"Sans titres on fait des romans; pour écrire l'histoire il faut
des preuves authentiques, des monumens certains."--J. J. Oberlin,
_Annales de la vie de Jean Gutenberg_.
Gratified by the approbation with which my suggestion of a _Caxton
memorial_ has been received, both publicly and privately, and acquiring
fresh confidence in its success, it is my intention to make a second
appeal to the lovers of literature when the excitement of the present
year shall have passed away, and home-subjects shall re-assume their
wonted powers of attraction.
In the mean time, I recommend an assemblage of notes on the life and
works of Caxton, designed to correct current errors; to expose baseless
conjectures; to indicate probable sources of information, or to furnish
such novel information as research may produce; and to assist in
establishing the principles on which such a memorial as that suggested
should be prepared and edited.
In justification of this advice, I must express my belief that there
have been few men of celebrity on whose life and labours so many
erroneous statements, and inadmissible conjectures, have been published
in works of general repute.
Requesting the favour of contributions to _The Caxton coffer_ from such
persons as may take an interest in the success of the enterprise, I now
proceed to set an example:--
"I have a great number of books printed by Caxton, and in very
good condition, except a very few. I think the number is
forty-two. Have you any notes relating to that good honest man? I
think he deserves those titles, and if I may add industrious
too."--Edward, earl of Oxford, to Thomas Hearne, 1731.
"In Osborne's shop-catalogue for 1749, No. 5954, occurs the
'Catalogue of the late E. of Oxford's library, as it was
purchased, (being the original) inlaid with royal paper, in 16
vols. 4to. with the prices prefixed to each book--pr. 10. 10.
0.--N.B. There never was any other copy of this catalogue with the
prices added to it.'--The same article, at the same price, is
repeated in his cat. for 1750, No. 6583, and for 1751, No.
6347--after which, being discontinued in his subsequent cats. it
was probably sold. Qu'y. to whom and where is it now?"--Richard
Heber, c. 1811.
The first of the above notes is copied from _Letters written by eminent
persons_, London [Oxford], 1813. 8o. The second note, which concludes
with a _query_, forms part of some manuscript memoranda, now in my
possession, on the matchless library to which it refers.