Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/31

Rh exhibit an unmackled form, and every Master workman present an illustrated page of them in his country's history.

3. The Printing Press—May its light continue to spread until it covers the whole earth as the waters cover the great deep.

4. Geo. R. Perkins, the great Mathematician—While a roller boy in Mr. Clark's office, Cooperstown, he said to that gentleman, "when I become a man of scientific attainments, you can tell people I was once a roller boy." Boys, do yon hear that?

The above may be relied on as a fact.

Yours, very respectfully,

D..

To P., and others, Committee.

From, Esq., Compositor in the Atlas Office, Albany.

, Dec. 14, 1846.

Gentlemen:—I acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 9th ult., requesting my attendance at the "Celebration of Birth-Day" in your city, on the 18th of January. I exceedingly regret that it is not in my power to comply with your kind invitation; for I assure you nothing would give me more pleasure than uniting with my fellow-craftsmen in celebrating and paying that respect, which is so justly due, to the day which ushered into the world, one whose name will be linked with the profession to the very end of time.

It affords me peculiar gratification, gentlemen, to learn that my brethren of Rochester are making such an attempt—an attempt to unite more closely the brotherhood in our State; and I look to it as a powerful instrument in raising still higher the position of our profession in the estimation of the world.

With the improvements and intelligence daily being added to our business, certainly there should be no retrogradation—its march should be onward, and I know of no single mode better calculated to advance its movements than a periodical assemblage.

In connection with your Festival, in my opinion, there should be held a convention, for the purpose of taking into consideration such matters as do most infinitely concern the business—for the adoption of such measures as will benefit and afford protection to those connected with it—to encourage a correction of abuses, and bind more closely the obligations and duties of one to another. If this were done, I humbly submit, then the whole object of the worthy undertaking in which yon are engaged, would be fully carried out.

But to do this, it will be requisite to have a representation from all parts of the State. This, I should think, could easily be had; and should Rochester, (and I hope it may be the case,) take to herself the duty of calling, in connection with their already established annual Celebration, a Convention, she will be looked to with pride by the Printers not only of our own State, but of all others in the Union.

In conclusion, gentlemen, I wish you all that pleasure which I feel is so certain to be derived from a social meeting like yours. May the warm feeling of friendship pass around your board with all the fervor so characteristic of the hearts of which it is composed. I present you the following sentiment.

The Printers of Rochester and their second : Revised and corrected, it is now clean; may the work be bound so strongly as to last, an honoring monument, through eternity.

Truly yours,

.

To Philemon Canfield, &c, Committee.

From, Esq., of the Home Journal Office, New York.

Dear Sir:—Indisposition and pressing avocations have prevented an earlier reply to your kind letter of the 17th ultimo, requesting "an Ode from my pen to be recited on the 18th inst. in honor of the Festival." I would comply with your polite invitation with pleasure, were it in my power. My time is so much occupied just now, that I can scarcely find leisure for the ordinary requirements of society. On another occasion I shall be most happy to meet your wishes.

Thanking you sincerely for your courtesy and kind considerations—and wishing you a clear sky—good appetites, and a pleasant gathering of our brethren of "the craft,

I remain, dear sir,

Yours very cordially,

.

Wm. A. Welles, Esq.

P. S.—Allow me the pleasure of sending you a toast, which you may offer on the occasion, in my name, if you think proper:

Woman—An exquisite edition of "Paradise Regained."

From W. W., Esq., of Battle Creek, Mich

28, 1846.

Gentlemen:—Your Circular, containing an invitation for me to attend a celebration to be held in the city of Rochester, in honor to the birthday of the illustrious patriot and statesman,, came to hand over a week ago; but the pressure or business has prevented me from making a reply as soon as perhaps, necessary.—In communicating to you, gentlemen, my answer, I regret to say that I cannot be with you. It would afford me inexpressible pleasure to meet with you on the day set apart, and join in the festivities, in honor of the genius and virture of the Prince of Typographers. My heart is with you.

Perhaps, there is no individual to whom we owe so much in all respects, as to him whose bright actions you will appropriately celebrate. As a man of genius, he had few equals, and certainly no superiors. Brought up to the laborious profession of our craft, and industriously laboring for its elevation during its infancy, he yet found time to employ his mighty genius for the advancement of those branches of science, the rapid progress of which emphatically mark the present age. Is it not, then, peculiarly fitting that we should