Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 10.djvu/407

 i2s.x.APH IL 29,i922.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 333 of ' The Ordeal by Touch,' ' Gentleman Jack,' &c., &c., and this must stand until fresh evidence proves otherwise. FRANK JAY. I am indebted to Mr. John Jeffery of Barnes for the information that ' Ela the Outcast ' was written by Thomas Peckett Prest. That he was the author of several similar romances used by Edward Lloyd is evidenced by his contributions to Lloyd's periodicals. Mr. Jeffery adds that the Lloyd's Dickens imita- tions are also attributed to Prest. Is it not probable that George William McArthur Rej^nolds wrote some of the penny shockers ? Before me is an auto- biographical note in his hand wherein he states that, born July 23, 1814, he com- menced writing at the age of 20. One of his earliest works, he says, was ' The Modern Literature of France ' in two volumes, 8vo. He next wrote ' Pickwick Abroad ' and ' Robert Macaire.' The above works he sold to publishers. Then, finding how well they sold, he determined to print and ! publish for himself in future. At any rate, in 1836 he was proprietor of the " Librairie des Etrangers," 55, rue Neuve-St.-Augustin, Paris. His industry, it is known, was tre- mendous, and probably he wrote his ro- mances very little in advance of the demand. For example, ' The Mysteries of London ' provoked or called for two series each of two volumes or nearly 80 monthly parts, whereas ' Canonbury House ; or, The Queen's Prophecy,' illustrated by E. H. Corbould, only reached seven monthly parts and was then concluded, it may almost ! be said with some precipitancy. Each of these parts provides a list of Reynolds' s romances then being published by , John Dicks in book form. It is also possible that these romances pub- lished by Edward Lloyd were provided by ! writers of " the Holy well Street School." | For example, ' The Life of Richard Palmer, better known as Dick Turpin,' by Henry Downes Miles, was published by Thomas White, of 59, Wych Street, in 1839, in penny ! parts (to p. 323) and was succeeded by ' Claude Duval.' In addition to a frontis- piece portrait of Dick Turpin there is pro- vided " The Author's Apology," in which he justifies his choice of a hero against the squeamish taste of the " inane writers of the silver-fork school." ALECK ABRAHAMS. It may interest MB. W. ROBERTS and MR. FRANK JAY to know that the late Mr. Thomas Catling (many years editor of Lloyd's Weekly News) informed me in April, 1890, that John Frederick Smith was the real author of ' Black Bess,' which was pub- lished in penny numbers. Mr. Catling said Smith's remuneration was 3 10s. per week during the publication of the serial story. Smith often said he outlined his ' Black Bess ' long before the publication of Harrison Ainsworth's novel on the same subject, and even thought of submitting his own version to the more popular novelist. Mr. Catling showed much emotion when he read to me the announcement of Smith's death in America. He said his " dear old friend was a real genius in his way, and his excessive generosity was the cause of his passing away in poverty and want." A large portion of the first fifty numbers of ' Black Bess ' was written amid " eighteen th- century surroundings " in the old office of Lloyd's Weekly News (a century and a half pre- viously occupied by Samuel Richardson) in Salisbury Square, E.C. In fact, Mr. Catling showed me the very desk Smith used. John Frederick Smith was always on cordial terms with Edward Lloyd, and was allowed the use of his favourite corner of the room and paper in writing his novels for other publishers. ANDREW DE TERNANT. 36, Somerleyton Road, Brixton, S.W. From MR. ALBERT HALL'S article it may be gathered that there was seemingly a haphazard or give-and-take method of dealing with the books and authors he mentions. For instance, the title page of ' The Dream of a Life,' written by Mrs- Elizabeth Caroline Grey, gives her as the author of ' Gentleman Jack,' but the ' English Catalogue of Books ' and the British Museum Catalogue records 'Gentle- man Jack ' as being written by Captain William Johnson Neale, published in three volumes by Colburn at 31s. 6d., in 1837, afterwards by Tegg at 6s. in 1841, and by Bryce at 2s. in 1856. All of Neale's novels, including 'Captain's Wife' (1842), 'Caven- dish' (1831), 'Flying Dutchman' 'Naval Surgeon,' 'Port Admiral,' and ' Will Watch/ were of the old three-decker type, and pub- lished at the wicked price of one and a half guineas, and the same can be said of Mrs. Grey's tales. This latter author was perhaps more prolific with her pen than Neale, as 23 novels, nearly all of three volumes, were issued during the thirties and forties ^of last century, including ' The Gambler's Wife ' and ' Mary Seaham.' The English