-RKQ%LQQVRI/HHGV²SULQWHUDQGSXEOLVKHUA John Heaton thought so highlyof his friend John <strong>Binns</strong> that hesubmitted the following article toWilliam Bowyer for inclusion in hisLiterary Anecdotes of the 18 thCentury that was published in18<strong>14</strong>Literary Anecdotes of the 18 thCentury: Comprising BiographicalMemoirs of William Bowyer;Volume 8, 18<strong>14</strong>“My old acquaintance, the late MrJohn <strong>Binns</strong>, of Leeds, and anotherbookseller, Mr Samuel Fox formerlyof Derby, are both worthy ofbeing inrolled in your list.“ <strong>The</strong> following copy of a letterfrom Mr Heaton, bookseller inLeeds, dated Dec 24, 1812, willconvey a pretty good account ofMr <strong>Binns</strong>, who was indeed a mostrespectable man. I frequentlycalled on him on my way throughYorkshire; and had, till lately, severalof his printed catalogues, onlyone of which I can now find; it consistsof 182 pages, said to containseveral valuable libraries, and thesale commenced in October1792:”Mr. John <strong>Binns</strong>, bookseller,Leeds, was the eldest son of Nathaniel<strong>Binns</strong>, bookseller, Halifax.He was taught the art of bookbindingand the other introductoryparts of his business under the paternalroof. About the age oftwenty he left his father, and residedin London for some time,employed in the house of MrCrowder, book seller, much to thesatisfaction of his employers.From thence he removed toLeeds, where he commencedbusiness on his own account, andwhere he prosecuted it with avidityand singular success.Mr <strong>Binns</strong> published his first cataloguein 1767; and continued topublish one, for some time, everytwo or three years; but for manyyears previous to his decease hepublished a catalogue annually. Mr<strong>Binns</strong> bought several times manygood libraries; among which were,the Rev. Mr. Colby, the Rev Mr.Seddon, Henry Squire esq., theRev. Mr. Scott, the Rev. Mr. Hodgson,the Rev. Mr. Brooke, the Rev.Mr. Whitaker, the Rev. Mr. Potter,the Rev. Mr. Tennant, the Rev. Dr.Leigh, Dr. Joseph Milner, Dr. SamuelDavenport, &etc.Mr <strong>Binns</strong> was in business about 30years. He died at Grantham, onhis journey from London, May 6,1796, aged 52 years. He was interredin St Peter’s Church, Leeds,where a handsome marble monumentis erected to his memory.Mr <strong>Binns</strong> was twice married; thechildren by his first wife all died ininfancy; by his second wife he lefttwo sons and three daughters; thesons and second daughter aresince dead; his widow and daughtersSarah and Eliza are all of hisfamily that survive him.He was immediately succeeded inthe business by his eldest sonJohn; but he, being of a delicateconstitution died in a few years.<strong>The</strong> second son, Thomas, thenentered upon the business, who,as well as his brother, engagedJohn Heaton to superintend andtake the executive parts of thebusiness, and who now succeedsthem in the same premises, whichhe commenced in consequence ofthe second son’s (Thomas) severeillness and subsequent death.J. Heaton has, since his commencement,published three catalogues;and has in his possessioncopies of all the catalogues publishedby Mr. <strong>Binns</strong>, which werehis own marked copies, with occasionalnotes by himself.Mr <strong>Binns</strong> was a very respectableamateur performer both on the violoncelloand violin, the former ofwhich was his favourite instrument.His attainments in the scienceof musick were far beyondmediocrity; about his eighteenthyear he compiled a Dictionary ofMusick, which, a few years after,was published under the name ofHoyle.He was most indefatigable in business;and his bibliographicalknowledge was excelled by few inthe County. – He was a partner inthe Leeds Commercial Bank, underthe firm of Scott, <strong>Binns</strong>,Nicholson, and Smith, from itscommencement until his death.John Heaton3DJH7+(%,116)$0,/
&KDUOHV)HUJXV%LQQVIn 1857, Richard William <strong>Binns</strong>,with his wife Elizabeth (Ferrar),was living at the Poplars, England,when on an October Sunday their5th child was born and theynamed him Charles. Four morechildren were born to Mr. and Mrs.<strong>Binns</strong>, and, though nine was notand unusually large family forthose days, it must have beensomething of an anxiety to feed,clothe, and educate them. A bighouse was essential and the familygrew up at Diglis House on thebanks of the River Severn inWorcester, where old trees andthick grass, a paddock for a pony,their mother's aviary, and the ramblinghouse, running over with children,cats, dogs and a parrot,made the much loved backgroundto their lives.Governess taught the childrenat first, then the oldest sistertook charge of the little ones, andas early as practicable, the boyswere sent to the "Worcester CathedralKings School". To a youngmodern, the length, or rathershortness of time during which formalschool was attended is almostincredible. Charles <strong>Binns</strong> enteredthe school when he was eleven.Although the Classics wereemphasized in most Englishschools, mathematics and naturalsciences were not neglected and itwas in the latter subjects thatyoung Charles earned his prizes.In 1872 his attendance at schoolceased and he was apprenticed tothe Royal Worcester PorcelainWorks of which his father wasmanaging director. In order tomaster the problems of ceramicsyoung Mr. <strong>Binns</strong> wished to studychemistry, and as the city ofWorcester offered no facilities forsuch work, he journeyed twice aweek to larger Birmingham wherehe proceeded to take prizes oncemore. Those who knew him in hislater academic life will marvel athis scant schooling. That he becamea scholar of parts in his ownfield, is accounted for by the backgroundof learning in the family,his own industry and ability, and7+(%,116)$0,/
Change language