Page:A Voice from the Nile, and Other Poems. (Thomson, Dobell).djvu/45

 Reeves & Turner being liberal-minded men who had already distinguished themselves by bringing out the handsomest and most complete edition of Shelley's Works, were not alarmed even by Thomson's heterodoxy, and it was promptly agreed upon that "The City of Dreadful Night, and other Poems" should be issued at the joint risk of those gentlemen and myself.

Returning to Thomson's connection with the National Reformer and Mr. Bradlaugh, it has to be noted that in 1875 disagreements took place between the editor and his most brilliant contributor, which led to the latter's secession from that paper. I have already dwelt upon the utter unlikeness of character of the two men; and considering this, it is by no means surprising that they eventually disagreed; the wonder is rather that they remained friends for so long a time.

It was now necessary for Thomson to seek for other employment; and he was fortunate enough to obtain a literary engagement, which during the few years he was yet to live was to prove his main dependence. Messrs. Cope, the well-known tobacco-merchants of Liverpool, published at this time a monthly periodical called Cope's Tobacco Plant. I suppose their main object in issuing it was to advertise their business; but however this may be, their periodical was of an unusually bright and entertaining character. It was conducted by Mr. John Fraser, whose success in discovering unknown talent, and in availing himself of it, made him a model editor. The contributors were paid on a very liberal scale, and it is probable that Thomson derived almost as much advan-