File:Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries- Volume 10, page 162, March 17-28, 1859.jpg

Transcription:

me awake during my first night aboard ship in the London docks. Story told to me of old [Thomas] Powell, by [A.F.] Banks. When the latter was "editing" the Day Book, for Stimson ("he's in h__l, now!" added the narrator, parenthetically) Stimson one day brought in a shameful attack on old [James] Wallack, in Powell's handwriting, eulogizing it as a d____d good thing, and proposing printing it. Banks knew the fine Roman hand and retained the article, till one day, old Powell came up, when using a little subterfuge to get his acknowledgment of the authorship, Banks let out at him, blew him up sky-high and declared he'd print it with the name of the writer at the bottom. "Oh no–o–o!" cries old Powell in horrible alarm. He was glad to get Banks to tear it up, and now, Banks regrets not having carried out a threat which only occurred to him on the heat of the moment. I put a bit of chaff in my "Restaurant" article last week, which anent Powell's trick of attributing fossil jokes to John Brougham, which has exercised the old rogue considerably. Editor [Frederick] Watson laid the paper on his desk, having marked with a blue pencil the passage in question, Frank Wood drew a hand on it for the same purpose. When Powell appeared he at first told Watson he didn't see how it applied to him (Watson)! presently denouncing me as "Judas" and a son of she-dog &c and declaring that I should never forgive