| | 1 | Author: | Thomas
Isaiah
1749-1831 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The History of Printing in America, with a Biography of Printers, and an Account of Newspapers ...  | | | | Published: | 2003 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | "At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston,
Tuesday Dec. 10th, 1771. The art of printing was first introduced into Spanish
America, as early as the middle of the sixteenth century.
The historians, whose works I have consulted, are all
silent as to the time when it was first practiced on the
American continent; and the knowledge we have of the
Spanish territories, especially of Mexico and Peru, is so
circumscribed, that we cannot fix on any precise date as
the period of its commencement; but it is certain that
printing was executed, both in Mexico and Peru, long
before it made its appearance in the British North American
colonies. I do not mean to assert, however, that it is
impossible to ascertain the place where, and the exact date
when, the first printing was performed in the extensive
provinces belonging to Spain in America; but as respects
myself, I have found that insurmountable difficulties have
attended the inquiry.1
1 When Mr. Thomas wrote his History of Printing in America, little was
known of its introduction in Spanish America. All the works he had
consulted on the subject were silent as to the time. Historians of the art
were ignorant on this point, for the reason that if there existed in Europe
any specimens of very early printing in America, the investigator did
not know under what name to search for them. A writer sixty years
ago is excusable for the lack of correct information, since Mr. Humphreys,
one of the highest authorities and most recent authors on the history of
printing, says that the art "was introduced in America by Mendoza in
1566, his printer being Antonio Espinoza." (Hist. Art of Printing.
Lond., 1868, p. 206). Rather than attempt to alter Mr. Thomas's remarks,
we have preferred to give in the appendix a new article on the history
of printing in Spanish America, which has been furnished us by Hon.
John R. Bartlett, of Providence, R. I. See Appendix A.—H.
"The bible is now about half done; and constant progresse
therin is made; the other halfe is like to bee finished
in a yeare; the future charge is vncertain; wee have heer
with sent twenty coppies of the New Testament [in Indian]
to bee disposed of as youer honors shall see meet. The
trust youer honors hath seen meet to repose in vs for the
manageing of this worke we shall endeauor in all faithfulness
to discharge. Wee craue leave att present for the
preuenting of an objection that may arise concerning the
particulars charged for the printing wherin you will find
2 sheets att three pounds ten shillings a sheet, and the
rest butt att 50 shillings a sheet, the reason wherof lyes
heer: It pleased the honored corporation to send ouer one
Marmeduke Johnson a printer to attend the worke on
condition as they will enforme you; whoe hath caryed
heer very vnworthyly of which hee hath bine openly Convicted
and sencured in some of our Courts although as
yett noe execution of sentence against him: peculiare
fauor haueing bine showed him with respect to the corporation
that sent him ouer; but notwithstanding all
patience and lenitie vsed towards him hee hath proued
uery idle and nought and absented himselfe from the
worke more than halfe a yeare att one time; for want of
whose assistance the printer [Green] by his agreement
with vs was to haue the allowance of 21 lb. the which is
to bee defallcated out of his sallery in England by the
honored Corporation there." "By his Excellency.—I order Benjamin Harris to print the Acts
and Laws made by the Great and General Court, or Assembly of
Their Majesties Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England,
that so the people may be informed thereof. "Whereas one Samuel Keimer, who lately came into
this Province of Pennsylvania, hath Printed and Published
divers Papers, particularly one Entituled A Parable, &c.,
in some Parts of which he assumes to use such a Stile and
Language, as that perhaps he may be Deemed, where he is
not known, to be one of the People called Quakers. This
may therefore Certifie, That the said Samuel Keimer is
not one of the said People, nor Countenanced by them in
the aforesaid Practices. Signed by Order of the Monthly
Meeting of the said People called Quakers, held at Philadelphia,
the 29th Day of the Ninth Month, 1723. "Whereas there hath been lately Published and Spread
abroad in this Province and elsewhere, a lying Pamphlet,
called an Almanack, set out and Printed by Samuel Keimer,
to reproach, ridicule, and rob an honest Man of his Reputation,
and strengthening his Adversaries, and not only
so, but he hath Notoriously Branded the Gospel Minister
of the Church of England with ignominious Names, for
Maintaining a Gospel Truth, and reproacheth all the Professors
of Christ and Christianity, as may be seen in his
Almanack in the Month of December; now all judicious
Readers may fairly see what this Man's Religion Consisteth
in, only in his Beard and his sham keeping of the Seventh
Day Sabbath, following Christ only for Loaves and Fishes.
This may give Notice to the Author of this Mischief, that
if he do not readily Condemn what he hath done, and
Satisfy the Abused, he may expect to be Prosecuted as the
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