This excellent letter-founder was bound apprentice to Joseph Jackson in the year 1782, at the age of 16, and remained in his service till Jackson’s death in 1792. During the last three years of his master’s life, as has been already said, the entire management of the foundry devolved on him; and the experience and connection so acquired fully qualified him to succeed to and increase the business to whose success he had materially contributed. Contrary to expectation, however, Vincent Figgins found himself, on Jackson’s death, left in the position of an ordinary outsider; and not being able or willing to pay the sum demanded, which was in excess of what he conscientiously considered the concern to be worth, he failed in succeeding to the foundry, which was purchased by William Caslon III. Left thus to his own resources, Mr. Figgins was constrained to enter on an independent undertaking. Encouraged by the advice of Mr. John Nichols, (who, as the intimate friend of Jackson, had had many opportunities of observing the character and talent of his apprentice), he determined to rear a foundry in his own name. “A large order,” says Hansard, “for two founts, Great Primer and Pica, of each 2,000 lbs—even before he had printed a single specimen—gave the young adventurer the best heart to proceed; neither did his liberal patron suffer him to want the sinews of trade as long as such assistance was required.” Writing to Mr. Nichols, fifteen years afterwards, in reference to a passage in {336} the _Literary Anecdotes_, Mr. Figgins thus gracefully acknowledged the generosity which befriended him at the beginning of his career:― “I am greatly obliged to you for the very flattering mention of my name, but you have not done yourself the justice to record your own kindness to me: that, on Mr. Jackson’s death, finding I had not the means to purchase the foundry, you encouraged me to make a beginning. You gave me large orders and assisted me with the means of executing them; and during a long and difficult struggle in pecuniary matters for fifteen years, you, my dear Sir, never refused me your assistance, without which I must have given it up. Do mention this—that, as the first Mr. Bowyer was the means of establishing Mr. Caslon—his son, Mr. Jackson—it may be known that Vincent Figgins owes his prosperity to Mr. Bowyer’s successor.”[698]