Seminary of it, and that he is, Sir, your most obliged friend, and humble servant, W. BOWYER.".

-

and Measure of Speech,") Mr. Jackson augmented the number of musical types, by such as represent the emphasis and cadence of prose. See Mores' Dissertation on Typographic Founders, pp. 82, 83. 97. - - Mr. Jackson, born in Old-street, Sept. 4, 1733, was the first child baptised in St. Luke's church; and received his education at a school in that neighbourhood, the gift of a Mr. Fuller; whence he was apprenticed to Mr. Caslon. Being exceedingly tractable in the common branches of the business, he had a great desire to learn the method of cutting the punches, which is in general kept profoundly secret; his master and master's father locking themselves in whenever they were at that branch of the business. This difficulty he surmounted by boring a hole through the wainscot, and observing them at different times, so as to form some idea of the mode in which the whole was performed; and applied himself at every opportunity to the finishing of a punch. When he had completed one to his own mind, he presented it to his master, expecting to be rewarded for his ingenuity: but the premium he received was a hard blow, with a threat that he should be sent to Bridewell if he again made a similar attempt. This circumstance being taken in dudgeon, his mother bought him what tools were necessary, and he improved himself at her house whenever he had an opportunity. He continued to work for his master, after he came out of his time, till a quarrel arose in the foundery about the price of work; and a memorial, which terminated in favour of the workmen, being sent to the elder Caslon (who was then in the commission of the peace, and had retired to Bethnal-green) young Jackson and Mr. Cottrell were discharged, as the supposed ringleaders. Compelled thus to seek employment, they united their slender stock in a partnership, and went on prosperously till, Jackson's mother dying, he entered, in 1759, on board the Minerva frigate, as armourer; and in May 1761 was removed, with Captain Alexander Hood, into the same situation in the Aurora; and proved somewhat successful, having about 40l. prize-money to receive at the Peace of 1763. During the time he was at sea, he was visited by a severe fit of sickness, in which he vowed, if he recovered, to lead in future a very penitent life; which promise he punctually fulfilled. On his return to London, he worked for some time under Mr. Cottrell; till, determining to adventure into business for himself, he was encouraged to do so by two Life-guardsmen, his fellowworkmen, who engaged to allow him a small pittance for subsistence, and to supply money for carrying on the trade, for two years. Taking a small house in Cock-lane, he soon satisfied his partners that the business would be productive before the time promised. When he had pursued his labours about six months, Mr. Bowyer accidentally calling to inspect some of his punches (for he had no specimen), approved them so much, that he promised

to

Among the specimens of the University types, these Saxon characters are preserved, under the following title: "Characteres Anglo-Saxonici per eruditam fœminam Eliz. Elstob ad fidem codd.

to employ him; adding, "My father was the means of old Mr. Caslon riding in his coach: how do you know but I may be the means of your doing the same?" A short time after this, he put out a small specimen of one fount; which his young master carrying to Bethnal-green with an air of contempt, the good old Justice treated it otherwise; and desired his son "to take it home, and preserve it; and whenever he went to cutting again, to look well at it." It is but justice to the third William Caslon to add, that he always acknowledged the abilities of Jackson; and though rivals in an art which requires the greatest exertions of ingenuity, they lived in habits of reciprocal friendship. Business increasing rapidly, Mr. Jackson removed to Dorset-street, for a more capacious workshop; and about 1771 was applied to by the late Duke of Norfolk to make a mould to cast a hollow square. Telling the Duke that he thought this was practicable; his Grace observed, that he had applied to all the skilful mechanicks in London, Mr. Caslon not excepted, who declared it impossible. He soon convinced the Duke of his abilities; and in the course of three months producing what his Grace had been years in search of, was ever after held in great estimation by the Duke, who considered him as the first mechanick in the kingdom. In 1762 he married Eliz. Tassell, originally a whinster in Spital-fields, a very worthy woman, and an excellent wife, who greatly contributed, by her care and industry, to his getting forward, on his first entering into business. She died Dec. 3, 1783, at the age of 49; and, in about six months after, he married Mary Pasham (the widow of a printer in Black Friars), who died Sept. 14, 1791, at the age of 52. Surviving the second of his wives but a few months; he died of a scarlet-fever, at his foundery, in Dorset-street, Salisbury-square, Jan. 14, 1792; and his remains were on the 23d deposited, in the same grave with them both, in the front ground of the Spa-Fields Chapel, a neat oration being delivered on the occasion by the Rev. Mr. Towers; who preached also a funeral sermon on the 29th, at his meetinghouse in Barbican, of which Mr. Jackson was one of the Deacons. By the death of this ingenious artist, and truly worthy man, the poor lost a most excellent benefactor, his own immediate connexions a steady friend, and the literary world a valuable coadjutor to their labours. To particularize the articles of his foundery which were more peculiarly superior, when all were excellent, would be unnecessary. Let it suffice to mention, as matters of difficulty and curiosity, the fac-simile types which he formed for Domesday Book, and for the Alexandrian New Testament; and, as a pattern of the most perfect symmetry, the types which printed the splendid edition of the Bible published by Mr. Macklin. Mr. Jackson had acquired some considerable property, the

bulk

mss. delineati: quorum tam instrumentis cusoriis quam matricibus Univ. donari curavit E. R. M. è Collegio Regin. 1753.

bulk of which, having left no child, he directed to be equally divided between fourteen nephews and nieces.-On his only apprentice, Mr. Vincent Figgins, the mantle of his predecessor has fallen. With an ample portion of his kind instructor's reputation he inherits a considerable share of his talents and his industry; and has distinguished himself by the many beautiful specimens he has produced, and particularly of Oriental types. And here I hope I shall not be accused of being ostentatiously vain, if I close this note with a P. S. which is subjoined at the particular request of the only person it could possibly offend. "I am greatly obliged to you for the very flattering mention of my name; but you have not done yourself the justice to record your own kindness to me: that, on Mr. Jackson's death, finding I had not the means to purchase the Foundery, you encouraged me to make a beginning. You gave me large orders, and assisted me with the means of executing them; and, during a long and difficult struggle in pecuniary matters for fifteen years, you, my dear sir, never refused me your assistance: without which I must have given it up. Do mention this-that, as the first Mr. Bowyer was the means of establishing Mr. Caslon-his son, Mr. Jackson-it may be known, that Vincent Figgins owes his prosperity to Mr. Bowyer's successor."

*On the first face of this business there is at least an unhandsome suppression of Mr. Bowyer's name. But the following short series of letters will set the matter in a clearer light:

1. "To the Rev. Mr. Shepherd, Fellow of Corpus Christi College. "REV. SIR, Dec. 24, 1760.

"A letter, of which the inclosed is a copy (see p. 355), was sent, agreeably to the date of it, Dec. 4, 1753, with the Saxon punches and matrices mentioned in it, to Edward-Rowe Mores, esq. at Low Leyton, in Essex; who soon after put them into the hands of Mr. Caslon, letter-founder, to repair, and render them more fit for use. Mr. Caslon having kept them for four or five years without touching them, Mr. Bowyer removed them into the hands of Mr. Cottrell, another letter-founder, from whom Mr. Bowyer received them fitted up, and delivered them a second time to Mr. Mores, in the year 1758, together with 15lb. of letter fresh cast from those matrices, and with them a copy of Mrs. Elstob's Saxon Grammar, bound and lettered, the book for which they were originally cut; all which are said by Mr. Mores to have been delivered to the University of Oxford, agreeably to the design of the inclosed letter. Mr. Bowyer looks on his donation as of no moment in itself; but somewhat remarkable for the history attending it; and, having had no authentic testimony of the University's receipt of it, would be glad if you would give him any information about it. Perhaps Dr. Randolph, who was at that time Vice-chancellor, as he thinks, and to whom he hath the honour to be known, would assist you in it. I am, Sir, your most obliged humble servant, W. BOWYER.

P. S.