in printing. I had the honour of knowing him for some years, and he
frequently described to me his intended improvements: one was, to
make the bottom of the boxes in the cases concave, so that the types
should always be convenient for the compositor to pick up; another
was, to lay four different sized types in the same pair of cases;
another, to alter the curve at the top of the f, and discard its
ligatures; another, to cast certain Logotypes. Some of these were
not improvements in practice; and the others, except they had been
generally adopted, would have destroyed uniformity in works that were
printed in different houses, in addition to the great expense and
inconvenience both to letter founders and printers. In attempting too
much, none of his plans were adopted, so far as related to composing.
Discarding the long ſ has also abolished ſb, ſh, ſi, ſk, ſl, ſſ, ſſi,
ſt, and has consequently increased the number of the round s, and the
connected letters.
_Canon 20 em Bill, for Job-work._
+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+
|a 40 | q 8 | æ 3 | ( 6 | E 14 | U 8 |
|b 14 | r 30 | œ 2 | [ 4 | F 10 | V 8 |
|c 20 | s 40 | , 30 | 1 12 | G 10 | W 10 |
|d 24 | t 40 | ; 16 | 2 10 | H 10 | X 6 |
|e 60 | u 20 | : 14 | 3 10 | I 14 | Y 8 |
|f 20 | v 12 | . 24 | 4 10 | J 8 | Z 4 |
|g 16 | w 14 | - 16 | 5 10 | K 8 | Æ 3 |
|h 30 | x 8 | ? 6 | 6 10 | L 10 | Π2 |
|i 40 | y 14 | ! 6 | 7 10 | M 10 | |
|j 10 | z 4 | ’ 16 | 8 10 | N 10 | Spaces. |
|k 10 | & 4 | * 3 | 9 10 | O 10 | Thick 120 |
|l 24 | fi 6 | † 3 | 0 12 | P 10 | Middle 80 |
|m 20 | ff 6 | ‡ 3 | A 14 | Q 6 | Thin 60 |
|n 40 | fl 4 | § 3 | B 10 | R 10 | Hair 30 |
|o 40 | ffi 4 | ‖ 3 | C 10 | S 12 | m qds. 20 |
|p 15 | ffl 3 | ¶ -- | D 10 | T 14 | n qds. 40 |
+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+
BILL OF EXCHANGE. _See_ FORGERY.
BINDING. In locking-up a form, if the head-stick be longer than the
width of the page and the thickness of the back-stick; or the side or
foot stick extend beyond the page and the other be a little too long;
or any part of the furniture double over some other part, so as to
prevent the quoins wedging the matter tight, it is termed _Binding_:
_the head-stick binds_; _the side-sticks bind_, &c.--_M._
BITE. If the frisket is not sufficiently cut away, but covers some
part of the form, so that it prints on the frisket, it is called a
_Bite_.--_M._ It interposes between the form and the paper to be
printed on, and prevents the latter receiving the inked impression
intended to be transferred to it. A pressman looks carefully over
his first sheet to see that all is right, and if there be a bite he
cuts it out of the frisket with his scissors; if one should at first
escape his eye, it is cut out as soon as it is perceived.
BLACK LETTER
is the name now applied to the Old English or Modern Gothic
character, which was introduced into England about the middle of
the fourteenth century, and became the character generally used in
manuscript works before the art of printing was publicly practised
in Europe. On the application of that art to the multiplying of
books, about the middle of the fifteenth century, the Block Books,
and, subsequently, those printed with moveable types, were in this
letter, to imitate writing, and were disposed off as manuscripts.
When the first William Caslon commenced the business of type founding
he made great improvements in their shape, and his Gothic or black
letter remains unequalled, viewing it as an imitation of ancient
writing, the purest shape for the character originally intended for
a counterfeit manuscript. I am sorry to see our present founders
giving way to a barbarous caprice of fancy, by introducing arbitrary
shapes, which were unknown to our ancestors when this character was
in general use; for it appears inconsistent to call the following
Letters Old English, or Gothic, [Illustration]
[Illustration: Blackletter Alphabet]
_The Alphabet._
~A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z~
~a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z~
Astle, in his Origin and Progress of Writing, says, “The Modern
Gothic, which spread itself all over Europe in the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries, is improperly so called, because it does not
derive its origin from the writing anciently used by the Goths and
Visigoths, in Italy and Spain, but this Modern Gothic is the most
barbarous or worst kind of writing; it took its rise in the decline
of the arts, among the lazy schoolmen, who had the worst taste; it is
nothing more than the Latin writing degenerated. This writing began
in the twelfth century, and was in general use (especially among
monks and schoolmen) in all parts of Europe, till the restoration
of the arts, in the fifteenth century, and longer in Germany and
the northern nations: Our statute books are still printed in Gothic
letters.” Astle’s work was published in 1784.
_Blacks in the British Founderies._
_Ten Line Pica._--Caslon.
_Five Line Pica._--Caslon.
_Four Line Pica._--Caslon.
_Two Line Double Pica._--Caslon.
_Two Line Great Primer._--Caslon. Wilson.
_Two Line English._--Caslon.
_Double Pica._--Caslon. Figgins. Wilson.
_Great Primer._--Caslon. Figgins. Wilson.
_English._--Caslon. Thorowgood & Besley, formerly Wolf’s.
Figgins. Wilson.
_Pica._--Caslon. Thorowgood & Besley. Caxton. Figgins. Wilson.
_Small Pica._--Caslon.
_Long Primer._--Caslon. Thorowgood & Besley. Figgins. Wilson.
_Bourgeois._--Caslon.
_Brevier._--Caslon. Wilson.
_Nonpareil._--Caslon. Wilson.
BLACKWELL, BEALE. _See_ DONATIONS.
BLANKETS.
Flannel steeped in urine, in which pelt balls are wrapped up at
nights, and when they are not in use, to keep them soft.
Woollen cloth, or white baize, to lay between the tympans.--_M._
The blankets used for fine work are either superfine woollen cloth
or fine kerseymere; for the finest work, paper alone is used. _See_
PRESSWORK.
BLANK PAGES.
When blank pages occur in a work, particularly in duodecimos and
smaller sizes, the compositor will find it an advantage to set them
up the exact size of the pages of the work, and made up to his gauge,
so that he will have his register good without the trouble that
attends filling the blank up with pieces of Furniture by guess work,
which causes extra trouble to the pressman.
BLASPHEMY.
9 & 10 Will. 3. c. 32., intituled, “An Act for the more effectual
suppressing of Blasphemy and Profaneness.”
“Whereas many persons have of late years openly avowed and
published many blasphemous and impious Opinions, contrary
to the Doctrines and Principles of the Christian Religion,
greatly tending to the Dishonour of Almighty God, and may prove
destructive to the Peace and Welfare of this Kingdom: Wherefore
for the more effectual suppressing of the said detestable Crimes,
be it enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with
the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and
the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the
Authority of the same, That if any Person or Persons, having
been educated in, or at any Time having made Profession of the
Christian Religion within this Realm, shall by Writing, Printing,
Teaching, or advised Speaking, deny any one of the Persons in the
Holy Trinity to be God, or shall assert or maintain there are
more Gods than one, or shall deny the Christian Religion to be
true, or the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be
of Divine Authority, and shall upon Indictment or Information in
any of his Majesty’s Courts at _Westminster_, or at the Assizes,
be thereof lawfully convicted by the Oath of two or more credible
Witnesses; such Person or Persons for the first Offence shall
be adjudged incapable and disabled in Law, to all Intents and
Purposes whatsoever, to have or enjoy any Office or Offices,
Employment or Employments, Ecclesiastical, Civil, or Military,
or any Part in them, or any Profit or Advantage appertaining to
them, or any of them: And if any Person or Persons so convicted
as aforesaid, shall at the Time of his or their Conviction, enjoy
or possess any Office, Place, or Employment, such Office, Place,
or Employment shall be void, and is hereby declared void: And if
such Person or Persons shall be a second Time lawfully convicted
as aforesaid, of all or any the aforesaid Crime or Crimes, that
then he or they shall from thenceforth be disabled to sue,
prosecute, plead or use any Action or Information in any Court
of Law or Equity, or to be Guardian of any Child, or Executor or
Administrator of any Person, or capable of any Legacy or Deed
of Gift, or to bear any Office, Civil or Military, or Benefice
Ecclesiastical for ever within this Realm, and shall also suffer
Imprisonment for the Space of Three Years, without Bail or
Mainprize, from the Time of such Conviction.
s. 2. “Provided always, and be it enacted by the Authority
aforesaid, That no Person shall be prosecuted by virtue of this
Act, for any Words spoken, unless the Information of such Words
shall be given upon Oath before one or more Justice or Justices
of the Peace, within four Days after such Words spoken, and the
Prosecution of such Offence be within three Months after such
Information.
s. 3. “Provided also, and be it enacted by the Authority
aforesaid, That any Person or Persons convicted of all or any
of the aforesaid Crime or Crimes, in Manner aforesaid, shall
for the first Offence (upon his, her, or their Acknowledgment
and Renunciation of such Offence or erroneous Opinions, in the
same Court where such Person or Persons was or were convicted,
as aforesaid, within the Space of four Months after his, her,
or their Conviction) be discharged from all Penalties and
Disabilities incurred by such Conviction; any thing in this Act
contained to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.”
Repealed as to denying the Trinity, by 53 Geo. 3. c. 160. s. 2.
which is extended to Ireland by 57 Geo. 3. c. 70. _See_ LIBELS.
53 Geo. 3. c. 160., intituled, “An Act to relieve Persons who
impugn the Doctrine of the _Holy Trinity_ from certain Penalties.”
s. 2. “And be it further enacted, That the Provisions of another
Act passed in the Ninth and Tenth Years of the Reign of King
_William_, intituled _An Act for the more effectual suppressing
Blasphemy and Profaneness_, so far as the same relate to Persons
denying as therein mentioned, respecting the _Holy Trinity_, be
and the same are hereby repealed.
s. 3. “And whereas it is expedient to repeal an Act, passed in
the Parliament of _Scotland_ in the First Parliament of King
_Charles_ the Second, intituled, _An Act against the Crime
of Blasphemy_; and another Act, passed in the Parliament of
_Scotland_ in the First Parliament of King _William_, intituled
_Act against Blasphemy_; which Acts respectively ordain the
Punishment of Death; be it therefore enacted, That the said
Acts and each of them shall be, and the same are and is hereby
repealed.
s. 4. “And be it further enacted, That this Act shall be deemed
and taken to be a Public Act, and shall be judicially taken
Notice of as such by all Judges, Justices, and others, without
being specially pleaded.”
60 Geo. 3. c. 8. “An Act for the more effectual Prevention and
Punishment of blasphemous and seditious Libels.”
“Whereas it is expedient to make more effectual Provision for the
Punishment of blasphemous and seditious Libels; be it enacted by
the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and
Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this
present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,
That from and after the passing of this Act, in every Case in
which any Verdict or Judgment by Default shall be had against any
Person for composing, printing, or publishing any blasphemous
Libel, or any seditious Libel, tending to bring into Hatred or
Contempt the Person of His Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, or
the Regent, or the Government and Constitution of the United
Kingdom as by Law established, or either House of Parliament, or
to excite His Majesty’s Subjects to attempt the Alteration of
any Matter in Church or State as by Law established, otherwise
than by lawful Means, it shall be lawful for the Judge, or the
Court before whom or in which such Verdict shall have been given,
or the Court in which such Judgment by Default shall be had, to
make an Order for the Seizure and carrying away, and detaining in
safe Custody, in such Manner as shall be directed in such Order,
all Copies of the Libel which shall be in the Possession of the
Person against whom such Verdict or Judgment shall have been had,
or in the Possession of any other Person named in the Order for
his Use; Evidence upon Oath having been previously given to the
Satisfaction of such Court or Judge, that a Copy or Copies of
the said Libel is or are in the Possession of such other Person
for the Use of the Person against whom such Verdict or Judgment
shall have been had as aforesaid; and in every such Case it shall
be lawful for any Justice of the Peace, or for any Constable or
other Peace Officer acting under any such Order, or for any
Person or Persons acting with or in Aid of any such Justice of
the Peace, Constable, or other Peace Officer, to search for any
Copies of such Libel in any House, Building, or other Place
whatsoever belonging to the Person against whom any such Verdict
or Judgment shall have been had, or to any other Person so named,
in whose Possession any Copies of any such Libel, belonging to
the Person against whom any such Verdict or Judgment shall have
been had, shall be; and in case Admission shall be refused or not
obtained within a reasonable Time after it shall have been first
demanded, to enter by Force by Day into any such House, Building,
or Place whatsoever, and to carry away all Copies of the Libel
there found, and to detain the same in safe Custody until the
same shall be restored under the Provisions of this Act, or
disposed of according to any further Order made in relation
thereto.
s. 2. “And be it further enacted, That if in any such Case as
aforesaid Judgment shall be arrested, or if, after Judgment shall
have been entered, the same shall be reversed upon any Writ of
Error, all Copies so seized shall be forthwith returned to the
Person or Persons from whom the same shall have been so taken
as aforesaid, free of all Charge and Expence, and without the
Payment of any Fees whatever; and in every Case in which final
Judgment shall be entered upon the Verdict so found against the
Person or Persons charged with having composed, printed, or
published such Libel, then all Copies so seized shall be disposed
of as the Court in which such Judgment shall be given shall order
and direct.
s. 3. “Provided always, and be it enacted, That in _Scotland_,
in every Case in which any Person or Persons shall be found
guilty before the Court of Justiciary, of composing, printing, or
publishing any blasphemous or seditious Libel, or where Sentence
of Fugitation shall have been pronounced against any Person or
Persons, in consequence of their failing to appear to answer
to any Indictment charging them with having composed, printed,
or published any such Libel, then and in either of such Cases,
it shall and may be lawful for the said Court to make an Order
for the Seizure, carrying away, and detaining in safe Custody,
all Copies of the Libel in the Possession of any such Person or
Persons named in such Order, for his or their Use, Evidence upon
Oath having been previously given to the Satisfaction of such
Court or Judge, that a Copy or Copies of the said Libel is or are
in the Possession of such other Person for the Use of the Person
against whom such Verdict or Judgment shall have been had as
aforesaid; and every such Order so made shall and may be carried
into effect, in such and the same Manner as any Order made by
the Court of Justiciary, or any Circuit Court of Justiciary,
may be carried into Effect according to the Law and Practice of
_Scotland_: Provided always, that in the Event of any Person or
Persons being reponed against any such Sentence of Fugitation,
and being thereafter acquitted, all Copies so seized shall be
forthwith returned to the Person or Persons from whom the same
shall have been so taken as aforesaid; and in all other Cases,
the Copies so seized shall be disposed of in such Manner as the
said Court may direct.
s. 4. “And be it further enacted, That if any Person shall,
after the passing of this Act, be legally convicted of having,
after the passing of this Act, composed, printed, or published
any blasphemous Libel or any such seditious Libel as aforesaid,
and shall, after being so convicted, offend a Second Time, and
be thereof legally convicted before any Commission of Oyer and
Terminer or Gaol Delivery, or in His Majesty’s Court of King’s
Bench, such Person may, on such Second Conviction, be adjudged,
at the Discretion of the Court, either to suffer such Punishment
as may now by Law be inflicted in Cases of high Misdemeanors, or
to be banished from the United Kingdom, and all other Parts of
His Majesty’s Dominions, for such Term of Years as the Court in
which such Conviction shall take place shall order.
s. 5. “And be it further enacted, That in case any Person so
sentenced and ordered to be banished as aforesaid, shall not
depart from this United Kingdom within Thirty Days after the
pronouncing of such Sentence and Order as aforesaid, for the
Purpose of going into such Banishment as aforesaid, it shall
and may be lawful to and for His Majesty to convey such Person
to such Parts out of the Dominions of His said Majesty, as His
Majesty by and with the Advice of His Privy Council shall direct.
s. 6. “And be it further enacted, That if any Offender who shall
be so ordered by any such Court as aforesaid to be banished in
Manner aforesaid, shall after the End of Forty Days from the
Time such Sentence and Order hath been pronounced, be at large
within any Part of the United Kingdom, or any other Part of
His Majesty’s Dominions, without some lawful Cause, before the
Expiration of the Term for which such Offender shall have been so
ordered to be banished as aforesaid, every such Offender being so
at large as aforesaid, being thereof lawfully convicted, shall be
transported to such Place as shall be appointed by His Majesty
for any Term not exceeding Fourteen Years.
s. 7. “And be it further enacted, That the Clerk of Assize,
Clerk of the Peace, or other Clerk or Officer of the Court
having the Custody of the Records where any Offender shall
have been convicted of having composed, printed, or published
any blasphemous or seditious Libel, shall, upon Request of
the Prosecutor on His Majesty’s Behalf, make out and give a
Certificate in Writing, signed by him, containing the Effect and
Substance only (omitting the formal Part) of every Indictment
and Conviction of such Offender to the Justices of Assize, Oyer
and Terminer, Great Sessions, or Gaol Delivery, where such
Offender or Offenders shall be indicted for any Second Offence of
composing, printing, or publishing any blasphemous or seditious
Libel, for which Certificate Six Shillings and Eight-pence and
no more shall be paid, and which Certificate shall be sufficient
Proof of the Conviction of such Offender.
s. 8. “And be it further enacted, That any Action and Suit which
shall be brought or commenced against any Justice or Justices of
the Peace, Constable, Peace Officer, or other Person or Persons,
within that Part of _Great Britain_ called _England_, or in
_Ireland_, for any thing done or acted in pursuance of this Act,
shall be commenced within Six Calendar Months next after the Fact
committed, and not afterwards; and the Venue in every such Action
or Suit shall be laid in the proper County where the Fact was
committed, and not elsewhere; and the Defendant or Defendants in
every such Action or Suit may plead the General Issue, and give
this Act and the special Matter in Evidence at any Trial to be
had thereupon; and if such Action or Suit shall be brought or
commenced after the Time limited for bringing the same, or the
Venue shall be laid in any other Place than as aforesaid, then
the Jury shall find a Verdict for the Defendant or Defendants;
and in such Case, or if the Jury shall find a Verdict for the
Defendant or Defendants upon the Merits, or if the Plaintiff or
Plaintiffs shall become Nonsuit, or discontinue his, her, or
their Actions after Appearance, or if, upon Demurrer, Judgment
shall be given against the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs, the Defendant
or Defendants shall have Double Costs, which he or they shall and
may recover in such and the same Manner as any Defendant can by
Law in other Cases.
s. 9. “And be it further enacted, That every Action and Suit
which shall be brought or commenced against any Person or Persons
in _Scotland_, for any thing done or acted in pursuance of this
Act, shall in like Manner be commenced within Six Calendar Months
after the Fact committed, and not afterwards, and shall be
brought in the Court of Session in _Scotland_; and the Defender
or Defenders may plead that the Matter complained of was done in
pursuance of this Act, and may give this Act and the special
Matter in Evidence; and if such Action or Suit shall be brought
or commenced after the Time limited for bringing the same, then
the same shall be dismissed; and in such Case, or if the Defender
or Defenders shall be assoilzied, or the Pursuer or Pursuers
shall suffer the Action or Suit to fall asleep, or a Decision
shall be pronounced against the Pursuer or Pursuers upon the
Relevancy, the Defender or Defenders shall have Double Costs,
which he or they shall and may receive in such and the same
Manner as any Defender can by Law recover Costs or Expences in
other Cases.
s. 10. “Provided always, and be it further enacted, That nothing
in this Act contained shall be held or considered as in any
respect altering the Law or Practice of _Scotland_ regarding
the Punishment of Persons convicted of composing, printing,
publishing, or circulating any blasphemous or seditious
Libel.”--_See_ LIBELS.
BLOCKED-UP.
Letter is said to be blocked-up, when in the progress of a work it
is all composed, and from any cause none of the forms can be worked
to disengage part of it, in order to proceed. This may arise--from
the Author not returning the proofs regularly--from the Reader
not reading them for press--from a flush of presswork in other
works--from the non-attendance or negligence of the pressmen--or
from compositors, in a companionship, keeping each too much copy in
his hands, whereby all the letter is composed before they join their
matter. From whatever cause it arises it is a great detriment, and
unhinges the regular train of work, and ought always to be avoided as
much as possible.
The term is also applied when the Pressmen use too much ink in
working a form; and when a form has been neglected to be washed, and
the ink left to dry on the face--_It is blocked-up with ink._
BLOCKS, for stereotype printing, _see_ RISERS.
BOARD RACK.
A case made of strong deal boards, with broad ledges nailed on the
inside of the two sides, to slide letter boards in: they are for the
purpose of putting boards in with pages and jobs on; as the matter
is safer and less likely to be broken, and more out of the way than
when scattered about on bulks, and also takes up less room. The sizes
are usually such as will admit demy and royal boards; but in houses
where works on large paper are printed, they have board racks that
will admit suitably larger boards.
BODKIN.
A piece of steel wire filed tapering to a point; the thick end being
fixed in a short wooden handle. Its use is to pick wrong letters out
of a page in correcting, in order to their being replaced by right
ones. A fine hackle tooth makes the best bodkin, and the finer the
point the better.
BODY.
The size of the shank of any type from the back of it to the front,
or the square of the m quadrat: thus English Body, Pica Body,
&c.--_M._ _See_ TYPES. TYPOGRAPHICAL POINTS.
BODY OF THE WORK.
The subject matter of a work is usually so termed, to distinguish it
from the notes, the preface, introduction, contents, and index.
BOLSTER.
A piece of stout leather strap nailed to the near long rib of a
wooden press, at the fore end, and padded under so as to raise
it sufficiently high; its use is to check the running out of the
carriage, by friction, at the proper place to permit the tympan to
rise clear of the platen, when the pressmen are in a train of work, a
similar piece being nailed under the carriage. In iron presses a bar
projects between the ribs on which is secured an inclined plane of
wood, and in some iron presses a spring is screwed on the near long
rib for the purpose. It prevents the sudden jerk upon the back stay,
and also upon the carriage when it is run out.
BOLTS.
The pieces of furniture that are placed between the head lines of the
pages in a form of twelves, to form the margin at the head of the
pages, are called _Bolts_.