Arthur John Butler

“ In June 1820 Knight became editor and part proprietor of a London weekly paper, ‘The Guardian,’ in which he combined literature with politics, and (apparently) set the first example of summarising articles in the magazines. J. W. Croker, in spite of their political differences, helped him in both departments. ‘Croker was,’ says Knight, ‘always ready to give me his opinion, as I believed honestly, and was always glad to gossip with me on subjects of literature.’ The ‘Plain Englishman’ came to an end in December 1822 ”

“ In 1864 and 1865 Knight wrote ‘Passages of a Working Life,’ being his own autobiography; and ‘Shadows of the Old Booksellers.’ Two series of ‘Half-hours with the Best Letter-writers’ appeared in 1867 and 1868, and in the former year he ventured with ‘Begged at Court’ into the field of fiction. His sight was, however, failing, and he had to be led by a friend at the dinner given to Dickens on 1 Oct. ”

“ The first appeared on 29 June, the publisher opening with a biography of William Caxton. In this series (appearing every week for two years, and every month for two years more in the ‘shilling volume’) many well-known works made their first appearance: Miss Martineau's ‘Tales,’ G. H. Lewes's ‘Biographical History of Philosophy,’ Mrs. Jameson's ‘Early Italian Painters,’ Rennie's ‘Insect Architecture,’ ‘The Camp of Refuge,’ and many more. The ‘Penny Magazine’ was now drawing to an end, and with it Knight's connection with the Useful Knowledge Society. ”