NINETEENTH CENTURY.
906
1828, Oct. 22. The greatest curiosity at this time in the art of printing, and though slight in itself, establishes a memorable epoch in the history of mankind, is the establishment of a newspaper among ijie nation of the Cherokee Indians (Arkansais.) It is called the Cherokee Phtenix, edited by Elias Bondinott, and pub- lished " for the Cherokee nation, at New Echota. The PJuenix is printed in both languages, but at a less price to the Chcrokees than the English. The paper is about nineteen inches long and twelve inches wide, in five columns. No. 34 is dated as above. See Introduction, page 12, ante.
1828, Oct. 29. Died, Luke Hansard, a very eminent printer and excellent man, whose charac- ter presents in all its points of public and private life, an example worthy of imitation. Luke Hansard was born in the parish of St. Mary, Norwich, July 5, 1752. His father, Thomas Hansard, was a respectable manufacturer in that city, but in his latter days became unsuccessful in business. The early and pious iustructiens which he received from his mother, appear to have formed the basis of that honourable charac- ter which distinguished her son throughout the course of his long life. He received his educa- tion at the grammar-school of Boston, in Lin- colnshire, and was afterwards apprenticed to Mr. Stephen White, printer, in CocKey-lane, in the parish of St Clement, Norwich. Here soon appeared the vast advantages of early training to habits of industry and moral feeling. His master was g^ven to convivial indulgence, and was easily and frequently seduced from his business; but having discerned the value of his steady apprentice, had the sense to entriLst him with the principal part of the management of his concerns. ImmMiately after the close of his apprenticeship, he went to London, with a soli- tary guinea in his pocket ; and to his honour it ought to be recorded, that the first guinea he earned, beyond his immediate necessities, be transmitted to Norwich, to pay an unsatisfied demand upon his father. Mr. Hansard first obtained a situation as a compositor at the print- ing-office of Mr. Hughes,* of Great Turnstile, Lincoln's Inn-fields, who was printer to the house of commons, and carried on that branch, when it was of small extent, compared with what it had arrived at in the year 1799, when Mr. Hughes admitted Mr. Hansard into partnership. The business of Mr. Hughes had been for many years under the management of Mr. William Day, a very worthy man, of exemplary diligence
- When Mr. Hansard went a stranger to London, he
had an introduction to Mr. Hughes, and lool^iiig: about Lincoln's Inn-fields for the printing-office, he accidentally met with Mr. Hughes, and not knowing that gentleman, inquired of him the way to the office. Mr. Hughes asked him what business he had therc,and finding him a stranger, and desirous of obtainlnf; employment, appointed the fol- lowing day for his going to work ; this laid the foundation of that prosperity, the almost sure reward of industry.
In a manuscript note which Mr. Hansard had seen, and which apparently was intended to form some account of his life, the writer said that he came to London with- out a patron and without a ftiend. Underneath this, Mr. Hansard wrote, " Not so, for God was my friend and my patmn."
and attention. The increase of parliamentary printing rendering more assistance necessary, the active attention to business of Mr. Luke Hansard, pointed him out as the most capable of the ardu- ous office of manager of the operative depart- ment, Mr. Day attending chiefly to the reading department. After the death of Mr. Day, the whole management devolved upon Mr. Hansard, who, after some years' exertion, as great, per- haps, as ever was witnessed, certainly never ex- ceeded by any one, making the interests of his employer the first and sole object, became, in 1799, a partner in the cone :m ; and by a sub- sequent arrangement in 18' ), he succeeded as the entire proprietor of u business which he rendered the first in the world for that prompti- tude and despatch so essential to the interests of the legislature and the nation. As a man of industry few such instances can be mentioned. He knew little of relaxation or pleasure. He was throughout life an early riser, and sketched in his mind the plan and business of the day before others were awake to execute it. From the beginning of his official life, Mr. Hansard established this rule for his conduct, to spare no cost or personal labour in attempting to perform the important duty entrusted to him, letter and cheaper, and more expeditiously than any other printing concern in London. He worked for others, not for himself. There was nothing in his mode of life showy and ostentations. A benevolent spirit, however, reigned through the whole. His contributions to public charities were truly liberal. Among others, his benefac- tions to the worshipful company of stationers, as a provision for decayed printers, will make his name remembered with gratitude many a distant year. In the discharge of his parochial duties, he was not only a judicious guardian of the pub- lic purse, but a kind friend to the numerous poor in his extensive neighbourhood. If it be true, as asserted by more than one eminent writer, that all morals and all integrity, to be permanent, and of practical effect, must be bottomed upon religion ; this was precisely the case with Mr. Hansard. He departed this life in the seventy -seventh year of his age, and his remains were interred in the church of St. Giles's in the Field. Mr. Hansard left a widow, nearly his own age, and three sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Thomas Curson, died May, 1833, and his other sons, who had long been in part- nership with him, continued the establishment. Luke Hausard was a liberal benefactor to the stationers' company : July II, 1818, transferred £1,000, four per cent annuities, the interest to be given, in two annuities of £10 a-year each, to such objects above sixty-five years of age, free of the company, and letter-press printers (compositors or pressmen,) as the court shall think proper.* The other £20 to be given yearly to four freemen of the company, printers, book- sellers, stationers, warehousemen, or bookbinders, above sixty years of age, at £5 a-year each, as
- Mr. Hansard Dominated the two first annuitants.
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