He was only twenty-four when he found his best fortune in
a good, affectionate wife. Through this lady's cousin, Mr.
Winchester, the young printer was shortly introduced to important
official business. His punctual execution of orders, the
accuracy of his work, and the despatch with which he turned it
out soon brought him friends, and his obliging and kindly
disposition firmly secured them. Thus, in a few years, the
humble beginner with one press became a printer on a large scale.
The small concern expanded into a considerable printing-office in
Northumberland Court, which was furnished with many presses and a
large stock of type. The office was, unfortunately, burnt down;
but a larger office rose in its place.
What Mr. Clowes principally aimed at, in carrying on his
business, was accuracy, speed, and quantity. He did not seek to
produce editions de luxe in limited numbers, but large
impressions of works in popular demand--travels, biographies,
histories, blue-books, and official reports, in any quantity.
For this purpose, he found the process of hand-printing too
tedious, as well as too costly; and hence he early turned his
attention to book printing by machine presses, driven by steam
power,--in this matter following the example of Mr. Walter of the
Times, who had for some years employed the same method for
newspaper printing.
Applegath & Cowper's machines had greatly advanced the art of
printing.
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