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TYPO GRJAPHIA,4:        An Ode on hrinting
Reihuied ixn Photographicr Jsacimile from the
Williamsburg Edition of I730
Rxoanore
1926;ma,7111








7o The SPriters of Virginia
Pastl
Presrent
Future








Bibliographical $(tte:


bTis, the first book printed in the cmerican Colonies relating to the
tArt of Printing, and one of the earliest issues of the Old Dominion,
is herewith reproduced in photographic facsimile through the courtesy
of The Jobn Carter Brown Cjbrary, of Providence, Rhode Island.
Diligent search has failed to locate any copy other than the one from
bhich this pbotographic facsimile has been made.
The Jobn Carter Brown opy is 225x 179 mm. in size and unbound.
Apparently the wort was issued as a thread-stitched pamphlet.
isve Hfundred and Jfifteen Gopies of this Book have been printed by
The 5tone Printing and e.fanufaaluring Co., of Roanoke, Virginia,
as a jouvenir, for presentation to the cCfembers of The QAmerican
Institute of Graphic L4rts.
Three 7fundred and Fifty-five Copies have been printed for Private
'Disposal by the Offcers of the Company.      e. VD. Cdccccxxvj.


Tpographer
AI"


Z~iZ-~0








INTRODUCTION
ERY    LITTLE is known of the history of William Parks,
who established the first permanent printing office in Virginia.
It is presumed from evidence which has been discovered in
recent years, that he was born at or near Ludlow in Shropshire, England. He may have come dire&tly from England to
Maryland or he may have worked in a printing office in one of the northern colonies before beginning business in Maryland. It is presumed that
his wife's name was Eleanor. He had a daughter Eleanor, who married John
Shelton, of Hanover County, Virginia, and who was the mother of Sarah
Shelton. Patrick Henry's first wife was Sarah Shelton, of Hanover, and
it is believed that she was the granddaughter of William Parks.
He wvas settled in Maryland as early as 1726, for in the Maryland
Assembly of March 1726 he submitted proposals for printing the session
laws and the journals of the Assembly The laws of this assembly, of
March 1726, was the first issue of Parks' press in Maryland. This was
printed in 1726 He remained public printer of Maryland until 1737, the
last issue from  his press in Annapolis bearing that date Parks served for
several years as public printer to both Maryland and Virginia, having offices
in both capitals, with the principal office in Annapolis until I737. On February 22, 1727, the Journal of the House of Burgesses of Virginia has this
entry, "A petition and proposals of William Parks for printing a complete
body of the laws of this colony now in force, and also the laws to be made
hereafter from time to time, was refer'd by the Governor and Council to
the consideration of the House and was read."
"Resolved, That it will be of public use and benefit to print and publish a complete body
of the laws of this colony now in force.
",Order'd, That the speaker of this House, Mr. Clayton and Mr. Blair, members of this
House, Mr. Randolph, Clerk of this House, and Mr. Robertson, Clerk of the Council, or any
three of them, be appointed to agree with the s'd William Parks for the printing a complete body
of the laws of this Colony, and to take a certain number of books, to be distributed at the public
charge, among the Governor, Council, Burgesses, and several Justices of the Peace of this Colony "'
I Journals of House of Burgesses, 1727-40, p. 25.




This volume was printed in Williamsburg, bearing the date I733.
In 1730 Parks opened up his branch office in Williamsburg, and it is
believed by some authorities that the poem, Typographi, reprinted in this
volume, was the first issue of this press, of which a copy is extant. In the
past few months, Mr. Lawrence C. Wroth, formerly Assistant Librarian of
the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Md., but now Librarian of the
John Carter Brown Library, has had a photograph made of another imprint
of Parks in Williamsburg, bearing the date 1730, a three-page charge to the
grand jury by the Governor, William Gooch. (The only known copy of an
original of this is in the Fulham Palace Library.) It may never be possible
to determine which was the first of the two, but as fypograpbia, page,
refers specifically to Gooch's Charge and enlarges upon its literary distinction, it seems most likely that the reference was to a piece already published
rather than to something still in press. There seems not to have been a
definite arrangement with Parks to act as public printer until 1732. On
June 1o, 1732, the special committee reported upon the proposals of Mr.
Parks for printing the laws and Journals of every session of the Assembly.
The following is the report:,'Your committee have (according to order) receiv'd the proposals of Mr. William Parks,
Printer, which are:,'That for the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds per annum, he will print the Governor's speech, and the addresses of both houses, and the Journal of this House, every session; and
deliver a copy of each of them to every member.
"That he will print the public laws of every session, and deliver a copy of them stitched,
to every member, and to every Justice of the Peace in the Colony; and that he will deliver a
copy of the laws of every session, well bound, to the Secretary's office, and to every county court
in the Colony.
"Upon consideration of the said proposals, your committee are of opinion that they are
reasonable: But as the Clerk of this House will loose, by these proposals, a considerable perquisite
of his office, arising from the copies of the laws for the Secretary's office, and the several county
courts; and that he will, notwithstanding, have considerable trouble and care in correcting the
press, and making a table; your committee are of opinion, that besides the usual allowance as
clerk, and for the four fair copies of the Journals, and the laws, which must still be written, there
be allowed him the further sum of fifty pounds every session.
"Resolved, That a salary of one hundred and twenty pounds per annum, be paid to the
said William Parks, in consideration of printing the several matters mentioned in the said report
according to his said proposals; and that his salary commence at the end of this session; to be
paid half yearly "'
In September, 1727, Parks had established the Maryland Gazette, the
first newspaper south of Pennsylvania, printing it at Annapolis. In August,
1736, appeared the Virginia Gazette, the first newspaper published in Virginia and the first newspaper south of the Potomac. This was issued by
Parks from    his Williamsburg office, until his death in 1750.
z Journals of House of Burgewes, 1717-1740, pp. 141, 14s.




In 1750 he undertook a voyage to England, but died on shipboard with
a pleurisy, after a short illness. His body was taken to England for burial.
Not the least important service of Parks to printing was the establishment of a paper mill, on a creek not far from Williamsburg, still called
Paper Mill Creek. This was established it is supposed in 1744, and was
probably running until his death. It was sold by his executors for ninetysix pounds, three shillings and nine pence.
Mr. Wroth, who has carried on the most extensive research upon
Parks, has gathered sufficient evidence, the present writer believes, to prove
that the William Parks, printer of Annapolis and Williamsburg, was the
William Parks who established the first newspaper in Ludlow, Shropshire,
England, October 9, 1719.
There has been much uncertainty as to J. Markland, the author.
Mr. Wroth suggests that he is the same "John Markland, Attorney, New
Kent," in the list of subscribers to the "Colletion of Ats in Force in Virginia," printed by Parks in 1733. This is the best solution that has been
offered as to the identity of the author. The Ode is deservedly laudatory of
William Gooch, the Governor, through whose patronage the press of Parks
was brought to Virginia. The later career of Gooch sustains the praise
bestowed upon him in this early period of his administration. The skilful
construction of the Ode, and the apt allusions indicate that the author had
been trained according to the best classical traditions of the time. This
early produd of the press does not lack in felicity and grace of expression,
and in a pervading high idealism.
The printers of Virginia may well take pride in the author, who, though
unknown to later fame, should share with Parks in their remembrance. It
is to be hoped that future investigation may disclose more about Markland,
and determine his identity without doubt. Our admiration is justly bestowed
upon these two men, upon Parks, who established, amidst many difficulties
in an isolated colony, a high standard of craftsmanship in his art, and upon
Markland, who discerning the blessings of a printing press, eloquently
expressed his approbation in this Ode.
"Happy the Art, by which we learn
The Glofs of Errors to detet,
The Vice of Habits to corre&t,
And facred Truths, from Falfiood to difcern!
By which we take a far-ftretch'd View,
And learn our Fathers Vertues to purfue,
Their Follies to efchew."...
E. G. SWEM.
Library, William and Mary College,
Williamsburg, Virginia.
June, 1923.








T P OG R             PH IA.
A N
O D E
O N
PRIN TI NG.
Infcrib'd to the Honourable
WILLIAM        G OO C H, Efq;
His Majefty's Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in
Chief of the Colony of VI R G INI A.


_       l-        -  i -     -   iii - II_.. ---- -Pleni funt omnes Libri, ple efapientum voces,
plena Exemplorun vetufJas; qu e jacerent it Tenebris
o.nnia, n/fi Litelarum  Lumen accederet.
Cic. Orat. pro Archia.
-!


VI LL 1,M4    B UR G:
Printed by WILLIAM P U K S. M,DCC,XXX.








ittkp- I-It V!  t tptt 1-tt1ftt*ta*tTo the Honourable
WILLIAM GOOCH, Eq;
His Maje fy's Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in
Chief of the Colony of VIRGIN IA.
S IR,
iWr4Si H E following Piece, occafion'd by the fetting?.      auP a Print'ng-Pref in  ViAlliamsburg, juftly.:-I,  claims a Title to ome Share of Your Protec~S~'~~ tion, as the Subje&-Matter of it, the Art of
PR I N T I N G, owes to You its Patronage and Encouragement; whence, by a natural Dedu&ion, this
ought as neceffarily to follow the Fate and Fortune of
that, as Effe&s do their Caufes.
I F upon the Profpe& of a great many Advantages beyond-peradventure likely to accrue to this Colony, from
an ART fo long wanting among us, I have not been
able to reftrain my own Inclinations to write the enfuing
Trifle, (the firft Effay of this Kind attempted here, ) I
hope this at leaft will make it the lefs inexcufable, that
I have faid nothing herein, which, 1 am confident, will
not be readily affented to, by all who have the Happinefs
to live under the prefent Adminiftration, in this Colony:
Unlefs, perhaps, this Exception be taken, that where a
difinterefted and unprejudic'd  P A T R  O T I IS M,


( for




v        DEDICATION.
(for I will not be afham'd of the Word ) of a Governor
to his People, and a reciprocal Affetion and Obedience
of them to Him is to be defcrib'd, the Author of this
Piece may have wanted a Scale of Thought and Comprehenfon equal to the Height of the Merits of the One,
or the cordial Duty of the other; and that on fuch a
Subjea it were better to be filent, than to fay too little.
I muff confefs there is fome Weight in the Argument;
but I feek not to palliate my Imperfecions of that Nature, left I fhould be anfwer'd with the fame farcaftic
Queftion as AIlbius, a Roman Author, was by Cato, on
the fame Occafion, JlYjether any one had compelled me to
urite?
B U T, to obviate this Objeion, I would only have
Recourfe to the Senfe of this whole Colony, fo often and
io heartily exprefs'd in their feveral Addrefles; which I
hope will freely remit me to the Moderation of 0 N E,
whofe Judgment, tho' it muftll cenfure the Weaknefs,
whofe Modefty, tho' it muft tax the Boldnefs, yet His
Candor will excufe the Endeavours of fo humble a
Talent as mine, who could propofe no other to myfelf
by this prefent Undertaking, than to manifeft with what
Sincerity of Obfervance and Refpet I defire to be
thought,
SIR,
Your Honour's
Moft Obedient,
Humble Servant,


J. MARKLAND.




( )
T r P O G R A P H I A.
A N
O D E,
O N
P RI N T I N G.
I.
***.**** E NYMPHS, who o'er Caftaliax Springs,
y         With joint Command prefide,
~~~fifi~~ Who trill the Lyre's fonorous Strings,
Record the great and glorious Things,
Of Godlike Rulers, matchlefs Kintgs,
And poetic Numbers guide;
Daughters of eternal 5ove,
Gently to my Affifance nmove:


B                     Whether




(6)
Whether on Pindus' lofty Top you play,
Or, with Heav'n.kindled Fire,
Macotnan Notes infpire,
And fhew another Ilium's fatal Day;
Or, if upon the Elian Plain
You fing the Victor's glorious Deeds,
Where Pindar lafh'd his fiery-footed Stccds,
HIis fiery-footed Steeds impatient of the Rein.
II.
Or, if your more exalted Will
To thofe fweet Seats of blifsful Quiet leads,
Where gentle CAM    the flow'ry Meads
With genial Moifturc overflows;
Or, where the Silver ISIS, fmooth and iUll,
Does, like a bafhful Bride,
Into the Arms of amorous 7'FAME
Without a Murmur glide:
Hence ADDISON, the Bjrit4b Maro, rote,
Thence DR    DEN foar'd the higheft Pitch of Fame:
Leave, leave awhile thofe blet Abodas,
To view a new-arifiog Land,
A Land, whofe fertile Plains,
And peaceful flady Woods,.


May well demand


Your




(7)
Tour fweeteft Notes, and loftieft Strains,
Where, with fupreme Command, your own AUGUSTUS reigns.
III.
A UG US 7US reigns;
His far-extended Sway,
Nor Length of boundlefs Land reftrains,
Nor fepazating Sea.
But oh! much more extended is the Pow'r,
Than o'er the Length of boundlefs Land,
Or o'er the Sea's remoteft Strand,
Where Goodnefs and paternal Care
The Sovereign's native Vcrtues are,
And Subjeas Hearts wsith Loialty lun o'er:
Where envious Thoughts abortive die,
Nor Malice rowls her low'ring Eye:
Where, with contending Zeal,
The Prince and People ftrve,
The Prince to make his People thrive,
Their Grievances to heal;
And all their good and adverfe Fortune lhares;
7bey, ia Return to Him,
Pay mutual Rev'rence and Efteem,
And all his Pow'r, his Honour, Happinef is theirs.


W. Sugtb




(8)
IV.
Sucb B R IrAIZN   is, — " Oh happy envy'd Tie,
" Sea- all'd Commander of   URO P    I's Trade,
(Mournful VIR G INI, fighing fiid)
< Placd in thy Sovereign's Smile,
*' Whofe Pre1ence, like th' enliv'ning Sun,
(" Who, where his genial Rays appear,
"Produ&ive of a fruitful Year,
' The lab'ring Hind's moft greedy Hopes does blefi)
Does a diffufive Courfe of Goodnefs run,
" And ripens all thy Hopes into Succefs.
"Whilft I --   and yet thy eldeji Foreign Care -
" Am numb'd with Winters cold and bare,
" And toilfome Summers fruitlcfs Harvefts fhare.
" O happy were my Lot,
" Would that kind Slrn difpcnfe
" On me a nearer Ray of his mild Influence!
I fee his Light. I guelS his Warmth, -    I feel it not.
V.
She faid, fhe figh'd, -   AUG US 'US heard;
And firaight, with willing Mind,
For her Relief prepar'd,


Her




(9)
Her Sufferings to remove;
He knew the MAN defign'd
To be FIRGINI.Is future Boaft and Love;
He knew His native Vertue and His Worth;
Nor long He ftaid,
But all Things ready made,
With cager Hafte He fent Him forth.
VI.
He came, He faw, and was belov'd;
Like Lightning, quick, but ftrng,
An univcrfal Gladnefs mov'd
Throughout th' admiring Throng
No fooner was He feen,
His calm, yet awful Look,
Majeftic, yet ferene,
The very Pow'r of Prejudice remov'd,
And evn His Silence fpoke.
But when His graceful toxgue,
Copious of Reafon, did difplay
To Happinefs, our neareft, fureft Wa,
Ev'n Party-Rancour dy'd away,
And private Spleen.
C


We




(ro)
We found whence Britaf} is fo blet,
Which had fo much our Eovy bor
We found -- and griev'd we bund it not before --
We found, that when by Love and Peace,
A Prince has fix'd his Throne
In ev'ry Subjet's lial Breaft,
No wonder Faftions ead and Murmurs ceafc, -
Since now, what GEORGE is there, GOOCH here has amply
[ hewn.
VIL
Great REPRESE N 7'fFE!
What Thanks fhall we return? What Honours fhc'w
To whom our Staple does its Being owes
By whom our Hopes revive:
By whom all Arts rcov'ring live,
That crft like drooping Plants had dropt their Hlead
And once again, with native Vigou thrive:
From whom FIR G IN IA         Lavs, that hy
In blotted ManufFripts obkcud,
By vulgar Eyes uncead,
Which whilome icarce the Light endut'
Begin to view again the Day,
As rifing from the Dead,
For this the careful Art$ wakes,


And o'er his countlefi Brood he ftnds             Hi




( n)
His numerous Hoards,
Of fpeecble/ s Letters, unform'd Words,
Unjoisted Queftions, and unmeaning Breaks,
Which into Order rife, and Form, at his Commands
VII'.
At his Commands they rilc,
And cloath thenifelves with Scnfe,
Whether an antient Law that dormant lies,
Th. fage judicious FIVE revife,
(Great is your Care, your Pains be blefr,
In all you undertake or do,
Ye feparated FE tV
Collellive Genius of the eft!)
Or where the newer Ads commence:
Or where, on folemn Subjets to enlarge,
In more harmonious Words they ihine;
New Beauties crowding every Line
Come forth their Patron's CHARG E.
There, PARKS, thy Pains are loft -  We find
The Eloquence employs the Mind,
The 4rtil lags behind.
HIS lab'ring Thoughts with W'idom teem,
And ftruggle with the mighty Birth


Thy




( Iz)
Thy drt dos like Luciva feem,
And only helps to ifnd the perfet Embro forth.
IX.
Yet fair befal His Fame,
And may his Mcm'ry long
In latcft Annals live,
Who firft contriv'd the woondrous Ptame,
That to dead t4pes fupply'd a toIgrnc,
And Speech to lifelef Cbaragers could give.
0 well was he employ'd the while,
And happy was the vcnt'rous Toil!
His Breaft had compafs'd fome great Thought,
Tho' formlefs yet, and void,
His bury Faculties were all employ'd,
How future Ages might be fureft taught,
By old Examples, long fince done,
What; Paths to follow, what to Ihun,
How Vertue cv'n in Death befriends,
And how Ambition ends,
How Socrates inftruacd, Cejar fought;
Long Time, his fwcllng Breaft
The great Idea had opprect,
'Till, fix'd at Length, he in a Rapture bid,


Come up a glorious, great Defign, - And fo it did.


X. With




( '3)
X.
With lei Expence of Care and Thought
Did th' antient Sag# furmife
The Frame, (thus Epicurus taught)
And Order of the Earth to rife;
And firft he told the Dance
Of   tows through th' expanded ra^,
With Accidexts endu'd,
Of Figure, Gravity, and Magnitude;
By whole Cobe/io fait,
As each to other did advance,
The homogeneous Parts ally'd,
Were in the ftriteft Clofure ty'd,
And Mlatter hence arof~:
Dire&ed thence by fightlefi Cbhace,
The jumbled Mafs fortuitous was hurl'd,
Where Hap a beauteous Fabric did compofe,
And made an accidental World.
XL
Thus fung Neocles' unenlightcn'd Son,
When Nature, not improv'd by Grace,
But dimly on her rot'ries ihone,
And half concel'd her Face:
D


Foolij




Afuoli/ Jffe-c;n!. Nor was their Senfe
Acuter to perceive a Providence.
To Us, a furer Dodrine's liewn,
Which 2tuth it felf has fpoke;
And faLthful 7'rPES, by Time unbroke,
Through many Ages have continu'd down
The mighty Works to Thew unknown.
In Clouds of wilful Ignorance 7hey err'd,
Pcccant in wild Conje&ures of their own,
And each his own preferr'd.
Hence fome the World eternal Thought,
To Dtfcord fime its Origin aflign'd,
Others a perfc&t Harmony could find,
Deftru&ive of that Scheme;
All with delufive Fancics fraught,
Dreamt idle Whims -- Creataon only was no Dream.
XII.
Happy the 4rt, by which we learn
The Glofs of Errors to detect,
The Vice of Habits to corre&,
And facred Truths, from Falihood to difccrn?
By which we take a far-ftretch'd View,
And learn our Fathers Vertues to purfue,     f


Their Follics to efchcv.                   )


And




And may that -dr to latct Times proclaim
Itj P Af R 0 N's Honourable Name.
As fome Sybilis Book of old,
Had Sybils known the Times to come,
Wrapt in Futurity's dark Womb,
Would thus there happy Days have told:
Revolving Ages hence,
" In Climates now unknown,
"A Rulers gentle Influence
" Shall o'er his Land be Ihewn;
"Saturnian Reigns fhall be renew'd,
* Truth, Jufticc, Vertue, be purfu'd,
" Arts flourifh,. Peace fhall crown the Plains,
"Where G     0 CH adminiftcrs, AUG US 7US reigns.
F IN I S.
M^. M^.e




































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