he published his last account of the English Baronets *." Mr. Wotton was the Publisher of many works of considerable merit. He was Master of the Company of Stationers in 1757; and, after having long retired from business, died at Point Pleasant, Surrey, April 1, 1766.-I have an interleaved copy of his "History of the Baronets," enriched with the MS notes of the Rev. Robert Smyth, of whom frequent mention has been before made in this work.

MR. JOHN HINTON,

many years publisher of the Universal Magazine, the New Whole Duty of Man, and several Religious Treatises, was an old member of the Court of Assistants of the Stationers Company; and died very rich, May 21, 1781,

Mr. JOHN MARCH,

many years a Printer of considerable eminence on Tower-hill, and Master of the Stationers Company in 1790, died April 15, 1798. He was a man of the most amiable disposition. By industry, frugality, and a train of fortunate events, he left an ample fortune to his widow (who died April 15, 1800), and to an only son, who succeeded to his father's business; but died, in the prime of life, July 13, 1804.

* Mr. Richard Johnson, in the preface to an edition of the Baronetage 1771, by E. Kimber and R. Johnson. In acknowledging the obligations he was under to George Booth Tyndale, esq. of Bristol, Barrister at Law, and to some other skilful gentlemen Mr. Johnson adds, "While I am thus acknowledging the favours I have received from the living, let me not forget the tribute due to the memory of my friend, Mr. Kimber, who fell a Victim, in the meridian of his life, to his indefatigable toils in the republic of letters. To him I owe the present plan of this Work: he was the architect, I only the builder. Happy shall I think myself, if I shall appear properly to have executed the design which he formed."

↑ See vol. V. p. 49.

MR.

MR. THOMAS SPILSBURY,

was the successor of the younger Mr. William Strahan in the Printing-office on Snow-hill; where he died Dec. 1, 1795, in the 62d year of his age. To distinguished ability in his profession he joined the strictest integrity, amiable manners, and a style of conversation, which, whether the subject was gay or serious, never failed to delight. As his press was resorted to by eminent literary characters, who often availed themselves of his critical remarks; so have they, in return, uniformly borne testimony to his uncommon precision in every thing appertaining to a pure genuine English diction. He was the first person in this country who made it an express study to print French works with accuracy; in which having at that time only a slight acquaintance with that language, he by closeness of application soon arrived at such a mastery, as to be pronounced, by many of the most accomplished geniuses of that kingdom resident here, superior in point of correctness, even to the Printers of Paris.

MR. JOSEPH COOPER,

many years a Printer of eminence, died suddenly, in a fit, whilst walking near Chelsea, May 19, 1808. Not a few splendid volumes were produced unostentatiously from his press, before the modern system of fine printing became so very prevalent. But he was unfortunate in business. Having no children, he acquired a tone of life a little too theatrical, and much too companionable; for he had considerable talents, and abounded in pleasantry and the milk of human kindness. He provided also, at an inconvenient expence to himself, for some relatives in the East Indies, in hopes of a princely return; which he never received. He speculated also in an attempt to make a species of printing-ink superior to any before known; but was not in that instance particularly successful. The evening of his life, however, was made comfortable,

fortable, by the friendship of Messrs. Wedgwood and Bentley, who found in him a valuable assistant in their counting-house, and who proved to him inestimable friends. His death, the Editor of this work can add from a long and intimate acquaintance with him, occasioned a sympathetic tear from se→ veral of his survivors, who knew him in the full enjoyment of prosperity and intellectual endowments.

JAMES SIMMONS, ESQ.

This truly worthy man was born in Canterbury Jan. 22, 1741, N. S. He carried on the Kentish Gazette since 1768; and was for many years employed as a Printer and Bookseller, and likewise as a Banker, at Canterbury, of which City he was an Alderman from 1774, and twice Mayor. He was a man of great public spirit, and was ever anxious for the prosperity and improvement of his native place. In 1787 he employed an able engineer to take the levels and survey the Country from Canterbury to St. Nicholas bay, and to make an estimate of a canal on which vessels of 100 tons burthen might be navigated from the sea to that city, a distance of ten miles and a half. Many difficulties occurred to retard and prevent the accomplishment of this plan; but it continued to be the object next his heart; and he was heard, but a few days before his death, to declare that he should not cease his efforts till he could see vessels floating under the walls of Canterbury. In 1790, at an expence of little less than 2000l. he formed a part of the antient rampart of that city, and the adjacent field, called Dane-John, into terraces and walks*, with so much elegance and taste, for the use of the publick, that few in any of the cities in Europe can boast of any thing, so extensive and ornamental, planned and carried into execution at the expence of a private citizen. In 1791, Riding-gate, the oldest of

* A print of these walks may be seen in Hasted's History of Kent, vol. IV. folio; and in Gent. Mag. vol. LXXVIII. p. 481.

all

all the city-gates, and said to have been standing be fore the Conquest, being in a very decayed state, was rebuilt by him at a great expence. To his exertions also the City of Canterbury was principally indebted for its pavement; and he took a most active and liberal part in the establishment of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. For these and other meritorious services he was unanimously, and without expence, returned to Parliament, at the General Election, in 1806, as one of the Representatives of the City of Canterbury. For many weeks before his death he complained of a painful affection of one side of his head, the seat of which was supposed to be in the left ear. Medical advice was resorted to, but without affording him any permanent relief. In the mean time he came to town, for the purpose of attending his duty in Parliament, and engaged a house in New Palaceyard, that he might be near the House of Commons. This attendance, in consequence of the increase of pain it occasioned, he was obliged to relinquish; but his general health seemed still to be so slightly affected, and so little alarm did his complaint occasion, that, on Monday the 19th of January, he walked out. The next day, finding himself getting worse, he sent to request the attendance of a Physician whom he had long ranked among his particular friends. This gentleman, who now saw him for the first time since his arrival in town, found him sitting up and dressed, but with a countenance and pulse and other symptoms that convinced him the patient was in a dying state, and could not possibly survive many hours. He communicated this opinion to the family of the patient; and the event but too fully confirmed the truth of his prognostication, as Mr. Simmons gradually sunk, and died in about 36 hours, Jan. 22, 1807, having on that day completed his 66th year. On examination after death, a considerable collection of matter was found between the dura and pia mater, under the left parietal bone. Some parts of the ear on that side were also found to be in a diseased

'eased state; and through these a communication had been formed between the ear and the abscess within the head. This accounted for a purulent discharge from the ear, which took place for some time before the death of the patient. On Friday, January 30, his remains were deposited in a vault in St. Mildred's Church-yard, Canterbury.

MR. GEORGE ROBINSON,

one of the most eminent Booksellers of his time, was born at Dalston, in Cumberland; and, about 1755, came up to London in search of such employment as he might be qualified for by a decent education, and a great share of natural sense and shrewdness. His first engagement was, we believe, in the respectable house of Mr. John Rivington, from which he went to that of Mr. Johnstone, on Ludgate-hill, where he remained until 1763-4, when he commenced business as a Bookseller in Paternoster-row, in partnership with Mr. John Roberts, who died about the year 1776. The commencement of an undertaking like this required a capital; and the uniform habits of industry and punctuality which Mr. Robinson had displayed, while managing the concerns of others, pointed him out as one who might be entrusted. He has often been heard to acknowledge his gratitude to the late Mr. Thomas Longman, who liberally, and unasked, offered him any sum, on credit, that might be wanted. In a short time, however, these small beginnings swelled into concerns of importance. Mr. Robinson's active spirit, knowledge of business, and reputable connexion, soon enabled him to atchieve the higher branches of the business, and, in the purchase of copy-rights, he became the rival of the most formidable of the old established houses; and before the year 1780, he had the largest wholesale trade that was ever

carried