DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

( 25 ) the patronage of the Duchess of Burgundy, turned his attention to the study of printing, though with what financial advantage to the mercer history fails to record. On his return to his native country he set up the first English printing-press, near the western entrance of Westminster Abbey. There he died and was buried. The first book printed in England was a romance on the capture of Troy. This somewhat detailed discourse on the origin of the printing-press may serve to show to what extent colossal results may accrue from the smallest beginnings, and also to what profitable account the human mind is capable of turning the most trivial circumstances. If Coster had not been endowed with the sagacity to discern that the toy of an idle hour could be developed into a practical pursuit, Guten- berg might have frittered away his intelligence in polishing stones, or making mirrors for the smart ladies of the Court, and the flood of light and know- ledge, which the subsequent cheap and easy sale of books poured forth over the world, might have re- mained obscured for some, perhaps for many years. It may be urged that Coster only made a lucky hit, that Gutenberg was favoured by chance, and Caxton by opportunity. Yes. But the whole secret of success lies in the knack of seizing a favourable opportunity, and favourable opportuni-