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Panoramic View of Paris from the Pont Neuf

In his many travels, Lyon often visited Paris, where he would conduct a large portion of his business buying merchandise and negotiating prices. He sometimes complained about going to Paris, as the journey could easily be strained by bad weather ravaging his open carriage. Lyon also failed to fully grasp Parisian culture and the French language. This image of Paris reflects the state of the city as Lyon would have seen it.

Une société lyrique (ou goguette) à Paris en 1826.

Lyon often mentioned Paris, as it was the place to go for him to acquire his goods for his business. He often disliked the travel, primarily because of the poor weather. He also disliked it because his brother James often prodded him to go, and these meetings for the goods that James would set up were ill-received by the distributors. Lyon also didn't understand or participate in the culture well enough to feel welcome.

The Anniversary Meeting of the Charity Children in the Cathedral of St. Paul

This 1826 painting illustrates the large annual meeting of the Charity Children in London, congregated within the vastness of the Cathedral of St. Paul.

Quadrilles. Third set.

Illustration of the quadrille style of dancing, popularized in nineteenth-century Europe.

View of Syon House across the Thames near Kew Gardens

Photographic reproduction of a painting.

Knight Chess

This photograph highlights the knight in a game of chess.

The Counting House

The painting depicts a counting house in business, perhaps displaying the work that James and Abraham Lyon conducted in their own lives.

Ballroom dancers

An illustration of ballroom dancers for the Journal des Demoiselles; Edition Belge.

History of England

A narrative and visual of Hume and Smollett's bestselling book, _A History of England_. On March 20, 1826 Lyon begins reading a book he calls, H. Eng or H. England, which was likely _A Complete History of England_ written by David Hume in four volumes but with an additional volume by Tobias Smollett titled, _Continuation of the History of England_. Together these volumes were published from 1760–1765. On May 30, 1826 Lyon is still reading this text, almost daily. It’s difficult to know how many volumes he read. Lyon’s interest in Scottish writers and Scotland is noteworthy. He makes several trips to Scotland where we meets prominent men in Anglo-Jewish circles—members of the Franklin family and the Ashenheim family. Both men would spend time in Jamaica during the period when Lyon lived there. Lyon also sees Sir Walter Scott on his journey to Scotland and recounts in his diary on January 24, 1826 “Had a sight of the great unknown Sir Walter Scott, but whose countenance [ ] not the least sunshine of intellect” (3). In addition to reading Scott’s novel, _The Betrothed_, Lyon’s interest in _A Complete History of England_ also had Scottish ties. Both of its authors, David Hume and Tobias Smollett, were born in Scotland. According to Wikipedia, Smollett’s “career in medicine came second to his literary ambitions; in 1739 he went to London to seek his fortune as a dramatist. Unsuccessful, he obtained a commission as a naval surgeon on HMS Chichester and travelled to Jamaica, where he settled down for several years. . . On his return, he set up practice in Downing Street and married a wealthy Jamaican heiress, Anne "Nancy" Lascelles (1721–1791), in 1747.”

Their _Histories of England_ became bestsellers in their day. Perhaps it's not surprising that Lyon might have read a best-selling work. Noteworthy, however, is the connection between Scotland, London, and Jamaica that Lyon shared with Smollett.

The Betrothed

On February 4, 1826 Lyon begins reading Sir Walter Scott’s _The Betrothed_ (published in 1825), a novel set during Henry II reign over England. The publishers were not enthusiastic about the novel and insisted on major revisions to the text. Ballantyne apparently found the novel “tiresome” which led Scott to continue revising with hopes of a more successful end result (Walter Scott Digital Archive, Edinburgh University Library). Ballantyne and Constable finally suggested that the novel should be published with Scott's next and, in their opinion, superior novel, _The Talisman_ (Walter Scott Digital Archive, Edinburgh University Library). Both novels were published together under the title, _Tales of the Crusaders_, in 1825. ( http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/works/novels/betrothed.html) As Lyon’s diary attests, _The Betrothed_ was a success. On several occasions Lyon remains up late at night reading this novel. While he neglects to comment on its content, continues to give it his close attention. Once rescued from a Welsh siege, the sixteen-year-old Eveline is rescued by Damian Lacy nephew of her betrothed. The novel’s action is focused around a love plot, kidnappings, romance, and chivalry and energizes the culture’s fascination with Crusade narratives which Scott helped to popularize in several of his novels. One wonders if Lyon would have read Scott's wildly successful _Ivanhoe_ (1820), another Crusade romance featuring a love triangle between two Anglo-Saxons and a Jewess. These types of medieval romances continued to be popular by writers like Benjamin Disraeli and Charlotte Tonna.

Plan of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport

Lyon and James visit Plymouth on April 6, 1826 and meet their family friend Joseph. A. S. Lyon writes, "Out with James to the Fleet to see [A?] Joseph, a young man for whom we once had a great respect for, on account of the respectability of his family and a little service his father rendered [ ] brother James when down in Plymouth to bury poor David" (7).

A.S. Lyon's 1823 Diary

The original diary belongs to Annabel Foster-Davis. She has kindly given permission to publish a digital copy of the diary on The Lyon Archive.

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Grave Marker for A.S. Lyon, 1804-1872

The gravestone of A.S. Lyon is the end of two journeys. The journey of life and the journey he took around the world. Death, as much as love, holds the most emotional power. For Lyon, his life was full of love and adventure. In death, the people who knew him, and the future generations who come to know him learn of his leisures and travels. We connect with A. S. Lyon because of his passions, his aptitude for travel, and the life he led, Kingston's significance in Lyon's life is best illuminated in his obituary from the London Jewish Chronicle which says, "a resident for forty years on the Island, in which he filled several public offices. His successful services as Deputy Marshal for Surry, especially at the time of the riot, and as chief warden of the Lunatic Asylum – a post which … he filled with unlimited satisfaction to the public – are noticed in terms of deserved eulogium. He was followed to the grave by representatives of all classes of the community."

The Careenage, Bridgetown, Barbados

This image depicts a river town in Barbados close to the sea. Lyon lived in Barbados and sailed into its port many times.

Doncaster Racecourse

An engraving of a horse race at the Doncaster Racecourse.

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The South View of the Tower of London

Eighteenth-century engraving depicting the Tower of London overlooking boats sailing on the River Thames.

Transcription, A.S. Lyon 1826-39 Diary

A.S. Lyon's 1826-39 Diary transcribed by Naomi Cream

The Wedding (Die Trauung)

This painting perhaps demonstrates a Jewish wedding similar to what A.S. Lyon witnessed when his brother, James, married their longtime neighbor and friend, Miss Hart. This is a big family milestone and important to their Jewish family culture and history. Lyon states, "If they enjoyed all the happiness you wished upon them, they will be happy indeed!" (Transcription, 4)

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