,transcribed from the #ahfi ,marylebone ,penny ,readings edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,the ,,marylebone ,,penny ,,readings ,,and ,,their ,,critics3 ,,an ,,address ,,to ,,the ,,patrons ,,and ,,friends ,,of ,,the ,,marylebone ,,penny ,,readings1 ,,by ,,henry ,,taylor1 ,,honorary ,,conductor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,published ,,by ,,the ,,marylebone ,,penny ,,readings1 ,the ,harrow ,road ,hall1 ,cromwell ,terrace1 ,w4 #ahfi4 ,,price ,,one ,,penny4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,to ,,the ,,patrons ,,and ,,friends ,,of ,,the ,,marylebone ,,penny ,,readings4 ,,my ,,lords ,,and ,,gentlemen1 ,as ,certain statements have appeared in the ,local ,journals reflecting upon my character as the ,honorary ,conductor of 8,the ,readings10 and upon the ,institution1 ,i deem it my duty to send this statement to you1 with the request that you will give it your kind and impartial consideration4 ,i should not have adopted this course had the ,editors of those journals1 viz43 8,the ,marylebone ,mercury0 and 8,the ,bayswater ,chronicle10 inserted my letters addressed to them1 giving a denial of the misrepresentations4 ,i think it may not be out of place to give you a sketch of the progress of the ,institution1 and to mention from what cause ,i was induced to commence the series of ,penny ,readings first known as 8,praed ,street ,penny ,readings10 but afterwards more appropriately termed 8,the ,marylebone ,penny ,readings40 ,i had attended many ,penny ,reading meetings within the metropolis and was thoroughly convinced that such meetings were not only calculated to do much good1 but would be very acceptable to the working classes if properly conducted2 but1 unfortunately1 in many instances the programmes abounded with ,vulgar ,comic ,songs1 while in others a religious spirit was infused1 rendering the programme monotonous and unattractive4 ,having a little time at my disposal1 ,i determined upon founding a series of ,penny ,readings1 having for its objects--8presenting a counter attraction to haunts of vice and of creating and improving the tastes for pure and standard literature40 ,with this view1 ,i gave an inaugural meeting at the ,foresters' ,hall1 on ,thursday evening1 ,november #bast1 #ahfg1 when our esteemed member1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,chambers1 ,m4,p41 ,q4,c41 presided2 through the kindness of the ,rev4 ,john ,clifford1 ,,ll4,b41 ,i was permitted to hold a series of twenty-seven meetings in the small room beneath 8,praed ,street ,chapel20 the first meeting was held there on the #bdth ,november1 under the ,presidency of ,mr4 ,f4 ,berridge1 ,f4,r4,g4,s4 ,the first four meetings were thinly attended1 but the attendance gradually increased until they acquired a popularity as the first of their class4 ,encouraged by success1 another branch was opened at 8,the ,lecture ,hall1 ,new ,church ,street40 ,this branch1 unfortunately1 proved a financial failure4 ,at the end of the series ,i found we were in debt to the extent of #be3 of this ,i paid #ae1 and with the consent of the creditors1 about #aj was allowed to remain until another season2 under these circumstances ,i did not feel justified in increasing our liabilities by publishing a report4 ,being now practically convinced that although these meetings could not be a financial success1 they would accomplish their object and be very acceptable to the working classes--knowing that there were many noblemen and gentlemen who would willingly assist such a good and really charitable cause1 ,i appealed to many ,i knew to be interested in the welfare and progress of the working man1 and had the pleasure of receiving many affirmative and encouraging replies4 ,in ,november last ,i wrote to the ,rev4 ,j4 ,moorhouse1 7,vicar of ,st4 ,james's1 ,paddington71 for permission to hold meetings within the ,st4 ,james's ,national ,schools1--this was granted for a period of thirteen meetings2 the series were duly inaugurated at the ,schools1 and well attended4 ,after the seventh ,reading1 ,i received an intimation from the ,secretary of the ,school ,committee to the effect that they had resolved to withdraw their permission on the ground that such ,readings were not in conformation with the objects for which the ,schools were built1 viz43 ,national ,education4 ,i must confess ,i was greatly surprised at this declaration1 inasmuch as many gentlemen of eminence who had presided at the meetings1 including the ,rt4 ,hon4 ,a4 ,h4 ,layard1 ,m4,p41 and ,thomas ,chambers1 ,esq41 ,m4,p41 had publicly stated that they believed such meetings to be a certain and valuable channel for the conveyance of learning4 ,such being the decision of the ,school ,committee1 however unjustified they may have been in withdrawing the permission before the expiration of the stated time1 ,i had no alternative but to submit to that decision4 ,i then engaged the large and commodious ,hall known as 8,providence ,hall10 and this was presided over by our esteemed patron the ,hon4 ,lord ,fitzmaurice1 ,m4,p41 for ,calne4 ,we were again successful until a clique was formed against us by members of a similar institution and others to disturb our meetings4 ,after vainly attempting to hold meetings1 ,i called a private meeting1 at which ,mr4 ,edmond ,beales presided1 and we decided upon holding no further meetings for the present2 at the same time a committee was formed at my request to audit and investigate accounts1 and to publish the report4 ,having given you a brief1 and ,i trust a satisfactory account of our proceedings1 ,i feel it incumbent upon me to comment upon the statements referred to in the former part of this address4 ,the first subject of comment will be the circular purporting to be issued by ,lord ,lichfield2 the second1 the case of ,oetzmann versus ,the ,marylebone ,penny ,readings2 and thirdly1 the scandalous and unfounded reports of the ,local ,journals4 ,the circular referred to was that issued by ,mr4 ,c4 ,j4 ,ribton ,turner 7871 and purporting to be signed by ,lichfield1 ,hodgson ,pratt1 ,j4 ,w4 ,probyn1 ,h4 ,n4 ,hoare1 ,auberon ,herbert1 and ,julian ,goldsmid1 who state that they have withdrawn their names from the ,patron ,list of 8,the ,marylebone ,penny ,readings0 owing to reports which have appeared in 8,the ,marylebone ,mercury0 of proceedings taken against the ,hon4 ,conductor in the ,bloomsbury ,county ,court2 and that 8we beg further to state that though ,mr4 ,taylor was requested by ,lord ,lichfield on the #crd inst41 7,march71 to furnish a statement of his receipts and expenditure1 he has not1 up to the present time1 thought fit to comply with the invitation40 ,whether in issuing this circular ,mr4 ,c4 ,j4 ,ribton ,turner has been authorised to use the names appended to it1 ,i cannot say2 but this ,i can truly affirm1--that the said circular is a tissue of misrepresentations4 ,in the first place1 ,i was never requested by ,lord ,lichfield to furnish any account whatever4 ,the facts of the case are these3--,on ,tuesday1 ,march #ast41 the ,right ,hon4 the ,earl of ,lichfield 7with authority7 was announced to preside at our usual weekly meeting2 his ,lordship came to the meeting1 7,i am informed accompanied by ,thomas ,oetzmann and others1 this being previously arranged72 his ,lordship informed the audience that he had never given his consent to preside at the meeting1 and expressed his dissatisfaction at the course ,mr4 ,taylor had taken regarding the payment of the account of ,thomas ,oetzmann1 trading as ,thomas ,oetzmann ,company 7874 ,with all due respect to his ,lordship1 ,i am assured that he gave his consent to preside2 and it may be desirable to mention1 that on the ,thursday previous to the meeting1 ,i sent a note reminding him of his promise2 and on the following ,monday ,i sent a programme of the meeting4 ,if his ,lordship had not promised to preside1 why did he not send an intimation8 ,on the #bnd ,march ,i addressed a letter to his ,lordship apologizing for the mistake1 if on our part1 and asking whether ,i should retain his ,lordship on the ,patron ,list1 and adding that ,i should be pleased to furnish him with a statement of receipts and expenditure4 ,i trusted that his ,lordship would not be guided by exparte statements4 ,on the #dth his ,lordship replied1 stating that he must decline to remain on the ,patron ,list1 but would be willing to give any statement that might be forwarded his impartial consideration4 ,i was prevented by ill health from sending the account before the #bjth4 ,on the #bcrd his ,lordship returned the account for audit and publication1 and it is now in the hands of the ,audit ,committee4 ,as ,i had the authority to place the names of ,hodgson ,pratt1 ,julian ,goldsmid1 ,h4 ,n4 ,hoare1 and ,j4 ,w4 ,probyn1 ,esquires1 upon the ,list of ,patrons1 in the absence of any notification that either of those gentlemen wished to have their names removed1 ,i may with justice consider them as belonging to the ,institution4 ,a note is appended to the effect that the ,rev4 ,james ,moorhouse and ,dr4 ,forbes ,winslow never authorized the publication of their names as ,patrons2 this ,i beg to state is false1 and that those gentlemen have taken very prominent parts in our meetings2 from these facts ,i consider that we may very justly ignore the circular and its fallacious contents4 ,the next subject for comment is the case of ,oetzmann versus ,the ,marylebone ,penny ,readings1 in which ,i was1 as ,hon4 ,conductor1 sued for the balance of accounts4 ,i think it necessary to state that the original amount of account was #c #ags4 #a;d42 of this #b #as4 was paid1 leaving a balance of #a #afs4 ,for this balance ,i was sued6 ,a representative of the firm 7collector ,i presume7 called upon me at the latter-end of ,december for the amount4 ,i told him we were not in a position to pay1 but would guarantee its payment within three months2 the collector expressed his approbation1 and withdrew4 ,on me #bbnd ,january ,i received a copy of 8,the ,marylebone ,mercury20 upon perusal ,i found1 to my great surprise1 a report of the case in which ,i was sued for the balance of account at the suit of 8,thomas ,oetzmann1 trading as ,thomas ,oetzmann and ,company40 ,i did not receive any summons1 nor was ,i aware that proceedings were taken until ,i saw the paper alluded to4 ,in support of the case1 letters were put in1 in one of which it was stated ,i pleaded minority1--this ,i most emphatically deny6 and in support of this assertion1 beg to state that ,i called upon the said ,thomas ,oetzmann on the #afth of ,march to produce the said letter1 which of course was not done4 ,comment is needless4 ,the account is paid2 but nevertheless1 ,thomas ,oetzmann continues a system of unjustifiable persecution1 at once unmanly and cowardly2 he has been to our tradesmen and made gross misrepresentations2 he has been to our ,halls and disturbed our meetings1 and guilty of such conduct as any honest man would be ashamed of4 ,now ,i would refer to the unwarrantable attacks made upon me1 and 8the readings0 in the columns of 8,the ,marylebone ,mercury0 and 8,the ,bayswater ,chronicle40 ,i am an ardent advocate for the liberty of the press2 but ,i think all will agree with me that as the press have undoubted power1 they should be careful how that power is used in giving currency to personal attacks and exparte statements2 when this is done1 they should at least give the attacked party an opportunity of replying to the accusations2--this has not been done in my case4 ,my letters addressed to the ,editors of both journals1 containing denials to unfounded statements and inaccurate reports1 have been suppressed in many cases2 while in others disjointed and useless extracts have been made from them4 ,i would appeal to you1 is this justice8 ,you will1 ,i am sure1 say 8,no60 8,the ,marylebone ,mercury0 has been extremely bitter and unjust in its criticism4 ,i think it a disgrace that any journal having the ,flag of ,freedom hanging over its head1 should insert petty1 and of course anonymous attacks at the instance of any one who advertises largely in their columns2 but in the ,mercury1 7or more appropriately speaking1 8,mckery071 ,editorial ,office ,justice is most decidedly blind4 ,as to 8,the ,bayswater ,chronicle10 ,bacchus and prejudice seem to be the presiding ,gods--it has been of late a repertoire of unwarrantable attacks and false reports1 such as it is plainly perceptible emanate from a malicious pen4 ,it may not be out of the place to state that the ,editor of 8,the ,bayswater ,chronicle0--a ,mr4 ,myers 787--came to our meeting one evening in a state of intoxication1 having1 as his friend informed us1 been tasting wine at the ,docks4 ,after vainly endeavouring to disturb the meeting1 the gentleman 787 conducted himself in a most abominable and disgusting manner--so much so1 that appeals were made to me from all parts of the ,hall to expel him2 but being unwilling to do so1 ,i allowed him to remain2 however1 the audience violently expelled him by sundry kicks and a good bonnetting2 this may be sufficient to account for the bitter spirit in which 8,mr4 ,editor0 discharges that which he has the audacity to term a public duty4 ,comparisons have been drawn between the meetings of our ,institution1 and those of a similar character1 which it is asserted not only pay their own expenses1 but yield a surplus for charity2 but it must be borne in mind that our meetings are very superior to any of the same class1 and that we have to pay for the hire of halls1 for hirage of pianos1 and occasionally for artistes1 while the majority of other ,readings have their rooms and pianos lent to them2 these items1 though not very great1 materially increase the expenditure2 but for all this1 ,i feel justified in stating that had it not have been for the malicious intervention of 8the clique10 8the ,readings0 would have been almost self-supporting4 ,i trust ,i may not be thought egotistical in the few remarks ,i am compelled to make concerning myself1 as you are aware there is much labour attached to the post which ,i hold4 ,i have laboured unceasingly1 and ,i trust successfully1 to establish a ,penny ,reading ,institution after the design of its originators1--,mr4 ,sergeant ,cox and ,professor ,plumptre2--but this labour has had the effect of greatly injuring my health1--of preventing the application of my energies to a lucrative undertaking4 ,i do not complain1 for my task has been a labour of love to me1 but am naturally grieved to find that1 after having devoted so much valuable time and hard-earned cash1 ,i should meet with such unwarrantable and unjustifiable attacks and absurd opposition4 ,i cannot but accept this as a good omen1 for every good movement meets with great opposition4 ,this ,i think proves the truth of that great ,shakesperian quotation3-- 8,let ,hercules do what ere he may1 ,cats will mew1 and every dog will have his day60 ,even that horrid dog opposition4 ,i have much pleasure in stating that the affairs of the ,institution will in future be managed by a ,president1 ,chairman1 ,treasurer1 ,auditors1 ,secretaries1 and a council elected of ,noblemen and ,gentlemen1 selected from the ,list of ,patrons and ,artistes4 ,a subscription list is opened for the purpose of liquidating the debts of the ,institution4 ,those who desire to testify their appreciation of our labours1 will kindly send their subscriptions to our esteemed friend ,edmond ,beales1 ,esq41 #d1 ,stone ,buildings1 ,lincoln's ,inn1 ,w4,c41 who has kindly consented to receive subscriptions1 and to see that they are applied to the liquidation of our debts4 ,i cannot conclude without returning my sincere thanks to ,earl ,spencer2 the ,hon4 ,lord ,arthur ,clinton2 ,thomas ,chambers1 ,esq41 ,m4,p42 ,edmond ,beales1 ,esq42 the ,hon4 ,auberon ,herbert2 the ,rev4 ,j4 ,clifford2 the ,rev4 ,jas4 ,moorhouse2 ,mr4 ,sergeant ,cox2 ,professor ,plumptre2 ,frederick ,berridge1 ,esq42 ,h4 ,w4 ,oatway1 ,esq42 ,dr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,carpenter2 ,dr4 ,atlschul2 ,dr4 ,yewen2 ,mesdames ,rudersdorff ,leupold1 ,harrie ,oatway1 ,h4 ,b4 ,stemson1 and ,h4 ,elmer2 ,mr4 ,d4 ,ellis ,howe2 ,mr4 ,charles ,arnold2 ,mr4 ,john ,rowe2 to my assistants--,messrs4 ,d4 ,b4 ,croft1 ,c4 ,h4 ,liddon1 and ,walter ,mallett2 to the ,editors of 8,the ,times10 8,star10 8,standard10 8,lloyd's10 and the ,press generally1 for the valuable support accorded to us in the promotion and continuance of 8,the ,marylebone ,penny ,readings40 ,with these remarks1 ,i am content to leave the judgment in your hands1 feeling assured that this statement will meet with your impartial consideration4 ,with many thanks for the kindness and courtesy ,i have ever received at your hands1 ,i have the honor to be1 ,,my ,,lords ,,and ,,gentlemen1 ,your faithful ,servant1 ,,henry ,,taylor ,hon4 ,conductor4 8,,the ,,harrow ,,road ,,hall10 ,cromwell ,terrace1 ,harrow ,road1 ,w4 ,,july1 #ahfi4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,field ,,and ,,tuer1 ,,printers1 ,,london4 #ggfi4