this sum the mere cost of the paper, even allowing the drawback, takes at least 3d., leaving to the printing of the 24 sheets that compose it only 2d. A man must be a very unsatiable bargainer if he thinks this is a dear article; indeed, the English Bible is simply the cheapest thing in the world."

Between Temple Bar and Ludgate Hill can be obtained almost all of the daily papers at prices varying from a halfpenny to threepence. Between 1474 and 1600, Ames and Herbert tell us, are recorded the names of 350 printers in England and Scotland, who on a average, produced seventy-five books a year. Between 1640 and 1660, there were some 30,000 tracts (chiefly political) published, yet in 1666, there were only 140 "working printers" in London. Between this year and 1680, there were 3,550 volumes or tracts issued-a tract being then the only means of circulating one's opinions. Cave published the "Gentleman's Magazine," the first of its kind, in 1731, and others soon followed in its wake.* Yet book publishing between 1700 and 1756 only amounted to a trifle over 5,000, while in eleven years, 1792 to 1802, there were that number of "new books" issued alone. One of the most successful of histories was Smollett's, which sold to the extent of some 20,000 copies. When our energetic Fleet Street publisher, Charles Knight, brought out the first number of the "Penny Magazine" in 1832, a new era dawned upon the literary world, and his "Penny Cyclopædia," which was described at the time as a most daring attempt to destroy trade in books," produced £150,000 as a commercial speculation; £40,000 of which was returned to its authors. Chiefly through the great industry of our early professors, the printing press has arrived at the distinction of being named one of the wonders of the world. There is only one thing that is greatly to be lamented, and that is the bad use made of the art by many of the printers of the present day. It is not only reprehensible, but terribly distressing to see so many demoralising publications being issued—and issued, I much regret to say, from presses in the neighbourhood of Fleet Street. The time will come I hope, and before very long too, when the benefits we have derived from an ancient art, and a cheap press, will not be tinged with that black mark which at present distinguishes a number of periodicals of questionable morality.

The newspaper press, perhaps, has done more towards obtaining the great reformation of the times, than anything else attempted by human power; circulating as it does amongst all classes of society, and conveying the opinions of countless thousands from door to door throughout the globe. And yet, who would imagine it to have originated from the diminutive "Weekly Newes," published the 23rd May, 1622? In 1696, there were nine newspapers in London, all published weekly; in 1709, there were eighteen; and to the issuing of the “ Daily Courant" that year, is to be dated the publication of regular newspapers. In 1724, the London printing houses numbered seventy-six, and the country twenty-eight, and in this year the London newspapers numbered nineteen, viz. :-Three daily, six weekly, seven three times a week, and three "Half-penny Posts" three times a week. The latter took the names of their printers: Parkins, of Salisbury Square; Heathcote, of Baldwin's Gardens ; and J. Read, of Whitefriars, printer also of his own "Weekly Journal," and of Seymour's "History of London," 1734-5. In addition to the nineteen papers above

* At No. 122 Fleet Street, on December 1st, 1860, was published No. 1 of "Temple Bar, a London Magazine," conducted by G. A. Sala, price One Shilling monthly. It is still in existence, though now published westward.

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quoted, was the "London Gazette," the official organ of the Government, published twice a week. In 1792, the numbers of newspapers had increased to thirteen daily, and twenty others. In 1798, "the keepers of several reading rooms in Fleet Street have been fined £5, for lending newspapers out on hire," (" Times," October 1, 1798.) What a contrast to the system now! Our intelligent foreigner has only to take a walk through Fleet Street, to perfectly realise the idea, that that thoroughfare is the centre of a literary world.

It was a bright day for England when William Caxton taught us the art of printing, and Pynson and De Worde so laboriously worked to improve that art within the liberties of the City of London. But it would be, I think, equally notable in our history, were the printers of modern London, and the public at large, to testify their appreciation of those labours, by erecting even a tablet to the memory of those worthies. It took over 300 years, I know, to erect a monument to Caxton at Westminster; but I must plead the cause of those who now cannot plead themselves, and ask the nineteenth century not to let 400 years pass by without recognising the claims of Pynson and De Worde? This can be done by erecting a monument, or even a tablet, to their memory in some place, and what place would be more worthy of its reception than within the sacred fane of St. Bride, wherein about the year 1534, Wynkyn de Worde, the second English printer, was carried to his grave ? Our monuments to departed genius have not been, it must be acknowledged, erected without a struggle; and many monuments thus set up had been much better left alone; but there is nothing to urge against the improvers of the art of printing, hence, I trust, I shall yet live to see the present powerful press recognising the claims of the first printers in Fleet Street.

LONDON: DIPROSE AND BATEMAN, PRINTERS, PORTUGAL STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS.