A Greeably to promife, I fend fome further particulars of Mr. Maittaire's very learned publications. In 1709 he gave the first specimen of his great skill in typographical antiquities, by publishing Stephanorum Hiftoria, vitas ipforum libros complectens," 8vo; which was fucceeded in 1717 by " Hiftoria Typographorum aliquot Parifienfum,vitas & libros complectens," 8vo.

ac

In 1719, ab Artis invente Origine ad annum MD. Operâ Mich. Maittaire, A.M. Hage Com." 4to. To this volume is prefixed," Epiftolaris de antiquis Quintiliani Editionibus Differtatio, clariffimo viro D. Johanni Clerico."

Annales Typographici

The fecond volume, divided into two parts, and continued to the year MDXXXVI,was published at The Hague in 1722; introduced by a letter of John Toland, under the title of "Conjectura verofimilis de prima Typographiæ Inventione."

The third volume, from the fame prefs, in two parts, continued to MDLVII, and, by an Appendix, to MDCLXIV, in 1725.

In 1733 was published at Amfterdam what is ufually confidered as the fourth volume, under the title of "Annales Typographici ab artis inventa origine, ad annum MDCLXIV, operâ Mich. Maittaire, A.M. Editio nova, auctior & emendation, tomi primi pars pofterior." The aukwardness of this title has induced many gentlemen to difpofe of their fie volume, as thinking it fuperseded by the second edition; but this is by no means the cafe ; the volume of 1719 being equally neceffary to complete the fet as that of 1733, which is a revifion of all the former volumes.

In 1741 this excellent work was clofed, at London, by "Annalium Typographicorum Tomi Quintus & ultimus; indicem in tamen quatuor præeuntes complectens ;" divided (like the two preceding volumes) into two parts. The whole works therefore, when properly bound, confifts either of five volumes, or of nine; and in nine volumes it was properly defcribed in the catalogue of Dr. Afkew, whofe elegant copy was fold to Mr. Shaftoe for 10l. 5s. I have deviated from chronological order, to place the "Annales Typographici" in one view. In the intermediate years, however, Mr. Maittaire was diligently employed on various works of value.

In 1721 he published "Batrachomyonachia Græcè ad veterum exeinplarium fidem recufa: Gloffa Græca; variantibus lectinibus; verfionibus Latinis commentariis & indicibus illu

ftrata." 8vo.

In 1722, "Mifcellanea Græcorum aliquot Scriptorum Carmina, cum verfione Latina & Notis," 4to.

In 1724 he compiled, at the request of Dr. John Freind, (at whose expence it was printed,) an index to the works of Aretæus, to accompany the fplendid edition of that author which appeared from the Clarendon piefs in 1723. The index is introduced by a fort Latin preface.

In 1725, an excellent edition of Anacreon in 4to, of which no more than 100 copies were printed, and the few errata in each copy corrected by his own hand.

In 1726 he published "Petri Petiti Medici Parifienfis in tres priores Aretæi Cappadocis Libros Commentarii, nunc primum editi,"4to. This learned Commentary was found among the papers of Grævius.

From 1728 to 1732 he was employed in publishing Marmorum Arundellianorum, Seldenianorum, aliorumque Academia Oxonienfi donatorum, una cum Commentariis & Indice, editie fecunda," folio; to which an “Appendix" was printed in 1733.

"Epiftola D.Mich. Maittaire ad D.P. Des Maizeaux, in qua Indicis in Annales Typographicos Methodus explicatur," &c. is printed in The prefent State of the Republick of Letters, Auguft 1773, p. 142.

The life of Robert Stephens, revised and corrected by the author, with a new and complete lift of his works, is prefixed to the excellent edition of R. Stephens's Thefaurus, 4 volumes in folio, 1734.

410.

"Antique Infcriptiones duæ, 1736," These were the Greek and Latin inferiptions on a table of copper, (found at Heraclea,) accompanied with a grammatical commentary. The history of this table is worth preferving. In 1732 two large tables of copper were difcovered near Heraclea, in the bay of Tarentum, in the Magna Græcia; the first and most important of them, which was broken into two, containing on one fide a Greek infcription relating to lands facred to Bacchus; on the other fide, a Latin infcription, being part of a pandect or digest of Roman municipal laws.

The

Reflections on the Distrele or the Poor." W 7ERE there no mifery or diftrefs in the world, there would be few spccasions for exercifing that benevolence, which excites gratitude and thankfulness on one hand, and the tender emotions of fympathy and humanity on the other. Confcious as we are, that no one is exempt from the painful viciffitudes of life, and that the bieffed to-day may to morrow experience a bitter reverse; the child of woe is always an object of commiseration, and thould excite in our hearts that kind of compaffion, and obtain that aid from us, which we fhould look for, were such afflictions fuffered to overtake us.

Various are the occafions to excite the fympathetic feelings of the human beart, for diftrefs appears in a thoufand fhapes; but perhaps there are hone more deferving of our attention, than abject poverty, particularly at this time, when the inclemency of the feafon requires additional expences, and when families, who have been fupported by industry and labour, are many of them robbed of this Mupport by the exigencies of war, and compelled to depend upon the fcanty and precarious affittance of the parish. Many who are permitted to continue with their families are obliged to la·bour in all the fevere changes of weather, and are confequently more liable to violent difeafes and aggravated I want. Their Families are often numerous, their habitations clafe and confined, and, when a fever or any infectious difeafe is once introduced, it extends its malignity, and augments defolation and nifery i for the arm of the father, upon, which a family of helpless children haturally depend for fupport, is thus equally proftrate with the babe at the breast. Sickness under every exterior comfort excites our folicitude and concern, but what a picture of human woe is exhibited, when want, penury, and pain, conkitute the pillow!

The benevolence of this nation is great beyond comparison; and, when real diftrefs is known, fome tender bofoin overflows with comfort and fuctour: but the thief examples of mifesy are unknown and unrelieved; many there are too diffident to apply for aid, or ignorant how to do it; fome of thefe pine away in folitary want, till death closes their fufferings i numbers, however, rather than Glently luffer their husbands, theit wives, and their children, utterly to perish, fupGENT. MAG. Jan. 1780.

plicate our aid in the public streets and privare avenues; but, unfortunately for them, the prevalent opinion, that there is fomewhere abundant provifion for the poor, and that idleness. not neceffity, prompts their petitions, induces many to refufe that pittance, which would prove no lofs to themselves, and in tome inftances might fave a life.

In fome feafes the attack is violent, and the progrefs rapid; and before the settlement of a poor helplefs object can be afcertained, death' de cides the controversy.

I know that many undeferving objects intrude upon the benevolent, to the injury of real diftrefs: but, rather than thofe fhould fuffer all the pangs of mifery unpitied and unaided, fome enquiry might be made, and their cafe afcertained were this tried, it would frequently bring us acquainted with fituations and circumstances of mifery which cannot be defcribed: acquaintance with fuch fcenes of human woe would equally excite thankfulness for ourfelves, and compaffion for our fellow-creatures, who are vifited with fufferings and pangs from which we have hitherto been providentially, if not undefervedly, preferved.

Thefe fentiments were the refult of a morning walk in the metropolis, which introduced the writer into fome firmations of real life, the relation of which, he trufts, will not be unacceptable to thofe benevolent minds, who think, To pity human woe Is what the happy to the unhappy owe. A Morning Walk in the Metropolis.

"About the beginning of Decem. ber, on going out of my house-door, I was accolted by a tall thin man, whole countenance exhibited fuch a picture of distress and poverty as fixed my attention, and induced me to en quire into his fituation. He informed me that he was a day-labourer, just recovering from fickness, and that feeble as he then was, in order to procure fuftenance for a fick family at home, he was compelled to feek for work, and to exert himself much beyond his Arength; and be added, that he lived in a court called Little Greenwich, in Alderigate Street. This poor object feemed to feel diftrefs too deeply to he an impoftor and I could not avoid bestowing fome means of obviating his prefent want, for which he reized bowing, with tears in his eyes;. hut when he got out of fight, his image

was prefent with me: I was then forry that my generofity had not been equal to my fenfibility, and this induced me to attempt finding out his family. He had mentioned that his name was Foy, and by the information he gave me, I difcovered his miferable habitation; with difficulty I found my way up a dark paffage and ftair cafe to a little chamber furnished with one bedtead; an old sox was the only article that anfwered the purpose of a chair, the furniture of the bed consisted of a piece of old ticken, and a worn-out blanket, which conftitated the only couch, except the floor, whereon this afflicted family could recline their heads to reit: and what a fcene did they present ! Near the center of the bed lay the mother with half a fhift, and covered as high as the middle with the blanket. She was incapable of telling her complaints-The fpittle, for want of fome Huid to noillen her mouth, had dried upon her lips, which were black, as were likewife the gums, the concomìtants of a putrid fever, the disorder under which the laboured.

At another end of the blanket was extended a girl about five years old; it had rolled from under this covering, and was totally naked, except its back, on which a blifter plafter was tied by a piece of packthread croffed over its breaft; and, though labouring under this dreadful fever, the poor creature was afleep. On one fide of its mother lay a naked boy about two years old; this little innocent was likewife fleeping. On the other fide of the mother, on the floor, or rather on an old box, lay a girl about twelve years old: the was in part covered with her gown and petticoat, but he had no fhift. The fever had not bereaved her of her fenfes: the was perpetually moaning out, "I fhall die of thirts, pray give me fome water to drink." Near her stood another girl about four years old, bare footed her whole covering was a loose piece of petticoat thrown over her fhoulders; and to this infant it was that her fifter was crying for water.

I now experienced how greatly the fight of real mifery exceeds the defcription of it. What a contraft-did this fcene exhibit to the plenty and elegance which reigned within the extent of a few yards only for this miserable receptacle was oppofite to the stately edifice of an honourable alderman, and still-nearer were many fpacious boules and hops.

I have obferved, that the daught who was ftretched on the floor, was ftill able to fpeak. She told me that fomething was the matter with her mo ther's fide, and asked me to look at it. I turned up an edge of the blankets and found that a very large mortification had taken place, extending from the middle of her body to the middle of the thigh, and of a hand's breadth ; the length was upwards of half a yard, and to top its progrefs nothing had been applied. It was a painful fight to behold; and many not lefs painful exist in this metropolis. I procured medical affiftance immediately, and for a trifling gratuity got a neighbour to nurfe the family. The churchwarden, to whom I made application, heard their history with concern, and added his humane aid, to rescue from death a poor and almoft expiring family. I have, however, the pleasure to conclude this relation of their unfpeakable diftrefs, by communicating their total deliverance from it, which, I think, may be justly attributed to the timely affistance administered.

London, Jan. 6, 1780.

Mr. URBAN,

J. C. LETTSOM,

AS you have lately favoured the pub

lick with fome strictures on painting, I hope the following account of its first introduction into England will not be unacceptable to your readers..

Painting in oil is fuppofed to be brought into England by John Ab Eyek, in the year 1410. Mr. Walpole, in his Anecdotes on Painting, gives some reasons to induce me to believe that the fecret was difcovered in England at an earlier period; what follows may perhaps confirm this opi nion.

I have seen in the poffeffion of a gentleman at Cheltenham, a portrait in oil colours of one of the ancestors of his family it is a whole length, painted on two boards glued together, and not ill done. He is reprefented kneeling on a cushion. The body of his armour is black, emboffed with gold, on which are depicted the arms of the family, and on his helmet is a golden rofe. In his hands he holds a crest, confifting of a plume of Oftrich feathers upon an helmet adorned with a mantle, which he feems to have juft received. The picture is without name or date, but according to the family tradition, it is the portrait of Sir Richard Delabene, created a banneret af

ter,