He then details his scheme for obtaining absolutely correct texts of the works he is about to print, as follows:—
“’Tis this. Two people must be concerned; the one must name every letter, capital, point, reference, accent, etc., that is, in English, must spell every part of every word distinctly, and note down every difference in a book prepared on purpose. Pray oblige me in making the experiment with Mr. James Dodsley in four or five lines of {271} any two editions of an author, and you’ll be convinced that it’s scarcely possible for the least difference, even of a point, to escape notice. I would recommend and practise the same method in an English author, where most people imagine themselves capable of correcting. Here’s another great advantage to me in this humble scheme; at the same time that a proof sheet is correcting, I shall find out the least imperfection in any of the Types that has escaped the founder’s notice. I have great encomiums on my Specimen from Scotland.”
The concluding sentence of this letter probably refers to the public announcement of the forthcoming quarto Virgil,[548] put forward about this time, together with a specimen of the type. This most interesting document, a very few copies of which still exist, is in the form of a quarto sheet, headed, “A Specimen by John Baskerville, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Letter Founder and Printer.” It displays the Roman and Italic of the Great Primer fount, and is remarkable not only as a piece of exquisite printing,[549] but as the first known specimen of the famous Birmingham foundry.
The following letters refer principally to the progress and completion of the Virgil:—
Baskerville to R. Dodsley. Birmingham, 20th December 1756.
“I shall have Virgil out of the press by the latter end of January, and hope to produce the Volume as smooth as the best paper I have sent you. Pray, will it not be proper to advertize how near it is finishing, and beg the gentlemen who intend favouring me with their names, to send them by that time? When this is done, I can print nothing at home but another Classick (a specimen of which will be given with it) which I cannot forbear thinking a grievous hardship after the infinite pains and great expense I have been at. I have almost a mind to print a pocket Classick in one size larger than the old Elzevirs, as the difference will, on comparison, be obvious to every Scholar; nor should I be very sollicitous whether it paid me or not.”
R. Dodsley to Baskerville. 10th February 1757.
“The account you give me of the Virgil pleases me much, and I hope you will in that have all the success your heart can wish. I beg if you have any objection, addition or alteration to make in the following Advertisement you will let me know by return of post:— {272}
“‘TO THE PUBLIC.
“‘John Baskerville of Birmingham thinks proper to give notice that having now finished his Edition of Virgil in one Volume, Quarto, it will be published the latter end of next month, price one guinea in sheets. He therefore desires that such gentlemen who intend to favour him with their names, will be pleased to send them either to himself at Birmingham, or to R. and J. Dodsley in Pall Mall, in order that they may be inserted in the list of his encouragers.’”
R. Dodsley to Baskerville. April 7, 1757.
“I am very sorry I advertised your Virgil to be published last month as you have not enabled me to keep my word with the public; but I hope it will not be delayed any longer, as every day you lose now the season is so far advanced, is certainly a great loss to you. I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you and it together. However, if the delay is occasioned by your making corrections, I think that a point of so much consequence, that no consideration should induce you to publish till it is quite correct. As to the ornamented paper, I will lower the price since you think it proper, but am still of opinion that it will not sell at our end of the town, tho’ for what reason I cannot imagine. . . . I like exceedingly your specimen of a Common Prayer, and hope you are endeavouring to get leave to print one. There is an error in the Exhortation, shall for should. Your small letter is extremely beautiful; I wish I could advise you what to print with it. What think you of some popular French book—Gil Blas, Molière, or Telemaque ? In the specimen from Melmoth I think you have used too many Capitals, which is generally thought to spoil the beauty of printing; but they should never be used to adjectives, verbs, or adverbs. My best compliments attend your whole family.”