London in the Jacobite times, Volume II — John Shaqi
London in the Jacobite times, Volume IIDoran, Dr. (John)
History
London in the Jacobite times, Volume II
Doran, Dr. (John)
London (England) -- History -- 18th century
[Illustration: Drop-A] singular illustration of the still partially
troubled times which followed is furnished by a proceeding of Samuel
Negus, printer. In 1724 he published a list of all the printers
then exercising their craft in London, and he most humbly laid it
before Lord Viscount Townshend; no doubt, for his guidance. The list
is divided into four parts. The first consists of those ‘known to
be well affected to King George.’ There are thirty-four of these
ultra-loyal fellows, with Negus, of course, among them. The second
list is headed ‘Nonjurors;’ in this, three names are entered, one
of which is ‘Bowyer.’ In the third list, headed, ‘said to be High
Flyers,’ there are two and thirty names; among them are found Alderman
Barber (the friend of Swift, of Bolingbroke and Pope), Richardson (the
novelist), and Mist (the Jacobite and something more!). The fourth
list consists of three names, ‘Roman Catholics.’ Negus was probably
a malicious though loyal busy-body. His list harmed neither Nonjuror
nor High Flyer. When, in 1729, Mr. Speaker Onslow was instrumental
in procuring for Bowyer the printing of the votes of the House of
Commons, an alarmed and loyal Whig asked Mr. Speaker if he was aware
that he was employing a Nonjuror. ‘I am quite sure of this,’ said
Onslow, ‘I am employing a truly honest man.’ There was no lack of them
among Nonjurors, and it is pleasant to find that even the High Flyers
came soon to be looked upon by reasonable Whigs as honourable men. In
1732 Alderman Barber was elected by his fellow citizens Lord Mayor of
London; and he was the first printer who enjoyed that dignity. This is
the more remarkable, as poor Mrs. Manley, mistress of the alderman’s
house and of the alderman, had bitterly satirised the Whig Ministry in
her ‘New Atalantis.’ But the lady was now dead, and the High-Flying
Barber lost nothing by his old Jacobite opinions.
[Sidenote: _SACHEVEREL._]
In the year 1724, the Nonjurors lost one who had been their foremost
man till he took the oath of allegiance; namely Sacheverel. That
act of homage to Brunswick was never forgotten or forgiven by the
Jacobites. When Sacheverel died in the spring of 1724, Hearne could
only acknowledge his boldness and good presence. ‘He delivered a thing
better than a much more modest man, however preferable in learning,
could do.’ Hearne sarcastically calls Sacheverel a ‘but,’ and says the
best thing this _but_ ever printed was the speech at his trial, ‘which
was none of his own, but was penned by Dr. Francis Atterbury.’ Hearne’s
hardest hit at this recreant parson is to be found in the following
words: ‘He was but an indifferent scholar, but pretended to a great
deal of honesty, which I could never see in him, since he was the
forwardest to take the oaths, notwithstanding he would formerly be so
forward in speaking for, and drinking the health of, King James III.’
[Sidenote: _HIS DEATH._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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