His chief literary distinction rests on his edition of De Thou's
'History' in seven folio volumes. He had received a large legacy from a
brother, and spent it in the publication of a work 'from which nothing
of exterior pomp and beauty should be wanting'; the ink and paper were
procured from Holland; and Carte the historian was sent to France 'to
rummage for MSS. of Thuanus.'
Oldys has a few notes upon curious collections which he thought might be
diverting to a 'satirical genius.' A certain Templar, he says, had a good
library of astrology, witchcraft, and magic. Mr Britton, the small-coal
man, had an excellent set of chemical books,'and a great parcel of music
books, many of them pricked with his own hand.' The famous Dryden, and
Mr. Congreve after him, had collected old ballads and penny story-books.
The melancholy Burton, and Dr. Richard Rawlinson, and the learned Thomas
Hearne, had all been as bad in their way. Mr. Secretary Pepys gave a
great library to Magdalen College at Cambridge: but among the folios
peeped out little black-letter ballads and 'penny merriments, penny
witticisms, penny compliments, and penny godlinesses.' 'Mr. Robert
Samber,' says Oldys, 'must need turn virtuoso too, and have his
collection: which was of all the printed tobacco-papers he could anywhere
light on.'
For 'curiosity or dotage' none could beat Mr. Thomas Rawlinson, whose
vast collections were dispersed in seventeen or eighteen auctions before
the final sale in 1733.
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