[625] “However desirous the proprietor of another Foundery may be to persuade the public into an idea of a superiority in his own favour, owing to Rapid improvements for upwards of Sixty years, a little time may, perhaps, suffice to convince impartial and unbiassed Judges that the very elegant Types of the WORSHIP STREET MANUFACTORY, though they cannot indeed boast of their existence longer than about Twenty years ! will yet rank as high in Beauty, Symmetry, and intrinsic Merit as any other whatever, and ensure equal approbation from the Literati not only in this Country but in every quarter of the Globe.”
[626] For a short time following Mr. Fry’s death his widow is said to have been associated with her sons in the conduct of the letter-foundry. Mrs. Fry lived at Great Marlow, and afterwards in Charterhouse Square, London, where she died, Oct. 22, 1803, aged 83.
[627] The Printer’s Grammar. London, printed by L. Wayland. 1787. 8vo.
[628] We have the following volume very beautifully printed:—C. Plinii Cæcilii Secundi Epistolarum Libri x. Sumptibus editoris excudebant M. Ritchie et J. Samuells. Londini, 1790. 8vo. At end:—Typis Edmundi Fry.
[629] This excellent artist was a Scotchman, and printed in Bartholomew Close in 1785. He was one of the first who started in emulation of Baskerville as a fine printer; his series of Mr. Homer’s Classics (Sallust, 1789; Pliny, 1790; Tacitus, 1790; Q. Curtius; Cæsar, 1790; Livy, 1794) established his reputation. His quarto Bible and the Memoirs of the Count de Grammont are also celebrated. He printed on Whatman’s paper with admirable ink and most careful press-work, and is stated to have produced most of his books by his own personal and manual labour.
[630] From this press the following elegantly printed volume was issued in 1788:—The Beauties of the Poets, being a Collection of Moral and Sacred Poetry, etc., compiled by the late Rev. Thomas Janes of Bristol. London, printed at the Cicero Press by and for Henry Fry, No. 5 Worship Street, Upper Moorfields. 1788. 8vo. At one time Henry Fry appears to have had a partner named Couchman.
[631] A New Guide to the English Tongue in five parts by Thomas Dilworth . . . Schoolmaster in Wapping. Stereotype Edition. London. Andrew Wilson, Camden Town. 8vo. Contains portraits, tail piece and 12 fable cuts.
[632] Pantographia; containing accurate copies of all the known Alphabets in the World, together with an English explanation of the peculiar Force or Power of each Letter; to which are added specimens of all well authenticated Oral Languages; forming a comprehensive Digest of Phonology. By Edmund Fry, Letter Founder, Type Street, London, 1799. Roy. 8vo. A few copies were printed on vellum, one of which is in the Cambridge University Library.
[633] The Printer’s Grammar or Introduction to the Art of Printing: containing a concise History of the Art, etc., by C. Stower, Printer. London. Printed by the Editor. 1808, 8vo. The same work also shows extracts and specimens from Pantographia.
[634] Hazard was also the designer of a pair of cases, a plan of which is shown by Stower, p. 463.