The Birth and Infancy of Printing. to. 



construction. Printing was not intended to take the place entirely 

 of manuscript, but to be a handmaiden to the scribe and to assist 

 him in his labours. Its development was very slow, and for a long 

 time it had to be assisted by manuscript work. Lawrence Costa, 

 who flourished in the 15th century, was the inventor of wooden 

 types, and Guttenburg invented the movable metal types, after 

 many failures and futile attempts. Caxton was the father of 

 English printing, and he was born in the County of Kent in 

 the year 1422. He set up his printing press in the precincts of 

 Westminster Abbey, and printed the first book in English 

 published in England. In all, he printed 64 books, nearly all of 

 which were classical books. It was said by some people that 

 printing was first introduced into Belfast at the time of William 

 the Third, by two printers who accompanied the King to print 

 his proclamations and orders. He (the lecturer) was rather of the 

 opinion that these two men (Patrick Neill and James Blood) 

 came from Glasgow at the invitation of the then Sovereign of 

 Belfast. 



On the motion of Mr. John Macarthur, seconded by Mr. 

 H. Riddell, and supported by the Honourable S. Knabenshue, 

 a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer. 



