The Marylebone Penny Readings and Their Critics

Transcribed from the 1869 Marylebone Penny Readings edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
AN ADDRESS TO THE PATRONS AND FRIENDS OF THE Marylebone Penny Readings, BY HENRY TAYLOR, HONORARY CONDUCTOR.
LONDON: PUBLISHED BY THE MARYLEBONE PENNY READINGS, The Harrow Road Hall , Cromwell Terrace , W.
1869.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
As Certain statements have appeared in the Local Journals reflecting upon my character as the Honorary Conductor of “The Readings,” and upon the Institution, I deem it my duty to send this statement to you, with the request that you will give it your kind and impartial consideration. I should not have adopted this course had the Editors of those journals, viz.: “The Marylebone Mercury” and “The Bayswater Chronicle,” inserted my letters addressed to them, giving a denial of the misrepresentations. I think it may not be out of place to give you a sketch of the progress of the Institution, and to mention from what cause I was induced to commence the series of Penny Readings first known as “Praed Street Penny Readings,” but afterwards more appropriately termed “The Marylebone Penny Readings.” I had attended many Penny Reading meetings within the metropolis and was thoroughly convinced that such meetings were not only calculated to do much good, but would be very acceptable to the working classes if properly conducted; but, unfortunately, in many instances the programmes abounded with Vulgar Comic Songs, while in others a religious spirit was infused, rendering the programme monotonous and unattractive. Having a little time at my disposal, I determined upon founding a series of Penny Readings, having for its objects—“presenting a counter attraction to haunts of vice and of creating and improving the tastes for pure and standard literature.” With this view, I gave an inaugural meeting at the Foresters’ Hall, on Thursday evening, November 21st, 1867, when our esteemed member, Mr. Thomas Chambers, M.P., Q.C., presided; through the kindness of the Rev. John Clifford, LL.B., I was permitted to hold a series of twenty-seven meetings in the small room beneath “Praed Street Chapel;” the first meeting was held there on the 24th November, under the Presidency of Mr. F. Berridge, F.R.G.S. The first four meetings were thinly attended, but the attendance gradually increased until they acquired a popularity as the first of their class.