MR. ADAMS AND LEECH.
In the pursuit of material for this memoir, I have had the good fortune
to make the acquaintance of one of Leech's earliest and most constant
friends, Mr. Charles F. Adams, of Barkway, Hertfordshire. This gentleman
is the beau-ideal of a country squire--handsome, hale and hearty, though
far past middle age.
The letters I am privileged to publish show the terms on which the
friends lived, and prove beyond a doubt that many of the hunting scenes
which sparkle so brilliantly and so frequently in the pages of "Life and
Character" owe their origin to the opportunities afforded to the artist
by his friend.
This long-continued intimacy commenced when the men were both young;
and the very first development of Leech's taste for horses began with
his acquaintance with Mr. Adams. It is told of that gentleman that,
being the possessor of two horses, and being at that early time employed
in business in London during the day, the night served him and Leech for
a wild career, Adams driving his horses tandem-fashion far into the
country, rousing sleepy toll-keepers and terrifying belated wayfarers,
while Leech's watchful eye noted incidents for future illustration.
That Leech could sing, and sing well, I know, for I have often heard him
troll forth in a deep voice his favourite song of "King Death"; but that
he had ever performed in public I was unaware till enlightened by Mr.
Adams, who told me that it was a favourite and not infrequent prank of
these two spirits to disguise themselves in imitation of
street-musicians, and, with the assistance of a young fellow named
Milburn, as wild as themselves, descend upon the London streets, and by
singing glees make "a lot of money."
"Leech used to go round with the hat," said Adams; "but we never could
make the fellow look common enough. Still, he collected a good deal,
though he failed on one occasion; for, on presenting his hat to a
bystander, who had been an attentive listener, the man claimed exemption
as being in 'the profession,' in proof of which he produced a fiddle
from behind him."
Barkway is in the heart of a hunting country, and the meets of the
"Puckeridge" frequently took place near Mr. Adams' house, or at an easy
distance from it. The house itself--a large mass of red brick, ivy,
gables, and twisted chimneys--is one of those old places which have been
enlarged to suit modern convenience without any sacrifice of the
original design and quaint character.
"Ah," said my host, as he showed me into his dining-room, "what happy
times we have had in this room, when Leech, Millais, Lemon--editor of
_Punch_, you know, long ago--Tenniel, and others, found themselves round
that table!"
The following letters, with their too few characteristic sketches, prove
the affectionate intimacy between Leech and his friend.
"TO CHARLES F. ADAMS, ESQ.
"August 9, 1847.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"You will be glad to hear that I have got a little daughter, and that
both mother and child are doing well. Mrs. Leech was taken ill,
unfortunately, at the end of our trip to Liverpool--where, as perhaps
you are aware, Dickens and some of us had been acting for Leigh Hunt's
benefit--and she was confined at the Victoria Hotel, Euston Square,
where she is now. I thought you would like to hear the news, so send off
these few lines. Give my kindest regards to Mrs. Adams, and believe me,
old boy,
"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH."
In a letter written to Mr. Adams a week later, Leech recommends a young
gentleman to the care of his friend, in the hope that if Mr. Adams has
"the opportunity, he will give the applicant something to do in his
profession." The letter closes by this announcement:
"You will be glad to hear, I am sure, that Mrs. Leech, _and my
daughter_! are both 'going on' famously.
"Ever, my dear Charley,
"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"Given up hunting? Not a bit of it."
"January --, 1847.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"Mark (Lemon) and I were talking only the other day about beating up
your quarters towards the end of this month; and, with your permission,
if the frost goes, we intend to do so. We thought of riding down--I on
the old mare; and he on a 'seven-and-sixpenny.'...
"Is there anything in the shape of a good cob that could hunt if wanted
down in your parts? Possibly I could get rid of the mare in the way of a
chop. I have been riding a nearly thoroughbred mare for the last week on
trial. A very nice thing, but too much in this way.
"I want something more of this kind--a good one to go, and pleasant to
ride.
"Yours ever faithfully,
"J. L."
"April 17, 1848.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
".... Old Mark and I were special constables on Monday last. You would
have laughed to see us on duty, trying the area gates, etc., Mark
continually finding excuses for taking a small glass of ale or brandy
and water. Policeman's duty is no joke. I had to patrol about from ten
at night till one in the morning, and heartily sick of it I was. It was
only my loyalty and extreme love of peace and order that made me stand
it....
"Ever yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH."
My elderly readers will bear in mind April 10, 1848, and the monster
petition of the Chartists, which they were not allowed to present to
Parliament in the threatening form they had arranged, with other
alarming signs of that troubled time--the flight of Louis Philippe,
Continental thrones tottering, and the rest of it.
In his correspondence with Mr. Adams, Leech constantly reminds his
friend of his objection to high-spirited horses. Under date February 18,
1849, he asks Mr. Adams if he can hire "an 'unter from Ware."
"I should prefer," he adds, "something like the old brown horse Mark
had last year. If he comes, of course he must have the same nag he had
when he was at Barkway; _but, mind_, I won't have a beast that pulls, or
bolts, or any nonsense of the kind. I come out for pleasure, and not to
be worried. Tell Mrs. Adams I shall not be half such an objectionable
visitor as I have been heretofore, seeing that I have left off
SMOKING!...
"My very kind regards to Mrs. Adams, your little ones, and my good
friends in your neighbourhood.
"Believe me, old fellow,
"Yours ever faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH."
"February 7, 1850.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"I am longing to see you, and have a ride across country with you. Do
you think I could have the horse Mark Lemon had when he was down at
Barkway? Or if I couldn't have that one, do you know of any other that
would be equally TEMPERATE and WELL-BEHAVED? I have no horse at present.
The last I had came down; and I am rather particular in consequence.
"Give me a line, old fellow, and let me know when the hounds meet near
you....
"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH."
One of Mr. Adams' daughters, Charlotte, surnamed Chatty--then a small
child, now a lady whose age is borne so well as to make it difficult to
believe that she lived so long ago as 1850--whose acquaintance I had the
pleasure of making the other day, told me of her frequent visits to the
Leeches, and of the never-ceasing care and tenderness of Leech.
In a letter from Broadstairs, written in the autumn of 1850 to Mr.
Adams, Leech says:
"You will be glad to hear that Chatty is as well as possible, and is now
going to have a long day's work (!) on the sands."
Again, after a good deal of horsy talk:
"Mrs. Leech and Chatty with her will return for good to Notting Hill on
Saturday, when we shall be glad to have her with us as long as you can
spare her. Apropos of dear Chatty, I am sure her mamma will be glad to
hear that she has been uninterruptedly cheerful and well, and has
certainly proved herself one of the best-tempered, best-hearted little
creatures possible. She desires me to send you all her best love and
kisses....
"Ever faithfully,
"J. L."
"31, Notting Hill Terrace,
"February 18, 1852.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"It will give me the greatest pleasure to come and see you. Mark (Lemon)
says he will accompany me at the end of this month. Will that suit Mrs.
Adams? I want much to SEE some hunting, as I want some materials for the
work I am illustrating--indeed, I was going to propose a run down to you
myself. Will you let us know when the hounds meet near you? Is the horse
I had before still alive, I wonder? or could you, if I came, get me a
horse 'in every way suitable for a timid, elderly gentleman'?
* * * * *
"I was very glad to hear from you, old boy. In great haste, but with our
united best regards to Mrs. Adams and yourself.
"Believe me,
"Ever yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"C. F. ADAMS, ESQ."
"_Punch_ Office, 85, Fleet Street,
"Saturday, February 28, 1852.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"'The change in the administration' so upset our arrangements that I
could not settle what day to come down to you. I propose now to come
down to-morrow (Sunday) evening, so if you can get me a rocking-horse,
or a clothes-horse, or any horse excessively quiet and accommodating, I
will go out with you on Monday. Mark, having an appointment early on
Monday with 'her Majesty,' or somebody, will come on Tuesday, to hunt on
Wednesday, and back again on Thursday morning. All this, of course, if
it suits your convenience. At any rate, I will come to-morrow, and then
if there is any difficulty, we can send up to town. With kindest regards
to Mrs. Adams,
"Believe me always,
"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH."
"31, Notting Hill Terrace,
"Wednesday, March 17, 1852.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"I had almost made up my mind to come down on Friday evening to hunt on
Saturday; but it would suit me infinitely better to come at the end of
the week following, as I am just now in the agonies of my periodical
work; so let me know when the meets are, and in the meantime I will peg
away and get my business done so as to have a comfortable day with you.
If I came on Friday, I should have to work day and night before I went,
and come back directly to work day and night again, which is not a
pleasant state of things; I hope, therefore, that we shall be able to
see the hounds next week. I don't think Lemon would be able to come, as
he is busy moving; but I will ask him. I will make you the sketch of the
house, or of anything else you like, when I come.
"Believe me,
"Ever yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"C. F. ADAMS, ESQ.
"Look in this week's _Punch_ for a sketch on the Royston Hills."
"31, Notting Hill Terrace,
"Wednesday, July 7, 1852.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"I congratulate both of you most heartily and cordially. Mrs. Adams I
hope is well, and will keep so, I trust. I will take upon myself to say
that I don't know any man more thoroughly capable of understanding and
enjoying domestic happiness than yourself; and, moreover, I don't know
any man who more thoroughly deserves to have it. You wish it had been a
boy, do you? Well, never mind; the son and heir will make his appearance
in good time, I dare say. For my part, my unhappy experience makes me
love little girls.
* * * * *
"Pray give my kindest regards to Mrs. Adams, and my love to Chatty, who
is to kiss the baby for me, and
"Believe me, my dear Charley,
"Always yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"C. F. ADAMS, ESQ."
"Barlow, Derbyshire,
"July 31, 1852.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"You will see from the above address that I am still rusticating. I
expect to be in rooms soon after the 12th of August, and then, after I
have done my month's work, I am your man. You say where ... Don't make
yourself uncomfortable about the quantity of sport; I shall be quite
satisfied with what you offer me....
"Yours always faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH."
Here follows an admirable sketch of Mr. Adams waking up Leech with,
"Now, Jack, my boy! There's no time to lose; we've ten miles to go to
cover."
[Illustration: "Now, Jack, my boy! There's no time to lose. We've ten
miles to go to cover!"]
"Tuesday, December 14, 1852.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY BOY,
"Hip! hip! hurrah! The almanack is finished, and now for a day with the
Puckeridge.
"I shall come down if you will take me in on Friday evening, to hunt on
Saturday and Monday, I hope. Mark talked of coming. I wish he would. He
says he should not ride, but that's all nonsense. Do you think Pattison
has got a horse that would carry him? Oh, I have had a rare benefit of
work! I have been positively at it ever since I saw you. I want
freshening up, I assure you.... Lots of fresh work, old fellow, so I
think I may manage a _real_ horse soon.
* * * * *
"With kindest regards.
"Ever faithfully yours,
"JOHN LEECH."
"Notting Hill Terrace,
"January 26, 1853.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"If you could ride my horse to-morrow (Thursday), pray do; it would save
your own, and do her good. And the meet is close to you--Langley Green.
I should have written before, but I have been harassed with work beyond
measure. And as it is, the first number of 'Handley Cross' cannot come
out until March. Mind you have the mare well worked, there's a good
fellow, as I don't want, like our friend Briggs, to find her
disagreeably fresh.
* * * * *
"Believe me always yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"C. F. ADAMS, ESQ."
"Saturday, February 26, 1853.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"I suppose the frost has departed in the country, and that you have now
what is called 'open weather.' It is very disagreeable here--wet, cold,
and boisterous.
"However, if you can spare time (after riding your own, of course), I
wish you would give the mare a benefit. I expect she will otherwise be a
great deal too much for me.
* * * * *
"I am, my dear Charley,
"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"C. F. ADAMS, ESQ."
"32, Brunswick Square,
"Saturday, January 21, 1854.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"Thank you for your note. I _can't_ come down to-morrow, but I hope
after next week to make up for lost time. I have got through some work
that has been fidgeting me. I shall have a little more leisure. The meet
on Monday is Dassett's, I see, so pray give it the mare; I have been so
queer myself that I shall want her particularly 'tranquil.' I have
sacrificed the moustaches for fear of frightening the horses in the
field. They were getting too tremendous.
"_If_, _if_ I can get away next week at all, depend upon it I will, for
I want fresh air and a little horse exercise.
"With kindest regards, old fellow,
"Believe me always yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"C. F. ADAMS, ESQ."
"Saturday, December 22, 1855.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"How is the country? I suppose no hunting as yet, for I have not
received any card. The weather here to-day is mild and wet. I am working
away in the hope of getting a day or two by-and-by comfortably. In the
meantime, if there is anything going on, give my horse a turn across
country, that's a good fellow.
"With kindest regards, believe me,
"Yours faithfully,
"J. L.
"If you can't spare time to hunt the mare, would it not be a good thing
to send her to Patmore, and make him ride her? But do you attend to her
if you can manage it."
"8, St. Nicholas Cliff, Scarbro',
"August 30, 1858.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"Your note was forwarded here, and I only found it on my return from
Ireland, where I have been for the last three weeks. The consequence is
that I am, of course, in rather a muddle with my work, and I am afraid I
must forego the pleasure of shooting with you--at any rate, for the
early part of the season; so pray do not deprive other friends of sport
on my account. I shall hope to have a day or two with you before the
season is over. I am not a very greedy sportsman, you know, and as long
as I get a good walk am pretty well satisfied. I am sorry you have been
so unwell--you should really give yourself a holiday. The bow should be
unstrung sometimes. I know I find it must. I wish you could have seen me
catch a _salmon_ in Ireland--a regular salmon! When I say catch, I
should say hook, rather, for he was too much for me, and after ten
minutes' struggle he bolted with my tackle. It was really a tremendous
sensation....
"Believe me always,
"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN LEECH.
"C. F. ADAMS, ESQ."
"White Horse, Baldock,
"Friday evening, ----, 1858.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
* * * * *
"For the present I have arranged with Little to make this place my
headquarters, it is so handy to the train, and I can come so much
quicker and later to Hitchin. The slow railway journeys take it out of
me, so that my pleasure is almost destroyed by the fatigue of travelling
and bother to get off. I hope, nevertheless, that we shall have many
evenings together to talk over the _tremendous runs_ that we hope to
have. I have bought a horse and brought it down here. I hope you will be
out to-morrow to see it. I like it very much; it is a most excellent
hackney, and sufficiently good-looking, although not perfect, I suppose;
and it is represented to me as being a temperate hunter in addition to
his other qualities. Well, we shall see. The black mare I shall send to
Tattersall's next week. She was as fresh as could be last Saturday, and
I was quite glad I had not sold her; but, alas! she was as lame in the
afternoon as possible, and next morning was a pretty spectacle! She
would not do at all. So much for horseflesh.
"With kindest regards,
"Yours always,
"J. L."
"32, Brunswick Square, W.C.,
"November 20, 1862.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"If you _ever_ have the time--which I never have--I should feel so glad
if you would go some day and see how the 'party' at Kensington has done
his work. I suppose 'that little form' of paying the bill must very soon
be gone through, and I should like to know from a competent authority
that the work has been well and properly done.
"How about the hunting? I am continually tormented here by noble
sportsmen going by my window in full fig.
"Yours always,
"J. L."
"6, The Terrace, Kensington,
"November 27, 1862.
"MY DEAR CHARLEY,
"I am obliged to go to St. Leonards to-night, but I should be very glad
if you would to-morrow, Friday (as you propose), look at my new house.
In the corner of one of the new rooms I see it looks a little damp,
although they considered it dry before they papered. I must say I am
pleased with the new residence, and I think by degrees I shall be able
to make it pretty comfortable. We shall hardly get in here, I expect,
much before Christmas. There is yet so much to do. I shall be very glad
of any hints about improvements that may occur to you.
"Kind regards, and believe me,
"Always yours,
"J. L."
There is amongst the pictures of "Life and Character" a drawing of a
sportsman who has been thrown from his horse. He has fallen upon his
head, and as he raises it, stunned and bewildered, and but half
conscious, the sensations that must have possessed him are realized for
us in a manner so marvellous, so wonderful in its originality and truth,
as to convince one that the accident must have happened to the man who
drew the picture; and this was the case, for the fallen man was Leech
himself, says Mr. Adams, who in charging a fence was thrown, his horse
falling at the same time. If I had been told that the sensations
inevitable under the circumstances were required to be reproduced by
pencil and paper, I should have said such a feat was beyond the reach of
art; but there they are! As the prostrate man looks up, he sees sparks
of fire, horse's head, legs, hoofs mingled together in a whirl of
confusion round his prostrate figure.
[Illustration]
No doubt the work he undertook for _Bell's Life in London_, a
long-established and long-discontinued paper, in which sport of all
kinds was the most prominent feature--and which occupied much of Leech's
time in his youthful days--contributed to the creation of a taste and
love for field sports that always distinguished him. Quite a band of
comic artists, including Cruikshank, Kenny Meadows, "Phiz," Seymour, and
Leech, contributed sketches illustrative of a variety of subjects by a
variety of authors; Leech's work being easily distinguishable from that
of his brethren of the pencil.