Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN
 
 m
 
 LECTURES, VERSES, &c. 
 
 WILLIAM CHALLINOR, M.A.
 
 JRES, yERSES, 
 SPEECHES, 
 
 pEMINISCENCES, &c 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM CHALLINOR, M.A., 
 
 OF LEEK, STAFFORDSHIRE. 
 
 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY M. H. MILLER, " TIMES" OFFICE. 
 
 BEMROSE AND SONS, 23, OLD BAILEY ; AND DERBY. 
 1891.
 
 LEEK: 
 M. H. MILLER, "TIMES" OFFICE.
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 I HAVE PLEASURE IN DEDICATING THIS MISCELLANEOUS 
 COLLECTION OF WRITINGS, LECTURES, AND SPEECHES TO MY OLD 
 AND VALUED FRIEND AND FORMER TUTOR, 2T. pig . iSagllS, C?Sq., 
 
 ,.Q[>., ffl.S., PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE LIVERPOOL COURT OF 
 PASSAGE, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AND A V.P. OF THE R.U. 
 SERVICE INSTITUTION, &c. 
 
 ALSO TO MY ESTEEMED FRIEND AND VlCAR, THE icUlj. 
 
 CBHtlltam HJetesfotll, WHO, AS CHAIRMAN AT A PUBLIC MEETING, 
 
 FIRST SUGGESTED THEIR PUBLICATION. 
 
 20QG511
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Lecture : Sleigh's History of Leek, 1863 . . . . 3 
 
 Do. A few Gleanings connected with History of 
 
 Leek, 1864 .. .. .. 21 
 
 Do. The New History of Leek, 1884 4 1 
 
 Do. A few particulars connected with climate, 
 &c. f 1887 .. .. . 
 
 Do. More about Leek. 1888 . . . . 
 
 Original Verses 
 
 Reminiscences . . . . . . . . 
 
 Mechanics' Institute Address . . . . , 
 
 Chancery Reform 
 
 North Staffordshire Railway Company 
 Local Anecdotes 
 
 Sewerage and Sanitary Improvements 
 Leek and Stoke Railway 
 Improved Railway to Buxton 
 Rifle Band Entertainment : (Remarks on Franco- 
 German War) . . . . . . . . 322 
 
 Royal Visit to Swythamley and Leek . . . . 327 
 
 Haymaking on Sunday . . . . . . 330 
 
 Presentation to Mr. Joshua Brough . . . . 332 
 
 Upperhulme Springs, &c. . . . . . . 33^ 
 
 Waste and Its Prevention . . . . . . 34
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 On the occasion of a Lecture given some time 
 since at St. Luke's Schools, on one of the subjects 
 connected with Leek, the Rev. William Beresford, 
 Vicar of St. Luke's, who presided, spoke at the 
 conclusion of the Lecture as will be seen from the 
 Leek Times' report to the following effect : 
 
 He said " he should like to ask Mr. Challinor to do 
 the public of Leek the favour of collecting together 
 in a volume the Lectures, and he might add the 
 speeches which he (Mr. Challinor) had delivered 
 during a number of years. He, the Chairman felt 
 sure that such Lectures would not only be in them- 
 selves interesting, but would also give a fair picture 
 of the mind and thought which had been interesting 
 and suggestive to more than one generation of fellow 
 townsmen/' The audience it was reported joined 
 the Chairman in making this request. 
 
 Mr. Beresford has since several times mentioned 
 to me the subject of the above remarks. I have 
 certainly felt doubtful if a reproduction such as he 
 referred to would possess sufficient interest to the 
 public at large, and I have been diffident of doing 
 what was asked, but as he and others joined in the 
 request, after some hesitation, I have thought it might 
 furnish suggestions and be to some extent a record 
 of certain past events connected with the town if I 
 endeavoured to comply.
 
 xii PREFACE. 
 
 My difficulty has been in making a selection from 
 Lectures, Speeches and Writings, which I found grew 
 on my hands, and .many of which I have not intro- 
 duced having regard to space, and on the whole, as 
 as I have sometimes (especially in early years) 
 attempted poetic composition, I venture next after 
 the Lectures on Leek, to give a selection of such 
 verses as I thought might be not unfitly introduced. 
 
 I propose in the following book as a general rule 
 to give some of my Lectures, Addresses, Notes, &c., 
 mainly in order of date, but as the five Lectures 
 connected with Leek and its History, will naturally 
 have a special interest here, I have thought it well to 
 give them first in rotation, though some of them are 
 among my last Lectures in point of time. 
 
 In conclusion, I have to ask for the kind forbear- 
 ance and indulgence of any who may be my readers, 
 for inflicting so considerable a volume upon them. 
 
 WM. C. 
 Leek, June, 1891.
 
 LECTURES. 
 
 MR. SLEIGH'S HISTORY OF LEEK." 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 April 4th, 1863. 
 
 N our last we referred to a very able 
 and interesting lecture delivered by 
 Mr. Challinor, solicitor, of Leek, on 
 this subject, and which most happily 
 introduces to notice and popularizes 
 the learned and very excellent work of Mr. Sleigh, 
 recently published. We now give a compendium of 
 the lecture, which everyone interested in Staffordshire 
 will peruse with pleasure, and we hope that its result 
 may be that the steps of many a tourist will be turned 
 to the banks of the Churnet and the wild moorlands 
 which bulwark the county on the north, and where 
 romantic solitude and wild grandeur, associated with 
 the most interesting historic reminiscenses, lie open to 
 the visitor, who may from thence readily extend his 
 tour to the lovely scenery of the Dove, or the rugged 
 rocks and cavernous vales of the romantic Wye. 
 
 B
 
 4 LECTURES. 
 
 Mr. Challinor, in opening his lecture and review of the 
 history of Leek, said he had been requested by the 
 respected vicar to address them on a few points 
 connected with the recently-published wofk by his 
 friend, Mr. John Sleigh. In order that he might 
 depend as little as possible on himself, he had been 
 enabled through the kindness of the vicar, Mr. Cruso, 
 Mr. Flint, Mr. H. Sleigh, and others, to present them 
 with a number of original paintings of Lord Chan- 
 cellor Macclesfield, Prince Charles Stuart, a monk of 
 Dieu-la-^cres Abbey, and other illustrations of the 
 subject, in order to diversify the evening. It was not 
 often that Leek had been able to boast of an author, 
 and perhaps never of an historian. This book, "the 
 History of Leek," so admirably printed and got up 
 by Mr. R. Nail, had been the result of great labour 
 on the part of Mr. John Sleigh, who had searched 
 " Domesday Book, the ' Harleian and Cotton Manu- 
 scripts," ancient records in the British Museum, and 
 deeds and cartularies of every description ; he had 
 even been admitted to the Marquis of Westminister's 
 deed chest, and Mr. Sleigh's name would ever be 
 associated with his native town as an able and 
 indefatigable searcher after truth. (Cheers.) He 
 must also associate with him the name of Mr. T. 
 Wardle, whose admirable chapter on the geology of 
 the neighbourhood formed an important part of the 
 work. (Cheers.) The work was better than an 
 amusing narrative ; it was a valuable and authentic 
 book of reference that ought to be found in every 
 library in this district. Unlike some poppy work 
 of fiction, this work, like the best things in nature 
 the useful wheat or tea plant required kneading
 
 LECTURES. 5 
 
 and working at in order to arrive at its full Value. 
 Mr. Sleigh and Mr. Wardle, like the Californian 
 gold miners, had penetrated into the hard mountain 
 around them in which the remnants of the past lay 
 hid, and into every available chink and cranny, and 
 with great labour had drawn out valuable nuggets 
 of golden facts, and it was for us to labour over and 
 work them up into forms of beauty. If we do so, we 
 should find Leek and its surrounding townships 
 abound with memories of the past. We should see; 
 as it were, a handwriting on the wall not hitherto 
 visible, and make no inconsiderable step towards that 
 realisation of Shakespeare by which we are enabled 
 to "find tongues in trees, books in the running 
 brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything." 
 (Cheers.) It appeared that the district where we 
 lived originally formed part of the Saxon kingdom of 
 Mrrcia, of which Leofric and the celebrated Godiva, 
 who rode through Coventry with no other covering 
 than nature's tresses afforded, were once earl and 
 countess. Whether she ever came to Leek we know 
 not, butj had she done so, we know there would have 
 been " no Peeping Toms here." (Laughter.) Then 
 came the Conquest. It appears from Domesday 
 Book that Leek, then called Lee, belonged to the 
 Conqueror, and was by him granted to his kins- 
 man the Earl of Chester. Mr. Challinor then gave a 
 description from the ancient records of the state of 
 Leek, which at that time consisted of some forty 
 tenements and a few hundred acres of cleared ground, 
 occupied by the burdars and villeins of that day, the 
 rest being all forest. Also of the probable derivation 
 ef the word Leek or Lee, of the death of Hugh, the
 
 6 LECTURES. 
 
 fifth earl, at Leek, and of the proof from the initial 
 letters of the old stone pediment of the ancient 
 column in Leek Churchyard, that it was erected to 
 the memory of Hugh, hfth Earl of Chester, who was 
 proved to have died at Leek in the year 1180. Of 
 the circumstances attending the foundation in 1215 of 
 the Abbey of Dieu-la-cres (so-called from the words 
 " Dieu 1'encre,' " May God prosper it"), by Ran- 
 dulph, sixth earl, and of the establishment there of the 
 Cistercian or white monks, whose picturesque costume 
 was represented in the sketch shown, and who 
 remained in this neighbourhood for nearly 200 years, 
 till the dissolution of the monastery by Henry the 
 Eighth. The original abbey charter was also pro- 
 duced, exquisitely engrossed and preserved, though 
 near 700 years old of this Mr. M. Gaunt had given a 
 translation, and the copy of an old record shewing 
 the right of the mitred abbot to hunt the stag, &c., 
 with his hereditary huntsmen of Rushton and Heaton, 
 and to hang sheep-stealers and felons on the verdict 
 of twelve men, as testified by the gallows, which in 
 Henry the Eighth's reign, stood at one end of the 
 town, probably the Cattle Market end (the gibbet-tree 
 still remaining at Kniveden, not far off.) It appeared 
 also that in ancient times there was a "cucking stool" 
 in the land now Miss Clowes' garden at the bottom of 
 Mill-street, by the side of the Churnet, by means of 
 which scolding old dames and vixens, considered by 
 the authorities to be nuisances to their neighbours, 
 were formerly "cuck'd" or duck'd. Mr. Challinor had 
 obtained a sketch of the mode of operation, and had 
 likewise succeeded in unearthing the original cucking 
 stool out of the old church belfry. He gave an
 
 LECTURES. 7 
 
 amusing anecdote connected with the old sexton, who 
 said he "remembered 'em being 'cuck'd'" in his 
 youth, especially from a place still called Quarrel-bank. 
 Mr. Challinor then referred to the Old Church and to 
 the Cottonian Manuscript, referred to by Mr. Alsop, 
 showing that the church and town, then probably built 
 with a mixture of wood and sandstone, were burnt 
 downin 1297, and that there was therefore no reason- 
 able doubt from that fact, and from the architecture 
 being, as the vicar stated, of the kind called " later deco- 
 rated" in vogue during the reign of Edward the 
 Second that the church was in truth built at that 
 period. After expressing his concurrence in the 
 strictures which Mr. Sleigh has passed upon the resto- 
 ration of the church by Christian, and which had 
 shorn it of many features of hoar antiquity which 
 carried back the association to the early ages of the 
 Church, Mr. Challinor continued " When we reflect 
 over some of the events I have referred to, we must 
 be struck with the great changes that have taken 
 place about Leek. The place of our now busy town 
 and numerous population in early times was nothing 
 but a few hundred acres of cleared land, with a church 
 and some thirty cottages of sandstone and wood, and 
 a few better houses; while on every side, as far as the 
 eye could stretch, was to be seen little but forest 
 (especially towards Macclesfield), broken only by 
 Rushton Chapel, on that account appropriately called 
 ' the Chapel in the Wilderness.' In this forest, the 
 abbot, with his hereditary foresters of Rushton and 
 Heaton, then went forth to hunt the stag and other 
 beasts of chase. And in the Churnet of those days, 
 not then as now running black with dye, the stag,
 
 8 LECTURES. 
 
 coming to drink, could no doubt see reflected in the 
 clear and limpid stream his antlers and beautiful 
 spotted form. But all this has been changed. The 
 gallows and the interesting cucking stool have also 
 passed away. Nothing now remains of the abbey but 
 some crumbling ruins, scarcely suggestive of the 
 stately pile of former days, with its halls and cloisters 
 and refectory, its mullioned windows and groined 
 arches, its chapel with the ' fayre altars of alabaster/ 
 mentioned in the old record, its ' candlesticks of 
 lattenn' (brass) and vestments of 'blue and gold.' No 
 longer do its white-robed and shaven priests wander 
 with their beads and missals through the dale or on 
 errands of mercy among the cottages. No longer do 
 the mitred abbot and attendant monks move in grand 
 procession through the fabled subterranean passage 
 or up the steep to old Leek Church. ' All these our 
 actors now are spirits, melted into air, thin air.' The 
 prostrate ruins suggest how all things great and grand 
 must likewise perish 
 
 ' The cloud-clapt towers, the georgeous palaces, 
 The solemn temples, the great lobe itself, 
 Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, 
 And, like the baseless fabric of a vision, 
 Leave not a rack behind."' 
 
 (Cheers.) Mr. Challinor then proceeded under the 
 second head to deal with the notabilities with whom 
 Leek had been connected. It appeared from the 
 Cottonian Manuscripts that in the year 1318 King 
 Edward the Second passed the 8th, gth, and loth of 
 August at Leek, when the King and the Earl of Lan- 
 caster, his kinsman, who had long been at variance, 
 were reconciled, and exchanged the kiss of peace in 
 the presence of two cardinals, nine English bishops,
 
 .LECTURES. 9 
 
 and other magnates. This might probably be on the 
 .completion or the rebuilding of the old church burnt 
 down some 20 years before. The name of Charles the 
 First is also in four particulars associated with Leek. 
 First, Mr. Flint is now the owner of an estate near 
 Leek, called Bradshaw, which formerly belonged to 
 the celebrated Judge Bradshaw, who condemned 
 Charles the First. Second, Mr. Heathcote Hacker is 
 a descendant of the ancient family of Colonel Francis 
 Hacker, to whom the warrant for King Charles's exe- 
 cution was addressed. Third, Mr. Thomas Jolliffe, of 
 Leek, is represented in a portrait by Vandyke with a 
 key in his hand, this being reputed to have been given 
 him as the principal friend of Charles in order that he 
 might attend him in prison. Fourth, King Charles is 
 reported to have slept during his conflict with the 
 Parliament, at the small inn, called the Royal Cottage 
 between Leek and Buxton. After referring to Sir 
 Benjamin Rudyerd, descended from a very ancient 
 Saxon family near Leek, a.nd who was the friend of 
 Pym, Hampden, and Cromwell, and a great lawyer, 
 poet, and orator, celebrated by Horace Walpole and 
 others, and called the " silver trumpet of the long 
 Parliament," he referred to the distinguished relative 
 of Rudyerd, Lord Chancellor Macclesfield, who was 
 born in the small stone house at the top of the 
 Market-place, now occupied by Mr. Critchlow, and 
 which was the residence of his father, Mr. Thomas 
 Parker, at that time a leading solicitor at Leek. Mi- 
 Parker, in fact, represented the office which afterwards 
 was conducted by Mr. Mills, then by Mr. Cruso, and 
 at the present time by himself and brother. He was 
 descended on the paternal side from the angient house
 
 to LECTURES. 
 
 of Parkers, of Park Hall, in this county, and also from 
 the ancient Saxon family of Rudyerd. Lord Camp- 
 bell states that the Lord Chancellor had at first prac- 
 tised as a solicitor in his father's office at Leek, and 
 afterwards at Derby. Mr. Cruso, however, states that 
 he studied law at Milwich, in this county. However 
 this may be, he was called to the bar at the age of 25, 
 and such were his natural endowments and great 
 ability that he became Queen's counsel at 39, Lord 
 Chief Justice at 44, and at 53 he became Lord High 
 Chancellor of England. Behind was an original 
 painting of him in his chancellor's robes belonging to 
 Mr. Cruso. From the silvery tones of his eloquence 
 he was frequently called "the silver-tongued Parker.'' 
 It happened to him, however, as to many who have 
 raised themselves from the humblest to the most 
 exalted station, and who have had to sail upon the 
 stormy sea of politics, or to steer amid the shifty 
 gales of court favour, that he ultimately became the 
 subject of a political prosecution, and was fined a 
 large sum. There is one note in Mr. Sleigh's book 
 which contains a quotation calculated, perhaps, to give 
 a wrong impression of the nature of this prosecution. 
 The chancellors in those days were paid from fees, 
 and not by salary, as at present ; and, if they became 
 very rich they were frequently selected as subjects for 
 political prosecution. Lord Campbell himself says 
 that Lord Macclesfield was to be considered, not 
 criminal, but unfortunate, and that his descendants, 
 now distinguished in the peerage of England, ought 
 to be proud of the founder of their house. The pro- 
 secution of Lord High Chancellors had been a common 
 event in English history, and among other instances
 
 LECTURES. n 
 
 Cardinal Wolsey and Lord Bacon might be adduced, 
 in reference to the former of whom Mr. Challinor 
 recited Shakespeare's celebrated piece on the insta- 
 bility of human greatness. He also referred to 
 Reginald Deville, of Leek, against whom a writ of 
 "Privy Seal" for 1,000 marks had been issued in 
 Queen Elizabeth's reign, for no other offence than 
 that of being rich. James Brindley, the father of the 
 canal system, and great engineer, was next adverted 
 to as having been born at Leek, and owned a farm 
 near Leek, now belonging to Mrs. Ward. Mr. Challi- 
 nor next referred to the unfortunate Prince Charles 
 Stuart and to his passage through Leek in December, 
 1745, accompanied by the Scottish clans. Sir Walter 
 Scott had referred in "Waverley" to this daring 
 attempt to recover the throne of his fathers, and 
 Waverley himself and Fergus Mclvor are in the fiction 
 described as amongst those who accompanied him. 
 Several letters were read descriptive of the scene by 
 eye-witnesses at the time, and which Mr. Sleigh has 
 been so fortunate as to collect. In one of them from 
 a Mr. Toft was the following passage : " At their first 
 visit I was in town, and saw them come in, about 
 7,000 ; perhaps 4 or 5,000 of them may be soldiers, 
 the rest a mere rabble. The Chevalier I saw march 
 at the head of a regiment on foot ; they say he has 
 mostly done so since he left Edinburgh. He appears 
 to be about 5 feet 10 inches high, of a comely aspect, 
 dressed after the Highland fashion, his face somewhat 
 marked with small pox, and I think reddish hair'd. 
 He had on a light wigg, a broad blue ribbon over one 
 shoulder, on the other his plaid of a light green. The 
 collours borne after him had for their motto ' A la fin* 
 
 B 2
 
 12 LECTURES. 
 
 ('To the end.') The common men seem vastly 
 Attached to him, and they say he refuses no fatigues, 
 and shares with 'em in all the hardships of this despe- 
 rate campaign." After his retreat, the letter adds : 
 "The sight of the Duke of Cumberland marching 
 through our town at the head of his army (on the loth 
 December) was a most comfortable ray frpm the son 
 of our King, dispell'd the gloom of past sorrows, joy 
 appeared in every countenance, amidst loud acclama- 
 tions of the populace, being most kindly entertained 
 in the Market-place." In another letter it is 
 mentioned, " the Friends' Meeting House (at Leek) 
 they broke open in the night, and turned it into a 
 stable, throwing the seats on a heap. The Meeting 
 House chamber they made a kind of chamber for 
 dressing their meat, and filthy work was made in it." 
 Mr. Challinor then showed a workbag made out of a 
 piece of the identical plaid scarf worn by Prince Charles 
 on his leaving Manchester for Leek, and which Miss 
 Ferriar informed him had been given to her by a 
 very old royalist lady of Manchester, to whom it had 
 been presented by the Prince himself. Under the 
 third head the lecturer then referred to some of the 
 notable places of Leek and the neighbourhood, among 
 pthers to the Roe BucH Inn, belonging to the 
 Lowndes' family, which was built in 1626, soon after 
 Shakespeare's death, as appears from a date on the 
 front of it ; to the balcony opposite the vicarage, the 
 ancient manor house of the family of Sir Ralph Bag- 
 nail ; to the Red Lion Inn, formerly Siche Hall, the 
 seat of the Joliffe's ; also to Spout-street, which took 
 its name from a spout that formerly ran down the 
 western side, and which spout was referred to in a deed.
 
 LECTURES. 13 
 
 of conveyance to Mr. Challinor's ancestor ; also to 
 Stockwell-street, which derived its name from a well 
 there, not worked by a windlass or a pump, but on a 
 stock of wood, as shown in the sketch, and thence 
 called a stock well. The hill Morridge was so named 
 from Moor ridge, or its being on a ridge of the Moors, 
 which formerly came quite up to Leek. Coena's well 
 in the neighbourhood was so called from the French 
 word " Saint Cene," or Holy Supper, a common name 
 for wells in France, as the terni Roches arose from its 
 being French for rocks. Three translations were then 
 given of the Latin inscription on the old well at, 
 Ashenhurst 
 
 ; Renibus et gpleni, cordi, jecoricjue medetur, 
 Mille mails prodest, ista salubris aqua," 
 
 Of which he considered the following, by Mr. Flint, 
 the most elegant 
 
 " Whate'er of inward ailngs may be yours, 
 A thousand such this healing water cures." 
 
 In reference to the house now occupied by Mr, 
 Thurstan, at the corner of the Market-place, it ap- 
 peared that Michael Johnson, the father of the cele- 
 brated Dr. Samuel Johnson, had served his apprentice- 
 ship there to Mr. Needham, a bookseller, and it so 
 happened that a young person named Elizabeth 
 Blaney, of Leek, fell in love with him, and when he 
 removed to Lichfield, followed him there and after- 
 wards, as is reported, though not by all believed, 
 actually died of love, and Johnson afterwards erected 
 a tablet to her memory. When Boswell was writing 
 Dr. Johnson's life he came to Leek to inquire into all 
 this, and it singularly happened that on his attending 
 church on Sunday morning there was a slight earth- 
 quake, which frightened the people out of the church.
 
 14 LECTURES. 
 
 Boswell afterwards went to Ashbourne, where the 
 Doctor was staying, and told him what had occurred, 
 and in Mr. Sleigh's book an amusing dialogue on the 
 subject, taken from the life of Johnson, is given. Mr. 
 Challinor then referred to the establishment of the silk 
 trade in Leek. It seemed from several records to 
 have been established at Coventry, Derby, Maccles- 
 field, Leek, Congleton, etc., and to have originated 
 with somfe French refugees after the Revocation of 
 the Edict of Nantes in 1685. He gave the names of 
 some of the first silk manufacturers, and also of 
 other Leek inhabitants mentioned in ancient deeds, 
 giving an anecdote connected with Mr. Birtles, who 
 had been a trustee for his family. On referring to 
 some of the pedigrees, he mentioned that the Smith's 
 of Kniveden, and the Mountforts, of New Grange, had 
 bought their respective properties about the year 
 1562, for 40 marks and 18 marks respectively. A 
 mark represented 135. 4d. as a noble did 6s. 8d., and 
 were no doubt the origin of the well-known figures 
 charged in solicitor's bills. He found in one part of 
 Mr. Sleigh's book that in ancient times a bovate had 
 been bought for two bobus, possibly the origin of our 
 present term "bobs." Among the pedigrees he 
 might refer to that of Sneyd, of Ashcombe, a younger 
 branch of the family of Sneyd, of Keele, and who 
 derived their descent from Henry de Sneyde, of the 
 time of Edward II. The family of Gaunt, it appeared 
 from Burke's " Landed Gentry," corroborated by 
 various testimony, were connected with the Gaunts of 
 Rowley Regis, who derived descent from the Earls of 
 Lincoln. Another remarkable pedigree was that of 
 the Fynneys. It appeared that William the Con-
 
 LECTURES. 15 
 
 queror had granted Pickwood Fynney-lane and a 
 large property there to John De Fenis, who was styled 
 in the original grant, "his kinsman." He held in his 
 hand a grant of Pickwood in Queen Elizabeth's reign 
 (about the time Shakespeare was writing his " Mid- 
 summer Night's Dream) to Mr. Fynney, which corro- 
 borated this pedigree. The family pedigree is also 
 given on a plate in Cheddleton Church, and it appears 
 that one of the daughters of that family married a Mr. 
 William Condlyffe, of Gunside, more than a century 
 ago. The present Mr. Condlyffe, therefore was re- 
 lated by blood to William the Conqueror, and there- 
 fore, very distantly, to the Prince of Wales, and he 
 could not do better than follow the Prince's example, 
 get married, and deliver down so distinguished a line. 
 (Cheers.) Having now referred to the past connected 
 with Leek, it may be observed that, though not on a 
 navigable river, the town has the advantage of a canal 
 and railway, which is soon to be improved by the con- 
 templated branch to Stoke, and he had heard on good 
 authority, that, notwithstanding the engineering diffi- 
 culties, such is the present progress of science and 
 requirements of the country, that the important link 
 between Leek and Buxton, which would connect 
 several great companies, is not unlikely in time to be 
 carried out. (Hear, hear.) The Commissioners are 
 also making arrangements for conveying the beautiful 
 springs of Dane Brook, which now flow uselessly into 
 the Churnet, right through the town, for its supply 
 
 " Not to the clouds in useless columns tost, 
 Nor in proud falls magnificently lost ; 
 But clear and artless pouring through the plain. 
 Health to the sick and solace to the swain." 
 
 He could not close without a few words on the recent
 
 16 LECTURES. 
 
 display of loyalty in Leek, on the occasion of the 
 Prince of Wales's wedding-day, a display which was 
 a symbol of obedience to the law and of attachment 
 to our ancient institutions ; and he would conclude 
 with repeating the following lines composed for the 
 occasion, which had been set to music : 
 
 " Oh, town on the hiil in a vall6y, 
 
 Gay fluttered yodr banners that day, 
 When the Princess and Prince were made happy, 
 
 And yotir streets were In festal array. 
 
 " The old church that has look'd gray and hoary, 
 
 On monarch and abbot and priest, 
 Never saw thro' his ages of story, 
 
 So festive a time as the last. 
 
 ''Ye rebels, that follow'd Prince Charlie, 
 Had you lived in the days of our Queen, 
 
 Baron Cruso and Field Marshal Ritchie, 
 Would soon have dispersed you 1 ween. 
 
 " Through cities and sea coasts and forelands, 
 
 Their Idyalty Britons confest ; 
 But our town, our own town of the Moorlands, 
 
 Shofle out 'mid the truest and best:'' 
 
 (Cheers.) 
 
 The lecture in the above report was in some parts 
 much condensed, and the following extracts are given 
 from another report of the same lecture in the Staf- 
 fordshire Sentinel of April the 4th, which contains 
 such omitted portions more at length. 
 
 " Mr. Sleigh in his History also refers to a Lease 
 from the Abbot in 1104 of the Manor of Pulton, part 
 of the rent being, that entertainment should be 
 furnished to the Abbot, and twelve mounted com- 
 panions for twelve days a year, " wine, fresh salmon, 
 and oysters excepted/' In an ancient abbey inventory 
 among the manorial papers delivered down from old 
 times, it appeared that the Abbots who were mitred 
 lords of Parliament, had the right of hunting stag, and 
 Hind and doe in the forest of Leek, and that the free-
 
 LECTURES. 17 
 
 holders of Heaton and Rushton, were their hereditary 
 foresters, that they possessed criminal jurisdiction and 
 the power of hanging (after an inquisition by twelve 
 men) sheep stealers, and other felons, as appeared 
 by the gallows standing at the time of dissolution of 
 the monastery at the end of the town of Leek, proba- 
 bly the Cattle Market end, as the gibbet was not far 
 from Knivden in the direction of Hanging Bridge, and 
 tlu- re was a tree called the gibbet tree there at present. 
 It appeared also that there was a peculiar instrument 
 called the cucking stool, which their ancestors used 
 for ducking scolding old women, whose tongues 
 wagged too fast j (Laughter) an'd who in the opinion 
 of the authorities were consequently a nuisance to 
 their husbands or neighbours. (Laughter.) The mode 
 in winch this was done,, they would see from a sketch 
 taken from an old print in Mr. Ralph Mountford's 
 possession. There was a sort of hoist, and this on 
 being let down ducked the old lady in the Ghurnet at 
 the deep place between the Dye House and Broad 
 Bridge-, where Miss Clowes's garden now is, certainly 
 an effectual mode of cooling the courage of any 
 termagants such as perhaps existed in those days, 
 but were no doubt now extinct. (Laughter.) He had 
 there the original ducking stool last used at Leek, 
 which he met with on the previous day by great 
 good luck in the following manner. On going up to 
 Mr. Hallowes's with the print to have it sketched, he 
 said he remembered some old people telling him in 
 his youthful days the cucking stool was in the Old 
 Church belfry. Having obtained the Vicar's permis* 
 sion, he (Mr. Challinor) accordingly called on old Mr, 
 Barlow, the sexton, to take him to the belfry. He
 
 1 8 LECTURES. 
 
 said there was a strange old chair there with a rope 
 hole through the back, and very likely that was it. 
 He remembered when he was a lad the old women 
 used to be "cucked" sometimes, especially those from 
 a place in Mill Street opposite the Brewhill, to this 
 day called " Quarrel Bank," where they used to be 
 very quarrelsome (Laughter.) He said he had 
 never seen them cucked himself, but well remembered 
 them being taken off for the purpose. He (Mr. Challinor) 
 said, " That must be a long time since. How old are 
 you ? " " Ah " said he " That's a question I never 
 answer to anybody. I am often asked, but if you tell 
 your age people think you are too old to work An old 
 weaver came to me the other day and said he had 
 answered whatever he was asked, and been all round 
 Leek and could get no work. Ah," said I, " that 
 comes of telling your age." (Laughter.) Afterwards 
 Mr. Barlow, the sexton, and he (Mr. Challinor) went 
 up into the belfry and found the old stool or chair now 
 before them, and which bore strong marks of its origin 
 and agreed with the prints of those formerly used in 
 these parts. Passing now for a moment to the Old 
 Church, there had been many conjectures as to its 
 period of erection. Loxdale, a former Vicar and anti- 
 quarian, thought from its being dedicated to St. 
 Edward, that it would be built shortly after the reign 
 of Edward the Confessor. He had not had however 
 the opportunity of referring to the ancient Cotton 
 manuscript in the British Museum, compiled by a 
 monk at Croxden five or six hundred years ago. 
 The late Mr. Jones, of Alton, happened to have 
 mentioned these to Mr. Alsop saying there was some- 
 thing in them relating to Leek Church. Mr. Sleigh
 
 LECTURES. 19 
 
 was accordingly informed of them, and on search, 
 found in the ancient Latin that Leek Church (Cum 
 tota villa) with the whole town, were burnt down in 
 the night on the 4th before the Ides of June 1297. 
 This was in the reign of Edward I. and as the Church 
 and town of that day might have been partially timber 
 built, and so nearly destrpyed, his impression was 
 that the present structure would be built not long 
 after. And in corroboration the Vicar informed him 
 that the style of Architecture of the tower and main 
 structure of most of the Church was " later decorated " 
 being that in use about the time of Edward II. While 
 on the subject of the Old Church Mr. Challinor wished 
 to express his agreement with Mr. Sleigh in his regret 
 at the alterations made by Mr. Christian, the architect, 
 some twenty five years ago. At that time with a 
 view of securing additional accommodation, but with 
 little regard to the architectural beauties and associa- 
 tions of the past, the old Norman pillars and arches 
 of the Church were replaced by those they saw at 
 present. One or more Oriel windows had their dim 
 religious light superseded by the plain looking 
 modern staircase sort of windows they saw in several 
 places at present. The large ancient pew (with its 
 oak canopy and carvings representing the arms of the 
 ancient earls) called Jodrell's Chapel, or more anciently, 
 the Abbot's Chapel was swept away. 
 
 A celebrity of Leek was Mr. James Brindley, the 
 distinguished engineer and founder of the canal 
 system the constructor of the Trent and Mersey 
 Canal, Harecastle Tunnel, &c. He owned and once 
 lived at a small estate at Lowe Hill, near Leek, now 
 belonging to Mrs. Ward. 
 
 C
 
 20 LECTURES. 
 
 In a letter from Mr. Mountford, of New Grange, is 
 the following : " Their Prince (Prince Charles Edward,) 
 lay at old Mr. Mills', Duke of Perth at Mr. Laneford's, 
 Lord Elcho at young Mills's." Mr. Challinor showed 
 a workbag made out of a piece of the identical plaid 
 scarf worn by Prince Charles on his leaving Manches- 
 ter for Leek, and which Miss Ferriar informed him 
 had been given to her by a very old royalist lady of 
 Manchester, to whom it had been presented by the 
 Prince himself. In early days Mr. Challinor used to 
 be shewn an old sword left by one of the rebels at 
 Fowlchurch, a farm near Leek, which formerly belonged 
 to the Abbot of Dieulacres, afterwards to the Roth- 
 wells, then to his Grandfather, and now to his friend 
 Mr. Joshua Brough. This sword belonged to the two 
 Bratts the Tenants of Fowlchurch who were twins 
 and whom he well remembered being as like one 
 another as the swans on his pool, though not quite so 
 elegant. They were much attached and rarely seen 
 apart. If one of them tore his trousers and had a 
 patch on it, the other always tore his in the same 
 place, and put on a similar patch (Laughter), and so 
 if one had a dent on his hat the other dented his in 
 the same way. It happened to one of them however, 
 as has happened to most other created mortals, that 
 on one occasion he became entangled in the toils of 
 love, and he actually determined to part from his 
 brother and get married to his Mary Ann. He used 
 to tell the tale in the hayfield " On the wedding 
 day," he said, " after having had a kiss of her sweet 
 lips, I took my Mary Ann to Church it was in Par- 
 son Bentley's time who was sometimes a bit gruff, and 
 I was a bit deaf when we were all up at the Altar
 
 LECTURES. 21 
 
 Parson Bentley went on with the service, and after a 
 little while said to me, ' Wilt thou have this woman 
 for better or for worse,' ' For what, said I, for Betty 
 Brough ? ' ' Man he said are you a fool ?' ' If a foo I 
 am, said I, a foo I'll remain, and I never spoke another 
 word, but walked away from . the Altar put on my 
 thick boots as I'd left outside the South Door and 
 went right off to Buxton 'and I've never seen my 
 Mary Ann ever since.' (Loud Laughter). 
 
 - A FEW GLEANINGS CONNECTED WITH THE 
 HISTORY OF LEEK." 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL, 
 March ?6th, 1864, 
 
 HE first of a series of lectures in aid 
 of the building fund of the Leek 
 Literary and Mechanics' Institute was 
 delivered in the West Street School- 
 ) room, on the evening of the i ith inst, 
 by W. Challinor, Esq., on " A few gleanings connected 
 with the History of Leek and other matters." The 
 attendance was both numerous and respectable, and 
 frequently testified their appreciation of Mr. Challinor s 
 address by warm applause. Mr. J. J. Ritchie presided. 
 
 Mr. Challinor remarked that on the last occasion on 
 which he had the pleasure of introducing that subject 
 he had given a number of selections from Mr. Sleigh's 
 then recently published History of Leek, comprising
 
 22 LECTURES. 
 
 most of the leading historical events narrated in that 
 history, which had been compiled by Mr. Sleigh with 
 great research and ability from the most authentic 
 sources. On the present occasion, having exhausted 
 so many of the principal topics, he should only have 
 to give a few facts and illustrations in continuation of 
 the same and kindred subjects, and he must ask their 
 indulgence if he were obliged to be more discursive, 
 and if the subject matter were not quite so interesting. 
 He then shortly adverted to the state of Leek at the 
 time of William the Conqueror and Henry the Eighth, 
 and in allusion to the forest which in early times had 
 covered Leekfrith which means " Woody Vale " and 
 the adjoining districts, he remarked that it had been 
 tenanted not only by the beasts of chase, but also by 
 beasts of prey such as the wolf, the boar, and other 
 animals of that description, as appeared indeed from 
 the names of various farms in the neighbourhood at 
 the present time, such as Wolfsdale, Boarsley, Wild 
 Boar's Clough, Elkstone, &c. Mr. Challinor then went 
 on to say that in this history he found numerous illus- 
 trations connected with the three professions Lawj 
 Physic and Divinity to some of which he referred. 
 Among other things he observed that in former times, 
 that important adjunct of the medical profession, the 
 observance of sanitary regulations, was hardly under- 
 stood. Indeed, just outside the town, on the Sandon 
 road, there still remains a sort of fluted stone in the 
 wall, which m.arks the place where, during the time of 
 the plague in Leek, in 1645, the market people used to 
 come to exchange their articles for money, 
 which was put in vinegar by the inhabitants and 
 afterwards taken away so as to avoid contact, and
 
 LECTURES. 23 
 
 he had no doubt that the plague if not 
 first caused, was greatly extended by the amount 
 of filth in the town, as was the case in London in the 
 year 1666. As to the condition of the clergy in 
 ancient times it was very remarkable. As they were 
 aware, the Abbey near Leek was founded in 1214, by 
 Ranolph de Blondeville, one of the Earls of Chester, 
 and was occupied by the Cistercian or White Monks. 
 The position of the abbot was that of a spiritual and 
 temporal prince. They would find that a stone coffin 
 of one of the abbots built in the barn wall down at 
 the Abbey Farm, and also a sepulchral slab on the east 
 side of the south aisle of Leek Church, each have on 
 them a cross and a sword, the one being the emblem of 
 spiritual and the other of temporal sway. In addition 
 to the large possessions which were granted to the 
 Abbots, they had also hunting grounds and very exten- 
 sive fisheries, and Pool End, between Leek 
 and Rudyard, is so called from its being the 
 end of the great pool formerly belonging to 
 the Abbey; and even now they might see 
 the notch by which the water was allowed 
 to escape from the Dieulacres fish ponds. In order to 
 acquire the great possessions which were required to 
 keep up the monasteries, they resorted to the exercise 
 of considerable influence over the minds' erf the people. 
 Amongst several curious grants referred to by the 
 lecturer, and mentioned in Mr. Sleigh's book, was a 
 grant to Poulton Abbey of considerable lands from 
 Robert, butler of one of the Earls of Chester. This 
 grant, which attempts a singular exposition of a text 
 of Scripture, which has frequently puzzled divines and 
 laymen, was as follows: "Forasmuch as I, Robert,
 
 24 LECTURES. 
 
 the butler of my most dear and illustrious master Ran- 
 olph, Earl of Chester, considering that all things under 
 heaven are transitory, have determined to do some- 
 thing which may avail my lord and master, Earl 
 Ranolph and his predecessors, as well as myself and 
 my predecessors, in the heavenly palace for ever. To 
 do this I have been incited saying, ' give things earth- 
 ly and ye shall receive heavenly: give things transitory 
 and for them ye shall have everlasting, and make to 
 yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness 
 that they may receive you into eternal tabernacles 
 that is, give of your means acquired through iniquity, 
 for every rich man either is unrighteous or the heir of 
 the unrighteous. Give, I say, to the poor of Christ, 
 that they with angels may receive you in everlasting 
 glory, &c." Such was the exposition which the 
 monks of that time gave of that difficult text. During 
 the reign of Henry the Eighth the monasteries were 
 despoiled of great possessions, and from that period 
 all vestige of anything of the kind has gone, expect 
 indeed that there are still a few nuns at Leek, who 
 occupy a very unexpected nunnery. (Hear, hear.) 
 After the Reformation the condition of the clergy 
 became exceedingly reduced. The position of many 
 of the clergy inhabiting incumbencies in the country 
 districts was more of a menial nature than anything 
 else, and he wished it to be understood that in what 
 he was going to narrate there was nothing intended 
 as a caricature, but they were simply matters of his- 
 tory. The facts are taken partly from Mr, Sleigh's 
 book, and some from papers furnished to him by the 
 Rev, Mr. Goodacre. It appears that in 1666 the Bis- 
 hop of Lichfield wrote a mandatory letter in which he
 
 LECTURES. 25 
 
 stated he " was moved by pity and compassion for 
 that Mr. Rhodes, the vicar, should be called upon to 
 pay i os. a year, really owing by the parishes of Hor- 
 ton, Cheddleton, and Ipstones," and which he orders 
 those parishes to pay, that amount being evidently a 
 serious consideration to the vicar. In Mr. Rhodes's 
 time the parsonage was in a very tumble down con- 
 dition, and it appears to have existed on the present 
 site since 1288, when it was referred to in a composi- 
 tion signed by the then vicar, and formerly there was 
 a stable between it and the street. The revenues of 
 the vicarage in ancient times were of a very remark- 
 able character. They amounted to about 25 a year, 
 which was something near ^300 of our money. They 
 consisted of personal or lent tithes, of oblations at 
 the four principal feasts, profits from the Abbot, the 
 sacraments and the chapels, of wax candles offerings 
 at the Purification, or Candlemas, of tithes upon hemp 
 and flax, tithes upon geese, pigs, and eggs ; tithes 
 upon fruit and hay in gardens and crofts ; surplice 
 fees and legacy fees, &c. From a record at Lichfield, 
 it appears the parish clerk of Leek used to be entitled 
 to his " oats, by custom." (Hear, hear.) From a 
 charge of Bishop Hooper, referred to by Mr. Goodacre, 
 it seems that out of 311 clergymen examined by the 
 Bishop, 168 could not repeat the Ten Commandments, 
 whilst a great many of them could not answer ques- 
 tions which many National school children of the 
 present day would find no difficulty in answering. 
 The incumbent of Calton in 1714 received 8 a year, 
 which was afterwards raised to 9. Another incum- 
 bent afterwards received 30 a year, and an old lady 
 in the neighbourhood of Waterhouses on being asked,
 
 26 LECTURES. 
 
 " How he could live on that," replied, "Pretty well, 
 as the farmers send him his dinner most days." Sub- 
 sequently to the Reformation some of the smaller 
 clergy used to advertise at St. Paul's, and at the 
 Exchange, for masters to " entertain them into ser- 
 vice," and the rough landed squires of those days who 
 wished for a chaplain, managed to reconcile dignity 
 and economy, inasmuch as a young ecclesiastic, who, 
 in those days, generally went by the name of a " Young 
 Levite," could be had for about 10 a year, and his 
 board, and he had to make himself generally useful. 
 In addition to playing at bowls in fine weather, or 
 shovel board in wet weather, and being the most 
 patient of butts and listeners to his patron, he frequent- 
 ly nailed up the fruit trees, and attended to his patron's 
 horses, and although he dined with the family, he did 
 not usually partake of the dainty part of the fare, for 
 when thetarts and cheesecakes came on he was expect- 
 ed to hold himself aloof till called upon to say grace 
 for that repast, from a part of which he had been 
 excluded. It appears that about the year 1300 some 
 lands then worth 2 45. a year were devised in con- 
 nection with the maintenance of " Our Lady's " Altar,' 
 then in Leek Church ; also, that, in ancient times there 
 were but two bells in the steeple ; and mention is 
 made of the Abbot's Chapel, afterwards Joddrell's 
 Chapel, of the vestments of velvet and green 
 silk, of the silver chalices, the Sanc- 
 tus bell, the crosses of brass, &c. In the year 1717, 
 Lady Rebecca Moyer, a daughter of Mr. Joliffe, of 
 Leek, in addition to other bequests, left a copy of 
 Barrow's Sermons, and a volume of Fox's Book 
 of Martyrs, " to be chained " in Leek Church.
 
 LECTURES. 27 
 
 This was done, it is presumed, in consequence of their 
 then value, and in order to prevent their being carried 
 away. I confess (said Mr. Challinor), when we reflect 
 on how many centuries look down upon us from the 
 walls of the Old Church, and think of how many ages 
 the prayers and praises of our ancestors have ascen- 
 ded within its precincts whether amid the gorgeous 
 rites of the Roman Catholic Church, or the simpler 
 devotions of our own we cannot but sympathise with 
 the movement for restoring the ancient character of 
 the Church, and some of that fine old Norman archi- 
 tecture with which the associations of the past must 
 ever be intimately blended. And now I would say a 
 word or two on the churchvard. From a record of 
 
 J 
 
 the Black Prince, and from other ancient records, I 
 have no doubt the ancient pillar in the churchyard is 
 proved to have been erected to the fifth Earl of Ches- 
 ter, who died at Leek. And this is also corroborated 
 by the date and letters formerly on it, transferred to a 
 stone on the church wall near. There are also a num- 
 ber of remarkable epitaphs in the churchyard. One 
 to the memory of a Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, w T ho died in 
 1800, the husband only seven days after his wife. 
 Also, another short and pithy one on a Mrs. Ashton, 
 which I am sure would be appropriate to many of the 
 wives of Leek at the present time : 
 
 " She was, but words are wanting to say what, 
 Think what a wife should be and she was that.'' 
 
 (Applause.) Another point in connection with the 
 Upper Churchyard is the view from it, from which you 
 may see on and about the 2ist of June, that remark- 
 able phenomenon, peculiar to Leek and I think to 
 some place in Switzerland, viz., a double sunset, an 
 
 C 2
 
 28 LECTURES. 
 
 effect produced by the particular conformation of the 
 Cloud Hill, situate at some distance. 1 remember 
 when in my teens, standing there with a lady friend 
 of mine -the late Miss Ferriar watching one of 
 those glorious and wonderful sunsets, when she made 
 the remark, " Ah ! we have seen the last of the sun to- 
 night, but we only say 'good bye' to his genial ray, 
 until to-morrow. The sun but disappears to reappear, 
 and absent scatters in his train the ' stars of loveliness,' 
 but in these tombs lie many a dear departed one, to 
 whom we have said a long ' farewell,' " and she sug- 
 gested a few lines on the words " Good Bye," and 
 " Farewell," might appropriately be written, and the 
 following were the result : 
 
 " GOOD BYE" AND FAREWELL." 
 
 The thrilling whisper of " Good Bye," 
 
 Though not unmix'd with pain, 
 Seems to anticipate the joy, 
 
 Of meeting once again. 
 
 Hope is an antidote to grief, 
 
 A sweet delusive spell, 
 But Hope is in the yellow leaf, 
 
 When once we say "Farewell." 
 
 The mellow light of evening shade, 
 
 Ere darkness shrouds the sky, 
 Doth seem to linger in its fade, 
 
 As if to say " Good Bye." 
 
 The dying smile, the hectic bloom, 
 
 The tender traits that tell, 
 How nigh the darkness of the tomb, 
 
 Methinks they say " Farewell." 
 
 The evening zephyr wending past, 
 
 With faint and fainter sigh, 
 Respireth gently at the last 
 
 A fanciful " Good Bye." 
 
 But when the heaving of the breath. 
 
 Like some funereal knell, 
 Proclaimeth the approach of deafh 
 
 Oh ! says it not " Farewell."
 
 LECTURES. 29 
 
 When lovers part to meet again, 
 
 A momentary sigh, 
 That spark of love's electric chain, 
 
 Is all that marks " Good Bye." 
 
 But oh ! the anguish how intense, 
 
 No words of mine can tell, 
 When with a longing, lingering glance, 
 
 The lovers say "Farewell." 
 
 There is a something in the sound, 
 
 A loneliness is there, 
 Admitting scarce one ray around, 
 
 The darkness of despair. 
 
 After the above lines were given, Mr. Barlow played 
 on the piano a few of the tunes in imitation of those 
 of the Leek chimes, and the choir then sung, " Ye 
 gentlemen of England," being the tune of one of 
 them. After that the Lecturer proceeded to say On 
 the last occasion I entered into some explanations 
 connected with some of the remarkable places in the 
 neighbourhood of Leek, and there are a few more I 
 will just advert to now. Rushton Spencer, in this 
 neighbourhood, took its name from Earl De Spencer, 
 who formerly held vast tracks of land in that and 
 other parts of the country. Earl Hugh De Spencer 
 was an immense favourite with Edward II., and in con- 
 sequence of that the Earl of Lancaster took great 
 offence, which led to disagreement and war, but ulti- 
 mately the King and the Earl were reconciled, and 
 about the year 1318, Edward passed through Leek, 
 and was reconciled to the Earl of Lancaster, in the 
 presence of the Cardinal and other prelates, and gave 
 him the " osculum pacis." He probably afterwards 
 visited Earl De Spencer. There is also a peculiar 
 point on the Cloud range called Drummer's Knob, so 
 called from the fact that when Prince Charles Edward 
 passed through Leek on his return from Derby to 
 
 "
 
 30 LECTURES. 
 
 Macclesfield, a poor Scotch drummer sat down on the 
 spot and amused himself by playing, " Hie thee Jamie 
 home again." A soldier of the Royal Army, seeing 
 the lad, asked permission to shoot at him, which was 
 given, and down the poor drummer fell. Another 
 well-know r n spot is St. Helen's Well, Rushton, a very 
 copious spring, almost sufficient to supply one of the 
 mills of the neighbourhood, but which has this peculiar 
 property, that every eight years, or so, about the month 
 of May it goes dry, and continues so for six or eight 
 months. The people used to look upon this as por- 
 tentous of some great calamity. Endon is so called 
 from " Heandon." the Saxon for high hill. Many of 
 you know Park Lane, near Endon, so called, because 
 the Lords de Audley, one of whom distinguished him- 
 self at the battle of Poictiers, had a large park in the 
 vicinity of this lane. In Ipstones parish is Belmont, 
 built by John Sneyd, Esq., grandfather of the present 
 Rev. John Sneyd, and a friend of Miss Seward, Dr. 
 Darwin, and other distinguished persons himself a 
 man of cultivated intellect a sort of Mecoenas of 
 that day. On a fountain near are some beautiful lines, 
 inscribed to him by Darwin, entitled "The address ot 
 the water nymph." At Cornhill Cross, near Leek, you 
 are aware there was a stone cross, which formerly 
 stood in the Market Place. It is supposed this was 
 in the form of a cross, as indicating, what was the 
 fact, that in former times the tolls of the market 
 belonged to the neighbouring monastery. At Biddulph 
 is an old castle, called Biddulph Castle, which was- 
 partly battered down in the time of the parliamentary 
 wars by Colonel Ashenhurst, of Ashenhurst, near 
 Leek. It would appear that this district had been the
 
 LECTURES. 31 
 
 scene of warefare more or less at intervals of a cen- 
 tury. In the year 1540 there was the contest connected 
 with the suppression of the monasteries. In the 
 year 1645 there were the civil wars, and Mr. Sleigh 
 gives a number of interesting accounts of some of the 
 actions in the neighbourhood of Eaton and Rushton. 
 The moorlands are described in the diary of Captain 
 Simmonds, a royalist, as being a rebellious place. 
 The moorland troops, under the command of Sir W. 
 Moreton, it seems, took Stafford in the dead of the 
 night, and captured some of the principal royalist 
 officers, including Sneyd and Leigh, of Adlington, 
 Bagot, and others. In 1745, a century later, we had 
 Prince Charles Edward and the Scotch rebels passing 
 through Leek, many of the details of which I gave on 
 the former occasion. A century later, in 1841, we 
 had a vast body of rioters coming from the direction 
 of Manchester and Congleton into Leek. Many of 
 you will remember their marching up Mill Street, four 
 or five thousand of them with staves and bludgeons, 
 when we had the yeomanry drawn out, and a body of 
 Leek gentlemen as special constables ; and some of 
 you will recollect how Mr. Simon Getlyffe, the provis- 
 ion dealer, showed his smartness on that occasion by 
 shutting up his shop, and writing "To let" on the 
 shutters. (Laughter.) On the last occasion I referred 
 also to a number of distinguished persons connected 
 with Leek Edward II., Charles I., Sir Benjamin Rud- 
 yerd, Lord Chancellor Macclesfield, Prince Charles 
 Edward, Brindley, and others. It is said of Brindley, 
 the distinguished canal engineer, that when he got 
 into any difficulty he used to lie in bed till he had 
 thought it out, and ultimately managed to get through
 
 32 LECTURES. 
 
 his troubles. I have a likeness of him, and also of 
 the poet Chaucer, in the room, done by Mr. Holt, 
 (Hear, hear.) We had, as you know, an earthquake 
 in this neighbourhood about six months ago, and it 
 appears from Mr. Sleigh's book that there was one in 
 1777, when Boswell, the historian of Dr. Johnson, 
 came to Leek to inquire into the romantic circumstan- 
 ces connected with Michael Johnson, the father of Dr, 
 Johnson, who served his apprenticeship here Another 
 distinguished person connected with Leek was Sir 
 Richard Levinge, who was born at Leek, about 1656, 
 and afterwards became Lord Chief Justice of the Court 
 of Common Pleas in Ireland. He was a relative of 
 the Parkers, ancestors of the Earl of Macclesfield ; and 
 it seems remarkable that most of those who have been 
 distinguished in connection with the History of Leek, 
 should be connected with the Parker family. It seems, 
 indeed, from a carefully prepared pedigree, that Mr. 
 Sleigh, the historian of Leek, is himself distantly con- 
 nected with them, the Bateman's and Sleigh's, of 
 Hartington, having intermarried about the year 1500, 
 and one of their descendants was the maternal ances- 
 tor of Mr. George Parker, of Leek, whose son was 
 the Lord Chancellor Macclesfield. It appears from 
 Lord Chesterfield's letters that the second Earl of 
 Macclesfield was also a first-rate astronomer and 
 mathematician, and was the compiler of the act for 
 altering the old style to the new, that is, old to new 
 lady-day, &c. With reference to some other persons 
 connected with this- neighbourhood, a few months ago 
 one of my clerks was searching amongst some old 
 deeds, when he found the small black box produced, 
 and, on looking into it, I found a number of old and
 
 LECTURES. 33 
 
 singular deeds connected with Pickwood. One of 
 
 S 
 
 the parchment documents runs as follows : " I hum- 
 bly desire that you will be pleased to remember that 
 I, Thomas Fynney, of Leek, in the county of Stafford, 
 lieutenant, do humbly accept and lay hold of his Maj- 
 esty's free and general pardon, expressed in his 
 gracious declaration of the fourteenth day of April, 
 one thousand six hundred and sixty, within the time 
 therein limited, and of his Majesty's grace and favour 
 expressed therein. And I do hereby declare that I 
 return to the loyalty and obedience of a good subject. 
 In testimony hereof I have hereunto subscribed my 
 name, the seventh day of June, 1660. (Signed) 
 Thomas Fynney. Subscribed by the above-named 
 Thomas Fynney, in the presence of Anthony Rudyerd, 
 Esq., one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, and 
 Commissioner for the Militia for the said county. 
 (Signed) A. Rudyerd." This Anthony Rudyerd was 
 a descendant of the old Saxon family of Rudyerd, and 
 a relative of Sir Benjamin Rudyerd, the orator and 
 poet the " silver trumpet of the long parliament." 
 It appears, from Mr. Sleigh's book, he was the officia- 
 ting justice in reference to marriages here during 
 Cromwell's usurpation. The above named Thomas 
 Fynney was then owner of Pickwood and one of the 
 ancient family of Fenis, and was the father of Dr. John 
 Fynney, who left two fellowships of 40 a-year, and two 
 scholarships of 10 a-year, to Worcester 
 College, Oxford. with a preference in favour 
 of the inhabitants of the Moorlands. This fact should 
 be well known, as I am not sure whether the inhabi- 
 tants of the Moorlands take advantage of it as they 
 ought. (Hear, hear.) Another of our Leek celebrities,
 
 34 LECTURES. 
 
 though hardly well known as such, was my old friend 
 Mr. Abraham Kershaw Kilmister. Many here will 
 remember him as a gentleman of retired habits, and 
 few suspected him to be an author of no mean repute- 
 He was known as the author of the " Oakleigh Shoot- 
 ing Code," of an article in the " Encyclopaedia 
 Britannica," and of a book entitled the ' Rod and 
 Gun," jointly with Professor Wilson, of Edinburgh, 
 and of various poems and literary articles in magazines, 
 &c. In his later days he took a good deal to astron- 
 omy, and built an observatory. After a disquisition 
 on a favourite topic of Mr. Kilmister's and himself, 
 that " this was a life of compensations." 
 Mr. Challinor proceeded to refer to a few 
 of the old customs connected with the town of Leek, 
 among others to one which is continued to the present 
 time, viz., that of " Soul caking," on All Souls' day 
 the first of November. Another old custom, which 
 has been given up, was that of lifting at Easter. On 
 Easter Monday the men claimed the privilege of 
 lifting the ladies, under the penalty of a forfeit ; and, 
 on the Tuesday, it was the custom for the ladies to lift 
 the men. The custom, which was no doubt typical of 
 the resurrection, was handed down from very ancient 
 times, for we read of Edward the I. having paid a 
 forfeit of 400 marks to the ladies of the bedchamber 
 on such an occasion. Another curious custom was 
 that of Plough Monday, w r hen the agricultural labour- 
 ers dragged round the plough with guising and 
 mummers. The guisers, as you are aware, now go 
 round at Christmas, but the labourers no longer drag 
 the plough. A superstition, somewhat in the nature 
 of a custom, is mentioned in a letter of the Earl of
 
 LECTURES. 35 
 
 Pembroke and Montgomery to the High Sheriff of 
 Staffordshire, dated August ist, 1636, as follows: 
 " Sir, His Majesty taking notice of an opinion in 
 Staffsh. that the burning of Feme doth bring downe 
 rain, and beeing desirous that the country and himself 
 may enjoy fair weather, as long as hee remains in 
 those parts, his Matie. hath commanded mee to write 
 unto you to cause all burning of feme to bee forborne 
 until his Matie. be past the country ; wherein, not 
 doubting but the consideration of their owne interest, 
 as well as of his Matie's., will invite the country to a 
 ready observance of this his Matie's. com'and, I rest 
 your very loving friend, Pembroke and Montgomery." 
 Another of the old institutions that has passed away 
 most of you will remember. The old stage coaches, 
 such as the Defiance or Telegraph, used to come in on 
 a fine frosty morning with four spanking horses 
 rattling over the stones, and would stop opposite the 
 Roe Buck, for instance, where the passengers would 
 get a glass of something warm, when the horses were 
 quickly changed, and the coach off again, the guard 
 playing some notes on the horn, or perhaps a tune on 
 the bugle, an accomplishment one of my friends some- 
 times indulged in. (Applause.) There was another 
 bye-gone institution that of the old watchman of 
 former times. 1 remember they used to go their 
 nightly rounds, and when comfortable in bed I recollect 
 the cry, " half-past three o'clock, and a stormy morn- 
 ing." Away he went, and in an hour would return 
 with a similar cry, the listener feeling a sort of comfort 
 in his warm berth, and thai he was not the poor old 
 watchman in the cold outside. Another arrangement 
 likely before very long 'o pass away is the old system 
 
 n
 
 36 LECTURES. 
 
 of markets in the open Market-place. You are aware 
 the Commissioners have purchased the property for- 
 merly belonging to Mrs. Watt, on the right hand side 
 at the top of the Market-place, with a considerable 
 extent of land behind, which will be a most admirable 
 place for a covered market, so that probably that ele. 
 gant structure at the bottom of the Market-place, 
 yclept the Town Hall, will ere long be done away with, 
 and a more ornamental building erected. (Applause.) * 
 Amongst the old things of the past, too, was the 
 system of letter carrying. Fifty or sixty years 
 ago, a letter used to be two or three days in coming 
 from London, and we had to pay a good deal for our 
 letters, whilst now we have the penny post, and the 
 wonderful electric telegraph. Mr. Sleigh, in his book, 
 also gives a number of interesting legends connected 
 with this neighbourhood, but which I will not on the 
 present occasion fully enter upon. There is the legend 
 of " The witch of the Frith," who seems to have 
 infested the neighbourhood of Leek Frith and Turner's 
 pool in the shape of a hare, and a farm there goes by 
 the name of the " Old Hag " to this day in conse- 
 quence. There are also the legends of the Flash 
 Pedlar, of the Mermaid at Blakemeer, and of the 
 Headless Rider, the last of which is a phantom remind- 
 ing one of the " Erie King," one of Scott's ballads, 
 (which was repeated-.) There is another matter in 
 connection with the subject to which my attention was 
 first called by Mr. Alsop, and that is, the language of 
 the farmers and people of the Hills, near Leek. Many 
 of the words used by them which we are in the habit 
 
 * This has since been removed and a granite and bronze fountain 
 given by me erected on the site.
 
 LECTURES. 37 
 
 of thinking vulgar, are, in fact, old Saxon words, which 
 were talked in the days of Chaucer, and may be found 
 in his works, and have been preserved in those remote 
 districts comparatively unchanged. I intended to 
 have read one or two passages from Chaucer, in illus- 
 tration of this, but I will give you a dialogue in the 
 old Staffordshire dialect, being an imitation of this 
 language as nearly as I can, and narrating the scenes 
 of the period about here. The dialogue is supposed 
 to have taken place between Hugo de Wheloc, a small 
 proprietor, living on the Hills, and his man, Will of 
 the Switch, a sort of Sam Weller of those days : 
 " Hie thee, hie thee, lad ; go and oss for to fettle the 
 tit." " Ay, ay, measter ; I fettled him and baited him 
 too, a'ready, and while I were baitin' him who should 
 come up but Squire Cundlyffe, o' Gunside, and stood 
 over ayenst me. My lad, says he, fetch me a cup of 
 sack. Anon, anon, sir, quoth I. I suppose thou'st 
 had thy ounders, says he ; its a terrible cou'd country 
 up i these Hills. So it is, said I ; they ca'un it the fag 
 end o' creation there's 3 months of summer, 3 mon- 
 ths of winter, and a' the rest's bad weather. 
 (Laughter.) Then 1 ax'd him about the prices of 
 beasts at Lee Fair. He tow'd me oxen were a mark 
 a-piece (133. 4d.), horses a noble each (6s. 8d.), swine 
 and lambs about 3 groats a-piece (is.), hay 6 groats a 
 load, and oats 45. 6d. a quarter. Well, lad, and what 
 didst see at the Abbey De Lacres, when I sent thee 
 yesterday ? Why, Measter, I seed a deal. When I 
 got part way, just to'th' outside oth' town o' Lee, I saw 
 somethin' swingin' oth' gallows, and they tow'd me it 
 were Tom o'th-Dyke ; he'd led 'em a pretty dance ; 
 sheep sttalin' and deer stealin, and the Abbot held an
 
 38 LECTURES. 
 
 inquisition o' 12 men, and they strung him up, and 
 made him dance upo' nothin 5 . I afterwards met some 
 o' th' Norman knights as the King's Majesty had sent 
 wi' some message to th' Abbot. By my lady, bu' they 
 were grond in hawbirks an' coats o' mail glistening 
 a' over, and some Saxon bowmen wi' 'em, an' they 
 had their hair cropt at the back o' their yeads, as the 
 monks have at the top o' theirs. Howsomever they 
 soon past on wi' their fine tits, an' as I got near the 
 Abbey I heard some music, an' I went an' looked in 
 at the chapel, an' a grond sight it were. There were 
 the white monks kneelin' down, an' the Abbot in his 
 grond dress, wi' his crozier, and two priests in blue an' 
 gold, at the altars that they say are made o' alabaster, 
 and they chanted some fine music. The tother day, 
 my wife were desperate janglesome, and at night she 
 were sittin' at one side o' th' hearth and me at the 
 tother, and the two cats playin' 'em afore the fire ; 
 says she to me, " How is it you and I canna' be happy 
 and comfortable together, like those two cats ? Says 
 I to her, "Tie 'em together by th' tail, and then see 
 what they'n do." (Laughter.) Such is a faint imita- 
 tion of some of the scenes that were seen and of the 
 language spoken in the days of Chaucer, in this 
 neighbourhood. How changed are matters now. In- 
 stead of the black letter literature of those times, 
 almost confined to the monks, we have nowprinting and 
 the penny press distributing the knowledge of the 
 world among the poorest of the people. Instead of 
 the old roads, such as that which remains at Wardle 
 Lane, beyond Hare Gate, where the traffic used to be 
 carried on by means of mules, &c., we have the cheap 
 and universal railway, and I am happy to say the
 
 LECTURES. 39 
 
 proposed branch from Leek to Stoke is now being 
 surveyed and about to be gone on with. (Hear, 
 hear.) Instead of the old, half timbered cottages, we 
 have neat and commodious houses, and even the trade 
 buildings are now being erected with a certain regard 
 to beauty as well as utility. Upon the subject of trade 
 I will just say one parting word. While I would 
 impress on the shopkeepers the importance of energy 
 and enterprise, so that we may have at least one or 
 two shops of each kind here equal to those in the large 
 neighbouring towns ; to the ladies and gentlemen I 
 would say : This is your native town, this is your own 
 metropolis, in your dealings and your shoppings, 
 therefore, patronise as far as you can, not the metrop- 
 olis of Lancashire or the metropolis of Middlesex, 
 but the metropolis of the Moorlands. (Applause). 
 
 At the close ot the lecture, Mr. Ritchie briefly 
 moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Challinor for his 
 address. 
 
 Mr. R. Farrow seconded the motion, and spoke of 
 Mr. Challinor being an old and tried friend of the 
 Institution, and of the working classes of the 
 town. 
 
 Mr. J. Rushton, in supporting the motion, said the 
 efforts of Mr. Challinor to benefit the Institution 
 could not be too highly appreciated by the inhabitants 
 of the town. He was afraid the feelings of the work- 
 ing classes with regard to those who occupied a 
 higher social position had not been thoroughly under- 
 stood. It had been said in that town, and also in 
 many others, that they were not grateful, and never 
 appeared thankful for what was attempted to be done 
 for them ; but he could assure them from his own
 
 40 LECTURES. 
 
 knowledge of his fellow workingmen, that that was 
 not the case. The apparent indifference of the work- 
 ing classes did not arise from any want of gratitude, 
 but from a want of confidence in themselves, and an 
 inability to express their thankfulness in a public 
 assembly of that kind. From his own experience of 
 the working classes, he was satisfied that they were 
 grateful in every sense of the word for all the efforts 
 which had been made to improve their condition. He 
 also would allude to the kind ladies of the town, who, 
 he trusted, would be long spared to continue their 
 efforts in aid of the sick and afflicted, expecially the 
 lady who resided at the top of the Market-place, who 
 was almost unexampled in her labours on behalf of the 
 afflicted and destitute. (Applause). He had made 
 it his business to ascertain the feelings of the working 
 classes towards those ladies, and he could assure them 
 that they entertained feelings of the deepest thank- 
 fulness and gratitude, aud if there was any apparent 
 indifference, it arose simply from a natural diffidence, 
 and a fear of expressing themselves in the presence 
 of those above them, and not from any want of 
 respect. (Applause). 
 
 The resolution was then cordially passed. 
 
 A vote of thanks was also passed to Mr. Barlow, 
 organist of the Old Church, who presided at the piano- 
 forte, and assisted by a glee party, added greatly to 
 the enjoyableness of the evening's proceedings.
 
 LECTURES. 
 
 THE NEW HISTORY OF LEEK." 
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 May ^rd, 1884. 
 
 N Friday, 25th April, 1884, Mr. William 
 Challinor, under the auspices of the 
 St. Luke's Young Men's Society, gave 
 a lecture in the Temperance Hall, on 
 " Some Points connected with Mr. 
 John Sleigh's new " History of Leek," and other 
 matters." The room was crowded, and Mr. W. Chal- 
 linor's address was thoroughly enjoyed. On the 
 platform and about the room were a number of pictures 
 and drawings illustrative of the subject or connected 
 with our local history, including plans or drawings of 
 the Abbey, an ancient missal, the cucking-stool, and 
 the 1745 sword belonging to the Institute. The Rev. 
 W. Beresford, vicar of St. Luke's, presided. 
 
 The Chairman said he had been asked to introduce 
 the lecturer, but he thought it would be much more 
 appropriate for the lecturer to introduce him, than that 
 he should introduce to them one whom all in that 
 place knew so well as a lawyer and ex-chairman of 
 the Board of Commissioners. There was, how r ever, 
 one capacity in which he thought he might venture to
 
 42 LECTURES. 
 
 introduce the lecturer to them. About 20 years ago, 
 in the days between leaving school and going to 
 college, he happened to be present at a lecture given 
 in Leek by Mr. Challinor on the " History of Leek," 
 and he could still remember the great pleasure it gave 
 him. Now he wanted to introduce to them Mr. John 
 Sleigh's exhaustive and capital history, and also this 
 lecturer, to bring him out of the vista of the past, to 
 present him in all his eloquence, his poetry, so that 
 his audience might go away to-night with the same 
 gratification that he experienced from the lecture 20 
 years ago. One of his first ideas on coming to Leek 
 was whether he could induce Mr. Challinor to give a 
 similar lecture, and at last after a great deal of per- 
 suasion Mr. Challinor consented to give an address 
 which should be composed partly from Mr. Sleigh's 
 admirable new edition of the " History of Leek," 
 and partly out of his own reminiscenses. What he 
 wished to introduce to them now was Mr. Challinor, 
 the lecturer of 20 years ago. (Applause). 
 
 Mr. Challinor said an introduction of the kind just 
 given him was far too flattering, and not a very easy 
 one to speak after. The truth was that he feared on 
 the present occasion he should fall short of what he 
 had formerly done. However, he had been requested 
 as the Chairman said to address them on the subject 
 of his friend, Mr. John Sleigh's recent edition of the 
 " History of Leek." It was more than 20 years since 
 Mr. Sleigh brought out the first edition, and he 
 happened to know that during the succeeding interval 
 Mr. Sleigh had been accumulating a great mass of 
 information from the British Museum and from many 
 public and private sources, and he (Mr. Challinor) had
 
 LECTURES. 43 
 
 pressed him to publish another edition, which Mr. 
 Sleigh had done, and the result was a beautiful 
 volume, a copy of which was on the table, and which 
 he thought they would agree with him did Mr. Sleigh 
 infinite credit, and was a great credit to the publishers, 
 Messrs. Bemrose, of Derby, and was in point of fact 
 a monument of research and able investigation, and 
 as he believed and as he had been told on good 
 authority, was perhaps the best local history in Eng- 
 land certainly it contained an immense repertoire of 
 local information and interesting facts. (Applause.) 
 The Chairman had referred to his lecture on the first 
 History in former days, but he would remind them 
 that since then the shadow had gone down on the 
 dial and it was not so easy for him now to find new 
 thoughts and illustrations. At the best of times this 
 was like searching for metals in a mine, a slow and 
 laborious process, and as the shades of evening des- 
 cended there was less light with which to see and lay 
 hold of these. As they were all aware, Doomsday 
 Book was compiled in the reign of William the Con- 
 queror, soon after the Conquest. It was there stated 
 that at that time Leek contained 15 villeins or serfs, 
 and 13 burders or burgesses. All around was wood, 
 especially in the direction of Leekfrith and Rushton, 
 where soon after was Rushton Church, appropriately 
 called the Chapel in the Wilderness, and those dense 
 woods were formerly occupied by wild beasts, as might 
 be indeed inferred from the names of farms, such as 
 Wild Boar Clough, Wolf Dale, and other places in 
 the neighbourhood. King William had to come down 
 himself in the year 1070, in order to quell the rebel- 
 lious spirit of Staffordshire, and they might well 
 
 D 2
 
 44 LECTURES. 
 
 understand how amidst the fastnesses of nature here, 
 the dense forest, the clefts of Ludchurch, and the wild 
 and rugged Moorlands and Roches our Saxon fore- 
 fathers could make a desperate stand against the 
 Norman invader. That some contest took place was 
 proved by the fortification or earthwork about 500 
 yards square on the crest of Gun, and which Mr. 
 Sleigh thought was the scene of conflict between the 
 Saxons and the Normans. The lecturer then referred 
 to the Abbey of Dieu 1' acres or Dieu 1' encres, the 
 ruins of which are still near Leek, in the Abbey estate 
 of Mr. James Searight. He explained an excellent 
 sketch and ground plan of this, capitally executed, 
 and which the Chairman had kindly made, who had 
 the ruins and an old ground plan of the Abbey to go 
 by, and as the Cistercian Abbeys and their elevation 
 were tolerably known and alike, the sketch would no 
 doubt be as nearly as possible a reproduction of what 
 the Abbey had been. The Abbey was built by Ran- 
 olph, 6th Earl of Chester, in 1214. From the sketch 
 and ground plan (which he pointed out) they would 
 gain a good idea of the various parts of the building, 
 the Abbey, Church and tower, the transepts, the 
 chapter house, the dormitories or sleeping apartments 
 of the monks, the refectory where they took their 
 meals, the abbot's parlour and rooms where strangers 
 were received, and the kitchen and other offices. In 
 the centre of the Abbey was a large open square 
 called the. Garth, and around that were the cloisters 
 where the monks could walk, and study, and illuminate 
 those beautiful missals preserved to this day, such as 
 the one he had on the table, and which was perhaps 
 near 500 years old. The portion of the Abbey under
 
 LECTURES. 45 
 
 the tower, and part of the transepts, the sacristy and 
 chapter house were the portions, of which the few 
 ruins were now standing, and were marked green on 
 the ground plan. The monks of Leek Abbey were 
 the white or cistercian monks, so called from Citeaux, 
 a place in Normandy where they were first founded. 
 The institution of abbeys or monasteries was especi- 
 ally for the exercise of personal devotions and the 
 offices of religion. The object was retirement from 
 the business and vanities of the world. The monks 
 had no fewer than six services during the day, and 
 one at midnight. The Cistercians w r ere generally bled 
 once a month in order to subdue the flesh and keep 
 down the hot and rebellious blood, but the monks, 
 although their time was chiefly passed in religious 
 services, occasionally indulged in the sports of fishing 
 and hunting. There was a large pool not very far 
 from the Abbey, and you are all aware there is a place 
 on the Macclesfield Road called " Pool End," which 
 was the end of this pool, and any who care to inves- 
 tigate the matter will find signs of the notch and 
 embankment there now. Besides fishing in the pool 
 they used to hunt the stag, and in fact one of the 
 abbots about 500 years ago was indicted for getting 
 beyond his boundaries and killing a stag in Maccles- 
 field Forest which belonged to the King. However, 
 he escaped on the ground that he was not personally 
 present. Ranolph, the founder, had left his heart to 
 be buried beneath the high altar of the. Abbey and 
 Mr. Sleigh believed it had been so buried in a silver 
 casket. Various grants were made to the Abbey, and 
 the first Mr. Brealey, of Leek, had possession of, 
 being the original charter of King John. The lecturer
 
 46 LECTURES. 
 
 produced one which was found long since with a num- 
 ber of old deeds relating to Pickwood, by the Rev. 
 John Sneyd. It had attached the Royal Seal of 
 Henry III., about the year 1230, exactly similar to his 
 seal as given in Cassell's " History of England," the 
 arms and inscription being precisely the same. The 
 writing of the Latin in what remained of the deed 
 was beautifully done no doubt by some scribe of the 
 time, and the seal was attached to the deed by a silk 
 cord dyed by some famous Mr. Wardle of years ago, 
 and which, as they w r ould see, retained its strength 
 and colour nearly as well as his silks and dyes do now. 
 In the course of tims the Abbey became a great cen- 
 tre for charity, having considerable possessions. 
 They would some of them remember two roads lead- 
 ing towards the Abbey, namely, the Beggar's Way, 
 by the Recreation Ground, and Sury or Sure Way, so 
 called because they were roads traversed by the men- 
 dicants on their way to the Abbey for alms. The 
 lecturer said the oldest relic in Leek was the column 
 in Leek Churchyard. This was erected to Hugh, 5th 
 Earl of Chester, father of Ranolph, and this appeared 
 from an inscription formerly on the pediment and 
 recently restored of H.Q.C.C., 1180, and from Mr. 
 Sleigh having discovered in the Cottonian manuscripts 
 in the British Museum that Hugh, 5th Earl of Chester 
 had kept house near Leek, and was buried here in 
 1 1 80. Mr. Sleigh also discovered from a composition 
 between the Abbot and Robert of Tutbury, vicar of 
 Leek, that there was a parsonage house at Leek in 
 1288. Also from manuscripts in the British Museum, 
 that in 1297 Leek Church and the whole town, then 
 no doubt chiefly built of sand, rock and timber, had
 
 LECTURES. 47 
 
 been destroyed by fire. It also appeared that Edward 
 II. with a cardinal and some bishops came to Leek in 
 1318, probably on the occasion of the completion of the 
 building of the present Church, the architecture of 
 which was of that period being of the Edwardian or 
 decorated style. Mr. Sleigh had furnished him with 
 a record also of an extraordinary law suit which took 
 place near Leek in 1307, in the reign of Edward II.; 
 much illustrative of the legal process of the period. 
 It was held at Leek at a so-called Court of Afforcea. 
 ments, being a special and solemn court. It appeared 
 a man named Richard De Willock was brought up for 
 stealing a horse and its caparisons of the value of one 
 mark being 133. 4d., the mark being as some of them 
 might remember an ordinary lawyer's fee. Willock 
 was found guilty by the jurors and sentenced by the 
 Court to be hanged which was the punishment for 
 horse stealing in those days, but it happened that he 
 was a clergyman, and the Bishop of Lichfield sent a 
 mandate through the vicar of Leek, claiming that 
 being a clerk in orders he should have what was called 
 the benefit of clergy, and he was accordingly handed 
 over to the bishop instead of being hanged. This law 
 of benefit of clergy was only abolished about half a 
 century ago. Among the names of the jurors and 
 other names mentioned in the reign of Edward II. in 
 Leek records as living in Leek were the following, 
 which were interesting as showing their derivation, 
 viz., Bordhewer, Stonehewer, Adam le Harper, Philip 
 le Tynker, Alexander Faber (artizan), R. Pistor 
 (baker), Smythe, Milner, Fisher, Damport, Nedham 
 and Roger Nabbe of Nab Hill (where MrT. Robinson 
 now resides). Later on about the year 1568, in the
 
 48 LECTURES. 
 
 days of Shakespeare, there lived one John Lamford 
 who was a schoolmaster at Leek, in the reign of Queen 
 Elizabeth. (A sketch of him and his school from an 
 old print was produced). He remembered in his 
 youth a very old gentleman once telling him that a 
 former Leek Schoolmaster after the time of Lamford 
 fell in love with an ancestor of the Sleigh's, and this 
 schoolmaster wrote some verses which he remembered. 
 They were 
 
 " Beauty, till now I never saw thee, 
 Exclaimed old Hal the sullen ; 
 When first he cast his amorous eyes, 
 On beauteous Anna Bullen. 
 
 That self-same thought rose in my breast, 
 
 When first I did espy, 
 
 Her various beauties all expressed, 
 
 In charming Kitty Sly." 
 
 (Laughter). Leek it appears was the scene of con- 
 siderable conflicts in the reign of Charles the I., and 
 during the Civil War. Sir John Gell, of Hopton, of 
 whom a portrait hung in the room, and who command- 
 ed on the Cromwellian side, sent Major Mollams to 
 Leek who attacked King Charles' soldiers here,, 
 killing many and taking a number of prisoners, and 
 about the year 1640 entries were found in the registers 
 which had relation to this struggle, such as the pay-, 
 ment of sums such as 8s. 6d. for maimed soldiers. 
 (A portrait also hung in the room, of Prince Rupert, 
 the gallant leader of King Charles' cavalry during the 
 Civil Wars, and another representing some of his 
 cavaliers). In 1715 also, Leek was mixed up with the 
 rebellion indeed, they called Leek a rebellious place 
 because so many of the people were in favour of the 
 old Pretender, who was the son and heir of James the
 
 LECTURES. 49 
 
 Second, but as he was a Roman Catholic the English 
 would not allow him to occupy the Throne. Among 
 other things, the meeting house of the sectaries or 
 Quakers' was attacked, and at this time a party burnt 
 the pulpit and pews, turned people out, and created a 
 great disturbance. As an illustration of the doubt- 
 ful and wavering feeling of that day the following 
 lines had been written 
 
 " God bless the King, God bless the faith's defender, 
 God bless (no harm in blessing) the Pretender ; 
 But who the Pretender is or who the King, 
 God bless us all, that's quite another thing." 
 
 In 1745, thirty years afterwards, Prince Charles Ed- 
 ward, grandson of James II., generally known as the 
 Young Pretender, came through Leek on his way to 
 London. Mr. Sleigh had in his history collected a num- 
 ber of letters of a most interesting character written 
 by Mr. Toll, of Haregate, and others, who were eye- 
 witnesses of what took place at the time. He had not 
 time to read them, but they described the entrance of 
 Prince Charles at the head of some 5,000 Highland 
 soldiers into Leek, in December, 1745. Prince 
 Charles, after leaving Leek, went as far as 
 Derby, but was driven back by the royal troops 
 under the Duke of Cumberland, and forced to retreat. 
 The royalist troops came through Leek in pursuit, 
 and the Duke of Cumberland and his soldiers were 
 entertained in Leek Market Place amid great accla- 
 mations by the people, who were glad to get rid of 
 Prince Charles and his followers. The lecturer point- 
 ed out an excellent painting by Holl, belonging to 
 Mr. Arthur Nicholson, containing a representation of 
 one of Prince Charles' Highland soldiers passing 
 through Leek or some other country town, a straggler
 
 50 LECTURES. 
 
 of the retreating Scots and being pelted at by the 
 people, but he held a pistol in his hand and with a 
 proud and scowling look of defiance made the people 
 following him keep at a respectful distance. The last 
 royal personage at Leek was the Duchess of Teck 
 (Princess Mary of Cambridge), whom Mrs. Cruso and 
 himself had had the honour of receiving in the midst 
 of several of the nobility at Leek Railway Station 
 about nine years ago. Mrs. Cruso presented her with 
 a bouquet and he had reminded her Royal Highness 
 of the former royal visitors to Leek, viz., Edward II., 
 Prince Charles Edward, and the Duke of Cumberland. 
 The lecturer then referred to a few interesting points 
 connected with the successive population of Leek. 
 This it appeared from Domesday Book was 28 in the 
 time of William the Conqueror. In the time of Henry 
 VIII. there was a record that the town consisted of 84 
 burgages or messuage tenures, comprising a popula- 
 tion of probably about 400 or 500. In the year 1801 
 it appeared from the census the population of Leek 
 and Tittesworth was about 3,700, and in 1881 it had 
 reached nearly 13,000, the principal advance having 
 been within the last century. (There was a capital 
 sketch, made by Mr. Campling, of the town of Leek 
 from an old print of 100 years ago). As regards the 
 description of the place in the very old times, he 
 collected the buildings were chiefly of red sandstone 
 and timber. Blome in his Brittania, published in 
 1673, referred to Leek and that "the buildings were 
 poor and mostly thatched, but that the town had a 
 good market." In 1777, Dr. Johnson came here and 
 in a letter to Mrs. Thrale he said he had been " for 
 the first time to Leek in the Moorlands which was a
 
 LECTURES. 51 
 
 poor town but with an old church." During the last 
 century, indeed, the church probably has not looked a 
 day older than it did then, for " Time writes no 
 wrinkles on its stony brow." Boswell in his celebra- 
 ted biography of Dr. Johnson, relates that on a 
 Sunday in the same year, 1777, he (Boswell) was at 
 Leek when the people were frightened out of the 
 church by an earthquake. This earthquake, some- 
 what similar to the recent one in Essex, though not 
 so injurious, is referred to in a recent History of Ches- 
 hire, and in the Macclesfield and Rushton registers of 
 the time. In reference to the remarkable conversation 
 and honour paid to Dr. Johnson in his latter years, it 
 had struck him that as the fading tints of autumn 
 were more full of hues and shades than earlier periods 
 of the year, so the fading period of old age had often 
 more varieties of remembrance, and more tints and 
 hues of conversation than the earlier portion of our 
 lives. Dr. Johnson was indeed as Shakespeare said, 
 surrounded by 
 
 " All that should accompany old age, 
 
 As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends." 
 (Applause). 
 
 (An interval was made, during which Mr. W. Young 
 sang, " The Friar of Orders Grey.") 
 
 Mr. Challinor, in resuming his lecture, pointed to 
 a capital sketch by Mr. Campling, of Brindley, the 
 celebrated canal engineer, of whom Darwin wrote : 
 
 " So with strong arm immortal Brindley leads 
 The long canal, and parts the velvet meads." 
 
 An estate at Lowe Hill, near Leek, which now belonged 
 to Mr. Ward, formerly belonged to Brindley's father. 
 Brindley, called the schemer, who constructed the 
 
 E
 
 52 LECTURES. 
 
 Bridgewater and other canals, had lived for years at 
 Leek, and died in consequence of a disease contracted 
 about the time of his making the Leek and Cauldon 
 canal. The lecturer referred to a painting kindly 
 lent by Mr. Allen, being a striking portrait of one 
 Bowcock, whom he remembered, commonly called 
 Nosey Bowcock ; he was appointed by the Court 
 Leet as a sort of assistant constable, and was styled 
 " Beadle, Bangbeggar, and Pinner." He held in one 
 hand the keys of the small dark prison under the old 
 Town Hall called the Black Hole, and in the other he 
 carried a pair of handcuffs. The lecturer remembered 
 Bowcock, the last official of the kind, upwards of 40 
 years ago, and he recollected his Bardolphian nose. 
 The Chairman and himself when driving not very far 
 from the Revedge, near Bradnop, had discovered out- 
 side an ancient farmhouse what appeared to be an old 
 stone "hand quern" (produced), with which in former 
 times they used to grind corn as in Scriptural times. 
 The lecturer said Mr. Sleigh's book comprised a good 
 many local pedigrees which had been a very laborious 
 business to compile. He could not attempt to go 
 through these, but he hoped just to touch the rind of 
 the subject, and refer to a few main points. The 
 oldest pedigree in the book, and that which he under- 
 stood from Mr. Sleigh was the one best authenticated 
 by the Harleian MSS and others, was that of Rudyerd. 
 Wollferus de Rudyerd, lived at Rudyerd, and had 
 property there about the year 1030, being before the 
 Conquest. A descendant of his was reputed to be 
 the man who killed Richard III. at Bosworth Field in 
 1485. Another descendant of his, Sir Benjamin Rud- 
 yerd, whose portrait hung in the room, was the
 
 LECTURES. 53 
 
 surveyor of the Court of Wards and Liveries in the 
 time of Charles I., was a great wit, poet, and orator, 
 and was called the "Silver Trumpet" of the long 
 Parliament. The last of the Rudyerds who lived in 
 this neighbourhood, were Margaret and Mercy, who 
 sold Rudyerd in 1723 to Lord Chancellor Macclesfield, 
 and the lecturer then read and produced the original 
 letter of Lord Macclesfield to Mr. Mills, solicitor, 
 Leek, as to the purchase of Rudyerd as follows: 
 ' London, 2ist May, 1723. Gentlemen, 1 was once a 
 little fond of the purchase of Leek and Rudyard, but 
 being quite balked then, got the better of the inclina- 
 tion entirely, and am now very indifferent about it, 
 but, however, since you have mentioned it, I will not 
 decline it if I can have it on such terms as I think 
 worth while to meddle with it, and I therefore desire 
 to know what is insisted upon for it. Yours, MACCLES- 
 FIELD. To Mr. Wm. Mills, at Leek, neare Stone, 
 Staffordshire." He thought this a cute and character- 
 istic letter. The result of it w r as that Mr. Mills, who 
 was a solicitor at Leek, and a predecessor of his firm, 
 bought the property for Lord Macclesfield. He said 
 he might mention that he had some time since dined 
 at Pickwood with Lieutenant Rudyerd, a young man 
 who was the present heir of the family. Another 
 pedigree containing several of the most illustrious 
 names connected with Leek was the Parkers'. Mr. J. 
 Sleigh had modestly not given his own pedigree, but 
 it appeared the Parkers' were descended from the 
 Batemans, of Hartington, one of whom had married a 
 Miss Sleigh, a relative of the historian, as far back as 
 1500. Another Miss Sleigh had married one of the 
 Parkers', the descendants of thrsr \\vre Sir Anthonv
 
 54 LECTURES. 
 
 Parker, Lord Mayor of London ; Sir Thomas Parker, 
 Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer: Mr. William 
 Parker, who fought at Marston Moor, Naseby, and in 
 several other engagements of the Civil War; also Mr. 
 Thomas Parker, who practised as a solicitor at Leek> 
 whose son was Thomas Parker, born at Leek in 
 1666, and who after being at Leek some little time, 
 went to Derby, studied for the bar, became Lord Chief 
 Justice, and afterwards Lord High Chancellor of Eng- 
 land and Earl of Macclesfield. He built the Grammar 
 School still standing on Clerk's Bank, as appeared 
 from the inscription. Another descendant of theirs 
 was Sir Richard Levinge, who was born ten years 
 before Lord Macclesfield, and became Lord Chief 
 Justice of Ireland ; and another descendant was our 
 historian, Mr. John Sleigh. (Applause). Another 
 remarkable pedigree is that of the Crewe's. Mr. John 
 Crewe was a tanner at Nantwich about the year 1590; 
 he had two very clever sons, one became Sir Randolph 
 Crewe and Lord Chief Justice of England, and another 
 became Sir Thomas Crewe, and was Speaker of the 
 House of Commons in 1614, and from him were des- 
 cended the present Lord Crewe, who has estates near 
 Nantwich ; and Sir John Harpur Crewe, who has a 
 large amount of property between Leek and Warslow, 
 and whose ancestor upwards of 100 years ago married 
 the heiress of Sir Richard Harpur, of Calke Abbey, 
 Derby, and so the Calke estate was added to "that of 
 Crewe, and they also acquired the name of Harpur. 
 With reference to the fact of an ancestor of the 
 Crewe family having been a tanner, I remember an 
 anecdote connected with the late Lord St. Leonard's 
 formerly Lord Chancellor, whose father was a barber.
 
 LECTURES. 55 
 
 and on one occasion some rude person reproached 
 him with it, to which Lord St. Leonard's replied, 
 ' Ay, and if your father had been a barber, you would 
 have been a barber still.' Another old pedigree was 
 that of the Fynney family. It appeared one of that 
 name, Fiennes, came over with his kinsman, William 
 the Conqueror, and they owned much property about 
 Pickwood and Cheddleton. Fynney Lane house was 
 built by William Fynney in 1610. This William 
 Fynney married it appeared Miss Elizabeth Burgh, of 
 Windy Gates, the ancient residence of the Brough 
 family, and their son, Thomas Fynney, joined the 
 Cromwellian side, and was a lieutenant, and when 
 Cromwell died he was obliged at the Restoration of 
 Charles II. to sign a declaration or recantation, the 
 original of which had been kept among the Pickwood 
 deeds, and which he produced and read : " I humbly 
 desire that you will be pleased to remember that I, 
 Thomas Fynney, of Leek, in the county of Stafford, 
 lieutenant, do humbly accept and lay hold of His 
 Majesty's free and general pardon expressed in His 
 gracious declaration of the fourteenth day of April, 
 one thousand six hundred and sixty, within the time 
 therein limited, and of His Majesty's grace and favour 
 expressed therein, and I do hereby declare that I 
 return to the loyalty and obedience of a good subject. 
 In testimony hereof I have hereunto subscribed my 
 name, the seventh day of June, 1660. (Signed), 
 THOMAS FYNNEY. Subscribed by the above-named 
 Thomas Fynney, in the presence of Anthony Rudyerd, 
 Esq., one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace and 
 Commissioner for Militia. (Signed), A. RUDYEKD." 
 This shewed that in order to retain his property, Mr.
 
 56 LECTURES. 
 
 Thomas Fynney made this recantation and became a 
 loyal subject again. It was a rather singular fact that 
 Pickwood and the house in Derby Street where their 
 
 J 
 
 offices were, had been bought by the Fynney's from a 
 Mr. Sacheverell in the reign of Philip and Mary, as 
 appeared from the old conveyance which he produced, 
 and it was rather a singular fact that the house in 
 Derby Street and Pickwood, and land, had remained 
 until now in the same ownership, or rather 
 in the same successive owners from the time 
 of Philip and Mary, and how long before 
 that he did not know. It should be men- 
 tioned that James Fynney left the tithes of Hall House, 
 Cheddleton, and 2,500 to found two scholarships and 
 fellowships at Worcester College, Oxford, for the 
 benefit especially of those born in the Moorlands. 
 These he supposed were still existing, and the fact 
 should be made known. Another distinguished pedi- 
 gree was that of the Sneyd family, who were descended 
 from Henry de Sneyd, of Tunstall, in the reign of 
 Edward II., and were perhaps the last of the old 
 Squires w T ho remained about Leek. The Cruso family 
 were descended from Major Knight, who was aide de 
 camp to the celebrated General Monk, who had been so 
 instrumental in the restoration of Charles II. Mrs, 
 Cruso, and her brother, Mr. Searight, were descended 
 from the Fords, of Ford Green, where their ancestors 
 had lived for centuries, and who were descended from 
 Henry de Ford, of Ford Green, in 1241. Another old 
 family were the Joddrells, who owned Moor House 
 Farm, now belonging to the lecturer, and in the reign 
 of Elizabeth and subsequently they had a house on 
 Leek Moor called Mocr House. If another street
 
 KS. 57 
 
 should bt- added in that part he hoped it might be called 
 Joddrell Street. The lecturer then said he would say 
 a tew words about the old inns of the town. The 
 Swan was reputed the oldest it was kept by Nicholas 
 Plant, in 1504, but that had been the name of the old 
 Black's Head taken down some years since at the 
 bottom of the Market Place. The present Swan- 
 with- two-necks was formerly called the Green Dragon, 
 and there were some fields down West Street which 
 had been held with it still called the Dragon's Croft. 
 The next was the Roe Buck, built as the date on it 
 showed in the year 1626. Another was the Wheat 
 Sheaf, which was so called from the sheaf on part of 
 the Abbey Arms ; and the Cross Keys was named 
 from part of the Pope's Arms. There was also 
 another old inn in the Market Place, where Mr. Howes' 
 shop now stands, formerly called the Cock Inn, which 
 was the scene of some legends and incidents men- 
 tioned in Mr. Sleigh's book. The last rites were 
 administered by the Rev. Mr. Corn there, to Naden, 
 who had murdered his master on Gun Heath about 150 
 years ago, and who was taken from thence to be han- 
 ged on Gun, the procession being preceded by the 
 singers of Leek, Bosley and Wincle, the chains 
 and posts of the gibbet remaining, he thought, to 
 within his own recollection. Another old inn was the 
 Holly Bush it was situated where Mr. Maskery's 
 bakehouse now is in St. Edward Street. Many of 
 them had heard the old saying, " Good wine needs 
 no bush." The fact was thjy formerly used to hang 
 a holly or ivy bush outside an inn to shew that there 
 they kept good wine. This fell into disuse, and hence 
 the saying afterwards arose, " Good wine needs no
 
 58 LECTURES. 
 
 bush." On a Mr. Goodwin's tablet in Hartington 
 Church his coat-of-arms bears the motto " Good wine 
 needs no bush." I will now refer to the Noncomform- 
 ists of 100 to 200 years ago, who had a bad time of it 
 in Leek. The Rev. Richard Dale, who used to preach 
 in Leek about 1655, was mobbed and imprisoned. 
 Sometimes lhay met at the house of Mr. Thomas 
 Hammersley, probably an ancestor of the present 
 Hammersleys. The Rev. Thomas Hanby was the first 
 Wesleyan minister who preached in Leek in the last 
 century, and coming to Leek on one occasion he put 
 up at one of the inns, and immediately a great mob 
 collected round, and he escaped on horseback with 
 difficulty as they pelted him with stones and mud, and 
 shouted " Kill him." On another occasion he was 
 pursued by a mob headed by a constable, and he took 
 refuge in the house of a stalwart woman named 
 Hannah Davenport, who seized an axe and said she 
 would cut down the first who tried to enter, and the 
 constable said " Stand back, lads, she'll be as good as 
 her word." The Rev. John Wesley was in Leek five 
 times between the years 1772 and 1778. The first 
 time, he preached from a stone in a rather open space 
 in Pickwood road, the second time he preached from 
 the steps of Mr. Sleigh's old shade, formerly near St. 
 Edward Street, and on the last occasion, when in the 
 zenith of his fame, he preached in Leek Church, and 
 he gives in his journal for March 1782 an interesting 
 account of how there were 800 communicants and of 
 the Love Feast they held afterwards. Another power- 
 ful preacher and revivalist was Mr. Richard Weaver, 
 who had come to Leek from time to time, and on a 
 recent occasion had effected a remarkable conversion,
 
 LECTURES. 59 
 
 having managed to convert or change the name of one 
 of the most ancient names in Leek, that of Needham, 
 into what was probably another ancient name that of 
 Weaver. He remembered on the morning in question 
 meeting some people who said they were come from 
 the wedding at the Chapel. He said he supposed 
 they had been " weaving the Staffordshire Knot." 
 He remembered an eloquent dissenting preacher 
 adverting to how fearfully and wonderfully we are 
 made, and that considering the vast number of nerves 
 and vessels about our bodies the wonder was we con- 
 tinued well as long as we did, and he quoted the 
 words of one of the hymns of Dr. Isaac Watt. 
 
 " Our life hangs on a thousand springs, 
 
 And dies if one goes wrong. 
 Strange that a harp of thousand strings, 
 Should keep in tune so long." 
 
 There was however a well near here called Egg-well at 
 Ashenhurst, which according to the inscription on it 
 could cure a number of complaints. The lecturer 
 said he would now refer to two poets whom he had 
 always associated with this neighbourhood, namely, 
 George Heath of Gratton, and Henry Kirke White, 
 \viththe latter of whom his father and the late Mr. 
 Matthew Gaunt went to school at Nottingham. Both 
 of these poets died young, under 25, both died from 
 consumption, and in the case of each like the Swan 
 the sweetest song was the last he sung. In poor 
 Heath's case he was obliged to break off a longer 
 poem in consequence of his disease, and just before 
 he died he wrote the lines part of which the Lecturer 
 
 quoted. 
 
 " His life was a fragment, a broken clue, 
 
 His harp had a musical string or two ; 
 
 Bat the tension was great, and they sprang and flew 
 
 E 2
 
 60 LECTURES. 
 
 A few brief strains, a scattered few, 
 
 Were all that remained to mortal view 
 
 Of the marvellous song the young man knew. 
 
 Oh, ye who have feeling, a tear from you ; 
 
 Rest, saddest of singers, in peace adieu ! 
 
 Part of this is on his monument in Horton Church- 
 yard. Henry Kirke White, shortly before he died, 
 broke off his long poem of "The Christiacl," and on 
 a paper blotted with tears, within it were two vei 
 the last of which was 
 
 And must the harp of Judah sleep again, 
 Shall I no more reanimate trie lay, 
 
 Thou who visitest the sons of men, 
 
 Thou who dost listen when the humble pray ; 
 One little space, prolong my mournful day, 
 One little lapse, suspend thy last decree, 
 
 1 am a youthful traveller on the way, 
 
 And this slight bo<~>n would consecrate to Thee 
 
 Ere I with death shake hands, and smile that I am free. 
 
 (Applause). A carol, recently written as to some of 
 the old Leek customs was then read and afterwards 
 sung by Miss Challinor and the choir, the words of 
 which were as follows : 
 
 The singing Waits a merry throng, 
 
 At early morn with simple skill, 
 
 Did imitate the angels' song, 
 
 And chant their Christmas ditty still. 
 
 The Guisers too on Christmas eve, 
 Amused us with their mimic fight ; 
 While Christmas carols filled the air, 
 And watchmen called the hour of night. 
 
 The lifting done at Easter time, 
 The rising up did typify, 
 Of (-Tim who gave us hopes sublime 
 Expressed in Easter minstrelsy. 
 
 The lecturer on resuming, said Mr. Sleigh had men- 
 tioned to him that there were in and about Leek from 
 the year 1650 or thereabouts, to the year 1770, certain 
 squires who drove their coaches and four. All tb 
 squires had since left or parted with their estates 
 except the Sneyds. They were he believed, the
 
 l.KC'irRKS. 6 1 
 
 Hollie.; of Moss Lee, the WedgW6cxfe of the llarraclrs, 
 \Yhitehough of \\'hitehough, Whitehalls of Sharper! iffe, 
 Trafford of Svvythamley, and the Sneyds of Belmont. 
 The Sneyds used to drive out attended by their 
 retainers the Cardings and Birtles, and on special 
 occasions their horses tails were festooned with 
 ribbons. The lecturer then referred to his friend the 
 late Mr. Abraham Killmister, who as some of them 
 \\vre well aware was an author of no mean repute, as 
 appears from the list of his works in Mr. Sleigh's 
 book. He was also fond of astronomy. He had a 
 telescope with an object glass of Dolland, and one of 
 the glasses was fitted with certain spiders' threads 
 which are the finest threads in Creation, being far finer 
 than a hair. One day some ladies were looking 
 through the telescope, and one of them who was not 
 a philosopher said, " I see it." ' See what," says 
 he. "Why," she said, "the equator." (Laughte^r). 
 She had in reality seen the spiders' thread on the 
 glass. Mr. Killmister was also very clever at draw- 
 ing, and he could sketch out with great skill scenes 
 from Shakespeare's plays, such as Falstaff and others ; 
 they impressed him very much in his younger days 
 and he believed were the means of promoting in him 
 a taste for Shakespeare's plays. A friend of Mr. 
 Killmister's greatly versed in Shakespeare, once said 
 that ther^ was no subject he could not illustrate he 
 thought by a quotation from Shakespeare. Well, said 
 the other, illustrate a tread mill. His friend paused 
 for a moment, and said, " Down, down, thou climbing 
 sorrow," from King John. He would, however, have 
 bren puzzled had any of the following been mentioned, 
 tea, coffee, potatoes, or tobacco; none of which
 
 62 LECTURES. 
 
 though so miTch used among us now, were known in 
 Shakespeare's time or ever mentioned in his plays. 
 Mr. Sleigh was of opinion the silk trade in Leek had 
 been commenced soon after 1686. Certainly in that 
 year the Revd. Mr. Rhodes had made a collection for 
 French Protestants in Leek Church, which was imme- 
 diately after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes 
 by Louis XIV., who thereby drove certain French 
 Protestants out of France. Many of them came over 
 to this country, and some of these settled in Coventry, 
 Leek, Macclesfield and Congleton, and it was thought 
 this was the first inception of the silk trade here- 
 Mr. Sleigh informed him that about the year 1820 and 
 previously, the leading manufacturers at Leek, namely, 
 Mr. Phillips, Mr. Ford, Mr. Mellor, Mr. Fynney, Mr. 
 Richd. Gaunt, and also Mr. Sleigh, Mr. Badnall, and 
 Mr. Brccklehurst, of Macclesfield, used to dine at one 
 another's house before the silk sales took place in 
 London, and in fact fixed the prices of silk for all 
 England. They frequently then made near 100 per 
 cent, profit, and they made it a point of honour not 
 to interfere with each other's customers, which no 
 doubt he supposed was a practice followed by their 
 successors in business now-a-days. (Laughter). In 
 those times they used to ship goods from Liverpool to 
 America, and other places. He understood, however, 
 the quality then was often far from the best. I now 
 come to a remarkable scion of the house of Gaunt- 
 Mr. Matthew Gaunt, whom many of you may remem- 
 ber as having been a somewhat eccentric magistrate 
 living near here. I have often thought his sayings 
 and doings would form in proper hands the basis of 
 another Pickwick, his remarks, which seemed to well
 
 LKCTI-RRS. 63 
 
 up naturally, being often so original and Pickwickian, 
 and his adventures so many. " Great wit they say to 
 madness is allied," and some p( ople seem to have a 
 twist in their heads, like tumbler pigeons, which makes 
 them perform very extraordinary gyrations at times. 
 ! have only time to give two or three short anecdotes 
 of the above gentleman. I remember on one occas- 
 ion he spoke to me after returning from the Chapel at 
 Alton Towers, he said while he was kneeling down he 
 happened to look up and saw written on a stone column 
 of the Chapel, " Pray for the good estate of John, Earl of 
 Shrewsbury, " Ah, William," (he said) "If I thought 
 if I could have it for praying for, I would pray away." 
 (Laughter). On another occasion I remember he had 
 a quarrel with his brother John in the barn at High- 
 field. Seeing his brother get very excited, and being 
 rather afraid of him in that state, he flung his arms 
 round him from behind, and threw him on the ground. 
 Mrs. Fowler, their mother, happened to be passing 
 the barn at the time, and cried out, " Oh, my John, 
 my angel, you'll kill him." Mr. Matthew said " He 
 shan't make an angel of me, I can tell you that Madam 
 Fowler." (Laughter). Mr. Matthew Gaunt, like some 
 other mortals had a great knack of falling in love, and 
 I have heard of his making a good many offers in his 
 time, far more than people generally do, and on one 
 occasion in his earlier days, as he told me, he had got 
 engaged to the daughter of a neighbouring gentleman, 
 and when they began to talk about money arrange- 
 ments, the father talked of giving him a post obit 
 bond, that is, a bond to pay a certain sum of money 
 after the father's death ; this seemed a long way off, 
 and rather exercised Mr. Matthew's mind, especially
 
 64 LECTURES. 
 
 when the event was getting rather near ; he said to 
 me, " You see the romance of love is very delightful, 
 but when it comes to those cartloads of furniture and 
 dreadful practicalities, it takes all the romance away, 
 and I couldn't sleep at times. One morning, however, 
 after I had been tossing and tumbling all night, I said 
 to myself, " Matthew lad, if you are not off with it, 
 it'll kill you/' and that sqttled the matter, and I've 
 never been engaged since." (Laughter). He added, 
 the ladies seemed to laugh and be pleased with him, 
 " But, hang it, I canna get off." (Laughter). And 
 now to conclude with a short resume relating to some 
 of the matters referred to in the foregoing lecture. 
 The lecturer said : I would observe that some often 
 speak of the good old times, but I think on the whole, 
 the new times are better, considering all things. I 
 remember in my early days seeing bull baits and bear 
 baits in the town, when the poor bull, fastened by a 
 long chain to a stake driven in the Market Place, was 
 torn at by ferocious bull dogs, and surrounded by a 
 crowd hardly less ferocious, and among them a few 
 gentlemen, who, as a bystander once remarked to me, 
 seemed stronger in the arm than in the head. 
 (Laughter). I remember the stocks, through which 
 the legs of drunken men and other offenders were 
 fastened, and which were by the side of Mill street, 
 opposite Clerk's Bank. I remember dreadful fights 
 between men in the streets on market days, and an 
 old sexton a number of years ago told me how women 
 from Scolding Bank and Quarrel Hole near Mill 
 street used to be taken to be ducked in a ducking 
 stool in the Churnet, because they were supposed to 
 be rather vicious and noisy, but as you are aware, we
 
 LECTURES. 65 
 
 hav-j no vix MIS no\v-a-days (laughter) at any rate 
 no such n*.od^ of punishment but instead of these 
 \\r have Bands of Hope, one of the hopeful signs of 
 the day, reading rooms, and amateur theatricals, illus- 
 ti it ; g that "All the World's a Stage," and most 
 
 ; lawyers in it turning players. (Laughter). 
 
 have with the aid of our friend, Mr. Ritchie 
 (whom I hear beneath me), Mr. Farrow, and others, a 
 great improvement in our sanitary arrangements, and 
 in certain departments of health, and the beautiful 
 springs from under the Roches have been brought in 
 healthful abundance through the town. Locomotion 
 by railways is cheaper and swifter than the old coaches 
 were ; and in reference to this subject, I am glad to 
 say that I attended and took part at a meeting in 
 London some months since, at which the North Staf- 
 ford Company determined to make a loop line a little 
 beyond Macclesfield, formerly promoted by me, which 
 \vill give a better route for the Potteries and Leek to 
 Buxton and that part of the country. As regards the 
 buildings in the town they are no longer " poor and 
 mostly thatched " as Blome says they were about 200 
 years ago, and although we have lost the Black's 
 Head and several timbered buildings of that descrip- 
 tion, we have instead Mr. Sleigh's fine mediaeval-like 
 houses in St. Edward street, recently built; and with- 
 in the last fe.-v months we have seen rising among us 
 like some new creation, Mr. Nicholson's dome-topp'd 
 tower and institute, erected by one who rising from 
 the body of the people, has been able by the right 
 hand of his industry and strength of will, to erect a 
 worthy memorial for the benefit and improvement of 
 tin- p.-ople (cheers), where newspapers and books and
 
 66 LECTURES. 
 
 works of art are to be enjoyed in future by the towns- 
 people, without money and without price ; and among 
 the best books there, certainly one of those that will 
 be most prized by Moorlanders, I am sure you are 
 agreed with me, will be my friend Mr. John Sleigh's 
 recent edition of his " History of the Ancient Parish 
 of Leek" to which I have referred this evening. 
 (Cheers). I will now conclude with a few lines apropos 
 to the subject matter of this evening 
 
 What varied scenes surround, 
 
 Our Moorland town's approaches, 
 
 Hill, valley, fertile ground, 
 The heather and the Roches. 
 
 Wide Cheshire's level plains, 
 
 And honeysuckled hedges, 
 Fair Rudyard's lake, that hides 
 
 The wild duck in its sedges. 
 
 And yon bleak Morridge hill, 
 
 From whence the distant Wrekin, 
 
 Looks a small dome-like cloud, 
 From the horizon peeping. 
 
 In the dense forest shade, 
 That once the town surrounded 
 
 The grisly boar has strayed 
 And wolf and fox abounded. 
 
 The spotted stag has stood, 
 
 And seen his antlers quiver, 
 In the pelluci 1 flood, 
 
 Of our now dye-stained river. 
 
 Streets that now feel the blast, 
 
 Of many a rude north-wester, 
 Have seen King Edward pass, 
 
 And mail-clad Earls of Chester. 
 
 The Abbot's white monked train, 
 Prince Charlie's Highland pladdie, 
 
 And following in his wake, 
 The kilted soldier laddie. 
 
 And some were greeted fair, 
 
 And some the people jeered at, 
 The last though pelted sair, 
 
 The Moorland lasses peered at.
 
 LECTURES. 67 
 
 The Abbey ruins lie, 
 
 Shorn of their ancient glory, 
 But the old Church towers high, 
 
 Majestic, grey, and hoary. 
 
 Each house with varied style, 
 
 By contrast thought arouses, 
 Bank, Roe Buck, and just built. 
 
 Sleigh's mediaeval houses. 
 
 Proud doth th' Art Temple stand, 
 
 Of Nicholson our neighbour, 
 By industry's right hand. 
 
 Reared for the sons of labour. 
 
 And last not least, our guide, 
 
 Through many an ancient mystery, 
 
 Sleigh's last historic work. 
 England's best local history. 
 
 (Cheers). Mr. W. Young and the choir then sang 
 " Auld Lang Syne." 
 
 Mr. Ritchie said he thought somebody would have 
 got up before to express on behalf ot the meeting 
 the great pleasure and gratification with which they 
 had listened to this lecture. He was sure he was 
 expressing the real feeling of everyone present when 
 he proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Challinor for the 
 entertainment. Some of them had read many of the 
 facts and incidents mentioned in Mr. Challinor's 
 lecture in Mr. Sleigh's History. He thought the lec- 
 ture had been delivered in such a happy, racy manner 
 as to make it most interesting, and must have a much 
 better impression than they would receive from read- 
 ing it themselves, and begged to propose a vote of 
 thanks to Mr. Challinor for his excellent and interest- 
 ing lecture. 
 
 Mr. Ward said he thought the Chairman would have 
 made some arrangement as to the moving of a vote 
 of thanks, otherwise he should have at once risen to 
 propose it. However, he had great pleasure in sec- 
 
 B
 
 68 LECTURES. 
 
 ending the vote of thanks to Mr. Challinor for his 
 lecture on Mr. Sleigh's excellent book. He had been 
 much interested in listening to the reminiscences, and 
 he was sure everyone present would thank Mr. Chal- 
 linor for the lecture. Many of them might perhaps 
 regret that the blue pellucid waters of the Churnet 
 were no longer what they had been in former years, 
 but he thought the trade of Leek would not have been 
 what it is if this had been so. 
 
 Mr. Challinor said he was obliged to all his friends 
 there present for the vote of thanks. He had always 
 felt a sincere desire for the welfare of the people of 
 Leek, and it would be a pleasant recollection to him 
 that they had passed an enjoyable hour or so in listen- 
 ing to the reminiscences he had gone through, and 
 he had joined with them in singing " Auld Lang 
 Syne." (Applause). A vote of thanks to the Chair- 
 man was then passed, and a verse of the National 
 Anthem sung.
 
 LECTURES. 
 
 69 
 
 " A FEW PARTICULARS CONNECTED WITH 
 THE CLIMATE AND NATURAL PRODUC- 
 TIONS OF LEEK, &c." 
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 Saturday, January i$th, i88j. 
 
 R. W. Challinor gave an interesting and 
 instructive lecture on "A few particu- 
 lars connected with the climate and 
 | natural productions, &c., of Leek and 
 other districts," at the Nicholson In- 
 stitute, on Friday evening last, in connection with the 
 Art Class. Notwithstanding the severity of the 
 weather there was a good attendance, the room being 
 full. A number of coloured diagrams and maps illus- 
 trative of the lecture were displayed in the room, 
 among which a map of England showing coal and 
 other strata, fisheries, &c., by Mr. Henry Eaton ; two 
 similar maps, one showing the trades and the other the 
 primeval forests, by Mr. H. W. Campling, and a 
 geological map of Leek and neighbourhood by Mr. T. 
 Wardle, were specially worthy of notice. Mr. A. 
 Nicholson was in the chair, and briefly introduced the 
 lecturer who he said was well known to them, and 
 they would have the pleasure of listening to a lecture 
 about themselves bv one of themselves.
 
 yo LECTURES. 
 
 Mr. Challinor said : When we wander by the sea side 
 we sometimes but not often pick up a stone which 
 gem-like, is capable of being polished and worthy of 
 being preserved, and so we sometimes stumble upon 
 gems of thought or illustrations which, when linked 
 with scientific facts may be interesting, and 
 
 Lend each to each a double charm, 
 Like pearls upon the Ethiop's arm. 
 
 I have been asked by the committee through Mr. 
 Winfield, the secretary, to lecture here this evening. 
 We will therefore endeavour to touch upon a few 
 points connected with physical geography mostly in 
 connection with the district. Physical or natural 
 geography, means geography having relation to the 
 nature and productions of the various districts to 
 which it relates, as for instance with respect to climate, 
 animals, birds, strata, and other characteristics. The 
 above forms an immense subject, and I can only just 
 touch on a few points connected with the fringe of it 
 this evening, but which I hope may induce some of 
 those present to go further into this interesting subject. 
 They will find ample opportunity for doing so I 
 doubt not among the books of the Nicholson Institute* 
 being part of that noble gift by the late Mr. Nicholson 
 to the town. Talking to a lady, a school-teacher, a few 
 weeks since, she said she felt that Leek was to her 
 much better w r orth living in since they had the free 
 library. 1 doubt not if my old friend had been living 
 that he as well as his family would have appreciated 
 this remark. 
 
 And first, as regards climate. As you know a high 
 mountain like Mont Blanc or Mount Ararat in Asia, 
 from its base to the summit has all climates, and the
 
 LECTURES. 71 
 
 latter has the plants of Western Asia at its base, and 
 then through various gradations has the plants of 
 snowy Lapland at the top. I may mention that we at 
 Leek are at the southern end of the great Pennine 
 chain of mountains which form the main backbone of 
 England, and comes from the Cheviots in Northumber- 
 land, through Yorkshire and part of Derbyshire, and 
 so on to the Roches and Morridge. The Roches, as 
 you know, are so called from the word Roches, being 
 French for rocks, and morridge is the Moor-ridge, the 
 ridge of the moors, and in them are to be found at this 
 season of the year some cold and stormy parts, such 
 as the moorland not far from here, appropriately called 
 " Bury me wick," between Leek and Longnor. 
 
 I propose this evening to give some derivations 
 connected with the subject, and untwist some of the 
 hidden links of meaning which I think may yield 
 additional interest and even poetry. For instance 
 in Staffordshire the word Stafford comes from the 
 Saxon word Stade, a place, and. ford. Stafford being 
 on the river Sow r and meaning the place of the river 
 ford, there no doubt having been a ford there in 
 ancient times. Shire is derived from the word shear, 
 being a piece of land or county sheared off from the 
 rest. Hundred, part of a shire, was a part containing 
 one hundred inhabitants in the time of the ancient 
 Saxons. Mr. Sleigh's excellent history shows that 
 there were only 28 persons inhabiting Leek at the time 
 of William the Conqueror, and this seems to corrobo- 
 rate that there might be only one hundred inhabitants 
 in Totmonslow North Totmonslovv being the name 
 of our hundred, and derived from a village near the 
 hills in Draycot-in-the-Moors, and from the word Lowe
 
 72 LECTURES. 
 
 a hill ; as for instance Lowe Hill or Shuttlingslow, the 
 hundred of Totmonslow, meaning in fact hilly hundred. 
 A field also one of the parts of a hundred, is so 
 called from the trees having been felled from off it. 
 
 As regards climate the Gulf Stream, which is a vast 
 amount of water running from the Gulf of Mexico in 
 Equatorial America and bearing its hot waters many 
 miles wide up to the British Islands, has been a most 
 fortunate circumstance for this country, it makes our 
 winters considerably warmer than they would other- 
 wise be. It flows, as you will see, by the Isle of Man 
 up to the Hebrides in Scotland. A party was once 
 asked if she had ever seen the Hebrides, and the reply 
 was " Oh no, we don't visit w r ith them." I remember 
 it was rare to see either snow or hail at the Isle of 
 Man. Penzance, also on the south-west of Cornwall, 
 in consequence of the Gulf Stream has only a differ- 
 ence of 19 degrees between the average cold of its 
 w-inter and the warmth of its summer. London has 
 25 degrees. In London they have the summer of St. 
 Petersburgh as regards warmth, while the winter is as 
 warm as it is in Constantinople far south of us. It is 
 this equality of climate that has enabled our inhabi- 
 tants to work a greater number of hours and so achieve 
 much of our industrial results. I have been told by 
 Mr. Beresford that the climate on the other side of 
 Cloud hill, near Macclesfield, is considerably warmer 
 and the spring a fortnight earlier than ours. This is 
 partly owing to the nearer influence of the Gulf 
 Stream and partly to being more sheltered from 
 the bleak moorlands. It has struck me that the pros- 
 perity and growth in population of great inland 
 countries like Russia is being greatly promoted by
 
 LECTURES. 73 
 
 railways, which supply the place of rivers and other 
 communications there. The population of Russia for 
 instance in 1838 was 50 millions, and now it is nearly 
 90 millions. No wonder other nations should be 
 apprehensive of her strength and further extension. 
 
 As regards rain the wettest place in England is Seath- 
 waite, in Cumberland, where they have an annual 
 rainfall of about 140 inches, ours at Leek being about 
 30 inches, and in the flat eastern counties about 20 
 inches. The wettest place in the world is Sierra 
 Leone on the coast of Africa. We know that it is a 
 mountainous place from the word "Sierra" which is 
 Spanish signifying a saw, and is indicative of the saw- 
 like jagged edges of the mountains there. 300 inches 
 of rain is, I believe, an average annual fall at Sierra 
 Leone, and the whole of that during a very few mon- 
 ths only. One reason why mountainous countries 
 cause a greater rainfall is that when the vapour- 
 laden clouds from the sea strike the cold mountains 
 the rain has a tendency to be precipitated or dis- 
 charged, just as after a frost you see on the walls of 
 the hall or any room with no fire in, drops of moisture 
 which are produced by the moist and warmer air dis- 
 charging its water upon them. This is not caused by 
 the walls being damp from the bottom, but for the 
 above reason. In the flat counties at the East of 
 England the rainfall is much less than in the hilly ones, 
 and in Egypt's level plains there is next to no rain. 
 The Abyssinian and other mountains having nearly 
 exhausted the atmosphere of its moisture before 
 reaching Egypt. They have there, however, the 
 annual inundation of the river Nile to supply the 
 place of rain.
 
 74 LECTURES. 
 
 And now for a word as to strata. The greater 
 
 O 
 
 stratifications into which the world is divided occur 
 like the leaves of a book always in regular order, if 
 they are there at all. Some may be sometimes 
 missing, but if there, they occur in regular rotation one 
 under the other. Page 20 of a book like one of these 
 strata may not be there, but if there it always lies 
 between 19 and 21. The deepest stratification we 
 know of consists of granite and what are called igneous 
 rocks in which alone tin and copper are to be found. 
 Then come amongst others, slates, certain limestones, 
 theoldred sandstone, carboniferous limestone, millstone 
 grit, coal formations, new red sandstone, and last of all 
 what are called the London clay and other tertiary 
 formations. Leek lies upon two separate formations 
 the south-west part of it on the new red sandstone, 
 and the north-east on the millstone grit, of which the 
 Roches are composed. Market street and the brook 
 below Pickwood divide the two formations. The new 
 red sandstone often contains gypsum or alabaster. 
 In the limestone also near here have been found mines 
 of lead like that at Ecton out of the great profits of 
 which the Duke of Devonshire built the Crescent at 
 Buxton near a century ago. 
 
 The coal measures lie some miles off Leek in the 
 Pottery coalfield. The map prepared by Mr. Henry 
 Eaton, of Leek, above me, shows the places of differ- 
 ent coal measures as they exist in England and 
 Scotland, there being next to none in Ireland. You will 
 deduce from this that the population and much trade, as 
 is the case with the raw material, goes to the coalfields, 
 as for instance, Manchester and Liverpool, Edinburgh 
 and Glasgow, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Bristol, the Leeds
 
 LECTURES. 75 
 
 and Nottingham, the South Staffordshire coalfields, 
 near Wolverhampton and Birmingham, and others. 
 The lecturer then explained the map as to these mat- 
 ters, and stated as regards Cheadle, which had a small 
 coalfield a few miles from the Pottery coalfield, that 
 he attributed the fact of Cheadle not having much in- 
 creased in population in some measure to the circum- 
 stance that it was not connected by railway with the 
 North Staffordshire Line to the Potteries. Prepara- 
 tions for application to Parliament had been made for 
 that object two or three years since, but one of the 
 leading officials of the North Staffordshire railway had 
 told the lecturer that it had not been taken up by the 
 railway company, because the promoters proposed to 
 take it two miles round mainly to serve certain 
 collieries, etc., and that it was to be constructed about 
 five miles long, when it need only have been three by 
 the most direct route. We had been more fortunate 
 at Leek as regards railways. 
 
 With reference to the annual consumption of coal, 
 last year it was not less than 150 millions of tons in 
 Britain, and not many years since about two-thirds of 
 all the coal used throughout the world was raised in 
 Britain and nearly all the iron, but other countries 
 now raise more than we do. It had been computed 
 by Professor Jevons and others, that if this rate of 
 consumption went on, the British coalfields would be 
 getting comparatively exhausted in about 150 years 
 from this time. When that was the case, seeing how 
 much our trade and prosperity depend upon coal and 
 steam, this country would rapidly decay as regards its 
 trade, unless electricity supplied its place, while 
 America (which it was said contained about five-sixths 
 
 F 2
 
 76 LECTURES. 
 
 of all the coal in the world) would be just rising to 
 her zenith of population and power, the Great Appal- 
 lachian coalfield alone, in and near Pennsylvania in 
 the United States, was 720 miles long and 280 wide 
 being a larger extent than all England. You will 
 find also the trade there follows the same direction, 
 namely, towards the coalfields. See the other map 
 near me prepared by Mr. Campling, for instance ob- 
 serve the cotton and cloth trades at Glasgow, woollens 
 and cloth at Leeds, iron and earthenware in the 
 Potteries, cloth, etc., at Bristol, and so with many 
 other places and trades which I have no time to go 
 over, in Britain, but which our School of Art scholars 
 or some others may study from these maps which I 
 intend for them. When we look at the gas before us 
 which comes out of coal, or at any flame of coal, we 
 see in fact a reproduction of the sunlight put into the 
 coal by the sun when the coal grew in the forests, 
 perhaps, millions of years ago. One thing the inves- 
 tigations of chemistry have proved to us with reference 
 to such flame is this, that although the coal seems to be 
 consumed, yet in fact it still exists up to every atom, in 
 the atmosphere or elsewhere. There is no such thing 
 as annihilation, and this is suggestive also as regards 
 the flame of life, as nothing actually ceases to exist. 
 The subject indeed suggests thoughts in favour of 
 cremation, which was the well-known practice of 
 Greeks and Romans, who, after consuming the body, 
 preserved the ashes in memorial urns. I should fur- 
 ther say that coal is sometimes called " black 
 diamond," because chemists have proved that the 
 glittering diamond and black lump of coal, in fact 
 both consist of carbon, being the same material. I
 
 LECTURES. 77 
 
 have written a few lines somewhat illustrative of this 
 subject which I will read : 
 
 The sun, in long-past ages, 
 
 Put into coal its fire, 
 While yet it grew in forests. 
 
 And flourished in clay and mire. 
 
 And we call coal, " bottled-up sunshine," 
 
 Because it retains the glow. 
 And can reproduce the sunlight, 
 
 Of infinite years ago. 
 
 Both diamond and coal are carbon, 
 
 And the coal burns slowly away ; 
 But the star-like diamond sparkles, 
 
 With inconsumable ray. 
 
 And yet when the coal seems to vanish. 
 And mingle its flame with the sky, 
 
 Not a single atom has perished, 
 Tho' lost to. mortal eye. 
 
 And so when life's flame seems extinguished 
 
 And lost in th' invisible air, 
 Its essence existeth for ever 
 
 As Science and Scripture declare. 
 
 What seems death is only transition ; 
 
 What seems life the motion and glow 
 The coal putteth on in transmission, 
 
 From the dark garb it dwelt in below. 
 
 (Mrs. C. Watson, Miss Blanche Challinor, Miss 
 Alice Allen, Mr. W. Young, and Mr. G. Wardle, then 
 sang a few of the above verses as an interlude). 
 
 And now as regards a few animals. First, I should 
 mention those animals which are furthest removed 
 from this country, and are located in our Antipodes 
 that is to say at the other side of the world in Aus- 
 tralia differ the most from those here. For instance, 
 we have the hare, the fox, and the squirrel, in our 
 woods, while in Australia they have the kangaroo, 
 duck bill, and vulpine opossum, the latter climbing up 
 trees (these being of the Marsupian order, having 
 pouches.) At the North pole again they have the
 
 78 LECTURES. 
 
 walrus and seal, and at the South pole considerably 
 different from them they have the sea lion and sea 
 leopard, etc. As we come into countries nearer Eng- 
 land the animals are more like ours, but still they 
 have a considerable difference, the feline or cat race 
 being much larger in India, as for instance the tiger, 
 lion, and leopard. My friend Mr. T. Wardle, of Leek, 
 went last year to India, as you know, in order to give 
 some instruction as to a better system of winding and 
 manipulating silk, and in order to collect fabrics on 
 the part of the Royal Commissioners for the recent 
 Colonial Exhibition, where they attracted much atten- 
 tion. Mr. Wardle, indeed, had the honour of 
 personally showing these and other fabrics to the 
 Queen at the exhibition, who was pleased to express 
 to him her appreciation of them ; and speaking of 
 Royalty he took the opportunity when in India of 
 killing this fine specimen of a royal Bengal tiger, 
 which you see before you. I should mention that the 
 bear and goose tribe, contrary to the feline race, get 
 larger as they approach the arctic regions. The ox 
 and sheep, fortunately for us, do best in our temperate 
 zone. Formerly wolves and wild boars and elks were 
 in the immense forests of England, which existed at 
 the time of the Saxons. Near Leek we have Wild 
 Boar Clough, Wolf Dale, and Elkstone, indicative of 
 these times. I have a map here showing the extent 
 of the forests in England in ancient times. You see 
 they were of immense size, consisting amongst others 
 of the forest of Sherwood, famous for Robin Hood's 
 exploits, the vast forest of Andreas, and other great 
 forests. 
 
 It appears that we find remains of men in the recent
 
 LECTURES. 79 
 
 strata among others of the tertiary period ; below them 
 in lower and more ancient strata, we only find mon- 
 keys and not men which no doubt has given rise in 
 some measure to Darwin's evolution or developement 
 of species theory, which has been so much discussed. 
 
 As regards monkeys I remember an old eccentric 
 friend of mine, since dead, some years since took it 
 into his head to keep a monkey at Highfield, where 
 they had a small rookery. One morning on walking 
 out he heard a tremendous noise and chattering 
 among the -ooks and on looking up he found his mon- 
 key had broken its chain, and climbed up the trees 
 and was going about jabbering and looking from one 
 nest into another, which created as you may imagine 
 a great noise and consternation among the young 
 rooks in fact so much so that the rooks ultimately 
 left the place, and went elsewhere. 
 
 With reference to fish I may first refer to the whale. 
 I well remember dining at Leek some years ago with 
 the great naturalist, the Rev. J. G. Wood. He said 
 that he was at a friend's some time before reading a 
 book on natural history that referred to the whale as 
 a fish. He said he burst out laughing, and his friend 
 asked him why. " Why," said Mr. Wood, " the whale 
 is no more a fish than you or I. It is one of the 
 Mammalia, and has a heart and lungs, is a warm- 
 blooded animal and obliged to come up to breathe 
 after being under water for half-an-hour." Among 
 the most beneficial are the herrings. I remember 
 when in the Isle of Man with the late Colonel Carruth- 
 ers and Mr. Kermode, going out in a herring boat or 
 smack in the afternoon from Peel. The men told us 
 tales, and before evening had closed in, went down to
 
 8o LECTURES. 
 
 prayers, praying no doubt for a good Providence to 
 preserve them and give them success. After that, as 
 the shades of evening deepened, they let out the net 
 perhaps two or three hundred yards long with corks 
 at the top and lead at the bottom, being about ten or 
 twelve feet deep in the water this net was attached 
 to the boat all night, and the herrings that cannot in 
 the darkness see the meshes, get entangled in them 
 and are so caught when the net is drawn up soon 
 before daylight. When they cast the net we were 
 about half way over to Ireland. The meals on board 
 consisted of herrings and tea without milk in it. In 
 the morning there came on a sharp breeze, and thank- 
 ful I was to get back again to Peel next afternoon, 
 after an absence of nearly 24 hours. I thought the 
 poorest hut on dry land a palace compared with this 
 herring boat. I remember in Scarborough also going 
 out in a small boat to fish, and pulling out fish almost 
 as fast as I could put down the line, the fact is the 
 great Dogger Bank as they call it extends from Ger- 
 many to near Scarborough, and is very prolific in fish. 
 In reference to birds, a fellow traveller on the rail- 
 way said to me a few weeks since, that the neighbour- 
 hood of Leek had almost every variety of singing 
 birds, the woods being quite melodious in spring with 
 them. There being thrushes, blackbirds, linnets, 
 larks, &c., every species of song bird almost except 
 the nightingale ; the nightingale is derived from two 
 Saxon words, signifying night, and galan, to sing, 
 being the singer of the night. The swallow is another 
 migratory bird living on insects, and which leaves us 
 in the cool of autumn for warmer districts where it 
 can still meet with flies. A singular thing happened
 
 LECTURES. 81 
 
 a few years ago, a friend of mine, Mr. Carr, was fish- 
 ing by the Churnet and sticking the spike of his rod 
 into the ground with the line attached and fly fluttering 
 in the air, he went to speak to a friend, and on return- 
 ing found a swallow fluttering at the end of the line 
 having taken the fly, he soon, however, disengaged 
 and let the poor bird at liberty. Birds of the most 
 brilliant plumage are generally denizens of warmer 
 countries than this, for instance the pheasant, though 
 we sometimes find it in our woods is not a native of 
 this country, but originally came from the banks of 
 the river Phasis, in Asia Minor, and hence the name 
 pheasant. The pheasant which you now see was 
 shot at by us in the wood opposite Pickwood and flew 
 across the valley, and as the sun was shining on the 
 plate glass window of the drawing-room it flew with 
 such force against the glass (a quarter of an inch 
 thick) that it made a hole in and went quite through 
 the glass, and we found it about a yard within the 
 drawing-room dead and lying on the floor with scarce 
 a feather ruffled, such had been the immense velocity 
 of its flight as to break glass which it would require a 
 hammer to break. The magnificent peacock also 
 comes from India, and the barn door fowls and cock 
 also originally from the East. This is a world of 
 compensation, and all these birds having a brilliant 
 plumage have anything but melodious voices. The 
 kingfisher likewise, though sometimes seen by our 
 rivers, came I believe from the East originally where 
 larger birds of the same kind are still found. 
 
 With reference to bees also (which do well near the 
 heather of the moorlands near here), a lesson of a 
 monarchical kind is to be learnt from their devotion
 
 82 LECTURES. 
 
 to the queen bee. If they lose her for a few days 
 they pine away and die, they also being most indus- 
 trious themselves, punish the idleness of the drones by 
 stinging and putting them to death about August. I 
 remember my late old friend, to whom I have referred, 
 once went to sleep on his face in the garden at High- 
 field near some beehives, when he awoke he told me 
 that a swarm of them he found had settled on his 
 neck. He was in some trepidation and wondered 
 what to do, at last spying a large bed of cabbages a 
 few yards off, he crawled slowly under the shade of 
 them when the bees gradually flew off and he escaped. 
 You know birds are often called here by the old Saxon 
 name " brid," and we also talk of finding a person 
 " in his grub," the meaning and origin of this no 
 doubt is from the birds feeding their young with grubs. 
 
 And now for a few words as to some of our plants. 
 In the first place I will point out on the map the 
 northern limits, at which wheat will grow. You see 
 it will not grow so far north as Sutherlandshire and 
 Caithness in Scotland, but barley and oats, which are 
 hardier, will grow there. I would also point out the 
 northern limit of grapes, which you will see passes 
 through France. 
 
 As regards the flora that grow on the soils of the 
 millstone grit, and new red sandstone of Leek and 
 neighbourhood, it has been remarked to me by the 
 Rev. Mr. Briddon, of Rushton, that our wild flowers 
 in this district do not naturally grow in such 
 variety as is the case on the limestone and 
 oolitic formations, etc., but have a greater 
 tendency about here to grow in large patches 
 or masses by themselves, as for instance the wild
 
 LECTURES. 83 
 
 hyacinth (or blue bells as they are often 
 called) spread their wide areas in the spring; 
 also the heather flower, the broom, and the 
 gorse, for instance, which often present 
 masses of colour to the eye. Among the 
 flowers that do best in this neighbourhood are the 
 rhododendron, so called from the two Greek words 
 Rhodos and Dendron tree of roses, as it is appro- 
 priately named. Another tree that flourishes well 
 here is the laburnum, the German name for which is, 
 " Golden Rain " or " Golden Drops," which accurate- 
 ly and even poetically describes the pendulous drops 
 of golden flowers which distinguish it. The snowdrop 
 also does well here, with its snowy drooping flowers. 
 On the other .hand, I find that at Pickwood and the 
 neighbourhood of Leek, especially on the millstone 
 grit soil, the primrose does not flourish, but generally 
 dwindles away in two or three years unless planted 
 in mounds of the soil from which it is gathered. We 
 have also the daisy and buttercup in great abundance. 
 As regards the daisy the name no doubt is from day's- 
 eye, as indeed it is named in Chaucer's ancient poems 
 from the eye of the day or sun, in consequence of 
 its little golden disc surrounded by a margin of point- 
 ed white flowers representing in some measure the 
 sun's rays. So it has struck me, that large flower, 
 the sun-flower, is so called from the same circumstance, 
 and from its having a large yellow disc in the centre 
 with ray flowers from it. As regards the buttercup, 
 or Mary Bud, so frequent in our fields, its appearance 
 in early summer calls to mind the beautiful lines of 
 Shakespeare :
 
 84 LECTURES. 
 
 Hark, hark ! the lark at heaven's gate sings, 
 
 And Phoebus gins to rise, 
 His steeds to water at those springs, 
 
 On chalic'd flowers that lies, 
 And winking Mary Buds begin 
 
 To ope their golden eyes 
 With everything that pretty bin 
 
 My Lady sweet arise. 
 
 With reference to the honeysuckle, or woodbine as 
 it is often called, the derivation of the latter seems to 
 have arisen from the word '' woodbynde " as it is 
 called in Lady Willoughby's Diary written in the year 
 1536, and quoted in Mr. J. Sleigh's exhaustive History 
 of Leek. As regards the arbutus or strawberry tree 
 and the lauristinus, those beautiful shrubs that grow so 
 well in the south-west of England and Ireland espec- 
 ially about the lakes of Killarney, where they have 
 more of the influence of the Gulf Stream these will 
 not grow, or at any rate they have a very precarious 
 existence, in North Staffordshire. And one word as 
 to the nettle. As you are aware if the nettle is touch- 
 ed lightly it pricks the skin and discharges a very 
 acrid juice which inflames the part affected. Some of 
 you, perhaps, may not be aware that this acrid or acid 
 juice is best nullified by rubbing the juice of the bruised 
 dock over the place nettled the dock usually growing 
 close to the nettle like bane and antidote. If how- 
 ever, in touching the nettle we grasp it strongly it 
 generally does not sting, in accordance with the old 
 lines, 
 
 Tender hearted touch a nettle, 
 
 And it stings yon for your pains ; 
 
 Grasp it like a man of mettle, 
 And it soft as silk remains. 
 
 There is a variety of yellDW nettle I have at Pickwood, 
 rather ornamental than otherwise.
 
 LECTURES. 85 
 
 The Damson tree which bears so well at Denstone 
 and other parts not far from Leek, is so called because 
 it originally came from Damascus in Asia, and damask 
 which is used in ladies' dresses is also named from the 
 same place. 
 
 And now I propose to show you a sugar cane which 
 Mr. Charles Watson brought last year from St. Kitts, 
 in the West Indies, where it grew. You will see it is 
 nearly ten feet high and almost as thick as the wrist, 
 and is something like a bamboo outside. When ripe, 
 the inside contains a sweet whitish pulp. These canes 
 being put between iron rollers, the juice is pressed 
 out, and forms the sugar we use here. This sugar you 
 know has greatly gone down in price during the past 
 few years, and Mr. Watson went over to St. Kitts last 
 year, and was successful about some business connect- 
 ed with the estate of a lady client of mine there. He 
 also brought back the small sugar plant I show you, 
 about a foot long. This is planted in the ground to 
 within an inch of the top, and becomes a sugar cane 
 like that I produce and takes two years in ripening 
 and coming to perfection. He also brought these cups 
 of the calabash tree fruit from the West Indies. They 
 are something like the size of a cocoa-nut, and grow 
 close to the bark of the tree. These outer shells of 
 the fruit are used by the natives and blacks as drink- 
 ing cups, which they well serve for. I may mention 
 that the juice of the sugar cane and of the palm trees 
 form a considerable portion of the food of the black 
 labourers living in the West Indies. The lecturer 
 here stated that he had about a third of his lecture 
 still uncompleted, but as he had been already speaking 
 near an hour and a quarter he thought it better to
 
 86 LECTURES. 
 
 break off here before wearying his audience too much, 
 and having regard to the severe state of the weather, 
 he thought it very desirable they should get home in 
 good time. Under these circumstances he would 
 break off at this point, but might possibly give the 
 remainder of his lecture with a little more added 
 somewhere in the course of some months time. He 
 would conclude by reading some lines he had written 
 on the subject of part of this lecture : 
 
 Amid the encircling seas. 
 
 Amid the upheaving strand, 
 There is no fairer isle 
 
 Than Britain's favour'd land. 
 
 The Gulf Stream in the winter 
 Sheds warmth upon her shore ; 
 
 Unlocks the icy rigour 
 
 And prospers labour more. 
 
 The wolf and boar no longer 
 
 Her ancient forests roam ; 
 But cultur'd field and garden, 
 
 Adorn onr island home. 
 
 Though birds of gayest plumage, 
 
 Flit not her groves among, 
 Attired in homely russet, 
 
 Hers are the birds of song, 
 
 Coal, iron, copper, lead, 
 
 In her deep measures lie ; 
 And fish of every kind, 
 
 Her teeming coasts supply. 
 
 Oh Britain, favour'd Britain, 
 
 May choicest blessings crown 
 Thy lands and heathery moorlands, 
 
 And Leek our moorland town. 
 
 Some of these verses were then sung by the choir, 
 after which Mr. Ritchie proposed a vote of thanks to 
 Mr. Challinor for his interesting lecture and for the 
 trouble taken in obtaining the capital maps and illus- 
 trations, Mr. T. J. Smith seconded it with some 
 eulogiums about the lecturer, to whom he had listened
 
 LECTURES. 87 
 
 with so much pleasure. After the vote of thanks to 
 Mr. Challmor for his lecture had been put to the 
 meeting by the chairman, in replying Mr. Challinor 
 said he was obliged to his friends for their remarks, 
 which however he feared were much more than he 
 deserved. He would, however, add a postscript, 
 which was often the best bit of a lady's letter, and take 
 this opportunity of announcing a matter which had 
 been suggested to him, and he had some time contem- 
 plated, and which a letter in the Times of about a 
 week since had advocated as one appropriate and 
 unobjectionable mode of doing a trifling good to a 
 person's native town, and to mark, in however small 
 a degree, the jubilee year of our Queen, who deserved 
 so well of this country. What he proposed to do was 
 to make a gift to the Leek Commissioners if they 
 would accept it, of about five acres of his Moorhouse 
 land on the Cattle Market side of the town and near 
 Grosvenor street, and the embankment, some little 
 distance from Pickwood for the recreation of young 
 people and others. (Loud cheers.) They already 
 played a good deal at cricket, football, &c., on his land, 
 and he wished to continue their power of doing so on 
 this field. (Continued applause.)
 
 88 LECTURES. 
 
 MORE ABOUT LEEK." 
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 Saturday, April i^th, 1888. 
 
 lecture on " More about Leek, and 
 other topics," was delivered in St. 
 Luke's Boys' Schoolroom, on Monday 
 evening last, by W. Challinor, Esq., 
 M.A., of Pickwood, in connection 
 with St. Luke's Young Men's Society. There was a 
 very fair audience, including a large number of ladies. 
 The vicar of the parish, the Rev. W. Beresford, took 
 the chair, and in introducing the lecturer, said he 
 might venture to predict that the lecture would in its 
 character resemble the Moorland district, where by a 
 short walk, civilisation might be left behind, and views 
 might be obtained of a more primitive condition of 
 things and glimpses also of far distant districts. 
 So Mr. Challinor, would, in his lecture give 
 them facts of interest about their own town, and con- 
 nect these with interesting observations upon subjects 
 of a wider range, in natural history, astronomy, and 
 the general structure of the country. 
 
 Mr. Challinor, who received an enthusiastic recept- 
 ion, said It is not very easy to find fresh matter for 
 a fifth lecture on the subject of Leek and its product-
 
 LECTURES. 89 
 
 ions. The late Mr. Joshua Brough, who so long and 
 worthily acted as Chairman of the Improvement Com- 
 missioners here, used to say that few things gave him 
 greater pleasure than overcoming a difficulty. Like a 
 miner among the hills who meets now and then with 
 some new veins of ore it ought to be a pleasure to 
 me to meet with some fresh veins of thought or facts 
 to give you interest. As I mentioned on a former 
 occasion, and as you will see from the map of Ancient 
 Britain now before you, this district was in the time of 
 the Britons and of the Saxons greatly occupied with 
 woods, especially in the direction of the royal forests 
 of Macclestield. In those days the ancient indigenous 
 trees were oaks, alders, birch and pines, and a few 
 more, but there were no beech, elm, poplar, lime, 
 chestnut, or larch, all of which have been subsequent- 
 ly imported from abroad. Many of you probably 
 know what is a windfall, but perhaps you may not all 
 know its derivation, namely a fall of trees through the 
 wind, or a windfall of fruit. And now, in continuance 
 of a former lecture, I will refer to some more of the 
 animals which existed in these parts in early times. 
 There were the red deer and the wild cattle, which 
 latter only now exist at Lyme Park or Chartley near 
 here. As regards the red deer, Mr. Sleigh quotes 
 from an ancient indictment about the year 1288, 
 under which the Abbot of Dieu 1'Encres was indicted 
 for killing two of the King's stags in Macclestield 
 Forest. The Abbot pleaded that he was away on a 
 journey at the time and knew nothing about it, and so 
 I suppose the matter ended. I have here a piece of 
 a painted window formerly of Dieu 1'Encres Abbey, 
 and dug out of the ruins by the late Mr. Cell. Also
 
 go LECTURES. 
 
 this in the case is one of the ancient keys of the same 
 Abbey. In Mr. Sleigh's "History" referring to about 
 the same date, it appears from a record in the British 
 Museum, that the Vicar of Leek had his manse (as it 
 was called) or vicarage near the Old Church probably 
 on its present site. As regards hares, to return to 
 the subject of animals, it appears very likely that 
 these will gradually become nearly extinct since the 
 Hares and Rabbits Bill was passed, unless there is 
 some close season made for them by Act of Parlia- 
 ment. Among other animals there was the badger or 
 brock, which is the badge or crest of the Brocklehurst 
 family ; hurst, the latter part of the name, meaning a 
 thicket or wood so Brocklehurst would mean badger 
 in the wood, as Ashenhurst near here would mean a 
 thicket of ashes. Mr. Brocklehurst, of Swythamley 5 
 has kindly lent me a few antiquities found near 
 Swythamley, which I will now show you. A Lochabar 
 axe head inlaid with brass, one of the weapons of the 
 Highlanders, and found with the knife and fork beside 
 it in the case, on Gun Moor shortly after the passage 
 of Prince Charles Edward's insurgents in 1745. The 
 Prince remained one night at a farmer's cottage on 
 the Leek and Buxton road beyond the Roches, which 
 has given it the name of the Royal Cottage. The 
 rapier which you see, was found in a cleft of an old 
 holly tree near Swythamley, and it was probably one 
 of the swords that Cromwell's men used when they 
 visited Swythamley about 1645. C* n that occasion, 
 Mr. Trafford, then owner of Swythamley and a strong 
 royalist, dressed himself up as a labourer in the barn, 
 and when Cromwell's men went there he pretended to 
 be mad, and all they could get out of him was the
 
 LECTURES. 91 
 
 words " Now thus," as recorded on the stone in the 
 old churchyard, near the vicarage. There is also a 
 huge key, which is believed to have belonged to one 
 of the Abbots of Dieu 1'Encres, and an ancient British 
 Jlint net sinker found close to Swythamley, with a 
 hole in the middle so that a cord might pass through 
 its centre. While I am on the subject of antiquities, 
 I will produce an old fork lent to me by Mr. Ralph 
 Sneyd, of Basford, and which once belonged on good 
 testimony to King Charles the Second. It may not 
 be known to many of you that this was amongst the 
 tirst forks made for eating with. In the time of Henry 
 VIII. no such things were known, but people ate with 
 a knife and used their fingers instead of a fork 
 illustrating the old adage, " fingers were made before 
 forks." Returning again to the subject of animals. 
 Among other ancient animals was found the hedgehog 
 which, at you know, rolls itself up when approached 
 like; a prickly ball. Some rustic youths meeting with 
 one not very far from this, went for the old village 
 schoolmaster whom they thought knew everything 
 to tell them what it was. The old schoolmaster 
 hobbled along to the place, looked at it, and then put 
 his spectacles on. He said, "Turn it on one side/' 
 and they turned it on one side. He then said, "Turn 
 it on the other side," and they turned it on the other 
 side. He then took off his spectacles, looked very 
 wise, and told them it was " summut." (Laughter). 
 Another animal known about here, and still 
 more in the rocky districts of the north and 
 south, is the goat. The Latin name for this 
 is caper, genitive capri. and hence the word 
 " caprice," meaning full of uncertainty like 
 
 G 2
 
 92 LECTURES. 
 
 the goat, whose jumping and other movements you 
 can never foretell, and hence also the word 
 " capricious," which they say the ladies sometimes 
 are, being a little uncertain in their ways. However 
 that may be, I remember an old doctor, since dead, 
 once told me he would not give twopence for a woman 
 unless she had a kick or a bite about her at some end. 
 Another creature, like a mouse on wings, is the bat, 
 which comes out chiefly at night, and is appropriately 
 called in southern England the " flitter mouse." The 
 frog you all know, and how it grows from little fishes 
 called tadpoles or tail'dpoles, which are produced in 
 marshes. Froghall, near here, a low, marshy part, 
 used to be called, according to Sleigh's " History " 
 " Froghole," no doubt from its having formerly been 
 full of frogs. The glow-worm which you see at night 
 sometimes, is not a worm at all but a little beetle, and 
 it is the female who gives out the light to attract her 
 mate towards her. Wild ducks we have about here, 
 and at Mr. Brocklehurst's pond at Swythamley you 
 may see them apparently quite tame, and they feed 
 themselves by knocking their bills against a little box 
 and so getting corn out. But when these ducks fly to 
 Rudyard or Turners Pool they become quite wild, and 
 it is very difficult to get near them. I have two wild 
 ducks on Pickwood pond which are tame enough there 
 and feeding at Pickwood, but become much wilder a 
 short way off. We were out shooting on Cowhay one 
 day, and my nephew said there were some wild ducks 
 overhead. I saw them and fired, but fortunately 
 missed, as they were in fact my own two wild ducks. You 
 have seen the black and white magpies. Well, there 
 is a certain amount of folklore, as it is called, or
 
 LECTURES. 
 
 93 
 
 people's sayings about these parts. One is as follows : 
 
 One for sorrow, 
 Two for mirth, 
 Three for a wedding, 
 And four for a birth, 
 
 so the worst luck according to this is to meet only one 
 magpie. Another old saying is about swallows 
 namely, that it is ill luck to shoot them or take their 
 nests, inasmuch as coming from the warm countries 
 south of us in early summer they remain during the 
 summer and autumn heats, destroying insects on the 
 wing, which are the farmer's pests. Another kind of 
 old folklore, illustrative of the delusions of former 
 times, is shown in a letter found by Mr. Sleigh in the 
 British Museum, and addressed to Mr. Pyott, High 
 Sheriff of Stafford, about the burning of fern : 
 
 Belvoir, August, i, 1636. 
 
 To my very loving friend the High Sheriffe of the County of Staf- 
 ford. Richard Pyott, of Streethay. 
 
 SIR, His Matee, taking notice of an opinion in Staffsh., that the 
 burning of Feme doth bring down raine, and being desirous that the 
 country and himself may enjoy fair weather as long as hee remains 
 in those parts, his Matee. hath commanded mee to write unto you to 
 cause all burning of feme to bee forborne, until his Matee. be past 
 the country. 
 
 I rest your very loving friend, 
 
 PEMBROKE E. MONTGOMERY. 
 
 His Majesty here referred to was Charles I. Among 
 others of the large birds which visit us in the winter 
 are the hoopers or wild swans, which I have sometimes 
 seen flying overhead. My old friend, the late Mr. 
 Matthew Gaunt, had two tame swans on the Rudyard 
 lake, and unfortunately one of these went to sleep 
 with its head across the line of railway by the lake, 
 and the train happening to pass by, cut its head off. 
 Mr. Gaunt, on moralising the spectacle with me, said,
 
 94 LECTURES. 
 
 " Well, it could not be helped, and we might as well 
 make the best of a bad job," and invited me to dine 
 off the swan with him a few days after, which I did, 
 but we did not find it very attractive, though they say 
 cygnets are much better eating. I see before me a 
 number of light-haired Saxons and others of the dark- 
 haired Normans, typical of the different races from 
 whom we have descended. You have all often heard 
 of Middlesex, but perhaps it has not struck you that 
 that arises from its being the residence of the Mid- 
 Saxons, as Essex and Sussex were of the East Saxons 
 and South Saxons. You have all heard of the word 
 " folk," meaning people, hence the names of the 
 counties Norfolk and Suffolk, being the north folk and 
 south folk from north Germany. These counties, and 
 the country round London, were originally the main 
 residence of the Saxons and north Germans, as Lan- 
 cashire and Yorkshire were of the Danes, indicated by 
 the number of towns ending in " by," as Whitby, 
 Formby, &c. The Saxons and Danes of these dis- 
 tricts gradually forced their way towards the western 
 parts of Britain, driving the old British inhabitants 
 before them, until at length the British were driven 
 mainly into Wales and Cornwall, where they made 
 their last stand. Ireland and a large portion of Scot- 
 land, especially the highlands, were also inhabited by 
 Celtic people. In the discussion connected with 
 Home Rule for Ireland you will observe that the 
 Scotch, the Welsh, and the Cornish men, sympathising 
 with their own race in Ireland, mainly voted with Mr. 
 Gladstone's measures for Home Rule, while the Saxon 
 and Danish part of the nation about London and in 
 that direction, voted chiefly against Mr. Gladstone's
 
 LECTURES. 95 
 
 measures. I do not intend to introduce politics, nor 
 to say many words on a subject that has been very 
 prolific of words, but if I were to hazard a prediction, 
 I should say that within a few years a certain measure 
 of Home Rule, or Local Government, will be granted 
 to Ireland ; that the Irish members will continue to be 
 members of the Imperial Parliament, which Parliament 
 will therefore retain the supreme control, and having 
 the supreme control will, of course, be able in some 
 way or other to protect the Ulsterites in their rights. 
 The name of Wales, to which part of the ancient 
 Britons were driven, is derived from a German word 
 meaning "foreigners/' or, as one of our guardians 
 called them, " furenders," being the extreme parts of 
 the country to which the British were pressed. It 
 may not also have struck you that Cornwall is a con- 
 traction of " Corner Wales," and comes from the 
 words "corner" and "Wales," (cornu) in Latin 
 meaning a projection or protruding horn. I have 
 stood on the high rocks of Lands End and seen the 
 great billows of the Atlantic Ocean roll in with a 
 majesty incomparable. And now for a few anecdotes, 
 which the Vicar has requested me to give, connected 
 with some Leek characters forty or fifty years ago. 
 One of the portraits is of Mr. John Fynney, who was 
 a trustee under my grandfather's will, and formerly 
 owned Compton House and land about there. He 
 was, I believe, a distant member of the Fynney family, 
 whose ancient lineage is shown in the brass tablet in 
 Cheddleton Church, and who formerly owned large 
 property near Cheddleton and Pickwood. You will 
 notice from the portrait that he was one of those who 
 wore hair powder, a custom among the higher classes
 
 96 LECTURES. 
 
 about a century ago, derived from the French, but 
 which has now fallen into disuse except among the 
 servants of the nobility. It has struck me that one 
 origin of this hair powder custom was that when the 
 old gentlemen with grey heads sat down to dinner 
 with young or black-haired friends they did not much 
 like the contrast, and hence the institution of hair 
 powder which made all their hair look grey. I 
 remember very well the nephew and heir of this Mr. 
 Fynney. Some years after Mr. Fynney's death, hav- 
 ing lost his wife, he called on me and told me he felt 
 like "a disjointed pair of scissors," and, he added, 
 " Oh, if I had but an heir." The spinning wheel 
 before you was one used here near 100 years ago, and 
 the specimen of green legee silk I show you was woven 
 here perhaps fifty years ago, consisting of part silk 
 and part mohair (goat's wool). Mr. Wardle kindly 
 lent me these, which are now somewhat rare. I 
 remember likewise a number of years ago my old 
 friend the justice, to whom I have before referred, now 
 dead, having returned from a visit to London, brought 
 with him a bloomer dress (as they were called), being 
 a sort of dress sometimes used with wide flowing 
 trousers and ornamented vest, something like a 
 Turkish lady's. One evening he sent for a servant 
 girl from the neighbouring Abbey Green Farm and 
 induced her to put on this bloomer dress to see how it 
 looked, and then, as it was a dark night, he told her 
 she might as well fetch his letters from a house at the 
 bottom of Mill street, where they were generally left 
 for him. The girl went, but when about half way there 
 the moon happened suddenly to shine out from behind 
 a cloud, when some boys happening to be near, aston-
 
 LECTURES. 97 
 
 ished at the sight, said, " By gonny, here's a strange 
 un," and ran off to tell people at the bottom of Mill 
 street, so that when she got near the house there was 
 quite a crowd, and she had some difficulty in getting 
 in, and when she did, she had no chance of getting 
 out, for the crowd had increased and sent for a barrel 
 of beer and drank to the health of the strange lady. 
 It was nearly midnight before our friend the justice- 
 who came to see what had happened could get her 
 out. (Laughter). About fifty years since I remember 
 there was a very tall gentleman about 6ft. Sin. high > 
 who advocated the teetotal cause. His name was 
 Charles Carus Wilson, and he was a fiery orator. 
 Among others he fell foul of the Rev. John Sneyd, one 
 of our magistrates, and, as you may remember, a very 
 determined one. He libelled Mr. Sneyd, and the libel 
 was proved by Mr. Nail, postmaster, who, opening a 
 letter to see if it was double, recognised Mr. Wilson's 
 handwriting inside, and when the case for libel came 
 on in court at Stafford, proved this. The trial I 
 remember, and Mr. Nail's examination was most 
 amusing, but I have not time to give it. Another 
 remarkable individual whom I remember, was one who 
 had a hare lip and spoke thick in consequence. He 
 was once sent on an errand to the druggists for a few 
 ounces of nutmegs, cinnamon, cloves and mace. In 
 order to remember the names as he went along 
 towards the druggist's he repeated these words over 
 and over again to himself until they got into a sort of 
 muddle, and when he got to the shop he asked for 
 an ounce of " uttogs, cinnogs, oze and ace," which 
 the shopman could in no way understand. I will now 
 mention a rather amusing anecdote that I heard con-
 
 98 LECTURES. 
 
 nected with one of our parson squires not far from 
 Leek. In my earliest days I remember he was fond 
 of hunting, and sometimes wore a scarlet coat. On 
 one occasion, just as he was setting off for the hunt, a 
 rustic couple came up to be married, on which he put 
 down his whip and hurried on his surplice over his 
 hunting coat and proceeded to marry them. The 
 bridegroom being slow and hesitating in his answers, 
 when they had gone about half way through the ser- 
 vice, the clergyman spoke rather sharply to him, on 
 which the rustic taking offence took his lady by the 
 arm and said, " Cum along gal, we'll mak that bit 
 do," meaning that bit of the service, and then led her 
 out of the church. Shortly after this period another 
 extraordinary marriage took place at Leek Church, 
 which was the marriage of a dwarf whom I just remem- 
 ber, named Jemmy Maddock, aged about 45, with the 
 blooming Miss Smith, aged 21. There were about 
 2,000 in and around the Church on the occasion, many 
 of them wondering why she should select so small a 
 husband, but I suppose she thought, " She'd mak 
 that bit do." (Laughter). Another matter perhaps, I 
 may mention, which happened in the year 1842 at the 
 time of the anti-Corn Law Riots before free trade 
 was established. At that time there were many more 
 mobs and tumults than we have known of late years. 
 I remember a mob of about 6,000 men with bludgeons, 
 &c., coming up Mill street from the direction of 
 Macclesfield and Manchester. There were several 
 hundred special constables sworn in at Leek. Two 
 of them, I believe, fainted as the mob approached. 
 There was also a troop of yeomanry on their horses, 
 and I remember some of the officers and men in scar-
 
 LECTURES. 99 
 
 let sitting at the windows of Mr. Cruso's house at the 
 top of the Market Place, with carbines. There was, 
 however, no conflict with the mob, who simply went 
 about, stopped the mills and turned out the hands. I 
 remember a very respectable provision dealer, before 
 the men came into the town, put the shutters up to his 
 shop window and wrote in large chalk letters on them 
 " To let," a rather clever device. This same gentle- 
 man I was told, was distinguished by wearing a white 
 hat when corn, &c., went up in price, and a black one 
 when they went down. I should mention that the very 
 day the mob came to Leek I was taken ill of typhus 
 fever. I remember in the evening going round by 
 Strangmans Walks when I shook hands with Mrs. 
 Smith (formerly Miss Carr), and next morning we 
 were both laid up with fever in adjoining houses. She 
 died in about ten days, and I after several months 
 recovered. Dr. Turnock, one of the doctors who 
 attended me, did not know I was delirious when 
 delirium first set in, and a peculiar incident took place. 
 I dictated to him several letters thanking people for 
 presents I had never received, and in other respects 
 formed on dreams and fallacies: when the answers 
 came, however, they soon found out. Among others, 
 I had written to Mr. Davenport, of Westwood, for- 
 merly M.P. for Stoke, thanking him for grapes I had 
 never received. He, however, kindly sent me grapes 
 at times through my illness. This fever of myself and 
 two brothers and sister, who all had it, strongly 
 impressed itself on my mind, and made me a great 
 promoter of sanitary measures, including sewage and 
 water supply, which Dr. Flint and others saw were so 
 important to the town. I was made chairman of the 
 
 H
 
 ioo LECTURES. 
 
 Sanitary Committee, and among us, with Mr. Farrow's 
 aid, we managed by opposition in Parliament and cer- 
 tain arrangements to secure the fine Dane brook 
 springs, which gave an excellent supply to Leek 
 during the last dry summer. These springs rise in 
 the valley at Upperhulme, and no doubt come from 
 the Roches district. The illustration which you see 
 before you gives an idea of how springs are gathered : 
 the water in rainy seasons falls on the Roches and 
 adjoining hills and sinks in, and is taken by the chinks 
 and fissures very gradually down a considerable dis- 
 tance, and at length after a long period comes up 
 as springs at the surface in the manner shown on the 
 sketch, hence the value and long continuance of these 
 springs in dry weather. With reference to the snow 
 flake that you remember this winter, I will point to 
 another illustration. If you catch single snow flakes 
 on a black sleeve, or other black substance, you will 
 find that each flake presents an appearance of white 
 starry coruscations something like these on the illus- 
 tration, which is taken from a book of Dr. Geiky on 
 " Physical Geography." I will next say a few words 
 about the Manchester Exhibition, which was in some 
 measure connected -with Leek as there was a fine dis- 
 play of Leek goods in the Silk Section, and of which 
 section our friend Mr. T. Warclle, of Leek, was the 
 capital chairman. Indeed he is now the chairman of 
 the Silk Association of Britain This Exhibition con- 
 tained one of the largest collections of the products of 
 science and art and skill produced during her Majesty's 
 long reign. It was calculated to make us feel how 
 little we know individually compared with the vast 
 amount even of human knowledge about us. Among
 
 LECTURES. 101 
 
 the most attractive sections was that of the paintings, 
 probably the finest ever shown. I observed among 
 others a portrait of the recently deceased Emperor of 
 Germany, whom I saw at Berlin in 1871, on the occas- 
 ion of the triumphal entry of the German troops after 
 the Franco-German war : he looked to me one of the 
 most king like of men. I also saw a portrait of the 
 present Emperor, then Crown Prince, who has been 
 attacked by a small cancerous spot at the bottom of 
 the throat, which it is to be feared may lay low the 
 heir to the mightiest throne of the Continent, and the 
 hero of many fights illustrating the uncertainty and 
 vanity of earthly glory. It is 
 
 The little rift within the lute, 
 That slowly widening makes the music mute, 
 The little pitted speck of garnered fruit. 
 That rotting inward slowly moulders all. 
 
 The two prints before you, which are from the Nichol- 
 son Institute, represent the beautiful gate of the 
 Temple and the fishermen and miraculous draught of 
 fishes on the Sea of Galilee. I have often thought 
 these which are copied from the original cartoons of 
 Raphael would make a capital subject for painted 
 windows in a church. Another very attractive part of 
 the Exhibition was that of the machinery, and with 
 reference to the machinery, one of the most remark- 
 able improvements during the last ten or fifteen years 
 has been the compound engine, which effects an 
 immense saving in coal and in other ways. You have 
 seen how the powerful steam is wasted in railway 
 engines, and is being puffed violently into the air. 
 Formerly a vessel of 3,000 tons carrying goods from 
 America required space for 2,200 tons of coal and had 
 only space for 800 tons of cargo, now, by economising
 
 102 LECTURES. 
 
 the exhaust steam through additional cylinders, there 
 is only required 800 tons of coal and there is room for 
 2,200 tons of cargo, thus the quantity of coal consumed 
 is only about one-third of what it was, and the ship is 
 able to carry nearly three times as much cargo as 
 formerly, and this is one reason why corn and other 
 goods can be conveyed so cheaply from America and 
 can be sold so cheaply in England. Another wonder- 
 ful article is gas-tar. I remember in an old pamphlet 
 reading about a method proposed for making sunbeams 
 out of cucumbers. Something almost as wonderful 
 has been done in reference to gas-tar, which is made 
 as you know from coal, from it there comes the bright 
 gas you see before you, which in effect, is a reproduct- 
 ion of the sunlight put into coal forests infinite years 
 ago. Other products of gas-tar are the beautiful 
 colours produced from it as shown in the accompany- 
 ing bottles, which were sent to Mr. C. Henshaw by 
 Mr. Hardman, of Milton, mauve, blue, red, and other 
 colours as you see. Another product has also been 
 recently obtained from this gas-tar, that is saccharine 
 a substance said to be in proportion to its bulk, 
 three hundred times sweeter than sugar. There is also 
 the telephone, a comparatively recent invention by 
 Mr. Bell and others, by which people may talk with 
 friends miles off, indeed a telephone between Man- 
 chester, the Potteries and London, is, I am informed, 
 about to be established, and the Commissioners intend 
 applying for a branch telephone to Leek. Amongst 
 other exhibits at the Manchester Exhibition were some 
 machines connected with electricity one of them the 
 electric lamp which has been presented to me by Mr. 
 Thomas Wardle, and I now produce to you. It is
 
 LECTURES. 103 
 
 charged with electricity which will last for a long time, 
 and by simply turning a screw you can produce the 
 light as now shown to you. This lamp is used for 
 mining and as it will only burn in a vacuum inside a 
 bulb there can't be an explosion from it in a mine. 
 It is what is called an accumulator, and consists of a 
 series of leaden plates and other arrangements you 
 see I can turn the bright light on and off at pleasure. 
 It rather reminds one of Aladdin's wonderful lamp. 
 I now intend referring to the missions recently carried 
 on at Leek and still partly continued by our respective 
 Vicars. In these the earnest and eloquent missioners 
 carried on war, not against the minor points of doc- 
 trine in which they might differ from their co-religion- 
 ists, but against vice and crime and irreligion so 
 injurious to us all. You may have seen a sunbeam 
 send a thin shaft of light through a window of the 
 church, and in which you could see particles of dust 
 and specks not visible before. So the missioners by 
 their luminous discourse I think tended to bring into 
 stronger notice some of the moral blots and specks in 
 our common nature and here I would observe that 
 nothing is so easy as by referring to isolated passages 
 of Scripture, to raise doubts upon matters often not 
 directly the subject of religious teaching, but we must 
 remember that the pure morality of the Gospel is 
 important to all of us and especially to the young 
 
 When judgment is a child as yet. 
 And lackaday is all unfit 
 To guide the boat aright. 
 
 During the progress of the missions you will remem- 
 ber a star appeared in the south-east in the mornings 
 which people called the " Star of Bethlehem," this in
 
 104 LECTURES. 
 
 fact, was the planet Venus. You are all aware that 
 Venus is nearer to the sun than the earth and performs 
 a similiar orbit round and near to the sun. When it 
 is on one side of the sun it seems to follow the sun 
 and is then an evening star, but when it is on the 
 other side of the sun as you will see from the dia- 
 gram it seems to precede the sun and is then a 
 morning star, as it rises up above the horizon before 
 the sun does. It has been ascertained that notwith- 
 standing the immense speed of light which travels 
 thousands of miles in a second, yet some fixed stars 
 have been shown to be at such a vast distance that 
 the light from this earth would not reach them for 
 more than 1800 years so that it has struck me, if you 
 will imagine some being at one of these stars with a 
 telescope good enough, they would see, not what was 
 passing on the earth in our time, but what was passing 
 in the time of our Saviour, more than 1800 years ago. 
 This is suggestive of how the most remote transact- 
 ions might to the eye of Divinity or even of improved 
 science be reproduced or perpetuated for all time. 
 You all remember the eclipse of the moon that was 
 seen here a few months ago, and which commenced 
 at the very minute at which it had been predicted 
 proving the wonderful accuracy of science and astron- 
 omy. Probably many of us in this assembly think 
 ourselves very clever, and yet none of us probably are 
 clever enough to make the calculations which would 
 enable us to predict the exact time of an eclipse of 
 the moon, numbers of years hence. From this we 
 learn a further lesson of humility and not to disbelieve 
 some things because they may be above our ordinary 
 reason. I will now refer for a few moments to the
 
 LECTURES. 105 
 
 Jubilee day at Leek, on which many thousand sang 
 loyal songs and marched together in testimony of 
 loyalty to the Queen and respect for her laws. I sup- 
 pose it was the largest gathering ever assembled in 
 Leek. You will also remember the great procession 
 of children of all denominations, which, neat and 
 orderly, seemed to me a striking evidence of the value 
 of religious education ; the proceedings altogether 
 reminded one of the immense difference at the present 
 day from the state of things in this town 130 years 
 ago when Thomas Hanby the first Methodist minister 
 who preached here, was driven from the town by a 
 yelling mob, headed by the parish constable, who was 
 the representative of the law at that -time. I think 
 the present shows a distinct evidence of advance. 
 In conclusion I will give you a few simple lines illus- 
 trative of the Jubilee day at Leek : 
 
 Oijr moorland town her banners waved, 
 
 TJpon the day of jubilee ; 
 Ten thousand voices uttered forth, 
 
 Their loyal songs and melody. 
 
 On the wide field, five thousand children 
 Regaled at tea made glad the scene ; 
 
 Games, speeches, dances, evening fireworks, 
 And beacon fires at night were seen. 
 
 In God's own house, not made with hands, 
 Bright shone the sun till evening's close, 
 
 Mid poeans of the band and voice, 
 The peoples sacrifice arose. 
 
 How like a joy the memory knoweth, 
 
 I still recall that festal day, 
 When Christian sects marched all together, 
 
 To recognize a good Queen's sway. 
 
 During the lecture songs were given by Miss Fanny 
 Allen, Mr. W. E. Challinor, and Mr. Ralph Sneyd ; 
 Mrs. W. E. Challinor being the accompanist. At the 
 close a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. T. War-
 
 io6 LECTURES. 
 
 die and seconded by Major Worthington. On putting 
 it to the vote the Chairman said he should like to ask 
 Mr. Challinor to do the public of Leek the favour of 
 collecting together in a volume, the lectures, and he 
 might add also the speeches, which he had delivered 
 in Leek during the last twenty to thirty years. He 
 (the chairman) felt sure that such lectures would not 
 only be in themselves interesting, but would also give 
 a very fair picture of the mind and thought which had 
 been interesting and suggestive to more than one 
 generation of fellow townsmen. The audience joined 
 the chairman in making this request, as well as in con- 
 veying a hearty vote of thanks for the lecture and 
 music which they had that evening enjoyed. Lieut. 
 Smith then proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, 
 which was seconded by Mr. C. Watson, and the 
 proceedings closed with the National Anthem.
 
 A FEW ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 MANY BEING WRITTEN IN YOUTH. 
 
 (WITH A PAINTED WREATH OF FLOWERS.) 
 
 Wreath ! how many, many thoughts, 
 
 Of unforgotten hours ; 
 Seem to suspend their pearly links, 
 
 Upon a wreath of Flowers. 
 
 A Flower! how many silent words, 
 More eloquent than speech; 
 
 Dwell in the bosom of a flower, 
 That dreams within our reach. 
 
 Oh, may_ the language of my soul, 
 
 In Poetry and power; 
 But equal it can ne'er excel, 
 
 The language of a Flower. 
 H 2
 
 io8 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 FROST. 
 
 (WRITTEN AT 16.) 
 
 Fanciful Frost on my window pane, 
 
 Has sketch'd out his silvery landscape again, 
 
 And Nature arrayed in a mantle of light, 
 
 Her fairy like vesture reveals to our sight ; 
 
 There are mountains of glacier, and ice spangled hills, 
 
 That sparkle mid fountains prolific in rills, 
 
 And Alps upon Alps overarching arise, 
 
 Till Mount Blanc their monarch seems lost in the 
 
 skies ; 
 
 See christal-like castles, magnificent domes, 
 And churches that spire from a conclave of tombs, 
 And thousands of forests that surely can vie, 
 With the leaf covered cedar when summer is nigh; 
 There the Lily reclines on the Rose my delight, 
 And pearly she looks for her petals are white ; 
 The delicate Ash and the waving Broom, 
 Seem to deck themselves out in a starry bloom; 
 And many a gem hath its radiance lent, 
 To adorn that glittering firmament : 
 But mountain and castle, tree, palace and stream, 
 Like the fanciful fabric that's built on a dream, 
 All vanish and fade neath the sunlight of day, 
 And leave nothing but tears to lament their array.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 109 
 
 GOOD BYE AND FAREWELL. 
 
 (WRITTEN AT 17.) 
 
 The thrilling whisper of "Good Bye" 
 Though not unmixed with pain, 
 
 Seems to anticipate the joy, 
 Of meeting once again. 
 
 Hope is an antidote to grief, 
 
 A sweet delusive spell ; 
 But hope is in the yellow leaf, 
 
 When once we say " Farewell." 
 
 The mellow light of evening's shade, 
 Ere darkness shrouds the sky, 
 
 Dolh seem to linger in its fade, 
 As if to say "Good Bye." 
 
 The dying smile, the hectic bloom, 
 
 The tender traits that tell, 
 How nigh the darkness of the tomb, 
 
 Methinks they say " Farewell." 
 
 The Evening Zephyr wending past, 
 
 With faint and fainter sigh, 
 Respireth gently at the last, 
 
 A fanciful "Good Bye." 
 
 But when the heaving of the breath, 
 
 Like some funereal knell, 
 Proclaimeth the approach of death, 
 
 Oh says it not " Farewell."
 
 no ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 When lovers part to meet again, 
 
 A momentary sigh, 
 That spark of Love's electric chain, 
 
 Is all that marks "Good Bye." 
 
 But oh the anguish how intense, 
 No words of mine can tell, 
 
 When with a longing lingering glance, 
 Those lovers say " Farewell." 
 
 There is a something in the sound, 
 
 A loneliness is there, 
 Admitting scarce one ray around, 
 
 The darkness of despair. 
 
 ON A VISIT TO THE ISLE OF MAN. 
 
 (WHERE THE AUTHOR WAS PARTLY EDUCATED.) 
 
 (WRITTEN AT 18.) 
 
 I remember t'was the last of June, 
 And many a songster warbled many a tune ; 
 I remember when our bark set sail, 
 And spread her pinions to receive the gale ; 
 How youth and gladness each with cap in hand, 
 Cheered her slow progress past the crowded strand, 
 Nor cheers alone but shout on shout resounded, 
 When neath the engine's power, she foaming for- 
 ward bounded.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. m 
 
 By heaven it was a soul inspiring scene, 
 Earth was all bliss, the skies were all serene, 
 Full off our vessel's bow, the silvery sheen 
 Careered most nobly on the left and right, 
 Expanding into grandeur height on height, 
 Rose dark Monaeda's shore while fair to see, 
 Her snow-white shipping, and her crowded quay. 
 Astern, sate rock-robed Douglas City of the Sea. 
 
 But w r ho are they, the young and happy band, 
 Whose cheers reverberate o'er sea and land? 
 Their looks irradiate, and their spirits gay, 
 The merry crew the minstrels of the day 
 They were my friends, those friends of early prime, 
 When joyance weaves the fairest wreath of time, 
 They were my friends, those friends of schoolday 
 
 scene, 
 When sorrow seldom casts her shadowed form 
 
 between. 
 
 Full of fond dreams and aspirations high, 
 
 Glad Hope was their's, and Hope is present joy, 
 
 They pictured life as they would have it be, 
 
 One scene of bliss and fair felicity ; 
 
 Nor ever dreamt that " length of days had date, 
 
 Triumphs their tombs, felicity her fate/' 
 
 But haste as I had done some years ago, 
 
 From sable learning's seat, as from the scene of woe. 
 
 Amid their ranks, no sigh nor murmur heard, 
 But joyful all the thought, the deed, the word, 
 And now they roam, in veriest transport roam, 
 O'er the far wave to happiness and home ;
 
 ii2 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 Plough vessel, plough, the circum-ambient foam, 
 A happier burthen thou didst never bear; 
 For schoolboys they to Albion make repair, 
 That centre of their joy, and limit of their care ! 
 
 Even as our vessel bounded o'er the spray, 
 Dashing the salt waves from her foam-clad way; 
 I gazed on that loved isle now far away, 
 And many a thought of unforgotten things, 
 Crowded on memory's page until the wings 
 Of many mists arose upon the sea, 
 O'ershadowing the coast right gloomily; 
 Then thought I, as she sank, that Mona mourned 
 for me. 
 
 Oh, fair Remembrance, next to Hope on earth, 
 Most pleasing vision of aerial birth; 
 Like the rich rainbow hung around with clouds, 
 Sweet amid sadness, beautiful in shrouds, 
 Man doomed to gaze through tear-drops at thy smile, 
 Finds even sorrow soothe him for a while : 
 Nymph of the past bright Iris of the tomb, 
 Fair portrait of the Flower that long has ceased 
 to bloom. 
 
 Hail to thy magic influence, and the spell, 
 That cites imagination from her cell, 
 To beautify the past Hail to thy Wand, 
 That with no evil sorcery can command, 
 The actual presence of that brighter time, 
 When Love and Hope were young hail thou sublime 
 And beautious vision of Nativity, 
 Fair sketch of youth and home the wanderer 
 clings to thee.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 113 
 
 Welcome the mellow light of evening's shade, 
 Unto the weary rustic of the glade; 
 Oh, welcome to the sailor's manly breast, 
 His native isle, the dearest and the best, 
 That ever sun in his career hath blest ; 
 Nor yet less welcome is the festal day, 
 That lends its beam to gild the schoolboy's way, 
 To home, and hope, and friends, and many a 
 joyous fray. 
 
 The days of youth, the days of youth I sing, 
 Those palmy hours of sweet companionship, 
 When memory soareth on an angel's wing, 
 And brightly beams the star of fellowship: 
 Around thee youth, joy's ruddy lamp doth fling, 
 A light of way peculiarly thine, 
 Festivity and matutinal spring, 
 Unlock their richest stores to offer at thy shrine. 
 
 The soaring flight of fancy unconfined, 
 The vivid apprehension of delight, 
 The mark of merriment, the glow of mind, 
 The feeling incommunicably bright; 
 Are thine oh youth glad, eager, open, kind, 
 Health in thy features, favour in thy form ; 
 Like some young tree that bends before the wind, 
 Youth bends, but does not break, beneath afflict- 
 ion's storm. 
 
 The Rose perchance it had no fairer die, 
 Nor could the Lily boast a seemlier vest ; 
 When I was young than no\v but to the eye, 
 Of youthful thought, creation weareth best ;
 
 ii4 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 More fresh from God, our feelings then are warm, 
 And tho' we nothing have of this world's wealth, 
 We yet possess true riches in the charm, 
 Of sweet contentment, happiness, and health. 
 
 Oh Mona, rock-girt, ocean bounded isle, 
 Bleak though thou sometimes art, methinks a smile 
 Doth welcome those who've dwelt in thee awhile, 
 As I have done, I've loved to sail along 
 Neath the blue curtain of the etherial bow, 
 To join in chorus the Canadian song, 
 And sometimes proudly guide the vessel's cleaving 
 prow. 
 
 Oft have I ventured on the monument, 
 
 Of craggy rocks that all encircle thee, 
 
 With soul that panted to be eloquent, 
 
 Full in the presence of the boundless sea : 
 
 Though language failed yet tears, yea tears, would 
 
 teach, 
 
 That all I heard and saw and felt to be, 
 Was far beyond the puny power of speech ; 
 Twas ocean grandeur all, and mountain majesty. 
 
 Great Ocean parent of magnificence, 
 
 Thou Bridegroom of the Earth, ; no mortal glance 
 
 Can ken thee in thy fulness of expanse ; 
 
 Dark, wild, unending, solitary, grand, 
 
 Sire of the tempest, limit of the land, 
 
 From ice-bound pole to equatorial clime, 
 
 Dread dost thou roam, and from the fount of time, 
 
 Thy goings forth as now, were lonely and sublime.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 115 
 
 There is a potency, there is a charm, 
 
 There is a cadence, in thy rippling calm ; 
 
 There is an awe unmingled with alarm, 
 
 When silence shrouds the deep the gentle lave, 
 
 The soft voluptuous heaving of thy wave, 
 
 The fancied murmurings of ocean cave, 
 
 All seem to breathe, as doth the conchal-shell, 
 
 Some sweet mysterious tale of things invisible. 
 
 Peace, silvery peace, deep, beautiful, serene, 
 The sent of heaven, the ell e sceptred Queen, 
 Rests on thy hoi} .aim oh rapturous Lour! 
 When nought save Zephyr wandering from her bower, 
 Is heard, or felt, or cared for mental power, 
 Seems lost in utter loveliness ; and sound, 
 W^afting ^iolian measure, swells around, 
 Now high, now low, but ever pleasing and profound. 
 
 The stately vessel with her polished sides, 
 
 Swan-like and tapering, securelv riJ.es, 
 
 Unanchored on the wave, and seems to be 
 
 Taking her rest upon the golden sea: 
 
 The fretted spire, and georgeous battlement, 
 
 The starry vault, and concave firmament, 
 
 Alike reveal their softened glories best, 
 
 On Nature's glassy page, on Ocean's lucid breast. 
 
 Such art thou Ocean in thy gentler mood, 
 Wrapt in serenity and solitude, 
 But oh for power of diction, strength of thought, 
 To picture thee in tempest as I ought, 
 I who have seen thee foaming and o'erwrought, 
 Torn, riven, convulsed, as are the clouds of fight, 
 
 I
 
 n6 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 A realm of thunder, and electric light, 
 
 One fierce and far domain of elemental might ! 
 
 I who have heard above, beneath, around, 
 The roar of waters, and the rush of wind ; 
 It was old Ocean's thundering anthem sound, 
 Pealing the notes of sublime minstrelsy, 
 In concert with the sphere's and I did see 
 The swell of that stupendous breast of his, 
 Giving, if aught inanimate ere gives, 
 A token and a type of what th' Almighty is. 
 
 Ye headlong cataracts, and streams that pour, 
 Your tidal strength on Canada's far shore ; 
 Ye naval armaments that venture o'er, 
 The pathway of the deep one little hour, 
 May find you gathered by Oblivion's power, 
 Beneath the waste of waves and like a day, 
 That joins the stream of time, your proud array, 
 Soon sinks to depthless gloom, or mingles with 
 the spray. 
 
 Empire of Waters boundless, vast, and free, 
 Through time thou hast been, and through time 
 
 wilt be; 
 
 Georgeous in storm, in billowy splendour dread, 
 Thou goest forth and wrecks record thy tread ; 
 In thy deep caves lie treasures thine the bed 
 Of many a huge Leviathan I trow ; 
 " Time writes no wrinkles on thine azure brow, 
 Creation's dawn beheld, as we behold thee now." 
 
 And now my song has ceased the tiny spring, 
 That gush'd forth into numbers, and did fling,
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 117 
 
 Its warblings o'er the way, has ceased to be 
 
 Hushed is the fountain of its minstrelsy, 
 
 For ever hush'd and thou fair Poesy, 
 
 Bright goddess of the heart and soul to me; 
 
 Thou dost refuse from out thine ample store, 
 
 To this unworthy wreath, one single floweret more. 
 
 LOVE. 
 
 A RHAPSODY. 
 
 (WRITTEN AT 19.) 
 
 The bliss of shepherds they who, happy swains, 
 
 In olden time would carol youth away, 
 
 Or in the silver evening of their age, 
 
 Contented smile beneath the hawthorn bush; 
 
 T'were sweet to sing t'would be a genial song, 
 
 Of pure, pellucid, undisturbing peace, 
 
 But I propose to approach another theme, 
 
 More full of fiery, yet of meteor joy, 
 
 Bright in its splendour, dark in its decay, 
 
 The sunshine, or the tempest of the soul ; 
 
 By times a dream of perfect happiness, 
 
 That addeth beauty to the beautiful ; 
 
 And yet by times a dull, void, sense of woe,
 
 n8 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 'Gainst which we scarce can strive, and vainly 
 
 murmur ; 
 
 'Tis Love, that deep, unfathomable flame, 
 Of burning thoughts, and glowing images, 
 Strong in the weak, and potent o'er the strong, 
 The heart's own passion, and prerogative ; 
 A very bliss when beauty wields it rightly, 
 But a bane if wrongly exercised, 
 That striketh deeper than ingratitude. 
 Love's stream methinks is one of curious course ; 
 From what a puny fount her river flows! 
 Purling at first, and gently, gently, gliding, 
 Through devious tracks th' insidious stream winds 
 
 on ; 
 
 Then comes the torrent ; almost ere we know it, 
 Wild and tumultuous, bounding on its course, 
 No rock can stay, no barrier can reprove, 
 The reckless current of impetuous Love ! 
 When first we gaze upon some mild blue eye, 
 Marking the tenderness that lingers there 
 And for an instant, feel it meet our own, 
 Humid and bright and then as quickly sink 
 Embroidered all with blushes then and there, 
 Incipient pleasure seems to take its rise, 
 And Hope shoots forth a bud and when again, 
 That same blue eye from out its auburn fringe, 
 Darts forth another and a lovelier glance; 
 We start scarce knowing wherefore pleased to note 
 How fairer than the velvet of the Rose 
 That deepening blush how sweeter far it is, 
 To gaze upon the look of modesty, 
 Than any other flower that grows beneath the sun. 
 Hues that have words, and silence that hath speech,
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 119 
 
 Flitting across the tablet of the mind, 
 
 Dwell in that little look and all so pure, 
 
 So full of sweet expressive tenderness, 
 
 That as we gaze we feel a sort of rapture, 
 
 And Hope begins to blossom till at length, 
 
 We recognize the sensible approach, 
 
 Of something more than pleasure something loftier, 
 
 Colouring our thoughts, engaging our delights, 
 
 And leading fancy to another shrine; 
 
 Making the rich young blood beat eloquently, 
 
 And the breast tingle with unwonted pleasure ; 
 
 Till heart and soul, mind, feelings, passions, thought, 
 
 To the exclusion of all minor things 
 
 Converge into one mighty stream and. that is Love! 
 
 Oh Love the conqueror of hearts art thou 
 
 To thee the lowliest peasant proudest peer 
 
 Alike submits himself in the far depth 
 
 Of sterile regions there are none so poor, 
 
 In halls of splendour, there are none so rich 
 
 As not to pay thee homage far and wide, 
 
 From pole to pole, where habitation is, 
 
 Thy sway extendeth, Beatific Love ! 
 
 Thou art the great and glorious sentiment, 
 
 The noblest passion of the noblest minds, 
 
 Dwelling within the depths of every breast, 
 
 A torch of ineradicable ray, 
 
 The lamp of Nature placed there from the first 
 
 To light man to his fellows ts there not 
 
 A kindred spirit born for all that breathe ? 
 
 Some soul amid the mighty Universe, 
 
 So admirably fitted for ourselves, 
 
 That leaving all things, we could cling to it, 
 
 In perfect unity and perfect Love ?
 
 120 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 (Sweet thought, nor yet less sweet for being 
 
 romantic) 
 
 Nature respondeth Yes and are there not ? 
 Amid life's many varying cadences, 
 From deep toned passion, to the silvery note, 
 Of beautiful submission are there not, 
 Chords that adapt, and passions that attune, 
 Hearts made to blend, and feelings to combine, 
 The rich, deep, concord of harmonious Love ? 
 Go ask of Nature she will tell thee Yes! 
 Beauty hath power, and Intellect hath power, 
 And mortals view them with enraptured gaze; 
 But Love all potent o'er the powerful, 
 The God of light, and of the radiant brow, 
 Maketh the heart his chariot and the passions, 
 Steeds of his will those glowing, fiery steeds, 
 That bear him onwards whereso'er he listeth, 
 Wild as the winds, and reckless as the storm! 
 Love was implanted in the human breast, 
 When the first morn aw r oke the world to life; 
 T'has been from sire to son th' inheritance, 
 And shall survive when " this great world itself" 
 Submitting to the universal law, 
 Crumbles to Chaos then, the etherial spark 
 Shall still burn brightly mid its kindred flame, 
 And shed a halo round angelic choirs, 
 Refining even them pre-eminent, 
 On earth adoring, and in heaven adored, 
 Pure where all else is pure an attribute of God!
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 121 
 
 SPRING. 
 
 Spring, beautiful Spring! Queen of the coming 
 
 year! 
 
 Thy buskins are gem'd with the early dew, 
 And thy mantle embroidered with flowerets new, 
 Thy brow is all radiant with life and light, 
 And the Zephyrs that woo thee are full of delight ; 
 The smile that thou hast, is the poor man's smile, 
 Bidding him live on in bliss for awhile, 
 Tis the herald of Plenty, the Emblem of Love, 
 The Nightingale's rapture the joy of the Dove; 
 Commanding the fairest of blossoms to peep, 
 And the rivers to wake from their icy sleep ; 
 For the season of beauty and life is begun, 
 And winter recoils from the glance of the sun ! 
 Spring, joyous Spring! Emblem of Nature's Youth! 
 When the Daffodil peers from her lowly bed, 
 And the Beech hath a chaplet of leaves on his head ; 
 When the birds build their nests by the rivulets fall, 
 To the sound of their own sweet madrigal, 
 When the Shepherdess leadeth her sheep from the 
 
 fold, 
 
 And tenderly guardeth her lambs from the cold ; 
 Spring breathes in the Violet, beams from the sky^ 
 And gildeth the garments of nature with joy ; 
 'Tis seen in the Forest, 'tis felt in the Gale, 
 And borne on the note of the Nightingale's tale ; 
 While the perfume that saileth on Zephyr's light 
 
 wing, 
 Addeth all that is sweet to the beauty of Spring!
 
 122 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 THE LAST PRAYER. 
 
 Oh thou, who dost dispose the hearts of men, 
 To love and fear thee in thy dread abode, 
 
 One prayer I fain would consecrate and then 
 Thy will be done my Father and my God. 
 
 What though the Rose has faded from my cheek ? 
 
 What though the Lily droops in sadness there? 
 Thou dost not scorn to commune with the weak 
 
 To thee the sweetest offering is a prayer. 
 
 My wife who even now in fond caress, 
 Laments the solemn melancholy doom, 
 
 A weeping minister of tenderness, 
 
 A lonely cypress bending by a tomb. 
 
 Throughout her life may confidence in thee, 
 
 Chase the dark clouds of sorrow from her way, 
 
 And rainbow-like mid gloom and darkness be, 
 A glorious harbinger of coming day. 
 
 My children too, for whom I fondly pray, 
 The kind protection of a Shepherd's care, 
 
 They are but " youthful travellers in the way," 
 Then listen Father to a father's prayer. 
 
 Teach them 'to nurse the flower that does not fade, 
 Teach them to cherish honesty and truth, 
 
 Lead them to wander in fair wisdom's glade, 
 And not forget their Maker in their youth.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 123 
 
 As some fair flower with modest blush serene, 
 Pours forth its perfume to the summer sky, 
 
 Dreams on unnoticed and perhaps unseen, 
 Lives to adorn and fragrant seems to die. 
 
 So Lord may they in meek submission bend, 
 Before the bounteous summer of thy throne, 
 
 Acknowledging the lowly have a friend, 
 
 Though to the world unnoticed or unknown. 
 
 But now my spirits fail, and sad decay, 
 
 Checks the rich blood, the warm vermilion 
 stream, 
 
 That refluent hides its blushes from the day, 
 And yields like sunset to a paler beam. 
 
 Blue-eyed consumption with the silvery wand, 
 Has robb'd my cheek of its most genial glow, 
 
 Setting her signet gently on the bond, 
 
 That ends my contract with this world below. 
 
 Not many hours compose the lapse of day, 
 Not many days complete the circling year, 
 
 Not many years, ere Nature's debt to pay, 
 The child of Nature sinks into his bier. 
 
 A dew-drop pendant on some forest tree, 
 
 Gleams not with more uncertainty than man, 
 
 The child of fate a single breath from Thee, 
 Can close the tottering tenure of his span. 
 
 1 2
 
 124 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 Eternity! thou dark and dread abyss, 
 
 From whose dim region their is no return, 
 
 Unending, unbegun, conceptionless 
 
 No mind can grasp thee, nor no thought 
 discern. 
 
 Of thy dread realm and destiny obscure, 
 In vain I seek my spirit to' inform, 
 
 Her drooping eyelid trembles insecure, 
 Until it rests upon the Saviour's form. 
 
 (So, timid lonely bound she knew not where 
 An ocean traveller compelled to launch 
 
 The bird of Noah wandered here and there, 
 Until she rested on the Olive-branch.) 
 
 But I am faint, and through the vale of death, 
 Must now prepare to wander forth alone, 
 
 For Nature faileth with my failing breath, 
 And consummation claims me for her own. 
 
 The gentlest wave that dies along the shore, 
 The morning star that fades into the sky, 
 
 Expiring Zephyr when the storm is o'er, 
 Sink not to rest more peacefully than I.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 125 
 
 TO A YOUNG FRIEND. 
 
 (AFTER ROBERT BURN'S " EPISTLE.") 
 
 Persuaded that the path of right, 
 Pursued in all our measures, 
 
 Confers more genuine delight, 
 Than any sinful pleasures. 
 
 That to subdue a favourite sin, 
 
 To vanquish a temptation, 
 Begets a truer joy within, 
 
 Than following inclination. 
 
 I will not say ' Good Bye ' my friend, 
 Without some thoughts addressing, 
 
 That cannot serve an evil end, 
 And may draw down a blessing. 
 
 Be true and just in every act, 
 Let honour mark your dealings, 
 
 And charity attest the fact, 
 
 That you have kindly feelings. 
 
 Not for the love of praise the sense, 
 
 Of others commendation, 
 But for the glorious recompense, 
 
 Of inward approbation ! 
 
 Oh never, never, swerve from truth, 
 There let your stand be taken,
 
 126 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 And let it be in age or youth, 
 Unsullied and unshaken. 
 
 Guard the first avenues of sin, 
 Or you may often stumble ; 
 
 The horse that once has broke his shin, 
 Is far more apt to tumble. 
 
 For then the barrier is past, 
 
 That kept you most from sinning, 
 
 That rubicon is crost at last, 
 The fear of first beginning. 
 
 Be not too hasty to decide, 
 But when you have elected, 
 
 Be firm -not lightly turned aside, 
 You'll be at least respected. 
 
 While you support what you deem best, 
 
 In doctrine or opinion, 
 Let charity within your breast 
 
 Exert a full dominion. 
 
 He who can search th' historic page 
 And read his books with pleasure, 
 
 Has found for weariness and age, 
 A more than golden treasure. 
 
 For wealth more bounded in its use, 
 
 By giving we diminish, 
 But knowledge like the widow's cruse, 
 
 Bestowal cannot finish.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 127 
 
 Make up your mind if you would gain, 
 
 Success in any station, 
 To keep your hours, and to restrain 
 
 The least procrastination. 
 
 What glorious deeds had been unwrought, 
 
 Unacted to our sorrow, 
 If the achievers had but thought, 
 
 We will do this to-morrow. 
 
 I'd have you pleased with favours sent, 
 Resigned when ills distress you, 
 
 Sure that kind providence has meant 
 Each passing change to bless you. 
 
 Ambitions height is hardly won, 
 
 And like the snow capt mountain, 
 
 Whose top is bleak tho' next the sun, 
 Tis scarcely worth surmounting. 
 
 It is not rank, it is not wealth, 
 That gives us true enjoyment, 
 
 If we have competence and health, 
 And just enough enployment. 
 
 Domestic love that round the heart, 
 
 Entwines while it renews it, 
 Then we have all earth can impart, 
 
 If we know how to use it. 
 
 Oh never lie you down to rest, 
 Without devoutly calling,
 
 128 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 On Him who as it seemeth best, 
 Can keep your steps from falling. 
 
 Entreat Him ever to impart, 
 
 His blessings rich and brightly, 
 
 And more than all a grateful heart, 
 To judge those blessings rightly. 
 
 Implore that as you older grow, 
 You may have wisdom given, 
 
 To do as you'd be done unto, 
 Forgive as you're forgiven. 
 
 That calm repose by conscience blest, 
 May crown your daily labours, 
 
 Find you at ease in your own breast, 
 At peace among your neighbours. 
 
 So when this world at length shall fade, 
 And death demand his debtor, 
 
 It may be found that you have made, 
 A passage to a better. 
 
 VALENTINE TO MARIA. 
 
 The fading light, the deepening shade, 
 Ere darker tints obscure the sky, 
 
 The purple heath, the lively glade, 
 Are full of charming novelty.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 129 
 
 The moon too in each lovely phase, 
 
 For ever varies as she flies, 
 Now speeds the north wind on his race, 
 
 And now the sweet south gently sighs. 
 
 The seasons in their teeming course, 
 Vary their beauty like the leaves, 
 
 Now summer with his powerful glow, 
 Now autumn with its golden sheaves. 
 
 The flowers diversified and strange, 
 Are various in their scent and hue, 
 
 All lovely things are given to change, 
 Then why not fair Maria too ? 
 
 TO DR. 
 
 Beside the bed where parting life is laid, 
 His look portentous, every word obeyed, 
 The Doctor stands with conscious skill elate, 
 A second Abernethy big with fate. 
 
 But when he feels, as feel he has done oft, 
 The pulse of some fair arm, so white and soft, 
 Well pleased he finds the quick pulsations chase, 
 Each frowning sorrow headlong from his face. 
 
 For by the chair where woman arch displays, 
 Her wily tenderness, and winning ways,
 
 130 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 E'en that stern skill the soft impeachment owns, 
 And melts subdued beneath those dulect tones. 
 
 Love rules the captain bold, the courtier fine, 
 The well read Lawyer and the grave Divine, 
 Nor can the Doctor heal with all his art, 
 His secret ill, affection of the heart. 
 
 TO FANNY. 
 
 (ON OUR JOINT BIRTHDAY.) 
 
 Tuneful and piquant, gay and debonnair, 
 
 My Fanny shines conspicuously fair; 
 
 The child of wit and song her speaking eyes, 
 
 Teem with delusive hopes, that sparkling rise, 
 
 Till grave sage men, wise in their own conceit, 
 
 Made young once more, own something like defeat. 
 
 Fate made her Natal Day and mine the same, 
 
 And should have wrapp'd us in a mutual flame, 
 
 But I came years too early, she too late, 
 
 And fickle hymen did not choose to wait; 
 
 Yet still within her heart so form'd to bless, 
 
 There is a void a cave of tenderness, 
 
 Oh may the happy man that enters there, 
 
 Be nobly worthy of so choice a fair.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 131 
 
 THE EYE. 
 
 The eye the window of the soul 
 Man's wondrous orb of sight 
 
 Reads us a lesson, if we can 
 Interpret it aright. 
 
 I speak not of the structured cell, 
 
 Ot workmanship divine, 
 Where all that optics teach unfold, 
 
 Ineffable design. 
 
 Nor of those unmatched beauteous lines, 
 Which God hath trac'd so well, 
 
 Where love's soft ray or anger's fire, 
 And all the passions dwell. 
 
 But of the eye's unchanging truth, 
 
 That constant as the day, 
 Directs our path, in age or youth, 
 
 With undelusive ray. 
 
 We durst not tread the mountain's height, 
 
 Or cross the busy street, 
 If a deceitful erring sight, 
 
 Misled our wandering feet. 
 
 Then never let a lying tongue, 
 
 Unworthy of the eye, 
 Pervert the truth or help the wrong, 
 
 With such a teacher by.
 
 132 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF A LITTLE GIRL. 
 
 Subdued at length by earthly pain, 
 Belov'd, and watch'd, and wept in vain, 
 Our child is dead oh sound of grief, 
 That life so fair should be so brief. 
 
 Closed is the blue eye's tender ray, 
 Closed the sweet lips that used to say, 
 " Papa," and kissed me ere I went, 
 Upon my daily business bent. 
 
 Those flaxen locks lie idle now, 
 Upon that cold and changeless brow, 
 No longer in the breeze they stray, 
 Or toss amid her childish play. 
 
 And now each long and silken lash, 
 Fair fringe of eyes, no more that flash 
 Lies drooping too they shall not move, 
 Nor deck again that look of love. 
 
 And yet how softly, sweetly fair, 
 The calm round cheek the curly hair, 
 Even in the marble sleep that now, 
 Pale death has stamp! upon her brow. 
 
 The lov'd companion of her games, 
 My boy in vain for her exclaims ; 
 Th' unbidden tear starts to his eye, 
 And wondering, he asks me, why?
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 133 
 
 I tell him she is free from pain, 
 
 And gone from earth to heaven again, 
 
 He asks if angels through the air, 
 
 Came down with wings, to take her there ? 
 
 Her little playthings lie around, 
 
 Doll, basket, chair, upon the ground, 
 
 The well known watch she lov'd to deck, 
 
 And hang with ribbon round her neck. 
 
 The money box, that now no more, 
 Receives fresh pence to swell her store, 
 All these, that once conveyed delight 
 I wish them hidden from my sight. 
 
 Oh cherub sent down from the skies, 
 I long saw in those pleading eyes, 
 An inner look that seem'd to say, 
 ' I'm not of earth, I haste away.' 
 
 (The angel that metes out our years, 
 And guides the fountain of our tears, 
 Ordained those sweet eyes from their birth, 
 Should not have long to weep on earth.) 
 
 You tried to drag your little load, 
 Up life's steep hill by steps to God, 
 But He hath snapt the tiresome chain, 
 And ta'en you to Himself again. 
 
 Yes, those blue veins that hectic bloom 
 
 Betrayed consumptions early doom, 
 
 As if some fairy from the sky, 
 
 Had mark'd her choicest flower to die.
 
 134 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 The slopes of Pickwood green and fair, 
 Seem scarcely now what once they were, 
 The prattle on our nursery floor, 
 The voice so lov'd, is now no more. 
 
 How oft the fertile dewy glade, 
 
 More joyous to our sight was made, 
 
 As tripping by your nurse's side, 
 
 You pluck'd the budding wild flowers pride. 
 
 At breakfast on your little chair, 
 How well I see you seated there, 
 Your pretty song I still recall, 
 Your pretty dance, admired by all. 
 
 And when, the dinner cloth withdrawn, 
 Ann brought you in as fresh as morn, 
 In long blue sash ah with what glee, 
 Your mother took you on her knee. 
 
 For you were her heart's cynosure, 
 Her delicate hope her folded flower, 
 Mid dance or music, fete or view, 
 Her truant thoughts still turn'd to you. 
 
 Fair as a child yet lovelier far, 
 By bright anticipation's star, 
 She saw you through the future move, 
 A thing of beauty, joy, and love. 
 
 And when your feeble little strength, 
 Was battling with too powerful death, 
 Oh how we wish'd for power to save, 
 And snatch our darling from the grave.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 135 
 
 Six days and nights of thought and care, 
 
 Six days and nights of doubt and fear, 
 
 Till gently sank that dying head, 
 
 And you were numbered with the dead. 
 
 Love shone at home, and hope from far, 
 Till death came like a falling star, 
 To quench that gentle gaze in night, 
 And rob our Heaven of half its light. 
 
 And some have said that it is wrong, 
 To grieve for those that leave us young, 
 Yet mourn we must, God's unbeguiled, 
 And freshest work, a little child. 
 
 A child is His own poetry, 
 
 Appealing to the heart and eye, 
 
 A cherub on earth's pathway given, 
 
 The tenderest link 'twixt us and Heaven. 
 
 We mourn the crystal spring gone dry, 
 In all its sparkling purity, 
 We mourn the lost and faded hope, 
 That should have had a happier scope. 
 
 And yet ' not lost but gone before/ 
 Unto the bright celestial shore, 
 Where free from sin, 'by angels led, 
 She lives once more, whom we call dead.' 
 
 And still in thought we see her there, 
 A white robed cherub grown more fair, 
 And hear her soft seraphic strain, 
 Invite us to the heavenly plain.
 
 136 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 And tho' a memory of the mind, 
 Is all the track she's left behind, 
 And our eternal part alone, 
 Can hold with her communion. 
 
 Yet in our heart's profoundest cell, 
 That tender memory shall dwell, 
 Like some lone flower that sheds perfume 
 And blossoms even by the tomb. 
 
 Oh may each low and dull desire, 
 Rise purer from affliction's fire, 
 May sceptic doubts no longer fling, 
 Their shade o'er faith's aspiring wing. 
 
 We see that beauty's garb below, 
 
 Is twin'd with darkest threads of woe, 
 
 That 'tis the common lot of all, 
 
 To live and bloom, then fade and fall. 
 
 Then be it ours to read aright, 
 This varied page of bloom and blight, 
 And learn what we deem good or ill, 
 Are both ordain'd by wisdom still. 
 
 For tho' we cannot pierce the plan, 
 By which th' Almighty circles man, 
 Virtue we know has chiefly scope, 
 Mid fiery trial, and thwarted hope. 
 
 Then may we in this earthly sphere, 
 Where such unfathomed works appear, 
 Still trust the great Creator's power, 
 And wait with hope th' appointed hour.
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 137 
 
 ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 
 
 'Tis done, and through the ocean, 
 Connecting thought with thought, 
 
 The swift electric motion, 
 
 Sets distance now at nought. 
 
 For mind subduing nature, 
 Bids lightning be her slave, 
 
 Her messenger and teacher, 
 Across the Atlantic wave. 
 
 One thin electric cable, 
 
 Binds Britain to the west, 
 
 One wire, transcending fable, 
 Conveys each swift request. 
 
 Over what jagged mountains, 
 
 Beside what strange sea weeds, 
 
 And oceanic fountains, 
 
 That slender thread proceeds ? 
 
 But not to tell the wonders, 
 
 Or secrets of the sea, 
 Shoots swift as when it thunders, 
 
 That subtle agency. 
 
 But mind to mind it linketh, 
 From furthest shore to shore, 
 
 Till space for what man thinketh, 
 And distance are no more.
 
 138 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 LINES SUGGESTED BY THE DEATH OF 
 THE PRINCESS ALICE. 
 
 As gently dies the wave along the shore, 
 
 As gently sinks the wind when storms are o'er, 
 
 As gently drops the starlight's quivering ray, 
 
 Into the dawning of celestial day. 
 
 So the tired watcher by her children's bed 
 
 Now sunk to rest is numbered with the dead ; 
 
 Charged to avoid contagion many days 
 
 Had she resisted the much loved embrace 
 
 Of those wan sufferers till, oh piteous case, 
 
 When to her boy it was her lot to tell, 
 
 Of the dear sister's death he loved so well ; 
 
 The child in anguish to her bosom drew, 
 
 Gave her the kiss, the fatal kiss that slew 
 
 Her very virtues strange 'twas ordered so, 
 
 Had worn her strength and help'd to lay her low. 
 
 Oh may the nations sympathetic glow, 
 
 Bear up the heart that feels another's woe, 
 
 The royal heart that rules o'er Britain's land, 
 
 As much by sympathy as by command. 
 
 The wounded spirit soothes itself with song, 
 
 To bruised flowers the sweetest scents belong : 
 
 So with our much loved Princess, whose sweet life 
 
 Whether as daughter, sister, mother, wife, 
 
 All hearts commemorate the fragrance still 
 
 Survives the broken vase and ever will 
 
 Less perishably fair on her short day, 
 
 Her love that was the herald of decay. 
 
 Earth's heavy burdens are no more imposed,
 
 ORIGINAL VERSES. 
 
 For ' Heavens gate opens when the world's is 
 
 closed/ 
 
 And her pure spirit freed from mortal breath, 
 Was made immortal by the kiss of death.
 
 i4 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 KING WILLIAM'S COLLEGE. 
 
 may mention that at the age of 
 thirteen I went to King William's 
 College, Isle of Man, of which Dr. 
 Wilson was Head Master, and studied 
 there two years. The Rev. J. L. 
 Stowell, (at whose house I was located) was Third 
 Master. When I was there a sad incident occurr'd. 
 My intimate school and form fellow who generally sat 
 by me was young MacHutchin, son of the Clerk of the 
 Rolls, an Equity Judge of the Island, and aged about 
 fourteen. There was a wreck on some of the awkward 
 rocks surrounding Castletown Bay of a ship carrying 
 considerable stores. Some of the poorer Islanders 
 tho' ordinarily very honest, were apt to think them- 
 selves entitled to wreckage from the sea. So notices 
 prohibiting anything of that kind were issued, and some 
 soldiers were directed to watch the wreck from the 
 shore and prevent depredation. It so happened, my 
 friend young MacHutchin and some other boys, 
 thought as the evening was dark, they would for 
 curiosity go and have a row in a boat about the wreck, 
 and accordingly did so. It happened when they were 
 near the vessel, the moon came for some seconds 
 from behind a cloud, and the soldiers seeing 
 what they thought a suspicious boat near the 
 ship, fired, and one of the bullets went thro' 
 my friend MacHutchin's head, and killed him so
 
 REMINISCENCES. 141 
 
 instantly, that another boy on whose knee he was 
 sitting did not know for a short time what had hap- 
 pened it being then quite dark until he felt himself 
 getting wet about the legs, and was dreadfully startled 
 to find it was his friend's blood flowing from the head, 
 and that he was dead. They took the body to 
 shore and next morning I remember we were taken to 
 see him laid out in a sort of building near the docks 
 and harbour at Castletown, and sermons w r ere after- 
 wards preach'd on the subject. It was reported that 
 the soldiers did not shoot directly at those in the boat, 
 but that the bullet must have glanced off a rock near. 
 How this might be I know not. Some years after- 
 wards when the present celebrated Archdeacon 
 Farrar was at King William's College as a 
 pupil, another sad accident occurred, and a boy 
 was kill'd by falling off a rock near Castletown. 
 This incident was given in Dr. Farrar's book 
 of ''Eric or Little by Little," tho' not represen- 
 ted as having occurred at or near the above 
 vicinity the impression of some being that it took 
 place at Rossall School but from the description of 
 scenery and subsequent enquiry, it was no doubt near 
 Castletown. I may observe that Castletown Bay is 
 bounded by Langness Point and a very rocky coast, 
 and is nothing to compare with Douglas Bay for 
 safety and good harbourage, and wrecks now and 
 then occur in it. The shores of this Bay and the 
 immediate neighbourhood of Castletown are strew'd 
 with seaweed, and it is indeed the most sea scented 
 place I know full of ozone and no doubt of the ele- 
 ments of health. King William's College is a fine stone 
 building with Chapel. Among my friends and school
 
 142 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 fellows there I should mention John Howard of an old 
 and well known Manx family his father having 
 been Rector of Ballaugh towards the north of the 
 Island which is I believe its best living. The present 
 Bishop of Sodor and Man is Dr. Bardsley who was 
 the eloquent and popular Archdeacon of Liverpool, 
 and whom I know from having met him at the house 
 of my cousin Mrs. Harris, wife of Dr. Harris, Rodney 
 Street, Liverpool. As regards my old friend now the 
 Rev. John Howard his feats of strength and dispu- 
 tations his gifts of conversation tale telling and 
 personal adventure sometimes perhaps bordering 
 a little on the marvellous, and his ingenuity 
 in textile and mechanical matters rendered him 
 very interesting to me, who always had a strong 
 liking for adventure and humour, especially when 
 accompanied by a superior mind. I have enjoyed 
 his friendship ever since boyhood, and we have 
 mutually visited at Pickwood, and at Onchan, near 
 Douglas, of which parish he is Vicar.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 143 
 
 MY NOTE BOOKS 
 
 contained some reminiscences and also some thoughts 
 which having mostly struck myself originally, may 
 contain matter not quite unworthy of record a few 
 of them may be found repeated in my lectures but 
 there is perhaps no harm in again giving them in 
 their rough original form as entered from time to 
 time from youth till more recent times. 
 
 JUNE 2ND, 1842. 
 
 Went to St. Paul's Cathedral, to the anniversary 
 meeting of the charity children from all the schools 
 in London connected with the Church of England. 
 An impressive sight upwards of 8,000 children and 
 forming together with the other part of the 
 congregation a meeting of upwards of 20,000. 
 The children were arranged tier above tier, and 
 school by school with their banners beneath the 
 dome, the rest of the vast concourse present were 
 seated in the centre of the dome, with the children 
 round them, or on benches carried to the end of the 
 cathedral opposite the organ, and the part occupied 
 by the chapel. 
 
 It struck me this would have been a startling sight 
 for an atheist, so many thousands gathered together 
 to worship their Creator as if there were no Creator? 
 as if that young and rising generation, comprehending 
 many thousand pulses and all the intricate machinery 
 of life, beating with simultaneous and healthy throb, 
 and without anything to interrupt the design or check 
 the least part of the mechanism of their common
 
 144 REMIMSCKNCES. 
 
 nature were the result of chance? as if the mighty 
 structure that held this assembly (the first I ever saw 
 worthy of it) were mediately the result of chance ? 
 as if when "with one consent" and one voice the 
 whole company " praised God from whom all blessings 
 flowed," till the great dome reechoed to the thunder of 
 the sound anyone could look on that young multitude 
 cleanly dressed and taught and fed and led by the 
 fostering arm of the church from squalid want to smi- 
 ling industry and from ignorant superstition, to 
 worship their Creator in the days of their youth as if 
 any one could look and be so foolish as to say in his 
 heart there is no God, or that " He that made the 
 ear, shall he not hear." Was it chance that gave 
 them minds capable of appreciating the blessings of 
 the Almighty ? Was it chance that gave them ton- 
 gues to tell and hearts to feel how great was their 
 debt, and how great should be their gratitude ? Was 
 it chance that made their very infirmities the root of 
 strength leading them to that confidingness which 
 induces the casting themselves upon Him from whom 
 all strength comes, addressing Him as their Father 
 w r ho gave them day by day their daily bread ? Was 
 it chance that led the spectators young and old to feel 
 the tears start to their eyes, and a palpable emotion 
 tell them as they gazed, that the same Divinity who 
 feeds the sparrow, will not suffer his little ones to 
 want, and that surely (for there are times when the 
 scoffer is compelled to feel this) surely their Redeemer 
 liveth. 
 
 A lady near me had some flowers, some were bud- 
 ding, others in full bloom, and I thought each bud put 
 forth its coral lip to tell me of a Creator, and with a
 
 REMINISCENCES. 145 
 
 dumb but not the less solemn admonition, that all things 
 even the most beautiful must fade. There are scenes 
 such as these which cannot be described, and feelings 
 such as mine which may not be written, which make 
 us happier, and I hope wiser it is methinks the 
 Divinity that stirs within us, and intimates eternity 
 and all the lights and shadows of the future unto man. 
 When the Bishop ascended the pulpit erected in 
 the centre, to deliver his sermon, I thought it was a 
 proud scene for him as a representative of the church, 
 but felt that even he who had not perhaps been accus- 
 tomed often to bow except before his Maker, would 
 almost be constrained to bow before the majesty of so 
 great an assembly, gathered together to worship God. 
 There was something so imposing, so triumphant in 
 the thought it may be imagination, but I doubt not 
 others have felt as I did the time the scene the 
 thousands a very sea of heads the amphitheatre of 
 children, the sound as of many waters, when they 
 simultaneously rose to hymn their Creator the feeling 
 of reciprocal protection, and as it were of an alliance 
 with Divinity, all conspired to fill the soul with a tide 
 of thought, with a flow of gratitude and for my own 
 part, when this great company rose like one mighty 
 wave to offer up thanksgiving, I thought of that say- 
 ing of Scripture, " The earth shall be full of the 
 knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
 
 146 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 YOUTH IN AGE. 
 
 I have noticed one thing among the many wonder- 
 ful provisions of nature, that the germ of youth is 
 equally possessed by the venerable oak as the tender 
 sapling. The acorn that drops from the giant tree 
 that has braved the storms of 100 winters, is as young 
 and tender, and productive of as young a tree as the 
 seedling of a plant that has scarcely concluded its 
 first season. 
 
 TUESDAY, JUNE yTH, 1842. 
 
 Went to the Hall, Chancery Lane, to pass my 
 examination as a solicitor there I rather liked it than 
 otherwise as I had read hard during my clerkship, and 
 especially the last six months with Mr. Baylis, but above 
 all the last three weeks when I had contrived to get 
 through " Blackstone's Commentaries " and two works 
 one on Common Law, and another on Chancery 
 Practice, besides stray references and the new rules. 
 Indeed I am sure that in a month an immense deal 
 may be done, if a person only applies himself to it. 
 The questions were on Common Law, Equity, Criminal 
 Law, Bankruptcy and Conveyancing we were only 
 required to answer in three of these subjects and not 
 all the questions in them. I contrived however to 
 answer every question in all the papers and was par- 
 ticularly fortunate as many of them were on subjects 
 of which I had been lately reading, and in consequence 
 of having read and got up cases by myself and with 
 Mr. Baylis I was enabled to give the cases for and
 
 REMINISCENCES. 147 
 
 illustrate many of the questions which I daresay few 
 of the others would do, as it is not expected from 
 Attornies there were in ail I think seventy eight 
 questions and I answered them on between thirty and 
 forty sheets of foolscap, tolerable work between ten 
 and five o'clock, but as I said before when a person 
 bends himself to the work almost all things are 
 possible. A day after I went to enquire whether I 
 had passed, when the man told me I had, and seemed 
 to be astonished that I did not consider it a great 
 relief. No prizes are given or remarks made in any 
 cases, I got admitted in the Common Law Courts 
 and Chancery on the Monday afterwards. 
 
 JUNE 9TH, 1842. 
 
 Ever since having made up my mind to be admitted 
 as an Attorney I had felt slightly doubtful, having always 
 intended to go to the Bar, but for the last week had 
 had it in my mind to take my degree at Trinity 
 College, Dublin, which might be of service should I 
 eventually go to the Bar, and if not, would at any rate 
 be a pleasure to me and an inducement to read my 
 classics and other works which otherwise I should not 
 have so great an inducement to do. I accordingly 
 commenced inquiries a few days since, and found 
 from Mr. Atkyns, a young Irishman of my acquaint- 
 ance, and a Trinity College B.A., that I should only 
 have to go over to Dublin about twice a year for a few 
 days for the examination. Under these circumstances 
 I quite made up my mind to go over, and after having 
 passed my examination as an Attorney, determined to 
 
 K
 
 148 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 set to and work at classics, as the entrance examina- 
 tion at Trinity College I believed commenced in July, 
 and they required the person applying to have a com- 
 petent knowledge of Greek and Latin, to wit, Homer, 
 Lucian, Xenophon, Greek Testament, and Horace, 
 Juvenal, Livy, Sallust, Virgil, and Ovid. Now I had 
 not read any classics for the last six months, though I 
 had fortunately kept them up by reading in the morn- 
 ings previously during my clerkship, or rather during 
 the last two years thereof, for at the commencement 
 I had almost lost my Greek. Still it was a tremen- 
 dous undertaking in less than a month to get up the 
 above books. However, having made up my mind 
 I did it. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Heard of the death of a young lady who had always 
 been amiable, gentle and good. Long before her 
 illness and at a very tender age she had taken delight 
 in works of charity and kindness. 
 
 Blessed by the poor, loved by her friends, idolised 
 by her relations, surely she must have been happy ? 
 But no alas ! there was a thorn in the flesh from a 
 child the corroding hand of sickness had from time to 
 time withered her enjoyments O misery, why didst 
 thou so wound a soul so fair ? At length some sad 
 disease painful and increasing took hold on that fair 
 frame, and for two whole years plunged her in agony 
 until she died. Methinks as far as may be said she 
 had never sinned O death why didst thou destroy a 
 soul so pure. 
 
 Is there a God, for if there be she was the child of
 
 REMINISCENCES. 149 
 
 God -she loved, she honoured, she revered Him, 
 even in her agony she prayed " Thy will be done," 
 and blessed the hand that bruised her. 
 
 Is there a God, and that there is all nature cries 
 aloud in all her works He must delight in justice, 
 and that which He delights in must be happy. But 
 when or where ? 
 
 Reader, my friend is dead, she had no justice here 
 she was virtuous but she was miserable she had the 
 reward of cruelty for a life of piety. 
 
 What ! Do you think that He, the mighty Ruler 
 of the Universe, the great designer of this wondrous 
 frame, where chiefly all is full of tender care and wise 
 beneficence, He who makes pleasure sweetest after 
 pain He who sent forth that type of His, the sun, 
 shedding all light and warmth. Shall He I say be 
 kind yet cruel, w r ise and yet unjust? 
 
 No reader, surely God hath prepared a place for 
 them who love Him it is but just and reasonable, 
 and there will my friend reap her reward " in that 
 undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller 
 returns." 
 
 When passing thro' the University of Dublin in a 
 subsequent year, I had delayed my second examina- 
 tion, requisite for that year's pass, until the Michaelmas 
 examination about October, 1842. On arriving at 
 Liverpool for the purpose of crossing I went with my 
 Uncle Charles about eight in the evening to the quay, 
 and in the meantime a violent storm had arisen. My 
 Uncle said, "Surely you will not cross to night? 
 I said, " If the Captain goes, I shall go," and with some
 
 150 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 difficulty got on board. I think we were nine hours 
 in getting off Holyhead, in Wales, where the tremen- 
 dous force of the wind blew a box fastened with cords 
 on the deck, into the sea, breaking the cords and I 
 think we were twenty three hours before we got to 
 Kingstown Harbour the usual time being about nine 
 hours. I was very sick and ill, and utterly unable to 
 read a book I had left to go thro' on the last day, 
 viz : Juvenal a difficult Latin book which I had 
 only half read. The consequence was, when call'd up 
 to be examined in this book at the University Exam- 
 ination Hall, before the Rev. Samuel Butcher, the 
 celebrated Classical examiner and Fellow, I sadly 
 stumbled, and Mr. Butcher was about to caution me 
 that is send me back for that term, which really 
 meant the loss of that year. I then with some elo- 
 quence I dare say told him how I had lost one year 
 thro' having had fever the year before and about 
 the circumstance of the storm which had prevented 
 my reading the Juvenal, as I intended, and that if I 
 were caution'd now, it would cause my leaving the 
 University altogether, and never taking my degree. 
 This had the desired effect, and he let me through 
 after a few admonitory words. This same Rev. 
 Samuel Butcher afterwards became Bishop of Meath, 
 and unfortunately in a fit of aberration afterwards cut 
 his throat and died. My friend Dr. Reichell who 
 was formerly Archdeacon, is now Bishop of Meath. 
 
 When passing thro' the University of Dublin I 
 sometimes went to have tea with the Rev. Mr. Chater, 
 one of the tutors there > and who had been an under
 
 REMINISCENCES. 151 
 
 Master at King William's College, Isle of Man, and 
 subsequently became Vicar of Nantwich where he 
 greatly exerted himself to restore the fine old Parish 
 Church there almost a Cathedral in size. Among 
 others at Mr. Chater's rooms, at Dublin University, I 
 used to meet at tea Mr. Reichell, who had recently 
 taken the highest classical honours at Dublin, being 
 Senior Gold Medallist and was also distinguished in 
 Hebrew. He was then reading mathematics, intend- 
 ing to go in for a Fellowship at the University an 
 honour very difficult to obtain as it was the highest 
 Fellowship in point of emolument in the United 
 Kingdom a Junior Fellowship being worth about 
 500 a year, and the Senior Fellowship near 2,000, 
 with liberty to marry. Reichell at that time looked 
 somewhat thin and overwork'd, and he told me 
 reading mathematics was more trying to him 
 than classics, as it made him feel rather sick 
 at times, thro' getting up the difficult formula. 
 I remember after tea when the clock struck 
 eight and before it had done striking, Mr. 
 Reichell invariably jumped up and went off to 
 his mathematical studies at his own rooms, as he made 
 an invariable rule of reading from eight to twelve 
 each evening, and from eight to twelve each morning, 
 having some of the intermediate hours engaged in 
 tutorship, by which he managed to improve his means, 
 not at that time too abundant. After continuing this 
 course of reading for a number of months, Mr. Reic- 
 hell, on crossing the Court of the University one 
 dusky evening, unfortunately tripped over a small 
 heap of stones left there, and so injured his knee that 
 he was laid up for some time, and had to abandon his
 
 152 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 mathematical reading. Mr. Reichell subsequently 
 however became Professor of Ecclesiastical History, 
 &c., at Dublin University, and Archdeacon of Meath, 
 and finally what he is now, Bishop of Meath. Some 
 years since when I went over to Dublin University to 
 take my degree of M.A. with my daughter, we were 
 invited to visit him at Prim, in Meath, a small town 
 where as Archdeacon he lived. It is situated on the 
 banks of the celebrated river Boyne, and with several 
 ruins of castles, monastery, &c., near, being full of 
 interesting associations, which Dr. Reichell well 
 explained to us. A sad incident had shortly before 
 happened to his wife, Mrs. Reichell. In a field 
 near the house they had a cow -which in consequence 
 of being rather wild had a long chain fastened to it. 
 One day Mrs. Reichell going into the field, and near 
 the cow, in some way got entangled by the chain, and 
 being dragged about had several bones broken, and 
 consequently tho' much recovered at the time of our 
 visit, we were not able to see her. 
 
 STRANGE BUT TRUE, 1850. 
 
 It was about this time, that poor S , my relative, 
 
 E 'syounganddear wife was taken ill,anddiedaftera 
 
 short illness, the details altogether are so remarkable 
 and affecting that I shall give them as they occurred. 
 
 E was about twenty six or twenty seven, and 
 
 S about twenty. They had been married near 
 
 four years, and I suppose no young couple had ever 
 lived more affectionately together they were indeed 
 as nearly perfectly happy as human nature will per- 
 mit his attention and kindness to her in journeys
 
 REMINISCENCES. 153 
 
 and at all times was extraordinary. On one occasion 
 
 a friend of Mr. W 's who met them in the train took 
 
 it for granted they were a newly married couple, inconse- 
 quence of E 's attentions and politeness. 
 
 About the latter end of April, 1850, E had 
 
 occasion to go over to America on business, S 
 
 we believe rather tried to stop his going, but finding 
 it must be, gave way, as she had been rather delicate 
 during their married life, and it was thought better she 
 should not go, indeed Mr. Davenport, the surgeon, 
 said it was out of the question. 
 
 Shortly before E set off they came over to 
 
 Leek,E appearing thoroughly happy and enjoying 
 
 his pipe immensely. He mentioned to me during the 
 day that he had made his will before going. I said, 
 well I shall be truly delighted to see you back again 
 from America, you seem so jolly and thoroughly happy, 
 it is a pleasure to see you. I heard about this 
 
 time, indeed E told me that he had felt very nervous 
 
 as well as S his wife, in consequence of their 
 
 having heard knockings at the shutters in the night 
 and about the house, sometimes about nine or ten in 
 the evening, for which they were quite unable to 
 account. They had gone out and so had the servants, 
 but could discover no one or any cause for the sounds. 
 
 I remember hearing too, about this time that S 
 
 felt so frightened about these noises, that she had 
 asked a friend to stay with her, and sleep with her 
 
 during E 's absence, which she promised to do. 
 
 I smiled at these tales at the time, exclaiming what 
 nonsense it was, having no kind of faith in anything 
 of a supernatural nature. I heard afterwards too 
 that the very evening before E set off to America,
 
 154 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Mr. (his partner), and he, were sitting in the 
 
 room, either in the house or in the manufactory 
 adjoining the house, settling up some books before 
 
 E left, by candlelight, when suddenly they heard 
 
 quite a thunge repeated several times, they immedia- 
 tely rushed out to see what was the matter, but as 
 
 E says he quite expected met with nothing. 
 
 This latter I heard after E 's return from America, 
 
 but their disturbance and annoyance about the 
 knockings, I heard at home and through a brother 
 who had been to the Potteries before he went. 
 
 In consequence of the noise last alluded to, E 
 felt much disturbed, and even when he got to Liver- 
 pool felt so low, that as he told W on the 
 
 evening he had to sail, he was quite undecided 
 whether or no to set on his journey, as he thought 
 some calamity was impending. His thoughts seemed 
 rather directed to himself than otherwise, and he had 
 a sort of feeling he might never return and hence 
 made his will. He had not then quite so many fears 
 
 of S , as she was uncommonly well, and for a 
 
 miracle on their parting had not shed a tear, but was 
 quite cheerful this no doubt was by an effort, seeing 
 
 E so low, as on ordinary occasions when he left 
 
 even for a few days or a week, she used to be in 
 tears, and never at any previous time since their 
 marriage had they been separated for more than a 
 week together. 
 
 E however set off for Liverpool accompanied by 
 
 about a dozen friends, including one of his brothers, all 
 flocking to see him off, as he was a great and general 
 favourite. I believe it was quite a scene. The vessel, 
 however, set off, E still feeling unaccountably
 
 REMINISCENCES. 155 
 
 oppressed. He had, however, a most favourable 
 voyage, one of the quickest on record, and became 
 well acquainted with the Captain (Harrison) and 
 others. On getting to America he had still such a 
 sense of impending calamity that he determined to 
 return to England as rapidly as possible. He enquired 
 when the vessel would set off again from New York, 
 and found it would do so in about nine days. He 
 expressed the determination therefore of getting his 
 business done in that time. His friends at New 
 
 York said this was impossible. E replied that 
 
 he had made up his mind to do it, and on looking 
 through the railway list it was found, that if he 
 travelled almost night and day and scarcely lost a 
 single opportunity he could just be in time for the 
 vessel. He accordingly by a desperate effort con- 
 trived to travel near 1,700 miles thro' America to the 
 principal towns, and saw all the persons he wished 
 to see, except one, concluding his business arrange- 
 ments most satisfactorily, and returned to New York 
 just half-a-day before the vessel (the Great Western 
 I think), set off again for England. The voyage was 
 again a most successful one, being completed in about 
 nine days. On the way, as indeed throughout the 
 
 whole journey, E felt low and anxious beyond 
 
 measure with a presentiment of coming evil. On the 
 way he became an immense favourite with Capt. 
 Harrison, who sat and smoked with him for hours, 
 when he used to talk of his little wife and the delight 
 he should feel to see her again. He had received 
 several letters from her on the journey, and left 
 directions that she should write a letter to be left at a 
 particular Inn in Liverpool, that he might have the 
 
 K 2
 
 156 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 earliest intelligence on getting on shore. The letters 
 received in America were most cheering, with accounts 
 of perfect health. 
 
 In the meantime S had been invited over to 
 our house, Miss P - being also on a visit to us. 
 
 S at first accepted the invitation, as when E t - 
 
 left he expected to be away about two months. 
 What was our surprise therefore at the end of a 
 month to receive a letter from S saying that she 
 had heard from E who was then on his way to England 
 and would be at home in the course of a week- 
 When I heard this I scarcely credited it, and could 
 not avoid remarking several times during the day 
 <( Well this is most extraordinary, he must have 
 become home sick and returned from America without 
 doing his business." 
 
 In a few posts after receiving this note from S , 
 
 we received one from Miss D , the daughter of 
 
 the surgeon, at Tunstall, saying that S had been 
 
 taken dangerously ill with inflammation, but was then 
 a little better. It turned out that on the Friday, S 
 
 had been engaged writing a letter to E , directed 
 
 to the Saddle Inn, Liverpool, to await his arrival, and 
 in which she informed him of her being perfectly 
 well, the delight she should have in seeing him, &c. 
 About ten minutes after this letter was sealed up, she 
 exclaimed to her sister, " Oh, I feel rather unwell, I 
 begin to feel the old pain," and in five minutes after 
 that she was attacked with a dreadful pain and cramp 
 
 and lay writhing on the floor. The letter to E , 
 
 however, had been sent off. While poor S - lay ill 
 with this terrible attack, the Great Western neared 
 the English shore. The Captain who had formed
 
 REMINISCENCES 157 
 
 quite an attachment to E , and who presented him 
 
 with a case of cigars and of champagne, hearing of 
 E 's anxiety to hear from his dear wife (I think he 
 expected a letter at the Saddle Inn), put him ashore 
 with the mails, and contrived to get his luggage 
 through without scrutiny from the Custom House 
 officers, he therefore got on shore part of a day before 
 the other passengers, and immediately with great 
 anxiety set off for the letter at the Inn. This was on 
 the Saturday. On receiving this," containing the 
 intelligence of S being perfectly well, E 
 afterwards said he never felt in such an ecstacy in his 
 life he felt as if he could scarcely believe that all his 
 presentiments had proved groundless, and that he 
 and all nearest and dearest to him w r ere well. 
 He had had a strong feeling, as if he had been enjoy- 
 ing too much happiness to last. His business formerly 
 had been successful, his friends were all attached 
 to him, more as to a dear relative, his home was most 
 
 happy. My Uncle C afterwards remarked on his 
 
 delight, and remarked that he should like to have 
 accompanied him home, if it had only been for the 
 pleasure of seeing the meeting between him and his 
 wife. On Monday morning he set off for home, full 
 of expectancy. 
 
 In the meantime my brother C was sent to the 
 
 Station to meet him and prepare him for S 's 
 
 illness, of which as yet he had heard nothing. On 
 arriving at the Station he asked about everyone, but 
 
 did not mention S , having so recently received 
 
 her letter, at last he noticed C a little pale and 
 
 quiet, and mentioned S on which C said she 
 
 was not very well. E immediately with great
 
 158 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 excitement implored him to tell him if she were dead. 
 
 C said no, but not until E had put it to him 
 
 several times in the most solemn manner, could he be 
 persuaded that she was alive, and then with all his 
 former feelings rushing upon him, felt assured that 
 she would not live. 
 
 S (who had rallied a little the day before, and had 
 some favourable symptoms) was nevertheless in so 
 weak a state, that it was thought dangerous that 
 
 E should see her all at once. He was therefore 
 
 introduced, after she had been prepared for his 
 coming. The meeting was, I believe most affecting, 
 he lay down beside her murmuring his deep love and 
 fostering ardent hopes for her health and she in 
 return, though so weak and wasted seemed perfectly 
 happy in his presence. For a day or two she seemed 
 hovering between life and death. I had occasion to 
 call at the Potteries the second or third day after 
 
 E 's return. I went to E and found him in 
 
 the lower room, almost in despair he looked pale, 
 and said he had neither shaved nor had anything 
 whatever to eat except a small piece of bread and 
 butter, since he had returned. "Oh," he said, "what 
 
 shall I do, what shall I do, if anything happens to S , 
 
 and yet when I go up to see her, I have to appear 
 smiling and happy, as she does not herself know that 
 she is in such danger but no medicine has any effect, 
 and if this continues it must terminate fatally. Even 
 now (said he) I am in the greatest suspense, having 
 sent for Mr. D - the surgeon, and he neglects 
 coming." I had to go to London for four or five days 
 and when I returned on Sunday morning, found the 
 blinds down and great stillness reigning through the
 
 REMINISCENCES. 159 
 
 house. I at once divined the cause, and that poor 
 S - was dead. It appeared she had died late on 
 
 Friday evening. I told E that providence seemed 
 
 to have to do with the trial, and that 
 he must, place his trust there, and would not be 
 
 disappointed. I prayed fervently E might be 
 
 supported in his distress. I found on going to the 
 Potteries that at one time they almost feared that 
 
 E 's reason would lose its balance, but that no 
 
 tear came to his relief, he wandered about with his 
 fine countenance pale and wearing an expression of 
 
 deep despairing melancholy. S I found several 
 
 times before E returned, and after the paroxysm 
 
 of pain was passed, exclaimed, " Oh I hope I may 
 
 get better, if I do not, what will become of E ." 
 
 After his return the delight with which she looked 
 at him, and held out her thin and wasted hands 
 to him, and nestled her cheek to his had something 
 in it most affecting. At times she spoke of the 
 pleasure she should have in going to Chatsworth 
 for a week when she got better. " How we shall 
 enjoy it shall we not love," she would say, " walking 
 by the beautiful gardens by our own selves." At 
 these times though trying to look cheerful, he had 
 the greatest effort to restrain tears. At length a 
 
 few days after his return S became worse, though 
 
 retaining her mental faculties and free from pain, 
 
 except an excessive sickness at times. E then 
 
 determined to break to her, what she did not seem 
 exactly to know that there was no hope. He asked if 
 she were prepared to leave him and if she felt peace- 
 ful. She said she felt very happy she loved him 
 she loved everybody, but said she, " E , I
 
 i6o REMINISCENCES. 
 
 should like to stay with you a little longer " he 
 enquired about her feelings as to the future she said 
 she knew that " her sins were as scarlet, but that they 
 would be washed white as snow." After this she 
 uttered a beautiful prayer, but expressed perfect peace 
 
 and rest of mind. E went out and for the first time 
 
 burst into a flood of tears -from that moment he felt 
 comparatively relieved and refreshed he felt satisfied 
 as he said, as to her mind and soul very rapidly she 
 sank away, recognizing them in look, but scarce speak- 
 ing, the last words she was heard to utter were, " I love 
 every one, 1 die at peace, I die at rest." As the last 
 moment approached, she was seen to mutter, and 
 looked with a glance of recognition, holding out her 
 hand to E and presently passed away so quietly, 
 that they who stood by knew not the exact time, when 
 the pure spirit departed from its frail tenement, to 
 another and a better world. 
 
 After her death, E gave a beautiful prayer, and 
 
 seemed far more resigned than he had been, the wild- 
 ness and anguish that had characterized him, while 
 her life hung in the balances, passed away, he was 
 deeply sad and distressed, but comparatively com- 
 posed. 
 
 E said he had had several beautiful letters from 
 
 her since he left, and one especially beautiful, which 
 she wrote to him in answer to his last to her, and his 
 
 last letter she had always near her. This letter E 
 
 had in his pocket and pulled out to show me, he had 
 written a long letter and enclosed in it was another 
 meant only for herself to see, as the other letter 
 detailing where he had been and what done, might be 
 seen by others. Anything more touching or aftect-
 
 REMINISCENCES. 161 
 
 ing than the words of the inner note under the circum- 
 stances could not be conceived. It was somewhat 
 
 as follows : " My own dear dear S ," I could not 
 
 feel happy without writing you a few lines for your- 
 self only, and which I enciose because anyone 
 else would think it foolish to tell you what I feel 
 and how I long to be with you. Oh the delight of 
 seeing you my own darling. On the long long voy- 
 age, my chief joy has been the thought of meeting 
 you again. I think when I am next with you, I 
 can never bear you out of my sight anytime. The 
 world cannot understand this, but you can understand 
 it can you not my own dear love. Oh how my 
 heart springs towards you how I expect the dear 
 embrace how I hope you are well and happy. God 
 
 bless you ever and ever my dear dear S , 
 
 yours, &c. 
 
 I could not refrain from a few tears on reading this 
 affecting note, indicative when he little thought of 
 losing her, of affection, how intense, and how entirely 
 responded to, " oh that on morn so bright, such dark- 
 some eve should come." " All that's bright must fade, 
 the brightest still the fleetest." I endeavoured to 
 give some words of comfort but alas, at such a time, 
 there are scarce any words that can penetrate or at 
 all disperse the blackness of darkness in the desolate 
 bosom. The consolations of religion are the only 
 resource, and happy for him, who has these to fall 
 back upon. " The Lord giveth andthe Lord hath taken 
 away." It might be that they were making too much 
 an idol of earthly things, too wedded to earthly happiness, 
 and the bolt had stricken them asunder, the one 
 taken away in her trust and innocence with the
 
 162 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 prayer of serenity on her lips, it could not be doubted 
 to a better and more unfading inheritance, the other 
 left behind, in the sea of bitter waters, seeing no shore 
 at present, but with a heart tending more and more 
 to that which is heavenly and to that shore, "where 
 the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
 at rest." 
 
 He said religion was his only stay, he felt more 
 
 resigned since he had heard S 's last prayers. 
 
 On the morning of the funeral, I was a good deal with 
 
 E , reading first out of the New Testament to him 
 
 and was certainly more than ever struck with the 
 wonderful adaptation of many of the chapters for 
 occasions such as these, supplying the very hopes and 
 comforts which of all others are best calculated to 
 sustain and support the drooping spirits. Even in a 
 temporal point of view a firm belief in religion 
 anda conduct regulated by it, is perhapsas greatasource 
 of happiness as can be enjoyed here on earth. One 
 of the chief ingredients of happiness certainly is to be 
 under the belief that we are in the right way for 
 obtaining it. 
 
 Shortly afterwards the funeral took place. The 
 morning was most bright and sunshiny, all the shops 
 
 and houses at S had their blinds drawn. E 
 
 walked along with Charles M , and through the 
 
 whole ceremony never shed a tear. When the coffin 
 was. being lowered into the vault he gazed at it with 
 infinite dejection, and a sort of dreamy melancholy 
 in his countenance but without more, he said he felt as 
 if nothing could affect him if he saw his nearest 
 friend struck dead beside him, or knew that every- 
 thing he had was being taken from him, he thought
 
 REMINISCENCES. 163 
 
 he should not then feel a pang. Afterwards at my 
 Uncle's I enquired further as to the noises 
 
 that had been heard by S and E , 
 
 and asked the servants and C and my Uncle 
 
 about them. It appeared some days before S 
 was taken ill she called at my Uncle's, and went into 
 the kitchen, and though perfectly well said she had 
 heard the noises again, and told the servants that she 
 was convinced something would happen to her and 
 within a fortnight from that time she was dead! 
 Such is life, so abruptly, and suddenly are its strings 
 sometimes snapped asunder. And though anything 
 but inclined to superstition, and being accustomed 
 to treat matters of this kind as ridiculous, I yet must 
 confess that I felt a little staggered ; and looking at 
 the number of the witnesses, to the fact that most of 
 them had given their evidence before the event, that 
 I myself had heard a good deal about these noises 
 
 before poor S 's illness was dreamt of, to the 
 
 remarkable circumstances connected with E 's 
 voyage to America and back, accomplished (including 
 his journey there) more rapidly than any one in 
 the Potteries had known it to have been done 
 before I say looking to all these and other facts 
 which I could advert to, 1 felt that the circumstances 
 were so remarkable, that at least I could not feel 
 quite justified in smiling at these warnings as being 
 purely imaginative. 
 
 APRIL I5TH, 1862. 
 
 Mr. Pemberton, my wife's honoured and excellent 
 Father, died on Thursday last at nine in the morn-
 
 164 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ing, after a protracted illness. On the Thursday 
 preceding, about nine in the morning, as I was at 
 breakfast, the servants came in out of the kitchen, 
 and said they had been astonished at one of the 
 upstairs bells ringing in the kitchen, tho' no one 
 was upstairs to ring it. I said in allusion to what 
 
 had happened in poor S 's case that I supposed 
 
 it was typical of death, and that it would be strange 
 if we should hear of Mr. Pemberton's death having 
 taken place the same morning at that hour. My 
 wife was then in Birmingham attending on her 
 Father. 
 
 Mr. John Millward, tenant for about seven years, 
 had left Pickwood farm also about a w r eek before for 
 another farm. He died strange to say about the 
 same day as Mr. Pemberton, and I had invitations 
 for both their funerals for Thursday, the i6th inst. 
 Mr. Millward had been somewhat failing but not ill. 
 
 APRIL 22ND, 1862. 
 
 Strange that within a few hours after I had written 
 the preceding lines and on the same day, viz : on the 
 1 5th April, in the evening about six, I received a 
 
 letter from Mr. O P with the account of my 
 
 dear wife being seized with spitting of blood which he 
 looked on with much anxiety. It turned out that she 
 had the key of the room where her father's body was, 
 and on being informed that the men were come with 
 the coffin, she, who had been so devoted to him in his 
 last illness, and thro' life, as her letters written about 
 that time will show, became much excited, and 
 hemorrhage or spitting of blood, came on, and again
 
 REMINISCENCES. 165 
 
 returned the succeeding evening. As I did not 
 
 receive O P 's letter until the evening of the 
 
 1 5th after the train had gone, I did not arrive at 
 
 Birmingham until about noon on the i6th, when O 
 
 P told me the substance of what above is 
 
 mentioned, and saying that of course the symptoms 
 were grave. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM FURTHER NOTE BOOK. 
 
 One main difference between fools and wise men 
 is, that the latter most consult their own happiness 
 and that of others by self-improvement, and cultiva- 
 ting the arts of peace and good will, while the former 
 promote the very contrary by indulging in warfare, 
 slander and spite. 
 
 A medical man of good common sense once told 
 me that influenza, etc., is in fact produced by a cer- 
 tain amount of inflammation in a membrane that lines 
 the nose, goes up to the front of the forehead, and 
 then goes down the throat and lines the lungs. 
 Hence it is that when we catch cold, it first affects 
 the nose, then causes aching about the forehead, and 
 afterwards gives sore throat, and then produces cough, 
 hence he said, the cure of it depends not so much on 
 physic, but on keeping in an equable temperature and 
 out of east winds, damp, etc. Hence in influenza, 
 \vhen at the worst, I generally drive in a closed 
 carriage to the office, with advantage.
 
 166 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Clever people are often called bright and full of 
 reflection these expressions are more apt than at 
 first thought would appear. What is brighter indeed 
 than a mirror, and the more bright the more reflective 
 it is of external objects. Shakespeare describes the 
 highest, brightest, and most intellectual effort of the 
 dramatic art as follows : 
 
 " To hold as t'were the mirror up to nature, to 
 show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image 
 and the very age and body of the time, his form and 
 pressure." 
 
 A little child being asked why the angels having 
 wings should ascend and descend by a ladder, said 
 he supposed they were moulting. 
 
 OUR TWO HOUSES. 
 
 We live in two houses so to speak one being our 
 earthly body, and the other the house we reside in. If 
 our bodily tenement is well and seemly, it is of more 
 importance than is the size and condition of our out- 
 ward habitation. 
 
 SITUATION OF HOUSE. 
 
 When some people build, they little think even when 
 they have the opportunity, of the importance of a 
 house having a southern aspect, shelter if possible 
 from the north and east, >and being at a moderate 
 elevation to escape damp. 
 
 A south aspect like ours at Pickwood has the
 
 REMINISCENCES. 167 
 
 advantage of the sun coming pretty straight into the 
 windows in winter, and being almost overhead or 
 vertical about midsummer. It is too the best position 
 for seeing the moon and heavenly bodies. 
 
 SOME REFLECTIONS ON DEATH AND BURIAL. 
 
 I have often thought that the following sentences 
 in the Burial Service being from the I5th Chapter of 
 St. Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians are very sugges- 
 tive and worthy of deep meditation. 
 
 " But some man will say How are the dead raised 
 up ? and with what body do they come ? Thou fool, 
 that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it 
 die and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not 
 that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance 
 of wheat or of some other grain. But God giveth it 
 a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his 
 own body all flesh is not the same flesh, but there is 
 one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, 
 another of fishes, and another of birds," &c., &c. 
 
 How many listen to these words unthinkingly, and 
 yet they seem to imply a possibility, and mode of our 
 future renewal, not inconsistent with the suggestions 
 of our natural reason and the analogies of nature. 
 When we die and sink like the ripened grain or fading 
 plant into the earth, one can imagine the possibility 
 of our again reappearing as man, like the grain 
 reappears as wheat, being quickened after our death 
 in such manner as God pleases, the immortal part 
 being again clothed with much the same vesture as 
 before, or passing through new scenes and changes 
 as the great Creator wills, to a higher state.
 
 168 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 We must remember that philosophy aud chemistry 
 have proved that nothing in nature is ever lost, but 
 is like consuming coal in the fire, it may suffer, change, 
 and be resolved into fresh elements so to speak, but no 
 atom of it is ever really lost it still exists in God's 
 universe, and may again become combined as before. 
 We have existed and shall continue in some form or 
 other to exist. Where were any of us 100 years 
 ago. Possibly where we may be 100 years hence : 
 wherever we were then, it is certain we are here 
 now, and as we have arisen out of the century that is 
 past, so may we again out of that which is to come. 
 " Through what variety of untried beings, 
 Through what new scenes and changes must we pass, 
 The wide, the unbounded prospect, lies before us r 
 But shadows, clouds and darkness rest upon it." 
 
 " Our life is but a sleep and a forgetting : 
 
 The soul that rises in us, our life's star, 
 Hath had elsewhere its setting 
 
 and cometh from afar." 
 
 Wordsworth. 
 
 Some die in infancy, some after a short life of ill- 
 health, if there be justice in the Universe, such a life 
 can never be the be all and the end all. 
 
 The reflection that men may again reappear of their 
 own race would suggest benevolence and justice in 
 our laws and dealing with mankind in general. 
 Seeing that we may again become of the family 
 of mankind and recipients of the general blessings.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 169 
 
 QUOTATIONS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE ABOVE. 
 
 " We see but dimly thro' the mists and vapours, 
 
 Amid these earthly damps, 
 What seem to us but sad funereal tapers, 
 
 May be heaven's distant lamps. 
 
 There is no death, what seems so is transition ; 
 
 This life of mortal breath 
 Is but a suburb of the life elysian, 
 
 Whose portal we call death." 
 
 Longfellow " Resignation." 
 
 EARTH'S MOTION. 
 
 Sitting out in the sunshine on a calm fine day, we 
 appear to be perfectly still, and yet in fact the earth 
 on which we are, is moving with immense velocity on 
 its own axis, and also on its annual journey round the 
 sun. The first motion in fact is carrying us with a 
 speed of about 1,000 miles an hour, or near 19 miles 
 a minute, and the second with a speed of 19 miles a 
 second, or more than 63,000 miles an hour. 
 
 ONE CAUSE OF SCEPTICISM, 1876. 
 
 I believe that mankind in matters of opinion are 
 naturally born with two main different tendences of 
 thought ; one portion having a tendency to reliance 
 on the authority of others and the other towards 
 reliance on themselves and the conclusions of their 
 own reason. 
 
 The former have a tendency to Roman Catholicism, 
 and to rely on the authority of the Priesthood, and
 
 170 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the latter to scepticism, or at least to reason things 
 out for themselves. 
 
 As regards the former class, the tendency to Infi- 
 delity is comparatively slight, but as regards the latter 
 this is not quite the case, and more care is required 
 in dealing with them. 
 
 It is I think important to explain or endeavour to 
 modify the effect of passages that appear on a cursory 
 reading to contradict reason or the teachings of 
 science. 
 
 Students at Colleges are taught and find it consist- 
 ent with their studies and with the analogy of nature, 
 that there may be many things that are above reason, 
 but they are also taught that truth cannot contradict 
 truth, and that what the book of Nature and Science 
 clearly teaches, cannot well be contradicted by the 
 book of Nature's God. 
 
 For instance, Geology clearly shows that the earth 
 must have existed more than 6,000 years we should 
 be glad to see an explanation or emendation of any 
 passage that seems to imply that revelation contradicts 
 this or if Astronomy as taught at the schools 
 demonstrates that the earth moves round the sun, we 
 should be careful not to insist on too literal a reading 
 of the passage which seems to imply the contrary as 
 regards the sun standing still. 
 
 For my own part I have long thought that a retran- 
 slation of the bible, by which certain passages per- 
 haps carelessly or inaccurately translated or rendered 
 in the old original, may be amended, might be 
 attended with the happiest results, especially to the 
 young. 
 
 The true and beautiful morality of the Gospel is
 
 REMINISCENCES. 171 
 
 well illustrated by solemn cathedrals with their noble 
 architecture and dim religious light, suggestive of 
 holy mystery and religious beauty, and bearing in 
 themselves a visible type to the young of a work of 
 intellect and power far beyond their capacity, and 
 suggesting therefore that the minds that planned and 
 executed the one were more capable than themselves 
 of apprehending the truths of the other, those truths 
 of which the solemn temple is as it were a sort of 
 outward shrine. 
 
 But it may be that on the Cathedral wall, there may 
 be a dial that impaired by age, no longer gives the 
 time correctly, and seems to indicate one hour, while 
 the sun of heaven at his meridian show*s that it is 
 another. 
 
 If that be so, let the dial or faulty time piece be 
 amended, and no longer appear to contradict that 
 which Science and Astronomy prove to be the truth. 
 
 The Bible like the Church in its grand teaching of 
 morality and religion slill remains as true and eleva- 
 ting as ever, tho' its translation on some minor or 
 scientific matters may here and there convey inade- 
 quately the meaning of the great original. 
 
 Of late years it has gradually become the rule with 
 dignitaries of the Church and others no longer to 
 withstand the accepted teachings of science. For- 
 merly old women were punished and sometimes put 
 to death for witchcraft, but for a long time and under 
 the teachings of progress and science, witchcraft is 
 no longer recognised or punishment inflicted on its 
 supposed votaries. 
 
 L 2
 
 172 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 EYESORES IN A LANDSCAPE. 
 
 I have often thought that with a little ingenuity 
 and trouble we may readily turn what are accounted 
 eyesores in a landscape into beauties. A railway 
 cutting through a rock for instance at first looks any- 
 thing but pleasing, but in time if it has a moderate 
 slope, it becomes gradually covered with heath or wild 
 flowers, so as to be a pleasing object. 
 
 In this way by planting, I have turned some ugly 
 drumble holes in my land, into pretty plantations, 
 and I can imagine no more fitting object for the mem- 
 bers of a Field Naturalist Society for instance, than 
 to keep a store of seeds and plant wild flower seeds or 
 ferns on some of the ugly embankments we some- 
 times find near the Railway Stations to which their 
 excursions lead them. 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF EVIL. 
 
 This is a very difficult and embarrassing subject 
 Pope's Essay on Man and other works contain sug- 
 gestive thoughts about it. One remark, however, I 
 would make. Without the varieties and incidents of 
 good and evil almost any book would be comparatively 
 unreadable and uninteresting. We could have had 
 no works like those of Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, 
 orDickens,and so the Book of Life without the lights and 
 shades and incidents of good and evil would be but 
 flat and insipid in some respects. Without trials and 
 temptations and errors, there would be no field for 
 probation, for self-denial or even for virtue. After all 
 Pope may not be so far wrong in his line, "Whatever 
 is, is right."
 
 REMINISCENCES. 173 
 
 ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION ABOUT 1878 and 
 as to question of war between Russia and Turkey. 
 
 Observe how impregnably Lord Beaconsfield con- 
 structed his lines of defence. He often plays on two 
 strings, and on the subject of the Eastern war, this 
 was his dilemma, impossible for his opponents to 
 confute. In his celebrated Guildhall speech he said : 
 " We are in favour of peace, so far as that can be 
 attained consistently with British honour and in- 
 terests," and in a subsequent speech he said : " We 
 are in favour of neutrality, strict, but conditional." 
 
 In other words, if the course of events and the 
 temper of the Nation should incline to peace, the 
 Ministry were ready to adopt that but if the course 
 of events and the temper of the Nation should be in 
 favour of war, the Ministry w r ould be ready for that 
 alternative also, as I said before, a double and impreg- 
 nable line of defence. 
 
 Mr. Bright, at Manchester, just before the death of 
 his wife, made one of his great speeches against war r 
 containing some of his sledge hammer sentences, for 
 instance, speaking of Lord Derby leaving the cabinet, 
 he said, paraphrasing the words of scripture, " He 
 went out and shook the dust from off his feet against 
 them." 
 
 Again he referred to war in the following powerful 
 sentence 
 
 " What is war but an indefinite suspension of the 
 Ten Commandments and of the Sermon on the Mount." 
 
 The consistency of Bright and Cobden in the main 
 lines of their general policy has been often remarked 
 upon. I believe that arises from the fact that they 
 have invariably founded their main lines such as free
 
 174 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 trade, peace, &c., on the principles enunciated in 
 Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, a book illustrated 
 with a wonderful aggregation of facts and a depth 
 of thought of the highest order. 
 
 Smith pointed out that out of 150 years prior to his 
 time, England had been at war about 100 years, being 
 two years out of every three fighting during that 
 period. A course of policy (during the rule of the 
 aristocracy) detrimental to the trade and true interests 
 of England. 
 
 Mr. T. S. said (I think with some truth) that Lord 
 Beaconsfield sometimes said what he did not mean, 
 and sometimes meant w r hat he did not say, but that 
 he generally tumbled on his legs at last. 
 
 Went to tea at Mr. F 's, afterwards had a game 
 
 at whist. A coincidence occurred in one of the 
 games that is perfectly true, but which I never remem- 
 ber being equalled. 
 
 Mr. F dealt and turned up the ten of clubs, 
 
 Afterwards I dealt and turned up the ten of clubs. 
 
 Miss A F then dealt and to our astonishment 
 
 turned up the ten of clubs. I said well if Miss M. F 
 
 who was playing with me turned up the same, I 
 should think it a marvellous business. She then dealt 
 and turned up I think a small club, but immediately 
 flung the cards down, and for some reason or other 
 claimed to deal again. She accordingly dealt and lo 
 she turned up the ten of clubs ! 
 
 Plays and novels are meant to represent the sen- 
 sational part of real life.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 175 
 
 Nothing charms us more than variety -a flat 
 country we call dull and uninteresting, while in one 
 of hills and dales, like Pickwood, at every 50 or 100 
 yards we have a change of scene, a novelty so to 
 speak, which is the great cause of its charm. 
 
 One reason why a painting or sculpture (which are 
 men's work) can never please us so much as the works 
 of nature they are intended to represent, is because 
 they represent a fixed unchanging scene or attitude. 
 
 Paintings however exquisitely drawn have no 
 alternations of a varied view of wind or calm, of 
 lights and shades to attract and please us, and to 
 afford us " delights by their change which the choicest 
 of them could not give us by their continuance." 
 
 No statue chiselled by a Phidias could equal the 
 living Cleopatra of whom it was finely said, " age 
 could not wither nor custom stale her infinite 
 variety." 
 
 I have heard persons say they wondered how some 
 of the farm servants could bear the cold weather with 
 so little clothing. Habit has much to do with it. 
 Consider how our own faces from being habitually 
 without covering can stand the cold without real 
 inconvenience. 
 
 Inscription on an old fountain in Needwood Forest 
 with a cross on the top 
 
 When you the cooling waters drink 
 
 Rest not your thoughts below. 
 Look to the sacred sign and think 
 Where living waters flow.
 
 176 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The young man in the scripture was told by our 
 Lord to leave all and follow him. 
 
 Thrice happy is he or she who surrounded with this 
 world's goods, can listen resignedly, even hopefully 
 to the summons of the Master ' Leave all and follow 
 me ' for ' The Master is come and calleth for thee.' 
 
 One main view of religion is that it teaches the 
 authoritv of God for the Ten Commandments. 
 
 A clergyman called on an old farmer parishioner 
 of not very correct life or orthodoxy, and exhorted 
 him to be religious. The old man said nothing till 
 the clergyman went out of the house when he said, 
 ' When 1 want you to fettle my soul, I'll send for you.' 
 
 Science like God is no respecter of persons. 
 
 To experimentalise and pursue a useful science 
 like agriculture is much better than scientific explora- 
 tions at the North Pole, &c., not likely to be of 
 practical use. 
 
 What is it in the heads or nature of some kind of 
 pigeons called tumblers that leads them every now 
 and then when on their flight to tumble topsy turvy 
 in the air. 
 
 No wonder that some other creatures should have 
 a twist in their heads sometimes.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 177 
 
 Mr. Roden, of near Birmingham, the painter, said 
 he had painted Lord Palmerston, Cardinal Newman, 
 Mr. Gladstone and other celebrities. He had stayed 
 upwards of a fortnight at Hawarden, where Mr. 
 Gladstone had been very agreeable and at times con- 
 versational, this was about the year 1878. On one 
 occasion he told Mr. Roden that his reason for cutting 
 down trees was because he found by that means he 
 could get the greatest amount of exercise in the 
 shortest space of time. 
 
 On one occasion Mr. Gladstone, when he had his 
 coat off, after cutting down a tree asked Mr. Roden 
 to put his hand on his chest, when he found him in a 
 warm comfortable glow. Afterwards Mr. Gladstone 
 asked him to put his hands on his head, one on each 
 side. Mr. Roden did so, when Mr. Gladstone enquired 
 if he noticed anything particular. Mr. Roden said he 
 noticed that one side of his head at the top was higher 
 and lumpier than the other side. 
 
 Mr. Gladstone said that was undoubtedly so, and 
 whether it accounted for some of those inconsistencies 
 which his adversaries sometimes charged against him, 
 he could not pretend to say. 
 
 Why is an illused wife like a donkey? 
 Because she is made to be sat upon. 
 
 I heard someone ask a market woman if she did 
 not feel troubled at having no family. 
 
 " Well," replied she, " if I've had none to make me 
 laugh, I've had none to make me cry.' J
 
 178 REMUNISCENCES. 
 
 In reference to a lady who was fond of dressing 
 her children in various colours, I observed it might 
 be said of her as in Tennyson's " Come into the 
 garden Maud," that her ideas blossomed in purple 
 and red. 
 
 In Peel Park, near Manchester, there is a statue 
 to Mr. Brotherton, late member for Manchester, who 
 was so assiduous in attention to his duties in the 
 House and in Committee, and who generally stayed 
 till the House adjourned at night. 
 
 On the statue is the following inscription from 
 something he had once said : 
 
 " My riches consist not so much in the extent of my 
 possessions as in the fewness of my wants." 
 
 Music, painting, and sculpture like the visible 
 works of nature, speak all languages. 
 
 A friend spoke to a youth I know who thought 
 himself well up in history, and remarked on the 
 bravery of the Black Prince, "Oh yes" said the 
 youth, " Blacks are generally brave men." 
 
 We used to pronounce the poet Cowper, Cooper, 
 as the Scotch pronounce Cow, Coo, and see Johnson's 
 Dictionary where Cu appears the Saxon for Cow. 
 
 Mr. Bright, the great orator managed to enlist his 
 follower's belligerent feelings in favour of peace.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 179 
 
 A man of genius or science may be likened to 
 the cliff described by Goldsmith, noting the mists of 
 error or ignorance floating about beneath him. 
 " Like some tall cliff that rears its awful form, 
 Swells from the vale and midway meets the storm, 
 Tho' round its breast the rolling clouds be spread, 
 Eternal sunshine settles on his head." 
 
 RELIGIOUS HOPE. 
 
 Perhaps one chief ingredient of happiness is to be 
 under the belief that we are in the right way for 
 obtaining it. Hence a firm belief in the Christian 
 religion and a conduct regulated by it, is perhaps even 
 in a temporal point of view, one of the greatest sources 
 of happiness that can be enjoyed here on earth. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. M , Minister of Rushton Church, 
 
 had tried to do away with the old fashioned band, 
 consisting of bassoon, riddle, &c., that a number of 
 years since they had at that village Church, but had 
 not succeeded. At one morning service, however, 
 on giving out the hymn, he said, " Now let us fiddle, 
 bassoon and blow the iO4th hymn." 
 
 After this the band soon died out and an organ was 
 substituted. 
 
 I attended an archidiaconal conference at Stoke; 
 the Ven. Archdeacon Lane in the chair. One of the 
 subjects was the kind of music to be adopted in 
 churches. After papers read and some discussion I 
 said I preferred the congregational music in the main, 
 but thought now and then a short anthem or voluntary, 
 
 M
 
 180 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 well done, was not amiss. We must remember that 
 beautiful architecture and beautiful flowers had their 
 proper place, and why not beautiful music. A thing 
 of beauty after all being a joy for ever. 
 
 The divinity so manifests itself in some men, that 
 they through the medium of painting, sculpture, or 
 writing seem to possess some of the divine recreative 
 power. 
 
 In paintings, natural scenes and the simple dresses 
 of country girls, for instance, are far more pleasing 
 than the jewelled costumes of the wealthy and all the 
 bedizements of art. 
 
 Heads with nothing in them are something like 
 purses with nothing in them. 
 
 A sea captain coming from a grand house where 
 they had offered him nothing to eat or drink, remarked 
 they had never so much as said, " Collie will you 
 lick." 
 
 PITHY ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 Wanted immediately 
 
 A man of good character, 
 
 At a salary of 200 per annum, 
 
 To mind his own business 
 
 And a further sum of 200, 
 
 To leave other people's alone.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 181 
 
 A gentleman recently mentioned to me that the 
 Highlanders who are Celts like the Irish, were in fact 
 colonized from Ireland, and the main reason why they 
 were so much more educated, law abiding, and man- 
 ageable than some of the Irish, was probably that 
 they were Protestants. This struck me as a remark 
 worth attention. 
 
 JULY STH, 1882. 
 
 I have long thought and expressed it, as to the Irish 
 Question, Gladstone and his government would offer 
 the extreme Irish the Olive Branch in the shape of 
 the Land Bill and other measures giving the tenants 
 leases, in fact, of the lands on fair terms on the 
 one hand, and the sword, in the shape of some such 
 measures as the Crime Prevention Bill, on the other. 
 
 If the Irish would not be satisfied with justice, they 
 must run the gauntlet of very severe measures to 
 repress assassination and spoliation. 
 
 My own idea is that when the above Crime Bill has 
 passed, very strenuous measures by the aid of a 
 detective police and otherwise will be taken to stamp 
 out assassination, &c. 
 
 RELIGION. 
 
 Very much depends on the nature of men and the 
 material to be acted on. 
 
 Some like wood touched by fire may burn with 
 ardent zeal, others more stony are incapable of being 
 inflamed, or of answering to the celestial torch.
 
 182 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The angelic choir the angels are like those far 
 distant stars which tho' invisible to the natural sight 
 may yet become plainer to our vision thro' the eye of 
 faith, and which like the telescope may make what is 
 dim and distant clearer to our mental sight. 
 
 A rather Shakespearean painter who had consider- 
 able trouble about completing a window of mine, said, 
 " This is the winder of my discontent." 
 
 At a clerical meeting the Archdeacon requested me 
 to bring on a difficult subject connected with rates in 
 aid. I said he had given me a gordian knot to 
 unravel, and my advice would be that of a certain 
 humorous publication, to those about to tie that other 
 knot the knot matrimonial. " Dont," and to abstain 
 from any definite resolution and leave well alone at 
 present. This advice was followed. 
 
 Type of the ever changing glorious sea, 
 
 Now bright, now calm, now tempest tossed we see 
 
 Her noble nature, bounding fresh and free, 
 
 Mid ringing laughter, rage or love's alarms, 
 
 It is the rich variety that charms. 
 
 Excitement in some people almost reminds us of 
 S. Vitas' dance.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 183 
 
 Man is a mystery in the midst of mysteries, and his 
 health almost a marvel, in that it frequently lasts so 
 long, notwithstanding the almost infinite number of 
 his nerves and organs. 
 
 I once heard Mr. Spurgeon quote : 
 
 Our life hangs on a thousand springs, 
 
 And dies if one go wrong ; 
 Strange that a harp of thousand strings 
 Should keep in tune so long. 
 
 Decoration it has been said should be such as to be 
 a joy to those who see it. 
 
 This is the case with the works of nature, but these 
 are ever variable, and it should be remembered that as 
 regards works of art or decoration for the interior of 
 houses, that minds are various and tastes different, 
 what might be a joy to one would not be so much to 
 the taste of another. So that if any one attempts to 
 set up his own particular standard of taste, as the 
 general rule, he must remember that it may not 
 exactly suit everyone, from the Fashionist to the 
 Quaker. 
 
 So in life as an illustration of the necessity of 
 variety in taste, it was well, indeed necessary, that 
 some should have the tendency to make and keep 
 money as others had to spend it. What would become 
 of art for instance, unless there were some reservoirs 
 of wealth from which to draw the means of patronising 
 art?
 
 1*4 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 it is a doubtful mark of respect when a shopkeeper, 
 whose relative is dead, has his shutters half open, in 
 order to show his respect without losing any of his 
 custom. 
 
 A young lady of taste told me the other day if the 
 young men only knew how ladies appreciated a really 
 well cut, well made coat, they would take care to go 
 to a good tailor, she could not bear to see a gentle- 
 man look exactly like a waiter. 
 
 I heard several persons swearing in the refreshment 
 room at Stoke station. One of the lady attendants 
 said very quietly, " What bad English you speak." 
 This stopped them. 
 
 A lady put a little ice behind a gentleman's neck 
 collar. He said it was a very cool act. 
 
 The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Professor 
 of D.ivinity, at Oxford, were staying at the Isaac 
 Walton Hotel, Dovedale. A woman while cleaning 
 the church, recognizing them, stopped her work, but 
 they told her to go on and take no notice of them. 
 They could not ahvays be walking on stilts. 
 
 Poet's thoughts and images often rise out of a trou- 
 bled and excited state of mind out of a troubled 
 pool as it were like Bethesda, whose power was great- 
 est when most troubled.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 185 
 
 MAY 2 IST, 1884. 
 
 Edith and I had a tour round by Cambridge, Ely, 
 Norwich, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Bury St. Edmunds, 
 and so on to London, before her marriage, which was 
 to take place on the yth of August, When at 
 Lowestoft, a singular coincidence occurred. We 
 were looking over the pier with others watching boats 
 go out. An old gentleman and his daughter were 
 just starting in a boat, when he looked up and said to 
 me, what do you say to going with us ? He turned 
 out as we accidently found during our conversation in 
 the boat, to be the Rev. Mr. Elmer, vicar of Biddulph, 
 in our Leek Rural Deanery, with his daughter Edith. 
 In talking about Biddulph he asked who I knew there, 
 I replied I knew the Rev. Mr. Seed, having corres- 
 ponded with him, tho' I never saw him. Oh, said Mr. 
 Elmer, he is my next neighbour at Biddulph. On 
 getting back to Lowestoft pier who should turn up 
 but the Rev. Mr. Seed, who accidently met us, being 
 on a pleasure excursion as we all were, none having 
 the slightest idea of the other being there. 
 
 When relatives dead, children soon after play on 
 gravestones. 
 
 When father bankrupt children play about. 
 
 Happy and content are the poor children, having 
 nothing yet possessing all things. 
 
 As Hamlet says, " There is nothing good nor ill, 
 but thinking makes it so." 
 
 The three C's required for a great statesman are, 
 courage, conscience, and capacity.
 
 186 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 IGNORANCE ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 You are like a kitten on a newspaper, with a good 
 deal of information about you, but you can't read it. 
 
 It has sometimes struck me that hair powder first 
 came into fashion because old grey headed men did 
 not wish too much contrast with their young black 
 haired friends and servants. So all wore hair powder. 
 
 No country I believe has been found where the 
 natives, however savage, have not learnt to make 
 bread of some sort. Man in fact requires his natural 
 food to be cooked, and accordingly was provided with 
 the wit to do it. Among our first parents the making 
 of bread was not an obvious thing to do, nor was it 
 apparent that wheat was our natural food. Man 
 indeed is the only cooking animal. 
 
 In Robinson Cruso, the Family Robinson, Master- 
 man Ready, and other like books, facts of Natural 
 History and matters of science are threaded on a tale 
 like beads on a necklace, making it attractive, especi- 
 ally to the young. 
 
 SEPTEMBER, 1886. 
 
 A young lady told me the following as having hap- 
 pened to a lady she knew : 
 
 Thejady got into an empty carrriage in a railway 
 
 train to . Just before the train started, a middle 
 
 aged man got into the compartment, and in a short 
 time produced a pair of scissors and asked the lady
 
 REMINISCENCES. 187 
 
 to cut off his hair and whiskers. She declined. 
 Well said he, unless you do it, 1 shall do for you. On 
 which being alarmed she cut off his hair and whiskers, 
 when he took out of a bag a white wig which he put 
 on and made himself look like a very old man. 
 Shortly after this he said, this carriage is too hot, one 
 of us must go out. She said it was impossible as the 
 train was moving rapidly. He said, well you must go 
 out, on which she was terrified, and begged she might 
 hive time to say her prayers. This she did at great 
 length, and when she had done, he said now you must 
 go out. She then begged she might pray for the 
 Queen, and afterwards for the Prince of Wales and 
 others of the Royal Family. Fortunately then the 
 train stopped at a station, and she dashed out of the 
 carriage and spoke to the guard as soon as she could, 
 but the man had escaped. She thought he might be 
 a lunatic. 
 
 Paraphrase of Young's celebrated line as applied 
 to different religious sects : 
 
 All men think all men erring but themselves. 
 
 The great gift of experience is that it in a great 
 measure enables us to distinguish between truth and 
 error, between the real grain and the chaff. 
 
 1 read in the Illustrated News how the Prince of 
 Bulgaria led his soldiers into battle, death, and wounds, 
 and how the Princess, his wife, went through the 
 hospitals helping to cure them. I thought it a case of 
 kill'em and cure'em. 
 
 M2
 
 i88 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 APRIL 2ND, 1887. 
 
 Saw at a hotel at Southport The Victoria a Mr. 
 Hamshaw, a middle aged man, who amused me a 
 good deal. He said he had recently had a wonderful 
 bit of luck. At a brickmaker's, near Leeds, where I 
 think he said he lived, he had bought a little terrier 
 named Dangerous, weighing i^i Ibs. for two shillings 
 and sixpence, which had turned out a wonderful 
 dog for rabbit killing. He said he had won about joo 
 with it recently, I think in Lancashire, and he had 
 beaten all dogs who came against it. I think he 
 said the brickmaker had parted with it because it 
 had worried at his table cloths, lowels, or anything 
 it could get at. He said there was one dog in Lan- 
 cashire named Spot, that had also beaten all comers. 
 He however challenged Spot, the game being to the 
 dog that got the majority out of 21 rabbits turned loose. 
 Well, the contest had come off near Manchester, when 
 Dangerous killed eleven rabbits to the other dog two 
 and won, by which they had netted several hundred 
 pounds. He said the dog was now matched against 
 any dog of the same weight, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
 in about three weeks, and he doubted not they should 
 win some hundreds. It would no doubt be in the 
 sporting papers, and he advised me to look out. 
 
 He said he and his partner (whose name I forget) 
 were a betting firm well known at Leeds and over 
 much of England and Ireland. Their rule was to bet 
 on the field against particular horses. He said certain 
 religious orders in .Ireland were among his best 
 customers there, and they w r ould frequently bet a 
 5 note on a particular horse, thinking when their 
 duties were finished they might please themselves
 
 REMINISCE x c ES . 1 8g 
 
 how they took recreation. He said he thought from 
 200 to 300 of them went over to Harrogate every 
 season. When they arrived there they often had red 
 and pimpled noses and cheeks, perhaps from good 
 living, &c., but after being at Harrogate perhaps 2 
 or 3 weeks drinking the sulphur waters there, the 
 pimples generally subsided, and they went back 
 with complexions comparatively clear. 
 
 He said the greatest difficulty their firm had to deal 
 with, was that as betting was i'legal and debts could 
 not be recovered in the County Court, they sometimes 
 lost their winnings, thou'gh he must say this was not 
 frequent. Still their firm now made it a rule the 
 money must be deposited with them on a race. One 
 notable instance he mentioned where they had been 
 defrauded, an hotel keeper named H , at Leeds, 
 had won from them at Lincoln 375 by betting which 
 they paid him afterwards they won from him at 
 another place 110. which he refused to pay, though 
 not denying they had won it. He said on one occas- 
 ion thisH gave a public dinner at his hotel at which 
 he was to preside. Their firm hired six of the greatest 
 blackguards in Leeds, and sent them to the dinner, 
 
 where they insulted and annoyed this Mr. H , and 
 
 called him cheat, &c. He asked who had sent them 
 there. They said Messrs. H who had been chea- 
 ted. He expected in time by these measures Mr. 
 H would find it wisdom to pay the money. 
 
 The trees in May are white with the snows and 
 blossoms of youth, as old heads are white with the 
 snows of age.
 
 igo REMINISCENCES. 
 
 SHAVING. 
 
 In ancient times Britons shaved from forehead to 
 crown, Normans the back of head, and now we have 
 every variety of shaving. Some shave off the beard 
 or whiskers, others leave them on, some le^ve on a 
 moustache, others shave it off. No wonder that we 
 should sometimes hear of our being " rum shavers." 
 
 I remember my father telling me he had a clerk 
 named Prime, a very handsonre man, but not the 
 sharpest. My father once spoke to him about some 
 business. " Man, he said, why don't you think ?" 
 " Mester," he replied, " I am na paid for thinking." 
 My father also once said he had been asked whether 
 he would rather be rich with little or no appetite, or 
 poor with a good one, and unable at times to satisfy 
 it. Most preferred the latter. 
 
 Horses and cows and birds are of various colours, 
 but Providence always makes the colours of each to 
 match. 
 
 Another thing has struck me as w r onderful, viz : 
 the instinct that makes every diverse species, .mate 
 with its own kind, and never with another sparrow 
 with sparrow, linnet with linnet, fly catcher (so like 
 a sparrow) with fly catcher, and thus through all the 
 innumerable ramifications of birds and animals, and 
 the eggs of each species are always spotted or mar- 
 ked just the same, and have no doubt been so since 
 the first dawn of creation. The more this is thought 
 over, the more marvellous it will seem.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 191 
 
 I remember once at Cremorne gardens in London, 
 I think they were letting off some rockets. A child 
 near me said to its mother, " It's like tearing calico, 
 ma, it's like tearing calico." 
 
 At the Miss F 's they had two bronze figures on 
 
 the chimney piece, one of Henry the 8th, and the 
 other of Charles the ist, a question capable of con- 
 siderable discussion was raised, viz. : which was the 
 greatest fool of the two. Not which was the most 
 wicked, but which was the greatest fool. 
 
 " Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only." 
 James i., 22, seems to contain the main practical 
 basis. 
 
 The origin of Pall Mall was from Pila a ball, and 
 Malleus a mallet, because they used to play w r ith balls 
 and mallets there, a number of which about 30 years 
 ago were found in a corner cupboard at Bullamys, a 
 watchmaker's shop near Pall Mall. Pepys in his 
 diary spoke of it as a light gentlemanly game in 
 Pall Mall. 
 
 Walls end coal is so called in London because the 
 coal mines near Newcastle-on-Tyne, where it is found, 
 were at the end of the old Roman wall there between 
 Newcastle and Carlisle. 
 
 Proposed epitaph on one of the household who 
 complained of too much work, " Overdone."
 
 192 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The name Crimea suggests something to do with 
 crime. 
 
 The world is all the better sometimes to appear to 
 run like a river, as it were with ripples of laughter, 
 than to be always like a canal, dull, but useful. 
 
 MAY, 1889. 
 
 One rook built a single nest at Pickwood about the 
 loth of March last year in a high beech tree not far 
 from the house. This year more rooks commenced 
 building near, and have continued to do so through 
 March and April, until by the 4th of May there are 
 no less than 17 rook's nests, all in beech trees, except 
 one in a larch tree. This is the first time rooks have 
 been known to build at Pickwood, though there have 
 been old oaks and a wood here for generations, prob- 
 ably from very ancient times, as the place was called 
 Pickwood (as appears from one of the deeds 1 have), 
 as far back as the time of Philip and Mary. When 
 watching these rooks build and carrying sticks 
 to form their nests, I observ'd they were all at the 
 very tops of the trees, supported generally by a branch 
 of perhaps the thickness of the wrist only, and 
 liable to sway about in a wind, though appar- 
 ently firmly fixed. I wonder whether they had 
 always built in the same manner from the first dawn 
 of creation, or whether their instinct or constructive 
 power in this respect had been improved or developed 
 by time.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 193 
 
 I have heard that the origin of the American nasal- 
 t\vang was from our Puritan fathers or Quakers, who 
 generally, as was the custom here in former times, 
 spoke more or less through their noses. 
 
 It has sometimes struck me that the best definition 
 of eternity (which no language can in fact define), is 
 that which Dr. Watts in one of his hymns puts into 
 the mouth of a child 
 
 " Days, months, and years must have an end, 
 
 Eternity has none, 
 Twill always have as long to spend, 
 As when it first begun." 
 
 A young lady told me her memory was so poor that 
 her head was like a sieve. Then I said it goes in at 
 your ear and comes out at your mouth. 
 
 What an admirable thing it is that the French love 
 of glory should sometimes develop itself, not in horrid 
 wars, but in such beneficient works as the Suez or 
 Panama Canals, or the great Paris Exhibition of 1889. 
 
 In 1849 we thought of engaging Mr. Mac Millan, a 
 celebrated ventriloquist. He told me an amusing 
 incident. A poor man's goods were being sold under 
 a distress for rent. They included a parrot in a cage. 
 While the bird was being sold, Mr. Mac Millan, with 
 the aid of his ventriloquism, talked out of the parrot's 
 mouth, in a way that astonished the people round, the 
 consequence was, the bird fetched a very high price 
 which went towards paying the rent.
 
 194 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 A young lady (rather an enigma to some of her 
 friends), was standing before the fire, her aunts toid 
 her to move, saying she was not transparent. " No " 
 said she, " I'm not easily seen through." 
 
 An elderly friend told me in his early years, when 
 one of the old sporting parsons was preaching 
 in a village church, two dogs a large and small one, 
 interrupted him by barking and fighting in the church. 
 The churchwarden tried to remove them, but the 
 preacher cried out " Leave them alone, the little un 
 will win." 
 
 I remember a countryman once using the ex- 
 pression " I wrought towards him," meaning he 
 reach'd towards him. I thought this an odd word, 
 but on reflection remembered that the perfect of 
 "Teach" is " Taught." 
 
 The term " Botany Bay" in Australia was derived 
 from the fact, that so many botanical plants were 
 found near it. 
 
 It was an old saying that politics are the madness 
 of the many for the benefit of the few. 
 
 Certainly the great and prominent statesmen, in the 
 questions they submit to be decided by the people at 
 a general election, always select seme subject such as 
 Church and Dissent, Irish Home Rule, &c., which are 
 calculated to divide the working classes.
 
 REMINISCENCES. 195 
 
 For if these combined they would be all powerful 
 and possibly dangerous to property, whereas when 
 there is a great struggle between the working classes, 
 one party for instance striving for Mr. Gladstone and 
 the Liberals, and the other for Lord Salisbury and the 
 Tories, they are divided thereby into two separate 
 camps, each following and looking up to their Leaders 
 in Parliament, but these Leaders, whether Liberal or 
 Tory, are generally men of high position and property, 
 and such therefore as will try to keep property safe. 
 It will be remembered that the different Cabinets for 
 many years, whichever party may have been in power, 
 have answered to this description, and the Cabinet 
 really in the main, guides the policy of the Queen 
 and country. 
 
 N
 
 LEEK MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. 
 
 ADDRESS AT AGE OF 19. 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 October loth, 1840. 
 
 N Friday evening, the 3rd instant, the 
 anniversary meeting of this Institution 
 was held in the School-room, Derby- 
 street, which was crowded. Mr. 
 Milner, the president for the last 
 year, took the chair, and after expressing the pleasure 
 he felt on seeing so large and respectable a meeting, 
 and stating that the Institution was in a very flourish- 
 ing position, called on Mr. Andrew to read the Report. 
 After this was read and after speeches from Mr. Alsop 
 and others in favour of the adoption of the Report, 
 Mr. Challinor, in moving a resolution, said, Having 
 had the honour of being one of their vice-presidents 
 during the past year, it had in some measure become 
 incumbent on him to propose the resolution he then 
 held in his hand ; and, certainly, if ever a duty was 
 converted into a pleasure, it was so with him on that
 
 ADDRESS. 197 
 
 occasion. He was glad to have the honour of propos- 
 ing Mr. Russell, of that place, to be their president 
 for the ensuing year. (Cheers.) It was needless on 
 his part to observe that a more respected gentleman 
 they could hardly have chosen for that office. It 
 would not be out of place, and he was sure they would 
 join him in expressing their sincere thanks to Mr. 
 Milner, the president for the past year, for the warm 
 and unflagging interest he had successfully manifested 
 on behalf of that Institution. He felt satisfied, too, 
 that it would not be invidious on his part, and that 
 they would allow him to couple with his name those 
 of Mr. Joshua Brough, Mr. Andrew, Mr. Alsop, and 
 others, who had from the very first used their best 
 endeavours to promote the convenience, the pleasure, 
 and the prosperity of the members of the Institution. 
 He hoped that Institution would ever prosper: and 
 when he saw so many around him who, knowing its 
 advantages, and who, acknowledging its utility, would 
 doubtless, as hitherto, aid its cause by their contribu- 
 tions and their influence, he doubted not that it would 
 prosper. That Institution had been founded on rules 
 admirably calculated for the diffusion of useful know- 
 ledge, and useful knowledge only. All party politics 
 and sectarian disputes had been carefully excluded at 
 its meetings ; ignorance was not in accordance with our 
 capabilities and the design of nature ; it was degrading, 
 and man in his rude uncultivated state bore much the 
 same resemblance to a man of education as a block of 
 marble does to a statue. In the unchiselled block they 
 found all the integral firmness, the intersecting veins, 
 the quality and consistency of marble ; but no sooner 
 had the hand of a Phidias or a Praxiteles been em-
 
 198 ADDRESS. 
 
 ployed on it, than we see displayed before us the 
 perfect statue of a man. What the hand of a Phidias 
 accomplishes in marble, does instruction effect in 
 uneducated man ; it refines and elevates him to the 
 place he was intended to fill. Often when we read of 
 the affection of a negro, and the superstition and 
 stoical firmness of an Indian, we could wish that know- 
 ledge had made them religious as well as noble. The 
 minds of most men were so constituted as to require 
 laborious occupation, therefore none of them should 
 complain because they were obliged to labour, 
 
 " A want of occupation is not rest, 
 A mind unoccupied 's a mind distressed," 
 
 and they should consider whether there was any more 
 rational and satisfactory way of employing their spare 
 hours than in pursuit of literary pleasure and mental 
 instruction. Many could find time for other pleasures, 
 why then should they not for this ? The temple of 
 learning was a vast and venerable pile, whose full 
 extent no one person could hope to traverse ; and as its 
 extent was almost boundless, so also were its pleas- 
 ures. He was aware that it was rather difficult of 
 approach, to some more so than to others ; but still 
 the obstacles were surmountable; and if ever they 
 entered the portals and got a firm footing there, so 
 extensive and captivating was the sight, that their 
 attention was arrested, and they generally continued 
 to advance and to admire. On every side, were the 
 antique figures and the venerable relics of a Homer, 
 a Virgil, or Shakespeare, that reminded them of far 
 gone years ; there also were the more modern attract- 
 ions of a Scott, a Thomson and a Byron. Beneath they 
 found stretched the map of all the nations of the earth,
 
 ADDRESS. 199 
 
 with their history and their location ; and above them 
 they beheld the revolutions of the starry host, as 
 pointed out and explained by the hand of a Newton. 
 Around this temple, too, were hung festoons and 
 garlands of poesy, generally each so skilfully arranged, 
 that to disturb one floweret would be to disfigure the 
 garland, for to alter some of the beautiful sentences 
 of poetry would produce some such effect as the 
 sweeping up of the dew with the hand produces by 
 dissolving its gems into ordinary moisture. He 
 thought, however, that it had been sufficiently proved 
 that any institution which would confer on its mem- 
 bers such benefits as those he had mentioned, might 
 indeed be said to have been wisely commenced. 
 And that it would be lasting in its duration depended, 
 in a great measure, on its having been founded in wis- 
 dom. Whatever was originated on sound and good 
 principles had a basis which would render it perman- 
 ent. But besides this, he would refer them to that 
 extensive library, containing, as it did, not very far 
 short, including pamphlets, of one thousand volumes, 
 and which volumes were most of them standard 
 works, and comprised almost every description of 
 moral and intellectual knowledge. That library alone 
 would stamp a value and impress a weight on the 
 Institution which would not readily permit of its falling 
 into decay. I believe that the most educated are 
 generally the most peaceful, and I need not go further 
 than the sister country, Scotland, for an exemplication 
 of this. Nothing, I am persuaded, both from all I 
 have read and observed, tends more to bind the poor 
 to the rich, nothing is better calculated to spread 
 cheerfulness and content among all classes, nothing
 
 2OO 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 would more conduce to the true interest of this town 
 and neighbourhood, and, above all, tends more to the 
 exclusion of intoxicating drinks by introducing a 
 more rational mode of enjoyment, than the diffusion 
 of useful and religious knowledge." 
 
 The other resolutions were moved and seconded by 
 Messrs. Andrew, France, Barratt, Ball, Goshawk, and 
 Nail.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 'BOUT the year 1848, I published a short 
 pamphlet advocating a much needed 
 Reform of the Court of Chancery, 
 
 This was circulated in various 
 directions, and among others it got 
 into the hands of Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P., the cele- 
 brated advocate of economy and reform, and who 
 had been sitting as one of the Committee appointed 
 by the House of Commons on the subject of Fees 
 and questions connected with the Court of Chancery. 
 Mr. Hume sent for me to meet him in London, and 
 placed in my hands several large blue books contain- 
 ing the evidence on the above subjects taken before 
 the House of Commons' Committee and requested 
 me to bring out another and enlarged edition of my 
 pamphlet, and to give in it, in an appendix, extracts 
 from the more striking parts of the evidence, and 
 also to give suggestions for a remedy of the very 
 unsatisfactory state of things in the Court of Chan- 
 cery. This I did in 1849, and Mr. Hume distributed 
 a number of these pamphlets among Members of 
 Parliament and others a copy of which is here 
 given.
 
 202 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 THE COURT OF CHANCERY. 
 
 The delay, expense, and practical injustice of the 
 Court of Chancery, rendered more obvious, as they 
 now are, by contrast with the County Courts, have 
 been so far illustrated in a case in which I have 
 recently been concerned, that I am induced to set the 
 facts before the public, and to enter generally into the 
 whole question. Personally I am no sufferer in the 
 matter, but as a professional man, am entitled to con- 
 siderable costs ; I nevertheless think it a duty to point 
 out to the best of my power, and as fairly as I can, 
 some of the inherent defects of this Court a Court 
 which has for so many years, pressed like an incubus, 
 on those, whose property has been unfortunately the 
 subject of dispute. 
 
 The facts to which I refer are as follows : 
 A respectable Farmer in Staffordshire, left the 
 Farm on which he lived, with his Furniture and Stock, 
 to his Wife for life, and after her decease, he devised 
 them to his eldest Son, subject to a Legacy of 300 
 to his second son. The Testator's Widow died sev- 
 eral years ago, and some time afterwards, the second 
 son applied tor his Legacy of 300. This, however, 
 was not forthcoming, inasmuch as the family conten- 
 ded he had received part of it on account, in the 
 shape of maintenance, and by various payments. 
 There was no dispute as to the Will as to the suffi- 
 ciency of the property to pay the Legacies the only 
 question was, as to whether part of the 300 had
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 203 
 
 been paid ; which, before an ordinary tribunal, would 
 have admitted of very speedy decision, one way or 
 the other. The only tribunal however, which the Law 
 of England has provided for deciding questions as to 
 Legacies of more than 20, is the Court of Chancery. 
 Accordingly the second son went to his Solicitor, who 
 filed a Bill in Equity in 1844, for recovering this Leg- 
 acy of 300. There were no fewer than seventeen 
 Defendants to the Bill, who were served with Subpoe- 
 nas it being the rule to make all parties Defendants, 
 who are considered to have any interest under the 
 will, however trifling or remote. The only real 
 Defendant however, was the heir-at-law of the Tes- 
 tator. My client was, unfortunately, included in the 
 number, in consequence of his being Executor of his 
 uncle, who had been surviving Executor under the 
 Testator's Will. Neither of them it is true, had ever 
 acted or had ever received any part of the Testator's 
 assets into their possession. It was to no effect that 
 my client stated this in his answer, and wished to 
 disclaim further participation in the suit he was not 
 allowed to get rid of the litigation, but since then, he 
 has had to put in a further examination, and an addi- 
 tional answer on oath, at great expense, though he 
 could do no more than reiterate his original statement. 
 After the answers of the seventeen Defendants 
 were taken, and after some mistakes were adjusted, 
 consequent on the written mode of examination, 
 the cause was set down for hearing ; and finally, 
 after standing over according to the custom of 
 the Court, for about eighteen months, came on to be 
 heard before the Vice-Chancellor of England in 1846, 
 rather more than two years after its commencement. 
 
 N 2
 
 204 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 The decision the Vice-Chancellor came to, was, that 
 certain facts must be enquired into in the Master's 
 office, to enable him to come to any decision at all. 
 In other words, it was referred to the Master in 
 rotation to enquire what sons the Testator had ; (a 
 matter about which there was no dispute) also what 
 real and personal Estate he had ; (the real Estate 
 being well known and admitted to be alone sufficient 
 to discharge the Legacies,) also to enquire what 
 personal property of the Testator had come into my 
 client's hands ; (a matter about which there was no 
 dispute, and which my client had already answered on 
 oath,) and lastly, to take an account of the Legacies 
 and Debts of the Testator. 
 
 Well, the Master occupied, as he usually does, 
 between one and two years in arriving at these facts 
 scarce one of which was disputed, or material -by 
 means of statements and counter statements, written 
 interrogatories and affidavits, which were mere repe- 
 titions of the Bill and answers, and were argued from 
 time to time on warrants after long intervals. At 
 length, some months since, he made his report, of 
 course affirming that the Legacy was due that my 
 client had no assets in his hands that the Testator 
 had a particular real Estate, subject to a Mortgage- 
 but that he could not tell what the personal Estate 
 consisted of, inasmuch as the widow of the Testator's 
 eldest son, into whose hands the Farming Stock 
 appeared to have fallen, had not been made a party 
 to the original Bill. In consequence of this technical 
 omission, it was considered the Court would have no 
 power of decreeing satisfaction of the Legacy. Ac- 
 cordingly, by the advice of Counsel, the whole pro-
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 205 
 
 ceedings have been commenced, de novo a new Bill 
 in Chancery, called a supplemental Bill, has been filed, 
 and the whole of the Defendants, with the exception 
 of the Mortgagee, but including the new one and my 
 client, have again been served with Subpoenas, and 
 have to put in fresh answers, and so on to the end of 
 the chapter. 
 
 Now what a mockery of Justice this is the facts 
 speak for themselves, and 1 can personally vouch for 
 their accuracy. The costs already incurred in ref- 
 erence to this ^,300 Legacy, are not less than from 
 800 to goo, and the parties are no forwarder. 
 Already near five years have passed by, and the 
 Plaintiff would be glad to give up his chance of the 
 Legacy if he could escape from his liability to costs 
 while the Defendants who own the little Farm left by 
 the Testator, have scarce any other prospect before 
 them than ruin. Their Farm, after paying the 
 Mortgage and charges upon it, was worth perhaps 
 1,200 a fortune to the humble owners, their only 
 sure home, and their security of bread for life but 
 this is already, to a great extent swallowed up in costs 
 and redress is as far off as ever. The Court of Equity 
 was the only Court to which they could refer their 
 disputes but once in its mazes, there was no re- 
 treat the eager disputants, borne up at first amid the 
 eddies of litigation, soon found themselves out of their 
 depth. The Farm was their only plank their tabula 
 in naufragio but the costs of both parties, are now 
 heavier than it can bear. Under such circumstances, 
 the Law considers homicide justifiable. They must 
 fight it out. 
 
 The result is, the Plaintiff may think himself fortu-
 
 206 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 nate if he only loses his Legacy, and the Defendants 
 are very likely to lose their Estate. 
 
 But to return to the facts of the case. Shortly after 
 the supplemental Bill was filed which was of con- 
 siderable length, in consequence of its setting forth 
 the prior proceedings the Plaintiff's Solicitor, out of 
 consideration to my client, and to save expense, lent 
 rne his copy of the Bill, so that I might prepare my 
 client's answer to it. I wrote up to my Agents to 
 mention this, and that consequently I should not re- 
 quire an office copy of the Bill their reply was, they 
 were sorry to inform me, that by the rules of Coutt, 
 my client was compelled to take out an office copy of 
 the Bill, whether he required it or not, before he 
 could put in his answer. I suppose the whole of the 
 seventeen Defendants would be in the same position, 
 and this, that the Officers of Court may be secure of 
 the advantage of charging for copies. So much for a 
 Court of Justice, that compels its suitors to pay for 
 what they don't want. Ex uno disce omnia. Those 
 who seek Equity, are expected to do Equity it were 
 well if this tribunal set some example of following its 
 own precept. 
 
 But it may be said, that the suit, to the facts of 
 which I have referred, is an unusual one, and a 
 singularly harsh one singularly harsh it may be but 
 I refer to the experience of those conversant with 
 Chancery details, to say whether it is an unusual case. 
 Far from it. Five years is by no means long for a 
 Chancery suit. Two suits which I have recently been 
 concerned in settling, had, one of them lasted upwards 
 of nine years, and another of them, under different 
 modifications and changes of parties, by Bills of
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 207 
 
 Revivor, of Supplement, Cross Bills, References to the 
 Master, Issues, Appeals, and the rest of it, had been 
 commenced in or about the year 1815, and was not 
 finally adjusted in the year 1844. In both case?, 
 some of the original suitors were dead, most of the sur- 
 vivors impoverished, and several of them entirely ruined. 
 
 It may be asked indeed, why I have selected a case 
 in which so small a sum was involved ? I reply, chiefly 
 because it affords a good illustration of the system ; 
 and the very simplicity of the point in dispute, proves 
 that there was no necessity for so much expense and 
 delay, but that these are almost entirely attributable 
 to the pernicious mode of proceeding and levying fees, 
 adopted in this Court. 
 
 Besides, we must remember that five-sixths of the 
 litigation of the kingdom is for sums of less than 
 1,000 ; and if, as in the instance of legacies, the law 
 has provided no other remedy as to such sums than 
 the Court of Chancery, it not only amounts to a denial 
 of justice, but leads to absolute fraud, when it is known 
 that the expenses of suit will probably far exceed the 
 amount sought to be recovered. * 
 
 But it would be easy to give instances of suits 
 involving large amounts, where the evil is still most 
 oppressively felt in one case, where the expenses 
 were not expected to exceed 2,000, they amounted 
 to 37,000. But in large suits, it is not so much the 
 cost, as the delay that oppresses. Upwards of 
 60,000,000 of money, valuables and stock, are now 
 standing in the name of the Accountant General of 
 Chancery, awaiting the decision of various suits ! f 
 
 * See Evidence ot Lord Langdale Appendix. 
 
 t See Returns made to Select Committee on Fees Report, 
 March, 1848, p. 71, 79, and 146.
 
 208 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 Surely some remedy is required for such a state of 
 things as this. 
 
 What so common indeed, when we see a property 
 out of repair Tenants taking all off, and putting 
 nothing on woods going to decay doors unpainted 
 and gates broken, as to hear the exclamation, " why 
 this Estate must be in Chancery," so notorious has 
 the delay and oppressiveness of the Court become. 
 And is this a tribunal likely to be long tolerated 
 according to its present system, in an enlightened 
 country like ours ? I think not. And I am the more 
 confident about this, as it is to my mind perfectly 
 obvious, that the injustice chiefly arises from inherent 
 radical defects in the forms of proceeding and system 
 of Chancery, -which clearly admit of improvement 
 and remedy. 
 
 One great defect of Chancery is, that it is based 
 on the pontifical law, and the system of written 
 procedure. 
 
 What can be more absurd, for instance, than the 
 mode of proof in these Courts instead of bringing 
 the parties and their witnesses, face to face, and 
 examining into the matters in dispute in open Court 
 all the proceedings are conducted in writing the 
 answers of the Defendants, examination of the wit- 
 nesses, and every other proof, are in writing, and in 
 reply to written interrogatories and are often taken 
 ex parte, and privately, at the residences of the 
 parties sometimes through the medium of an Exam- 
 iner, but never before the Judge himself who hears 
 the cause. Is this a mode of arriving at truth ? If 
 there was an intention of fraud and concealment, 
 could anything be more favourable to it than this
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 209 
 
 \\ritten, private examination ? Can anything be 
 more conducive of delay ? A Game at Chess, 
 played by correspondence, is tedious, but it is nothing 
 to this Law Game, played in writing, where the Law- 
 yers are paid by the Folio. 
 
 Besides, the mode of proof in Equity often leads to 
 no result. When the replies have been taken, sealed 
 and sent up, after a long interval, to the Court ; and 
 again, after another long interval, published ; it fre- 
 quently happens that some material question has been 
 omitted, or some reply given in an unsatisfactory 
 manner, and it becomes requisite to take further 
 examinations. But conceive the expense of all this 
 every thing being in writing, the papers increase 
 avalanche-like, and the longer the cause rolls forward, 
 the more enormous do the piles of papers and the 
 fees to be paid on them become. 
 
 It is true the Courts of Chancery possess a power 
 which the Common Law Courts (except the County 
 Courts) do not, viz : that of obtaining evidence on 
 the oath of the Defendant, and also by means of Cross 
 Bill, of the Plaintiff ; and this is a very fruitful source 
 of their jurisdiction. But if the evidence of the par- 
 ties interested is to be admitted at all, is there not an 
 additional reason in their case, that their testimony 
 should be given face to face, and not in writing, and 
 comparatively in secret ? 
 
 Another defect, is the mode of Trial and Refer- 
 ence this frequently leads to nothing. Instead of 
 the parties, their witnesses and papers, being brought 
 together in open Court the Judge has nothing sub- 
 mitted to him but rolls of proceedings and examina- 
 tions, from which he can very rarely extract materials
 
 210 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 for a final decision the cause is then referred to the 
 Master, who, after a fearful delay, makes his report to 
 the Court -which report, after another delay, comes 
 on for hearing, on further directions, and happy are 
 the suitors, if the Judge does not find it necessary to 
 refer a point of Law to the Court of Queen's Bench, 
 or a matter of fact to a Jury, before the case can be 
 finally disposed of.* 
 
 At the present day, the principal source of delay 
 and expense in a Chancery suit, takes place in the 
 Master's Offices. This arises partly from the fact 
 that many matters are referred to the Masters, about 
 which there is no dir-pute, or which might be settled 
 almost instantaneously by the Judge who heard the 
 cause at Chambers ; and partly to the absurd and 
 tedious mode of proceeding in the Master's Offices. 
 
 The reference of a cause to the Master, is generally 
 for the same purposes as a Reference to an Arbitrator 
 out of Nisi Prius, viz : To enquire and report as to 
 facts in difference between the parties, or as to 
 incumbrances, settlements, or disputed accounts. 
 
 But mark the difference of proceeding. The Arbi- 
 trator attends at the most convenient place for enquiry, 
 and has the power of summoning before him the 
 contending parties, with their witnesses and docu- 
 ments of examining them openly and viva voce, 
 into the matters in dispute and of proceeding with 
 the enquiry continuously, till he has all the materials 
 for decision. By this means he soon arrives at the. 
 real point at issue, and within a few weeks can generally 
 make his award, and come to a satisfactory conclusion. 
 
 * Even when a final decision has been obtained, the taxation of 
 costs now frequently occupies eight or ten months, the proceedings 
 being even more dilatory than those in the Master s Office. Report 
 Select Committee on "Fees, 1847, p. 92 ; and Appendix.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 211 
 
 But before the Master in Chancery the course of 
 proceeding is most absurd. First of all the Plaintiff 
 brings in what is called his state of facts a lengthy 
 document, like filing the Bill in Chancery over again, 
 being the same in substance then the Defendants 
 bring in their counter states of facts, which are in 
 fact their answers over again. Then all the different 
 facts are substantiated by Affidavits, (or written exam- 
 inations before the Examiner) which contain the sub- 
 stance of the statements of facts once more over again ! 
 Then the Master, when he has waded through the 
 details which the referring Judge has already gone 
 through before him is attended as to these, by Solici- 
 tors or Counsel under warrants ; which warrants are 
 adjourned from time to time, after an hour's hearing 
 on each occasion it being the ridiculous custom for 
 the Master, after hearing one cause for an hour, to 
 proceed to another and totally different cause, before 
 completing the first. 
 
 By these and other means, (even when the Master 
 can arrive at any decision at all, from the mass of 
 writing submitted to him,) his Report is delayed for 
 years, and even when made, it can be excepted to by 
 any of the parties, overruled by the Vice-Chancellor, 
 and, in truth, is seldom conclusive. 
 
 I firmly believe, if a more rational system were 
 introduced into the Master's Offices fewer points of 
 reference continuous proceeding viva voce examin- 
 ation in some cases or at any rate direct process by 
 Affidavit, (especially in all references as of course,) 
 power to compel parties to proceed and a limited 
 period for giving in the Report ; I say I firmly believe, 
 by these and some few other simple changes, which 
 
 O
 
 212 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 might readily be effected, two-thirds of the delay and 
 expense of a Chancery suit, would at once be got 
 rid of ! 
 
 Lord Cottenham, * Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Lang- 
 dale,* the Law Association,t the Chancery Bar,J 
 Officials and Solicitors ; are, or have been, loud in 
 their complaints of the delays and obstructions in the 
 Master's Offices ; even some of the Masters them- 
 selves have made Speeches and published Pamphlets 
 on the subject ; and yet, such is the dread of change 
 or lo>s such the force of prejudice such the vis 
 inertiae of those who have the power to remedy these 
 grievances, that the Master's Office still remains, like 
 a remnant of the middle ages, full of complexity, 
 obstruction, and abuse. 
 
 A third inherent defect of the Court of Chancery, 
 is the mode of appeal, which is provided for in a most 
 unsatisfactory manner. For instance, when the Mas- 
 ter has given his decision on a point of law, his 
 
 * See Post and Appendix. 
 
 f Report of Equity Committee of Law Amendment Society, 
 about 1848. 
 
 This Report contains several instances to shew the value of 
 continuous proceeding before the Masters. In one case of pedigree, 
 it appeared that according to the usual plan of warrants, a year and 
 a half \.ould have been consumed in completing the enquiries, which 
 by continuous proceedings, were finished in two days. 
 
 + See Pamphlet on Delay in the Offices of the Masters in 
 Chancery, by C. P. Cooper, Esq. Stevens and Norton, 1849. 
 
 Ditto on Necessity for Continuous Proceedings, in Master's 
 Offices, by J. Miller, Esq. S. Sweet, 1848. 
 
 Observations on the Offices of the Masters, by Master Farrer, 
 1848 ; in which he observes, that continuity of proceedings " would 
 be very acceptable to the Masters, and would be a great relief to 
 them, by rescuing them from the hearing of matters piecemeal, and 
 often after long intervals between attendances, and that it would 
 also be a saving of time."
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 213 
 
 Report can be overruled by the Vice-Chancellor and 
 again the judgment of the Vice-Chancellor may be 
 upset on Appeal, by the decree of the Lord Chancellor. 
 And yet, in each case, it is but the opinion of one 
 Judge against another. Indeed a complete want of 
 confidence has existed in the decrees of the Vice- 
 Chancellors, in consequence of their judgments 
 having been so frequently, and as some have thought 
 capriciously, reversed on appeal. It is true there is a 
 dernier resort in the House of Lords, to which the 
 Lord Chancellor's decision can be referred, but the 
 expense of this is enormous, and even then, the appeal 
 is often made in effect to three Peers, possibly not all 
 Law Lords, and one of whom is generally the Lord 
 Chancellor himself. 
 
 On casting my eye over the reports a short time 
 since, I found the Peers sitting to hear appeals, were 
 the Lord Chancellor and two other Lords, neither of 
 whom were Law Lords it is true the cases then heard 
 were from the judgment of the Court of Chancery in 
 Ireland. 
 
 In the Courts of Common Law, the appeal on points 
 of Law is to the five Judges in banco, a course of pro- 
 ceeding at once reasonable and satisfactory. 
 
 The jest of Selden indeed, which has been so often 
 smiled at, is not entirely void of point. " For Law, (he 
 " says) we have a measure, and know what to trust 
 " to ; Equity is according to the conscience of him 
 " that is Chancellor, and as that is larger or narrower* 
 " so is Equity. Tis all one, as if they should make 
 " the standard for the measure of the Chancellor's 
 lt foot. What an uncertain measure would this be. 
 " One Chancellor has a long foot, another a short foot,
 
 214 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " a third an indifferent foot. It may be the same 
 " thing with the Chancellor's conscience." 
 
 Another crying grievance of the Court of Chancery 
 is the System of Fees. 
 
 The salaries of the Judges, Masters and Officials, 
 with the compensations and expenses of Court, 
 amount to between 200,000 and 300,000 a year.* 
 Besides this, there are the Fees of the Accountant 
 General, for Brokerage ; Master's Junior Clerks, for 
 Copy Money ; and numerous other Officers, f the 
 amount of which is very considerable, but not accur- 
 ately known. The whole of these sums are paid out 
 of the Fees levied on the Suitors, and from the Inter- 
 est of a Fund belonging to them, called " The Suitors' 
 Fee Fund." All the salaries of the Common Law 
 Courts, are paid by Government, out of the Consoli- 
 dated Fund, and by this means a strict check is kept 
 on their amount. But in the Court of Chancery, even 
 the salaries of the Judges fall on the unfortunate 
 Suitors. Hence, the most grevious impositions have 
 sometimes crept in, and even been sanctioned by the 
 Legislature. 
 
 For instance, the compensations and salaries of the 
 four compensated Sworn Clerks, J under the 5 and 6 
 Viet., c. 103, s. 1 8, are as follows : 
 
 * Report Select Committee on -Fees, 1847, p. 53 1848, p. 152. 
 
 PER ANNUM. 
 
 t For example, an Officer in the Lord Chancellor's Court, 
 
 called " Chaff Wax," receives for Fees, about .. 646 
 
 " Deputy Chaff Wax," .. .. .. .. 513 
 
 "Usher," .. .. .. .. .. 410 
 
 "Sealer," .. .. .. .. .. 536 
 
 " Doorkeeper," to be divided between himself and other 
 
 Officers .. .. .. .. .. .. 3218 
 
 See Report of Select Committee, 1848, p. 178 and 179. 
 
 J See an able Pamphlet on this subject, published by J. Hatchard 
 and Son, Piccadilly, 1845.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 215 
 
 PER ANNUM. 
 L. S. D. L. S. D. 
 
 George Gatty, Compensation for loss of ] 
 
 Office as Sworn Clerk 5232 19 i [ 7232 19 i 
 
 Salary as Taxing Master 2000 o oj 
 Hy. Ramsey Baines Compensation for Ditto - 5204 38) _ 20 . , g 
 
 Salary as Ditto - -2000 oo} 7 
 Richard Mills. Compensation for Ditto - 4580 12 9 I , go 
 
 Salary as Ditto - - 2000 o o j ^ 
 John Wainwright, Compensation for Ditto- 4000 6 9) , 
 
 Salary as Ditto - -2000 o oj bc 
 
 27,018 2 3 
 
 The only duties which these Officers have to perform, 
 are to tax costs from 1 1 till 3, with ten weeks' vacation 
 similar duties being well performed by the Taxing 
 Masters in the Common Law Courts, at a salary of 
 1,200 a year and yet Mr. Gatty is allowed as com- 
 pensation for a defunct and sinecure Office, a higher 
 sum than the salary of the Vice-Chancellors, and 
 2,000 a year in addition for taxing costs ! 
 
 The history of the Office of Sworn Clerk, for which 
 these compensations were allowed, is curious enough. 
 It appears that the legality of the fees received by 
 these Clerks, was more than doubtful that their 
 Office had become a sinecure that " these fees ought 
 " no longer to have been paid, and were in fact only 
 " paid by reason of the Sworn Clerks, through the in- 
 " dolence of some Masters of the Court, (whose duty 
 " it was to tax costs) being permitted to tax their own 
 (l charges, as well as those of the Solicitors."* This 
 was pointed out by Mr. Pemberton Leigh, on Mr. 
 Aglionby's motion in 1840, for the appointment of 
 additional Vice-Chancellors. After remarking on the 
 " enormity and iniquity of the "tax," levied on the 
 Suitors by the Sworn and Six Clerks, amounting by 
 * See Pamphlet last referred to.
 
 216 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 last year's return to 59,976 ; he proceeded to observe, 
 "but the whimsical part of the case is, that the only 
 " duty which the Clerks in Court really perform, is that 
 " which ought to be, and to appearance is, performed 
 "by the Masters. It is to the Masters all Bills of 
 " Costs are referred for taxation. It is by them, that 
 " in all their reports the costs appear to have been 
 " actually taxed. So that of the vast amount received 
 " by the Sworn and Six Clerks, about 9,000 a year 
 " appears to be paid for doing the business of other 
 "'people, and the rest for doing nothing, or next to 
 " nothing." 
 
 The Act of Parliament indeed, under which these 
 extraordinary compensations were awarded, appears 
 to have been prepared by Mr. Wainwright, one of the 
 compensated Sworn Clerks,* and this may to some 
 extent account for its containing two very remarkable 
 clauses; by one of which, (sec. 12,) the compensation 
 was given according to the average fees of the last 
 three years it being well known to the parties in- 
 terested, that their fees had vastly increased during the 
 last two years, in consequence of the arrears of business 
 clear'd off by the two newly appointed Vice-Chan- 
 cellors and by another of which clauses, (sec. 14,) 
 half the compensations were contrary to all precedent, 
 made payable to the Executors of the parties, for seven 
 years after their deaths ! 
 
 Surely some check should be put on laxity like 
 this Indeed I find what I cannot but attribute in 
 some respect to it that in 1842, before this Act was 
 passed, 54,600 was the full amount of salaries and 
 compensations then paid out of the Suitor's Fee Fund, 
 
 * Attorney General's Speech, 1842 Hansard, p. 1155.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 217 
 
 while in 1847, (since the Act) 136,106 was paid for 
 the same purposes* and I find that the Fees received 
 from Suitors in the different Offices, had increased 
 during the same period, from 52,808 to 137,293. 
 The Fees received in the Master's Offices in 1842, 
 which included the expense of taxing costs, were 
 28,978, while in 1847 the Fees received in the 
 Master's Offices and for taxing costs, were 65,409 !f 
 It is true that under the new arrangement, the Suitors 
 are relieved from the Fees to the Sworn and Six 
 Clerks, but the general result is, that they have lost 
 far more than they have gained. 
 
 So much for the amount of salaries and compen- 
 sations. 
 
 The mode in which these are levied on the Suitors 
 by means of Fees and Office Copies, is, if possible; 
 still more glaring and unjust. 
 
 The following extracts from the evidence given be- 
 fore the Select Committee on Fees, will give a toler- 
 able notion of this delightful system. 
 Chairman to E. W. Field, Esq., Solicitor." Copies 
 " sent out by the Master's Junior Clerks are charged 
 " 4d. a folio to the Suitors ?" (Mr. Field) " Yes, out 
 " of which the Junior Clerk is entitled to lid. for the 
 "trouble of making them." (Chairman) " What can 
 " they be made for ? " (Mr. Field) " For a very trifle 
 " in the way he does them. I should be very sorry 
 " to have anything done in the way he has his copies 
 " made, by poor wretched old women and people who 
 
 * By the Return just made, 1849, the amount has increased to 
 140,392. 
 
 -f Accountant General's Return to House of Commons, as to 
 Suitor's Fund and Suitor's Fee Fund, 1843 and 1848.
 
 218 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " can scarcely write. / should say, for three far- 
 " things, perhaps."* 
 
 Chairman to J. J. Johnson, Esq., Solicitor to Suitors' 
 Fee Fund. " At the Master's Office, has the Porter 
 " (or Junior Clerk) who takes the Affidavits in Fees 
 " or Compensation ? Are you aware to what 
 " amount ?" (Mr. Johnson) " Between 600 and joo 
 " a year." (Chairman) " Is it not so much as 1,500?" 
 (Mr. Johnson) " Not for Fees I believe." (Sir J. 
 Graham) " Is there any exercise of judgment or of 
 " mental faculty on his part?" (Mr. Johnson) "No."t 
 
 Chairman to Mr. Pugh, Master's Chief Clerk. " Does 
 *' it not frequently happen when a Solicitor is em- 
 " ployed on both sides, that although the Copy 
 " Money is charged, the Copy is not made ?" (Mr. 
 " Pugh) I would rather the Junior Clerk should 
 " answer that." (Mr. Romilly) " Have you any 
 " doubt of the fact ?" (Mr. Pugh) " I am afraid that 
 " practice does prevail." 
 
 Chairman to J. S. Gregory, Esq. " What are the Fees 
 "that press most: heavily upon Suitors?" (Mr. 
 " Gregory) " I should say one of the most objection- 
 " able, is the obligation that there is upon parties to 
 " take copies, whether they want them or not." (Chair- 
 " man.) That is solely for the purpose of raising 
 " Fees?" (Mr. Gregory) " Solely for the purpose 
 " of raising Fees."t 
 It appears too from the evidence, that copies are 
 
 often taken out merely to put the Clerks in good 
 
 humour, and so facilitate business ; and that not only 
 * Report Select Committee on Fees, 1847, p. 29. 
 f Report Select Committee on Fees, 1848, p. 47. 
 Ditto p. 161.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 219 
 
 has the practice been introduced, of charging for 
 copies which are never made but of over-counting 
 those that are made, so that the unfortunate Suitor is 
 often charged for double the number of folios he had 
 actually received ! 
 
 These facts are all of them established by indispu- 
 table testimony, and in order that I may not be thought 
 to have overdrawn any of the statements made in this 
 Pamphlet, I have inserted in an Appendix, extracts 
 from the evidence on this and other subjects, which I 
 believe will bear me out in whatever 1 have adduced, 
 in reference to the abuses of the Court of Chancery. 
 
 Well might Lord Langdale give the following evi- 
 dence in reply to Mr. Hume.* I am fully persuaded 
 " that you cannot establish any system of Fees, in 
 " which the Officers have an interest, without leading 
 " to great abuses ; there is no power by which you 
 " can prevent extortion in some shape or other, if you 
 " once allow Officers to demand or accept money for 
 " their own use." And again in reply to Mr Wood, 
 " As I think it has been demonstrated, that the evils 
 " of litigation, which cannot be altogether avoided. 
 " increase with its expensiveness ; it follows, that 
 " every thing that can be done, ought to be done, to 
 " diminish the evils of litigation, by rendering it less 
 " frequent, less costly, and less vexatious. The very 
 " costliness of it, has been made designedly the means 
 "of vexation and oppression." And again, "You 
 " can make litigation a great deal less vexatious 
 " and expensive, by having your modes of procedure 
 " more simple and intelligible." 
 
 * Report Select Committee on Fees, 1848, p. 148152, 
 O 2
 
 220 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 Indeed to my mind it seems clear enough, that the 
 system of Fees and the system of written proceedings 
 in the Court of Chancery, operate in a sort of vicious 
 circle, the one tending to aggravate the other. For 
 the multiplicity of writing in each cause, renders 
 necessary an increased number of Clerks and officials, 
 who of course, require proportionate pay and in 
 order to pay them, the profit by copying is pushed to 
 its fullest extent, and the written system extended 
 beyond all reason. Thus the writing multiplies the 
 fees, and the fees tend to multiply the writing. 
 
 Let the course of procedure in Chancery be sim- 
 plified, and the copying cut down, the Fees in each 
 cause would be lessened, and the grievance propor- 
 tionately diminished. And I am far from thinking 
 that this would operate to the disadvantage even of 
 the Officers of the Court, because as the cheapness, 
 expedition and efficiency of the Court of Chancery 
 increased, its business would increase in a like ratio 
 so that while the Suitors and the public would be 
 gainers by the change, it is probable the officials 
 would sustain no loss. No possible good can be 
 gained, by keeping up a waste of labour on proceed- 
 ings, that are useless. 
 
 It has been well remarked, " that so long as folios 
 " are the standard of pay, the law will always have a 
 " gravitating attraction towards proxility," but there 
 is a point beyond which taxation fails of its object, 
 and ceases to raise money this point has long since 
 been passed by the Court of Chancery, the business 
 of which has now remained stationary for more than 
 a century.* 
 
 * Pamphlet by J. H. Merivale, Esq., Bankruptcy Commissioner. 
 W. Pickering, 1841.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 221 
 
 I think I have shewn then, that in the three great 
 characteristics of the Court of Equity, as distinguished 
 from the Courts of Law, viz : the mode of proof, the 
 mode of trial, and the mode of appeal, and also in its 
 system of fees ; the course of proceeding in Chancery 
 is not only defective, but leads to positive injustice. 
 Under this system it is morally impossible to have 
 justice, either speedy or cheap. 
 
 In other respects, this Court has few (if any) pecu- 
 liar powers for the benefit of the subject. " It is quite 
 " a mistake," (as Blackstone, the great Commentator, 
 on our Law, remarks) " to suppose that it is the 
 " business of the Court of Equity to abate the rigour 
 " of the Common Law no such power is contended 
 " for. Both are equally bound by fixed rules and pre. 
 " cedents both equally profess to interpret statutes 
 '.' according to the strict intent of the Legislature 
 " there is not a single rule of interpreting Laws, 
 " whether equitably or strictly, that is not equally 
 " used by the Judges in the Courts both of Law and 
 " Equity the construction must be in both the same 
 " each attempts to adopt the true sense of the Law 
 " in question neither can enlarge, diminish, or alter 
 " that sense in a single title the terms indeed of a 
 " Court of Equity and a Court of Law have been apt 
 " to confound men, as if the one judged without 
 " Equity, and the other was not bound by Law but 
 " this is a mere vulgar error."* 
 
 It may be asked then, How is it that the Court of 
 Chancery comes to have been so completely estsblish- 
 ed, and to exert so wide a jurisdiction ? As I said 
 before, the great source of its jurisdiction arises from 
 
 * Black. Com. vol. 3, p. 430 i 2, &c.
 
 222 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 its power (which the Common Law Courts do not 
 possess) of arriving at the evidence of the Plaintiff 
 and Defendant themselves, the parties to the suit 
 which power by means of its written interrogatories, 
 is certainly exercised in a mode the least beneficial. 
 It is obvious, that in a country like ours, where there 
 are so many accounts and dealings resting only in the 
 knowledge of the parties themselves this power 
 alone must throw a vast business into the Courts of 
 Equity. Whenever a matter cannot be proved by 
 independent witnesses, Chancery is the only resort. 
 
 Besides, there are certain matters, such as the Law 
 of Trusts and Legacies, which, by a strained inter- 
 pretation, have come to be considered within the sole 
 or special jurisdiction of this Court. 
 
 Indeed, the Court of Chancery itself appears to 
 have had it origin in finesse, and clerical ingenuity. 
 Blackstone, whose veneration for established Institu- 
 tions was carried to the full extreme, gives the follow- 
 ing account of its rise. " About the end of the Reign 
 " of King Edward the 3rd, when uses of land were 
 " introduced, and though totally discountenanced by 
 " Courts of Common Law, were considered as fiduci- 
 " ary deposits and binding in conscience by the 
 "clergy; the separate jurisdiction of the Chance'ry 
 " as a Court of Equity began to be established ; and 
 " John Waltham, who was Bishop of Salisbury and 
 " Chancellor to King Richard the 2nd, by a strained 
 " interpretation of the Statute of Westminster, devised 
 " the Writ of Subpoena, returnable in the Court of 
 " Chancery only, to make the Feoffee to uses account- 
 " able to his cestui que use : which process was 
 " afterwards extended to other matters wholly
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 223 
 
 " determinable at the Common Law, upon false 
 " and fictitious suggestions;"* and in another place 
 he remarks, "that the system of jurisprudence adopted 
 " in the Court of Equity, was originally devised from 
 " the imperial and pontifical formularies, introduced 
 "by the Clerical Chancellors, who were very ready 
 "to add to their jurisdiction and authority." 
 
 The system of Equity therefore, is based on the 
 Canonical and Civil Law r , which guides our Ecclesias- 
 tical Courts, and which, of all others, is least conducive 
 to speedy justice. 
 
 I will here make some further extracts from Black- 
 stone, in confirmation of what I have advanced, as to 
 the forms and practice of this Court. " A Bill of 
 "Equity" (he says) must call all necessary parties, 
 " however remotely concerned in interest, before 
 " the Court otherwise no decree can be made to 
 " bind them the Chancellor's decree is either inter- 
 " locutory or final ; and it very seldoms happens 
 " that the first decree can be final, or conclude the 
 " cause ; for if any matter of fact is strongly contro- 
 " verted, this Court is so sensible of the deficiency of 
 " trial by written depositions, that it will not bind 
 " the parties thereby, but usually directs the matter 
 "to be tried by jury. So, if a question of Law arises, 
 <' it is the practice of the Court to refer it to the 
 '* opinion of the Judges of the Queen's Bench or 
 " Common Pleas, and upon their Certificate, the de- 
 " cree is usually founded. Another thing also 
 " retards the completion of decrees. Frequently 
 " long accounts are to be settled, incumbrances and 
 
 * Black. Com. vol. 3, p. 51.
 
 224 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " debts enquired into, and a hundred little facts 
 "cleared up, before a decree can do full and suffi- 
 " cient justice. These matters, are always by the 
 " decree on the first hearing referred to a Master in 
 " Chancery to examine, which examination frequent- 
 " ly lasts for years and then he is to report the 
 " facts. This report may be excepted to, disproved 
 " or overruled, or otherwise is confirmed, by order 
 " of Court. When all issues are tried, and refer- 
 " ences ended, the cause is again brought to hearing ; 
 " but if by the decree either party thinks himself 
 " aggrieved, he may apply for a re-hearing, or may 
 " appeal."* 
 
 Such is the Court of Chancery a jurisdiction 
 peculiar to this country such its avenues of doubt, its 
 grievous delays, its more grievous expenses. Black- 
 stone, in one place, remarks " that a little liberality on 
 " the part of the Common Law Judges, by extending 
 " rather narrowing the remedial effects of the Writ 
 " of Trespass on the case, might have effectually 
 " answered all the purposes of a Court of Equity ( 
 " except that of obtaining a discovery by the oath 
 " of the Defendant." f Well would it have been 
 for this country, and for those whose property during 
 past ages, has been the subject of doubt, if this 
 liberality had been extended, and if the power of pro- 
 bing the conscience of the litigant parties, had been 
 exercised in some other manner, than that pursued by 
 the Court of Chancery. 
 
 Indeed, I am far from seeing the force of the reason- 
 ing, by which the evidence of the Plaintiff and Defen- 
 
 * Black. Com. vol, 3, p. 452 3. 
 f Ditto ditto, p. 51.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 225 
 
 dant is excluded from the Courts of Nisi Prius. That 
 the allegations of the parties to the suit, who are 
 generally best acquainted with the true facts of the 
 case, should be at least heard and received as of some 
 weight, appears to be in accordance with the simplest 
 principles of common sensd and the universal practice 
 of primitive justice. In the County Court this power 
 works well. The question of credibility, whether of 
 the parties, or their witnesses, is one which may and 
 ought to be left to the judgment and consideration of 
 the jury. When the facts rest entirely in the know- 
 ledge of the parties, there must, of course, be an utter 
 failure of justice, unless their evidence can be arrived 
 at. Hence the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery 
 which is at present necessarily used as a means of 
 supplying this deficiency of our Common Law Courts. 
 
 But again, if the objection of Interest is to be held as 
 fatal to credibility, and if the Suitors are therefore to 
 be prevented from giving their evidence in the 
 presence of each other, their witnesses and the Court ; 
 how much more should their testimony be excluded, 
 when taken as it is in Chancery, privately and in 
 writing, and without any of those checks which the 
 system of public enquiry interposes ? 
 
 With the past we have nothing to do but the 
 future is before us. Of all absurdities, an absurd mode 
 of administering justice is one of the most pernicious - 
 the dissatisfaction and heartburnings connected wnth 
 it, are probably more galling, than the loss of property 
 itself. The delay serves no party, but injures all. 
 The costs may benefit a particular class, but they are 
 ruinous to the unfortunate Suitors and even the costs 
 are swollen out by an unnecessary amount of paper
 
 226 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 proceedings, for which Clerks have to be paid, and 
 which involve expenditure on useless, unproductive 
 labour. 
 
 I do not, of course, object to the Chancery Judges, 
 whom I believe to be men of deep learning and 
 integrity. Neither do I condemn the Barristers, 
 Solicitors, or Officials of the Court most of whom 
 are persons of high character and attainments and 
 it is only human nature that they should cling to a 
 state of things, however objectionable, in which they 
 conceive their interests to be deeply concerned 
 though I cannot think they would be sufferers in the 
 long run, from the fact of justice being rendered more 
 approachable. 
 
 But what I do object to, is the SYSTEM of the Courts 
 of Chancery this is essentially, inherently bad and 
 while this continues as it is, I care not how learned 
 may be the Judges; how energetic and judicious the 
 Lawyers ; or how temperate the Suitors ; there must, 
 and will be, grevious delay, injustice and expense. 
 
 So long as the witnesses are examined in writing, 
 and the trial is conducted with a mass of papers from 
 which only to extract the facts so long as there are 
 so many references and hearings, and so much delay 
 before a final decision so long as the proceedings in 
 the Master's Offices, and the system of fees, are 
 alike the subject of such great abuse so long as the 
 parties are not brought face to face (and it is from the 
 collision of parties, that justice gathers the chief 
 sparks to light her on her dubious track,) we must not 
 expect or hope, that substantial Equity can be done. 
 
 Am I asked whether a Remedy for this state of 
 things can be found ? 1 answer, Yes. The absurdi-
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. j_V 
 
 ties of the present system are patent. The forms of 
 Justice should be as Blackstone says, " short, 
 nervous, and perspicuous ;" " not lengthy, verbose, 
 and formal." Justice should, as far as possible, 
 according to the plan of the great Alfred, be 
 brought home to the doors of the people. This, 
 in reference to debts of not more than 20, is 
 at the present time effected by means of the County 
 Courts, which, as far as my experience has gone, have 
 given the most complete satisfaction, especially in 
 country towns. And I can confidently say, from 
 experience, that if the Plaintiff in the case before 
 adverted to, had been fortunate enough to have had a 
 Legacy of 20, instead of a Legacy of 300, left to 
 him ; and had brought the matter before the Judge of 
 the District County Court, he would have been able, 
 at a very trifling expense, and in a very short period 
 of time, to have obtained his Legacy, or at least, to 
 have obtained a decision on the case, as equitable as 
 human means will permit of. The parties would have 
 been brought together, their statement and the evi- 
 dence of their witnesses heard, their documents 
 examined, and the whole mitter adjudicated upon 
 within a month, (or in case of adjournment for 
 evidence, within two months) from the laying of the 
 Plaint; with far more chance of even legal justice, 
 than by the voluminous processes of the Court of 
 Chancery. 
 
 I have not the least doubt indeed, that could the 
 Plaintiff have submitted his claim as to the 300 
 Legacy to the adjudication of the County Court, the 
 whole question would have been decided in less than 
 two months, and at less expense to all parties than 
 
 P
 
 228 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 20 ; whereas, after five years in the Court of Chan- 
 cery, the matter still remains unadjusted, and the 
 expenses of the suit already exceed 800 ! 
 
 This answer is practical, and 1 think, incontrover- 
 tible. What could be done in one case, might be done 
 in most, if not all others. 
 
 RECOMMENDATIONS REFERRED TO. 
 
 Further al- " I propose to consider very briefly, and 
 terations made . 
 up to 1890. with great deference, THE REMEDY for 
 
 some of the abuses of the Court of Chan- 
 
 The Offices 
 of Masters in " i st. As to References to the Masters. 
 
 Chanceryare L e j- these be dispensed with as much as 
 
 now abolish- 
 
 ed. Step- possible, and the details of each case, 
 
 ednVol Tl? wherever it is practicable, be decided by 
 p. 246. n. one and the same Judge. Let the referring 
 Judge, who is already acquainted with the 
 facts of the case, sit at Chambers, and 
 dispose of all possible questions, so that 
 only those matters which really require, or 
 
 , are convenient for the intervention of the 
 The Chief , . 
 
 Clerks who Master, may be referred to him. 
 
 t ? ke r t * he ' 2nd. When a Reference is made to 
 place of Mas- 
 
 ters assist the Master, let the parties proceed orally 
 braking tc- before him, if he deems it expedient, or 
 counts, &c. at any rate by affidavit alone, without the 
 Practice/ 4th prolix antecedent of statement and counter 
 edn., p. 49. (a) Effected statement ; and let all (a) unnec- 
 Whenajudg-byi3andi 4 travelling through the 
 
 ment directs V1CI - u - 3- 
 
 accounts and Orders Court of Chancery, by means of 
 
 J ^ Bills, Answers, Decrees and
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 229 
 
 Orders, before the cause is submitted to the m s s under it 
 ,, -jr 11 are taken in 
 
 Master, be got rid of, especially in matters chancery be- 
 
 which are referred as of course. ,,. ., fore the Chief 
 
 . (0) Partly Clerk of the 
 
 and where it is known at the outset carried out judge in 
 
 that the business really 
 in the Master's Office, (b] 1850. commenced 
 
 3 rd.-Let the proceedings before the 
 
 Master be continuous, so that as far as the Judge. 
 
 ., , . i j- j r The Chief 
 
 possible, one enquiry may be disposed of clerk certi- 
 
 before going on to another ; and so that fies tne re " 
 
 . . , suit. Order 
 the present piecemeal system, by which i_V., rule 15. 
 
 months are spent in passing an account 'Gibson s 
 which might be disposed of in a day or two, 1889, 4th ed. 
 may be done away with. P p ' 3 9 " 3 : 
 
 " To effect this, let the Master have his The Chief 
 list of causes, like any other Judge, and now 
 
 particularly in all matters before him of a lists of au ~ 
 
 ses. See 
 judicial nature, let his proceedings be -Gibson's 
 
 public, as in the Bankruptcy Courts, so P r * ctlce - P- 
 that the light of public opinion may 
 operate as well in his Court as in 
 any other, to produce dispatch and 
 equity, and to clear away some of 
 those obstructions that invariably hang 
 about the purlieus of secret enquiry. rT^t Chi u f 
 
 " 4th. Let the Master be bound to give ject to revis- 
 in his Report in the most concise 137 
 
 manner, and within a fixed period, gives his cer- 
 
 ,, ^ . . tificate under 
 
 Lourt above having power to Rule 55i & c . 
 
 extend this period, under special and See , < T p ib ' 
 
 . J son s Prac- 
 
 necessary circumstances. tice.' p. 380-1
 
 230 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " As to the general proceedings of the 
 Court of Chancery : 
 
 " i st. Let a grand distinct- 
 
 (c)Thisdis- j on f c \ be made from the outset 
 tinction eff- . . , . . 
 
 ected by between those suits where mtn- 
 
 Rules of Ap- ca f- e questions of fact and law 
 ril. 1850, and . , 
 
 13 & 14 Viet, are really at issue between the 
 
 c - 35 ' parties, and that numerous class 
 
 of suits, which are merely ad- 
 ministrative, (where the property 
 
 (IdSnSra- of Intestates an d Infants, for instance, has 
 tive, &c., ) simply to be divided among the parties 
 posed G O ?n entitled) and let these latter suits be dis- 
 
 Ch ambers encumbered of their present costly mode 
 andcommen- r , , ,. j r 
 
 ced by origi- * process, and be disposed of in a sum- 
 
 nating sum- mary way. 
 
 mons betore , T , r , . 
 
 Chief Clerk. 2nd. When the construct- 
 
 Order LV., (rf) Parties i on (d) of some Will or written 
 Rule 2. no wun- T ... . , 
 
 Gibson's der 13 & 14 Instrument merely, is involved, 
 
 Practice,' p. vict. c. 35 as ' IS t he case with a large 
 
 384-388. can concur in 
 
 a case for proportion of causes, no fact 
 decision, as De i n g i n dispute, the meaning 
 questions, of a few lines or a few words 
 forming the only embarrass- 
 ment, and nothing more being wanted by 
 the parties, to enable them to sell or devise, 
 than a Declaration of the Court as to the 
 construction of the clause in question : let 
 the parties have power to obtain this Dec- 
 laration at once, on summons and notice, 
 without the cumbrous and expensive 
 machinery of Bill and Answer.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 231 
 
 " As to the system of Fees and Offices 
 in the Court of Chancery: 
 
 " ist. The Salaries of the superior The salaries 
 
 ill i r -i. are now fixed 
 
 Officers should, perhaps, in conformity an d S o paid. 
 
 with Lord Lansrdale's opinion, be paid out , See , Whitta- 
 & r ' r ker s Alinan- 
 
 of the Consolidated Fund, as m the case ack. 
 
 of every other Court of Justice, and the 
 supervision of Government more efficient- 
 ly secured, as a guarantee against extrava- 
 gance and over payment. 
 
 " All the various Officers of the Court 
 should be paid by Salary, and not by 
 Fees, 
 
 "Experience having, I think, fully proved, 
 that where there is not the element of 
 competition, the system of payment by 
 Fees fails to secure the only advantage 
 supposed to appertain to it, viz : increased 
 punctuality and exertion while on the 
 other hand it has been found to lead in 
 many instances to extortion and abuse. 
 
 "2nd. The present system of payment This system 
 by copy Money should be discontinued, 
 and every means adopted to prevent tinued. 
 prolixity of pleading and multiplication of 
 copies. 
 
 "3rd. Those Offices also, such as the No such 
 Report Office, Subpoena Office, Affidavit 
 Office, and that of Clerk of Accounts, which ker - 
 are now become useless, or nearly so, 
 should be abolished, at least as separate 
 establishments.
 
 232 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 The Courts Such are some of the changes in the 
 Equity W being Court of Chancery, about which I think 
 
 now fused, p UD li c opinion is tolerably unanimous. 
 
 the Queen s * , r \ r% 
 
 Bench Divis- But as the abuses of the Court are funda- 
 
 - mental, and extend throughout the entire 
 diction in a . & 
 
 few equitable system, so in my humble view, the whole 
 rertain S inain svs tem of these Courts should be remod- 
 e quit able elled, and the remedy be co-extensive 
 such J as C ad- w ith ^ e abuse and though I fear we can- 
 
 ministration no t hope to see these sweeping changes 
 
 actions, dig- . f . . .;. T 
 
 solution of effected for the present still I trust, the 
 
 partnerships, ^ay j s no f ar distant, when we shall see 
 
 tcLKinT 1CCOU- 
 
 nts. trustee- (e) This establishsd, as far as practicable, 
 
 in every department, open oral 
 acies, partiti- effected by examination, and some of the 
 
 r?T.^SS, < Jfo" "f the Common (e) Law, 
 Wardships, Law Courts instead of the present system 
 &c., are when the Turisdic- r . , ^ 
 
 above certain tion propos- ot written examination, and Can- 
 
 specified a- ed. onical Law when we shall see 
 
 mounts, still 
 
 reserved to Circuits established for the Masters and 
 
 tkfn ^"^he J ud S es or P art of them with power to take 
 
 Chancery the viva voce evidence of the parties to 
 
 Courts only. ,, ., . ., 
 
 Gibson's" 16 sui t> in the country, as well as 
 
 Practice,' p. i n London, and not as at the present 
 
 time, through the medium of 
 
 Evidence in Examiners when open trial will 
 
 DhSio^S (f) This be introduced and a right of 
 
 now oral, ex- right of Ap- Appeal, (f) not to one Judge, but 
 
 cept by order peal to two 
 
 of the Court, Judges, est- to several. 
 
 on motions, ablished by p Qwn rf j s hould 
 
 summonses, 14 & 15 Viet. \ .' . 
 
 &c., and by c. 83. be glad to see the jurisdiction ot 
 
 the Count Courts enlar g ed ' and
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 233 
 
 I believe such enlargement would M since en- "pib. 30 , 11 s 
 
 1 reed bv M P ractlce > P-P 
 be accepted as a national boon, (g) an | Viet 2 57' 8 - 
 
 Even according to their present c. 61 to 50. in an action 
 
 ,-, , , i_, r i i of contract in 
 
 constitution, it might sately be the High 
 
 increased, so as to embrace Court for 
 
 . . r r /loo or un- 
 
 actions of the value of 100; der, the ac- 
 
 for less than which sum no Law- tlon . w1 ] 1 be 
 
 remitted to 
 
 suit can with prudence be con- the County 
 
 tested. And if a power of Appeal were ^^j^ 11 " 
 
 provided, the jurisdiction might very bene- less good 
 c. 11 t_ J.MI r ii_ i j i cause shewn 
 
 ncially be still further extended. against the 
 
 It may suggest itself to some on reading application. 
 
 J "'Gibson's 
 
 these remarks, that it is strange, if Practice,' p. 
 
 Chancery be so bad as I have represented I45- 
 it, that this Court should so long 
 have maintained its position. My reply is, that I 
 have echoed the universal, well-known experience of 
 Chancery suitors and as to its being strange that 
 reform should not have been sooner effected, though 
 so much required ; I would ask, to how many of our 
 institutions and rules of law would this apply ? 
 
 For example until lately, no witness, however 
 credible, could be admitted as evidence at Common 
 Law, who had any direct interest, even to the amount 
 of sixpence, in the event of the action ; while the son, 
 brother or Attorney of either party, whose mind was 
 more likely to be bias'd, might have been examined 
 without objection. 
 
 This anomaly, which gave rise to infinite quibbling, 
 has been done away with by the Statute of 6 and 7 
 Viet., c. 85. The Law now admits the evidence of 
 all parties, except that of the Plaintiffs or Defendants
 
 234 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 themselves, leaving the question of credibility for the 
 consideration of the Jury this is the proper course, 
 and has already been attended with great benefit 
 and I cannot but think, that if the statute were again 
 extended, so as to admit the evidence of the litigant 
 parties themselves, it would be productive of still 
 higher advantage it would at any rate, be the means 
 of helping to rid us of the Court of Chancery. 
 
 " Of all the grievances which afflict a country," 
 says Lord Langdale, "none are so pernicious, none 
 " tend so certainly to unfasten all the bands which 
 " hold society in peace and harmony together, as 
 " those which are found to prevail in Courts of Jus- 
 " tice ; but there are none which excite so little 
 " clamour or alarm, none perhaps which attract so 
 " little of public attention." (*) 
 
 It is not to be wondered at then, that the Ecclesi- 
 astical Court and the Courts of Chancery, on which so 
 many private interests depend, should have so long 
 escaped. It is true the subject of Law Reform was 
 brought forward by Lord Brougham, about 1829, and 
 many improvements in the Common Law Courts were 
 effected. That Chancery should have been left un- 
 touched, or nearly so, certainly appears remarkable ; 
 the explanation may be, that the system being radi- 
 cally bad, it was found improvement involved 
 abolition, and so nothing was done or it may be, 
 that Lord Brougham was, at that time, made Lord 
 Chancellor, and consequently did not consider it his 
 duty, or his interest, to interfere, (t) 
 
 (*) Speech in the House of Lords, on better Administration of 
 Justice in Chancery, i3th June, 1836. 
 
 (t) Mr. Hume, M.P. told me that Lord Brougham had admitted 
 to him, that he had not gone into Chancery Reform, as he should 
 have had all Westminster Hall about his ears.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 235 
 
 But as things at present stand, whether I look to 
 the progress of Science or Political Economy ; to our 
 Municipal or social Institutions ; I gather better 
 auguries for the future. I observe that the national 
 mind, under the influence of better Education, and 
 the guidance of the Press, is becoming more and 
 more able to attend to the national interests. In 
 these days, there is no greater safeguard for the rights 
 of property, and those Institutions which are really a 
 national boast; than the abolition or reformation of 
 those other Institutions, which are, in fact, a national 
 reproach than the reformation, for instance, of 
 Courts which bear the name and insignia of Equity, 
 but are destitute of its most essential attributes. 
 
 I arraign the Court of Chancery then, before the 
 bir of public opinion because its sytem, whether of 
 Fees or of Procedure, is inherently bad because its 
 modes of proof, its modes of trial, and its modes of 
 appeal, are unnecessarily expensive, tedious and 
 absurd. " Owing to this defect in our Institutions, 
 " said the Petition of an eminent body of Solicitors, 
 " wrong is without redress, frauds and breaches of 
 " confidence in the most sacred relations of life, are 
 " committed with impunity, and even encouraged, 
 " while the far greater number of Suitors are driven 
 " to the miserable alternative of compromising their 
 " Suits, on terms the most disadvantageous, or of 
 " allowing them to remain for an indefinite number of 
 " years, entirely unadjudicated." (*) 
 
 " There is no man," observed the present Lord 
 Chancellor, on presenting this Petition, " who knows 
 "the manner in which justice is administered in the 
 
 (*) Petition to the House of Lords, about 1841. 
 P 2
 
 236 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " Court of Chancery, but must see that its power is 
 " totally inadequate to the prompt and proper perfor- 
 " mance of the duties that devolve upon it, and that 
 " parties only come to the Court, when dire necessity 
 " compels them to do so." (*) 
 
 To the man who withholds another's rights, the 
 Court of Chancery indeed, operates rather as a pro- 
 tection than a terror. Behind its shield of obstruction 
 and delay, he boldly defies the fair Suitor while the 
 latter often thinks it better to forego a just claim, 
 than to incur the hazards and vexations of a suit in 
 Equity. The injunctions of Magna Charta, as ex- 
 pressed in the words of the Monarch were " nulli 
 " vendemus, nulli negabimus vel differemus rectum 
 "aut justiciam." "The people shall have justice 
 " administered, freely, without sale ; fully, without 
 " denial ; and speedily, without delay." Of all these 
 injunctions, directly or indirectly, the system of 
 Chancery compels a violation and I venture with 
 confidence to predict, that before many years are 
 past, notwithstanding the opposition of those whose 
 interests are affected ; the Courts of Equity must be 
 remodelled, or must fall, before the light of public 
 intelligence. Even the morbid aid of those \\lio sup- 
 port what is absurd, merely because it has been long 
 established, cannot save them reason is a spring- 
 tide, which in these days, does not ebb the waves 
 of practical improvement are continually advancing 
 even now they surround the tottering edifice a 
 
 (*) Speech of Lord Chancellor on presenting this Petition. This 
 speech applies as forcibly to the Court of Chancery now, as then. 
 
 See Pamphlet of J. H. Merivale, Esq., p. 37.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 237 
 
 pyramid cannot long stand on its apex and I feel 
 certain, that the superstructure of Chancery, deprived 
 as it must be, of popular support, cannot long con- 
 tinue firm, resting only on its present precarious and 
 narrow foundation. 
 
 A SOLICITOR. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Extracts from the Report of Evidence given before the Select Committee of 
 
 the House of Commons, on Fees in the Courts of 
 
 Law and Equity, in 1847 and 1848. 
 
 " The delay in Chancery is often utterly ruinous to the parties. 
 I have known by that delay alone, the object of the suit entirely 
 frustrated, by the Insolvency of the party taking place in the mean- 
 time. In the Master's Office there is great delay and expense, from 
 the mode of conducting the suit there, and the mischief can only 
 be avoided by the integrity and skill of the Solicitor." Evidence of 
 W. Wright, Esq., 1841, p. 47. 
 
 " I do not know that I can more strongly impress upon the Com- 
 mittee, the impropriety of paying the Offices of the Court by Fees, 
 than by stating, that it is that circumstance that prevents alterations 
 being made which would be beneficial to the Suitors, in dispensing 
 with many unnecessary proceedings." 
 
 " Have you any doubt that the present expense arising from the 
 payment of those Fees, is in many cases, operating as a denial of 
 Justice ?" 
 
 " Certainly, it is operating materially towards a denial. The 
 mode of procedure is also an additional obstacle, and a very impor- 
 tant one it is." Evidence P. W. Rogers, Esq., Registrar's Clerk 1848, 
 p. 103. 
 
 " Will you state the number of Bills filed in each of those (the 
 three last) years ?" 
 
 " In 1847 there were 2374 Bills filed in 1846, 2335 and in 1845, 
 2316."
 
 238 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " Do you think there is a tendency to file longer Bills than for- 
 merly ?" 
 
 " I should say so." Evidence John Veal, Esq., Clerk of Records 
 1848, p. 10. (*) 
 
 Chairman to E. W. Field, Esq., Solicitor. " Copies sent out by the 
 Master's Junior Clerks are charged 4d. a folio to the Suitors ?" 
 "Yes, out of which the Junior Clerk is entitled to ijd. for the 
 trouble of making them." "What can they be made for?" 
 " For a very trifle in the way he does them. I should be very 
 sorry to have anything done in the way he has his copies made, 
 by poor wretched old women and people who can scarcely write. 
 / should say, for three farthings, perhaps." Rep. Sel. Com. 1847, 
 p. 29. 
 
 A large body of Solicitors, presented a Petition going into the 
 whole matter of Chancery abuses, and saying that no suit for less 
 than a sum of /i.ooo, could at present, justifiably be instituted. 
 
 Evidence E. W. Field, Esq. iS^j, p. 35. 
 
 Chairman to J. J. Johnson, Esq., Solicitor to Suitors' Fee Fund. 
 
 At the Master's Office, has the Porter (or Junior Clerk) who 
 
 takes the Affidavits in, Fees or Compensation ? " Between 600 
 
 and 700 a year." 
 
 Sir J. Graham. " Is there any exercise of Judgment or of mental 
 
 faculty on his part ?" " No." 
 
 Chairman to J. S. Gregory, Esq. ""What are the Fees that press 
 most heavily upon Suitors ?'' "I should say one of the most 
 objectionable, is the obligation that there is upon parties, to take 
 copies, whether they want them or not." (Chairman) " That is 
 solely for the purpose of raising Fees T' " Solely for the purpose 
 of raising Fees. 1 ' 
 
 Rep. 1848, p. 47. 
 
 (*) On this evidence, we may form a distant surmise of the 
 possible costs of all Chancery Suits, in progress during one year. 
 Supposing each Suit to last four years on an average, and the whole 
 costs per annum in each, on both sides, to be 150; the result 
 
 would be : 
 
 Suits in progress Costs in Suits 
 
 Bills. Yrs. each year. each year. 
 
 2374 x 4 = 9496 x 150 = 1,424,400. 
 Which would give nearly a million and a half, or about one twentieth 
 of the landed rental of the kingdom, as annually spent in Chancery. 
 But this does not include claims, and is no doubt considerably 
 under the mark.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " Was it compulsory upon you to take Copies ?" 
 " No, the Act of Parliament relieves us from that, but hints are 
 given to us .that unless we take them, the business will go over the 
 long-vacation ; and that would have been a sacrifice to the client of 
 a larger sum than that.' 1 
 
 " Then in order to prevent obstacles being thrown in your way^in 
 the Master's Office, you paid for unnecessary Copies, which was 
 an advantage in fact to your Client ?" 
 ' It was so." 
 
 " In fact it is a mode of extorting unnecessary Fees ?" 
 " I consider so. The fact is, and the matter is perfectly notorious 
 it is well known and frequently observed to me by Solicitors, that 
 they often take Copies to put the Clerks in good humour." 
 
 " Have you any reason to suppose that the folios have been over 
 counted ?'' 
 
 " I am quite sure of that." 
 " To a great extent ?" 
 
 " To a very great extent, This Bill to which I have referred, I am 
 satisfied is more than double for the copies. There are Affidavits 
 charged for as twelve folios, which to my certain knowledge, are 
 not more than four." 
 
 " Therefore, to use a gentle expression, it amounts to something 
 like extortion ?" 
 
 " It does. When the Master over counts folios, the Suitor 
 suffers three times by it. The Master's Clerk, of course, profits by 
 the over counting ; the Fee Fund profits by the over counting, as a 
 proportion of the Fees goes to the Fee Fund ; and the Solicitor 
 profits in this way ; the Taxing Officer, in taxing costs, allows the 
 Solicitor at the same rate as the Master computes the folios." 
 
 " The fact is, that there is an extra charge in every step, and it 
 falls upon the unfortunate Client at last ?" 
 " It falls upon the Suitor at last." 
 " How does the Master's Clerk count ?" 
 
 " He gives a rough guess. I generally find them over-counted, 
 sometimes to a great extent." Evidence of B. M. M'Leod, Esq. Rep. 
 1847, pp. Ill, 87 8, 902 3, 100. 
 
 " The compensation and salaries of the four compensated Sworn 
 Clerks under the 5 and 6 Viet., c. 103, s. 18, amount to 27,018 2s. 3d. 
 The only duties which these officers have to perform, are to tax 
 costs from n to 3, with ten weeks' vacation.
 
 240 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 PER ANNUM. 
 
 " An Officer in the Lord Chancellor's Court, called 
 " Chaff Wax," receives for Fees, about.. .. .. 646 
 
 " Deputy Chaff Wax," .. .. .. .. ... 513 
 
 "Usher," .. .. 410 
 
 "Sealer," .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 536 
 
 " Doorkeeper." to be divided between himself and other 
 "officers, .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3218 
 
 1848, p. 178 and 179." 
 
 " What is the amount of the Accountant General's Salary ?" 
 
 " The Accountant General receives 600 a year as Master, and 
 900 a year as Accountant General both sums being paid from the 
 Suitors' Fund ; and the return will shew that his Brokerage is 
 3800 in addition." 
 
 Evidence J . J. Johnson, Esq. 1847, P* 26. 
 
 (To Mr. Mortimer,) " The Committee understand from the return 
 of the Accountant General, that the ordinary Fee of the Broker of 
 one-eighth per cent upon sales and purchases, is divided between 
 yourself and him ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Having ascertained the price of the day, if you had 100,000 to 
 buy on one account, and ^100,000 to sell on another account, you 
 need only transfer it from account A. to account B.?" 
 
 " The Accountant General has no such power, he must make the 
 sales. If I had at this moment, ^120,000 to buy, and 100,000 to 
 sell, I must sell that 100,000 at 86, and give 86J for the 120,000." 
 Evidence of E. Mortimer, Esq., Chancery Broker 1848, p. 47 and 51 2. 
 
 " The difference is generally one-eighth, that ought to go to the 
 Suitors' Fund. It now goes to the Stock Jobbers : it would make 
 with the Brokerage, a difference of 11,000 a year." 
 
 Evidence Mr Barnes, and Mr. Coverdale 1848, p. 169. 
 
 " Are you aware of the various Fees collected throughout the 
 Offices in Chancery ?" 
 
 " I cannot detail them from my memory." 
 
 " There is, I believe, a Fee payable in every step almost, in a 
 Suit in the Court of Chancery ?" 
 
 " Yes, in every step." 
 
 " How are those Fees assessed ; are they assessed with reference 
 to the amount in litigation ?" 
 
 " Not at all ; in no one instance in the Court of Chancery." 
 Evidence E. W. Field, Esq., 1847, p. 21 30.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 241 
 
 The expense of an enquiry before the Master is very great ?' 
 
 " Yes ; the chief expense of a Chancery Suit is in the Master s 
 Office." 
 
 " Generally speaking when children and married women are 
 parties to a Suit, it goes into the Master's Office ?'* 
 
 " Yes, and when it arises, under a Will." 
 
 " Have you not found, that when the Solicitor chooses to thro\v 
 impediments in the way, he may protract the investigation before 
 the Master to a very great extent ?'' 
 
 " I think that an ingenious Solicitor, who cavils at everything 
 and excepts to every step which the Master may take, may delay 
 the proceedings without end." 
 
 " You know that in many instances, Suits have been delayed in 
 the Master's Office a long period of time ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " What is the longest period that you can call to your recollection?' 
 
 " Inquires have lasted six, seven, or eight years ; which without 
 vexations opposition, with proper vigilance on the part of the 
 Solicitor, might have been completed in six months." 
 
 Evidence C. Pugh, Esq., Master's Chief Clerk 1847, p. 74 5. 
 
 " Would not it be an advantage, if the Judge were obliged, de die 
 in diem, to follow out the examination, instead of the present mode, 
 in which you are often months in getting inquiries made before the 
 Master."? 
 
 " I think so, in all cases where you have all the evidence before 
 the Court, which you afterwards have to use before the Master." 
 
 " At present, considerable time is occupied by the Master, in the 
 parties trying to instil into his mind, the particular view which the 
 Court had in directing the reference ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " If the cause were followed out by the same Judge who heard the 
 Suit, would not it produce this advantage also, that the Court would, 
 in a great many instances, decide matters which it now refers to the 
 Master, when the Court has, in fact, before it, the same evidence 
 upon which the Master will have to decide ?" 
 
 " I have no doubt of it." 
 
 " Supposing all those things which are now done by the Master 
 alone, were directed to be done by a Judge of Chambers, do you 
 think it would not be possible for him to do those parts of the 
 business ?" 
 
 " The great majority of them."
 
 2:42 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 Evidence J. S. Gregory, Esq., R. Barnes, Esq., and J . Coverdak, Esq. 
 1848, p. 172 3 4 5 6. 167 8. 
 
 "Is not the Master obliged to lose a portion of time to become 
 acquainted with the case, and does not that tend to prolong the 
 examination more than is required ?" 
 
 " It must be so to some extent. In old time perhaps, some Mas- 
 ters were always in Court, when the Chancellor xvas in Cjurt. 
 
 " It may be truly said, that the Master is placed at a greater dis- 
 tance from the Court, and with less convenient access to the Judge, 
 than is expedient ; to communicate on the subject of references, 
 only by reports, is a very expensive and dilatory mode, and I 
 should be glad if some other method could be provided in cases 
 which might safely admit of it. 
 
 " I incline to think, that a Judge sitting out of Court, and without 
 the attendance of Counsel, might do several things which would pre- 
 vent a good deal of expense in the Master's Office ; and, as far as I 
 am concerned, I am perfectly willing to make the experiment." 
 Evidence Lord Langdale, 1848, p. 158 9. 
 
 Even when a final decision has been obtained, the taxation of costs 
 now frequently occupies months, the proceedings being even more 
 dilatory than those in the Master's Office. 1847, p. 92. 
 
 As most of the remedies suggested in the Pamphlet 
 I wrote, (and which, indeed, had been compiled as 
 well from my own experience, as from the opinions 
 of several eminent members of the Bar) hav*: since 
 become Law, I thought it well to give the Pamphlet 
 and recommendations contained in it in extenso ; 
 showing in the margin (See p.p. 228 233 how far 
 they have since been carried out by Statute and the 
 Rules of Court: and I feel assured it will be found 
 from their examination, that some additional remedies 
 are required to render complete the much desired 
 measures of Legal Reform. (See letter to Sun Paper). 
 
 I may mention too that these recommendations 
 received the approval of Lord Denman, . Mr. Justice
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 243 
 
 Talfourd, Mr. Watson, Q.C., Mr. Purton Cooper, Q.C., 
 and other distinguished men, in letters received from 
 them on the subject. (See letters Post p. 245.) 
 
 Among others I sent the above pamphlet to Mr. 
 Charles Dickens who acknowledged its receipt to me, 
 as follows : 
 
 ' Mr. Charles Dickens presents his compliments to 
 Mr. Challinor, and begs with many thanks to acknow- 
 ledge the receipt of his pamphlet and obliging note. 
 Tavistock House, 
 
 Tavistock Square, London, 
 
 Eleventh March, 1852." 
 
 Mr. Dickens quoted pages of my pamphlet in his 
 work called Bleak House, which came out shortly 
 afterwards, and referred to me in the preface to that 
 book as follows : 
 
 " I may mention here that everything set forth in 
 " these pages concerning the Court of Chancery is 
 " substantially true, and within the truth." 
 
 " The case of Gridley is in no essential altered 
 " from one of actual occurrence, and made public by a 
 " disinterested person who \vas professionally acquain- 
 " ted with the whole of the monstrous wrong from 
 " beginning to end." 
 
 Mr. Foster in his life of Dickens, vol. 3, p 29, also 
 referred to this circumstance, and to the pamphlet in 
 the following terms : 
 
 " Dickens was enqouraged and strengthened in his 
 "design of assailing Chancery abuses and delays by 
 " receiving, a few days after the appearance of his 
 " first number, a striking pamphlet on the subject 
 " containing details so apposite that he took from 
 " them, without change in any material point, the 
 
 O
 
 .244 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 " memorable case related in his fifteenth chapter. 
 " Any one who examines the tract* will see how 
 " exactly true is the reference to it made by Dickens 
 " in his preface." 
 
 " The suit of which all particulars are given, 
 " affected a single farm, in value not more than 
 " 1,200, but all that its owner possessed in the 
 " world, against which a bill had been filed for a 300 
 " legacy left in the will bequeathing the farm. In 
 " reality, there was only one defendant, but in the 
 " Bill, by the rule of the Court, there were seventeen ; 
 " and, after two years had been occupied over the 
 "seventeen answers, everything had to begin over 
 "again because an eighteenth had been accidently 
 " omitted." 
 
 "What a mockery of justice this is, says Mr. 
 " Challinor, the facts speak for themselves, and I can 
 " personally vouch for their accuracy. The costs 
 "already incurred in reference to this 300 legacy 
 <( are not less than from 800 to 900, and the parties 
 " are no forwarder." 
 
 " Already near five years have passed by, and the 
 " plaintiff would be glad to give up his chance of the 
 " legacy if he could escape from his liability to costs, 
 " while the defendants who own the little Farm left 
 "by the testator, have scarce any other prospect 
 " before them than ruin." 
 
 * By W. Challinor, Esq. of Leek, in Staffordshire, by whom it has 
 " been obligingly sent to me, with a copy of Dickens' letter ac- 
 " knowledging the receipt of it from the author on the nth of 
 " March, 1852. On the first of that month the first number of 
 " Bleak House had appeared, but two numbers of it were then 
 ' already written."
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 245 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 Sergeants' Inn, nth May, 1849. 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 " Accept my best thanks for your pamphlet on the 
 " subject of the Court of Chancery, which, having 
 " glanced at, I perceive contains very excellent sug- 
 " gestions expressed in very happy language. I should 
 " have thanked you earlier for sending it to me, but 
 " was desirous first of obtaining the opportunity of 
 " appreciating your labours, which entitle you to the 
 " gratitude of suitors and the profession." 
 I remain, 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 T. N. TALFOURD. 
 W. Challinor, Esq. 
 
 3, Fairfield Court, Temple, 
 
 nth April, 1850. 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 " I beg you to accept my best thanks for your very 
 " able pamphlet, which I found on my return from the 
 " Circuit." 
 
 " It appears to me to be unanswerable, and I cannot 
 " doubt that it will produce a most salutary effect." 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 W. WHATELEY. 
 W. Challinor, Esq.
 
 246 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 (Private.) London, March 22nd, 1851. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 " I thank you for your able pamphlet from the full 
 "perusal of which I rise with feelings of pain, shame, 
 " and indignation, and scarcely a hope I am sorry to 
 " add of any reformation." 
 
 " 1 cannot forbear from asking whether extortion 
 l< and obtaining money by false pretences are not in- 
 " dictable at Common Law." 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 DENMAN. 
 
 W. Challinor, Esq. 
 
 Grishernish, by Portree, 
 
 Isle of Skye, 
 
 2nd Sept., 1851. 
 Sir, 
 
 " In March last you did me the honor to send to me 
 "at Lincolns Inn a pamphlet and letter on the subject 
 " of the Court of Chancery. I have been obliged to 
 " wait until the vacation to thank you for your kind 
 " attention." 
 
 " I agree with you in thinking that the master's 
 " offices are in a state which occasions a great part of 
 " the evils so loudly and justly complained of." 
 
 " In April, 1850, I gave notice of a motion for an 
 " address for a Commission to enquire particularly into 
 "the causes and means of removing the delays and 
 " expenses in the master's offices. At the urgent 
 " request of Lord Cottenham, and for reasons stated
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 247 
 
 "by him, I was induced to postpone it. Lord John 
 " Russell and the present Lord Chancellorhaving issued 
 "a Commission last vacation for general enquiry into 
 " the state of the Court of Chancery which I thought 
 " too vague. You may have observed that in the last 
 " session I brought forward the matter and although 
 "opposed by the Attorney and Solicitor General and 
 " Master of the Rolls, I succeeded in inducing Lord 
 "John Russell to agree to an address to the Crown to 
 " instruct the Commission to direct their attention 
 " forthwith to the masters' offices, and to have Sir 
 " James Graham and Mr. Henly added as Commis- 
 " sioners. These two I have proposed in April, 1850, 
 " to have named as two of the Commissioners in 
 " addition to members of the profession." 
 
 " It seemed to me that adding to such a Commission 
 "two intelligent men of business, not lawyers, would 
 "be useful, and would be more satisfactory to the 
 "public mind. And I am glad to hear that it is likely 
 " to work well, and every one of the Commission who 
 " are Equity Lawyers have since the addition thanked 
 " me for it, and state that they feel the advantage." 
 
 " But I fear that what is most wanted is what it is 
 " most difficult to procure. I mean men to preside in 
 " the Courts who are able to do the work." 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 JOHN STUART. 
 
 To \V. Challinor, Esq., 
 
 Leek, Staffordshire.
 
 248 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 London, May 5th, 1849. 
 Sir, 
 
 " I beg to thank you for the pamphlet you have sent 
 " me ; the subject is, just now, peculiarly important.'' 
 
 I am, yours truly, 
 
 JOHN BRIGHT. 
 W. Challinor, Esq., 
 
 Leek. 
 
 From C. P. Cooper, Esq., Queen's Counsel, Chancery 
 Barrister. 
 
 " Mr. Cooper presents his compliments to Mr. 
 " Challinor and is extremely obliged by the present of 
 " a copy of the second edition of his valuable pamphlet 
 " upon the Court of Chancery." 
 
 " Mr. C. has read it with great profit, and whenever 
 " Mr. Challinor comes to town, will be very glad to 
 " have a few minutes conversation with him on two or 
 " three points respecting which there is not an unan- 
 " imity of opinion amongst Equity Reformers." 
 
 7, New Boswell Court, 
 Lincoln's Inn, 
 
 May 5, 1849. 
 
 D 4, Albany, 
 
 London, Wednesday. 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 " I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 
 " loth instant and its enclosure. I believe the number 
 " in favour of your views is rapidly increasing." 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 J. SADLIER.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 249 
 
 A number of letters were also received as to this 
 pamphlet, or acknowledging its receipt, among others 
 from Lord Langdale, Sir Robert Peel, Lord John 
 Russell, Mr. Cobden, and others.
 
 250 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 From the DAILY NEWS, Friday, 
 January, 1851. 
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. PUBLIC MEETING. 
 
 ESTERDAY a public meeting, con- 
 vened by the Chancery Reform 
 Association, and which was pretty 
 numerously attended, was held at the 
 Hall of Commerce, Thread-needle- 
 street, for the purpose of hearing statements as to the 
 abuses of the Court of Chancery, and of adopting 
 resolutions relative thereto, Lord ERSKINE, the pre- 
 sident of the association, in the chair. 
 
 The noble Chairman, in commencing the proceed- 
 ings, said he had had an opportunity at former meet- 
 ings of expressing the confidence that he entertained 
 of the success, and not distant, he hoped, of the great 
 object of their association. When he did so, he felt 
 that he had strong reasons. They had the support of 
 chancellors, of ex-chancellors, of masters in chancery, 
 of lawyers, and of great lawyers too. 
 
 Mr. Challinor, of Leek, a Solicitor, rose to move the 
 first resolution. He was thoroughly disinterested in 
 his advocacy of Chancery reform, having never been a 
 sufferer himself, though as a Solicitor he had received 
 a considerable amount of costs. (" Hear " and 
 laughter.) His only loss in connection with the 
 Court of Chancery was the loss of 50, consequent
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 251 
 
 on the publication of a pamphlet, in which he exposed 
 the abuses of that court. He had sent copies of that 
 pamphlet to the present Mr. Justice Talfourd ; to Lord 
 Den man ; to Mr. Whately, leader of the Oxford Cir- 
 cuit ; to Mr. Cooper, Q.C., of the Chancery Bar ; to Mr. 
 Bright, Sir J. Romilly, the present Attorney General, 
 the late Sir R. Peel, Lord Langdale, and others, all of 
 \vhom expressed their opinion that the time for Chan- 
 cery reform had come. (Hear, hear.) He would now 
 advert to the system of the Court of Chancery, from 
 which it was utterly impossible, however excellent the 
 judges, however desirous the Barristers, the Solicitors, 
 and the Suitors to bring a suit to a speedy termination, 
 to extricate oneself without great delay and great ex- 
 pense. (Hear, hear.) He would bring before the 
 meeting a few cases which came within his own 
 experience. The first case was that of a person who 
 had been left a legacy of 300, out of a real estate. 
 (See Pamphlet). As a contrast to the case he 
 had just described he would mention that he had been 
 engaged in another suit, where the party had been left 
 a legacy of 25. Under his advice the case was 
 brought before the County Court, which had an 
 equitable jurisdiction at that time up to 20. He 
 filed a simple plaint and statement of facts, the oppo- 
 sing party filed a statement that the legacy was not 
 due. In a fortnight the case was heard before the 
 judge of the County Court ; the parties were examined 
 face to face in the presence of the public ; the judge 
 came to a decision that the legacy was due, and within 
 a month complete justice was done. (Cheers.) The 
 written system of proceeding was the plague spot of 
 the Court of Chancery. (Hear, hear.) As long as the 
 
 O 2
 
 252 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 parties were examined in private, and made merely 
 written statements, as long as the light of public 
 examination in open court was excluded, so long would 
 there be unnecessary delay, grievous expense, and 
 great injustice in all cases. (Hear, hear.) The 
 source of equity jurisdiction was this, that the plaintiff 
 or defendant could not be examined on oath at 
 Common Law, and where a case depended on their 
 evidence alone, they were obliged to come into the 
 Court of Chancery to probe the consciences of the 
 parties as it was called. (Hear.) It was also a great 
 source of abuse in the Court of Chancery that the 
 lawyers were paid by the folio. The speaker here 
 read extracts from the evidence given before the com- 
 mittee of the House of Commons by Mr. E. W. Field 
 and Mr. McLeod, to show the abuses which had arisen 
 from this practice. With regard to the observations 
 of Sir E. Sugden, he would only say that, though a 
 very able judge, he appeared to be one of those 
 persons who took a microscopic view of things, who 
 saw clearly but only within a narrow range of vision, 
 and would support any system if it only had the sanc- 
 tion of antiquity, and had formed a basis for his text 
 books. (Hear, hear.) They were told in Magna 
 Charta that justice should not be sold or denied, or 
 delayed. But the Court of Chancery seemed com- 
 pletely to disregard and to upset these injunctions- 
 By the ingenious mechanism of that court the oyster 
 was extracted and the shells presented to the unfortu- 
 nate suitors. (Hear, hear.) He was quite sure that 
 the Court of Chancery must be either completely 
 remodelled or fall before the light of public opinion- 
 (Cheers.) The resolution which he had to propose
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 253 
 
 was as follows : " That the Court of Chancery, which 
 purports to be an institution for the administration of 
 equity, and the relief of the subject suffering under 
 Avrong, is an instrument of intolerable oppression ; 
 that its excessive delays and enormous exactions are 
 of the most flagrant and disastrous character, and that 
 its maintenance in its present shape is a disgrace to 
 the country." 
 
 This was carried unanimously. 
 
 TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. 
 
 December nth, 1851. 
 Sir, 
 
 In my last letter on the subject of Chancery Reform r 
 which you did me the honour to comment upon in such 
 able and approving terms, I endeavoured to show ; 
 now that the Amendment of Evidence Act gives to the 
 Courts of Law the power of arriving at the testimony 
 of the parties in an action, there exists an easy means of 
 at once getting rid of most of the grievances of the 
 Court of Chancery ; and of leading, by a direct and 
 decisive course, to the much desired fusion of Law 
 and Equity. 
 
 The plan I propose is that the jurisdiction of the 
 Common Law Courts, should be extended to the 
 recovery of any demand in respect of Intestacies, 
 Legacies, and Partnership accounts, which are at 
 present confined to Lhancery, and that the same 
 measures should be accompanied with an extension of 
 the jurisdiction of the County Courts. If this were
 
 254 -CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 done, most of the business of the country 
 (N o t v e t 
 earned out.) would be administered in the Common Law 
 
 Courts. 
 
 These same \yi tn respect to amendments in the 
 carried out. L 
 
 Court of Chancery itself, the most effectual 
 
 would be, the abolition, or an entire 
 change, of the Master's Offices } and of the 
 mode of -written interrogatory and pro- 
 cedure there adopted ; the carrying of the 
 cause throughout before the same Judge ; 
 and an alteration in the system of Fees. 
 The recent Act of 13 and 14 Viet. c. 35, and the 
 Orders of April, 1850, though an improvement as far 
 as they go, are yet more calculated to facilitate the 
 Suitor's passage into Chancery ', by means of the short 
 claims provided in them, than to assist him in his 
 progress out of it again. 
 
 N.B. This I observe you strongly advocate the im- 
 Courts has mediate abolition of Chancery, and the 5n- 
 
 since been cor poration of the Courts of Law and 
 
 carried out L 
 
 but the Equity into one tribunal, i. I agree with 
 
 Court f you that a comprehensive measure of this 
 
 C h a n c ery ' . \ . . 
 
 still retains description is highly desirable, and that 
 
 o^ousfne'ss there is no sound reason why it should not 
 (See Post.) ultimately be adopted. But in this country 
 where the institutions of the past are sup- 
 ported by such various interests, and have 
 so strong a hold, and even where gross 
 defects are extirpated with a cautious and 
 C o'u'n ty hesitating hand, I fear it is chimerical to 
 Courtsunder expect that at one blow Chancery should be 
 Courts Acts abolished, and the whole body of the Laws
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 255 
 
 fused into one. On the other hand, in the l888 - s - r> 7- 
 
 h 3. v G no w 
 enactment that I have suggested, (compri- jurisdiction 
 
 sing as it does most of the practical ad- l . h e a r 
 
 questions as 
 
 vantages, and being in itself a decisive step to admicis- 
 
 to wards the measure proposed) there is 
 
 nothing startling nothing obscure; it mere- Foreclosure, 
 
 ly confers on the people an option, which 
 
 at present they do not possess, of escaping Infants ad- 
 
 . . . . vanceinent, 
 
 the oppressions of one Court, by submitting & c ., where 
 
 their claims to a better and cheaper tri- the e "tire 
 
 trust Estate 
 bunal ; while it possesses, in the admirable or Property 
 
 working of the equitable jurisdiction of the c ^ /voo 6 * 
 
 County Courts. 2. (Which was conferred This might 
 
 , . r very well be 
 
 as to sums not exceeding 50, by a pre- extended to 
 
 cisely similar clause that I propose should Estates of 
 
 , * f T i,ooo value 
 
 now be extended to the Lommon Law or more. 
 
 Courts as to sums of more than that amount} 
 a complete precedent of success, and one which has 
 incontrovertibly proved how idle were the objections 
 raised against questions of the nature referred to, 
 being adjudicated upon by a simpler, cheaper, and 
 more rational process than that of Chancery. 
 
 In a pamphlet on the Court of Chancery, published 
 for me in 1849, by Messrs. Stevens and Norton, I 
 gave in an appendix a number of selections from the 
 Books of Evidence which had been taken before the 
 Select Committee of the House of Commons, on Fees, 
 and which books had been lent to me for the purpose 
 by Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P., one of the Committee. 
 
 In the same pamphlet were observations on the 
 advisability of admitting the testimony of the parties to
 
 .256 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 an action ; a proposition which by the statue of 14 
 and 15 Viet., c. 99, has since become law. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 Your most obedient humble Servant, 
 
 W. CHALLINOR. 
 
 From the EVENING SUN, December 2oth, 1851. 
 
 We would earnestly invite the attention of the com- 
 munity at Large, and more especially of legal reformers^ 
 to a communication which will be found in another 
 part of to-day's impression, on the all-important subject 
 of Chancery reform. Our respected correspondent, 
 Mr. W. Challinor, offers some valuable comments on 
 the opinion, now very generally entertained, " that 
 there is no necessity for retaining the Courts of 
 Chancery as a separate jurisdiction from the courts of 
 common law ; and that, in fact, the law of the country 
 may be more beneficially and cheaply administered by 
 one tribunal." Mr. Challinor, who is a veteran reform- 
 er, to whose able productions on the inherent defects 
 of our so-called equitable tribunals we have already 
 had the pleasure of directing public notice, briefly sets 
 forth the particulars of a case which, as he asserts, 
 " illustrates the hardship and absurdity of the present 
 state of things." He also suggests an easy remedy for 
 many of the most crying grievances of the present
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 257 
 
 system viz., a simple enactment " that the jurisdic- 
 tion of the common law courts shall extend to the 
 recovery of any demand in respect of a legacy under 
 a will, a distributive share under an intestacy, and 
 of the balance of a partnership account." 
 
 The course suggested by Mr. Challinor has, as he 
 points out, been already tried with the most beneficial 
 effect in the county courts to a limited amount. Now, 
 if the judge be competent to decide where the sum in 
 dispute does not exceed 50., why should he not be 
 qualified for ten or twenty times that amount, more 
 particularly if every due facility for appeal be granted 
 in every case where he may be supposed to have 
 arrived at erroneous conclusions, either on the law or 
 the facts the appeal in the former case being to one 
 of the superior courts, in the latter to a jury of twelve 
 men, under the direction and with the assistance of 
 one of our venerable and learned judges ? 
 
 But a still better course would be the amalgamation 
 of the superior legal and equitable tribunals a course 
 which might very easily be adopted when special 
 pleadings had, as we suggested yesterday, been 
 totally abolished, and a simple statement of the facts 
 relied on, a-id the remedy claimed, or defence set up 
 in consequence of these facts, clearly and explicitly 
 put forward. This might be accompanied with a 
 power of interrogating the opposite party. It would 
 then be immediately ascertained whether the question 
 were legal or equitable in its nature, and there would 
 be nothing to prevent the same judge or bench from 
 pronouncing a just decision. 
 
 But the reform we have advocated has already been 
 adopted in the United States. Our Transatlantic
 
 258 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 brethern have already tried the experiment, and with 
 the greatest success. There have been no complaints, 
 we believe, not even among the lawyers, as to the 
 improved system. We are not, therefore, recklessly 
 advocating a rash innovation the results of which 
 cannot possibly be anticipated. They can easily be 
 calculated, and we have a valuable and approved 
 precedent to guide us in the pathway of reform, if we 
 decide on entering it. 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 Saturday, March 2jth, 1852. 
 
 CHANCERY REFORM ASSOCIATION. 
 
 A meeting of the Chancery Reform Association was 
 held on the iyth inst., in the Exeter HaH r London, for 
 the purpose of taking into consideration the recom- 
 mendations of the Chancery Reform Commissioners. 
 Lord Erskine presided, and amongst those present 
 were Mr. Hume, M.P., Mr. Trelawny, M.P., Captain 
 Scobell, M.P., &c. 
 
 The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, briefly 
 expressed his satisfaction at the improvement which 
 had taken place in the prospects of their cause since 
 he had last addressed a similar meeting. The associ- 
 ation had then hardly any hope, while they had now a 
 certain assurance of the success of their projects. 
 Although he did not know that the Judges of the land 
 agreed with them on every point, yet they did, without
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 259 
 
 exception, go with them to an extent which no one 
 suspected. Their cause was emphatically that of the 
 country, and they felt now the greatest assurance of a 
 prosperous issue to their labours. 
 
 Mr. Hume, after referring to the history of the 
 movement for legal reform, said that no one in a 
 rational country like this need despair of success if 
 their cause was a good one. They had now arrived 
 in view of the attainment of their object. They had 
 all classes of politicians now in favour of Chancery 
 Reform ; and they had reason to expect that before 
 long the country would be placed in an enviable 
 position, compared with that which it had hitherto 
 occupied with respect to the powers of this court. 
 Let every one look upon this question as his own, for 
 no man knew how soon he or his property might 
 be brought before it by some designing man. 
 He remarked that some years ago he had an interview 
 with Mr. Challinor, a member of the council of this 
 association, on the subject of a pamphlet clearly 
 exposing the inherent defects of Chancery. This 
 pamphlet he had afterwards pressed on the attention 
 of Lord John Russell, who read it, and admitted that 
 something ought to be done. Some of the bills for 
 the Reform of this Court had been already prepared, 
 and instructions had been given by the present 
 Government for the preparation of those which had 
 not been drawn under the direction of the late 
 Government. He believed that this question, after 
 being agitated in and out of Parliament for 30 years, 
 was now ripe for that settlement on full conviction 
 which secured the permanence of the reform which 
 might be adopted. He then moved the following 
 
 R
 
 260 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 resolution : " That the Royal Commissioners appoin- 
 ted in 1850 to inquire into the process, practice, and 
 system of pleading in the Court of Chancery, having 
 examined many parties most competent to give 
 evidence on the subject, including the present Lord 
 Chancellor, one of the Lord Justices of Appeal, some 
 of the Masters in Chancery, with their Clerks, several 
 of the most eminent Barristers and Solicitors practising 
 in the equity courts, with David Dudley Field, Esq., 
 one of the Commissioners by whom the New York code 
 of procedure was framed ; and having unanimously 
 reported that extensive and deep-rooted mischiefs arise 
 from the present system, involving the utter denial 
 of justice, and the ruin of the litigants and their 
 families, this meeting is of opinion that so un- 
 qualified a condemnation by the eminent men forming 
 the Commission demands the immediate application 
 of a legislative remedy, one of the first duties of a 
 Government being to render justice attainable by all, 
 without delay or ruinous cost." 
 
 Mr. Challinor, of Leek, in seconding the first 
 resolution, said As I have worked for some years in 
 this great cause of Humanity v. Chancery (and in 
 passing, I must express my obligations for the kind 
 remarks of the hon. member, Mr. Hume, as well as 
 lor his advice and assistance some years ago), I trust 
 I may claim the indulgence of the meeting for a short 
 time, while I endeavour, inefficiently I fear, but in as 
 rapid and untechnical a manner as possible, to explain 
 what the Court of Chancery now is, and its inherent 
 defects, in order to the better understanding of the 
 amendments proposed to be made, and of what it 
 ought to be. (Hear.) Chancery, then, may be de-
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 261 
 
 fined to be that system of litigation by which the 
 settlement of any given dispute is indefinitely post- 
 poned, or deferred to the utmost possible limit 
 (cheers) and by which money might has often lorded 
 it over feebler right. It is the court in which the 
 property of widow and children, trusts, legacies, 
 intestacies, and partnership estates become involved 
 (1 had almost said dissolved) (Hear) since these, 
 which often comprise large sums, are the subject of 
 its peculiar jurisdiction. It is a sort of legal gambling 
 table, at which the passions of the litigating parties on 
 either side have been worked up for the longest time 
 and to the greatest pitch, for the more especial benefit 
 of the keepers of the (I was going to use an awk- 
 ward expression) of the gambling board. (Cheers.) 
 Now the principle (perhaps I should say the want of 
 principle) (Hear, hear) in its operations, by which 
 this result of delay and expense is brought about, is 
 this. It is by preventing, under any circumstances, 
 or on any occasions, the disputing parties, their 
 witnesses and documents, from meeting together, and 
 giving oral evidence in the presence of the judge him- 
 self, who tries the cause (hear, hear) and I am sorry 
 to say that under the new system recommended by 
 the Royal Commissioners the evidence, as to disputed 
 facts, is not to be taken in the first instance before 
 the judge himself I say it is by preventing this, and 
 by the written system adopted in these courts, that 
 the injustice of the system is upheld. This is the 
 keystone of the arch of chancery delay. Such a 
 thing is never heard of in these courts as the parties 
 meeting and settling their disputes in the way I have 
 mentioned. They would soon admit what was not
 
 262 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 disputed, and soon arrive at the real point in issue, 
 and fight it out. (Hear, hear.) This is the plan of 
 the County Courts, which have answered so well and 
 afforded so much benefit to the public. (Hear.) But 
 the Court of Chancery keeps the suitors apart, and 
 the proceedings are conducted on paper, (by a sort of 
 paper warfare that seems often to have no end but 
 the end of the fund,) in the shape of bills, answers, 
 statements, interrogatories, and all the rest of it, by 
 which the parties are examined in writing, secretly, 
 and often at their own residences. Why, if there 
 were any intention of fraud or concealment, could 
 anything be more favourable to it than this written 
 private examination ? To use an old illustration 
 of mine- a game at chess played by correspondence 
 is tedious ! but it is nothing to this law game played 
 in writing, where the lawyers are paid by the folio. 
 (Cheers.) Mr. Challinorthen explained the case men- 
 tioned in his pamphlet. If this question had been sub- 
 mitted to a county or common law court, the parties would 
 have met together before the judge, admissions made, 
 vouchers examined, and the whole question settled in 
 a month or two, and at a comparatively trifling cost. 
 (Hear, hear.) In the course of the cause, I was com- 
 pelled to take out an office copy of the answers, 
 though I did not want them. I felt indignant 
 that such a state of things should be, and remem- 
 bering the fable, how the bonds of the lion were partly 
 loosened by one of the humblest of God's creatures, I 
 resolved to lend my utmost, though feeble aid, to abate 
 this monster nuisance, and bring it before the bar of 
 public opinion. (Cheers.) I cannot understand, in- 
 deed, why the recovery of a legacy, and other like
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 263 
 
 claims, should be confined to chancery. The old 
 objection is urged, that it involves accounts; but this 
 is really no reply whatever. In the county courts, 
 where cases are under ^50 in amount, questions of 
 legacies, &c., are most satisfactorily and speedily 
 settled. And so in the common law courts a credit- 
 or of a deceased party can sue the executor for his 
 debt, though the same accounts and inquiries have to 
 be gone into as in the case of a legacy, with this 
 difference in the result, however, that the creditor 
 recovers his debt at law, but the legatee often loses 
 his legacy in chancery. (Cheers.) Every dispute 
 resolves itself either into some disputed point of fact 
 or law. In a question of fact, the best and natural 
 way of arriving at the truth always is by a hearing of 
 the parties and their witnesses in the presence of the 
 judge. (Cheers.) One great grievance of the court 
 was keeping up the continual system of appeal and 
 reference from judge to judge, which, as the opinion 
 of only a single judge is taken at each step, is never 
 conclusive. And now to refer to the changes which 
 are proposed by the Royal Commissioners, in their able 
 report on the system of chancery procedure, and 
 which are certainly a vast amendment, though, in my 
 humble opinion, not quite complete. Seeing that 
 those who are to carry out the reform are all 
 connected with the Court of Chancery, we must do 
 our best to insure that the outward pressure is not 
 discontinued until a substantial measure is carried. 
 (Cheers.) Some high chancery authorities have 
 expressed themselves as exceedingly opposed to the 
 appointment of any more judges of the court. But 
 why ? The salaries paid to a few more judges would
 
 264 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 be a mere nothing compared with the general burthens 
 of a court whose costs are computed to amount to 
 millions a year, and which would, by that means, to a 
 considerable extent, be got rid of. If there are to be 
 no more judges, then farewell to the chance of getting 
 the evidence taken orally before the judges them- 
 selves, as they would not have numerical strength to 
 accomplish this. If you ask how it could be effected 
 in any case, I say let the number of judges be increased, 
 and let some go on circuit or sit at some of 
 of the large towns so as to take the evidence 
 of parties and their witnesses in the country as well 
 as in London. (Cheers.) This would be the effectual 
 and apparently obvious course. Indeed, now that plain- 
 tiff and defendant are made competent and compellable 
 witnesses in an action, I can see no good reason why 
 the jurisdiction of the common law courts should not 
 be extended to the recovery of a legacy under a will, 
 a share under an intestacy, or a partnership account. 
 A simple lawto this effect would mainly relieve the people 
 from the incubus of chancery, as to the main subject 
 of abuse, by enabling them to resort to a more speedy 
 and economical tribunal. (Hear.) The law of 
 England professes the highest consideration 
 for the poor; but this system seems entirely 
 for the rich, as its fees are on the same scale 
 in a dispute for 500 as for 500,000. The law also 
 professes consideration for those widows or children 
 who, by sudden bereavement, have lost their natural 
 protectors, and become in some measure dependent 
 on executors and trustees. It is exactly such parties 
 who are most frequently and most ruinously submitted 
 to the tender mercies of chancery. If people could
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 265 
 
 please themselves, it would be one thing; but they 
 are forced into the vortex whether they please or no. 
 (Hear, hear.) Nor is it only the amount lost by the 
 process, but often the whole means of the parties are 
 removed from their power, at a time of life when it 
 would be of the utmost importance, nay of necessity, 
 to them. (Cheers.) The precepts of equity which 
 this court enforces on others, it frequently in practice 
 violates itself; vast sums of money remain within its 
 power unaccounted for, which have been abandoned 
 by the parties in despair. It prescribes to trustees to 
 pay interest on moneys lying in their hands ; but the 
 Court of Chancery pays no interest itself for the millions 
 often uninvested in its possession. (Hear.) I rem- 
 ember some time since, on going over to Dublin, Mr. 
 W. W. Simpson, the stout auctioneer, with a number 
 of boxes, landed with us ; on reaching shore, one of 
 the Irish cabmen almost carried him and his boxes off 
 by force. "Do you know who I am?" said he, 
 angrily enough. " No faith, your honour." " Why, 
 I'm W. VV. Simpson, the great auctioneer, and I'm 
 come to sell half Ireland." Ah faith, your honour," 
 said the cabman, " ye need'nt do that, for she's sould 
 already." (Cheers.) He might well say this, when 
 at that time, before the Incumbered Estates' Act, a 
 considerable portion of Ireland was in Chancery. 
 (Cheers.) But I see in the tone of the public mind, 
 and in this meeting, that the spirit of truth is awake, 
 and that the country will no longer permit justice to 
 be dishonoured under the name of equity (cheers) ; 
 and although we cannot reinstate the ruined, or 
 recall the departed -still the future is before us ; and 
 I trust it may be the boast of this association, that
 
 266 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 among others in this good work, it stood between the 
 dead and the living, that this plague of chancery 
 might be stayed. (Cheers.) Mr. Challinor concluded 
 by seconding the resolution, which was carried. 
 
 From the MONA'S HERALD, AND FARGHER'S 
 ISLE OF MAN ADVERTISER, 
 Wednesday, March ^oth, 
 
 LEGISLATION. 
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 As "the law's delay" is now engaging not only 
 the public mind, but the earnest attention of the 
 British Legislature, every aid should be afforded to 
 the efforts of amendment. We have seen nothing 
 written upon the subject more to the point than a 
 speech of W. Challinor, Esq., of Leek, made at a 
 meeting of the Chancery Reform Association in Lon- 
 don. This gentleman received a portion of his classical 
 education at King William's College on this Island, 
 and he may be remembered by many here, who will 
 take a still deeper interest in his efforts to cure law 
 defects, from the recollections of auld lang syne. 
 The speech is given above.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 267 
 
 The following is a letter addressed by the same gen- 
 tleman to the Secretary of the Chancery Commission : 
 
 Leek, March 2nd, 1853. 
 
 Sir, Observing that the Chancery Commission has 
 been again continued, I venture most respectfully to 
 trouble you with a few remarks which have arisen 
 chiefly on the recent Chancery Amendment Act, 15 
 and 16 Viet., c. 36. 
 
 i. Under Section 32 of this Act, relating to viva 
 voce evidence before an examiner, it is provided, that 
 whenever a witness objects to any question, it shall 
 be taken down by the examiner and transmitted to 
 the Record Office the validity of the objection, and 
 the costs consequent upon it, to be decided by the 
 Court alone. 
 
 Under this clause (not recommended I think in its 
 present shape by the last Commission) it would 
 appear, that if a man has a purse long enough to meet 
 the cost, he may object and delay almost ad infinitum. 
 
 Why not give the examiner power to decide all 
 such questions as may arise, " in the first instance," 
 subject to appeal at the risk of costs ? And why not 
 also give power to the Vice-Chancellor of referring 
 certain questions of account and other matters (at 
 least in the country) to the County Court Judges 
 this would be the greatest imaginable boon in country 
 causes of moderate amount, which will not bear the 
 expense of the present centralized system, and two 
 sets of solicitors; and where gross injustice and 
 delay often arises from the vicarious management of 
 London agents, who have little real interest in the 
 clients, and are rarely well-informed of the minutiae 
 and bearings of the case. 
 
 R 2
 
 268 CHANCERY REFORM. 
 
 A Bill to this effect, was, I think, introduced by 
 Lord Brougham ; but, being opposed in certain quar- 
 ters, has not yet passed into law. 
 
 2. If the investigation of disputed facts in the 
 Court of Chancery is not to be taken in the most 
 efficacious way, viz., by bringing the litigant parties 
 and their witnesses face to face before the Judge him- 
 self who has to decide the cause might not " an 
 option " at least be wisely given to suitors, of pre- 
 ferring certain suits in the " Courts of Common Law," 
 which have at present been restricted to Chancery ? 
 In the County Courts this has been accomplished as 
 to sums under ,50, with the most beneficial effect 
 and I cannot see why this jurisdiction might not be 
 further extended and why a legatee for instance, 
 should not be able to recover his legacy with much 
 the same facility, as a creditor can now recover his 
 debt from the estate of a deceased testator as in 
 both cases, similar questions of account are involved. 
 
 3. If however none of the above amendments are 
 made I venture humbly to submit, that in conse- 
 quence of the abolition of the Master's Offices, and 
 the additional business occurring from recent legis- 
 lation, an increase of the judicial staff in the Courts 
 of Chancery must be provided ; and that the saving 
 of expense and delay to the suitors by this course, 
 will infinitely exceed the additional cost of such 
 appointments to the public. 
 
 I take the liberty of enclosing a report of a meet- 
 ing at Exeter Hall, in which many of the above points 
 are enlarged upon. 
 
 I am, Sir, your most obedt. humble servt, 
 
 W. CHALLINOR.
 
 CHANCERY REFORM. 269 
 
 P.S. The present system of taxing costs and the 
 mode in which the costs of all parties whether suc- 
 cessful or unsuccessful are as a general rule allowed 
 out of the estate on litigation, are also fruitful sources 
 of delay and expense. 
 
 The following is the reply of the Master of the 
 Rolls, chairman of the Chancery Commission, to the 
 above letter : 
 
 "Rolls, 4th March, 1853. 
 
 " Sir, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter, and of the report of your observations at the 
 Meeting at Exeter Hall, respecting Chancery Reform, 
 both of which I have read with much interest, and 
 which contain suggestions proper to be maturely 
 considered, and which I will lay before the Chancery 
 Commission. I am, &c., 
 
 "\V. Challinor, Esq. " JOHN ROMlLLY,"
 
 270 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 Saturday, February 2nd, 1850. 
 
 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 
 
 ] ROWDED as our columns are this 
 week with several subjects of press- 
 ing interest, we can do little more 
 than direct the attention of our read- 
 ers to the very copious report which 
 appears in our seventh and eighth pages of the pro- 
 ceedings of the half-yearly meeting of the North 
 Staffordshire Railway Company, held on Wednesday 
 last at Stoke-upon-Trent. It being known that it 
 was the intention of the dissentient shareholders to 
 propose, as an amendment to the motion for the re- 
 ception of the Directors' Report, the appointment of 
 a Committee of Enquiry with the most ample powers, 
 the Chairman, in his opening remarks, made a very 
 able vindication of the course pursued by the directors; 
 he concluded by declaring that while the directors 
 would not object to the most rigid scrutiny into finan- 
 cial matters and details of management, they would 
 resign their trust to others rather than be hampered 
 and embarrassed by supervision in their negoci- 
 ations and external relations. The Chairman's address 
 lasted an hour and a half and told powerfully on the 
 meeting. The amendment was then proposed in 
 some very temperate remarks by Major Gen. Briggs,
 
 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 271 
 
 of the London Committee, and seconded in a long 
 and able speech by Mr. Challinor, solicitor, of Leek, 
 who warned the meeting against being deterred from 
 the appointment of a committee by any threat of 
 resignation. After considerable discussion, General 
 Briggs signified his disposition so to modify the 
 amendment as to obviate the objections of the chair- 
 man, and this course being reluctantly acquiesced in 
 by its seconder and supporters, it underwent the 
 requisite alterations by the secretary, and passed 
 without opposition. The powers of the committee 
 do not extend beyond inquiry into financial matters 
 and details of management. The meeting lasted 
 from one till half-past five, and was held in the large 
 Granary Building- the ordinary Board Room being 
 too small for the concourse of shareholders and others 
 numbering upwards of 700, The following is an 
 extract from the opening of Mr. Challinor's speech 
 on the occasion : 
 
 Mr. Challinor, of Leek, then rose, and turning him- 
 self towards the body of shareholders, said I have 
 been deputed by the Committee of Shareholders in 
 this undertaking, including all those who for the last 
 year or two have been fighting the battle of economy 
 and abandonment of useless branches, to second the 
 amendment proposed by Major-General Briggs. I 
 wish it had fallen to someone of greater ability and 
 influence than myself to perform this difficult task ; 
 but I throw 7 myself on the kind indulgence and 
 patience of the meeting, and will endeavour to give a 
 connected view of the leading facts of the past and 
 of your present position. One thing is certain we 
 cannot well make matters worse than they are, except,
 
 272 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 
 
 indeed, by allowing the projects of the present direct- 
 ors to be carried out (hear) and I think no unpre- 
 judiced mind can for a moment deny that the time 
 has arrived when it becomes imperative on the share- 
 holders of this great company to look a little after 
 their own interests, and to take some part in the 
 management of their own concerns' (hear and 
 applause) our great object being to endeavour to 
 retrieve our present disastrous position, and I trust 
 you will allow no threat of resignation to deter you 
 from taking this course. (Hear, hear.) And now to 
 clear my way from the remark of the chairman, as to 
 my having conducted an adverse project, I can only 
 say that when the North Staffordshire Railway was 
 projected, seeing the strange system of parallel lines 
 and branches included in it, we at Leek doubted very 
 much if it was the real intention to make the line by 
 Leek. We accordingly applied to the directors to 
 consent to a compulsory clause, which was refused. 
 We then, as a matter of protection to ourselves, took 
 up an adverse scheme ; and though we lost that, we 
 were successful in procuring the clause originally 
 sought for, and the construction of the Churnet line 
 by Leek. This was the part I am proud of having 
 taken for the benefit of my native town.
 
 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 273 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 Saturday, August ^rd, 1850. 
 
 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY COMPANY. 
 
 On the 24th July, 1850, at the meeting of Directors 
 and Shareholders held at the Board Room, Stoke, to 
 consider the report of the committee of investigation, 
 
 Mr. Challinor, after some preliminary remarks said, 
 This, gentlemen, is a nost wonderful railway. It re- 
 minds one of the celebrated cup of the great wizard 
 of the north, into which the audience may put any 
 amount of money, and yet may be a long time before 
 they see anythingof it more. (Cheers.) Its branches, like 
 many other olive branches, take a good deal to support 
 them ; indeed there is one in the direction of Sand- 
 bach utterly deserted by its parents, without trade, 
 grass-grown, rusting, neglected, and unknown. 
 (Cheers.) The directors have often attacked my 
 friend, Mr. Twigg, for the able and energetic manner 
 in which he has opposed their branches and 
 expenditure, but I question if an open opponent is 
 not better than a treacherous ally, like the branch to 
 Sandbach. To parody the celebrated lines about 
 a treacherous friend, I think the directors might well 
 say : 
 
 Give us a Twigg, unyielding, bold, and staunch. 
 But save, oh save us from a useless branch. 
 After some remarks and reading the circulars, Mr. 
 Challinor proceeded. Now, you will at once see that
 
 274 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 
 
 most of the statements in our circular have turned out 
 correct (hear, hear) and that the whole of the 
 objects proposed to be effected by the circular for the 
 good of this company have been substantially carried 
 out. We carried the committee of inquiry the 
 branches and extensions complained of have been 
 abandoned the Chancery suit has been settled and 
 an amicable adjustment come to with the North West- 
 ern Company ; and as to the question of economy 
 the directors have this day come forward with a 
 unanimous offer on the part of the officers of the com- 
 pany to submit to a reduction of their salaries. 
 (Cheers.) Having, then, accomplished the whole of 
 our mission, we have, I think, little else to do on this 
 occasion than to resign our trust into your hands. 
 We could not really serve you by furnishing you with 
 glittering prospects which may never be fulfilled, and 
 neglecting to reduce the heavy salaries and expenses 
 of this company. We have endeavoured to perform 
 faithfully and temperately the duties with which we 
 have been entrusted ; we have performed our duty 
 towards you ; it now only remains for you to exercise 
 a proper vigilance as to the future, and to do your 
 duty to yourselves. (Cheers.)
 
 Further Memoranda and Anecdotes connected 
 \viih the late MR. MATTHEW GAUNT, and some 
 oilier local worthies. 
 
 
 N my early days, when I was articled as 
 clerk to my late father, about 1837, I 
 well remember my father being great- 
 ly amused with Mr. Matthew (jaunt 
 at times. He then lived with his mother 
 
 at Highfield, near Leek, and had unfortunately broken 
 his nose, having been thrown out of a trap he was 
 driving down the hill on the turnpike road leading 
 from Highfield towards Leek. This certainly added 
 a certain peculiarity of a comical kind to his appear- 
 ance. He had at that time recently gone to the Bar, 
 having previously practised as a Solicitor, and when 
 at the Bar, he occupied chambers jointly with Mr. 
 Maule, Q.C., who had been Senior Wrangler, and 
 afterwards became a Judge, and with Mr. Lumley, 
 who -became Counsel afterwards to the Poor Law 
 Board. He amused my father by telling him he con- 
 sidered Maule, Lumley and he could win any honest 
 
 S
 
 276 ANECDOTES. 
 
 cause in England. At that time Mr. Maule, after 
 business hours used to be diverted by some of Mr. 
 Gaunt's original sayings, which Mr. M. called 
 " Gauntiana." 
 
 As regards Mr. Gaunt's proficiency as a Barrister 
 he did not excel, and got very little business. He 
 had a fair knowledge of law, but it was very mis- 
 cellaneous, and his mind seemed like an ill-arranged 
 library there was a good deal there, but he frequent- 
 ly could not remember or lay his hands on what he 
 wanted. When he spoke he had a trick of knocking 
 his books or papers about in Court, which by no means 
 added to his facility of reference or to the neatness 
 of his address, and for many of his latter years he in 
 fact ceased to practise as a Barrister, having-indeed 
 no practice, and devoted himself to various pursuits, 
 rural, matrimonial or otherwise, including that of a 
 Magistrate, in which he sometimes differed with sev- 
 eral of his colleagues on the Bench, two or three of 
 them more especially he used to call " game Magis- 
 trates," being themselves interested in sporting, and 
 as he thought rather too hard on trespassers and 
 poachers. 
 
 I remember it was told to my father in reference 
 to some little cause Mr. Gaunt had at Stafford in 
 which he was employed as Counsel by Mr. Hales, a 
 Solicitor, who was almost as eccentric as himself 
 that when the case was called on, no Mr. Matthew 
 Gaunt was there, and Mr. Hales hurried in some 
 anxiety to his chambers and found Mr. Matthew with 
 his mouth wide open, and a large portion of bread 
 and egg being committed to that capacious repository.
 
 ANECDOTES. 277 
 
 Mr. Matthew said when able to use his tongue: 
 What now ? Mr. Hales replied : " My cause is called 
 on and may be lost in consequence of your absence, 
 and its one of the prettiest causes in England." 
 
 Mr. M. Gaunt had a very graphic, original, indeed, 
 Shakespearian mode of expression sometimes, which 
 will be noticed in some of the anecdotes I have been 
 able to recall, but many expressions and anecdotes 
 (not having made notes of them at the time) I am 
 unable to remember. 
 
 On one occasion, speaking of the peculiar circular 
 mode in which some persons cut cheese, he said it 
 was " spoke shaved." On another occasion, in allus- 
 ion to his having become prematurely grey and bald, 
 while his mother retained a comparatively youthful 
 appearance, he said he had been mistaken at a party 
 for his mother's father. I remember my father 
 being amused with his complaining that his mother 
 never gave him the first cut of anything at dinner, 
 unless it was the first slice of boiled beef. 
 
 He was a little hasty sometimes in wishing to satis- 
 fy his appetite, and coming in thirsty to Mr. Flint's 
 one evening he asked for a bowl of milk, and when it 
 came in he was in such a hurry that he missed his 
 mouth and the milk went all down his waistcoat. 
 
 I remember about the year 1845 ne took consider- 
 able interest in the promotion of railways, then 
 extensively going on in fact his ambition was a little 
 gratified by his being made a Director and provisional 
 Committee man of various railway projects, some of 
 which unfortunately led him into losses, and at one 
 time, a year or two later, he had several writs serVed 
 upon him tor amounts claimed as due from him in the
 
 ANECDOTES. 
 
 above capacities. Once he told me that Mr. Frank 
 Cruso, a local Solicitor, who did not generally visit 
 him, came to see him at Highfield, after a little pre- 
 liminary conversation, he heard, as he said, something 
 'cruckle' in Mr. F. Cruso's pocket he said, ''Out 
 with it Frank, for I know there's some parchment 
 there," upon which his friend pulled out a writ which 
 he said he was directed to serve on him, and w r hich, 
 in fact, was a legal process for a considerable amount 
 having several of these writs served upon 
 him about that time, which were more than he could 
 meet, he took flight to Boulogne, so as to be out of 
 the jurisdiction for a length of time, when several of 
 them gradually expired by effluxion of time, and 
 so he escaped some of the demands. 
 
 In reference to these troubles that he had about 
 railways, I recollect his saying from Hudibras : 
 " Ah me, what perils do environ, 
 
 The man that meddles with cold iron." 
 
 On one occasion he had a quarrel at Mr. Hacker's 
 with a tall Leek doctor, of the name of Robins. 
 They got into dispute about something, and both 
 waxing exceedingly warm and irate, they made it up 
 they'd fight a duel. Mr. Robins armed himself with 
 an immense horse pistol, and Mr. Matthew proceeded 
 to the house of his mother, who then lived in the 
 Market Place, he also laid hold of a large pistol, but 
 took care to let his mother know on what deadly 
 errand he was bent, and after a little delay, proceeded 
 towards Mr. Hacker's well knowing that his mother 
 followed at a little distance, who interposed with such 
 effect between the intended combatants, that the duel 
 never came off, I believe to Mr. Matthew's consider- 
 able content.
 
 ANECDOTES. 279 
 
 Some years after this he was greatly annoyed at 
 his mother's will, she having left the most part of her 
 property to his sister, Mrs. D . Mr. Flint, who was 
 one of the executors, and I, went up to Highfield and 
 found him in a great state of perturbation, and he 
 said it riled him past endurance to see pauper D , 
 as he called his sister's husband, sitting about at the 
 outside of Highfield as if he were owner of every- 
 thing. Mr. Flint said to him he ought to settle 
 matters with his sister, he said, " Settle, how can I 
 settle." Mr. Flint repeated, " you ought' to settle." 
 Mr. Matthew replying to the doctor who certainly 
 had marked eyebrows and a somewhat frowning fore- 
 head, " You wretched imitation of Abernethy, how 
 dare you talk to me in this manner." Ultimately Mrs. 
 D and he went to law, she claiming a large sum 
 from her brother, and the matter ultimately came 
 before the Master of the Rolls in Chancery. I 
 should mention that Mrs. D , his sister, commenced 
 proceedings in accordance with the opinion of Sir 
 Roundell Palmer, afterwards Lord Selborne, whom 
 Mr. Huggins, her Solicitor had consulted. Under the 
 advice of Mr. Skirrow, one of my London agents, I 
 retained Sir Roundell Palmer as Counsel for Mr. 
 Matthew, and in fact, to argue against his own opin- 
 ion which he afterwards did with success, and Sir 
 John Romilly gave judgement in favour of Mr. 
 Gaunt, which saved him from ruin. Afterwards other 
 proceedings were commenced by Mrs. D against 
 him, and he retained Mr. Bacon, afterwards Vice- 
 Chancellor, and Mr. Prior, as his Counsel. I remem- 
 ber when Mr. Gaunt and 1 went up to London before 
 the latter case came off for hearing, he was to see
 
 280 ANECDOTES. 
 
 after certain evidence and I to look after some other 
 matters before we consulted Counsel and agents in 
 reference to the cause. Mr. Matthew however, in- 
 stead of seeing to his part of the business, did a 
 number of miscellaneous things entirely unconnected 
 with it, and I admonished him a little about this, 
 which excited his great wrath, and he said he was not ' 
 to be talked to in that way by a country Attorney. 
 Prior to the consultation with his Counsel taking 
 place, he went into Court as he said to have some 
 consultation with Mr. Bacon, but by one of those 
 accidents that seemed to happen to him more than 
 others, he contrived to get to his opponent's Counsel 
 instead of his own, and 1 who was a little distance off 
 in the Court, was surprised to see Mr. Matthew's 
 head nodding about in some confusion, as a misunder- 
 standing of course arose, and he told the Counsel he 
 was speaking to, that he would fix a consultation with 
 him. He however, going by the Law Directory, fixed 
 a consultation at the chambers of his right Counsel, 
 Mr. Bacon, and a day or two afterwards, when it took 
 place, the real Mr. Bacon and Mr. Prior began to dis- 
 cuss the business. I remember Mr. Matthew sat on 
 one side of the chimney piece, and I on the other, 
 and he seemed in a state of bewilderment with his 
 mouth, wide open, looking at the door, and with such 
 an expression that I had to exert myself to the utmost 
 to avoid laughing aloud the fact was he did not be- 
 lieve the Mr. Bacon who was present was his real 
 Counsel thinking the gentleman he had met in Court 
 to have been Mr. Bacon till at last Mr. Prior 
 addressed his colleague as Mr. Bacon, when Mr. 
 Matthew suddenly jumped up and said, Good G are
 
 ANECDOTES. 281 
 
 you Mr. Bacon, and that gentleman replied : ' Who 
 else should I be, havn't you fixed a consultation 
 with me ? ' upon which Mr. Matthew exclaimed how 
 he had mistaken the other Counsel in Court for him, 
 and then he emerged from his state of bewildered 
 silence into a volley of remarks and exclamations, 
 the chief burden of which was that his sister's 
 Attorney Mr. Huggiris had committed arson, and 
 ought to be prosecuted, which had little or nothing to 
 do with the matter on hand, and Counsel evidently 
 considered they had an extraordinary client to deal 
 with, and the consultation terminated. 
 
 1 remember a rather amusing incident occurring on 
 our return from the above consultation to the general 
 lodging house in the Strand where Mr. Gaunt lodged , 
 not far from St. Clement Dane's Church. There were 
 various lodgers at this house, which was four 
 or live stories high, and they used to breakfast 
 together in the morning in the general room, but gen- 
 erally for convenience dined elsewhere in town near 
 their respective places of resort or occupation, not 
 returning until tea time in the evening. I recollect 
 Mr. Gaunt went upstairs towards his bedroom, and 
 after a' short time I heard a strong altercation going 
 on, on the landing between himself and the landlady, 
 when shortly he came downstairs to me and said : 
 " William, I'm going from this place the fact is that 
 in the middle of the day, when the visitors are out, a 
 number of ladies come ostensibly for some lunch in 
 the general dining room, but in fact, my bedroom 
 happening to adjoin that room, they generally troop 
 into it, and fill every wash basin, &c., full -brimming 
 full and when I want to wash my hands I have
 
 282 ANECDOTES. 
 
 really no chance of doing so, and I've told the landlady 
 that I must lock my door and take away the key to 
 prevent this, and she says she can't have that and 
 lose custom so I told her I could'nt stand it other- 
 wise and I'm going to leave sharp, and accordingly 
 he went off bag and baggage to another lodging. 
 
 I may mention that a little before this, another 
 scene took place at the Middle Temple Library, to 
 which Inn of Court Mr. Gaunt and I both belonge:!. 
 I having at one time thought of going to the Bar. 
 Mr. Gaunt, wishing to look up some law cases con- 
 nected with his cause went to that Library the 
 Librarian was an elderly grumpy man, and endeavour- 
 ed rather rigidly to enforce the rules of silence which 
 were enjoined there. Mr. Gaunt asked first for one 
 book and then for another, and in his usual way tum- 
 bled them about, and was not very silent, when the 
 surly Librarian came up and told him he must be more 
 quiet and not mess the books. Mr. Matthew asked 
 him if he knew who he was speaking to, a Barrister 
 of long standing and a Magistrate the Librarian 
 replied, he neither knew nor cared who he was, but 
 he must insist upon order and quietude. At this Mr. 
 G. was very angry, when the Librarian demanded 
 that he should produce his card showing him to be a 
 member ot the Middle Temple. Mr. G. asked how 
 could he carry all his credentials about with him, and 
 that he ought to know him. The dispute at last ran 
 so high that Mr. Gaunt jumping up, said he would let 
 the Librarian know about abusing him in that way, 
 and would have him up before his betters. He accor- 
 dingly proceeded to the Middle Temple Offices, and 
 finding there would be a meeting of the Benchers
 
 ANECDOTES. 283 
 
 there next day, gave notice that he should attend and 
 prefer a complaint against the Librarian. According- 
 ly the next day he and I attended at the meeting of 
 the Benchers, at which Mr. Gaunt and the Librarian 
 appeared as complainant and defendant respectively. 
 I do not exactly remember what passed, but the scene 
 reminded me of some of Mr. Pickwick's well-known 
 appearances in Court. Mr. Gaunt, in fact, was not 
 unlike a less innocent and rather more angry Pick- 
 wick, spectacles and all. The Benchers, as well as 
 myself, had considerable difficulty in keeping our 
 countenances, at the scene at once strange and un- 
 usual the Librarian in his surly and somewhat Jack 
 in office mode being almost as remarkable as Mr. 
 Gaunt -but this I know that I cannot well forget the 
 scene. The Benchers in conclusion endeavouring to 
 pacify Mr. Gaunt's offended dignity, slightly 
 admonished their Librarian to be somewhat more 
 considerate in the duties of his office in future. 
 
 One appointment which Mr. M. Gaunt obtained I 
 think, through his friend Judge Maule, was that of 
 revising Barrister of voters in Wales. I remember 
 some little time before going down he was studying 
 the law on the subject he took my brother Joseph 
 with him, then a very young man, as a 
 sort of assistant or secretary. He started by the 
 coach with his luggage and a tin box containing his 
 wig, gown, &c., for, 1 think, Ruthin, in Wales, where 
 hi* first revising Court was to be held. My brother 
 and he proceeded by coach on which were a number 
 of passengers, and which had to go by several stages 
 to Ruthin. During the first stage Mr. Matthew and 
 my brother got down in order to walk up a longish 
 
 S 2
 
 284 ANECDOTES. 
 
 hill, as did other passengers, but as he walked but 
 slowly, when the coach got to the top of the hill, Mr. 
 M. G. was about half way up, and to his consternation, 
 and in spite of his cries and gesticulations, the coach- 
 man flogged on his horses and proceeded on the" 
 journey without him. Mr. Matthew made his 
 way to the top of the hill as fast as he 
 could, but saw the coach being driven rap- 
 idly along at a hopeless distance ' from: him. His 
 anger and annoyance were unbounded, and he indul- 
 ged in various expletives. I forget whether he or my 
 brother had to walk to the next town and there get a 
 vehicle, or whether they took one up on the road, but 
 ultimately they managed to get to Ruthin and to the 
 Sun where the coach finally stopped, and the land- 
 lord, who was manager of it lived. Mr. G. at once 
 came down on the landlord very irately and told him 
 he must forthwith find his luggage and tin box con- 
 taining his wig and gown the landlord said he really 
 did not know where they were. Mr. Matthew replied, 
 he must find them. "Do you think" said he, " that I, a 
 Barrister and Magistrate of the county, and appointed 
 by Government to be Judge of the Revision Court 
 here, am come down to Wales to be humbugged by a 
 beggarly Welshman ?" and he looked at the man like 
 an infuriated Pickwick the landlord at last said he'd 
 do his best to find them, and after some search his 
 luggage and box were found and his mind set com- 
 paratively at ease, and it was time for the Revision 
 Court was to be held next day. 
 
 I remember my brother telling me that just before 
 Mr. Gaunt entered the Court House for the Revision 
 next morning, he suddenly stopped, and said he must
 
 ANECDOTES. 285 
 
 go back to look at a particular law book he had, show- 
 ing his powers as a Revising Barrister, for he said : 
 "You know these Welsh Attorneys are very impudent 
 sometimes, and if they are so, I want to see exactly 
 my powers to commit them for contempt of Court." 
 He held this appointment of Revising Barrister 
 for some years, and it formed a nice addition to his 
 rather limited income. He told me that several limes 
 as he grew older certain other Barristers had been in- 
 triguing he believed against him, trying to get the 
 appointment, he said : " William, you've sometimes 
 seen a dog at a butcher's stall in the Market Place 
 who has got hold of a good bone, and sure as fate 
 ther'll be other dogs after him trying to snatch away 
 some of the spoil." 
 
 He was not particularly sympathetic with his 
 mother in any little difficulties she had about some 
 land she held in hand near Highfield, or the Crops. 
 When he was in his study and among his books, it 
 was not easy at all times to obtain his attention, or 
 get him out from them. In a rather wet 
 season I recollect a farmer friend of his condoled 
 with him about his mother's hay which was 
 out in the meadow getting rather spoiled. 
 "Oh my friend, said he, you need not trouble your- 
 self about that, for she'll mix the good with the bad, 
 and make the hay go the farther." 
 
 On one occasion, when in London, I remember he 
 told me that if you kept your eyes pretty well fixed 
 on the pavement of Fleet Street, the Strand or some 
 other principal streets, you'd be pretty sure now and 
 then to find something better than pins. He then 
 proceeded to shew me a small gold chain and pencil
 
 286 ANECDOTES. 
 
 case he had picked up in the Strand. 1 asked him if 
 he intended to advertise them, but he said he did not 
 see the necessity, as possibly there might be an 
 advertisement for them in the papers. Early one 
 morning, when we were both sleeping at the Tavis- 
 tock Hotel, Covent Garden, he came into my bedroom, 
 and I saw him turning round before the looking glass 
 with a pair of splendid scarlet braces on he said he 
 had awakened a short time ago and thought he saw 
 something red in a small hole in the wall opposite his 
 bed. He however shut his eyes again, thinking it 
 might be fancy, but on opening them later on he 
 thought he could not be deceived, and getting on a 
 chair so as to reach the hole, he said he had pulled 
 out the spic and span scarlet pair of braces I saw. 
 I asked him what he intended to do with them he 
 said he did not know, but he supposed it was like 
 Treasure Trove which the finder might appropriate. 
 
 On some occasions I have seen him buy cod fish and 
 other large fish at the Market stall, which he used to 
 double, up in rather curious fashion and ram into his 
 black carpet bag. On another occasion he bought 
 some eggs, and some time afterwards, when I went 
 into the News Room, I found he had unfortunately 
 sat on them, as was manifest, from certain appear- 
 ances under the chair. 
 
 He was fond now and then of reciting pieces out 
 of Shakespeare and other poets, and created quite a 
 sensation, I remember once or twice by repeating 
 Othello's apology after having had his face blacked 
 with burnt cork. He also used to sing a variety of 
 songs one being called : "Dumb, dumb, dumb," from 
 the circumstance of a wife who had become dumb
 
 ANECDOTES. 287 
 
 regaining the use of her tongue again, so that the 
 poor husband rather lamented her recovery the end 
 of the song being " Oh he'd give anything again if she 
 was dumb, dumb, dumb." 
 
 Once on going to the Old Parish Church with Mr. 
 M. G. we sat in the pew he usually occupied under 
 the west gallery ; as we stood up during one of the 
 hymns he leant rather heavily against the 
 pew door, the fastening of which happened to 
 give way, and he fell across the narrow aisle, and 
 his head went through a door slightly open into the 
 opposite pew, to the no small surprise of its occupants. 
 
 Towards the latter part of Mr. Gaunt's life he 
 gradually became somewhat weaker in mind and 
 more uncertain and untidy in his habits, and just 
 towards the last, he had an attendant for some 
 little time. One peculiarity, which displayed itself 
 a few years before he died, was that he took a fancy 
 to riding on a donkey rather than on a pony or horse, 
 his liking in this respect being known, several don- 
 keys made their appearance on a few occasions at 
 the Abbey Cottage, near Leek, where he lived, in 
 order that he might select one. In order to get the 
 requisite speed or go out of them, he had a very large 
 pair of spurs which I suppose belonged to some an- 
 cestor of his, and which, from their length and size, a 
 friend of his called persuaders. 
 
 On one occasion he asked the Rev. Mr. Grant and 
 Mr. Edmund Tennant, of the Potteries, to come and 
 shoot with him, having got an invitation for them to 
 shoot at Hillswood, near Leek, from Mr. Worthington. 
 He, Mr. G. himself not carrying a gun. Before 
 starting he showed them a very fine donkey he then
 
 288 ANECDOTES. 
 
 had, and putting on his great spurs he mounted it in 
 the stable, and thoughtlessly giving it a spur instead 
 of going straight out of the door, it suddenly wheeled 
 or rather whizzed round, and threw its rider on the 
 ground his two friends having a great tendency to 
 laugh, which they afterwards indulged in, when they 
 saw the dishevelled justice rise uninjured but in sorry 
 plight, from the stable floor. 
 
 For years Mr. Gaunt and his donkey were well- 
 known objects on the highways about Leek and Hor- 
 ton. He subsequently bought some fields at Horton, 
 one of which adjoined the Rudyard Lake, and he built a 
 house on one of the fields and a boat house adjoining 
 the Lake. At this house he lived till his death which 
 happened in the year 1873. The house was some what 
 elevated, and had a fine view down the valley with 
 Leek in the distance about three miles off. He was 
 fond of taking out young ladies or girls on the Lake 
 when parties of them were about, and getting them 
 rowed by any byestanders. On the field near the 
 boat house he had an upright stone worked like those 
 we see in grave yards, on which he placed the follow- 
 ing inscription, from Shenstone : 
 
 O you that bathe in courtlye blysse, 
 Or toyle in fortune's giddy spheare, 
 
 Do not too rashlye deeme amyss, 
 Of him that bydes contented here. 
 
 Nor yet disdeign the russet stoale, 
 
 Which o'er each carelesse lymbe he flyngs, 
 
 Nor yet deryde the beechen bowle, 
 
 In which he quaffs, the limpid springs.
 
 .\\HCDOTES. 289 
 
 Forgive him, if at eve or dawn, 
 
 Devoide of worldlye cark he straye, 
 Or all beside some flowerye lawne, 
 
 He waste his inoffensive daye. 
 
 So may he pardonne fraude and strife, 
 
 If such in courtlye haunt he see, 
 For faults there beene in busye life, 
 
 From whyche these peaceful glennes are free. 
 
 Some years before his death he pointed out to me a 
 field near Wallbridge and the Churnet. "Ah, he said." 
 " I remember when one of my cousins, who was. then 
 very beautiful, and with whom I was in love, having 
 all eyes for handsome R. S., and none for me. I felt 
 I should like to horsewhip him, but now her beauty's 
 gone over the hedge and my love's gone after it." 
 
 Unfortunately being at times in somewhat trouble- 
 some mood, he attacked neighbours of his who 
 became so offended, that they built a house in a 
 field of their' s opposite to the one he had built and 
 partially blocked his view. This house which still 
 exists some of the people about called " Spite Hall." 
 
 He also had a dispute on one occasion with the 
 landlord of the Rudyard Hotel because he insisted 
 upon using a footpath near the Hotel which the land- 
 lord said was not a public one, but Mr. Gaunt asserted 
 it was, and he once or twice broke open a wicket 
 gate to maintain his right. The landlord to prevent 
 this, either placed or caused a report to be spread 
 that he had placed some explosive crackers or fire- 
 works close to the gate so that the justice might suffer 
 corporal damage if he attempted to pass through I 
 forget exactly what happened after this, but I believe
 
 290 ANECDOTES. 
 
 he threatened proceedings and ultimately the matter 
 came before the magistrates who spoke of binding 
 one or both of the parties over to keep the peace 
 towards one another. 
 
 It has been suggested to me that I should endeavour 
 to recall and record any local anecdotes I can think 
 of as to a few other Leek personages, these, however, 
 I am afraid will be but few. 
 
 I remember in my early days that we had several 
 rich old gentlemen who played at what is called 
 " Little finger hold it fast," and looked on the saving 
 of money as perhaps the grand desideratum of life. 
 Two of them more especially I recollect seldom or 
 never went to Church, except it was to attend a 
 funeral, when they became thereby the owners of a 
 silk scarf and hat band. 
 
 If a subscription were being got up in the Town 
 whether by the Clergy or others, and whether for 
 Church or other purposes, these old gentlemen used 
 to have a private understanding between themselves 
 that they would not give and if the collectors called, 
 for instance, upon Mr. S , he would say to them, 
 What has Mr. P given ? and if they went to 
 Mr. P he would enquire, What has Mr. S given ? 
 and under this device and falling as it were between 
 two stools, the applicants rarely got any subscription 
 from them. In the course of time one of them, Mr. S , 
 died, and I remember being in the Leek Newsroom 
 in which were Mr. P and Mr. H (the philosophic 
 partner of the late Mr. S ), when Mr. H , after 
 observing how few persons were following the funeral, 
 and that it did not seem to create much sensation 
 when a rich man died, Mr. H observed to him,
 
 ANECDOTES. 291 
 
 "Sensation, why there is'nt a more contemptible thing 
 than for a man to die rich the truly honourable thing 
 is to spend a moderate part of your income in 
 the necessaries of life, and to apply the 
 remainder for the benefit of the poor and needy. 
 This, he said, was the truly honourable thing to do." 
 Mr. P , I may say, took himself off soon after these 
 observations were made. Sometime afterwards one 
 of the Mr. P's was not very well, and fancied that 
 people were robbing him, and was troubled because 
 he thought his tenants asked for more repairs than he 
 could afford. I recollect Mr. F , an old family doc- 
 tor, said to him, " Ah Mr. P , the disease called 
 ' Timor Paupertatis ' never attacks any but the rich," 
 and begged of him not to give way to this fear of 
 poverty, but to do what was requisite for his tenants. 
 
 I should mention that Mr. P who survived his 
 brother and other relatives, had left most of his per- 
 sonalty to a nephew, but had not mentioned the 
 nephew's children in his will. Mr. P , in his latter 
 years became the victim of many fears on the subject 
 of poverty, and had other delusions, so that the nep- 
 hew had him placed under charge of a keeper, but 
 happening himself to die some months before Mr. P , 
 his uncle, under the circumstances of the will which 
 had simply made the bequest to the nephew without 
 mentioning his children, the nephew's children got 
 nothing, and the personalty went to the testator's 
 nieces and next of kin. Mr. P it is believed would have 
 altered his will to meet the altered circumstances, but 
 having been made a lunatic he could not legally do so. 
 
 Another of my old friends, Mr. H , of the Potter- 
 ies, gave another instance by his will of the romance 
 
 T
 
 292 ANECDOTES. 
 
 of the law. He left the whole of a large accumulated 
 property, real and personal, to a distant fourth cousin 
 who lived with him, but in about two years 
 after Mr. H 's death, the distant cousin died 
 without children, and the realty went to his heiress- 
 at-law, and the personalty among some poor distant 
 relatives third cousins all of whom he had intended 
 to leave out of his will. 
 
 Mr. S , who for many years acted as a 
 County Magistrate in and about Leek, was well- 
 known for his love of building, his tendency to go to 
 law, and his pertinacity in carrying it out. He had 
 had lawsuits with most of those who owned property 
 round his own estate, and at length made a claim to 
 have a fence altered between his land and that of his 
 neighbours Messrs. P , who were old, rich, and 
 timid, and had a horror of law. When Mr. S threat- 
 ened that unless they allowed the fence to be taken 
 further into their land, he should commence legal 
 proceedings, they appointed a meeting with 
 him at the locus in quo when there they said to him, 
 " Mr. S , we believe the fence is where it ought to 
 be, but rather than have any lawsuit about the 
 matter, we beg you will mark out where you think the 
 fence should be and take as much of our land as you 
 think proper." Mr. S told me of this and said he 
 found it impossible to fight with such cowards, and he 
 let the fence remain where it was. I mentioned 
 this anecdote to the Directors of the North Stafford 
 Co., on their having some trivial dispute with 
 Mr. S , about the boundary of a small bit of 
 land near Froghall, the consequence was, they gave 
 way a little, and the matter was settled on my medi-
 
 ANECDOTES. 293 
 
 ation. Mr. S told me afterwards that he did not 
 thank me, inasmuch as it would have furnished him 
 with a winter or two's amusement to have had a law- 
 suit with the Company. 
 
 I remember an old relative of mine, who having 
 had a rather serious complaint, and not expecting to 
 live very long, had obtained an insurance on his life, 
 but which only lasted for seven years. When that 
 period approached, and he still continued living, he 
 seemed to experience in one sense some regret, and 
 that he or his representatives should have no benefit 
 from the insurance, and he told me of an old-landed 
 gentleman, of penurious habits, he knew, not far off, 
 who was taken very ill, and towards the last he asked 
 his doctor if he had much chance of recovery, the 
 medical man shook his head and intimated that he 
 feared there was but little hope, the patient then 
 said, " Oh, doctor, what a pity, and all lapping up so 
 fast." 
 
 Among our Leek characters, not to say celebrities, 
 was Mr. William C , who was descended from an 
 ancient family, who owned property at Upperhulme 
 and elsewhere, near Leek. Two of his ancestors 
 had been in the legal profession and achieved some 
 eminence therein. Mr. C e used to indulge in con- 
 siderable spleen and in personalities connected with 
 some of his fellow townsmen he entertained 
 considerable dislike to my father, who he imagined 
 had wronged him in his capacity as clerk to the 
 Commissioners of Taxes. 
 
 He was equally embittered against Mr. C o, of 
 Leek, who was also a Solicitor, he said, " Two of a 
 trade could seldom agree," and I remember on a
 
 294 ANECDOTES. 
 
 frosty day in the Market Place, when he was gesticu- 
 lating with his arms up and denouncing Mr. C o to 
 some bystanders, his foot suddenly slipped on the 
 ice, and the angry orator fell prone to the earth, 
 thereby creating some amusement. 
 
 In my young days we used to have bull-baiting and 
 bear-baiting at times in the Market Place. On one 
 occasion, as a certain gentleman appeared greatly to 
 enjoy the spectacle, Mr. S said to me, " Ah, that 
 individual is certainly stronger in the arms than in 
 the head." 
 
 As I was going with a friend to call on one not 
 quite right in the head, he enquired if we should 
 probably be admitted. I said, " It depends on the 
 state of the poll," not thinking at the moment of 
 any witticism in the expression. I then told him that 
 at the Isle of Man College, when I was young, one 
 of my school fellows of the name of S , who meant 
 to be a clergyman, had a very large hooked nose, so 
 much so, that the boys used to say when he preached 
 his first sermon, it should be from the text, " His 
 nose is as the crooked tower which looketh towards 
 Damascus." It was the duty of this youth to put out 
 the form for his class fellows when they went up to 
 their lesson. On one occasion, however, he omitted 
 doing this, when the master remarked, " S , you 
 have not set out the form." Oh, replied he, " It's 
 only a matter of form." The master added, " Well, 
 as the old adage says we sit upon forms, but stand upon 
 ceremonies." When at lunch with some ladies one 
 day, the conversation turned on the influence of the 
 fair sex. 1 said, you know the old saying, " Man is 
 the head, but woman is the neck that turns that
 
 ANECDOTES. 295 
 
 head," and I added, " I believe when I was young my 
 head was several times turned in that way." 
 
 I recollect hearing about a very stout lady, a West 
 Indian connection, who resided in lodgings in Liver- 
 pool with her two daughters many years ago. They 
 were from several reasons rather afraid of robbers, 
 and one night, when all three were in bed, they fan- 
 cied they heard someone in the room. The two 
 daughters alarmed, got out of bed and searched about 
 in the dark, and soon afterwards their mother also 
 got out, but in doing so, being so stout, and in some 
 haste and fear, she carried with her the bed clothes, 
 which getting entangled with her feet, she cried out, 
 " Oh, toe, toe, toe," and the daughters screamed out, 
 " Oh, they are cutting ma's toes off, they are cutting 
 ma's toes off." 
 
 I remember a Manchester Solicitor telling me that 
 there was one sight that always tickled him he thought 
 more than any other, and that was the expression of 
 the different faces of the creditors at a bankruptcy 
 meeting some irritated, some vindictive, some com- 
 paratively placid, and some gloomy in the extreme. 
 
 My father told me an anecdote of an old gentle- 
 man, a Mr. B , grandfather of a client of ours who 
 once lived in the Market Place, Leek. He had made 
 a considerable fortune by various means, among 
 others, by selling wool, &c., which was in those days, 
 about 1760, conveyed on mules backs by the Pack 
 Horse road (traces of which still exist), from Leek to 
 Buxton and Derbyshire, which goes up Wardle's 
 bank beyond Haregate. An old but very poor 
 acquaintance of his in reference to some conversation
 
 296 ANECDOTES. 
 
 between them about a subscription said to Mr. B , 
 " Why, you have enough." " Enough man," Mr. B 
 replied, " There is no enough," on which his friend 
 said, " I dare do one thing nearly every day, Mr. B ; , 
 that you durs'nt, I dare spend my last shilling." 
 
 A boy once said in going to school he disliked it so 
 much, that he took two steps backwards to one for- 
 ward. His uncle said to him, " How then did you 
 get there?" "Why," said the boy, "I turned my 
 back on it." Another boy who was very stupid, sur- 
 prised his father by telling him that he was the top of 
 his class. His father said, " How could that be, as I 
 heard you were at the bottom." " Well," said the 
 boy, "That's the top of one end." 
 
 A clergyman told me of several incidents that had 
 happened to a late Rural Dean, of Alstonefield. On 
 one occasion, when he was reminding an old woman 
 of the goodness of the Creator, she replied, " Yes, 
 He's been a very kind gentleman to me." 
 
 Another incident was when a rustic couple of 
 middle age came to be married, and he, Dr. S , 
 asked (as usual) if she would take the man to be her 
 wedded husband, she replied, " That I wonna," and 
 marched away without being married. Dr. S , 
 meeting her some time afterwards, asked what was 
 the meaning of her extraordinary conduct. She said 
 the man had worried her time after time to marry 
 him, and finding he would not take an ordinary 
 refusal, she thought if she served him like that he 
 would not try again. 
 
 A lady friend of mine told me she had a slight 
 illustration lately of the advantage of the ten com- 
 mandments being taught. Two children, a boy and
 
 ANECDOTES. 297 
 
 girl, were passing on the other side of the fence over 
 a road by her garden, when she heard the boy remark 
 he should like to get some of the apples off her tree, 
 on which the girl said, " Oh, but that would be 
 breaking the eighth commandment," and they passed 
 on. 
 
 It has struck me that there is a certain similarity 
 or somewhat of a comparison between the following 
 state methods. We have in the state the army to 
 repress disorder or defend property if assailed, 
 and we have the church to lead and induce people 
 to right conduct by religion and reason. So in 
 politics, one part (as in the Irish Question), 
 endeavours by coercion to repress abuses, while the 
 other holds out the olive branch and tries by gentler 
 words and means to lead the people from crime 
 they each try though by different means to accom- 
 plish their object like the wind and the sun in the 
 fable. 
 
 I was told the other day that the word " Triumph " 
 was the origin of the word " Trump " in cards. Also 
 that the word " Saggars," used for safe-guarding 
 earthenware, when being fired in the ovens is a cor- 
 ruption of the word " Safe guards."
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 November 2ist, 
 
 SEWERAGE AND SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS AT LEEK. 
 
 To the Editor of the Staffordshire Advertiser. 
 
 ;IR, As I believe the extreme slowness 
 with which our sewerage and sanitary 
 improvements at Leek progress re- 
 sults in part from the want of a full 
 appreciation by many ratepayers and 
 some of the Commissioners of the entire practical 
 benefit of such measures when efficiently carried out, 
 1 have been requested to publish, and think I cannot 
 do better than call their earnest attention to, the 
 admirable letter and extracts from the report referred 
 to in it, and recently received by me from Mr. May, 
 of Macclesfield, in which he states not theories, but 
 the practical results of experience at that place, and 
 facts within his own personal knowledge.
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 299 
 
 If it be the case, as appears from this testimony 
 (and it is fully corroborated by Parliamentary reports, 
 the Registrar-General's returns, the experience of 
 practical men, and of the towns where the improved 
 system has been efficiently adopted) that by these 
 improvements the rate of mortality and disease has 
 been diminished, as in Macclesfield, one-third, viz., 
 from the ratio of 42 down to 26, and that concurrent- 
 ly therewith the poor rates, crime, and drunkenness 
 have been also lessened, and house property better 
 let and occupied, so that even in a pecuniary point of 
 view the effects have been highly satisfactory, I say 
 can any fair-judging man, in the face of these facts 
 whether in his capacity of a ratepayer with regard to 
 his own private nuisances, or as a Commissioner in 
 reference to the requisite public works do otherwise 
 than feel it a sacred duty to give his best assistance, 
 if not to incur some sacrifices, in the accomplishment 
 of such great results ? 
 
 Shall it be said that at Leek we can raise thousands 
 for public buildings, and yet cannot accomplish what 
 is necessary for our very health and safety ? 
 
 It appears from the medical report and from the 
 registrar's books that the mortality or number of 
 deaths in Leek has risen from 22 in 1,000 in the year 
 1851, up to 30 in 1,000 in 1856; while during the 
 present year the number of deaths in the town has 
 been 319, or upwards of 33 in 1,000. In the month 
 of October alone there were 40 deaths, one-half of 
 which are shown to have been from epidemic or pre- 
 ventible causes ; the ratio of deaths in this month 
 having actually risen (taking the population at 10,000) 
 
 T 2
 
 300 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 to as much as 48 in the 1,000 being double what it 
 ought to be ! 
 
 Mr. Flint, our senior surgeon, has authorised me to 
 say that in his opinion, if the proper sanitary improve- 
 ments were carried out at Leek, the mortality should 
 not exceed 22 in 1,000 : and thereby the average 
 length of life would be increased, and the average of 
 death and disease be decreased by nearly one-third. 
 And it must be borne in mind that to every case of 
 death, there is an average of 28 cases of sickness. 
 
 If we heard of a case of deliberate poisoning, 
 should we think any trouble or expense too great to 
 bring the perpetrator to justice ? and yet how many 
 are thoughtlessly allowing the existence of nuisances 
 Avhich operate as a constant source of poison to them- 
 selves, their families, and neighbours. To continue 
 this after notice of their effects will be to incur a 
 grave and wilful responsibility. 
 
 In the absence of any report on the part of 
 the Commissioners, I have thought it well to look at 
 their minutes, and have again perused the able report 
 of Mr. M'Dougall, of Manchester, and of the Medical 
 Committee, presented to the Commissioners about 
 twelve months since ; and also of reports of Mr. 
 Dale, the town surveyor, apparently carefully pre- 
 pared, and sent in to the Board at different periods, 
 from January, 1856, up to August last. The whole of 
 these documents agree in the main with one another, 
 and recognise the necessity of extensive sewerage 
 and sanitary improvements, a more abundant supply 
 of water, the flushing of the sewers, and the abolition 
 of a great number at cesspools and nuisances with
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 301 
 
 which the town, and especially its back parts, are 
 studded in every direction. 
 
 It is there stated that the quality of the town water 
 is good, but that its supply " at present is at the rate 
 of only 2\ gallons per head per diem for the whole 
 population, a quantity utterly inadequate to the 
 requirements of cleanliness and health, and demon- 
 strating the dependence of many on water obtained 
 from wells and the Churnet, where it is impregnated 
 with noxious matters;" also, that an abundant supply 
 may readily be obtained from Dane Brook. It is like- 
 wise mentioned that when epidemics prevail they 
 have a decided preference for localities which are the 
 abodes of filth and foul air, citing in illustration the 
 case of Canal-street and its neighbourhood, where 
 the throat fever carried off nearly one-third of its 
 entire victims in the town. The disinfection of the 
 sewage and its subsequent disposal, principally by 
 distribution over the meadow lands adjoining the 
 town, is recommended, and the necessity of regulations 
 for the lodging-houses and the slaughter-houses 
 adverted to, the latter of which are often in crowded 
 places, unflagged, imperfectly drained, and insuffici- 
 ently supplied with .water. The ventilation and 
 periodical whitewashing of the cottage dwellings are 
 also urged ; and it is added that the masses of smoke 
 sent into the -atmosphere from some of the factories 
 renders it unwholesome, and gives a tinge of unclean- 
 ness to both person and dwelling. The above report 
 and the town surveyor also unite in recommending 
 that, concurrently with the trapping of the street 
 sewers, the house drains should also be trapped, and 
 the arterial sewers connected by flues (as Mr. Brod-
 
 302 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 rick informs me, by letter, has been successfully done 
 at Macclesfield) with the rain spouts from houses or 
 some of the mill chimneys, so as to carry off the nox- 
 ious sewage gas high above the town, and prevent its 
 backing up, as I believe it unfortunately has done, 
 into the houses. Mr. Dale, too, in his reports, which 
 form a practical supplement to that of the Medical 
 Committee, goes into the details of sewerage, &c., 
 required, with the provisions for irrigation and com- 
 pensation to landowners, as required by the Local 
 Act. 
 
 But a very trifling portion of the above recommen- 
 dations have as yet been carried out, and the cholera 
 is now fast approaching us. I confidently submit, 
 therefore, that the time has come when one of two 
 practical courses should be adopted by the Commis- 
 sioners : 
 
 i st. If they consider the above combined reports 
 to be substantially correct, then the works recom- 
 mended in them should be commenced as soon as 
 possible, with any desirable amendments, under the 
 direction of the new surveyor. 
 
 2nd. But if the Commissioners think them wrong, 
 then the resolution of the last ratepayers' meeting 
 should be acted on, and the whole matter referred to 
 the consideration of some eminent practical man, as 
 suggested by Mr. May, in whose thorough knowledge 
 of the subject, and, above all, in whose independence 
 and impartiality the public would have confidence. 
 
 There cannot be a greater mistake than to proceed 
 upon the patchwork principle and without reference 
 to some complete and well digested plan, which 
 should I think be tested by the best authority, as
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 303 
 
 there are many scientific and other considerations to 
 be attended to which have only been perfected of late 
 years, as will appear to any one who will take the 
 trouble to read a work recently published by the 
 Board of Health, entitled, " Sewerage and Cleansing 
 of Towns." 
 
 Would our beautiful cemetery, I may ask, have 
 been carried out either so satisfactorily or economically, 
 unless with the aid of a gentleman whose special 
 attention has long been given to similar works ? 
 
 Our Local Act, I am confident, if properly acted on, 
 contains every requisite provision for the sanitary 
 improvement of the town ; and the financial difficulties 
 might, I think, be met by the revaluation and assess- 
 ment provided for in it and by other means. 
 
 One thing, however, is certain, that the ratepayers 
 will not long submit to the unenviable notoriety now 
 possessed by Leek, in comparison with other places 
 less favoured by nature and circumstances but more 
 by sanitary improvement ; nor, I am convinced, can 
 our Local Act be much longer permitted like Messrs. 
 Wreford's chimney to end in smoke. 
 
 Trusting the importance of the subject will excuse 
 the length of this communication. 
 
 I am, sir, your's very faithfully, 
 
 Leek, Nov. 9, 1857. W. CHALLINOR.
 
 304 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 May 8th, 1858. 
 
 MAIN SEWERAGE. 
 
 Mr. Chillinor, after remarking upon the advantages 
 t)f the Commissioners meeting the ratepayers once a 
 year to discuss their general policy, observed that the 
 Commissioners were about to go to a considerable 
 expense in providing a new system of main sewerage, 
 and no doubt they had well considered the matter, 
 but it was impossible gentlemen with a limited experi- 
 ence in these matters could have the scientific 
 knowledge and practical acquaintance with all these 
 bearings, which it was desirable and necessary to 
 have for such a work as Mr. Rawlinson, 
 whose assistance, Mr. May said, had been 
 found of great use to the Commissioners in 
 Macclesfield. If they could have the report of 
 some man of perfect independence and of practical 
 ability on the plans proposed to be adopted in the 
 sewerage here as well as in the general sanitary 
 arrangements, as to water, ventilation of sewers, &c., 
 it would have the best effect in reconciling the rate- 
 payers and in satisfying them that the soundest 
 principle would be adopted in the great expenditure
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 305 
 
 they were about to incur. Mr. May, of Macclesfield, 
 in a letter to him, which had appeared in print, stated 
 that Mr. Rawlinson, an engineer of the highest 
 eminence employed in such works by the Government, 
 had been of great service to them, even in an econom- 
 ical point of view ; and in a pamphlet Mr. Rawlinson 
 had given as the result of 13 towns, the sanitary 
 arrangements of which had been carried out under 
 
 O 
 
 his supervision, it appeared that the entire sewerage had 
 been accomplished at an average expense of 3 1 8s. 8d. 
 per house, and this amount would be payable over a 
 period of 30 years. They had the testimony of 
 various towns as to the amount of good Mr. Rawlin- 
 son had done, and the cost he had saved ; and it 
 must be remembered that at present no consulting 
 engineer had given them a report. He should, there- 
 fore, move as a resolution, " That the Commissioners 
 are respectfully requested, before carrying out their 
 intended plan of sewerage, to obtain tbe report of Mr. 
 Robert Rawlinson, or some other competent engineer, 
 thereon, as well as on the future general sanitary- 
 arrangements proper for the town." Mr. Sugden 
 had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. 
 From the experience he had himself had in sanitary 
 matters he was convinced the more they were atten- 
 ded to the more the moral and physical well-being of 
 the community was secured. Mr. Farrow said the 
 remarks made by Mr. Challinor lay at the bottom of 
 all the differences of opinion between the ratepayers 
 and the Commissioners. All that was desired was 
 that it should be put to competent authority whether 
 or not the principle they were pursuing was a right 
 one. The Registrar-General's report showed that
 
 306 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 where there was a high rate of mortality it was always 
 connected with a low state of morality ; the number 
 of illegitimate births and of early or imprudent 
 marriages was proportionately high. The state of 
 Leek in this respect was frightful the mortality was 
 32 in 1,000, while the general rate of England was 
 but 23. It appeared that during the last year the loss 
 of the town in excess of mortality from prevntible 
 disease was 28,000. The mortality caused by the 
 epidemic for last year was 55 in 10,000, and for the 
 last quarter, ending March last, it had been at the 
 annual rate of 60 in 10,000. After some further 
 discussion, the resolution was put and carried unani- 
 mously. 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL, 
 May ioth, 1862. 
 
 Mr. Challinor observed that undoubtedly consider- 
 ably more water was required in dry weather in order 
 to flush the sewers and keep down the rate of mor- 
 tality. (Hear.) The Commissioners had been too 
 slow in endeavouring to obtain the needed additional 
 supply from the pure and abundant springs of Dane 
 Brook, and that was caused partly by their not then 
 fully agreeing with the authorities consulted as to the 
 urgency of the additional supply and partly by the 
 legal difficulties and fear of expense to the ratepayers.
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 307 
 
 (Hear, hear.) Certain rights, however, had now been 
 investigated and reserved, he thought that an 
 abundant water supply might be secured if the 
 Commissioners would act in the spirit of Mr. Cruso's 
 circular, and that at an expense far less than its real 
 value to the town. Indeed, unless decided steps 
 were taken, there was a risk and almost certainty of 
 their main and natural supply being, at no distant 
 date, seized by the Potteries Water-works Company. 
 As to the Water Committee being all opposed to 
 obtaining an additional supply of water as recently 
 stated, he (Mr. Challinor) himself, as a ratepayer, 
 had moved for Mr. Rawlinson to come down, and had 
 ever since, as a Commissioner, supported his report 
 and that of Mr. Slagg and the Medical Committee. 
 (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, Mr. Challinor said the 
 Dane Brook rock had now been struck, and he trusted 
 that the water which flowed uselessly into the 
 Churnet would shortly gush forth and distribute health 
 throughout the town. 
 
 N.B. The Dane Brook springs were secured to 
 the town by Parliamentary clause and agreement 
 shortly afterwards. 
 
 u
 
 308 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM SANITARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 
 November, 1864, 
 
 The Committee have in conclusion much pleasure 
 in calling the attention of the Board to a few 
 striking facts, which tend to show how greatly, 
 even beyond expectation, the general drainage and 
 sewerage works of the town, as well as the other 
 sanitary improvements of the Commissioners, have 
 answered the end intended. It will be remembered 
 that the sewerage and sanitary works were partially 
 completed about the end of 1859, and more com- 
 pletely about i86i,and it is a fact that the number of 
 deaths in Leek from fevers, malignant sore throat, 
 and other diseases of the class called paeventible, or 
 zymotic, have been now reduced to nearly one-fourth 
 of what they used to be, for some years prior to the 
 above period. The number of deaths from zymotic 
 diseases within the limits of the Leek Improvement 
 Act for the four years ending December, 1859, were 
 416, while the number of like deaths for the four 
 years ending December, 1863, were 114. In the 
 year 1859 alone there were 86 deaths from scarlet 
 fever, and 27 from diptheria, or malignant sore throat, 
 while in the year 1863 there were only 10 of scarlet 
 fever and 9 of diptheria and for the ten months oir 
 the year 1864 up to the present period, it appears 
 from the returns there has not been one death in
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 309 
 
 Leek, either from scarlet fever or diptheria, tending 
 to show conclusively how efficient is the remedy 
 of prevention in this large class of cases by means of 
 sewerage and sanitary measures. It may also be 
 mentioned as a remarkable fact that for the last three 
 months August, September, and October during 
 which we have had the pure and additional water 
 supply from the Dane Brook springs (though not so 
 abundantly as we shall have, when the new reservoir 
 is complete) the returns of mortality have been less 
 than we have any record of in the town. The death- 
 rate for the entire ten months of this year has been 
 199, or at the rate of about 23 in the 1,000, showing 
 a great improvement as compared with the four years 
 prior to December, 1859, when the death-rate aver- 
 aged about 32 per i,coo, and considerably above the 
 average of all England, which is 22 in the 1,000. 
 How great has been the saving already of human life 
 and suffering by these sanitary improvements in Leek, 
 and even looking at the matter in a lower and more 
 utilitarian sense, how great has been the gain. The 
 crop of labour which before was stunted and impaired 
 by unusual sickness and death, is now resuming its 
 more healthy and abundant tone, for the benefit of 
 both employers and employed. It has been computed 
 by a gentleman (chairman of a committee of a 
 provident institution), who has paid considerable 
 attention to sanitary science at Leek, that the last 
 four years' death-rate as compared with the former 
 involves a saving ,:i the matter of sickness of 
 upwards of 12,000 money value during that period, 
 and that the life of each inhabitant, applying the 
 same data, has become during the same period worth
 
 310 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 near seven years more purchase money than before, 
 while the funds of the burial club alone, it has been 
 ascertained, have been advantaged by the change to 
 the extent of some 160 a year. How great then is 
 the inducement to the Commissioners and the town 
 still to continue in so useful a course, and to aid, as 
 far as possible, in promoting whatever may conduce 
 to further sanitary improvement. 
 
 W. CHALLINOR, Chairman. 
 
 From the BIRMINGHAM DAILY GAZETTE, 
 January i$th t i8j$. 
 
 SANITARY CONFERENCE IN BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 The important conference upon sanitary reform, to 
 which reference has frequently been made during the 
 past few weeks, commenced yesterday morning in the 
 Exchange Assembly Room under the presidency 
 of the Mayor (Mr. Joseph Chamberlain). Soon 
 after ten o'clock the large room was well filled by 
 ladies and gentlemen belonging to Birmingham, and 
 from all the principal towns in the country numbering 
 about 800. The following were amongst those 
 present: Sir S. H. Waterlow, M.P. ; Mr. George 
 Dixon, M.P., and many others, including the Mayors 
 and Deputations from the Corporations and Town 
 Councils of many towns, and the Medical Officers
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 311 
 
 and Surveyors of 68 towns. Among other speeches, 
 Mr. Challinor (Leek) said : I believe the Acts of 
 Parliament you now possess are sufficient to give you 
 almost all that you require; but the grand thing is to 
 obtain the co-operation of the people ; and I will 
 explain to you how we at Leek, which twenty years 
 ago was one of the most insanitary towns of England, 
 have become one of the healthiest towns in England. 
 In 1857 1 attended a congress of the Social Science 
 Association, held in this town under the presidency 
 of Lord Brougham, when some important sanitary 
 questions were discussed. I took some part in those 
 questions, and I may tell you what we have done in 
 our town. The first thing we decided to do was to 
 avoid as far as possible the making of mistakes. In 
 order to do this we employed a sanitary authority 
 from London to come and make a report as to what 
 was required for our town. Then we employed Mr. 
 Bateman, the celebrated water engineer, to report as 
 to the question of the water supply, and the result 
 was that we adhered to the reports made. By our 
 own efforts and by the guidance of these authorities, 
 we marched on from point to point until the death- 
 rate began to decrease to a considerable extent. In 
 1860 the death-rate was about 30 per thousand, at the 
 end of the decennial period 1870 it was reduced to 
 about 24 per thousand, and 1 am happy to state that 
 last year 1874 our death-rate was only 15^ per 
 thousand, Leek being one of the best towns in Eng- 
 land as to sanitary matters. (Hear, hear). The 
 mode in which that has been accomplished is this : 
 i. We impressed on the population the necessity of 
 these matters. 2. Attended carefully to our sewer-
 
 312 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 age, which we threw on the flat lands on two sides of 
 the town, before it went into the river. 3. We 
 provided for the ventilation of the sewers. 4. We 
 obtained a water supply that was pure and abundant. 
 (Hear, hear). With reference to water, I may say 
 that water in Birmingham, is very hard. I am subject 
 to indigestion, so that in point of fact it would be a 
 slight poison to me (laughter). When I went to 
 some places I always found myself better. We have 
 at Leek a fever hospital for the isolation of infectious 
 cases. The Workshops and Factory Acts regulations 
 have been thoroughly carried out, and now there are 
 more than 400 children who go to school as half- 
 timers. Of course, we do not expect the 15^ per 
 thousand death-rate to be perpetual ; it must be only 
 exceptional. As regards future legislation, which has 
 been referred to, 1 think what we want is some 
 uniformity of hours in the legislation for workshops and 
 factories. They are now totally discordant.* Under 
 one the children of eleven years of age are allowed 
 to work full time, whereas in the other children must 
 be thirteen years of age before they work full time, 
 and there are otherdiscrepencies. Agreat improvement 
 is required in this respect. If any town in England can 
 prove the result I am sure Leek has done it. We 
 have pure air, pure and abundant water, and sanitary 
 and educational matters, which are the great 
 physicians and preventatives of disease ; and not 
 only has there been improvement in a moral and 
 sanitary sense, but the burial societies have been 
 benefited. So have the owners of property, because 
 
 * Remedied by Education Act, 1875.
 
 SEWERAGE & SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 313 
 
 it is enhanced in value, and the occupiers are 
 becoming better tenants. People formerly only poor 
 customers to tradesmen are becoming better, and, 
 though so many do not go to the doctor, those who do 
 go can afford to pay (hear, hear, and laughter). I 
 trust, therefore, that through the instrumentality of 
 this conference and other means, the plague of 
 preventible diseases will be in a great measure stayed 
 in this land (applause).
 
 LEEK AND STOKE RAILWAY. 
 
 T should be mentioned that about the 
 year 1862, an effort was made by 
 Mr. Challinor, Mr. Joseph Challinor, 
 Mr. Edwin Heaton, of Endon, Mr. 
 Brough and others, to promote a 
 junction or line of railway between Leek and Stoke, 
 running from a point between Leek and Cheddleton 
 Stations by Endon, to join the North Staffordshire 
 Railway near Milton, for Stoke, thereby giving the 
 much desired direct railway accommodation between 
 Leek and the Potteries the passengers and the 
 mineral traffic from Froghall and Cauldon Lowe 
 having previously had to go round by North 
 Rode or Uttoxeter junctions, being upwards of 
 twice the distance. Messrs. Challinor exerted 
 themselves in connection with Mr. Field, Rail- 
 way Contractor, and others, to get shares taken 
 up in the locality for carrying out the scheme this 
 they were tolerably successful in doing and had 
 several interviews with the North Stafford Railway 
 Directors, who ultimately determined on recommend- 
 ing their own shareholders to take up and carry out 
 the proposed Leek and Stoke line themselves, which 
 they did, the Directors appointing Messrs. Challinor 
 and Co. to conduct the legal business connected with 
 the branch line which was, in fact, ultimately com- 
 pleted, including the buying of the land, within 
 the estimate.
 
 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 315 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL, 
 Saturday, November 2nd, 1867. 
 
 OPENING OF THE LEEK BRANCH OF THE NORTH 
 STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 
 
 Yesterday, the new line of railway from Stoke to 
 Leek, or more exactly, from a point beyond Bucknall 
 on the Biddulph Valley line, to a point on the Churnet 
 Valley line near Leek, was opened for passenger 
 traffic. There were goodly numbers of passengers 
 by the trains yesterday, and considerable jubilation 
 by the good people of Leek, the day being observed as 
 a semi-holiday by them. Mr. W. Challinor liberally 
 devised a good luncheon, to which he invited the 
 directors, and officials of the railway, besides a num- 
 ber of the inhabitants of Leek and the Potteries. 
 At Leek Station a band was playing, an evidently 
 gratified crowd had assembled, and, on alighting at 
 the Leek Station, the visitors were welcomed by Mr. 
 Challinor, and then entered vehicles which had been 
 provided for their conveyance, the band meanwhile 
 playing loyal tunes. A vehicular procession was then 
 formed, and was preceded by the band, and followed 
 by a large crowd. In this order the Compton school- 
 room was reached, and here a recherche luncheon was 
 provided by Mr. Duessen, of the Red Lion Hotel. 
 
 u 2
 
 316 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 
 
 The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Challmor, who 
 was supported by Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson, Chair- 
 man of the North Staffordshire Railway Company; R. 
 H. Haywood, Esq., W. Brownfield, Esq., directors of the 
 company ; and the Rev. G. E Deacon, vicar of Leek, 
 Mr. P. Brocklehurst, of Swythamley, and many 
 other gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood. The 
 schoolroom was neatly decorated, and over the 
 Chairman's seat was the inscription, " Success to the 
 North Staffordshire Railway." After the excellent 
 meal had been discussed, the Chairman gave the loyal 
 toasts, and followed them up with, " The Clergy of the 
 Diocese," " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," 
 "The Lord-Lieutenant and the Magistrates," all 
 which toasts were duly acknowledged. The Chairman 
 said it now devolved upon him to propose the toast 
 of the day, " The health of the Chairman and Direct- 
 ors of the North Staffordshire Railway Company, and 
 success to their new undertaking, the branch line of 
 railway between Stoke and Leek." (Loud applause). 
 It had happened as an accident, that he was the hum- 
 ble representative of his fellow townsmen in welcom- 
 ing the directors and officials of the railway, not only 
 in their official capacity, but also on account of their 
 personal qualities. (Applause). They had completed 
 a branch which, though short, would materially con- 
 duce to the convenience, comfort, and prosperity of 
 the town of Leek. (Applause). The state of things 
 in Leek, and the considerable district round it, with 
 respect to communication with the Pottery towns, 
 had been most difficult and inconvenient Either the 
 people of Leek had had to go round by North Rode 
 or by Uttoxeter, the result being that on reaching
 
 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 317 
 
 either of those places, they found themselves ten 
 miles further off than they were when they started. 
 Like the schoolboy in going to school, they could say 
 that for every step forward they had taken two steps 
 backwards (laughter) and had therefore to turn 
 their backs upon their destination to reach it. 
 (Laughter). Now, however, they would not have to 
 turn their backs on Stoke in order to reach it, for they 
 had a straightforward line, and instead of having to 
 travel forty miles, they \vould only have to traverse a 
 distance of eleven miles ; and he was sure that the 
 company, in forming that branch, had established a link 
 which would be of advantage to both districts, as 
 well as to the company providing the accommodation. 
 (Hear). He would here mention that he had received 
 letters from Lord Shrewsbury, Mr. Kynnersley, Mr. 
 Smith Child, and other directors of the company, 
 expressive of their regret that they could not be 
 present at that meeting, and wishing God speed to 
 the branch that day opened. The Ashbourne and 
 Hanley branches had paid well, and he trusted that 
 the Leek branch would pay as w r ell or better. (Hear). 
 They saw above him what had been adopted by the 
 railway company, the Staffordshire knot. They had 
 all read of a certain classical knot which had to be 
 cut ; and most of them knew something of another 
 knot, the matrimonial, which could rarely be untied 
 nor cut (laughter) but which nevertheless had been, 
 he trusted, productive of the greatest benefits to 
 them. But the Staffordshire knot was a fastening 
 the origin of which was involved in considerable 
 mystery ; he had never heard what it meant, yet he 
 would venture to hope that, as represented on that
 
 318 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 
 
 occasion, it would prove a bond of union between 
 Leek and the Potteries, tying together in friendly 
 unity the trades and manufactures of North Stafford- 
 shire. (Loud applause). While the people of Leek 
 were willing to assist the company as customers, on 
 the one hand, he trusted the company, on the othe r 
 hand, would assist the people of Leek in little matters 
 of arrangement which were of importance to the 
 trades of the town, and that both would work har- 
 moniously together for their mutual interest. 
 (Applause). He was very happy that he was the 
 medium of conveying the thanks of his fellow towns- 
 men to the directors for their attendance that day, as 
 well personally as in respect of the great undertaking 
 they had carried out. He begged to propose the 
 ""health of the Directors, coupling with them the names 
 of Colonel Pearson, Mr. Haywood, and Mr. Brown- 
 field, trusting that the company would long have the 
 benefit of their direction, and that they might long 
 njoy health and prosperity." (Loud applause). 
 Colonel Pearson said it fell to his lot to thank them 
 for their hearty reception of the toast so kindly pro- 
 posed. He was unaccustomed to occupy such a 
 position before the general public, but it did not 
 require much eloquence to say that he and his co- 
 directors really valued the kindness which had that 
 day been exhibited to them, and that he hoped the 
 directors would long hold the good opinion they had 
 been kind enough to express. Too often, railway 
 directors were at variance with the public, because it 
 was forgotten that the directors had the shareholders 
 to think of first, and that they could not, without 
 injury to the shareholders, bring the rails to every
 
 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 319 
 
 one's door. He trusted the good people of Leek 
 would see, when the arrangements of the new branch 
 should be completed, that the directors had done the 
 best they could, as quickly as they could, consistently 
 with their duty as trustees of the shareholders ; and 
 that the Staffordshire knot would really prove a knot 
 of unity. (Applause). He was induced to believe it 
 would be so, by the heartiness of the reception which 
 had been that day accorded to the directors. 
 (Applause). He could only say that he wished the 
 branch had been made years before, and now it was 
 opened, he was sure the general manager would give 
 to Leek every accommodation that could be given 
 with justice to the shareholders. (Loud applause). 
 The Chairman and others then proposed the health of 
 Mr. Forsyth, engineer to the company; Mr. Morris, 
 General Manager; Mr. Samuda, Secretary; Mr. 
 Challinor and others, which were heartily received 
 and responded to. 
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 Saturday, March 23rd, 1878. 
 
 IMPROVED RAILWAY COMMUNICATION WITH BUXTON. 
 
 The visitors to the above pleasant and rapidly- 
 extending place, have to make a rather long journey 
 by railway, considering the distance by road from 
 Leek, and many projects have been -suggested for a 
 more direct route ; but the Derbyshire Hills have
 
 320 BUXTON RAILWAY. 
 
 sternly stopped the way. A railway through the 
 country beyond Leek would have small prospect of 
 paying ; still the shortening of the distance between 
 the Potteries and Buxton is an object greatly desired. 
 Some few years ago Mr. W. Challinor, of Leek, pro- 
 posed a scheme of a branch out of the Macclesfield 
 and Marple line, to join the London and North West- 
 ern at Disley, and which branch wonld have been 
 under a mile in length, but this scheme would require 
 running poivers over the London and North Western 
 into Buxton, and a separate service of Macclesfield 
 trains. More recently Mr. Challinor has again been 
 in communication with Mr. Martin Smith, General 
 Manager of the North Staffordshire Railway on the 
 subject, and an approach, or first step, towards 
 carrying out the above scheme, has been at length 
 arranged, with the consent of the London and North 
 Western Railway Company, who formerly declined, 
 or at least posponed, their consent. The directors of 
 the North Staffordshire Company, in conjunction with 
 the Sheffield Railway Company, have now taken a 
 practical step to meet the public requirements. At a 
 place near High Lane, the Macclesfield line, on its 
 way to Manchester, crosses the London and North 
 Western, between Stockport and Buxton, and it has 
 now been arranged that an exchange station shall be 
 made at this point, and trains stop to and from Bux- 
 ton. By this means passengers from this district and 
 from Macclesfield, will be saved going to Stockport, 
 and, as it were, turning back by the other side of the 
 triangle. The saving in distance between Macclesfield 
 and Buxton will be eleven miles, and the present long 
 stoppage at Stockport done away with; the fares will
 
 BUXTON RAILWAY. 321 
 
 also be correspondingly reduced. The new station 
 works are to be taken in hand at once, and will be 
 ready for the summer traffic. 
 
 N.B. The short loop line carrying out this scheme 
 has been completed about the year 1882.
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 Saturday, August $th, iSji, 
 
 ENTERTAINMENT IN AID OF THE RIFLE BAND. 
 
 N Tuesday evening, an entertainment 
 or lecture in aid of the newly-formed 
 volunteer rie band, was given in the 
 West Street Schoolroom, when a 
 large and fashionable audience atten- 
 ded. It was announced that Hugh Sleigh, Esq., 
 would take the chair, but previous to the commence- 
 ment, Colonel Carruthers informed the audience that 
 in consequence of a severe accident Mr. Sleigh was 
 unable to be present. 
 
 The proceedings commenced with the band playing 
 Donizetti's overture " Gemma de Virgi," after which, 
 Mrs. Carruthers and Messrs. Richmond and W. 
 Young gave the well-known trio " Life's a Bumper/' 
 in excellent style.
 
 RIFLE BAND ENTERTAINMENT. 323 
 
 Mr. W. Challinor then proceeded to give his 
 remarks on the Franco-German War. After referring 
 to the lamentable accident which had prevented Mr. 
 Sleigh from attending, Mr. Challinor said he had been 
 requested by his friend, Colonel Carruthers, to give a 
 short account of his tour to the seat of war, and as 
 the notice given to him had been short, the audience 
 must excuse all shortcomings The strategy of the 
 Prussians was observable in the rapidity of their 
 actions, and he thought Colonel Carruthers had 
 adopted the same mode of action. He was sure that 
 none present would object to the volunteer force, 
 however they might be opposed to war, as the motto 
 on the flags of the volunteers was " Defence not 
 defiance," and, like the volunteer fire brigade, so 
 admirably organised by his friend, Mr. W. S. Brough, 
 their duty was not to create fires but to extinguish 
 them. They would agree with him that if they wished 
 to have some terrible drama, they had better witness 
 it on the stage, and he liked to see people return 
 from their exercise like Lieutenant Hugo Sleigh had 
 done from Metz, in good muscular condition, in good 
 health and strength, rather than find a grave at 
 Gravelotte. (Laughter). His friend, Lieutenant 
 Sleigh, saw something sticking out of a muddy plain 
 at Metz, and seizing hold of it he pulled out a 
 Chassepot rifle, but a Prussian soldier who was on 
 guard, charged at him with fixed bayonet, upon which 
 the lieutenant, not being on duty, thought it is duty 
 to let it drop. (Laughter). 
 
 Mr. Deussen, who accompanied Mr. Challinor on 
 his tour, here exhibited a Chassepot rifle, with sword, 
 bayonet, and working parts, which he fully described. 
 
 v
 
 324 RIFLE BAND ENTERTAINMENT. 
 
 Mr. Challinor said the rifle was considered superior 
 to the needle gun but not equal to the Snider. He 
 then briefly referred to the causes of the late war and 
 said he thought it was a struggle between the two 
 great powers as to who should have the champion 
 belt of Europe. He then detailed his journey to Ber- 
 lin, in company with Mr. Deussen, by way of Aix-la- 
 Chapelle, &c. He said they fell in with a gentleman 
 on. the way, who turned out to be Mr. Forbes, the 
 talented correspondent of the Daily News. He asked 
 Mr. Forbes who he considered were the two best 
 generals of the Prussian army, and he said Prince 
 Frederick Charles and Blumenthal, and Von Goben 
 was also a first-rate general. He also said that 
 Moltke, when talking to any one, had an abstracted 
 look, frequently walked with his hands behind him, 
 and seldom looked them straight in the face. Mr. 
 Challinor next gave a description of Berlin, which he 
 said was a city of great beauty, but the sanitary 
 arrangements were defective. At Berlin he had the 
 advantage of a foreign office introduction to the 
 British embassy.* The entry of the troops into Ber- 
 lin was, he said, a most imposing spectacle. First of 
 all rode the old Field Marshal Wrangel, who was 
 between 90 and 100 years of age, he rode like a 
 young man, and had been in the wars with the first 
 Napoleon, followed by a group of generals. Then 
 came Moltke, Bismark, Von Roon, and others, and 
 
 * Sir Charles B. Adderley obtained an introduction 
 for me from Lord Enfield of the Foreign Office to the 
 Honourable M. Petrie, then at the head of the 
 Embassy at Berlin.
 
 RIFLE BAND ENTERTAINMENT. 325 
 
 then the Emperor by himself looking every inch a 
 King, followed by Prince Frederick Charles and the 
 Crown Prince. The Prussian troops marched past in 
 columns bearing the captured eagles and banners of 
 France. Next came the Bavarians and Wurtem- 
 burgers with their Cantinieres. After describing 
 Potsdam, Dresden, and Leipsic, Mr. Challinor next 
 gave an account of his visit to Strasbourg, which 
 city, he said, showed the effects of the bombardment, 
 but was being rapidly repaired. He exhibited a hand 
 grenade found under the walls, which, he said, was a 
 most destructive missile when flung by the soldiers. 
 From Strasbourg they went to Neiderbrunn, where 
 the famous cavalry charge took place, and from thence 
 to the battle field of Worth, where the graves of so 
 many brave soldiers are to be seen. Passing on to 
 Metz, which, he said was one of the most beautiful 
 cities of France, he next described a visit to Rezon- 
 ville and Gravelotte, where the great battles of the 
 1 6th and :8th of August took place. Gravelotte, he 
 said, appeared like one vast cemetery, but all the 
 crosses were in memory of the Prussian soldiers. A 
 woman at a restaurant there told him that she had 50 
 wounded soldiers brought into her house, nearly 20 of 
 whom died shortly afterwards. He explained by 
 means of a map, the position of the respective 
 armies in the battles of Rezonville and Gravelotte. 
 He referred his hearers to the splendid description of 
 the battle given by Mr. Forbes, in the Daily News. 
 In that account in one regiment, out of nineteen 
 officers, all but one, a youth of nineteen, were killed. 
 Mr. Forbes saw the solitary officer and gave him some 
 cigars, but in a little while afterwards he found him
 
 326 RIFLE BAND ENTERTAINMENT. 
 
 dead with one of the cigars in his buttonhole. He 
 Mr. Challinor next proceeded by himself to Paris, 
 which he called the beautiful stricken, but, it was to 
 be feared, unrepenting city, as the inhabitants talked 
 of retrieving themselves by war. He found the city 
 nearly as gay and beautiful as ever. None of the 
 churches were injured, and the public buildings and 
 houses that were destroyed, were generally half a 
 mile apart, and not so noticeable as would be expect- 
 ed in the vast city. He asked how it was the 
 Vendome column, recording the battles of the first 
 Napoleon, should have been destroyed rather than the 
 Arc de Triomphe, also recording his triumphs under 
 which the Prussians entered. He also asked why the 
 Communists should have killed the Archbishop when 
 the regular army had almost got possession of Paris, 
 and were sure dreadfully to avenge his death. One 
 reply among others was that there were wheels within 
 wheels, and it was thought the Jesuits sometimes 
 exercised a singular influence. Certainly as M. 
 Thiers afterwards said, the position of the army was 
 very different after their defeat of the Communists, 
 and they could hardly have returned without having 
 done something. Mr. Challinor, after referring to 
 some other interesting details, concluded with a vivid 
 description connected with the battlefield of Grave- 
 lotte, and gave some effective lines of Campbell and 
 Byron illustrative of the scene. 
 
 The " National Anthem," by the band, brought a 
 very successful entertainment to a close.
 
 ROYAL VISIT TO SWYTHAMLEY. 327 
 
 From the STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, 
 Saturday, August 31 st, 18*72. 
 
 ROYAL VISIT TO SWYTHAMLEY, LEEK. 
 
 Yesterday week, as briefly stated in our last issue, 
 Her Royal Highness the Princess of Teck (Princess 
 Mary of Cambridge), cousin of the Queen, and the 
 Duke of Teck, passed through Leek on a visit to that 
 part of the Roches known as Rock Hall, on the estate 
 of Mr. Philip Brocklehurst, of Swythamley Park. 
 Their Royal Highnesses had been staying at Alton 
 Towers during the week, and were brought to Leek 
 by a special train, which arrived a few minutes past 
 one. The party who accompanied the Prince and 
 Princess included the Earl and Countess of Shrews- 
 bury, Lord Ingestre, the Ladies Theresa, Gwendoline, 
 and Muriel Talbot ; the Countess of Hopet.oun, the 
 Marchioness of Waterford, Lord and Lady Compton 
 and Miss Compton, Lord and Lady Bagoi, the Hon. 
 Miss Bagot, Lady Annie Finch, the Hon. Miss Finch, 
 the Countess of Aylesford, Lady Elizabeth Dean, 
 Miss Talbot, Lady Fitzhardinge, Lord Henry Pagot, 
 the Hon. Arthur Morgan, Captain Talbot, Sir Willian 
 and Lady Rose, Capt. Dansey, Mr. Clements, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Sneyd, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald, Sir E. M. 
 Buller, Bart., M.P., Mr. Crew, Mr. Lumley, Mr.
 
 328 ROYAL VISIT TO SWYTHAMLEY. 
 
 Monckton, Mr. J. Nagle, and Mr. Davenport. On 
 alighting from the train the party left the station by 
 the new exit, crimson cloth being laid from the edge 
 of the platform to the front entrance. The porch had 
 been tastefully decorated under the direction of Mr. 
 Court, the stationmaster. The Countess of Maccles- 
 field, and Mrs. Cruso accompanied by Mr. W. 
 Challinor came down together in a carriage, and 
 were at the entrance to the railway station 
 to welcome the distinguished visitors. Mrs. Cruso 
 presented Her Royal Highness with a bouquet, which 
 was graciously accepted. Mr. W. Challinor then said 
 he had been requested to say a few words on the 
 occasion of Her Royal Highness's visit to Leek the 
 metropolis of the Moorlands. He begged on the 
 part of the inhabitants to express their loyalty and 
 best wishes. King Edward the 2nd, her ancestor, 
 passed through Leek in 1310, probably on the rebuilding 
 of Leek Church. He believed the last occasion of the 
 visit of royalty to Leek was when Prince Charles 
 Edward in 1745 at the head of the rebels had passed 
 through the town, and again, a few days afterwards, 
 when he returned pursued by the Duke of Cumberland 
 and the King's troops, the latter of whom were 
 regaled in the Leek market place on the occasion. 
 The present, however, was a more auspicious 
 occasion, and he trusted that Her Royal Highness 
 and her distinguished friends, under the auspices of 
 the Earl of Shrewsbury and Mr. Brocklehurst, might 
 enjoy what he thought they would consider the 
 beautiful scenery of the Moorlands. Her Royal 
 Highness expressed her sense of the reception 
 accorded and the loyalty of the Leek inhabitants.
 
 ROYAL VISIT TO SWYTHAMLEY. 329 
 
 The procession, which consisted of nine carriages, 
 then started from the station. It was headed by Lord 
 Shrewsbury's brass band, under the superintendence 
 of Mr. Forester, and followed by the Leek Rifles, 
 under the command of Lieutenant Sleigh and Ensign 
 Worthington, and also by the fine band of the corps. 
 The route chosen was up Canal-street and St. 
 Edward-street, through the Sheep Market and into 
 the Market-place, and here the crowd was so dense 
 that it was with difficulty the procession could cut 
 through the living mass. Again and again the 
 spectators cheered, and again and again the Princess 
 gracefully acknowledged the expressions of loyalty 
 and ebullitions of good feeling. Triumphal arches 
 and flags of all nations and dimensions were con- 
 spicuous along the route. The royal party stopped 
 for a few minutes at the door of Mrs. Cruso, and the 
 Princess appeared at one of the upper windows and 
 bowed to the populace amid great applause. As the 
 party were leaving the town they passed St. 
 Luke's church choir, and afterw r ards the Workhouse 
 children, who sang the National Anthem very 
 heartily. Arrived at Rock Hall, after a beautiful 
 drive through a romantic country of five miles, the 
 royal party were received by Mr. Philip Brocklehurst 
 and Miss Brocklehurst at the Roches.
 
 330 HAY MAKING ON SUNDAY. 
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 Saturday, August 2ist, 1880. 
 
 HAY MAKING ON SUNDAY. 
 
 To the Editor of the LEEK TIME?. 
 
 SIR, I observed a letter a few weeks since in the 
 Leek Times signed "Common Sense," giving par- 
 ticulars of the heavy rainfall lately, and remarking 
 on the importance in that most trying season of 
 getting in the crops when ready even on a Sunday. 
 
 The Pharisees found fault with our Lord and his 
 desciples for gathering ears of corn and for healing 
 the sick on the Sabbath day, but He pointed out that 
 works of necessity and mercy were right to be done, 
 remarking that " the Sabbath was made for man, not 
 man for the Sabbath; 1 ' and again He said, " Which 
 of you shall have an ox or an ass fallen into the pit 
 and will not pull him out on the Sabbath day ?" So 
 if the food of man, or of the cattle, is in danger of 
 rotting or being injured, is it not right to get it out of 
 the pit on the Sabbath day ? 
 
 The weather, no doubt, has been recently splendid, 
 but for weeks previously during the hay harvest it 
 seemed as if the very windows of heaven were 
 opened. Much hay was injured, and some in danger
 
 HAY MAKING ON SUNDAY. 331 
 
 of being carried away by the floods in some of the 
 low lying districts. Would it not be right to rescue 
 it on the Sunday ? At least for those who are willing 
 and believe it to be the right thing to do. 
 
 The blessed sunshine ripens the crops on the 
 Sabbath. Why should it not be made available in 
 very critical times for getting them in on the same 
 day ? 
 
 I certainly think this better than to do as some 
 farmers have done, viz., stop in, or ramble about, and 
 smoke, and find fault with Profidence for only sending 
 the fine weather on a Sunday, I have, however, 
 heard a few persons doubt about the propriety of thus 
 getting in the crops, who did not raise their voice 
 against battles in Afghanistan or Zulu invasion wars 
 being fought even on a Sunday ! 
 
 I observe in your last paper two letters, with 
 quotations from the Old Testament as to the Jewish 
 Sabbath, and objecting to crops having been in some 
 cases gathered on the critical Sunday about a fort- 
 night ago and one of them even terming the 
 proceeding as " shameless." 
 
 Many, however, in this and surrounding districts, 
 have not been deterred by fear of what the extreme 
 Sabbatarians might say, from taking, what I believe, 
 the really scriptural and benevolent course, under the 
 circumstances, and rescuing the food of the cattle, 
 \vhich is indirectly the food of the people. 
 
 Is it wrong for the surgeon to heal, for the labourer 
 to milk the cows, or for the servant to cook or serve 
 up dinner on the Sabbath day ? 
 
 How are the poorer farmers after such a succession 
 of bad seasons to contribute properly to good works, 
 
 v 2
 
 332 HAY MAKING ON SUNDAY. 
 
 or religious services, if part of their crops are ruined? 
 Some of the texts from the Gospel always especially 
 considerate to the poor introduce, I think, a wise 
 and merciful modification of those in the Old 
 Testament which guided the ancient Pharisees. For 
 instance, in reference to healing on the Sabbath day, 
 our Lord says, " I will have mercy and not sacrifice;" 
 and again, " And now abideth Faith, Hope, and 
 Charity, these three, but the greatest of these is 
 Charity!" 
 
 I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 
 Leek, August i6th, 1880. SAMARITAN. 
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 Saturday, November iqth, 1881. 
 
 PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSHUA BROUGH, J.P. 
 
 A large number of ladies and gentlemen were 
 present in the Union Buildings on Thursday, to 
 witness the presentation to Mr. Joshua Brough, J.P., 
 of the portrait to which we made reference last week. 
 Mr. W. Challinor presided, and amongst others there 
 were present Messrs. John Brough, John Robinson, 
 A. H. A. Colvile, J. Challinor, S. Goodwin, J. Sheldon, 
 P. Magnier, C. Swain, J. Andrew, R. Wright, C. 
 Eaton, T. Robinson, W. Barker, T. Shaw, J. Ward, 
 W. Allen, V. Myatt, W. E. Challinor, W. Gallimore, 
 W. S. Watson, G. H. Gould, T. H. Booth, J. Sykes,
 
 PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSHUA BROUGH. 333 
 
 F. J..Milner, J. S. Winfield, I. Heath. A. Morton, J. N. 
 Platt, J. J. Ritchie, H. Bermingham, W. Nixon, and 
 the Rev. J. Hankinson. 
 
 Mr. Challinor said that as chairman of the Com- 
 missioners the committee had devolved upon him tne 
 pleasing duty of presenting to his old and valued 
 friend and late chairman, Mr. Brough, the excellent 
 portrait they saw before them, which had been the 
 result of voluntary contributions from a number of 
 his fellow townsmen, as a trifling recognition of the 
 long services Mr. Brough had rendered to his native 
 town. He wished to mention that although the por- 
 trait was presented to Mr. Brough it was on the 
 understanding with the committee that it should be 
 hung, as was fitting, in one of the public rooms of the 
 Commissioners to be approved by him. The paint- 
 ing was by Mr. Roden, of Birmingham, the eminent 
 artist who had painted Mr. Gladstone, Lord Palmer- 
 ston, and other celebrities. He thought it could be 
 scarcely doubted that no one ever born at Leek had 
 rendered such continuous, honest, and successful pub- 
 lic services to his native town as Mr. Brough had 
 done, from the period of his bright and early years, 
 when in his vocation of silk manufacturer and 
 traveller he had played the bugle in this and other 
 towns when passing through in the old days of 
 coaches and four until the present time, when verging 
 on fourscore years of age. (Cheers.) He could 
 .not attempt to recapitulate what the Leek Times 
 aptly called " the thousand and one" instances of 
 Mr. Brough's public work, but he might just glance at 
 the following leading features : As chairman of the 
 Finance Committee, and for many years of the
 
 334 PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSHUA BROUGH. 
 
 General Board of Commissioners, Mr. Brough had 
 bestowed great pains in reference to the town finan- 
 ces and general business of the town. Many years 
 ago he had promoted the Mechanics' Institution and 
 Library, and the building of the present Institution. 
 He had instituted and superintended the penny bank 
 in which the children of the working classes were 
 taught the first habits of thrift and saving. He had 
 had much to do with the erection of the savings bank, 
 and had been chairman of the trustees. He had pro- 
 moted the public baths, and had taken a leading part 
 as to the purchase and arrangement of the cattle 
 market, which formed another spacious square in the 
 town. Also as to the removal of that little Sebastopol 
 and obstruction in Brook-street, which had been occu- 
 pied by Mr. Hulme ; and with the widening of Canal- 
 street, now called Broad-street, which formed a satis- 
 factory entrance into the town. Among Mr. Brough's 
 other gifts he would mention the remarkable faculty 
 he had possessed of winning subscriptions from 
 people for various objects, such as the Cottage Hos- 
 pital, &c. (Hear, hear.) Indeed, he thought the 
 words of the old poet were singularly applicable to 
 him. He was one who 
 
 " Counts that day lost, whose low descending sun, 
 
 Views from his hand no worthy action done." 
 He would only in conclusion wish Mr. Brough years 
 of health and repose to live amid the respect and 
 affection of his fellow townsmen, and he was sure 
 when his day was over, that portrait would remain a 
 faithful remembrancer of one who had been a kind 
 friend, an earnest worker, an upright magistrate, and
 
 PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSHUA BROUGH. 335 
 
 an indefatigable Chairman of the Commissioners 
 of Leek. (Applause.) 
 
 Mr. Brough said he must thank all for the very 
 kind present for the names of the subscribers 
 he did not even know and also Mr. Challinor 
 for the kind manner in which he had spoken 
 of him. Mr. Challinor had referred to so many w r orks 
 with which he (Mr. Brough) had been associated that 
 there was little left for him to say. He had however 
 a few notes with him and with their permission he 
 would make use of them. About the year 1811, a 
 period few present would remember, when first he 
 came to the school now conducted by Mr. Sykes, the 
 vicar of Leek, the Rev. Richard Bentley, was the 
 master. He recollected very well Mr. Bentley writing 
 the mensuration table in his account book and giving 
 him some needful instructions. After remaining at 
 the school some time he was removed to a school 
 taught by a Mr. Hobson, where he remained until the 
 latter end of the year 1815. His father had then 
 entered into partnership with a gentleman in the silk 
 trade, with whom he (the speaker) had to serve a five 
 years' apprenticeship. The partnership was dissolved 
 in the year 1821, and he had then to take the sole 
 charge of the business, and turn out at the age of 18 
 with a bag and some patterns as a commercial 
 traveller. This occupation he found uphill work for 
 some time, for even then competition was strong and 
 prejudice great. However, he persevered and by 
 degrees the trade increased and a fair living profit 
 was the result. Going back to his early years to 
 describe the town of Leek with respect to its build- 
 ings, it contained some very good houses (as there
 
 336 PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSHUA BROUGH. 
 
 were now) interspersed with a great number of 
 thatched houses and cottages, many of which were of 
 mean appearance, and some were low and uncomfort- 
 able dwellings. The main streets, however, were 
 then, as they were described in some of the old 
 histories, wide, well-paved, and clean. At that time 
 there were no lights or lamps in the streets, and the 
 inhabitants on dark nights, had to carry a lanthorn, 
 or grope their way as best they could. He need not 
 say to-day that a very different state of affairs exists ; 
 the streets are all well lighted with brilliant gas, 
 thanks to Mr. John Ward, who, with others, had on 
 the whole, managed the gas very well. Formerly, 
 most of the footpaths were narrow and unflagged. 
 Formerly the lower part of Brook -street (then 
 called Workhouse lane) was very narrow, not 
 being sufficiently wide for two carriages to pass 
 abreast, and on one side the streets there were several 
 old, dirty looking, and dilapidated houses ; now these 
 houses, after much tedious negotiation with the 
 owner, had been taken down and clean swept away, 
 and the street made 36 feet wide. Formerly cattle, 
 both horses, horned cattle, and sheep were exposed 
 for sale on fair days in the leading streets, and on the 
 footpaths, much to the inconvenience and discomfort 
 of the inhabitants, and by the dirt and filth thus 
 occasioned, the air was so polluted as to render it 
 injurious to health; now, by the new central and 
 extensive cattle market in Haywood-street, the site 
 for which the Commissioners obtained on very 
 reasonable terms, all the unpleasantness was avoided, 
 and the dealers in cattle had every reasonable accommo- 
 dation for transacting their business. The Mechanics'
 
 PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSHUA BROUGH. 337 
 
 Institution, established by himself and a few friends 
 in the year 1837, was at first held in a small low room 
 in Russell-street. Some cottage property being on 
 sale, where the institution now stands, he bought the 
 property on his own responsibility, and immediately 
 re-sold it at cost price to trustees for a site on which 
 to build the present institution, which as they all knew 
 was a handsome, lofty, and convenient building. 
 With the changes he had referred to and various 
 others he had had a good deal to do, though they 
 must not think he was egotist enough to take to 
 himself the entire credit. (Cheers). 
 
 Mr. Robinson having paid Mr. Brough the highest 
 possible compliments for ihe manner in which he had 
 served the county and the town of Leek as a 
 magistrate, the meeting gave three cheers for Mr. 
 Brough and one for the artist, and the interesting 
 proceedings terminated.
 
 From the LEEK TIMES, 
 Saturday, July ji st, 1886. 
 
 As TO UPPERHULME SPRINGS, &c. 
 
 In the course of a discussion as to the water supply 
 from Dean Brook Springs, 
 
 Mr. Challinor said he was not present at the last 
 decision of the Water Committee, but he could safely 
 say both the Sanitary and the Water Committees took 
 pains to endeavour to meet the requirements of the 
 town. The domestic supply, of course, had first to be 
 considered. He remembered more than 25 years 
 ago the town of Leek was only supplied from certain 
 small springs and surface reservoirs at Leek and 
 Blackshaw Moor, and in dry times the water was 
 even then continually cried off. The Staffordshire 
 Potteries Waterworks Company about 1861 went to 
 Parliament, among other things to take the control 
 over the watershed, comprising the springs at Upper- 
 hulme- which now furnished the abundant supply to 
 Leek and which were claimed by the Churnet 
 and Dove millowners. He carefully examined the 
 Water Acts of Lord Macclesfield, &c., from whom the 
 town had purchased the Leek Water Works, and
 
 UPPERHULME SPRINGS, &c. 339 
 
 under a certain long and difficult clause, he, as chair- 
 man of the Sanitary Committee, advised the Com- 
 missioners to claim a right in these Upperhulme 
 springs. They did so, and he was the only witness 
 examined and cross-examined before the House of 
 Lords Committee on behalf of Leek, for an hour, and 
 ultimately the Lords Committee gave the Leek Com- 
 missioners a clause protecting them, under which and 
 an agreement with the millowners and Sir J. Crewe, 
 the town now had the benefit of the Upperhulme 
 springs. Mr. Brealey, the late Mr. Brough, Mr. 
 Farrow and others had given great help in this matter, 
 and since then Mr. Platt. These springs were very 
 abundant, probably between 300,000 and 400,000 gallons 
 a day, and never dry. Lord Macclesfield and other mill- 
 owners had given every help to the committee, and 
 so had the late Sir J. Crewe in several respects, but a 
 difficulty had been created in consequence of an old 
 and small water corn mill of Sir J. Crewe's at Upper- 
 hulme, which was let he believed at under 20 a year 
 to Mr. Hine. This mill had some right to the use of 
 
 O 
 
 the springs. It was in commemoration of the obtain- 
 ing of these springs for the town, that at the 
 suggestion of several Commissioners he (Mr. 
 Challinor) had erected the bronze fountain at 
 the bottom of the Leek Market Place. At 
 present the Leek Commissioners had an agreement 
 with Sir J. Crewe (which lasted about seven 
 years longer) under which while the weather was not 
 very dry they took the springs direct by themselves 
 to Leek, but when the weather was very dry then, 
 and then only, the springs were turned by Mr. Hine 
 to go over the mill wheel, before the town had it. 
 
 w
 
 u J/'V 
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 ADDRESS BY MR, W, CHALLINOR 
 
 TO THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE FIELD NATURALISTS' 
 
 SOCIETY, MAY 2x0, 1882. 
 
 believe it is customary for the retiring 
 President to give an address. 1 
 ought to have done this at the last 
 annual meeting, but was unfortunate- 
 ly obliged to be absent on important 
 business in London, and afterwards I went to Florence, 
 and consequently, I could not be present at the annual 
 meeting. I have to express my thanks to the com- 
 mittee and the members for the postponement, and 
 also to Mr. Spanton, the new President, for his 
 courtesy. I do not propose to deal this evening 
 with any specialty, even if able, such as geology, 
 chemistry, &c. I propose to make a few general 
 observations on some miscellaneous subjects, which 
 I thought might be useful, and some of which, or 
 the illustrations, have struck my own mind.
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 341 
 
 The topics that I propose to bring before you will 
 have mostly reference to the subject of " Waste and 
 its Prevention." I have noticed in various matters a 
 certain amount of useless waste, and a few of these 
 and their modes and principles of prevention I pro- 
 pose bringing before your notice. You may think 
 me, I doubt not, somewhat discursive, and the subjects 
 not very uncommon ; but if I manage to bring before 
 you a few useful suggestions or novel ideas on the 
 subject of waste, you will probably not consider it a 
 waste of time. 
 
 And, first, as to a few salient points connected with 
 agriculture. As Field Naturalists we see agricultural 
 operations going on from time to time, and I propose 
 to look a little beneath the surface. As some of you 
 are probably aware, the main fertilising elements 
 constituting the different manures consist of six, 
 which I remember by artificial memory from the initial 
 letters of the word " Psalms." P, Potash ; S, 
 Sulphuric Acid and Soda; A, Ammonia ; L, Lime ; 
 M, Magnesia ; S, Silica, which last is used chiefly for 
 building up the stalks of corn. If we put on lands 
 manures containing part of these only, leaving out 
 some of them, the missing links or elements will 
 greatly decrease the value of what we do. Now, I 
 believe one of the main points of agricultural 
 chemistry and economy is to learn to apply these 
 different fertilising elements in the proportions most 
 suitable to the nature of the land and to the nature 
 of the crops. If, for instance, we are putting manure 
 on limestone lands, less lime is required, while on 
 some other lands we should be comparatively throwing 
 our money away without a full proportion of lime.
 
 342 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 So with reference to crops. If we put on manures 
 for the purpose of producing clover a considerable 
 portion of lime is required and no silica, whereas in 
 manuring for wheat we require a considerable portion 
 of silica and little or no lime; and one grand secret 
 of agricultural economy is to ascertain the proper 
 proportions in which to put on the various 
 fertilising elements. For my own part, being a mem- 
 ber of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 
 when I wanted to know what particular kind of man- 
 ure my land most required, I have sent up in a little 
 box a square foot of the soil to Professor Voelker at 
 the Royal Agricultural Society's Offices, London, and 
 for a half-guinea fee he has written me what was 
 most needed. You are aware that in the neighbour- 
 hood of some towns the sewage water (which contains 
 valuable manures) has been poured on the ground 
 until at length it has produced almost only crowfoot 
 and rank grasses. This was because the sewage 
 contains only part of the requisite fertilising elements, 
 and lime and others which are deficient, have to be 
 otherwise furnished to the land, in order to make it 
 productive and of good herbage. Professor Voelker 
 informed me when the lime was put on the sewage water 
 should be kept off for about six months. So you have 
 noticed little heaps of lime sometimes standing out in 
 the fields. Great loss is often incurred by these 
 remaining out to be rained upon for a considerable 
 period, as much of their strength and causticity is 
 thereby absorbed into the carbonic acid of the atmos- 
 phere. The fact is, lime should be spread soon, while 
 it is fresh and strong, or, if not spread soon, it should 
 be covered up with soil till wanted, in order to prevent
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 343 
 
 evaporation and loss of causticity. 
 
 So in reference to haymaking. You have frequently 
 noticed, no doubt, the little round greenish cocks of 
 grass in the fields. These can only be made by hand 
 labour. All I have done for years is to tedd the grass 
 all over the field with a tedding machine, say once a 
 day lor two or three successive days until it is nearly 
 ready to get, thereby saving at least a third of the 
 labour of haymaking. If the weather is fine when 
 the hay is spread all over the field there is no time 
 wasted, as it is most exposed when spread out to the 
 action of the sun, without our having to wait, as we 
 have, when in little cocks, until it is tedded out ; 
 whereas, if the weather is wet, the hay is actually 
 safer spread out over the field, inasmuch as it is less 
 liable to mould, the part that generally becomes 
 moulded and spoiled being that to which the air can- 
 not get in the cocks. 
 
 Again, with reference to the feeding of cattle, there 
 has frequently been great waste. Some foods when 
 mixed together in certain proportions are capable of 
 producing double the live weight they would do if 
 given to the animal separately. For instance, it has 
 been proved by direct experiment that eight pounds 
 of beans given to a cow will produce about one pound 
 of live weight, and six pounds of linseed cake will 
 produce about one pound of live weight; but it has 
 been absolutely established by direct experiments 
 that if you mix the linseed cake and beans together 
 in nearly equal proportions they will produce four 
 pounds of live weight or just double the result that 
 would be effected if you gave them separately and 
 not mixed.
 
 344 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 From these few instances, which I have barely 
 indicated, you will see the great importance of under- 
 standing something about agricultural chemistry, &c., 
 in order to avoid useless waste ; in fact, the acting 
 upon it might cause the difference between a profit 
 and a loss. I cannot, of course, go into details, but 
 those who are interested will find the above and much 
 useful information in Dr. Liebeg's " Agricultural 
 Chemistry," or Professor Tanner's little book on the 
 " First Principles of Agriculture." 
 
 With reference to the subject of malt, I will men- 
 tion a little incident which may amuse you, and which 
 is in an old book by Dr. Paris on 'diet. Formerly in 
 London they had no one liquor similar to what we 
 now call porter or stout, but they used to ask for 
 " three threads/' drawn from three separate barrels, 
 which when mixed together made what is now called 
 stout or porter. About the year 1732 a brewer of the 
 name of Palmer brewed a liquor which, inasmuch as 
 it was the same thing as was formed by the " three 
 threads" combined, was called "Palmer's Entire;" 
 and, inasmuch as it was considered very good for 
 porters and labouring men, it was soon afterwards 
 called porter. You have, no doubt, seen " Hanbury's 
 Entire" and " Barklay's Entire" written upon some 
 of the public-houses in London, and you will 
 now understand that this means porter and how the 
 name first came out. 
 
 Glancing for a moment at a point or two connected 
 with building, you know how much less useful are 
 attics near the roof in consequence of their being so 
 cold in winter and hot in summer. Now, this would 
 be to a great extent remedied by a very simple and
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 345 
 
 inexpensive plan. You are aware that between the 
 tiles on the roofs of the house and the laths, where 
 the joists are, there is an open space of about four 
 inches. Now, if this space is crammed with straw 
 dipped in lime water, which will not burn nor be sub- 
 ject to vermin, and is a non-conductor of heat, you 
 get the rooms cooler in summer and warmer in win- 
 ter indeed, almost as cool as a thatched roof. 
 
 It seems to me that there is another waste very 
 often in the painting of stone heads and window sills 
 and other stone work about houses, the painting of 
 which serves no useful end, but is considered by some 
 ornamental. Although the paint looks bright for a 
 month or two, it soon begins to get dark and smoky, 
 and then does not look so well on the whole as the 
 natural stone. So painting oak, for instance, to 
 represent the grain of oak is more expensive, and, in 
 my view,, not so pleasing as the natural wood when 
 varnished. Again, there are various economical 
 grates, and among others grates connected with a flue 
 running up from behind them to the room they are 
 in or to a bedroom above,, and so contrived that the 
 room above (or behind) can, when required, be 
 moderately warmed by heat from the back of the 
 parlour grate, which heat would otherwise be wasted. 
 
 I may just mention, while on the subject of building, 
 that many of you in your rambles look at the different 
 styles of Gothic architecture, but have no doubt a 
 difficulty in remembering the rotation or order of 
 them. Now, these 1 remember by artificial memory 
 by the initial letters of the name "Ned." N, Nor- 
 man ; E, Early English ; D, Decorated. Norman, 
 with its round windows, was in vogue for about 100
 
 346 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 years after the time of William the Conqueror. Early 
 English, with its lancet-shaped windows lasted for 
 another 100 years, up to the time of the Edwards. 
 The Decorated continued during the reign of the 
 three Edwards, sometimes therefore called the 
 Edwardian style. After that came the Perpendicular, 
 distinguished chiefly by the stone mullions of the 
 windows going perpendicularly up to the top ; and 
 last of all, with the period of Henry VIIL, came the 
 Debased style. I have often thought that a capital 
 subject for a diorama would be the various successive 
 styles of architecture. 
 
 In reference to the subject of waste or want of 
 harmony in colours, I would merely say there are 
 some fashionists whose ideas seem, as in Tennyson's 
 Maud, to *' blossom in purple and red." They like 
 all the colours of the rainbow, but as regards harmony 
 of colour they might take a lesson from the rainbosv. 
 The rotation of the colours of the rainbow I remember 
 by artificial memory by the initial letters of the French 
 expression for Rugby, say " Roygbiv" namely, R, 
 Red ; O, Orange ; Y, Yellow ; G, Green ; B, Blue ; 
 I, Indigo; V, Violet. Now, those colours which are 
 near one another in the above rotation harmonise, I 
 believe, and match, but if you put in juxtaposition the 
 colours of the rainbow such as red or green, which 
 are distant from one another in the rainbow, I believe 
 they do not so well harmonise 
 
 In reference to the subject of dress, if you go into 
 the Royal Academy you will find the painters gener- 
 ally select the simple but tastily-blended dresses worn 
 by village maidens or matrons as most really pleasing 
 to the eye. Brussels or Honiton laces, which are
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION'. 347 
 
 produced at great expense by hand labour, and in the 
 process often causing blindness to young people from 
 the fineness of the work, I myself do not admire more 
 than machine lace, made at perhaps a quarter of the 
 expense, and which seems to me quite as beautiful) 
 though I know many ladies would differ from me. 
 
 And now for a word upon waste or avoiding the 
 abuse of time. " Truth, they say, lies in a well," 
 and there are some earnest workers who, like many 
 of those we see here around us, endeavour to bring 
 up " gems of truth," as it were, from the wells 
 beneath the surface around us. Others there are who 
 seem like 
 
 Dropping buckets into empty wells, 
 And growing old in drawing nothing up. 
 All of us, if we try, may hit upon something fresh 
 thoughts or fresh facts, and it is an admirable plan 
 now and then to make notes of them. Mr. Charles 
 Darwin, whose loss has been so recently mourned, 
 was, it is supposed, the greatest naturalist and phil- 
 osopher of this generation. From ill-health and other 
 circumstances he was only able to devote about three 
 hours a day to work, but for that period he worked 
 intensely, and so accomplished his great results. On 
 a journey round the world he recorded all kinds of 
 facts, which formed a storehouse for future works and 
 a well of new ideas. At one time he was more mis- 
 understood than at present. I heard recently a 
 clerical address, in which it was stated that he con- 
 sidered men were descended from apes, which was 
 rather an exaggeration of what I believe he really 
 said ; but the very same evening I happened to open 
 a book written many years ago by Dr. Ferriar, 
 
 w 2
 
 348 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 physician to the Manchester Infirmary, and an intimate 
 friend of Mr. Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of 
 Charles, in which he pointed out some remarkable 
 opinions of ancient writers on this subject, and even 
 the celebrated Linnaeus had made the following 
 remark : Linnaeus admits with rather more hesitation, 
 his variety of the homo caudatus. He is uncertain 
 whether he ought to be ranked with men or apes, and 
 is deterred from placing him among the latter, chiefly 
 because he lights his own fire and roasts his own 
 victuals." " Pansanias," he says, " is the most 
 ancient authority on this subject." Possibly the 
 Doctor quoted these authorities in a half jocose vein. 
 It appears, however, from a lecture of Professor Boyd 
 Dawkins that man is found in the tertiary and one or 
 two of the higher stratifications of the earth, but in a 
 lower stratification beneath these only the remains of 
 apes or simiadas are found. 
 
 And I now proceed to advert to a few topics con- 
 nected wilh health or the waste of it. Very true is 
 the adage that " prevention is better than cure," and 
 the sanitary arrangements of late years have been 
 directed to the prevention of disease. The celebrated 
 Dr. Richardson says he considers there are five fingers 
 on the hand of health " Pure air, pure water, equable 
 temperature, freedom from damp, and sunlight." 
 You will all remember how in the middle ages and 
 subsequently, no doubt from the air being vitiated by 
 cesspools and want of proper drainage, &c., the great 
 plagues which from time to time decimated large 
 cities, arose as, for instance, the great plague of 
 London in 1665. Water too, when vitiated, has 
 sometimes led to cholera and other complaints. I
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 349 
 
 have personally experienced, and so have others, 
 indigestion from the drinking of hard water. The 
 spring water about Pickwood, which I fancy is much 
 the same as the water that comes to the Potteries, 
 contains sulphate of lime, and possibly some- 
 thing else that used to be a slight poison to 
 me, and I suffered greatly from pain and indigestion. 
 Happening to get better when I went to London or 
 other places, it struck me it might be the water, so 1 
 had our rain water filtered, and used it in tea, coffee, 
 &c., and otherwise, and immediately found a decided 
 benefit. Several of my friends who had been suffer- 
 ing in the same way, and who condescended to try so 
 simple a remedy, found equal benefit. I may also 
 mention that tea and coffee go much further when 
 made with rain or soft water. I have no doubt also 
 that goitre or thick neck, so common among the 
 natives of the valleys in Switzerland, and to some 
 extent in Derbyshire, may be caused by the lime or 
 mineral in hard water, and likewise those painful 
 complaints gravel and stone, for all of which filtered 
 rain water would be, I doubt not, to some extent a 
 remedy. As to equable temperature, how many of you 
 know the importance of this. People sometimes 
 surfer from a bad cold ending in influenza. A doctor 
 once told me that the curing of this was a question of 
 temperature rather than of physic : that there is a 
 particular membrane which lines the. nose, goes up 
 the forehead, down the throat, and lines the lungs, 
 which after east winds or damp sometimes becomes 
 inflamed, and if people, when having a bad cold, did 
 not avoid the exciting cause, it might continue to 
 spread until they were seriously ill, but if when any
 
 350 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 find a cold extending to the throat or chest, they keep 
 within doors a day or two, or take a cab to their places 
 of business (as I sometimes do), and keep in an 
 equable temperature, great benefit would be the result, 
 without further measures. You all know the import- 
 ance of freedom from damp and having plenty of 
 sunlight, and I may mention that in choosing a site 
 for a building a south aspect is a great consideration. 
 I prefer one due south, as at Pickvvood, inasmuch as 
 when the sun is low down, as it is in winter when you 
 want it most, you have the full force of the sunlight, 
 and in summer the sun goes in a great measure 
 overhead. 
 
 It is a singular fact that small-pox and, 1 believe, 
 scarlet fever were both of them unknown in England 
 some centuries ago, and consumption was not known 
 in the Sandwich Islands till within the last century. 
 A preventative remedy has been found against small- 
 pox by the singular discovery of vaccination, and a 
 German (Dr. Koch) has recently discovered that the 
 tubercles of consumption are caused mainly by little 
 parasites or insects called bucelli, and which may 
 probably be abated by inhalation or otherwise ; and 
 it has struck me that, if we only knew it, there may 
 be some remedy for scarlet fever in addition to 
 ordinary sanitary measures, which are a preventative 
 to a great extent. 
 
 " Oh, herbs, fruit, flowers, what virtue in you lies, 
 
 If we could but discern your properties." 
 Moderate and simple diet and exercise are also, as 
 you all know, very important for health. And, while 
 on the subject of the advantage to health from 
 exercise, I may mention an amusing anecdote con-
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 351 
 
 nected with Mr. Gladstone : Mr. Roden, of Bir- 
 mingham, the well-known painter, who stayed with 
 me a short time ago, mentioned that he had among 
 others painted the portrait of Mr. Gladstone at 
 Hawarden a few years since. He stayed at the house 
 several weeks, and got occasional sittings between 
 Mr. Gladstone's spells of work. Mr. Gladstone, as 
 usual, sometimes went out to fell a tree, and on one 
 occasion, on coming back, took off his coat and asked 
 Mr. Roden to feel his chest. He did so, and found 
 him in quite a warm glow. Mr. Gladstone told him 
 he had a difficulty in finding time tor exercise, but he 
 found that he could get the most exercise in the 
 shortest time by felling a tree than in any other mode 
 he knew of. Mr. Gladstone then asked him to put 
 his hands at the top of his head, one on each side, 
 and enquired if he noticed anything. Mr. Roden 
 said he noticed that one side of the head was higher 
 and rather lumpier than the other. Mr. Gladstone 
 said this was so ; it was a singular fact, and whether 
 this accounted for some of the inconsistencies with 
 which his critics charged him he did not know. 
 
 Another subject strikes me as one involving con- 
 siderable waste of time in England, and that is the 
 coinage. As you are aware, our Mint Authorities 
 have amused themselves now and then by issuing 
 such ccyins as threepenny bits and fourpenny bits, 
 which, especially when they have been worn a little, 
 seem to have no other object than to confuse. Now, 
 if they would only issue a coin called say a " tenth," 
 which would be the tenth of a shilling, and which 
 might be gradually introduced, and more and more 
 pushed into use instead of the penny, we should at
 
 352 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 once have the basis for the decimal system, and, so 
 far as I can see, it wouid be an easy practical way of 
 accomplishing it. If our coinage consisted of pounds, 
 shillings, and tenths, they and their subdivisions 
 would be all decimal, and infinitely more easy for 
 calculations. You all know how easy it is to add, 
 multiply, or subtract in pounds and shillings, because 
 shillings are decimals with relation to a pound ; but 
 with pence it is very different, because a penny is the 
 twelfth of a shilling. I do not scruple to say that not 
 only would the above simple change greatly reduce 
 the labour as to accounts in merchants' offices, but 
 would enable children to leave our National Schools 
 and get to work considerably earlier, as their education 
 would be easier, and the required standards sooner 
 reached. 
 
 You have many of you, no doubt, read in the 
 Arabian Night's Entertainment of the "Wishing 
 Carpet," which had the extraordinary property that 
 if anybody stood upon this carpet and wished himself 
 at a place, however distant, he was transported there 
 on it in a moment ! Now, some of the inventions of 
 modern times seem to remind me of this "Wishing 
 Carpet,"' as they have almost in their operations 
 annihilated time and space, rraking, for instance, 
 electricity and lightning our messengers and slaves. 
 Steam is gradually doing the labour that horses used 
 to do, horses the labour formerly performed by men, 
 and by this means it is hoped men may have a little 
 more time for mental pursuits and recreation. This 
 evening we shall, with great interest, hear a paper 
 from Mr. Wragge as to his observations on Ben 
 Nevis. The subject of these observations has to do
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 353 
 
 with storms and the means of anticipating their 
 approach by electricity and for the avoiding of 
 wrecks 
 
 " For the tempest itself lags behind 
 
 And the s\vift-\\mged arrows of light." 
 By the telephone my friend Mr. Wardle can com- 
 municate verbally with his branch establishments a 
 mile or two away. By the wonderful photograph 
 nature can present to us an image of herself from the 
 most distant places. I have on the table a number of 
 pretty good photographs, mostly illustrative of places 
 we have recently seen. The telescope widens the 
 circle of our vision, and is being continually improved. 
 One idea ot the possible powers of a telescope I think 
 may interest you. You are aware that light moves 
 with a velocity of about 186,000 miles a second, and 
 yet such is the immense distance from this earth to 
 Sirius, namely, about 123 billions of miles that it 
 has been computed to take upwards of 1,800 
 years for the light from this earth to travel to Sirius 
 or some other star. It is not unimaginable that a 
 telescope immensely exceeding ours in power might 
 exist, and it an observer looked from Sirius with it at 
 our earth he would see, not what is passing on the 
 earth now, but what was passing on the earth in our 
 Saviour's time, upwards of i, 800 years ago, suggesting 
 the idea that whatever has been done is imperishably 
 written on the tablets of the universe. The electric 
 light has lately been immensely improved by Mr. 
 Edison and others, and the electric telegraph has also 
 been more perfected, and has accomplished in some 
 measure the prophecy of Shakspeare as to putting a 
 " girdle round the earth in forty minutes." Some of
 
 354 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 its uses are indicated in the following lines, which I 
 wrote soon after the Atlantic Cable was put down : 
 
 'Tis done, and through the ocean, 
 Connecting thought with thought, 
 
 The swift electric motion 
 
 Sets distance now at naught. 
 
 For mind, subduing nature, 
 
 Bids lightning be her slave, 
 Her messenger and teacher, 
 
 Across the Atlantic wave. 
 
 Over what jagged mountains, 
 
 Among what strange sea-weeds 
 
 And oceanic fountains 
 
 This slender thread proceeds. 
 
 But not to tell the wonders 
 
 Or secrets of the sea 
 Shoots swift as when it thunders 
 
 This subtle agency. 
 
 But mind to mind it linketh 
 
 From farthest shore to shore, 
 Till time for what man thinketh 
 
 And distance are no more. 
 
 In reference to the subject of railways, those great 
 economisers of time, and to the facilities arising from 
 which I have been recently enabled to make a rapid 
 tour in Italy and to Rome, it may not be inappropriate 
 if I reply incidentally to a question asked, as to which 
 were a few of the points that made the greatest 
 impression on me. The first great impression was 
 produced by the passage of the Alps from Savoy by 
 Mont Cenis Tunnel to Turin. For miles before
 
 WASTE AXIJ ITS PREYKXTIQX. 355 
 
 entering and after leaving the tunnel we were in the 
 midst of the Alps, that rose up in front and on either 
 side of us with all their grand and well-known 
 features. Another principal object was the inside of 
 St. Peter's at Rome, the largest temple m the world,, 
 having about twice the area of St. Paul's. Here 
 everything is grand and good r nothing tawdry, the 
 stones, the marbles, the painted windows, with their 
 " dim religious light." Some ot the great religious 
 paintings are indelibly copied on the walls in mosiac, 
 and as well done as the originals, one of these being 
 " The Transfiguration " by Raphael, commonly 
 accounted the greatest painting in the world. Under 
 the dome of St. Peter's all looks so vast and yet so- 
 harmonious, as to produce an indefinable feeling of 
 tranquility and awe. Shakspeare has said that them 
 are "tongues in trees" and "sermons in stones," 
 and certainly this temple is a mighty sermon in stone, 
 compiled by men of transcendent powers in honour 
 of one form of Christianity. Another grand recollect- 
 ion was the Coliseum, the mightiest ruin of Imperial 
 Rome, and perhaps of the world. Although many of 
 its marbles and adornments were torn away in the 
 middle ages to build or embellish palaces, the vast 
 skeleton ot" brick and stone still remains. When at 
 the Coliseum, which is best seen by moonlight, one 
 seems to have a feeling and desire to be alone to 
 think. Another great impression was produced in 
 crossing the Appenines between Florence and Milan. 
 Among these lofty mountains there happened to be 
 rain when we passed, and we saw from time to time 
 rainbows entirely formed on the sides of the 
 mountains, which produced a peculiar effect. Another 
 
 X
 
 356 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 grand spectacle was the well-known and most 
 impressive Milan Cathedral, like a poem in stone, 
 built of white marble, and about as large as St. 
 Paul's. From one of the turret spires we saw the vast 
 and grassy plains of Lombardy, much of it irrigated 
 from the River Po, and bounded in the distance by 
 the snow-topped Alps. These were the five most 
 notable points of recollection, but among others I 
 may mention Genoa, commonly called " Superba/' or 
 *' The City of Palaces," situate in the Riviera Plain, 
 and on the tideless Mediterranean, with its hills 
 behind, and with vineyards, and olive trees, and 
 gardens stretching for miles, and in Spring, red with 
 peach blossom or w r hite with the blossom of the pear. 
 For many miles about Rome lies theCampagna, most- 
 ly covered with poor rank marshy grass, and which 
 they are now planting with the Eucalyptus or blue gum 
 tree, which has the property, it is said, of absorbing 
 the malarious vapours. In all the hotels that we 
 were at, five-sixths of the visitors seemed to be Eng- 
 lish and American. Through sunny Italy the cities 
 which burn only charcoal or wood, sleep clear and 
 smokeless in the sun, and the inhabitants are sin- 
 gularly gay and cheerful, though many of them very 
 poor and with the simplest food to eat, reminding us 
 of children in some respects, and as " having 
 nothing, yet possessing all things." 
 
 With reference further to the subject of waste, ue 
 may remark that in one sense, and with reference to 
 substances in general, there is no such thing in nature 
 as waste, or rather of annihilation, matter being 
 indestructible. Water, when it is boiled and converted 
 into steam, which evaporates in the atmosphere, has.
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 357 
 
 in fact, only undergone a change and been resolved 
 
 into its primal elements of oxygen and hydrogen- 
 
 These, however, still exist, and not one particle of 
 
 weight has been lost in the change. And so with 
 
 reference to coal you may remember at a former 
 
 meeting my having referred to coal as having been 
 
 properly called " Bottled up Sunshine," and that the 
 
 flame of fire and gas that we see, are in fact only the 
 
 reproduction of the sunlight and heat, which had been 
 
 put into the forests of club moss and pine, of which 
 
 coal was originally composed by the sun and air, 
 
 infinite ages ago- suggesting a thought beyond the 
 
 wonders of Aladdin's Lamp. Well, when we see this 
 
 coal in the fire-grate, apparently consumed, chemistry 
 
 tells us that in fact it still exists, as carbonic acid and 
 
 other atoms in the atmosphere, of the same weight, 
 
 and no doubt capable of being again re-combined. 
 
 And so with reference to ourselves when our change 
 
 shall come and the flame of life become extinct, 
 
 the analogy of nature suggests that we shall still 
 
 exist, and are capable of being recombined, and of 
 
 such existence and in such manner as the Almighty 
 
 pleases. 
 
 " There is no death, what seems so is transition ; 
 
 This life of mortal breath, 
 Is but a suburb of the life elysian, 
 
 \Yhose portal we call death." 
 
 Our religion, indeed, is a religion of hope, the bright 
 solacer, especially of the aged, the suffering and the 
 infirm, and without trenching on theology, I would 
 simply remark that he who endeavours to deprive 
 those who have it of hope '' takes from them that 
 which not enriches him, but makes them poor indeed."
 
 358 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 
 
 When beneath the great dome of St. Peter's, the 
 mind naturally reverted to Him \vho had conferred 
 such powers upon men. And when beneath the ruins 
 and greater starry done of the Coliseum, we looked 
 up as it were to unfading brightness above. For who 
 can view, unmoved, that glorious vault where the 
 heavenly orbs revolve. The sun, that disappears to 
 reappear, and absent scatters in his train the stars 
 of loveliness. But when with the hand of science we 
 unlock some of the mysteries of this transcendent 
 scene, how the heart throbs with wonder at the all- 
 pervading order, the heavens appear as it were a vast 
 machine, and in the minute relations of each separate 
 part, we recognize the work of one artificer. Con- 
 sider, for example, some of the discoveries of Kepler, 
 who found that the motions of the celestial bodies, 
 were regulated by fixed general laws ; he ascertained, 
 for example, that all the planets perform equal areas 
 in equal times, and that their periodic times of 
 revolution have a fixed relation to their respective 
 distances from the sun. These laws, indeed, are so 
 complex that it is no wonder that they should have 
 eluded prior research, and so precise and undeviating, 
 as to be capable of being calculated for 100 years 
 hence, with as much certainty as for the present. 
 Knowing them, the astronomer can predict to a 
 moment for ages yet to come when there will be a 
 Transit of Venus or an Eclipse of the Sun, and can 
 ascertain other events which help the mariner and 
 tend to prevent waste and loss of life at sea. On 
 every leaf of the visible universe are written the 
 evidences of beneficence and design. The rose puts 
 forth its coral lips to tell of a Creator, and on the
 
 WASTE AND ITS PREVENTION. 359 
 
 brow of genius are inscribed in characters of light 
 the marks of a Divine original. Observe the human 
 frame, how excellent are its separate parts, how 
 wonderful is their combination ; there is the sense of 
 touch, with its power of ascertaining the form of 
 external things, and a sensibility that guards us from 
 the extremes of heat and cold ; there is the organ of 
 sight, which with a kind of delicate touch, embraces 
 far off objects, and fills the mind with images of 
 beauty, and there is the sense of hearing with its 
 exquisite contrivance of sounds, admitting us to the 
 charms of music and conversation ; and above all, 
 there is the mind, the ruling power, that close image 
 of the Infinite ; not a thing of substance or of limit, 
 but unbounded in its faculties, rich in the spoils of 
 memory, and endowed with creative invention ; its 
 likeness to Infinity consists peculiarly in this, that it 
 is never so hoarded with knowledge as to be incapable 
 of admitting more, and like the widow's cruse, its 
 stores may be imparted to others, and yet not 
 diminished in themselves. We, were not the design- 
 ers of sight and hearing, but " He who made the 
 eye, shall He not see ? and He who made the ear, 
 shall He not hear?" And thus from the wonder tul 
 mechanism of our own frames we deduce the certainty 
 of an ill-wise Creator. 
 
 " These are Thy glorious works, Parent of good, 
 Almighty, Thine this universal frame, 
 Thus wond'rous fair, Thyself how wond'rous then, 
 Unspeakable, who sits above these heavens, 
 To us invisible, or dimly seen 
 In these Thy lower works, yet these declare 
 Thy goodness beyond thought and power divine."
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Abbey, Dieulacres. . . . . . . 6, 23, 44, 89 
 
 Abbey, Descriptive of. .. .. .. 8, 44 
 
 Abbey, Grants to. .. .. .. 45 
 
 Abbot of Dieulacres. .. .. 16, 23, 25 
 
 Advertisement, Pithy. .. .. .. .. 180 
 
 Afforceaments, Court of . . . . . 47 
 
 Anecdotes, Local. . . 48, 79, 95, 98, 190, 275 to 297 
 
 Animals, .. .. .. 77, 89, 91, 190 
 
 Anti-Corn Law Riots, .. .. .. .. 98 
 
 Barlow, .. .. .. 17, 18, ^0 
 
 Bateman, .. .. .. .. .. 32 
 
 Bemrose, Messrs. ... . . . . 43 
 
 Bentley, R. .. .. .. .. ..20, 335 
 
 Beresford. Rev. \V. .. .. .. 41, 88 
 
 Biddulph Castle, .. .. .. .. 30 
 
 Birds, . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 
 
 Blome, ... ... .. .. .. 50 
 
 Boswell, ... .. .. ..13, 32, 51 
 
 Bowcock, . . -. . . . . . . 52 
 
 Bratt, .. ,. .. .. .. ..20 
 
 Bright, John. .. .. .. 173, 178, 248 
 
 Brindley, James. .. .. .. .. n, 19, 51 
 
 Brocklehurst, .. . ... ..90, 327 
 
 Brotherton, Mr. .. .. . .. 178 
 
 Brough, Joshua. .. - .. ... 20, 89 
 
 Do. do. Presentation to. . . . . 332 
 
 Butcher, Rev. S. .. .. .. .. 150 
 
 Buxton, Improved Railway Communication with. .. 15, 319 
 
 Calton, . . . . . . . . . . 25 
 
 Cistercian Monks, . . . . . . . . 45 
 
 Ccena's Well,. . .. .. .. .. 13
 
 362 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 C h an eery Reform, .. .. .. .. 201 
 
 Do. do. Meeting in London, January, 1851, .. 250 
 
 Do. do. Letter to Sun Newspaper, . . . . 253 
 
 Do. do. Article fiom do. .. .. 256 
 
 Do. do. Meeting in London, March, 1852, .. 258 
 
 Do. do. Letter to Secretary Chancery Committee, . .267 
 
 Charles I. .. .. .. ,. 9 
 
 Chafer, Rev. A. .. .. .. .. 150 
 
 Chaucer's Language, similar to Moorland Dialect, . . 37 
 
 Chester, Earl of. .. ., .. . . 6, 46 
 
 Church, Old. .. .. ,. 7, iS, 19, 26, 27 
 
 Church Music, .. ,. .. .. 179 
 
 Civil War, .. ,. ,. .. 31, 48 
 
 Coal, .. ,, .. .. .. 75 
 
 Compound Engine, . . . , . . . . 101 
 
 Composition between Abbot and Vicar, , . . . 46 
 
 Condlyffe, W. . . .. .. .. ..15 
 
 Cowper, Pronounciation . . ,, .. .. 178 
 
 Cooper, C. P, ,. .. .. .. ..248 
 
 Crewe, . . . . . . . . . 54 
 
 Cruso, .. .. ,. .. . . 50, 56. 328 
 
 Cucking Stool, , .. . ." 6, 17, 18, 64 
 
 Cumberland, Duke of. ., .. .. i*. 49 
 
 Customs, Old. .. .. .. . . 34, 64 
 
 Dale, Rev. Richard. , . . . . . . . 58 
 
 Dane Brook, .. ., ,, .. 15, 307 
 
 Darwin, . . . . . . . . . . 30, 347 
 
 Death of Young Lady, . . . . . . . . 148 
 
 Decoration, .. .. .. .. 183 
 
 Denman, Lord. .. .. .. 242, 246 
 
 Deussen, . . . . . . . . 323 
 
 Deville, Reginald. .. ,. .. .. it 
 
 Dialect, Moorland. .. .. .. .. 37 
 
 Dickens, Charles. .. .. .. .. 243 
 
 Domesday Book, .. .. .. . . 5, 43, 50 
 
 Drummers Knob, . . . . . . 29 
 
 Earthquake (at Leek), .. .. .. 32, 51 
 
 Earth's Motion, .. .. .. .. 169 
 
 Edward II at Leek,. . .. .. .. 8, 47
 
 INDEX. jOj 
 
 PA<>E 
 
 Eggwell at Ashenhurst, .. .. .. -.13, 59 
 
 Electric Lamp, .. .. .. .. 102 
 
 Kndon, .. .. .. .. .. 30 
 
 Epitaphs, .. ., .. .. 2 7 
 
 Erskine, Lord... .. .. .. .. 258 
 
 Evidence before Committee on Chancery Reform, . . 237 
 
 Evil, Origin of. .. .. .. .. ..172 
 
 Examination, Law. .. .. .. .. 146 
 
 Examination, University. .. ,, 147, 149 
 
 E}esores in Landscape, .. .. .. 172 
 
 Eern burning supposed conducive to rain, .. 35, 93 
 
 Eerriar, . . . . . . . , 20, 28, 347 
 
 Eish, . . . . . . . . . . ..79 
 
 Elint, Dr. . .. ., .. .. 13, 300 
 
 Eorests, .. .. .. .. ..78 
 
 Eoster John, .. .. .. .. 243 
 
 Eowlchurch, .. .. , . , . ..20 
 
 Eranco-German War, Remarks on. .. .. 323 
 
 Fynney, .. 15, 33, 55 
 
 Eynney Fellowships at Worcester College, Oxford, . . 56 
 
 Gallows at Leek, .. . . .. .. 17 
 
 Gastar, Products from. .. .. .. .. 102 
 
 Gaunt, .. .. .. 14, 62, 63, 93, 275 
 
 Cell, Sir John... .. .. .. ..48 
 
 Gladstone, Mr. .. .. .. .. 177 
 
 Goodacre, . . . . . . . . 24 
 
 Grammar School, .. .. .. . . 54 
 
 Gulf Stream, its effect on climate of England, . . 72 
 
 Gun,.. .... 44, 57 
 
 Hair Powder, .. .. .. .. 186 
 
 Hammersley. . . . . . . . . 58 
 
 Hamshaw, Mr. .. .. .. .. 188 
 
 Hanby, Rev. T. .. .. .. ..58 
 
 Haymaking on Sunday ; (Letter to Leek Times, August, 1880} 330 
 
 Heath, George. .. .. .. .. 59 
 
 Heathcote, Hacker. . . . . . . . . 9 
 
 Henry VIII, .. .. .. .. ..6 
 
 Home Rule, .. .. .. .. 94 
 
 X 2
 
 364 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Hooper, Bishop.. .. ... .... ..25 
 
 Howard, Rev. J. ... .. ,. .. 142 
 
 Hume, Joseph. ... .. .. 201, 259 
 
 Ignorance Illustrated, .. .. .. 186 
 
 Inscription on- Old Fountain, Needwood Forest, .. 175 
 
 Influenza, . . .. .. . .. 165 
 
 Inns, Old. .. ... .. .. 57 
 
 Irish Question, 1882, ... ... .. .. 181 
 
 Joddrell, .. .. .. ^. 26, 56 
 
 Johnson-, Michael. ... ... .. 13, 32 
 
 Johnson, Dr. Samuel... ... ... 13, 32, 50, 51 
 
 Jolliffe, .. .. .. . , ..26 
 
 Jubilee Day, .. .. ... .. 105 
 
 Killmister, A. K. . . .. .. .. 34, 6t 
 
 King William's College,. .. .. .. 140 
 
 Lamford, .. .. .. .. ..48 
 
 Lawsuit in 1307, .. .. ., .. 47 
 
 Legends and Traditions of Neighbourhood', . . 36 
 
 Lectures: Sleigh's History, April, 1863, .. .. 3 
 
 Do. do. March, 1864, .. ..21 
 
 Do. do. May, 1884, 4 1 
 
 Do. Climate, &c., January, 1887, ... ..69 
 
 Do. More about Leek, April, 1888, .. .. 88 
 
 Leekfrith, ... .. .. .. ..22 
 
 Leek and Stoke Railway, .. .. 39, 314, 315 
 
 Letter Carrying, .... ... .. .. 36 
 
 Levite, A young. ... . .. .. 26 
 
 Levinge, Sir Richard. . . . . . . . . 32 
 
 Letter to Secretary Chancery Committee on Reform, 267 
 
 Lichfield, Bishop of. (1666) .. .. .. 24 
 
 Lifting Days, . . . . . . . . . . 34 
 
 Loxdale, .. .. . . . . .. 18 
 
 Macclesfield Ld. Chanc : .. .. .. 4, 9, 10, 53 
 
 Macclesfield, Earl. *. .. .. .. 32 
 
 Mac Millan, Ventriloquist, .. .. .. 193 
 
 Manchester Exhibition, .. .. .. 100 
 
 Market Place, .. .. .. .. ..36
 
 INDEX. 365 
 
 Mechanics' Institute, Address. . . . . . .. 196 
 
 Mills, W. .. .. .. .. 53 
 
 Missions at Leek .. .. .. .... 103 
 
 Mona's Herald on Chancery Reform, .. . . .. 266 
 
 Morridge, .. .. .. ... ... 13. 
 
 Naden's Execution, .. .. ... ..57 
 
 Names, Old Local. .. .. ... . 47 
 
 Needham, .. .. .. .. - 59 
 
 Nicholson,.. .. .. .. 49, 65, 69, 70 
 
 Noncomformists, .. .. .. ..58 
 
 North Staffordshire Railway Company Meeting, January, 1850 270 
 
 Do. do. do. July. 1^50, 273 
 
 Our t\vo houses, .. .. ... .... 166- 
 
 Pall Mall, Origin of name. .. .. .. 191 
 
 Pamphlet, Chancery. . .. .. .. 202- 
 
 Parish Clerk, .. .. .. .. 25 
 
 Parker, .. .. .. .. 9, 32, 53 
 
 Pearson, .. .. .. .. .. 316 
 
 Pedigrees, Old Local. .. .. 14, 52 to 56 
 
 Pernberton, .. * .. .. .. 163 
 
 Physical Geography, .. .. .. ..70 
 
 Pickwood,.. .. .. .. .. 33 
 
 Pillar in Churchyard, . . . . . . 27, 46 
 
 Plants, .. .. .. .. .. 82 
 
 Plague Stone, .. .. .. .. ..22 
 
 Poetry 
 
 Britain, .. .. .. ... ..86' 
 
 Coal, .. .. .. .. .. 77 
 
 Electric Telegraph, .. .. .. .. 137 
 
 Frost,.. .. .. .. .. 108 
 
 Good Bye and Farewell, .. .. ..109 
 
 Isle of Man, .. .. .. .. IIO 
 
 Jubilee Day, . . . . . . . . 1O 5 
 
 Last Prayer, . . . . . . . . j 2 2 
 
 Leek and Neighbourhood, .. .. ..66 
 
 Lines on Death ot Princess Alice, .. .. 138 
 
 Love, .. .. .. .. ..117 
 
 On Death of a Little Girl, .. .. .. I32 
 
 Prince of Wales' Wedding Day, .. .. jg
 
 IXDF.X. 
 
 PAGF. 
 
 Spring, .. .. .. 121 
 
 To Dr. .. .. .. ..129 
 
 To Fanny, .. .. .. .. 130 
 
 The Eye, . . . . . . . . . . 131 
 
 To Maria, . . . . . . . . 128 
 
 To Young Friend, .. .. .. ..125 
 
 Wreath of Flowers, .. .. .. 107 
 
 Political Situation, 1^78, .. .. .. .. 173 
 
 Poole End, .. .. .. .. 23, 45 
 
 Population, . . . . . . . . . . 50 
 
 Poulton, . . . . . . . . .' . . 16, 23 
 
 Quaker's Meeting House, .. .. .. ..49 
 
 Rainfall, Average. . . . . . . . . 73 
 
 Railway, North Stafford. .. ., .. 270, 273 
 
 Railway, Leek and Stoke. ,, .. ..15, 314 
 
 Railway, Leek and Buxton. ,. ., '15, 3^ 
 
 Raphael's Cartoons, .. , . , .. IOI 
 
 Rawlinson, R. .. .. .. .. 305 
 
 Rebellions, '15, '45, .. .. ,. ,. ^g 
 
 Recommendations for remedying Chancery Law, ., .. 228 
 
 Recreation Ground, Gift of. .. .. ., gy 
 
 Red Lion Inn, .. .. .. . , ..12 
 
 Reflections on Death and Burial, .. .. ., ^7 
 
 Reichell, Rev. Mr. (now Bishop of Meath), ., .. i^r 
 
 Religious Hope, .. .. .. ., jyg 
 
 Religion, ., .. . . .. p% jgi 
 
 Reminiscences, .. ., .. j- 
 
 Rifle Band Entertainment, .. . . ,. ., ^22 
 
 Ritchie, .. .. ,, . , ,, (^ 
 
 Richardson, Dr, . . .. .. ,. ff -,.% 
 
 Rhodes, 
 
 Robert, Earl of Chester's Butler, .. ... .,24 
 
 Roches, .. .. ., .. ., -. 
 
 Roe Buck Inn, .. ., .. ., 12 
 
 Roden, Mr. .. .. .. ,.177, 333 
 
 Rogers, .. .. .. .. .. ^7 
 
 Rookery at Pickwood, .. ., .. Iy2 
 
 Robinson, J. .. ., .. .. ->-,* 
 
 Romilly, Sir John. .. .. .. .. 269
 
 36 7 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Royal Visit to Leek, . . ... . . . . 327 
 
 Rudyerd, .. .. .. .. 10, 33, 52 
 
 Rushton Church, .. .. .. y_ j^ jyg 
 
 Rushton Spencer, . . . . . . . . 29 
 
 Sadlier, J. .. .. .. .. . . 2 4 G 
 
 Sanitary Committee's Report, 1864. .. .. 308 
 
 Sanitary Conference, Birmingham, 1875, Speech. .. .. 310 
 
 Searight, .. .. .. .. .. 44 
 
 Sewerage and Sanitary Improvements. (Letter fj the Editor 
 
 of the Staffordshire Advertiser, 1857^, 298 
 
 Sewerage, Meetings as to Main. .. .. 304, 306 
 
 Scepticism, One cause of. . . . . . . 169 
 
 Silk Trade,. . .. .. .. .. 14, 62 
 
 Situation of House, . . . . . . . . 166 
 
 Sleigh, .. .. .. 4. 32, 53, 65 
 
 Sneyd, .. .. .. 14, 30, 56, 60, 97 
 
 Soulcaking, . . . . . . . . . . 34 
 
 Spencer, Earl. . . . . . . . . 29 
 
 Spout Street, .. .. .. .. . , ' 12 
 
 Squires of Neighbourhood, . . . . . . 60 
 
 St. Helen's Well, Rushton,. . .. .. ..30 
 
 St. Paul's Cathedral, .. .. .. .. 143 
 
 Staffordshire Dialect , .. .. .. 37 
 
 Do. Derivation of word, ... .. 71 
 
 Stockwell Street. .. .. .. .. 13 
 
 Strange Story of E and S , .. .. .. 152 
 
 Strata, . . . . . . . . 79 
 
 Stuart, Prince C. .. .. 4, n, 12, 20, 31, 49 
 
 Stuart, John. .. .. .. .. .. 246 
 
 Sunset, Double. .. .. .. .. 27 
 
 Talfourd, Justice. .. ... .. 243. 245 
 
 Teck, Duchess of, at Leek. . . . . 50, 327 
 
 Toft,.. .. .. .. .. ..ii 
 
 Totmonslow North, .. .. .. .. 71 
 
 Town Hall, . . . . . . . . 36 
 
 Trafford, .. .. .. .. .. 90 
 
 Upperhulme Springs and Water Supply, . . . . 338 
 
 Vicarage, Revenues. .. .. .. .. 25
 
 368 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Waste and Its Prevention : Address to North Staffordshire 
 
 Field Naturalists' Club, May, 1882, .. .. 340 
 
 Ward, .. .. .. .. 51, 67, 336 
 
 Wardle, T. .. .. .. .. 4 , ?8 
 
 Watchmen, .. ,. .. .. ^ 
 
 Water Supply, . . . . . . . . 3O 6, 338 
 
 Weaver, Richard, .. .. .. .. 58 
 
 Wesley, Rev. John. . . . . . . . - 58 
 
 Whateley, W. .. .. .. .. 245 
 
 Whist, Extraordinary game of ,. .. .. 174 
 
 White, Henry Kirke... ., .. .. 59 
 
 Whillock, .. .. .. .-47 
 
 Wilson, C. C. ., .. .. ^7 
 
 Wood, Rev. J. G. .. ,. .. .. 79 
 
 Youth in Age, ., .. ., . . i^f, 
 
 M. H. MILLER, " TIMES" OFFICE, LEEK.
 
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