1822.] Memoirs of Mr. Perry. 56 f 
Urquhart, book sellers, to whom he had letters 
of recommendation, he found the latter busily 
engaged in reading an article in the General 
Advertiser. After Mr. Urquhart had finished 
the perusal, Mr. Perry put the usual question 
to him, whether he had heard of any situa¬ 
tion, to which he replied in the negative—at 
the same time holding out the paper, he said, 
“ If you could write such articles as this, I 
could give you immediate employment.” It 
happened to be a humourous essay, written 
by Mr. Perry himself. This he instantly 
intimated to Mr. Urquhart, and gave him 
another article in the same hand-writing, 
which he had purposed to drop into the letter¬ 
box. Mr. U. informed him that they wanted 
just such a person, and the next day he was 
engaged at a salary of one guinea per week, 
and an additional half guinea for assistance 
on the London Evening Post. Such was the 
incident that threw Mr. Perry into the em¬ 
ployment of a journalist. He was most assi¬ 
duous in his exertions for the General Adver¬ 
tiser; and during the memorable trials of 
Admirals Iveppel and Pailiser, he, for six 
weeks together, by his individual efforts, sent 
up daily front Portsmouth eight columns of 
the trials, taken by himself in court; which 
raised the paper to a sale of several thousands 
per day. At this period Mr. Perry wrote and 
published several political pamphlets and 
poems; and in 1782, he formed the plan, 
and was the first editor of the European Ma¬ 
gazine. He conducted it, however, only for 
the first twelve months, as he was chosen 
editor of the Gazetteer, at a. salary of four 
guineas per week, on the express condition 
that he was to be left to the free exercise of 
his political opinions, which were those of Mr. 
Fox. On his commencing editor of the 
Gazetteer, he suggested to the proprietors 
the plan of employing several reporters to 
facilitate the publication of the debates in 
parliament. Up to that time each paper had 
but one reporter in each house ; while Mr. 
Wood fall, in the Morning Chronicle, used to 
bring out his account of the debate in the 
evening of the following day. Mr. Perry’s 
plan was adopted ; and by a succession of 
reporters the Gazetteer was published in the 
morning with as long a debate as Mr. Wood- 
fall brought out in the evening, and some¬ 
times at midnight. In 1780-1, and 2, there 
were debating societies in every part of 
the metropolis, where many persons distin¬ 
guished themselves as public speakers. 
Mr. ferry was a speaker in these socie¬ 
ties, and is mentioned with great praise in 
the History of the Westminster Forum. 
This talent, so acquired, Mr. Perry ex¬ 
ercised at different periods of his life with 
considerable effect, often distinguishing him¬ 
self by his energetic eloquence at meetings 
of the Whig Club, of the Westminster Elec¬ 
tors, &c. 
Mr. Perry was also for several years editor 
of Debrett’s Parliamentary Debates. Soon 
after, Mr. Woodfall leaving the Morning 
Chronicle, undertook another paper under the 
title of the Diary’, and Mr. Perry bought his 
late Morning Chronicle. He announced him¬ 
self, in conjunction with his friend Mr. Gray, 
as joint proprietor and editor. Gray had 
been tutor in Greek and Latin at the Charter 
House, and the head master bequeathed him 
£500. for good conduct. This he united with 
£500. which Perry borrowed of Ransom and 
Co. and Mr. Bellamy, of Chandos-street, lent 
and finally bequeathed to Mr. P. as much as 
made up the purchase-money to Woodfall, 
and enabled them to carry’ on the paper. Of 
the political character and conduct of the 
paper we have already spoken at large ; but 
it is due to Mr. Perry’s management, to state 
in addition, that he contributed to raise the 
character of the diurnal press, as well by his 
political consistency as by his conscientiously 
abstaining from any indulgence in private 
malevolence and personal slander, by which he 
maintained a dignified pre-eminence over all 
his contemporaries. Gray’, who was a man 
of considerable talent, died soon after, when 
the property and its conduct devolved solely 
on Mr. Perry’. Besides the Morning Chroni¬ 
cle, Mr. Perry embarked in a speculation of 
Mr. Booth’s for poly graphic paintings, which 
did not succeed ; and he afterwards engaged 
and sunk a great property in some mills at 
Merton, by which he was much harassed for 
a considerable period. The Morning Chro¬ 
nicle, however, proved an inexhaustible mine 
of wealth, netting for many years from six 
to eight and ten thousand per annum, which 
enabled its proprietor to live in a style of the 
first respectability, and keep the hest com¬ 
pany, for which he was qualified by his mind 
and manners. In prosperity Mr. P. did not 
neglect his family. He cherished a widowed 
sister, who married the celebrated Professor 
Porson, and supported his mother, who died 
at Richmond. He was twice married, and 
has left six children. It merits notice, that 
Mr. Perry was not less distinguished by the 
admirers of black-letter literature, than by 
the public as a journalist; his library of 
rare books, at his house in Tavistock-square, 
being one of thehnost valuable and curious in 
the metropolis, and estimated to be worth, 
at least, £1500. 
ECCLESIASTICAL PROMOTIONS. 
The Rev. Dr. Wilde, to the rectory of 
Waltham, Norfolk. 
The Rev. J. Hodgkinson, M.A. of Brase- 
nose College, Oxford, to the vicarage of 
Leigh, Lancashire. 
Rev. W. Wilkinson, M.A. of Christ 
Church, Oxford, to the living of Sowerby, 
near Thirsk, Yorkshire. 
The Rev. C. Ford, Clerk, A.M. to the 
rectory and parish church of Billiugford, 
Norfolk. 
The Rev. H Dawson, M.A. Chaplain to 
Earl Harcourt, to the rectory ofBunwell, 
Norfolk. 
The Rev. John Jenkyns, LL.B. vicar of 
Evercreech, Somerset, to the rectory of 
Horsmonden, Kent. 
The 
