The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-02-05
louisville COurier-Jounal January 81
That $1,000 Book in the Possession
of Louisville Lawyer-HOw He
Came by il and What IL Is All
AbOut-The Secret Marriage of
George Nv.

A few days since the following circu-
lar was sent through the mails:
"e1 900 REwATD-A BooK-Any
person having in his possession a GER
tain book, printed in London by I.
Jackson, Newgate street, in 1880, with
the name of NJ Lindsell, Pater No-ier
Row, on the title-page as publisher
against the publication of which the
lord Chancellor issued an injunction =
il contains certain statements regarding
a member of the royal family; will re-
ceive the aboye reward in gold by bring
ing the book 10 Mr.. CT. Galbourne, 35
Duke street, London, or B. r. Brown,
599 Broadway, New York, L. S. Only
the one copy is known TO be in the Unit
ed States"
The book is in Louisville, and is at
this moment in the possession of one of
our most prominent young lawyers.
The book is the memoirs of George ",
containing a minute history of all the
scandalous passages in his life, together
with an exposure of the corruption Of
his political administration. The ident-
ity of the book seems positive, for it
bears the imprints of the publishers
named in the circular, as well as the
date of its issne, 1880. The memoirs
are in two volumes, and hasty glance
at the contents suffices to clearly show
why it is that so large reward is offered
for it.
But how came it in Louisville? Two
or three years ago an English gentleman
named Taylor, book salesman for the
firm of John P. Morton & Co, of this
city, discovered the volumes in a case of
books that the firm had imported from
c. D. Cazenove, i London book dealer
now ont of business. The volumes had
not been ordered, and it was presumed
that they had been placed in the case
accidentally. Mr.. Taylor was, perhaps,
the most enterprising and thoroughly
informed book dealer ever known in
Louisville. He was perfectly familiar
with all branches of English literature,
and, when his eyes lighted upon the
work, he at once appreciated its value.
The date of the importation was about
the beginning of the year 1878. He
showed the books to a number of liter
ary gentlemen of the city, and among
them was the young lawyer who is now
its fortunate possessor. The latter gen.
tleman hesits ted some days about max.
ing the purchase, but his love of the
rare and curious in literature triumphed
and lie bought them. Shortly after
wards Mr.. Taylor died of consumption.
Since then the volumes have filled
place upon the shelves of the library Of
the gentleman in question, and he has
in the meantime become entirely con-
versant with their contents.
1t is quite certain that the reason the
royal family are so solicitous for its de-
struction lies in the fact that the marri-
age of King George with Mrs. Fitzher-
bert is proven by letters and documents
taken from the royal archives. 1t also
testifies that a child was born to Mrs
Fitzherbert while In lawful wedIoek, and
hAAS )AAtASh NAONh consequently IL III
danger of passing without the pale of
royalty. The book contains finely exc
cuted portraits of those women whose
names have become familiar to all stud
ents Of the shady side Of English histo-
ry, in connection with that of the amor
Gus George. 1t will doubtless prove a
treasure trove in more respects than one
% the gentleman who now holds it. 1t
is his intention to turn his golden op-
portunity TO its best account. He is, as
he perhaps ought to be, very chary in
giving information about the books, as
he is not yet fully cognizant of the act
ual value in which they are held.
An interesting incident in connection
with the matter was the first intimation
that the fortunate owner of the book
had of the prize that had fallen to him.
He happened to be in the Courier jour
nal Office one night last week, when one
of the editors had just opened the ervel-
ope, with an imposing coat-of-arms on
the seals containing the above notice,
and which had been addressed to the
editor of the Courier-J Journal. The
newspaper man in question, knowing
that his visitor was much of biblio- |
phile, read to him the circular. In the |
discussion of its curious character, the |
visitor incidentally remarked that he
had in his possession couple of VOL |
umes relating TO scandals in the English |
royal household, but it did not occur to |
him that there was any relation between |
these now so important features of his
library and the book for the recovery of
which so valuable consideration would |
be paid.
Nor did he give the ma tier further |
thought for several days. 1t was not
until yesterday morning at breakfast,
the conversation of several gentlemen |
present at the table turning upon one Of
the "Round d-about" articles which ap-
ueared in the Courier-Journal of few |
days since relating to this book and the |
reward offered for it, that it occurred 10 |
him that there might be something in |
these "Memoirs" of correlative interest. !
Upon reaching his room he took down
the volumes. Not even yet did it strike |
him that there was possibly any relation
between the Memoirs and the book so
eagerly sought. The first page opened,
however, CHANGED TO be the title page. |
Running his eye down the page, there
stared before his startled eyes:
an. Lindsell, Pater Noster Row.
and
"T. Jackson, Newgate street,
London, MDCCCXXX."
1t was the identical description given!
At first, as may we'll be imagined, he
thought his memory had served him
wrong, or that there must be some mis-
take. 1t may also be well conceived
how hurriedly he sought that issue of
the Courier Journal which contained
the notice in question. Obtained, the