The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-29 00:00:00

THE PRINTER'S DEVIL.

The extraordinary probity of the printers' devils
—like many other virtues of the humble—has not
been sufficiently wondered at. Be it our task to
awaken the attention of the world at once to the
beautiful confidence in human nature as daily il-
lustrated in the literary character, and to the sur-
passing rectitude of devils in general. That the
riches of the mind outvalue to an inconcevable de-
gree all tangible wealth, whether in gems or metals,
is a truth preached from a thousand pulpits—a truth
we emblazon in our copy-books—a truth that even
men of ten, twenty, forty thousand a year are in a
condition to very placidly admit. How often, if we
search the archives of the police, shall we find gold-
smiths' porters—jewellers' shopmen—nay, the clerks
of bankers—how often shall we find them wanting I
Plate has been stolen--diamonds carried off—
moneys embezzled ; yes, men in trust have suc-
cumbed to the blandishments of the baser wealth,
and become naught. But when—we put the ques-
tion with a thrill of triumph at our heart—when
was a printer's devil ever known to embezzle his
copy ? When did he ever attempt to turn an article
into money, and escape to France or America with
the fruit of his wickedness ? We answer him—
never. We call upon all the Police Magistrates,
the Lord Mayor, all the Aldermen, and with them,
of course, Mr. Hobler—we call upon these gentle-
men to confound us if they can. No ; our printer's
devil, entrusted as he hourly is with valuables to
which the regalia of the Tower—whatever Mr. Swift,
the keeper of the same, may say to the contrary—
are as paste and foil stones ; made the bearer of
thoughts more brilliant and durable than virgin
gold ; a carrier of little packets outvaluing the en-
trails of Golconda ; nay, single sheets, in which all
the Mogul's dominions are, at least in the opinion
of one man, as a few unprofitable molehills ; the
devil, freighted with this inconceivable treasure,
dispatched trustingly by its producer with this im-
mortal wealth, goes unerringly to his destination ;
and with the innocence of a dove, the meekness of
a lamb, gives up his precious burthen. He never
betrays his trust, not he. The printer's devll
takes not the mental gold to unlawful crucible—
offers not the precious paper to the felonious
money-changer—seeks no loan upon the copy
from the pawnbroker; but, with a fine recti-
tude, with a noble simplicity of purpose, gives
up the treasure to the hand appointed to receive
it, as though it were rags or dirt. The oyster that
breeds an union for the crown of an emperor, is not
more unpresuming on its wealth than is the printer's
devil on his costlier copy. And, now, gentle reader,
does not the printer's devil present himself to your
admiring imagination, despite his ink-stained hands
and face, in colours of the brightest radiance ?
Jostled in the street, or it may be, triflingly bespat-
tered with mud from his mercurial heels, how little
do you dream that the unoffending urchin, the hur-
rying devil has about him "something dangerous."
You know it not ; but innocent, mirthful as he seems,
he is loaded with copy. He may be rushing, gam-
boling, jumping like a young satyr, and is withal
the devil to a newspaper. His looks are the looks
of merriment ; yet the pockets of his corduroy
trowsers may be charged with thunderbolts. He would
not hurt a mouse; and in his jacket slumbers light-
ning to destroy a Ministry. Perhaps for the whole
Mint he could not compass a sum in addition ; and
yet it rests with his integrity whether to•morrow
morning the nation shall be saved from a bankruptcy ;
for, deposited in his cap, is an elaborate essay ad-
dressed to the ingenious traders in the Money
Market ; an essay setting forth principles, which, if
adopted, shall in one fortnight transform beggared
England into El Dorado. If the printers' devils,
as a body, knew their strength, what darkness
might they for a time bring upon the world. A
conspiracy among the gas men might be a matter
for a jest, compared to the Cimmerian gloom pro-
duced by printers' devils, sworn to simultaneous
destruction of copy. We own this a dangerous
suggestion ; but had we not a great faith in the
natural goodness of our devils, we might assure our-
selves in their want of combination.—Heads of the
People.

The following is a statement of the imports and
exports of the four chief cities and towns in Ireland,
viz., Dublin, imports, 4,400,0001. ; exports, 2,600,0001.
Cork, imports, 2,750,000/. ; exports, 2,900,000/.
Waterford, imports, 1,572,0001. ; exports, 2,660,000/.
Belfast, imports 3,750,000/. ; exports, 4,400,0001.—.
Thus it appears that Belfast is by far the most flourish.
ing town in Ireland.—Belfast News Letter.