ticulars, and I have thought it best to follow their example. It will be recollected that things have a relative importance; and minute circumstances often serve to elucidate a subject. To inquisitive minds, even the Imprints and Colophons to old gazettes and books, are more interesting than any thing which could now be written; they carry us back to the time when those publications first appeared-the publishers of them seem to speak to us in their own persons-they take us to the very spot where they printed, and shew us things as they were; in a word, these are images of antiquity which we cannot in any other way so accurately delineate as by reprinting them. They are, therefore, in every instance, copied with exactness, as are also extracts from ancient printed books and manuscript records. In such quotations, both the orthography and syntax of the original works from which they were taken, whether in English or in other languages, have been carefully preserved, and may, therefore, in these cases, account for misspelling.

In the arrangement of the work, the memoirs of printers follow each other in the order of time in which the subjects of them began business in the respective towns or cities where they resided.

* What is denominated an IMPRINT by printers, is the information given, commonly at the foot of the title page of a book, where, and by whom, it was printed and sold, the date of printing, &c. Formerly imprints were placed at the conclusion of the text, or at the end of a volume, with, or without, a colophon.

COLOPHON, is a word derived from a city of that name in Asia, where the artists of all descriptions were exceedingly expert, insomuch that Κολοφῶνα ἐπιλιθεναι, became a proverb among the Greeks; signifying ultimam manum imponere, to put the finishing hand to any thing. The same idea was implied by the word Colophonem among the Romans; and, hence our ancient typographical fathers usually concluded the books they printed with an article written by them-\ selves, expressing the time they had spent in printing them; the labor and expense attending the business; the patronage they had received from great men; some observations respecting the nature of the work, or the design of the author, or translator, in having it published, &c. accompanied by pious ejaculations. These conclusions, or finishings of the work, they called Colophons.

The biographical sketches of printers are principally confined to their professional concerns, and to such events as are connected with them.

Newspapers are placed in the proper order of succession, or agreeably to the periods in which they were established in the various cities, towns, &c.

The narratives respecting such persons as remained in business after the American revolution, and such newspapers as were continued after this event, are brought down to the time when those printers quitted business, or died, or these publications were discontinued. From the settlement of the country to the establishment of the independence of the United States, few Printers, and not many Newspapers, have, I believe, escaped my observation; and, I may venture to assert that the data respecting them are as correct, as can, at this period of time, be obtained by the researches of an individual.

Histories of printing in Europe, end at the period when the art became generally diffused over that quarter of the globe; that is, at the close of the fifteenth century. Historians who have written on the subject of Printing, in particular kingdoms, have observed the same rule; indeed, when an art becomes generally known through a country, it is no longer necessary to trace its course.

The history of printing in America, I have brought down to the most important event in the annals of our country-the Revolution. To have continued it beyond this period, all will admit would have been superfluous.

From the consideration that the press, and particularly the newspapers to which it gave birth, had a powerful influence in producing the revolution, I have been led to conceive there would be much propriety in giving accounts of the prosecutions of printers for publishing Libels, which occurred under the several colonial governments. Articles of this description, will be found in such parts of this work as contain memoirs of the Printers who were prosecuted, or descriptions of the Newspapers in which the supposed libels were published.

With a view to gratify the admirers of typographical antiquities, I have, in several instances given, as accurately as the

nature of the case would admit, représentations of the titles of the most ancient Newspapers; from which a tolerable idea may be formed of the fashion of the originals.

Although a work of this nature may be principally interesting to the professors of the typographic art, yet the facts relating to printing are necessarily connected with others which I have thought it proper to enlarge upon. This circumstance may render these volumes amusing to the man of letters, and not altogether uninteresting to the antiquary.

I devoted some time to obtain a correct account of the booksellers in Boston; it having been my intention to take notice of all who were in the trade from the first settlement of each colony to the year 1775; but I discovered that particular information from other states respecting many, who, in this character, have passed over the stage of life, could not be procured, therefore, the statement is not so complete as I intended it should be. But supposing that the particulars which I have collected may afford some gratification, I have annexed them to this work.*

I will conclude by remarking, that in the account of printers and newspapers, I have not thought it necessary to attempt the avoidance of a repetition of the same terms; indeed, I much doubt if our language affords a sufficient variety for the purpose of changing the phraseology in the narratives given of a great number of persons, or things, which are alike in their nature, professions, or descriptions.

If this work should fall into the hands of critics who may feel disposed to treat it with severity; in case I have not already said enough to ensure their forbearance, I beg leave to inform the liberal and ingenuous writers who "assume the critic's noble name," that I will readily correct all errors which may be candidly pointed out to me; and, that I will bear all "just reproof with decent silence."

Worcester, May 7, 1810.

I. THOMAS.

It was my design to have given a catalogue of the books printed in the English colonies previous to the revolution; finding, however, that it would enlarge this work to another volume, I have deferred the publication; but it may hereafter appear.

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

BOOKS being the great offspring of the press, before I enter into the history of Printing, it may be proper to state the advantages and disadvantages commonly imputed to books; and, give a detail of their mechanical construction, and the materials whereof they are composed.

Of Books.

AT different periods of time objections have been urged against books and learning, the principal of which are, that they may be employed to excite the evil passions, and propagate heresy and impiety; that they may be used for the purpose of imposing on the people; and the famous John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster was of opinion, that books are pernicious, because they have a tendency to make people idle.

But, if books may be employed for ill purposes, they are much oftener used for those which are good. They are the chief instruments of acquiring knowl

edge; they are the repositories of the laws, and vehicles of learning of every description; our religion itself is contained in books, and without them, says Bartholin, “God is silent, Justice dormant, Physic at a stand, Philosophy lame, Letters dumb, and all things involved in Cimmerian darkness." The eulogia which have been bestowed upon books are numberless; they are represented as "the refuge of truth, when it is banished out of conversation; as standing counsellors and preachers, always at hand, and always disinterested; having this advantage over all other modes of instruction, that they are ready to repeat their lessons whenever we have occasion for them." They supply the want of masters, and even, in some measure, of genius and invention, and can raise the dullest persons, who have memory, above the level of the greatest geniuses which are destitute of the aid of books. "Perhaps their greatest glory is the affection borne to them by some of the greatest men." The devotion of the renowned Scipio for them was so great, that he preferred their company to that of living beings, and used to say, that "through their means he was never less alone than when by himself;" to him may be added, M. Cato, the elder Pliny, the emperor Julian, and many other distinguished characters. Richard Bury, bishop of Durham and lord chancellor of England, wrote a treatise expressly on the love of books.

As to their being a source of idleness, that is contradicted by the experience of all ages, and the examples of eminent men. If Anaxagoras, through a love of contemplation, neglected his worldly affairs,