Transcriber’s Note Italic text displayed as: _italic_ THE Book of the Cheese BEING TRAITS AND STORIES OF “Y^E OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE” WINE OFFICE COURT, FLEET STREET LONDON, E.C. COMPILED BY THE LATE T. W. REID THIRD EDITION REVISED BY WILLIAM HUSSEY GRAHAM FOURTH EDITION EDITED BY R. R. D. ADAMS, M.A. FIFTH EDITION REVISED AND ABRIDGED BY FRANK BANFIELD, M.A. (OXON.) _ILLUSTRATED BY MESSRS. SEYMOUR LUCAS, R.A., HERBERT RAILTON, JOSEPH PENNELL, WALTER ALLEN & GEORGE CRUICKSHANK_ “Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn?”—SHAKESPEARE London: “Y_{E} OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE” 145, FLEET STREET, E.C. 1908 PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION _TO OUR FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD_ In the present edition, while most of the matter which has appeared in previous editions of our little book has been retained, we have deleted portions that we considered could be dispensed with, and added some fresh incidents and reminiscences that we think may add to its interest. We have enlarged the work by the addition of a chapter descriptive of the pictures and objects of interest to be seen within the precincts of this historic House. We desire to record our thanks to Messrs. W. Marchant & Co., of the Goupil Gallery, 5, Regent Street, for assistance given in relation to the pictures, and to many old customers of the House for facts relating to its past history. Yours obediently, THE DIRECTORS. O. C. C., LD. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. EARLY HISTORY OF YE OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE 1 II. JOHNSON AND GOLDSMITH AT THE “CHEESE” 9 III. RELICS AND ART TREASURES OF THE “CHEESE” 15 IV. MR. JOSEPH PENNELL AND LADY COLIN CAMPBELL ON THE “CHEESE” 26 V. ABOUT THE PUDDING 33 VI. THE BAR 37 VII. CLUB LIFE AT THE “CHEESE” 42 VIII. DR. JOHNSON’S HOMES AND HAUNTS 55 IX. THE “CHEESE” AND ITS FARE—A GREAT FALL IN PUDDING 57 X. MR. GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA AND OTHERS ON THE “CHEESE” 61 XI. THE PRESS AND THE “CHEESE” 65 XII. WHAT THE WORLD SAYS OF THE “CHEESE” 72 XIII. THE “CHESHIRE CHEESE” IN LITERATURE 85 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS _PLATES_ “TODDY AT THE CHESHIRE CHEESE,” _by W. Dendy Sadler_ _Frontispiece_ “THE COSY CORNER” IN OLD CHESHIRE CHEESE _to face p._ 13 THE JOHNSONIAN CORNER ” 18 DR. JOHNSON’S CHAIR ” 22