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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
quiet pKcision that showed they were eng^ed in a solemn act. The fine old catJiedral was crowd- ed; — the bishop of Mayence performed high mass; — the first bible printed by John Gutenberg was displayed, — that first bible the germ of mil- lions or bibles that have spread the light of Christianity throughout the habitable globe. — The mass ended, the procession again advanced to the adjacent square, where the statue was to be opened. Here was erected a vast amphi- theatre, where, seated under their respective ban- ners, were deputations from all the great cities of Europe. Amidst salvos of artillery the veil was removed from the statue, and a hymn was sung by a thousand voices. Then camcorations; — ^then dinners — balls — oratorios — boat-races — processions by torch-light. For three days the population of Mayence was kept in a state of nigh excitement; and the echo of the excite- ment went through Germany, — and Gutenberg! Gutenberg! was toasted in many a bumper of Rhenish wine amidst this cordial and enthusiastic people."
The basso-relievos on the pedestal of Guten- berg's statue exhibit a part of the process by which the mighty change has been produced by the discovery of the art of printing from move- able types by John Gutenberg, at Mayence. — The pnnter is examining a matrix for casting types, and comparing a printed sheet with a manuscript. If^ he could have foreseen the entire consequences of the apparently simple mechanical arrangements which he was per- fecting,it is justly possible that Gutenberg might have become dizzy with the prospect, and neg- ligent of some minute point upon which much depended, have left an incomplete discovery to another generation, instead of the perfect art which pnnting so soon became. Who can read of the invention of Gutenberg of Mayence — who can participate in the blessings of that in- vention — and not perceive the immense multi- plication of the power of books which must have instantly followed the discovery of the art of multiplying their numbers by the printing press? It was toe mightiest revolution which the history of the world had known — at least if measured as it ought to be, not merely by the tumult and crash of change which it occasioned at the mo- ment, but by its enduring operation, and the far reach of its consequences. It might be said, indeed, to contain in its bosom the seeds of all future revolutions. The wave which it set in motion has been rolling on till now. But that wave has much further to roll.
"Tyrant* I in vain, ye trace the irixard lin^i In vain ye limit mind^t onwearied spline; Wliat I can ye loll tl>e wiUKCd winds asleep, Arrest the rolling world, or chain the deep > No 1 the wild wave contemns your sceptred hand I It xoll'd not back when Canute gave command."
Much as the art of printing has accomplished, its greatest triumphs, we believe, are yet to come. Mighty as are the benefits mankind have derived from this noble invention during the space of four centuries which it has been in operation, they
probably amount to but a small portion of iIm whole sum of good which in its ultimate exten- sion it is destined to confer upon our race.
1837, Aug. Died, Weston Hatfield,* who bad been for upwards uf twenty years printer and editor of the Cambridgt Independent Pren, and other newspapers. He died at Huntinplon, aged forty-two years.
1837, Sept. 5. Died, Owen Rees, late of the firm of Messrs. Long^nan and Co. booksellen, Paternoster-row, London. It was only at Mid- summer that Mr. Rees, after a period of more than forty years of great responsibility, retired from the cares and anxieties of business, with the prospect of enjoying his remaining years in repose, at his beautiful residence at Gelligran, near Neath, Glamorganshire, South Wales, where he had done much, not only to improve his own estate, but to introduce valuable improvemeott in the surrounding country. Previous to his leav- ing town, an entertainment was given to him, as a tribute to his integrity and gentlemanly con- duct; and above forty of his udest friends and associates assembled to pay this gratifjring com- pliment. Few men in the metropolis, perhaps, ever had larger opportunities of cultivating ue acquaintance and intimacy of men disting^nnbed in all the walks of literature, and in bringing forward their productions, and of the friendly intercourse which subsisted between them and him. Mr. Rees was a warm patron of the drama, and an acute and excellent dramatic critic. He had been unwell for a few weeks, and thought his native air might restore him to health and strength. But, alas for human hopes! he gradually declined,and at last yielded to his fate at the age of sixty-seven. He wat unmarried. Mr. Rees was a constant benefactor of the necessitous and distressed.
1837, Sept. 7. Died, David Prentice, who had been the printer, editor, and a conaderable shareholder of the Glatgow Chronicle, tram its commencement in 1810. Mr. Prentice was de- scended from a long line of honourable ancestore.f He was the only son of Mr. Thomas Prentice, of Lanark, one of the earliest burgh reformers in Scodand,and his mother was the niece of James Thomson, author of the Seasont, from whom be inherited much of bis distinguished relative's fervent temperament, love of liberty, and over- flowing benevolence. In 1810, Mr. Prentice published An Essay on the Currency, in wbidi he showed talents of the first order, and which could not have failed to distinguish him as a writer on political economy, had he devoted him-
• Mia. Elizabeth Carter Hatfield, the founder, and npto her death the sole proprietor, of the HTUtHngiim, Beifiiri, and Peterborough Oazelle, and Catnbridit' /KAjMa^eaf Pr««f. She died at Cambridge, May t, 1838, aged eighty- three years.
t He was the nephew of Mr. Archibald Preotiee, at Covington, a man whose eztraordinary mental pow«n and steiiing integrity placed him on a level with the Unt men of the country. Ho was the great grandson of Archi- bald Prentice, laird of Stone, who fought for the Corrnsnt at Bothwell bridge, in I67S; and he was the great gnat grandson of sir John Prentice lainl of Thorn, who was deputy governor of Donldrk, for the conunonvrealth, st the period of the restoration, in |M«.
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