Notes by the Way/Chapter 2

​

1896, Jan.
Jubilee of The
Daily News.The first number of The Daily News was published on the 21st of January, 1846, and in its Jubilee issue Mr. Justin McCarthy, M.P., and Sir John Robinson give an interesting account of the paper's rise and progress, together with portraits of Charles Dickens (its first editor), Charles Wentworth Dilke, Douglas Jerrold, Father Prout, Harriet Martineau, and others who have been connected with the journal. From this history it appears that Dickens brought a powerful staff with him. This included William Johnson Fox, the eloquent orator of the Corn Law League, who wrote the first leading article, Douglas Jerrold, and John Forster, while the first musical and dramatic critic was George Hogarth. Mr. Dickens was editor for only four months, being succeeded by his friend and biographer John Forster.

Charles
Wentworth
Dilke
as Manager.In April, 1846, Charles Wentworth Dilke and his son took the management for three years. They at once reduced the price, thus adopting the plan which had been so successful with The Athenæum. In this way The Daily News became the forerunner of the cheap daily press.^[1] While Mr. Dilke had control every effort was made to obtain the earliest intelligence, and The Daily News was the first paper to spread in the provinces the tidings of the revolutionary struggles of 1848.

Editors and
contributors.The editors of The Daily News have been Charles Dickens, John Forster, Eyre Evans Crowe, Frederick Knight Hunt, William Weir, Thomas Walker (who resigned in 1869, having been appointed by Mr. Gladstone to the editorship of The London Gazette), Edward Dicey, Frank Harrison Hill, H. W. Lucy, and Sir John Robinson; while among its contributors have been Father Prout (its first correspondent at Rome), Harriet Martineau (who for some time wrote daily for its columns), Sir James Stephen, William Black, Archibald Forbes, Edmund Yates, Frances Power Cobbe, Prof. Masson, Henry Labouchere, W. Fraser Rae, George R. Sims, and many others.

It is now almost forgotten that on September 1st, 1846, the proprietors of The Daily News started an evening paper, The Express. Mr. Thomas Britton, the publisher of The Daily News, who had ​been connected with the paper since the time of Dickens (he has since been succeeded by Mr. Robert Morley), mentions that the editor appointed was Mr. Thomas Elliott, who owned and edited The London Mail. The Express was first published at two-pence, and was reduced to a penny on the 13th of February, 1868; but it closed its existence on the 30th of April, 1869.

The first number of The Daily News was full of advertisements of railway schemes; and it is curious to read a report of the meeting of the London and South-Western Railway, in which Mr. W. J. Chaplin, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, states that "the directors have been induced to extend their line from Waterloo to London Bridge."

Moy Thomas's
account of
first number.Mr. W. Moy Thomas contributes to the number an interesting account of 'Our First Number,' a facsimile of which is issued to commemorate the Jubilee.

1896, Feb. 1.
Jubilee of
The Guardian







Owes its birth
to Newman's
secession.The 21st of January, 1846, may well be regarded as a red-letter day in the annals of the English press, as being the birthday of two such papers as The Daily News and The Guardian. The Guardian last Wednesday week gave a special supplement to commemorate its anniversary, and, as in the case of The Daily News, we have been invited to take a peep behind the veil which usually preserves the anonymity of the editorial "we." This supplement opens with an account of the origin of The Guardian, and states that it was suggested by the ominous notices that followed the reception into the Roman Catholic Church of two distinguished converts the Rev. J. B. Morris, well known to newspaper readers of that day under the initials N. E. S., and the Rev. J. Spencer Northcote, subsequently preacher of Oscott College." It was the secession of Newman which really gave birth to The Guardian. That startling incident foreshadowed though it had been to the inner circle which knew him intimately fell like a thunderbolt on the outer world, and shook to its foundations the edifice of the Church revival."

The early days of The Guardian, like those of most papers, were days of anxiety and hard struggle. There were only a few founders Rogers (not yet Lord Blachford, but a leading official in the Colonial Office), James Mozley, Church, Mountague Bernard, and Thomas and Arthur Haddan. They were totally inexperienced in the handling of a newspaper, and invited James Holmes, the printer of The Athenæum, to take a share in the new venture and to print the paper. This, however, he declined. In July, 1846, its fortunes became so desperate that it was on the point of being added to the long list of dead journals, when, curiously enough, the ​paper which had been started to sustain a Church revival was saved from an early death by its appreciation of physical science. A review, in March, by Church, of 'The Vestiges of Creation,' had previously attracted the notice of Prof. Owen; and in October a vindication of Le Verrier's claim to the first public announcement of the new planet Neptune drew a grateful letter from the astronomer, caused The Guardian to be quoted in The Daily News, and thus brought it into general notice.

Contributors.Among The Guardian's contributors may be mentioned Manning, Henry Wilberforce, Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, Henry Coleridge, Beresford Hope, Chretien (of Oriel), Freeman (the historian), Mackarness, and Stafford Northcote, while he was private secretary to Mr. Gladstone. Its chief success is due to the indomitable energy and perseverance of Martin Richard Sharp, who on July 1st, 1846, succeeded John Fullagar as publisher, in addition to which he took an active part in its direction, afterwards becoming editor, and so continued until his retirement in 1883.

National
Education:
supports
Forster's Bill. The first number of The Guardian was of the same size as The Saturday Review. It contained only sixteen pages, and was published at sixpence. On the 29th of April, 1846, the paper was enlarged, and has so continued. It is of interest to note the position taken by The Guardian on some leading questions. One of the first public events with which it had to deal was when Cardinal Wiseman announced the reconstitution of the Roman Catholic Church in England by the assignment of local titles to its prelates. The Guardian took the same line as Mr. Gladstone, and opposed Lord John Russell's Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, pointing out the futility of the Papal Bull, and entirely refusing to be a party to any penal legislation against it. The rapid development of physical science, and its effect on theology and the Bible narrative, caused "alarm" and "uncompromising opposition" to many. "These impulses were never shared by The Guardian. It pleaded from the first for an open mind and a fair consideration." As regards the "Higher Criticism," it endeavoured to show that "the direction in which this 'science' also 'is pointing' is one that may be used to help instead of hinder faith." On the question of national education the paper has given "a general support to Mr. Forster's Bill of 1870 in its original form, which, while it insisted on a Conscience Clause, left to the local managers the power of regulating the religious instruction. On the other hotly disputed points, both of which have since been accepted namely, free education and compulsory attendance while we supported the Bill in its refusal to abolish the small fees paid by the parents, we only claimed for the managers of voluntary schools that they should have the same

power of compelling attendance which was given to the School Boards." ​

Gladstone
a constant
reader.A word of praise should be accorded to the careful printing and handsome appearance of the Jubilee number. Both paper and type are excellent. It may be well to note that there is no truth in the statement that Mr. Gladstone is, or ever has been, connected with The Guardian, although he has been a constant reader almost from its commencement.

The Daily News says:—

1897, April 24.
Pope's Villa,
Twickenham"Some doubt having for many years existed as to the exact site occupied by Pope's house at Twickenham, the discovery of a large and deeply carved stone over one of the entrances to Mr. Labouchere's residence forms an interesting addition to the history of Pope's Villa. Alterations are taking place at the house, and the stone mentioned, having been freed from a thick coating of concrete, reveals the following inscription: 'On this spot stood until 1809 the house of Alexander Pope. The grotto that formed the basement still remains. 1848.'"

1897, June 19.
Pronuncia-
tionof Evelyn.Dean Burgon, in that delightful book 'Lives of Twelve Good Men,' includes a biography of Henry Octavius Coxe, "the large-hearted librarian" of the Bodleian. The Dean quotes the following he had received from a friend:—

"There was an irresistible drollery in Coxe's manner which there is really no describing. Sitting opposite to me at a large dinner-party (where all knew each other passing well), he overheard me talking to my neighbour about ' John Evelyn.' 'Why do you call him Evelyn ? ' he exclaimed, sternly, across the table. I thought (so ran the defence) that I had always heard the word so pronounced. 'Humph! ' (drily) 'that shows the kind of company you keep.'"

1897 Sept. 4.
Lady Monson.The portrait of this this lady, painted by Lely, to which allusion was made in 'N. & Q.' at 3S. vi. 251, was among the pictures sold at the Hengrave Hall sale on Saturday, August 7th, 1897. The East Anglian Daily Times of the 10th of August states that the price obtained for it was 195 guineas, and it was to remain in the house. The portrait is described as being in a finely carved ornamental frame, with a little figure of Justice on the top, and underneath the well-known lines from 'Hudibras.' ​

1897, Dec. 4.
Leigh Hunt's
London residences.Mr. Charles Kent, in his biographical introduction to 'Leigh Hunt as Poet and Essayist,' relates that
"early on Wednesday evening, the 9th of August [1859], I was with him again it was for the last time for him and for me at that last of all his London homes, 7, Cornwall Road, Hammersmith. There I remained with him, in the midst of the home group of his daughters and his grandchildren, until long after nightfall. In all my intercourse with him I never remember him more delightful. Throughout the evening he charmed us all by his varying moods, according to the fluctuating themes of the conversation among us. Late that night we all stood at the garden gate of his little villa to see him drive away to the house of his old friend Mr. Charles Reynell at Putney, where so soon afterwards, on the 28th of August, 1859, he died, within two months of the completion of his seventy-fifth year."

1898, June 18.
Hampton
Court Palace.In the course of the excavations for the effluent pipe of the new Thames Valley drainage along the towing path by the Palace gardens, it appears, from the following account in The Daily News of the 13th of June, that
"between the railings of the private gardens opposite the end of Queen Mary's bower, the foundations of the old water-gate or 'water gallery,' built by Henry VIII., have been cut through. The walls or piers are of immense thickness, being no less than twenty-five feet wide, of the hardest chalk, faced with stone. The opening through which the State barges passed is clearly discernible. On these massive foundations which were built in the river, formerly rose a large picturesque building of several stories. The structure was famous for being the place in which Queen Elizabeth was kept by her sister as a prisoner of State and in which she was privately visited by Philip II. It was afterwards occupied by the consort of William of Orange while Sir Christopher Wren was building the new State apartments, and after her death it was demolished, by order of William III., as obstructing the view of the river from his windows."

1898, July 2.
'A Word in
'Season'
by Dickens.In 'John Francis, Publisher of The Athenæum' (Bentley), vol. ii. p. 525, will be found the following:—
"On the 18th of November, 1843, in reviewing 'The Keepsake,' The Athenæum quotes a poem by Dickens entitled 'A Word in Season, which, 'we should think, will startle a round hundred at least of aristocratic readers in their country houses.'" ​The poem is given in full. The passage quoted by Capt. Kelso on June 25th should read as follows:—

1898, Sept. 10.
Who invented
'Bradshaw'?In The Athenæum for the 17th of January, 1874, will be found a letter from Mr. Kay, 'Who invented Bradshaw?' and on the 24th of January a reply from Mr. Henry Adams, the eldest son of Mr. William James Adams, giving full particulars as to the origin of the 'Guide.'

George
Bradshaw.In the notice of George Bradshaw which appears in the 'Dictionary of National Biography,' vol. vi. p. 175, Mr. G. C. Boase states it would appear that Mr. Adams, who was the London agent for 'Bradshaw's Railway Companion,' was "the first to suggest the idea of a regular monthly book at a lower price as an improvement on the 'Companion.' This idea was taken up by Bradshaw, and the result was the appearance, in December, 1841, of No. 1 of 'Bradshaw's Monthly Railway Guide' in the well-known yellow wrapper."

Previously to this the little 'Guide ' appeared only occasionally, and was supplemented by a monthly time sheet. ' Bradshaw's Continental Guide' first appeared in June, 1847.

George Bradshaw died at Copenhagen of cholera on the 24th of September, 1853, at the early age of fifty-two, leaving two sons, Christopher and William, who are both associated with the present large business of Blacklock & Co.

1898, Dec. 24.
The first
London
halfpenny
newspaper. The celebration by The Echo of its thirtieth birthday deserves record. The first number was published on the 8th of December, 1868. Messrs. Cassell, Fetter & Galpin were the originators; Mr. Galpin had special charge of the enterprise, and I well remember his calling upon me and telling me of his plans for the new paper; he was full of enthusiasm, and determined to make it a success. ​




Passmore
Edwards.



















Handel.The birthday number gives an account of its progress, the articles being written by Sir Arthur Arnold, its first editor ; Mr. Horace Voules, of Truth, its first manager and second editor; and Mr. Aaron Watson, of The Newcastle Daily Leader, its fourth editor. Portraits of these are given, together with a most speaking likeness of its third editor, Mr. Passmore Edwards. It was in June, 1875, that Mr. Passmore Edwards purchased the property, and for twenty years he was its editor. Mr. Edwards brought with him considerable practical knowledge, having already founded two papers, The Building News and The English Mechanic. Under his control the paper increased in prosperity, and he determined that the entire profits should be devoted to the public good. He has thus established Free Libraries, Convalescent Homes, and Homes for the Epileptic. The number of buildings thus provided amounts at the present time to sixty. In doing all this Mr. Edwards states that his "purpose has been to protect, nurture, and build up the weak, and to afford ampler opportunities for the strong to do the best for themselves and for the community." Among the early contributors were Frances Power Cobbe, the Rev. H. R. Haweis—one of whose articles on Mr. Bradlaugh began "There is no God, and Bradlaugh is his prophet" Mr. William Black, Mr. John Macdonell, and Mr. George Shee. It would appear, as the result of a series of investigations conducted by the staff, that the building which has been the home of The Echo for the past thirty years was the house in which the works of Handel were printed and published. A study of the front of The Echo building reveals the sign of the harp in two prominent positions over the windows. For particulars see Grove's 'Dictionary of Music and Musicians.'

One word should be added as to the very careful manner in which this birthday number has been produced. It is a worthy memento in every way of a wonderful enterprise in the world of newspapers.

1899 Jan - 14.
Old London:
John Latey.An interesting suggestion as to memorials of old London has been originated by Mr. John Latey, of The Penny Illustrated Paper. Mr. Latey proposes that, in order to preserve the finest specimens of architecture, as they are taken down for necessary alterations they should be sent to the garden at the South Kensington Museum, and there be reset so as to form a street. Mr. Latey regrets that Temple Bar, the old "Bell" Inn in Holborn, and the ancient "Tabard" should have been lost to London, but states that "time-honoured buildings enough yet remain the row of gabled houses in Holborn by Staple Inn, St. John's Gate, and Cardinal Wolsey's Palace in Fleet Street to form, when time is ripe to remove them, a desirable Old London street." ​

Father and
son.I unfortunately have to record the death of my genial friend John Latey, who died after a long and painful illness, borne with the greatest fortitude, on the 26th of September, 1902. His father, John Lash Latey, one of the founders of the London Association of Correctors of the Press, had been on The Illustrated London News from the first number, and in 1858 was appointed by [[w:Herbert Ingram|Herbert Ingram]] editor. His son, long known as John Latey, junior, began his journalistic career at the age of eighteen. On October 7th, 1861, The Penny Illustrated Paper was started, and young Latey contributed his first article to the paper of which he was afterwards to become editor. He was at one time assistant editor of The Illustrated London News, to which he contributed, under the heading of "The Silent Member," sketches of Parliamentary men and manners. He and William White, the father of "Mark Rutherford," may be looked upon as the forerunners of this kind of Parliamentary journalism, James Grant's 'Random Recollections of the House of Commons, 1830 to 1835,' being published in book form only (Smith, Elder & Co., Cornhill, 1836). In addition to his work as editor, Latey published a life of Gordon and a number of novels and novelettes. He was also for a time co-editor with Capt. Mayne Reid of The Boys' Illustrated News, which started with a sale of 100,000 copies. In 1899 he took over the editorship of Sketch. He is still gratefully remembered by authors to whom he gave encouragement in their early days; while as long as a friend of his survives the memory of him will be fondly cherished. It is pleasant to record that his son William is on the staff of Lloyd's Weekly News.

1899, Jan. 21.
The
'Roxburghe
Revels' and
The
Athenæum.On Tuesday, the 10th of January, 1899, Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge sold a curious collection of the 'Roxburghe Revels,' extracted from The Athenæum of 4, 11, 18, and 25 January, 1834. The MS. recording these 'Revels' was purchased by Mr. Dilke, "not for the sake of any libellous information it might perchance contain, but simply to afford our readers a little harmless amusement," at the sale of Mr. Joseph Haslewood's library. The MS., in Haslewood's handwriting, had the following title : "Roxburghe Revels; or, an Account of the Annual Display, Culinary and Festivous, interspersed incidentally with Matters of Moment or Merriment, also Brief Notices of the Press Proceedings, by a few Lions of Literature, combined as the Roxburghe Club, founded 17 June, 1812."

The Club claimed its foundation from the sale of the library of the late John, Duke of Roxburghe, which commenced Monday, May 18th, 1812, and extended to forty-one days, with a supplementary catalogue of three days, beginning Monday, July 13th. On Wednesday, June 17th, 'Il Decamerone di Boccaccio' was to be ​sold,^[2] and the Rev. T. F. Dibdin suggested that a convivial meeting should be held at the "St. Alban's Tavern" after the sale of that day, when a resolution was passed
"that the Roxburghe Society should have an anniversary dinner on the 17th June, and the number of members be extended and limited to thirty-one.
" It was proposed and concluded for each member of the Club to reprint a scarce piece of antient lore, to be given to the members, one copy being on vellum for the chairman, and only as many copies as members."

Among those present at the inaugural dinner were Lord Spencer, president, Lord Gower, Sir Egerton Brydges, Mr. Haslewood, and Mr. Dibdin.

The record of the Club includes the very interesting letter of Sir Walter Scott, dated February 25th, 1823, declaring his willingness to take his seat at the Club " as representative of the author of 'Waverley' till the author is discovered." He attended only one of the dinners that held on 15 May, 1828, when Earl Spencer was in the chair, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Althorp, Lord Clive, Mr. Phelps, Mr. Markland, and Mr. Towneley being among those present.

The publication of the MS. attracted much attention, and it was shown that while the members of the Club had spent two thousand pounds on their own stomachs, they had only found the paltry sum of two guineas for a bust of Caxton.

An account of these 'Roxburghe Revels' is given in the first volume of 'John Francis and The Athenæum.' The collection sold at Sotheby's is mounted and illustrated with numerous portraits and autograph letters.

1899, Feb. 4.
Blackmood's
Magazine: its
thousandth
number The publication on Monday last of the thousandth number of Blackwood's is an event in periodical literature. Founded in April, 1817, by William Blackwood, this parent and model of the modern magazine, a success from the first, has steadily, in spite of all competitors, kept on its way, and the birthday now issued from its old home, 45, George Street, Edinburgh, shows "Maga" to be full of life and vigour. This new number, in the usual brown cover, with the thistle and the features of old George Buchanan on the front page, will find a permanent place in libraries. Beautifully printed on good paper, it forms in this respect a pleasing contrast to the early volumes.

The contents are so well known that only a passing reference need be made. On the first page is a poem by Andrew Lang, 'Our Fathers,' and this is followed by an imitation of the 'Noctes Ambrosianæ,' No. LXXII., the last of the series in which our old ​friends the Shepherd, North, and Tickler took part being No. LXXI. The birthday is also referred to by "The Looker-On." With these exceptions the number has the usual contents, but specially appropriate is the second instalment of Sir John Mowbray's reminiscences.

Poem by
Neil Munro.In this addition to the 'Noctes' the sons of Scotland who are fighting the battle of life far from home are addressed by Neil Munro in words never to be forgotten:—

Edinburgh
Magazine.

William
Blackwood.



The Chaldee MS.' This anniversary will cause many to turn back to the early years. Apart from the contributions of well-known writers those volumes contain a remarkable record of the times. The first six numbers, under the title Edinburgh Monthly Magazine, were jointly edited by James Cleghorn, the founder of the Scottish Provident Institution, and Thomas Pringle, author of 'Narrative of a Residence in South Africa'; but with the seventh number Mr. William Blackwood took the entire control, changing the title to Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, It was in this number that 'The Chaldee MS.' appeared falling like a thunderbolt on Edinburgh.^[3]

Francis
Homer.Vol. I., April to September, 1817, opens with a memoir of the late Francis Horner ; and its literary contents comprise 'Remarks on Greek Tragedy'; a series of articles on Scottish gipsies, inspired, if not dictated, by Sir Walter Scott; 'Memories of the Somervilles'; a review of 'Lalla Rookh,' price 2l. 2s., and 'Manfred,' published at 5s. 6d.; 'Harrington,' by [Author:Maria Edgeworth|Maria Edgeworth]]; Dr. Chalmers's 'Discourses' ; and 'Sacred Songs,' by Thomas Moore.

The original communications are numerous and varied. Much space is devoted to the 'Antiquarian Repertory.' In an article on Savings Banks it is curious to find the title objected to. In the 'Literary and Scientific Intelligence' the important sale of the ​library of Count Macarthy at Paris in May is mentioned, when, among other treasures, the Psalmorum Codex, Mogunt., 1457, fol., fetched 12,000 francs. We also find that the Paris booksellers' petition for the repeal of the heavy duties on the importation of foreign books has been partly successful, and the duty reduced to ten francs per fifty kilogrammes metriques about two cwt. The monthly list of new publications is full of interest, and the published prices vary much from those of later times. The completion of the new edition of Chalmers's 'Biographical Dictionary ' is announced, 32 vols. 8vo.

Trial of
Wooler

















Presentation
to theDuke of
Wellington.






Sir Humphry
Davy.


Steamships
favoured.'Morte d' Arthur,' reprinted from Caxton's edition of 1485, "with an introduction and notes by Robert Southey, Esq., price 8l. 8s.," is announced in July. The stirring times of 1817 are brought to view in the ' Political Record.' We have the account of the attack on the Prince Regent on his way to open the Houses of Parliament; the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act; and the trial of Mr. T. J. Wooler, of The Black Dwarf, for libelling Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Canning. Mention is made of the coinage of sovereigns in place of the old guineas; the crossing of the Irish Channel in a balloon; the report from St. Helena that Bonaparte is in good health and looking well "less bloated than ordinary" but complaining much of Sir Hudson Lowe and of his being detained a prisoner, for which he knows no law; and that Russia is cultivating peace with all her neighbours and making extensive reductions of her army, but still with an eye to the Dardanelles. We have the Pacha of Egypt preparing to dispute the sovereignty of that province with the Ottoman Porte. We are also informed that the Paris census, taken in June, shows that the population exceeds 860,000, being 20,000 more than that of London; and it is recorded that Dr. Esquirol has read a paper to the Academy on a kind of mental derangement to which he gives a new term, "hallucination." A presentation to the Duke of Wellington of plate of the value of 200,000l. by the Prince Regent of Portugal is also noticed, as is the first survey of the wreck of the Royal George by means of the diving bell. Even a fire at Bankside is reported, at which, the water being low in the Thames, a tank of lime water was emptied into the engines, and it was remarked that the material thus wetted did not again take fire. It is also announced that the medals of the Royal Society have been presented to Sir Humphry Davy, and that a Committee of the House of Commons reports that steam engines of some construction may be applied with perfect safety even to passenger vessels. In Germany animal magnetism is in favour as a remedy for disease. All these, and many other things, are recorded in the 'Chronicle of Events.' Many of the ages among the deaths are indeed startling, sixteen during the six months being stated as over one hundred years, one being given at 130, and another at 117 ; but this was ​before the careful investigations of Mr. Dilke, Mr. Thoms, and Sir Cornewall Lewis.

Mrs OliphantThose who seek for information as to the founding and progress of Blackwood's will find full details given in Mrs. Oliphant's 'William Blackwood and his Sons'; in the notices of William and John Blackwood, 'Dictionary of National Biography' (vol. v.); the memoir of Christopher North, by his daughter Mrs. Gordon; the obituary notice of William Blackwood, by Lockhart, in the Magazine for October, 1834; or in Curwen's 'History of Booksellers.' Christopher North in the 'Noctes' (vol. iii. p. 70) said that "my chief if not sole object in writing for 'Maga' is the diffusion of knowledge, virtue, and happiness all over the world." If a like spirit be maintained we may expect "Maga" to live to add another "M." to its title-page; and in such a hope we may join heartily in the toast "To 'Maga' : her history is a glorious one. Long may she flourish, and may she ever be true to her old traditions!"

"Maga" : Ebsworth's reminiscences This tribute to Ebony "Maga" brought a "Note" from my old friend the Rev. J. Woodfall Ebsworth, to whom "Maga" had been dear from his earliest years, "when it was only five years old, and my father's favourite, so that I heard familiarly discussed among his friends laudation of its rollicking sprightliness which found a crisis in the 'Caldee' (alias 'Chaldee') MS. Those were bright times, when Auld Reekie was a power in literature, thanks to Blackwood (with whose family my father was closely intimate). I used," continues Mr. Ebsworth, " to meet Prof. Aytoun, Sheriff Gordon, and Ferrier of St. Andrews, as well as the great and genial 'Kit North,' Prof. Wilson himself. 'He looked like a lion with a hat on.' It was indeed a delight to hear Aytoun sing inimitably his own 'Massacre of Ta Mac Phairson' (with some bagpipe accompaniment), rollicking, but always gentlemanly and courteous."

1899, Mar. 11. London water supply.The Daily News, in its report of the sitting of the Water Commission on the 27th of February, rightly calls the following "ancient history" :—

"Mr. Clayton stated that in 1722 the Chelsea Water Company took water from the Thames near Chelsea Hospital. They had one reservoir in the Green Park, opposite the house since occupied by Lord Palmerston, and another in Hyde Park, opposite the house since occupied by Lord Beaconsfield. In 1739-40 their plant and works were broken up by frost. They were the first company to introduce filtering, and in 1829 they had filtering beds at Thames Bank. During the early part of the century they were under no obligation to supply water, and had no restriction as to charge." ​

1899, Mar. 25. The Gentleman's Magazine.I was preparing the following article when I was anticipated by Mr. Henry Gerald Hope, who contributed on the 25th of February, 1899, an interesting note on The Gentleman's Magazine, in which he expressed regret that, while there had been many laudatory comments on the thousandth number of Blackwood, there was no reference whatever to an old friend, viz., The Gentleman's Magazine.

While The Gentleman's Magazine may lay claim to being eighty-six years older than Blackwood's, it is correct to call Blackwood's the "parent and model of the modern magazine." All honour to the founders of The Gentleman's Magazine, for we owe to them a deep debt of gratitude for the stores of information on the current events of the day they have handed down to us, and made easily accessible by indexes. When established in 1731, The Gentleman's Magazine was a "Traders' Monthly Intelligencer," giving a summary of events and extracts from the various newspapers. The introduction states :—

"Our present undertaking is in the first place to give Monthly a view of all the pieces of Wit, Humour, or Intelligence, daily offered to the Publick in the newspapers (which of late are so multiply'd as to render it impossible, unless a man make it his business, to consult them all), and in the next place we shall join therewith some other matters of Use or Amusement that will be communicated to us."

Its "Monthly Intelligencer," January, 1731.This " Monthly Intelligencer " furnishes a vivid picture of "the good old times," as the following extracts indicate. In the first number, published January, 1731, we have a New Year's greeting to Sir Robert Walpole—

Guardian of Britannia's Glory,

Life and Soul of Europe's Peace.

Ode by Colley Gibber.There is an account of their majesties receiving the compliments of the nobility at the New Year, and among them Lord Carteret, who was graciously welcomed. "The Ode for the day composed by Colley Gibber, Esq., Poet Laureat,^[4] was performed; the Musick by Mr. Eccles." In this ode "grateful Britons " are called to "bless the year" :—

Your plenty to the skies you owe,

Peace is your monarch's care ;

Thus bounteous Jove and George below

Divided empire share.

Royal winnings on Twelfth Night.The 6th of January being Twelfth Day, "at Night their Majesties play'd at Hazard, for the Benefit of the Groomporter: and 'twas ​said the King won 600 Guineas, the Queen 360, Princess Amelia 20, Princess Carolina 10, the Earl of Portmore and Duke of Grafton several thousands."

The same night a notorious gaming-house behind Gray's Inn Walks was searched by the High Constable of the Holborn division with several of his constables, but the gamesters, having previous notice, had all fled.

Duel in St. James's Park. We have also an account of a duel fought on the 25th of January in the new walk in the upper park at St. James's, between Lord Hervey and the Right Hon. Wm. Pulteney, Esq.

On the 27th of February two publishers were taken into custody for publishing a libel entitled 'The Divine Catastrophe of the Royal Family of the Stuarts.'

On the next day the new church at Bloomsbury was consecrated by the name of St. George, as was also the burying-ground in the Fields adjoining.

On March 8th Charlforth and Cox, two solicitors convicted of forgery, stood in the pillory at the Royal Exchange, and on the same day five malefactors were executed at Tyburn.

On April 26th the death of "Mr. Daniel de Foe, Sen., eminent for his many Writings," is recorded; and among the appointments on the 29th of the same month is that of William Cowper, Esq., to be clerk to the Commission of Bankruptcy.

On the 7th of May the royal assent is given to a number of Acts, including one for raising 1,200,000l. by annuities and a lottery, and another directing that all proceedings in courts of justice in England, and in the Court of Exchequer in Scotland, shall be in English, and shall be written in such a legible hand as Acts of Parliament are engrossed in, not court hand.

On August 18th Edw. Mitchel was executed at Nottingham for forgery, made felony by a late Act of Parliament.

White-sheet penance. On Sunday, September 5th, a man of sixty years of age stood in a white sheet at the cathedral church at Norwich as a penance.

In the September number it is also stated :—
Death of wife of Peter the Great." From Mosco 'tis advised, that Ewdokia Foedorowna Lassuckin [sic], first Wife to Peter the Great, died in a Monastery near that City, Aug. 2 last. She was separated from his Czarish Majesty, and confin'd in a Prison for several Years; during which Imprisonment, she lost her only son the Czarowitz. When her Grandson Peter II. ascended the Throne she was taken out of Prison, and a little after had the Grief to see her Granddaughter, the Princess Natalia, depart this Life; who was soon followed by her Grandson Peter II."

On September 3rd it is reported from Moscow that "ambassadors are on the Road from the Emperor of China to demand the Czarina's Assistance against the Great Cham of the Tartars, who ​with 60,000 Men beats the Chinese in every Engagement, tho' their Army consists of no less than 400,000 Men."

On October 18th his Majesty settled 6,OOOl. per annum on the Duke of Cumberland for the support of his equipage, &c.

On December 3rd Mr. Richard Franklin was tried at the King's Bench Bar, Westminster, before the Lord Chief Justice Raymond, for printing and publishing The Craftsman of the 2nd of January, wherein was the Hague letter. After a hearing of about seven hours the jury found him guilty.

Princess of Monaco.In December it is also recorded that the Princess of Monaco, daughter of the Prince Antonio Grimaldi, lately deceased, set out from Paris, together with her spouse, jointly to take possession of that Principality; but, on pretence of going before to prepare things for his reception, she got herself recognized as the only rightful sovereign.

Mr. Andrew Chatto.Mr. Andrew Chatto, of the firm of Messrs. Chatto & Windus, the publishers of the magazine, informs me that, on reference to his office set, he finds that the second title was " Traders' Monthly Intelligencer." The number for September, 1731, first bears the woodcut view of St. John's Gate, and in this month the word "Traders'" was omitted. In later editions of the first number the word "Traders'" was omitted, and the woodblock of St. John's Gate was inserted. The title was again altered in vol. vi., 1736, to that of The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle, and so continued until 1834, when vol. i. of a "new series," called The Gentleman's Magazine, without further sub-title, was published, although it still retained its characteristics of being a "Chronicle." When Messrs. Bradbury & Evans became the publishers a second title was added, that of "Historical Review." In June, 1868, the character of the magazine was changed, when it became more like the modern magazine.

1899, April 15.
The Gentleman's Magazine,
1817.



Speech of Canning.



Committee of SecrecyThe eighty-seventh volume of The Gentleman's Magazine, completed at the close of 1817, the same year that Blackwood's was in its first volume, deserves notice, as showing the enterprise and careful attention to detail with which the older magazine was being conducted. The chief events of that year, which had been so full of anxiety and of peril to the nation, are fully recorded. "The festal blaze of war had ceased, but the sun of Peace had not attained its meridian" (speech of Mr. Canning on the reassembling of Parliament, Jan. 29th, 1817). The 'Miscellaneous Correspondence' and 'Reviews of New Publications' contain stores of information useful to the architect and the antiquary, while valuable contributions towards county histories the biography in these being especially interesting are given. The contents of 'The Historical Record' include the Report of the Committee of Secrecy presented on the 19th of February, in which details are given of the ​operations of the Spencean (or Spencean Philanthropists) and Hampden Societies. The evidence disclosed that there was to be a sudden rising in the dead of night; the soldiers were to be surprised; the barracks, the Tower, and the Bank to be seized, and London to be fired. The cry was, "No Regent, no Castlereagh! Off with their heads! No taxes! No bishops: they are only useless lumber!" On the same date we have Mr. Grenfell calling attention to the enormous profits made by the Bank of England; in twenty years (since 1797) the profits had been not less than twenty-seven millions. Bank of England profits.

Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act.



Drury Lane Theatre.On the 4th of March the royal assent to the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act is noted. On the 20th of March we have the Committee of Finance recommending that, after the death of the present possessors, the governorship of the Isle of Wight and the office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports should be abolished; and those interested in theatrical matters will find in the same number a report of the meeting of the proprietors of Drury Lane Theatre, at which it was stated that the total receipts since its rebuilding had been, for the first year, 79.925l. 14s.; for the second year, 68,389l. 3s.; the third year, 61,585l. 8s. 5d.; and the fourth, 49,586l. 17s.

Southey and 'Wat Tyler.'The same number contains a report of Southey's application on the 18th of March to the Court of Chancery for an injunction to restrain Messrs. Sherwood, Neely & Jones from the publication of 'Wat Tyler.'^[5] Sir Samuel Romilly resisted on the ground that it was not such a publication as entitled the author to the protection of the Court. He would venture to say that " a more dangerous, mischievous, and seditious publication had never issued from the press." The Lord Chancellor said he would take the book home to read, and the next day he refused the injunction. In the May number the leading passages from Southey's 'Apology' are given.

Cambridge Union.On the 5th of April it is reported from Cambridge that the Vice-Chancellor had commanded the Union to discontinue its discussions "as inconsistent with the discipline and objects of academical education."

Trial of Watson and Thistlewood.The June number devotes a supplement to the trial of James Watson the elder, who, with the other State prisoners, Arthur Thistlewood, Thomas Preston, and John Hooper, had been confined in the Tower. The trial lasted eight days, when, Watson being ​found not guilty, the Attorney-General declined to proceed against the other prisoners.

Proposed Copyright Act amendment defeated by oneOn the 19th of June Sir E. Brydges moved for leave to bring in a Bill that would have delighted Mr. Marston, of the firm of Messrs. Low & Marston. It was "to amend the Act of the 43rd of the King relative to copyrights, and so far as regards the Act passed prior to Queen Anne's Act, giving eleven copies of books published to the universities, &c., and also as far as regarded limited editions of books." Mr. Peel and Lord Palmerston opposed. Sir S. Romilly, Sir F. Burdett, Mr. Brougham, and Mr. C. Wynn supported the motion, the last named stating that he
"saw no reason why the author of a book should be subjected to a tax of eleven copies of his work to the universities any more than a man who planted timber should be subject to a tax of eleven trees from each plantation he might make to the navy of the country."
The numbers were: for bringing in the Bill, fifty-seven ; against it, fifty-eight.

Education: Brougham's Report.The friends of education will find Mr. Brougham's Report of the Committee on General Education, given in the September number, of interest. Among other particulars it mentioned the case of a rector who was principal of a school, with a salary of 1,500l. per annum, and who assigned the whole to his brother, another clergyman. The latter, not choosing to perform the duties of his office, made a journeyman carpenter the schoolmaster, with an allowance of 40l. a year. There was another instance of a school, with an endowment for the master of 400l. a year, in which there was but one scholar.

Holborn Viaduct anticipatedThe Holborn Viaduct is anticipated in the October number, which contains a proposal that an iron bridge should be erected from Holborn Hill to Snow Hill, and that a toll should be charged for the first ten or twelve years to defray the cost. Considerable space is given in the same number and in that for November to an account of the trial and execution of Jeremiah Brandreth ("The Nottingham Captain"), William Turner, and Isaac Ludlam for high treason. (The number of prisoners arraigned was thirty-five.) The execution of the three men is graphically described. "Nothing could exceed the horror which the whole scene excited." The article concludes with the words :—
"As this has been the first instance of the sort, of men being convicted of levying war against the King, since 1745, so we hope it will be the last."

More pleasant is it to read from Spain that Ferdinand VII., on visiting the prisons at Madrid lately, had ordered all the instru- ments of torture to be destroyed, and that he had abolished the torture in his dominions; that the King of Würtemberg had abolished the censorship of the press; and, with other items of ​Waterloo Bridge opened.home news, that of the opening of Waterloo Bridge on Waterloo day by the Prince Regent, accompanied by the Duke of York and the Duke of Wellington, when a salute of 202 guns was fired in commemoration of the number taken in the battle. It is also stated that the steamboats on the Clyde had come into general use and that it was possible to dine on Monday in London and with the Duke of Argyll at his romantic seat at Inverary on the following Thursday; and that the interior and exterior of the new Mint had been lighted with gas. The apparatus, which was on a new plan, was erected within the walls of the Mint. The gas was prepared not by
" distilling coals in retorts in the usual manner, but by means of a cylinder kept red hot and revolving round its axis. The cylinder, upwards of ten feet in diameter, produces during its revolution in 24 hours a sufficient quantity of gas to light 1,600 lamps."

Death of Princess CharlotteIn the November number considerable space is also devoted to an account of the death of the Princess Charlotte, taken from "the newspaper called The Day and New Times"; and in the last number for the year a report is given of the three celebrated Hone trials, when, notwithstanding the severe summing-up of Lord Ellenborough, the jury in each case brought in a verdict of "Not guilty."

Death of Madame de Stael.Among the many obituary notices we find the death at Paris on the 15th of July of Madame de Staël-Holstein, aged fifty-three. She had expressed a wish that
"for three days her corpse might be attended before being for ever inclosed in its coffin; and for three days, in defiance of the distressing circumstances reflection suggests, Augustus de Staël did not quit the chamber of his departed mother. Her remains are to be conveyed to Coppet for interment."
Her physicians were preparing for her oxygenous air when she breathed her last.

The preface to the second part of the volume, dated the last day of the year, is full of congratulation and gratitude for "the patronage bestowed during the long period of Eighty-seven revolving years," as well as felicitations to "our countrymen on the improved prospects which Providence generously offers to us at the opening of a New Year." It is said that sedition is melting away, that public credit is fresh and vigorous,^[6] and that "the comforts of the poor and the education of their children are the incessant objects of the benevolent." ​Cave and Johnson.Full information about Cave and the establishment of The Gentleman's Magazine is to be found in Timperley's 'Encyclopædia,' as well as an account of the difficulties he had to contend with in including a resume of the Parliamentary debates. In every department Cave took the most active interest; and Dr. Johnson, who succeeded William Guthrie in 1740 in the task of drawing up the Debates, relates of Cave that he
"used to sell 10,000 of The Gentleman's Magazine; yet such was then his minute attention and anxiety that the sale should not suffer the smallest decrease, that he would name a particular person who he heard had talked of leaving off the magazine, and would say, 'Let us have something good next month.'"
And such was Cave's unremitting care that Johnson observed to Boswell, "Cave scarcely ever looked out of the window but with a view to its improvement."

In The Gentleman's Magazine of the present day biography and history retain the prominence which have always been assigned to them; and under the head of 'Table Talk' matters of current interest are treated, while each number contains at least one short story. Mr. Chatto tells me that the number of contributors of more recent years has exceeded one hundred and fifty.

That this oldest of all the magazines may, for long years yet to come, continue full of life and vigour must be the wish of all who have enjoyed the vivid pictures of bygone times which, in such a consecutive form, are to be found in the pages of The Gentleman's Magazine alone.^[7]

1899, April 15.
Kaisar-i-Hind.

Sir George Birdwood. The recent death of Dr. Leitner calls to mind that he was the originator of the title "Kaisar-i-Hind " as the official translation in India of "Empress of India." Sir George Birdwood in The Athenæum of the 11th of November, 1876, describes this as being "a most happy translation," and says that the complete style inspite of the mixture of languages might be "Maháráj-Adhirája Srí Rání, Victoria, Kaisar-i-Hind," Great Sovereign over Sovereigns, Consecrated Queen, Victoria, Empress of India. In the Commemoration Gallery at the Oriental Institute at Woking is the only statue in existence representing Her Majesty in this distinctive character, and in an account given in The Daily Telegraph it is stated :—Daily Telegraph.

"It was executed at the time of the Diamond Jubilee by the Italian sculptor Signer Giuseppe Norfini, under the personal instructions of Dr. Leitner, and differs from all others in several essential particulars. ​The English Royal Crown, worn on the back of the head, had to be discarded, as resembling too much an Indian topknot, indicative of renunciation rather than rule. So the handsome crown on the Indian rupee was adopted as a practical and appropriate solution of the difficulty. Another feature of the statue is the 'a'rq-us-Saltanat,' or 'vein of rule,' over the eye or forehead, which Oriental tradition assigns to the person who is destined for sway. The Queen is represented as wearing several Indian orders, and the title 'Kaisar-i-Hind' is inscribed on the stone in Persian and Hindi characters."

1899, Sept. 30.
The Echo and
Albert Grant. Truth, in its isue of the 7th of September, 1899, contains some interesting personal information in reference to the late Albert Grant's connexion with The Echo. It appears that
"Baron Grant bought The Echo—then a capital property, without a rival in the trade from Messrs. Cassell, Fetter & Galpin, for 20,000l. He did not make much out of it, for he sold it to Mr. Passmore Edwards for a trifle under what he gave."

But within a short time Mr. Edwards sold it for 80,000l. "Not long afterwards he bought it back again at a trifle higher figure." Under Grant's proprietorship The Echo was brought out as a morning paper—"the pioneer, consequently, of halfpenny morning as well as halfpenny evening journalism." Truth states that Grant "was the first person who ever persuaded the morning papers to break their columns for an advertisement" that is, to extend an advertisement horizontally over the width of two or three columns. Although Baron Grant was a Conservative in politics, he made no attempt to alter the Radical principles of The Echo.

1899, Oct. 14.
Memorial to the
Poet Campbell at Boulogne.


M. Léon Morel.It is pleasant to record that the French have placed a tablet on the house at Boulogne where the poet Campbell breathed his last on the 15th of June, 1844. Advantage was taken of the visit to Boulogne of some of the members of the British Association, and on the 21st of September, 1899, the tablet was uncovered in the presence of a representative gathering of both nations. M. Léon Morel, professor at the Lycèe Louis le Grand, delivered the address, mentioning, among other works of the poet, "le petit poème militaire intitulé ' Napoléon et le Matelot Anglais,' car il interésse notre histoire locale, c'est un récit que connaissent tous les collégiens d'Angleterre, et bon nombre des nôtres." After reference to Campbell's part in the foundation of the London University, M. Morel closed his address by saying that the memorial was "a token of regard to a great man, and a token of old and sincere friendship with a great nation." ​Origin of 'Hohenlinden.'The numbers of 'N. & Q.' are full of interesting references to the poet, among others the origin of 'Hohenlinden,' with the criticism which appeared in The Greenock Advertiser 'Notices to Correspondents ' :—

Polish exiles at Campbell's funeral in the AbbeyThe Athenæum of the 6th of July, 1844, in giving an account of the poet's funeral in Westminster Abbey, mentions that at part of the service where we commit his body to ashes and dust to dust, "one of the Polish exiles cast upon the coffin of their friend some earth which he had brought with him from the grave of the great Kosciusko."

1899, Oct. 21.
The John Rylands Library.




J. Arnold Green.The opening of the John Rylands Library at Manchester on the 6th of October, 1899, was a red-letter day to all book-lovers. The collection includes the Althorp Library, which consists of upwards of 40,000 volumes. It was purchased by Mrs. Rylands in 1892 for something over 200,000l., through Messrs. Sotheran & Co., Messrs. Sotheby & Co. acting as agents for Earl Spencer; but long previous to this Mrs. Rylands, through her representative, Mr. J. Arnold Green, had already secured about 20,000 volumes in all departments of literature, including the finest collection of Bibles in the world, in which will be found the Wycliffe MSS. (secured privately from the Ashburnham Library), the Coverdale, a number of Tyndales, a series of Cranmers, together with a copy of the Gutenberg; and one of the Bamberg publication, a work practically unknown to bibliographers. The historical department comprises all the transactions of the leading societies of the world, not omitting that of Moscow. Natural history includes all the great serials and the finest copy of Audubon's 'Birds of America,' being a presentation copy from the author, coloured by him; also Gould's series of ornithological works. General literature is well represented by the leading authorities in every department, and the unique collection of the county histories of Great Britain must not be overlooked. These are all, without exception, large-paper copies, each volume having all the coats of arms illuminated in gold and colours. This work alone took an artist six years to accomplish. The entire cost of these histories exceeded 2,000l..

Dibdin's mistakes. The Rev. T. F. Dibdin, while he was Lord Spencer's librarian, undertook a catalogue of the chief rarities of the library. The notice of him in the 'Dictionary of National Biography' says of this that "here his lamentable ignorance and unfitness for such a work are sadly conspicuous. He could not even read the characters of the Greek books he describes; and his descriptions are so full of errors that it ​may be doubted if a single one is really accurate. On the other hand, the descriptions were taken bona fide from the books themselves, and thus the errors are not such as those of many of his predecessors in bibliography, who copied the accounts of others, and wrote at second hand, without having seen the books."

Block-print of St. Christopher.The collection includes the block-print of St. Christopher which was supposed to be the oldest impression from a woodblock bearing a date, this date being 1423 ; but The Athenæum of the 23rd of November, 1844, stated that an earlier print had been discovered, and on the 4th of October, 1845, gave a transcript of the Malines print which bears the date 1418. I reproduced this in 'John Francis,' vol. i. p. 79.

Basil Champneys.The building in which the Rylands treasures are placed is well worthy of them; it has been nine years in course of erection, Mr. Basil Champneys being the architect.

Dr. Fairbairn. The formation of this memorial to her husband has been to Mrs. Rylands a work of love. Not a volume has escaped her personal examination. At the opening ceremony Dr. Green, who, with his sons, has been very helpful to Mrs. Rylands in bringing her great gift to a successful issue, received the guests. Dr. Fairbairn delivered the address, in which he said, "While the library was to have its home in Manchester, it was not to be Manchester's alone it was to be England's, it was to be the whole world's."

Death of Mrs. Rylands. Since the date of this article, October 21st, 1899, the founder and three of those who took an active part in the formation of the library have passed away. Mrs. Rylands died at Torquay on Tuesday, the 4th of February, 1908. By her will she bequeathed 200,000l. to the library. This additional sum raised the amount she had expended on it to over a million sterling.

Dr. Green.Dr. S. G. Green had died on the 15th of September, 1905. He was from the first Mrs. Rylands's adviser and guide in relation to the library, and he became the prime mover in it, every detail being submitted to him. He was born in 1822, graduated at the University of London, entered the Baptist ministry in 1844, and later became President of Rawdon College. In 1876 he took up his residence in London, becoming first editor, and then secretary, to the Religious Tract Society, where his wide knowledge of literature and liberal views soon bore fruit in the publication by the Society of books of a higher class than it had hitherto issued, and that position is still maintained. Dr. Green's works include a 'Handbook to the Grammar of the Greek Testament' ; followed by a 'Primer,' a 'Handbook to the Hebrew of the Old Testament,' 'Handbook to Church History,' and a revised edition of Dr. Angus's 'Bible Handbook.' In a revised edition of the English Bible, 1877, which prepared the way for the Revised Version, he shared with Dr. Jacob the work of revising the New Testament. To those of us who had the privilege of his friendship his kindly disposition and ​Christlike character stand out even before his scholarship, for he has been well described as combining the intellect of the student with the innocent simplicity of a child.

Arnold Green.His son Arnold died on the 13th of September, 1907. To him was entrusted, as I have mentioned above, the collection of books not only in England, but also from all parts of the Continent; and had it not been for him, the Althorp Library would not have been secured.

Alexander Balderston Railton.Alexander Balderston Railton died on the 11th of September, 1904. He entered the service of Messrs. Sotheran in June, 1867, and became a partner on Henry Sotheran's retirement in 1893. He superintended the removal of the collection from Althorp to Longford Hall, checking individually the Caxton items and other incunabula. It was a pleasure to witness the delight and enthusiasm with which he would impart bibliographical information from his own vast stores. In private life he was an earnest Christian worker, and for years associated himself with the large number of young men who attended the ministry of Samuel Martin at Westminster Chapel. The Athenæum, in its obituary notice, well said of him: "His personality won the regard of all who came in contact with him."

Lectures and Exhibitions.By the kindness of Mr. Henry Guppy, the courteous Librarian of the Rylands Library, I have been enabled to make myself acquainted with some of its treasures. The Catalogues and Bulletins which he has edited are most valuable, and evince great care and labour. The Bulletins show the work and progress of the library, the accessions and gifts to it; and it is pleasant to record that the Governors do not confine themselves to the mere preservation and storage of the treasures, but seek to make them practically useful by lectures, demonstrations, exhibitions, and organized visits of senior scholars. As an instance of how interesting these exhibitions are, it may be mentioned that at one of them was shown the copy of the Gospels which was presented to Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her progress through the City in January, 1558/9, by Francis Newport, who, for the sake of his religion, had been compelled to fly during the reign of Mary. Other personal copies were those of King James I., of Elizabeth Fry (full of her marks and comments) , and of Thomas Cromwell (which afterwards belonged to George III.).

The various Catalogues now issued include one of an Exhibition of Books and Broadsides illustrating the early history of printing, specially arranged to signalize the visit of the Federation of Master Printers and Allied Trades last year. In the arrangement of this Mr. Guppy expresses his indebtedness to his colleague Mr. Guthrie Vine. ​History of the library.A brief historical description of the library and its contents can be purchased for a shilling. In this it is stated that John Rylands died on the llth of December, 1888, and that early in the following year his widow began to consider how best she could commemorate the name and worth of her husband. After careful consideration, she decided to establish a library in the very heart of the city which had been the scene of his varied activities and triumphs. While the building was rising and books were being accumulated it was announced that the Althorp collection might be acquired. This, although it consisted, as already mentioned, of rather more than 40,000 volumes, does not constitute much more than a third of the volumes now in the library. Mr. Guppy informs me that since the building was dedicated to the public, upwards of 40,000 volumes have been added, and he says : " It is our ambition to make of the library, not merely a centre of light and leading in Manchester, but a great reference library for the students and scholars of the North of England." He hopes before the close of the year to issue a dozen catalogues. With the object of encouraging research, the The John Rylands Facsimiles.Governors have decided to publish a series of facsimiles of some of the rarer books and prints, to be known as "The John Rylands Facsimiles."