_Notes on Newspapers_ (vol. iii., p. 164.).--John Houghton, the editor of
the periodical noticed by your correspondent, _A Collection for the
Improvement of Husbandry and Trade_, was one of those meritorious men who
well deserve commemoration, though his name is not to be found in any
biography that I am acquainted with. He was an apothecary, and became a
dealer in tea, coffee, and chocolate. He was in politics a loyalist, or
Tory, and was admitted a member of the Royal Society in 1679-80. He began
to publish his _Letters on Husbandry and Trade_ in 1681. No. 1. is dated
Thursday, September 8, 1681. The first collection ended June, 1684, and
consists of two vols. 4to. In November, 1691, Houghton determined to resume
his old plan of publishing papers on Husbandry and Trade. His abilities and
industry were warmly recommended by several members of the Royal Society:
Sir Peter Pott, John Evelyn, Dr. Hugh Chamberlain, and others. The
recommendation is prefixed to the first number of this second collection.
The first paper is dated Wednesday, March 30, 1692; and the second
Wednesday, April 6, 1692; they were continued every succeeding Wednesday.
The concluding paper was published September 24, 1703. There were 583
numbers, in 19 vols., of the folio papers. The last number contains an
"Epitome" of the 19 vols. and a "Farewell," which gives his reason for
discontinuing the paper, and thanks to his assistants, "wishing that
knowledge may cover the earth as the water covers the sea." A selection
from these papers was published in 1727, by Richard Bradley, F.R.S., in
three vols. 8vo., to which a fourth was afterwards added in 1728, 8vo.
Houghton also published _An Account of the Acres and Houses, with the
proportional Tax, &c. of each County in England and Wales_. Lond. 1693, on
a broadside. Also, _Book of Funds_, 1694, 4to. _Alteration of the Coin,
with a feasible Method to it_ 1695. 4to.