_An Account of the Letter Presses and other Stock and Implements of and in the Printing house at Oxford belonging to John Baskett, Citizen and Staconer of London_:― A Large ffount of Perle Letter Cast by Mr. Andrews. A Large ffount of Nonp^l Letter, New-Cast by ditto. Another ffount of Nonp^l Letter, Old, the whole standing and Sett up in a Com’on Prayer in 24mo Compleat. A large ffount of Min^n Letter, New-Cast by Mr. Andrews. Another Large ffount of Min^n Letter, New-Cast in Holland. The whole Testament standing in Brev^r and Min^n Letter, Old. A Large ffount of Brev^r Letter, New-Cast in Holland. A very Large ffount of Lo. Prim^r Letter, New-Cast by Mr. Andrews. A Large ffount of Pica Letter, very good, cast by ditto. Another Large ffount of ditto, never used, Cast in Holland. A small Quantity of English, New-Cast by Mr. Andrews. A small Quantity of Great Prim^r, New-Cast by ditto. A very Large ffount of Double Pica, New, the largest in England.[400] {211} A Quantity of Two Line English Letters. A Quantity of ffrench Cannon. Two line Letters of all Sorts and a Sett of Silver Initiall Letters. Cases, Stands, etc. ffive Printing Presses, very good, with other Appurtenances, etc. The schedule is signed “Jno. Baskett.”[401] In 1733 Sylvester Andrews’ foundry was purchased, at the same time with that of his father, by Thomas James, and removed to London. His epitaph remains, and gives an amusing glimpse of his character and the reputation he bore at Oxford. _On a Letter-Founder at Oxford._ “Underneath this stone lies honoured Syl Who died, though much against his will; Yet, in his fame he will survive― Learning shall keep his name alive; For he the parent was of letters,― He founded, to confound his betters; Though what those letters should contain Did never once disturb his brain. Since, therefore, reader, he is gone, Pray let him not be trod upon.”[402] [Illustration] {212} [Illustration] CHAPTER X. THOMAS AND JOHN JAMES, 1710. Thomas James was the son of the Rev. John James, vicar of Basingstoke.[403] He served his apprenticeship to Robert Andrews, but quitted his service prior to the year 1710, in order to start business on his own account. Impressed, doubtless, with the present low condition of the art in England, and lacking the skill to regenerate it by his own labour, he determined to visit Holland and procure for himself, from that famous typographical market, the matrices and moulds necessary for establishing a successful foundry {213} in London. The characteristic letters in which he describes this expedition to his brother are given by Rowe Mores,[404] and present so instructive and entertaining a picture of the Dutch type-founders of the day, that we are tempted to copy them _in extenso_.