with the following inscription, written by himself many years before his death: HUIC MURO AB EXTRA VICINUS JACET GULIELMUS BOWYER, TYPOGRAPHUS LONDINENSIS, DE CHRISTIANO ET LITERATO ORBE AB UTROQUE VICISSIM REMUNERATUS: ABREPTAS FACULTATES CERTATIM RESTAURAVERE ΑΝΝΟ { ÆTATIS 74. SALUTIS 1737. PATRI, PATRONIS, POSTERISQUE EORUM, * My dear Grandfather, Mr. Thomas Dawks, died May 11, 1670, at Low Layton. In the year 1672 I began to work, with my Father, at Mr. Darby's, in Bartholomew Close, May 16, 1673, Father and I went to work at Mrs. Maxwell's. He was her Overseer. Oct. 5, 1673. We went to work at Mrs. Flesher's. May, in the year 1674, my Father set up to be a Master, in Black Fryars. ... Ichabod. Dorcas. See above. Ditto, Sister Allport married Oct. 10, 1685. This answers to Dorothy. * In grateful remembrance of these ample bencfactions, the elder Mr. Bowyer had several metal cuts engraved, representing a Phoenix rising from the flames, with suitable mottoes; which were used by him, and by his Son, as ornaments in some of the most capital books they printed. See one of these original Tailpieces in p. 293. U 2 IN IN PII ET GRATI ANIMI MONUMENTUM PONI CURAVIT FILIUS, ANNUM AGENS SEPTUAGESIMUM OCTAVUM. Another Epitaph, proposed for Mr. Bowyer, was drawn up by the Rev. Edward Clarke: "Memoriæ Sacruni WILHELMI BOWYER, Typographorum post Stephanos et Commelinos linguarum Latinæ, Græcæ, et Hebraica adeò ut cognovisse videatur splendidè, nitidè, et, quod majus est, Annales Typographici et nunc et olim et præcipuè quod acta diurna in sui ipsius et familiæ decus, Tanti Typographi et Hominis Memoriæ et nunc Amicus. annum agens septuagesimum octavum, Eræ Christianæ 1777." A bust of him is placed in Stationers Hall; with a good portrait of his Father, and another of his Patron, Mr. Nelson. A brass plate under the bust is thus inscribed, in his own words, in conformity to a wish he had many years before communicated to his Partner: "To "To the united munificence of when a calamitous Fire, Jan. 30, 1712-13, being continued Printer of the Votes of the House of Commons, by his father's merits, and the indulgence of three Honourable Speakers; and appointed to print the Journals of the House of Lords, at near LXX years of age, by the patronage of a noble Peer*; struggling with a debt of gratitude which could not be repaid t left this Tablet to suggest what worn-out Nature could not express. EX VOTO PATRONI OPTIMI AMICISSIMI * The Earl of Marchmont; see vol. II. p. 614. vol. III. p. 41. After this line Mr. Bowyer had originally written as follows: "With an attachment to Literature which could not be indulged; with delusive hopes from a College interest or reputation; experienced the conflicts of two opposite passions, resignation and ambition." Early in 1778, on the suggestion of Mr. Pegge some short Biographical Memoirs of Mr. Bowyer, the "little brochure" of 52 pages mentioned by Mr. Cole, was printed as a present to his parti * "DEAR SIR, Whittington, Nov. 24, 1777. · "I am truly sorry for the death of my old friend Mr. Bowyer; though, in regard to him, I presume it may be rather an happy event. I doubt you are too full of business to give us some memorials concerning him and his Father, both eminent in their way; but, as this last Gentleman was an excellent Scholar, engaged in much business and very considerable Publications, and extended his life to a long stretch, a sketch of his Life would be highly acceptable to the publick.-You, I apprehend, are now sole at his press.-I am much obliged to you for your share of trouble about my Archæologia, which I have just now received; and I thank you much for your kind present of the copies of my Paper on St. George.-I pray God send you the enjoyment of better health, and am, Sir, your truly affectiopate, and most obliged servant, SAM. PEGGE." + See vol. I. p. 565.Of this pamphlet only 20 copies were printed; one of which was sent to St. John's College, Cambridge, and the others to particular Friends of Mr. Bowyer. Some of them are accounted for by the following notes: "Sept. 5, 1778. Dr. Ducarel thanks Mr. Nichols for his kind present of two of Mr. Bowyer's Lives (wishes to know whether Mr. Tutet might be favoured with one) will put the other in the Lambeth Library as soon as the Archbishop comes to town."-"Sir John Pringle returns Mr. Nichols many thanks for his late publication, which he was so good as to make a present of to him. Sir John Pringle wishes that Mr. Nichols may to the end of his life find all his friends as grateful to him as he has been to his benefactor; and that, when he has finished his course, his heirs may be as studious to do justice to his memory, as he has been to honour Mr. Bowyer's. Pall Mall, Sept. 10, 1778.'-Sept. 11. "Mr. Tutet presents his compliments and thanks to Mr. Nichols for his kind present of the Anecdotes of Mr. Bowy'er. The plague and distraction of a house full of workmen has prevented Mr. Tutet from returning sooner his thanks." Sept. 11. I am much obliged to Mr. Nichols for his Memoirs of Mr. Bowyer; and only wish he had such materials for those of Mr. Clarke and Mr. Markland. R. GOUGH."-" I am ordered by the Standing Committee of the Trustees of the British Museum, to signify to you, that they have received the present of a pamphlet, intituled 'Anecdotes Biographical and Literary of the late Mr. William Bowyer, Printer,' which you were pleased lately. cular friends; and, at the request of my friend Mr. David Henry, with whom I had in that year become an associate in the management of the Gentle man's Magazine, the Article was there given at large, in vol. XLVIII. pp. 409 & seqq. In March 1782 (as has been noticed in p. 113) a new and enlarged Edition was published, in quarto, of Mr. Bowyer's "Conjectures * on the New Testa lately to make them, and to return you their thanks for the same. Jos. PLANTA, Secretary. British Museum, Sept. 11, 1778." -"Mr. Astle's best compliments attend Mr. Nichols, and the Charters, &c. relating to the Abbey of Bec, are very much at his service. Mr. Astle finds only part of a Seal of Bec. Mr. Astle is truly obliged to Mr. Nichols for his Anecdotes relating to the late Mr. Bowyer. Sept. 25."-"I am obliged to you for your civility in sending me Dr. King's Works and Mr. Bowyer's Memoirs; which have given me much amusement. If, at any time hereafter, it comes within my sphere to assist you in any undertaking, I shall do it with great pleasure; and am, Sir, your most humble servant, JOHN BRADLEY. Lincoln, Jan. 31, 1779.”. 'Harley-street, Feb. 11, 1779. If I had known to whom I was obliged for the anonymous Memoirs of Mr. Bowyer's Life, I should have returned more early acknowledgments to you for that favour. I was much pleased, in the perusal, to see the literary merit of your Friend pointed out by such respectable testimonies, from those who were of no small fame in the Republick of Letters; amongst whom every line of Mr. Clarke's will please a reader, whilst it does honour to his subject. His Will shews how much he wished to improve the press by the abilities of the persons to be employed in it; and I am glad to find that worthy objects have been found to receive the benefit of his appointment. I doubt not of your endeavours to keep up the credit of his house and business; and am, Sir, Your very humble servant, JER. MILLES." *The "Conjectures" had been translated into the German language, and re-printed, by John Christopher Frederick Schulz, Professor of Divinity, of the Oriental and Greek Languages, and Antiquities, Leipsic, 1774, 8vo. A Fourth Edition of the "Conjectures" will be published early in 1812, corrected; enriched with some valuable additions by Bishop Barrington, Dr. Owen, Mr. Stephen Weston, Professor Schulz, &c. &c. "Conjectural criticism, particularly when it is exercised on the Sacred Writings, is peculiarly delicate and hazardous. It requires great sagacity and great caution. Of blind and bold adventurers the list is numerous:-of those whose vanity tempted them to strike out of the beaten path in quest of something |