Literari/ Journals. 309 



pointed Secretary to the Royal Society and principal Librarian 

 at the British Museum, was employed in bringing out a similar 

 work in the French Language, under the title of the " Journal 

 Britannique." This work which commenced in January 1750 

 was completed in 18 very small volumes, the last of which 

 appeared in December 1755*. A continuation was then under- 

 taken by Mr. De Mauve, and this was carried on to the extent 

 of six volumes more, until the end of the year 1757. 



Another respectable work was also planned about this time, 

 entitled *' The Universal Librarian," the first Number of which 

 purports to be a Review of Books for the Months of April, May 

 and June, 1751, price 3s. : but as I never proposed to proceed 

 farther in my inquiries respecting the Periodical Literary Jour- 

 nals than to the establishment of the Monthly Review, I must 

 hasten to conclude my account of that important work. 



The editor of the Monthly Review was Mr. Ralph Griffiths, 

 who was one of the sons of a Supervisor of his Majesties Excise 

 in the County of Salop; but who for the sake of improvement 

 and to gratify his taste for reading, left the country, and placed 

 himself with a Bookseller in the Metropolis. Here, by care 

 and frugality, he saved sufficient to enable him to begin the 

 book-selling business on his own account ; and accordingly, in 

 the year 1747, he opened a shop in Saint Paul's Church Yard 

 and took the sign of the Dunciad t. Here this extraordinary 

 man formed the plan of the Monthly Review, and in two years 



Literary Intelligence." In reference to his Father having been the Editor 

 of the Journal Britannique, he adopted for his work the following pleasing 



motto ; . . „ 



'* Sequitur j'utiem, non passibus (cquts." 



* The Journal Biitamiique was held in high estimation by Gibbon the 

 Hibtorian. See Gibbon's Memoirs in Quarto Vol I. page 87. 



t In 1754 Mr. Griffiths removed to the Dunciad in Paternoster Row, 

 and in 1759 to the Dunciad, near Catherine-street in the Strand ; where 

 his shop was the favourite lounge of Dr. Goldsmith and other literary cha- 

 racters of the day. In the year 1764 the Name of Mr. Beckel appeared 

 for the first time, in the (itle-page as the publisher of the Monthly Re- 

 view ; Mr. Grilhths having relin<iuished business, and quitted London, to 

 Attend solely to his Literary Journal. 



