Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 12 - Section XIV
Maittaire.
Michel Maittaire was born in France on 29th November 1667[1] of Huguenot parents. His father brought him to England at the time of the flight of the Protestants from the dragennades. Among the naturalizations of 8th March 1682 are “Michael Mataire and Michael, his son” (see List iv.). Young Michael was sent to Westminster School, where he was a pupil of Dr. Busby. He has an honourable place among the Alumni Westmonasterienses, which list (edition 1852) contains a biographical notice of him. From Westminster “Mikell Mattair” proceeded to Oxford. It was usual to select some of the head boys for election to Christ Church, Oxford, or Trinity College, Cambridge. Maittaire found a patron in Dr. South, “by whom he was preferred to a studentship of Christ Church, in recompence for having drawn up for that dignitary a list of all the Greek words in Dr. Sherlock’s books which were falsely accented.” After a most creditable University career, he in 1695 accepted the post of Second Master of St Peter’s College, Westminster (commonly called Westminster School), but resigned in 1699, in order to devote himself to literature. He took the degree of M.A. at Oxford in 1696, and was incorporated M.A. at Cambridge in 1708.
He devoted himself principally to bibliographical and philological researches, and to the editing of the classics with notes and indexes (among others, the Greek Text of Anacreon, with translations into Latin verse and prose). His native country was proud of his fame, and gave him a passport to prosecute his researches in Paris. For this favour he was deeply grateful, having, like most of the refugees, a warm affection for France and the French. He corresponded with all the savans of Europe, by whom he was respected, not only for his erudition, but also for his character, especially for his excellent temper and love of truth. “Maittaire’s character presents a remarkable union of great abilities and profound learning with the most unassuming modesty.”
His earliest project (undertaken during the period of his mastership) was to prepare a catalogue of the Westminster Public Library. His work, to the extent of 230 copies, was printed in 1694; but the whole stock was destroyed in an accidental fire, except one copy. Although his name was not to be thus publicly associated with the library, yet he interested himself in it all his life. In the Chapter-Book of Westminster Abbey there is a vote dated 25th December 1730, “Mr. Mattaire to have twenty-five guineas for the pains he has taken to regulate the public library.”
In 1706 he published a book on the Greek Dialects, “in usum Scholar Westmonasteriensis,” affectionately dedicated to the school. His work long attracted attention. An edition was published at the Hague in 1738; he himself brought out a new edition in 1742, and it was reprinted at Leipsic in 1807 under the editorship of J. F. Reitz.
In 1709 he published his “Stephanorum Historia,” being an account of the lives and publications of the celebrated printers who bore the name of Estienne, aliàs Stephen, aliàs Stephanus; this book was printed at London by Benjamin Motte. This and his other great works being in Latin, I cannot extract anything to excite interest. But an Etonian printer in 1762, Mr Joseph Pote, in his preface to the first edition of Morell’s “Greek Gradus,” gives the following hints:—
“A material article in Printing is the correction of the press. And it is worthy of remark and well known among the learned, that the most correct impressions were made in the infancy of printing, when literature was a general concern, and the correction of the press was thought not below the attention of the learned. Relative to this, it may be gathered from the History of the Stephens’s (by Maittaire) that their printing-office was the common resort of the literati; and the reading of the sheets of their numerous productions as they came from the Press, became the constant amusement of the learned at those meetings. This happy circumstance, joined to their own learning and laudable industry, greatly contributed to the correctness of their impressions. And it is to be wished the like attention to literature in some measure yet remained.”
In 1711 the heresies of Mr. Whiston drew out from him no less than three pamphlets, proving him to be a learned theologian, and an ardent Christian. (1.) “The Present Case of Mr. William Whiston, humbly represented in a Letter to the Reverend the Clergy now assembled in Convocation.” (2.) “Remarks on Mr. Whiston’s Account of the Convocation’s Proceedings with relation to himself, in a Letter to the Bishop of Bath and Wells” (Hooper). (3.) “An Essay against Arianism and some other heresies, or a Reply to Mr. Whiston’s Historical Preface and Appendix to his Primitive Christianity Revived.” In 1718 he published his last contribution to theology. “An Essay on the Doxology of the Church of England,” occasioned by “Whiston’s Account of Primitive Doxologies.” He sent it to his early and constant friend Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, with this epistle:—
“I chanced lately to mention to you in our discourse something concerning the famous Whiston’s impudent letters to the Bishop of London, wherein he opposed our doxology; you will pardon me, my Lord, if I trouble your Lordship with this little pamphlet, which my zeal in the cause of religion moved me to write. Neither my studies nor calling have been turned to Divinity farther than a Christian ought who has some little knowledge of the original text of his Bible. I know your Lordship to be no less quick-sighted in those things, than in others which are more particularly the object of men in your high station. What I now offer to your reading must needs discover much of my imperfections and ignorance; but your goodness will, I hope, excuse its faults for the sake of its honest meaning. I have my aim, if I can confirm still the good opinion your Lordship has entertained of my steadfast and immoveable adherence to the Orthodox Church of England, as well as to the true loyal interest of a country to which (after I was driven from my own) I owe everything which I enjoy in the world. Aug. 2, 1719.”[2]
In 1712 was published “The English Grammar, or an Essay on the Art ot Grammar, applied to and exemplified in the English Tongue, by Michael Maittaire.” It was written under the conviction of the hardship of youths being “hurried into Latin before they are well able to read English;” “the ignorance of English can never be a good foundation or ingredient towards disposing of youth for the learned languages; the knowledge of it must serve as an introduction to them.” Accordingly for comparative grammar he makes English the familiar one, and the basis of observation as to differences and variations in the grammatical rules of languages. With this view he attempts to modify the English practice as to the first personal pronoun, suggesting to us that there is a want of modesty in the Englishman’s peculiarity of assuming the capital I. To give an idea how the change would look, I quote Maittaire’s prefatory note as to Elocution (p. 238), where after recommending Quinctilian, Book xi., Chapter Third, “which to translate would be worth some learned man’s while, who were an exact master of English and Latin,” he adds —
“I am indeed too sensible of my want of ability to undertake that task; and therefore i have only gathered some few general notions and rules, that i may not wholly be silent upon so necessary a part of a grammarian, orator and poet. In the perusal of it i found it very difficult to choose what to take and what to leave. I beg the learned reader to excuse my choice if it has failed in judgment; for i frankly own i have omitted some things which i wished to have inserted here, had i been able to give them that turn in English which they have in the Latin Original.”
It would be endless to enumerate and describe all his editions of the classics.[3] I may mention two folio volumes published in 1713, “Opera et fragmenta veterum poetarum Latinorum — profanorum et ecclesiastoricum.” In 1722 he published by subscription, “Miscellanea Gra;corum aliquot Scriptorum carmina;” among the subscribers were Mr. Peter Chrestien, Mr. Peter Dunoyer, and Mr. Thomas Pellet.
In 1717 he produced “Historia typographorum aliquot Parisiensium,” dedicated to Philip, Duke of Orleans, Regent of France. The Parisian printers whom he memorialized were Simon de Colines, Michel de Vascosan, Guillaume Morel, Adrien Turnèbe alias Tournebeuf, Frederic Morel, Jean Bienné [Bene-natus], Frederic Morel secundus, Claude Morel, Claude Morel secundus, Charles Morel, and Gilles Morel.
Next, he began a series of quarto volumes of Annals of the art of printing and achievements of the printing-press from its invention onwards (Annales Typographici ab artis inventae origine). Volume I., published in 17 19 contained the period from 1461 to 1500; dedicated to Thomas, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery. Volume II., published in 1722, carried on the work to 1536; dedicated to William, Duke of Devonshire, who had been Maittaire’s school-fellow at Westminster. Volume III., published in 1725, brought down the work to 1557. Volume IV. was completed in 1727, being the conclusion of the Annals, extending to the year 1664; this and the other volumes were published at the Hague.
The completion of this work left him in excellent spirits, as we may judge from his letter to the antiquary, Rev. William Stukeley, M.D., dated October 26, 1727:[4]—
“Dear Doctor, — When I look upon the date of your obliging letter, I am ashamed not to have answered it sooner. I heartily thank you for thinking a poor old friend worth your attention, especially when you have (as I perceive by your letter) so many delightful objects about you to engage it much better. The few friends I have (among whom I desire still to reckon you) are not increased since you left the town. I am too old now to create new friendships; and as the world now goes, a few good ones are best. Among those of your profession I stick still to honest Dr. Hale, who hath not been so fickle and inconstant as to cast me off. I will not turn my letter into a newspaper; you have (no doubt) enough of them in the country, and I live too much retired to be able to be a news-writer. My conversation never did, nor doth, much lie that way; I had rather read the ingenious description you give of your country villa than all the North and South news which stuff our daily papers. Your invitation thither is what I wish I could comply with; but the little businesses which still chain me to the town will not let me enjoy that happiness. Besides, there is a sort of laziness attends one who grows old, which maketh him loth to change his sedentary life. The disposition of your rural house (and none better fitted for those things than yourself) and your suitable inscriptions please me well. The criticism you make upon Horace (in the beautiful antithesis of te and me) and the parallel places you bring to prove it, convince me of the truth of your reading.
“I shall now close my letter with answering the kind conclusion of yours, whereby you are pleased to continue as a subscriber to whatever I publish — by which I see that distance of place makes no alteration in your friendship. I am just rid of my last volume of the Annales Typographici, and am ready to put to the press a New Edition of Marmora Oxoniensia, by subscription, every copy Large Paper, the same as what I have used before in the books you have been so kind to subscribe to. The copies of these books will be as few as I can, and for no other but subscribers; for I value more the opportunity of experiencing the kindness of my friends than the vain name of an author. I will make bold to acquaint you by a letter with my Proposals when they are ready.
“After having robbed you of some minutes (and it is a pity any moment of that time you spend so usefully and agreeably should be lost) by this homely scribble, give me leave to subscribe myself, with the honesty and sincerity of a friend, dear worthy Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,
The “Marmora Oxoniensia” consisted of descriptions and engravings of the Arundel Marbles and similar treasures possessed by Oxford University, prepared for the press and published by Prideaux (afterwards the famous Dean Prideaux) in 1676. Maittaire’s edition contained additions and valuable notes concerning the ancient inscriptions. It was published in 1732, and is considered to be superior, not only to the first edition, but to the later edition produced by Dr. Richard Chandler in 1763. (Marmorum Arundellianorum, Seldenianorum aliorumque Academiae Oxoniensi donatorum, &c, folio, 1732. Appendix, folio, 1733. Antiquae Inscriptiones Duae, Graeca altera, altera Latina, folio, 1742.)
In 1733 Mr. Maittaire began a new and enlarged edition of Annales Typographici, published at Amsterdam; the first volume included the period from 1457 to 1500. Three volumes followed (which I have not seen) continuing the work to 1697. It was completed in a fifth volume consisting of an elaborate index, published in London [Londini, apud Gul. Darres et Cl. Du Bosc, mdccxli.]. Each volume comprised two voluminous parts, so that this great work was really in ten volumes. The index was truly colossal, though he sent it to Sir Richard Ellys along with an epigram, beginning thus:—
Chare Eques, indiculum (munus leve) mitto librorum.
It will be observed that the new edition specifies an earlier date than the first for the invention of printing, but yet not early enough, as appears from a letter of Maittaire’s friend Rev. John Lewis, to Joseph Ames, Secretary to the Antiquarian Society, and at a later date the author of “Typographical Antiquities;” in this letter Lewis (a learned man and a useful author) says, on 18th November 1743:[5]—
“Mr. Maittaire has said that he knows of no impression of any book before 1457; yet he owns it is not to be doubted but that before that time a great many printed books were extant. Would it not then have been better not to have said so positively that the useful and invaluable art of printing was first invented anno 1457?
“Richelet’s account seems to me the truest; it is thus in English:— They who are most disinterested think that Strasburgh is the veritable place of its birth, and fix the date 1440. The most probable opinion is that Guttenburg conceived at Strasburgh the first idea of printing — that, not being able to accomplish that work or bring it to perfection alone, he went to Mentz, where he took Faust for a partner, and where they began their first impressions with a Bible in 1450 arid Tully’s Offices.
“This account agrees in the main with our John Fox’s. Does it follow that because Mr. Maittaire never saw these books, therefore there never were any such? He relies upon the evidence of Caxton, the Register of the Garter, and Fabian — the former of whom tells us Printing was invented at Mentz, 1455 — the other two, 1457. But if, as Maittaire intimates, there were books printed in 1457, the invention must have been before that time. Caxton tells us in his Chronicle that Printers of bookes were mightily multiplied in Mentz, 1460. Is this likely, if it was invented but three years before?”
In the next generation Dr. Jortin, while making use of Maittaire’s Annals, ungratefully depreciated him as “a useful compiler and nothing more.” But in the generation after Jortin, the Rev. William Beloe, lauding the editio princeps of Homer, gives a grateful and generous verdict. He says:—
“It becomes me to affirm that I have derived the most satisfactory information from Maittaire, whose work, now of great rarity, is so intrinsically valuable that no writer on these subjects can proceed with security or confidence without his aid. Indeed it may be asserted of Maittaire that he laid the foundation of this branch of knowledge. . . . Maittaire, unlike the generality of biographers, is not contented with giving a dry and accurate description of the book before him, but improves us by his learning and interests us by his taste. He is elevated almost to rapture when speaking of this first Homer. Milan (he observes) and Venice had some reason to be proud as having produced the first Greek books; but Florence could not bear to be outdone (erubuit vinci) and accordingly produced what made ample amends for her delay. What had hitherto been done in Greek typography might be said to resemble slight skirmishings before a great battle. For what is a single sheaf compared with the fulness of the harvest? What is the Grammar of Lascaris compared with the Homer of Florence? Whilst other cities were making feeble and immature efforts on the threshold, as it were, of learning, Florence, by one mighty effort, arrived at once at the summit and produced what defied all competition”[6]
In 1742 Maittaire’s influential admirers encouraged him to publish by subscription a collection of his own Latin and Greek poems, consisting of translations from the Bible; also of odes to his friends — to John, Lord Carteret; to the ducal family of Rutland; to Sir Richard Ellys, Baronet; to John Freind, M.D., &c. He himself had a modest opinion of these verses, and openly characterised the collection thus:—
“Pauca bona hic, quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura.”
The title of the well-printed quarto was, “Senilia, sive poetica aliquot in argumentis varii, generis tentamina.” About half of his subscribers were connected with the peerage. Among the other subscribers I note Mr. Peter Debury, Rev. Dr. Robert Freind, Mr. Latouche. The late James Joye, Esq., and Mr. Paul Vaillant; also foreign ambassadors, including “Archbishop of Nazianzo, Monsigneur Crescenzi, Nuncio from Rome to his most Christian Majesty.”
We have a glimpse of him in old age, giving encouragement to younger authors. To Ames, who was preparing a book on typographical lore, he gave many good suggestions. Lewis wrote to Ames on 2d July 1741:—
“Mr. Mattaire is right in observing to you the use which is to be made of Caxton’s and other printers’ prologues, See. We should not have known as much of Caxton as we do, had he not told us himself. Maittaire has not thought proper to reprint these Prologues, but only to extract from them what relates to the purpose of history.”
Three years later he showed his interest in a younger editor of Latin classics by writing thus:—
“As among the poets, Virgil is the chief, so the accurate English translation and learned notes which Dr. Martyn has made with much pains and labour upon the Georgicks — the most complete and exactly finished work of that poet — deserve to be recommended. M. Maittaire. Southampton Row [London], 1st July 1746.”
In Dcs Maizeaux’s collected correspondence all the refugees write in French, except Maittaire, who always uses colloquial English. On the 7th August 1734 he writes, with regard to two of his manuscripts which a printer had lost, and which Des Maizeaux had unsuccessfully endeavoured to recover, “Good Sir, I am obliged to you for the trouble you have been at . . . I own I had taken some pains in both these pieces, and when or whether I can ever take the same pains again I know not. ’Tis a nauseous thing (as the proverb has it) cramben recoquere. Hut vexing myself mendeth not the matter, though I am no Stoick. I am, Dear sir, wishing you your health and never to have the same ill luck with me, &c, M. Maittaire.” Another letter begins, “Worthy Sir, and my very kind friend,” and seems to indicate that a Mr. Humber had some right of property in Annales Typographici; one volume was just out, as to which he writes, “Many gentlemen who have already bought the foregoing volumes complain that Mr. Humber would oblige them to buy over again these volumes, or else they could not have this lately published.” Maittaire alludes to a criticising article in a journal entitled, Pour et Contre:— “The gentleman . . . is pleased to make himself very merry in ridiculing me; as his mirth can do me no harm, so it gives me no pain.” In the Gentleman’s Magazine there is this entry, Died in 1747, “Sept. 7, Michael Mattaire, Esq., author of Annales Typographici, and publisher of many classics with approbation, aged seventy-nine.”
I quote two Odes from the Senilia:—
In meum Natalem, 29th November.
Hâc me luce Parens lacrymosum misit in orbem,
Et fletus misero vox mihi prima fuit.
Sed cùm summa dies aderit, fuero-que renatus,
Non fletûs utinam causa sit ulla mihi!
Des igitur te, Christe, sequi dum vita superstat.
Vita,[7] opto, ut Christus sit mihi, morsque lucrum.
Morbo periculoso laborantis supplicatio.
Jesu Christe, meae salutis Author,
Ad Te pando manus, premente morbo,
Fessas deliquio auferente vires.
Sustentes animam metu trementem
Mortis, quam mihi sentio propinquam.
In quâ crimina nostra diluisti
Spem Crux anchora fulciat fluentem.
Antequam ultima nox meas ocellos
Claudens imperet hinc abire, dicas,
Jesu Chrise, animae: Tuus Redemptor
Sum, delicta tuae remitto vita.
Dictâ pace mihi, lubens obibo.
Maittaire’s portrait, painted by Dandridge, was engraved in mezzotint (jussu amicorum) by Faber.
*⁎* The sale of his library by Messrs Cock & Langford, the celebrated auctioneers, was a great event in the literary world. It took place in the end of 1747 and beginning of 1748, and occupied forty-four nights. The printing of the catalogue was committed to Mr. Bowyer; the books had been diligently read, and Maittaire himself had catalogued and described them. On the back of the title-page the auctioneer inserted an advertisement, in which he said:— “Though the books in their present condition make not the most ostentatious appearance, yet, like the late worthy possessor of them, however plain their outside may be, they contain within an invaluable treasure of ingenuity and learning. In fine, this is (alter fifty years’ diligent search and labour in collecting) the entire library of Mr. Maittaire, whose judgment in the choice of books, as it ever was confessed, so are they undoubtedly far beyond whatever I can attempt to say in their praise. In exhibiting them thus to the publick, I comply with the will of my deceased friend, and in printing the Catalogue from his own copy, just as he left it (though by so doing it is the more voluminous), I had an opportunity not only of doing the justice I owe to his memory, but also of gratifying the curious.”[8] A Latin letter, dated 1st June 1731, from Maittaire to Des Maizeaux, is printed in Nichols’ “Literary Anecdotes,” vol. iv. p. 561; the subject is Index-Making, a learned labour in which the writer confessedly excelled.
- ↑ The year has hitherto been stated as 1668 (no month or day being mentioned); but the reason seems to have been that his age at his death (7th September 1747) was seventy-nine. But his birthday was 29th November, and therefore 1667 seems best to accord with the dates both of his naturalisation and of his death.
- ↑ Nichols’ “Literary Anecdotes,” vol. i., p. 201.
- ↑ Such was his fame as an editor of Latin and Greek classics, that his name was sometimes used in titles of books not edited by him. These he publicly disclaimed, though in most polite language, in a memorandum written in the latter part of his life:— “As the Editor of several classics some years ago printed in l2mo at Messrs Tonson and Watts’ press, thinks it sufficient to be answerable for the imperfections of those editions, without being charged with the odium of claiming what has been put out by editors much abler than himself — he therefore would acquaint the publick that he has no hand in publishing the following books which in some newspapers have been advertized under his name, viz.: Sophoclis Tragaediae, Homeri Ilias, Musarum Anglicanarum Analecta, Livii Historia, Plinii Epistolae et Panegyrieus, Conciones et Orationes ex Historicis Latinis. M. M.” Nichols (as above), vol. iv., p. 558.
- ↑ Nichols’ “Illustrations,” vol. ii., pp. 799, 800.
- ↑ Ibid., vol. iv., p. 188.
- ↑ Beloe’s “Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books,” vol. iii. pp. ix. and 305 (London 1808).
- ↑ “Philipp I. 21. Έμοί γάρ τό ζήν ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ καί τό άποθανεϊν, κέρόδος.”
- ↑ Nichols’ “Literary Anecdotes,” vol. iii. p. 617, iv. p. 561.