CALE DON TIC .LAK, 
le&tion of Poems,” “* The Precep- 
tor,” &c. &c. and commenced, in 
1758, ‘The Annual Regifter.” 
Robert, who quitted bufineis early 
im 1759, died Sept. 28, 1764, at the 
age of G1; James perfevered in 
acquiring wealth by the moft ho- 
nourable literary connections. In 
1782 he communicated to the Rock- 
ibgham adminiftration the plan of 
the tax on receipts, which, though 
troublefome to the trader, has been 
productive of confiderable revenue 
to the ftate. A few years after, 
(1786) he was nominated as a pro- 
per perfon to be fheriff of London 
and Middlefex; in excufe for which 
he cheerfully paid the cuftomary 
fine. 
literary anecdote, that he fold no 
lefs than 18,000 copies of Mr. 
Burke’s famous “ Reflections on’ 
the French Revolution;” with con- 
fiderable advantage both to himfelf 
and to the author; to whom he 
made a very handfome compliment 
_ for the profits. His property 
(which is eftimated to be about 
70,0001.) he has given principally 
to nephews and nieces, and their 
defcendants: to fome of them 
80001. 3 per cents each; and to 
others 4 or 50001. each, in fpecific 
fums, or in higher funds: to each 
of his executors 10001. Thefe are 
Mr. Tho. Tawney, of Brooks-place, 
Lambeth, who married a daughter 
. ofhis brother Ifaac; Mr. J. Walter, 
of Charing-Crofs (with whom he 
had been in habits of friendthip, 
Mr. Walter having ferved his ap- 
prenticefhip with his brother Ro- 
bert); and Mr. G. Nicol, his Ma- 
jefty’s bookfeller, in Pall-mall. To 
his attorney, Mr. Webfter 10001. ; 
to Mr. John Freeborn, who had 
been for feveral years his affifant 
in bufinefs, 40001.; to his maid-fer- 
vant 5001 ; to his coachman 5001. 
oO 
~ 
It is worthy noticing, as a 
13 
and alfo his carriage and horfes; 
to the poor of St. James’s, Weft- 
mintter, 2001. 3 percents; and tothe 
company of ftationers nearly 4001. 
By ahabit of fecluding hismfelf from 
the world, Mr. James Dodiley (who 
certainly poffeffed a liberal heart 
and a {trong underflanding) had 
acquired many peculiarities. He 
at one time advertifed an intention 
of quitting trade; but in lefs than” 
a fortnight, repenting the refolu- 
tion, again advertifed that he fhould 
continue in bufinefs, and refolicit- 
ed the favour of his friends. For 
fome years pat, however, he kept 
no public fhop, but continued to 
be a large wholefale dealer in books 
of his own copy-right. Of thefea 
part, to the amount of fome thou- 
fand pounds, was burnt by an ac- 
cidental fire in a warehoufe which 
he had not prevailed on himfelf to 
infure; but the lofs of which he 
was philofopher enough to bear 
without the leaft apparent emotion ; 
and fold to a gentleman the chance 
of the fragments of wafte paper that 
might be faved, fora fingle hundred 
pounds, This agreement was not 
fulfilled, but the whole remainder 
was afterwards fold for 80 guineas, 
He kept a carriage many years, but 
ftudioufly wifhed that his friends 
fhould not know it; nor did he ever 
ufe it‘on the eaftern fide of Temple- 
bar. He purchafed fome years fince 
an eftate with a {mallhoufe on it, 
between Chiflehurft and Bromley. 
On the houfe he expended an in- 
credible fum, more than would 
have_ rebuilt one of twice the {jze, 
which afterwards he rarely vifited, . 
and at length fet, with the eftate, 
on a long leafe, ata very low rent. 
Thouvh he has often exprefied his 
apprehenfion that the law (if he” 
fhould die inteftatesAvonld not dif-- 
pofe of his property as he could 
wih, 
