384 UNIVERSAL ERUDITE*. 



Printing. This art has never been placed on a 

 IttHk with n proidlions ; and the man of 



fthfc Itill laughs at the iuperfiition and ignorance 

 ot thole prieits who would formerly have made 

 the world believe, that typography was a dan- 

 gerous art. It would require more than one 

 volume to (hew how far this art was known, 

 long fince, by the Chinefe : in what manner it 

 was invented and improved in Europe by John 

 Fauftus of Mentz, John Mentel of Strafburg, 

 Guttemburg, Laurence Cofter of Harlem, Ni- 

 colas Janfon, Aldus Manucius, who invented 

 the Italian characters-, Elziver, Blaauw, Wef- 

 tein, and an infinity of able printers of our own 

 days : or if we would defcribe all the mechanifm 

 of this art, the various inftruments, materials, 

 and workmen that are employed, and the know- 

 ledge and tafte that it requires. That relation 

 which we have to letters will not permit us, 

 however, to omit this opportunity of giving a 

 public teftimony to the abilities of the celebrated 

 M. Breitkopf of Leipzig, who, after having carried 

 the typographic art to the utmoft degree of per- 

 fection of which it appears capable, has lately in- 

 vented the art of printing, by the means of move- 

 able characters or notes, all forts of mufic, and 

 that with as much precifion as tafte and elegance. 

 The mere infpc&ion of this furprifmg art is fuffi- 

 cient to make every one admire the invention, 

 and be charmed with the execution. 



CHAP; 



