Off to London

It was now decided I should go to London; so, in November, 1817, I took a passage in the Berwick smack Ceres, Captain W. Crow. We had a pleasant voyage of five days. Off Aldborough, I remember, we heard the bells tolling at midnight for the funeral of the lamented Princess Charlotte of Wales.

My departure made the first gap in our family circle. Of my five brothers, one died young, another went to sea, and, to our great grief, was drowned in the Baltic; a third, Alexander, was a printer, and latterly carried on business in Great-St. Helen's, Bishopsgate; he died suddenly at Ventnor, in 1873. His business is conducted by one of his nephews. In the same year my youngest brother, William, died on his sixty-first birthday. He had devoted himself to reporting for the Press, first for the Edinburgh Courant. He afterwards came to London, and for several years reported for the Standard. In the gallery of the House of Commons he was well known and highly esteemed. Besides reporting, he contributed many original articles to various magazines. My second brother and our four sisters still survive.

With such a family, it will be readily understood that my parents, when I left the "hearthstone," could bestow on me little beside their blessing. That was enough. My heart was high with hope, and I could never forget their bright example of faith and fortitude.

On arriving in London I was kindly received by two relatives. But the letters of introduction I carried helped me to no employment. For a month I went about inquiring, and then thought of entering the Company's service and going to the East Indies. But soon afterwards I obtained work at Camberwell, where the Encyclopaedia, Metropolitana was then being printed. Never since have I been unemployed.

I remained at Camberwell for a considerable period, and, having saved a few pounds, resolved to take a wife. That was a step in the right direction, and never have I repented taking it! For my wife has proved one of the choice ones of the earth. Never man had a better. "We were both under twenty-two years of age when married on July 3, 1819 ; and now, after nearly fifty-seven years, my dear partner still retains all the cheerfulness and much of the activity of her early life. On our Golden Wedding, in 1869, many kind friends united with the family in its celebration.

When the Printing-office at Camberwell was closed, towards the end of 1819, the overseer, who had proved very friendly, recommended me to take charge of a small office at Guildford, in Surrey. I accordingly went thither; but after a few weeks I found there was scarcely any business doing, and little prospect of an increase; so I resigned and returned to London, and got employment at Messrs. Gilbert's, in St. John's Square. After a while the work there became slack. As I could not afford to be idle, I left and went to Mr. Dove's, also in St. John's Square. Here there was abundance of work, and I did very well.