Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/387

 ii s, vi. OCT. 19, i9i2.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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Dictionary of National Biography. Edited by _._Sir Sidney Lee. Second Supplement. Vol. II.

Faed-Muybridge (Smith, Elder & Co.) WE who have passed middle life cannot turn over the pages of this volume without a feeling of sadness, for they are full of cherished memories of those who contributed much to the joy of living, as well as being helpful by the way in which they diffused their special knowledge.

In this volume of 700 pages are 578 memoirs, not one of which is without some special interest. We are glad, to see that the number of biographies devoted to those distinguished in Literature (in- cluding journalism, philology, and philosophy) is the largest (125). Under Art (including archi- tecture, music, and the stage) the number is 80. It is strange that the smallest number (16) on the list is under Commerce and Agriculture. The lawyers and sportsmen are close as to num- bers 29 of the former and 21 of the latter. We can refer to but a few.

Of special interest to our readers is the account of Joseph Knight. Curiously enough, there are two Joseph Knights in this volume. The first is the landscape painter and engraver, who was born 27 Jan., 1837, and died 2 Jan., 1909. Al- though at the age of seven he lost his right arm, lie made a reputation as a painter in oil and water colour, and as an engraver and etcher. Next to him in the ' Dictionary ' comes our former Editor, born at Leeds on 24 May, 1829. When only 19, he composed a poem, ' The Sea by Moonlight,' of which we are so fortunate as to possess a copy. As our older readers know, it vvas on the death of Turle in July, 1883, that he took over the editorship of ' N. & Q.' He was also dramatic critic to The Athenaeum, and his large knowledge of stage history caused him to be chosen as the chief contributor of the lives of actors and actresses to the ' Dictionary.' ' Notes by the Way ' contains a complete list of his contributions. Sir Sidney Lee, who has written the biography, records his handsome presence, courteous bearing, and fine literary taste. Many who read this review have them- selves enjoyed Knight's friendship and experienced his great social charm. It is not too much to say of him that he was one of the most courteous gentlemen of the nineteenth century. Edward VII., " le roi charmant," recognized his fascinat- ing personality.

We turn next to the biography of a man with whom we and Knight were intimately associated, Norman Maccoll, who succeeded Dixon as editor of The Athenceum. Maccoll occupied the position until 1900, when, much to the regret of all con- nected with the paper, ill-health forced him to resign. Mr. Vernon Rendall in the short bio- graphy gives from personal knowledge a vivid description of him. He was reserved and shy, had a perfect horror of self-advertisement, and followed as much as possible in the old lines of keeping the name of the editor in the background. As an editor, he was indefatigable and would fre- quently return to the office, when the paper was .lust going to press, to correct something which had suddenly occurred to him. His obituary notices were one of the features of the paper. He led a most quiet, secluded life, and cared so

little about politics that he never saw a morning paper until he read The Times at the office late in the day, after he had attended to his corre- spondence and other matters requiring immediate attention. His chief recreation consisted of Sun- day walks with Leslie Stephen and a group of literary men ; and although he met with a bad accident at golf, by which he nearly lost the sight of one eye, he remained to the last an enthusiastic golfer. He was not a man of many friends, but the few who enjoyed his friendship, as we did, know how perfect and sincere it was.

Mr. G. S. Boulger reminds us in his biography of George Manville Fenn that it was Dickens who discovered him. ' In Jeopardy ' appeared in. All the Year Round in 1864. This attracted the notice of other editors, and manuscripts were soon accepted by James Payn for Chambers's Journal. Fenn's separate books number more than 170.

' Frederick Gard Fleay,' contributed by the editor, tells of his winning the Trevelyan Prize for an essay on phonetic spelling. Like Skeat,. whose death we are now lamenting, he was a, leading advocate of English orthographic reform,, and edited The Spelling Reformer in 1880-81. In 1874 he joined the New Shakspere Society on its formation by Furnivall, whose biography,, also written by Sir Sidney Lee, appears a few pages later. This gives an account of Furnivall's services in originating the ' N.E.D.,' and forming^ the Early English Text Society, which began with 75 subscribers, Ruskin and Tennyson amongst them. At his death 140 volumes had been issued in the original series, and 107 in the extra series. ' Richard Garnett ' is yet another- biography we owe to Sir Sidney Lee. Garnett was well named by Bishop Creighton " the ideal librarian," for not a student visiting the library of the British Museum sought his help in vain. The biography testifies to his amazing literary activity.

Dr. Ward contributes the biography of Sir Theodore Martin, who will chiefly be remembered by his Life of the Prince Consort. Among the longest biographies is that of Sir Henry Irving, by Mr. Harold H. Child, who supplies an account of his early struggles and industrious persistency before he obtained success. We notice one slight slip. Tom Hood was the author of the well- known poem he was wont to recite, not Lytton,. whose novel ' Eugene Aram ' still finds readers.

Among the clergy are Farrar and Fleming ; and among the Free Churchmen Alexander Maclaren, Baptist divine (1826-1910), and Dr. Samuel Gosnell Green (1822-1905), another Baptist minister. Green was from 1863 to 1876 President of Rawden College, and afterwards became editorial secretary to the Religious Tract Society. His most important work was his ' Handbook to the Grammar of the Greek Testa- ment,' which ran through several editions ; and in 1904 he edited a revised edition of Dr. Angus's ' Bible Handbook.' He, with Dr. Jacobs, Head Master of Christ's Hospital (1853-68), was respon- sible for the New Testament in the revised version of the English Bible designed by Joseph Gurney, who defrayed the large outlay it must have- necessitated. .

Mr. Macdonald supplies the biography of Holyoake, whose services in obtaining the free dom of thought and the freedom of the Press which we now enjoy should be held in lasting-