256 CHAMBERS, KNIGHT, AND CASSELL. of his publications, chiefly fictions calculated to allay the torture of reality, he was able to reap a reward for his temerity. Every day found Mr. Knight more sick of his pros- pects than the last. The Brazen Head, a weekly satirical and humorous journal of his just started, lightened though it was by the rippling wit of Praed, fell upon the public like a leaden lump. Mr. Knight's brain had long been filled with a scheme of popular and cheap literature, and he now made up his mind to start afresh to tempt the world and bless it with a real " National Library," so good that all should desire, so cheap that all would buy. Lord Brougham, who was at that moment organizing the "Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge," heard of this plan and obtained an introduction to the schemer. The idea of the National Library was at first taken up by the Society, but was finally adopted by John Murray. Differences of opinion as to the editorial responsibilities, and the arrangements as to the transfer of his stock to Albemarle Street, pre- sented new difficulties, and thoroughly sick of the whole matter, Mr. Knight suddenly abandoned it. The germ of his idea, however, bore fruit in the " Treatises" published by the Society in March, and in the " Cabinet Encyclopaedia," issued a few years after- wards by Longman. " My boat," writes Mr. Knight, "was stranded. Happily for me there were no wreckers at hand ready for the plunder of my damaged cargo." Anyhow, for the time being, publishing was over. To a man of indomitable pluck, and blessed with the pen of a ready writer, journalism presents a tolerably open field, and to newspaper work Mr. Knight again addressed himself; but in a few weeks
