The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)Beloe, William
General
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)
Beloe, William
Authors, English; Beloe, William, 1756-1817; English literature -- Anecdotes
As to external manners, the person in question was both courteous and
courtier-like. They who were less favourably inclined towards him,
complained that his enunciation was affectedly soft, and that he had
too much of the air and grimace of a Frenchman; and by the shrug of his
shoulders, and his facility in speaking the language, has more than
once been mistaken for a native of that country. But his peculiarities
were harmless, his knowledge of all the mysteries of his craft, more
extensive, perhaps, than that of any of his contemporaries, his merits
considerable, and death might easily have spared a less amiable character.
The few remaining scraps on the subject of booksellers may be summarily
brought together. There is some account of a Snuffy Bookseller, a man
of great singularity of life and manners. He had a university education
originally, with a view of taking orders. Why he changed his purpose is
unknown. It has been whispered that an eminent female personage, long
since deceased, to whom he had been useful in collecting and arranging
books of prints and engravings, had promised to procure him preferment.
His next occupation was that of an engraver, in which art he became no
mean proficient. His final employment was that of a bookseller, in which
mystery also he had obtained no inconsiderable degree of knowledge. The
last fatal catastrophe of his life was truly lamentable, occasioned in
all probability from disappointed hopes, and the horrors of approaching
penury.
There was also a bookseller to whom the epithet of B⸺d is attached, but
anecdotes of vulgar rudeness, over-reaching cunning, and total disregard
of the civilities of life, would only deform these pages.
Some remarks are also to be found on a Cunning Bookseller, who, at a
very early period of life, had obtained the most extensive knowledge of
his business in all its branches, which he did not fail to turn to good
account.
Attention also is invited to a sketch of a Godly Bookseller, a worthy and
conscientious man, whose principal dealings were in religious books and
tracts, and chief correspondence with individuals of that description.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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