In the year 1841 there was a printing-office in a court running out of Fleet Street-No. 3, Crane Court-wherein was carried on the business of Mr. Joseph William Last. It was here that Punch first saw the light. The house, by the way, enjoys besides a distinction of a different kind-that of being the birthplace of "Parr's Life Pills;" for Mr. Herbert Ingram, who had not at that time launched the Illustrated London News, nor become a member of Parliament, was then introducing that since celebrated medicine to the public, and for that purpose had rented some rooms on the premises of his friend Mr. Last. joke about the "Lemon" in it. Henry Mayhew, with his usual electric quickness, at once flew at the idea, and cried out, "A good thought; we'll call it Punch." It was then remembered that, years before, Douglas Jerrold had edited a Penny Punch for Mr. Duncombe, of Middle Row, Holborn, but this was thought no objection, and the new name was carried by acclamation. It was agreed that there should be four proprietors-Messrs. Last, Landells, Lemon, and Mayhew. Last was to supply the printing, Landells the engraving, and Lemon and Mayhew were to be co-editors. George Hodder, with his usual good-nature, at once secured Mr. Percival Leigh as a contributor, and Leigh brought in his friend Mr. John Leech, and Leech brought in Albert Smith. Mr. Henning designed the cover. When Last had sunk £600, he sold his share to Messrs. Bradbury and Evans, on receiving the amount of his then outstanding liabilities. At Mr. Coyne and Mr. Grattan seldom contributed, and Messrs. Mayhew and Landells also seceded. The circumstance which led to Punch's birth was simple enough. In June, 1841, Mr. Last called upon Mr. Alfred Mayhew, then in the office of his father, Mr. Joshua Mayhew, the well-known solicitor, of Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Mr. Mayhew was Mr. Last's legal adviser, and Mr. Last was well acquainted with several of his sons. the transfer, Henning and Newman both retired, Upon the occasion in question Mr. Last made some inquiries of Mr. Alfred Mayhew concerning his brother Henry, and his occupation at the time. Mr. Henry Mayhew had, even at his then early age, a reputation for the high abilities which he afterwards developed, had already experience in various departments of literature, and had exercised his projective and inventive faculties in various ways. If his friends had heard nothing of him for a few months, they usually found that he had a new design in hand, which was, however, in many cases, of a more original than practical character. Mr. Henry Mayhew, as it appeared from his brother Alfred's reply, was not at that time engaged in any new effort of his creative genius, and would be open to a proposal for active service. Mr. Hine, the artist, remained with Punch for many years; and among other artistic contributors who "came and went," to use Mr. Blanchard's own words, we must mention Birket Foster, Alfred Crowquili, Lee, Hamerton, John Gilbert, William Harvey, and Kenny Meadows, the last of whom illustrated one of Jerrold's earliest series, "Punch's Letters to His Son." Punch's Almanac for 1841 was concocted for the greater part by Dr. Maginn, who was then in the Fleet Prison, where Thackeray has drawn him, in the character of Captain Shandon, writing the famous prospectus for the Pall Mall Gazette. The earliest hits of Punch were Douglas Jerrold's articles signed “J.” and Gilbert à Beckett's Having obtained Mr. Henry Mayhew's address, "Adventures of Mr. Briefless." In October, 1841, which was in Clement's Inn, Mr. Last called upon Mr. W. H. Wills, afterwards working editor of Housethat gentleman on the following morning, and hold Words and All the Year Round, commenced opened to him a proposal for a comic and satirical" Punch's Guide to the Watering-Places." In journal. Henry Mayhew readily entertained the January, 1842, Albert Smith commenced his lively idea; and the next question was, "Can you get up" Physiology of London Evening Parties," which a staff?" Henry Mayhew mentioned his friend Mark Lemon as a good commencement; and the pair proceeded to call upon that gentleman, who was living, not far off, in Newcastle Street, Strand. The almost immediate result was the starting of Punch. At a meeting at the "Edinburgh Castle" Mr. Mark Lemon drew up the original prospectus. It was at first intended to call the new publication "The Funny Dog," or "Funny Dog, with Comic Tales," and from the first the subsidiary title of the "London Charivari" was agreed upon. At a subsequent meeting at the printing-office, some one made some allusion to the "Punch," and some were illustrated by Newman; and he wrote the "Physiology of the London Idler," which Leech illustrated. In the third volume, Jerrold commenced "Punch's Letters to His Son ;" and in the fourth volume, his "Story of a Feather; " Albert Smith's "Side-Scenes of Society" carried on the social dissections of the comic physiologist, and à Beckett began his "Heathen Mythology," and created the character of "Jenkins," the supposed fashionable correspondent of the Morning Post. Punch had begun his career by ridiculing Lord Melbourne; he now attacked Brougham for his temporary subservience to Wellington; and Sir James Graham came also in for a share of the rod; and the Morning Herald and Standard were christened "Mrs. Gamp" and "Mrs. Harris," as oldfogyish opponents of Peel and the Free-Traders. A Beckett's "Comic Blackstone" proved a great hit, from its daring originality; and incessant jokes were squibbed off on Lord John Russell, Prince Albert (for his military tailoring), Mr. Silk Buckingham and Lord William Lennox, Mr. Samuel Carter Hall and Mr. Harrison Ainsworth. Tennyson once, and once only, wrote for Punch, a reply to Lord Lytton (then Mr. Bulwer), who had coarsely attacked him in his "New Timon," where he had spoken flippantly of "A quaint farrago of absurd conceits, Out-babying Wordsworth and out-glittering Keats." The epigram ended with these bitter and contemptuous lines, "A Timon you? Nay, nay, for shame! Albert Smith left Punch many years before his death. In 1845, on his return from the East, Mr. Thackeray began his "Jeames's Diary," and became a regular contributor. Gilbert à Beckett was now beginning his "Comic History of England" and Douglas Jerrold his inimitable "Caudle Lectures." Thomas Hood occasionally contributed, but his immortal " Song of the Shirt" was his chef-d'œuvre. Coventry Patmore contributed once to Punch; his verses denounced General Pellisier and his cruelty at the caves of Dahra. Laman Blanchard Occasionally wrote; his best poem was one on the marriage and temporary retirement of charming Mrs. Nisbett. In 1846 Thackeray's "Snobs of England" was highly successful. Richard Doyle's "Manners and Customs of ye English" brought Punch a great increase. The present cover of Punch was designed by Doyle, who, being a zealous Roman Catholic, left Punch when it began to ridicule the Pope and condemn "Papal Aggression." Funch in his time has had his raps, but not many and not hard ones. Poor Angus B. Reach (whose mind went early in life), with Albert Smith and Shirley Brooks, ridiculed Punch in the Man in the Moon; and in 1847 the Poet Bunn-" Hot, cross Bunn "-provoked at incessant attacks on his operatic verses, hired a man of letters to write "A Word with Punch," and a few smart personalities soon silenced the jester. "Towards 1848," says Mr. Blanchard, "Douglas Jerrold, then writing plays and editing a magazine, began to write less for Punch." In 1857 he died. Among the later 59 additions to the staff were Mr. Shirley Brooks and Mr. Tom Taylor, successively its editors. The Dispatch (No. 139, north) was established by Mr. Bell, in 1801. Moving from Bride Lane to Newcastle Street, and thence to Wine Office Court, it settled down in the present locality in 1824. Mr. Bell was an energetic man, and the paper succeeded in obtaining a good position; but he was not a man of large capital, and other persons had shares in the property. In consequence of difficulties between the proprietors there were at one time three Dispatches in the field— Bell's, Kent's, and Duckett's; but the two lastmentioned were short-lived, and Mr. Bell maintained his position. Bell's was a sporting paper, with many columns devoted to pugilism, and a woodcut exhibiting two boxers ready for an encounter. But the editor (says a story more or less authentic), Mr. Samuel Smith, who had obtained his post by cleverly reporting a fight near Canterbury, one day received a severe thrashing from a famous member of the ring. This changed the editor's opinions as to the propriety of boxing-at anyrate pugilism was repudiated by the Dispatch about 1829; and boxing, from the Dispatch point of view, was henceforward treated as a degrading and brutal amusement, unworthy of our civilisation. Mr. Harmer (afterwards Alderman), a solicitor in extensive practice in Old Bailey cases, became connected with the paper about the time when the Fleet Street office was established, and contributed capital, which soon bore fruit. The success was so great, that for many years the Dispatch as a property was inferior only to the Times. It became famous for its letters on political subjects. The original "Publicola" was Mr. Williams, a violent and coarse but very vigorous and popular writer. He wrote weekly for about sixteen or seventeen years, and after his death the signature was assumed by Mr. Fox, the famous orator and member for Oldham. Other writers also borrowed the well-known signature. Eliza Cook wrote in the Dispatch in 1836, at first signing her poems "E." and "E. C."; but in the course of the following year her name appeared in full. She contributed a poem weekly for several years, relinquishing her connection with the paper in 1850. Afterwards, in 1869, when the property changed hands, she wrote two or three poems. Under the signature "Caustic," Mr. Serle, the dramatic author and editor, contributed a weekly letter for about twenty-seven years; and from 1856 till 1869 was editor-in-chief. In 1841-42 the Dispatch had a hard-fought duel with the Times. "Publicola" wrote a series of letters, which had the effect of preventing the election of Mr. Walter for Southwark. The Times Daily Telegraph was started on June 29, 1855, by retaliated when the time came for Alderman the late Colonel Sleigh. It was a single sheet, the Harmer to succeed to the lord mayoralty. Day after price twopence. Colonel Sleigh failing to make it day the Times returned to the attack, denouncing a success, Mr. Lawson, the present chief proprietor the Dispatch as an infidel paper; and Alderman of the paper, took the copyright as part security Harmer, rejected by the City, resigned in conse- for money owed him as a printer by Colonel Sleigh. ST. BRIDE'S CHURCH, FLEET STREET, AFTER THE FIRE, 1824 (see page 56). Now we come to the handsome new offices of the In Mr. Lawson's hands the paper, reduced to a penny, became a great success. "It was," says Mr. Grant, in his "History of the Newspaper Press," "the first of the penny papers, while a single sheet, and as such was regarded as a newspaper marvel; but when it came out-which it did soon after the Standard-as a double sheet the size of the Times, published at fourpence, and for a penny, it created Here was a penny paper, containing a sensation. Fleet Street. I GOLDSMITH AT THE "GLOBE." not only the same amount of telegraphic and general information as the other high-priced papers-their price being then fourpence-but also evidently written, in its leading article department, with an ability which could only be surpassed by that of the leading articles of the Times itself. This was indeed a new era in the morning journalism of the metropolis." When Mr. Lawson bought the Telegraph, the sum which he received for advertisements in the first number was 61 The "Globe Tavern" (No. 134, north), though now only a memory, abounds with traditions of Goldsmith and his motley friends. The house, in 1649, was leased to one Henry Hottersall for forty-one years, at the yearly rent of £75, ten gallons of Canary sack, and £400 fine. Mr. John Forster gives a delightful sketch of Goldsmith's Wednesday evening club at the "Globe," in 1767. When not at Johnson's great club, Oliver beguiled his cares at a shilling rubber club at the "Devil Tavern," or at a exactly 7s. 6d. The daily receipts for advertisements now represent a fabulous amount. Mr. Grant says that the remission of the tax on paper brought £12,000 a year extra to the Telegraph. Twelve pages for a penny is no uncommon thing with the Telegraph during the Parliamentary session. The returns of sales given by the Telegraph for the halfyear ending 1870 showed an average daily sale of 190,885; and a competent authority estimates the average daily sale at the present time at over 250,000 copies. One of the printing-machines set up by the proprietors of the Telegraph throws off upwards of 200 copies per minute, or 12,000 an hour. в humble gathering in the parlour of the "Bedford," Covent Garden. A hanger-on of the theatres, who frequented the "Globe," has left notes which Mr. Forster has admirably used, and which we now abridge without further apology. Grim old Macklin belonged to the club it is certain; and among the less obscure members was King, the comedian, the celebrated impersonator of Lord Ogleby. Hugh Kelly, another member, was a clever young Irishman, who had chambers near Goldsmith in the Temple. He had been a staymaker's apprentice, who, turning law writer, and soon landing as a hack for the magazines, set up as a satirist for the stage, and eventually, wrote his epitaph as he came from his chambers in That he never will wish to come back." Goldsmith sat next Glover that night at the club, and Glover heard the poet repeat, sotto voce, with a mournful intonation, the words, "He never will wish to come back." Oliver was musing over his own life, and Mr. Forster says touchingly, "It is not without a certain pathos to me, indeed, that he should have so repeated it." Among other frequenters of the "Globe" were Boswell's friend Akerman, the keeper of Newgate, who thought it prudent never to return home till daybreak; and William Woodfall, the celebrated Parliamentary reporter. In later times Brasbridge, the sporting silversmith of Fleet Street, was a frequenter of the club. He tells us that among his associates was a surgeon, who, living on the Surrey side of the Thames, had to take a boat every night, Blackfriars Bridge not being then built. This nightly navigation cost him three or four shillings a time, yet, when the bridge came, he grumbled at having to pay a penny toll. Among other frequenters of the "Globe," Mr. Timbs enumerates "Archibald Hamilton, whose mind was 'fit for a lord chancellor;' Dunstall, the comedian; Carnan, the bookseller, who defeated the Stationers' Company in the almanack trial; and, later still, the eccentric Hugh Evelyn, who set up a claim upon the great Surrey estate of Sir Frederic Evelyn." through Garrick's patronage, succeeded in sentimental 'comedy. It was of him Johnson said, "Sir, I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read." Poor Kelly afterwards went to the Bar, and died of disappointment and over-work. A third member was Captain Thompson, a friend of Garrick, who wrote some good sea songs and edited "Andrew Marvell;" but foremost among all the boon companions was a needy Irish doctor named Glover, who had appeared on the stage, and who was said to have restored to life a man who had been hung; this Glover, who was famous for his songs and imitations, once had the impudence, like Theodore Hook, to introduce Goldsmith, during a summer ramble in Hampstead, to a party where he was an entire stranger, and to pass himself off as a friend of the host. "Our Dr. Glover," says Goldsmith, "had a constant levee of his distressed countrymen, whose wants, as far as he was able, he always relieved." Gordon, the fattest man in the club, was renowned for his jovial song of "Nottingham Ale;" and on special occasions Goldsmith himself would sing his favourite nonsense about the little old woman who was tossed seventeen times higher than the moon. A fat pork-butcher at the "Globe" used to offend Goldsmith by constantly shouting out, "Come, Noll, here's my service to you, old boy." After the success of The Goodnatured Man, this coarse familiarity was more than Goldsmith's vanity could bear, so one special night he addressed the butcher with grave reproof. The stolid man, taking no notice, replied briskly, "Thankee, Mister Noll." "Well, where is the advantage of your reproof?" asked Glover. "In truth," said Goldsmith, good-naturedly, "I give it up; I ought to have known before that there is no The Standard (in Shoe Lane), "the largest daily putting a pig in the right way." Sometimes rather paper," was originally an evening paper alone. In cruel tricks were played on the credulous poet. 1826 a deputation of the leading men opposed to One evening Goldsmith came in clamorous for his Catholic Emancipation waited on Mr. Charles supper, and ordered chops. Directly the supper Baldwin, proprietor of the St. James's Chronicle, and came in, the wags, by pre-agreement, began to sniff begged him to start an anti-Catholic evening paper, and swear. Some pushed the plate away; others but Mr. Baldwin refused unless a preliminary sum declared the rascal who had dared set such chops of £15,000 was lodged at the banker's. A year later before a gentleman should be made to swallow them this sum was deposited, and in 1827 the Evening himself. The waiter was savagely rung up, and Standard, edited by Dr. Giffard, ex-editor of the forced to eat the supper, to which he consented St. James's Chronicle, appeared. Mr. Alaric Watts, with well-feigned reluctance, the poet calmly ordering the poet, was the first sub-editor; he was soon a fresh supper and a dram for the poor waiter, "who succeeded by the celebrated Dr. Maginn. The otherwise might get sick from so nauseating a daily circulation soon rose from 700 or Soo copies meal." Poor Goldy! kindly even at his most foolish to 3,000 and over. The profits Mr. Grant cal moments. A sadder story still connects Goldsmith culates at £7,000 to £8,000 a year. On the with the "Globe." Ned Purdon, a worn-out bankruptcy of Mr. Charles Baldwin, Mr. James booksellers' hack and a protégé of Goldsmith, Johnson bought the Morning Herald and dropped down dead in Smithfield. Goldsmith Standard, plant and all, for £16,500. The new |