Chapter IV: Front Matter (4)

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Catnach, like many others connected with the getting up of news broadsides and fly-sheets, did not always keep clear of the law. The golden rule is a very fine one, but, unfortunately, it is not always read aright; in some cases injured innocence flies at extremes. Jemmy Catnach for a long time had been living upon unfriendly terms with a party connected with the management of one of Mother Cummins's lodging-house establishments in the immediate neighbourhood, so out of spite printed a pamphlet, purporting to be the "Life and Adventures of Old Mother Cummins." Here Catnach had reckoned without his host, by reason of his not taking into consideration the extensive aristocratic and legal connection Mother Cummins had for her friends and patrons. The moment she was made acquainted with the "_dirty parjury_" that Jemmy Catnach had printed and caused to be publicly circulated, she immediately gave instructions to _her_ Attorney General to prosecute the _varmint_, when a warrant was applied for and obtained to search the premises of the Seven Dials printer. But Catnach got the news of the intended visit of the Bow Street Runners, and naturally became alarmed from having a vivid recollection of the punishment and costs in the case of the Drury-lane sausage makers, so the forme containing the libellous matter was at once broken up--"pied," that is, the type was jumbled together and left to be properly distributed on a future occasion. What stock of the pamphlets remained were hastily packed up and carried off to the "other side of the water" by John Morgan, one of Catnach's poets! while another forme, consisting of a Christmas-sheet, entitled "The Sun of Righteousness," was hurriedly got to press, and all hands were working away full of assumed innocence when the officers from Bow Street arrived at Monmouth-court, when, after a diligent search, they had very reluctantly to come to the conclusion that they were "a day behind the fair," and that the printer had been a little too sharp for them this time. But Mother Cummins did not mean to be so checkmated by Catnach and Co., and vowed to pursue him and his dirty blackguards to the end of the world and back again, and instructed her lawyers to serve him with several notices of action for libel, defamation of character, and, more particular, as she expressed it, for "_parjury_." Then Catnach became somewhat alarmed by her known vindictive disposition and long purse, that he consulted his own solicitor in the matter, who took "counsel's opinion" when an instant compromise at all costs, together with an ample apology, was recommended as the only safe way out of the dilemma; a course which was ultimately agreed to by both sides. An apology was drawn up and approved of, with the understanding that Catnach was, after paying all costs incurred to print the apology and publish the same on three several places in front of his business premises in Monmouth Court for fourteen clear days. All this--and more--Jemmy promised steadfastly to observe. Yet in effect, he evaded the conditions by printing the apology in small pica type and sticking the three copies so high up on the premises, that it would have required Sam Weller's "pair of double million magnifying gas microscopes of hextra power" to have been able to read the same.

Immediately after Mother Cummins's death and funeral, March, 1828, the following announcement appeared:--

_Published this Day, Price Sixpence, embellished with a humorous
Coloured Plate._

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MOTHER CUMMINS,

The celebrated Lady Abbess of St. Giles's; with a curious Description,
Regulations, &c., of her singular Establishment. An account of her
Funeral, &c. Interspersed with numerous Anecdotes of Living
Characters, Visitors of Mother Cummins's Nunnery,--Capt. Shiels and
the Forty-four Nuns--Poll Hankey and Sir Charles Stanton,--Jane Sealey
and an Illustrous Person, &c.--With an Account of some of the
principal Nuns of the Establishment; particularly Mrs. Throgmorton and
Lord Al...n..y--Bell Chambers and the D... of Y...,--Miss Wilkinson
and Captain Featherstone--Marianne Hempstead, the Scotch Beauty--Miss
Weltern Davis and the Rev. Mr. H...l..y Be..rs..d--Mary Thomas, the
Female Chimney-Sweep, and Captain T...t...s, &c.

THE TRIAL, SENTENCE, FULL CONFESSION, AND EXECUTION OF BISHOP &
WILLIAMS, THE BURKERS.

BURKING AND BURKERS.

The month of November, 1831, will be recorded in the annals of crimes
and cruelties as particularly pre-eminent, for it will prove to
posterity that other wretches could be found base enough to follow the
horrid example of Burke and his accomplice Hare, to entice the
unprotected and friendless to the den of death for sordid gain.

The horrible crime of "Burking," or murdering the unwary with the
intention of selling their bodies at a high price to the anatomical
schools, for the purpose of dissection, has unfortunately obtained a
notoriety which will not be soon or easily forgotten. It took its
horrifying appellation from the circumstances which were disclosed on
the trial of the inhuman wretch Burke, who was executed at Edinburgh
in 1829, for having wilfully and deliberately murdered several persons
for the sole purpose of profiting by the sale of their dead bodies.

APPREHENSION OF THE BURKERS.

On Tuesday, November 8th, four persons vis., John Bishop, Thomas
Williams, James May, and Michael Shield, were examined at Bow Street
Police Office on the charge of being concerned in the wilful murder of
an unknown Italian boy. From the evidence adduced, it appeared that
May, _alias_ Jack Stirabout, a known resurrection-man, and Bishop, a
body-snatcher, offered at King's College a subject for sale, Shield
and Williams having charge of the body in a hamper, for which they
demanded twelve guineas. Mr Partridge, demonstrator of anatomy, who,
although not in absolute want of a subject, offered nine guineas, but
being struck with its freshness sent a messenger to the police
station, and the fellows were then taken into custody, examined before
the magistrates, when Shield was discharged and the others ultimately
committed for trial

THE TRIAL.

Friday, December 2nd, having been fixed for the trial of the prisoners
charged with the murder of the Italian boy, the Court was crowded to
excess so early as eight o'clock in the morning.

At nine o'clock the Deputy Recorder, Mr Serjeant Arabin, came into
the court, when the prisoners severally pleaded "Not Guilty."

The Jury were then sworn, and at ten o'clock Chief Justice Tindal, Mr
Baron Vaughan, and Mr Justice Littledale entered the Court, with the
Lord Mayor and Sheriffs.

The Bench was crowded with persons of rank, amongst whom was the Duke
of Sussex.

Mr Bodkin having opened the case, Mr Adolphus proceeded to state to
the Jury the leading facts, as they were afterwards stated in the
evidence produced. The case for the prosecution having closed, the
prisoners were called upon for their defence.

The prisoner Bishop in his defence stated that he was thirty-three
years of age, and had followed the occupation of carrier till the last
five years, during which he had occasionally obtained a livelihood by
supplying surgeons with subjects. He most solemnly declared that he
had never disposed of any body that had not died a natural death.

Williams' defence briefly stated that he had never been engaged in the
calling of a resurrectionist, but had only by accident accompanied
Bishop on the sale of the Italian boy's body.

May, in his defence, admitted that for the last six years he had
followed the occupation of supplying the medical schools with
anatomical subjects, but disclaimed ever having had anything to do
with the sale of bodies which had not died a natural death. That he
had accidentally met with Bishop at the Fortune of War public house on
the Friday on which the body was taken for sale to Guy's Hospital.

At eight o'clock the jury retired to consider their verdict and on
their return they found the prisoners were Guilty of Murder.

The Recorder then passed the awful sentence upon them. "That each of
them be hanged on Monday morning, and their bodies be delivered over
for dissection and anatomization."

The prisoners heard the sentence as they had the verdict, without any
visible alteration. May raised his voice, and in a firm tone said, "I
am a murdered man, gentlemen."

THE FULL CONFESSION OF BISHOP AND WILLIAMS.

On Saturday morning Williams addressed a note to Mr Wontner, stating
that he and Bishop wanted particularly to see him and Dr. Cotton, the
Ordinary. In the course of the interview which immediately followed,
both prisoners made a full confession of their guilt, both exculpating
May altogether from being party to any of the murders. Having received
the confessions, Mr Wontner immediately waited upon Mr Justice
Littledale and Baron Vaughan, and upon communicating to them the
statements, they said they would at once see the Home Secretary on the
subject.

On Sunday morning the Sheriffs visited all three of the prisoners in
succession, and with the Under-Sheriffs were engaged between three and
four hours in taking down the statements of the convicts. The result
of all these investigations was that the same afternoon a respite
during his Majesty's pleasure arrived at Newgate for May, and his
sentence will be commuted to transportation for life.

THE EXECUTION.

During the whole of Sunday crowds of persons congregated in the Old
Bailey, and the spot on which the scaffold was to be erected was
covered with individuals conversing on the horrid crimes of the
convicts, and in the course of the day strong posts were erected in
the Old Bailey and at the ends of Newgate street Giltspur street, and
Skinner street, for the purpose of forming barriers to break the
pressure of the crowd.

At half-past twelve o'clock the gallows was brought out from the yard,
and drawn to its usual station opposite the Debtor's door. The crowd,
as early as one o'clock amounting to several thousand persons,
continued rapidly increasing.

By some oversight three chains had been suspended from the fatal beam,
and this led the crowd to suppose that May had not been respited. Mr.
Wontnor, on hearing of the mistake, directed that one of the chains
should be removed. The moment this was done an exclamation of "May is
respited," ran through the crowd, and, contrary to the expected tokens
of indignation, distinct cheers were heard amongst the crowd on
witnessing this token that mercy had been shown to May.

At half-past seven the Sheriffs arrived in their carriage, and in a
short time the press-yard was thronged with gentlemen. The unhappy
convicts were now led from their cells. Bishop cams out first, and
after he was pinioned he was conducted to a seat, and the Rev. Mr.
Williams sat alongside of him, and they conversed together in a low
tone of voice.

Williams was next introduced, and the wonderful alteration two days
had effected in his appearance astonished everyone who was present at
the trial. All the bold confidence he exhibited then had completely
forsaken him, and he looked the most miserable wretch it is possible
to conceive. He entered the room with a very faltering step, and when
the ceremony of pinioning him commenced, he was so weak as to be
scarcely able to stand.

Everything being ready, the melancholy procession moved forward.
Bishop was then conducted to the scaffold, and the moment he made his
appearance the most dreadful yells and hootings were heard among the
crowd. The executioner proceeded at once to the performance of his
duty, and having put the rope round his neck and affixed it to a
chain, placed him under the fatal beam. Williams was then taken out,
and the groans and hisses were renewed. The dreadful preparations were
soon completed, and in less than five minutes after the wretched men
appeared on the scaffold the usual signal was given, the drop fell,
and they were launched into eternity. Bishop appeared to die very
soon, but Williams struggled hard. Thus died

THE DREADFUL BURKERS OF 1831

Printed in London for the Venders.

It may be remarked, _en passant_, that Mr. Corder, with Paragalli and Colla, the two Italian witnesses, who gave evidence as to the identity of the body, said to be that of the Italian boy, at the trial of Bishop, Williams, and May, appeared at Bow Street, in consequence of doubts being entertained by a portion of the public as to the body being that of Carlo Ferrari, to re-assert their former evidence. Mr. Corder afterwards published a statement in the "Times" newspaper, which gave scarcely the possibility of doubt that the body offered at King's College _must have been_ that of Ferrari notwithstanding the murderer's assertion to the contrary. On December the 10th, a _Post-obit_ prosecution of Williams, the Burkite murderer, took place in the Court of Excise, where he was charged, on information, with having carried on an illicit factory for making glass at No. 2, Nova Scotia Gardens, Bethnal Green. An officer proved the seizure of goods used in the manufacture of glass, at the house of the person charged, and that Bishop was at the time in company. The Court condemned the goods seized.

A drama on the subject of the "Burkers" was produced at an unlicensed theatre, designated THE SHAKESPEARE, in the Kingsland Road, and not far from Shoreditch Church, and for a time was specially attractive. In the young actor, who played Carlo Ferrari, the Italian boy, might now be recognised an eminent tragedian.[10]

Street-ballads on political subjects, though not regarded as of great interest by the whole body of the people, are still eventful among certain classes, and for such the street author and ballad singer cater. The measure of Reform by Earl Grey's administration, was proposed in the House of Commons by Lord John Russell, 1st March, 1831. On the first division, _second_ reading 22nd March, there stood for it, 302; against it, 301. Ultimately, the Bill for that session was abandoned, and Parliament dissolved. The Reform Bill of 1832 was read for the _third_ time on the 23rd of March, when the numbers stood thus:--for the Bill, 355; against it, 239--majority for it, 116. In the Lords, the Bill was carried through the Committee on the 30th of May, and read a _third_ time on the 4th of June. For the Bill, 106; against, 22--majority, 84.

During the whole of the time the Reform Bills of 1831-2 were before the Houses of Parliament, the "Catnach Press," in common with other printing offices that produced street-literature, was very busy in publishing, almost daily, songs and papers in ridicule of borough-mongering and of the various rotten boroughs then in existence, but which were entirely swept away by the passing of this Bill; fifty-six boroughs in England being disfranchised, while thirty were reduced to one member only; twenty-two new boroughs were created to send two members, and twenty to send one member; other important changes were also made. Songs upon the subject were sung at every corner of the streets, to the great delight of the multitude.

THE REFORM BILL.

As William and _Bill_ are the same,
Our King, if he "weathers the storm,"
Shall be called in the annals of fame,
The _Glorious_ BILL _of Reform_!

ATTACK ON KING WILLIAM IV. AT ASCOT HEATH,

ON TUESDAY, THE 19TH OF JUNE, 1832.

The Ascot Races for 1832 will be rendered memorable in the history of this country by reason of a stone thrown at his Majesty while on the grand stand at Ascot Races, which hit him on the forehead. The man by whom it was thrown was immediately secured, and proved to be Dennis Collins, a seaman with only one leg, formerly a pensioner of Greenwich Hospital, from whence he had been dismissed for ill-conduct. On his examination he confessed he committed the outrage in revenge because no notice had been taken of petitions which he had sent to the Lords of the Admiralty and the King. He was committed to Reading gaol to take his trial, which took place at Abingdon, on August 22nd. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on the fifth count, that of intending some bodily harm to his Majesty, but not guilty of the intent to kill.

Mr. Baron Gurney passed sentence on the prisoner, that he _be drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution_, and being hung by his _neck_ until dead, his _head_ be afterwards _severed from his body_, and his body _divided into four pieces_, and disposed of as his Majesty should think fit. His sentence was afterwards respited.

Nothing better than the above circumstance could have suited the producers and workers of street-literature. King William and Queen Adelaide were very popular at the time. "Yes, sir, we all did well out of that job of the wooden-legged sailor and old King Billy. It lasted out for months. We had something fresh nearly every day. We killed old Billy five or six times; then we made out that the sailor-chap was a love-child of the Sailor King and Madame Vestris; then that he was an old sweetheart of Queen Adelaide's, and that he was jealous and annoyed at her a jilting of him and a-marrying of old King Billy, and so on. But it was an awful sell, and a robbery to us all, because they didn't hang and cut the chap up into four quarters--that would have been a regular Godsend to us chaps, sir. But I think old Jemmy Catnach, as it was, must have cleared pretty nigh or quite fifty pounds for himself out of the job. A-talking about Madame Vestris, sir, reminds me that once we had a song about her, and the chorus was:--

"'A hundred pounds reward
For the man that cut the legs above the knees
Belonging to Madame Vestris.'"

The year 1837 produced two sensational murders and executions. The first case--that of Pegsworth--made a great stir, particularly in the east part of London. It was on the evening of the 9th of January, 1837, that a most atrocious and cold-blooded murder was committed in Ratcliff Highway. The individual who suffered was Mr. John Holliday Ready, who for some time carried on the trade of a tailor, draper, and milliner. John Pegsworth, was a messenger in the tea department of St. Katherine's Docks, he had formerly kept a small tobacconist's shop in the same street, and had contracted a debt of £1 with Mr. Ready, who being unable to obtain payment, took out a summons against him in the Court of Requests, Osborne-street, Whitechapel. The court gave judgement against Pegsworth for the full amount and costs, which he was ordered to pay by instalments. On the evening of the same day Pegsworth proceeded to a cutler's shop in Shadwell, where he bought a large pig-knife, armed with which he immediately repaired to the house of Mr. Ready for the purpose of executing his diabolical intention. He entered the shop, and having spoken to Mrs. Ready, passed on to the parlour and got into conversation with Mr. Ready. Pegsworth, although pressingly asked to do so, declined taking a seat, and after he had been talking about ten minutes in a calm and collected manner on the subject of the debt and the misfortunes he had met with in business, he pointedly asked Mr. Ready if he intended to enforce the payment of the debt? Ready said he should be compelled to issue an execution against his goods if the money was not paid. The words had scarcely left the lips of the unfortunate man than Pegsworth uttered some exclamation which is supposed to have been "Take that!" and plunged the knife with great force into his breast up to the hilt. Ready called out to his wife, "O, I am stabbed!" fell back in his chair, and almost immediately expired. Mrs. Ready, who saw Pegsworth move his arm, but was not aware her husband was stabbed until she saw him fall back, screamed aloud for assistance, and several of her neighbours rushed into the shop for the purpose of securing the murderer, who did not make the least attempt to escape, but having completed his purpose, withdrew the knife from the body of his victim, laid it on the table, and calmly awaited the arrival of the police.

Pegsworth was tried at the Central Criminal Court of London on the 12th of February, and found guilty of wilful murder, and was executed in front of the debtor's door in the Old Bailey on the 9th of March following.

* * * * *

During the whole of the time that was occupied in the trial and execution of Pegsworth, a circumstance took place which excited an extraordinary sensation throughout the metropolis and its neighbourhood--namely, the discovery near the Pine Apple Gate, Edgware Road, of the trunk of a human being, tied up in a sack, dismembered of the arms, legs, and head.

The utmost vigilance was exercised to trace out the murderer, but for several days no light was thrown upon the transaction. At length, on the 6th of January, as a barge was passing down the Regent's Canal, near Stepney, one of the eastern environs of London, the bargeman, to his unspeakable horror, fished up what proved to be a human head. Proper notice of this circumstance was forwarded to the police. It was now very generally supposed the head would prove to belong to the body found in the Edgware road, although at a distance of nearly five miles, and this conjecture proved to be correct.

On the second of February the remaining portions of the human being was discovered in a sack in an osier bed, near Cold Harbour Lane, Camberwell. These mutilated remains were carefully matched together, and at length recognised as those of a Mrs. Brown, and suspicion fell, and justly so, upon James Greenacre and his paramour Sarah Gale.

In respect to the last two murders we have cited, Mr. Henry Mayhew received from an old "running patterer" the following statement--"Pegsworth was an out-and-out lot. I did tremendous with him, because it happened in London, down Ratcliff Highway--that's a splendid quarter for working--there's plenty of feeling--but, bless you, some places you go to you can't move nohow, they've hearts like paving stones. They wouldn't have 'the papers' if you'd give them to 'em--especially when they knows you. Greenacre didn't sell so well as might have been expected, for such a diabolical out-and-out crime as he committed; but you see he came close after Pegsworth, and that took the beauty off him. Two murderers together is no good to nobody."

In the Greenacre tragedy Catnach did a great amount of business, and as it was about the last "popular murder" in which he had any trade concern, we give a statement in respect to the sale of "Execution Papers," of the chief modern '_popular_' murders, thus:--

Of Rush murder 2,500,000 copies.
Of the Mannings 2,500,000 "
Of Courvoisier 1,666,000 "
Of Greenacre 1,650,000 "
Of Corder (Maria Marten) 1,166,000 "
Of the Five Pirates (Flowery Land) 290,000 "
Of Müller 280,000 "

So that the printers and publishers of "Gallows" Literature in general, and "The Catnach Press" in particular must have reaped a golden harvest for many a long day, even when sold to the street patterers at the low rate of 3d. per _long_ dozen.

LIFE, TRIAL, CONFESSION, & EXECUTION OF JAMES GREENACRE, FOR THE
EDGEWARE ROAD MURDER.

On the 22nd of April, James Greenacre was found guilty of the wilful
murder of Hannah Brown, and Sarah Gale with being accessary after the
fact. A long and connected chain of evidence was produced, which
showed, that the sack in which the body was found was the property of
Mr. Ward; that it was usually deposited in a part of the premises
which led to the workshop, and could without observation have been
carried away by him; that the said sack contained several fragments
of shavings of mahogeny, such as were made in the course of business
by Ward; and that it contained some pieces of linen cloth, which had
been patched with nankeen; that this linen cloth matched exactly with
a frock which was found on Greenacre's premises, and which belonged to
the female prisoner. Feltham, a police-officer, deposed, that on the
25th of March he apprehended the prisoners at the lodgings of
Greenacre; that on searching the trowsers pockets of that person, he
took therefrom a pawnbroker's duplicate for two silk gowns, and from
the fingers of the female prisoner two rings, and also a similar
duplicate for two veils, and an old-fashioned silver watch, which she
was endeavouring to conceal; and it was further proved that these
articles were pledged by the prisoners, and that they had been the
property of the deceased woman.--Two surgeons were examined, whose
evidence was most important, and whose depositions were of the
greatest consequence in throwing a clear light on the manner in which
the female, Hannah Brown, met with her death. Mr. Birtwhistle deposed,
that he had carefully examined the head; that the right eye had been
knocked out by a blow inflicted while the person was living; there was
also a cut on the cheek, and the jaw was fractured, these two last
wounds were, in his opinion, produced after death; there was also a
bruise on the head, which had occurred after death; the head had been
separated by cutting, and the _bone sawed nearly through_, and then
broken off; then were the marks of a saw, which fitted with a saw
which was found in Greenacre's box. Mr. Girdwood, a surgeon, very
minutely and skilfully described the appearances presented on the
head, and showed incontestibly, that the head had been severed from
the body _while the person was yet alive_; that this was proved by the
retraction, or drawing back, of the muscles at the parts where they
were separated by the knife, and further, by the blood-vessels being
empty, the body was drained of blood. This part of the evidence
produced a thrill of horror throughout the court, but Greenacre
remained quite unmoved.

After a most impressive and impartial summing up by the learned Judge,
the jury retired, and, after the absence of a quarter of an hour,
returned into court, and pronounced a verdict of "Guilty" against both
the prisoners.

The prisoners heard the verdict without evincing the least emotion, or
the slightest change of countenance. After an awful silence of a few
minutes, the Lord Chief Justice said they might retire, as they would
be remanded until the end of the session.

They were then conducted from the bar, and on going down the steps,
the unfortunate female prisoner kissed Greenacre with every mark of
tenderness and affection.

The crowd outside the court on this day was even greater than on
either of the preceding; and when the result of the trial was made
known in the street, a sudden and general shout succeeded, ans
continued huzzas were heard for several minutes.

THE EXECUTION.

At half past seven the sheriff arrived in his carriage, and in a short
time the press-yard was thronged with gentlemen who had been admitted
by tickets. The unhappy convict was now led from his cell. When he
arrived in the press-yard, his whole appearance pourtrayed the utmost
misery and spirit-broken dejection; his countenance haggard, and his
whole frame agitated; all that self-possesion and fortitude which he
displayed in the early part of his imprisonment, had utterly forsaken
him, and had left him a victim of hopelessness and despair. He
requested the executioner to give him as little pain as possible in
the process of pinioning his arms and wrists; he uttered not a word in
allusion to his crime; neither did he make any dying request, except
that his spectacles might be given to Sarah Gale; he exhibited no sign
of hope; he showed no symptom of reconciliation with his offended God!
When the venerable ordinary preceded him in the solemn procession
through the vaulted passage to the fatal drop, he was so overcome and
unmanned, that he could not support himself without the aid of the
assistant executioner. At the moment he ascended the faithless floor,
from which he was to be launched into eternity, the most terrific
yells, groans, and cheers were vociferated by the immense multitude
surrounding the place of execution. Greenacre bowed to the sheriff,
and begged he might not be allowed to remain long in the concourse;
and almost immediately the fatal bolt was withdrawn, and, without a
struggle he became a lifeless corse.--Thus ended the days of
Greenacre, a man endowed with more than ordinary talents, respectably
connected, and desirably placed in society; but a want of probity, an
absolute dearth of principle, led him on from one crime to another,
until at length he perpetrated the sanguinary deed which brought his
career to an awful and disgraceful period, and which has enrolled his
name among the most notorious of those who have expiated their crime
on the gallows.

On hearing the death-bell toll, Gale became dreadfully agitated; and
when she heard the brutal shouts of the crowd of spectators, she
fainted, and remained in a state of alternate mental agony and
insensibility throughout the whole day.

After having been suspended the usual time, his body was cut down, and
buried in a hole dug in one of the passages of the prison, near the
spot where Thistlewood and his associate were deposited.

Catnach received a very indifferent education, and that little at the establishment of Mr. Goldie, in Alnwick, where his attendance was very irregular, and this drawback assisted very much in blunting his relish for the higher walks of literature. The father had not carried out the heavenly injunction so much practised in Scotland, by giving to his son the best of blessings--"a good education."

Jemmy had a tenacious love of money, and this propensity he retained throughout life. As a man of business he was rough and brusque in his manners, but this mattered little, as his trade lay amongst a class who were low and insensitive in their habits and modes of living.

The productions issued at the "Catnach Press" were not destined to rank high in the annals of literature; and they bear a sorry appearance when placed alongside of several works of a similar kind, which were printed at the same period in many parts of the kingdom. In this respect Jemmy Catnach was very unlike his father, for, whilst the former had a niggardly turn in all his dealings, the latter was naturally inclined to the reverse.

One class of literature which Jemmy Catnach made--by reason of greater mechanical skill and a larger capital than his rivals--almost his own, was children's farthing, halfpenny, and penny books. Among the great many that he published we select from our own private collection, those that follow as a fair sample.

Many other nursery books of a similar kind might be mentioned as some of the chief attractions that emanated from the "Catnach Press," and which, to the juvenile population, were more eagerly welcomed than the great sensational three-volume novels are by many in our day.

"THE CATNACH PRESS."

A COLLECTION
OF JUVENILE BOOKS.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY
JAMES CATNACH,
LATE OF
MONMOUTH COURT,
SEVEN DIALS,
LONDON.

Little Boys and Girls will find
At CATNACH'S something to their mind,
From great variety may choose,
What will instruct them and amuse;
The prettiest plates that you can find,
To please at once the eye and mind,
In all his little books appear,
In natural beauty, shining clear,
Instruction unto youth when given,
Points the path from earth to heaven.
He sells by Wholesale and Retail.
To suit all moral tastes can't fail.]

Nurse Love-Child's LEGACY

LONDON:
Printed by J. Catnach, 2, Monmouth
Court, 7 Dials.

The Lion and the unicorn,
Were fighting for the crown,
The lion beat the unicorn,
All round about the town,
Some gave them white bread
And some gave them brown,
Some gave them plum cake
And sent them out of town.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

What is the news of the day,
Good neighbour I pray,
They say the balloon,
Is gone up to the moon.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

The little mouse
Doth skip and play,
He runs by night,
And sleeps by day.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

This is the Cat
That killed the Cock,
For waking her
At five o'clock.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

And this is the Dog
That bit the thief,
For stealing all
His master's beef.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

Who comes here
A Grenadier,
What do you want
A pot of beer,
Where's your money
I've forgot.
Get you gone
You drunken sot.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

Be not a glutton when you eat,
But spare some for the needy,
Or people will, when filled with meat,
Say, like a wolf, you are greedy.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

There was a little man,
And he had a little gun,
And his bullets were made of lead,
He shot John Sprig
Thro' the middle of his wig,
And knock'd it off his head.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

Now what do you think
Of little Jack Jingle,
Before he was married,
He used to live single.
But after he married,
To alter his life,
He left off living single
And lived with his wife.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

Tom Trueby was a good and sensible boy, who neither played the truant
nor kept company with naughty children. He did not like tossing up nor
chuck up farthing, because he thought it might lead him to love
gaming, when he was grown up; but he liked very well to play at ball
or top, and most particularly at marbles, at which he was very clever,
never cheated, and played so well that he used to teach the
neighbouring children.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

And here you see him instructing Master Manly, a Baronet's son in the
place, as he did in matters of more consequence, and behaved so well
towards him, that he was his friend all his lifetime.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

Fire-Works and Crackers.

Fire-Works are things that look very pretty when they are properly
managed by those who understand them, but children ought to take care
how they meddle with gunpowder lest they should hurt themselves or
other people.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

Tom Hazard for example was always fond of playing with serpents
crackers &c. At one time he was near doing damage by his fireworks
falling into a cellar, and at another time as you see in the cut he so
much frightened one of his schoolfellows that he fell down, and put
his ancle out, for which Tom was severely corrected and you must own
he richly deserved it.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

See the Mother,
Good and mild,
How she plays
With her dear Child.

NURSE LOVECHILD'S LEGACY.

See the Maid
By kindness led,
To feed the Fowls
With crumbs of bread.

FINIS.

J. Catnach, Printer.

THE GOLDEN PIPPIN.

LONDON:
Printed by J. Catnach.
2, Monmouth
Court, 7 Dials.

THE Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come,
thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven, Give us this Day our
daily Bread, and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that
trespass against us, and lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us
from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the Glory, for ever
and ever. Amen.

Was an Arch Boy.

A Beauty was.

A comely Wench but Coy.

A Dainty Lass.

Loved Eggs, and eat his fill.

Was full and fat.

Had Grace and wit at will.

Wore a Gold Lace Hat.

Stands for little Jackys name.

For Kitty Fair.

Loved Learning & got fame.

Was his Mother dear.

Was naughty & oft crying.

An Only Child.

Was pretty Peggy sighing.

Was a Quaker mild.

Was Rude, & in disgrace.

Stands for Sammy Still.

For ever talked a-pace.

Was fond of Veal.

He watched the house & hall.

Does like a Cross appear.

A Youth well shaped & tall.

Whips up the Rear.

Let all good children come to me,
And I'll learn them their

A B C

And when your Great Letters you know,
Then I'll teach you the Small also.

J. Catnach, Printer.

JERRY DIDDLE, AND HIS FIDDLE.

_If you are bad
I pray reform,
And praise will all
Your acts adorn._

London:
Printed by J. Catnach, 2, Monmouth
Court, 7 Dials.

JERRY DIDDLE.
Bought a fiddle,
To play to little boys,
He wax'd his string,
And began to sing,
Youth is the time for joys.

He went to a pig, and play'd a jig.

The pigs did grunt for joy,
Till the farmer came out,
And made a great rout,
Saying "Off, or I'll cane you, my boy."

He met an old woman to market a prancing,
He took out his fiddle, and set her a dancing.

She broke all her eggs,
And dirtied her butter;
At which her old husband
Began for to splutter.

Oh! then, said Jerry,
I'll soon make you merry.

And the way with his fiddle he led,
The old man heard the tune,
As he sat in his room,
And danc'd on top of his head.

He next met a barber,
With powder and wig,
He play'd him a tune,
And he shaved an old pig.

Then up in his arms
He carried the boar,
And went to the ale-house,
To dance on the floor.

He met an old man,
With beer in a can,
And a bundle of clothes on his shoulder,
He bade Jerry play,
And threw all away,
To astonish each gaping beholder.

He went to a tailor,
Who was ill in bed;
When he got up to dance,
With a goose on his head.

He went to a fishwomen,
Tippling of gin,
When she like a top,
Began for to spin.

The publican star'd,
As he fill'd out the glasses,
But when Jerry play'd,
He danc'd with the lasses.

He next met an old man,
With beard white and long,
Who laugh'd at poor Jerry,
And scoff'd at his song.

His name was Instruction,
The friend of the wise,
Who teaches good youth,
To win honor's prize.

He broke Jerry's fiddle,
And taught him to read,
And told him that honor
Would daily succeed.

Jerry now is a lad
At school always true,
The joy of his friends,
And a pattern for you.

Be instructed by him,
To avoid folly's snare,
And your bosom thro' life,
Will escape every care.

FINIS.

JUMPING JOAN.

Here am I, little
Jumping Joan,
When nobody's with me,
I'm always alone.

London:
Printed by J. Catnach, 2, Monmouth
Court, 7 Dials.

_Jumping Joan._

Joan had a dog, and
Joan had a cat,
Look at them both, see
How pretty they're sat.

_Jumping Joan._

Joan she lov'd skipping,
And was not at a loss,
At jumping or hopping,
Or going a cross.

_Jumping Joan._

Joan had a parrot
Could chatter and bawl,
But Joan could talk faster,
And longer withal.

_Jumping Joan._

Joan's dog, Prinny,
No learning did lack,
He'd carry Poll in his mouth
And Puss on his back.

_Jumping Joan._

As Joan lov'd jumping,
She learned her cat,
Look at them both,
And see what they're at.

_Jumping Joan._

Here's Pussy a washing
Joan's linen you know,
She could wash for herself
A long while ago.

_Jumping Joan._

Now Prinny, Joan's dog,
To market would go,
But what he'll bring back,
I'm sure I don't know.

_Jumping Joan._

Here's Pussy drest out
Like a lady so gay,
She's going to court, if
She finds but the way.

_Jumping Joan._

Here's Prinny and Pussy
To dancing have got,
While Joan plays a tune
On the lid of a pot.

_Jumping Joan._

Here's Joan with a whip,
Taking very long strides,
And vows if she finds 'em,
She'll bang both their hides.

_Jumping Joan._

Here's Prinny with gun,
Sword and gorget so smart,
He's going to France,
To fight Bonaparte.

_Jumping Joan._

And Joan's threat had fill'd
Poor Prin with alarms,
He said he'd not fight,
And so grounded his arms.

_Jumping Joan._

Then Puss in a fright
Ran back to the house,
She pull'd off her clothes,
And has just caught a mouse.

_Jumping Joan._

Then Joan she came in,
Call'd the cat saucy puss,
And said Prin was a puppy,
To frighten her thus.

_Jumping Joan._

They fell on their knees,
Her pardon to crave,
And promis'd in future,
They'd better behave.

J. Catnach, Printer.

This Milk Maid and
Book for a halfpenny.

TO THE Juvenile Reader.

Little Boys and Girls will find
At CATNACH'S something to their mind.
From great variety may choose,
What will instruct them and amuse;
The prettiest plates that you can find,
To please at once the eye and mind,
In all his little books appear,
In natural beauty, shining clear,
Instruction unto youth when given,
Points the path from earth to heaven.

He sells by Wholesale and Retail,
To suit all moral tastes can't fail.

THE Butterfly's Ball,
AND Grasshopper's Feast.

_Come take up your hats,
And away let us haste,
To the Butterfly's Ball,
Or the Grasshoppers Feast._

J. Catnach,
2, Monmouth Court, 7 Dials.

THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL
AND Grasshopper's Feast.

The trumpeter Gad-fly,
Has summon'd the crew,
And the revels are now,
Only waiting for you.

On the smooth shaved grass,
By the side of a wood.
Beneath a broad oak,
Which for ages had stood.

See the children of earth,
And the tenants of air,
To an evening's amusement,
Together repair.

And there came the Beetle,
So blind and so black,
And carried the Emmet,
His friend on his back.

And there came the Gnat,
And the Dragon-fly too,
And all their relations--
Green, orange and blue.

And there came the Moth
With her plume of down,
And the Hornet with jacket
Of yellow and brown.

Who with him the Wasp,
His companion did bring,
But they promised that evening
To lay by their sting.

The sly little Dormouse,
Peep'd out of his hole,
And led to the feast,
His blind cousin the Mole.

And the Snail with his horns,
Peeping out of a shell.
Came fatigued with the distance,
The length of an ell.

A Mushroom the table,
And on it was spread,
A water-dock leaf,
Which their table-cloth made.

The viands were various,
To each of their taste,
And the Bee brought the honey,
To sweeten the feast

With steps most majestic,
The Snail did advance,
And he promised the gazers
A minuet to dance.

But they all laugh'd so loud,
That he drew in his head,
And went in his own
Little chamber to bed.

Then as the evening gave way
To the shadows of night,
Their watchman the glow-worm
Came out with his light.

So home let us hasten,
While yet we can see,
For no watchman is waiting,
For you or for me.

J. Catnach, Printer.

A halfpenny Pay
and take honest Tray.

Let all good children come to me,
And I'll learn them their

A B C

THE _Easter Gift_;
BEING A USEFUL TOY
FOR
_Little Miss & Master_
TO LEARN THEIR ABC

J. Catnach, Printer,
2, & 3,
Monmouth-Court, 7 Dials.]

A Was an Archer and shot at a frog,
But missing his mark shot into a bog.

B Was a Butcher and had a great dog,
Who always went round the streets with a clog.

C Was a Captain so brave and so grand,
He headed in buff the stately train'd band.

D Was a Drunkard and lov'd a full pot,
His face and his belly shew'd him a great sot.

E Was an Esquire, both lofty and proud,
His servant was softy though he was full loud.

F Was a Farmer and followed the plough,
And gathered good from the sweat of his brow.

G Was a Gamester, and oft would he play,
A poor single ace against a bold tray.

H Hunted the buck, and likewise the doe,
The hart and the fox, and also the roe.

I Was an Image set up at Rome,
Many that see it were better at home.

J Was a Joiner and built him a house,
A little time after there came in a mouse.

K Was a King, who would drink and carouse,
Affrighted was he at a stand and a mouse.

L Was a Lady that lov'd a fine tree,
Though none understood it so little as she.

M Was a Merchant to foreign lands gone.
To bring home fine tea and rich silks anon.

N Was a Noble of birth and high power,
To the poor most gentle, to the haughty most sour.

O With her Oysters, a delicate cry.
Come buy my sweet Oyster, come buy, come buy.

P Was a Parson, and wore a black gown,
For goodness and virtue of high renown.

Q Was a Quaker, both stiff and upright,
In yea and nay they chiefly delight.

R Was a Robber on the highway,
For which he's been hung this many a day.

S Was a Sailor and liv'd in a ship,
He made the Spaniards and French for to skip.

T Was Tom Tinker and mended a kettle,
While he was hammering was deaf as a beetle.

U Was an Undertaker at work for his bread.
The living must pay, though he works for the dead.

V Was a Vintner that loved his pottle,
Went seldom to bed without his full bottle.

W Was a Watchman, to guard the warehouse,
That rogues did not strip it of every souse.

X Was expensive, and so became poor,
With his little dog begged from door to door.

Y Was a Youngster that lov'd not his school,
But trundled his hoop though out of all rule.

Z Was a Zany that look'd like a fool,
With his long tassell'd cap he was the boy's fool.

And when your great letters you know,
Then I'll teach you the small ones also.

Printed by J. Catnach.

THE Tragical Death
OF AN _Apple Pie_,

Who was Cut to Pieces
AND EATEN BY
_Twenty-Five Gentlemen_,
WITH WHOM
All Little People
OUGHT TO BE ACQUAINTED

PRINTED BY J. PAUL & Co.,
LONDON;
_2 & 3, Monmouth Court_.

An apple pie when it looks nice,
Would make one long to have a slice,
And if its taste should prove so too,
I fear one slice would scarcely do,
So to prevent my asking twice,
Pray mamma, cut a good large slice.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF AN APPLE PIE.

An Apple-pie.

Bit it.

Cut it.

Dealt it.

Did eat it.

Fought for it.

Got it.

Had it.

Join'd for it.

Kept it.

Long'd for it.

Mourned for it.

Nodded at it.

Open'd it.

Peeped into it.

Quartered it.

Ran for it.

Stole it.

Took it.

View'd it.

Wanted it.

XYZ and & All wished for a piece in hand.

At last they every one agreed,
Upon the apple pie to feed;
But as there seem'd to be so many,
Those who were last might not have any,
Unless some method there was taken
That every one might have their bacon,
They all agreed to stand in order,
Around the apple pie's fine border,
Take turn as they in hornbook stand
From great A down to &,
In equal parts the pie divide,
As you may see on the other side.

_A curious Discourse that passed between the Twenty-five Letters at dinner time._

A 1. Says, A, give me a good large slice.
B 2. Says B, a little bit but nice.
C 3. Says C, cut me a piece of crust.
D 4. Take it, says D, 'tis dry as dust.
E 5. Says E, I'll eat it fast, who will?
F 6. Says F, I vow I'll have my fill.
G 7. Says G, give it me both good and great.
H 8. Says H, a little bit I hate.
I 9. Says I, I love the juice the best.
K 10. And K, the very same confess'd.
L 11. Says L, there's nothing more I love.
M 12. Says M, it makes your teeth to move.
N 13. N notic'd what the others said,
O 14. O, others plates with grief survey'd.
P 15. P prais'd the cook up to the life.
Q 16. Q quarrell'd because he'd a bad knife.
R 17. Says R, it runs short I'm afraid.
S 18. S, silent sat and nothing said.
T 19. T, thought that talking might lose time.
U 20. U understood it at meals a crime.
W 21. W wish'd there had been a quince in.
X 22. Says X, those cooks there's no convincing.
Y 23 Says Y, I'll eat, let others wish.
Z 24. Z sat as mute as any fish.
& 25. While & he lick'd the dish.

Having concluded their discourse and dinner together, I have nothing more to add; but if my little readers are pleased with what they have found in this book they have nothing to do but to run to J. Paul & Co's., 2, & 3, Monmouth Court; 7 Dials, where they may have a great variety of books not less entertaining than this of the same size and price.

But that you may not think I leave you too abruptly, I here present you with the picture of dame Dumpling, who made the Apple pie you have been reading about; she has several more in her basket, and she promised that if you are good children you shall never go to bed supperless while she has one left. But as good people always ask a blessing, as a token that you are good and deserve a pie, you must learn the two following Graces, that one be said before your meals, and the other after.

* * * * *

_Grace before Meat._

Good Lord, bless us, and these thy creatures, to our use, which we are about to receive, of thy bounteous liberality, through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen._

_Grace after Meat._

We thank thee, O Lord, for all the benefits of this time, and of our whole lives. Make us thankful for all thy mercies now, and for evermore. _Amen._

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS PUT INTO SHORT RHYME.

1. Thou shalt have no other God but me.
2. Before no idol bow thy knee.
3. Take not the name of God it vain.
4. Nor dare the Sabbath-day profane.
5. Give both thy parents honour due.
6. Take heed that thou no murder do.
7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean.
8. Steal not, tho' thou art poor and mean.
9. Tell not a wilful lie, nor love it.
10. What is thy neighbour's, dare not covet.

J. Paul & Co., Printers.

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
AND HER WONDERFUL DOG.

Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard
To get the poor dog a bone;
But when she came there the cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.

LONDON:
Printed by J. CATNACH, 2 & 3, Monmouth Court, 7 Dials.

She went to the baker's to buy him some bread,
When she came back the dog was dead.
Ah! my poor dog, she cried, oh, what shall I do?
You were always my pride--none equal to you.

She went to the undertaker's to buy him a coffin,
When she came back, the dog was laughing.
Now how this can be quite puzzles my brain,
I am much pleased to see you alive once again.

She went to the barber's to buy him a wig,
When she came back he was dancing a jig.
O, you dear merry grig, how nicely you're prancing;
Then she held up the wig, and he began dancing.

She went to the sempstress to buy him some linen,
When she came back the dog was spinning.
The reel, when 'twas done, was wove into a shirt,
Which served to protect him from weather and dirt.

To market she went, to buy him some tripe,
When she came back he was smoking his pipe.
Why, sure, cried the dame, you'd beat the great Jocko.
Who before ever saw a dog smoking tobacco?

She went to the alehouse to buy him some beer,
When she came back he sat on a chair.
Drink hearty, said Dame, there's nothing to pay,
'Twill banish your sorrow and moisten your clay.

She went to the fruiterer's to buy him some fruit,
When she came back he was playing the flute.
Oh, you musical dog, you surely can speak:
Come, sing me a song, then he set up a squeak.

She went to the tavern for white wine and red,
When she came back he stood on his head.
This is odd, said the dame, for fun you seem bred,
One would almost believe you'd wine in your head.

The dog he cut capers, and turned out his toes,
'Twill soon cure the vapours, he such attitude shows.
The dame made a curtsey, the dog made a bow,
The dame said, Your servant, the dog said Bow wow.

THE Royal Book.

OF Nursery Rhymes.

A present for little Masters and Misses.
A Good Book to Instruct and Amuse.

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The History of the Catnach PressChapter IV: Front Matter (4)

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