The origin and progress of letters. An essay, in two parts. The first shewing when, and by whom letters were invented ; the formation of the alphabets of various nations : their manner of writing, on what materials, and with what instruments men have written in different ages to the present time wherein is considered the great utility of this art with regard to mankind The second part consists of a compendious account of the most celebrated English penmen, with the titles and characters of the books they have published. Both from the rolling and letter press interspersed with many interesting particulars by way of notes throughout the first part and the second is a new species of biography never attempted before in English the whole collected from undoubted authorities / by W. Massey.
- William Massey
- Date:
- 1763
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The origin and progress of letters. An essay, in two parts. The first shewing when, and by whom letters were invented ; the formation of the alphabets of various nations : their manner of writing, on what materials, and with what instruments men have written in different ages to the present time wherein is considered the great utility of this art with regard to mankind The second part consists of a compendious account of the most celebrated English penmen, with the titles and characters of the books they have published. Both from the rolling and letter press interspersed with many interesting particulars by way of notes throughout the first part and the second is a new species of biography never attempted before in English the whole collected from undoubted authorities / by W. Massey. Source: Wellcome Collection.
![[ *74 ] to Birmingham in Warwickshire ; where befides teaching writing, french, &c. he applied him- felf to paintings and gaining a tolerable profi¬ ciency therein, at the age of twenty-dour, he came up to London ; and pradtifing as an af- fiftant in feveral academies in the city, he alfo inftrudted young gentlemen and ladies at their own houfes, with very good fuccels and ap¬ probation. And having in this time greatly improved himfelf in the art of writings he has exhibited fpecimens thereof, for three years fuceeflively, in the great room in the Strand, belonging to the fociety eftablifhed for the encouragment of Arts, Commerce, &c„ by which, without vanity he may fay, he has gained no fmall honour ; and is now a member of that fociety. He now keeps an academy at Kenfington, and meets with deferved fuccefs. Part of a book inti tied. An Introduction to the Counting-hmfe, publifhed from the rolling-prefs, was engraved from his writing; and he has, fince the pub¬ lication of that book, begun another, which he defigns to print, as foon as his other bufinels will permit 5 it will confifi: of all the forms ef- fential to trade, and mercantile bufnefs, in a greater number, and more accurate manner, than any work of that kind, that has been hitherto made public.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30533016_0366.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)


