Regna longinquis habitamus oris His neque incultis juvenis adortus Purus haec ros Castaliaeque rigat Cynthius, non haec inamoena amant Li bethrides almae. Me petit nunc, deliciae sororum, Regno potiri. Gratius, juro, nihil esse flavi Quam Simoentis tetigisse ripas Quamve per sylvas Academi ivisse ad Flumen Ilissi. Si tamen Parcae prohibent iniquae Gratior lux nec orietur unquam Et dabit dulces capere atque notas Reddere voces. MY GREY GOOSE QUILL. THOU little herald of the nine, Whose labours have so long been mine, I view thy hastening decline As serious ill; And much 'twill grieve me, to resign My grey goose quill. THE BOSTON REVIEW, FOR DECEMBER, 1810. Librum tuum legi, et quam diligentissime potui annotavi quae commutanda, quae eximenda arbitrarer. Nam ego dicere verum assuevi. Neque ulli patientius reprehenduntur, quam qui maxine laudari merentur. Plin. ARTICLE 15. The History of Printing in America, with a Biography of Printers, and an account of Newspapers, to which is prefixed a concise view of the discovery and progress of the art in other parts of the world, in two volumes. By Isaiah Thomas, Printer, of Worcester, Massachusetts. From the Press of Isaiah Thomas, jun. Isaac Sturtevant, Printer, 1810. Printing dispels the gloom of night, Hail! pleasing fountain of all cheering light. And o'er the earth sends forth th' enlightening ray. AMONG the several useful and valuable productions lately published in New-England, this is not the least considerable. The design of the writer is to fix the origin of printing, to elucidate certain facts which have excited discussion, and to bring into view every work which has issued from the presses in this country. The matter, to be sure, is dry in itself, and refuses ornament, but it is important, and he has endeavoured to make it somewhat interesting. Many will think the work might have appeared in a less imposing size; and some will say, that it is rather curious than instructive: But to the antiquarian, to those who are "engaged in the noble art" of printing; to all who take pleasure in looking into the affairs of our early establishments, this extensive view of American publications, as well as the account of the progress and improvement of typography will appear an acquisition to our stores of knowledge. When we consider the number of books from which the work is compiled, the pains and attention necessary to collect and collate the materials, we must give great credit to the industry and perseverance of the author. Few, amongst us, are capable of achieving such a work; fewer still would have executed it at such an expense of time and labour, especially without a more certain prospect of remuneration. In those sections of the performance, where the subject is general, Mr. T. has extracted the essence of what has been published in Europe upon the history of printing, and the invention of paper. He describes the folium, tabula, liber codex, &c. which preceded the discovery of the Egyptian papyrus. Nothing indeed increases the means of instruction like a ready communication of ideas. This has been done as much by the invention of the paper now in use, as by the introduction of metal types in printing. "It is only two centuries since this valuable material has been employed in the manufacture of books." There is a chapter "upon the value and scarcity of books," which will excite the attention of the curious, and which shows the benefit of printing to the world. It will be said, however, by authors and men of learning of the first rate, that the change is not in their favour. For the honours and veneration paid to men of literature were much greater then, than they are at present. "As every-human advantage," saith Mr. Hume," is attended with inconveniencies, the change of men's ideas in this particular may possibly be ascribed to the invention of PRINTING; which has rendered books so common, that men even of slender fortunes can have access to them." Adam Smith, likewise, entertained a strong prejudice against all periodical publications, as having a tendency to lessen the dignity of authorship. The following instances will show the scarcity and value of books from the seventh to the fifteenth century. "Towards the close of the seventh century, even in the papal library of Rome, the number of books was so inconsiderable, that Pope St. Martin requested Sanctamund, bishop of Maestricht, to supply this defect from the remotest parts of Germany." "Albert, Abbot of Gimblours, had collected one hundred volumes on theological, and fifty upon other subjects. This was called a splendid library." "The library of the university of Oxford, before the year 1300, consisted only of a few tracts, chained or kept in chests in the choir of St. Mary's church.” "If any person gave a book to any religious house, he believed that so valuable a donation merited eternal salvation." Another chapter contains "a description of ancient Bibles."—Mr. T. gives a very minute account of the Venetian edition, from a copy in his own possession, which is one of the most curious and valuable books to be met with. It is very scarce in Europe, and we believe this is the only one ever brought to America. "Printing was introduced at Venice, as early as 1460; that city was famed for improvements in the art. Books printed there before 1476, and for many years after, exceeded, în neatness of type, and elegance of impression, those of all other parts of Europe. I had read of the beauty of the Psalter printed by Faust and Schaffer, in 1457, and of several early editions of the Bible printed at Mentz and Venice. 1 supposed, however, that no more was meant, than that they were so estimated, considering the infancy of the art; and I should not have had a due knowledge of ancient typography, had I not seen a Bible, which I have the satisfaction to own, printed at Venice, in fourteen hundred and seventy-six; a date which carries us back within about twenty years of the time when metal types were invented by Schaffer, with cut faces, and to within forty-six years of the period when printing was discovered by Laurentius. "The Venetian edition of the Bible is a copy of the Latin vulgate. It is a folio, and the paper is an imitation of fine clear vellum. The types are semi-gothic, differing either from ancient or modern blocks.— They are superiour in neatness, and, compared with blocks, may be considered as an elegant specimen. The letters are shaped more like Roman than any other characters; their faces are broad and bold, and have but few fine strokes. Double letters and abbreviations are very freely used. The ink is clear and of a fine black; and in no book, ancient or modern, have I seen better press work. There is not a letter but what is fair. In technical language, no pick, blot, blur, friar or monk, is to be seen in the work." |