The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-14
THE CAXTON CELEBRATION.
MR.. GLADsToNEs SPEECH IN HONOR OF ENG
LANDS PIONEER PRINTER.

MR.. GLADsroNE's SPEECH IN HONOR OF ENG
LANDS PIONEER PRINTER.
At the opening Of the Caxton celebration held at
South KensIngton London, on the 30th of June, the
Hon. W. f.. Gladstone responding to the toast "The
Memory OF William Caxton,i SAID He was the frs,
English printer, ana persevercd ia his business at
Westminster ut u time when the Church disposed
to regard with jealousy the spread Of knowledge 1t
was not Till be end OF the sixteenth century that Ok
FORD and Cambridge universities had presses their
own and from tho Erst England was slow
to avail herself OF tho art CT printing TO
promote knowledge. In the present day, however,,
she had mado amends. He concluded follows -
Caxton has had praise gwen him. but on the other
hand, he has received from no less authority than
GinDon very severe censuro Tor the GLASS works he
printed. II you look at the list oil works produced by
Caxton, and compare them AT the Same time by the
works produced IN the Continental press, you VIII be
struck By their great difference or character The works
produced by Cax,on appeas manly to belong low
stage Of civilization. Hd did not appear print
popular among the people, Was The transla-
ion OF W,cife, and tho translation OF Wye
line had boon prescribed by tho Church: uut
be never attempted 10 print any OF the great
standard classical works of antiquity. Arc we TO con-
denim him on that accounts Not at ALL His proceed,
ing was an eminentiy English proceeding Caxton
concclvodin his own mind that idea which con-
sdor to BIO un em'nsnty English idea-thst no would
porting. Caxton seems 10 have determined 10 throw
himself us tar he could upon The sy mpathles and m
ielgenoe Of ms coun.rymen-to do all no could by
TRANSACTIONS 10 bring learning near 20 their cOnpr
sion and having brought them near he could 10
trust them 70 ITO the rest And the industry OF man
was marvellous. We are tod that by the time he
died he had translated nearly five thousand folio Cos
for The benefit and instruction Of his country men,
Printing, too, was looked upon by him much as
mere manual art or accomplishment, that 1t was his
business TO develop tho ART Ms link bewean the 1T
erury works On the Que side which no had prin,d and
a n M nj n0r ida.
thus oil bringing them INTO contact This Is very
narkabe and interesting history, and venture say
that those who have NOT had the opportunity OF
closely examining " will lind that the career Of Cax-
ton, considered as biography, had dcep interest for
for most civilized Of English readers subject that
will repay any amount Ct diligence and bestowed
on II.
cAxroxs CHARACTER
My wish is gained II those who have not made his
character and career special subject Tor examination
shall happily be nuuced 10 look little tho natter
Well ,axtOn came here aud produced book Ia the
year 1477, and few years differentiation or twelve
years aserward--n the course Of nature, he aisap-
pcared But he had no Englisn followers. There was
press established al Oxford IN the time OF Caxton
but was established ~ foreigner and on the asnth
of thai foreigner IN The year, think, Of 1856 tho
press disappeared. Oxford remained without a
press and Cambridge literally wnhout a press
proving thereby that 1 did not exasgerate when
spoke OF tue relatively backward conailion Of Eng
land In tho prosecution Of this great ar Here must
say one word 70 point to neood sense and agacy of
Caxtcn. AS have snid, he determined TO make his
PRESS selsupp0rting, aud DO did SOL and dare say
when he died, II he was not wealthy man. he was 4
man Of substance. And he was not u .hieh nyipgn
prnter--le took . HINT from those who preceded
him. The Germans, whose names, think were
Sweynheym pnd Puhnarx, who were hrst established
in the neghboriood oil Rome. printcc a large
number Of magnificent editions OF tho Greek
sequence: They became bankrupts That WIS a very
melancholy end Of a NOBLE enterprise but 1t enables
us 10 understand the nodesty, good sagacy
ot Caxton, when We see how stored clear those
rocks he saw there would not Do aemaud enough Tor
what may DC called an ideal pross. He Limited himself
TO practical objects, and thus laid SOLID foundation
OF what was progressive work We have hau many
distinguished printers IN this country succ Caxton.
Tho name OF Baskerville VIII always be lustrous and
then there the name OF Fowles, wno Is deserving OF
great distinction. We live Ia times when this
great work aud the business Of printers has
received nous extension aud expansion. All
modern resources oi the day have been applied, as
you know, to tho prosecution oil all useful arts IL
would be most invdlous 10 refer To The OF any
living printer but canno, refrain from referring 10
the name OF Mr. Pickering and the beautiful works he
produced and especially the splendid series o. English
prayer books, winch appeared To reproduce the torn
OF the old arr OF printing l"Hear, hcar!'1
PROGRESS OF PRINTING.
now call attention. in lew w0rcs, to the progress
Of this art ana hold up.a vo,une IN my hand, to
which beg every one 10 direct his eye, because think
1t may be called the climax and consummation this
arr THIS volume Is Oounu, as YOU sec, and stamped
with the arms OF the University OF oxford. IL Is
Bible bound in manner that commends itself 10 tho
rcadcr-I believe IN every sense excellent piece OF
workmanship, containing more than thousand
pages Well" you VIII say, THAT is very common
place; why bring II bsfotc US 2" do 80 In order to
tell you that the materials OF this book sixteen hours
ago did not existit was not bound, u olded
IL not printed -ince the clock struck twe,yo
last night at the University Press in Oxford the people
there nave printed and sent US this hook; they have
sent several copies OF wb,cu will be presented 70
the Emperor OF Brazil, 10 be distributed here In tho
midst Of your festival tApphu.c) fhst shows what
shows the slate 10 which this great art IS happily
arrived