Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/7

 zeal of most of the early printers, who, by the number of beautiful and correct impresssions which they gave of the aucient authors, (and thereby laying the foundation of classical and polite learning,) have secured to their memories the everlasting respect of all lovers of liberal and enlightened education. Who can read the biographies of many of the early printers, without awarding to them that admiration which the most eminent benefactors of mankind deserve?—It is true, that popes, emperors, and kings, bestowed upon many of these men honours and rewards for their personal worth and literary pre-eminence. But, it is also true, that many of the nobles, ecclesiastics, and rulers of the land, endeavoured to cramp the energies of the rising press—by confiscation of life and property—by exclusive privileges—and expurgatory enactments—having a fear, rather than any desire, to foster an art which promised so fair to benefit the mass of the people, by the diffusion of knowledge. "Sola nobilitas virtus," though generally a very improper motto, where it is most commonly placed, is yet true enough to make a maxim, and might very properly have been engraven on the monuments of many learned and noble typographers. Eulogium is often bestowed on beings whose qualities, however splendid in the outward show, are often questionable in their lives, and unworthy of comparison with others whose faculties have been busied in supplying and extending the sources of knowledge. My aim has been to record, with as much fidelity as possible, the names and deeds of ancient and modern typographers, who have benefitted literature by their labours—society by their exertions—and whose conduct it would be easy to adopt, and desirable to emulate. Nor will it, I hope, be deemed presumption for having introduced the names of many of our humbler artists,

whose meritorious conduct when living obtained the meed of praise; and whose honourable industry deserves to be recorded as a laudable example to the young typographer, who wishes to obtain respect from his fellow-men.

With regard to the origin and progress of newspapers, the various laws by which they have been restricted, the duties imposed to retard their circulation, and other information connected with the periodical press, the reader will find sufficient to engage his attention. Of that "glory of a free country" I need make very little observation; yet it is deplorable to notice the present state of the newspaper press of the British empire. From being a free and independent record of the vicissitudes of politics and power, noticing the moral and physical career of nations, recording all accidents by flood and field, aiding the cause and dissemination of knowledge, which, while it amuses, ought also to instruct,—has descended from this high estate, and become the vehicle of party strife and petty feuds, in the hands of designing men, who make no shame of being bought