Введение
Джеймс Фрэнсис Хельвеций Хоблер (родился 19 июля 1765 года в Сент-Энн, Лондон, Англия), сын известного часового мастера и экспортера Жана Франсуа Хоблера и его жены Шарлотты Элизабет Клодон.
Жизнь
Крещенный в недавно основанной Швейцарской протестантской церкви в Лондоне 11 августа 1765 года, Фрэнсис Хоблер, как его обычно называли, занимал уважаемую должность главного клерка достопочтенного лорда-мэра Лондона в начале и середине XIX века. В качестве главного клерка он должен был предоставлять компетентные юридические консультации в области уголовного права, а также по уставам и обычаям города Лондона. Хоблер занимал эту должность на протяжении большей части своей жизни, которая включала в себя многочисленные смены на посту лорда-мэра. Он вышел в отставку в 1843 году по состоянию здоровья. Почитаемый за свой интеллект и остроумие, Фрэнсис Хоблер был описан как "прекрасный, высокий, статный джентльмен старой школы с припудренными волосами, всегда аккуратно, хотя и несколько эксцентрично одетый: в плотно застегнутом черном сюртуке, бриджах серого цвета и гетрами, которые, казалось, являлись неотъемлемой частью его существования". Он свободно владел английским, французским, испанским, немецким и латинским языками и был известен своей пунктуальностью, состраданием и отличной памятью. Яркое воспоминание о прошлых событиях лучше всего демонстрирует случай, произошедший в резиденции лорда-мэра, где молодого вора обвиняли в краже со взломом. "Мы уже встречались, не так ли?" – спросил Хоблер. "Нет, не встречались, старик", – дерзко ответил тот, на что Хоблер, спокойно повернувшись на своем месте, сказал: "Полагаю, у меня есть ваше приглашение", и, открыв ящик, достал и зачитал вслух, к великому веселью собравшихся, карточку, написанную рукой заключенного красными чернилами, с просьбой к четырем его друзьям собраться в пабе в районе Саутварк, чтобы "безмерно напиться", которую изъяли у него много лет назад при аресте за бродяжничество и воровство. ("The Illustrated London News", 1843)
Fluent in English, French, Spanish, German and Latin, he was known for his punctuality, compassion and excellent memory. His vivid recollection of past events is best evidenced by an incident which occurred at Mansion House, where a young thief was facing a charge of burglary. "We have seen each other before now." (questioned Hobler) "No we haven't old boy" was the impudent reply upon which, quietly turning on his seat, Mr. Hobler said, "I think I've an invite of yours" and opening a drawer took out and read, to the great merriment of his listeners, a card printed in the hand writing of the prisoner in red ink, soliciting the four of his friends' attendance at a public house in the Borough, to get "gloriously drunk" and which had been taken from his person on a commitment to Bridewell many years before as a rogue and vagabond." (The Illustrated London News, 1843)
Francis Hobler also appears on more than one occasion in the writings of Charles Dickens and George Augustus Sala. "The Lord Mayor threw himself back in his chair, in a state of frantic delight at his own joke; every vein in Mr. Hobler's countenance was swollen with laughter partly at the Lord Mayor's facetiousness, but more at his own; the constables and police officers were (as in duty bound) in ecstasies at Mr. Hobler and the Lord Mayor combined; and the very paupers, glancing respectfully at the beadle's countenance, tried to smile, as even he relaxed." (The Last Cab Driver, And The First Omnibus Cad. Sketches by Boz, Charles Dickens, 1835)
Francis Hobler and his wife Mary Furby had four children, one of whom was solicitor and author Francis Hobler, Jnr (circa 1793 1868). His youngest son George Hobler (1800–1882) was an Australian pioneer who introduced the first Devon cow to Australia. Francis and Mary also had two daughters, Charlotte Elizabeth Hobler (born circa 1795) and Mary Ann Hobler (circa 1810 1850). James Francis Helvetius Hobler died in Pentonville, London on 21 January 1844 (aged 78). He is buried at Highgate Cemetery along with his wife Mary and eldest son Francis.
Фрэнсис Хоблер неоднократно упоминается в произведениях Чарльза Диккенса и Джорджа Августа Сала. "Лорд-мэр откинулся на спинку кресла в состоянии безудержного восторга от собственной шутки; каждая вена на лице мистера Хоблера вздулась от смеха, отчасти над шутливостью лорда-мэра, но больше – над собственной; констебли и полицейские были (как и полагается по долгу службы) в восторге от мистера Хоблера и лорда-мэра вместе взятых, и даже нищие, с уважением взглянув на лицо пристава, попытались улыбнуться, заметив, что и тот расслабился." ("Последний извозчик и первый автобус". Эскизы Боза, Чарльз Диккенс, 1835)
Fluent in English, French, Spanish, German and Latin, he was known for his punctuality, compassion and excellent memory. His vivid recollection of past events is best evidenced by an incident which occurred at Mansion House, where a young thief was facing a charge of burglary. "We have seen each other before now." (questioned Hobler) "No we haven't old boy" was the impudent reply upon which, quietly turning on his seat, Mr. Hobler said, "I think I've an invite of yours" and opening a drawer took out and read, to the great merriment of his listeners, a card printed in the hand writing of the prisoner in red ink, soliciting the four of his friends' attendance at a public house in the Borough, to get "gloriously drunk" and which had been taken from his person on a commitment to Bridewell many years before as a rogue and vagabond." (The Illustrated London News, 1843)
Francis Hobler also appears on more than one occasion in the writings of Charles Dickens and George Augustus Sala. "The Lord Mayor threw himself back in his chair, in a state of frantic delight at his own joke; every vein in Mr. Hobler's countenance was swollen with laughter partly at the Lord Mayor's facetiousness, but more at his own; the constables and police officers were (as in duty bound) in ecstasies at Mr. Hobler and the Lord Mayor combined; and the very paupers, glancing respectfully at the beadle's countenance, tried to smile, as even he relaxed." (The Last Cab Driver, And The First Omnibus Cad. Sketches by Boz, Charles Dickens, 1835)
Francis Hobler and his wife Mary Furby had four children, one of whom was solicitor and author Francis Hobler, Jnr (circa 1793 1868). His youngest son George Hobler (1800–1882) was an Australian pioneer who introduced the first Devon cow to Australia. Francis and Mary also had two daughters, Charlotte Elizabeth Hobler (born circa 1795) and Mary Ann Hobler (circa 1810 1850). James Francis Helvetius Hobler died in Pentonville, London on 21 January 1844 (aged 78). He is buried at Highgate Cemetery along with his wife Mary and eldest son Francis.
Фрэнсис Хоблер и его жена Мэри Фёрби имели четверых детей, одним из которых был юрист и писатель Фрэнсис Хоблер-младший (ок. 1793 – 1868). Его младший сын Джордж Хоблер (1800–1882) был австралийским пионером, который первым завез в Австралию корову породы девон. У Франциса и Мэри также были две дочери: Шарлотта Элизабет Хоблер (род. ок. 1795) и Мэри Энн Хоблер (ок. 1810 – 1850). Джеймс Фрэнсис Хельвеций Хоблер умер в Пентонвилле, Лондон, 21 января 1844 года (в возрасте 78 лет). Он похоронен на кладбище Хайгейт вместе со своей женой Мэри и старшим сыном Фрэнсисом.
Fluent in English, French, Spanish, German and Latin, he was known for his punctuality, compassion and excellent memory. His vivid recollection of past events is best evidenced by an incident which occurred at Mansion House, where a young thief was facing a charge of burglary. "We have seen each other before now." (questioned Hobler) "No we haven't old boy" was the impudent reply upon which, quietly turning on his seat, Mr. Hobler said, "I think I've an invite of yours" and opening a drawer took out and read, to the great merriment of his listeners, a card printed in the hand writing of the prisoner in red ink, soliciting the four of his friends' attendance at a public house in the Borough, to get "gloriously drunk" and which had been taken from his person on a commitment to Bridewell many years before as a rogue and vagabond." (The Illustrated London News, 1843)
Francis Hobler also appears on more than one occasion in the writings of Charles Dickens and George Augustus Sala. "The Lord Mayor threw himself back in his chair, in a state of frantic delight at his own joke; every vein in Mr. Hobler's countenance was swollen with laughter partly at the Lord Mayor's facetiousness, but more at his own; the constables and police officers were (as in duty bound) in ecstasies at Mr. Hobler and the Lord Mayor combined; and the very paupers, glancing respectfully at the beadle's countenance, tried to smile, as even he relaxed." (The Last Cab Driver, And The First Omnibus Cad. Sketches by Boz, Charles Dickens, 1835)
Francis Hobler and his wife Mary Furby had four children, one of whom was solicitor and author Francis Hobler, Jnr (circa 1793 1868). His youngest son George Hobler (1800–1882) was an Australian pioneer who introduced the first Devon cow to Australia. Francis and Mary also had two daughters, Charlotte Elizabeth Hobler (born circa 1795) and Mary Ann Hobler (circa 1810 1850). James Francis Helvetius Hobler died in Pentonville, London on 21 January 1844 (aged 78). He is buried at Highgate Cemetery along with his wife Mary and eldest son Francis.