144 HISTORY OF THE PRINTING PRESS IN DERBYSHIRE. 
The printer of the British Spy or Derby FPost-Man espoused 
the cause of Dr. Michael Hutchinson in the disputes between the 
latter and the Corporation of Derby, concerning the rebuilding of 
All Saints’ Church; and on the 13th of July, 1727, he thus 
apologises :— 
**To the Reader. The non-publication of this paper, last week, being 
entirely owing to accident, which at one time or other affects mankind in 
general, ’tis humbly hoped the omission may be found pardonable; the 
rather since loss sustain’d thereby (not altogether inconsiderable) is greatly 
augmented by the unfortunate risque of displeasing worthy customers, on 
the continuance of whose favours the towering hopes of a thriving infant 
were in a manner absolutely founded.” 
After the expenditure of much mysterious indignation against 
his enemies (hinting at “ dark insinuations in private,” and ‘ black 
attempts ” to injure him), he adds :— 
‘¢T must own that a Pr—b—d and a Journeyman Printer are very unequal 
combatants ; tho’ the odds lies not altogether in the Title, for I once knew a 
Mr. of Arts to have his head broke in a duel with a poor Cobler ; yet it may 
fare quite otherwise on my side, All I hope for is fair play.” 
The expression, “ journeyman printer,” is rather curiously used 
in the above passage; if taken in the modern acceptation it 
indicates that Hodgkinson was “not his own master;” but of 
this nothing is now known. The latest copy of this series of papers 
in the late Mr. Robert Ward’s collection bore date April 15th, 
1731, and the Derby fost-Man probably expired in that year. 
The remains of this series are now in the Derby Free Library, 
having been bought by Mr. Jewitt (at the sale of the late Mr. 
Robert Ward’s effects in November, 1855), for £2 15s. od. Mr. 
Jewitt sold his Derbyshire Collections entire to the Duke of 
Devonshire, who has generously presented them to the Borough of 
Derby. We have seen a MS. collation of this volume (made prior 
to the first change of ownership,) which states that it included 33 
parts of the British Spy or Derby Post-Man ; that the first paper 
in the collection is dated ‘‘ January 11th, 1727 ;” and the last, 
“ April r5th, 1731.” At present, there are 19 Nos. only, the first 
of which bears date “ March 7th, 1727;” and the last,“ December 
