me leaving my stand long enough to do no. I am gratified to learn that this day is becoming one of general festivity and rejoicing among Printers, and I trust it will ever be celebrated among them in honor of that brightest ornament of the "Art preservative of arts."
I beg to thank you for your invitation, and to offer the following sentiment for your table:
Benjamin Franklin: The Printer's Boy and the Ambassador: The most brilliant star in the galaxy of eminent printers. A Paragon republican, whose soul was an inexhaustible font of Nonpariel.
Yours, truly,
J. J. Mattison.
To P. Canfield and others, Committee.
From S. H. Parker, Esq., of the Daily Gazette.
Geneva, N. Y.. Jan. 16, 1847.
Gentlemen of the Committee:
Finding it impossible for us to attend in person the celebration of the birth-day of Franklin, on the 18th inst, we beg to offer this, our grateful remembrance, of the virtues of one who not only shed lustre upon the profession, but upon the American name and nation.
Please accept our thanks for the polite invitation to your festival, and convey to those who may be present on the occasion, our heartfelt wishes for their prosperity and happiness; assuring them that although not present in person, we are with them in spirit and feeling.
Respectfully yours,
J. & S. H. Parker.
I propose the following sentiment:
Printers in Battle—The late actions in Mexico, in which they were well represented, prove that they are equally as good with the shooting-stick in the field as in the office.
By H. C. Gilbert—The American Army: May its columns never be pi-ed, or even squabbled.
The senior partner wishes me to say that he is out of sorts; that his form is locked up in the chase of misery, and put on the bed of sickness.
S. H. P.
From J M Alvord, Esq., of the Republican Office.
Geneseo, Jan. 16, 1847.
Gents—Not being able to attend your Festival, on the 18th, permit me to offer the following:
The Volunteer Printers—Always ready at their country's call: may their communications to the Mexican columns be leaded and well justified.
Respectfully yours,
Johnson M. Alvord.
From G. W. D. Andrews.
Rochester, Jan. 18, 1847.
My dear Sir:—I beg leave to acknowledge, with many thanks, your very kind note of this morning, inviting me to the "Festival." I regret very much, that circumstances which I cannot control, will deny me the great gratification of being with you, and the very worthy and distinguished fraternity whom you represent. But although absent in body, I shall be present in spirit.
Allow me to offer you the following sentiments:
The Reign of the Press—The Freedom of the World.
Allow me also to conclude, by subscribing myself Yours, very truly,
Geo. W. D. Andrews.
To Geo. T. Frost, Esq., one of the Committee.
From J. T. Norton, Esq.., or the Livingston Co. Whig.
Mt. Morris, Jan. 16, 1847.
Friend Canfield—Sir: Your kind invitation was duly received, and through you, I wish to acknowledge the receipt of many cordial and warm-hearted invitations, extended to me by my follow-craftsmen generally, of Rochester.
I had fondly cherished the hope that I should be able to be present on that joyous occasion, to meet many of my old brothers; but, owing to circumstances beyond my control, I find, this morning, that it will be impossibe for me to be present in form, and would therefore offer the following sentiment:
The Printers here assembled: May they never have their forms battered by the ☞ of adversity, or their brightest anticipations knocked into pi, but may they ever be found with full cases, and an abundance of quoin; and when their forms shall have been worked off from this terrestrial world, may they go to the Great Author with a proof sheet that will need no revision or correction. I remain, truly yours, &c,
James T. Norton.
From B. F. Hubble, Esq., of the Star Office.
Syracuse, Jan. 18, 1847.
Gentlemen:—Obliged to deny myself the pleasure of accepting your kind invitation to be present at the Festival, allow me to propose a sentiment:
A Free Press: Inseparably connected with civilization and moral progress; the handmaid of Christianity and the palladium of a Nation's Rights—may those who wield its power be not unmindful of the sacredess and dignity of their mission.
Yours, fraternally.
Franklin B. Hubbell.
P. Canfield, and others, of the Committee.
Early Printers, Male and Female
From Josiah Snow, Esq.
Rochester, Jan. 11, 1847.
Gentlemen—Your note inviting me to-participate with the Typographical Society of this city, in celebrating the anniversary of Franklin's Birth Day, was duly received. I intended to have been present; but unforeseen demands on my time will prevent it. I am under the necessity of going east. I regret it much. Had I been assembled with you, I intended to have given a brief history of the pioneers of Printing in this country, providing it will escape the many speakers you will enjoy.
A few years since, I spent a few days in the Massachusetts Antiquarian Library, founded by one of our craft, Isaiah Thomas, Esq., at Worcester. He made a noble bequest to the Institution. Not only was his purse extended to it, but the most of his extensive library. It contain-
