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OBITUx\RY.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Obituary . —Isaac Reed , Esg . K ) 3
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1807 . J anuary 5 . In his 65 thyear , at his chambers in Staple Inn , of which honourable society he had lo » ng been , one of the ancients , worn out by natural debility , though his mind retained its original firmness , ISAAC REED , Esq . a
respectable solicitor and conveyancer . — His father passed nnambitiously through life in the useful occupation of a baker , and had the satisfaction of-witnessing the son ' s literary attainments with that enthusiasm which so frequently prevails in a strong uncultivated mind . Placed in a situation which above all others , is
frequently the road to riches and honour , Mr . R . ' s principal ambition was , to acquire a fundamental knowledge of the jurisprudence of his country ; and thus far he was eminently successful . But the law , however alluring its prospects
had not charms sufficient to engage his whole attention ; and while he verierated the system , he detested the chicanery of which he was almost daily a witness in many of its professors . An attempt to make " the worseappearthe better canase " wouldharebeenwkhhimabreachofmoral
obligation . Hence an extensive line of business was necessarily precluded ; but he had the satisfaction of numbering among his clients , many highly valued friends ; « nd other avenues to fame ., if not to Fortune , were open to his capacious * nind . His intimate knowledge of ancient English literature was unbounded
His own publications , though not very numerous , were all valuable ; and hs wa > s more satisfied with being a faithful editor , than ambitious of being an original composer . " After a numerous catalogue of publications , commencing in 1768 , Mr . Reed ' s concluding literary engagement appears to have been *¦* the
last and splendid edition of Shakespeare , in at vols 8 vo . 1803 , with his name preiixec ) ; an effort which he with some difficulty was persuaded to make . So extremely averse , ' indeed , ' was he to appearing before the public , that , when he was asked , as a matter of course , to add only his initials , at the end of the prefa-
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tory advertisement to the Yohime of Dr . Young , [ which hehadeditedj his answer was nearly in these words : « I solemnl y d eclai ' e , that I have such a thorough dread of putting my name to any publication whatever , that , if I were placed in tile alternative , either of so doing , or of standing in the pillory , I believe I should prefer the latter . '—He was a valuable
contributor to the Westminster Magazine from 1773 to 17 S 0 . The biographical articles are from his pen . He became also very early one of the proprietors o-f the European Magazine , and was a constant contributor to it for many ' years * particularly in the biographical and
critical departments . He was also an occasional volunteer an the pages of Sylvanus Urban . So ample , indeed , was his collection of literary curiosities , so read y was he in turning to them , and so thoroughly able to communicate information , that no man of character ever applied to him in vain .
To follow Mr . Reed into the more retired scenes of private and domestic life . He ' was' an early riser . Exercise was to him a great source both of health and pleasure . Naturally companionable , he frequently enjoyed the conversation 0 / the table , at the houses of a select circle of friends , to whom hit ereat knowledge
of books , and his firm but niode : £ mocig of communicating thyfr knowled ge , always rendered iim highl y acceptable . His collection of books , which are chiefiy English , is perhaps one of th mos : extensive in that kind that . £ ny private individual ever possesed . " To the above account of Mr . Reed
p . iven by his old and intimate literary friend , the editor of the -Gentleman ' s Magazine , and wiuchwc have taken the liberty to abridge , it may be added , that Dr . Ivjppis , in the prefaces to the first
and second volumes of the Bio ^ . Britt ^ acknowledges very respectfull y " the assistance derived from his literary , information , and refers to him as an authority in several articles of that Work . Mr . Reed vyas buried in the church of
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doctrine maintained in this discourse , we cheerfully pay the author the compliment of admiting that it is modest , well written and not unc&ndid .
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of those who are suffering the awful consequences ot their own transgrc 6-« ioii . " ! ! Yet while we express our abhorrence , as Christians , of the
Obitux\Ry.
OBITUx \ RY .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1807, page 103, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2377/page/47/
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