“ In 1866 Whiteley added general drapery to his other business, opening by degrees shop after shop and department after department, till he was finally enabled to call himself the "Universal Provider," and boast that there was nothing which his stores could not supply. Whiteley's was, in fact, the first great instance of a large general goods store in London, held under one man's control. In 1899 the business, of which the profits then averaged over £100,000 per annum, was turned into a limited liability company, Whiteley retaining the bulk of the shares. ”

“ Rayner was found guilty of murder, and sentenced to be hanged; but the home secretary (Mr Herbert Gladstone) , in response to an agitation for his reprieve, commuted the sentence to penal servitude for life. ”