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。
Mr。Cloweswasnecessarilyamanofgreatability，industry，andenergy。Whatevercouldbedoneinprinting，thathewoulddo。
Hewouldneveradmittheforceofanydifficultythatmightbesuggestedtohisplans。Whenhefoundapersonreadytoofferobjections，hewouldsay，“Ah！Iseeyouareadifficulty-maker:
youwillneverdoforme。“
Mr。Clowesdiedin1847，attheageofsixty-eight。Therestillremainafewwhocanrecalltomindthegiantfigure，thekindlycountenance，andthegentlebearingofthis“PrinceofPrinters，“
ashewasstyledbythemembersofhiscraft。Hislifewasfullofhardandusefulwork；anditwillprobablybeadmittedthat，asthegreatestmultiplierofbooksinhisday，andasoneofthemosteffectivepracticallabourersforthediffusionofusefulknowledge，hisnameisentitledtobepermanentlyassociated，notonlywiththeindustrial，butalsowiththeintellectualdevelopmentofourtime。
“IbegyoutooccupyyourselfincollectingbiographicalnoticesrespectingtheItalianswhohavehonestlyenrichedthemselvesinotherregions，particularlyreferringtotheobstaclesoftheirpreviouslife，andtotheeffortsandthemeanswhichtheyemployedforvanquishingthem，aswellastotheadvantageswhichtheysecuredforthemselves，forthecountriesinwhichtheysettled，andforthecountrytowhichtheyowedtheirbirth。“——
GENERALMENABREA，CirculartoItalianConsuls。
WhenCountMenabreawasPrimeMinisterofItaly，hecausedadespatchtobepreparedandissuedtoItalianConsulsinallpartsoftheworld，invitingthemtocollectandforwardtohim“biographicalnoticesrespectingtheItalianswhohavehonourablyadvancedthemselvesinforeigncountries。“
Hisobject，inissuingthedespatch，wastocollectinformationastothelivesofhiscompatriotslivingabroad，inordertobringoutabooksimilarto’Self-help，’theexamplescitedinwhichweretobedrawnexclusivelyfromthelivesofItaliancitizens。Suchawork，heintimated，“ifitwereoncecirculatedamongthemasses，couldnotfailtoexcitetheiremulationandencouragethemtofollowtheexamplesthereinsetforth，“while“inthecourseoftimeitmightexerciseapowerfulinfluenceontheincreasedgreatnessofourcountry。“
WeareinformedbyCountMenabreathat，althoughnospecialworkhasbeenpublishedfromthebiographicalnoticescollectedinanswertohisdespatch，yetthattheVolereePotere’WillisPower’ofProfessorLessona，issuedafewyearsago，sufficientlyanswersthepurposewhichhecontemplated，andfurnishesmanyexamplesofthepatientindustryanduntiringperseveranceofItaliansinallpartsoftheworld。ManyimportantillustrationsoflifeandcharacterarenecessarilyomittedfromProfessorLessona’sinterestingwork。Amongthesemaybementionedthesubjectofthefollowingpages，——adistinguishedItalianwhoentirelycorrespondstoCountMenabrea’sdescription——onewho，inthefaceofthegreatestdifficulties，raisedhimselftoaneminentpublicposition，atthesametimethatheconferredthegreatestbenefitsuponthecountryinwhichhesettledandcarriedonhisindustrialoperations。WemeanCharlesBianconi，andhisestablishmentofthegreatsystemofcarcommunicationthroughoutIreland。[1]
CharlesBianconiwasbornin1786，atthevillageofTregolo，situatedintheLombardHighlandsofLaBrianza，abouttenmilesfromComo。ThelastelevationsoftheAlpsdisappearinthedistrict；andthegreatplainofLombardyextendstowardsthesouth。Theregionisknownforitsrichnessandbeauty；theinhabitantsbeingcelebratedforthecultivationofthemulberryandtherearingofthesilkworm，thefinestsilkinLombardybeingproducedintheneighbourhood。Indeed，Bianconi’sfamily，likemostofthevillagers，maintainedthemselvesbythesilkculture。
Charleshadthreebrothersandonesister。Whenofasufficientage，hewassenttoschool。TheAbbeRadicalihadturnedoutsomegoodscholars；butwithCharlesBianconihisfailurewascomplete。Thenewpupilprovedatremendousdunce。Hewasverywild，verybold，andveryplucky；buthelearnednexttonothing。
Learningtookaslittleeffectuponhimaspouringwateruponaduck’sback。Accordingly，whenheleftschoolattheageofsixteen，hewasalmostasignorantaswhenhehadenteredit；andagreatdealmorewilful。
YoungBianconihadnowarrivedattheageatwhichhewasexpectedtodosomethingforhisownmaintenance。Hisfatherwishedtothrowhimuponhisownresources；andashewouldsoonbesubjecttotheconscription，hethoughtofsendinghimtosomeforeigncountryinordertoavoidtheforcedservice。Youngfellows，whohadanyloveoflabourorpromptingsofindependenceinthem，werethenaccustomedtoleavehomeandcarryontheiroccupationsabroad。ItwasacommonpracticeforworkmenintheneighbourhoodofComotoemigratetoEnglandandcarryonvarioustrades；moreparticularlythemanufactureandsaleofbarometers，looking-glasses，images，prints，pictures，andotherarticles。
Accordingly，Bianconi’sfatherarrangedwithoneAndreaFaronitotaketheyoungmantoEnglandandinstructhiminthetradeofprint-selling。BianconiwastobeFaroni’sapprenticeforeighteenmonths；andintheeventofhisnotlikingtheoccupation，hewastobeplacedunderthecareofColnaghi，afriendofhisfather’s，whowasthenmakingconsiderableprogressasaprint-sellerinLondon；andwhoafterwardssucceededinachievingaconsiderablefortuneandreputation。
Bianconimadehispreparationsforleavinghome。AlittlefestiveentertainmentwasgivenatalittleinninComo，atwhichthewholefamilywerepresent。ItwasasadthingforBianconi’smothertotakeleaveofherboy，wildthoughhewas。Ontheoccasionofthispartingceremony，shefaintedoutright，atwhichtheyoungfellowthoughtthatthingswereassumingaratherseriousaspect。AshefinallyleftthefamilyhomeatTregolo，thelastwordshismothersaidtohimwerethese——wordswhichheneverforgot:“Whenyourememberme，thinkofmeaswaitingatthiswindow，watchingforyourreturn。“
BesidesCharlesBianconi，Faronitookthreeotherboysunderhischarge。Onewasthesonofasmallvillageinnkeeper，anotherthesonofatailor，andthethirdthesonofaflax-dealer。
Thisparty，underchargeofthePadre，ascendedtheAlpsbytheValSanGiacomoroad。FromthesummitofthepasstheysawtheplainsofLombardystretchingawayinthebluedistance。TheysooncrossedtheSwissfrontier，andthenBianconifoundhimselffinallyseparatedfromhome。Henowfelt，thatwithoutfurtherhelpfromfriendsorrelatives，hehadhisownwaytomakeintheworld。
ThepartyoftravellersdulyreachedEngland；butFaroni，withoutstoppinginLondon，tookthemovertoIrelandatonce。TheyreachedDublininthesummerof1802，andlodgedinTempleBar，nearEssexBridge。ItwassomelittletimebeforeFaronicouldsendouttheboystosellpictures。Firsthehadtheleadenframestocast；thentheyhadtobetrimmedandcoloured；andthenthepictures——mostlyofsacredsubjects，orofpubliccharacters——hadtobemounted。Theflowers；whichwereofwax，hadalsotobepreparedandfinished，readyforsaletothepassers-by。
WhenBianconiwentintothestreetsofDublintosellhismountedprints，hecouldnotspeakawordofEnglish。Hecouldonlysay，“Buy，buy！“Everybodyspoketohimanunknowntongue。Whenaskedtheprice，hecouldonlyindicatebyhisfingersthenumberofpencehewantedforhisgoods。AtlengthhelearnedalittleEnglish，——atleastsufficient“fortheroad；“andthenhewassentintothecountrytosellhismerchandize。HewasdespatchedeveryMondaymorningwithaboutfortyshillings’worthofstock，andorderedtoreturnhomeonSaturdays，orasmuchsoonerasheliked，ifhehadsoldallthepictures。Theonlymoneyhismasterallowedhimatstartingwasfourpence。WhenBianconiremonstratedatthesmallnessoftheamount，Faronianswered，“Whileyouhavegoodsyouhavemoney；makehastetosellyourgoods！“
Duringhisapprenticeship，Bianconilearntmuchofthecountrythroughwhichhetravelled。Hewasconstantlymakingacquaintanceswithnewpeople，andvisitingnewplaces。AtWaterfordhedidagoodtradeinsmallprints。BesidestheScripturepieces，hesoldportraitsoftheRoyalFamily，aswellasofBonaparteandhismostdistinguishedgenerals。“Bony“wasthedreadofallmagistrates，especiallyinIreland。AtPassage，nearWaterford，BianconiwasarrestedforhavingsoldaleadenframedpictureofthefamousFrenchEmperor。Hewasthrownintoacoldguard-room，andspentthenighttherewithoutbed，orfire，orfood。Nextmorninghewasdischargedbythemagistrate，butcautionedthathemustnotsellanymoreofsuchpictures。
ManythingsstruckBianconiinmakinghisfirstjourneysthroughIreland。Hewasastonishedatthedram-drinkingofthemen，andthepipe-smokingofthewomen。Theviolentfaction-fightswhichtookplaceatthefairswhichhefrequented，wereofakindwhichhehadneverbeforeobservedamongthepacificpeopleofNorthItaly。Thesefaction-fightsweretheresult，partlyofdram-drinking，andpartlyofthefightingmaniawhichthenprevailedinIreland。Therewerealsonumbersofcrippledanddeformedbeggarsineverytown，——quarrellingandfightinginthestreets，——rowsanddrinkingsatwakes，——gambling，duelling，andriotouslivingamongstallclassesofthepeople，——thingswhichcouldnotbutstrikeanyordinaryobserveratthetime，butwhichhavenow，forthemostpart，happilypassedaway。
Attheendofeighteenmonths，Bianconi’sapprenticeshipwasout；
andFaronithenofferedtotakehimbacktohisfather，incompliancewiththeoriginalunderstanding。ButBianconihadnowishtoreturntoItaly。Faronithenmadeovertohimthemoneyhehadretainedonhisaccount，andBianconisetupbusinessforhimself。Hewasnowabouteighteenyearsold；hewasstrongandhealthy，andabletowalkwithaheavyloadonhisbackfromtwentytothirtymilesaday。Heboughtalargecase，filleditwithcolouredprintsandotherarticles，andstartedfromDublinonatourthroughthesouthofIreland。Hesucceeded，likemostpersonswholabourdiligently。Thecurly-hairedItalianladbecameageneralfavourite。Hetookhisnativepolitenesswithhimeverywhere；andmademanyfriendsamonghisvariouscustomersthroughoutthecountry。
Bianconiusedtosaythatitwasaboutthistimewhenhewascarryinghisheavycaseuponhisback，weighingatleastahundredpounds——thattheideabegantostrikehim，ofsomecheapmethodofconveyancebeingestablishedfortheaccommodationofthepoorerclassesinIreland。Ashedismantledhimselfofhiscaseofpictures，andsatweariedandrestingonthemilestonesalongtheroad，hepuzzledhismindwiththethought，“Whyshouldpoorpeoplewalkandtoil，andrichpeoplerideandtaketheirease？Couldnotsomemethodbedevisedbywhichpoorpeoplealsomighthavetheopportunityoftravellingcomfortably？“
ItwillthusbeseenthatBianconiwasalreadybeginningtothinkaboutthematter。Whenasked，notlongbeforehisdeath，howitwasthathehadfirstthoughtofstartinghisextensiveCarestablishment，heanswered，“Itgrewoutofmyback！“Itwasthehundredweightofpicturesonhisdorsalmusclesthatstimulatedhisthinkingfaculties。Butthetimeforstartinghisgreatexperimenthadnotyetarrived。
Bianconiwanderedaboutfromtowntotownfornearlytwoyears。
Thepicture-casebecameheavierthanever。Foratimehereplaceditwithaportfolioofunframedprints。Thenhebecametiredofthewanderinglife，andin1806settleddownatCarrick-on-Suirasaprint-sellerandcarverandgilder。Hesuppliedhimselfwithgold-leaffromWaterford，towhichtownheusedtoproceedbyTomMorrissey’sboat。Althoughthedistancebyroadbetweenthetownswasonlytwelvemiles，itwasabouttwenty-fourbywater，inconsequenceofthewindingsoftheriverSuir。Besides，theboatcouldonlygowhenthestateofthetidepermitted。Timewasoflittleconsequence；anditoftentookhalfadaytomakethejourney。Inthecourseofoneofhisvoyages，Bianconigothimselfsothoroughlysoakedbyrainandmudthathecaughtaseverecold，whichranintopleurisy，andlaidhimupforabouttwomonths。Hewascarefullyattendedtobyagood，kindphysician，Dr。White，whowouldnottakeapennyforhismedicineandnursing。