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18 NOTES BY THE WAY. I unfortunately have to record the death of my genial friend John Latey, who died after a long and painful illness, borne with the greatest fortitude, on the 26th of September, 1902. His father, John Lash Latey, one of the founders of the London Association of Correctors of the Press, had been on The Illustrated London News from the first number, and in 1858 was appointed by Herbert Ingram editor. His son, long known as John Latey, junior, began his journalistic career at the age of eighteen. On October 7th, 1861, The Penny Illustrated Paper was started, and young Latey contributed his first article to the paper of which he was afterwards to become editor. He was at one time assistant editor of The Illustrated London News, to which he contributed, under the heading of "The Silent Member," sketches of Parliamentary men and manners. He and William White, the father of "Mark Rutherford," may be looked upon as the forerunners of this kind of Parliamentary journalism, James Grant's 'Random Recollections of the House of Commons, 1830 to 1835,' being published in book form only (Smith, Elder & Co., Cornhill, 1836). In addition to his work as editor, Latey published a life of Gordon and a number of novels and novelettes. He was also for a time co-editor with Capt. Mayne Reid of The Boys' Illustrated News, which started with a sale of 100,000 copies. In 1899 he took over the editorship of Sketch. He is still gratefully remembered by authors to whom he gave encouragement in their early days; while as long as a friend of his survives the memory of him will be fondly cherished. It is pleasant to record that his son William is on the staff of Lloyd's Weekly News.

THE 'ROXBURGHE REVELS.'

On Tuesday, the 10th of January, 1899, Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge sold a curious collection of the 'Roxburghe Revels,' extracted from The Athenæum of 4, 11, 18, and 25 January, 1834. The MS. recording these 'Revels' was purchased by Mr. Dilke, "not for the sake of any libellous information it might perchance contain, but simply to afford our readers a little harmless amusement," at the sale of Mr. Joseph Haslewood's library. The MS., in Haslewood's handwriting, had the following title : "Roxburghe Revels; or, an Account of the Annual Display, Culinary and Festivous, interspersed incidentally with Matters of Moment or Merriment, also Brief Notices of the Press Proceedings, by a few Lions of Literature, combined as the Roxburghe Club, founded 17 June, 1812."

The Club claimed its foundation from the sale of the library of the late John, Duke of Roxburghe, which commenced Monday, May 18th, 1812, and extended to forty-one days, with a supplementary catalogue of three days, beginning Monday, July 13th. On Wednesday, June 17th, 'Il Decamerone di Boccaccio' was to be