The cases upon which I made my first experiments, were eight in number-their dimensions, six feet and a-half, by four feet and a-half. I afterwards reduced them to six cases, and have now brought the fount in four cases, by reducing the number of words, though I have enlarged the cells so far as to answer every purpose of convenience, and facilitate the work of the compositor. In one of those cases is deposited the common Roman letter, and it is surrounded by the common particles. A second contains the capitals, and common terminations, with a part of the alphabet in words, the remainder of which, are contained in the third and fourth cases.

The first general arrangement was so far conducive to the end of perfection proposed, that every simple word and root of the language might be joined with facility to the termination required to form the necessary compound, and would answer, with very little variation, not only for English, but for the Latin and French languages (accents excepted), which, to a speculative mind, would have been a fund of amusement. This acquisition, though short of expectation, inspired encouragement, it expanded hope, and opened a prospect of honour and profit, though shorter of expectation, than my expectation had led me to believe; but the disappointments I have experienced, and which, in my next letter, I shall explain more fully, has protracted the progress of my endeavours, though they could not sufficiently arrest them, and I am now enabled to assure those patrons, from whom I received encouragement, that I have so far improved the art of printing, as not to retain a doubt of fulfilling my wishes in a very short time.

JOHN WALTER.

In the number for 12th August, 1786, we have another display of red ink, it being the birthday of the Prince of Wales; and also-a subject of more interest to us- -Walter's third letter :

The use of the logographic press may be divided into two heads-saving of time, and saving of labour.

The opposition I have met with could have originated but in

two motives, envy and avarice; but I have the satisfaction to say, that those who have acted against me, under the influence of either, have been disappointed. The first printer in the country pronounced my plan impracticable; the critical reviewers attempted to turn it into ridicule; but the prophecy of the one has failed, and the ridicule of the others I could now retort upon themselves. Mr. Caslon (the founder), whom I at first employed to cast my types, calumniated my plan-he censured what he did not understand, wantonly disappointed me in the work he engaged to execute, and would meanly have sacrificed me to establish the fallacious opinion he had promulgated. How contrary this mercenary conduct to the liberality of Mr. Jackson, who, comprehending the utility of the plan, exerted his acknowledged abilities in its promotion. Thus attacked and traduced on all sides, and by every branch of the trade, I resolved to cement the materials myself, and, for that purpose, erected a foundry adjoining my printing-house, where I have, with much success, carried on that business, and from which I am able to supply any gentleman with logographic types, who may have reasons for executing any work of secrecy or amusement, as the types of the words are so easily used in preference to single letters, and, consequently, the knowledge of printing may be acquired with facility. The experiment already made by a nobleman of the first rank and abilities, both in station and knowledge, fully evinces the truth of what is asserted.

I had scarcely extricated myself from the trouble of one opponent, when another arose. Mr. Caslon was succeeded in the generous service of opposing my plan, by one Bell, who has the modesty to style himself a representative of Apollo. Having a pecuniary dispute with this man, respecting a catchpenny publication which I printed, he attacked the logographic press, through the dull medium of The Morning Post, of which he was then a proprietor; but the Court of King's Bench determined his demands upon me, and a Court of Conscience decided my claims against him, for I recovered in the Court of Conscience, and he lost his suit in the Court of King's Bench.

These disappointed champions have had many successors, who have been equally unfortunate in their attacks.

Thus, through a series of difficulties, naturally arising from

the pursuit of a new undertaking, and a succession of impediments artfully raised against me, I have nearly brought to perfection, an undertaking which has long been an object of contemplation among the greatest men, and the most eminent modern philosophers. Whatever I have already suffered in the execution of a plan so liberal and useful, my country must ultimately reap honour and profit, as it lies open to the inspection of all mankind;* and, on the expiration of my patent, will become common property. I still, however, confide in the generosity of my country, and trust, that a native, who has dedicated the fragments of a fortune, wrecked in the service of his fellow-subjects, and his time and labour in the pursuit of an art salutary to the public at large, will not suffer the crash of disappointment in the very moment he arrives at the goal, where he has long expected reward to crown his toil.

I beg leave now to lay before the public a catalogue of the books (among a variety of other publications) printed at the logographic press, and also a list of those who are subscribers to a series of works printing at the logographic press by subscription. JOHN WALTER.

* Any gentlemen who chooses may inspect the logographic founts and types, at the printing-office, or at the British Museum, to which place, a fount has been ordered to be removed from the Queen's Palace.

To this letter is appended a catalogue of books published at the logographic press, and a list of subscribers.

The first number of The Times is not so large as the sheets of The Morning Herald and Morning Chronicle of the same date, but is larger than The London Chronicle, and of the same dimensions and appearance as The Public Advertiser; which, however, it surpassed in the number of its advertisements.*

*The first number of The Times, in the British Museum Collection, has no stamp, showing that sheets sometimes escaped the eye and mark of the Stamp Office in those days.

Here is the original prospectus of the Paper, which explains the reasons why the title had been changed from The Daily Universal Register to The Times. The italics and capital letters are given exactly as in the original:

THE TIMES.

Why change the head?

This question will naturally come from the Public—and we, the Times, being the PUBLIC's most humble and most obedient Servants, think ourselves bound to answer:

All things have heads-and all heads are liable to change.

Every sentence and opinion advanced by Mr. Shandy on the influence and utility of a well-chosen surname, may be properly applied in shewing the recommendations and advantages which result from placing a striking title-page before a book, or an inviting HEAD on the front page of a NEWSPAPER.

A HEAD SO placed, like those heads which once ornamented Temple-Bar, or those of the great Attorney, or great Contractor, which, not long since, were conspicuously elevated for their great actions, and were exhibited in wooden frames, at the East and West ends of this metropolis, never fails of attracting the eyes of passengers-though indeed we do not expect to experience the lenity shown to these great exhibitors, for probably the TIMES will be pelted without mercy.

But then a head with a good face is a harbinger, a gentleman-usher, that often strongly recommends even DULNESS, FOLLY, IMMORALITY, or VICE. The immortal Locke gives evidence to the truth of this observation. That great philosopher has declared that, though repeatedly taken in, he never could withstand the solicitations of a well-drawn title-pageauthority sufficient to justify us in assuming a new head, and a new set of features, but not with a design to impose, for we flatter ourselves the HEAD of the TIMES will not be found deficient in intellects, but by putting a new face on affairs, will be admired for the light of its countenance, wherever it appears. To advert to our first position.

VOL. II.

L

The UNIVERSAL REGISTER has been a name as injurious to the Logographic-News-Paper as TRISTRAM was to MR. SHANDY'S SON. But OLD SHANDY forgot he might have rectified by confirmation the mistake of the parson at baptism—with the touch of a Bishop, have TRISTRAM to TRISMEGESTUS.

The UNIVERSAL REGISTER, from the day of its first appearance, to the day of its confirmation, has, like TRISTRAM, suffered from unusual casualties, both laughable and serious, arising from its name, which, on its introduction, was immediately curtailed of its fair proportion by all who called for it--the word Universal being universally omitted, and the word Register being only retained. "Boy, bring me the Register." The waiter answers- "Sir, we have not a library-but you may see it at the New-Exchange Coffee-house."- "Then I'll see it there," answers the disappointed politician, and he goes to the New-Exchange, and calls for the Register; upon which the waiter tells him that he cannot have it, as he is not a subscriber, and presents him with the Court and City Register; the Old Annual Register, or the New Annual Register; or, if the coffeehouse be within the purlieus of Covent Garden, or the hundreds of Drury, slips into the politician's hand-Harris's Register of Ladies. For these and other reasons, the parents of the UNIVERSAL REGISTER have added to its original name that of the

TIMES;

which, being a monosyllable, bids defiance to corruptors and mutilators of the language.

The TIMES! what a monstrous name! Granted-for the TIMES is a many-headed monster, that speaks with an hundred tongues, and displays a thousand characters: and in the course of its transformations in life, assumes innumerable shapes and humours.

The critical reader will observe, we personify our new name, but as we will give it no distinction or sex, and though it will be active in its vocations, yet we apply to it the neuter gender.

The TIMES being formed of materials, and possessing qualities of opposite and heterogeneous natures, cannot be classed