Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/154

 es.

On Nov. 23, 1831, the Hawaiian missionaries wrote:

"We have now but one press which can be used to any purpose and Mr. Shepard thinks we ought not to rely upon this, as it may give out."

Again on Oct 10, 1832, they complain:

"The two old presses which we have here were both second hand presses when they were sent out. The one which was first sent is of little use, and the other is liable to fail us."

Rev. A. Bishop, speaking of a new press which had recently arrived, says on Oct. 3, 1832 :

"The press is now in successful operation at Oahu. It is the only good press in the islands, the two old ones are Ramage presses and nearly worn out."

This opinion is confirmed by two of the printers, writing at about the same date. Mr. Rogers, on Octo- ber 2, 1832, and Mr. Shepard on November 12, 1832, say respectively:

"We have but one press fit to do heavy work on the two Rainage press are most worn out."

"We have only one press in which we put any confi- dence for doing good work."

It is evident, seven years after the latest of these reports of the uselessness of the original press, how unlikely it is that such a worn-out article should have been presented to the Oregon mission as any part of a gift valued by them at $500.

The last book to be printed in Honolulu before the arrival of the second press was the Gospel of Luke, printed duodecimo in half-sheets or six pages to the form. It can readily be proved by actual measurement that such a form of six pages could not have been printed on a press which would admit nothing larger than 10x14 inches.

None of the other earlier publications at Oahu exceed the limits of size of the Oregon press, but this was due to a scarcity of paper. In fact, as related in the writer's

9