rig Us THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE BEING SOME EXTRACTS FROM THE SHORT-HAND CORRESPONDENCE OF ( ENGRAVER. ) WITH HIS MUCH VALUED FRIEND THOMAS MOLINEUX, OF M ACCLESFI ELD. EDITED BT offe. PRIVATELY PRINTED. ROCHE RESS. TWENTY COPIES. Set up , and Imprinted, in Leisure-time , by EDWIN ROFFE: At Ms Birth-place , 48 , Ossulston Street , SOMERS 1 TOWN 1860. ? 3 A.DDRESS- IN our forthcoming little work of " Divers Remains gathered in Memory of Robert Cabbell Rojfe" will be found some account of his friendship with the wor- thy Mr. THOMAS MOLINEUX of Macclesfield , and of their mutual enthusiasm in the study of Byrom's beau- tiful System of Short-hand. Many letters passed be- V) tween them, in which, besides mere matters of busi- v> ness, BYROM'S SHORT-HAND, that central point of o= interest to the writers, was the theme. It did not 5 o enter into the plan of the Remains to extract at any w length from this Correspondence, but we thought it ? well , both out of our Respect for the writers , and with z the trust that future Admirers of the Grand Master will thank us for it, to print a selection of passages ^ from the Correspondence of the Master's Reviver and fc Improver, Mr. Thomas Molineux of Macclesfield, and his friend Robert Cabbell Roffe, of London. Even the uninitiated in Byrom, will, we think, find a pleasure in reading Mr. Molineux's Jubilee Letter, narrating, 452371 ADDRESS. as it does, one of those Celebrations which it falls to the lot of but few men to enjoy. The beautiful little Poem written for the occasion, by the Reverend John Jackson, shows us the spirit in which so rare a cele- bration was made, and we cannot but feel it to be an ornament to our book. Our father did not long survive the date of the last letter in this volume ( Nov. 1837 ), dying early in 1839. Several years after his death, some correspon- dence relating to him took place between Mr. Molineux, and the Editor, the particulars of which will be found in our little work already alluded to. We became pos- sessed of our father's letters to Mr. Molineux, through the kindness of the Rev. John Jackson, Mr. M's. Son- in-law, who, upon our application in December 1858, for the loan of those letters, presented them to us. The Editor, altho' only a Tyro in the System of the Grand Master, fortunately possest just so much know- ledge as was necessary for the deciphering of his Fa- ther's and Mr. Mclineux's letters, and the present vol- ume is the result of our joint labors in the capacities of Editor and Printer. ALFRED ROPFE. 1860. EDWIN ROFFE. GEAND MASTER THOMAS MOLINEUX OP MACCLESPIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. ( The First Letter and written in Long-hand. ) Macclesfield , Cheshire . Feb. 14. 1820. Dear Sir; I duly received, on Friday evening, the 11 th inst. the Impressions you sent me of the head of Mr. Byrom; the Grand Master, as his short-hand pupils were wont to call him, and the Father of Rational Short-hand ; and the almost equally interesting little portrait of a Cat. I have sent them this morning to your friend Mr. Burt at Chester, and doubt not they will be honored with his Imprimatur I am very glad that my books on Short-hand have been honored with your approbation. Mr. Nightingale understands the whole system theore- tically, and writes it with greater fluency than elegance. Z THE GRAND MASTER. Were you to call upon him, at his lodgings, he would soon put you into an easy train of learning it, and I am certain, quite certain, you would find it a valuable and delightful acquisition. The perfect legibility of Mr. Byrom's system is indeed one of its greatest re- commendations. The difficulty and uncertainty with which all other Systems are deciphered, has been the most fatal stumbling-block to the general adoption of Short-hand, particularly as a means of Epistolary Cor- respondence . ( The next Paragraph and the four lines of Poetry, are in Short-hand. ) There is a pleasure in Letters, which books cannot supply, and there is a still greater pleasure, a charm, in conversation, which even letters cannot entirely supply. But short-hand letters, I will maintain, until my dying day, Sir, make the nearest possible approach to conver- sation, as it enables us to write with greater ease and fluency, than is usually effected in long-hand. " Now in the frankness of epistolary correspondence " it has been justly remarked, " consists its principal charm. A book of instruction, for instance, is read like a Sermon, to know what ought to be thought or done ; whilst a THE GRAND MASTER. 3 letter, like a novel or work of real biography, is read to know what has been thought or done. When distant far from those we love, Is there a charm the heart can fetter ? When years roll on, and still we rove, Is there a Cure ? Oh ! yes ; a letter. ( In Long-hand. ) Dear Sir, if you should not be able to read the preceding paragraph, have the goodness to request Mr. Nightingale, of No. 18, Ivy Lane, to be my In- terpreter. He and I always talk to each other in short- hand, and I have ever found him a most pleasant and communicative Correspondent . I remain, Dear Sir, With every sentiment of respect, yours truly, Thomas Molineux. I must not omit to thank you for the present you sent me, of a bust of his late Majesty 4 THE GRAND MASTER. THOMAS MOLINEUX OF MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT GABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. ( The. Second Letter and tlte last in Long-hand. ) Macdesfield. Feb. 19, 1820. Dear Sir ; I wrote to you, the other day, and perhaps be- fore this time , you have received the communication . It was dated the 14th inst. I had then sent the im- pressions you favored me with, to our worthy and in- genious, aye, and I think I may add, ingenuous friend, too, for his inspection, requesting he would have the goodness to suggest any improvements he might think desirable, in either of the engravings. You now see what he has written. * He has made, it seems, some judicious touches with his magical pen- cil, and given a considerable degree of animation ( or vivacity ) to his much admired and truly interesting drawing of a common domestic Cat. I need not point out to you, what these touches are, in detail. They appear to me of the very first importance, and I hope * I request you will return the two impressions, with Mr. Burl's remarks, when you send me the plates; particularly that of the Cat . To me it is as valuable as the first drawing . THE GRAND MASTER. 5 and trust you will be able to transfer them, most cor- rectly and successfully, to the plate. I am very much pleased, as he also appears to be, with your excellent and characteristic engraving of the " Old Stenographer " Mr. Byrom, whom his pupils were wont to call " The Grand Master ! " He cannot, he observes, point out anything that would improve it. I have really the presumption, the arrogance, to think I can ! At the top of the stick, just below the bend or hook, there are two circular strokes, intended, I sup- pose , to represent a hoop, perhaps . Now, unfortunately, the lower one forms, as it were, one and the same line with the upper part of the hand, which therefore ap- pears as if it were seen through the stick, which might be the case, if the stick itself were not an opake sub- stance. I must request you will endeavour to obviate this slight apparent defect, or accidental coincidence of two lines. 1 wish I had mentioned it, when I wrote to Mr. Burt, for the circumstance struck me, the moment I saw the engraving. Pray let me have 50 proof impressions from Byrom 's Head, and about 25 of Mrs. Grimalkin. Any additional charge, on this account, or for the packing- O THE GRAND MASTER. box, be pleased to charge to 'my account, and I will remit it to you with pleasure, through the hands of Mr. Hopes, 5 Lawrence Lane, Cheapside. When you have completed this business, have the goodness to pack the whole, ( that is, the two plates, with the impres- sions ), very carefully and securely, in a small deal box, made for the purpose, and forward it by the Cobourg Coach ( through Macclesfield, observe ) which leaves the Bull and Mouth Inn, every afternoon, between 2 & 3 o'clock, directed, Mr. Molineux, Macclesfield, Cheshire. By the Cobourg Coach, such a day, from the Bull and Mouth Inn. Pay the usual sum for booking. ( Then these words in S'lort-kand. ) Lord ! what a precise gentleman this Mr. Molineux is . (Also in Short-hand.) If you can , put a few words , a few easy words , sup- pose, in Short-hand, in your next letter to, Dear Sir Yours most truly, Thomas Molineux. ( Postscript, in Short-hand. ) It will be esteemed a favor, and perhaps afford me a fair subject for Steno- graphical Criticism. THE GRAND MASTER. 7 THOMAS MOLINEUX OF MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Maccksfield, March 13, 1820. Dear Sir; " Owe no man anything but to love one another " is a good piece of apostolic advice. I wish it was more followed than it apparently is, in these degenerate days. Besides my pecuniary obligations, which I wish to dis- charge without delay, I feel myself greatly indebted to you for your very prompt attention to my requests in general . Your progress in Short-hand is to me wonderful ; but it is only another proof to many which I have lately seen exhibited, of the intrinsic and very superior merit of Mr. Byrom's system : and yet , if you will believe me, the thing was fast verging to obscurity, and in great danger of sinking into complete oblivion , when I re- introduced it to public notice, with considerable amend- ments indeed, and without which it never would have become generally popular. As the improvements I have made from time to time in the style and manner of 8 THE GRAND MASTER. writing it, so as, in all cases, to secure that most im- portant and essential point, the sine qua non of all writing, Legibility, are now generally approved of, it would be invidious in me to point out those blemishes and defects in the original work, which were likely to prove an impediment or stumbling-block to its general reception. There are now, I believe, a greater number of elegant and accomplished writers of this System , than there ever were in the life-time of the Inventor. His terms of teaching the Art were five guineas, from each pupil, and my books, it appears, with a very little as- sistance from a living Instructor, are better adapted for making good and useful writers, than were usually ef- fected with all the advantage of the Inventor's personal instructions Have the goodness to call, about the latter end of this week, at 5 Lawrence Lane, and Mr. Hopes will pay you the Ten Shillings which, I perceive, from your very accurate and quaker-like statement, will set- tle the present small account between us . At the same time, I beg you will accept of my very sincere thanks for the great care and attention with which you have fulfilled, and more than fulfilled, your engagement, and . j. LAWYER THE GRAND MASTER. 9 which, I am sure, will be highly gratifying to your amiable friend, Burt, of Chester. The next time I visit that ancient City, I foresee that he and I shall be very good friends. I must not omit to thank you, which I do most sin- cerely, for the beautiful little miniature of the late Prince Regent.* It is indeed a very great curiosity, and you scarcely could have made me a more acceptable present. I shall now be able to communicate to others the same kind of pleasure which I first experienced myself, when Mr. Burt showed me the impression of the same head, which he had received , only a day or two before , from you. Some things may be obtained for Love, which cannot be bought for Money. I need not inform you, that to a generous mind, there is always a pleasure in pleasing, and in this sense too, perhaps, it is more blessed to give than to receive. * The impression of a Portrait of the Prince Regent, allu- ded to in this letter, was from an engraving by my father's old friend, Mr. William Holl . The whole work was only about the size of a Shilling, and the Head proportionably small . It was engraved as one of the specimens of Perkins, Fairman, and Heath's, Patent Siderographia. A. Roffe. 10 THE GRAND MASTER. Now, my dear friend, have I not written a pretty long exordium to my letter, aye, and all in Short-hand, too ; for I will not allow myself to doubt for a moment, but that you will decipher the whole of it, almost as readily, as if I had written it in old fashioned long- hand ! for the present, then, Mr. Roffe, Good Bye ? Good Morning to you , my Dear Sir : how do you do; and how is Mrs. Roffe this morning? does she take kindly to your new hobby-horse ; this stenograph- ical pony ; and will she be content occasionally to get up behind you ? Two are better far than one, for fight, or for a bit of fun. At all events I hope you will persevere in the good old cause of Short-hand ; no- bly have you begun, and I flatter myself I shall be honored from time to time, and as circumstances will permit, with a few more letters with free remarks on any subject I may write about , whether it be politics, literature, or Short-hand, from my ingenious and com- THE GRAND MASTER. 11 municative friend at No. 59 Ossulston Street, Somers* Town. * believe me to remain, my Dear Sir, with best wishes for your health and happiness, not only here, but hereafter, that is to say, in another and a better, because a Hea- venly Country, Your much obliged and very sincere friend, Thomas Molineux. ( Appended to this letter it a quantity of Criticism upon the best way of writing certain words in Short- hand, which the writer closes thus: ) And thus endeth the first Chapter of Stenographical Criticism, and probably the last. If this lesson be duly attended to by my very promising pupil, he will carcely need any further instruction from his Stenographic Friend, and faithful Preceptor, or Stenographic Preceptor, and faithful Friend, T. Molineux. * This number was afterwards changed to 48. 12 THE GRAND MASTER. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OP LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. Dear Sir ; The pleasure of pleasing is understood by no one better than yourself. You could not, I assure you, have made me a more acceptable present than your inestimable Stenographic Letter : it has been a treat to me of the first order : I must say you have created in me an appetite for Short-hand, and amply have you gratified it. Your commendations of my Stenographic efforts are not a little flattering ; I will do my best, under your able instruction, to persevere in the good old cause of Short-hand. Your Criticisms on my last letter have proved of great service to me, as they have brought my errors as it were into a focus, and will enable me to avoid them another time. Your kind enquiries as to how Mrs. Roffe likes my Stenographic hobby, I can answer by assuring you she is in love with it, and were she a man, she says she would learn it herself, if she could have Mr. Molineux THE GRAND MASTER. 13 for a Correspondent. We may be said to ride the Stenographic Pony together, when I read your letters to her The length, Sir, of your letters will never be with me an occasion of complaint ; as often as you oblige me with them, I shall be proud to read, and will do my best to answer, whatever the subject may be. Written at Somers' Town, March the 26th, in the second month of my Pupilage and acquaintance with Mr. Molineux. Wishing you many years of health and happiness, I remain with the greatest respect, Your obliged Stenographic Pupil, and humble servant, Robert Roffe. 14 THE GRAND MASTER. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. April 14th, 1820. Dear Sir; I have been contemplating a Stenographic Play -thing for my children, which I can as well give you an idea of by description, as if I sent you a Model. I pro- pose making the component parts of the Short-hand Alphabet in Metal , ( Brass , I think would be best ), geometrically correct according to scale given in your Twenty-first Plate; that is, the loop, the straight line, and the different segments of the circle, with the Vow- el points, &c. &c. They should be made of such a ize that when put together the letter (h) o, p ( W ) should be Three Inches in height ; a few pieces of each kind would do, and I think it would be pretty amuse- ment for the children to spell words upon the Short- hand Principle by placing them together, and arran- ging such vowel-points as are necessary. If made of Metal, they would not easily slip about in the fingers, THE GRAND MASTER. 15 and if cast or cut out in Brass, and placed upon a dark- coloured Table, 1 think they would have a very pretty appearance I remain sir, with the greatest respect, your obliged humble servant, Robert Roffe. THOMAS MOLINEUX OP MACCLESFIELD, To ROBEBT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Maccksfield. July 6th, 1820. My Dear Sir ; Agreably to your request, I now send for your in- spection, Mr. Byrom's original Treatise of Short-hand, a posthumous work, in which you will presently dis- cover numerous Stenographic Maculae. The book is, nevertheless , the Sun of Rational Short-hand ; and the greater the deviation which has been made by different writers from the Principles laid down by the Grand Master, just so much the more have they receded from the perfection of the Art. Mr. Palmer, a dissenting minister of this Town, about forty years ago or more, 16 THE GRAND MASTER. published a half-guinea book, which he called, by a Misnomer, Byrom's Short-hand improved. Had he called it, Byrom's Short-hand mutilated, it. would have been a much more appropriate term. It is just a year since a printer at Leeds, a Mr. Gawtress, published a curious Stenographic work, entitled " A Practical In- troduction to the Science of Short-hand, upon the origi- nal principles of the late ingenious Dr. Byrom." He, like so many of his predecessors, has deviated so much from the original System, that his performance, in my opinion, stands but little chance of becoming generally popular. The Admirers of Byrom's Short-hand, will not easily give up the good old established method of Byrom, the immortal Byrom, for any fanciful, though ingenious experiments of an obscure Editor. At some future period, I will send you both these Productions. At present I am writing to Mr. Gawtress, and cannot therefore spare his v/ork, for, it may be, some time to come. It is a cheap Book, and very respectably got U P Believe me to remain, Dear Sir, Yours very sincerely, T. Molineux . THE GRAND MASTER. 17 ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OP LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. August 1, 1820. Dear Sir ; The MS. Papers, as they were all open, I took the liberty of perusing , as I presumed you intended I should. Lewis's Historical Account of Short-hand is a book that seems to contain a great deal of research on the sub- ject of Short- hand. You wrote to Mr. Lewis, as the author of the work, but I have been credibly inform- ed that Mr. Hewson Clark, who wrote a work called the Saunterer, is likewise the writer of the Historical Account, and of Mr. Lewis's other publications. For my own part I can hardly believe that a man who could write such a book would expose himself as such a Prince of Puffing and Scurrility. His ill-nature seems particularly directed against his neighbour Mr. Carstairs, who has pointed out a method by which a person may learn to write, without Pens, Ink, or Paper. This, Mr. Lewis attempted to turn into ridicule by two dog- grel pieces of Poetry he had for a long time in his Window ; the one was called the Black Humbug , and 18 THE GRAND MASTER. insinuated that the Devil taught him the Art ; the Title of the other I forget, but I remember the verses were equally chaste. He calls Mr. Carstairs, Mr. Cats-ears, and assures the Public with great modesty, that his is the only good Writing Academy there is, and that Mr. Carstairs and others know nothing at all about the mat- ter. True merit, as you justly observe, vaunteth not itself. To prove the Black Humbug, as he calls it, a gross deception, he has put a Specimen in his window, which, to my mind, proves quite the contrary. I fancy he has overshot the mark, for his abuse is too disgust- ing to deceive John Bull, and he has now removed the Black Humbug from his window. This " Short-hand writer in the Courts of Law," had a curious puff some months ago in his Shop. It was a small book, such as you might with ease put into your watch-fob, and was called the Life of Lord Wellington in Short-hand. The price asked was only 1 O Guineas . The book and the humbug are now both gone. Judging from the respective exhibitions of these gen- tlemen, Mr. Carstairs has most undoubtedly the ad- vantage in point of talent as a Penman . You- will please to accept 2 engravings of hands , which a friend of THE GRAND MASTER. 19 mine has done for Mr. Carstairs . As I am not acquaint- ed with the principle, they must speak for themselves. Mr. Carstairs being a Stenographer, may give some interest to his handy publications. Mr. Lewis's Sys- tem I have never seen, but should much like. It must, according to his own account be wonderful indeed. By- rom is always spoken of with praise by the parties (who) may disagree among themselves. The Sun of Short- hand may be, for a time (dimmed) but not extinguished, tho' all the Ready Writers, and Ne Plus Ultras, should lay their hea^s together to do it . In the meantime let it be the business of every Admirer of the Grand Mas- ter to incite others to the study of him , as it is admit- ted on all sides that his is the most Rational System extant. I must here except a neighbour of mine, a Mr. Moore, who has practised Macauley's for upwards of 30 years. I have taken great pains to make a Byromite of him without success I tried Macauley's System myself, but never could read it. I have now, thank God, forgot the little I did know. It is not surprising that a person should feel an attachment to what he has been practising for 30 years . I got this gentleman to write me out the 20 THE GRAND MASTER. "Careless Lover," which I send you with his remarks: ( You will find two other copies of the same in Short- hand). Likewise his observations on Lewis's Historical Account. Mr. Moore is himself about to publish an Edition of Macauley improved. I cannot but admire a trick of authorship in the Historical Account. The writer, unable to find any real fault with Byrom, has selected a couplet which contains a long row of H ' s . Mr. Nightingale's little Pamphlet has entertained me very much. There is a vein of good-humour runs thro' it that pleases me. I will make bold to detain it some time longer, as I expect to have Mavor's Shorthand lent me soon. The sight of Messrs Palmer and Gawtress's Works will be very acceptable to me when convenient to your- self. The latter gentleman's book is noticed, I see, in the Monthly Magazine for June last, under the head Stenography. With many thanks for the loan of the books you sent me, I beg leave to subscribe myself, Your much obliged, and very humble servant, R. Roffe. THE GRAND MASTER. 21 ROBERT CABBELL ROPFE OP LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. November 21 , 1820. Dear Sir; I am very happy to have your good opinion as to the care I take of your books, and will endeavour to preserve it; I have found the benefit of so doing, for I never experience any difficulty in borrowing of my Friends. When convenient to yourself I shall be glad to have a eight of the Short-hands of Cleeve, Lewis, Greathead, and Gawtress . When you my Dear Sir, issue a Royal Decree on the subject of Short-hand, it ought to have with all Nations and Languages, the force of Law. Your pro- posed improvements would certainly prevent the possi- bility of a mistake, and if you mean to introduce the cross in your next edition , I shall adopt it ; though it must in justice be said of your short-hand writing, that the points are so truly placed, they cannot be mista- ken. To the, very often occurs, and I have sometimes thought of making a thick T ( | ) to express it, and sometimes I have been tempted to carry the T (j) 22 THE GRAND MASTER. upwards , and to use the g for the terminations graph and grave ; but I am determined not to introduce any- thing , the least iota , that is not approved of by ( my ) most worthy Instructor and Friend, Mr. Molineux ; for if one, and then another, begin to introduce alte- rations of characters of their own, the System will be- come unintelligible for mutual Correspondence. Wishing you many years of health and happiness , I remain your obliged Stenographic Pupil, R. Roffe. R. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINEUX. February 12th, 1821. From your love of Stenography, I presume your Li- brary contains some portraits of the most eminent Pro- fessors in this delightful Art. It has lately fallen to my lot to engrave the Portrait of Mr. Gurney, (the Short-hand writer to both Houses of Parliament,) an -impression of which I send you Your obliged Stenographic Pupil, R. Roffe. THE GRAND MASTER. 23 T. MOLINEUX, TO R. C. ROFFE. Maccksfield, March 24, 1821. My Dear Sir; I shall be very happy to spend an afternoon and evening with you and Mr. Nightingale at some comfortable chop-house or family Tavern , in London . I have no doubt we should have a very pleasant, and at the same time, Rational entertainment : for it is wonderful , when the parties are all agreed to please to the utmost of their abi- lity, and to be pleased with the best endeavours of their friends, how much pleasure may be enjoyed, over a cup of good ale, without transgressing the bounds of temperance and moderation , by contributing , each to the best of his powers, to the " Feast of Reason, and the Flow of Soul." I fear, however, that such a meeting cannot be anticipated before next Christmas ; but then , if all be well , 1 certainly intend to spend about a week or ten days in the Metropolis, where I can assure you, whatever may have happened in the Country, it never was my misfortune to get a glass too much. I remain, Dear Sir, yours very truly, Thomas Molineux. 24 THE GRAND MASTER. THOMAS MOLINEUX OP MACCLESFIELD, To ROBEKT CABBELI, ROFFE IN LONDON. Macdesfield , 5'|4, 21. That is to say, the fifth month , and the 4th day and the year ending with the figures, 21. It is a little Cockerish , but very convenient. My Dear Sir ; When you visit Macclesfield, I can show you a Museum of Stenographical Curiosities , and among the rest , a beau- tiful piece of writing by the Grand Master himself ! but this is too precious a relic to be trusted out of my own hands. It was given me by a niece of his, a Miss Jane Haughton of Baguley, near Altringham, who selected it from a variety of specimens in her posses- sion ; and when she put it into my hands , she obser- ved the Doctor must have had a presentiment into whose hands it would ultimately fall, as he appeared to have taken more than ordinary pains in its execu- tion. you see I am now writing off-hand, as they say, quite extempore ; and those , perhaps , after all , are THE GRAND MASTER. 25 the best letters, especially if they are written in Short- hand. One may talk in Short-hand, but you must write, not talk, when you use Long-hand. Yours very sincerely, and affectionately, Th. Molineux . B. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINEUX. June 29th, 1821. Mr. Lewis is at his puffing again as hard as any Trumpeter ; he has got the King's Arms finely carved and gilt over his window, and has published what I take to be a new work on the Art of writing Short-hand, with the fa- cility of speech ; he has advertised another purely for the good of the public ; his own interests being out of the question , of course ; telling them how to distinguish between merit and demerit: if the book contains pro- per rules , I suspect he will be the loser. Likewise fount- ain pens, and equal nebs, with a variety of other things, as Sylvester Daggerwood says, " too numerous to mention." R, Roffe. 26 THE GRAND MASTER. THOMAS MOLINEUX OP MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Macclesfield. July 23, 1821. Very Dear Sir ; You will perhaps be surprised that I have not sooner acknowledged the receipt of your last much es- teemed and truly interesting Packet, which you favored me with when you sent me the first impression of my Portrait, which I have the pleasure of informing you, has been very much admired. I wrote to Mr. Night- ingale directly after I had received it, and expressed to him my perfect satisfaction with your performance, both in regard to the likeness, and the style in which it was engraved. If you did not hear from him im- mediately, he has probably sent you a letter which I have since written to him, in vindication of my new method ot distinguishing the vowels A, I, o and U, when they are written singly to denote the article, A; the pronoun I ; the interjection ; and the frequently occurring Pronoun You . With regard to this innovation, I believe I am perfectly right, and that all opposition to the measure will very soon, if not instantly, die away My daughter THE GRAND MASTER. 27 Mrs. Jackson, saw your engraving of my portrait, at Mr. Burt's at Chester, and she says it is the most pleasing likeness she ever saw. She thinks it even superior to to the original painting, being softer and in better keep- ing, the whole harmonizing together, so that one part does not appear to predominate over another T. Molineux. T. MOLINEUX, TO R. C. ROFFE. Maccd. 8.4. 21. I am surprised to find Mr. Nightingale still objecting to my new character for the Pronoun " You," namely, \ . I have no he- sitation myself about it, and consider it as one of the most useful innovations I have made in the System for some time past. That part of the Introduction ( or grammar of Short -hand ) in which it is described, is already printed ; and if I cannot make a convert of Mr. Nightingale, I trust my friend Roffe has not so vio- lent an antipathy to all deviations from the strict let- ter of Mr. Byrom's System T. Molineux. 28 THE GRAND MASTER. ROBERT CABBELL ROPFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. September 28, 1821. In my last letter I sent you some bills of a Mr. Short- er, a teacher and an Inventor of a system of Short- hand. As a lover of Stenography, I took the liberty of calling on him, tho' I was an utter stranger to him. I found him a sociable kind of a man . He shew me his own System, which looks very neat when writ- ten. He observed he had taught it to but few persons, and that he wished to have the opinion of some com- petent judges on the System. Upon this, I mentioned your name and works, and took upon myself to say that if he would write me out a copy of his Short-hand, I would send it to you, and that I had no doubt you would give your opinion on it, and I would let him know what it was . He did not positively say he would, but I rather think he will send me a copy, and if he does, I shall forward it to you. I hope I have not in this affair, taken an improper liberty with your name. If I have, I ask your pardon. I gave Mr. Shorter a specimen of the Grand Master's System , with which he THE GRAND MASTER. 29 seemed much pleased. Indeed, I recommended him to learn it, and teach it, and put the old crooked ~ r ~ l s ~~ l one of Macauley's out of his bills. He said he should buy the work as soon as the new edition was published. The study of Short-hand appears to be becoming popular ; I have in two or three instances lately, seen it advertised as forming part of the gene- ral round of education at certain large Boarding School Establishments, but the Systems taught were not na- med. There is a person in the Strand, of the name of Smith, who teaches what he calls the celebrated System of Kitchingman , or Kitchener ; I forget which . Do you know anything of the System ? Mr. Shorter has just called on me and given me two Copies of his Short-hand, which he has published since I last saw him. He has made use of Lithography for the purpose . I send you one of the Copies , and I think you will agree with me, that it is most indifferently got up, which indeed I told him, and pointed out how I thought he might improve it. He wrote it first on transfer-paper, which is almost as bad as writing on butter, and the consequence is, that the writing has be- 30 THE GRAND MASTER. come thick , and spread ; some of the looped characters you will perceive, appear as though they were intend- ed to have large black dots, instead of loops. The truth is, that writing to be clear and clean, should be written on the stone. I have lately seen some very excellent, from the Lithographic Establishment of Mr. C( ) near Waterloo Bridge . Mr. Shorter appears to wish to have your opinion on his System. He speaks confidently of learning Byrom's Short-hand , and teaching it. I shew him some of your letters, with which he was much pleased I was much pleased last Sunday at meeting with a Gentleman who had learned Byrom's Short-hand from your work 20 years ago. He shew me the print- ed Alphabet, which I perceive differs from the one now published, in the column of words affixed to the characters . This Gentleman's writing rather perplex- ed me to read, on account of the crude joinings he had made, which he seemed conscious of when I point- ed out your mode of writing the same words . [ Salt ] /\ I remember he had written ~^s and so of many others. As to beauty and elegance in writing Byrom's System, I think you have left nothing THE GRAND MASTER. 31 more to be done You have held out a very agreeable threat of paying me in kind, for my last long letter, by sending me a literary Budget; I can assure you Sir, whensoever it is your pleasure to do so, it will be received as a particular fa- vor, and contribute much to the entertainment of my family, as well as your greatly obliged friend, and well wisher, R. Roffe. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. October 30th, 1821. Dear Sir; You have no doubt in the course of your life, often observed the particular pleasure which most men feel when notice is taken of their Trades or Professions, and the importance almost everyone attaches to his own occupation. I know a gentleman at Bristol, (a Shoe- maker by trade) who has written a very profound work, called " The Art and Mystery of a Cordwainer," in which there is a deal of research on the subject of Shoes. About four Summers ago as I and my Son were re- 32 THE GRAND MASTER. freshing at a house a little way out of Town , I was ac- costed by a Ratcatcher, who said he had the misfor- tune to go to a school where they did not learn to read and write, and as that was the case, he would take it as a favor if I would write something for him, which I did : It was a receipt to catch Rats , which he was going to sell a person in the neighborhood. It would have amused you to have heard with what importance this man talked of his Profession ; were it not for such men as him, he assured me that the London and West India Docks would be overrun with Rats ; that the merchandize would be destroyed , and the Docks a losing concern . The fellow half admitted that if the intervals were long in which he was sent for, he took care to supply the place with Rats he caught elsewhere . These remarks have been called forth by the pleasure I felt in reading Mr. Holland's lines ( written on receiving your Portrait ) which 1 thank you for sending me ; I can as- sure you I am not a little proud of having engraved a face, " in whose lines, "The very Soul of generous Friendship shines." and that the owner of this face is my Friend, as well THE GRAND MASTER.. 33 as Mr. Holland's : it seems I have the advantage of personal acquaintance, for Mr. Holland has never seen you, and I have for something more than half an hour, and I do hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again. But thank God, tho' an humble professor of the Art of Engraving, I have been the means of bringing him acquainted with " the promised Picture of a face which he had never seen ." The Cordwainer or Ratcatcher, cannot think higher of their particular Professions, than I do of mine. Mr. Holland has, I think, very happily poetised the powers of the Graphic Art, and he has my thanks for it. In my last I believe I said I should send you a specimen of the progress of one of my Short-hand pu- pils ; this I now do: it is the second I have recei- ved from him, and written about six weeks after his first beginning to learn. I shall be happy to have your opinion on it as a piece of Short-hand writing. R. Roffe. 34 THE GRAND MASTER. R. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINEUX. March 29, 1822. Dear Sir ; Some few weeks ago it was my business to wait on Mr. Fox , ( the gentleman who I mentioned to you , as having written and preached an admirable funeral Sermon on the late Queen) with some of my engravings. Amongst them was your por- trait : he immediately asked if that was Mr. Molineux, the Editor of Byrom's Short-hand. Your name he said, was familiar to him: he admired your works, and was himself a writer of Byrom's Short-hand from your pub- lications . This is another name ( if not already in ) to add to your and Mr. Nightingale's list of writers of the Grand Master's System R. Roffe. R. C. ROFFE, TO t 1 . MOLINEUX. March 6, 1823. Dear Sir- I have lately seen advertisements for two or three works on Stenography. Pray have you heard anything of the Invention of a Stenographic Machine ? I am told it is to be on the prin- ciple of a keyed Instrument, and the person using it, THE GRAND MASTER 35 instead of writing, will play upon it with his fingers. This Instrument of course, is only for following Speak- ers. The characters used will be the common printing ones, and the spelling according to Stenographic Rules. Wishing you many years of health and happiness , I remain yours very truly, R, Roffe. T. MOLINEUX, TO R. C. ROFFE. Maccd. Jan. 17- 1824. My Dear Friend ; I am very happy in the op- portunity of presenting you with a copy of the new edi- tion of my Stenographic Copy -Book, with the additional Plates. The letter-press part is mostly new, and all the plates have been carefully revised, and some emen- dations introduced. I hope you will approve of them, especially when I inform you that they were previous- ly sanctioned by Mr. Nightingale, who is not disposed to make unnecessary Innovations in the good old Sys- tem of the Grand Master I remain, Dear Sir, yours very sincerely, T. Molineux. 36 THE GRAND MASTER. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLIXKCX AT MACCLESFIELD. February- 4, 1824. My Dear Sir, and much esteemed Instructor ; Your kind present of the Stenographic Copy- Book came safe to hand; I am delighted with the very ex- cellent manner in which the whole is got up. The im- provements are really such, and I think the Admirers of Rational Short-hand must feel greatly indebted to you, for making the road to its attainment so clear and easy. In the Advertisement to the work, I perceive you have introduced my name as your Short-hand Pupil, for which I return you my most sincere thanks. You could not have paid me a higher compliment, than in coupling my name with your own ; to be plain, I am very proud of it I remain, Dear Sir, Your highly favored and obliged Pupil, Robert Roffe. THE GRAND MASTER. 37 THOMAS MOLINETJX OP MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Macclesfeld. Jan. 27, 1825. My Dear Sir ; You will receive herewith a .leaf of one of the num- bers of the Manchester Iris, containing some remarks on Mr. Kitchingman's Short-hand, which I wrote soon af- ter my conversation with that gentleman, which took place at Chester, in the parlour and painting-room of our common friend , Mr. Burt . He had not then pub- lished his System, further than the Alphabet, and two or three auxiliary plates, all of which he gave me, be- sides explaining, in the best manner he was able, such parts of the system as were not easy to understand from the plates alone. The system certainly appears feasible, and I believe he has made a good deal of mo- ney in different places, by teaching it. But his pupils, as far as I have had an opportunity of making enqui- ry, do not continue to practise it. He was, some time since, at Sheffield, and taught a considerable number of persons there. The last time I was at Sheffield, I could not find that any of his pupils continued to prac- 38 THE GRAND MASTER. tise what they had learnt . It is too complex , and when written in the most correct manner, it is still difficult to decipher. Legibility is the sine qua non of all wri- ting, and whatever is read with difficulty, and after all, with uncertainty as to the true reading, will soon be laid aside altogether Yours very sincerely, Thomas Molineux. THOMAS MOLINEUX OP MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFK IN LONDON. Macclesfield, April 25, 1825. [ Mr. Molineux, having occasion to make some remarks upon what he justly considered as the injudicious attempts of some persons to make Short-hand Short, at the expense of legibility, is led to relate the following story by way of il- lustration of his views . ] It reminds me of an anecdote which I have heard related of Byrom, respecting a man who had invented a very short and comprehensive System of Short-hand, much shorter, indeed than the Doctor's own method of writing. Ex- ulting in his discovery, the man called upon the Grand THE GRAND MASTER. 39 Master, and exhibited some particulars of his scheme to him . Byrom immediately, and with minute preci- sion, described to him the process of making a capital B, consisting first of a vertical stroke, written from the top of the line , downwards , not inclining either to the left or the right. Then joining a semicircle to the upper part of that character, and a similar one to the lower part, the Doctor observed " Now, Sir, this cha- racter, which I have just formed, stands for the whole and every part of the Bible , beginning at Genesis , and ending at the Revelations " ! ! ! With kind regards to all round your fireside, Believe me to remain your attached friend , and obedient Servant, T. M. R. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINEUX. May 16, 1825. My Dear Sir; I have lately exchanged a letter with Mr. Addison on the subject of your improvements, but I find he is, like myself, so well satisfied with your admirable work as it now stands, 40 THE GRAND MASTER. that he thinks improvement almost impossible Mr. AJdison, in the conclusion of his letter says, " Now that poor Mr. Nightingale is no more, you are the only soul I know in Town with whom I can converse Stenngraphically, and I shall therefore consider it charitably kind of you, as your inclination prompts, to favor me with a few lines in your wonted free and scientific manner. &c. &c." R. Roffe. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. August 1, 1825. My Dear Sir ; As I was coming through Town last Saturday evening, I saw a very neat yellow printed Bill , pasted on a millboard, hanging out at a Bookseller's Shop, with the words Byrom and Short-hand upon it; this I read," and found it was the advertisement of a new work , an abridgment of Byrom for the use of Schools, price Two Shillings, and published by Blake, 13, Bell Yard, Temple Bar. I called on Mr. Blake , and asked him to let me look at THE GRAND MASTER. 41 the work , which had only been out a few days . I thought at first it was a Reprint of Mr. Nightingale's but Mr. Blake assured me it was not : the book is thinner than Mr. N's, and has 2 or 3 engraved plates in it, which Mr. Blake told me he found the greatest difficulty in get- ting carefully engraved : but there are no characters in the body of the work . I told him candidly that I thought it would hardly answer the purpose intended, without the introduction of characters, tho' he thought other- wise. It is curious I had been that very evening show- ing my own abridgment ( of your work ) to a friend, which I do not despair of getting printed, and for that purpose take the liberty of sending it to you, if you will have the kindness to look it over, and make any alteration or amendment you may think proper, as it is possible I may have omitted something; and when next I hear from you, which 1 hope will not be long, you will , if you please return it ; it will of course, want a Preface, in which I should wish to make pro- per acknowledgments to you for your labours in the cause of Rational Stenography, and the liberty of using your work ; possibly, my Dear Sir, you would pen me something that would be fitting and proper for the 42 THE GRAND MASTER. occasion. Begging you to accept a few Prints for Mrs. Jackson's folio, I remain your greatly obliged Pupil, R. Roffe. THOMAS MOLINEUX OF MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Maccksfield, April 2, 1826. Perhaps you will exclaim, on receiving this packet " Well! long looked for is come at last." Be assured, my dear and much esteemed friend, that, notwithstand- ing my too-long silence, I am not ungrateful for the many favors your kindness, from time to time has con- ferred upon me, not forgetting your valuable presents to my daughter, for the enrichment of her portfolio. You will perceive by the copy of verses now sent, which were written for the occasion by my Son-in-law, that I have been a resident here, in this good town of Macclesfield, up- wards of 5 years ; and also that I gave a dinner upon the occasion to a few select friends, on the last day of the Fiftieth Year I had resided in Macclesfield Manchester being my native place. The Latin title of the Poem means, the Song of one who is celebrating THE GRAND MASTER. 43 a Jubilee a shouting for Joy. Jubilees are generally kept at the commencement of the 50th year, but mine, you will observe, was at its close, or termination. I did not shout till I had got out of the wood. The friend so particularly alluded to, is Ralph Deane, Esq. who has twice served the office of Mayor, in this Town. I have been intimately acquainted with him, particular- ly during the last Forty years of my residence here. His friendship has been to me an invaluable treasure. CARMEN JUBILANTIS. ADDRESSED TO R. D. and S. H., P. If. and E. H., P. H. and S. H. J. J. and A. M. J. , and J. P. By T. M . JANUARY 27, 1826. And now, my dear Guests, much esteemed and beloved, As the dinner is done, and the cloth is removed, Your attention a moment I crave and beseech, While I follow the fashion, and make you a speech. I have now seen an end of the hopes and the fears, And the joys and the griefs of twice twenty-five years. Which have passed since the day, yet remembered full well, When a Stranger I came amongst strangers to dwell. 44 THE GRAND MASTER. With my share both of frailties and faults to regret, I can look back with comfort and thankfulness yet; For my GOD has been with me, and loved me, and led, Till the winter of age scatters snow on my head. For all the good gifts it has pleased Him to send, I would praise Him and chiefly for one faithful Friend, Who can counsel with kindness, with candour reprove, Without flattery can praise, without jealousy, love. While some have forgot me, some far away fled, And some that~once loved me are silent and dead, He my heart's best affections still lives to engage, And the Friend of my youth is the Friend of my age. Then Welcome, dear Guests, once for all, let me say, And I'm heartily glad here to see you to-day; For you come in my Jubilee joy to impart A fresh glow of delight to my gratified heart. A heart that rejoices in GOD for the past, And will love Him, and trust Him, and hope to the last; To GOD our Preserver be thanks and praise given, May our Jubilee joy be repeated in Heaven! I am of opinion that an interesting and useful Lecture on the principles of Mr. Byrom's System of Short- hand, might easily be prepared. You recollect, I dare say, that the late Mr. Nightingale once gave a lecture on Short-hand, aided THE GRAND MASTER. 45 by some Stenographic sketches which I sent him for the occasion Have you seen a large book, 20 inches by 15, of Short-hand specimens , most elegantly written by a Pu- pil of mine, a Mr. Parkinson. They are 25 in num- ber, with various embellishments , being original designs, chiefly etchings with Pen and Ink. This book I durst not trust in the hands of Mr. Nightingale, but I sent him a copy of one of the specimens to show to the com- pany, when he gave his lecture. The book is really worth about twenty guineas, and affords a most con- vincing proof of the elegance , and beauty, and perfect . legibility of Mr. Byrom's System of Short-hand. Be- sides it is perfectly unique, being the only attempt that ever was made to exhibit Short-hand, not only as an useful, but as a beautiful and ornamental System or method of writing the English language. Should you wish to see this work, I will send it you with great pleasure, being well assured that in your hands it will be perfectly safe from injury of any kind. It ought, indeed, to be placed in the British Museum, for the gratification of the public, and every lover of Rational and beautiful Short-hand would be delighted with it. ... 46 THE GRAND MASTER. I made the Writer a present of ten guineas when he placed it in my hands as it was too ex- pensive a gift for him to make, or for me to receive, without some pecuniary recompence for his labor and ingenuity. With kind regards to all your family, believe me to remain , as ever, your much obliged and Truly Affectionate Friend Thomas Molineux. T. MOLINEUX, TO R. C. ROFFE. Maccd. Oct. 9. 1826. My Dear Sir; Our very kind and intelligent young friend, Mr. Joseph Corbishley, is going to London this week I with great pleasure avail myself of the opportunity of sending for your inspection, the splendid series of Short-hand Specimens The drawing of an Apple is particularly good it is beau- tiful, and has been generally admired by all who have seen it. It was, of course, painted from nature, the original being one that was bought for that purpose in Covent Garden Market. When the artist had finished his drawing, he ate the original ; and behold the shadow THE GRAND MASTER. 47 or pictorial representation is of more value than the sub- stance ; for it remaineth unto this day You will have an opportunity of showing the book to any of ( your ) acquaintance who may feel gratified with a sight of it but always under your own par- ticular inspection, in order that it may not receive any injury while it is in your possession. When Mr. Cor- bishley leaves London, will you have the goodness to return the book by him, and, at the same time, if you have time to write, I shall be very happy to receive a letter or note, with your opinion of Mr. Parkinson's in- genious performances in ornamental Stenography Tito. Mo line ux. ROBERT CABBELL ROPPE OP LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. October 20, 1826. My Dear Sir; I hardly know how sufficiently to thank you for the pains you have taken in sending to London for my in- spection, that Stenographic Treasure, Mr. Parkinson's beautiful specimens of ornamental Short-hand, which I have looked over with the greatest attention, and 1 must 48 THE GRAND MASTER. say they do as much honor to Mr. Parkinson for the mo- tive which actuated him to produce so laborious a work, and place it in the manner he did in your hands , as the work itself does him honor for the very able and mas- terly style in which it is executed. As you have ex- pressed a wish that I should give a critical opinion on this most valuable book, I shall do so, as in duty bound, and for that purpose I shall consider the re- spective pages of the MS. as so many Pictures, and here the first thing that strikes me is the want of Ef- fect. At a little distance, one is scarce conscious that the leaves are written on, and this I humbly conceive arises from the immense size of the paper, and the continuity of margin, contrasted with the paleness of the ink, and the general thinness and smallness of the writing; had the head-pieces been drawn in a bolder style, the ink perfectly black, and the Short-hand cha- recters somewhat larger, and as thick again, I think the effect of the whole would have been much impro- ved, and this is the uniform opinion of those to whom I have had the pleasure of showing this most beautiful production of Stenography and Gratitude. For this reason it is, that I think the Designs and pictorial ef- THE GRAND MASTER. 49 feet of the Borders, by far the finest part of the Vol- ume; because they are done in a bolder manner, and relieve from the Paper very agreeably, not producing the least uneasiness to the eye, which is more than can be said of the other part of the work ; tho' in every other respect it is all that we could desire or wish for. These remarks are perhaps trifling, for I am well a- ware, that with many this extreme neatness is a beauty. I have at different times had illuminated MS. to en- grave from , ( some from the Library of Earl Spencer) and they have invariably been written in a firm bold style. The first letter of each Chapter being very large, and highly ornamented . The last I had was rather more than a twelve-month ago: it was 400 years old, but was as fresh and perfect as if it ha I been written but a week. In concluding this part of 'my letter I must not for- get to notice the very elegant design of Hope ; and the finely coloured representation of an Apple ; a true En- glish one by the very look. The French ones, of which we have many sold in London, are rosy in the ex- treme, and very ill -flavored ; having been two or three times deceived by their enticing appearance, I am now very careful of rosy cheeks 50 THE GRAND MASTER. I am now going to employ my Short-hand in making a report , a pleasing report , one which I have no doubt will be read with as much pleasure by you, my dear Sir, as it is related by me . On Monday last , Mr. Cor- bishley asked me to give him a call in the evening to look at his writing-desk , &c . ; as my friend and pupil Mr. V. 'is rather curious in these matters, I requested permission to bring him with me to see the desk : I did so, and after we had looked at it, Mr. Corbishley would insist upon our both going with him to his Inn, and taking a friendly Glass, and Supper. Here we sat 3 hours ( hardly conscious we had been one , so pleasantly did time pass ) and were joined by a Mr. Hall , son , I understood, to a Mr. Hall named in your Carmen Ju- bilantis, a most agreeable companion. After the cloth was removed, Mr. Corbishley proposed a toast, which he said he was sure would be drank with pleasure by our little party. It was so: the toast was, " Our worthy and kind friend, Mr. Molineux ." Nothing but our being in a public coffee-room, prevented Three times Three being added to it. Our meeting was just such a one as yourself had once planned to have in the event of your coming to London, and in which poor THE GRAND MASTER. 51 Mr. Nightingale was to have been one of the party; it cannot be better described than in your own words. " It is wonderful, when the parties are all agreed to please to the utmost of their ability, and to be pleased with the best endeavours of their friends , how much pleasure may be enjoyed, over a cup of good ale, without trans- gressing the bounds of temperance and moderation, but contributing, each to the best of his power, to the feast of Reason and the flow of Soul." Your grateful and obliged Pupil, R. Roffe. [ In the Postscript. ] Blessed be God for Short- hand ; it has a wonderful quality of bringing people together, without a formal Introduction, and making them good friends in a very short time. THOMAS MOLINETJX OP MACCLESPIELD, To KOBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Maccksfield, March 14, 1827- My very Dear, and much esteemed Friend. I have now and it is better late than never the pleasure to inform you that your very elegant and 52 THE GRAND MASTER. truly beautiful specimen of ornamental Stenography was duly received, and has since been carefully and neatly inserted in what you are pleased to call " the Temple of Fame." I assure you it appears to great advantage, for although the short-hand characters are, in some re- spects, inferior to Mr. Parkinson's, the tout-ensemble is more striking. In short, 1 consider it a most valu- able addition to this delightful exhibition of beautiful Stenography Your Son's [ Felix Roffe ] attempt to illustrate the astronomical signs, certainly does him great credit, and he will, like myself, I have no doubt, find the practice of this excellent System of Short-hand, a source of al- most daily pleasure. It has been so to me for a period of 5 years and upwards ; having in the year 1 7 74, copied the whole of the Original Treatise, in a thin quarto volume, including the title-page, the dedication, Preface , &c. , together with copies of all the engraved specimens, and that before I was able to decipher what I was copying. Byrom's system was first recommended to me by my Preceptor, the late Dr. Henry Clark, who was afterwards one of the Professers of the Royal Mili- tary College at Marlow. Although an excellent Pen- THE GRAND MASTER. 53 man, he did not particularly excel as a writer of Short- hand, but used it chiefly when he was surveying and measuring land, for the purpose of inserting short oc- casional notes and memorandums, in, what is called, the field-book Believe me to remain , with thanks , for your numerous favors, whether acknowledged, or unacknowledged, Yours very sincerely, T. Molineucc. II. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINEUX. April 19th, 1827. My Dear Sir; Little did I thi,nk six years ago, when I was hunt- ing over London for a copy of Byrom's Short-hand, that I should one day have my name so honorably mention- ed in the most beautiful work on Short-hand, ever pub- lished ; a work, that while it adds new Glory to the name of Byrom, will add immortality to your own. In this work then am I named as your Pupil ; another honor it appears you have conferred upon me, by giv- ing my attempt at ornamental Short-hand, a place with the unique and masterly production of Mr. Parkinson, 54 THE GRAND MASTER. for which I return you my most grateful thanks. I can now say my cup of Stenographic honor is full, and I am content I remain your obliged and Affectionate Pupil , R. Roffe. T. MOUNEUX, TO R. C. ROFFE. Maccd. Oct. 9. 1826. My Dear Sir ; It is pain and grief to me, that I cannot duly answer all the kind and valuable letters which I re- ceive from time to time , . from my much esteemed friends; particularly Mr. Addison, of London, and the very ingenious and highly talented gentleman, whom I have now the honor of addressing Mr. Parkinson and Mr. Addison, were in the habit of meeting rather frequently at the same Coffee-house, and conversed on different subjects, but principally a- bout Short-hand; Mr. P remaining for a long time unknown to Mr. Addison, who was both pleased and surprised to meet with a gentleman who could talk so much about Byrom's Short-hand. This was high fun to Mr. P , who at length told Mr. Addison that THE GRAND MASTER 55 his name was James Parkinson : the writer of one of the most beautiful books of ornamental Stenography, that was ever seen in London , or anywhere else ; for so, I believe, the specimens had been described to Mr. Addison, although, I think, he had never seen the book I remain , as ever, my dear friend , very truly yours, S. X. THOMAS MOLINEUX OF MACCLESPIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Macdesfield. Feb. 15, 1828. My Dear Sir; Since the receipt of your last kind favor of the 30 th of No- vember, I have, again and again, reproached myself, and, alas! not unjustly! for not writing to you, and thanking you, as I ought to have done, in good set terms, for your interesting packet, containing some beautiful Engravings for the enrichment of my daugh- ter's port-folio at Over. Those prints were delivered to her, with my own hands, on Saturday, the 23rd of December, at Over, when and where I had the pleasure 56 THE GRAND MASTER. of meeting our very kind and ingenious friend , Mr. Burt, from Chester. We spent two or three days together, at the Vicarage , right pleasantly ; and he seemed per- fectly happy and at home with every member of Mr. Jackson's family. All the children are particularly fond of him. You cannot conceive what a good creature he is easy, polite, and every way agreeable. He has been there , an inmate in Mr. Jackson's family, I should suppose , in all , about six weeks ; having painted , du- ring that time, Mr. Jackson , with two of the eldest girls, in one group, Mrs . Jackson , with two of the young- est girls in another group ; also, single pictures of the two boys , Charles and Tom , the latter being called af- ter his maternal Grandfather, Thomas Molineux. These are all water-colour drawings. He has also painted an excellent portrait of Mr. Jackson in oil, which is deem- ed by all who have seen it, an admirable likeness. In addition to this, he has enacted a King's Arms for the inside of Mr. Jackson's Church. I wished him to make a small drawing from my last portrait, by Wyatt, now at Over, which he promised to do, to be afterwards retouched, by comparing it with the Great Original THE GRAND MASTER. 57 I send herewith for your inspection v " a new and im- proved Edition of an easy Introduction to Byrom's Short- hand," by an eminent Professor !!! Have you seen it? Perhaps you can give me some account of this " emi- nent Professor," and why his Eminence does not favor the public with his proper address. When you favor me with another of your interesting communications , which you are more ready to give, than I am worthy to receive, you will have the goodness to return this little book to me. I lately met with it, by mere accident, for Is. 6d. on a book-stall at Congleton, in this County, distant 8 miles from Macclesfield Hoping ere long, to hear from you, I remain, as ever, your very grateful and affectionate friend, S. X. R. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINEUX. Sunday, 'March 30th, 1828. [ The following passage refers to a Letter written by Mr. Thomas Uwins, of which a copy having been sent by my fa- ther to Mr. Molineux, it was printed in the Stockport Adver- tiser for March 7th, 1828; with, however, several abbrevia- tions and inaccuracies. The whole letter appears in the 2nd vol. of the Memoirs of Thomas Uwins, R.A. 1858. ] My Dear Sir, My friends very beautiful 58 THE GRAND MASTER. letter, from Naples , I was much pleased to see in print . I have heard from him again, but it is little more than upon business; he intends returning in June next; I long to see him ; with the exception of a few months, he has been absent from England Seven years. As for my worthy friend Burt, it is more than double that time since I saw him. What pleasure it would give me to sit down with them and my esteemed Short-hand Instructor, over a bottle of porter, and a crust of bread and Cheshire cheese, enjoying a little social chat. Believe me yours most truly, and respectfully, R. Roffe. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLIXEUX AT MACCLESFIELF. January 2, 1829. My tery dear and honored Sir ; As I believe you to be a Collector of everything curious in Short-hand, I have now the pleasure of sending you an original MS. Sermon written, and often preached by the Rev. T. Belsham, an eminent Unitarian divine; he has for THE GRAND MASTER. 59 some time past been unable to attend to his pastoral duties Many of h's Sermons that have been transcribed and printed, have lately been com- mitted to the flames : the one I now send with a great portion of it written out in Long-hand, was intended to share the same fate, but was rescued from des- truction by a friend and Short- hand pupil of mine, and I have now the satisfaction of presenting it to my honored Master, Mr. Molineux, whom God preserve. My friend above alluded to, informs me that some months ago a Lecture was delivered at the Mechanics Institution, on Stenography. The Lecturer had the hardihood to find fault with Byrom's System for its want of Arbitrary Characters , and to mend the matter, went through the whole of his Lecture with the dia- gram of Byrom's Alphabet turned topsy-turvy. With the greatest respect, I remain, Dear Sir, Yours most sincerely, R. Roffe. CO THE GRAND MAxTZR. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OP LONDON, To THOMAS MOLIXEUX AT MACCLESFJELD. February 20th, 1830. When distant far from those we love, Is there a charm the heart can fetter? When years roll on, and still we rove, Is there a Cure ? Oh ! Yes , a Letter. My very dear and honored Sir ; The above excellent lines formed part of the first Short-hand writing I received from you : of their Truth there can be no doubt, but if a letter can do so much, still greater must be the actual converse with those we love and esteem. This I have found to be the case very lately. After a lapse of Eighteen years, our mutual friend, Burt, is my neighbour: we live within a few minutes walk of each other. He has a very snug lodging close to the Regent's Park, and almost under the wall of the far-famed Colosseum. Here he pursues his professional labours : here I some- times take tea with him, and talk of our honored friend Mr. Molineux of Macclesfield , whose presence in London would be a treat of the highest order, but THE GRAND MASTER. 61 this is a consummation , I suppose , hardly to be hoped for I shall be most happy to hear from you, and that soon. It will I am sure be a great pleasure to Burt, as well as to myself, to have a dish of tea and Short-hand toge- ther : give my respects to Mr. Corbishley, and believe me, Dear Sir, Your obliged, affectionate Pupil, R. Roffe. THOMAS MOLINETJX OF MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. My very Dear Sir; Macclesfald, March 8, 1830. I shall be much obliged if you will offer my best thanks to Mr, Burt for his truly valuable and acceptable present of the likeness of my esteemed friend, the ingenious Artist of Ossulston Street , Somers' Town . The parlour in which I am now writing, the boarded parlour to the right of the lobby, is now decorated with Five Portraits, all painted by the same artist: vis. a grand- daughter of 62 THE GRAND MASTER. mine, Mr. Jackson's eldest child ; Mr. Deane and my- self, as companions; Mr. Roberts, the Doctor; and last, though not the least, for in fact it is the largest of the Five, the portrait of my friend R FFE. With kind regards to all friends, particularly to Mr. Burt, believe me to remain, as ever, My Dear Sir, Yours very truly, Thomas Molineux. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. October 16, 1831. My Dear Sir ; Your kind hope that I will again write, is of too pleasing a nature to be disregarded, and I with joy sit down to address another letter to my honored Friend and Instructor; and first let me return you my most sincere thanks for the Fac-simile you have sent me of the Grand Master's Writing. In one of your early letters you observe, that the nearest possible approach to conversation, was Short-hand writing. I know that the nearest approach to possessing an Original Picture, THE GRAND MASTER. 63 is having a good Copy of one , and by the same reason- ing, the nearest approach to having a MS. of Byrom's, is the having a Copy, and very glad am I to possess one from your hand. I consider it as a Treasure, and shall show it to my friends as such, being only one remove from the Grand Master I have during the Summer months been searching London over for the original work, but without success. At Harding's in Paternoster Row, I saw a pirated Scotch Edition of the work. As you once mentioned Palmer as one of the pretended improvers of Byrom, I purchased the book, that I might have evidence of what he had done in that way. I am satisfied he has mur- dered the System. Gawtress, another of the Improvers you once mentioned ; his book I tried to get , but no one except Harding appeared to know anything about it. Thus for the present my Stenographic Peregrina- tions end, but I shall resume them again in their proper Season ; tho' I believe the getting of Byrom's Original Work to be hopeless I remain your most grateful and obliged Pupil hoping still to hear again from, you R. Roffe. 64 THE GRAND MASTER. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, TO THOMAS MOLIXEUX AT M.VCCLESFIELD. January 1 st, 1833. Dear Sir ; In my wanderings through Town lately, in the neighbourhood of Lincoln's Inn, I discovered in a shopwindow, a bill of a teacher of By- rom's Short-hand. It was signed W. C. , Westmore- land Buildings, Aldersgate Street. I have since ascer- tained that the gentleman's name is William Colling. His style of writing Byrom is very far from good, as as you will perceive by a fac-simile of the bill, which my worthy friend and scholar, Mr. Holmes, was kind enough to make for me. I hope soon to see others start in the cause, upon the avowed principles of Mr. Molineux, for they only are Orthodox. Your last letter brought into action the strong desire I have always had, to possess Byrom 's Original work, and which it appears you would kindly have gratified, but for the very improper conduct of some one in de- taining your duplicate Copy. I thank you most heart- ily, my Dear Sir, for your intention, and if I knew who the person was that had your book, I certainly THE GRAND MASTER. 5 should write to him. It is now the only work, in ad- dition to your own Short-hand, I wish to possess. I have been for Twelve years trying to get it, but with- out success. I must bear the privation like a Philoso- pher, though the desire will remain Wishing you many years of health and happiness, I remain your obliged friend and pupil, R. Roffe. ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OP LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD . Christmas Day, 1833. My Dear Sir ; I consider it not a little curious, that for six months prior to my having the honor of your acquaintance in January 1820, I had been in search of the Original Edition of Byrom, without ever meeting with one at any price, till within these few weeks, when I have had the choice of Two Copies : the first was at Mr. Lewis's ( who has again hoisted his Standard in Lon- don ), for which he wanted 12*. : the other was at a little bookstall in the New Road, near Somers' Town; bb THE GRAND MASTER. the price 8*. This last I bought. It is in excellent condition, and has the name of John Taylor, Oldham, on the fly-leaf. From the appearance of the ink I should say it had been long written. The same is likewise stencilled on the leaf, and I perceive in the printed list of names prefixed to the work, is that of J. Taylor ; so that at last I have got what I have been so long looking for, and what I should have had be- fore, had not somebody forgot to return a Copy you lent them ; but I am equally obliged to you , my Dear Sir. Since then I have purchased Mayor's Short-hand; now my Stenographic Library is complete. In talking with Mr. Lewis, I gave him to under- stand I was the engraver of your portraits, for which reason he was pleased to say he asked me 12*. for the Byrom, instead of a guinea. He said he knew you perfectly well, and highly esteemed you. His pre- sent residence is near Waterloo Bridge ; the shopwin- dow is filled with Rule of Three and other Sums, written large enough for the blind to read, in his im- proved Arithmetic, with sundry other things to make the multitude stare ; but for the honor of Short-hand, none of the low abuse he used to have years ago. He THE GRAND MASTER. 67 has too, a man walking about with a standard, or board, on which is drawn an ugly head, composed of his Short- hand characters ; no very great recommendation to his System, God knows, if it is not more beautiful than the head. With a little contrivance I think the Venus of Apelles might be drawn in Byrom's Wishing you, my Dear Sir, health and all the enjoyments of the Season, I remain your obliged and honored Pupil, R. Roffe. ROBERT CABBELL ROPFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. June 21, 1834. Dear Sir; In my last of January the 29 th , I believe I mentioned that I was about to write a Catechism of Short-hand. This I did, at the same time collecting together such information concerning the Grand Master and his System as was afforded me by different books, and your valuable letters . Just at the time I had com- pleted it, Mr. Limbird, the publisher of the Mirror, and myself fell into talk on the subject of Short-hand, 68 THE GRAND MASTER. he said as everybody was bringing out Short-hands, he had himself a mind to try one ; I begged of him , for God's sake, rather to print a Good Old one, than to publish a Bad New one. I shew him what I had been about, which he offered to purchase, and I sold it upon condition that unqualified mention should be made of your name and works, which, by the Copy I have now the pleasure of sending for your acceptance, you will see has been done I arranged the Questions without any Characters in the body of the work, intending the few I noticed to be referred to on a Plate at the end ; Mr. Limbird pre- ferred having them in their proper place. They were cast at Clowes' Foundry, some twice over, yet they are not quite the thing ; but never mind : if the ad- mirers of Rational Stenography will but go to your book, they will find all perfect. I have an attempt at the ornamental . The Short-hand Plates ( which are on Steel ) were engraved by a friend of mine , Mr. Dow- ney, now in the 71 st year of his age. Tegg of Cheap- side has published a Short-hand Standard, at the price of Eight Shillings : this I should like to see . Berger of Holy well Street, Strand, has brought out one, at the THE GRAND MASTER. 69 curious price of Five Pence : others I am told are brew- ing, but as it is said in the Fable, " There's nothing like Leather" so, I say, and I am sure you will agree with me, "there's nothing like BY ROM I" Your honored and affectionate Pupil, R. Roffe. THOMAS MOLINEUX OF MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Maccksfield. Feb. 27, 1835. Dear Sir; By the way, the new Speaker elected on Thursday last, was once a pupil of mine, at Macclesfield, where he was entered, as a boarder, in July 1784. He was known at the school as Abercromby minimus. His elder bro- thers, George and John, entered in January 1780: the first being called Abercromby major, and the se- cond, Abercromby minor. Their father, Colonel Aber- cromby, afterwards General Abercromby, brought them to Macclesfield from Scotland. I believe he was, at that time, a member of Parliament for Clackmannan- shire : of him it may be truly said, "his life was Illustrious, and his death, Glorious. I recollect 70 THE GRAND MASTER. there were once Five Brothers at the school, all at the same time, the sons of Colonel Tucker, who lived at Chester. They were thus designated, according to their ages : Tucker maximus ; Tucker major ; Tucker minor ; Tucker minimus and Tucker quintus ! T. Molineux. R. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINECX. Monday, June 9th, 1835. In the Times Paper of Thursday May 21 st, is a very good Speech of Burdett's at the Mechanic's Institution, on the giving away of the Prizes. Amongst the Candidates was a person of the name of Gregory, for proficiency in Short- hand . It does not say what System ; but I suppose not Byrom's ; for Jones told me , when he Lectured there, that Gurney's was the Short-hand there taught, and the Directors male it a Condition with him, (Mr. Jones) that he should not, in the course of his Lec- ture, say anything to the disparagement of Gurney's System R. Roffe. THE GRAND MASTER. 71 ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINKUX AT MACCLESFIELD. February 22nd, 1836. My Dear Sir ; If the Romans had their days of good and ill fortune , I have my dates of pain and pleasure ; of the latter 1 will speak at present. The year 1725 gave birth to my kind and good Father the 24th of January, in the year of our Lord 1820, first brought me ac- quainted with my honored Correspondent, whom I am now addressing and the best System of Short-hand extant : the 25 th of January in the present year, brought me a most splendid present, from my esteem- ed friends at Macclesfield On the 1 st of January, Mr. Parkinson gave me a call. He showed me some designs of his own, of a very superior kind ; they were head-pieces to -little poems, written very beautifully in Short-hand, in the manner of your celebrated Book. He read me one or two of the poems, which, he said, were his own com- position. He tells me that Mr. Addison has been dead these two years ; I never was with Mr. Addison but 72 THE GRAND MASTER. % once ; he was a most agreeable man : As ever, I remain yours most truly, and sincerely, R. Roffe. THOMAS MOLINEUX OP MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CABBELL ROFFE IN LONDON. Macdesfidd, April 21, 1836. My Dear Friend ; It is, I believe, 2 or 3 years since I had heard anything, di- rectly or indirectly, of Mr. Parkinson, before you men- tioned his having called upon you, in your last letter. He is a very eccentric mortal ; so much so , indeed, that some of his friends have, not inappropriately, named him The Comet ; only that the periods of his re- appearance, being very irregular, cannot be calculated. When he first came to Macclesfield, it was in the capacity of a journeyman book-binder, and under a fictitious name: J. Percical. He then acquired, most easily, a perfect knowledge of Short-hand : told his real name , Parkinson , and went to London. I believe it was merely a freak, which induced him to assume another name, meaning to tra- THE GRAND MASTER. 73 vel, as it were, incog, to London. He had served his time, in Liverpool, to a very respectable book-seller and stationer there, of the name of Ormandy. Mr. Parkinson excelled as a miniature profile painter, and might have soon made a fortune, had he confined him- self to that humble department : aiming , however, at greater things, and aspiring to become a portrait paint- er, he certainly failed, and has ever since been in ra- ther low, and sometimes, in embarrassed circumstances. T. Molineux . R. C. ROFFE, TO T. MOLINEUX. Sunday May 21 , 1837- My Dear Sir ; Some time ago , [ I was ] walking in St. James's Park, and looking at the bra- zen Statue of that great warrior [ the Duke of York ] At night I was taken with a fit of dreaming, and thought I had tumbled the brazen fi- gure from its daring height, and was busily employed converting it into Medals in Honor of the GRAND MASTER, and his ardent Admirer, my esteemed In- structor. By the time I had got a tolerable heap, I awoke, and my Medals were gone! R. Roffe. 74 THE GRAND MASTER. THOMAS MOLINEUX OP MACCLESFIELD, To ROBERT CAEBELL ROFFE is LONDON. November 3rd, 1837- Dear Sir; I have obtained a frank from my conservative friend, Thomas Grimsditch, Esq, for the purpose of addressing a few more last words, to my kind friend, of Somers' Town a Star of the First Magnitude in the Constellation of Short-hand The truth is I wished to inform you that I had, when I was in London, presented my two Short-hand publications to Mr. Adlard the en- graver, for the use of a son of his, referring him, at the same time, to you, for any assistance he might find necessary, in acquiring a knowledge of this high- ly useful art, being very sure you would readily and cheerfully contribute your endeavours, for accomplishing the same. When I called upon you, the second time it was my intention to have mentioned this circumstance to you ; but , as it frequently happens , I had never thought of it, till I was threading my way, with the kind assistance of your Son, from your domicile in Ossulston Street , to Miss Wrangham's ; very near the THE GRAND MASTER. 75 Railway, which, at some future period, not very far distant, is to convey you to Macclesfield , and thence to pay a visit to your friend the Rev. John Jackson, the worthy Vicar of Over. I remain, my Dear Sir, Yours very Sincerely, Thomas Molineux. 53, Chestergate Street, Maccksfield '. ROBERT CABBELL ROFPE OF LONDON, To THOMAS MOLINEUX AT MACCLESFIELD. Sunday, November 26th, 1837- Dear Sir; It is not a little curious, that on the Monday following the day I last saw you, I called on Mr. Adlard about business ; " I had an old friend of yours with me on Friday last," said Mr. Adlard. I was at a loss who it could be, till he told me it was my Honored Instructor. I hardly need say, that I, in the fullest extent, carried out what you had said of my willingness to give him, or YD THE GRAND MASTER. his son, any instruction they might require in learning the Short-hand of the GRAND MASTER. Such is my great respect, for Mr. Adlard, I should have done so, had the circumstance come about in any other way, but as it was first mentioned by yourself, it made my willingness, if possible, double My little fellow, your guide, desires me to thank you for the " Peter Parley:" he reads it with great de- light. When his father receives from you Lewis' " Historical Account of Short-hand," will you, if you have one to spare, oblige me with a copy of Nightin- gale's " Comparative View of the Two Systems, &c." ? This is rank begging, I am aware, but it is no use begging, except where the thing wanted, by possibi- lity may be had, for it is not now to be bought; at least, so a friend tells me Remember me to all Friends, whether at Over, or Macclesfield, and believe me, Yours Most Truly, R. Roffe. That is to say, to all who may be moved to read these imprinted sheets, called THE GRAND MASTER! IN the Composing and Printing of this little book, I have derived more Pleasure and Delight, than could well be expressed with Type, however eloquently ar- ranged. Sufficient it is for me to know, that I have at divers times seized Leisure enough, to place my poor little Wooden Press upon my graving table, and imprint these sheets; and that, with the enhanced gratification of doing so at the very same window, where my Father sat for so many years pursuing his professional labours, and where I, when a little boy, have sat by his side on Winter nights, reading aloud Robinson Crusoe, encouraged by his love of the book, the quiet gleam of his Lamp, and the gentle music of his graver-dotting. TO MY READERS. But this is not all ; for, from this very window, nearly " sixty years since," my Father could look out at Old Saint Pancras Church where he and my Mother were married, and now rest and behind which, even the Grand Master himself had walked, as we learn from this passage in Byrom's Diary : " Saturday March 26 [1726] H. Hatsell, Clowes , and I walked into the fields ; we went behind St. Pancras church towards Kentish Town. H. Hatsell read to us an introduction to short- hand, which he had written out at length, which I desired him to be very careful of. " And now, good reader, let me Enjoy one more plea- sure, for, having thus accomplished the printing of the GRAND MASTER, I wish to add that the " little fellow " mentioned in my Father's last letter, is the same Individual who here subscribes himself as, Yours Very Truly, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles :RSITY of CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES LIBRARY H ; --''"''