1811.) 
Conceiving that a few obsefvations upon 
the present state of the ** Ars omnium 
artium conservatrix,” may not be unin- 
teresting to your readers, I am induced 
to request your insertion of my remarks, 
most of which I think must Have pre- 
sented themselves to every person who is 
in the habit of perusing modern publica. 
tions, and those of former times. , 
' The old printing types are distin- 
guished by acharacter of rude symmetry. 
Though they have no pretensions to ele- 
gance of shape, they have a roundness 
and uniformity that are not unpleasing. 
Every reader must be aware that the 
most extensive works published before 
the last twenty years, were printed al- 
most invariably upon the same type, and 
have a general appearance of harmony 
and respectability. At present it is-sel- 
dom that the volumes of a large work 
correspond; they are frequently printed 
‘at different offices, with different types, 
some of which are bold and some thin, 
some new and some worn out, in one 
volume long fs are probably used, and in 
‘the next omitted ; which irfegularity pro- 
duces an effect disgusting to the eye of 
taste and disgraceful to modern typo- 
graphy. ae 
Yet it cannot be denied that we have 
the means of great improvement upon 
‘our ancestors, The shape of types is 
carried nearly to perfection, and some of 
‘the works that have issued from the 
presses of Bensley, Bulmer, and Whit- 
tingham, are of unparalleled beauty. 
I shall first endeavour to point out the 
reason of our defects, and then suggest a 
remedy. Ja the first place, although 
some of the present types are extremely 
elegant, others are in a most barbarous 
taste. In some we observe the greatest 
beauty of shape, ip others proportion and 
symmetry are totally neglected. Some 
make a clear and delicate impression, 
others a mere blotch. 
T do not mean to condemn the bold or 
the thin style of types, both are good 
when properly applied, aud both are sus- 
ceptible of beauty; but I assert, that the 
type proper for a hand-bill, is not the best 
for abook, In our modern publications, 
‘the bold and the thin, the eleyant and 
the barbarous, are blended not only in 
the same work, but frequently in the 
same page. 
‘The remedy [ shall propose is simple 
and easy. If an author or publisher be 
desirous of sending into the world an 
elegant work, and of taking advantage of 
‘the improvements that have certainly 
Typography —Etymological Discussions. 
309 
been made in modern typography, he 
should carefully select his type, and-have 
the whole of his work printed upon the 
same. If he prefer the bold letter, the 
thin should not be permitted to mingle 
with it; if the thin, the bold should be 
excluded, and the ill-shaped of either 
kind should be rejected. I am_per- 
suaded a little attention to these obser- 
vations, would effectually remove that 
patch-work kind of printing which dis~ 
graces our press, and that, by a careful 
and judicious selection of types, British 
typography might attain a much higher 
degree of excellence. M. 
London, March 6th, 1811. 
' —= 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
RELAND has been said, by a learned 
theologian, to imply, the Land of the 
Moon: its inhabitants may therefore be 
rendered Lunatics. In like manner, 
Herculea, Heraclea, or Herculaneum, 
(for all these mean the same) has been 
stated to come from Hercules, and to 
mean the universal light, or the sun: 
the inhabitants then of Herculaneum, 
must have been the Illuminati. But so 
many contrary opinions have been of- 
fered on this word, by authors mentioned 
in the Herculanensia; and so many dif- 
fering criticisms have issued from monthly 
and quarterly publications, on the sub- 
ject of the grand luminary of the world; 
that we are become sun-blind; and no 
more light can we now perceive from 
these learned lucubrations, than we had 
before any entrance was made into this 
ence famous old city. That it comes 
from Hercules, is an opinion most ge- 
nerally believed; and I think too, that 
this is as certain as that from king Lud 
came London. When we have formed 
an opinion, we wish quietly to enjoy it; 
and in Etymological Roniance, it is a sin 
to doubt. But Er, Ir, or Ire, in Erin, 
or Freland; and Er, or Her, in Ercolana, 
or Herculaneum, are not so different in 
signification as above judged; and Ire- 
land may imply the Border, or Utmost 
Land. 
There are several promontories, which 
have the name Heraclea, Heracleum, 
Herculeum, or Herculis Promontorium. 
A point of land runs into the ocean, 
formerly named, Artavia, or the Sea- 
head or Point: it is now Hartland, or 
the Head or Point Land. These names 
represent to our minds, the portion of 
land to which they refer; although they 
are supposed to be derived from Her- 
cules 
