[475] Rowe Mores’ account of the Caslon foundry in 1778, wherein he attributes several of the founts which originally appeared in the 1734 Specimen to Mitchell, might suggest at first sight that Caslon had acquired Mitchell’s foundry prior to 1739. Mores is, however, particular to give the exact date of the purchase, 26th July 1739. It seems more probable that, finding the bodies in Caslon’s Specimen corresponding generally with the description of the matrices he was known to have bought from Mitchell, he concluded hastily that the founts shown were Mitchell’s, whereas a reference to the Specimen would have proved that Caslon preferred his own original faces, in most cases, to those he had bought. See also our notes, post, pp. [247], [248].
[476] Anec. Bowyer, p. 317.
[477] Anec. Bowyer, p. 586.
[478] “Les caractères de Caslon ont été gravés, pour la plus grande partie, par Caslon fils, avec beaucoup d’adresse et de propreté. Les epreuves qui on out été publiées en 1749 contiennent beaucoup de sortes différentes de caractères” (Man. Typog., II, xxxviii).
[479] Typographical Antiquities. London, 1749, 4to, p. 571. The names of William Caslon, sen., and William Caslon, jun., letter-founders, figure among the subscribers to the work; and the plate of facsimiles of Caxton’s types is dedicated “to Mr. Wm. Caslon, a good promoter of this work, and as suitable to the principal Letter Founder.”
[480] An Essay on the Original, Use, and Excellency of the Noble Art and Mystery of Printing. London, 1752. 8vo. The work is of little interest apart from the references to the Caslons, and a curious poem at the end.
[481] See post, chap. xiii.
[482] The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure. London. Vol. vi. June 1750, p. 274.
[483] See post, chap. xvi.