical notes were deemed very interesting, and were happily 
 the occasion of a similar improvement being made to Dodsley's Col- 
 lection of Poems, in the edition of 1782, if we mistake not, by Isaac 
 Reed. In Mr. Nichols's collection are a few of his juvenile attempts 
 at versification, of which he says, " they will at least serve as a foil to 
 the beauties with which they are surrounded." Mr. Nichols never 
 claimed a high rank among poets, but there is evidently too much 
 disparagement in the above opinion. 
 
 In the same year (1780), on the suggestion and with the assistance 
 of Mr. Gough, he began to publish the " Bibliotheca Topographica 
 Britannica," a work intended to collect such articles of British Topo- 
 graphy, manuscript or printed, as were in danger of being lost, or were 
 become so scarce as to be out of the reach of most collectors. His 
 
 [* See p. 644 of this volume.] 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xv 
 
 reputation was now so fully established tbat he had ready assistance 
 from most of the eminent antiquaries of that day; and in 1790 the 
 whole was concluded in fifty-two parts or numbers, making eight, 
 large quarto volumes, illustrated by more than three hundred plates, 
 with great exactness and accuracy, both in these and in the letter- 
 press. A continuation was begun some time after, under the title of 
 " Miscellaneous Antiquities," of which six numbers were published. 
 
 It is to be feared Mr. Nichols was a considerable loser by this 
 work, not only in the expenses of printing and engraving, but in the 
 purchase of manuscripts and drawings. He could not indeed have 
 been long connected with Mr. Gough without imbibing a portion of 
 his disinterested spirit, and looking for his best reward in the pleasure 
 of the employment, and the consciousness that he was contributing 
 much valuable information for the use of posterity and the honour of 
 his country. Mr. Nichols thought as little of expense as of fatigue, 
 and to the fear of either he seems to have been an entire stranger. 
 His success, however, was not different from that of his brethren, for 
 we know no class of writers worse rewarded than antiquaries. 
 
 The publication of the Bibliotheca Topographica took up ten years, 
 and in some hands might have been quite sufficient to employ the 
 whole of those years. But such was the unwearied industry of our 
 author, that within the same period no less than eighteen publications 
 issued from his press, of all which he was either editor or author. 
 
 As a complete list of his works is given in the Sixth Volume of the 
 Literary Anecdotes, we shall only notice here those which are more 
 particularly connected with his researches as a Biographer. In 1781 
 he published in 8vo. "Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth." 
 This was republished in 1782, again in 1785, and a fourth and most 
 complete edition in 1810 — 1817, in 3 vols, 4to. with very elegant 
 reduced plates. Of this work, on its first appearance, the testimony 
 of Lord Orford may be considered as decisive : — " Since the first 
 edition of this work (the Anecdotes of Painting), a much ampler 
 account of Hogarth and his Works has been given by Mr. Nichols ; 
 which is not only more accurate, but much more satisfactory than mine : 
 omitting nothing that a collector would wish to know, either with 
 regard to the history of the painter himself, or to the circumstances, 
 different editions, and variations of his prints. I have completed my 
 list of Hogarth's Works from that source of information."* In 1822 
 Mr. Nichols superintended a superb edition of Hogarth's works, from 
 the original plates, restored by James Heath, esq., and furnished the 
 Explanations of the subjects of the Plates. Let it not be forgotten 
 that these Explanations were written by Mr. Nichols in his seventy- 
 eighth year. 
 
 In the same year (1781) he was the author of "Biographical 
 
 * Lord Orford 's Works, 4to. vol. iii. p. 453. 
 
xvi MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ, 
 
 Memoirs of William Ged, including a particular account of his pro- 
 gress in the art of Block-printing." But what in the course of years, 
 and by slow gradations, almost imperceptibly became the most 
 important of all Mr. Nichols's biographical labours, was his " Anec- 
 dotes of Bowyer, and of many of his literary Friends," 4to. 1782. 
 He had printed in 1778 twenty copies of "Brief Memoirs of Mr. 
 Bowyer," 8vo. for distribution, " as a tribute of respect, amongst a 
 few select friends." Gratitude to so kind a benefactor induced Mr. 
 Nichols to make, from time to time, additions to this little work, quite 
 unconscious that it would at last extend to the noblest monument 
 raised to his own memory, as well as that of his friend. 
 
 The second and much enlarged edition of 1782 was welcomed with 
 ardour by all classes of men of literature, and soon rose to more than 
 double the price at which it was originally offered to the public. The 
 author was consequently again anxious to enlarge what was so gene- 
 rally acceptable, but had to encounter many interruptions from other 
 extensive designs which he now began to meditate. 
 
 Of these the most important of all was his " History of Leicester- 
 shire," of which it has been justly said that it might have been the 
 work of a whole life. Although generally devoted to subjects of the 
 topographical kind, he acknowledged to the present writer that he 
 had been induced to fix upon Leicestershire as his magnum opus, from 
 circumstances of a domestic kind, both his amiable wives having 
 sprung from respectable families in that county. 
 
 This, however, like the other extensive work just mentioned, was 
 not the accomplishment of a complete design, distinctly laid down in 
 plan, and regularly executed. It grew from lesser efforts, among 
 which we may enumerate " The History and Antiquities of Hinckley," 
 which he published in 1782, 4to. ; "The History and Antiquities of 
 Aston Flamvile and Burbach, in Leicestershire," 1787, 4to. ; "Col- 
 lections towards the History and Antiquities of the Town and County 
 of Leicester," 1790, 2 vols. 4to. It was in the preface to these 
 volumes that he first intimated his intention to give the public a 
 much more complete work of the kind, soliciting assistance, which 
 appears to have been tendered so liberally, that about 1792 he was 
 enabled to begin to print his great work of " The History and Anti- 
 quities of the Town and County of Leicester," of which Parts I. and 
 II. were published in 1795. Of this a third part was published in 
 1798, a fourth in 1800, a fifth in 1804, a sixth in 1807, the seventh 
 and concluding part in 1811, and an Appendix in 1815, in which he 
 was assisted by his son ; the whole making eight large folio volumes, 
 illustrated by a profusion of views, portraits, maps, &c. and com- 
 plete Indexes. 
 
 If any proofs were wanting of Mr. Nichols's- power of literary 
 labour, and, what is equally necessary, the frequent revision of that 
 labour, the History of Leicestershire might be allowed to remain as 
 
[OIK OK JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xvii 
 
 completely decisive. But even this extensive undertaking cannot be 
 allowed to stand alone. During the years in which he was preparing 
 his materials, travelling into all parts of the county, and correspond- 
 ing with or visiting every person likely to afford information, he 
 appeared as editor or author of no less than forty-seven articles.— 
 Among these were a second edition of " Bowycr's Greek Testament ;" 
 " Bishop Atterbury's Correspondence," 5 vols. 8vo. illustrated, as 
 usual, with topographical and historical notes, the result of arduous 
 research and frequent correspondence with his learned friends; "A 
 Colleotion of Miscellaneous Tracts by Mr. Bowyer ;" " The History 
 and Antiquities of Lambeth Parish;" "The Progresses and Royal 
 Processions of Queen Elizabeth," 2 vols. 4to. and a third in 1804; 
 "The History and Antiquities of Canonbury, with some account of 
 the parish of Islington," 4to. ; " Illustrations of the Manners and 
 Expenses of Ancient Times in England," 4to. In 1815, the author 
 speaks of this volume : " I have no hesitation in saying, in a case 
 where it can neither promote my interest nor hazard my veracity, 
 that this is not only one of the scarcest publications of the eighteenth 
 century, but, in its way, is also one of the most curious." 
 
 During the same period Mr. Nichols published, in conjunction with 
 Dr. Calder, an edition of "The Tatler," 6 vols. 8vo. with notes 
 respecting biography, but particularly illustrative of manners. From 
 the sources that had supplied many of these, he edited afterwards, 
 " Sir Richard Steele's Epistolary Correspondence," 2 vols. 8vo. ; "The 
 Lover and Reader;" "The Town Talk, &c"; "The Theatre and 
 Anti-Theatre," by the same author, 3 vols, all illustrated with notes, 
 furnished from many forgotten records and family communications. 
 Mr. Nichols appears to have first turned his attention to the British 
 Essayists in consequence of his connexion with Bishop Percy, Dr. 
 Calder, and others, who intended to publish editions of the Tatler, 
 Spectator, and Guardian, with the same species of annotation, expla- 
 natory of the manners and spirit of the times, and including memoirs 
 of the authors. When they entered on their work there was a possi- 
 bility of recovering much information, and much information was 
 recovered; a considerable part of which we have since seen added to 
 various editions of these periodical writings, frequently without the 
 candour of acknowledgment. 
 
 The extent cf Mr. Nichols's literary productions will yet appear 
 more extraordinary, when we add that, during the period we have 
 hastily gone over, he became engaged in some of those duties of public 
 life which necessarily demanded a considerable portion of time and 
 attention; and it may be asked, without much hazard of a ready 
 answer, where could he find that time ? Certain it is that he did 
 find it, without any apparent injury to his usual pursuits, and that 
 for many years he enjoyed a well-earned reputation as a member of 
 the Corporation of London. 
 
 b 
 
xviii MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 In December, 1784, the respect be bad acquired in tbe City in- 
 duced bis friends to propose bim as a member of tbe Common Council 
 for the ward of Farringdon Without. He was accordingly elected 
 on the 21st of that month, and, with the interval of only one year, 
 held this situation (ten years as deputy, under Alderman Wilkes) 
 until the year 1811, when he resigned all civic honours.* He had 
 previously (in 1807) declined tbe solicitation of bis fellow-citizens of 
 the ward to become their Alderman on the death of Wilkes. A 
 considerable time before bis resignation he had felt it bis duty to seek 
 health and quiet in retirement, but it is also more than probable that 
 the prevalence of party spirit among those with whom he had been 
 accustomed to act, but could act no longer, had its effect in preci- 
 pitating a measure which many of his friends wished he had taken 
 much sooner. Tbe writer of this Memoir hopes he will not be thought 
 anxious to take from the number of Mr. Nichols's useful accomplish- 
 ments, when he adds that his highly-respected friend was not qualified 
 for political life, as it too frequently appeared among many with whom 
 he was obliged to associate. He could not indulge asperity of thought 
 or of language ; he had nothing of the malevolence of party spirit, 
 and never thought worse of any man for differing from him, ever so 
 widely, in opinion. Unfit, however, as he was to join in the clamour 
 of tbe day, he retained the respect of his colleagues as an amiable and 
 honest man, and an honour to the situation be bad filled. 
 
 In 1804 his views were directed to an honour more in unison with 
 his literary pursuits. He had for some time been a member of the 
 Court of Assistants of the Stationers' Company, and in the above year- 
 attained what he called " the summit of his ambition, in being elected 
 Master of the Company." Nor can any one think such ambition of 
 the trivial kind who recollects how nearly connected this Company is 
 with the literature of the age, and that among its members are to be 
 found the liberal and munificent patrons of learned men, who are no 
 longer dependent on the petty rewards which in former days flowed, 
 tardily enough sometimes, from the blandishments of dedication. 
 
 How well Mr. Nichols discharged the duties of Master of the Com- 
 pany, not only on this occasion, but for many years after as locum 
 tenens, has been repeatedly acknowledged, and still lives in the 
 memory of the Court. Their rooms are decorated by portraits pre- 
 sented at various times by Mr. Nichols,f among whick are those of 
 Robert Nelson, Esq. the elder William Bowyer, Archbishop Chicbele, 
 Sir Richard Steele, and Matthew Prior ; with a bust of Mr. Bowyer 
 the younger, and with the quarto copper-plate, finely engraved by the 
 
 [* See in this volume, p. 566, his Letter to Sir Charles Price, on taking 
 leave of the Corporation.] 
 
 [f At a subsequent period the Court requested a portrait of Mr. Nichols, 
 which was gladly presented by his son, and is now in their Court-room. See 
 p. 460.] 
 
EiwnuvJ In C/uv r .IL:\, 
 
 mTFA 
 
 ■ 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 elder Basire, used in the quarto edition of " Bowyer's Life," that an 
 impression of it may be constantly given to every annuitant under Mr. 
 Bowyer's will. 
 
 On the 8th of January, 1807, by an accidental fall in his printing- 
 office at Red Lion Passage, Mr. Nichols had one of his thighs fractured ; 
 and on the 8th February, 1808, he experienced a far greater calamity, 
 respecting not only himself but the public, in the destruction, by fire, of 
 his printing-office and warehouses, with the whole of their valuable 
 contents. " Under these accumulated misfortunes," we use his own 
 words, " sufficient to have overwhelmed a much stronger mind, he was 
 supported by the consolatory balm of friendship, and offers of unli- 
 mited pecuniary assistance; till, cheered by unequivocal marks of 
 public and private approbation (not to mention motives of a higher 
 and far superior nature),* he had the resolution to apply with re- 
 doubled diligence to literary and typographical labours." 
 
 It would be difficult perhaps to find many instances of a " stronger 
 mind " than Mr. Nichols displayed, at his advanced age, while suffering 
 under both the above calamities. In the case of the fracture, the 
 present writer had an opportunity to witness an instance of patient 
 endurance and of placid temper which he can never forget. Only three 
 days after the accident, he found Mr. Nichols, supported by the sur- 
 gical apparatus usual on such occasions, calmly reading the proof 
 of a long article which he had that morning dictated to one of his 
 daughters, respecting the life and death of his old friend Isaac Reed, 
 which went to press as he left it, and indeed wanted no correction.f 
 This accident left some portion of lameness, and abridged his usual 
 exercise, but his general health was little impaired, and his vigour of 
 mind remained unabated, when he had to endure the severer trial of 
 the destruction of his printing-office and warehouses. 
 
 This, it might have been naturally expected, would have indisposed 
 him for all future labours. He was now in his sixty-third year, and 
 could not be far from the age when " the grasshopper is a burthen." 
 For fifty years he had led a life of indefatigable application, and had 
 produced from his own efforts works enough to have established cha- 
 racter and content ambition. He was not desirous of accumulating 
 wealth, and the reward of his industry had been tardy; but it seemed 
 now approaching, and he had reason to expect a gradual advantage 
 from his various productions, and a liberal encouragement in his future 
 efforts. It was therefore a bitter disappointment, when, at the close 
 of a cheerful day, and reposing in the society of his family, he heard 
 that his whole property was consumed in a few short hours. 
 
 The present writer had on this occasion a striking proof of the 
 uncertainty of sublunary enjoyments. In the afternoon of that fatal 
 
 * Here Mr. Nichols quotes a passage from Bishop Hough, " I thank God, 
 I had the hope of a Christian, and that supported me." 
 f See Gent. Mag. January, 1807, p. 80. 
 
 62 
 
xx MEMOER OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 day, Mr. Nichols sent to him one of the most lively letters he had 
 ever received. On the following morning, he hastened to visit Mr. 
 Nichols, and found him, as was to be expected, in a state of con- 
 siderable depression ; but in a few days his mind appeared to have 
 recovered its tone. He felt the power of consolation, and was excited 
 to fresh activity. Thus, in two remai'kable instances, he displayed a 
 temper and courage rarely to be found; in the case of his personal 
 accident, when his recovery was doubtful, and of his subsequent 
 calamity, when his loss was irreparable.* 
 
 Hopeless as such a return to accustomed pursuits may appear, 
 Mr. Nichols resumed his labours with an energy equal to what he had 
 ever displayed when in the prime of life. Besides completing his 
 " History of the County of Leicester," already mentioned, he returned 
 to his " Life of Bowyer," of which one volume had been printed, but 
 not published, just before his fire, under the title of "Literary Anec- 
 dotes of the Eighteenth Century, comprising Biographical Memoirs 
 of William Bowyer, Printer, F.S.A. and many of his learned friends ; 
 an incidental view of the progress and advancement of Literature 
 in this Kingdom during the last century ; and Biographical Anec- 
 dotes of a considerable number of eminent Writers and ingenious 
 Artists." 
 
 This he lived to extend to nine large volumes, 8vo. ; to which he 
 afterwards, finding materials increase from all quarters, added four 
 volumes, under the title of " Illustrations of the Literary History of 
 the Eighteenth Century, consisting of authentic Memoirs and Original 
 Letters of Eminent Persons ; and intended as a sequel to the Literary 
 Anecdotes." It was one of the last actions of his life, to show the 
 writer of this memoir a fifth volume nearly printed, and to announce 
 a sixth volume in preparation.! Of these it is hoped the public 
 will not be long deprived, as Mr. Nichols had the happiness to leave 
 a son, fully acquainted with his designs, equally respected by his 
 friends and correspondents, and amply qualified to perpetuate the 
 reputation which has attached to his name. 
 
 It is very difficult for the present writer to speak of this extra- 
 ordinary and satisfactory work in measured terms. Himself an 
 ardent lover of, and an humble inquirer into, the biography of Great 
 Britain, he has enjoyed in this extensive collection a fund of informa- 
 tion which it would be in vain to seek elsewhere. It is original in 
 its plan and in its execution, nor perhaps will there soon arise an 
 editor, to whom manuscripts of the most confidential kind, epistolary 
 correspondence, and other precious records will be intrusted with 
 
 * Some particulars of the valuable works destroyed by this fire, all of which 
 are now difficult to be procured even at a high price, may be seen in the Gent. 
 Mag. 1808, p. 99. 
 
 t [The " Illustrations of Literary History" arc now completed in eight 
 volumes.] 
 

 
 ■ 
 
 c 
 
 1826. 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xxi 
 
 equal certainty of their being given to the public accurately and 
 minutely, and yet free from injury to the characters of the deceased, 
 or the feelings of the living. 
 
 By the vast accumulation of literary correspondence in these volumes, 
 Mr. Nichols has released the biographical inquirer from much of the 
 uncertainty of vague report, and has in a great measure brought him 
 near to the gratification of a personal acquaintance. These records 
 embrace the memoirs of almost all the learned men of the eighteenth 
 century, and there are scarce any of that class with whom Mr. 
 Nichols's volumes have not made us more intimate. Candid biographers 
 of future times must be ready to acknowledge with gratitude that 
 their obligations arc incalculable. Already indeed the public has 
 done justice to the merits of this work; for of all Mr. Nichols's 
 publications it has been the most successful, and is soon likely to 
 be one of the recherches among book collectors. As in the present 
 memoir we have confined ourselves to the notice of such of his 
 various labours as involve somewhat of his personal character, we 
 may refer to the " Anecdotes " and " Illustrations " for many traits 
 of the most amiable kind, which will now be viewed with affectionate 
 interest by those who knew him, and will ensure the highest respect 
 from those who had not that happiness. 
 
 The fourth volume of the "Illustrations" was published in 1822 ; 
 before which he had published, among other works, " Hardinge's 
 Latin, Greek, and English Poems," 8vo. 1818 ; "Miscellaneous Works 
 of George Hardingc, Esq. 1819," 3 vols. 8vo. ; a new edition of his 
 " Progresses of Queen Elizabeth," with considerable additions, 3 vols. 
 4to. ; and the greater portion of the " Progresses of King James the 
 First," 4 vols. 4to. which had engaged his attention almost to the hour 
 of his death. These are both works of great curiosity, comprehend 
 a great many rare and valuable fragments of royal history, a large 
 collection of rare tracts, both in verse and prose, and much illustra- 
 tion of the manners and customs of the sixteenth and seventeenth 
 centuries.* 
 
 In Mr. Nichols's death, which took place on Sunday, Nov. 26, there 
 was much cause for affliction, and much to afford consolation. It was 
 sudden beyond most instances we have ever heard of. He had passed 
 some cheerful hours with his family, and was retiring to rest about 
 10 o'clock at night. He had reached a step or two of the lower stair- 
 case, accompanied by his eldest daughter, when he said, but with no 
 particular alteration of voice, " Give me your hand," and instantly, 
 but gently, sunk down on his knees, and expired without a sigh or 
 groan, or any symptom of suffering. 
 
 * [In these curious and important works, Mr. Nichols (then in old age) 
 was materially assisted by his grandson, a youth fresh from JMcrchant-taylors' 
 School, by whom the second work was completed.] 
 
xxii MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 On the Monday before, he complained as if he had caught cold; and 
 on Thursday, when the writer of this memoir saw him for the last 
 time, he mentioned something of the kind, but said nothing of pain, 
 or of any internal feeling that could give alarm. Before parting he 
 conversed in his usual lively manner, about many things past and to 
 come, and, when the interview ended, he bid his visitor farewell, as 
 one whom he fully expected to see, with some other friends, within a 
 few days. He had no presentiment of death, and during his last week 
 wrote two or three articles for the Magazine with his accustomed ease 
 and spirit. 
 
 Sudden as his death was, and there is something in sudden death 
 to which no argument can reconcile the greater part of survivors, it 
 could not fail even upon a slight reflection to administer consolation. 
 When the first impression was over, it was felt as a great blessing that 
 Mr. Nichols had outlived the common age of man with entire exemp- 
 tion from the pains and infirmities he had witnessed in the case of 
 some of his dearest friends. There was here none of that imbecility 
 so afflicting to friends and relatives; memory and judgment were 
 strong to the last. 
 
 For several years he had been accustomed to write some Lines on 
 the return of his birth-day, for the amusement of his family. These 
 were generally contemplative and serious, affectionate as regarding 
 his family, and pious as regarding himself, his advanced age, his 
 probable dissolution, and his firm reliance on the merits of his 
 Redeemer. All came from the heart, and delighted those whom he 
 wished to delight, a family eminent for mutual affection. The last of 
 these verses, printed in the Magazine for 1824, may be considered as 
 his dying words and his dying prayer. 
 
 His old age, at whatever period the reader may date it, imposed no 
 necessity of leaving off" his accustomed employments, or discontinuing 
 his intercourse with society. He had no chronic disorder, hereditary 
 or acquired, and his occasional illnesses were of short duration. He 
 was always ready to gratify his anxious family by applying to medical 
 advice, and was never wanting in such precautions as became his 
 advanced years. His constitution to the last exhibited the remains of 
 great strength and activity. If, as asserted, a healthy old man is " a 
 tower undermined," it was not easy in him to discover what had 
 given way. 
 
 His natural faculties remained unimpaired during the whole course 
 of his life, with the exception of his sight, which for several years 
 past had become by degrees less and less distinct. Three days only 
 before his death he made a very extraordinary declaration to the 
 writer of this article : " I cannot now read any printed book, but I 
 can read manuscript." 
 
 Although we are not desirous to report miracles in order to embel- 
 lish the life of this worthy man, yet it may be allowed, and he felt it 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xxiii 
 
 as such, to be an extraordinary instance of the kindness of Providence 
 that a degree of sight was still left which enabled hiin to peruse and 
 select, from the vast mass of literary correspondence now before him, 
 such articles as were proper for his " Illustrations." As to printed 
 books, he had the assistance of his amiable daughters, who were his 
 amanuenses and his librarians. Those who knew the ardour of his 
 parental ail'ection could easily perceive that, amidst a privation which 
 would have sunk the spirits of most man, he had now a new source of 
 domestic happiness and thankful rellection. He lived also to see his 
 son advancing to reputation, in the same business and the same 
 literary pursuits in which himself delighted, and a grandson eagerly 
 pursuing his footsteps. We may well exclaim, O fortunate senex! 
 
 As much of Mr. Nichols's personal character has been introduced in 
 the preceding pages, it only remains to be added that it was uni- 
 formly remarkable for those qualities which procured universal 
 esteem. The sweetness of his temper, and his disposition to be kind 
 and useful, were the delight of his friends, and strangers went from 
 him with an impression that they had been with an amiable and bene- 
 volent man. During his being a Member of the Corporation he em- 
 ployed his interest, as he did elsewhere his pen, in promoting charitable 
 institutions, and in contributing to the support of those persons who 
 had sunk from prosperity, and whose wants he relieved in a more 
 private manner. For very many years he filled the office of Registrar 
 or Honorary Secretary of the Literary Fund, which gratified his kind 
 feelings by enabling him to assist many a brother author in distress. 
 Nor was his assistance less liberally afforded to those of his own pro- 
 fession, whom he respected and whom he encouraged, either in their 
 outset in life or when in difficulties.* In all this he experienced 
 what all men of similar character have experienced. He sometimes 
 met with those who availed themselves of his unsuspicious temper and 
 known benevolence ; yet he was rarely heard to complain of ingrati- 
 tude. He never introduced the subject ; but, when closely pressed, 
 he would acknowledge some instances in his own experience, yet with 
 great reluctance, and an apparent willingness to have it thought that 
 his bounty had not been judicious. 
 
 His literary transactions were uniformly conducted on the best 
 principles. His early associations were mostly with honourable men, 
 whom he was ambitious to copy ; and those who had been longest 
 connected with him in business acknowledged with pleasure and 
 respect that Mr. Nichols never discovered the least symptom of what 
 is mean or selfish. He performed nothing, indeed, during his long 
 life, of which he might not have delighted to hear. His friendships 
 were never dissolved, for they were never unequal. By those of 
 
 * [In his life-time (1S17) he gave 500^. to the Company of Stationers (to 
 which 500/. has since hcen added) to bo distributed in annuities to four aged 
 compositors. Seo p. 462 of this volume.] 
 
xxiv MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 superior rank he was treated with the respect due to the character of 
 a gentleman and a man of talent ; while his inferiors found him 
 useful, kind, and benevolent, always a friend, and often a patron. 
 
 By what means he preserved the mens sana in corpore sano for so 
 many years of unequalled literary labour has been incidentally hinted 
 in the preceding pages. The subject might perhaps admit of more 
 discussion, if this article had not already extended further than the 
 writer originally intended. As to health, medical writers have given 
 us no rules for procuring longevity but what experience proves 
 to be fallacious. All that requires to be said here, and it may afford 
 a useful lesson, is, that Mr. Nichols had originally a good constitution, 
 which he preserved by exercise, and the vicissitudes of constant em- 
 ployment. His mind was always employed on what was useful ; and 
 such a mind is made to last. Both mind and body, there is every 
 reason to think, were preserved in vigour by the uncommon felicity 
 of his temper. He had none of the irascible passions, nor would it 
 have been easy to have provoked him to depart from the language 
 and manners which rendered his company delightful. 
 
 There was much in the division of his time which enabled him to 
 perform the arduous tasks which he imposed on himself. He began 
 his work early, and despatched the business of the day before it 
 became necessary to attend to public concerns, or join the social 
 parties of his friends. He had another habit which may be taken 
 into the account. From his youth he did every thing quickly. He 
 read with rapidity, and soon caught what was important to his pur- 
 pose. He spoke quickly, and that whether in the reciprocity of con- 
 versation, or when, which was frequently the case, he had to address 
 a company in a set speech. He had also accustomed himself to write 
 with great rapidity ; but this, he used jocularly to allow, although a 
 saving of time, did not tend to improve his hand. 
 
 Upon the whole, if usefulness be a test of merit, no man in our 
 days has conferred more important favours on the republic of letters. 
 Mr. Nichols was twice married. First, in 1766, to Anne, daughter 
 of Mr. William Cradock. She died in 1776, leaving two daughters: 
 1. Anne, married to the Rev. John Pridden, M.A. F.S.A. who died in 
 1815 ; 2. Sarah (who died unmarried at Highbury Place, Jan. 1843). 
 Secondly, in 1778, to Martha, daughter of Mr. William Green, of 
 Hinckley, in Leicestershire. She died in 1788, leaving one son, John 
 Bowyer Nichols, Esq. and four daughters.* 
 
 He was interred in Islington church-yard, where his parents and all 
 his children who died before him are deposited. Mr. Nichols, at the 
 
 * [1. Martha-Sadelbia, who died April 19, 1816, aged 33 ; 2. Mary, the 
 wife of John Morgan, Esq. who died August 1, 1850, aged 66, leaving five 
 sons and two daughters; (Mr. John Morgan died April 17, 1832, aged 4S;) 
 3. Isabella Nichols, living in 1857 ; and 4. Anne-Susannah, who died March 
 17, 1853, aged 65.] 
 
MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. xxv 
 
 time of his death, was probably the oldest native of Islington, and his 
 <»rave is only a very few yards from the house in which he was born. 
 
 His funeral was (as he would have wished) as private as possible; 
 attended oidy by all his male relatives who had arrived at man's 
 estate, and by his attached friends, James and William Morgan, and 
 William Herrick, Esqrs. ; William Tooke, Esq. F.R.S. ; Alexander 
 Chalmers, Esq. F.S.A. ; Henry Ellis, Esq. F.R.S. ; Charles and Robert 
 Baldwin, George Woodfall, and J. Jeaffreson, Esqrs.* 
 
 There are several good portraits of Mr. Nichols: — 1. painted 1782, 
 set. 37, by Towne, and engraved by Cook, published in " Collections 
 for Leicestershire; " 2. painted by V. D. Puyl, 1787 (unpublished) ; 
 3. drawn by II. Edridgc, A.R.A. published in Cadell and Davies's 
 "Contemporary Portraits;" 4. drawn by J. Jackson, Esq. R.A. and 
 engraved by C. Heath, 1811, set. G2, published by Mr. Britton, and 
 inserted in the "Literary Anecdotes ;" 5. another painted.by Jackson, 
 mezzotinted by II. Meyer, published in "History of Leicestershire;** 
 G. painted and engraved by Meyer, 1825, a;t. 80, and published with 
 this volume. Several small copies have been made from the above 
 prints. There is also a faithful bust of Mr. Nichols by Giannelli ; 
 [and a more recent one in marble by that eminent sculptor, W. 
 Behnes, Esq.] A. Chalmers. 
 
 • * The list of the very numerous publications, of which Mr. 
 Nichols was either the author or the editor, which was appended to 
 Mr. Chalmers's Memoir, 1826, has already appeared in the Literary 
 Anecdotes, vol. VI. pp. G30— 637. To this list are added in this 
 volume, pp. 567, 568, the titles of some others of Mr. Nichols's later 
 publications. 
 
 * [His tomb-stone, on the south side of the church -yard, hears the following- 
 inscription : 
 
 Within this vault lie the remains of 
 
 John Nichols, Esq., F.S.A. Lond. Edinb. and Perth, 
 
 (Son of Edward and Anne Nichols, of this parish,) 
 
 Author of the History of Leicestershire and other works, 
 
 and for nearly half a cental; editor and printer of 
 
 The Gentleman's Magazine. 
 
 His long life was passed in useful and honourable activity, 
 
 and he diod,universally respected and venerated, Nov. 20th, 1S2G, in his 82nd year. 
 
 [Then follow other family memorials.]— Lewis's History of Islington, p. 230. 
 
xxvi MEMOIR OF JOHN NICHOLS, ESQ. 
 
 The reader will pardon the insertion in this place of 
 the following playful essay from the pen of Dr. Dibdin, 
 recording the little events of a pleasant afternoon spent 
 at Highbury Place ; as it gives a true picture of the happy 
 vivacity and flow of spirits with which Mr. Nichols was wont 
 to welcome his friends, and to cheer his family circle. The 
 visitors noticed are Dr. Dibdin, Joseph Haslewood, Alex- 
 ander Chalmers, Thomas Payne, and Charles Rivington. 
 
 VISIT TO AN OCTOGENARIAN. 
 
 July 17, 1823. 
 
 There are few pictures of human life more pleasing to contemplate, 
 than that of Old Age gradually, but comfortably, declining towards 
 the grave. This comfort, to be complete, must be two-fold : first, it 
 must arise from the freedom from bodily pain, and, secondly, from the 
 possession of good spirits and cheerful hopes, resulting from sound 
 principles, and the respect of all those whom we have long known and 
 reciprocally loved. Such is the case with my Octogenarian Friend 
 Stlvanus. 
 
 This is the fifth anniversary visit, which, in concert with a few 
 "long known" and highly-valued friends, I have just paid that excel- 
 lent old man. He resides in a somewhat elevated spot — opposite 
 Hampstead and Highgate hills — with a dozen acres of meadow land 
 before his house — and a garden, well stocked with plants and fruits, 
 behind ; not quite one mile distant from Islington Church. Fortu- 
 nately the day (in this dismal month of rain !) proved to be fine. The 
 sky was dappled ; the breeze blew gently from the south-west ; and 
 the united fragrance of strawberries and mignionette greeted us as we 
 got the first vista-view of his lawn and shrubs. I should, however, 
 premise, that a party of us started at a given hour from different points, 
 in different vehicles, and reached the place of rendezvous — not quite 
 with such celerity and precision as the Duke of Wellington put his 
 forces in motion to march, by different routes, to the immortal plains 
 of Vittoria. However, it was agreed that the dinner-hour should be 
 somewhat procrastinated, in order that we might arrive in good time 
 to have a promenade in the garden of the old gentleman, and in that 
 of his son-in-law, who resides hard by. 
 
 We mustered to the number of five guests. The family of Syl- 
 vanus made that number a round dozen. On alighting from my 
 vehicle (in which my legal friend " the Mirror for Magistrates"* shared 
 the seat with me : note well, it was ajarvy chariof), I was ushered into 
 the drawing-room, though I made rather a bolt for the Library ; and 
 
 * Mr. Haslewood. 
 
VISIT TO AN OCTOGENARIAN. xxvii 
 
 after a most cordial interchange of salutations, it was proposed that 
 we should enjoy our promised stroll in the garden. The younger 
 part of the visitors were already in motion (the magisterial "Mirror" 
 in the number) upon the lawn ; among whom I quickly discerned the 
 Modern Plutarch,* and the great traders in classical and theological 
 lore.f For myself, I quietly brought up the rear, with my Octogenarian 
 Friend leaning on my arm, and discoursing cheerily on different topics 
 — of times and of literature gone by, or as now existing. We ap- 
 proached a gravel walk to the left, snugly lying under a wall, and 
 exposed to a warm southern sun. " There (exclaimed my venerable 
 comrade), do you see yon walk ? I owe the last two or three years 
 of my existence (speaking from temporal causes) to regular exercise 
 upon that walk ;" and, as we gained it, methought the Octogenarian 
 paced it with an air of conscious gaiety and strength — like some old 
 admiral, who enjoys his stroll upon the quarter-deck every evening 
 towards sunset. 
 
 The mirthful discourse of our friends accelerated our pace, and 
 urged us forward. We reached a green-house, canopied by the leaves 
 of a young and flourishing vine. " Please God, my dear friend (re- 
 marked the Octogenarian, pointing with his tortoise-headed cane to 
 the vine), we will have some grapes off yonder stem, next year. You 
 remember that I mentioned this to you on your visit here last July." 
 I owned that I recollected it; but, "next year" to a man of fourscore ! 
 Yes, " another and anothei*," if it please Divine Providence, — and 
 why (said I to myself, checking the miserable fastidiousness of my 
 meditations), why should it not be so? Or, if this worthy vine-culti- 
 vator be deprived of the fruits of his own vine during that revolving 
 period, sure I am that he will partake of other fruits, not less delicious 
 in flavour, and salutary in effects." There was comfort in that cor- 
 recting thought ; and so we strolled and gossipped on, till we joined 
 the phalanx of our friends. On quitting the Octogenarian's garden, 
 we entered that of his son-in-law. { It was more spacious, and stocked 
 with a greater variety of fruits. The strawberry, of various species, 
 blushed here ; the raspberry reddened there ; gooseberries, larger 
 than the largest pearls " in an iEthiop's ear," hung down in crimson 
 or green globules, by the side of a well-trimmed path. Here, the 
 ripening currants showed their ruby or amber clusters : there, again, 
 grew the stately artichoke, and the up-rising celery. Meanwhile, the 
 full-flowered cauliflower, the Knight-pea, of Brobdignagian altitude, 
 the Windsor-bean, begirt by the incipient kidney — each and all seemed 
 clad in full luxuriance, and giving promise of plenteous fare. Nor be 
 the daintier fruits of melon and cucumber omitted : for here they 
 were — the former, bursting their rocky integuments; the latter, thin, 
 
 * Mr. Chalmers. t Mr. T. Paine ami Mr. C .Rivington. 
 
 X Mr. John Morgan. 
 
xxviii VISIT TO AN OCTOGENARIAN. 
 
 tapering, and reminding us of turbot enjoyments. Above, glistened 
 the cherry ; while the walls were concealed by trees of the apricot, 
 peach, and fig species : 
 
 And dark, 
 Beneath his ample leaf, the luscious fig. 
 So sings Thomson. But the shout of young voices was heard. The 
 Octogenarian's grand-children were abroad. In fact, we noticed three 
 or four of them, running, walking, or being drawn in a cart; accom- 
 panied by a due body-guard of nursery-maids. Thus we strolled, ate 
 strawberries, patted the children's cheeks, now praised the weather, 
 and now the garden, till the dinner was announced in due form. I 
 made another effort for the Library, and we had actually got possession 
 of it for five minutes ; but the announce of dinner pursued us even 
 into that peaceful haunt ! To resist, or tarry longer, were fruitless : 
 and so we marched, a procession of twelve, into a well-proportioned 
 dining-room, and sat down to an excellently furnished dinner. I 
 soon recognised my friend the cucumber, in the wake of the turbot. 
 But it were equally rude and profitless to describe a dinner — supplied 
 by the hand of hospitality, and demolished by hungry stomachs, and 
 grateful hearts. The Rhenish wine, in two poplar-shaped bottles, did 
 not fail to allay thirst and excite applause. 'Twas the savings of the 
 last clear drippings from the Heidelberg Tun. Sempronius* loved the 
 Madeira, and the Modern Plutarch cleaved to the sherry. There was 
 variety for all tastes, and more than a sufficiency for all cravings. 
 
 The daughters, and the son, and the son-in-law, and the grandson 
 of the Octogenarian, all mingled in discourse ; all quaffed the juice 
 of the vine (but not of that in the garden) ; were all merry, and yet 
 sober and wise. Such a day of joyance is not of ordinary occurrence. 
 And how fared the Octogenarian ? As gay as the gayest — as hearty 
 as the heartiest — as happy as the happiest : complaining only that he 
 could not exactly see when the juice of the grape had reached the 
 brim of the glass. But what signifies this dimness of sight, when one 
 thinks of that perfection of intellectual vision which all his friends 
 acknowledge it is his happiness to enjoy? 
 
 The shades of night were now, however, falling apace : 
 (Majoresque cadunt altis de montibus umbrae.) 
 
 A string of jarvies enfiladed the doorway. We had our coffee and 
 tea; exchanged fair words with our fair companions; talked over the 
 too swiftly-flown revelries; planned another Anniversary Visit ; and 
 at half-past ten precisely took our departures, but not 
 
 for fresh woods and pastures new. 
 
 No : ere the clock struck twelve, we were all (with one exception) 
 immured within the walls of Loudon, about to repose on mattrass- 
 
 Mr. Haslewood. 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xxix 
 
 mounted beds ; for, in the month of July, I do contend that the bed 
 should succumb to the mattrass. And how sinks to repose the Father 
 and Son ? I hear, in the prayers of the former, the language of 
 Thomson : 
 
 Father of light and life, thou good Supreme ! 
 
 O, teach mc what is good, teach me Thyself! 
 
 and in those of the latter something that reminds mc of the filial piety 
 of Tope : 
 
 Me let the tender office long engage, 
 
 To rock the cradle of reposing age; 
 
 With lenient arts extend a Father's breath, 
 
 Make languor smile, and smooth the bed of death. 
 
 Capricorn us. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to remark how grateful the family 
 of Mr. Nichols were made by the receipt of the preceding 
 Memoir, which was also cordially welcomed by his nu- 
 merous friends. In the Memoir Mr. Chalmers alludes to 
 the opinions entertained of Mr. Nichols by two eminent 
 dignitaries of the Church, expressed on hearing of his death. 
 On that melancholy occasion so many letters were 
 received by his son that the bare enumeration of the 
 names of the writers might seem ostentatious. It may be 
 allowable, however, to introduce a few of them, as written 
 by gentlemen of literary reputation (since deceased), and 
 who were well able to appreciate Mr. Nichols's talents as 
 an author, as well as his private worth. 
 
 From Rt. Rev. Dr. LAW,* BISHOP of BATH and WELLS. 
 
 Palace, Wells, Dec. 4. 1826. 
 Sir,— I received with very sincere concern the account of your good 
 
 * For this amiable prelate Mr. Nichols entertained the sincercst respect 
 and regard. He thus speaks of him in his Literary Anecdotes in 1814, on 
 occasion of recording the death of his brother John, Bishop of Elphin : 
 
 " Uno avuho, lion deficit alter. Not long after the death of Bishop John 
 
xxx LETTERS OP CONDOLENCE. 
 
 Father's death. He was an able, and what is much more, he was a 
 perfectly honest man. We can ill afford to lose him. As an excellent 
 antiquary, as a friend to literary men, and as a liberal but thoroughly 
 attached son of the Church of England, his memory will long live iu 
 the esteem and recollection of his friends ; in the number of them I 
 wish to be considered, and remain, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient humble Servant, Geo. H. Bath and Wells. 
 
 Law, his brother Dr. George Henry (youngest and thirteenth child of the 
 good Bishop of Carlisle) was honoured with the mitre. He was elected 
 Bishop of Chester in June 1812. Of the estimation in which this worthy 
 prelate is held, the numerous Sermons he has preached for public charities in 
 the Metropolis is sufficient evidence." He was educated at the Charter House 
 and at Queen's College, Cambridge ; second wrangler, and first classical medal- 
 list in 1781, and in 1812 was elevated from the see of Chester to that of Bath 
 and Wells. He always performed his episcopal duties with zeal and assiduity. 
 In the diocese of Chester he made considerable beneficial reforms; and after his 
 translation to Wells devoted much time to improve the condition of the poor. 
 See a memoir of Bishop Law in the " Lives of the Bishops of Bath and Wells," 
 by Mr. Cassan, who thus sums up his character: " In his style of writing 
 Bishop Law is easy, natural, and unaffected, full of piely and good feeling, 
 often a successful imitator of Paley in closeness and clearness of reasoning, 
 oftener his superior in elegance and animation. There appears little of the 
 labor lima 1 , perhaps too little. As his sentiments flow warm and rapidly from 
 the heart, so his words distil spontaneously from the pen. The great truths of 
 Christianity are artlessly but impressively displayed ; sound doctrine is ener- 
 getically but mildly maintained, and the practical results of a right faith are 
 insisted on, with a perspicuity of argument that none can mistake, that carries 
 conviction to the mind, and makes its way directly to the heart." The Bishop 
 was fond of publishing his professional compositions ; a list of them is given in 
 an ample memoir of him in the Gentleman's Magazine for Nov. 1845, pp. 
 529 — 531. He married early in'life a daughter of General Adeane, by whom 
 he had four sons: 1. Rev. Thomas Law, Chancellor of Lichfield ; 2. George, 
 who died in India in 1811 ; 3. Rev. Henry Law, Chancellor and Archdeacon 
 of Wells, and Rector of Weston-super-Mare ; 4. Rev. Robert Vanburgh Law, 
 Prebendary of Chester and Wells ; and five daughters. A gradual decay of his 
 powers of mind had for some time deprived his diocese of his duties, and his 
 friends of that delightful interchange of thought and reciprocity of feeling they 
 had enjoyed in his society. This visitation was mitigated by the devoted 
 attachment of his family, by the sedulous attention of all around him, and by 
 the pious and benevolent associations which manifestly filled his own mind 
 when a momentary ray of light was shed upon it. " His end was peace." He 
 died without pain or struggle at Ban well, Sept. 22, 1845, aged 84. 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xxxi 
 
 From Rt. Rev. Dr. BURGESS,* BISHOP of SALISBURY. 
 
 Math, Dec. 19, 1826. 
 Dear Sir, — The death of your excellent Father, though " full of 
 years and of literary honours full," has left a blank, -which those who 
 
 knew him will long feel. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Yours faithfully, T. Sarum. 
 
 From Dr. THOMAS RENNELL,f Dean of Winchester. 
 
 Deanery, Winchester, Dec. 3d, 1820. 
 My dear Sir, — I received yesterday your melancholy tidings of 
 the decease of my excellent friend your venerable Father. I beg you 
 
 * Mr. Nichols has given a memoir of the learned Bishop Burgess in the Index 
 Volume of his" Literary Anecdotes," VII. p. 524, and slight notices of him in 
 other volumes of his works. See General Index, VII. pp. 55, 524 ; Literary 
 Illustrations, V. 616, 624, 697 ; VII. 653. He obtained a scholarship at 
 Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and to prevent his leaving college for a curacy 
 Mr. Tyrwhitt begged him to accept an equivalent to a curate's salary. See a 
 letter of the bishop to Mr. Nichols on the subject, in Gent. Mag. for May 1837, 
 p. 538, which letter is highly honourable to him. He afterwards became 
 fellow and tutor of his college, and was made Chaplain to Dr. Barrington, 
 Bishop of Salisbury, which led to his becoming a prebendary of Salisbury, as 
 he was afterwards of Durham, on Bishop Barrington's translation to that see. 
 In 1S03 he was appointed by Mr. Addington to the bishopric of St. David's, 
 where he established a College for Ministers, and made other important im- 
 provements. In 1825 he became Bishop of Salisbury. The number of his 
 classical and theological works testify his scholarship : see an account of them 
 in Gent. Mag. 1837, i. pp. 539— 541. Bishop Burgess waa mainly instru- 
 mental in establishing the Royal Society of Literature in 1821. He died Feb. 
 19, 1838, aged 80, and was buiied in Salisbury Cathedral. 
 
 f Of Dr. Rennell, Dean of Winchester, and of his family, frequent notices 
 occur in the Literary Anecdotes, particularly in vol. IX. pp. 152, 730; he is 
 also slightly noticed in p. 611 of this volume. He was educated first by his 
 father, and at thirteen sent to Eton, and his master Dr. Poster pronounced 
 him the best scholar he had ever sent out from Eton. His studies at college 
 were chiefly in classical and general literature, but on leaving college he was a 
 severe student in Theology. In 1797 he was persuaded by Mr. Pitt to become 
 Master of the Temple, where his eloquence as a preacher drew numerous and 
 attentive hearers, and bis office brought him into friendship with all the grea' 
 judges and lawyers of the day. In 1805 he was made Dean of 'Winchester, 
 and in 1S27 he resigned his mastership of the Temple. 
 
 As a theologian and a scholar he was one of the most remarkable men of his 
 day. He was as familiar with the Fathers as with the eminent English and 
 foreign divines. In classical lore he was deep and accurate. Horace was his 
 
xxxii LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. 
 
 to accept my best thanks for considering me in the number of those 
 who take a near interest in this event, an event awful and admonitory 
 to one whose age approaches so near to his, as well as afflicting to 
 those to whom the singular amiableness of his disposition must have 
 endeared him. 
 
 But this dispensation must be greatly alleviated by reflecting upon 
 the career of his long, useful, and well-spent life, and the important 
 services he has rendered for so long a space to the cause of our holy 
 religion. Of the incalculable power of the Press, either in the pro- 
 duction of good, or the diffusion of mischief, every thinking person 
 must be aware. It is my firm opinion, that in the various productions 
 which during so long a period issued from his press, not a line escaped 
 which could be detrimental to the influence of Christianity ; but on 
 the contrary, peculiarly in the conduct of that leading work " The 
 Gentleman's Magazine," the genuine principles of orthodox religion 
 have been advocated and diffused in this nation by its channel for the 
 largest portion of a century ; and even in the amusing and instructive 
 articles of a literary and antiquarian cast, this leading purpose seems 
 not to have been lost sight of. Your worthy Father, therefore, as 
 while he sojourned with us he was by the kindness and benevolence 
 of his heart the delight of his friends, so must he be considered as an 
 eminent benefactor to his country. 
 
 Your consolation therefore is, that, full of years and good works, 
 he is gone to his exceeding great reward. I can only add, that during 
 the short remainder of my days I shall cherish a most affectionate 
 regard for his memory. 
 
 Believe me, my dear Sir, yours ever faithful and obliged, 
 
 Thomas Bennell. 
 
 From Sir WILLIAM BETH AM,* Ulster King of Arms. 
 
 Dublin, 9 Dec. 1826. 
 
 Mr dear Sir, — I trust you will not consider me intrusive in 
 
 expressing my regrets and sympathy at the departure of your 
 
 venerable and worthy parent. He had more years vouchsafed him 
 
 than most men, he held on the even and honourable tenor of his way 
 
 favourite and next to him Shakspere. As a Christian he was a man of deep 
 and fervent piety, and his benevolence and charity were unbounded. The 
 Dean died March 31, 1840, in his 87th year. Of his eminent son, the Rev. 
 T. Rennell, vicar of Kensington, see in this volume, p. Gil. 
 
 * Sir William Betham. M.R.I.A. and F.S.A. was a very able antiquary and 
 genealogist. He died Oct. 26, 1853, aged 74. See an ample memoir of him 
 in the Gentleman's Magazine for Dec. 1853, p, C32 ; where is given a list of 
 his works, and an account of his large manuscript collections. 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xxxiii 
 
 with the uninterrupted respect and esteem of all who had the pleasure 
 of his acquaintance, and of those whose friendship and respect were 
 worth possessing. Although it was only in very early life I had the 
 gratification of a slight acquaintance, yet the urbanity of his manners 
 and the kindness of his disposition made on my mind a lasting impres- 
 sion of respect, His labours in his literary career are marked by such 
 sound principles and good feeling as have riveted that respect on the 
 tablet so indelibly as only to pass away with it. 
 
 He has been the vehicle as well as the asserter of the soundest prin- 
 ciples of morality and religion, and the steady supporter of the insti- 
 tutions of his country in the worst times, lie has left his mantle ; he 
 pursued and finished his course saiis pair el sans reproche ; follow his 
 example, and thou shalt do likewise. 
 
 I am, with great truth, dear Sir, yours faithfully, 
 
 W. Betiiam, Ulster. 
 
 J. B. Nichols, Esq. F.S.A. 
 
 From MICHAEL BLAND,* Esq. F.S.A, 
 
 30, Montague Place, Russell Square, 9 Deer. 1S2G. 
 My dbab Sir, — In availing myself of the opportunity afforded me 
 at Stationers' Hall, to bear my humble testimony to the character and 
 virtues of your late most excellent Father, I felt a melancholy satis- 
 faction in the endeavour to discharge an incumbent duty, by paying a 
 feeble tribute of respect to the memory of one whose name was asso- 
 ciated with my earliest recollections, and whose talents and industry 
 were admired and held in high estimation by that "Friend to Accuracy" 
 who never mentioned him, although personally unacquainted, but with 
 expressions of sincere regard. To me there is a mournful gratifica- 
 tion in knowing that amongst some of the last efforts of your 
 venerable Parent's pen, is the notice so affectionately taken of the 
 volumef which I presented to him, in the last number of that Mis- 
 cellany wherein his labours had been so long and so eminently con- 
 spicuous. 
 
 * Michael Bland, esq. F.R.S. F.S.A., was a partner in the brewery of 
 AVhitbread and Co. and was member of many of the learned societies. He 
 married a sister'of Dr. Maltby, Bishop of Durham, and was the father of the 
 Rev. George Bland, Archdeacon of Lindisfarne. Mr. M. Bland died April 
 19, 1851, aged 7i. His father was Thomas Bland of Norwich, a member of 
 the Society of Friends, and a partner of Messrs. Gurney and Bland. He was 
 a frequent and acceptable correspondent of the Gentleman's Magazine, under 
 the signature of " A Friend to Accuracy." He died August 28, 1818, and a 
 memoir of him was given in Gent. Mag. ISIS, ii. 282. 
 
 t A review of " Collections for a History of the Bland Family," compiled 
 by Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. Soc.S.A., which Mr. Bland had been at the expense 
 of printing for prWate circulation. 
 
 c 
 
xxxiv LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. 
 
 To you, my dear Sir, it must be a source of consolation that a long 
 protracted life, so usefully spent, was permitted to close so peacefully, 
 affording the assurance that his meek spirit was prepared to meet the 
 sudden and awful transit from time to eternity. 
 
 Be assured I shall never cease to cherish a warm friendship for the 
 son of such a man ; and that I am, my dear Sir, yours very truly, 
 
 Michl. Bland. 
 
 Prom the Rev. PHILIP BLISS,* D.C.L. 
 
 Oxford, December 11, 1826. 
 
 My dear Sib,— Accept my warmest and most sincere thanks for 
 
 the very kind letter you were so good to send me many days since. 
 
 It deserved a much earlier acknowledgment ; but at this moment, the 
 
 close of a very busy term, I can find no time for private business, and 
 
 * The Rev. Philip Bliss, D.C.L. was the son of the Rev. Philip Bliss, of 
 Oriel College, and Rector of Frampton Cotterell, co. Glouc. who died Feb. 1, 
 1303, in his 61st year (Gent. Mag. 1803, p. 284.) He was educated at Mer- 
 chant-taylors' School, and was elected a Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, 
 in 1806. He graduated B.C.L. 1815, D.C.L. 1820. He was for a short time 
 sub-librarian at the Bodleian. In 1824 he was elected Registrar of the Uni- 
 versity, which office he resigned in 1S53. In 1826 he was appointed Keeper 
 of the Archives, which he continued till his death. In 1831 he was made Re- 
 gistrar of the Chancellor's Court, and in 1848 appointed Principal of St. Mary's 
 Hall. From 1813 to 1820 he published his enlarged and corrected edition 
 of the " Athens Oxonienses" of Anthony Wood. This work procured the 
 editor the greatest credit, as it comprised the corrections made to the original 
 by very numerous learned men, including Bishop Kennett, Bishop Tanner, Dr. 
 Rawlinson, Wanley, Morant, Watts, Sir P. Sydenham, Bishop Humphreys, W. 
 Cole, Coningsby, and J. Loveday. He was fortunate in the assistance of his 
 friends Dr. Bandinel of the Bodleian and SirH. Ellis, K.H. both of whom he 
 thanks in his Preface. To these must be added the indefatigable labours of 
 Dr. Bliss himself, as there is scarcely a page which does not bear evidence of 
 his patient investigation. 
 
 Dr. Bliss edited in 1851 a new edition of the Catalogue of Oxford Gradu- 
 ates; and lately published the " Remains of Thomas Hearne," 2 vols. Svo. 1856. 
 This work had been printed for the greater part many years previously. He 
 became a member of the Roxburghe Club in 1837, and was for some years Vice- 
 President of that institution, to which he presented, in conjunction with the Rev. 
 Dr. Bandinel, in 1846, a volume of English historical papers. Few men were 
 better known,, and his aptitude for business and great punctuality and never 
 failing courtesy gained him universal esteem. He was both able and willing 
 to communicate the rich stores of the University of Oxford to his friends and 
 the public. In the third volume of Literary Illustrations, Mr. Nichols thanks 
 Dr. Bliss for his analysis of the Letters of Bishop Smallridge in the Bodleian 
 (iii. 276). Dr. Bliss died at Oxford Nov. 18, 1857, aged about 70. A good 
 memoir of him is in Gent. Mag. for December, 1857. 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xxxv 
 
 I now write these few lines in the greatest haste, and amidst the most 
 appalling confusion, lest you should suppose me regardless of your 
 kind attention, or not sufficiently interested in the communication. 
 
 No person, believe me, had a more sincere regard or a higher 
 respect for your late excellent Father than myself. I have known 
 him for thirty out of forty years of my life, and his nobleness of mind, 
 sweetness of disposition, his personal kindness of manner, and the 
 lively interest he always expressed towards me, were well calculated 
 to excite my esteem and reverence. 
 
 Although in the common course of nature his life could not have 
 been expected to last much longer, yet I own I was much shocked 
 when I first heard of his death, and the more so perhaps as not many 
 days previously my wife had expressed her desire that we might all 
 meet, and that she might know the " excellent old man " whose merits 
 we were talking over with some friends of mine who are neighbours of 
 yours. We had indeed sent a message to Highbury, and the almost 
 immediate intelligence we received made the event still more striking. 
 We have, however, my dear Sir, in common with all those who loved 
 him, much to be thankful for, in the manner of his departure — a more 
 placid and easy death I never remember to have heard of, and it must 
 be no small consolation to his most united family to remember that 
 his last day was spent with those he best loved, and that they had all 
 of them through life contributed to his happiness. For my own part 
 I shall ever revere his memory both as a personal friend and a public 
 benefactor to the republic of letters, nor shall I omit a proper oppor- 
 tunity of offering (so far as I am able) my humble but zealous tribute 
 to his merits. 
 
 Pray, my dear Sir, remember me in the kindest manner possible to 
 every part of your family. 
 
 Your faithful and obliged friend and servant, Philip Bliss. 
 
 J. B. Nichols, Esq. 
 
 From JOHN BRITTON,* Esq. F.S.A. 
 
 Dec. 5, 1826. 
 Mr dear Sir, — Had not illness incapacitated me from writing, 
 when I heard of the death of your most amiable and excellent Father, 
 
 * John Britton, esq. F.S.A. died January 1, 1857, in his 86th year. This 
 venerable antiquary has left ample records of his long and active life in his own 
 " Reminiscences." Memoirs of him appeared at the time of his decease in 
 the " Builder " by his friend Mr. Godwin ; in the Literary Gazette, by Mr. 
 Lovell Reeve ; and in the Gentleman's Magazine. An excellent review of his 
 labours, by the Rev. J. E. Jackson, has since appeared in the Wiltshire 
 Magazine, vol. iv. p. 109, accompanied by a photograph by Claudet ; and in 
 the papers of the Institute of British Architects a memoir by Mr. M. Digby 
 
 c2 
 
xxxvi LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. 
 
 I should have written to you instantly ; but Dr. Maton was then 
 attending me in a severe fever, from which I am slowly recovering. 
 
 His estimable character, kindness of manner, and eagerness to 
 oblige and serve the young Topographer no one can appreciate more 
 than I do, and ever have done. Mr. Nichols was the very first to aid 
 and assist me, when I was most in need. He gave me an introductory 
 letter to Mr. Ellis, then a boy,* and rendered me other acts of per- 
 sonal and literary civility. His memory will ever be cherished in my 
 heart : but with you I hope to preserve the same feelings of friendship 
 and amity during life, and leave some token, if I die first, after death. 
 
 Remember me kindly to Mrs. Nichols and to your Son, and believe 
 me yours, truly, J- Britton.I 
 
 St. Alban's, 5th Dec. 1826. 
 Dear Sir, — I take my pen in hand to return you my thanks for 
 
 Wyatt. See Lit. Illust. Index, viii. 13, 125. Mr. Britton was a frequent cor- 
 respondent in the Gentleman's Magazine, and shortly before his death con- 
 tributed two or three memoirs that it may be useful to refer to, as they 
 assimilate with the accounts of his other friends given in the " Reminiscences." 
 
 1. Edward Wedlake Brayiey, esq. F.S.A. his first associate in literature, 
 and coadjutor in many of his works: he died Sept. 23, 1854, in his 82d year. 
 See Mr. Britton's memoir in Gent. Mag. 1854, ii. pp. 582, 538. See also 
 Britton's" Reminiscences," I. 383. II. 184. 
 
 2. Mr. William Henry Bartlett, the eminent draughtsman and author, who 
 was a pupil of Mr. Britton. He prematurely die 1 Sept. 25, 1854, in his 45th 
 year. See Gent. Mag. 1855, i. p. 212. See " Reminiscences," I. 382. II. 183. 
 
 3. Samuel Prout, esq. F.S.A. the water-colour painter. He was born at 
 Plymouth, and when a youth, assisted Mr. Britton in taking views in the West 
 of England. He came to London in 1804, and, after a successful career, died 
 Feb. 10, 1852, aged 68. See Gent. Mag. 1852, i. 419. 
 
 4. Thomas Cubitt, esq. the eminent builder, who died Dec. 28, 1855, in his 
 68th year. See Mr. Britton's Memoir in Gent. Mag. 185G, i. p. 202. 
 
 * Sir Henry Ellis collected the materials of his History of Shoreditch whilst 
 still a student at Merchant-taylors' School. 
 
 •f* " With Mr. Nichols I continued in friendly communication from the end of 
 the last century till his death in 1826. From feelings of respect and the sin- 
 cerest regard I selected my friend J. Jackson, R.A. in April 1811, to make 
 one of his beautifully accurate portraits of the venerable topographer for me, 
 and employed Charles Heath to translate the same, and perpetuate it on copper 
 for publication. This is a most faithful, expressive representation of the full, 
 cheerful, and spectacled features of a truly good man." (Britton's Reminis- 
 cences, i. 237). The portrait in question is that inserted in volume III. of 
 Literary Anecdotes. 
 
 % Sec a notice of Mr. Brown in p. I5S6. 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xxxvii 
 
 the letter this day received from you, giving me an account of the 
 sudden but easy transition of your respected Father, to use your own 
 language, " I would humbly hope, to a better state of existence." 
 
 I am the more obliged to you for it as I was, I acknowlege, rather 
 curious to know how he had finished his course, not having seen any- 
 body who could give me any information upon the subject beyond 
 what I found in one of the Papers of the last week, which struck me 
 exceedingly, as, I dare say, it did also my worthy neighbour* here, if 
 he were previously as ignorant upon the subject as myself. He was 
 to go to London on Friday last, and, I have no doubt, has fully 
 inquired into the closing history of his old friend, for whom he 
 always expressed the greatest esteem. 
 
 My acquaintance and connection with him originated in the month 
 of March 1782, and began by my sending to him, for the use of the 
 Magazine, a memoir of Sir John King, whose sister was an ancestor 
 of mine ; and was carried on, in the May following, by another 
 memoir of Sir Ralph Sadleir ; since which time, as you well know, I 
 have frequently troubled him with triiles, down to the answer two or 
 three months ago to his inquiry about Irish Baronets, which he so 
 handsomely acknowleged. I wish my communications upon all occa- 
 sions had been more acceptable and useful. 
 
 I am now wearing out, in my 77th year, and cannot at present 
 write any more than to offer my best and sincerest wishes, and com- 
 pliments of condolence, to yourself, Mrs. Nichols, and all the branches 
 of your family, elder and younger, being with much esteem, Dear 
 Sir, Yours, very truly, James Brown. 
 
 From the Rev. WEEDEN BUTLER, junioivj- 
 
 Chelsea, 28th November, 1826. 
 My valued Friend, — The Morning Post of this day informs its 
 readers of the demise of your Father. Venerable in age, and honour- 
 able in the walks of literature, the good man was still infinitely more 
 the object of respectful esteem among his acquaintance, and of 
 affectionate regard amidst his family and in the circle of his friends, 
 for his public deserts as a citizen of our enlightened metropolis, and 
 for his private virtues ; nor can it fail to prove, to all who once knew 
 
 * Sir William Domville, baronet, who, in a letter, dated the 29th Novem- 
 ber, remarked, " I have lost a most esteemed and valuable friend. Out of my 
 own family I can no where find such another : an uninterrupted and close 
 friendship had subsisted between us for more than fifty years, and we have 
 ever acted in the same views for the interest of the Company of Stationers, who 
 will lament and feel his great loss." Sir William Domville has been noticed 
 in p. 507. 
 
 f Seo biographical notice of Mr. Weeden Butler, junior, in p. G47. 
 
xxxviii LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. 
 
 him, a source of permanent consolation at their recurring recollections 
 of his utility and worth, for them (as humble Christians " sorrowing 
 not without hope") to remember at the same time his piety, his 
 charity, his devotion, and his faith. This is a very brief tribute of 
 reverence, wholly inadequate to express with justice the sincerity of 
 heartfelt sentiment on so awful an event— not unexpected, certainly, 
 for some years— of one who loved the departed as the beloved friend 
 of his own father * for more than forty years during their earthly pil- 
 grimage. The mantle remains in your house. May God cheer you 
 and yours ! I am truly, dear Sir, your faithful servant, 
 
 Weeden Butler. 
 J. B. Nichols, Esq. F.S.A. 
 
 From JOHN CALEY,f Esq. F.R.S. and F.S.A. 
 
 Exmouth Street, 2 Deer. 1826. 
 My dear Sir,— I thank you much for your kind note, stating the 
 awful suddenness of your good Father's departure from life. 
 
 Among my numerous literary friends I held none in higher estima- 
 tion than him, not more on account of his high attainments as a 
 scholar, than his great integrity and benevolence. Truly may I say 
 Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit, 
 Nulli flebilior quam mihi. 
 Indeed whenever I had occasion to cite a worthy and valuable citizen, 
 he was my constant exemplar. 
 
 AVith sincere regards to all the branches of your family, believe me, 
 my dear Sir, your very faithful friend, John Caley. 
 
 J. B. Nichols, Esq. 
 
 From ALEXANDER CHALMERS,} Esq. 
 
 Throgmorton Street, Nov. 27, 1826. 
 My dear Sir, — I am unable to say more at present than to 
 acknowledge the receipt of your melancholy letter, for which I was in 
 some measure prepared by a previous call from Mr. Morgan,§ which 
 was, under all circumstances, kind and considerate, but what he com- 
 municated has disordered me much. I am fully prepared to sympa- 
 
 * Of the Rev. Weeden Butler, senior, see Literary Anecdotes, vol. V. pp. 
 730, 858. 
 
 f John Caley, esq. Keeper of the Records in the Augmentation Office and 
 the Chapter House, F.R.S. and F.S.A. was an able antiquary and an agreeable 
 member of many learned societies. His name appears as one of the editors of 
 the new edition of Dugdale's Monasticon (to which, however, he did little else 
 than contribute documents). He contributed several papers to the Arehoeo- 
 logia. He died April 21, 1834, aged 71. See a memoir of him and an account 
 of his library and collections in Gent. Mag. for September 1831, p. 320. 
 
 X For memoir of Mr. Chalmers, see p. 532. 
 
 § John Morgan, Esq. the son-in-law of Mr. Nichols. 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xxxix 
 
 thize with you and your family, for I have lost one of the most valua- 
 ble, kind, and amiable friends I ever had, and whom it will be impos- 
 sible to forget, for there will scarcely be a day in my future life, in 
 which I shall not be profiting by his labours. 
 
 I endeavoured, but with a very trembling hand, to apprize our 
 friend Mr. Payne * with this melancholy event, and have just had an 
 answer in these words: "I am very much shocked indeed at the intel- 
 ligence which your note brought me. There are few persons whose 
 loss I can :;o much regret — the friend of my Father, and a person 
 whom I have known and respected from my boyish years." He con- 
 cludes with informing me that he shall not be of a small party to 
 which we were both engaged for to-morrow. I had made a previous 
 resolution. It is due to the memory of the deceased, to my own 
 feelings, which are the more distressing from the short time that has 
 elapsed since I saw your Father, and since you gave me hopes that he 
 had recovered from his late short illness. 
 
 If not intruding, remember me to your sisters and family ; and 
 believe me, never more than now, your sincere friend, 
 
 Aeexr. Chalmers. 
 
 Friday evening, Jan. 5, 1827. 
 
 My dear Sir, — I received your dear Father's portrait yesterday 
 from Mr. Collier, which is now suspended in my best room. While I 
 heartily thank you for this, I feel somewhat of reluctance in accepting 
 that, the expense of which was not left to myself. 
 
 I dined yesterday with the Worshipful Company:f this used to be a 
 great day, on which were invited the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, &c. but 
 on the present occasion this custom was not followed, I have no doubt 
 for very good reasons. It was, however, a great day to me, for I had 
 from every member of the Court the highest compliments on account 
 of the late Memoir. This I should never have mentioned to you by 
 post if it were not very evident that the compliment was more con- 
 nected with the subject than the writer. What less could I or could 
 you infer, from its being repeatedly told me that I had done ample 
 justice to your Father, and had represented him exactly as he was, 
 and exactly as they had all known him ? You will therefore, I hope, 
 my dear Sir, acquit me of vanity in making this communication to 
 you of yesterday's proceedings, since every thing said to me belongs 
 to the honoured memory of your dear Father. 
 
 Among those who were most kind in their notice of the above cir- 
 cumstances were Mr. Hansard, j who took me aside the moment I 
 
 * Thomas Payne, Esq. the eminent bookseller : see biographical notice in 
 p. 504. 
 
 f The Stationers'. 
 
 J Luko Hansard: sec p. xliv. hereafter, 
 
xl LETTERS OE CONDOLENCE. 
 
 entered the room, and Gardiner,* absent, but who charged his son 
 with a message to me, intimating the pleasure I afforded him. The 
 Court was rather full, there being scarcely any absent but those who 
 very seldom attend. 
 
 I remain, my dear Sir, yours most truly, Alexr. Chalmers. 
 
 From the Rev. THOMAS FROGNAL DIBDIN, D.D.f 
 
 Exning Vicarage, Nov. 30, 1826. 
 My dear Sir, — My pen must not lie quiet on the receipt of your 
 letter, though I was in possession of the melancholy event detailed in 
 
 * Joseph Gardiner, Esq. Master of the Stationers' Company in 1818 ; 
 father of Thomas Gardiner, Esq. Master of the Company in 1851 ; and grand- 
 father of Mr. Stephen Gage Gardiner, now one of its Stock-keepers. See p. 502. 
 
 f See a hiographical notice of Dr. Dibdin in p. 631. Mr. Nichols was thus 
 noticed in 1817 by Dr. Dibdin in his Decameron, ii. 401. " It is with emotions 
 of no ordinary gratification that I venture upon my brief chronicle of this 
 excellent old man, whose elasticity of mind and soundness of body (' mens 
 sana in corpore sano ') are not over-estimated in the language of Lisardo : 
 
 ' I will not smother the impulse which I feel to speak roundly and gallantly 
 in favour of the Living Father of the Puncheon and Matrix, ycleped John 
 Nichols, who, septuagenarian as he is, as yet preserves the elastic spirits of 
 youth, talks of his "Bowyer," and brandishes his rectangular-headed cane 
 with all the pardonable consciousness of the merit associated to such a pair of 
 names.' 
 
 " Scarcely a week has elapsed since I visited him at Islington. The septua- 
 genarian was hearty, cheerful, and as anxious as ever about the success of his 
 literary projects. When I had given him a sketch of the manner in which the 
 names and memories of the more eminent printers of celebrity had been treated 
 in these inefficient pages, the ' old boy' gave such tokens of satisfaction as led 
 me to hope I had not rashly executed the important task undertaken ; ' for,' 
 says he, ' if I am not deep in the lore of Fust, Jenson, and Froben, Operinus 
 and Plan tin j I have at least learned the art under a master who, for integrity 
 and erudition, may possibly vie with either.' The labours of Mr. Nichols have 
 neither been few nor unimportant, but his ' Leicestershire' must be considered 
 his magnum opus. The Gentleman's Magazine is perhaps the most popular 
 testimony of the labours of its indefatigable editor ; and even yet, while his sun 
 is setting with so warm a glow that its declension is scarcely perceptible, even 
 yet does Mr. Nichols superintend every sheet of its composition. Rare and 
 enviable felicity ! * * * * 
 
 " We shall now touch a more affecting chord. In his 63d year (180S) Mr. 
 Nichols was doomed to experience a calamity, which required all his energies 
 as a man, and his resignation as a Christian, and all the consolation arising 
 from the weight of his public character, as a member of society, to sustain — 
 the destruction of his printing -cfhce and warehouses, with the whole of their 
 contents, by fire. The conflagration of one dreadful night laid low his hopes, 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xli 
 
 it by Hie Paper of last Tuesday. Yet, why call it "melancholy?" It 
 is absolutely a congratulatory event ; for, after a life of so much active 
 virtue, benevolence, and public utility, protracted to such a period, 
 who would not desire a similar departure ? and what fitter prepara- 
 tion can mortal man receive for such an exit than that which I have 
 before described. I pass by his private worth, his friendly heart, his 
 parental affection, his popularity among a large and respectable circle 
 of discerning friends — these, and much more, which I want the oppor- 
 tunities, as well as the time, of recording, embalm his memory in the 
 fondest regrets of the gentle and the good. Take, take, my dear 
 friend, all I can give you; a cordial, but not a dispiriting sympathy; 
 it will be for me some day, when the inspiring mood arises, to throw 
 some trilling flower upon his tomb, as I scattered one or two in his 
 walk while he was alive ; and I think of all I have said and written 
 on this score with a satisfaction it is not easy to express. Pope's 
 comforting line is well applicable to his exit : — 
 
 " His death was gentle and without a groan." 
 The Scriptures will supply an abundance of more effectually con- 
 soling lines, albeit in prose. Here, there, and at all places, most truly 
 
 yours 
 
 T. F. DlBBIN. 
 
 Fmm ISAAC DTSIIAELT, Esq. F.S.A.* 
 
 Bloomsbury Square, 2 December, 1826. 
 
 Me. D'Israeli is sensibly obliged by the kind recollection of the 
 family of his old departed friend, and he begs they will accept his 
 sincerest condolence. 
 
 He participated in the painful shock. 
 
 It is a melancholy satisfaction to find that a long life, honourably 
 
 and dissipated the harvest of fifty previous years of industry and collection. All 
 seemed one wide scene of desolation. The pang of sufferance was doomed 
 however to be short, although severe; within 24 months new walls, new rooms, 
 new warehouses, peace, plenty, and prosperity, seemed to smile around." Dr. 
 Dibdin thus pleasantly concludes his notice of Mr. Nichols (from which are 
 given the preceding extracts) : — ' : But what have we here ? The very Septua- 
 genarian himself, with his rectangular cane, ready to give a rap on the peri- 
 cranium of the saucy Zoilus who dares question the loveliness of the forms of 
 his puncheons." Dr. Dibdin then gives a beautiful miniaturo copy of Mr. 
 Nichols's head from the portrait by H. Edridge, A.R A. in which the rect- 
 angular cane, necessarily omitted in the Decameron, is shown. The rect- 
 angular cane also appears in the last portrait of Mr. Nichols, by H. Meyer, 
 prefixed to this volume. A later notice of Mr. Nichols by Dr. Dibdin has- 
 been given in p, xxvi. 
 
 * See biographical notice in p. 661. 
 
xlii LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. 
 
 exerted to the last, with faculties unimpaired, closed in peace, without 
 the agony of a last farewell. 
 
 Our lost friend, with a temper tranquil as its pursuits, has left the 
 world lasting monuments of his studious labours ; and those who shall 
 know his worth hereafter will be gratified when they learn that his 
 public and domestic virtues, which made every one his friend, were 
 also a source of happiness to his devoted family. 
 Miss Nichols. 
 
 From WILLIAM THOMAS FITZ-GERALD, Esq.* 
 
 31, Dudley Grove, Paddington Green, Dec. 8th, 1826. 
 My. dear Sir, — It was but yesterday that your letter of the 4th 
 instant came to my hands, owing to my having quitted my former 
 abode for the house which I now occupy. 
 
 I saw in the Papers, with sincere regret, the loss you have expe- 
 rienced. Your good Father's useful life, his upright and amiable 
 character, which endeared him to his family and friends while living, 
 will be the best of epitaphs for his grave. In the full possession of 
 all his faculties, he obtained a fine old age, and seems to have passed 
 from mortal to immortal scenes without one pang. A true picture of 
 Dr. Johnson's fine lines : 
 
 A life that sinks in unperceived decay, 
 And glides in modest innocence away, 
 Whose peaceful day benevolence endears, 
 Whose night congratulating conscience cheers. 
 The general favourite, and the general friend, — 
 Such ago there is — and who would wish its end ? 
 With great regard, I remain, my dear Sir, most sincerely yours, 
 
 Wm. Thos. Fitz-Gerald. 
 J. B. Nichols, Esq. 
 
 * William Thomas Fitz-Gerald, esq. was a gentleman who wrote verse with 
 ease, and whose muse was always at the service of loyal, constitutional, and 
 charitable objects. Among the latter was his constant patronage of " Tho 
 Literary Fund," for which society he wrote twenty-four poetical Addresses, 
 which he delivered with great animation and effect at their anniversaries. His 
 name was frequently before the public, as he was ever ready to assist his theatrical 
 friends both of the public and private stage. He published a volume of Poems 
 in 1801, and several small poetical pamphlets on various occasions, particularly 
 on " The Downfall of Bonaparte," in 1814. He fell under the lash of the 
 authors of " The Rejected Addresses," and also of Lord Byron, which was to 
 be regretted, as his heart was loyal, warm, and generous, his manners gentle- 
 manly and social, and for his amiable and entertaining qualities his company 
 was courted by numerous friends. Mr. Fitz-Gerald died July 7, 1829, aged 70 : 
 see memoir in Gent. Mag. 1829, ii. 171. 
 
LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. xliii 
 
 From DAVIES GILBERT, Esq., M.P., F.R.S.* 
 
 . Bridge Street, Westminster, Nov. 27, 1826. 
 My dear Sir,— I was very much concerned to hear of the decease 
 of your most respectable Father. I can only say, that his name will 
 be handed down to posterity with the greatest credit to himself and to 
 his family. 
 
 Believe me, my dear Sir, yours very truly and faithfully, 
 
 Davies Gilbert. 
 J. B. Nichols, Esq. 
 
 In another letter, dated on the 6th Dec., Mr. Gilhert 
 remarked — 
 
 Scarcely a letter has reached me for a week past, that does not 
 notice with regret the loss recently sustained by the literary world by 
 the death of your worthy Father. 
 
 From WILLIAM HAMPER,! Esq- F.S.A. 
 
 Highgate, near Birmingham, Nov. 29th, 1826. 
 My dear Sir,— I regret to observe in my newspaper this morning, 
 that the "inevitable hour" which calls your excellent and venerable 
 Father away from us is at length arrived. Accept for yourself and 
 every survivor of your family my most unfeigned and heartfelt con- 
 dolence ; and believe me sincere when I assure you and them that I 
 shall always entertain the highest regard for the memory of him whose 
 
 * See biographical notice in p. 655. 
 
 f Of this amiable and well-informed antiquary, who died May 3, 1831, a 
 slight notice is given in p. 661. Mr. Sharp observes, in his excellent memoir 
 of Mr. Hamper, that " he raised himself in society by the cultivation of 
 his own superior talents and taste. He had the distinguished merit of 
 self-education, and was the simple architect of his own reputation and 
 station in the republic of letters." Ho contributed some articles to the 
 Archaeologia, and to most of the county historians and antiquaries of 
 the day he was an ablo assistant — to Mr. Nichols, Dr. Ormerod, Mr. 
 Bray, Mr. Baker, Mr. Blakeway, Mr. Douce, Mr. Britton and others. Mr. 
 Hamper published a life of Sir William Dugdale, and it is to be regretted that 
 the collections for Warwickshire formed by Mr. Hamper and Mr. Sharp, wero 
 not incorporated into a proposed new edition of Dugdale's History of that 
 county. Mr. Britton observes in his " Reminiscences " that he "was more 
 indebted to him than to any person in the world. A mass of his beautifully- 
 written letters, now before me, is replete with sound information on various 
 topics of antiquities, biography, &c. always couched in terms of kindness and 
 playfulness." Mr. Hamper's letters to Mr. Britton have been returned to his 
 (laughter Mrs. Noble, who preserves them with pious respect. 
 
xlviii LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. 
 
 nearer and dearer friends are expressing their feelings, I would not 
 trespass on your time, and beg you will take no thought to answer 
 my expression of deep and respectful regret for the Father of English 
 Topography. 
 Believe me, most sincerely yours, R« Surtees. 
 
 From the Ven. ARCHDEACON WRANGHAM.* 
 
 Hunmanby, Jan. 15, 1827. 
 Mr dear Sir, — While I beg to offer my sincere condolence on your 
 late heavy loss in the demise of a most intelligent and virtuous Father, 
 may I be forgiven if I add, in alleviation of your grief, that he had far 
 exceeded the allotted limit of life, as it is ordinarily circumscribed, 
 and still further its ordinary achievements. Few will be remembered 
 longer, or with kinder associations, even among the bustle of this 
 stirring and eventful age, than the good old man of whom I am 
 speaking. 
 
 * Mr. Archdeacon Wrangham was of Trinity Hall, Cambridge; and in 1790 
 was third wrangler and second Smith's prizeman. In classics he obtained the 
 first medal. In 1794, 1800, 1811, and 1812, he gained the Seatonian prize 
 for the best poem on a sacred subject. He was in an especial degree the 
 laudatiis a laudato; his scholarship received the homage of Parr, and his 
 poetry the still rarer eulogy of Byron. See a memoir, with a list of his publi- 
 cations, in Gent. Mag. for April 1813, pp. 430-432. See also a slight notice, 
 p. COS of this volume. Dr. Dibdin, in his " Reminiscences," thus describes 
 the Archdeacon in early life : — " He was flushed with academic honours from 
 Cambridge, — a wrangler, a medallist, and a poet, full of ardour and ambition; 
 his figure tall, his countenance expressive, his general bearing animated and 
 interesting. He was among the ' crack young men ' of his day, and his Uni- 
 versity and his friends had reason to be proud of him." 
 
14 
 
 Memoir of John Nichols Esq. F.S.J. 
 
 The very numerous Publications of which 
 Mr. Nichols was either the Author or the 
 Editor, we shall set down in chronological 
 order : 
 
 1. " Islington, a Poem, 176'3," 4to. 
 
 2. "The Buds of Parnassus, 1763," 4to; 
 republished in 1764, with additional Poems. 
 
 8. "The Origin of Printing, 1774," 8vo ; 
 the joint production of Mr. 13owyer and him- 
 
 self; reprinted in 1776; and a Supplement 
 added in 1781. 
 
 4. "Three Supplemental Volumes to the 
 Works of Dean Swift, with Notes, 1775, 
 1776, 1779," 8vo. 
 
 5. "Index to the Miscellaneous Works 
 of Lord Lyttelton, 1775," 8vo. 
 
 6. " Index to Lord Chesterfield's Letters 
 to his Son, 1776," 8vo. 
 
 7. " The Original Works, in Prose and 
 Verse, of William King, LL.D. with Histo- 
 rical Notes, 1776," 3 vols, small 8vo. 
 
 8. " Brief Memoirs of Mr. Bowyer, 
 1778," 8vo ; distributed, as a tribute of re- 
 spect, amongst a few select friends. 
 
 .9. " History of the Royal Abbey of Bee, 
 near Rouen, 1779," small 8vo. 
 
 10. " Some Account of the Alien Priories, 
 and of such Lands as they are known to have 
 possessed in England and Wales, 1799," 
 2 vols, small 8vo. 
 
 1 1. "Six Old Plays," on which Shakspeare 
 grounded a like number of his ; selected by 
 Mr. Steevens, and revised by Mr. Nichols, i 
 1779, 2 vols, small 8vo. 
 
 12. Mr. Rowe-Mores having left at his 
 death a small unpublished impression of " A 
 Dissertation upon English Typographical 
 Founders and Founderies;" all the copies of 
 this very curious pamphlet were purchased 
 at his sale by Mr. Nichols; and given to | 
 the publick in 1779, with the addition of a 
 short explanatory "Appendix." 
 
 13. " A Collection of Royal and Noble 
 Wills, 1780,"4to. 
 
 14. " A Select Collection of Miscella- 
 neous Poems, with Historical and Biogra- 
 phical Notes, 1780;" 4 vols, small 8vo ; to 
 which four other volumes, and a general 
 Poetical Index by Mr. Macbean, were added 
 in 1782. 
 
 15. "The Bibliotheca Topographica Bri- 
 tannica," 4to; in conjunction with Mr. 
 Gough (in LII Numbers), 17S0— 1790. 
 
 16. "Biographical Anecdotes of William 
 Hogarth, 1781," 8vo; republished in 1782, 
 again in 1785 ; and a fourth edition, in three 
 very handsome quarto volumes, with CLX 
 genuine Plates, 1810 — 1817. 
 
 17. " Biographical Memoirs of William 
 Ged, including a particular Account of his 
 Progress in the Art of Block-printing, 
 1781," 8vo. 
 
 18. A Third Edition, much enlarged, 
 of Mr. Bowyer's "Conjectures and Obser- 
 vations on the New Testament, 1782,"4to; 
 and a Fourth Edition in 1812. 
 
 19. "Biographical and Literary Anec- 
 dotes of William Bowyer, Printer, F. S.A. 
 and of many of his learned Friends, 1782," 
 4 to. 
 
 20. " The History and Antiquities of 
 Hinckley, in Leicestershire, 1782," 4to ; 
 of which a second edition, in folio, extract 
 ed from the " History of Leicestershire," 
 was printed in 1812. 
 
Memoir of John Nichols, Esq. F.S.A. 
 
 91. Mr. Bowyer'a "Apology for some 
 of Mr. Ilooke's Observations concerning 
 the Roman Senate, with nn Index to the 
 Observations, 1788," 4to. 
 
 22. " Novum Testamentum Grsecum, ad 
 fidem Grsecorum solum Codicum MSS. ex- 
 pressura ; adstipulante Joanne Jacobo Wet- 
 stenio : juxta Sectiones Jo. Albert! Bengelii 
 divisum ; et novfi [nterpunctione ssepihs il- 
 lustratnm. Editio Secunda, Londini, curA, 
 t\ pis, &8amptibus Johaanis Nichols, 1783." 
 
 23. In 1783, lie collected "The princi- 
 pal Additions and Corrections in the Third 
 Edition of Dr. Johnson's Lives of the 
 Poets, to complete the Second Edition" (of 
 1781). 
 
 24. " Bishop Atterbury's Epistolary Cor- 
 respondence, with Notes," vols. I. and II. 
 1783; vol. III. 1784; vol. IV. 1787. — A 
 new Edition of this Work, corrected and 
 much enlarged, was published in 1799, with 
 Memoirs of the Bishop; and a Fifth Vo- 
 lume, entirely new. 
 
 25. In conjunction with the Rev. Dr. 
 Ralph Heathcote, he revised the second 
 edition of the " Biographical Dictionary," 
 12 vols. 8vo, 1784; and added several hun- 
 dred new lives. 
 
 2b". " A Collection of Miscellaneous 
 Tracts, by Mr. Bowyer, and some of his 
 learned Friends, 17S5."4to. 
 
 27. " The History and Antiquities of 
 Lambeth Parish, 1786." 
 
 28. "The Tatler, 1786'," cum Notis Fa- 
 riorum, 6 vols, small 8vo. 
 
 29. ** The Works, in Verse and Prose, 
 of Leonard Welsted, Esq. with Notes and 
 Memoirs of the Author, 1787," Svo. 
 
 30. "The History and Antiquities of 
 Aston Flamvile and Burbach, in Leicester- 
 shire, 1787," 4to. 
 
 31. " Sir Richard Steele's Epistolary 
 Correspondence, with Biographical and His- 
 torical Notes, 1788," 2 vols small Svo; 
 and an enlarged Edition, in 1809, 2 vols. 
 Svo. 
 
 32. " The Progresses and Royal Proces- 
 sions of Queen Eii/.abeth, 1788." 2 vols. 
 4to. — Of this Collection a Third Volume 
 was published in 1804 ; and Part of a Fourth 
 Volume in 1821. 
 
 33. " The History and Antiquities of 
 Canonbury, w ith some Account of the Parish 
 of Islington, 1788," 4to. 
 
 34. " The Lover and Reader, by Sir 
 Richard Steele, illustrated with Notes, 
 1789," 8vo. 
 
 35. "The Town Talk, Fish Pool, Ple- 
 beian, Old Whig, Spinster, &c. by Sir 
 Richard Steele ; illustrated with Notes, 
 1790," 8vo. 
 
 36. " Collections towards the History 
 and Antiquities of the Town and County of 
 Leicester, 1790," 2 vols. 4to. 
 
 37. " An Edition of Shakspeare, 17.90," 
 in seven vols. 12rao; accurately printed 
 
 from the Text of Mr. Malonc ; with a Se- 
 lection of the more important Notes. 
 
 38. " The Theatre and Anti-theatre, &x. 
 of Sir Richard Steele, illustrated with Notes, 
 1791," 8vo. 
 
 39. " Miscellaneous Antiquities, in con- 
 tinuation of the Bibliotheca Topographica 
 Britannica," Six Numbers, 4to. 1792 — 1798. 
 
 40. " The History and Antiquities of the 
 Town and County of Leicester;" Part3 I. 
 and II. 1795. Folio. — A Third Part was 
 published in 1798; a Fourth in 1800; a 
 Fifth in 1804 ; a Sixth in 1807 (reprinted 
 in 1810); and the Seventh in 1811 ; and 
 an Appendix and General Indexes in 1815. 
 
 41. " Illustrations of the Manners and 
 Expences of Autient Times in England, 
 1797," 4to. 
 
 42. " Bishop Kennett's Funeral Sermon, 
 with Memoirs of the Cavendish Family, 
 1797," 8vo. 
 
 43. " Chronological List of the Society 
 of Antiquaries of London, 1 798," 4to. com- 
 piled in conjunction with Mr. Gough. 
 
 44. " An Edition of Shakspeare, 1799," 
 in eight vols. 12mo; accurately printed 
 from the Text of Mr. Steevens : with a Se- 
 lection of the Notes. 
 
 45. Having recovered the MS. of the 
 Reverend Kennett Gibson's " Comment 
 upon Part of the Fourth Journey of Antoni- 
 nus through Britain" (which in 1769 Mr. 
 Gibson proposed to publish by subscription, 
 but which upon his death was supposed to 
 have been lost), Mr. Gough and Mr. 
 Nichols jointly published it in 1800, with 
 the Parochial History of Castor and its De- 
 pendencies ; and an Account of Marham, 
 and several other places in its neighbour- 
 hood. A new and improved Edition of this 
 Work was printed in 1819. 
 
 46. In 1800, he completed " The Anti- 
 quaries' Museum," which had been begun 
 in 1791 by his friend Jacob Schnebbelie. 
 
 47. In'l801, he published Dr. Pegge's 
 " Historical Account of Beaucliief Abbey, 
 in the County of Derby." 
 
 48. In the same year, he published a new 
 and complete Edition of the " Works of 
 Dean Swift," in XIX vols. Svo; which in 
 1803 were reprinted in XXIV vols. 18mo; 
 again in XIX vols. Svo, in 1808. 
 
 49. In 1803, in conformity to the last 
 will of Samuel Pegge, esq. fson of the learn- 
 ed Antiquary already named), he ushered 
 into the world, " Anecdotes of the English 
 Language, Ike." 8vo ; and a new edition, 
 with improvements, in 1814, 8vo ; and in 
 1818, another work by the same gentleman, 
 intituled, " Curialia Miscellanea, or Anec- 
 dotes of Old Times," &c. 8vo. 
 
 50. " Journal of a very young Lady's 
 Tour from Canonbury to Aldborough, 
 through Chelmsford, Sudbury , Ipswich; and 
 back, through Harwich, Colchester, tvc. 
 Sept. 14—21, 1804 ; written hastily on the 
 
16 
 
 Tributes to the Memory of John Nichols, Esq. F.S.J. 
 
 Road, as occurrences arose ;" not intended 
 for publication ; but a very few copies only 
 printed, to save the trouble of transcrib- 
 ing. 
 
 51. In 1806, he published, from the 
 MSS. of his Friend Mr. Samuel Pegge, 
 " The Fourth and Fifth Parts of Curialia: 
 or, An Historical Account of some Branches 
 of the Royal Household, &c." 4to. 
 
 52. In 1809 he printed from the Origi- 
 nals, and illustrated with Literary and Histo- 
 rical Anecdotes, " Letters on various sub- 
 jects, to and from Archbishop Nicolson," 
 2 vols. 8vo. 
 
 53. In the same year he edited another 
 posthumous Work of Dr. Pegge's, under the 
 title of " Anonymiana ; or, Ten Centuries 
 of Observations on various Authors and 
 Subjects," 8vo ; and a Second Edition in 
 1818. 
 
 54. A new edition of" Fuller's History of 
 the Worthies of England," with brief Notes, 
 1811, 2 vols. 4to. 
 
 55. " Literary Anecdotes of the Eigh- 
 teenth Century," 1812 — 1815, 9 volumes, 
 8vo. 
 
 56". " Literary Illustrations of the Eigh- 
 teenth Century," a Sequel to the above 
 Work, 4 vols. 1817 — 1822. 
 
 57. A new Edition of his friend Sir John 
 Cullum's " History and Antiquities of Haw- 
 sted " 1 vol. 4to. 1813. 
 
 58. A Third Edition of Rev. Thomas 
 Warton's " History of Kiddington, in Ox- 
 fordshire;" revised through the press with 
 the assistance of H. Ellis, esq. 1 vol. 4to, 
 1815. 
 
 59. " Hardinge's Latin, Greek, and Eng- 
 lish Poems," 1818, 8vo. 
 
 60. " Miscellaneous Works of George 
 Hardinge," 3 vols. 8vo. 1819. 
 
 61. In 1818 he prefixed to the third 
 volume of General Index to the Gentleman's 
 Magazine, a Prefatory Introduction, descrip- 
 tive of the rise and progress of the Ma- 
 gazine, with Anecdotes of the Projector and 
 his early associates. 
 
 62. " Taylor and Long's Music Speeches 
 at Cambridge," 3 vols. 1819, 8vo. 
 
 63. " Four Sermons, by Dr. Taylor, Bps. 
 Lowth and Hayter," 1822, 8vo. 
 
 64. Explanations of the subjects of 
 Hogarth's Plates, for the splendid and com- 
 plete Edition of them, published by Messrs. 
 Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, in 1822. 
 
 65. " Progresses of Queen Elizabeth," 
 new edition, with very considerable improve- 
 ments, 3 vols. 4to. 1823, 
 
 G6. " The Progresses of King James the 
 First," in 3 vols. 4to, were printing at the 
 time of Mr. Nichols's death: and he lived 
 to see the greater part of them published. 
 
 67. A Fifth Volume of" Literary Illustra- 
 tions" is left by Mr. Nichols, nearly com- 
 pleted at the press. 
 
 A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF 
 THE LATE J. NICHOLS, Esg. 
 T ATE in the vale of life, and full of years, 
 Cheerful and happy was his cloudless day, 
 When, lo ! hewept by Friendship's grateful 
 tears, 
 He slept in peace — his spirit pass'd away. 
 While Earth admir'd the Historian of his 
 time, 
 Domestic virtues were his highest praise, 
 These gave to life an energy sublime, 
 
 A beauteous lustre to his lengthen'd days. 
 Unfeign'd affection liv'd within his heart, 
 
 A store of blessings which he freely gave, 
 Blessings that he delighted to impart 
 
 To numerous friends now mourning o'er 
 his grave. 
 Various his talents, as his heart was kind, 
 
 The page of ancient lore helov'dto scan; 
 
 Learning's bright gems enrich'd his liberal 
 
 mind, [man. 
 
 And form'd his studies thro' the age of 
 
 With patient industry and wondrous toil, 
 
 Thro' dark antiquity he sought his way; 
 And, persevering in the hard turmoil, 
 
 He brought its treasures to the light of day. 
 In later years instruction from his pen 
 
 Delighted thousands by his pleasing page ; 
 A faithful painter of the lives of men, 
 
 He gave the history of a learned age. 
 His labours o'er, he rests beneath the sod, 
 His lamp consum'd, his various studies 
 cease, 
 His happy spirit soars to meet his God, 
 Aud rest for ever in the realms of peace. 
 W. Hersee. 
 
 ON THE LATE JoHN NlCHOLS, Esg. 
 
 Bv John Taylor, Esq. 
 JJERE Nichols rests, whose pure and 
 
 active mind 
 Thro' life still aim'd to benefit mankind. 
 For useful knowledge eager from his youth, 
 To lengthen'd age in keen pursuit of Truth. 
 What ruthless time had destiu'd to decay, 
 He well explor'd and brought to open day. 
 Yet still he search'd not with a Bigot's zeal 
 To gain what Time would for Oblivion steal, 
 But that such works recorded should remain 
 As taste and virtue gladly would retain. 
 And though intent to merit public fame, 
 Warmly alive to each domestic claim : 
 He like the Patriarchs rever'd of yore, 
 To all his kindred due affection bore. 
 Prompt with good humour all he knew to 
 
 cheer, 
 And wit with him was playful, not severe. 
 Such was the Sage whose reliques rest below, 
 Belov'd by many a friend, without one foe. 
 
j: ■ 
 
 TRIBUTES TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN NICHOLS, Esq. F.S.A. 
 
 ELEGIAC STANZAS. 
 By G. Daniel, Esq. 
 
 Sovereign Parent ! holy Earth ! 
 
 To thy bosom we commend 
 Nichols, full of years and worth, 
 
 JOHNSON'S last surviving friend! 
 
 He was of that glorious time, 
 
 Of that bright transcendant age, 
 When immortal Truth sublime 
 
 Dropp'd like manna from the Sage. 
 Call'd to fill that honour'd chair 
 
 Johnson once so nobly grac'd, 
 He essay'd with pious care 
 
 Still to guide the public taste — 
 Attic wit, and sense profound, 
 
 'Mid the Muse's humble lay, 
 Truth divine, with Science crown'd, 
 
 All their various powers display. 
 Many a name, to Learning dear, 
 
 Bears his faithful, fond record — 
 Greet his meni'ry wtth a tear ! 
 
 Give his name the like reward ! 
 Rich in antiquarian lore, 
 
 Pageants quaint, and deeds of arms; 
 He from History's ample store 
 
 Drew its most romantic charms. 
 Blest with candour, liberal praise, 
 
 Years beheld his fame increase — 
 Cheerfulness, and length of days, 
 
 Frendship, competence, and peace ! 
 To no quibbling sect a slave, 
 
 His religion was from Heaven; 
 And to want he freely gave 
 
 What to him was freely given. 
 Thoughts of those that once had been, 
 
 Sweet remembrance of the past, 
 Cheer'd him thro' life's closing scene — 
 
 Of those honour'd Names — the last! 
 
 Lines on hearing of the 
 Death of John Nichols, Esq. 
 
 And is thy spirit fled, thou honoured sage, 
 Whose lamp illum'd so long the passing age ? 
 Blest with a temper whose unclouded ray 
 " Could make to-morrow cheerful as to-day," 
 In calm enjoyment of domestic peace, 
 Thy mental energies knew no decrease. 
 Tho' time and toil had dimm'd the visual ray, 
 Yet filial love did half the loss repay. 
 Preserv'd, like Milton's muse, by filial 
 
 hands, 
 Each thought, each word, each valued record 
 
 stands. 
 Like the great Bard was he with daughters 
 
 blest, 
 
 Who every want supplied with duteous zest, 
 
 And who, as age requir'd their fostering aid, 
 
 A Sire's commands with purest love obeyed. 
 
 As with mild radiance shone his setting 
 
 sun, 
 Who could suppose his race so nearly run ? 
 While, without struggle, from its mortal clay 
 His spirit soar'd at once to realms of day. 
 
 Rebecca Edwards. 
 
 Extract from a Poetical Address to 
 
 Sylvanus Urban, 1826. 
 
 By the Rev. W. Rawlins, Ret -tor 01 
 
 Teversall, Notts. 
 
 Heard ye, alas ! the solemn knell of death ? 
 Nichols no more inhales the morning's breath ; 
 But still his works display an ample store 
 Of classic taste and antiquarian lore. 
 Long will the kindred sons of genius mourn, 
 And drop the tear of sorrow o'er his urn. 
 
11 
 
 A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN NICHOLS, Esq. F.S.A. 
 By the Rev. Dn. Booker. 
 
 WHEN die the Good, Affliction's tear 
 
 will flow, 
 To soothe the heart that bleeds with ten- 
 
 derest woe, 
 And, round whose urn may we that title 
 
 bind ? 
 Round theirs who reverenc'd God, and 
 
 bless'd mankind. 
 
 Such, honour'd Sage ! whose multifarious 
 lore, 
 Tho' unexampled, still acquiring more, 
 Render'd thy years, when others' work is 
 
 done, 
 Like the mild radiance of a setting Sun. 
 
 To bless .and serve thy country was the 
 aim 
 
 Of all thy views : and now a deathless 
 name 
 
 Awaits thee. — Sculptur'd marbles shall de- 
 cay, 
 
 And votive lines of Genius fade away ; 
 
 Yet shall thy useful labours these supply, — 
 
 And while thy country lives, shall never 
 die. 
 
 From the profound abyss of hoary Time, 
 Thou many a buried truth and mouldering 
 
 rhyme 
 Didst rescue, — throwing light on ages past, 
 Whose rays will shine while History's page 
 
 shall last. 
 
 Around the throne thy safeguards didst 
 thou bring, 
 To shield from fell disloyalty thy King ; 
 Around the forms of consecrated law, 
 Which shield the good, and keep the bad 
 
 in awe, 
 Thou, as a faithful Watchman, plac'd on 
 
 high, 
 Didst lurking danger to those forms des- 
 cry; 
 Around the altar, where thy Christian vow, 
 In youth was made, and thou in age didst 
 
 bow, — 
 The first confirming (on conviction due) 
 What the long patriarchal last found true, — 
 There a Palladium, from all feet profane, 
 Thou more than half a century didst main- 
 tain ; 
 Nor did the lengthen'd term of duty close, 
 When feebler minds would have desired re- 
 pose ; 
 But in the ballow'd path thou didst pro- 
 ceed, [meed. 
 Till Heaven approving, call'd thee to thy 
 Then, like a golden shock of ripen'd grain, 
 Fresh reap'd in autumn, from some spacious 
 
 plain, 
 Death did thy venerable frame convey, 
 Softly to slumber in thy parent clay, 
 Till by thy Saviour's awful fiat given, 
 Angels transport it to thy home in Hea- 
 
 .iami.ni sii:::Li. 
 
BIRTH-DAY ODES, 
 
 AND OTHER 
 
 DOMESTIC POEMS, 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 JOHN NICHOLS, Eso. F.S.A. 
 
The following little Poems were composed by their 
 late venerable Author for the gratification of his 
 Family Circle. Many of them were printed anony- 
 mously at the times they were written ; but they are 
 now collected at the request of some of his partial 
 Friends. 
 
 Nov. 26, 1827. 
 
 Printed by J. B. Nichols, 25, Parliament Street. 
 
3 
 LINES 
 
 On the Writer's entering his Seventy-third Year, 
 February 14, 1817. 
 
 Welcome the morn which opes to me 
 The pleasing dawn of Seventy-three. 
 Lame though I am, and partly blind, 
 Weak though I am, yet firm in mind, 
 I laud the Power which bids me live 
 To comforts He alone can give. 
 Though many a year my aching head 
 Has dew'd with tears my widowed bed, 
 Returning day can still impart 
 Joy which revives a Parent's heart, 
 Whilst in each lovely Girl I trace 
 The features of a Mother's face ; 
 Whilst in a Son I proudly find 
 Virtue with manly sense combin'd; 
 Anticipating every care, 
 My griefs, my joys, they fondly share ; 
 With me their sacred sorrows pour 
 For friends not lost, but gone before ; 
 With me they kiss Affliction's rod, 
 They bow to Heaven, and bless their God: 
 Then hail the day which opes to me 
 The calm delights of Seventy-three. 
 
 14, Highbury-place. 
 
LINES 
 
 ADDRESSED TO A DAUGHTER, 
 
 Written on my Birth-Day, Feb. 14, 181 
 
 Three years are passed, my dearest Anne, 
 
 Beyond the allotted age of Man; 
 
 But ah ! how changed a Father's frame, 
 
 His languid eyes too well proclaim ; 
 
 His tottering limbs too well display 
 
 The natural symptoms of decay ! 
 
 The purple tide which yet remains, 
 
 Creeps slowly through his frozen veins ; 
 
 Yet not of every joy bereft, 
 
 Thankful for those which still are left, 
 
 He views, without regret or fear, 
 
 The opening of another year, 
 
 For still domestic ties invite 
 
 To share in scenes of pure delight ; 
 
 And filial love can best assuage 
 
 The sorrows of declining age : 
 
 Such love will cheer his latest breath, 
 
 And tranquillize the hour of death. 
 
LINES 
 
 WRITTEN OX MY BIRTH-DAY, FEB. 14, 1819. 
 
 Once more the sun's enlivening ray 
 
 Illumines this my natal day; 
 
 But, ah ! how short the term appears 
 
 Of Seventy-four revolving years ! 
 
 The school-boy's sport, the school-boy's theme, 
 
 Are now but one delicious dream ; 
 
 Whilst Youth and Manhood quick are flown, 
 
 With joys and sorrows of their own ; 
 
 More rapid still the moments glide, 
 
 As Age steals on with hasty stride ! 
 
 Here let me make a solemn pause, 
 To hail the great Eternal Cause ; 
 To whose benignity I owe 
 All that 1 wish for here below, 
 And hope, from His abundant love, 
 To share in purer joys above. 
 " Then welcome Life or Death to me, 
 " 1 'm still secure, for still with Thee " 
 
LINES ON MY BIRTH-DAY, 
 
 Feb. 14, 1820. 
 
 On wings more rapid than the last, 
 Another fleeting year is past ; 
 And (thanks to Heaven ! ) I still survive 
 To greet the end of Seventy -Jive. 
 
 One serious ill on Age attends — 
 The frequent loss of early Friends ; 
 But yet there live a chosen few, 
 Whom in their boyish days I knew, 
 And still esteem — the longer known, 
 The firmer is the attachment grown. 
 
 Of " wedded love" though long bereft, 
 I 've many darling pledges left : 
 Whilst children's children charm my sight 
 With scenes of innocent delight: 
 Their lively voice, their artless smile, 
 Can many an anxious care beguile. 
 I see the young idea shoot ; 
 Admire the germ, the bud, the fruit; 
 Pleas'd in their infant sports I mix, 
 And hail the dawn of Seventy-six. 
 
LINES ON MY BIRTH-DAY 
 Feb. 14, 18*21. 
 
 Once more I tune the vocal shell, 
 
 To bid the Muse a long farewell, — 
 
 The friendly Muse, whose plaintive lay 
 
 Has soothed the toil of many a clay, 
 
 " Delights no more." — The eye grown dim, 
 
 The nerves unstrung, the tottering limb, 
 
 The sluggard pulse, the aching head, 
 
 The tear involuntary shed, 
 
 Are warnings, graciously design 'd 
 
 To tranquillize the busy mind. 
 
 Death, the fell Tyrant, levels all ; 
 Alike Kings, Nobles, Peasants fall : 
 Thus infant blossoms fade away, 
 And antieut friendships thus decay. 
 
 All this I feel, and grateful own 
 The thousand blessings I have known ; 
 And numerous comforts still are mine, 
 Which round a Parent's heart entwine, 
 And vital energies bestow, 
 Alleviate pain, and banish woe. 
 
8 
 
 Six years beyond the little span 
 Allotted to the age of man 
 This day completes — Grant, Lord of Heaven ! 
 A few bright hours in Seventy-seven. 
 But if my earthly race is run, 
 I stop content—" Thy will be done ! " 
 
 Highbury. 
 
LINES ON MY BIRTH-DAY 
 
 Feb. 14, 1822. 
 
 Once more returns that annual day 
 Which claims a Veteran's grateful lay ; 
 Grateful I am— but, oh ! how vain 
 The attempt to raise a tuneful strain ! 
 The Muse's vivid dreams are o'er, 
 The ready numbers flow no more. 
 
 Farewell " the feverish thirst of fame, 
 The longing for a Poet's name !" 
 Content, whilst wrapt in mild repose, 
 To moralize in humble prose ; 
 And scan, with retrospective eye, 
 The busy scenes long since gone by ; 
 Scenes of alternate grief and joy — 
 (No pleasure but has some alloy!) 
 
 By no acute disease oppress'd, 
 By no domestic cares distress'd, 
 Possessing still, though dim in sight, 
 Some sparks of intellectual light, 
 W ith gradual symptoms of decay, 
 Life's ebbing current glides away. 
 
 Thankful for every blessing past, 
 
 Conscious each hour may be my last ; 
 
 That hour's approach I calmly wait, 
 
 And cheerful enter Seventy-eight. 
 
 b 
 
10 
 
 LINES ON MY BIRTH- DAY 
 
 Feb. 14, 1823. 
 
 This day, with gratitude elate, 
 
 I pass the bounds of Seventy-eight. 
 
 Though few, among the sons of men , 
 
 Survive to " three-score years and ten," 
 
 With me eight added i/ ears are gone, 
 
 Alas, how swiftly are they flown ! 
 
 Ilapid, indeed, has been their race, 
 
 But still 1 deem them " years of grace;" 
 
 And, whilst I enter Seventy-nine, 
 
 Laud and adore the Power Divine, 
 
 Who reigns " high thron'd, all thrones above/' 
 
 The fountain of redeeming love. 
 
 With due serenity of mind, 
 Alike to life or death resign'd; 
 Approaching fast that awful bourne 
 From which no tiavellers return, 
 I contemplate the blissful shore, 
 Where human troubles vex no more ; 
 Where pain, and toil, and sorrow cease, 
 And all is harmony and peace : 
 Thither, through realms of endless light, 
 The pious Christian wings his flight, 
 " In sure and certain hope to find 
 A righteous. Judge, a Saviour kind." 
 
11 
 
 FAREWELL TO THE MUSE, 
 
 BY AN OCTOGENARIAN, FEB. 14, 1821. 
 
 At length, bewitching Muse, to you 
 
 1 bid a lingering, fond adieu ; 
 
 Plac'd on the threshold of Fourscore, 
 
 [ tread your flowery paths no more ; 
 
 Nor longer " trifle life away," 
 
 " Uncertain of a single day." 
 
 Lord of all power and might, to Thee 
 I lowly bend the suppliant knee ; 
 To Thee my bounden homage pay 
 On this revolving Natal Day. 
 Thankful for comforts long enjoy'd, 
 Sorrowing for moments mis-employ'd, 
 To Thee my grateful voice I raise 
 In fervent prayer, and heart-felt praise. 
 Whilst memory cheers my feeble frame, 
 1 '11 venerate thy sacred name ; 
 And, when this mortal course is run, 
 Submissive say — " Thy will be done ! " 
 
 Father of mercies, hear my prayer ! 
 Guide me by thine especial care, 
 
12 
 
 And pardon, Lord, " for thy dear Son," 
 All I have done, or left undone ; 
 That, when to future life I wake, 
 I may of heavenly bliss partake ! 
 
 TO A LADY, 
 
 WITH A POCKET-BOOK. 
 
 If ever heart, fair excellence, was mine, 
 Believe me, Patty, 'tis sincerely thine ! 
 This earnest of my love, then, deign to take 
 And prize the trifle for the giver's sake. 
 
 1777. 
 
IS 
 
 LINES 
 
 ADDRESSED TO SIX DAUGHTERS, ON THE BIRTH- 
 DAY OF THE ELDEST, 
 
 Aug. 3, 1805. 
 
 When lovers praise the idol of their heart, 
 Flattery with truth too often bears a part. 
 Not so the verse paternal love bestows ; 
 Warm from the soul his honest rapture flows. 
 
 Thee first I hail, sweet Anne, of aspect mild, 
 My earliest hope, my ever-duteous child, 
 To female softness joining manly sense, 
 Thy blameless conduct never gave offence. 
 
 And, Sarah, thou, to whom indulgent Heaven 
 The choicest intellectual stores has given ; 
 Merits like thine, so far all praise above, 
 Firmly secure an anxious Parent's love. 
 
 Martha, fair semblance of a spirit blest, 
 In thee thy Mother's features stand confess'd; 
 Her comely form, her unassuming mind, 
 Her active spirits, and her sense refin'd. 
 
14 
 
 Gay, giddy, artless, in the bloom of youth, 
 Ingenuous emblem of unspotted truth ; 
 Thou, Mary, snatch'd from malady severe, 
 Art to Parental fondness doubly dear. 
 
 With look demure, and fascinating wile, 
 Though Isabella scarcely seems to smile, 
 Content, the welcome inmate, still resides 
 Where honour dictates, and where reason guides. 
 
 Too early doom'd the woes of life to share, 
 Unconscious of a Mother's tenderest care, 
 The gentle Susan, in a Father's breast, 
 Claims and secures a share beyond the rest. 
 
 From a fond Parent, and a faithful friend, 
 Dear comforters, accept this last adieu : 
 May every good your future lives attend, 
 And Heaven's prime blessings still be shower'd on you. 
 
 To me, declining in the vale of years, 
 Religion clearly points a safe retreat ; 
 Where hope of never-fading joy appears, 
 And, not to part again, we all shall meet! 
 
 Canonbury. 
 
15 
 LINES 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF A DAUGHTER. 
 
 Take, dearest Martha, to the realms above, 
 The last fond blessing of a Father's love ; 
 No longer throbs thy pure, thy gentle heart, 
 Martha, farewell! by Heaven's decree we part. 
 Clos'd are those eyes where radiant lustre glow'd, 
 Mute are those lips where sounds seraphic flow'd; 
 Yet not for ever mute, in kindred skies 
 Thy meek Hosannahs more refin'd shall rise. 
 There with a sister Angel * wilt thou raise 
 Eternal hymns of gratitude and praise. 
 
 Worthing, May 23, 1816. 
 
 * Mrs. Anne Pridden, another daughter, who died a few months 
 previously to her sister. 
 
16 
 
 LINES 
 
 TO A DAUGHTER ON HER BIRTH-DAY 
 
 At length one anxious thought is o'er, 
 For Isabell's a child no more : 
 Sixteen's the age, my dearest Bell, 
 As abler Poets sometimes tell, 
 When, infant foibles swept away, 
 Reason assumes its potent sway, 
 And, ripening with advancing years, 
 In native dignity appears. 
 
 Yes, Bell, with honest pride I see 
 This truth exemplified in thee ; 
 And all a parent's cares o'erpaid 
 By charms which grace my lovely maid. 
 
 Mistake me not; you'll hear enough 
 Of dimples, smiles, and such-like stuff, 
 From many an inconsiderate youth ; 
 (Part compliment, though mostly truth.) 
 The charms 1 mean are innocence, 
 ^weet temper, unaffected sense; 
 In pleasures lively, temperate, gay ; 
 Harmless as lambkins in their play. 
 These are the beauties that impart 
 Sweet comfort to a Father's heart ; 
 Who lives to bless that awful Power 
 Which, in misfortune's sacred hour, 
 
17 
 
 When, all my fondest wishes crost, 
 The Mother of my Children lost, 
 Left not her orphans in despair, 
 But heard the lorn survivor's prayer. 
 Congenial tenderness supplies 
 More than a Mother's sacred ties ; 
 And, whilst instructive precept warms, 
 By bright example doubly charms. 
 
 Oh, Bell, reward this matchless friend ! 
 Let her attain the wish'd-for end; 
 To see your virtues hourly rise, 
 To see you lovely, happy, wise, 
 Has been a Sister's fondest joy, 
 Long may it last without alloy ! 
 'Tis yours to bless her future years, 
 To share her joys, dispel her tears ; 
 By every pleasing art to prove 
 How sweet are gratitude and love ; 
 And, by affection's genuine rays, 
 To cheer an aged Father's days ! 
 
 May 26. 
 
18 
 
 IMPROMPTU, 
 
 TO A DAUGHTER ON HER BIRTH-DAY, 
 
 The morning dawn'd serenely bright, 
 
 When first my Anna saw the light ; 
 
 O ! may it each revolving year 
 
 More bright, more beauteous still appear, 
 
 Till the great Power by whom 'twas given, 
 
 Recall the gentle soul to heaven. 
 
 Feb. 15. 
 
19 
 
 LINES 
 
 Intended to have been placed on the Library door 
 of the Gothic Hall, at Ansley, the seat of John 
 Newdigate Ludford, Esq. 
 
 Here, Stranger, enter, if prepared to meet 
 A cordial welcome, and a mental treat ; 
 Here countless tomes of Classic lore delight, 
 Here Hogarth's matchless pencil charms the sight. 
 Here then, remote from tyrant Fashion's call, 
 Enjoy the comforts of this Gothic Hall. 
 
 1813. 
 
20 
 
 THREE SONNETS, WRITTEN IN 1814. 
 
 SONNET I. 
 
 WRITTEN ON THE BANKS OF THE LAKE AT 
 GUMLEY, LEICESTERSHIRE. 
 
 Spirits of Johnson, Garrick, Gray, descend, 
 To Gumley's aromatic groves repair; 
 
 Melodious Mason, Farmer, Hurd, attend, 
 
 And thou, deep reasoning Warburton, be there. 
 
 Groves where, at peep of dawn and "parting 
 day," 
 With mind enrich'd by Learning's brightest 
 
 page, 
 Your Cr a dock frequent bends his devious way, 
 Whilst Classic themes his ardent thoughts 
 
 Descend, companions of his studious hours ; 
 
 Ye who, approved, admired, his youthful lays ; 
 Ye who, in Granta's academic bowers, 
 
 Inflam'd his dawning Muse by early praise. 
 Oh ! come, and aid his fancy's soaring wing, 
 So shall Autumnal Songs still vie with those of 
 Spring. 
 
 Aug. 23, 1814. 
 
SONNET II. 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE PLANTATION AT 
 CADD1NGTON, IJ E DFOIt DSH 1 H E. 
 
 Too proud to flatter, too sincere to bend, 
 And heedless of the favours of the great; 
 
 The orphan's counsellor, the widow's friend, 
 On thee the blessings of the needy wait. 
 
 He this thy praise, and this thy true renown, 
 The recompense of many an anxious care ; 
 
 A village flock thy pastoral labours crown 
 
 With honest plaudits, and with heartfelt 
 prayer. 
 
 Nor this thy only meed, for roseate health 
 Repays the skilful planter's various toil ; 
 And competence supplies the place of wealth, 
 Whilst gay plantations round their owner 
 smile. 
 Pleasures like these may Pridden long enjoy! 
 These are the sweets of life — sweets that can never 
 cloy. 
 
 Aug. 26, 181 4. 
 
22 
 SONNET III. 
 
 TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD THURLOW 
 
 Not that Patrician honours grace thy name, 
 Not that the diadem thy brow adorns ; 
 
 Thurlow pursues a different road to fame, 
 Nor the chaste Muse's visitation scorns. 
 
 The Muse who smiled on Spenser's fairy strains, 
 Or Shakspeare, " Nature's darling child," 
 inspired, 
 
 She who with Cowley's tenderness complains, 
 Or Sidney's patriot breast with ardour fired. 
 
 Yes, noble Baron, these are thy compeers, 
 
 These thy precursors to Apollo's shrine, 
 
 These the companions of thy earlier years, 
 
 These the prime favourites of the sacred Nine. 
 These the best model of thy tuneful song, 
 The harbingers of praise which to true Bards belong. 
 
 Aug. 14, 1814. 
 
TO A LADY ON HER BIRTH-DAY 
 
 WITH A JAPAN ROSE IN BLOOM. 
 
 Go, little plant, and happy in thy doom, 
 To dwell with Mallet in perennial bloom; 
 There all thy variegated tints display, 
 To gratulate the Matron's natal day. 
 And sheltered from the Eastern blast, to share 
 The taste which ornaments a neat parterre; 
 There all thy aromatic sweets disclose, 
 Eclipse the violet, and excel the rose. 
 
 March 3, 1821. 
 
 Printed by J. B. Nichols, 25, Parliament Street. 
 
Ja-}Jx^. CiacL&cL 
 
 Esq. M.A. 
 
 Senior Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries; 
 Bom 1741-2 Died iSZd. 
 
 3«'','/..-<W T,l-'i iSz? /■ ■./ !l .\'i,,'i,'i. Lit ii.:»iait 
 
MEMOIR OF JOSEPH CRADOCK, ESQ. M.A. F.S. A. 
 
 (From the Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. 1827.,) 
 
 Dec. 15, 1826. At his apartments 
 in the Strand , in his 85th year, after 
 gradually declining for about three 
 weeks, Joseph Cradock, Esq. M.A. 
 senior Fellow of the Society of Anti- 
 quaries. 
 
 Mr. Cradock was the only surviving 
 son of Joseph Cradock, Esq., of Lei- 
 cester and Gumley, by Mary Annice, 
 his first wife. He was born at Leices- 
 ter, 9th of January, 1741-2; and bap- 
 tized at St. Martin's church there, 10th 
 December following. 
 
 At a late period of his life, Mr. 
 Cradock had taken great pains to eluci- 
 date the origin of his own family ; 
 and the result of his researches was, 
 that he conceived himself to be de- 
 cended from Caradoc, by the Romans 
 termed Caractacus. The final defeat of 
 this patriot and defender of his country, 
 was at a mountain near Shrewsbury, 
 named after him Caer Caradoc ; and 
 his flying descendants settled after- 
 wards in Leicestershire, Staffordshire, 
 and a larger portion of them at Rich- 
 mond, in Yorkshire. In travelling 
 through Britanny, Mr. Cradock recog- 
 nized the crest of his family, at a 
 village called Caradoc, not far from 
 Rennes, and the language of that pro- 
 vince still bears great affinity to that of 
 Wales. 
 
 Mr. Cradock's family long resided at 
 Leicester. His great-grandfather, Ed- 
 mund Cradock, was mayor in 1645, 
 and again in \6oJ ; and his grand- 
 father, Edmund, served that office in 
 1702; from thisgentleman is descended 
 the present representative of the family, 
 Sir Edmund Cradock Hartopp, bart. 
 
 Mr. Cradock's father was a younger 
 brother. He acquired a large property, 
 and purchased many estates in the 
 Borough of Leicester, and at Knigh- 
 ton and Gumley, in that county. Mr. 
 Cradock's mother, Mary Annice, died 
 in 1749, aged 46; and his father mar- 
 ried, secondly, Anne daughter of Rich- 
 ard Ludlam, M.B., and sister of two 
 distinguished clergymen and mathe- 
 maticians, the Rev. William and Tho- 
 mas Ludlam.* For his mothcr-in- 
 
 * See accounts of these eminent brothers 
 in Nichols's History of Leicestershire, vol. 
 I. p. 3 18, and 503. 
 
 law Mr. Cradock ever retained the 
 fondest recollections. She died in 1774, 
 aged 56 ; and was buried at Wilford, 
 in Nottinghamshire. 
 
 When about nine years old, young 
 Cradock was placed at the grammar- 
 school of Leicester, then under the 
 care of the Rev. Gerrard Andrevves, 
 where he had for fellow scholars, 
 Farmer, aftet wards Master ofEmanuel, 
 who was some years his senior, and the 
 son of his schoolmaster, Gerrard An- 
 drewes, the late Dean of Canterbury, 
 who was his junior. For both these 
 eminent men Mr. Cradock retained a 
 strong affection till their deaths ; and 
 here it may be remarked, that the 
 grandson of his old master, the present 
 Rev. Gerrard Thomas Andrewes, per- 
 formed the last solemn rites at Mr. 
 Cradock's funeral. 
 
 Whilst resident at Leicester, young 
 Cradock was assisted in his studies by 
 a man of powerful genius, and a cele- 
 brated Greek scholar, the Rev. John 
 Jackson, Master of Wigston's Hospi- 
 tal, author of " Chronological A iniqui- 
 ties,'' and a staunch opponent of War- 
 burton, f As a reward for an exercise 
 that pleased him, Jackson presented his 
 pupil with an Elzevir edition of Bu- 
 chanan's Poems, which Mr. Cradock 
 ever retained with great veneration. 
 
 In passing through London to Bath, 
 with his father, Mr. Cradock for the 
 first time witnessed a theatrical exhibi- 
 tion ; it seems to have made a very 
 strong impression on him, as he to the 
 last remembered with delight the plea- 
 sure he then enjoyed. It was Miss 
 Macklin's benefit, and the play " As 
 you like it ; '' in which Woodward 
 and Mrs. Cihber both performed. 
 
 It was Mr. Cradock's misfortune to 
 lose his father, when he was about 
 seventeen years of age, he dying in 
 17.59, aged 70. After a short time, 
 Mr. Cradock obtained his trustees' 
 consent to spend the season at Scar 
 borough, where, at the table of Dr 
 (afterwards Sir Noah) Thomas, he was 
 admitted to company, which if not 
 very suitable to his age or station, 
 
 f See an ample memoir of Mr. Jackson, 
 in the History of Leicestershire, vol. I. p. 
 498—500. 
 
Memoir of Joseph Cradock, Esq. M. A. F. S. Ai 
 
 must have been very inviting to a 
 young man ; the Duke of York, Mar- 
 quess of Granby, Mr. Sterne, Mrs. Gib- 
 ber, and Col. Sloper, were frequent 
 visitors at the Doctor's table. After 
 figuring for about six weeks, dancing 
 a° every ball, and partaking of every 
 diversion, be was hastily recalled, and 
 most strongly reproved for his levity 
 and imprudence. 
 
 The time had now arrived when he 
 ought to have been sent to college; but 
 at the suggestion of bis friend Dr.Hurd, 
 his trustees first placed him for a year 
 with the Rev. Mr. Pickering, of Mack- 
 worth, Derbyshire, who had no other 
 pupil except Mr. Burdett, father of the 
 present Baronet. Here he was happily 
 secluded under a regular course of 
 study, which soon fitted him for 
 Emanuel College, Cambridge. 
 
 But first he was permitted to visit Lon- 
 don, and be present at the gaieties con- 
 sequent on the coronation of George 
 the Third. This was the first time Mr. 
 Cradock made any considerable stay 
 in London. He s'oon acquired a last- 
 ing relish for the intellectual pleasures 
 only to be enjoyed in perfection at the 
 Metropolis. Theatrical amusements 
 engrossed much of his attention. Gar- 
 rick was then in the zenith of his 
 fame, and Mr. Cradock was introduced 
 to him behind the scenes, when dressed 
 as Oakley, in the "Jealous Wife.'' 
 This introduction afterwards ripened 
 into a lasting friendship ; for they were 
 congenial spirits. 
 
 Mr. Cradock then retired to his stu- 
 dies at Emanuel College, where he 
 profited by the able lectures of his 
 quondam schoolfellow Fanner, in Aris- 
 tophanes ; be had a private tutor in 
 the Greek classics in general ; and 
 ever looked back with great satisfac- 
 tion to the lectures on the Greek Tes- 
 tament by the principal tutor of his 
 College, the celebrated Mr. Hubbard. 
 Having no house of his own, Mr. 
 Cradock passed the vacations of Col- 
 lege with various friends, particularly 
 w?th the family of Sir John Cust, 
 Speaker of the House of Commons ; 
 Peter Wyche, esq. of Great Ormond 
 Street; Mr. Banks, Chancellor of 
 York, the intimate friend of Lord 
 Mansfield ; Lady VVilmot, of Chaddes- 
 den, Derbyshire; &c. &c. Such com- 
 pany was more inviting to a gay and 
 wealthy young man, than dry study at 
 College. The consequence was that, 
 when the time arrived, Mr. Cradock 
 
 dreaded his examination in mathe- 
 matics, (in which science alone ho- 
 nours could be obtained) and, though 
 he had devoted himself closely to clas- 
 sical studies, never offered himself for 
 his degree. But declamation was his 
 forte; and he entertained a hope that 
 the young King would have visited 
 Cambridge, when he was to have been 
 recommended to speak before his Ma- 
 jesty, which might have entitled him 
 to an honorary degree of Master of 
 Arts. Of this he was disappointed; 
 and he finally left Cambridge without 
 graduating. 
 
 In town he had been introduced to 
 the amiable young lady whom in lj6o 
 he married. She was Anna Franciscn, 
 third daughter of the late Francis Strat- 
 ford, of Merevale Hall, Warwickshire, 
 esq. and was then residing with her 
 grandmother in Great Ormond-street. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Cradock settled in what 
 was then a fashionable part of the town, 
 in a house in Dean-street, Soho. But 
 shortly after his marriage, he spent 
 some lime in visiting his wife's rela- 
 tions. Her eldest sister was married to 
 Richard Geast, of Blythe Hall, War- 
 wickshire, esq. a descendant of Sir W. 
 Dugdale, and father of the present 
 Knight of the Shire for Warwick ; her 
 second sister was Mrs. Chetwynd, late 
 of Bath, who died in 1811 ; and her 
 youngest sister, Miss Maria Stratford, 
 latterly resided at Mortimer, near Read- 
 ing, at a house she purchased of the 
 present Viscount Sid mouth, where she 
 died in 1797- At Merevale, the seat of 
 his mother-in-law, Mrs. Stratford, he 
 passed his time very delightfully, in the 
 enjoyment of a good library, and 
 amusing himself in landscape garden- 
 ing, a science in which (as we shall 
 hereafter have to notice more fully,) he 
 excelled. 
 
 During the honey-moon, he was 
 unexpectedly gratified by the presenta- 
 tion, from the hands of the Chancellor 
 of Cambridge, the Duke of Newcastle, 
 of a Royal Degree of Master of Arts. 
 As this was the first of the kind that 
 had been conferred on a student of 
 Emanuel, the College was pleased to 
 give a handsome entertainment on 
 the occasion. Mr. Cradock ever re- 
 tained a pleasing recollection of his 
 residence at Emanuel ; and in his will 
 bequeathed to the College a fine an- 
 tique Roman urn, which had been sent 
 to hiin from Italy, by his relation Sir 
 E. C. Hartopp ' 
 
 barl. whilst on his 
 
Memoir of Joseph Cradock, Esq, M. A. F. S. A. 
 
 travels, in gratitude .or Mr. Cradock'a 
 
 services as his representative in llie 
 office of High -sheriff for Leicester- 
 shire. This vase is engraved in the 
 *' History of Leicestershire,'' vol. 11. 
 p. 590. 
 
 Mr. Cradock was now thoroughly 
 initiated into all the gaieties and amuse- 
 ments of a town life, and seems to 
 have spent much of his time in thea- 
 trical and musical company. The bent 
 of his mind lay that way. " I was born 
 a player, a fisher, and a gardener,'* said 
 be to a friend, shortly before his death. 
 ■' If," as Horace observes, " you chase 
 away nature with ever so great in- 
 dignity, she will always return upon 
 you." There is we think no doubt, 
 that Mr. Cradock would have adopted 
 the stage for a profession, had he not 
 been born to an ample patrimony. He 
 was now the intimate associate of Gar- 
 rick (whom he much resembled in 
 figure and style of acting) ; the witty, 
 though profligate Foote,Dr. Arne, Cum- 
 berland, Mrs. Yates, &c Many in- 
 teresting anecdotes of these celebrated 
 charactersenlivenhis "Memoirs.'' But 
 Mr. Cradock was at the same time ad- 
 mitted to the first literary circles of 
 that day, and such a constellation of ge- 
 nius will not soon again shine together. 
 With the Duke of Grafton, LordThur- 
 low, and his brother the Bishop, Lord 
 Sandwich, Bishop Hinchliffe, Bishop 
 Hurd, Bishop Percy, the giant in litera- 
 ture Johnson, Burke, the amiable Gold- 
 smith, Dr. Askew, Dr. Farmer, Dr. 
 Parr, George Steevens, &c. &c. he was 
 in habits of intimacy. " Of Dr. John- 
 son's manner,'' says Mr. Cradock, 
 " Garrick was a great mimick, and by 
 bis imitations at times rendered John- 
 son abundantly ridiculous. Tom Da- 
 vies monopolized his laugh, and his 
 laugh was that of a rhinoceros ; but 
 in a plain, dictatorial style, Mr. 
 Nichols, from a long acquaintance, 
 could generally speak most like the 
 venerable Luminary." 
 
 In 1/'J6, his friend Dr. Farmer ad- 
 dressed to Mr. Cradock, his celebrated 
 Essay, which determined the question 
 as to the " Lcarningof Shakspeare ;'' a 
 more satisfactory pamphlet has scarcely 
 everappeared. Farmer was about that 
 time a frequent visitor of Mr. Cra- 
 dock, then in Dean-street, Soho ; from 
 whence Dr. Fanner's sister was mar- 
 ried to the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Byron, 
 Prebendary of Durham. In the same 
 year, Mr. Cradock gave a service of 
 
 y 
 
 plate '.o the parish church of Gum- 
 ley, and about that time took up 
 his residence at his mansion in that 
 village, which he had then recently 
 built. It was rather calculated from 
 its size and splendour, for a nobleman 
 of immense fortune, than for his more 
 limited means. But there is some ex- 
 cuse for Mr. Cradoek. He was encou- 
 raged to pursue his plan of building by a 
 relative, who promised to leave him his 
 property and estate, which ultimately 
 went to another branch of his family. 
 A similar disappointment from another 
 quarter, occurred some years after- 
 wards. Indeed we doubt not, that 
 the building of this mansion laid the 
 first seeds of those embarrassments that 
 ever afterwards embittered his life. 
 The fact was, that Mr. Cradock had 
 never been initiated into the value of 
 money. Me came into life under 
 great disadvantages, without a parent's 
 friendly care, and no doubt was fre- 
 quently the prey of designing men. 
 
 At Gumley, however, he settled, 
 and his embarrassments were scarcely 
 known to any but himself and his amia- 
 ble Lady. He was on all occasions 
 the person to come forward in the most 
 prompt and spirited manner with his 
 purse or advice, whenever either would 
 contribute to public good or public 
 amusement. Whether as steward of 
 a race course, conductor of a public 
 musical festival, or chairman of a 
 canal or other public meeting, he was 
 ever ready, and alwa\s discharged 
 those various duties to the satisfaction 
 of all parties concerned. 
 
 In 17()7, not having any shelter from 
 a profession, he was early in life called 
 on to fill the office of rli^h Sheriff for 
 Leicestershire; and in 1781, acted as 
 representative in that office for his rela- 
 tive, Sir E. C. Hartopp, bart. 
 
 In !7(JS, he was elected a Fellow of 
 the Society of Antiquaries, at the re- 
 commendation of his friend Dr. As- 
 kew; and at his death was the senior 
 Fellow of that learned body. 
 
 Mr. Cradock's love for dramatic 
 amusements has been before alluded to. 
 He now lilted up a small theatre in 
 his hall at Gumley; and the private 
 theatricals there were long the talk 
 of the country round. Mr. Cradock 
 and his accomplished lady were per- 
 formers, and were supported by ama- 
 teur friends of distinction. Gairick 
 was sometimes bis guest; and Mr. 
 Cradock's powers of acting may be 
 
Memoir of Joseph Cradock, Esq. M. A. F. S. A. 
 
 judged of, by the anecdote, that Garrick 
 proposed to play the Ghost to Mr. 
 Cradock's Hamlet ; and that Garrick 
 was to act Lord Ogilby, whilst Mr. 
 Cradock was to fill two characters in 
 the satne comedy, Sir John Melville 
 and Brush. 
 
 Mr. Cradock wrote only one pro- 
 logue for his friend Garrick, who was 
 himself distinguished for this species 
 of composition. It was the prologue 
 to the revived tragedy of Timoleon, 
 and is printed in Mr. Cradock's " Me- 
 moirs," vol. I. p. 210. 
 
 At the time of the Stratford Jubilee, 
 in 1769, Mr. Cradock was so happy as 
 to be enabled to assist his friend Gar- 
 rick in several minor arrangements, 
 which drew from the great actor his 
 especial acknowledgements. 
 
 Mr. Cradock also collected at Gum- 
 ley a very splendid library ; among 
 other valuable books, several first 
 editions of the classics. A Euripides, 
 with Milton's MS. notes, mentioned 
 by Dr. Johnson, and more fully by 
 Mr. Joddrell, in his " Illustrations of 
 Euripides;" this curious volume Mr. 
 Cradock presented to his friend Sir 
 Henry Halford, a short time before his 
 death. A"Manilius," with Dr. Bent- 
 ley's MS. notes, &c. 
 
 Mr. Cradock's taste for landscape 
 gardening was first made known to 
 the public by an Essay on that subject, 
 which he inserted in a little volume, 
 printed in 1774, entitled, "Village 
 Memoirs ; in a series of Letters, be- 
 tween a Clergyman and his Family in 
 the Country, and his Son in Town." 
 This little novel was a vehicle for ob- 
 servations on religion, poetry, criti- 
 cism, theatrical amusements, and 
 other subjects (as well as landscape 
 gardening), and was favourably no- 
 ticed by the Critical and Monthly Re- 
 views. Mr. Cradock seems to have 
 contemplated a more enlarged publi- 
 cation on this subject, but conceived 
 it to be superseded by a work by the 
 Rev. George Mason, 1795, which 
 most ably and kindly noticed Mr. 
 Cradock's Essay. He, however, re- 
 printed the substance of his Essay in 
 his " Literary Memoirs," vol. 1. pp. 47 
 —61. 
 
 For very many years Mr. Cradock 
 exercised his taste for landscape gar- 
 dening in his own beautiful domain. 
 Nature had been bountiful in the 
 formation of the place ; and taste was 
 every where conspicuous. A part of 
 
 the plantation was originally made by 
 the late reverend and benevolent Mr. 
 Hanbury, rector of Church Langton, 
 co. Leicester, with a view to succes- 
 sive sales of timber, for the benefit of 
 an extensive charity. He had a lease 
 for 39 years; but the unexpired part 
 of the term was afterwards purchased 
 by Mr. Cradock. The walks through 
 the plantations for several years being 
 generously open to the public, it was 
 a fashionable resort, in summer, for 
 company from Leicester and the neigh- 
 bourhood. The views hence are pic- 
 turesque and striking ; and from a hill 
 near the mansion, is a most extensive 
 prospect, from beyond Atherstone on 
 one side, to the extremity of the vale 
 beyond Rockingham Castle on the 
 other. Gumley, from time immemo- 
 rial, has been famous for its fox-earths. 
 Mr. Cradock's taste and skill in mu- 
 sic led him also to the intimacy of the 
 Earl of Sandwich, Mr. Joah Bates, 
 &c. At Hinchinbrook, the seat of 
 Lord Sandwich, Mr. Cradock was 
 frequently domesticated. During the 
 Christmas week oratorios were there 
 performed by the first musical pro- 
 fessors of the" day. Mr. Bates, Signor 
 Giardini, Morris, Champness, and 
 Greatorex, regularly attended. The 
 unfortunate Miss Ray, then under the 
 protection of Lord Sandwich, possess- 
 ed great powers of song, and Lord 
 Sandwich was himself a performer. 
 
 In 177L on the opening of the Lei- 
 cester Infirmary, Sept. 11th, a grand 
 overture, and select pieces of musick 
 from the Messiah, were performed at 
 St. Martin's Church, commencing 
 with ihe Coronation Anthem. Dr. 
 Green, Bishop of Lincoln, preached 
 on the occasion. In the evening there 
 was a grand concert at the Assembly 
 Room. The whole was conducted 
 by Mr. Cradock and the Rev. Mr. 
 Jenner. Mr. Garrick engaged the 
 principal performers, and made an 
 offer of the music-books from Drury- 
 lane Theatre. Dr. Fisher, from Co- 
 vent-garden Theatre, led. Vernon, 
 Cham pness, and Mr.Barthelemon, sang 
 both at the church and in the even- 
 ing; and Fischer, the celebrated haut- 
 boy player, was engaged. From this 
 originated one of the best- attended 
 musick meetings that had been seen 
 at that time in England, as the Go- 
 vernors of the Leicester Infirmary con- 
 tinued the anniversaries of its opening, 
 for the benefit of the institution; parti- 
 
Memoir of Joseph Cradock, Esq. M. A. F. S. A 
 
 cularly in 1774, when a new organ, by 
 Snetzier, was opened. Mr. Cradock 
 
 on that occasion published a pathetic 
 address, which is printed in the His- 
 tory of Leicestershire, vol. I. p. 523. 
 Jephtha was the oratorio selected by 
 Lord Sandwich, as it had been well 
 practised at Hinchinbrook, and his 
 Lordship and all his band attended. 
 Giardini led; Mr. Bales opened the 
 organ; Norris, Champness, Miss Ce- 
 cilia Davis, [nglesina (prima donna at 
 the Opera House), Mrs. Scott, Miss 
 Harrop (afterwards Mrs. Bates), kc. 
 contributed to the success of the day. 
 An ode was written for the occasion 
 by Mr. Cradock, and set to music by 
 Dr. Boyce. The duet, " Here shall 
 soft Charity repair," has ever since 
 been much admired. This ode was 
 performed at Hinchinbrook under the 
 direction of the celebrated Joah Bates; 
 afterwards at Covent Garden, under 
 the direction of the late Mr. Linley; 
 since that time again at Leicester, 
 when Madame Mara sang the princi- 
 pal air; and different parts of it are 
 occasionally introduced into our cathe- 
 drals, and on charitable occasions. 
 
 The band of musick on this day 
 was uncommonly effective; and the 
 performers were honoured with the 
 assistance of the Earl of Sandwich on 
 the kettle-drums. 
 
 Besides most of the nobility and 
 gentry of these parts, who were of the 
 auditory, was Oniai, the famed native 
 of Otaheite, of whom Mr. Cradock 
 gives many interesting anecdotes in 
 his " Memoirs.'' 
 
 Much commendation was clue to 
 Mr. Cradock on this occasion, who 
 exerted his powerful interest, particu- 
 larly in having the organ properly in- 
 spected by competent persons whilst 
 building. These services were re- 
 warded by the following public vote 
 of thanks : 
 
 "To Joseph Cradock, esq. of Gumley. 
 " Sir, — When so many persons of the 
 first rank, as well as the most eminent mu- 
 sicians, assembled at our late Oratorio, have 
 expressed their entire approbation of the 
 new organ built under your directions ; it 
 would be very ungrateful, either in the pa- 
 rishioners or subscribers, not to acknow- 
 ledge their obligation to you. They are 
 sensible this noble instrument owes much 
 of its perfection to your superintendency, as 
 well as the skill of Mr. Snetzier. Your 
 distinguished taste for music, poetry, and 
 
 polite learning, have rr.adc you justly ad- 
 mired ; but it is the application of these 
 talents to the glory of God and the good of 
 mankind (of both which you hove lately 
 given a noble example) , that makes you 
 universally esteemed. We are directed, 
 both by the subscribers and parishioners 
 in vestry assembled, to return you their 
 sincere thanks, for thus enabling them to 
 have the service of the Church performed 
 in a manner worthy of the occasion. We 
 beg leave to subscribe ourselves, with the 
 greatest respect, your most humble ser- 
 vants, William Carte, Edward Price, Wil- 
 liam Watts, Churchwardens of St. Martin's, 
 Leicester." 
 
 On this occasion also, the old hun- 
 dredth Psalm was first introduced, with 
 full accompaniments, and was greatly 
 admired. On Lord Sandwich's return 
 to town, this musical meeting became 
 the subject of conversation between 
 his Majesty and his Lordship, and was 
 the occasion of the subsequent grand 
 commemorative Musical Festival in 
 Westminster Abbey. 
 
 In 1773, was brought forward at 
 Covent-garden Theatre, a tragedy by 
 Mr. Cradock, entitled " Zobeide." It 
 was in part taken from an unfinished 
 tragedy, entitled " Les Scythes," by 
 Voltaire ; who, on the author sending 
 him a copy, returned the following 
 answer : 
 
 " Sir, .9 8bre, 1773, a Ferney. 
 
 Thanks to your Muse, a foreign copper 
 
 shines, [lines. 
 
 Turn'd into gold, and coin'd in sterling 
 
 You have done too much honour to an 
 
 old sick man of eighty. 
 
 I am with the most sincere esteem and 
 gratitude, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 Voltaire." 
 
 This play was well received. Mr. 
 Cradock's friend Dr. Goldsmith wrote 
 the Prologue, and Murphy the Epi- 
 logue. The play was published. In 
 the same year, Mr. Cradock returned 
 the compliment to Goldsmith, by 
 writing the Epilogue to his comedy, 
 " She Stoops to Conquer." 
 
 Mr. Cradock was much connected 
 with the Duke of Grafton, during his 
 stormy administration, and more than 
 once declined the honour of a seat in 
 Parliament He was thought of as 
 sub-preceptor of the Prince of Wales, 
 when Dr. Ilinchcliffe was intended 
 for preceptor. But the Duke of Graf- 
 ton retiring from administration, and 
 Lord North acceding to it, prevented 
 
Memoir of Joseph Cradock, Esq. M. A. F. S.A. 
 
 6 
 
 those appointments, which were filled 
 up by the late Abp. Markham and 
 Dean Jackson. With Bp. Hinch- 
 cliffe Mr. Cradock passed many de- 
 lightful days at Trinity College, Cam- 
 bridge, in the society of the poet Gray 
 and other eminent men. 
 
 Mr. Cradock never engaged in ei- 
 ther politics or controversies of any 
 kind, but once offered to the pub- 
 lic an ironical pamphlet, entitled, 
 "The Life of John Wilkes, esq. in 
 the manner of Plutarch. Being a 
 Specimen of a larger Work. The se- 
 cond Edition, revised and corrected. 
 London, J. Wilkie, 1773," 8vo ; with 
 Portraits of " Worthies," viz. Wat 
 Tyler, Alderman Beckford, John Cade, 
 esq. John Wilkes, esq. "These are 
 thy gods, O Britain !" This is now a 
 scarce pamphlet, and was written 
 whilst its author was smarting from 
 the effects of the violence of Wilkes's 
 mob, which destroyed the windows of 
 his house in Dean-street, Soho. Our 
 venerable author had forgotten this 
 jeu d'esprit, till he was reminded of it 
 by a well-known and highly respected 
 Biographer, who happened to possess 
 a copy. 
 
 In 1777 Mr. Cradock published 
 " An Account of some of the most 
 romantic parts of North Wales," 12*. 
 His name is appended to the " Dedi- 
 cation to Sir Watkin Williams Wynne. 
 This "Account" was the result of a 
 Tour he took in the Autumn of 177<3. 
 In 1783, soon after the Peace was 
 signed, and in consequence of Mr3. 
 Cradock having suffered from a para- 
 lytic seizure, by the advice of Dr. He- 
 bcrden, Mr. and Mrs. Craclock pro- 
 ceeded to Paris; and in June 1784, 
 went on a long and interesting tour to 
 the South of France, Flanders, and 
 Holland. This tour forms the sub- 
 ject of Mr. Cradock's second volume 
 of the " Literary Memoirs,'' recently 
 published. (Gent. Mag. xcvi.ii. 433.) 
 Mr. Cradock was fortunate enough 
 to have entertained at his seat at 
 Gumley, the Duke de Lauznn; which 
 accidental civility afterwards led^ to 
 the admission of Mr. and Mrs. Cra- 
 dock into the first circles of the king- 
 dom of France. They remained on 
 the Continent till June 12, 178(5, 
 when they landed at Dover. 
 
 For many years after his return to 
 this country, ill health compelled Mr. 
 Cradock to withdraw in a great mea- 
 sure from society ; but he continued lo 
 
 risin 
 ness. 
 
 amuse himself in the embellishment of 
 his grounds, and the enlargement of 
 a piece of water at the back of his 
 house, which latterly he termed the 
 Lake. The following was one of the 
 last effusions of his Muse: 
 " Inscription for a Building on the Banks of 
 
 a Lake in one of the Midland Counties* 
 Hail, shadowy Lake ! whose gliding wave 
 
 serene 
 Reflects the beauties of the varying scene ! 
 Here let the Muse her humble vigils keep, 
 And quaff the gales from yon impending 
 
 steep ; 
 Here let the year her early fragrance fling, 
 And glittering plumage dip the hasty wing; 
 Here on the brink Pomona's blossoms glow, 
 And finny myriads sparkle from below ; 
 Here let the mind at peaceful anchor rest, 
 And Heaven's own sunshine cheer the guilt- 
 less breast." 
 In 1815, however, his desire to ap- 
 pear before the public as an author 
 again revived ; but he proceeded very 
 cautiously. Jn that year he published 
 anonymously, " Four Dissertations, 
 Moral and Religious, addressed to the 
 Generation. I. On Covetous- 
 II. On Hypocrisy. III. On the 
 prosperous Condition of Men in this 
 W T orld. IV. On Continuance in well- 
 doing." 8vo. (See Gt. Mag. lxxxvi. 
 i. p. 43.) These Four Essays were 
 drawn up as sermons for particular 
 friends ; and the last was preached at 
 Chester; but whether it was ever pub- 
 lished in that form, is not known, 
 as the author was then absent in the 
 South of France. 
 
 On Christmas Day, 181 6, Mr. Cra- 
 dock lost his amiable lady. She was 
 proceeding down stairs, to go to 
 church, when she fell in a fit, and 
 instantly expired. They had no issue. 
 In 1821 he published a little novel 
 to expose the horrid vice of gaming, 
 entitled "Fidelia; or, The Prevalence 
 of Fashion," 12mo. The story is af- 
 fecting, and gives a striking lesson on 
 the danger of hesitation and delay in 
 breaking off bad acquaintance. The 
 language is much more simple than is 
 usually found in works of fiction ; and 
 this gives it the air of a true story, 
 which, it is to be feared, has too often 
 occurred. The manners and conver- 
 sation are those of the times when 
 Mr. Cradock was first introduced into 
 polite society. 
 
 « See a Sonnet on this subject by Mr. 
 Nichols, in Gt. Mag. vol. lxxviii. i. p. G5. 
 
Memoir of Joseph Cradock, Esq. M. A. F. S. A. 
 
 In 1823, a very important step was 
 resolved upon by Mr. Cradock, which, 
 considering that he was then 82 years 
 of age, shows the firmness of his mind, 
 and his honourable principles. Find- 
 ing his estate embarrassed by mort- 
 gages and other incumbrances, he 
 made a noble sacrifice, by passing it 
 into the hands of the gentleman, who, 
 had it been unincumbered would pro- 
 bably have been his heir, on conditions 
 agreeable to all parties ; and retired to 
 town with a very moderate annuity. 
 He also at the same time parted with 
 his splendid library. But Literature, 
 and occasional intercourse with a few 
 choice friends, seemed more than to 
 compensate for the advantages he had 
 voluntarily surrendered. He then ap- 
 plied seriously to what he originally 
 intended should have been done by 
 his executors. 
 
 And here, perhaps, it may be allow- 
 able to allude to the sincere attach- 
 ment between Mr. Cradock and his 
 old friend Mr. Nichols. For very 
 many years Mr. Nichols had been ac- 
 customed to pay Mr. Cradock an an- 
 nual visit at Gumley Hall ; but on Mr. 
 Cradock's settling in London, the in- 
 tercourse became incessant, and we 
 doubt not that the daily correspon- 
 dence which took place between them 
 contributed to cheer the latter days 
 of these two veterans in Literature. 
 They had both of them in early life 
 enjoyed the flattering distinction of an 
 intimacy with the same eminent cha- 
 racters; and to hear the different anec- 
 dotes elicited in their animated con- 
 versations respecting Johnson and 
 others, was indeed an intellectual treat 
 of no ordinary description. Mr. Cra- 
 dock and Mr. Nichols possessed a simi- 
 larity in taste and judgment. They 
 were both endowed with peculiar 
 quickness of comprehension, and with 
 powers and accuracy of memory rarely 
 equalled. 
 
 Mr. Cradock's first publication on 
 his coming to town was his tragedy of 
 "The Czar." This play was brought 
 to the morning of rehearsal fifty years 
 before, but owing to a disappointment 
 on the part of one of the chief ac- 
 tresses, was withdrawn, and never 
 acted; nor published till 1824. (See 
 Gent. Mag. vol. xciv. ii. p. 60.) 
 
 The favourable reception which 
 the publication of "The Czar'' 
 met with, induced Mr. Cradock to 
 select from his MSS. what certainly 
 
 a Horded the public no small gratifi- 
 cation. 
 
 In Jan. 182(1, he published the first 
 volume of his " Literary and Miscel- 
 laneous Memoirs," dedicated by per- 
 mission to the King, an honour of 
 which Mr. Cradock was justly proud. 
 (See Gent. Mag. xcvi. i. 62, 23(3.) 
 In the latter part of the same year 
 (only a few weeks before his death), 
 he published a second volume, con- 
 taining his Tour to Paris and the 
 South of France in the years 1783 to 
 178(3. (Vide ibid, xcvi.'ii. 433.) 
 
 Here we feel induced to make use of 
 a letter received from a highly distin- 
 guished friend of Mr. Cradock, ad- 
 dressed to ourselves, which exhibits 
 Mr. Cradock's character in a favour- 
 abre, yet strictly just light: 
 
 " 1 do not think 1 should in any 
 manner so well describe Mr. Cra- 
 dock's character, as by referring to 
 the ' Memoirs' which he has pub- 
 lished of himself. These Memoirs, in 
 my view of them, are an exact coun- 
 terpart of his manners and conversa- 
 tions, — of his excellencies and his foi- 
 bles. He was ull anecdote, without 
 aflecting to know more, either of men 
 or books, than the common run of 
 people, though better acquainted with 
 both than the generality of the best 
 informed. In the earlier part of his 
 life he recommended himself by his 
 pleasantry and talents, — his love of 
 letters, — his antiquarian researches, — 
 his taste for music, painting, and 
 poetry, and all the fine arts, — to seve- 
 ral of the most learned and accom- 
 plished scholars of the day, — as Bi- 
 shops Warburton and Hurd, Doc- 
 tors Johnson and Goldsmith, and 
 others ; among whom must not be 
 forgotten that prodigy of wit and hu- 
 mour and theatrical talents, David 
 Garrick ; for he and Garrick were a 
 sort of twin brothers, in personal like- 
 ness and mental power. Both of them 
 were rather under size ; but they were 
 both well formed, and had so much 
 expression in their countenances, and 
 so much grace in their actions, that 
 nobody in looking at them regarded 
 their size or stature; — in looking at 
 each, it was the quality — not the quan- 
 tity of the man that was considered. 
 And upon the stage, Cradock (for he 
 had a private theatre in his house), 
 as I have been informed by those who 
 had seen him act, in some characters 
 at least, was second only to Garrick. 
 
s 
 
 Memoir of Joseph Cradock, Esq. M. A. F. S. A. 
 
 There was, however, this difference 
 between them ; — Garrick played for 
 profit — Cradock played for the amuse- 
 ment of his friends, though to the 
 great detriment of his own fortune. 
 And perhaps his talent in the repre- 
 senting of character upon the stage, 
 first gave him the habit of enlivening 
 and embellishing every thing which 
 he said, with a certain lightning of 
 eye, and honeyed tone of voice, and 
 happy turns of countenance, — which 
 may be better imagined than de- 
 scribed; and also furnished him with 
 many allusions which he had the 
 happy art of introducing into his con- 
 versations with vast advantage. 
 
 " Mr. Cradock was a classical scho- 
 lar of very high degree ; and lie had a 
 very considerable library, containing 
 books of the best sorts, and of the best 
 editions ; and some very rare ones. 
 The sale of these, upon which his af- 
 fections were placed, together with 
 his mansion and estate at Gumley, 
 upon his coming to live in London, 
 was a sacrifice he made (and a sore sa- 
 crifice it was) with a view to the final 
 arrangement and liquidation of his 
 worldly affairs before his death, and 
 proved not only his integrity, but that 
 sort of pride which dwells only in ho- 
 nourable minds, and will give a sanc- 
 tity to his memory. 
 
 " Mr. Cradock was, moreover, a 
 good neighbour, — a kind friend, — a 
 highly-finished gentleman, — and more 
 than sufficiently learned to be the fit 
 associate with those who were most 
 learned ; and he had this advantage 
 over the most learned, that he was 
 altogether free from pedantry, and all 
 inclination to be overbearing in his 
 conversation with others avowedly less 
 learned than himself. With these 
 good qualities, and his great acquire- 
 ments, he could not fail of causing 
 the opportunities which he gave his 
 friends of visiting him, to be eagerly 
 seized ; and from season to season (for 
 he gave a sort of annual dejeune at 
 Gumley) anxiously expected. But 
 his death, which is sadly lamented, 
 has closed all." 
 
 Another friend thus speaks of him : 
 
 "Mr. Cradock was a remarkable 
 person. He had lived for more than 
 half a century pretty much among to- 
 nes, without imbibing (if we may 
 judge from the last year or two of his 
 life passed in London,) the least bigotry 
 or intolerance. His opinions were li- 
 beral, his feelings all generous. He 
 
 was properly a whig in his own senti- 
 ments ; though strictly and professedly 
 he seems to have been, in speculative 
 matters, a man of no party. During 
 the same course of years he had lived 
 in the fashionable world, and in the 
 circles of the great ; but, as it should 
 seem, without having indulged in their 
 luxuries, or having contracted their 
 vices. Indeed, not only did his in- 
 clination lead him, but his constitution 
 compelled him, to a most rigid tem- 
 perance. Though remarkable for his 
 hospitality and social manners, he 
 had for twenty years scarcely drank a 
 glass of wine; and he lived principally 
 on turnips, roasted apples, and coffee, 
 and those taken in very small quanti- 
 ties. He bad a great peculiarity of 
 constitution, which obliged him to 
 undergo a constant cupping; and he 
 has been known to be cupped some- 
 times twice a day. Yet under all his 
 own infirmities and sufferings, he had 
 the most tender sympathy with even 
 the appearance of distress in others, 
 and when free from pain, nobody was 
 more cheerful and communicative; 
 indeed it may be said, he overflowed, 
 having a great fund of anecdote, with 
 much of the garrulity of old age. 
 During the last fortnight nothing 
 passed his lips but water. He will 
 be long remembered in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Gumley, where he was 
 respected by people of all parties for his 
 worth, and idolized by the poor for his 
 benevolence." 
 
 On Saturday, Dec. 23, at the fune- 
 ral of this venerable gentleman, a nu- 
 merous assemblage of his friends at- 
 tended to pay the last token of respect 
 to his memory. The service was 
 performed by his friend the Rev. 
 G.T. Andrewes. The Hon. Washing- 
 ton Shirley, F. P. Stratford, esq. Mas- 
 ter in Chancery, L. C. Humfrey, esq. 
 Barrister, A. Chalmers, esq. F. S. A. 
 N. Carlisle, esq. F.S.A. and T.J. Pet- 
 tigrew, esq. F.S.A. were the pall- 
 bearers on the occasion. The body 
 was followed by his executors, John 
 Bowyer Nichols, esq. F.S.A. John 
 Pearson, esq. and William Tooke, esq. 
 F.R.S.; also by George Dyer, esq. John 
 Britton, esq. F.S.A. John Taylor, esq. 
 John Mayne, esq. Thomas Cadell, 
 esq. Dr. Nuttall, and many other gen- 
 tlemen. Sir Henry Halford was pre- 
 vented attending by a professional en- 
 gagement. Mr. Cradock was buried, 
 by his particular desire, in the parish 
 where he died, St. Mary-le-Strand. 
 
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