A History of the Cambridge University Press, 1521-1921Roberts, S. C. (Sydney Castle)
History
A History of the Cambridge University Press, 1521-1921
Roberts, S. C. (Sydney Castle)
Cambridge University Press -- Bibliography; Cambridge University Press -- History
Quum in Typographeo vestro, ex angustiis loci, multa detrimenta
atque incommoda subinde exoriri soleant; quumque, in remedium mali
istius, Preli Typographici Curatores pactionem inierint cum Domino
Nutter, ut facultate a vobis impetrata, quasdam domos illius
quinque mille et sexaginta librarum pretio redimerunt: Placeat
Vobis, ut pactio ista rata ac firma habeatur, atque ut summa
praedicta e cista communi, usibus istis destinanda, erogetur.
[Illustration: PLAN OF THE PRESS BUILDINGS]
(Based on Willis & Clark, III. 132. Recent additions are
marked----)
The property thus acquired was on the site of the ancient inn known
as The Cardinal's Cap. Its boundaries are marked on the plan and
in 1824, the Syndics of the Press, having taken the advice of an
"eminent London Printer" (Mr Hansard), recommended that, as the
existing buildings were "so dilapidated and so inadequate to the
effectual conducting of the business," immediate steps should be
taken towards extension. In the next year plans by James Walter
for a new printing-house on the west side of the quadrangle and a
printer's house in Mill Lane were approved by the Senate. These
buildings were completed in January, 1827, the fitting of them
being superintended by Thomas Hansard[132].
A more famous addition to the Press buildings is that associated
with the name of William Pitt.
On 25 May, 1824, the following letter was addressed to the
Vice-Chancellor (John Lamb, Master of Corpus Christi College) by
the Marquess Camden, chairman of the London Pitt Club Committee:
Sir,
I have the Honor to inform you that I am just returned from a
Meeting of the Committee appointed to consider of the disposal of
the surplus of Money subscribed, many years ago, for the Erection
of a Statue to the memory of Mͬ Pitt.
I am, now, authorized by that Committee to state to you, Sir,
that which I had the Honor of personally communicating to you
at Cambridge: 'the disposition of that Committee to recommend
to a general Meeting of Subscribers to the Fund above-mentioned
the Disposal of a considerable Sum of Money for the Erection of
an handsome Building connected with the University Press at
Cambridge;' but, as it will be necessary to state to the general
Meeting how far the University is disposed to find and provide
a proper Scite for the erecting such Building, near or opposite
to Pembroke College, I now trouble you on that subject, and I
request you will have the goodness to inform me how far I may be
authorized to inform the General Meeting of the Disposition of the
University to find and provide a proper Scite as above-mentioned
for the erecting of an handsome Building, which the Committee
is desirous should be erected on such a scale as to be a
distinguished Ornament to the University, and tend to perpetuate
the Name and Memory of Mͬ Pitt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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