Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 93, August 9, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 93, August 9, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
Whatever be the fate of _The Caxton Memorial_, as suggested by myself,
the proposition is clear of interested motives. I neither aspire to the
honours of a patron, nor to the honours of editorship. To revive the
memory of the man, and to illustrate the literature of the period, are
my sole objects.
I have to thank MR. BOTFIELD for his polite information. I was aware of
the meeting of the 9th of July 1849, but not aware that the proposal of
a _statue of Caxton_ had been entertained at so early a date. The
proceedings of the meeting, as reported in _The Times_, were confined to
the question of subscriptions: on the statue question there is not the
slightest hint.
The advocacy of a _fictitious statue_ by so eminent an antiquary as MR.
BOTFIELD, and the assurance which he gives that this object has been
under consideration for at least two years, make it the more imperative
on me to state my objections to it; and this I shall do with reference
to his own arguments.
A maxim of the illustrious sir William Jones very apposite to the point
in dispute, has floated in my memory from early life. It is this: "The
best monument that can be erected to a man of literary talents is a good
edition of his works." Such a man was William Caxton; and on this
principle I would proceed. He would then owe the extension of his fame
to the admirable art which he so successfully practised.
In the opinion of MR. BOTFIELD, the expense attendant on my project
would be "fatal to its success." Now, as the Shakespeare Society prints
at the rate of four volumes for a subscription of 1_l._, the committee
of the _Caxton Memorial_ could surely produce one volume for 10_s._
6_d._ I should not advise any attempt at splendour. Paper such as Caxton
would have chosen, a clear type, and extreme accuracy of text, are more
important objects. Competent editors would soon offer their services;
and, proud to have their names associated with so desirable an
enterprise, would perform their parts with correspondent care and
ability. Besides, it is easier to collect subscriptions, when you can
promise a substantial return.
To the other objections of MR. BOTFIELD, I shall reply more briefly. The
biography of Caxton by Lewis is a very _scarce_ book; and, in the
opinion of Dibdin, "among the dullest of all biographical memoirs." As
to that by MR. KNIGHT, only one fourth part of it relates to Caxton. In
the _Typographical antiquities_ we certainly have "copious extracts from
his works;" but they are mixed up with much superfluity of disquisition.
Whether such a memorial would be "hidden in a bookcase," must depend on
the taste of the possessor. It would be _accessible_ in the four
quarters of the globe--which is as much as can be said of other books,
and more than can be said of a statue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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