NOTES BY THE WAY. 165
Dr. A. K. H. Boyd was wont to say that " the Journal was read in Scotland by everybody who read anything at all." There can be no doubt that its early success was largely due to the fact that at that time the price of newspapers was usually sevenpence, owing to the heavy stamp and advertisement duties ; Chambers's Journal, being free from these exactions, sold at threehalfpence, and in point of size was nearly as large as a newspaper. But while the publication of the Chamberses were free from the stamp and ad- vertisement taxes, they had to bear a heavy burden in the shape of the paper duty ; and when my father founded the Press Associa- p tion for its abolition, the three brothers William, Robert, and Darid David took an active part in the movement until repeal was secured. Chambersjoin On the occasion of the presentation made to my father on the John 19th of January, 1863, to commemorate his services in promoting Francis's the repeal of the taxes upon literature and the Press, Mr. David f^J^peaUrf Chambers stated that during the twenty years previous to the tax the Paper being abolished it had cost the firm 160,000/., while on their " Tracts Duty, for the People " alone they paid 10,OOOZ. These had to be aban- doned on account of the heavy duty.
It is pleasing to know that all the useful publications issued Prosperity of by the firm are prospering. The new edition of ' Chambers's Chambers's Encyclopaedia ' is selling well ; ' Chambers's Twentieth Century * Dictionary,' edited by the Rev. T. Davidson, is a success ; and the new edition of the ' Cyclopaedia of Literature,' edited by D. Patrick, LL.D., has met with a good reception.
The present editor of the Journal is Mr. Charles E. S. Chambers, Charles E. S. grandson to its distinguished founder. In February, 1908, he Chambers, had the happiness of celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary, and preserving as he does its best traditions, there is every prospect of its being as vigorous and successful when it shall have completed its hundredth year.
JOHN CASSELL.
John Cassell came into the field of cheap literature much later Jobn Cassell. than the Chamberses, The Working Man's Friend and Family Instructor not appearing until January, 1850. It consisted of thirty- two pages, crown 8vo, price one penny, and was published at 335, Strand. Mr. Pike, in his life of John Cassell, gives an extract from The Working Man's Friend of November 1st, 1851, as to the sale of the ten daily papers then published in London, the total being 64,408. Of these The Times absorbed 38,382, The Morning Chronicle 2,915, and The Daily News 3,630, the united circulation -> of the seven other papers being under 20,000. On the 3rd of April, 1852, ' The Popular Educator ' was started, its first editor being Prof. Wallace, of Glasgow ; and in July of the same year Cassell removed from the Strand to La Belle Sauvage Yard, the home of the present firm.
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