To revive the memory of estimable authors, or of estimable books, is a
pursuit to which a man of leisure may devote himself under the certainty
that he can neither want materials to proceed with, not miss the reward
of commendation.
It is by the extensive circulation of biographical dictionaries, and the
re-productive agency of the press, that the fame of authors and their
works is chiefly perpetuated. General biographers, however, relying too
much on the intelligence and tact of their precursors, are frequently
the dupes of tradition; and the press, like other descriptions of
machinery, requires a _double_ motive-power.
A remedy happily presents itself. As it appears, a short note is
sufficient to raise inquiry; and inquiry may lead to new fact, or
advance critical equity. It may rescue a meritorious author from
oblivion, and restore him to his true position on the roll of fame.
It is near a century and a half since Ant. Wood printed a notice of the
reverend Thomas Powell, and more than a century since the inquisitive
Oldys devoted eighteen pages to an abstract of his _Human
industry_;--yet we search in vain for the name of Powell in the
dictionaries of Aikin, Watkins, Chalmers, Gorton, &c.--It is even
omitted in the _Cambrian biography_ of his countryman William Owen,
F.S.A.
An exact transcript of the title of the work, and of the manuscript
notes which enrich my own copy of it, may therefore be acceptable:--
"Humane industry; or, a history of most manual arts, deducing the
original, progress, and improvement of them. Furnished with variety
of instances and examples, shewing forth the excellency of humane
wit. [_Anonymous._] London, for Henry Herringman, 1661." 8º.
[_On the title._] "E libris rarioribus Joannis Brand, Coll. Line.
Oxon. 1777."
[_On a fly-leaf._] "This book is ascribed by Wood to Dr. Tho'm.
Powell, canon of St. David's, who was, says he, 'an able
philosopher, a curious critic, and well versed in various
languages.' See an abstract of this scarce book in Oldys's _British
librarian_, p. 42."
"N.B.--The above is the hand-writing of the Rev'd. M'r. Granger,
author of the _biographical history._--I bought it of Mr. Prince,
at Oxford, who purchased his books." [John Brand.]
I have now only to consign the learned Powell to future biographers, and
to recommend the volume as one which deserves a place in every choice
collection of English books.