Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-06-26
THE ADVENTURES OF A JOUR-
NEWMAN PRINTER.

At the typographical celebration Of the
birthday of Franklin, in Rochester, lew
months since, Mr.. William A. Weles, a
journeyman, gave the following sketch OF his
life. He said: .
"Mr Presidential has often been remark
ed that the fortunes of the members Of the
typographical profession have been more d.
versfied and precarious than that Of any 9TH
er class of men. The changes constantly
taking place in their circumstances render
them an easy prey to all the vicicltudes OF
life.
The printer is an intellectual being. No
class of men, in any age Of the world, have
given evidence Of so great a versatility Of
talent, universal knowledge and variety Of
reading, as the body typographical. The
biography Of many priaters would he both
amusing and instructive. BY way OF illustra-
ting this declaration, offer the following
crude, rambling reccolec,ions of somewhat
adventurous journey thus far through life |;
not that would, in so doing, claim any mo-
toriety for my many hair breadth 'scapes,
but from an inclination to let my fellow
craftsmen read page of my story; and if
any good should result from my experience,
10 bequeath the record of the incidents OF my
times, for the amusements of others.
served nearly seven years apprenticeship
in the Office of the late Alderman Seymour,
40 John street, New York. In this Office,
associated as fellow workmen, were the late
Commissary General of this State, A.
Chandler Mayor Harper, New York |;
"A nh
Usher OF the New York Mirror; John Wind
Elliott, the foreman, Zone of the notorious
Mirandi Expedlion,) and your humble ser.
want.
About this time pulled the first number
of the New York American, then edited by
Charles King, James II. Hamilton and Gu
lien C. Verpanck. The first edition of
'SaImagundi' was also printed in this Office,
about this time, from the manuscript OF
Washington Irving in the composition Of
which assisted. In Van Winckle's Office,
afterwards, | set up the first three numbers
of the Sketch Book byathe same gifted au-
thor.
In Boston, I worked upon the Columbian
Cen,neI, for old Ben Russell, who discharg-
ed me from his Office for drumming Yankee
Doodle as beat the last sheet of the inside
of his paper one morning, after having ,oork-
ed cleren tokens imperial within the proceed
ing ten hours!
From Eas,on l vent to Flaqe g. Gould's
Office, Andover, Mass, and was employed in
setting up, from his MS, Gibbs Hebrew
Lexicon, which contained nineteen different
languages, including those usually styled
dead.
At this period Of my history procured a
midshipman's warrant, and went to sea in
the frigate Brandywine, Com. Morris.
The ship sailed from Hampton Roads in
S. p,ember, 1925, having on board as pas.
senger, that illuslrious statesman and patriot,
| Gilbert Mor,ier, Marquis de Laflyttlc.-
/ During a voyage Of % days saw much OF
this great good man. The General conierr-
ed particular favor upon me by entrusIing
to my care rattle snake, an opossum, a
grey squirrel, cock robin, and a poodle dog
the last present from lady in Philadcl.
pha. ] was on board the Brandywine or
the night of the memorable 26h Of Srp,em-
Der. 1925. upon which occasion was thrown
overheard more than fifty thousand dollar.
worth Of property to tighten the vessel, while
in the head Of the Bay Of Bscay.
When in Portsmouth, England, had the
honor of being guest on board the Brandy
wine, at dinner given to His ROYAL High
ness, the Duke Of Clarence. then Lord tligl
Admiral of the British Navy, Lady Noel
wife of Lord Byron, her little daughter Ada
Admiral Lord BolInpbroke, and several 9th
er dignilaries of the British realm.
| From England we proceeded to Gibralter
We sailed up the Mediterranean on the Eu
ropean shore, touching al such ports as Cadiz
Port Mahon, Pisa, Naples, Palermo, tn,
coast of Calabria, &c, then crossing to III,
Asiatic and African side of the Medilcrrane
an, then running down to Glbralter. From
the Rock we took the trade winds and mad
the Cape de Nerd Islands, and the Cape o
Good Hope. From thence to Ascension an,
the Elba Islands. After cruising upon thu
coast for six weeks, we ran over TO State
Land, of the pitch Of Cape Horn.
have visited the cities of ST. Paulos, tn
Island of ST. Catharina, Santos, Rio de Jan
eiro, Buenos Ayres, Monievideo. on the riv
er La Plata; San Salvador, at the head {
the bay of All Saints, Glinds, aud Pernam
buco; Marsnham and Para on the Amazon
] have also been IN all the ports of the Uni
ted States, except New Orleans and Charlie:
ton.
In my land cruises wrough, as printe
in Portland, Me-, Concord, N. H., Boston
Mass, Hartford, Ct, more than twenty veal
ago, in the Office of my old friend, p. Car
field, now present. New Haven, CT, Me-
York, Newark, N. j., and Philadelphia.
this city, assisted in setting up, from h
Ms, Prince Lucien Bonaparte's work o
American Orthodoxy. | was also employ
ed by Matthew Carey, one of the oldest prir
ters and publishers in the United States,
; the establishments of Poulson. Mrs. E:>Ba
: ley, John Bioren, Doane, BILLY Fry &c.
, One dark, gloomy night, in 1918, foun
: myself in the (now) city of Buffalo, in ba
room, with but single York shilling in a,
pocket, about half sick~and completely tire
f Of the world and printing. While l wi
discussing the pls Of life, and the inconven
) ence OF being 400 miles from home, in Il
wilderness, listening 10 the surges of Lal
Erie and the cravings of an empty stomac
S gentleman tapped me upon the shoulder
!, a good nstured manner, and asked me if
We're printer. answered him in the aft
e native. He wished to know whether
would 60 10 Geneva, and take a situation