1803. | Memoir of the late 
troduced with a well-written preface, and 
a manly dedication to the late Earl Cam- 
den:; who then prefided in one of the’ 
courts of Weltmintter-hall, and was a very 
popular charaéter. 
The firft volume contains twenty-one 
lives, beginning with Wickliff, and ending 
with Alexander Barclay, a prieft, who 
died in the fixteenth century. The fe- 
cond conlilts of eighteen lives, commen- 
cing with that of Cardinal Wolfey, and 
ending with the life of Lady Jane Grey. 
Some fhort accounts are given in the notes 
of many remarkable perfons, who are 
occafionally mentioned in the body of the 
work. This performance was prefented 
by our author to the noble Jord to whom 
the dedication is addrefled ; who return- 
ed a polite anfwer in writing, but which 
has not been preferved. fn the years 
1767 and 1768, two more volumes were 
publifhed, and the work was afterwards 
continued, and an additional volume 
written by Mr. Towers appeared in each 
of the years 1769, 1770, and 1772 ; which 
concluded the work as far as he was con- 
eerned ; buta refpectable clergyman, now 
refiding in the Weft of England, after- 
awards added three more volumes which 
has rendered it complete. To furnifh 
the requifite information, on various points, 
which tor want of thorough inveltigation 
feemed not to have been fufficiently elu- 
cidated, Mr. Goadby was at the expence 
of purchafing fome fearce and valuable 
books; and mvch advantage in the pro- 
grefs of the ucdertaking was undoubt- 
edly derived from the infpestion of many 
ancient and curious manuicripts in the 
Biitifh Muteum, to which the writer had 
accels. . 
On locking into thefe volumes, it will 
be found that compilation was but a fmall 
part of what Mr. ‘Towers had to perform; 
much of the matter is his own; of fe- 
veral of the individuals whofe lives are 
written, no accounts had before appeared, 
and many aétions and faéts, relative to 
thofe whofe biography had been already 
compoled, are more accurately, and more 
luminoufly detailed. 
In addition to this, many of the 
notes and obfervations, are critical and 
interefting, and the characters appear to 
be in general judicioufly, as well as im- 
partially, drawn, 
that could be colleéted from Hiftory, Family 
Memoirs, and Records, are related, a Cata- 
logue of their Writings given, with occa- 
fional Remarks 3 and their Chara&ters deli- 
meated with Freedom and Impartiality,” 
Dr. Fofeph Towers. 
441 
To bring this work into one point, of 
view, we have noticed thefe feven volumes 
together 3 but muft now turn back to the 
yer 1766; when Mr. Towers was hap. 
pily married to Milfs Margaret Lomas, 
a relation of the late learned Dr. Caleb 
Flemming, and a native of Derbythire. 
Not Jong after this event,he opened a thop 
as a book!eller im Pore-ttreet, near Cripple- 
gate ;* it is not probable, however, that 
he derived much pecuniary benefit from 
this undertaking, for though he was well- 
qualified to judge of works intended for 
publication, and certainly was not defi- 
cient in the knowledge requifce for that 
bufnefs, yet the writing and reading of 
books, and literary leifure, were more 
fuited to his tafe and inclinations, than 
the buftle of trafic, and the exertions 
and attentions which this fituation re- 
quired. He, however, continued in this 
bufinefs for about nine years, though it 
was conduéted on a scale rather narrow, 
and we believe without any. confiderable 
effors to enlarge it; during this period 
he produced all his volumes of Biogra- 
phy, fubfequent to the two firit; and 
many other works. 
The year 1769, was ditinguifhed by 
great public commotions; fome of the 
meafures of the executive government 
had fpread a wide alarm; political dif 
quifitions were numerous, and parties ran 
extremely high ;—-at fuch a feaion, Mr. 
Tewers could not remain imactive: ac- 
cordingly in this. year he produced a 
pamphlet entitled ‘* Obfervations on 
Publ c Spirit, Patriotifin, Minitterial De- 
{fpotifm, and National Grievances ; with 
fome Rema:ks on Rivts, Petitions, Loyal 
Addreties, and Military Execution, ina 
Letter to the Freeholders of the County 
of Middlefex, and the Livery of London ; 
by an Independent Citizen of London.” 
This was tollowed fome time afterwards 
by a ‘* Letter, (from the authcr) to the 
Reverend Me, Jonn Weiiley,”’ in anfwer 
to his pamphlet entitled, ‘+ Free Thoughts 
on the Pretent State of Public Affairs.’’ 
Both of the’e publications, which came 
out anonymouily, dilcover a mind sccul- 
tomed to inveltigation, and pofleiled of 
much acutenefs; as well as tne writer’s. 
* By the fortune he had recently received 
with his wife, he was enabled to purchafe a 
confiderable fiock of books and other effects, 
and enter on thefe premifes, where the fif- 
ter of Mefirs. Samuel and Robert Goadby had 
refided, and fold the publications of Mr,R, 
Goadby, of Sherborne, with whom he had 
lived, 
Rrocg 
