HOMAS JAMES was the son of the Rev. John James, vicar of Basingstoke.[403] He served his apprenticeship to Robert Andrews, but quitted his service prior to the year 1710, in order to start business on his own account. Impressed, doubtless, with the present low condition of the art in England, and lacking the skill to regenerate it by his own labour, he determined to visit Holland and procure for himself, from that famous typographical market, the matrices and moulds necessary for establishing a successful foundry {213} in London. The characteristic letters in which he describes this expedition to his brother are given by Rowe Mores,[404] and present so instructive and entertaining a picture of the Dutch type-founders of the day, that we are tempted to copy them in extenso.

“Rotterdam, 22 June 1710.—I have been with all the Letter Founders in Amsterdam, and if I would have given —— for matrices, could not persuade any of ’em but the last I went to, to part with any. So far from it that it was with much ado I could get them to let me see their business. The Dutch letter founders are the most sly and jealous people that ever I saw in my life. However this last man (being as I perceived by the strong perfume of Geneva waters a most profound sot) offers to sell me all his house for about —— I mean the matrices: for the punchions with them he will not sell for any money. But there being about as much as he would have —— for, Hebrew and other Oriental languages such as Syrian, Samaritan and Russian characters, I would not consent to buy ’em. But the rest consisting of about 17 sets of Roman and Italic capitals and small letters, and about 5 sets of capital letters only, and 3 sets of Greek, besides a set or two of Black with other appurtenances, these I design to buy. He is not very fond of selling them because it will be a great while before he can furnish himself again. However I believe I shall have ’em for less than —— a matrice, which as he says is cheaper than ever they were his; but having most of the punches he can sink ’em again and so set himself to rights with little trouble and less charge.”

The next letter, dated Rotterdam, 14th July 1710, describes graphically the difficulties which James encountered in driving his bargain to a conclusion.

“I took a place in the waggon for Tergoes and from thence in a scayte for Amsterdam, where I arrived at 5 o’clock on Monday morning 10 July. As soon as I thought the person I have dealt with was stirring I went to confer with him farther about his matrices; but instead of finding all things set in order for sale, I found him less provided than when I was with him before; for indeed he had lent about eight sets of matrices to another Letter Founder. I let him know my mind by an interpreter. He told me what a disposition his things were in, and said he had rather part with some particular sets than with all. In short, I found he had not a mind to part with any but those which he esteemed least, and those of which he had the puncheons by him to sink again when he pleased. I told him that I came expecting to make an end of the bargain, if he would part with all the sets I had seen in his proof for the price I had offered. The man hesitated a good while and at last told me he would advise about it. I told him I’d have him resolve presently, and showed him the bill . . . The sight of the bill made the man begin to be a little more serious than before; so after a few more words he told me he would send for his other sets in the afternoon. I told him that he might do, but in the meantime I would survey those he had by him; so he had a table set and he fetched his matrices to me. The reason why I would not stir out of his house till I had taken a survey of his matrices was, because I was fearful that he might pick and cull (as we call it) a great {214} many things which are useful in printing besides just the alphabets; and indeed lest he might change some whole sets; though indeed the man declares he would not do a thing so ill for his life. However I having all the matrices brought into one room locked ’em up and took the key away with me, and went to dinner. In the afternoon I went again with my interpreter (being an Exchange Broker) where we sat all the afternoon viewing the matrices. At night I locked ’em up again and took the key with me, and on Tuesday morning presented my bill, which was accepted and paid immediately. But I should have told you that the afternoon before he sent his wife to speak to the people to send home the other sets; but she brought a note from the house and said the master who had the key and keeping of ’em was gone a great way out of town to the burial of his mother, and they did not expect him back till Wednesday. This news was very disagreeable to me; but not knowing how to help myself, on Tuesday, after having viewed all day those he had, I paid him ——, and took ’em along with me to my lodging when it was too late to send to you by the post from Amsterdam. On Wednesday I went again but could not find the man at home. He was gone for the other sets. So I tarried till yesterday and went again and received 3 of the 8 sets. The rest are not to be had yet, the man being not returned, only his wife who gave him those three sets. So there are wanting but five sets more which are all Greeks but one. I took ’em, molds and all, and packed them up in a box and sent ’em by an Amsterdam scayte appointed to carry goods for Rotterdam. This I did, fearing the Catherine yacht might sail if I tarried for the rest. At 8 o’clock last night I took scayte for Tergoes, and arrived there this morning. From thence I came hither by waggon and arrived here before 9.”

The next letter, dated Rotterdam, 27th July 1710, describes his purchase more in detail, and gives particulars as to the Dutch foundries visited.

“You are desirous to know whether the matrices I have bought excel those which are in the hands of the Letter Founders in England. The beauty of letter like that of faces is as people opine; but notwithstanding I had no choice, all the Romans excel what we have in England in my opinion, and I hope being well wrought, I mean cast, will gain the approbation of very handsome letters. The Italic I do not look upon to be unhandsome, though the Dutch are never very extraordinary in those. An account of the names that I think I shall give the sets I have bought is as follows: The largest size I shall distinguish by the name of Four-line Pica, the next by that of French Canon, the next by that of Two-line Pica; these three consist of Capitals only. The fourth size is a small Canon Italic, the fifth a Two-line English Roman and Italic, the sixth Great Primer Roman, of which I have two sets, a great face and a small one, with one Italic to them both. The seventh size is an English Roman and Italic; the eighth a Pica, of which I have three sets Roman, and one Italic; the ninth a Small Pica Roman and Italic, the tenth Long Primer, three sets Roman and one Italic, the eleventh, Brevier Roman and Italic. Besides these I have one set of Great Primer Greek, one of English Greek, one of Pica Greek, one of Brevier Greek, as also one set of Pica Black and one of Brevier Black together with matrices of divers sorts of flowers useful as ornaments in printing. To which I have 15 molds. All the sizes except the three first have Capitals, small letters, double letters, figures and points, as also all the accents, amounting in the whole to the number of about 3500 matrices. As for sets of Nonpareil and Pearl, I am informed nobody in {215} this country has any but the Jew whose name is Athias.[405] Him I was with first of all, who assured me he would part with none of any size whatever, as did likewise another man whose name is Foskins.[406] The next I went to was Cupi by name. He said he must consult a friend of his before he could give me my answer, which friend being gone out of town it would be two or three days before he could certify me. The next and last I went to the same day: his name was Rolij,[407] a German by birth. Him I soon perceived I should agree with, as afterwards I did. But before I went to him I called upon Cupi. He told me he would sell no matrices, but he would cast me as much letter as I would have as cheap as anybody. I went to him before I agreed with Rolij because I would see which would sell cheapest. But finding them all so inflexible I was obliged to agree with Rolij upon his own terms, who, however, did not know but I had come to him first, since himself and Cupi are the only letter-cutters in this country, and he did not imagine but that if he would not have sold me matrices Cupi would, as I found by him afterwards. When Cupi perceived that Rolij would sell me some matrices (as, indeed, then Rolij and I had agreed and he received 1700 gilders in part), he comes to the Exchange-Broker and told him he would sink his puncheons again and in half a year’s time deliver me all the matrices he has, perfect, after the rate of —— per matrice, but that except I would take all one with another, he would sell none at all.

“His Roman letters are very handsome and his Italics ugly, but all printed upon a proof of the best paper; with all the care taken in composing and printing imaginable, which adds much to the lustre of his letter. In a book it is quite another thing; not {216} so handsome as Rolij’s, whose letter in the proofs I could see in matter looks much better than it does in his printed Specimen, which is done with all disadvantage, being wretchedly composed and worse printed off, upon very sorry paper. However I can see when letters are well proportioned. I have two specimens of his letter in matter which look very beautiful. Rolij says whatever matrices I want, whether great or small, he’ll cut ’em for me as soon as I give him orders, provided it happens before a peace. He told me likewise he would see if he could procure any Nonpareil and Pearl of the Jew, I allowing him a reasonable profit for his pains. Rolij says he was the man who made Foskins[408] father by the letter he cut for him. Foskins[408] is a man of great business, having five or six men constantly at the furnace, besides boys to rub, and himself and a brother to do the other work. How many men the Jew keeps at work I do not know, for he would not permit me to go up into his work-house. Foskins thought I wanted letter to be cast, but when he knew that I was a letter founder he looked very sly, and watched me as if I had been a thief, being I suppose very fearful that I should steal some of their art from them. Cupi was not very forward to let me see his work-house, and the first time avoided it by saying he could not stay for he was just going out, but the second time I did see it though he was as loth then as before, saying he believed there was nobody at work. But I told him the person who was with me wanted to see the trade, and he would oblige me by showing it. He had places for four to work, although there was but one casting. I did not ask Rolij to show me his work-house the first time I went to him, but the second time I went up and saw places for four men and nobody at work. I asked him where his men were; he told me they were gone to a fair at Harlem, but I believe he had lent them out as well as his matrices to some other letter founder. As I was going along the street with him, he told me there was an English gentleman that had lodged at such a house (pointing to it), for whom he had cast three hundred pounds worth of work not long ago, which if true must have been for Tonson.

“I have bought of Rolij in all thirty sets of matrices, besides the box of flowers and 15 molds made of brass as almost all the Dutch molds I saw were. Mr. Cupi has in all but eighteen sets of matrices, but is continually, as I hear, cutting more, designing in time to set up printing and bookselling too. He is a very close and very civil fellow. I do not know but one time or other I may take another trip into this country for matrices, for there’s no trusting to anybody here to manage business for one. There’s hardly such a thing as an honest man to be found. They all live by buying and selling, and whatever they can bite anyone of, they count it fairly got in the way of trade. I hear but a very indifferent character of the young man, the broker, who interprets for me. He is very expert indeed at that, and I do not know what I should have done without him: but I am informed that if it lay in his power to come at any of my money, he would contrive some way or other to cozen me of it, or part of it at least; for which reason I took particular care. He stood very hard with me for a gilder per cent. for every hundred I laid out. The moulds and matrices together stand me in ——. I have enquired very diligently of abundance of Printers, Booksellers, and of Mr. Rolij whether there are any letter founders at Harlem, Leyden, The Hague, Delft or Utrecht. I was told by some they knew of none, and by others that there were none, and Rolij assured me there were none at any of those places; and I myself saw at Foskins[408] a box with letter in it, {217} directed for Utrecht; and it seems very probable there may be none at any of these places, because letter may be sent from Amsterdam to any of these places as cheap by water as a porter in London will carry a burthen half a mile. The box of molds and matrices which I bought was brought hither from Amsterdam for twelve stivers into the house, the distance about forty English miles. I am told there is one letter founder at Tergoes, but I can’t hear of one Englishman or English house in the whole town. However I’ll endeavour to find the founder before I leave the country. I have been through Tergoes three times, and as often through Harlem, Leyden and Delft, but never made any stay in any one of them. I have been twice to the Hague, but at such times that I could not see the States House. The town is very fine. One’s charges thither and back again are not above a gilder. ‘Tis very easy, and travelling would be very pleasant if one were not destitute of company.”

On his return to England with his purchases, James established his foundry in Aldermanbury, and afterwards removed to the Town Ditch.

The following is Rowe Mores’ summary of his original matrices: