The following table will be appreciated by authors and by all who desire to become acquainted with the technical marks used by practical readers. Due attention to the explanations will insure an apt proficiency in the manual department of proof-reading. [Illustration: (Transcriber’s Note: showing text marked up by the proof-reader.)] [Illustration: (Transcriber’s Note: showing the corrected text, given below.)] THOUGH several differing opinions exist as to the individual by whom the art of printing was first discovered; yet all authorities concur in admitting PETER SCHOEFFER to be the person who invented _cast metal types_, having learned the art of _cutting_ the letters from the Gutenbergs: he is also supposed to have been the first who engraved on copper-plates. The following testimony is preserved in the family, by Jo. Fred. Faustus, of Ascheffenburg: ‘PETER SCHOEFFER, of Gernsheim, perceiving his master Faust’s design, and being himself ardently desirous to improve the art, found out (by the good providence of God) the method of cutting (_incidendi_) the characters in a _matrix_, that the letters might easily be singly _cast_, instead of being _cut_. He privately _cut matrices_ for the whole alphabet: and when he showed his master the letters cast from these matrices, Faust was so pleased with the contrivance, that he promised Peter to give him his only daughter _Christina_ in marriage, a promise which he soon after performed. But there were as many difficulties at first with these letters, as there had been before with _wooden ones_, the metal being too soft to support the force of the impression: but this defect was soon remedied, by mixing the metal with a substance which sufficiently hardened it.’] EXPLANATION OF THE CORRECTIONS. A wrong letter in a word is noted by drawing a short perpendicular line through it, and making another short line in the margin, behind which the right letter is placed. (See No. 1.) So with whole words also, a line being drawn across the wrong word and the right one written in the margin opposite. A turned letter is noted by drawing a line through it, and writing the mark No. 2 in the margin. If letters or words require to be altered to make them more conspicuous, a parallel line or lines must be made underneath the word or letter,—viz. for capitals, three lines; small capitals, two lines; and Italic, one line; and, in the margin opposite the line where the alteration occurs, _Caps_, _Small Caps_, or _Ital._ must be written. (See No. 3.) When letters or words are set double, or are required to be taken out, a line is drawn through the superfluous word or letter, and the mark No. 4 placed opposite in the margin. Where the punctuation requires alteration, the correct point should be written in the margin. (See No. 5.) When a space has been omitted between two words, a caret must be made where the separation ought to be, and the sign No. 6 placed opposite in the margin.