William Baker, a learned printer, son of Mr. William Baker; a man of amiable character and manners, of great classical and mathematical learning, and more than 40 years master of an academy in Reading, was born in the year 1742. He was from his infancy of a very grave turn; seldom joining in the usual sports of his school-fellows, but spending the hours allotted to amusement, as well as the vacations, in his father's library. His application was such, as greatly top injure his health, and endanger his life. The progress which he had made determined his. father to educate him for holy orders, to which his own inclinations led him, especially as they were flattered by a dignitary of the church; but the friendship of this great man ended in disappointment. He was then put apprentice to Mr. Kippax; printer, in Cullum street, London; a business which, as it had a connexion with literature, seemed to meet his approbation. In his new way of life, the fame indefatigable industry was pursued in the attainment of learning; and this was -frequently his employment, while others were asleep. He used, while an apprentice, to- work over-hours, for which he was allowed certain perquisites, which he applied in the purchase of the best editions of the classics; which colle6tion,, at his death, was very choice, and was" purchased by Dr. Lettfom. Before he had attained his twenty-sixth year, his great exertions had again so undermined his health, that a very eminent physician and friend gave very little hopes of his restoration. His life was most severely threatened ; but, by the aid of country air and medicine, he once more recovered. On the death of Mr. Kippax, he. took up his business, which he carried on till his death, first in Cullum street, and afterwards in Ingram-court, in partnership with Mr. Galiban, who was many years in the common council of Langbourn-ward, and is now principal bridgemaster of the city of London. Amongst his acquaintance were some of the first eminence in letters, Dr. Oliver Goldfsmith, Dr. Edmund Barker, the rev. James Merrick, Mr. Robert Robinson, the rev. Hugh Farmer, the rev. Caefar DeMiffy, James Elphinilon, esq. and many others. An elegant correspondence in Latin between him and Mr. Robinson*, and some letters of enquiry into difficulties in the Greek language, which Hill exist, are proofs of his great erudition, and the opinion entertained of him by some of the first scholars. Such was his modesty, that many among his old and most familiar acquaintance were ignorant of his learning ; and, even where it was the topic of discussion, his opinion could never be known without an absolute appeal to his judgment. There are but two little works known to be his; 'Peregrinations of the Mind through the most general and interesting Subjects which are usually agitated in Life, by the Rationalist' in anno 1770, in essays after the manner of the Rambler. "Thesae Grecae et Latinae selectae" 8vo. in 1780, a Selection from the Greek and Latin writers. He left behind him some manuscript remarks, intended to point out the abuse of grammatical propriety in the English language in common conversation, even among reputable writers, and among people of the first rank in education and manners. He had a good talent for poetry, and wrote several detached poems, published in Magazines; as well as a very correct taste in compositions for the pulpit; and he actually composed several excellent sermons for some of his clerical friends. Of the Greek, Latin, French, and Italian languages, he was completely and critically master; of the Hebrew he had some knowledge; and to his own he had paid much judicious attention. After great exertion in walking, about Christmas, 1784, he felt a violent pain in his side, which he did not complain of till assistance probably came, too late. After the most excruciating sufferings, for near nine months, which he bore with uncommon fortitude and patience, he finished his life on the 29th of September, 1785, in the forty-fourth year of his age. He was interred in the vault of St. Dionis' Backchurch, the parish in which he had resided ever since his first arrival in London; and the following Latin epitaph to his memory is placed on the tomb of his family, in the churchyard of St. Mary, Reading.

M. S.

Parentum, fratrumque duorum,
Quorum fenior fuit
GUILIELMUS BAKER,
Vir, litterarum fludiis adeo eruditus,
Grxcarum prxcipue Latinarumque,
Ut arti, quam feduIus excoluit
Londini,
(Ubi, in templo Dionyfio dicato,
Offa cjus fcpulta funt,)
Typograhhicx ornamcnto ;
Ac famifaribus,
Ob benevolentiam animi,
Morum comitatem, et modeftiam,
Deliciis et defiderio fuerit.
O mentum ejus auctum ufque ad duodecim pondo
et ultra,
Literatos, auxilio eruditionis eximixae;
Sororemque, et fratres, et patrem fenem,
Dulcibus illius alloquiis;
Ipfumque, mortem oculo immoto intuentem,
Vita privavit,
Die Septembris 29, 1735,
AEt. 44.
E filiis, Johannes, hoc marmor.

*Compiler of the Greek Indexes mentioned in pa-a 437