556 Account of the late Mr, WilliaM Martin, F.L.S. [Jan. !, 
graved, with an accornpanifnent for the piano¬ 
forte.* and sold, for his benefit, under the 
idea that it might be the means of introducing 
liim to public notice, and produce a small 
fund for providing him with clothes, &c. 
during his apprenticeship, which we shall 
endeavour, may be either with a professor, 
master, or seller, oftnusic, so as to enable him 
to unfold in time his musical talents. This 
song, therefore, with two or three others, 
will be published by subscription, with all con¬ 
venient speed, at a moderate price, and sold 
here and at Bristol, for his benefit. 
Such is his passion for music, that, I have 
been told, when the friendly societies meet 
* Here a difficulty arose, as he had never 
seen (at that time) a piano-forte, and was at 
a loss how to proceed} but,a friend having ex¬ 
plained to him the nature and compass of the 
instrument, and described its powers, with 
the manner of playing, &c. he readily con¬ 
ceived the idea, and composed it accordingly. 
at Whitsuntide, to amuse themselves with 
their bands, he has been known to listen for 
hour in extacy} and, when any favorite 
piece has been played that struck his ear 
more forcibly than another, has run home 
and committed it im.mediately to paper, most 
correctly ; his talents as a performer are also 
great, for he has, by his own industry, made 
himself master of six or seven different in¬ 
struments, with some of -which he plays 
with great execution and taste, the most dif¬ 
ficult pieces at sight. 
'this, sir, is all I can at present collect 
respecting him, but, with great truth and 
justice I may add, that he is a very modest, 
unassunrjing, steady, honest, lad ; and that 
he may at some future day rival a Crotch, 
Haydn, or, perhaps, a Handel, is the sincere 
wish of, sir, 
Your most respectful, humble, servant, 
Thomas Richardson. 
Iron Acton, near Soobury, 
Dec. 6, 1811 . 
MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
An Account of the Life one? Writings 
of the late d\b\ William MartixN, 
F.L.S. 
ILLIAM Martin was born at 
Marsfield, in Nottinghamsliire, 
in the year 1767.- 
His "father, Mr. Joseph Martin, was a 
native of the same town, and settled 
there as a hosier. Too much addicted 
to pleasure, he neglected his business, 
and, lieing consequently unsuccessful, 
deserted bis wife and only child, when 
the latter was not more than a year and 
a half old. He proceeded immediately 
to Ireland, assumed the name ef Booth, 
and went upon the stage, for vvhich he 
Lad always evinced a strong inclination. 
His talents, as an acior, were not strik¬ 
ing; and, after some time, tiaving quit¬ 
ted the stage, he repaired to London, 
where he opened an exhibition of Poiy- 
graphit Paintings. From his youth he 
Lad been fond of drawing, but had not 
received any regular instructions iii that 
art at the time lie deserted his family. 
In the obituary of the GentlemaiJs Ma¬ 
gazine (Vul. 67. p. 167) he is mentioned 
under the name of Joseph Booth, Esq. 
is stated to have died on the 25lh of 
February, 1797, in Cumberland Gar¬ 
dens, Vauxhail, and is represented “ as 
the ingenious inventor not only of the 
polygraphic art, but also of the more 
important art of manufacturing cloth by 
a perfectly original process.'^ On his 
return to England, though repeatedly 
applied to by Mrs. Martin, he took no 
notice of her letters. He never saw his 
son from the time he absconded froHV 
Marsfieid, nor did he bequeath a single 
shilling to his wife or son, though he was 
supposed to die possessed of several thou¬ 
sand pounds. 
His mother, whose maiden name was 
Mallatratt, having gained no intelligence 
of her husband, was induced, at the ex¬ 
piration of two years, to commence 
actress. She had no better prospect of 
su[>porting herself and her child, and she 
conceived that, by adopting this line of 
life, she might have a greater chance of 
meeting with her husband, or at least 
of obtaining some information concern¬ 
ing him. Mrs. Martin, at first, ente.'-ed 
into a small provincial company, at that 
time performing at Kibwurth, in Leices¬ 
tershire. With this company she travel¬ 
led during some years, and was then 
received into a more respectable one. 
Though a very useful actress, she did 
not possess the qualifications requisite for 
performing the principal characters, and 
her income was consequently very limit¬ 
ed. In this trying situation, she con¬ 
ducted herself with the greatest pro¬ 
priety and prudence. She paid paiticu- 
