AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 67 



bility of gauging the depth of the Atlantic; to demonstrate the 

 existence of a comparatively shallow plateau across its northern 

 portion, and for American intrepidity arid pertinacity to complete 

 the requisite soundings preparatory to threading the bosom of the 

 deep with the submarine c-able. Tliat which has already been 

 effected on a smaller scale in connecting the British isles with the 

 Continent, is only the prelude to the more gigantic operation 

 which will instantaneously connect New- York with London, St. 

 Petersburgh and Calcutta. 



There lived in the city of Mayence, about the year 1430, two 

 men, the inventors of moveable types and the printing press, one 

 by trade a carver in wood; the other by inheritance a man of 

 fortune. The name of the mechanic was Peter Schoffer, and the 

 name of the gentleman was John Guttenberg. For years they 

 lived apart, unknown to each other, ignorant that the minds of 

 both were at work on the same thought, how they might make 

 moveable letters of the alphabet in wood or metal, and so hold 

 them together as to produce impressions. A plan of types struck 

 the mind of Guttenberg, and a plan of a mould for these types 

 occurred to Schoflfer. They found each other out as men will do 

 instinctively, when they want each other. The rich man could 

 do nothing without the mechanic; the mechanic needed the ne- 

 cessary materials. Between them they have revohitiomzed the world. 

 The Emperor of Germany might have built a magnificent palace 

 upon the most approved Grecian model. He might have adorned 

 it with statuary and with paintings such as won for Rubens the 

 honor of knighthood from Charles the First of England. But 

 neither emperor nor king could direct the invention of the print- 

 ing press, nor the steam engine. No ! That originated with the 

 TAXED PEOPLE. As Bums lias exquisitely expressed it : 



** The king may mftke a belted knight, 

 A duke, an earl, an' all that, 

 A man, is god's handiwork." 



Or, as Henry the Eighth was candid enough to admit when de- 

 fending Holbein, the painter, from the anger of some of his courtly 

 parasites, " I can when I please make seven lords of seven plow- 

 men, but I cannot make one Holbein even out of seven lords." 

 Luther shook all Europe, and bearded in his den the lion of 



