Ten Minutes with William Hone Kyle Grimes © 2013 University of Alabama at Birmingham

Hone is known today chiefly in three historical contexts: In 1817 he successfully defended himself against the Attorney General's ex officio charges of blasphemy and sedition, thus earning a significant place in the history of a free press in England. In 1819-21 he collaborated with George Cruikshank to produce a series of illustrated satirical pamphlets whose wide popularity helped define the public reaction to such events as the "Peterloo" massacre and the Queen Caroline affair. In 1825-27 he edited and published the Every-Day Book, an antiquarian miscellany that was widely read and influential throughout the nineteenth century.

The following paragraphs—a "ten minute biography"—will outline the salient aspects of Hone's life. For more information on any of these matters, I invite readers to explore the William Hone BioText at honearchive.org.

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A Ten-Minute Biography of William Hone ______The Hone family moved to London in Reeves' Association where it earned A London Childhood 1783 where the older William Hone the accolades of the secretary. was soon employed as a legal copyist 1780-1800 With help from his father, Hone and where his son grew up in a house began work as a "factotum" and legal Hone was born in Bath on 3 June, on Grafton Street—at the time bor- copyist in 1793 or 94. His 1780—his entry into the world dering the open countryside of what "professional life" soon brought him occurring almost simultaneously with would soon become Regent's Park. The into contact with a much wider view of the Gordon Riots in London. Hone's events of 1789 reverberated through the world—including poetry, theater, father, also William Hone, was a the Hone household—as they did and radical politics. Hone began to devoutly religious man, though as a throughout England—and the family doubt the religious foundations of his follower of the charismatic preacher subscribed to a newspaper and, as upbringing and he became affiliated William Huntington S.S., he was Hone put it later, "We became with a branch of the London Cor- technically a dissenter. His enthusi- politicians." In fact, the young Hone, responding Society. Hone's father, asm was such that he lived according at the age of 12, soon assembled his concerned about this turn in his son's to the strict discipline of his faith, and first "publication": a half-sheet thinking, secured a position for him in he may well have inculcated in his broadside entitled The Contrast that Chatham, where Hone spent two or sons a deep skepticism about the sets the freedoms of the English three years in the later 1790s and established church and other such constitution against the slavery of the where he wrote some poetry in his institutions. French. A copy of this privately printed little free time. Soon, however, Hone work was sent to the conservative

was back in London working to make the bankruptcy courts. They had to Hone once again publicized the case. his way in the book trade. liquidate all their assets—"wearing He also wrote a short narrative apparel and the wearing apparel of pamphlet about the case—La Pie their wives and children only Voleuse, or the Maid and the Magpie— Early Professional Life: excepted," as the court order put it— which was very popular in itself and "Tranquillity" and the Book and give the proceeds to their many which inspired Hone to produce other Trade creditors. pamphlets documenting the abuses of 1800-1810 power within the legal and political systems. In July of 1800, Hone married Sarah Projects and Publishing Johnson, the daughter of his landlady 1810-1815 who was also an old family friend. One In 1810, therefore, Hone had to Radical Publisher: A year later, the Hones first child was make a fresh start at a career. This is Parodist on Trial born—a daughter named after her a sparse period in the surviving mother. Every two or three years for 1815-1818 documents. Capitalizing on his the next twenty years or so, the Hones The years 1815-1817 saw Hone expertise in the antiquarian book ushered a new child into the family. consolidating his status as a writer of trade, Hone set himself up as an The growing numbers put some radical critiques of the government, auctioneer of private libraries. Soon, urgency into Hone's efforts to find and, in addition, he began to write in however, his philanthropic energy profitable employment, and through his characteristic parodic/satirical turned toward other projects. In 1813 the first decade of the 19th-century he style. (With hyperbolic conservative and 14, for example, Hone worked tried several ventures—from book and rhetoric about the end of the war with with James Bevans and Edward stationery shops to editing (e.g. the France and the excesses of the Prince Wakefield to develop a new form of popular cookbook called Millington's Regent, he was by no means short of asylum for the humane treatment of Cookery [1805]). material.) In addition, Hone continued the insane. The three pursued the to publish the public journalistic Two ventures are particularly project with some vigor, but were exposés that were already associated significant in this context. First Hone, ultimately foiled due to a lack of with him. For example, just days after together with LCS acquaintance John wealthy supporters. Fortunately, in the Spa Fields Riots of late 1816, Hone Bone, tried to establish a kind of January of 1814 Hone was named the published his own account of the savings bank/annuity company called "Literary Editor" of the venerable affair—and his account included a Tranquillity. Though an eminently Critical Review, a position he held for broader social and economic analysis sensible idea which was in many ways about 18 months. The status (and founded loosely on the principles of well ahead of its time, and though the salary) afforded to Hone by this Thomas Spence. project earned the good opinions of position enabled him to open a several influential persons, it was bookselling shop at 55 Fleet Street, forced to close for lack of funds less where he moved with his family in that one year after its initial December of 1814. Shortly thereafter establishment. Ten years later, Hone a series of events caused Hone to recalled the venture as a kind of move increasingly into a "watchdog learning experience for the young journalism" that would eventually entrepreneur and social reformer: "It bring him to the attention of the [the Tranquillity project] was very Attorney General. Quixotic—we were mad; mad because The first event was Hone's concern we supposed it possible, if an intention with the miscarriage of justice (as he were good, that it would therefore be saw it) regarding the shooting death of carried into effect" (Third Trial, p. 20). Edward Vyse. Vyse had been present The second venture—a book and during a street protest about the Corn print shop—was also undertaken in Laws and was shot from the windows partnership with Bone. While the of the home of the MP Frederick Bone/Hone bookshop was not a Robinson. Hone, who was closely financial success, it did provide a involved in the subsequent trial, saw space wherein Hone was able to that every effort was being made to establish friendships with such figures insure that no person of real stature as Sir Richard Phillips, Lord would be held responsible. Hone took Skeffington, and, at the opposite end it upon himself to publicize this of the social and political spectrum, miscarriage of justice. Francis Place and Thomas Spence. In The second event was the trial and addition, Hone was able to establish a execution of Elizabeth Fenning, a reputation for himself as an expert in servant girl who was accused of antiquarian books and prints. That poisoning the family of her employer. said, in the fall of 1810, the stack of The evidence against Fenning was At the beginning of 1817—when unpaid bills overwhelmed the partners, scant and entirely circumstancial, and political tensions and the threat of and the only way forward was through social unrest were running so high that

the government suspended habeas the jury returned a verdict of "Not Gang, and The Political Show-man, At corpus—Hone began publishing a Guilty" which was met by enthusiastic Home! Each of these works was radical weekly newspaper called the cheers from the gallery. The trials extremely popular; indeed, Hone and Reformists' Register and he wrote and were widely publicized and as a result Cruikshank were among the best- published four parodic pamphlets that Hone became a popular hero—a kind selling writers in England during this used the forms of church liturgy to of humble common man who had tumultuous period. attack the self-serving corruption of bravely stood up to the political What is less known about this the current government. These latter authorities of the day. The forces of extraordinarily productive period is pamphlets caught the eye of Home repression, as Hone put it later, had Hone's continuing fascination with Secretary Lord Sidmouth and his been "laughed out of court." antiquarianism. In 1820, Hone network of domestic spies, and on 3 published a highly controversial edition May, 1817, Hone was arrested on ex of the Apocryphal New Testament officio charges of blasphemy and Illustrated Satire, which was set in double column pages sedition. He was held in the King's Adaptations, and the in imitation of the standard format of Bench prison until 2 July when he was Apocryphal New Testament the Bible. Hone was instantly attacked released on orders from the Chief 1818-1825 as a blasphemer who called into Justice himself. Hone was uncomfortable with his question the authenticity of the Bible During his stay in prison, Hone began new status as public figure and itself, but for Hone, the publication preparing for his forthcoming libel popular hero, and in 1818, thanks to a was probably more antiquarian in trials by collecting other parodies that subscription that had been taken up in intent. At any rate, he followed in used liturgical honor of his acquit- 1823 with a still useful volume called models for politicial tals, he spent much Ancient Mysteries Described which, ends. His strategy of his time enga- among other things, identified sources was to argue that ged in his first love: for medieval mystery plays in the many writers— antiquarian reading Apocrypha. including George in the British Finally, this period of Hone's career is Canning, a current Library. But events marked by two other "derivative" cabinet minister — of the later Regen- publications. In 1819, immediately had published such cy, as well as a after John Murray anonymously parodies and that highly productive published the first two cantos of the Attorney Gen- collaboration with Byron's Don Juan, Hone wrote and eral's claim that the artist George issued his own Don Juan, Canto the such parodies were blasphemous was Cruikshank, brought him once again Third! as well as a stinging indictment obviously very partial. For a few into the spotlight. In early 1819, Hone of the conservative Murray's hypocrisy months, it looked as though the libel and Cruikshank published a parodic called "Don John," or Don Juan charges would be dropped, but then in Bank Note in response to an increase Unmasked. The second work was a late November of 1817, Hone received in executions for forgery. The Note much abbreviated and edited version notice of his trial date. received wide acclaim and may well be of Daniel Defoe's Jure Divino (1706) The trials themselves constituted a credited for accelerating a change in which Hone calls The Right Divine of strangely comical episode in English the nation's fiscal policy. Later that Kings to Govern Wrong! This last law. The Attorney General had singled year, in the wake of the Manchester publication is revealing because it out three of the offending parodies for Massacre in August, separate trials, and these occurred on Hone and Cruikshank Miss Haidee and Don Juan pleaded well; successive days, 18, 19, and 20 published the famous At least my publisher of late so tells me, December. In each case, the Attorney Political House that Jack Although the world he does not chuse to tell, Built—a pamphlet that General's argument held that using Yet, every body knows ‘tis he who sells me: liturgical texts as the basis for comic- went through dozens of satirical parody was an act of editions and that To sing what furthermore the pair befel, blasphemy because it necessarily literally defined the (As he declines my book and thus compels me, degraded the sacred quality of radical response to Because my “guinea trash” he will not own,) religious language. In each case, Hone "Peterloo." And send this Canto into Mr. Hone. brought in armloads of books This highly influential from Don Juan, Canto the Third! containing liturgical parodies written pamphlet was followed by highly respected persons (including with The Man in the demonstrates, especially when coupled George Canning), and he defended Moon (early 1820) and a series of with the correspondence between himself by reading these parodies in illustrated satirical pamphlets on the Hone and the Defoe biographer Walter the courtroom. There were frequent Queen Caroline affair. (See, for Wilson, that at least from about 1813, eruptions of laughter from the packed example, The Queen's Matrimonial Hone was modelling his own practice galleries, and equally frequent but Ladder and Non Mi Ricordo!) Finally, as a writer and pressman on the pompously ineffectual warnings from Hone capped this phase of his career example of Defoe. the presiding judge, Lord Chief Justice with two more political parodies: A Ellenborough. After each day's trial, Slap at Slop and the Bridge Street

Antiquarian Works: The By late 1829, Hone began to clear conversion and formal admission into Every-Day Book, The Table himself of his financial difficulties and, that congregation of Hone and many with the help of several friends— of his family. Hone's newly confirmed Book, The Year Book including Charles Lamb, Basil Christianity became the dominant 1825-1834 Montagu, Joseph Parkes, John Childs, theme of his later life. William Behnes, and even Robert January 1, 1825, saw yet another In one aspect, Hone's religious Southey—Hone began to collect turn in Hone's career. On this date, conversion led to another episode in enough funds to enable him to Hone published the first number of his his political activism, though this one establish a small coffee house called Every-Day Book, a remarkable kept Hone deliberately out of the The Grasshopper which opened its repository of all sorts of descriptions of public eye. From about 1835 to 1839, doors on 19 June, 1830. For a time, antiquarian and contemporary popular Hone earned £2/week as the sub- culture. The idea of the work was to The Grasshopper was the scene of develop a network of contributors from many convivial dinners and meetings, The proudest heart that ever beat across England who would document but soon it too began to fail, and by Hath been subdued in me; the local customs and practices that, the summer of 1833, Hone shuttered th the shop and moved to a small house The wildest will that ever rose, even in the early 19 century, were To scorn thy cause, and aid thy foes, rapidly disap-pearing. The book would in Peckham Rye Common. Though be published in weekly numbers with England itself had just passed the Is quelled, my God, by thee. readings appropriate for each day of Great Reform Bill of 1832— 1834 the year. The idea proved very popular vindicating many of Hone's earlier editor of a dissenters' newspaper indeed, and soon more orders for the political efforts—he seems at this point called The Patriot. This was a time of Every-Day Book were coming in than to have fallen into another period of great turmoil in the ecclesiastical world Hone could immediately satisfy. despondency, heightened, no doubt, by the first of a series of "paralytic as a number of prominent persons As the principal writer and editor of attacks" (strokes) that occasionally left were protesting the Church Rates the publication, Hone was a very busy him utterly incapacitated. levied by the established church. One man, and, despite his admirable of the key figures in this controversy energy, the numbers began to fall was Hone's old friend, the printer John behind. Unfortunately, the great Childs from Bungay. It seems that success of the Every-Day Book did not The "Proudest Heart" Childs would send materials useful to translate into great prosperity for Subdued: Conversion and the protesters' cause to Hone who Hone, and in April of 1826, he once would in turn publish them in The again was bankrupt. This was a severe Late Years Patriot. As this controversy played out, blow: while Hone was able to secure 1834-1842 Hone's newspaper became the chief the copyrights of the Every-Day Book organ for dissemination of the During these last years of his life, dissenters' political views, though "The misery of debt is the Hone kept largely free from public Hone himself remained anonymous. greatest misery I ever attention and certainly from public For the most part, however, Hone's experienced—never while I live controversy. There were likely several last years were occupied with keeping will I, if possible, owe a reasons for this relative silence— up his correspondence, reading his shilling to a human being." poverty, illness, and (perhaps new favorite author Charles Dickens, surprisingly for a person with Hone's Hone to his son Alfred, March 1829 and writing his own autobiography (a reputation) religion. Though Hone was "sinner–saved" narrative suggested by never really the blasphemer he was from his creditors, everything else—his Binney, the drafts of which are held in made out to be, as early as the later presses, his property, and even his the British Library). By 1840, Hone 1820s, Hone's interest in formal private library—had to be sold, and a had given up his position at The religion was rekindled, probably by the disheartened Hone had to spend the Patriot, and, thanks to another stroke, charismatic preacher Edward Irving. next two years laboring under the a letter to Childs in that year says (An August 1832 letter from a Rules of the King's Bench to pay off his simply, "I am past writing. The hand bemused Charles Lamb to Walter creditors. The Every-Day Book itself will not answer to the will." Hone lived Wilson claims that " Hone is turned ceased publication at the end of 1827, another two years in a tiny house near Believer in Irving and his unknown but Hone collected some of his Bruce's Castle in Tottenham where he Tongues" [LCML iii, 342].) Then in remaining materials and produced two died in November of 1842. Hone is 1833 Hone began to attend the other antiquarian miscellanies: The buried in Abney Park Cemetary. services at the Weigh House Chapel Table Book (1828) and The Year Book with its influential preacher Thomas (1832). Binney. This led to the full-fledged

Kyle Grimes — January, 2013 The William Hone BioText — http://honearchive.org