Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 8.djvu/459

 us. vii. JUNE 7, i9i3.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

451

frequently but, in truth, for the last two years, I have been secluded in the midst of the world, and during the last summer, and even into the present year, have had so much of mental infirmity as to be unable to see any-one without communicating pain, and inflicting greater on myself.

But, to come to my present purpose, it is fitting I should at once tell you, that since I have come under the extreme power of the law, by the inforce- ment of just claims upon me which I am unable to discharge, my second daughter Fanny has been married to Mr. Thomas Hemsley of King Street, Tower Hill. He is son to a daughter of old Mrs. Seaton of Chatham, through an old friendship with whom I became acquainted with his late father. This young man is neither bookish, nor political, nor fanatical but he is one of the most strait forward fellows in the world, and if he can- not make his way in it by plain dealing, he will not get through it at all. By business he is an optician and mathematical instrument maker, and there was a time when I had hoped to have assisted him, but now I am powerless. His father died in rather embarassed circumstances, and Thomas, aided by another of his brothers, has discharged every penny of his parent's debts, and so restricted his own means, that they are insufficient. He is nothing but an honest man, with an honest girl for his wife, and being my son in law, I feel, on my daughter's account, a painful anxiety for his wel- fare, and the more so, as he resisted the prudent remonstrances of prudent friends, who, as soon as my situation was known, gave him advice, which, if he had followed, would have broken my poor girl's heart. Tom's answer was a call upon me to walk out of the purlieus of a prison, and give him Fanny's hand at Aldgate Church.

This "Thomas Hemsley" is a candidate for the office of Deputy Sea-Coal Meter, which, if he gets into it, will give him and his wife bread. He has not a single friend in the Common Council, and he knows no one to introduce him but Dr. Evans of Islington, of whose church his mother is a mem- ber, and he is one of the congregation. How 1 stood with the Common Councilmen at one time I know well how I stand with them now I pretty well guess ; they are men " of credit and renown, and /am in poverty and distress. Now I cannot write a creature besides yourself on the subject, and I send you this letter by him, intreating that you will confer a kindness on me, in the midst of my mishaps, by aiding him to the utmost of your influence with such of the Coal Committee as you can bring it to bear upon. This solicitation to you is all the assistance I can give him, and, to be brief, I would desire each word a mouth and each letter a tongue, to eloquently express my earnest desire for your friendship in his behalf. I believe I need say no more.

If Mrs. Fox will be pleased to accept my kind re- membrances and you will convey them to her. I shall be gratified. I have been separated from my family nearly six weeks, during which time they were homeless. We have got together again within the last ten days in a little house by ourselves.

Hoping that your health (which I have heard of frequently and diversely) is improving with the improving weather,

I am, my dear Sir,

Y ours sincerely

W. HONE.

This is addressed on the fourth page : For the Rev. Mr. Fox. Dalston." 1 believe I am correct in identifying Mr. Fox as the lecturer at the South Place Chapel. The letter fills at least one of the many perplexing gaps occurring in the' pub- lished biography. It is remarkable as suggesting that Hone's son-in-law was responsible for his release from prison, and as furnishing interesting biographical data of that excellent young man.

Hone's residence at 22, Belvidere Place, was apparently continuous until November, 1828, when he removed to Stoke Newington. ' Clayton's Court Guide to the Environs of London, corrected for January, 1830,' gives these references at p. 392 : Hone, Esq. Green, Newington stoke. Hone, W., Esq. Stamford Hill, Newington stoke.

Possibly some letter will give a more definite identification.

I have a note, made many years ago, to the effect that two of Hone's unmarried daughters were in business as milliners at St. George's Terrace, Islington. Subse- quently they dissolved partnership and started rival proprietary schools. I cannot trace the origin of this note, but the local directories add a little : 1855. Hone and Loscombe, Misses, Ladies' School,

4, Milner Square. Hone, Miss Ellen, Pestalozzian School, 32,

Hemingford Terrace, Hemingford Road. 1868. Misses Hone, Ladies' College, 4, Milner Square.

This is continuous until 1880.

AJDECK ABRAHAMS.

The reference to Hone's widow recalls the interest of Charles Lamb in her and her husband. It will be remembered that the pair settled in 1830 as keepers of a coffee- house at 13, Gracechurch Street, and that Lamb, to help the business in his own way, did

" impower Matilda Hone to superintend daily the putting into the twopenny post the Times newspaper of the day before, directed ' Mr. Lamb, Enfield.' " Canon Ainger's ' Letters of Charles Lamb,' ii. 271.

Lamb's contributions to Hone's reference books are among their important and sub- stantial features. Writing to Southey on 10 May, 1830, in the interest of William Hone, "Coffee and Hotel Man," Lamb illustrates thus his generous instincts and his sure critical faculty :

" Our object is to open a subscription, which my friends of the Times are most willing to forward for him, but think that a leave from you to publish [a certain good-natured letter] would aid it. But not an atom of respect or kindness will or shall it