tons，andthestereotypedplatestoabout2500tonsthevalueofthelatterbeingnotlessthanhalfamillionsterling。
Mr。Cloweswouldnothesitate，intheheightofhiscareer，tohavetonsoftypelockedupformonthsinsomeponderousblue-book。Toprintareportofahundredfoliopagesinthecourseofadayorduringanight，orofathousandpagesinaweek，wasnouncommonoccurrence。Fromhisgiganticestablishmentwereturnedoutnotfewerthan725，000printedsheets，orequalto30，000volumesaweek。Nearly45，000poundsofpaperwereprintedweekly。Thequantityprintedonbothsidesperweek，iflaiddowninapathof221/4inchesbroad，wouldextend263milesinlength。
Abouttheyearl840，aPolishinventorbroughtoutacomposingmachine，andsubmittedittoMr。Clowesforapproval。ButMr。
Cloweswasgettingtoooldtotakeupandpushanynewinvention。
Hewasalsoaversetodoinganythingtoinjurethecompositors，havingoncebeenamemberofthecraft。AtthesametimehesaidtohissonGeorge，“Ifyoufindthistobealikelymachine，letmeknow。Ofcoursewemustgowiththeage。IfIhadnotstartedthesteampresswhenIdid，whereshouldIhavebeennow？“Onthewhole，thecomposingmachine，thoughingenious，wasincomplete，anddidnotcomeintouseatthattime，norindeedforalongtimeafter。Still，theideahadbeenborn，and，likeotherinventions，becameeventuallydevelopedintoausefulworkingmachine。Composingmachinesarenowinuseinmanyprinting-offices，andthepresentClowes’firmpossessesseveralofthem。ThoseinTheTimesnewspaperofficeareperhapsthemostperfectofall。