ABSTRACT
In 1895 complaints were received by the police respecting Sidney Nicholls [sicpassim], a publisher. . . . I n consequenc e o f thos e complaints , a n applicatio n wa s mad e t o Nicholls, wh o wa s the n tradin g a s the 'Walpol e Press, ' a t Charin g Cross , fo r book s which h e was advertising , an d whic h wer e foun d to b e of a very obscen e nature . O n that the usual warrant was obtained for holding a search, and the prisoner wa s arrested, and h e wa s subsequentl y committe d fo r trial . He , however , absconde d (neve r surrendered t o his bail, which was forfeited), an d the next we heard of him was in Paris. It was then found that he was sending over a pamphlet, quite unsolicited, t o al l sorts of persons i n thi s country , an d I think i t woul d b e a s well i f I read th e pamphle t fo r th e information o f you r Lordship' s Committee . I t i s headed '2 7 Plac e d e l a Madeleine , Paris, Thursday , th e l l t h da y o f April , 1907, ' an d the n follow s th e nam e o f th e gentleman t o who m i t is addressed, a gentleman holdin g Hi s Majesty' s Commission : 'Dear Sir , a n esteemed clien t of mine, lately deceased, lef t direction s in his will that his trustees wer e t o han d t o m e a certai n seale d box , an d tha t suc h seale d box , wit h it s contents, wer e t o be given to me. Thi s box contained a lot of "private books" and such like things. On e of the most noteworthy , undoubtedly , i s a copy of "The Pearl, " whic h I be g t o offe r yo u a t a bargai n price . I enclos e herei n a somewha t hurriedl y type d description o f the work fo r you r perusal . Th e previou s owne r pai d m e £20 for thes e three identical volumes, bu t as they have now cos t me nothing I shall be quite satisfied if you wil l pay me £5 for them. Here is an opportunity fo r you to secure for a mere song a really valuable work which is well worth having . The copy whic h I am offering yo u is, of course, second-hand , bu t i n spite of this, it is in excellent condition, perfectl y clean as new. Th e volumes smell somewhat musty , and no wonder, seein g tha t they have been kept for many years in a safe place at a certain well-known Londo n bank! It may be that you wil l a t once sna p up thi s bargain, bu t i n case you d o no t car e to d o so , I shall be greatly obliged i f you wil l le t m e know , fo r I shal l not offe r th e wor k t o an y othe r person unti l yo u hav e ha d tim e t o decid e whethe r o r no t yo u wil l tak e it . - You r obediant an d faithfu l servant , H.S . Nicholls. ' Then enclose d wit h tha t is a description of the book, whic h was privately published in monthly parts ; the first having appeared in July , 1879 , th e las t i n December , 1880 . . . . W e communicate d wit h th e Frenc h authorities, pointing out to them that this country wa s being flooded with pamphlets of that and a similar description, wit h th e result that the Paris police have since written to us informing us that in consequence of our communication th e man Nicholls has had an order o f expulsion serve d upon him on the 28th of April last. They say: 'This is the only rigorous measur e which can be taken against him, as I have the honour to acquaint you, the Frenc h la w doe s no t permi t o f a Frenchma n bein g prosecute d fo r offence s committed abroad. ' My Lord , ma y I mention tha t in the case of arresting Nicholl s n o , wer
t Nicholl s i country. 431. Tha t was all printed matter , I suppose? - All printed matter , and some of a very objectionable natur e (some volumes are handed i n t o the Committee). 432. Ar e these a sample of the books? - Thi s is a sample of the enormous quantit y of literature whic h wa s seized . Tha t wa s a n agen t selling i t i n thi s countr y for Nicholl s immediately he had absconde d t o Paris , wher e h e set up a business in his own name . The police were unable to do anything further, excep t t o communicate with the Paris' police.
