It was about this time, i.e., in the year 1839, that my mother, who had been led, by I forget what special circumstances, to take a great interest in the then hoped-for factory legislation, and in Lord Shaftesbury’s efforts in that direction, determined to write a novel on the subject with the hope of doing something towards attracting the public mind to the question, and to visit Lancashire for the purpose of obtaining accurate information and local details.

The novel was written, published in the then newly-invented fashion of monthly numbers, and called Michael Armstrong.  The publisher, Mr. Colburn, paid a long price for it, and did not complain of the result.  But it never became one of the more popular among my mother’s novels, sharing, I suppose, the fate of most novels written for some purpose other than that of amusing their readers.  Novel readers are exceedingly quick to smell the rhubarb under the jam in the dose offered to them, and set themselves against the undesired preachment, as obstinately as the naughtiest little boy who ever refused to be physicked with nastiness for his good.

My mother neglected no means of making the facts stated in her book authentic and accurate, and the mise en scene of her story graphic and truthful.  Of course I was the companion of her journey, and was more or less useful to her in searching for and collecting facts in some places where it would have been difficult for her to look for them.  We carried with us a number of introductions from Lord Shaftesbury to a rather strange assortment of persons, whom his lordship had found useful both as collectors of trustworthy information, and energetic agitators in favour of legislation.

The following letter from the Earl of Shaftesbury, then Lord Ashley, to my mother on the subject, is illustrative of the strong interest he took in the matter, and of the means which he thought necessary for obtaining information respecting it: 

* * * * *

“MADAM,—­The letters to Macclesfield and Manchester shall be sent by this evening’s post.  On your arrival at Macclesfield be so kind as to ask for Reuben Bullock, of Roe Street, and at Manchester for John Doherty, a small bookseller of Hyde’s Cross in the town.  They will show you the secrets of the place, as they showed them to me.

“Mr. Wood himself is not now resident in Bradford, he is at present in Hampshire; but his partner, Mr. Walker, carries out all his plans with the utmost energy.  I will write to him to-night.  The firm is known by the name of ‘Wood and Walker,’ Mr. Wood is a person whom you may easily see in London on your return to town.  With every good wish and prayer for your success,

“I remain your very obedient servant,

“ASHLEY.

“P.S.—­The Quarterly Review of December, 1836, contains an article on the factory system, which would greatly assist by the references to the evidence before Committee, &c. &c.”