No. VI. BOOKSELLERS AND PRINTERS*. ANDREW MILLAR, Esq. was literally the artificer of his own fortune. By consummate industry, and a happy train of successive patronage and connexion, he became one of the most eminent Booksellers of the eighteenth century. He had little pretensions to Learning; but had a thorough knowledge of mankind; and a nice discrimination in selecting his literary counsellors; amongst whom it may be sufficient to mention the late eminent Schoolmaster and Critick, Dr. William Roset, of Chiswick; and the late * The names of several other eminent Booksellers and Printers will be found by consulting the Index. + Millar, says Mr. Boswell, "though himself no great judge of literature, had good sense enough to have for his friends very able men to give him their opinion and advice in the purchase of copy-right, the consequence of which was his acquiring a very large fortune, with great liberality. Johnson said of him, "I respect Millar, Sir; he has raised the price of literature." The same praise may be justly given to Panckoucke, the eminent Bookseller of Paris. Mr. Strahan's liberality, judg ment, and success, are well known. Mr. Millar took the principal charge of conducting the publication of Johnson's Dictionary; and as the patience of the proprietors was repeatedly tried, and almost exhausted, by their expecting that the work would be completed within the time which Johnson had sanguinely supposed, the learned Author was often goaded to dispatch, more especially as he had received all the copy-money, by dif ferent drafts, a considerable time before he had finished his task. When the messenger who carried the last sheet to Millar returned, Johnson asked him, "Well, what did he say?" " Sir, (answered the messenger) he said, Thank God I have done with him." "I am glad (replied Johnson, with a smile) that he thanks God for any thing.' [Sir John Hawkins, p. 341, inserts two notes as having passed formally between Andrew Millar and Johnson, to the above effect. I am assured this was not the case. In the way of incidental remark it was a pleasant play of raillery. To have deliberately written notes in such terms would have been morose.] It is remarkable, that those with whom Johnson chiefly contracted for his literary labours were Scotchmen, Mr. Millar, and Mr. Strahan. Life of Johnson. A gentleman well known in the republick of letters, and highly esteemed for his public spirit, his friendly disposition, his amiable William Strahan, Esq. * the early friend and associate of Mr. Millar in private life, and his partner in many capital adventures in business. Mr. Millar had three children; but they all died în their infancy. He was not extravagant; but contented himself with an occasional regale of humble port at an opposite Tavern; so that his wealth accumulated rapidly. He was fortunate also in his assistants in trade. One of these was the present worthy veteran Mr. Thomas Becket, who afterwards colonized into another part of the Strand, in partnership with Mr. P. De Hondt; and thence transplanted himself, first to the corner of the Adelphi, and afterwards to Pall Mall, where he has long been stationary, and, it is hoped, will remain so whilst he can enjoy the comforts of life. Mr. Millar's next assistant was Robin Lawless †, a name familiar to every Bibliomaniac and every amiable and chearful temper, and his universal benevolence. He published an edition of Sallust, and was largely concerned in the Monthly Review. He left one son, Samuel Rose, Esq, barrister at law, a young man of considerable talents, and universally beloved for his truly mild and unobtrusive manners; who was the friend and correspondent of Cowper the Poet; and in 1804 was the Editor of Goldsmith's Works, 4 vols. 8vo. He distinguished himself also in his profession by editing some valuable Law books, He married the daughter of Dr. Farr, of Plymouth; and died Dec. 24, 1804, aged only 37, leaving four sons. * Of whom see p. 390. This diligent and honest servant, who, for considerably more than half a century, had been so well known to, and much distinguished by, the notice and regard of many of the most eminent literary characters of his time, as one of the prin eipal assistants to Mr. Andrew Millar, afterwards to Mr. Alderman Cadell, and finally, to Messrs. Cadell and Davies, the present conductors of that extensive business, died at his apartments in Dean Street, Soho, June 21, 1806, at the advanced age of 82. He was a native of Dublin, and related, not very distantly, to the respectable and recently ennobled family of the same name, as well as to the Barnewalls and Aylmers. He was a Roman Catholick, and strictly observant of the duties and obligations of his religion, yet per fectly free from the bigotry and uncharitableness which have, on too many occasions, marked the conduct of members of the Romish Church. In his character were united the soundest integrity of mind with a simplicity of manners rarely equalled. His reading Bookseller who recollects the latter half of the eighteenth century. In 1758 Mr. Millar met with an apprentice congenial to his most ardent wishes; who, combining industry with intellect, relieved him in a great mea sure from the toil of superintending an immense concern; whom in 1765 he readily admitted as his partner: and in 1767 relinquished to him the whole business. I need not add, that this was the late worthy and successful Bookseller Mr. Alderman Cadell *. Mr. Millar now retired to a villa at Kew Green. He died in the following year; and was buried in the cemetery at Chelsea, near the King's private road; where in 1751 Mr. Millar had erected an obelisk over a vault appropriated to his family, where three infant children were deposited; and reading had been extensive; his judgment was remarkably correct; his memory uncommonly strong; and the anecdoter with which it was stored often afforded gratification to his friends, who delighted to draw him into conversation. Humble as was his walk in life, few men had stronger claims to affectionate regard. A purer spirit never inhabited the human bosom. One remarkable instance of his singleness of heart we can add on the most indisputable authority. Not very long before Mr. Cadell obtained the scarlet gown, on taking stock at the end of the year, honest Robin very seriously applied to his master, to ask a favour of him. Mr. Cadell, of course, expected that it was somewhat that might be beneficial to the applicant. But great indeed was his surprize to find that the purport of the request was, that his annual salary might be lowered, as the year's accompt was not so good as the preceding one; and Lawless really feared that his master could not afford to pay him such very high wages. On retiring from business, the benevolent master had a picture of the faithful servant painted by Sir William Beechey, which he always shewed to his friends as one of the principal ornaments of his drawing-room.. * See vol. VI. p. 443. This Cemetery, about a quarter of a mile from the Church, was given to that parish by Sir Hans Sloane. On which are the several following inscriptions: "1. Mindful of Death and of Life; ANDREW MILLAR, of the Strand, London, Bookseller, near the Dormitory intended for himself and his beloved wife JAND afterwards his own remains, and those of his widow, who had been re-married to Sir Archibald Grant, Bart. of Monymusk, Aberdeenshire. She died, at her house in Pall Mall, Oct. 25,1 1788; and left many charitable benefactions; among others, the whole residue of her estate (supposed to be at least 15,000l.) to be disposed of at the discretion of her three executors, the Rev. Dr. Trotter, Mr. Grant, and Mr.Cadell. JANE MILLAR, when it shall please Divine Providence as a place of like repose the sacred pledges of their mutual love, 2. "ROBERT MILLAR, aged one year, died in 1736, ELIZABETH MILLAR, of the same age, died in 1740, and therefore happy in their Deaths. 3." Sacred to the Remembrance of the fleeting Joy, the lasting Grief, he was taken to a better at Scarborough July 30, 1750, 4. "Here lie the remains of ANDREW MILLAR, Esq. 5. "Dame JANE GRANT, widow of Sir ARCHIBALD GRANT, Bart. 6. "Here lie the remains of Mrs. MARGARET JOHNSTON; who departed this life July the 30, 1757." CHARLES CHARLES HITCH, Esq. a Bookseller of considerable eminence in Paternoster-row, and in the commission of the peace for the County of Essex; was Master of the Stationers' Company in 1758. He died Sept. He died Sept. 20, 1764, and was buried at East Ham. Elizabeth, his widow (daughter of Mr. Arthur Bettesworth *, Bookseller) died in 1777; and Charles Hitch, esq. (their son) died April 20, 1781.-Rev. Paul Hitch, M. A. Rector of Horton, co. Gloucester, died Sept. 19, 1786,Another Son died at Falmouth, Oct. 2, 1786. WILLIAM STRAHAN, Esq. This distinguished Printer was born in Scotland in April 1715; and was apprenticed there to the profession which he pursued through life. He came early to London, where his capacity, diligence, and probity, raised him to great eminence. The good * Two other daughters of Mr. Bettesworth are also buried at East Ham; Catherine wife of Richard Heming died in 1758 (her husband in 1741). Thomasine wife of William Stepple, 1777, (her husband in 1781.) + The following character of him is copied from "The Lounger," a periodical paper, published at Edinburgh, Aug. 20, 1785. "The advantages and use of Biography have of late been so often mentioned, and are now so universally allowed, that it is needless for any modern author to set them forth. That department of writing, however, has been of late years so much cultivated, that it has fared with Biography as with every other art; it has lost much of its dignity in its commonness, and many lives have been presented to the publick, from which little instruction or amusement could be drawn. Individuals have been traced in minute and ordinary actions, from which no consequences could arise, but to the private circle of their own families and friends, and in the detail of which we saw no passion excited, no character developed, nothing that should distinguish them from those common occurrences, Which dully took their course, and were forgotten.' Yet there are few even of those comparatively insignificant lives, in which men of a serious and thinking cast do not feel a certain degree of interest. A pensive mind can trace, in seemingly trivial incidents and common situations, something to |