The well-known engraved heading represents a view of London from the Thames, as it was then,—St. Paul’s towering in the centre, and the Lord Mayor’s procession in State barges passing up the river. The first engraving is a ‘View of the Conflagration of the City of Hamburgh,’ which began on May 5th, and continued for several days. A great part of the city was destroyed, and more than one hundred lives were lost. As marking an epoch in the history of the Pictorial Press, I reprint this engraving and some others from the early numbers. The next cut is apparently a view of some town in Italy or France; but there is no name to the engraving or any reference to it in the surrounding text, which is all about the dreadful railway accident between Paris and Versailles which had then just occurred, whereby fifty persons were killed, and one hundred and fifty were more or less injured. On the next page are views of the city of Cabul and the fortress of Ghuznee, just then the seat of stirring events. The columns of ‘Foreign Intelligence,’ ‘The Court and Haut Ton,’ ‘Births, Marriages, and Deaths,’ were each headed by a small woodcut, an example of which is given here. There is also an illustration of ladies’ fashions, accompanied by a gushing, descriptive letter from Paris, beginning: ‘Dear Mr. Editor, I feel an inexpressible delight in inditing my first communication to your lady readers, upon the fashions of the haut ton of this ville de gaitè. So suddenly and with such power has the sun lately shot forth, that there is no end to invention in our spring fashions.’
| FASHIONS FOR MAY, 1842. FROM THE ‘ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,’ MAY 14, 1842. |
It would appear that illustrated police reports were to have formed part of the attractions of the paper, and several small cuts dealing with humorous subjects are scattered through the early numbers. The cases were evidently selected with a view to provoke merriment rather than to indulge a morbid taste for criminal records, and seem to show that the paper in its early days possessed something of the frolicsomeness of youth, and did not consider a joke beneath its dignity. It had its wild oats to sow, and was not indisposed to emulate its contemporary Punch, then also a young joker. The first illustrations of the kind relate to a case at the Mansion House before Sir Peter Laurie, where the manager of a matrimonial institution sought to defend his establishment from the strictures of that celebrated ‘putter-down.’ A few pages further on we come upon two facetious advertisements, one of them professing to have been called forth by the report of the above case at the Mansion House:—
‘Matrimony.—A professional gentleman, who has for some time past enrolled the category of his multitudinous graces, accomplishments, and prospects, in the portfolio of the “Matrimonial Alliance Establishment,” fearing that, under the influence of Sir Peter Laurie’s recent animadversion they will waste their sweetness unseen—unknown in the rose-tinted volume of the modern Hymen, avails himself of the glorious opportunity afforded to advertisers by the proprietors of the Illustrated London News, “and boldly and unhesitatingly submits his picture in little,” to the approving smiles of the fair daughters (and widows) of Albion’s Isle, conscious of his perfect sincerity in stating that he has no insurmountable objection to fortune being combined with beauty, taste, lively disposition, and cheerful temper; he feels assured that the lovely creature whose eyes shall be fortunate enough, first to meet this advertisement (and then the advertiser), will secure to herself a perfect amenity, if truth be truth, and manners—not money—make the man. Address, with portrait (miniature set in gold, pearls, or other precious stones, not refused), A. Donis Slim, Esq., 320 Strand.’
| A. DONIS SLIM, ESQ. FROM THE ‘ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,’ MAY 14, 1842. |
The other advertisement referred to is of an entirely different character, being addressed to the commercial world:—
‘Capital Spec! Safe as the Bank!—Wanted a partner in a snug, genteel little concern, with an airy and pleasant corner situation in one of the most densely crowded thoroughfares of the Metropolis, and doing a good, ready-money business, without much risk; which an increase of capital would considerably extend. The returns exceed the outlay, and the Sunday custom alone covers the rent. The taxes are redeemed, and there is a long unexpired term of the lease, which is held at a lolly-pop. The coming into a half-share, including plant and stock, very moderate—say a trifle above 0000l. Any person who can command the above sum will not only find this a decided bargain, but a very desirable opportunity of commencing business, and well worthy the attention of an industrious person of small means and less family. References exchanged. Address, prepaid, to B. B. (Brandy Ball), Pieman’s Alley.’
| PARTNERSHIP WANTED. FROM THE ‘ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS,’ MAY 14, 1842. |
The principal engravings in this first number illustrate the first Bal Masque given by Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. They were drawn by Sir John Gilbert, then at the beginning of his career, and it was most fortunate for the new enterprise that an artist of such great and varied abilities was found at the very outset to give his powerful aid to the undertaking. His wonderful facility and bold picturesqueness were exactly suited to the requirements of an illustrated newspaper. The first enabled him to do his work with marvellous quickness, and the second was an excellent counterpoise to the damaging effects of hurried engraving and rapid printing. The illustrations of the Queen’s Bal Masque are eight in number, including character portraits of Her Majesty and the Prince Consort. There are two cuts from a book under review, and the last illustration in the number represents a long line of men carrying advertising boards ‘to proclaim the advent of this important publication.’