Memoirs of Sir Wemyss Reid 1842-1885 — Themes and Context

CHAPTER I. EARLY DAYS. Birth and Parentage--Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 'Forties--A Visit to St. Andrews--The Scottish Sabbath--First Acquaintance with a Printing Office--Tyneside in the Mid-Century--In Peril of Housebreakers--At Dr. Collingwood Bruce's School--A Plague of Flies--Cholera--Fire.

CHAPTER II. PROBATION. Aspirations After a Journalistic Life--A Clerk's Stool in the W.B. Lead Office--Literary Ambitions--An Accepted Contribution--The _Northern Daily Express_ and its Editor--Founding a Literary Institute--Letters from Charles Kingsley and Archbishop Longley--Joseph Cowen and his Revolutionary Friends--Orsini--Thackeray's Lectures and Dickens's Readings.

CHAPTER III. MY LIFE-WORK BEGUN. On the Staff of the _Newcastle Journal_--In a Dilemma--Lord John Russell and Mr. Gladstone at Newcastle-upon-Tyne--Mr. Gladstone's Triumphal Progress--A Memorable Colliery Disaster: A Pit-Sinker's Heroism--Adventure at a Dickens Reading.

CHAPTER IV. FROM REPORTER TO EDITOR. First Visit to London--The Capital in 1862--Acquaintance with Sothern--Bursting of the Bradfield Reservoir--Attendance at Public Executions and at Floggings--Assuming the Editorship of the _Preston Guardian_--Political and Literary Influences--Great Speeches by Gladstone and Bright--Bright's Contempt for Palmerston--Robertson Gladstone Defends his Brother--Death of Abraham Lincoln--Meeting with his Granddaughter.

CHAPTER V. WORK ON THE LEEDS MERCURY My New Duties--Betrothal--The Writing of Leading Articles--The Founder of the _Leeds Mercury_--Edward Baines the Second--Thomas Blackburn Baines--Patriotic Nonconformists--Another Colliery Disaster: A Story of Heroism--An Abortive Fenian Raid at Chester--Reminiscences of the Prince of Wales's Visits to Yorkshire--Mr. Bright and the Reform Demonstrations of 1866--The Closing Speech at St. James's Hall--The Tribune of the People Vindicates the Queen.

CHAPTER VI. LIFE IN LONDON. Appointed London Correspondent of the _Leeds Mercury_--My Marriage--Securing Admission to the Reporters' Gallery--Relations between Reporters and Members--Inadequate Accommodation for the Press--Reminiscences of the Clerkenwell Explosion--The Last Public Execution--The Arundel Club--James Macdonell--Robert Donald--James Payn--Mrs. Riddell and the _St. James's Magazine_--My First Novel--How Sala Cut Short an Anecdote--Disraeli as Leader of the House in 1868--A Personal Encounter with him at Aylesbury--Mr. Gladstone's First Ministry--Bright and Forster--W.E. Baxter--Irish Church Disestablishment Debate in the House of Lords--Mr. Mudford--Bereavement.

CHAPTER VII. EDITOR OF THE _LEEDS MERCURY_. Forming Good Resolutions--Provincial Journalism in the 'Seventies-- Recollections of the Franco-German War--The Loss of the _Captain_ and its Consequences to me--Settling Down at Leeds--Acquaintance with Monckton Milnes--Visits to Fryston--Lord Houghton's Chivalry--His Talk--His Skill in Judging Men--Stories about George Venables--Lord Houghton's Regard for Religious Observances.

CHAPTER VIII. MY FIRST CONTINENTAL TOUR. A Generous Scot--Paris after the Commune--An Uncomfortable Journey Home--Illness of the Prince of Wales--Revived Popularity of the Throne--Death and Funeral of Napoleon III.--Burial of the Prince Imperial--Forster's Educational Policy--Bruce's Licensing Bill--My Second Marriage.

CHAPTER IX. A NEW ERA IN PROVINCIAL JOURNALISM. Bringing the _Leeds Mercury_ into Line with the London Dailies--Friendship with William Black--The Dissolution of 1874--The Election at Leeds--Mr. Chamberlain's Candidature for Sheffield--Mr. Gladstone's Resignation--Election of his Successor--Birth of the Caucus--The System Described--Its Adoption at Leeds--Its Effect upon the Fortunes of the Liberal Party--The Bulgarian Atrocities Agitation.

CHAPTER X. CONTRIBUTIONS TO BRONTË LITERATURE. Visit to Haworth--Feeling Against the Brontës in Yorkshire--Miss Nussey and her Discontent with Mrs. Gaskell's "Life"--Publication of "Charlotte Brontë: a Monograph"--Mr. Swinburne's Appreciation--An Abortive Visit to the Poet--Lecture on Emily Brontë and "Wuthering Heights"--Miss Nussey's Visit to Haworth after Charlotte's Marriage.

CHAPTER XI. VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. Politics in Paris in 1877--An Oration by Gambetta--the Balloting--The Republic Saved--Gambetta's Funeral--A Member of the Reform Club--The Century Club--A Draught of Turpentine and Soda--The "Press Gang" at the Reform--James Payn and William Black--George Augustus Sala and Sir John Robinson--Disraeli's Triumph in 1878--A European Tour.

CHAPTER XII. A CHAPTER OF MISFORTUNES. Death of my Sister's Husband and of my Brother James--An Accident on Marston Moor--Sir George Wombwell's Story of the Charge of the Light Brigade--His Adventure on the Ouse--Editing a Daily Newspaper from a Sick Bed--Reflections on Death--Death of my Mother--Serious Illness of my Only Daughter.

CHAPTER XIII. THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1880. Mr. Gladstone's Position in 1879--His Decision to Contest Midlothian--How he came to be Adopted by the Leeds Liberals--The Conversation Club--A Visit from John Morley--The Dissolution of 1880--Lecture on Mr. Gladstone--His Triumphant Return for Leeds--His Election for Midlothian--Mr. Herbert Gladstone Adopted as his Successor at Leeds--Mr. Gladstone's Visit to Leeds in 1881--A Fiasco Narrowly Avoided--A Wonderful Mass Meeting--Mr. Gladstone's Collapse and Recovery--My Introduction to Him--An Excursion to Tunis--"The Land of the Bey"--Mr. A.M. Broadley's Prophecies--Howard Payne's Grave--A Series of Coincidences.

CHAPTER XIV. CONCERNING W.E. FORSTER AND OTHERS. The Beginning of Mr. Stead's Journalistic Career--His Methods--Birth of the New Journalism--Madame Novikoff and Mr. Stead--Mr. Stead's Attacks upon Joseph Cowen--How he dealt with a Remonstrance--W. E. Forster--Mr. Chamberlain's Antagonism--The _Leeds Mercury_'s Defence of Forster--How he was Jockeyed out of the Cabinet--Forster's Resignation--News of the Phoenix Park Murders--Forster's Reflections--Mr. Gladstone's Pity for Social Outcasts--Mr. Chamberlain's Brothers Blackballed at the Reform--Failure of an Attempt to Crush the _Leeds Mercury_--Forster's Gratitude.