[1] With very trifling exceptions there was no railway traveling in England at that time, and only one steam vessel, the Hylton Jolliffe, sailed between Newcastle and the Metropolis, so that George Dalziel made the journey in a small trading vessel of some three or four hundred tons burden. The weather being calm and warm for the season, the little ship went pleasantly along until it had performed about half the journey, when, through negligence on the part of the chief mate, who was in charge at the time, the vessel was allowed to run aground upon a sand bank when nearly opposite Yarmouth. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and the ship was quickly surrounded by a great many fishing boats offering their services to take out part of the cargo, and so lighten it sufficiently that it might float again when the tide rose. This was done, and having gone a little further out to sea, the cargo was again put on board and the ship sailed away to London, where she finally cast anchor in the Thames nearly opposite the Tower, on a bright, fresh, Sunday morning, having occupied nearly a whole week in the journey.
[CHAPTER II.]
Charles Knight, Sir William Allan, R.A., P.R.S.A, John Franklin, William Mulready, R.A., George Routledge, Sir John Tenniel, George Cruikshank, W. E. Frost, R.A., F. R. Pickersgill, R.A., Fred Walker, A.R.A., R.W.S., Sir John Gilbert, R.A., P.R.W.S., Richard Doyle, and W. M. Thackeray.
Very early in our career we were, through our friend William Harvey, introduced to Charles Knight, the eminent publisher who did so much as a pioneer in introducing cheap and good literature to the people, as his "Penny Magazine," "Penny Cyclopædia," "Charles Knight's History of England," and many other kindred works bear ample evidence. And not only in literature but in art as well he took a bold and leading part: see his elaborately illustrated edition of Shakespeare's Works, the Bible, "The Land we Live in," and many highly interesting and instructive books. Perhaps the most beautiful of all was the illustrated edition of Lane's "Arabian Nights' Entertainments," a book which must always hold a foremost place among the most tastefully decorated volumes this country has produced.
It was only in association with Landells and Charles Gray that we were at all connected with this work, not having, at that time, any personal transaction with Mr. Knight, though we subsequently did a great deal of work for him, notably in his "Shakespeare" and "The Land we Live in."
Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Knight's sub-editor and literary manager, used to tell a curious story about one of the literary contributors to these volumes, whose name, for obvious reasons, we will withhold.
In this gentleman's early connection with Mr. Knight, he called and had a serious conversation with Ramsay, confessing his uncontrollable weakness for strong drink, and that his only safeguard was an empty pocket. He therefore begged of Ramsay never, under any circumstances, to advance him one penny upon his work, no matter how hard he might plead, or what story he might tell in urging the necessity for an advance of cash. Ramsay was to be firm and refuse to listen to him, and on no account to let him have money, and that all payment for work was to be forwarded to his wife. Ramsay promised faithful observance, and so matters went smoothly on for a considerable time. But one day M. N. came with a sad, doleful face, begging for an advance of ten pounds. Ramsay positively declined, reminding him of their compact.
"Yes, yes, that's all right, old fellow," he answered; "but this business is quite away from everything else. I don't forget the injunction I laid upon you, but this is altogether different; it is a case of the most urgent necessity." Then he went on and told a sad, touching tale of his boy having died suddenly, and the shock having brought on a serious illness with his wife, while, unfortunately, he was totally without funds to meet the unexpected demands upon his purse, or procure a nurse to attend upon her, as well as the comforts that were absolutely necessary under the circumstances.