St John Browne and the Penny Cyclopaedia

One of the earliest tasks in establishing the new Launceston Mechanics' Institute Library was the provision of a Reference Collection for the use of members in the Reading Room. This collection was based largely on donations and so by 1861 it included an eclectic mix of subjects, as shown in this excerpt from the Printed catalogue of that year.

Many of these items remain in the collection today, and one with especially interesting provenance is the Penny Cyclopaedia.

Its accession was recorded thus in the minutes of the 1843 annual meeting of the society; "on loan, for use in the reading-room, the Penny Cyclopaedia, 21 vols., from St. John E. Browne, Esq."  Every volume was permanently inscribed with the owner's name on the flyleaf.

The Penny Cyclopaedia, which was produced for the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, was published by Charles Knight the publisher of the Penny Magazine. Twenty-seven volumes and three supplements were published from 1828 to 1843. The Society's object was to publish inexpensive texts for an expanding reading public, with a particular emphasis on self-education; a perfect fit with the aims and ideals of a Mechanics' Institute.

Clearly, since we still have the set of books, the original owner did not exercise his right to reclaim his loan. So what is known about the donor, St John E. Browne?

He was a younger brother of Rev William Henry Browne, who was rector of St John's Church, Launceston from 1828 to 1868. St John must have soon followed his brother to VDL as he first comes to notice in Launceston in 1831 as the operator of a private school. The brothers' relationship is succinctly characterised by Gill Morris; - "hapless and impecunious [St John] certainly tried his brother's patience, energy and pocket as much as his position of influence within government circles."(1)

A few entries from Rev Browne's journal will serve to illustrate;

5 June 1837 ... "Lectured Mr Wales & Mr Turner for their conduct in trying to provoke my Brother to a Duel."

29 January 1842 ..."Wrote several letters, visited sick etc. also engaged getting letters for St John from Bankers & to assist him against the persecution of his superior."

2 November 1844 ... "Wrote several letters, also for St John again in trouble with postmaster Genl ..."

In parallel with the "persecution of his superior" St John faced the slings and arrows of public opinion via the columns of the local newspapers, where correspondents repeatedly drew attention to the shortcomings of the post office and his management.

Somehow, doubtless with his brother's assistance, St John survived in his tenure as Post Master at Launceston until his retirement on a government pension.

The Launceston Examiner announced his retirement with characteristic delicacy;

Mr. St. John E. Browne, Postmaster at Launceston, has forwarded an application, accompanied by medical certificates, asking permission to retire on allowance. This request, made in consequence of failing health, has, we understand, been assented to by the Executive. Mr. Browne will, therefore, cease to hold office at the close of the year: it is presumed he will be succeeded by Mr. Wm. Windeatt. Such is the programme for the 1st of January, 1861. We do not care to institute any comparisons, or to say a word calculated to wound the most sensitive; but we cannot resist the conviction that the arrangements thus briefly sketched, will be acceptable to the public and beneficial to the service. (2)

St John returned to England, and, despite his "failing health", survived until 1880.

At some point after his departure a user of the Mechanics' Institute Reading Room must have taken down Volume Nine of the Penny Cyclopaedia from the shelves, and, noticing St John's inscription, decided to add a sketch of the man for posterity; - faintly pencilled below the signature is the observation that "He left behind him a character stained by avarice, harshness and deception."

It is a reminder, in the age of increasing dependence on the digital surrogate, of the value of libraries in preserving what David Pearson has described as "museums of marginalia". Our volume of the Penny Cyclopaedia has preserved a unique interaction, a moment in time when our anonymous reader felt a spontaneous need to put a deeply held personal view 'on the record.'

1. Browne, W. H., His record is on high : the journal of Reverend William Henry Browne, LLD, of St John's Church, Launceston, Van Diemen's Land, 23 May 1830 - 19 February 1845 / edited by Gill Morris. Launceston, Tasmania : Gill Morris, 2013. p 13.

2. LAUNCESTON EXAMINER. Saturday, December 1, 1860. P2.

Oldaker Family donations

Many donations of books to the Launceston Mechanics’ Institute were not isolated gifts. Several members of the Institute gave more than one book, either in one bequest or on many occasions over the years. In this respect the collection of books from the Oldaker family appears to be nothing particularly unusual; however, probably few donations would illustrate the history of a family as well as this small collection of five or six books.

All the books, apart from one Latin dictionary, are on the subject of agriculture and finance. As one would expect from a collection of practical books, they are well used, and owners have not hesitated to write not only their names in the front, but also notes (copious, in some cases) within the pages of the books and in the end papers.

The book with the earliest date written in it is also the one with the latest date, and spans one hundred and ten years of the Oldaker family, beginning with Charles Oldaker, born Stratford upon Avon in 1800 (later pioneer on Tasmania’s NW coast) and ending with his great-grandson, Max Oldaker, internationally renowned singer and stage performer.

Morell, Thomas. Abridgement of Ainsworth’s dictionary, English and Latin designed for the use of schools, London, 1808.

Inside the front cover is written “Charles Oldaker Stratford on Avon Warwickshire”, on the following page “Charles Oldaker Feby 3^rd 1812” and “Max Oldaker Sept. 1^st 1922”. Inside the back cover is “Charles Oldaker Stratford”. In the section at the back of the dictionary is a list “Nominum propriorum”; at the beginning of the “O” section “Oldaker” has been added in what appears to be Charles’ hand.

It is possible that some of the Oldaker books in the LMI collection belonged to Charles’ father, William. “William Oldaker, a Miller of Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire, and Meal Merchant of Stratford, became an important banker in Shakespeare’s birth-place”.[1]

Lowrie, William, The principles of keeping accounts with bankers… with accurate tables… London, Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme, 1809.

Inside the cover is written “Charles Oldaker 1^st June 1823. Stratford upon Avon”. Name and date are repeated on the title page. There are handwritten notes inside the back cover about regulation weights and measures for peas, beans and grains. This handwriting is slightly different from the signature in the front of the book.

Charles Oldaker and his brother, Edmund, became successful lawyers, operating a firm in nearby Pershore and in London.

Lawrence, Richard. An inquiry into the structure & animal oeconomy of the horse… Birmingham, Richard Lawrence publisher.

                “Charles Oldaker. Pershore.”

This last book reflects Charles’ interest in farming. In Max Oldaker’s memoirs, he wrote that his great-grandfather Charles “had long imagined himself a land-owner, a leisured gentleman farmer …”[2] By 1838 it seems that Charles’ dream had come true; he retired from law and was able to purchase Hardres Court, an estate close to Canterbury in Kent.

Jarvis, Thomas. The Farmer’s harvest companion and country gentleman’s assistant… [Agriculturist’s ready reckoner]. Hythe, William Tiffen, 1836.

Chas. Oldaker Hardus Court 28^th July 1838. Includes a handwritten “Table of Duties payable”. There is a handwritten note on p.190 “240 lbs make 1 Pack” – added to a section on wool weights. A stain on p. 32 looks very much like the rich red soil of the Tasmanian NW coast.

Charles Oldaker's handwritten table of duties payable

The “duties payable” and a general depression prompted Charles to migrate to Van Diemen’s Land with his wife, Emma, and young Francis and Emma in 1850. Charles’ two older sons, William Henry and Charles Ford from his first marriage, also accompanied them. Their life in Van Diemen’s Land began at once with great difficulties. Their ship, the ‘Phillip Oakden’ struck Hebe Reef on arrival in the Tamar estuary. Fortunately, for the passengers and for us, a lot of the cargo was saved. In the case of the Oldaker family, our small collection of books must have been amongst the items saved.

The horse; with a treatise on draught... London, Baldwin and Cradock, 1831.      

Contains a newspaper cutting on horse treatment. A slip of paper (wrapping paper?) with “Cornwall Chronicle” printed on it and the name “W Oldaker’ handwritten on it. There are at least two hands on several pieces of notepaper, one apparently Charles senior and one possibly William. One a recipe for Pink Linseed Oil balls, a remedy for scoured horse.

The next book is also not dated, but the handwriting in it includes that of Charles Edmund Wells Oldaker. Charles senior’s son, Francis Frederick Orson Oldaker married his second wife, Maria Ann Higgs in 1878 and their son, Charles Edmund Wells Oldaker was born in 1879. Maria Ann Higgs was the daughter of Joshua Higgs, architect, of ‘Arnwood’ near Torquay (East Devonport). Joshua Higgs was later to give the same name to his house in Trevallyn.

Youatt, W. Cattle, their breeds, management, and diseases. London, Baldwin and Cradock, 1834.

P. 486 et al marginalia, in the section on “diarrhoea and dysentery”. Childish handwriting inside the front cover includes letter writing practice and “C E W O” and “C Oldaker” [This would be Charles Edmund Wells Oldaker, Max Oldaker’s father.]

This collection of books from the Oldaker family made its way from Stratford upon Avon in 1812 to East Devonport at some time after 1879. At some point they became part of the collection of the Launceston Mechanics Institute. For anyone using the LMI collection now, the books can be seen as “snapshots” from the history of one of Northern Tasmania’s most well-known families.

Contributed by Sue McClarron

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[1] Osborne, Charles, Max Oldaker; last of the matinee idols, London, Michael O’Mara Books Ltd, 1988, p. 3.

[2] Ibid, p.4.

“Rudiments of Physiology” by Dr John Fletcher.

Browsing through the collection of the Launceston Mechanics’ Institute turns up many books which were donated to the Institute. One with a particularly personal association is “Rudiments of physiology, part one, on organism” by Dr John Fletcher. 

The inscription inside the cover states:

“Presented to the Mechanics Institute by Mrs Rhind the author’s sister, 6th May 1861, Launceston”.

This simple inscription helped to uncover an interesting family story of misfortune and a successful return to fame and respectability.

The author of the book, John Fletcher, and his sister, Mary Catherine Fletcher were both born in London. Their parents, Thomas and Polly Catchlove nee Randell, were coal merchants and it was the intention that John should follow in their footsteps. His obituary states that such work did not satisfy a mind that hungered for knowledge and intellectual stimulation, and in 1813 John left for Edinburgh where he became a highly respected physician and lecturer. Perhaps his astute mind had also realised that business was a risky venture, because in 1822 and again in 1832 his mother’s business was declared bankrupt. On the first occasion John’s father Thomas, was still in business and in the second instance his brother Thomas had become a partner in business with their mother. All hopes of an inheritance for John, Mary and their siblings were lost.

Bookplate of Sidney J Fletcher, from Rudiments of Physiology

John Fletcher lived a successful life as a physician in Edinburgh, publishing two volumes of “Rudiments of Physiology” and preparing a manuscript of the third volume before his early death of illness in 1836. He had married Agnes Seton in 1821 and when he died intestate, Agnes was left with £127, a promissory note for £30, household goods valued at £382.14.00, and the copyright of the first and second parts of ‘Rudiments of Physiology’ “but upon which no value can be put”.

In 1845 The Cornwall Chronicle published a condensed version of an obituary for Dr Fletcher which had originally appeared in the ‘Edinburgh Evening Courant’ just after his death in 1836 and had also appeared in medical journals at that time. It was published in the Cornwall Chronicle under the heading ‘Biography’. Why it appeared in a Launceston paper so many years after his death is unknown, but a long paragraph at the end of the obituary, about the author’s “amiable” sister, Mrs Rhind, may indicate that she gave a copy of the article for publication. 

The original obituary was written by Robert Lewins who was responsible for the posthumous publication of Dr Fletcher’s third volume of ‘Physiology’ which included a memoir on Dr Fletcher. In the obituary Lewins gives very high praise for Dr Fletcher’s personal and professional qualities. He sums up by saying, “… by Dr Fletcher’s death science has lost a most industrious and successful cultivator, and the medical school of Edinburgh one of its brightest ornaments.”[1] Although John Fletcher wrote other books, it was Lewin’s opinion that on ‘Rudiments of physiology’ “… alone, his claim to professional distinction may be safely founded.”[2]

John’s sister, Mary Catherine, having married William Rhind, Esq. in 1839, moved with her husband to Van Diemen’s Land where they settled in Launceston. William died in 1847 "At his residence, George-street, on Saturday, the 4th December, aged 40 years, … late of Forres, Morayshire. [To a richly stored and highly cultivated mind was united a most untiring disposition, which rendered him averse to everything approximating in the most remote degree to ostentation : to those who possessed his confidence, he was unreserved ; and to such will his loss be long severely felt.]" [3] 

Mary Catherine was left to her own devices, and considered, by the editor of the Cornwall Chronicle, “a candidate for public patronage and support”.  This public declaration of the need for patronage seems to have been nothing unusual in the nineteenth century. Mary had been running a young ladies’ school from at least 1842 and in her first advertisement for the school in the ‘Launceston Courier’ she “solicits the patronage of her friends”. By 1862 she was well-known and respected enough to be a referee for another lady starting up a school. In 1869 she attended a reception at the Town Hall given by the Governor’s wife, the Hon. Georgiana du Cane.

Mary Catherine Rhind died in 1884. Obviously family was very important to her, as in her will she left several family mementoes to family members. The fact that she had already donated her brother’s book to the Launceston Mechanics’ Institute honoured not only her brother’s memory but the Institute as well, as being a worthy repository for such a prestigious book.

[1] Cornwall Chronicle, 15 November 1845, p.334.

[2] Cornwall Chronicle.

[3] Launceston Examiner, 8 December 1847, p.6.

This post was contributed by FOLMI member, Sue McClarron.