The Battle of The Press

15

The Gauntlet, London, April 21,1833.

16

By this time Carlile had been formally separated from his wife for two or three years by mutual consent. He had settled an annuity of £50 a year upon her for life, and had given her books enough to start her in business for herself as well as all the furniture belonging to them mutually, leaving himself nothing but the "debts and the business". This arrangement was final and perfectly satisfactory to the first Mrs. Carlile, who was tired of the uncertainties of a reformer's life. Had there been a possibility of legal divorce they would eagerly have availed themselves of its benefits, but failing this they made as definite and satisfactory arrangements as could be done for the honor and satisfaction of all parties concerned.

17

Miss Newell was the artist who painted the portrait of Carlile while in the Compter. She begged and received permission to paint the portraits of Carlile and Rev. Robert Taylor, and gave them each a painting, and kept one of each for herself. Carlile was so pleased with his own that he urged her to paint the portrait of Isis. But this, she said. "was a different matter, and she should require her regular fee of ten guineas". This was agreed upon, and she painted the picture of Isis. These portraits are as fresh and beautiful to-day as they were when painted over 60 years ago, and are copied for this work. Necessarily the copies lose much of the beauty of the painting, as the delicate beauty of the coloring is all lost. It is most noticeable in that of Isis, in whose complexion the purity of the lily and the warmth of the rose were marvellously blended. The abundant hair curled naturally, and was of a soft pale auburn. The eyes a violet blue, with a mild but intelligent expression. The head, features, and face were of perfectly harmonious outline, each part perfect in itself, and perfect as a whole. The figure, too, was naturally perfect, tall, and slender, with a very graceful carriage; shoulders thrown well back and head well poised. Her neck and shoulders were beautifully moulded, and her waist, though innocent of stays or corsets, measured but 18 inches. Her hands were very beautiful, with long slender fingers, and the skin of such delicate texture as to appear transparent. In after years it was a favorite amusement of her children to try and look through their mother's hand by holding it up to the sun or lamp. Add to this that she was well bred, well educated, well read, and possessed of a fine singing and speaking voice. She was very neat and stylish in her dress, and it was no wonder then that she turned the heads of many of the younger men of liberal principles at the Rotunda, when she stepped upon the rostrum to fill the gap made by the imprisonment of Carlile and Rev. Robert Taylor.

18

This giving a flitch or side of bacon to that married couple who had lived the whole year in harmony together, is an old English custom, and was religiously carried out in the village of Enfield, to which Carlile removed his family immediately after leaving Giltspur Street Compter. Carlile and Isis, or rather Mr. and Mrs. Carlile, were unanimously voted to be the happiest married pair in the village, and entitled to the flitch of bacon. All sorts of sports prevailed at this festivity, and the whole village turned out en masse.

19

This is the Joseph Harris mentioned in the sketches of Carlile's friends who helped.

20

The Scourge, November 29th, 1834.

21

This idea of a travelling name seems to have been to save unpleasant notoriety or attention.

22

Julian and Hypatia Carlile. Theophila was not born at that time.

23

The home of Mrs. Chichester, Park Place, Ham, near Richmond-on-Thames.

24

Prefixed to the fourteenth and final volume of the Republican.