The History of the Catnach Press: at Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Alnwick and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, in Northumberland, and Seven Dials, LondonHindley, Charles
History
The History of the Catnach Press: at Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Alnwick and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, in Northumberland, and Seven Dials, London
Hindley, Charles
Ballads -- Publishing -- England -- History -- 19th century; Ballads, English -- England -- Bibliography; Catnach, James, 1792-1841; Chapbooks -- Publishing -- England -- History -- 19th century; Children's literature -- Publishing -- England -- History -- 19th century; England -- Imprints; Printing
The very unsatisfactory and evasive answers received in reference to the
address of Mr. John Morgan gave a zest to our zeal in the matter--so much
so, that we then determined "to work the oracle" out in our way.
At this time we had a near relative occupying chambers in Barnard's Inn,
which we held to be a good central and lawyer-like address--one that had
the "true ring," of business and substantiality about it. Yes! Barnard's
Inn, Holborn, London, E.C., looked to our mind to be likely to serve our
stratigical purpose to the point we desired. Having made all the
preparatory arrangements, we then procured from a neighbouring stationer's
shop a sheet of mourning note-paper and an envelope of large proportions,
each having the very blackest and broadest of black borders we could find
in stock. Then we wrote in a law-like hand:--
_No. 6, Barnard's Inn,
Holborn, London, E.C.,
February 26, 1870._
_THIS IS TO GIVE NOTICE:--If Mr. John Morgan, ballad-writer, &c., will
call at the above address on or after Wednesday next. He will hear
something greatly to his advantage._
_(Signed)_
[Signature: Charles Hindley.]
_Mr. John Morgan,
care of............
..............London._
The above document having been duly intrusted to Her Majesty's Post Master
General for delivery, we had to abide our time for the result. We had not
to wait long, for although we had appointed the next following Wednesday
to communicate "_something greatly to the advantage of Mr. John Morgan_,"
he turned up a little sooner than we expected, or desired, by reason of
his putting in an appearance at Barnard's Inn on Tuesday evening, where he
arrived "happy and glorious," and made earnest enquiries for "the
gentleman who had sent him a letter to say he had got a something to his
advantage--perhaps a fortune! For sometimes he thought somebody would die
and leave him one. Where was the gentleman who wrote him the letter? He
says that I am to call here. He sent it in a black-bordered envelope for
him. Where is the gentleman? See here is the letter, and all in
black--black as your hat--look for yourself, sir."
All the above was spoken to a friend of ours who lived on the ground-floor
at the particular house in Barnard's Inn, where Mr. John Morgan had been
requested to call on Wednesday. It was then only Tuesday, and that fact
had to be explained; also, that the gentleman in question was not at
present in his chambers on the third-floor, but would be in the morning up
to 10 o'clock. Our friend on the first-floor--who had received
instructions from us in the event of Mr. John Morgan turning-up while we
were not at home--informed us of all that had taken place when we arrived
a little later on in the evening.
On the next morning preparations were made for the reception of our
expectant friend--a good fire, a good breakfast, and a half-pint of "Old
Tom" from Carr's well-known Establishment, St. Clement Danes, Strand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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