THE DAWN
OF THE
XlXth. CENTURY
!
IN
ENGLAND
BY
JOHN ASHTON
i
l
i
:
i ■
!
LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
SANTA BARBARA
PRESENTED BY
ROBERT G. WESSON
*r
!
THE DAWN OF
THE XIXth CENTURY
IN ENGLAND
A SOCIAL SKETCH OF THE TIMES
BY
JOHN ASHTON
AUTHOR OF "SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE," "ENGLISH
CARICATURE AND SATIRE ON NAPOLEON I.," "OLD TIMES," ETC.
WITH 114 ILLUSTRATIONS DRAWN BY THE AUTHOR
FROM CONTEMPORARY ENGRAVINGS
FIFTH EDITION
LONDON
T. FISHER UNWIN
ADELPHI TERRACE
MCMVI
PREFACE.
THAT Sir Walter Scott, when he called his novel
"Waverley; or, Tis Sixty Years Since," thought
that the time had come, when the generation, then
living, should be presented with a page of history, which
would bring to their remembrance the manners and cus-
toms of their grandfathers, must be my excuse for this
book.
For, never, in the world's history, has there been such a
change in things social, as since the commencement of
the Nineteenth Century ; it has been a quiet revolution — a
good exemplar of which may be found in the Frontispiece,
which is a type of things past, never to be recalled. The
Watchman has long since given place to the Police ; the
climbing boy, to chimney-sweeping on a more scientific
plan ; and no more is " Saloop " vended at street corners ;
even the drummer-boys are things of the past, only fit for
a Museum — and it is of these things that this book treats.
The times, compared with our own, were so very
different ; Arts, Manufactures, Science, Social Manners,
Police, and all that goes to make up the sum of life, were
vi PREFACE,
then so widely divergent, as almost to make one disbelieve,
whilst reading of them, that such a state of things could
exist in this Nineteenth Century of ours. In the first
decade, of which I write, Steam was in its very babyhood ;
locomotives, and steamships, were only just beginning to
be heard of; Gas was a novelty, and regarded more as an
experiment, than the useful agent we have since found it ;
whilst Electricity was but a scientific toy, whose principal
use was to give galvanic shocks, and cause the limbs of a
corpse to move, when applied to its muscles.
Commerce was but just developing, being hampered by
a long and cruel war, which, however, was borne with
exemplary patience and fortitude by the nation — England,
although mistress of the seas, having to hold her own
against all Europe in arms. The Manners, Dress, and
Food, were all so different to those of our day, that to read
of them, especially when the description is taken from
undoubtedly contemporary sources, is not only amusing,
but instructive.
The Newspapers of the day are veritable mines of
information ; and, although the work of minutely perusing
them is somewhat laborious and irksome, the information
exhumed well repays the search. Rich sources, too, to
furnish illustrations, are open, and I have availed myself
largely of the privilege; and I have endeavoured, as far as
in my power lay, to give a faithful record of the Dawn of
the Nineteenth Century in England, taken absolutely from
original, and authentic, sources.
JOHN ASHTON.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAG it
Retrospect of Eighteenth Century — Napoleon's letter to George III. —
Lord Grenville's reply — French prisoners of war in England —
Scarcity of provisions — Gloomy financial outlook — Loan from the
Bank of England — Settlement of the Union with Ireland . . I
CHAPTER II.
Accident at a Review — The King shot at, at Drury Lane Theatre —
Behaviour of the Royal Family — Biography of Hadfield — His trial
and acquittal — Grand Review of Volunteers on the King's birthday —
The bad weather, and behaviour of the crowd ....
CHAPTER III.
High price of gold — Scarcity of food — Difference in cost of living 1773—
I Soo— Forestalling and Regrating — Food riots in the country— Riot
in London at the Corn Market — Forestalling in meat . . .16
CHAPTER IV.
Continuation of food riots in London — Inefficiency of Police — Riots still
continue — Attempts to negotiate a Peace — A political meeting on
Kennington Common — Scarcity of Corn — Proclamation to restrict its
consumption — Census of the people - . . 23
viii CONTEXTS.
CHAPTER V.
PAGH
The Union with Ireland— Proclamations thereon — Alteration of Great
Seal— Irish Member called to order (footnote)— Discovery of the
Planet Ceres— Proclamation of General Fast— High price of meat,
and prosperity of the farmers — Suffering; of the French prisoners —
Political dissatisfaction — John Home Tooke— Feeding the French
prisoners — Negotiations for Peace — Signing preliminaries — Illumina
tions — Methods of making the news known — Ratification of pre-
liminaries — Treatment of General Lauriston by the mob — More
Illuminations— Manifestation of joy at Falmouth— Lord Mayor's ban-
quet 3 2
CHAPTER VI.
Disarmament and retrenchment — Cheaper provisions — King applied to
Parliament to pay his debts — The Prince of Wales claimed the re-
venues of the Duchy of Cornwall — Parliament pays the King's debts
— Abolition of the Income Tax — Signature of the Treaty of Amiens
— Conditions of the Treaty — Rush of the English to France — Visit of
C. J. Fox to Napoleon — Liberation of the French prisoners of war. 45
CHAPTER VII.
Proclamation of Peace — Manner of the procession, &c. — Illuminations —
Day of General Thanksgiving — General Election — A dishonoured
Government bill — Cloth riots in Wiltshire — Plot to assassinate the
King — Arrest of Colonel Despard — Trial and sentence of the con-
spirators — Their fate ......... 55
CHAPTER VIII.
Strained relations with France — Prosecution and trial of Jean Peltier for
libel against Napoleon — Rumours of war — King's proclamation —
Napoleon's rudeness to Lord Whitworth — Hoax on the Lord Mayor
— Rupture with France — Return of Lord Whitworth, and departure
of the French Ambassador 65
CHAPTER IX.
Declaration of War against France — Napoleon makes all the English in
France prisoners of war — Patriotic Fund— Squibs on the threatened
invasion—" The New Moses "—Handbill signed " A Shopkeeper "—
"Britain's War-song"— " Who is Bonaparte ?"—" Shall French-
men rule over us ? " — " An Invasion Sketch " .... 74
CHAPTER X.
Invasion Squibs continued— "The Freeman's Oath "—" John' Bull and
Bonaparte "—"The Eve of Invasion "—"A Biography of Napoleon "
— " Britons, strike home " — Enrolment of 400.000 Volunteers —
CONTENTS. ix
PAGE
Napoleon at Calais— Apprehension of vagrants, and compulsorily
recruiting the Army and Navy with them— Patriotism of the nation —
Preparations in case of reverse — Beacons — Spies — The French
prisoners— Emmett's rebellion in Ireland — Its prompt suppression-
General Fast — Relief of the Roman Catholics . . . .89
CHAPTER XI.
Caricatures of the Flotilla— Scarcity of money — Stamping Spanish dollars
—Illness of the King— His recovery— General Fast— Fall of the
Addington Ministry— Debate on the Abolition of the Slave Trade-
Beacons — Transport— Election for Middlesex— Reconciliation be-
tween the King and the Prince of Wales 104
CHAPTER XII.
Doings of Napoleon— His letter to George III.— Lord Mulgrave's reply
— War declared against Spain— General Fast— Men voted for Army
and Navy— The Salt Duty— Withdrawal of " The Army of England "
—Battle of Trafalgar and death of Nelson— General Thanksgiving .112
CHAPTER XIII.
Nelson's funeral— Epigrams— Death of Pitt— His funeral— General Fast
— Large coinage of copper — Impeachment of Lord Melville — The
Abolition of the Slave Trade passes the House of Commons — Death
and funeral of Fox — His warning Napoleon of a plot against him —
Negotiations for peace — Napoleon declares England blockaded . 120
CHAPTER XIV.
Passing of the Slave Trade Bill— Downfall of the " Ministry of all the
Talents " — General Fast — Election for Westminster — Death of
Cardinal York — Arrival in England of Louis XVIII. — Copenhagen
bombarded, and the Danish Fleet captured — Napoleon again pro-
claimed England as blockaded 132
CHAPTER XV.
Gloomy prospects of 1808 — King's Speech — Droits of the Admiralty —
Regulation of Cotton Spinners' wages — Riots in the Cotton districts —
Battle of Vimiera — Convention of Cintra — Its unpopularity — Articles
of the Convention . . . . . . . . -136
CHAPTER XVI.
General Fast — The Jubilee— Costume — Former Jubilees — Release of poor
prisoners for debt — Jubilee Song— Jubilee literature — Poetry — King
pardons deserters from Army and Navy ...... 146
x CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII.
PACK
Common Council decide to relieve Small Debtors — Festivities at Windsor
— Ox roasted whole— How it was done — The Queen and Royal
Family present — Division of the ox, &c. — A bull baited — Fete at
Frogmore — Illuminations — Return of the Scheldt Expedition . 153
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Scheldt Expedition — The Earl of Chatham and Sir Richard Strachan
— The citizens of London and the King — General Fast — Financial
disorganization — Issue of stamped dollars — How they were smuggled
out of the country— John Gale Jones and John Dean before the
House of Commons— Sir Francis Burdett interferes— Publishes libel
in Cobbttt's Weekly Political Register— debate in the House — Sir
Francis Burdett committed to the Tower 159
CHAPTER XIX.
Warrant served on Sir Francis Burdett— He agrees to go to prison— Sub-
sequently he declares the warrant illegal — His arrest— His journey to
the Tower— The mob— His incarceration — The mob attack the
military— Collision— Killed and wounded— Sir Francis's letter to the
Speaker— His release— Conduct of the mob 168
CHAPTER XX.
Good harvest — Thanksgiving for same — List of poor Livings — Another
Jul »ilee— Illness and death of the Princess Amelia— Effect on the
King— Prayers for his restoration to health— Funeral of the Princess
— Curious position of the Houses of Parliament — Proposition for a
Regency— Close of the first decade of the xixth Centuiy . .177
CHAPTER XXI.
The roads— Modern traffic compared with old— The stage coach— Stage
waggons— Their speed— Price of posting— The hackney coach-
Sedan chairs— Horse riding— Improvement in carriages . . 182
CHAPTER XXII.
Amateur driving— " The Whip Club"— Their dress— "The Four in
Hand Club "—Their dress— Other driving clubs— "Tommy Onslow "
-Rotten Row
CHAPTER XXIII.
189
The Silent Highway "—Watermen— Their fares— Margate hoys— A
religious hoy— The bridges over the Thames— The Pool— Water
pageants — Necessity for Docks, and their building — Tunnel at
Oravesend— Steamboat on the Thames— Canals . . . .195
CONTENTS. xi
CHAPTER XXIV.
PACE
Condition of the streets of London— Old oil lamps — Improvement in
lamps — Gas— Its introduction by Murdoch — Its adoption in London
by Winsor — Opposition to it — Lyceum and other places lit with it —
Its gradual adoption — The old tinder box — Improvement! thereon . 201
CHAPTER XXV.
Great fires in London — Number of Insurance Companies — Rates of in-
surance — Fire-engines and firemen — Scarcity of water — Supply of
water to London — The streets — Their traffic — Shops — Watering the
roads 210
CHAPTER XXVI.
Daily life of the streets — The Chimney Sweep — Mrs. Montagu —
Instances of the hard life of a "climbing boy" — The Milkmaid —
Supply of milk to the Metropolis — " Hot loaves " — " Water cresses "
— whence they came — Other cries ...... 216
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Postman — His dress — The Post Office— Changes of site — Sir Robert
Vyner — Rates ot postage and deliveries — Mail coaches — Places of
starting and routes — Number of houses in London — Description of
them — Their furniture . . . . . . . . • 228
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Food — Statistics as to quantity of meat consumed — Scarcity of fish and
fjame — Supply of latter to London — Venison — A brewer's dinner —
Beer— Quantity brewed — Wine — Its price — Supply of vegetables —
Sardines and Harvey's Sauce — Scarcity of wheat— Forestalling — Rice
from India— Bounties given for its shipment 235
CHAPTER XXIX.
Parliamentary Committee on the high price of provisions — Bounty on
imported corn, and on rice from India and America — The "Brown
Bread Bill " — Prosecution of bakers for light weight — Punishment of
a butcher for having bad meat — Price of beef, mutton, and poultry —
Cattle shows— Supply of food from France— Great fall in prices here
—Hotels, &c. — A clerical dessert 243
CHAPTER XXX.
Men's dress — The " Jean de Bry" coat — Short coats fashionable at water-
ing-places — "All Bond Street trembled as he strode" — Rules for the
behaviour of a " Bond Street Lounger " 250
xii CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
The three Mr. Wiggins's "— The "Crops" — Hair-powdering— The
powdering closet — Cost of clothes — Economy in hats — Taxing hats —
Eye-glasses — "The Green Man " at Brighton — Eccentricities in dress 256
CHAPTER XXXII.
Ladies' dress — French costume — Madame Recamier — The classical style
— " Progress of the toilet " — False hair— Hair-dresser's advertise-
ment — The Royal Family and dress — Curiosities of costume . . 263
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Diversions of people of fashion — Daily life of the King — Children —
Education— Girls' education — Matrimonial advertisements — Gretna
Green marriages — Story of a wedding ring — Wife selling — " A woman
to let " 275
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Gambling — Downfall of Lady Archer, &c. — Card playing in the Royal
Circle— Card money — High play — Play at the Clubs — Lotteries —
The method of drawing them — Horse racing— Turf and horses better
than now — Curious names of race horses — Ladies Lade and Thornton
— Lady Thornton's races — Tattersall and Aldridge . . . 285
CHAPTER XXXV.
Cock-fighting — Its illegality — Public recognition of it — Description of
company at a cock-fight — High stakes — Bull-baiting — Debate thereon
in the House of Commons — Prize-fighting — Famous pugilists — George
IV. as a patron of the Ring — Attempts to put down prize-fighting —
Female physical education — Cudgel-playing, and other sports . 295
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Hunting then, and now — Hunting near the Metropolis — The Epping
Hunt— Fishing — Shooting then, and now — Guns — Methods of proving
gun barrels — Big charges — Introduction of the Percussion Cap — Size
of bags — Colonel Thornton's bet 305
CHAPTER XXXVII.
A Cockney's account of the First of September — Pigeon shooting — Out-
door games— Cricket — High stakes— Lord's cricket ground — Trap
and hall — Billiards — Life of Andrews the billiard player . . 313
CONTENTS. xiii
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
PAGIl
The Theatte — Number of theatres in London— Famous actors and
actresses — Disturbances at a theatre — Master Betty, " The Infant
Roscius " — His country experience — Puffs preliminary — His first
appearance in London — Crowds to see him — Presented to the King
and the Prince of Wales — Acts at Drury Lane — His subsequent
career . 322
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Betty's imitators— Miss Mudie, " The Young Roscia " — Her first appear-
ance in London — Reception by the audience — Her fate — Ireland's
forgery of " Vortigern and Rowena" — Fires among the theatres —
Destruction of Covent Garden and Drury Lane .... 333
CHAPTER XL.
The O. P. Riots — Causes of — Madame Catalani — Kemble's refutation of
charges — Opening of the theatre, and commencement of the riots —
O. P. medals, &c. — " The house that Jack built " — A committee of
examination — Their report — A reconciliation dinner — Acceptation of
a compromise — "We are satisfied" — Theatre re-opens — Re-com-
mencement of riots — The proprietors yield, and the riots end . . 339
CHAPTER XLI.
"The Pic-nic Club" — Its supporters — Its entertainment — Its short life —
Automata and wool pictures — Almack's — Pidcock's Menagerie —
" The Invisible Girl " — Vauxhall — Sir Roger de Coverley — Price of
admission, d. ! — and, really,
at the end of the year, wheat was 133s. per quarter, bread
is. io^jd. per quartern.
Three per Cent. Consols were quoted, on January 1, 1800,
at 60 ; on January 1, 1S01, they stood at 54.
A fitting close to the century was found in a Census of
the people. On the 19th of November Mr. Abbot brought
a Bill into Parliament "to ascertain the population of Great
Britain." He pointed out the extreme ignorance which
prevailed on this subject, and stated "that the best opinions
of modern times, and each of them highly respectable,
estimate our present numbers, according to one statement,
at 8,000,000; and according toother statements — formed on
more extensive investigation and, as it appears to me, a
more correct train of reasoning, showing an increase of
one-third in the last forty years — the total number cannot
be less than 11,000,000."
This, the first real census ever taken of the United
Kingdom, was not, of course, as exhaustive and trustworthy,
as those decennial visitations we now experience. Mr.
Abbot's plan was crude, and the results must of necessity
have been merely approximate. He said, "All that will be
necessary will be to pass a short Act, requiring the resident
clergy and parish officers, in every parish and township, to
3 o THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1800.)
answer some few plain questions, perhaps four or five, easy
to be understood, and easy to be executed, which should
be specified in a schedule to the Act, and to return their
answers to the clerk of the Parliament, for the inspection
of both Houses of Parliament. From such materials it
will be easy (following the precedent of 1787) to form an
abstract exhibiting the result of the whole."
When the numbers, crudely gathered as they were, were
published, they showed how fallacious was the prediction
as to figures.
England and Wales 8,892,536
Scotland ... ... ... ... 1,608,420
Ireland 5,216,331
Total ... 15,717,287'
One thing more was necessary before the dying giant
expired, and that was to rectify the chronology of the
century. 2 " From the 1st day of March last there has
been a difference of twelve days between the old and new
style, instead of eleven as formerly, in consequence of the
regulations of the Act passed in 1752, according to which
■ G. Fr. Kolb, " The Condition of Nations," &c.
2 W. Toone, "The Chronological Historian." — [When the Julian Calendar
was introduced, the Vernal Equinox fell on the 25th of March. At the time
of the Council of Nice, A.D. 325, it had retrograded to the 2ist of March ;
ami when the reformation was made in 1582, to the nth of March. Pope
Gregory XIII., to restore it to its place, directed ten days to be suppressed
in the calendar; and as the use of the Julian intercalation was found to be
three days in 400 years, he ordered the intercalation to be omitted in all the
centenary years except those which were multiples of 400. According to
Gregorian rule, therefore, every year of which the number is divisible by
four, without a remainder, is a leap year, excepting the centenary years,
which are only leap years when divisible by four, on suppressing the units
and lens. Thus —
16(00) is a leap year.
17(00), 18(00), 19(00), are not leap years.
20(00) is a leap year.
The shifting of days caused great disturbance in festivals dependent on Easter.
Pope Gregory, in 15S2, ordered the 5th of October to be called 15th of
October ; the Low Countries made 15th of December 25th of December.
•Spain, Portugal, and part of Italy, accepted the Gregorian change, but the
CHR ONOL OGY RE CTIFIED. 3 1
the year 1800 was only to be accounted a common year,
and not a leap year ; therefore old Lady-day was the 6th
of April, old May-day 13th May, old Midsummer-day
6th July, old Lammas 13th August, old Michaelmas-day
nth October, &c, and so to continue for one hundred
years."
Protestant countries and communities resisted up to 1700. In England the
ten days' difference had increased to eleven days, and the Act of 24 Geo. II.
was passed to equalize the style in Great Britain and Ireland to the method
now in use in all Christian countries, except Russia. In England, Wednesday,
September 2, 1752, was followed by Thursday the 14th of September, and the
New Style date of Easter-day came into use in 1753.— Note by John Westby
Gibsc~ Esq., LL.D.}
Draw the Curtains — the Old Century
is Dead.
CHAPTER V.
1S01.
The Union with Ireland — Proclamatinns thereon— Alteration of Great Seal — Irish
Member called to order (footnote) — Discovery of the Planet Ceres — Proclama-
tion of General Fast — High price of meat, and prosperity of the farmers—
Suffering of the French prisoners — Political dissatisfaction— John Home
Tooke— Feeding the French prisoners — Negotiations for Peace — Signing pre-
liminaries— Illuminations— Methods of making the news known— Ratification
of preliminaries — Treatment of General Lauriston by the mob — More Illumina-
tions—Manifestation of joy at Falmouth — Lord Mayor's banquet.
LE Roi est mort. Vive le Roi." Ring the bells
to welcome the baby Nineteenth Century, who
is destined to utterly eclipse in renown all his
ancestors.
Was it for good, or was it for evil, that its first act should
be that of the Union with Ireland ? It was compulsory,
for it was a legacy bequeathed it. There were no national
rejoicings. The new Standard was hoisted at the Tower,
and at St. James's, the new " Union " being flown from
St. Martin's steeple, and the Horse Guards ; and, after
the King and Privy Council had concluded the official
recognition of the fact, both the Park and Tower guns
fired a salute. The ceremonial had the merit, at least, of
simplicity.
A long Royal Proclamation was issued, the principal
points of which were : " We appoint and declare that our
( 1 80 1 . ) AL TERA TION OF GREA T SEAL. 33
Royal Stile and Titles shall henceforth be accepted, taken
and used, as the same are set forth in manner and form
following ; that is to say, the same shall be expressed in
the Latin tongue by these words, ' GEORGIUS TER-
TIUS, Dei Gratia, Britanniarum Rex, Fidei Defensor!
And in the English tongue by these words, ' GEORGE
the THIRD, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.'
And that the Arms or ensigns armorial of the said United
Kingdom shall be quarterly — first and fourth, England ;
second, Scotland ; third, Ireland ; and it is our will and
pleasure, that there shall be borne therewith, on an
escocheon of pretence, the Arms of our dominions in
Germany, ensigned with the Electoral bonnet. And it is
our will and pleasure that the Standard of the said United
Kingdom shall be the same quartering as are herein before
declared to be the arms or ensigns armorial of the said
United Kingdom, with the escocheon of pretence thereon,
herein before described : and that the Union flag shall be
azure, the Crosses-saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick
quarterly per saltire countercharged argent and gules ; the
latter fimbriated of the second ; surmounted by the Cross
of St. George of the third, fimbriated as the saltire." There
is a curious memorial of these arms to be seen in a stained-
glass window in the church of St. Edmund, King and
Martyr, Lombard Street, which window was put up as a
memento of the Union. In the above arms it is to be
noticed that the flenr de lys, so long used as being typical
of our former rule in France, is omitted. A new Great
Seal was also made — the old one being defaced. 1 On
1 The Great Seal in use in 1800, was the fifth made during the reign of
George III. Its Obverse was the King, in Roman costume, with flying
mantle, on horseback, facing left hand. In his right hand he holds a marshal's
baton. Legend— both Obv. and Rev. " Georgius III. D.G. BRIT. FR.
REX.F.D. BRVNS. ET. LVN. DVX. S.R.I.A.T. ET. PR. ELECT.
ETC." The Reverse has the King royaliy robed and crowned, seated on a
throne, on the back of which is emblazoned the Royal arms. He holds the
sceptre in his right, the orb in his left hand. He is surrounded by allegorical
\
34 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1801.)
January I, iSoi.the King issued a proclamation for holding
the first Parliament under the Union, declaring that it
should " on the said twenty-second day of January, one
thousand, eight hundred and one, be holden,and sit for the
dispatch of divers weighty and important affairs."
On the ist of January, also, was a proclamation issued,
altering the Prayer-book to suit the change, and, as some
readers would like to know these alterations, I give them.
" In the Book of Common Prayer, Title Page, instead
of ' The Church of England,' put ' of the United Church
of England and Ireland.'
" Prayer for the High Court of Parliament, instead of
Our Sovereign, and his Kingdoms,' read 'and his Do-
minions.'
" The first Prayer to be used at sea, instead of ' His
Kingdoms,' read ' His Dominions.'
" In the form and manner of making, ordaining, and
consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, instead of
the order ' of the Church of England,' read ' of the United
Church of England and Ireland.'
" In the preface of the said form, in two places, instead
of ' Church of England,' read ' in the United Church of
England and Ireland.'
" In the first question in the Ordination of Priests,
instead of ' Church of England,' read ' of this United
Church of England and Ireland.'
" In the Occasional Offices, 25th of October, the King's
accession, instead of 'these realms,' read 'this realm.'
"In the Collect, before the Epistle, instead of 'these
Kingdoms,' read ' this United Kingdom.'
figures. On his right (heraldically) stand Hercules, typical of Tower, Minerva,
ot Wisdom, and Justice with sword and scales ; on his left are Britannia with
spear, shield, and palm branch, and a female, figurative of piety, carrying the
model of a church. The Seal of 1801 is identical, except that Britannianum
is substituted for Brit., and Fr. is left out. Also in the Royal arms on the
throne, the French Jteur de lys is omitted, and the harp of Ireland is introduced,
h is worthy of note, that the medallist has omitted the Cross of St. Patrick io
Britannia's shield, although proclaimed.,
(iSor.) PROSPERITY OF FARMERS. 35
" For the Preachers, instead of ' King of Great Britain,
France, and Ireland,' say, ' King of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland.' "
The Union gave seats in the Imperial Parliament to one
hundred commoners, twenty-eight temporal peers, who
were elected for life, and four bishops representing the
clergy, taking their places in rotation. 1
The heavens marked the advent of the New Century
by the discovery, by the Italian astronomer Piazzi, of the
Planet Ceres on the 1st of January ; and, to begin the year
in a proper and pious manner, a proclamation was issued
that a general fast was to be observed in England and
Ireland, on the 13th, and in Scotland, on the 12th of
February.
The cry of scarcity of food still continued ; wheat was
mounting higher and higher in price. In January it was
137s. a quarter, and it rose still higher. The farmers
must have had a good time of it, as the Earl of Warwick
declared in Parliament (November 14, 1800), they were
making 200 per cent, profit. " Those who demanded
upwards of 20s. a bushel for their corn, candidly owned
that they would be contented with 10s. provided other
farmers would bring down their prices to that standard."
And again (17th of November) he said: "He should still
contend that the gains of the farmer were enormous, and
must repeat his wish, that some measure might be adopted
to compel him to bring his corn to market, and to be
contented with a moderate profit. He wondered not at
the extravagant style of living of some of the farmers, who
tould afford to play guinea whist, and were not contented
1 There is verily " nothing new under the sun." On January 22nd, the
f rst Parliament of the United Kingdom met. Addington was chosen Speaker,
and members were sworn in. On the 2nd of February the King opened the
Session with a speech, and on the very next day, 3rd of February, an Irish
member was tivice called to order by the Speaker. He was a Mr. Martin of
Gal way, a gentleman who afterwards complained of his speech being reported
ill italics, and plaintively asked, " Mr. Speaker, did I speak in italics? "
36 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S01.)
with drinking wine only, but even mixed brandy with it ;
on farms from which they derived so much profit, they
could afford to leave one-third of the lands they rented
wholly uncultivated, the other two-thirds yielding them
sufficient gain to support all their lavish expenditure."
Still the prosperity of the farmer must have been poor
consolation to those who were paying at the rate of our
half-crown for a quartern loaf, so that it is no wonder that
the authorities were obliged to step in, and decree that
from January 31, 1801, the sale of fine wheaten bread
should be forbidden, and none used but that which con-
tained the bran, or, as we should term it, brown, or whole
meal, bread.
The poor French prisoners, of course, suffered, and were
in a most deplorable condition, more especially because
the French Government refused to supply them with
clothes. They had not even the excuse that they clothed
their English prisoners, for our Government looked well
after them in that matter, however much they may have
suffered in other ways.
On the 1 8th of February Pitt opened his budget, and as
an increase was needed of over a million and three quarters,
owing to the war, and interest of loan, new taxes were pro-
posed as follows :
£
Ten per cent, on all Teas over 2s. 6d. per lb., which would
probab"
Doubling the tax on Paper except Paper-hangings and
glazed Paper
Drawback on the export of Calicoes to be taken off, and an
extra duty of one penny imposed
Increase of one-third on the tax on Timber, Staves, and
Deals
Sixpence per lb. export duty, and threepence per lb. on
home consumption to be levied on Pepper
Twenty pence per cwt. extra on Sugar
A duty on Raisins
do. on Lead
Ten shillings per pleasure Horse if only one were kept, and
an additional ten for each horse so kept
Horses used in agriculture 4s. each
Increase of stamp duty on Pills and Notes
proc
luce 30,000
>»
130,000
!>
155,000
»>
95,000
>)
119,000
»>
166,000
))
10,000
1 1
120,000
)>
170,000
»>
136,000
?'
112,000
(iSoi.) POLITICAL DISSATISFACTION, 37
Double stamp on Marine Insurance Folicies probably produce 145,000
An additional duty on deeds of Conveyance ,, 93. 000
Modified Postal arrangements ,, 80,000
The Penny Post to be Twopence ,, 17,000
Other modifications of the Post-office ,, 53,ooo
There had been political dissatisfactions for some time
past, which was dignified with the name of sedition, but
the malcontents were lightly dealt with. On the 2nd of
March those who had been confined in the Tower and
Tothill Fields were liberated on their own recognizances
except four — Colonel Despard, Le Maitre, Galloway, and
Hodgson, who, being refused an unconditional discharge,
preferred to pose as martyrs, and were committed to Tot-
hill Fields. Of Colonel Despard we shall have more to say
further on. Vinegar Hill had not been forgotten in Ireland,
and sedition, although smothered, was still alight, so that
an Act had to be introduced, prolonging the suspension of
the Habeas Corpus Act in that kingdom.
In this year, too, was brought in a Bill which became law,
preventing clergymen in holy orders from sitting in the
House of Commons. This was brought about by the
election (this sessions) of the Rev. John Home Tooke for
Old Sarum, a rotten borough, which in 1832 was disfran-
chised, as it returned two members, and did not have very
many more voters. Tooke had been a partizan of Wilkes,
and belonged, as we should now term it, to the Radical party,
a fact which may probably have had something to do with
the introduction of the Bill, as there undoubtedly existed
an undercurrent of dissatisfaction, which was called sedi-
tion. Doubtless societies of the disaffected existed, and a
secret commission, which sat for the purpose of exposing
them, reported, on the 27th of April, that an association for
seditious purposes had been formed under the title of
United Britons, the members whereof were to be admitted
by a test.
The question of feeding the French prisoners of
war again turned up, and as it was not well understood,
3 S THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1801.J
the Morning Post, 1st of Septemb2r, 1801, thus explains
matters: "Much abuse is thrown out against the French
Government for not providing for the French prisoners in
this country. We do not mean to justify its conduct ; but
the public should be informed how the question really
stands. It is the practice of all civilized nations to feed
the prisoners they take. Of course the French prisoners
were kept at the expense of the English Government till,
a few years ago, reports were circulated of their being
starved and ill-treated. The French Government, in hopes
of stigmatizing the English Ministry as guilty of such an
enormous offence, offered to feed the French prisoners here
at its own expense; a proposal, which was readily accepted,
as it saved much money to this country ; but the French
Government has since discontinued its supplies, and thus
paid a compliment to our humanity at the expense of our
purse. In doing this, however, France has only reverted to
the established practice of war, and all the abuse of the
Treasury journals for withholding the supplies to the
French prisoners, only betrays a gross ignorance of the
subject."
Of their number, the Morning Post, 16th of October,
1 801, says, "The French prisoners in this country at pre-
sent amount to upwards of 20,000, and they are all effective
men, the sick having been sent home from time to time as
they fell ill. Of these 20,000 men, nine out of ten are able-
bodied seamen ; they are the best sailors of France, the
most daring and enterprising, who have been mostly em-
ployed in privateers and small cruisers." Some of them
had been confined at Portsmouth for eight years !
M. Otto, in spite of the rebuff he had experienced, the
former negotiations for peace having been broken off, was
still in London, where he acted as Commissary for exchange
of prisoners. Napoleon was making treaties of peace all
round, and, if it were to be gained in an honourable man-
ner, it would be good also for England. So Lord Hawkes-
(i8oi.) NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. 3y
bury, who was then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
entered into communication with M. Otto, on the 21st of
March, signifying the King's desire to enter into negotiations
for peace, and they went on all the summer. Of course all
did not go smoothly, especially with regard to the liberty
of the English press, which Napoleon cordially hated, and
wished to see repressed and fettered; but this, Lord Hawkes-
bury either would not, or dared not, agree to. The public
pulse was kept in a flutter by the exchange of couriers
between England and France, and many were the false
rumours which caused the Stocks to fluctuate. Even a
few days before the Preliminaries were signed, a most au-
thentic report was afloat that all negotiations were broken
off; so we may imagine the universal joy when it was pro-
claimed as an authentic fact.
It fairly took the Ministry by surprise when, on Wednes-
day, the 30th of September, an answer was received from
Napoleon, accepting the English proposals. Previously,
the situation had been very graphically, if not very politely,
described in a caricature by Roberts, called " Negotiation
See-saw," where Napoleon and John Bull were represented
as playing at that game, seated on a plank labelled, " Peace
or War." Napoleon expatiates on the fortunes of the game:
" There, Johnny, now I'm down, and you are up ; then I go
up, and you go down, Johnny ; so we go on." John Bull's
appreciation of the humour of the sport is not so keen ; he
growls, " I wish you would settle it one way or other, for if
you keep bumping me up and down in this manner, I shall
be ruined in Diachilem Plaster."
But when the notification of acceptance did arrive, very
little time was lost in clinching the agreement. A Cabinet
Council was held, and an express sent off to the King,
whose sanction returned next afternoon. The silver box,
which had never been used since the signature of peace
with America, was sent to the Lord Chancellor at 5 p.m. for
the Great Seal, and his signature ; and, the consent of the
4 o THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1G01.)
other Cabinet Ministers being obtained, at 7 p.m. Lord
I lawkesbury and M. Otto signed the Preliminaries of Peace
in Downing Street, and his lordship at once despatched
the following letter, which must have gladdened the hearts
of the citizens, to the Lord Mayor.
"TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD MAYOR.
" Downing Street, Oct. I, i8ci, at night.
" My Lord,
"I have great satisfaction in informing your Lord-
ship that Preliminaries of Peace between Great Britain and
France have been signed this evening by myself, on the
oart of His Majesty, and by M. Otto, on the part of the
French Government. I request your Lordship will have
the goodness to make this intelligence immediately public
in the City.
" I have the honour to be, &c,
" {Signed) HAWKESBURY."
The Lord Mayor was not at the Mansion House, and
the messenger had to proceed to his private house at
Clapham. His lordship returned to town, and by nine
o'clock the good news was known all over London. The
Lord Mayor read the letter at the Stock Exchange, and
also at Lloyd's Coffee House, at the bar of v/hich it was
afterwards posted ; for Lloyd's was then a great power in
the City, from which all public acts, subscriptions, &c,
emanated, as was indeed but right, as it was the assembly
which embraced all the rich and influential merchants.
Among this class all was joy, and smiles, and shaking of
hands. The Three per Cents., which only the previous day
were at 59^, rose to 66, and Omnium, which had been at
8, rose to 18.
The news came so suddenly, that the illuminations on
the night of the 2nd of October were but very partial.
We, who are accustomed to brilliant devices in gas, with
(i8oi.) PEACE. 41
coruscating crystal stars, and transparencies, would smile
at the illuminations of those days. They generally took
the shape of a wooden triangle in each window-pane, on
which were stuck tallow candles, perpetually requiring
snuffing, and guttering with every draught ; or, otherwise, a
black-painted board with a few coloured oil-lamps arranged
in the form of a crown, with G. R. on either side.
As is observed in the Morning Post of the 3rd
October, 1884: "The sensation produced yesterday among
the populace was nothing equal to what might have been
expected. The capture of half a dozen men-of-war, or
the conquest of a colony, would have been marked with a
stronger demonstration of joy. The illumination, so far
from being general, was principally confined to a few
streets— the Strand, the Haymarket, Pall Mall, and Fleet
Street. In the last the Globe Tavern was lighted up at
an early hour, with the word Peace in coloured lamps.
This attracted a considerable mob, which filled the street
before the door. It was apprehended that they would
immediately set out on their tour through the whole town,
and enforce an universal illumination. This induced a few
of the bye-streets to follow the example, but nothing
more. There were several groups of people, but no crowd,
in the neighbourhood of Temple Bar. The other streets,
even those that were illuminated, were not more frequented
than usual. St. James's Street, Bond Street, and the west
part of the town ; east of St. Paul's, together with Holborn,
and the north part, did not illuminate. Several flags were
hoisted in the course of the day, and the bells of all the
churches were set a-ringing."
To us, who are accustomed to have our news reeled out
on paper tapes hot and hot from the telegraph, or to con-
verse with each other, by means of the telephone, many miles
apart, the method used to disseminate the news of the
peace throughout the country, seems to be very primitive, and
vet no better, nor quicker mode, could have been devised
42
THE NINE TEE NT II CENTUR Y. ( i So i . )
in those days. The mail coaches were placarded PEACE
Will 1 FRANCE in large capitals, and the drivers all wore
a sprig- of laurel, as an emblem of peace, in their hats.
The Preliminaries of Peace were ratified in Paris on the
5 th of October, but General Lauriston, who was to be the
bearer of this important document, did not set out from
Paris until the evening of the 7th, having been kept waiting
until a magnificent gold box, as a fitting shrine for so
precious a relic, was finished; and he did not land at Dover
until Friday evening, the 9th of October, about 9 p.m.
He stayed a brief time at the City of London Inn, Dover,
to rest and refresh himself, sending forward a courier,
magnificently attired in scarlet and gold, to order horses
on the road, and to apprise M. Otto of his arrival. He
soon followed in a carriage, with the horses and driver
bedecked with blue ribands, on which was the word PEACE,
Of course the mob surrounded him, and cheered and yelled
as if mad — indeed they must have been, for they actually
shouted " Long live Bonaparte ! " At M. Otto's house, the
general was joined by that gentleman, who was to accom-
pany him to Rcddish's Hotel, in Bond Street. In Oxford
Street, however, the mob took the horses out of his carriage,
and drew him to the hotel, rending the air with shouts of
joy ; some amongst them even mounting a tricoloured
cockade. From the hotel window General Lauriston
scattered a handful of guineas among his friends, the mob,
who afterwards, when he went to Lord Hawkesbury's
office, once more took out the horses, and dragged him
from St. James's Square to Downing Street.
At half-past two the Park guns boomed forth the welcome
news, and at three the Tower guns proclaimed the fact to
the dwellers in the City, and the East end of London.
It was in vain that the general's carriage was taken
round to a back entrance ; the populace were not to be
baulked of their amusement, and, on his coming out, the
horses were once more detached, men took their places,
( r So i . ) ILL UMINA T10NS. 43
and he was dragged as far as the Admiralty. Here he
remained some time, and was escorted to his carriage by-
Earl St. Vincent. Said he to the mob, " Gentlemen ! gen-
tlemen ! " (three huzzas for Earl St. Vincent) " I request of
you to be careful, and not overturn the carriage." The popu-
lace assured his lordship they would be careful of, and
respectful to, the strangers ; and away they dragged the
carriage, with shouts, through St. James's Park, round the
Palace, by the Stable-yard, making the old place ring with
their yells, finally landing the general uninjured at his hotel.
At night the illuminations were very fine, and there were
many transparencies, one or two of which were, to say the
least, peculiar. One in Pall Mall had a flying Cupid
holding a miniature of Napoleon, with a scroll under-
neath, " Peace and Happiness to Great Britain." Another
opposite M. Otto's house, in Hereford Street, Oxford Street,
had a transparency of Bonaparte, with the legend, "Saviour
of the Universe." Guildhall displayed in front, a crown and
G. R., with a small transparency representing a dove, sur-
rounded with olive. The Post Office had over 6,000 lamps.
The India House was brilliant with some 1,700 lamps,
besides G. R. and a large PEACE. The Mansion House
looked very gloomy. G. R. was in the centre, but one
half of the R was broken. The pillars were wreathed with
lamps. The Bank only had a double row of candles in front
Squibs, rockets, and pistols were let off in the streets,
and the noise would probably have continued all night, had
not a terrible thunder-storm cleared the streets about 1 1 p.m.
On the 1 2th, the illuminations were repeated with even
more brilliancy, and all went off well. One effect of the
peace, which could not fail to be gratifying to all, was the fact,
that wheat fell, next marketday, some 10s. to 14s. perquarter.
The popular demonstrations of joy occasionally took
odd forms, for it is recorded that at Falmouth, not only
the horses, but the cows, calves, and asses were decorated
with ribands, in celebration of the peace ; and a publican
44 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S01.)
at Lambeth, who had made a vow that whenever peace
was made, he would give away all the beer in his cellar,
actually did so on the 13th of October.
As was but natural, the Lord Mayor's installation, on the
9th of November, had a peculiar significance. The Show
was not out of the way, at least nothing singular about it
is recorded, except the appearance of a knight in armour
with his page at the corner of Bride Lane, Bridge Street,
had anything to do with it ; probably he was only an
amateur, as he does not seem to have joined the procession.
In the Guildhall was a transparency of Peace surrounded
by four figures, typical of the four quarters of the globe
returning their acknowledgments for the blessings showered
upon them. There were other emblematic transparencies,
but the contemporary art critic does not speak very favour-
ably of them. M. Otto and his wife, an American born at
Philadelphia, were the guests of the evening, even more than
the Lord Chancellor, and the usual ministerial following.
Bread varied in this year from is. 9*<(d. on the 1st of
January to is. io^d. on the 5th of March, io%d. on the
1 2th of November, and is. o^d. on the 31st of December.
Ancnt the scarcity of wheat at the commencement of the
year, there is a singular item to be found in the " Account
of Moneys advanced for Public Services from the Civil
List (not being part of the ordinary expenditure of the
Civil List)," of a " grant of £500 to Thomas Toden, Esq.,
towards enabling him to prosecute a discovery made by
him, of a paste as a substitute for wheat flour."
Wheat was on January 1st, 137s. per quarter; it reached
153s. in March; and left off on the 31st of December at 68s.
The Three per Cents, varied from 54 on the 1st of January,
to 68 on the 31st of December.
CHAPTER VI
1802.
Disarmament and retrenchment — Cheaper provisions— King applied to Parliament
to pay his debts — The Prince of Wales claimed the revenues of the Duchy of
Cornwall — Parliament pays the King's debts — Abolition of the Income Tax — ■
Signature of the Treaty of Amiens — Conditions of the Treaty — Rush of the
English to France — Visit of C. J. Fox to Napoleon — Liberation of the French
prisoners of war.
THE year 1802 opened somewhat dully, or, rather,
with a want of sensational news. Disarmament, and
retrenchment, were being carried out with a swift-
ness that seemed somewhat incautious, and premature.
But the people had been sorely taxed, and it was but fit-
ting that the burden should be removed at the earliest
opportunity.
Provisions fell to something like a normal price, directly
the Preliminaries of Peace were signed, and a large trade
in all sorts of eatables was soon organized with France,
where prices ruled much lower than at home. All kinds
of poultry and pigs, although neither were in prfme condi-
tion, could be imported at a much lower rate than they
could be obtained from the country.
Woodward gives an amusing sketch of John Bull
46
TIIR NINTEENTH CENTUR V.
(1^02.;
enjoying the good things of this life, on a scale, and at a
cost, to which he had long been a stranger.
On the ioth of February the Right Hon. Charles Abbot,
afterwards Lord Colchester, was elected Speaker to the
House of Commons, in the room of the Right Hon. John
Nutford, who had accepted the position of Chancellor of
Thais rtfif my l-Ji Jij it «*" High Bailiff and Deputy Steward. Officers
on foot. ( Sword and Mace on horseback. ) on foot.
Porter in a black f Lord Mayor, mounted on a ) R j.
gown and staff. { beautiful bay horse. J
Household on foot.
Six Footmen in rich liveries, three and three.
State Coach with six horses, with ribands, &c.
Aldermen in seniority, in their coaches.
Carriages of the two Sheriffs.
Officers of the City, in carriages, in seniority.
Horse Guards.
58 THE NINTEENTII CENTURY. (1802.)
The line of procession was kept by different Volunteer
Corps.
The Proclamation having been read a fourth time, at
Wood Street, they went on to the Exchange, read it there,
and yet once again, at Aldgate pump, after which they
returned, and, halting at the Mansion House, broke up,
the Heralds going to their College, at Doctor's Commons,
the various troops to their proper destinations ; and so
ended a very beautiful sight, which was witnessed by
crowds of people, both in the streets, and in the houses,
along the route.
The illuminations, at night, eclipsed all previous occasions,
Smirk, the Royal Academician, painting a transparency
for the Bank of England, very large, and very allegorical.
M. Otto's house, in Portman Square, was particularly
beautiful, and kept the square full of gazers all the night
through. There were several accidents during the day, one
of which was somewhat singular. One of the outside
ornaments of St. Mary le Strand, then called the New
Church, fell down, killing one man on the spot, and
seriously damaging three others.
The day of General Thanksgiving was very sober, com-
paratively. Both Houses of Parliament attended Divine
service, as did the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, who went in
state to St. Paul's. Most of the churches were well filled,
and flags flew, and bells rung, all day.
In July came a General Election, which evoked a lawless
saturnalia throughout the length and breadth of the land.
An election in our own times — before the ballot brought
peace — was bad enough, but then the duration of the polling
was nothing like it was in the clays of which I write. The
County polling lasted fourteen days ; Boroughs, seven days.
The Morning Herald, July 14, 1802, thus speaks of the
Middlesex election : " During the business of polling, the
populace amused themselves in varieties of whimsicalities,
one of which was the exhibition of a man on the shoulders
(i8o2.) MIDDLESEX ELECTION. 59
of another, handcuffed and heavily ironed, while a third was
employed in flogging him with a tremendous cat-o'-nine-
tails, and the man who received the punishment, by his con-
tortions of countenance, seemed to experience all the misery
which such a mode of punishment inflicts. The shops were
all shut in Brentford, and the road leading to London was
lined on each side with crowds of idle spectators. It is
impossible for any but those who have witnessed a Middlesex
election to conceive the picture it exhibits ; it is one con-
tinual scene of riot, disorder, and tumult."
And, whilst on the subject of Politics, although they have
no proper place in this history, as it deals more especially
with the social aspect of this portion of the Century, yet it
is interesting to be acquainted with the living aspect of
some of the politicians of the time, and, thanks to Gillray,
they are forthcoming in two of his pictures I have here
given.
This is founded on a serio-comic incident which occurred
in a debate on Supply, on March 4, i8o2. r "The report
of the Committee of Supply, to whom the Army estimates
were referred, being brought up, Mr. Robson proceeded to
point out various heads of expenditure, which, he said,
were highly improper, such as the barracks, the expenses
of corn and hay for the horses of the cavalry, the coals and
candles for the men, the expenses of which he contended
to be enormous. The sum charged for beer to the troops
at the Isle of Wight, he said, was also beyond his compre-
hension. He maintained that this mode of voting expen-
diture, by months, was dangerous ; the sum, coming thus
by driblets, did not strike the imagination in the same
manner as they would do, if the whole service of the year
came before the public at once, and that the more particu-
larly, as money was raised by Exchequer bills, to be here-
after provided for, instead of bringing out at once the
budget of taxes for the year. He alleged that those things
1 " Parliamentary History," vol. xxxvi. p. 346, &c.
6o
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1802.)
were most alarming, and the country was beginning to feel
the effects of them. Gentlemen might fence themselves
round with majorities ; but the time would come when
there must be an account given of the public money. The
finances of the country were in so desperate a situation,
-US
"J^fFl
ffii&ffigi^fiHfewL*^
Nichol. Tierney. Addinglon.
Lord Hawkesiury. Dickenson.
SKETCH OF THE INTERIOR OF ST. STEPHEN'S AS IT NOW STANDS.
that Government was unable to discharge its bills ; for a
fact had come within his knowledge, of a bill, accepted by
Government, having been dishonoured. (A general excla-
mation of hear ! hear !)
" Mr. Robson, however, stuck to it as a fact, saying that
i8o2.) A GOVERNMENT BILL DISHONOURED. 61
• it was true that a banker, a member of that House, did
take an acceptance to a public office — the sum was small.
The answer at that public office was " that they had not
money to pay it." ' On being pressed to name the office,
he said it was the Sick and Hurt Office.
" Later on in the evening Addington said, ' I find that
the amount of the bill accepted by Government, and non-
payment of which was to denote the insolvency of
Government, is —
£\g js. Whether
or not the bill was
paid, remains to be
proved ; but my
information comes
from the same
source as the hon.
member derives his
accusation. At all
events, the instance
of the hon. member
of the insolvency of
the Government is
a bill of ,£19 7s.'
" Mr. Robson
said that was so
much the worse, as
the bill was in the
hands of a poor man who wanted the money."
In August some riots occurred in Wiltshire, caused by
the introduction of machinery into cloth-working. What
Hargreaves, Arkwright, and Crompton, had done for the
cotton trade, was bound, sooner or later, to be followed by
other textile industries. In this case a shearing machine
had been introduced into a large factory, some three years
back, and, like the silversmiths at Ephesus, the cloth- workers
thought that "thus our craft is in danger of being set at
R.B. Robson. Home Tooke. Sir F. Bitrdett-
T. T.Jones.
" DESPAIR."
6 2 THE NINE TEENTII CENTUR Y. ( i So 2.)
nought ;" and they did what most poor ignorant men have
clone under like circumstances, they thought they could
retard the inarch of intellect, by breaking the objectionable
machines. Not only so, but, in their senseless folly, they
cut, and destroyed, much valuable property in the cloth-
racks— altogether the damage done was computed at over
£100,000. For this, one man was tried at Gloucester
Assizes, and hanged — a fate which seems to have acted as
a warning to his brother craftsmen, for there was no repeti-
tion of the outrage. In this case, the machinery, being very
expensive, could only be introduced into large mills, the
owners of which did not discharge a man on its account
and the smaller masters were left to plod on in the old way,
in which their soul delighted, and to go quietly to decay,
whilst their more go-ahead neighbours were laying the
foundation of a business which, in time, supplied the
markets of the world. But there was the same opposition
to the Spinning Jenny, and we have seen, in our time,
the stolid resistance offered by agricultural labourers to
every kind of novel machine used in farming, so that we
can more pity, than blame, these deluded, and ignorant,
cloth-workers, because they were not so far-seeing as the
manufacturers.
It was mysteriously whispered about on the evening of the
iSth of November, that a plot had been discovered, having
for its object the assassination of the King ; and next day
the news was confirmed — Colonel Despard,of whom I have
before spoken (see p. 37), was at the head of this plot.
lie was an Irishman, and had seen military service in the
West Indies, on the Spanish Main, and in the Bay of
Honduras, where he acted as Superintendent of the English
Colony ; but, owing to their complaints, he was recalled,
and an inquiry into his conduct was refused. This, no
doubt, soured him, and made him disaffected, causing him
to espouse the doctrines of the French Revolution. On
account of his seditious behaviour, he was arrested under
(1802.J COLONEL DESPARD. (
j
the "Suspension of the Habeas Corpus" Act (1794), and
passed some years in prison ; and, as we have seen, preferred
continuing there, to having a conditional pardon. On his
liberation, this misguided man could not keep quiet, but
must needs plot, in a most insane manner, not for any
good to be done to his country, to redress no grievances,
but simply to assassinate the King, forgetting that
another was ready to take the place of the slaughtered
monarch.
Of course, among a concourse of petty rogues, one was
traitor, a discharged sergeant of the Guards ; and, in conse-
quence of his revelations to Sir Richard Ford, the chief
magistrate at Bow Street, a raid, at night, was made upon
the Oakley Arms, Oakley Street, Lambeth (still in exis-
tence at No. 72), and there they found Colonel Despard and
thirty-two labouring men and soldiers— English, Irish, and
Scotch — all of whom they took into custody, and, after
being examined for eight hours, the Colonel was committed
to the County Gaol, twelve of his companions (six being
soldiers) to Tothill Fields Bridewell, and twenty others to
the New Prison, Clerkenwell.
Next day he was brought up, heavily ironed, before the
Privy Council, and committed to Newgate for trial, the
charge against him being, that he administered a secret
oath to divers persons, binding them to an active co-
operation in the performance of certain treasonable, and
murderous, practices. As a matter of history, his fate
belongs to the next year, but 1803 was so full of incident
that it is better to finish off this pitiful rogue (for he was no
patriot) at once.
On the 20th of January, 1803, the Grand Jury brought in
a true bill against him and twelve others, on the charge of
high treason ; and on the 5th of February their trial, by
Special Commission, commenced, at the Sessions House,
Clerkenwell, before four judges. They were tried on eight
counts, the fifth and sixth of which charged them with
64 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S02.)
" intending to lie in wait, and attack the King, and treating
of the time, means, and place, for effecting the same;" also
" with a conspiracy to attack and seize upon the Bank,
Tower, &c, to possess themselves of arms, in order to kill
and destroy the soldiers and others, His Majesty's liege
subjects," &c. The trial lasted until 8 a.m. on the 10th
of February, when Despard, who was found guilty on the
8th, and nine others, were sentenced to be hanged, disem-
bowelled, beheaded, and quartered. But the day before
they were executed, it was " thought fit to remit part of the
sentence, viz., taking out and burning their bowels before
their faces, and dividing the bodies into four parts." They
were to be hanged, and afterwards beheaded ; and this
sentence was fully carried out on Despard, and six of his
accomplices, on the 21st of February, 1803.
And so the year came to an end, but not quietly ; clouds
were distinctly visible in the horizon to those who watched
the political weather. England hesitated to fulfil her por-
tion of the treaty, with regard to the evacuation of Malta ;
and the relations of Lord Whitworth, our Ambassador, and
the French Court, became somewhat strained.
Still the Three per Cents, kept up — in January 68, July 70,
December 69 ; and bread stuffs were decidedly cheaper
than in the preceding year — wheat averaging 68s. per.
quarter, barley 33s., oats 20s., whilst the average quartern
loaf was is.
m®m&®mmm
CHAPTER VIII.
1803.
Strained relations with France — Prosecution and trial of Jean Peltier for libel
against Napoleon — Rumours of war — king's proclamation — Napoleon's
rudeness to Lord Whitworth — Hoax on the Lord Mayor — Rupture with
France — Return of Lord Whitworth, and departure of the French Ambassa-
dor.
POLITICAL Caricatures, or, as they should rather be
called, Satirical Prints, form very good indications
as to the feeling of the country ; and, on the
commencement of 1803, they evidently pointed to a rupture
with France, owing to the ambition of Napoleon. Lord
Whitworth found him anything but pleasant to deal with.
He was always harping on the license of the British press,
and showed his ignorance of our laws and constitution by
demanding its suppression. Hence sprung the prosecution,
in our Law Courts, of one Jean Peltier, who conducted a
journal in the French language — called LAmbign.
Napoleon's grumbling at the license of our press, was
somewhat amusing, for the French press was constantly
publishing libels against England, and, as Lord Hawkesbury
remarked, the whole period, since the signing of the treaty,
had been " one continued series of aggression, violence, and
insult, on the part of the French Government." Still, to
show every desire to act most impartially towards Napoleon,
6
66 THE NINTEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
although the relations with his government were most
strained, Jean Peltier was indicted ; and his trial was
commenced in the Court of King's Bench, on the 21st of
February, 1 803, before Lord Ellenborough and a special
jury.
The information was filed by the Attorney General, and
set forth : " That peace existed between Napoleon Bonaparte
and our Lord the King ; but that M. Peltier, intending to
destroy the friendship so existing, and to despoil said
Napoleon of his consular dignity, did devise, print, and
publish, in the French language, to the tenor following " —
what was undoubtedly calculated to stir up the French
against their ruler. The Attorney General, in his speech,
details the libels, and gives the following description of the
paper. "The publication is called The Ambigu, or atrocious
and aumsing Varieties. It has on its frontispiece a sphinx,
with a great variety of Egyptian emblematical figures, the
meaning of which may not be very easy to discover, or
material to inquire after. But there is a circumstance
which marks this publication, namely, the head of the
sphinx, with a crown on it. It is a head, which I cannot
pretend to say, never having seen Bonaparte himself, but
only from the different pictures of him, one cannot fail, at
the first blush, to suppose it was intended as the portrait
of the First Consul," &c.
It is very questionable, nowadays, whether such a press
prosecution would have been inaugurated, or, if so, whether
it would have been successful, yet there was some pretty
hard hitting. " And now this tiger, who dares to call him-
self the founder, or the regenerator, of France, enjoys the
fruit of your labours, as spoil taken from the enemy. This
man, sole master in the midst of those who surround him,
has ordained lists of proscription, and put in execution,
banishment without sentence, by means of which there are
punishments for the French who have not yet seen the light.
Proscribed families give birth to children, oppressed before
(1803.) TRIAL OF JEAN PELTIER. 67
they are born ; their misery has commenced before their
life. His wickedness increases every day." The Attorney
General gave many similar passages, which it would be too
tedious to reproduce, winding up with the following quota-
tion : " ' Kings are at his feet, begging his favour. He is
desired to secure the supreme authority in his hands. The
French, nay, Kings themselves, hasten to congratulate him,
and would take the oath to him like subjects. He is pro-
claimed Chief Consul for life. As for me, far from envying
his lot, let him name, I consent to it, his worthy successor.
Carried on the shield, let him be elected Emperor ! Finally
(and Romulus recalls the thing to mind), I wish, on the
morrow, he may have his apotheosis. Amen.' Now, gentle-
men, he says, Romulus suggests that idea. The fate that
is ascribed to him is well known to all of us— according
to ancient history, he was assassinated."
Peltier's counsel, a Mr. Mackintosh, defended him very
ably, asking pertinently : " When Robespierre presided
over the Committee of Public Safety, was not an English-
man to canvass his measures ? Supposing we had then
been at peace with France, would the Attorney General have
filed an information against any one who had expressed
due abhorrence of the furies of that sanguinary monster ?
When Marat demanded 250,000 heads in the Convention,
must we have contemplated that request without speaking
of it in the terms it provoked ? When Carrier placed five
hundred children in a square at Lyons, to fall by the
musketry of the soldiery, and from their size the balls
passed over them, the little innocents flew to the knees
of the soldiery for protection, when they were butchered
by the bayonet ! In relating this event, must man restrain
his just indignation, and stifle the expression of indignant
horror such a dreadful massacre must excite ? Would the
Attorney General in his information state, that when
Maximilian Robespierre was first magistrate of France, as
President of the Committee of Public Safety, that those
68 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
who spoke of him as his crimes deserved, did it with a
wicked and malignant intention to defame and vilify
him. . . .
"In the days of Cromwell, he twice sent a satirist upon
his government to be tried by a jury, who sat where this
jury now sit. The scaffold on which the blood of the
monarch was shed was still in their view. The clashing of
the bayonets which turned out the Parliament was still
within their hearing ; yet they maintained their integrity,
and twice did they send his Attorney General out of court,
with disgrace and defeat."
However, all the eloquence, and ingenuity, of his counsel
failed to prevent a conviction. Peltier was found guilty
and, time being taken to consider judgment, he was bound
over to appear, and receive judgment when called upon.
That time never came, for war broke out between France
and England, and Peltier was either forgotten, or his offence
was looked upon in a totally different light.
The English Government looked with great distrust upon
Napoleon, and the increasing armament on the Continent,
and temporized as to the evacuation of Malta, to the First
Consul's intense disgust. But the Ministry of that day were
watchful, and jealous of England's honour, and as early as
the 8th of March, the King sent the following message to
Parliament :
"George R.
" His Majesty thinks it necessary to acquaint the House
of Commons, that, as very considerable military prepara-
tions are carrying on in the ports of France and Holland,
he has judged it expedient to adopt additional measures of
precaution for the security of his dominions ; though the
preparations to which His Majesty refers are avowedly
directed to Colonial service, yet, as discussions of great
importance are now subsisting between His Majesty and
the French Government, the result of which must, at pre-
(1803.) THE KING'S MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENT. 69
sent, be uncertain, His Majesty is induced to make this
communication to his faithful Commons, in the full persua-
sion that, whilst they partake of His Majesty's earnest and
unvarying solicitude for the continuance of peace, he may
rely with perfect confidence on their public spirit, and
liberality, to enable His Majesty to adopt such measures as
circumstances may appear to require, for supporting the
honour of his Crown, and the essential interests of his
people. " G. R."
An address in accordance with the message was agreed
to by both Houses, and, on the 10th, the King sent Parlia-
ment another message, to the effect he intended to draw
out, and embody, the Militia. On the nth of March the
Commons voted the following resolution, " That an addi-
tional number of 10,000 men be employed for the sea
service, for eleven lunar months, to commence from the
26th of February, 1803, including 3400 Marines."
Events were marching quickly. On the 13th of March
Napoleon behaved very rudely to Lord Whitworth ; in fact
it was almost a parallel case with the King of Prussia's
rudeness to M. Benedetti on the 13th of July, 1870. But
let our Ambassador tell his own story :
" Despatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord 'Hawkesbury
dated Paris the 14th of March, 1803.
"My Lord,
"The messenger, Mason, went on Saturday with
my despatches of that date, and, until yesterday, Sunday,
I saw no one likely to give me any further information,
such as I could depend upon, as to the effect which His
Majesty's Message had produced upon the First Consul.
" At the Court which was held at the Tuileries upon that
day, he accosted me, evidently under very considerable
agitation. He began by asking me if I had any news from
England. I told him that I had received letters from your
lordship two days ago. He immediately said, ' And so you
7 o THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. U 8 °3-)
arc determined to go to war.' ' No !' I replied, ' we are too
sensible of the advantages of peace.' 'Nous avons,' said he,
'deja fait la guerre pendant quinze ans.' As he seemed to
wait for an answer, I observed only, 'C'en est deja trop.'
' Mais,' said he, ' vous voulez la faire encore quinze annees,
et vous m'y forccz.' I told him that was very far from His
Majesty's intentions. He then proceeded to Count Mar-
cow, and the Chevalier Azara, who were standing together,
at a little distance from me, and said to them, 'Les Anglais
veulcnt la guerre, mais s'ils sont les premiers a tirer l'epee,
jc serai le dernier a la remettre. lis ne respectent pas les
trails. II faut dorenavant les couvrir de crepe noir.' He
then went his round. In a few minutes he came back to
me, and resumed the conversation, if such it can be called,
by saying something civil to me. He began again :
'Pourquoi des armemens? Contre qui des mesures de pre-
caution? Je n'ai pas un seul vaisseau de ligne dans les ports
de France ; mais, si vous voulez armer, j'armerai aussi ; si
vous voulez vous battre, je me battrai aussi. Vous pourrez
peut — etre tucr la France, mais jamais l'intimider.' ' On ne
voudrait,' said I ' ni l'un, ni l'autre. On voudrait vivre en
bonne intelligence avec elle.' ' II faut done respecter les
traites,' replied he ; ' malheur a ceux qui ne respectent pas
les traites ; ils en serait responsible a toute l'Europe.' He
was too much agitated to make it advisable for me to pro-
long the conversation ; I therefore made no answer, and he
retired to his apartment, repeating the last phrase.
"It is to be remarked, that all this passed loud enough to
be overheard by two hundred people who were present, and
I am persuaded that there was not a single person, who did
not feel the extreme impropriety of his conduct, and the
total want of dignity as well as of decency, on the occasion.
" I propose taking the first opportunity of speaking to M.
Talleyrand on this subject.
" I have the honour to be, &c.
" (Signed) WlIITWORTII."
(1803.) HOAX ON THE LORD MAYOR. 71
He did call on Talleyrand, who assured him that it was
very far from the First Consul's intention to distress him,
but that he had felt himself personally insulted by the
charges which were brought against him by the English
Government ; and that it was incumbent upon hitn to take
the first opportunity of exculpating himself , in tlie presence of
the ministers of the different Powers of Europe : and Talley-
rand assured Lord Whit worth that nothing similar would
again occur.
And so things went on, the French wishing to gain time,
the English temporizing also, well knowing that the peace
would soon be broken.
We are not so virtuous ourselves, in the matter of false
news, as to be able to speak of the following Stock Ex-
change ruse in terms of proper indignation. It was boldly
conceived, and well carried out.
On the 5th of May, 1803, at half-past eight in the morn-
ing, a man, booted and spurred, and having all the appear-
ance of just having come off a long journey, rushed up to
the Mansion House, and inquired for the Lord Mayor,
saying he was a messenger from the Foreign Office, and
had a letter for his lordship. When informed that he was
not within, he said he should leave the letter, and told the
servant particularly to place it where the Lord Mayor
should get it the moment of his return. Of course the
thing was well carried out ; the letter bore Lord Hawkes-
bury's official seal, and purported to be from him. It ran
thus :
" Downing Street, 8 a.m.
" To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor.
" Lord Hawkesbury presents his compliments to the
Lord Mayor, and is happy to inform him that the negoti-
ations between this country, and the French Republic, have
been amicably adjusted."
His lordship made inquiries as to the messenger, and,
7 2 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
as the whole thing seemed to be genuine, he wrote one
copy, which was straightway stuck up outside the Mansion
Mouse, and sent another to Lloyd's, going himself to the
Stock Exchange with the original, and, about 10 a.m., wrote
to Lord Hawkesbury expressing his satisfaction. Before a
reply could be obtained, and the whole fraud exposed, Mr.
Goldsmid called at the Mansion House, saw the letter, and
pronounced it a forgery. Meanwhile, the excitement on
the Stock Exchange had been terrible. Consols opened at
69, and rose, before noon, to over 70, only to sink, when
the truth came out, to 63. If the bargains had been
upheld, it would have been hopeless ruin to many ; so a
committee of the Stock Exchange decided that all transac-
tions on that day, whether for money or time, were null and
void. The perpetrators of this fraud, consequently, did not
reap any benefit ; nor were they ever found out, although
the Lord Mayor offered a reward of ^500.
The Caricaturists were, at this time, very busy with their
satirical pictures, some of which are very good, especially
one by Gillray (May 18, 1803) called "Armed Heroes."
Addington, in military costume, with huge cocked hat and
sword, bestrides a fine sirloin of the " Roast Beef of Old
England," and is vapouring at little Bonaparte, who, on
the other side of the Channel, is drawing his sword, and
hungrily eyeing the beef. Says he :
" All, ha ! sacre dieu ! vat do I see yonder?
Dat look so invitingly Red and de Vite ?
Oh, by Gar ! I see 'tis de Roast Beef of Londres,
Vich I vill chop up, at von letel bite !"
Addington alternately blusters and cringes, "Who's afraid?
damme! O Lord, O Lord, what a Fiery Fellow he is!
Who's afraid? damme! dear! what will become of ye
Roast Beef? Damme ! who's afraid ? dear! O dear ! "
Other figures are introduced, but they are immaterial.
But the crisis was rapidly approaching. On the 12th of
(1803.) RETURN OF LORD WHITWORTIL 73
May Lord Whitworth wrote Lord Hawkesbury : " The
remainder of this day passed without receiving any com-
munication from M. de Talleyrand. Upon this, I deter-
mined to demand my passports, by an official note, which
I sent this morning by Mr. Mandeville, in order that I
might leave Paris in the evening. At two I renewed my
demand of passports, and was told I should have them
immediately. They arrived at five o'clock, and I propose
setting out as soon as the carriages are ready." He did
not, however, land at Dover until a quarter to twelve on
the night of the 17th of May, where he found the French
Ambassador, General Andreossi, almost ready to embark.
This he did early in the morning of the 19th of May, being
accompanied to the water side by Lord Whitworth.
CHAPTER IX.
Declaration of War against France— Napoleon makes all the English in France
prisoners of war— Patriotic Fund- Squibs on the threatened invasion—" The
New Moses "—Handbill signed "A Shopkeeper"—" Britain's War-song"—
"Who is Bonaparte ? "—""shall Frenchmen rule over us?" — "An Invasion
Sketch."
ON the 1 6th of May the King sent a message to
Parliament announcing his rupture with the
French Government, and the recall of his ambas-
sador, and laying before them the papers relating to the
previous negotiations ; and on the 18th of May, His
Majesty's Declaration of War against France (a some-
what lengthy document) was laid before Parliament. No
time was lost, for, on the 20th of May, Lord Nelson sailed
from Portsmouth in the Victory, accompanied by the
Ampliion, to take the command in the Mediterranean;
and prizes were being brought in daily.
Whether it was in reprisal for this, or not, there are no
means of telling, but Napoleon, on 'the 22nd of May, took
the most unjustifiable step of making prisoners of war of
all the English in France, and Holland, where, also, an
embargo was laid on all English vessels. This detention
of harmless visitors was unprecedented, and aroused uni-
versal reprobation. They were not well treated, and,
besides, were harassed by being moved from place to
place.
In the Annual Register, vol. xlv. p. 399, we read :
(1803.) PATRIOTIC FUND. 75
" In consequence of orders from the Government, the
English, confined at Rouen, have been conducted to Dour-
lens, six miles from Amiens. The English that were at
Calais when Bonaparte visited that place, have all been
sent to Lisle. The English prisoners at Brussels have been
ordered to repair to Valenciennes. The great Consul, like
a politic shepherd, continually removes the pen of his
bleating English flock from spot to spot, well knowing
that the soil will everywhere be enriched by their tem-
porary residence. How their wool will look when they
return from their summer pasture is of little consequence !"
It is not my province to write on the progress of the
war, except incidentally, and as it affected England
socially. The old Volunteer Corps, which had been so
hastily disbanded, again came to the fore, in augmented
strength, and better organization ; but of them I shall treat
in another place. As both men, and money, constitute the
sinews of war, the volunteers found one, the merchants
helped with the other. On the 20th of July the merchants,
underwriters, and subscribers of Lloyd's, held a meeting for
the purpose of " setting on foot a general subscription, on
an extended scale, for the encouragement and relief of
those who may be engaged in the defence of their country,
and who may suffer in the common cause ; and of those
who may signalize themselves during this present most
important contest." The Society of Lloyd's gave £20,000
Stock in the Three per Cent. Consols, and over £1 2,000 was
subscribed at once, five subscriptions each of ^"iooo coming
from such well-known City names as Sir F. Baring, John
J. Angerstein, B. and A. Goldsmid, John Thomson, and
Thomson Bonar. Other loyal meetings took place, and
everything was done that could be done, to arouse the
enthusiasm of the people, and the spirit of patriotism.
One method was by distributing heart-stirring handbills,
serious or humorous, but all having the strongest patriotic
basis. Of these very many hundreds are preserved in the
76 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
British Museum, 1 and very curious they are. That they
answered their purpose no one could doubt, for, although
the threatened invasion of England was a patent fact, to
which no one could shut their eyes, nor doubt its gravity,
these handbills kept alive an enthusiasm that was worth
anything at the time, and it was an enthusiasm, that
although in its style somewhat bombastic, and with some
insular prejudice, was deep-seated and real ;- and, had the
invasion ever taken place, there can be little doubt but that,
humanly speaking, it would have resulted in a disastrous
defeat for Napoleon, or, had it been otherwise, it would
not have been the fault of the defenders, for, like Cromwell's
Ironsides, " Every man had a heart in him."
In these handbills, Bonaparte was accused of many
things — that he became Mohammedan, poisoned his sick at
Jaffa, with many other things which do not come within
the scope of this work, and have been fully treated in my
"English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I.," and which
I do not wish to reproduce ; only, naturally, Napoleon's
name can hardly be kept out, and, as I took the best for
that book, this must not suffer therefrom. They are of all
dates, as can be seen from internal evidence, but very few
are dated, so that they may be taken nearly haphazard.
The following, from its mention of Lord Whitworth, and
his recall, is evidently an early one :
" The New Moses
or
"Bonaparte's Ten Commandments.
" Translated from a French Manuscript
by
Soliman the Traveller.
"And when the great man came from Egypt, he used
1 Notably the following, — - — '—^ Squibs on Bonaparte's threatened In-
vasion ; 1890 e. Miss Banks' Collection, Threatened Invasion ; and 554 f. 25
Squibs on the Threatened French Invasion.
( 1 803.) INVASION SQ UIBS. 7 7
cunning and force to subject the people. The good as well
as the wicked of the land trembled before him, because he
had won the hearts of all the fighting men ; and after he
had succeeded in many of his schemes, his heart swelled
with pride, and he sought how to ensnare the people more
and more, to be the greatest man under the sun.
" The multitude of the people were of four kinds : some
resembled blind men, that cannot see ; some were fearful,
who trembled before him ; others courageous, and for the
good of the people, but too weak in number ; and others
yet, who were as wicked as the great man himself. And
when he was at the head of the deluded nation, he gave
strict laws and the following commandments, which were
read before a multitude of people, and in a full congrega-
tion of all his priests —
" 1. Ye Frenchmen, ye shall have no other commander
above me ; for I, Bonaparte, am the supreme head of the
nation, and will make all nations about you bow to you,
and obey me as your Lord and Commander.
"2. Ye shall not have any graven images upon your Coin,
in marble, wood, or metal, which might represent any
person above me ; nor shall ye acknowledge any person to
excel me, whether he be among the living, or the dead,
whether he be in the happy land of the enlightened French,
or in the cursed island of the dull English ; for I, the Chief
Consul of France, am a jealous hero, and visit disobedience
of an individual upon a whole nation, and of a father
upon the children, and upon the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me ; and show mercy unto them that love
me, and humble themselves.
" 3. Ye shall not trifle with my name, nor take it in vain ;
nor shall you suffer that any other nation, treat it disrespect-
fully ; for I will be the sole commander of the earth, and
make you triumph over your enemies.
"4. Remember that ye keep the days of prayers, and pray
for me as the head of the nation, and the future conqueror
7 8 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
of the base English. Ye shall pray fervently with your
faces cast upon the ground, and not look at the priest
when he pronounces my name ; for I am a jealous hero, and
delight in my priests because they are humble, and I have
regarded the lowliness of their hearts, and forgiven them
all their past iniquities. And, ye priests, remember the
power of him who made you his creatures, and do your duty.
" 5. Respect and honour all French heroes, that ye may
find mercy in mine eyes for all your iniquities, and that ye
may live in the land in which I, the Lord your Commander,
lives.
" 6. Ye shall not murder each other, save it be by my own
commands, for purposes that may be known to me alone ;
but of your enemies, and all those nations that will not
acknowledge your, and my greatness, ye may kill an infinite
number ; for that is a pleasing sight in the eyes of your
supreme Commander.
"7. Ye shall not commit adultery at home, whatever ye
may do in the land of the infidels, and the stiff-necked
people ; for they are an abomination to the Lord your
Commander.
" 8. Ye shall not steal at home, but suppress your covet-
ousness and insatiable desire for plunder until ye may
arrive in the land of your enemies. Ye shall neither steal
from them with indiscretion, but seem to give with the
left hand, when the right taketh.
"9. Ye shall not bear false witness against your neighbour,
if he should distinguish himself in the land of the enemies.
" 10. Ye shall not covet anything of your neighbour, but
everything of your enemies — his jewels, his gold, his silver,
his horse or ass, his maid, his daughter, his wife, or any-
thing in which your hearts find delight ; and ye may take
it, but still with cunning ; for the Lord your Commander
loveth mildness more than strength, to please the people
when he plunders. Use the sword in battle, cunning after
it ; look for plunder, but subject the people to me. Herein.
(i8o 3 .) INVASION SQUIBS. 79
lie all my Commandments, and those who keep them shall
be protected by my power, and prosper in all their under-
takings.
" When the reading of these Commandments were over,
the multitude gazed with amazement. There were present
the gentiles, and ambassadors of various nations, and many
looked at each other as if they were looking for the sense
of what they had heard. The Chief Friest, however, more
cunning than all the rest, thus broke silence :
" Bishop. Our mouths shall glorify thee for ever ; for thou
hast regarded the lowliness of our hearts, and hast raised
thy servants from the dust.
" Pope. And I will support your holy endeavours ; for
without him I would not sit upon the holy seat of Peter.
"^//(Priests and many of the Multitude). Praise be to
him, for he has mercy on those that are humble, and fear
him — throughout all the world, and all nations but the
English, who are an abomination in his sight.
"Bishop of Amiens. Bow to him, for he commands ye.
" An Italian to a Swiss. I bow to him, for I fear and
dread him.
"A Dutchman (to the two former). Ay, ay ! I must bow,
at present, with you ; but I would rather make him bow
before me and my nation.
"French Gentleman. Dat be very right to you! Vy vcre
ye sush fools, and bigger fools yet, as we French, to submit
to him, and even to court his tyranny ?
" Bonaparte (in one corner of the hall, and not hearing
part of the preceding discourse, to one of his slaves). Do
you observe that proud Englishman ?
" 1st Slave. He neither bows, nor does he seem to
approve of the homage paid to thee by the worshippers.
"2nd Slave. Ay, he is one of the stiff-necked Englishmen.
"Bonaparte. And so are all of his breed, except some of
the meanest rabble.
So THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
"Lord Whitworth (to himself). I shall bow to thee with
all my heart and soul, as soon as I may have the pleasure
of being recalled.
"Bonaparte. This is an insult which shall be revenged
on the whole nation."
There is not much " go " in the above, but it is mild, as
being one of the first ; they soon developed.
" Fellow Citizens,
" Bonaparte threatens to invade us ; he promises to
enrich his soldiers with our property, to glut their lust with
our Wives and Daughters. To incite his Hell Hounds to
execute his vengeance, he has sworn to permit everything.
Shall we Merit by our Cowardice the titles of sordid Shop-
keepers, Cowardly Scum, and Dastardly Wretches, which in
every proclamation he gives us ? No ! we will loudly give
him the lie: Let us make ourselves ready to shut our Shops,
and march to give him the reception his malicious calum-
nies deserve. Let every brave young fellow instantly join
the Army or Navy ; and those among us who, from being
married, or so occupied in business, cannot, let us join
some Volunteer Corps, where we may learn the use of arms,
and yet attend our business. Let us encourage recruiting
in our neighbourhood, and loudly silence the tongues of
those whom Ignorance or Defection (if any such there be)
lead them to doubt of the attempt to invade or inveigh
against the measures taken to resist it. By doing this, and
feeling confidence in ourselves, we shall probably prevent
the attempt ; or, if favoured by a dark night, the enemy
should reach our shores, our Unanimity and Strength will
paralyze his efforts, and render him an easy prey to our
brave Army. Let us, in families and neighbourhood,
thus contribute to so desirable an event, and the blood-
stained banners of the Vaunted Conquerors of Europe will
soon be hung up in our Churches, the honourable Trophies of
our brave Army — an Army ever Victorious when not
(1803.) INVASION SQUIBS. 81
doubled in numbers, and the only Army who can stand
the charge of Bayonets. What Army ever withstood
THEIRS ! ! ! Let the welfare of our Country animate all,
and ' come the World in Arms against us, and we'll shock
'em
"A Shopkeeper."
" Prave 'orts," but they answered their purpose. It was
an article of faith that an Englishman was certainly a
match for two ordinary foes, perhaps three, and this, no
doubt, was to a certain extent true. The history of that
time shows victories, both by land and sea, gained against
fearful odds. What then might not have been done under
such stimulant as
"BRITAIN'S WAR-SONG.
"Britons rouse; with Speed advance;
Seize the Musket, grasp the Lance ;
See the Hell-born Sons of France !
Now Murder, Lust, and Rapine reign
Hark ! the Shriek o'er Infants slain !
See the desolated Plain !
Novv's the Day, and now's the Hour,
See the Front of Battle lower !
See curs'd Buonaparte's Power !
Who will be a Traitor Knave ?
Who can fill a Coward's Grave ?
Who so base as live a Slave ?
Rush indignant on the Foe !
Lay the Fiend Invaders low !
Vengeance is on every Blow !
Forward ! lo, the Dastards flee ; .
Drive them headlong to the Sea ;
Britons ever will be free !
Huzza, Huzza, Huzza ! "
7
S 2 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
"Who is BONAPARTE?
"Who IS he? Why an obscure Corsican, that began
his Murderous Career with turning his Artillery upon the
Citizens of Paris — who boasted in his Public Letters from
Pavia, of having shot the whole Municipality — who put the
helpless, innocent, and unoffending Inhabitants of Alexandria,
Man, Woman, and Child, to the Sword, till Slaughter was
tired of its work — who, against all the Laws of War, put near
4000 Turks to death, in cold blood, after their Surrender —
who destroyed his own Comrades by Poison, when lying
sick and wounded in Hospitals, because they were unable
to further the plan of Pillage which carried him to St. Jean
d'Acre — who, having thus stained the profession of Arms,
and solemnly and publicly renounced the religious Faith of
Christendom, and embraced Mohametanism, again pretended
to embrace the Christian Religion — who, on his return to
France, destroyed the Representative System — who, after
seducing the Polish Legion into the Service of his pretended
Republic, treacherously transferred it to St. Domingo,
where it has perished to a Man, either by Disease or the
Sword— and who, finally, as it were to fill the Measure of
his Arrogance, has Dared to attack what is most dear and
useful to civilized Society, the Freedom of the Press and
the Freedom of Speech, by proposing to restrict the
British Press and the Deliberations of the British Senate.
Such is the Tyrant we are called upon to oppose ; and such
is the Fate which awaits England should We suffer him
and his degraded Slaves to pollute OUR Soil."
" Shall Frenchmen rule o'er us ? King Edward said, No !
And No ! said King Harry, and Queen Bess she said, No !
And No ! said Old England, and No ! she says still;
They never shall rule Us ; let them try if they will.
. Hearts of Oak we are all, both cur Ships and our Men ;
Then steady, Boys, steady,
Let's always be ready ;
We have trimmed them before, let us trim them again.
(1803.) INVASION SQUIBS. 83
Shall Frenchmen rule o'er us ? King George he says No !
And No ! say our Lords, and our Commons they say No !
And No ! say AH Britons of every degree ;
They shall never rule Britons, United and Free.
Hearts of Oak, &c.
Shall Frenchmen rule us, the Free Sons of the Waves ?
Shall England be ruled by a Nation of Slaves ?
Shall the Corsican Tyrant, who bound on their Chains,
Govern Us, in the room of Our Good King who reigns ?
Hearts of Oak, &c.
Though He'd fain stop our Press, yet we'll publish his shame ;
We'll proclaim to the World his detestable Fame ;
How the Traitor Renounced his Redeemer, and then
How he murder'd his Pris'ners and Poison'd his Men.
Hearts of Oak, &c.
Then Down with the Tyrant, and Down with his Rod !
Let us stand by our Freedom, our King, and our God !
Let us stand by our Children, our Wives, and our Homes !
Then Woe to the Tyrant Whenever he Comes !
Hearts of Oak, &c."
The following is particularly good, as it gives a very
vivid description of what might have occurred, had
Napoleon's threatened invasion been successful, and it will
favourably contrast with its congener of modern times,
" The Battle of Dorking."
"Our Invasion Sketch.
" If there be one Person so lost to all Love for his Country,
and the British Constitution, as to suppose that his Person
or his Property, his Rights and his Freedom, would be
respected under a Foreign Yoke, let him contemplate the
following Picture — not Overcharged, but drawn from Scenes
afforded by every Country : Italy, Holland, Switzerland,
Germany, Spain, Hanover, which has been exposed to the
Miseries of a French Invasion.
8 4 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S03 )
"LONDON, 10 TJiermidor Year .
"General BONAPARTE made his public entrance into the
Capital, over London Bridge, upon a charger from his
Britannic Majesty's Stables at Hanover, preceded by a
detachment of Mamelukes. He stopped upon the bridge
for a few seconds, to survey the number of ships in the
river ; and, beckoning to one of his Aide-de-camps, ordered
the French flags to be hoisted above the English— the
English sailors on board, who attempted to resist the execu-
tion of this order, were bayonetted, and thrown overboard.
" When he came to the Bank, he smiled with Complaisance
upon a detachment of French Grenadiers, who had been
sent to load all the bullion in waggons, which had
previously been put in requisition by the Prefect of London,
Citizen Mengaud, for the purpose of being conveyed to
France. The Directors of the Bank were placed under a
strong guard of French soldiers, in the Bank parlour.
" From the Bank, the First CONSUL proceeded, in grand
procession, along Cheapside, St. Paul's, Ludgate Hill, Fleet
Street, and the Strand, to St. James's Palace. He there
held a grand Circle, which was attended by all his officers,
whose congratulations he received upon his entrance into
the Capital of these once proud Islanders. BONAPARTE,
previous to his arrival, appointed two Prefects, one for
London, and one for Westminster. Citizen MENGAUD, late
Commissary at Calais, is the Prefect of London, and Citizen
RArp, of Westminster. He also nominated Citizen
FOUCHE to the office of Minister of Police. The Mansion-
house has been selected for the residence of the Prefect
of London, and Northumberland House, 1 for the residence
of the Prefect of Westminster. As it has been deemed
necessary to have the Minister of Police always near the
person of the First CONSUL, Marlborough House has been
given to Citizen Fouche. Lodgings have been prepared
elsewhere, for the late owners of that splendid palace.
• On the site of which The Grand Hotel, Charing Cross, now stands.
( 1 803. ) INVASION SQ UIBS. 85
" London was ordered to be illuminated, and detach-
ments of French Dragoons paraded the principal streets,
and squares, all night.
"11 Thermidor.
" Bonaparte, at five o'clock in the morning, reviewed
the French troops on the Esplanade at the Horse Guards.
A Council was afterwards held, at which the following
Proclamations were drawn up, and ordered to be posted
in every part of the City :
"'By Order of the First Consul.
" ' Proclamation.
" ' St. James's Palace.
" ' Inhabitants of London, be tranquil. The Hero, the
Pacificator, is come among you. His moderation, and his
mercy, are too well known to you. He delights in
restoring peace and liberty to all mankind. Banish all
alarms. Pursue your usual occupations. Put on the habit
of joy and gladness.
" ' The First Consul orders,
" ' That all the Inhabitants of London and Westminster
remain in their own houses for three days.
'"That no molestation shall be offered to the measures
which the French Soldiers will be required to execute.
" ' All persons disobeying these Orders, will be im-
mediately carried before the Minister of Police.
" ' (Signed) Bonaparte.
" ' The Minister of Police, FoucheV
" ' Proclamation.
" ' To the French Soldiers.
'"Soldiers ! Bonaparte has led you to the Shores, and
the Capital of this proud island. He promised to reward
his brave companions in arms. He promised to give up
the Capital of the British Empire to pillage. Brave
86 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
Comrades, take your reward. London, the second Carthage,
is given up to pillage for three days.
" ' {Signed) BONAPARTE.
" ' The Minister of War, par interim, ANGEREAU.'
"The acclamations of the French Soldiery — Vive Bona-
parte — le Ht'ros — le Pacificateur — le Magnaninte — resound
through every street.
" 1 2th, 13th, 14th Thermidor.
" London Pillaged ! The doors of private houses
forced. Bands of drunken soldiers dragging wives, and
daughters, from the hands of husbands and fathers. Many
husbands, who had the temerity to resist, butchered in the
presence of their Children. Flames seen in a hundred
different places, bursting from houses which had been set
fire to, by the vivacity of the troops. Churches broken
cpen, and the Church plate plundered — the pews and altars
converted into Stabling. Four Bishops murdered, who had
taken refuge in Westminster Abbey — the screams of
women and of children mix with the cries of the Soldiers —
Vive la Repiddiqne ! Vive Bonaparte !
" St. Martin's Church converted into a depot for the
property acquired by the pillage of the Soldiery.
" 15 Thermidor.
" A proclamation published by the First Consul,
promising protection to the inhabitants.
"The houses of the principal Nobility and Gentry appro-
priated to the use of the French Generals. Every house is
required to furnish so many rations of bread and meat for
the troops.
" At a Council of State, presided over by BONAPARTE,
the two Houses of Parliament are solemnly abolished, and
ordered to be replaced by a Senate, and a Council of
State. General Massena appointed Provisional President
of the former, and General DESSOLLES of the latter. The
(1803.) PRETENDED PROCLAMATION. 87
Courts of Law are directed to discontinue their sittings,
and are replaced by Military Tribunals.
" 1 6 TJiennidor.
"A contribution of twenty millions ordered to be levied
upon London. A deputation was sent to BONAPARTE to
represent the impossibility of complying with the demand,
the Bank and the Capital having been pillaged. After
waiting in the ante-chamber of the Consul for four hours,
the deputation are informed by a Mameluke guard, that
Bonaparte will not see them. Two hundred of the
principal Citizens ordered to be imprisoned till the Contri-
bution is paid.
"17 Tliermidor.
" A plot discovered by FOUCHE against the First
CONSUL, and three hundred, supposed to be implicated in
it, sent to the Tower.
"Insurrections in different parts of the Capital, on account
of the excesses of the Soldiers, and the contribution of
twenty millions. Cannon planted at all the principal
avenues, and a heavy fire of grape shot kept up against the
insurgents.
" Lords Nelson, St. Vincent, and Duncan, Messrs.
Addington, Pitt, Sheridan, Grey, twenty Peers and
Commons, among the latter is Sir SIDNEY Smith, tried
by the Military Tribunals for having been concerned in the
insurrection against France, and sentenced to be shot.
Sentence was immediately carried into execution in Hyde
Park.
" 1 8 Tliermidor.
"The Dock-yards ordered to send all the timber, hemp,
anchors, masts, &c, to France. The relations of the British
sailors at sea, sent to prison till the ships are brought into f
port, and placed at the disposal of the French. Detach-
ments dispatched to the different Counties to disarm the
people.
S8
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
('803)
"The Island ordered to be divided into departments, and
military divisions — the name of London to be changed for
Bonapart-opolis — and the appellation of the Country to be
altered from Great Britain, to that of La France insulaire. —
Edinburgh to take the name of Lucien-ville — Dublin, that
of Massen-opv/is.
" BRITONS ! can this be endured ? shall we suffer
ourselves thus to be parcelled off? I hear you one and all
say, No ! No ! No ! To your Tents, O Israel !— for
BRITONS NEVER WILL BE SLAVES."
CHAPTER X.
Invasion Squibs continued — " The Freeman's Oath " — "John Hull and Bonaparte"
— "The Eve of Invasion" — "A Biography of Napoleon "—" Britons, strike
home" — Enrolment of 400,000 Volunteers — Napoleon at Calais — Apprehen-
sion of vagrants, and compulsorily recruiting the Army and Navy with them
— Patriotism of the nation — Preparations in case of reverse — Beacons — Spies —
The French prisoners — Emmett's rebellion in Ireland — Its prompt suppression
— General Fast — Relief of the Roman Catholics.
SEE yet another :
" The Consequences of Buonaparte's succeeding in
his designs against this Country : — Universal Pillage,
Men of all parties slaughtered, Women of all Ranks
violated, Children Murdered, Trade Ruined, the Labouring
Classes thrown out of Employment, Famine with all its
Horrors, Despotism Triumphant. The remaining Inhabi-
tants Carried away by Ship Loads to Foreign Lands.
Brit jus look before you."
There were sham playbills such as — " THEATRE ROYAL,
ENGLAND. In Rehearsal, and meant to be speedily at-
tempted, A Farce in one Act, called The Invasion of
England. Principal Buffo, Mr. Buonaparte; being his
First (and most likely his last) Appearance on the Stage,"
&c. " In Rehearsal, THEATRE ROYAL OF THE United
Kingdoms. Some dark, ioggy night, about November next,
will be ATTEMPTED, by a Strolling Company of French
Vagrants, an Old Pantomimic Farce, called Harlequin's
9°
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
1803.)
Invasion, or the Disappointed Banditti," &c. " Thea-
tre ROYAL, the OCEAN. In preparation, A magnificent
Naval and Military SPECTACLE, superior to anything
of the kind ever witnessed ; consisting of an immense
display of Flat-bottomed Boats Burning, Sinking, &c., to
^ LA.
THE FREEMAN'S OATH.
be called BUONAPARTE ; or The Free-Booter running
away ; the Triumph of the British Flag," &c.
"THE FREEMAN'S OATH.
" Our bosoms we'll bare for the glorious strife,
And our oath is recorded on high ;
To prevail in the cause that is dearer than life,
Or, crush'd in its ruins, to die.
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land.
(iSo 3 .) PATRIOTIC HANDBILLS. 91
'Tis the home we hold sacred is laid to our trust,
God bless the green isle of the brave,
Should a conqueror tread on our forefathers' dust,
It would rouse the old dead from their grave.
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land.
In a Briton's sweet home shall the spoiler abide,
Prophaning its loves and its charms ?
Shall a Frenchman insult the lov'd fair at our side ?
To arms ! Oh, my country, to arms !
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land.
Shall Tyrants enslave us, my Countrymen ? No !
Their heads to the sword shall be given :
Let a deathbed repentance be taught the proud foe,
And his blood be an offering to Heaven.
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land."
Turning from the sublimity of this patriotic effusion, we
shall find a change in "John Bull and Bonaparte ! ! to
the tune of the Blue Bells of Scotland :"
" When and O when does this little Boney come ?
Perhaps he'll come in August ! perhaps he'll stay at home ;
But it's O in my heart, how I'll hide him should he come.
Where and O where does this little Boney dwell ?
His birth place is in Corsica — but France he likes so well,
That it's O the poor French, how they crouch beneath his spell.
What cloathes and what cloathes does this little Boney wear ?
He wears a large cock'd hat for to make the people stare ;
But it's O my oak stick ! I'd advise him to take care 1
What shall be done, should this little Boney die ?
Nine cats shall squall his dirge, in sweet melodious cry,
And it's O in my heart, if a tear shall dim my eye !
Yet still he boldly brags, with consequence full cramm'd
On England's happy island, his legions he will land ;
But it's O in my heart, if he does may I be d d."
92 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S03.)
I will give but one more example, not that the stock is
exhausted by some hundreds, but that I fear to be weari-
some, and this one shows that if occasionally the matter
of invasion was treated with a light heart, there were many,
nay, the large majority, who looked upon its possibility
au grand serieux.
"THE EVE OF INVASION.
" The hour of battle now draws nigh,
We swear to conquer, or to die ;
Haste quick away, thou slow pae'd Night,
To-morrow's dawn begins the fight.
Chorus.
Brothers, draw th' avenging sword,
Death or Freedom be the word.
A Soldier.
Did ye not leave, when fore'd to part,
Some treasure precious to the heart ?
And feel ye not your bosoms swell,
Whene'er ye think of that farewell ?
Chorus.
Another Soldier.
My Lucy said, no longer stay,
Thy country calls thee hence away,
Adieu ! may angels round thee hover,
But no slave shall be my lover.
Chorus.
Another.
My Grandsire cried, I cannot go,
But thou, my Son, shall meet the foe ,
I need not say, dear Boy, be brave,
No Briton sure would live a slave.
Chorus.
Another.
My Wife, whose glowing looks exprest,
What patriot ardour warm'd her breast,
Said, ' In the Battle think of me ;
These helpless Babes, they shall be free.'
Chorus.
(1S03.) BONAPARTE. 93
All.
Shades of Heroes gone, inspire us,
Children, Wives, and Country fire us.
Freedom loves this hallow'd ground —
Hark ! Freedom bids the trumpet sound.
Chorus.
Brothers, draw th' avenging sword,
Death or Freedom be the word."
If the foregoing examples of the Patriotic Handbills of
1803 are not choice specimens of refined literature, they
are at least fairly representative. I have omitted all the
vilification of Napoleon, which permeates all the series in
a greater or less degree, because I have already given it in
another work. It was gravely stated that his great grand-
father was the keeper of a wine-shop, who, being convicted
of robbery and murder, was condemned to the galleys,
where he died in 1724. His wife, Napoleon's great grand-
mother, was said to have died in the House of Correction
at Genoa. " His grandfather was a butcher of Ajaccio,
and his grandmother daughter of a journeyman tanner at
Bastia. His father was a low pettyfogging lawyer, who
served and betrayed his country by turns, during the Civil
Wars. After France conquered Corsica, he was a spy
to the French Government, and his mother their trull."
General Marboeuf was said to have been Napoleon's father.
He was accused of seducing his sisters, and his brothers
were supposed to be a very bad lot. He massacred the
people at Alexandria and Jaffa, besides poisoning his own
sick soldiers there. There was nothing bad enough for
the Corsican Ogre ; they even found that he was the real,
original, and veritable Apocalyptic BEAST, whose number
is 666. It is but fair to say that the majority of these
accusations came originally from French sources, but they
were eagerly adopted here ; and, although they might be,
and probably were, taken at their proper valuation by the
94 TJJE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
educated classes, there is no doubt but the lower classes
regarded him as a ruffianly murderer. " Boney will come
to you," was quite enough to quiet and overawe any re-
fractory youngster, who, however, must have had some
consolation, and satisfaction, in crunching, in sweetstuff,
Bonaparte s Ribs. It was all very well to sing —
" Come, Bonaparte, if you dare ;
John Bull invites you ; bring your Host,
Your slaves with Free men to compare ;
Your Frogs shall croak along the Coast.
When slain, thou vilest of thy Tribe,
Wrapped in a sack your Bones shall be,
That the Elements may ne'er imbibe
The venom of a Toad like thee " —
but there was the flat-bottomed Flotilla, on the opposite
shore, which we were unable to destroy, or even to appreci-
ably damage, and the " Army of England," inactive cer-
tainly, was still there, and a standing menace. The
Volunteers were feted, and praised to the top of their bent.
An old air of Henry Purcell's (1695), which accompanied
some words interpolated in Beaumont and Fletcher's play
of'Bonduca" or "Boadicaea," became extremely popular; and
the chorus, " Britons, strike home," was married to several
sets of words, and duly shouted by loyal Volunteers. The
Pictorial Satirist delineates the Volunteer as performing
fabulous deeds of daring. Gillray gives us his idea of the
fate of " Buonaparte forty-eight hours after Landing ! "
where a burly rustic Volunteer holds the bleeding head of
Napoleon upon a pitchfork, to the delight of his comrades,
and he thus apostrophises the head : " Ha, my little Boney!
what do'st think of Johnny Bull, now? Plunder Old
England ! hay ? make French slaves of us all ! hay ? ravish
all our Wives and Daughters ! hay ? O Lord, help that
silly Head ! To think that Johnny Bull would ever suffer
those lanthorn Jaws to become King of Old England Roast
Beef and Plum Pudding ! "
(i3o3.) PATRIOTISM. 95
Ansell, too, treats Bonaparte's probable fate, should he
land, in a somewhat similar manner. His etching is called
"After the Invasion. The Levee en Masse, or, Britons, strike
home." The French have landed, but have been thoroughly
routed, of course, by a mere handful of English, who drive
them into the sea. Our women plunder the French dead,
but are disgusted with their meagre booty — garlic, onions,
and pill-boxes. A rural Volunteer is, of course, the hero of
the day, and raises Napoleon's head aloft on a pitchfork,
whilst he thus addresses two of his comrades. " Here he
is exalted, my Lads, 24 Hours after Landing." One of his
comrades says, " Why, Harkee, d'ye zee, I never liked
soldiering afore, but, somehow or other, when I thought of
our Sal, the beams, the poor Cows, and the Geese, why I
could have killed the whole Army, my own self." The other
rustic remarks, "Dang my Buttons if that beant the head
of that Rogue Boney. I told our Squire this morning,
'What ! do you think,' says I, 'the lads of our Village can't
cut up a Regiment of them French Mounseers ? and as soon
as the lasses had given us a kiss for good luck, I could
have sworn we should do it, and so we have."
Well ! it is hard to look at these things in cold blood, at
a great distance of time, and without a shadow of a shade
of the fear of invasion before our eyes, so we ought to be
mercifully critical of the bombast of our forefathers. It
certainly has done us no harm, and if it kept up and nour-
ished the flame of patriotism within their breasts, we are
the gainers thereby, as there is no doubt but that the bold
front shown by the English people, and the unwearying
vigilance of our fleet, saved England from an attempted, if
not successful, invasion. Upwards of 400,000 men volun-
tarily rising up in arms to defend their country, must have
astonished not only Bonaparte, but all Europe; and by being
spontaneous, it prevented any forced measures, such as a
levee en masse. The Prince of Wales, in vain, applied for
active service ; but, it is needless to say, it was refused, not
9 6 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
to the colonel of the regiment, but to the heir to the throne.
The refusal was tempered by the intimation that, should
the enemy effect a landing, the Prince should have an
opportunity of showing his courage, a quality which has
always been conspicuous in our Royal Family.
But before we leave the subject of the threatened In-
vasion, it would be as well to read some jottings respecting
it, which have no regular sequence, and yet should on no
account be missed, as they give us, most vividly, the state
of the public mind thereon.
Napoleon was at Boulogne, at the latter end of June,
making a tour of the ports likely to be attacked by the
British, and, as an example of how well his movements
were known, see the following cutting from the Times of 4th
of July : " The Chief Consul reached Calais at five o'clock
on Friday afternoon (the 1st of July). His entry, as might
be expected, was in a grand style of parade : he rode on a
small iron grey horse of great beauty. He was preceded
by about three hundred Infantry, and about thirty Mame-
lukes formed a kind of semicircle about him. ... In a
short time after his arrival he dined at Quillac & Cos. (late
Dessins) hotel. The time he allowed himself at dinner
was shorter than usual ; he did not exceed ten minutes or
a quarter of an hour. Immediately after dinner he went,
attended by M. Francy, Commissary of Marine, Mengaud,
Commissary of Police, and other municipal officers, through
the Calais gates, to visit the different batteries erected there.
As soon as he and his attendants had passed through the
gates, he ordered them to be shut, to prevent their being
incommoded by the populace. The execution of this
order very much damped the ardour of the Corsican's
admirers, who remained entirely silent, although the moment
before, the whole place resounded with Vive Buonaparte !
The same evening the General went on board the Josephine
packet, Captain Lambert, and, after examining everything
there minutely, he took a short trip upon the water in a
(i8o 3 .) RECRUITING. 97
boat as far as the pier-head to the Battery at the entrance
of the harbour, where he himself fired one of the guns ;
afterwards, he visited all the different Forts, and at night
slept at Quillac's Hotel."
They had a rough-and-ready method, in those days, of
recruiting for the services, apprehending all vagrants, and
men who could not give a satisfactory account of them-
selves, and giving them the option of serving His Majesty
or going to prison. There is a curious instance of this in
the following police report, containing as it does an amus-
ing anecdote of "diamond cut diamond." Times, the
7th July, 1803: "Public Office, Bow Street. Yester-
day upwards of forty persons were taken into custody,
under authority of privy search warrants, at two houses
of ill fame ; the one in Tottenham Court Road, and
the other near Leicester Square. They were brought
before N. Bond, Esq., and Sir W. Parsons, for examina-
tion ; when several of them, not being able to give a
satisfactory account of themselves, and being able-bodied
men, were sent on board a tender lying off the Tower.
Two very notorious fellows among them were arrested
in the office for pretended debts, as it appeared, for
the purpose of preventing their being sent to sea, the
writs having been just taken out, at the suit of persons
as notorious as themselves. The magistrates, however,
could not prevent the execution of the civil process, as
there was no criminal charge against them, which would
justify their commitment." Take also a short paragraph
in the next day's Times : " Several young men, brought
before the Lord Mayor yesterday, charged with petty
offences, were sent on board the tender."
But, perhaps, this was the best use to put them to, as idle
hands were not wanted at such a juncture. Men came
forward in crowds as volunteers. Lloyd's, and the City
generally, subscribed most liberally to the Patriotic Fund, and
even in minor things, such as transport, the large carriers
8
98 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
came forward well — as, for instance, the well-known firm
of Pickford and Co. offered for the service of the Govern-
ment, four hundred horses, fifty waggons, and twenty-eight
boats. 1 County meetings were held all over England to
organize defence, and to find means of transport for cannon,
men, and ammunition in case of invasion. The people
came forward nobly ; as the Times remarked in a leader
(6th of August, 1803): " Eleven Weeks are barely passed
since the Declaration of War, and we defy any man living,
to mention a period when half so much was ever effected, in
the same space of time, for the defence of the country. 1st
A naval force such as Great Britain never had before, has
been completely equipped, manned, and in readiness to
meet the enemy. 2nd. The regular military force of the
kingdom has been put on the most respectable footing.
3rd. The militia has been called forth, and encamped with
the regular forces. 4th. The supplementary militia has
also been embodied, and even encamped. 5 th. An army of
reserve of 50,000 men has been already added to this force,
and is now in great forwardness. 6th. A measure has been
adopted for calling out and arming the whole mass of the
people, in case of emergency ; and we are confident that
our information is correct, when we say, that at this mo-
ment there are nearly 300,000 men enrolled in different
Volunteer, Yeomanry, and Cavalry Corps, of whom at
least a third may be considered as already disciplined, and
accoutred."
But, naturally, and sensibly, the feeling obtained of what
might occur in case the French did actually land, and,
among other matters, the safety of the King and the
Royal Family was not forgotten. It was settled that the
King should not go far, at least at first, from London, and
both Chelmsford, and Dartford, as emergency might direct,
were settled on as places of refuge for His Majesty : the
1 In two advertisements only of voluntary offers of horses and carriages, in
August, we find they amount to 2,370 horses and 510 carriages.
(1803.) SPIES. 99
Queen, the Royal Family, and the treasure were to go to
Worcester the faithful, Civitas in bel/o, et in pace fidelis.
The artillery and stores at Woolwich were to be sent into
the Midland districts by means of the Grand Junction
Canal. Beacons were to be affixed to some of the seaside
churches, such as Lowestoft and Woodbridge, and these
were of very simple construction — only a tar barrel !
But, by and by, a better, and more organized, system of
communication by beacon was adopted, and the beacons
themselves -were more calculated to effect their object.
They were to be made of a large stack, or pile, of furze, or
faggots, with some cord-wood — in all, at least, eight waggon
loads, with three or four tar barrels, sufficient to yield a
light unmistakable at a distance of two or three miles.
These were to be used by night ; by day, a large quantity of
straw was to be wetted, in order to produce a smoke.
When the orders for these first came out, invasion was
only expected on the Kent and Sussex coasts, and the
beacon stations were proportionately few ; afterwards, they
became general throughout the country. The first lot
(17th of November) were
1. Shorncliffe.
5. Egerton.
1. Canterbury.
5. Tenderden.
2. Barham.
6. Coxheath.
2. Shollenden.
6. Highgate near Hawkehurtt.
2. Lynne Heights.
7. Boxley Hill.
3. Isle of Thanet.
7. Goodhurst.
3. Postling Down.
8. Chatham Lines.
4. Charlmagna.
8. Wrotham Hill.
N.B. Stations marked
with the same figures, communicate
directly with each other.
Of course, naturally, there was the Spy craze, and it
sometimes led to mistakes, as the following will show:
Times, the 29th of August, "A respectable person in town
a short time ago, went on a party of pleasure to the Isle of
Wight, and, being anxious to see all the beauties of the
ioo THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
place, he rose early one day to indulge himself with a long
morning's walk. In his way he took a great pleasure in
viewing with his glass, the vessels at sea. In the midst of
his observations he was interrupted by an officer, who, after
a few questions, took him into custody upon suspicion of
being a spy. After a proper investigation of his character,
he was liberated."
In more than one case, however, the charge of espionage
ssems to have rested on a far more solid basis ; but, of course,
the "Intelligence Department" of every nation *will have its
agents, in the enemy's camp, if possible. Two persons, one
named Nield, the other Garrick (nephew to the famous
actor), were actually arrested as being Bonaparte ! I do
not know how Mr. Nield fared, but Mr. Garrick was enabled
to prosecute his journey under the protection of the follow-
ing certificate from the Mayor of Haverfordwest :
"This is to certify whom it may concern, that the bearer,
Mr. George Garrick, is known to me ; who is on a tour
through the country, and intends returning to England, by
the way of Tenby.
"Richard Lloyd, Mayor?
We cannot wonder at the rumour of spies being in
their midst, when we think of the number of French
prisoners of war there were in our keeping, one prison
alone (Mill Prison, Plymouth) having 2,500.
Many were out on parole, which I regret to say all did
not respect, many broke prison and got away; in fact, they
did not know where to put them, nor what to do with them,
so that it was once seriously proposed that, in an hour of
danger, should such ever arrive, they should be shut up in
the numerous spent mines throughout England. When on
parole, the following were the regulations — they were al-
lowed to walk on the turnpike road within the distance of
one mile from the extremity of the town in which they
resided, but they must not go into any field or cross road,
(1803.) IRISH REBELLION. 101
nor be absent from their lodgings after five o'clock in the
afternoon, during the months of November, December, and
January ; after seven o'clock in the months of February,
March, April, August, September, and October ; or, after
eight o'clock in the months of May, June, and July ; nor
quit their lodgings in the morning until the bell rang at six
o'clock.
If they did not keep to these regulations, they were liable
to be taken up and sent to prison, a reward of one guinea
being offered for their recapture. Should they not behave
peaceably, they would also have to return to durance.
There were also very many refugees here who were not
prisoners of war, and, in order to keep them under super-
vision, a Royal Proclamation was issued on the 12th of
October, citing an Act passed the last session of Parliament,
respecting the Registration of Aliens, and proclaiming that
all aliens must, within eighteen days from date, register
themselves and their place of abode — if in London, before
the Lord Mayor, or some magistrate at one of the police
offices ; if in any other part of Great Britain, before some
neighbouring magistrate.
However, enemies nearer home were plaguing John Bull.
" Mannikin Traitors " verily, but still annoying. Then, as
now, England's difficulty was Ireland's opportunity ; and of
course, the chance was too tempting to be resisted. The
Union (curious phrase !) was but in the third year of its ex-
istence, and Ireland was once more in open rebellion. Chief
of the spurious patriots was one Robert Emmett, whose
picture in green and gold uniform coat, white tights and
Hessian boots, waving an immense sword, appears periodi-
cally, in some shop windows, whenever Irish sedition is
peculiarly rampant, only to disappear when the inevitable
petty rogue, the approver, has done his work, and the wind-
bag plot is pricked.
Emmett was the son of one of the State physicians in
Dublin, and brother to that Thomas Eddis Emmett, who
102 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1803.)
was prominent in the rebellion of 1798. Robert had so
compromised himself, by his speech and behaviour, that he
deemed it wise to live abroad during the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act, but he returned when his father died,
having become possessed of about £2,000, which he must
needs spend, in " regenerating" Ireland.
Silly boy ! (he was only twenty-four) with such a sum,
and about one hundred followers, he thought it could be
done. His crazy brain imagined his down-trodden com-
patriots hastening to his side, to fight for the deliverance of
their beloved country from the yoke of the hated Saxon
despot. There were meetings sub rosa — assemblages on
the quiet — as there always will be in Ireland when the pot
is seething ; and at last the curtain was to be drawn up,
for the playing of this farce, on the 23rd of July, when
towards evening, large bodies of men began to assemble in
some of the streets of Dublin — but vaguely, and without
leaders.
At last a small cannon was fired, and a single rocket
went upwards to the sky ; and the deliverer, Emmett,
sallied out, waving that big sword. A shot from a blunder-
buss killed Colonel Browne ; and the Lord Chief Justice of
Ireland, Lord Kilwarden, and his nephew, Rev. Richard
Wolfe, were dragged from their carriage, and brutally
murdered.
A little more bluster, and then, some three hours after
its rising, this scum was put down by about one hundred
and twenty soldiers. The ringleaders were caught and
executed. Emmett, tried on the 19th of September, was
hanged next day.
To show how slowly news travelled in those days, the
Times has no notice of this riot on the 23rd till the 28th
of July, and then not a full account. The Government,
however, seems to have estimated ihe situation quite at its
full gravity, for there was a message from the King to his
faithful Parliament on the subject ; the Habeas Corpus
(i8o 3 .) FAST DAY. 103
Act was once more suspended, and martial law pro-
claimed.
On the 19th of October the religious panacea of a general
fast was tried, and "was observed with the utmost decorum"
in the Metropolis. The Volunteers, especially, won the
encomia of the Times for their goodness in going to church,
and the Annual Register also warms up into unusual
fervour on the occasion : " Such a number of corps attended
this day, that it is impossible to enumerate them. Every
principal church was crowded with the ardent patriots who
fill the voluntary associations ; and there can be no doubt
that, in the present temper of the people of this country,
not only every other great city and town, but even the
smallest village or hamlet throughout the island, evinced a
proportionate degree of fervour and animation in the holy
cause. The corps who had not before taken the oath of
allegiance, did so this day, either on their drill grounds, or
in their respective churches."
Of the latter part of the year, other than the Invasion
Scare, there is little to say. Among the Acts passed this
year, however, was one of hopeful import, as showing a
glimmer of a better time to come in the era of religious
toleration. It was to relieve the Roman Catholics of some
pains and disabilities to which they were subject, on sub-
scribing the declaration and oath contained in the Act 31
George III.
Three per Cent. Consols opened this year at 69 ; dropped
in July to 50, and left off the 31st of December at 55.
Bread stuffs were cheaper, the average price of wheat
being 77s. per quarter, and the quartern loaf, 9d.
CHAPTER XI.
1804.
Caricatures of the Flotilla— Scarcity of money— Stamping Spanish dollars— Illness
of the King — His recovery — General Fast — Fall of the Addington Ministry —
Debate on the Abolition of the Slave Trade — Beacons — Transport — Flection
for Middlesex — Reconciliation between the King and the Prince of Wales.
THE year 1804 opens with Britain still in arms,
watching that flotilla which dare not put out,
and cannot be destroyed ; but somehow, whether
familiarity had bred contempt, or whether it had come tc be
looked upon as a " bugaboo " — terrible to the sight, but not
so very bad when you knew it — the patriotic handbills
first cooled down, and then disappeared, and the satirical
artist imparted a lighter tone to his pictures. Take one of
Gillray's (February 10, 1804) : "The KING of BROBDING-
nag and Gulliver" (Plate 2). Scene — "Gulliver
manoeuvring with his little boat in the cistern," vide
Siviffs Gulliver: "I often used to row for my own
diversion, as well as that of the Queen and her ladies, who
thought themselves well entertained with my skill and
agility. Sometimes I would put up my sail and show my
art by steering starboard and larboard. However, my
attempts produced nothing else besides a loud laughter,
which all the respect due to His Majesty from those about
him, could not make them contain. This made me reflect
(1804.) SCARCITY OF BULLION. 105
how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavour to do
himself honour among those who are out of all degree of
equality or comparison with him!! !" The King and Queen
look on with amusement at the pigmy's vessel, for the
better sailing of which, the young princes are blowing ; and
creating quite a gale.
Take another by West (March, 1804), which shows equally,
that terror is turning to derision. It is called " A French
Alarmist, or, John Bull looking out for the Grand Flotilla ! "
John Bull is guarding his coast, sword on thigh, and
attended by his faithful dog. Through his telescope he
scans the horizon, and is thus addressed by a Frenchman
who is behind him. " Ah, ah ! Monsieur Bull,dere you see
our Grande Flotilla, de grande gon boats, ma foi — dere you
see 'em sailing for de grand attack on your nation — dere
you see de Bombs and de Cannons — dere you see de Grande
Consul himself at de head of his Legions ? Dere you see — "
But John Bull, mindful of the old saying, anent the Spanish
Armada, replies, " Monsieur, all this I cannot see, because
'tis not in sight."
Money was scarce in this year ; and in spite of the ail-
but million given the King not so long since to pay his
debts, we find {Morning Herald, April 26, 1804), "The
Civil List is now paying up to the Lady-day quarter, 1803."
So scarce was money— i.e., bullion — that a means had to
be found to supplement the currency ; and it so happened
that a large quantity of Spanish dollars were opportunely
taken in prizes. In 1803 the idea of utilizing these as
current English coins was first mooted, and some were
stamped with the King's head, the size of the ordinary
goldsmith's mark ; but in 1804 a much larger issue of
them was made, and they were stamped with a profile
likeness of the King, in an octagon of about a quarter of
an inch square. They were made to pass for five shillings
each, which was about threepence-halfpenny over their
value as bullion ; and this extra, and fictitious, value was
106 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1804.)
imposed upon them in order that they should not be melted
down. They were also to be taken back for a time at that
price, and on the 12th of January, 1804, every banking
house received £ 1,000 worth of them from the Bank of
England, against the Bank's paper. But, as currency, they
did not last long, the Bank refusing, as early as April the
same year, to receive them back again, on " various frivolous
and ill-founded pretensions." For some reason, probably
forgery, they were recalled, and on the 22nd of May there
was a notice in the Gazette to the effect that a new issue
of them would be made, which would be stamped by the
famous firm of Boulton, Soho Mint, at Birmingham, whose
series of tradesmen's tokens of George the Third's reign
is familiar to every numismatist. They varied from those
stamped at the Tower, by having on the obverse, " Georgius
III., Dei Gratia Rex," and on the reverse, the figure of
Britannia, with the words — " Five shillings dollar, Bank of
England, 1804," but even these were soon forged.
On the 14th of February the King was taken ill so
seriously that bulletins had to be issued. His malady was
stated to be " an Hydrops Pectoris, or a water in the chest
of the body ; " to counteract which they scarified his legs. 1
The probability is, that this treatment was not the proper
one, for I observe that the next day's bulletin is signed by
four, instead of two doctors, who, however, on the succeeding
day, certify that their patient could walk. On the 26th,
which was Sunday, prayers were offered up in all churches
and chapels of the Metropolis, and a week later throughout
England, for His Majesty's recovery. On the 27th of
February, there was a long debate in Parliament on the
subject of His Majesty's health ; some members holding
that, looking at the gravity of our relations with France,
the people were not kept sufficiently informed as to the
King's illness. Addington, then Prime Minister, contended
that more information than was made public would be
1 Morning Herald t February 18, 1804.
(1804.; ANOTHER FAST DAY. 107
injudicious, and prejudicial to the public good ; and after
a long discussion, in which Pitt, Fox, Windham, and
Grenville took part, the subject dropped. Towards the
end of March, the King became quite convalescent, a fact
which is thus quaintly announced in the Morning Herald
of the 28th of March : " We have the sincerest pleasure in
stating that a certain personage is now perfectly restored
to all his domestic comforts. He saw the Queen for the
first time on Saturday (March 24th) afternoon. The
interview, as may well be conceived, was peculiarly
affecting."
Yet another Fast Day; this time on the 25th of May, and
its cause — "for humbling ourselves before Almighty God,
in order to obtain pardon of our sins, and in the most
solemn manner to send up our prayers and supplications
to the Divine Majesty, for averting those heavy judgments
which our manifold provocations have most justly deserved;
and for imploring His blessing and assistance on our arms,
for the restoration of peace and prosperity to these
dominions." A contemporary account tells how it was
kept : " Yesterday, being the day appointed for the
observance of a solemn Fast, was duly observed in the
Metropolis, at least as far as outward show and decorum
can go. Every shop was shut ; for those who on similar
occasions, kept their windows open, have probably learnt
that, to offend against public example and decency, is not
the way to ensure either favour or credit. Most of the
Volunteer Corps attended at their several churches, where
Sermons suitable to the day were preached."
The Addington Ministry was on its last legs, and died on
or about the nth of May ; and a very strong government
was formed by Pitt, which included the Duke of Portland,
Lord Eldon, Lord Melville, the Earl of Chatham, Dundas,
Canning, Huskisson, and Spencer Perceval.
They were not very long in power before they stretched
forth their long arm after the notorious William Cobbett
i oS THE NINE TEE NTH CENT UK Y. ( i So { . )
for the publication of certain libels with intent to traduce
His Majesty's Government in Ireland, and the persons
employed in the administration thereof, particularly Lord
Hardwicke, Lord Redesdale, Mr. Marsden, and the Hon.
Charles Osborne, contained in certain letters signed Juverna.
-He was tried on the 24th of May, and found guilty. On
the 26th he had another action brought against him
for slandering Mr. Plunket, in his official capacity as
Solicitor-General for Ireland, and was cast in a verdict
for ^500.
On the 27th of June the Abolition of the Slave Trade
was read a third time in the Commons, and some curious
facts came out in debate. One member called attention
to the fact that there were 7,000 French prisoners on ths
Island of Barbadoes, besides a great number in prison-
ships, and feared they would foment discontent among the
negroes, who did not distinguish between the abolition of
the slave trade and immediate emancipation. He also
pointed out that the Moravian missionaries on the island
were teaching, most forcibly, the fact that all men were
alike God's creatures, and that the last should be first and
the first last.
An honourable member immediately replied in vindica-
tion of the missionaries, and said that no fewer than 10,000
negroes had been converted in the Island of Antigua, and
that their tempers and dispositions had been, thereby, ren-
dered so mncJi better, that they were entitled to an increased
value of £10.
Next day the Bill was taken up to the Lords and read
for the first time, during which debate the Duke of
Clarence said : " Since a very early period of his life, when
he was in another line of profession — which he knew not
why he had no longer employment in — he had ocular
demonstration of the state of slavery, as it was called, in
the West Indies, and all that he had seen convinced him
that it not only was not deserving of the imputations that
(i3o 4 .) ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. 109
had been cast upon it, but that the abolition of it would
be productive of extreme danger and mischief."
Before the second reading he also presented two petitions
against it, and when the second reading did come on, on
the 3rd of July, Lord Hawkesbury moved that such reading
should be on that day three months, and this motion was
carried without a division, so that the Bill was lost for that
year.
The Invasion Scare, although dying out, in this year was
far from dead ; but, though people did not talk so much
about it, the Government was vigilant and watchful, as was
shown by many little matters — notably the signals. In the
eastern district of England were 32,000 troops ready to
move at a moment's notice ; whilst the hoisting of a red
flag at any of the following stations would ensure the
lighting of all the beacons, wherever established :
Colchester. Mum's Hedge
Brightlingsea. White Notley.
Earls Colne. Ongar Park.
Gosfield. Messing.
Sewers End. Reltenden.
Littlebury. Danbury.
Thaxted. Langdon Hill.
Hatfield Broad Oak. Corne Green.
Transport seems to have been the weakest spot in the
military organizations, and a Committee sat both at the
Mansion House, and Thatched House Tavern, to stimulate
the patriotic ardour of owners of horses and carriages, in
order that they might offer them for the use of the Govern-
ment. A large number of job-masters, too, offered to lend
their horses, provided their customers would send their
coachmen and two days' forage with them.
There was in this year a very close election for Middlesex,
between Sir Francis Burdett and Mr. Mainwaring. The
election lasted, as usual, a fortnight, and Sir Francis claimed
a majority of one. This so elated his supporters that they
no THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1804.)
formed a triumphal procession from Brentford, the county-
town, to Piccadilly, composed as under:
A JBanner, on orange ground, inscribed
Victory.
Horsemen, two and two.
Flags borne by Horsemen.
Persons on foot in files of six, singing " Rule, Britannia."
Handbell Ringers.
Body of foot, as before.
Car with Band of M usic.
Large Body of Horsemen.
Sir Francis Burdett
In his Chariot, accompanied by his Brother, and another
Gentleman covered with Laurels and drawn by
the Populace, with an allegorical painting of
Liberty and Independence,
and surrounded with lighted flambeaux.
A second Car, with a Musical Band.
A Body of Horsemen.
Gentlemen's and other Carriages in a long Cavalcade,
which closed the Procession.
Was it not a pity, after all this excitement, that on a
scrutiny, the famous majority of one was found to be
fallacious, and that Mr. Mainwaring had a majority of
five ? a fact of which he duly availed himself, sitting for
Middlesex at the next meeting of Parliament.
The close of the year is not particularly remarkable for
any events other than the arrival in England, on the 1st
of November, of the brother of Louis XVIII. (afterwards
Charles X.), and the reconciliation which took place between
the Prince of Wales, and his royal father, on the 12th of
November, which was made the subject of a scathing
satirical print by Gillray (November 20th). It is called
'The Reconciliation." "And he arose and came to
his Father, and his Father saw him, and had compassion,
and ran, and fell on his Neck and kissed him." The old
King is in full Court costume, with brocaded Coat and
Ribbon of the Garter, and presents a striking contrast to
(iSo 4 .)
"THE RECONCILIATION?
in
the tattered prodigal, whose rags show him to be in pitiable
case, and who is faintly murmuring, " Against Heaven and
before thee? The Queen, with open arms, stands on the
doorstep to welcome the lost one, whilst Pitt and Lord
Moira, as confidential advisers, respectively of the King
and the Prince, look on with a curious and puzzled air.
Consols were, January $6j£ ; December 58^3 ; having
fallen as low as 54^ in February. The quartern loaf
began the year at 9^d. and left off at is. 4%d. Average
price of wheat 74s.
CHAPTER XII.
1805.
Doings of Napoleon— His letter to George III. — Lord Mulgrave's reply — War
declared against Spain — General Fast — Men voted for Army and Navy — The
Salt Duty — Withdrawal of " The Army of England " — Battle of Trafalgar and
death of Nelson — General Thanksgiving.
THE year 1805 was uneventful for many reasons, the
chief of which was that Bonaparte was principally
engaged in consolidating his power after his Coro-
nation. He was elected Emperor on the 20th of May,
1804, but was not crowned until December of the same
year. In March, 1805, he was invited by the Italian
Republic to be their monarch, and, in April, he and
Josephine left Paris for Milan, and in May he crowned
himself King of Italy.
He was determined, if only nominally, to hold out the
olive branch of peace to England, and on the 2nd of
January, 1805, he addressed the following letter to George
the Third.
" Sir AND BROTHER, — Called to the throne of France by
Providence, and by the suffrages of the senate, the people,
and the army, my first sentiment is a wish for peace. France
and England abuse their prosperity. They may contend for
( 1 805.) LETTER FROM NAPOLEON. 1 1 3
ages ; but do their governments well fulfil the most sacred
of their duties, and will not so much blood, shed uselessly,
and without a view to any end, condemn them in their own
consciences ? I consider it as no disgrace to make the
first step. I have, I hope, sufficiently proved to the world
that I fear none of the chances of war ; it, besides, presents
nothing that I need to fear : peace is the wish of my heart,
but war has never been inconsistent with my glory. I
conjure your Majesty not to deny yourself the happiness
of giving peace to the world, nor to leave that sweet satis-
faction to your children ; for certainly there never was a
more fortunate opportunity, nor a moment more favourable,
to silence all the passions and listen only to the sentiments
of humanity and reason. This moment once lost, what end
can be assigned to a war which all my efforts will not be
able to terminate ? Your Majesty has gained more within
the last ten years both in territory and riches than the
whole extent of Europe. Your nation is at the highest
point of prosperity : to what can it hope from war ? To
form a coalition with some Powers of the Continent ! The
Continent will remain tranquil — a coalition can only in-
crease the preponderance and continental greatness of
France. To renew intestine troubles ? The times are no
longer the same. To destroy our finances ? Finances
founded on flourishing agriculture can never be destroyed.
To take from France her colonies ? The Colonies are to
France only a secondary object ; and does not your
Majesty already possess more than you know how to
preserve ? If your Majesty would but reflect, you must
perceive that the war is without an object, without any
presumable result to yourself. Alas! what a melancholy
prospect to cause two nations to fight merely for the sake
of fighting. The world is sufficiently large for our two
nations to live in it, and reason is sufficiently powerful to
discover means of reconciling everything, when the wish
fgr reconciliation exists on both sides. I have, however
9
ii 4 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1805.)
fulfilled a sacred duty, and one which is precious to my
heart. I trust your Majesty will believe in the sincerity
of my sentiments, and my wish to give you every proof
of !t - " Napoleon."
When the King opened Parliament on the 15th of
January, 180$, he referred to this letter thus: "I have
recently received a communication from the French Govern-
ment, containing professions of a pacific disposition. I
have, in consequence, expressed my earnest desire to
embrace the first opportunity of restoring the blessings of
peace on such grounds as may be consistent with the
permanent safety and interests of my dominions ; but I am
confident you will agree with me that those objects are
closely connected with the general security of Europe."
The reply of Lord Mulgrave (who had succeeded Lord
Harrowby as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs)
was both courteous and politic. It was dated the 14th of
January, and was addressed to M. Talleyrand.
" His Britannic Majesty has received the letter which has
been addresed to him by the head of the French Govern-
ment, dated the 2nd of the present month. There is no
object which His Majesty has more at heart, than to avail
himself of the first opportunity to procure again for his
subjects the advantages of a peace, founded on bases which
may not be incompatible with the permanent security
and essential interests of his dominions. His Majesty is
persuaded that this end can only be attained by arrange-
ments which may, at the same time, provide for the future
safety and tranquillity of Europe, and prevent the recurrence
of the dangers and calamities in which it is involved. Con-
formably to this sentiment, His Majesty feels it is impossible
for him to answer more particularly to the overture that
has been made him, till he has had time to communicate
with the Powers on the Continent, with whom he is
engaged with confidential connexions and relations, and
(1805.) GENERAL FAST. 115
particularly the Emperor of Russia, who has given the
strongest proofs of the wisdom and elevation of the senti-
ments with which he is animated, and the lively interest
which he takes in the safety and independence of the Con-
tinent. " MlJLGRAVE."
Very shortly after this, England declared war against
Spain, and the Declaration was laid before Parliament on
January 24th. A long discussion ensued thereon ; but the
Government had a majority on their side of 313 against 106.
Probably, His Majesty's Government had some inkling of
what was coming, for on the 2nd of January was issued a
proclamation for another general Fast, which was to take
place on the 20th of February, "for the success of His
Majesty's arms." History records that the Volunteers
went dutifully to church ; and also that " a very elegant
and fashionable display of equestrians and charioteers
graced the public ride about three o'clock. The Countesses
of Cholmondeley and Harcourt were noticed for the first
time this season, each of whom sported a very elegant
landau. Mr. Buxton sported his four bays in his new
phaeton, in a great style, and Mr. Chartres his fine set of
blacks." Thus showing that different people have different
views of National Fasting and Chastening.
That the arm of the flesh was also relied on, is shown by
the fact that Parliament in January voted His Majesty
120,000 men, including marines, for his Navy ; and in
February 312,048 men for his Army, with suitable sums
for their maintenance and efficiency.
Of course this could not be done without extra taxation,
and the Budget of the 18th of February proposed — an extra
tax of id., 2d., and 3d. respectively on single, double, and
treble letters (as they were called) passing through the
post ; extra tax of 6d. per bushel on salt, extra taxes on
horses, and on legacies. All these were taken without
much demur, with one exception, and that was the Salt Duty
n6
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR V.
(1805.)
Bill. Fierce were the squabbles over this tax, and much
good eloquence was expended, both in its behalf and against
it, and it had to be materially altered before it was passed;
one of the chief arguments against it being that it would
injuriously affect the fisheries, as large quantities were used
in curing. But a heavy tax on salt would also hamper
bacon and ham curing, &c, and Mrs. Bull had an objection
to see Pitt as
BILLY IN THE SALT-BOX.'
The Flotilla could not sail, and " the Army of England "
was inactive, when circumstances arose that rendered the
withdrawal of the latter imperative : consequently the
Flotilla was practically useless, for it had no troops to
transport. Austria had gone to war with France without
1 Pitt says, as he looks from the Salt-box, "How do you do, cookey?"
She exclaims, " Curse the fellow, how he has frightened me. I think in my
heart he is getting in everywhere ! Who the deuce would have thought of
finding him in the Salt-box ! ! ! "
(1805.) u THE ARMY OF ENGLAND? 117
the formality of a Declaration, and the forces of the Allies
were computed at 250,000. The French troops were
reckoned at 275,000 men, but "the Army of England"
comprised 180,000 of these, and they must needs be
diverted to the point of danger.
We can imagine the great wave of relief that spread over
the length and breadth of this land at this good news.
The papers were, of course, most jubilant, and the whole
nation must have felt relieved of a great strain. Even the
Volunteers must have got somewhat sick of airing and
parading their patriotism, with the foe within tangible
proximity, and must have greatly preferred its absence.
The Times is especially bitter on the subject :
" 1. The scene that now opens upon the soldiers of
France, by being obliged to leave the coast, and march
eastwards, is sadly different from that Land of Promise
which, for two years, has been held out to them, in all sorts
of gay delusions. After all the efforts of the Imperial
Boat Builder, instead of sailing over the Channel, they have
to cross the Rhine. The bleak forests of Suabia will make
but a sorry exchange for the promised spoils of our Docks
and Warehouses. They will not find any equivalent for
the plunder of the Bank, in another bloody passage through
'the Valley of Hell ;' but they seem to have forgotten the
magnificent promise of the Milliard." l
The Times (September 13th) quoting from a French
paper, shows that they endeavoured to put a totally
different construction on the withdrawal of their troops, or
rather to make light of it. "Whilst the German papers,
with much noise, make more troops march than all the
Powers together possess, France, which needs not to
augment her forces, in order to display them in an imposing
manner, detaches a few thousand troops from the Army of
England, to cover her frontiers, which are menaced by the
imprudent conduct of Austria. England is preparing fresh
1 September II, 1S05.
IIJ
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
(1805.)
victories for us, and for herself fresh motives for decrying
her ambition. After all, those movements are not yet a
certain sign of war," &c.
The greatest loss the English Nation sustained this year,
was the death of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of
Trafalgar, which was fought on the 21st of October, 1805.
On the 6th of November the glorious news of the Victory
was published, and there was but one opinion — that it was
DEATH OF NELSON.
purchased too dearly. That evening London was but
partially illuminated. On the 7th these symptoms of
rejoicing were general, but throughout them there was a
sombre air— a mingling of the cypress with the laurel, and
men went about gloomily, thinking of the dead hero : at
least most did— some did not ; even of those who might
have worn a decent semblance of woe— old sailors— some
of whom, according to the Times, behaved in a somewhat
(1805.) VICTORY OF TRAFALGAR. 119
unseemly manner. " A squadron of shattered tars were
drawn up in line of battle, opposite the Treasury, at anchor,
with their lights aloft, all well stowed with grog, flourishing
their mutilated stumps, cheering all hands, and making the
best of their position, in collecting prize money."
A General Thanksgiving for the Victory was proclaimed
to take place on the 5th of December. The good Volun-
teers were duly marched to church, and one member of the
Royal Family — the Duke of Cambridge — actually attended
Divine Worship on the occasion. At Drury Lane Theatre,
" the Interlude of The Victory and Death of Lord Nelson
seemed to affect the audience exceedingly ; but the tear of
sensibility was wiped away by the merry eccentricities of
The Weathercock" — the moral to be learned from which
seems to be, that the good folks of the early century seemed
to think that God should not be thanked, nor heroes
mourned, too much. This must close this year, for Nelson's
funeral belongs to the next.
After the Battle of Trafalgar, the Patriotic Fund was
again revived, and over .£50,000 subscribed by the end of
the year.
Consols were remarkably even during this year, varying
very little even at the news of Trafalgar: January, 61^8 ;
December, 65.
The quartern loaf varied from January is. 4/^d., to
December is. oj^d.
Wheat varied from 95s. to 90s. per quarter.
^■•■&---B---a» &■••&•■•&• -s-
■^-$--»-a-*-a- a--g-
CHAPTER XIII.
1806.
Nelson's funeral — Epigrams — Death of Pitt — His funeral- Oeneral Fas t — T.arge
coinage of copper — Impeachment of Lord Melville — The Abolition of the
Slave Trade passes the House of Commons — Death and funeral of Fox — His
warning Napoleon of a plot against him — Negotiations for peace— Napoleon
declares England blockaded.
THE year opens with the Funeral of Nelson, whose
Victory at Trafalgar had made England Mistress of
the Ocean. He was laid to his rest in St Paul's on
January 9th, much to the profit of the four vergers of that
Cathedral, who are said to have made more than ^"iooo, by
the daily admission of the throngs desirous of witnessing
the preparations for the funeral. The Annual Register
says, " The door money is taken as at a puppet show, and
amounted for several days to more than forty pounds a
day." Scats to view the procession, from the windows
of the houses on the route, commanded any price,
from One Guinea each ; and as much as Five Hundred
Guineas is said to have been paid for a house on Ludgate
Hill. 1
Enthusiasm was at its height, as it was in later times,
1 Morning Post, January 8, 1S06.
( 1 806.) NELSON L YING IN STA TE. 121
within the memory of many of us, when the Duke of
Wellington came to rest under the same roof as the Gallant
Nelson. His famous signal — which, even now, thrills the
heart of every Englishman — was prostituted to serve trade
Advertisments, vide the following : " England expects
EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY. NELSON'S VICTORY, or
Twelfth Day. To commemorate that great National
Event, which is the pride of every Englishman to hand
down to the latest posterity, as well as to contribute towards
alleviating the sufferings of our brave wounded Tars, &c,
H. Webb, Confectioner, Little Newport Street, will, on
that day, Cut for Sale, the Largest Rich Twelfth
Cake ever made, weighing near 600 lbs., part of the
profits of which H. W. intends applying to the Patriotic
Fund at Lloyd's." «
His body lay in State at Greenwich in the " Painted
Hall" (then called the "Painted Chamber") from Sunday the
5th of January until the 8th. Owing to Divine Service not
being finished, a written notice was posted up, that the
public could not be admitted until 11. a.m.; by which time
many thousands of people were assembled. Punctually at
that hour, the doors were thrown open, and, though express
orders had been given that only a limited number should
be admitted at once, yet the mob was so great as to bear
down everything in its way. Nothing could be heard but
shrieks and groans, as several persons were trodden under
foot and greatly hurt. One man had his right eye literally
torn out, by coming into contact with one of the gate-posts.
Vast numbers of ladies and gentlemen lost their shoes,
hats, shawls, &c, and the ladies fainted in every direc-
tion.
The Hall was hung with black cloth, and lit up with
twenty-eight Silver Sconces, with two wax candles in each
— a light which, in that large Hall, must have only served
to make darkness visible. High above the Coffin hung
1 Morning Fost, January 3, 1806.
i22 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1806.)
a canopy of black velvet festooned with gold, and by the
coffin was the Hero's Coronet. Shields of Arms were
around, and, at back, was a trophy, which was surmounted
by a gold shield, encircled by a wreath having upon it
" Trafalgar " in black letters.
The bringing of the body from Greenwich to Whitehall
by water, must have been a most impressive sight — and one
not likely to be seen again, owing to the absence of rowing
barges. That which headed the procession bore the Royal
Standard, and carried a Captain and two Lieutenants in
full uniform, with black waistcoats, breeches, and stockings,
and crape round their hats and arms.
In the second barge were the Officers of Arms, bearing
the Shield, Sword, Helm, and Crest, of the deceased, and
the great banner was borne by Captain Moorsom, sup-
ported by two lieutenants.
The third barge bore the body, and was rowed by forty-
six men from Nelson's flag-ship the Victory. This barge
was covered with black velvet, and black plumes, and
Clarencieux King-at-Arms sat at the head of the coffin,
bearing a Viscount's Coronet, upon a black velvet cushion.
In the fourth barge came the Chief Mourner, Admiral
Sir Peter Parker, with many assistant Mourners and Naval
grandees.
Then followed His Majesty's barge, that of the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Lord Mayor's barge,
and many others ; and they all passed slowly up the
silent highway, to the accompaniment of minute guns, the
shores being lined with thousands of spectators, every man
with uncovered head. All traffic on the river was sus-
pended, and the deck, yards, masts, and rigging of every
vessel were crowded with men.
The big guns of the Tower boomed forth, and similar
salutes accompanied the mournful train to Whitehall, from
whence the body was taken, with much solemnity, to the
Admiralty, there to lie till the morrow.
i2 4 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1806.)
His resting-place was not fated to be that of his choice.
" Victory, or Westminster Abbey," he cried, forgetful that
the Nation had apportioned the Abbey to be the Pantheon
of Genius, and St. Paul's to be the Valhalla of Heroes— and
to the latter he was duly borne.
I refrain from giving the programme of the procession,
because of its length, which may be judged by the fact,
that the first part left the Admiralty at 1 1 a.m., and the
last of the mourning coaches a little before three. The
Procession may be divided into three parts : the Military,
the funeral Pageant proper, and the Mourners. There
were nearly 10,000 regular soldiers, chiefly composed of
those who had fought in Egypt, and knew of Nelson ; and
this was a large body to get together, when the means of
transport were very defective — a great number of troops
in Ireland, and a big European War in progress, causing
a heavy drain upon the Army. The Pageant was as brave
as could be made, with pursuivants and heralds, standards
and trumpets, together with every sort of official procurable,
and all the nobility, from the younger sons of barons, to
George Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the
Dukes of Clarence and Kent. The Dukes of York and
Cambridge headed the Procession, and the Duke of Sussex
made himself generally useful by first commanding his
regiment of Loyal North Britons, and then riding to St.
Paul's on his chestnut Arabian. The Mourners, besides
the relatives of the deceased, consisted of Naval Officers,
according to their rank — the Seniors nearest the body ;
and, to give some idea of the number of those who followed
Nelson to the grave, there were one hundred and eighty-
four Mourning Coaches, which came after the Body, which
was carried on a triumphal car, fashioned somewhat after
his flag-ship the Victory — the accompanying illustration
of which I have taken from the best contemporary engrav-
ing I could find.
The whole of the Volunteer Corps of the Metropolis, and
(i8o6.) DEATH OF PITT. 125
its vicinity, were on duty all day, to keep the line of
procession.
At twenty-three and a half minutes past five the coffin
containing Nelson's mortal remains was lowered into its
vault. Garter King-at-Arms had pronounced his style and
duly broken his staff, and then the huge procession, which
had taken so much trouble and length of time to prepare >
melted, and each man went his way ; the car being taken
to the King's Mews, where it remained for a day or two,
until it was removed to the grand hall at Greenwich — and
the Hero, or rather his grave, was converted into a sight for
which money was taken.
"EPIGRAM,
ON THE SHAMEFUL EXHIBITION AT ST. TAUL's.
Brave Nelson was doubtless a lion in war,
With terror his enemies filling ;
But now he is dead, they are safe from his paw,
And the Lion is shczvn for a shilling." 1
"THE INVITATION.
Lo ! where the relics of brave Nelson lie !
And, lo ! each heart with saddest sorrow weeping !
Come then, ye throng, and gaze with anxious eye —
But, ah ! remember, you must — pay for peeping." 2
The cost of this funeral figures, in the expenses of the
year, at ,£14,698 1 is. 6d.
Yet another death : the great Statesman, William Pitt,
who had been sinking for some time, paid the debt of
Nature on the 23rd of January. Parliament voted him,
by a majority of 258 to 89, a public funeral, and sepulture
in Westminster Abbey ; and also a sum not exceeding
^'40,000 was voted, without opposition, to pay his debts.
He lay in state, in the Painted Chamber of the Palace of
Westminster, on the 20th and 21st of February, and people
flocked to the sight — 19,800 persons passing through in the
1 Morning Post, January 20, 1806. 2 Ibid., January 21, 1S06.
126 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1806.)
six hours the doors were kept open ; or, in other words,
they entered and went out at the rate of fifty-five a minute.
Tin's average was exceeded next day, when the number of
visitors rose to 27,000, or seventy-five a minute.
Of course the accessories of this funeral, which took
place on the 22nd of February, were nothing like so
gorgeous as at that of Nelson ; but there was a vast amount
of State, and the Dukes of York, Cumberland, and Cam-
bridge, were among the long line of the Nobility who paid
their last respects to William Pitt The cost of the funeral
was £6,045 2s. 6d.
It would be without precedent to allow the year to pass
without a Fast, so one was ordered for the 26th of February.
The Houses of Lords and Commons attended Church, so
did the Volunteers. Also " The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, &c,
attended Divine Service at St. Paul's, from whence they
returned to the Mansion House — tvhere they dined."
The Copper Coinage having, during the King's long
reign, become somewhat deteriorated, a proclamation of
His Majesty's appeared in the Gazette of the 10th of May,
for a New Coinage of 150 tons of penny pieces, 427^ tons
of halfpenny pieces, and twenty-two and a half tons of
farthings. The penny pieces were to be in the proportion
of twenty-four to the pound, avoirdupois, of copper, and
so on with the others. It was provided that no one should
be obliged to take more of such penny pieces, in one pay-
ment, than shall be of the value of one shilling, or more of
such halfpence and farthings than shall be of the value of
sixpence.
This year witnessed the singular sight of a Parliamentary
Impeachment. Lord Melville was accused on ten different
counts, and his trial commenced on the 29th of April ;
Westminster Hall being fitted up for the occasion. The
three principal charges against him were — "First, that before
January 10, 1786, he had applied to his private use and
profit, various sums of public money entrusted to him, as
( 1 8o6.) DEA TH OF FOX. 1 2 7
Treasurer of the Navy. Secondly, that in violation of the
Act of Parliament, for better regulating that office, he had
permitted Trotter, his paymaster, illegally to take from the
Bank of England, large sums of the money issued on
account of the Treasurer of the Navy, and to place those
sums in the hands of his private banker, in his own name,
and subject to his sole control and disposition. Thirdly,
that he had fraudulently and corruptly permitted Trotter
to apply the said money to purposes of private use and
emolument, and had, himself, fraudulently and corruptly
derived profit therefrom."
Of course Lord Melville pleaded " not guilty," and this
was the verdict of his peers.
On the 10th of June, the Abolition of the Slave Trade
again passed the House of Commons, by a majority of
ninety-nine. On the 24th of June the Lords debated on
the same subject, and they carried, without a division, an
address to His Majesty, "praying that he would be
graciously pleased to consult with other Powers towards
the accomplishment of the same end," which would afford
another opportunity to those who were anxious again to
divide upon this question.
On the 13th of September of this year died Pitt's great
rival, Charles James Fox, a man who, had he lived in these
times, would have been a giant Statesman. For him,
however, no public funeral, no payment by the nation of
his debts — this latter probably because in the accounts for
the year figure two items of expenditure : " For secret
services for 1806, ;£i 75,000," and " For the seamen who
served in the Battle of Trafalgar, ^300,000." He was
buried on the 10th of October in Westminster Abbey, and
the funeral, under the direction of his friend, Sheridan, was
a very pompous affair — though, of course, it lacked the
glitter of a State ceremonial. Still there were the King's
Trumpeters and Soldiers, whilst the Horse and Foot Guards
and Volunteers lined the way. So he was carried to his
128 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S06.)
grave in the Abbey — which, curiously, was dug within
eighteen inches of his old opponent, Pitt. The relation
between the two is well summed up by a contemporary
writer. " We may pronounce of them, that, as rivals for
power and for fame, their equals have not been known in
this country, and perhaps in none were there two such
Statesman, in so regular and equal a contention for pre-
eminence. In the advantages of birth and fortune they
were equal ; in eloquence, dissimilar in their manner, but
superior to all their contemporaries ; in influence upon the
minds of their hearers equal ; in talents and reputation,
dividing the nation into two parties of nearly equal
strength ; in probity, above all suspicion ; in patriotism
rivals, as in all things else." l
It must not be thought that the year passed by without
attempts being made to stop the war. They were begun
by a charming act of international courtesy and friendship
on the part of Fox, which cannot be better told than in
his own words, contained in a letter to Talleyrand.
" Doivning Street, February 20, 1806.
" Sir, — I think it my duty, as an honest man, to com-
municate to you, as soon as possible, a very extraordinary
circumstance which is come to my knowledge. The shortest
way will be to relate to you the fact simply as it happened.
"A few days ago a person informed me that he was just
arrived at Gravesend without a passport, requesting me at
the same time to send him one, as he had lately left Paris,
and had something to communicate to me which would
give me satisfaction. I sent for him ; he came to my house
the following day. I received him alone in my closet ;
when, after some unimportant conversation, this villain had
the audacity to tell me, that it was necessary for the
tranquillity of all crowned heads, to put to death the
Ruler of France ; and that, for this purpose, a house had
1 Annual Register, vol. xlviii. p. 916.
(1806.) FOX AND NAPOLEON. 129
been hired at Passy, from which this detestable project
could be carried into effect with certainty, and without
risk. I did not perfectly understand if it was to be done
by a common musket, or by fire-arms upon a new principle.
" I am not ashamed to tell you, Sir, who know me y that
my confusion was extreme, in thus finding myself led into
a conversation with an avowed assassin. I instantly
ordered him to leave me, giving, at the same time, orders
to the police officer who accompanied him, to send him
out of the kingdom as soon as possible.
" It is probable that all this is unfounded, and that the
wretch had nothing more in view than to make himself of
consequence, by promising what, according to his ideas,
would afford me satisfaction.
" At all events, I thought it right to acquaint you with
what had happened, before I sent him away. Our laws do
not permit us to detain him long ; but he shall not be sent
away till after you shall have had full time to take pre-
cautions against his attempts, supposing him still to enter-
tain bad designs; and, when he goes, I shall take care to
have him landed at a seaport as remote as possible from
France.
" He calls himself here, Guillet de la Gevrilliere, but I
think it is a false name which he has assumed.
"At his first entrance I did him the honour to believe
him to be a spy.
" I have the honour to be, with the most perfect attach-
ment,
" Sir,
" Your most obedient servant,
" C. J. Fox."
I have given this letter in extenso, to show how a Gentle-
man of the grand Old School could act towards an enemy
— feeling himself dishonoured by even conversing with a
murderous traitor. It was chivalrous and manly, and well
10
1 3 o THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1806.)
merited Napoleon's remarks, contained in Tallyrand's reply :
" I recognize here the principles of honour and of virtue,
by which Mr. Fox has ever been actuated. Thank him on
my part."
This episode is the most agreeable one in the whole of
the papers in connection with the negotiations for peace at
that time. The King fully entered into the reasons why
these proposals did not come to a successful issue, in a
Declaration, dated October 21st, which, with many other
papers, was laid before Parliament on December 22nd.
If " Rien n'est sacre pour un Sapeur," it is the same with
the Caricaturist. Here were men presumably doing their
honest best to promote peace, and do away with a war that
was exhausting all Europe ; yet the satirist takes it jauntily.
Take only one, the Caricature by Ansell (August, 1S06).
"The Pleasing and Instructive Game of Messengers ; or,
Summer Amusement for John Bull." Balls, in the shape
of Messengers, are being sent and returned, in lively suc-
cession, across the Channel ; their errands are of a most
extraordinary character. " Peace — Hope — Despair. No
Peace — Passports — Peace to a certainty — No Peace — Cre-
dentials — Despatches, &c." Napoleon and Talleyrand like
the game. " Begar, Talley, dis be ver amusant. Keep it
up as long as you can, so that we may have time for our
project." John Bull merely looks on, leaving Fox, Sheridan,
and the Ministry, to play the game on his behalf; and, in
reply to a query by Fox, " Is it not a pretty game, Johnny ? "
the old man replies, with a somewhat puzzled air, " Pretty
enough as to that — they do fly about monstrous quick, to
be sure ; but you don't get any more money out of my
pocket for all that ! "
The failure of these pacific negotiations with France,
brought a rejoinder from the French Emperor, which, to
use a familiar expression made John Bull " set his back up."
It was no less than a proclamation of Napoleon's, dated
Berlin, November 21, 1806, in which, he attempted, on paper,
(1806.) ENGLAND BLOCKADED. 131
to blockade England. The principal articles in this famous
proclamation are as follow : —
1. The British Isles are declared to be in a state of
blockade.
2. All trade and communication with Great Britain is
strictly prohibited.
3. All letters going to, or coming from England, are not
to be forwarded, and all those written in English are to be
suppressed.
4. Every individual, who is a subject of Great Britain, is
to be made a prisoner of war, wherever he may be found.
5. All goods belonging to Englishmen are to be confis-
cated, and the amount paid to those who have suffered
through the detention of ships by the English.
6. No ships coming from Great Britain, or having been
in a port of that country, are to be admitted.
7. All trade in English Goods is rigorously prohibited.
Besides these startling facts, the time allowed for the
delivery of all English property was limited to the space
of twenty-four hours after the issue of the Proclamation ;
and if, after that time, any persons were discovered to have
secreted, or withheld, British goods, or articles, of any de-
scription, they were to be subjected to military execution.
The British subjects who were arrested in Hamburgh, and
had not escaped, were ordered to Verdun, or the interior
of France, as Prisoners of War.
This was enough to close all hopes of reconciliation, and,
although the English Newspapers took a courageous view
of the blockade, and attempted to laugh at its ever being
practicable to carry out, yet it undoubtedly created great
uneasiness, and intensified the bitter feeling between the
belligerents.
This, then, was the position of affairs at the end of 1 806.
Consols, during the year, varied from 61 in January to 59
in December, having in July reached 66}4-
The quartern loaf was fairly firm all the year, beginning
at 1 1 ^d. and ending at is. id. Average price of wheat 52s.
CHAPTER XIV.
1807.
Passing of the Slave Trade Bill— Downfall of the " Ministry of all the Talents "—
General Fast — Election for Westminster — Death of Cardinal York — Arrival in
England of Louis XVIII. — Copenhagen bombarded, and the Danish Fleet
captured — Napoleon again proclaimed England as blockaded.
**" ™^HE year 1807 began, socially, with the Abolition ot
the Slave Trade, the debate on which was opened,
X in the Lords, on January 2nd, and many were the
nights spent in its discussion. On Feburary 10th, it was
read a third time in the Upper House, and sent down to
the Commons, who, on March 15th, read it a third time,
and passed it without a division. On the 18th, it was sent
again to the Lords, with some amendments. It was printed,
and these amendments were taken into consideration on
the 23rd, and the alterations agreed to on the same date ;
and exactly at noon on March 25th, the bill received the
Royal Assent by Commission, and became Law. This
Act, be it remembered, did not abolish Slavery, but only
prohibited the Traffic in Slaves ; so that no ship should
clear out from any port within the British dominions after
May 1, 1807, with slaves on board, and that no slave should
be landed in the Colonies after March 1, 1808.
This Act was somewhat hurried through, owing to the
downfall of the Coalition Ministry, which will ever be known
(1807.) "MINISTRY OF ALL THE TALENTS." 133
in the political history of England as the " Ministry of all
the talents," or the " Broad-bottomed " Cabinet. While
this Ministry was in existence, it afforded the Caricaturists
plenty of food for their pencils. One of the last of them
is by Gillray (April 18, 1807), and it is called "The Pigs
Possessed, or, The Broad-bottomed Litter rushing headlong
in the Sea of Perdition." Though the subject is hackneyed,
the treatment is excellent. " Farmer George," as the King
was familiarly termed, has knocked down a portion of his
fence, which stands on the edge of a cliff, and, with brand-
ished dung-fork, and ready heel, he speeds the swine to their
destruction, thus apostrophizing them : " O, you cursed
ungrateful Grunters ! what ! after devouring more in a twelve
month, than the good old Litters did in twelve years, you
turn round to kick and bite your old Master ? but, if the
Devil or the Pope has got possession of you all — pray get
out of my Farm Yard ! out with you all ; no hanger-behind !
you're all of a cursed bad breed ; so out with you all
together ! ! ! "
Of course there was the Annual Fast, which was fixed,
for February 25th. This time " the shops were all shut, and
the utmost solemnity prevailed throughout the day." Their
repetition, evidently, was educating the people as to their
implied meaning.
Sir Francis Burdett wished to retrieve his former defeat,
and we consequently find him, at the General Election in
this year, putting up for Westminster. Paull, who had
contested the seat with Sheridan, was one candidate, Lord
Cochrane, and Elliott the brewer, at Pimlico, were the
others. This election is chiefly remarkable in illustrating
the manners of the times, by a duel which took place
between two of the candidates, Paull and Burdett, the latter
of whom had squabbled over his name having been adver-
tised as intending to appear at a meeting, without his
consent having been first obtained. They met at Combe
Wood near Wimbledon, and both were wounded. Sir
i 3 4 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1807.)
Francis was successful, and a short account of his
" chairing " — a custom long since consigned to limbo — may
not be uninteresting. Originally, as the name implies, the
successful candidate was seated in a chair, and carried
about on the shoulders of his enthusiastic supporters, as the
winner of the Queen's prize at Wimbledon is now honoured.
But Sir Francis's admirers had improved upon this. The
procession and triumphal car started from Covent Garden,
and worked its way to the baronet's house in Piccadilly,
where he mounted the car. How he did so, the contem-
porary account docs not state, but it does say that " the
car was as high as the one pair of stairs windows," and " the
seat upon which the Baronet was placed, stood upon a lofty
Corinthian pillar." On this uncomfortable elevation, he
rode from Piccadilly, down the Haymarket, up St. Martin's
Lane, and so into Covent Garden, where a dinner was
provided.
On the 31st of August died, at Rome, Henry Benedict
Maria Clement Stuart, Cardinal York — the last of the
Stuarts. The feeble little attempt he made to assert his
right to the throne of England, would be amusing if it
had been serious ; the coining of one medal, in which he
styled himself Henry IX., was his sole affectation of
royalty. With him died all hope, if any such existed, of
disturbing the Hanoverian Succession. Curiously enough,
events made him a pensioner on George the Third's bounty,
and the annuity was granted by the one, and received by
the other, not as an act of charity, but as of brotherly
friendship ; and this annuity of ^"4,000 he duly received for
seven years before he died.
In this year, too, England gave shelter to another un-
fortunate scion of royalty — Louis XVIII. — who came from
Sweden in the Swedish Frigate the Freya. He travelled
under the name of the Comte de Lille, and landed at
Yarmouth. He rather ungraciously declined the Palace of
Holyrood, which was placed at his disposal, on the ground
(1807.) COPENHAGEN BOMBARDED. 135
that he had not come to England as an asylum, or for
safety, but on political business as King of France. Wisely,
he was allowed to have his own way, and he settled down
at Hartwcll, in Buckinghamshire, a seat of the Marquis of
Buckingham, and here he abode until the fall of Napoleon,
when, of course, he went to Paris.
The year ends stormily. After having bombarded
Copenhagen and captured all the Danish fleet, war was
proclaimed against Denmark on the 4th of November. On
the 8th of the month, Portugal was compelled by Napoleon
to confiscate British property, and shut her ports against
England.
Nor was he content with this. Probably he thought the
effect of his former proclamation of blockading England,
was wearing out, so he fulminated a fresh one on the nth
of November from Hamburgh, and another from Milan on
the 27th of December ; in both of which he reiterated his
intention of prohibiting intercourse between all subjects
under his control, and contumacious England, and that
this should be properly carried out he appointed com-
mercial residents, at different ports, to attend strictly to the
matter.
This, of course, was met promptly by an Order in Council,
allowing neutral Powers to trade with the enemies of Great
Britain, provided they touched at British ports, and paid
custom dues to the British Government.
Consols this year began at 6i}i, and left off 62^3.
Wheat varied during the year, from 84s. to 73s., the
highest price being 90s. ; and the quartern loaf varied in
proportion from is. i^d. to io^d.
CHAPTER XV.
1808.
Gloomy prospects of 1808— King's Speech — Droits of the Admiralty— Regulation
of Cotton Spinners' wages — Riots in the Cotton districts —Battle of Vimiera —
Convention of Cintra— Its unpopularity — Articles of the Convention.
THE year 1808 opened very gloomily. Parliament
met on the 21st of January, and was opened by
Commission. The " King's Speech," on this occa-
sion sketches the political situation better than any pen of
a modern historian can do. I therefore take some portions
of it, not sufficient to weary the reader, but to give him the
clearest idea of the state of Europe at this period.
The King informed Parliament, 1 " that, no sooner had the
result of the Negotiations at Tilsit, 2 confirmed the influence,
and control, of France over the Powers of the Continent,
than His Majesty was apprized of the intention of the
enemy to combine those Powers in one general confederacy,
to be directed either to the entire subjugation of this
kingdom, or to the imposing upon His Majesty, an insecure
1 " Parliamentary Debates," vol. x.
2 Napoleon met the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia at Tilsit.
His historical meeting with the former took place on the 25th of June, 1807, on
a barge, or raft, sumptuously appointed, moored in the middle of the river
Niemen.
(1808.) KINGS SPEECH. 137
and ignominious peace. That for this purpose, it was
determined to force into hostility against His Majesty,
States which had hitherto been allowed by France to
maintain, or to purchase, their neutrality, and to bring to
bear against different points of His Majesty's dominions,
the whole of the Naval Force of Europe, and specifically the
Fleets of Portugal and Denmark. To place these fleets out
of the power of such a confederacy became, therefore, the
indispensable duty of His Majesty.
"In the execution of this duty, so far as related to the
Danish Fleet, his Majesty has commanded us to assure you,
that it was with the deepest reluctance that His Majesty
found himself compelled, after his earnest endeavours to
open a Negotiation with the Danish Government had failed,
to authorize his commanders to resort to the extremity of
force ; but that he has the greatest satisfaction in congratu-
lating you upon the successful execution of this painful but
necessary service.
" We are commanded further to acquaint you, that the
course which His Majesty had to pursue with respect to
Portugal, was, happily, of a nature more congenial to His
Majesty's feelings : That the timely and unreserved com-
munication, by the Court of Lisbon, of the demands, and
designs of France, while it confirmed to His Majesty the
authenticity of the advices which he had received from
other quarters, entitled that Court to His Majesty's con-
fidence in the sincerity of the assurances by which that
communication was accompanied. The fleet of Portugal
was destined by France to be employed as an instrument
of vengeance against Great Britain ; that fleet has been
secured from the grasp of Fiance, and is now employed
in conveying to its American dominions T the hopes, and
fortunes, of the Portuguese monarchy. His Majesty implores
the protection of Divine Providence upon that enterprize,
1 The King of Portugal, and his ^umily, fled to the Brazils, protected by a
British squadron, November 29, 1807.
i 3 8 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1808.)
rejoicing in the preservation of a Power so long the friend,
and ally, of Great Britain, and, in the prospect of its
establishment in the New World, with augmented strength
and splendour.
"We have it in command from His Majesty to inform you,
that the determination of the enemy to excite hostilities
between His Majesty, and his late Allies, the Emperors of
Russia and Austria, and the King of Prussia, has been but
too successful, and that the ministers from those Powers
have demanded, and received, their passports. This
measure, on the part of Russia, has been attempted to be
justified by a statement of wrongs, and grievances, which
have no real foundation. The Emperor of Russia had,
indeed, proffered his mediation between His Majesty and
Erance : His Majesty did not refuse that mediation ; but he
is confident you will feel the propriety of its not having
been accepted, until His Majesty should have been able
to ascertain that Russia was in a condition to mediate
impartially, and, until the principles, and the basis, on which
France was ready to negotiate, were made known to His
Majesty. No pretence of justification has been alleged for
the hostile conduct of the Emperor of Austria, or for that
of his Prussian Majesty. His Majesty has not given the
slightest ground of complaint to either of those sovereigns,
nor even at the moment when they have respectively with-
drawn their ministers, have they assigned to His Majesty
any distinct cause for that proceeding."
On the other hand, the King congratulates his people on
still retaining the friendship of the Porte, and the King of
Sweden ; and that he had concluded a " Treaty of Amity,
Commerce, and Navigation " with the United States of
America : but these were hardly fair offsets against the
powerful European Confederation. Virtually, England was
single-handed to fight the world ; but there was no flinching
— and history records our success.
War takes money, and taxation makes every one feel
(1808.) LOAN FROM BANK OF ENGLAND. 139
the burden, directly, or indirectly, so that it must have been
with a sigh of relief that the nation read that portion of the
King's Speech which related to finance. "Gentlemen of the
House of Commons, His Majesty has directed the Estimates
for the year to be laid before you. . . . His Majesty has
great satisfaction in informing you, that, notwithstanding
the difficulties which the enemy has endeavoured to impose
upon the commerce of his subjects, and upon their inter-
course with other nations, the resources of the country
have continued, in the last year, to be so abundant, as to
have produced both from the permanent, and temporary,
revenue, a receipt considerably larger than that of the
preceding year. The satisfaction which His Majesty feels
assured you will derive, in common with His Majesty, from
this proof of the solidity of these resources, cannct be
greatly increased, if, as His Majesty confidently hopes, it
shall be found possible to raise the necessary supplies for
the present year without material additions to the public
burdens."
This, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was enabled to do,
by taking half a million of money from unclaimed Dividends,
and by other means, shown by the following resolutions of
the Court of Directors of the Bank of England :
" January 14, iSoS. Resolved, That the proposal of
Chancellor of the Exchequer, to take ^500,000, from
the unclaimed Dividends, in addition to the former sum of
£376,397, be acceded to by this Court. . . .
" Resolved, That the Court of Directors do accede to
the proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to lend,
for the use of government, £3,000,000, on Exchequer bills,
without interest, during the war, provided it is stipulated
to be returned within six months after the ratification of a
treaty of peace, and under the complete understanding, that
all transactions between the public, and the Bank, shall be
continued in the accustomed manner, even though the amount
of public balances should exceed the sum of ten millions."
140 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S08.)
On the 9th of February, Sir Francis Burdctt asked a very-
pertinent question in the House, ancnt the presentation of
,£20,000 by His Majesty to the Duke of York, out of Droits
of Admiralty. He said that " it had been stated in the
public prints that His Majesty had granted large sums out
of the proceeds of property belonging to nations not at
war with this country, to several branches of the Royal
Family, and particularly to the Duke of York. What he
wished to know was, whether this statement was correct ;
and, if so, upon what ground it was that His Majesty
could seize the property of nations not at war with this
country ? "
The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Right Hon. Spencer
Perceval) was willing to give the hon. baronet every in-
formation he required on the subject. But first, he must
apprize the hon. baronet of a misapprehension which he
seemed to labour under, with respect to the principle
upon which His Majesty's right to the property in question
was founded. It was true that the property had been
seized previous to His Majesty's formal declaration of war,
but war had since been declared, and the question re-
specting the property had been referred to the competent
tribunal, and condemned. The right of His Majesty, there-
fore, grounded upon such a decision, was incontrovertible.
It was true that His Majesty had granted a certain sum
out of the proceeds of such property to each of the junior
male branches of the Royal Family, and to the Duke of York
amongst the rest.
These Droits of the Admiralty formed a very convenient
fund upon which the King drew, as occasion required, when
it was impolitic to ask Parliament for an increase of the
Civil List; but Sir Francis did good service in calling atten-
tion to it, and, after its being mentioned on more than one
occasion, it was settled that an account should be laid
before the House, of the net proceeds paid into the
Registry of the Court of Admiralty, or to the Receiver-
(1808.) REGULATION OF WAGES. 141
General of Droits, of all property condemned to His
Majesty as Droits, either in right of his Crown, or in right
of the office of Lord High Admiral, since the 1st of
January, 1793, and of the balance in hand.
The Cotton trade at Manchester was very dull, owing to
the limited trade with the Continent, and some distress
prevailed among the operatives. On the 19th of May,
Mr. Rose asked leave of the House of Commons to bring
in a bill to fix a minimum of wages, which the workpeople
should receive. He said they were now suffering peculiar
hardships, and, at the same time, supporting them with a
patience and resolution, which did them credit. A short
debate took place on this proposition, which, afterwards,
was withdrawn. One member opined that the distress
arose, not from the wages being too low, but through their
having been, at one time, too high, which had caused a
great influx of labour, thus overstocking the market. Sir
Robert Peel said that the great cause of the distress was,
not the oppression of the masters, but the shutting-up of
the foreign markets ; and the fact was, that masters were
now suffering from this cause still more than the men.
And then, as far as Parliament went, the matter dropped.
But not so at Manchester. The demands of the men
were absurd, and preposterous ; they wanted an advance
of 6s. 8d. in the pound, or 33^ per cent Of course, with
failing trade, and a bad market, the masters could not grant
this extraordinary rise ; but, after a meeting among them-
selves they offered an immediate advance of 10 per cent, on
all kinds of cotton goods weaving, to take effect that day
(June 1st), and a further rise of 10 per cent, on the 1st of
August. The men refused to take this offer, and would be
satisfied with nothing less than their original demand, and
some 60,000 looms lay idle, whilst the operatives peram-
bulated the streets or rushed into house, cellar, or garret,
where any shuttle was going, and deprived that man of his
means of living.
142 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1808.)
On the 30th of May there had been some disturbance
among the weavers at Rochdale, and some were appre-
hended, and put in prison ; but the mob forced the gaol,
released the prisoners, and set fire to the New Prison.
Thus it will be seen that it was necessary for the law to
step in, and vindicate its majesty, and, consequently, cavalry
was freely employed in and about Manchester, Bolton,
Rochdale, and Bury; and, on the 6th of June, a raid was
made upon a house in Manchester, which resulted in the
lodging of about twenty men in the New Bayley.
Still they went on with disorderly meetings, and destruc-
tion of industrious men's looms, and work, compelling the
troops to be always on the alert. Of course they burnt
the manufacturers in effigy, the women amongst them,
relying on their sex, being the most turbulent and mis-
chievous, acting not quite as petroleuses, but getting as near
that type as opportunity afforded, for vitriol, or aquafortis,
was squirted on to the looms, through broken panes in
the windows, or dropped upon the bags containing pieces
which the industrious, and well-disposed, weaver had
worked hard at, for himself, and employer. It is satis-
factory to know that they did not obtain their demands,
and, after much simmering, and frothing, the scum subsided,
and honest, and hardworking, men were once more enabled
to pursue their avocation in peace.
On the 22nd of August was fought the famous battle of
Vimicra, which thoroughly crippled Napoleon's power in
Portugal, completely defeated Junot's fine army, and led to
the Convention of Cintra, which so disgusted the English
people, and called down on the head of Sir Hugh Dal-
rymple a formal declaration of His Majesty's displeasure.
A commission sat at Chelsea, to report upon his conduct,
and they exonerated him. Still, the general public were
indignant. The Park and Tower guns were fired at night
on the 15th of September, and, next day, came out an
Extraordinary Gazette, with the text of the Convention,
(i8o3.)
CONVENTIONS OF CINTRA.
M3
The accompanying illustration, by Ansell, brings to our
mind far more vividly than is possible to do by any verbal
description, the astonishment, and disgust, with which the
news was received in the City. The scene is outside
Lloyd's Coffee House, in Lombard Street, and it shows us
this commercial institution as it was in its youth, with its
modest premises, and two bow windows with red moreen
dwarf blinds.
The print, itself, is in two parts, one called " The Tower
EXTRAORDINARY NEWS.
Guns. Surprize the First." Here, John Bull and his wife
are in their happy home ; J. B. smoking his pipe, and en-
joying his tankard. A servant enters with " Law, sir, if
there isn't the big guns at the Tower going off ! " John
kicks up his heels, waves his nightcap, and pipe, crying out,
" The Tower Guns at this time of Night ! Extraordinary
News arrived ! By Jupiter, we've sent Juno to the Devil,
and taken the Russian Fleet ! Illuminate the House !
Call up the Children, and tap the Gooseberry Wine, Mrs.
Bull ; we'll drink to our noble Commanders in Portugal."
144 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1808.)
The companion to this is the illustration given, and it is
called "The Gazette. Surprize the Second." Here,
opposite Lloyd's, an old merchant is reading to his confreres
an Extraordinary Gazette. "Art. IV. The French Army
shall carry with it all its artillery of French calibre, with
the horses belonging to it, and the tumbrils supplied with
sixty rounds per gun. All oth . . ." Universal indigna-
tion prevails, and one calls out, "What ! carry away Sixty
Pounds a man, that ought to have been in the pockets of
our brave fellows. D — n me if I ever believe the Tower
Guns again."
The Articles in this Convention which excited popular
indignation were — •
"II. The French Troops shall evacuate Portugal with
their arms and baggage ; they shall not be considered as
prisoners of war, and, on their arrival in France, they shall
be at liberty to serve.
"III. The English Government shall furnish the means
of conveyance for the French Army, which shall be dis-
embarked in any of the ports of France between Rochfort,
and l'Orient, inclusively.
"IV. The French Army shall carry with it, all its artillery
of French calibre, with the horses belonging to it, and the
tumbrils supplied with sixty rounds per gun. All other
artillery, arms, and ammunition, as also the Military and
Naval Arsenals, shall be given up to the British army and
navy, in the state in which they may be, at the period of the
ratification of the Convention.
"V. The French Army shall carry with it all its equip-
ments, and all that is comprehended under the name of
property of the army ; that is to say, its military chest, and
carriages attached to the Field Commissariat, and Field
Hospitals, or shall be allowed to dispose of such part of
the same, on its account, as the Commander-in-chief may
judge it unnecessary to embark. In like manner, all
(i8o8.)
END OF 1S08.
M5
individuals of the army shall be at liberty to dispose
of their private property, of every description, with full
security, hereafter, for the purchasers."
On the 29th of August of this year, the Queen of France
joined her husband here ; where they continued, living in
privacy, until their restoration.
Consols began at 64^, and left off at 66}i, having
reached 70^6 in June and July.
Wheat ranged from 69s. per quarter in January, to 8 is.
in July, and 91s. in December. The quartern loaf varied
from 1 id. to is. 2d.
■Jfe*
II
CHAPTER XVI.
1809.
General Fast— The Jubilee — Costume— Former Jubilees— Release of poor prisoners
for debt— Jubilee Song— Jubilee literature— Poetry— King pardons deseiters
from Army and Navy.
ARLY in the year 1809 (on February 8th) was a
day of Fasting, and prayer, for the success of His
Majesty's arms.
Also, in January, began the celebrated Clarke Scandal,
which ended in the Duke of York resigning his position as
Commander-in-chief; but this will be fully treated of in
another place, as will the celebrated O. P. Riots, which
occurred in this year.
Socially, the only other important event which occurred
in this year was " TlIE JUBILEE," or the celebration of the
fiftieth anniversary of the accession of George III., he
having succeeded to the throne on the 25th of October,
1760; and this Jubilee created quite a craze. A Jubilee
Medal was struck by Bisset, of Birmingham, having, on
the Obverse, a bust of the King, with the following legend :
" King George tpie Third ascended the Throne of the
Imperial Realms of Great Britain and Ireland, October
25, A.D. 1760. Grand National Jubilee, celebrated
October 25, 1809." On the Reverse, was the Guardian
(1809.) THE "JUBILEE." 147
Genius of England, represented as Fame, seated in the
clouds, and triumphing over Mortality ; she displayed a
centenary circle, one half of which showed the duration of
the King's reign up to that time, whilst rays from heaven
illuminate a throne.
Not content with this, it was suggested that there should
be a special costume worn on the occasion, and that gentle-
men should dress in the " Windsor uniform," i.e., blue frock
coats, with scarlet collars, and the ladies' dresses were to be
of garter blue velvet, or satin, with head-dresses containing
devices emblematical of the occasion.
It is no wonder that people went somewhat crazy over
this Jubilee, for it was an event of very rare occurrence,
only three monarchs of England having kept jubilees —
Henry III., Edward III., and George III. Let us, how-
ever, hope that this generation may add yet another to the
list in Queen Victoria. Edward III. celebrated the jubilee
of his birth in a good and kindly manner in 1363, as we
may learn from Guthrie : " Edward was now in the
fiftieth year of his age, and he laid hold of that aera as the
occasion of his performing many other popular acts of
government. For he declared, in his parliament, by Sir
Henry Green, that he was resolved to keep it as a jubilee ;
and that he had given orders to issue out general and
special pardons, without paying any fees, for recalling all
exiles, and setting at liberty all debtors to the Crown, and
all prisoners for criminal matters. He further created his
third son, Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and his fifth son,
Edmund, Earl of Cambridge. The Parliament, on their
parts, not to be wanting in gratitude, having obtained their
petitions, on the day of their rising, presented the King
with a duty of twenty-six shillings and eight pence upon
every sack of wool, for three years, besides continuing the
former duty upon wools, fells, and skins. This year being
declared a year of jubilee, the reader is to expect little
business, as it was spent in hunting throughout the great
14S THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1809.)
forests of England, and other magnificent diversions, in
which the King laid out an immense sum. But we are not
to close the transactions of this year before we inform the
reader that it was from the jubilee then instituted, that the
famous custom took its rise of our Kings washing, feeding,
and clothing, on Maunday Thursday, as many poor people,
as they are years old." l
The whole of the country was determined to celebrate
this occasion in a way worthy of it, and, of course, every one
had his own theory, and aired it ; some were for a general
illumination and feasting everybody, others to relieve poor
debtors, and rejoice the hearts of the poor ; others mingled
the two. " Sir, benevolence is no less amiable for being
attended with gaiety ; without a general illumination the
day would be like a public mourning, or fast ; the shops
shut, the bells tolling, the churches open, a cloudy night, a
howling wind, a Jubilee!! ! But no such dull Jubilee for
John Bull."
Perhaps one of the most popular ways for people to spend
their money, in order to show their gratitude for the benefi-
cent sway of the sovereign who had ruled them for fifty
years, and who was much beloved of his subjects, was the
release of prisoners for small debts. Their case was cruelly
harsh, and it must have been felt as one of the hardest, and
most pressing, of social evils. Take the following adver-
tisement from the Morning Post, October 23, 1809:
" Jubilee. Prisoners for Deet in the Prison of the
Marshalsea of His Majesty's Household. There are now
confined in the above prison in the Borough, seventy-two
persons (from the age of twenty-three to seventy-four,
leaving fifty-three wives, and two hundred and three
children) for various debts from seven guineas, up to £140.
The total amount of the whole sum is ^2092, many of
whom [sic) are in great distress, and objects of charity,
* " A General History of England from the Landing of Julius Cresar to the
Revolution of 1688," by William Guthrie, London, 1744-1751, vol. ii. p. 213.
(1809.) RELEASING POOR DEBTORS. 149
every way worthy the notice of a generous and feeling
public, who are interesting themselves in the cause of
suffering humanity against the approaching Jubilee. It is,
therefore in contemplation to raise a sufficient sum, for the
purpose of endeavouring to effect their release, by offering
compositions to their respective creditors in the following
proportions, viz., 10s. in the pound for every debt not
exceeding ^"20 ; above that sum, and not exceeding .£50,
the sum of 7s. 6d. ; and above ^50, the sum of 5s. irfthe
pound, in full for debt and costs. Subscriptions . . . will
be received by . . . with whom are left lists containing the
names of the unfortunate Persons immured within the
Prison, and other particulars respecting them, for the
inspection of such Persons as may be desirous of pro'
moting so benevolent an undertaking."
And that large sums were so raised, we have evidence
in many instances. Take one case :
" At a meeting of Merchants and Bankers appointed
to conduct the ENTERTAINMENT to be given at Merchant
Taylors' Hall on the 25th inst., held this day —
" Beeston Long, Esq., in the Chair.
" Resolved, That since the advertisement published by
this Committee on the 5 th day of September last, various
communications having been made to this Committee
which lead them to imagine that a general Illumination
will not be so acceptable to the Public as was at first
supposed, and, wishing that the day may pass with perfect
unanimity of proceeding, on so happy an Occasion, this
Committee no longer think it expedient to recommend a
general Illumination.
" Resolved, That it appears to this Committee that,
instead of such general Illumination, it will be more
desirable to open a SUBSCRIPTION for the Relief of Persons
confined for Small Debts, and that the sums collected be
paid over to the Treasurer of the Society established for
that purpose,"
iSo THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S09.)
To show how warmly this idea of releasing the debtor
was taken up, in this instance alone, considerably more
than ,£2,000 was collected.
"JUBILEE SONG.
" For Wednesday, 25th October, 1809.
"Tune — 'God Save the King.'
" Britons ! your Voices raise,
Join cheerful Songs of praise,
With grateful lay ;
May all our Island ring,
Her Sons' Orisons sing
For their Beloved King
On this bright day.
May he the vale of life
Close free from ev'ry strife ;
His subjects see.
Bless'd with a lasting Peace,
May War for ever cease,
Pris'ners each Pow'r release,
And all be free.
King George's Fiftieth Year
Of Sceptred greatness cheer
Each loyal Heart ;
May the stain'd Sword be sheath'd;
Amity once more breath'd ;
Commerce, with Plenty wreath'd,
Sweet Joy impart-
Thus may our Children find
Cause which will e'er remind
Them to agree,
That we with Justice sing,
God bless our good old King,
For him, our Noble King,
This Jubilee."
This is not the sole attempt at a Jubilee literature.
There was a satirical pamphlet called " The Jubilee ; or,
John Bull in his Dotage. A Grand National Pantomime,
(1809.) THE JUBILEE. 151
As it was to have been acted by His Majesty's subjects on
the 25th of October, 1809." Another pamphlet, by Dr. Joseph
Kemp, was entitled " The Patriotic Entertainment, called
the Jubilee." And yet another book of 203 pages printed
in Birmingham, which had for title, "An Account of the
Celebration of the Jubilee of 1809 in various parts of the
Kingdom." This was arranged in alphabetical order, and
gave an account of the doings, on this occasion, in the
various cities, towns, and villages of England. It was
published by subscription, and the profits were to go to
the " Society for the Relief of Prisoners for Small
Debts."
There was a poem, too, which is too long to be repro-
duced in its entirety, but which contains some pretty lines,
such as would go home to a people who really loved
their king— who had suffered when God had afflicted him,
and yearned for his recovery, and who were then spending
both blood, and treasure, to preserve his throne and their
own country.
" Seculo festas refere?iie luces,
Reddidi carmen." — Horace.
" Oft (ah ! how oft) has the revolving Sun
Smiled on Britannia's joy at battles won ?
How oft our bosoms felt the conscious glow
For brilliant triumph o'er the stubborn foe?
Jf, then, our patriot hearts could proudly feel
Such zealous transports at our Country's weal,
Shall not the Bard his cheerful efforts lend
To praise that Country's first and truest friend ?
For such is George, the pride of England's Throne,
True to his people's rights as to his own.
• ••••••
Mild is the Prince, and glorious were the arts,
That gave him sov'reign empire o'er our hearts.
Our love for him is such as ever flows
Spontaneous, warm, and strength'ning as it glows ;
Unlike the smiles, and flattery of Courts,
Which int'rest prompts, and tyranny extorts ;
152 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1809.)
A Monarch so belov'd has nought to fear
From mad ambition's turbulent career ;
For subjects ne'er from their allegiance swerve,
Who love his person they are bound to serve.
• ••••••
History shall tell how deep was every groan
When 'erst black sickness struck at England's throne :
For her lov'd King was heard the Nation's sigh,
While public horror star'd in ev'ry eye ;
But, when restor'd, to many a daily pray'r,
What heartfelt joy succeeded to despair.
• •■•■■■
Then oh ! Thou King of Kings, extend thy arm
To shield thine own anointed George from harm ;
Grant, if it so comport with thy behest,
For thy decrees must ever be the best ;
Grant that he long may live, and long may stand
'A tow'r of strength ' to guard our native land.''
The King, on the 18th of October, issued a proclamation
pardoning all deserters from the Navy and Marines, but not
allowing them any arrears of pay or prize-money ; and he
also pardoned all deserters from the Army, who should give
themselves up within two months from the 25th of October,
but then they must rejoin the Army. Not particularly
inviting terms when they come to be analyzed, for the
sailors would certainly be marked, and, eventually, pressed v
and the soldiers were simply asked to exchange their
present liberty, for their old slavery. But he really did a
graceful, and, at the same time, a kindly action in sending
through Mr. Perceval, to the Society for the Relief of
Persons confined for Small Debts, £2,000 from his privy
purse.
CHAPTER XVII.
Common Council decide to relieve Small Debtors — Festivities at Windsor — Ox
roasted whole — How it was done — The Queen and Royal Family present —
Division of the ox, &c. — A bull baited— Fete at Frogmore — Illuminations-
Return of the Scheldt Expedition.
N the Court of Common Council this feeling of helping
the poor debtor was prevalent, and a Mr. Jacks, at a
Court held on October 5th, proposed, if the Corporation
wished to appropriate a sum for the celebration of the
Jubilee, that they should follow the example of the Jewish
Law, and liberate the prisoner, and captive, which, he said,
would be a much better method of applying their money
than for eating and drinking, and the following resolution
was carried :
"That it will be more acceptable to Almighty God, and
more congenial to the paternal feelings of our beloved
Monarch, if the Court would proceed to the liberation of
the prisoners and captives, on the joyful Jubilee about to
be celebrated, than in spending sums of money in feasting
and illuminations. We therefore resolve, that the sum of
.£1,000 be applied to the relief of persons confined for small
debts, and for the relief of persons confined within the
gaols of the City, especially freemen of London."
It would be impossible within the limits of this work,
even to sketch a tithe part of the ways in which the Jubilee
iS4 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1809.)
was celebrated throughout the country ; but a notice, in
some detail, is necessary, as illustrating the social habits of
this portion of the Century. Take, for instance, the ox and
sheep roasting at Windsor. Roasting beasts whole, is a
relic of barbarism all but exploded in England, a type of
that rude, and plentiful, hospitality which might be expected
from a semi-civilized nation. As it is not probable that the
custom will survive, and as the details may be useful for
some antiquarian reproduction, I give the modus operandi
in full, premising, that from all I have heard from those
who have feasted upon an animal so treated, that it is
very far from being a gastronomic treat, some parts being
charred to a cinder, others being quite raw. This, then, is
how it was done :
" At two yesterday morning the fire was lighted, and the
ox began to turn on the spit, to the delight of the spectators,
a considerable number of whom were assembled, even at
that hour, to witness so extraordinary a sight. A few of the
Royal Blues attended to guard it ; a little rain fell a short
time previous to the kindling of the fire, but, by the time
the ox began to turn, all was fair again.
" At nine o'clock the sheep were put to the fire, on each
side of the ox, in Bachelors' Acre. The apparatus made
use of on this occasion, consisted of two ranges set in brick-
work, and so contrived that a fire should be made on each
side of the ox, and on the outer side of each fire was the
necessary machinery for roasting the sheep. A sort of
scaffolding had been erected, consisting of six poles, three
of which, at each extremity, fixed in the earth, and united
at the top, bore a seventh, from which descended the pulley
by means of which the ox was placed between the ranges
when put down, and raised again when roasted. Over the
animal a long tin dish was placed, into which large quan-
tities of fat were thrown, which, melting, the beef was basted
with it, a ladle at the end of a long pole being used for the
purpose. An immense spit was passed through the body
(i8o 9 .) FETE AT WINDSOR. 155
of the animal, the extremity of which worked in a groove
at each end. A bushel and a half of potatoes were placed
in his belly, and roasted with him.
" At one, the ox and sheep being considered to be suffi-
ciently done, they were taken up. The Bachelors had
previously caused boards to be laid from the scene of action
to a box, which had been prepared for Her Majesty, and
the Royal Family, to survey it from. They graciously
accepted the invitation of the Bachelors, to view it close.
Their path was railed off and lined by Bachelors, acting as
constables, to keep off the crowd. They appeared much
gratified by the spectacle, walked round the apparatus and
returned to their box. Her Majesty walked with the Duke
of York. The Royal party were followed by the Mayor
and Corporation. The animals were now placed on dishes
to be carved, and several persons, attending for that purpose,
immediately set to work. The Bachelors still remained at
their posts to keep the crowd off, and a party of them
offered the first slice to their illustrious visitors, which was
accepted. Shortly after the carving had commenced, and
the pudding had began to be distributed, the efforts of the
Bachelors to keep off the crowd became useless ; some of
the Royal Blues, on horseback, assisted in endeavouring to
repel them, but without effect. The pudding was now
thrown to those who remained at a distance, and now a
hundred scrambles were seen in the same instant. The
bread was next distributed in a similar way, and, lastly, the
meat ; a considerable quantity of it was thrown to a butcher,
who, elevated above the crowd, catching large pieces in one
hand, and holding a knife in the other, cut smaller pieces
off, letting them fall into the hands of those beneath who
were on the alert to catch them. The pudding, * meat, and
bread, being thus distributed, the crowd were finally regaled
with what was denominated a ' sop in the pan ;' that is, with
having the mashed potatoes, gravy, &c, thrown over them."
1 The Bachelors had provided about twenty bushels of plum pudding.
156 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1809.)
Later in the day, Bachelors' Acre was the scene of
renewed festivity, no less than a bull bait. " A fine sturdy
animal, kept for the purpose, given to the Bachelors for their
amusement, by the same gentleman who gave the ox, was
baited ; and, in the opinion of the amateurs of bull baiting,
furnished fine sport ; but, at length, his skin was cut by the
rope so much that he bled profusely, and, as it was thought
he could not recover, he was led off to be slaughtered."
At Frogmore, the King gave a fete, and a display of fire-
works at night. Everything went off very well, except a
portion of the water pageant, which was not a success.
" Two cars, or chariots, drawn by seahorses, in one of whom
(sic) was a figure of Britannia, in the other a representation
of Neptune, appeared majestically moving on the bosom of
the lake, followed by four boats filled with persons dressed
to represent tritons, &c. These last were to have been
composed of choristers, we understand, who were to have
sung ' God save the King,' on the water, but, unfortunately,
the crowd assembled was so immense, that those who were
to have sung could not gain entrance. The high treat this
could not but have afforded, was, in consequence, lost to
the company."
The Jews celebrated the Jubilee with much enthusiasm,
and, in the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, after hear-
ing a sermon preached on a text from Levit. xxv. 13 : " In
the year of this Jubilee ye shall return every man unto his
possession," we are told "the whole of the 21st Psalm was
sung in most expressive style, to the tune of ' God save
the King."
In spite of the want of unanimity as to the expediency
of a general illumination, there were plenty of transparen-
cies, and even letters of cut-glass. I give descriptions of
two of the most important.
" Stubbs'S in Piccadilly, exhibited three transparencies of
various dimensions. In the centre was a portrait of His
Majesty, in his robes, seated in his coronation chair ; the
(i8o 9 .) FETE AT FROGMORE. 157
figure was nine feet in height, and the canvas occupied 20
square feet. On the right hand of the King was placed
the crown, on a crimson velvet cushion, supported by a
table, ornamented with embroidery. Over His Majesty's
head appeared Fame, with her attributes ; in her left hand
a wreath of laurel leaves ; her right pointing to a glory.
At the feet of the Sovereign was a group of boys represent-
ing Bacchanalians, with cornucopia. Underneath appeared
a tablet with the words 'Anno Regni 50. Oct. 25, 1809.'
On the right and left of the above transparency, were placed
representations of the two most celebrated oak-trees in
England, and two landscapes — the one of Windsor, and the
other of Kew."
"Messrs. RuNDELL and BRIDGE'S, Ludgate Hill. In the
centre His Majesty is sitting on his throne, dressed in
his coronation robes ; on his right, Wisdom, represented by
Minerva, with her helmet, aegis, and spear ; Justice with
her scales and sword ; on his left, Fortitude holding a pillar,
and Piety with her Bible. Next to Wisdom, Victory is
decorating two wreathed columns with oak garlands and
gold medallions bearing the names of several successful
engagements on land — as Alexandria, Talavera, Vimiera,
Assaye, &c. Behind the figure of Fortitude, a female
figure is placing garlands and medallions on two other
wreathed columns, bearing the names of naval victories — as
the First of June, St. Vincent's, Trafalgar, &c. The base of
the throne is guarded by Mars sitting, and Neptune rising,
holding his trident, and declaring the triumphs obtained in
his dominions ; on the base between Mars and Neptune, are
boys representing the liberal arts, in basso-relievo. The
figures are the size of life."
The disastrous end of the campaign known as the
Walcheren Expedition, brings the year to a somewhat
melancholy conclusion, for on Christmas Day, Admiral
Otway's squadron, with all the transports, arrived in the
Downs, from Walcheren.
is8
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
(1809.)
Consols began at 6y}i, and ended at 70, with remarkably
little fluctuation. The top price of wheat in January
was 90s. iod., and at the end of December 102s. iod. It
did reach 109s. 6d. in the middle of October — a price we
are never likely to see. The quartern loaf, of course, varied
in like proportion — January is. 2^d., December is. 4^d.,
reaching in October is. $d.
^j\. -^v >tv sj\ -/Jv /Jv Jf*~ SV- -*V>- ■'V- >tv ^T^ -f *-
CHAPTER XVIII.
1810.
The Scheldt Expedition— The Earl of Chatham and Sir Richard Strachan— The
citizens of London and the King — General Fast— Financial disorganization —
Issue of stamped dollars — How they were smuggled out of the country —
John Gale Jones and John Dean before the House of Commons — Sir Francis
Burdett interferes — Publishes libel in Cobbett's Weekly Political Register —
Debate in the House— Sir Francis Burdett committed to the Tower.
ALTHOUGH the Walchercn Expedition was under-
taken, and failed, in 1809, it was criticized by
the country, both in and out of Parliament, in
this year.
It started in all its pride, and glory, on the 28th of July,
1 809, a beautiful fleet of thirty-nine sail of the line, thirty-
six frigates, besides accompanying gunboats and transports.
These were under the command of Sir Richard Strachan,
Admiral Otway, and Lord Gardner ; whilst the land force
of forty thousand men was under the chief command of
the Earl of Chatham, who was somewhat notorious for his
indolence and inefficiency.
At first, the destination of the fleet was kept a profound
secret, but it soon leaked out that Vlissing, or Flushing, in
the Island of Walcheren, which lies at the mouth of the
Scheldt, was the point aimed at. Middleburgh surrendered
to the English on the 2nd of August, and on the 15th
160 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1810.)
after a fearful bombardment, the town of Flushing surren-
dered. General Monnet, the commander, and over five
thousand men were taken prisoners of war.
Nothing was done to take advantage of this success, and,
on the 27th of August, when Sir Richard Strachan waited
upon the Earl of Chatham to learn the steps he intended
to take, he found, to his great disgust, that the latter had
come to the conclusion not to advance.
About the middle of September, the Earl, finding that
a large army was collecting at Antwerp, thought it would
be. more prudent to leave with a portion of his army for
England, and accordingly did so. He resolved to keep
Flushing, and the Island of Walchercn, to guard the mouth
of the Scheldt, and keep it open for British commerce ;
but it was a swampy, pestilential place, and the men sick-
ened, and died of fever, until, at last, the wretched remnant
of this fine army was obliged to return, and, on the 23rd of
December, 1809, Flushing was evacuated.
Popular indignation was very fierce with regard to
the Earl of Chatham, and a scathing epigram was made
on him, of which there are scarce two versions alike.
"Lord Chatham, with his sword undrawn,
Stood, waiting for Sir Richard Strachan ;
Sir Richard, longing to be at 'em,
Stood waiting for the Earl of Chatham." *
The Caricaturists, of course, could not leave such a
subject alone, and Rowlandson drew two (September 14,
1809). "A design for a Monument to be erected in com-
memoration of the glorious and never to be forgotten
Grand Expedition, so ably planned and executed in the
year 1809." There is nothing particularly witty about
this print. Amongst other things it has a shield on which
is William, the great Earl of Chatham, obscured by
1 This version is taken from " The Life of the Right Hon. George Canning,"
by Robert Bell, London, 1S46. The first line, however, is generally rendered!
" The Earl of Chatham, with his sword drawn."
(1810.) THE CITY AND THE KING. 161
clouds ; and the supporters are on one side a " British
seaman in the dumps," and on the other "John Bull, some-
what gloomy, but for what, it is difficult to guess after so
glorious an achievement." The motto is —
" Great Chatham, with one hundred thousand men,
To Flushing sailed, and then sailed back again."
And ten days later — on the 24th of September — he
published "General Chatham's marvellous return from his
Exhibition of Fireworks."
The citizens of London were highly indignant at the
incapacity displayed by the Earl of Chatham, and in
December, they, through the Lord Mayor, memorialized
the King, begging him to cause inquiry to be made as to
the cause of the failure of the expedition ; but George the
Third did not brook interference, and he gave them a
right royal snubbing. His answer was as follows :
" I thank you for your expressions of duty and attach-
ment to me and to my family.
" The recent Expedition to the Scheldt was directed to
several objects of great importance to the interest of my
Allies, and to the security of my dominions.
" I regret that, of these objects, a part, only, has been
accomplished. I have not judged it necessary to direct
any Military Inquiry into the conduct of my Commanders
by Sea or Land, in this conjoint service.
" It will be for my Parliament, in their wisdom, to ask
for such information, or to take such measures upon this
subject as they shall judge most conducive to the public
good."
But the citizens, who bore their share of the war right
nobly, would not stand this, and they held a Common Hall
on the 9th of January, 1810, and instructed their representa-
tives to move, or support, an Address to His Majesty, pray-
ing for an inquiry into the failures of the late expeditions
12
1 6 2 THE NINE TEE NTH CENTUR K ( 1 8 1 o. )
to Spain, Portugal, and Holland. They drew up a similar
address, and asserted a right to deliver such address, or
petition, to the King upon his throne.
Nothing, however, came of it, and when Parliament was
opened, by Commission, on the 23rd of January, 18 10, that
part of His Majesty's speech relating to the Walcheren
Expedition was extremely brief and unsatisfactory : "These
considerations determined His Majesty to employ his forces
on an expedition to the Scheldt. Although the principal
ends of this expedition had not been attained, His Majesty
confidently hopes that advantages, materially affecting the
security of His Majesty's dominions in the further prosecu-
tion of the war, will be found to result from the demolition
of the docks, and arsenals, at Flushing. This important
object His Majesty was enabled to accomplish, in conse-
quence of the reduction of the Island of Walcheren by the
valour of his fleets and armies. His Majesty has given
directions that such documents and papers should be laid
before you, as he trusts will afford satisfactory information
upon the subject of this expedition."
And Parliament had those papers, and fought over them
many nights ; held, also, a Select Committee on the Scheldt
Expedition, and examined many officers thereon ; and,
finally, on the 30th of March, they divided on what was
virtually a vote of censure on the Government, if not carried
— a motion declaratory of the approbation of the House in
the retention of Walcheren until its evacuation ; when the
numbers were —
AVCo ••• ••• •■• •*• •■• ••• ••• • t • ^Sj
i. 1 Utu »«• ••• •■• ••• ••• •■• ••• ••• *- \ —
Majority for the Ministry 23
John, Earl of Chatham, had, however, to bow to the
storm, and resign his post of Master General of the
Ordnance; but his Court favour soon befriended him again.
Three years afterwards, he was made full General, and on
(1810.) THE CURRENCY. 163
the death of the Duke of York he was appointed Governor
of Gibraltar.
The 28th of February was set apart for the Annual Day
of Fasting and Humiliation, and in its routine it resembled
all others. The Lords went to Westminster Abbey, the
Commons to St. Margaret's Church, and the Volunteers
had Church Parades.
On the 1st of February, Mr. Francis Horner, M.P. for
Wendover, moved for a variety of accounts, and returns,
respecting the present state of the circulating medium, and
the bullion trade. The price of gold was abnormally high,
and paper proportionately depreciated. His conjecture to
account for this — and it seems a highly probable one —
was that the high price of gold might be produced partly
by a larger circulation of Bank of England paper than was
necessary, and partly by the new circumstances in which
the foreign trade of this country was placed, by which a
continual demand for bullion was produced, not merely to
discharge the balance of trade, as in the ordinary state of
things, but for the purpose of carrying on some of the
most important branches of our commerce ; such as the
purchase of naval stores from the Baltic, and grain from
countries under the control and dominion of the enemy.
Recourse was had to an issue of Dollars in order to
relieve the monetary pressure ; and we read in the
Morning Post of February 22nd, "A large boat full of
dollars is now on its way by the canal, from Birmingham.
The dollars have all been re-stamped at Messrs. Bolton
and Watts, and will be issued on their arrival at the Bank."
These must not be confounded with the old Spanish
dollars which were stamped earlier in the century, and
about which there was such an outcry as to the Bank
refusing to retake them ; but from the same handsome die
as those struck in 1804 to guard against forgery — having on
the Obverse, the King's head, with the legend, " GEORGIUS
III. Dei Gratia " ; and on the Reverse, the Royal Arms,
164 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S10.)
within the garter, crowned, and the legend, " BRITAN-
niarum Rex. Fidei Defensor," and the date. 1
But these were snapped up, and smuggled out of the
country, as we see by a paragraph in the same paper
(March 9th): " Thirty thousand of the re-stamped dollars
were seized on board a Dutch Schuyt in the river, a few
days since. The public are, perhaps, little aware that the
Dutch fishermen, who bring us plaice and eels, will receive
nothing in return but gold and silver." This doubtless was
so, but no cargo of fish could have been worth 30,000 dollars.
Gold was scarce, as will be seen by the following note :
(April 3rd) : " Several ships were last week paid at Plymouth
all in new gold coin ; and, on Saturday last, the artificers
belonging to the Dockyard, were paid their wages in new
half-guineas. It was pleasing to see the smiles on the
men's countenances at the sight of these strangers. The
Jews and slop merchants are busily employed in purchasing
this desirable coin, and substituting provincial and other
bank paper in its room."
That a large, and profitable, trade was done in smuggling
the gold coinage out of the country is evident. Morning
Post, 28th of July : "Two fresh seizures have lately been
made of guineas, which have for some time been so scarce
that it is difficult to conceive whence the supply can have
been drawn. A deposit of 9,000 guineas, was on Thursday
discovered in a snug recess, at the head of the mast of a
small vessel in the Thames, which had just discharged a
cargo of French wheat; another seizure of 4,500 guineas
was made at Deal on the preceding day."
Morning Post, December 10, 18 10 : " The tide surveyor
at Harwich seized, a few days since, on board a vessel at
1 The number of dollars issued by the Bank of England to February 8,
iSio, inclusive, was :
Dollars stamped in 1797 and issued 2,325,099
„ „ 1804 „ 1,419,484
„ „ 1809 and 1S10 ,, 1,073,051
Total 4.8I7.634
(i8io.) PRINTERS BEFORE PARLIAMENT. 165
that port, twenty-two bars of gold, weighing 2,870 ounces.
He found the gold concealed between the timbers of the
vessel, under about thirty tons of shingle ballast."
In writing the social history of this year, it would be
impossible to keep silence as to the episode of Sir Francis
Burdett's behaviour, and subsequent treatment.
Curiously enough, it arose out of the Scheldt Expedition.
On the 19th of February the Right Hon. Charles Yorke,
M.P. for Cambridgeshire, rose, and complained of a breach
of privilege in a placard printed by a certain John Dean —
which was as follows : " Windham and Yorke, British
Forum, 33, Bedford Street, Covent Garden,
Monday, Feb. 19, 1810. Question :— Which was the
greater outrage upon the public feeling, Mr. Yorke's enforce-
ment of the standing order to exclude strangers from the
House of Commons, or Mr. Windham's recent attack upon
the liberty of the press ? The great anxiety manifested by
the public at this critical period to become acquainted with
the proceedings of the House of Commons, and to ascertain
who were the authors and promoters of the late calamitous
expedition to the Scheldt, together with the violent attacks
made by Mr. Windham on the newspaper reporters (whom
he described as ' bankrupts, lottery office keepers, footmen,
and decayed tradesmen') have stirred up the public feeling,
and excited universal attention. The present question is
therefore brought forward as a comparative inquiry, and
may be justly expected to furnish a contested and interest-
ing debate. Printed by J. Dean, 57, Wardour Street."
It was ordered that the said John Dean do attend at the
bar of the house the next day.
He did so, and pleaded that he was employed to print
the placard by John Gale Jones — and the interview ended
with John Dean being committed to the custody of the
Serjeant-at-Arms — and John Gale Jones, was ordered to
attend the House next day.
When he appeared at the bar, he acknowledged that he
1 66 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1810.)
was the author of the placard, and regretted that the printer
should have been inconvenienced. That he had always
considered it the privilege of every Englishman to ani-
madvert on public measures, and the conduct of public men;
but that, on looking over the paper again, he found he had
erred, and, begging to express his contrition, he threw him-
self on the mercy of the House.
John Dean, meanwhile, had presented a petition, acknow-
ledging printing the bill, but that it was done by his work-
men without his personal attention. He was ordered to
be brought to the bar, reprimanded, and discharged — all
which came to pass. Gale, however, was committed to
Newgate, where he remained until the 21st of June, when
Parliament rose, in spite of a motion of Sir Samuel Romilly
(April 1 6th) that he be discharged from his confinement ;
the House divided — Ayes 112; Noes 160 ; majority for his
further imprisonment, 48.
On a previous occasion (March 12th), Sir Francis Burdett
had moved his discharge, but, on a division, fourteen only
were for it, and 153 against it. In his speech he denied
the legal right of the House to commit any one to prison
for such an offence — and he published in Cobbetfs Weekly
Political Register of Saturday, March 24, 18 10, a long
address: "Sir Francis Burdett to his Constituents;
DENYING THE POWER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TO
imprison the People of England." It is too long to
reproduce, but its tone may be judged of, by the following-
extract : " At this moment, it is true, we see but one man
actually in jail for having displeased those Gentlemen ; but
the fate of this one man (as is the effect of punishments)
will deter others from expressing their opinions of the
conduct of those who have had the power, to punish him.
And, moreover, it is in the nature of all power, and
especially of assumed and undefined power, to increase as
it advances in age ; and, as Magna Charta and the law of
the land have not been sufficient to protect Mr. Jones ; as
(1810.) SIR R BURDETT'S COMMITTAL. 167
we have seen him sent to jail for having described the
conduct of one of the members, as an outrage upon public
feeling, what security have we, unless this power of imprison-
ment be given up, that we shall not see other men sent to
jail for stating their opinion respecting Rotten Boroughs,
respecting Placemen, and Pensioners, sitting in the House ;
or, in short, for making any declaration, giving any opinion,
stating any fact, betraying any feeling, whether by writing,
by word of mouth, or by gesture, which may displease any of
the Gentlemen assembled in St. Stephen's Chapel ? " This
was supplemented by a most elaborate " Argument," and
on the 27th of March the attention of Parliament was
called thereto by Mr. Lethbridge, M.P. for Somerset.
The alleged breach of privilege was read by a clerk, and
Sir Francis was called upon to say whatever he could, in
answer to the charge preferred against him. He admitted
the authorship both of the Address and Argument and
would stand the issue of them. Mr. Lethbridge then moved
the following resolutions: " 1st. Resolved that the Letter
signed Francis Burdett, and the further Argument, which
was published in the paper called Cobbett's Weekly Register,
on the 24th of this instant, is a libellous and scandalous
paper, reflecting upon the just rights and privileges of this
House. 2nd. Resolved, That Sir Francis Burdett, who
suffered the above articles to be printed with his name, and
by his authority, has been guilty of a violation of the
privileges of this House."
The debate was the fiercest of the session. It was
adjourned to the 28th, and the 5th of April, when Mr.
Lethbridge's resolutions were agreed to without a division,
and Sir Robert Salusbury, M.P. for Brecon, moved that Sir
Francis Burdett be committed to the Tower. An amend-
ment was proposed that he be reprimanded in his place ;
but, on being put, it was lost by 190 to 152 — 38, and at seven
o'clock in the morning of the 6th of April, Sir Francis's
doom was decreed.
CHAPTER XIX.
Warrant served on Sir Francis Burdett — He agrees to go to prison — Subsequently
lie declares the warrant illegal— His arrest — His journey to the Tower — The
mob — His incarceration — The mob attack the military — Collision — Killed and
wounded — Sir Francis's letter to the Speaker— His release — Conduct of the
mob.
UP to this time the proceedings had been grave and
dignified, but Sir Francis imported a ludicrous
element into his capture.
Never was any arrest attempted in so gentlemanlike,
and obliging a manner. 1 At half-past seven o'clock in the
morning, as soon as the division in the House of Commons
was known, Mr. Jones Burdett, accompanied by Mr.
O'Connor, who had remained all night at the House of
Commons, set off in a post chaise to Wimbledon, and
informed Sir Francis Burdett of the result. Sir Francis
immediately mounted his horse, and rode to town. Pie
found a letter on his table from Mr. Colman, the Serjeant-
at-Arms, acquainting him that he had received a warrant,
signed by the Speaker, to arrest and convey him to the
Tower, and he begged to know when he might wait on him ;
that it was his wish to show him the utmost respect, and,
therefore, if he preferred to take his horse, and ride to the
Tower, he would meet him there.
1 The account of Sir F. Burdett's arrest, &c., is mainly taken from the
Annual Register, vol. Hi-
(1810.) SIR FRANCIS BURDETT. 169
To this very courteous and considerate letter, Sir Francis
replied that he should be happy to receive him at noon
next day. However, before this letter could reach the
Serjeant-at-Arms, he called on Sir Francis, and verbally
informed him that he had a warrant against him. Sir
Francis told him he should be ready for him at twelve
next day, and Mr. Colman bowed, and retired. Indeed it
was so evidently the intention of the baronet to go to his
place of durance quietly, that, in the evening, he sent a
friend to the Tower to see if preparations had been made
to receive him, and it was found that every consideration
for his comfort had been taken.
But the urbane Serjeant-at-Arms, when he made his
report to the Speaker, was mightily scolded by him for
not executing his warrant, and at 8 p.m. he called, with
a messenger, on Sir Francis, and told him that he had
received a severe reprimand from the Speaker for not
executing his warrant in the morning, and remaining with
his prisoner.
Sir Francis replied that he should not have allowed him
to have remained, and that he would not yield a voluntary
assent to the warrant, but would only give in, in presence
of an overwhelming force. The Serjeant-at-Arms then
withdrew, having refused to be the bearer of a letter to the
Speaker, which was afterwards conveyed to that dignitary
by private hands. In this letter he asserted he would only
submit to superior force, and insultingly said, " Your war-
rant, sir, I believe you know to be illegal. I know it to be so."
On the morning of the 7th of April another attempt was
made by a messenger of the House to serve him with the
warrant and arrest him ; but, although Sir Francis read it
and put it in his pocket, he told the messenger that he
might return and inform the Speaker that he would not
obey it. The poor man said his orders were to remain
there ; but he was commanded to retire, and had to go.
Later in the day, between twelve and one, came a troop
170 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1S10.)
of Life Guards, who pranced up and down the road and
pavement and dispersed the people, who heartily hissed
them. A magistrate read the Riot Act ; the troops cleared
the road, and formed two lines across Piccadilly, where Sir
Francis lived ; and so strictly was this cordon kept, that
they refused to allow his brother to pass to his dinner, until
he was accompanied by a constable. Sir Francis wrote to
the Sheriffs complaining of his house being beset by a
military force.
No further attempt to execute the warrant was made
that day, nor on the following day, which was Sunday.
But the majesty of Parliament would brook no further
trifling, and on the Monday morning (April 9th), after
breakfast, when " Sir Francis was employed in hearing his
son (who had just come from Eton school) read and
translate Magna Charta," a man's head was observed
looking in at the window, the same man advertising his
advent by smashing a pane or two of glass. Great credit
was taken that no one threw this man off his ladder, but,
probably, the sight of the troops in front of the house,
acted as a deterrent. The civil authorities, however, had
effected an entrance by the basement, and entered the
drawing-room, where a pretty little farce was acted.
"The Serjeant-at-Arms said: 'Sir Francis, you are my
prisoner.'
" Sir Francis. By what authority do you act, Mr.
Serjeant ? By what power, sir, have you broken into my
house, in violation of the laws of the land ?
" Serjeant. Sir Francis, I am authorized by the warrant
of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
" Sir Francis. I contest the authority of such a warrant.
Exhibit to me the legal warrant by which you have dared
to violate my house. Where is the Sheriff? Where is the
Magistrate ?
"At this time there was no magistrate, but he soon after-
wards appeared.
(i8io.) SIR FRANCIS BURDETT. 171
" Serjeant. Sir Francis, my authority is in my hand : I
will read it to you : it is the warrant of the Right Honour-
able the Speaker of the House of Commons.
" And here Mr. Colman attempted to read the warrant,
but which he did with great trepidation.
" Sir Francis. I repeat to you, that it is no sufficient
warrant. No — not to arrest my person in the open street,
much less to break open my house in violation of all law.
If you have a warrant from His Majesty, or from a proper
officer of the King, I will pay instant obedience to it ; but
I will not yield to an illegal order.
" Serjeant. Sir Francis, I demand you to yield in the
name of the Commons House of Parliament, and I trust
you will not compel me to use force. I entreat you to
believe that I wish to show you every respect.
" Sir Francis. I tell you distinctly that I will not
voluntarily submit to an unlawful order ; and I demand, in
the King's name, and in the name of the law, that you
forthwith retire from my house.
" Serjeant. Then, sir, I must call in assistance, and force
you to yield.
" Upon which the constables laid hold of Sir Francis.
Mr. Jones Burdett and Mr. O'Connor immediately stepped
up, and each took him under an arm. The constables
closed in on all three, and drew them downstairs.
" Sir Francis then said : ' I protest in the King's name
against this violation of my person and my house. It is
superior force only that hurries me out of it, and you do it
at your peril.' "
A coach was ready, surrounded by Cavalry, and Sir
Francis and his friends entered it. The possibility of a
popular demonstration, or attempt at rescue, was evidently
feared, for the escort consisted of two squadrons of the
15th Light Dragoons, two troops of Life Guards, with a
magistrate at their head ; then came the coach, followed by
two more troops of Life Guards, another troop of the 15th
1 7 2 THE NINE TEE NTH CENTUR Y. ( i S i o. )
Light Dragoons, two battalions of Foot Guards, the rear
being formed by another party of the 15th Light Dragoons.
After escorting through Piccadilly, the Foot Guards left,
and marched straight through the City, to await the prisoner
at the Tower.
His escort went a very circuitous route, ending in
Moorfields, the result of an arrangement between the
authorities and the Lord Mayor, by which, if the one did
not go through Temple Bar and the heart of the City, the
Lord Mayor would exert all his authority within his bounds,
as indeed he did, meeting, and heading, the cavalcade.
During his ride, Sir Francis, as might have been expected,
posed, sitting well forward so that he might be well seen.
It could hardly be from apathy, for the lower orders con-
sidered him as their champion ; but, either from the body
of accompanying troops, or the curious route taken, the
journey to the Tower passed off almost without incident,
except a little crying out, until the Minories was reached,
when the East End — and it was a hundred times rougher
than now — poured forth its lambs to welcome their shepherd.
The over-awing force on Tower Hill prevented any abso-
lute outbreak. There were shouts of " Burdett for ever ! "
and a few of the mob got tumbled into the shallow water
of the Tower ditch, whence they emerged, probably all the
better for the unwonted wash. No attempt at rescue
seems to have been made, and the Tower gates were
safely reached. The coach drew up ; the Serjeant-at-Arms
entered the little wicket to confer with the military authori-
ties ; the great gates swung open ; the cannon boomed
forth their welcome to the prisoner, and Sir Francis was
safely caged.
Up to this time the roughs had had no fun ; it had been
tame work, and, if the military got away unharmed, it
would have been a day lost ; so brickbats, stones, and
sticks were thrown at them without mercy. The soldiers'
tempers had been sorely tried ; orders were given to fire,
(1810.) SIR FRANCIS BURDETT. 173
and some of the mob fell. The riot was kept up until the
troops had left Fenchurch Street, and then the cost thereof
was counted in the shape of one killed and eight wounded.
A contemporary account says : "The confusion was dread-
ful, but the effect was the almost immediate dispersion of
the mob in every direction. A great part of them seemed
in a very advanced state of intoxication and otherwise
infuriated to madness, for some time braving danger in
every shape. In all the route of the military the streets
were crowded beyond all possibility of description ; all the
shops were shut up, and the most dreadful alarm for some
time prevailed."
There were fears of another riot taking place when night
fell, but preparations were made. The Coldstream Guards
were under orders, and each man was furnished with thirty
rounds of ball cartridge. Several military parties paraded
the streets till a late hour, and the cannon in St. James's
Park were loaded with ball. Happily, however, all was
quiet, and these precautions, although not unnecessary,
were un-needed.
Next day the Metropolis was quiet, showing that the
sympathy with the frothy hero of the hour, however loud
it might be, was not deep. Even at the Tower, which
contained all that there was of the origin of this mischief,
the extra Guards were withdrawn, and ingress and egress
to the fortress were as ordinarily — the prisoner's friends
being allowed to visit him freely. This episode may be
closed with the consolatory feeling that the one man who
was killed had been exceedingly active in attacking the
military, and, at the moment when the shot was fired
which deprived him of existence, he was in the act of
throwing a brickbat at the soldiers. History does not
record whether he was accompanied to his grave by
weeping brother bricklayers.
We have seen that Sir Francis Burdett proffered a letter,
addressed to the Speaker to the Serjeant-at-Arms, which
174 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1810.)
the latter very properly refused to deliver, and, on the 9th
of April, this letter formed the subject of a debate in the
House of Commons. The Serjeant-at-Arms was examined
by the House as to the particulars of the recalcitrant
baronet's arrest, and the Speaker added his testimony to
the fact of his reproving the Serjeant for not obeying
orders. The debate was adjourned until the next day, and
it ended, according to Hansard, thus :
" It appearing to be the general sentiment that the
Letter should not be inserted on the Journals, the Speaker
said he would give directions accordingly. It being also
understood that the Amendments moved should not appear
on the Journals, the Speaker said he would give directions
accordingly, and the question was put as an original
motion, ' That it is the opinion of this House, that the said
Letter is a high and flagrant breach of the privileges of the
House ; but it appearing from the report of the Serjeant-
at-Arms attending this House, that the warrant of the
Speaker for the commitment of Sir Francis Burdett to the
Tower has been executed, this House will not, at this time,
proceed further on the said letter.' Agreed nem con."
Then followed a scene that has its parallel in our days,
with another demagogue. Sir Francis Burdett commenced
actions against the Speaker, the Serjeant-at-Arms, and the
Earl of Moira, who was then Governor of the Tower. We
know how easily petitions are got up, and this case was
no exception ; but Sir Francis was kept in well-merited
incarceration, until the Prorogation of Parliament on the
2 1st of June, which set him free. The scene on his libera-
tion is very graphically described by a contemporary :
"The crowd for some time continued but slowly to
increase, but towards three o'clock, their numbers were
rapidly augmented ; and, shortly after three, as fitting a
rabble as ever were ' raked together ' appeared on Tower
Hill. The bands in the neighbourhood frequently struck
up a tune; and the assembled rabble as frequently huzzaed
(1810.) SIR FRANCIS BURDETT. 175
(they knew not why), and thus between them, for an hour
or two, they kept up a scene of continual jollity and
uproar.
" The Moorjiclds Cavalry 1 had by this time arrived at
the scene of action. Everything was prepared to carry
Sir Francis (like the effigy of Guy Fawkes on the 5th of
November) through the City. The air was rent by re-
peated shouts of ' Burdett for ever ! ' ' Magna Charta ! '
and 'Trial by Jury!' The blessings of the last, many of
these patriots had doubtless experienced, and were, therefore,
justified in expressing themselves with warmth. While
these shouts burst spontaneously from the elated rabble,
and every eye was turned towards the Tower, with the
eagerness of hope, and the anxiety of expectation — on a
sudden, intelligence was received that they had all been
made fools of by Sir Francis, who, ashamed, probably, of
being escorted through the City by such a band of 'ragged
rumped ' vagabonds, had left the Tower, crossed the water,
and proceeded to Wimbledon.
" To describe the scene which followed — the vexation of
the Westminster electors, the mortification of the Moorfi elds
Cavalry, and the despair of ' The Hope,' in adequate colours,
is impossible. Petrified by the news, for some time they
remained on the spot undetermined how to act, and
affecting to disbelieve the report. Unwilling, however, to
be disappointed of their fondest hope — that of showing
themselves — they determined on going through the streets
in procession, though they could not accompany Sir
Francis. The pageant accordingly commenced, the empty
vehicle intended for Sir Francis took that part in the pro-
cession which he was to have taken, and the rational part
of the mob consoled themselves by reflecting that, as they
had originally set out to accompany emptiness they were
not altogether disappointed.
"It was now proposed by some of the mob, that as they
1 A number of persons on horseback, who met at Moorfields.
176 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1810.)
could not have the honour of escorting Sir Francis Burdett
from the Tower, they should conclude the day by conducting
Mr. Gale Jones from Newgate, and he, shortly after, fell
into the procession in a hackney coach.
"On the arrival of the procession in Piccadilly, it went off
to the northward, and the vehicles returned by a different
route from that which they went. The whole of the
streets and windows were crowded, from Tower Hill, to
Piccadilly.
" About one o'clock a party of Burdettites from Soho,
with blue cockades and colours flying, proceeded down
Catherine Street, and the Strand, for the City. They
marched two and two. At Catherine Street they were
met by the 12th Light Dragoons on their way to Hyde
Park Corner. The music of the former was playing St.
Patrick's Day. The Band of the Dragoons immediately
struck up God save the King. The 14th Light Dragoons
followed the 12th; both regiments mustering very strong.
All the Volunteers were under orders ; and the Firemen
belonging to the several Insurance Offices paraded the
streets, with music, acting as constables."
CHAPTER XX.
Good harvest — Thanksgiving for same — List of poor Livings — Another Jubilee— ■
Illness and death of the Princess Amelia— Effect on the King— Prayers for his
restoration to health — Funeral of the Princess — Curious position of the Houses
of Parliament — Proposition for a Regency — Close of the first decade of the
xixth Century.
IT gives great pleasure to record that the Harvest this
year was plentiful, so bountiful, indeed, as to stir up
feelings of gratitude in the national breast, and induce
the manufacture of a "Form of prayer and thanksgiving to
Almighty God, for His mercy in having vouchsafed to bestow
on this Nation an abundant crop, and favourable harvest."
The farmers and laics benefited thereby, but the position of
the Clergy at that time was far from being very high, at
least with regard to worldly remuneration — vide the
following :
Account of Livings in England and Wales wider
£150 a year.
Not exceeding £\o a year
From £\o to ,£20 inclusive
From ^20 10^30
From ^30 to £\o
From ^40 to ^50
From £s° to £60
From £60 to £10
From £i June 26, 1802): "A curious bet was made last
TOMMY ONSLOW.
week, that Lord Cranley could drive a phaeton and
four into a certain specified narrow passage, turn about,
*nd return out of it, without accident to man, horse, or
carriage. Whether it was Cranbourn, or Sidney's Alley,
or Russell Court, or the Ride of a Livery Stable, we
cannot tell ; but, without being able to state the particulars,
we understand that the phaetonic feat was performed with
dexterity and success, and that his Lordship was completely
triumphant."
BOUSES.
193
In London, of course, the Park was the place for showing
off both beautiful horses, and men's riding, and the accom-
panying illustration portrays Lord Dillon, an accomplished
rider, showing people
HOW TO BREAK IN MY OWN HORSE.
The costume here is specially noteworthy, as it shows a
very advanced type of dandy.
That this was not the ordinary costume for riding in
" the Row," is shown in the accompanying illustration,
where it is far more business-like, and fitted for the purpose
As we see, from every contemporary print and painting,
the horses were of a good serviceable type, as dissimilar as
possible from our racer, but closely resembling a well-bred
hunter. They had plenty of bottom, which was needful,
14
194
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
for they were often called upon to perform what now would
be considered as miracles of endurance. Take the follow-
ing from the Annual Register, March 24, 1802, and bearing
in mind the sea passage, without steam, and in a little tub
ROTTEN ROW — 1S03.
of a boat, and it is marvellous : " Mr. Hunter performed
his journey from Paris to London in twenty-two hours,
the shortest space of time that journey has ever been made
in"
©^©is^©©©©©©
CHAPTER XXIII.
" The Silent Highway " — Watermen — Their fares — Margate hoys — A religious hoy
— The bridges over the Thames — The Pool — Water pageants — Necessity for
Docks, and their building — Tunnel at Gravesend — Steamboat on the Thames
— Canals.
THERE was, however, another highway, well called
"the silent." The river Thames was then really-
used for traffic, and numerous boats plied for hire
from every " stair," as the steps leading down to the river
were called. The watermen were licensed by their Company,
and had not yet left off wearing the coat and badge, now alas !
obsolete — even the so-called " Doggett's coat and badge "
being now commuted for a money payment. These water-
men were not overpaid, and had to work hard for their
living. By their code of honour they ought to take a fare
in strict rotation, as is done in our present cab ranks — but
they were rather a rough lot, and sometimes used to
squabble for a fare. Rowlandson gives us such a scene and
places it at Wapping Old Stairs.
In 1803 they had, for their better regulation, to wear
badges in their hats, and, according to the Times of July
the 7th, the Lord Mayor fined several the full penalty of
40s. for disobeying this order, "but promised, if they
brought him a certificate of wearing the badge, and other
good behaviour, for one month, he would remit the fine."
1 9 6 THE NINE TEE NTH CENTUR Y.
Their fares were not exorbitant, and they were generally
given a little more — they could be hired, too, by the day,
or half day, but this was a matter of agreement, generally
from 7s. to 10s. 6d. per diem ; and, in case of misbehaviour
the number of his boat could be taken, and punishment
fell swiftly upon the offender. Taking London Bridge as
a centre, the longest journey up the river was to Windsor,
and the fare was 14s. for the whole boat, or 2S. each person.
Down the river Gravesend was the farthest, the fare for the
whole boat being 6s. or is. each. These were afterwards
increased to 21s. and 15s. respectively. Just to cross the
water was cheap enough — id. below, and 2d. above the
bridge, for each person. It would seem, however, as if
some did not altogether abide by the legal fares, for " A
Citizen " rushed into print in the Morning Post, September
6, 1 8 10, with the following pitiful tale: "The other night,
about nine o'clook, I took a boat (sculls x ) at Westminster
Bridge to Vauxhall, and offered the waterman, on landing,
two shillings (four times his fare) in consideration of
having three friends with me ; he not only refused to take
my money, but, with the greatest insolence, insisted upon
having three shillings, to which extortion I was obliged to
yield before he would suffer us to leave the shore, and he
was aided in his robbery, by his fellows, who came mobbing
round us."
Gravesend was, as a rule, the " Ultima Thule " of the
Cockney, although Margate was sometimes reached ; but
Margate and Ramsgate, to say nothing of Brighton, were
considered too aristocratic for tradespeople to frequent,
although some did go to Margate. For these long and
venturesome voyages, boats called " Hoys " were used —
one-masted boats, sometimes with a boom to the mainsail,
and sometimes without ; rigged very much like a cutter.
They are said to have taken their name from being hailed
(" Ahoy") to stop to take in passengers.
1 Sculls, as being lighter, were always cheaper than the heavy oars.
ho ys.
197
People, evidently, thought a voyage on one of these
" hoys " a desperate undertaking ; for we read in a little
tract, of the fearsomeness of the adventure. The gentleman
who braves this voyage, is a clergyman, and is bound for
Ramsgate. " Many of us who went on board, had left our
dearer comforts behind us. ' Ah !' said I, ' so must it be, my
soul, when the " Master comes and calleth for thee." My
"ONE OF THE MISERIES OF LONDON.
Entering upon any of the Bridges of London, or any of the passages leading
to the Thames, being assailed by a group of Watermen, holding up their hands,
and bawling out, " Sculls, Sculls ! Oars, Oars 1 "
tender wife ! my tender babes ! my cordial friends ! ' . . .
Our vessel, though it set sail with a fair wind, and gently fell
down the river towards her destined port, yet once, or twice,
was nearly striking against other vessels in the river." And
he winds up with, " About ten o'clock on Friday night we
were brought safely into the harbour of Margate. . . . How
great are the advantages of navigation ! By the skill and
i 9 8 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
care of three men and a boy, a number of persons
were in safety conveyed from one part, to another, of the
kingdom ! "
Sydney Smith in an article (1808) in the Edinburgh
Review on " Methodism " quotes a letter in the Evan-
gelical Magazine. "A Religious Hoy sets off every
week for Margate. Religious passengers accommodated
To the Editor. Sir, — It afforded me considerable pleasure
to see upon the Cover of your Magazine for the present
month, an advertisement announcing the establishment of
a packet, to sail weekly between London and Margate,
during the season ; which appears to have been set on foot
for the accommodation of religious characters ; and in which
' no profane conversation is to be allowed.' . . . Totally
unconnected with the concern, and, personally, a stranger
to the worthy owner, I take the liberty of recommending
this vessel to the notice of my fellow Christians ; persuaded
that they will think themselves bound to patronize and
encourage an undertaking that has the honour of our dear
Redeemer for its professed object."
There were but three bridges over the Thames — London,
Blackfriars, and Westminster. London Bridge was doomed
to come down. It was out of repair, and shaky ; a good
many arches blocked up, and those which were open had
.such a fall, as to be dangerous to shoot. Most of us can
remember Blackfriars Bridge, and a good many Old West-
minster Bridge, which was described in a London guide-
book of 1802, as one of the most beautiful in the world.
The same book says, " The banks of the Thames, con-
tiguous to the bridges, and for a considerable extent, are
lined with manufactories and warehouses ; such as iron
founders, dyers, soap and oil-makers, glass-makers, shot-
makers, boat builders, &c. &c. To explore these will
repay curiosity : in a variety of them, that powerful agent
steam performs the work, and steam engines are daily
erecting in others. They may be viewed by applying a
THE RIVER THAMES. 199
day or two previous to the resident proprietors, and a
small fee will satisfy the man who shows the works."
The " Pool," as that portion of the river Thames below
London Bridge was called, was a forest of masts. Docks
were few, and most of the ships had to anchor in the stream.
Loading, and unloading, was performed in a quiet, and
leisurely manner, quite foreign to the rush, and hurry of
steam. Consequently, the ships lay longer at anchor, and,
discharging in mid stream, necessitated a fleet of lighters
and barges, which materially added to the crowded state
of the river. Add to this the numerous rowing boats
employed, either for business, or pleasure, and the river
must have presented a far more animated appearance than
it does now, with its few mercantile, and pleasure, steamers,
and its steam tugs, and launches. Gay, too, were the water
pageants, the City Companies barges, for the Lord Mayor's
Show, the Swan Upping, the Conservation of the Thames,
and Civic junkettings generally ; and then there were the
Government barges, both belonging to the Admiralty, and
Trinity House, as brave as gold and colour could make
them ; the latter making its annual pilgrimage to visit the
Trinity almshouses at Deptford Strond — all the Brethren
in uniform, with magnificent bouquets, and each thought-
fully provided with a huge bag of fancy cakes and biscuits,
which they gave away to the rising generation. I can well
remember being honoured with a cake, and a kindly pat on'
the head, from the great Duke of Wellington.
The pressure of the shipping was so great, extending
as it did, in unbroken sequence, from London Bridge to
Greenwich, that more dock accommodation was needed : the
small ones, such as Hermitage and Shadwell Docks, being
far too small to relieve the congested state of the river. In
1799 several plans were put forward for new Docks, and
some were actually put in progress. The Bill for the West
India Docks was passed in 1799. The first stone was laid
on the 1 2th of July, 1800, and the docks were partly
2oo THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
opened in the summer of 1802. The first stone of the
London Docks was laid on the 26th of June, 1802, and
the docks opened on the 30th of January, 1805 ; and, on
the 4th of March of the same year, the foundation of
the East India Docks was laid, and they were opened
in 1806.
Early in 1801, a shaft was sunk at Gravesend, to tunnel
under the Thames, which, although it ultimately came to
nothing, showed the nascent power of civil engineering-
then just budding — which has in later times borne such
fruit as to make it the marvel of the century, in the great
works undertaken and accomplished. Even in 1801, there
was a steamboat on the Thames [Annual Register, July 1st) :
" An experiment took place on the river Thames, for the
purpose of working a barge, or any other heavy craft,
against tide, by means of a steam engine on a very simple
construction. The moment the engine was set to work
the barge was brought about, answering her helm quickly,
and she made way against a strong current, at the rate of
two miles and a half an hour."
Commerce was developing, and the roads, with the
heavy and cumbrous waggons, were insufficient for the
growing trade. Railways, of course,_were not yet, so their
precursors, and present rivals, the canals, were made, in
order to afford a cheap, and expeditious, means of inter-
communication. In July, 1800, the Grand Junction Canal
was opened from the Thames at Brentford, to Fenny
Stratford in Buckinghamshire. A year afterwards, on the
10th of July, 1 80 1, the Paddington Canal was opened for
trade, with a grand aquatic procession, and some idea may
be formed of the capital employed on these undertakings,
when we find that even in January, 1804, the Grand Junc-
tion Canal had a paid-up capital of ,£1,350,000, and this,
too, with land selling at a cheaper proportional rate than
now.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Condition of the streets of London — Old oil lamps — ImproYement in lamps — Gas
— Its introduction by Murdoch — Its adoption in London by Winsor — Opposi-
tion to it — Lyceum and other places lit with it — Its gradual adoption — The
old tinder box — Improvements thereon.
LONDON was considered the best paved city in the
world, and most likely it was ; but it would hardly
commend itself to our fastidious tastes, The main
thoroughfares were flagged, and had kerbs ; sewers under
them, and gratings for the water to run from the gutters
into them — but turn aside into a side street, and then you
would find a narrow trottoir of " kidney " stones on end,
provocative of corns, and ruinous to boots ; no sewers to
carry off the rain, which swelled the surcharged kennels
until it met in one sheet of water across the road. Cellar
flaps of wood, closed, or unclosed, and, if closed, often
rotten, made pitfalls for all except the excessively wary.
Insufficient scavenging and watering, and narrow, and
often tortuous, streets, did not improve matters, and when
once smallpox, or fever, got hold in these back streets,
death held high carnival. Wretchedly lit, too, at night,
by poor, miserable, twinkling oil lamps, flickering with
every gust, and going out altogether with anything like a
LAMPLIGHTER— ISO 5.
STREET LAMPS.
203
wind, always wanting the wicks trimming, and fresh oil, as
is shown in the following graphic illustration.
In this, we see a lamp of a most primitive description,
and that, too, used at a time when gas was a recognized
source of light although not publicly employed. Of course
there were improved oil lamps — notably those with the
burners of the celebrated M. Argand — and science had
already added the reflector, by means of which the
amount of light could be increased, or concentrated. In
the Times of May 23, 1803,
is a description of a new street
lamp : " A satisfactory experi-
ment was first made on Friday
evening last at the upper end
of New Bond Street, to dissi-
pate the great darkness which
has too long prevailed in the
streets of this metropolis. It
consisted in the adaptation of
twelve newly invented lamps
with reflectors, in place of
more than double that num-
ber of common ones ; and
notwithstanding the wetness
of the evening, and other
unfavourable circumstances,
we were both pleased, and
surprised to find that part of the street illuminated with
at least twice the quantity of light usually seen, and
that light uniformly spread, not merely on the footways,
but even to the middle of the street, so that the faces of
persons walking, the carriages passing, &c, could be dis-
tinctly seen ; while the lamps and reflectors themselves,
presented no disagreeable glare to the eye on looking at
them, a fault which has been complained of in lamps
furnished with refracting lenses."
1AMPLIGHTER — 1S05.
2o 4 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Here, then, we have a perfectly independent testimony
of the inefficiency of the then method of lighting ; and, when
once complaint begins, the remedy soon follows.
Gas was known, and was steadily fighting its way.
Murdoch, who was a metal founder at Redruth, had been
experimenting upon gas made from different materials, and
in 1792 he lit up with it, his house and offices. Nay, more,
he nearly earned the fame, and consequent punishment, of
being a wizard ; for he not only had a steam carriage, but
in this uncanny conveyance he would take bladders of
this new inflammable air, and actually burn a light without
a wick. From a scientific curiosity, he naturally wished
to develop it into a commercial undertaking, by which he
might reap a substantial reward for his ingenuity ; and in
1795 he proposed to James Watt to take out a patent for
gas, instead of oil, as an illuminating medium. In 1797 he
lit up Watt's new foundry at Old Cumnock in Ayrshire;
and in 1798 Boulton and Watt's premises at Soho,
Birmingham, were lit with this new light ; and they, on
the peace ofl Amiens, in 1802, gave the townsfolk of
Birmingham something to stare at, and talk about, for
they illuminated the whole front of their house with gas.
Murdoch, in 1806, received the gold (Rum ford) medal of
the Royal Society for a communication detailing how he
had successfully applied gas to illuminate the house and
factory of Messrs. Phillips and Lee at Manchester.
In London we are chiefly indebted to a German, named
Frederic Albert Winzer (or, as he afterwards Anglicised
his name, Winsor) for introducing gas, and we have to
thank his indomitable perseverance for its ultimate adop-
tion. In 1804, he took out a patent for the manufacture
of both gas and coke, and attempted to start a society
called " The National Light and Heat Company." He
wrote several works not much larger than pamphlets,
notably one on " The superiority of the new Patent Coke
over the use of coals " (1804) ; and " To be sanctioned by
GAS.
205
an Act of Parliament. A National Light and Heat Com-
pany, for providing our streets and houses with light and
heat, where is proved that the destruction of smoke would
open unto the Empire of Great Britain new sources of
inexhaustible wealth."
Of course it met with ridicule
everywhere. People would be
asphyxiated. The place would be
blown up. Even scientific men were
not agreed as to its value, and Sir
Humphrey Davy openly laughed at
it. But Winsor, in 1803 and 1804,
demonstrated the possibility of light-
ing houses, &c, by means of the
new light at the Lyceum Theatre,
which was not then used for dramatic
purposes, but more for lectures ; and
LSar -
TKE GOOD EFFECTS OF CARBONIC GAS !
as there could be no possibility of confuting his facts, he
necessarily gained proselytes, and money was forthcoming
in support of his schemes. The first experiment in street
lighting was in August, 1807, when Golden Lane Brewery,
206 THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
and a portion of Beech, and Whitecross Streets were lit.
This is shown in the illustration, and, by its means, we see
the shape and arrangement, of the first street gas lamps.
That the gas then in use was very impure, and offensive
to the smell, there can be no doubt ; but that it ever
produced the effects so comically, and graphically depicted,
cannot be believed.
It is generally thought that Ackerman's Fine Art Reposi-
tory, in the Strand, was the first shop in London lit with
gas, in 1810; but there is an earlier notice of its being
so used {Morning Post, June 15, 1805): "The shop of
Lardner and Co., the corner of j/ - - \jy %{/ ■ ■%{/■ -yj^
jfe. sr*. ./Jv J\\. vfx. vfv jfr. VJV vjv ip. sfs.
CHAPTER XXVI
Daily life of the streets— The Chimney Sweep— Mrs. Montagu— Instances of the
hard life of a "climbing boy" — The Milkmaid— Supply of milk to the
Metropolis — "Hot loaves" — "Water cresses" — whence they came— Other
cries.
LET us go to authentic sources, and, in our imaginations,
people the streets as they then were, following the
example which Gay has so worthily given in his
" Trivia." Leaving aside the roysterers, and nightly bad
characters, together with the watchmen, the first industrial
perambulator, would probably be the Sweep. In the frontis-
piece to this volume, the " climbing boy," as he was called, is
faithfully depicted, drinking his early cup of saloop, the
utensils of his trade, his brush, shovel, and scraper, lying by
his side ; in his cap is a brass plate containing his master's
name and address. Poor little fellows ! their lives were harsh !
With hard taskmasters, badly constructed chimneys, and
flues to sweep, and laborious work, climbing with back and
knees; with a foul atmosphere, and lungs choked with soot,
their young days must have been joyless. Of course we can-
not blame the people then living, because they had not suffi-
cient mechanical knowledge to abolish the climbing boy's
raison d'etre. It is pleasing to register within the decade I
write of, one good and kind friend of these little fellows—
a Mrs. Montagu, who died in March, 1800. She was a lady
of good family, and an authoress (founder of the Blue
CHIMNE Y S WEEPS. 2 1 7
Stocking Club), who even attempted so high a flight as an
" Essay on the Writings and Genius ci Shakespeare." In
her practical benevolence, her heart felt for these little
pariahs, and she annually regaled them on May-day, with
roast beef and plum pudding. This conduct was so
contrary to the general spirit of the age — which could see
nothing more in a " climbing boy," than a boy being utilized
for his own good, and for that of the community, that her
conduct was scarcely understood — so much so, that a web
of romance had to be woven around her, in order to account
for it. It was rumoured, and credibly believed, that she
had lost a son, and found him again as a " climbing boy " ;
and, to mark her sense of gratitude for his restoration, she
feasted all the boys in London on the sweep's holiday — May-
day. Of course, there is not an atom of foundation for such a
story, but practical philanthropy was then so unusual, that
a reason had to be foun,d for its observance. After her
death the following verses were written :
"And is all pity for the poor sweeps fled
Since Montagu is numbered with the dead ?
She who did once the many sorrows weep,
That met the wanderings of the woe-worn sweep !
Who, once a year, bade all his griefs depart,
On May's sweet morn would doubly cheer his heart !
Washed was his little form, his shirt was clean,
On that one day, his renl face was seen.
His shoeless feet, now boasted pumps, and new.
The brush, and shovel, gaily held to view !
The table spread, his every sense was charmed,
And every savoury smell his bosom warmed ;
His light heart joyed to see such goodly cheer.
And much he longed to taste the mantling beer :
His hunger o'er — the scene was little heaven —
If riches thus can bless, what blessings might be given
But she is gone ! none left to soothe their grief,
Or, once a year, bestow their meed of beef ! "
One instance, only, of the hard life of these little ones,
will I give, and then pass on to pleasanter themes.
2 1 8 THE NINE TEE NTH CENTUR V.
Morning Herald, October 1, 1 802 : "GREAT MARLE0R0UGI1
Street. Wednesday, an interesting examination took
place at this office, relative to a male child, about eight
years old, charged to have been kidnapped by the foreman
of Mrs. Bridges, a chimney-sweeper, in Swallow Street. It
was stated by Mrs. Wilson, of No. 5 in the same street, that,
on Saturday last, she was dreadfully alarmed by the cry
of murder, and the screams of the child at Mrs. B.'s, which
induced her to run into the house, where she found the
child stripped, and the prisoner unmercifully beating him
with two switches, or small sticks. She remonstrated with
him, and demanded by what authority he so cruelly treated
the child, as it was well known it had been inveigled from
the street, and unlawfully detained by them. The prisoner
threatened to strike the witness, who, nevertheless, per-
sisted in taking away the child, and did actually take
it to the workhouse, informing the committee there of
the particulars, and the prisoner, in consequence, was
indicted.
" The child, itself, told a very artless and moving tale of
its own sufferings. The prisoner, it appears, used to strip
him naked, and flog him in the dust cellar, to make him go
up the chimney, to which, it seems, he had an utter aver-
sion. When in the chimney, he was urged to proceed by
the prisoner having a stick, at the top of which was fastened
a pin, with which he goaded the poor infant ; at other
times he would make the poor child descend into vaults,
and used other cruelties too shocking for recital. On
inquiry at the workhouse, the child discovered that his
father is a smith by trade, a poor man, with six children,
living near Sloane Street. Its parents had used every
means to discover their child, and, at length found him in
the workhouse. The prisoner was committed to Tothill
Fields Bridewell ; and we suppose that Mrs. Bridges, as
soon as she can safely leave her bed, will also be brought
up to answer this charge."
S1REET CRIES.
219
In 1803, if not before, there was in existence an
" Association for Improving the Situation of Infant
Chimney Sweepers," of which John Julius Angerstein,
Esq. (whose collection of pictures founded the National
Gallery), was the chairman.
May-day was
also sacred to
another class of
early morning
workers — the
Milkmaids.
Curiously
enough, the
carriage and
delivery of milk
— by no means
a light task,
whether looked
at from the dis-
tance walked,
or the load
carried — was
entirely in
the hands of
women, strap-
ping country
wenches, princi-
pally recruited
from Wales.
The cows were
kept in hovels "water cresses! come buy my water cresses!"
in, and near, London, and a " milkmaid's " daily life
began at from 4 to 6 a.m. when the cows had to be
milked ; they then delivered the milk at the various
houses until near ten. Then there were the dairy vessels
to wash, and at noon, the cows again to be milked.
220
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
The delivery of milk again occupied them till nearly
6 p.m., when they had to wash up all cans, &c, foi
the morning. In 1S0S it was reckoned that about 8,50a
cows were kept in London and its vicinity ; one cowkeeper
at Islington owning between 800 and 900 cows. It is sad
" HOT CROSS buns! two a penny buns!"
to read, however, in 1804, that "Milk is sold at fourpence
per quart, or fivepence for a better sort ; yet the advance
of price does not insure its purity, for it is generally mixed
in a great proportion with water, by the retailers before
they leave the milk houses. The adulteration of the milk,
added to the wholesale cost, leaves an average profit of
STREET CRIES.
221
cent, per cent., to the vendors of this useful article. Few
retail trades are exercised with equal gains."
Following the milkwoman, would come the early Baker
calling out " Hot loaves ! " and ringing a bell : he would
appear on the scene between 8 and 9 a.m., selling his rolls at
" DO YOU WANT ANY BRICK-DUST ? !
one, or two, a penny — in winter he added, or substituted,
muffins and crumpets.
Then, too, for breakfast, would be heard, either from
male, or female, lips, the cry of " Water cresses ! " which
were sold in small bunches a penny each, or three for two-
pence. In those days, they were to be found growing wild
222
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
in the ditches near London, and many a weary tramp
of seven or eight miles, before breakfast, of a morning, did
the sellers have, in order to get them fresh. There was
generally a supply at Covent Garden Market — grown for
sale ; but these were considered inferior in flavour to the
wild ones.
From breakfast time, the cries of the miscellaneous
dealers in small wares became general, and hardly any can
claim pre - emi-
nence, unless it
be on a Good
Friday — when
the old pagan
crossed cakes
were vended, and
evidently as much
relished by the
young folks as
now. " Baking,
or boiling apples"
were sold by
women, a char-
coal stove accom-
panying their
barrow, so that
their customers
might have them
" EUY A TRAP ! A RAT TRAP ! BUY MY TRAP ! " , , , ,
not, and luscious.
Then, too, might be seen a man with band-boxes, carried
on either end of a pole, which rested on his shoulder.
From 6d. to 3s. was their price ; whilst boxes of slight
deal, with a lock and key, might be purchased from 3s. 6d.
to 6s. 6d. These boxes were of home manufacture, and
gave employment to many industrious families.
Brickdust was carried about on donkey back, in small
sacks, and retailed at the price of one penny per quart.
STREET CRIES. 223
A contemporary remarks, "As brickdust is scarcely used
in London for any other purpose than that of knife clean-
ing, the criers are not numerous; but they are remark-
able for their fondness, and their training, of bull dogs.
This predilection they have in common with the lamp-
lighters of the Metropolis."
The accompanying sketch of a Rat-trap Dealer is graphic
and good ; and it shows one glimpse of the past, in the old
cobbler (?) at his hutch, or low open door. This, or a
cellar, always went as an accompaniment to this branch
of the shoe-making trade.
To future antiquarians, it may be useful to know that, at
the commencement of this century, our domestic animals
had their " purveyors of food ; " that cat's, and dog's meat,
consisting of horse flesh, bullock's livers, and tripe cuttings,
were distributed by means of men, or preferably, women,
all over London. The horse flesh, and bullock's liver, was
sold by weight at 2d. per lb. ; the tripe, in bundles, at id. each.
" Baskets " were hawked about — not as we know them
(rarer and rarer, year by year) in the gipsy caravans, but
slung around the sellers — of good handy size, and durable
make. One article of domestic economy has all but died out
— the Bellows — and old specimens are almost worth their
weight in silver ; but the cry of " Bellows to mend !" was then
heard commonly. The mender carried his tools in a bag
on his back, and, like the chair-mender, plied his calling in
front of his patron's house, or at any convenient street corner.
" Chairs to mend ! " might be met with anywhere.
Nursery and common chairs, if not having seats of wood,
were of rushes, cane being a later introduction. These
rushes were, and are now, cut in our rivers, preferably in
the early autumn, before they begin to rot, and sold by a
peculiar measure — a bolt — which is as much as a man can
clasp of rushes, when dried, within his arms. The repairs
were executed before the house, and the charge fof re-
seating a chair was very moderate — from is. 6d. to 2s. 6d.
224 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
" Door mats " were hawked about, as they are sometimes
now, but Prisons and Industrial Schools had not then
interfered in this trade, so that a poor man had a chance
of getting rid of his handiwork, and the price for rush, and
rope, mats, varied from 6d. to 4s. each.
If we can believe a contemporary account, the Dustmen
of those days were the very pink of propriety. " Dust carts
ply the streets through the morning in every part of the
metropolis ; two men go with each cart, ringing a large
bell, and calling DUST O ! These men, daily, if necessary,
empty the dust bins of all the refuse that is thrown into
them. They receive no gratuity from the inhabitants of
the houses, the owner of the cart pays them, like other
labourers, weekly wages ; and the dust is carried to yards
in the outskirts of the town, where a number of women and
girls are employed in sifting it, and separating the cinders
and bones from the ashes, and other refuse." I much fear
that this picture is as coalcurde rose as the engraving which
accompanies it, wherein the model dustman, with very clean
face, is attired in a yellow jacket, green waistcoat, crimson
knee-breeches, blue ribbed stockings, and brown gaiters.
The sale of " Turnery " was also a street occupation, and
brooms, brushes, sieves, bowls, clothes horses and lines
were thus vended. Some, the Aristos of their trade, had a
cart ; but the perambulating sellers could get a good
living, as their wares yielded a good profit.
The Knife-grinder, immortalized by Canning, plied his
trade in the sight of the people, and his charges for grinding,
and setting, scissors, were a penny or twopence each ;
penknives, a penny a blade ; table knives, is. 6d. or 2s. per
dozen, according to the polish supplied.
"Lavender" was a cry redolent of the country, yet
grown near London, at Mitcham. This was generally used
in linen-presses, to counteract the abominably rank smell
of the soap of those days. It was a favourite scent ; as
Isaac Walton says, " I'll now lead you to an honest ale
STREET CRIES.
225
house, where we shall find a cleanly room, lavender in the
windows, and twenty ballads stuck against the wall."
Among the street cries, was that of " Mackerel " ; and
the sellers thereof might even expose them for sale, and
cry them, on Sundays — a proud privilege which no other
fish possessed. There never was a glut of them in the
market, because they could only be brought to Billings-
gate by smacks, so that they were never sold at the very
cheap rates they now are, but were, as we should think,
extremely dear. At first coming in they were sold for is. 6d.
each, and they gradually dropped to iod., 8d., 6d. each, or,
if there was a great haul, three might be sold for a shilling.
" BUY MY GOOSE ! MY FAT GOOSE !"
might probably bring to remembrance the quotation " Caveat
emptor" but these two purchasers seem quite able to take
care of themselves.
It was but a month, or six weeks since, that I saw a
sight I had not seen for some years — a man selling Rabbits
slung on a pole, which he carried on his shoulder ; yet this
16
226
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
used to be the usual method of exposing them for sale, and
these small dealers were called Jugglers. The price of
Rabbits, thus sold, at the time of which I write, were "from
ninepence to eighteenpence each, which is cheaper than
they can be bought in the poulterers' shops."
"all a growing, a growing! here's flowers for your gardens 1"
shows the universal yearning of the dwellers in town, to
make as good a rus in urbe of their surroundings, as
possible. The atmosphere of London was then, un-
doubtedly purer than now, and flowers might then be
grown in the open air, where, now, it would be an impossi-
bility.
As an " Old Clothes " man the Jew was then paramount,
STREET CRIES. 227
the Irishman not having, as yet, entered into competition
with him. Rosemary Lane (only sweet smelling in ity
name) was a thoroughfare now called Royal Mint Streei
leading from Tower Hill ; and here was held a Mart, not
only in shops, but all over the pavement and road, of old
clothes, boots, &c, and it fully merited its name of Rag
Fair. A market was built for the buyers and sellers, in
which to transact their business ; but old habits proved
too strong, they would not use it, and " nothing less than
military force constantly exercised would prevail over the
obstinacy of habit." The " high " market was from twelve
to three.
It was a curious custom then, of course not in good
houses, but in those of poor men, such as might be on the
outskirts, and in the suburbs of the Metropolis, to strew
the floor, say of the kitchen, and sometimes of the parlour,
with silver sand. This kept the soles of dirty boots from
actual contact with the newly scrubbed boards — and saved
the housewife much exercise of temper. Sand, too, was
plentifully used in scouring kitchen utensils, and it was
sold, the red sand, at 2^d.,and the white at i^d.,per peck.
Fruit, in its season, was cried; and at night, among other
employments, by which to earn an honest penny, there
were the playbill sellers, and the link boys. The former
were almost invariably women, who also sold oranges ; and,
if a purchaser could be found to go to the extent of buying
six, a " Bill of the play " was given. Awful things were
those playbills — none of your dainty, lace-edged, Rimmel-
scented ones — but long strips of flimsy tissue paper, yet
wet from the printers, smearing the hands with ink from
the large capital letters employed. No time had they to
dry them ; there was usually a fresh play every night, and
the playbills had to be fresh also.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Postman— His dress — The Post Office— Changes of site— Sir Robert Vyner —
Rates of postage and deliveries — Mail coaches — Places of starting and routes
— Number of houses in London — Description of them — Their furniture.
o
NE particular feature of the Streets, was, and still
is, one of our most trusted servants, the POSTMAN.
In those days he was a somebody, who held
personal relations
with his clients.
None of your rat-
tats, and "Look
in the letter box";
he generally had
something to col-
lect, for there were
no postage stamps
in those days, and
that being the
fact, people very
often left the
a postman. postage to bo col-
lected at the other end. The officials mounted a hat with
a cockade, scarlet coat (the Royal livery), blue breeches,
and, of course, white stockings. They used, as in my young
days, to collect the letters, nay, in many country districts
they do it now.
THE POST OFFICE. 229
The location of the Post Office has been changed many
times. We are apt to associate it with St. Martin's-le-
Grand, but it was not always so. It was originally in
Cloak Lane, near Dowgate, whence it was removed to the
Black Swan, in Bishopsgate Street ; and, at the time of
which we write, it occupied the site of Sir Robert Vyner's
mansion, in Lombard Street : that Sir Robert Vyner, who
is historical, if only for his treatment of his king, Charles
II. — a story which is well told in No. 462 of the Spec-
tator: "Sir Robert was a very loyal man, and, if you will
allow me the expression, very fond of his sovereign ;
out, what with the joy he felt at heart for the honour done
him by his prince, and through the warmth he was in with
the continual toasting healths to the Royal Family, his lord-
ship grew a little fond of His Majesty, and entered into
a familiarity not altogether so graceful in a public place.
The King understood very well how to extricate himself
in all kinds of difficulties, and, with a hint to the company
to avoid ceremony, stole off and made towards his coach,
which stood ready for him in Guildhall Yard. But the
Mayor liked his company so well, and was grown so
intimate, that he pursued him hastily, and, catching him
fast by the hand, cried out with a vehement oath and
accent, ' Sir, you shall stay and take t'other bottle.' The
airy monarch looked kindly at him over his shoulder, and,
with a smile, and graceful air, for I saw him at the time,
and do now, repeated this line of the old song :
' He that's drunk is as great as a king*
and immediately returned back, and complied with his
landlord."
Then, as now, the Lombard Street Post Office was
wasted. " It is a national reproach when edifices of this
kind, which, from our great mercantile concerns, afford
occasion for a display of public architecture, and ornament
to the Metropolis, are lost to those purposes." This was
230 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
the comment of a contemporary, and the site of the present
Post Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand was not fixed upol
or, rather, the first stone was not laid, till May, 1824. As
now, the Post Office was always changing its rules and
rates — to meet emergencies and keep abreast of the times
— so that it would expand this notice to too great a length,
were I to chronicle all its changes. Perhaps a short rela-
tion of its doings in 1804 — which would be the mean of
the decade — will give as good an idea as any other.
"Houses, or boxes, for receiving letters before four o'clock,
at the West end of the town, and five o'clock in the City,
are open in every part of the Metropolis ; after that hour
bell-men collect the letters during another hour, receiving
a fee of one penny for each letter ; but, at the General Post
Office, in Lombard Street, letters are received till seven
o'clock ; after that, till half an hour after seven, a fee of
sixpence must be paid ; and from half after seven till a
quarter before eight, the postage must be paid, as well as
the fee of sixpence. Persons, till lately, were, if well known,
permitted to have back any letter put in, if required ; but,
by an order of June, 1802, the masters of receiving houses
are not allowed to return letters on any pretence whatever.
"Letters from (? for) the East Indies must be delivered
at the India House, where a letter-box is provided for
their reception.
" Those for the coast of Africa, or at single settlements in
particular parts of the world, may be sent either through
the ship letter office, or by the bags which await the sailing
of ships, and which are kept at the respective coffee houses
near the Royal Exchange."
We should consider these arrangements somewhat primi-
tive; but then, telegrams and frequent mails have spoilt
us. The twopenny post was mainly local, there being six
deliveries and collections of letters in town daily, and
many country places had two deliveries and collections.
The letters were distributed throughout the length and
MAIL COACHES.
231
breadth of the country by means of Mail Coaches, which
carried passengers at an average rate of sixpence per mile.
This system was inaugurated, and organized, at the latter
end of the Eighteenth Century, by a Mr. John Palmer, of
Bath, who not only suggested the routes, but to prevent
robbery, which, previously, was rife, had every coach
accompanied by a well-armed guard, and these coaches
accomplished their journeys at a uniform rate, including
stoppages, of eight miles an hour. They did not start from
the Post Office, but from various inns, and the following is
a list of the coaches, and places of starting :
Dover
Portsmouth
Bristol
Bath
Exeter
Liverpool
Manchester
Norwich
Taunton
Yarmouth
Ipswich
Poole
Angel, St. Clements.
y Swan with Two Necks, Lad Lane.
Bell and Crown, Holborn.
Chester and Holyhead ) ^ , , ^ ,-,, • n
w ' L Golden Cross, Charing Cross.
Gloucester
York and Edinburgh
Glasgow
Shrewsbury
Leeds
Harwich
Chichester
Cambridge
Rye
Brighton
Golden Cross, Charing Cross; and the
Angel, St. Clements, Strand.
Bull and Mouth, Bull and Mouth Street.
Spread Eagle, Gracechurch Street.
Unknown.
J>
30
)>
>)
50
)>
}>
80
)>
»
120
))
>>
170
)>
»
230
)>
)5
300
■>■>
232 77/£ NINETEENTH CENTURY.
The letters were first of all sorted ; then they were
weighed, and their proper amount of postage marked on
them; they were counted, packed in boxes for the different
towns, and an account kept of their number ; they were
then put in bags, which were scaled, and given in charge of
the mail guard. Postage was heavy in those days. Take
the charges for 1S10:
d.
From any Post Office in England or Wales to any place not
exceeding 15 miles from such Office 4
For any distance above 15 miles, and not exceeding 30 miles 5
» 5° » 6
» 80 „ 7
„ 120 „ 8
„ 170 » 9
„ 230 „ 10
„ 3°° » ] '
„ 400 „ 12
And so on in proportion, id. for every additional 100 miles.
London, at this time, was not beautiful. Apart from the
public buildings, its 160,000 houses (the number estimated
in 1804) were not lovely to look upon. Utilitarian they
were, to a degree — long rows of brick-built tenements, with
oblong holes for windows. There was no attempt at archi-
tecture : that had gone out with the first George ; and,
during the first half of this century, domestic architecture
in this country was at its lowest possible ebb. Just fancy J
in the first decade, Baker Street was considered "perhaps
the handsomest street in London." Can condemnation go
further ? All the houses were the same pattern, varied
only by the height of the rooms, and the number of stories,
which were mostly three, and very rarely exceeded four.
There was the front parlour, and the back parlour, a
wretched narrow passage, or hall, with a flight of stairs
leading to the drawing-rooms. In the basement were the
kitchen and scullery.
The inside, even, was not redeemed by beautiful furniture
234 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
The rich, of course, furnished sumptuously, after their
lights — which, at that time, represented anything of
classical Greek, or Roman, shape— no matter whether
suitable to the purpose for which it was employed, or not.
Of course, as now, those lower in the social scale, aped, as
far as they could, the tastes of the upper classes ; and, as
they could not afford the sumptuous gilding, and carving,
of the rich, the ordinary furniture of that time was heavy,
dull, and dispiriting. Take, for example, the accompanying
picture, where, from the style of dress of the ladies, we can
but draw one inference— that they were in a good social
position. The furniture is dull, and heavy ; stiff, high-
backed chairs ; a table, which would now only be allowed in
the nursery ; but one candle, and that with a cotton wick,
needing snuffing ! A tall, narrow, and tasteless mantelpiece
frames a poor, starved stove of semi-circular shape, with
flat front; the fire-irons stand against the mantelpiece, and
a bowed fender, of perforated sheet brass, enclosed the
hearth; a small hearth-rug with a fringe, and a bell cord with
a plain brass ring, complete the furniture of the room, as
far as Gillray depicted it. Not quite our idea of luxurious
comfort, yet it was comfort then; tastes were simpler, huge
fortunes had not yet been made in manufactures, railway
contracting, speculations on the Stock Exchange, or pro-
moting companies— people were more localized (in fact,
they could not move), and the intercourse with abroad
was very little ; and, if it had existed, the hatred of any-
thing foreign, or, especially, French, would have, at once,
condemned any innovation.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Food— Statistics as to quantity of meat consumed — Scarcity of fish and game —
Supply of latter to London— Venison — A brewer's dinner — Beer— Quantity
brewed— Wine— Its price— Supply of vegetables — Sardines and Harvey's Sauce
— Scarcity of wheat — Forestalling— Rice from India — Bounties given for its
shipment.
PEOPLE, then, were conservative with regard to food.
For the ordinary Englishman was no appetizing
plat, no refinement of cookery — anything out of the
usual ruck would be promptly denounced, and fiercely
spurned, as French kickshazvs. Plain roast and boiled
meats were universal, from the highest to the lowest ;
the quantity of animal food consumed throughout the
country was enormous ; and, what was more, it was all
of home production. No frozen meat, no tinned pro-
visions ; the only known way of preserving then, was the
time-honoured one of salting. In London alone, according
to the very meagre statistics of the day, the number of
bullocks slaughtered yearly was 110,000; of sheep and
lambs 776,000; calves 210,000; hogs 210,000; sucking pigs,
60,000 ; besides an unknown quantity of animals of other
kinds. This may be an approximate estimate of the
number, based, probably, on the quantity sold at the various
markets to the butchers, but can give us no idea of the
weight, and consequent average consumption per head.
Fish was scarce, and dear ; the war, naturally, prevented
23 6 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
the fishermen from going far from the coast, and their
numbers, moreover, were thinned by impressment. No
railways to bring this very perishable commodity quickly to
market, no ice to preserve it on its journey; the smack
must go to port to unload her cargo, and, being entirely
dependent on her sails, was at the mercy of the winds.
Inland, they never knew the taste of salt-water fish,
unless some kind friend sent a cod, or turbot, packed in
straw, in a basket, as a present by the mail, or stage, coach.
Nor could the Londoner, then, get the abundant supply of
our salmon rivers, which he now, in common with the
whole of England, enjoys.
Game was very scarce, and dear. A country gentleman
would not have dared to brave the public opinion of his
county, by selling his game, and battues were unknown.
The poachers did, undoubtedly, a good trade ; and about
Christmas time the mail, and stage, coaches came up,
loaded with hares, &c. — a fact amusingly chronicled in the
Morning Post of the 26th of December, 1807: "The first
of the Norwich and Yarmouth coaches arrived at a late
hour on Thursday, when, strange to relate, every one of
the passengers, inside and outside, were found dead ! Not
less than four hundred brace of dead game being unloaded
from it, for the banqueting of the living Londoners at this
luxurious season." If, however, a story told in the Times
of the 20th of January, 1803, is true, it was not always safe
to buy game from the coaches : " Saturday night last, an
epicure from Fish Street Hill, anxiously watched for the
arrival of a Kentish coach, at the King's Head, in the
Borough, in order to purchase a Hare from the coachman,
for his Sunday's dinner ; an outside passenger, having
learned his errand, brought him under the gateway, and sold
him a very large one, as he thought, for nine shillings, which,
however, upon his return home, proved to be a badger?
Poultry was seldom seen except at the tables of the very
well to do. The supply was deficient, and they had not
CURIOUS DINNER. 237
the resources we have of railway carnage, and especially
of the Continental markets ; consequently prices were ex-
orbitant. Venison was considered the dish for an epicure,
and was sold — chiefly by pastry cooks — at a reasonable
rate : in fact, there were coffee houses where a venison
dinner could be obtained for 2S. 6d. Probably the following
advertisement indicates a somewhat better style of enter-
tainment— Morning Herald, July 18, 1804: "VENISON in
perfection. At the Worcester Coffee House, corner of
Swallow Street, Oxford Street, Gentlemen may depend on
having prime Venison. A Haunch and Neck dressed
every day, ready precisely at five o'clock, at the reasonable
charge for dinner of 3s. 6d. Wines and Liquors of the
finest flavour ; best old Port 4s. 6d. per bottle. Venison
ready dressed, and pasties sent out. N.B. Fifty brace of
good Bucks wanted."
it was an age of eating and drinking — i.e., men ate and
drank in larger quantities than now; but we must not take
the following as a typical feast of the time ; it was simply
a brewer's dinner, cooked after a brewer's fashion — yet it
was also typical, for then the cult of beefsteak and porter
was at its culminating point, and people bowed down, and
reverenced them exceedingly. The Morning Post, May 30,
1806: "Alderman Combe's Annual Dinner. Yesterday,
Mr. Combe gave his annual dinner at his brewery, near
Long Acre. The party consisted of the Prince of Wales,
Duke of Norfolk, Lord Chancellor, Earl of Lauderdale,
Lord Robert Spencer, Lord Howick, Sir Gilbert Heathcote,
Lord John Townshend, Mr. R. B. Sheridan, Mr. Tierney,
Mr. Harvey Combe, and Mr. Alderman Combe. At half
an hour past six, the company sat down to dinner. The
entertainment consisted of beefsteaks and porter. It was
served up in the same style as it was last year. An oaken
table, of an oblong form, was set out in the long room
of the brewhouse. This table was covered with a large
hempen sack, and covers, consisting of wooden trenchers,
2 3 8
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
were laid for each of the guests. The. other paraphernalia
of the table, namely, the spoons, salt-cellars, salad bowls,
&c, were composed of the same material as the plates.
The Steaks were cooked by the Stoker, a man so called
from his being always employed to keep the fires. This
Stoker dressed the Steaks upon a large plate of iron,
which was placed in the Copper-hole. When done, the
Cook took them out with a pair of tongs, conveyed them
into a wooden dish, and, in that style, they were served up.
At the expiration of half an hour, the Prince, and the
company, retired to Mr. Combe's house, in Great Russell
Street, Bloomsbury, where they partook of a second course,
consisting of every delicacy of the season, together with a
dessert of fruits, the most rare and abundant we have ever
seen. The Madeira, Port, and Claret were the objects of
every one's panegyric."
Beer was the national beverage, and it was brewed from
good malt and hops ; not out of sugar, and chemical
bedevilments, as at present : and the quantity drunk in
London, alone, seems to be enormous. Vide the Annual
Register for 1810:
" The Quantity of strong beer brewed by the first twelve
houses in the London Porter Brewery, from the 5th of
July, 1809, to the 5th of July, 18 10.
Barclay, Perkins and Co.
Meux, Read and Co
Truman, Hanbury and Co.
Felix, Calvert and Co.
Whitbread and Co
Henry Meux and Co
Combe and Co
Brown and Parry
Goodwin, Skinner and Co.
Elliott and Co
Taylor
Clowes and Co
BARRELS.
235,053
211,009
144,990
133A9 1
110,939
93,660
85,15°
84,475
74,223
57,25i
44,5 10
4i,594
Wines, of course, were drunk by the higher classes, but
WINE, VEGETABIES AND MEAT.
239
French wines were comparatively dear, owing to the
closing of the trade with France ; still there was a very
fair quantity captured in the prizes taken at sea, and there
was a great deal more smuggled.
Frontignac in 1800 might be bought for 19s. 6d. per doz.,
and Muscatel at 24s. In 1804, the- following are the prices
from a respectable wine merchant's list.
Superior Old Port
Prime Old Sherry
„ Madeira
Bucellas
Mountain, Lisbon, and Calcavella
Superior Claret
Cognac Brandy
Old Jamaica Rum
Holland's Geneva
In 1 806, Vin de Grave was 66s. per dozen.
For the supply of vegetables, and fruit, large tracts of
land were utilized for the supply of London alone. It was
reckoned that this city swallowed the produce of 10,000
acres of vegetables, and about 4,000 acres of fruit trees.
The market gardens have been gradually disappearing,
but they used to be situated principally at Camberwell,
Deptford, Fulham, Battersea, Mortlake, Barnes, and Chis-
wick. This produce found its way to Covent Garden,
where the market days were the same as now — Tuesday,
Thursday, and Saturday.
During the latter part of the first decade of the cen-
tury, provisions were not so dear :
. 38s.
per dozen
42s.
i>
• 63s.
>>
40s.
j>
. 38s.
>>
70s.
•>■>
20s.
per gallon
15s.
>>
I OS.
i)
Beef averaged from ...
Mutton „
Pork
Lamb at first coming in . . .
„ Mid Season ...
Sugar was about
o3.lt jj , , . ...
Store Candles about
6d. to g}4d. per lb.
6d. to iod.
6d. to is.
iod. to is. 2d.
6y 2 d. to 8d.
5d. to 5^d.
20s. per bushel
is. 3d. per lb.
340 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Whilst on the subject of food, I cannot help chronicling
the first notices I have ever met with, of two articles
familiar to us — Sardines, and Harvey's Sauce. The first
occurs in an advertisement in the Morning Post, August
10, 1 80 1 : " Sardinias, a Fish cured in a peculiar manner,
are highly esteemed as a Sandwich, and deemed of superior
flavour to the Anchovy. ' Sold," &c. The second is in the
Morning Herald, February 9, 1S04 : " Harvey's Sauce for
Fish, &c. Black Dog, Bedford. Mr. Harvey respectfully
informs the Nobility and Gentry, he has appointed Mrs.
Elizabeth Lazenby to prepare and sell the above sauce,
at her Oil Warehouse, No. 6, Edward's Street, Portman
Square, and that she, alone, is in possession of the original
receipt — signed Peter Harvey."
If, however, the times were somewhat gross feeding, yet,
early in the century, they also knew the pinch, if not of
absolute hunger, yet of that which comes nigh akin to it — ■
scarcity. As we have seen in the History of the decade,
bread stuffs were, through bad harvests, very dear; and the
strictest attention to economy in their use, even when mixed
with inferior substitutes, practised. The unreasoning public
laid the whole cf the rise in price on the shoulders of the
middle-men, or factors ; and they were branded with the
then opprobrious, but now obsolete, term of " Forestallers
and Regraters." Take one plaintive wail, which appeared
in the Morning Post of March 7, 1800 : " We are told that
one cause of the high price of Corn is, the consequence of
the practice of selling by sample, instead of the Corn being
fairly brought to market. The middle-man buys the Corn,
but desires the farmer to keep it for him, until he wants it ;
or, in other words, until he finds the price suits his expecta-
tions." This rage against " forestalling " was, of course,
very senseless; but it had the advantage of being applied
indiscriminately, and to every description of fcod. Two
women at Bristol were imprisoned for " forestalling " a
cart load of mackerel; whilst the trial of Waddington for
RICE FROM INDIA. 241
" forestalling " hops is almost a cause celebre. Now, hops
could hardly be construed into food ; and, after having
carefully read his trial, I can but come to the conclusion
that he was a very hardly-used man, and was imprisoned
for nothing at all. 1 I merely mention his case as a proof
of the senseless irritation which the price of food caused
upon the unreasoning public.
Food had to be looked for anywhere. The Continent
was no field for speculation ; a bad harvest had been
universal ; and, besides, we were at war. Then, for the
first time, was India drawn upon for our food supply, and
the East India Company — that greatest marvel of all trade
— offered every facility towards the export of rice. Their
instructions were as follow : " That every ship, which takes
on board three quarters of her registered tonnage in rice,
shall have liberty to fill up with such goods as have been
usually imported by country ships. That ships embarking
in this adventure shall be allowed to carry out exports
from this country. That they shall be excused the pay- '
mcnt of the Company's duty of 3 per cent., on the rice
so imported. That, after the ship shall have been approved
by the Company's surveyors, the risk of the rice which she
brings, shall be on account of Government, which will save
the owners the expense of insurance. That, in case the
price of rice shall, on the ships' arrival, be under from 32s.
to 29s. the hundredweight, the difference between what it
may sell for, and the above rates shall be made good to the
owners, on the following conditions — That the ship which
departs from her port of lading, within one month from
the promulgation of these orders, shall be guaranteed 32s.
the hundredweight; if in two months, 31s.; if in three
months, 30s. ; and if in four months, 29s. But, that de-
pendence may be safely placed on the rice being of
1 Par parenthese. This Mr. Waddington, whilst in the King's Bench
Frison, gave away a ton of potatoes a day, about Christmas time. They were
first of all sold at one halfpenny a pound, and the produce in money was put
in the poor's box, for the benefit of the poor prisoners.
17
2\2
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
superior quality, that is, equal, at least, to the best cargo of
rice, it shall be purchased by an agent appointed by
Government. Coppered ships to be preferred, and,
although Convoy * will, if possible, be obtained for them,
they must not be detained for Convoy."
1 Owing to the war, it was found safer for many merchant vessels to sail in
company, and these fleets usually had two or three men-of-war in attendance
to act as guards, and to protect them ; they were called " the Convoy."
CHAPTER XXIX.
Parliamentary Committee on the high price of provisions —Bounty on imported
corn, and on rice from India and America — The " Brown Bread Bill "—
Prosecution of bakers for light weight — Punishment of a butcher for having
bad meat — Price of beef, mutton, and poultry — Cattle shows— Supply of food
from France — Great fall in prices here— Hotels, &c. — A clerical dessert.
PARLIAMENT bestirred itself in the matter of food
supply, not only in appointing "a Committee to
consider the high price of provisions," who made
their first report on the 24th of November, 1800; but Mr.
Dudley Ryder (afterwards Earl of Harrowby) moved, on
the 1 2th of November, in the same year, the following
resolutions, which were agreed to : —
" 1. That the average price at which foreign corn shall
be sold in London, should be ascertained, and published,
in the London Gazette.
"2. That there be given on every quarter of wheat,
weighing 424 lbs., which shall be imported into the port
of London, or into any of the principal ports of each
district of Great Britain, before the 1st of October, 1801, a
bounty equal to the sum by which the said average price
in London, published in the Gazette, in the third week
after the importation of such wheat, shall be less than 100s
per quarter.
a Bluecoat boy confessed that he had been tampered with,
and had concealed a ticket, which was afterwards drawn. A man was
arrested as the accomplice, but was discharged ; but the Lottery Committee, in
order to prevent a similar fraud, moved the following resolution (December 12,
1775), which was afterwards always adhered to : "That it be requested ot
the Treasurer of Christ's Hospital, not to make known who are the twelve
boys nominated for drawing the lottery till the morning the drawing begins ;
which said boys are all to attend every day, and the two who are to go on duty
at the wheels, are to be taken promiscuously from amongst the whole number,
by either of the Secretaries, without observing any regular course, or order ;
so that no boy shall know when it will be his turn to go to either wheel."
2Q2
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
other boys, to be tampered with. The accompanying illus-
tration gives a very life-like presentment of the scene.
The last public Lottery, in England, was drawn in
October, 1826.
Needless to say that Gambling, either in the form of
card playing, dicing, or lotteries, was not the only way that
fools and rogues could throw away their money. Still
there were two resources left — the Turf, and Cock-fighting.
The Turf was undoubtedly purer then than now, when it
has reached such a pitch of refinement in blackguardism,
DRAWING THE LOTTERY AT COOPER S HALL
and scoundrelism, that it must soon either be swept away,
or violently reformed. Racing then was more for encourag-
ing a breed of horses, swift, yet of such staying powers as
to be able to run a four- mile heat without breaking down :
not like our " exaggerated greyhounds," who can barely
stagger over a course of six furlongs, or three quarters of a
mile.
The stakes were not so high, and although there was
much betting on a race, yet it was among the upper class,
or men who could afford to lose to each other, and in the
society of their equals ; and not as at present, when a lord
NAMES OF RACE HORSES. 293
is on familiar terms with a ruffian, so long as he will give
the odds required, and may possibly be able to pay if he
loses; nor, then, did shop boys make books on races, or
talk learnedly of double events, &c., and such scenes as
can now be witnessed any race day in Fleet Street, were
utterly unknown, and undreamt of. A King's plate of ^"ioo
was then considered worth running for, and noblemen, and
gentlemen, matched their horses one against the other, in a
proper spirit of emulation.
There was a fair amount of racing literature — " Baily's
Racing Register," " Pick's Racing Calendar," " The
Turf Register," " The Racing Calendar," and " The
Sporting Magazine," and I know, and care not, whether
this is an exhaustive list. From some of them we
get some curious names of race horses, for their
owners then, seem to have run riot in the nomenclature
of their animals. What should we say nowadays to such
names as "Kiss in a Corner," "Jack, come tickle me,"
'Jenny, come tye me," "I am little, pity my condition,"
'Jack's my favourite," " Britons, strike home," "Why do
you slight me?" "Turn about, Tommy," "Sweeter when
clothed," " Watch them and Catch them," " First time of
Asking," " Fear not, Victorious," " Hop, step, and jump,"
&c, &c.
As a curious incident of manners in the earty century, I
may mention that two ladies, Lady Lade and Mrs. Thorn-
ton (wife of Col. Thornton), both rode matches in public.
Mrs. Thornton's brother-in-law, Mr. Flint, was stopping at
the Colonel's seat of Thornville, and riding with the lady
in its grounds. They had a gallop, and Mrs. Thornton's
old horse, aided by her good riding, beat her antagonist,
which so nettled him, that he challenged her to a further
trial, which took place publicly, on the last day of the
York August Meeting, 1804. Mrs. Thornton's horse
broke down, and she lost ; but she did not omit to wail
publicly over the matter, asserting that otherwise she
*94 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
would have won, and that her opponent took unfair
advantage of her.
This exhibition of herself seems to have fired her ambi-
tion, for we read in the Morning Post, August 20, 1805 :
"Mrs. Thornton is to ride 9 st. against Mr. Bromford, who
is to ride 13 st, over the York Course, four miles ; to run
the last race on Saturday in the next August meeting, for
four hogsheads of Coti Roti p.p. and 2,000 guineas h. ft. ;
and Mrs. T. bets Mr. B. 700 gs. to 600 gs. p.p.; the
2,000 gs. h. ft. provided it is declared to the Stewards four
days before starting. Mrs. T. to have her choice of four
horses.
" Mr. B. to ride Allegro, sister to Allegranti.
" N.B. Colonel T., or any gentleman he may name, to be
permitted to follow the lady over the course, to assist her
in case of any accident."
When it came to the pinch, Mr. Bromford declined the
race, paid his forfeit, and the lady walked over. Later in
the day, however, she raced Buckle, a jockey, mounted on
Allegro — carrying 13 st. 6 lb., whilst Mrs. Thornton scaled
9 st. 6 lb. — and she beat the professional by half a neck.
This match does not seem to have been for any money,
but merely for the honour of the thing.
Before quitting the subject of horses, I cannot help men-
tioning that both Tattersall, and Aldridge, were in existence,
as equine auctioneers, a position which, their thorough
integrity has consolidated, and preserved to the present
day.
m^mMmmmm>
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CHAPTER XXXV.
Cock-fighting— Its illegality — Public recognition of it — Description of company at
a cock-fight— High stakes — Bull- baiting — Debate thereon in the House of
Commons — Prize-fighting — Famous pugilists — George IV. as a patron of the
Ring — Attempts to put down prize-fighting — Female physical education —
Cudgel-playing, and other sports.
COCK-FIGHTING was another way of gambling—
a barbarous pastime, yet of great antiquity, and,
changing the name of the combatants to quails, or
partridges, extending all over the world, especially in the
East. The Greeks had their Cock-fights, the Romans
fought both cocks and quails. Of its introduction into
England there is no certain date, but Fitz-Stephen, who
died in 1191, mentions schoolboys as fighting their cocks
on Shrove Tuesday. Edward III., Henry VIII., Elizabeth,
and Cromwell, all prohibited Cock-fighting ; yet, so popular
was it, that no prohibition was of any avail, and the Royal
fulminations passed unheeded, and fell into desuetude
almost as soon as uttered.
In the time of which I write, Cocking was a recognized
sport, publicly advertised. Morning Post, January 5, 1805 :
"Cocking, to be Fought on Monday, January 7, 1805, and
continue all the week, at the Cock Pit Royal, South side
of St. James's Park, the Gentlemen of Suffolk, and the
Gentlemen of Hampshire's MAIN OF COCKS, for Five
296 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Guineas the battle, and One Hundred Guineas the odd.
To begin righting each day precisely at Half-past Five
o'clock." Indeed, " Cock-fighting, Shooting, and Military
Carriages " were advertised.
The Cock Pit Royal was in Bird Cage Walk, St. James's
Park, and was a great institution, until the expiration of
its lease in 1816, when the landlord refused to renew. Of
a sketch of its interior (by Rowlandson, and Pugin, in their
" Microcosm of London ") the following description is
given, which will better help to illustrate the sport than
any words of mine, as the account is contemporary :
" This print may, without undue partiality, be acknow-
ledged to excel that of Hogarth, upon the same subject. It
is different in one particular : here the satire is general, not
personal ; a collection of peers and pickpockets, grooms
and gentlemen, bons-vivants and bullies ; in short, a scene
which produces a medley of characters, from the highest to
the lowest, has seldom been painted with an adherence to
nature so strict and so interesting. The principal figure in
the front row seems to anticipate the loss of the battle ; his
neighbour to the right appears to have some eggs in the same
basket ; whilst a stupid sort of despair in the countenance
of the next figure proclaims that all hope is lost ; the
smiling gentleman on his left seems to be the winner.
The clenched fists and earnest features of the personage in
the same row, between two sedate contemplaters of the
fight, make one feel that sort of interest which arises from
a belief that victory depends upon only a little assistance
being given at that particular moment to the bird upon
whose side he has betted. In the centre, and on the
highest row behind, are two figures, apparently intended
as hurling defiance to the whole company ; they are cer-
tainly offering odds, which no one is disposed to take. A
little to the left, and just above the smart officer with a
cocked hat, is a group inimitably portrayed. A parcel of
knowing ones, who have betted pretty high, finding them-
B ULL-BAITING. 2 9 7
selves in the wrong box, appear very desirous of edging off,
and are attacking all together a personage who has been
too much for them ; his attitude is expressive, and, with
his fingers thrust into his ears, seems to indicate that he
will take no more bets ; whilst the two figures (one in a
cocked hat) to the left appear to enjoy the humorous
expedient. . . . On the right we discover a pugilistic
exhibition, and at a little distance horsewhips and sticks
brandished in the air ; all these are the natural accompani-
ments of the scene. Upon the whole, this picture has
great merit, and conveys a more perfect idea of the con-
fusion and bustle of a Cockpit than any description." This
was written in 1808-9.
Sometimes very large sums depended upon these com-
bats— vide Morning Post, April 28, 1800: "A main of
cocks is to be fought this week at Newmarket, as interesting
to the sporting world as that, last summer, at York. The
match is ostensibly made between Mr. Cussans, and Mr.
Germain ; but Sir Harry Vane Tempest, and others we
could name, are supposed to be the real principals. It is
for 1,000 guineas a side, and forty guineas each battle.
Great sums are depending, and much money will be
sported."
The last Act against Cock-fighting was 12 and 13 Vic,
cap. 92 (August 1, 1849) ; but if any one imagines that,
therefore, this amusement is extinct, he is very much
mistaken.
Another cruel, yet intensely national sport, was Bull-
baiting. Hardly a country town of note but had its "Bull-
ring" ; and, although the bull had but a circumscribed
range, being tied by a rope to a stake, yet the dogs did not
always get the best of the combat, and many a tyke met
his death, or went a limping cripple for the remainder of
his days. I have already noted one bull-baiting in the
account of the Jubilee rejoicings at Windsor in October,
1709, and that must suffice.
2 9 3 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
A few years previously it had been made the subject of
a debate in the House of Commons, where much special
pleading in its favour was exhibited. On May 24, 1802/
Mr. John Dent, M.P. for Lancaster, moved that the Bill to
prevent Bull-baiting and Bull-running be read a second
time. Sir Richard Hill pleaded the cause of the poor bulls,
not very eloquently, but as earnestly as he could. He
pointed out that an Act had been passed for the abolition
of Bull-baiting in Ireland, and he called upon the Irish
members to support this Bill.
Then up rose the Right Hon. W. Windham, M.P. for
Norwich, and he contended that the cruelty was no greater
than that comprised in the sports of hunting, shooting, and
fishing. " If the effects of one were to be viewed through
the medium of a microscope, why were not the conse-
quences of the other to be scrutinized with equal severity?"
In the course of a long speech he warmed to his view of
the subject, until, at last, in the fervour of his eloquence,
he burst into the following : " He believed that the bull
felt a satisfaction in the contest, not less so than the hound
did when he heard the sound of the horn which summoned
him to the chase. True it was, that young bulls, or those
that were never baited before, showed reluctance to be
tied to the stake ; but those bulls, which, according to the
language of the sport, were called game bulls, who were
used to baiting, approached the stake and stood there,
while preparing for the contest, with the utmost composure.
If the bull felt no pleasure, and was cruelly dealt with,
surely the dogs had also some claim to compassion ; but
the fact was, that both seemed equally arduous in the
conflict ; and the bull, like every other animal, while it
had the better side, did not appear to feel unpleasantly ; it
would be ridiculous to say he felt no pain ; yet, when on
such occasions he exhibited no sign of terror, it was a
demonstrable proof that he felt some pleasure."
1 "Parliamentary History," vol. xxxvi.
DEBATE ON BULL-FIGHTING. 299
Mr. Courtenay rose to a much greater height. Said he:
'What a glorious sight to see a dog attack a bull ! It
animates a British heart —
' To see him growl, and snap, and snarl, and bite,
Pin the bull's nose, and prove instinctive might.'
Besides, if bull-baiting was given up, the characteristic of
our British dogs, so classically celebrated in the Augustan
age of literature, would be totally lost. Claudian says :
' Magnaque taurorum fracturae colla Britannae.' Sym-
machus mentions seven Irish bull-dogs : ' Septem Scottici
canes,' as then first produced in the circus at Rome, to
the great admiration of the people.'"
General Gascoyne considered it an amusement which
the lower orders were entitled to ; and it was " with regret
he observed a disposition in many of the members to
deprive the poor of their recreations, and force them to
pass their time in chaunting at conventicles."
Then the gentle William Wilberforce rose, and rebuked
the former speakers, telling them that he thought the
subject had been treated with too much levity. " The
evidence against the practice was derived from respectable
magistrates. From such evidence he had derived a variety
of facts, which were too horrid to detail to the House. A
bull — that honest, harmless, useful animal — was forcibly
tied to a stake, and a number of bull-dogs set upon him. If
he was not sufficiently roused by the pain of their attacks,
the most barbarous expedients were hit upon to awake
in him that fury which was necessary to the amusement
of the inhuman spectators. One instance of the latter
kind he would state. A bull had been bought for the sole
purpose of being baited ; but, upon being fixed to the stake,
he was found of so mild a nature that all the attacks of
the dogs were insufficient to excite him to the requisite
degree of fury ; upon which those who bought him refused
to pay the price to the original owner, unless he could be
3 oo THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
made to serve their purposes : the owner, after number-
less expedients, at last sawed off his horns, and poured into
them a poignant sort of liquid, that quickly excited the
animal to the wished-for degree of fury. When bulls were
bought merely for the purpose of being baited, the people
who bought them wished to have as much diversion (if
diversion, such cruelty could be called) as possible, for their
money. The consequence was that every art, even fire,
had been employed to rouse the exhausted animal to fresh
exertions, and there were instances where he had expired
in protracted agonies amidst the flames. It had been said,
that it would be wrong to deprive the lower orders of their
amusements, of the only cordial drop of life which sup-
ported them under their complicated burthens. Wretched,
indeed, must be the condition of the common people of
England, if their whole happiness consisted in the practice
of such barbarity ! "
Sheridan joined Wilberforce ; but the Bill was thrown
out by 64 to 51 ; and the practice of Bull-baiting was only
declared illegal in 1835, when it was included in the Act
against Cruelty to Animals, 5th and 6th William IV., cap.
59;
There was yet another brutal sport, not wholly uncon-
nected with money and betting, which was then at its
apogee, and that was Prize-fighting. This decade was at
its Augustan period, when the ruffians, who mauled each
other for lucre's sake, were petted and feted as much as
ever were the gladiators in the time of Rome's decline—
the names of the pugilists then living being those of the
greatest renown in the history of the prize ring. Even
people who are not tainted with a love of the " Noble Art
of Self-defence " must have heard of Jem Belcher, John
Gully, page to George IV., and M.P. for Pontefract ;
Dutch Sam, Tom Crib, and his black adversary Thomas
Molineaux ; these names are as familiar to every school-
boy as those of the Homeric heroes. It was an aee of
PRIZE-FIGHTING. 3 o 1
muscle, not of brains ; and the use of the fists was en-
couraged as the arbiter in disputes which nothing but a little
blood-letting could appease, in preference to the duels, or
to that utter abhorrence of all Englishmen — the knife.
Doubtless, boxing is commendable in many ways, and
should form part of every man's physical education, not
only to the great advantage of his muscular system, and
consequent good health, but, should occasion ever require
the use of his fists, he is armed at once with weapons in
whose use he is well trained; but that is very different from
two men, possibly very good friends, spending long months
in getting themselves in the best possible physical condition
for pounding each other into a mass of bruised jelly, in order
to put some money in their pockets, and afford sport and
amusement to a parcel of debased brutes, whatever their
social position might be.
The Prince of Wales in his younger days was, to a small
extent, a " Patron of the Ring," i.e., he once went to a
meeting which took place at Smitham Bottom, near
Croydon, on June 9, 1788, where he saw three fights, one
between the celebrated John Jackson — whose beautiful
tomb is in Brompton Cemetery — and Fewterel, of Birming-
ham ; and, on Jackson's winning, he sent him, by the hand
of his friend, Colonel Hanger, a bank-note. The next fight
was between Stephen Oliver, nicknamed " Death," with a
Jew, named Elisha Crabbe, which ended in " Death's ''
defeat ; and the third encounter was between two out-
siders.
Again he was present at three fights which took place
on the Brighton race-course, on August 6, 1788. In the
third — which was between Tom Tyne, "the Tailor," and
Earl — Tyne hit his opponent a sharp, left-handed blow on
the side of the head, which drove him against the rail of the
stage. He fell insensible, and expired very shortly after-
wards. The Prince of Wales openly expressed his deter-
mination to never again witness a prize-fight — and this he
3 o2 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
kept — also to settle an annuity on Earl's widow and chil-
dren ; but history is silent as to whether this was ever
carried out.
Of course, then as now, the better-thinking portion of
the nation discountenanced these blackguard exhibitions,
which were mainly supported by the " fast" set of that day
— the Jerry Hawthorns and Corinthian Toms of the
next decade. It is refreshing to read such paragraphs as
the following :
Morning Post, January II, 1S08: "Prize FIGHTING.
We are happy to hear that there is some prospect of this
most disgraceful and mischievous practice being put an.
end to by the interference of the Legislature. The conse-
quences resulting from it become every day more and
more serious, and, without a vigorous effort to terminate
the evil, we may shortly expect to find numerous families
reduced to the extremes of poverty and wretchedness, in
consequence of those who have hitherto supported them
by their industry having given themselves up to idleness
and blackguardism, by entering the foul ranks, and be-
coming the constant associates of prize-fighting vaga-
bonds."
Ibid.: "The magistrates are beginning to do their duty ;
they, last week, dissolved a meeting of Boxers who were
sparring for money. His Majesty's Navy wants able-
bodied men, and those lovers of fighting could hardly
complain, if they were compelled to box with French
instead of English men."
Morning Post, February 3, 1808: "Prize Fighting.
We are rejoiced to find that we have not in vain called
attention to the growing evil of this disgraceful, mischievous,
and baleful practice. Mr. Justice Grose, in his Charge to
the Grand Jury, yesterday, particularly noticed its per-
nicious effects, and forcibly urged the necessity of a speedy
remedy ; and we may, therefore, hope, ere long, to see the
progress of this species of blackguardism and vice effec-
CO UNTR Y SPORTS.
3°3
tually arrested. We shall take an early opportunity of
offering some further reflections upon the subject."
But nothing came of it. It is now illegal, but we know
well enough, that fights frequently take place. The police
are half-hearted over it, knowing it to be a thankless task
even to effect a capture ; for no magistrate ever inflicts
more than a very nominal punishment, either on principals
or accessories.
That the physical education of the fair sex was attended
CUDGEL PLAYING — iScO.
to, long before these days of female gymnastic exercises, is
evidenced by the following advertisement in the Morning
Post, February 20, 18 IO: "PATENT GRAND EXERCISE
FRAMES particularly intended for Young Ladies, the use of
which will not only remove deformities, but will infallibly
produce health, strength, symmetry, beauty, and superior
elegance of deportment," &c.
The lower classes in the Metropolis were naturally
debarred from marly sports, by want of room ; so that
3 04 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
almost their sole muscular exercise was Skittles. But, in
the country, a wholesome rivalry was engendered among
the rustic youth, by means of foot-racing, wrestling, and
Cudgel-playing. The latter still survives in Berkshire,
where many a crown has been cracked at the Scouring of
the White Horse (of late years fallen into desuetude), and
many an old "gamester" still lingers, who can tell long
yarns of the hats he has won. At fairs, too, and holidays,
the young lasses used to race for smocks, and many sports
were in vogue that are now never practised, save when
resuscitated at some Harvest Home, or some country school
feast.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Hunting then, and now— Hunting near the Metropolis— The Epping Hunt-
Fishing— Shooting then, and now— Guns— Methods of proving gun barrels-
Big charges— Introduction of the Percussion Cap— Size of bags— Colonel
Thornton's bet.
OF course there was Hunting, both Fox and Stag,
but it was not carried out on the same principles
then as now. A man, then, kept a pack of hounds
for his own amusement, that of his friends, and the neigh-
bourhood generally. A meet, then, was a great social
gathering of neighbours, at which, for the time, all were
on a courteous equality, engendered by similarity of taste,
and cemented by means of the Master, who, at some
great expense, kept the pack for others' use. Now, " the old
order changes, yielding place to new;" the probability is
that it is a subscription pack — with the subscriptions not
too well paid, and the Master frequently changing, owing
to his quarrels with his masters, the subscribers, who carp
at his doings, and try to dictate their own views. The rail-
way brings down the "London Contingent" — sporting
stockbrokers, solicitors, tailors, and publicans— in fact, all
who can scrape together the necessary money to hire the
"hunter," and pay its fare to the nearest station to the
meet. These people have no sympathy with the farmers,
no relations with the county, spend no money, because
21
306
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
they return to London at night, care nought for the
damage they do, which, probably, is done in ignorance ;
and it is no wonder that, now-a-days, hunting is not so
popular among tenant farmers as it might be — and it is
pretty safe to prophesy, that in many districts, before many
more years, it will be reckoned as a thing of the past.
Then, however, there was never heard a whisper of the
scarcity of foxes. A
fox found poisoned, or
shot, would have been
considered as an in-
delible disgrace to the
district. The word val-
pecide was not coined,
because the crime had
not been committed.
No farmer ever sent in
a claim to the Hunt,
and only old women,
cottagers, ever wanted
compensation for the
gander, or the two or
three hens that they
had lost ; as to warning
off land, it had never
been dreamt of, much
less practised.
In other ways, too,
hunting was different — both horses, and hounds were
heavier, and slower then ; it was not the pace of the
run that was discussed at night, but its length, and the
behaviour of both hounds, and horses. Fox hunting
began much earlier in the morning than it does now ;
and a good solid meal of cold meat, washed down with a
tankard of home brewed, was vastly superior to a modern
"lawn meet" breakfast, with its wines and liqueurs, to
FOX-HUNTING BREAKFAST.
HUNTING.
3°7
"steady the nerves," to say nothing of the flask of "jumping
powder." Sport, too, was found much nearer the Metropolis
then than now. Morning Post, August 14, 1805: "To
Sportsmen and others. — A Deputation to be granted of
the very extensive Manors of Hornsey and FlNCHLEY,
in the County of Middlesex, with the liberty of Hunting
and Shooting over, and upon, the said Manors, abounding
with game," &c.
The Epping Hunt, too, where the citizens * annually met
PERCH-FISHING — 1S04.
on Easter Monday, to vindicate their right to hunt in the
Forest, was not the farce it afterwards became. Most men,
then, were accustomed to horseback, and could manage to
stick on somehow.
Fishing and shooting were, of course, as popular as now.
Of the former we have had little to learn since Isaac
Walton's time, and the illustration shows us that the
1 There is a story told of a Lord Mayor in times long past, who went a-
hunting in Epping Forest. Some one riding past him saluted him with, " My
Lord ! the Hare comes this way." His lordship bravely drew his trusty sword,
and, flourishing it, exclaimed, "Let him come! let him cornel I tha
God, I fear him not."
thank my
3 o8
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
" Contemplative Man," in the early part of this century,
knew how to combine his " Recreation " with the charms
of female society.
Shooting, like hunting, was a totally different thing, in
the first ten years of the century, to what it is now. There
were no battues, no hot, and elaborate, luncheons, no beine
posted in " warm corners," no army of beaters, no breech-
loaders, and two attendants to load for you, and, at the end
of a day s sport, no waggon-loads of slain to be sent off to
market to help pay, in some part, the expenses of breeding,
and keeping, such a head of game. Then, a man went out,
AFTER A DAY'S SHOOTING— 1809.
preferably with a friend or two, soon after an early break-
fast, accompanied by Don and Ponto, who were his con-
stant companions in his walks, and whose education he had
personally superintended ; to watch their intelligent move-
ments was in itself one of the pleasures of the day. When
a covey rose, not a shot was wasted, if possible, for, by
the time the gun was reloaded, the birds would be far off.
A bit of bread and cheese, as luncheon, at the nearest farm-
house, or the village pub. ; if the former, a brace of birds, or
a hare left, with a kindly message. Enough game to carry
home, without being tired, plenty for the larder, and some
for friends ; then dinner, some punch— and Betty would
SHOOTING.
3°9
come with the chamber candle and warming-pan, to find
the party asleep and quite ready for bed.
The Guns, with which our grandfathers shot, were vastly
inferior to our modern breechloader ; the workmanship
was good, but the flint-lock, with its tardy firing, and the
very weak powder then in use, did not render the " birding
gun " a very efficient weapon.
Thornhill, who wrote the Shooting Directory in 1804, is
as great an authority on the subject of guns as any of his
contemporaries ; and he had quite sense enough to see that
COCK SHOOTING WITH SPANIELS — 1804.
the old-fashioned long barrel of four feet, or more, carried no
further than one of three feet, and he counselled the musket
length of two feet ten inches, as the standard length for
fowling-piece barrels, and preferred one that carried its
shot close, to one that scattered. The method of proving
" that a barrel will not burst, was to get a ball to fit the
exact bore, and put the exact weight of the ball in powder,
with which load, and fire it off by a train ; if it does not
burst, you need be under no apprehension. This is called
3 1 o THE NINE TEE NTH CENTUR Y.
Tower-proof ; or put in double the quantity of powder and
shot." ^
He recommends as a proper charge for a fowling-piece
of ordinary calibre, a drachm and a quarter, or a drachm
and a half, of good powder, and an ounce, or an ounce and
a quarter, of shot ; and, when treating on the subject of
recoil, he gives one or two anecdotes of overloading. "The
overloading of the piece is the reason of the recoil ; re-
specting sportsmen who are in the habit of overloading
with shot, such are properly ridiculed in a treatise pub-
lished some time since, entitled, ' Cautions to Young
Sportsmen,' in which we find an advertisement levelled at
some persons who were going to a Pigeon Shooting Match .
at Ballingbear- Warren House. It was as follows : ' Take
notice, that no person will be allowed to load with more
than four ounces of shot.' A gamekeeper to whom this
author mentioned the story, told him he thought it a pretty
fair allowance, and, on being told what charge and weight
of shot he generally used, replied, he divided a pound into
five charges. ... A friend of the gentleman who relates
this story, seeing his keeper equipped for a pigeon match,
had the curiosity to examine his charge, and, after trying
it with his rammer, expressed his surprise at finding it
rather less than usual. ' Oh, sir,' replied the keeper, ' I
have only put in the powder yet ; ' and, on putting in the
shot, the charge, altogether, was eleven fingers. The reason
he assigned was ' that he always liked to give his piece a
belly full.'"
The Percussion Cap, which was destined to make such a
revolution in small arms, was patented April n, 1807, by
the inventor, the Rev. A. J. Forsyth, of Belhelvie, Aberdeen-
shire. It soon came into use, for we find an advertisement
in the Morning Post, December 23, 180S: "To SPORTSMEN.
The PATENT GUN-LOCK invented by Mr. Forsyth is to be
had at No. 10, Piccadilly, near the Haymarket. Those who
may be unacquainted with the excellence of this Invention
Q UANTITY OF GAME. 3 1 1
are informed that the inflammation is produced without
the assistance of flint, and is much more rapid than in the
common way. The Lock is so constructed as to render it
completely impervious to water, or damp of any kind, and
may, in fact, be fired under water."
Grouse, partridge, and other shooting, commenced on the
same dates as now, and game certificates were as necessary
then, as at the present time. Heavy bags were not the
rule. Thornhill supplies us with his ideal of a luxurious
sportsman of his time, with every appliance for slaughter,
and game ad libitum. Compare his butcher's bill with that
of a modern battue. " A man of fortune, surrounded with
gamekeepers (let us suppose the scene for the present in
Norfolk), pointers, setters, &c, without number, Manton x
Guns, and all in compleat retinue, going out at, perhaps,
twelve o'clock (the hour of indolent, and feather bed
gunners), into the highest preserved covers in that County,
where the game is so very tame, that twenty birds may be
killed in a few hours ; their servants with clean guns ready,
and, if necessary, loaded by them ; and probably, if the
dog of one of these elegant sportsmen is admired, or
gains credit, if his master is asked his name, he makes for
answer ' he really cannot tell you, but will ask his game-
keeper.' "
A large bag is spoken of by Daniel, in his Field Sports,
where he says that in 1796, on Mr. Colquhoun's manor at
Wretham, in Norfolk, the Duke of Bedford, and six other
gentlemen, killed eighty cock pheasants, and forty hares,
besides some partridges, in one day.
Mr. Coke, of Holkham, kept up a wonderful head of
game, so that his performances ought not to be looked
upon in the light of phenomenal sportsmanship, because
his victims were so plentifully to hand. As an instance, on
October 7, 1797, upon his manor at Warham, and within a
mile's circumference, he bagged forty brace of partridges,
1 Joseph Manton was at that time the great yun maker.
3 1 2 THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
in eight hours, at ninety-three shots ; and, on the previous
day, over the same ground, he killed twenty-two brace and
a half, in three hours. In iSoi, he killed, in five days,
seven hundred and twenty-six partridges.
In January, 1803, Mr. Coke, Sir John Shelley, and Tom
Sheridan went to Lord Cholmondeley's place at Houghton,
in Norfolk, and killed there, in one day, to their three guns
only, fourteen and a half brace of hares, sixteen couples ot
rabbits, twenty-four brace of pheasants, thirteen brace of
partridges, and sixteen couples of woodcock.
In the Morning Postol the 21st of January, 1 801, we find :
" Col. Thornton some time ago made a bet that he would
kill 400 head of game at 400 shots, the result was, that, in the
year 1800, he bagged 417 head of game (consisting of part-
ridges, pheasants, hares, snipe, and woodcock) at 411 shots.
Enumerated amongst these are a black wild duck, and a
white pheasant cock, and at the last point he killed a
brace of cock pheasants, one with each barrel ; on the leg
of the one last killed (an amazing fine bird) was found 9
ring, proving that he had been taken by Colonel Thornton
when hawking, and turned out again in the year 1792."
CHAPTER XXXVII.
■
A Cockney's account of the First of September — Pigeon shooting— Out-door games
— Cricket — High stakes — Lord's cricket ground — Trap and ball— Billiards —
Life of Andrews the billiard player.
PASSING from recounting the feats of legitimate
sportsmen, let us unbend, and indulge in a con-
temporary account of his cockney congener — Times \
September 2, 1803 :
"A Cockney's Account of Yesterday,
being
The First of September.
" Having sat up all night to be ready and fresh in the
morning, four of us met at the Obelisk, in St. George's
Fields, from whence we proceeded with our dogs, arms,
and ammunition, to Lambeth Marsh, where we expected to
have great sport, but found nothing except a cat, which we
all fired at ; but being only four in number, and a cat
having nine lives, we missed killing her, though, as we
believe, she was severely wounded. In this discharge we
broke a bell glass in a gardener's ground, so, fearing that
tve might, on that account, be taken up for poachers, we
made the best of our way to Tothill Fields ; here we re-
loaded our pieces, and gave our dogs a piece of bread
each, but the fox dog would not eat his. We then pro-
3 1 4 THE NINE TEE NTH CENTUR Y.
cccdcd to look about for sport, when two Westminster
boys claimed the place as their manor, and drove us out
of it. We now beat all about Jenny's Whim, and seeing
something swimming across the water, which a waterman's
boy told us was a dab-chick, we all fired, but without
success, but the terrier caught it, as it ran up the bank
and it proved to be the largest rat we had ever seen.
"As we passed through the five Fields, Chelsea, we saw
several pigeons, but they flew so fast that none of us could
take aim.
" On the other side of Battersea Bridge, met two men
driving geese. Offered them eighteenpence, which they
accepted, for a shot at the flock, at twenty yards. Drew
lots who should fire first ; it fell to Billy CandUwick's
chance, who, from his father belonging many years ago to
one of the regiments of City Militia, knew something of
taking aim.
"The goose driver stepped the ground, and Billy took
aim for above ten minutes, when, shutting both his eyes
lest the pan might flash in his sight, he snapped, and
missed fire. He took aim a second time, snapped and
missed again. Borrowed Bob Tapes scissars, and hammered
the flint — snapped, and missed fire a third time — thought
the Devil had got hold of the gun, examined her, found
she was neither loaded nor primed. The goose driver
refused to let Billy try again, so we gave him another
sixpence, and he sold us a lame gander, which we placed
at about six yards, and, taking a shot apiece at him, killed
him, and put him in Ned Thimble's cabbage net.
" Passed over Clapham Common, where we saw several
parties, but would not interfere with their sport.
" In our way to Stockwell, Ned Simple fired at a pigeon,
which was perched on the top of a tree, and shot a man's
hat and wig off, who stood underneath it. As we thought
he might be killed, we set off as hard as we could run, but
were pursued and overtaken by two gardeners, who insisted
CO CKNE Y SPORTSMEN. 3 1 5
upon being paid two shillings for destroying a scarecrow.
We paid the money very readily, and kept our counsel.
" When we came in sight of the Swan, at Stockwell, we
all ran as hard as we could to see who should get in first
as we had settled to breakfast there. Unfortunately, our
gun being cock'd, I made a stumble, and the trigger being
touched by something, off went the piece, and lodged the
contents in the body of a sucking pig that was crossing the
road. The squeaking of the poor little animal roused the
maternal affections of the sow, and set the fox dog, the
terrier, the Newfoundland bitch, and the mastiff, a barking.
The noise of the sow, the pig, and the dog, with the report
of the gun, brought the people of the house, and, indeed,
of the neighbourhood ; and, being threatened by one, and
laughed at by another, we thought it best to buy the pig
at four shillings, which we did, and put it into Bob Tapes
game bag, which, by the bye, was nothing but half a bolster
tick.
" We now beat every bush with the muzzle of our guns,
set the dogs on the pigs, and found but one chaffinch,
which was rather wild, not letting us come within eight
yards, so that we could not make sure of our bird. We
hunted him from spray to spray for above an hour, without
being able to get in a parallel line, so as to take sure aim
when, at last, he was killed by a little boy, who knocked
him down with a stone. Bought him, and put him into the
net with the goose.
" Hunted a weazle for above an hour, and lost him. The
terrier was remarkably staunch.
" Crossing a field near Camberwell, we thought we saw
a covey of partridges at the side of a ditch ; so we all made
up to them with our guns cock'd, tying the dogs to our
legs, that they might not run in, and spring the game.
" What we thought to be a covey of partridges, proved
to be a gang of gypsies, who were squatted under the
hedge, peeling turnips and paring potatoes for dinner. It
3 r 6 THE NINE TEE NTH CENTUR h
was the mercy of God we did not fire on them, as all our
pieces were up to our shoulders, and we had but one eye
open, apiece, when that, which we took to be the old cock,
rose up, and said in a loud voice, ' What the devil are ye
about ? '
" After much difficulties, and but little sport, got, by the
direction of the gypsies, into the Greenwich road, where,
being rather fatigued, we stopped at the Halfway house,
until a coach came by, when, mounting the roof, and the box,
we were conveyed near Blackheath, to our unspeakable joy.
" Never saw the Heath before — amazed at the number of
furze bushes, and the wide extent there is for game. Had
an excellent chase after a jackass, when the mastiff tore
his leg. Kept close together for fear of losing each other.
" Got down near a large round house, shot at a flock of
sparrows, and killed one, which we think is a cock, his
head being rather black.
" Saw several brother sportsmen out, who had killed
nothing but a hedge hog and a tame jack daw, which
belonged to the public house at New Cross Turnpike.
" Got up to the main road, fired at a yellow hammer,
and frightened the horses in the Dover stage. The guard
threatened to shoot us, and we took to our heels.
" Saw some black game flying very high. They looked
for all the world like crows.
" The terrier came to a point at a thick bunch of fern.
We were now sure this must be a covey of partridges, and
we prepared accordingly. The mastiff ran in, and brought
out one of the young ones. It proved to be a nest of grass
mice : took every one, and put them into the bolster. Grass
mice were better than nothing-.
" Much fatigued, and agreed to shoot all the way home,
fired off our guns at the foot of Greenwich Hill, and were
laughed at by the inhabitants— loaded them again, and
fired at a sheet of paper for half an hour without putting a
grain in it.
COCKNE Y SPORTSMEN. 3 1 7
" We went into a cow-house, near Bermondsey Spa, to
get some milk for the dogs, and, laying down upon a heap
of straw, we all fell fast asleep. We were awakened by the
entrance of a cow and her calf, when we found we had been
robbed of our dogs and our guns.
" We went into a public house to console ourselves for
our loss, where we stayed till it was dark, that we might
not be seen returning in such an unsportsmanlike manner.
"Agreed on the way what stories we should tell about
the day's amusement and success : parted at the Monu-
ment, and went to our respective homes."
There was evidently the same tender-hearted sentiment
then, as now, with regard to the " tournament of doves " —
see the Morning Post, November 19, 18 10: "The expert
marksmen in pidgeon killing matches are very properly
denominated slaughtermen ; four of these humane gentle-
men shot no less than tliirty-six, for mere amusement, the
other day on Finchley Common."
Perhaps the principal out-door game (for football, as a
game, was not yet organized, and hockey and golf had but
local fame and habitations) was Cricket ; and even this
friendly sport, and generous rivalry, as we know it, was
then contaminated by being played for money. Two or
three examples, in one year, will be sufficient to show the
motive of the game.
Morning Herald, July 1, 1802: "CRICKET. Tuesday
was played a grand match of Cricket on Hampstead Heath,
between eleven Gentlemen of the Mary le bone Club, and
nine Gentlemen of Hampstead and Highgate, with two
men given, for 500 guineas, which was won by the latter,
by 112 runs."
Ibid., July 15, 1802: "CRICKET. Tuesday was played
a grand match of Cricket, at Chigwell, Essex, between
eleven Gentlemen of Chigwell and eleven Gentlemen of
the Mile End Club, for 500 guineas, whicli was won by
the latter by 23 runs. Even betting at starting.
318 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
" Yesterday a grand match of Cricket was played at
Camberwell, between eleven Gentlemen of Camberwell
and Peckham, and eleven Gentlemen of Clapham, for 500
guineas, which was won by the former by three wickets."
Ibid., September 3, 1802: "Cricket. Monday last, and
two following days, was played a grand match of Cricket,
on Ripley Green, Surrey, between eleven Gentlemen of All
England, and twenty-two Gentlemen of Surrey, for 1,000
guineas, which was won by the former in one in ( ? innings),
and twenty-five runs."
Lord, whose Cricket-ground was afterwards bought by
the M.C.C., and which still goes by his name, then had the
ground now covered by Harewood and Dorset Squares :
the date of removal thence to the present ground is noted
in an advertisement in the Morning Post, April 21, 1809:
"Cricket Ground. Lord begs to inform the Noble-
men and Gentlemen, lovers of Cricket, that he has enclosed
and levelled a large piece of Ground, at the top of Lisson
Grove, a short distance from his old Ground, which, for
size and beauty of situation cannot be excelled, which will
be ready for playing on by the beginning of May, to be
known by the name of Lord's Saint John's Wood Cricket
Ground."
Then also was played a game, now practically defunct in
this country, but vigorous enough in America, where it is
known as Base-ball. Morning Herald, September 22, 1802 :
" On Monday last was finished, at Haverstock Hill, near
Ilampstead, a grand Match of Trap and Ball, between
twenty-five Gentlemen of the Law, and five of the Gospel,
which was won by the former."
Billiards was an old indoor game, which had somewhat
fallen into abeyance, but was reviving, for we read, in the
Morning Post, September 28, 1809: "Billiards are becoming
very fashionable ; it is an amusement of a gentlemanly
cast — giving at once activity to the limbs, and grace to
the person. A match was played yesterday at Kidman's."
BILLIARDS.
3*9
From this illustration, which is taken from a little book
entitled, " New Instructions for Playing in all its Varieties,
the Game of Billiards," &c, iSor, there seems to have
been but little difference either in the play, or in the furni-
ture of the room, between the past and the present times.
They must have played a somewhat heavy, and dead game,
though, for neither india-rubber cushions, nor slate tables,
were known. The rules for the game are similar to our
own.
This little book gives a curious biography, which I am
tempted, as it is short, to copy.
BILLIARDS — l80I.
"Account of Mr. Andrews, the celebrated Billiard
Player.
" Mr. Andrews was born to an easy independent for-
tune, but, commencing life at a time that he was incap-
able of judging of the world, or of himself, was led away by
a single passion ; for he was not actuated by any other.
He devoted himself entirely to the blind goddess, and
worshipped her incessantly, under the form of two ivory
balls. He was remarkably thin, not very tall, though
above the middle size : his face was a perfect vacuum with
respect to every possible idea except Billiards. So in-
fatuated was he in pursuing this game, to attain the summit
3 20 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
of excellence at it, that he sacrificed days, nights, weeks,
months, and years to it.
" At length he arrived at such a degree of perfection, aa
well in the theoretical, as in the practical part of the game,
that there was no player in Europe could equal him, except
one, who was the celebrated Abraham Carter, who kept the
tables at the corner of the Piazzas, Russel Street, Covent
Garden. Mr. Andrews was the most devoted adept of
this game that- ever nature produced ; he seemed but to
vegetate in a Billiard Room, and, indeed, he did little
more in any other place. He was a perfect Billiard Vale-
tudinarian, in the most rigid significance of the expression.
He ate, drank, slept, walked, nay, talked but to promote
the system of the balls. His regimen was tea, and toast
and butter, for breakfast, for dinner, and for supper.
" It might reasonably be imagined, that so regular a
professor would obtain all the advantages that could result
from the science. He won considerable sums, but knew
not the value of money ; and when playing for only five or
ten pounds, he took no pains, but seemed perfectly indif-
ferent about winning or losing. There was a latent finesse
in this, but it did not operate to his advantage : he was
laying by for bets, but as they were seldom offered, the
strength of his play being very well known, he often lost
by repeated small sums, very considerable ones.
"It is generally believed, however, that he has played
for more money at billiards than any other person ever
did. The following is a remarkable circumstance : he,
one night, won of Col. W e upwards of ,£1,000, and the
Colonel appointed to meet him the next day to go with
him to the City, to transfer Stock to him for the amount of
the sum lost. Being in a hackney coach, they tossed up
who should pay for it. Andrews lost, and upon this small
beginning he was excited to continue, till he had lost the
whole sum he had won the night before at billiards. When
the coachman stopped to get down, he was ordered to get
ANDREWS, THE BILLIARD PLAYER. 321
up again, and drive them back, as they had no occasion to
get out.
" By these pursuits he lost very large sums which he had
won at billiards ; and, in a few years, hazard, and other
games of chance, stripped him of every shilling he could
command. He had still left a small annuity which he
endeavoured to dispose of, but it was so securely settled upon
himself that he could not sell it ; otherwise it is probable
that it would soon have been transferred at the gaming
table. He very lately lived in a retired manner in Kent,
where he declared to an intimate old acquaintance that he
never knew contentment when he was rolling in money ;
but, since he was obliged to live upon a scanty pittance, he
thought himself one of the happiest men in the universe."
~^£. ~*4f "^fc" M 7 " •x| / ' "vj*" ■\jT i
22
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The Theatre — Number of theatres in London — Famous actors and actresses —
Disturbances at a theatre — Master Betty, "The Infant Roscius " — His country
experience — Puffs preliminary — His first appearance in London — Crowds to
see him— Presented to the King and the Prince of Wales— Acts at Drury Lane
— His subsequent career.
IN the Dawn of the Nineteenth Century, the theatre was
a favourite amusement for the good folks, probably
because there were no other public forms of amuse-
ment, if we except an occasional concert or masquerade.
The stage supplied this want, and the people took due
advantage of it. The audience, through much frequenting,
were critically educated, and demanded good acting. This,
as a rule, they obtained, partially, as I think, because there
were fewer actors, and, consequently, not so many mediocre
performers as now, and partly owing to the constant change
of performance — there being no " long runs," as we know
them, where an actor mechanically goes through the same
part for hundreds of nights, until, like Sothern, he abso-
lutely, and unconsciously, adopts his own mannerisms, and
spoils himself for a fresh part.
The richer, and titled classes, were not content with
witnessing professional skill, but strove to emulate and
surpass the performers at their own amateur entertain-
ments, and the most notable of these private societies was
the Pic Nic Society.
THEATRES. 323
There were eight Theatres in London, i.e., when one or
other was not burnt down — namely, The King's, Hay-
market ; Covent Garden ; Drury Lane ; Theatre Royal,
Haymarket ; The Royalty, in Goodman's Fields ; Sadlers
Wells ; Astley's ; and the Royal Circus, now the Surrey,
on the other side the river.
Of course, as would be only natural, the best actors were
at the West-end Theatres, and to show their calibre, one
has only to mention such names as John Philip Kemble,
Munden, Bannister, Dowton, Elliston, Liston, Mrs. Siddons,
Fawcett, Mrs. Jordan, Kelly, Johnstone, Young, Cooke, &c.
No wonder, that with such actors, the stage was popular.
Their names are still a tradition of excellence to the pro-
fession, and the performances, with one notable exception,
in the O. P. Riots, were listened to with great decorum, and
there was a vast improvement upon the rougher manners
of the previous century.
I can only find the mention of one fracas in the whole
ten years, and the report of that, in the Annual Register,
December 26, 1801, shows how very far the audience were
from sympathizing with the offender. " At Covent Garden
Theatre the holiday folks were inclined to be mischie-
vous. As soon as the curtain drew up to commence the
play of 'Richard the Third,' a wine glass was thrown on
the stage by way of prologue, but without exciting much
observation ; a few minutes after, determined to attract
notice, a quart bottle was thrown from the two-shilling
gallery on the stage ; it grazed the hat of Mr. Betterton,
who was playing Tressel to Murray's Henry VI., knocked
out some of the jewels, and, falling on the stage, rolled
down to the lamps unbroken. The audience were thunder-
struck, the play stood still, and, for a few seconds, every
one gazed with amazement. Satisfied of what had been
done, a general burst of indignation broke out over the
house, and ' throw him over ! ' ' turn him out ! ' were
vociferated from all quarters. The villain was pointed out
3 2 4 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
by his neighbours, sitting in the front row of the two-
shilling gallery. He was seized, the people in the pit, and
the boxes, rising up, and considerable agitation prevailed.
The fellow, who was drunk, held by the iron railing, and
refused to retire. This provoked the resentment against
him still more, and the cries of vengeance were loud and
general. Three or four laid hold of him, and seemed as if
they would drag rail and all away ; at last, they succeeded
in taking him out of the theatre."
In this decade appeared a theatrical phenomenon — the
like of which has never been seen since ; in the shape of
a boy, who was endowed with a truly marvellous gift of
acting — one Master William Henry West Betty, surnamed
" The Infant Roscius," who was born at Shrewsbury,
September 13, 1791. His parents were extremely respect-
able, and in easy circumstances — so that it was not from
need, but from pure inclination, that he adopted the stage
as a profession. Whilst yet a child, he was fond of
declamation with action, and, before he was twelve, he
acted the part of Osman in Voltaire's tragedy of Zara, at
the Theatre, Belfast. He was, at that time, residing in
Ireland, and the theatres, having been closed for some time
previously, owing to the disturbed state of the country,
were glad of any attraction when they did open — so Betty
took an engagement at the above theatre, for four nights,
on the understanding that he was to share the house, after
deducting twelve pounds, for the expenses of the house.
His first performance was on the 19th of August, 1803,
when he was not yet twelve years old. Next day he was
the talk of Belfast, and on the other three nights he played
Norval, Rolla, and Romeo.
Then he went to Dublin, Cork, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and
Birmingham, at which latter place he was heard by Mr.
Justice Graham, one of the Board of Management of Drury
Lane Theatre. He reported about the infant genius, and
proposals were made, which were too low to be acceptable,
" THE INFANT ROSCIUS."
3 2 5
He was afterwards engaged to play at Covent Garden, and,
owing to an informality in the agreement, Drury Lane got
hold of him on the intervening nights, at the same salary.
Whoever was his entrepreneur \ he did his work well, and
the puff preliminary was very delicately administered.
The first notice of this kind that I can find, is in the
Morn ing Herald, August 6, 1804. " A very extraordinary
phenomenon has lately burst
upon the tJieatrical world. A
boy of the name of Beatie,
not exceeding twelve years
of age, reads and enacts all
the principal of Shakespeare's
characters, in a stile of supe-
riority that astonishes the
most experienced Actors.
He has performed in Ireland,
and is now exciting general
astonishment at Edinburgh
Off the stage his manners
are puerile, as he is often
seen playing at marbles in
a morning, and Richard the
Third in the evening. He
is rather short of his age,
slight made, but has great
expression of countenance.
rj,, , , 1 • , THE YOUNG ROSCIUS, AS FREDERICK,
The moment he begins to IN .< overs' vows,"
converse upon stage business,
he appears an inspired being. He has a pleasant turn for
repartee, which makes his company much sought for. The
Edinburgh Manager expressed his fears, at first rehearsal,
that his voice would not fill the house. • My dear Sir,'
replied the little hero of the buskin, ' I beg you will be
under no apprehensions upon that score, for, if my voice
does not fill your house, probably my playing will ! ' "
326 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Here is an anecdote of him, probably got up to suit the
public. Morning Herald, November 16, 1804: "The
Young Roscius, who is in all respects play fid, lately
hesitated in going on the stage when he was to perform
Richard. Young, the chief Liverpool actor, told him the
stage was waiting, and urged him to appear. The boy
declared, that, unless Young would bend his back, that he
might have one jump at leap-frog, he would not appear.
After some demur at this whimsical request, and some
useless remonstrance, Young was obliged to submit ; and
the little fellow then went upon the stage, and performed
his part with admirable spirit."
Kept always before the public, in this manner, no wonder
curiosity was stimulated to the highest pitch, and that
when he did appear, he received an ovation. The mildest
contemporary account of his dibut in London, is in the
Morning Herald, of the 3rd of December, 1804, and I
extract a portion. "On Saturday evening (December 1st)
this prodigy of early excellence, whose merits have been
as much extolled in the provinces, as they have been
sceptically regarded in the Metropolis, met the fiery ordeal
of a London audience. There has not been, within our
recollection, any manifestation of public anxiety which can
be quoted, as equalling that displayed on this occasion.
At one o'clock the doors of the Pit and Gallery were
besieged with expectants. At five, the outer doors of the
box passages were forced open, and the boxes were
occupied by an immense crowd, who forcibly ejected the
persons stationed to keep places. The numbers still poured
in with such rapidity, and pressure, that some hundreds
leaped from the Boxes into the Pit, which was so crowded
by this accession, that numbers must have perished, but
for the humane attentions of some Ladies in the Boxes,
who assisted in raising them, and passing them to the
lobbies. The number outside the House and in the
passages still continued to increase, though every effort
" THE INFANT ROSCIUS." 3 2 7
was made to assure them that their exertions must be
unavailing. We have not heard of any fatal accident, but
the faintings, bruises, and minor contingencies are beyond
all enumeration."
The play was "Barbarossa" (by Dr. Browne), and Master
Betty took the part of Selim. In the second scene — "Where
he sounds the feelings of Othman, he showed exquisite
judgment and sensibility. In the close of the scene when
he says :
' Oh ! thou hast rous'd a thought on which revenge
Mounts with redoubled fire ! '
his fine blue eyes lighted up a countenance full of expres-
sion — his attitudes were graceful and appropriate, and the
strong emotion seemed to pervade every fibre of his frame.
The applauses which greeted his entree were redoubled,
and loud huzzas and bravos resounded through the Theatre.
In the third act, with his mother, his pathos and his
judgment were both transcendent. When to the caution
of Othman he replies, ... the energy of his delivery was
such as to leave all description at a distance : but the
closing soliloquy was the very climax of excellence. . . .
" In passing from particulars to generals, we feel our-
selves at a loss how to proceed. We cannot try him as a
boy, who comes forward with such superior pretensions.
We cannot rate him as a man, when so many means of
future excellence are as yet unripened and undisclosed.
When We mention that his step is firm and manly — his
gesticulation free and unembarrassed — and his delivery and
emphasis in general most correct, we speak of things which
might, possibly, through tuition be acquired. But the
intelligence of manner — the eloquence of the eye when
speech was denied — the rapid yet judicious transitions
from prostrate affliction to dignified resentment — are
qualities which a GARRICK might display, but which he
never could transfuse. We do not mean to hold forth this
3 28
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
youth as a model of perfection, but that, at his age, and
with so few opportunities, he should approach so nearly
to perfection, is the wonder which it is our province to
record."
THEATRICAL LEAP-FROG.
The great JOHN Kemble was said to have been much
put out at the amount of attention this child received, and
Rowlandson caricatured the young Roscius leaping over
" Black Jack's " head.
The crowding to see him still continued, and there is
" THE INFANT It SCI US."
329
an amusing caricature by Ansell of the difficulties to be
encountered, in order to obtain a glimpse of the pre-
cocious boy. The scene is vividly depicted. " Has
any lady lost a flannel dickey?" "Who owns a shoe?"
" That Dickey belongs to me, young man," exclaims a
lady whose dress bears palpable tokens of the fray. A
VAIN ATTEMPT TO SEE YOUNG ROSCIUS.
plaintive voice is heard bewailing, "I'm a bran new hat out
of pocket ;" whilst a cripple inquires, " Has any of the good
people found a Crutch ? "
All sorts of ruses were attempted, in order to see
Master Betty without inconvenience. Here is one of
them — Morning Herald, December 14, 1804: "A curious
3 3 o THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
trick was last night discovered at Drury Lane Theatre.
Some of the Performers in the Orchestra had been induced
to yield their places to as many sprigs of fashion, who
entered with their violins under their arms, and with
greased bows, that they might not interrupt the harmony
to which they could not contribute. The fraud was
discovered in time, and the falsetto fashionables were
civilly ushered back to the outer door!"
He was presented to the Prince of Wales at Carlton
House; and, on the 5th of December, 1804, when he was
acting at Covent Garden, the King and the Royal Family
went to Drury Lane to see the " School for Scandal," and
the King having expressed a wish to see the marvellous
boy, Sheridan had him fetched, and hence the illustration
of " The Introduction," by J. B. Sheridan introduces
him to the King as "The Wonder of the Theatrical
World — A Diamond amongst Pebbles — A Snowdrop in a
Mud-pool — The Golden Fleece of the Morning Chronicle !
The Idol of the Sun ! The Mirror of the Times ! The
Glory of the Morning Post ! The Pride of the Herald !
and the finest Cordial of the Publican's Advertiser!' The
young Roscius thus presented, makes his bow to the
Royal Couple, saying, " Never till this hour stood I in such
a presence, yet there is something in my breast which
makes me bold to say that Norval ne'er will shame thy
favour."
He also visited the Duke of Clarence, and Charles
James Fox ; and, when he had an illness, probably
induced by over excitement, and petting, so numerous
were the inquiries after his precious health, that bulletins
had to be issued.
At Drury Lane his first appearance was as enthusias-
tically received, as at Covent Garden ; and, if possible,
more riotously, for the mob broke all the windows within
their reach, on the Vinegar Yard side of the Theatre, and,
when the passages were thrown open, the balustrades, on
33*
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
both sides of the staircase which led to the boxes, were
entirely demolished.
From 1805 to 1808, he principally played at the pro-
vincial theatres, and in the latter year, being seventeen
years of age, he was entered as a gentleman Commoner of
Christ's College, Cambridge, and also was gazetted as
Cornet in the North Shropshire Yeomanry Cavalry. His
father died in 181 1, and he then left Cambridge, residing
on an estate his father had purchased, near Shrewsbury.
Here he stayed till he was twenty years old, when his
passion for the stage revived ; and he acted, with oc-
casional intermissions, until he was thirty-two years old,
when he retired from the stage, and lived a quiet life until
his death, which took place on the 24th of August, 1874.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Betty's imitators — Miss Mudie, "The Young Roscia" — Her first appearance in
London — Reception by the audience — Her fate — Ireland's forgery of
"Vortigern and Rowena " — Fires among the theatres — Destruction of Covent
Garden and Drury Lane.
BETTY'S success raised up, of necessity, some imita-
tors — there were other Roscii, who soon disap-
peared ; and, as ladies deny the sterner sex the sole
enjoyment of all the good things of this world, a Roscia
sprang into existence — a Miss Mudie, who entered on her
theatrical career, even earlier than Master Betty. Meriting
Post, July 29, 1805 : "The Young Roscia of the Dublin
Stage (only seven years old), who is called the Phenomenon,
closed her engagement there on Monday last, in the part
of Peggy, in the Country Girl, which she is stated to have
pourtrayed with ' wonderful archness, vivacity, and dis-
crimination.'"
Children, such as this, however precocious, are, of course
simply ridiculous, and we are not astonished to find fun
being made of them. Says the Morning Post, October 21,
1805: "A young Lady was the other day presented by
her nurse and mamma to one of our managers for an
engagement. She came recommended by the testimony
of an amateur, that she was a capital representative of the
Widow Belmour. The manager, after looking at her from
334 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY,
head to foot, exclaimed, ' But how old is Miss ? ' ' Seven
years old, sir, next Lammas,' answered the nurse, 'bless
her pretty face.' ' Oh ! Mrs. Nurse,' replies the manager,
gravely, ' too old, too old; nothing above five years will
now do for Widow Belmour. ' "
Old playgoers had not quite lost all their wits, although
they had been somewhat crazy on the subject of young
Roscius ; but he was then fourteen, whilst this baby was
only seven. However, the Phenomenon appeared, and
duly collapsed, the story of which I should spoil did I
not give it in the original. Here it is, as a warning to
ambitious debutantes — Morning Post, November 25, 1805 :
" COVENT Garden. The play of the Country Girl was
announced at this house, on Saturday evening, for the
purpose of introducing to a London audience, a very
young lady, a Miss MUDIE, in the character of Miss Peggy.
Miss Mudie has played, as it has been reported, but we
doubt the truth of the report, with great success at Dublin,
Liverpool, Birmingham, &c, where she has been applauded
and followed nearly as much as Master Betty. The
people of London seem to have been aware that these
reports were unfounded, for no great degree of curiosity
prevailed to see her on Saturday.
" The audience received this child very favourably on her
entrance. She is said to be ten years of age, but in size
she does not look to be more than five. She is extremely
diminutive, and has not the plump, comely, countenance
of an infant : her nose is very short ; her eyes not well
placed ; she either wants several teeth, or is, perhaps,
shedding them ; and she speaks very inarticulately. It
was difficult to understand what she said. When she
attempts expression of countenance, her features contract
about the nose, and eyes, in a way that gives reason to
suppose she is older than her person denotes. She seems
to have a young body with an old head.
" In the first passages of her part, she appeared to give.
MISS MUDIE. 335
some satisfaction, and was loudly applauded ; an in-
dulgent audience wishing, no doubt, to encourage her to
display her full powers ; but when she was talked of as a
wife, as a mistress, and an object of love, the scene became
so ridiculous that hissing and horse laughing ensued. She
made her debut before Miss BRUNTON, a tall, elegant,
beautiful woman, and looked in size just as if Miss
BRUNTON'S fan had been walking in before her ; Miss
MUDIE the married woman, and Miss BRUNTON the
maiden ! When she was with her husband, Mr. MURRAY,
no very tall man, she did not reach higher than his knee,
and he was obliged to stoop even to lay his hand upon her
head, and bend himself down double to kiss her ; when she
had to lay hold of his neckcloth to coax him, and pat his
check, he was obliged to stoop down all fours that she
might reach him ! The whole effect was so out of nature,
so ludicrous, that the audience very soon decided against
Miss Mudie. At first they did not hiss when she was on
the stage, from delicacy ; but, in her absence, hissed the
performance, to stop the play, if possible. But as she
persevered confidently they hissed her, and at last called
vehemently, Off ! off ! Miss Mudie was not, however,
without a strong party to support her ; but the noise in-
creased to that degree in the latter scenes that not a word
could be heard, on which Miss Mudie walked to the front
of the stage with great confidence and composure, not
without some signs of indignation, and said :
"'Ladies and Gentlemen,
" * I know nothing I have done to offend you, and
has set (sic) those who are sent here to hiss me ; I will be
very much obliged to you to turn them out.'
"This speech, which, no doubt had been very imprudently
put into the infant's mouth, astonished the audience ;
some roared out with laughter, some hissed, others called
Off! off! and many applauded. Miss Mudie did not
appear to be in the slightest degree chagrined or em-
336 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
barrasscd, and she went through the scene with as much
glee as if she had been completely successful. At the end
of it the uproar was considerable, and a loud cry arising of
Manager! Manager! Mr. Kemble came forward. In
substance he said :
"'Ladies and Gentlemen,
" ' Miss Mudie having performed at various pro-
vincial theatres with great success, her friends thought
themselves authorised in presenting her before you. It is
the duty, and the wish, of the proprietors of this House to
please you ; and to fulfil both, was their aim in bringing
forward Miss Mudie. 'The Drama's laws, the Drama's
patrons give' — Miss Mudie intends to withdraw herself
from the stage ; but I entreat you to hear her through the
remainder of her part.' "
She came on the stage again, but the audience would
not listen to her, and Miss Searle had to finish her part.
What became of this self-possessed child I know not ;
according to the Morning Post, April 5, 1806, she joined
a children's troupe in Leicester Place, where, " though de-
servedly discountenanced at a great threatre, she will, no
doubt, prove an acquisition to the infant establishment."
Late in the last century, the literary and theatrical world
had been thrown into a state of high excitement, by the
announcement of the discovery of an original play by
Shakespeare, called "Vortigern and Rowena," which was
acted at Drury Lane, and condemned, as spurious, the first
night ; but belief in it lasted for some time, and the
question was of such importance, that the Morning Post,
in 1802, took the suffrages of the fashionable world, as to
its authenticity. The question was set at rest in 1805 by
the forger himself, one William Henry Ireland, who had
the audacity to publish a book 1 in which he unblushingly
details all his forgeries, and his method of doing them. It
1 "The Confessions of William Henry Ireland, containing the Particulars of
his Fabrication of the Shakespeare Manuscripts." London, 1805.
THEATRES BURNT. 337
is an amusing volume, and has recently been utilized by a
novelist. 1 The absolute forgeries are still in existence,
including the pseudo-lock of Shakespeare's hair; and they
changed owners some few years since, when they were sold
by auction at very low prices.
There was a great fatality among theatres ; there were but
few of them, and they were continually being burnt down.
The Opera House in 1789 ; The Pantheon 1792 ; Astley's
Amphitheatre, September 17, 1794. This theatre was un-
lucky. It again fell a victim to the flames, September 1,
1803 ; and Astley, on this occasion, seems to have met
with an accident — Times, September 7, 1803 : "Fortunately
for Mr. Astley, almost the whole of his plate was at Lower
Esher, from which place he reached the Amphitheatre in
one hour and a quarter. It was not till he came to Vaux-
hall that his horse fell ; the same presentiment which fore-
ran the former conflagration of his property, the moment
he heard the gate bell ring, he exclaimed to Mrs. Astley,
1 They come to tell me that the Theatre is on fire.' "
The Surrey Theatre, or, as it was then called, the Royal
Circus, was destroyed by hre August 12, 1805 ; and Covent
Garden was burnt down September 20, 1808 — the fire
being supposed to have been caused by a piece of wadding
from a gun fired during the performance of Pizarro. It
was, of course, a tremendous conflagration, and unfortu-
nately resulted in loss of life, besides the loss of many
original scores of Handel, Arne, and other eminent com-
posers, together with Handel's organ.
Plans for a new theatre were soon got out, and Mr.
Smirke (afterwards Sir Robert, to whom we owe the
beautiful British Museum, and the General Post Office) was
the architect. The first stone was laid, with much Masonic
pomp, on the 31st of December, 1808, by the Prince of Wales,
the Duke of Sussex, and a distinguished circle of guests,
being present. The weather was unpropitious, but immense
1 " Talk of the Town," by James Tayn.
23
338 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
crowds of people were present ; and it is curious to learn,
as showing the defective police of the time, that " The
Horse Guards patrolled the streets, and several of the
Volunteer Corps did duty on the occasion."
Within two months from the above date, Drury Lane
Theatre was totally destroyed by fire. On the 24th of Feb-
ruary, about 1 1 p.m., it was discovered, and it did not take
long before the whole was in a blaze ; not for want of pre-
cautions, for it' seems they had adopted the best accepted
preventitives of a great theatrical conflagration known to
modern architects, viz., an iron curtain, and a huge reservoir
of water on the top of the building — the latter being
described as " a mere bucket full to the volume of fire on
which it fell, and had no visible effect in damping it,"
which may be comforting for modern playgoers to re-
member. Nor was it long in burning ; by 5 a.m. " the
flames were completely subdued " — that is, there was
nothing left to burn. Very little was saved, only a bureau
and some looking-glasses, from Mrs. Jordan's dressing-
room, and the " Treasury " books and some papers.
Sheridan took his loss, outwardly, with great sang froid,
one anecdote affirming that, on a remark being made to
him that it was a wonder he could bear to witness the
destruction of his property, he replied, " Why ! where can
a man warm himself better than at his own fire-side ? "
However, by his energy, he soon found temporary premises
for his company, and, having obtained a special license from
the Lord Chamberlain, he took the Lyceum and opened
it on the 25th of September, or, within a week of the fire.
CHAPTER XL.
The O. P. Riots— Causes of — Madame Catalani — Kemble's refutation of charges —
Opening of the theatre, and commencement of the riots — O. P. medals, &c. —
" The house that Jack built " — A committee of examination — Their report —
A reconciliation dinner — Acceptation of a compromise — " We are satisfied " —
Theatre re-opens — Re-commencement of riots — The proprietors yield, and the
riots end.
^^TTE now come to the celebrated O. P. Riots,
\\/ wmcn find no parallel in our theatrical history,
V V and which would require at least two thick
volumes to exhaust. Never was there anything so sense-
less ; never could people have been more persistently
foolish ; they would listen to no reason ; they denied, or
pooh-poohed, every fact.
O. P. represents " Old Prices," and, as the management
of the new theatre had raised the price of their entertain-
ment, as they had a perfect right to do, these people
demanded that only the old prices should be charged for
admission. It was in vain that it was pointed out that
very early notice was given of the intended rise, as indeed
it was, directly after the destruction of the fire — vide
Homing Post, September 24, 1808: "The Managers, we
understand, intend to raise the price of admission, when
they open at the Opera to 7s. for the boxes, and to 4s. for
the pit. The admission for the galleries to remain as
340
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
before. Much clamour has already been excited against
this innovation, but we think unjustly."
Had this been the only grumble, probably no more
would have been heard of it, but all sorts of rumours got
a bout — That the proprietors, of whom Kemble was one
(and, except on the stage, he was not popular), would make
a handsome profit out of the insurance, and sale of old
materials ; that the increased number of private boxes,
with their ante-rooms, were built for the special purpose
of serving as places of assignation for a debauched aristo-
cracy ; and, therefore, a virtuous
public ought to rise in its wrath
against them. And last, but
not least, they tried to enlist pa-
triotic feelings into the question,
and appealed to the passions of
the mob — (remember we were at
war with the French, and the
ignorant public could not dis-
criminate much between the na-
tionality of foreigners) as to
whether it was fair to pay such
enormous nightly sums to a
MADAME CATALANI.
foreigner — which sums were partly
the cause of the rise in price — when native talent was going
unappreciated.
This foreigner was Madame Angelica Catalani, a lady
who was born at Sinigaglia, in 1779. At the early age of
twelve, when at the convent of St. Lucia, at Gubbio, her
beautiful voice was remarkable, and when she left the
convent, at the age of fifteen, she was compelled to get a
living on the stage, owing to her father's ruin.
At sixteen, she made her debut at Venice, in an opera by
Nasolini ; and she afterwards sang at Florence, at La Scala
in Milan, at Trieste, Rome, and Naples. Her fame got
her an engagement at Lisbon, where she married M.
MADAME CATALAN!.
34i
Valabregue, a French officer attached to the Portuguese
Embassy ; but she still kept to her name of Catalani —
at all events, on the stage. From Lisbon she went to
Madrid, thence to Taris, where she only sang at concerts ;
and, finally, in October, 1806, she came to London, where
she speedily became the rage. According to one biographer
(Fetis), she gained immense sums here ; but I much doubt his
accuracy. He says : " In a single theatrical season which did
not last more than four months, she gained about 180,000
CATALANI.
francs (£7,200), which included her benefit. Besides that,
she gained, in the same time, about 60,000 francs (£2,400)
by soirees and private concerts. They gave her as much
as 200 guineas for singing at Drury Lane, or Covent
Garden — ' God save the King,' and ' Rule, Britannia,' and
£2,000 sterling were paid her for a single musical fete."
This, according to the scale paid her at Covent
Garden, said by her opponents to be £75 per night,
must be excessive; but the mob had neither sense, nor
342
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
reason, in the matter; she was a foreigner, and native
talent was neglected. Her name suggested a subject
to the caricaturist, of which he speedily availed him-
self.
These were the principal indictments against Kemble
(for he, as manager, had to bear the brunt of the riot) and
the proprietors replied to them categorically — vide Morning
Post, September 18, 1809 :
" It is stated that the old
materials of the Theatre
were estimated at £25,000.
It is stated that instead
of twelve private boxes,
they have now thirty-four,
being an addition of twenty-
two private boxes.
It is stated that £50,000
was received from the In-
surance of the Theatre.
For £25,000, read £1,000.
The bricks were of so little
value, that not one old brick
was used in the building,
and the greater part now
lie buried near Hart Street.
For 22 read 12 additional
private boxes. In fact, the
Proprietors contend that
they have no private boxes,
as all of them are let annu-
ally to the Public. They
are taken by the higher
classes of society, and, by
that means, the first and
second circles of boxes are
left free for the public at
large. What the Proprie-
tors gain by them annually,
they lose nightly.
For £50,000, read £42,000.
'Tis true that £3 or 4,000
was received from the in-
surance of houses, now in-
cluded in the Theatre ; but
it was forgotten that the Pro-
prietors paid near £28,000
DEFENCE OF PROPRIETORS.
343
It is asserted that Madame
Catalani is the cause of the
advance on the prices.
long
lani's engagement
might
for those houses, to insulate
the Theatre, and render the
avenues safe and commodi-
ous. The increased ground
rent of which will be a heavy
and lasting incumbrance on
the Theatre.
The Proprietors have al-
ready given their reasons
to the Public, which existed
before Madame Cata-
As well
it be said that the
increased prices were caused
by Mrs. Siddons, whose en-
gagement is fifty guineas a
night and a clear benefit ;
or by the other eminent
English Performers of the
Theatre, whose salaries a-
mount to ;£3 2,000."
There was good sound sense in this refutation, yet
something is wanting to explain more fully the riot which
was to come, and which, at all events, was popularly
supposed to relate to the structure of the building, and to
the rise in prices. The following is much condensed from
a contemporary account of the theatre :
" The Pit of this Theatre is very spacious. . . . The two
Galleries are comparatively small, there not being accommo-
dation in the upper, for more than 150 or 200 persons ! The
Upper Gallery is divided into five compartments, and may
thus be considered a tier of five boxes, with a separate
door at the back of each. These doors open into a
spacious lobby, one side of which is the back of the
gallery, and the other the exterior wall of the Theatre,
344 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
with the windows into the street. The lobby to the
middle gallery beneath is similarly situated. Under the
gallery is a row of private boxes, constituting the whole
third tier ! They consist of 26 in number, with a private
room behind each. The Carpeting was laid down in these
boxes on Saturday last ; but the furniture of each, and also
of the adjoining room, will be according to the taste of the
several occupants, among whom are some of the Royal
Dukes."
And now I have to chronicle one of the most senseless
phases of public opinion that ever made a page, or a para-
graph, of history. The Theatre opened on September 18,
1809, with " Macbeth" and " The Quaker," but not one word
that was delivered on the stage could be heard by the
audience.
When the curtain drew up, Kemble delivered an address,
which was extremely classical — all about ^Eschylus,
Thespis, and Sophocles, of which the people present knew
nothing, until they saw the next morning's papers. Instead
of listening, they sang " God save the King " with all the
power of their lungs, and in good order ; but that once
over, then, with one consent, they began to yell " No
Kembles — no theatrical tyrants — no domineering Napo-
leons ! — What ! will you fight, will you faint, will you die,
for a Shilling ? — No imposition ! — no extortion ! — English
charity. — Charity begins at home. — No foreigners — No
Catalanis."
Somebody in the boxes addressed the frantic mob, but
nothing was heard of his speech, and a magistrate named
Read, attended by several Bow Street officers, came on the
stage, and produced the Riot Act ; it was no good — he
could not be heard, and yet, among the audience, were
many men of position, and even some of the Royal Dukes.
The second night the row was as bad, and it now was
becoming organized. People brought placards, which be-
gan mildly with " The Old Prices," and afterwards deve-
0. R RIOTS. 345
loped into all sorts of curious things. One was displayed
in the first circle of the boxes, and " TOWNSEND, 1 heading
a posse of constables, rushed into the pit to seize this
standard of sedition, together with the standard bearers.
A contest ensued of the hottest kind, staffs and sticks were
brandished in all directions ; and, after repeated onsets
and retreats, Townsend bore away a few of the standards,
but failed in capturing the standard bearers. He retired
with these imperfect trophies. But, as the oppositionists
kept the field of battle, they claimed the victory, which
they announced to the boxes and galleries with three
cheers. The standard bearers in the boxes were not
equally successful. They were but few in number, and
not formed into a compact body, and had, besides, their
rear and flanks open to the attack of the enemy. Some of
them we saw seized from behind, and dragged most rudely
out of the boxes, and treated, in every respect, with a rigour
certainly beyond the law. One of them, who had all the
appearance of a gentleman, was accompanied by a lady,
who screamed at seeing the rudeness he suffered, and then
flew out of the box to follow him. This vigorous activity
on the part of the constables made the placards disappear
for a time ; but they were soon after hoisted again in the
pit, and hailed with acclamations every time they were
observed."
On the third night the uproar was as great, many of the
lights had been blown out, and the place was a perfect
pandemonium ; when Kemble, in dress suit of black, and
chapeau bras, appeared, and obtained a momentary hearing.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said he, "permit me to assure
you that the proprietors are most desirous to consult your
wishes (loud and continued applause). I stand here, to
know what you want." If the noise and uproar could
have been greater than before, it was after this brusque,
1 A famous Bona Street Runner, and one in great favour with, and attend-
ance on, Royalty.
346 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
and unfortunate, speech. " You know what we want — the
question is insulting — Off ! off! off ! " For five minutes did
the great man face his foes, and then he retired. Then
some one in the boxes addressed the audience in a speech
calculated to inflame, and augment, the riot ; and Kemble
once more came forward with a most sensible exposition
as to the sum spent on the theatre, its appointments,
and company. He might as well have spoken to the
wind.
Night after night this scene of riot continued, varied
only by the different noises — of bugle and tin horns, rattles,
clubs, yelling, &c. — and the manifold placards, which differed
each night, and were now not disturbed. There were O. P.
medals struck — how many I know not — but there are
three of them in the British Museum. One, which is struck
both in white metal and bronze, has obv. John Bull riding
an Ass (Kemble), and flogging him with two whips — Old
and New Prices. Leg. FROM N TO JACK YOU
MUST GO ; in exergue —
JOHN BULL'S ADVICE TO YOU, IS GO.
'TIS BUT A STEP FROM N TO O.
Rev. a P within an O, surrounded by laurel, and musical
emblems. Leg. GOD SAVE THE KING ; in exergue.
May our rights and privileges remain un-
changed. Another has obv. Kemble's head with asses'
ears ; and the third, which was struck when Mr. Clifford
was being prosecuted for riot, has obv. Kemble's head with
a fool's cap on ; leg. OH ! MY HEAD AITCHES ; in exergue,
OBSTINACY.
Then, too, the Caricaturists took up the tale and worked
their wicked will upon the theme. I only reproduce one
■ — by Isaac Cruikshank (father to George) which was
published 28th September, 1809.
On the 22nd of September Kemble came forward and said,
inter alia, that the proprietors, anxious that their conduct
This is the house that Jack ■ built.
- V
OT-D PR ICE
CATaU
These are the Boxes painted so neat, with snug room and sofa all complete,
Where assignations are made by the Great that visit the House that Jack built.
1 John Kemble.
These are the Pigeon Holes over the Boxes, painted so neat, &c.
This is the Cat engaged to squall, to the poor in the Pigeon
Holes, &c.
This is John Bull with his Bugle Horn
Who hissed the Cat engaged to
squall, &c.
This is theThieltaker 1 shaven and shorn
That took up John Bull with his Bugle
Horn, &c.
This is the Manager, full of scorn, who Raised the Price to the People forlorn,
And directed the Thieftaker shaven and shorn to take up John Bull, &c.
1 Townsend — a very good likeness.
35© THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
should be fully looked into, were desirous of submitting
their books, and their accounts, to a committee of gentle-
men of unimpeachable integrity and honour, by whose
decision they would abide. Meanwhile the theatre would
be closed, and Madame Catalani, cancelling her engage-
ment, went to Ireland.
"THE DEPARTURE FOR IRELAND.
"When Grimalkin x the Spy, took a peep at the house,
And saw such confusion and strife,
He stole to the Green-room as soft as a Mouse,
And thus he address'd his dear wife :
' Mon Dieu ! don't sit purring, as if all was right,
Our measure of meanness is full,
We cannot stay here to be bark'd at all night,
I'd rather be toss'd by a Bull: "
The committee of gentlemen (of whom the well-known
John Julius Angerstein was one), published their report,
and balance sheet, which was publicly advertised on the
4th of October, and they agreed that the profit to the share-
holders on the capital, employed during the six years, was
6}i per cent, per annum, and that during that time they
had paid .£307,912. This, of course, would not satisfy the
mob, and on the re-opening of the theatre on the 4th
of October there was the same riot with its concomitant
din of cat calls, rattles, horns, trumpets, bells, &c. For a
few days the riot was not so bad, although it still con-
tinued ; but, on the 9th of October, it broke out again, and
the proprietors were compelled to take proceedings at Bow
Street against some of the worst offenders. This had the
effect, for a time, of stopping the horns, rattles, bells,
bugles, &c., but the rioters only exchanged one noise for
another, for now they imitated all the savage howlings of
wild beasts, and it seemed as if Pidcock's Menagerie had
been turned into the theatre.
This soon got too tame, and on the 20th of October they
1 Supposed to be Madame Catalani's husband. She died at Paris, oi
cholera, 12th of June, 1849.
O. P. RIOTS. 351
began fighting among themselves, and stripping the baize
off the seats. On the 24th, the proprietors issued a very
proper address to the people, showing that they were not
getting exorbitant profits, and, consequently, the prices
were not too high ; but it had no effect until the Grand
Jury found true bills against some of the rioters, when
there was a lull for a time, which might have been per-
manent, had not Brandon, the boxkeeper, charged a Mr.
Clifford with having created a commotion in the pit. After
examination, however, at Bow Street, he was released —
and then the mob had another grievance. Brandon must
be dismissed ; nor only so — on the 5th of November a mob
went to Bloomsbury Square, and broke the windows in
Kemble's house, after which, there was another lull ; then
on the 25th the turbulent spirits broke out again, because
it was the fiftieth night, or jubilee, of the riots. A few of
them were charged at Bow Street, but that did not stop
the riot till nearly the middle of December, when there
was another lull in the storm.
Both sides were getting weary of the strife ; and, on the
14th of December, a dinner was held at the Crown and
Anchor Tavern, Covent Garden, at which Kemble met
the Opposition, and a compromise was entered into, and
agreed upon, that the boxes were to remain the same price
- — 7s. — the pit was to revert to the old price of 3s. 6d. ; and
the galleries to remain as they were ; the private boxes,
at the end of the season, were to be again restored, and
appropriated to the accommodation of the public. The
rioters wanted Brandon to be discharged, and at night,
when he had to appear before his sweet masters, they
saluted him with volleys of oranges, and walking-sticks ;
and, the next night, it was announced that Brandon had
been sacrificed to public opinion, and had been dismissed. 1
One or two more apologies for small laches, and King Mob
produced a placard, " WE ARE SATISFIED."
1 He was afterwards reinstated.
352 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
But they were not ; they wanted the boxes reduced to
6s. ; and, having so long had license, the ferment was not
subdued at once. Take the 19th of December, for instance ;
Kemble was hissed, on his appearance on the stage, and
when he spoke the lines —
"The times are out of joint — Oh, cursed spite!
That ever I was born to set them right !" —
there was an universal shout of derision.
For the remainder of that season there was peace ; but,
when the new season opened, on September 10, 18 10, with
" The Beggar's Opera," and " Raising the Wind," it was
found that part of the treaty had not been carried out;
as, although the centre portion of the first tier, had been
converted into public boxes ; yet, on either side, were still
the objectionable private boxes, which, last year, had so
excited the prudishly virtuous indignation of a howling
mob. " No foreign sofas ! No Italian private boxes." In
vain did Kemble point out that, since the conclusion of
the treaty, an Act of Parliament had been passed for the
rebuilding of Drury Lane Theatre, which allowed the
proprietors to have as many private boxes as they might
find convenient ; and, consequently, would place Covent
Garden at a decided disadvantage; therefore, his proprietary
had hoped the public would condone the fact of their still
retaining a few private boxes. Oh, no ! The O. P. dance,
and the O. P. song, were immediately revived in all theii
glory, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the
old manner, minus the accompaniment of horns, rattles, or
placards ; but a quart bottle was thrown from the gallery
into the pit, and the management offered a reward of fifty
guineas for the conviction of the offender.
Next night there were two placards exposed : " O. P.
We have been imposed on ! " " O. P. The Treaty is
broken ; open War ! " The night after, the row got worse.
On the 14th of September it was as bad as last year—
END OF RIOTS. 353
watchmen's rattles were freely used, and mewing, barking,
groaning, braying, and whistling, made a hideous chorus.
The O. P. dance was changed to the " Contract " dance,
but still was danced to the tune of the 0. P. hornpipe.
The proprietors, after their bitter experience of the
previous year, felt that, however right they might be, they
could not contend against the force majeure of the mob ;
and, on the 16th of September, they pledged themselves
" that next season (when they will again have returned into
their possession) the eight annual boxes shall be given up,
and let to the public, at large, as nightly boxes." It was
no use ; that night the row was as bad as ever ; and, after
that performance, the theatre was closed to make the
alterations in the boxes, which were thrown open to the
public. The theatre was re-opened on the 24th of Sep-
tember, and the performances passed off without interrup-
tion. And so ended the eventful O. P. Riots.
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24
CHAPTER XLI.
•'The Pic-nic Club" — Its supporters — Tts entertainment — Its short life — Automata
and wool pictures— Almack's — Pidcock's Menagerie — "The Invisible Girl"
— VauxhaU — Sir Roger de Coverley — Price of admission, &c. — Ranelagh
Gardens.
THE theatre, although the main source of amuse-
ment, was not the only one. There were mas-
querades at the Pantheon, and a private theatrical
club, called the "Pic-nic Club," of which a Captain Caulneld
was the manager. Lady Buckinghamshire — foremost in
this, as in gaming — w^s one of its chief supporters ; and
it took its name from every one drawing lots, as to what
should be his, or her, share of the entertainment. This
club consisted of the leaders of fashion — the Prince of
Wales, Lords Cholmondeley, Valletort, Carlisle, Spooner,
Kirkcudbright, and Derby; and, of course, "old Q," the
Duke of Queensberry. Sir Lumley Skeffington, also, was
an ornament to the society ; whilst the lady members
besides Lady Albina Buckinghamshire, numbered in their
ranks, Lady Salisbury, Lady Jersey, and Mrs. Fitzherbert.
It was crime de la crime, and I find them chronicled in the
Morning Herald of March 16, 1802, thus: "The Pic-nic
Club met last night for the first time, in the Tottenham
Street Rooms. 1 The Entertainment commenced with a
1 Used also for the concerts of Ancient Music.
"THE PIC-NIC CLUB." 355
rologue by Colonel Greville, which was followed by a
French Proverb. An Act of the Bedlamites, a piece trans-
lated from the French, for the occasion, was then per-
formed. A French Proverb, and an Epilogue, succeeded ;
and the whole succeeded with a Pic-nic Supper, provided
from a tavern. 1 The company was not numerous, though
300 cards of invitation were issued. Madame Parisot, 2 dis-
approving of the dilettanti project, refused to take any part
in the performance. It being apprehended that the public
peace might be disturbed by this irregular assemblage, the
Bow Street officers held themselves in readiness to act,
during the whole of the evening, but happily there was no
occasion for their services."
The society afterwards moved to the Argyle Rooms,
then most highly proper, and fashionable. There were
several caricatures of this society from Gillray's pencil,
one of which (the next illustration) I reproduce.
Here Gillray has given, as a contrast, Lord Valletort
" the neatest of little beaux," and the smallest man in the
Club, and Lord Cholmondeley, who was very tall and stout.
Lady Buckinghamshire, whose embonpoint Gillray never
spared, plays the piano, and Lady Salisbury, who from her
love of hunting, was frequently satirized under the name of
Diana, performs on a hunting horn. The fashionable
papers of the day were, during the season, seldom without
a paragraph of this society, but it did not last long, and its
death is recorded in the Times, February 28, 1803 : "The
Pic-nic Society is at an end. Many of its members, at a
late meeting, wished to continue the Theatrical amuse-
ments, but no person would undertake the management of
them."
In 1 801, there were to be seen in Spring Gardens,
Maillardet's Automata, where a wooden lady performed on
1 This marks, as much as anything, the manners of the times. Fancy the
tipper ten, now-a-days, ordering their supper from a tavern 1
2 The famous ballet-dancer of that time.
ALMACK'S. 357
the piano ; also Miss Linwood's Exhibition of Needlework,
first at the Hanover Square Rooms, and afterwards at
Saville House, Leicester Square, where were exhibited
marvels of crewel work. There are one or two of her
pictures in the South Kensington Museum ; but her
:t Salvator Mundi," after Carlo Dolci, for which she refused
3,030 guineas, she bequeathed to the Queen. She had a
rival, whose name, however, has not been so well per-
petuated — vide the Morning Post, June 4, 1800: "The
wool pictures, so much talked of among the connoisseurs,
are certainly executed with very great taste. Miss Thomp-
son has brought her art to very great perfection," &c.
These were shown in Old Bond Street.
Then, for the extremely select, during the season, was
Almack's r which, then, was not quite so exclusive as after-
wards. Morning Herald, April 27, 1802 : " Almack's, King
Street, St. James' Square. James and William Willis most
respectfully inform the Nobility and Gentry, the first
Subscription Ball will be on Thursday, the 29th instant,
under the patronage of her Grace the Duchess of Devon-
shire, the Marchioness of Townshend, and the Countess of
Westmoreland. Tickets One Guinea each." The same
newspaper has also an advertisement of a new Panorama
of Paris. This was by a M. de Maria ; and there was
also another, " Barker's Panorama," in Leicester Square.
Those who liked such exhibitions could see the Phantas-
magoria, at the Lyceum Theatre, where the Magic Lantern
was exhibited with novel effects, such as moving eyes and
limbs, but they had not yet attained the height of " dis-
solving views." Pidcock's Menagerie 2 was the only sub-
1 Otherwise Willis's Rooms.
2 This Collection was sold in March, 1810 — vide Morning Fost, March 22,
1S10 : " The sale at Pidcock's, Exeter 'Change, has been well attended. Tha
skeleton of the famous elephant was put up at 20 guineas, and knocked down
at 55. The skeleton of the spermaceti whale, sixty-six feet long, which formerly
appeared in Rackstraw's Museum, sold for nine guineas. Many scarce and
beautiful birds sold at low prices, and the whole collection, consisting of 205
lots, produced about £140."
358 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
stitute they then had for our " Zoo," and was situate
in Exeter 'Change. It is thus described in a guide to
London, 1802 : "A collection of divers beasts and birds,
only exceeded in rarity by those of the Royal Menagerie,
in the Tower."
The " Invisible Girl" was exhibited in Leicester Square,
and was " a globe of glass suspended by a ribbon, under
which four tubes are adapted, but they do not communicate
therewith, and are likewise insulated ; by these, conversa-
tion is carried on with an invisible lady, who answers every
question, breathes on you, and tells every visitor whatever
they hold in their hands, in an instant. This exhibition is
open from ten o'clock until six. Price of admittance, tivo
shillings and sixpence?
There were two famous out-door places of amusement,
now no more, namely, Vauxhall, and Ranelagh. Vauxhall,
was formerly called Foxhall, or Spring Garden, and is thus
described in No. 383 of the Spectator: "We were now
arrived at Spring Garden, which is excellently pleasant at
this time of the year. When I considered the fragrancy of
the walks and bowers, with the choir of birds that sung
upon the trees, and the loose tribe of people that walked
under their shades, I could not but look upon the place
as a kind of Mahometan paradise. Sir Roger told me it
put him in mind of a little coppice by his house in the
country, which his chaplain used to call an aviary of
nightingales. ' You must understand,' says the knight,
• that there is nothing in the world that pleases a man in
love, so much as your nightingale. Ah, Mr. Spectator, the
many moonlight nights that I have walked by myself, and
thought on the widow by the music of the nightingale ! '
He, here, fetched a deep sigh, and was falling into a fit of
musing, when a mask, who came behind him, gave him a
gentle tap upon the shoulder, and asked him if he would
drink a bottle of mead with her ? But the knight being
startled at so unexpected a familiarity, and displeased to
VA UXHALL.
359
be interrupted in his thoughts of the widow, told her, ' she
was a wanton baggage ; ' and bid her go about her
business."
These gardens opened about the middle of May, and
closed about the end of August ; they were only open
three days a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday ; and
VAUXHALL GARDENS — 1808-9.
the price of admission was 3s. 6d., the concert commencing
at eight, the attendance averaging from 5> 000 to I5> 00a
At the end of the first part of the concert, about 10 p.m.,
a curtain was drawn up, and disclosed " a view of a bridge,
a water mill, and a cascade ; while coaches, waggons,
soldiers, and other figures were exhibited as crossing that
J
60 THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
bridge." The orchestra, which I reproduce, was a blaze of
light, and, altogether, in the gardens, at that time, were
37,000 lamps. Occasionally, a display of fireworks took
place ; whilst, to add to the attractions of the gardens, there
were recesses, and alcoves, provided, where suppers, and
refreshment, could be procured.
Ranelagh Gardens were in Chelsea, about where the
Barracks now stand. The amusements provided were
almost identical with Vauxhall, but, although considered a
place of summer resort, its season commenced in February,
and closed at the end of May, or the middle of June. The
general price of admission was half a crown ; but, on a
masquerade night, it rose to 10s. 6d. or £1 is., but that
included supper and wine. There were particular fete
nights, notably of the Pic-nic Society, when the price of
admission varied from 5s. to 7s. 6d.
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CHAPTER XLII.
Music — Composers of the time — Mrs. Billington— Her salaries — Mdlle. Mara —
Mrs. Crouch — Incledon — Braham — Chamber music — Musical societies —
Commemoration of Dr. Arne — Competition of pipers — Dancing — The Valse.
THESE open-air concerts showed that there was a
natural taste for music in the English character,
and when we look at the composers who then
flourished, and at the singers who expounded their works,
we must own that the dawn of the century could fairly hold
its own with its latter days. Dr. Arnold, Dr. Callcott
(whose glees are still sung in many a home), Shield, Stevens,
and Clementi, were among the composers ; and, for singers
— was there not Mrs. Billington, with her extraordinarily
sweet voice, her forcible expression, and flexible execution ?
Gillray here has kept an excellent likeness of our prima
donna, and, probably, did not much exaggerate her pro-
portions. She was paid remarkably well, as most divas
are, and, if the satirical prints, and newspaper reports of
the time, do not belie her, she was as voracious after
" Refreshers " as a modern Queen's Counsel, or she could
not appear.
Here we see Mrs. Billington utterly prostrate, until re-
vived by golden pills, of which Sheridan is bringing a good
supply. We can see what she earned from a newspaper
cutting, or two.
MRS.
BILLINGTON, AS CLARA, SINGING A BRAVURA (1802).
VOCALISTS.
363
Morning Post, June 12, 1800 : " Mrs. Billington is
engaged for the King's Theatre next season, and she is
to have two thousand guineas."
Morning Post, July 15, 1801 : "Mrs. Billington after
humming all the Theatres, has, at last, fixed on the hive in
Covent Garden, where she will, no doubt, make much buzz
and honey next season. Articles were signed between her
and Mr. Harris yesterday. This we can state as a. positive
THEATRICAL DOCTORS RECOVERING CLARA'S NOTES.
fact. It is with much pleasure we find she has resolved to
return to the English stage ; she will revive our Operas, of
late fallen into disrepute, and bring music again into fashion.
The terms are very liberal, but not more so than we ex-
pected so extraordinary, so charming a singer, to obtain.
She is to have three thousand guineas, and a free benefit,
besides fifty guineas per night at the oratorios ; this alto-
gether will amount to upwards of four thousand pounds for
the season, and this season is not to extend beyond half a
year."
VOCALISTS. 365
Morning Herald, April 2, 1802: "Mrs. Billington will
net this single season, by her professional abilities, no less
than eleven thousand pounds ! "
Mdlle. Mara, too, whose rich, sweet voice was so often
heard in oratorio, got her fifty guineas a night at Drury
Lane, in the year 1800, so that we see that in those old
days " singing women " were well paid. Mrs. Crouch, that
sweet songstress, and rival of the Billington, although she
had quitted the etage through an unfortunate accident,
which injured her voice, died in this decade, on the 2nd
of October, 1805. There were many more of respectable
calibre, but none with the exception of Storace, to compare
with the three named.
Among male voices Incledon, and Braham, were pre-
eminent. Incledon had a beautifully rich voice, the suc-
cessful cultivation of which was doubtless owing to his
early training, under the celebrated William Jackson, at
Exeter Cathedral.
Many of us now living can remember having heard John
Braham sing, although, of course, only in his decadence.
His was a wonderfully successful musical career, not only
here, but on the Continent ; but then he had a most rare
voice, and one of such extensive range, that he could sing
airs written for Mdlle. Mara.
No other male singers of this period are worthy of note,
nor do we find many good, or lasting, names among the
instrumentalists. Wesley on the organ, Clementi and
' Cramer en the pianoforte, F. Cramer on the violin, about
exhaust the list. But the people were musical at heart
and there is no greater fallacy than to think the English
were ever otherwise. Small and select parties would meet
of an evening, and perform concerted chamber music.
The illustration by Gillray is slightly caricatured, but it
gives a very fair view of such a domestic scene.
Or, we might take another drawing-room scene, in
3 66
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
which only two are actors, and are executing a duet to a
harp accompaniment.
That good, and what we term severe, music was then
appreciated, we have evidence in the existence of the
"Academy of Ancient Music," which was held at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, Covent Garden — an institution
which began in Queen Anne's reign, under the conduct of
the celebrated musician, Dr. John Christopher Pepsuch ;
and, till 1737, no ladies were admitted in the audience. In
HARMONY BEFORE MATRIMONY
another twenty years it assumed more of the form of a
public concert ; and, in 1786, the society migrated to Free-
mason's Hall, where, in 1788, it was resolved to admit
ladies as subscribers. The subscription, which, at its com-
mencement, was only half a guinea, rose, by degrees, to
five guineas, and then settled down to four, which covered
a season of six, or eight, concerts.
There was a split in the musical camp, and a branch of
the parent society seceded, and established themselves at
MUSIC. 367
the Opera House, in the Haymarket, under the title of
"The Concert of Ancient Music," or "King's Concerts."
They afterwards moved to the Hanover Square Rooms,
The concerts commenced in February, and continued till
the end of May. Six directors, chosen from the nobility,
selected, in turn, the pieces for each concert — at which all
modern music was utterly excluded, and nothing could be
played unless twenty-five years old. So strictly was this
carried out, that if the director for the night introduced
anything more modern, he was (and it was done more
than once) fined in a very considerable sum. There were
also popular concerts held at the Hanover Square rooms,
during the season, to which the admission was generally
half a guinea.
And yet, with all this reverence for old music, it was
found impossible to make a success of a "Commemora-
tion of Dr. Arne," which took place at Ranelagh on June
10, 1802 ; the expenses being £100, and the actual receipts
for the night only £26 ! Well may the newspaper editor
end the paragraph with "Poor Thomas Arne ! "
In contradistinction to this, a Competition of Pipers,
which was annual, seems to have been a great success.
The Highland Society of London gave the prizes, three in
number: 1st, a handsome set of pipes with a silver plate,
and forty merks Scots ; 2nd and 3rd, thirty merks, and it
was decided at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, before an
enthusiastic audience.
The principal dance of this period was the country
dance ; but the valse had already been introduced, and
rapidly came into favour, although it was held to be fast,
and rather indecent, and was danced in a somewhat
different style to what it is nowadays.
CHAPTER XLIII.
Painting— "The Royal Academy of Art " — The principal private Picture Galleries
— Benjamin West — James Barry — Fuseli — Opie — Minor artists — Turner— Sir
Thomas Laurence — Morland — Sale of his pictures — Sculptors — Engravers —
Boydell — "The Exhibition of Paintings in Water Colours" — Its members —
"The Associated Artists in Water Colours" — Literature — List of literary
persons of the decade — Five-volume novels — Decyphering papyri — Major
Ouseiey's Oriental Library — The Pope and the Lord's Prayer — The Alfred Club.
PAINTING was not at its highest at this time, and
yet there were many buyers, even for the pictures
then painted. The Royal Academy of Art (founded
in 1765, when it received its Charter, on the 26th of
January, as the Incorporated Society of British Artists, a
name afterwards changed in 1768) was then located at
Somerset House, where life classes were held, and instruc-
tion given, as shown in the illustration on the next page.
But, as yet, there was no National Gallery of Paintings,
that was reserved till a latter period, when Government
bought the collection of John Julius Angerstein, Esq., in
1824. This formed the nucleus of our magnificent collec-
tion. His gallery, at his house in Pall Mall, had long held
high rank among the private picture collectors, he having
two Murillos, for which he paid 3,500 guineas. The Duke
of Bridgewater's, the Marquis of Lansdowne's, the two, or
rather three, Hopes', Lord Radstock's, the Duke of
Northumberland's, the Duke of Devonshire's, and the
25
370
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
Miniatures at Strawberry Hill, were all magnificent collec-
tions ; whilst Mr. Charles Townley, at his residence in
Park Lane, had the finest collection of antique statues
and busts, &c, in the world. These are now in the British
Museum.
The principal painters of this decade, although numerous,
do not represent a school likely to be perpetuated, al-
though, as we read them, they are well known ; many are
respectable, two or three are famous. First must come
Benjamin West, President of the Royal Academy, who
DRAWING FROM LIFE AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY — iSoS.
then lived in Newman Street : and, indeed, if we look at
the addresses of these old painters, we find them very
humble compared with the palatial habitations of some of
our modern painters. As a Master, West will never live,
he was a respectable painter, but even in his own time, was
not over belauded.
There was James Barry, who was once professor of
painting to the Academy, but was deposed, en plein cour,
because he could, or would, not confine his lectures to their
proper subjects, besides being coarse and libellous. This
PAINTERS. 371
made him hypochondriac, and he, besides, became poor —
a position somewhat alleviated by an annuity which was
subscribed for him. He died in 1806. His dwelling was
in Castle Street, Oxford Street.
Henry Fuseli lived in Queen Anne Street, East. His
pictures were noted for the extravagance of their concep-
tion, and their anatomy ; he delighted in painting the
horrible, and supernatural, and was, perhaps, seen at his
best in his Milton Gallery, which was opened in 1798, and
closed July 19, 1800.
John Opie made a name, which still lives among col-
lectors, but he never will rank as an Art Master. He
owed much of his celebrity to Dr. Wolcott (Peter Pindar),
who, an artist himself, tried to bring his protegt into
notoriety. He lived in Berner's Street, Oxford Street, and
died in 1807.
De Loutherbourg and his imitator, Sir Francis Bourgeois,
are hardly worthy of a notice. The latter, certainly, left a
collection of pictures to Dulwich Gallery, with £10,000 to
keep them in preservation ; £2,000 for the repair of the
gallery, and a complimentary bequest of £1,000 to the
Masters and Fellows of Dulwich College.
The genius of the age was, undoubtedly, Joseph Mallord
William Turner, who ranks as one of our greatest land-
scape painters. Like all other artists, he had his periods
of excellence ; but, when at his best, he was unapproach-
able. Thoroughly appreciated in this decade, he died not
so long ago, December 19, 185 1.
From Turner to James Northcote is a long step, but
they were on the same footing as Royal Academicians.
He tried to be, as some of our modern R.A.'s do, an
universal genius ; but the verdict of posterity has not
endorsed his pretensions. He lived then in Argyll Street,
and did not die until July 13, 1831.
Another Academician, Thomas Stothard, deserves
notice, and will be most remembered for his " Canterbury
372 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Pilgrims ; " but his style was mannered, and did he pakit
now, he, probably, would not get a living.
Sir Thomas Lawrence did not then occupy the position
he afterwards filled, of President of the Royal Academy ;
but he had the rare honour of being made a "Supplemental
Associate ; " a rank conferred, because his youth would
not entitle him to ask for the ordinary Associateship. He
was then living modestly in Greek Street, Soho, and did
not charge much for his pictures. In 1802 he only got
thirty guineas for a three-quarter size, and sixty guineas
for a half-length portrait. In 1806, he obtained fifty
guineas for three-quarter, and whole length, two hundred
guineas. 1808 saw his prices still go higher, similar sizes
eighty and three hundred guineas ; and in 1810, he charged
one hundred guineas for a head, and four hundred guineas
for a full length. Handsome prices, yet poor pay com-
pared to what our pet artists now get.
Robert Smirke, R.A., then living in Charlotte Street,
was a painter of English genre pictures, and was very fond
of painting scenes from Don Quixote. Sir David Wilkie,
however, painted genre subjects inimitably, and stood
pre-eminent in this branch of art, at the period of which
I write.
! Sir William Beechcy was a respectable portrait painter,
and filled that office to Her Majesty Queen Charlotte, but
he was not a Sir Joshua. He then lived at Great George
Street, Hanover Square ; but he died at Hampstead, in
1839, at a good old age of over eighty. John Hoppner,
R.A., was another portrait painter of the time, as was also
Sir Martin Archer Shee, President R.A., then living in
Cavendish Square.
Westall, as being an Academician, deserves a passing
notice, and Reinagle, too ; but neither have made a name
that will live. One minor painter deserves to be men-
tioned, Henry Bone, the enamel painter, whose collection
of his own works (valued at £10,000) was offered to the
PAINTERS.
373
nation for ,£4,000, refused, and sold under the hammer for
£2,000. John Singleton Copley was still alive, as was
also Angelica Kauffman, nor must the name of Sir George
Howland Beaumont be omitted ; but he was more of an
amateur than professional artist.
That erratic genius, George Morland, died in 1806,
at the early age of forty-two. Fecund in producing
pictures as he was, he never could have painted a tithe
CONNOISSEURS EXAMINING A COLLECTION OF GEORGE MORLAND.
part of the genuine Morlands that have been before the
public, and the secret of these forgeries probably lies in
the fact, that his pictures, painted from such familiar
models, as sheep and pigs, were so easily imitated. After
his death a collection of his pictures was exhibited, and
Gillray gave a very graphic sketch of it. The connoisseurs
were well known. The old gentleman in the foreground
looking through his reversed spectacles i* Captain Baillie.
374 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Behind him, and using a spy glass, is Caleb Whiteford, a
friend of Garrick. The tall stout man, nearest the wall, is
said to be a Mr. Mitchell, a banker ; but although I have
carefully examined the ten years' lists of bankers, I cannot
find his name mentioned as a partner in any firm. And, I
believe, the figure without a hat, is generally considered to
be Christie the Auctioneer.
The foregoing is a tolerably correct list of the most
eminent artists of the commencement of the century,
many names of minor note, being of necessity, left out.
In sculptors, this decade was rich. The veteran Nolle-
kens still worked, and continued to work, till his eighty-
second year, and was then living in Mortimer Street. In
Newman Street lived Thomas Banks, R.A., whose colossal
statue of Achilles bewailing the loss of Briseis, is now in
the hall of the British Institution. Sir Francis Chantrey,
R.A., was then a young, and rising, sculptor, as yet but
little known. John Flaxman, R.A., was then in his zenith,
being made professor of sculpture to the Royal Academy in
1 8 10. His successor, Sir Richard Westmacott, was made
A.R.A., in 1805 ; and these names alone form an era of
glyptic art unparalleled in English history.
Engravers, too, furnish a list of well-known names,
among whom, for delicacy of work, Francis Bartolozzi
probably stands pre-eminent, his engravings challenging
competition at the present day. There were also Thomas
Holloway, and William Sharp ; but, perhaps, the most
popular names — none of whom will ever rank as first-class
engravers — are Gillray, Rowlandson, and Isaac and George
Cruikshank. Their names were on every lip, and their
works the theme of every tongue. Nor must we forget
John Boydell, who was Alderman and Lord Mayor of the
City of London. Not only an engraver by profession, he
encouraged art, by commissioning the first artists of the
day to paint pictures, which he afterwards had engraved,
notably his magnificent Shakespeare, than which there is
AUTHORS. 375
no more sumptuous English edition. On this he spent no
less than ^"350,000, and by this expenditure of capital, and
bad trade, owing to the war with France, and the stoppage
of commercial relations with the Continent, he fell into
debt, and was obliged to get an Act of Parliament passed
to enable him to get rid of the original pictures and plates,
of his Shakespeare Gallery, by a lottery, which was drawn
in 1804.
Besides the Shakespeare Gallery in Pall Mall, and
Alderman Boydell's Gallery in Cheapside, there were
several dealers' collections — the chief of which was " The
European Museum," Charles Street, St. James's Square.
Here pictures, some of them good, were on sale on com-
mission, and, to prevent its being merely a lounge, a
shilling was charged for admission.
Not to be forgotten are the two Water Colour Societies
— " The Exhibition of Paintings in Water Colours," estab-
lished in 1804, an d located in 1808 in Bond Street.
Reinagle was treasurer, and its members were Messrs.
G. Barrett, J. J. Chalon, J. Christall, W. S. Gilpin, W.
Havell, T. Heaphy, J. Holworthy, F. Nicholson, N.
Pocock, W. H. Pyne, S. Rigaud, S. Shelley, J. Smith,
J. Varley, C. Varley, and W. F. Wells. The associate
members were Miss Byrne, and Messrs. J. A. Atkinson,
W. Delamotte, P. S. Munn, A. Pugin, F. Stevens, and
W. Turner.
The other society was started in 1808 or 1809, under
the title of " The Associated Artists in Water Colours,"
and their first exhibition was held at 20, Lower Brook
Street, Grosvenor Square, where a picture gallery already
existed.
It is a thankless task to attempt to give a list of names
of literary note, of this epoch, because, as in the case of
foregoing lists, it is impossible to avoid giving some critic
occasion to slay — an omitted name, being a heinous sin,
outweighing all the patient hard work of research and
376
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
reading, necessary for the writing of a book like this,
Still an attempt thereat is bound to be made :
Austen, Jane.
Baillie, Joanna.
Barbauld, Mrs.
Beckford, Beter.
Beckford, William.
Bentham, Jeremy.
Bloomfield, Robert.
Brougham, Henry.
Byron, Lord.
Campbell, Thomas.
Canning, George.
Chapone, Mrs.
Coleridge, S. T.
Crabbe, George.
Cobbett, William.
Cumberland, Richard.
Cunningham, Allan.
D'lsraeli, Isaac.
De Quincey, Thomas.
Dibdin, T. R, D.D.
Edgeworth, Miss.
Godwin, William.
Hazlitt, William.
Heber, Bishop.
Ilemans, Mrs.
Hogg, James.
Hook, Theodore.
Holcroft, Thomas.
Inchbald, Mrs.
Keats, John.
Lewis, M. G. (Monk).
Lingard, John.
Lamb, Charles.
Landor, W. S.
London, John.
Lysons, Daniel.
Maturin, Charles Robert.
Montgomery, James.
Malthus, Rev. T. R.
Mill, James.
Moore, Thomas.
More, Hannah.
Morgan, Lady.
Opie, Mrs.
Borter Miss A. M.
Borter, Miss Jane.
Rogers, Samuel.
Roscoe, W.
Shelley, B. B.
Scott, Sir W.
Southey, Robert.
Smith, Sydney.
Tooke, John Home.
Trimmer, Mrs.
Turner, Sharon.
Wilberforce, W.
Wollstonecroft, Mary.
Wordsworth, W.
This was an age of dear books, and not of literature for
the million. We are apt to think that three volumes for
a novel is rather too much — when it can be, and is,
afterwards, published comfortably in one ; but, in those
days, novels ran to four or five volumes, as may be seen
by only taking one advertisement. Morning Post, July 18,
1805: "Family Annals; a Domestic Tale, in 5 Vols.
25s. by Mrs. Hunter of Norwich. The Demon of Sicily;
PAPYRI. 377
a Romance. 4 Vols., 20s. Friar Hildargo ; a Romance. 5
Vols., 25s."
Mudie's Library was not, but Hookham's, and Colburn's
were in existence, and Ebers' started in 1809.
It was a great age for the collection of first editions,
unique copies, and large paper books ; and, thanks to the
industry, and good taste of this era, priceless treasures have
been preserved to us, which might otherwise have been
lost. It was a peculiarly classical age, the excavations at
Pompeii, and Herculaneum, and the systematic spoliation
of Etruscan tombs then going on, whetted men's appetites,
and even the Prince of Wales helped to contribute towards
the stock of classical lore : " The business of unrolling the
Herculaneum MSS. at Portici, under the direction of M.
Hayter, and at the expense of His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, proceeds with success and rapidity. One
hundred and thirty MSS. have already been opened, or are
unfolding, and M. Hayter hopes to be able to decypher
the six hundred, which still remains in the museum.
Eleven young persons are constantly employed in un-
rolling the MSS., and two more, in copying or drawing
them. M. Hayter expects to find a Menander entire, an
Ennius, and a Polybius," &c. I give this extract merely to
show the classical taste of the time.
Attention was also being aroused to Oriental literature,
and the two Ouseley's gave a great impetus to its study.
Major Ouseley brought over from Bengal, in 1805, 15,000
volumes of Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit MSS., besides
a vast museum of Oriental curiosities. The Major had
peculiar facilities, and opportunities, for forming his collec-
tion, as he was for some time aide de camp to the Nawab of
Oude. His brother, Sir William, also possessed a choice
library of some 800 Arabic, Persian, and Turkish MSS.
Not only here, but on the Continent, philology was
looking up, for we find that the Pope, whilst in Paris, at
the Coronation of Napoleon, visited the National Printing
378
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Office, and, as he passed along the galleries, 150 presses
furnished him with a sheet each, upon which was printed
the Lord's Prayer in a different language or dialect. Asia
furnished 46; Europe, 75 ; Africa, 12 ; America, 17.
In fact, literature was beginning to be aggressive, and,
actually, to ask for a club of its own ; and in 1808 the
Alfred Club took premises in Albemarle Street, and con-
tinued its existence till 1855, when it was merged in the
Oriental. It was extremely dull, and was christened by
the wicked wits, the Half read ; and Lord Alvanley was a
member until the seventeenth Bishop saw proposed, and
then he gave up.
wjj «£i t^g v£j b&a «w
CHAPTER XLIV.
The Press — Morning Post and Times — Duty on newspapers— Rise in price — The
publication of circulation to procure advertisements — Paper warfare between
the Times and the Morning Post — The British Museum— Its collection, and
bad arrangement — Obstacles to visitors— Rules relaxed — The Lever Museum
— Its sale by lottery — Anatomical Museums of the two Hunters.
OF the London Daily papers that were then exist-
ing, but two are now alive — the Morning Post
(the Doyen of the daily press) and the Times.
They were heavily taxed, in 1800, with a 3d. stamp per
copy. In July, 1S04, this was made 3^d. ; pamphlets,
half-sheet, *4d. ; whole sheet, id. ; an Almanac had to
have a shilling stamp ; and a perpetual Calendar, one of
1 os. And this oppressive stamp, with a comparatively
limited circulation, meant death to a newspaper. In 1809,
the Morning Post, and other papers, boldly went in for a
halfpenny rise, and gave its reasons — May 20 : " Since the
settlement with Government took place, which fixed the
price at sixpence, every article necessary for the composi-
sition of a Newspaper, has increased in price to an unpre-
cedented extent. Paper has risen upwards of fifty per
cent. ; Types upwards of eighty per cent. ; Printing Ink
thirty-five per cent. ; Journeymen's wages ten per cent.,
and everything else in the same proportion. It is therefore
unnecessary for us to observe, that the advance of One
Halfpenny per Paper will go but a short way towards
3 So THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
placing the Proprietors in the same situation, in respect to
profits allowed, in which they were left by the settlement of
1797; and, under all these considerations, the Public, we
trust, will not deem us unreasonable in availing ourselves
of the parliamentary provision that has just been made in
favour of all Newspapers. The Bill will receive the Royal
Assent this day, and on Monday, the Price of the Morning
Post, in common with that of other Newspapers^ will be
Sixpence Halfpenny."
Then, as now, the backbone of a Newspaper was its
advertisements, and then also, did each Newspaper laud
itself as being the best advertising medium, owing to its
superior circulation. We, who are accustomed to see huge
posters setting forth sworn affidavits that the daily circula-
tion of some London newspapers amounts to some quarter
of a million if not more, will feel some surprise when we learn
that the Morning Post, of June 10, 1800, the then leading
paper, published a sworn return (and exulted over their
number and success) of 10,807 newspapers printed in the
week June 2-7, or a daily average of 1,800 copies.
The World, at one time a rival, had published its circula-
tion when it reached 1,500 daily, and thus laid claim to be
considered a good advertising medium ; and this was when
newspapers were selling at 3d. each. In 1800 they were
6d. each, and the extra tax had diminished the circulation
of the Morning Post during the previous summer by one-
third, which fall they claim to have recovered, and to have
raised their circulation in five years from 400 to 1,800
daily. In June, 1796, the Times published its number;
and again in 1798, when it confessed to a fall of 1,400 in
its daily sale.
In 1806 there was a very pretty little war as to the
circulation of rival newspapers.
The Times opened the ball on the 15 th of November by
inserting a paragraph, " Under the Clock " : " 33f We are
under the necessity of requesting our Correspondents and
"THE TIMES" AND "THE POST." 381
Advertisers not to be late in their communications, if intended
for the next day's publication ; as the extraordinary Sale of
THE TIMES, which is decidedly superior to that of every
otJier Morning Paper, compels us to go to press at a very early
hour."
The Morning Post, November 17th (which number is
unfortunately missing in the British Museum file), chal-
lenged the statement — to which the Times replied on the
iSth : " This declaration of our Sale, a Morning Paper of
yesterday has thought proper to contradict, and boldly
claims the superiority. We have only to say on the
subject, that, if the Paper will give an attested account of
its daily Sale for the last two Months, we will willingly
publish it."
And now the strife was waxing hot, for the Morning
Post on the 21st of November wrote : "We admit the sale
of his Paper may, for the present, be many hundreds beyond
any other, except the Morning Post, the decided supe-
riority of which, we trust, he will no longer affect to dispute.
. . . We pledge ourselves to Prove that the regular sale of
the Morning Post is little short of a thousand per day
superior to that of his paper."
Of course the Times, of the 22nd of November, calls this
a preposterous boast, and wishes statistics for the last two
months.
Thus goaded, the Morning Post, of the 24th of November,
issued affidavits from its printers and publisher, that its
circulation, even at that dead season, was upwards of 4,000
daily, and that during the sitting of Parliament it reached,
and exceeded 5,000, the editor remarking : " What is meant
by regular Sale, is the Number which is daily served to
SUBSCRIBERS. ... If those who, by the Low Expedient
of selling their Papers by the noisy nuisance of Horn Boys,
take into their accounts the extra Papers so sold, it is not
for us to follow so unworthy an example ; to such means
the MORNING Post never has recourse."
382 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
The Times, November 25 th, has the last of this wordy
warfare, declaring that its circulation sometimes reached
7,000 or 8,000 a day: and I should not have introduced
this episode, had it not have given such a perfect insight
into the working of the press of that date, which would
have been unobtainable but for this quarrel.
The British Museum then stood where now it does, only
Montague House, in which its treasures were then en-
shrined, was totally unfitted for their reception — for instance,
a collection of Egyptian antiquities were kept in two sheds
in the courtyard. The whole of the antiquities, and rarities,
were in sad want of arrangement, and classification, and as
many impediments, as possible, were placed in the way of
visitors.
Take what it was like in 1802: "Persons who are
desirous of seeing the Museum, must enter their name
and address, and the time at which they wish to see it, in
a book kept by the porter, and, upon calling again on a
future day, they will be supplied with printed tickets, free
of expense, as all fees are positively prohibited. The tickets
only serve for the particular day and hour specified ; and, if
not called for the day before, are forfeited.
" The Museum is kept open every day in the week,
except Saturday, and the weeks which follow Christmas
day, Easter, and Whitsunday. The hours are from nine
till three, except on Monday and Friday, during the
months of May, June, July, and August, when the hours
are only from four till eight in the afternoon.
" The spectators are allowed three hours for viewing the
whole — that is, an hour for each of the three departments.
One hour for the Manuscripts and Medals ; one for the
natural and artificial productions, and one for the printed
books. Catalogues are deposited in each room, but no book
must be taken down except by the officer attending, who
will also restore it to its place. Children are not admitted.
" Literary characters, or any person who wishes to make
MUSEUMS. 383
use of the Museum for purposes of study and reference,
may obtain permission, by applying to the trustees, or the
standing committee. A room is appointed for their ac-
commodation, in which, during the regular hours, they may
have the use of any manuscript or printed book, subject to
certain regulations."
On the 8th of June, 1804, the Trustees somewhat modi-
fied the arrangements, and instead of visitors having to call
twice about their tickets, before their visit, they might be
admitted the day of application (Monday, Wednesday, or
Friday only) subject to the following rule :
- "Five Companies, of not more than 15 persons each, may
be admitted in the course of the day ; namely, one at each
of the hours of 10, II, 12, 1, and 2. At each of these hours
the directing officer in waiting shall examine the entries
in the book ; and if none of the persons inscribed be excep-
tionable, he shall consign them to the attendant, whose
turn it will be to conduct the companies through the
House.
" Should more than fifteen persons inscribe their names,
for a given hour, the supernumeraries will be desired to
wait, or return at the next hour, when they will be admitted
preferably to other applicants."
The Museum Gardens were a great attraction, and were
much visited. So much, indeed, were they thought of, that,
in an advertisement of a house to let, it is stated, as a
great recommendation that it commands " a view of the
Museum Gardens, and a part of Hampstead Heath."
There were other museums, notably the Leverian
Museum, the collection of Sir Ashton Lever, of Alkington,
near Manchester, a virtuoso of the first water. He spent
very large sums on this collection, which consisted mainly
of specimens of natural history (over 5,000 stuffed birds),
fossils, shells, corals, a few antiquities, and the usual
country museums' quota of South Sea Island weapons, and
dresses. There was much rubbish, as we should term it —
384 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
according to the Gentleman 's Magazine of May, 1773
(p. 200), like a double-headed calf, a pig with eight legs,
two tails, one backbone, and one head. Some pictures of
birds in straw very natural, a basket of paper flowers, a
head of his present Majesty, cut in Cannel Coal ; a drawing
of Indian ink of a head of a late Duke of Bridgwater,
&c, &c.
The collection had, of course, much increased, when in
1785, Sir Ashton Lever, shortly before his death, disposed
of it by lottery. The winner, Mr. Parkinson, built " a
very elegant and well-disposed structure for its reception,
about a hundred yards from the foot of Blackfriars Bridge,
on the Surrey side." l The admission was one shilling.
Presumably it did not pay, for it was sold by auction in
1806. The sale lasted sixty-five days. The number of
lots being 7,879, and the catalogue occupying 410 octavo
pages. Then there were the museums of the two Hunters —
that of Dr. William Hunter, F.S.A., &c. In the period of
which I treat, his anatomical specimens, coins, &c, were
exhibited at the Theatre of Anatomy, in Great Windmill
Street, whence, according to his will, they were after a
certain time transferred to the University of Glasgow,
where they now are. His brother John, who was also a
F.R.S., had a grand collection of anatomical preparations,
which was purchased by the Government for ;£i 5,000, and
deposited, //'
MRS. CLARKES LEVEE. 1
by military men, but by the clergy ; and it was alleged that
applications had been made through her both for a bishopric,
and a deanery, and that she had procured for Dr. O'Meara,
the privilege of preaching before Royalty. But it was
chiefly in the sale of army commissions that she dealt, thus
causing young officers to be promoted " over the heads "
1 Mrs. Clarke is saying :
" Ye Captains and ye Colonels, ye parsons wanting place,
Advice I'll give you gratis, and think upon your case,
If there's any possibility, for you I'll raise the dust,
But then you must excuse me, if I serve myself the first.
-13°
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
of veterans. Certainly her scale of prices, compared with
those of the regulation, were very tempting, resulting in a
great saving to the recipient of the commission.
Mrs. Clarke's Price. Regulation Price.
A Majority £9°° ^2,600
A Captaincy 700 1,500
A Lieutenancy 400 550
An Ensigncy 200 400
I have no wish to go into the minute details of this
MILITARY LEAP FROG ; OR, HINTS TO YOUNG GENTLEMEN.
scandal, but on January 27, 1809, G. Lloyd Ward ell, 1 Esq.,
M.P. for Oakhampton, began his indictment of the Duke of
York, in this matter, before the House of Commons ; and
he showed that every sale effected through Mrs. Clarke's
means, was a robbery of the Half Pay Fund, and he asked
for a Parliamentary Committee to investigate the affair ;
this was granted, and Mrs. Clarke, and very numerous
1 Commonly known as Colonel Ward ell, or Wardle. His real military rank
was Major, in which capacity he served in Sir W. W. Wynne's regiment during
the rebellion in Ireland.
THE DUKE OF YORK.
43i
witnesses were examined. The lady was perfectly self-
possessed, and able to take care of herself; and the evidence,
all through, was most damaging to the Duke. Mrs. Clarke
is thus described in the Morning Post of Friday, February
"3, 1809: "Mrs. Clarke, when she appeared before the House
of Commons, on Wednesday, was dressed as if she had
been going to an evening party, in a light blue silk gown
and coat, edged with white fur, and a white muff. On her
head she wore a white cap, or veil, which at no time was let
down over her face. In size she is rather small, and does
THE PRODIGAL SON'S RESIGNATION.
not seem to be particularly well made. She has a fair,
smooth skin, and lively blue eyes, but her features are not
handsome. Her nose is rather short and turning up, and
her teeth are very indifferent ; yet she has the appearance
of great vivacity of manners, but is said not to be a well-
bred or accomplished woman. She appears to be about
thirty-five years of age."
The Duke took the extraordinary course of writing a
letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons, whilst the
matter was sub judice, in which he asserted his innocence ;
432 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
and, foreseeing what was to follow, gave out that for the
future he meant to be a very good boy, and that he would
retrench in his expenditure, in order to attempt to liquidate
his debts.
The House eventually found that there was nothing in
the evidence to prove personal corruption, or criminal con-
nivance on the part of His Royal Highness ; but, although
thus partially whitewashed, the public opinion against him
was too strong, and he placed his resignation, as Com-
mander in Chief, in the King's hands.
Places were openly bought and sold, although it was
known to be illegal, such advertisements as the following
being common — Morning Post, June 14, 1800 :^
" Public Offices.
" A YOUNG Man of good Connections, well educated
in writing and accounts, and can find security, wishes for
a Clerkship in any of the Public Offices. Any Lady or
Gentleman having interest to procure such a situation, will
be presented with the full value of the place. The greatest
secrecy and honour will be observed."
So common were they, that it was found necessary to
issue notices on the subject. Here is one :
" Custom House, London, December 7, 1802.
" WHEREAS Advertisements have, at different times,
appeared in the Newspapers, offering Sums of Money for
the procuring of Places, or Situations, in the Customs, in-
serted either by persons not aware of the serious conse-
quences which attach upon transactions of this nature, or
by persons of a different description, with a view to delude
the ignorant, and unwary : The Commissioners of His
Majesty's Customs think it necessary to have it generally
made known that, in addition to the punishment which the
Common Law would inflict upon the offence of bribing, or
DUELS. 433
attempting to bribe, any person entrusted with the disposal
of any Office, the Statute passed in the fifth and sixth year
of the reign of King Edward the Sixth, inflicts the penalty
of incapacity to hold such office in the person purchas-
ing, and the forfeiture of office in the person selling ; and
that in case any such place or situation, either shall have
been, or shall hereafter be procured, or obtained, by such
Corrupt means, they are determined to enforce the penal-
ties of the Law, and to prosecute the offenders with the
utmost severity. And they do hereby promise a Reward
of One Hundred Pounds, to any person or persons who
will give information and satisfactory proof, of any place
or situation in the Customs being so obtained, so that the
parties concerned therein may be proceeded against
accordingly."
Duels were most frequent, so much so, as not to excite
any interest in the student of history of that time, for it is
difficult to pick up a newspaper and not find one recorded.
The reasons are not always given, but it did not take much
to get up a duel ; any excuse would serve. As an example,
let us take the duel between Colonel Montgomery, and
Captain Macnamara, at Chalk Farm (April, 1803) in which
the former was killed, and the latter wounded. Lord
Burghersh, in giving evidence before the coroner's jury,
said : "On coming out of St. James's Park on Wednesday
afternoon, he saw a number of horsemen, and Colonel
Montgomery among them ; he rode up to him ; at that
time, he was about twenty yards from the railing next to
Hyde Park Gate. On one side of Colonel Montgomery
was a gentleman on horseback, whom he believed was
Captain Macnamara. The first words he heard were uttered
by Colonel Montgomery, who said : ' Well, Sir, and I will
repeat what I said, if your dog attacks mine, I will knock
him down,' To this, Captain Macnamara replied, ' Well,
Sir, but 1 conceive the language you hold is arrogant, and
29
434
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
not to be pardoned.' Colonel Montgomery said : ' This is
not a proper place to argue the matter ; if you feel yourself
injured, and wish for satisfaction, you know where to find
me.' " And so these two poor fools met, and one was
killed — all because two dogs fought, and their masters could
not keep their temper !
CHAPTER LI.
Police— Dr. Colquhoun's book— The old Watchmen— Their inadequacy admitted
— Description of them — Constables — " First new mode of robbing in 1800" —
Robbery in the House of Lords— Whipping— Severe sentence— The Stocks—
The Pillory — Severe punishment — Another instance.
THE police authorities very seldom attempted to
interfere with these duels ; indeed, practically there
was no police. There were some men attached to
the different police courts, and there were the parochial
constables with their watchmen ; but, according to our
ideas, they were the merest apology for a police. Indeed,
our grandfathers thought so themselves, and Dr. Colquhoun
wrote a book upon the inefficiency of the police, which made
a great stir. It was felt that some better protection was
needed, as may be seen from two contemporary accounts :
"Two things in London that fill the mind of the intelligent
observer with the most delight, are the slight restraints of
the police, and the general good order. A few old men
armed with a staff, a rattle, and a lantern, called watchmen, are
the only guard throughout the night against depredation ;
and a few magistrates and police officers the only persons
whose employment it is to detect and punish depredators ;
yet we venture to assert that no city, in proportion to its
trade, luxury, and population, is so free from danger, or
from depredations, open or concealed, on property."
43 6
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
" The streets of London are better paved, and better
lighted than those of any metropolis in Europe ; we have
fewer street robberies, and scarcely ever a midnight assas-
sination. Yet it is singular, where the police is so ably
regulated, that the watchmen, our guardians of the night,
are generally, old decrepit men. who have scarcely strength
WATCHMEN GOING ON DUTY— 1808.
to use the alarum which is their signal of distress in cases
of emergency."
Thus we see that even contemporaries were not enthu-
siastic over their protectors ; and a glance at the two
accompanying illustrations fully justify their opinion.
"The Microcosm of London," from which they are taken,
says : " The watch is a parochial establishment supported
by a parochial rate, and subject to the jurisdiction of the
WATCHMEN.
437
magistrates : it is necessary to the peace and security of
the Metropolis, and is of considerable utility: but that it
might be rendered much more useful, cannot be denied.
That the watch should consist of able-bodied men, is, we
presume, essential to the complete design of its institution,
as it forms a part of its legal description : but that the
watchmen are persons of this character, experience will
not vouch ; and why they are so frequently chosen from
WATCH-HOUSE. MARYLEBONE — 1808.
among the aged, and incapable, must be answered by
those who make the choice. In the early part of the last
century, an halbert was their weapon ; it was then changed
into a long staff; but the great coat and the lantern are
now accompanied with more advantageous implements of
duty — a bludgeon, and a rattle. It is almost superfluous
to add, that the watch-house is a place where the appointed
watchmen assemble to be accoutred for their nocturnal
433
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
rounds, under the direction of a Constable, whose duty,
being taken by rotation, enjoys the title of Constable of
the night. It is also the receptacle for such unfortunate
persons as are apprehended by the watch, and where they
remain in custody till they can be conducted to the tribunal
of a police office, for the examination of the magistrate.
The following little anecdote further illustrates the
inefficiency of these guar-
dians of the peace — Morning
Herald, October 30, 1802:
" It is said that a man who
presented himself for the
office of watchman to a
parish at the West-end of
the town, very much infested
by depredators, was lately
turned away from the vestry
with this reprimand: 'I am
astonished at the impudence
of such a great, sturdy, strong
fellow as you, being so idle
as to apply for a Watch-
man's situation, when you are
capable of labour ! ' " "-J
Part of their duty was to
go their rounds once every
hour, calling out the time, and the state of the weather,
and this was done to insure their watchfulness, but it must
also have given warning to thieves. This duty done, they
retired to a somewhat roomy sentry box, where, should
they fall asleep, it was a favourite trick of the mad wags
of the town to overturn them face downwards. Being old
and infirm, they naturally became the butts and prey of the
bucks, and bloods, in their nocturnal rambles ; but such
injuries as they received, either to their dignity, or persons
were generally compounded for by a pecuniary recompense.
CONSTABLES— 1S05.
NEW MODE OF ROBBING. 439
The Constable, was a superior being, he was the Dogberry,
and was armed with a long staff.
Crime then was very much what it is now ; there is very
little new under the sun in wickedness — still, the Morning
Post of February 3, 1 800, has the
" First new mode of Robbing
in 1800.
"A few days past, a man entered a little public-house, near
Kingston, called for a pint of ale, drank it, and, whilst his
host was away, put the pot in his pocket, and, without
even paying for the beer, withdrew. The landlord, re-
turning, two other men, who were in the room, asked him
whether he knew the person who had just left the house ?
1 No,' he replied. ' Did he pay for the ale ? ' said they.
' No,' answered the other. ' Why, d — n him,' cried one of
the guests, ' he put the pot in his pocket' ' The devil, he
did ! ' exclaimed the host, ' I will soon be after him.'
" Saying this, he ran to the door, and the two men with
him. 'There, there, he's going round the corner now!' said
one, pointing. Upon which the landlord immediately set
off, and, cutting across a field, quickly came up to him.
'Holloa! my friend,' said he, 'you forgot to pay for your
beer.' ' Yes,' replied the other, ' I know that ! ' ' And,
perhaps you know, too,' added the host, ' that you took
away the pot ? Come, come, I must have that back again,
at any rate.' ' Well, well,' said the man, and put his hand
into his pocket, as if about to return the pot ; but, instead
of that, he produced a pistol, and robbed the ale-house
keeper of his watch and money.
" This might seem calamity enough for the poor man ;
but, to fill up his cup of misfortune to the brim, he found,
on reaching his home, that the two he had left behind, had,
during his absence, plundered his till, stolen his silver
spoons, and decamped."
440 THE NINETEENTH CENTUR V.
One of the most audacious robberies of those ten years,
was one which took place on September 21, 1801, when
the House of Lords was robbed of all the gold lace, and the
ornaments of the throne, the King's arms excepted, were
stripped, and carried away. Nor was the thief ever found.
For minor offences the punishments were, Whipping, the
Stocks, and the Pillory ; for graver ones, Imprisonment,
Transportation, and DEATH.
As a specimen of the offence for which Whipping was
prescribed, and the whipping itself, take the following —
Morning Post, November 4, 1800: "This day, being
hay-market day at Whitechapel, John Butler, pursuant
to his sentence at the last General Quarter Sessions, held
at Clerkenwell, is to be publicly whipped from White-
chapel Bars, to the further end of Mile End, Town, the
distance of two miles, for having received several trusses
of hay, knowing them to have been stolen, and for which
he gave an inferior price."
The Stocks were only for pitiful rogues and vagabonds,
and for very minor offences ; but the Pillqry, when the
criminals were well known, and the crime an heinous one,
must have been a very severe punishment; for, setting aside
the acute sense of shame which such publicity must have
awoke in any heart not absolutely callous, the physical
pain, if the mob was ill-tempered, must have been great.
As a proof, I will give two instances.
The first is from the Morning Herald, January 28, 1804 :
" The enormity of Thomas Scott's offence, in endeavouring
to accuse Capt. Kennah, a respectable officer, together with
his servant, of robbery, having attracted much public
notice, his conviction, that followed the attempt, could not
but be gratifying to all lovers of justice. Yesterday, the
culprit underwent a part of his punishment ; he was
placed in the pillory, at Charing Cross, for one hour. On
his first appearance, he was greeted by a large mob, with a
discharge of small shot, such as rotten eggs, filth, and dirt
THE PILLORY.
441
from the streets, which was followed up by dead cats,
rats, &c, which had been collected in the vicinity of the
Metropolis by the boys in the morning. When he was
taken away to Cold Bath Fields, to which place he is
sentenced for twelve months, the mob broke the windows
of the coach, and tvould have proceeded to violence 1 had the
Police Officers not been at hand."
The other is taken from the Annual Register ; September
PILLORY. CHARING CROSS.
27, 1810: "Cooke, the publican of the Swan, in Vere
Street, Clare Market, and five others of the eleven mis-
creants convicted of detestable practices, stood in the
pillory in the Haymarket, opposite to Panton Street.
Such was the degree of popular indignation excited
against these wretches, and such the general eagerness to
witness their punishment that by ten in the morning, all
the windows and even the roofs of the houses were
1 The italics are mine. — J. A.
442
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
crowded with persons of both sexes ; and every coach,
waggon, hay-cart, dray, and other vehicle which blocked
up great part of the streets, were crowded with spectators.
"The Sheriffs, attended by the two City marshals, with an
immense number of constables, accompanied the procession
THE FIIXORY.
of the prisoners from Newgate, whence they set out in the
transport caravan, and proceeded through Fleet Street and
the Strand ; and the prisoners were hooted and pelted the
whole way by the populace. At one o'clock, four of the
culprits were fixed in the pillory, erected for, and accom-
THE PILLORY.
443
modated to, the occasion, with two additional wings, one
being allotted to each criminal. Immediately a new
torrent of popular vengeance poured upon them from all
sides ; blood, garbage, and ordure from the slaughter
houses, diversified with dead cats, turnips, potatoes, addled
eggs, and other missiles to the last moment.
" Two wings of the pillory were then taken off to
place Cooke and Amos in, who, although they came in
only for the second course, had no reason to complain of
short allowance. The vengeance of the crowd pursued
them back to Newgate, and the caravan was filled with
mud and ordure.
" No interference from the Sheriffs and police officers
could restrain the popular rage ; but, notwithstanding the
immensity of the multitude, no accident of any note
occurred."
CHAPTER LII.
Smuggling — An exciting smuggling adventure — The Brighton fishermen and the
Excise — " Body-snatching" — " Benefit of Clergy" — Tyburn tickets — Death the
penalty for many crimes — " Last dying Speech" — The "condemned pew " at
Newgate — Horrible execution at Jersey — The new drop — An impenitent
criminal.
THE offence of Smuggling, now all but died out, was
common enough, and people in very good positions
in life thought it no harm to, at least, indirectly
participate in it. The feats of smugglers were of such
every-day occurrence, that they were seldom recorded in
the papers, unless there were some peculiar circumstances
about them, such as shooting an excise man, or the like.
In one paper, however, the Morning Post, September 3,
1 801, there are two cases, one only of which I shall
transcribe. " A singular circumstance occurred on Tuesday
last, at King Harry Passage, Cornwall. A smuggler, with
two ankers of brandy on the horse under him, was dis-
covered by an exciseman, also on horseback, on the road
leading to the Passage. The smuggler immediately rode
off at full speed, pursued by the officer, who pressed so close
upon him, that, after rushing down the steep hill to the
Passage, with the greatest rapidity, he plunged his horse
into the water, and attempted to gain the opposite shore.
The horse had not swam half way over, before, exhausted
with fatigue, and the load on his back, he was on the
SMUGGLING. 445
point of sinking, when the intrepid rider slid from his
back, and, with his knife, cut the slings of the ankers,
and swam alongside his horse, exerting himself to keep his
head above water, but all to no purpose ; the horse was
drowned, and the man, with difficulty, reached the shore.
The less mettlesome exciseman had halted on the shore,
where he surveyed the ineffectual struggle, and, afterwards,
with the help of the ferryman, got possession of the
ankers."
Sometimes it was done wholesale, see the Morning
Herald, February 17, 1802 : " Last Thursday morning, the
Brighton fishermen picked up at sea, and brought to shore,
at that place, upwards of five hundred casks of Contraband
spirits, of which the Revenue officers soon got scent,
and proceeded, very actively, to unburden the fishermen.
This landing and seizing continued, with little intermission,
from six to ten, to the great amusement of upwards of two
thousand people, who had became spectators of the scene.
When the officers had loaded themselves with as many
tubs as they could carry, the fishermen, in spite of their
assiduity, found means to convey away as many more, and
by that means seemed to make a pretty equal division.
The above spirits, it appeared, had been thrown overboard
by the crew of a smuggling vessel, when closely chased by
a Revenue Cutter."
We may claim that one detestable offence, then rife, is
now extinct. I allude to " Body-snatching." It is true
that anatomists had, legally, no way of procuring subjects
to practise on, other than those criminals who had been
executed, and their bodies not claimed by their friends ;
but, although the instances on record are, unfortunately
numerous, I have already written of them in another
book, and once is quite sufficient.
Of one or two legal curiosities now extinct, I may
mention " Benefit of Clergy," an institution established in
our early history, in order to screen a clerk, or learned man,
446 THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
from the consequences of his crime. In case of felony, one
had but to plead ability to read, and prove it, and the
sentence was commuted to branding the hand with a hot
iron. It was a privilege much abused, but it lingered on
until 1827, when it was abolished by the Act, 7 and 8 Geo.
IV. cap. 28.
Another curious custom, now also done away with,
we meet with, in an advertisement in the Morning Herald,
March 17, 1802 : "Wanted, one or two Tyburn Tickets,
for the Parish of St. George's, Hanover Square. Any
person or persons having the same to dispose of, may hear
of a purchaser," &c. These tickets were granted to a
prosecutor who succeeded in getting a felon convicted, and
they carried with them the privilege of immunity from
serving all parochial offices. They were transferable by
sale (but only once), and the purchaser enjoyed its privi-
leges. They were abolished in 18 18. They had a con-
siderable pecuniary value, and in the year of their abolition,
one was sold for ^280 !
"Tyburn " reminds us of the fearful numbers sentenced
to death at that time. The law sadly wanted reformation
in this respect ; besides murder, coining, forgery, &c,
many minor offences were punishable with death, although
all convicted and sentenced were not executed ; some being
reprieved, and punished with transportation. George III.
had a great dislike to capital punishment, and remitted the
sentence to as many as he could. Take as an example of
the awful severity of the law, only one sessions at the Old
Bailey, ending September 24, 1801 : "Sentence of death
was then passed upon Thomas Fitzroy, aX\as Peter Fitzzvater,
for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of James
Harris, in the daytime, and stealing a cotton counterpane.
Win. Cooper for stealing a linen cloth, the property of
George Singleton, in his dwelling-house. J. Davies for a
burglary. Richard Emms for breaking into the dwelling-
house of Mary Humphreys, in the daytime, and stealing
HANGING.
447
a pair of stockings. Richard Forster for a burglary.
Magnus Kemer for a burglary, and stealing six silver
spoons. Robert Pearce for returning from transportation.
Richard Alcorn for stealing a horse. John Noivland and
Rd. Freke for burglary and stealing four tea spoons, a
gold snuff-box, &c. John Goldjried for stealing a blue
coat. Joseph Huff, for stealing a lamb, and John Pass for
stealing two lambs."
In fact, the " Tyburn tree " was kept well employed, and
yet, apparently, the punishment of death hardly acted as a
deterrent. A sad, very sad street cry, yet one I have often
THE CONDEMNED SERMON. NEWGATE.
heard, was of these poor wretches ; true, it had been made
specially to order, in Catnach's factory for these articles, in
Monmouth Court, Seven Dials ; but still it was the an-
nouncement of another fellow-creature having been done
to death.
The executions which would arise from the batch of
sentences I have just recorded, would take place at New-
gate. The last person hanged at Tyburn, having suffered,
November 7, 1783, and the above illustration shows in a
peculiarly graphic manner, the condemned sermon, which
was preached to those about to die on the morrow. To
make the service thoroughly intelligible to them, and to
THE LAST DYING SPEECH AND CONFESSION.
HANGING. 449
impress them with the reality of their impending fate, a
coffin was set in the midst of the " condemned pew."
Crowds witnessed the executions, which took place in
the front of Newgate, and on one occasion, on the 23rd of
February, 1807, an accident occurred, by the breaking of
the axle of a cart, whereon many people were standing ;
they were not only hurt, but the crowd surged over them,
and it ended in the death of twenty-eight people, besides
injuries to many more.
We have seen, in February, 1885, a murderer reprieved,
because the drop would not act ; but in the following
instance, the criminal did suffer, at all events, actual pain.
It happened at Jersey, on the nth of May, 1807, and is
thus chronicled in the Annual Register for that year:
"After hanging for about a minute and a half, the
executioner suspended himself to his body ; by whose
additional weight the rope extended in such a manner that
the feet of the criminal touched the ground. The exe-
cutioner then pulled him sideways, in order to strangle
him ; and being unable to effect this, got upon his
shoulders ; when, to the no small surprise of the spectators,
the criminal rose straight upon his feet, with the hangman
upon his shoulders, and loosened the rope from his throat
with his fingers. The Sheriff ordered another rope to be
prepared ; but the spectators interfered, and, at length, it
was agreed to defer the execution till the will of the
magistrates should be known. It was subsequently de-
termined that the whole case should be transmitted to His
Majesty, and the execution of the sentence was deferred till
His Majesty's pleasure should be known."
A platform which suddenly disappeared from under the
criminal seems to have been invented in 1807, for we read
under 27th of July of that year, that John Robinson was
executed at York " on the new drop," but something of
the same kind had certainly been used in 1805.
As a rule, the poor creatures died creditably ; but there
30
45°
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
is one case to the contrary, which is mentioned in the Euro-
pean Magazine, vol. xlvii. pp. 232-40. A man named
Hayward was to be hanged for cutting and maiming
another. The scene at the execution is thus described ;
" When the time for quitting the courtyard arrived,
Hayward was called to a friend to deliver him a bundle,
out of which he took an old jacket, and a pair of old shoes,
and put them on. ' Thus,' said he, ' will I defeat the
prophecies of my enemies ; they have often said I should
die in my coat and shoes, and I am determined to die in
neither.' Being told it was time to be conducted to the
scaffold, he cheerfully attended the summons, having first
ate some bread and cheese, and drank a quantity of coffee.
Before he departed, however, he called out, in a loud voice,
to the prisoners who were looking through the upper
windows at him, ' Farewell, my lads, I am just a going off;
God bless you 1 ' ' We are sorry for you,' replied the
prisoners. * I want no more of your pity,' rejoined Hay-
ward ; ' keep your snivelling till it be your own turn.' Im-
mediately on his arrival upon the scaffold, he gave the mob
three cheers, introducing each with a ' Hip, ho I ' While
the cord was preparing he continued hallooing to the mob.
" It was found necessary, before the usual time, to put
the cap over his eyes, besides a silk handkerchief, by way
of bandage, that his attention might be entirely abstracted
from the spectators. ... He then gave another halloa, and
kicked off his shoes among the spectators, many of whom
were deeply affected at the obduracy of his conduct."
2? G& sea
CHAPTER LIII.
Execution for treason — Burying a suicide at the junction of a cross-road — Supposed
last such burial in London — The Prisons — List, and description of them—
Bow Street Police Office— Expense of the Police and Magistracy — Number of
watchmen, &c, in 1804 — The poor, and provision for them— Educational
establishments.
BUT of all brutal sentences, that for the crime of
high treason, was the worst. When Colonel
Despard was sentenced to death for conspiracy,
on the 9th of February, 1802, the words used by the
Judge, were as follow : —
" The only thing now remaining for me, is the painful
task of pronouncing against you, and each of you, the
awful sentence which the law denounces against your
crime, which is, that you, and each of you (here his
lordship named the prisoners severally), be taken to the
place from whence you came, and from thence you are to
be drawn on hurdles to the place of Execution, where you
are to be hanged by the neck, but not until you are dead ;
for while you are still living, your bodies are to be taken
down, your bowels torn out, and burnt before your faces !
your heads are to be then cut off, and your bodies divided
each into four quarters, and your heads and quarters to
be then at the King's disposal ; and may the Almighty
God have mercy on your Souls."
452 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
In this case the disembowelling and dismemberment
were remitted, but they were dragged to the place of
execution on a hurdle, which, in this instance, was the
body of a small cart, on which two trusses of clean straw
were laid. They were hanged, and after hanging for
about twenty-five minutes, "till they were quite dead" they
were cut down. " Colonel l Despard was first cut down,
his body placed upon saw dust, and his head on a block.
After his coat had been taken off, his head was severed
from his body. The executioner then took the head by
the hair, and carrying it to the edge of the parapet on the
right hand, held it up to the view of the populace, and
exclaimed, " This is the head of a traitor — Edward
Marcus Despard ! . . . The bodies were then put into
their different shells, and are to be delivered to their
friends for interment."
Another relic of barbarism was the driving a stake
through the body of a suicide, and burying him at the
junction of a cross road — Morning Post, April 27, 1810:
"The Officers appointed to execute the ceremony of
driving a stake through the dead body of James Cowling,
a deserter from the London Militia, who deprived himself
of existence, by cutting his throat, at a public-house in
Gilbert Street, Clare Marke't, in consequence of which,
the Coroner's Jury found a verdict of Self-murder, very
properly delayed the business until twelve o'clock on
Wednesday night, when the deceased was buried in the
cross roads at the end of Blackmoor Street, Clare Market."
The motive for this practice was, that by fastening the
body to the ground, by means of a stake, it rendered it " of
the earth, earthy," and thus prevented its perturbed spirit
from wandering about. It is believed that the last burial
of a suicide in London, at a cross road, was in June, 1823,
when a man, named Griffiths, was buried about half-past
one a.m., at the junction of Eaton Street, Grosvenor Place,
1 The Times, February 22, 1805.
DEBTORS' PRISONS. 453
and the King's Road, but no stake was driven through
the body.
The Prisons in London were fairly numerous, but
several of them were for debtors, whose case was very
evil. There they languished, many in the most abject
poverty, for years, trusting to the charity of individuals,
or to funds either bequeathed, or set aside, for bettering
their condition. In 1804, an Act was passed (44 Geo. III.
cap. 108, afterwards repealed by the Stat. Law. Rev. Act,
1872) for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, and they were
not slow in taking advantage of it. Not only had they
poverty, and loss of liberty, to contend with, but gaol
fever, which carried them off at times, and cleared the
prisons. So contagious was it, that in February, 1805,
almost all the cadets at Woolwich suffered from it, and
several died. It was imported into the school, by one of
the cadets, who had been to visit some prison.
The prisons were as follow, in 1805 : —
1. King's Bench Prison, for debtors on process or
execution, and for persons under sentence for misde-
meanour, &c. This was in St. George's Fields, Southwark,
and was considered more wholesome than the London
prisons. There were districts surrounding the prison both
here, and at the Fleet, where prisoners could dwell, without
going inside, by payment of fees. The prisoners inside
the King's Bench, could but obtain leave to go out once
every term, or four times a year. There were 300 rooms
in the prison, but it was always full, and decent accommo-
dation was even more expensive to obtain, than at the Fleet.
2. The Fleet Prison was one belonging to the Courts
of Common Pleas, and Chancery, to which debtors might
remove themselves from any other prison, at the expense
of six or seven pounds. A contemporary account says :
" It contains 125 rooms, besides a common kitchen, coffee
and tap rooms, but the number of prisoners is generally
so great, that two, or even three, persons are obliged to
454
THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y.
submit to the shocking inconvenience of living in one
small room ! ! Those who can afford it, pay their com-
panion to chum off, and thus have a room to themselves.
Each person so paid off, receives four shillings a week.
The prisoner pays one shilling and threepence a week for
his room without furniture, and an additional sevenpence
INTERIOR OF FLEET PRISON.
for furniture. Matters are sometimes so managed, that a
room costs the needy and distressed prisoner from ten to
thirteen shillings a week.
"Those who have trades that can be carried on in a
room, generally work, and some gain more than they
would out of doors, after they become acquainted with the
PRISONS. 455
ways of the place. During the quarterly terms, 1 when the
court sits, prisoners, on paying five shillings a day, and on
giving security, are allowed to go out when they please,
and there is a certain space round the prison, called the
rules, in which prisoners may live, on furnishing two good
securities to the warden for their debt, and on paying
about 3 per cent, on the amount of their debts to the
warden. The rules extend only from Fleet Market to
the London Coffee House, and from Ludgate Hill to Fleet
Lane, so that lodgings are bad, and very dear. Within
the walls there is a yard for walking in, and a good
racquet ground."
3. Ludgate Prison, or Giltspur Street Compter, foi-
debtors who were freemen of the City of London.
4. Poultry Compter — a dark, small, ill-aired dungeon —
used as a House of Detention.
5. Newgate — which was the gaol both for Criminals,
and Debtors, for the County of Middlesex. On the
debtors' side, the overcrowding was something terrible.
The felons', or State side, as it was called, was far more
comfortable, and the criminals better accommodated. The
prison might, then, be visited on payment of two or three
shillings to the turnkeys, and giving away a few more to
the most distressed debtors.
6. The New Prison, Clerkenwell, was also a gaol for the
County of Middlesex, and was built in 1775. The fare
here was very meagre— only a pound of bread a day.
7. Prison for the liberty of the Tower of London,
Wellclose Square.
8. Whitechapel Prison, for debtors in actions in the
Five Pounds Courts, or the Court of the Manor of
Stepney.
9. The Savoy Prison, used as a Military prison, princi-
pally for deserters.
1 These days amounted to 80 or 90 in the year.
456
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
10. Horsemonger Lane Gaol, the County prison for
Surrey.
11. The Clink, a small debtors prison in Southwark.
12. The Marshalsea Gaol, in Southwark, for pirates.
13. The House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields, which
was built according to a plan of Howard, the philan-
thropist, on the basis of solitary confinement. At this
time it was dreaded as a place of punishment, and went
HOUSE OF CORRECTION. COLD BATH FIELDS.
by the name of the Bastille. (Its slang name now is the
Steel)
The prisoners were not too well fed. A pound of
bread, and twopenny worth of meat a day, and a very fair
amount of work to do — was not calculated to make it
popular among the criminal classes.
It was the only prison in which the inmates wore
uniform. That of the men was blue jacket and trousers,
with yellow stockings, whilst the women had a blue jacket
POLICE OFFICES. 457
and blue petticoat. They had clean linen every week ;
so that, probably, it was a healthy prison. One good
thing about it was, that a portion of the prisoners'
earnings was reserved, and given to them when they
quitted prison.
14. City Bridewell, Blackfriars, was a house of Correc-
tion for the City.
15. Tothill Fields, Bridewell, was a similar institution
for Westminster.
16. New Bridewell, South wark, for Surrey.
Besides these public prisons, were several private estab-
lishments used as provisional prisons — kept by the Sheriffs
Officers, called lock-up, or, sponging houses, where for
twelve, or fourteen shillings a day, a debtor might remain,
either until he found the means to repay the debt, or it
was necessary to go to a public prison, when the writ
against him became returnable. They were nests of
extortion and robbery.
The Police Offices in London were :
The Mansion House. Lambeth Street, Whitechapel.
Guildhall. High Street, Shadwell.
Bow Street Union Street, Southwark.
Hatton Garden. Queen's Square, Westminster.
Worship Street Great Marlborough Street.
Wapping New Stairs, for offences committed on the
Thames. Of those extra the City, Bow Street was the
chief, and the head magistrate there, was called the Chief
Magistrate, and received a stipend of ^1,000 per annum ;
a large sum in those days. He was assisted by two
others, at a salary of ^500 each.
Dr. Patrick Colquhoun called so much attention to the
inefficiency of the police, that a Committee of the House
of Commons, in the session of 1798, sifted the matter, and
from the report of this Committee, only, can we gather
the criminal statistics of the kingdom (at least with regard
to its expense).
POLICE OFFICES. 459
The amount of the general expense of the criminal
police of the kingdom, is stated by the Committee as
follows :
i st. The annual average of the total expense
of the seven public offices in the Metro-
polis from their institution in 1792, to
the end of the year 1797 £18,281 18 6
2nd. Total expenses of the office in Bow
Street in the year 1797, including remu-
neration to the magistrates in lieu of
fees, perquisites, &c, and the expense
of a patro! of sixty-eight persons 7>9 01 7 7
Total for the Metropolis ,£26,183 6 1
The other expenses for the prosecution
and conviction of felons, the mainten-
ance, clothing, employment, and trans-
portation of convicts, to which may be
added the farther sums annuallycharged
on the county rates, amounted in 1797 to £215,869 13 \o\
In 1804, it was estimated that there were 2,044 beadles
and watchmen, and 38 patrols, on nightly duty in, and
around the Metropolis. Of these, the City proper, with
its 25 wards, contributed 765 watchmen, and 38 patrols.
The poor were pretty well taken care of. Besides the
parochial workhouses, there were 107 endowed almshouses,
and many other like institutions ; the City Companies, it
was computed, giving upwards of £75,000, yearly, away in
charity. There were very many institutions for charitable,
and humane purposes — mostly founded during the pre-
vious century — for the relief of widows and orphans, deaf
and dumb persons, lunatics, relief of small debtors, the
blind, the industrious poor, &c. And there were 1,600
Friendly Societies in the Metropolis, and its vicinity,
enrolled under the Act, 33 George III. cap. 54. These had
80,000 members, and their average payments were £i
each per annum.
4 6o THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
For education in London, there were :
1 6 Inns of Court and Chancery, for education in the
law.
5 Colleges, viz., Zion College, Gresham, Physicians,
Doctors Commons, and Herald's College.
62 Schools or public Seminaries, such as Westminster,
the Blue Coat, St. Paul's, Merchant Taylors,
Charterhouse, &c, educating some 5,000 children.
237 Schools, belonging to the different parishes, edu-
cating some 9000.
3,730 Private Schools.
4,050 Total Seminaries of Education.
This does not include nearly twenty educational estab-
lishments such as the Orphan Working School, the Marine
Society, Freemasons School, &c.
And there were about the same number of Religious
and Moral Societies, such as the Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, the Society for the Propagation of
the Gospel in Foreign Parts, Religious Tract Society,
Missionary Societies, &c. ; besides a number of Sunday
Schools — so that we see education, and philanthropy,
were hard at work in the Dawn of the Nineteenth
Century.
THE END.
INDEX.
Abbot, Rt. Hon. Chas., elected
Speaker, 47.
Abbot's, Mr., M. P., plan for census,
??■
Abolition of Slave Trade, 132.
Debates on, 108, 127.
" Academy of Ancient Music," 366.
Accident at Review in Hyde Park,
8.
Account of Walcheren Expedition,
159-160.
Acre, Battle of, 3.
Act against cockfighting, 297.
to relieve Roman Catholics,
103.
Actors, Child, 333.
Famous, 323.
Addington Ministry on its last legs,
107.
Mr. Chancellor, presents mes-
sage to George III., 46.
Address of Sir Francis Burdett,
166.
Admiralty Droits, 140.
Age of dear books, 376.
Agricultural Shows, 247.
Aldridge's and Tattersalls, 294.
Alfred Club, The, 378.
Almack's, 357.
Almshouses, Endowed, 459.
Alteration of Great Seal, 33.
,, Prayer-book, 34.
Amateur driving, 189.
Amelia, Princess, Death of, 179.
American War, The, 12.
Amiens, Treaty of, 50, 53.
Andrews, billiard player, 319.
Androssi, General, Departure of,
319-321.
Antecedents of Napoleon, 7$.
Antiquated Prosecutions, 93.
Antiquity of Cock-fighting, 22.
Appointments bought and sold,
295.
Argyle Rooms, Jubilee ball at, 432,
Armistice, Cost of, 49.
Army Estimates, Enormous expen-
diture, 59.
50,000 men added to, 98.
"Army of England," Withdrawal
of the, 117.
312,048 men voted for, 115.
Arrest of Sir F. Burdett, 170.
Arrival of brother of Louis XVIII.,
no.
of Queen of France, 145.
Artists, 369-374.
Associated Artists in Water Colours,
375-
Attempt to assassinate George III.,
9-
Attempts to stop war with France,
128.
Australia, Wheat imported from,
28.
Austria at war with France, 1 16.
462
INDEX.
Austrians on the Rhine, 3.
Authors, List of celebrated, 376.
Automaton Piano-player, 355.
Bad Harvest throughout Europe,
28.
Bag of Game, Large, 311.
Bakers fined for light weight, 245,
246.
Ballooning, 395.
Bank of England, Loans from, 6,
'39-
Banks, Thomas, R. A., sculptor, 374.
Bantry Bay, Mutiny in, 410.
Barbadoes, Moravian missionaries
in, 108.
Barouche Club, 191.
Barry, James, Professor of Painting,
370.
Bartolozzi, Francis, 374.
Base-ball match, 318.
Battle of Trafalgar, 118.
„ Vimiera, 142.
Beacons, Sea -side, affixed to
churches, 99.
Beaumont, Sir Geo. H., Artist, 373.
Beaver Hats, 259.
Bedlam, 12, 391.
Beechey, Sir Wm., Portrait Painter,
372.
Beer made from sugar, 16.
Quantity brewed, 238.
the National beverage, 238.
"Benefit of Clergy ,"445.
Bets at Clubs, 288-289.
Curious, 192, 312.
Betty, W. H. W., Anecdotes of,
325, 326.
Career of, 332.
Crowds to see, 329.
Death of, 332.
First appearance in London,
326.
presented to Royal Family,
33°-
Puff preliminary of, 325.
Billiards, 318-319.
Large sums lost at, 320.
Billington, Mrs., Salaries of, 361-
363.
Bills, Increase of Stamp duty on,
36.
Blockade of England, Attempting
to, 130, 131, 135.
Body-snatching, 445.
Bond Street lounger, Rules for,
251-255.
„ loungers, Three cele-
brated, 256.
Bone, Henry, enamel painter, 372.
Books, Age of dear, 376.
collection of first editions,
377-
Boulogne, Napoleon at, 96.
Bourgeois, Sir Francis, Artist, 371.
Bow Street Officers, 27.
BoydelPs Gallery in Cheapside,
375-
Shakespeare, 375.
Boys, Education of, 277, 278.
Braham, John, Vocalist, 375.
Bread, Consumption of, reduced,
28.
New, Sale of forbidden, 5.
Variation in price of, 26, 36,
44, 240.
Bridges, Thames, 198.
Britain's War-Song, 81.
British Museum Gardens, 383.
„ Regulations of,
382.
Property, Confiscation of,
135-
" Broad-bottomed " Cabinet, 133.
" Brown Bread Bill," 245.
Browne, Colonel, Death of, 102.
Bull-baiting, 156, 297.
Debate on, 298-300.
Bullion, Scarcity of, 105.
Burdett and Paull, Duel between,
133-
Sir Francis, Address of, 166.
„ „ Arrest of, 170.
„ „ Committal of, 167.
„ „ Imprisoned in the
Tower, 172.
„ „ Release of, 174.
„ „ Riot after arrest
of, 172, 173.
Burial, Last, at cross roads, 452.
INDEX.
463
Butchers, Prosecution of, 22, 247.
Calais, Inspection of by Napoleon,
96.
Calicoes, Duty on, 36.
Cannon, Transport Inefficient for,
98.
Card money, 286, 287.
Cardinal York, Death of, 134.
A pensioner of George III.,
134-
Caricaturing the Royal Family, 24.
Carriages, Improvements in, 188.
Weights of, 188.
Catalani, Appearance in London,
341-
Dibut of, 340.
Pay of, 341.
Catnach Press, The, 447.
Caution to Hatters, 259.
Census, The first, 30.
Ceres (Planet), discovery of, 35.
Certificate of identity of Mr. G.
Garrick, 100.
Chantry, Sir Francis, R.A., Sculp-
tor, 374.
Chatham, Earl of, Indignation
against, 160.
Appointed Governor of Gib-
raltar, 163.
Child actors, 333.
Children "seen and not heard," 277.
Chimney sweeps, 216-219.
Christie the Auctioneer, 274.
Chronology of last Century, Rectifi-
cation of, 30.
Cintra, Convention of, 142-145.
City subscribe liberally to Patriotic
Fund, 97.
Civil List five quarters in arrear, 6.
Claim by Prince of Wales, 47.
for Revenues of Duchy of
Cornwall, 47.
Clarke, Mrs., before House of Com-
mons, 431.
Biography of, 427.
Her Levees, 429.
Mistress of Duke of York,
427.
Clarke, Mrs., mansion described,
427, 428.
prices for preferment, 430.
Clergymen prevented from sitting
in House of Commons, 37.
Clerical dinner, A, 249.
— — livings, 178.
" Climbing boys," 216.
Clothes, Mens', Prices for, 258, 259.
Cloth-working machines, Introduc-
tion of, 61.
Men hanged for destroying,
62.
Clubs, Bets at, 288, 289.
Gambling at, 290.
Coalition Ministry, Downfall of,
132.
Coals, Parliamentary Committee
on, 399.
Price of, 396-401.
Coaches, Hackney, 187.
Mail, List of, 231.
„ Rates of, 232.
Stage, 184.
Cobbett, W., tried and found guilty,
108.
Cock Pitt, Royal Description of,
295.
Cock-fighting, Act against, 297.
Antiquity of, 295.
Cockney's Account of September
first, 3I3-3I7-
Codrington, Sir Edw., Early life of,
404.
Coinage, copper, Deterioration of,
126.
New, 126.
Colonies, to France, a secondary
object, 113.
Commerce, Development of, 200.
Committal of Sir F. Burdett, 167.
Common Council, Relief of debtors
by, 152.
Compensation of Prince of Orange,
50.
Competition of Pipers, 367.
"Concert of ancient music," 366.
Concerts, Open-air, 361.
Condemned Pew, The, 447.
Sermon, The, 447.
464
INDEX.
Condition of London Streets, 201.
Conditions of Peace, 49.
Confiscation of British Property,
135-
Conspirators, Meeting of, 27.
dispersed „ „ 28.
Raid on, 63.
Constitutional liberty, Supporters
of, 28.
Consumption of Bread reduced, 28.
Convention of Cintra, 142.
Conveyance, deeds of, Duty on, 37.
Cooper's Hall, Lotteries drawn at,
291.
Copley, John Singleton, Artist, 373.
Copper coinage, Deterioration of,
126.
Corn Riots, 19.
Scarcity of, 16.
Cornwallis, Marquis, Treaty of
peace signed by, 48.
Cost of Armistice, 49.
„ Living, 16.
Costume, Eccentricity of, 261, 262.
Cotton spinners, Distress among,
141.
Wages, Regulation of, 141.
Council of Five Hundred, 2.
„ Nice, 30.
Country, Feeling of the, 65.
Sports, 303.
Courage conspicuous in Royal
Family, 96.
Covent Garden Theatre, Burning
of, 337-
Description of, 343, 344.
Fracas at, 323.
Covent Garden Theatre, Founda-
tion Stone laid by Prince of
Wales, 337.
Crewel work, Marvels of, 357.
Cricket Ground, Lord's, 318.
Matches, 317, 318.
Cries, Street, 219-227.
Criminal, An impenitent, 450.
Dead, Galvanizing a, 391.
Criminals, Fugitive, restored to re-
spective powers, 50.
Cross Roads, Last burial at, 452.
Crouch. Mrs., Prima donna, 365.
Curious bets, 192, 312.
Dinner, A, 237.
Daily life of George III., 276, 277.
„ Royal Family, 276, 277.
Dancing, 367.
Dead Criminal, Galvanizing a, 391.
Death and burial of Fox, 127.
„ Funeral of Pitt, 126.
at a prize fight, 301.
of Cardinal York, 134.
„ George Morland, 273:
„ „ Washington, 2.
„ Nelson, 118.
„ Princess Amelia, 179.
Debate on Bull-Baiting, 293.
„ war with Spain, 115.
„ AbolitionofSlaveTra.de,
108.
„ the Union, 7.
Debtors, poor, Release of, 148.
Prisons, 453~457-
Relief of, by Common Council,
153.
Scheme for pay creditors of
poor, 148, 149.
Deciphering papyri, 377.
Declaration of war with France, 74.
Deeds of Conveyance, Duty on, 37.
Defeat of Junot's Army, 142.
Defiance Club, 191.
De Loutherbourg, Artist, 371.
Demonstration at Kennington, 26
27.
Departure of Nelson in the Victory,
75-
Description of a gun, 309.
London houses, 232, 234.
Deserters pardoned, 152.
Despard, Colonel, Arrest of, 63.
Committal of, 37.
before Privy Council, 63.
Execution of, 64, 152.
Trial of, 63.
Destroyingcloth-working machines,
62.
Detention of visitors in France, 74.
Difference in value of money, 29.
Dinner, A clerical, 249.
„ curious, 237.
INDEX.
465
Disarmament and Retrenchment,
45-
Discovery of Planet Ceres, 35.
Distress among cotton-spinners,
141.
Diversions of people of fashion,
275, 276.
Doctor Jenner, 387.
Doctors, List of famous, 386.
Old school, 385.
" Doggett's Coat and Badge," 195.
Dollars, Re-stamping of, 163.
Driving, Amateurs, 189.
Droits of the Admiralty, 140.
Drury Lane Theatre, Burning of,
338.
George III. at, 9.
" Lord Nelson " played at,
119.
Duchy of Cornwall, Claim for Re-
venues, 47.
Duel between Montgomery and
Macnamara, 433.
between Paull and Burdett,
133-
Cause of, between Montgomery
and Macnamara, 433.
Duke of Richmond Bill, 7.
Eccentricity of costume, 261.
Economy in use of grain, 28.
Education of boys, 277.
„ girls, 278.
„ Physical, of women,
303-
Educational Establishments, 460.
Egypt, War in, 2.
Election, Middlesex, 58, 109.
Elections, General, 58, 133.
Electricity and Galvanism, 389-
391-
Emmett, Robert, Antecedents of,
101.
Execution of, 102.
End of Walcheren Expedition, 157.
England and Wales, First census,
29.
Engravers, 374.
Enormous expenditure on Army,
59-
Entertainment by the " Picnic
Club," 354.
Enthusiasm of the people, 78-88.
Estimates, Army, 59.
"European Museum," The, 375.
Evacuation of Naples by French
troops, 50.
Excitement on Stock Exchange,
72.
Execution, Accident at an, 449.
for treason, 452.
Horrible, at Jersey, 449.
of Colonel Despard, 64, 452.
of ringleaders of Irish Rebel-
lion, 102.
of Robert Emmett, 102.
Exhibition of Needlework, 357.
„ Paintings in Water,
Colours, 375.
Expenditure on Army, 59.
Extravagance of Farmers, 35.
Eye-glasses, 260.
Fall of Napoleon, 135.
False hair, 268-272.
rumours, Fluctuation of Stocks,
through, 39.
Famous actors, 323.
Farmers, Extravagance of, 35.
Prosperity of, 35.
Fashion, People of, Diversions of,
275, 276.
Fasts, General, 103, 107, 115, 126,
133, 146, 163.
Fearful odds, Victories gained
against, 81.
Feeling of the country, 65.
Fete at Frogmore, 156.
„ Windsor, 154-156.
Fifty thousand men added to Army,
98.
Fire among theatres, 337.
engines, Manual, 211.
Firemen, London, 212.
Fires, Great, in London, 210.
First census, 30.
of September, Account of,
3II-3I7-
street gas lamps, 205.
31
4 66
INDEX.
Fish, Scarcity of, 235.
Fishing, 307.
Fishmongers' Hall, 20.
Five Hundred, Council of, 2.
Five-volume novels, 376.
Flaxman, John, R.A., Sculptor,
374-
Fleet of Portugal against England,
137-
Flotilla practically useless, 116.
Flour, Paste a substitute for, 44.
Food, Plainness of, 235.
Riots, 19-26.
Scarcity of, 5, 16.
Supply of, from France, 248.
u Forestallers and Regraters," 240.
" Forestalling and Regrating," Act
against, 16.
in meat, 22.
Forgery of " Vortigern and Rovvena,"
336.
Four-in-hand Club, 191.
Fox, Courtesy of, 128.
and his wife introduced to
Napoleon, 52.
Death and burial of, 127.
Elected for Westminster, 52.
Letter to Talleyrand, 128, 129.
Napoleon's admiration for,
53-
Visit of, to Paris, 52.
Mrs., publicly acknowledged
as Fox's wife, 52.
Fracas at Covent Garden Theatre,
3 2 3, 324-
France, Austria at war with, 116.
Colonies to, a secondary ob-
ject, 113.
Declaration of war with, 74.
Failure of peace negotiations
with, 130.
Greatness of, 113.
Queen of, Arrival of, 145.
Rupture with, 65.
Supply of Food from, 248.
Trade with, 45.
Wild rush of English over,
5i-
Fraud at a lottery, 291.
Freedom of Speech, 82.
Freedom of the Press, 82.
Freeman's oath, The, 90-91.
French Ambassador, Departure of,
73-
Army crippled, 3.
Government, O'Connor in
treaty with, 52.
more than doubted, 26.
Press, England libelled by,
65..
Prisoners break parole, 100.
„ fed at expense of
English Govern-
ment, 38.
„ Ingenuity of, 5.
„ Liberation of, 54.
„ Maintenance of, 49.
„ Number of, 5, 38,
417.
„ Offer to feed, by
French Government,
38.
„ Proposed disposal
of, 100.
„ Question of feeding
37, 38.
„ Refusal of French
Government to pro-
vide for, 4.
„ Some, confined for
eight years, 38.
„ Stoppage of supplies
to, by French Go-
vernment, 38.
„ Sufferings of, 36.
Refugees, 101.
Refusal of, to supply clothes
to compatriots, 36.
Republic, 2.
Revolution, 26.
Troops, Evacuation of Naples
by, 50.
Friendly Societies, 459.
Frogmore fete, 156.
Fugitive criminals restored to rs>
spective powers, 50.
Funeral of Nelson, Prices given to
view, 120.
Furniture, Style of, 234.
Fuseli, Henry, Artist, 371.
INDEX.
467
Galloway, Committal of, yj.
Galvanism and Electricity, 390,
39i-
Cure of insane by, 391.
Galvanizing dead criminal, 391.
Gambling in the Royal circle, 286.
Universal, 285-287.
Vice of women, 285.
Game, Bags of, large, 311.
Quantity of, 311.
Scarcity of, 236.
Supply of, 236.
Gaol Fever, Woolwich Cadets ill
with, 453.
Garrick, George, Certificate of iden-
tity of, 100.
Gas introduced by Murdoch, 204.
< „ into London, 204.
■ lamps, First Street, 205.
ridiculed, 205.
General elections, 58, 133.
Fasts, 103, 107, 115, 126, 133,
146, 163.
Geological Society, 395.
George III. and Royal Family,
98.
and Waicheren Expedition,
161.
Attempt to assassinate, 9.
Cardinal York, a pensioner of,
134-
convalescent, 107.
Daily life of, 276, 277.
Expenses of household ot, 47.
greatly in debt, 47.
Illness of, 179.
Jubilee of, 146-152.
Messages to House of Com-
mons, 46, 66.
pardons deserters, 152.
• Parliament opened by, 114.
Proclamation of peace by,
55-
Reference to Napoleon's let-
ter, 114.
Reconciliation between Prince
of Wales and, 1 10.
Review of Volunteers by,
417-
Sanction of peace by, 39.
George III. seriously ill, 106.
W. H. W. Betty presented to,
33°.
George III -'s Jubilee, Medal struck
to commemorate, 146.
servants, petition for wages,
6.
sixty-third birthday, 12.
George Washington, Death of, 2.
Germany ravaged, 4.
Girls, Education of, 278-280.
Gold coinage, Smuggling of, 164.
High price of, 163.
Scarcity of, 16.
Government bill dishonoured,
60,61.
formed by Pitt, 107.
Insolvency of, 61.
Lotteries, 290, 291.
vigilant and watchful, 109.
Grain, Consumption of, restricted,
Grand Junction Canal, Opening of,
208.
Great Britain and Ireland, Union
between, 6.
fall in wheat, 43.
fires in London, 211.
seal, Alteration of, ^3-
Greatness of Fiance, 113.
Gregory XIII., 30.
Grenville's, Lord, letters to M. Otto,
26.
Reply to Napoleon, 3, 4.
Gretna Green Marriages, 280, 281.
Grouse shooting, 311.
Guildhall, Lotteries at, 291.
Guineas, Temptation to melt, 16.
Gun, Description of a, 309.
How to load a, 310.
Gymnastic exercises, 303.
Habeas Corpus Act, Suspension,
37, 102.
Hadfield, James, Acquitted, 12.
Biography of, 10.
Escape and capture of, 12.
Would-be assassin of George
III., 9.
Hackney coaches, 187.
4 68
INDEX.
Hair-dresser's Advertisement, 270,
272.
False, 268, 272.
powdering, 256, 257.
Handbills, Inflammatory, 26.
Patriotic, 89-93.
Hanging, 446-45°-
Harvest, Bad, throughout Europe,
28.
Good and plentiful, 177.
Harvey's Sauce, Advertisement of,
240.
Hatfield, Review at, 417.
Hats, Beaver, 259.
Tax on, 259.
Hatters, Caution to, 259.
Hawkesbury, Lord, Letter to Lord
Mayor, 40.
Hawkesbury, Lord, Peace prelimin-
aries signed by, 40.
Head-dresses, 268-272.
Hesitation to evacuate Malta, 64.
Highland Society of London, 367.
Highwaymen, 184.
Hoax on the Lord Mayor, 71.
Home, Privations at, 50.
Honourable Artillery Company,
Uniform of, 417.
Hoppner, John, R.A., 372.
Horse Guards, New standard
hoisted at, 32.
Riding, 193, 194.
Horses, Quality of, 193.
Taxes on, 36, 115.
Horticultural Society, The, 395.
Hospitals, Medical, 393.
Hostility of Austria and Prussia,
138.
Hotels, &c, 248, 249.
House of Lords, Robbery from,
440.
House-keeping, Cost of, 16.
Houses in London, Description of,
232.
in London, Number of, 232.
Pattern of the, 232.
" Hoys," Margate, 196.
Hunters' Museums, The, 384.
Hunting Breakfast, A, 306.
then and now, 305.
Hyde Park, Review in, accident at,
8.
of George
III., 106, j 80.
Illness
181.
Illuminations, Jubilee, 156, 157.
Accident at, 58.
Peace, 40, 41,43.
Impeachment of Lord Melville,
126, 127.
Improvements in Carriages, 188.
Improvements on old tinder-box,
208.
Incledon, vocalist, 265.
Income Tax on ^200, 17.
„ Repeal of, 47.
Increase of stamp duty, 36.
India, Rice from, 241.
Wheat from, 28.
Inefficiency of Police, 24.
" Infant Roscius," The, 324.
Inflammatory handbills, 26.
Insane, Cure of, by galvanism, 391.
Insolvency of Government, 61.
Insolvent Debtors' Act, 453.
Insurance Companies, List of, 211.
Intellect, Retarding march of, 62.
Introduction of the Percussion
Cap, 310.
Invasion expected on Kent and
Sussex coasts, 99.
Possibility of, treated lightly,
92.
scare dying out, 109.
signals, 99.
squibs, 78-88.
Threatened, of England,
96.
Invisible lady, The, 358.
Ireland, First Census of, 30.
Union with, 6, 32.
Ireland's forgery of " Vortigern and
Rowena," 336.
Irish Rebellion, 101.
„ Execution of ring-
leaders of, 102.
"Jean de Bry" coats, 250.
Jersey, Horrible execution in, 449.
INDEX.
469
Jews, Jubilee celebrated by, 156.
Jockeys, Lady, 293, 294.
Jubilee Ball at Argyle Rooms, 178.
celebrated by Jews, 156.
George III.'s, 146-152.
illuminations, 156, 157.
■ Pamphlets on, 150, 151.
Poem on, 151.
— - Song, 150.
Julian Calendar, The, 30.
Junot's Army, Defeat of, 142.
Kauffman, Angelica, Artist, 173.
Kennington, Demonstration at,
26, 27.
Kent Coast, Invasion expected on,
99.
Kilwarden, Lord, Murder of, 102.
King of Prussia's rudeness, 69.
" King's concerts," 367.
servants petition for wages, 6.
Ladies' costumes, Eccentricity of,
261.
out-door dress, 272.
Lady jockeys, 293, 294.
Lamps, Street, 203.
Large Bags of Game, 311.
Lawrence, Sir Thomas, Artist, 372.
Lauriston, General, Arrival of, 42.
„ Treatment of by
mob, 42.
Law to prevent sale of new bread,
5-
Lead, Tax on, 36.
Legacies, Duty on, 115.
Lettei s, Postage of, 232.
Tax on, 115.
Leverean Museum, 38.
Liberation of French Prisoners,
54-
Liberty of English Press, 39.
License of the Press, 65.
Linnaean Society, 395.
List of celebrated Authors, 376.
of famous doctors, 386.
Living, Cost of, 16.
Livings, Clerical, 178.
Lloyd's Coffee House a great power,
40.
Lloyd's, Meeting at, 75.
Loaf, Quartern, Price of, 29.
Loans from Bank of England, 6,
139-
Locomotives, 395.
London Docks, Laying of first
stone, 200.
Firemen, 212.
Great fires in, 211.
not beautiful, 232.
streets, Condition of, 201.
„ Description of, 214.
water supply, 212-214.
Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Mur-
der of, 102.
Mayor Combe, Proclamation
by, 23.
Mayor hoaxed, 71.
Mayor's show, 44.
Lord's Cricket ground, 318.
Loss of Trade, 50.
Lotteries, Government, 290, 291.
Lottery, Fraud at a, 291.
Last public, 292.
Louis XVIII., Arrival of brother of,
no.
Lunatics, Treatment 0^391-393.
Luxurious travelling, 186.
Lyceum Theatre, 357.
Lying in state of Nelson, 121, 122.
Machinery, Introduction of into
cloth-working, 61.
Madhouses, Public, 391.
Mail Coaches, List of, 231.
„ Routes of, 231.
Malcontents, Political, lightly dealt
with, 37.
Malta, Evacuation of, 50.
Hesitation of England to
evacuate, 64.
Mara, Mdlle., Salary of, 365.
March of intellect, Retarding, 62.
Margate "Hoys," 196.
Marriage of Prince of Wales, 47.
Marshalsea, Prison of the, 148, 456.
Martin, Mr., M.P., called to order,
35-
Mary-le-bone Cricket Club, 318.
Matrimonial Advertisements, 280.
47o
INDEX.
Maunday Thursday, 148.
Meat, Forestalling in, 22.
Quantity consumed, 235.
Medical Hospitals, 393.
Meeting at Lloyd's, 75.
Meetings held all over the country,
met with vigorous repression,
28.
Melville, Lord, Impeachment of,
126, 127.
Middlesex Elections, 58-109.
Militia almost permanently em-
bodied, 413.
reviewed at Hatfield, 417.
Milk, Prices of, 220.
Miller, Patrick, Esq., Offer of, 426.
Ministry jealous of England's
honour, 68.
Mobbing Quakers, 19.
Modified Postal arrangements, 37.
Montagu, Mrs., friend of "climbing
boys," 216.
Money, Difference in value of, 29.
Scarcity of, 105.
thrown to the mob, 42.
Moravian missionaries in Barba-
does, 108.
Morland George, Death of, 373.
Morning Post and Times, 380-382.
Number printed, 380.
Rise in price of, 380.
Mudie, Miss, Description of, 334.
„ Fate of, 336.
First appearance in London,
334-
-Reception of, 335.
Mulgrave's, Lord, Reply to Napo-
leon, 1 14.
Murder of Lord Chief Justice of
Ireland, 102.
of Lord Kilwarden, 102.
,, Rev. Richard Wolfe, 102.
Murdoch, Gas introduced by, 204.
Mutinies on board ship, 408-410.
Mutiny in Bantry Bay, 410.
on board Hermione, 408.
Names of race-horses, 293.
Naples, Evacuation of, by French
Troops, 50.
Napoleon, Ambition of, 65.
at Boulogne, 96.
Caricature on, 72.
cordially hated, 39.
Coronation of, the Pope at,
377-
crowned King of Italy, 112.
distrusted, 3, 26, 68.
elected Emperor, 112.
English proposal accepted by,
39-
Fall of, 135.
Fox introduced to, 52.
Letters from, 2, 3, 112, 114.
Lord Mulgrave's Reply to,
114, 115.
Plot to assassinate, 128, 129.
Treaty of Peace signed by,
49-
Unjust conduct of, 74.
unpleasant to deal with, 65.
Napoleon's admiration for Fox,
53-
antecedents, 93.
ignorance of our laws, 65.
inspection of Calais, 96.
insult to Lord Whitworth,
69.
movements well known, 96.
power crippled in Portugal,
142.
threatened invasion, 82.
National Beverage, Beer the, 238.
Debt, Total of, 181.
Naval force completely equipped,
98.
Navy a rough school, 404.
120,000 men voted for, 115.
Officers, Increase of pay of
417.
State of, 402.
Needlework, Exhibition of, 357.
Negotiation See-saw, 39.
Negotiations at Tilsit, 136.
Peace, Failure of, 130.
Nelson, cost of funeral of, 126.
Death of, 118.
Departure in the Victory, 74.
INDEX.
47i
Nelson, Funeral of, 120-124.
lying in state, 121.
Nelson's Signal serves trade ad-
vertisements, 121.
New Bread, Sale of, forbidden, 5.
Coinage, 126.
Drop, the first used, 449.
Standard hoisted at Horse
Guards, 32.
Standard hoisted at the Tower,
32.
Newspapers and Advertisements,
380.
Heavily taxed, 379.
Nice, Council of, 30.
Nile, Battle of the, 3.
Nollekens, Sculptor, 374.
Northcote, James, R.A., 371.
Notes, Increase of Duty on, 36.
Novels, Five-volume, 376.
Number of houses in London, 232.
of Theatres, 323.
Oath, The Freeman's, 301.
Offer by Patrick Miller, 426.
of Messrs. Pickford & Co.,
98.
Officers, Navy, Increase of pay of,
417-
Old Sarum, a rotten borough, 37.
tinder-box, description of,
208.
One quartern loaf a week, 28.
Open-air concerts, 361.
Opening of Parliament by George
III., 114.
Opie, John, Artist, 371.
O. P. Riots, 146, 339-353.
Orange, Prince of, compensated,
50.
Otto, M., and his wife, guests of
Lord Mayor, 44.
— — An unofficial agent, 26.
Commissary for exchange of
prisoners, 38.
Peace preliminaries signed
by, 40.
Otto's, M., house illuminated, 58.
letter to French prisoners, 58.
Ouseley's, Major, Library, 377.
Out-door dress, Ladies', 272.
Ox roasted at Windsor, 154.
Paddington Canal, opening of,
200.
Painters, 370-373.
Pall Mall, First gas-lamps in, 205.
Paper, Tax on, 36.
making machine, 396.
Papyri, Deciphering, 377.
Paris Fashions, 265.
Fox's visit to, 52.
to London, rapid journey, 194.
Parisot, Mdme., Famous ballet-
dancer, 355.
Parliament, Message from George
III. to, 6.
on price of provisions, 243.
Printers before, 165.
Parliamentary Impeachment, 126.
Parliaments opened by George
III., 35, 152.
Parole Regulations, 100.
Partridge Shooting, 311.
Paste a substitute for bread, 44.
Patriotic Fund, The, 119, 425.
Fund, City subscribes to, 97.
Handbills, 89-93.
Paull and Burdett, Duel between,
133-
Peace, Conditions of, 49.
Definite treaty of, 48.
Negotiations, Failure of, 130.
Preliminaries signed, 40.
procession, 55-57.
„ in the City, 57.
Proclamation of, 56.
„ Reading of, 56-
5 8 -
Peace, Public thanksgiving for, 5
58.
rejoicings, 41-43.
■ Treaties of, 39.
Peltier, Jean, Editor of DAmbi^
65.
I ound guilty, 68.
Trial of, 65-68.
Penny post to be two-pence, 37.
Pensions to late Ministers, 47.
People, Arming the, 98.
472
INDEX.
People of Fashion, Diversions of,
275,276.
Pepper, Tax on, 36.
Pepusch, Dr. John Christopher,
musician, 365.
Percussion Cap, Introductionof,3io.
Perkinean Institution, 390.
Perkins's Metallic Tractors, 389.
Phantasmagoria at the Lyceum
Theatre, 357.
Phenomenon, A theatrical, 324.
Philanthropic Societies, 460.
Physical education of women, 303.
Piano, Automaton, player on, 355.
Piazzi, Italian Astronomer, 35.
Pickford and Co., Offer of, 98.
" Pic-nic Club," Entertainment by,
354-
Club, Supporters of the, 355.
Picture Galleries, Private, 369.
Pidcock's Menagerie, Sale of, 357.
Pigeon Shooting, 310.
Pigott Diamond Bill, 7.
Pillory, Treatment of prisoners in,
440-443.
Pitt, Cost of funeral of, 125.
Death of, 125.
Government formed by, 107.
Pitt's Budget, 36.
Plainness of food, 235.
Plot to assassinate George III.,
62.
to assassinate Napoleon, 128.
Police authorities, 435.
Criminal, expense of, 459.
Inefficiency of, 24.
officers, List of, 457.
Political Caricatures, 65.
dissatisfaction, 37.
malcontents lightly dealt with,
37-
Poor's Rates, 17.
Portugal, Fleet of, against England,
137-
Portugal, Napoleon's power crip-
pled in, 142.
Possibility of invasion treated
lightly, 92.
Post Office, Chief, in Cloak Lane,
229.
Post Office, General, First stone
laid, 230.
Office, Rules of, 230.
Postage of letters, 232.
Postal Arrangements, 37.
Postmen, Uniform of, 228.
Poultry, supply of, 236.
Prayer-book, Alteration of, 34.
Preliminaries of peace signed, 40.
Press, Freedom of the, 82.
French, England libelled by,
65.
Liberty of, 39.
License of the, 65.
Gang, man killed by a, 408.
Gangs, 406-408.
Price, High, of Gold, 163.
— — of Bread, 36, 44, 240.
of Corn, 29.
of Milk, 220.
Prices of Wheat, 21, 35, 43.
Primitive state of Manufactures,
396.
Prince of Orange compensated,
50.
of Wales, First stone of Covent
Garden Theatre laid by, 237-
of Wales, Claim by, 47.
„ Regency of, 180.
„ Marriage of, 47.
Princess Amelia, death of, 179.
Printers before Parliament, 165.
Prints, Satirical, 65, 72.
Prisoners of war, Release of, 53.
Treatment of, in pillory, 440-
443-
Prisons, list and descriptions of,
. 453-457-
Privations at home, 50.
Privy Council, Colonel Despard
before, 63.
Prize-fight, death at a, 301.
Prize-fighting discountenanced,
302.
Prize-fights, Prince of Wales at,
301.
Proclamation of Peace, 56.
Proclamations of George III., 28,
32-
Progression, Rate of, 17.
INDEX.
473
Proposals accepted by Napoleon,
39-
Prosecutions, Antiquated, 22.
Provisions, Prices of, 45, 239-243.
Public Madhouses, 391.
Roads, State of, 182, 183.
thanksgiving for Peace, 55,
58.
whipping, 440.
Quakers mobbed, 19.
Quartern loaf, Price of, 29.
Queen of France, arrival of, 145.
Race-horses, names of, 293.
Raid on Conspirators, 63.
Raisins, Tax on, 36.
Ranelagh Gardens, Description of,
360.
Rapid journey from Paris to Lon-
don, 194.
Rate of Progression, 17.
Rates, Poor's, 17.
Reconciliation between George III.
and Prince of Wales, no.
Recruiting, Rough and ready me-
thod of, 97.
Rectification of Chronology, 30.
Refusal of Bank of England to take
back Spanish dollars, 106.
Regency of Prince of Wales, 180.
Regulations, Volunteer, 419-424.
Reinagle, Artist, 372.
Release of debtors, 148.
„ prisoners of war, 53.
„ Sir F. Burdett, 174.
Relief of debtors by Common
Council, 152.
Repeal of Income Tax, 47.
Re-stamping dollars, 163.
Retarding march of intellect, 62.
Retrenchment, 44.
Review at Hatfield, 417.
by Prince of Wales, 417.
in Hyde Park, 8.
of Volunteers, 12-15, 4 l 7-
Rice from India, 241.
Riot Act read by Lord Mayor,
20.
5>
Riot after arrest of Sir F. Burdett,
172.
Riots, Corn, 19.
Food ; Attempt to wreck a
house, 24.
Food, Termination of, 26.
in Cotton districts, 142.
in Wiltshire, 61.
O. P., 146.
„ Caricatures on, 347-
349-
„ Committee on, 350.
„ Compromise agreed on,
351-
■ O.P., Defence of Proprietors,
342, 343-
End of, 353.
Kemble's appearance
at, 345-
„ Kemble's windows bro-
ken, 357.
„ Medals struck, 346.
„ Revived, 352.
„ Riot Act read at, 344.
Roads, Public, State of, 182, 183.
Robbery, Impudent, 439.
Roman Catholics, Act to relieve,
103.
Rotten Row, Horses in, 193.
Rough and ready method of Re-
cruiting, 97.
Royal Academy of Art, 369.
Assent given to the Union,
7-.
Circle, Gambling in the, 2S6.
Familyand dress, 272.
„ caricatured, 24.
„ Courage conspicuous
in, 96.
„ Daily life of the, 276,
277.
„ W. H. W. Betty pre-
sented to, 330.
Institution, The, 394.
Society, The, 394.
Rupture with France, 65.
Rusby, Trial of, 17.
Rusby's house sacked, 21.
Rush of English over France,
5i-
474
INDEX.
Russia, Emperor of, Strong proofs
of wisdom of, 115.
Safety of George III. and Royal
Family, 98.
Sailor, Typical, 403.
Sailors' Food, 404.
Sailors, Full uniform of, 403.
St. Clement Danes Association, 25.
St. James's, New Standard hoisted
at, 32.
Salt Duty Bill, Fierce debate on,
116.
Scarcity of Bullion, 105.
„ Corn, 16, 28.
„ Fish, 235.
„ Food, 5, 16.
„ Game, 236.
„ Gold, 16.
Scheldt Expedition, 412.
„ select committee
on, 162.
Scheme for payment of prisoners'
debts, 148, 149.
Scientific men of the time, 394, 395.
Scotland, First Census of, 30.
Sculptors, 374.
Seal, Great, Alteration of, 2>3-
Sedan Chairs, Rates of hire, 187.
Shakespeare Gallery Lottery, 375.
Shee, Sir Martin A., P.R.A., 372.
Sheep roasted at Windsor, 154—
155-
Sheridan, Anecdote of, 338.
Ships, Number in commission, 405.
Shooting, A day's, 308.
Pigeon, 310.
Shows, Agricultural, 247.
Sick and Hurt Office, 61.
" Silent Highway," The, 195.
Sinews of War, The, 75.
Skittles, 304.
Slave Trade, Debates on Abolition,
108-127.
Trade prohibited, 132.
Smirke, Thos., R.A., 58, 372.
Smuggling Adventure, 444.
of Gold coinage, 164.
Wholesale, 445.
Societies, Philanthropic, 460.
Society of Antiquaries, The, 395.
„ Arts, 395.
Soldiers, Uniform of, 412.
Spain, War against, Debate on,
115.
War declared against, 115.
Spanish dollars called in, 106.
Speech, Freedom of, 82.
" Spinning-Jenny," 62.
Sponging-houses, 457.
Sports, Country, 303.
Sportsmen, Cockney, 313-317.
Spy craze, 99.
Squibs, Invasion, 78-88.
Stage coaches, 184.
waggons, 185.
„ Speed of, 186.
Stamp duty, Increase of, 36.
Stamping Spanish dollars, 163.
Standard, New, hoisted at Horse
Guards, 32.
New, hoisted at Tower, 32.
Steam, 395, 396.
Stock Exchange, Excitement on,
72.
Exchange ruse, 71.
Stocks, Fluctuation through false
rumours, 39.
used for minor offences, 440.
Storace, prima donna, 365.
Stothard, Thos., R.A., 371.
Street cries, 219-227.
lamps, 203.
Streets, London, Description of,
214.
London, Superiority of, 236.
vendors, 219-226.
watering, 215.
Sugar, Beer made from, 16.
Tax on, 36.
Suicides, Burial of, 452.
Superiority of London Streets, 236.
Supply of Game, 236.
„ Poultry, 236.
Suspension of Habeas Corpus Act,
37, 102.
Sussex Coast, Invasion expected
on, 99.
Tandem Club, The, 191.
INDEX.
475
Tattersall's and Aldridge's, 294.
Tax, Extra, on letters, 1 1 5.
„ „ salt, 115.
• Income, on ,£200, 17.
„ Repeal of, 47.
on hats, 259.
„ horses, 36, 115.
„ lead, 36.
» paper, 36.
„ pepper, 36.
„ raisins, ■$&.
„ sugar, 36.
„ tea, 36.
„ timber, 36
Tea, Tax on, 36.
Thames, Appearance of, 199.
as a means of traffic, 195.
Bridges, 198.
dock accommodation needed,
199.
Early steamboat on, 200.
watermen, 195.
„ Fares of, 196.
Thanksgiving, Public, for peace,
55-58.
"The Horns," Kennington, 26.
Theatres burnt, ^7, 338.
Number of, 323.
Theatrical Phenomenon, A, 324.
Thornton, Colonel, Bet of, 312.
Threatened Invasion, 76, 96.
Three Mr. Wiggins's, The, 356.
Tilsit, Negotiations at, 136.
Timber, Tax on, 36.
Times and Morning Post, 380-
382.
Tinder-box, Old, Description of,
208.
Old, Improvements on, 208.
"' Tommy Onslow," 191.
Tooke, Rev. J. H., partizan of
Wilkes, 37.
Total of National Debt, 181.
Tower, New Standard hoisted at,
32.
Townsend, Bow Street runner,
345-
Trade, Loss of, 50.
with France, 45.
Trafalgar, Battle of, 118.
Trafalgar, Battle of, London illumi-
nated in honour of, 118.
Thanksgiving for victory of,
119.
Traffic in slaves prohibited, 132.
Thames as a means of, 195.
Transport defective, 98, 109.
Travelling, Luxurious, 186.
Old and new styles compared,
. 183.
Treason, Execution for, 452.
Treaties of Peace, 39.
Treaty of Amiens, 50, 53.
with United States, 138.
Trinidad, Island of, 49.
Turf purer than now, 292.
Turner, Joseph Mallord Wm., 371
Tyburn, Last person hanged at,
447-
" Tyburn Tickets," 446.
Union between Great Britain and
Ireland carried in Irish House
of Lords, 6 .
Debate on the, 7.
Royal assent given to, 7.
" United Britons," The, 37.
United States, Treaty with, 138.
Unlawful to sell new bread, 5.
Vaccination, 387.
Pamphlets, 387.
Valse, The, 367.
Value of money, Difference in, 29.
Variation in price of bread, 26, 36,
44, 240.
Vauxhall Gardens, 358, 359.
Vegetables, Supply of, 239.
Vendors, Street, 219-226.
Venison an epicurean dish, 237.
Vernal Equinox, 30.
Victories gained against fearful
odds, 81.
Victory, Departure of Nelson in,
74-
Vimiera, Battle of, 142.
Visitors, Detention of, in France,
74-
Volunteer movement, 12, 417.
regulations, 419-424.
47°
INDEX.
/olunteer reviews, 12-15, 417.
Volunteers, Arms of, 424.
• Dinner to, 417.
. in plenty, 97.
Pay of, 421.
serve as police, 419.
' Vortigern and Rowena," Forger} 7
of, 336.
Yyner, Sir Robert, Anecdote of,
229.
Wages, George III.'s servants
petition for, 6.
Waggons, Stage, 185.
„ Speed of, 186.
Wales, Prince of, Claim by, 47.
First stone of Covent Garden
Theatre laid by, 337.
Marriage of, 47.
Regency of, 1S0.
Review by, 417.
Walcheren Expedition, Account of,
159, 160.
Citizens of London and, 161.
End of, 157.
George III. and, 161.
Walter, Mr., Proprietor of the
Times, 400.
War, Attempts to stop the. 128.
declared against Spain, 115.
France and Austria at, 116.
in Egypt, 2.
song, 81.
with France, Declaration of,
74-
Washington, George, Death of,
2.
Watch-house, The, 437.
Watchmen, Old London, 435.
Practical jokes on, 43S.
Water Colours, Associated artists
in, 375-
Water Colours, Exhibition of pain
ings in, 375.
supply, London, 212, 214.
Watering streets, 215.
Wedding-ring, Story of a, 281.
Weights of carriages, 188.
West, Benj., P.R.A., 370.
West India Docks Bill passed,
199.
Westell, Artist, 372.
Westmacott, Sir Richard, R.A,
474-
Y\ heat, Importation of, 28.
Prices of, 21, 35, 43.
Whip Club, Description of the,
1S9-191.
Whipping, Public, 440.
Whitworth, Lord, and his recall,
76.
Despatches from, 69-73.
insulted by Napoleon, 69.
Return of, 73.
Wife-selling, 282, 283.
Wilkes, Rev. J. H.Tooke a partizan,
37-
W iltshire, Riots in, 61.
Windsor, Bull baited at, 156.
Fete at, 154-156.
Ox and sheep roasted at, 155.
Wines, Prices of, 239.
Wolfe, Rev. Richard, Murder of,
102.
" Women to let," 284.
Workhouses, Parochial, 459.
YORK, Cardinal, A Pensioner of
George III., 134.
Death of, 134.
Duke of, Exculpation of, 430.
Resignation of, 432.
, York's, Duke of, letter to Speaker,
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