MEMOIRS OF REV. S. AYSCOUGH.

THE Rev. Samuel Ayfeough, of the British Mufeum, was a gentleman of Gugular mental worth and enjoyed the warmest affection of all who knew him, for his unoffending manners, goodness of difpofition, and fincerity of heart. He was the grandion of William Ayfcough, of Nottingham, who first brought printing into that town about 1710. His father, George Ayf congh, fucceeded to the bulinefs of printing, and was an eminent ftationer in that place upwards of 40 years. He was much efteemed, and allied to fome of the moft refpectable families in the county. His mind was of a fpeculative turn; and, amongst other parfaits, he fancied he could extract gold from the drofs of coals. Ou this experiment he wafted much of his propery after which, about 1762, he fettled in a large farm af Great Wiglion in Leicefterfhire, where he was unfortunate enough to lofe, not only what remained of his own fubftance, but the private fortunes of his fon and daughter.

His fon, Samuel Ayfcough, the fubject of this biographical sketch, was educated in a feurinary at Nottingham, under Mr. Johnfon, the author of a book called "Noctes Nottinghamia," and affifted his father in bis bufinefs, in his experiments, and his farms, imtil the property was gone. He then had the care of a mill on the eftate, and worked as a labouring miller for the maintenance of his father and fifter, but with ill fuccefs; when, by accident, a gentleman in London, who was an old fchoolfellow, and an intimate friend in early life, hearing of his fituation and diftrefs, about the year 1770, fent for him to London, new cloathed him, and obtained for him at first the office of an overlooker of Tome paviours in the fireet; and very fhortly after an employment in the British Mufen, as an Affifiant in the Library under the Principa! Libratian, at a very finall weekly fipend. At this period, it may be faid, his fortune firft began to file, and promife an end to his difficulties. His abilities now had opportunity to unfold themselves to obfervation; his diligence and frugality gave effect to his talents; and the meeknels of his difpofition and unaffuming manners very foon attracted notice, and procured eftcem. His weekly falary was increafed; this, toGENT MAG. December, 1804.

gether with fome advantages he derived by his industry in regula ing the Libraties of private gentlement, and a fall affiftance from his friend, enabled him to fend for his father to town, whom he maintained comfortably for fome years till he died Nov. 18, 1783. (See vol. Lill. pp. 982, 1014.)

About the year 1785, he was appointed ap Affiftant Librarian to the British Mufeum on the eftablishment. His ambition was to obtain orders; and, after fome difficulty, he fucceeded in his wifh, was ordained to the curacy of Normanton upon Soar in Nottinghamfhire and afterwards appointed affittant-curate of the parith of St. Gres in the Fields. Here his regular attendance on bis duty, and his excellent character, gained him the good opinion and friendship of Dr. Buckner, now bishop of Chichester, the late truly excellent Mr. Southgate, the Rev. Dr. Willis, and other great and good men.

In 1790, he was appointed to preach the Fairchild Lecturet on Whit Tuelday at Shoreditch church before the Royal Society; which he continued to do till the prefent year 1804, when he com pleted the feries of the Difcourfes in XV Sermons. Thefe, we are happy to hear, will probably he published by fub fcription; when Mr. Afeough's numerous friends will have an opportunity of tellifying, though pofthumously, their grateful efteem to meritorious induftry and integrity. The object of the publication will be, to enable his neareft relative to difcharge a few of his pecuniary incumbrances, which a high fenfe of honour, more imperious than the ftrict letter of the law, may require.

His labours in Literature were of the maft ufeful caft, and manifefied a patience and alliduity feldom to be met with when uuited to extenfive knowledge; and his laborious exertions in the vaft and invaluable Library of the British Mufeum is a firiking infiance of his zeal and indefatigable attention. He foon acquired that flight degree of knowledge in feveral languages, and that technical knowledge of old books and of their authors, and particularly tha fkill in decyphering difficult wri

*In 1799, he told a fred, that he had laboured in the Library fifteen years before be was appointed an Officer, and applied at five vacancies.

For an account of this Le&ure, fea Mr. Ellis's Hiftory of Shoreditch, p. 277. _ting

MEMOIRS OF REV. S. AYSCOUGH.

THE Rev. Samuel Ayfcough, of the British Mufeum, was a gentleman of fingular mental worth and enjoyed the warmest affection of all who knew him, for his unoffending manners, goodness of difpofition, and fincerity of heart. He was the grandion of William Ayfcough, of Nottingham, who firft brought printing into that town about 1710. His father, George Ayf cough, fucceeded to the bufinefs of printing, and as an eminent flationer in that place upwards of 40 years. He was much efteemed, and allied to fome of the most respectable families in the county. His mind was of a fpeculative turn; and, amongst other parfaits, he fancied he could extract gold from the drols of coals. Ou this experiment he wafted much of his proper y; after which, about 1762, he fettled in a large farm at Great Wigton in Leicel terfbire, where he was unfortunate enough to lofe, not only what remains ed of his own fubftance, but the private fortunes of his fon and daughter,

His fon, Samuel Ayfcough, the fubject of this biographical sketch, was educated in a feminary at Nottingham, under Mr. Johnfon, the author of a book called Noctes Nottinghamia," and affifted his father in bis bufinefs, in his experiments, and his farms, imtil the property was gone. He then had the care of a mill on the efiate, and worked as a labouring miller for the maintenance of his father and fifter, but with ill fuccefs; when, by accident, a gentleman in Loudon, who was an old fchoolfellow, and an intimate friend in early life, hearing of his fituation and diftrefs, about the year 1770, fent for him to London, new cloathed him, and obtained for him at first the office of an overlooker of fome paviours in the fireet; and very fhortly after an employment in the British Mufeun, as an Affilant in the Library under the Principal Librarian, at a very finall weekly fiipend. At this period, it may be faid, his fortune firft began to file, and promife an end to his difficulties. His abilities now had opportunity to unfold themfelves to obfervation; his diligence and frugality gave effect to his talents; and the meekness of his difpofition and unaffuming manners very foon attracted notice, and procured eftcem. His weekly falary was increafed; this, toGENT MAG. December, 1804.

gether with fome advantages he derived by his industry in regula ing the Libraties of private gentlemen, and a fmall affiftance from his friend, enabled him to fend for his father to town, whom he maintained comfortably for fome. years till he died Nov. 18, 1788. (See vol. Lill. pp. 982, 1014.)

About the year 1785, he was appoint ed an Affiftant Librarian to the Britiff Mufeum on the eftablishment *. His ambition was to obtain orders; and, after fome difficulty, he fucceeded in his with, was ordained to the curacy of Normanton upon Soar in Notting hamfhire, and afterwards appointed affiliant-curate of the parith of St. Gres in the Fields. Here his regular attendance on his duty, and his excellent character, gained him the good opinion and friendship of Dr. Buckner, now bishop of Chichefter, the late truly excellent Mr. Southgate, the Rev. Dr. Willis, and other great and good men.

In 1790, he was appointed to preach the Fairchild Lectures on Whit Tuelday at Shoreditch church before the Royal Society; which he continued to do till the prefent year 1804, when he com pleted the feries of the Difcourfes in XV Sermons.. Thefe, we are happy to hear, will probably he published by fubfeription; when Mr. Afrough's nu merous friends will have an opportunity of tellifying, though pofthiumoufly, their grateful esteem to meritorious induftry and mutegrity. The object of the publication will be, to enable his neareft relative to dilcharge a few of his pecuniary incumbrances, which a high fenfe of honour, more imperious than the frict letter of the law, may require.

His labours in Literature were of the moft ufeful caft, and manifefied a patience and alliduity feldom to be met with when nuited to extenfive knowledge; and his laborious exertions in the vast and invaluable Library of the British Mufeum is a ftriking infiance of his zeal and indefatigable attention. He foon acquired that flight degree of knowledge in feveral languages, and that technical knowledge of old books and of their authors, and particularly that fkill in decyphering difficult wri

* In 1799, he told a fried, that he had laboured in the Library fifteen years before he was appointed an Officer, and applied at five vacancies.

For an account of this LeAure, fee Mr. Ellis's Hiftory of Shoreditch, p. 277. _ting

MEMOIRS OF REV. S. AYSCOUGH. HE Rev. Samuel Ayfcough, of the of fingular mental worth and enjoyed the warmest affection of all who knew him, for his unoffending manners, goodness of difpofition, and fincerity of heart. He was the grandion of William Ayscough, of Nottingham, who first brought printing into that town about 1710. His father, George Ayf cough, fucceeded to the bulinefs of printing, and was an eminent fiationer in that place upwards of 40 years. He was much esteemed, and allied to fone of the most respectable families in the county. His mind was of a fpeculative turn; and, amongst other parfaits, he fancied he could extract gold from the drols of coals. On this experiment he wafted much of his propery; after which, about 1762, he lettled in a large farm at Great Wigton in Leicef tershire, where he was unfortunate enough to fole, not only what remained of his own fubttance, but the private fortunes of his fon and daughter.

His fon, Samuel Ayfcough, the fubject of this biographical fkeich, was educated in a feminary at Nottingham, under Mr. Johnfon, the author of a book called "Noctes Nottinghamia," and affifted his father in bis bufinefs, in his experiments, and his farms, imuil the property was gone. He then had the care of a mill on the eflate, and worked as a labouring miller for the maintenance of his father and fifter, but with ill fuccefs; when, by accident, a gentleman in Loudon, who was an old fehoolfellow, and an intimate friend in early life, hearing of his fituation and diftrefs, about the year 1770, fent for him to London, new cloathed him, and obtained for him at firit the office of an overlooker of Tome paviours in the fireet; and very fhortly after an employment in the British Mufen, as an Afifiant in the Library under the Principal Libratian, at a very finall weekly fiipend. At this period, it may be faid, his fortune first began to fiuile, and promife an end to his difficulties. His abilities now had opportunity to unfold themfelves to obfervation; his diligence and frugality gave effect to his talents; and the meeknels of his difpofition and unaffuming manners very foon attracted notice, and procured efteem. His weekly falary was increafed; this, toGENT MAG. December, 1804.

gether with fome advantages he derived by his induftry in regula ing the Libra of gentlement, and a timall affittance from his friend, enabled him to fend for his father to town, whom he maintained comfortably for fome years till he died Nov. 18, 1783. (See vol. Lill. pp. 982, 1014.)

About the year 1795, he was appointed ap Affifiant Librarian to the British Mufeum on the establishment. His ambition was to obtain orders; and, after fome difficulty, he fucceeded in his with, was ordined to the curacy of Normanton upon Soar in Nottinghamfhire, and afterwards appointed affittant curate of the parith of St. Giles in the Fields. Here his regular attendance on his duty, and his excellent character, gained him he good opinion and friendship of Dr. Buckner, now bishop of Chichefter, the late truly excellent Mr. Southgate, the Rev. Dr. Willis, and other great and good men.

In 1790, he was appointed to preach the Fairchild Lectures on Whit Tuesday at Shoreditch church before the Royal Society; which he continued to do till the prefent year 1804, when he com pleted the feries of the Difcourfes in XV Sermons. Thefe, we are happy to hear, will probably be publifhed by fubfeription; when Mr. Afrough's nu merous friends will have an opportunity of tellifying, though pofthumously, their grateful efteem to meritorious induftry and integrity. The object of the publication will be, to enable his neareft relative to difcharge a few of his pecuniary incumbrances, which a high fenfe of honour, more imperious than the strict Jetter of the law, may require.

His laboors in Literature were of the moft ufeful caft, and manifclied a patience and alliduity feldom to be met with when united to extenfive knowledge; and his laborious exenions in the vaft and invaluable Library of the British Mufeum is a firiking inftance of his zeal and indefatigable attention. He foon acquired that flight degree of knowledge in feveral langues, and that technical knowledge of old books and of their authors, and particularly tha fkill in decyphering difficult wri

* In 1799, he told a friend, that he had laboured in the Library fifteen years before he was appointed an Officer, and applied at five vacancies.

For an account of this LeAure, fee Mr. Ellis's Hiftory of Shoreditch, p. 277. ting