BLACKWELL FAMILY                                                        From Enoch (Frederick)
ELIZABETH BLACKWELL72 Danielle Road, Camberwell
    London
November 13th, 1877

Dear Dr. Blackwall,
I have been obliged to be away
from London for a few days and found
some letters of the [??] [????ant] on any returns.
My explanation of the delay in this reply
will convey my apologies.
I read your letter attentively and
earnestly and shall be [co?c??dingly] glad
if I can carry out your wishes.
What you desire needs some
consideration and reflection so please hold
this [?ole] as but a brief acknowledgement
of yours; and I am unwilling to delay
such acknowledgement.
I must consider how I can best
meet your wishes and perhaps I may
have to ask you, to know more
definitely the points to be arrived at.
Even my present enquiries will read
superficial, but my desire to meet
[?or?] with will lead to more intimate
communications
My personal experiences with the
Press, and its members, left me
with a very low estimate. I believe
that you are aware that I was Secretary
to the Proprietor of a London daily,
assisting indeed with the commencement
of his publication - for which, later, I
acted as publisher
Without some reflection and
enquiring I do not, at the moment, seehow to arrive at an appreciation of
the worthless, nay, worse, impure -
novels annually published. Curiously,
I have at this moment a M.S.
Novel, written by a lady, in my
hands. In the business enterprise
I was recently engaged in I had
intercourse with the father of the
authoress, who, finding my "pen and
ink bent" asked me to take this M.S.
in hand for disposal. The father is
an M.P. and a man of position. I
read the M.S. and found it thoroughly
silly and bad and it hangs on
my hands for I shrink from doing
anything more with it. I have had
it refused by Hurst & Blackwell but
I find a well known novel publisher
willing to publish it - if he is secured
the risk. I mention it, for it is
an example of a class to which
you allude
As to the consumption of French
novels. I am inclined to think
that save with the "upper classes"
they are but little read in England.
Leicester Square and its neighborhood
are the purlieus that vend the worst
class of French literature and
the cheap [?] - but the customers
I think are restricted to the working
French people resident or sojourning here
"The number of houses that publish

immoral literature and amount of
their publications." I suspect they
would have to be sought out and,
even then, the facts could only be
arrived at through an existing evil
reaching a police court. But that they
exist and trade largely in our Collegiate
and large commercial town, and,
(through servants) in country mansions
&c, is a fact
"The Newspapers that publish immoral
advertisements &c" - a little search, I
think, could arrive at this. Notably, the
paper with the widest circulation in the
country, "The Daily Telegraph" is one of the
prominent. But this is rather a
delicate and difficult revelation to
unravel.The circulation of the
"Matrimonial News" I believe I can
arrive at - to my seeing it is an
infamous print; yet, mark its success
- even with the "respectable."
"The yearly number of prosecutions for
immoral publications" - this could, I
believe, be reached. The operations of
the "Society" are more especially
exercised upon the sale of my photographs
and pictures.
"The Degradation of the Stage &c"
My recent business connections have
brought me in contact with Lord
Newry, the adapter of "The Danicheffes"
(I may spell incorrectly as I do not
delay for research). Newry is a wealthyyoung man, was proprietor of a London
he has just sold. Has, as he told me
a nearly completed drama of similar
source and tendency. The "pull" of
such a producer is to fashion as
a play of impure interest, so "sweetened"
that the mind is blinded whilst
witnessing. Observe the success of the
reproduction of "Formosa"; vulgar and 
vile - observe success of "The Pink
Dominos" - for which latter I was repeatedly 
asked by the father of the authoress of 
the- U.S. novel I have in hand if I
could obtain tickets (free) for his
daughters! 

Criterion Theatre. - The Pink
Dominos (225th night), by James Albery. For cast of
characters, see under the clock. Seats should be secured in
advance.

Adelphi Theatre. - Formosa; or, the
Railroad to Ruin. Written by Dien Boucicault. Characters
by Mr. S. Emery, Mr. J.B. Howard, Mr. J.G. Shore, Mr.
Edward George, Mr. James Hohnstone, Mr. E. Travers, and Mr.
H. Sinclair, at 8.15, this Evening. Box-office open from
ten till five daily.

It seems to me possible (but let me
qualify by saying, I am thinking, as I am
writing, but in haste) that there may be
difficulties in reaching these various 
facts desired. I have at this moment
time, but whether I can reach what
is wanted - I must see - I must try. 
I will not let much time be wasted 
if I really find I have not the "grasp"
I will tell you so (you I know will give 
me grace for my truth) so that you may 
not lose some for other sources. Mean
which perhaps, as it occurs to you you
will kindly give me the assistance of any
thought or suggestion of channel or 
subject that occurs to you
My mind seems to trace 
in the kind expression of your letter 
the influence of Miss Anna Blackwell 
to whom I am ever grateful for many kindnesses. 

Believe me dear Dr Blackwell
Yours very faithfully
Frederick EnochPERNICIOUS BOOKS FOR BOYS,
At the Middlesex sessions to-day, before Mr. J. D. Fletcher, Thomas Harvey,
aged fifteen, an errand boy, was indicted for having stolen a number of gold
and silver whip mounts, value £1, the property of his employer, Mr. William
Henry Martin, a whip and umbrella maker, in the Burlington-arcade.  After
the prisoner was taken into custody the police searched his lodgings, and found
several numbers of publications for boys, relating to the exploits of highwaymen
and "boy detectives," and which also contained some objectionable advertisements.
The prosecutor said he attributed the boy's departure from the paths of
honesty to the bad examples set forth in glowing language in these publications.
The jury found the prisoner guilty.  Mr. Fletcher condemned the issue of the
publications in question, and sentenced the prisoner to be imprisoned for five
days and receive twelve strokes with a birch rod.  Pall Mall frozen 
now.  8