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diff --git a/36417.txt b/36417.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd45087 --- /dev/null +++ b/36417.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9903 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pictorial Press, by Mason Jackson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pictorial Press + Its Origin and Progress + +Author: Mason Jackson + +Release Date: June 13, 2011 [EBook #36417] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PICTORIAL PRESS *** + + + + +Produced by Marius Masi, Chris Curnow and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + +THE PICTORIAL PRESS. + + +[Illustration: HEADING OF 'THE JACOBITE'S JOURNAL,' 1747. + +(_Supposed to be Drawn by Hogarth._) + +(_See page 197._)] + + THE + PICTORIAL PRESS + ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS. + + + [Illustration] + + + BY + + MASON JACKSON. + + With One Hundred and Fifty Illustrations. + + + LONDON: + HURST AND BLACKETT. PUBLISHERS. + + 13 GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. + 1885. + + + _All Rights reserved._ + + + + +NOTE. + + +Some of the chapters of this book in a condensed form were published a +few years ago in the _Illustrated London News_, and my acknowledgments +are due to the proprietors of that journal for permission to reprint +such of the woodcuts as accompanied the text in that form. I have also +to thank them for their courtesy in allowing me to use several other +engravings from the _Illustrated London News_, including some from the +early numbers, which must now be reckoned among the curiosities of the +Pictorial Press. + + M. J. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + CHAPTER I. 1 + + The Pictorial Taste Universal--The Early 'News-books'--Development + of the Newspaper Press--General use of Newspapers--Establishment + of Illustrated Journals--Wandering Ballad-Singers the First + Newsvendors--The _English Mercurie_ of 1588--The Abolition of the + Star Chamber and its Effect on the Press. + + CHAPTER II. 8 + + Illustrated Broadsides--Sir Francis Drake's Operations against the + Spaniards--Papers of News in the Reign of James I.--The first + Periodical Newspaper published in England--Illustrated Tracts + relating to Storms and Floods--Remarkable Murders favourite + subjects with the early Newswriters--Murder of the Rev. Mr. + Storre--Murder in Cornwall--Apparition of Three Skeletons--Visions + in the Air--Attempt on the Life of the Duke of Buckingham--Fall of + Meteors at Bawlkin Green, Berkshire--The _Swedish + Intelligencer_--Passage of the River Leck by Gustavus + Adolphus--The Sallee Rovers--The _Weekly News_ of 1638, an + Illustrated Paper--The Irish Rebellion of 1641--The Plague in + London--Murder on board an English Ship--The Earl of + Strafford--His Execution on Tower Hill--Archbishop Laud--A + Burlesque Play about him--Attack by the Mob on Lambeth + Palace--Caricature of the Devil offering Laud a Cardinal's Hat. + + CHAPTER III. 63 + + Ben Jonson's Ridicule of the Early Newspapers--Fondness of the Old + News-Writers for the Marvellous--The Smithfield Ghost--The + Wonderful Whale--The Newbury Witch--Satirical Tracts and + Caricatures at the Commencement of the Civil War--Religion Tossed + in a Blanket--Caricatures of the Pope and the Bishops--Pluralists + and Patentees--Taylor, the Water Poet--_Mercurius + Aulicus_--Activity of the Pamphleteers--Welshmen + Satirised--Satires on Prince Rupert--On the King and Queen--The + Ladies' Parliament--Illustrated Tracts relating to Social and + Political Subjects--Sir Kenelm Digby's Duel--The King entertained + by the City of London, 1641--Executions in 1641--The Liquor + Traffic and Sunday Closing in 1641--Abuses of the Ecclesiastical + Courts--Ritualism and Nunneries in 1641--Truths enforced by + Lieing--Stage Players and the Plague in 1641--Bartholomew Fair in + 1641--Destruction of Charing Cross and Cheapside Cross--Strange + Apparition--Method of enforcing their Views adopted by the Puritan + Pamphleteers--Parodies of Roundhead Sermons--Matthew Hopkins the + Witch-finder--The _Welsh Post_ of 1643--William Lilly the + Astrologer--Three Suns seen in London on the King's Birthday. + + CHAPTER IV. 108 + + The Civil War--Flying Sheets of News--Disturbance at + Kingston-on-Thames--Plot against London--Riotous Proceedings at + York, and Conspiracy in Edinburgh--The House of Commons--The Royal + Standard raised at Nottingham--Battle of Edgehill--Prince + Rupert--The Lord Mayor of London--_Mercurius Civicus_--The + _Scottish Dove_--The _Flying Post_--The _Kingdomes Weekly + Post_--Cruelties of the Cavaliers--The 'Levellers'--The King's + Escape from Oxford--Funeral of the Earl of Essex--The Great Seal + Broken--Fairfax--Cromwell--Sea Fight in the Channel--The Prince of + Wales's Squadron--Mutiny at Norwich--Siege of + Colchester--Execution of Sir Charles Lucas--The King at + Carisbrooke Castle--Execution of the King--Confession of Richard + Brandon. + + CHAPTER V. 153 + + Decrease of Newspapers after the Civil War--_Mercurius + Democritus_--The _Faithful Post_--The _Politique Post_--Broadsides + for the People--The Hollow Tree at Hampstead--Prodigious Monster + taken in Spain--The Restoration--Trial of the Regicides--Execution + of the Regicides--Licenser of the Press appointed--Popular Taste + for the Supernatural--Apparition in the Air in Holland--Revival of + _Mercurius Civicus_--Murder of Archbishop Sharpe--The _Loyal + Protestant_--Frost Fair on the Thames--Monmouth's Rebellion--The + Bloody Assizes--Funeral of Queen Mary, Consort of William + III.--Increase of Newspapers after the Revolution. + + CHAPTER VI 180 + + Constant Attempts at Illustrated News--Increase of + Caricatures--The _Postman_, 1704--Fiery Apparition in the Air, + seen in London--Caricature against the Jacobites--The South-Sea + Bubble--Eclipse of the Sun, 1724--The _Grub Street Journal_ an + Illustrated Paper--The _Daily Post_--Admiral Vernon's Attack on + Porto Bello--The _Penny London Post_--Henry Fielding and the + _Jacobite's Journal_--_Owen's Weekly Chronicle_--_Lloyd's Evening + Post_, and the Trial of Lord Byron for the Murder of Mr. + Chaworth--The _St. James's Chronicle_--Illustrated Account of a + Strange Wild Beast seen in France--The _Gentleman's Journal_ of + Anthony Motteux--The _Gentleman's Magazine_ of Edward Cave--The + _London Magazine_--The _Scot's Magazine_. + + CHAPTER VII 219 + + Revival of Wood-engraving by Thomas Bewick--The _Observer_ + started, 1791--The _Times_ an Illustrated Paper--Illustrations of + News in the _Observer_--St. Helena and Napoleon Bonaparte--Abraham + Thornton and the 'Assize of Battle'--Mr. William Clement and + Illustrated Journalism--The Cato Street Conspiracy--Trial of Queen + Caroline--The House of Commons in 1821--Coronation of George + IV.--Royal Visits to Ireland and Scotland--Murder of Mr. + Weare--Illustrations of the Murder in the _Morning Chronicle_, the + _Observer_, and the _Englishman_--_Bell's Life in + London_--Prize-Fight at Warwick--Liston as 'Paul Pry'--'Gallery of + Comicalities,' &c.--_Pierce Egan's Life in London_--Death of the + Duke of York--Death of Mr. Canning--Opening of Hammersmith Bridge, + 1827--Mr. Gurney's Steam Coach--The Thames Tunnel--The Murder in + the Red Barn--The Siamese Twins--Death of George IV.--Opening of + New London Bridge, 1831--Coronation of William IV. and Queen + Adelaide--Fieschi's Infernal Machine--Funeral of William + IV.--Queen Victoria's First Visit to the City--Coronation and + Marriage of the Queen--Christening of the Prince of Wales--The + _Weekly Chronicle_--The Greenacre Murder--Mr. Cocking and his + Parachute--The Courtney Riots at Canterbury--Burning of the Tower + of London, 1841--The _Sunday Times_--Burning of the Houses of + Parliament, 1834--The _Champion_--The _Weekly Herald_--The + _Magnet_--Removing the Body of Napoleon I.--The _Penny + Magazine_--Charles Knight--Humorous Journalism of the Victorian + Era. + + CHAPTER VIII 284 + + The _Illustrated London News_--The Early Numbers--The Burning of + Hamburg--Facetious Advertisements--Bal Masque at Buckingham + Palace--Attempted Assassination of the Queen--The Queen's First + Trip by Railway--First Royal Visit to Scotland--Political + Portraits--R. Cobden--Lord John Russell--Benjamin Disraeli--The + French Revolution, 1848--The Great Exhibition, 1851--The Crimean + War--Coloured Pictures--Christmas Numbers--Herbert Ingram--The + _Pictorial Times_--Other Illustrated Journals. + + CHAPTER IX 315 + + How an Illustrated Newspaper is + Produced--Wood-Engraving--Boxwood--Blocks for Illustrated + Newspapers--Rapid Sketching--Drawing on the Block--Method of + Dividing the Block for Engraving--Electrotyping--Development of + the Printing Machine--Printing Woodcuts--Machinery for Folding + Newspapers--Special Artists--Their Dangers and Difficulties--Their + Adventures in War and Peace. + + CHAPTER X 355 + + Artists who have assisted in founding the Pictorial Press--Sir + John Gilbert, R.A., G. H. Thomas, and others--Wood-Engraving and + its Connexion with the Pictorial Press--Other Methods of producing + Illustrations--Wood-Engraving in England before and after Bewick's + time--Its wide Diffusion owing to the kindred Art of Printing--The + resources of the Art developed by Pictorial + Newspapers--Conclusion. Newspapers a Necessity of Civilised + Life--The _Acta Diurna_ of the Romans--Early Newspapers in Venice, + Germany, and the Low Countries--List of Illustrated Newspapers + published Abroad. + + + + +THE PICTORIAL PRESS: ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS. + +CHAPTER I. + + The Pictorial Taste Universal--The Early 'News-books'--Development of + the Newspaper Press--General use of Newspapers--Establishment of + Illustrated Journals--Wandering Ballad Singers the First + Newsvendors--The _English Mercurie_ of 1588--The Abolition of the Star + Chamber and its Effect on the Press. + + +The inherent love of pictorial representation in all races of men and in +every age is manifest by the frequent attempts made to depict natural +objects, under the most unfavourable circumstances and with the +slenderest means. The rude drawing scratched on the smooth bone of an +animal by the cave-dweller of pre-historic times, the painted rocks of +the Mexican forests, and the cave-paintings of the Bushmen, are all +evidences of this deeply-rooted passion. The child of civilised life +looks with delight on his picture-book long before he can make out the +letters of the alphabet, and the untutored Esquimaux treasures up the +stray number of an illustrated newspaper left in his hut by the crew of +some whaling ship, though he cannot understand one word of the printed +page. But the pictures speak a universal language, which requires no +teaching to comprehend. + +When the printing-press came into use this love of pictures had a wide +field for development. Some of the first books printed in England were +illustrated with woodcuts, and many of the tracts, or 'News-books,' +which preceded regular newspapers, were adorned with rude engravings. It +mattered not how graphic was the pen, its work was deemed incomplete +without the aid of the pencil. It often happened that the pen was none +the better for the fellowship, but the public taste was not fastidious, +and the work sufficed for the occasion. In tracing the origin and +progress of pictorial journalism we shall find in 'the abstracts and +brief chronicles of the time' many curious illustrations of contemporary +history. The subject is not without interest now that the illustrated +newspaper has become a prominent feature in the journalism of every +country. + +The development of the newspaper press and its unrestricted use as the +exponent of public opinion is one of the most interesting signs of +modern progress. When we consider the liberty of thought and action that +prevails in our own day, it is difficult to believe that our forefathers +were liable to the pillory and other degrading punishments when they +ventured to publish their opinions without first obtaining the sanction +of the ruling powers. We are accustomed to the daily exercise of the +right which cost Prynne his ears and brought fines and imprisonment on +Defoe. Newspapers have become almost as necessary to our daily life as +bread itself. The mind demands its breakfast as well as the body; and to +many a busy man the loss of his morning paper would be as great a +deprivation as the want of his usual matutinal meal. + +In London, and in all our great centres of population, the newspaper has +become the unfailing accompaniment of the City man's journey to +business. At the railway stations journals of every kind tempt the +loitering passenger, while the illustrated papers appeal to him in a +language of their own. Whether in the railway carriage, the omnibus, or +the steam-boat, the newspaper is eagerly conned, and its contents form +the food of conversation. Most of these newspapers are cast aside at the +end of the twenty minutes' or half hour's journey; and then, at second +hand, they amuse the leisure moments of the railway porter, or, better +still, they are collected together, and perhaps serve to solace the sick +poor during many lingering hours in hospitals and refuges. Day by day +the demand is made, and the supply is ready. The printing-machine never +sleeps and is never tired. Its voice is one of the voices of the +night--most unmusical, yet with a mysterious meaning. The daily +newspaper, so potent in diffusing the light of knowledge, is itself the +offspring of darkness. The busy brains and active fingers which create +it turn night into day in the execution of their quickly recurring +tasks, and with unflagging energy they labour on, that the slumbering +world may be properly amused and instructed when it wakes. + +The intelligent foreigner who happens to reach our southern coast on a +Monday morning in summer or autumn, and travels to London by one of the +early trains, is astonished, when the train stops, to see most of the +gentlemen rush from the carriages and surround a small boy, whom they +appear to hustle and threaten with violent gesticulations. The boy +appears to buy off the hostility of his assailants by dealing out to +each a paper, which he takes from a large bundle under his arm, and with +which the appeased passenger returns to his carriage. Cries of '_Times!_ +_Daily News!_ _Telegraph!_ _Standard!_--Here, give us one--anything!' +reach the ears of the wondering stranger, who beholds the boy at length +take refuge in an empty railway carriage on the opposite side of the +platform, and from that place of vantage he continues to deal out the +mysterious papers. After a time the intelligent foreigner learns that +these are the London papers of that morning, which are sent out to meet +the trains, and are eagerly bought by the gentlemen who have been +spending from Saturday to Monday at the seaside, and, having fasted from +all newspapers during that time, they are now of course famishing for +news. Such is their eagerness that politics are thrown to the winds. The +Conservative will put up with a Liberal newspaper rather than have none +at all; and he whose ill luck or inertness has left him without the +coveted sheet is glad to borrow of his neighbour, that he may not be +walking in the darkness of ignorance when he arrives at his place of +business. As the train moves off, the intelligent foreigner, if he +thrusts his head out of the carriage window, may behold in the distance +the newsboy pensively counting his gains and endeavouring to make his +receipts tally with the number of papers that have vanished. + +One of the most remarkable phases of newspaper history has been the +establishment of illustrated journals. Though this idea, in an immature +form, is as old as the newspaper itself, yet it was never fully +developed till the late Mr. Herbert Ingram brought out the _Illustrated +London News_ in 1842. Since that time the removal of the newspaper stamp +and the repeal of the paper duty have imparted a freedom and a vigour to +newspaper enterprise previously unknown. Journals of all kinds have +sprung into existence, and cheapness has become the rule. Penny and even +halfpenny papers compete with the leading journals in activity and +enterprise. No expense is spared in obtaining the earliest and most +authentic intelligence. Correspondents are sent to every part of the +world where any information is to be gleaned, and the presence of the +newspaper 'Special' is now expected at every great event. Each class has +its organ, and 'he who runs may read.' + +When we consider the immense amount of printed matter that is published +every day by the newspapers, we cannot but wonder at the public +appetite. And this appetite is fed from one year to another upon a diet +that is only varied when there occurs a war, a revolution, an unusually +disastrous shipwreck, or a murder of uncommon atrocity. Then the +monotony of ordinary life gives place to the temporary excitement. There +is a run upon the newspapers, which are as susceptible as barometers, +and rise or fall according to the state of public feeling. The +calamities of nations and the misfortunes of individuals are sources of +profit and prosperity to the newspaper. + +It was a happy idea to gather together the principal events of the week, +to illustrate them with authentic pictures, and place them before the +public in the form of a pictorial newspaper. Considering the great cost +of production, and the restrictions under which newspapers lay at that +time, to say nothing of the difficulty of bringing out news with +appropriate illustrations, so that both should be fresh, the +_Illustrated London News_ was a bold undertaking. Like most things that +are successful, it soon had many imitators, and there are now few large +cities in the civilised world that have not their illustrated +newspapers. + +But the full development of illustrated journalism was immediately +preceded by many significant symptoms. Several of the then existing +newspapers, on the occurrence of any unusual or interesting event, +introduced into their pages rough woodcut illustrations. A great fire--a +remarkable murder--a fatal balloon ascent--these were the subjects +seized upon at the moment to satisfy the public craving for illustrated +news. All this seems to have been the working of an impulse or instinct +which existed even before the days of newspapers; for, as I shall +presently show, attempts were made to illustrate the news of the hour in +tracts or 'News-books' before the beginning of regular newspapers in +England. The idea of illustrated journalism may be traced from the +earliest years of the seventeenth century to 1842, the date of the first +number of the _Illustrated London News_. The art of wood-engraving had +fallen very low in the seventeenth century, and the illustrations to be +found in early newspapers are mostly of a very rude description; but +they show the existence of a germ which eventually grew into full and +flourishing life. + +The English newspaper, like many other great inventions, was a thing of +gradual growth. The news that was sung or recited by wandering +ballad-singers at the village cross, or in the court-yard of the +squire's mansion, and the written newsletter furnished to the wealthy +aristocracy, were the precursors of the early news-books and the +periodical sheets of news. As the art of printing extended, many of the +productions of the press assumed the character of news to attract +readers. Sermons, satires, and travels, were all put forward under the +name of _news_, and sometimes a single grain of truth was deemed +sufficient to leaven a whole bushel of fiction. Most of these +publications were small tracts, and published at irregular intervals. +Some of them were adorned with engravings on the title-pages, which show +that even at this early period the authors or printers of these papers +were imbued with the pictorial spirit. The idea of illustrating current +events had already taken root, and we find examples of it long before +the establishment of regular newspapers. + +The earliest form of the newspaper is known to have come into existence +during times of war and tumult, and it was for a long time believed that +the first English newspaper was brought forth under similar +circumstances. But when the _English Mercurie_ of 1588 was proved to be +a forgery, the enthusiast in newspaper history received a heavy blow and +sad discouragement. It seemed so highly probable, when this country was +threatened with the descent of the Spanish Armada, that something like a +newspaper might have sprung into existence, that people were only too +ready to adopt the imposture. When the whole nation was greatly excited +and anxious to learn something about the reality of their danger, +nothing was more natural than for the sagacious minister of Queen +Elizabeth to appeal to the people through the printing-press, and by its +means endeavour to calm the public mind by circulating printed sheets of +intelligence, 'for the contradiction of false reports.' But we were +compelled to admit that Lord Burleigh had missed his opportunity, and +neglected to use the most powerful means for exciting the patriotism or +allaying the fears of his countrymen. The author of this remarkable +imposition showed great skill and acuteness in constructing his false +newspaper, and fixing the date of its supposed publication. The forgery +has been attributed to Lord Hardwick; but what were his motives it is +difficult to understand. Unlike Chatterton and Ireland, he never +brought his imposture before the world, and if he intended it merely for +an antiquarian _jeu-d'esprit_ he had the enjoyment of the joke entirely +to himself. + +The abolition of the Star Chamber, in 1641, was an important event for +the press of this country. The so-called newspapers then began to print +English news and discuss home affairs, no longer dreading the fines, +imprisonments, and mutilations, that had been so liberally dispensed by +that obnoxious tribunal. There was not, however, any considerable +increase in the number of newspapers till the Civil War reached its +height. During that remarkable contest many hundreds of tracts and +newspapers were published, some of them numbered consecutively and +published at regular intervals; but the great majority bore no +continuous title, and treated of one subject only. During the reigns of +Charles II. and James II. the press was more or less under a censorship, +from which it was not emancipated till the seventh year of William III. +Lord Macaulay dates the commencement of English newspapers from this +period, when a great many new journals made their appearance. They +included political news amongst their contents; and they more nearly +resembled in character, but not in appearance, what we now understand by +a newspaper than anything that had preceded them. This press revival was +not accompanied by any corresponding activity in the direction of +pictorial illustration. Art of every kind was in a low condition in +England at this time. Even if the art of popular illustration had been +better understood, the means of production were exceedingly limited. +Newspapers multiplied greatly, but illustrated journalism had to +struggle with difficulties, and its existence was only made known by the +occasional appearance of a rough woodcut or an indifferent +copper-plate. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Illustrated Broadsides--Sir Francis Drake's Operations against the + Spaniards--Papers of News in the Reign of James I.--The first + Periodical Newspaper published in England--Illustrated Tracts relating + to Storms and Floods--Remarkable Murders favourite subjects with the + early Newswriters--Murder of the Rev. Mr. Storre--Murder in + Cornwall--Apparition of Three Skeletons--Visions in the Air--Attempt + on the Life of the Duke of Buckingham--Fall of Meteors at Bawlkin + Green, Berkshire--The _Swedish Intelligencer_--Passage of the River + Leck by Gustavus Adolphus--The Sallee Rovers--The _Weekly News_ of + 1638, an Illustrated Paper--The Irish Rebellion of 1641--The Plague in + London--Murder on board an English Ship--The Earl of Strafford--His + Execution on Tower Hill--Archbishop Laud--A Burlesque Play about + him--Attack by the Mob on Lambeth Palace--Caricature of the Devil + offering Laud a Cardinal's Hat. + + +[Illustration: THE VALIANT EXPLOITS OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, 1587.] + +Before, and for a long time after, the general use of newspapers, +illustrated broadsides were published relating to particular events, or +satirising the vices and follies of the period. In a broadside adorned +with a woodcut representing Death and Time, and entitled, _The Doleful +Dance, and Song of Death_, allusion is made to the 'Fatal Assizes' of +Oxford, when three hundred persons, including the High Sheriff, died of +a distemper, which was supposed to have originated among the prisoners. +A sheet of a later date refers to the Spanish Armada and the Gunpowder +Plot; while a third, entitled, _Tittle-Tattle_, &c., satirises the +gossiping habits of the fair sex, and contains many illustrations of +manners, costume, and character. Such were the publications that did +duty for newspapers in the days of Queen Elizabeth, whose subjects, +however, were not left wholly without information as to passing events. +In 1587 there was published an illustrated tract giving an account of +the doings of Sir Francis Drake, who was employed by Queen Elizabeth to +harass the Spaniards in their harbours, and hinder them in their +preparations for invading England. These operations, which Drake himself +described as 'singeing the King of Spain's beard,' delayed the sailing +of the Armada, and gave Elizabeth time to prepare for defence. The tract +referred to is entitled, '_The true and perfect Newes of the worthy and +valiant exploytes performed and done by that valiant Knight Syr Frauncis +Drake; Not only at Sancto Domingo, and Carthagena, but also nowe at +Cales, and upon the Coast of Spayne, 1587_. _Printed at London, by J. +Charlewood, for Thomas Hackett._' There is an account, in verse, written +by one Thomas Greepe, of the doings of Sir Francis Drake and other sea +captains. The author tells his reader, 'Here hast thou, gentle Reader, +set forth unto thee the most worthy and valiant exploytes and +enterpryses, lately atchieved and done by that valiant Knight Syr +Frauncis Drake & others not pend in lofty verse, nor curiously handled, +but playnly and truly, so that it may be well understood of the +Reader.' There is no attempt made to illustrate the events related in +the tract, but on the title-page there is a woodcut of a ship in full +sail, which was perhaps intended to represent the admiral's own vessel. +I have reproduced it on a reduced scale, as an early specimen of marine +draughtsmanship. + +Thomas Greepe commences his poem with the following rhapsody:-- + + 'Triumph, O England, and rejoice, + And prayse thy God incessantly + For this thy Queene, that pearle of choyce, + Which God doth blesse with victory! + In countryes strange, both farre and neere, + All raging foes her force doth feare. + + Yee worthy wights that doo delighte + To heare of Novels strange and rare, + What valors, woone by a famous knight, + May please you marke I shall declare. + Such rare exploytes performde and done + As none the like hath ever woone.' + +He gives a list of the ships under Drake's command:-- + + 'Twenty-five ships were then preparde, + Fifteene Pinnaces, brave and fine, + Well furnished for his safe garde, + Preventing foes that would him tyne. + With Masters good and Marriners rare + As ever tooke charge, I dare compare. + + * * * * * + + The _Bonaventure_, a ship royall, + Cheefe Admirall then of the fleete, + Sir Frauncis Drake, cheefe Generall, + As by desertes he was most meete. + Most worthy Captaynes of hand and heart + In this boon voyage then tooke hys part. + + The _Primrose_ next, Vice-Admirall, + Appoynted by thyre best device, + Captayne Frobisher, Vice-Generall-- + A valiant Captayne, ware and wyse. + Captayne Carelell they did ordayne + Lieftenant-Generall on the mayne.' + +The poem thus winds up:-- + + 'God save our Queene of merry England, + His sacred word long to maintaine; + Her Graces Navie and royall bande, + Through his good Grace, may long remaine. + Lord blesse her counsell, and keepe them aye + With all true subjects night and day. + Finis, quoth Thomas Greepe.' + +This curious poem is supplemented by a letter, written by Sir Francis +Drake, 'To the right reverende, godly, learned Father, my very good +friend, M. John Fox, preacher of the word of God.' This was John Fox, +the Martyrologist, who died in 1587. The letter proceeds: 'Mister Fox, +whereas we have had of late such happy successe against the Spanyardes, +I do assure myselfe that you have faithfully remembered us in your good +prayers, and therefore I have not forgotten, breefly to make you +partaker thereof. The 19. of Aprill we arrived within the road of +Calles, where we found very many shipping, but amongst the rest 32 of +exceeding burden, lade and to be laden with provision, and prepared to +furnish the King's Navie, intended with all speede against England, the +which when we had boorded, and also furnished our severall ships with +provision as we thought sufficient, wee burnt; and although by the space +of two dayes and two nights that we continued there, we were still +endangered, both with thundering shott from the towne, and assailed with +the roaring Cannons of twelve galleys; yet we suncke two of them, and +one great Argosey, and still avoyded them with very small hurt, and so +at our departure we brought away foure ships of provision, to the great +terror of our enemies, and honour to ourselves, as it may appeare by a +most curteous Letter written unto me with a Flagge of truce by Duke +Petro, Generall of the Galleys. But whereas it is most certayne that the +king doth not onely make speedy preparation in Spayne, but likewise +expected a very great Fleete from the Straytes, and divers other places, +that should joyne with his forces to invade England; we purpose to sette +apart all feare of danger, and by Gods furtherance to proceed by all the +good means we can devise to prevent their coming; wherefore I shall +desire you to continue faithfull in remembrance of us in your prayers +that our purpose may take that good effect, as God may be glorified, his +Church, our Queene and country, preserved, and these enemies of the +trueth utterly vanquished, that we may have continuall peace in Israel. +Fro aboord her Majesties good ship the _Elizabeth Bonaventure_. + +'Your loving freende, and faythfull Sonne in Christ Jesus, + + 'FRAUNCIS DRAKE.' + +In the reign of James I. papers of news began to be published, but they +only appeared occasionally, and were chiefly devoted to foreign +intelligence. In 1619 we have 'Newes out of Holland,' followed by others +in 1620, 1621, and 1622. These occasional tracts were afterwards +converted into a regular weekly publication, entitled the '_Weekly +News_,' printed by J. D. for Nichs. Bourne and T. Archer. This was the +first periodical newspaper published in England. But long before this +many illustrated tracts and pamphlets were published relating to events +of recent occurrence. In one dated 1607 occurs the earliest instance I +have met with of an attempt to illustrate the news of the day. It is +entitled '_Wofull Newes from Wales, or the lamentable loss of divers +Villages and Parishes (by a strange and wonderful Floud) within the +Countye of Monmouth in Wales: which happened in January last past, 1607, +whereby a great number of his Majesties subjects inhabiting in these +parts are utterly undone_.' The writer of this news-book describes the +flood, and then, taking it for his text, preaches a sermon upon it. It +is printed in Old English, and is plentifully interspersed with pious +exhortations and scriptural references. It has on the title a woodcut, a +fac-simile of which is given on the next page. + +This interesting little tract has a preface, in which the author +explains the difficulty he felt in producing it in the short time that +was allowed him for the purpose:--'Reader, when these newes were +brought, and an importunitie used to me that I would give the same +forme, and bestow an exhortation on them, I was unwilling, both in +regard of that short space (of lesse than one day which was limited to +undertake the matter) and also in respect of the usual unfaithfulness of +men ordinarily in reporting of such accidents as these bee; whereby it +often falleth out that the relation of them reapeth much discredit. But +when I could not have these just excuses taken, I began and finished +this businesse, as the shorte space wold permit me.' + +The old story of the child washed away in a cradle, so often related as +having occurred in great floods, and which Mr. Millais has immortalised +in one of his pictures, is here told probably for the first +time:--'Another little childe is affirmed to have bene cast upon land in +a Cradle, in which was nothing but a Catte, the which was discerned, as +it came floating to the shore, to leape still from one side of the +Cradle unto the other, even as if she had been appointed steersman to +preserve the small barke from the waves' furie.' + +[Illustration: GREAT FLOOD IN MONMOUTHSHIRE, 1607.] + +Another tract of the same date is illustrated with a woodcut similar to +the one here copied, but it has in addition several more figures, +including a cradle with a child in it floating on the water. This tract +is entitled '_A true report of certaine wonderful overflowings of waters +now lately in Summersetshire, Norfolk, and other places in England, +destroying many thousands of men, women, and children, overthrowing and +bearing downe whole townes and villages, and drowning infinite numbers +of sheepe and other cattle_.' It is written in the same sermonising +style, beginning by calling men to repent, and to take warning from +these signs of God's anger. Then follows the narrative. The inundation +was caused by an irruption of the sea, and many incidents are related of +the flood. Here the cradle story is again told:--'An infant likewise was +found swimming in a cradle, some mile or two fro' ye place where it was +known to be kept, and so was preserved; for the cradle was not of +wicker, as ours are here, but of strong, thicke bordes, closely joynted +together, and that saved the infant's life.' This narrative of the +Somersetshire flood was reprinted in another tract with '_An Addition of +other and more strange Accidents happening by these Flouds, and brought +to light since the first publishing of this Booke_.' This second edition +is illustrated with the identical woodcut that is used in the tract +relating the floods in Wales. The two tracts recounting the +Somersetshire floods were 'printed at London by W. I. for Edward White, +and are to be sold at the signe of the Gunne, at the North doore of +Paules.' That describing the flood in Wales was 'printed for W. W., and +are to be sold in Paules Church-yarde at the sign of the Grey-hound.' In +those days printers frequently combined the functions of engraver and +printer; and as regards the tracts under notice, we must conclude that +the printer supplied each of his customers with the same woodcut, or +that the booksellers of the time were in the habit of lending their +woodcuts to each other. + +Storms, floods, and burnings were favourite themes with the early +newswriters, and several illustrated tracts exist describing such +calamities. They are more or less interspersed with pious exhortations, +but the narrative is rarely allowed to flag, and every incident is +minutely described. There is '_Woeful newes from the West parts of +England of the burning of Tiverton_,' 1612; and a small quarto pamphlet +of 1613, printed in old English, affords another good example of this +kind of news. It is entitled--it will be observed how fond the old +newswriters were of alliterative titles--'_The Wonders of this windie +winter, by terrible stormes and tempests, to be losse of lives and +goods of many thousands of men, women, and children. The like by Sea and +Land hath not been seene nor heard of in this age of the world. London. +Printed by G. Eld for John Wright, and are to be sold at his Shop neere +Christ-Church dore._ 1613.' On the title-page is a woodcut, a copy of +which is annexed. + +[Illustration: GREAT STORM, 1613.] + +The tract opens very much in the manner of a sermon, and declares the +dreadful occurrences related are intended to 'move sinful mankind to +repentance and newnesse of life.' It then goes on to describe 'that +within these three fore-passed months of October, November, and +December, the devouring gulfes of the Sea hath swallowed up above two +hundred saile of ships, as well of our own Country as of neighbouring +Nations, with great store of passengers, seafaring men, and owners of +the same, adventuring their dear lives in the managing of the aforesaid +ships, with all their goods, and merchandizes, making for our country +all lost; yea, all, I say, in these three fore-passed months, hath been +lost and drenched in the deep vaults of this watery world, a thing both +lamentable and fearfull, that in so short a time, nay, in a small part +of the yeare, even in an instant, so many heavy mischances should +happen, and so many worthy vessels of adventure miscarrie, which had bin +sufficient (if goodspeed had prevailed) to have inricht a whole Citie +and bettered a kingdome; but such is the will of God, and such is His +just indignation against us. + +'By certification from men of good accompt and calling, it is reported +and knowne for truth, that in the month of October last, a fleete of +fourteene sayle of ships making from Newcastle towards London, laden +with sea-coale and other commodities of those parts, had their passage, +by the tyranny of the windes, most untimely stopt, and violently caste +into the ocean's wombe, in which ships were perished to the number of a +hundred and forty seafaring men, besides other passengers, both of men +and women, which at that time made their watery graves in the deepe sea. +This first strooke feare into the hearts of people, which hath been +since seconded with many calamities, which lieth heavy upon the heart of +the reporter.' The writer then goes on to relate that between 'Dover and +Calice there hath been found floating upon the waters in one weeke of +fowle weather above seven hundred drowned persons of divers nations, as +of English, Dutch, French, and Spanish, with parts and parcels of many +splitted ships.' Further details are given at great length, and in +rather a wordy manner. For instance, the writer describes the great +number of women who are made widows by the disasters at sea, 'besides +fatherlesse children and children fatherlesse.' Several examples are +related of the force of the wind. 'A man and his wife riding over +Maidenhead Bridge upon one horse, by the fierceness of the wind, were +blowne beside, and there drowned both horse and all. God be merciful +unto us and preserve us from all such like mischances. The like mishap +befell in November last unto two Yorkshire men, as it is verified by +some gentlemen of the Inns of Court and Chancery, which knew the +parties, the one of them a tanner, named Francis Browne, the other a +clothier, called Richard Smith, both dwelling in a towne neere Wakefield +side called Thorby; which two countriemen falling out upon small +occassions wilfully purposed to come up to London, and their put their +causes of themselves to the Lawes tryall; yet notwithstanding came they +up together, where in riding over a bridge about Bedfordshire, and +conferring of their inward grudges, they were blowne both beside into +the river, where, by the fierceness of the windes, they were most +lamentably drowned, both horse and men; and thus by sodaine death ended +their malice, to the fear and amazement of all such as well could +witness their envious proceedings. These and such like accidents may be +fearful examples for the world to behold, especially for rich men, +shewing to them the certaintie of life and goods subject to the chances +of death and fortune, according to the saying of a worthy philosopher, + + "Full little thinks the man at morning sun + What hap to him befalls ere day be done."' + +A great many other instances are related of the fury of the tempests, +all of which the writer feels certain 'have been laid upon us for our +sinnes;' and winds up with a pious exhortation to take warning. + +[Illustration: FLOODS AND TEMPESTS, 1613.] + +Another tract of the same character and date, also printed in black +letter, has a larger and more elaborate woodcut on the title-page, +representing sinking ships, the shore strewed with dead bodies, and on +the outside of a church tower the devil is seen throwing down the broken +steeple. The following is the address to the reader:--'Reader, I do here +present unto thee and to thy understanding (if thou hast any) some part +of the lamentable losses and unrecoverable mischances that have +happened by occassion of these late blustering stormes of winde, and an +innumerable deal of rayne, the which a great many thousands have too +true cause to beleeve, because they are sharers in the misfortunes that +this outragious weather hath caused. Now, if thou hast sustained no loss +thyselfe, perhaps thou wilt not beleeve these things to be true that I +have written; but if thou wilt or doest beleeve, then pray to God that +it will please Him to give them patience that are loosers, and humilitie +that are winners, and give God thanks that he hath so blessed thee that +thou hast no share in these mishaps. But if thou wilt not beleeve, goe +and looke, or else remaine still in thy unbeliefe.' A copy of the +woodcut is given on the preceding page. + +Another pamphlet, of 1613, has the annexed woodcut, and is entitled +'_Lamentable Newes, shewing the Wonderful Deliverance of Maister Edmond +Pet, Sayler, and Maister of a Ship, dwelling in Seething-lane, in +London, neere Barking Church; with other strange things lately hapned +concerning those great windes and tempestuous weather, both at Sea and +Lande_. _Imprinted at London by T. C., for William Barley, dwelling over +against Cree Church, neere Algate._ 1613.' It describes the wreck of a +Newcastle ship on the east coast, and how 'Maister Pet,' after being +exposed to the winds and waves for forty-eight hours, was rescued by a +Dutch man-of-war, he being the only survivor from his ship. It will be +seen the woodcut represents two seamen lowering what appears to be an +arm-chair into the sea. This was probably the artist's notion of the +safest and most comfortable way to rescue shipwrecked persons. The same +tract relates other occurrences during the stormy weather, such as 'A +man neere Bedford, being thaching a house, was blowne off and kild; +trees blown up by the rootes, houses and chimnies quite blown downe,' +&c. 'All which is for our sinnes.' + +[Illustration: RESCUE OF EDMUND PET, MARINER, 1613.] + +Remarkable murders were even more favourite subjects with the early +news-writers than storms and floods, a partiality that has continued +down to our own time. A tract of 1613 is devoted to the details of +'Three Bloodie Murders,' but it is mainly taken up with an account of +the murder of the Rev. William Storre, of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. +The full title runs thus:--'_Three Bloodie Murders. The first committed +by Francis Cartwright upon William Storre, M. Arts Minister and Preacher +at Market Rasen in the countie of Lincolne. The second committed by +Elizabeth James on the body of her Mayde, in the Parish of Egham in +Surrie: who was condemned for the same fact at Sainte Margaret hill in +Southwark, the 2 of July 1613, and lieth in the White Lion till her +deliverie; discovered by a dombe Mayde and her Dogge. The third +committed upon a stranger very lately near Highgate foure mile from +London, very strangely found out by a Dogge. Also the 2 of July 1613._' + +The circumstances relating to the murder of the Rev. William Storre are +given at great length and with much minuteness:--'Not long since, there +happened some controversey between the Lords and the rest of the +inhabitants of Market Raisin in the Countie of Lincolne concerning the +Commons and Libertie in the Towne Fields; and the matter being mooted by +one of them in the Church immediately after evening prayer on a Sabaoth +day, divers hot intemperate speeches passed among them; whereupon their +Minister, whose name was Mr. Storre, much disliking so indiscreete a +course, wished them to have respect both to the time and place where +they were: And further advised, seeing the cause in hand concerned a +multitude, (amongst whom, some of the least government would always be +the readiest to speake) that they would therefore make choice of two or +three of the fittest and most substantial men, to answere and undertake +for all the rest. This motion seemed to please them well, and therefore +they intreated him, that he would first, as a man indifferent speake +what he thought concerning the cause. But he not wishing to intermeddle +in that matter, twice or thrice denied their request; and the rather, +for that there was present one Francis Cartwright, a young man of an +unbridled humour, the only Sonne and Heire to one of the same Lordes of +the Towne, betwixt whom and himselfe, there was growne no small +unkindnesse. Yet in the end being pressed thereunto by their +importunities with the consent of both the parties he delivered his +opinion, useing therein such discretion and reasons to confirme the same +that they could not directly except against him. Notwithstanding, seeing +him incline more to the right of the Freeholders and the rest of the +Commons than to favour their intended purpose, they seemed to dislike +his speaches, and to cavill at the same. + +'Young Cartwright standing by, not able any longer to contain himselfe +tooke occassion hereupon to breake forthe abruptly into these wordes: +The Priest deserveth a good Fee, he speaketh so like a Lawyer. Maister +Storre having often aforetime had experience of his hotte stomacke and +hastinesse as well towards others as himselfe, thought it best to reply +little against him for that present.' The Rev. Mr. Storre's forbearance +was of no avail, for next day young Cartwright took occasion to renew +the quarrel, and in the public market-place 'proclaymed that Storre was +a scurvie, lowsie, paltrie Priest; that whoever sayd he was his friend +or spake in his cause, was a Rogue and a Rascall, that he would (but for +the Law) cut his Throat, tear out his Heart, and hang his Quarters on +the May-pole.' These sanguinary threats caused Mr. Storre to seek the +protection of the Magistrates; and he afterwards preached a sermon +containing words which young Cartwright thought were purposely directed +against him, so that he 'more and more thirsted for revenge.' + +'About a week after, he espied Mr. Storre walking about eight of the +clocke in the morning alone, by the south side of the Towne in his +cloake, went to a cutler's shop, and tooke out of the same a short +sword, formerly provided and made very sharpe for that purpose, and +presently overtooke him.' The young man attacked the clergyman, and the +pamphlet gives a minute account of the dreadful wounds he inflicted +upon him until 'A Mayde coming that way by occassion of businesse, +cried out, whereupon he fledde.' + +The clergyman died of the frightful wounds he received, and the murderer +was taken and carried before a justice, 'where, either for lacke of +their due information of the truth, or by the corrupt and favourable +affection of the magistrate, or both, there was a very slender bayle +taken, and the malefactor by this flight sent away.' Cartwright's +friends 'laboured by corrupt dealing and wrong information' to procure +his pardon; but so barbarous a murder could not be hushed up, and the +culprit eventually 'fled beyonde the seas.' + +[Illustration: MURDER OF THE REV MR. STORRE, 1613.] + +On the title-page of the pamphlet is a woodcut representing the murder +of the Rev. Mr. Storre, which is copied above. + +The two other murders are not related at such great length, and are not +illustrated. + +This is the earliest example I have met with of a kind of illustrated +news that is very popular even in our own day. From the pains taken to +describe all the circumstances of the crime and its consequences, the +author evidently regarded it as a subject of the highest interest, and +worthy of all the elaboration he was capable of bestowing upon it. + +[Illustration: NEWS FROM PENRHYN IN CORNWALL, 1618.] + +There is a very curious and rare tract of the date of 1618, which +describes the circumstances of another remarkable murder. It is entitled +'_News from Perin (Penrhyn), in Cornwall, of a most Bloody and +unexampled Murther very lately committed by a Father on his owne sonne +(who was lately returned from the Indyes), at the instigation of a +mercilesse Step Mother, together with their severall most wretched +endes, being all performed in the Month of September last, Anno 1618._' +On the title-page is a woodcut representing the discovery of the murder, +which is reprinted in the body of the pamphlet. Another woodcut +illustrates a scene before the murder is committed, where the son hands +his bag of treasure to his step-mother. The story is a very minute +history of a scapegrace son, who, after various adventures, returns to +his father's house a penitent and reformed man. Many years having +elapsed, the son is not recognised by his father, who has married a +second wife and is in straitened circumstances. The son begs a night's +lodging and resolves not to make himself known till next morning. In the +meantime, to show that he will be able to recompense his host and +hostess for their hospitality, he gives the latter a bag of gold and +jewels to take care of for him till the morrow. The woman, excited by +the possession of the gold, thinks how easy it would be to relieve +themselves from their embarrassments by murdering their guest and +keeping possession of his treasure. She urges her husband to do the +deed. After many refusals he consents, and the father murders his own +son. In the morning it is made known to him who his victim is, and, in a +fit of remorse and despair, he kills himself; upon which the guilty wife +also commits suicide, and the tract thus winds up:--'And to the end it +may be a warning to all covetous step mothers, and a content for all +easie Fathers to avoyde the like hereafter. At the entreaty of divers +Gentlemen in the Countrey, It is as neere the life as Pen and Incke +could draw it out, thus put in Print.' + +William Lillo, the author of _George Barnwell_, is said to have founded +his play of 'Fatal Curiosity' on this tract. Lillo was a prosperous +London jeweller and a successful dramatic author. He depicted the +harrowing details of this tragic story with great power; and the agonies +of old Wilmot, the father, constitute one of the most appalling and +affecting incidents of the drama. + +A curious black-letter tract of 1616, which is illustrated with a +fearful apparition of three skeletons, is entitled, '_Miraculous Newes +from the cittie of Holdt, in the Lordship of Munster (in Germany), the +twentieth of September last past 1616, wherein there were plainly beheld +three dead bodyes rise out of their Graves, admonishing the people of +Judgements to come_.' The truth of this miraculous news is vouched for +by 'divers worthy Persons and Burgimasters of the same citty,' whose +names are given. This miraculous appearance was preceded by a fearful +tempest of thunder and lightning. 'When this great tempest of thunder +and lightning was ceased, there was heard throughout all the parts and +places of the citty a most hideous and dolefull clamour or outcry, +striking terror into all the people, yet no man could perceive whence it +came, or where this clamour should bee. The people came over all the +citty after the noise, but could not finde it; for when they were at one +corner of the citty they then heard it at another; and when they were +come to that other corner there it seemed to them to be in the middle of +the citty; and to them that were in the middest it seemed farther off. +So that all heard it, but none could find where it was, or from whence +it came. + +'At length the people assembling in the churchyard behelde there so +strange and incredible judgements sent by the Lord, that for the most +part the beholders fell flatt on their faces to the ground, crying loude +unto the Lord for mercy. For there they beheld coming out of their +graves three most ghostly and fearfull dead bodyes. + + +1. + +'Whereof the first that was seen to arise out of the earth, seemed very +white, cleane, and cleere, who opening his mouth and beating his handes +together spake thus: "Blessed be God in the highest Heaven, that our +releasement is come, for we have wayted many a hundred yeare for this +time." The people hearing this fell upon their knees and prayed unto the +Lord with weeping and great lamentation, saying: O Lord beholde us with +thy merciful eyes, and let us not be overwhelmed or smothered in our +sinnes. + + +2. + +'The second dead man that arose out of the earth caused farre greater +feare and trembling then the former, for the beholders saw him +altogether from the toppe to the toe, like unto a burning fire; he +likewise opened his mouth, and wringing his handes, and tearing his +haire, cryed with a loude voyce: Repent yee, Repent yee; Almighty God +hath taken his chastising rodde in hand, to punish the people for their +sinnes, for their great wealth, for their great talke or presumptious +wordes, for their pompe, and for their pride: The which the Lord will no +longer suffer nor endure, for the cry and complaint of these sinnes is +asended up into his eares; Wherefore hee will destroy you with a +suddaine sicknesse, and fiery Pestilence, so that you shall not have so +much time as one houre, to utter one worde, to call upon God. + +[Illustration: MIRACULOUS NEWS FROM MUNSTER IN GERMANY, 1616.] + + +3. + +'After this fiery apparition and threatening speech ended, there +appeared likewise rising out of the grave a third dead man, grinding and +gnashing his teeth together, striking his handes the one against the +other, and crying with a most fearful and hideous voyce, insomuch that +it seemed to all the multitude there present, that the earth would +certainly have rent in sunder; and spake that all the people plainly +heard and understood his wordes, which were these; Woe, woe, woe, to +the wicked; this is the time that wee have long attended and looked for; +wherefore (ye people) looke to it, and beware lest the great day of the +Lord come upon you suddainly, and fall upon you unprovided; for the time +of his comming is neerer than you thinke. + +'After the uttering of these wordes, the three dead Bodyes vanished and +the Graves were shut againe, the heavens became cleere, the Tempest +ceased, and all the people being released of their present horror and +feare, rejoyced, and assembling themselves together, gave glory and +laude, and praise unto the Lord for his Fatherly mercy and unspeakable +goodnesse, in the mitigation of his furie, and withdrawing his heavy +hand for the present. And thereupon appointed a sett day of +supplications, prayers, and fasting, with true and unfained Repentance +to be proclaimed, and observed.' + +This account is supplemented by an 'apology,' setting forth that men +must not be incredulous because they hear of miraculous +occurrences--that God is able to bring back the age of miracles, &c. The +writer evidently thought his readers might require to be strengthened by +argument before they could place implicit faith in his narrative, and so +he takes some pains in his 'apology' to convince them that however +unnatural and uncommon may be the appearances he relates, the wickedness +of the world was a sufficient justification for this and other +extraordinary events. A copy of the woodcut that illustrates this +curious production is shown on the preceding page. + +[Illustration: 'GOOD NEWES TO CHRISTENDOME,' 1620.] + +In 1620 Nathaniel Butter printed an illustrated tract entitled _'Good +Newes to Christendome, sent to a Venetian in Ligorne, from a Merchant in +Alexandria, Discovering a Wonderfull and Strange Apparition, visibly +seene for many dayes together in Arabia over the place where the +supposed Tombe of Mahomet (the Turkish Prophet) is inclosed; By which +the learned Arabians prognosticate the Reducing and Calling of the great +Turke to Christianitie. With many other Notable Accidents: But the most +remarkable is the miraculous rayning of Bloud about Rome_.' This +tract, which is very long and discursive, relates, among other things, +the apparition of a woman in the air, with a book in her hand, being the +same apparition that is described at great length in a tract of 1642, +which I shall quote hereafter. In the tract under notice there is a +woodcut representing an army in the clouds--the clouds raining blood +over a city; a woman with sword and book; and a crowd of men below +watching the aerial phenomenon. The writer, in winding up his narrative, +thus addresses his reader:--'If you cannot beleeve it as truth, yet to +make that use of it as if it were true; and then shall you know, there +is but one way to happiness, and all the predictions, prophesies, +visions, apparitions, comets, inundations, stormes, tempests, famine, +warre, alteration, and subversion of kingdomes, with all the cabinet of +mysteries, tend to this end that _premium_ and _poena_ be the mastering +curbs of the world; that is, that God hath a _Magazine_ of judgements to +inflict on the obstinate sinner with punishments: and a store-house of +mercy to support the penitent soule with comfort.' + +In 1627 we come upon a very curious and literal example of illustrated +news. In that year Charles I., having declared war against France, +fitted out an expedition of a hundred sail and an army of 7000 men for +the support of the Protestant cause in that country. The King's +favourite, the self-confident and vainglorious Duke of Buckingham, took +the command of the expedition, although he was totally unfit for that +position. He was personally brave, but possessed no other quality of a +commander. He had no knowledge or experience of the art of war, and was +too proud and presumptuous to be guided by the advice of others. The +expedition was destined for Rochelle, then in possession of the +Huguenots; but Buckingham went to sea without any understanding with his +allies; and, when he anchored off Rochelle, he was refused admission to +the town. He then directed his course to the neighbouring Isle of Rhe, +where he succeeded in landing his men under the fire of his ships, and +defeated a small French force commanded by the governor of the island. +Instead of immediately following up his success, Buckingham allowed the +French commander to secure and strengthen the fortress of St. Martin; +and when he did advance he foolishly left the enemy in possession of +another fort in his rear. He besieged the Castle of St. Martin for many +weeks, and then led his men to storm the place without having made a +single breach in the walls. They were repulsed at all points with +considerable loss, and attempted to retreat to their ships; but Marshal +Schomberg with a French army had thrown himself between the Duke and the +fleet, and had put a strong corps and artillery into the fort of La +Pree, which Buckingham had left in his rear. No precautions whatever had +been taken, and they suffered great loss before they could re-embark. +The expedition was a total failure, and Buckingham returned to England +beaten and disgraced. + +While the Duke of Buckingham was besieging the citadel of St. Martin, an +attempt was made, or was said to have been made, upon his life by a +French Papist or Jesuit, with a thick four-edged knife. An account of +the Duke's proceedings while in the Isle of Rhe appears to have been +sent home, and was published probably with a view of influencing the +people in his favour and showing to what dangers he was exposed in the +national service. There is in the British Museum a tract entitled '_A +Continued Journal of all the Proceedings of the Duke of Buckingham his +Grace, in the Isle of Ree since the last day of July. With the names of +the Noblemen as were drowned and taken in going to releeve the Fort. As +also the Portraiture of the knife with which his Excellence should have +been murdered, which very knife was brought over by Captaine Buckestone +and delivered unto the Duchess of Buckingham her Grace on Monday night +last. Published by Authoritie. London, Printed for Thomas Walkley, and +are to be sold at his shop at the Eagle and Childe in Britaines Bursse, +1627._' The following account is given of the intended assassination of +the Duke:-- + + 'Received the 27 of August. + +'Here I have sent you all the remarkable Newes that I have upon the +last of _July_. There was taken by a _Perdue_ of ours, in the night (a +Frenchman), that was sent by _Monsieur de Thorax_, the Governour of the +Citadell, with a full intent to kill my Lord Duke; and for the speedy +effecting of the same he had prepared a strange and dangerous _Poynado_, +which, although it was taken about him, he confidently denied that he +came not with any intent to kill the _Duke_ untill he came to the +Tortures, which being presented before him he promised to discover all +to my _Lord_ if he would promise him life, the which he did, and doth so +performe with him, like a noble and mercifull Generall.' The tract +contains a large woodcut of a knife, a reduced copy of which is given +above, and underneath the engraving is the following description:--'This +is the true Portraiture of the poysoned knife, both in length and +breadth, having foure edges, with which a Jesuited Vilaine was sent out +of the Fort by Monsieur de Thorax, the Governour of that Island, with an +intent to have killed his Excellence, but by God's providence was +delivered. His Grace hath used the French so nobly in all respects that +he rather deserved their love than any wayes to have his life thus +treacherously sought after, under the pretence that it was a meritorious +act. Which knife was brought over into England by Captaine Buckestone, +and by him delivered unto the Dutches of Buckingham her Grace on Monday +night last.' + +[Illustration: KNIFE INTENDED FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF THE DUKE OF +BUCKINGHAM, 1627.] + +Whether the attempt on Buckingham's life was a reality or was got up for +the purpose of endearing the court favourite to all good Protestants, it +foreshadowed his ultimate fate. In the following year, while he was at +Portsmouth, and about to embark on a second expedition to Rochelle, he +was stabbed by Felton, who had served under him in the expedition to +the Isle of Rhe. + +Besides the subjects already noticed, the old news-writers delighted in +signs and portents in the air, and failed not to improve the occasion +whenever they met with a text so much to their liking. There was a fall +of meteorites in 1628, which was chronicled at the time in an illustrated +pamphlet, entitled, '_Looke up and See Wonders: a miraculous Apparition +in the Ayre, lately seen in Barke-shire, at Bawlkin Greene, neere +Hatford, April 9th, 1628._' The author, like his fellow-chroniclers, +already quoted, regards the occurrence as a sign of Heaven's displeasure, +and addresses his readers thus:--'So Benummed wee are in our Sences, that +albeit God himselfe Holla in our Eares, wee by our wills are loath to +heare him. His dreadfull Pursiuants of _Thunder and Lightning_ terrifie +vs so long as they haue vs in their fingers, but beeing off, wee dance +and sing in the midst of our Follies.' He then goes on to tell how 'the +foure great quarter-masters of the World (_the foure Elements_) ... haue +bin in ciuill Warres one against another.... As for _Fire_, it hath +denied of late to warme vs, but at vnreasonable rates, and extreame hard +conditions. But what talke I of this earthy nourishment of _fire_? How +haue the _Fires_ of Heauen (some few yeares past) gone beyond their +bounds, and appeared in the shapes of Comets and Blazing Starres?... The +_Aire_ is the shop of Thunder and Lightning. In that, hath of late been +held a Muster of terrible enemies and threatners of Vengeance, which the +great Generall of the Field who Conducts and Commands all such Armies +(_God Almighty, I meane_) auert from our Kingdome, and shoote the arrowes +of his indignation some other way, vpon the bosomes of those that would +confound his Gospell.... Many windowes hath he set open in heauen, to +shewe what Artillery hee has lying there, and many of our Kings haue +trembled, when they were shewne vnto them. What blazing Starres (euen at +Noone-dayes) in those times hung houering in the Aire? How many +frightfull Ecclipses both of Sun and Moone?... It is not for man to +dispute with God, why he has done this so often ... but, with feare and +trembling casting our eyes vp to Heauen, let vs now behold him, bending +his Fist onely, as lately he did to the terrour and affrightment of all +the Inhabitants dwelling within a Towne in the County of Barkshire.... +The name of the Towne is _Hatford_, some eight miles from _Oxford_. Ouer +this Towne, vpon Wensday being the ninth of this instant Moneth of +_April_, 1628, about fiue of the clocke in the afternoone this +miraculous, prodigious and fearefull handy-worke of God was presented.... +The weather was warme, and without any great shewe of distemperature, +only the skye waxed by degrees a little gloomy, yet not so darkened but +that the Sunne still and anon, by the power of the brightnesse, brake +through the thicke clouds.... + +'A gentle gale of wind then blowing from betweene the _West_ and +_North-west_, in an instant was heard, first a hideous rumbling in the +_Ayre_, and presently after followed a strange and fearfull peale of +Thunder, running vp and downe these parts of the _Countrey_, but it +strake with the loudest violence, and more furious tearing of the +_Ayre_, about a place called _The White Horse Hill_, than in any other. +The whole order of this thunder, carried a kind of Maiesticall state +with it, for it maintayned (_to the affrighted Beholders' seeming_) the +fashion of a fought Battaile. + +'It beganne thus: First, for an onset, went off one great _Cannon_ as it +were of _thunder_ alone, like a warning peece to the rest that were to +follow. Then a little while after was heard a second; and so by degrees +a third, vntil the number of 20 were discharged (or thereabouts) in very +good order, though in very great terror. + +'In some little distance of time after this was audibly heard the sound +of a Drum beating a Retreate. Amongst all these angry peales shot off +from Heauen, this begat a wonderful admiration, that at the end of the +report of every cracke, or _Cannon-thundering_, a hizzing noyse made way +through the _Ayre_, not vnlike the flying of _Bullets_ from the mouthes +of great Ordnance; and by the iudgement of all the terror-stricken +witnesses they were _Thunder-bolts_. For one of them was seene by many +people to fall at a place called _Bawlkin Greene_, being a mile and a +half from _Hatford_: Which _Thunder-bolt_ was by one Mistris _Greene_ +caused to be digged out of the ground, she being an eye-witnesse amongst +many others, of the manner of the falling. + +'The forme of the _Stone_ is three-square, and picked in the end: In +colour outwardly blackish, some-what like Iron: Crusted ouer with that +blacknesse about the thicknesse of a shilling. Within it is soft, of a +grey colour, mixed with some kind of minerall, shining like small peeces +of glasse. + +'This _Stone_ brake in the fal: The whole peece is in weight nineteene +pound and a halfe: The greater peece that fell off weigheth fiue pound, +which with other small peeces being put together, make foure and twenty +pound and better.... + +'It is in the Countrey credibly reported that some other Thunder-stones +haue bin found in other places: but for certainty there was one taken vp +at _Letcombe_, and is now in the custody of the _Shriefe_.' + +This curious account is illustrated with a quaint woodcut, in the +foreground of which the thunder-bolt seen by Mistress Green is being +'digged out of the ground.' + +[Illustration: FALL OF METEORS AT BAWLKIN GREEN, BERKSHIRE, APRIL 9, +1628.] + +Amongst the many publications relating to the victorious career of +Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, there was one entitled the _Swedish +Intelligencer_, printed at London, in 1632, for Nathaniel Butter and +Nicholas Bourne, both of them names associated with the first +establishment of newspapers in England. The _Swedish Intelligencer_ +gives very full accounts of the exploits of Gustavus, and it is +illustrated with his portrait, a bird's-eye view of the siege of +Magdeburg, a plan showing how the King of Sweden and his army crossed +the river Lech into Bavaria, and a plan or bird's-eye view of the battle +of Lutzen, where Gustavus was killed. The portrait, the siege of +Magdeburg, and the battle of Lutzen, are engraved on copper, but the +passage of the Lech is a woodcut. I have copied the latter, the others +being too elaborate for reproduction on a reduced scale. The three last +named are very curious as illustrations of war news. Gustavus had +crossed the Danube, and his troops overspread the country between that +river and the river Lech. Field Marshal Tilly was in front of him, +waiting for reinforcements from the army of Wallenstein, in Bohemia, and +the junction of fresh levies raised in Bavaria, with which he hoped to +drive the invaders back across the Danube. The account in the _Swedish +Intelligencer_ of this celebrated passage of the River Lech is too long +for quotation, but I give a condensed version of the circumstances from +other sources. + +The Lech takes its rise among the mountains of the Tyrol, and, after +washing the walls of Landsberg and Augsburg, falls into the Danube at a +short distance from the town of Rain. The banks are broken and +irregular, and the channel uncertain. Nor are there many rivers of the +same size in Germany which can be compared with it in the strength and +rapidity of its current. The united forces of Bavaria and the League, +with this efficient means of defence in front, extended their right wing +towards the Danube and their left towards Rain, while the banks of the +river, as far as the city of Augsburg, were observed by their patrols, +supported by detached bodies of infantry. Tilly had taken the precaution +of breaking down the bridges over the Lech, and had thrown up field +works at points where he judged the passage might be considered attended +with fewest difficulties. That the Swedes would attack him in his main +position was a pitch of daring to which, well as he was acquainted with +the enterprising spirit of the king, he could scarcely suspect him of +having yet attained. Such, however, was the full determination of +Gustavus. After he had reconnoitred the course of the Lech for some +miles, at the imminent peril of his life, he fixed upon a point between +Rain and Thierhauppen, where the river makes a sweep to the eastward, as +the spot for carrying his venturous design into effect. The king's +first intention was to throw a floating bridge over the stream, but the +attempt was no sooner made than it was found to be rendered hopeless by +the rapidity of the current. It was then imagined that tressels might be +sunk, and firmly secured by weights in the bed of the river, on which +the flooring of the bridge might afterwards be securely laid. The king +approved of this plan, and workmen were commanded to prepare the +necessary materials at the small village of Oberendorf, situated about +half a mile from the spot. During the night of the 4th of April the work +was entirely finished, the supports fixed in the stream, and the planks +for forming the bridge brought down to the water's edge. The king had, +in the meantime, ordered a trench to be dug along the bank of the river +for the reception of bodies of musketeers, and several new batteries to +be constructed close to the shore, the fire from which, as they were +disposed along a convex line, necessarily crossed upon the opposite +side; those upon the left hand of the Swedes playing upon the left of +the enemy, and those on the right upon the wood held by the Bavarians. +Another battery, slightly retired from the rest, directed its fire +against the entrenchments occupied by Tilly's centre. By daybreak on the +5th, all necessary preparations having been made, the bridge was begun +to be laid, and completed under the king's inspection. Three hundred +Finland volunteers were the first who crossed, excited by the reward of +ten crowns each to undertake the dangerous service of throwing up a +slight work upon the other side for its protection. By four in the +afternoon the Finlanders had finished their undertaking, having been +protected from a close attack by the musketry of their own party and the +batteries behind them, from which the king is said to have discharged +more than sixty shots with his own hand, to encourage his gunners to +charge their pieces more expeditiously. The work consisted merely of an +embankment surrounded by a trench, but it was defended both by the +direct and cross fire of the Swedes. As soon as it was completed, +Gustavus, stationing himself with the King of Bohemia at the foot of +the bridge, commanded Colonel Wrangle, with a chosen body of infantry +and two or three field-pieces, to pass over, and after occupying the +work, to station a number of musketeers in a bed of osiers upon the +opposite side. The Swedes crossed the bridge with little loss, and after +a short but desperate struggle the Imperialists were routed. The whole +of the Swedish army was soon upon the eastern bank of the Lech, where +the king, without troubling himself with the pursuit of the enemy, +commanded his army to encamp, and ordered the customary thanksgivings to +be offered for his victory.[1] + +The account in the _Swedish Intelligencer_ is wound up in these words: +'And this is the story of the King's bridge over the _Lech_, description +whereof we have thought worthy to be here in Figure imparted unto you.' +Then follows an 'Explanation of the Letters in the Figure of the +_Bridge_,' given below the illustration. The engraving does not appear +to have been entirely satisfactory to the author, for on its margin the +following words are printed: 'Our Cutter hath made the Ordnance too +long, and to lye too farre into the River. The Hole also marked with R, +should have been on the right hand of the Bridge.' + +[Illustration: PASSAGE OF THE RIVER LECH, BY GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. FROM THE +'SWEDISH INTELLIGENCER,' 1632.] + + REFERENCES TO PASSAGE OF THE RIVER LECH. + + 'A The King of Sweeden, and the King of Bohemia by him. + + B The Bridge. + + C A Trench or Brestworke, in which the Kings Musketeers were lodged, + betwixt the severall Batteryes of the great Ordnance, which Musketeers + are represented by the small stroakes made right forwards. + + D Divers little Field-pieces. + + E Plat-formes or Batteryes for the Kings greater Cannon. + + F The Halfe-moone, with its Pallisadoe or Stocket, beyond the Bridge, + and for the guard of it. It was scarcely bigge enough to lodge a + hundred men in. + + G A little Underwood, or low Bushy place. + + H A plaice voyd of wood; which was a Bache, sometimes overflowne. + + I A Brestworke for Tillyes Musketeers. + + K K Tilly and Altringer; or the place where they were shot. + + L The high wood where the Duke of Bavaria stood. + + M Tilleyes great Batteryes to shoot down the Bridge. + + N A small riveret running thorow the wood. + + O Tillyes great Brestworke; not yet finished. Begun at sixe in the + morning; and left off when he was shot. + + P Some Horse-guards of Tillyes: layd scatteringly here and there all + along the river from Rain to Augsburg. + + Q The kings Horse-guards, and Horse-sentryes. + + R A hole in the earth, or casual advantageable place; wherein some of + the Kings Foot were lodged. + + S The Hill behind Tillyes great worke. + + T The fashion of the Tressels or Arches for the Kings Bridge.' + +In 1636 the Sallee Rovers had become very troublesome, and not only +hindered British commerce, on the high seas, but even infested the +English coasts. They had captured and carried into slavery many +Englishmen, for whose release a 'Fleete of Shippes' was sent out in +January, 1636. Assisted by the Emperor of Morocco, the nest of pirates +was destroyed and the captives released. A full account of this +expedition is given in a curious pamphlet, entitled, '_A true Journal of +the Sally Fleet with the proceedings of the Voyage, published by John +Dunton, London, Mariner, Master of the Admirall called the Leopard. +Whereunto is annexed a List of Sally Captives names and the places where +they dwell, and a Description of the three Townes in a Card. London, +printed by John Dawson for Thomas Nicholes, and are to be sold at the +Signe of the Bible in Popes Head Alley, 1637_.' This tract is +illustrated by a large plan of Sallee, engraved on copper, with +representations of six English vessels of war on the sea. After minutely +describing the proceedings of the voyage, and giving a long list of the +captives' names, the journalist winds up in these words: 'All these good +Shippes with the Captives are in safety in England, we give God thanks. +And bless King Charles and all those that love him.' + +At the end of the pamphlet is printed the authority for its publication: +'Hampton Court, the 20. of October, 1637. This Journall and Mappe may be +printed.' + +There is an illustrated pamphlet of this period which I have not been +able to see. It is entitled, '_Newes, and Strange Newes from St. +Christopher's of a Tempestuous Spirit, which is called by the Indians a +Hurrycano or Whirlwind; whereunto is added the True and Last Relation +(in verse) of the Dreadful Accident which happened at Witticombe in +Devonshire, 21. October, 1638_.' + +The _Weekly News_, begun in 1622, had been in existence sixteen years +when the idea of illustrating current events seems to have occurred to +its conductors; for in the number for December 20, 1638, there is, +besides the usual items of foreign news, an account of a 'prodigious +eruption of fire, which exhaled in the middest of the ocean sea, over +against the Isle of Saint Michael, one of the Terceras, and the new +island which it hath made.' The text is illustrated by a full-page +engraving showing 'the island, its length and breadth, and the places +where the fire burst out.' I have not been able to find a copy of the +_Weekly News_ for December 20, 1638, either in the British Museum or +elsewhere. My authority for the above statement is a letter in the +_Times_ of October 13, 1868. As far as I have been able to ascertain, no +other illustrations were published in the _Weekly News_, so that we must +conclude the engraving of the 'prodigious eruption of fire' was an +experiment, which in its result was not encouraging to the proprietor or +conductors of the journal. + +[Illustration: TAKING OF THE CASTLE OF ARTAINE, IRELAND, 1641.] + +When the Irish Rebellion of 1641 broke out, many news-books were +published describing the transactions in that country, and several of +them are illustrated. I may here remark that the illustrations of events +in these pamphlets, as well as many of those contained in the numerous +tracts published during the Civil War in England, appear to be works of +pure imagination, and were, probably, invented by the artist just as a +modern draughtsman would illustrate a work of fiction. Others, again, +were evidently old woodcuts executed for some other purpose. A few +instances occur, however, where drawings have been made from actual +scenes, and sometimes maps and plans are given as illustrations of a +battle or a siege. This rising of the Roman Catholics in Ireland began +with a massacre of the Protestants, and, according to the tracts +published at the time, the atrocities of recent wars in Bulgaria and +elsewhere were equalled in every way by the Roman Catholics in Ireland +in the seventeenth century. The illustrations in these tracts are very +coarse woodcuts. One represents the arrest of a party of conspirators, +and another is a view of a town besieged, while a third gives a group of +prisoners supplicating for mercy. The best illustration that I have met +with of this Irish news is contained in a pamphlet entitled, '_Approved, +good and happy Newes from Ireland; Relating how the Castle of Artaine +was taken from the Rebels, two of their Captaines kild, and one taken +prisoner by the Protestants, with the arrival of 2000 foot, and 300 +horse from England. Also a great skirmish between the Protestants and +the Rebels at a place near Feleston, wherein the English obtained great +renowne and victory: Whereunto is added a true relation of the great +overthrow which the English gave the Rebels before Drogheda, sent in a +letter bearing date the 27 of February to Sir Robert King, Knight, at +Cecill house in the Strand. Printed by order of Parliament. London, +Printed for John Wright 1641._' The woodcut on the title-page of this +tract represents the taking of the castle of Artaine, but there is only +the following very short paragraph relating to it:--'The last news from +Ireland 7 March 1641. The 10 of February our men went to _Artaine_ +against a castle so called, which had before done some mischiefe, to +some of our men, the enemy being in it. But the enemy fled before our +second coming, and left the Castle, and a garrison was left in it by +us.' The other news is related more at length, and one of the paragraphs +runs thus:--'On the 13 a man was brought to our City, being taken by +some of our scattering men scouting about our City, who confest without +constraint, that he had killed an _Englishwoman_ at a place called +_Leslipson_, 6 Miles West of our City, and washed his hands in her +bloud, being set on by the popish Priests so to doe; he was presently +hanged, but dyed with much repentance and a protestant, which few do.' +The concluding paragraph of this pamphlet shows the writer to have been +a man of a commercial spirit:--'Tis to be feared that a famine is like +to be in our City, in that still men come to us and provision is short, +and none of yours that come to us bring any vittailes, great taxes are +upon us, more than can be borne. He that had Butter, and Cheese, and +Cloath, at between 6 and 14 shillings a yard here sent by any out of +London might make a good trade of it. Cheshire Cheese is sould here for +sixpence a pound already. Some of your Londoners are come hither +(acquaintance of mine) that will send for such things, for great profit +may be made by them and quicke returne.' Annexed is a facsimile of the +woodcut representing the taking of the Castle of Artaine. + +Several other pamphlets relating to the Irish Rebellion are illustrated, +but, with a few exceptions, the cuts bear very little relation to the +subject, and were probably not executed for the purpose. One gives an +account of a victory obtained by the English at Dundalk in 1642, and it +has a woodcut of a man firing a cannon against a town, a copy of which +is appended. + +[Illustration: VICTORY AT DUNDALK, 1642.] + +The description is in the following words:--'Newes from Ireland. On +Monday morning came three Gentlemen to our City of Dublin from Sir Henry +Tichbourne, who brought a message to the state of a great and happy +victory obtained by the aforesaid Sir Henry Tichbourne with 2000 horse +and foot marched to Ardee, and there put 400 of the Rebels to the sword, +yet lost not one man of our side; from thence upon the Saturday +following, he mustered up his forces against a place called Dundalke +some 14 miles northward from Tredath, where the enemy was 5000 strong, +and well fortified. At his first approach there issued out of the Towne +3000 of the Rebels who all presented themselves in Battallia, our +Forlorne hopes of horse and foot had no sooner fired upon them, but they +routed the Rebels. Captaine Marroe's Troope of horse setting on killed +great store of the Rebels who thereupon retreated to the Towne, made +fast the gates, and ran out at the other end to their boats beforehand +provided: Our Army coming in fired the gates, entred, and killed those +within. Captain Marroe followed the flying foe, and slew abundance of +them upon the strand, and it is reported by them that if he had known +the Fords and the River, he had cut them all off, if he had gained the +other side of the River, but being a stranger, could not doe it (wanting +a guide) without endangering the Troope. There was slaine of the Rebels +in this sudden skirmish not less than 1100 besides what they took +prisoners. Sir Philomy O'Neale fled with the rest of the Commanders; but +10 common soldiers were lost of our side. Sir Philomy O'Neale made speed +away to a place called Newry, a chiefe garrison of the Rebels. Sir Henry +Tichbourne hath sent 600 men more to Dublin, intending that place shall +be the next he begins withall, which is granted, and tomorrow there +goeth to him 500 men, if not 5000, for whose safety and prosperity in +the meantime is the subject of our daily prayers that he may have as +good success as in all his other designs from the first till this time; +for no man was ever so beloved by his souldiers, that protest to follow +him while they can stand. We are in great hope he will recover the Newry +very shortly; it is credibly reported, that they got 20,000 pounds at +least in pillage at Dundalke.' + +In another pamphlet, dated 1642, there is an account of a battle at +Kilrush, which is also illustrated with a woodcut. The circumstances are +related in detail, but they are sufficiently set forth in the title, +without further quotation:--'Captaine Yarner's Relation of the Battaile +fought at Kilrush upon the 15th day of Aprill, by my Lord of Ormond, who +with 2500 Foot and 500 Horse, overthrew the Lord Mountgarret's Army, +consisting of 8000 Foot and 400 Horse, all well armed, and the choyce of +eight Counties. Together with a Relation of the proceedings of our Army, +from the second to the later end of Aprill, 1642.' + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF KILRUSH, 1642.] + +Many other illustrated pamphlets relating to current events were +published at this time. It would appear that in 1641 there was a +visitation of the plague in London, and a tract of that date has +reference to it. It is entitled:--'_London's Lamentation, or a fit +admonishment for City and Country, wherein is described certain causes +of this affliction and visitation of the Plague, yeare 1641, which the +Lord hath been pleased to inflict upon us, and withall what means must +be used to the Lord, to gain his mercy and favour, with an excellent +spirituall medicine to be used for the preservative both of Body and +Soule._' The 'spiritual medicine' recommended is an earnest prayer to +heaven at morning and evening and a daily service to the Lord. The +writer endeavours to improve the occasion very much like a preacher in +the pulpit and continues his exhortation thus:--'Now seeing it is +apparent that sin is the cause of sicknesse: It may appear as plainly +that prayer must be the best means to procure health and safety, let not +our security and slothfulnesse give death opportunity, what man or woman +will not seem to start, at the signe of the red Crosse, as they passe +by to and fro in the streets? And yet being gone they think no more on +it. It may be, they will say, such a house is shut up, I saw the red +crosse on the doore; but look on thine own guilty conscience, and thou +shalt find thou hast a multitude of red crimson sinnes remaining in +thee.' I have copied the illustration to this tract, and it will be seen +that it is divided into two parts--one representing a funeral procession +advancing to where men are digging two graves--the other showing dead +bodies dragged away on hurdles. The first is labelled 'London's +Charity.' The second 'The Countrie's Crueltie.' This was perhaps +intended to impress the reader in favour of the orderly burial of the +dead in the city churchyards, a subject on which public opinion has very +much changed since that time. + +[Illustration: THE PLAGUE IN LONDON. 1641.] + +We have already noticed that the vicissitudes of the sea and the +accidents of maritime life, which supply so much material to modern +newspapers, were not less attractive to the early news-writers. There is +a very circumstantial account of the voyage and wreck of a ship called +the _Merchant Royall_ in a pamphlet published in 1641. The engraving it +contains is the same block used by Thomas Greepe in 1587. It is +entitled, '_Sad news from the seas, being a true relation of the losse +of that good Ship called the Merchant Royall, which was cast away ten +leagues from the Lands end, on Thursday night, being the 23 of September +last 1641 having in her a world of Treasure, as this story following +doth truly relate_.' Another illustrated pamphlet, dated 1642, contains +a long and minute narrative of how a certain ship called the _Coster_ +was boarded by a native of Java, who, watching his opportunity, murdered +the captain and several of the crew, but who was afterwards killed when +assistance arrived from another ship. There is a woodcut representing +the murders, and the title runs as follows:--'_A most Execrable and +Barbarous murder done by an East Indian Devil, or a native of +Java-Major, in the Road of Bantam, Aboard an English ship called the +Coster, on the 22 of October last, 1641. Wherein is shewed how the +wicked Villain came to the said ship and hid himself till it was very +dark, and then he murdered all the men that were aboard, except the +Cooke and three Boyes. And lastly, how the murderer himselfe was justly +requited. Captain William Minor being an eye-witnesse of this bloudy +Massacre. London: Printed for T. Banks, July the 18, 1642._' The very +full particulars given in this pamphlet show how minute and +circumstantial the old news-writers were in their narratives. It will be +seen by the following extracts that the story has an air of truth given +to it by careful attention to various small matters of detail:-- + +'On Friday the 22 of October last 1641 towards night there came aboard +an English ship called the _Coster_, in a small Prow (or flat Boat with +one paddle) a proper young man, (a Java, which is as much as to say as a +man born or native of the Territory of Java.) This man, (or devill in +mans shape) with a pretence to sell some Hews, (hatching mischiefe in +his damned minde,) did delay and trifle time, because he would have the +night more dark for him to do his deeds of darknesse. At last he sold 6 +Hews for half a Royall of 8 which is not much above two shillings. There +came also another Java aboard, (with the like small Prow or Boat) to +whom he gave the half Royall, sent him away and bade him make haste; he +being asked for what the other Java went for, the answer was that he had +sent him for more Hews and Goates to sell. + +'Night being come, and very dark, (for it was the last night of the wane +of the Moone) this inhumane dog staid lurking under the half deck having +2 Crests (or dangerous waving daggers) and a Buckler, of which he would +have sold one and the Buckler with it, and as he was discoursing he took +off one of the Crests hefts and put cloth about the tongue of the Blade, +and made it sure fast: on the other Crest he rolled the handle with a +fine linnen cloth to make it also sure from slipping in his hand; these +things he did whilst the Master, Robert Start, Stephen Roberts, his +mate, Hugh Rawlinson, Chirurgeon, William Perks, Steward, James Biggs, +Gunner, and 3 Boys or Youths attending. At supper they were very merry, +and this Caitiffe took notice of their carelessnesse of him to suffer +him to sit on the quarter deck upon a Cot close by them. + +'Supper being ended about 6 at night the Master went to his Cabin to +rest, the Gunner asked leave to go ashore, (the ship riding but half a +mile from landing.) Afterwards Robert Rawlinson and Perks walked upon +the quarter deck; and the devilish Java perceiving the Master to be +absent, he asked the Boyes where he was, who answered he was gone to +sleepe. This question he demanded 3 or 4 times of the Boyes, and finding +it to be so, he arose from the place where he sate, which was on the +starboard side and went about the Table next the Mizzen Mast (where +Roberts, Rawlings and Perks were walking) with his Target about his Neck +for defence against Pikes, or the like; and his 2 Crests in his hand, +and upon a sudden cries _a Muck_, which in that language is I hazard or +run my death. Then first he stabd Roberts, secondly he stabd Rawlinson, +thirdly Perks, all three at an instant. After that he let drive at the +Boyes, but they leapd down, and ran forward into the forecastle, where +they found the Cooke, to whom the Boyes related what had happened.' + +Further details are given at great length, showing how the savage +continued his bloody work, and how he was finally overpowered. The +narrative thus winds up:-- + +[Illustration: MURDERS ON BOARD AN ENGLISH SHIP, 1642.] + +'It is observable that of all these men that were thus butchered, the +Hel-hound did never stab any man twice, so sure did he strike, nor did +he pursue any man that kept clear of his stand under the quarter-deck. +So there dyed in all (in this bloody action) Robert Start, Master, +Stephen Roberts, his Mate, Hugh Rawlinson, Chirurgeon, William Perks, +Steward, Walter Rogers, Gunner's Mate, and Francis Drake, Trumpeter of +the _Mary_. And after the Muck, Java, or Devill, had ended the first +part of this bloody Tragedy, there was only left in the ship, the Cooke, +3 Boyes, and one John Taylor, that was almost dead with a shott he +foolishly made. So that 7 men were unfortunately lost (as you have +heard) and the Gunner escaped very narrowly through God's merciful +prevention, from the like of these related disasters and suddaine +mischiefs, Good Lord deliver us.' + +The engraving, like all those belonging to this period, is very rough; +but it was evidently prepared specially for the occasion, and some care +appears to have been taken to represent the '_Java_' as he is described. +It is a genuine attempt to illustrate the story, and on that account is +more interesting than some of the woodcuts in the early newspapers. + +The Earl of Strafford, who was executed on Tower Hill, May 12, 1641, +forms the subject of more than one illustrated tract of this period. In +1642 was published a curious pamphlet, consisting of an engraved title +and eight pages of illustrations, representing the principal events of +1641-2. There are sixteen illustrations, exclusive of the title, two on +each page. They are all etched on copper, and are done with some freedom +and artistic ability. I shall have occasion to refer to this pamphlet +hereafter; but at present I have copied the engraving entitled, 'The +Earle of Strafford for treasonable practises beheaded on the +Tower-hill.' + +In this example of illustrated news the artist has faithfully +represented the locality in his background, but there the truth of his +pencil stops. Strafford himself, although his head is not yet severed +from his body, lies at full length on the scaffold, and instead of the +usual block used for decapitations the victim's head rests on an +ordinary plank or thick piece of wood. There is no one standing on the +scaffold but the executioner, whereas history asserts that the Earl was +attended in his last moments by his brother, Sir George Wentworth, the +Earl of Cleveland, and Archbishop Usher. These omissions, if they were +noticed at all, were no doubt looked upon as trivial faults in the +infancy of illustrated journalism, and before a truth-loving public had +learnt to be satisfied with nothing less than 'sketches done on the +spot.' What appears to be a more correct view of the execution was, +however, published at the time. In the British Museum are two etchings +by Hollar (single sheets, 1641), representing the trial and execution +of the Earl of Strafford. They both look as if they had been done from +sketches on the spot, that of the execution giving a correct view of the +Tower and the surrounding buildings, but they are too crowded to admit +of reproduction on a reduced scale. + +[Illustration: EXECUTION OF STRAFFORD, 1641.] + +The taste of the time tolerated the publication of satires and petty +lampoons even upon dead men. Soon after Strafford's death a tract was +published entitled '_A Description of the Passage of Thomas, late Earle +of Strafford, over the River of Styx, with the Conference betwixt him, +Charon, and William Noy_.' There is a dialogue between Strafford and +Charon, of which the following is a specimen:-- + +'_Charon._--In the name of Rhodomont what ayles me? I have tugged and +tugged above these two hours, yet can hardly steere one foot forward; +either my dried nerves deceive my arme, or my vexed Barke carries an +unwonted burden. From whence comest thou, Passenger? + +'_Strafford._--From England. + +'_Charon._--From England! Ha! I was counsailed to prepare myselfe, and +trim up my boat. I should have work enough they sayd ere be long from +England, but trust me thy burden alone outweighs many transported +armies, were all the expected numbers of thy weight poor Charon well +might sweat. + +[Illustration: STRAFFORD CROSSING THE STYX, 1641.] + +'_Strafford._--I bear them all in one. + +'_Charon._--How? Bear them all in one, and thou shalt pay for them all +in one, by the just soul of Rhodomont; this was a fine plot indeed, sure +this was some notable fellow being alive, that hath a trick to cosen the +devil being dead. What is thy name? + +'(Strafford sighs.) + +'_Charon._--Sigh not so deep. Take some of this Lethaean water into thine +hand, and soope it up; it will make thee forget thy sorrows. + +'_Strafford._--My name is Wentworth, Strafford's late Earle. + +'_Charon._--Wentworth! O ho! Thou art hee who hath been so long expected +by William Noy. He hath been any time these two months on the other side +of the banke, expecting thy coming daily.' + +Strafford gives Charon but one halfpenny for his fare, whereat the +ferryman grumbles. Then ensues a conversation between Strafford and +William Noy, part of which is in blank verse. The tract is illustrated +with a woodcut, representing Strafford in the ferryman's boat with +William Noy waiting his arrival on the opposite bank. + +[Illustration: A BURLESQUE PLAY ABOUT ARCHBISHOP LAUD. ACT I. 1641.] + +No man of his time appears to have excited the hostile notice of the +press more than Archbishop Laud. The Archbishops of Canterbury had long +been considered censors of the press by right of their dignity and +office; and Laud exercised this power with unusual tyranny. The +ferocious cruelty with which he carried out his prosecutions in the Star +Chamber and Court of High Commission made his name odious, and his +apparent preference for ceremonial religion contributed to render him +still more unpopular. Men were put in the pillory, had their ears cut +off, their noses slit, and were branded on the cheeks with S. S. (Sower +of Sedition), and S. L. (Schismatical Libeller). They were heavily +fined, were whipped through the streets, were thrown into prison; and +all for printing and publishing opinions and sentiments unpleasing to +Archbishop Laud, under whose rule this despotic cruelty became so +prevalent that it was a common thing for men to speak of So-and-so as +having been 'Star-Chambered.' No wonder, when the tide turned, that the +long-pent-up indignation found a vent through the printing-press. +Amongst the numerous tracts that were published after the suppression of +the Star Chamber were many which held up Laud to public execration. He +was reviled for his ambition, reproached for his cruelty, and +caricatured for his Romish sympathies. During the four years between his +fall and his execution, portraits of him and other illustrations +relating to his career may be found in many pamphlets. I propose to +introduce the reader to some of these, as examples of the kind of +feeling that was excited by a man whose character and actions must have +contributed not a little to bring about a convulsion which shook both +the Church and the throne to their foundations. It must have been with a +peculiar satisfaction that Prynne, one of the chief sufferers under +Laud's rule, found himself armed with the authority of the House of +Commons to despoil his old enemy. Probably a similar feeling caused many +others to chuckle and rub their hands when they read, '_A New Play +called Canterburie's Change of Diet_, printed in 1641.' This is a small +tract illustrated with woodcuts, and is written in the form of a play. +The persons represented are the Archbishop of Canterbury, a doctor of +physic, a lawyer, a divine, a Jesuit, a carpenter and his wife. The +doctor of physic is intended for either Dr. Alexander Leighton, or Dr. +John Bastwick, both of whom had their ears cut off; the lawyer is +Prynne; and the divine is meant for the Rev. Henry Burton, a London +clergyman, who also suffered under Laud's administration. In the first +act enter the Archbishop, the doctor, the lawyer, and the divine. Being +seated, a variety of dishes are brought to the table, but Laud expresses +himself dissatisfied with the fare placed before him and demands a more +racy diet. He then calls in certain bishops, who enter armed with +muskets, bandoleers, and swords. He cuts off the ears of the doctor, the +lawyer, and the divine, and tells them he makes them an example that +others may be more careful to please his palate. On the previous page is +a copy of the cut which illustrates the first act. + +[Illustration: A BURLESQUE PLAY ABOUT ARCHBISHOP LAUD. ACT II.] + +[Illustration: A BURLESQUE PLAY ABOUT ARCHBISHOP LAUD. ACT III.] + +In the second act the Archbishop of Canterbury enters a carpenter's yard +by the waterside, and seeing a grindstone he is about to sharpen his +knife upon it, when he is interrupted by the carpenter who refuses to +let him sharpen his knife upon his grindstone, lest he should treat him +(the carpenter) as he had treated the others. The carpenter then holds +the Archbishop's nose to the grindstone, and orders his apprentice to +turn with a will. The bishop cries out, 'Hold! hold! such turning will +soon deform my face. O, I bleed, I bleed, and am extremely sore.' The +carpenter, however, rejoins, 'But who regarded "hold" before? Remember +the cruelty you have used to others, whose bloud crieth out for +vengeance. Were not their ears to them as pretious as your nostrils can +be to you? If such dishes must be your fare, let me be your Cooke, I'll +invent you rare sippets.' Then enters a Jesuit Confessor who washes the +bishop's wounded face and binds it up with a cloth. There is also an +illustration to this act which is here copied. + +[Illustration: ASSAULT ON LAMBETH PALACE, 1642.] + +In the third act the Archbishop and the Jesuit are represented in a +great Cage (the Tower) while the carpenter and his wife, conversing +together, agree that the two caged birds will sing very well together. +The woodcut to this act represents a fool laughing at the prisoners. + +There is a fourth act in which the King and his Jester hold a +conversation about the Bishop and the confessor in the cage. There is no +printer's or publisher's name to this play, only the date, 1641. + +The pamphlet previously referred to as containing a picture of +Strafford's execution, has also an engraving showing how the tide of +public feeling had set against Archbishop Laud. The powerful Churchman +had been impeached for high treason; he was deprived of all the profits +of his high office and was imprisoned in the Tower. All his goods in +Lambeth Palace, including his books, were seized, and even his Diary and +private papers were taken from him by Prynne, who acted under a warrant +from the House of Commons. The engraving under notice is entitled 'The +rising of Prentices and Sea-men on Southwark side to assault the +Archbishops of Canterburys House at Lambeth.' + +In a tract entitled '_A Prophecie of the Life, Reigne, and Death of +William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury_,' there is a caricature of Laud +seated on a throne or chair of state. A pair of horns grow out of his +forehead, and in front the devil offers him a Cardinal's Hat. This +business of the Cardinal's Hat is alluded to by Laud himself, who says, +'At Greenwich there came one to me seriously, and that avowed ability to +perform it, and offered me to be a Cardinal. I went presently to the +king, and acquainted him both with the thing and the person.' This offer +was afterwards renewed: 'But,' says he, 'my answer again was, that +something dwelt within me which would not suffer that till Rome were +other than it is.' It would thus appear that the Archbishop did not give +a very decided refusal at first or the offer would not have been +repeated; and that circumstance, if it were known at the time, must have +strengthened the opinion that he was favourably inclined towards the +Church of Rome. At all events, the offer must have been made public, as +this caricature shows. + +Though Laud behaved with dignity and courage when he came to bid +farewell to the world, if we are to believe the publications of the +time, he was not above petitioning for mercy, while any hope of life +remained. In 1643 a pamphlet was published with the following title, +'_The Copy of the Petition presented to the Honourable Houses of +Parliament by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, wherein the said +Archbishop desires that he may not be transported beyond the Seas into +New England with Master Peters in regard to his extraordinary age and +weaknesse_.' The petition is dated 'From the Tower of London this 6th of +May 1643,' and in it the petitioner sets forth that out of a 'fervent +zeal to Christianity' he endeavoured to reconcile the principles of the +Protestant and Roman Catholic religions, hoping that if he could effect +this he might more easily draw the Queen into an adherence to the +Protestant faith. He deplores that his endeavours were not successful, +and he begs the honourable Parliament to pardon his errors, and to +'looke upon him in mercy, and not permit or suffer your Petitioner to be +transported, to endure the hazard of the Seas, and the long tediousnesse +of Voyage into those trans-marine parts, and cold Countries, which would +soon bring your Petitioners life to a period; but rather that your +Petitioner may abide in his native country, untill your Petitioner shall +pay the debt which is due from him to Nature, and so your Petitioner +doth submit himselfe to your Honourable and grave Wisdoms for your +Petitioners request and desire therein. And your Petitioner shall humbly +pray &c.' + +[Illustration: CARICATURE OF THE DEVIL OFFERING LAUD A CARDINAL'S HAT, +1644.] + +If Archbishop Laud was really the author of this petition he appears to +have expected that his long imprisonment would end in banishment rather +than death. He was beheaded on Tower Hill, January 10, 1645. There is a +woodcut portrait of the Archbishop printed on the title-page of the +petition. + +[Illustration: ARCHBISHOP LAUD.] + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [1] _Life of Gustavus Adolphus_. Family Library. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Ben Jonson's Ridicule of the Early Newspapers--Fondness of the Old + News-Writers for the Marvellous--The Smithfield Ghost--The Wonderful + Whale--The Newbury Witch--Satirical Tracts and Caricatures at the + Commencement of the Civil War--Religion Tossed in a + Blanket--Caricatures of the Pope and the Bishops--Pluralists and + Patentees--Taylor, the Water Poet--_Mercurius Aulicus_--Activity of + the Pamphleteers--Welshmen Satirised--Satires on Prince Rupert--On the + King and Queen--The Ladies' Parliament--Illustrated Tracts relating to + Social and Political Subjects--Sir Kenelm Digby's Duel--The King + entertained by the City of London, 1641--Executions in 1641--The + Liquor Traffic and Sunday Closing in 1641--Abuses of the + Ecclesiastical Courts--Ritualism and Nunneries in 1641--Truths + enforced by Lieing--Stage Players and the Plague in 1641--Bartholomew + Fair in 1641--Destruction of Charing Cross and Cheapside + Cross--Strange Apparition--Method of Enforcing their Views adopted by + the Puritan Pamphleteers--Parodies of Roundhead Sermons--Matthew + Hopkins the Witch-finder--_The Welsh Post_ of 1643--William Lilly the + Astrologer--Three Suns seen in London on the King's Birthday. + + +When Ben Jonson called the newspaper 'a weekly cheat to draw money,' and +ridiculed the growing taste for news, he had some reason for satirising +the journalism of the period. To satisfy the craving for news all kinds +of impositions were freely circulated. Nothing was too wonderful for the +credulity of the age, and people eagerly accepted what was placed before +them, fully believing that whatever was in print must be true. It was +not, however, till many years after Ben Jonson's death that the +so-called newspapers put forward their full powers as purveyors of the +marvellous. _Mercurius Democritus_ was the _Punch_ of that day. While he +satirised men and things he laboured to satisfy the popular taste for +the wonderful, as in the following account of a ghost that was said to +haunt the neighbourhood of Smithfield:--'There is a great report of a +ghoast that walks every Night amongst the Butchers at _Smithfield +Barrs_, the _Shambles_, White-_Chappell_, and _Eastcheape_, in the habit +of _Mallet_, the Lawyer, pulling the meat off the Butchers Tainters; +many have adventured to strike at him with Cleavers and Chopping-knives, +but cannot feel anything but Aire, every Saturday at night between 9 and +12, he walks his stations, in this very habit as you see, doing more +mischiefe to the _Butchers_ than ever _Robin Goodfellow_ did to the +Country Hindes.' + +[Illustration: THE SMITHFIELD GHOST. FROM 'MERCURIUS DEMOCRITUS,' 1654.] + +Another example of the marvellous occurs in a tract entitled, '_The Sea +Wonder: a true and wonderful relation of a Whale pursued in the Sea, and +incountered by multitudes of other Fishes as it was certified by divers +Mariners of Weymouth, who, comming from France in the good ship called +the_ Bonaventure, _did shoote the said Whale, which making to Land did +strike upon the Shore, within three miles of Weymouth, where being +opened there was found in the belly of it a Romish Priest, with Pardon +for divers Papists in England and Ireland, whose names are here +inserted_.' Great pains appear to have been taken to give an air of +truth to the narrative, which begins thus:--'On the 19th of October +being the Lord's Day the good Ship called the _Bonaventure_ of +_Weymouth_ being bound for _England_ was bringing home her Merchandise +from _France_ which was wines, linning cloth, and abundance of +Wall-nuts, the day was very fair and no wind stirring, so that the ship +for above three hours space lay hulling upon the Seas, being not able to +move either one way nor other for want of wind, although she was full +sayled and prepared to take the advantage of every gale.' The author +gravely explains that the excitement of the fishes and their attacks on +the whale were caused by their instinctively feeling the presence of the +Popish Priest. Annexed is a copy of the woodcut on the title-page of +this curious tract. + +[Illustration: THE WONDERFUL WHALE, 1645.] + +'_Newes, True Newes, Laudable Newes, Citie Newes, Country Newes; The +World is Mad, or it is a Mad World my Masters especially now when in the +Antipodes these things are come to pass._' Such is the lengthy title of +a pamphlet containing an imaginary account of things at the Antipodes, +and illustrated with a fanciful woodcut on the title-page. Then we have +news from Boston in New England of a strange and prodigious birth of a +child with two heads, also illustrated. _Mercurius Democritus_, besides +such waggeries as giving an account of 'a sight seen in the air by a +blind philosopher,' communicates '_Many strange wonders out of the +World, in the Moon, the Antipodes, Maggy Land, Tenebris, Fary-Land, +Greenland, and other adjacent countries_. _Published for the right +understanding of all the Mad-merry-people of Great Bedlam._' Another +example of the wonderful stories put forth to entertain the multitude +relates to the discovery and punishment of a witch during the civil war. +It occurs in a pamphlet entitled '_A most Certain, Strange and true +Discovery of a Witch, being taken by some of the Parliament Forces, as +she was standing on a small planck-board and sayling on it over the +River of Newbury_.' The illustration is of the rudest description, and +the story is told in a breathless sort of way, without a full stop in +the whole narrative:-- + +'A part of the Army marching through Newbury, some of the Souldiers +being scattered by the reason of their loytering by the way, in +gathering Nuts, Apples, Plummes, Blackberries, and the like, one of them +by chance in clambring up a tree, being pursued by his fellow or comrade +in waggish merriment, jesting one with another, espied on the river +being there adjacent, a tall, lean, slender woman, as he supposed, to +his amazement, and great terrour, treading of the water with her feet, +with as much ease and firmnesse as if one should walk or trample on the +earth, wherewith he softly calls, and beckoned to his fellows to behold +it, and with all possible speed that could be to obscure them from her +sight, who as conveniently as they could they did observe, this could be +no little amazement unto them you may think to see a woman dance upon +the water, nor could all their sights be deluded, though perhaps one +might, but coming nearer to the shore, they could perceive there was a +planke or deale overshadowed with a little shallow water that she stood +upon, the which did beare her up, anon rode by some of the commanders +who were eye witnesses, as well as they, and were as much astonished as +they could be, still too and fro she fleeted on the water, the boord +standing firm boult upright, indeed I have both heard and read of many +that in tempests and on rivers by casualty have become shipwracked, or +cast overboard, where catching empty barrells, rudders, boards, or +planks have made good shift by the assisting Providence of God to get on +shore, but not in this womans kind to stand upon the board, turning and +winding it which way she pleased, making it pastime to her, as little +thinking who perceived her tricks, or that she did imagine that they +were the last she ever should show, as we have heard the swan sing +before her death, so did this devilish woman, as after plainly it +appeared make sport before her death, at last having sufficiently been +upon the water, he that deceived her alway did so then, blinding her +that she could not, at her landing see the ambush that was laid for her, +coming upon the shore, she gave the board a push, which they plainly +perceived, and crossed the river, they searched after her but could not +find her she being landed the Commanders beholding her, gave orders to +lay hold on her, and bring her to them straight, the which some were +fearful, but one being more venturous than other some, boldly went to +her and seized on her by the arms, demanding what she was? but the woman +no whit replying any words unto them, they brought her to the +Commanders, to whom though mightily she was urged she did reply as +little; so consulting with themselves what should be done with her, +being it so apparently appeared she was a _witch_, being loth to let her +goe & as loth to carry her with them, so they resolved with themselves, +to make a shot at her, and gave order to a couple of their souldiers +that were approved good marksmen, to charge and shoot her straight, +which they prepared to doe; so setting her boult upright against a mud +bank or wall; two of the souldiers according to their command made +themselves ready, where having taken aime gave fire and shot at her, +but with a deriding and loud laughter at them she caught their bullets +in her hands and chew'd them, which was a stronger testimony than the +water, that she was the same that their imaginations thought her for to +be, so resolving with themselves if either fire or sword or halter were +sufficient for to make an end of her, one set his Carbine close unto her +brest; where discharging, the bullet back rebounded like a ball, and +narrowly he mist it in his face that was the shooter; this so enraged +the Gentleman, that one drew out his sword and manfully run at her with +all the force his strength had power to make, but it prevailed no more +than did the shot, the woman still though speechless, yet in a most +contemptible way of scorn, still laughing at them, which did the more +exhaust their furie against her life, yet one amongst the rest had heard +that piercing or drawing bloud from forth the veins that crosse the +temples of the head, it would prevail against the strongest sorcery, and +quell the force of Witchcraft, which was allowed for triall; the woman +hearing this knew then the Devill had left her and her power was gone, +wherefore she began alowd to cry, and roare, tearing her haire, and +making pitious moan, which in these words expressed were: And is it +come to passe that I must die indeed? Why then his Excellency the Earle +of Essex shall be fortunate and win the field, after which no more words +could be got from her; wherewith they immediately discharged a Pistoll +underneath her ear, at which she straight sunk down and died, leaving +her legacy of a detested carcasse to the wormes, her soul we ought not +to judge of, though the evils of her wicked life and death can scape no +censure.' + +[Illustration: THE NEWBURY WITCH, 1643.] + +On the outbreak of the great Civil War an immense number of tracts and +pamphlets were published relating to social and political questions, +many of which were illustrated. Satire was a weapon freely used, and +many hard hits were made, the point and bitterness of which cannot now +be understood. Caricatures, which are generally supposed to have made +their appearance in England at a much later date, are of frequent +occurrence. The wonderful and supernatural were freely dealt in, and +many tracts were published which were not strictly news, yet had some +reference to public men and passing events. The woodcuts in the tracts +and pamphlets of this period were frequently repeated, being sometimes +used where they had no relation to the subject treated. + +[Illustration: RELIGION TOSSED IN A BLANKET, 1641.] + +The minds of men being much exercised on questions of religion at this +time, it was to be expected that the subject would not escape the notice +of the satirist. Accordingly, many tracts were published relating to +religious matters, some of which are illustrated with woodcut +caricatures. There is one of the date of 1641 containing a woodcut of +four men tossing Religion (represented by a Bible) in a blanket. The +writer condemns the numberless sects which were perplexing men's minds +and tearing the Church asunder:-- + +'Religion is made a Hotch potch, and as it were tossed in a Blanquet, +and too many places of England too much _Amsterdamnified_ by several +opinions. Religion is now become the common discourse and Table-talke in +every Taverne and Ale-house, where a man shall hardly find five +together in one minde, and yet every one presumes hee is in the right. +The Booke of Common prayer which was established by Act of Parliament by +that good and Godly King Edward the sixth, and after reestablished by +another Parliament by that unparaled and peerlesse princesse Queen +Elizabeth, and continued since in the happy Raignes of two gracious +kings in the church of England for the service of God these ninetie +yeares; yet one would have it to be cast out now, holding it to be a +false worship; another is angrie at the vestments and habits of the +Ministry; one will not kneel, another will not stand, one will sit +downe, one will not bowe, another will not be uncovered, one holds all +good manners to be popery, another that all decencie is superstitious, +another that railes are Romish (which is false for the papists have no +railes in their churches, nor anything so convenient). One foolishly +assumes and presumes to save himselfe and some of his Neighbours too, by +his good workes; another will be saved by a bare and lazie Faith that +will do no work at all, and thus religion is puft and blowne to and fro +with every wind of doctrine, and as it were tost in a Blanquet; but of +this more largely hereafter in another part which will suddenly be +printed, till when and ever it shall be my hearty prayers that as there +is but one Shepheard, that is God in his gracious goodnesse and mercie +would make us all one sheepfold.' + +[Illustration: CARICATURE OF THE POPE, 1643.] + +The shafts of satire were frequently aimed at the Pope and the Bishops. +One caricature represents the Pope seated, while a unicorn tumbles the +triple crown from his head. The same woodcut illustrates a '_Letter from +the Devil to the Pope of Rome_.' Another tract has a representation of +the Pope riding upon a seven-headed monster and holding in his hand a +scroll on which are the words 'Estote proditores'--'Betraye your +Country.' This advice he is giving to a cavalier, a bishop, and a monk, +and at the same time three devils are represented as leaving him and +entering into them. This cut, which is repeated in other pamphlets, is +curious as an early specimen of caricature, but its meaning is now lost. + +[Illustration: CARICATURE OF THE BISHOPS, 1642.] + +The Bishops were treated with as little ceremony as the Pope. In one +caricature four of them are represented as falling to the earth, with +the following lines underneath the woodcut:-- + + 'The tottering prelates, with their trumpery all, + Shall moulder downe, like elder from the wall.' + +In a pamphlet called _The Decoy Duck_, printed in 1642, there is a +quaint woodcut caricature and a satirical account of how the Bishops of +Durham, Lichfield, Norwich, Asaph, Bath, Hereford, Oxford, Ely, +Gloucester, Peterborough, and Llandaff were decoyed and deceived by the +Bishop of Lincoln (Bishop Williams). I have copied the woodcut, but no +quotation from the pamphlet would be understood unless given at great +length. It doubtless refers to the charge of high treason against the +twelve Bishops. + +The abuses of the Established Church in an age when the spirit of +dissent was strong were pretty sure to attract the notice of the +satirical writer and the caricaturist. Accordingly, we find +representations of the pluralist holding a church in each hand and one +on each shoulder; while the non-resident clergyman was compared to the +locust:--'The Locust is given to spoile and devoure greene things; it +was one of the plagues of Egypt. Non-residents devoure the tithes of +many parishes in this kingdome; and they are not to be numbered amongst +the least of those plagues that God inflicts upon us for our sins. The +Locusts caused Pharaoh and his servants to cry unto Moses that he would +entreat the Lord to take them away; and our Non-Residents cause all good +people to cry mightily unto God, to the King's Majesty, and to the +Honourable House of Parliament, to reform them or remove them; that +there may not be any carelesse Non-Resident in all the coasts of +England.... Some of our carelesse Non-Residents have a cure of soules in +one place and live in another, like fugitive Captaines forsake their +Ensigne and Company at Barwick, and flee to Dover; who being with Jonah +commanded for Nineveh, flee to Tarshish; being placed in the Country +they run to the Cathedrals, they leave their charge as the Ostrich doth +her eggs in the earth and sands, forgetting that either the foot may +crush them or that the wild beast may break them, or at the best they +leave their Congregations, as the Cuckoo doth her eggs to be hatched of +a sparrow or some other bird.' + +The following woodcut is copied from a pamphlet entitled '_A Purge for +Pluralities, showing the unlawfulnesse of men to have two Livings, or +the Downefall of Double Benifices_.' + +[Illustration: THE PLURALIST, 1642.] + +The abuse of the Crown's prerogative in the granting of patents and +monopolies was very frequent in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, and +was not diminished under Charles the First. The practice did not fail to +attract the notice of the satirical writers of the day, and caricature +laid hold on the 'Projectors and Patentees,' and held them up to +ridicule. '_A Dialogue or accidental discourse betwixt Mr. Alderman +Abell, and Richard Kilvert, the two maine Projectors for Wine_, 1641, +contains a woodcut showing 'The manner and forme how Projectors and +Patentees have rode a Tylting in a Parliament time.' The wit of the +illustration is a little obscure to the modern reader, but at the time +of its publication it was no doubt understood, and relished accordingly. +The pamphlet describes how Messrs. Abell and Kilvert laid their heads +together to obtain the patent for wine; how they put the patent in +force, and how, after the tide turned against them, they reviled one +another. + +As the excitement of the Civil War increased, political animosity rose +to a red heat. Cavaliers and Roundheads belaboured each other in many a +merciless pamphlet, to which they often endeavoured to give additional +bitterness by woodcut caricatures. Prominent individuals, such as Prince +Rupert, became marks for the satirist's wit. Even the throne itself did +not escape, and it was broadly hinted that the Protestant king was +unduly influenced by the Roman Catholic queen. The curious subject of +the growth of caricature might be illustrated by numerous examples from +the publications of this period, but it will be sufficient to refer to +two or three more woodcut satires of this date. + +The distractions of the times were epitomised by John Taylor, the Water +Poet, in an illustrated rhyming pamphlet, published in 1642. It is +entitled, '_Mad Fashions, Od Fashions, all out of Fashion, or the +Emblems of these distracted Times_.' + +[Illustration: EMBLEMS OF THE DISTRACTED TIMES, 1642.] + +The author compares England to the engraving on his title-page, where +everything is represented upside down:-- + + 'The Picture that is printed on the front + Is like this Kingdome if you look upon 't; + For if you well doe note it as it is, + It is a Transform'd Metamorphasis. + This Monstrous Picture plainly doth declare + This land (quite out of order) out of square. + His Breeches on his shoulders doe appeare, + His doublet on his lower parts doth weare. + His Boots and Spurs upon his Armes and Hands, + His Gloves upon his feet (whereon he stands) + The church o'erturned (a lamentable show) + The Candlestick above, the light below, + The Coney hunts the Dogge, the Rat the Cat, + The Horse doth whip the Cart (I pray marke that) + The Wheelbarrow doth drive the man (Oh Base) + And Eeles and Gudgeons flie a mighty pace. + And sure this is a Monster of strange fashion + That doth surpasse all Ovids transformation. + And this is England's case this very day, + All things are turned the clean contrary way; + For now, as when a Royall Parliament, + (With King, and Peers, and Commons whole consent) + Have almost sate two years, with paines and Cares, + And charge, to free us from our Griefes and fears, + For when many a worthy Lord and Knight, + And good Esquire (for King and Countrey's Right) + Have spent so much time with great Toyle and Heede + All England's vicious garden how to weed, + So like a wildernesse 'twas over run, + That though much better hath been done; All is not done.' + +The Water Poet sided with the Cavalier party, and verse and prose flowed +plentifully from his pen in favour of the Royal cause. His effusions +provoked many replies, one of which is entitled, '_No Mercurius +Aquaticus, but a Cable-Rope, double twisted for John Tayler, the Water +Poet; who escaping drowning in a Paper-Wherry-Voyage, is reserved for +another day, as followeth, viz._' + +Then follows the subjoined woodcut, with verses underneath. The hint +that the poet was born to be hanged because he had escaped from drowning +refers to his having undertaken to sail from London to Queenborough in a +boat made of brown paper. In this foolhardy exploit Taylor and a friend +who was with him nearly lost their lives. The tract under notice affords +a good specimen of the sort of language used by the partisans of each +faction against their opponents: 'I should be loathe to foule my fingers +with any base Pamphlets that comes from Oxford, if the venom of their +malicious spleens were darted against my particular self: But when +through my sides they wound the honour of the Parliament and our Armies +abroad, I cannot but set Pen to paper, and pay them back again in their +own kinde. And who d'ye think I should meet abroad for a +_Rogue-in-Print_ but one of our City Water-rats, the doughty John +Taylor, who according to the knavish custom, changes his name upon every +new paper-designe? Sometimes he calls himself _Thorney Ailo, Mercurius +Aquaticus_, and now he entitles himself NO MERCURIUS AULICUS. I thought +I had lately sent _rope_ enough for all the Parrots in Oxford; But I +perceive they will be prattling still; and therefore I must unmaske the +Mysterious Masters of the science of railing. There are three grand +paper conspirators well known by the name of _Mercurius Aulicus, George +Naworth_, and reverend Master _John Tayler_ the water-tankard, by whose +sprinklings in this great dearth of Wit and Honesty the University is +cherished and kept in credit. These three are they which pumpe and Pimpe +about with their Prostitute Noddles in the behalf of Popery, Murder, and +Rebellion against the state; they are Liars in all elements, _Aulicus_ +for Land-lies, _Tayler_ for Water, and hungry _George Naworth_ for all +between Heaven and Earth, where I doubt not but to see them all meet +together to take their farewell of the world, where the _Parrots_ will +find _Ropes_ made of stronger Lines than mine, and such as will +_non-plus_ the very primest Wits in the University.' + +[Illustration: PREDICTED FATE OF JOHN TAYLOR THE WATER POET, 1644.] + +The pamphleteer goes on to give the Water-Poet what he doubtless +considered a thorough drubbing, and at the end he leaves him 'to the +Gallows, the proper cure for such Rebels.' The words 'London' and +'Oxford' on the woodcut have reference to another voyage which the +Water-Poet performed in a sculler's boat between those places. + +[Illustration: MERCURIUS AULICUS IN THE PILLORY, 1645.] + +_Mercurius Aulicus_ was the organ of the Court party, and was published +at Oxford. A curious satire upon this Court paper was printed in 1645, +entitled, _Newes from Smith the Oxford Jaylor_. It consists of a +dialogue between the author and the 'Oxford Jaylor,' and sets forth that +'Mercurius Aulicus' was sentenced, by a jury of women,' to stand in the +pillory three market-days in Oxford, for his lies, libels, and +deceitful glozings;' to have a written paper over his head announcing +his shame; to beg forgiveness of 'Mercurius Brittanicus;' to be +prevented from writing any more libels for one year. 'That before two +months' expiration he be cut of the simples, and his braines be taken +out, washt in white wine, and put in againe.' 'That for every morning +during the said time he have one mess of stewd broth made of the +interlinings of fower Court Parazites, and the braines of 26 Oxford +Widgins boyld in the water of forgetfulnesse.' 'That he may never +hereafter have so much as one graine of wit left him in his empty +Hogshead (his brains being taken out and washed as before is ordered) to +scandalize those whom if he had any grace he is bound to honour.' There +is a woodcut of _Mercurius Aulicus_ in the pillory, which is supposed to +represent Sir John Birkenhead, who acquired the title of the Loyal +Poet, and suffered several imprisonments. This cut was used on several +other occasions. + +The troubles of the times are constantly indicated in the pamphlets of +the period. In one the State is represented as a two-headed serpent, +with these lines underneath the engraving: + + 'This double-headed serpent is a wonder, + It draws two ways and tears the womb in sunder; + The wofull emblem of a troubled State + Where civill warres doe threat to ruinate.' + +[Illustration: SQUARE CAPS TURNED INTO ROUND HEADS, 1642.] + +The partisans of the Parliament faction appear to have been much more +active pamphleteers than the Cavaliers. '_Square Caps turned into Round +Heads, or the Bishop's Vindication and the Brownist's conviction, being +a Dialogue between Time and Opinion; showing the folly of the one and +the worthinesse of the other_,' is a tract with an illustration +representing Opinion turning a wheel, on which are five square caps and +five round heads, while Time, with his scythe and hourglass, holds +converse with Opinion. Under the woodcut are the following lines:-- + + 'Time doth Opinion call unto accompt, + Who turns the Bishop's downe and Roundheads mount; + Upon her lofty wheels their Noddles are, + But her Camelion feedeth on his aire.' + +'_Cornucopia, or Room for a Ram head, wherein is described the dignity +of the Ram head above the Roundhead or Rattlehead_,' is another tract, +with a woodcut caricature representing a woman attempting to saw the +horns from a man's head. The letterpress consists of a dialogue between +a man and his wife, wherein the man humorously praises horns. It was a +favourite joke to represent the Puritan as a 'cuckoldy Roundhead.' + +[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1642.] + +Another satirical pamphlet has a woodcut representing Cavaliers and +Roundheads exciting their dogs to fight. It is entitled, '_A Dialogue or +rather a Parly between Prince Rupert's Dogge whose name is Puddle, and +Tobies Dog whose name is Pepper, &c._ _Whereunto is added the challenge +which Prince Griffin's Dog, called Towzer, hath sent to Prince Rupert's +Dog Puddle, in the behalfe of honest Pepper, Tobie's Dog. Moreover, the +said Prince Griffin is newly gone to Oxford to lay the wager, and to +make up the Match._' In this satire, which is very highly flavoured, +both Cavaliers and Roundheads are pelted with very vigorous epithets, +but in the end the Roundhead dog is converted by his opponent, and +seals his recantation in a very striking manner. + +There is a tirade against the Jesuits entitled, '_A Peece of ordnance +invented by a Jesuite, for Cowards that fight by Whisperings, and raise +jealousies to overthrow both Church and State, which with the help of a +private Ensign in the Cabbinet Councell, or Westminster Hall is able to +doe more mischiefe at twentie miles distance, than a whole Regiment of +stout Souldiers, at Musket-shot_. _Which grievance is by way of +Remonstrance humbly presented to the consideration of the Parliament._' +This tract has a woodcut of a man firing a cannon formed of the figure +of a man. + +[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1643.] + +'_Hell's Hurlie-Burlie, or a Fierce contention between the Pope and the +Devill_,' is illustrated; and there is a pamphlet, with a woodcut, +entitled, '_The Devill's White Boyes: A Mixture of Malicious Malignants, +with their much evill and manifold practises against the Kingdome and +Parliament, with a bottomlesse Sack-full of Knavery, Popery, Prelacy, +Policy, Treachery, Malignant Trumpery, Conspiricies, and Cruelties, +filled to the top by the Malignants, laid on the shoulders of Time, and +now by Time emptied forth, and poured out, to show the Truth, and shame +the Devill_. Beneath, the woodcut are the following verses:-- + + 'Malignants are the Divell's Agents still, + The Sack is _England_, which they strive to fill + With misery and mischief, and this Sack + Full stufft is laid upon Times aged back; + _Time_ pours it out now in an angry mood + That all their knaveries may be understood.' + +On the cut itself are printed the lines:-- + + '_Time_ now at the last pours out much knavery, + The Devill holds down fast to hinder the discovery.' + +[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1644.] + +The Welshman came in for a share of the satirist's wit at the +commencement of the Civil War. He generally figures under the name of +'Ap Shinkin,' and is made to speak English much the same as the Scottish +Highlander does in Scott's novels. '_The Welsh mans Postures, or the +true manner how her doe exercise her company of Souldiers in her own +Country in a warlike manners_,' is a satire of a very broad character, +and is illustrated with a woodcut representing men exercising with the +pike. Shinkin is also ridiculed for the share he took in the battle of +Edgehill, the first important engagement in the Civil War. There is an +illustrated tract with the following title: '_The Welsh mans +Complements: or the true manner how Shinkin wood his Sweetheart Maudlin +after his return from Kenton Battaile_. _Also Fair Maudlin's reply and +answer to all Shinkin's Welch complements, full of merry wit and +pleasant mirth._' The 'merry wit' is certainly not refined, and the +'pleasant mirth' is founded on Shinkin's supposed hasty departure from +the neighbourhood of the fight. The woodcut represents Shinkin and +Maudlin in conversation. + +Prince Rupert is often the mark for the satirist's wit. In '_Rupert's +Sumpter, and private Cabinet rifled, and a Discovery of a Pack of his +Jewels, by way of Dialogue between Mercurius Brittanicus and Mercurius +Aulicus_,' there is a discussion as to the Prince's merits and demerits, +and he is charged with aiming at the crown. Both the King and Queen were +brought under the caricaturist's lash. In 1644 there was an illustrated +pamphlet published, representing the King, Queen, and a bishop, with the +following title: '_The Sussex Picture, or an Answer to the Sea-gull_.' +The address to the reader is headed: 'The Sceptre's Submission, the +Distaffs Triumph, and the Crosiers Combination. Reader, If thou hast +view'd that stately Picture, which was lately sent up to the Parliament +by Collonel Morley, and was taken in a Flemish Ship upon the Sussex +Shore; Thou hast beheld therein the weaker sexe triumphing over the +stronger, and by the help of a Miter, thou hast seen a Scepter doing +homage to the Distaffe. If thou hast never seen the Originall, yet here +is to be seen a poore, rude, counterfeit of the chief part in it; use +thy judgement freely, and impartially: let both the Peece itself, and +that which is said by both sides, in judgement thereupon, be put into +one equal ballance. If the Dutch Author be not to undergo censure, as if +he intended an English Storie, yet neither art thou to be censured for +doubting his intention, or for standing amazed at his phancie. Shadows +which are not fashioned by some certain, neer, interposing body present +nothing to the eye, and therefore work nothing upon the understanding. +The language of a picture is to be borrowed from the veritie of the +matter, if that be wanting, neither the Art of the Limner nor the +imagination of the spectator can supply its vocall organs.' This +caricature may have referred to the influence which the Roman Catholic +Queen was supposed to exercise over the Protestant king under clerical +guidance. + +[Illustration: THE PARLIAMENT OF LADIES, 1644.] + +Charles I. summoned a Parliament at Oxford in 1644, consisting of such +members of both Houses as were devoted to his interests. There exists a +satirical tract ridiculing this Parliament, and, in fact, representing +it as a Parliament of old women. The tract is entitled '_An exact +Diurnall of the Parliament of Laydes_,' and is illustrated with a +woodcut. It sets forth that 'Countesses and other Ladies (on Monday +morning early in a Prosopopia) being met in Mary Maudlins Hall in +Oxford, they first made choyce of their speaker; and it was agreed by +all that the Lady Oboney should have the chaire, the Lady Rivers was +made Chancellor, Nurse Windham High Constable, the Countess of Derby +High Treasurer, and the Countess of Essex High Chamberlain. These Ladies +having all taken their places, Mrs. Powell was appointed cheefe Clerk +to the House, and Mrs. Peele Chaire Lady to the Close Committee, and +Moll Cut-Purse was made Sergeant at Arms.' Prince Rupert and others are +tried and sentenced for various crimes, but the ladies afterwards +relent, and pardon all the prisoners brought before them. I give on the +preceding page a reduced copy of the rough woodcut which illustrates +this curious burlesque. + +[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1644.] + +A writer of much verbosity satirised the Assembly of Divines at +Westminster in another illustrated pamphlet, printed 'by Martin +Claw-Clergy for Bartholomew Bang-Priest, and sold in Toleration-street, +at the sign of the Subject's Liberty, opposite to Persecuting Court.' +The author states on the title-page that his production displays 'many +witty Synodian Conceits both pleasant and commodious,' and adorns his +work with the above curious engraving, which probably had some reference +to a Papal Bull, but at this distance of time we look in vain for the +point and meaning of many of these old caricatures. + +Having glanced at the satirical side of illustrated journalism at the +epoch of the Civil War, I will quote two or three examples relating to +the social and political condition of the country before entering upon +the stirring events of that time. + +A great variety of subjects are embraced in this section. There are +accounts of apparitions, signs and portents in the heavens, monstrous +births, duels and murders, criminal trials and executions, besides many +tracts relating to the vices and follies of the age. One of the first +illustrated pamphlets we come to in this division of our subject +describes a duel fought in vindication of the good name of King Charles +I. The pamphlet is entitled, '_Sir Kenelme Digby's Honour maintained by +a most couragious Combat which he fought with the Lord Mount le Ros, who +by base and slanderous words reviled our King_. _Also the true relation +how he went to the King of France, who kindly intreated and sent two +hundred men to guard him so far as Flanders. And now he is returned from +Banishment, and to his eternal honour lives in England._' This is a +tract written by an undoubted Royalist. It begins in praise of valour, +which is divided into three kinds--that which is allied to rashness, +that which is born of the fear of death, and temperate or true valour. +It describes how Sir Kenelme Digby was dining with a French lord, who, +having toasted most of the kings of Christendom, then proposed the +health of the most arrant coward in the world; and on Sir Kenelme +inquiring who that was, he was told, after he had drunk the toast, that +it was meant for the King of England: 'At which the good knight seemed +very much discontent, knowing in what nature his Soveraigne was wronged; +yet very wisely did he seeme to pass it by untill dinner being ended, +then did he desire the same lord the next day to come and dine with him, +who promised him upon his honour that he would.' + +[Illustration: SIR KENELM DIGBY's DUEL, 1641.] + +The next day the French Lord repaired to Sir Kenelme's lodgings, where +an entertainment befitting his rank was provided: 'Neither did Sir +Kenelme seeme to remember the former daies discontent, but was very +frolic and merry, and in the midst of dinner time desired them all to +be bare, for he would beginne a health to the bravest king in the world. +The French Lord asked whom that was, Sir Kenelme made answer that when +it had gone about he should know; well, about it went and then Sir +Kenelme said that it was the health of the bravest king in the world, +which is the King of England, my royal Master, for although my body be +banished from him, yet is my heart loyally linkt; the French Lord at +those words seemed to laugh repeating the same words before mentioned, +then was Sir Kenelme throughly moved in the behalf of our Soveraigne +King Charles whereupon he whispered the Lord in the eare, telling of him +how that twice he had reviled the best King in the world in the hearing +of me which am his faithful subject, wherefore for satisfaction I +require a single combate of you, where either you shall pay your life +for your sawcinesse, or I will sacrifice mine in the behalfe of my +King. The French Lord being of a resolute spirit condescended to fight, +the place was appointed, dinner being ended, they both arise from table +and privately went together, being in field off they pluckt their +doublets, and out they draw their weapons. + +'Mars would have bashful beene to have seene himselfe by Noble Digby +there excelled, long work with the contemptible French Lord, he would +not make, for fear lest any should lye in ambush and so he might hazard +his own life, wherefore in four bouts he run his rapier into the French +Lords brest till it came out of his throat againe, which so soon as he +had done, away he fled to the Court of France, and made all knowne to +the King thereof, who said the proudest Lord in France should not dare +to revile his brother King. + +'A guard was presently chosen to conduct Sir Kenelme into Flanders, +which they did, where he tooke shipping for England, where he now is, +where in peace and quietnesse may he still remaine. + +'As for the French Lord he was paid according to his desert, and may all +be so rewarded which shall dare to revile the Lords anointed, who +suffers by other Nations, for the clemency he hath shown to his own +Nation, _sed beati sunt pacifici_, but blessed is the peace maker; good +king for thy patience in this world there are Crownes of immortal glory +laid in store for thee in the world to come, there shall not traitors +dare to show their faces, nor shall perplexity proceed from the great +care of ruling of a kingdome, in the meanwhile may more such Noble +Digbies increase to rebuke all cursing _Achitophels_ and reviling +_Rabshakey's_. + +'Let God arise and then shall the enemies of our gracious King be sure +to be scattered. + + 'Now I conclude commanding fame to show + Brave Digby's worthy deed, that all may know + He lov'd his king, may all so loyal prove + And like this Digby to their king show love.' + +Many portraits of Charles I. were published in tracts about this time. +One of the best is contained in a poetical welcome to the King on his +return from Scotland. '_King Charles his Entertainment and Londons +Loyaltie_,' 1641, contains a precept issued by the Lord Mayor, directing +how the aldermen and citizens shall meet the King, on his return from +Scotland, at Shoreditch Church, and conduct him to the Guildhall to a +banquet, and afterwards to Westminster. There is also a a very spirited +woodcut of a City trumpeter in this pamphlet, which is copied above. +City entertainments to sovereigns and princes have always been fruitful +occasions for illustrated newspapers. + +[Illustration: CITY TRUMPETER, 1641.] + +The wholesale executions that used to take place at this period would +astonish the modern newspaper reader. Sometimes as many as twenty-four +persons were executed in one day at Tyburn. '_A Coppy of the Prisoners +judgement condemned to dy, from Nugate on Monday the 13 of December, +1641_,' gives an account of eight Jesuits and several other prisoners +who were executed. A descriptive list is given of the condemned, and +amongst them are the following:-- + +'Charles James, an handsome gentile young man, was convicted for Robery +and Burglary. + +'John Hodskins, a fine Scholler, a pretty fellow, yet wanted grace. + +'John Davis, a lusty stout personable man. + +'Francis Middlefield, a pretty youth, and a good Scholler, convicted of +felonie.' + +Several highwaymen, horse-stealers, and coiners, are also included in +this gloomy list, which is adorned with a woodcut of an execution. + +The regulation of the licensed victuallers' trade and the Sunday closing +movement appear to have been as troublesome questions in the seventeenth +century as they are now. As early as 1641 the publican was uttering the +complaints which he still continues to utter. In a pamphlet of that date +there is a dialogue between a tapster and a cook, which sets forth the +grievances of both these worthies. The pamphlet is entitled, '_The +Lamentable Complaints of Nick Froth the Tapster and Rulerost the Cook, +concerning the restraint lately set forth against drinking, potting, and +piping on the Sabbath day, and against selling meate_.' The publican +expresses himself thus:--'I much wonder Master Rulerost why my trade +should be put downe, it being so necessary in a commonwealth; why the +noble art of drinking, it is the soul of all good fellowship, the marrow +of a Poet's Minervs, it makes a man as valiant as Hercules though he +were as cowardly as a Frenchman; besides I could prove it necessary for +any man sometimes to be drunk, for suppose you should kill a man when +you are drunk, you shall never be hanged for it untill you are sober; +therefore I think it good for a man to be always drunk; and besides it +is the kindliest companion, and friendliest sin of all the seven, for +most sins leave a man by some accident or other, before his death, but +this will never forsake him till the breath be out of his body; and +lastly a full bowle of strong beere will drown all sorrows.' + +To which master Cook rejoins:--'Master Nick, you are mistaken, your +trade is not put downe as you seem to say; what is done is done to a +good intent; to the end that poor men that worke hard all the weeke for +a little money, should not spend it all on the Sunday while they should +be at some church, and so consequently there will not be so many +Beggars.' + +[Illustration: THE COMPLAINT OF THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS, 1641.] + +Froth--'Alack you know all my profit doth arise onely on Sundays, let +them but allow me that privilege, and abridge me all the weeke besides; +S'foot, I could have so scowered my young sparks up for a penny a demy +can, or a halfe pint, heapt with froth. I got more by uttering half a +Barrell in time of Divine service, than I could by a whole Barrell at +any other time, for my customers were glad to take anything for money, +and think themselves much ingaged to me; but now the case is altered.' + +Cook--'Truly Master Froth you are a man of a light constitution, and not +so much to be blamed as I that am more solid: O what will become of me! +I now think of the lusty Sirloines of roast Beefe which I with much +policy divided into an innumerable company of demy slices, by which, +with my provident wife, I used to make eighteene pence of that which +cost me but a groat (provided that I sold it in service time,) I could +tell you too, how I used my halfe cans and my Bloomsbury Pots, when +occasion served; and my Smoak which I sold dearer than any Apothecary +doth his Physick; but those happy days are now past, and therefore no +more of that.' + +This pamphlet is illustrated with a woodcut showing the Cook and Tapster +in confabulation, while in the background joints are roasting, and +guests are seated in boxes, refreshing themselves with 'half-cans and +Bloomsbury pots.' + +The abuses of the Ecclesiastical Courts did not escape the notice of the +seventeenth-century pamphleteers. Doctors' Commons and the Proctors were +quizzed in an illustrated pamphlet, wherein 'Sponge, the Proctor,' and +'Hunter, the Parator,' hold a long conversation, and express their +opinion that the only way to make men live in quietness is to beggar +them with long suits and large fees. Other evil-doers were shown up in a +similar manner. A certain Edward Finch, Vicar of Christ-church, London, +gave so much offence to the parishioners by his manner of life that a +petition was presented to Parliament on the subject. The petitioners +said they were offended by their Vicar's 'frequent and unreasonable +bowings' before the altar, and by his 'scandalous life and +conversation.' They set forth in the petition that they are 'troubled in +their church with singing, organs, and other Instruments of Musicke, not +understood by them, whereby they are greatly distracted in the service +of God, the same being altogether unprofitable, and no way tending to +their spirituall edification.' The Vicar is charged with drunkenness and +incontinence--with exacting unreasonable fees--with being a +non-resident; and the evidence in support of the petition shows that on +one occasion he went to Hammersmith in a coach with certain loose +companions and spent the day in a manner unfit for a clergyman. He is +proved to have attempted to administer the Sacrament to a dying woman +while he was in a state of drunkenness, and to have been guilty of many +other disgraceful acts. The House of Commons passed a vote of censure on +this graceless Ritualist; and the petition setting forth his misdeeds +was printed and published, illustrated with a woodcut showing the +journey to Hammersmith in a coach. Notwithstanding the condemnation of +Parliament, the Rev. Edward Finch continued in his evil courses, and +conducted his 'life and conversation' much the same as before. + +[Illustration: EVIL DOINGS OF THE REV. EDWARD FINCH, 1641.] + +From the 'perambulations' of a Ritualistic clergyman we come to a +nunnery, in a pamphlet published in 1641, entitled, '_The Arminian +Nunnery, or a briefe description and relation of the late erected +Monasticall Place, called the Arminian Nunnery at Little Gidding, in +Huntingdonshire_.' The writer of this pamphlet gives a minute and by no +means 'brief' description of the institution, which he evidently +believes to be Roman Catholic, or a stepping-stone to it, though the +'Deacon' who attended him on his visit assured him to the contrary. He, +however, sets down all the tapers and crosses, the bowings and +prostrations, as so many proofs of idolatry, and marvels that, in a +settled Church government, the Bishops should suffer any such +institutions to exist; particularly that Archbishop Laud, professing to +be such an 'Anti-Papist and enemy to superstition and idolatry, should +permit this innovation and connive at such canting betwixt the barke and +the tree in matter of Religion.' While censuring the prelates for their +criminal slothfulness, the writer gave his countrymen the benefit of his +own acuteness and energy, and published his description, illustrated +with an engraving representing one of the nuns, with a portion of the +nunnery in the background. + +[Illustration: NUNNERY AT LITTLE GIDDING, HUNTINGDONSHIRE, 1641.] + +The next illustrated pamphlet we come to is a curious attempt on the +part of its author to satirise his literary contemporaries for the +falsehoods contained in their writings, and he burlesques their +productions by relating many things as lies which, however, he means to +be understood as truths. It is called '_The Liar, or a contradiction to +those who in the titles of their Books affirmed them to be true, when +they were false; although mine are all true yet I term them lyes. +Veritas Veritatis_.' + +'There was an Englishman which travelled to the Swedish Army, and began +to relate very strange passages which he had seen here in England, +thinking that travellers might lye by authority; for said he in the +County of Berke, at a place called Abingdon, when the Earle of Strafford +lost his head, was such thundering and lightning, and earthquakes, that +it is almost incredible. Surely I think it is incredible indeed, for I +know 'tis no such matter. + +'He told too that the very same day that my Lord Archbishop of +Canterbury was committed to the Tower, there was a child born in the +County of Somerset with a Mitre on its head, a marke on his breast like +a Crucifix, and many other strange things which were there seene.' +Having invented the travelling Englishman for a mouth-piece and selected +the Swedish army for an audience, the writer goes on to relate many +other strange things, which, though told as lies, are evidently intended +to be taken as truths. + +[Illustration: THE LIAR ON THE RACK, 1641.] + +'They heard him with patience till he had made an end of his lying, and +then they asked him whether yea or nay he saw these things he spake of, +he presently swore all the oaths of God that he saw these things with +his own natural eyes, which he had reported, and he would maintaine it, +though he spent his dearest blood in the doeing of it; well, they heard +his protestations, and made a full account that they would prove his +constancie whether he would be a Martyr yea or nay, in the meane time +they horsed him, and this was the manner of it. + +'There was a great high thing raised to the height of twelve or fourteen +yards, made of Iron, whereon he was seated, with two great weights on +his toes, and the like on his hands where he sate in great paine, if he +should chance to ease himselfe upwards, there were sharp nailes over his +head which would prick him, thus he sate and thus he suffered, till they +had sufficiently made a laughing stock of him; well, when he had +suffered enough they let him downe.' + +There is a woodcut representing the lying traveller on his 'horse,' and +the tract winds up thus:-- + +'Gentle Reader, I have heere related under the name of lies nothing but +true tales, for if a man doth now speake truth he shall be sure to smart +for it now-a-daies, either here or in other places: read gentlie and buy +willingly.' + +When the Plague visited London in 1641 the theatres were closed and the +players were thrown out of employment. This state of things is discussed +in a dialogue between 'Cane of the Fortune and Reed of the Friars,' in a +tract illustrated with a woodcut which was frequently used afterwards in +broadsides. Bartholomew Fair, which was proclaimed for the last time in +1855, was in all its glory in the days of Charles I. A contemporary +tract gives a graphic description of the fair, and is illustrated with a +woodcut representing a man swallowing a serpent. This probably +represented a picture hung outside one of the shows. The title of the +tract is, '_Bartholomew Faire, or Variety of Fancies, where you may find +a faire of wares and all to please your mind; with the several +enormities and misdemeanours which are there seen and acted_.' The fair +is described as beginning 'on the twenty-fourth day of August, and is +then of so vast an extent that it is contained in no lesse than four +several parishes, namely, Christ Church, Great and Little Saint +Bartholomew's, and Saint Sepulchre's. Hither resort people of all sorts, +High and Low, Rich and Poore, from cities, townes, and countreys; of all +sects, Papists, Atheists, Anabaptists, and Brownists, and of all +conditions, good and bad, virtuous and vitious.' It is said to be 'full +of gold and silver-drawers; just as Lent is to the Fishmonger so is +Bartholomew Faire to the Pickpocket; it is his high harvest, which is +never bad but when his cart goes up Holborn. + +[Illustration: A BARTHOLOMEW FAIR WONDER, 1641.] + +'It is remarkable and worth your observation to behold and hear the +strange sights and confused noise in the Faire. Here a knave in a fool's +coat, with a trumpet sounding, or on a drum beating, invites you and +would fain perswade you to see his puppets; there a rogue like a wild +woodman, or in an Antick shape like an incubus, desires your company, to +view his motion; on the other side Hocus Pocus, with three yards of tape +or ribbin in's hand, shewing his art of Legerdemain, to the admiration +and astonishment of a company of cockoloaches. Amongst these you shall +see a gray goose cap (as wise as the rest), with a what do ye lacke in +his mouth, stand in his boothe, shaking a rattle, or scraping on a +fiddle, with which children are so taken, that they presently cry out +for these fopperies; and all these together make such a distracted noise +that you would think Babell were not comparable to it. Here there are +also your gamesters in action, some turning of a whimsey, others +throwing for pewter, who can quickly dissolve a round shilling into a +three-halfpenny saucer. Long Lane at this time looks very faire, and +puts out her best cloaths, with the wrong side outward, so turned for +their better turning off. And Cloth Faire is now in great request; well +fare the ale-houses therein; yet better may a man fare (but at a dearer +rate) in the pig market, alias Pasty-nooke, or Pye Corner, where pigges +are all hours of the day on the stalls piping hot, and would cry (if +they could speak) come eate me.' + +[Illustration: PULLING DOWN CHEAPSIDE CROSS, 1643.] + +In 1641 an order of Parliament directed the removal of idolatrous +pictures from churches and the demolition of crosses in the streets. It +must have been on the passing of this order that '_The Doleful +lamentation of Cheapside Cross_,' with a woodcut of the Cross, was +published, 1641. Also, '_A Dialogue between the Crosse in Cheap and +Charing Crosse_,' 1641, which has also a woodcut representing the two +crosses, while a Brownist and an Anabaptist converse about their +demolition. It was not, however, till 1643 that Charing Cross and +Cheapside Cross were demolished. '_The Downfall of Dagon, or the taking +down of Cheapside Crosse this second of May, 1643_,' is a mock +lamentation for the destruction of the Cross on account of its being a +symbol of idolatry. The Cross itself is made to describe its history and +to lament its errors. Divers reasons are given for its demolition, and +the tract concludes in these words: 'And so this Tuesday it is a taking +down with a great deal of judgement and discretion, and foure Companies +of the Traine Bands of the City to guard and defend those that are about +the worke, and to keep others from domineering, and so I leave it to be +made levell with the ground this second day of May 1643.' The tract is +illustrated with a woodcut representing the demolition of the Cross; +and, as the day of publication is the day after the event, the persons +concerned in its production must have been unusually prompt and +energetic. The destruction of Cheapside and Charing Crosses is also +recorded, under the date of 1643, in '_A Sight of the Transactions of +these latter yeares Emblemized with Ingraven Plates, which men may read +without Spectacles_.' This pamphlet contains a reprint of the etched +plates previously mentioned, together with six others, one of which +represents the pulling down of Cheapside Cross, and a summary of the +transactions of the reign of Charles I., in which occurs the following +passage:--'Cheapside Crosse, Charing Crosse, and all other crosses, in +and about London utterly demolished and pulled down, and that abominable +and blasphemous book of tolerating sports and pastimes on the Lord's +daies, voted to be burnt, and shortly after accordingly burnt, together +with many crucifixes and popish trinckets and trumperies in the very +same place where Cheapside Crosse stood.' I have copied the plate +representing the demolition of Cheapside Cross. + +The affairs of Turkey would seem to have had an interest for the English +public in the seventeenth century, if we may judge from a pamphlet +printed in 1642, with the following lengthy title:--'_Strange and +Miraculous Newes from Turkie, sent to our English Ambassadour resident +at Constantinople, of a woman which was seen in the Firmament with a +Book in her hand at_ Medina Talnabi, _where Mahomet's Tomb is_. _Also +several visions of armed men appearing in the Ayre for one and twenty +dayes together. With a prophetical interpretation made by a Mahomedan +Priest, who lost his life in the maintenance thereof. London, printed +for Hugh Perry neere Ivy Bridge in the Strand June 13, 1642._' There is +a woodcut of the apparition, and a lengthy description, passages from +which I have extracted:-- + +'There came newes to Constantinople of a strange Apparition or Vision, +which was seene at _Medina Talnabi_ in Arabia, whereat Mahomet their +great Prophet was buried. To visit whose Tombe the Turkes used to goe in +Pilgrimage, but they must first goe to _Mecha_, which is some few dayes +journey off, and there they take a ticket from the Grand Seigniors +Beglerbeg, else they are not allowed to go to Medina. + +'This Vision continued three weeks together, which terrified the whole +country, for that no man could discover the truth thereof. + +[Illustration: STRANGE VISION IN THE AIR, 1642.] + +'About the 20 of _September_ there fell so great a Tempest and so +fearful a Thunder about midnight, as the Heavens were darkened, and +those that were awake were almost distracted, but the Vapours being +disperst, and the Element cleere, the people might read in Arabian +characters these words in the Firmament, _O Why will you believe in +Lies_. Betweene two and three in the morning there was seen a woman in +white compassed about with the Sun, having a cheerfull countenance, +holding in her hand a Booke, coming from the Northeast, opposite +against her were Armies of _Turkes_, _Persians_, _Arabians_, and other +Mahometans, ranged in order of Battaile, and ready to charge her, but +she kept her standing, and onely opened the Booke, at the sight whereof +the Armies fled, and presently all the lamps about Mahomet's Tombe went +out, for as soon as ever the Vision vanished (which was commonly an hour +before sunne rising) a murmuring Wind was heard, whereunto they imputed +the extinguishing of the lamps. The antient pilgrims of Mahomet's Race, +who after they have visited this place, never use to cut their haire, +were much amazed, for that they could not conceive the meaning of this +vision, only one of the _Dervices_, which is a strict religious order +among the _Turkes_ like unto the Cappuchins amongst the Papists, and +live in contemplation, stepped up very boldly and made a speech unto the +Company which incensed them much against him, so as the poore Priest +for his plain dealing lost his life, as you shall hereafter heare.' + +Then follows the speech of the Dervish to the Turks, who became so +incensed that they put him to death, 'the poore man crying to the last +gaspe, O thou woman with the Booke save me, and so he died. At which +time there was a feareful tempest.' + +It seems to have been a favourite method amongst the Puritan +pamphleteers of inducing belief in a particular creed or doctrine by +setting forth the awful consequences arising from adherence to an +opposite faith. Thus, in 1645, in the parish of Kirkham, a Popish +gentlewoman was said to have become the mother of a child without a +head, because she wished she might bear a child without a head rather +than her offspring should become a Roundhead. Again, it was related that +in Scotland a woman wished she might become the mother of a monster +rather than her child should receive the rites of the Church of England. +Accordingly, the child was born with two heads, long donkey-like ears, +&c. In all these cases the pamphlets recording these extraordinary +occurrences are illustrated. The apparitions of deceased persons were +also used as a means of enforcing certain views. For example, in 1642, +the ghosts of King James, the Marquis of Hamilton, George Eglisham, and +the Duke of Buckingham, were made to hold a conversation, wherein +Buckingham was charged with having caused the deaths of the others by +poison. Buckingham confesses his guilt and promises to weep repentant +tears. This pamphlet is also illustrated. The sermons of the Roundhead +preachers were sometimes parodied, as in the case of a humorous pamphlet +entitled, '_A Seasonable Lecture, or a most learned Oration; +disburthened from Henry Walker, a most judicious quondam ironmonger, +&c._' There is a woodcut to this pamphlet representing a person holding +forth from a tub to several others who are listening to him. In '_A +Glasse for the Times, 1648_,' there is a woodcut representing the +'Orthodox true Minister' preaching in a church, while the 'Seducer, or +False Prophet,' is holding forth to people in the open air; and the +reader is instructed as to the difference between true ministers and +false teachers. + +Amongst the numerous executions that took place about the beginning of +the Civil War, some of the sufferers belonged to the Roman Catholic +Religion, and went to the gallows for conscience sake. In 1643 a certain +Father Bell, a Romish priest, was hanged; and a few days after the +execution a pamphlet was published, entitled '_The Confession, +Obstinacy, and Ignorance of Father Bell, a Romish Priest, wherein is +declared the manner of his Tryall, Condemnation, and Execution on Munday +December 11, 1643_.' There is a woodcut of the execution of Father Bell, +and an account of his behaviour on the occasion, his speech at the +gallows, and his disputatious conversation with the Sheriff. + +Though many persons were put to death for witchcraft during the Long +Parliament, I have met with no illustrated record of any such event. +Matthew Hopkins was 'witch-finder general' at this time, and he had a +flourishing trade. He had a regular system for finding out witches; but +it appears that it must have been called in question, for the objections +to his system and his answers thereto were delivered to the Judges of +Assize for the County of Norfolk in 1647. A pamphlet of that date +contains a full account of Hopkins's rules for finding witches, and it +is illustrated with a woodcut representing the interior of a house, with +the witch-finder, two witches seated, and surrounded by their imps in +the shapes of animals. + +_The Welsh Post_ of 1643 is a curious illustrated pamphlet which relates +the news of the Civil War in language such as was supposed to be used by +a Welshman speaking English. It begins thus:--'Whereas there hath beene +many Tiurnals and Passages, the truth whereof hath beene much suspected, +so tat her doth not be certaine to heare the true report of her +pretherns proceeding; her hath terefore chosen to herselfe a fery true +Printer (tat do scorne to print lie) to print a weekly Tiurnall for her +dear Countryman of Whales to understand te fery truth marke you me tat +now, for ferily her will not lye truly, but tell her te pare naked +truth.' The news from Oxford is that 'te kings forces are fery weake +there, and that the Countrey are fery glad of it, because of teir +intolerable trouble and charge.' There is also news from +Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Gloucester, Plymouth, Yorkshire, &c, all +related in the same language. + +[Illustration: HOPKINS, THE WITCHFINDER, 1647.] + +_The Welsh Plunderer_ is another pamphlet, with a woodcut of a Cavalier, +which is probably intended for Prince Rupert. It contains a rambling +protestation from 'Shinkin' of his loyalty, and states what he will do +in case Prince Rupert should visit Wales. + +William Lilly, the Astrologer, found a rich field for the exercise of +his gifts during the progress of the Civil War. He was employed by both +Royalists and Roundheads; and it is said he was even consulted by the +King about signing the propositions of the Parliament. His advice was +also sought respecting the King's projected escape from Carisbrook +Castle. He kept his name before the public by publishing various +almanacs and tracts, in one of which, _The Starry Messenger_, 1645, he +gives an account of a strange apparition of three suns seen in London on +the King's birthday. This is preceded by a long list of similar +appearances, from the time of Christ to his own time, and the remarkable +events which followed. In high-flown language, mixed with the jargon of +astrology he vaguely hints at great events impending:--'I am clearly of +opinion, These Sights, as well as many others, were caused by those +tutelary Angels, who, by Gods permission, and under him, have the +Government of the English Commonwealth. They are sensible of those many +impending Miseries now too plentifully amongst us. Their conference with +man now, as in the days of old, very few attain unto, it being a +blessing sought after by many, attained unto by few: And yet there are +some of opinion there lives in the world some, and of those some, a +small Party in England, that know more than they utter, and either by +Vision, or verball Colloquie, have the knowledge of future events, yea, +even from the blessed Angels:'--which is as much as to say, I, William +Lilly, am one of the favoured few! Come to me and I will teach you +wisdom--I will unfold to you the mysterious future! The tract is +illustrated with a woodcut; and a later tract published by Lilly +contains an engraving of the three suns, together with a further +exposition of his views on the subject:--'God many waves in these last +times (though not by prophecy) yet discovers and signifies his +intentions unto us, and especially in and at those times when his heavy +judgments are imminent upon us; witnesse the many and frequent +Appearances of severall Prodigies seen in this Kingdom of England within +these four or five years, the like whereof for number are not recorded +in any, either ancient or modern History, so that I might weary the +reader, should I but mention the severall Letters which from sundry +parts of this Kingdom have come to my hands, some mentioning strange +sights in the ayre; others men fighting therein; others Guns shooting; +others relating of three moons; others the apparition of two suns; some +sending me letters, and including therein some part of that Corn which +was rained down from heaven, &c. I forbear all further discourse hereof, +assuring the kingdom, these Prodigies are the Premonitions, and assumed +infallible Messengers of Gods wrath against the whole Kingdom, for our +wicked transgressions, &c. God give us peace and grace to repent.' + +[Illustration: THREE SUNS SEEN IN LONDON ON THE KING'S BIRTHDAY, 1648.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + The Civil War--Flying Sheets of News--Disturbance at + Kingston-on-Thames--Plot against London--Riotous Proceedings at York, + and Conspiracy in Edinburgh--The House of Commons--The Royal Standard + raised at Nottingham--Battle of Edgehill--Prince Rupert--The Lord + Mayor of London--_Mercurius Civicus_--_The Scottish Dove_--_The Flying + Post_--_The Kingdomes Weekly Post_--Cruelties of the Cavaliers--The + 'Levellers'--The King's Escape from Oxford--Funeral of the Earl of + Essex--The Great Seal Broken--Fairfax--Cromwell--Sea Fight in the + Channel--The Prince of Wales's Squadron--Mutiny at Norwich--Siege of + Colchester--Execution of Sir Charles Lucas--The King at Carisbrooke + Castle--Execution of the King--Confession of Richard Brandon. + + +The discontent which had been growing for so many years, and which had +been strengthened and inflamed by the acts of Charles I. and his +advisers in violating the principles of the Constitution, had now +arrived at the point of rebellion. At the commencement of the Civil War +the excitement was increased and sustained by the publication of flying +sheets of news. Although the practice of publishing regular periodical +papers had commenced, numerous fugitive tracts and pamphlets continued +to be printed relating to particular events. Some of these papers were +illustrated with woodcuts evidently executed on the spur of the moment, +while others appear to have been taken from other sources and adapted to +the occasion. An example of this latter kind occurs in a tract of 1642, +which strikingly illustrates the state of the times:-- + +'_A true Relation of the late Hurleyburly at Kingston upon Thames on +Wednesday the 12th of January caused by Collonell Lundsford and the rest +of his company, and the Towne fearing they would rise up in Rebellion, +one cam speedily to declare it at_ London, _upon which the Traine Band +were raised and caused to watch all night for the safety of the City._' +On the title-page is a woodcut of an officer and a soldier, which, +however, was evidently not executed for this special occasion, the +officer being in the costume of the preceding reign. A facsimile of it +is subjoined. The tract describes the commotion made in Kingston by the +appearance of Colonel Lundsford and three hundred troopers, who, 'about +the middle of the Towne, went in to drink, and continued there part of +that day, swaggering, and swearing blasphemous Oathes (which filled the +Towne with feares) and some amongst the rest, to frighten the Towne, +swore bitter Oathes that they should see bloody times ere long.' + +[Illustration: HURLEYBURLEY AT KINGSTON-ON-THAMES, 1642.] + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN VAUL, THAT CRUEL TYRANT, 1642.] + +A tract of the same date refers to a reported conspiracy of the same +Colonel Lundsford:--'_A terrible plot against London and Westminster +discovered, showing how Colonell Lunsford the Papist, that should have +bin Lieutenant in the Tower, should in a Conspiracy among the Jesuits +and other Papists have blowne up the City of London, placing the pieces +of Ordinance against it. Also how the papists with their forces should +have risen against Westminster, and burnt downe the parliament house. +Likewise how by this Conspiracy the Arch-bishop of_ Canterbury _should +have been transported into France, and how Bishop Wren with many other +Bishops and popish Doctors should have bin conducted with him thither, +where Canterbury should have bin Sainted, and Wren made Cardinall. With +an exact Relation of the chiefe Cause of the Apprentices rising in Armes +to defend the City of London from their treachery, Describing most +succinctly the singular mercy of God towards us in defending this +Kingdome from the manifold Plots of the Papists and their Treacherous +Conspiracies._' On the last page is a woodcut of a Cavalier in a hat and +feathers, entitled 'Captaine Vaul that cruell Tyrant.' As there is no +mention of this person in the pamphlet it was perhaps a well-known +nickname of Colonel Lundsford. I annex a copy of this cut. The same cut +appears in a tract entitled '_Terrible Newes from York_,' detailing +certain riotous proceedings in that city, where it is given as 'Mr. +Holk, chief Agent in the uproar.' Its first appearance, however, is in +an account of a '_Bloody Conspiracy at Edinburgh_;' and, from its +frequent use, this rough woodcut must have been regarded as a good, bold +representation of a truculent soldier, suitable for the times. + +While the King and the House of Commons were contending for the upper +hand there was published '_A Perfect Diurnall of the Passages in +Parliament_,' illustrated with a woodcut of the House of Commons, with +Mr. Speaker in the chair. This is used as a heading to several numbers +of the same _Diurnall_, and sundry varieties of it are printed as +headings to other reports of Parliament. This old woodcut has been often +copied, but my examples of illustrated journalism would not be complete +unless I introduced it here. + +The printing-presses that are said to have been carried by both armies +during the Civil War must have been used solely for the printing of +Proclamations, General Orders, and suchlike documents. It seems to be an +ascertained fact that Cromwell's soldiers set up a printing-press in +Scotland, and printed a newspaper; but it is not so certain that the +armies of Charles I. and of the Parliament issued printed 'news' from +whatever town they chanced to occupy at the time. It does not follow +that because a tract is entitled _News from Hull_ it was actually +printed at that place. On the contrary, I have found nearly all the +tracts I have examined bear the imprints of London printers. _The News +from the North, The Last printed News from Chichester_, &c., were all +sent up to London, and there printed and published. + +[Illustration: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, 1642.] + +In the words of Hume, 'The open signal of discord and civil war +throughout the kingdom' was made at Nottingham on August 22, 1642, +when the King erected his Royal standard and appealed to the loyalty of +his subjects to support his authority by arms. Historians differ as to +the precise day when this formal declaration of hostilities took place. +Clarendon and Hume both fix it on the _25th_ of August, while Rushworth +gives the _22nd_ as the date. The latter view is confirmed by a +contemporary pamphlet, which gives an account of the raising of the +Standard, and is illustrated with a woodcut representing the event. This +pamphlet was written in the interest of the Parliament and against the +King's party; but his Majesty is referred to in the most respectful +language, as is generally the case in the pamphlets of the time. At the +beginning of the struggle frequent hopes were expressed that the King +would consent to be guided by the Parliament, while his Cavalier +adherents were represented as his real enemies. The pamphlet referred to +has the following title:-- + +'_A true and exact Relation of the manner of his Majesties setting up of +His Standard at_ Nottingham _on Munday the 22 of August, 1642_. + +'_First, the forme of the Standard, as it is here figured, and who were +present at the advancing of it._ + +'_Secondly, the danger of setting up of former standards, and the damage +which ensued thereon._ + +'_Thirdly, a relation of all the Standards that ever were set up by any +King._ + +'_Fourthly, the names of those knights who are appointed to be the +King's Standard-bearers, with the forces that are appointed to guard +it._ + +'_Fifthly, the manner of the Kings comming first to Coventry._ + +'_Sixthly, the Cavalieres resolution and dangerous threats which they +have uttered, if the King concludes a peace without them, or hearkens +unto his great Councill the Parliament; moreover how they have shared +and divided London amongst themselves already. London, printed for T. +Coles, 1642._' + +[Illustration: RAISING THE ROYAL STANDARD AT NOTTINGHAM, 1642.] + +The account of this interesting historical event is given in these +words: 'Munday being the 22 of August in the morning, his Majesty left +his forces before Coventry, and with some Lords and others in company +rode to Leicester, where he dined that day at the Abbey House, the +Countesse of Devonshire's house; however, so many printed intelligences +doe falsely, though with much confidence aver (much like their other +relations) that the king was with his Army in the field, at the time of +the battell between them and the Lord Brookes forces, which was not +untill the day following. Presently after dinner the King againe tooke +horse, and with his company rode to Nottingham, where was great +preparation for the setting up of the Standard that day as was formerly +appointed. Not long after the Kings coming to towne, the Standard was +taken out of the Castle, and carried into the field a little on the back +side of the Castle wall. The likenesse of the Standard it is much of the +fashion of the City Streamers used at the Lord Mayor's Show, having +about 20 supporters, and is to be carried after the same way; on the top +of it hangs a bloody flag, the Kings Armes quartered, with a hand +pointing to the Crowne which stands above with this Motto: _Give Caesar +his due_. The names of those Knights Baronets who were appointed to +beare the Standard, viz. The chiefe was Sir _Thomas Brookes_, Sir +_Arthur Hopton_, Sir _Francis Wortley_, and Sir _Robert Darlington_. + +'Likewise there was three troop of Horse appointed to waite upon the +Standard, and to beare the same backwards and forwards with about sixe +hundred foot Souldiers. It was conducted to the field in great state, +his Majesty, the Prince, Prince _Robert_ (whom his Majesty hath lately +made a Knight of the Garter), going along with divers other Lords and +Gentlemen of his Majesties traine, beside great company of Horse and +Foot, in all to the number of about two thousand, who came more to see +the manner of the thing than any waie to offer assistance to his +Majesty, as did afterwards evidently appear, for that upon the taking +downe of the Standard, there were not above thirty of the trained bands +that offered to come in to his Majesty, which, because their numbers +were so inconsiderable his Majesty refused to accept of. + +'So soon as the Standard was set up, and his Majesty and the other Lords +placed about it, a Herauld at Armes made ready to proclaim a +Proclamation declaring the Ground and Cause of his Majesties setting up +his Standard namely to suppress the pretended Rebellion of the Earle of +Essex in raysing forces against him, to which he required the aid and +assistance of all his loving subjects. But before the Trumpeters could +sound to make Proclamation his Majesty called to view the said +Proclamation; which being given him he privately read the same over to +himselfe, and seeming to dislike some passages therein called for Penne +and Inke, and with his owne hand crossed out and altered the same in +diverse places, (a thing well worthy the noting) and then gave it the +Herauld, who proclaymed the same to the people, though with some +difficulty after his Majesties corrections; after the reading whereof, +the whole multitude threw up their hats, with other suchlike +expressions, _God Save the King_. Not long after the reading of the said +Proclamation, it being towards night, the Standard was taken downe, and +again carried into the castle, with the like state as it was brought +into the field. And the next day it was again set up, and his Majesty +came along with it, and made proclamation as the day before, and the +like also was done on Wednesday, his Majesty being also present. But +since that it hath been set up with lesse ceremony, there being not a +hundred persons as are yet heard of that have offered themselves to his +Majesty since the first setting up of his Standard. + +'Since which time his gracious Majesty hath pleased to send some +propositions to both Houses of Parliament; and hath employed the Earle +of Dorset, the Earle of Southampton, and Sir John Culpeper, and Sir +William Uvedall to deliver his Majesties minde to the honourable Houses +of Parliament for a fair Treaty and accommodation of Peace, and that all +differences and mistakes might be ended, and all hostile manner of warre +to cease in our Land and that it might be sent over to Ireland upon +which report the Cavaliers which are about the Country are very +desperate to heare that his Majesty will hearken to an accommodation of +peace, or to apply or comply with his Parliament; telling his Majesty +that it is dishonourable to stoop to his Subjects, and if his Majesty +doth, they will either hang themselves, or kill and murther themselves, +and doth vow private revenge to this Kingdome, if they do now misse of +their hopes and enterprises, for they say they are sure to overcome us +whom they called Roundheads, and call our Souldiers nothing else but a +company of Shrove-Tuesday boyes, and idle headed prentices, who run away +from their Masters under pretence of having this opportunity to get +liberty from their hard service and cruelty. It is truly reported that +the Cavaliers are all desperately bent against the City of London, and +the inhabitants; they have already within themselves shared and divided +it; some have allotted to themselves Gracious Street, others Lumbard +Street, then others have shared Cheapside, and Pauls Church-yard, others +do determine to seize upon the rich Aldermens houses and Persons, others +to whom they owe or are indebted to by bond, or bill, or book, doe +resolve when they come into the City to seize upon those persons first, +to whom they are indebted, and to cut their throats, and then to seize +upon Usurer or others, and to cut his throat for that money, so say +they, we shall be both at once out of debt and have money to boot; these +are the resolutions of the Cavaliers who doth but looke for such an +advantage, so full of cruelty and malice they are, which God in his +infinite and blessed mercy protect both our King and Kingdome from; and +that their own swords may returne into their own bosoms that wish and +long for such a day.' + +Then follows a notification from both Houses of Parliament that none +shall proclaim the setting up of the King's Standard; and whoever shall +suffer loss or damage through the Cavaliers shall receive reparation. + +According to Clarendon, the Royal Standard was set up under the most +ill-omened and depressing circumstances: 'There was not one regiment of +foot yet brought hither, so that the train-bands which the sheriff had +drawn together were all the strength the King had for his person and +the guard of the Standard. There appeared no conflux of men in obedience +to the proclamation; the arms and ammunition were not yet come from +York, and a general sadness covered the whole town. The Standard was +blown down the same night it had been set up, by a very strong and +unruly wind, and could not be fixed again in a day or two, till the +tempest was allayed. This was the melancholy state of the King's affairs +when the Standard was set up.' + +[Illustration: PRINCE RUPERT, GENERAL OF THE KING'S HORSE, 1643.] + +Soon after the King had unfurled his Standard at Nottingham the battle +of Edgehill was fought, and an illustrated tract relates how the +inhabitants of Kenton, a village near the battle-field, were disturbed +at night by strange noises and the appearance of apparitions after the +battle. The name of Prince Rupert begins to appear in the narratives of +events, and his portrait frequently occurs in the illustrated sheets of +this period. This dashing and impetuous Cavalier, whose rash courage +excited the admiration of the Royalists, was regarded by the Roundheads +as a cruel and bloodthirsty enemy, and he was often denounced by the +Puritan preachers. In 1643 there was a pamphlet published called '_The +Bloody Prince; or, a Declaration of the Most Cruell Practises of Prince +Rupert and the rest of the Cavaliers in fighting against God and the +true Ministers of his Church_.' Facing the title is a woodcut +representing Prince Rupert on his charger, with the towns of Birmingham +and Daventry in the background, both of which places were the scenes of +conflict during the war, the former having been taken, partially burnt, +and a heavy fine inflicted on the inhabitants by Prince Rupert. + +The City of London having taken the side of the Parliament, was +naturally inclined to honour its chief magistrate when he was found to +be an active and energetic promoter of its views. Isaac Pennington was +Lord Mayor in 1643, and his portrait was published in a laudatory +pamphlet, entitled '_A True Declaration, and just Commendation of the +great and incomparable care of the Right Honourable Isaac Pennington_.' +His Lordship is styled the Atlas of the city, bearing the weight and +management of all civil affairs on his shoulders, and he is much +commended for his great care in superintending the building of the +fortifications round London under the direction of the Parliament. 'And +herein,' says the writer, 'your honour hath shewed yourselfe an +excellent Magistrate complying with the Parliament in all matters that +concerne the publicke administration of the Commonweale; so that you +have lookt upon the present state of this Citie and Religion with the +cleare eye of justice; you have heard of the great pressures which the +country hath endured by the cruelty of the Cavaliers; you have to the +discouragement of malignants on the shoulders of fortitude, bore and +suffered their false aspersions.... Your Honour hath in your present +Magistracie walked uprightly, having clean and pure hands; nay, strong +hands; for your Honour hath been the chiefest raiser and promoter of +the workes and fortifications round about the Citie of London: you saw +the times were dangerous, and that the King's Cavaliers gaped after +nothing more than to get London, and make it a prey to the supplying of +their necessities.' I have copied the portrait of the man who was thus +distinguished by his fellow-citizens, not merely as an example of +illustrated news, but as showing what a Lord Mayor of London looked like +in Charles I.'s time. + +[Illustration: ISAAC PENNINGTON, LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, 1643.] + +It was in the City of London, and during the second year of the Civil +War, that the first illustrated newspaper came into existence. _The +Weekly News_ had attempted on only one occasion to illustrate the news +of the day, but the _Mercurius Civicus_ frequently gave illustrations, +and it is therefore entitled to be ranked as the first illustrated +newspaper. It is true that most of the engravings it contains are +portraits, and sometimes the same woodcut is used to represent more than +one person. Besides portraits of the King and Queen, there are portraits +of the chief generals and commanders engaged in the war. There are +Prince Rupert, the Lord General, Sir Thomas Fairfax, the Marquis of +Huntley, Sir Edward Deering, General Lesley, Lord Inchiquin, Lord Digby, +Sir W. Waller, the Earl of Warwick, and others. '_The Mercurius Civicus, +London's Intelligencer, or Truth impartially related from thence to the +whole kingdom, to prevent misinformation, from Thursday July 13 to +Thursday July 20, 1643_,' is the full title of No. 8; and it is curious +to notice how nearly a portion of the title--_London's +Intelligencer_--corresponds to the _London News_. It was a peculiar +feature of the early newspapers that they were announced as being +published 'to prevent misinformation,' or for the 'correction of false +reports'--not so much for the diffusion of truth as for the correction +of falsehood. + +[Illustration: CHARLES I. AND HIS QUEEN, FROM 'MERCURIUS CIVICUS,' +1643.] + +On the front page of Number 8 of the _Mercurius Civicus_ are small +portraits of Charles I. and his Queen, engraved on wood. Over the +woodcut is a sort of table of contents, thus:--'The King and Queen +conjoyned, the Kentish news related, our Forces are united, A publique +Fast appointed.' On the preceding page is given a facsimile of the cut +of the King and Queen. + +[Illustration: WEAPON CALLED A ROUNDHEAD, FROM 'MERCURIUS CIVICUS,' +1643.] + +Similar portraits occur in other numbers, as well as several ornamental +letters; but there is in Number 11 a very interesting illustration of +the news of the hour. It is a woodcut of a weapon said to be intended +for use against the Roundheads, and the following account is given of +it:--'In the Danish Ship lately taken by the Earle of Warwicke, near +Newcastle, were found Armes compleat for 5000 foot and for 500 horse, +500 barrels of Gunpowder, Great store of Match and Lead, beside a +thousand of those weapons which the Papists call Round-heads, for that +with them they intended to bring the Round-heads into subjection. Many +such weapons were long since found in divers Papists' houses in +Lancashire; it is a weapon with an ovall or round top, stuck full of +iron spikes. The forme whereof for better satisfaction is here set +downe.' Then follows a representation of the weapon, of which a +facsimile is given on the opposite page. The same cut is reprinted in +other numbers. + +[Illustration: PORTRAIT OF PRINCE RUPERT, FROM 'MERCURIUS CIVICUS,' +1644.] + +In another number it is related that 'the Manchestrians have lately +taken from severall Papists in that County many desperate weapons which +they call Round-heads.' No. 22 has a portrait of a Cavalier in hat and +feather, intended probably for Prince Maurice, as there is in the body +of the number an allusion to a report of his death. In No. 42 there is a +portrait of Prince Rupert and the following summary on the +title-page:--'Prince Rupert's forces routed near Stratford-on-Avon. +Generall King's Army dispersed by the Scots. Himselfe wounded and fled +to Yorke. Banbury Castle besieged by Colonell Cromwell.' I give a copy +of Prince Rupert's portrait, which is made to do duty for the Marquis of +Newcastle in another number. This practice of making the same woodcut +pass for the portraits of different individuals savours somewhat of +impudence on the part of the editor, and shows a cool reliance on the +good nature or the obtuseness of his readers. + +[Illustration: THE OXFORD JUNTA IN COUNCIL, FROM 'MERCURIUS CIVICUS,' +1644.] + +In the number of the _Mercurius Civicus_ for April 11, 1644, there is a +curious woodcut representing the 'Oxford Junta in Council,' with the +following paragraph referring to it:--'The news from his Excellencies +generall Roundezvous at Ailsbury on Good-Fryday next, will no doubt +cause the Oxonian Papists to whip themselves before the time, and to +make the Oxford Junto to recall their late votes.' The lady and +gentleman in the balcony were probably intended for the King and Queen. +There is more variety in this number of _Mercurius Civicus_ than in any +I have seen. In the war news there is the taking of Waltam House, in +Hampshire; the taking of numerous men and horses at Christ-church, in +Dorsetshire; then comes a paragraph stating that 'On Munday last, April +8, there were ten men and two women executed at Tyburne for the severall +offences for which they were condemned the last weeke at the Sessions in +the Old Bayley.' Mention is made of a fight between the Scots Army and +the Marquis of Newcastle's forces near Hilton; the gathering of the +King's forces in the neighbourhood of Marlborough, and an announcement +that the Parliament intend to draw all their forces together, and, if +possible, by fighting a decisive action 'to put a speedy end to these +miserable distractions.' The trial of Archbishop Laud was at this time +going on, and reference is made to his appearance before the House of +Peers. Two Welshmen were taken into custody for talking in Welsh, while +they were crossing the river from Westminster to Southwark, about firing +the city in several places, they not knowing that the waterman +understood their language. It is stated that a solemn day of +thanksgiving had been observed in London for the victory obtained over +Sir Ralph Hopton's forces, and an ordinance was read in the churches +exhorting the citizens to contribute all their strength to bring the +contest to a final issue. There is also some account of recent fires in +the city, which are attributed to the treachery of Cavaliers and +Malignants. 'But,' says the writer, 'which way soever these sad +accidents are brought to passe, they may afford the whole City this +caution: that if the firing of some few houses be so dreadful and +fearfull, as I am sure this appeared to those that beheld them, +notwithstanding they had all means convenient to quench them, and the +multitude being industrious to set their hands to the worke: O how +terrible would it be to see your houses set on fire by the enemy, and +the cruell souldiers, instead of bringing buckets of water, should stand +with their drawne swords threatening the death of those that should +offer to quench the flame? Poore Ireland can give ample testimony of +this.' From Yorkshire there is news that Fairfax had taken Cawood +Castle; from Banbury that the Royalist garrison was withdrawn from that +place, and 'that the Carriers of Banbury and Southam were robbed the +last weeke neere Tossiter in Northamptonshire by divers of the Cavaliers +Forces.' In the number for April 25, 1644, there is a figure of the King +armed with a sword, and with this inscription:--'Fire and sword again +menaced by his Majesty.' During the first years of the Civil War the +newspapers contained many portraits of the King, some of which were +carefully engraved on copper. + +It is noticeable that the _Mercurius Civicus_ and other papers +published during the Civil War were in the habit of including on their +title-pages a summary of the contents of the number. Sometimes it was +put in the form of rhyme, as-- + + 'Tewkesbury is taken + Yorke walls are well shaken.' + +[Illustration: HEADING TO THE 'SCOTTISH DOVE,' 1644.] + +The _Scottish Dove_ frequently indulged in these rhyming summaries. On +the title-page of Number 39 for July 13, 1644, the following lines are +printed:-- + + 'Rupert and Newcastle wholly Routed + Rupert and Newcastle's jarres undoubted; + Newcastle fled to Sea, Rupert to the King, + Give God the Glory heavenly praises sing. + A day of thankes the parliament hath set, + Lord Gray with some of Hasting's troops hath met. + From Oswestree Middleton the siege did raise + And Barnstaples defence, doth Essex praise; + The Queen Pendennis Castle liketh best. + The King uncertain where to take his rest.' + +The _Scottish Dove_ was a small quarto numbered and paged consecutively +like the _Mercurius Civicus_. On the front page of every number was +printed a woodcut of a dove bearing an olive-branch in its mouth, and at +the side of the woodcut was usually printed the rhyming summary. I annex +a facsimile of this heading. + +Many of the journals of this period showed their hankering after +illustrations by occasionally indulging in an initial letter, if they +could do nothing more. The animosities of party often caused them to +forget their original purpose of spreading true intelligence, and they +were quite as ready to apply the lash to each other as to chastise +public wrongdoers or 'correct false reports.' At this time first +appeared the familiar newspaper heading of the man on horseback blowing +a horn. It was on the front page of the _Flying Post_, the first number +of which was published on May 10, 1644. The full title was '_The Flying +Post, conveying Weekly Packets to all Forraigne Nations, of the +Proceedings of both Houses of Parliament and the Armies in Great +Brittain_,' and it was 'published for the cleere satisfaction of all +Forraigners and others who desire Certain, and Weekly Information.' The +introduction is as follows:-- + +'Gentlemen,--The too many errours committed of late time, by the +irregularitie of the Presse (which since by the wisdome of the +Parliament, is in a great measure suppressed), which did run Weekly in +severall channels to the greatest part of Europe in great dishonour to +our English Nation; Have enforced this my Flying Post never to make +stay, till it had intimated the same unto you, and fully vindicated this +my Native Kingdome, by publishing a certain Weekly Intelligence of all +Proceedings of our honourable Parliament and unhappy wars of this +Kingdome; wherein (though a well wisher to his Excellencie the Earle of +Essex, and the Proceedings of Parliament) I shall write with the +greatest indifference, truth, and modestie, as shall satisfie the +impartiallest that reades me; attributing to the Enemy no otherwise than +Truth will warrant it, be it to their honour or shame according to +their demerit. Therefore give me leave to beg your credence beyond Sea +and elsewhere, as you find me.' + +The _Flying Post_ gives intelligence from York, then besieged by the +Scots; from Hull, Newark, and Mansfield; some notes of the proceedings +in Parliament, respecting which the journalist says cautiously:--'As for +our proceedings in Parliament, I shall be very cautious and tender in +divulging them.' It was 'Published according to order,' and printed at +London for Bernard Alsop, 1644. + +[Illustration: HEADING TO THE 'KINGDOMES WEEKLY POST,' 1644.] + +The _Klngdomes Weekly Post_ had the same heading, which is here copied. + +In a tract entitled '_Strange true and lamentable news from Exeter and +other parts of the Western Countreys_' there is a woodcut of a woman on +her knees praying for mercy. The pamphlet relates the cruelties +inflicted by the Cavaliers on the inhabitants of Exeter, Bristol, and +other towns. Prince Maurice is charged with breaking the articles of +agreement made with the city of Exeter, and both he and Prince Rupert +are likened to 'Tigers or Savage Beares.' It is stated that in the city +of Exeter 'the rude Souldiers would not forbeare upon the least +discontent given to them to draw their Rapiers upon the Citizens, and +wound them, but especially when they are in their cups, they swagger, +roare, sweare, and domineere, plundering, pillaging, or doing any other +kind of wrong; to break shops and houses they count as nothing, taking +away Boots, Shoes, Stockings, Hats, or any other commodities they can +lay their hands on, and no Justice dares to resist them, and by this +means the City is in such a miserable condition that they are even +terrified to the death.' At Cirencester, having entered the town by +force, they slew all the men who opposed them, took the unresisting +inhabitants prisoners, and pillaged the town. At Bristol 'They went into +some Cellars, where was plenty of wine and beere, drank what their +gormandising guts would hold, and let the rest run about the house, with +many other antique tricks that they used, which I cannot omit to speak +of; moreover, they breake the Covenant which was made in every respect +the very first hour that they entered the city, and fell to plundering, +pillaging, robbing, stealing, cutting and slashing, as if they had never +been brought up to any other practice.' + +[Illustration: STRANGE NEWS FROM EXETER, 1643.] + +In an account of the defence of Plymouth against the Royalists there is +a very elaborate map showing the fortifications of the town, 'with the +workes and approaches of the enemy at the last siege.' The account of +the siege is very long, but the following passage may be quoted:--'One +remarkable passage of God's providence to us we must with all +thankfulnesse remember and acknowledge, that after the Towne had been a +long time strictly beseiged and no fresh victuall either flesh or fish +could be had, whereby the poore people were grievously punished, there +came in an infinite multitude of Pilchards into the Harbour, within the +Barbican, which the people took up with great ease in baskets, which did +not only refresh them for the present, but a great deal more were taken, +preserved, and salted; whereby the poore got much money; such a passage +hath not happened before. + +'We cannot forget the humanity of the good women of Plymouth, and their +courage in bringing out strong waters, and all sorts of provisions in +the midst of all our skirmishes for refreshing of our souldiers, though +many shot through the cloathes.' + +I have already made the remark that the military atrocities of recent +times were equalled, if not exceeded, during the Civil War in England +and Ireland. In a tract of 1644, containing various items of news, the +following woodcut is given as an illustration of recent events. The same +woodcut is found in another tract entitled '_Terrible and bloody Newes +from the disloyall Army in the North_:'--'The proceedings of the Scots +and Irish appears more visible and inhumane than formerly; their actions +are tyrannical, their ways most insufferable, and executeth nothing but +blood thirstinesse and cruelty tending only to utter ruin and +desolation; they have burned down divers stately buildings in these +parts, executed some of my Lord Wharton's tenants, and threatens others, +which causeth the Country to rise and joyn with Lieu. Gen. Cromwell, +insomuch that there will be a sudden engagement.' + +The sect called the 'Levellers' is thus alluded to in the same +tract:--'Colonel Martin's approach with his Levellers in these parts +hath alarmed the Country and put themselves into a posture to receive +them, and for preservation of their ancient rights and liberties against +their new design of levelling, who by their strange, politick, and +subtill delusions have wrought into the hearts of divers people to +ingage with them, especially among those who are of a desperate fortune, +and mean condition, the basest and vilest of men resorting to them. They +rob and plunder exceedingly wheresoever they come, saying they will +levell all sorts of people, even from the highest to the lowest, and +that he that hath the most shall be equall with him that hath the +least.' + +[Illustration: CRUELTIES OF THE CAVALIERS, 1644.] + +In a pamphlet relating to the events of Charles I.'s reign there are +some of the etchings previously noticed, together with nine others +illustrating the history of the same period. They are:--1. The Court of +High Commission and Star Chamber. 2. The Execution on Tower Hill of Sir +Alexander Carew, Sir John Hotham, Captain Hotham, and the Archbishop of +Canterbury. 3. The King's Escape from Oxford. 4. The Execution of the +Duke of Hamilton, Earl of Cambridge, Earl of Holland, and Arthur Lord +Capel. 5. The Coronation of Charles II. in Scotland, 1650. 6. A Meeting +of Cavaliers. 7. A Seapiece illustrating Charles II.'s Escape from +England after the Battle of Worcester. 8. Reading the Act of General +Pardon and Oblivion, 1651. 9. The House of Commons in Session. The full +title of the pamphlet is as follows:--'_A Brief Review of the most +material Parliamentary Proceedings of this present Parliament, and their +Armies, in their civil and Martial Affairs, which Parliament began the +third of November, 1640, and the remarkable Transactions are continued +untill the Act of Oblivion February 24, 1652. Published as a Breviary, +leading all along successively, as they fell out in their several years. +So that if any man will be informed of any remarkable passage, he may +turne to the year and so see in some measure in what Moneth thereof it +was accomplished. And for information of such as are altogether ignorant +of the rise and progress of these times, which things are brought to +pass that former ages have not heard of and after ages will admire. A +work worthy to be kept in Record, and communicated to Posterity. London: +Printed for Tho. Jenner at the South Entrance of the Royal Exchange._' +From the above I have copied the etching of the escape of Charles I. +from Oxford. + +[Illustration: ESCAPE OF CHARLES I. FROM OXFORD, 1646.] + +It is stated by Hume that when the King escaped from Oxford he was +accompanied by two persons only--Dr. Hudson and Mr. Ashburnham--and that +he rode before a portmanteau and called himself Ashburnham's servant. +The engraving scarcely corresponds with this account; but the scene +represented is evidently outside the city of Oxford, and other persons +may then have joined the King's party. + +The city of Oxford surrendered to the Parliament on June 24, 1646, the +King having signed a warrant for the surrender fourteen days previously. +This event is recorded in a pamphlet entitled '_Good Newes from Oxford +of the Treaty for the Surrender thereof, and how they are packing up to +march away on Thursday next, June 18, 1646_.' The 'march away,' however, +was not accomplished till the 24th. Amongst those who left the place +were Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice, and the King's second son, James, +the young Duke of York. The illustration to this pamphlet has no +relation to the event, and was used on other occasions. + +The funeral of the Earl of Essex, the Parliamentary General, who died in +1646, was made the occasion of a great display of pomp and ceremonial +magnificence, which was duly chronicled and illustrated by the +journalists of the time. '_The true manner and forme of the proceeding +to the Funerall of Devereux, Earl of Essex_,' contains, besides a +copperplate portrait of the Earl, numerous woodcuts of banners, and the +funeral canopy. Several illustrated broadsides relating to this event +were also published. In looking over the old newspapers we are +frequently reminded of the truth of the saying that 'history repeats +itself.' The Duke of Wellington's funeral in 1852 was a repetition, on a +much more splendid scale, of the funeral of the Earl of Essex in 1646, +with such differences as arose from the taste and circumstances of the +time. Portraits of the Earl of Essex are of frequent occurrence in the +pamphlets of this period. + +In the pamphlet containing the escape of the King from Oxford there is +an etching of the burning of the Book of Sports on the site of Cheapside +Cross, which is thus described:--'10 of May the Booke of Sportes upon +the Lords Day was burned by the Hangman in the place where the Crosse +stoode and at Exchange.' There is also in the same pamphlet a +representation of breaking the Great Seal:--'The Great Seale broken +before the Lords and Commons, on Tuesday, the 11 of August, 1646.' Some +authorities say the Great Seal was not broken till January, 1649, new +style. + +[Illustration: THE GREAT SEAL BROKEN, 1646.] + +Sir Thomas Fairfax succeeded the Earl of Essex as commander of the +Parliamentary army, and had Oliver Cromwell for his Lieutenant-General. +Though a Presbyterian, he suffered himself to become the tool of the +Independent party, and followed the councils of Cromwell until the Army +had become master both of the Parliament and of the kingdom. All that +related to a person of so much importance must have had uncommon +interest for the popular mind, and accordingly we find Sir Thomas +Fairfax and his military council form the subject of an engraving in a +pamphlet of 1647. It is entitled '_The manner of His Excellency Sir +Thomas Fairfax and the officers of his Army sitting in Council_.' In +this engraving it will be seen that Fairfax, though farthest removed +from the spectator, is made the largest figure in the picture, +apparently for the purpose of giving him proper importance. Note also +the huge pens, and the mysterious way in which the foreground figures +appear to grow _out_ of the benches instead of sitting _on_ them. + +[Illustration: SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX AND HIS MILITARY COUNCIL, 1647.] + +Though Cromwell was at this time the real director of the army, and ere +long became its acknowledged head, I have met with no representation of +him in the illustrated news of the period. The art of 'interviewing' had +not then been developed, and the 'Special Artist' did not exist. The +most enterprising correspondent would probably have hesitated to intrude +upon that stern and resolute leader of a revolutionary army, if he had +no better excuse than to describe how he looked and what he said. Fancy +the Special Artist of the _Mercurius Civicus_, for instance, sending in +his card to Oliver Cromwell with a polite request that the General would +give him five minutes of his valuable time for the purpose of making a +sketch for the next number of his journal! And fancy how the uncomely +countenance of the _ci-devant_ brewer would redden at the request, and +how, probably, the unlucky artist would be consigned to the custody of +the sentinel at the door! + +There is not much said about naval matters in the newspaper chronicles +of the Civil War. The earliest account of a sea-fight that I have met +with occurs in a pamphlet published in 1647. It is illustrated with a +woodcut representing ships of war in action--which woodcut, by-the-by, +afterwards appears in other pamphlets. The narrative is in the form of a +letter, dated at sea, off Dover, May 4th, 1647; and, as the pamphlet is +dated May 10th, we have another example of the extreme eagerness of the +news-writers to supply the public with early intelligence. The +combatants were not at war, and the fight appears to have arisen out of +a mere question of naval etiquette. The following account is given of +the transaction:-- + +'A full Relation of a late Sea-Fight, betwixt the Parliament Ships and +the Queene of Sweathlands, upon the Coast of England, neere Portsmouth, +May 1. + +'Sir, + +'On the 2 of this instant moneth, being the Lords day, our Commander in +chiefe of the Sea Forces, received a packet from a small Frigat, that +came from the Rear-Admirall who had been in Fight the day before with +five of the Queen of Swethlands ships, which they conveyed, being all +laden with salt from Tubey in Portingale. + +'The reason of the fight was, the Swedish ships wore flags, viz., +Admirall, Vice-Admirall, and Rear-Admirall, which they refused to take +in, or to low their top-sales (although commanded by Cap. Owen, Capt. of +the Parliaments Reare-Admiral so to do) whereupon the said Capt. Owen +gave them a broadside, insomuch that divers shots past betweene them, +and great execution done upon the Switzers, scouring their upper decks +with small shot severall times. Captain Owen lost not above 8 men, +besides some few wounded, the fight continued sixe hours, til night +began to aproach, where the Swedish Fleet tooke their opportunity, and +got away. But so soon as Vice-Admirall Batten[1] heard of it, he set +saile with the St. Andrew, Garland, Convertine, and Mary-Rose, and stood +over for the coast of France in the night; and in the morning about 8 of +the clock, being the 3 of May near Bulloign, he came up with the Admiral +of the Swedes ship whose names was Martin Tysin, the ship was called the +Leopard and had 32 guns; the Vice-Admiral Daniel Johnson, a lusty stout +ship, called the Angel Raphael, and had 24 guns; the Rear-Admiral the +Neptune, Moris Cook Captain, with 18 guns; the other two ships of 22 +guns apiece, one being called the Anne-Free, the other the Neptune. + +'The Captaines of all these ships, hee commanded aboard, and asked them +what they had done with his Rear-Admiral; they at first denied that they +saw him, but he pressing it so hard upon them, at length confessed, that +they had been in fight with him, and that the reason was, because they +would not take in their flags, being so commanded by their Queen, and +had instructions to that purpose, which he caused them to send for, and +took copies of them, which appeared to be true in a high manner. + +'And they further told our Commander Vice-Admiral Batten, that they +would rather die in honour, than to go home and be hanged, for +disobeying their commissions; a brave resolution, and I could wish it +were imprinted in the hearts of all our commanders; they further told +him, that if these flaggs were then abroad, they would die before they +made one shot at him, though he shot never so many at them, yet would +not take them in, and indeed were very respective to him. But they did +much blame the Rear-Admiral, for that all the shot he made was at their +Vice-Admiral and Rear-Admiral, and not at their Admiral, whom he ought +first to have commanded, the others being subordinate to his commands; +and although he was 4 or 5 hours by the Admirals side never shot gun at +him, but sent his Boat 3 times aboard. Our Vice-Admiral demanded of +them, where the Rear-Admiral left them, they told him off Beachey which +to him did seem strange, that he should begin a quarrell and not follow +them, till he came neer where the Vice-Admiral was, having sent a Frigot +to him, to give him intelligence, and might undoubtedly expect his +relief. + +'All Munday was spent in taking of Examinations, and Copies of +Commissions; the Swedish Commanders being detained aboard by our +Vice-Admiral as prisoners, but used with great civilitie. + +'At length a Councell of Warre was called by our Commander in chiefe +with his Captaines, the result whereof was, that the Swedes +Vice-Admiral, who had been the man which was most active was with his +ship to be carried into the Downes, till the pleasure of the Parliament +be further known which was done accordingly, and the next day we arrived +in the Downes, being the 4. instant; the rest of the Swedes in regard of +their shortness of Victuall, and having charge of the Convoy, were left +to their own dispose, and this was performed without shooting so much as +a Musket; but truly, if the Queene of Swethland leave not out that +peremptory command in her instructions, not to strike to any of our +Commanders, enjoyned to keep the Sovereignty of the Seas, and to expect +homage from all, even to sinking, or burning, this must in time breed +ill-bloud between the two Kingdomes, which might be wisht might be +prevented, by a letter from our Parliament to the Queen of Swethland. +Thus have I given you a perfect Relation of the whole proceedings. +Sir, I have not else at present, but to let you know, I am your most +humble servant and kinsman, 'R. B. + +[Illustration: NAVAL BATTLE, 1647.] + +'Dated at Sea off Dover the 4. of May 1647.' + +Another piece of illustrated news bearing upon naval affairs is +entitled, '_News from the Royall Navie, Colchester, and Portsmouth, +declaring the proceedings and intentions of the Prince of Wales, &c._' + +[Illustration: THE PRINCE OF WALES'S SQUADRON, 1648.] + +'We have received intelligence from the _Brill_ in Holland, that his +Highness the Prince of Wales since his arrival there hath embarked +himself in a great Vessell for England, the Earl of Newcastle, the Lord +Gerhard, the Lord Culpepper, and divers others Lords and Gentlemen, +being now floating upon the Neptune Seas towards the North of England, +accompanying of his Royall person; we hear that they intend to land +about Berwick, or else on the South side of the Holy-Island, and to +march in the Van of the English Army. It is likewise said that divers +Scottish Lords hath been with his Highnesse, and have treated with his +Councell declaring the grounds and reasons of their engagement with +England, and their resolution to redeem their dread Sovereign from +imprisonment, to re-invest His Royall Person, and to make both him and +His Posterity happy, and so Peace and Unity may flourish throughout all +His Majesties Realms and Dominions. Severall urgent invitations were +also presented to his Highness for his speedy and personal appearance in +the North of England. The like to the Duke of York for his hastening +with the Royal Navie towards the Downs, which unexpectedly is now come +to pass; for we hear that the Prince with a great number of Royalists +are sayled from the Brill in Holland towards the North of England, and +that the Duke is come upon the Downs with a great and numerous Fleet, +consisting of about 10 of the Kings great ships, and 30 Flemings, but +they have not meddled on either side as yet; six of the Dukes ships, on +Saturday last strook sayle before the town and Castle of Deal, and by +their churlish tokens they sent us made it appear what they were, for +they shot very neer 100 great Pieces at us, which killed 8 or nine of +our men.' + +This account is illustrated with the woodcut on the opposite page. + +Some of the rough woodcuts to be found in many of the Civil War tracts +would be unworthy of notice, did they not show the constant efforts that +were made to illustrate the news of the hour. Such is the illustration +to a tract entitled, '_A true Relation of the late Great Mutiny which +was in the City of Norwich April 24, 1648_.' This gives an account of +the explosion of ninety-eight barrels of gunpowder, whereby 200 +mutineers were slain, and the woodcut is intended to show the effects of +the explosion. + +_Bloody Newes from the Scottish Army_ contains a woodcut representing +two men on horseback charging each other. The description gives an +account of the advance of the Scottish army on the English near Penrith, +intending to surprise the latter; 'but by the vigilance of our scouts +they were discovered.' After a 'furious conflict gallantly maintained on +both sides, we gained ground, and beat them out of the field. This +action happened upon Sunday morning last about 2 of the clock in the +morning.' + +[Illustration: EXPLOSION AT NORWICH, 1648.] + +During the last struggles between the Parliamentarians and the +Royalists, the latter, under Lord Goring, were driven into Colchester by +Fairfax, and there besieged for more than two months. There are several +pamphlets detailing incidents of this siege, one or two of which are +illustrated. One of them is in the form of a letter to the writer's +brother, and it has a quaint woodcut of 'Colchester Leaguer.' + +Another tract, dated July 27, 1648, is entitled '_A great Fight at +Colchester upon Tuesday night last, being the 25 of this instant July, +and the advancing of General Lucas and his forces to the very Guards of +the Parliamenteers, with the particulars of the Fight, and the number +that were killed and taken prisoners on both sides, and the springing of +a Mine to blow up part of the Leaguer. Likewise a letter from Colchester +concerning the marching of an Army to London. And Message from Prince +Charles to Gen. Lucas. And a bloudy Fight at Deal Castle in Kent. +London. Printed for R. Woodus, and are to be sold at the Royall Exchange +in Cornhill, 1648._ The letter describing this fight contains so much +curious matter that it is worth transcribing entire:-- + +[Illustration: COLCHESTER LEAGUER, 1648.] + +'Sir, we have received information from Yarmouth, Harwich, and other +places, that there is great fear of the Prince of Wales landing in those +parts with a very considerable Army, and that he is resolved to advance +towards Colchester, to raise the siege, and to let those Birds at +liberty, which he esteems to be the only instruments to advance his +Father's Cause. We hear that the L. Gerrard is designed Lieutenant +Generall of the new Eastern Army, and the Lord Culpepper Major Generall, +and that his Highnesse will repose no trust in either of the Princes +Rupert or Maurice, or any other Foreign Personage whatsoever. This +morning a Corporall of a troop of horse deserted the Colchestrian +service, and humbly submitted himself to the Lord Generall, who upon +examination touching their numbers and victualling said that the last +Muster Rolls made mention of above 6000 Horse and Foot, and for +victualling, they had plenty of Rye and bread-corn, but for flesh-meat +they had none at all left, being constrained to kill Horses to satisfie +their hungry appetites, which causeth many of the young Soldiers to +desert their hard commons. + +'He further said, that at the last Muster upon Munday last the E. of +Norwich and Sir Charles Lucas rode to the head of each Regiment, and +read a paper to the Soldiery (which they said was a Message from the +Prince of Wales) intimating that his Highnesse were resolved immediately +to land his Forces about Yarmouth, and from thence to march downe to +Colchester to raise the siege, and set them at liberty, and that if they +could but hold out till Satterday, he doubted not of the day, and should +take it as an acceptable service from them. + +'But I conceive the truth of this to be as palpable falsehood as the +late report of the Royalists in these parts, who would not stick to say, +_that Colchester was relieved by the ship called the Swallow, and that +they shot in above 500 Holland cheeses out of Mortar pieces &c._ + +'Some who are come out of the Town reports that the enemy within are +springing a Mine, and doth intend to blow up the Lord Lucas his house +(in our possession) which doth very much annoy them; their great +Ordnance plaid very hard this morning, and did some execution, ours +answered them again from the Great Mount, and plaid upon them for the +space of one hour. + +'They are in very great streights for provision, and have eaten +horse-flesh these six or seven dayes, but as resolute as formerly. + +'A party came out to cut Barley which was repulsed without losse, two +only wounded of the party; some horse grazing under the City walls were +snapt by some of Col. Whalleyes Forces, some shot, 38 taken, no way +serviceable at present, unlesse good keeping recover them. + +'On Satterday last the Lord Generall gave Order that several Papers +should be shot into the town out of Arrows, offering the private +Souldiers quarter, and passes to go home, if they will deliver up +Goring, Capel, Lucas, Loughborough, Farre, &c. + +[Illustration: GENERAL LUCAS AT THE SIEGE OF COLCHESTER, 1648.] + +'This morning betwixt three and four of the clock, we received some +tokens from the besieged, a party of them sallied out, and advanced up a +narrow Lane neer to one of our Guards, thinking to surprise them +unawares; but an Eagle ey'd Centinel discovering them, presented her +bill, and fired; whereupon the rest of the Guardians received an allarm +and immediately man'd the Line, the Colchestrians advanced and charged +with great fury, this action was disputed by both parties with great +courage and resolution, the enemy fell on without mercy, and fought it +with much violence, but our Forces bodying, they retreat, our men +pursues with great execution, killed about 20. and took as many +prisoners, with the losse of 12. men; the like dispute hapned the last +night; we expect every hour when we shall have Orders to fall on, the +work will be difficult, and the storming dangerous, the town being +disadvantageous for such a Military action. + +'_Colchester Leaguer July 26. at 8. in the morning._' + +This tract is illustrated with a portrait of General Lucas on horseback, +which is copied on the previous page. + +Colchester surrendered to the Parliament on Aug. 27, 1648, when Fairfax +determined to make an example of Sir Charles Lucas. This unexpected +severity was attributed to Ireton, who had been set by Cromwell to watch +Fairfax. There was a strong protest made against the intended execution, +but it nevertheless took place. Lucas was shot, together with Sir George +Lisle. The former suffered first, and he himself gave the order to the +soldiers to fire, with as much coolness as if he had been a mere +spectator. It is said that Lisle ran and kissed the dead body of his +friend, and then presented himself to a like fate. Thinking that the +firing party was too far off, he called to them to come nearer; one of +the soldiers replied, 'I'll warrant you, Sir, we'll hit you.' 'Friends,' +said the gallant Royalist, smiling, 'I have been nearer you when you +have missed me.' + +Other tracts describe the proceedings of the Prince of Wales in his +attempts to retrieve his father's fortunes. One of them has a portrait +of the Prince, and contains a message sent by him to the Mayor of +Yarmouth concerning the landing of his forces there for the relief of +Colchester. Another is adorned with a very elaborate title-page, and +describes 'The Resolution of the Prince of Wales, concerning the landing +of his Army in the Isle of Loving-Land, within the County of Suffolk, +and his Propositions to all Englishmen concerning his Engagement for +King, City, and Kingdom, against the Army, and to fight for their +Liberties, Freedom, and Privileges. Likewise, the further proceedings of +the Royal Navie, under his Highness the D. of York, and the Declaration +of the Seamen in the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, concerning the Kings +Majesty and the Fleet Royall, 1648.' + +The contest between the Royalists and the Parliament was now drawing to +a close. The King was a prisoner in Carisbrooke Castle, and while he lay +there he continued to occupy the pens of the pamphleteers and +journalists. One writer addressed an exhortation to the nobility, +clergy, and civil magistrates, in favour of the imprisoned Monarch; and +he adorned his work with the above representation of the King in prison, +which afterwards appeared in other pamphlets. + +[Illustration: CHARLES I. IN CARISBROOKE CASTLE, 1648.] + +It is remarkable that such important events as the trial and execution +of Charles I. should not have tempted the newspapers of the day to +illustrate subjects of so much interest. It may have been that such a +terrible termination of the Civil War in some degree paralysed men's +energies, and drove all thoughts of trading on such an event from their +minds. I have met with two very rough woodcuts professing to represent +the execution. One is contained in the Confession of Richard Brandon, +the Hangman, and the other forms half of a woodcut frontispiece to a +broadside describing the execution of the Regicides, which I shall refer +to in its proper place. The Confession of Richard Brandon was published +in 1649, the same year in which the King was executed, and purports to +be a death-bed statement concerning that event. There were two Brandons, +Gregory and Richard, father and son. The former beheaded Lord Strafford, +and was believed by Charles II. to have been the executioner of his +father. According to Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, George Selwyn, 'that +insatiable amateur of executions,' told the story of King Charles's +execution from information which he professed to have obtained from the +Duchess of Portsmouth, who, he said, always asserted, on the authority +of Charles II., that the King, his father, was not beheaded by either +Colonel Joyce or Colonel Pride, as was then commonly believed, but that +the real name of the executioner was _Gregory_ Brandon; that this man +had worn a black crape stretched over his face, and had no sooner taken +off the King's head than he was put into a boat at Whitehall Stairs, +together with the block, the black cloth that covered it, the axe, and +every other article that had been stained with the Royal blood. Being +conveyed to the Tower, all the implements used in the decapitation had +been immediately reduced to ashes. A purse containing one hundred broad +pieces of gold was then delivered to Brandon, and he was dismissed. He +survived the transaction many years, but divulged it a short time before +he died. 'This account,' Wraxall adds, 'as coming from the Duchess of +Portsmouth, challenges great respect.'[2] Popular belief, however, at +the time pointed to Richard Brandon, son of the above-named Gregory +Brandon, whose confession, published immediately after his death, I here +quote:-- + +'The Confession of Richard Brandon the Hangman (upon his Death bed). + +'The Confession of the Hangman concerning his beheading his late Majesty +the King of Great Brittaine (upon his Death bed) who was buried on +Thursday night last, in White Chappell Church-yard, with the manner +thereof. + +'Upon Wednesday last (being the 20 of this instant June, 1649) Richard +Brandon, the late Executioner and Hangman, who beheaded his late +Majesty, King of Great Brittaine, departed this life. But during the +time of his sicknesse his conscience was much troubled, and exceedingly +perplexed in mind, yet little shew of repentance, for remission of his +sins, and by past transgressions, which had so much power and influence +upon him, that he seemed to live in them and they in him. And upon +Sunday last, a young man of his acquaintance going in to visit him, fell +into discourse, asked him how he did, and whether he was not troubled in +conscience, for cutting off of the King's head? + +'He replied by reason that (upon the time of his tryal, and at the +denouncing of Sentence against him) he had taken a vow and protestation, +_wishing God to perish him body and soul, if ever he appeared on the +scaffold to do the act or lift up his hand against him_. + +'Further acknowledging, _That he was no sooner entered upon the +scaffold, but immediately he fell a trembling, and hath ever since +continued in the like agony_. + +'He likewise confessed that he had 30 pounds for his pains, all paid him +in half-crowns, within an hour after the blow was given, and that he had +an orange stuck full of cloves, and a handkircher out of the King's +pocket, so soon as he was carried off from the scaffold; for which +orange he was proffered 20 shillings by a gentleman in Whitehall, but +refused the same, and afterwards sold it for ten S. in Rosemary-lane. + +'About 6 of the clock at night he returned home to his wife living in +Rosemary Lane, and gave her the money, saying, _That it was the deerest +money that ever he earned in his life, for it would cost him his life_. +Which prophetical words were soon made manifest; for it appeared that +ever since he hath been in a most sad condition, and upon the +Almightie's first scourging of him with the Rod of meeknesse, and the +friendly admonition of divers friends, for the calling of him to +repentance, yet he persisted on in his vicious Vices, and would not +hearken thereunto, but lay raging and swearing, and still pointing at +one thing or another, which he conceived to appear visible before him. + +'About three dayes before he died he lay speechlesse, uttering many a +sigh and heavy groan and so in a most desperate manner departed from his +bed of sorrow. For the buriall whereof great store of wines were sent in +by the sheriff of the City of London, and a great multitude of people +stood wayting to see the Corps carried to the Church-yard, some crying +out _Hang him Rogue, bury him in the Dung-hill_; others pressing upon +him saying, _They would quarter him, for executing of the King_; +insomuch, that the Church Wardens and Masters of the Parish were fain to +come for the suppressing of them, and (with great difficulty) he was at +last carried to White-Chappell Church-yard, having (as it is said) a +bunch of Rosemary at each end of the coffin, on the top thereof, with a +Rope tyed crosse from one end to the other. + +'And a merry conceited Cook, living at the sign of the Crown, having a +black Fan (worth the value of 30 shillings) took a resolution to rent +the same in pieces, and to every feather tied a piece of packthread dy'd +in black ink, and gave them to divers persons, who (in derision) for a +while, wore them in their hats. + +'Thus have I given thee an exact account and perfect relation of the +life and death of Richard Brandon, to the end, that the World may be +convinced of those calumnious speeches and erroneous suggestions which +are dayly spit from the mouth of envy, against divers persons of great +worth and eminency, by casting an _odium_ upon them for the executing of +the King; it being now made manifest that the aforesaid Executioner was +the only man that gave the fatal blows, and his man that wayted upon +him was a Ragman, living in Rosemary Lane.' + +Subjoined is a copy of the cut on the title-page of this tract. + +[Illustration: EXECUTION OF CHARLES I., 1649.] + +The death of Richard Brandon is entered in the register of St. Mary's, +Whitechapel, under date June 21, 1649. To the entry is appended a note, +evidently of about the same date, to the effect that 'this R. Brandon is +supposed to have cut off the head of Charles the First.' The 'calumnious +speeches and erroneous suggestions' had indicated several persons as +having struck the fatal blow on that dismal morning in January. Amongst +them, besides those already named, were 'Squire Dun,' William Walker, +Hugh Peters, Lord Stair, and William Hewlett. The last-named person was +actually tried for the crime at the Restoration. The evidence against +him went to show that 'his voice was heard upon the scaffold, and his +Breeches were seen under his Frock, that he confest he was to have L100 +and preferment in Ireland to doe it; that being asked whether he cut off +the King's head or no, he said what he had done he would not be ashamed +of; and if it were to doe again he would doe it; more to the same +purpose was witnessed by several witnesses, and by one, who being sworn, +said that the Common-Hangman profest he did not doe it.' This sort of +evidence was not fit to hang a dog; and, though Hewlett was found guilty +and sentenced to death, the sentence was never carried into effect--a +proof that public opinion must have been too strong even for the +hardihood of those who had foredoomed Hewlett to the gallows. The +Government had evidently determined to fix the treason on this man with +the sanguinary idea that some person ought to be made to expiate the +deed, even though that person might be innocent. The prevalent belief, +however, was that it was the common executioner who had been employed; +and it is highly improbable that a mere amateur would have been +permitted to officiate on such an important occasion. + +Although I have met with no native contemporary production representing +the execution, other than the rude woodcuts before mentioned, there is +in the British Museum a collection of broadsides relating to the period +of the Civil War, one of which has a large and well-executed copperplate +engraving representing the execution of Charles I. It was published at +Frankfort, and the descriptive text is in German. The view of Whitehall +is correctly given, and the engraving looks like a genuine +representation of the event. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [1] There is an Admiral Batten often mentioned by Pepys. If this is + the same man who was an active commander under the Parliament he must + have trimmed his sails well to hold a place in the Navy office under + Charles II. + + [2] _Old and New London._ By Edward Walford. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Decrease of Newspapers after the Civil War--_Mercurius + Democritus_--_The Faithful Post_--_The Politique Post_--Broadsides for + the People--The Hollow Tree at Hampstead--Prodigious Monster taken in + Spain--The Restoration--Trial of the Regicides--Execution of the + Regicides--Licenser of the Press appointed--Popular Taste for the + Supernatural--Apparition in the Air in Holland--Revival of _Mercurius + Civicus_--Murder of Archbishop Sharpe--_The Loyal Protestant_--Frost + Fair on the Thames--Monmouth's Rebellion--The Bloody Assizes--Funeral + of Queen Mary, Consort of William III.--Increase of Newspapers after + the Revolution. + + +When the Civil War was over the newspapers it had called into existence +disappeared. The printing-press was, of course, not idle during the rule +of Cromwell, but its productions were narrowly watched, and there is +reason to suppose the newspapers were to a great extent under the +influence of the party in power. Examples of illustrated journalism +during this period are rare. We have '_A terrible and bloudy Fight at +Sea_' between Blake and Van Tromp, and '_A great and wonderful Victory_' +obtained by the English in the West Indies, each illustrated with a +woodcut that had done duty in the pamphlets of the Civil War. A rough +representation of an owl seated at a table writing in a book heads a +tract ridiculing Lilly, the astrologer; while '_Black Monday, or a full +and exact description of the great and terrible Eclipse of the Sun_,' is +adorned with a representation of 'the true Figure of the Eclipse.' The +grim and unsocial character of the times is set forth in '_The +Vindication of Christmas_,' a pamphlet illustrated with a woodcut +representing Old Christmas welcomed on one hand and forbidden on the +other. After a pitiful lament for the misery of the times, Christmas +sets out on a pilgrimage to London, where he enters a fair house that +had once been an Alderman's, but is now inhabited by a sour-tempered +miser. Here he meets with such a cold reception that he is fain to take +himself off, 'and wandering into the country up and down from house to +house, found small comfort in any.' + +[Illustration: THE VINDICATION OF CHRISTMAS, 1653.] + +I have spoken of _Mercurius Democritus_ as being the _Punch_ of the +seventeenth century. It is singular that such a publication as this +should have existed under a Puritanical Government. The humour is so +exceedingly broad that it is difficult to understand how it could be +circulated at a time when the rulers of the land professed a stern and +rigid morality. Unlike the modern _Punch_, who is refined and courteous +even when he is most severe, _Mercurius Democritus_ could seldom be +facetious without being coarse and even indecent. In the same number +that contains the cut of the Smithfield ghost, referred to in Chapter +III., occur the following jests, which are comparatively mild specimens +of the humour of _Mercurius Democritus_:--'The last Monday a Herd of +Swine being driven through Long Lane 600 Jews were suddenly converted by +them; some think it was for fear those Rumford Cattell should serve them +as they served the Devill in the country of the _Gergesens_ when they +carried him headlong into the sea.' + +'A Mad Country Parson coming riding up to London between Islington and +the Red Bull met with a small-coale man, very black, with his sack of +small coale at his back. The pitiful Parson minding to put a jeer on the +small-coale man, made a sudden stop with his Horse, saying with a loud +voyce, that those that rid after him might partake of the jest, Fellow, +fellow (quoth he) I prithee tell 's some news from Hell, I see thou hast +a whole sack full at thy back. Truly quoth the small-coale man, I can +tell you but very little news from Hell, only the Devill wants a +Chaplaine, and you ride but a little faster you may perchance have the +place.' + +Much of the news printed continued to be circulated by means of +pamphlets and broadsides, but some regular newspapers were also +published. An illustrated example of the latter occurs in the _Faithful +Post_ of 1653. The full title of the number for April 8, 1653, is '_The +Faithful Post Impartially communicating the Proceedings of the +Parliaments forces in England, Scotland, and Ireland, comprising the sum +of Intelligence from the English and Dutch Fleets; with the Affairs and +Designs now on foot in France, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and all other +parts of Europe_.' It has a woodcut portrait of Admiral Van Gallen, and +contains the following news from Amsterdam relating thereto:-- + + 'Wednesday, April 6. + +'From Amsterdam thus; Van Gallen Admiral of the Dutch Fleet in the +Streights, has a golden chair sent him for his little great gallantry in +the last service. And the Commons forsooth adore him extremely; insomuch +that many of the Bores have erected his Statue and Portraiture, and hung +it up as a memorial in the most eminent places of their Low country +Fabrics, according to the figure following; with two silver keys in his +hands; which, say they, are to unlock the Treasury of their enemy. _Pure +Youths_.' (Here follows the portrait.) + +'And as we are informed, hath a golden Leg delicately set forth by Mr. +Painter, in lieu of that shot off in the fight.' + +[Illustration: PORTRAIT OF ADMIRAL VAN GALLEN. FROM THE 'FAITHFUL POST,' +1653.] + +[Illustration: FLAG OF COL. CHARLES JAMES. FROM THE 'POLITIQUE POST,' +1653.] + +In the foregoing _Faithful Post_ there is a good deal of news about the +English and Dutch fleets; and in the news from Lubeck it is reported +that the English have printed a 'picture of Admiral Van Tromp +represented with a man opening his breast to find his heart; but, +searching, it was found in the Calf of his Leg, whereas, saith the Dutch +Print, they know very well that Tromp behaved himself most gallantly, +and like a man of courage.' In another number of the _Faithful Post_ is +an illustration of a comet or 'Blazing Star' seen in Germany. The +foregoing portrait of Admiral Van Gallen, and the blazing star, together +with a map showing the effects of a great storm and flood in Holland, +are printed in the _Politique Post_ for January 4, 1653; but there is no +reference made to the engraving of Van Gallen; and the blazing star is +described as having been seen at Pembroke, in Wales. In the same number +of the _Politique Post_ is a woodcut of the flag of Colonel Charles +James, which is thus alluded to:--'By the last Post and intelligence +from the Navie, we have received very certain and credible intelligence, +that Colonel Charles James having received a commission from the King of +Scots, is launched forth into the deep with the Brest men of war who has +now struck sail upon the Coast of Brittain, and there set up his Flag +on the Poop of the Patrick, called the Vice-Ambral as here represented +in the ensueing Figure.' + +[Illustration: THE HOLLOW TREE AT HAMPSTEAD, 1654.] + +In 1654 there was a remarkable tree at Hampstead, which was visited as a +curiosity. It was called 'The Hollow Tree,' and was probably the central +attraction of a place of entertainment. In a broadside of 1654 there is +an etching of it by Hollar, with descriptive and other verses. There was +a door in the trunk of the tree, and a turret on the top, the ascent to +which was in the hollow of the tree. The turret was large enough to seat +six, 'and round about roome for fourteene more.' The following is a +specimen of the verses accompanying Hollar's etching:-- + +'THE SALUTATION. + + 'Welcome, before! welcome all you that follow! + Our heart is sound although our Tree be hollow, + Yet know nor age, nor weaknesse did distresse + Its willing bulk into this hollownesse: + But a desire markt out for noble ends, + To finde more room to entertain fast friends, + And in the compasse of itself to try + Laws of true Mirth and Hospitality. + In such a Hollow, Musick dwells; thus love + Laies forth itself, yet ne'er doth bankrupt prove. + And having read the riddle doth impart + Things sometimes hollow have the soundest heart.' + +[Illustration: PRODIGIOUS MONSTER TAKEN IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ZARDANA IN +SPAIN, 1655.] + +This broadside was an agreeable change from the prodigies and +monstrosities with which the public were so liberally supplied. A +specimen of the latter was published in 1655, which must have tried the +faith of even the most credulous. It is described as '_The True +Portraiture of a prodigious Monster, taken in the Mountains of Zardana_; +the following Description whereof was sent to Madrid October 20, 1654, +and from thence to Don Olonza de Cardines, Ambassador for the King of +Spain now resident in London. Its stature was like that of a strong well +set man, with 7 heads, the chief of them looking forward, with one eye +in its front; the other heads have each two eyes in their natural +situation, the ears of an Ass; with its principal head it eates, drinks, +and cryes with an extraordinary and terrible voice; the other heads are +also moved to and fro; it hath seven Arms and Hands of a Man, very +strong in each of them; from the middle downward it is like a Satyr, +with Goats feet, and cloven,' &c. This broadside has a very +well-executed copperplate engraving of the monster; and another sheet of +the same date has a woodcut copy of the same engraving, together with a +long account in verse 'to the tune of Summer Time,' and the following +additional particulars: 'The News of this Satyrical Monster being noysed +abroad throughout all Spain, France, and Italy, made a desperate fear, +and general distemper amongst all the Popish Prelates, Cardinals, +Jesuites, Monks, and Fryers; yea, the very Pope himself trembled to hear +this strange Report. There is a Prophesie in the 13 of the Revelation, +of a great Red-Dragon and a Beast with seven heads that should arise out +of the Sea, that should continue 42 moneths, which was to come to pass +before the great and terrible day of judgement; which by the appearing +of these strange Monsters is neer at hand now.' + +At the Restoration several broadsides of news were published containing +engravings. There is one giving an account of the coronation of Charles +II., which is illustrated with a copperplate engraving of the King +seated on his throne, robed and crowned, with the following +complimentary lines:-- + + 'The Second Charles, Heire of the Royal Martyr + Who for Religion and his Subjects Charter + Spent the best Blood, that unjust Sword ere dy'de + Since the rude Souldier pierced our Saviours side. + Who such a Father had'st, and such a Son; + Redeem thy people and assume thy own, + Ascend thy Ancestors Imperial seat + Of Charles the Good, thou second Charles the Great, + That adds the worth; this lustre to the Crown, + Whose solid Glorious weighed Usurpers down. + Such Majesty as never was profan'd + While Tyrants rul'd 'twas only Charles that reigned.' + +Another broadside of the same date (1660) is entitled '_A Looking-Glass +for Traytors, being the manner of the Tryall of those Barbarous Wretches +at Justice-Hall in the Old-Baily, who contrived and compassed the Death +of his late Sacred Majesty King Charles the First, of ever blessed +memory; with an Account of their Severall Araignments, Conviction, +Condemnation, and Execution_.' This sheet is also illustrated with a +copperplate engraving, representing the Old Bailey Court at the trial of +the Regicides, which is interesting if it truly represents the +appearance of the court at that time. Numerous letters of reference are +given under the engraving to explain its different parts, and a short +summary is given of the trial: 'His Majesty (in pursuance of an Act of +Parliament which had left the persons following to be tried according to +Law, for being the principal Actors in the said Tragedy of his Father's +death) issued out a special Commission of _Oyer_ and _terminer_ to the +Judges and other Commissioners for that purpose; and accordingly +_Wednesday_ the 10th of _October_ they met at the Sessions house in the +_Old-Baily_, and the same morning the following persons were ordered to +be brought from the _Tower_ to _Newgate_, and a way was made from the +Press-yard backwards to the Sessions house, privately to convey them to +and again, to keep them from the pressing of the people.' Then follows a +list of twenty-eight persons, including Major-General Harrison and Hugh +Peters, 'all which being brought to the Bar, were indicted and arraigned +to the following effect:-- + +'_That they not having the fear of God before their eyes, but being led +by the instigation of the Divel had maliciously, traiterously, and +advisedly imagined, consulted, contrived, and compassed the death of his +late Majesty Charles the first of ever blessed memory, and that they had +aided, procured, abetted, assisted, and comforted a certain person with +a vizard upon his face, and a frock upon his body for that purpose._ + +'Major-General _Harrison_ in his Pleadings carried himself so +confidently to the Court as if he thought himself Careless and +Unconcerned in the businesse, and seemed to justify not only the Power +under which he Acted but also the Act itself, saying that Kings had +formerly been privately Assassinated and Murthered, but what they had +done was in the face of the Sun and in the fear of the Lord; whereat the +Court was much troubled to see that he should make God the Author of +that Horrid Murther.' + +Harrison was found guilty at once, and sentenced to be hanged, drawn, +and quartered. The like fate awaited Hugh Peters. The sort of evidence +that was brought against the prisoners is exemplified in this broadside, +where it is stated that 'Mr. _Hugh Peters_ stood strangly amazed and +could say nothing for himselfe against that Jury of witnesses that +appeared against him; as that he said, _England_ could not be settled +till 150 were taken away which he said were L L L viz. the Lords, the +Levites, and the Lawyers; that he was often conspiring privately with +Oliver Cromwell the King's death, that he could even reverence the High +Court of Justice, it lookt so like the judgement of the world which +should be at the last day by the Saints; with many other blasphemies too +large to enumerate.' + +Amongst the prisoners arraigned on this occasion was the William Hewlett +already referred to. In the other cases the jury promptly found the +prisoners guilty without leaving the court; but it was a proof of the +weakness of the evidence in Hewlett's case that 'they did withdraw +themselves, and after a little consultation they found him guilty, and +accordingly sentence was pronounced against him.' This sentence, +however, as before stated, was never carried into effect. + +The engraving of this historical trial at the Old Bailey is too crowded +to admit of reproduction here. Other broadsides relating to the trial of +the regicides were published at the time, but they are more of the +nature of caricatures than illustrations of news. + +It is well known that General Harrison, Hugh Peters, and others were +executed with all the barbarous circumstances indicated in the words of +their sentence. Peters was made to sit upon the scaffold, exposed to the +jibes and jeers of the mob, and compelled to witness the mutilation of +his fellow-victims. The executions were continued day after day both at +Charing-cross and at Tyburn, and were stopped at last, not for lack of +victims, or disinclination for more slaughter on the part of the +authorities, but from a dread of the effect such bloodthirsty +proceedings might have on the minds of the people. The horrors of such a +scene, of course, attracted the sensational news-writer of the day; and +a broadside of the time gives us a picture and description of the +executions, coupled with a representation of the execution of Charles I. +This broadside was evidently intended to exhibit at one view the +commission of a great crime and its just punishment. The engraving shows +on one side the execution of the King and on the other the punishment of +the regicides. The description of the latter is preceded by an account +of the trial and death of Charles. The title runs thus: '_A true and +perfect Relation of the Grand Traytors Execution, as at severall times +they were Drawn, Hanged, and Quartered at Charing-Crosse, and at +Tiburne. Together with their severall Speeches and Confessions which +every one of them made at the time of their Execution. London, printed +for William Gilbertson, 1660_.' + +[Illustration: EXECUTION OF THE REGICIDES, 1660.] + +The following account is given of the execution of Major-General +Harrison: 'The next day being _Saturday_ Major-Gen. _Harrison_ was drawn +upon a Hurdle from Newgate to the Round, or railed Place near +Charing-Crosse, where a Gibbet was set upon which he was Hanged. Many +of his acquaintance did seem to triumph to see him die so Confidently; +whiles numbers of true Christians did grieve in earnest to see him die +so impenitently. We have been told that when he took his leave of his +wife, he comforted her, and told her that he would come again in three +days; but we hear nothing as yet of his Resurrection.' In describing the +execution of Hugh Peters, it is said, 'He came to the Ladder +unwillingly, and by degrees was drawn up higher and higher. Certainly he +had many Executioners within him; he leaned upon the Ladder being +unwilling to part from it, but being turned off, the spectators gave a +great shout, as they did when his Head was cut off, and held up aloft on +the point of a Spear. The very souldiers themselves whom heretofore he +did animate to slaughter, and a thorough execution of their Enemies were +now ashamed of him, and upon the point of their Spears showed that +guilty head which made them guilty of so much blood.' + +Pepys, in his Diary, says, under date October 13, 1660:--'I went out to +Charing Cross, to see Major-General Harrison hanged, drawn, and +quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could +do in that condition. He was presently cut down, and his head and heart +shown to the people, at which there were great shouts of joy. It is +said, that he said that he was sure to come shortly at the right hand of +Christ to judge them that now had judged him; and that his wife do +expect his coming again. Thus it was my chance to see the King beheaded +at White Hall, and to see the first blood shed in revenge for the King +at Charing Cross.' + +It will be seen by the copy made from this woodcut that the design is of +the rudest possible description, and must have been the work of a common +ballad illustrator, whose fee was probably on a par with his ability. He +evidently thought that, in such a scene as the execution of Charles I., +the Church should be paramount, for he has made Bishop Juxon a much more +prominent figure than the King. + +The reign of the 'Merry Monarch,' though not the most creditable period +in English History, would have supplied abundant materials for the +journalist if there had been any newspapers. The Great Plague, the Fire +of London, the sea-fights with the Dutch, were splendid opportunities +for the pencil of the 'special artist' or the pen of 'our own +correspondent.' A law had been passed prohibiting the publication of +newspapers without being duly licensed. Sir John Birkenhead was +appointed Licenser of the Press, and he was succeeded by Sir Roger +L'Estrange. There was scarcely anything that could be called a newspaper +except the _London Gazette_, and it only contained such news as the +Government thought proper to make public, and it was never illustrated. +The little that was done in the way of pictorial journalism was of a +satirical or humorous character, or had reference to foreign affairs, +and was either published in the form of broadsides or was put before the +public in such a questionable shape that it was difficult to tell +whether it was truth or fiction. As soon as the people were released +from the domination of Puritanism a reaction set in, and the humours of +_Mercurius Democritus_ were supplemented by the still broader fancies of +_Mercurius Fumigolus_. Occasional entertainment of a more serious +character was supplied, such as '_A True and Perfect Relation of the +Happy Successe and Victory obtained against the Turks of Argiers at +Bugia_.' The popular taste for the mysterious and supernatural was +touched by '_A true and perfect Relation, of a strange and wonderful +Apparition in the Air, the Fourteenth of August, near Goeree in +Holland_.' This was an illustrated broadside containing the following +account:--'On the fourteenth of August this year 1664, towards the +evening near Goeree in Holland, there was seen by many Spectators an +Apparition upon the Ocean of two several Fleets of Ships engaged in a +Fight, which lasted for the space of about half an hour, and then +vanished. Afterwards there appeared two Lyons, who with great fury and +violence, assaulted each other three several times, neither of them +prevailing against the other, till at length both of them wearied with +their continual striving, did, as it were, give over for breath, when on +a sudden a third Lyon of a very great and huge stature appeared and +falling first upon the one, and then on the other, destroyed them both. +They being vanished, there appeared a King, with a Crown upon his head, +and he so plainly and visibly discerned as that the spectators did +discover the very Buttons on his Coat. After all was vanished, the said +Spectators continueing there, and walking too and fro upon the sands, +the Ocean, so far as they could see, seemed to be Blood. On the next +morning, the same Apparition, in all its Circumstances, was seen again, +and the truth thereof attested upon Oath, before the Magistrates of +Goeree, by the said Spectators; so that there is no doubt made of the +truth thereof. And this happening in this juncture of time, begets some +strange apprehensions; for that about six Months before Van Trump was +slain in the former Wars with England, there was seen near the same +place, an Apparition of several Ships in the Air, as it were fighting +with each other.' + +[Illustration: APPARITION IN THE AIR AT GOEREE IN HOLLAND, 1664.] + +This broadside was printed at London, 'by Thomas Leach in Shooe Lane in +the Year 1664. _With Allowance_ October 13, 1664. Roger L'Estrange.' The +illustration is an etching, very well and freely executed. + +Amongst other things which appear to have been revived at the +Restoration was the _Mercurius Civicus_. In Dr. Burney's collections in +the British Museum there is preserved a copy of Number 4 of _Mercurius +Civicus_, dated May 1, 1660. On the title-page it is stated to be +'published by order of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen;' but it is +not illustrated, as was its predecessor of the time of the Civil War. + +[Illustration: THE MURDER OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP, 1679.] + +One of the most atrocious deeds of the time, and one that had a powerful +effect upon public feeling, was the murder of Archbishop Sharp in 1679. +This prelate was held to have betrayed the Presbyterians at the time of +the Restoration, and was hated accordingly. This hatred had been +manifested by an attempt on his life in the streets of Edinburgh in the +year 1668; but on that occasion the Archbishop escaped, and another +person was wounded. On May 3, 1679, Archbishop Sharp was returning in +his coach to St. Andrews from Kennaway, where he had passed the night, +when, at a place called Magus Moor, he was set upon by nine men, who +murdered him with pitiless barbarity in the presence of his daughter, +who accompanied him. This dreadful event was commemorated in a broadside +entitled '_The Manner of the Barbarous Murther of James, late Lord +Archbishop of St. Andrews, Primate and Metropolitan of all Scotland and +one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council of that kingdom, May +3, 1679_.' A copperplate engraving represents the murder, and some +verses are printed underneath. I have copied the engraving on this +broadside, which forms part of the Luttrell collection in the British +Museum. + +In 1681 there existed a newspaper entitled _The Loyal Protestant and +True Domestic Intelligencer_. In the number for April 2, 1681, there is +printed the following curious news from Rome:-- + +'Rome, March 6. There did appear here about the middle of Dec. last, a +strange and wonderful Comet near the Ecliptick in the sign of Libra, and +in the body of the Virgin. At the same time a Prodigious Egge was laid +by a Young Pullet (which had never laid before) with a perfect Comet in +it, and as many stars, and in the same form as the enclosed figure +shows. All the great ones of Rome have seen it, even the Queen and the +Pope. What you see in the enclosed Paper is within the Egge most clearly +exprest, and not upon the Shell. The Roman Wits are now very busy in +guessing at what this Comet and Egge may portend.' + +This account of the egg is printed on the front page of _The Loyal +Protestant_, in the midst of Court news from Oxford, municipal news from +Leicester, news from Edinburgh, &c, and is illustrated with a woodcut, +which I have copied. A further description is appended to the +representation of the egg:--'The true form of a Prodigious Egg brought +forth at Rome the 11th of Dec. last in the year 1680 in which the Commet +here printed does continue to appear.' + +'The aforesaid 11th of Dec. about 8 of the Clock in the morning, a Hen +Chicken, with a great Noise, crying extraordinarily, that never had laid +an Egge before this day, brought forth an Egge of an extraordinary +greatness, with all these several Forms as you see here exprest, to the +great amazement of all those that have seen it. This is an exact draught +of the Egge as it was printed in Italy. But all persons are left to +their own choice whether they will believe either this or any of our own +late home-bred Miracles or visions.' + +[Illustration: EXTRAORDINARY EGG LAID AT ROME. FROM THE 'LOYAL +PROTESTANT AND TRUE DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCER,' 1681.] + +Supernatural occurrences and uncommon events, even when traceable to +natural causes, have always had great attractions for both the ignorant +and the educated. We therefore find the talents of the old newsmen were +most frequently exercised on mysterious appearances in the air, floods, +fires, and frosts, earthquakes and upheavings of the sea. Having already +quoted examples dealing with some of these subjects, I now come to two +broadsides which describe and illustrate the great frost of 1683-4, when +the river Thames was covered with ice eleven inches thick, the forest +trees, and even the oaks, in England were split by the frost, most of +the hollies were killed, and nearly all the birds perished. According +to the testimony of an eye-witness, 'The people kept trades on the +Thames as in a fair, till February 4, 1684. About forty coaches daily +plied on the Thames as on drye land.' The broadsides under notice give +representations of the fair held on the Thames, and describe it in +doggerel verse. The one containing the engraving I have copied is +entitled '_Great Britain's Wonder; London's Admiration. Being a True +Representation of a Prodigious Frost, which began about the beginning of +December, 1683, and continued till the Fourth Day of February following. +And held on with such violence, that Men and Beasts, Coaches and Carts, +went as frequently thereon as Boats were wont to pass before. There was +also a street of Booths built from the Temple to Southwark, where were +sold all sorts of Goods imaginable--namely Cloaths, Plate, Earthen Ware; +Meat, Drink, Brandy, Tobacco, and a Hundred sorts of other Commodities +not here inserted. It being the wonder of this present Age, and a great +consternation to all the Spectators._' The description opens thus:-- + + 'Behold the Wonder of this present Age + A Famous River now become a stage. + Question not what I now declare to you, + The Thames is now both Fair and Market too. + And many Thousands dayley do resort, + There to behold the Pastime and the Sport + Early and late, used by young and old, + And valued not the fierceness of the Cold.' + +The illustration is a roughly executed woodcut, and represents a street +of booths opposite the Temple, looking towards the Middlesex shore. On +one side are men skating, sliding, riding on sledges, and playing at +football; whilst bull-baiting, skittle-playing, &c, go on on the other +side. Coaches are driven across the ice, boats are dragged as sledges, +and an ox is roasted whole in one corner. + +[Illustration: FROST FAIR ON THE THAMES, 1683.] + +The other broadside has a woodcut of the same scene, but taken from a +different point, and looking _down_ the river, with London Bridge, the +Tower, Monument, &c, in the distance. In addition to a description of +Frost Fair, there is an account of all the great frosts from the time of +William the Conqueror. + +Some curious particulars of this great frost are recorded by +contemporary writers. Evelyn describes the whole scene, and says that he +crossed the river on the ice on foot upon the 9th, in order to dine with +the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth; and again in his coach, from +Lambeth to the horse-ferry at Millbank, upon Feb. 5th, when 'it began to +thaw, but froze again.' Hackney-coaches plied between Somerset House and +the Temple to Southwark. There was a printing-press set up in one of the +booths, 'where the people and ladys tooke a fancy to having their names +printed, and the day and year set down, when printed on the Thames. This +humour took so universally that 'twas estimated the printer gained about +L5 a day for printing a line onely at sixpence a name, besides what he +got by ballads, &c.' A specimen of this printing has been preserved. It +was executed for Charles II., who visited Frost Fair accompanied by +several members of his family. It contains, besides the names of the +King and Queen, those of the Duke of York, Mary his Duchess, Princess +Anne (afterwards Queen Anne), and Prince George of Denmark, her husband. +The last name on the list is 'Hans in Kelder,' which literally means +'Jack in the Cellar,' and is supposed to have been suggested by the +humour of the King in allusion to the interesting situation of the +Princess Anne; and we can fancy the swarthy face of the 'Merry Monarch' +smiling in the frosty air as this congenial joke was perpetrated. + +In the Luttrell collection of broadsides there is one with a large +woodcut representing the battle of Sedgemoor and other incidents of +Monmouth's rebellion. The letterpress is in wretched verse, and is +entitled, '_A Description of the late Rebellion in the West. A Heroic +Poem._' The unfortunate issue of Monmouth's rising excited the sympathy +of the common people, to whom he was endeared by his many amiable +qualities and his handsome person. Though this broadside was evidently +written in the interest of the Government it was likely to have a ready +sale, and it was sought to increase the interest by pictorial +representation. The engraving, which is on an unusually large scale, is +very rough, like all the woodcuts of the period. + +The slaughter at Sedgemoor and the execution of the Duke of Monmouth +were partly forgotten in the greater horror excited by the unsparing +severity of Judge Jefferies in condemning to death hundreds of persons +who were charged with being concerned in the rebellion. I have met with +one illustrated tract relating to the 'Bloody Assize.' It is inserted at +the end of the volume of the _London Gazette_ for 1685, and has +apparently been added by Dr. Burney, the collector, as bearing upon the +events of the time. It forms no part of the _London Gazette_, though +bound up with it. There is a rough woodcut on the title-page containing +eleven portraits, and the title is as follows:-- + +'_The Protestant Martyrs; or the Bloody Assizes, giving an account of +the Lives, Tryals, and Dying Speeches, of all those eminent Protestants +that suffered in the West of England by the sentence of that bloody and +cruel Judge Jefferies; being in all_ 251 _persons, besides what were +hanged and destroyed in cold blood. Containing also the Life and Death +of James Duke of Monmouth; His Birth and Education; His Actions both at +Home and Abroad; His Unfortunate Adventure in the West; His Letter to +King James; His Sentence, Execution and Dying-words upon the Scaffold; +with a true Copy of the Paper he left behind him. And many other curious +Remarks worth the Readers Observation. London, Printed by F. Bradford; +at the Bible in Fetter Lane._' + +At the end of the pamphlet is printed this curious sentence:--'This +Bloody Tragedy in the West being over our Protestant Judge returns for +London; soon after which Alderman Cornish felt the Anger of Somebody +behind the Curtain.' + +Alderman Cornish was afterwards executed at the corner of King Street, +Cheapside, for alleged participation in the Rye House Plot. + +[Illustration: MARTYRS OF THE BLOODY ASSIZES, 1685.] + +This fragment of contemporary history shows that if there were no +regular newspapers to supply the people with illustrated news they +obtained it in the shape of cheap fly-sheets and broadsides--the form in +which it was supplied to them before newspapers began. + +Macaulay describes the unlicensed press at this period as being worked +in holes and corners, and producing large quantities of pamphlets which +were a direct infraction of the law subjecting the press to a +censorship. 'There had long lurked in the garrets of London a class of +printers who worked steadily at their calling with precautions +resembling those employed by coiners and forgers. Women were on the +watch to give the alarm by their screams if an officer appeared near the +workshop. The press was immediately pushed into a closet behind the bed; +the types were flung into the coal-hole, and covered with cinders; the +compositor disappeared through a trap-door in the roof, and made off +over the tiles of the neighbouring houses. In these dens were +manufactured treasonable works of all classes and sizes, from halfpenny +broadsides of doggerel verse up to massy quartos filled with Hebrew +quotations.'[1] The pamphlet I have just quoted probably issued from a +press of this kind; but he must have been a bold printer who dared to +put his name and address to a work wherein Jefferies was openly referred +to as 'that bloody and cruel Judge Jefferies.' + +Large broadsides continued to be the favourite form of illustrated +journalism for some time after this. One gives a 'true and perfect +relation' of a great earthquake which happened at Port Royal, in +Jamaica, on Tuesday, June 7th, 1692, and is illustrated with a large +woodcut. On the death of Queen Mary, the consort of William III., an +illustrated broadside was published, plentifully garnished with skulls +and cross-bones, entitled, '_Great Britain's Lamentation; or the Funeral +Obsequies of that most incomparable Protestant Princess, Mary, of ever +Blessed Memory, Queen of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, who +departed this life the 28th of December, at Kensington, 1694, in the +Thirty-second Year of her Age. She Reigned Five Years, Eight Months, and +Seventeen Days. And was conducted from Whitehall to Westminster Abbey, +in an open Chariot of State, on black cloath, by the Nobility, Judges, +and Gentry of the Land, on Tuesday, the 5th of March, 1694-5._' The +large woodcut shows the funeral procession, and I have copied that part +of it containing the funeral car, with the body of the deceased queen +resting under a canopy. + +[Illustration: FUNERAL OF QUEEN MARY, 1695.] + +In a few years after the Revolution newspapers began to increase +rapidly. The censorship of the press ceased in 1695, and was immediately +followed by the appearance of great numbers of periodical papers. At +first they were small in size, were wretchedly printed on the commonest +paper, and each number contained only a small quantity of matter. The +art of wood-engraving, the readiest and least expensive method of +illustration, was now in the lowest possible condition; and the +newspapers at the end of the seventeenth century contain scarcely any +illustrations, except, perhaps, a heading of a rudely executed figure of +a man blowing a horn, flanked by a ship or a castle, and numerous small +woodcuts to advertisements. + +[Illustration] + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [1] _History of England._ + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Constant Attempts at Illustrated News--Increase of Caricatures--The + _Postman_, 1704--Fiery Apparition in the Air, seen in + London--Caricature against the Jacobites--The South-Sea + Bubble--Eclipse of the Sun, 1724--The _Grub Street Journal_ an + Illustrated Paper--The _Daily Post_--Admiral Vernon's Attack on Porto + Bello--The _Penny London Post_--Henry Fielding and the _Jacobite's + Journal_--_Owen's Weekly Chronicle_--_Lloyd's Evening Post_, and the + Trial of Lord Byron for the Murder of Mr. Chaworth--The _St. James's + Chronicle_--Illustrated Account of a Strange Wild Beast seen in + France--The _Gentleman's Journal_ of Anthony Motteux--The _Gentleman's + Magazine_ of Edward Cave--The _London Magazine_--The _Scot's + Magazine_. + + +In glancing at the early newspapers it is apparent that the idea, in +some shape, of illustrating the news of the day was never quite absent +from the minds of newspaper conductors. Sometimes it took the form of a +rude map of the country where some war was going on, or the plan of some +city which was being besieged. In the _London Post_ for July 25, 1701, +is a map of the seat of war in Italy, which is reprinted in other +numbers, and the _Daily Courant_, for Sept. 8, 1709, contains a large +plan of Mons. In the absence of other means, even printers' lines were +used to represent a plan of some place, or an event of unusual interest. +Such an attempt at illustrated news was made in the _Dublin Journal_ for +May 14, 1746, where there is a plan, set up in type and printers' lines, +of the battle of Culloden; and in the number for March 28, 1747, there +is a similar plan of the trial of Lord Lovat. This is doubly interesting +as being _Irish_. Engraving on copper, though it involved the expense of +a double printing, was sometimes resorted to for the purpose of +enlivening the pages of the early newspapers, and we have seen that it +was also employed in broadsides. There was so much enterprise that even +penny papers sometimes introduced engravings into their pages. + +About the beginning of the eighteenth century caricatures began to +increase in England. Religious animosities and political intrigues, +always keen incentives to satire, had opened a wide field to the +caricaturist in the years which followed the Revolution. But religious +bigotry and party spirit, strong as they were at this period, were +exceeded by the social follies which came afterwards. The trial of Dr. +Sacheverell occasioned the publication of numerous songs, squibs, and +caricatures; but the South-Sea Bubble surpassed it as a fruitful source +of lampoons and pictorial satire. The spirit of ridicule was fed by the +political intrigues, the follies and the vices of the Georgian era, and +reached its highest development in the days of George III. Amongst other +early channels for circulation we find caricatures making their +appearance in newspapers, and as we proceed I shall give one or two +examples from the illustrated journalism of this period. + +On March 14, 1704, _The Postman_, one of the papers that was started on +the expiration of the censorship (and which Macaulay says was one of the +best conducted and most prosperous), published what was called a +Postscript for the purpose of making its readers acquainted with a +prodigy seen in Spain in the air so far back as the year 1536. It is +illustrated with a woodcut representing two men fighting in the air; and +the following account is given of it:--'The success of the expedition of +K. Charles III. being now the subject of all Publick Discourses, the +Reader, we hope, will excuse the following Postscript, which must be +confest to be of an extraordinary nature, as containing some things +hardly to be parallelled. All the states of Christendom being concerned +some way or other in this great quarrell, it is not to be wondered at if +the discovery of a Prodigy, which seems to foretell the decision of it, +has made so much noise at Rome, and that we insert it in this place. The +French Faction grew intolerably insolent upon account of the storms +which have so long retarded the Portuguese expedition, and represented +these cross accidents as a manifest declaration that God did not approve +the same; and this way of arguing, though never so rash and impertinent +in itself, prevailed over the generality of the people, in a City which +is the Centre of superstition. The Partizans of the House of Austria +were very much dejected and had little to say, when they happily +discovered in the Library of the Vatican a Book printed at Bazil in the +year 1557 written by Conradus Lycosthenes, wherein they found an +argument to confute all the reasons alledged by their adversaries, and a +sure Presage in their opinion of the success of K. Charles III. This +made a great noise at Rome, and his Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury sent an +account thereof. The Book perhaps is not so scarce as they thought at +Rome; and the learned Doctor Hans Sloane having one in his Library, and +having been so obliging as to give me leave to transcribe that passage, +I present it here to the reader, leaving it to everyone to make his own +observations. The Book is thus Intituled: "_Prodigiorum Ostentorum +Chronicon, &c., per Conradum Lycosthenem, Rubeaquensem. Printed in Folio +at Bazil per Henricum Petri 1557_," and amongst the infinite number of +Prodigies he relates in his collection, which extends from the beginning +of the world to his time, he has the following, page 558 (here follows +the description on each side of the woodcut in Latin and English). 'In a +certain place of Spain on the 7th of Feby, 1536, 2 hours after the +setting of the sun as Fincelius relates it after others, were seen in +the Air, which was rainy and cloudy, two Young Men in Armour, fighting +with Swords, one of them having in his left hand a Shield or round +Buckler, adorned with an Eagle, with this inscription, I SHALL REIGN, +and the other having on a long Target with these words, I HAVE REIGNED. +They fought a Duel, and he who had the Eagle on his Buckler beat down +his enemy and was conqueror.' The whole affair refers to the war of the +Spanish Succession between the partisans of Louis XIV. and the House of +Bourbon, and the House of Austria, and is made to foretell the downfall +of the former. As the Bourbons did eventually obtain the Crown of Spain, +this interpretation of the supposed prodigy may be referred to the same +class as the prophecies of _Old Moore's Almanack_. I have copied the +engraving, which is the only illustration I have found in _The Postman_. + +[Illustration: PRODIGY SEEN IN SPAIN. FROM THE 'POSTMAN,' 1704.] + +We have already noticed that no class of marvels were so attractive to +the early news-writers as apparitions in the air. Another example of +this is found in a pamphlet, published in 1710, entitled '_The Age of +Wonders: or, A further and particular Description of the remarkable, and +Fiery Apparition that was seen in the Air, on Thursday in the Morning, +being May the 11th, 1710_.' It is illustrated with a rough woodcut, and +has the following description:-- + +.... 'As for the strange Appearances which were seen on the 11th of May +in the Morning, I suppose there is by this time few that do not give +Credit to the same, since so many creditable People in several parts of +the Town have apparently testified the same, and are ready still to do +it upon enquirey, as in Clare Market, Cheapside, Tower-hill, and other +places; it was likewise seen by several Market Folks then upon the +Water, who have since agreed in Truth thereof, most of which relate in +the following manner:-- + +'On Wednesday Night, or rather Thursday Morning last, much about the +Hour of two a Clock, several People, who were then abroad, especially +the Watchman about Tower Street, Clare Market, Cheapside, and +Westminster, plainly and visibly saw this strange Comet, it seem'd a +very great Star, at the end of which was a long tail, or streak of Fire, +very wonderful and surprizing to behold. It did not continue fix'd, but +pass'd along with the Scud, or two black Clouds, being carried by a +brisk wind that then blew. + +[Illustration: FIERY APPARITION IN THE AIR, SEEN IN LONDON, 1710.] + +'After which follow'd the likeness of a Man in a Cloud of Fire, with a +Sword in his hand, which mov'd with the Clouds as the other did, but +they saw it for near a quarter of an Hour together, to their very great +surprize, and related the same the next Morning, which they are ready +now to affirm if any are so curious to go and Enquire, particularly John +Smith, near Tower-street, Abraham Wilsley, on Tower-hill, John Miller, +near Clare Market, John Williams, in Cheapside, George Mules and +Rebeccah Sampson upon the Water, and Mr. Lomax, Watchman of St. Anns, +with many others too tedious to insert.' + +Amongst the many newspapers that had sprung into existence the following +so far improved upon their small and dingy predecessors as to be adorned +with pictorial headings:--The _Post Boy_, 1720; the _Weekly Journal_, +1720; the _London Journal_, 1720; the _Weekly Journal, or Saturday's +Post_, 1721; _Applebee's Weekly Journal_, 1721; _Read's Journal, or +British Gazetteer_, 1718-31. The last named appeared for many years as +the _Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer_; but the _Weekly Journal_ was +a favourite title, and was borne by so many other papers that after a +time the publisher altered the title of his paper to _Read's Journal; or +British Gazetteer_, and gave it an engraved heading. Read was a man of +enterprise, and surpassed his contemporaries in endeavouring to make his +journal attractive by means of illustrations. In his paper for Nov. 1, +1718, there is a caricature engraved on wood. It is levelled against the +Jacobites, and is called 'An Hieroglyphick,' and is introduced to the +reader with the following rhymes:-- + + 'Will _Fools_ and _Knaves_ their own Misfortune see + And ponder on the _Tories_ villany + Behold this _Hieroglyphick_, and admire + What _Loyalty_ do's in true Souls inspire! + Whate'er the _Figures_ mean we shan't declare, + Because the _Jacobites_ will curse and swear; + But if our _Readers_ will this piece explain, + Their Explanation we shall not disdain.' + +[Illustration: CARICATURE AGAINST THE JACOBITES. FROM 'READ'S WEEKLY +JOURNAL,' 1718.] + +Nobody appears to have responded to the invitation conveyed in the +verses, for in the succeeding numbers of the paper there is no attempt +to explain the 'hieroglyphick.' A copy of this early newspaper +caricature is given on the opposite page. + +In the same journal for May 20, 1721, there is a large woodcut entitled +'Lucifers Row-Barge,' which I have also copied. It is a caricature on +the South-Sea Bubble, and appears, from what follows, to have been first +published in the previous week: 'The Call for this Journal (last week) +being very extraordinary, upon account of the delineation of Lucifer's +Row-Barge in it, we are desired by several of our Correspondents both in +City and Country, to present them with it in this week's paper, with an +Explanation of every Representation in the aforesaid Cut, adapted to +Figures; with which Request we have comply'd, as supposing it will be +acceptable not only to them with such a Design, but likewise pleasing to +all our Readers in General.' The different parts of the engraving are +described under the illustration on the following page. + +Each of these divisions of the subject is further described in verse. In +concocting this satire the author has allowed some symptoms of +journalistic jealousy to appear by dragging in the correspondent of the +_London Journal_ (which was a rival paper), and describing him as the +common hangman. The feeling about the South-Sea Bubble must have been +very strong to have made this caricature acceptable. It was intended to +satirise Mr. Knight, the cashier of the South-Sea Company, who fled the +country when it became too hot for him. The verses which accompany the +engraving, though by no means models of poetic elegance, might be +commended to the attention of some directors of our own day:-- + + 'Then what must such vile Plunderers expect + When they upon their Actions do reflect; + Who barely have three Kingdoms quite undone + From aged Father to the Infant Son? + From many Eyes they've drawn a briny Flood, + But Tears to ruined People do no Good.' + +[Illustration: SOUTH SEA BUBBLE CARICATURE. FROM THE 'WEEKLY JOURNAL AND +BRITISH GAZETTEER,' 1721. + + '1. The Cashire of the South Sea Company + + 2. The Horse of an Accomptant to the South Sea + Company + + 3. The Correspondent of the Author of the _London + Journal_ + + 4. A Stock Jobber, or Exchange Broker, whipt by + the Common Hangman + + 5. Belzebub prompting a Director of the South Sea + + 6. Satan prompting the same Director in t'other Ear + + 7. The Worm of Conscience fastens on the above + said Director + + 8. The Cup of Indignation + + 9. A Director's Sacrifice, which is a Villanous Heart + + 10. A Director in the Pillory + + 11. The Superscription over the pillory'd Director + paraphras'd from the prophet Ezekiel. Chap. + XXII. Ver. 12, 13, and Chap. XXIII. Ver. 25, 26, 27 + + 12. A Director decyphered by the Knave of Diamonds + Hanged + + 13. A Director wafting to Hell with the tide + + 14. Lucifers Row-Barge for first rate passengers + + 15. Moloch sounds his trumpet for Joy of meeting + with a good Fare + + 16. Belial playing on the Violin to the Director + + 17. Mammon takes a trip at Helm for him + + 18. The South Sea + + 19. Lucifer rowing his own Barge + + 20. The Entrance into Hell, represented by the + Mouth of the Leviathan, or great Whale, + belching flames of sulphurous fire.'] + +There was a total eclipse of the sun in 1724, which appears to have +excited much attention, and several notices of it occur in the +newspapers. Parker's _London News_ gives a long account, with a woodcut, +which I have copied. This paper was published three times a-week--on +Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In the number for Monday, May 4th, +1724, is the woodcut referred to, together with the following +explanation:-- + +'Of the Eclipse of the Sun which will happen in the Afternoon on Monday, +the 11th of this inst. May 1724. + +'The Sun, the glorious Lamp of the Universe, being a large round Body of +Light, is fixt in the Centre of the _Creation_; so that all parts +thereof might be partakers of his vivifying Rays, which otherwise would +be shut up in perpetual Darkness. + +'The Earth is a dark round Ball, which turneth round on its own Axis, +from West to East, once in twenty-four Hours Time, causing thereby Day +and Night, also at the same Time, the Earth with the Moon, going round +in its Orbit in 365 Days and some Hours, constituting thereby the true +Length of our Year. + +'The Moon is likewise a round dark Ball, void of Light, and +circumvolveth the Earth once a Month; so that whenever she passeth in +her Orbit, in a direct line between the Sun and Earth, she Eclipses the +Earth not the Sun, by depriving us of a Sight thereof; And whenever the +Earth happens to be between the Sun and Moon, at such times the Earth +obstructs the Light of the Sun from the Moon, and then the Moon is +Eclipsed by the dark Body of the Earth. + +'Now to prevent any Consternation, which People, through Ignorance may +fall under, by means of that great Eclipse which is now approaching; at +which time it will be so dark, that the stars, (if the Air be clear) +will be seen; and the Planets Mars, Venus, and the seldom to be seen +Mercury, will appear a little above the Sun, towards the South; also +Venus a little higher to the Left of Mercury, and Mars in the S.S.W. +Parts of the Heavens; The several Appearances of this Eclipse will be +according to the Types before inserted. + +'The beginning of this Eclipse, according to the nicest Computation of +the most Judicious, will happen at 39 Minutes past 5 in the Afternoon +when the Limb of the Moon will just touch the Sun's Limb, as it is +represented by the Uppermost Figure to the Right Hand. At 44 Minutes +after 5 it will be enter'd the disk, and so much darkened as the 2d +Scheme on the Right Hand shews. At 48 Minutes past 5 as the 3d denotes. +At 53 Minutes past 5 as the 4th shews. At 58 Minutes after 5, as the 5th +represents. At 3 Minutes past 6, as in the 6th Scheme. At 7 Minutes +after 6, as in the 7th. At 12 Minutes past 6, as is shewn by the 8th +Figure. At 17 Minutes past 6, as the 10th Figure shews. At 26 Minutes +past 6, as the next succeeding Scheme denotes, beginning always to +number from the Right Hand. At 31 Minutes after 6, so much of the Sun's +Body will be darkened, as the 12th represents: and at 36 past 6, will be +the greatest darkness, when only a small thread of Light will be seen at +_London_, on the upper part of the _Sun_ as the 13th Scheme informs; but +to all the Southern parts of the Kingdom, it will be totally darkened. + +'After this the _Sun_ will begin to shew its Light, which will appear +first on the lower part of that Glorious Body, towards the Right Hand; +and the darkness will gradually lessen, as the several Figures +represent, till the Sun's Body be perfectly clear of the Shadow, which +will be at 27 Minutes past 7 a-clock that Afternoon.' + +This description is reprinted, together with the woodcut, in the same +paper for May 8th, and to it is added the following:--'Directions for +the better viewing the Eclipse that will happen on Monday next'--'Take a +Piece of Common window Glass and hold it over a Candle, so that the +Flame of the Candle may make it black, through which look upon the Sun, +and you will behold the _Eclipse_ without Danger to the Eyes.' + +Or thus + +Take a Piece of thick writing Paper, and prick a hole in it with a fine +Needle, through which the _Eclipse_ may be seen.' + +[Illustration: ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. FROM 'PARKER'S LONDON NEWS,' 1724.] + +The same paper (May 8th, 1724) contains some advertisements about the +eclipse, which seems to have been for the moment the absorbing topic, +and was apparently made the vehicle for advertising the shops of +different tradesmen. The notices were published ostensibly 'to lessen +the consternation of ignorant people,' but it is evident the advertisers +had an eye to business. 'An exact curious Draft' was to be 'given +_gratis_ at Mr. Garway's original shop, the Sign of the Practical Scheme +at the Royal Exchange Gate, on Cornhill Side. Up one pair of Stairs at +the Sign of the celebrated Anodyne Necklace for Childrens' Teeth, next +the Rose Tavern without Temple Bar. At Mr. Gregg's Bookseller, next to +Northumberland House, at Charing Cross; and at R. Bradshaw's the +author's Servant, at his House, next to the King's Head, in Crown +Street, right against Sutton Street End, just by Soho Square. Note, it +will not be given to any Boy or Girl.' + +The cut and description are again reprinted in the number for May 11th, +where, amongst other items of news, is the following:--'His Royal +Highness went last Monday to Richmond, as did also the Right Hon. the +Lord _Chancellor_, Judge Fortescue, and other persons of note; some of +the Judges went to Hampton Court, and other gentlemen of Learning and +Curiosity to more distant places, to make their Observations, as 'tis +said, upon the great Eclipse of the Sun that happen'd in the Evening, +and exactly answered the _Calculations_ made of it by our Astronomers.' +In the number for May 18th are accounts of how the eclipse was observed +in the country. It is stated:--'We are advised from the Isle of Wight +that the Eclipse on the 11th instant, which was Total, and caused very +great Consternation there lasted about a Minute and a half; but that the +chief sufferers thereby were the gentry of that Island, who by the great +concourse of Strangers to their Houses, had but very little French +Claret left upon their hands; But the comfort is, they have frequent +opportunities of running some more.' + +_Parker's London News_ blended amusement with instruction. The following +items of news occur in the same number that contains the account of the +eclipse, and show how our forefathers were entertained by the newspapers +160 years ago:--'The Papers of the week, from the highest to the lowest +rank have killed one Sir Nicholas Raymond in the Isle of Wight; but as +no such knight ever inhabited therein, we can impute it to nothing but +want of home news.' + +'Last Saturday Night, two Servant Maids at a Snuff Warehouse, at Mile +End took _so much Snuff_, that they quarrell'd, and one of them stabbed +the other in so many places with an Iron Scuer, that 'twas thought she +could not live. The other therefore, was instantly apprehended and +committed.' + +'Last week an Apothecary was attacked by two Highwaymen, between +Winchester and Southampton, who robbed him of his money, and finding two +Vials of Purging Potions in his Pocket, that he was carrying to a +_Patient_, they were so inhuman as to force him to swallow 'em himself.' + +'Last Sunday Night, Sir Basil Firebrass, noted for his humanity to young +Vintners, whom he first set up, and afterwards upon Default of payment +took execution against 'em, departed this life.' + +_The Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer_ for May 9th, 1724, contains an +account and illustration of the same eclipse that is described in +_Parker's London News_. The illustration is a diagram, and is called, 'A +Representation of a Solar Eclipse. The Time of the Beginning, Middle, +and End of the Eclipse and the continuance of Darkness, together with +its Appearance at London and Bristol.' + +The celebrated _Grub Street Journal_ now comes upon the scene; and we +find it not only surpassing its contemporaries in wit and satire, but it +also comes out as an illustrated paper. In No. 43, for Oct. 29th, 1730, +a whole page is occupied with woodcuts of the arms of the City +Companies, which are reprinted about the time of Lord Mayor's Day in +succeeding years. In No. 48 there is a very well-executed copperplate +portrait, presumably of the Lord Mayor of London. As it is printed on +the same page with type (involving two printings), and the journal was +sold for twopence, it shows some enterprise for the year 1730. On the +front page of No. 95, for Oct. 28th, 1731, there are very rude woodcuts +of the Lord Mayor's procession, surrounded by the arms of the City +Companies before referred to. No. 147 has a curious copperplate at the +head of an article entitled, '_The Art and Mystery of Printing +Emblematically Displayed_.' The engraving represents human figures with +animals' heads at work in a printing-office. An ass is setting up the +types, a pig is using the inking-balls, a horse is acting as pressman, a +sheep is arranging the printed sheets, while a two-faced man and a +many-horned devil are watching them all. This, like the portrait of the +Lord Mayor, is printed on the same page with the type, with no printing +at the back of the engraving. The article is a satirical conversation +between certain printers' devils, and is continued in the next number, +where the engraving is also reproduced. The _Grub Street Journal_ is the +first example I have met with of a newspaper employing the expensive +process of copperplate engraving for illustrations, and printing the +plate in the body of its pages. It was probably thought to be too +costly, for we find the conductors recurring to the almost extinct art +of wood-engraving. In the number for Oct. 25th, 1733, there is a +coarsely executed woodcut heading a satirical allegory, entitled, _The +Art of Trimming Emblematically Displayed_. + +The _Daily Post_ of March 29th, 1740, is interesting as being an early +example of a daily paper attempting to illustrate current events. The +_Daily Post_ consisted of a single leaf, with the page divided into +three columns. In the number referred to there is a long account of +Admiral Vernon's attack on Porto Bello, illustrated with a woodcut, +which the writer says will give the reader a clearer idea of the +position of the town, castle, and ships engaged. The narrative is +introduced by the editor in these words:--'The following is a letter +from a gentleman on board the Burford at Porto Bello to his friend at +Newcastle, which, as it contains a more particular account of Admiral +Vernon's glorious achievement at that place than any yet published here, +we thought we could not in justice to the Bravery of our English +Officers and Sailors, refuse it a Place in our Paper.' + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL VERNON'S ATTACK ON PORTO BELLO. FROM THE 'DAILY +POST,' 1740. + + A. The Iron Castle on the North side of the Mouth of the Harbour with + 100 Guns. + + B. The Castle Gloria, with 120 Guns, on the South side of the Harbour, + and a Mile from the Iron Castle. + + C. The Fort of Hieronymo, with 20 Guns. + + D. The Town of Porto Bello lying along the Extremity of the Harbour. + + E. The station of the Spanish Ships. + + F. The Hampton-Courts place of Action, Commodore Brown. + + G. The Norwich's ditto, Cap. Herbert. + + H. The Worcester's ditto, Cap. Main. + + I. The Admiral's Ship, the Burford.] + +'On the afternoon of the 21st about two o'clock we came up with Porto +Bello Harbour, where the Spaniards had hoisted upon the Iron Castle the +Flag of Defiance; and, as we were told by themselves afterwards, they +wished earnestly for our attempting to come in, as believing they could +sink us all immediately, but said they feared we were only making a +second Bastimento Expedition, and would not give them the pleasure of +engaging us.' Then follows a long and circumstantial account of the +conflict. 'Notwithstanding they had discharged very few Guns for some +Minutes before we came up; yet as if they had resolved to summon up all +their Courage against the Flag, they welcomed us with a terrible Volley, +which being at so short a Distance, took Place with almost every Shot. +One struck away the Stern of our Barge; another broke a large Gun upon +our upper Deck; a third went thro' our Foretop-Mast; and a fourth, +passing thro' the Arning within two Inches of our Main-Mast, broke down +the barricado of our Quarter-Deck, very near the Admiral, and killed +three Men in a Moment, wounding five others which stood by them. This +look'd as if we should have bloody work, but was far from discouraging +our brave Fellows.' The Spaniards being driven from their guns, the +English landed:--'One man set himself close under an Embossier, whilst +another climbed upon his Shoulders and enter'd under the Mouth of a +great Gun. This so dismay'd the Spaniards that they threw down their +Arms and fled to the Top of the Castle; from whence scaling backwards we +could see them run into the woods by hundreds and fly for their lives.' +The place being taken, the writer gives a minute account of the damage +done and the booty taken. He says:--'We have also had the good luck to +find about 10,000 Dollars belonging to the King of Spain, which I had +the Pleasure of being present at the searching for, when we found it in +the Customhouse,' &c. + +The writer of the above account signs himself Wm. Richardson, and gives +the explanations to the letters on the woodcut, a facsimile of which is +engraved. + +To account for the enthusiasm with which Admiral Vernon's victory at +Porto Bello was received we must remember that the nation had previously +been wrought up to a high state of fever about Spain, and the +declaration of war had been received in the most jubilant manner. We can +therefore understand that the conductors of the _Daily Post_, infected +by the popular fervour, would gladly seize the opportunity of producing +in their pages the drawing and description by an eye-witness of this +naval victory. This early example of illustrated news, though it has +nothing pictorial about it, is extremely interesting, showing as it does +the tendency of newspapers, in times of excitement, to call on the +artist's pencil to aid the writer's pen. It was in reference to this war +that Walpole said, when the bells were ringing joyfully, 'They may ring +the bells now, but they will soon be wringing their hands.' + +To the preceding example of a _daily_ paper attempting to illustrate +current events I will add an instance of a _penny_ paper doing a similar +thing at about the same period. _The Penny London Post, or, The Morning +Advertiser_, was a paper published three times a-week, and in the number +for Jan. 9th, 1748-9, there is given 'A view of the Public Fireworks to +be exhibited on occasion of the General Peace concluded at Aix La +Chapelle the 7th Day of October 1748.' The engraving is little more +than a diagram, and accompanies a description of the arrangements made +for the occasion, amongst which there was to be a band of a hundred +musicians to play before the fireworks began, 'the Musick for which,' +says the _Penny London Post_, 'is to be composed by Mr. Handel.' + +We are accustomed to think of the immortal author of _Tom Jones_ as a +novelist only. Henry Fielding was, however, also a journalist, a +pamphleteer, and a justice of the peace for Middlesex and Westminster. +Amidst his other labours he found time to edit the _Jacobite's Journal_, +a paper started to support the House of Hanover after the Rebellion of +1745. It was a sheet of four pages, published every Saturday, and the +first twelve numbers were adorned with a woodcut heading which has been +attributed to Hogarth. This heading was discontinued after the twelfth +number, and in number 13 there is an elaborate article, replete with +sarcastic humour, explaining the reasons for its discontinuance. The +_Jacobite's Journal_ purported to be edited by 'John Trott-Plaid, Esq.,' +and was essentially satirical in its tone. In the second number there is +the following reference to the engraved heading:-- + +'As my Wife appears in her Plaid on _Ass-back_ behind me at the Head of +this Paper, it will not I hope be imagined that I have brought her +abroad only to take the Air, without assigning to her any share in this +undertaking. + +'The _Mystery of Jacobitism_ doth not, like that of _Free Masonry_, +exclude the Female World; for tho' all Jacobites are not, as some wicked +Whigs have represented us, _old women_, yet women we have in great +Numbers among us, who are as learned in the knowledge of our Mysteries, +and as active in the celebration of our Rites, as any of the Male +Species; and many of these are so far from deserving the name of _old_, +that their age scarce yet entitles them to the name of _women_.' + +As I before stated, the heading is left out after the twelfth number. +Whether it had sufficiently served its purpose as a caricature of the +Jacobite party, and was no longer needed, or whether it really took up +too much room, as stated by the editor, its discontinuance was made the +occasion of publishing a leading article, part of which I am tempted to +transcribe as an excellent specimen of Fielding's satire. + +'There is scarcely anything more provoking than to be totally +misunderstood, and by that means to have our compliments received as +Affronts, and our Panegyrick converted into Satire. + +'It cannot therefore be wondered at, if I am not well pleased with that +gross misunderstanding of the Emblematical Frontispiece so long prefixed +to my Paper, which hath generally prevailed, and which, among other good +Reasons, hath at length induced me to displace it for the future. By +this Error of the Public, a Contrivance of mine (the expense of much +laborious thinking) to do Honour to the Jacobite Party, hath been +represented as the Means of vilifying and degrading it. + +'But, seriously, could the Art of Man have carried the Glory of +Jacobitism higher than it was carried in this print, where a Jacobite of +either Sex was seen cloathed in Mystery, and riding on one of the most +honourable Beasts in the Universe, while Popery servilely attends, +leading it by the Halter, and _France_ and the Republican Party are +dragged after Heels. Is not here depictured that notable and mysterious +Union of _French_ Interest, Popery, Jacobitism, and Republicanism; by a +Coalition of all which Parties this Nation is to be redeemed from the +deplorable State of Slavery, under which it at present labours? + +'It would be endless to enumerate all the Mistakes and ridiculous +Conceits entertained on this occasion. Some have imagined we intended to +insinuate that the Protestant Jacobites were led by the Nose by Popery, +and spurr'd on by _France_ and the Republicans; whereas nothing can be +more certain in Fact, than that Popery and _France_, and the +Republicans, have ever been the mere Dupes and Fools of the said +Jacobites. + +'Many have endeavoured to discover Resemblances to real Persons in the +figures there exhibited. By the Popish Priest, it hath been said we +design to represent the old Chevalier; and by the Figures on the Ass, +the young Chevalier his Son and the famous _Jenny Cameron_. + +'Others have found out Likenesses of less Importance, and several +Squires and Country Gentlewomen of _Staffordshire_ and other Counties, +who never travel beyond the limits of a Fox chace, have been supposed to +ride, once a week, Post all over the Kingdom in this Paper. + +'But the most egregious Errors have been committed in Misconstructions +concerning the Ass. Several ingenious and witty Printers of News Papers +have very facetiously taken occasion to call the Author himself an Ass; +supposing probably, that as Scripture informs us an Ass once spoke, so +certain Descendants of the same Family might write, which Faith, perhaps +something within their own Experience, might sufficiently encourage them +to receive. + +'To mention no more of these absurd Conjectures, I must here inform my +Reader, that by the Body of the Ass we intend to figure the whole Body +of Jacobitical doctrine. + +'Now as there was no Symbol among the Antients, of which the +Emblematical Meaning was so plain and easy to be discovered, our Party +could never have so universally mistaken it, had it not been for that +want of Learning among us, which I lamented in my last Paper. Hence +being misled by those erroneous opinions, which the Moderns have +propagated to the great disadvantage of Asses, the Jacobites have been +unwilling to discover any Resemblance between themselves and an Animal +which the wise Antients saw in so respectable a Light, and which the +ignorance of latter Ages hath highly dishonoured by odious Comparisons +with certain Individuals of the Human Species. + +'Thus _Homer_ is well known to have liken'd one of his principal Heroes +to this noble Animal; which was in such Esteem among the antient _Jews_, +that he was not only an object of their Devotion, but they are said to +have preserved his Figure in massy Gold in the Temple of _Jerusalem_. + +'If the Transfiguration of _Midas_ in the _Metamorphosis_ doth but +little Honour to the Ears of our Symbol, the Story of _Lotis_ which the +same Poet tells in his Fastorum, is greatly in praise of his Braying, by +which the Chastity of that Nymph was rescued from the wicked Designs of +her insidious Lover. + +'In such esteem hath this noble Beast been held among the Learned, that +I have seen a Book composed in his Favour and entitled _Laus Asini_: not +to mention the celebrated performance of _Apuleius_ to which he hath +given the Name of the _Golden Ass_. + +'Instead therefore of being displeased with the Emblem, our Party have +great Reason to be vain on this Occasion, nor do I think there can be a +greater Comparison than of a Protestant Jacobite to an Ass, or one more +to the Honour of the former. + +'First, what can so well answer to that noble and invincible obstinacy, +which I have more than once celebrated in our Party, as the intractable +and unalterable Nature of this Animal, which gave rise to an antient +Proverb alluded to by _Horace_ in his Satires:-- + + '"---- Your Art + As well may teach an Ass to scour the Plain + And bend obedient to the forming Rein." + +'And again in his Epistles:-- + + '"Democritus would think the writers told + To a deaf Ass their story ----" + +'Which may most strictly be applied to all those writers, who have +endeavoured to convince the Jacobites by argument. + +'Again what can give us a more adequate Idea of that Firmness, with +which we have supported all the ill-usage of the worst of Sovereigns +without Resentment, than the laudable Indifference which an Ass hath +for the same; whom you may beat, whip, kick, and spur as long as you are +pleased, he still trudges on without altering his Pace. + +'To omit many other obvious Resemblances, such as Braying, &c, the +famous story of the Countryman and the Ass, briefly touched upon by +_Horace_ in the Epistle addressed to his own Book, is so perfect a +Picture of Jacobitism, that I have been inclined to think as the +Antients are known to have inveloped all their Mysteries in Fable and +Allegory, that no less than Jacobitism itself was intended to be couched +under this story: "A certain Countryman observing an Ass making towards +a Precipice, ran to him, and catching hold of his Tail, endeavoured with +all his Might to withhold him from Destruction; but the more the +Countryman attempted to preserve him, the more obstinately the Ass +contended against his kind Preserver, and the more eagerly was bent upon +accomplishing his fatal Purpose. The Countryman at last, wearied out +with his Endeavours to save an obstinate Beast against his own will, and +having probably received some Thanks from his Heels for his intended +kindness, instead of pulling any longer, gave the Ass a Push, and +tumbled him headlong down the Precipice which he had been so +industriously pursuing." + +'I make no doubt but many of our good Enemies the Whigs, who have well +imitated this Countryman in the former part of his Behaviour, would +imitate him likewise in the latter, was it not that they cannot +precipitate us without tumbling down themselves at the same time. + +'These are the Mysteries, then, which have been couched under my +Frontispiece, and which, tho' their meaning must now appear to have been +so plain, have nevertheless stood exposed so long at the Head of this +Journal, without having been, as I can find, understood by any. + +'Perhaps I shall be asked, why I have now displaced them, since, after +so large and full an Explanation, they cannot fail of being highly +agreeable to that Party for whose use chiefly this Paper is calculated; +and who would, for the future, worship my Ass with the same Veneration +with which the _Jews_ of old did theirs. + +'Now, tho' the Indignation which I have exprest in the Beginning of this +Essay at the many gross and absurd Misconceptions which have been vented +by the Public, would alone very well justify the Discontinuance of my +Emblem so much abused, there are, to say the Truth, two other Reasons +which have had a stronger Weight with me in producing this +Determination. The former of these is, that the Ass and his Retinue do +indeed take up too much room, and must oblige us either to suppress Part +of our Lucubrations, or some of those material articles of News which we +weekly transcribe from others; or lastly those pieces of Intelligence +called Advertisements, which tho' not always most entertaining to our +Reader, do afford very agreeable Entertainment to ourselves. + +'A second and a very strong Motive with us, is to lend all the +Assistance in our Power to a very worthy and willing, tho' weak Brother, +the learned and facetious Novelist, Mr. _Carte_; whose great Romance, +tho' in our Court of Criticism, where we shall always act impartially, +we have been obliged like other Judges, to condemn, contrary to our own +Inclinations, to be grubb'd, we shall always privately esteem as a work +calculated solely for the use of our Party. As we have therefore, to our +great Concern, received very credible Information that the said work +begins already to be considered only as a Heap of Waste Paper, we have +thought proper to lend our Frontispiece to our good Brother, in order +that it may be prefixed to the future Volumes of that great Work +advising him to omit the words _London Evening Post_, and to insert +_English History_ in their stead. This will not fail of greatly +recommending his Performance to our Party, who never willingly read +anything but what an Ass may at least be supposed to have bray'd. + +'I could wish, moreover, that the learned Novelist would take our Advice +in another Instance, and for the future deal forth his excellent work in +weekly Portions or Numbers; I do not mean in such a Form as the real +History of _England_ is now publishing by Mr. Waller; but in the same +manner with those true and delectable Histories of _Argalus_ and +_Parthenia_, _Guy_, Earl of _Warwick_, the _Seven Champions_, &c., in +which Form, at the price of 1d. each, when embellished by our +Frontispiece, I make no doubt of assuring him as universal a Sale as the +inimitable Adventures of _Robinson Crusoe_ formerly had throughout this +Kingdom.' + +The 'Mr. Carte' to whom Fielding proposed to lend his 'Frontispiece' was +Thomas Carte, the historian, who had just brought out the first volume +of his _History of England_, in which he showed such decided Jacobite +predilections that his work was ruined in consequence. He professed to +be acquainted with the case of a person who had been cured of the King's +Evil by the Pretender, then an exile in France, and this so disgusted +many of the subscribers to his book that they withdrew their names and +abandoned the author and his work together. He, however, brought out two +more volumes, and a fourth was published after his death. It was +probably in allusion to this story of the Pretender curing the King's +Evil that Fielding speaks of Carte as 'the learned and facetious +novelist;' and doubtless the 'great Romance' referred to was intended +for his history of England. Fielding and Carte both died in the same +year, 1754. + +[Illustration: PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF FORT FOURAS, AS IT APPEARED IN THE +SHIPS FROM THE CHARENTE, FROM 'OWEN'S WEEKLY CHRONICLE,' 1758.] + +During the next ten years I have found no illustrations in the +newspapers of that period. In 1758 there was a newspaper published +entitled _Owen's Weekly Chronicle, or Universal Journal_, a sheet of +eight pages, size of the _Athenaeum_, price two-pence halfpenny. About +this time the English Government, in carrying on the war against France, +despatched several expeditions to the French coast, none of which +redounded much to the credit of the British arms. One of these +expeditions was against Rochfort, and it turned out a failure, which +caused much dissatisfaction. _Owen's Weekly Chronicle_ for June 3, 1758, +published a long article on the subject, illustrated with a woodcut view +of Fort Fouras. The writer concludes, with true newspaper vehemence, in +the following words:--'Where is the glory of the British name? Where are +the terrors that used to accompany our fleets and armies? Let it not be +said the treasures of the country are poured forth in vain by an united +and willing people; that our enemies are become invulnerable; and every +blow our Ministers meditate impracticable. The Duke of Marlborough and +Lord George Sackville are gone with Lord Anson and Sir Edward Hawke upon +the present grand expedition; and we hope their courage and experience +will revive the sinking honour of their country; and show that France is +both vulnerable and impotent when the power of Britain is properly +exerted.' Unfortunately, the sinking honour of the country was not much +revived by the 'grand expedition' here referred to; for, after an +ineffectual attempt on St. Maloes, the Duke of Marlborough embarked in +such haste that he left his tea-spoons behind him: and these were +afterwards sent home in a cartel-ship by the Duke d'Aiguillon in polite +contempt. I have copied the woodcut above referred to, which is +entitled, 'A Perspective view of Fort Fouras as it appeared in the ships +from the Charente,' and the following description is given of +it:--'Fouras was the tower of an old parish church, which, soon after +the foundation of Rochefort, in 1688, Louis XIV. purchased of the +proprietors to make a Tour de Garde, for repeating signals from the +Isles of Oleron and Aix up to Rochefort, which is one of its present +uses. A fort and garrison being established in the isle of Aix, Fouras +was found to be the nearest and most secure communication in all +weathers with that island; so that in process of time barracks and +lodgments were built therein, and it was fortified to the sea by a +strait curtain.' + +For the view of Fort Fouras _Owen's Weekly Chronicle_ must have been +indebted to some one on board one of the British ships. Naval and +military officers in all parts of the world are among the most valued +correspondents of the modern illustrated newspaper; and it is +interesting to notice that so long ago as the taking of Porto Bello and +the attack on Rochefort there were men engaged in those expeditions +whose spirit and intelligence prompted them to supply the newspapers of +the day with sketches and information. The view of Fort Fouras is the +earliest attempt I have seen in a newspaper to give a pictorial +representation of a place in connexion with news. + +Wood-engraving was the only cheap method of illustration within the +reach of newspapers, but the art barely existed at this time. The few +woodcuts published in newspapers were not only coarsely and rudely +executed, but sometimes the efforts of the illustrator did not get +beyond a rough plan or map, and even this, as I have before remarked, +was not always engraved. In further confirmation of this statement I may +refer to _Lloyd's Evening Post_ of April 17, 1765, where one of the +pages is taken up with a plan representing the trial of a Peer in +Westminster Hall. This is done entirely with lines, type, and printer's +ornaments. Although there is no account given of this trial in _Lloyd's +Evening Post_, the plan must have referred to the case of Lord Byron, +who was tried in Westminster Hall for the murder of Mr. Chaworth, April +16 and 17, 1765. + +In the winter of 1764-5 a strange wild beast was said to have appeared +in France, devouring women and children, and spreading dismay and terror +through the whole of Languedoc. What this ferocious creature was, or +whence it came, no one knew; but the fear inspired by its presence was +universal. The district which it specially haunted procured for it the +name of the Wild Beast of the Gevaudan, by which designation it became +famous not only in the South of France but throughout the country, and +even in foreign lands. The earliest account of this ferocious monster +appeared in the official journal of Paris in the following words:-- + +'A very strange wild beast has lately appeared in the neighbourhood of +Langagne and the forest of Mercoire which has occasioned great +commotion. It has already devoured twenty persons, chiefly children, and +particularly young girls, and scarcely a day passes without some +accident. The terror he occasions prevents the woodcutters from working +in the forests; so that wood has become dear. Those who have seen him +say he is much higher than a wolf, low before, and his feet are armed +with talons. His hair is reddish, his head large, and the muzzle of it +is shaped like that of a greyhound; his ears are small and straight; his +breast is wide, and of a grey colour; his back streaked with black; and +his mouth, which is large, is provided with a set of teeth so very sharp +that they have taken off several heads as clean as a razor could have +done. He is of amazing swiftness; but, when he aims at his prey, he +crouches so close to the ground, that he hardly appears to be bigger +than a large fox; and at the distance of some one or two toises, he +rises upon his hind legs and springs upon his prey, seizing it by the +neck or throat. He is afraid of oxen, which he runs away from. The +consternation is dreadful throughout the district where he commits his +ravages, and public prayers are offered up on the occasion. The Marquis +de Marangis has sent out four hundred peasants to destroy this fierce +beast; but they have not been able to do it.' + +In spite of the efforts made to capture or destroy it the wild beast of +the Gevaudan continued its ravages. In a letter from Meude, dated +December 21, 1764, it is stated, 'The wild beast, which hath ravaged +several provinces, has been for some time in ours. He was seen a few +days ago near St. Flour, ten leagues from hence, and he is now in our +neighbourhood. The day before yesterday he devoured a little girl who +looked after cattle. A detachment of dragoons has been out six weeks +after him. The province has offered a thousand crowns to any person who +will kill him.' On the 8th of February, 1765, the following statement +was sent from Montpellier:--'On the 12th ultimo the wild beast attacked +seven children, five boys and two girls, none of whom exceeded eleven +years of age. The beast flew at one of the boys; but the three eldest of +them by beating him with stakes, the ends of which were iron, obliged +him to retire, after having bitten off a part of the boy's cheek, which +he ate before them. He then seized another of the children; but they +pursued him into a marsh which was close by, where he sunk in up to his +belly. By continually beating him, they rescued their companion; who, +though he was under his paw for some time, received only a wound in his +arm, and a scratch in the face. A man at last coming up, the creature +was put to flight. He afterwards devoured a boy at Mazel, and, on the +21st, flew on a girl, who, however, escaped with some dangerous wounds. +The next day he attacked a woman, and bit off her head. Captain Duhamel, +of the dragoons, is in pursuit of him, and has caused several of his men +to dress themselves in women's apparel, and to accompany the children +that keep cattle.' + +The eyes of all France being fixed upon the doings of this wild beast, +the attention of Louis the Fifteenth himself was called to the bravery +of the boys in the preceding account. 'The King having been informed of +the bravery with which the young Portefaix attacked the beast on the +12th of January last, at the head of his companions, and being willing +to reward such gallant behaviour, has given him a recompense of four +hundred livres, and has ordered three hundred to be distributed among +his companions.' + +The Government also offered a reward for the destruction of the wild +beast. The following placard was fixed up in all the cities and towns of +Languedoc:--'By the King and the Intendant of the province of Languedoc. +Notice is given to all persons, that His Majesty, being justly affected +by the situation of his subjects now exposed to the ravages of the wild +beast which for four months past has infested Vivarais and Gevaudan, and +being desirous to stop the progress of such a calamity, has determined +to promise a reward of six thousand livres to any person or persons who +shall kill this animal. Such as are willing to undertake the pursuit of +him may previously apply to the Sieur de la Fout, sub-deputy to the +Intendant of Meudes, who will give them the necessary instructions +agreeably to what has been presented by the ministry on the part of his +Majesty.' + +A letter from Paris dated the 18th of February, 1765, gives the +following circumstantial description of the wild beast:-- + +'You know how I acquainted you, some months ago, that Monsieur Bardelle, +his son and I, designed going by the Diligence, and opening the New Year +at our old friend Monsieur Dura's chateau, near Babres, in Languedoc. We +spent the time very agreeably, our host and his family having done all +in their power to make us welcome. The party broke up and took leave the +first of this month, amongst whom was Monsieur Lefevre, a counsellor, +and two young ladies, who were engaged to pass a week at Monsieur de +Sante's, the cure of Vaistour, about three days' journey distant from +the chateau of Monsieur Dura. The company went away in a berlingo and +four, and the footman Michel, on a saddle-horse; the carriage, after the +manner here, being drawn by four post-horses, with two postilions, the +berlingo having no coach box. The first night the party lay at Guimpe, +and set out next morning at nine, to bait half way between that and +Roteux, being four posts, and a mountainous barren country, as all the +Gevaudan is. The parish of Guimpe had been greatly alarmed by the +frequent appearance of, and the horrid destruction made by, the fiery +animal that has so long been the terror of the Gevaudan, and is now so +formidable that the inhabitants and travellers are in very great +apprehension. The bailiff of Guimpe acquainted the party that this +animal had been often lurking about the chaussee that week, and that it +would be proper to take an escort of armed men, which would protect the +carriage; but the gentlemen declined it, and took the ladies under their +protection, and set out, on the 2nd of February, very cheerfully. When +they had made about two leagues, they observed at a distance a +post-chaise, and a man on horseback, coming down the hill of Credi, and +whipping the horses very much; and at the descent unfortunately the +wheel-horse fell down, and the postilion was thrown off; whereupon the +horseman who followed the chaise, advanced to take up the boy, in which +moment, when he had got down, we perceived the wild beast so often +described make a jump towards the horses, and on the footman's raising +his right hand to draw a cutlass and strike the creature, it pricked up +its ears, stood on its hind feet, and, showing its teeth full of froth, +turned round and gave the fellow a most violent blow with the swing of +its tail. The man's face was all over blood; and then the monster, +seeing the gentleman in the chaise present a blunderbuss at its neck, +crept on its forehead to the chaise-step, keeping its head almost under +its forelegs, and getting close to the door, reared upright, vaulted +into the inside, broke through the other side-glass, and ran at a great +rate to the adjoining wood. The blunderbuss missed fire, or it is +possible this had been the last day this brute-disturber had moved. The +stench left in the carriage was past description, and no cure of burning +frankincense, nor any other method removed, but rather increased the +stink, so that it was sold for two louis; and though burned to ashes, +the cinders were obliged, by order of a commissary, to be buried without +the town walls. We came up very well in time; for the beast would +doubtless have destroyed some one, had it not espied three of us +advancing with guns. It certainly jumped through the chaise to get away +from us.' + +These accounts appear to have been received with some incredulity +abroad. In the same number of _Lloyd's Evening Post_ that contains the +plan of Lord Byron's trial there occurs the following passage about this +curious wild beast: 'One of the Dutch Gazetteers by Monday's mail +says:--"The accounts of the wild beast seen in the Gevaudan are of such +a nature that it is hardly possible to give any credit thereto, and yet +most of them have appeared in the _Paris Gazette_, a paper whose +authors, known to be men of letters, are too judicious to be suspected +of credulity, too prudent, too well informed of what passes at the Court +of the King their master, one should think, to attribute to his Most +Christian Majesty a reward for an action which never had any +existence--an action which was only a fable."' This is, no doubt, an +allusion to the reward of 400 livres bestowed upon the boys who beat off +the ferocious monster. + +While the interest and excitement about this terrible wild beast was at +the highest, the _St. James's Chronicle_ published an engraving and +description of it. The _St. James's Chronicle; or the British Evening +Post_, was a folio of four pages, published three times a-week, price +twopence-halfpenny. In the number for June 6, 1765, there is printed the +following description and woodcut:-- + +'For the _St. James's Chronicle_. + +'Of this beast, which has already devoured upwards of seventy Persons +and spread Terrour and Desolation throughout the whole Gevaudan, the +Sieur de la Chaumette, who lately wounded it, has given us the following +Description. It is larger than a Calf of a year old, strongly made +before, and turned like a Grayhound behind. His Nose is long and +pointed, his Ears upright and smaller than a wolf's, his Mouth of a most +enormous size, and always wide open; a Streak of Black runs from his +Shoulders to the Beginning of his Tail. His Paws are very large and +strong; the Hair on his Back and Mane thick, bristly, and erect; his +Tail long and terminating in a Bush, like that of a Lion; his Eyes +small, fierce, and fiery. From this description it appears that he is +neither a Wolf, Tiger, nor Hyena, but probably a Mongrel, generated +between the two last, and forming, as it were, a new Species. All the +accounts lately received agree in assuring that there are several of +them.' + +[Illustration: STRANGE WILD BEAST SEEN IN FRANCE. FROM THE 'ST. JAMES'S +CHRONICLE,' 1765.] + +The _St. James's Chronicle_ does not state from whence the portrait was +obtained. A representation of the wild beast of the Gevaudan was sent in +April, 1765, to the Intendant of Alencon, and a description of that +picture corresponds with the woodcut in the _St. James's Chronicle_, so +that the latter was probably a copy of the former. + +About three months after the publication of the woodcut and description +in the _St. James's Chronicle_, the career of this much dreaded animal +was brought to a close. On Sept. 20th, 1765, it was encountered in the +wood of Pommieres by a certain Monsieur Beauterme, a gentleman of a +distant province and noted as a successful hunter. He had come into the +district on purpose to seek out this notorious wild beast, and having +found it, shot it in the eye at the distance of about fifty paces. The +animal, however, though wounded, showed fight, and was rushing on +Monsieur Beauterme with great fury, when he was finally dispatched by a +gamekeeper named Reinhard. + +Several inhabitants of the Gevaudan who had been attacked by the beast +declared it to be the same which had caused such consternation in the +country, and Monsieur Beauterme set out with the body to Versailles in +order to present it to the King. The animal was found to be thirty-two +inches high, and five feet seven and a half inches long including the +tail. The surgeon who dissected the body said it was more of a hyena +than a wolf, its teeth being forty in number, whereas wolves have but +twenty-six. The muscles of the neck were very strong; its sides so +formed that it could bend its head to its tail; its eyes sparkled so +with fire that it was hardly possible to bear its look. Its tail was +very large, broad, and thick, and bristled with black hair, and its feet +armed with claws extremely strong and singular. + +In Paris it was thought that this mysterious animal was a cross between +a tiger and a lioness, and had been brought into France to be shown as a +curiosity. It is not unlikely that it had escaped from some travelling +show, and was probably a hyena. The imagination of the country people +would easily transform it into any shape suggested by their terrors. +That such fancies easily begin and rapidly grow was proved in the case +of Captain Sir Allan Young's pet Esquimaux dog, which was either stolen +or wandered from the Arctic ship _Pandora_ as she lay in Southampton +harbour after returning from the Polar regions. Quite a panic arose in +that part of Hampshire where this most valuable and harmless animal was +wandering about, and every sort of story was circulated of the ravages +and dangers the country was exposed to. The people began to think that +besides their sheep and pigs their children were in danger. Some said it +was a gigantic black fox, others that it was a Canadian wolf. +Expeditions were organized to attack it, and after being chased for some +miles by people on horseback, it was ultimately shot and exhibited at +sixpence a head in Winchester market-place. There could be no doubt +about the dog's identity, for Sir Allan Young afterwards got back his +skin. + +Before concluding my sketch of illustrated journalism in the eighteenth +century I must refer to a class of publication that possessed many of +the characteristics of the newspaper, without exactly belonging to that +category. This kind of journal is represented by the _Gentleman's +Magazine_; but, although Edward Cave considered himself the inventor of +the magazine form of publication, the _Gentleman's Magazine_ was not the +first journal of the kind. Nearly forty years before it came into +existence a monthly publication was started in London with the following +title:--'_The Gentleman's Journal; or, the Monthly Miscellany_. _By way +of Letter to a Gentleman in the country, consisting of News, History, +Philosophy, Poetry, Music, Translations, &c. January_, 1691/2.' Its +projector and editor was a refugee Frenchman, one Peter Anthony Motteux, +and the design appears to have met with considerable success, but it did +not last more than four years. + +In the second number of the _Gentleman's Journal_ appeared the +following:--'The author desires to be excused for not answering the many +ingenious letters that have been sent to him that he may have the more +time to apply himself to this journal; he judges that he answers them +enough when he follows the advice they give him, or inserts what is sent +to him, which he will always be very careful to do. But such things as +any way reflect upon particular persons, or are either against religion +or good manners, he cannot insert. He will take care to settle +correspondence both abroad and at home, to inform his readers of all +that may be most worthy their knowledge; and if anything offers itself +that deserves to be engraved, he will get it done. But it being +impossible he should know by himself a thousand things which the publick +would gladly know, such persons as have anything to communicate may be +pleased to send it to him, at the Black Boy Coffee House in Ave Maria +Lane, not forgetting to discharge the postage.' + +It would appear by the above that Peter Anthony Motteux had a vague +perception that engravings might increase the attractions of his +journal; but it does not seem that much came in his way that 'deserved +to be engraved.' I have found only two small woodcuts in the +_Gentleman's Journal_. They both occur in the volume for 1694. One is a +representation of snow crystals, and the other is a diagram of a mock +sun. + +Motteux tells us that his journal was patronised by the Queen, and was +much favoured by the ladies generally. He had amongst his contributors +Dryden, Matthew Prior, Sedley, and Tom Durfey. Charles Wesley, brother +of the famous John, sent serious verses, as did also Tate, of 'Tate and +Brady' celebrity. All these contributions were introduced into a long +letter, which, as the title indicates, was the shape in which the +_Gentleman's Journal_ was written, and in this respect it was modelled +upon the early manuscript newsletters. + +Peter Anthony Motteux, the editor of the first English magazine, was +also the author of several songs, plays, and prologues, and he also +published a translation of _Don Quixote_. He kept a large East India +warehouse in Leadenhall Street, and afterwards obtained a situation in +the Post Office. He was found dead on the morning of his fifty-eighth +birthday, in a low drinking-house in Butchers' Row, near Temple Bar, and +had either been murdered or had lost his life in a drunken frolic. The +_London Gazette_ of the succeeding week contained the offer of a reward +of fifty pounds for the discovery of the murderer, and the King's pardon +to any but the actual criminal; but the mystery was never cleared up, +and the bones of the clever exiled Frenchman lie unavenged and forgotten +in the vaults of St. Andrew Undershaft, Leadenhall Street, celebrated +amongst City churches as the burial-place of John Stowe.[1] + +Edward Cave, the early patron and friend of Dr. Johnson, projected and +brought out the _Gentleman's Magazine_ in 1731. It was printed at St. +John's Gate, Clerkenwell, a view of which place embellished its +title-page. + +The full title was, '_The Gentleman's Magazine, or Monthly +Intelligencer_, containing Essays, Controversial, Humorous, and +Satirical; Religious, Moral, and Political; collected chiefly from the +Publick Papers. Select Pieces of Poetry. A Succinct Account of the most +remarkable Transactions and Events, Foreign and Domestick. Births, +Marriages, Deaths, Promotions, and Bankrupts. The Prices of Goods and +Stocks, and Bill of Mortality. A Register of Books. Observations on +Gardening.' It will thus be seen that the Magazine possessed many of the +characteristics of a newspaper. On the front page of the earlier numbers +were printed the names of the various newspapers from which it derived +its information. It was some time before illustrations began to appear. +The most important subjects were engraved on copper, and rough woodcuts +were sprinkled here and there among the type. Sometimes the most +incongruous subjects were engraved on the same plate, such as the +section of a man-of-war and the figure of a locust. There was +occasionally an illustration of news, as in the volume for 1746, where +there is a map of the country round Carlisle, showing the route of the +Scottish rebels; and in the same volume there is a portrait of Lord +Lovat. The frontispiece to this volume is a portrait of the Duke of +Cumberland, with the motto _Ecce Homo_. Portraits, plans, and bird's-eye +views are of frequent occurrence. In the volume for 1747 is a very +elaborate bird's-eye view of the city of Genoa, illustrating an account +of an insurrection there. The same volume contains a view of Mount +Vesuvius, with a description of the last great eruption. In the volume +for 1748 are views of Amsterdam, the Mansion House, London, Greenwich +Hospital, the Foundling Hospital, &c. The volume for 1749 contains an +engraving of the fireworks on the occasion of the Peace, and views of +Blenheim House and Covent Garden. In the volume for 1750 there is a +woodcut with 'J. Cave sc.' in the corner. This was probably a son or +some other relative of the proprietor, who was either in training as an +engraver, or was trying his hand merely as an amateur. His name does not +appear again, and I have never met with it elsewhere in connexion with +the art of wood-engraving. + +In the number for November, 1750, there occurs the following amongst the +list of deaths:--'Mr. Edward Bright, at Malden in Essex, aged 30; he was +supposed to be the largest man living, or perhaps that ever lived in +this island. He weighed 42 stone and a half, horseman's weight; and not +being very tall, his body was of an astonishing bulk, and his legs were +as big as a middling man's body. He was an active man till a year or two +before his death, when his corpulency so overpowered his strength that +his life was a burthen, and his death a deliverance. His coffin was +three feet six inches over the shoulders, six feet seven inches long, +and three feet deep; a way was cut thro' the wall and staircase, to let +the corpse down into the shop; it was drawn upon a carriage to the +church, and let down into the vault by the help of a slider and +pulleys.' In the number for the following February there is a woodcut of +Mr. Bright, and the reader is referred back to the November number for +the above description. This seems to show that the _Gentleman's +Magazine_ did not consider it of vital importance, in illustrating news, +to follow very close upon the heels of events. I have copied this +engraving as a specimen of the woodcut illustrations of the _Magazine_. + +[Illustration: EDWARD BRIGHT. WEIGHT 421/2 STONE. FROM THE 'GENTLEMAN'S +MAGAZINE' FOR FEBRUARY, 1751.] + +The _Gentleman's Magazine_ attracted the notice and admiration of Dr. +Johnson before he came to London as a literary adventurer. He afterwards +became a regular contributor to its pages, and for many years it was his +principal source of income. His first contribution was a complimentary +Latin poem addressed to Sylvanus Urban, and when Cave died Johnson wrote +an account of him in the magazine. Dr. Johnson told Boswell 'that when +he first saw St. John's Gate, the place where that deservedly popular +miscellany was originally printed, he "beheld it with reverence."' + +Edward Cave was born at Newton, in Warwickshire, Feb. 29th, 1691; he +died Jan. 10th, 1754. 'He was peculiarly fortunate,' says Boswell, 'in +being recorded by Johnson; who of the narrow life of a printer and +publisher, without any digressions or adventitious circumstances, has +made an interesting and agreeable narrative.' + +The _Gentleman's Magazine_ still exists, but retains nothing of its +original character beyond the name. + +Within a year the success of the _Gentleman's Magazine_ brought into +being the _London Magazine_, and, in 1739, the _Scots Magazine_, +published in Edinburgh. In the second volume of the latter, under date +March, 1740, there is a larger version of the woodcut of the taking of +Porto Bello, already described. The account also is given, quoted, +however, from the _London Evening Post_, and not from the _Daily Post_, +where the woodcut appeared. Maps, plans, and views of places +occasionally occur in other volumes of the _Scots Magazine_. In vol. +iii. there is a plan of the harbour, city, and forts of Cartagena, and +the number for July, 1743, contains a plan of the battle of Dettingen. + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [1] _New Quarterly Magazine_, January, 1878. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Revival of Wood-engraving by Thomas Bewick--The _Observer_ started, + 1791--The _Times_ an Illustrated Paper--Illustrations of News in the + _Observer_--St. Helena and Napoleon Bonaparte--Abraham Thornton and + the 'Assize of Battle'--Mr. William Clement and Illustrated + Journalism--The Cato Street Conspiracy--Trial of Queen Caroline--The + House of Commons in 1821--Coronation of George IV.--Royal Visits to + Ireland and Scotland--Murder of Mr. Weare--Illustrations of the Murder + in the _Morning Chronicle_, the _Observer_, and the + _Englishman_--_Bell's Life in London_--Prize-Fight at Warwick--Liston + as 'Paul Pry'--'Gallery of Comicalities,' &c.--_Pierce Egan's Life in + London_--Death of the Duke of York--Death of Mr. Canning--Opening of + Hammersmith Bridge, 1827--Mr. Gurney's Steam Coach--The Thames + Tunnel--The Murder in the Red Barn--The Siamese Twins--Death of George + IV.--Opening of New London Bridge, 1831--Coronation of William IV. and + Queen Adelaide--Fieschi's Infernal Machine--Funeral of William + IV.--Queen Victoria's First Visit to the City--Coronation and Marriage + of the Queen--Christening of the Prince of Wales--_The Weekly + Chronicle_--The Greenacre Murder--Mr. Cocking and his Parachute--The + Courtney Riots at Canterbury--Burning of the Tower of London, + 1841--_The Sunday Times_--Burning of the Houses of Parliament, + 1834--_The Champion_--_The Weekly Herald_--_The Magnet_--Removing the + Body of Napoleon I.--_The Penny Magazine_--Charles Knight--Humorous + Journalism of the Victorian Era. + + +There appears to have been little or nothing done in the way of +illustrated journalism during the remaining years of the eighteenth +century. It was during this period that Thomas Bewick revived the almost +extinct art of wood-engraving, and about the time he brought out the +first of his illustrated natural history books a weekly newspaper was +started in London which afterwards became the pioneer of modern +illustrated journalism. This was the _Observer_, the first number of +which came out on Sunday, Dec. 4th, 1791. It is the oldest of our +existing weekly newspapers, and is one of the rare instances of a +Sunday paper becoming established.[1] Many years had to elapse before +wood-engraving began to be used as a means of popular illustration; but +when some of Bewick's numerous pupils began to diffuse the fruits of +their master's teaching the _Observer_ was the first newspaper that +availed itself of the restored art. Before this, however, there were +symptoms of the reawakening of a dormant idea. In looking back to the +early years of the present century it is curious and interesting to +notice that the _Times_ was occasionally an illustrated paper. The +battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson stirred the national heart +to such a degree that the _Times_ of that day was induced to introduce +into its pages engravings of Nelson's coffin and funeral car, when the +hero's remains were carried to St. Paul's. In the number for Jan. 10th, +1806, there is an account of the State funeral, which is illustrated +with the above-named woodcuts. They are very rudely executed, and +plainly show that the influence of Bewick's labours had not yet +penetrated into the region of journalism. Annexed is a copy of what the +_Times_ of 1806 presented to the public in response to the intense +interest felt by the whole of the British nation about Nelson's death +and funeral. It is a noteworthy example of renewed effort in the +direction of illustrated news at a time when insufficient means of +production clogged the spirit of enterprise. Like the _Swedish +Intelligencer_ of 1632, the _Times_ did not hesitate to point out its +shortcomings in the following notice at the foot of the engraving:--'The +only difference in the appearance of the Funeral Car from the engraving +is, that, contrary to what was at first intended, neither the pall nor +coronet appeared on the coffin. The first was thrown in the stern of the +Car, in order to give the public a complete view of the coffin; and +the coronet was carried in a mourning-coach. We had not time to make the +alteration.' + +[Illustration: NELSON'S FUNERAL CAR. FROM THE 'TIMES,' JAN. 10, 1806.] + +To the above engraving the following description was appended:--'The +Car, modelled at the ends in imitation of the hull of the Victory. Its +head towards the horses, was ornamented with a figure of Fame. The stern +carved and painted in the naval style, with the word "Victory" in yellow +raised letters on the lanthorn over the poop. The coffin placed on the +quarterdeck with its head towards the stern, with the English Jack +pendent over the poop lowered half-staff. There was an awning over the +whole, consisting of an elegant canopy supported by four pillars, in the +form of palm-trees, as we have already mentioned, and partly covered +with black velvet. The corners and sides were decorated with black +ostrich feathers, and festooned with black velvet, richly fringed, +immediately above which, in the front, was inscribed in gold the word +"Nile" at one end; on one side the following motto, "Hoste devicto, +requievit;" behind was the word "Trafalgar;" and on the other side the +motto "Palmam qui meruit ferat," as in the engraving. The carriage was +drawn by six led horses, in elegant furniture.' + +In 1817 the _Times_ also illustrated the projects of Robert Owen, who +laboured long and ardently to promote the doctrines of Socialism. In the +number for Aug. 9th, 1817, there is a large woodcut called Robert Owen's +agricultural and manufacturing villages of Unity and Mutual Cooperation. +In those days a page of the _Times_ was not so valuable as it is now, or +probably the enthusiastic Socialist would not have found it so easy to +enlist that journal in helping to propagate his doctrines. In 1834 Owen +made in London another attempt to put in practice the principles he had +so long advocated. He died in 1858, aged ninety. + +I have mentioned that the _Observer_ was the first newspaper that +availed itself of the revived art of wood-engraving; but it had +previously essayed the then difficult task of illustrating the news of +the day by the more costly means of engraving on copper. The island of +St. Helena having been selected as the place of residence of Napoleon +Bonaparte, the _Observer_ of Oct. 29th, 1815, published a large +copperplate view of the island, with a descriptive account. The plate is +printed on the same page with the letterpress, so that there must have +been two printings to produce this specimen of illustrated news. Three +years later the _Observer_ produced another copperplate example of news +illustration, also printed on the letterpress page. This was a portrait +of Abraham Thornton, whose remarkable case attracted much public +attention. He was tried for the murder of a young woman, Mary Ashford, +with whom he was known to be acquainted, and in whose company he was +seen shortly before her death. He was, however, acquitted, the jury +probably believing it to be a case of suicide. The brother of the girl +then appealed, and Thornton claimed his right to defend himself by wager +of battle. This claim was allowed, after long arguments before the +judges. It was found, much to the surprise of the general public, that +by the law of England a man in an appeal of murder might demand the +combat, thereby to make proof of his guilt or innocence. In the present +case the girl's brother refused the challenge, and Thornton escaped. +This was the last appeal to the 'Assize of Battle' in this country; and +the attention of the Legislature being drawn to the obsolete statute, it +was repealed by 59 Geo. III., 1819. It was during the progress of the +arguments in this case, and while the public interest was very great, +that the _Observer_ published the portrait of the accused. + +After this the _Observer_ became remarkable for its illustrations of +news. Mr. William Clement, the proprietor, was a man who early saw the +attractiveness of illustrated journalism. I am not aware when he first +became associated with the _Observer_; but under his management frequent +illustrations of news were given in that paper. In 1820 _Bell's Life in +London_ was started, and very soon Mr. Clement became the proprietor of +that paper also. In 1821 he purchased the _Morning Chronicle_, which, +however, turned out a bad speculation. Having invested a very large sum +of money in the latter paper, Mr. Clement spared no effort to make it +profitable, and the _Observer_ was neglected. It suffered in +consequence, and fell in circulation. Frequently the illustrations of +news that were printed in the _Observer_ were published the day +previously in the _Chronicle_. They were also occasionally printed in +_Bell's Life_ and the _Englishman_, a fourth paper belonging to Mr. +Clement. All four papers were carried on together; but it is the +_Observer_ that stands out as the prominent representative of +illustrated journalism at this period. Other journals came into +existence which took up the idea of illustrating the news of the day; +among them the _Sunday Times_, started by Daniel Whittle Harvey in 1822, +when he was member for Colchester. Another paper which for a time +rivalled, if it did not excel, the _Observer_ in the frequency of its +news illustrations was the _Weekly Chronicle_. It flourished a few years +before the birth of the _Illustrated London News_, but has long been +extinct. Mr. Clement sold the _Morning Chronicle_ in 1834, and soon +restored the _Observer_ to its old position. The _Morning Chronicle_ +started in 1769 and expired in 1864. The _Englishman_ has long been +defunct, but I am not acquainted with the date of its disappearance. +There was a paper called the _Englishman_ in 1714, and the name was +again revived by the late Dr. Kenealy. + +The _Observer_ and _Bell's Life_ were both published at the same office +for many years, but their companionship was terminated in 1877, when +they left the office in the Strand where they had so long lived amicably +together, the great sporting journal migrating to Catherine Street, and +the _Observer_ seeking a new home in the Strand further west. + +One or two other newspapers occasionally published engravings during the +few years immediately preceding the _Illustrated London News_, and of +them I will speak in the proper place. The most prominent, however, +were the _Observer_, _Bell's Life in London_, and the _Weekly +Chronicle_, and to these three I propose first to direct attention as +being the main supporters of the pictorial spirit until it culminated in +the _Illustrated London News_. It was during the ten years preceding +1842 that the founder of that journal noticed the growing inclination of +the people for illustrated news, and it was chiefly in the pages of the +_Observer_ and the _Weekly Chronicle_ that he thought he saw the growth +of a hitherto uncultivated germ. + +In 1820 all England was startled by the discovery of a mysterious plot +of some political desperadoes who planned the assassination of the +Ministers of the Crown and the overthrow of the Government. This came to +be known as the Cato Street Conspiracy, the place of meeting of the +conspirators being in Cato Street, Marylebone. The extravagance of the +Prince Regent, the high price of bread, and the heavy taxation, had +brought about a feeling of discontent among the lower orders which, +unhappily, was greatly increased by the Spa Fields riots, and the +collision between the soldiers and the people in Lancashire, at what was +called the massacre of Peterloo. Thistlewood, the leader of the +conspirators, had already been tried for treasonable practices, but +acquitted. He had also been in trouble for his connexion with the Spa +Fields riots. The sanguinary plan of the conspirators was to murder the +Cabinet Ministers while they were all assembled at dinner at Lord +Harrowby's house in Grosvenor Square. They were to seize certain pieces +of cannon, take the Bank of England, destroy the telegraph to Woolwich, +set fire to different parts of London, and then establish a provisional +government at the Mansion House, sending emissaries to the outports to +prevent the escape of obnoxious persons. They reckoned on large numbers +of the discontented joining them as soon as they had destroyed the +tyrants and oppressors of the people, as they termed the Ministers. They +had provided pikes, pistols, sabres, knives, blunderbusses, and +hand-grenades; and one of the gang, a butcher, had furnished himself +with a heavy butcher's knife, to cut off the heads of 'Castlereagh and +the rest as he came at them.' Adams, one of their number, turned +informer, and the conspirators were surprised by the police at their +meeting-place in Cato Street. After a conflict in which one of the +police-officers was killed, several of the gang were secured, and others +were taken soon afterwards. Thistlewood, the leader, escaped in the +first rush, but was captured next day. + +The place where the seizure was made is described as a hayloft over a +deserted stable with a step-ladder leading from the stable to the loft +above, with two apertures in the floor of the loft, opening on the racks +in the stable below; opening from the loft were two small inner rooms. +On the evening of the 23rd of February, 1820, the conspirators were +assembled in this stable, where they were arming themselves for the +bloody work they had planned, when the police, aided by a party of the +Coldstream Guards under Lieut. Fitzclarence, broke in upon them. +Police-officers Ruthven, Ellice, and Smithers, were the first to mount +the ladder, and enter the loft. + +'There were about five-and-twenty men in the room, eating bread and +cheese, and drinking porter, or selecting arms from a long carpenter's +bench which stood close by the wall. Just at that juncture, Thistlewood, +hearing a noise, and some one calling, "Hallo! Show a light!" took a +candle, and looked down the stairs to see who was coming, and, on seeing +that there was a surprise, he put the candle back on the bench, seized a +sword, and with three or four others retreated stealthily to the further +of the inner rooms--the one that had a window looking out into Cato +Street. At that moment one of the men seized below called out to warn +his comrades, "Look out there above!" + +'At the same time, two of the constables, at first almost unnoticed, +appeared at the top of the ladder, and presenting their pistols, said, +"Hallo, is anybody in the room? Here's a pretty nest of you!" + +'Then another of the patrol cried, "We are officers; seize their arms." + +'And a third, "Gentlemen, we have got a warrant to apprehend you all, +and as such we hope you will go peaceably." + +'Just then Smithers, distrusting further parley, and believing, in his +staunch way, in promptitude, before the conspirators could discover the +scantiness of the assailing numbers, or could muster courage to use +their arms, cried, "Let me come forward," and pushed towards the door of +the inner room, where Thistlewood stood thrusting with a very long +sword. The leader of the conspirators instantly rushed forward, and +struck Smithers through his right side. The constable threw up his +hands, his head fell back, he staggered against Ruthven, cried, "O my +God, I am done!" and fell dead near the opening of the stairs. Ellice +held up his staff at Thistlewood, and threatened to fire with the pistol +in his right hand, unless he instantly surrendered. The lights were +immediately dashed out, and a voice cried in the darkness, "Kill the +---- at once! Throw them down-stairs! Kill them!" + +'Then there were twenty or thirty pistol-shots fired, and a tremendous +headlong rush was made at the stairs, driving the Bow Street men +backwards; the conspirators leaping down into the manger through the +holes in the floor, or by the window, others firing at the officers on +the stairs, or up through the manger, all making for the archway in John +Street.'[2] + +It would appear the conspirators were closely watched for some time +before they were arrested. Indeed, it was suspected that Government +emissaries were employed to foment the conspiracy in order that a +terrible example might be made for the benefit of the disaffected. +However this may have been, the plot excited the most intense interest +among all classes. Thistlewood and the other prisoners were tried at the +Old Bailey, April 17th, 1820, and found guilty of high treason. Six +were transported for life, the other five, including Thistlewood, were +hung on May 1st, and their heads severed from their bodies--the +quartering, the usual doom of traitors, having been graciously forgiven. + +[Illustration: A. Door to the cart-house. B. Door by which the officers +entered. C. Stable window. D. Loft-door. + +STABLE WHERE THE CATO STREET CONSPIRATORS MET. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' +MARCH 5TH, 1820.] + +The _Observer_ for March 5th, 1820, published some illustrations of the +Cato Street Conspiracy. One is an exterior view of the stable in Cato +Street where the conspirators met, which is copied on the opposite page. + +[Illustration: SECTION OF GRENADE PREPARED BY THE CATO STREET +CONSPIRATORS. + +FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' MARCH 5TH, 1820. + + A. Cylindrical tin Box containing gunpowder. + + B. Pitched tow. + + C. Bullets, old nails, Spikes, &c. + + D. Tin Tube a Fuze filled with damp powder.] + +There was also an interior view of the hayloft, together with sections +of some of the grenades, daggers, &c., large quantities of which were +found in the loft. + +These cuts, which are roughly done, were reprinted in the _Observer_ for +March 12th, and two new ones were added, 'Interior view of the Hayloft +at the moment when Smithers received his Death Wound,' and a view of the +interior of the stable. They are all interesting as examples of +illustrated news at a time when the means of producing such things were +extremely limited. + +[Illustration: DAGGER PREPARED BY THE CATO STREET CONSPIRATORS. FROM THE +'OBSERVER,' MARCH 5TH, 1820. + +A. Dagger made out of a bayonet to use singly or on top of a pike +handle. + +B. Dagger with hole in the middle to receive dagger A. when screwed on, +to be used right and left. + +C. Section of the transverse dagger B.] + +Mr. Clement, the proprietor of the _Observer_, gave a remarkable proof +of his enterprising spirit when the Cato Street conspirators were tried. +At that time newspapers were prohibited under a penalty of 500_l._ from +publishing reports of cases in the courts of law before they were +concluded. Mr. Clement, seeing the universal interest excited by the +trial, determined to publish a report without waiting for the verdict. +He accordingly sent reporters to the court, and published the whole in +the _Observer_ before the verdict was given. This was a contempt of +court for which he expected to have to pay, and, though the penalty was +duly inflicted, it was never exacted. The _eclat_ attending this +proceeding was of immense value to the _Observer_, and the sale of that +number was so great that the proprietor could easily have paid the +penalty of 500_l._, and he would still have been a gainer.[3] + +The Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.), whose unhappy marriage with +Caroline of Brunswick produced so much scandal and excitement in this +country, had long been separated from his wife, who was residing abroad +at the time her husband became King. Her Majesty announced her intention +of returning to England; and though the King's Ministers endeavoured to +dissuade her from her purpose, she persisted in her resolution, and on +June 6th, 1820, she landed at Dover. Her journey through London was one +long triumph, thousands of people escorting her to her temporary +residence, and giving her the warmest possible welcome, for they looked +upon her as an ill-used and persecuted woman. The question of omitting +her name from the Liturgy had been debated in Parliament, and afterwards +a 'Bill of Pains and Penalties' was brought in, which was in effect +placing the Queen upon her trial. Contemporary newspapers show what +intense excitement filled the public mind upon this subject, and how the +nation ranged itself on the side of the King or Queen--by far the +greater number being for the latter. Nothing was talked of but the +'Queen's trial,' and the wrongs and indignities that had been heaped +upon the head of an innocent woman. + +On Aug. 16th, the married ladies of the metropolis presented Her Majesty +with an address, and three days after the trial commenced, the defence +being conducted by Mr. Brougham and Mr. Denman. When the Queen attended +the House of Lords large crowds accompanied her through the streets, and +manifested by their cries their sympathy for her cause. The Bill of +Pains and Penalties was carried on a second reading by a majority of +twenty-eight, but it sank on the third reading to a majority of nine, +and was finally abandoned owing to the threatening attitude of the +populace. Great rejoicings ensued, London was illuminated for three +nights, and on Nov. 29th the Queen went in state to St. Paul's. On this +occasion William Hone, who had distinguished himself as one of the +Queen's champions, displayed a transparency at his house on Ludgate +Hill, which was painted by George Cruikshank, and is engraved in Hone's +collected pamphlets. + +The _Observer_, having to some extent laid itself out for 'illustrated +news,' the occasion of so much interest and excitement as the Queen's +trial was not likely to pass unnoticed. Accordingly, we find in the +number for Sept. 17th, 1820, a large woodcut, entitled, 'A Faithful +Representation of the Interior of the House of Lords as prepared for the +Trial of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Caroline.' This was published +at the time the excitement was at the highest, and no doubt the eager +public properly appreciated the enterprise of the conductors of the +paper. + +In 1821 the House of Commons contained many notable politicians and +eminent men who afterwards became leaders and champions among the ranks +of Whig and Tory. Amongst the most prominent were Canning, Brougham, +Peel, and Palmerston. The question of Reform was becoming more and more +pressing, and the House of Commons as then constituted was tottering to +its fall. The conductors of the _Observer_, ever on the look-out for +what would interest their readers, published on Jan. 21st, 1821, two +views of the interior of the House of Commons, one looking towards the +Speaker's Chair, the other looking from it. In one the House is empty, +but in the other most of the leading politicians of the day are +introduced. The figures, however, are on too small a scale to be +likenesses of the persons intended, but the reader is assisted by +references showing the places occupied by the most prominent members of +the House. + +The national excitement about Queen Caroline's trial was dying out when +the first gentleman in Europe prepared for his coronation. On this +occasion the _Observer_ gave the lieges appropriate pictures of the +august ceremony. The best draughtsmen and engravers on wood, then very +few in number, were employed to prepare views of Westminster Abbey and +Westminster Hall during the coronation ceremony and the banquet which +followed. The _Observer_ of July 22nd, 1821, contains four engravings, +which, considering the limited artistic means at command, are by no +means discreditable to the management of the paper. On this occasion a +double number was published, the price of which was fourteen pence, and +the publisher evidently thought it was very cheap. He announced that he +would keep the number on sale for ten days after publication, so that no +one might be disappointed in getting a copy. All these engravings of the +coronation of George IV. were done on what was then considered a large +scale, though none of them exceed a half-page of the present illustrated +newspapers, and were finished as regards light and shade, according to +the best ability of the artist. + +The coronation number of the _Observer_ produced a great sensation, and +it had a very large sale. Nothing like it had ever been done before, and +the public eagerly paid the double price for the sake of the engravings. +Fourpence was paid for stamp duty on each sheet, amounting on the whole +to 2000_l._ paid to Government for stamp duty, exclusive of paper duty. +The number consisted of two sheets, each of which had a sale of 60,000 +copies. This was a very good stroke of business, and Mr. Clement had +fair reason to congratulate himself on his successful enterprise. It +prompted him to further efforts; but, unfortunately, he had not the +wisdom to confine his energies to one channel, and what he gained by one +speculation he lost by another. It was at this time he purchased the +_Morning Chronicle_ for 42,000_l._; but, as I have before stated, this +turned out a disastrous investment, and also injured for a time the +otherwise successful _Observer_. + +Soon after his coronation George IV. visited Ireland, and while on his +way received the melancholy intelligence of the death of his consort, +the unfortunate Queen Caroline, which, however, did not prevent His +Majesty from continuing his journey. The _Observer_ of Sept. 2nd, 1821, +published 'A correct View of his Majesty King George the Fourth landing +from the _Lightening_ Steam Packet, Capt. Skinner, on the Pier of the +Harbour of Howth, on Sunday, the Twelvth of August, 1821.' In describing +this event the _Observer_ spoke of it as the opening of a new era for +Ireland, and of the highest importance both in an historical and +political point of view. + +In the following year the King went to Scotland; but, though the +_Observer_ published long and elaborate descriptions of His Majesty's +visit, the occasion was not deemed worthy of illustration. The +opportunity, however, must have been far richer than the visit to +Ireland in affording subjects for sketches. It would have been curious +to see what a contemporary 'special artist' would have made of Sir +Walter Scott; and posterity would have been glad to have had handed down +to it the 'varra effigies' of George IV. and Alderman Curtis in the +kilt! + +In 1823 the city of Cadiz, in Spain, was invested by the French, who +took possession of the place on Oct. 3rd in that year. The _Observer_, +in its issue of Oct. 5th, printed a plan and view of Cadiz, the plan +first appearing in the _Morning Chronicle_ of the day before. The view +of Cadiz is well engraved, in the manner of that day, by W. Hughes. The +plan is also well done, and very complete. + +Towards the end of 1823 a murder, unparalleled in the history of crime, +excited immense public interest, and the _Observer_ at once took up the +case, and described and illustrated it with a particularity and +minuteness of detail that must have satisfied the most ardent +sensationalist. The incidents of this remarkable crime have been long +forgotten; but I will give an outline of the story in connexion with the +engravings published on the occasion by the _Observer_. + +Mr. William Weare was an attorney in Lyon's Inn, who added to his legal +practice the business of a bill-discounter, and enlivened the dulness of +both pursuits by indulging occasionally in the excitement of gambling. +He counted amongst his friends one Mr. John Thurtell, a notorious +betting-man; and it was to keep an appointment with this friend that he +left his chambers in Lyon's Inn on Friday, Oct. 24th, 1823. The two +friends had agreed to go on a short shooting excursion to a lonely +cottage on the St. Albans road, about fourteen miles from London. +Thurtell was respectably connected, but had an evil reputation, he and +his brother being then in hiding to avoid a charge of arson. Two other +men were concerned in the murder, Hunt, a public singer, of doubtful +character, and Probert, a spirit merchant, a fraudulent bankrupt, who +lived at the cottage to which Thurtell and his friend were going. In the +gambling transactions between Thurtell and Weare the former conceived +himself to have been cheated of 300_l._, and in revenge he determined to +murder Weare, and by robbing him recoup himself as far as possible for +his losses. The crime was coolly premeditated, and Hunt appears to have +been an accessory before the fact, having arranged to meet Thurtell on +the road, and to assist in despatching the victim. For this purpose the +shooting excursion to Probert's cottage was planned, but, owing to a +mistake of Hunt's, he did not join Thurtell as agreed, and the latter +committed the murder alone. + +Thurtell and Weare were seen driving in a gig towards Edgeware about +five o'clock in the evening on Oct. 24th, and they afterwards called at +the 'White Hart,' Edgeware, for refreshment. After they were gone +Probert and Hunt, also driving in a gig, called at the same inn, where +they had some brandy and water, and afterwards drove away. + +Gill's Hill Cottage, the place where Probert lived, was about two miles +from Elstree, and was approached by a narrow road called Gill's Hill +Lane. Some country people passing in the neighbourhood of this lane +about eight o'clock in the evening heard a shot fired and deep groans as +if some one was injured. They also heard voices and the wheels of a cart +or gig moving. Near nine o'clock Thurtell arrived at the cottage +_alone_, and giving the horse and gig to the servant, went out to meet +Probert and Hunt, with whom he soon afterwards returned. + +Hunt being a stranger, was formally introduced to Mrs. Probert and a +Miss Noyes who was staying at the house. The whole party supped +together, and spent the evening in jollity. Hunt sang several songs, and +Thurtell produced a gold hunting-watch which afterwards proved to be +Weare's, and, taking off the chain, offered it to Probert for his wife, +but he declining it, Thurtell put it round the lady's neck himself. It +was after midnight before the ladies retired, and the sleeping +accommodation being limited it was arranged that Thurtell should sleep +on some chairs and Hunt was to occupy the sofa. A drawing of the sofa +forms one of the illustrations in the _Observer_, and proves how +thoroughly every circumstance of the horrid tale was followed up and +exhibited to the public. All this time the body of the murdered Weare +was lying behind a hedge in the lane. + +Mrs. Probert's suspicions had been aroused by several strange +circumstances. A vague and horrid alarm took possession of her, and when +she retired to bed she stole to the head of the stairs and listened to +the talk that was going on below in the parlour. She heard her husband +and his two visitors apparently dividing money, burning papers, and +making mysterious plans to conceal something dreadful that had been +done. Then the parlour door was opened, and the frightened woman stole +back to her room. She heard two of the men go to the stable and bring +out the horse. Afterwards, hearing a noise in the garden, she looked out +of the window, and it being a moonlight night, she saw a man dragging +something large and heavy along the garden walk towards the fishpond. +Then followed a hollow sound as if something had been thrown into the +pond. + +That night, when Probert went to bed, he found his wife sitting up and +crying. She questioned him about the mysterious sounds she had heard, +but he told her that he and his companions had only been out trying to +net some game. In the morning she renewed her inquiries, but he only +replied, 'Don't torment me; you make my life miserable.' He seemed in +low spirits, and went moping round the garden and about the pond. Going +into the kitchen Mrs. Probert observed the gig cushion drying at the +kitchen fire, although there had been no rain the night before, and the +cook was surprised to see in the stable a wet, ripped-up sack hanging on +a nail. + +[Illustration: THE COUCH ON WHICH HUNT SLEPT AT GILL'S HILL COTTAGE. +FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' NOV. 10, 1823.] + +Early on Saturday morning two labouring men were busy in Gill's Hill +Lane repairing the road, when two gentlemen passed them on foot. At the +bend of the lane they stooped down and appeared to be looking for +something among the dead leaves and brambles. Coming back they had some +conversation with the road-menders, and afterwards passed on up the lane +towards the cottage. A short time afterwards one of the labourers found +at the spot where the gentlemen had been looking an open penknife +covered with blood, and a little further on a pistol with hair sticking +to it, and also bloody. These articles the man gave to his master the +same morning when he came round to inspect their work. About noon they +saw the two gentlemen from Probert's drive away in a gig. They both +looked hard at the spot where the knife and pistol had been found, but +said nothing. + +Mr. Nicholls, the road surveyor, to whom the knife and pistol had been +handed by the man who found them, went to the magistrates at Watford and +told how and where the articles had been found. The magistrates at once +sent information to Bow Street, and two of their number immediately went +to Gill's Hill Lane, where they discovered spots and gouts of blood on +the bank and under the leaves, and there was a gap in the hedge where a +body seemed to have been dragged through. The field was also much +trampled. They at once came to the conclusion that a murder had been +committed, and took instant measures to trace the guilty parties. The +police seized Probert and Thomas Thurtell at Gill's Hill, and searched +the house and premises. John Thurtell was apprehended at the 'Coach and +Horses,' in Conduit Street. Marks of blood were found on different +articles of clothing belonging to him. At Hunt's lodgings various +articles belonging to Weare had been found. Weare being missing it was +suspected he had met with foul play at the hands of these men. A +billiard-table keeper in Spring Gardens proved that Mr. Weare had called +upon him about three o'clock on Friday, October 24th, and told him he +was then on his way to join Thurtell in the Edgeware Road, as they were +going down to Hertfordshire for a few days' shooting. Thurtell, on being +questioned, admitted he knew Mr. Weare, but said he had not seen him for +eight days. + +It appeared by the disclosures afterwards made by Thurtell's two +confederates that Thurtell had shot Weare while they were riding in the +gig down Gill's Hill Lane, leading to the cottage where Probert lived. +Weare jumped out of the gig, crying he would pay Thurtell all he owed +him if he would only spare his life. Thurtell jumped out of the gig and +ran after him. He got Weare down and cut his throat with a penknife, and +then struck him on the head with a pistol. He then dragged the body +through the hedge and left it there. The same night Thurtell and Hunt +went out from Probert's cottage to bring the body away, but they found +it too heavy. Probert and Thurtell then went and brought the body on the +horse, and put it in the fishpond with stones in the sack to keep it +down. They afterwards removed the body from the fishpond and sunk it in +a deep pond by the side of the Elstree road. + +The cold-blooded indifference of the perpetrators of this atrocious +crime was most extraordinary. The murder was committed on Friday night, +and on Saturday Thurtell and Hunt returned to London and dined with +Thomas Thurtell and Mr. Noyes, Probert's brother-in-law, at the 'Coach +and Horses,' in Conduit Street. They were very jovial, and next day +(Sunday) the whole party met again at Proberts' house in Gill's Hill +Lane, when the afternoon was spent in playing at cards. On Sunday night +Thurtell and Hunt went to dig a grave to bury the body, but the dogs +were barking, and they were afraid some one was about. On Monday, while +Hunt engaged Mrs. Probert in conversation, Thurtell and Probert got the +body out of the fishpond, and cut off the clothes. Then they all three +carried it to the garden-gate and put it into the gig. A grave half dug +was found in Probert's garden, but the soil was hard, and it is supposed +that Thurtell and Hunt were afraid of the noise pickaxes would make. + +Hunt, to save his own neck from the halter, confessed that he knew where +the body was, and went with four men in a hackney coach to a bridge on +the Elstree Road, near which was a deep pond by the side of the road. In +this pond the body of Weare was found tied in a sack, with stones to +keep it down. + +[Illustration: POND IN WHICH THE BODY OF MR. WEARE WAS FOUND. FROM THE +'OBSERVER,' NOV. 10, 1823.] + +Thurtell, Probert, and Hunt were tried at Hertford on January 6, 1824. +Probert was admitted King's evidence, and so escaped for that time, but +he was afterwards hung at the Old Bailey for horse-stealing. Thurtell +and Hunt were condemned to death, but only Thurtell was hung, Hunt being +reprieved on the morning of execution, and transported for life. In +those days prize-fighting was in much favour, and a great fight was +coming off between Spring and Langham, two noted pugilists. To show the +ruffianly and impenitent character of Thurtell, it is related that he +said, a few hours before his execution, 'It is perhaps wrong in my +situation; but I own I should like to read Pierce Egan's account of the +great fight yesterday.' + +Some of the incidents of the trial were appalling, others ludicrous. The +production of the weapon with which the murder was committed, stained +and rusted with blood, made every one shudder except the prisoners. The +oft-quoted reason for a man being respectable 'because he kept a horse +and shay' occurred during this trial; and when Probert's cook was asked +whether the supper at Gill's Hill Cottage was postponed, she answered, +'No; it was pork.'[4] + +The murder of Mr. Weare was committed on October 24, and discovered a +few days afterwards. On November 10 the _Observer_ published five +illustrations of the murder:--1. Probert's cottage and garden. 2. The +scene of the murder in Gill's Hill Lane. 3. The pond in which the body +of Weare was found. 4. Front view (from the road) of Probert's cottage. +5. The parlour and the couch on which Hunt slept. On December 7 the +_Observer_ published a view of the interior of the Crown Court at +Hertford at the moment the prisoners were brought up to plead; and, +having found that the public had eagerly purchased the illustrations +already issued, the editor announced the publication of two sheets with +additional engravings on the occasion of the trial:--'The Trials of the +prisoners at Hertford having been put off till Tuesday, Jan. 6, the +publication of the intended Supplement of this Journal, containing the +plates illustrative of the facts to be disclosed in the evidence, has +been deferred till Sunday, January 11, on which day Two Sheets instead +of one will be published. Booksellers, Postmasters, &c., are requested +to give their orders through their respective Agents in London, as no +papers whatever are on any occasion forwarded through the Publisher.' +Accordingly, at the appointed time two sheets came out, containing the +cuts already enumerated together with three fresh ones, the latter being +the stable-yard of Probert's cottage with the murderers conveying the +body by the light of a lantern to the stable; a front view of the +cottage, showing the murderers dragging the body to the pond; and a +ground-plan of the country round the scene of the murder. The conductors +of the Journal appear to have had some misgivings as to the good taste +of their proceedings, but were unable to resist the temptation of a +large and profitable sale. The engravings are thus introduced to the +reader:--'The unparalleled interest which has been created in the public +mind by the mysterious circumstances attending the death of Mr. Weare +has induced us, with a view to the gratification of our readers, to use +every exertion in our power, not only to give a faithful and copious +Report of the Trial of the persons charged with this most foul and +atrocious deed, but, with the assistance of competent Artists, to obtain +such Plates as appear to us best calculated to illustrate the detail of +circumstances disclosed in the evidence before the jury. We are aware +that by some these illustrations will be condemned as inconsistent with +good taste; and we are ready to acknowledge that on all occasions their +adoption would be extremely injudicious. In a case, however, where the +feelings and the curiosity of the public have been so much excited, and +where so singular and ardent an avidity has been displayed to obtain +every possible light upon a subject so interesting, we trust that those +who may entertain, perhaps, a well-founded objection to our plan, will, +for a moment, grant us their indulgence, and permit us to meet the +wishes of persons who may not be so fastidious as themselves. The +strongest argument which we can adduce in favour of the continued +pursuit of this plan--is the fact, that of three of the plates which we +now feel it necessary to republish, many thousand impressions have been +already sold, and yet the number, though high, has been insufficient to +supply the continued demand. The necessity imposed on us, however, for +breaking up our formes, forced us to refer the recent applicants to the +present publication, which will be found to contain the most minute and +correct particulars of everything connected with this extraordinary +affair.' + +Then follows a long and minute description of all the plates, when it is +stated, 'For the sake of effect the artist has given all the views as +they would appear in daylight; but, with the exception of Plate II. +(finding the body of Weare in the pond), the scenes ought to have been +represented as at night.' Some of the engravings illustrating the murder +of Mr. Weare appeared in the _Morning Chronicle_ the day before their +publication in the _Observer_, and they were also published +simultaneously in the _Englishman_, which appears to have been in +substance another edition of the _Observer_ without the advertisements. +The name of W. Hughes is attached to them as the engraver. + +The _Observer_ was loudly condemned for publishing the Weare and +Thurtell illustrations, and it did not for some time bring out any more +engravings; but this was probably owing more to the commercial +depression prevailing at the time than to the strictures that had been +passed upon newspaper morality. + +About this time _Bell's Life_ came into Mr. Clement's hands, and +henceforth it shared, with the _Morning Chronicle_ and the _Englishman_, +in the illustrations prepared for the _Observer_. It had, however, a +distinct series of illustrations of its own, which was continued for +several years. But before describing them I must refer to one or two +characteristic engravings which appeared in _Bell's Life_ in its early +days. On November 28, 1824, the first large woodcut was published, +representing a prize-fight on a raised stage, and entitled the 'Tip Top +Milling at Warwick.' According to the account accompanying the +engraving, this prize-fight was a most brutal exhibition, without any +display of what boxers call 'science'--a mere exchange of hard blows, +ending in one of the combatants being carried insensible from the stage. +The coming fight was made known far and wide, so that when the day +arrived vehicles from all parts of the country brought hundreds of +spectators to the scene. The fight took place, openly and without fear +of interruption, on the race-course at Warwick, the grand stand being +crammed with spectators, and a ring of waggons, on which clustered +crowds of eager gazers, surrounded the stage. This is all shown in the +engraving in _Bell's Life_; and the different objects in the background, +such as the church, the keep of Warwick Castle, the cemetery, &c., are +pointed out by figures of reference with the most conscientious care. +There is a very long account of the battle, couched in language only +understood by members of the 'fancy.' + +In 1825 the town was being amused by Liston, as 'Paul Pry,' then a +recent creation of the stage. On November 8 in that year _Bell's Life_ +published a woodcut representing the comedian in that character, which I +have copied as an early example of the illustrations of the great +sporting journal. + +[Illustration: LISTON AS PAUL PRY. FROM 'BELL'S LIFE,' 1825.] + +In 1827 _Bell's Life_ commenced a series of caricature sketches by +Cruikshank, Seymour, and Kenny Meadows, entitled a 'Gallery of +Comicalities.' This continued at intervals, along with other sketches +entitled 'Phizogs of the Tradesmen of London' (half-lengths of Butchers, +Cobblers, &c., commencing in 1832); 'Kitchen Stuff, or Cads of the +Aristocracy' (heads of gentlemen's servants); 'Portraits down the Road' +(heads of characters seen on a stage-coach journey, such as the +Landlady, the Commercial Traveller, the Chambermaid, &c.); 'The Sporting +Album' (sketches from life, commencing 1834). These caricature subjects +were continued to the end of the year 1840. The greater number are much +too coarse, cynical, and vulgar for the taste of the present day. +Sometimes a series of sketches extended through several consecutive +weeks, such as 'The Pugilist's Progress' and 'The Drunkard's Progress,' +both by Seymour. 'The Drunkard's Progress,' which appeared in 1829, +consisted of twelve scenes, and embodied the same idea that was many +years afterwards more fully developed by George Cruikshank in his series +of large plates entitled 'The Bottle.' Now and then appeared a sporting +subject by Harvey, such as Coursing, Hunting, Bull-Baiting, &c. In the +number for February 8, 1829, appeared a curious woodcut representing a +view in the Isle of Anglesea, which was said to have excited the +attention and surprise of passing travellers from its presenting an +excellent profile of the Marquis of Anglesea, who was then very +popular. In 1831 portraits of Young Dutch Sam and Ned Neal, the famous +pugilists, were published; and in 1838 the initials of John Leech began +to appear to some of the cuts. Portraits of prize-fighters, race-horses, +representations of racing-cups, &c., were given at intervals until 1851, +when the last illustration, a monument to Tom Cribb, appeared. + +[Illustration: THE MAN WOT LOST THE FIGHT. + +THE MAN WOT WON THE FIGHT. + +FROM 'BELL'S LIFE,' 1831.] + +As further examples of the illustrations in _Bell's Life_, I copy two, +which were published in 1831. + +About 1825 there was another sporting paper in existence, conducted by +the celebrated author of 'Tom and Jerry.' It was called _Pierce Egan's +Life in London_, and, like _Bell's Life_, had its sporting and other +columns decorated with little woodcut headings, and sometimes published +an engraving of a racing-cup. + +At the beginning of 1827 the _Observer_ resumed its illustrations of +news, and on the death of the Duke of York published a long memoir of +his Royal Highness, accompanied by an equestrian portrait of the Duke, +'taken during his last visit to Newmarket.' In the number for January 21 +are engravings of the remains of his Royal Highness lying in state in +St. James's Palace, and a view of the interior of the Royal Mausoleum at +Windsor. The above were engraved by Slader, and were published +simultaneously in the _Englishman_ and _Bell's Life_. + +The number published on Aug. 13, 1827, contains a large portrait of Mr. +Canning, then just deceased. This portrait has the names of Jackson and +Smith attached to it as the engravers. In the number for Sept. 30 there +is a 'correct view of the Suspension Bridge, Hammersmith, to be opened +to the public on Saturday, Oct. 6, 1827.' This is engraved by Slader, +and appears also in _Bell's Life_ the same week. The following week the +_Observer_ published a large plan showing the alterations proposed in +St. James's Park in connexion with the building of Buckingham Palace; +and on Nov. 18 appeared a plan of the port of Navarino, accompanying an +account of the naval battle at that place. In December was published a +view of 'Mr. Gurney's new Steam-Carriage, as it appeared in the Regent's +Park on Thursday, Dec. 6, 1827,' and later in the same month a +representation of Mr. D. Gordon's new steam-coach. Both these engravings +are curious and interesting, as showing the attempts that were made +fifty years ago to apply steam to the propulsion of carriages on common +roads. + +[Illustration: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK, TAKEN DURING HIS +LAST VISIT TO NEWMARKET. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' JAN. 8, 1827.] + +Mr. Gurney was a medical man, but gave up his practice and devoted +himself to scientific studies, and particularly to the construction of +locomotive engines for turnpike travelling. He had seen Trevithick's +engine, and when a youth had frequently met Trevithick himself. He had +thus become imbued with a conviction of the practicability of making a +steam-carriage that would travel on common roads. Other inventors +succeeded in doing the same thing, but Mr. Gurney attained the greatest +amount of success. With his steam-carriage he made a journey from London +to Bath on July 28, 1829, performing the return journey at fourteen +miles an hour, or the eighty-four miles in nine hours and twenty +minutes, stoppages for fuel and water included. In 1831 he established a +regular steam conveyance between Gloucester and Cheltenham, a distance +of about nine miles. The steam-carriages commenced plying on Feb. 21, +1831, and continued running four times a-day for four months, with +tolerable regularity and without accident. The project, however, +received such determined opposition from coach proprietors and turnpike +trusts that it was abandoned. The tolls exacted were so heavy that at +one gate they amounted to eight guineas. Mr. Gurney is said to have +expended 36,000_l._ on his enterprise, but without any permanent +beneficial result. His inventive genius, however, contributed to +develope the high speed of the locomotive and the subsequent success of +railways. He died Feb. 28, 1875, aged eighty-two years. + +[Illustration: MR. GURNEY'S NEW STEAM-CARRIAGE AS IT APPEARED IN THE +REGENT'S PARK ON THURSDAY, DEC. 6, 1827. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' DEC. 9, +1827.] + +Mr. Gordon took out a patent for a steam-coach in 1822, and constructed +two different machines. One had its wheels surrounded by cogs, or +projecting teeth. This engine was to be placed within a large rolling +drum, about nine feet in diameter and five feet wide, the inside of +which should be fitted with circular rack-rails fitting the wheels of +the steam-engine. Thus the motion of the engine would cause the drum to +roll forward, on the same principle that a squirrel causes a cylindrical +cage to revolve; and the rolling of the drum was to move a carriage +connected with it. The other machine had two long propellers or legs, +intended to obviate the supposed tendency of wheels to slip when +ascending a slope. + +The Thames Tunnel, which was begun in 1825 by Mr. Brunel, was on more +than one occasion threatened with destruction by irruptions of water. On +Jan. 12, 1828, six workmen perished by a sudden rush of water into the +workings, and on the 20th the _Observer_ published an engraving +representing the catastrophe. On the 9th of June appeared 'A correct +view of Ascot Heath Race Course, taken by an eminent artist on Thursday +last.' This 'eminent artist' was William Harvey, and the cut bears the +names of Jackson and Smith as the engravers. A sheet containing a +selection of comic sketches from _Bell's Life_ was issued with the +_Observer_ of July 20, 1828, accompanied by a statement that the +sketches (twenty-seven in number) cost one hundred and forty-two pounds, +drawing and engraving. This sounds very trivial when contrasted with the +large sums now paid by illustrated newspapers. + +In 1827 another exciting murder was committed, and the _Observer_, +undeterred by former censures, published a portrait of the criminal and +a view of the scene of his crime, but did not on this occasion deal with +the case in the elaborate way in which the murder of Mr. Weare was +treated. The story of the Red Barn is well known to provincial playgoers +in the Eastern Counties, where it still sometimes figures in theatrical +programmes on Saturday nights. William Corder was a farmer's son +residing not far from Ipswich. He had for some time carried on an +intrigue with a country girl named Maria Marten, whom he at last enticed +into a barn not far from her father's cottage, and there murdered her, +and buried her body under the floor of the barn. After this he continued +to visit her father's cottage, and by various falsehoods accounted for +the girl's continued absence. Months went by, and Corder wrote several +letters to the girl's parents, in which he told plausible stories about +her being at the seaside with relatives of his own. The girl's mother, +however, had had her suspicions aroused by several circumstances, and at +length she dreamed three times that her daughter had been murdered and +her body hid under the floor in the Red Barn. The woman's mind was so +worked upon by the recurrence of this dream that she induced her husband +to search under the floor of the barn, and there, sure enough, the +murdered body of the girl was found. In the meantime Corder had +advertised for a wife in the _Morning Herald_ in the following +terms:--'A private gentleman, aged twenty-four, entirely independent, +whose disposition is not to be exceeded, has lately lost chief of his +family by the hand of Providence, which has occasioned discord among the +remainder, under circumstances the most disagreeable to relate. To any +female of respectability, who would study for domestic comfort, and is +willing to confide her future happiness to one in every way qualified to +render the marriage state desirable, as the advertiser is in affluence. +Many happy marriages have taken place through means similar to this now +resorted to. It is hoped no one will answer this through impertinent +curiosity; but should this meet the eye of any agreeable lady, who feels +desirous of meeting with a sociable, tender, kind, and sympathising +companion, they will find this advertisement worthy of notice. Honour +and secrecy may be relied on. As some little security against idle +application, it is requisite that letters may be addressed, post-paid, +A. Z., care of Mr. Foster, stationer, 68 Leadenhall Street, with real +name and address, which will meet with most respectful attention.' + +[Illustration: WILLIAM CORDER. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' AUG. 10, 1823.] + +Through this advertisement Corder became acquainted with a lady who kept +the Grove House Academy at Ealing, near London. They were married, and +he went to reside with his wife at Grove House, where he was arrested +one morning in the spring of 1828. Various circumstances pointed to him +as the murderer of Maria Marten, and he was tried for the crime at Bury +St. Edmunds on Aug. 6, 1828. The crowd was so great that the counsel and +officers of the court had to fight their way to their places. Corder +appeared at the bar dressed in a new suit of black, and with his hair +combed over his forehead. He wore a pair of blue French spectacles, +through which he eyed the witnesses smilingly. Being called on for his +defence, he read a statement which amounted to charging Maria Marten +with having committed suicide. He said that in consequence of a quarrel +they had in the Red Barn she shot herself with one of two pistols which +he had with him:--'The instant the mischief happened, I thought to have +made it public; but this would have added to the suspicion, and I then +resolved to conceal her death. I then buried her in the best way I +could. I tried to conceal the fact as well as I could, giving sometimes +one reason for her absence, and sometimes another.' He was found guilty +and sentenced to death, and the night before his execution he made the +following confession:--'I acknowledge being guilty of the death of poor +Maria Marten, by shooting her with a pistol. The particulars are as +follows: When we left her father's house, we began quarrelling about the +burial of the child, she apprehending that the place wherein it was +deposited would be found out. The quarrel continued for about three +quarters of an hour upon this and about other subjects. A scuffle +ensued, and during the scuffle, and at the time I think that she had +hold of me, I took the pistol from the side pocket of my +shooting-coat.... I have been guilty of great idleness, and at times led +a dissolute life, but I hope through the mercy of God to be +forgiven.--W. CORDER.' + +This murder excited great and marked interest, not only in Suffolk, but +through the whole country. On Aug. 10, 1828, the day before the +execution, the _Observer_ published a portrait of Corder and a view of +the Red Barn, which are here copied. The excitement showed itself in the +streets, where puppet shows represented the scene of the crime, and +Methodist preachers held forth in the fields near the barn to thousands +of attentive listeners. The Red Barn itself was nearly pulled to pieces +by curiosity seekers. + +[Illustration: THE RED BARN. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' AUG. 10, 1828.] + +On the Monday of the execution all the workmen in Bury struck work in +order to see the murderer hanged, and persons came from long distances +for the same purpose. One man was pestered by every one he met on his +return by inquiries whether Corder had really been hung that morning. +This was repeated so often that he became quite weary of the constantly +recurring question, 'Is Corder executed?' In the evening, in order to +get rid of the gloomy feelings created by what he had witnessed, he went +to the theatre, where he arrived somewhat late. The play ('Macbeth') had +advanced to the fourth scene of the first act as he seated himself in +the pit. The newcomer, who was better acquainted with the details of the +murder in the Red Barn than with the plays of Shakespeare, was not a +little astonished when King Duncan entered, and, fixing his eye upon +him, repeated what he thought was the same question that had been so +often addressed to him that day, 'Is execution done on Cawdor?' + +[Illustration: THE SIAMESE TWINS. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' NOVEMBER 22, +1829.] + +The _Observer_ continued its illustration of events as they occurred, +sharing the engravings with _Bell's Life_ and the _Englishman_. St. +Katharine's Docks were opened on Oct. 25th, 1828, and on the following +day the _Observer_ published a bird's eye view of the docks, showing the +ceremonies attending the opening. In January, 1829, appeared two views +of Buckingham Palace, then building for George IV.; and in August a cut +of the 'Post-Office Accelerator,' a carriage for conveying London +postmen to their several districts. A portrait of Rowton, the winner of +the Great St. Leger for 1829, was given in September. This year the +lovers of wonderful shows were attracted to an exhibition in London of +two Siamese youths who were united together by a short cartilaginous +band at the pit of the stomach, but with no other connexion existing +between them. They were perfectly straight and well made, and walked +with a gait like other people; being perfect in all their parts, and +having all their functions distinct. Their names were Chang and Eng; and +they were first discovered on the banks of the Siam river, fishing, by +Mr. Hunter, an American, by whom they were taken to New York, where they +were exhibited, and were afterwards brought to England. They were +supposed to be about eighteen years old when they were exhibited in +London in 1829. The _Observer_ of November 22, 1829, published a long +account of the Siamese Twins, with a woodcut representing them as they +were exhibited to the public. + +After having been exhibited for several years in London and the +provinces, the Siamese twins went to America, where they settled on a +farm, and married sisters. In the year 1869 they returned to London, and +were as elderly men again exhibited; but they soon went back to America, +where in a few years they died, both together. A similar exhibition was +made in London about 1868 of twin girls, named Millie-Christine, or the +'Two-headed Nightingale,' and it was probably the appearance of these +two 'black birds' that suggested the idea of the Siamese twins appearing +again in public. + +In June, 1830, George the Fourth died, and the _Observer_ published +several engravings connected with the event. On June 24th appeared a +portrait of 'His Majesty George the Fourth as he last appeared in his +Pony Phaeton in Windsor Park;' and on July 18 three illustrations of the +lying-in-state and the funeral were published. + +'The King is dead! Long live the King!' So said the citizens of London +when they invited William IV. and Queen Adelaide to a banquet at +Guildhall on the following November 9; and on the 1st, eight days before +the entertainment came off, the _Observer_ duly supplied the public with +'A correct view of the grand civic entertainment,' as it was to be. On +Aug. 1, 1831, new London Bridge was opened by the King and Queen, and +two engravings illustrative of the event were published in the +_Observer_, the _Morning Chronicle_, _Bell's Life_, and the +_Englishman_. One of them is interesting, as it shows the relative +positions of the old and the new bridge. The view was taken from the +tower of St. Saviour's Church, Southwark, looking towards Fish Street +Hill. + +[Illustration: HIS MAJESTY GEORGE IV., AS HE LAST APPEARED IN HIS PONY +PHAETON IN WINDSOR PARK. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' JUNE 29, 1830.] + +The _Observer_ of Sept. 11, 1831, contained four illustrations of the +coronation of King William IV. and Queen Adelaide, together with long +and elaborate descriptions. There was another paper in existence at this +time called the _United Kingdom_, which also illustrated the coronation. +This was the period of the great Reform agitation, when the newspapers +were absorbed in political excitement; and after this the _Observer_ for +a time ceased to give any illustrations. + +On July 28, 1835, a diabolical attempt was made in Paris to shoot +Louis-Philippe, king of the French. The assassin, whose name was +Fieschi, constructed an infernal machine, consisting of twenty-five +barrels, charged with various kinds of missiles, and lighted +simultaneously by a train of gunpowder. The machine was fired from a +window as the King rode along the lines of the National Guard, on the +Boulevard du Temple, accompanied by his three sons and suite. The King +and his sons escaped, but Marshal Mortier was shot dead and many +officers were dangerously wounded. Amongst the spectators upwards of +forty persons were killed or injured. In its number for August 9, 1835, +the _Observer_ gave a sketch of the attempted assassination, a portrait +of the criminal, and a representation of the infernal machine. + +The actual infernal machine, with a waxen effigy of Fieschi, formed for +many years a prominent attraction at Madame Tussaud's Exhibition. + +The reign of William IV. was a short one, and soon the _Observer_ had to +illustrate his funeral, as it had done that of his predecessor. The +number for July 3, 1837, contained three engravings of the royal +obsequies, and ere long the brief rule of the Sailor King was forgotten +in the dawning glories of the Victorian era. The epoch of railways was +opening. The Greenwich Railway was the first railway out of London, and +the next was the North-Western, or the London and Birmingham as it was +then called. On July 24, 1837, the _Observer_ published a large +woodcut of the 'Grand entrance to the London and Birmingham Railway at +Euston Square.' Mr. Hardwick's massive structure was then in progress, +and formed the entrance to the first of the great London railway +stations--vast buildings, some of which have swallowed up whole streets, +and contributed greatly to alter the appearance of London in their +vicinity. + +[Illustration: GERARD, _ALIAS_ FIESCHI, AND THE INFERNAL MACHINE. FROM +THE 'OBSERVER,' AUGUST 9, 1835.] + +On July 24, 1837, a balloon ascended from Vauxhall with a parachute +attached, in which was Mr. Cocking, who in descending was killed. The +_Observer_ published illustrations of this event, which excited great +interest at the time. Other papers illustrated Mr. Cocking's death, +which I will recount more at length when I come to treat of the _Weekly +Chronicle_, which contained more illustrations of the event than any +other paper. A large engraving appeared in the _Observer_ for August 20, +1837, representing the Waterloo shield, given by Lord George Bentinck, +and run for at Goodwood Races, 1837. + +When Her Majesty Queen Victoria paid her first visit to the City of +London after her accession, the _Observer_ came out with larger +engravings than it had ever before produced. Two large views of the +interior of Guildhall were given, together with a panoramic sketch of +the royal and civic procession, and a portrait of the youthful Queen, +'surrounded by a beautiful Emblematic Design, in which innocence and +strength are happily portrayed by the playfulness of the Doves and the +fearless defiance of the Lion.' Such was the flowery language of the +_Observer_ in those days. + +The _Observer_ of July 2, 1838, was a double number, price tenpence, and +contained several illustrations of the coronation of Queen Victoria, +which were also printed in _Bell's Life_. I have copied one of them, not +because it is particularly good, but simply to mark an important +historical event, which ought to have some record in an account of +illustrated journalism. + +[Illustration: THE CORONATION OF QUEEN VICTORIA. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' +JULY 2, 1838.] + +On the occasion of Her Majesty's marriage, the _Observer_ published a +wedding number, containing several engravings, which were introduced to +the reader thus:--'Little in the way of explanation is necessary to +render the sketches in the opposite page, with which we have illustrated +our account of the splendid ceremonials of Her Majesty's Nuptials on +Monday last, intelligible. Our readers will no doubt make due allowance +for any imperfections which may be discovered, when they reflect on the +fact that the whole of the labours of the artists and the engravers have +been accomplished in less than a week, and this under circumstances of +difficulty, in obtaining admission to the scenes to be sketched, almost +insurmountable. We should not be doing justice to our engraver were we +not to state that it is to Mr. Orrin Smith we owe the consummation of +our desire to gratify our patrons.' + +On October 30, 1841, a fire occurred in the Tower of London, when the +Armoury and 280,000 stand of arms were destroyed. On November 7 the +_Observer_ published three illustrations of this great fire. On November +14 it presented its subscribers with a large emblematic engraving on the +occasion of the birth of the Prince of Wales. In the following January, +when the Prince of Wales was christened, it published a large page +engraving designed by W. B. Scott, and engraved by Smith and Linton, +containing the ceremony of christening in St. George's Chapel, the +banquet in St. George's Hall, illustrations of the history of the +Princes of Wales from the presentation of the first Prince of Wales to +the Welsh, to the religious instruction of Edward VI. by Archbishop +Cranmer, including the battle of Cressy with the feats of the Black +Prince, and the subsequent pageantry attending the introduction of the +King of France as a prisoner into London over London Bridge; following +this is the dismissal of Falstaff and his profligate companions by Henry +V., with views of Windsor, &c. From this time until 1847 the _Observer_ +published no more engravings. In the interval the _Illustrated London +News_ commenced its career. On July 12, 1847, the _Observer_ published +the last of its illustrations. This was on the installation of Prince +Albert as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. The engravings have +the name of W. J. Linton attached to them, and are on a larger scale, +and are better done than anything hitherto appearing in the same paper. + +The _Weekly Chronicle_, the first number of which was published +September 18, 1836, started with the idea of illustrating the news of +the day as one of its principal features. The price was threepence, and +with it was incorporated the _Weekly Times_. In the first number the +public were 'requested to be on their guard against the substitution of +any other paper.' This probably had reference to some threatened +rivalship, for exactly a year later appeared _Holt's Weekly Chronicle_, +a paper which also gave illustrations of current events. It published +engravings connected with the rebellion in Canada, and also illustrated +the burning of the Royal Exchange in 1838. It appears to have had only a +brief existence. The first number of the _Weekly Chronicle_ contained an +engraving of 'the new grand Balloon which ascended from Vauxhall Gardens +with nine persons on Friday, September 9th, engraved by W. C. Walker, +from a drawing made by a gentleman who ascended expressly for this +paper.' Number 2 contained a page of comic sketches, apparently by +Seymour, and with the number for October 30, 1836, was presented gratis +an almanack containing a view of the new Houses of Parliament, not quite +as the design was eventually carried out. Very early in its career the +_Weekly Chronicle_ selected the criminal records as favourite subjects +for illustration. Perhaps some memory of the profits realised by the +_Observer_ on the occasion of the Weare murder induced the conductors to +cultivate this class of news. Certainly nothing more repulsive ever +figured in the pages of an illustrated newspaper than some of the +woodcuts published by the _Weekly Chronicle_. + +Towards the end of 1836 another attempt was made on the life of the King +of the French, and on January 8, 1837, the _Weekly Chronicle_ published +a portrait of the criminal. A month or two later the public were +enlightened as to the personal appearance of another murderer, one +Pegsworth, who had his portrait taken in Newgate on the morning of his +execution. The annals of crime were varied by the exploits of war, and a +view of the heights of Amelzagame illustrated the career of the Spanish +Legion under the command of General Evans. In the spring of 1837 +occurred the Greenacre murder, and the _Weekly Chronicle_ at once went +into the case with an evident determination to do full justice to its +sensational merits. From the first examination of the murderer before +the magistrates to his final exit in the Old Bailey the artists of the +paper were on the alert, pencil in hand. It is a painful fact that the +numbers of the _Weekly Chronicle_ containing the illustrations of the +Greenacre murder had a very large sale. The details of the crime are too +shocking to recapitulate, but I will give a list of the woodcuts +published in connexion with it. + +April 2, 1837.--A sketch of Greenacre taken while under examination at +the police-office. Head of the murdered woman as preserved in spirits at +Paddington Workhouse. + +April 9.--Greenacre taking notes at his examination before the +magistrates at Marylebone Police Office. Exterior of Greenacre's house +in Carpenter's Buildings, Windmill Lane, Camberwell. View of Pineapple +Gate, Edgware Road, where the body was found. Matthew Hale, lock-keeper, +who found the head. Rear of Greenacre's house. A back room looking into +the garden. Portraits of Mrs. Gale and child taken while under +examination at Marylebone Police Office. Room where the horrible +mutilation was committed. Osierbed in Cold Harbour Lane, where the legs +were found. + +April 16.--Trial of Greenacre. + +April 23.--Chapel in Newgate, sketched during the preaching of the +condemned sermon to Greenacre. + +April 30.--Greenacre in condemned cell. + +[Illustration: CHAPEL IN NEWGATE: THE CONDEMNED SERMON. FROM THE 'WEEKLY +CHRONICLE,' APRIL 23, 1837. + + 1. Sheriffs' Pew. + 2. Governor's Pew. + 3. Condemned Pew.] + +On May 7 the _Weekly Chronicle_ wound up this series of illustrations by +publishing a large cut, which it entitled, 'A scene in the Old Bailey, +immediately before the execution, engraved expressly for the _Weekly +Chronicle_ by a distinguished artist.' According to an announcement in +the paper itself, the sale of the _Weekly Chronicle_ during the +publication of these engravings was 130,000. + +[Illustration: THE CONDEMNED CELL, NEWGATE. FROM THE 'WEEKLY CHRONICLE,' +APRIL 30, 1837.] + +On May 14, 1837, the _Weekly Chronicle_ published portraits of Sir +Francis Burdett and Mr. Leader, the former of a superhuman length, with +a shocking bad hat. In the following number, as if the public had not +been sufficiently supplied with horrors, there was printed 'a sketch of +Eliza Davis as she lay on the mattress after the murder.' This was known +as the Frederick Street murder, and was remarkable from the +circumstances, and from the fact that the murderer was never +discovered. This paper now commenced 'The Pictorial Gallery, +illustrating every object of interest and curiosity in Art, Science, +Literature, and Amusement. (To be continued weekly.)' In this series +were published a view of the Euston Railway Station, a portrait of +Madame Taglioni, a sketch of a novel mode of propelling balloons, +representations of the Bedouin Arabs, the City of London School, the +Adelaide Gallery, the Hippodrome at Bayswater, proclamation of Queen +Victoria at Temple Bar, portraits of the Queen, the late King, the Earl +of Durham, and the Duchess of Kent. Then followed a view of the Royal +Mausoleum at Windsor, and several illustrations of Mr. Cocking's fatal +descent in a parachute. + +Mr. Cocking was an enthusiast in aerostation--he was, in fact, balloon +mad, and had spent years in inventing a parachute which he believed to +be perfectly safe, and in which he ascended from Vauxhall Gardens on +July 24, 1837, attached to Mr. Green's Royal Nassau balloon. The +experiment was widely advertised, and when the day and hour arrived the +poor enthusiast faithfully appeared, and ascended in his fatal machine +for more than a mile. He then himself liberated the parachute from the +balloon. For a few seconds he descended steadily; the parachute then +collapsed, broke, turned over, and shot straight down to the earth a +hopeless ruin. Poor Cocking was still in the basket of the parachute +when he reached the earth, but was quite insensible, and in ten minutes +he was dead. The parachute fell at Lee; and it is recorded that not only +was the machine itself carried away piecemeal, but the dead man's purse +was stolen from his pocket, his watch, his snuff-box, his eye-glass were +taken, even the cap was stolen from his head, the shoes were pulled from +his feet, the buttons from his dress. Such statements seem incredible, +and for the credit of human nature one could wish they were false; but +they have been seriously made, and never contradicted. + +[Illustration: MR. COCKING IN HIS PARACHUTE AT THE MOMENT OF ASCENSION. +FROM THE 'WEEKLY CHRONICLE,' JULY 30, 1837.] + +The _Weekly Chronicle_ published several illustrations of this event. +They represent Mr. Cocking in the car of the parachute at the moment +of ascension; the Nassau balloon as it appeared from the Royal Gardens, +Vauxhall; the parachute in its various stages in its descent; and Mr. +Cocking as he lay for the inspection of the jury in the room at the +Tiger's Head, at Lee. The first of these I have copied. + +This rash adventure was wound up by the opening of a subscription list +for the benefit of Cocking's widow, which was headed by the Queen with +50_l._ The Gas Company that had supplied the gas for the disaster gave +30_l._, and the proprietors of Vauxhall gave the gardens for a benefit. +Thus the friends who ought to have restrained the vanity of the +enthusiast and the speculators who led him on to his fate did their best +in the way of atonement; but it was clearly a case where the civil power +ought to have interposed to prevent the fatal catastrophe. + +The _Chronicle_ varied its illustrations of events by an occasional +portrait of a public man, such as Mr. T. Wakley, Mr. Roebuck, Lord John +Russell, and Daniel Whittle Harvey. The Queen's first visit to the City, +and her Majesty delivering her speech to her first Parliament, furnished +subjects for large woodcuts. Early in the year 1838 the Royal Exchange +was burnt, and this historical event was made the subject of an +engraving in the number for January 14, 1838. + +This year the _Weekly Chronicle_ also published several engravings +illustrative of the rebellion in Canada, including a portrait of +Papineau, the insurgent leader, and views of Quebec and Montreal. The +murder of Eliza Grimwood in the Waterloo Road furnished another +opportunity for sensational sketches, and in the same number that +contained them (June 10, 1838) appeared three illustrations of the +Courtney Riots at Canterbury. + +In 1833 an eccentric person, calling himself Sir William Courtney, +appeared at Canterbury and attracted much attention by his half-crazed +appearance and his frequent harangues on the grievances of the poor. He +presented himself as a candidate to represent the city of Canterbury in +Parliament, but this ambition was frustrated by his being tried and +found guilty of perjury, an offence he had committed on behalf of some +smugglers on the Kentish coast. He was sentenced to imprisonment and +transportation; but, being proved insane, the sentence was commuted, and +he was confined in a lunatic asylum. Here he remained four years, and +was then liberated under the belief that he was restored to a rational +state. He was, however, madder than ever, having while in confinement +brooded over his supposed wrongs and the sufferings of the oppressed +poor until he fancied himself a prophet and a deliverer sent from +heaven. With the cunning of madness he counterfeited sanity, and thus +was able to resume what he considered his prophetic mission. He +harangued about the new poor law, promised cheap bread to all who would +follow him, and on May 29, 1838, he gathered together a band of about +twenty men, with whom he marched from one place to another, proclaiming +that he would make May 29 more memorable than it had ever been in +connexion with the restoration of Charles II. This went on for a day or +two, when a farmer, named Curtis, having his field-work stopped by the +leading away of his men, went to a magistrate and obtained a warrant to +apprehend them. In an attempt to execute this warrant a constable was +killed by Courtney, who now broke into a rhapsody of exultation, +declared that a second Gideon was come to slay the ungodly, and that all +should perish who opposed the prophet. With outstretched sword he cried, +'I am the only Saviour of you all. You need not fear, for I will bring +you through all.' The excitement had now become so general, and the +menaces of Courtney and his armed party so alarming, that the +magistrates resolved on the instant capture of this dangerous maniac and +his ignorant followers. They came up with the rioters at a place called +the Osier Bed, where Courtney's men threatened the magistrates and +constables with bludgeons and fire-arms. After firing his pistol at one +of the party who attempted to arrest him, Courtney and his men broke +away to Bossenden Wood, and the magistrates, seeing no other resource, +sent at once for a detachment of the 45th Regiment from Canterbury +Barracks. Courtney had now proclaimed to his followers that he was no +other than Jesus Christ returned to earth, and that they were safer with +him than if they were in their beds; therefore they must resist the +soldiers, and they were sure of victory. In the meantime a hundred men +of the 45th Regiment, headed by Lieutenant Bennett, surrounded Bossenden +Wood. Accompanied by the civil magistrates, they advanced to close round +the rioters, when Courtney fired at the young Lieutenant commanding the +party, and shot him dead. The next minute the prophet himself was slain +by a soldier, who covered him with his musket as he fired at Lieutenant +Bennett. Then ensued a hand-to-hand fight, which resulted in the death +of seven of the rioters and one constable, besides several persons +seriously wounded. + +The illustrations of these riots in the _Weekly Chronicle_ of June 10, +1838, consist of the following:-- + +1. 'Courtney with his troops leaving Bossenden Farm.' + +2. 'The death of Lieutenant Bennett. Courtney in the act of exhorting +his men to advance.' + +3. 'Interior of the Red Lion stables, with the bodies as they were laid +out after the conflict.' + +Courtney, whose real name was John Thom, was undoubtedly mad. He never +could have found followers, except amongst the most degraded and +ignorant; and it is hoped he did better service to his countrymen than +he ever dreamt of by drawing attention to the dreadful evils arising +from the want of education among the rural population. Most of his +followers could neither read nor write, and were so totally unacquainted +with the simplest truths of Christianity that they believed him when he +asserted that he was Gideon, Samson, and Jesus Christ all in one, and +that he had descended from heaven to redress the wrongs of the poor, but +more especially to reduce the price of bread! + +[Illustration: THE DREADFUL RIOT AND LOSS OF LIFE AT BOSSENDEN WOOD, +EAST KENT. FROM THE 'WEEKLY CHRONICLE,' JUNE 10, 1838. + + 1. Courtney. + + 2. Lieutenant Bennett. + + 3. Sergeant Langley making a thrust at Courtney with a bayonet, and + was knocked down with a bludgeon. + + 4. Six Magistrates. + + 5. Soldier who stepped forward and shot Courtney. + + 6. Major Armstrong. + + 7. Detachment of the 45th Regiment loading. + + 8. Lieutenant Bennett's detachment. + + 9. The man Wills, who knocked down Sergeant Langley. + + 10. Courtney's flag. + + 11. J. N. Knatchbull firing at Courtney.] + +The _Weekly Chronicle_ illustrated the coronation of Queen Victoria by a +view of 'The interior of the Abbey at the moment of Her Majesty +assuming the Crown,' and a full-page engraving of the Coronation +Procession. Two pages of engravings were given on the occasion of the +Queen's marriage; and on November 1, 1841, a large 'view of the Tower of +London as it appeared on fire on the morning of Sunday, the 31st ult., +from a drawing by a distinguished artist.' On January 29, 1842, the same +paper illustrated the christening of the Prince of Wales, with its +attendant ceremonies and festivities; and later in the same year were +published the last of its illustrations, relating to the employment of +women and children in coal-mines. + +[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, LOOKING FROM THE ENTRANCE +TO THE SPOT LATELY OCCUPIED BY THE THRONE. FROM THE 'SUNDAY TIMES,' NOV. +2, 1834.] + +The _Observer_, _Bell's Life_, and the _Weekly Chronicle_, which during +more than twenty years had been the chief representatives of pictorial +journalism, gradually abandoned the practice of giving illustrations +after the _Illustrated London News_ was established. Two or three other +newspapers occasionally published engravings, but they were very few, +and appeared at long intervals. The _Sunday Times_ illustrated the trial +of Thurtell for the murder of Mr. Weare, and on Nov. 2, 1834, it +published several engravings of the destruction of the Houses of +Parliament, two of which, representing the ruins, are of sufficient +interest to introduce here. + +[Illustration: RUINS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. FROM THE 'SUNDAY TIMES,' +NOV. 2, 1834.] + +The _Champion_ of Nov. 13, 1836, has an engraving of the interior of a +cotton-factory; and the _Weekly Herald_ in the same year issued two +engravings illustrating the story of Wat Tyler:--'1. Workshop scene; Wat +Tyler knocking the Tyrant Tax-gatherer's brains out;' the principal +characters equipped in boots, buckles, and belts, in true theatrical +style 2. 'Smithfield scene; the assassin Walworth treacherously +murdering the brave but too-confiding Wat Tyler.' The same paper also +issued this year a view of St. Peter's, Rome. The _Magnet_, a paper +started in 1837, illustrated the proclamation of Queen Victoria, William +IV. lying in state, the Canadian rebellion, burning of the Royal +Exchange, coronation of Queen Victoria, and on Jan. 4, 1841, the removal +of the remains of Napoleon I. from St. Helena. There are two engravings +of this interesting historical event. The first is entitled, 'A correct +view, taken on the spot, of the interior of the tent at St. Helena, +after the disinterment of the body of Napoleon, at the instant of the +removal of the lid from the coffin; the remains of the Emperor appearing +(as one of the spectators remarked) as if he were asleep.' I have copied +the second cut, which represents the embarkation of the body, and is one +of the last examples of pictorial journalism before the birth of the +_Illustrated London News_. + +Before concluding this part of my subject it is fitting that I should +include the _Penny Magazine_ amongst the pictorial journals which +immediately preceded the establishment of a regular illustrated +newspaper. The _Penny Magazine_, though not a newspaper, was intended to +supplant the cheap and pernicious contraband newspapers that then +existed in large numbers. It was the most successful experiment that +England had then seen of the art of illustration in combination with the +steam press, and was the best attempt that had been made in a cheap form +to elevate the public taste. + +[Illustration: THE REMOVAL AND DELIVERY OF THE REMAINS OF THE EMPEROR +NAPOLEON BY THE GOVERNOR OF ST. HELENA TO THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE, ON +THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1840. FROM THE 'MAGNET,' JAN. 11, 1841.] + +Mr. Charles Knight, who thus, in the _Penny Magazine_, led the way in +combining literature with art in a popular form, was a staunch advocate +of education, and he never ceased in his endeavours to improve the +condition of the masses. He said, 'the poor man must be made a +thinking man--a man capable of intellectual pleasures; he must be +purified in his tastes, and elevated in his understanding; he must be +taught to comprehend the real dignity of all useful employments; he must +learn to look upon the distinctions of society without envy or +servility; he must respect them, for they are open to him as well as to +others; but he must respect himself more. The best enjoyments of our +nature might be common to him and the most favoured by fortune. Let him +be taught how to appreciate them. Diminish the attractions of his +sensual enjoyments by extending the range of his mental pleasures.'[5] +With such convictions, Mr. Knight, in 1827, joined the Society for the +Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, a new educational movement then just +started by the Reform Party. He brought out, under its auspices, a great +number of useful works, most of which were profusely illustrated. In +1832 Mr. Knight resided in the Vale of Health on Hampstead Heath. One of +his neighbours was Mr. M. D. Hill, an active member of the Society for +the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. It was a time of great political +excitement, and the town was flooded with unstamped weekly publications, +which in some degree came under the character of contraband newspapers, +and were nearly all dangerous in principle and coarse in language. Mr. +Knight and Mr. Hill often walked to town together, and their +conversation naturally turned to a subject in which they both felt a +special interest--the means of improving the condition of the people by +the diffusion of cheap literature, and so counteracting the dangerous +and offensive publications which then abounded. One morning in early +spring their talk was of this kind, when Mr. Hill exclaimed, 'Let us see +what something cheap and good can accomplish! Let us have a Penny +Magazine!' Mr. Knight immediately adopted the suggestion, which was +cordially approved by the Lord Chancellor Brougham; and on March 31, +1832, appeared the first number of 'the _Penny Magazine_ of the Society +for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.' It was necessary to avoid making +the new periodical anything like a newspaper lest it should become +liable to stamp duty, and at first very little expense was incurred for +illustrations, most of the engravings in the early numbers being +reprinted from other works of the Society. It was not till six months +had elapsed that Mr. Knight ventured into the wide field of +illustration, and made the public familiar with great works of art, such +as the 'Laocoon,' the 'Apollo Belvedere,' the 'Dying Gladiator,' the +'Cartoons,' &c. The best pictures of the old masters were intermingled +with scenes at home and abroad, with places of renown and illustrious +men of all nations and of every age. + +The success of the _Penny Magazine_ was a surprise to the publisher and +an astonishment to most persons. At the end of 1832 it had reached a +sale of 200,000 in weekly numbers and monthly parts, and it soon +produced a revolution in popular art throughout the world. Stereotype +casts of its best cuts were supplied for the illustration of +publications of a similar character which appeared in Germany, France, +Holland, Livonia, Bohemia, Italy, Ionian Islands, Sweden, Norway, +Spanish America, and the Brazils. The entire work was also reprinted in +the United States from plates sent from this country.[6] + +It continued its prosperous career for nine years, when a new series was +commenced, with considerable improvements in engraving and printing. +Five volumes of the new series were published, but the sale declined, +owing to the commencement of illustrated newspapers, and the _Penny +Magazine_ in its old form came to an end in 1845, three years after the +commencement of the _Illustrated London News_.[7] _Knight's Penny +Magazine_, a smaller miscellany, commencing in January, 1846, kept up +the old name for six months longer, and then it ceased to exist. In +announcing its discontinuance, Mr. Knight thus closes this interesting +chapter of literary history:--'The present series of the _Penny +Magazine_ is closed, after an experience of only six months. The editor +has no reason to complain of the want of public encouragement, for the +sale of this series has exceeded that of its predecessor in 1845. But +the sale, such as it is, is scarcely remunerative; and there are +indications that it may decline rather than increase. This is a hint +which cannot be mistaken. It shall not be said of his humble efforts to +continue, upon an equality with the best of his contemporaries, a +publication which once had a decided pre-eminence, that + + "Superfluous lags the veteran on the stage." + +He leaves this portion of popular literature to be cultivated by those +whose new energy may be worth more than his old experience. The _Penny +Magazine_ shall begin and end with him. It shall not pass into other +hands.' + +Mr. Knight attributed the falling off in the sale of the _Penny +Magazine_ to the extended sale of newspapers and the application of +wood-engravings to their illustration; and in his _Passages of a Working +Life_ he relates how he first heard of the journal that was destined to +succeed the _Penny Magazine_ in the field of popular art:--'In 1842, +having occasion to be in attendance at the Central Criminal Court, my +curiosity was excited by an unusual spectacle--that of an artist, seated +amongst the civic dignitaries on the bench, diligently employed in +sketching two Lascars, on their trial for a capital offence. What was +there so remarkable in the case, in the persons, or even in the costume +of the accused, that they should be made the subject of a picture? The +mystery was soon explained to me. The _Illustrated London News_ had been +announced for publication on the Saturday of the week in which I saw the +wretched foreigners standing at the bar. I knew something about hurrying +on wood-engravers for the _Penny Magazine_, but a newspaper was an +essentially different affair. How, I thought, could artists and +journalists so work concurrently that the news and the appropriate +illustrations should both be fresh? How could such things be managed +with any approach to fidelity of representation unless all the essential +characteristics of a newspaper were sacrificed in the attempt to render +it pictorial? I fancied that this rash experiment would be a failure. It +proved to be such a success as could only be ensured by resolute and +persevering struggles against natural difficulties.' + +Charles Knight was born at Windsor in 1791. The son of a bookseller, he +very early became connected with the press. At the age of twenty-one he +conducted the _Windsor and Eton Express_, and a few years later he +became the editor of the _Guardian_, a London weekly paper. He +afterwards started a monthly magazine called the _Etonian_, and amongst +his contributors were Macaulay, Praed, and other clever young men who +had been educated at Eton, some of whom supported him in a later +venture, _Knight's Quarterly Magazine_. In the midst of his varied +duties as author and publisher he never lost sight of the great question +of popular education, and heartily joined in the movement for repealing +the taxes on knowledge. He gave expression to his views in _The +Struggles of a Book against Excessive Taxation_ and _The Case of the +Authors as regards the Paper Duty_. He paid the enormous sum of +16,500_l._ for paper duty on the _Penny Cyclopedia_ alone, and on the +same work he expended 40,000_l._ for literature and engravings. When +this great and useful work was completed Mr. Knight was entertained at a +public dinner presided over by Lord Brougham, when the leading men in +literature and art united to do him honour. The _Penny Cyclopedia_ was +not a commercial success, solely because of the paper duty. + +Of the numerous illustrated works published by Mr. Knight, the +_Pictorial Bible_ was the most successful in a pecuniary sense, and he +considered the _Arabian Nights_ the most beautiful as regards +illustrations. He was so ardent a promoter of illustrative art, that he +invented a press for printing in colours, from which issued many +coloured engravings for his various works, such as _Old England_, the +_Farmer's Library_, &c. + +Mr. Knight died at Addlestone, Surrey, March 9, 1873, and was buried in +his native town of Windsor. A marble bust of him was placed by public +subscription in the Council Chamber of that town, and two scholarships, +bearing his name, were founded in the school of the Stationers' Company. +It was well said of Charles Knight on the occasion of unveiling his bust +at Windsor, that he set out in life with the desire to make knowledge a +common possession instead of an exclusive privilege. He laboured for the +good of his fellow-men rather than for the rewards of fame or fortune, +and no man was more worthy of honour for his public services and his +private virtues. The last time I saw him was at the grave of an old +friend of his and mine; and as I recall the remembrance of his grey hair +tossed in the wintry wind, I adopt in all seriousness what Douglas +Jerrold said in jest, that two words would suffice for his +epitaph--'good Knight.' + +It is curious that the printing-press, which has worked such mighty +changes, should have reproduced in another form the ancient jester who +stood in cap and bells behind his master's chair, and the merry-andrew +who made the rustics laugh upon the village green. The numerous +satirical and humorous publications of the Victorian era represent a +distinct kind of illustrated journalism, through which runs an amusing +commentary on passing events, combined with a vein of satire always +good-humoured and often instructive. At the head of this array of wit +and wisdom stands _Punch_, who, however, was preceded by _Figaro in +London_, conducted by Mr. Gilbert A'Beckett, afterwards one of _Punch's_ +strongest supporters. Mr. A'Beckett faithfully acted up to his motto:-- + + 'Satire should, like a polished razor keen, + Wound with a touch that's hardly felt or seen;' + +but the constitution of _Figaro_ was not strong, and he died young. + +While the _Penny Magazine_ was yet in vigorous life, and the +_Illustrated London News_ was as yet unborn, there used to be a weekly +gathering of authors, actors, and artists, at a tavern in Wych Street, +Strand, where the late Mr. Mark Lemon presided as the genial host. This +company of merry men were mostly on the sunny side of life, and disposed +to look upon the world and the world's cares with a laughing eye. They +were ever ready to go out of their way for the sake of a joke, and a +pun, good or bad, was pleasant to them. In this congenial atmosphere +_Punch_ germinated, and in July, 1841, that shrewd observer and +good-humoured satirist appeared. Mr. _Punch_, like some other great men, +had a hard struggle in his early days; but prosperous times came, and he +now combines in his own person the dignity of age with the vivacity of +youth. _Puck_, _Diogenes_, and numerous other imitators of _Punch_, +attempted to obtain a share of public favour, but most of them died +after a brief existence. The best of these that survive are _Fun_ and +_Judy_, which, with the _Hornet_, _Vanity Fair_, _Figaro_ (a revival of +the name), _Moonshine_, _Funny Folks_, and others, continue their weekly +budgets with a smartness and vigour not unworthy of their great +prototype. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [1] There was another Sunday paper in existence about this time, the + _Sunday Reformer and Universal Register_. In the number for Dec. + 29th, 1793, there is a copperplate portrait of Robert Lowth, D.D., + Lord Bishop of London, then recently deceased. + + [2] 'Old Stories Retold,' in _All the Year Round_. + + [3] Grant's _Newspaper Press_. + + [4] 'Old Stories Retold,' in _All the Year Round_. + + [5] _Passages of a Working Life._ + + [6] At this time there was another illustrated weekly magazine in + existence--the _Mirror_, which began about 1822. The engravings it + contained were chiefly of a topographical character. + + [7] The _Saturday Magazine_ was started in imitation of the _Penny + Magazine_, and, like its prototype, had a considerable popularity for + some years. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The _Illustrated London News_--The Early Numbers--The Burning of + Hamburgh--Facetious Advertisements--Bal Masque at Buckingham + Palace--Attempted Assassination of the Queen--The Queen's First Trip + by Railway--First Royal Visit to Scotland--Political Portraits--R. + Cobden--Lord John Russell--Benjamin Disraeli--The French Revolution, + 1848--The Great Exhibition, 1851--The Crimean War--Coloured + Pictures--Christmas Numbers--Herbert Ingram--The _Pictorial + Times_--Other Illustrated Journals. + + +Having traced the idea of illustrating the news of the day from the +early 'news-book' through its various stages of growth and development, +we come to the first regular illustrated newspaper that was established. +The projector had long held the opinion, founded on his experience as a +newsvendor at Nottingham, that such a publication would succeed. He had +noticed that when the _Observer_ and the _Weekly Chronicle_ contained +engravings, there was a much larger demand for those papers than when +they were without illustrations, and he conceived the idea of starting a +paper whose chief attraction should be its _pictures_. He thought if he +could combine _art_ and _news_ together, he would be adding greatly to +the ordinary attractions of a newspaper, and would probably secure a +widely extended circle of readers. His customers at Nottingham often +asked for the 'London news' when anything of interest was astir in the +Metropolis, and his observant shrewdness led him to conclude that this +would be a good name for his paper. He accordingly called it the +_Illustrated London News_, and under that title the first number +appeared on May 14th, 1842. It contained sixteen printed pages and +thirty-two woodcuts, including all the little headings to the columns, +price sixpence, and it equalled in size the _Atlas_ which was then sold +for a shilling, without engravings. It was printed by R. Palmer (at +the office of Palmer and Clayton), 10 Crane Court, Fleet Street, and +published by J. Clayton, 320 Strand. The introductory address is written +in a florid and inflated style; but it shows a correct perception of the +wide and varied range that would have to be taken by an illustrated +newspaper. + +[Illustration: THE BURNING OF HAMBURGH. FROM THE FIRST NUMBER OF THE +'ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,' MAY 14, 1842.] + +[Illustration: HEADING TO 'COURT AND HAUT TON,' COLUMN, 'ILLUSTRATED +LONDON NEWS,' MAY 14, 1842.] + +The well-known engraved heading represents a view of London from the +Thames, as it was then,--St. Paul's towering in the centre, and the Lord +Mayor's procession in State barges passing up the river. The first +engraving is a 'View of the Conflagration of the City of Hamburgh,' +which began on May 5th, and continued for several days. A great part of +the city was destroyed, and more than one hundred lives were lost. As +marking an epoch in the history of the Pictorial Press, I reprint this +engraving and some others from the early numbers. The next cut is +apparently a view of some town in Italy or France; but there is no name +to the engraving or any reference to it in the surrounding text, which +is all about the dreadful railway accident between Paris and Versailles +which had then just occurred, whereby fifty persons were killed, and one +hundred and fifty were more or less injured. On the next page are views +of the city of Cabul and the fortress of Ghuznee, just then the seat of +stirring events. The columns of 'Foreign Intelligence,' 'The Court and +Haut Ton,' 'Births, Marriages, and Deaths,' were each headed by a small +woodcut, an example of which is given here. There is also an +illustration of ladies' fashions, accompanied by a gushing, descriptive +letter from Paris, beginning: 'Dear Mr. Editor, I feel an inexpressible +delight in inditing my first communication to your lady readers, upon +the fashions of the _haut ton_ of this _ville de gaite_. So suddenly and +with such power has the sun lately shot forth, that there is no end to +invention in our spring fashions.' + +[Illustration: FASHIONS FOR MAY, 1842. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON +NEWS,' MAY 14, 1842.] + +It would appear that illustrated police reports were to have formed part +of the attractions of the paper, and several small cuts dealing with +humorous subjects are scattered through the early numbers. The cases +were evidently selected with a view to provoke merriment rather than to +indulge a morbid taste for criminal records, and seem to show that the +paper in its early days possessed something of the frolicsomeness of +youth, and did not consider a joke beneath its dignity. It had its wild +oats to sow, and was not indisposed to emulate its contemporary _Punch_, +then also a young joker. The first illustrations of the kind relate to a +case at the Mansion House before Sir Peter Laurie, where the manager of +a matrimonial institution sought to defend his establishment from the +strictures of that celebrated 'putter-down.' A few pages further on we +come upon two facetious advertisements, one of them professing to have +been called forth by the report of the above case at the Mansion +House:-- + +'MATRIMONY.--A _professional_ gentleman, who has for some time past +enrolled the category of his multitudinous graces, accomplishments, and +_prospects_, in the portfolio of the "Matrimonial Alliance +Establishment," fearing that, under the influence of Sir Peter Laurie's +recent animadversion they will waste their sweetness unseen--unknown in +the rose-tinted volume of the modern Hymen, avails himself of the +glorious opportunity afforded to advertisers by the proprietors of the +_Illustrated London News_, "and boldly and unhesitatingly submits his +picture in little," to the approving smiles of the fair daughters (and +_widows_) of Albion's Isle, conscious of his perfect sincerity in +stating that he has no _insurmountable_ objection to fortune being +combined with beauty, taste, lively disposition, and cheerful temper; he +feels assured that the lovely creature whose eyes shall be fortunate +enough, first to meet this advertisement (and then the advertiser), will +secure to herself a perfect amenity, if truth be truth, and manners--not +money--make the man. Address, with portrait (miniature set in gold, +pearls, or other precious stones, not refused), A. Donis Slim, Esq., 320 +Strand.' + +[Illustration: A. DONIS SLIM, ESQ. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,' +MAY 14, 1842.] + +The other advertisement referred to is of an entirely different +character, being addressed to the commercial world:-- + +'CAPITAL SPEC! Safe as the Bank!--Wanted a partner in a snug, genteel +little concern, with an airy and pleasant corner situation in one of the +most densely crowded thoroughfares of the Metropolis, and doing a good, +ready-money business, without much risk; which an increase of capital +would considerably extend. The returns exceed the outlay, and the Sunday +custom alone covers the rent. The taxes are redeemed, and there is a +long unexpired term of the lease, which is held at a lolly-pop. The +coming into a half-share, including plant and stock, very moderate--say +a trifle above 0000_l._ Any person who can command the above sum will +not only find this a decided bargain, but a very desirable opportunity +of commencing business, and well worthy the attention of an industrious +person of small means and less family. References exchanged. Address, +prepaid, to B. B. (Brandy Ball), Pieman's Alley.' + +[Illustration: PARTNERSHIP WANTED. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,' +MAY 14, 1842.] + +The principal engravings in this first number illustrate the first Bal +Masque given by Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. They were drawn by +Sir John Gilbert, then at the beginning of his career, and it was most +fortunate for the new enterprise that an artist of such great and varied +abilities was found at the very outset to give his powerful aid to the +undertaking. His wonderful facility and bold picturesqueness were +exactly suited to the requirements of an illustrated newspaper. The +first enabled him to do his work with marvellous quickness, and the +second was an excellent counterpoise to the damaging effects of hurried +engraving and rapid printing. The illustrations of the Queen's Bal +Masque are eight in number, including character portraits of Her Majesty +and the Prince Consort. There are two cuts from a book under review, and +the last illustration in the number represents a long line of men +carrying advertising boards 'to proclaim the advent of this important +publication.' + +The first number sold well, probably because the public was curious to +see what the new paper was like. Twenty-six thousand copies were +disposed of, but there was a great falling-off in the sale of the second +number, which opened with a leading article explaining the principles +that were to guide the paper in its future career. The cut on the front +page represents the ceremony of taking the veil, and was evidently drawn +by Gilbert. The next engravings illustrate Waghorn's Overland Route to +India, then recently organized, followed by an illustrated account of +the sale at Strawberry Hill, and a portrait of a then notorious +criminal, Daniel Good, which is accompanied by an editorial apology +disclaiming all intention of joining the 'raw-head and bloody-bones' +school, but in the interests of science commending the portrait to the +disciples of Lavater. This is the only instance of such an engraving +being inserted in the paper (with the exception of the portrait of +MacNaghten, who shot Mr. Drummond), and it is evident the editor's +better feeling revolted against it, although he was only following the +example of the _Observer_ and the _Weekly Chronicle_. + +[Illustration: HER MAJESTY AS QUEEN PHILIPPA. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED +LONDON NEWS,' MAY 14, 1842.] + +The first engraving in No. 3 is a portrait of Mehemet Ali, which is +given in connexion with further illustrations of the Overland Route to +India. But the most important picture in this number is a portrait of +the Queen with the baby Prince of Wales in her lap, drawn by Gilbert. +There is also the first example of a sporting illustration--a portrait +of Attila, the winner of the Derby, which accompanies an account of +Epsom Races, with several other engravings. + +[Illustration: THE QUEEN'S FIRST RAILWAY JOURNEY. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED +LONDON NEWS,' JUNE 19, 1842.] + +[Illustration: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE QUEEN. FROM THE +'ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,' JUNE 5, 1842.] + +[Illustration: MR. R. COBDEN, M.P. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,' +JULY 2, 1842.] + +An event now occurred which afforded the first important opportunity of +illustrating the news of the hour. This was the attempt on the life of +the Queen, who was fired at as she was driving up Constitution Hill by a +young man named Francis. The public excitement on this occasion was very +great, and it is a little surprising that the _Illustrated London News_ +did not make more of it. In No. 4 there are two illustrations in +connexion with this event, one representing the attempted assassination, +the other the examination of the prisoner before the Privy Council. The +engravings are not very imposing, but large blocks had not then come +into use; and as the event occurred on a Monday there was not too much +time, with the limited means then at command, to produce them on a large +scale. In No. 6 there is a small cut entitled 'The Queen's first trip by +Railway,' which illustrates an account of her Majesty's first journey by +railway from Windsor to London. With the exception of the drawings by +Gilbert most of the illustrations in these first six numbers are of an +inferior character, and show that the conductors of the paper had not +yet obtained the best artistic help. Indeed it was a long time before +the higher class of artists and engravers would believe that an +illustrated newspaper was worthy of their professional attention. +Illustrations of the Police Reports continued to be scattered through +the early numbers, mingled with such subjects as a ballet at Her +Majesty's Theatre, a public dinner, a launch, a horserace, and sketches +of the Chartist riots at Preston. The Queen's first visit to Scotland +was very copiously illustrated, and a series of 'Popular Portraits' was +begun which included most of the prominent politicians of the day. In +No. 11 the fatal accident to the Duke of Orleans is illustrated; and +further on the hand of Gilbert is visible in the drawings representing +the funeral of the Duke of Sussex, the Lord Mayor's Show, and the grand +Polish Ball at Guildhall. With No. 19 the office was removed to 198 +Strand, where it has remained ever since. The first Cattle Show +illustrations occur in No. 31, and it is evident that the artists by +whom they were executed had not made that kind of art their special +study. The approach of Christmas is heralded by the introduction of +various laughable sketches; the Pantomimes are illustrated by Alfred +Crowquill, and Christmas himself is welcomed in a 'Song of the Wassail +Bowl.' Kenny Meadows finishes the volume with a party of Cupids carrying +the _Illustrated London News_ through the air, while a literary and +artistic Cupid, cap in hand, makes his bow to the reader. + +The first volume ends with the year 1842, and it has for a frontispiece +a large view of London, a title-page drawn by Gilbert, and headings to +preface and index by Kenny Meadows. The preface is written in the florid +style of the introductory address in the first number; but the following +passage refers, not inappropriately, to the value and interest of the +work to the future historian:-- + +'What would Sir Walter Scott or any of the great writers of modern times +have given--whether for the purposes of fiction or history, or political +example or disquisition--for any museum-preserved volume such as we have +here enshrined. The life of the times--the signs of its taste and +intelligence--its public monuments and public men--its +festivals--institutions--amusements--discoveries--and the very +reflection of its living manners and costumes--the variegated dresses of +its mind and body--what are--what _must_ be all these but treasures of +truth that would have lain hid in Time's tomb, or perished amid the sand +of his hour-glass but for the enduring and resuscitating powers of +art--the eternal register of the pencil giving life and vigour and +palpability to the confirming details of the pen. Could the days of +Elizabeth or others as bright and earlier still be unfolded to us +through such a mirror, what a mint of wisdom might we gather in from +such dazzling periods of the past! Of just as much captivating value +then is such a book to the future. It will pour the lore of the +Antiquarian into the scholar's yearning soul, and teach him truth about +those who have gone before him, as it were, with the Pictorial Alphabet +of Art! It is in this sense that we regard the greatness of our design, +and are proud of its envied and unexampled success; and it is for this +end that we shall strain every nerve to perfect it into order and +completeness that may accord with the beauty and brilliancy which many +episodes of its execution have already been fortunate to display. Scott +might carry Elizabeth to Kenilworth through the regions of his fine +imagination, backed and supported by books, and we may take _cum grano +salis_ the Antiquarian's and the Poet's word, but the year two thousand +will be ten times better assured of all the splendid realities of our +own Victoria's visit to the native land of the Northern Magician who +enshrined in fiction the glories of Queen Bess. This volume is a work +that history _must_ keep.' + +At the end of the preface is printed the following 'Dedicatory +Sonnet:'-- + + 'To the great public,--that gigantic soul + Which lends the nation's body life and light, + And makes the blood within its veins grow bright + With gushing glory,--we this muster-roll + Of all the deeds that pass 'neath its controul + Do dedicate,--the page of simple news + Is here adorned and filled with pictured life, + Coloured with thousand tints--the rainbow strife + Of all the world's emotions--all the hues + Of war--peace--commerce;--agriculture rife + With budding plenty that doth life infuse + And fair domestic joy--all--all are here + To gild the _new_, and from the bygone year + Present a gift to take--to cherish and to use.' + +The second volume began with several improvements. A 'Romance of Real +Life,' by Henry Cockton, illustrated by Kenny Meadows, was the first +attempt to infuse a new interest into newspaper literature by the +introduction of fiction. Stories by Thomas Miller and others followed. +This feature of the paper was continued for some time until _fiction_ +was crowded out by _fact_. The popular portraits were done on a larger +scale and were of a more ambitious character. In No. 40 there is one of +Lord John Russell, which is reprinted here as an example of the improved +portraiture of the period. + +[Illustration: PORTRAIT OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED +LONDON NEWS,' 1843.] + +In the following year was commenced a series of 'Parliamentary +Portraits,' one of which I have selected to accompany the portrait of +Lord John Russell. It is that of Mr. Disraeli, and it will perhaps +interest the reader to compare the present estimate of Lord Beaconsfield +with what was said of Mr. Disraeli in 1844. The following is a portion +of the article which accompanies the portrait:--'The most remarkable +speeches in the recent debates have been those of Mr. Disraeli, the +Member for Shrewsbury. He has lately made himself more prominent in the +sphere of literature and politics as the expounder of the views and +opinions of that section of the Conservative party which has received +the name of "Young England." His opinions however are too peculiar, have +too much individuality ever to become those of a party. We scarcely +think "Young England" capable of holding as points of belief the +startling paradoxes to which Mr. Disraeli occasionally gives utterance. +His speeches abound with happily turned sentences, in which a clever +sarcasm is thrown into the antithetical form; they also contain a +large amount of historical information, on which he draws almost as +often as Macaulay himself. He rarely announces a positively new +principle, but he often places old ones in a strange and startling +light, and states the most extraordinary inconsistencies with an air of +such perfect earnestness and conviction that his auditors are sometimes +puzzled whether to admire or laugh at him. But he is not one of those +men who can be laughed at; we have seen him turn the laugh most sorely +against those who thought themselves securely trenched behind form and +precedent. He can hit hard, and none have suffered more from his sarcasm +than the present Premier and the Home Secretary. He seems to mangle them +with peculiar gusto, and deals with them as if he was annihilating the +Tadpole or Taper of his own "Coningsby." His speeches have not much +metaphor, nor does he indulge in rhetorical glitter and ornament; we +cannot call him impassioned, nor say he is eloquent; but he interests, +informs, and amuses. A speech from Disraeli is sure to command +attention. His manner is not calculated to set off his matter to the +best advantage. His delivery is heavy, and of action he has none +whatever. He thrusts his hands deep into his side-pockets, leans forward +a little, or turns from side to side according to whom he may be +addressing. But that is all. Though he sets the House cheering or +laughing for minutes together, his countenance remains impassive; he +says a good thing as if perfectly unconscious of it.' + +The paper rapidly advanced in public favour and soon reached a +circulation of 66,000. It celebrated the completion of the first year of +its existence by the publication of a double number, profusely +illustrated by Gilbert, Harvey, and Kenny Meadows. + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN DISRAELI, M.P. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON +NEWS,' JUNE 22, 1844.] + +The _Illustrated London News_ was not established without many +misgivings as to its ultimate success. Its founder probably did not at +first realise all the difficulties that lay in his way, but as fast as +they appeared he met them with characteristic courage and energy, and +overcame them by perseverance. He seized on every opportunity to +consolidate the strength of the paper, and paid a great amount of +personal attention to its management, often denying himself sleep one or +two nights a-week. As the profits increased he kept on increasing the +scope and number of its attractive features. He made it a rule to spare +no expense in every department of the journal; whatever money could +command for its success he resolved to have. After a time he was able to +act on this wise resolve to the fullest extent, and in the end he +achieved a great success. + +In describing the _Illustrated London News_ during the first year of its +existence, I have directed attention chiefly to the pictorial portion of +its contents, that being the characteristic feature of the paper by +which it was distinguished from its purely literary contemporaries. The +engravings I have reprinted from it are given as curiosities and not as +specimens of excellence. The succeeding volumes contain abundant +evidence that the highest talent was afterwards employed in producing +the best examples of art as well as in the illustration of news. In its +sixth year the course of public events opened up new and stirring scenes +for its pages. So great was the interest felt in the exciting events of +the year 1848, that the sale of the _Illustrated London News_ was more +than doubled in three months. The vigorous sketches of the French +Revolution published week after week were so eagerly bought that the +publisher was not always able to meet the demand. On one occasion he was +freely pelted with flour and other harmless missiles because the London +'trade' could not get their supply soon enough to satisfy their +impatience. The noisy newsboys, in mocking imitation of the Paris mob +which was then making the streets of that city ring with cries of 'a bas +Guizot!' vented their indignation against the publisher of the +_Illustrated London News_ by shouting 'a bas Little! a bas Little!' + +But though the year of revolutions was so rich in materials for +pictorial journalism, the year of the Great Exhibition was yet more +fruitful. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was a perfect novelty, and was +hailed as the harbinger of peace on earth and good-will among men. +Coming so soon after the convulsions of 1848, the peaceful display was +more enchanting from the contrast. Such a golden opportunity was not +lost upon the pictorial press, and every stage of the construction of +the first Crystal Palace was represented. The very plan of the building +was first made public in the pages of the _Illustrated London News_, the +first design adopted by the Commissioners having been superseded by Sir +Joseph Paxton's Palace of Glass. The building was shown in progress from +the raising of the first column, and its removal was illustrated to the +clearing away of the foundations. In this 'Festival of Labour' the +_Illustrated London News_ took a prominent place. An edition was printed +in the Exhibition building by one of Applegarth's vertical +printing-machines, then the quickest method of printing in use. At this +time the paper was distinguished by the number and excellence of its +illustrations, and the '_London News_' printing-machine was one of the +attractions of the 'World's Fair.' + +In three years more the dreams of universal peace created by the Great +Exhibition were rudely swept away by the declaration of war with Russia +and subsequent invasion of the Crimea. The long and disastrous siege of +Sebastopol, the assaults on the Redan and the Malakoff, the battles of +Balaclava and Inkermann, supplied the most exciting subjects for +illustration. It was the first great war since Waterloo, and the +national excitement being intensified by the maladministration of the +Government, the British public eagerly bought the war sketches. The sale +of the paper at this time was very great, yet it is a curious fact that +it never reached so high a figure as during the peaceful exhibition of +1851,--a proof that, after all, the arts of peace are more attractive +than the excitement of war. + +At Christmas, 1855, a novel feature was introduced into the _Illustrated +London News_. For some years a Christmas number had been published, and +it was now for the first time printed in _colours_. It is true the +coloured pictures were little more than ordinary woodcuts with tints +printed over them, but their imperfections were principally owing to the +breakdown of machinery and the great hurry in which they were produced. +In after years much better things were done, and the coloured Christmas +pictures which have been for many years produced at the chromatic press +of Leighton Bros. take rank among the best work of the kind. They have +proved exceedingly popular, and always sold well. That of 'Little Red +Riding Hood,' after J. Sant, R.A., published in 1863, was reprinted +again and again, until the blocks were utterly worn out. They were then +re-engraved, and again reprinted. The Christmas picture issued in 1882 +('Cinderella') was specially painted by Mr. Millais, R.A., at the price +of 3000 guineas. When it is noted that the large coloured reproduction +of this picture, together with seventeen highly finished full-page +engravings by some of the best artists of the day, were sold for a +shilling, it will be seen that the pictorial press is no unimportant +factor in diffusing the purifying and softening influence of art. + +During the forty-two years that have elapsed since the first illustrated +newspaper was founded, there has never been any long interval of peace. +War of some kind, big or little, has broken out, like a volcano, on some +part of the earth's surface, and kept the Argus-eyed newspaper editor on +the alert. From Alma to Tel-el-Kebir and the desert warfare of the +Soudan, there has been a succession of conflicts, with only a short +interval of a few years between; so that the food on which picture +newspapers thrive best has been abundantly supplied, and this remarkable +offspring of the printing-press has consequently increased and +multiplied, and is now found in every corner of the earth, 'from China +to Peru.' The reader may form some idea of the magnitude of the +operations in connexion with illustrated journalism when I state that at +the marriage of the Prince of Wales the _Illustrated London News_ of +that week consisted of three sheets, and 930,000 sheets were printed of +that issue in one week. These sheets, if placed side by side, would +cover 660 miles, so that, as they were printed on both sides, they +represent a printed surface of, after deductions for margin, more than +1115 miles in length. Nearly eighty tons of paper and twenty-three +hundredweight of printing-ink were used in the production of that +number. Larger quantities have been printed of some issues, but the +production was spread over a longer period of time. 930,000 sheets is +the largest quantity ever printed _in one week_. It will thus be seen +what an amount of business this represents to the paper-maker, the +ink-maker, the wood-draughtsman, the engravers, the electrotypers, the +compositors, printers, machine-men, roller-makers, warehousemen, and the +numerous other workers in a newspaper printing-office. + +The first editor of the _Illustrated London News_ was Mr. Bailey, who +was nicknamed 'Alphabet Bailey' on account of the great number of his +Christian names, and the consequent multiplicity of his initials. He was +also called 'Omnibus Bailey' from his having edited a periodical called +the _Omnibus_. These names were given to him to distinguish him from Mr. +Thomas Haynes Bayley, the sentimental song-writer, author of 'I'd be a +Butterfly,' 'The Soldier's Tear,' &c. Dr. Charles Mackay became the +literary and political editor of the paper in 1848, and in 1852 he took +its entire management and control, in which position he continued till +1859, when he resigned. The late John Timbs was for many years on the +editorial staff, and his familiar figure is well remembered in the old +room at 198 Strand, where he sat with paste and scissors, undisturbed by +the noises which surrounded him both inside and outside the house, for +in this one room the whole business of the paper was at one time +conducted. Here the young literary or artistic aspirant, who thought he +saw in the new journal an opening for his hitherto unappreciated +talents, had to explain his proposals before the eyes and in the hearing +of rivals who were waiting for their turn. The place was open to all +comers, and was at once the centre of managerial, financial, and +editorial affairs. But the founder of the paper received all who came +with good-humour and generous feeling, and never disregarded a useful +hint or refused the proffered assistance of a good man. + +Herbert Ingram, the founder of the _Illustrated London News_, was born +at Boston, Lincolnshire, on the 27th of May, 1811. He lost his father +very early, and being sent to the Boston Free School, he there obtained +all the school education he ever received. The course of instruction +through which he passed was of the most circumscribed character, making +his success in after-life all the more remarkable. At the age of +fourteen he was apprenticed to Mr. Jos. Clarke, then a printer living in +the Market Place, Boston. His master soon found that he possessed +industry, patience, and perseverance in a high degree, qualities which +unquestionably lay at the root of his subsequent success in life. He was +always ready to work all night when orders were plentiful, and was +unwilling to abandon anything he began until it was entirely complete. +He established a character for punctuality and trustworthiness, while he +carefully looked after the interests of his employer. At the expiration +of his apprenticeship he came to London and worked for about two years +as a journeyman printer. He then settled in Nottingham, and commenced +business as a printer, bookseller, and newsagent. + +It was at this time Mr. Ingram was struck with the evident partiality of +the public for _illustrated news_. He found such an extraordinary demand +for the numbers of the _Weekly Chronicle_ containing the engravings of +the Greenacre murder that he set seriously to work on the scheme of an +illustrated newspaper, and put himself in communication with Mr. +Marriott, who was then the manager of the _Weekly Chronicle_. But at the +outset it appeared impossible to overcome the difficulty of producing +pictures quick enough and in such numbers as would furnish forth a paper +while the news was fresh. In the gradual development of the first +illustrated newspaper it was, however, found that the draughtsmen and +engravers of the day were fully equal to the demands made upon them, and +a system of quick production was soon established which kept the paper +on a level with current events. + +Mr. Ingram, who had settled in London before he started the _Illustrated +London News_, entered heart and soul into his new enterprise. He had +much to learn, and many things to do that were neither easy nor +pleasant, but he had the rare faculty of picking out the right men to +help him. It was his wise policy to employ the best talent, and in order +to have it to pay its possessor munificently. He was brought closely +into connexion with the artistic and literary world, by whom he was +sincerely respected, and with whom his dealings were uniformly marked by +kindness and liberality. Though he had not himself received the +advantages of literary or artistic culture, he was able to do much in +diffusing a knowledge and love of art amongst the people. His enterprise +helped to change the character of public taste, and allured it into +channels which were previously open only to the wealthy and the refined. +His practical knowledge as a printer and newsagent were of infinite +value in organizing and conducting the varied details of newspaper +business. He was ever on the watch, and made opportunities where other +men would have been indifferent and inactive. When a new Archbishop of +Canterbury was installed the number of the paper containing an engraving +of the ceremony was sent to every clergyman in England, and this was +followed by a large and permanent increase in the number of +subscribers--the first large rise in the sale since the paper began. At +a much later date--long after the paper had become firmly +established--the French authorities stopped the sale of the _Illustrated +London News_ in Paris on account of some article reflecting on the +Emperor Napoleon. Mr. Ingram happened to be in Paris at the time, and he +immediately showed that the old energy and perseverance of the +Nottingham newsvendor had not forsaken him. He used great exertions to +get the paper released, in which he at length succeeded, and he himself +afterwards went round in a cab and delivered the numbers to the various +subscribers. When he was at Nottingham he walked five miles (and of +course five miles back) to supply a gentleman with a single paper; and +on one occasion he got up at two in the morning, and travelled to London +to get some papers, the ordinary post not arriving soon enough to +satisfy the curiosity of his customers. His exertions were rewarded by +the sale of more than 1000 copies of that paper in Nottingham alone. +This was probably one of the occasions which struck him so forcibly when +the Nottingham public manifested such an eager interest in _illustrated +news_. + +Throughout his life Mr. Ingram was devoted to the interests of his +native town, and in return the people of Boston, in 1856, elected him as +their representative in Parliament. At the general election which +occurred after the dissolution in 1857 he was returned again. Amongst +other social and political questions in which he took an active interest +he was prominent in the agitation for the repeal of the stamp duty on +newspapers. He also exerted himself zealously for the repeal of the +paper duty, but he died before that important movement was brought to a +successful issue. In 1848 Mr. Ingram started a cheap daily paper--the +_Morning Telegraph_--upon which he spent a large amount of money. He +was, however, before the time in this instance. The era of cheap daily +papers had not begun, and after a time the new speculation was +abandoned. He was one of the original shareholders of the _Great +Eastern_ steamship, and was on board the giant vessel when the accident +occurred on her trial trip from the Nore to Portland Harbour. It is a +remarkable circumstance that the dreadful catastrophe in which he lost +his life happened on the anniversary of this accident on board the +_Great Eastern_. + +[Illustration: HERBERT INGRAM, FOUNDER OF THE 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON +NEWS.'] + +In 1860 Mr. Ingram visited America accompanied by his eldest son. They +left Liverpool in the _North American_ on the 9th of August, and landed +at Quebec in time to witness, after traversing the Lower St. Lawrence, +the knocking in of the 'last wedge' of the Victoria Bridge at Montreal +by the Prince of Wales. They then went on to Niagara, where they stayed +some days. From Niagara Mr. Ingram proceeded to Chicago, intending to +cross the prairies, and to follow the Mississippi to New Orleans, and +thence to New York, but more especially to Boston, which old +associations of history had determined him to make the conclusion of his +sojourn in the United States. He altered his plans, however, and decided +to visit Lake Superior, and to prolong his stay in America, proposing to +return to England about the end of October. + +Mr. Ingram left Chicago at midnight on the 7th of September, accompanied +by his son, in the _Lady Elgin_ steamer, bound on an excursion up Lakes +Michigan and Superior. Nearly four hundred persons were on board. The +wind blew hard from the north-east, and a heavy sea was running, but no +one thought of danger, and there was music and dancing in the saloon. +Thirty miles from Chicago and ten miles from land, about two o'clock on +the morning of the 8th, there came a sudden crash. The schooner +_Augusta_, sailing at the rate of eleven knots an hour, had struck the +_Lady Elgin_ on the midships gangway, and then, having her sails set, +and the wind blowing freshly, drifted off in the darkness. At first it +was not thought that any serious damage had been done to the steamer, +but those on board soon found that she was settling fast. The captain +ordered parts of the woodwork of the vessel to be cut adrift to serve as +rafts, and made such other provisions as the hurry would allow. In less +than half-an-hour the hurricane deck floated off, and the hulk with the +machinery went to the bottom with a tremendous noise. When the vessel +parted all lights were extinguished, and the unfortunate passengers were +left struggling amid the waves in total darkness. The steamer sank in +three hundred feet of water, the sea was running high, and the land was +ten miles away. Some of those who survived to see the dawn were drifted +towards the shore on pieces of the wreck, and were drowned in the surf +in the sight of hundreds of spectators. Out of 393 persons on board +only 114 were saved. Among the drowned were Mr. Ingram and his son. The +body of Mr. Ingram was washed ashore about sixteen miles from Chicago, +and every effort was used to restore animation, but in vain. The body of +his son was never found. + +The citizens of Chicago were profoundly impressed by the melancholy fate +of father and son, so far away from home and friends. Mr. Ingram's +remains were escorted from the Brigg's House Hotel to the railway +station by a procession of more than eight hundred of the British +residents in the neighbourhood. The body was taken to Quebec and +conveyed on board the _Bohemian_ steamer, which arrived at Liverpool on +the 2nd of October. From thence the remains were removed to Boston, and +interred in the new cemetery at Skirbeck, about a mile from the centre +of the town. On the day of the funeral all the shops and places of +business in Boston were closed, the inhabitants filled the streets and +followed the procession up to the gates of the cemetery. It was in every +sense a public funeral, and afforded the strongest testimony of the +respect in which the memory of the deceased was held by his +fellow-townsmen. Two years afterwards, on October 6th, 1862, a statue of +Mr. Ingram, raised by public subscription, was unveiled in the +market-place at Boston. The life that began in the quaint old +Lincolnshire town and ended amid the stormy waters of Lake Michigan, has +now an enduring memorial standing not far from the spot where Herbert +Ingram was born. + +The _Illustrated London News_ no sooner became an assured success than +it was imitated. The _Pictorial Times_ was the first competitor that +entered the field, and a very strong literary staff was collected to +contend for the new path that had been opened. Douglas Jerrold wrote the +leading articles; Thackeray was critic and reviewer, in which capacity +he reviewed Macaulay's _Essays_ and Disraeli's _Coningsby_; Mark Lemon +was dramatic critic, Peter Cunningham art critic, while Gilbert +A'Beckett was the humorous contributor; the managing editor was Henry +Vizetelly, and Knight Hunt, author of the _Fourth Estate_, afterwards +editor of the _Daily News_, was the sub-editor. One man who has since +become famous as a journalist was amongst the artists employed on the +new paper. Those who only know Mr. George Augustus Sala as a brilliant +writer will be surprised to learn that he is also a facile draughtsman, +and was on the artistic staff of the _Pictorial Times_ in 1847. The +_Pictorial Times_ was continued for several years, but it never achieved +such a measure of success as to become permanently established. A story +used to be told in connexion with it which gave some countenance to the +popular belief that some of the sketches in illustrated newspapers were +evolved from the inner consciousness of the artists. I cannot answer for +the truth of the anecdote, but I know it served to amuse the world of +Bohemia at the time. When the Queen and Prince Albert went first to +Scotland, the newspapers in recording the movements of the royal party +related, among other things (quoting a Scottish contemporary), that Her +Majesty and the Prince had gone one day to 'see the shearing.' The +conductors of the _Pictorial Times_ seeing this, and being anxious to +present their readers with a perfect record of the royal doings, +forthwith set an artist to work to produce a pleasant pastoral scene, +with a group of shepherds _shearing their sheep_--not knowing that +'shearing' in Scotland means _cutting the corn_, and forgetting for the +moment that sheep-shearing is not usually done in the autumn. + +Much energy and capital have been expended on several other attempts to +found pictorial journals in London, but most of them failed to secure a +profitable footing. _Pen and Pencil_ contained some capital cuts by +Linton; and the _Illustrated Times_, a threepenny paper, was well done. +The _Illustrated News of the World_, in addition to numerous woodcuts, +issued portraits engraved on steel. _The Ladies' Newspaper_ was started +to fill a supposed void in journalism, but was ultimately absorbed by +the _Queen_, in which connexion it still flourishes. The _Illustrated +Midland News_ was brought out in Manchester, but it could not find in +that city and its neighbourhood sufficient sustenance to subsist beyond +a brief period. The _Illustrated London and Provincial News_ in its +title endeavoured to attract both town and country, but it only had a +short career. While these different ventures were in progress, the +_Penny Illustrated Paper_ appealed to a lower stratum of the public with +great success, and it has now a very large sale, having combined the +_Illustrated Times_ with its original title. In some of these +enterprises the promoters appear to have been unable to shake off, in +choosing their titles, the fascinating influence of the word +'illustrated.' A joint-stock company broke the spell, and started a +paper with the very original title of the _Graphic_ on the eve of the +great war between France and Germany. It was a most favourable time for +establishing a new paper, and the conductors handled the opportunity +with great ability and success. The printing and general _get-up_ of the +_Graphic_ are excellent, and it has earned for itself a wide popularity. +The _Pictorial World_ was started as a threepenny paper, and after +existing several years at that price it became the property of a company +and was raised to sixpence. During the Egyptian War it made strenuous +efforts to obtain a footing on the same platform with the _Illustrated +London News_ and the _Graphic_. The large lithographic portraits +published by the _Pictorial World_ were very good. As the public taste +improved under the influence of the pictorial press new fields were +opened up for cultivation by the enterprising journalist. The +_Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News_ addressed itself not only to +the sportsman and actor, but also to that section of the public which +finds amusement in the incidents and humours of the sporting world and +the stage. It has deservedly obtained a good position. The last new +comer on the journalistic stage is the _Ladies' Pictorial_, which has +recently been enlarged and greatly improved. Its light and elegant +contents are well suited to the tastes of its numerous patrons. All the +existing illustrated papers in London have their publishing offices in +the 'Line of Literature,' as Fleet Street and the Strand have been +called. In the streets and courts in the neighbourhood are housed +numbers of engravers and draughtsmen, who find it mutually convenient to +work in the vicinity of the head-quarters of pictorial journalism. Many +of the same fraternity consume the midnight oil in distant suburbs, +their work gravitating to the great centre in the morning. + +All the countries of Europe, the United States, some of the cities of +South America, the Colonies of Canada and Australia, have now their +illustrated newspapers. Some of them supplement their own productions by +reproducing the engravings from the English papers, and many have +attained a high degree of artistic merit. The American journals are +especially noteworthy for their excellent engravings. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + How an Illustrated Newspaper is + Produced--Wood-engraving--Boxwood--Blocks for Illustrated + Newspapers--Rapid Sketching--Drawing on the Block--Method of Dividing + the Block for Engraving--Electrotyping--Development of the Printing + Machine--Printing Woodcuts--Machinery for Folding Newspapers--Special + Artists--Their Dangers and Difficulties--Their Adventures in War and + Peace. + + +In describing the production of a modern pictorial newspaper, I take the +_Illustrated London News_ as the type of its class, because it was the +first paper of the kind that was ever established. The art of +wood-engraving, to which the illustrated newspaper owes its existence, +has been fully described by competent authors. The best work on the +subject is that produced by the late John Jackson in 1839; but since +that date the resources of the art have been greatly developed, chiefly +through the influence of illustrated newspapers. + +The material used for wood-engraving is box-wood, which is preferred to +all other kinds of wood on account of its close grain, hardness, and +light colour. It admits of finer and sharper lines being cut upon it +than any other wood, and great quantities are consumed in producing the +engravings of an illustrated newspaper. According to Mr. J. R. Jackson, +Curator of the Kew Museum, the box-tree is at the present time widely +distributed through Europe and Asia, being found abundantly in Italy, +Spain, Southern France, and on the coast of the Black Sea, as well as +China, Japan, Northern India, and Persia. The box of English growth is +so small as to be almost useless for commercial purposes. What is called +Turkey box-wood is the best, and this is all obtained from the forests +that grow on the Caucasus, and is chiefly shipped at Poti and Rostoff. +The forests extend from thirty to a hundred and eighty miles inland, but +many of them are in the hands of the Russian Government and are closed +to commerce. Within the last few years a supply of box-wood has been +obtained from the forests in the neighbourhood of the Caspian Sea; but +Turkey box is becoming dearer every year and inferior in quality. After +the wood is cut in the forest, it is brought down on horseback to the +nearest river, put on board flat-bottom boats, and floated down to the +port of shipment. It arrives in this country either at Liverpool or +London, chiefly the former, and is usually in logs about four feet long +and eight or ten inches across. + +[Illustration: BACK OF A BLOCK, SHOWING THE WAY IN WHICH THE PARTS ARE +FASTENED TOGETHER.] + +The wood intended for engraving purposes is first carefully selected and +then cut up into transverse slices about an inch thick. After being cut, +the pieces are placed in racks something like plate-racks, and +thoroughly seasoned by slow degrees in gradually heated rooms. This +seasoning process ought to last, on an average, four or five years; but +the exigencies of trade seldom allow of so long a time. They are then +cut into parallelograms of various sizes, the outer portion of the +circular section near the bark being cut away, and all defective wood +rejected. These parallelograms are then assorted as to size, and fitted +together at the back by brass bolts and nuts. By this means blocks of +any size can be made, and they possess the great advantage of being +capable of being taken to pieces after a drawing is made, and +distributed among as many engravers as there are pieces in the block. +This invention of making bolted blocks was brought forward just about +the time the _Illustrated London News_ was started, when large blocks +and quick engraving came to be in demand. In the days of the _Penny +Magazine_, blocks were made by simply glueing the pieces of wood +together, or they were fastened by means of a long bolt passing through +the entire block. + +The cut given on the opposite page represents the back of a half-page +block of the _Illustrated London News_, and shows the way in which the +bolts and nuts are used for fastening the different parts of the block +together. + +For the production of a pictorial newspaper a large staff of draughtsmen +and engravers is required, who must be ready at a moment's notice to +take up any subject, and, if necessary, work day and night until it is +done. The artist who supplies the sketch has acquired by long practice a +rapid method of working, and can, by a few strokes of his pencil, +indicate a passing scene by a kind of pictorial shorthand, which is +afterwards translated and extended in the finished drawing. The sketch +being completed on paper, the services of the draughtsman on wood come +into requisition, for it is not often that the drawing on the block is +made by the same person who supplies the sketch. Sometimes the sketch to +be dealt with is the production of an amateur, or is so hastily or +indifferently done that it has to be remodelled or rearranged in drawing +it on the wood. Faulty or objectionable portions have to be left out or +subdued, and perhaps a point in the sketch that is quite subordinate, is +brought forward and made to form a prominent part of the picture. All +this has to be done without doing violence to the general truth of the +representation, and with due consideration for the particular conditions +of the moment, such as the amount of finish and distribution of light +and shade suitable for rapid engraving and printing. + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF SKETCH: SURRENDER OF SEDAN.] + +[Illustration: THE SURRENDER OF SEDAN. FROM THE 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON +NEWS,' SEPT. 17, 1870.] + +An example of the adaptation of a rapid sketch occurs in the engraving +of the surrender of Sedan, published in the _Illustrated London News_, +September 17, 1870. This sketch, which carries with it the strongest +evidence of being taken 'under fire,' came to hand a few hours before +the engravings for the current week were to be ready for the printer. +The cream or heart of the sketch, representing an officer waving a white +flag over the gate of Sedan attended by a trumpeter, was taken for the +subject, while the comparatively unimportant part of the sketch was left +out. The drawing was rapidly executed and as rapidly engraved, and was +ready for press at the usual time. I give a reduced copy of the +engraving, together with a facsimile reduction of the original sketch, +which will show the reader the way in which hurried sketches are +sometimes adapted to the purposes of a newspaper without at all +impairing their original truth. + +Sometimes more than one draughtsman is employed on a drawing where the +subject consists of figures and landscape, or figures and architecture. +In such a case, if time presses, the two parts of the drawing are +proceeded with simultaneously. The whole design is first traced on the +block; the bolts at the back of the block are then loosened, the parts +are separated, and the figure-draughtsman sets to work on his division +of the block, while another draughtsman is busied with the landscape or +architecture, as the case may be. Occasionally, when there is very great +hurry, the block is separated piece by piece as fast as the parts of the +drawing are finished--the engraver and draughtsman thus working on the +same subject at the same time. Instances have occurred where the +draughtsman has done his work in this way, and has never seen the whole +of his drawing together. The double-page engraving of the marriage of +the Prince of Wales in the _Illustrated London News_, March 21, 1863, +was drawn on the wood by Sir John Gilbert at 198 Strand, and as fast as +each part of the drawing was done it was separated from the rest and +given to the engraver. Considering that the artist never saw his drawing +entire, it is wonderful to find the engraving so harmonious and +effective. Photographing on the wood is now in general use for +portraits, sculpture, architecture, and other subjects where there is a +picture or finished drawing on paper to work from. + +The drawing on wood being completed, it passes into the hands of the +engraver, and the first thing he does is to cut or set the lines across +all the joins of the block before the different parts are distributed +among the various engravers. This is done partly to ensure as far as +possible some degree of harmony of colour and texture throughout the +subject. When all the parts are separated and placed in the hands of +different engravers each man has thus a sort of _key-note_ to guide him +in the execution of his portion, and it should be his business to +imitate and follow with care the colour and texture of the small pieces +of engraving which he finds already done at the edge of his part of the +block where it joins the rest of the design. The accompanying cuts +represent a block entire and the same subject divided. + +[Illustration: A BLOCK BEFORE IT IS TAKEN TO PIECES.] + +[Illustration: THE SAME SUBJECT DIVIDED.] + +Though this system of subdividing the engraving effects a great saving +of time, it must be admitted that it does not always result in the +production of a first-rate work of art as a whole. For, supposing the +subject to be a landscape with a good stretch of trees, the two or three +engravers who have the trees to engrave have, perhaps, each a different +method of rendering foliage; and when the whole is completed, and the +different pieces are put together, the trees perhaps appear like a piece +of patchwork, with a distinct edge to each man's work. To harmonise and +dovetail (so to speak) these different pieces of work is the task of the +superintending artist, who retouches the first proof of the engraving +and endeavours to blend together the differences of colour and +texture. This is often no easy task, for the press is generally waiting, +and the time that is left for such work is often reduced to minutes +where hours would scarcely suffice to accomplish all that might be done. +Or the block to be engraved may be a marine subject, with a stormy sea. +In this case, like the landscape, two or three engravers may be employed +upon the water, each of them having a different way of representing that +element. Here it is even more difficult than in the landscape to blend +the conflicting pieces of work, and requires an amount of 'knocking +about' that sometimes astonishes the original artist. All this is the +necessary result of the hurry in which the greater part of newspaper +engravings have to be produced. When the conditions are more favourable +better things are successfully attempted, and of this the illustrated +newspapers of the day have given abundant proofs. + +It is obvious that when a block is divided and the parts are distributed +in various hands, if any accident should occur to one part the whole +block is jeopardised. It is much to the credit of the fraternity of +engravers that this rarely or ever happens. I only remember one instance +of a failure of this kind within my own experience. An engraver of +decidedly Bohemian character, after a hard night's work on the tenth +part of a page block, thought fit to recruit himself with a cheering +cup. In the exhilaration that followed he lost the piece of work upon +which he had been engaged, and thereby rendered useless the efforts of +himself and his nine compatriots. + +When the block is finished the parts are screwed together by means of +the brass bolts and nuts at the back of the block. It is then delivered +to the electrotyper, who first takes a mould of the block in wax, which +mould is then covered with a thin coating of blacklead, that being a +good conductor of electricity. The mould is then suspended by a brass +rod in a large bath filled with a solution of sulphate of copper and +sulphuric acid. A strong current of electricity, obtained from a +dynamo-electric machine close at hand, is conducted to the wax mould in +the bath and also to a sheet of copper which is placed near the mould. +The electricity decomposes the copper and deposits it in small particles +on the mould, on which a thin coating of copper is gradually formed, +producing an exact facsimile of the original engraved block. This copper +reproduction of the woodcut is filled in at the back with metal, mounted +on wood, and is then ready for the printer, who has his 'overlays' all +ready, and the business of printing begins. + +There is nothing more wonderful in the history of printing than the +rapid development of the printing machine and the extraordinary increase +of its productive power. The ordinary press, though greatly improved, +was found quite inadequate to the demands made upon it; and, the +attention of practical men being directed to some more rapid means of +production, the steam printing machine was invented. As early as 1790 +Mr. W. Nicholson obtained letters patent for a machine very similar to +those since in use; but it was not till 1814 that any practical use was +made of the steam printing machine. In that year a German named Koenig +constructed a machine for the _Times_ newspaper, which worked +successfully; but, though highly ingenious, the machine was very +complicated, and it was soon superseded by the invention of Messrs. +Applegarth and Cowper, possessing several novel features. This machine, +again, was replaced by another where the type was arranged vertically. +Then came Hoe's American machines, and finally the Walter Press, the +principle of which last invention has, in the Ingram Rotary Machine, +been successfully applied to the printing of cheap illustrated +newspapers. By the old 'two-feeder' machines the engravings were printed +on one side of the sheet, and, by a second printing, the type on the +other side. They turned out 1500 impressions of the engravings in an +hour, while the type side was printed (by a six-feeder American machine) +at the rate of 12,000 impressions an hour. The _Penny Illustrated Paper_ +is printed by the Ingram Rotary Machine at the rate of 6500 an hour. It +prints both sides of the sheet at once, cuts each number to its proper +size, folds it, and turns it out complete. It occupies no more space +than an ordinary perfecting machine, and only requires four men to +attend to it, while thirty men and five 'two-feeders' would be required +to do the same amount of work by the old system. + +If a block be well engraved and carefully used in printing there is +practically no limit to the number of impressions that may be taken from +it. The blocks in the Christmas number of the _Illustrated London News_ +of 1882 had 425,000 impressions taken from them, and they are still good +for a new edition of the like number. + +After the paper is printed each sheet is neatly folded by folding +machines, which fold the entire edition in a few hours. One +double-action folding machine will fold fifty sheets in a minute. As it +is found that machinery for folding newspapers works much better at a +moderate speed, in the case of the Ingram Rotary Machine it has been +arranged in duplicate, so that each folder only works at half the speed +of the printing machine. The folding machine completes its work by +inserting the paper in its cover; but as the _Illustrated London News_ +has not sufficient space for machines to carry out the whole of this +part of the business, a number of women and girls are employed, whose +nimble fingers supplement the work of the folding machines. + +[Illustration: THE EVE OF A BATTLE: NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS SLEEPING ON +THE FIELD.] + +In these days of electric telegraphy Puck's notion of putting 'a girdle +round about the earth in forty minutes' is not so very far from being +realised. The London citizen as he sips his coffee at his villa in the +suburbs runs his eye over the pages of his morning paper, and reads of +events that took place yesterday many thousand miles away. Before he +starts for business he is informed of what is passing on every side of +the inhabited earth. This rapid transmission of intelligence is somewhat +damaging to the illustrated newspaper, for by the time it can publish +sketches of interesting events in far distant countries the freshness +of the news is gone, and the public mind is occupied with later +occurrences. Until some method is invented of sending sketches by +electricity the pictorial press must endure this disadvantage, but in +the meantime it spares no pains to overtake the march of events. +Wherever there is any 'moving accident by flood or field' the 'special +artist' of the illustrated newspaper is found 'takin' notes.' No event +of interest escapes his ever ready pencil. He undergoes fatigues, +overcomes formidable difficulties, and often incurs personal danger in +fulfilling his mission. On the eve of a battle he will sleep on the bare +ground wrapped in a blanket or waterproof sheet, and he will ride all +night through a hostile country to catch the homeward mail. He is +equally at home in the palace and the hovel, and is as ready to attend a +battle as a banquet. He thought nothing of stepping over to China to +attend the nuptials of the celestial Emperor; and on that occasion +extended his travels until he had completed the circuit of the globe, +winding up with a run on the war-path among the American Indians. He +assisted at the laying of the telegraph cable between Europe and +America, and diversified his labours, and showed the versatility of his +powers by taking part in an impromptu dramatic entertainment which he +and his comrades got up for the occasion, and which they appropriately +called 'A Cable-istic Extravaganza.' He was at the opening of the Suez +Canal, and he passed with the first railway train through the Mont Cenis +tunnel. In pursuing his vocation the special artist has to encounter the +perils of earth, air, fire, and water. Now he is up in a balloon, now +down in a coal-mine; now shooting tigers in India, now deer-stalking in +the Highlands. Dr. Schliemann no sooner announced that he had discovered +the site of Troy than the special artist was down upon the spot at once. +He is found risking his life in the passes of Afghanistan, and in +Zululand assisting at the defeat and capture of Cetywayo. Now he is at +the bombardment of Alexandria, and now facing the savage warriors of +the Soudan at El-Teb and Tamasi. At the present time (November, 1884), +he is on his way up the Nile with the expedition for the relief of +General Gordon at Khartoum, and he is in India with the Boundary +Commissioners exploring the dangerous passes of the Afghan frontier. In +peace or war the special artist pursues his purpose with stoical +self-possession in spite of cold, hunger, and fatigue. + +[Illustration: A CABLE-ISTIC EXTRAVAGANZA, PERFORMED BY NEWSPAPER +CORRESPONDENTS ON BOARD THE _GREAT EASTERN_, AT SEA, JULY, 1866.] + +The special artist may be said to have commenced his career with the +Crimean War. While the signs of the coming storm were yet distant the +_Illustrated London News_ sent the late Mr. S. Read to the expected +scene of action, and during the whole course of the war special artists +were on the shores of the Black Sea and in the Baltic to chronicle the +great events of the time. The world had scarcely forgotten Balaklava and +Inkerman when the war between Italy, France, and Austria broke out. +Solferino and Magenta were fought, Garibaldi conquered Sicily, and +wherever the interest was greatest there the special artist was found. +Special artists went with the contending armies when Denmark opposed +herself single-handed to the united forces of Prussia and Austria, and +delineated every important incident of the campaign. When the present +Emperor of Germany was crowned King of Prussia at Koenigsberg special +artists travelled to that ancient city to furnish sketches of the +ceremony. The gigantic civil war in America, and the brief struggle +between Prussia and Austria in 1866, gave active employment to the +special artist; and when a British force advanced into Abyssinia a +special artist was with that most romantic expedition, and sent home +numerous sketches of the remarkable scenery of the country, as well as +of all the principal events of the campaign. The assault on Magdala, the +dispersion of King Theodore's broken army, the customs and dwellings of +the people, were all noted and illustrated. When the great war of 1870, +between France and Prussia, broke out, the illustrated newspapers had +special artists on both sides, who encountered all sorts of hardships, +and passed through all kinds of adventures in fulfilling their duties. +Besides being frequently arrested as spies, and undergoing the +privations of beleagured places, they had also to run the risk of shot +and shell, and sometimes they were obliged to destroy their sketching +materials under fear of arrest. One of them was in custody as a spy no +less than eleven times during the war. The danger of being seen +sketching or found with sketches in their possession was so great that +on one occasion a special artist actually swallowed his sketch to avoid +being taken up as a spy. Another purchased the largest book of cigarette +papers he could obtain, and on them he made little sketches, prepared in +case of danger to smoke them in the faces of his enemies. + +[Illustration: HEADQUARTERS OF SPECIAL ARTIST IN ASIA MINOR, 1877.] + +[Illustration: ARREST OF NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS AT METZ, DURING THE +FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.] + +The following extract from a letter I received from a special artist +during the war, will give some idea of the trouble and danger of +sketching:-- + +'Of the trouble I have taken to get these sketches you can have no +conception. The plan I have been obliged to adopt is this. I walk about +quietly, apparently noticing only the goods in the shop-windows. When I +see anything, I make memoranda on small bits of tissue paper, perhaps in +a cafe, or while appearing to look at the water from the top of a +bridge, or on the side of an apple, with a big knife in my hand +pretending to peel it. These little mems I roll up into pills, place +them handy in my waistcoat pocket to be chewed up or swallowed if "in +extremis." When I get home at night, first making sure that I am not +overlooked by way of the window, I unroll these little pills, and from +those mems make a complete outline on a thin piece of white paper. Then +I paste these sketches face to face, trim the edges, and it looks like a +plain piece of paper, but hold it up to the light and the sketch shows. +So I make memoranda all over it,--the times of trains starting, prices +of articles, or extracts from newspapers. When I get to a place of +safety, I soak these pieces of paper in water, pull the sketches apart, +and from them have made the sketches I have forwarded to you. If I could +not get into a place of safety to make the sketches, I don't know what +I should do, in fact I don't think I could do anything, for I would not, +for any consideration _be found making a sketch, nor with a sketch in my +possession_; nor should I dare post a sketch at the "Bureaux de poste," +but I might get it into a street box.' + +Another special artist being at Metz, found himself in the midst of a +population infected with what he called the 'spy-fever.' About a dozen +English newspaper correspondents were there, and they became a united +body through persecution. There was always about a fourth of their +number in prison, and what most persons would have considered to be +clear evidence that they were not spies, was in the minds of the French +clear evidence that they were. If they were told that the correspondent +of an English newspaper could not possibly be a spy, the reply was that +that was just the character that a _cochon_ of a Prussian spy would +assume. The townspeople of Metz became quite wild when they heard of the +French defeats at Woerth and Forbach, and when they saw an artist +sketching the Emperor's carriage, they pounced upon him as a Prussian +spy, and he and his companions were marched off in custody, amid the +hootings of the mob. The following account of this affair is extracted +from the _Illustrated London News_ of August 20, 1870: 'Three of the +representatives of London papers, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Henry Mayhew and his +son, went to the railway station, having heard a rumour that the Emperor +was about to start for the front, and also that a train full of the +wounded was expected to arrive. At the station they met Mr. Stuart, +another newspaper correspondent, who had just come from Italy, having +travelled all night. They found the Emperor's carriage and horses +waiting to be forwarded by a train on the railway towards St. Avold. Our +artist thought it would be doing no harm to employ the few minutes of +his waiting at the station in making a slight sketch of the carriage and +horses, which might be useful as materials for an illustration of some +future scene where the same equipage might figure. He took a small +sketch-book and pencil out of his pocket and quickly finished this +little drawing. There was no attempt at concealment; he even showed his +sketch to one of the bystanders who was close to him, and who seemed to +watch his movements with some curiosity. Mr. Simpson then rejoined his +three English companions, but had scarcely done so before they were +surrounded by a large party of artillery soldiers, who wore undress +jackets and had not their arms with them. They were taken into custody, +each one placed between two soldiers, and thus were marched through the +streets of Metz to the Place de la Cathedral. A mob of people followed, +increasing as they went on, and reviling the foreigners as "Sacres +Prusses," or "Cochons de Prusses," threatening vengeance upon them, +which might probably have been taken if their violence had not been +restrained by the presence of the soldiers. The whole party were then +brought into the guard-room, where several persons came forward as their +accusers to denounce them as spies of the enemy, lurking about Metz with +a hostile and insidious purpose. The chief evidence against one of them +was that he had bought three copies of a Metz local newspaper; another +was suspected because he had been seen four days successively in the +same cafe, "and always sitting in the same seat;" a third could be no +true man, because, while he said he belonged to a London paper, he +confessed that he had just come from Florence. The main charge against +Mr. Simpson was that he did not lodge at an hotel, but in a private +house. These particulars were repeated to the crowd outside, which +filled the whole Place, and was in a state of raging fury; till at last +the officers in charge made their appearance and commenced a more +regular examination. Our artist produced his passport, which was +approved as in due order; but his little sketch-book, with its scraps of +notes and bits of outline, seemed to contain matter for serious +investigation. In spite of his awkward and rather alarming position, he +was struck with the absurdity of viewing such innocent scrawls as proof +of heinous guilt. He endeavoured, however, with the assistance of Mr. +Mayhew, to explain what they were, and to persuade the officers that +they could do no harm. After a tedious detention, they were permitted to +write a note to a friend, who instantly went to the Provost-Marshal, and +at once got an order for their immediate release. Their private letters +and papers were examined. Several other persons, Frenchmen as well as +foreigners, including one who was the artist employed by a Paris +illustrated paper, were arrested at Metz on the same day; and more than +one of them suffered rough usage at the hands of the mob. On the next +day they were all ordered to leave the town.' The following is a +facsimile of the sketch that produced all this commotion. + +[Illustration: THE EMPEROR'S CARRIAGE AT METZ.] + +The same artist who made his sketches into pills, being at Bremerhafen, +found himself so watched and dogged by the police and others who had +observed he was a stranger, that he could not make the sketch he wanted. +After much walking about he at length returned to the place where he +desired to sketch, and sitting down at the edge of the harbour he began +to draw lines with his umbrella on the mud, as if in a fit of +abstraction, and soon had sketched in this way the principal points of +the scene before him. This he repeated several times, until the view +was fixed in his memory, when he retired to the railway-station, and +there, unobserved, committed the scene to his sketch-book. On another +occasion, in the neighbourhood of Mezieres, he was driven at nightfall +to seek a lodging in a very lonely and villainous looking inn. The +occupants of the place looked upon him with evil eyes, and dreading lest +one more should be added to the numerous graves already near the +cabaret, he betook himself to a neighbouring wood, where he spent the +whole night surrounded by the carcases of dead horses. At Lyons he +penetrated into the theatre where the people were storing corn and flour +in anticipation of a siege. He had made some hasty notes in his +sketch-book, when he was observed and obliged to retreat, followed, +however, by several men. He had noticed an umbrella shop round the +corner in the next street, and into this shop he rushed, seized an +umbrella, opened it, and kept it expanded between himself and the door, +as if examining the quality of the silk, while his pursuers ran past, +when he demanded the price of the umbrella, paid the money, and walked +off, glad to escape at so small a cost. Sometimes his adventures had a +more amusing termination. When the spy-fever prevailed very strongly +both in France and Germany, he was one day looking into a shop-window +when he became conscious that he was watched by two officers. 'Now,' +thought he, 'I am in for it again, and shall certainly be arrested.' +This feeling was confirmed as one of the officers advanced towards him, +and raising his hand as if to seize him by the collar, addressed him +thus: 'Permit me, monsieur, to adjust the string of your shirt collar, +which has escaped from behind your cravat.'[1] This gentleman was +somewhat old-fashioned in his costume, and during his wanderings was +sometimes mistaken for a sea-captain. He had even received confidential +proposals to discuss the question of freight. + +The _Illustrated London News_ had five artists in the field during the +Franco-German war: W. Simpson, R. T. Landells, G. H. Andrews, C. J. +Staniland, and Jules Pelcoq. From the fact of Landells being already +known to the Crown Prince of Prussia and several of his staff, it was +settled that his destination should be Germany, and I remember that +before his departure he expressed to me just the slightest shade of +discontent that he should be selected to go on what he thought would be +the losing side. He was destined, however, to be present at the +proclamation of the German Emperor in the palace of Versailles, and he +was one of the first to enter Paris after it capitulated to the German +army. Soon afterwards he very nearly experienced the unpleasant +consequences of being taken for a German spy. Landells himself was of a +dark complexion, and might very well have passed for a Frenchman, but on +the occasion referred to he was in the company of a brother artist (Mr. +Sidney Hall, of the _Graphic_), who, being fair, might easily be +mistaken for German. The excited mob of Paris had just vented their rage +on a suspected spy by drowning him in the Seine, and the two special +artists were loitering on the outskirts of the crowd, when Mr. Hall +imprudently took out his sketch-book, which was no sooner perceived than +a cry was raised of 'Prussian spy!' and they too would probably have +been pitched into the river had they not managed, with great difficulty, +to escape from the crowd. + +[Illustration: NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS ON THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT. +SISTOVA, 1877.] + +When the German armies were closing round Paris M. Jules Pelcoq +consented to be shut up in the devoted city for the purpose of supplying +the _Illustrated London News_ with sketches. During the hardships of the +siege he was quite unable to obtain fuel to warm his apartment, and was +compelled to retire to bed, where, wrapped in a blanket, he finished up +the rough sketches he had made out of doors, which were then +photographed and sent off by balloons to London. These balloons were +regularly despatched during the prevalence of winds that would carry +them to the provinces unoccupied by the Germans. They were followed by +Prussian light cavalry as long as they were in sight, and some were +captured. Afterwards, as the city became more closely invested, and the +danger increased, the precaution was taken of despatching the balloons +at night, and the time fixed on was kept concealed from all save those +immediately concerned, in order to avoid, as far as possible, the +chances of its being communicated to the enemy, and thereby exposing the +aeronauts to the fiery rockets and other projectiles with which the +Germans were prepared to favour them. The railway-stations were +generally chosen as the starting-places, for they not only offered large +open spaces in which to fill the balloons, but, being situated away from +the centre of Paris, there was less risk, in ascending, of coming in +contact with buildings. + +To provide against the loss of sketches so sent, photographic copies +were despatched by other balloons. In some cases two, and even three, +copies of the same sketch reached my hands by balloon-post during the +German investment of Paris. Considering the danger and difficulty of +this mode of communication, the intercourse between the _Illustrated +London News_ and its artist in Paris was kept up pretty regularly during +the whole siege. + +[Illustration: SKETCHING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. HERZEGOVINA, 1876.] + +The requirements of special artists when on the 'war path' vary +according to circumstances. Mr. Simpson, in France during the +Franco-German war, found no scarcity of food, but could seldom get a bed +to sleep in. On the other hand, Mr. Melton Prior, in South Africa and +other hot countries, found that he was never sure of obtaining either +food or drink. During the war in Herzegovina in 1876 the newspaper +correspondents had to rough it pretty considerably. Sometimes, when the +special artist got to a resting-place for the night, he would have to +work up his sketches by the light of a single candle, which he kept in +an upright position by holding it between his feet as he sat on the +ground, while the correspondent of a London 'daily' scribbled his notes +beside him. The difficulty of obtaining sleeping accommodation was +experienced by another artist in Servia, who was obliged one night to go +to rest in a sort of diligence or covered waggon which stood in the inn +yard. It was the only 'spare bed,' and the tired 'special' was very glad +to coil himself up within its recesses. These hardships, however, belong +to the past. Just as the combatants in modern warfare fight their +battles with the most scientific weapons, so the newspaper correspondent +now goes to the field armed with the latest appliances against cold, +fatigue, hunger, and thirst. He provides himself with an abundant +supply of tinned meats and champagne, plenty of clothing, the latest +improvements in saddlery; and when he arrives at the scene of action he +buys as many horses as he wants for himself and servants. Acting on the +experience of former campaigns, Mr. Prior was able in the Zulu War to +travel much more comfortably than any member of the staff, not even +excepting Lord Chelmsford himself. 'I had then no fewer than five +horses: two in the shafts of my American waggon, one for myself, one for +my servant, and one spare horse. I followed the army through all its +marches in my travelling carriage, and on the eve of the Battle of +Ulundi I was the only man who had a tent; all the others lay down in the +open.' + +[Illustration: THE SPARE BED.] + +While recording the progress of events--the deeds of war mingling with +the works of peace--the pictorial press is not unmindful of what is done +in the cause of humanity. One of the recent experiences of the special +artist was in making a journey across Siberia in search of the survivors +of the crew of the American exploring ship _Jeanette_. Mr. J. Gordon +Bennett, the proprietor of the _New York Herald_, having sent out a +commissioner to search for the missing expedition, he was joined by the +special artist of the _Illustrated London News_. They had before them +a journey of two or three thousand miles, and they travelled in one of +the covered sledges used in Siberia in the winter time. It was their +travelling carriage by day and their sleeping apartment at night. +Sometimes they had to turn out and defend themselves from the wolves +which followed them over the snowy waste. The artist on this occasion +was Mr. Larsen, of Copenhagen, who proved himself a first-rate special. + +[Illustration: SPECIAL ARTIST'S TENT.] + +When the effects of a deadly climate are added to the usual chances of +war, the courage and endurance of the newspaper correspondent are doubly +tried. The 'specials' of the principal London journals joined the +Ashantee expedition with as much alacrity as if they had been going to a +review in Hyde Park. Among them was Mr. Melton Prior, the artist of the +_Illustrated London News_, who landed at Cape Coast Castle before the +arrival of the British troops, marched with them to Coomassie, and +remained in that place till it was destroyed by the victors. But the +long march in such a climate had exhausted the strength of many, and the +special artist was among the number. On nearing Coomassie he could no +longer trust to his own unaided powers of locomotion, so he laid hold on +the tail of a mule which he saw ambling before him, and so was helped +forward. The gentleman who was riding the mule turned round, when it +proved to be Sir Garnet Wolseley himself, who, in answer to the +exhausted artist's apologies, good-humouredly told him to 'hold on!' + +While coolness and courage are indispensable qualifications for the +special artist, if he can sometimes accomplish a little harmless +dissimulation he finds it very useful. In 1877, during the war between +Russia and Turkey, a special artist overcame the difficulties he +encountered in getting to the front by assuming the character of a +camp-follower, and professing to sell composite candles, German +sausages, Russian hams, dried fish, Dutch cheese, &c., and when passing +Cossacks became importunate they were propitiated with a candle or two, +a slice of cheese, or a packet of Roumanian tobacco. In like manner +the artist who went to the port of Ferrol to accompany Cleopatra's +Needle to London shipped on board the tug _Anglia_ as a coal-trimmer, +and signed the usual articles as one of the crew, there being no room +for passengers. After the successful voyage of the tug the artist left +her at Gravesend, being anxious to bring his sketches to head-quarters; +but until he was legally discharged from service he ran the unpleasant +risk of being taken up for absconding from his ship. + +[Illustration: NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS STARTING FOR SIBERIA.] + +Not the least of a special artist's troubles is to get his sketches sent +home without loss of time. Mr. Simpson, who has had a large and varied +experience as a special artist, having been all round the world in that +capacity, gives it as his opinion that the first duty of a special +correspondent when he arrives at the scene of action is to find out the +post-office, if he happens to be in a part of the world where such a +civilised institution exists. He should take care to post all his +packets himself, and never trust to any one else. He says, 'In all my +various travels I never lost a packet but once, and that was during the +week's fighting at the time of the Commune in Paris. There were three +sketches in the packet. I was very dubious about letting them out of my +hands, but I had been all the week with the correspondent of the +_Times_, who had spent a considerable sum of money upon messengers to +get his letters taken through the lines outside Paris and off to London. +I ventured to let my packet go with his, thinking it was safe, but +neither of them ever reached their destination.' In connexion with this +subject I may quote the following story related by Mr. Prior to the +editor of the _Pall Mall Gazette_:--'I remember one time when I was +attached to Mehemet Ali's head-quarters in Bulgaria during the +Russo-Turkish war. The Turkish censor stopped no fewer than six weeks of +my sketches. Things were getting desperate. Our people were telegraphing +out to know whether I was alive or dead; and, finding that something +must be done, I determined to see the thing through or leave the camp. +It so happened that I had been the witness of some peculiarly +atrocious deeds perpetrated by Turks upon Bulgarians, so I set to work +and drew half-a-dozen faithful representations of the sufferings which I +had witnessed. Armed with these I went up to the censor's office and +asked that they might be stamped for transmission home. The censor +looked at the first and said it was ridiculous. Couldn't pass that; no +such atrocities had ever been committed; and so forth. The second was +condemned in the same way, and so on until the last was reached. When he +had rejected that also I said to him very deliberately, "You are going +to pass every one of these sketches!" "On the contrary," said he, "I am +going to tear them up." "If you do," said I, "I shall draw not only six +but twelve pictures worse than these, and send them home by my own +messenger." "I will have him arrested then," said the censor. "Very +well, then, in that case I shall leave the camp at once, and in London I +will draw twenty pictures all worse than these, and they will all be +published, so that people may see the real truth about how you are +behaving here." The censor, like a sensible man, saw that it was no use +carrying things with too high a hand, and came to terms. He admitted he +had stopped all my sketches, promised to do so no more, and I left him +with my atrocity pictures in my pocket, assuring him that the first +sketch of mine that he stopped again the whole series should go to +London by the next steamer. I never had any more trouble with him in +that respect, though he paid me out by having me arrested some months +later.' + +[Illustration: CAMP OF THE 'TIMES' AND 'ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS'' +CORRESPONDENTS ATTACKED BY WOLVES. BULGARIA, 1877.] + +During the Franco-German War Mr. Simpson often proved the advantage of +his plan of always posting his sketches himself. At the fall of +Strasburg he was in the advanced trench when the white flag was +displayed from the tower of the cathedral. It was late in the evening +when he got home to bed, but he was up with the first streak of dawn +finishing his sketch of the historical event he had witnessed the day +before. He then walked five miles to General Werder's head-quarters to +post the sketch. He wasted no time in trying to get a horse or +carriage, in which he might have failed, nor would he trust the packet +to a messenger. He knew that the slightest delay would postpone the +publication of the sketch for a whole week. The sketch arrived in time, +as he had calculated, for the next publication, and he had the +satisfaction of knowing that on this occasion, as on many others, his +promptitude and energy had well served the interests of the journal he +represented. + +[Illustration: NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS' HUTS ON THE BATTLE-FIELD OF +KACELJEVO, 1877.] + +A special artist has to encounter many troubles and vexations apart from +the dangers and difficulties of war time. When Mr. Simpson was at +Brindisi, on his way to the opening of the Suez Canal, wishing to sketch +the town and fortifications, he ensconced himself in a snug corner, well +sheltered from the 'Bora,' or cold wind that was blowing, and had +settled down comfortably to work, when he was interrupted by a man who +addressed him in Italian, a language Simpson did not understand. He, +however, made out that the man's 'padre' or master would not like +Simpson to be there; but the latter replied in plain English that he +cared nothing for his 'padre,' that he had the permission of the +Commandant to go where he pleased, and so he went on with his sketching. +After much unintelligible talk the man attempted to stop the sketcher's +view by standing between him and the town, but finding the sketching +went on just the same, he suddenly went away and then returned with a +gun, pointing it in a threatening manner towards Simpson, who thought +the gun was perhaps not loaded, or at all events that the man would +never be such a fool as to shoot him, so he merely gave a majestic wave +of his hand and went on with his work. The man's rage then increased to +such a degree that he seized the butt end of his gun, uttering a volley +of curses, and from the word 'testa' Simpson supposed the man wanted to +smash his head. However he never flinched, and the man, lowering his +gun, muttered something about the 'Cani,' and went off again. Presently +he returned dragging with him a huge dog. Simpson felt more afraid of +the dog than the man, but it turned out that the dog had more sense than +his master and refused on any terms to attack the artist. He bolted, +the man after him, and Simpson then armed himself with two stones in +case the attack should be renewed, resolving, like Tell when he devoted +one of his arrows to Gessler, that one stone should be for the dog and +the other for his oppressor. The man however could not get the dog to +return to the attack. He had exhausted the whole of his resources, and +was evidently astonished and annoyed to find he had failed to frighten +the artist, so he finished off with a torrent of curses and then +gradually calmed down. He remained watching the completion of the +sketch, and then obligingly favoured the artist with some criticisms on +his work. He pointed out that a ship in the harbour had been forgotten, +and could not understand that it had been purposely left out because it +interfered with one of the principal buildings. In this instance it was +perhaps best for both parties that they did not understand each other's +language; but the special artist is occasionally placed at a +disadvantage by not understanding the language of the country where he +happens to be. However it rarely leads to more than a temporary +embarrassment, and is often the cause of more amusement than vexation. +Mr. G. H. Andrews on one occasion desired to have a couple of eggs for +breakfast, but could not make the maid of the inn comprehend his +meaning. He tried all he knew of French, Flemish, and German, but the +girl shook her head. At length a bright idea struck the artist. He drew +from his pocket a pencil and note-book, and sketched a couple of oval +forms, meaning them for eggs, and explained by gestures that _that_ was +what he wanted. The girl's face brightened at once when she saw the +sketch, and with a nod of intelligence she tripped away. In a few +minutes she returned and presented the hungry artist with--_a pair of +spectacles!_ + +The late Mr. S. Read, who was one of the first special artists employed +on the pictorial press, travelled much abroad, yet he knew little or +nothing of any language save his mother tongue. Germany, Italy, Austria, +Spain, France, Belgium, Switzerland, were all visited by him, and he got +on very well without speaking the language of any of those countries. He +was a man of genial humour, accustomed to make the best of everything, +and not easily put out by trifles. He was once travelling in the south +of France when a fellow-passenger in the train accosted him in French, +and was much surprised to find he was not understood. + +'Vat!' said the Frenchman; 'you travel and speak no French! Speak you +German?' + +'No.' + +'Nor Italian?' + +'No.' + +'Spanish?' + +'No.' + +'Ah, mon Dieu! you travel and speak noting!' and with a pitying grimace +and shrug of the shoulders he looked round at the other passengers. +Presently our artist took his revenge. As they were passing a town with +a ruined castle on a hill he said, with much fervour, addressing the +Frenchman,-- + +'How beautifully that old tower is relieved by the dark foliage! What a +splendid contrast is the cold grey of the hill behind! How harmoniously +the distance is blended with the middle distance, and the middle +distance with the foreground, by means of the bridge across the river!' +The Frenchman stared, stammered, and confessed he did not comprehend. + +'What!' said our artist; 'you travel and do not understand English!' + +'Ver leetle.' + +'Do you speak Scotch?' + +'Non, m'sieur.' + +'Nor Irish!' + +'Non.' + +'Welsh?' + +'Non.' + +'Suffolk?' + +'Non, non, m'sieur.' + +With an exact imitation of the Frenchman's contemptuous shrug our friend +turned to their fellow-travellers amid the loud laughter of those who +understood the joke. + +When the special artist exercises his vocation at home, though he lacks +the excitement of danger, he meets with many amusing incidents. An +artist who attended the meeting of the British Association at Lincoln +many years ago desired to sketch the house which was reputed to have +been the residence of John o' Gaunt, and asked the waiter at the hotel +if he could direct him to it. 'Johnny Gaunt, Sir?' said the waiter, +evidently puzzled; 'I don't know him, Sir, but I'll inquire.' In a few +minutes he returned and said he had inquired at the bar, but that no +such person as Johnny Gaunt resided thereabouts. Another, who was +something of a wag, was once making a sketch in the heart of St. +Giles's; there were no School Boards in those days, and numbers of idle +street boys surrounded our sketcher, performing all manner of +bewildering gymnastics. Not at all disturbed, however, he amused himself +by asking his young friends numerous questions, all of which were +answered with rapid pertness. At last he inquired of one active imp if +he could read. 'No, I can't read,' said the young gentleman, 'but I can +stand on my head and drink a quartern o' gin.' + +The methods pursued by special artists in obtaining their sketches are +as various as the methods of painters in producing their pictures, or of +authors in writing their books. One man uses a very small sketch-book, +another prefers a large one, but they all require to supplement their +hurried sketches with marginal notes. When there is not time to sketch a +complete cow, it is good to write underneath the sketch, 'This is a +cow.' Many events have to be sketched that last only a few minutes, and +in such cases some little mistakes will occur even with old +practitioners. Literary correspondents are liable to the same +misfortune. At a certain royal marriage in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, +the Lord Chamberlain obligingly sent a gentleman to attend the members +of the press, and inform them as to the name and rank of the +distinguished guests as they entered the chapel. The correspondents +courteously allowed the artists of the pictorial press to take front +places, so that some of their number were unable to see what was going +on, and had to trust to their comrades for information. When the Duke of +A----, in full Highland costume, entered the chapel, there was a general +inquiry, 'Who is that?' 'That,' said the gentleman from the Lord +Chamberlain's department, 'is the Duke of A----, the great Mac Callum +More.' 'Who is it?' cried some of the gentlemen in the background, and +the name was passed on, but by the time it reached the outer fringe of +correspondents it was changed into 'The Duke of A---- with the Great +Claymore,' and under that style and title his grace's name figured in at +least one newspaper next day. + +What may be called the shorthand notes for a sketch are sometimes +difficult to make out without explanation. On one occasion a sketch was +under consideration, when the editor made certain suggestions to the +artist, who was very good natured, and of a most pliant disposition. 'I +think, you know,' said the editor, 'if you were to add two or three more +figures in the foreground it would improve the composition and help to +detach the principal group from this windmill.' 'Well, the fact is,' +replied the artist, 'what you call a windmill I intended for a man on +horseback, but if you think it will come better as a windmill I'll alter +it with pleasure.' + +[Illustration: THE SPECIAL ARTIST ON THE ROAD.] + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [1] This incident was illustrated in _Punch_, and lest I should be + accused of using up old material, I must explain that the hero of the + adventure, on his return to England, told the story to one of the + _Punch_ artists, who made a sketch of the incident, which was + afterwards published. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Artists who have assisted in founding the Pictorial Press--Sir John + Gilbert, R.A., G. H. Thomas, and others--Wood-Engraving and its + Connexion with the Pictorial Press--Other Methods of producing + Illustrations--Wood-Engraving in England before and after Bewick's + time--Its wide Diffusion owing to the kindred Art of Printing--The + resources of the Art developed by Pictorial Newspapers--Conclusion. + Newspapers a Necessity of Civilised Life--The _Acta Diurna_ of the + Romans--Early Newspapers in Venice, Germany, and the Low + Countries--List of Illustrated Newspapers published Abroad. + + +The establishment of the pictorial press as an English institution was +greatly aided by the active co-operation of many distinguished artists, +the very foremost in this connexion being Sir John Gilbert. Other Royal +Academicians and eminent painters have drawn on wood for the illustrated +newspapers, but Gilbert stands out pre-eminently the great popular +illustrator of the Victorian era. He it was who first gave a distinctive +character to the illustration of news. He seemed to possess an inborn +knowledge of the essentials of newspaper art, and could express by a few +freely drawn lines and touches the hurried movement of street crowds or +the state and dignity of Court ceremonies. Whether he had to draw a knight +in armour or a gentleman in a paletot he did it in a way exactly suited to +rapid engraving and printing. The feeling which, in his pictures, makes +him delight in battle-fields, blazoned banners, velvet and gold, made his +drawings on wood brilliant in handling and always picturesque. It was most +fortunate that the commencement of his career was coincident with the +foundation of the pictorial press. William Harvey and other artists were +already in the field, but Gilbert's style was better adapted to newspaper +work. His quickness and versatility made him just the man that was +wanted. Harvey had drawn some of the subjects published in the _Observer_, +but his style was not suited to the illustration of current events. +Nothing came amiss to Gilbert, who supplied the pictorial press for twenty +years with a constant succession of effective drawings, embracing all +kinds of subjects, and he never failed in that most essential quality of a +newspaper artist--_punctuality_. It is as the popular illustrator that the +name of Gilbert stands at the head of that numerous band of artists who +contributed to the foundation of illustrated journalism in this country. + +The late George H. Thomas was not less successful than Gilbert in the +spirit and vigour of his drawings. His bold and eminently artistic +pencil alternated with Gilbert's in portraying the exciting events +following the revolutionary period of 1848-49. His contributions to the +_Illustrated London News_ during the Crimean war were marked by great +force and truthfulness, and procured him the notice and patronage of her +Majesty Queen Victoria. Mr. Thomas's premature death in 1868 was a great +loss to the world of art in general, and to the pictorial press in +particular. + +It is remarkable that many of our distinguished artists should have +begun their careers as engravers or draughtsmen on wood. The production +of works in black and white, whether as engravings or drawings, is no +doubt good artistic practice in the study of light and shade, and the +young artist who draws on wood as a means of helping him to live while +he is waiting for fame, is at the same time pursuing a useful branch of +his art education. Luke Fildes, A.R.A., Birket Foster, W. Small, R. C. +Woodville, C. Gregory, A.R.A., and many others began in this way, and +among deceased artists occur the names of S. Read, E. Duncan, and F. W. +Topham. The two last were both engravers. All these men have done good +work on the pictorial press, and some of them first won distinction +through its medium. Both the _Illustrated London News_ and the _Graphic_ +may claim to have done good service to art and artists in this respect. +Their pages have always been open to young artists of ability, and while +they have helped forward struggling genius they have opened up new +sources of enjoyment to the general public. + +The pictorial press has hitherto been mainly dependent on the art of +wood-engraving for its illustrations, but latterly several inventions +have been used, not unsuccessfully, in the production of blocks in +relief, to be printed in the same manner as woodcuts. The great +improvements that have been made in surface printing render it probable +that in the future these _process_ blocks may be extensively used in +illustrated newspapers. They are recommended by their cheapness and +rapid production; and as the intermediate process of engraving is +dispensed with, they retain the exact touch of the artist, and are not +liable to be mutilated by careless or hasty engraving. It may be said of +all these inventions, however, that they are best suited for slight +sketches, and should not be applied to the production of highly-finished +subjects. For the latter there is nothing better than a woodcut, which, +when well executed and carefully printed, has a richness superior to any +other method of engraving. But in the present day competition is so +great and the march of events is so rapid that cheapness and rapidity of +production will override artistic excellence, and _process_-engraving, +as it is called, will probably be the method adopted for the _daily_ +pictorial press, the era of which is approaching. + +Wood-engraving, as an art, scarcely existed in this country before the +time of Thomas Bewick. To him we owe its revival, and he was thus +indirectly concerned in the creation of the pictorial newspaper. Though +we have seen that the _Grub Street Journal_ and the _Observer_ on a few +occasions used copperplate illustrations, it is perfectly certain that +an illustrated newspaper, properly so-called, never could have existed +but for the art of wood-engraving. It was an essential agent in bringing +into life this novel offspring of the printing press, just as it +assisted in the birth of the old 'block books.' When Caxton brought the +art of printing into this country the woodcuts printed at his press were +probably executed by the printers whom he brought with him. His +successors illustrated their books in the same way, and even after +wood-engraving was practised in England as a distinct profession many of +the illustrations in books and pamphlets were the work of printers. When +something of superior design and finish was wanted, ready-made woodcuts +were procured from Nuremberg or Lyons, then the chief marts for such +productions. The blocks so obtained were sometimes used without much +regard to the book in which they were printed. Cuts originally designed +for an edition of _Ovid_ appeared in the Bible, and no notice was taken +of this mixture of sacred and profane things. Albert Duerer's influence +on the art of wood-engraving was very great, but it never extended to +this country. Hans Holbein, who came to England two years before Duerer's +death, made a few designs for the wood-engravers during his long +residence here. His transient use of the art, however, did not raise it +to a better condition, and printers continued to be the chief producers +of woodcuts. In the time of Queen Elizabeth there flourished a printer +and engraver of the name of John Day, who took for his mark an +emblematic device of the day-spring of the reformed religion, with the +motto, 'Arise, for it is Day.' The best illustrated books of that period +were produced by him. About this time the art was rapidly declining in +other countries, but in England it was in a better condition than at any +previous period. It soon, however, declined in this country also, but +was kept alive by Edward Kirkall, John Baptiste Jackson, and others, +until it was revived by Thomas Bewick. + +The low condition of the art of wood-engraving in this country was +chiefly owing to the want of good designers, and it was not until a man +arose who possessed the power to _draw_ as well as to _engrave_ that an +English school of wood-engraving was created. Bewick possessed the +artistic faculty as a direct gift from nature; and though it was from +accidental circumstances that he was led to exercise this innate power +in drawing and engraving on wood, he soon discovered of what the art was +capable, and devoted his chief attention to it. He drew such things as +he understood and had studied from nature, and thoroughly comprehending +the scope and power of wood-engraving, he was able, with little labour, +to produce the best results. + +At the time of Bewick's death, in 1828, England had scarcely recovered +from the exhausting wars of Napoleon, trade was stagnant, and taxation +was heavy. The mass of the people had no money to spend on such luxuries +as illustrated books, and the enterprise of publishers was confined to +the production of the well-known 'Annuals' of that day; but they were +illustrated with steel engravings, and were only purchased by the +wealthier classes. Such works as _Robinson Crusoe_ and the _Pilgrim's +Progress_, for which there is always a demand, were illustrated by +Cruikshank and Harvey. There was _Northcote's Fables_, on which all the +best engravers of the day were employed; but it was not until the +Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge began its operations, and +Charles Knight took the lead in illustrated literature, that +wood-engraving began to be extensively used. The art was so little known +that when the woodcuts of the _Penny Magazine_ began to attract +attention a nobleman of that day spoke of them as the productions of a +new art. Illustrations were so seldom used that the preparation of even +a small woodcut was of much moment to all concerned. I have heard the +late William Harvey relate that when Whittingham, the well-known +printer, wanted a new cut for his 'Chiswick Press' series, he would +write to Harvey and John Thompson, the engraver, appointing a meeting at +Chiswick, when printer, designer, and engraver talked over the matter +with as much deliberation as if they were about to produce a costly +national monument, and after they had settled all points over a snug +supper, the result of their labours was the production, months +afterwards, of a small woodcut measuring perhaps two inches by three. At +this time only about a dozen persons, besides Bewick's pupils, were +practising the art of wood-engraving in England, and in France the art +was so low that a few years later the blocks for the _Magazin +Pittoresque_ were sent from Paris to London to be engraved. In Germany, +the cradle of the art, it languished as in other countries, while in +America, a country which is now taking a leading part in the cultivation +of wood-engraving, the art was almost unknown as a native production. It +is now in use all over the civilised world, and there is scarcely a +capital city without its newspaper illustrated with woodcuts. It has +even penetrated to the sunless regions of ice and snow. In the Library +of the South Kensington Museum there is a book with illustrations drawn +and engraved on wood by Esquimaux! + +The cause of this wide diffusion and extended employment of the art of +wood-engraving is undoubtedly its close alliance with the kindred art of +printing. No other method of engraving lends itself so easily to the +rapid productions of the printing-press. From the earliest days of +printing the two arts have advanced hand in hand, aiding in the growth +of knowledge and the spread of civilisation. The application of steam to +the art of printing revolutionised the world of typography, and +wood-engraving was not slow in adapting itself to the new conditions. +The advancing spirit of education created a demand for cheap knowledge. +Penny magazines and pictorial newspapers came into existence. The steam +printing-press spread them far and wide, and wood-engraving since the +time of Bewick has shown that it possesses capabilities which that +genuine old artist would have rejoiced to behold. + +In tracing the origin and progress of the pictorial press I have +confined my researches to British journalism, but the subject might be +widely extended. From the days of the _Acta Diurna_ of the Romans +something in the shape of a newspaper appears to have been a necessity +of civilised life. Soon after the invention of printing small +news-sheets appeared in various towns of Germany and in Venice. In the +Low Countries an illustrated war gazette was published as early as 1605. +It was called the _Niewetijdinghe_, and it was the precursor of the +_Gazette van Antwerpen_, which survived till 1805. During the Spanish +and Austrian rule in Belgium each town had its privileged newspaper. As +the printers of those days were well acquainted with the art of +wood-engraving, it is not unlikely that some of these early newspapers +contained illustrations. The earlier newspapers of Holland were chiefly +devoted to commercial intelligence, and afforded little scope for +illustration, but illustrated broadsides were not uncommon. In Germany +the first regular newspaper appeared in 1615, when the art of +wood-engraving had greatly declined; and when the physician Renaudot +started the first newspaper in France, in 1631, if the idea of +illustrating it had occurred to him he would have had to rely on his +printer for the production of the woodcuts. As, however, the low +condition of illustrative art in the seventeenth century did not deter +English printers of 'News-books' from seeking such pictorial aid as they +could obtain, it is highly probable their Continental brethren did the +same, however insufficient might be the means at their command. + +When the history of our own age comes to be written the pictorial +newspapers will form an inexhaustible store-house for the historian. The +following list of cities in Europe, America, and the English colonies, +with the names of the illustrated newspapers published by them, will +convey some idea of the extent to which pictorial journalism has spread +during the last forty years:-- + +PARIS: + + _L'Illustration._ + _Le Monde Illustre._ + _L'Univers Illustre._ + _La Republique Illustree._ + _La France Illustree._ + +BERLIN: + + _Deutsche Illustrirte Zeitung._ + +STUTTGART: + + _Uber Land und Meer._ + _Das Buch fuer Alle._ + +LEIPZIG: + + _Illustrirte Zeitung._ + +VIENNA: + + _Neue Illustrirte Zeitung._ + +MILAN: + + _L'Illustrazione Universale._ + _L'Illustrazione Italiana._ + +MADRID: + + _La Illustracion Espanola._ + +BARCELONA: + + _La Illustracion Catolica._ + +WARSAW: + + _Klosy._ + _Tycodnik Powszechny._ + +AMSTERDAM: + + _De Hollandsche Illustratie._ + +ST. PETERSBURG: + + _Universal Illustration._ + +COPENHAGEN: + + _Illustreret Tidende._ + +CHRISTIANIA: + + _Nu Illustreret Tidende._ + +NEW YORK: + + _Harper's Weekly._ + _Harper's Bazaar._ + _Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper._ + _Spirit of the Times._ + _The Daily Graphic._ + _Illustrirte Zeitung_ (printed in German). + +WASHINGTON: + + _Illustrated Washington Chronicle._ + +MONTREAL: + + _Canadian Illustrated News._ + _Le Monde Illustre_ (French). + +SYDNEY: + + _Illustrated Sydney News._ + +MELBOURNE: + + _Illustrated Australian News._ + _Australian Sketcher._ + +MEXICO: + + _Revista Universal._ + +MONTEVIDEO: + + _La Illustracion Uruguaya._ + +RIO DE JANEIRO: + + _A Illustracao._ + +CAPE TOWN: + + _South African Illustrated News._ + + + + +THE END. + + +[Illustration] + + +London Printed by STRANGEWAYS AND SONS Tower Street Upper St Martin's +Lane + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pictorial Press, by Mason Jackson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PICTORIAL PRESS *** + +***** This file should be named 36417.txt or 36417.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/1/36417/ + +Produced by Marius Masi, Chris Curnow and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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