The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-05-26 00:00:00

DISINTIRMINT OP MR. SISKAZIRTILLX•
---••••••4••••-7—.
•
It is in the recolletdblii'V'tkii4Yof the inhabiS
tants of this place, thatiNi. 'John Baskereille, celev
basted for the improvements he made in letter.
founding. was bosied by an express direction cons
tamed is his will, in his own ground, in a inauso.
lento erected for the purpose previous to his death.
Upon his death the ground was volfi, and passed
into the hands of John Ryland, Esq. and from him
to his son Samuel Ryland, Erq. who • few years
ego demised it to Mr. Gibson for a long term, who
bassinet, cut a canal through it, and converted the
remainder into wharf lend. Soon after Mr. Ryland
became; the possessor of this properly, the mufti-
leum, which was a small conics! building, was take,/
down, end it was rumoured. we remember, at the
time, that the body had been removed.
This proves to be unfounded, for it appearslWo
a short time before Christina. last, some workoutd
who were employed in getting gravel, discovered
the leaden coffin. It was, however, immediately
covered up, and. remained untouched until Fri-
day last, when, thespot haring been recently let
for • wharf, it became necesrary to remove the
coffin, and it was accordinglydisuiterred, and de-
posited in Meseta. Gibson and Sons' warehouse,
where we were allowed, with some few others, to
inspect it. The body was in a singular state of
preservation, considering that •it had been under
ground about 46 year.. It was wrapt in a linen
shroud, which was perfect and white, and on the
breast lay a branch of laurel, faded, but entire,
and tints in texture. There were also leaves, sad
sprigs of bay end laurel in other parts of the coffin
and on the body. The skin on the lace was dry
but perfect. The eyes were gone, but the eye-
brows, rye-lashes, lips, and teeth remained. The
skin on the abdomen and body generally was in
the same state with that of the lace.
An exceedingly offensive and oppressive effluvia,
strongly resembling decayed cliee.e, arose from the
body, and rendered it necessity to close the coffin
in a short lime, and it has been since re-interred.
It was at first supposed by thoae who examined
the body that some artificial mean* bad been em-
ployed to protect it from putrefaction, but on
inquiry we could not ascertain that this was the
case. The putrefactive process must have been ar-
reired by the leeden coffin having been staled her-
metically, and thus the accesi of the air, which
modern discoveties bore ascertained is essential to
puttefaction, was pievented. We subjoin flan
Biography a abort memoir of 'hie singu•
ler and ingenious chancier
" John Baoltervilla, en ingeotors Esebsb artist, particu-
larly deserving maansemmaisos fur hi, impreYeinents in prise.
lag sail type famettling, was born at Wolverley, in Worcester-
shire, in 1700, and inherited a smolt paternal estate. He
was brought up to ow particular profersion, hut early se.
quired a taste and skill in line writing and culling in 'tone.
At the age if twenty he settled as a writing master in Bur-
. minutiae t sad the rising ismoutactiotes of that tenon giving
scope to his inventive talents, he mitred into a branch
soloed to his lure of design, that of japanning, which he
followed with pestle► ingernity and worm as long as he
lived. it was to MO that he tanned his thrombi@ to lettet
founding; aid aiming at walking his than perfection is
whatever he undertook, he pursued .A with great lokoorr,
and et an expense which twig consumed meet/ of the profits
of hie other asseufactiories. His Aral great perforumece was
an edition of Virgil, in royal 410. 1756, whirls has since
trebled ill, imiginal prier. Afterwards twiny others of the
classics, and several English ones, came from his press,
as well in quartos as is meaner Mmes. The paper and ink
were 'hoof his own preparation, and cirturuly nothing in
Engined had befit", appeared which tumid rival** beauty
of hie workmanship. The type lAA • peculiar fineness and
siorpares, which gave theiminting asterism reeembianre in
due priat-hand-writing; and the paper had a remarkable
gloss, which set of the type, but was rather offeasive to
the ryes. Baikervilles editions, however, are not in gene-
ral remarkable for correctness. Not mteting with the en-
cuuragement be expected from booksellers, he latterly tot
up a type-fuendery for sale, which business was fur a lime
carried on by his widow after his death, in 117 b. Various
attempts, however, were snotty to depose of his types and
matrices; and at length, not much to the credit of Ibis
country, they were 'offend to to to Pori., where a literary
society purchased therms for 3,7001., mod employed them on
a very splendid edition of Voltaire s winks.
" Mr. Britkerville wait possessed of a naturist decanter. of
taste' rn which distinguished every thing that come fru his
bands His house, planned by himself, was more drcorott d
with architectural ornament than any in Birmingham. The
paunch of his carriage were elegem pietism, and he was
drawn by • beautiful pair of cream•eulusired berm. tie
loved One clothes, and indeed seems in all teepees, to have
bete fond aslant/. united with something of singularity. He
was extremely pulite and hospitable to imager', sod culti-
vated acquaintance with sty. rat ingenious non. He was in-
dulcet in the tomawu routine of life, bet active in every
thing of rovelly and invention. Hr kept apart hunt alt m-
ilitant, sress,•nti was buried under • IMUSIANIIIII in his town
grounds."—fittrishigkons Chrintiele4

NAVAL 11V I'ELLIGENCE..

FORUM /WM 114 T 24.
Railed the Thomas aid Mary, and Chapman transport',
with detachments alike bllst regiment for Malta.
PLVIIOUTII, NM! IS.
The Enchanter's, Rahertat from Stindelland, in be.itm4
op the harbour, Cu, urn shore near Devil's Point, but expect-
ed to be gut off without damage us thell..woug of the tide.

intalouTn, MAY 22.
Arrived the Anise Johann', Hruierarn, Goo. Porstruend;
and Wedriugion, O►sren, from Caidiff het Agnate. dais.

HARRIER. ■AT H.
Ar►ived the Lady Nepean packet with a w■tl from Hefted.
Sailed the Leicester packet for Holland, and Duncan
packet for Cesibaviro--eacti with a mail.
DUAL, MAT 24.
Came down from the River and smiled the Moseley,
'Qurkla, for Antigua; Henry Clay, Potty, fur Virginia;
St. Juso Baptista, Basaldua, for Sabo* ; Mary, Patterson,
for Quelare ; Ann, Lewes; and Tomer, Morton, fur
Muamie►t; Lady Hamilton; Amity, Baker; and Radcliff,
Ruidelt, fur the South Seas; and Vittoria, Hesru, for
Jamaica.
1111tYAGIESIT RAY 21.
The preventive boat on this elation to rut. rine the harbour
M 2 p in. •as struck by a be avy .ea, ti lb d, and went down; by
flea niebnauce of some seamen, four of the crew were saved,
bet Illtrilllll4 officer, Mr. Junstim, sod two of the boat's
crew, were drimmid. The boat has since ►een ;alien up and
beutield ism

The tnerket h••usr at Leidient, Kent, fell a rem
drys ego nett, a treatenibius cresol; a great crowd of
persiiiie weer hear the buildirig ci the moment, but
fiirtunist.ly escaped without suittatiiing any taste.
tie' injury.
The notorious Abrahams 'Minden, though lately
reported in be dead, Is 111111 living in America.—
(lierey Paper./
The supply of grain was not large at Norwich
M arket Us! Satuul.•t'. Wheat advanced about Sh.
per cuoteib, and Begley was rattier dearer than la►t
week.—'There was little alteration in the Cattle
Mai ket.