Anglo-Saxon had ever engaged MILTON's notice, and he is by no means accustomed to hide his acquirements behind a veil. He was, I believe, scarcely a stranger in any other walk of Learning than the northern. But the time was not come for these studies. He and other literary Men yet occupied their minds with the writers of Rome and Athens, and of modern Italy. The Anglo-Saxon tongue had once, and I think, but once, since the Conquest, obtained the regards of our Forefathers. This was at the era of the Reformation, for the purpose, as it should seem, of putting beyond the power of controversy, what were the heterodox novelties which the Romish Priesthood had subsequently engrafted on the Christianity planted in Britain by its primitive propagators. ILLUSTRATION, S. (Referred to in p. 196.) In procuring by petition this Order.] Mr. Hargrave printed the succeeding document in, "an Argument in Defence of Literary Property," from a M. S. in the possession of the Stationers' Company; and it will show who were the first to promote the revival of Licensers to the Press. "The following declaration was signed near two years before the ordinance of 1643, by some of "the most favourite Divines of the then prevailing "party in Parliament. 66 "We whose names are subscribed at the request of certain stationers or printers, do hereby "inform those whom it may concern, that to "the knowlege of divers of us (and as all of "us do believe) that the said stationers or prin"ters have paid very considerable sums of money "to many authours for the copies of such useful " books as have been imprinted. In regard "whereof we conceive it to be both just and very necessary that they should enjoy a pro 66 priety for the sole imprinting of their copies. "And we further declare, that unless they do so "enjoy a propriety, all scholars will utterly be deprived of any recompence from the stationers "or printers for their studies and labours in writing or preparing books for the Press. Be"sides, if the books that are printed in Eng"land be suffered to be imported from beyond "the seas, or any other way reimprinted to the prejudice of those who bear the charges of "the impressions, the authours and the buyers "will be abused by vicious impressions, to the "great discouragement of learned men, and "extream damage to all kinds of good learning. "The plaintures (and other good reasons which "might be named) being considered, we certify "our opinions and desires that fitting and suf"ficient caution be provided in this behalf. |