1846

On June 11 1846, Charles Dickens may have glanced at the classified advertisements whose columns of small print adorn the front cover of the ‘Times ‘

It is possible that he might have considered one advertisement: ‘a private gentleman wishes to dispose of a well-bred iron grey gelding. Marylebone.’ He may well have thought the price -£60 - a snip, in much the same fashion that future generations, glancing though ‘The Loot’, might chance upon ‘Ford Escort £600’ and, likewise, Dickens might have contemplated a visit to Marylebone to check mileage and wear and tear - no doubt paying particular attention to the horseshoes. He might also have noted “Vauxhall Gardens. Open every night’ and, thinking of the evening’s entertainment, he may have ticked: ‘Thames Tunnel. Open day and night. Toll one penny’

But, perhaps his eye had been caught by an advertisement for ‘The MIRROR for November price 1s,.edited by Percy St John,author of White Stone Canoe, &,.etc He might have glanced down the list of contents, noting “Piquillo - Search of his father ,& etc and seen ‘wit and humour’ promised along with the announcement ‘the cheapest magazine published’ It is unlikely, however, that he feared competition for his own ‘Household Words’

Did the advertisement remain in his mind is he glanced at the ‘Times’ of Nov 18 1846 which announced, amongst its classified advertisements, "MIRROR Vol 1, New Series, price 5s. 6d’ , will be ready on the 1st December. The Morning Post of Nov 6 says - ”Since Mr Percy St John has undertaken the editorship it has materially improved. The editor’s romance of ‘The Eagle’s Nest’ is a tale of extraordinary interest and vivid description. The scene is the Transatlantic which Mr St.John knows well and depicts powerfully. The Mirror takes its place fearlessly among the best of the magazines. In the Mirror of January will be announced a profusely illustrated ‘The Miser’s Will” ‘sun H Hurst, 27 King William Street, Strand, and all booksellers.’

But what of Percy B St.John - man about town?

On Thursday June, 11 1846, an advertisment informs us that he will attend “MARYLEBONE LITERARY and SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION - Dinner of the friends and members of the Institution will take place at the Albion, In Aldersgate Street, on Wednesday 17 instant at 8 o’clock.’ Percy B St. John’s name is listed among MP’s - a Wm Ewert Esq; ,a Knight, Sit Peter Laurie and various esquires: ‘in addition to a long list of influential gentlemen of the neighbourhood who are members of the institution. Tickets 20s each may be had at the institution, Portman Square, on or before the event. Mrs Bingely. jun, sec. -

On Dec 15 1846, the ‘Times’ announces “NEW CHRISTMAS BOOK by MR CHARLES DICKENS - on the 19th instant, will be published, price 5s. Further down the column of advertisements, another Christmas tale is announced: MR PERCY B ST.JOHNS CHRISTMAS TALE - Now ready, and may be had of every booksellers in town or country - price 5s, profusely illustrated from designs of J.W.Archer, the FIRESIDE; a domestic tale by Percy B St John, author of ‘An Eagle’s Nest”’Trapper;s Bride’’The Enchanted Rock’ and ‘A White Canoe. Price 3s 6d each. H.K Lewis, 15 Gower Street North;Simpkins and Marshall; and all booksellers.”

1848

On Friday June 2, 1848, the ‘Times’ advertised ‘TAIT’S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE for JUNE, price 1s. Contents: - Taxes on knowledge and the newspaper press - A Chapter of Accidents; by Heinrich Zschokke - The Revolt of the Miners; a dramatic sketch, by Joseph Gostik - France: Political history of the Month viz, the Elections; the Rouen Insurrection; The cosnpiricy of 15 May; the Montagnards; Fete de la Concorde; Physiognomy of Paris; the Bourse: Spain - Life Insurance; no 1V. - Poetry - Literary Register - Political Register. New Historical Romance, - On the 1st of July, No 1, price 1s., of the King’s Musketeer will be illustrated in a novel style, and will extend to 12 numbers. Shortly will be published, in one volume 12mo, Men and Parties in France. By Percy B St.John. N 1, price 6d., of the Revolution in Europe: a monthly Record. By Percy B St.John. No 2 was published on the 1st June. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., London; Sutherland and Knox, Edinburgh.

(There are two advertisements for 1848 and I seem to have come across ‘Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine before. This year needs further research. as Percy B St John seems to have published in two different magazines.)

On Friday June 28, the’ Times’ advertised “A BRIEF SKETCH OF ABD-EL-KADAR --The Mirror Monthly Magazine for February, permanently enlarged, price 1s will contain in addition to the above - The Colonel’s story. By W.H Maxwell - the Lily of Derwenter - Robspierre. By Percy B St.John - the influence of Ambition on Happiness - the Eclipse of the Moon - by John Oxenford. Paul Pevensey - A night with MPs b Angus B. Reach - Memoir of a Modern Criminal - Captain Squash, By Percy B St.john - the Wife’s Secret - Dramatic Mirror - Poetry - Literature, &etc The vols for 1987 are now ready. Kent and Richards, Paternoster Row; and all booksellers.

1850

On 26 Jan 1850 He wrote to the Times about the "Irish Distress in France"

1852

On Friday Dec 17 1852, the ‘Times’ announced that Percy B St.John was among the subscribers for a Gravestone for Thomas Hood. He contributed 10’6d

1853

Charles Dickens might well have raised his hands in horror, or even produced his pen, had he seen one of the classified advertisements in the ‘Times’ of Thursday April 28 1853. ‘Wanted a general servant. No Irish.’ and he might have missed an announcement further down the column where he would have noticed, among the contents for ‘The Eighth Volume of ELIZA COOK’S JOURNAL.. published on 30 inst, price 4s. 6d - bound in green. - The Laurel Leaf; a Tale by Percy B St.John - and what would Dickens have made of an other item ‘Who am dat knockin’ at de door.” Charles Cook, 3 Raquet Court, Fleet Street. (The previous month, on Wednesday March 30, ‘The Times’ had also advertised ‘ELIZA COOK”s JOURNAL part 47 for April, price 7d, which contained ‘The Lacemaker of Corneil by Percy B St.John)

But, in 1853, Percy B St John - the man about town - makes another appearance. On October 19, ‘The Times’ advertises a talk. ‘THE TURKS - Athenaeum, 107, Upper-Street Iislington - A LECTURE will be delivered at the above Institution THIS EVENING (Wednesday) October 19, by PERCY B ST, JOHN Esq;’ on “The Turks of their past and present:’ to commence at 3 o’ clock. Free admission to members; non-members by tickets 6d each. J.N.Gordon J.Pennycook brown. {hon secs)

On Friday dec 9 1853, ‘The Times’ advertises: ‘HOUSEHOLD WORDS. Conducted by Charles Dickens no 194.

But did Dickens notice another advertisement on the same page announcing ‘THE WONDER OF THE AGE - CASSELL’S WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED PAPER, price 1d. Containing pages, the same dimensions as the ‘Illustrated London News’ Number 1, though bearing date Dec 31, will be ready for delivery Dec 14. It will be published this early to afford the public an opportunity of purchasing what will be unhesitatingly confessed the greatest achievement in the history of cheap literature Notwithstanding the low price at which the paper is published, the first writers and artists will be engaged upon it. No 1 will contain - The Arctic Crusoe; a Tale of the Polar Seas, by Percy B St. John, with a splendid engraving of young Robinson in the Cave, from a drawing by G.F Gilbert’.... Orders for this remarkable paper should be immediately given to any bookseller or news vendor.’

1854

One advertisement in the ‘Times’ of Saturday March 1854 is of interest. A reprint is announced. ‘”THE TENANT OF WILDEFELL HALL by Acton Bell, sister of Currer Bell; forming vol 106 of the PARLOUR LIBRARY. Price 1.6d boards, or 2s cloth. London, Thomas Hodgson, publisher, 13 Paternoster-row and sold at every railway station.^[1]

But there is another advertisement an an adjacent column, mentioning a periodical that ran for a few issues, a periodical that is now forgotten. ( cannot trace it) "UTOPIA nos 1;;11.,111,,and 1V., now ready, containing Tales, sketches, Essay, etc, by Percy B St John, Edward Copping the author of “Francis Croft,” and other writers. Weekly price 1d W. Kent and Co Paternoster Row."

I had made a mention of this periodical in ‘A Footnote to Stevenson’ My source had been a contemporary biographical entry for James Augustus St John’

'Helen Cornelia had been Charles Sharp Middleton's first wife. He was in his mid-twenties when he began his life of Shelley. Three of the St John Brothers might also have been interested in his book as they started a radical periodical called 'Utopia' in 1854. It expired after its sixth issue. 'Its politics were too Utopian for the million' was James Augustus St John's experienced journalistic opinion' ('A Footnote to Stevenson.')

The source had been ‘Men of the Time’ of 1859. In the biographical entry, James Augustus St John had been referred to as a ‘trenchant writer of the extreme gauche’ and his sons’ periodical is given the title, Utopia, A political, literary and Industrial journal.'

For Mr St john, 1854 ended on Tuesday December 26, when the ‘Times’ advertised: ‘New and cheap edition of Mr Percy B St.John’s Indian Tales - Feb 8vo,. 160pp boards, fancy wrapper 1s THE TRAPPER”S BRIDE, White Stone Canoe and Rose of Ouisconsin Ward and Lock 158 Fleet Street London.

(In view of Percy B St. john’s letter to the ‘Times’ it might well be that it was cases such as his, that led to the various international copyright laws being instigated)

1861

On Friday the 7 June, 1861, the ‘Times’ announced an amateur performance by the ‘Savage Club’ to be held at the ‘Lyceum Theatre. Among those attending would be Charles Dickens and, among a long list of performers and supporters, are included the names of Mr Horace St.John and Mr Percy B.St John. One wonders if the performance had been the Victorian equivalent of networking and how many of the participants were involved in similar professions?

SAVAGE CLUB AMATEUR PERFORMANCE. - An Amateur Performance, supported by Members of the above club and other members connected with literature and art, will take place at the ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE on Wednesday June 19th. The following gentlemen have already promised their assistance: - Mr Charles Dickens, Mr Blanchard Jerr old, Mr J.R. Planche, Mr. F. Talfourd, Mr William Bough, Mr Henry J. Byron, Mr Leicester Buckingham, Mr Andrew Halliday, Mr. E. Draper, Mr Edmund Falconer, Mr J.Palgrave Simpson, Mr W.H.Wills, Mr J Hollingshead Mr.J.Lowe, Mr Horace St.John, Mr Percy B.St John, Mr. Frederick Lawrence, Mr.E,F. Roberts, Mr.J.Kenney, Dr.G.L.M.Strauss, Mr.Godfery Turner, ,Mr.C.SLidderdale, Mr.Julian Portch, Mr W.M.M’Connell, Mr.Charles Watkins, Mr H,Otterly, Mr Charles W.Quinn, Mr.H.Vizitelly, Mr.W.Romer, Mr.J.Barnard, Mr Grattan Cooke, Mr C.Furtado, Mr Thomas Archer, Mr j.C.Brough, Mr. Lionel Bough, Mr William Dalton&etc. The performances will commence with THE WRECK ASHORE (by permission of Benjamin Webster Esq,), in which Mrs.Charles Young will sustain the part of Alice. Followed by a new and original burlesque, written especially for the occasion by Messrs. Planche, Talfourd, Byron, Buckingham, Halliday, Falconer and William Bough, founded upon the popular legend of VALENTINE AND ORSON, The greater number of the gentlemen named in the list above will sustain characters in both pieces. Full particulars will shortly be announced. Stage Manager, Mr, Edmund Falconer. Acting Manager, Mr William Bough. Private boxes, from £2 2s upwards; stalls £1.1s. admission to the stalls can only be obtained by means of vouchers issued by the Committee, for which application should be made by letter, to the acting manager;- Savage Club. 11.Catherine Street, Strand.

1862

Newspaper images courtesy User:Pat