It has been remarked that "a preface is the history of a book;" it may therefore be expedient to lay before the reader an ingenuous account of the origin and design of the present publication.
In April, 1828, that portion of the work which now forms the introduction, was delivered as one of two lectures,[1] before the Warwick and Leamington Literary and Scientific Institution; and the very flattering commendations then bestowed, induced me to pursue the subject further, as a means both of self-instruction and amusement for my leisure hours. From that time to the present, scarcely any other object has engrossed more of my attention than that of obtaining every information relative to Printers and Printing. Not aware of the labours that others had performed, and without an assistant, I had many obstacles to contend with; and soon became well convinced, that the design I had formed was above the bibliographical acquirements of a journeyman printer.[2] Stimulated, however, to proceed, I continued my researches with increased ardour; and though conscious of not having made the work what it might have been under more favourable circumstances, yet I trust some merit may be thought due for the attempt; and shall feel gratified if placed in the field of literature only as a pioneer, to induce some abler hand to improve the work, and make it more worthy of the literary world, and the profession of which it treats.
Those who are conversant with the history of printing, cannot be unacquainted with the learning, virtue, honourable exertions, and ardent and daring
- ↑ Lecture I.—On the Origin and Progress of Language, with the mode and materials employed by the Ancients in propagating Knowledge before the Invention of Printing.
Lecture II.—The Origin and early History of Printing, with its progress in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries; its influence upon the Manners and Customs of the People, as well Civil as Religious. - ↑ I received the rudiments of my education at a day school in my native town, Manchester, and was afterwards removed to the free grammar school, under the rev. Thomas Gaskell. Early attached to a love of reading, I have remained all my life an ardent inquirer after knowledge. From the month of March, 1810, (being then little more than fifteen years of age,) to November 28, 1815, my days were passed in the 33rd regiment of foot, from which I obtained my discharge, in consequence of wounds received at the battle of Waterloo. During those years I had few facilities of self-improvement. Having been apprenticed to an engraver and copper-plate printer, I resumed the latter, on returning from the army; but from a distaste, and other causes, which need not be here stated, in the year 1821, I adoped the profession of a letter-press printer, under indenture, with Messrs. Dicey and Smithson, proprietors of the Northampton Mercury; and feel gratified that an opportunity has occurred of publicly recording my gratitude to Mr. Robert Smithson, printer and editor of the Mercury, for his uniform kindness during my abode at Northampton; and to whose advice I am solely indebted for a very material change, both in my circumstances and conduct. Adopting the profession of a printer, with the view of affording me that literary information which I so ardently desired, I endeavoured to become acquainted with its history. From this desire arose the Lectures, at Warwick; the Songs of the Press, at Nottingham; and finally, the Dictionary of Printers and Printing, with the Printers' Manual, at Manchester.
