``To start with, let us obtain a definite idea of the arrangement of the types in both `upper’ and `lower’ case in the time of Shakspere—­a time when long s’s, with the logotypes ct, ff, fi, ffi, ffl, sb, sh, si, sl, ss, ssi, ssl, and others, were in daily use.’’

Mr. Blades then refers to Moxon’s Mechanical Exercises, 1683, which contains a representation of the compositors’ cases in the seventeenth century, which may be presumed to be the same in form as those used in Shakespeare’s day.  Various alterations have been made in the arrangement of the cases, with the object of placing the letters more conveniently.  The present form is shown on pp. 110, 111. p 109

Mr. Blades proceeds:  ``The chief cause of a `foul’ case was the same in Shakspere’s time as now; and no one interested in the subject should omit visiting a printing office, where he could personally inspect the operation.  Suppose a compositor at work `distributing’; the upper and lower cases, one above the other, slant at a considerable angle towards him, and as the types fall quickly from his fingers they form conical heaps in their respective boxes, spreading out in a manner very similar to the sand in the lower half of an hour-glass.  Now, if the compositor allows his case to become too full, the topmost letters in each box will certainly slide down into the box below, and occasionally, though rarely, into one of the side boxes.  When such letters escape notice, they necessarily cause erroneous spelling, and sometimes entirely change the whole meaning of a sentence.  But now comes the important question:  Are errors of this kind ever discovered, and especially do they occur in Shakspere?  Doubtless they do, but to what extent a long and careful examination alone can

Table
                              UPPER CASE. a’ e’ i’ o’ u’ SE DDag A B C D E F G a! e! i! o! u! || Dag H I K L M N O a^ e^ i^ o^ u^ ? * P Q R S T V W
  X Y Z AE OE U J X Y Z AE OE U J a: e: i: o: u: c, Pd A B C D E F G
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 H I K L M N O
  8 9 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 k P Q R S T V W

LOWER CASE.
& [ ] ae oe j ’ Thin and ( ) ? ! ; Leaders. fl
middling spaces.
—­ e Leaders. ff
b c d i s f g
ffl Leaders. fi
ffi