INTRODUCTION.

"THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JAMES CATNACH," owes its origin to the circumstance that, in 1869, the compiler of the present work published "The Catnach Press," and guaranteed only "Two HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES PRINTED—namely: 175 on Fine and 75 on Extra-thick Each copy numbered." The outer and descriptive title set forth that the work contained

paper.

:

"A COLLECTION of Books and Wood-cuts of James Catnach, late of Seven Dials, Printer, consisting of Twenty Books of the Cock Robin Class, from "This is the House that Jack Built,' to 'Old Mother Hubbard' (printed with great care) spécialite at THE CATNACH PRESS, from the old plates and wood-cuts, prior to their final destruction, to which is added a selection of Catnachian wood-cuts, many by Bewick, and many of the most anti-Bewickian character it is possible to conceive."

The announcement of the publication of the work was first made known through the medium of the metropolitan press, some few days prior to the copies being delivered by the bookbinders, and so great was the demand of the London and American trade, that every copy was disposed of on the day of issue. By many, the notice of publication was allowed to go unheeded, thinking, as it often occurs, that such advertisement was only a ruse, but they were doomed to disappointment, the publisher and editor rigidly

adhered to their announced number of copies, and Mr. G. Rutland, the well known and extensive bookseller of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is of opinion that not one reached the North of England, the cradle and birthplace of the two Catnachs, and the brothers Bewick. The work is now eagerly sought after by book-collectors, who indulge in literary rarities.

While engaged in collecting information for "The Catnach Press," and interviewing the producers of ballads, broadsides and chap-books, we met with a vast assemblage of streetpapers and of a very varied character, which were afterwards published in 4to. form, and a limited number of copies under the title of :

"CURIOSITIES OF STREET LITERATURE: Comprising 'Cocks,' or 'Catchpennies,' a large and curious assortment of StreetDrolleries, Squibs, Histories, Comic Tales, in Prose and Verse, Broadsides on the Royal Family, Political Litanies, Dialogues, Catechisms, Acts of Parliament and Street Political Papers. A variety of 'Ballads on a Subject,' Dying Speeches and Confessions, to which is attached the all-important and necessary Affectionate Copy of Verses."

The work was published in 1871, and is now out of print. In the meanwhile we have been collecting additional facts and scraps in respect to James Catnach's manners and customs, his birth, parentage, and education. In the early part of last year, we had the good fortune to get acquainted with Mr. George Skelly, of Alnwick-who, like ourselves, is possessed of the cacoëthes scribendi, and was at the time supplying, con amore, an article to a local journal, entitled "John and James Catnach," which we found to contain certain information relative to the elder Catnach, and also of the earlier portion of the life of James, of which we had no previous knowledge. At our solicitation to be allowed to make a selection from the same, we received a most courteous and gentlemanly letter, which, in addition to

containing several pieces of information and answers to many queries we had put to Mr. Skelly, he wound up by saying: "You have full liberty to make use of anything that I have written, and it will afford me much pleasure if I can further your intentions in any way."

From that date Mr. George Skelly continued to correspond with us on the subject of the "Two Catnachs," nearly up to the last moment of our going to press with our own "Life and Times of James Catnach," and to him we are greatly indebted for much of the information therein contained.

Mr. Skelly is fortunate, by his residence in Alnwick, in having the acquaintance and friendship of Mr. Mark Smith -James Catnach's fellow apprentice, Mr. Thomas Robertson, Mr. Tate, the local historian, and several other AlnwickFolk. And he has made the best possible use of the circumstances, as our own pages fully testify.

To, Mr. George H. Thompson, also of Alnwick, our thanks being due are hereby given, for the kind and ready manner in which he volunteered his services to aid and assist, to the best of his time and ability, in supplying all the information he possessd or could glean from his friends and acquaintances in the good old borough of Alnwick, or the county at large.

James Catnach, on his arrival in London, seems to have just fitted to the stirring times. The Peninsular wars had concluded, politics and party strife ran high, squibs and lampoons were the order of the day. The battle of Waterloo immediately followed, "and there was mounting in hot haste," and a great scrambling for place and power, by all shades of politicians. In 1816, Princess Charlotte Augusta, daughter of George, Prince Regent, afterwards George IV., married Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, and died in childbirth, in 1817. In Spa Fields, London, about 30,000 persons assembled to vote an address from the

X.

distressed manufacturers to the Prince Regent, on the 15th of November, 1816. A second meeting took place on December 2nd following, and terminated in an alarming riot; the shops of several gunsmiths were attacked for arms by the rioters, and in the shop of Mr. Beckwith, on Snow Hill, Mr. Platt was wounded, and much injury was done before the tumult was suppressed. For this riot, John Cashman, the seaman, was hanged in Skinner Street, 12th March, 1817. Watson, the ringleader, escaped to America. The Green Bag inquiry took its name from a Green Bag, full of documents of alleged seditions, laid before Parliament by Lord Sidmouth, February, 1817. Secret committees presented their reports on the 19th of the month, and bills were brought in on the 21st to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act, and prohibit seditious meetings then frequent. Mr. Henry Hunt, well known as the "Radical Reformer," was looked up to by many of his party as the fearless champion of their cause, and consequently kept the country in an unsettled state, particularly so in connection with the Manchester reform meeting, called the "Peterloo Massacre," which caused many political papers and virulent lampoons to be, from time to time, published for street sale. 1820 opened with the death of the Duke of Kent and King George III., and accession of George IV., followed by the Cato Street Conspiracy, winding up with the memorable trial of Queen Caroline; all these circumstances, following as they did in such quick succession, tended very materially to cause fly-sheets, and broadsides to be issued from the Seven Dials presses in general, and the "Catnach Press in particular, in enormous quantities.

Many other circumstances-now matters of history, caused Catnach to succeed in the peculiar line of business he had marked out for himself, and as his stock of presses, type, woodcuts, &c., continued to increase his ways and means became more and more easy and lucrative, until he