He readily undertook it, and went over the several Founts, showing me every where what he thought Instances of that Disproportion and declared, that he could not then read the Specimen without feeling very strongly the Pain he had mentioned to me.

Caslon’s Specimen, and produced it to him as yours brought with me from Birmingham, saying, I had been examining it since he spoke to me, and could not for my Life perceive the Disproportion he mentioned, desiring him to point it out to me. In vain I endeavoured to support your Character against the Charge: He knew what he felt, and could see the Reason of it, and several other Gentlemen among his Friends had made the same Observation, &c.- Yesterday he called to visit me, when, mischievously bent to try his Judgment, I stept into my Closet, tore off the top of Mr. No, no, says he, I have heard that mentioned but it is not that-it is in the Form and Cut of the Letters themselves: They have not that natural and easy Proportion between the Height and Thickness of the Stroke which makes the common Printing so much the more comfortable to the Eye.- You see this Gentleman was a Connoisseur. I thought, said I, you were going to complain of the Gloss on the Paper, some object to. Soon after I returned, discoursing with a Gentleman concerning the Artists of Birmingham, he said you would be a Means of blinding all the Readers in the Nation for the Strokes of your Letters, being too thin and narrow, hurt the Eye, and he could never read a Line of them without Pain.

“Dear Sir, Let me give you a pleasant Instance of the Prejudice some have entertained against your Work.

Caslon’s Specimen, and produced it to him as yours…” “I stept into my Closet, tore off the top of Mr.

Calson and baskerville typeface