than a three-quarters, and less than a half-length: a size which has ever since been denominated a Kit-kat from this circumstance. In 1719 he made an excursion to Paris, where he spent several months, and was fortunate enough to gain a considerable sum by adventuring in the Mississippi scheme. In consequence of his attachment to the Whigs, he obtained in January 1719-20, probably by the patronage of the Duke of Newcastle and Secretary Craggs," a grant to himself and his nephew, Jacob Tonson, junior, (who was the son of his elder brother, Richard,) of the office of Stationer, Bookbinder, Bookseller, and Printer, to some of the principal publick Boards and great Offices, for the term of forty years; and not long afterwards (1722) he assigned and made over the

8

the Kit-kat portraits were then hung. They were painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, chiefly in the reign of Queen Anne, and are all of the same size, except that of the painter. Tonson's portrait is one of the set. Between 1732 and 1736, Faber made mezzotinto prints of the whole Collection.

6 Vanbrugh, in a letter to Jacob Tonson, written, Nov. 29, 1719, (two months only before this grant,) says, "I shewed Mr. Secretary Craggs what you writ to him. He returns you his compliments, and seems much disposed to be your friend and servant." Mr. Craggs had been made Secretary of State about eight months before the date of this letter.

7 Pat. 6 Geo. I. p. 3. n. 17.

The Post-Office, and War-Office, the offices of the Treasurer of the Navy, and the Commissioners for Stampduties, &c.

whole benefit of this grant to his nephew ; who, in 1733, obtained from Sir Robert Walpole a further grant of the same employment for forty years more, to commence at the expiration of the former term: a very lucrative appointment, which was enjoyed by the Tonson family, or their assigns, till the month of January, 1800. From about the year 1720, the elder Tonson seems to have transferred his business to his nephew; and lived principally on his estate in Herefordshire, till 1736, when he died, probably about eighty years old. On his

Pat. 6 Geo. II. p. 1. n. 4.

' March 18, 1735-6.-In one of the Stationers' Books I found the following entry :-" 5° Junii, 1670. Jacob Tonson, sonne of Jacob Tonson, late of Holborne, Barber Chyrurgeon, deceased, hath put him selfe an apprentice to Thomas Basset, for eight years from this day."-As, by his father's will, his mother was directed to bind him an apprentice to some trade at the age of fourteen, it may be presumed that he was born in 1656.-In THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE he is stated to have died worth only forty thousand pounds: but he probably possessed double that sum. Soon after his successful adventure in the Mississippi scheme, he wrote to his friend, Sir John Vanbrugh, to look out for a purchase for him; and Sir John proposed one to him, for which thirty thousand pounds were to have been paid. From his will, which was made Dec. 2, 1735, and proved April 9, 1736, (PRE. OFF. Derby, qu. 91.) it appears that he had estates in Glocestershire and Herefordshire. Even supposing him to have quitted business about 1720,-by near fifty years traffick, with a great accession from the French funds, he must have acquired a much larger sum than that attributed to him soon after his death.

2

death-bed he is reported to have said, “I wish I had the world to begin again;" and having been asked why he expressed such a wish, to have replied, "because then I should have died worth a hundred thousand pounds; whereas now I die worth only eighty thousand pounds :" but the circumstances in which he died, and the situation of his family, render this anecdote extremely improbable, and worthy of little credit. Only four months before, his nephew had died; and even he, of whom perhaps this story was originally told, had no occasion to wish for rejuvenescence, to obtain the sum which is here stated as the completion of human felicity; for according to the printed accounts of that period, he was at the time of his death worth an hundred thousand pounds. For what purpose then could the elder Tonson wish for any additional wealth? He had

2 Sir David Dalrymple, from whom I derive this anecdote, was a very curious inquirer, and extremely accurate in his researches: but he has merely mentioned this, and another traditional story, which has been shewn to be without foundation, (see p. 320,) as tales that were current about forty years ago, and were worth examination and inquiry, without vouching for their authenticity.

3 GENT. MAG. for Nov. 1735. He died at Barnes, Nov. 15, 1735. His will, which was made, August 16, 1735, and proved Dec. 6th following, (PRE. OFF. Ducie, qu. 257.) filled twenty-seven pages, and was all written by himself; and shows him not only to have abounded in wealth, but to have been a prudent, just, and worthy man. He is therefore very unlikely to have expressed any such wish as that above mentioned. After having devised

no children of his own; and the children of his nephew were all most amply provided for by their father's will. Seventeen days after the death of that nephew, (Dec. 2, 1735,) old Jacob Tonson made his will; in which he confirmed a settlement that he had made on him, (probably at the time of his marriage,) and appointed his greatnephew, Jacob Tonson, the eldest son of the former Jacob, his executor and residuary legatee. This must have been an immense accession to what he already had derived from his father; who devised all his estates in Herefordshire, Glocestershire, and Worcestershire, in what is called strict settlement, to his sons, Jacob, Richard, and Samuel, successively; and the whole benefit of his patent between the two elder, whom he also

his estates in Herefordshire, Glocestershire, and Worcestershire, and bequeathed no less a sum than thirty-four thousand pounds to his three daughters and his younger son Samuel, and disposed of his patent, he mentions his uncle, old Jacob Tonson, to whom he leaves fifty guineas for mourning; but knowing his love of quiet and retirement, he says, he would not burthen him with the office of executor of his will. He however recommends his family to his uncle's care, and exhorts all his children to remember their duty to their superiours and their inferiours; tenderly adding" And so GOD bless you all!" This is not the language of a man whose heart was inordinately set on gain. It appears from his will, that he was a bookseller, bookbinder, and stationer, all which business was carried on in his house; and that he was also a printer, in partnership with J. Watts. The elder Jacob probably also carried on all these several occupations.

made his residuary legatees. Richard, though a partner with his elder brother, lived principally on his estate near Windsor, where he was so much beloved and respected, that the electors of that borough almost compelled him to represent them in parliament; an honour which he enjoyed at the time of his death. Jacob, who is called by Dr. Johnson," the late amiable Mr. Tonson," after having carried on the business of a bookseller with great liberality, and credit to himself, for above thirty years, died without issue, in 1767 ;* and Mr. Steevens afterwards honoured his memory with a characteristick, and, I believe, a very just eulogium.' He was the last commercial name of a

4 This amiable man carried on his trade for many years in the same shop which had been possessed by his father and great uncle, opposite Catharine-street in the Strand; but some years before his death removed to a new house on the other side of the way, near Catharine-street, where he died, March 31, 1767. Though his younger brother, Richard, survived him a few years, (dying at Water-Oakley, near Bray, in Berkshire, Oct. 9, 1772,) Mr. Jacob Tonson may be considered as the last commercial name of this family; Richard having become a country gentleman, and a Member of Parliament. His father by his will directed his estate at Water-Oakley to be sold, and the produce to be considered as part of his personal property; but it came into the hands of his second son, Richard, either by agreement with his family, or by purchase.

5 Advertisement prefixed to his first edition of Shakspeare's Plays, in ten volumes, 1773