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Dawson Turner, Esq John Phillips, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S THOMAS COATES, Esq., Secretary, No. 59, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London: Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and Sons, Stamford Street. THE PENNY CYCLOPÆDIA OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE. RIC RICHARDSON, SAMUEL, the inventor of the modern | sion. He was so punctual and industrious during the seven years of his apprenticeship, that Wilde used to call him the pillar of his house; yet he did not neglect his private studies, finding time, by stealing it from the hours of rest and relaxation, both for much reading and a good deal of letter-writing. He remained five or six years as foreman in Mr. Wilde's printing-office after his apprenticeship expired, and then set up for himself in Salisbury-court, Fleetstreet. Soon finding himself in possession of a good business, he married Miss Allington Wilde, his old master's daughter, whom however he lost in 1731, after she had borne him five sons and a daughter, all of whom he likewise survived. He afterwards married Miss Leake, sister of Mr. James Leake, bookseller, by whom he had five daughP. C., No. 1231. RIC ters and a son of these, four daughters, with their mother, survived him. Richardson first became an author in the year 1740. He had been in the habit of occasionally furnishing prefaces and dedications for the works which he printed, at the request of the publishers; and had been often importuned by his friends Mr. Rivington and Mr. Osborne to draw up for them a small collection of familiar letters on subjects of general interest in common life; a task, they conceived, well adapted to his style and turn of mind. Many years before, he had been greatly interested by a story of real life that had been told him, the same in its general outline with that of 'Pamela;' he now thought of making it the topic of a letter or two in the proposed little volume; but when he began to reflect on the subject, its capabilities gradually unfolded themselves to him, and I thought,' says he, the. story, if written in an easy and natural manner suitable to the simplicity of it, might possibly introduce a new species of writing, that might possibly turn young people into a course of reading different from the pomp and parade of romance writing, and, dismissing the improbable and marvellous, with which novels generally abound, might tend to promote the cause of religion and virtue.' The result was the composition of the first part of 'Pamela,' the two large volumes of which were written between the 10th of November, 1739, and the 10th of January, 1740. It was published in the latter year, and became immediately so popular that five editions of it were called' for within the twelvemonth. So refreshing and exciting were mere nature, truth, and simplicity, even under many disadvantages and indeed positive offensivenesses of style and manner, found to be in a species of composition fitted above all others to amuse and interest the popular fancy, but which had hitherto been cultivated in our language only in a spirit and after a mode of working with which the taste of the most numerous class of readers was the least formed to sympathise. The first part of 'Pamela' was soon followed by the second part, which was felt at the time by most people to be a great falling off, and which it has since been generally agreed is an attempt at improving the original story that might very well have been spared. The author was led to write it by the appearance of a sequel to his book by another hand, under the title of Pamela in High Life,' the wretched speculation of some needy scribbler to turn to his own profit the interest and curiosity which Richardson's work had excited. It ought to be mentioned that Richardson also completed and published the 'Collection of Familiar Letters' out of the project of which his novel had arisen: Mrs. Barbauld, his biographer, speaks of this performance in high terms, describing it as 'a work usually found in the servant's drawer, but which, when so found, has not unfrequently detained the eye of the mistress, wondering all the while by what secret charm she was induced to turn over a book apparently too low for her perusal.' Another incident connected with the publication of Richardson's VOL. XX.-B |