Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/389

 12 s. i. MAY 13, 1916.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

383

Gorst's* criticism of Carnarvon's Colonial policy brought about his dismissal from the editorship of the paper, and W. H. Mudford, whose father had been editor of The Courier, was appointed to succeed him. Mudford was fitted in every way to carry on the traditions of the paper, being full of courage, energy, and firmness of purpose. Over each department he exercised absolute and entire control, and among his first moves was the perfecting of the arrangements for the supply of foreign news. He adopted Delane's plan of having headed articles, as well as occa- sional leaders, from writers not on the staff. In 1880 he published Gladstone's Irish Land Bill while it was yet in the hands of the Government printers ; and Lord Beaconsfield, when he published ' Endymion ' (a key of which appeared in ' N. & Q.' for Dec. 18, 1880), so favoured The Standard that it was able to give a detailed account of the novel a week before the earliest review copy had been sent out.

The paper under Mudford, and since, has always had a high reputation for its reviews of books. It was often chary of praise, so that when praise was bestowed it was known to be well merited. The prominence given to literature is shown by the fact that on the occasion of the dinner to George Smith, the founder of the ' Dictionary of National Biography ' 6th of June, 1894 two columns were devoted to an account of the proceedings. On the 22nd of November, 1879, John Thadeus Delane died, and it is gratifying to read in Dasent's ' Life ' of him that, " of the many obituary notices of him, that in The Standard which was, we have heard, from the pen of the present Poet Laureate [Alfred Austin] was perhaps the best." Thus were all the old hard knocks between the rivals forgotten, and a just tribute paid to the greatest editor of the nineteenth century. The knocks and the vulgar abuse, as was unfortunately common with most of the press in bygone times, had indeed been hard. Now, happily, though attacks on rivals may be severe, the-/ are

year, aged 80. In The Daily Telegraph of the following day Mr. T. P. O'Connor gives an account of the career of this " political free-lance," who was " a disappointment to the world, and still more to himself," a man " of promise rather than of achievement, of great possibilities, and of small results." Of his pluck there could be no question. When, on his mission to the Maoris, his printing office was attacked and his type turned into bullets, and himself given notice to quit the country within three weeks or it would go ill with him, Sir John refused to budge until he got official instructions to do so.
 * Sir John Gorst died on the 4th of April of this

free from vulgarity, and a courtesy is generally shown that in the past would not have been possible. Never in the whole history of our press has there been anything to compare with the tribute paid to Lord Burnham on the occasion of his 80th birth- day on the 28th of December, 1913.

Mudford remained editor of The Standard until 1900, Johnstone having, on his death in 1878, by his will confirmed his appointment as manager for life at an income of 5,OOOZ. a year. On his retirement he handed the editorship to his second in command, George Byrom Curtis. In 1904 the paper was ac- quired by Mr. C. Arthur Pearson ; and it was then run by a limited company under his chairmanship. Finally it passed to Mr. Davison Dalziel, M.P., who was responsible for its policy until the appointment of a receiver in March last.

One rejoices to see that the older paper The Evening Standard continues on its prosperous way. On the day after the suspension of The Standard it had reached its 28,602nd number.* May it continue long to flourish ! and we may surely look forward to a day when our old friend The Standard' may have a big revival in a morning issue, and once more enjoy all the vigour of years gone by. JOHN COLLINS FRANCIS.

P.S. My friend MB. PEET kindly sup- plements my foot-note on p. 342, ante, with the information that Messrs. Chatto & Windus issued in 1890, at the price of 3s. 6d., a crown octavo edition of Maclise's 'Gallery of Literary Characters,' which contains much additional matter by William Bates " one of the cheapest books I know."

LAWYERS EMPLOYED BY

WINCHESTER COLLEGE

DURING THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.

(See ante, p. 361.)

43. 1453-4, Mr. William North, notary; fee, 6s. 8d., last paid in 1459-60 (roll of 1460-1 missing) ; described himself in Register O as LL.B., of Gorton, Sar. dioc. Identical with a Scholar elected in 1420 (Kirby, p. 46).

44. 1453-4, Thomas Vaus, attorney in the Common Bench ; fee, 6s. 8c?., last paid in 1479-80 (roll of 1480-1 missing).

March 16th, is numbered 28,631, so that the- numeration has evidently been reckoned from the older paper. The slight difference in the number is to be accounted for by the fact that on certain holidays the evening papers are not published.
 * The last issue of The Standard, Thursday,