London:
CHATTO AND WINDUS, PICCADILLY.
1874.

Contents.

PAGE
Introduction, [vii]
The Barber’s Chair, [1]
The Hedgehog Letters—
1.To Peter Hedgehog, at Sydney, [211]
2.To Mrs Hedgehog of New York, [216]
3.To Mrs Hedgehog of New York, [222]
4.To Michael Hedgehog, at Hong-Kong, [228]
5.To Mrs Barbara Wilcox, at Philadelphia, [231]
6.To Mr Jonas Wilcox, Philadelphia, [234]
7.To John Squalid, Weaver, Stockton, [239]
8.To —— ——, Naples, [244]
9.To Mrs Hedgehog of New York, [247]
10. To Samuel Hedgehog, Galantee Showman, Ratcliffe Highway, [252]
11. To Chickweed, Widow, Penzance, [257]
12. To Isaac Moss, Slop-seller, Portsmouth, [260]
13. To Mrs Hedgehog of New York, [263]
14. To Mrs Hedgehog of New York, [272]
15. To Miss Kitty Hedgehog, Milliner, Philadelphia, [279]
16. To Mrs Hedgehog, New York, [285]
17. To Michael Hedgehog, Hong-Kong, [290]
18. To Richard Monckton Milnes, Esq., M.P., [293]
19. To Isaac Moss, Slop-seller, Portsmouth, [297]
20. To Mrs Hedgehog, New York, [300]
21. To Sir J. B. Tyrell, Bart., M.P. for North Essex, [308]
22. To Mrs Hedgehog, New York, [312]
23. To Mrs Hedgehog, New York, [319]

Introduction.

These dialogues on passing events appeared in Douglas Jerrold’s Weekly Newspaper, a journal started by my father in 1846. They became at once very popular. The idea was a fresh and happy one that, like “Caudle’s Lectures,” went home to all classes of readers. Indeed, in Mrs Nutts we have indications of Mrs Caudle’s vein: Mrs Nutts might have been a poor relation of the Caudle family. Nutts is such a barber as the Gossip was, who for many years occupied a little shop against Temple Bar—with one door in the City and the other in Middlesex. He was the most talkative, the most knowing, the most confident of barbers. His mind had possibly been sharpened by the distinguished men from the Temple, and from the Fleet Street newspaper offices, whom he had shaved. He had more than a smattering of literary and forensic gossip: he was something of a humourist, and, like Mr Nutts, it took very much in the way of news to surprise him. Mr Nutts observes that he has had so much news in his time, that he has lost the flavour of it. He could relish nothing weaker than a battle of Waterloo. To this state of satiety had the Temple Bar barber shaved and talked himself.

Indeed it is my firm belief that the “Barber’s Chair,” which in 1847 was set up in the offices of Douglas Jerrold’s Weekly Newspaper, next door to the Strand Theatre, was the chair taken from Temple Bar; and that the most loquacious and original of barbers sat for Mr Nutts.