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please to accept it as a small acknowledgment of the thanks；
which every German； and especially the sons of Koenig； in whose
name I send the book as well as in mine； owe to you for having
bravely taken up the cause of the much wronged inventor； their
father an action all the more praiseworthy； as you had to write
against the prejudices and the interests of your own countrymen。〃
I believe it is now generally admitted that Koenig was entitled
to the merit of being the first person practically to apply the
power of steam to indefinitely multiplying the productions of the
printing…press； and that no one now attempts to deny him this
honour。 It is true others； who followed him； greatly improved
upon his first idea； but this was the case with Watt； Symington；
Crompton； Maudslay； and many more。 The true inventor is not
merely the man who registers an idea and takes a patent for it；
or who compiles an invention by borrowing the idea of another；
improving upon or adding to his arrangements； but the man who
constructs a machine such as has never before been made； which
executes satisfactorily all the functions it was intended to
perform。 And this is what Koenig's invention did； as will be
observed from the following brief summary of his life and
labours。
Frederick Koenig was born on the 17th of April； 1774； at
Eisleben； in Saxony； the birthplace also of a still more famous
person； Martin Luther。 His father was a respectable peasant
proprietor； described by Herr Goebel as Anspanner。 But this word
has now gone out of use。 In feudal times it described the farmer
who was obliged to keep draught cattle to perform service due to
the landlord。 The boy received a solid education at the
Gymnasium； or public school of the town。 At a proper age he was
bound apprentice for five years to Breitkopf and Hartel； of
Leipzig； as compositor and printer； but after serving for four
and a quarter years； he was released from his engagement because
of his exceptional skill； which was an unusual occurrence。
During the later years of his apprenticeship； Koenig was
permitted to attend the classes in the University； more
especially those of Ernst Platner； a physician； philosopher； and
anthropologist。 After that he proceeded to the printing…office
of his uncle； Anton F。 Rose； at Greifswald； an old seaport town
on the Baltic； where he remained a few years。 He next went to
Halle as a journeyman printer； German workmen going about from
place to place； during their wanderschaft； for the purpose of
learning their business。 After that； he returned to Breitkopf
and Hartel； at Leipzig； where he had first learnt his trade。
During this time； having saved a little money； he enrolled
himself for a year as a regular student at the University of
Leipzig。
According to Koenig's own account； he first began to devise ways
and means for improving the art of printing in the year 1802；
when he was twenty…eight years old。 Printing large sheets of
paper by hand was a very slow as well as a very laborious
process。 One of the things that most occupied the young
printer's mind was how to get rid of this 〃horse…work；〃 for such
it was； in the business of printing。 He was not； however；
over…burdened with means； though he devised a machine with this
object。 But to make a little money； he made translations for the
publishers。 In 1803 Koenig returned to his native town of
Eisleben； where he entered into an arrangement with Frederick
Riedel； who furnished the necessary capital for carrying on the
business of a printer and bookseller。 Koenig alleges that his
reason for adopting this step was to raise sufficient money to
enable him to carry out his plans for the improvement of
printing。
The business； however； did not succeed； as we find him in the
following year carrying on a printing trade at Mayence。 Having
sold this business； he removed to Suhl in Thuringia。 Here he was
occupied with a stereotyping process； suggested by what he had
read about the art as perfected in England by Earl Stanhope。 He
also contrived an improved press； provided with a moveable
carriage； on which the types were placed； with inking rollers；
and a new mechanical method of taking off the impression by flat
pressure。
Koenig brought his new machine under the notice of the leading
printers in Germany； but they would not undertake to use it。 The
plan seemed to them too complicated and costly。 He tried to
enlist men of capital in his scheme； but they all turned a deaf
ear to him。 He went from town to town； but could obtain no
encouragement whatever。 Besides； industrial enterprise in
Germany was then in a measure paralysed by the impending war with
France； and men of capital were naturally averse to risk their
money on what seemed a merely speculative undertaking。
Finding no sympathisers or helpers at home； Koenig next turned
his attention abroad。 England was then； as now； the refuge of
inventors who could not find the means of bringing out their
schemes elsewhere； and to England he wistfully turned his eyes。
In the meantime； however； his inventive ability having become
known； an offer was made to him by the Russian Government to
proceed to St。 Petersburg and organise the State printing…office
there。 The invitation was accepted； and Koenig proceeded to St。
Petersburg in the spring of 1806。 But the official difficulties
thrown in his way were very great； and so disgusted him； that he
decided to throw up his appointment； and try his fortune in
England。 He accordingly took ship for London； and arrived there
in the following November； poor in means； but rich in his great
idea； then his only property。
As Koenig himself said； when giving an account of his
invention： 〃There is on the Continent no sort of encouragement
for an enterprise of this description。
The system of patents； as it exists in England； being either
unknown； or not adopted in the Continental States； there is no
inducement for industrial enterprise； and projectors are commonly
obliged to offer their discoveries to some Government； and to so
licit their encouragement。 I need hardly add that scarcely ever
is an invention brought to maturity under such circumstances。
The well…known fact； that almost every invention seeks； as it
were； refuge in England； and is there brought to perfection；
though the Government does not afford any other protection to
inventors beyond what is derived from the wisdom of the laws；
seems to indicate that the Continent has yet to learn from her
the best manner of encouraging the mechanical arts。 I had my
full share in the ordinary disappointments of Continental
projectors； and after having lost in Germany and Russia upwards
of two years in fruitless applications； I at last resorted to
England。〃＇1＇
After arriving in London； Koenig maintained himself with
difficulty by working at his trade； for his comparative ignorance
of the English languag