Blanchard, Sidney Laman I Blanshard, Sidney Blanchard, Sidney Blanshard, S. Blanshard, S. Blanchard, Blanchard l, 1827?-1883, journalist; eldest son of Laman Blanchard. After Laman Blanchard's suicide in 1845, friends of the family came to the aid of the widow and children. According to S. M. Ellis (ed., A Mid-Victorian Pepys, p. 165n), it was through the efforts of Forster, Bulwer-Lytton, and Harrison Ainsworth that the three sons were placed in situations. Sala recorded: "I think that Sidney began his career as private secretary to Mr. Disraeli; then he drifted away into London journalism" (Things I Have Seen, I, 94). Was on reporting staff of Daily News. For a time shared chambers with J. A. Crowe, who was keeping terms at Inner Temple (Crowe, Reminiscences, p. 91.). Spent some time in France. In 1853 went to India, where he was some years newspaper editor; on his return to England, according to Sala, was called to the bar. In the 1860s, served as officer in the militia; described his experiences in "Out with the Militia," A.Y.R., July 25, 1868. Published The Ganges and the Seine, 1862, a collection of articles from H.W. and A.Y.R., together with some previously unpublished material; and Yesterday and To-day in India, 1867, a collection of articles mainly from A.Y.R. and Temple Bar; also wrote a novel, Riddles of Love, 1871.

     Dickens had been a friend of Blanchard's father. In a letter of 1838 to the father, he mentioned his being much amused at reading a play that young Blanchard had written as a boy (Pilgrim Letters, I, 475). On Sept. 4, 1845, Dickens wrote for Blanchard a letter of introduction to Thomas Beard, stating that the young man was anxious to obtain an engagement "in some reporting capacity" on the Morning Herald: "He is not untried, having attended railway committees for the Globe in the course of last session, and having given, as I am assured, every satisfaction." Later in the same year, Dickens engaged Blanchard as reporter for the Daily News.  
     Locker-Lampson (My Confidences, pp. 326-27) recorded that Blanchard on one occasion submitted to H.W. some verses titled "Orient Pearls at Random Strung," and that Dickens returned them with the comment: "Dear Blanchard, too much string, – Yours, C.D." 
     Three of Blanchard's H.W. contributions were reprinted in Harper's, without acknowledgment to H.W. "Student Life in Paris" [III, 235-38. May 31, 1851] was included in the Putnam volume of selections from H.W.: The World Here and There, 1852. 
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Author: Anne Lohrli; © University of Toronto Press, 1971.