Memoirs of Sir Wemyss Reid 1842-1885 by Reid, Stuart J., -1927

I must add that nowhere, except in a few cases in which I make special mention of the fact, have I trusted to mere hearsay evidence. I have confined myself to that which I know to be the truth, either from my personal observation or from documents of unimpeachable authority. My opinions may be of very little value, but my facts are, I believe, incontrovertible.

WEMYSS REID.

_26, Bramham Gardens, South Kensington, January 1st_, 1905.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. EARLY DAYS. Birth and Parentage--Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 'Forties--A Visit to St. Andrews--The Scottish Sabbath--First Acquaintance with a Printing Office--Tyneside in the Mid-Century--In Peril of Housebreakers--At Dr. Collingwood Bruce's School--A Plague of Flies--Cholera--Fire.

CHAPTER II. PROBATION. Aspirations After a Journalistic Life--A Clerk's Stool in the W.B. Lead Office--Literary Ambitions--An Accepted Contribution--The _Northern Daily Express_ and its Editor--Founding a Literary Institute--Letters from Charles Kingsley and Archbishop Longley--Joseph Cowen and his Revolutionary Friends--Orsini--Thackeray's Lectures and Dickens's Readings.

CHAPTER III. MY LIFE-WORK BEGUN. On the Staff of the _Newcastle Journal_--In a Dilemma--Lord John Russell and Mr. Gladstone at Newcastle-upon-Tyne--Mr. Gladstone's Triumphal Progress--A Memorable Colliery Disaster: A Pit-Sinker's Heroism--Adventure at a Dickens Reading.

CHAPTER IV. FROM REPORTER TO EDITOR. First Visit to London--The Capital in 1862--Acquaintance with Sothern--Bursting of the Bradfield Reservoir--Attendance at Public Executions and at Floggings--Assuming the Editorship of the _Preston Guardian_--Political and Literary Influences--Great Speeches by Gladstone and Bright--Bright's Contempt for Palmerston--Robertson Gladstone Defends his Brother--Death of Abraham Lincoln--Meeting with his Granddaughter.

CHAPTER V. WORK ON THE LEEDS MERCURY My New Duties--Betrothal--The Writing of Leading Articles--The Founder of the _Leeds Mercury_--Edward Baines the Second--Thomas Blackburn Baines--Patriotic Nonconformists--Another Colliery Disaster: A Story of Heroism--An Abortive Fenian Raid at Chester--Reminiscences of the Prince of Wales's Visits to Yorkshire--Mr. Bright and the Reform Demonstrations of 1866--The Closing Speech at St. James's Hall--The Tribune of the People Vindicates the Queen.

CHAPTER VI. LIFE IN LONDON. Appointed London Correspondent of the _Leeds Mercury_--My Marriage--Securing Admission to the Reporters' Gallery--Relations between Reporters and Members--Inadequate Accommodation for the Press--Reminiscences of the Clerkenwell Explosion--The Last Public Execution--The Arundel Club--James Macdonell--Robert Donald--James Payn--Mrs. Riddell and the _St. James's Magazine_--My First Novel--How Sala Cut Short an Anecdote--Disraeli as Leader of the House in 1868--A Personal Encounter with him at Aylesbury--Mr. Gladstone's First Ministry--Bright and Forster--W.E. Baxter--Irish Church Disestablishment Debate in the House of Lords--Mr. Mudford--Bereavement.

CHAPTER VII. EDITOR OF THE _LEEDS MERCURY_. Forming Good Resolutions--Provincial Journalism in the 'Seventies-- Recollections of the Franco-German War--The Loss of the _Captain_ and its Consequences to me--Settling Down at Leeds--Acquaintance with Monckton Milnes--Visits to Fryston--Lord Houghton's Chivalry--His Talk--His Skill in Judging Men--Stories about George Venables--Lord Houghton's Regard for Religious Observances.

CHAPTER VIII. MY FIRST CONTINENTAL TOUR. A Generous Scot--Paris after the Commune--An Uncomfortable Journey Home--Illness of the Prince of Wales--Revived Popularity of the Throne--Death and Funeral of Napoleon III.--Burial of the Prince Imperial--Forster's Educational Policy--Bruce's Licensing Bill--My Second Marriage.

CHAPTER IX. A NEW ERA IN PROVINCIAL JOURNALISM. Bringing the _Leeds Mercury_ into Line with the London Dailies--Friendship with William Black--The Dissolution of 1874--The Election at Leeds--Mr. Chamberlain's Candidature for Sheffield--Mr. Gladstone's Resignation--Election of his Successor--Birth of the Caucus--The System Described--Its Adoption at Leeds--Its Effect upon the Fortunes of the Liberal Party--The Bulgarian Atrocities Agitation.