(Abridged from Black's Translation of Humboldt's New Spain.) There hardly exists a race of savages upon the face of the earth, who cannot prepare some kind of beverage from the vegetable kingdom; yet there are few nations who cultivate certain plants, merely with a view to prepare beverages from them. The most part of civilized nations, draw their drinks from the same plants which constitute the basis of their nourishment; and the old continent affords us no instance of vine plantations but west of the Indus. But in the new continent, we have the example of a people, who not only extract liquors from the amylaceous and sugary substance of the maize, the maniock, and bananas, or from the pulp of several species of mimosa, but who cultivate expressly a plant of the family of the ananas, to convert its juice into a spirituous liquor, which is called pulque. On the interiour table-land, and in the intendency of Puebla, and in that of Mexico, through a vast extent of country, the eye reposes only on fields planted with pittes or maguey. This plant, of a coriaceous and prickly leaf, which, with the cactus opuntia, has become wild, since the sixteenth century, throughout all the south of Europe, the Canary islands, and the coast of Africa, gives a peculiar character to the Mexican landscape.

good soils so early as five, and in bad not till eighteen, a maguey begins to give signs of the development of its hampe. They then prepare to collect the juice of which the pulque is made. They cut the bundle of central leaves, and enlarge, insensibly, the wound, covering it with lateral leaves, which they raise by drawing them close and tying them at the extremities. In this wound the vessels appear to deposite all the juice which would have formed the colossal hampe, loaded with flowers. This is a true vegetable spring, that keeps running for two or three months, and from which the Indian draws three or four times a day. We may judge of the quickness or slowness of the motion of the juice, by the quantity of honey extracted from the maguey at different times of the day: a plant commonly yields, in twenty-four hours, 242 cubick inches, nearly equal to eight pints, of which three are obtained at sunrise, two at mid-day, and three at six in the evening. A very vigorous plant sometimes yields about seven quarts, or 454 cubick inches, per day, for from four to five months, which amounts to the enormous quantity of 67,130 cubick inches, supplied by a plant scarcely five feet in height.

Το

The honey, or juice of the agave, is of a very agreeable sour taste. It easily ferments on account of the sugar and mucilage which it contains. accelerate this fermentation, they add, however, a little old and acid pulque. This operation is terminated in three or four days. The vinous beverage, which resembles cider, has an odour of putrid meat, extremely disagreeable; but Europeans who have been able to get over the aversion which this fetid odour inspires, prefer the pulque to any other liquor. They consider it as stomachick, strengthening, and especially as very nutritive; and it is recommended to lean persons.

A very intoxicating brandy is formed from the pulque, which is called mexical or aguardiente de maguey, and though the Spanish colonial government prohibited its use, as prejudicial to the Spanish brandy trade, such quantities of it were manufactured, that the whole importation of brandy into Mexico alone amounted to 32,000 barrels.

But the maguey is not only the wine of the Aztecks, it can also supply the place of the hemp of Asia, and the papyrus of the Egyptians. The paper on which the ancient Mexicans painted their hieroglyphical figures, was made of the fibres of agave leaves, macerated in water, and disposed in layers The agaves are planted in rows, at a distance of like the Egyptian papyrus, and the mulberry of the fifty-eight inches from each other. The plants only South Sea islands. M. Humboldt brought home begin to yield the juice, which goes by the name of with him several fragments of Azteck manuscripts, honey, on account of the sugary principle with written on maguey papers of a thickness, so different, which it abounds, when the hampe is on the point that some of them resembled pasteboard, while of its development. And as the plant is destroyed others resembled Chinese paper. The thread which if the incision be made long before the flowers would is obtained from the maguey, is known in Europe naturally have developed themselves, it is of great by the name of pite thread, and is preferred by importance for the cultivator to know exactly the naturalists to every other, because it is less subject period of efflorescence. Its proximity is announced to twist. The juice which the agave yields, when by appearances, which the experienced cultivator it is still far from the period of efflorescence, is very readily understands. He goes daily through his acid, and is successfully employed as a caustick in plantations to mark the plants that approach afflo- the cleansing of wounds. The prickles, which terrescence; and if he has any doubt, he applies to the minate the leaves, served, formerly, like those of experts of the village-old Indians, who, from longer the cactus, for pins and nails to the Indians. experience, have a judgment, or rather tact, more securely to be relied on.

Common sense is the growth of all countries.
Common fame is often a common liar.

hundoq

THE HISTORY OF PRINTING.

(Continued from page 348.)

ANCIENT MODE OF PRINTING WITH BLOCKS.

The Biblia Pauperum, or Bible of the Poor, was an abridgment, or catechism of the Bible, consisting of forty leaves, of a small folio size, each leaf being a wood-cut, with descriptive sentences, explanatory of their meanings; a few copies of this work remain, but are in a mutilated state; this, and the "Speculum Humanæ Salvationis," seem to be the first specimens of book-printing.

*

blocks, which were well adapted to small books of frequent use, such as the "Tabula Alphabetica," "The Catholicon," "Danati Grammatica," and the "Confessionalia." Immediately upon completing the metal types, the abovementioned printers, in conjunction, set about and effected a printed edition of the Bible, which was published in 1450, after the labour of seven or eight years.

*

In the same year, (1450,) according to some authors, the partnership was dissolved, and a new one entered into in August, between Faust and Guttenberg-the former supplying money, the latter skill. Various difficulties arising, occasioned a lawsuit for According to tradition, some of Coster's types are the money which Faust had advanced, which was said to have been stolen by one of his servants, John determined against Guttenberg. A dissolution of Geinsfleich, senior, who fled with them to Mentz. this partnership occurred in 1455; and in 1457, a Having introduced the art from Haarlem into this, magnificent edition of the PSALTER was published his native city, he commenced a business of his own, by Faust and Schoeffer, typographers, with a reand published, in 1442, "Alexandri Galli Doctri-markable commendation, in which they assumed to nale" and "Petri Hispani Tractatus Logicales," themselves the merit of a new invention; namely, which two works being small, best suited his cir- that of metal types. This book was uncommonly cumstances, and being much used in schools, he elegant, and, in some measure the work of Guttenmight reasonably expect a ready and profitable sale. berg; as it was four years in the press, and came They were executed with wooden types, cut after out but 18 months after the partnership was dissolvthe model of those he had stolen. In 1443 he hired ed between him and Faust. The latter continued the house Zum Jungen, and was assisted with mo- in the possession of the printing office; and Guttenney by Faust, who, in return, had a share of the busi- berg, by the pecuniary assistance of Conrad Humeness, and about the same time, John Meidenbachus ry, of Mentz, and others, opened another office in was admitted a partner, as were some others, whose the same city, whence appeared, in 1460, without names are now unknown; and, in 1444, they were the printer's name, the " Catholicon," with a pomjoined by Guttenberg, who, for that purpose, quitted pous colophon in praise of its beauty, and ascribing Strasburg. Wooden types being found not suffi- the honour of the invention to the city of Mentz.† It ciently durable, and not answering the expectation in was a very handsome book, though inferiour to the other respects, the two brothers are said to have been Psalter which had been published by Faust and the first who invented "cut metal types." But Schoeffer. Both the Psalter and Catholicon were while these things were preparing, which must have printed in cut metal types. It may not be improper been a work of time, several works were printed, to observe here, that as the Psalter is the earliest both on wooden separate types and on wooden book which is known to have a genuine date, it beAuthors greatly differ as to the person who committed this came a common practice, after that publication, for robbery. It is clear, from all accounts, that his name was John, printers to claim their own performances by adding but what his surname was is a disputed point. Junius, after some their names to them. The progress of the art has hesitation, ascribes it to John Faust, but with injustice, for he been traced through its second period, the invention was a wealthy man, who assisted the first printers at Mentz with money, though he was afterwards proprieter of a printing office, of cut metal types; but the honour of completing the yet he never, as far as it appears, performed any part of the busi- discovery is generally considered to be due to Peter ness with his own hands; and, consequently, he never would Schoeffer: indeed, both Faust and Schoeffer seemhave been a servant to Coster. Nor is the conjecture of Scrieverius better founded, which fixes it upon John Guttenberg, who, ed to have been indefatigable improvers of the printas appears by authentick testimonies, resided at Strasburg, from ing art, both as to materials for the mechanical ope1436 to 1444, and during all that period, employed much fruitless ration, and taste in the production of their works; labour and expense, in endeavouring to attain this art. Meerman once thought, "it might be either John Meidenbachus, (who, we are told by Seb. Munster, and the author of Chronographia Meguntinensis, was an assistant to the first Mentz printers,) or John Petersheimius, who was some time a servant to Faust and Schoeffer, and set up a printing office at Frankfort, in 1459; or, lastly, some other person, who, being unable, through poverty, to carry on the business, discovered it to Geinsfleich, at Mentz." But more authentick intelligence afterwards convinced him there were two persons of this name; and that John Geinsfleich, senior, was the dishonest servant, who was born at Mentz, and who, in the papers published by Kohlerus, we find there in the year 1441 and not before; for, though he was of a good family, yet he was poor, and seems to have been obliged, as well as his brother, to seek his livelihood in a foreign country; and, perhaps, was content to be under Laurence Coster, in order that, when he had learned the art, he might follow it in his own. But, to leave conjectures, we may produce some certain testimonies. The brother of Geinsfleich is usually distinguished by the name of Guttenberg. They were both married men, and most probably, brothers, as it was not uncommon, in that age, for two brothers to have the same Christian name. They both appear in a very disreputable light. The youngest is said to have been very contentious, and the elder is said to have robbed his master under most aggravating circumstances. Though they were both very poor, their family was distinguished by knighthood.

+ Alexander's French Instructer. Tracts on Logick, by Peter, of Spain.

VOL. III-49

Mr.

Many writers have supposed that this was the edition of which some copies were sold in France, by Faust, as manuscripts, for the great price of 500 or 600 crowns, which he afterwards lowered to 60, and at last to 30; but it was the second and more expensive edition of 1462, that was thus disposed of, when Faust went to Paris, in 1466, and which had cost 4000 florins before the quaternion (or quire of four sheets) was printed.-Meerman.

At the death of Guttenberg, Conrad Humery took possession of all his printing materials, and engaged to the archbishop Adolphus, that he never would sell them to any one but a citizen of Mentz. They were, however, soon disposed of to Nicholas Bechtermunze, of Altavilla, who, in 1469, published the "Vo cabularium Latino Teutonicum," which was printed with the same types which had been used in the Catholicon. This very curious and scarce vocabulary was shown to Mr. Meerman by Mr. Bryant, in the duke of Marlborough's valuable library at Blenheim. It is in quarto, thirty-five lines long, contains many extracts from the Catholicon, and is called "Ex Quo," from the preface beginning with these words." Meerman," Vol. II. page 96.

Guttenberg never used any other than either wooden or cut metal types till the year 1462. He died in 1468; his elder brother, Geinsfleich, died in 1462. Their epitaphs are printed by Mr. Meerman, Vol. II, pp. 154, 195. The ingenious Gerard Meerman was a pensionary of Rotterdam.

supposed that he died of the plague which raged in Paris, in 1466.

they printed many books with cut metal types, and more eminent writers assert, that the first entire and complete book, "Tully's Offices," in quarto, was printed by them, of which there are copies in the Bodleian Library, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, of the date of 1465. Peter Schoeffer, the partner and son-in-law of Faust, is allowed the invention of casting the types; he privately cut matri-ing, it is singular that this city should have enjoyed ces* for the whole alphabet; and having succeeded to his expectation, he exhibited his work of ingenuity to his partner, which pleased him highly, and after finding out the method of hardening these castings, they found a great advantage in the use of them; the first work printed with these types was "Durandi Rationale," in 1459; but only the small-in which the books were printed. Among the most letter type, as it appears the capitals were still of cut type. The citizens of Mentz would fain claim the honour of the whole "art of printing," and they have some monumental inscriptions to that effect: one in the front of the house which Guttenberg inhabited in that city, which is as follows:

JOHANNI GUTTENBERGENSI MOGUNTINO
QUI PRIMUS OMNIUM LITERAS ÆRE
IMPRIMENDAS INVENIT

HAC ARTE DE TOTO ORBE BENE MEMENTI;
IVO WITIGENSIS

HOC SAXUM PRO MONUMENTO POSUIT.

Englished thus :-

IVES OF WITIGEN

ERECTED THIS MONUMENT

TO THE MEMORY OF

JOHN GUTTENBERG MOGUNTIN,
WHO FIRST INVENTED THE Art of
CASTING FUSIL TYPES.

In all the oldest books printed at Mentz, yet discovered, are inscriptions which style that city, "the mother and inventress of printing." If Haarlem could have advanced a claim equal to that of Mentz, and upon as good grounds, for the invention of printit without interruption for more than 125 years; and that none of the Dutch writers attempted, in that long period of time, to disprove the colophons, or inscriptions, which Faust subjoined to his works, when it was out of his power to conceal his art, and wherein he mentions the inventors, and the manner celebrated of the writers who have treated on this invention, were Wimpheling, Palmerus, Althamers, Trimethius, Aventine, Thevet, Rocha, Apianus, Langius, and Burgamensis; but none deserved more attention than the Abbot Trimethius, who lived about the time the discovery was made.

It is very remarkable, that none of these writers mention Guttenberg, otherwise than as an assistant. Mr. Palmer says:-" Among all the learned I have conversed with, whose curiosity hath let them to search into the rise and progress of printing, and all the writers upon this subject I could ever meet with, not one has pretended to have seen any book printed in John Guttenberg's name; even in the oldest monuments remaining of the infancy of this art, whether printed upon wood, or by separate metal types. That, on the contrary, where there is any mention made of either printer or place, it is still in Faust and Schoeffer's names. Therefore, until there is some better proof of Guttenberg's name, either jointly with the other two, or separately, or some book produced with it, it seems evident, beyond contradiction, that the glory of this invention is wholly due to John Faust, and the improving and perfecting it, to his son-in-law, Peter Schoeffer, exclusive of John Guttenberg."

Talmuth informs us, that John Schoeffer added considerably to the improvement of printing, by inventing punches, matrices, &c., and speaks of the difficulties which Faust and he met with, owing to the softness of the metal in which they had cast their first types; and of his discovering a mixture, by means of antimony, which fully answered the purpose: this so pleased Faust, that he made him his son-in-law.

In 1642, Faust is said to have carried a considerable number of Bibles to Paris, which he and Schoeffer had printed to imitate those which were commonly sold in manuscript; the art of printing at Paris being then unknown. At first he sold them as high as 600 crowns per copy, being the same as was usually charged by the scribes; but afterwards gradually lowering his price, till he came to 60, and even as low as 30 crowns; this, with the exact uniformity of the copies, which appeared to be all done by the same hand, astonished the people beyond measure; hence the Parisians declared it impossible that it could be any other than the work of a magician; they, therefore, "are said to have searched his lodgings, and finding a great number of Bibles ornamented with red ink, they concluded it was Here it may be remarked, as an established rule, blood, and that Belzebub must be his coadjutor; im- that all dates before the year 1450 are false; and this pelled by those superstitious notions, they seized on is confirmed by the suffrage of all learned writers Faust, and cast him into prison; and as they intend-upon the subject. Until the year 1468, the profied to accuse him of necromancy, and put him to cients in this new art had proceeded no farther than death as a wizard, he was obliged, as the ransom of in the common alphabet, suited to the vulgar and his life, to divulge the secret, and publickly make Latin tongues. The Gothick alphabet, as it most reknown the mysterious art of printing. This event sembled the manuscripts of those times, was the first gave rise to the tradition of the Devil and Doctor attempt; then some of the Italian princes introduFaustus,' handed down to the present time." It is ced the Roman alphabet; and, in a short time, * Matrices, hollow beds, or moulds, into which the melted brought it to such perfection, that, in the beginning metals being poured, they receive the form of the matrice. + There is no doubt of Faust's having sold, as manuscripts, at of the year 1474, they cast a letter not much inferiParis, copies either of the above Bible, or of that preserved in the our to the best types of the present age; as may be Mazarine library; that he may have sold them at different pri- seen in a Latin grammar, written by Omnibonus Leces, and that some of the purchasers may have complained of being overcharged; but in regard to the accusation of magick, itonicenus, and printed at Padua, January 4, 1474. It is a mere fable that deserves no credit. However, there can be is from this work that our grammarian Lilly has taken no doubt that Faust never appeared at Paris after the year 1466; he was there at that period, as is proved by a copy of "Cicero's Offices" published that year by him and Schoeffer, his son-inlaw, which is still to be seen in the publick library of Geneva, and

6

at the end of which is a note, written by the first possessor, stating, "that it was given to him by John Faust, at Paris, in the month of July, 1466."