Trinity College, Dublin / by W. Macneile Dixon.

  • William Macneile Dixon
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Trinity College, Dublin / by W. Macneile Dixon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Ireland by Elizabeth and the Lords of the Council for the purpose of printing the New Testament and other books in Irish for Church use, but it does not appear that the contract was ever carried out, though Kerney had already been employed as a printer in the College. The text of the proposals, quoted by Dr. Stubbs,* are of interest as showing the social position attainable by a capable printer in that age, ecjuivalent to that of an artist in our own time: ^1. He (Kerney) should be allowed the use in the College during his life of a suitable chamber for his printing, and another for himself. ^ 2. Also for himself a Fellow’s Commons during his life, at the Fellows’ table. ^ 3. He should be allowed lodging for a boy, and his Commons at the lower Scholars’ table, Kerney paying for it when he was able. ^4. The College issuing to him the balance of 200 marks, and even £20 besides, for the completion of his work. ^ 5. The College allowing him the benefit of all copies sold ; and ^ 6. The College undertaking to help him in printing any other fit books for his own benefit.’ The teaching was, however, practically independent of books, for the simple reason that they were not obtainable by the average student. Nor was the library, when founded, open to them, for the statutes confined its use to the graduates of the University. We have, however, no reason to believe that the teaching of those days was meagre or the standard * History of the University, p. 22.