HONE, WILLIAM (178o-1842), English writer and book seller, was born at Bath, and established himself as a bookseller in London. From Feb. 1 to Oct. 25, 1817, he published the Re former's Register, writing in it as the serious critic of the State abuses, which he soon after attacked in the famous political squibs and parodies, illustrated by George Cruikshank. In April 1817 three ex-officio informations were filed against him by the attorney-general, Sir William Garrow. Three separate trials took place in the Guildhall before special juries on Dec. 18, 19 and 20, 1817. The first, for publishing Wilkes's Catechism of a Min isterial Member (1817), was before Mr. Justice Abbot (after wards Lord Tenterden) ; the second, for parodying the litany and libelling the prince regent, and the third, for publishing the Sine curist's Creed (1817), a parody on the Athanasian creed, were before Lord Ellenborough. Hone was acquitted on each count, and received a popular ovation. Among Hone's most suc cessful political satires were The Political House that Jack Built (1819), The Queen's Matrimonial Ladder (182o), in favour of Queen Caroline, The Man in the Moon (182o), The Political Showman (1821), all illustrated by Cruikshank. In 1826 Hone published the Every-day Book, in 1827-28 the Table-Book, and in 1829 the Year-book; all three were collections of curious in formation on manners, antiquities and various other subjects. These entertaining books are the works by which Hone is best remembered. In preparing them he had the approval of Southey and the assistance of Charles Lamb, but they were not profit able, and Hone was lodged in King's Bench prison for debt. Friends rescued him and set him up in a coffee-house in Grace church street; but this, too, ended in failure. Hone became devout in later years, and used to preach in Weigh House chapel, East cheap. He died at Tottenham on Nov. 6, 1842.