As I have intimated that there is no authentic portrait of Caxton, I must now justify my conviction. Ames published a woodcut as a portrait of our venerable Caxton[8]: Dibdin discovered it to be a "portrait of Burchiello,"[9] an eccentric Florentine barber!--le poète le plus bizarre qui ait jamais écrit! Horace Walpole published a print said to represent earl Rivers "introducing Caxton to Edward IV."[10] It was copied from an illuminated MS. in the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth, No. 265. Now, what says Mr. Todd? "That Caxton _printed this book_ in 1477, is well known. But what has that circumstance to do with the earl _presenting or attending the presentation of his own manuscript_? The figure here introduced by the earl is evidently, by the tonsure and habit, a _priest_; which Caxton was not."[11] I have heard of no other engraved portraits of Caxton. [Footnote 8: _Typographical antiquities._ London, 1749. 4to. p. 54.] [Footnote 9: _The bibliographical decameron._ London, 1817. 8vo. ii. 288.] [Footnote 10: _Catalogue of royal and noble authors._ Strawberry-hill, 1758. 8vo. i. 60.] [Footnote 11: _Catalogue of the archiepiscopal manuscripts at Lambeth._ London, 1812. Fol. p. 37.] Viewing Caxton as a man of considerable literary abilities, and as the _first English printer_, I have now to propose for him a monument which shall do justice to his merits in both capacities--a monument which shall be visible at all times, and in all places: I propose a collective impression of his original compositions. Such a volume would be the best account of his life and works. It would also exhibit much of the literary history of the times--some sound criticism and notions on editorship--and curious specimens of the style of our forefathers. It would comprise what no wealth could procure--what no single library could produce. It would be, to use the forcible words of messieurs Visconti and Castellan, on a somewhat similar occasion, "un monument plus utile et plus durable que ceux même que l'on peut ériger avec le marbre et le bronze."[12] [Footnote 12: _Journal des savans._ 1818. 4to. p. 389.] _Proposed Conditions._ 1. A volume, to be entitled THE CAXTON MEMORIAL, shall be printed for subscribers under approved editorship, and shall contain all the original compositions of WILLIAM CAXTON, as proems, notes, colophons, etc., with specimens of his translations, and fac-simile cuts of his device and types. 2. In order to expedite the progress of the volume, and to ensure the _perfect accuracy_ of its contents, there shall be three co-editors--one of whom shall act as secretary. 3. The volume shall be printed in Roman type, with the ancient orthography and punctuation; and in two sizes--in royal octavo, and in demy octavo. 4. Subscribers of 1_l._ 1_s._ shall be entitled to a copy on royal paper, and subscribers of 10_s._ 6_d._ to a copy on demy paper.