At first it was rough and the Captain and the Doctor were often tête-à-tête at the dinner table. Then they had head winds and calms, which caused much annoyance to sentimental husbands and others, who “dedicated a glass of brandy and water to wives and sweethearts before going to bed.” The steerage passengers published a newspaper to wile away the time, and this shortly had a rival, and it was even

* Some Memoranda, apparently of articles to be taken on a second visit, contains the following: J.P.’s clothes: black coat and vest and blue trousers.” This looks as if he had expected to be a magistrate, but there is nothing to shew that he was. Among a number of letters of introduction that do not appear to have been presented was the following:-
Foreign Office,
October 21. 1834.
Sirs,
This Letter will be delivered to you by Dr. Langstaff, (M.D.), a man of science who is about to visit the United States of America. At the request of Lord Althorpe, I beg leave to recommend him to your protection and good offices, if he should have occasion to require them. 

I am Sir, Your most obedient humble servant ,
Palmerston.
George Manners Esq.,
H.M’s Consul, Boston.
Lord Palmerston was then Foreign Secretary. Lord Althorpe was M.P. For South Northamptonshire and Chancellor of the Exchequer: In that year he became 3rd Earl Spencer.

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threatened by a third! The Doctor read a good deal. He speaks of Mudie’s “Beauties of Nature” as a delightful book; also says that he was forcibly struck with the truth of the following passage in T. Hamilton’s “Men and Manners in America.”:-

One of the most remarkable features in the American character is a restless and insatiable appetite for praise, which defies all restraints of reason or common sense. It is far from enough that a traveller should express himself delighted with the country and its inhabitants, that he should laud the beauty and fertility of the former, and all that is wise, dignified, and amiable, in the latter; he is expected to extend his admiration even into the upper air; to feel hurricanes and speak of zephyrs; to gaze on clouds and behold the pure azure; and while parching under the influence of a burning sun, to lower the thermometer of his words, and dilate on the genial and delightful warmth of an American summer.

On the 15 June, he landed at Cowes after a voyage of twenty seven days, the last ten of which were very tedious owing to lack of wind. Leaving Portsmouth that night by coach he reached London the next morning ---- a ride of ten hours. Here his home sickness reached such an acute point that he penned a letter to his wife in verse(! ?), which however, the reader shall be spared, After transacting some business in town, he went to Hull by stage coach ---nineteen hours. He was greatly disappointed not to find anyone on the look out for him; this was owing to his father-in-law not having opened the letter the Doctor had written from London. In July 1835, he went from Hull to London by steamer, the usual mode of communication at that time. Among the “sights” he saw were the House of Commons, the Surrey Zoological Gardens, the English Opera and the Thames Tunnel; the latter was still under construction, his first cousin* George Dixon (son of Thomas Dixon by his wife Tace Alder) being the resident engineer. At this time he sat for his portrait to Professor Carl Schmid. +
* He had another first cousin, Margaret, daughter of George Dixon [111.] of Cockfield by his wife Rachel Coates, of whom he once said to the writer, when looking over a draft pedigree,
“Ah! She was my first cousin, and nearly my wife!” This lady, however, married in 1826, one John Allason of Sunderland, otherwise where would the author have been ?
+ Brother to Chevalier Louis de Schmid who married Eliza, daughter of William Spence by his wife Elizabeth Blundell, sister of Henry Blundell

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7th August. He gave some account of the North Carolina Gold mines to the Philosophical Society at Sheffield. 
In this summer the directors of the Gold Mining Company decided to send him to Saxony to examine and report upon the processes there. Accordingly on the 16th of August accompanied by a young German named Knapp as interpreter, he left London by steamer for Antwerp. They travelled by diligence by way of Aachen and Koln to Koblenz, and thence by steamer up the Rhine to Mainz; the steamer of those days was feeble by comparison, and on nearing Bingen it was necessary to hitch on several horses to tow the vessel up the rapids. Travelling in Germany was tedious work in those days. The lumbering stell wagon was stopped frequently as the frontier of each petty state, with its inevitable custom house, was reached (for the Zol-verein was still imperfect), while the changes of coinage were less frequent.
Thus laboriously they journeyed from Mainz to Frankfurt, thence by Erfurt, Gotha, and Leipzig to Dresden and finally reached Freiberg in Saxony 25 of August. They spent three busy days in and about the neighbouring mines and in the Laboratory of Professor Lampadius, noting the methods of working underground as well as the process of crushing, sorting and washing the ore, and the separation of the silver by amalgamation with Mercury. He found time not merely to make the acquaintance of the one English student, but even to give a few lessons in the English language to a native. Staying at day at Dresden and another at Berlin. They sailed from Hamburg in a steamer on 2 September, reaching Hull in fifty one hours.
The Doctors Prussian passport, dated, Aachen, 18 August 1835, is interesting as containing the following description of his person :-

Religion; evangelical, age; 36, height: 5 ft. 6 1/2 ins. Hair; black, forehead; high, eyebrows; black, eyes; blue, nose; large, mouth; medium, beard; black, chin; large, face; oval, complexion; healthy, stature; medium, special marks of recognition; scarred by small-pox.*

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

* A passport granted curiously enough, “ Au nom du Roi, par L. M’ Ambassadeur du roi des Francais ? Londres” dated 21 November 1847, also describes him but not so fully or accurately

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It may here by remarked that he had certain striking physical characteristics; his black hair, which curled so strongly as to stand up all over his head; his rapid walk and upright carriage, never more remarkable than when he was shrunken with age; and his enormous h The latter he said was only exceeded in size by that of Napoleon; it certainly was far larger than Lord Salisbury’s, no mean sconce. *

Sep. 17, At Doncaster; saw the cup run for.
Sep. 21, I wrote a Paper for the “Mining Journal” on the North Carolina Gold mines.
At the end of September, he visited Auckland, Shildon, and Hamsterley, to bid goodbye to his mother and other relatives. Then, having received his instructions from the “Anglo-American and Victoria Gold Mining Association,” he left Hull for Liverpool. From Selby to Leeds and from Manchester to Liverpool, he travelled by rail, the rest of the way by coach.
8th October. Accompanied by his wife and her sister Sara Bundell, he embarked at Liverpool on the packet ship “Virginian,” Captain Harris. The voyage lasted twenty six days, during the greater part of which time the ladies were in their cabins and anything but happy. A great contrast to this was the experience of the Doctor’s brother Thomas Longstaff and his nephew John Greenwell, who left Liverpool the week after he did, but did not reach New York until 20 January, 1836---- a voyage of ninety seven days! Long delayed by contrary winds they had been driven to Bermuda for provisions.
On the night of 16 December, 1835, they were playing cards at their lodging in New York when the door was flung open and a total stranger rushed in hatless and breathless, and flinging onto the card table an armful of papers, cash books, and ledgers, exclaimed “For God’s sake take care of those!” and rushed out again. It was their first intimation of the outbreak of the Great Fire. A strange and appalling spectacle it was. The night was intensely cold, the thermometer about zero, so that the fire-engines at once froze up and were

* The writers head is not a small one, yet Lord Salisbury’s hat comes down well over his ears, but his father’s would sit loosely upon his shoulders.

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useless. The inhabitants in the houses opposite to the fire hung out wet blankets to protect them from the sparks; these at once froze as stiff as boards. Nevertheless the fire spread steadily against the wind, the radiant heat being so great as to ignite the woodwork of the houses opposite. The burning of the Marble Exchange was a grand sight; the fine rows of columns glowed a rich rose red, when owing to the calcining of the marble, the whole structure collapsed. Ultimately several blocks of buildings were blown up with gunpowder, and the conflagration was stayed, but not until 674 buildings had been destroyed and damage caused which was estimated at nearly $20,000,000. A friend living a long distance from the fire to the leeward spent the whole night on his roof extinguishing with his broom the numerous sparks that fell on it.
During his stay in New York he appears to have been to some extent drawn into the vortex of American journalism. At all events we find in his diary such entries as, “Spent the evening with Price, concocting articles for the ‘Mirror.’ ” In February Mr. Magnus arrived, and three days later they all left for the mines, travelling by way of Philadelphia, Washington, and Richmond. Towards the end of the journey the stagecoach upset but no one was hurt; a few hours later it stuck fast in the mud! The journey was, however, accomplished in a fortnight, and they settled in Jamesville in March, but in August moved to Claremont House.
It was in September that one Major Morris, of the State Militia, rode up, and expressed a wish to deal for the Doctor’s horse, a showy black, named “Byron.” “Well, Major, is it to be between gentlemen, or how?” The gallant officer replied: “Wall, I reckon if a man knows a thing or two he has a right to make the most of his knowledge.” “Done,” said the Doctor; “You are a Down-easter, I am Yorkshire, let us begin.”
Accordingly the old-country man shewed of “Byron’s” best points, and flattered the Major’s vanity by saying how handsome he would look on such a charger at the forth coming training. The Major rode a dun of poor appearance, but possessing, as the Doctor saw, good practical qualities, and suggested an exchange with a make-weight. Ultimately the major rode off in high glee on the high-

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stepping black, leaving behind him his old dun and $67, both parties were pleased with the result, but the next day Major Morris turned up again on “Byron.” He dismounted, hitched up his horse, and sat down “whittling” a stick in silence. When accosted by the Doctor, who asked how he got on with his new purchase, he somewhat gloomily suggested that they should make it a “rue bargain.” This Longstaff refused, stating that the Major, relying on a supposed superior knowledge of the noble quadruped, had refused his offer to be plain spoken, with the result that he had been deceived by the attractions of a long mane and tail and prancing step. After a vain appeal he rode away a sadder and a wiser man. The Doctor rode the dun many a long mile, with an inward chuckle at the thought that the old-country man had proved as smart as the Yankee. The laugh of the settlement was turned against the vain Militiaman, while the Doctor gained proportionately in public estimation.

Dec. 14. Wrote a letter for the “New Era.”
1837. Feb. 2. Almost distracted with headache and sickness.

Throughout the diary are frequent recurring allusions to the severe headaches to which he was constitutionally liable. These recurred at least once a fortnight, and levied a serious tax upon his useful time. It is believed his father was subject to the same, and they have descended, unfortunately, two generations further.

1837. Feb. 5. Had a glorious treat in reading newspapers from England.
March 31. This day completed my 38th year. Oh, how old I am getting and how little I have done.
April 13. I had a dreadful row with the Negroes about stealing.
Aug. 1. Marcus ran away after dinner.
As no free labour was to be had it was necessary to employ slaves. The Doctor could not however bring himself to buy a man, so all his Negroes were hired. He adopted the plan of exacting a certain minimum of work, and for all overtime he paid cash. After some distrust at first the Negroes, as they came to understand the system, greatly appreciated it. The result was not, however, exactly what he had anticipated. One fine fellow, with some such name as Caesar, *

* The following slaves are mentioned by name:- Cyrus, Paris, Old Tom, Sambo, Israel, Hector, Cato, Peggy, and Mira. 

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worked many hours’ overtime, singing gaily the while. His master said to him one day: “Well Caesar, you are earning a lot of money, tell me, what are you going to do with it?” The coal- black labourer replied: What me do with my money? I know what massa tink; massa tink me buy my freedom. Me buy my freedom? Me no such damn fool. Massa find me a house, massa find me food, massa find me clothes; what Caesar want with his freedom?” “Then what will you do with the money?” said the Doctor. To this, Caesar, grinning from ear to ear, replied; “Ah! Me by finery for me and my gall.” The next Sunday morning the Doctor was greeted by a low bow from a gentleman of colour, dressed in the best fashion that Charlotte, N. Carolina, could supply. A closer examination revealed his slave Caeser!
There was one domestic who could not be managed by kindness alone, and one day Longstaff, said to him, “Why do you behave so that I am forced to flog you?” The Negro answered, “I don’t know, Massa, but whipping do Sambo good sometimes.” Probably it was not very severe.
Dr. Longstaff, as we have seen, had been an active supporter of Wilberforce in the Abolition movement, but his practical experience of the Negroes impressed him greatly with the importance of proceeding gradually; he saw that older slaves were not fit for emancipation, and that the rising generation needed to be prepared by education. Later in his life, during the war of the Secession, 1861---65, he constantly expressed the opinion that any measure of emancipation should be gradual in its operation, extending over a considerable time; any other course he apprehended would produce disastrous results.
Amongst actions which in Europe would be considered rude, but in America at that time passed without comment, may be mentioned that on going into a store at Charlotte, a gentleman asked him how he tied his cravat, since all his efforts at imitation had failed. The Doctor demonstrated on the gentleman’s leg there and then.
Before leaving England he had had a coat specially constructed for shooting, with an unusual number of pockets --- a sort of forerunner of the Norfolk jacket. An American gentleman came up to him one

153 The Langstaffs of Butterknowle
day in the street, and said, “That is a smart coat of yours, Sir; will you trade?” Another day his attention was attracted by a cart in the lane with its horse tied up to the orchard fence. Going up to find out what might be the explanation, he saw a man filling a sack with apples, who naively remarked, “You have some nice apples here; I am just taking a few.” But it may perhaps be said in excuse this wholesale stealing of apples was a trivial affair where the pigs were fattened on peaches!
The following incident shews how purely conventional are the views of even civilised nations as to what constitutes true modesty.
A gentleman acquaintance, Mr. A., an American, had met with an accident causing an injury to his leg. A short time afterwards Mr. B., a mutual friend, also an American, called at Claremont House, and was talking with the charming Miss Blundell, when the latter naturally enough asked Mr. B. How Mr. A.’s leg was getting on. This greatly shocked Mrs. C. an American lady who was present. After giving a reassuring report of the progress of the injured limb, Mr. B. Left, whereupon Mrs. C. Burst in with: “Miss Blundell, you did a dreadful thing in asking that question; you must not mention gentlemen's legs in this country! But of course Mr. B. was scarely surprised, since he knows that English young ladies are not modest!”
Mrs. Longstaff sat one day in the garden and made a careful drawing of Claremont House. A black domestic, who appeared to have no power of understanding a drawing, gazed at it for some minutes, and then remarked “La! Misses, it is beautiful. Is it a ship?” *
A settler in a remote part of the country was bitten by a deadly Black Moccasin snake. The nearest doctor being six or eight miles off, the victim was mounted on a horse, and a bottle of brandy was put into one saddle bag and a bottle of whisky into the other; he was told ride fast and drink freely. By the time he had reached the doctor’s house, he had emptied both bottles but was quite sober. And he recovered!
Some of Longstaff’s other stories may be given here, though they

* On a subsequent occasion when sitting under a tree in this garden sketching, Mrs. Longstaff looked up and was horrified to see a large snake slowly descending towards her! She fled into the house and it was with the utmost difficulty that she could ever be induced to enter the garden again.

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do not come quite in biographical order. He remembered at Edinburgh hearing Sir Walter Scott discussing with others in the back-room of Black’s shop (then a sort of lounge for literary men) who was the “Great Unknown,” as the “Author of Waverley” was then generally named.
It was perhaps when he was at Hull that a man left a will bequeathing his body for anatomical purposes.
When in practice he often dined out at houses where it was important for him to avoid all possible cause of offence. Now, the usual practice of wine drinking in those days far exceeded the young Doctor’s habits and principles, but few or none then had the courage to refuse to conform, so Longstaff used to fee the manservant to put a spittoon under his chair, into which he poured the greater part of the wine offered to him.
A lady patient with an indolent ulcer on her leg absolutely refused to give it the rest for a cure in spite of all his arguments. At last she broke her leg, and the Doctor said in triumph; “Now Madam, we shall cure your ulcer.” The requisite weeks in bed, naturally cured the lesser ill along with the greater.
He varied his life about the mines by farming and insisted on planting “corn” (maize) so far apart that it was possible to plough between the rows, and so keep down the weeds. For this he was laughed at until the plants ultimately grew to such an unwonted size as to completely hide three teams ploughing in the field, and when he gathered in an unprecedented crop, his neighbours were feign to admit that the doctor was not so mad as they had thought. The Diary also shewed that he was studying French. The climate was trying, the thermometer on 31 July 1837 indicating 94 degrees Fahrenheit while by 6 August it had fallen to 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and a fire was welcome. He appears to have had an attack of fever.
Despite every effort the mines were not profitable, since it took about a guinea to win a sovereign’s worth of gold. Working through the abandoned refuse proved more profitable than following up the lodes. But the Company was evidently in constant financial difficulties, and even the quicksilver had to be pledged at the bank to pay wages. Finally, on 4 September the hands were stopped, and on 6 September Dr. Longstaff with his wife and her sister started from

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Claremont for New York by stage, leaving the mines and mills in charge of his brother Thomas.
Mr. Magnus left the next day but appears to have crossed the Atlantic in their company. He was something of a poet and Miss (Sara) Blundell’s beauty--- she was then 21, had a sweet face, a fine carriage, and a charming manner--- inspired him to write the following In Miss Blundell’s Album,

Say, sweet enchantress, from a distant land,
What fond inducement bade thee leave
Thy own sweet groves on Humber’s flow’ry strand,
The friends who at thy absence grieve?

Thy father’s halls, thy mother’s circling arms,
And him who at thy parting sigh’d,
And whisper’d in thine ear fond love’s alarms,
For thee, his sympathising bride.

Why these forsake to tempt the treach’rous sea,
The darkling forests of the West?
Why make Columbia proud possessing thee,
And Charlotte with thy presence bleat?

Say, was it that two world’s might view
Creation’s form in happiest mould:
To kindly shew to the delighted New
The sweet perfection of the old?

Or that Columbia’s freeborn sons might drag
Love’s golden fetters ---- bend to sue;
To British Beauty strike their vaunted flag,
And gladly wear their chains for you.

The above were written in Carolina; the following, as we learn from his preface, in England:- 

In Mrs. Longstaff’s Album.
Soft woman, to her love as true
As man to fickleness inclined,
Her lover’s virtues keeps in view,
And ever to his faults is blind.

Or should a fault the fair perceive,
No sooner angers than forgives;
And if she chide, she’ll chiding's grieve,
And haste to soothe the pain she gives.

Wolosky: "A Tragedy, and other Poems." By James Magnus. Privately Printed, London 1838. P.175. She was then about 25.

156 The Langstaffs of Butterknowle


On his way north he spent two days in Washington, and records that the President; Martin van Buren, was very polite to him, also that he saw Daniel Webster in the Senate Chamber. It is not clear whether it was on this occasion, or on his previous visit to Washington, that he had an interview with that celebrated statesman Henry Clay, who speaking of the “old country” said to him, “Whatever you do, keep clear of universal suffrage; it is the curse of this country.” These words Doctor Longstaff never forgot, and like Robert Lowe and Mr. Goschen, he always viewed with disfavour all proposals to extend the suffrage.
Two other political lessons he took to heart: one was the seriously disturbing effect of the perpetually recurring presidential elections, which effectually prevented him from ever, in his most radical moments, adopting republican principles; the other the grave results of the educated classes standing aloof from all government, alike central and local, so as to leave public affairs in the hands of the ill educated and inexperienced, and throw open the doors to jobbery and wire pulling. Hence in after years he constantly inculcated on his sons the importance of taking their share in parish and municipal affairs, and so placing any knowledge or ability they might possess at the disposal of the community. Moreover, he himself devoted so much time to unpaid public service as to seriously impair his health.
There is little that calls for remark in connection with the homeward journey. He notes that at Baltimore and again at New York he saw Mr. Peabody, but there is nothing to shew whether or no this was the great philanthropist. On the 22nd of September he left New York for Niagara Falls via Albany, going some 200 miles of journey ( Utica to Lockport) by canal, spending two nights on board the packet-boat. He stayed at the Clifton House (the same hotel that the writer stayed in 47 year’s later). From Niagara he visited Toronto and Kingston, thence returning to Albany, going again by canal about 100 miles from Oswego to Utica. He speaks with delight of the steam boat journey down the Hudson from Albany to New York. At New York he twice heard Catlin lecture on the American Indians and was much gratified. Another incident noted in New York was an oyster supper with “excellent whisky toddy.”

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After a sojourn in the United Stares of nearly two years he sailed for England on 16 October per “Hibernia.” That he was a good sailor may be inferred from the simple fact that on the second day out he notes, “enjoyed the porter amazingly.” It was probably a vivid reminiscence of home. Mr. Jones, an Indian, preached on the second Sunday out, and after a stormy voyage they sighted Cape Clear 4 November but did not get into Liverpool till 7 November---- 22 days.
It may be noted that from Liverpool he took the train to Birmingham, travelled thence by coach to Boxmoor, where he again took the train for London, the Birmingham and London Railway (later London and North Western) being then in course of construction.
9 November 1837.--- on reaching London they called at Lombard Street (Dr. T.L. Blundell’s) and “found all gone to see the Queen’s procession.” Later in the day the saw “ the Queen return from the Guildhall, the Illuminations, etc. A round sight seeing included Covent Garden Theatre, Colosseum, Swiss Cottage, Pantheon, Zoological Gardens, and Westminster Abbey.
11 November.--- To Wandsworth, saw the works, house, etc.
This was his first visit to the town where he was destined to spend the rest of his life, very nearly 55 years.
2 December.--- He moved to Bridgefield House, Wandsworth, which he took for a short term, furnished. It was opposite the old Fair-field --- now York Road. The next day being Sunday he and Mr. Henry Blundell went for a stroll through Battersea Fields and the banks of the Thames, returning to the 3 o’clock dinner that was not unusual in those days. Towards the end of the year he went by steamer to Hull, and thence to Darlington and Auckland, Shildon and Hamsterley.* Returning to Hull he went by coach via Doncaster and Sheffield to Nottingham, where he delivered the Inaugural Address to the members of The Mechanics’ Institute. (16 Jan. 1838). For this he received £5, but in addition the members passed a resolution: that the thanks of this meeting be presented to Dr. Longstaff for the

* Visiting his family. These journeys he appears to have greatly enjoyed, thus, speaking of Hamsterley, the Diary tells us, “Spent a merry evening and stayed all night. I have not laughed so much for a long time.”

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able, eloquent, and comprehensive Introductory Lecture which he has now delivered .....so readily, at personal inconvenience, according to their wishes.” *
It was at about this time that he entered the business of Blundell, Spence, and Co., oil and colour makers, which had been founded in Hull in 1811 by Henry Blundell and his brother-in-law William Spence, the entomologist. The Doctor established the London House, which then included a candle factory in Garrett Lane, Wandsworth.+
At this period it would still appear that he still occasionally saw patients in consultation and once indeed acted for ten days as locum tenens for his wife’s uncle, Dr.T.L. Blundell of Lombard Street.
An entry in the Diary shews that a phlebotomy was still resorted to:-

1838, Jan. 8. Opened a vein for Mrs. Lax. [His Half sister]
His time was, however, fully taken up with the factory, and almost daily visits to the office in Queen Street. The motive power was steam, and it would appear that colours were either made or used in the manufacture of candles. The Doctor was usually at the factory before 7 A.M., and frequently on Sundays. Such entries as the following are frequent:-

1838, Feb. 8. At the factory all day experimenting on colours.
1840, Jan. 1. Experiments on stearine in progress.

It was probably on such an occasion that an experiment nearly cost him his life. He was standing on a step or stool looking into a large pan in which ferrocyanide of potassium was being boiled with some other reagent; the result was the evolution of large quantities of prussic acid in the gaseous form. The Doctor, as he stirred the mixture, found himself suddenly overcome by the deadly fumes, but had the presence of mind to throw himself backwards, so that he fell down into a healthier atmosphere in a state of unconsciousness, from which he fortunately shortly recovered.
* In 1888, on the occasion of the Jubilee of this institution, he was invited to revisit Nottingham, but at his advanced age (89) did not feel equal to the exertion. Its members had increased to between four and five thousand.

+ Marked in Lee’s Map of Wandsworth, 1838, at the bottom of All Farthing Lane.

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Much of his time must have been taken up with going to and from London. At first he often used the steamer, but this was given up. There would appear to have been three coaches daily, besides omnibuses. But he often drove himself in chaise or phaeton; later he usually rode, and his horses are mentioned by name in the Diary, e.g., Robin, Daisy, Primrose, Logic. There are almost daily entries for tolls, 5d. or 7d. Occasionally he walked e.g.:-
1838. Jan. 28. Walked home to Wandsworth from the Royal Institution.

March 21. I walked into town.
He moved to Tooting 30 May 1838.
It is interesting to have a glimpse of the amusements of such a busy, hard working, and somewhat austere man. The following are gleaned from the Diary of 1838:-

3. April. To Drury Lane, saw C. Kean play “Hamlet,”
May 22. Olympic,
7. July. Vauxhall, saw balloon go up and staid till 11 P.M.
25. July. Went to Thames Tunnel, afterwards dined at George Dixon’s.
13. Aug. To Surrey Zoological Gardens, we staid and saw the eruption. 
17. Aug To Astley’s.
4 Sept. To Astley’s.
1. Oct. Olympic.
3. Oct. Polytechnic.
4. Oct. At Covent Garden, saw Macready an Vandenhoff in “Othello.”
10. Oct. saw Macready in “ The Lady of Lyons.” ; supped at the “Rainbow” 
11. Oct. Olympic. 
16 Oct. Drury Lane, returned to Tooting at two next morning. 
19. Dec. To Haymarket to see Power.
Some of the entries have interest, that is historical as well as personal: 
1838, Apr. 30. Saw Faraday at the Royal Institution.
May I. At London University (then at Somerset House), had a long chat with Prof. Graham.
May 12. After lunch accompanied Maria (and several ladies) to the Heath to see the railway opened.[ This must have been the experimental railway with a circular track, of which some traces still remain, between the Windmill and Tibbetts Corner.] 
June 6. Maria went to Wandsworth Fair. 
June 22, Maria and Sophia went to see the crown 
June 28. Queen Victoria crowned .......got places at Devonshire House, saw the procession return ....... saw the fireworks and illuminations ....... Getting back to Tooting 3.30 A.M. 
July 25. Went to Thames Tunnel, afterwards dined with George Dixon. [ the superintending

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engineer under Brunel. He was the Doctor’s first cousin. See Pedigrees No’s. 9 & 14.
December 22. On the [Hull Steamer] “Wilberforce,” met Smith the Geologist[ probably William Smith the “Father of British Geology” and compiler of the first geological map. He died 28. Aug. 1839, aged 70.]
The last entry of the year 1838 is pathetic! His wife was at Hull on a visit; his only guest spent the night in town:-
Dec. 31. I saw the year out solus.
The Diary gives many illustrations of the time then spent in travelling. Thus, the express coach from Nottingham to the “Bull and Mouth” in Hart Street, Bloomsbury, took 16 1/2 hours for the journey, an average rate of 7½ miles an hour. The voyage from Hull to London by steamer occupied 27 to 35 hours according to the weather. These were the days of the pioneers of the modern Ocean Greyhounds, thus:-
1838, March 31. Wrote to Thomas per “Sirius.”--- Wrote to Thomas per “Great Western.”
The “Sirius” sailed from Queenstown on her first transatlantic voyage on April 4, reaching New York in 17 days. The famous “Great Western” did the distance from Bristol to New York in 15 days; the Doctor’s letter to his brother went on the second voyage.
On the flyleaf of the Diary for 1840 was an M.S. Timetable of the three steamships, “British Queen,” “Great Western,” and “Liverpool,” which appear to have sailed once a month from London, Bristol, and Liverpool respectively, returning from New York a month later, but as the “Great Western” was to return a few days within the month, it may be assumed, perhaps, that it was a faster vessel.

6. Feb. 1839. Henry Blundell, accompanied by his son Henry Spence Blundell, sailed for America in the steamer “Liverpool,” he returned August 1841. Letters from him and others from Thomas Longstaff, refer to the “Washington Gold Mine.” Mrs. Blundell during this period spent much of her time with the Longstaffs.

1839. Feb. 18. Covent Garden, saw Macready in “Lear.”
Apr. 9. Removed to Wandsworth.

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This was to a house on West Hill, nearly opposite the entrance to the Convent of the Sacred Heart. There his elder son was born.
A visit to Auckland in April, via Manchester and Lancaster, is remarkable for the fact that he travelled partly by rail, but partly by canal. He went north again in June probably in connection with his sister Mary Ann’s fatal illness.
July 16. Called on Roland Hill.
1840, Feb. 10. Gave the men a supper in honour of the Queen’s Wedding.
March 20. The factory paid Church Rates, 17s.5d.
Dec. 7. The factory paid Church Rates, £1.13s.7d.

Nine Elms was then the terminus of the London and South Western Railway, and Edward Dixon (who subsequently by marrying Sara Blundell, became Longstaff’s brother-in-law) was living at St. Cross, superintending the completion of the portion of the line south of Micheldever.
1840, May 11. At the opening of the South Western Railway, went through to Southampton, dined at Warren Farm, (at one time apparently a station between Basingstoke and Micheldever) all night at E. Dixon’s.
1840, June 1. Pistols, £3 2s. 6d.

This purchase, the object of which is not clear, appears to have been made at Hull; - A pair of pocket pistols, which years afterwards were viewed by the author with the greatest reverence and awe. To be allowed to handle them was the greatest of treats.
In June he went to Walmer with his wife and three of her younger sisters, where his great friend George Hughes had settled.

1840, July 13. At 8 P.M. To House of Commons. [?To meet Gurney]
1841, March. 31. At “Crown and Anchor” anti corn law meeting.
A letter written in March by Mrs. Longstaff to her brother in America, after saying that all was going well at the factory, added that George was not strong, being overworked and tired at nights, --- a fatigue amply explained by the activity testified to by the Diary.
His father-in-law had returned from America two days before, and we read:-

1841, Aug. 19. Fluxed gold and took it to the Jeweller.
Sept. 11. Gold chains &c., 27s.

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He and his wife, for may years wore chains made of the North Carolina gold, and doubtless the above refers to some of these trinkets.
The Chemical Society was founded in March of this year. The Doctor took an active part in the birth of the Society. His old friend and pupil Thomas Graham President. Dr. Longstaff never lost interest in the Society. He was on the Council 1850-52 and 1857-61, and a Vice President 1853-56 and again 1874-76.
The Minute Books of Wandsworth Select Vestry shew that Dr. Longstaff was an active member during the years 1841-47. He took part in the discussions one of which (4. June 1841) was in reference to plans submitted for the Church Tower. Few Wandsworth people are now aware that what they now look upon is a casing of modern date, enclosing and concealing the ancient tower within.
As early as 1842 Dr. Longstaff’s name appears among the subscribers to the Wandsworth British School. He continued to support it to the day of his death ( in 1868 giving a donation of £150). He took an active part on the Committee of Management from 1849 to 1877.
In 1842, January 3. He lectured on the “Advantages of Scientific Education in the Working Classes” before the Wandsworth Working Men’s Association for Promoting Useful Knowledge.*
Somewhat later we find him an earnest supporter of the Wandsworth Trade School, founded in 1855 and believed to be the first Technical Day School in the United Kingdom.
No note of the removal from West Hill has been found, but a daughter was born at North Street, 23, December 1843. The house, the largest in the road, with good stabling, now numbered 24, was tenanted by a succession of medical men. When Longstaff took it, the garden was much larger than now, and it looked out at the back over the cedar trees of Tonsley Park, and in short was a much more “desirable residence” than might be supposed from its present appearance and surroundings.
1844. In this year he was near losing his elder son under very tragic circumstances. The boy had been staying with his grandparents in Hull and, on 30, March his grandfather was bringing him back by rail. As the train was in motion, by Chesterfield, the little boy

* They had rooms in South Street, nearly opposite County Court.

163 The Langstaffs of Butterknowle

was playing with the strap of the door when it suddenly flew open, dragging the child out. Mr. Blundell was naturally horrified and instantly raised the alarm, but the train had proceeded about another two miles before it could be stopped. The grandfather’s feelings may well be imagined, for the little child in his charge was endeared even to himself as his (then) only grandson; but to his parents he was especially precious, for their first child, a girl, had lived but a few days, and their third child, also a girl, was even then at the point of death. Of course he never expected to see the boy again alive. As soon as might be, the guard of the train walked back to look for the mangled corpse, but was delighted to be greeted by a little chap of two years and three months sitting up and cheerily asking, “where’s grandpa?” Fortunately when the accident happened the train was passing along an embankment, down which the child rolled suffering but trifling bruises. Had the train been in a cutting or had the child been heavier, the result would probably have been very different. Some story was invented to explain to the mother a bruise on his forehead, for she had enough trouble just then - her babe of three months died the next day. Shortly afterwards, a gentleman, a chance acquaintance, said to Dr. Longstaff, “ What ridiculous stories the newspaper’s tell; why I recently read an account of a child falling out of a train going at full speed, without being injured!” “Here is the boy, Sir,” replied the Doctor, introducing the child to his astonished fellow traveller.

The following entries shew that he took an active part in the historic agitation for the Repeal of the Corn Laws, especially associated therein with his friend Mr. John Prout (a farmer be it said):-

1844, March 6. League meeting at Covent Garden Theatre.
April 17. Peter, Harriett, and I at Covent Garden, Anti Corn Law League.
June 3. At meeting Elephant and Castle.
Nov. 28. At Elihu Burritt’s lecture. [”the learned blacksmith”]

In 1845 the Wandsworth Book Club was founded, Dr. Longstaff being an original member.
He attended the meetings pretty regularly to the end, and was for many years Secretary. 
In 1887 the members of the Club placed a memorial in the Longstaff Reading Room,

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Recording the fact that he had then resided in Wandsworth for fifty years, for forty two of which he had been a member of the Book Club.
1847, At the end of September he went with his wife via Havre and Paris to Tours to see his wife’s sisters, Mrs. Bernhard Samuelson and Mrs. Wood (then a widow); on the way back, they stayed some days in Paris seeing the sights and returned via Boulogne
1848, This was the year in which the Chartists, probably inspired by the risings in many European capitals, threatened London by a monster meeting to be held on Kensington Common, which was to be the prelude of a menacing procession to the House of Commons with a monster petition. This was forbidden by the Government of the day. Great precautions were taken. The Bank of England was occupied by soldiers and strengthened by sand bags. Artillery were posted at the bridges, etc. But more than this, something like 150,000 special constables were enrolled amongst whom were Louis Napoleon and Dr. Longstaff. His shewed his high courage and determination by announcing his intention of attending a Chartist meeting, summoned at Wandsworth on the eve of the Kennington meeting. His friends in vain strove to dissuade him, but he said he had no fear, and that he would get a hearing, as in fact he did. He assured the meeting that he had great sympathy with their views, and approved of most of the Six Points of the Charter, but that no good could come of the monster meeting, urging that they should confine themselves to constitutional methods. He concluded by telling them that he was a Superintendent of Special Constables, and appealed to them to enrol themselves under him. To the surprise of all, he carried the meeting with him, and a majority were sworn in.*

The Diary is very disappointing in its modest allusions to these stirring events:-

1848, April 10. Chartist Meeting.
May 5. Dinner to Specials.
June 10. Special Constables, £3.

* His elder son was a Superintendent of Special Constables at Hull in 1868, when Fenian disturbances were apprehended. The Diary contains the note, 1867, Dec. 30. “Our men sworn in, Special Constables” His younger son was an Inspector at Wandsworth in 1887 in connection with the disturbances in Trafalgar Square.

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1849, Early in this year are some entries of intense personal interest to the author, but probably no one else! It is therefore enough to quote one:-

Feb. 12. Birth in the Times, 6s.
Another entry doubtless refers to the resistance to early encroachments on Wandsworth Common, which resulted in the pulling down of newly erected fences.

June 12, Anti enclosure Aassociation meeting.
Nov. 15. Thanksgiving as day.

This was for the cessation of the terrible epedemic of Cholera, which had caused upwards of 50,000 deaths. Mr. Thomas Wainwright, of Barnstaple, in a letter to the writer, said: “ I attended the Service at Westminster Abbey, in the afternoon, when the Dean (Buckland) preached from the text, ‘If the prophet had bid thee to do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather then when he saith to thee, Wash and be clean?’ I yet well remember how he thundered out the last four words, and how he denounced holders of slum property and heedless municipal authorities.” That epidemic and the lessons of the Crimean War were the main causes of sanitary reforms in the latter half of the past century.
1850, He lectured on the Tides at the Point School and in March gave three lectures on Astronomy at the Spread Eagle. At the end of January we find him concerned with the opening of the Wandsworth Collegiate School, of which the Rev. T. N. Staley, afterwards Bishop of Honolulu, was Principal. The school was first established in the house between the brewery and the Wandle, but afterwards was moved to Down Lodge: both the Doctor’s sons received the early part of their education there.

Thomas Longstaff, the Doctor’s only brother, nearly eight years his junior, died at Charlotte, North Carolina, 6, May 1850.
It has not been possible to learn much of Thomas Longstaff, but he was a Mechanical and Mining Engineer. In 1829 he occupied an important position in the once famous engine works of Timothy Hackworth at Shildon, near Bishop Auckland. Thence he was sent by Hackworth in charge of the locomotive ‘‘Sanspareil’’ to the great trail at Rainhill, near Liverpool, in October 1829. Dr. Longstaff always claimed that his brother, not George Stephenson

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was the real inventor of the “Steam Blast,” which made the locomotive a practical machine.
Prior to the simple device of turning the exhaust steam-pipe into the smoke stack and directing it upwards, it had been found impossible to maintain for long, a sufficient “head of steam.” He said that Thomas though urged to do so, would not patent his invention. When the morning of the trial came the “Sanspareil” was always blowing off steam. Its handy little rival, Stephenson’s “Rocket” ran splendidly for a certain distance, but lacked steam to keep it up. The story goes on to say that at midday Mr. Longstaff went away to his dinner leaving the “Sanpareil” in charge of engine driver or fireman. On his return the latter said:-

“We have had Mr. Stephenson’s man here, Sir,”
“Well, what did he want?”
“He wanted to know how we kept up such a supply of steam,”
“Of course you did not tell him?”
“Why no, I only opened the door in front and pointed to the exhaust pipe.”

The Doctor did not tell what his brother said, but added that, restraining himself sufficiently not to strike the man, he struck the locomotive with his fist, breaking all his knuckles!

The “Rocket” was taken off that day, on some pretext or another, but turned up the next morning with as much steam as its rival, and by virtue of its lighter weight and multi tubular boiler, easily one the prize of £500.

Such is the story as the writer heard it from his father’s lips.
Some autobiographical notes of the Doctor’s contain the following:-

My brother Thomas was a Mechanical Engineer, and for some time Superintendent of the Locomotive Department of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, when he applied the exhaust steam to create a draught in the chimney and thus enabled high and continued speed to be attained. Smiles gives Stephenson credit for this application, but he is in error, Stehenson saw it first in a locomotive constructed at Shildon by Timothy Hackworth under my brother’s superintendence.

The author possesses several letters from Timothy Hackworth to Thomas Longstaff, written in the Autumn of 1829, shortly after the trials. Those dated Oct. 30 - Nov. 20, are written from New Shildon to Manchester or Rainhill, but the last, dated Nov. 26, from Rainhill to Manchester.
In one of them, Hackworth says: “Perhaps it is not so very wrong to copy as for men to claim the merits of other men’s labour, but this we may expect; however we will attempt something more.” 
Details are given of suggested arrangements for increasing the heating-surface. Great secrecy is constantly urged: “Let no one come near you, but the workmen work as much as possible at nights.” Longstaff is to tell the engine-driver to “let no one handle the engine: it is his

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duty to stay by it as much as possible lest anyone do a mischief. Tell him to keep up his heart, there is gear to win he never saw.” Again: “My determination is, if possible, to keep them in the dark respecting the alteration.” He adds: “If the thing should answer well, will it be worth while taking out a patent? I have thought about it. I know there has been something like it tried.
Say in yours what you think about it. Tis my opinion I have not done yet making locomotives.”

The question of the credit for the invention is discussed at length by Samuel Smiles in his “Life of George Stephenson.”* From the facts there arrayed it would appear that the steam blast in its simple form was used by Stephenson in his early colliery locomotives as early as 1815, but that Timothy Hackworth did apply to the “Sanspareil” a modification-- the sharpening of the blast by the contraction of the orifice --- to which he attached great importance. It is therefore probable enough that the picturesque details of the story are essentially true.

There were many claimants to the invention: thus, it is alleged that William Hedley used it in 1812. As late as 1859, Goldsworthy Gurney claimed to have suggested it to Timothy Hackworth. On the other hand, the writer gleaned from a series of articles in a North-country newspaper the following variant of the story:-

That Timothy Hackworth, son of a boilermaker, born in 1786, built his first locomotive with Mr. T. Walker in 1811, at Wylam Colliery. (Stephenson’s first was built at Killingworth in 1814.)

That Hackworth went in 1824 for a short time to Stephenson’s factory in Newcastle. That in 1825 he was Resident Engineer and General Manager of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
That in 1827 his “Royal George” was first worked (Stephenson’s engines proving inefficient).
That this, the first engine, with a blast pipe, “settled the question of steam versus horsepower.” It had six coupled-wheels and could run at nine miles an hour for twenty miles. That the “Sanspareil,” built in 1829, was the second steam blast engine; it worked till 1844, and after that was used as a fixed engine for pumping and winding till 1863. That Hackworth took the company's engine works at Shildon, contracted for the haulage of the line, and began to manufacture for the public. That he moved to Soho works at Shildon and died in 1850.

From 1836 to the time of his death Thomas Longstaff was engaged as a mining engineer in the North Carolina Gold Field. The author learned from his father that Thomas, when on a journey, was attacked by two ruffians, lost an eye and was injured in the leg. An extensive abscess formed in the knee joint, which ultimately wore him out, as he absolutely declined to submit to

* Lives of the Engineers, vol., iii. pp. 261-266. Also Appendix page 488 and pp. 497-504.

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the amputation which was recommended. Thomas suffered from the constitutional melancholy of his father, and the lonely life of the backwoods did not suit him. An American friend and neighbour wrote to Dr. Longstaff these simple words: “I can say of him for the long time that I have known him that he was a gentleman, and none more than I do deplore his death.”

1851. The Great Exhibition is often mentioned, at first under its original name The Crystal Palace.
It is difficult to realise how much was at the time hoped for from the Great Exhibition, the first of an international character. Many looked upon it as an inauguration of the reign of peace on earth. Children were sent there so that they might be able to speak of it in afterlife. Thus the author, aged 21/2, was taken to the show, even Mrs. Edward Dixon’s second child, Sara Leam, a baby in arms (born June 13). It is told of the latter that as the child (generally admitted to be a pretty baby) was carried, its hand lay on the nurses arm, when a kindly old gentleman came up and said, “Nurse, of all the beautiful things in this beautiful building, I have seen nothing so pretty as that child’s hand!”

Nov. 13. Maria and I heard Kossuth.

It was probably in 1852 that he purchased the South Church Brewery, Bishop Auckland. It was the subject of a law suit and after some years he sold it.
1852, Nov. 18. At the procession of Duke’s funeral.
1853, June 18. At the camp, Chobham.
Aug. 11. At Naval Review, Spithead. 
The great Commander passed away near the end of the long reign of peace, but in spite of the Great Exhibition the shadows of the coming war soon after passed across the stage.
After a visit to Jersey with his wife, his elder son, and Mr. Joseph Blundell, he went into lodgings at Southsea where he contracted enteric fever, which laid him up for a month. During convalescence he went with his wife for a fortnight to South Devon.
The Diary for 1854 is missing. In that year he went to Scotland with his wife, her younger sister, Isabel Blundell, and his elder son. The latter, on the eve of their departure, told his young brother (Five and a half years old) in all seriousness that his father and mother would have to speak Scotch on this tour, and by so doing would assuredly forget English!

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The author still remembers his distress at the idea that he would not be able to understand his parents on their return, so simple was he! At Edinburgh they met William Henry Moss and his wife (Mrs Longstaff’s sister), and travelled with them. The Clyde steamer ran on to the Gantock rock of Dunoon, and broke its back shortly afterwards. The Doctor exhibited great coolness in assisting in preserving order among the passengers who were landed without difficulty, thanks to fine weather and some pleasure boats

. 1855, Jan. 9. Wylde’s Globe 1s. (then in Leicester Square.)
Feb. 15. Trades School Committee.
Feb. 23. At House of Commons.
June 5. At assessing. (Several similar entries.)
June 21. Removed to new House.

This was the house in Melrose Road, Southfield, later called “Butterknowle,” where he spent the remainder of his life. At that time it commanded an extensive and beautiful view, which he sought to preserve by the purchase of adjoining lands from time to time. The Metropolis Local Management Act 1855 constituted the Wandsworth District Board of Works. Dr. Longstaff, an original member, attended the first meeting, 8 December 1855; he continued a member until June 1858; was re-elected 29 February 1860, remaining on the Board until June 1864; he was again re-elected in 1873 for one year. He was an assiduous attendant of the meetings, in which he took a very active part. In fact, the energy that he threw into his local duties probably largely contributed to his serious breakdown in 1864 - a breakdown which threatened his life.
The diaries from 1856 to 1859 inclusive are lost.
In 1856, he was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London by purchase. He never sought civic honours, though repeatedly requested to offer himself as alderman of his ward. In the same year he visited North Wales, taking with him both of his sons.
In 1857, accompanied by his wife, both his sons, and Dr. And Mrs. Finch, and Mr. Mrs. Lewis, he visited Switzerland and Rhineland, the farthest point attained being Chamounix, then in Italy. His elder son and young Finch were left on the way at Frank- furt-am-Main to study German.

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In 1858, the year of Donati’s comet, he again went to Germany to visit his son. They spent much time on the Rhine, visiting the Baron de Schmid at Pfaffendorf near Ehrenbreitstein, and returned by Holland. The Doctor recalled the great comet of 1811, and remarked that both these comet years were famous for good vintages.
It must have been about this time that his half sister Mrs. Lax [See Pedigree No.59.] an old lady who had spent her life in out of the way places and was curiously old fashioned in her habits, came to visit at Butterknowle. She retired to bed, when it suddenly occurred to Mrs. Longstaff to see if she was all right. On opening the door a strong smell of gas suggested the question: “How did you manage the gas?” The reply was, “Oh, quite easily, my dear; I put the extinguisher on it and it went out at once.”
In 1861 he visited the chief cities of Italy with his wife and his elder son, accompanied part of the way by the Baroness de Schmid. [See Pedigree No. 60.] They travelled chiefly by vetturino, which must have given them a far more intimate knowledge than the more commodious railway train. Their route more than once crossed that of “George Elliot,” who was collecting materials for “Romola” (published 1863).
In 1862 he made a short tour with Henry Spence Blundell (his brother in law), visiting Guernsey, Brittany, and Normandy.
In 1863 he visited the English lakes with his wife and younger son, afterwards going to Bp. Auckland and Hamsterley. In October he went to Cornwall (? with Henry Blundell).
In 1864 his health broke down seriously with symptoms of nervous exhaustion, such as double vision, making walking difficult, and almost complete loss of taste, so that he said he could distinguish but two things, bitter beer (which he drank by the wine glass) and everything else. Against the advice of his medical attendant and intimate friend, Mr. Alfred Brown, F.R.C.S., he went to Ben Rhydding, as he was told --- to die. Either the treatment or the air or the methodical life, or all three combined, did wonders for him, so that he was a stronger man at seventy than he had been at sixty.
He paid five more visits to Ben Rhydding during the four following years.

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In 1865, when the then Governor of Jamaica, Edward John Eyre, by timely and rigorous measures, with great promptitude and success put down what was believed to be a very dangerous insurrection of the Negroes, Dr. Longstaff, always a man of peace and one who put the highest value on human life, espoused his cause strenuously, saying that he new enough of the Negroes to fully realise what might have happened had not the insurrection been crushed in the bud. A near neighbour, Richard Congreve, the eminent Positivist, took the opposite view, and once in the Doctor’s presence said, “If we cannot get Eyre convicted, sir, we will ruin him by legal proceedings.” “Never!” was the reply; “we will subscribe for his defence, whatever may be necessary.” As a matter of fact the attempt was seriously made, but was frustrated by the subscriptions of his admirers, who felt that the horrors of the then recent Indian Mutiny might have been repeated but for Governor Eyre’s courage and determination.
In July 1867 he had his first attack of gout.
In August 1867 when driving himself back from town , a wagon ran into him at Kennington The shafts of the dog cart were broken, and the old man of sixty-eight fell among the mare’s legs! Fortunately the latter, his favourite chestnut “Daisy,” stood quite still, and no further harm was done, but it is believed that he never cared to drive himself again.
In the early Autumn of 1867 when returning with his wife and younger son from a visit to North Devon, the train in which he was travelling ran into and cut in half a cattle train, near Wilton Station. Some twenty sheep were killed, but the passenger train was not seriously damaged. As in the shipwreck, the Doctor remained quite self possessed, though the corner of one of the cattle trucks, knocking a hole in the side of the carriage, came within a foot of him. It was said that the signal man, knowing the up express from the west to be twenty minutes late, thought it was not likely to come soon, so he shunted the cattle train without putting up the signal!
A few years afterwards he was in another railway accident between Putney and Waterloo. This shook him a good deal.

1868, May 17. Tooth drawn.

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It is remarkable that in his seventieth year he lost his second tooth, having parted with the first when a young man! Some years later they all got loose, and most of them fell out! --- a very uncommon experience in those degenerate days.
In 1868 Dr. W. A. Miller suggested that the Chemical Society might encourage research by grants of money, and up to the end of 1875 the Society made several small grants, in all some £60. On 3 February 1876 Dr. Longstaff, then a Member of the Council, offered to give £1000 to the Society to be invested and the interest expended in the promotion of chemical research, provided that another £1000 could be raised. It was a stipulation of the Doctor’s that a gold medal of not less than £20 should be given triennially to the Fellow of the Society who in the opinion of the Council had done most to promote Chemical Science since the last award.
It was subsequently agreed that a bronze medal, to be called the LONGSTAFF MEDAL together with a purse of £20, should take the place of the proposed gold medal. The additional £1000 was soon raised; Moreover the Goldsmiths Company gave £1000, and the Draper’s, Cloth maker's, Merchant Tailor’s and Mercers’ Companies smaller sums.
By 1897 the investment of the Research Fund amounted to £6434, and up to that time grants amounting to £2941 (practically the whole income) had been made.
Mr. A. Bruce Joy, the Sculptor, made the medallion, an excellent portrait, * from which Messrs. Wyon sunk the die. The recipients have been:-

1881 Thomas Edward Thorpe.
1884 Cornelius O’Sullivan.
1888 William Henry Perkin.
1891 Francis Robert Japp.
1894 Horace T. Brown.
1897 William Ramsay.
1900 William Henry Perkin, jun.
1903 William Jackson Pope.
1906 Walter Noel Hartley.

* reproduced on the title page.
(My scanner could not reproduce the silhouette on the medallion. C. Johnson)

173 The Langstaffs of Butterknowle.

His sight had been failing for some time, and in January 1877 he underwent an operation on the left eye for cataract. The writer, who was present, will never forget the tall, dignified figure and handsome face of Sir William Bowman (himself 61) as he quietly and deliberately operated with the left hand (for he was quite ambidextrous) on the old man of 78, who absolutely refused any anaesthetic and maintained perfect composure.
On 15 December 1879 he lost his wife after a very short illness. She was nearly thirteen years his junior, being but 67, and her end was quite unexpected. Their married life had lasted 46 years. His wife's favourite sister, Mrs Edward Dixon, who had lost her second husband* two years before, was staying in the house at the time, and never left it. She made “Butterknowle” her home, and her gentle nature, charming presence, devotion, and tact greatly soothed his latter years.
Maria Blundell spent some time as a child at Hamburg, staying with Mrs. Ramsden, her mother’s sister. In 1823---1824, aged 12, she was at Brussels, staying with her grandparents (John and Sarah Blundell). Letters to her parents shew that she went to day school there, and studied French, drawing and music. Later she went to a once fashionable school at Crofton, between Wakefield and Pontefract. This school, founded by Miss Magnall (author of “Magnall’s Questions) was then kept by the Misses Hollingsworth. Her sisters Sara and Eliza went to the same school. She was married at 21, a man 13 years her senior, but died in her 68th year, nearly 13 years before her husband. She was extremely fond of children and one of her greatest pleasures was to buy them presents; the death of her three girls in infancy cast a lasting shadow over her life. In the absence of children, flowers and ferns were her great delight; indeed, were it not for her hospitality and her many acts of kindness, she might almost be said to have lived for her garden. Several diaries of her travels still remain; they indicate greater appreciation of scenery than of pictures or architecture. Comparisons of European scenes with the North River (New York) are frequent. In the Spring of 1858, Mrs. Longstaff went with her father to Switzerland and the Italian Lakes. Mr. Blundell visited the Poste Restante of an Italian city several times to enquire for expected letters. Traveller and Post-Master at last both

* Edward Dixon was a widower with three sons when he married Mrs. Wood in 1849. Shortly before the wedding the youngest boy, about 10 years old, plaintively asked his father: “Do stepmothers always kill the children?”

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lost their tempers, when the latter, in reply to the assertion that he must have letters for Mr. Blundell, replied with warmth, “ I tell you I have no letters but these for Mr Esq.----” In religion, Mrs. Longstaff, like her father, though a Unitarian, often attended the services of the Church, only anxious to believe enough; her husband on the contrary, if no Chapel was accessible, stayed at home, always over anxious not to believe too much.
Not content with being a founder of the Chemical Society and an early and active member of the Cavendish Society, he was also one of the founders and at one time a Vice-President of the Society of Chemical Industry. At the inaugural meeting, 28 June 1881, Dr. Longstaff, then in his 83rd year, proposing a vote of thanks to the first President ( Professor, afterwards Sir Henry E Roscoe), referred to “ Those who have been acquainted with chemical manufactures for the last half century.” He proceeded to give the account of his early coal tar manufacture quoted on page 129.
On the adoption of the Public Library Acts by Wandsworth in 1883 Dr. Longstaff received the largest number of votes at the election of Commissioners; he was accordingly elected Chairman, and continued to hold the position till his death. This new work greatly interested him, and he threw into it an energy quite extraordinary for his age. He gave over £2000 towards the extinction of the debt, but his chief gift was the Longstaff Reading Room, which was opened by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts 12 March 1887.*
In 1886 he purchased the farm (part copyhold, part freehold) called Red Barns, in Newton Cap, Bishop Auckland.
In 1888 Dr. Longstaff resigned the Chair of the Board of Directors of Blundell, Spence, and Co., Limited, in favour of his elder son, Mr. Llewellyn Wood Longstaff.
The charity in which he took most active interest was the Royal Maternity, of which he was many years chairman, and an oil portrait of him, subscribed for in 1885 as a token of the regard and respect in which he was held by the committee, hangs in the Board Room of the Charity.
Dr. Longstaff was a good instance of the truth of the adage attributed to Tallyrand: “He that does not learn to play whist in

* His younger son, Dr. G.B. Longstaff was elected as a Commissioner 7 April 1886, and continued to hold office till 8 June 1893, when he resigned having for the last year, succeeded his father in the Chair.

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his youth lays up for himself a miserable old age. For many years a rubber was his sole recreation, especially as reading became more and more laborious. 
The attainment of his 90th birthday (31 March 1889) in possession of all his faculties* was commemorated by striking a small medal, in gold, silver, and bronze, the head ,being a reduction of that on the Chemical Society’s Longstaff medal. The medals were distributed amongst relatives and old employees of Blundell, Spence, and Co.
By nature he was austere, masterful, stern, and quick-tempered, though a powerful voice made strangers think his temper worse than the reality, and he never sulked or bore malice. He spared no personal trouble in helping friends or relatives in their business or other difficulties. Like many who have been pinched in early life he was strangely close, even to meanness in small things while generous in great. He once severely rebuked the writer for taking a cab from Putney Station when somewhat late for dinner at “Butterknowle,” and so wasting 18d.; yet the very next day, he gave him (entirely unasked) several hundred pounds for the purchase of a plot of land opposite Southfield Grange! The explanation is that the old man very rarely took a cab himself; on the other hand, though he lacked his wife’s keen love of flowers, he set much store on a secluded residence.
Though he was greatly impressed by the results of the higher criticism and the articles of his belief tended to diminish in number, he was always imbued by a strongly religious spirit, and the buildings of the Wandsworth Unitarian Chapel and adjoining lecture rooms found a very liberal supporter in the Doctor in the last few years of his life. Yet he was by no means narrow in his religious sympathies. He offered a site opposite “Butterknowle” for Holy Trinity Church. Again, he used to tell the following story with gusto: A Nonconformist minister called one day and unfolded an ambitious plan for a new chapel and other buildings. “Yes, this is all very well,”

* He was somewhat deaf and since his operation could not walk, or read, without glasses. There was evidence of some impairment of power and judgement in the last few years, but his mind remained clear up to the day before his death.

176 The Langstaffs of Butterknowle

said the Doctor, “but where are you to get the funds?” The minister replied, “Oh! The Lord will provide.” He then kept the old gentleman in conversation till, from very weariness, he gave a few guineas towards the scheme, when the minister triumphantly closed the interview with the remark, “Did I not say that the Lord’ would provide?” Like many unmusical people he was greatly moved by a large number of voices united in singing a simple air, such as “ The Old Hundredth.”
In politics Dr. Longstaff was a stanch Liberal of the old school, but not an extreme man. His experiences in the United States undoubtedly had a permanent effect on his political views. He greatly admired Mr. Gladstone as a financier, but had little confidence in his foreign policy, and after the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, voted for a Conservative candidate. Though his opinions remained unchanged he was present at a political garden party at the house of his younger son but a few months before his death. The victorious Conservative, Mr. (later Sir.) Henry Kimber, M. P., alluded to him in touching terms as a veritable patriarch (over 93 years of age) supporting a Government which he felt carried out the principles which all his life had guided his actions. Many present desired him to speak, and doubtless he would have done so, but his son wisely put a professional veto upon the proposal, since the excitement, coupled with the exertion of speaking out-of-doors, might well have been too much for him.
He was active to the end, and in fine weather would walk the mile from “Butterknowle” to Putney Station in twenty minutes, his upright carriage with the large head thrown back making him a striking figure.
In the course of his long life he had been nearly killed by a Bull, nearly poisoned with prussic acid, had been shipwrecked, had been upset in a coach, had sundry accidents with dog carts, had been given up by his doctor’s at the age of 18, and again at 64, not to speak of enteric fever at 55.
After a very short illness he died 23 September 1892, in his 94th year, having survived his wife nearly thirteen years. He left two sons and eleven grandchildren.

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