Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

VSAGELI GROTMATO

[graphic][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

1926.]

Memoir of John Nichols, Esq. FS.A.

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 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 corresponding 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 " Bowyer's Greek Testa ment." "Bishop Atterbury's Correspondence," 5 vol. 8vo. illustrated, as usual, with topographical and historical notes, the result of arduous research and frequent correspondence with his learned friends. "A Collection of Miscellaneous Tracts by Mr. Bowyer." "The History and Antiquities of Lambeth Parish." "The Progresses and Royal Processions of Queen Elizabeth," 2 vol. 4to. and a third in 1804. The History and Antiquities of Canonbury, with some account of the parish of Islington," 4to. "Ilustra tions of the Manners and Expences 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

66

curious."

During the same period Mr. Nichols published an edition of "The Tatler," 6 vols. 8vo. with notes respect ing biography, but particularly illustra tive of manners. From the sources that had supplied many of these, he edited afterwards, "Sir Richard Steele's Epistolary Correspondence," 2 vol. 8vo. The Lover and Reader." "The Town Talk, &c." "The Theatre and AntiTheatre," 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 conesquence of his connexion with Bishop Percy, Dr. Calder, and others who intended to pub lish editions of the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian, with the same species of annotation, explanatory of the manGENT. MAG, December, 1826.

497

ners and spirit of the times, and including memoirs of the authors. When they entered on their work, there was a possibility 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 of Mr. Nichols' 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.

In December 1784, the respect he had acquired in the City induced his friends to propose him as a member of the 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, (10 years as Deputy, under Alderman Wilkes,) until the year 1811, when he resigned all civic honours. He had previously declined the solicitation of his fellowcitizens of the Ward to become their Alderman on the death of Wilkes. A considerable time before his resigna tion he had felt it his 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 precipitating a measure which many of his friends wished he had taken much sooner. The writer of this memoir hopes he will not be thought anxious to take from the number of Mr. Nichols' useful accomplishments, 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 as perity 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 the day, he retained the respect of his colleagues, as an amiable and honest man, and an honour to the situation he had 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 dependant 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, 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 presented at various times by Mr. Nichols, among which are those of Robert Nelson, esq. the elder and younger Bowyer, Archbishop Chichele, Sir Richard Steele, and Matthew Prior; with a bust of Mr. Bowyer, and with the quarto copper-plate, finely engraved by the elder Basire, 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, at his house in Red Lion Passage, Mr. Nichols had one of his thighs fractured; and on the 8th of February, 1808, experienced a far greater calamity, respecting not only himself but the publick, 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 unlimited pecuniary assistance ;-till, cheered by unequivocal marks of public and private approbation (not to mention motives of a higher and far superior na

ture *), he had the resolution to apply with redoubled diligence to literary and typographical labours."

It would be difficult perhaps to find many instances of a 66 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 three days after the accident, he found never forget. Only Mr. Nichols, supported by the surgical 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. 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 character, 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 various productions, and a liberal enexpect a gradual advantage from his couragement 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 day, Mr. Nichols sent to him one of the most lively letters

from Bishop Hough, "I thank God, I had *Here Mr. Nichols quotes a passage the hope of a Christian, and that supported

me."

+ See Gent. Mag. January, 1807, p. 80.

1826.]

Memoir of John Nichols, Esq. F.S.A.

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 considerable 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 remarkable 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 irreparablet.

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 Anecdotes 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 Anecdotes of a considerable number of eminent Writers and ingenious Artists."

66

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 publick 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

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.

499

writer to speak of this extraordinary and satisfactory work, in measured terms. Himself an ardent lover, and an humble inquirer into the biography of Great Britain, he has enjoyed in this extensive collection a fund of information 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 equal certainty of their being given to the publick 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 are incalculable. Already indeed the publick 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 recherchès 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 Hardinge, Esq. 1819," 3 vols. 8vo; a new edition of his "Progresses of Queen Elizabeth," with considerable additions, 3 vols. 4to; which was followed by the "Progresses of King James the First," 3 vols. 4to, which

« ПредишнаНапред »