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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's
+Reign, by John Ashton
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign
+
+
+Author: John Ashton
+
+
+
+Release Date: December 13, 2009  [eBook #30665]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOSSIP IN THE FIRST DECADE OF
+VICTORIA'S REIGN***
+
+
+Transcribed from the 1903 Hurst and Blackett edition by David Price,
+email ccx074@pglaf.org
+
+                    [Picture: Susannah and the elders]
+
+
+
+
+
+                                  GOSSIP
+                          IN THE FIRST DECADE OF
+                             VICTORIA’S REIGN
+
+
+                                    By
+                               John Ashton
+                                AUTHOR OF
+                “_Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne_”
+
+                ILLUSTRATED BY REPRODUCTIONS FROM CARTOONS
+                            AND OTHER DRAWINGS
+
+                                  LONDON
+                       HURST AND BLACKETT, LIMITED
+                       13, Gt. Marlborough St., W.
+                                   1903
+
+                          _All rights reserved_
+
+                   PRINTED BY KELLY’S DIRECTORIES LTD.
+                           LONDON AND KINGSTON.
+
+                       [Picture: Decorative flower]
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+I have written this Gossip not only for the edification of those to whom
+a portion, more or less, may be news, but for those who, like myself,
+have lived through the whole of Queen Victoria’s reign, to whom the
+remembrance of things, almost forgotten, may bring pleasure and excite
+interest.  The items, herein displayed, have been gathered from many
+sources, and their authenticity is guaranteed by giving the name of the
+authority whence they were taken, in very many instances _ipsissima
+verba_, as paraphrasing would rob them of their freshness and
+individuality.  All the illustrations are contemporaneous, and, good or
+bad, belong to the text and should not be altered.
+
+                                                              JOHN ASHTON.
+
+                       [Picture: Decorative flower]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                       [Picture: Decorative flower]
+
+                              CHAPTER I.
+1837       The Queen’s Accession—Proclamation—Funeral of the         1
+           King—The Queen and Social Functions—Mr.
+           Montefiore—Amusing Letter—Electric
+           Telegraph—Knocker-wrenching: Amusements of the
+           Young Aristocracy
+                             CHAPTER II.
+           Thames Tunnel Flooded—First Mention of the Nelson        12
+           Column—Sale of the King’s Stud—Marriage by
+           Registrar—Commencement of New Houses of
+           Parliament—Lunatics and the Queen—The Queen’s
+           Visit to the Guildhall—Lord Beaconsfield’s Maiden
+           Speech
+                             CHAPTER III.
+1838       Destruction of the Royal Exchange—Sale of the            23
+           Salvage—Spring-heeled Jack and his Pranks—Lord
+           John Russell’s Hat
+                             CHAPTER IV.
+           Lords and Pugilists—“Penny Gaffs”—Steam between          34
+           England and America—A Man-Woman—Designs for
+           Nelson’s Monument—A Termagant—Scold’s Bridles, &c.
+                              CHAPTER V.
+           Thom, the Religious Fanatic—His Riots and                45
+           Death—Delusions of his Followers
+                             CHAPTER VI.
+           The Queen’s Coronation—The Carriages—The Fair and        53
+           Festivities in Hyde Park—The Marquis of
+           Waterford’s Drive: His Freaks at Melton
+           Mowbray—Steam Carriages—Dog Carriages—Grand Dinner
+           at Guildhall
+                             CHAPTER VII.
+           Genesis of the “Charter”—London and North-Western        65
+           Railway opened to Birmingham—Overland Route to
+           India—A Bold Smuggler—Visitors to the Queen—“The
+           Boy Jones”
+                            CHAPTER VIII.
+1839       Death of Lord Norbury—Birth of                           77
+           Photography—Experimental Street Pavements—Forecast
+           of the Queen’s Marriage—Sad Story of Lady Flora
+           Hastings—Story of a Climbing Boy—Van
+           Amburgh—Embanking the Thames—Victoria Park—Robbery
+           of Gold Dust
+                             CHAPTER IX.
+           Queen Elizabeth’s Statue—The Ladies of the               89
+           Bed-chamber—The Queen hissed at Ascot Races—Land
+           at Melbourne—Sunday Trading—New Way of Paying
+           Church Rates
+                              CHAPTER X.
+           The Eglinton Tournament—Sale of Armour, &c.—The         100
+           Queen of Beauty and the Cook—Newspapers and their
+           Sales
+                             CHAPTER XI.
+           The Chartists: Their going to Church—Dissolution        111
+           of the Convention—Approaching Marriage of the
+           Queen—The Queen and Lunatics—Raid on a Gaming
+           House—Act of Penance
+                             CHAPTER XII.
+1840       Commencement of Penny Post—Postage Stamps—Prince        118
+           Albert’s Allowance—_The Times_’ Comments on the
+           Marriage—Royal Wedding Cake—Louis Napoleon’s
+           Duel—Nelson Column—Noblemen’s Servants—Uproar at
+           the Royal Italian Opera House
+                            CHAPTER XIII.
+           The Mulready Envelope—Plans of Royal Exchange           130
+           decided on—Fire at York Minster—Queen shot at by
+           Oxford—Oxford in Bedlam—Scientific
+           Agriculture—Electro Metallurgy—Embossed
+           Envelopes—Sale of Louis Napoleon’s Effects
+                             CHAPTER XIV.
+           Lord Cardigan and the “Black Bottle” Case—Lord          142
+           Cardigan’s Duel with Lieut. Tuckett—Steam to
+           India—Nelson Column—Mormonism—“The Boy
+           Jones”—Napoleon’s Body transferred to France
+                             CHAPTER XV.
+1841       Death of Scott, “the American Diver”—Prince             152
+           Albert’s Ducking—Monster Cheese—“The Boy
+           Jones”—“Tracts for the Times”—Tract XC.—Earl of
+           Cardigan flogs a Soldier on Sunday—Dispute as to
+           the Discovery of the Electric Telegraph—Sale of
+           Shakspere Autograph—The Census—Astley’s
+           Amphitheatre Burnt—Behaviour of “Gentlemen”
+                             CHAPTER XVI.
+           Story of an Irish Informer—Steam Cars—Sale of           165
+           Vauxhall Gardens—First Jewish Baronet—New Railway
+           opened—High Tide—Fire at the Tower—Birth of Prince
+           of Wales: His Patent as such—The Thames at length
+           Tunnelled—Antiquities found in the Royal Exchange
+                            CHAPTER XVII.
+1842       Foundation of Royal Exchange laid—Medal connected       177
+           therewith—Father Mathew’s Miracle—Christening of
+           the Prince of Wales—King Edward VII.—Hard Work of
+           the King of Prussia—The Earthquake in London—The
+           Queen drinking “Grog”—Photography—Talbotype—Sale
+           at Strawberry Hill—Presents to the King of Prussia
+                            CHAPTER XVIII.
+           The Royal “Bal Costumé”—The Queen shot at by            187
+           Francis and by Bean—Duke of Cambridge’s
+           Star—Chartism—Income Tax—Female Chartist
+           Association—A Gipsy Trial—Closing of the Fleet
+           Prison—Married in a Sheet—Enormous Damages in a
+           Gambling Case
+                             CHAPTER XIX.
+1843       Murder of Mr. Drummond—Rebecca and her                  199
+           Daughters—Spread of the Movement through Wales—Its
+           End—Rebecca Dramatised—Rebecca in London
+                             CHAPTER XX.
+           Gretna Green Parsons—Number of Marriages—Chinese        209
+           Indemnity—Thames Tunnel—The Aerial
+           Machine—Treasure Trove—Accident to Mr.
+           Brunel—Arkwright’s Will—Secession in the Scotch
+           Church—The “Gent”—Shakspere’s Autograph
+                             CHAPTER XXI.
+           Exhibition of Cartoons—A Duel—Gambling—The “Albert      220
+           Hat”—Nelson’s Statue: Fun thereon—Soldier’s
+           Savings Banks—A Post Boy and Lord Mayor’s Show—M.
+           Jullien and his Orchestra—Prince Albert as a
+           Farmer—George IV.’s Statue—Ojibbeway Indians
+                            CHAPTER XXII.
+1844       A Child for Sale—Trial, &c. of Daniel                   232
+           O’Connell—General Tom Thumb: His Visit to the
+           Queen—The Polka—How to dance it—“Jullien’s Grand
+           Polka”
+                            CHAPTER XXIII.
+           An English Dinner—Consols at Par—The “Running           245
+           Rein” Case—Other Frauds—Royal Visitors—Opening
+           Letters by Government—Duke of Wellington’s
+           Statue—Barry on the Thames—Visit of Louis
+           Philippe—Guano—Queen opens Royal Exchange—Lord
+           Mayor Hissed
+                            CHAPTER XXIV.
+1845       Murder by Tawell—Curious Story—Statue of King           256
+           William IV.—Visits by the Queen—Testimonial to
+           Rowland Hill—Breaking the Portland Vase—Sad End of
+           William Austin—Sale of Van Amburgh’s
+           Stud—Hungerford Suspension Bridge—Accident at
+           Yarmouth—An Excise Case—Beginning of the Railway
+           Mania—Sailing of Sir John Franklin
+                             CHAPTER XXV.
+           The Queen’s Costume Ball—Copper Coinage of William      267
+           IV.—New Oxford Street opened—Sale of Napoleon
+           Relics—Story of Nelson’s Coat—Visit of the King of
+           the Netherlands—Railway Speculation—Hire of
+           Newspapers—Reverse of Fortune—Prince Albert and
+           his Taxes—Waghorn’s Overland Route
+                            CHAPTER XXVI.
+           The Railway Mania—Deposit of Plans                      277
+                            CHAPTER XXVII.
+1846       Collapse of the Railway Mania—Sheriffs’                 284
+           Officers—Hudson, the Railway King—First “Ethiopian
+           Serenaders”—The Nigger Minstrel Craze—Commencement
+           of Irish Famine—“The Battle of the Gauges”—Railway
+           Surveyors—Suicide of Haydon, the Painter
+                           CHAPTER XXVIII.
+           The Last Post Office Bell-man—The “Corn Law”            296
+           Act—Sir Walter Scott’s Monument—The Irish
+           Famine—The Duke of Wellington’s Statue—Gun
+           Cotton—Introduction of Ether—Model Dwelling
+           Houses—Baths and Washhouses—Smithfield Cattle
+           Market—“The Bull Fight of Smithfield”—The first
+           Submarine Telegraph
+                            CHAPTER XXIX.
+1847       Medals for the Army and Navy—Grenville Library—Day      307
+           of Fasting—“Binding of Satan”—Suspension of
+           Transportation—New House of Lords—Jenny Lind—_Bunn
+           v. Lind_—“Jenny Linden”—Death of O’Connell—Story
+           of the Duke of Buccleugh—Abolition of Eton
+           “Montem”
+
+                       [Picture: Decorative flower]
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+                       [Picture: Decorative flower]
+
+Susannah and the Elders                               (_Frontispiece_)
+Suggested Monument to the Marquis of Waterford                       7
+Spring-heeled Jack                                                  31
+Death of Sir William Courtenay (_Thom_)                             48
+“Child’s Play”                                                      94
+The Eglinton Tournament                                            107
+The Mulready Envelope                                              131
+The Mulready Envelope (_H. B. Caricature_)                         132
+Rebecca and her Daughters                                          201
+“The Gent”                                                         216
+Prince Albert’s Studio                                             223
+Nelson’s Statue                                                    224
+M. Jullien                                                         229
+Prince Albert, the British Farmer                                  230
+“Repeal” Button                                                    233
+O’Connell’s Cap                                                    234
+Tom Thumb                                                          236
+The Stage Polka (_Three Illustrations_)                            238
+The Drawing Room Polka (_Three Illustrations_)               240–41–42
+Barry, the Clown, on the Thames                                    252
+Railway Speculators                                                262
+The March of Speculation                                           276
+Deposit of Railway Plans                                           282
+Sheriffs’ Officers                                                 288
+The Original Ethiopian Serenaders                                  289
+Lablache, Mario, and Tamburini                                     291
+The Last Post Office Bell-man                                      297
+Wonderful effects of Ether in a case of a                          302
+Scolding Wife
+The Bull Fight of Smithfield                                       303
+Eton “Montem” Costumes                                             314
+
+                       [Picture: Decorative flower]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+                       [Picture: Decorative flower]
+
+The Queen’s Accession—Proclamation—Funeral of the King—The Queen and
+social functions—Mr. Montefiore—Amusing letter—Electric telegraph—Knocker
+wrenching—Amusements of the young aristocracy.
+
+King William the Fourth was as sincerely fond of his niece, Alexandrina
+Victoria, as he cordially detested her mother, and he earnestly hoped
+that she might obtain her majority, which took place on the 24th of May,
+1837, before he died, for he had a horror of the Duchess of Kent having
+even the shadowy power of a Regent.  Greville, in his _Memoirs_, writing
+on 23rd of May, says: “The King prayed that he might live till the
+Princess Victoria was of age, and he was very nearly dying just as the
+event arrived.  He is better, but supposed to be in a very precarious
+state.  There has been a fresh squabble between Windsor and Kensington
+about a proposed allowance to the Princess.”
+
+The old King lived but a very short time after the desired event, for he
+expired at 2.12 on the morning of the 20th of June, 1837, and how the sad
+news was broken to the young Sovereign may best be told in the words of
+that mine of anecdote, Miss Frances Williams Wynn, the daughter of Sir
+Watkin Williams Wynn (the fourth baronet):
+
+    “On Monday we were listening all day for the tolling of the bells,
+    watching whether the guests were going to the Waterloo dinner at
+    Apsley House.  On Tuesday, at 2½ a.m., the scene closed, and in a
+    very short time the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham, the
+    Chamberlain, set out to announce the event to their young Sovereign.
+    They reached Kensington Palace at about five; they knocked, they
+    rang, they thumped for a considerable time before they could rouse
+    the porter at the gates; they were again kept waiting in the
+    courtyard, then turned into one of the lower rooms, where they seemed
+    forgotten by everybody.  They rang the bell, desiring that the
+    attendant of the Princess Victoria might be sent to inform H.R.H.
+    that they requested an audience on business of importance.  After
+    another delay, and another ringing to enquire the cause, the
+    attendant was summoned, who stated that the _Princess_ was in such a
+    sweet sleep, she could not venture to disturb her.  Then they said,
+    ‘We come to the _Queen_ on business of State, and even her sleep must
+    give way to that.’  It did; and, to prove that _she_ did not keep
+    them waiting, in a few minutes she came into the room in a loose
+    white night-gown and shawl, her nightcap thrown off, and her hair
+    falling upon her shoulders, her feet in slippers, tears in her eyes,
+    but perfectly collected and dignified.”
+
+Lord Melbourne was summoned to Kensington Palace by the Queen at 9 a.m.,
+and a Privy Council was called for 11 a.m., but the notice was so short
+that several of the Privy Councillors had no time to put on their
+official costume, and were obliged to attend in undress.  Amongst others
+who made their appearance at Court in this novel fashion were the Duke of
+Cumberland (then, by the fact of the King’s death, King of Hanover) and
+Lord Glenelg.
+
+The Queen was proclaimed the next day, but there is no need to detail the
+ceremony, as we have all experienced a similar scene lately.  The
+existing ministry was retained, and things settled down in their places,
+yet not quite all at once, for _The Western Luminary_, a paper long since
+defunct, says, “In one writ which came down to this city, a ludicrous
+mistake was made in the date, as follows: ‘In the year of Our Lady 1837,’
+instead of ‘Our Lord.’”  And the Royal Arms had to be altered from those
+borne by Her Majesty’s five predecessors.  Being a female, they had to be
+borne on a lozenge, instead of a shield; the crest of a lion surmounting
+a crown was discontinued, as was also the escutcheon of pretence bearing
+the arms of Hanover, surmounted by the crown of that country.
+
+The preparations for the funeral of the late King were at once commenced;
+and, in connection therewith, I cannot help quoting from _The Times_’
+Windsor Correspondent (28 June): “In the platform erected for the
+interment of George IV., there were more than 70,000 superficial feet of
+boarding, and 49,000 feet of quartering.  The quantity of black cloth
+used for covering the floor of, and the roof over, amounted to more than
+10,000 yards.  I understand that, after the interment, it becomes the
+perquisite of the clergy of the chapel, as do, also, many of the
+decorative ornaments placed on, and suspended over, the coffin.  You
+will, perhaps, recollect what some people would willingly have you
+forget—I mean the squabbling which occurred respecting the velvet cushion
+upon which the coronet of the late Princess Charlotte rested at her
+funeral, and the scramble which took place for the real or supposed baton
+of the Duke of York, on the occasion of his burial.  Care was taken to
+prevent the occurrence of any such indecent proceedings at the funeral of
+George IV., and, hence, I do not anticipate any such scenes on the
+present occasion.”
+
+The King was buried with great pomp on the night of the 8th of July, the
+Duke of Sussex being chief mourner, and Queen Adelaide occupying the
+Royal Closet.  At the close of the ceremony, the members of the
+procession, who were much fatigued by the toil they had undergone and by
+the sultry heat of the chapel, proceeded to quit as quickly and as
+quietly as possible, but nothing like order was observed in the return to
+the Palace.  In fact, it was, for a considerable time, a scene of
+indescribable confusion.  Arrangements had been made, by orders of the
+Earl Marshal, for the places at which the carriages of those who had to
+take part in the procession were to set down and take up; but, owing to
+the immense number of the carriages, the ignorance of many of the
+coachmen as to the prescribed regulations, and the obstinacy of others,
+the rules very soon became a dead letter, and every man seemed disposed
+to take his own way.  This, as might be expected, caused such confusion
+that it was long past midnight before anything like order was restored.
+There were smashed panels and broken windows in abundance, but no serious
+accidents were recorded.
+
+The Queen soon had plenty of business on her hands, and on 30th June she
+gave her assent to forty Bills, one of which (a remarkably short one),
+the 7 Gul., iv. and i. Vic., c. 23, enacted: “That from and after the
+passing of this Act, Judgment shall not be given and awarded against any
+Person or Persons convicted of any Offence that such Person or Persons do
+stand in, or upon the Pillory.”  Owing to the recent change in
+Sovereigns, there were a few slips in “Her Majesty,” and “La Reine le
+veult.”  On the 13th July the Queen and her mother left Kensington Palace
+and took up their residence in Buckingham Palace.  On the 17th, the Queen
+dissolved Parliament in person, dressed in white satin, decorated with
+gold and jewels, wearing the Order of the Garter and a rich diadem and
+necklace of diamonds.  She bore the function remarkably well, although
+one evening paper said that “Her emotion was plainly discernible in the
+rapid heaving of her bosom, and the brilliancy of her diamond stomacher,
+which sparkled out occasionally from the dark recess in which the throne
+was placed, like the sun on the swell of the smooth ocean, as the billows
+rise and fall”!  On the 19th July she held her first levée, and on the
+20th her first drawing room.
+
+Having dutifully chronicled the doings of Royalty, let us do the same by
+meaner folk.  On 24th June, Mr. Moses Montefiore, the celebrated Jewish
+philanthropist, who lived over one hundred years, was elected Sheriff of
+London, and, on the 9th Nov. following, he received the honour of
+Knighthood.  He was the first Jew who ever served the office of Sheriff,
+or who had been made a Knight, in England.
+
+Of course, there were no Board Schools in those days, and education was
+somewhat lax, but it will do no harm to note a piece of orthography,
+which will show the standard at which the middle lower class had then
+arrived.  It is copied from _The Times_ of 29 June, 1837.  “(_From an
+Evening Paper_)—Last autumn, Mrs. C---, of London, during a visit to ---
+House, in the West of Scotland, called one day, along with some other
+ladies, in the family carriage, at the Golden Arms Inn, of a sea bathing
+place on the coast, and stopped for about an hour.  Some time after the
+party had returned to D--- House, Mrs. C--- discovered that she had lost
+a very fine boa, which she supposed she must have left at the Inn.  On
+enquiry, no trace of the boa could be found; but, about two months after
+Mrs. C---’s return to London, she received a parcel with a boa somewhat
+torn, accompanied by the accompanying (_sic_) epistle, which we give as
+rather a curiosity of its kind:—
+
+                                           “Golden Arms Inn—29 Oct., 1836.
+
+    “Mrs. C---, London,
+
+    “MADUM,—I was sorry to heer that when you lost your Bowa in my huse,
+    that the Bowa was stole by my sarvant lasses; and the sarvants at
+    D--- House spred a report against my huses karakter, which no person
+    ever questioned afore.  My wiffe, Peggy, was muckle vexed at the
+    report, and sershed the trunks of all the lasses, but did not find
+    your Bowa; she fund in Jenny McTavish’s kist half a pund of tea which
+    Jenny had stole from my wiffes cupboard.  Jenny denied taking your
+    Bowa; but not doubting that you would tell a lee, and as Jenny tuke
+    the tea, my wife thocht she must have taken your Bowa too, so I
+    turned off Jeny for your satisfaction.  She went home to her mithers
+    house in ---, and four Sundays after, wha should be cocken in the
+    breist of the laft, all set round with ribbons in her heed, but Miss
+    Jeny with your Bowa on her shoulders, like a sow with a saddle on its
+    back.  I stopped her coming out of the kirk.  So So, Miss Jeny (says
+    I) hae ye stumped the cow of her tale, or is this the ladies Bowa ye
+    have on your sholders?  The brazen faced woman had the impudence to
+    deny the Bowa was yours, and said her sweetheart had bot it for her
+    in a secondhand shop in the Salt Market of Glasgow.  But I cut
+    matters short wi’ Jeny; I een, as if by your authority, tuke the law
+    in my own hand, and tore the Bowa from her sholders; it was torn a
+    little in the scuffle wi’ Jeny and me afore the congregation in the
+    kirk yard, but I carried it off in spite of her, and now send it to
+    you, hopping you will put a letter in the newspaper of Lundon
+    cleering the karacter of me and my wiffe Peggy, and my Inn of the
+    Golden Arms.  As for Miss Jeny ye may mak her as black as auld nick,
+    for over and above Peggies half pund of tea, and your Bowa, Jeny (I
+    hae good reason to believe) is no better than she should be.  I am,
+    Madum, your vera humbel sarvint,
+
+                                                               “John ---.”
+
+It will hardly be credited that at the commencement of 1837 there was
+only one railway running out of London, and that was the Greenwich
+railway, which, however, only went as far as Deptford, where it deposited
+its passengers in the midst of market gardens, leaving them to walk or
+ride to Greenwich.  But there were several running in the midlands (six
+railways in all England), and what was then called “The Grand Junction
+Railway,” from Liverpool to Birmingham, was opened on the 4th July of
+this year.  Cognate with railways is the practical working of the
+Electric Telegraph, now so necessary to their being.  On 12 June, 1837, a
+patent was granted (No. 7390) to William Fothergill Cooke, of Breeds
+Place, Hastings, and Charles Wheatstone, of Conduit Street, Hanover
+Square, for their invention of “Improvements in giving signals and
+sounding alarums at distant places by means of electric currents
+transmitted through metallic circuits.”  This hitherto scientific toy was
+first tried on 25 July by permission of the London and North Western
+Railway (then in progress) between Euston and Camden Town stations, and
+its successful operation was witnessed with delight by Fox and R.
+Stephenson, amongst many others.
+
+A great feature in this year was the “Tom and Jerryism” (so called from
+Pierce Egan’s “Life in London,” 1821) that existed, especially among the
+upper class of young men.  Foremost of all was the Marquis of Waterford,
+whose delight was in the company of prize fighters, _et hoc genus omne_,
+and whose idea of amusement consisted in visiting the lowest public
+houses, and treating everybody with liquor, even pails full of gin being
+distributed to whoever would partake of it—being never so happy as when
+the debauch ended in a fight.  Knocker wrenching and similar pranks were
+his delight, and _Punch_, at the very commencement of vol. i., gives a
+suggestion for a monument to him.  His pranks would fill a volume, and in
+August of this year (during a yachting trip), whilst at Bergen, he
+received a blow on the head from a stalwart watchman that nearly killed
+him.
+
+              [Picture: Punch, vol. I., p. 14.  July, 1841]
+
+Here is a specimen police case.  _Times_, 10 _July_, 1837:
+
+    BOW STREET.—On Saturday (8th July) three persons were brought before
+    Mr. Minshull, charged with twisting knockers off hall doors,
+    assaulting the police, and other disorderly conduct; and, it having
+    been rumoured that one of the parties charged was the Marquis of
+    Waterford, a great crowd of persons assembled in front of the Office
+    to catch a glimpse of his Lordship.  It proved, however, that the
+    gentleman alluded to was not the noble Marquis himself, but his
+    brother, Lord William Beresford, who gave the name of Charles
+    Ferguson.  Two other persons were placed in the dock besides his
+    Lordship, one of whom gave the name of Edward Hammersley, of 41, St.
+    James’s Street, and the other, who was equipped in the garb of a
+    waterman, said his name was George Elliott, and that he was his
+    Lordship’s coxswain.
+
+    William Dodds, a police constable of the E division, No. 9, then
+    stated that he was on duty in Museum Street, between 1 and 2, on the
+    previous night, when he saw the two gentlemen at the bar go up to the
+    house, No. 49, and wrench the knocker from the door.  Witness
+    expostulated with them, and, seeing another knocker in the hand of
+    the prisoner Elliott, he took him by the collar, upon which the
+    prisoner Hammersley dropped the knocker which he had just carried
+    off.  The prisoner Ferguson then came up, and said, “It’s all right,
+    old boy,” and offered him money, which witness refused to take.  The
+    two gentlemen then ran away, but were soon apprehended, witness still
+    retaining hold of Elliott.  They were then conveyed to the police
+    station, where Ferguson refused to be searched, declaring that he
+    would not submit to such a rascally degradation, and, having said so,
+    he struck witness.  The prisoners were then locked up.
+
+    Mr. William Gibson, of 49, Museum Street, proved that one of the
+    knockers produced belonged to him, and had been wrenched off his
+    street door.
+
+    Ferguson, in his defence, said he had been up the river on a boating
+    excursion, and had taken “rather too much wine.”  The other two
+    prisoners also pleaded having taken a drop too much.
+
+    Mr. Minshull observed that there were two charges against Ferguson,
+    whom he should consider as the principal offender, and should fine
+    him £5 for unlawful possession of one of the knockers, and £5 for
+    assaulting the police constable in the execution of his duty.  He
+    should not fine the other two.
+
+    Ferguson said he had no objection to pay £5 for the knocker, but, as
+    he denied the assault, he should appeal against the fine.
+
+    Mr. Minshull informed him that there was no appeal in the case, but
+    he intimated that Mr. Ferguson might go to prison, if he pleased,
+    instead of paying the fine.
+
+    Ferguson: Oh, there’s no occasion for that; I shall pay the fine.
+
+    Mr. Minshull then desired him to come round in front of the bench,
+    and said to him: “I dare say, Sir, you have money enough at your
+    disposal, but I pray you not to entertain the notion that you can
+    therefore do as you think fit in the streets of this metropolis,
+    either by night, or by day.  You were brought before me, recently,
+    for a similar offence, when I fined you £5, and I now warn you, that
+    if you should again appear before me, under circumstances like the
+    present, I shall, most assuredly, feel it to be my duty, not to
+    inflict a pecuniary fine upon you—for that is no punishment to a
+    person in your station—but I shall send you, at once, as I am
+    authorized to do, to hard labour in the House of Correction, and you
+    will then see that neither rank, nor riches, can entitle you to the
+    privilege of committing depredations upon the property of peaceable
+    and industrious persons, or of disturbing the peace and quiet of this
+    town with impunity.”
+
+The noble Lord was then handed over to the custody of the gaoler, and his
+two companions were discharged.  It appeared that he had not sufficient
+money about him to pay the fines, but his brother, the Marquis of
+Waterford, after visiting him in “durance vile,” released him from his
+ignoble captivity by paying the fines.
+
+On the same day, his brother, Lord James Beresford, was arrested for
+disgusting behaviour, and two “young men of genteel appearance,” who gave
+false names, were taken in custody by the police for maliciously
+upsetting a shell-fish stall.
+
+One more illustration of the amusements and behaviour of the _jeunesse
+dorée_ of that period will suffice.  _Times_, 25 _Nov._
+
+    MARLBOROUGH STREET.—Lord Harley, of Chester Place, Capt. W. E.
+    Reynolds, of Jermyn Street, and Mr. Charles Lushington, of Tavistock
+    Hotel, were on Thursday (23 Nov.) brought before Mr. Chambers,
+    charged with having practised the fashionable amusement of ringing
+    door bells.
+
+    Mr. Young, surgeon, Piccadilly, said, about 5 o’clock that morning he
+    was roused by a violent ringing at his bell.  He answered the summons
+    immediately.
+
+    Capt. Reynolds: It’s a --- lie.  You have committed perjury.
+
+    Mr. Lushington (to the complainant): You are a --- liar.  The fact
+    is, I hurt my fingers and wanted some diachylum plaister, and I
+    therefore rang the bell of the first surgeon I came to.  This is the
+    truth.  So help me, God.
+
+    Mr. Young continued: When he got to the door, he found that all the
+    three defendants had gone away; and he immediately followed them, and
+    demanded their reason for disturbing him.  The defendants turned upon
+    him, and made use of language and epithets which he would not pollute
+    his lips by repeating.
+
+    Capt. Reynolds (shaking his stick at the witness): I wish I had you
+    elsewhere.
+
+    Mr. Lushington: I’d roll you in the kennel, if it was worth while.
+
+    Mr. Young continued: The altercation attracted the notice of the
+    police, and witness gave them into custody.  When they got to the
+    station house, and witness was proceeding to make the charge, the
+    defendants repeated their disgusting epithets and language.
+
+    It is impossible to do more than to remark that the language was of a
+    description hitherto presumed to be confined to the vilest class of
+    the community.
+
+    Mr. Young added that all the defendants appeared to be intoxicated.
+
+    Lord Harley: I beg pardon, I was sober.
+
+    Inspector Beresford was sworn to the fact.
+
+    Inspector: His Lordship was more intoxicated than the others.
+
+    Mr. Lushington (falling on his knees, and holding up his hands): I
+    was not drunk this night—so help me, C---t.
+
+    The Inspector swore that none of the defendants were sober.
+
+    Mr. Lushington: The case shall be carried to a higher court.
+
+    Mr. Chambers: Then, to give you an opportunity of taking your case
+    elsewhere, I shall make you all find bail; and Mr. Young, if he
+    pleases, may prefer an indictment against you.
+
+    Mr. Chambers asked Mr. Lushington if he was a relative of Dr.
+    Lushington, {10} and received a reply in the affirmative.
+
+    Capt. Reynolds said, if his language had been offensive towards the
+    bench, he was sorry for having used it.
+
+    Mr. Chambers said, personally, he was indifferent to the language
+    used to him.
+
+    The parties having left the box, Mr. Young told Mr. Chambers that he
+    had no wish to press the case further.  He wished an arrangement
+    could be made, so that the bench could decide the matter summarily.
+
+    The defendants were acquainted with this very handsome conduct on the
+    part of the complainant, and, after some discussion, Capt. Reynolds
+    and Mr. Lushington agreed to pay £5 each to a charity.
+
+    Lord Harley was fined 5/- for being intoxicated.
+
+    When Mr. Chambers was inflicting the latter fine, he said to Lord
+    Harley that he hoped he would exert his influence, if he had any,
+    with some members of the Legislature, to get the fine for drunkenness
+    increased to £1 where the party was a gentleman.
+
+    The defendants paid the fines, and went away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+Thames Tunnel flooded—First mention of the Nelson column—Moustaches—Sale
+of the King’s stud—Marriage by Registrar—Commencement of New Houses of
+Parliament—Lunatics and the Queen—The Queen’s visit to the Guildhall—Lord
+Beaconsfield’s maiden speech.
+
+Nowadays very little is thought of making a tunnel under the Thames, but
+the first one, designed and carried out by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, was
+regarded, and rightly so, as a most wonderful feat of engineering.  One
+was proposed in 1799, and a shaft was sunk in 1804, but the work went no
+further.  The one now spoken of was approved by Act of Parliament 24
+June, 1824, and the shaft was begun and the first brick laid on 2 March,
+1825.  It suffered several times from irruptions of water; one, on 18
+May, 1827; another, in which six lives were lost, on 12 Jan. 1828.  In
+1837 there were two irruptions, the first taking place on 23 August, and
+it is thus described by one of Brunel’s assistants: “We were at work
+about two o’clock on Wednesday, when we found the water coming in faster
+than usual.  At first, we observed a quantity of loose sand falling near
+the gallery, which changed to thin, muddy drops.  This convinced us that
+the _stratum_ in which the men were working was bad, loose soil.  The
+increase of water made it necessary to withdraw the men, which was done
+by a passage under the crown of the arch, made for their safety in case
+of accidents.  No injury was sustained by any of the men.  I was not
+satisfied, at the time, of the real extent of the bad soil, and I ordered
+a boat to be brought, with a rope of sufficient length to enable us to
+float to the shield.  The boat was brought, but the rope attached to it,
+and by which we were to be hauled into the shaft, was shorter than we had
+ordered it.  This deficiency probably saved our lives.  We had not
+proceeded far in the boat when I perceived, by the twinkling of the
+lights in the tunnel, and other indications of inundation, that the
+waters came in with increased rapidity.  I then gave the signal to be
+hauled into the shaft, and had scarcely done so when I observed the
+ground above give way, and the water descending in a thousand streams,
+like a cascade, or the Falls of Niagara.  We were rescued, but, had the
+rope by which we were relieved from our perilous situation been of a
+length to allow the boat to go to the extremity of the tunnel, in all
+probability we should have been drowned.  This happened about four
+o’clock, and, soon after five, the tunnel was entirely filled.  No lives
+were lost.  The only injury done is the suspension of the works.  The
+steam engine, when the leak is stopped, will throw out a ton of water per
+minute; and, in three days and nights, the whole of the tunnel may be
+pumped dry.”
+
+The second irruption, on 3 Nov., also filled the Tunnel, but on this
+occasion one man lost his life.
+
+In the _Times_ of 9 Sep. of this year I find the first suggestion of a
+monument to Nelson, in Trafalgar Square:
+
+    “Sir, I observe in your paper of Tuesday last, that a correspondent
+    has commented upon the proposed plan for laying out Trafalgar Square.
+
+    “Allow me to suggest through your columns the favourable opportunity
+    and most appropriate situation, now afforded, of erecting in the
+    centre of the Square some worthy trophy, or statue, commemorating the
+    glorious victories of the immortal Nelson.  Whilst other great
+    commanders and statesmen are honoured with suitable public monuments
+    to their fame, surely the British nation would be eager, if called
+    on, to pay this tribute to the valour, intrepidity and success of
+    this illustrious hero.  Yours, etc.—J. B.”
+
+In those days every man went clean shaven, or only had side whiskers, a
+full beard being unknown, and moustaches were confined to foreigners and
+to a few cavalry regiments, so that for a working man to sport them
+(although now so exceedingly common) would probably lead to derision and
+persecution, as in the following police case reported in the _Times_ of
+21 Sep.:
+
+    MARLBOROUGH STREET.—Yesterday, a young man, “bearded like the pard,”
+    who said he was a carpenter employed on the London and Birmingham
+    Railroad, applied to Mr. Rawlinson, the sitting magistrate, for an
+    assault warrant, under the following ludicrous circumstances:
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: What do you want the warrant for?
+
+    Applicant: I’ll tell your worship, and you’ll say it’s the most
+    haggrawating and provoking thing as ever was heard on.  Veil, then, I
+    goes to my vork, as usual, this ’ere morning, ven one of my shopmates
+    said to me, “Bill, you arn’t shaved your hupper lip lately.”  “Don’t
+    mean it,” says I.  “Vy?” says he.  “’Cos,” I replied, “I intends
+    vearing mustachios to look like a gentleman.”  “Vell, then,” says he,
+    “as you intends to become a fashionable gentleman, p’raps you’ll have
+    no objection to forfeit half-a-gallon of ale, as it’s a rule here
+    that every workman vot sports mustachios, to have them vetted a bit.”
+    Veil, has I refused to have my mustachios christened, they made game
+    of them, and said they weren’t half fledged; and, more nor all that,
+    they hustled me about, and stole my dinner out of the pot, and
+    treated me shameful, and so I want your advice respecting my
+    mustachios.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: My advice is, to go to a barber and have them shaved
+    off without loss of time.
+
+    Applicant: Can’t part with a single hair.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: You want to look like a grenadier, I suppose?
+
+    Applicant: My granny-dear (God bless her old soul!), she never had
+    such a fashionable and warlike appendage in her life.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: What business has a carpenter with a quantity of long
+    hair hanging from his lip?
+
+    Applicant: The reason vy I vears it is ’cos it’s fashionable, and
+    makes me look like a man of some courage.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: Fashionable, indeed!  I wish, with all my heart, that
+    the fashion was discontinued.  Why need an Englishman make a Jew of
+    himself?  It is disgusting to see persons strutting through the
+    streets with mustachios, and, sometimes, a fringe of hair round the
+    face and chin, which is dignified by the name of whiskers.  As you
+    won’t take my advice, I can’t assist you.
+
+    Applicant: Vot! not for striking me on the hupper lip?
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: Then your mustachios must have saved you.
+
+    Applicant: No, they didn’t.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: How’s that?
+
+    Applicant: ’Cos the hair ain’t long and thick enough; they’re only
+    young ’uns as yet.  There was no occasion to strike me.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: And there’s no occasion for you to wear mustachios.
+    You may have a warrant, if you like, but I think you had better not.
+
+    The man with mustachios then withdrew.
+
+The late King’s stud at Hampton was doomed to be sold, and the sale
+thereof created something of a sensation.  On this subject there is, in a
+little twopenny weekly magazine, called _The Torch_, 9 Sep., ’37 (vol.
+i., p. 19), a periodical now long forgotten, a poem by Tom Hood, which I
+have not seen in any collection of his poems.  It is a
+
+
+
+PETITION TO HER MAJESTY FOR PRESERVING THE ROYAL STUD AT HAMPTON COURT.
+
+
+                             BY THOMAS HOOD.
+
+                                      I.
+
+    LIEGE LADY, all the nation’s in high dud-
+       geon that Lord Melbourne’s brains should be so muddy
+    As to advise you sell your royal _stud_,
+       Which to preserve, should be your royal study.
+
+                                     II.
+
+    Poor nags you would not in your stable find,
+       Like cavalry of Evans called De Lacey,
+    No!  I do rather hope your royal mind
+       Is naturally fond of something racy.
+
+                                     III.
+
+    Pray, what has Hampton done that you should trounce ill-
+       naturedly its prancers and its sport?
+    You have a breed of _asses_ in the _Council_,
+       Do keep a breed of _horses_ in the _Court_.
+
+                                     IV.
+
+    His truth who says that you should sell them, fails.
+       Believe me, Lady liege, he tells a crammer;
+    You’ll set your people biting all their _nails_,
+       If you put up your horses to the _hammer_.
+
+                                      V.
+
+    I like these money-turning Whigs, indeed;
+       Who, into coin, change everything they’re able.
+    You’re just installed, and they would sell _the steed_,
+       It doesn’t make me think they’re very _stable_.
+
+                                     VI.
+
+    I daresay they believe they’re very knowing,
+       I think they’re close to their official shelves:
+    And, when they set the horses “Going, going,”
+       It’s nearly time they should be gone themselves.
+
+                                     VII.
+
+    The nation quite in Hampton Court rejoices,
+       What! sell its stud of steeds beyond all praise!
+    _Nay_, shout the people with indignant voices,
+       And the stud echoes with a hundred _neighs_.
+
+                                    VIII.
+
+    Then sell them not, dear lady, I implore ye;
+       Of tears ’twill set your people shedding floods;—
+    I tell ye what will make ’em all adore ye,—
+       Kick out your ministers and keep your bloods!
+
+But Hood must have laboured under a misapprehension, for the horses were
+the private property of the late King, and his executors had no option
+but to sell them.  It was said that William IV. in his lifetime wished
+the country to take the stud over, at a valuation, and, after his death,
+it was offered to Queen Victoria for £16,000.  The sale took place on
+Oct. 25, and there were 80 lots, which did not fetch particularly high
+prices, the highest being “The Colonel,” who was bought, after winning
+the St. Leger, by George IV. for 4,000 guineas; but the horse broke down
+after running a dead heat at Ascot in 1831.  He only realised 1,150
+guineas, and was bought by the auctioneer, Mr. Tattersall.  The next
+highest price given was for “Actæon,” which fetched 920 guineas.  The
+total proceeds of the sale was 15,692 guineas.
+
+In October a great change was made in the matter of marriage, which had,
+hitherto, been a purely ecclesiastical affair, but by the 6 & 7 Gul. iv.,
+cap. 85, Registrars of births and deaths were empowered to marry couples,
+and it became a purely civil contract.  This Act was to have come into
+force on the first day of March; but a subsequent Act postponed it to the
+last day of June, and it really only became effective in October.  It
+surprised people by its simplicity, and the gist of the Act is in Section
+xx.: “And be it enacted, That after the expiration of the said Period of
+Twenty-one Days or of Seven Days, if the Marriage is by Licence,
+Marriages may be solemnized in the registered Building stated as
+aforesaid in the notice of such Marriage, between and by the Parties
+described in the Notice and Certificate, according to such form and
+ceremony as they may see fit to adopt: Provided nevertheless, that every
+such Marriage shall be solemnized with open doors, between the Hours of
+Eight and Twelve in the Forenoon, in the Presence of some Registrar of
+the District in which such registered Building is situated, and of Two,
+or more, credible Witnesses; provided also, that in some Part of the
+Ceremony, and in the Presence of such Registrar and Witnesses, each of
+the Parties shall declare:
+
+“‘I do solemnly declare, That I know not of any lawful Impediment why I,
+A. B., may not be joined in Matrimony to C. D.’
+
+“And each of the Parties shall say to the other:
+
+“‘I call upon these Persons here present to witness that I, A. B., do
+take thee, C. D., to be my lawful wedded Wife [or Husband].’
+
+“Provided also, that there be no lawful Impediment to the Marriage of
+such Parties.”
+
+The old House of Commons was destroyed by fire on 16 Oct., 1834, and it
+was not until September, 1837, that the first contracts for the
+commencement of the construction of the new works, in connection with the
+present building, were entered into.  They were for the formation of an
+embankment 886 feet in length, projecting into the river 98 feet further
+than that then existing, to be faced with granite, and a terrace 673 feet
+long next the river, and 35 feet wide, in front of the new Houses, with
+an esplanade at each end 100 feet square, with landing stairs from the
+river 12 feet wide.  The whole surface of the front building was to be
+excavated, and filled in with concrete 12 feet thick, thus forming a
+permanent and solid foundation for the superstructure.  Towards the end
+of this year, the Queen was somewhat pestered with lunatics.  On Nov. 4,
+as she was going through Birdcage Walk on her return from Brighton, a man
+of respectable appearance went near the Queen’s carriage, held up his
+fist, and made use of most insulting language towards Her Majesty and the
+Duchess of Kent, declaring that the Queen was an usurper, and he would
+have her off her Throne before a week was out.  He was afterwards
+arrested, and turned out to be Mr. John Goode, a gentleman of large
+property in Devonshire, who had been previously in custody on 24th of May
+(Her Majesty’s birthday) for creating a disturbance and forcibly entering
+the enclosure of Kensington Palace.  He was taken before the Privy
+Council, and when examined, declared that he was a son of George IV. and
+Queen Caroline, born at Montague House, Blackheath, and that, if he could
+but get hold of the Queen, he would tear her in pieces.  He was told to
+find bail, himself in £1,000, and two sureties of £500 each; but these
+not being forthcoming, he was sent to prison.  On entering the hackney
+coach, he instantly smashed the windows with his elbows, and screamed out
+to the sentinels: “Guards of England, do your duty, and rescue your
+Sovereign.”  He was, after a very short imprisonment, confined in a
+lunatic asylum.
+
+The other case was a German baker, but he only uttered threats against
+the Queen and her mother, and he, too, was put in an asylum.
+
+A great event, and a very grand sight, was the Queen’s visit to the City
+of London on 9 Nov., when Alderman Cowan inaugurated his mayoralty.  The
+Queen went in State, attended by all her Court, her Ministers, the
+Judges, etc.  The procession started from Buckingham Palace soon after 2
+p.m. and reached Guildhall about 3.30.
+
+The interior of the Guildhall was “exceeding magnifical.”  There was a
+canopy of carved gilt, with draperies of crimson velvet and gold fringe
+and tassels, its interior, being also of crimson velvet, was relieved by
+ornaments in silver and a radiated oval of white satin with golden rays.
+The back was fluted in white satin, enriched with the Royal Arms in
+burnished gold.  The State chair was covered with crimson velvet with the
+Royal Arms and Crown, with the rose, thistle and shamrock tastefully
+interwoven.
+
+At each end of the Hall, the walls were covered with immense plates of
+looking-glass.  The window at the eastern end of the Hall, above the
+throne, having been removed, a gigantic wooden framework was substituted,
+on which was erected a gorgeous piece of gas illumination.  Above the
+mouldings of the windows, and over the City Arms, waved the Royal
+Standard and the Union Jack.  Above was the Royal cypher, V.R., in very
+large characters, surmounted by the appropriate word “Welcome,” the whole
+being encircled by an immense wreath of laurels, which terminated, at the
+lower extremity of the framework, with the rose, thistle and shamrock.
+Over the clock at the western end, and reaching nearly the whole breadth
+of the Hall, with Gog and Magog on the right and left, was placed an
+immense stack of armour, with upwards of 30 furled flags as an
+appropriate background.  Immediately above was the magnificently radiated
+star of the Order of the Garter, surrounded by crimson drapery, and the
+scroll “God save the Queen” entirely composed of cut glass, which, when
+lit up, seemed, literally, one continued blaze of diamonds.  The whole
+was surmounted by the imperial crown and wreaths of laurel, intermingled
+with the rose, thistle and shamrock, covering the entire outline of the
+window.  Where, formerly, was the musicians’ gallery, on the opposite
+side, was occupied by three stacks of armour; complete coats of mail
+were, likewise, suspended in other parts of the Hall; two knights in
+complete armour guarded the entrance of the Hall and Council Chamber,
+which latter was fitted up for the Queen’s reception room, and hung
+throughout with crimson fluted cloth, finished with gold mouldings and
+festoons of red and white flowers.  Upon a platform stood a chair of
+state, splendidly gilt and covered with crimson velvet, and there was no
+other chair nor seat of any kind in the apartment.  The Queen’s
+retiring-room was the Aldermen’s Court, and was superbly decorated,
+having a magnificent toilet table covered with white satin, embroidered
+with the initials V.R., a crown and wreath in gold, and looped with gold
+silk rope and tassels.
+
+After the Queen’s arrival at the Guildhall, and having spent some little
+time on her toilet, her Majesty was conducted to the Council Chamber,
+where—seated on her throne, and surrounded by Royal Dukes and Duchesses,
+etc.—she listened to a dutiful address read by the Recorder, and, at its
+conclusion, she was graciously pleased to order letters patent to be made
+out conferring a baronetcy on the Lord Mayor and knighthood on the two
+Sheriffs, John Carroll and Moses Montefiore, Esquires, the latter, as
+before mentioned, being the first Jew who had received that honour.
+
+At 20 minutes past 5 the Queen entered the Hall, in which was the
+banquet, wearing a rich pink satin dress, ornamented with gold and
+silver, a splendid pearl necklace, diamond earrings, and a tiara of
+diamonds.  She occupied the centre of the Royal table, having on her
+right the Duke of Sussex, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of
+Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sutherland; and
+on her left, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Kent, the Princess
+Augusta of Cambridge and the Countess of Mulgrave.  As a specimen of the
+magnificence of this banquet, it may be mentioned that at the Royal table
+the whole of the service was of gold, as were the candelabra, epergnes,
+soup tureens, cellarets, etc.; one firm furnished gold plate for the
+Queen’s table and sideboard to the value of £115,000, and another firm
+nearly the same amount, whilst the value of plate lent by various
+gentlemen was assessed at £400,000, besides which there was the Civic
+plate.  The china dessert plates at the Queen’s table cost 10 guineas
+each, and all the glass decanters and china were specially made for the
+occasion.
+
+At 20 minutes past 8, the Queen left the Hall, and in her retiring room
+was served with tea from a splendid gold service made for the occasion,
+and she reached Buckingham Palace about half-past 9—highly delighted with
+her entertainment.
+
+There is nothing more of interest in this year, if we except the maiden
+speech of Lord Beaconsfield, in the House of Commons, which took place on
+7th Dec.  Mr. Disraeli (as he then was) had the disadvantage of following
+O’Connell, in a noisy debate on the legality of the Irish Election
+Petition Fund.  He was not listened to from the first, and, in the middle
+of his speech, as reported by _Hansard_, after begging the House to give
+him five minutes, he said: “He stood there to-night, not formally, but,
+in some degree, virtually, as the representative of a considerable number
+of Members of Parliament (_laughter_).  Now, why smile?  Why envy him?
+Why not let him enjoy that reflection, if only for one night?”  All
+through his speech he was interrupted, and this is its close, as reported
+in _Hansard_.  “When they recollected the ‘new loves’ and the ‘old loves’
+in which so much passion and recrimination was mixed up between the noble
+Tityrus of the Treasury Bench, and the learned Daphne of Liskeard—(_loud
+laughter_)—notwithstanding the _amantium ira_ had resulted, as he always
+expected, in the _amoris integratio_—(_renewed laughter_)—notwithstanding
+that political duel had been fought, in which more than one shot was
+interchanged, but in which recourse was had to the secure arbitrament of
+blank cartridges—(_laughter_)—notwithstanding emancipated Ireland and
+enslaved England, the noble lord might wave in one hand the keys of St.
+Peter, and in the other—(_the shouts that followed drowned the conclusion
+of the sentence_).  Let them see the philosophical prejudice of Man.  He
+would, certainly, gladly hear a cheer from the lips of a popular
+opponent.  He was not at all surprised at the reception which he had
+experienced.  He had begun several things many times, and he had often
+succeeded at last.  He would sit down now, but the time would come when
+they would hear him.  (_The impatience of the House would not allow the
+hon. member to finish his speech_; _and during the greater part of the
+time the hon. member was on his legs_, _he was so much interrupted that
+it was impossible to hear what the hon. member said_).”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+Destruction of Royal Exchange—Sale of the salvage—Spring-heeled Jack and
+his pranks—Lord John Russell’s hat.
+
+As a sad pendant to the Civic festivities at the close of 1837 comes the
+destruction by fire of the Royal Exchange on the night of the 10th of
+January following.
+
+It was first noticed a little after 10 p.m., when flames were observed in
+Lloyd’s Coffee Room in the north-east corner of the building, opposite
+the Bank, the firemen of which establishment were soon on the spot, as
+well as many other of the metropolitan engines.  But, before any water
+could be thrown upon the building, it was necessary to thaw the hose and
+works of the engines by pouring hot water upon them, as the frost was so
+very severe; so that, by 11 p.m., all Lloyd’s was a mass of flame.
+Nothing could be done to stop the conflagration, it having got too great
+a hold, and great fears were entertained that it would spread to the Bank
+and surrounding buildings, the which, however, was fortunately prevented.
+The Lord Mayor was present, and a large body of soldiers from the Tower
+assisted the Police in keeping the crowd away from the immediate scene.
+
+It must have been a magnificent sight, and somewhat curious, for amidst
+the roar of the flames, and until the chiming apparatus was destroyed,
+and the bells dropped one by one, the chimes went on pealing “There’s nae
+luck about the house,” {23} “Life let us cherish,” and “God save the
+Queen.”  The fire was not completely got under until noon the next day,
+but, practically, the building was destroyed by 5 am., and, so bright was
+the conflagration, that it was visible at Windsor—twenty-four miles off,
+and at Theydon, in Essex, a distance of eighteen miles; whilst from the
+heights of Surrey on the south, and Highgate and Hampstead on the north,
+the progress of the fire was watched by crowds of people.
+
+The following account of the Exchange after the fire is taken from the
+_Times_ of 13 Jan.:
+
+    “Yesterday afternoon the ruins of the Exchange were sufficiently
+    cooled to allow the firemen and a party of gentlemen, amongst whom we
+    noticed the Lord Mayor, Mr. Alderman Copeland, several members of the
+    Gresham Committee, and other persons connected with the mercantile
+    interest, to inspect them.  In consequence of the loose fragments of
+    stone work belonging to the balustrades and ornamental parts of the
+    building being covered over with ice, the difficulty of walking over
+    the ruins was very great, and the chief magistrate fell more than
+    once, receiving sundry bumps.  The lofty chimnies standing appeared
+    to be in such a dangerous condition, that they were hauled down with
+    ropes, to prevent their falling on the people below.  The iron chests
+    belonging to the Royal Exchange Assurance Company could be distinctly
+    seen, from the area, inserted in the walls.  Ladders were raised, and
+    they were opened, when it was discovered that their contents,
+    consisting of deeds and other papers connected with the Company and
+    their insurances, were uninjured.  This afforded much satisfaction to
+    the directors.  Another iron safe, belonging to Mr. Hathway, whose
+    office, under the tower, was consumed, which was also in a recess in
+    the wall, was opened at the same time, and a considerable sum in
+    francs and bank-notes was taken out.
+
+    “The walls of the west wing of the building, which seemed to bulge
+    outward, were shored up in the afternoon, and they are not, now,
+    likely to fall.  Cornhill presented a most desolate appearance, the
+    shops, from Finch Lane to the termination of the street near the
+    Mansion House, were all closed, and the place presented a deserted
+    and desolated appearance; which, contrasted with the bustle hitherto
+    observed during business hours, and the sight of the ruins, forced
+    very unpleasant reflections on the mind.  Barriers were placed at the
+    Mansion House end of Cornhill, and across that part of the street
+    between Finch and Birchin Lanes, and no person was allowed to pass
+    except the firemen and persons on business.  All the avenues leading
+    to Cornhill were also blocked up in like manner; and, at each
+    barrier, police officers and ward constables were placed to prevent
+    people passing.  Various schemes were devised, by numerous
+    individuals, to pass these barriers, and sums were, occasionally,
+    offered to the police to be allowed to visit the ruins, but without
+    effect.  The City police kept the thieves away by their presence and
+    activity, and the conduct of the people was, yesterday, very quiet,
+    forming a contrast with the disorder got up by the swell mob on
+    Thursday last.  Those who viewed the ruins at a distance appeared to
+    wear an air of melancholy, and no fire has occurred, for centuries,
+    which has caused more universal regret.
+
+    “On searching the ruins under the Lord Mayor’s Court Office, the
+    great City seal was picked up, with two bags, containing £200 in
+    gold, uninjured.  On this discovery being communicated to the Lord
+    Mayor and Aldermen, it caused much gratification, it having been
+    rumoured that the Corporation would lose their Charter by the loss of
+    the seal, but we did not hear it explained how this could be.
+
+    “Owing to the great body of fire underneath the ruins at the
+    north-east angle of the Exchange, it was impossible for the firemen
+    to ascertain, until a late hour, whether any injury had been done to
+    Lloyd’s books, which were deposited in a large iron safe inserted in
+    the wall.  Two engines had been playing on it during the latter
+    portion of the day.  In the presence of several of the Committee it
+    was opened, when it was discovered that the fire had reached the
+    books, and partially consumed them.  In the drawers were cheques on
+    the Bank of England to a large amount, and also Bank of England notes
+    to the amount of, it is said, £2,560.  The notes were reduced to a
+    cinder, and, on the drawers being opened, the air rushing in on the
+    tender fragments blew them over the Exchange.  They were, however,
+    very carefully collected, and the cinders of the notes were, with
+    much trouble and caution, put into a tin case, which was taken to the
+    Bank, and the words ‘Bank of England,’ with the numbers and dates,
+    were distinctly traced.  The amount will, in consequence, be paid to
+    the owners.  From what information could be obtained from the
+    gentlemen who took possession of the box, and who were understood to
+    be underwriters, it was the usual custom of the secretary not to
+    leave any money or notes in the safe, but to deposit the money in the
+    Bank, which was done on the evening the fire took place.  The money
+    and notes above mentioned, and which were found in the safe, belonged
+    to a subscriber who, on the afternoon of Wednesday, asked permission
+    to deposit his money in the safe until the next day, which was
+    acceded to by the secretary.  Some idea may be formed of his state of
+    mind on arriving at the Exchange on the following morning, to see it
+    on fire, and he was in a state of distraction until the finding of
+    the cinders of the notes yesterday, which has, in some measure,
+    calmed his feelings.  The underwriters are severe sufferers, having
+    left sums of money, to a large amount, in their desks, which, no
+    doubt, will never be recovered.
+
+    “During the confusion on the discovery of the fire, in removing some
+    books from a room in the north-east corner, in addition to £500 in
+    Bank of England notes, which were taken to St. Michael’s Church,
+    twenty sovereigns, in a bag, were thrown out of the windows.  The bag
+    broke, and the sovereigns rolled about the pavement; they were all
+    picked up by the mob, who appropriated them to their own use.
+
+    “It is firmly believed that the overheating of the stoves caused the
+    disaster which the nation has now to deplore.  Wednesday was an
+    exceedingly cold day, and large fires had been kept up from morning
+    till night in the building.  There is no doubt the fire had been
+    spreading, to some extent, in Lloyd’s rooms, long before it was seen
+    in the street.  Some few months back, two watchmen were on the
+    premises all night, but, on the miserable plea of economy, they were
+    discharged, and the sacrifice of one of the finest buildings in the
+    Kingdom has been the consequence.  We believe that most of our
+    cathedrals and large public buildings are left without watchmen
+    during the night, and we hope that the fate of the Royal Exchange
+    will bring about a change in this respect.”
+
+The merchants, who used to congregate “on ’Change,” were accommodated in
+the Guildhall, and the members of Lloyd’s met at the Jerusalem Coffee
+House—but these arrangements were, afterwards, modified.  The Royal
+Exchange Insurance Coy. took Sir James Esdaile’s house, in Lombard
+Street.
+
+_Times_, 4 Ap., 1838:—“THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.—Yesterday, the first day’s
+sale of the materials of the Royal Exchange took place.  It produced
+nearly £2,000.  The porter’s large hand-bell (rung every day at half-past
+four p.m. to warn the merchants and others that ’Change ought to be
+closed), with the handle consumed, and valued at 10/-, was sold for £3
+3/-; the two carved griffins, holding shields of the City arms, facing
+the quadrangle, £35; the two busts of Queen Elizabeth, on the east and
+west sides, £10 15/-; the copper grasshopper vane, {27} with the iron
+upright, was reserved by the Committee; the alto relievo, in artificial
+stone, representing Queen Elizabeth proclaiming the Royal Exchange, £21;
+the corresponding alto relievo, representing Britannia seated amidst the
+emblems of Commerce, accompanied by Science, Agriculture, Manufactures,
+etc., £30; the carved emblematical figures of Europe, Asia, Africa and
+America, £110.  The sale of the remainder of the materials, etc., it is
+understood, will take place in about a month.”
+
+In the Mansion House Police Court, on 10 Jan., the Lord Mayor announced
+that he had received five letters relative to an individual who was going
+about the metropolitan suburbs frightening females to such an extent that
+they were afraid to go out at night, as they were met by a man, who,
+under different disguises, would suddenly appear before them, and as
+suddenly disappear with terrible bounds, which earned him the name of
+“Spring-heeled Jack,” and he inspired such terror, that the recital of
+the victim had to be taken with caution.  Whoever he was, or why he so
+acted, was never known, as he was never taken; but, certainly, robbery
+had no part in his escapades, for he was quite content with paralysing
+the poor women with fright.
+
+The first facts I can gather about Jack are at the latter end of 1837, at
+Barnes, where he appeared as a large white bull; at East Sheen he was a
+white bear; he then visited Richmond, and after having terrorised that
+town, he went to Ham, Kingston and Hampton, where he was clad in brass
+armour, with large claw-like gloves.  Teddington, Twickenham and Hounslow
+were all visited by him, and at Isleworth we hear of him wearing steel
+armour, in which he seems to have been attired when seen at Uxbridge,
+Hanwell, Brentford and Ealing.  At Hammersmith he took the form of a huge
+baboon, and as such was seen in the moonlight, dancing at Kensington
+Palace, ever and anon climbing over the forcing houses.  He varied his
+localities frequently, one day being at Peckham, another at St. John’s
+Wood, and anon at Forest Hill.
+
+This about brings up to the time of its being mentioned by the Lord
+Mayor, the consequence of which was that a Committee was formed at the
+Mansion House for the purpose of receiving subscriptions and deciding
+upon the best means of capturing this erratic genius.  Probably feeling
+that he had sufficiently terrorised the districts before mentioned, he
+turned his attention to the East end of London, and particularly favoured
+Bow.  A case is given in the _Times_ of 23 Feb.  A gentleman named Alsop,
+living between Bow and Old Ford, appeared before the police magistrate at
+Lambeth Street (then the Thames Police Office) accompanied by his three
+daughters, one of whom stated that at about a quarter to nine o’clock on
+the evening of the 21st February, 1838, she heard a violent ringing at
+the front gate of the house, and, on going to the door to see what was
+the cause, she saw a man standing outside, of whom she enquired what was
+the matter.  The person instantly replied that he was a policeman, and
+said, “For God’s sake bring me a light, for we have caught Spring-heeled
+Jack here in the lane.”  She returned to the house, and brought a candle,
+and handed it to the man, who was enveloped in a large cloak: The instant
+she had done so, he threw off his outer garments, and, applying the
+lighted candle to his breast, presented a most hideous and frightful
+appearance, vomiting forth a quantity of blue and white flame from his
+mouth, his eyes resembling red balls of fire.  From the hasty glance
+which her fright enabled her to get at his person, she observed that he
+wore a large helmet, and his dress, which appeared to fit him very
+tightly, seemed to her to resemble white oilskin.  Without uttering a
+sentence, he darted at her, and catching her partly by her dress and the
+back part of her neck, placed her head under one of his arms, and
+commenced tearing her clothes with his claws, which she was certain were
+made of some metallic substance.  She screamed out as loud as she could
+for assistance, and, by considerable exertion, got away from him, and ran
+towards the house to get in.  Her assailant followed, and caught her on
+the doorstep, when he again used considerable violence, tore her neck and
+arms with his claws, as well as a quantity of hair from her head; her
+story was fully corroborated by her parents and sisters, and her
+injuries, which were very considerable, bore unmistakable testimony to
+the truth of the assault.
+
+At the same police court, on 8 Mar., 1838, a Miss Scales deposed that as
+she and her sister were walking in Limehouse, about half-past eight in
+the evening, on coming to Green Dragon Alley, they observed some person
+standing in an angle in the passage.  She was in advance of her sister at
+the time, and just as she came up to the person, who was enveloped in a
+large cloak, he spirted a quantity of blue flame right in her face, which
+deprived her of sight, and so alarmed her, that she instantly dropped to
+the ground, and was seized with violent fits, which continued for several
+hours.  In this case no violence to the person was done.
+
+He had a literature of his own.  I know of three pamphlets on the
+subject; one, from which is taken the accompanying illustration, is
+entitled “Authentic particulars of the awful appearance of the London
+Monster, alias Spring-heeled Jack, together with his extraordinary life,
+wonderful adventures and secret amours.  Also an account of his horrible
+appearance to Miss N--- and his singular letter to the Lord Mayor of
+London.”
+
+    [Picture: Spring-heeled Jack.  Awful representation of the London
+                                 monster]
+
+There is much more to be related of Jack, but space will not permit; but,
+whether too much attention was beginning to be paid to him with a view to
+his capture, or whether his love of mischief had died out, cannot be
+told; but certain it was that nothing was known publicly of this singular
+being after April, 1838, having kept London in a ferment of excitement
+and terror for about six months.
+
+There is an amusing police case anent Lord John Russell’s hat.—_Times_, 8
+Feb.:
+
+    THAMES POLICE COURT.—Yesterday, a poor woman, named Mary Ann Blay,
+    who stated that she resided at Limehouse, applied to Mr. Ballantyne
+    and Mr. Broderip, the magistrates, to request their interference
+    under very odd circumstances.  The applicant stated that, about three
+    or four months ago, she was on her way home from Poplar, where she
+    had been purchasing some vegetables, when she saw something black
+    lying on the ground.  She first supposed it was a piece of coal, but,
+    on stooping to pick it up, discovered it was a hat.  She walked
+    onward, with the hat in her right hand, until she reached the
+    Commercial Road, when she was met by a policeman, who asked her where
+    she had got the hat.  She informed him that she had picked it up at
+    the corner of the New Road, and the policeman looked at it, and saw
+    the name of Lord John Russell in the inside.  He demanded the hat of
+    her, and, on her refusing to give it up to him, he seized the hat,
+    and took her into custody.  She was locked up in the station houses
+    and, on the following morning, was brought before the sitting
+    magistrate at that office.  The justice, after hearing the
+    policeman’s statement, directed her to be discharged, and gave orders
+    that the hat should be detained for a certain time, in the station
+    house; and, if no owner was discovered, that it should be given up to
+    her.  She had, since, made repeated inquiries of the police, but
+    could obtain no information from them, nor any redress for the false
+    imprisonment she had suffered.
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne asked the applicant if she was sure the hat belonged
+    to Lord J. Russell.
+
+    The woman said there had been a whitebait Cabinet dinner at Mr.
+    Lovegrove’s, West India Dock Tavern, Blackwall, on the night she
+    found the hat, and Lord John Russell was one of the party.
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne: Well, I don’t understand how his Lordship could lose
+    his hat at the corner of the New Road.
+
+    The woman said it was supposed that Lord J. Russell had put his head
+    out of the carriage window, and looked back to see if his friends
+    were following him, when his hat fell off his head, and, as he was a
+    Lord, he would not stop until it was picked up again (laughter).
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne: What do you want me to do in the matter?
+
+    The applicant said she wanted to know to whom the hat belonged.
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne: Why, I should say it belonged to Lord John Russell.
+
+    The woman said the hat was worth a guinea, and that if she had
+    accepted 5/- from the policeman, and given it up to him, he would not
+    have taken her into custody.  She thought it was very hard to be
+    subject to such tyranny because she had picked up Lord John Russell’s
+    hat, for she had done no harm to the crown of it.  She supposed Lord
+    John Russell was in liquor, or he would have ordered his carriage to
+    stop, and picked up his hat.  (Roars of laughter, in which the
+    magistrates could not help joining.)  “You may laugh,” said the
+    woman; “but it’s all true what I say; you may depend upon it, the
+    Ministers don’t eat whitebait without drinking plenty of wine after
+    it, you may be sure.  (Increased laughter.)  I don’t know why the
+    gentlemen laugh, I am sure.  I was locked up all night away from my
+    husband and children.”
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne said it was very singular the woman could not
+    recollect what night it was she picked up the hat, and the number and
+    letter of the policeman who took her into custody.
+
+    The applicant said she was too much alarmed at being locked up in the
+    station house, and brought before the magistrate, to recollect what
+    night it was, or the policeman’s identity.
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne said it was a very odd affair, and he would direct the
+    books to be searched to ascertain when the woman was brought before
+    the magistrate.
+
+    Soon afterwards, the woman was again brought up.
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne said, it appeared from the minutes that she was
+    brought before him on Tuesday, the 3rd of October last, on suspicion
+    of stealing a hat, and that the policeman said that he had stopped
+    her at two o’clock in the morning with the hat in her possession.  It
+    appeared that he had discharged her, but no mention was made of the
+    hat belonging to Lord John Russell.  If that fact had been mentioned
+    to him, he would have ordered the hat to be restored to his Lordship
+    immediately.
+
+    The Applicant: I am sure it is his Lordship’s hat.  There is Lord
+    John Russell inside of it, quite plain; it’s a new one.
+
+    Mr. Ballantyne: Very well; an inquiry shall be made about the hat,
+    and you can attend here to-morrow, and we will let you know what has
+    become of it.  I think Lord John Russell has the best claim to the
+    hat, if he has not already got it.
+
+The sequel:
+
+    _Times_, 10 Feb.:—On Thursday, Mary Ann Blay again appeared before
+    Mr. Ballantyne upon the subject of Lord John’s hat.  She adhered to
+    her old story, that the hat had the noble Home Secretary’s name in it
+    when she picked it up, but it had, subsequently, been torn out, after
+    it was taken out of her possession.  Mr. Ballantyne examined the hat,
+    and said it was a dirty, greasy hat—a boy’s hat, and that he would
+    not give 6d. for it.  The policeman who took the woman in custody
+    declared that the woman’s statement was, altogether, a fabrication,
+    and that the hat never had the name of Lord John Russell in it.  Mr.
+    Ballantyne said he would make no order about the hat; and, if the
+    woman thought she had been wrongly imprisoned, she might seek her
+    remedy elsewhere.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+Lords and pugilists—Penny “Gaffs”—Steam between England and America—A
+man-woman—Designs for Nelson Monument—A termagant—Scold’s bridles, &c.
+
+I must give another police case, as showing the manners and customs of
+the _jeunesse dorée_ of this period.
+
+_Times_, 19 Feb.:
+
+    MARLBOROUGH STREET.—On Saturday, Samuel Evans, better known as “Young
+    Dutch Sam,” a pugilist, was brought before Mr. Conant, charged with
+    having committed an unprovoked and violent assault on policeman
+    Mackenzie, C 182, and Lord Waldegrave was also charged with
+    attempting to rescue Evans from the police.
+
+    The defendant Evans, when sober, is civil and well-conducted, but,
+    when drunk, is one of the most dangerous ruffians connected with the
+    prize-fighting gang.  Lord Waldegrave is a very young nobleman, with
+    a fund of native simplicity in his countenance, rendered the more
+    conspicuous by the style of dress he had adopted, namely, a large
+    coloured shawl round his neck, and a rough pilot coat.  Both parties
+    exhibited unquestionable proofs of the effect of their previous
+    night’s potations.
+
+    Policeman Mackenzie, who had his arm in a sling, made the following
+    statement: About a quarter-past six that morning, after he had come
+    off duty, he went to the Standard public house, in Piccadilly, for
+    the purpose of getting some refreshment, but, on perceiving some of
+    the saloon frequenters there, to whom he was personally obnoxious, in
+    consequence of having taken disorderly persons of their acquaintance
+    into custody, he was about to go back, when he found himself suddenly
+    pushed into the house, with sufficient violence to cause his cape to
+    fall off.  While engaged in folding up his cape, the defendant Evans
+    said, “Will any gentleman like to see a policeman put on his back?”
+    Complainant had not exchanged a single word with anybody; he,
+    however, found himself suddenly and quite unexpectedly seized by the
+    defendant, who had come behind him, and then thrown with violence
+    upon the floor; the defendant Evans fell upon him at the same time;
+    and, as complainant lay almost stunned and unable to rise, some
+    persons called out “Shame!”  Complainant was then helped up and
+    assisted out of the house.  He went immediately to the station house,
+    and mentioned what had occurred to Inspector Beresford, who instantly
+    sent a sufficient force to take the offenders into custody.
+    Complainant went and pointed out Dutch Sam to his comrades, and the
+    defendant was taken into custody.  Lord Waldegrave, who was in the
+    pugilist’s company, declared the police should not take his friend,
+    and he attempted to prevent the police from doing their duty.
+    Complainant, feeling his shoulder pain him very much, went to the
+    surgeon, and, by that gentleman’s advice, proceeded to the Charing
+    Cross Hospital.  When he was examined, it was ascertained that one of
+    the bones of his shoulder was broken.
+
+    Another policeman stated that Lord Waldegrave was very drunk, and,
+    when his Lordship attempted to resist the police, he was,
+    accidentally, thrown down on the pavement, and witness picked him up.
+
+    Lord Waldegrave: He! he! he!  Picked me up, did you?  Oh!  He! he!
+    he!
+
+    Mr. Conant: This is no laughing matter, I can tell you; and it is
+    quite improper of you to make it a subject of merriment.
+
+    Lord Waldegrave: He! he! he!  I beg pardon, but I can’t help
+    laughing.
+
+    Mr. Conant asked Evans what he had to say in his defence?
+
+    Evans: Why, you see, Lord Waldegrave and me had been supping
+    together—hadn’t we, my Lord?
+
+    Lord Waldegrave: Yes, we had.
+
+    Evans: And when we went into the public house there, we saw the
+    policeman, who was drunk, and who had been drinking purl in the
+    house.  The policeman asked me to wrestle with him, and, as I thought
+    I could throw him, I accepted the challenge.
+
+    The Inspector proved that there was not one word of truth in Evans’s
+    defence as far as regarded the sobriety of Mackenzie.  The assault
+    took place within a few minutes after Mackenzie had come off duty,
+    and, certainly, before he could have time to get refreshment.
+
+    The policeman declared what the defendant asserted was entirely
+    false.  He had taken nothing to drink; and, as to challenging a man
+    like the defendant to wrestle, the assertion was improbable.
+
+    Inspector Beresford, on being asked if he was certain Evans was
+    drunk, answered that he was decidedly drunk.
+
+    Evans: Silence, sweep, let a gentleman speak.  I can get a dozen
+    oaths for half-a-crown.
+
+    Mr. Conant said the assault on the policeman was wanton and
+    unprovoked, and the matter was further aggravated by the fact that a
+    person of the defendant’s well-known pugilistic powers had chosen to
+    attack an unoffending party.  He should, therefore, call on the
+    defendant Evans to put in good bail.
+
+    Evans: Serve his Lordship the same; for I like to have such a pal.
+
+    Mr. Conant directed that Lord Waldegrave should be put back until a
+    second magistrate arrived.
+
+    Mr. Dyer having, soon afterwards, taken his seat on the bench, Lord
+    Waldegrave was placed at the bar.
+
+    Policeman Filmer, C 130, stated that he went with others to the
+    Standard public house, and took Evans into custody.  Lord Waldegrave
+    threw his arms round his friend, and swore he should not be taken.
+    Witness swung his Lordship away, and, in doing so, his Lordship fell
+    down.  Witness picked him up, and would have let him go had his
+    Lordship abstained from repeating his conduct.  As he would not allow
+    the police to do their duty, he took him into custody.
+
+    Mr. Conant asked his Lordship what he had to say?
+
+    Lord Waldegrave: I have nothing to say.  Perhaps I had taken too much
+    that night.
+
+    Policeman: His Lordship was very drunk.
+
+    Lord Waldegrave: Not very.
+
+    Mr. Conant: There has been no complaint of your conduct at the
+    station house, and I daresay your Lordship feels hurt at being in the
+    company of a person of the other defendant’s description.  Taking
+    into consideration the violence of the outrage committed by Evans, as
+    a warning, we must inflict a heavy fine.  You must, therefore, pay £5
+    to the Queen.
+
+    Mr. Dyer: And because—in our summary jurisdiction—we cannot go beyond
+    that sum, we inflict it as being the highest penalty in our power.
+
+    The sum was paid, and the noble defendant discharged.
+
+The whole social tone was low, from the highest to the lowest, and if the
+police court gives us occasional glimpses of aristocratic amusement, so
+it affords us a view of the entertainments provided for the lower
+classes.  Let us take one.
+
+_Times_, 10 March:
+
+    HATTON GARDEN.—For some time past, numerous complaints have been made
+    to the magistrates of this office of two penny theatres, one in
+    Mortimer Market, Tottenham Court Road, and the other in a field
+    adjacent to Bagnigge Wells Road, where gangs of young thieves nightly
+    assembled.  On Wednesday last, several inhabitants of Mortimer Market
+    attended at the Office to complain of the former establishment, when
+    Mr. Rogers granted a warrant to apprehend the whole of the parties
+    concerned, and on Thursday night, Duke, Baylis and Halls, of this
+    Office, in company with Inspector Jenkins and a body of constables,
+    proceeded to the theatre, and captured the manager, performers, and
+    musicians, and the whole of them were, yesterday, brought to the
+    office, and placed at the bar, when the office was excessively
+    crowded.
+
+    There were twelve prisoners, some of whom were attired in their
+    theatrical habiliments, with their countenances painted, which made a
+    very grotesque appearance.
+
+    Duke being sworn, stated that, in consequence of a warrant, on
+    Thursday night last, about 9 o’clock, he proceeded, with other
+    officers, to a penny theatre in Mortimer Market, St. Pancras, where
+    he found the whole of the prisoners, some of whom were engaged in
+    performing their parts, whilst Ewyn, the manager, was employed in
+    taking money at the doors, and the woman, Green, was acting as check
+    taker.  Campbell and Lewis were enacting their parts upon the stage,
+    and Joseph Burrows was in his theatrical dress between them, with his
+    face painted and wearing a huge pair of moustaches.  John Pillar was
+    in a temporary orchestra with a large violoncello, scraping away most
+    melodramatically, whilst the players were endeavouring to humour the
+    sounds, and to suit their action to the word, and the word to the
+    action; and just at that part of the performance when Burrows had to
+    exclaim, “The officers of justice are coming,” witness and his
+    brother officers rushed upon the stage, and apprehended the whole of
+    them.
+
+    Mr. Rogers: What description of audience was there?
+
+    Duke: A dirty, ragged set, principally consisting of boys and girls;
+    two of them were barefooted, and had scarce a rag to cover them, and
+    did not seem to have been washed for a month.  The theatre was of the
+    most wretched description; there was a temporary stage, and bits of
+    scenery.  The boys said they were errand boys and servants.  Brierly
+    and Smith said they were country actors out of an engagement, and had
+    visited the place out of curiosity.
+
+    Mr. Mallett: Had they an inscription that they were “Licensed
+    pursuant to Act of Parliament”?
+
+    Duke: They had not.  On the gates was written up, “For this evening’s
+    performance The Spectre of the Grave; after which, a comic song by
+    Mr. Ewyn; to conclude with The Key of the Little Door.”  They found
+    various theatrical dresses and other properties, with stars, swords,
+    etc., now produced.
+
+    Baylis proved having paid 1d. for admission.  He paid the money to
+    the woman Green.  Ewyn was at the door, and he confessed that he was
+    the manager.  He took him into custody, and, subsequently, he
+    apprehended Lewis and Campbell, at the back of the stage, in their
+    theatrical dresses.
+
+    Mr. Rogers: Have you got “The Spectre of the Grave” here?
+
+    Inspector Jenkins: No, your Worship, he vanished.  The other male
+    performers were dressed in sandals and armour, with their helmets up.
+
+    Hall and the other officers corroborated the above evidence.  Several
+    inhabitants of Mortimer Market proved that they were, every night,
+    alarmed by firing off guns, cries of “Fire,” clashing of swords, the
+    most boisterous ranting and shrieks from the voices of the ladies of
+    the _corps dramatique_, and the place was a perfect nuisance to the
+    neighbourhood.
+
+    The owner of the place stated that, on the 24th of January, he let
+    the place to a person named Summers, for chair making, when it was
+    turned into a theatre.
+
+    Ewyn said he had engaged with Summers to divide the profits of the
+    theatrical speculation.  Summers agreed to take the place, and he
+    (Ewyn) to provide the scenery and wardrobe; “and proud I am to say,
+    that I have conducted the consarn respectably, which some of the
+    neighbours can testify.  This is the head and front of my
+    offending—no more.”
+
+    Inspector Jenkins said that, about a month ago, he called on Ewyn and
+    cautioned him, but he said that the magistrates had nothing to do
+    with the matter.
+
+    Mr. Rogers, addressing the prisoners, said they had received a
+    warning which they did not heed.  He should not order them to find
+    bail, but would discharge them; and, if they dared to repeat their
+    performances after this admonition, he would grant a warrant for
+    their apprehension, and every one of them should find bail, or be
+    committed.  They held out temptation to the children of poor persons,
+    some of whom, it appears, were without shoes and nearly naked, who
+    robbed their parents, or others, for the purpose of procuring the
+    penny for admission.  He would order their paraphernalia to be
+    restored to them, but, on condition that they would remove their
+    fittings, and desist from any future performances.
+
+    Ewyn: You must give me time to take down the seats and decorations.
+
+    Mr. Rogers: You must take them down this day.
+
+    Ewyn (with a start): What! this day?  Impossible.
+
+    Mr. Rogers directed Inspector Jones to see the mandate obeyed.
+
+The month of April is famous for the inauguration of steam traffic
+between England and America.  A vessel named the _Savannah_ had in 1819
+crossed from America to England, but her steam was only intended to be
+auxiliary to her sailing power, for her boilers had only a pressure of 20
+lbs. to the square inch.  She sailed from New York on 28 Mar., 1819,
+reached Savannah on 7 Ap., and anchored at Liverpool on 19 June; on her
+return home her engines were taken out, and she was finally lost off Long
+Island.  In 1836 the Great Western Railway founded the Great Western
+Steam Co., whose vessels were intended to run from Bristol in
+co-operation with the railway, and the first ship built was the Great
+Western, the largest steamer then afloat.  She was 236 feet long and her
+engines showed 750 indicated horse power, her registered tonnage being
+1,300.  She was intended to be the pioneer ship, and was ready for sea in
+April, 1838; but competition was as keen then as now, and the St. Georges
+Steam Packet Coy. started their s.s. Sirius, for the voyage to New York,
+from London, on the 29th March.  She had a tonnage of 700 tons, and her
+engines were of 320 horse-power.  She was elegantly fitted-up, and
+started with 22 passengers, whose number was increased at Cork, and,
+being intended solely for a passenger boat, carried no cargo.  On going
+down the Thames, she encountered her rival, the Great Western, which had
+a pleasure party on board, and a trial of speed took place between the
+two, resulting in favour of the Sirius.  She sailed from Cork on 9th
+April.  The Great Western sailed from Bristol on the 12th April, and both
+reached New York on the same day, the Sirius being first.  The Great
+Western made, in all, 64 passages between the two countries, her fastest
+passage occupying 12 days, 7½ hours.  At the present writing, the record
+voyage for an English steamer (the _Lucania_) is 5 days, 7 hours, 23
+minutes.
+
+The _Manchester Guardian_ of 14th April gives an account of a woman
+living in that city, who for many years passed as a man, which has
+occurred before, but the extraordinary part of this story is that she
+_married another woman_.—“Subsequent inquiries confirm the truth of the
+statements made in the _Guardian_ of Wednesday last, as to this singular
+case.  This woman man, who, for probably more than 25 years, has
+succeeded in concealing her sex, and in pursuing a trade of more than
+ordinarily masculine and hazardous description, with a degree of skill
+and ability which has led to her establishment in a good business in this
+town, bound herself apprentice, at the age of 16 or 17 years, to a Mr.
+Peacock, a bricklayer and builder, at Bawtry, a small market town in the
+West Riding of Yorkshire.  She did not remain with Mr. Peacock during the
+whole period of her apprenticeship, but was ‘turned over,’ as it is
+called, to another person in the same business.  It was during her
+apprenticeship that she met with her present wife; and they were married
+at the old parish church of Sheffield, in the year 1816, when the wife
+was only 17 years old.  Since the investigation and disclosure of the
+circumstances, on Thursday week, the wife and husband have separated.
+She was, for many years, a special constable in the 13th division of that
+body, acting for this town; and we are assured that, on all occasions
+when the services of the division were required, as at elections, Orange
+processions, and meetings of trades’ unions, turn-outs, etc., so far from
+absenting herself from what, as in the case of well founded apprehension
+of a riot, must have been, to a woman, a post of some unpleasantness, she
+is remembered to have been one of the most punctual in attendance, and
+the most forward volunteer in actual duty, in that division.  We
+understand that she is no longer a special constable, because she did
+not, on the last annual special session, held for that purpose at the New
+Bailey, present herself to be resworn.  She was not discarded or
+discharged; there was no complaint against her; and, probably, the
+extension of her own business was her only motive for not resuming the
+duties of this office.  Altogether, this is the most singular case of the
+kind which has ever reached our knowledge.”
+
+The following is an advertisement which appeared in the _Times_ of 27th
+April:—“NELSON MONUMENT.—The Committee for erecting a Monument to the
+Memory of Lord Nelson hereby give notice that they are desirous of
+receiving from architects, artists, or other persons, DESIGNS for such a
+MONUMENT, to be erected in Trafalgar Square.
+
+“The Committee cannot, in the present state of the subscriptions, fix
+definitely the sum to be expended, but they recommend that the estimated
+cost of the several designs should be confined within the sums of £20,000
+and £30,000.  This condition, and that of the intended site, are the only
+restrictions to which the artists are limited.”
+
+In the same newspaper of 16 May, we read of a punishment which might,
+occasionally, be revived with advantage, as being less dangerous than the
+ducking stool, and, probably, quite as efficacious, although we have the
+authority of St. James, “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of
+serpents, and of things of the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of
+mankind, but the tongue can no man tame.”  It relates how, “at the
+Mayor’s Court, Stafford, last week, Mary, wife of Thomas Careless, of the
+Broad Eye, a perfect termagant, was ordered to pay 1/- penalty, and 7/6
+costs, for an unprovoked assault on Mary, the wife of Lewis Bromley.
+During the investigation, her garrulity was so incessant that the mayor
+was under the necessity of sending for the ‘scold’s bridle,’ an iron
+instrument of very antique construction, which, in olden times, was
+occasionally called into use.  It is formed of an elliptical bow of iron,
+enclosing the head from the lower extremity of one ear to the other, with
+a transverse piece of iron from the nape of the neck to the mouth, and
+completely covers the tongue, preventing its movement, and the whole
+machinery, when adjusted, is locked at the back of the head.  The bridle
+is to be put in thorough repair, and hung _in terrorem_ in the Mayor’s
+office, to be used as occasion may call it forth.”
+
+These “scold’s bridles,” or “branks,” as they are sometimes called, are
+not uncommon.  The earliest dated one is preserved at Walton-on-Thames,
+and bears the date 1633, with the inscription:
+
+    “Chester presents Walton with a bridle,
+    To curb women’s tongues that talk to idle.”
+
+Brayley, in his “History of Surrey,” says that it was given by a
+gentleman named Chester, who lost a valuable estate through a gossiping,
+lying woman; but, as there are several examples of branks in the
+Palatinate, one being kept in the gaol at Chester, some people think it
+was a present from that city.  There is one at Leicester, and another at
+Newcastle-on-Tyne, which used to hang in the mayor’s parlour, and
+tradition has it that many cases of disputes between women have been
+speedily and satisfactorily settled on his worship’s pointing to these
+branks.
+
+There is one in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, which is very tender as
+far as the gag is concerned, but which has a leading chain fastened
+between the eyes.  Hainstall, Ridware, Lichfield, Morpeth, Shrewsbury,
+Holme, Kendal, Altrincham, Macclesfield, Congleton (where it was last
+used in 1824), all have examples, whilst Chester has four!  There are
+several in Scotland, and there are some in private hands, notably one
+which used to be in the Mayer Museum, Liverpool, which came from
+Warrington, where, however, the brank formerly used at Carrington is
+preserved, and there are several places—Newcastle-under-Lyne (now in the
+Mayer Collection), Manchester, and others—where they have existed.  There
+is a very grotesque one in Doddington Park, which is a mask, having
+eyeholes, and a long funnel-shaped peak projecting from the mouth; and
+there are some very terribly cruel ones, with fearful gags; but these can
+scarcely come under scold’s or gossip’s bridles.  There was one at
+Forfar, with a spiked gag, which pierced the tongue, and an even more
+severe one is at Stockport; whilst those at Ludlow and Worcester are,
+also, instruments of torture.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Thom, the religious fanatic—His riots and death—Delusions of his
+followers.
+
+From the earliest ages of Christianity _pseudo-Christoi_, or false
+Christs, existed.  Simon Magus, Dositheus, and the famous Barcochab were
+among the first of them, and they were followed by Moses, in Crete, in
+the fifth century; Julian, in Palestine, _circa_ A.D. 530; and Screnus,
+in Spain, _circa_ A.D. 714.  There were, in the 12th century, some seven
+or eight in France, Spain and Persia; and, coming to more modern times,
+there was Sabbatai Zewi, a native of Aleppo, or Smyrna, who proclaimed
+himself to be the Messiah, in Jerusalem, _circa_ 1666.  A list of
+religious fanatics would be a long one, but the _pseudo-Christos_ of
+modern times was, certainly, John Nicholl Thom, of St. Columb, Cornwall,
+_alias_ Sir William Percy Honeywood Courtenay, Knight of Malta, and King
+of Jerusalem; who also claimed to be Jesus Christ, in proof of which he
+shewed punctures in his hands, and a cicatrice on his side.
+
+He was first introduced to public notice in Michaelmas, 1832, when he
+paid a visit to Canterbury, and took up his abode, for some time, at the
+“Rose Inn,” where he was remarkable for his eccentric behaviour, passing
+under the name of Rothschild.  His countenance and costume denoted
+foreign extraction, while his language and conversation showed that he
+was well acquainted with almost every part of the kingdom.  He often
+dressed in a fine suit of Italian clothing, and, sometimes, in the gayer
+and more imposing costume of the east.  In December of the same year, he
+surprised the inhabitants of Canterbury by proposing himself as a
+candidate for the representation of that city in Parliament, under the
+name of Sir W. P. H. Courtenay.  His canvass proceeded with extraordinary
+success; and, such were his persuasive powers, that people of all ranks
+felt an interest in his society; some, however, considered him insane,
+while others were of a contrary opinion, and he did not succeed in his
+ambition.
+
+He next got mixed up in a smuggling affair, H.M. sloop _Lively_ having
+captured a smuggling craft (the _Admiral Hood_) off the Goodwin Sands.
+He attended the examination of the smugglers before the magistrates at
+Rochester, attired in a fancy costume, and having a small scimitar
+suspended from his neck, by a massive gold chain.  He defended one of the
+men, who, despite his advocacy, was convicted.  He then offered himself
+as a witness, swore that he had seen the whole transaction, that there
+was no smuggling, and that the _Lively_ was to blame.  This the
+prosecution could not stand; he was indicted for perjury, and was tried
+at Maidstone on 25 July, 1833.  The sentence of the Court was
+imprisonment and transportation, but, being proved to be insane, this was
+commuted to confinement in the lunatic asylum, at Barming Heath.  After
+about four years spent in this establishment, he was released, on
+security being given for his future good behaviour.  He then went to live
+at the residence of Mr. Francis, of Fairbrook, in the neighbourhood of
+Boughton, near Canterbury.  Owing to some misunderstanding with the
+family, he removed to an adjoining cottage, and, at the time of which I
+write, he lived at a farm-house, called Bossenden farm, occupied by a
+person named Culver.
+
+The influence obtained, by this maniac, over the small farmers and
+peasantry in his neighbourhood, is most astonishing.  They believed in
+all he told them; first that he should be a great chieftain in Kent, and
+that they should all live rent free on his land, and that if they would
+follow his advice, they should have good living and large estates, as he
+had great influence at Court, and was to sit at the Queen’s right hand,
+on the day of her Coronation.  It would seem as if his madness, then, was
+personal and political, but the religious mania speedily developed
+itself.  He told his deluded followers that they were oppressed by the
+laws in general, but more particularly by the new poor law; and called
+upon them to place themselves under his command.  Nearly 100 at once
+joined him, and as they marched through the neighbouring parishes their
+numbers increased.  It was then that he proclaimed his divinity—assuring
+them that both he and they were not only invincible, but bullet proof,
+and that they could never die.
+
+          [Picture: Death of Sir Wm. Courtenay.  (Thom).  1838]
+
+The following account, which appears to me to be the most succinct of
+those I have seen, is from the _Times_ of 1 June:
+
+    “On Monday (28 May) they sallied forth from the village of Boughton,
+    where they bought bread, and proceeded to Wills’s house, near
+    Fairbrook.  A loaf was broken asunder, and placed on a pole, with a
+    flag of white and blue, on which was a rampant lion.  Thence they
+    proceeded to Goodnestone, near Faversham, producing throughout the
+    whole neighbourhood the greatest excitement, and adding to their
+    numbers by the harangues occasionally delivered by this ill-fated
+    madman.  At this farm Courtenay stated that ‘he would strike the
+    bloody blow.’  A match was then taken from a bean stack, which had
+    been introduced by one of the party.  They next proceeded to a farm
+    at Herne Hill, where Courtenay requested the inmates to feed his
+    friends, which request was immediately complied with.  Their next
+    visit was at Dargate Common, where Sir William, taking off his shoes,
+    said, ‘I now stand on my own bottom.’  By Sir William’s request, his
+    party went to prayers, and then proceeded to Bossenden farm, where
+    they supped, and slept in the barn that night.  At 3 o’clock, on
+    Tuesday morning they left, and proceeded to Sittingbourne to
+    breakfast, where Sir William paid 25s.; they then visited Newnham,
+    where a similar treat was given at the ‘George.’  After visiting
+    Eastling, Throwley, Selwich Lees and Selling, and occasionally
+    addressing the populace, holding out to them such inducements as are
+    usually made by persons desirous of creating a disturbance, they
+    halted, in a chalk pit, to rest, and, on Wednesday evening, arrived
+    at Culver’s farm, called Bossenden, close to the scene of action.
+    Mr. Curling, having had some of his men enticed from their work,
+    applied for a warrant for their apprehension.  Mears, a constable, in
+    company with his brother, proceeded to Culver’s house, when, on
+    application being made for the men alluded to, Sir William
+    immediately shot the young man who accompanied his brother in the
+    execution of his duty.  Such was the excitement, and the desperate
+    menaces of Sir William and his party, that it became necessary for
+    the magistrates to interfere to put a stop to the proceedings, by the
+    capture of the ringleader of the party, from whose advice to his
+    followers the most serious consequences were likely to ensue.  At 12
+    o’clock, they assembled at a place called the Osier Bed, where every
+    means were resorted to, to quell the disturbance, but without
+    success.  Sir William defied interruption to his men, and fired on
+    the Rev. William Handley, of Herne Hill, who, with his brother, was
+    assisting to take him into custody.  They then made their way to
+    Bossenden Wood, where they lay in ambush; but, as no means appeared
+    to present themselves, by which the ringleader could safely be
+    secured, he being evidently mad, and in possession of loaded
+    firearms, threatening to shoot the first man who interfered with him,
+    it became necessary to apply for the assistance of the 45th regiment,
+    stationed in Canterbury barracks.  On the arrival of a detachment of
+    this regiment, they proceeded to the wood, where the party was
+    awaiting their arrival.
+
+    “A few minutes previous to the attack, Sir William loudly halloed to
+    his companions, supposed for the purpose of getting them prepared for
+    the fight.
+
+    “Sir William, on perceiving his opponents, advanced with the greatest
+    _sang froid_, and deliberately shot Lieutenant Bennett of the
+    regiment, before his own men.  This occasioned a return from the man
+    covering his officer, who advanced, and shot Sir William, who fell,
+    and died instantly.  The excitement, at that period, occasioned by
+    each party losing its commander, caused a desperate attack, which
+    terminated in the death of ten persons, besides the brother of the
+    constable shot in the morning, and several others seriously wounded,
+    of some of whom little hopes are entertained of their recovery.  The
+    weapons in the hands of the followers of Sir William, were chiefly,
+    if not altogether, heavy bludgeons.”
+
+The following, from a correspondent, goes far to show the delusions
+shared by this maniac and his followers:
+
+    “The mention of this lad’s name, reminds me that his mother is said
+    to have done more than any other person in the parish to foster and
+    encourage the belief which she herself entertained, that Thom was our
+    blessed Redeemer and Saviour.  So steadfast was she in her belief,
+    that when, after the battle in the wood, a neighbour went to tell her
+    ‘the awful news,’ that Thom was killed, and her own son wounded, she
+    would not credit the information.  ‘Sir William killed!’ said she,
+    ‘no, no, you can’t kill him; it is not the truth, it is not
+    possible.’  The reply to her was: ‘It is the truth, and it is
+    possible.’  She again asserted that it was not possible.  Again the
+    reply was: ‘It is possible, and it is as true as that your poor boy
+    has got a shot in his thigh.’  Then, and not till then, would she
+    credit that her son was hurt.  But as to Sir William, she still
+    remained incredulous, saying: ‘Mind, three days will show you and all
+    the world what Sir William is.  When that time is elapsed, you will
+    see whether he is not that which he professes to be.’
+
+    “Of the general belief in the neighbourhood that he was the Saviour,
+    I saw a strong proof in some writing which I found on the parsonage
+    barn at Herne Hill.  It has been there for the last ten days, and is
+    said to be in the handwriting of Wills.  On the left side of the door
+    is written, in one long line, these words, with spelling and capitals
+    just as I have copied them:—‘If you newho was on earth your harts Wod
+    turn’; then in another: ‘But dont Wate to late’; and then, in a
+    third, ‘They how R.’  On the right side of the door is the following:
+    ‘O that great day of gudgment, is close at hand’; in another: ‘it now
+    peps in the dor every man according to his woks’; and in a third:
+    ‘Our rites and liberties We Will have.’  I mentioned some of them in
+    a former communication.  At one of the places where he ordered
+    provisions for his followers, it was in these words: ‘Feed my sheep.’
+    To convince his disciples of his divine commission, he is said to
+    have pointed his pistol at the stars, and told him that he would make
+    them fall from their spheres.  He then fired at some particularly
+    bright star; and, his pistol having been rammed down with tow steeped
+    in oil, and sprinkled over with steel filings, produced, on being
+    fired, certain bright sparkles of light, which he immediately said
+    were falling stars.  Again, in the early part of his progress on
+    Monday, he went away from his followers with a man named Wills, and
+    two of the other rioters, saying to them, ‘Do you stay here, whilst I
+    go yonder,’ pointing to a bean stack, ‘and strike the bloody blow.’
+    When they arrived at the stack, to which they marched with a flag,
+    the flag bearer laid his flag on the ground, and knelt down to pray.
+    The others then put in, it is said, a lighted match; but Thom seized
+    it and forbade it to burn, and the fire was not kindled.  This, on
+    their return to the company, was announced as a miracle worked by the
+    Saviour.  There is another of his acts, which he mentioned as one of
+    the proofs of his Divinity, that I confess myself at a loss to
+    understand.  After he had fired one shot at the constable, Mears, and
+    subsequently chopped at him with his dirk, he went into the house,
+    seized a loaded pistol, and on coming out, said: ‘Now, am I not your
+    Saviour?’  The words were scarcely out of his mouth, when he pulled
+    the trigger of his pistol, and shot Mears a second time.”
+
+He administered a parody on the blessed Sacrament, in bread and water to
+his followers, before the encounter and harangued them.  He told them on
+this occasion, as he did on many others, that there was great opposition
+in the land, and, indeed, throughout the world, but, that if they would
+follow him, he would lead them on to glory.  He told them he had come to
+earth on a cloud, and that, on a cloud, he should some day be removed
+from them; that neither bullets nor weapons could injure him, or them, if
+they had but faith in him as their Saviour: and that if 10,000 soldiers
+came against them, they would either turn to their side, or fall dead at
+his command.  At the end of his harangue, Alexander Foad, a respectable
+farmer, and one of his followers, knelt down at his feet and worshipped
+him; and so did another man named Brankford.  Foad then asked Thom
+whether he should follow him in the body, or go home and follow him in
+heart.  To this Thom replied: “Follow me in the body.”  Foad then sprang
+on his feet in an ecstasy of joy, and, with a voice of great animation,
+exclaimed: “Oh, be joyful!  Oh, be joyful!  The Saviour has accepted me.
+Go on—go on, till I drop, I’ll follow thee!”  Brankford was also accepted
+as a follower, and exhibited the same enthusiastic fervour, while Thom
+uttered terrific denunciations of eternal torture in hell fire against
+all who should refuse to follow him.
+
+With the death of Thom and his deluded followers, the excitement calmed
+down, and entirely subsided after the trial of nine prisoners, which took
+place at Maidstone, on the 9th of August, before Lord Denman.  They were
+charged on two counts: first, with aiding and abetting John Thom, _alias_
+Courtenay, in the murder of Nicholas Mears, on the 31st of May, and
+second, with being principals in the murder.  Lord Denman charged the
+jury that, if they were of opinion that Thom was of unsound mind, so
+that, if he had been put upon his trial, he could not have been convicted
+of murder, the principal being acquitted, the accessories must also be
+acquitted, and the prisoners could not be found guilty on the first
+count.  This, the jury acquiesced in, and brought in a verdict of
+“guilty” on the second count, with a strong recommendation to mercy on
+account of the infatuation under which they were led astray by Courtenay.
+Lord Denman pronounced sentence of death upon the prisoners, but added,
+that their lives would be spared.  Two were sentenced to transportation
+for life; one to transportation for ten years; and the remainder to be
+imprisoned for one year, and kept to hard labour in the House of
+Correction, one month in solitary confinement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+The Queen’s Coronation—The Carriages—The fair and festivities in Hyde
+Park—The Marquis of Waterford’s drive—His pranks at Melton Mowbray—Steam
+carriages—Dog carriages—Grand dinner at Guildhall.
+
+The next event which occupied the public attention was the Queen’s
+Coronation, which took place on the 28th of June.  It was, like the “Half
+Crownation” of William IV., a much plainer affair than that of George the
+Magnificent, the walking procession of all the estates of the realm, and
+the banquet in Westminster Hall, with all the feudal services thereunto
+belonging, being wholly dispensed with.  The day began badly, with a cold
+shower about 8 a.m., but it cleared off, and the sun shone out fitfully,
+throughout the time the ceremony occupied—the head of the procession
+starting from Buckingham Palace at 10 a.m., and the Queen reaching
+Westminster Abbey at half-past eleven.  Next to the Queen herself, the
+principal attraction in the procession was the equipages and liveries of
+the Ambassadors Extraordinary, chief among which was the carriage of
+Marshal Soult (who represented France), which had formerly belonged to
+the last great prince of the House of Condé, the father of the Duc de
+Bourbon, and which, by its superior magnificence, eclipsed all other
+vehicles.  Besides which, it held the Duke of Dalmatia, Wellington’s old
+foe, who had now come to visit, in peace, the country he had so manfully
+fought against.
+
+Of the ceremony itself, I say nothing—everything was done decorously and
+in order.  It took a long time, for it was a quarter to four when the
+royal procession reformed and took its way through the nave of the abbey.
+The Queen entertained a party of 100 at dinner; and, in the evening,
+witnessed, from the roof of her palace, the fireworks discharged in the
+Green Park.  The Duke of Wellington gave a grand ball at Apsley House,
+for which cards of invitation were issued for 2,000 persons.
+
+As an indication of the numbers of people set down at the Abbey, I may
+mention that the carriages which were ordered to proceed (after setting
+down) to the south side of Westminster Bridge, occupied a line from the
+bridge to Kennington Cross (more than a mile).  The carriages which were
+to proceed, after setting down their company, to the west side of London,
+formed a line nearly to Kensington (a mile and a half).  Those ordered to
+wait in the Strand extended, in double lines, to St. Mary le Strand, and
+those directed to wait in Bird Cage Walk, St. James’s Park, occupied (in
+double rows) the whole line to Buckingham Palace.
+
+There was a balloon ascent from Hyde Park, which was a comparative
+failure, for it descended in Marylebone Lane, quite done up with its
+short journey, and another sent up from Vauxhall, which was more
+successful.  There were grand displays of fireworks in the Green and Hyde
+Parks, and all London was most beautifully and brilliantly illuminated.
+
+But the great thing was the Fair in Hyde Park, which had official leave
+to exist for two days—but which, in fact, lasted four.  The area allotted
+to it comprised nearly one third of the Park, extending from near the
+margin of the Serpentine to within a short distance of Grosvenor Gate.
+The best account I know of this Fair is in _The Morning Chronicle_ of 29
+June, and I here reproduce it:
+
+    “Of all the scenes which we witnessed, connected with the Coronation,
+    probably this was the most lively, and that in which there was the
+    least confusion, considering the mass of persons collected together.
+    Our readers are already aware that the Fair was permitted to take
+    place by the Government, on the petition of the present holders of
+    the show which formerly belonged to the celebrated Richardson; and it
+    was to their care, together with that of Mr. Mallalieu, the
+    Superintendent of Police, that its general management was entrusted.
+    In justice to those gentlemen, we must say that the arrangements made
+    for the accommodation of the public were admirable, while they were
+    carried out with the very greatest success.  The booths were arranged
+    in a square form, and covered a space of ground about 1,400 feet long
+    and about 1,000 feet broad.
+
+    “They were arranged in regular rows, ample space being allowed
+    between them for the free passage of the people; and they consisted
+    of every variety of shape, while they were decked with flags of all
+    colours and nations.  One portion of the fair was set apart
+    exclusively for ginger-bread and fancy booths, while those rows by
+    which these were surrounded were appropriated to the use of showmen,
+    and of persons who dealt in the more substantial articles of
+    refreshment.  Of the latter description, however, the readers would
+    recognize many as regular frequenters of such scenes; but, probably,
+    the booth which attracted the greatest attention, from its magnitude,
+    was that erected by Williams, the celebrated boiled beef monger of
+    the Old Bailey.  This was pitched in the broadest part of the fair,
+    and immediately adjoining Richardson’s show; and, at the top of it
+    was erected a gallery for the use of those who were desirous of
+    witnessing the fireworks in the evening, and, to which, access was to
+    be procured by payment of a small sum.
+
+    “While this person, and the no less celebrated Alger, the proprietor
+    of the Crown and Anchor, were astonishing the visitors with the
+    enormous extent of the accommodation which they could afford the
+    public, others set up claims of a character more agreeable to the age
+    in the exceedingly tasty mode in which they had decorated their
+    temporary houses.  Of these, that which struck us as most to be
+    admired, was a tent erected by a person named Bull, of Hackney, the
+    interior of which, decorated with fluted pillars of glazed calico,
+    had a really beautiful appearance.  It would be useless, however, to
+    attempt to particularize every booth, for each held out its alluring
+    attractions to the gaping crowd with equal force, and each appeared
+    to be sufficiently patronized by the friends of its proprietor.
+
+    “Not a few, in addition to the solid attractions of eating and
+    drinking, held out those of a more ‘airy’ description, and, in many,
+    it was announced that a ‘grand ball’ would be held in the evening,
+    ‘to commence at six o’clock’; whilst, in others, bands of music were
+    heard ‘in full play,’ joining their sweet sounds to the melodious
+    beatings of gongs and shouting through trumpets of the adjoining
+    shows.  In attractions of this kind we need only say that the fair
+    was, in most respects, fully equal to any other at which we ever had
+    the good fortune to be present, whether at Greenwich, or Croydon, or
+    in any other of the suburban or metropolitan districts.  Beef and
+    ham, beer and wine, chickens and salad, were all equally plentiful,
+    and the taste of the most fastidious might be pleased as to the
+    quality, or the quantity, of the provisions provided for him.  In the
+    pastry cooks’ booths, the usual variety of gingerbread nuts, and gilt
+    cocks in breeches, and kings and queens, were to be procured; while,
+    in some of them, the more refined luxury of ices was advertised, an
+    innovation upon the ancient style of refreshment which we, certainly,
+    had never expected to see introduced into the canvas shops of the
+    fair pastry cooks.
+
+    “While these _marchands_ were holding out their various attractions
+    to the physical tastes of the assembled multitude, the showkeepers
+    were not less actively employed in endeavouring to please the eye of
+    those who were willing to enjoy their buffooneries, or their wonders.
+    Fat boys and living skeletons, Irish giants and Welsh dwarfs,
+    children with two heads, and animals without any heads at all, were
+    among the least of the wonders to be seen; while the more rational
+    exhibition of wild beasts joined with the mysterious wonders of the
+    conjuror and the athletic performances of tumblers, in calling forth
+    expressions of surprise and delight from the old, as well as from the
+    young, who were induced to contribute their pennies ‘to see the
+    show.’
+
+    “Nor were these the only modes of procuring amusement which presented
+    themselves.  On the Serpentine river a number of boats had been
+    launched, which had been procured from the Thames, and watermen were
+    employed, during the whole day, in rowing about those who were
+    anxious to enjoy the refreshing coolness of the water after the
+    turmoil and heat of the fair.  Ponies and donkeys were in the
+    outskirts of the fair, plentiful, for the use of the young who were
+    inclined for equestrian exercise, while archery grounds and throw
+    sticks held out their attractions to the adepts in such practices,
+    and roundabouts and swings were ready to gratify the tastes of the
+    adventurous.  Kensington Gardens were, as usual, open to the public,
+    and not a few who were fearful of joining in the crowd, contented
+    themselves here, in viewing the gay scene from a distance.  Timorous,
+    however, as they might be, of personal inconvenience, they did not
+    fail to enjoy the opportunities which were afforded them of looking
+    into the book of fate; and we observed many of the fairest parts of
+    the creation busily engaged in deep and private confabulations with
+    those renowned seers, the gypsies.
+
+    “With regard to those persons who visited the fair, we must say we
+    never saw a more orderly body.  From an early hour the visitors were
+    flocking in; but it was not until Her Majesty had gone to Westminster
+    Abbey that the avenues approaching Hyde Park became crowded.  Then,
+    indeed, the countless thousands of London appeared to be poured
+    forth, and all seemed to be bound for the same point of destination.
+    Thousands who had taken up their standing places at Hyde Park Corner,
+    poured through the gate; whilst many who had assumed positions at a
+    greater distance from the Parks, passed through the squares and
+    through Grosvenor Gate.  Every avenue was soon filled, every booth
+    was soon crammed full of persons desirous of procuring refreshment
+    and rest after the fatigue of standing so long in the crowd to view
+    the procession.
+
+    “These, however, were not the only persons who joined the throng.
+    Every cab, coach, or omnibus which had been left disengaged, appeared
+    to be driving to the same point, full of passengers.  Fulham, Putney,
+    Mile End and Brixton alike contributed their vehicles to carry the
+    people to the Parks, and thousands from the very extremity of the
+    City were to be seen flocking towards the Fair.  All seemed bent on
+    the same object, that of procuring amusement, and work seemed to have
+    been suspended, as if by common consent.  While the East-end thrust
+    forth her less aristocratic workmen, the West-end was not altogether
+    idle in furnishing its quota to the throng, and we noticed many
+    really elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen alight from their
+    carriages to view the enlivening scene; and many of them, who were,
+    apparently, strangers to such exhibitions, were, evidently, not a
+    little amused at the grotesque imitations of those amusements in
+    which the aristocracy delight.
+
+    “Carriages of every description were admitted into the Parks, and the
+    splendid carriage of an aristocrat was not unfrequently followed by
+    the tilted waggon of some remover of furniture, with its load of men,
+    women and children, who had come to ‘see the fun.’  All seemed,
+    alike, bent on amusement; all, alike, appeared to throw aside those
+    restraints which rank, fashion, or station had placed upon them, and
+    to enter fully into the enjoyment of the busy scene in which they
+    were actors.  The delightful locality of the Fair, the bright
+    sunbeams playing upon the many-coloured tents, the joyous laughter of
+    the people, untouched by debauchery, and unseduced by the gross
+    pleasures of the appetite; the gay dresses of the women, all in their
+    best; joined in making the scene one which must live long in the
+    recollection of those who witnessed it.  All appeared to remember
+    that this was the day of the Coronation of a Queen, so youthful, so
+    beautiful, so pure, and all appeared to be determined that no act of
+    insubordination or of disorder on their part should sully the bright
+    opening of a reign so hopeful, and from which so much happiness is to
+    be expected.
+
+    “We have already said that the arrangements of the fair were
+    excellent; but, while these called forth our admiration, the
+    exceeding attention paid to the public by the police force appeared
+    to prevent the possibility of accident or robbery.  All gambling
+    booths and thimble riggers had, of course, been necessarily excluded,
+    but we fear it was not possible to shut out all those persons whose
+    recollection of the laws of _meum_ and _tuum_ was somewhat blunted.
+    We heard of numerous losses of small sums, and of handkerchiefs and
+    other trifles, but, throughout the day, we gained no information of
+    any robbery which was of sufficient extent to produce more than a
+    temporary inconvenience to the person robbed.  A temporary police
+    station was erected in the grounds, in which Mr. Mallalieu and a
+    considerable portion of his men were in attendance during the day;
+    but, although there were, necessarily, some cases in which slight
+    acts of intemperance were visible, nothing of any serious importance
+    occurred during the whole of the early part of the day.
+
+    “The orderly conduct of the people, which we have already described
+    as having been observable during the morning, was maintained through
+    the rest of the day.  Notwithstanding that the crowd, at three
+    o’clock, had increased tenfold, no disturbance nor riot occurred.
+    The return of Her Majesty attracted a few from the crowd, but nearly
+    every one returned, and all remained for the grand attraction of this
+    part of the day’s amusement—the fireworks.  As evening closed in, the
+    fatigue of the people rendered rest, as well as refreshment,
+    necessary, and every booth was, in a short time, crowded with eager
+    inquiries for eatables and drinkables.  The dancing booths were
+    crowded to suffocation, and the viands of the purveyors of grog were
+    soon put into requisition.”
+
+The next day was stormy and wet at first, but afterwards turned out fine,
+and the Fair was crowded.  On the third day, a booth caught fire, but no
+great damage was done.  On the fourth, and last day, the Queen drove as
+close to it as she well could do, and all the booths were cleared away
+that night.
+
+The Marquis of Waterford still continued his mad pranks, and he was
+brought before Mr. Dyer, the Magistrate at Marlborough Street, on 30
+June, charged with being drunk and disorderly in Piccadilly at 5 o’clock
+in the morning.
+
+Policeman Ellis, C 91, saw the Marquis, with two or three other persons
+and a woman in his cab, driving down the Haymarket, and committing the
+insane freak of making the foot pavement his road.  The policeman had no
+hope of overtaking the Marquis, from the speed at which his lordship was
+driving; he, however, followed as fast as he could, and, when the Marquis
+turned into Piccadilly, he saw his lordship again pull his horse on the
+pavement, and drive on, to the imminent danger of foot passengers.  The
+cab went against some posts, and this brought the horse to a standstill.
+The policeman ran up, and after much difficulty and opposition on the
+part of the Marquis’s friends, he succeeded in lodging his lordship in
+the station house.  His lordship was too drunk to allow his being
+enlarged on bail.
+
+In explanation, the Marquis said he had a young horse in his cab, which
+was very difficult to drive.  The animal, having a heavy load behind him,
+became unmanageable, and went, in spite of all he could do, on the
+pavement.
+
+The policeman, in the most positive manner, said he saw the Marquis pull
+his horse upon the foot pavement, and whip the animal to make him go the
+faster.
+
+The Marquis declared, “upon his honour,” he did not go more than five
+yards upon the pavement.
+
+The policeman declared the Marquis drove about 100 yards on the pavement
+in the Haymarket, and about 100 yards more upon the pavement in
+Piccadilly.  The concussion against the post was so great, that the woman
+was thrown six yards out of the cab.
+
+Marquis: I was thrown out myself.  The fact is, I consider this charge to
+be quite unwarranted.  No one was hurt, and the policeman exceeded his
+duty in taking me to the station house.
+
+Mr. Dyer: The policeman states you were intoxicated.
+
+Marquis: Why, I had been about all night, and I don’t think I was very
+sober.
+
+Policeman: You had your collar and shirt open, and your chest was quite
+exposed.
+
+Marquis: I was dressed just as I am at present.
+
+Policeman: Your coat is now buttoned up; it was not so when I took you in
+charge.  You said, when I took you, you would defy your brother to drive
+your horse.
+
+Marquis: I might have said so because none of my brothers are in town.
+But the horse is only four years old, has never had a collar on before,
+and I’ll defy any man to drive him the length of this street.
+
+Mr. Dyer: It was the more imprudent on your lordship’s part to bring such
+an unsafe animal into the public streets, especially at the present time,
+when the streets are more than usually thronged.  Have you any witnesses?
+
+Marquis: Yes, I can bring them, but I had rather not.
+
+Mr. Dyer: If they can allege anything in contradiction of the charge of
+wilful driving on the footpath, I am willing to hear it.
+
+Marquis: No.  It will be a fine, I suppose, and I had rather pay it than
+trouble my friends to come forward.  I’ll call my horse, if your Worship
+thinks proper.
+
+Mr. Dyer then inflicted a fine of 40s.
+
+The Marquis paid the money, and, turning to the policeman, made some
+unhandsome remarks on his evidence.
+
+Mr. Dyer said the policeman bore an excellent character, and, as far as
+the magistrates could judge, had always done his duty fairly and
+respectably.
+
+The Marquis took the arm of his friend, the Earl of Waldegrave, and left
+the office.
+
+We hear of him again very shortly afterwards, for on 31 July, at Derby
+assizes, came on an indictment charging the Marquis of Waterford, Sir F.
+Johnstone, Hon. A. C. H. Villiers, and E. H. Reynard, Esq., with a riot
+and assault.  On the 5th April were the Croxton Park races, about five
+miles distance from Melton Mowbray.  The four defendants had been dining
+out at Melton on the evening of that day; and about two in the morning of
+the following day, the watchmen on duty, hearing a noise, proceeded to
+the Market Place, and near Lord Rosebery’s house saw several gentlemen
+attempting to overturn a caravan, a man being inside; the watchmen
+succeeded in preventing this, when the Marquis of Waterford challenged
+one of them to fight, which the watchmen declined.  Subsequently, hearing
+a noise in the direction of the toll bar, they proceeded thither, and
+found the gate keeper had been screwed up in his house, and he had been
+calling out “Murder!”
+
+On coming up with the gentlemen a second time, it was observed that they
+had a pot of red paint with them, while one carried a paint brush, which
+one of the constables wrested from the hand of the person who held it;
+but, subsequently, they surrounded the man, threw him on his back, and
+painted his face and neck with red paint.  They then continued their
+games, painting the doors and windows of different persons; and, when one
+of their companions (Mr. Reynard) was put in the lock up, they forced the
+constable to give up the keys, and succeeded in getting him out.  The
+jury found the defendants (who were all identified as having taken part
+in the affray) guilty of the common assault, and they were sentenced to
+pay a fine of £100 each, and to be imprisoned till such fine be paid.
+
+Motor cars are not the modern invention we are apt to imagine them,
+except as regards the power used—which, until lately, was always steam.
+As far back as 1769, a Frenchman, named Cugnot, made a steam carriage
+which carried four people, and attained a speed of two and a quarter
+miles an hour!  But it was unfortunate to its inventor—for it came to
+grief in a street in Paris, and the unhappy man was imprisoned.  In
+England our engineers exercised their inventive power in making steam
+carriages—Murdock in 1782, Watt in 1784, Symington in 1786—and others
+made models, but the first which actually ran in England was made by
+Trevithick and Vivian in 1803, and this, in the streets of London (which
+were very far from being as good as they are now), attained a speed of
+eight or nine miles an hour.  Between the years 1827–34 there were
+numerous steam carriages built and tried, proving more or less
+successful.  One made by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney ran for three months in
+1831 with passengers between Cheltenham and Gloucester, while Hancock’s
+steam omnibuses (carrying 14 to 16 passengers) ran in London pretty
+constantly during the years 1833–36, and often at a speed of 10 or 12
+miles an hour; some of his coaches ran long journeys, such as from London
+to Brighton, and he was the most successful of all inventors in this
+line, unless we except Scott Russell, who, in 1834, ran six steam coaches
+between Glasgow and Paisley.
+
+We read in the _Standard_ of 21 June, 1838, that “Yesterday afternoon,
+Hyde Park presented a more than usually gay appearance, in consequence of
+a crowd of fashionables being assembled to witness the trial of a
+newly-constructed steam cab.  Among the many splendid equipages were
+observed those of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis of
+Salisbury, the Marquis of Northampton, the Earl of Winchilsea, Lord
+Howick, Lord Holland, and many other distinguished personages.  About 3
+o’clock the object of attraction moved forward at a slow pace from the
+old Foot Guard Barracks, Knightsbridge, and threaded its way through the
+various vehicles into the Park, passing through the centre gate of the
+triumphal arch, and making, in the open space opposite the statue,
+several turns within its own length.  The vehicle after the date hereof,
+will render themselves liable to be hours round the Park, and, from the
+slight noise it made, the horses passing did not appear to be frightened.
+The average speed of the cab was about twelve miles an hour.  The vehicle
+was guided by Mr. Hancock, the inventor.”
+
+But, if mechanical science had advanced as far as motor cars, we were, in
+other ways, still as backward as Belgium and Germany are at the present,
+in using dogs as draught animals.  This practice had increased to such an
+extent that it was found necessary to placard the walls of the metropolis
+with the following notice.  “Notice is hereby given, that all persons
+using dogs under carts or trucks, as beasts of burden, after the date
+hereof, will render themselves liable to be prosecuted, and fined £2,
+according to the provisions of an obsolete Act lately discovered.
+London, 18 Aug., 1838.”  This scandal did not last long, for in “an Act
+for further improving the Police in and near the Metropolis,” 2 and 3
+Vict., c. 47 [17 Aug., 1839], we find that Section LVI. says, “And be it
+enacted, That after the First Day of _January_ next, every person who,
+within the Metropolitan Police District, shall use any Dog for the
+purpose of drawing, or helping to draw any Cart, Carriage, Truck, or
+Barrow, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than Forty Shillings for
+the first offence, and not more than Five Pounds for the Second, or any
+following offence.”  This act was extended to all parts of the Kingdom by
+the 17 and 18 Vict., c. 60.
+
+On the 13th July the Corporation of the City of London gave a grand
+banquet, at the Guildhall, to the foreign Princes, Ambassadors
+extraordinary, and _Corps Diplomatique_, then in the metropolis, in
+honour of the Queen’s Coronation; and in order to completely divest the
+occasion of anything like a political aspect, care was taken to invite,
+besides the Ministers, an equal number of the _élite_ of both parties in
+the State.  The principal guests went in their state carriages, and the
+streets were crowded with sightseers who especially welcomed the Duke of
+Wellington and Marshal Soult.  The arrangements and decorations in the
+Hall were almost the same as those used for the Royal banquet in the
+previous November, the tables and sideboards were ablaze with plate lent
+by the various City Companies, and the General Bill of Fare was as
+follows:
+
+One hundred and twenty tureens of turtle soup, of five pints each; 17
+dishes of fish, consisting of salmon, turbot, whitings, tench and eels;
+40 haunches of venison; 80 dishes of fowls, capons and pullets; 40
+cherry, gooseberry and currant tarts; 30 strawberry tarts; 40 dishes of
+potatos; 60 dishes of French beans; 30 French pies; 30 pigeon pies; 30
+hams; 30 tongues; 2 barons of beef; 37 Chantilly baskets; 30 dishes of
+peas; 10 sirloins, ribs and rumps of beef; 45 dishes of shell fish; 30
+ribs, chines and legs of lamb; 40 dishes of ducklings; 20 turkey poults;
+80 jellies; 20 creams; 40 salads and cucumbers; 20 dishes of
+cauliflowers.  DESSERT.—Seventy-five pine apples of 2lbs each; 100 dishes
+of hothouse grapes; 20 melons; 30 dishes of cherries; 100 dishes of
+strawberries; 40 dishes of currants and gooseberries; 120 cream and water
+ices, various; 40 dishes of dried fruit; 35 ornamented Savoy cakes; 30
+dishes of preserves, biscuits and olives.
+
+Marshal Soult stopped for some time in England, and visited many of the
+manufacturing towns.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+Genesis of “The Charter” - L. & N. W. Railway opened to
+Birmingham—Overland route to India—A bold smuggler—Bull baiting—Visitors
+to the Queen—“The Boy Jones.”
+
+Probably nearly all my readers have heard of the “Chartists,” but it is
+equally probable that few know when the agitation commenced, and the
+reason for its existence.  The “Charter,” as it was called, was the
+Radical outcome of the Reform Bill of 1832.  For a time, after the
+passing of that Bill, the land had peace, for all reasonable reforms had
+been granted, but the demagogues were not going to be quietly
+annihilated, and an agitation for more trenchant reform was got up, and a
+mass meeting in its favour was held at Birmingham, on the 6th of August,
+and at it were inaugurated the principles of “The People’s Charter,” as
+it was called.  It is currently reported that this “Charter” was drawn up
+by William Lovett, a carpenter and cabinet maker, who took an active part
+in getting rid of the stamp tax upon newspapers; and it is very likely
+that it was so, for he drew up most of the petitions and addresses for
+the movement, and, in connection with it, he, the following year,
+suffered 12 months’ imprisonment.  He died Aug. 1877.  The demands of
+this “Charter” were six, and they were familiarly known as the six
+points.  They were:
+
+    Universal Suffrage.
+    Vote by Ballot.
+    Annual Parliaments.
+    Payment of the Members.
+    Abolition of the Property Qualification.
+    Equal Electoral Districts.
+
+The meeting was got up by T. Atwood, Esq., M.P., and the site chosen for
+it was a large vacant piece of ground, at Birmingham, on the north-west
+side of the town, and there drinking booths galore were erected.  The
+morning began very wet, and the different divisions from the neighbouring
+country marched bemired and bedraggled to the rendezous.  There they soon
+filled the drinking booths, in which they abode; hence, probably, the
+very diverse statements as to the numbers present at the meeting, which
+vary from 10,000 to 200,000.  The ground chosen was a natural
+amphitheatre, and, if the weather had been finer, it would have been a
+pretty sight, enlivened by the bright banners of the different Trades’
+Societies.  However, Mr. Atwood read the Petition, which embodied the
+above six points, and moved its adoption.  Feargus O’Connor, a well-known
+firebrand, seconded it in a violent speech, in which occurred the
+following balderdash.
+
+   “On with your green standard rearing,
+      Go, flesh every sword to the hilt;
+   On our side is Virtue and Erin,
+      On yours is the _parson_ and guilt.”
+
+Of course the Motion was enthusiastically carried, and then a very heavy
+shower of rain terminated the proceedings.  The petition was afterwards
+presented to Parliament by Mr. Atwood on the 14th of June, 1839.
+
+On 17th Sept the London and North Western Railway (then called the London
+and Birmingham Rly.) was opened throughout to Birmingham; the first
+train, containing Directors and their friends, leaving Euston at 7.15
+a.m.  The times of this train are useful for comparing with the present
+time.  “The train left Euston at 15 minutes past 7, but did not take on
+locomotive until 20 minutes past.  It arrived at Tring station at 25
+minutes past 8, where there was five minutes’ delay.  Arrived at
+Wolverton at 6 minutes past 9, where the directors alighted and changed
+engines.  The train arrived at Rugby at 11 o’clock, where the Duke of
+Sussex and his suite alighted, and proceeded by carriage to the place of
+his destination.  The directors remained at Rugby 10 minutes, and arrived
+at Birmingham 3 minutes past 12, having performed the whole journey,
+including stoppages, in 4 hours 48 minutes, and, exclusive of stoppages,
+in 4 hours 14 minutes.  This is, unquestionably, the shortest time in
+which the journey from London to Birmingham has ever been performed,
+being upwards of two hours less than the time occupied by Marshal Soult
+and attendants a few weeks ago.”
+
+“The fare for one person from London to Birmingham, or back, by the ‘four
+inside’ carriages, by day, or the first class, ‘six inside’ by night,
+will be £1 12s. 6d; by the second-class carriages, open by day, which is
+the cheapest, it will be £1.  The intermediate fares will be £1 10s. and
+£1 5s.”
+
+It is not generally known that the two lodges at the entrance of Euston
+Station, were the original ticket office and waiting room.
+
+People were beginning to wake from the torpor in which they had hitherto
+slumbered, with regard to locomotion, and on 12th October an influential
+meeting of merchants and others was held at the Jerusalem Coffee House to
+hear a Captain Barber unfold his scheme for a quicker communication with
+India.  This was that passengers and goods should be taken by steam to
+Cairo, and thence, by omnibuses and vans to Suez—as was afterwards done
+by Waghorn, who was already forming an Overland Mail (see _Times_, 29
+Nov., 1838).
+
+With the very heavy duties on foreign goods, of course smuggling was very
+rife, and the Inland Revenue was defrauded on every possible occasion by
+the sharp wits opposed to it; and the difficulty of conviction, unless
+the smuggler was caught red-handed, was very considerable.  The following
+is a case in point, and for sheer impudence, it bears the palm.  17 Oct.:
+
+    MANSION HOUSE.—A Scotchwoman, named Frances Bodmore, the wife of a
+    Frenchman, who has been engaged in smuggling, appeared to answer for
+    her husband, on a charge of having two two-gallon bottles of French
+    brandy in his possession, without having paid the duty thereon.
+
+    Child, the constable, said he went into the house of the Frenchman,
+    in Sugarloaf Court; and, while searching for other things, found the
+    bottles under the pillows of the bed.
+
+    The Lord Mayor: Why don’t your husband attend?
+
+    Woman: Why, because he knows nothing at all about the business.  I
+    think he’d be a great fool to come here without knowing for what.
+
+    The Lord Mayor: How do you get your living?
+
+    Woman: Why, as well as I can.  I don’t get it without running some
+    risk for it, you may depend.
+
+    The Lord Mayor: We know you to be a consummate smuggler.
+
+    Woman: Whatever my business may be, I generally get through it like a
+    trump.  There’s no nonsense about me.
+
+    The Lord Mayor (to the Revenue officer): She is constantly backward
+    and forward between this and France, I daresay.
+
+    Woman: Yes, my Lord, I travel a good deal for the benefit of my
+    health, and I always come back stouter than I go.  (Laughter.)
+
+    Officer: She’s perfectly well known, my Lord, as one of a number that
+    are commissioned by parties in London.  They are all very clever, and
+    elude us in every possible way, and the steamers afford them great
+    facilities.
+
+    The Lord Mayor: I can’t send this woman to prison, and she knows it
+    well, but I shall punish every experienced smuggler I catch as
+    severely as I can.  They cheat the fair trader, they endanger the
+    vessel in which they come over, and they cheat the Government.
+
+    Woman: Ay, my Lord, that’s the cleverest thing of all.  Only think of
+    cheating the Government!  Well, well, I wonder where the villainy of
+    man will end!  (Laughter.)
+
+    The Lord Mayor: Take care of yourself.  You think you are secure.
+    You may go now.
+
+    Woman: Good morning, my Lord.  Although you are so kind, I hope I
+    shall never have the pleasure of seeing your face again.
+
+    The Lord Mayor was informed that great quantities of lace were
+    brought over by women.  Some had been found stitched up in the skins
+    of wildfowl, and there was scarcely an article, dead or alive, that
+    was not suspected of being a depository of contraband goods.  It was
+    but a short time ago, that a wretched-looking object was discovered
+    to be the carrier of a large stock of lace.  He had an old bedstead,
+    which, in his trips to Boulogne, he used to take with him.  At last,
+    somebody on board expressed his surprise, why a ricketty piece of
+    furniture, which looked as if it was the tenement of living animals,
+    should be so frequent a passenger.  Upon close examination, it was
+    found that the several pieces of the bedstead had been hollowed and
+    stuffed with lace.
+
+The cruel old English sport of bull baiting was still continued at
+Stamford, in Lincolnshire, where it is said to have existed since the
+year 1209, in the reign of King John.  The story goes that, in that year,
+William, Earl Warren, lord of the town, standing on the walls of his
+castle, saw two bulls fighting for a cow, in the castle meadow, till all
+the butchers dogs pursued one of the bulls (maddened by the noise and
+multitude) clean through the town.  This sight so pleased the Earl, that
+he gave the castle meadow, where the bulls’ duel began, for a common, to
+the butchers of the town, after the first grass was mown, on condition
+that they should find a mad bull the day six weeks before Christmas
+Day—for the continuation of that sport, for ever.
+
+But the time had come for putting an end to this barbarous practice, and
+it was this year put down by direct interference of the Secretary of
+State.  At Stamford, and elsewhere, it was believed that this bull
+baiting was legal, being established by custom; but the Society for the
+Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with a view of setting the question at
+rest by the decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench, caused an indictment
+to be preferred against several of the ringleaders.  The indictment was
+tried at Lincoln, before Mr. Justice Park and a special jury, when
+several of them were found guilty; and, upon their being brought up for
+judgment in the Court of Queen’s Bench, the Court unanimously declared
+the practice to be illegal; the Chief Justice, in particular, said: “It
+was supposed there was some matter of law—at first, there was a supposed
+old Charter—for the future, it must be considered as an illegal
+practice.”
+
+In consequence of this decision, a troop of the 14th Dragoons, together
+with 12 Metropolitan policemen, were sent into the town of Stamford.
+Placards, apprising the public of the illegality of the bull baiting,
+were posted in the town and neighbourhood, and the threatened and
+attempted repetition of this barbarous scene was prevented without any
+loss of life or serious injury.  The _bullards_ (as they were called)
+mustered in strong numbers.  They had provided two fierce bulls to be
+hunted and tormented; but the bulls were seized and pounded by the
+police; and, although the ruffian mob remained in considerable numbers,
+no serious breach of the peace took place.  But they were determined not
+to be altogether baulked of their _sport_; for a bull calf, enclosed in a
+cart, and followed by its lowing mother, entered the town, and was
+immediately seized on as a substitute for a bull.  It was taken out, and
+hunted through the town for some time, until rescued by the police.
+
+Every lunatic seems to have wanted to say something to the young Queen,
+and visitors to Buckingham Palace were very frequent, although the object
+of their wishes was never attained.  To show the nuisance involved by
+these fools let me give one paragraph out of the _Times_, 19 Dec.:
+
+    VISITORS TO HER MAJESTY.—On Saturday night, about 9 o’clock, a very
+    respectably dressed young man rang the bell at the tradesmen’s
+    entrance of the new Palace, and, upon being asked the nature of his
+    business, he said he had come for the direction of his house, as he
+    was tired, and wished to go home.  Upon being asked to explain
+    himself, he said he had just come from Sydney, and had been desired
+    to call at the Palace by the Queen, who told him he should have a
+    house to live in, and £150 a year, for some very important spiritual
+    communication he had made to her.  The young man, whose every action
+    showed he was a lunatic, was then told the Queen was not in town,
+    when he turned away, observing that he would go immediately to Lord
+    Hill, and lay his case before him.  Visits of the preceding kind are
+    very frequent at the Palace, and the tales told by the visitants are
+    of the very strangest nature.  It is only a few weeks since, an
+    elderly man, having the appearance of a farmer, called at the Palace,
+    and handing to the porter the certificate of his birth, requested him
+    to let Her Majesty sign it.  From inquiries made concerning this man,
+    it was discovered that he was a respectable farmer in the
+    neighbourhood of Exeter, from which distant place he had wandered on
+    so strange an errand.
+
+But of all visitors to the Royal Palace, THE BOY JONES was the most
+frequent and successful.  Who, in this generation, knows anything about
+THE BOY JONES?  Yet his escapades were very daring and his story is very
+true—but so strange is it that, in order to be believed, I must, at
+least, in part, give the chapter and verse for it:
+
+_The Times_, 15 Dec.:
+
+    QUEEN SQUARE.—Yesterday, a lad about 15 years of age, who gave his
+    name as Edward Cotton, whose dress was that of a sweep, but who was
+    stated to be the son of a respectable tradesman in Hertfordshire, was
+    charged with being found in the Marble hall of Buckingham Palace,
+    under circumstances of an extraordinary nature.  It should be stated
+    that Buckingham Palace, even during the absence of the Queen, is
+    guarded by the gentlemen porters of the establishment, two inspectors
+    of the A division of police, and sentries from the Foot Guards.  In
+    spite of this, a number of cases have lately occurred at this office,
+    where persons have been found in the interior of the Palace under
+    unaccountable circumstances.
+
+    George Cox, one of the porters, having been sworn, said, that at five
+    o’clock yesterday morning he saw the prisoner in the Marble hall.
+    The latter endeavoured to make his escape into the lobby, but he
+    pursued him, and he then took a contrary direction, across the lawn
+    at the back of the Palace.  Witness called for the sentry at the
+    gate, and a policeman of the B Division who was on duty in James
+    Street, caught the lad, after a long chase over the lawn.  Mr. Cox
+    added, that he found, in the lobby, a regimental sword, a quantity of
+    linen, and other articles, all of which had been purloined from the
+    Palace.  The sword was the property of the Hon. Augustus Murray, a
+    gentleman attached to the Queen’s establishment.  Witness went into
+    that gentleman’s bedroom, and the bedding was covered with soot.  The
+    prisoner had, evidently, endeavoured to get up the chimney, in order
+    to effect his escape; there was a valuable likeness of Her Majesty,
+    in the Marble hall, which was broken, and covered with soot; and it
+    was supposed that the lad, in the first instance, had descended from
+    the top of the building, and had endeavoured to make his way back
+    again in the same manner.
+
+    James Stone, 31 B, deposed that he was called upon by the last
+    witness to secure the prisoner.  There were marks of soot in several
+    of the bedchambers, as well as in one of the corridors of the Palace,
+    and the Grand (or Marble) hall.  He found upon him two letters, one
+    addressed to Her Majesty, and the other to the Hon. Mr. Murray.
+    These letters had been placed underneath Her Majesty’s portrait, and
+    had, no doubt, been taken by the prisoner at the time the picture was
+    destroyed.  Part of the scabbard of the sword was discovered in one
+    of the beds, and a quantity of bear’s grease, part of which he had
+    placed upon his flesh, was taken from him—it belonged to one of the
+    servants of the Palace.  Upon being taken to the station house, he
+    said he came from Hertfordshire, and that his father was a
+    respectable man.
+
+    Mr. White, the sitting magistrate, observed that it was a most
+    extraordinary thing that persons could get into the Palace under such
+    circumstances.
+
+    Several persons belonging to the Palace said that every inquiry had
+    been made, but it could not be accounted for.
+
+    Mr. White (to the prisoner): Where do you come from?
+
+    Prisoner: I came from Hertfordshire 12 months ago, and I met with a
+    man in a fustian jacket, who asked me to go with him to Buckingham
+    House.  I went, and have been there ever since.  I got my victuals in
+    the kitchen, and I thought myself very well off, because I came to
+    London to better myself.
+
+    Mr. White: Well, you could not go to a higher place.
+
+    Prisoner: I declare it to be the case, and I lived very well.  To be
+    sure, I was obliged to wash my shirt now and then.
+
+    Mr. White: You fared, then, altogether, pretty well?
+
+    Prisoner: Very well indeed, Sir, and I was always placed, when the
+    Queen had a meeting with the Ministers, behind a piece of furniture
+    in the room; but I, certainly, did live well.
+
+    Mr. White: Indeed!  And which was your favourite apartment?
+
+    Prisoner: The room in front of the gardens; but I was always in the
+    secret when the Ministers came.
+
+    Mr. White: Do you mean to tell me that you have lived in the Palace
+    upwards of 11 months, and been concealed when Her Majesty held a
+    Council?
+
+    Prisoner: I do.
+
+    Mr. White: Were you hid behind a chair?
+
+    Prisoner: No.  But the tables and other furniture concealed me.
+
+    Mr. White: Then you could hear all Her Majesty said?
+
+    Prisoner: Oh, yes! and her Ministers too.
+
+    The prisoner’s answers to the questions of the magistrate were given
+    in the most shrewd manner possible, and he evidently appeared to be a
+    lad of some education, but nothing further could be elicited from
+    him.
+
+    Mr. White said it was a most singular affair, and that it should be
+    strictly inquired into.  For the present, he should remand the
+    prisoner until Wednesday next.  The magistrate also told Cox that, as
+    he should be sitting there every day, he should be glad to receive
+    any information upon the subject.
+
+    The letters found upon the prisoner were directed to be sent to the
+    Palace, under seal of the Office, the prisoner having broken them
+    open.
+
+The case excited great interest, and, in the first instance, was sent to
+Bow Street; but Sir Frederick Roe being out of town, it was ordered to be
+heard at this office.
+
+    _The Times_, 20 Dec.—Yesterday, the lad found in Buckingham Palace,
+    who had given his name as Edward Cotton, and described himself as the
+    son of a respectable tradesman living in the town of Hertford, was
+    brought before Messrs. White and Gregorie for final examination.  It
+    will be recollected that he had purloined, amongst other articles,
+    two letters, which were immediately sealed up, and sent back to the
+    Palace.  The prisoner turns out to be the son of an industrious
+    tailor, named Jones, residing in York Street, Westminster; and, it
+    appears, had frequently expressed his intention to enter the Palace,
+    under any circumstances.  He had often stated that he wished to see
+    the grand staircase, in order to take a sketch of it, and had often
+    expressed his determination to see the Queen, and to hear her
+    sentiments when Her Majesty and her Ministers were assembled in
+    Council.
+
+    Frederick Blume now deposed that he was valet to the Hon. Mr. Murray,
+    and that a sword, a quantity of linen and other articles, had been
+    stolen from that gentleman’s apartments in the Palace.
+
+    Mr. White: When were they stolen?
+
+    Witness: I can’t recollect.
+
+    Mr. White: Was it a week, a month, or three or four months ago?
+
+    Witness: I cannot say.
+
+    Mr. White: Where was your master’s sword at the time you saw it last?
+
+    Witness: When I went to Windsor.
+
+    Mr. White: When was that?
+
+    Witness: I cannot exactly recollect, and then he added, that about a
+    week since, he had sent from Windsor to the Palace, a portmanteau
+    containing his linen, and three pairs of trousers, four of stockings,
+    and three cravats were missing.  The padlock of the portmanteau had
+    been forced by the sword having been applied to it.  The sword had
+    broken in the attempt.  He had also lost five 10 sous pieces, which
+    had been found upon the prisoner.
+
+    Mr. White: What is the value of the articles you have lost?
+
+    Witness: I don’t know; but I should like to give three guineas to get
+    them back.
+
+    Mr. White: Can you swear to the French coin found upon the prisoner
+    as being yours?
+
+    The witness was then shown the coin, and he said that he certainly
+    could.  They had been taken from his bedroom.
+
+                                  * * * * *
+
+    Mr. White: Can any information be given as to the manner in which the
+    prisoner gained access to the Palace?  Cox, one of the porters to the
+    Palace, said that the principal entrance door was always locked, and
+    the key in his possession.  At 5 o’clock on Saturday morning, just as
+    he was about to get out of bed, the prisoner opened the door of his
+    room, as witness considered, to obtain the key; his face and hands
+    were disguised with soot and bear’s grease, and he was asked whether
+    he came to sweep a chimney: he did not make any answer, but
+    endeavoured to escape.
+
+    Inspector Steed, A division, said that upon examining the gates of
+    the principal entrance of the Palace, he found that, at the Marble
+    Arch, there was a vacuum sufficient to admit a boy into the Palace,
+    without any inconvenience.
+
+    Mr. White: And is there no sentry at this gate?
+
+    Witness: There are two.
+
+    The inspector said that he had examined the boy’s boots, and the
+    gravel upon them corresponded with that lately laid down close to the
+    Marble Arch.  The boots had been taken off by the prisoner, and left
+    in one of the apartments appropriated to the use of the porters of
+    the Palace.
+
+    Mr. Griffiths, builder, Coventry Street, said that the lad had been
+    in his employment for a few months; he had always expressed his
+    intention to get into the interior of the Palace by some means or
+    other; he was a clever lad, and had made a sketch of the exterior,
+    and a view of the enclosure fronting the Palace.  He had left his
+    service two days since, and witness was very much distressed, as were
+    his parents, to know what had become of him.  Upon reading the
+    accounts in the newspapers, he immediately went to Tothill Fields,
+    and identified him, much to the gratification of his father, who
+    supposed that he had drowned himself, the latter having, on account
+    of his son’s bad conduct, turned him out of doors.
+
+    The Magistrate, after telling the boy that he would, most likely, be
+    committed for trial, asked him what he could say in his defence.
+
+    Prisoner: I wished to see the Palace, and I went in with a man in a
+    fustian jacket.  I had the whole range of the Palace for a day or
+    two, but the money found upon me I picked up in one of the rooms.
+
+    Mr. White: Tell me the truth, for I am about to send you for trial.
+
+    Prisoner: Oh, very well; with all my heart.
+
+    He was fully committed to the Westminster Sessions, and all parties
+    bound over to prosecute.
+
+He was tried on 28 Dec., and was most ably defended by his Counsel, Mr.
+Prendergast, who turned everything to ridicule, and the jury returned a
+verdict of Not Guilty, regarding the escapade in the light of a youthful
+folly, and being, also, mindful of the fact that the boy did not enter
+the Palace for the purpose of theft.
+
+But we shall hear of THE BOY JONES again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+Death of Lord Norbury—Birth of photography—Experimental street
+pavements—Forecast of the Queen’s marriage—Sad story of Lady Flora
+Hastings—Story of a climbing boy—Van Amburgh—Embanking the
+Thames—Victoria Park—Robbery of gold dust.
+
+In a book, professedly of Gossip, politics should be strictly kept in the
+background—but at this time Ireland was seething with sedition.  Still I
+should hardly have adverted to it, had not the deliberate and brutal
+murder of the Earl of Norbury, on 1 Jan., set all tongues wagging.  His
+Lordship was walking in the shrubbery, near his own house at Kilbeggan,
+in the county of Meath, talking to his steward, and pointing out to him
+some trees he wished to have cut down, when some miscreant, behind a
+hedge, fired a blunder-buss loaded with swan shot at him, and he fell,
+mortally wounded.  He lived for 43 hours afterwards—but his assassin ran
+away and escaped; nor, in spite of large rewards offered, was he ever
+discovered.
+
+Photography may be said to have been practically born early in this year,
+for, on 7 Jan., the French Academy reported on the invention of M.
+Daguerre, by which the pictures of the camera lucida were rendered
+permanent.  All former attempts may be regarded as scientific
+dilletanteism and nothing more.  The earliest known pictures caused by
+light on a sensitive surface were made by Thomas Wedgwood (a son of
+Josiah, the famous potter), whose researches were published in 1802 in
+the _Journal of the Royal Institution_, under the title: “An account of a
+Method of copying Paintings upon Glass, and making Profiles by the agency
+of Light upon Nitrate of Silver: with Observations by H. Davy.”
+Afterwards, came Nicephore Niepce, of Châlon sur Saône, who produced
+permanent light pictures in 1814, and he and Daguerre went into
+partnership in this matter, in 1829.  Fox Talbot was the first to invent
+a negative photograph, and he read a paper on “Photogenic Drawings”
+before the Royal Society, on 31 Jan., this year; and that scientific
+investigation of the new wonder excited the attention, even of amateurs,
+is shown by a letter in the _Times_ of 21 Feb.:
+
+“SIR,—Seeing in a newspaper, last week, that a German had found out M.
+Daguerre’s secret, I was so impressed with that testimony to the
+possibility of _seizing a shadow_, that I thought over all the little I
+knew of light, colours and chymistry.  The next day, I took a piece of
+writing paper, hastily prepared by myself, placed it behind the lens of a
+_camera obscura_, made on the spur of the moment, and obtained a
+satisfactory result; for the trees, in front of my house, were produced,
+but not the parts agitated by the wind.  Since that, I have obtained,
+progressively improving, several landscapes, which may be called, most
+appositely, ‘lucigraphs.’  I mention my humble effort as corroborative of
+the reality, or feasibility of M. Daguerre’s beautiful discovery; and I
+can readily conceive that, in a very short time, the traveller’s
+portmanteau will not be complete without the very portable means of
+procuring a lucigraph at pleasure.—Yours, etc., CLERICUS, Welney,
+Wisbeach.”  This gentleman’s prophecy has, long since, been verified, as
+the “Kodakers” all over the world can testify.  But the first public
+experiment in England (if we exclude Wedgwood’s) was made, on Sept. 13,
+1839, when M. St. Croix exhibited the whole process of Daguerreotype, in
+presence of a select party of scientific men and artists.  He also
+succeeded in producing a picture of the place of meeting; No. 7,
+Piccadilly.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+People were beginning to wake up as to social improvements, and the
+better paving of, at least, the most public thoroughfares, was loudly
+called for.  Hitherto people had been content with the old cobble stones,
+and wide kennels, or gutters—but henceforth there was to be inaugurated a
+newer and better _régime_, as we learn from the _Observer_ of 6 Jan.:
+
+    “EXPERIMENTAL PAVEMENT OF OXFORD STREET.—This, doubtless, the most
+    extraordinary and novel undertaking which has ever been attempted in
+    the annals of road making, is, to the gratification, not only to the
+    respectable inhabitants of Oxford Street, but to a curious public, at
+    last, completed.  On Friday (4 Jan.) at 2 o’clock, the line of this
+    great thoroughfare, occupied by the various specimens of paving,
+    extending from Charles Street to Tottenham Court Road, presented a
+    most animated spectacle, being thronged by thousands of spectators
+    anxious to witness its opening to the public.  Shortly after 2
+    o’clock, the Paving Committee appointed by the Marylebone Vestry to
+    superintend the arrangement of this work of art, headed by the parish
+    beadles, in full uniform, with their maces; and accompanied by the
+    respective projectors and the parochial authorities, arrived on the
+    spot in procession, and passed over the ground, followed by 21
+    omnibuses, after which, the road was thrown open to the public.  From
+    time to time, during the progress of the work, many erroneous
+    statements have gone the rounds of our daily contemporaries, with
+    respect to the extent of ground allotted to the experiments, and on
+    other matters connected with the arrangements.  The following,
+    however, being obtained from an official source, may be fully relied
+    upon as correct: The whole space between Charles Street and Tottenham
+    Court Road is occupied by 12 different specimens, which are completed
+    in the following order, commencing at Charles Street: viz.—40 feet of
+    Robinson’s Parisian bitumen—24 feet laid in straight courses, and 16
+    feet diagonally; 74 feet of parish stone paving, 54 feet of which is
+    laid in straight courses, the stones 9 inches deep, and the
+    interstices filled up with Claridge’s asphalte; the remaining 20 feet
+    consisting of stones only 4½ inches deep, but laid diagonally, and
+    filled up with the same composition; 60 feet of the Bastenne and
+    Gaujac bitumen, partly laid in straight courses, and partly
+    diagonally: 135 feet of parish stone paving, divided into three
+    sections, in the following order—1st, 70 feet of dressed Aberdeen
+    granite, with concrete bottom, and the joints grouted with lime and
+    sand; 2nd, 40 feet of the same, laid diagonally; and 3rd, 25 feet of
+    dressed Aberdeen granite, without concrete bottom, the joints filled
+    in with fine gravel; this is followed by 50 feet of the Scotch
+    asphaltum, which is entirely the produce of this country, laid down
+    in straight courses: 60 feet of Mr. Stead’s pavement, of wooden
+    blocks, of a sexagonal form, 12 inches deep, divided into three
+    compartments, one prepared with Kyan’s patent, part dipped in, and
+    joints run with asphalte, and part without any preparation whatever:
+    the last specimen, at Tottenham Court Road, is 60 feet of the Val de
+    Travers bitumen, a portion of which consists of square blocks, laid
+    in straight courses, and the remainder consisting of a layer of clean
+    Guernsey chippings cemented together by boiling asphalte, run among
+    them nearly to the surface, and a face made with asphalte, merely
+    showing the chippings, here and there, in patches.  The whole work
+    presents a most even and beautiful road, and, yesterday, during the
+    day, attracted the notice of many hundreds of persons.  The portion,
+    however, it is but justice to add, to which attention was more
+    particularly directed, was that of the wooden blocks, the noiseless
+    tendency of which, made the vehicles passing along, appear to be
+    rolling over a thick carpet or rug.  The time allowed by the Vestry
+    of St. Marylebone for the test of these experiments, is until the
+    last Saturday of June next, when the official report of the surveyors
+    will be laid before that body, and upon which the fate of Oxford
+    Street depends.”
+
+People began to feel that it was high time that the Queen should
+marry—but, as yet, no signs of such a thing, and no speculations, as far
+as I can see, were hazarded as to who her future consort should be.  At
+length, one newspaper, the _Sun_, seems to have been inspired, by
+authority, and is thus quoted in the _Times_ of 24 Jan.:—“‘MARRIAGE OF
+HER MAJESTY.—The country will learn with delight that the most
+interesting part of the speech from the throne {81a} to both Houses of
+Parliament, and the country at large, will be the announcement of Her
+Majesty’s intended marriage.  The happy object of Queen Victoria’s choice
+is Prince Albert, son of the reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg, and cousin of
+Her Majesty.  Prince Albert is handsome, and about 22 years of age.  He
+has resided, for some time, in this country, on a visit to his Royal
+relatives.  How soon the happy event is to take place, we are not
+prepared to say, but our readers may depend upon the authenticity of our
+information.’—_The Sun_.  Has not some wag been hoaxing the editor?  We
+suspect so, though, at the same time, we do not profess to have any
+knowledge on the subject.”
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Indeed, it was about time that the Queen married, and got out of the
+leading strings of the women folk who surrounded her.  Had she been
+married, we should, probably, have never heard of the sad episode of Lady
+Flora Hastings.
+
+This lady, who was highly accomplished, and the authoress of some pretty
+poems, {81b} which were published after her death, was the eldest
+daughter of Francis, Marquis of Hastings, and Flora, Countess of Loudon,
+and was lady of the bedchamber to the Duchess of Kent.  Two old
+busybodies, the Ladies Portman and Tavistock, spread the vile and
+unfounded rumour that the unfortunate lady was _enceinte_, and the Queen
+forbade Lady Flora to appear at Court until she had submitted to the
+indignity of a medical examination.  The case called forth some very
+strong feeling—and a vast quantity of correspondence was published on the
+subject, especially the indignant letters of the poor lady’s mother to
+the Queen; but, perhaps, the most temperate account of the whole affair,
+is in a letter from Lady Flora’s uncle, Mr. Hamilton Fitzgerald, which
+was published in the _Examiner_ of Sunday, 24th of March, and,
+afterwards, copied into all the daily papers.
+
+    “SIR,—Many false and contradictory reports of the deplorable insult
+    which has been lately offered to my niece, Lady Flora Hastings, at
+    Buckingham Palace, having appeared in the public papers, I, as her
+    ladyship’s nearest connection, feel it my duty to request of you to
+    publish the following account of the transaction, for the correctness
+    of which I vouch.
+
+    “Lady Flora arrived, some weeks since, from Scotland, very unwell.
+    She immediately consulted Sir James Clark, the physician to both Her
+    Majesty and the Duchess of Kent.  One symptom of her complaint was a
+    swelling of the stomach.  By dint of exercise and medical treatment,
+    she was getting better; the swelling had considerably subsided, and
+    she had every hope of a speedy recovery; when, on or about the 1st of
+    March, Sir James Clark went to her room, and announced to her the
+    conviction of the ladies of the Palace that she was pregnant.  In
+    answer to all his exhortations to confession, ‘as the only means of
+    saving her character,’ Lady Flora returned an indignant, but steady
+    denial that there was anything to confess.  Upon which, Sir James
+    Clark told her, ‘that nothing but her submitting to a medical
+    examination would ever satisfy them, or remove the stigma from her
+    name.’  Lady Flora found that the subject had been brought before the
+    Queen’s notice, and that all this had been discussed, arranged and
+    denounced to her, without one word having been said on the subject to
+    her own mistress, the Duchess of Kent; who had no suspicion of what
+    was going on, and whose sanction was not sought for the humiliating
+    proposition which had been made to Lady Flora.  On leaving Lady
+    Flora’s room, Sir James Clark went to the Duchess of Kent, and
+    announced his conviction that Lady Flora was with child; and was
+    followed by Lady Portman, who conveyed a message from Her Majesty to
+    her mother, that the Queen would not permit Lady Flora to appear till
+    the examination had taken place.  Lady Portman (who, with Lady
+    Tavistock, are mentioned as most active against Lady Flora) expressed
+    to the Duchess of Kent, her conviction of Lady Flora’s guilt.
+
+    “‘Her beloved mistress’ never, for a moment, doubted Lady Flora’s
+    innocence.  She said that she knew her, her principles, and her
+    family too well to listen to such a charge.  However, the edict was
+    given; and, the next day, Lady Flora having obtained the Duchess of
+    Kent’s very reluctant consent—‘for Her Royal Highness could not bear
+    the idea of her being exposed to such a humiliation’—but, Lady Flora,
+    ‘feeling it her duty to Her Royal Highness, to herself, and to her
+    family, that a point blank refutation should be instantly given to
+    the lie,’ submitted herself to the most rigid examination; and now
+    possesses a certificate, signed by Sir James Clark, and also by Sir
+    Charles Clark, stating, as strongly as language can state it, that
+    there are no grounds for believing that pregnancy does exist, or ever
+    has existed.  Lord Hastings, though, at the time very ill from
+    influenza, went to London immediately, and demanded, and obtained,
+    from Lord Melbourne, a distinct disavowal of his participation in the
+    affair; and demanded, and obtained, an audience of Her Majesty, in
+    which, while he disclaimed all idea that the Queen had any wish to
+    injure his sister, he plainly, though respectfully, stated his
+    opinion of those who had counselled her, and his resolution to find
+    out the originator of the slander, and bring him, or her, to
+    punishment.  Lady Flora is convinced that the Queen was surprised
+    into the order which was given, and that Her Majesty did not
+    understand what she was betrayed into; for, ever since the horrid
+    event, Her Majesty has shown her regret by the most gracious kindness
+    to Lady Flora, and expressed it warmly, with ‘tears in her eyes.’
+
+    “The Duchess of Kent’s conduct was perfect; ‘a mother could not have
+    been kinder.’  ‘She immediately dismissed Sir James Clark from her
+    service, and refused to see Lady Portman’; and has crowned her
+    goodness by a most beautiful letter she has written to the Dowager
+    Lady Hastings, from whom the accounts were kept, till all hope of
+    avoiding publicity was impossible.”
+
+Her brother, the Marquis of Hastings, was indefatigable in trying to
+unearth the promoters of the scandal, but, from the published letters,
+without much result; but the unfortunate affair involved the whole Court,
+for a time, in unpopularity—Lady Loudon, her mother, demanded from the
+Queen, Sir James Clark’s dismissal, but was not successful.  Meantime,
+the object of all this agitation, after resuming, for a time, the duties
+of her situation, grew gradually worse, and, at length, expired, on the
+5th July, at the age of 33.  By the desire of Lord Hastings, a _post
+mortem_ examination of the body took place, the particulars of which,
+attested by five of the most eminent surgeons of the metropolis, were
+published in the papers, and fully established the unfortunate lady’s
+complete innocence of the charge brought against her, the cause of death
+being clearly shown to be enlargement of the liver.
+
+Lady Flora’s remains were removed from the palace, at an early hour in
+the morning, to be conveyed, by steamboat, to Scotland.  Even as early as
+two o’clock, a considerable number of spectators were assembled, which
+increased in every street through which the procession passed.  Four
+Royal carriages, including those of the Queen and the Queen Dowager, and
+many belonging to the nobility, accompanied the hearse.  Lady Flora’s
+body was interred, on the 15th of July, in the family vault at Loudon,
+Ayrshire.
+
+There were many books and pamphlets published with regard to this affair,
+among which were her mother’s letters to the Queen: “The Lady Flora
+Hastings, a Brief Sketch”—“A Warning to the Baroness Lehzen, {84}
+etc.”—“The Palace Martyr, a Satire”—“The Dangers of Evil Council,
+etc.”—“A Dirge on the Death of Lady Flora Hastings”—“The late Lady Flora
+Hastings: Statements of the Marquis of Hastings, etc.”—“The Victim of
+Scandal.”
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+At the time of which I write, climbing boys were still employed to sweep
+chimneys, and as a sample of the manner in which they were treated by
+their masters, I give the following police case.  25 Jan.:
+
+    MARLBOROUGH STREET.—Henry Riddle, foreman to Robert Towser, a chimney
+    sweep, appeared before the magistrates on a summons charging him
+    under the 4 & 5 Wil. IV., c. 35, with the following act of cruelty
+    towards James Arnold, a boy about 12 years of age, and who, for some
+    time past, had been in Towser’s employ.
+
+    Mr. Rice, a baker, of 31, Up. Seymour St., Portman Sq., deposed that,
+    on the afternoon of the 18th instant, his kitchen chimney, by some
+    accident, caught fire; and, in consequence of information thereof
+    being communicated to the defendant Riddle, he, soon afterwards, came
+    to the house, bringing with him the boy Arnold, whom he, at once,
+    desired to ascend, notwithstanding that the lighted soot was, at the
+    time, coming down into the grate in large flakes.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: Did you remonstrate with Riddle upon the inhumanity of
+    his conduct?
+
+    Complainant: I did, and begged of him not to send the boy up, as he
+    would, inevitably, be suffocated; to which he replied, “Oh, d---n it,
+    I’ve many a time been up a chimney ten times worse than that, myself,
+    and why can’t he do it?”  At this period, I had occasion to go
+    upstairs, and made my way on to the roof, just as a friend of mine
+    was about to pour down a quantity of water, when I begged of him not
+    to do so, as I fancied I heard the voice of someone within a short
+    distance of the top of the chimney; we both listened, and heard
+    someone faintly say, “For God’s sake, take the chimney pot off, or I
+    shall be suffocated.”  With some difficulty we tore away the mortar,
+    and, having removed the pot, we beheld the poor boy Arnold, who kept
+    crying out, “Oh! pull me up, pull me up!”  My friend then thrust down
+    his arm, and, laying hold of the little sufferer, succeeded in
+    extricating him from his perilous situation.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: Was the chimney, at the time, still on fire?
+
+    Complainant: It was, Sir.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson: In what condition did the boy seem when lifted out of
+    the chimney?
+
+    Complainant: He seemed almost in a lifeless state, and when carrying
+    him in my arms downstairs, I was fearful he would not recover.  After
+    the lapse of a little time, I gave him a small quantity of brandy,
+    and he, in a great measure, revived; Riddle then took hold of him,
+    and leading him to the roof of the house, insisted upon his
+    descending from the top to the bottom of the chimney, which he did,
+    and he and Riddle then left the place.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson (to Riddle): What answer have you to make for
+    ill-treating this poor boy in so shameful a manner?
+
+    Riddle: The boy is not an apprentice, and he was not sent up the
+    chimney until a quantity of water had been thrown down.
+
+    Mr. Rawlinson, after remarking upon the atrocious nature of the
+    offence, ordered Riddle to find bail to answer the charge at the
+    Sessions; at the same time expressing a hope that a severe example
+    would be made of him.
+
+From 1838 to 1841, there was exhibiting in London a famous lion tamer
+named Van Amburgh, and, in January, 1839, the Queen went to Drury Lane
+Theatre to witness his performance, with which she was so pleased, that
+she commissioned Sir Edwin Landseer to paint a picture of Van Amburgh and
+his lions, which was exhibited in 1839, and is now in the Royal
+Collection at Osborne.  If I am not very much mistaken there is another,
+by the same artist, of the same subject, in the Duke of Wellington’s town
+mansion, at Apsley House.
+
+We can see how long it takes to carry out well-known and wanted
+improvements—take the Thames Embankment for example.  Originally
+suggested by Wren after the great fire of London in 1666, and afterwards
+by William Paterson, the founder of the Bank of England, about 1694, the
+matter slumbered until 1767, when the Corporation of the City of London
+embanked one mile of the river.  The question arose spasmodically until
+1838, when the Corporation consulted with the Government as to the
+advisability of embanking the Thames all the way between London and
+Vauxhall Bridges, and, in Jan., 1839, the Government sanctioned surveys
+being made and estimates prepared; the whole correspondence concerning
+which may be found in the _Times_ of 2 Feb., 1839.  But no practical
+steps were taken in the matter until 1860, when the Metropolitan Board of
+Works memorialised the House of Commons, and a Committee was appointed
+which sat for the first time on 30 Ap., 1861.  An Act for carrying out
+the scheme was passed on 7 Aug., 1862, and the work was commenced in Nov.
+of the same year.  The northern (Victoria) embankment, which terminated
+at Whitehall Stairs, was opened (as far as the footway went) to the
+public on 30 July, 1868.
+
+Victoria Park took a shorter time to mature.  The first mention of it,
+that I can find, is in the _Times_ of March, 1839: “The inhabitants of
+St. Mary, Whitechapel, are bestirring themselves to obtain the formation
+of a Royal Park in their neighbourhood, and the Vestry of the parish are
+about to bring the matter before the public.”  And they did so with such
+good effect that an Act was passed on 21 June, 1841 (4 & 5 Vic., c. 27),
+“To enable Her Majesty’s Commissioners of Works to complete the Contract
+for the Sale of York House, and to purchase certain lands for a Royal
+Park.”  York House was sold to the Duke of Sutherland, and with the
+whole, or part, of the purchase money, the Commissioners were to purchase
+certain lands or hereditaments containing about 290 acres, which “shall
+for ever, thereafter, be taken and be a Royal Park, by the name of
+‘Victoria Park.’”  The Park was completed, and opened to the public, in
+1845.
+
+On Monday, 25 March, occurred a most daring robbery of gold dust valued
+at £4,600, which, at the time, created a great sensation.  It seems that
+two boxes of gold dust were brought to this country from Mexico, in the
+Sea Gull Packet, consigned to the Brazilian Mining Co., and were landed
+at Falmouth.  They were, subsequently, transshipped on board the City of
+Limerick steamer, which arrived at Dublin on Sunday afternoon.  The boxes
+were not landed at the wharf until Monday morning, and, at noon on that
+day, the stranger who obtained possession of them drove up to the wharf
+in a cab which he had hired in the city.  The letter which he presented
+to the wharfinger for the delivery of the boxes was in the same
+handwriting as one which the wharfinger had received from Falmouth, and
+which bore the postmark of that place, in the morning.  It gave
+particular directions respecting the boxes, and that they were only to be
+delivered to a gentleman who would call in the course of the day, and
+present a letter in the same handwriting for their delivery.  The person
+who obtained the boxes accurately described their contents, the marks on
+them, and the time they were landed at Falmouth.  The wharfinger, as
+might be expected, was completely put off his guard by the ingenuity and
+cunning of the thief, and delivered them over to him.
+
+On 3 April, two Jews, Ellis and Lewis Caspar, father and son, were
+brought up at Lambeth Street Police Station for being concerned in the
+robbery; afterwards, two other prisoners, Emanuel Moses and his daughter,
+Alice Abrahams, were arrested, and all were committed for trial, the
+Caspars for stealing the gold, the other two for feloniously receiving
+the same, well knowing it to be stolen.  They were tried at the Central
+Criminal Court on 24 June, the trial lasting eight days.  The jury found
+them all guilty, but recommended Alice Abrahams to mercy, believing that
+she acted under the advice and influence of her father.  Judgment was not
+pronounced on them until 3 Feb., 1840, when the three male prisoners were
+sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation, and the female to four
+months’ hard labour.  The Jewish community tried all their influence to
+get these sentences modified, but the convicts sailed for Sydney in the
+following October.  The expenses of the prosecutor in connection with the
+trial amounted to £2,900!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+Queen Elizabeth’s Statue—The Ladies of the Bedchamber—The Queen hissed at
+Ascot Races—Land at Melbourne—Sunday Trading—New way of paying Church
+Rates.
+
+_Times_, 25 Ap.—“The workmen engaged some time since in taking down an
+old public house adjoining St. Dunstan’s Church, in Fleet St., discovered
+in one of the cellars the ancient stone statue of Queen Elizabeth, which
+formerly stood in the nave of the old church.  The parochial authorities
+have resolved to place it on the east end of the church, fronting Fleet
+Street.”  An unfortunate position, for many raw, unlettered Irishmen, or
+women, have mistaken it, owing to its environment, to be a statue of the
+Virgin Mary, and have devoutly crossed themselves, and said their “Aves.”
+
+About this time occurred a political complication which afforded great
+scope for gossip, and which showed that it was about time that the Queen
+was freed from her female _entourage_, and had the protective advice of a
+husband.  On the 7th May, Lord Melbourne, having been beaten, by a small
+majority, on the Bill concerning the Suspension of the Constitution in
+Jamaica, resigned, and Sir Robert Peel was commissioned by the Queen to
+form a new Ministry.  He did so, but, for valid reasons, he required the
+resignation, as was, and is, usual, of the ladies of the household.  In
+order that there shall be no bias on this divergence of opinion between
+the Sovereign and her Minister, I quote a portion of Sir Robert Peel’s
+speech in the House of Commons, on 13 May, taking it from the authorised
+version of _Hansard_.  Sir Robert said that there was but one subject of
+disunion between himself and Her Majesty.
+
+“The difficulty arose with respect to certain portions of that part of
+the establishment which is filled by the Ladies of the household.  Sir, I
+think it infinitely better, on this point—the one on which the difficulty
+arose—I think it infinitely better, after mature consideration—that I
+should not enter—in the first instance, at least, nor unless invited by
+the noble Lord (John Russell)—into any statement whatever of impressions
+on my own mind with respect to what took place—but that I should refer
+exclusively to the letters which passed on the subject; because if I were
+to state, here, impressions of my own, I must detail verbal
+communications that passed, where two parties only were present; and
+myself one of the party, being alone in this House to offer explanations
+of what occurred.  I approach, then, that point with respect to which the
+difficulty, on this occasion, arose; and, for the purpose of enabling the
+House to form a judgment with respect to the nature of that difficulty, I
+shall confine myself, altogether, to the written documents which passed
+on the occasion, in which are conveyed the impressions on the mind of Her
+Majesty, and the impressions on my own mind, with regard to the purport
+and effect of the communications which passed between Her Majesty and
+myself, in respect to certain appointments in the household, which are
+held by Ladies.  Now, whatever blame may attach on account of imperfect
+explanations, I am content to bear it; whatever consequences may result
+from misconception, let them be visited on me; but, as to my intentions
+in regard to the Ladies of the household, I must not only state them, but
+I must prove them by most unequivocable testimony.
+
+“On the Wednesday evening—that is, the day before I saw Her Majesty on
+this particular point—I had an opportunity of conferring with all those
+whom I proposed to submit to Her Majesty as Ministers.  I saw them on
+Wednesday night, at my own house, about ten o’clock.  I then stated to
+them—and there are four of them now present, who heard the communication,
+and can give their evidence upon it—I stated to them, and to the peers
+whom I have before named, the course which I meant to pursue with respect
+to the household, and had very little considered the matter (I am
+speaking of the female part of it); I, really, scarcely knew of whom it
+consisted.  I took the ‘Red Book’ into my hand, and saw there the
+different appointments of the household.  I said to those who were
+intended to be my future colleagues, that, with respect to all the
+subordinate appointments—meaning every appointment, without exception,
+below the rank of a Lady of the Bedchamber—I should propose to Her
+Majesty no change whatever with respect to those.  With respect to the
+superior classes, I stated, that those Ladies who held offices of that
+class, and who were immediate relatives of _our_ political opponents,
+would, I took it for granted, relieve us from any difficulty by, at once,
+relinquishing their offices.  But, I stated, at the same time, that I did
+think it of great importance, as conveying an indication of Her Majesty’s
+entire support and confidence, that certain offices in the household, of
+the higher rank, if not voluntarily relinquished by the Ladies holding
+them, should be submitted to some change Even with respect to the higher
+offices, namely, the Ladies of the Bedchamber, I did state, however, that
+there were some instances, in which, from the absence of any strong
+party, or political, connection, I thought it would be wholly unnecessary
+to propose a change.  My noble and Right Hon. friends will confirm what I
+assert.  This passed on the evening of Wednesday; and I mention it only
+in complete proof of my intentions, being perfectly willing, as I have
+before observed, to have transferred, exclusively to me, whatever blame
+may be attached to the imperfect explanation of my views.
+
+“I saw Her Majesty on Thursday, and verbal communications took place on
+this subject.  As I stated before, into the nature of those
+communications I shall not now enter in the slightest degree.  I shall
+merely read the two letters which passed; one conveying the impressions
+of Her Majesty, and the other my own.  The letter which I had the honour
+of receiving from Her Majesty is dated May the 10th, 1839.  I received it
+at an early hour on Friday morning, and it is as follows:
+
+                                        “‘Buckingham Palace.—May 10, 1839.
+
+    “‘The Queen, having considered the proposal made to her, yesterday,
+    by Sir Robert Peel, to remove the Ladies of her Bedchamber, cannot
+    consent to adopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to
+    usage, and which is repugnant to her feelings.’
+
+“Immediately—that is, in two or three hours after having received the
+letter from Her Majesty, I addressed to Her Majesty a letter, of which
+this is a copy:
+
+                                                “‘Whitehall.—May 10, 1839.
+
+    “‘Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
+    had the honour of receiving your Majesty’s note of this morning.
+
+    “‘In respectfully submitting to your Majesty’s pleasure, and humbly
+    returning into your Majesty’s hands the important trust which your
+    Majesty had graciously pleased to commit to him, Sir Robert Peel
+    trusts that your Majesty will permit him to state to your Majesty his
+    impression with respect to the circumstances which have led to the
+    termination of his attempt to form an Administration for the conduct
+    of your Majesty’s service.
+
+    “‘In the interview with which your Majesty honoured Sir Robert Peel,
+    yesterday morning, after he had submitted to your Majesty the names
+    of those whom he proposed to recommend to your Majesty for the
+    principal executive appointments, he mentioned to your Majesty his
+    earnest wish, to be enabled, with your Majesty’s sanction, so to
+    constitute your Majesty’s household, that your Majesty’s confidential
+    servants might have the advantage of a public demonstration of your
+    Majesty’s full support and confidence; and that, at the same time, as
+    far as possible, consistently with that demonstration, each
+    individual appointment in the household should be entirely acceptable
+    to your Majesty’s personal feelings.
+
+    “‘On your Majesty’s expressing a desire that the Earl of Liverpool
+    should hold an office in the household, Sir Robert Peel requested
+    your Majesty’s permission at once to offer to Lord Liverpool the
+    office of Lord Steward, or any other which he might prefer.
+
+    “‘Sir Robert Peel then observed, that he should have every wish to
+    apply a similar principle to the chief appointments which are filled
+    by the Ladies of your Majesty’s household; upon which your Majesty
+    was pleased to remark, that you must reserve the whole of those
+    appointments, and that it was your Majesty’s pleasure, that the whole
+    should continue as at present, without any change.
+
+    “The Duke of Wellington, in the interview to which your Majesty
+    subsequently admitted him, understood, also, that this was your
+    Majesty’s determination, and concurred with Sir Robert Peel in
+    opinion that, considering the great difficulties of the present
+    crisis, and the expediency of making every effort, in the first
+    instance, to conduct the public business of the country with the aid
+    of the present Parliament, it was essential to the success of the
+    commission with which your Majesty had honoured Sir Robert Peel, that
+    he should have that public proof of your Majesty’s entire support and
+    confidence, which would be afforded by the permission to make some
+    changes in that part of your Majesty’s household, which your Majesty
+    resolved on maintaining entirely without change.
+
+    “Having had the opportunity, through your Majesty’s gracious
+    consideration, of reflecting upon this point, he humbly submits to
+    your Majesty that he is reluctantly compelled, by a sense of public
+    duty, and in interest of your Majesty’s service, to adhere to the
+    opinion which he ventured to express to your Majesty.”
+
+In a later portion of his speech, Sir Robert remarks:
+
+    “I, upon that very question of Ireland, should have begun in a
+    minority of upwards of twenty members.  A majority of twenty-two had
+    decided in favour of the policy of the Irish Government.  The chief
+    members of the Irish Government, whose policy was so approved of,
+    were the Marquis of Normanby and Lord Morpeth.  By whom are the two
+    chief offices in the household at this moment held?  By the sister of
+    Lord Morpeth, and the wife of Lord Normanby.  Let me not, for a
+    moment, be supposed to say a word not fraught with respect towards
+    those two ladies, who cast a lustre on the society in which they
+    move, less by their rank than their accomplishments and virtues; but
+    still, they stand in the situation of the nearest relatives of the
+    two Members of the Government, whose policy was approved by this
+    House, and disapproved by me.  Now, I ask any man in the House,
+    whether it is possible that I could, with propriety and honour,
+    undertake the conduct of an Administration, and the management of
+    Irish affairs in this House, consenting previously, as an express
+    preliminary stipulation, that the two ladies 1 have named, together
+    with all others, should be retained in their appointments about the
+    court and person of the Sovereign?  Sir, the policy of these things
+    depends not upon precedent—not upon what has been done in former
+    times; it mainly depends upon a consideration of the present.  The
+    household has been allowed to assume a completely political
+    character, and that on account of the nature of the appointments
+    which have been made by Her Majesty’s present Government I do not
+    complain of it—it may have been a wise policy to place in the chief
+    offices of the household, ladies closely connected with the Members
+    of the Administration; but, remember that this policy does seriously
+    to the public embarrassment of their successors, if ladies, being the
+    nearest relatives of the retired Ministers, are to continue in their
+    offices about the person of the Sovereign.”
+
+So Lord Melbourne, returned to power.
+
+  [Picture: Child’s play.  Chorus:—“Can’t get out!”—“Can’t get out.”  14
+                               June, 1939]
+
+The genial Caricaturist John Doyle, as there were no illustrated comic
+papers in those days, illustrated this incident in his H. B. Sketches.
+No. 591 is “A Scene from the farce of _The Invincibles_, as lately
+performed in the Queen’s Theatre”—in which the Duke of Wellington and Sir
+Robert Peel are being expelled at the point of the bayonet, by ladies
+clad as soldiers.  Sir Robert says: “These Household Troops charge in a
+most disorderly manner, but they are too many for us.”  While the Duke
+observes: “Our position is no longer tenable; draw off in good order,
+while I cover the retreat.”  No. 592 is “The Balance of Power.  The
+figure proposed to displace the old one of Justice at the top of
+Constitution Hill.”  It shows a statue of the Queen, as Justice, holding
+a pair of scales, in which “Private Friendship,” typified by two ladies
+of the household, weighs down “Public Service” full of Ministers.  I have
+here reproduced No. 597, “Child’s Play,” in which figure the Queen, the
+Duchess of Sutherland, the Marchioness of Normanby, and other ladies of
+the household.  No. 599 is a “Curious instance of (Ministerial)
+‘Resuscitation,’ effected by distinguished members of the _Royal_ Humane
+Society.”  Lord Melbourne is lying on a couch, attended by the Queen and
+ladies of the household.  The Queen holds a smelling bottle to his nose,
+and says: “Ah, there’s a dear, now do revive.”
+
+Whether it was owing to this affair, or not, I know not, but at Ascot
+races this year the Queen was absolutely hissed at by some one, or more
+persons—and the _Times_ of 25 June quotes from the _Morning Post_ thus:
+
+    “At the last Ascot races, we have reason to believe that the Duchess
+    of Montrose and Lady Sarah Ingestre received an intimation that Her
+    Majesty was impressed with the idea that they were among the persons
+    who had hissed at a moment when no sounds but those of applause,
+    gratulation and loyalty ought to have been heard.  It was, we
+    believe, further intimated to the noble ladies we have mentioned,
+    that the Royal ear had been abused, to the effect already stated, by
+    Lady Lichfield.  The ladies, who had reason to think that they had
+    been thus unjustly and ridiculously accused, applied immediately to
+    their supposed accuser, who denied that she had made any such
+    communication.  On being urged to give this denial in writing, she
+    declined to do so without first consulting her lord.  But, on the
+    application being renewed at a subsequent period, her ladyship, as we
+    understand, explicitly, and in writing, denied that she had given
+    utterance to the calumny in question.  Here the matter stood, until,
+    from some incidents connected with the late ball at Buckingham
+    Palace, the two ladies, thus impeached, saw reason to believe that
+    the erroneous impression communicated to Her Majesty at Ascot had not
+    been entirely removed.  It was an impression, however, which they
+    could not permit to remain without employing every means of removing
+    it; and, accordingly, the Duchess of Montrose went to Buckingham
+    Palace, and requested an audience of Her Majesty.  After waiting for
+    a considerable period (two hours, as we have been informed), her
+    Grace was informed by the Earl of Uxbridge, that she could not be
+    admitted to an audience, as none but Peers and Peeresses in their own
+    right could demand that privilege.  Her Grace then insisted upon Lord
+    Uxbridge taking down in writing what she had to say, and promising
+    her that the communication should immediately be laid before Her
+    Majesty.  In this state, we believe, the matter remains,
+    substantially, at the present moment, although it has taken a new
+    form, the Duke of Montrose having, we understand, thought it
+    necessary to open a correspondence upon the subject with Lord
+    Melbourne.”
+
+There was only a partial denial given to the above, which appeared in the
+_Times_ of 5 July.  “We are authorised to give the most positive denial
+to a report which has been inserted in most of the public papers, that
+the Countess of Lichfield informed the Queen that the Duchess of Montrose
+and Lady Sarah Ingestre hissed Her Majesty on the racecourse at Ascot.
+Lady Lichfield never insinuated, or countenanced any such report, and
+there could have been no foundation for so unjust an accusation.”
+
+Melbourne, in Australia (named, of course, after the Premier), was
+founded 1 June, 1837, and I mention the fact to shew the prosperity of
+the infant city—for in two years’ time, on this its second anniversary,
+certain lots of land had advanced in price from £7 to £600, and from £27
+to £930.
+
+I cannot help chronicling an amusing story anent Sunday trading.  For
+some time the parish authorities of Islington had been rigidly
+prosecuting shopkeepers for keeping open their shops on Sunday, for the
+sale of their goods, such not being “a work of necessity, or mercy,” and
+numerous convictions were recorded.  Most of the persons convicted were
+poor, and with large families, who sold tobacco, fruit, cakes and sweets,
+in a very humble way of business, and considerable discontent and
+indignation was manifested in the parish in consequence of such
+prosecutions; the outcry was raised that there was one law for the rich
+and another for the poor, and a party that strongly opposed the
+proceedings on the part of the parish, resolved to try the legality and
+justice of the question, by instituting proceedings against the vicar’s
+coachman, for “exercising his worldly calling on the Sabbath day,” by
+driving his reverend master to church, that not being a work of
+necessity, or mercy, as the reverend gentleman was able both to walk and
+preach on the same day.  For this purpose a party proceeded to the
+neighbourhood of the vicar’s stables one Sunday, and watched the
+proceedings of the coachman, whom they saw harness his horses, put them
+to the carriage, go to the vicar’s house, take him up, and drive him to
+church, where he entered the pulpit, and preached his sermon.  One day,
+the following week, they attended Hatton Garden Police Office and applied
+to Mr. Benett for a summons against the coachman.  The magistrate, on
+hearing the nature of the application, told them it was a doubtful case,
+and the clerk suggested that if they laid their information the
+magistrate might receive it, and decide on the legal merits of the case.
+This was done, the summons was granted, and a day appointed for hearing
+the case.
+
+This took place on June 14, when John Wells, coachman to the vicar of
+Islington, appeared to answer the complaint of Frederick Hill, a
+tobacconist, for exercising his worldly calling on the Sabbath day.
+
+John Hanbury, grocer, of 3, Pulteney Street, being sworn, stated that, on
+Sunday, the 9th inst, about 1 o’clock, he saw the defendant, who is
+coachman to the vicar of Islington, drive his coach to the Church of St.
+Mary, Islington, where he took up the vicar and his lady, and drove them
+to their residence in Barnsbury Park.
+
+Mr. Benett: Are you sure it was the vicar?
+
+Witness: I heard him preach.
+
+John Jones, of Felix Terrace, Islington, corroborated this evidence.
+
+Mr. Benett said, that the Act of Parliament laid down that no tradesman,
+labourer, or other person shall exercise his worldly calling on the
+Lord’s day, it not being a work of necessity or charity.  He would ask
+whether it was not a work of necessity for the vicar to proceed to church
+to preach.  A dissenter might say it was not a work of necessity.  The
+coachman was not an artificer who was paid by the hour or the day, but he
+was engaged by the year, or the quarter, and was not to be viewed in the
+light of a grocer, or tradesman, who opened his shop for the sale of his
+goods on the Sabbath day.  After explaining the law upon the subject, he
+said that he was of opinion that the defendant driving the vicar to
+church on Sundays, to perform his religious duties, was an act of
+necessity, and did not come within the meaning of the law, and he
+dismissed the case.
+
+The clergy did not seem to be much in favour with their flocks, for I
+read in the _Annual Register_, 1 Aug., of “A NEW WAY OF PAYING CHURCH
+RATES.—Mr. Osborne, a dissenter, of Tewkesbury, having declined to pay
+Church Rates, declaring that he could not conscientiously do so, a
+sergeant and two officers of the police went to his house for the purpose
+of levying under a distress warrant to the amount due from him.  The
+officers were asked to sit down, which they did, and Mr. Osborne went
+into his garden, procured a hive of bees, and threw it into the middle of
+the chamber.  The officers were, of course, obliged to retreat, but they
+secured enough of the property to pay the rate, and the costs of the
+levy, besides which, they obtained a warrant against Mr. Osborne, who
+would, most likely, pay dearly for his new and _conscientious_ method of
+settling Church Rate accounts.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+The Eglinton Tournament—Sale of Armour, &c.—The Queen of Beauty and her
+Cook—Newspapers and their Sales.
+
+The Earl of Eglinton had a “bee in his bonnet,” which was none other than
+reviving the tournaments of the Age of Chivalry, with real armour, horses
+and properties; and he inoculated with his craze most of the young
+aristocracy, and induced them to join him in carrying it out.  The
+preliminary rehearsals took place in the grounds of the Eyre Arms Tavern,
+Kilburn.  The last of these came off on 13 July, in the presence of some
+6,000 spectators, mostly composed of the aristocracy.  The following is a
+portion of the account which appeared in the _Times_ of 15 July:
+
+    “At 4 o’clock the business of the day commenced.  There might be seen
+    men in complete steel, riding with light lances at the ring,
+    attacking the ‘quintain,’ and manœuvering their steeds in every
+    variety of capricole.  Indeed, the show of horses was one of the best
+    parts of the sight.  Trumpeters were calling the jousters to horse,
+    and the wooden figure, encased in iron panoply, was prepared for the
+    attack.  A succession of chevaliers, _sans peur et sans reproche_,
+    rode at their hardy and unflinching antagonist, who was propelled to
+    the combat by the strength of several stout serving-men, in the
+    costume of the olden time, and made his helmet and breastplate rattle
+    beneath their strokes, but the wooden
+
+    . . . Knight
+    Was mickle of might,
+    And stiff in Stower did stand,
+
+    grinning defiance through the barred aventaile of his headpiece.  It
+    was a sight that might have roused the spirit of old Froissart, or
+    the ghost of Hotspur.  The Knight had, certainly, no easy task to
+    perform; the weight of armour was rather heavier than the usual
+    trappings of a modern dandy, and the heat of the sun appeared to be
+    baking the bones of some of the competitors.  Be this as it may,
+    there was no flinching.  The last part of the tournament consisted of
+    the Knights tilting at each other.  The Earl of Eglinton, in a
+    splendid suit of brass armour, with _garde de reins_ of plated chain
+    mail, and bearing on his casque a plume of ostrich feathers, was
+    assailed by Lord Cranstoun, in a suit of polished steel, which
+    covered him from top to toe, the steel shoes, or sollarets, being of
+    the immense square-toed fashion of the time of Henry VIII.  The
+    lances of these two champions were repeatedly shivered in the attack,
+    but neither was unhorsed; fresh lances were supplied by the esquires,
+    and the sport grew ‘fast and furious.’  Lord Glenlyon and another
+    knight, whose armour prevented him from being recognized, next tilted
+    at each other, but their horses were not sufficiently trained to
+    render the combat as it ought to have been, and swerved continually
+    from the barrier.  It was nearly eight o’clock before the whole of
+    the sports were concluded and the company withdrawn.  We believe no
+    accident happened, though several gentlemen who essayed to ‘witch the
+    world with noble horsemanship’ were thrown, amidst the laughter of
+    the spectators.  Captain Maynard proved himself a superior rider, by
+    the splendid style at which he leaped his horse, at speed, repeatedly
+    over the barrier, and the admirable manner in which he performed the
+    modern lance exercise, and made a very beautiful charger curvet round
+    and round his lance placed upright on the ground.  The whole of the
+    arrangements were under the direction of Mr. Pratt, to whose
+    discretion the ordering of the tilting, the armour and arming, and
+    all the appliances for the tournament have been entrusted.
+
+    “Considering that the business of Saturday was but a rehearsal, and,
+    putting entirely out of the question the folly, or wisdom, of the
+    whole thing, it must be acknowledged that it has been well got up.
+    Some of the heralds’ and pursuivants’ costumes are very splendid.
+    There is an immense store of armour of all sorts, pennons, lances,
+    trappings, and all the details of the wars of the middle ages.  The
+    display in Scotland will, certainly, be a gorgeous pageant, and a
+    most extraordinary, if not most rational, piece of pastime.”
+
+The three days’ jousting and hospitality at Eglinton Castle, Ayrshire,
+which commenced on the 28th, and ended on the 30th, August, are said to
+have cost the Earl of Eglinton the sum of £40,000.  He invited the flower
+of the aristocracy to attend—all the armour was choice and old, and the
+costumes were splendid.  Every accessory was perfect in its way; and so
+it should have been, for it was two years in preparation.  The Marquis of
+Londonderry was King of the Tourney, and Lady Seymour, a grand-daughter
+of _the_ Sheridan, was the “Queen of Love and Beauty.”
+
+By the evening of the 27th, Eglinton Castle was not only filled from
+cellar to garret, but the surrounding towns and villages were crammed
+full, and people had to rough it.  Accommodation for man, or beast, rose
+from 500 to 1,000 per cent.; houses in the neighbourhood, according to
+their dimensions, were let from £10 to £30 for the time; and single beds,
+in the second best apartments of a weaver’s cabin, fetched from 10/- to
+20/- a night, while the master and mistress of the household, with their
+little ones, coiled themselves up in any out of the way corner, as best
+they might.  Stables, byres, and sheds were in requisition for the
+horses, and, with every available atom of space of this description, it
+was found all too little, as people flocked from all parts of the
+country.
+
+The invitation given by the Earl was universal.  Those who applied for
+tickets of admission to the stands were requested to appear in ancient
+costume, fancy dresses, or uniforms, and farmers and others were asked to
+appear in bonnets and kilts, and many—very many—did so; but although all
+the bonnet makers in Kilmarnock, and all the plaid manufacturers in
+Scotland, had been employed from the time of the announcement, onwards,
+they could not provide for the wants of the immense crowd, and many had
+to go in their ordinary dress.
+
+Unfortunately, on the opening day, the weather utterly spoilt the show.
+Before one o’clock, the rain commenced, and continued, with very little
+intermission, until the evening.  This, necessarily, made it very
+uncomfortable for all, especially the spectators.  Many thousands left
+the field, and the enjoyment of those who remained was, in a great
+measure, destroyed.  The Grand Stand, alone, was covered in, and neither
+plaid, umbrella, nor great-coat could prevail against a deluge so heavy
+and unintermitting; thousands were thoroughly drenched to the skin; but
+the mass only squeezed the closer together, and the excitement of the
+moment overcame all external annoyances, although the men became sodden,
+and the finery of the ladies sadly bedraggled.
+
+It had been arranged that the procession should start from the Castle at
+one o’clock, but the state of the weather was so unfavourable, that it
+did not issue forth till about half-past two, and the weather compelled
+some modifications; for instance, the Queen of Beauty should have shown
+herself “in a rich costume, on a horse richly caparisoned, a silk canopy
+borne over her by attendants in costume,” but both she, and her attendant
+ladies, who were also to have been on horseback, did not so appear, but
+were in closed carriages, whilst their beautifully caparisoned
+palfreys—riderless—were led by their pages.
+
+There were 15 Knights, besides the “Lord of the Tournament,” the Earl of
+Eglinton, and much as I should like to give their description and
+following, I must refrain, merely giving two as a sample—
+
+                          “Retainers of the
+                             Lord of the
+                             Tournament.
+                          Halberdiers of the
+                         Lord, in Liveries of
+                             his Colours.
+     Man at Arms            The GONFALON,            Man at Arms
+   in half armour.        Borne by a Man at        in half armour.
+                                Arms.
+                           THE LORD OF THE
+                             TOURNAMENT.
+                          EARL OF EGLINGTON.
+        Groom.            In a suit of Gilt             Groom.
+                            Armour, richly
+                               chased,
+                             on a barded
+                         Charger—caparisons,
+                                 &c.,
+                          of blue and gold.
+                             THE BANNER.
+                           Borne by LORD A.
+                               SEYMOUR
+       Esquire.                Esquire.                Esquire.
+      G. DUNDAS.          F. CAVENDISH, Esq.       G. M’DONAL, Esq.
+                           Retainers of the
+                           Lord, as before.
+                         _Halberdiers of the
+                            Knight of the
+                              Griffin_,
+                          in Liveries of his
+                               Colours.
+     Man at Arms            THE GONFALON,            Man at Arms
+   in half armour.        Borne by a man at        in half armour.
+                                Arms.
+                          _The Knight of the
+                              Griffin_.
+                         THE EARL OF CRAVEN,
+        Groom.          In a suit of engraved           Groom.
+                           Milanese Armour
+                         inlaid with gold, on
+                          a barded charger.
+                         Caparisons, &c., of
+                          Scarlet, White and
+                                Gold.
+       Esquire.              THE BANNER,               Esquire.
+ The HON. F. CRAVEN.      Borne by a man at          The HON. F.
+                               Arms in                MACDONALD.
+                             Half Armour.
+                             Retainers—”
+
+
+
+The other Knights were:—_The Knight of the Dragon_, MARQUIS OF WATERFORD;
+_Knight of the Black Lion_, VISCOUNT ALFORD; _Knight of Gael_, VISCOUNT
+GLENLYON; _Knight of the Dolphin_, EARL OF CASSILIS; _Knight of the
+Crane_, LORD CRANSTOUN; _Knight of the Ram_, HON. CAPT. GAGE; _The Black
+Knight_, JOHN CAMPBELL, ESQ., of Saddell; _Knight of the Swan_, HON. MR.
+JERNINGHAM; _Knight of the Golden Lion_, CAPT. J. O. FAIRLIE; _Knight of
+the White Rose_, CHARLES LAMB, ESQ.; _Knight of the Stag’s Head_, CAPT.
+BERESFORD; _The Knight of the Border_, SIR F. JOHNSTONE; _Knight of the
+Burning Tower_, SIR F. HOPKINS; _The Knight of the Red Rose_, R. J.
+LECHMERE, ESQ.; _Knight of the Lion’s Paw_, CECIL BOOTHBY, ESQ.
+
+There were, besides, Knights Visitors, Swordsmen, Bowmen, the Seneschal
+of the Castle, Marshals and Deputy Marshals, Chamberlains of the
+household, servitors of the Castle, a Herald and two Pursuivants, a Judge
+of Peace, and a Jester—besides a horde of small fry.
+
+The first tilt was between the Knights of the Swan and the Red Rose, but
+it was uninteresting, the Knights passing each other twice, without
+touching, and, on the third course, the Knight of the Swan lost his
+lance.
+
+Then came the tilt of the day, when the Earl of Eglinton met the Marquis
+of Waterford.  The latter was particularly remarked, as the splendour of
+his brazen armour, the beauty of his charger, and his superior skill in
+the management of the animal, as well as in the bearing of his lance,
+attracted general observation.  But, alas! victory was not to be his,
+for, in the first tilt, the Earl of Eglinton shivered his lance on his
+opponent’s shield, and was duly cheered by all.  In the second, both
+Knights missed; but, in the third, the Earl again broke his lance on his
+opponent’s armour; at which there was renewed applause from the
+multitude; and, amidst the cheering and music, the noble Earl rode up to
+the Grand Stand, and bowed to the Queen of Beauty.
+
+There were three more tilts, and a combat of two-handed swords, which
+finished the outdoor amusements of the day, and, when the deluged guests
+found their way to the Banqueting Hall, they found that, and its sister
+tent, the Ballroom, utterly untenantable through the rain; so they had to
+improvise a meal within the Castle, and the Ball was postponed.
+
+Next day was wild with wind and rain, and nothing could be attempted out
+of doors, as the armour was all wet and rusty, and every article of dress
+that had been worn the preceding day completely soaked through, and the
+Dining Hall and the Great Pavilion required a thorough drying.  The
+former was given up to the cleansing of armour, etc., and, in the latter,
+there were various tilting matches on foot, the combatants being clothed
+in armour.  There was also fencing, both with sticks and broadsword,
+among the performers being Prince Louis Bonaparte, afterwards Napoleon
+III.  His opponent with the singlesticks was a very young gentleman, Mr.
+Charteris, and the Prince came off second best in the encounter, as he
+did, afterwards, in some bouts with broadswords with Mr. Charles Lamb.
+Luckily, in this latter contest, both fought in complete mail, with
+visors down, for had it not been so, and had the combat been for life or
+death, the Prince would have had no chance with his opponent.
+
+On the third day the weather was fine, and the procession was a success.
+There was tilting between eight couples of Knights, and tilting at the
+ring, and the tourney wound up with the Knights being halved, and started
+from either end of the lists, striking at each other with their swords in
+passing.  Only one or two cuts were given, but the Marquis of Waterford
+and Lord Alford fought seriously, and in right good earnest, until
+stopped by the Knight Marshal, Sir Charles Lamb.
+
+In the evening, a banquet was given to 300 guests; and, afterwards, a
+ball, in which 1,000 participated.  As the weather, next day, was so
+especially stormy, the party broke up, and the experimental revival has
+never again been attempted, except a Tourney on a much smaller scale,
+which was held on 31 Oct., 1839, at Irvine, by a party from Eglinton
+Castle; but this only lasted one day.
+
+I regret that I have been unable to find any authentic engravings of this
+celebrated tournament, but I reproduce a semi-comic contemporaneous
+etching from the _Satirical Prints_, _Brit. Mus._
+
+The armour and arms used in this tournament were shown in Feb., 1840, at
+the Gallery of Ancient Armour in Grosvenor Street, and they were
+subsequently sold by Auction on July 17 and 18 of that year.  They
+fetched ridiculously low prices, as the following example will show:
+
+A suit of polished steel _cap à pied_ armour, richly engraved and gilt,
+being the armour prepared for the Knight of the Lion’s Paw, with tilting
+shield, lance, plume and crest _en suite_, 32 guineas.
+
+The emblazoned banner and shield of the Knight of the Burning Tower, with
+the suit of polished steel, _cap-à-pied_ armour, with skirt of chain
+mail, 35 guineas.
+
+The splendid suit of armour worn by the Knight of the Ram, with crest and
+plume, 24 guineas.
+
+The magnificent suit of polished steel armour, worn by the Knight of the
+Swan, with the emblazoned tilting apparel, horse armour, and caparison,
+tilting saddle, lances to correspond, and a splendid modelled horse of
+life size, carved and painted after nature, £36.
+
+                    [Picture: The Eglinton Tournament]
+
+The armour worn as a Knight Visitor by Prince Louis Napoleon, with an
+elaborate visored headpiece, and other appurtenances complete, 9 guineas.
+
+The two beautifully-fashioned _mêlée_ swords, used in the combat between
+Prince Louis and the Knight of the White Rose, seven shillings.
+
+On the second day’s sale some of the suits fetched better prices.  The
+splendid suit of fluted mail, worn by the Marquis of Waterford, was the
+gem of the collection.  It was in the finest preservation, elaborately
+worked, and beautifully bright.  It was considered one of the most
+perfect and complete suits in existence, and was bought at 240 guineas
+for the Tower of London.  Lord Alford’s and Mr. Lechmere’s suits both
+went for 100 guineas each.
+
+The spirit of the Tournament seems even to have affected the ladies, for
+we read of a passage of arms between Lady Seymour, the Queen of Beauty,
+and Lady Shuckburgh.  It originally appeared in the _Observer_ of 8 Feb.,
+1840, but was copied into the _Times_ and other papers.
+
+    (Copy 1).  “Lady Seymour presents her compliments to Lady Shuckburgh,
+    and would be obliged to her for the character of Mary Stedman, who
+    states that she has lived twelve months, and still is, in Lady
+    Shuckburgh’s establishment.  Can Mary Stedman cook plain dishes well?
+    make bread? and is she honest, good tempered, sober, willing and
+    cleanly?  Lady Seymour would also like to know the reason why she
+    leaves Lady Shuckburgh’s service.  Direct, under cover, to Lord
+    Seymour, Maiden Bradley.”
+
+    (Copy 2.)  “Lady Shuckburgh presents her compliments to Lady Seymour.
+    Her Ladyship’s note, dated Oct. 28, only reached her yesterday, Nov.
+    3.  Lady Shuckburgh was unacquainted with the name of the
+    kitchenmaid, until mentioned by Lady Seymour, as it is her custom
+    neither to apply for, or give characters to any of the under
+    servants, this being always done by the housekeeper, Mrs. Couch, and
+    this was well known to the young woman; therefore Lady Shuckburgh is
+    surprised at her referring any lady to her for a character.  Lady
+    Shuckburgh having a professed cook, as well as a housekeeper, in her
+    establishment, it is not very likely she, herself, should know
+    anything about the ability or merits of the under-servants; therefore
+    she is unable to answer Lady Seymour’s note.  Lady Shuckburgh cannot
+    imagine Mary Stedman to be capable of cooking for any, except the
+    servants’ hall table.  Nov. 4, Pavilion, Hans Place.”
+
+    (Copy 3.)  “Lady Seymour presents her compliments to Lady Shuckburgh,
+    and begs she will order her housekeeper, Mrs. Pouch, to send the
+    girl’s character without delay; otherwise, another young woman will
+    be sought for elsewhere, as Lady Seymour’s children cannot remain
+    without their dinners, because Lady Shuckburgh, keeping ‘a proffessed
+    cook and a housekeeper,’ thinks a knowledge of the details of her
+    establishment beneath her notice.  Lady Seymour understood from
+    Stedman that, in addition to her other talents, she was actually
+    capable of dressing food for the little Shuckburghs to partake of,
+    when hungry.”
+
+[To this note was appended a clever pen-and-ink vignette, by the Queen of
+Beauty, representing the three little Shuckburghs, with large,
+turnip-looking heads and cauliflower wigs, sitting at a round table, and
+voraciously scrambling for mutton chops, dressed by Mary Stedman, who is
+seen looking on with supreme satisfaction, while Lady Shuckburgh appears
+in the distance, in evident dismay.]
+
+    (Copy 4.)  “MADAM,—Lady Shuckburgh has directed me to acquaint you
+    that she declines answering your note, the vulgarity of which is
+    beneath contempt; and, although it may be the characteristic of the
+    Sheridans to be vulgar, coarse and witty, it is not that of ‘a lady,’
+    unless she happens to be born in a garret and bred in a kitchen.
+    Mary Stedman informs me that your Ladyship does not keep either a
+    cook, or a housekeeper, and that you only require a girl who can cook
+    a mutton chop.  If so, I apprehend that Mary Stedman, or any other
+    scullion, will be found fully equal to cook for, or manage the
+    establishment of, the Queen of Beauty.
+
+    “I am, your Ladyship’s etc.—ELIZABETH COUCH (not Pouch.)”
+
+Even in those days, Newspapers were somewhat given to vaunt themselves as
+to their circulation, but they had no need to call in the aid of the
+chartered accountant, as they could get their facts from the number of
+stamps supplied—the stamp then being of the value of three halfpence per
+newspaper, an impost which was not removed until 15 June, 1855, by the
+Act 18 and 19 Vict., c. 27.  The _Times_ of 5 Aug., 1839, gives us
+
+    “A return of the number of Newspaper Stamps issued to the several
+    Newspapers in London, from 1 Ap. to 29 June, 1839, inclusive;
+    specifying each Newspaper by name, and the number of Stamps issued
+    each month during that period to each Newspaper.”
+
+                             April.         May.         June.
+Morning Chronicle              180,000       210,000       140,000
+Morning Post                    85,000        90,000        80,000
+Morning Herald                 140,000       175,000       140,000
+Times                          330,000       330,000       430,000
+Courier                         29,000        33,000        27,000
+Globe                           72,000        90,000        72,000
+Standard                        83,000        80,000       101,000
+Sun                            111,000       105,000       105,000
+Evening Chronicle               30,000        20,000        10,000
+Evening Mail                    25,000        50,000        35,000
+St. James’s Chronicle           52,000        58,000        66,000
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+The Chartists—Their going to church—Dissolution of the
+Convention—Approaching marriage of the Queen—The Queen and lunatics—Raid
+on a Gaming House—Act of Penance.
+
+This year Chartism was rampant and very militant.  On 1 April there were
+riots at Devizes, on 3 May, seven men were arrested at Manchester for
+drilling, and, on the 25th of that month a great meeting was held on
+Kersall Moor, four miles from Manchester.  On 4th July there were very
+serious riots at Birmingham, and again on the 15th.  On the same date
+between 3,000 and 4,000 Chartists met on Clerkenwell Green to condemn the
+action of the authorities at Birmingham, and, towards the end of the
+month, numerous meetings were held in the North of England, and there
+were riots at Newcastle and Stockport.  In August there was great unrest
+in the North, and some trials took place at Birmingham and Manchester for
+rioting and sedition.
+
+A new, and somewhat unexpected method of agitation, was, about this time,
+adopted by the Chartists.  They betook themselves, suddenly, to
+attendance in a body at public worship, taking early possession on the
+Sundays of the various cathedrals and parish churches, to the exclusion
+of the more regular attendants.  On the afternoon of Sunday, 11 Aug., a
+party of them, about 500 in number, met together in West Smithfield, and
+walked in procession to St. Paul’s Cathedral.  On arriving there, many of
+them refused to take off their hats; but, after some remonstrance from
+the Vergers, they submitted.  The majority of them wore a little piece of
+red ribbon in their button holes, and conducted themselves quite
+peaceably.  On the Sunday following, their brethren at Norwich pursued a
+similar course at the Cathedral of that city, which was crowded almost to
+suffocation.  The Bishop, who preached, took the opportunity to deliver
+an impressive remonstrance on the folly and danger of their proceedings.
+The Chartists behaved well in the Cathedral; but, at St. Stephen’s Church
+in the evening, they made a disturbance.  The Chartists at Manchester,
+following the advice of Feargus O’Connor, attended the Old Church (now
+the Cathedral) in great numbers.  The authorities, having been previously
+advised of their intention, had the military in readiness to act, should
+the Chartists behave in a disorderly manner: but they conducted
+themselves with great decorum.  It is said that, previous to Divine
+Service, they handed the clergyman a Chartist text to preach from, but he
+selected as his text, “My house is the house of prayer, but ye have made
+it a den of thieves”; on announcing which, the Chartists rose, and
+quitted the church.  The same tactics were followed in the principal
+towns all over the country, but, either from the success of them not
+being very apparent, or from the distastefulness of the method employed,
+the practice was not followed up for long—nor with any great regularity.
+
+On the 14th Sep. the Chartist National Convention was dissolved; and, on
+the 20th Feargus O’Connor was arrested for sedition, on a Judge’s
+Warrant, at Manchester, and things were fairly quiet during the remainder
+of the year, with the exception of a serious Chartist riot, on 4 Nov., at
+Newport, in Monmouthshire, where many rioters were killed.
+
+We have seen how, in the beginning of the year, the _Sun_ had prophesied
+the marriage of the Queen and Prince Albert, for which it was duly
+pooh-poohed by the _Times_—but on 22 Aug., the _Morning Post_ had the
+dreadful temerity to announce the same—and the _Court Circular_ of 11
+Oct. tells us, that “The Hereditary Prince (Ernest) and Prince Albert of
+Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, landed at the Tower, at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon,
+from the Continent.  Their Serene Highnesses were conveyed in two of the
+Royal landaus to the Royal Mews at Pimlico, and, shortly afterwards, left
+town with their suite in two carriages and four, for Windsor Castle, on a
+visit to the Queen.”
+
+On the 14th Oct., the Queen informed Lord Melbourne of her intention to
+marry Prince Albert, which met with the Premier’s warm approbation.  Next
+day she told the Prince that she wished to marry him.  He had been out
+early, with his brother, hunting, but returned at twelve, and
+half-an-hour afterwards, the Queen sent for him, and he found her alone
+in her room.  That it was a love match on both sides is well known, and,
+until the untimely death of the Prince Consort, they were models of
+conjugal love and felicity.
+
+On 14 Nov. the Prince and his brother left Windsor—and departed for the
+Continent, via Dover; and, at a Privy Council held at Buckingham Palace
+on 23rd of that month, the Queen communicated her intention of marriage.
+The declaration was as follows:
+
+    “I have caused you to be summoned at the present time, in order that
+    I may acquaint you with my resolution in a matter which deeply
+    concerns the welfare of my people, and the happiness of my future
+    life.
+
+    “It is my intention to ally myself in marriage with the Prince Albert
+    of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.  Deeply impressed with the solemnity of the
+    engagement which I am about to contract, I have not come to this
+    decision without mature consideration, nor without feeling a strong
+    assurance that, with the blessing of Almighty God, it will at once
+    secure my domestic felicity, and serve the interests of my country.
+
+    “I have thought fit to make this resolution known to you, at the
+    earliest period, in order that you may be fully apprised of a matter
+    so highly important to me and to my Kingdom, and which, I persuade
+    myself, will be most acceptable to all my loving subjects.”
+
+Upon this announcement, all the Privy Councillors present made it their
+humble request that Her Majesty’s most gracious declaration to them might
+be made public; which Her Majesty was pleased to order accordingly.
+
+The Queen suffered severely from lunatics.  In June a man got into the
+gardens of Buckingham Palace, and, when arrested, declared he had come
+there for the sole purpose of killing Her Majesty, and was duly committed
+to Tothill Bridewell.  Within a day or two of his release, in the middle
+of October, he went to Windsor and broke three or four panes of glass in
+the Castle.  He was afterwards apprehended, but what became of him, I do
+not know; in all probability he was sent to a lunatic asylum.
+
+In the paper which gives the account of the above, I read, “James Bryan,
+the Queen’s Scotch suitor, was in Windsor the whole of yesterday (Sunday,
+13 Oct.).  In the morning, he was waiting, for a considerable period, at
+the door of St. George’s Chapel, leading to the Cloisters, to have a view
+of the Queen, as Her Majesty and the two Princes of Saxe-Coburg, and the
+Duchess of Kent left the Chapel.  In the afternoon, he walked on the
+Terrace, and conducted himself in his usual manner, very respectfully
+bowing to the Queen, as Her Majesty passed him on the New Terrace.”—By
+the above, he must have been well known.
+
+On 29 Nov., a respectably-dressed man got over the high iron gates
+leading to the Castle, a place at which there were no sentries, and
+walked across the Park, to the grand entrance to the Castle.  Upon seeing
+the porter in attendance at the lodge, he said: “I demand entrance into
+the Castle as King of England”; to which the porter replied: “Very well,
+your Majesty, but be pleased to wait until I get my hat,” and then taking
+him to the Castle, handed him over to the police.  He turned out to be a
+man named Stockledge, who was partner in an extensive wholesale business
+in Manchester.  He had been in two lunatic asylums, and when questioned
+by the Mayor of Windsor, as to the object of his visit, said that: “he
+was like all other men who wanted wives—he was looking after one,”
+evidently alluding to Her Majesty.  On being further questioned, he said
+“he was the King of England, and was impelled by the Spirit.”  He
+afterwards said that “an unknown power had done it,” and that “it was the
+Spirit which helped him over the gates.”  Of course he _was_ mad.
+
+There was yet another fool this year, but, this time, he was not a
+maniac—only a Post Office Clerk, who wanted to have an interview with Her
+Majesty.  On the afternoon of the 8th Dec., a carriage and four drove up
+to Windsor Castle, and, from it, alighted a personage wearing a foraging
+cap, a fur boa round his neck, and fur gloves, who announced himself as
+the bearer of important despatches which he must deliver into the Queen’s
+own hands.  This, of course, was not complied with, and as he would not
+part with the documents, he was handed over to the police, and taken to
+the station, where he made a sturdy resistance when they were taken from
+him.  He turned out to be a junior clerk in the Foreign Post Office,
+named William Saunders, who, being on duty when the Foreign Mails
+arrived, found some letters and papers addressed to the Queen, and put
+them into his pocket with the intention of delivering them himself.  He
+was suspended from his duties, but I do not know his ultimate fate.
+
+Gambling houses were still in existence, although the Police Act of this
+year (2 & 3 Vict., c. 47, s. 48) gave the police great and additional
+power towards suppressing them.  Here is a sample raid as reported in the
+_Observer_ of 15 Dec.:
+
+“Superintendent Baker, C, succeeded on Saturday night week, in breaking
+his way into a gambling house, 60 Jermyn Street (commonly called the
+Cottage), and some persons, therein found, were fined, on Monday, at
+Marlborough Street Office.  In all, seven persons were captured, of whom,
+two were connected with the management of the gambling house; the others
+were gentlemen players.  They were taken to the Station house in Vine
+Street; and, as we know it to be the anxious desire of the police
+authorities to suppress the nuisance of gaming houses, we feel that we
+are but lending our humble aid towards effecting that object in now
+publishing the real names of those gentlemen who were captured, and who
+passed themselves off to the police and the magistrate as being ‘Jones,’
+‘Smith,’ and other conventional misnomers.  (Here follow the names.)  Our
+Correspondent has told us of a certain noble lord, who was running here
+and there, on the night of the capture of his friends, striving, in the
+first instance, to get them bailed out, and, failing in that, to provide
+for them creature comforts in their cells.  We cannot avoid mentioning
+one or two little incidents connected with this affair.  The admission of
+spirits to prisoners in a station house is strictly forbidden, but, on
+this occasion, their friends outside succeeded in introducing eight soda
+water bottles filled with excellent pale brandy, so regularly corked and
+wired, as to deceive even the sharp eyes of the Inspector.
+
+“Next day (Sunday), at 12 o’clock, they were bailed out, but, on the
+following morning at Marlborough Street Office, a sad mishap had all but
+blown up the misnomers; for, when the name of ‘Jones’ was called from the
+police sheet, the gentleman who had honoured that name by assuming it,
+quite forgot his condescension, until one of his companions in trouble
+nudged him in the side, saying, ‘D---n it, that’s you.’  By the way, the
+croupier escaped through the skylight, with the bank, amounting, it is
+supposed, to, at least, £500.  He, and a boy who escaped with him, had
+but a minute or two the start of the police.  As it was, the croupier met
+with a most severe accident, having cut his thigh so deeply as to cause a
+most serious hemorrhage.  The gutter was flooded with his blood.”
+
+I wind up the year by chronicling an event which, I fancy, will never
+occur again, one of the most singular circumstances connected with it
+being, that the penitent was a Jewess.  It occurs in a letter in the
+_Times_ of 19 Dec.:
+
+                                 “ACT OF PENANCE, ST. JOHN’S, CLERKENWELL.
+
+“Sir.—Understanding that many stories are afloat concerning the above
+act, performed on Sunday last (15 Dec.) by a young woman of the Jewish
+persuasion, named Deborah Cohen, I thought the particulars might be
+acceptable.  This affair appears to have arisen from some family quarrel,
+the action in the Ecclesiastical Court, having been brought against her
+by her brother, for having made use to her sister-in-law, Rosetta Cohen,
+of a term contrary as well to this part of our laws, as to the usages of
+society.  To avoid expenses she had no means to meet, and the
+consequences thereof, her solicitor advised her to admit her fault, and
+abide the award of the Court.  This having got wind, the unpretending
+church of St. John’s was beset, early on Sunday last, by great crowds,
+amongst whom it required great exertion of the parish officers and the
+police to preserve a proper decorum.  The crowds were, however,
+disappointed in seeing this young woman exposed in the open church, with
+the covering of a white sheet, etc., the order from the Ecclesiastical
+Court only having enjoined her to appear in the vestry room of this
+church, on Sunday morning last, after service and a sermon, and before
+the minister, churchwardens, and five or six of the plaintiff’s friends
+(some of whom attended), to recite, after the minister, her regret, etc.,
+in the words laid down in the order.  This was carried into effect,
+accordingly, the crowds in the church and St. John’s Square remaining
+long after the ceremony had been performed, and the parties had left the
+vestry.
+
+                                                                      “W.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Commencement of Penny Post—Postage Stamps—Prince Albert’s allowance—The
+_Times_ comments on the Marriage—Royal Wedding Cake—Louis Napoleon’s
+duel—Nelson Column—Noblemen’s servants—Uproar at the Italian Opera House.
+
+The most important event in the beginning of this year was the
+inauguration of the Penny Post on Jan. 10.  At the end of 1839, an
+uniform postage rate of 4d. per letter was tried on Dec. 5, which was so
+successful that the present penny postage was established, one feature of
+which, the prepayment of letters, was much appreciated by the public.
+The number of letters despatched by the Mails from the Metropolis, on the
+10th, was much greater than was expected, amounting to 112,000, the daily
+average for January, 1839, having been about 30,000 only.  Out of the
+112,000 letters there were only 13,000 or 14,000 unpaid, and this was
+probably owing to the fact that people could not get out of their old
+habits all at once.
+
+The Postage Stamps, however, were not ready, for we read in the _Times_
+of 17 Jan.: “The construction of the stamps is advancing with all speed,
+the several artists to whom they are intrusted being actively engaged
+upon them.  In the stamp for letter paper and the adhesive stamp, a
+profile of the Queen is the principal ornament.  The letter paper stamp
+is being engraved by Mr. Wyon, R.A., medallist to the Mint.  Charles
+Heath is engraving the drawing taken from Wyon’s City medal, by H.
+Corbould, intended for the adhesive stamp.  W. Mulready, R.A., has
+furnished the design for the cover and envelope, which is in the hands of
+John Thompson for engraving.”
+
+And, now, until the Queen was married, all the talk was of that event.
+First of all Prince Albert must be made a naturalised Englishman, and a
+bill to that effect was read for the third time in the House of Lords on
+21 Jan., in the Commons on the 22nd, and received the Royal Assent on the
+24th. {119a}  On the 23rd he was invested with the Order of the Garter at
+Gotha.  The second reading of the Act for his naturalization was heard in
+the House of Lords on the 27th, but owing to some dispute as to the
+question of his precedence, it was adjourned until the 31st, when it was
+read, and on 3 Feb. it was read a third time, and it received the Royal
+Assent on 7 Feb.  But there was another thing yet to be done, which was
+to supply His Serene Highness with Funds, and on Jan. 22 Lord John
+Russell proposed the sum of £50,000 per annum.  The discussion thereon
+was adjourned until the 24th, and re-adjourned until the 27th, when Mr.
+Hume moved a reduction to £21,000, which was lost by a majority of 267.
+Col. Sibthorp then proposed a sum of £30,000, which was agreed to, and
+the Act received the Royal Assent on 7 Feb.
+
+The feeling of the country on the subject of the Royal Marriage is, to my
+thinking, very fairly summarised in a leading article in the _Times_ of
+10 Feb., portions of which I transcribe: “It has followed from this
+policy, {119b} that an English monarch should, _cœteris paribus_, rather
+avoid than court an alliance with one of the first-rate powers of Europe,
+but should prefer security to aggrandizement, satisfied with a consort
+selected from a less prominent, and, therefore, less exposed, position.
+If there be safety, therefore, in comparative weakness and
+insignificance, we know not that, on such a ground, any other princely
+house throughout Europe, could offer inducements preferable to those
+possessed by those of Saxe-Coburg.  Objections against this individual
+member of the family might, perhaps, present themselves to reflecting
+minds, on the score of his close consanguinity to Queen Victoria, a
+circumstance not usually looked upon as propitious to the hope of a
+flourishing offspring.
+
+“Another argument might be urged against the match, from the undoubted
+fact that the name of Saxe-Coburg is not popular in this country, a
+misfortune for which we do not undertake to account; nor shall we longer
+dwell upon either of the above considerations, which we have hinted at,
+merely to shew that they have not wholly escaped our notice. . . .
+
+“Prince Albert has now become one of us.  He is, actually, now an English
+subject.  He is tied to us by law and self-interest.  Let us bind him to
+us by gratitude and affection.  The happiness of our youthful Queen is
+now in his hands.  He has the means of so directing and assisting her
+future footsteps, as to retrieve for Her Majesty (we speak with
+frankness, but with all respect) all she has forfeited in the hearts of
+the most loyal, enlightened and virtuous of her subjects, through her
+unhappy bias towards persons and principles which are hourly undermining
+the deep foundations of her Throne.
+
+“We have said that it devolves upon Prince Albert to counteract a host of
+‘evil influences,’ and to aid his Royal Consort in repairing ‘many very
+grievous errors’ into which selfish and treacherous counsellors have
+betrayed her, and which her constant separation (contrived by them) from
+all but one section, or coterie of her subjects, has served to render
+extremely difficult of correction.
+
+“Queen Victoria has scarcely been permitted to see the general aspect of
+the British aristocracy, or to become acquainted with their sentiments,
+their characters, or their manners.  The petty, artificial world framed
+and got up for her deception, is no more capable of suggesting to her
+mind the vast moral and social creation beyond its narrow boundaries,
+than one or two leaves of a _hortus siccus_ exemplify the productions of
+a noble forest, or a varied and inimitable landscape. . . .
+
+“Are the heads of the nation to be discovered at the Queen of England’s
+Court?  Has the worth, or wisdom, or eminence of the nation any access to
+the society of the Sovereign?  Have the clergy of England, or any of
+them—have their representatives—bishops, priests, or deacons, the
+opportunity of communicating personally with the temporal head of the
+Church of England?  Are they, or any of them, ever seated at the Royal
+table, or received into the Royal presence, or favoured with the Royal
+smile?  No; such associations comport not with the policy of her
+ministers; the ear of the Sovereign is whispered from the choicest of her
+subjects—the palace doors are locked inexorably against all but a certain
+clique.”
+
+Let us turn from this little lecture to the Queen, honest and faithful
+though it be, to the all-absorbing subject of Gossip, the Royal
+Marriage—and first, and foremost, comes the Royal Wedding Cake, which
+weighed nearly 300lbs.  It was three yards in circumference and about 14
+inches deep.  This was the cake itself, which, according to a
+contemporary account, “is covered with sugar of the purest white; on the
+top is seen the figure of Britannia in the act of blessing the
+illustrious bride and bridegroom, who are dressed, somewhat
+incongruously, in the costume of ancient Rome.  These figures are not
+quite a foot in height; at the feet of His Serene Highness is the effigy
+of a dog, said to denote fidelity; and, at the feet of the Queen is a
+pair of turtle doves, denoting the felicities of the marriage state.  A
+Cupid is writing in a volume expanded on his knees, the date of the
+marriage, and various other Cupids are sporting and enjoying themselves
+as such interesting little individuals generally do.  These little
+figures are well modelled.  On the top of the cake are numerous bouquets
+of white flowers tied with true lover’s knots of white satin ribbon,
+intended for presents to the guests at the nuptial breakfast.”
+
+On 6 Feb. the Prince landed at Dover from Ostend, and on the 7th went to
+Canterbury; on the 8th he reached London and Buckingham Palace; and, on
+the 10th they were married at the Chapel Royal, St. James’; spent the
+honeymoon at Windsor, and made their _rentrée_ into society on 26 Feb.,
+when they went, in State, to Drury Lane Theatre.
+
+Duelling, although on the wane, was far from dead.  I could have given
+numerous instances of duels in the earlier part of this reign, but have
+refrained, as they were of no particular interest; but the following is
+an exception, as it relates to one who, in after years, was to make a
+great name in history for himself.
+
+_Times_, 4 March:
+
+    BOW STREET.—Shortly after the opening of the court yesterday morning,
+    and before any of the night charges had been disposed of, Prince
+    Louis Napoleon and Le Comte Leon, who is said to be the son of
+    Bonaparte, to whom he hears a striking resemblance, were brought
+    before Mr. Jardine, charged by Nicholas Pearce, inspector of the A
+    division, with having met at Wimbledon Common, and attempted to
+    commit a breach of the peace, by fighting a duel with swords and
+    pistols.
+
+    Lieut.-Col. Jeremiah Ratcliffe, 6th Dragoons, as second to the last
+    defendant, and Col. Charles Parquin, second to the Prince, together
+    with Count D’Orsay, and a servant, named Mertial Kien, with aiding
+    and assisting the principals in the intended combat.
+
+    Previous to the evidence being taken, two brace of pistols, with
+    powder flasks, and a pair of rapiers, were laid on the table for the
+    inspection of the magistrate.
+
+    Inspector Pearce, being sworn, said, about 2 o’clock this morning he
+    received information from Superintendent Baker, that certain parties
+    had an intention of meeting in a hostile manner on Wimbledon Common,
+    some of whom were to start from Fenton’s Hotel and the others from
+    Carlton Gardens; in consequence of which I went into St. James’s
+    Street, where I saw a post-chaise drive up to the door of the hotel,
+    about 7 o’clock, but I could not ascertain if any person had got into
+    it.  After delaying a short time, it moved slowly on in the direction
+    of Piccadilly, followed by Col. Ratcliffe, and stopped again at
+    Tattersall’s, where another person followed towards Hyde Park Corner.
+    The chaise was then driven westward, and I followed it on horseback;
+    but, previous to arriving at Hyde Park Corner, the defendant
+    Ratcliffe passed, on horseback, in Piccadilly.
+
+    Mr. Jardine: What hour might it be then?
+
+    Witness: It was then nearly 7 o’clock.  On arriving at the Common, I
+    saw the entire party collected near to the Windmill, and the
+    post-chaise proceeding in that direction.  Having dismounted, and
+    left the horse in the care of a countryman, I proceeded to where the
+    chaises were standing, and then I saw the defendants walking away,
+    from them, some yards down, to a hollow part of the ground, each
+    party apparently making arrangements about the duel.  They then
+    stopped, and as I approached Col. Parquin, seeing two letters in one
+    hand, and the two swords produced, in the other, I took them from
+    him.  At that time, the pistols produced, in a case, were lying on
+    the ground, near to another brace, which were wrapped up in paper.
+    Some conversation passed between Count D’Orsay and Col. Parquin,
+    which appeared to be whether the combat was to be fought with pistols
+    or with swords, and the Count asked me what I wanted; my authority
+    for interfering; and who it was that gave me information of the
+    circumstance.  At that moment, Inspector Partridge, accompanied by
+    Sergt. Otway and other constables, came up, and, on Col. Ratcliffe
+    taking the pistols from the case, he was taken into custody.  I
+    instantly went to him, and, shewing him my staff, told him I was an
+    officer, and that I was, in duty, bound to take him into custody, for
+    attempting to commit a breach of the peace.  Count D’Orsay requested
+    to be told who it was who had given the information, and, on being
+    refused, the entire party were quietly conveyed to the station house.
+
+    Mr. Jardine: Have you since ascertained that the pistols contained
+    powder and balls?
+
+    Witness: Yes, Sir; there are balls in them, and caps upon them.
+
+    Colonel Ratcliffe declared there was no powder in the pistols, which
+    belonged to him, as could be seen; for it had been arranged that the
+    duel was to be fought with swords.
+
+    Mr. Jardine inquired if any of the defendants, who were foreigners,
+    and not sufficiently conversant with the English language, would wish
+    to hear the evidence read over to them in French?
+
+    Le Comte Leon replied in French, that he could not sufficiently
+    understand the evidence that had been given, but he was quite
+    satisfied that all the proceedings were perfectly legal and correct.
+
+    Prince Louis said, he was prepared, if required, to enter into an
+    explanation of the circumstances which gave rise to the offence with
+    which he was charged.
+
+    Mr. Jardine did not wish to hear any statement on either side, as his
+    duty was only to prevent a breach of the peace, and he hoped the
+    defendants were prepared with the sureties he would require, to
+    prevent further inconvenience.
+
+    Count D’Orsay said, he had come prepared with bail, which he thought
+    there could be no objection to.
+
+    Prince Louis requested that the two letters, which had been taken
+    from his friend, should be delivered up to him.
+
+    Mr. Jardine immediately delivered up the letters, saying he should
+    require the principals to enter into bail, themselves in £500 each,
+    and two sureties in £250 each, to keep the peace with all Her
+    Majesty’s subjects, and particularly with each other, for the next 12
+    months.
+
+    Count D’Orsay: One surety in £500, would, perhaps, answer as well as
+    two in £250 each, if it meets with your approbation.
+
+    Mr. Jardine said he had no objection to such a course, and, if the
+    other defendants were prepared with bail, it might be taken.
+
+    Col. Ratcliffe said his surety was present.
+
+    Mr. Jardine: The bail I shall require is, that each of the other
+    defendants enter into his own recognizance in £100, and two sureties
+    in £50 each, to keep the peace for the same period, with the
+    exception of the defendant Kien, who may put in his own recognizances
+    in £100.
+
+    Mr. Joshua Bates, of Portland Place, having offered himself as surety
+    for Prince Louis Napoleon and Col. Parquin, was accepted.
+
+    Mr. Fenton was accepted as bail for Le Comte Leon, and the Hon.
+    Francis Baring, M.P., became surety for Col. Ratcliffe and Count
+    D’Orsay.
+
+    The Chief Clerk having conducted the parties into the Magistrate’s
+    private room, where they were furnished with the requisite notices,
+    returned to the Court to take directions respecting the disposal of
+    the weapons and other articles which were found upon the defendants
+    on their being taken into custody.
+
+    Mr. Jardine said he could make no order about them, but he thought
+    that, as the defendants had put in bail, there could be very little
+    apprehension of their committing a similar offence, if they were
+    restored to their proper owners.
+
+    It appeared that the two letters had been written by the Comte Leon
+    to his cousin, as he was styled, demanding that he would retract
+    certain expressions respecting their relationship, which he was
+    alleged to have made use of; and, his not complying, gave rise to the
+    quarrel.
+
+    On the 10th of April the offer of Messrs. Grissell and Peto was
+    accepted, to erect the Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square, within two
+    years, for a sum of £17,860.
+
+    There is a curious police case as to the habits and customs of
+    Noblemen’s servants, which may be interesting to my readers.  It was
+    brought before the Magistrate at Queen Square on 14 April, when the
+    House Steward of the Earl of Galloway applied for summonses against
+    the footmen attending the carriages of Viscount Melbourne, the
+    Marquis of Normanby, the Marquis of Lansdowne and Lord Tankerville,
+    for assault and damage.
+
+    It appeared from the statement of the applicant, that the servants
+    attending the carriages of peers, to the House of Lords, have a
+    waiting room, which they call their Club room, and that they have
+    formed themselves into a society, governed by one of their body, whom
+    they call their “Constable.”  They have a set of rules, dated as far
+    back as 1759, obedience to which is strictly enforced under pain of
+    certain fines.
+
+    On Friday evening, the coachman of the Earl of Galloway set his
+    lordship down at the House of Lords, with orders to wait.  The
+    footman, who was, it appears, a new comer, was, on entering the club
+    room, called upon to pay a fine, or “footing” of two shillings, to be
+    spent in beer, but he replied that he had no money about him; and, on
+    their insisting on its being paid, he left the room, and got on the
+    carriage box, with the coachman, but the “members,” headed by their
+    Constable, with his staff of office, pursued him, insisted upon his
+    coming down, and were about to pull him off the box, when the
+    coachman told them that his fellow servant had no money with him,
+    but, if they would go, he would be answerable that it should be paid.
+    They, however, insisted that it should be spent in their Club, and
+    that the new servant should be present.
+
+    Mr. Burrell: How many were there of them?
+
+    Applicant said there were, he understood, 10 or 12, but it was only
+    intended to proceed against the four ringleaders.  The coachman,
+    finding that they were determined to have his fellow servant off the
+    box, drove on a little way, and, on returning to his place, Lord
+    Normanby’s carriage ran against his, and seriously damaged it.  The
+    footman was, at length, dragged from the box, and very roughly
+    handled: his foot was hurt.  The coachman was also struck with the
+    long “staff” carried by the “constable.”
+
+    Samuel Linturn, the footman, corroborated this statement.
+
+    The summonses were granted.
+
+    It was stated that Lord Normanby, at once, offered to make good the
+    damage done, but this the Earl of Galloway declined, having
+    determined that the whole matter should be publicly investigated by a
+    magistrate.
+
+    Two days afterwards, four footmen in the employ of Lords Melbourne,
+    Lansdowne, Normanby and Tankerville appeared to answer the summonses.
+
+    The complainant, in the course of his evidence, said that he had been
+    to the House of Lords on several previous occasions, but had never
+    been asked for anything, nor did he even know of the existence of
+    such a room.  Turk asked him whose servant he was, but he refused to
+    tell him.  Turk, at the time, had, in his hand, a pointed stick,
+    which he called a staff; he made no demand for money then, but went
+    away, and the complainant got on the box with the coachman, who took
+    the coach to the stand.  Turk, accompanied by several others, then
+    came up.  The Marquis of Bute’s footman said he would pay the fine,
+    or footing, and placed two shillings on the footboard of the carriage
+    for that purpose.  This did not satisfy them.  Several persons,
+    amongst whom were the defendants, got upon the coach, and swore that
+    if he did not come down, they would pull him down.  There were
+    several police about, and, although he called upon them for
+    assistance, they would not come.
+
+    Both he and the coachman told them that he had no money, and the
+    coachman said he would secure them payment, if they would go and
+    drink the beer, but they insisted upon the complainant’s presence in
+    the “club.”  He still refused, and then they brought a long pole,
+    which they called a “horse.”  The coachman drove up Abingdon Street
+    to avoid them, but several of the carriages drew out of the rank, and
+    followed them, and, as the coachman turned to regain his station,
+    Lord Normanby’s carriage was driven against him, and the Earl of
+    Galloway’s carriage sustained considerable damage; it was forced on
+    the footway, and was obliged to stop, upon which, several of the
+    footmen ran, and seized the horses by their heads.  The defendants
+    dragged the complainant off the box; one had hold of his foot, and
+    another, who seized upon his greatcoat, tore the buttons from it, and
+    from his gaiters and breeches.  They then placed him upon the pole,
+    which they called “putting him on horseback.”
+
+    They then rode him into the room mentioned, where Lord Holland’s
+    footman sat as chairman, and decided that he should pay two
+    shillings.  He borrowed the money from Lord Lansdowne’s servant, and
+    was about to leave the room, but he was forced to resume his seat, as
+    he was told he could, from the room, easily hear when the carriage
+    was called, and that “he must sit and drink his beer.”  He was also
+    told that he was now sworn in, and had only to kiss the staff, which
+    was presented to him, but he refused to do it.  He was detained
+    three-quarters of an hour, against his will.  His foot was hurt, and
+    the coachman was injured by a blow from the “staff.”
+
+    The coachman corroborated the evidence, and the defendants were fined
+    ten shillings each.
+
+On the 29th April, there was an uproar in the Italian Opera House, which
+might have expanded into another O.P. riot of 1809.  The Impresario, M.
+Laporte, had not engaged Tamburini, because his terms were too high, and
+the singer’s friends were highly indignant.  On this evening, at the
+conclusion of the opera of _I Puritani_, several voices began calling for
+M. Laporte, with shouts of “Tamburini!”  Poor M. Laporte appeared and
+began a speech in which he sought to excuse himself, but it was drowned
+by a torrent of groans and hisses, which came, principally, from the
+occupants of the “omnibus” box. {128}  M. Laporte so clearly perceived
+this, that, in a few minutes, his speech to the audience merged into a
+private conversation with its occupants.  The noise increased, and M.
+Laporte declared that he was not to be “intimidated,” a word which roused
+the “omnibus” party to perfect fury.  He retired, and the curtain rose
+for the ballet, in which a new dancer was to have made her appearance.
+The noise, now, became terrible; yells, hisses, and all sorts of uncouth
+sounds were blended in frightful discord.  The dancers, perceiving all
+attempts at a performance were in vain, and, at the same time, being
+afraid to quit the stage, sat quietly, all round.
+
+Again and again Laporte came forward, and tried to bring matters to a
+settlement, and once he ventured to say, that, as manager, he had a right
+to engage performers at his own discretion, and that he was not to be
+responsible to an audience—which, it is needless to say, added fuel to
+fire.  Then he told them his engagements would not allow him to employ
+Tamburini, which meant ruin to him, but it only provoked more noise.
+Then he appealed to their better feelings by telling them of the many
+years he had catered for their amusement, and this did bring him some
+support, for cries of “Shame,” “No Tamburini,” and “No Intimidation,”
+were heard, but this only had the effect of dividing the audience, and
+increasing the hubbub.
+
+Once again poor Laporte came forward, and talked of engaging Tamburini on
+“Conditions.”  This word upset all, and the Tamburinists asked: “Will you
+engage him?  Yes, or No?”  Laporte said he would make proposals, and, if
+those proposals, etc.  This would not do; “Yes, or No?” said his
+persevering interrogators.  “Say ‘No,’” said his supporters.  He began
+talking about terms.  “Same terms as last year,” shouted all the
+“Omnibus” party, upon which he retired, without proposing anything
+satisfactory.  Everyone was getting tired, when, at last, a gentleman, in
+a box opposite the “Omnibus,” stepped over the front of his box on to the
+stage, and was followed by a party; the “Omnibus” party entered the stage
+from the opposite side, and, at one o’clock, the Tamburinists had taken
+possession, and waved their hats triumphantly, on the stage, as the
+curtain fell.
+
+It was this episode that the Rev. R. H. Barham has immortalized in his
+_Ingoldsby Legends_, under the title of “A Row in an Omnibus (box),”
+beginning:
+
+    Doldrum the Manager sits in his chair,
+    With a gloomy brow and dissatisfied air,
+       And he says, as he slaps his hand on his knee,
+       ‘I’ll have nothing to do with Fiddle-de-dee!
+
+    ‘—But Fiddle-de-dee sings clear and loud,
+    And his trills and his quavers astonish the crowd.
+          Such a singer as he,
+          You’ll nowhere see,
+    They’ll all be screaming for Fiddle-de-dee!
+
+    ‘—Though Fiddle-de-dee sings loud and clear,
+    And his tones are sweet, yet his terms are dear!
+          The glove won’t fit!
+          The deuce a bit.
+    I shall give an engagement to Fal-de-ral-tit!’”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+The Mulready Envelope—Plans of Royal Exchange decided on—Fire at York
+Minster—Queen shot at by Oxford—Oxford in Bedlam—Scientific
+Agriculture—Electro-metallurgy—Embossed envelope—Sale of Louis Napoleon’s
+effects.
+
+On the 1st of May, the Post Office issued the long expected postal
+envelope designed by W. Mulready, R.A., and the opinion of _The Times_
+may be taken as the expression of most people’s feelings about it.
+
+    _Times_, 2 May.—“We have been favoured with a sight of one of the new
+    stamp covers, and we must say we never beheld anything more ludicrous
+    than the figures or allegorical device by which it is marked with its
+    official character—why not add embellished?  Cruickshank could
+    scarcely produce anything so laughable.  It is, apparently, a
+    spirited attempt to imitate the hieroglyphic which formed one of the
+    ornaments to _Moore’s Almanack_; Britannia is seated in the centre,
+    with the lion couchant (Whiggish) at her feet; her arms are extended,
+    scattering little flying children to some elephants on the left; and,
+    on the right, to a group of gentlemen, some of whom, at all events,
+    are not enclosed in _envelopes_, writing on their knees, evidently on
+    account of a paucity of tables.  There are, besides, sundry figures,
+    who, if they were to appear in the streets of London, or any of our
+    highways, would be liable to the penalties of the Vagrant Act for
+    indecent exposure.  Under the tableland by which these figures are
+    supported, some evidence of a laudable curiosity is depicted, by
+    three or four ladies, who are represented reading a billet doux, or
+    valentine, and some little boys, evidently learning to spell, by the
+    mental exertion which their anxious faces disclose.  One serious
+    omission we must notice.  Why have those Mercuries in red jackets,
+    who traverse London and its environs on lame ponies, been omitted?
+    We must admit that, as they have been, recently, better mounted, that
+    is one reason why they should not appear in this Government picture.”
+
+But the reader can judge how far this description is borne out.
+
+                       [Picture: Mulready envelope]
+
+As a matter of fact, it was so universally disapproved of by the public,
+and was the object of so much ridicule, as to necessitate the destruction
+of nearly all the vast number prepared for issue.  To do this, a machine
+had to be specially constructed; the attempt to do the work by fire, in
+close stoves (fear of robbery forbade the use of open ones), having
+absolutely failed.  They are now somewhat scarce, but are extensively
+forged.  It was satirized and laughed at by all, and a contemporary
+criticism, which has been reproduced in _The Philatelist_, vol. vii., p.
+145, is very amusing:
+
+    “Britannia is sending her messengers forth
+    To the East, to the West, to the South, to the North:
+       At her feet is a lion wot’s taking a nap,
+       And a dish-cover rests on her legs and her lap.
+    To the left is a Mussulman writing a letter,
+    His knees form a desk, for the want of a better;
+       Another believer’s apparently trying
+       To help him in telling the truth, or in lying.
+    Two slaves ’neath their burden seem ready to sink,
+    But a sly-looking elephant ‘tips us the wink’;
+       His brother behind, a most corpulent beast,
+       Just exhibits his face, like the moon in a mist.
+    On each is a gentleman riding astraddle,
+    With neat Turkey carpets in lieu of a saddle;
+       The camels, behind, seem disposed for a lark,
+       The taller’s a well-whisker’d, fierce-looking shark.
+    An Arab, arrayed with a coal-heaver’s hat,
+    With a friend from the desert is holding a chat;
+       The picture’s completed by well-tailed Chinese
+       A-purchasing opium, and selling of teas.
+    The minister’s navy is seen in the rear—
+    They long turned their backs on the service—’tis clear
+       That they now would declare, in their typical way,
+       That Britannia it is who has done it, not they.
+    A reindeer and Laplander cutting through snow,
+    The rate of their progress (down hill) seems to show.
+       To the right, is the King of the Cannibal Islands,
+       In the same pantaloons that they wear in the Highlands
+    Some squaws by his side, with their infantile varments,
+    And a friend, in the front, who’s forgotten his garments.
+       Frost, Williams and Jones {132} have this moment been hook
+       And are fixing the day they would choose to be cook’d.
+    There a planter is giving and watching the tasks
+    Of two worthy niggers, at work on two casks.
+       Below, to the left, as designed by Mulready,
+       Is sorrow’s effect on a very fat lady;
+    While joy at good news may be plainly descried,
+    In the trio engaged on the opposite side.”
+
+[Picture: Left—Lord Monteagle and Mr. Baring, Britannia, Lord Palmerston.
+               Right—O’Connell and the Duke of Wellington]
+
+There were very many pictorial satires on this unfortunate wrapper, but
+none bore so near a resemblance to it as the accompanying illustration by
+John Doyle (H.B. Sketches, 26 May, 1840, No. 639).  Lord Palmerston, as
+Britannia, is dispatching Mercuries with fire and sword, to the east,
+typical of the wars in Egypt and China.  On the other hand, he sends a
+flight of Cupids to Father Mathew, the apostle of Temperance, who was
+then doing such good work in Ireland, whilst a man is knocking the bung
+out of a whisky barrel.  Beneath this group is O’Connell, who is roaring
+out “Hurrah for Repeal!” to the horror of the Duke of Wellington, who is
+behind him.  On the left is Lord Monteagle, late Chancellor of the
+Exchequer, ill in bed; whilst his successor, Mr. Baring, reads to him the
+result of his policy: “Post Office deliveries in the quarter, £272,000!
+Total deficiency in the year, to be made up by new taxation, £2,000,000!”
+
+On 7 May, the Gresham Committee met to decide on the two plans for the
+New Royal Exchange, one prepared by Mr. Cockerell, R.A., and the other by
+Mr. Tite, President of the Architectural Society, which was in favour of
+the latter by 13 votes to 7.  The works were immediately proceeded with.
+
+Talking of one fire seems to lead on to another, for on 20 May, York
+Minster was for the second time visited with a conflagration—this time,
+however, it was caused accidentally, and not the work of an incendiary.
+
+The following extract from a letter dated York, 21 May, gives a graphic
+account of the fire, and is of especial interest, as being from the pen
+of a spectator.
+
+    “You may hear the rumour of the alarming and truly awful calamity
+    that has occurred in this city, before you receive this.  I have
+    witnessed it, and shall hold the recollection as long as my memory
+    exists.  About 20 minutes to 9 last evening, I was told the Minster
+    was on fire.  I ran out, immediately, towards it, and stood by it,
+    just as the flames had issued from the top part of the south-west
+    tower, at a height that an engine could not have played upon.  The
+    fire continued to rage until it had entire possession of the upper
+    part; flames issuing from every window, and piercing the roof.  To
+    describe the feelings under which I witnessed the devouring flames
+    preying upon a national monument, which every man must look upon with
+    admiration, requires a pen more descriptive than mine.  Grief, awe,
+    wonder and admiration were the emotions with which I regarded the
+    destruction of this venerable church.  I soon obtained admission into
+    the nave of the Cathedral, and observed the first falling down of the
+    burnt embers.  The flames illumined the interior with more than
+    mid-day brightness; the light, pouring through the crevices, threw a
+    brilliancy over the scene which imagination cannot paint.  The fire,
+    at this time, was wholly confined to the tower.
+
+    “After the space of half an hour, the flooring of the belfry in the
+    tower began to be forced by the falling bells and lighted beams.  At
+    this period, my nerves were strung to the highest excitement.  The
+    noise was extraordinary.  The shouting of the firemen, the roaring of
+    the flames rushing up the tower with the rapidity of a furnace
+    draught, sounded in the high and arched space, awful and terrific.
+    The falling masses of wood, and bells, sounded like the near
+    discharge of artillery, and were echoed back from the dark passages,
+    whose glomy shade, and hollow responses seemed mourning at the
+    funeral pile that burned so fiercely.  In one hour, the tower was
+    completely gutted, and masses of burning timber lay piled against the
+    south-west door.  The upper and under roof, composed principally of
+    fir timber, covering the nave, as far as the centre tower, had, by
+    this time, become fired, and burned with extraordinary rapidity.  The
+    firemen, by a well-managed direction of the water, prevented the
+    flames passing through the west windows of the centre tower, and
+    continued their exertions at that spot, until the whole of the roof
+    had fallen in, and lay, in the centre of the aisle, a sea of fire.
+
+    “The west doors had, now, become nearly burnt through, and planks
+    were brought to barricade them, and prevent the rushing of air to fan
+    the embers to flame, which might have communicated to the organ, and
+    thence, throughout the whole pile of buildings.
+
+    “At 1 o’clock, this morning, I again entered the Cathedral, and then
+    concluded there was no further danger of destruction.  The tower is
+    standing, also the walls and pillars of the nave; and, beyond that,
+    the building, I am happy to state, is saved.
+
+    “The fire is supposed to have originated from a clock maker, who has
+    been, for some time past, occupied in repairing the clock in that
+    tower, who might accidentally, have dropped a spark from a candle.”
+
+The repairs in 1829, when the Cathedral was fired by the fanatic, John
+Martin, cost £65,000, which was raised by subscription, and it was
+estimated that the cost of the present repairs would amount to about
+£20,000.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+I know of no other general topic of conversation in May, but, in June,
+there was one which set every one in the United Kingdom, and the whole
+civilized world, a talking.—THE QUEEN HAD BEEN SHOT AT!!!  A little after
+6 p.m. the Queen and Prince Albert left Buckingham Palace for their
+before-dinner drive, and had barely got one-third up Constitution Hill,
+when a young man, who had been walking backwards and forwards, as the
+carriage came near, and was nearly opposite him, turned round, and,
+drawing a pistol from his breast, fired at the carriage, which, however,
+went on its way.  The man then looked back, to see whether any person was
+standing near enough to prevent him, and drew another pistol, which he
+discharged at the carriage.  Prince Albert ordered the postillions to
+drive on, and they went as far as Hyde Park Corner, and thence to the
+Duchess of Kent’s mansion in Belgrave Square, and, after staying there
+some little time, drove to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen was
+received by crowds of her subjects, cheering vociferously.  To say that
+she was not affected by the incident would not be true, but she soon
+recovered from its effects.
+
+The person who shot at her was a little undersized boy (5ft. 4in.), about
+18, named Edward Oxford, a publican’s barman, out of work, and as “Satan
+finds work for idle hands to do,” this boy must needs buy two pistols,
+bullets, powder and caps, and begin practising shooting.  Whatever made
+it enter into his wicked little head to shoot at the Queen, no one knew,
+but he did, and was speedily in the hands of the police.  He was examined
+and re-examined, and finally tried at the Central Criminal Court on 9
+July, the trial lasting two days.  The defence was the plea of insanity,
+and, as no bullets could be found, the jury brought in a verdict of
+“Guilty, he being, at the time, insane”; and, in accordance with such
+verdict, the judge sentenced him to be imprisoned during Her Majesty’s
+pleasure.
+
+On the day after being shot at, the Queen and Prince Albert took their
+wonted drive in the Park, amidst the shouts of crowded thousands, and the
+next day, she, in State, received the congratulations of the Houses of
+Lords and Commons, the latter having the first audience.  At two o’clock,
+the state carriage of the Speaker entered the court, followed by 109
+carriages filled with members of the House of Commons; never before, it
+was said, was the Speaker followed by so numerous a _cortège_, on the
+occasion of presenting an address.  As soon as the carriages of the
+Commons had left the court, the procession of the Lords began to enter,
+the barons first, then the other peers, rising in rank to the royal
+dukes.  They wore all their stars and garters, and made a brave show.
+
+We get a glimpse of Oxford in prison in a paragraph of the _Times_, 28
+Feb., 1843, copied from a Sunday paper.
+
+    “As numberless strange and conflicting rumours have been propagated,
+    relative to the treatment experienced by Edward Oxford, in his place
+    of incarceration, the curiosity of the visitor on this head was,
+    naturally, great, especially as it is generally understood that those
+    who are favoured with permission to visit Bethlehem, are not allowed
+    to see Oxford.  This is not, however, the fact.  In a compartment of
+    the establishment, principally allotted to those who are supposed to
+    have committed heinous crimes in moments of madness, Edward Oxford is
+    confined.  He is not separated from the other unfortunate persons who
+    reside in that division of the building, but is allowed free
+    intercourse with them.  Among his comrades are Mr. Pierce, surgeon,
+    who shot his wife whilst labouring under a paroxysm of madness
+    produced by jealousy; and Captain Good, whose favourite phantasy is
+    the assumption of the attribute of Majesty.  There is, in the same
+    division of the establishment, a very diminutive man, who imagines
+    himself to be Lord John Russell.  He amuses himself, nearly all day
+    long, with knitting.  Captain Good is fond of smoking, and Pierce
+    hovers over the fireplace (a stove) all day.  Oxford diverts himself
+    with drawing and reading.  He told the visitor, who furnished us with
+    this account, that he had taught himself to read French with ease,
+    during his incarceration, but that he was unable to speak the
+    language, for want of an opportunity of studying the pronunciation.
+    He said that he was terribly tired of his sojourn at Bethlehem, and
+    that he wished he could obtain his liberty, even though he should be
+    placed under _surveillance_ during the remainder of his life.  The
+    visitor remarked that there was no such thing as _surveillance de
+    police_ in England.  To which Oxford replied that he was perfectly
+    acquainted with that fact; and that the condition upon which he thus
+    desired his liberty, was rather an imaginary one, than a strictly
+    legal and feasible one.  Upon another question being put to him, he
+    said he knew he had been placed in Bethlehem under an impression that
+    he was mad, but that he was, really, very far from being mad.  He
+    exhibited some of his drawings, which were uncommonly well executed,
+    and evinced a natural talent for the art.  There were a view of
+    Abbotsford, a horse’s head, a portrait of the Virgin Mary, and one or
+    two other designs, which were, really, most tastefully sketched and
+    shaded.  He appeared pleased when complimented on his proficiency in
+    the art of drawing, and observed that he was self-taught.  In
+    manners, he is modest, civil and unassuming, and certainly exhibits
+    not the slightest symptom of insanity.  We know that medical
+    jurisprudence admits that it is very difficult to determine the exact
+    line of demarcation where sound sense stops, and insanity commences;
+    but he, who has visited a receptacle for the insane, will speedily
+    observe the strange state and appearance of the eyes of those whose
+    intellects are unhinged.  This appearance cannot be mistaken either
+    in lucid or rabid intervals; it is still perceptible, although, of
+    course, in a greater or lesser degree.  Now, the visitor to
+    Bethlehem, on the occasion here refered to, particularly observed the
+    eyes of all the inmates; and those of one only showed not the
+    least—not the most remote symptoms of insanity.  This one individual
+    was Edward Oxford.  He appears in his conversation, his manners, his
+    countenance and his pursuits, as sane, collected, and intelligent as
+    possible.  Of course, the deed for which he is now in durance was not
+    touched upon; nor was any information relative to that subject sought
+    of the turnkeys, or keepers.  With respect to food, Oxford is not
+    treated one atom better than his fellow sufferers; the diet of the
+    inmates of the hospital is plentiful and good, but no favour is shown
+    to any particular individual, with regard either to quality, or
+    quantity.  Oxford appears to enjoy very excellent health; and he is
+    remarkably clean and neat in his person.”
+
+He was, afterwards, removed to Broadmoor, and I have been told, although
+I cannot vouch for the fact, that he was liberated some years ago, and
+sent to Australia.
+
+Early in July, we begin to hear of a higher style of farming than that
+previously in use, as we find the _Dumfries Courier_ advocating the use
+of nitrate of soda as a manure, but, yet, are cautious on the
+subject.—“An extensive trial of it will be necessary before any proper
+judgment can be pronounced.  It is, as yet, unknown whether its effects
+are lasting, and until this is ascertained, caution must be used.”
+
+Another thing, too, was just beginning to attract
+attention—Electro-metallurgy.  True it is that Wollaston applied the
+principle of the Voltaic pile to the deposition of one metal upon another
+in 1801, and it was further developed by Bessemer (1834), Jacobi and the
+Elkingtons in 1838, and Spencer in 1839, but for practical utility it was
+still in its infancy, and we can see how far it had advanced, in the
+following extract from a German Paper: “Munich, 22 July, 1840.—Much is at
+present said in the public papers respecting the imitations of medals,
+reliefs, etc., by means of a galvanic deposition of copper.  This art,
+called Galvano plastic, first discovered by Professor Jacobi of St.
+Petersburg, and brought to greater perfection by Mr. Spencer, of
+Liverpool, and by Professor Von Kebel, of Munich, may justly be classed
+as one of the most useful of modern inventions; and, from its great
+importance, its employment in technical operations must soon become
+general.  Indeed, some persons in England, perceiving the great influence
+which this invention is destined to have on manufacturing industry, are
+already applying it to the production of buttons, arabesques, and various
+ornaments in Copper.  Herr G. A. Muller, mechanician of Leipsic, has
+recently called attention to the application of Galvano plastic to
+typography.  He has, however, been, in some measure, anticipated by the
+experiments made in 1839, in Rosel’s printing office, in Munich; where,
+by following the methods of Jacobi and Spencer, the lines of copperplate
+were produced in relief.  Wood cuts were, also, converted into metallic
+plates, which, to say nothing of the advantage of the solidity of the
+metal, far exceeded the effect of the most perfect casting.  The
+experiments for making stereotype plates in copper have, also, been
+successful.  In short, the invention has now reached that stage which
+must secure for it the attention of all practical men.”
+
+Mulready’s postal wrapper having been killed by universal derision: in
+July was produced an envelope with an embossed head of the Queen thereon,
+and these could be bought until the close of her reign.
+
+Prince Louis Napoleon, previously to his ill-starred expedition to
+Boulogne, had left instructions for his furniture and jewellery to be
+sold; and sold they accordingly were by Christie and Manson on 21 Aug.,
+and Mr. Bernal and other _virtuosi_ went to the sale to see what
+Napoleonic relics they could pick up.  Among these were two silver cups,
+with the eagle and initial of Queen Hortense, £5 10/- and a casket of
+camei, formerly the property of the Empress Josephine, was divided into
+22 lots, one of which was a pair of earrings, the gift of Pius VI. to
+Josephine during the first campaign in Italy, in 1796, sold for £46 4/-,
+and the original marble bust of Napoleon, when Consul, dated 1804, by
+Canova, fetched £232 11/-.
+
+On 28 Aug. Prince Albert received the freedom of the City of London; and,
+on 11 Sep., he was made a Privy Councillor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+Lord Cardigan and the “Black bottle” case—Lord Cardigan’s duel with
+Lieut. Tuckett—Steam to India—Nelson Column—Mormonism—“The Boy
+Jones”—Napoleon’s body transferred to France.
+
+About this time the Earl of Cardigan made himself particularly
+conspicuous before the public, and the commencement of it was the famous
+“black bottle” question, and I well remember that that useful utensil
+was, for many years, called a “Cardigan.”  My Lord was Colonel of the
+11th Hussars, “Prince Albert’s Own,” and it so happened that, on the 18th
+May, 1840, when the Inspecting Officer dined with the mess, Captain
+Reynolds of “Ours” ordered, at mess, a bottle of Moselle, which, instead
+of being decanted, was served in its original envelope, a proceeding
+which gave offence to the aristocratic taste of the Colonel, and,
+according to a statement which was published in many newspapers:
+
+    “The following morning Capt. Jones delivered the following message to
+    Capt. Reynolds: ‘The Colonel has desired me, as president of the mess
+    committee, to tell you that you were wrong in having a black bottle
+    placed on the table, at a great dinner like last night, as the mess
+    should be conducted like a gentleman’s table, and not like a tavern,
+    or pothouse,’ or words to that effect.  Capt. Reynolds received the
+    message with astonishment, but without remark, and, subsequently,
+    waited on the Earl of Cardigan, and complained of it, but received no
+    satisfactory answer.
+
+    “A short time afterwards, Capt. Reynolds met Capt. Jones in the
+    mess-room, and, in the presence of two officers, said to him:
+    ‘Captain Jones, I wish to speak to you about the message you brought
+    me this morning.  In the first place, I do not think you were
+    justified in giving it at all; as a brother captain, having no
+    possible control over me, it would have been better taste if you had
+    declined to deliver it.’  He replied: ‘I received it from the
+    Commanding Officer, and, as such, I gave it; and, if you refuse to
+    receive it from me, I shall report it.’  Capt. Reynolds replied: ‘Do
+    not misunderstand me, Captain Jones; I have received, and do receive
+    it; but the message was an offensive one; and I tell you, once for
+    all, that, in future, I will not allow you, or any man, to bring me
+    offensive messages.’  Capt. Jones said: ‘If I am ordered to give a
+    message, I shall give it.’  Capt. Reynolds said: ‘Well, you may do as
+    you please; but if you bring me improper messages, you must take the
+    consequences.’  Capt. Jones replied, ‘he should certainly do so,’ and
+    left the room.
+
+    “The two captains who were present (one not an officer of the
+    regiment) proved that Capt. Reynolds’ manner was quiet and
+    inoffensive.  Capt. Jones reported the conversation; and, soon
+    afterwards, Capt. Reynolds was summoned to the orderly room; where,
+    in presence of Major Jenkins, the adjutant, and Capt. Jones, Lord
+    Cardigan thus addressed Capt. Reynolds, in no very agreeable tone, or
+    manner: ‘If you cannot behave quietly, Sir, why don’t you leave the
+    regiment?  This is just the way with you Indian officers; you think
+    you know everything; but I tell you, Sir, that you neither know your
+    duty, nor discipline.  Oh, yes, you do know your duty, I believe, but
+    you have no idea whatever of discipline, and do not, at all, justify
+    my recommendation.’  Capt. Reynolds remained silent; when Lord
+    Cardigan added, ‘Well, I put you in arrest.’
+
+    “Capt. Jones then offered Capt. Reynolds his hand, upon which, Capt.
+    Reynolds, turning towards him, said, ‘No, Capt. Jones, I will not
+    shake hands with you; nothing has passed which renders it necessary.
+    I have no quarrel with you, and I deny having insulted you, and see
+    no reason why I should shake hands with you, or the contrary.’
+
+    “Lord Cardigan said, ‘But I say you have insulted Capt. Jones.’
+    Capt. Reynolds quietly replied, ‘I have not, my Lord’; upon which
+    Lord Cardigan said, ‘Well, I put you under arrest, and shall report
+    the matter to the Horse Guards.’  Capt. Reynolds said, ‘I am sorry
+    for it;’ and retired.
+
+    “The matter was reported to the Horse Guards, after Capt. Reynolds
+    had been in close arrest three days.  Lord Hill sent a memorandum,
+    recommending Capt. Reynolds to acknowledge the impropriety of his
+    conduct towards Lord Cardigan, and to declare his readiness to resume
+    friendly intercourse with Capt. Jones.  This recommendation Capt.
+    Reynolds obeyed; but he still refused to shake hands with Capt.
+    Jones, which would seem to imply a previous quarrel, or to drink wine
+    with him within any specified time.
+
+                                  * * * * *
+
+    “On the 9th of June, Gen. Sleigh went to Canterbury; had all the
+    officers of the regiment brought before him, and, without any
+    investigation, read to them a letter from Headquarters, condemning
+    Capt. Reynolds’s conduct in very strong language; approving of that
+    of Lord Cardigan, throughout, in every particular, stigmatizing Capt.
+    Reynolds’s motives as pernicious and vindictive, and refusing a
+    court-martial, because many things would be brought to light which
+    would not be for the good of the Service.
+
+    “Capt. Reynolds then requested that he might be brought to a
+    court-martial for the offences for which he had now been charged.
+    This was also refused, as it was stated Lord Hill had determined it
+    should be considered as settled.  And, as if this was not enough,
+    Gen. Sleigh told Capt. Reynolds that he had forfeited the sympathy of
+    every officer of rank in the Service.
+
+    “Capt. Reynolds applied for copies of all letters referred to in this
+    statement, which are not given at length, and was refused them.”
+
+He still kept in the regiment, which, perhaps, was unwise on his part, as
+the sequel shows.  Early in September, an evening party was given by the
+Earl of Cardigan, to which, as usual, several officers of the regiment
+were invited.  In the course of the evening, a young lady casually
+observed, aloud, that she “did not see Capt. Reynolds there.”  The Earl
+of Cardigan, who happened to be near, heard the remark, and replied, “Oh,
+no; he is not one of my visitors.”  The words were uttered without any
+marked expression, and did not, at the time, attract particular
+attention.  They were, however, carried to Capt. Reynolds, who,
+conceiving that the expression was calculated to affect him as a
+gentleman, wrote a letter to the Earl of Cardigan, to know if the
+expression had been used, and in what sense.  This letter remained
+unanswered, and the consequence was, that Capt. Reynolds, stung with this
+apparently further slight, was induced to send a second and a stronger
+letter, couched in terms which could bear no other interpretation than
+that of a challenge.
+
+On receiving this letter, the Earl of Cardigan consulted with his
+friends; and, after fairly considering the matter, it was determined to
+submit the letters with the whole of the circumstances connected with the
+case, to the consideration of the Colonel of the regiment, Prince Albert.
+The Prince, on receiving the papers, laid them before the
+Commander-in-Chief, Lord Hill, for his opinion thereon, when it was
+resolved, by the latter, to let the matter come fairly before the public,
+in the shape of a court-martial, which was, shortly afterwards, held at
+Brighton.  This court confined itself chiefly to the consideration of the
+second letter written by Capt. Reynolds, which they conceived to be
+couched in a spirit so insubordinate, ungentlemanly, and insolent, as to
+afford the writer no sort of excuse, or palliation for his conduct, on
+the alleged grounds of previous provocation on the part of his commanding
+officer, and they adjudged that Capt. Reynolds should be cashiered (Oct.
+20).
+
+It certainly was not from a wish not to fight a duel that Lord Cardigan
+thus acted with regard to Capt. Reynolds (and no one who remembers his
+heading the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, can question his
+courage), for he challenged and fought with Lieut. Tuckett, on 12th Sep.;
+a duel which was thus reported in the papers:
+
+In consequence of the Earl of Cardigan having ascertained that certain
+letters published recently in the _Morning Chronicle_, reflecting, as his
+lordship supposed, on his character as an officer and a gentleman, were
+written by Lieut. Tuckett, late of the same regiment (11th Hussars), the
+noble lord sent him, through Captain Douglas, of the 11th, a challenge,
+which was at once accepted, and Capt. Wainwright (half-pay) was the
+friend selected by Mr. Tuckett to arrange the preliminaries.  An apology
+was demanded by the noble lord, to which the reply was, that if he would
+deny the allegations contained in the letters referred to, it should be
+given.  Lord Cardigan declared that certain portions of those letters
+were true, but that the greater part were calumnies.  On this, the
+apology was refused, and a meeting was the consequence.  It took place on
+the afternoon of the 12th Sep., on Wimbledon Common.  The first shot was
+ineffectual, on both sides; but, on the second fire, Mr. Tuckett received
+his adversary’s ball in the back part of the lower ribs, which traversed
+round to the spine.  The ball was extracted, and Mr. Tuckett, after a
+time, recovered.
+
+Subsequently, warrants were issued, and Lord Cardigan and his second were
+brought before the Bench of Surrey Magistrates, at Wandsworth; and after
+several examinations, Lord Cardigan was committed for trial on the charge
+of “Shooting at Capt. H. Tuckett with a pistol, with intent to murder, or
+do him some bodily harm”; and his second, for aiding and abetting him.
+The charge was laid under “An Act to amend the Laws relating to Offences
+against the Person” (1 Vic., c. 85, s. 3), which makes the offence set
+forth in the charge, a felony, punishable, at the discretion of the
+Court, with transportation beyond the seas, for the term of his, or her,
+natural life, or for any term not less than fifteen years, or to be
+imprisoned for any term not exceeding three years.
+
+He was tried in the House of Lords, on 16 Feb., 1841, by his peers, and
+the case against him broke down through a technicality.  His counsel, Sir
+William Follett, pointed out that the prosecution had failed in proving a
+material part of their case, inasmuch as no evidence had been given that
+Captain Harvey Garnett Phipps Tuckett was the person alleged to have been
+on Wimbledon Common on the 12th September last, and whose card only bore
+the name of Captain Harvey Tuckett.  The peers present returned a verdict
+of “Not guilty,” with the exception of the Duke of Cleveland, who added
+“Not guilty, legally.”
+
+The use of steam at sea was beginning to assert itself.  It was only two
+years since, that I had to chronicle the voyages of the _Sirius_ and the
+_Great Western_ across the Atlantic—now we have the first steamship to
+India, sailing on 25 Sep.  She was called _The India_, and was 1,200 tons
+and nearly 400 horse-power.  She sailed for Calcutta, calling at the Cape
+of Good Hope, where she was to stop five days.  It was expected that she
+would complete her voyage, including stoppages, within 75 days.
+
+On 30 Sep. the foundation stone of the Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square
+was laid, without ceremony.  It was a large block of Dartmoor granite,
+weighing 14 tons; and, on 16 Oct. the tenders for building the new Royal
+Exchange were settled.  They varied very considerably, and the contract
+was given to the lowest, that of Messrs. Webb, of Clerkenwell, whose
+tender was £2,000 under the architect’s estimate.
+
+About this time we begin to hear of Mormonism in England; not that it was
+absolutely new, for, on 20 July, 1837, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde,
+Willard Richards, Joseph Fielding and others, landed at Liverpool, on the
+first mission sent out by the Mormons.  Three days after landing they
+began preaching at Preston, and met with such remarkable success that,
+within the next eight months, at the expiration of which time, Kimball
+and Hyde returned to America, they had converted and baptised about 2,000
+people.  But the sect was uncommon, as we may see from the following
+extract from the _Leeds Times_, copied into the _Times_ of 31 Oct.:
+
+    “A NEW SECT.—One of the most recent developments of fanaticism is the
+    appearance of a new sect, in different parts of England, entitled
+    _Latter Day Saints_.  We believe that it made its first appearance in
+    Hertfordshire and Leicestershire, from which counties great numbers
+    of its members have lately emigrated to the United States.  The sect
+    has extended to Lancashire and Yorkshire; and, by the labours of its
+    preachers, is now travelling northward into Durham and
+    Northumberland.  The _Latter Day Saints_ assume to do many
+    extraordinary things.  Among other accomplishments peculiar to those
+    who believe in the new doctrines, they are declared to possess the
+    power of casting out devils, or curing the sick by laying hands on
+    them, of resisting the operation of the deadliest poisons, of
+    speaking with new tongues, and of working miracles of various kinds.
+    They state that no ministers, now on earth, preach the Gospel, but
+    themselves, and that, only to them have the supernatural gifts of the
+    Church been vouchsafed.  The Kingdom of God, they say, is only open
+    to those who have been baptised by immersion.  In addition to the
+    Bible, they state they are in possession of another work, of equal
+    authority, entitled _The Book of Mormon_, the original of which was
+    found engraved on brass plates, in the central land of America.
+    Finally, they consider this is the last generation of mankind, and
+    that they have been sent into the world, expressly to prepare the way
+    for the Son of Man!”
+
+Has my reader forgotten THE BOY JONES?  He turns up again in this
+chronicle, for, on Wednesday, the 2nd of December, the inmates of
+Buckingham Palace were, shortly after midnight, aroused by an alarm being
+given that a stranger had been discovered under the sofa in Her Majesty’s
+dressing-room, and the officers of the household were quickly on the
+alert.  It was soon ascertained that the alarm was not without
+foundation, and the daring intruder was immediately secured, and safely
+handed over to the tender mercies of the police.  The report of the
+occurrence spread very rapidly, and created the most lively interest in
+London, as it was feared that the consequent alarm might be attended with
+the most dangerous effects to the health of the Queen, who had been
+confined only eleven days previously.  Happily, neither mother, nor child
+suffered in any way.
+
+The facts, as far as can be gathered—the examination being a private one,
+conducted by the Privy Council—seem to have been as follows: Shortly
+after midnight, one of Her Majesty’s pages, accompanied by other
+domestics of the Royal household, was summoned into Her Majesty’s
+dressing-room, which adjoined the bed chamber in which Her Majesty’s
+accouchement had taken place, by Mrs. Lilly, the nurse, who thought she
+heard a noise.  A strict search was made; and, under the sofa on which
+Her Majesty had been sitting, only about two hours’ previously, they
+discovered a dirty, ill-looking fellow, who was immediately dragged from
+his hiding place, and given into custody.  The prisoner was searched, but
+nothing of a dangerous nature was found upon him, and the police, at
+once, recognised their captive as the Edward Jones, who had, two years
+previously, entered the palace in such a mysterious way.  He is described
+as being very short for his age, seventeen, and of a most repulsive
+appearance; but he was, apparently, unconscious of this defect, as he
+affected an air of great consequence, and repeatedly requested the police
+to address him in a becoming manner; also behaving with the greatest
+nonchalance at his examination before the Privy Council, the next day.
+
+His first version of the matter was this: On Monday night, the 30th of
+November, he scaled the wall of Buckingham Palace, about half-way up
+Constitution Hill; he then proceeded to the Palace, and gained an entry
+through one of the windows.  He had not, however, been long there, when
+he considered it unsafe for him to stay, as so many people were moving
+about; and he left by the same manner as he entered.  The next day,
+Tuesday, about nine o’clock in the evening, he again effected an entrance
+by the same means as before.  He then went on to state that he remained
+in the Palace the whole of Tuesday night, all Wednesday, and up to one
+o’clock on Thursday morning, when the inquisitive youth was captured.  He
+was not satisfied with this dull and prosaic account of his entry; but,
+on the following day, he tried to invent something marvellous, and
+alleged that he ascended the roof of the Palace, and got down the
+chimney; but there were no marks of soot on his person, and his first
+story was, doubtless, the correct one.
+
+The greatest mystery attending the affair was, how he could have found
+his way to the room adjoining that in which Her Majesty slept, without
+being observed.  The delinquent stated that, during the day, he secreted
+himself under different beds, and in cupboards, until, at length, he
+gained an entrance into the dressing room; he, moreover, alleged that he
+sat upon the throne, that he saw the Queen, and heard the Princess Royal
+cry, but his story was such a romance, that no reliance could be placed
+upon it.  He was extremely reticent as to the cause of his intrusion into
+the Palace, the only explanation which he vouchsafed, on being arrested,
+was, that he wanted to see what was going on in the Palace, that he might
+write about it, and, if discovered, he should be as well off as Oxford,
+who fared better in Bedlam, than he, Jones, did out of it.  Even the
+stern discipline of the treadmill, to which he was promptly consigned,
+failed to extract anything more out of him; his only remark, when
+interrogated, being that he had got into the scrape, and must do the best
+he could.
+
+His father stated that, in his belief, his unfortunate son was not of
+sound mind; but the medical evidence went to show that, though his head
+was of a most peculiar formation, he was not insane.  The Council,
+therefore, came to the decision that it would be better to inflict
+summary punishment, and he was committed to the House of Correction for
+three months, as a rogue and vagabond.
+
+If he is to be believed, he fared remarkably well whilst in his royal
+residence, as he said he helped himself to soup and other eatables from a
+room, which he called the “Cook’s Kitchen,” but no dependence whatever
+could be placed on his word.
+
+Prince Albert was taking leave of Her Majesty for the night, when the
+miscreant was discovered; and the Prince, hearing a noise proceeding from
+the adjoining apartment, opened the door, and ascertained the cause; but
+it was not made known to the Queen till the following day, so as to
+prevent any undue alarm on her part.
+
+It is needless to say that this event excited the greatest interest, and
+engrossed public attention, nothing else being talked of.  The punishment
+was considered far too light to deter a repetition of the offence, which
+opinion was subsequently justified.  Such an occurrence, of course, was
+considered fair material for the humourists of the day to exercise their
+wit upon, and there are many allusions to it in the _Age_ and _Satirist_
+of the period; but, as their remarks are not always conceived in the best
+taste, they are better left in the obscurity in which they now dwell.
+Perhaps, however, this little couplet from the _Satirist_ may be
+excepted:
+
+    “Now he in chains and in the prison garb is
+    Mourning the crime that couples Jones with darbies.” {151}
+
+It was Jones’s extraordinary powers of finding an entrance into the
+Palace that caused Samuel Rogers to declare that he must be a descendant
+of the illustrious In---i---go.
+
+On the 15 Dec. the remains of the Emperor Napoleon, which had been
+removed from St. Helena, were laid, with great pomp, into the tomb
+prepared for them at the Invalides, Paris; and, contrary to all
+expectation, there was no disturbance on the occasion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+Death of Scott, “the American Diver”—Prince Albert’s ducking—Monster
+cheese—“The Boy Jones”—“Tracts for the Times,” Tract XC—Earl of Cardigan
+flogs a soldier on Sunday—Dispute as to the discovery of Electric
+Telegraph—Sale of Shakspere autograph—The Census—Astley’s burnt—Behaviour
+of “gentlemen.”
+
+The first bit of gossip of this year was the tragic death of Sam Scott,
+“the American diver,” who was born at Philadelphia, and, at an early age,
+entered the American navy.  His extraordinary courage and prowess as a
+diver rendered him very popular, and, after quitting the naval service,
+he travelled about the Union exhibiting.  He, subsequently, visited
+Canada, and made some tremendous leaps from the banks of the St.
+Lawrence, and the lakes which intersect that country; but his _chef
+d’œuvre_ was leaping from a precipice below the Falls of Niagara, where,
+according to his own statement, he jumped the amazing distance of 595
+feet, into the water, which he accomplished without injury or
+inconvenience!
+
+He was performing in England in 1838, and came to London in the latter
+part of 1840; and we now hear of him as issuing a “Challenge to the World
+for 100 Guineas!  Monday next, Jan. 11, 1841, and during the week, Samuel
+Scott, the American diver, will run from Godfrey’s White Lion, Drury
+Lane, to Waterloo Bridge, and leap into the water, forty feet high from
+the bridge, and return back within the hour, every day during the week,
+between one and two o’clock.”  There were about 8,000 or 10,000 people
+assembled to see the feat, which was to be performed from a scaffolding
+overhanging the river.  Here he swung by a rope noose round his chin, and
+afterwards, with his head downwards and one of his feet in the noose.  He
+then again hung suspended by his chin, but the noose slipped, and he was
+hanged in sight of all that huge crowd.  This fatal accident created a
+great impression at the time.
+
+I do not know the Evening paper from which the following “small beer”
+chronicle is copied into the _Times_ of 12 Feb., but it purports to be an
+“authentic account” of an accident to Prince Albert: “It appears that His
+Royal Highness was walking in the Royal gardens, in company of Her
+Majesty, the only attendant present being the Hon. Miss Murray, one of
+the Maids of Honour in waiting upon the Queen.  It not being understood
+by Col. Bouverie and Lieut. Seymour that His Royal Highness intended to
+skate, they were not, as usual, in attendance on the Prince, who had left
+the Palace, with Her Majesty, without their knowledge.  After walking for
+a short time with the Queen, on the margin of the lake, His Royal
+Highness put on his skates, and left Her Majesty, who remained watching
+the movements of the Prince from the gardens.  He had not been on the ice
+more than two or three minutes, when, as he was proceeding at a rapid
+rate towards the spot where the Queen was standing, and had reached
+between three or four feet of the water’s edge, the ice suddenly broke,
+and, instantaneously he was immersed, head over ears, in the water.  His
+Royal Highness immediately rose to the surface, when Her Majesty, with
+great presence of mind, joined her hand to that of the Hon. Miss Murray
+(telling her to stand firm, and to betray no fear), and, extending her
+right hand to the Prince, dragged him to the shore.  Her Majesty
+manifested the greatest courage upon the occasion, and acted with the
+most intrepid coolness.  As soon as the Prince was safe on dry land, the
+Queen gave way to the natural emotions of joy and thankfulness at his
+providential escape.
+
+“The Prince then lost no time in proceeding to the Palace, where a warm
+bath was immediately prepared, and His Royal Highness, within an hour
+afterwards, was sufficiently well to receive the King of the Belgians,
+upon His Majesty’s arrival from Claremont.  The ice in the centre of the
+lake being nearly a foot in thickness, some surprise has been created
+that the accident should have occurred; but it appears that the keepers
+appointed to attend on the numerous and various aquatic birds which are
+preserved in the gardens of the palace, had broken the ice along the
+sides of the lake to enable them to take the water during the frost.
+These portions had again become slightly frozen over, since they were
+broken at an early part of the morning.  This was unknown to the Prince,
+or the Queen, and, hence, the accident occurred.  There was no person
+present, at the time, connected with the gardens, to point out his danger
+to His Royal Highness.  Yesterday morning, the Prince was suffering from
+the effects of a slight cold; but, beyond this, His Royal Highness has
+sustained no inconvenience.”
+
+On the 10th Feb. the Princess Royal was christened.
+
+On 19 Feb. the Queen had a monster cheese presented to her, “on which
+occasion, she was pleased to express her satisfaction.”  It was made from
+the morning’s milking of 737 cows, prepared by the labour of 50 dairy
+women, at West Pennard, Somersetshire, and it weighed 11 cwt.  It was
+octagon in shape, and its upper surface was decorated with the Royal
+Arms, surmounted with a wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks.
+Unfortunately, although it had been made over two years, it was not
+considered to be fit to eat for another eighteen months.
+
+_Ecce iterum_ the irrepressible BOY JONES!  Prison evidently had no
+terrors for him; for, no sooner was he liberated from Tothill Fields, on
+2 Mar., than he, almost immediately, set to work to repeat his former
+escapades.  On the day previous to his liberation, he was visited by Mr.
+Hall, a magistrate, who tried to persuade him to go to sea; but Jones
+made certain conditions which could not be acceded to, and he did not go.
+This gave an opportunity for the _Satirist_ to come out with the
+following appropriate lines:
+
+    “The impudent urchin, whom sure the devil owns,
+       And Government wants to send into the Navy;
+    Will not go to sea—and ’tis cunning of Jones,
+       Who, thus, may avoid his relation, Old Davey.”
+
+He was then delivered into the care of his parents, with strict
+injunctions to them to watch his actions; and, for some days, his conduct
+was unexceptionable; he frequently attended a Methodist chapel, and
+expressed his intention of joining a teetotal society.  But the charms of
+notoriety were too strong for him; and, again, he was drawn, as it were
+by a magnet, to Buckingham Palace.  Indeed, it possessed such attractions
+for him, that, when required to pledge himself, before leaving prison,
+not to visit the Palace again, he said he would not promise, as his
+curiosity was so great.
+
+On 15 March, shortly after 1 a.m., the sergeant of police on duty at the
+Palace imagined, as he was going along the Grand Hall, that he saw
+someone peeping through the glass door, and this turned out to be the
+case; for, on his approach, Jones ran up against him, and was, of course,
+immediately secured.  In consequence of his previous visits, two extra
+policemen had been appointed, whose duty it was, on alternate nights, to
+watch all the staircases and interior of the building, and it was owing
+to this arrangement that Master Jones was stopped early in his career, on
+this last occasion.
+
+Like most boys, Jones had a keen appreciation of a feast, all the more
+enjoyable because irregularly come by; and, when he was arrested, he was
+found to have been sitting at his ease in one of the royal apartments,
+regaling himself with some cold meat and potatoes, which he had conveyed
+upstairs in his handkerchief.  On being questioned how he obtained an
+entrance, his reply was, “the same way as before”; and he boasted,
+moreover, that he could, at any time he pleased, get into the palace; but
+he was extremely taciturn, and refused to satisfy curiosity, more
+particularly on this point.
+
+What he confessed at his examination by the Privy Council is not known,
+as the proceedings were in private, reporters being excluded, and the
+public were left in possession of only the above bare facts.  He
+persisted that the only motive for his intrusion was to hear the
+conversation at Court, and to write an account of it; but this plea of
+simplicity did not save him from a repetition of his old sentence of
+three months imprisonment in the House of Correction, with the
+uncomfortable addition, this time, of hard labour.  Perhaps the best
+punishment for this juvenile addition of Paul Pry would have been that
+suggested by the _Satirist_, in the following paragraph: “As the urchin
+Jones, in a letter to his father, stated that his reason for entering the
+Queen’s house was to ‘seek for noose, in order to rite a book,’ it is a
+matter of general regret that, instead of magnifying the affair into Home
+Office importance, the young rogue was not accommodated with a rope’s
+end.”  His visit, however, necessitated the appointment of three
+additional sentries at the palace.
+
+What became of him afterwards, nobody knows and nobody cares, but, one
+thing is certain, he was _persuaded_ to go to sea, and _Punch_ (born 17
+July) devotes a page (vol. i., p. 46) to “The Boy Jones’s Log,” a portion
+of which is as follows:
+
+    “This mellancholly reflexion threw me into a poeticle fitte, and
+    though I was werry uneasy in my _stommik_, and had nothing to rite on
+    but my _chest_, I threw off as follows in a few 2nds, and arterards
+    sung it to the well-none hair of ‘Willy Reilly’:—
+
+    “Oakum to me, {156} ye sailors bold,
+       Wot plows upon the sea;
+    To you I mean for to unfold
+       My mournful historie.
+    So pay attention to my song,
+       And quick-el-ly shall appear,
+    How innocently, all along,
+       I was in-weigle-ed here.
+
+    “One night, returnin home to bed,
+       I walk’d through Pim-li-co,
+    And, twigging of the Palass, sed,
+       ‘I’m _Jones_ and In-i-go.’
+    But afore I could get out, my boys,
+       Pollise-man 20A,
+    He caught me by the corderoys,
+       And lugged me right a-way.
+
+    “My cuss upon Lord Melbun, and
+       On Jonny Russ-all-so,
+    That forc’d me from my native land,
+       Across the waves to go-o-oh!
+    But all their spiteful arts is wain,
+       My spirit down to keep;
+    I hopes I’ll soon git back again,
+       To take another peep.”
+
+To follow Chronology compels me to turn suddenly from gay to grave
+topics.  In September, 1833, Newman commenced the _Tracts for the Times_,
+which, according to its advertisement, had the object of “contributing
+something towards the practical revival of doctrines (such as the
+Apostolic Succession, and the Holy Catholic Church) which, although held
+by the great divines of our Church, have become practically obsolete with
+the majority of her members.”  Keble and others joined him at once, as
+did Pusey as soon as the state of his health permitted, together with
+nearly all the advanced thinkers at Oxford.  These Tracts, issued from
+time to time, caused a mighty upheaval in the Church of England, which
+was known as the “Tractarian movement,” the effects of which have lasted
+to this day, as may be witnessed in the vast extension of Church
+building, the larger attendance and more devout behaviour of
+congregations, the brighter and more ornate services, which are so great
+a contrast to the general sleepiness both of pastor and flock which then
+existed.
+
+Some of these Tracts went farther than people were, as yet, able to
+follow, they were “strong meat for babes,” and the publication of Tract
+XC., by Newman, on the Thirty-nine Articles, brought things to a climax,
+and on 15 March, the Vice-Chancellor and the Heads of Houses met to
+censure the publication; they came to the resolution: “That modes of
+interpretation, such as are suggested in the said Tract, evading rather
+than explaining the sense of the Thirty-nine Articles, and reconciling
+subscription to them, with the adoption of errors which they were
+designed to counteract, defeat the object, and are inconsistent with the
+due observance of the Statutes of the University.”  They only expressed
+their opinion which was all they could do, but Newman avowed the
+authorship of the Tract, and whilst he was still unconvinced of his
+error, he wrote, “I am sincerely sorry for the trouble and anxiety I have
+given to the members of the Board, and I beg to return my thanks to them,
+for an act which, even though founded on misapprehension, may be made as
+profitable to myself, as it is religiously and charitably intended.”
+
+At this time, neither the writers of the Tracts, nor their readers, had
+any intention of severing themselves from the Church of England, their
+sole endeavours were to wake it from the torpor into which it had fallen;
+and, had there been any tolerance on the other side, such men as Newman,
+Manning, and others, would have been kept to the Church, for they merely
+enunciated doctrine and practices which are now almost universal.
+
+The old flint-lock Brown Bess was still in use in the Army, although
+percussion arms were introduced in 1840; but we read (13 Ap.) that “the
+exchange of flint for percussion cap guns to the Army, will cost, this
+year, £130,000.”
+
+That amiable gentleman, the Earl of Cardigan, was still making himself
+notorious.  This time it was flogging a soldier on Easter Sunday, after
+Church; and the very first question asked in the House of Commons, when
+it met after the Easter recess, was by Mr. Hume, relating to it.  Mr.
+Macauly replied that: “Whatever other imputations there might be cast on
+Lord Cardigan, a disposition for the infliction of corporal punishment
+was not one which could justly be thrown on him.  From inquiries which he
+had made, he had found that, since 1839, up to the recent case, there was
+not an instance of the infliction of corporal punishment in this
+regiment.  The charge, however, for which he was justly liable to public
+censure, was the immediate infliction of punishment, on a Sunday, after
+Divine Service.  Such a proceeding was clearly contrary to the religious
+feelings and habits of the people of this country, and could not be
+reconciled with either good sense, or good feeling.”  Lord Hill, the
+Commander-in-Chief, only felt “surprised” at Lord Cardigan’s conduct; but
+the _Times_ of 24 Apl. had a most scathing leading article on the
+subject, winding up with “we trust some independent member of the House
+of Commons will take an early opportunity of cutting the Gordian knot,
+and move an address to the Crown for the removal of the Earl of Cardigan
+from the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the 11th Hussars.” {159}
+
+The Electric Telegraph being now a _fait accompli_, the honour of the
+discovery was disputed between Cooke and Wheatstone—both claiming it.  It
+was settled by arbitration, the referees being Marc Isimbard Brunel, the
+eminent civil engineer, and Professor Daniell, the inventor of the
+Galvanic battery which bears his name, and their Solomonian judgment was
+as follows: “While Mr. Cooke is entitled to stand alone, as the gentleman
+to whom this country is indebted for having practically introduced and
+carried out the Electric Telegraph as a useful undertaking, promising to
+be a work of national importance; and Professor Wheatstone is
+acknowledged as the scientific man, whose profound and scientific
+researches had, already, prepared the public to receive it as a project
+capable of practical application; it is to the united labours of two
+gentlemen so well qualified for mutual assistance, that we must attribute
+the rapid progress which this important invention has made during the
+five years since they have been associated.”
+
+On 24 May was sold by auction an undoubtedly authentic signature of
+Shakspere, attached to a deed, thus described in the catalogue:
+“Shakspere’s autograph affixed to a deed of bargain and sale of a house
+purchased by him, in Blackfriars, from Henry Walker, dated March 10,
+1612, with the seals attached.”  The poet is described as “Wm.
+Shakspeare, of Stratforde upon Avon, in the countie of Warwick,
+gentleman”; and the premises thus: “All that dwelling house, or tenement,
+with the appurtenance, situate and being within the precinct, circuit and
+compasse of the late black ffryers, London, sometymes in the tenure of
+James Gardiner, Esqre., and since that time, in the tenure of John
+Ffortescue, gent, and now, or late being in the tenure or occupacon of
+one William Ireland, or of his assignee or assignees; abutting upon a
+streete leading down to Pudle Wharffe on the east part, right against the
+King’s Majesties Wardrobe; part of wch said tenement is erected over a
+great gate leading to a capitall messuage, wch sometyme was in the tenure
+or occupacon of the Right Honourable Henry now Earle of Northumberland.”
+The deed, at the commencement is stated to be “betweene Henry Walker,
+Citizen and Minstrell, of London, of thone partie, and William
+Shakspeare, of Stratforde upon Avon, in the countie of Warwick,
+gentleman; William Johnson, Citizen and Vintner, of London; John Jackson
+and John Hemyng, of London, of thother partie”; and that the property was
+absolutely sold to all four, “theire heires and assigns for ever.”  The
+deed is regularly entered in the Rolls’ Court Sir F. Madden (continues
+the catalogue) states in his “Observations on the autograph of
+Shakspere,” in Florio’s translation of _Montaigne’s Essays_, which was
+sold in 1838: “There are five acknowledged genuine signatures in
+existence, exclusive of the one which forms the subject of this
+communication.  Of these, three are attached to his will in the
+Prerogative Court, executed the 25th March, 1615–16; the fourth is
+written on a mortgage deed, dated 11 March, 1612–13; of a small estate
+purchased by Shakspere, of Henry Walker, in Blackfriars; and the fifth,
+on the counterpart of the deed of bargain and sale of the said property,
+dated 10 March, 1612–13; and, speaking of the last, Sir F. Madden says,
+at p. 14: ‘What has become of this document?’ a query which the
+auctioneers say is answered.  Of these six signatures, three to the will
+are in Doctors’ Commons (two of them much injured by the hands of the
+lovers of Shakspere); the one in _Montaigne’s Essays_ is now in the
+British Museum; what has become of the mortgage deed is quite unknown:
+this, then, is the only autograph of Shakspere ever likely to be offered
+for sale.”  After many and very animated biddings it was eventually
+knocked down to Mr. Elkins for £165 15s.  These two deeds are now in safe
+keeping, one being in the British Museum, the other belonging to the
+Corporation of the City of London.  The authenticity of the signature in
+_Montaigne’s Essays_ is open to discussion.  At the same sale was sold
+“the Shakspere Cup,” made from the mulberry tree said to have been
+planted by Shakspere, carved on the sides with a medallion of Shakspere,
+and his Coat of Arms.  This was for nearly 30 years in the possession of
+Munden, the actor, and it realised £21.  In the British Museum is a
+beautifully-carved casket, made of the same wood, which, together with
+the freedom of Stratford-on-Avon, was given to Garrick by the Corporation
+of the town in 1769.
+
+The decennial Census, which began in 1801, was, according to the Act 3
+and 4 Vic., c. 29, taken of the number of individuals who slept in the
+respective houses in each parish, throughout England and Wales, on the
+night of Sunday, 6 June.  Scotland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of
+Man were also taken, but Ireland was not; and the following return
+includes only such part of the Army, Navy, and Merchant Seamen, as were,
+at the time of the Census, within the Kingdom on shore:
+
+                           Males.         Females.         Total.
+England                     7,321,875       7,673,633       14,995,508
+Wales                         447,533         463,788          911,321
+Persons ascertained             4,003             893            4,896
+to have been
+travelling by
+railroads and canals
+on night of 6 June
+Scotland                    1,241,276       1,379,334        2,620,610
+Islands in the                 57,598          66,481          124,079
+British Seas
+                                                Total       18,656,414
+
+On 8 June, Astley’s Amphitheatre was burnt down, one life being
+sacrificed, and causing a monetary loss of over £30,000.  This calamity
+so affected the proprietor, Mr. Ducrow, that he lost his reason, and died
+soon after, on 28 Jan., 1842.
+
+Here is another little story of the behaviour of gentlemen in those days,
+copied from the _Times_, 11 June:
+
+    “WINDSOR, 10 June.  Yesterday evening there was a large party
+    consisting of the officers of the 60th Rifles, and several of the 1st
+    Life Guards, at the mess of the infantry barracks, in Sheet Street,
+    in consequence of several promotions which have recently taken place
+    in the Rifles, occasioned by vacancies caused by the decease of the
+    Hon. Col. Molyneux.  The festivities of the evening were kept up till
+    past 12 o’clock, when a large party sallied forth for ‘a spree.’
+    They first proceeded to the extensive canvas amphitheatre of Mr. Van
+    Amburgh, in the Bachelor’s Acre, but, there, they were, fortunately,
+    kept at bay by several of Mr. Van Amburgh’s men, before they had
+    committed any excesses.  The knockers, bell handles and brass plates
+    from several doors in the neighbourhood were then wrenched off, and
+    the whole party then made for a well-known gambling house (which has
+    been tolerated in this town for upwards of twelve months), at No. 4,
+    Augusta Place, where they were immediately admitted.  What took place
+    there before the row commenced, or what was the occasion of the havoc
+    and destruction which almost immediately afterwards ensued, I have
+    not been able to ascertain.  However, they had not been there more
+    than half an hour before there was a scene of the greatest confusion
+    throughout the whole house, causing alarm and terror, from the noise
+    which was created, around the entire neighbourhood.  The police were
+    sent for soon after 1 o’clock, previously to which a portion of the
+    60th Rifles, who were on guard at the Castle, had been despatched to
+    the scene of action, and whom the police met on their return to the
+    guard room.  Upon the Superintendent, Sergeant and several policemen
+    entering the house (which they found empty, with the exception of one
+    of the gamblers, who, it appeared, had secreted himself) they found
+    scarcely one piece of furniture left whole.  The green baize was torn
+    from the billiard and other tables, the doors of the different rooms
+    broken down, the windows, with the sashes and frames, broken to
+    pieces; all the lamps smashed, chairs and tables dislocated, the
+    fanlight over the front door gone, and the balustrades upon the
+    stairs torn away.  At this time, the whole of the party had gone off;
+    and, as for the proprietors of the gaming house, they were glad to
+    effect their escape, across the garden, into a large piece of waste
+    land, called the Lammas.  It was expected that some complaint would
+    have been lodged before the borough magistrates, to-day, at the Town
+    Hall; but no application was made to the Bench on the subject during
+    the hours of business.  A large brass plate, which had been wrenched
+    from a garden gate, was found, this morning, by the police, in the
+    infantry barracks, where there are sundry knockers and bell handles
+    awaiting to be identified and returned to their respective owners.”
+    {163}
+
+The following incident is very little known, and is copied from the
+_Salopian Journal_ of 3 July: “It is known to many of our readers that
+the Whig-Radical faction in Shrewsbury, despairing (as the event has
+proved) of winning the election by fair and honest means, have resorted
+to the infamous trick of publishing anonymous slanders against Mr.
+Disraeli, one of the Tory Candidates.  He rebutted the slanders so
+promptly and effectually, that, at last, the opposite party resolved to
+try the desperate expedient of publishing them with a name attached, as a
+sort of guarantee.  Accordingly, a letter, repeating these slanders,
+“with additions,” appeared in the _Shrewsbury Chronicle_ on Friday,
+signed by a barrister, who had been employed by the Radical candidates to
+manage their part of the contest.  Mr. Disraeli, without any loss of
+time, issued a handbill commenting on conduct which appears to us at once
+ungentlemanly and unprofessional, and plainly designated the barrister’s
+statements as ‘utterly false.’  This handbill appeared early in the
+forenoon of Friday, and, at an advanced hour of the afternoon, a
+gentleman waited upon Mr. Disraeli with a hostile message from his
+calumniator.  He found Mr. Disraeli in company with his lady, and
+communicated that he had business of importance to settle with him.  A
+challenge from the barrister was then handed to Mr. Disraeli.  About an
+hour afterwards, Mr. Jonathan Sheppard having learnt that such a
+transaction had taken place—and it is certain that the information had
+not come from the challenged party—waited upon the Mayor, and, upon his
+information, our worthy Chief Magistrate called upon both parties to
+enter into recognizances to keep the peace.  How far Mr. Disraeli would
+have been justified in meeting a person who had acted as the barrister
+had acted, is a question which need not be discussed here.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+Story of an Irish informer—Steam Cars—Sale of Vauxhall Gardens—First
+Jewish Baronet—New Railways opened—High tide—Fire at the Tower—Birth of
+Prince of Wales—His patent as such—The Thames at length
+tunnelled—Antiquities found in Royal Exchange.
+
+We have known something about Irish crime, but the following true tale
+takes a lot of beating.  On the last day of the Clonmel Assizes, in July,
+Judge Torrens heard a case of arson, in which the prisoners, who were
+four in number, were all acquitted, after a trial which lasted eight
+hours.
+
+The principal witness for the prosecution was an approver, named Lysaght;
+and, in all the annals of informers, it would be extremely difficult to
+find a parallel to this same Lysaght.  Indeed, the admission by the Crown
+of the testimony of such a miscreant, in the matter of life or death,
+appears to be highly reprehensible, as the following abstract of his
+evidence will plainly evince:
+
+    John Lysaght examined: I remember the time when Walsh’s house was
+    burnt.  Anthony Ryan came to me before the house was burned to borrow
+    a gun.  I brought it to him on a Monday night, and he told me to come
+    with him to McCarthy’s house, who wanted to see me.  I went to
+    McCarthy’s, and near his place was an old house, in which some of our
+    party were assembled.  McCarthy brought some bread and spirits, and
+    we took share of it.  McCarthy asked me if I would go with the men to
+    frighten Walsh, and burn the house.  I promised to do so, and he then
+    furnished us with powder and ball; we went down to the river side,
+    and McCarthy gave his pistols and 7/6 in money to Anthony Ryan.  He
+    gave me some powder, flax, and something like saltpetre, and showed
+    me, by putting some powder into the pan, and snapping it, how the
+    flax was to be lighted.  McCarthy then parted with us, and we, after
+    eating the bread and meat, went to Walsh’s.  I lighted the tow, and
+    Paddy Ryan put the fire into the roof.  I and two of the party then
+    went and stood sentry near the road.  After a time, I heard a noise,
+    and ran back to give an alarm.  We then left, and went by Toom
+    homewards, and separated near Marshall’s gate; this was about three
+    or four in the morning.  I and Paddy Ryan had shot guns, Ned Ryan had
+    a long one, Darby Ryan a bayonet on a pole, and the two Ryans had
+    McCarthy’s pistols.  We left the house after it was in flames.  I
+    knew a man named Bryan Noonan; he is dead.
+
+    Judge Torrens: Was it you murdered Noonan?
+
+    Witness: No.  I joined in it.
+
+    Mr. Hatchell: How many men did you murder before this?
+
+    Witness: None.
+
+    You say it was Anthony Ryan went to you to get the gun?—It was.
+
+    He has, since, been transported?—Yes.
+
+    You went with the party to the burning for the love of
+    amusement?—They induced me to go with them, but did not force me; I
+    was not very unwilling to go after getting the liquor; but, when I
+    brought the gun, had no such intention.
+
+    Did you load the gun before you went out?—I did.
+
+    Had you liberty to carry a gun?—Yes, from a magistrate, Mr. Coates,
+    who is since dead.
+
+    Were you ever tried before you committed the murder on Noonan?—Indeed
+    I was; I was tried before, for posting a threatening notice, but it
+    was no such thing.
+
+    Were you not sentenced to be transported?—I was.
+
+    Did you not fire shots at the same time?—Yes.
+
+    Judge Torrens: And the reward you gave the Government for bringing
+    you back was murdering Noonan
+
+    Mr. Hatchell: Was not your brother Caravat tried?—Yes.
+
+    You say you were only present at the murder of Noonan; now, was it
+    not you who knocked down the unfortunate man with the butt-end of a
+    blunderbuss?—Yes, the very first.  (Sensation.)
+
+    And you don’t call that murdering the man?—We were all murdering him.
+
+    Were you not one of the men who carried him into the ditch to hide
+    the body?—I was.
+
+    Where is your brother, the Caravat?—I don’t know.
+
+    Was he at the burning of Walsh’s house?—No.
+
+    Did you know Leonard, the smith?—I did.
+
+    Did you see him killed?—I saw him struck, but was not looking on at
+    his killing.
+
+    Did you give him a blow then?—I did not strike a blow at the man.
+
+    Did you give a blow that day?—Yes, when myself was struck.
+
+    Do you remember Wat Hayes?—Yes.
+
+    You attacked him, but he shot you off?—No, he did not.
+
+    Was not one of your companions shot by Mr. Hayes?—No, but a man near
+    me.
+
+    Now, tell me, did he not kill one of your friends?—Oh, he had a party
+    against us, and waylaid us.
+
+    Did you remember Jemmy Hughes, who was killed with a hatchet?—I did.
+
+    Were you not looking at his murder?—Oh, no; he was married to my
+    first cousin.
+
+    Were you not taxed with the murder?—The whole country knew who was in
+    that affair.
+
+    You recollect David Hickey, who was killed at Bilboa?—I was in the
+    fair.
+
+    You were of the party?—I was looking at him.
+
+    That was your third murder.
+
+    A Juror: His fifth murder.
+
+    Did you rob Michael Rogers?—No, but I got the course of law, and was
+    acquitted.
+
+    You knew Mick Griffin, Lord Stradbroke’s herd?—I heard he was shot.
+
+    Was your brother Caravat accused of this business?—No, I never heard
+    of it.
+
+    Did you not say you would put a rope about McCarthy’s neck?—I did
+    not.  I remember when Kennedy was put out of possession.  McCarthy’s
+    cattle and premises were burned after this, but the country say it
+    was himself did it.  I never asked a farm of Lord Stradbroke, but my
+    father or brothers might.  I never heard that McCarthy prevented us
+    getting the farm, on the ground of our being so bad.
+
+    Do you remember you and your uncle carrying away a woman?—I do.
+
+    Your uncle was transported?—He was.
+
+    So you have been guilty of one abduction, five murders, and one
+    burning; what else did you do?  Would you suggest any other crime in
+    the catalogue, of which you were not guilty?
+
+    Judge Torrens: Did you commit a rape?—No.
+
+    Mr. Hatchell: Were any of your brothers convicted of a rape?—Yes.
+
+    Were you not charged with holding the unfortunate woman while your
+    brother committed the rape?—No, but another brother was.
+
+    Judge Torrens: Did you steal cattle?—No.
+
+    Mr. Hatchell: That would be too shabby an offence.  When you came to
+    Walsh’s house, you lifted one of the Ryans up in the roof?—Yes.
+
+    And you lit the fire?—I did.
+
+    Did you know there were women in the house?—I partly guessed there
+    were.
+
+    Did you mind how many innocent people might have been burned?—I did
+    not care.  (Great sensation.)
+
+    Judge and Counsel, with great disgust, ordered the wretch off the
+    table.
+
+In these days of Motor Cars, any gossip about their progenitors must be
+of interest.  On 7 Aug., a steam carriage, carrying 16 persons, belonging
+to the General Steam Company, was tried between the York and Albany,
+Regent’s Park, and the Manor House at Tottenham—i.e., along the Camden
+Road to Finsbury Park—doing the distance in rather less than
+half-an-hour.  Another ran on 13 Sep. from Deptford to Sevenoaks, about
+21 miles, in 2 hours 37 minutes, but there were small accidents by the
+way.  Later on in the month the first-named carriage performed about
+Windsor, Frogmore and Dachet, and frequently reached a speed of 18 to 20
+miles an hour; and on Oct. 1 it was shown to the Queen and Prince Albert,
+the latter expressing himself highly pleased with it.  It then only did
+16 miles an hour.
+
+On 9 Sep. Vauxhall Gardens, which had been a place of amusement since the
+time of Charles I., were sold for £20,000.  In _Punch_ of 14 Aug. we find
+a sad account of a last visit:
+
+    “Impelled by a sense of duty, we wended our way to the ‘Royal
+    property,’ {169a} to take a last look at the long expiring gardens.
+    It was a wet night—the lamps burnt dimly—the military band played in
+    the minor key—the waiters stalked about with so silent, melancholy a
+    tread, that we took their towels for pocket handkerchiefs; the
+    concert in the open _rain_ went off tamely—dirge-like, in spite of
+    the ‘Siege of Acre,’ which was described in a set of quadrilles,
+    embellished with blue fire and maroons, and adorned with a dozen
+    double drums, thumped at intervals, like death notes, in various
+    parts of the doomed gardens.  The _divertissement_ was anything but
+    diverting, when we reflected upon the impending fate of the
+    ‘Rotunda,’ in which it was performed.
+
+    “No such damp was, however, thrown over the evolutions of ‘Ducrow’s
+    beautiful horses and equestrian _artistes_,’ including the ‘new grand
+    _entrée_ and calvacade of Amazons.’  They had no sympathy with the
+    decline and fall of the _Simpsonian_ {169b} empire.  They were
+    strangers, interlopers, called in, like mutes and feathers, to grace
+    the ‘funeral show,’ to give a more graceful flourish to the final
+    exit.  The horses pawed the sawdust, evidently unconscious that the
+    earth it covered would soon be ‘let on lease for building ground’;
+    the riders seemed in the hey-day of their equestrian triumph.  Let
+    them, however, derive from the fate of Vauxhall a deep, a fearful
+    lesson!—though we shudder as we write, it shall not be said that
+    destruction came upon them unawares—that no warning voice had been
+    raised—that even the squeak of _Punch_ was silent!  Let them not
+    sneer, and call us superstitious—we do _not_ give credence to
+    supernatural agency as a fixed and general principle; but we did
+    believe in Simpson, and stake our professional reputation upon
+    Widdicomb! {170a}
+
+    “That Vauxhall Gardens were under the special protection of, that
+    they drew the very breath of their attractiveness from, the
+    ceremonial Simpson, who can deny?  When he flitted from walk to walk,
+    from box to box, and welcomed everybody to the ‘Royal property,’
+    right royally did things go on!  Who would _then_ have dreamt that
+    the illustrious George {170b}—he of the Piazza—would ever be
+    ‘honoured with instructions to sell’? that his eulogistic pen would
+    be employed in giving the puff superlative to the Elysian haunts of
+    quondam fashion—in other words—painting the lily-gilding refined
+    gold?  But, alas!  Simpson, the tutelar deity, departed (‘died,’ some
+    say, but we don’t believe it), and, at the moment he made his last
+    bow, Vauxhall ought to have been closed; it was madness—the madness
+    which will call us, peradventure, superstitious—which kept the gates
+    open when Simpson’s career closed—it was an anomaly, for, like Love
+    and Heaven, Simpson was Vauxhall, and Vauxhall was Simpson!
+
+    “Let Ducrow reflect upon these things—we dare not speak out—but a
+    tutelar being watches over, and giveth vitality to his arena—his ring
+    is, he may rely upon it, a fairy one—while _that_ mysterious being
+    dances and prances in it, all will go well; his horses will not
+    stumble, never will his clowns forget a syllable of their antiquated
+    jokes.  Oh! let him, then, whilst seriously reflecting upon Simpson
+    and the fate of Vauxhall, give good heed unto the Methuselah, who
+    hath already passed his second centenary in the circle!
+
+    “These were our awful reflections while viewing the scenes in the
+    circle, very properly constructed in the Rotunda.  They overpowered
+    us—we dared not stay to see the fireworks, ‘in the midst of which
+    Signora Rossini was to make her terrific ascent and descent on a rope
+    three hundred feet high.’  She _might_ have been the sprite of Madame
+    Saqui; {171} in fact, the ‘Vauxhall Papers,’ published in the
+    gardens, put forth a legend which favours such a dreadful
+    supposition.  We refer our readers to them—they are only sixpence
+    apiece.
+
+    “Of course, the gardens were full, in spite of the weather; for what
+    must be the callousness of that man who could let _the_ Gardens pass
+    under the hammer of George Robins, without bidding them an
+    affectionate farewell?  Good gracious! we can hardly believe such
+    insensibility does exist.  Hasten then, dear readers, as you would
+    fly to catch the expiring sigh of a fine old boon companion—hasten to
+    take your parting slice of ham, your last bowl of arrack—even now,
+    while the great auctioneer says ‘going.’”
+
+On 24 August Sir J. L. Goldsmid was made a Baronet, and was the first
+Jewish gentleman who ever received that title.  Perhaps it is not
+generally known that an honour, not much inferior, had, once, very nearly
+fallen to the lot of a brother Israelite.  At one of those festive
+meetings at Carlton House, in which George IV. sometimes allowed a few of
+his most favoured subjects to participate, Mr. Braham was introduced to
+sing his then newly-composed song, “A Bumper of Burgundy,” when the
+gratified monarch, rising from his chair, was, with difficulty,
+restrained from conferring immediate knighthood on the flattered
+musician.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Three well-known railways were opened this year; the Great Western, from
+London to Bristol, on 30 June; the London and Blackwall, on 2 Aug.; and
+the London and Brighton, on 21 Sep.
+
+On 18 Oct. was a remarkably high tide in the Thames, which did an immense
+amount of damage.  This, and another event were celebrated in a
+contemporary ballad, beginning:
+
+    “There’s lately been a great high tide,
+       Nor can it be surprising,
+    When everything is getting dear,
+       That water should be rising,”
+
+and after dealing with that event in a very witty manner, it went on:
+
+    “The Tower of London, envying
+       Father Thames’s notoriety,
+    Resolved to have a ‘flare up’
+       And be talked of in society;
+    Ten thousand guns were fired at once,
+       With very few escapers,
+    But, though no one heard the great report,
+       There was one in the papers.”
+
+This terrible conflagration was first noticed about half-past ten, on the
+night of 31 Oct., by a sentinel on duty on the terrace near the Jewel
+Office, whose attention was attracted to a glimmering light under the
+cupola of the Round, or Bowyer Tower—which was close to the Armoury, in
+which was deposited an immense amount of stores, such as muskets, etc.,
+and many priceless trophies of war.  When the sentinel found the light
+increased, he gave the alarm by firing his musket, and the whole of the
+garrison, officers and men, turned out; but the fire had got so great a
+hold that, before a sufficient supply of water could be obtained, the
+entire roof of the Armoury was in flames.
+
+Unfortunately, it was low tide in the Thames, and, although the
+fire-engines soon arrived, and there were the Garrison and 250 policemen
+to render assistance, the flames spread rapidly; so fast, indeed, that
+the only things then got out and saved, were the Duke of York’s sword and
+belt, and a beautiful Maltese gun.
+
+The grand staircase of this Armoury was considered one of the finest in
+Europe, and the following is a contemporary description of it.  “In a
+recess on the landing was a platform supported on eight brass six-pounder
+guns, taken at Waterloo, and which served as pillars.  On this was a
+splendid trophy, consisting of arms and weapons, ancient and modern,
+comprising nearly 200 varieties, and nearly all differing in form or
+pattern.  In the centre was a marble bust of William IV.  Upon the walls,
+at the sides, were two large stars, formed of swords, and their brass
+scabbards, bayonets and pistols, one representing the Star of the Garter,
+and the other of the Bath.  Also two figures in gilt suits of armour on
+ornamented pedestals.  The rails of the stairs and the cornice of the
+ceiling were ornamented with architectural figures, curiously formed with
+arms.  Below, upon pedestals, were two very striking groups, one
+representing a knight in gilt armour, preparing for action, attended by
+his esquire, who was in the act of buckling on his spurs, and a pikeman,
+with his 18 feet pike.  The other group was a knight in a handsome suit
+of bright armour, of the time of Elizabeth, in action, having seized a
+banner from the enemy, waving his followers on.  On each side of the
+entrance door was a knight in a suit of gilt armour, and two others,
+similarly clad, stood on brackets.  The whole of these were destroyed,
+with the exception of the Waterloo cannon.”
+
+The fire was soon perilously near to the Jewel Office, which was
+scorching hot—yet Mr. Swifte, the keeper of the jewels, saved the whole
+of the Regalia, down to the minutest article, and was earnestly begged to
+retire and leave the last thing, a huge silver wine fountain, to its
+fate, but he would not, and this, also, was salved.
+
+   “Then Mr. Swifte was nothing slow
+      The Crown and Jewels saving;
+   And to get the great Wine Cooler out,
+      Great danger he was braving.
+   Now, Mr. Swifte, of all the wine,
+      Should now be made the ruler,
+   For while the fire was getting hotter,
+      He was getting _the Wine Cooler_.”
+
+There was an awful scare as to the chance of the store of gunpowder
+catching alight—but 400 barrels of powder, and 200 boxes of grenades and
+ball cartridges, were removed to the magazine, and the remainder was
+thrown into the moat.
+
+On the 8th Dec. the general public were allowed to inspect the ruins, and
+to purchase mementos of the fire; the prices were, 6d. for half-a-dozen
+gun-flints, and the same amount for a few burnt percussion caps; pieces
+of fused iron and arms went at prices varying from 1s. to 20s., the
+latter, the maximum price.  For many years I had a fused cavalry pistol,
+and some calcined flints which were very pretty.  The fused cannon were
+sold as old metal.
+
+On the 9 Nov. His Majesty Edward VII. was born, and, on the 8th Dec. was
+created Prince of Wales.  His patent is as follows:
+
+    “Victoria, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great
+    Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
+
+    “To all Archbishops, Dukes, Earls, Viscounts, Bishops, Barons,
+    Baronets, Knights, Justices, Provosts, Ministers, and all other our
+    faithful subjects, greeting—
+
+    “Know ye, that we have made and created, and by these our letters
+    patent, do make and create, our most dear Son, the Prince of the
+    United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (Duke of Saxony, Duke of
+    Cornwall and Rothsay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the
+    Isles, and Great Steward of Scotland), Prince of Wales and Earl of
+    Chester; and to the same, our most dear Son, the Prince of the United
+    Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, have given and granted, and by
+    this our present Charter do give, grant and confirm, the name, style,
+    title, dignity and honour of the same Principality and Earldom, and
+    him, our said most dear Son, the Prince of the United Kingdom of
+    Great Britain and Ireland, as has been accustomed, we do ennoble and
+    invest with the said Principality and Earldom, by girting him with a
+    sword, by putting a coronet on his head, and a gold ring on his
+    finger, and, also, by delivering a gold rod into his hand, that he
+    may preside there, and may direct and defend those parts.  To hold to
+    him and his Heirs, Kings of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
+    Ireland, for ever, wherefore we will, and strictly command for us,
+    our heirs, and successors, that our said most dear Son, the Prince of
+    the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, may have the name,
+    style, title, state, dignity, and honour of the Principality of
+    Wales, and Earldom of Chester aforesaid, unto him and his heirs,
+    Kings of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as is above
+    mentioned.
+
+    “In witness whereof, we have caused these, our letters, to be made
+    patent.  Witness ourself at Westminster, this 8th day of December,
+    1841.
+
+                                                     By the QUEEN herself.
+                                                                “Edmunds.”
+
+We read in the _Times_ of 25 Nov., anent the Thames Tunnel, that “a
+thoroughfare was, yesterday, effected in this work, and made use of, for
+the first time, by the whole of the directors, and some of the original
+subscribers, who had assembled upon the occasion.  The shield having been
+advanced to the shaft at Wapping, a considerable opening was cut in the
+brickwork, and it was through this the party, who had met at Rotherhithe,
+were enabled to pass, thus opening the first subterranean communication
+between the opposite shores of the river.  Upon their arrival at the
+shaft, the party was greeted by the workmen with most hearty cheers.  A
+curious and interesting incident was connected with the event; a few
+bottles of wine, preserved since the dinner given on the occasion when
+the foundation stone was laid, with the understanding that it was to be
+drunk only when it could be carried under the Thames, having been opened
+and enjoyed by the company, to the health of Her Majesty and the infant
+Prince.  It was remarked, too, as a singular coincidence, that a seal on
+one of the corks bore the impress of the Prince of Wales’s feathers, a
+circumstance that caused some merriment.  The engineer, Sir I. Brunel,
+appeared highly gratified at the happy result of his past anxiety and
+arduous labour.  The shield will continue its advance, until it has
+afforded space for the formation of the remainder of the tunnel, which is
+expected to be completed in about three weeks.”
+
+By the end of the year the foundations of the New Royal Exchange were dug
+out and concreted, and, as it was always anticipated that some important
+discoveries might take place in the course of the excavation, proper
+arrangements were made on the commencement of the work, that any articles
+of interest which might be disinterred, should be secured for the Gresham
+Committee.  In the Specification for the Works, issued in 1840, the
+Contractor and Excavator were required, in taking out the soil, to
+deliver up “any plate, coins, antiquities, or curiosities, whether in
+metal, or otherwise, or any carved stones, or carvings in marble,
+pottery, terra cotta, or tesseræ, which may be found in the course of the
+excavations; it being understood that all such matters, or things, are to
+be taken up with all requisite care, and are to remain the property of
+the Gresham Committee.”
+
+They found a portion of a Roman building, but the greatest haul was in an
+old gravel pit, some 50ft. by 34, filled with hardened mud, in which were
+contained considerable quantities of animal and vegetable remains,
+apparently the discarded refuse of the inhabitants of the vicinity.  In
+the same depository were also found very numerous fragments of the red
+Roman pottery, usually called “Samian Ware,” pieces of glass vessels,
+broken terra-cotta lamps, parts of amphoræ, mortaria, and other articles
+made of earth, and all the rubbish which might naturally become
+accumulated in a pond in the course of years.  In this mass likewise
+occurred a number of Imperial Roman coins, several bronze and iron
+styles, parts of writing tablets, a bather’s strigil, a large quantity of
+caliga soles, sandals and remains of leather, all of which can now be
+seen in the highly interesting Museum of the Corporation of the City of
+London, at the Guildhall.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+Foundation of Royal Exchange laid—Medal connected therewith—Father
+Mathew’s miracle—Christening of the Prince of Wales—King Edward VII.—Hard
+work of the King of Prussia—The Earthquake in London—The Queen drinking
+“grog”—Photography-Talbotype—Sale at Strawberry Hill—Presents to the King
+of Prussia.
+
+The first event of note in this year was the laying, by Prince Albert, of
+the foundation stone of the Royal Exchange, on 17 Jan., with all the pomp
+at the command of the City authorities.  The usual coins, etc., were
+deposited in a cavity, together with a Latin inscription, engraved on
+zinc, of which the following is a translation: “Sir Thomas Gresham,
+Knight, erected, at his own charge, a building and colonnade for the
+convenience of those persons who, in this renowned Mart, might carry on
+the commerce of the World, adding thereto, for the relief of indigence,
+and for the advancement of literature and science, an Almshouse and
+College of Lecturers, the City of London aiding him, Queen Elizabeth
+favouring the design; and, when the work was complete, opening it in
+person with a solemn procession.  Having been reduced to ashes with
+almost the entire city, by a calamitous and wide spreading conflagration,
+they were rebuilt in a more splendid form by the City of London and the
+Ancient Company of Mercers, King Charles II. commencing the building on
+23 Oct., A.D. 1667; and, when they had been again destroyed by fire, on
+the 10th Jan., AD. 1838, the same Bodies, undertaking the work,
+determined to restore them at their own cost, on an enlarged and more
+ornamental plan; the munificence of Parliament providing the means of
+extending the site, and of widening the approaches and crooked streets,
+in every direction; in order that there might, at length, arise, under
+the auspices of Queen Victoria, built a third time from the ground, an
+Exchange, worthy of this great Nation and City, and suited to the
+vastness of a Commerce extending to the circumference of the habitable
+Globe.  His Royal Highness of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Consort of Her
+Sacred Majesty, laid the first stone on 17 Jan., 1842, in the Mayoralty
+of the Rt. Hon. John Pirie.  Architect, William Tite, F.R.S.  May God,
+our Preserver, ward off destruction from this building, and from the
+whole City.”
+
+After the manner of the City of London, a medal was struck to commemorate
+the event, having on the obverse a profile portrait of Prince Albert,
+with the legend “Albertus ubique honoratus,” the reverse having a view of
+the western portico of the Exchange.  On 13 Jan. Mr. Roach Smith
+exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries a medalet, found on the site of
+the Exchange, evidently struck to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s patronage
+of the original building, as it bore the Tudor Arms surrounded with the
+inscription “Angliœ Regina ubique honorata.”
+
+Father Mathew was still doing his grand work in Ireland, but there is a
+story told about him in the _Limerick Chronicle_, copied into the _Times_
+of 17 Jan., that is too good to be omitted: “The Rev. Mr. Mathew arrived
+in this city, last evening, by the Cork mail, _en route_ to Loughrea, and
+put up at Moore’s hotel.  Immediately after his arrival became known,
+hundreds of persons visited him at the hotel, where he administered the
+pledge.  One circumstance which came within public observation, we may
+mention here, as illustrative of the effects of breaking the temperance
+pledge:—A man, named Moynehan, a teetotaller, who worked at the Butter
+Weigh-house, got drunk on Christmas Eve, and the next day, became
+paralysed, his left arm, side and thigh being perfectly inanimate.  He
+was removed to Barrington’s Hospital, and remained there under the care
+of the surgeons, without improvement, until last evening, when his
+friends, having heard of Father Mathew’s arrival in town, went to the
+hospital, and brought him out of his bed, on a man’s back, to where the
+Rev. Mr. Mathew was staying; a crowd had collected round the door, when
+the unhappy invalid was carried into his presence, and the reverend
+gentleman administered to him the pledge again, in a kind and impressive
+manner, and the man instantly stood up, was assisted by his friends to
+dress; and, to the astonishment of all, walked up William Street to his
+home, followed by a crowd of people.”
+
+On 25 Jan., the Prince of Wales was christened in St. George’s Chapel,
+Windsor, by the name of Albert Edward, and on 20 Jan. appeared a letter
+in the _Times_ from “A Conservative”:
+
+    “Sir.—We learn from the _Times_ of to-day, that the Prince will be
+    called Albert Edward.
+
+    “It is natural, indeed, that the illustrious father, and still more,
+    that the illustrious mother, should prefer Albert Edward to Edward
+    Albert.
+
+    “But as I pray God that the boy may live to be King, to whatever
+    period his mother’s life may be graciously extended, so I trust that
+    he may have every qualification for popularity as well as goodness,
+    and, amongst others, an old, and beloved, and accustomed _English
+    name_.
+
+    “And what so fit as Edward?  Who more beloved, or glorious, than
+    Edward the Confessor—Edward I.—Edward III.—Edward VI.?  A Catholic
+    Saint—a law-giver—a conqueror—a Protestant Reformer?
+
+    “The Princess Alexandrina Victoria was known by her second name
+    before she ascended the throne.  So, I trust, may the young Prince be
+    known as Edward, Prince of Wales, to the people, hereafter, Edward
+    VII.”
+
+We all know how this gentleman’s aspirations have been verified.
+
+The King of Prussia was one of the Sponsors, and spent a few days after
+the christening in England.  Poor man! how they did make him work!
+
+On the 26th he had to be at the presentation of new colours to the 72nd
+Highlanders, and, in the afternoon, he visited Eton College.
+
+27th.—Came to London by railway, and held a Court at Buckingham Palace,
+where he received the _Corps Diplomatique_ and the Corporation of the
+City of London.  On his return to Windsor, he visited Hampton Court.
+
+28th.—Again came to London, visited the Zoological Gardens, lunched with
+Sir Robert Peel, and, afterwards, went to the Chapel Royal, Whitehall,
+and the National Gallery—dining at Windsor.
+
+29th.—Saw a review in the Home Park, then went to London, and dined with
+his Minister, Chevalier Bunsen, in Carlton Terrace.
+
+The 30th was Sunday, so the poor man was trotted off to St. Paul’s
+Cathedral to hear the Bishop of London preach.  Lunched at the Mansion
+House, visited the King of Hanover’s apartments in St. James’s Palace,
+and Stafford House; attended afternoon service at the Royal German
+Chapel, St. James’s; visited the Duchess of Gloucester, in Piccadilly,
+and returned to Windsor.
+
+After this rest on the 30th, he visited Newgate Prison, when he was
+received by the Lady Mayoress, Mrs. Fry, the Quaker philanthropist, the
+Sheriffs, etc., and thence proceeded to lunch with Mrs. Fry, at Upton,
+near Barking; at six he went to Drury Lane Theatre, and saw _The Two
+Gentlemen of Verona_; dined with the Duke of Sutherland at Stafford
+House, and slept at Buckingham Palace.
+
+Next day, 1 Feb., at 10 a.m., he visited the Royal Society, Society of
+Antiquaries and the Geological Society.  Thence he went to the British
+Museum, taking Mr. Solly’s collection of pictures _en route_; and after
+spending three hours at the Museum, he lunched with the Duke of Sussex at
+Kensington Palace.  In the evening, he underwent a dinner and concert
+given by the Duke of Wellington at Apsley House.
+
+Early in the morning of the 2nd, he sat to Mr. Hayter for his portrait in
+a picture of the Christening.  At 8.30 he embarked at Hungerford Wharf,
+on a steamer, bound for the Thames Tunnel; after visiting which, he went
+to the Tower of London.  At 12 he returned to Buckingham Palace, where he
+received addresses from the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of London;
+the members of King’s College, London; the Society for Promoting
+Christianity among the Jews; the Prussian subjects resident in London;
+and the German Lutheran clergy.  He also received deputations from the
+Bible Society, the Church Missionary Society, the Imperial Continental
+Gas Company; and gave audience to the Prince of Capua, etc.; visited the
+Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth; dined with the Duke of Cambridge;
+saw the _Merry Wives of Windsor_ played at Covent Garden, and afterwards
+attended an evening, party at Cambridge House.
+
+On the 3rd he was present at the Queen’s Opening of Parliament, then
+received a deputation from the general body of Protestant Dissenters; and
+visited the Queen Dowager, Earl of Jersey, the Dowager Duchess of
+Richmond, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Wellington; winding up
+with dining with the Queen.
+
+On the 4th they let him go—he paid a visit to the Queen at 9.30, went to
+Woolwich and saw a review of Royal Artillery, lunched there, visited
+Plumstead Marshes and the Arsenal, took leave of Prince Albert, and
+everyone else, and went off to Ostend.
+
+About this time was a curious craze, which took strange hold on the
+people, that London was to be destroyed on the 16th of March, a belief
+which seems to have been founded on two metrical prophecies, dated
+respectively A.D. 1203 and 1598, said to be in the British Museum, where,
+however, I have failed to find them; the former is:
+
+    “In eighteen hundred and forty-two
+    Four things the sun shall view;
+    London’s rich and famous town
+    Hungry earth shall swallow down;
+    Storm and rain in France shall be,
+    Till every river runs a sea;
+    Spain shall be rent in twain,
+    And famine waste the land again;
+    So say I, the Monk of Dree,
+    In the twelve hundredth year and three.”
+
+The other is fathered on the famous astrologer, Dr. Dee:
+
+    “The Lord have mercy on you all,
+    Prepare yourselves for dreadful fall
+    Of house and land and human soul—
+    The measure of your sin is full.
+
+    “In the year One, Eight, and Forty-two,
+    Of the year that is so new,
+    In the third month, of that sixteen,
+    It may be a day or two between.
+
+    “Perhaps you’ll soon be stiff and cold,
+    Dear Christian, be not stout and bold;
+    The mighty Kingly proud will see
+    This comes to pass, as my name’s Dee.”
+
+And people were found to believe in this doggerel—especially frightened
+were the Irish in London, and the lower classes generally.  There was a
+great exodus of the former, some even listening to the entreaties of
+their friends, and returning to Ireland, and many of the latter moved
+eastward of the church of St. Dunstan’s, Stepney, which they considered
+would be the last edifice to fall.  Nor was belief in the earthquake
+confined to the east end of London, for I read of a man, formerly a
+police constable, living in Paddington, St. Marylebone, who sold a good
+business to provide the means of his leaving London; and of a clerk, with
+a salary of £200 a year, residing in the same parish, resigning his post,
+so that he might escape the calamity.
+
+The fateful day arrived and passed, and, of course, the dreaded event did
+not take place, but the belief in it is evidenced in a paragraph in the
+_Times_ of 17 March:
+
+    “THE EARTHQUAKE.—The scene witnessed in the neighbourhoods of St.
+    Giles’s and Seven Dials during the whole of yesterday was, perhaps,
+    the most singular that has presented itself for many years.  Many of
+    the Irish resident in those localities have left for the shores of
+    the Emerald Isle, but by far the larger number, unblessed with this
+    world’s goods, have been compelled to remain where they are, and to
+    anticipate the fearful event which was to engulf them in the bowels
+    of the earth.  The frantic cries, the incessant appeals to Heaven for
+    deliverance, the invocations to the Virgin and the Saints for
+    mediation, the heartrending supplications for assistance, heard on
+    every side during the day, sufficiently evidenced the power with
+    which this popular delusion had seized the mind of these
+    superstitious people.  Towards the end of the day, a large number of
+    them determined not to remain in London during the night, and, with
+    what few things they possessed, took their departure for what they
+    considered more favoured spots.  Some violent contests arose between
+    the believers and the sceptics—contests, which in not a few cases,
+    were productive of serious results.
+
+    “The poor Irish, however, are not the only persons who have been
+    credulous in this matter; many persons from whom better things might
+    have been expected, were amongst the number who left London to avoid
+    the threatened catastrophe.  To the Gravesend steamboat companies the
+    ‘earthquake’ proved a source of immense gain; and the same may be
+    said with regard to the different railways.  Long before the hour
+    appointed for the starting of steamboats from London Bridge Wharf,
+    Hungerford Market, and other places, the shore was thronged by crowds
+    of decently attired people of both sexes; and, in many instances,
+    whole families were to be seen with an amount of eatables and
+    drinkables which would have led one to suppose that they were going a
+    six-weeks’ voyage.  About 11 o’clock, the _Planet_ came alongside the
+    London Bridge Wharf, and the rush to get on board of her was
+    tremendous, and, in a few minutes, there was scarcely standing room
+    on board.  The trains on the various railways were, during the whole
+    of Tuesday and yesterday morning, unusually busy in conveying
+    passengers without the proscribed limits of the Metropolitan
+    disaster.  To those who had not the means of taking trips to
+    Gravesend, or by railway, other places which were supposed to be
+    exempted from the influence of the ‘rude commotion’ about to take
+    place, were resorted to.  From an early hour in the morning, the
+    humbler classes from the east end of the Metropolis sought refuge in
+    the fields beyond the purlieus of Stepney.  On the north, Hampstead
+    and Highgate were favoured with a visit from large bodies of the
+    respectable inhabitants of St. Giles’s; and Primrose Hill, also, was
+    selected as a famous spot for viewing the demolition of the leviathan
+    city.  The darkness of the day, and the thickness of the atmosphere,
+    however, prevented it being seen.”
+
+Brighton, too, felt the advantage of the “earthquake,” as numbers of
+families of the middle and upper classes went there to avoid its
+consequences.  It was noted that on the night of the 15th nearly 20
+carriages arrived there, a circumstance that had not occurred since the
+opening of the London and Brighton Railway.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+To “talk scandal about Queen Elizabeth” is a matter serious enough, but
+to say that Queen Victoria drank grog on board one of her own ships is
+rank treason, and must be explained, as it was by the _John Bull_.  “The
+true version of Her Majesty’s tasting the grog on board of _The Queen_,
+during her late visit to Portsmouth, is as follows: Strict orders had
+been given to the men, that when Her Majesty came down to the lower deck,
+to see them at mess, they should not speak a word, but preserve as
+profound a silence as possible.  Jack, of course, was too much taken up
+with watching the Royal visitor, to think of talking, save, perhaps, the
+desire of whispering to his messmate a comment or so on the meteor
+passing before him.  All was still.  Her Majesty tasted the cocoa, and
+approved of it—yet all was still.  Her Majesty then inquired whether
+there was no stronger beverage allowed the men, and forthwith a tumbler
+of ‘three-water grog’ was handed her.  She raised it to her lips—when
+Jack forgot his orders, and three distinct cheers ran round the deck,
+with such ‘a will,’ that the ship’s sides seemed to start with the sudden
+explosion; the honour done was more than a sailor could bear without
+clearing his heart with an huzzah.”
+
+It was on 8 Feb., 1841, that Fox Talbot provisionally registered his
+patent “for improvements in obtaining pictures, or representations of
+objects,” which is now in vogue, his improvement being the printing of
+the photo on paper.  He, himself, made no public practical use of his
+invention, and one of the first, if not the first photographer who
+adopted it was Mr. Beard, of Parliament and King William Streets.  It was
+quite a new thing when Prince Albert went to his studio on 21 Mar., 1842,
+and sat for his portrait.  This made the process fashionable, and
+henceforth photography was a practical success.
+
+There is nothing much to gossip about, until the Strawberry Hill sale.
+It was all very well for the Earl of Bath to eulogise the place,
+
+    “Some cry up Gunnersbury,
+       For Sion some declare,
+    And some say that with Chiswick House
+       No villa can compare;
+    But, ask the beaux of Middlesex,
+       Who know the country well,
+    If Strawberry Hill, if Strawberry Hill
+       Don’t bear away the bell.”
+
+but I fancy no one can endorse the opinion, or see anything to admire in
+this heterogeneous pile of Carpenter’s and Churchwarden’s Gothic.  If it
+had applied to the contents that would have been another thing; for,
+although there was, as is the case in most large collections, an amount
+of rubbish, it was counterbalanced by the undoubted rarity of the greater
+portion, which are thus set forth by the perfervid auctioneer, George
+Robins, who, speaking of himself in the third person, says:
+
+    “When there pass before him, in review, the splendid gallery of
+    paintings, teeming with the finest works of the greatest
+    masters—matchless Enamels, of immortal bloom, by Petitot, Boit,
+    Bordier, and Zincke; Chasings, the work of Cellini and Jean de
+    Bologna; noble specimens of Faenza Ware, from the pencils of Robbia
+    and Bernard Palizzi; Glass, of the rarest hues and tints, executed by
+    Jean Cousin and other masters of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries;
+    Limoges enamels of the period of the Renaissance, by Leonard and
+    Courtoise; Roman and Greek antiquities in bronze and sculpture;
+    Oriental and European china, of the choicest forms and colours;
+    exquisite and matchless Missals, painted by Raphael and Julio Clovo;
+    magnificent specimens of Cinque-Cento Armour; Miniatures,
+    illustrative of the most interesting periods of history; a valuable
+    collection of Drawings and Manuscripts; Engravings in countless
+    numbers, and of infinite value; a costly Library, extending to
+    fifteen thousand volumes, abounding in splendid editions of the
+    Classics, illustrated, scarce and unique works, with ten thousand
+    other relics of the arts and history of bygone ages, he may well feel
+    overpowered at the evident impossibility of rendering to each that
+    lengthened notice which their merits and their value demand.”
+
+The first private view took place on 28 March, and the sale lasted 24
+days, commencing on 25 April and ending 21 May.  No one can hazard a
+guess as to what such a collection would fetch now, the sum then
+obtained, £33,450 11s. 9d., being utterly inadequate according to modern
+ideas.  The sale took place in a temporary shed, erected in the grounds,
+and on the first day of the sale, which was confined to books, there were
+not 200 persons present, and among them, not more than a dozen bidders.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+By way of recognition to the King of Prussia for his being sponsor of the
+Prince of Wales, the Queen sent him some presents, which, if the
+_Wurtzburg Gazette_ is to be credited, were of somewhat mixed
+description.  1.—A cradle with the figure of nurse holding an infant,
+representing the Prince of Wales, in her arms, all of pure gold.  2.—A
+pistol, which, when the trigger is pulled, opens and exhibits a
+completely furnished dressing-case.  3.—A gold mosaic snuff-box, upon
+which are seen allegorical _souvenirs_ relating to the baptism of the
+Prince of Wales.  4.—Four boxes containing snuff.  5.—A dozen knives and
+forks of gold, except the blades of the knives, which are of Damascus
+steel, and the handles ornamented with a crown set in brilliants.  6.—A
+stone vase, containing the rarest Indian fruits.  7.—Two extraordinarily
+large legs of mutton.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+    The Royal “Bal Costumé”—The Queen shot at by Francis and by Bean—Duke
+    of Cambridge’s star—Chartism—Income Tax—Female Chartist Association—A
+    gipsey trial—Closing of the Fleet prison—Married in a sheet—Enormous
+    damages in a gambling case.
+
+There was a great flutter of excitement over the Queen’s Fancy Dress
+Ball, which took place in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace on 12th
+May.  Its leading feature was the assembling and meeting of the two
+Courts of Anne of Bretagne (the Duchess of Cambridge) and Edward III. and
+Queen Phillipa (The Queen and Prince Albert).
+
+A separate entrance to the Palace was set apart for the Court of
+Brittany, the Duchess of Cambridge assembling her Court in one of the
+lower rooms of the Palace, while the Queen and Prince Albert, surrounded
+by a numerous and brilliant circle, prepared to receive her Royal
+Highness in the Throne Room, which was altered so far, as to be made as
+much as possible to harmonise with the period.  The throne was removed
+and another erected, copied from an authentic source, of the time of
+Edward III.  It was lined (as well as the whole alcove in which it was
+placed) with purple velvet, having worked on it, in gold, the Crown of
+England, the Cross of St. George, and emblazoned shields with the Arms of
+England and France.  The state chairs were as near those of the period as
+the archæology of the time could compass, and the throne was surrounded
+with Gothic tracery.  At the back of the throne were emblazoned the Royal
+Arms of England in silver.  Seated on this throne, the Queen and Prince
+Albert awaited the arrival of Anne of Bretagne, which, ushered in by
+heralds, took place at half-past ten.
+
+The various characters then formed a procession divided into Quadrilles,
+the French, German, Spanish, Italian, Highland, Russian, Waverley and
+Crusaders Quadrilles, and marched into the Ball Room, where dancing at
+once commenced, the Queen and Prince Albert watching the scene, seated on
+a _haut pas_.  At one o’clock, the Earl of Liverpool, the Lord Steward,
+conducted the Queen and Prince Albert to supper; and when they had
+finished the guests were attended to.  After supper, the Queen danced a
+quadrille with Prince George of Cambridge, their _vis-a-vis_ being the
+Duchess of Buccleugh and the Duke of Beaufort; then some reels were
+danced, and the Queen retired at half-past two.
+
+This account would be strangely incomplete without some account of two or
+three of the principal dresses, to give an idea of the splendour of the
+show.  The Queen’s petticoat was of red velvet, trimmed with ermine.  The
+ground of the jacket was garter blue, with a large pattern of leaves
+woven in it, of gold, and ornamented with precious stones; hanging
+sleeves, lined with ermine.  The mantle was of cloth of gold, worked in
+silver, and trimmed with gold lace and pearls, lined with ermine, and
+fastened in front with a broad gold band, worked in diamonds and other
+precious stones.  Her shoes were red silk, worked with gold and diamonds.
+
+The crown was a _fac-simile_ of that worn by Queen Philippa, and was
+ornamented with diamonds and precious stones.  Under the crown,
+descending to the sides of the face, was a network of red velvet and
+diamonds.
+
+Prince Albert’s under dress, of a garter-blue ground, was worked in large
+gold flowers, lined with red silk.  The collar and cuffs were ornamented
+with diamonds and precious stones.  The cloak was of red velvet, trimmed
+with gold lace and pearls, and was fastened in front with a band of
+diamonds and different coloured precious stones, and was lined with
+ermine.  His hose were of red silk, and he wore shoes of red velvet,
+embroidered with gold and satin.  His crown was that of Edward III.,
+ornamented with diamonds and precious stones.  The sword-belt was of red
+velvet, studded with rosettes of gold and diamonds; the sword was richly
+ornamented with the rose, thistle, oak, and shamrock, in diamonds and
+precious stones, the cross, forming the handle, containing some very
+large emeralds.
+
+The mantle of the Duchess of Cambridge, as Anne of Bretagne, was of
+crimson velvet, bordered with ermine, looped up at the sides, displaying
+the petticoat of cloth of silver, worked in silver and gold, fastened
+with diamond ornaments; the top was edged with two rows of large pearls,
+having between them a variety of ornaments, formed of sapphires, emeralds
+and diamonds; the lower row of pearls had beneath it a fringe of large
+diamonds, formed into drops.  The stomacher had rows of large pearls, of
+very great value, mixed with diamonds.  Extending from the stomacher to
+the bottom of the mantle were rosettes and other ornaments of diamonds,
+sapphires and emeralds, forming a broad band down the mantle.  The
+_ceinture_ was also composed of brilliants, emeralds and sapphires.  The
+sleeves were fastened with diamonds and sapphires, and the necklace was
+of emeralds and brilliants.
+
+The diadem was composed wholly of pearls and diamonds, except the _fleur
+de lys_ by which it was surmounted, which was composed of emeralds and
+sapphires.  The head-dress was decorated with two rows of large diamonds
+and one of pearls.  The veil was of gold tulle.
+
+The Duke of Beaufort having been selected by the Duchess of Cambridge to
+personate Louis XII., in the French Quadrille, of which Her Royal
+Highness was the leader, His Grace appeared in one of the most splendid
+dresses handed down by Monfaucon, in his _Monarchie Francaise_.  The
+dress consisted of rich blue velvet, sumptuously embroidered in gold,
+with which were intermixed rubies, emeralds, pearls and other precious
+stones, with a large diamond star in the centre, and an opal, of
+priceless value, set with diamonds.  The cloak was of cloth of gold,
+lined with white satin, and trimmed over with powdered ermine.  The belt
+worn by the Noble Duke, on this occasion, was of crimson, richly studded
+with precious stones, and fastened in the centre by a large diamond
+buckle.  Sword, a valuable specimen of the art of that period, the hilt
+being of gold, exquisitely chased; a crimson velvet hat with feathers,
+confined in the front by a costly jewel.
+
+Space prevents my giving any more of the dresses, and I only notice that
+the Earl of Cardigan appeared in the French Quadrille, clad in armour, as
+_Bayard_, _the_ “_Chevalier sans reproche_”!!!
+
+As almost everyone’s dress was ablaze with diamonds and other jewels, it
+is pleasant to think, that very few losses were sustained, and those
+were, generally, of trifling value.  The only loss of any moment was that
+sustained by Prince Albert, from the girdle of whose gorgeous dress, is
+supposed to have dropped a valuable brilliant of great size.
+
+On 30 May, about half-past six in the evening, as the Queen was returning
+from her usual drive, and was close to Buckingham Palace, she was fired
+at by a young miscreant named John Francis, aged 20, described as a
+carpenter.  He was at once seized, and examined by the Privy Council.
+The simplest account of the event was given at the boy’s trial by Col.
+Arbuthnot, one of the Queen’s equerries, whose testimony was as follows:
+“My general position is about five yards in the rear of Her Majesty.
+Before we left the Palace, I had received an intimation which induced me
+to ride as close to Her Majesty as I could; and Colonel Wylde, Prince
+Albert’s equerry, rode in the same position, on the other side.  Between
+6 and 7 o’clock, we were coming down Constitution Hill, when, about
+halfway down the Hill, I observed the prisoner; and, on the carriage
+reaching him, he took a pistol from his side, and fired it in the
+direction of the Queen.  As quickly as I could, I pulled up my horse, and
+gave the prisoner into custody.  The prisoner had, before this, caught my
+attention as appearing anxious to see Her Majesty.  The Colonel went on
+to say that the utmost distance from the carriage, when Francis fired,
+was seven feet.  The _cortége_ had been going at the rate of eleven miles
+an hour; but the Colonel had given instructions at this spot, to go
+faster, and the postillions were driving at the rate of twelve or
+thirteen miles an hour.  The Queen was sitting on the back seat of the
+carriage, on the side nearest to the prisoner.  The pistol seemed to the
+witness to be pointed in the direct line of Her Majesty.”
+
+On the news being communicated to the Houses of Parliament, they
+adjourned in confusion, as it was found impossible to carry on the public
+business whilst in that state of excitement.  Next day both Houses voted
+congratulatory addresses, and the same were sent by every corporate body
+throughout the Kingdom.  The Queen, who could not fail to be affected by
+this attempt upon her life, nevertheless attended the Opera the same
+evening, and met with a most enthusiastic reception.
+
+Francis was tried, on the charge of High Treason, at the Central Criminal
+Court, on 17 June, and found guilty; there being no reasonable doubt but
+that the pistol was loaded with something more than gunpowder.  His
+sentence was: “That you, John Francis, be taken from hence to the place
+from whence you came, that you be drawn from thence on a hurdle to the
+place of execution, and that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead:
+that your head be, afterwards, severed from your body, and that your body
+be divided into four quarters, to be disposed of in such manner as Her
+Majesty shall deem fit.  And the Lord have mercy on your soul!”
+
+This sentence was commuted to transportation for life, and on 6 July he
+left Newgate for Gosport, and he was sent to Norfolk Island by the first
+transport sailing thither.
+
+This mania for shooting at the Queen was infectious.  If Oxford had not
+been treated so leniently, there would have been no Francis; and if there
+had been no Francis, there would have been no Bean.  This was another
+young miscreant, aged 18, deformed, and very short.  It was on Sunday, 3
+July, when the Queen was going from Buckingham Palace to the Chapel
+Royal, St. James’s, that, in the Mall, this boy was seen to present a
+pistol at the Queen.  A young man named Dassett saw the act, and this is
+a resumé of his evidence at the trial on 25 Aug.: He said he saw the
+royal carriages coming along, and saw the prisoner come from the crowd,
+draw a pistol from his breast, and present it at the carriage, at arm’s
+length, and breast high; and then he heard the click of a pistol hammer
+upon the pan; but there was no explosion.  He seized him, and, assisted
+by his brother, took him across the Mall, and gave him to Police
+Constable Hearn, who said “it did not amount to a charge.”  Another
+policeman, likewise, refused to take the prisoner, who only asked to have
+his pistol back again.  The pressure of the crowd was so great, that he
+was obliged to let Bean go; and, afterwards, the people said that witness
+himself had been shooting at the Queen, and a policeman took the pistol
+away from him.
+
+In his cross-examination, Dassett said that some person in the crowd
+laughed, and others called out that the pistol was not loaded.  An
+Inspector of Police deposed to having received the pistol from witness,
+and he unloaded it; the charge was not large, and consisted of coarse
+gunpowder, some short pieces of tobacco pipe, and four small pieces of
+gravel.
+
+Bean got away for a time, but was, afterwards, captured and tried, found
+guilty, and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment in Millbank
+Penitentiary.
+
+The old Duke of Cambridge (the Queen’s uncle) had a fright, on the 6
+July, when he was at a fête at Jesus College, Cambridge, for he lost the
+diamond star from his breast, valued at £500.  Everybody thought it had
+been stolen by an expert thief, but it was afterwards found by a Police
+Inspector, in the gardens, much trodden on, and with three diamonds
+missing; so it was “All’s well that ends well.”
+
+There was great distress in the manufacturing districts, and disturbances
+originating in a strike for higher wages, were inflamed by the Chartists,
+and other political agitators.  Beginning in Lancashire, the riots spread
+through Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire, and,
+finally, extended to the manufacturing towns of Scotland, and the
+collieries of Wales.  There were conflicts with the military, and people
+were killed; altogether, matters were very serious.
+
+It was better in London.  On 19 Aug. a Chartist meeting was to be held on
+Clerkenwell Green, but plenty of police were there to meet them.  Most of
+the mob were discouraged, and went home, but the police were obliged to
+arrest some 50 of them, and some banners were captured.  Then they went
+to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and in Long Acre, they came into collision with
+the police, and some damage was done.  So serious was the outlook, that
+all the military in the Metropolis and the suburbs were kept under arms,
+and there were large reserves of police at every Station House; and, next
+day, the magistrate, at Bow Street, had a busy day, hearing cases arising
+from this outbreak.  On the 22nd Aug. there were Chartist meetings at
+Clerkenwell Green and Paddington (the latter numbering upwards of
+10,000), but the worst cases were managed by the police, and no very
+great harm came of them.
+
+On 22 June, Sir Robt. Peel’s Bill, imposing an Income Tax, received the
+Royal sanction.  It is 5 and 6 Vic., c. 35: “An Act for granting Her
+Majesty Duties on Profits arising from Property, Professions, Trades, and
+Offices, until the 6th day of April, 1845.”  We see that it was imposed
+only for three years, but the Old Man of the Sea, once on the popular
+back, has never come off; and, in all probability, never will.  It began
+at 7d. in the pound, has been as high as 16d., and as low as 2d.  There
+is in _Blackwood’s Magazine_ for Aug., 1842:
+
+                               “THE INCOME TAX.
+                            An excellent New Song.
+
+    All you who rents, or profits draw,
+    Enough to come within the law,
+    Your button’d pockets now relax,
+    And quickly pay your Income Tax.
+
+    A pleasant medicine’s sure to kill,
+    Your only cure’s a bitter pill:
+    The drugs of base deluding quacks
+    Made Peel prescribe the Income Tax.
+
+    You can’t enjoy your pint, or pot,
+    And then refuse to pay the shot;
+    You can’t pursue expensive tracks
+    With a toll, or Income Tax.
+
+    Ye Quakers, clad in sober suit,
+    And all ye Baptist tribes to boot,
+    ’Twas right, perhaps, to free the blacks,
+    But, thence arose this Income Tax.
+
+    Ye bagmen bold, ye lovers fond,
+    Who daily like to correspond,
+    Remember, as you break the wax,
+    Cheap postage means an Income Tax.
+
+    Ye noisy fools, who made a rout
+    To try and keep the Tories out,
+    The blunders of your Whiggish hacks
+    Have brought us to this Income Tax.
+
+    Old Cupid’s {194} wish to crush the Czar
+    Has cost us, in the Afghan war,
+    Both English lives and Indian lacs,
+    And hastened on the Income Tax.
+
+    Regardless of the price of teas,
+    They anger’d, too, the poor Chinese,
+    The Mandarins have shown their backs,
+    But war soon brings an Income Tax.
+
+    Yet now I hope the new tariff
+    Will something save in beer and beef;
+    If that be so, you’ll all go snacks,
+    And half escape your Income Tax.
+
+    At least, we poor folks fear no shock
+    At hearing the collector’s knock;
+    His jest, the poundless poet cracks
+    On him who calls for Income Tax.”
+
+The day of reckoning for the Rioters of August duly came, and both at
+York and Salford Assizes many were punished, and at the end of September
+Feargus O’Connor was arrested in London for sedition, as were other
+Chartist leaders at Manchester and Leeds.  In October, more rioters were
+tried, and sentenced, at Stafford and Liverpool.
+
+Even women meddled with Chartism, and on 17 Oct. a meeting of female
+Chartists was held at the National Charter Association in the Old Bailey,
+to form a female Chartist Association to co-operate with the original
+society.  A Mr. Cohen created some dissatisfaction by speaking _against_
+the interposition of women in political affairs; he “put it to the
+mothers present, whether they did not find themselves more happy in the
+peacefulness and usefulness of the domestic hearth, than in coming forth
+in public, and aspiring after political rights?”  Miss Inge asked Mr.
+Cohen, did he not consider women qualified to fill public offices? it did
+not require much “physical force” to vote!  Mr. Cohen replied with an
+_argumentum ad fœminam_:—He would, with all humility and respect, ask the
+young lady, what sort of office she would aspire to fill?  If she would
+fill one, she would fill all?  He was not going to treat the question
+with ridicule; but he would ask her to suppose herself in the House of
+Commons, as Member for a Parliamentary Borough, and that a young
+gentleman, a lover, in that House, were to try to influence her vote,
+through his sway over her affections; how would she act? whether, in
+other words, she could resist, and might not lose sight of the public
+interests?  (Order!  Order!)  He wished to be in order.  He was for
+maintaining the _social_ rights of women; _political_ rights, such as he
+understood that meeting to aspire to, she could never, in his opinion,
+attain.  This drew forth an energetic speech from Miss Mary Anne Walker;
+she “repudiated, with indignation, the insinuation that, if women were in
+Parliament, any man, be he husband, or be he lover, would dare to be so
+base a scoundrel as to attempt to sway her from the strict line of duty.”
+Miss Walker was much applauded; and, after the business of the evening,
+she received the thanks of the meeting.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+In the _Times_ of Oct. 5, there is a paragraph about a gipsey trial, and
+as that curious nomad race is fast disappearing, it may prove of interest
+to my readers:
+
+    “A short time since, a very remarkable circumstance took place in the
+    New Forest, Hampshire, in the instance of a gipsey, named Lee, being
+    cast out of the fraternity.  The spot where the scene took place was
+    at Bolton’s Bench, near Lyndhurst.  Between 300 and 400 gipsies,
+    belonging to different tribes, including the Lees, Stanleys, and
+    Coopers, were assembled upon this unusual occasion.  The concourse
+    consisted of a great many females; and so secretly had the meeting
+    been got up, that scarcely a person residing in the neighbourhood was
+    aware that a circumstance of the sort was about to take place.  The
+    offender, a handsome-looking man, apparently between 38 and 40 years
+    of age, was placed in the middle of a ring, composed of the King of
+    the Gipsies, and the patriarchs of different tribes.  This ring was
+    followed by a second, made up of the male portion of the assembly;
+    and an exterior circle was formed by the women.  The King (one of the
+    Lees), who was a venerable old man, and one who looked as though he
+    had seen upwards of 90 summers, then addressed the culprit for nearly
+    an hour, but in a tongue that was perfectly strange to the
+    bystanders.  The address was delivered in a most impressive manner,
+    as might be conceived by the vehemence of the gesticulations which
+    accompanied it.  None but the gipsies themselves had the slightest
+    knowledge of the crime which had been committed by the offender, but
+    it must have been one evidently very obnoxious to the tribe, as the
+    act of expulsion from among them is an exceedingly rare occurrence.
+    As soon as the King had finished his speech to the condemned man, he
+    turned round, and harangued the whole of the gipsies assembled; and,
+    expressing himself in English, he informed them that Jacob Lee had
+    been expelled from among them, that he was no longer one of their
+    fraternity, and that he must leave the camp of the gipsies for ever.
+    The King, then advancing towards him, spat upon him, and the circle
+    which enclosed him simultaneously opened to admit of his retreating
+    from among them, while they smote him with branches of trees, as he
+    left the ground.  The meeting then broke up, and the parties
+    assembled went their different ways; some of them having come some
+    considerable distance, in order to be present at the tribunal.”
+
+Early in November Mr. J. Simon, LL.B., was called to the Bar, being the
+first Jewish barrister connected with the Middle Temple.  A Hebrew bible
+had to be obtained, on which he could be sworn, and a difficulty having
+arisen, owing to the custom of Jews putting on their hats when taking an
+oath, the size of the wig rendering it impossible in this case, it was
+ruled that the head was sufficiently covered by the wig.
+
+On 31 May, 1842, an Act (5 & 6 Vic., c. 22) was passed for the demolition
+of the Fleet prison, and on 30 Nov., the records, books, etc., and the
+remaining prisoners, seventy in number, were removed to the Queen’s
+prison.  The Marshalsea was also closed, and its three prisoners were
+also transferred.  The Fleet had been a prison ever since the time of
+William the Conqueror.
+
+Writing about the Fleet prison sets one thinking of the marriages
+solemnized within its rules, and there is an entry in one of the
+registers: “The Woman ran across Ludgate Hill in her shift.”  In the
+_Times_ of 15 Dec., I find the following, copied from the _Boston
+Herald_:
+
+    “GEDNEY.—A most extravagant exhibition took place here on Friday.  A
+    widow, named Farrow, having four children, was married to a man named
+    David Wilkinson; and the woman having been told that if she was
+    married, covered by nothing but a sheet, her husband would not be
+    answerable for her debts, actually had the hardihood to go to church
+    with nothing on but a sheet, sewn up like a sack, with holes in the
+    sides for her arms, and in this way was married.”  I have come across
+    several instances of this vulgar error.
+
+On the 3rd Dec. was tried a famous gambling case which ended in the
+discomfiture of a notorious gaming-house keeper, named Bond.  It was a
+case in the Court of Exchequer—Smith _v._ Bond.  At the gaming house kept
+by the latter, the game played was, usually, “French Hazard”; and persons
+of rank were in the habit of staking large sums against the “bank” held
+by Bond, to whom reverted all the profits of the game; in one evening
+they amounted to £2,000 or £3,000.  Considerable losses were sustained,
+on various occasions, by Mr. Bredall, Capt. Courtney, Mr. Fitzroy
+Stanhope, the Marquis of Conyngham, Lord Cantelupe and General Churchill.
+The action was brought under the Act 9th Anne, c. 14, to recover from
+Bond the sums alleged to have been unlawfully won.  A verdict for the
+plaintiff was returned on five out of ten counts, with damages including
+the treble value of £3,508, the sum lost.  Half the damages went to the
+parish.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+Murder of Mr. Drummond—Rebecca and her Daughters—Spread of the Movement
+through Wales—Its End—Rebecca Dramatised—Rebecca in London.
+
+The year opened badly, with the assassination of Edward Drummond, Esqre.,
+the private secretary of Sir Robert Peel.  Walking quietly down
+Parliament Street, he was suddenly fired at by a man named Daniel
+McNaughton.  Poor Mr. Drummond did not die at once, but lingered for a
+few hours.  It was believed by very many people, myself among the number,
+that it was a political assassination, the Secretary being taken for the
+Premier, but the man got off on a plea of insanity, a plea which was very
+fashionable in favour of criminals at that time, and highly conducive to
+their benefit.
+
+An episode in the Social History of England, almost unknown to the rising
+generation, was the reappearance, in Wales, of “Rebecca and her
+daughters,” a riotous mob, whose grievance was, at first, purely
+local—they resisted the heavy and vexatious tolls, to which, by the
+mismanagement and abuses of the turnpike system, they were subjected.
+Galled by this burden, to which they were rendered more sensitive by
+reason of their poverty, and hopeless of obtaining any assistance or
+relief by legitimate means, the people resolved to take the law in their
+own hands, and abate the source of so much annoyance and distress by the
+strong arm.
+
+The first act of destruction of the toll gates occurred in 1839, and the
+gates then destroyed were particularly obnoxious to the people, who
+entertained doubts of the legality of their erection.  They were broken
+down in open day, with no attempt at concealment, by a mob of persons
+rather in a spirit of mischievous frolic than otherwise.  The proposal to
+re-erect these gates, on the part of the trustees, was overruled by a
+large body of magistrates and gentlemen, many of whom qualified for
+trustees expressly for the occasion.  This decision gave strength and
+encouragement to the discontented, and, no doubt, prepared the way for
+further violence.  The gate breakers had learned their power and though
+they did not immediately renew the exercise of it, the lesson was not
+forgotten, although it slumbered until the commencement of 1843, when it
+appeared in a systematic and organised form.
+
+This organization was called “Rebecca and her daughters,” their leader
+having taken this scriptural name from a misconception of the meaning of
+_Genesis_ xxiv., 60: “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her. . . .
+‘let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.’”  This captain
+of the gate breakers in the guise of a woman, always made her marches and
+attacks by night, and her conduct of the campaign manifested no small
+dexterity and address.  A sudden blowing of horns and firing of guns
+announced the arrival of the assailants at the turnpike selected for
+attack.  They were mounted on horseback, and generally appeared in
+considerable force.  The leader, who gave the word of command, and
+directed the motion of those whom she called her daughters, was attired
+in a female dress of some description, wearing, also, a bonnet, or
+head-dress, which served the purpose of disguise.  Her bodyguard were
+dressed up in similar manner.
+
+Immediately on arriving at the gate, they commenced the business of the
+night, and proceeded to raze gate, posts, and tollhouse, with an alacrity
+and perseverance which soon accomplished its purpose.  They, generally,
+sawed off the gate posts close to the ground, broke the gate to
+fragments, and pulled down the toll-house to its foundations.  To show
+that the abatement of the specific grievance was their only object, they,
+commonly, dealt very leniently with the toll-keeper, offering him, except
+in rare cases, no personal violence, and allowing him to remove his
+furniture and property, which they never attempted to destroy or plunder.
+The work was no sooner done than the mysterious assailants galloped off,
+firing their guns, and blowing their horns, as before.  No trace nor clue
+was to be found of the quarter whence they had come, or of the retreats
+to which they dispersed themselves; nor did anything in the outward
+appearance of the country, by day, even when these nightly outrages were
+at their height, give sign of the extension and compact organization
+which evidently subsisted among the population.
+
+   [Picture: Rebecca and her Daughters.  Ill. Lon. News, 11 Feb., 1843]
+
+The first notice I can find (in this year) of these riots is in the
+_Times_ of 10 Jan., in which is the following paragraph from the
+_Welshman_:
+
+    “The state of society in Wales may surprise some of our English
+    readers, especially when we acquaint them with the fact, that there
+    has been, for some months past, in the neighbourhood of St. Clear, a
+    mob of lawless depredators, amounting to about 600, who assembled
+    nightly, for the purpose of destroying the turnpike gates on the
+    various lines of road in the neighbourhood of St. Clear.  These
+    ruffians are headed by a very tall man, dressed, for disguise, as a
+    female, who goes by the name of Rebecca; and, as many of his
+    associates are likewise dressed as females, the whole gang have been
+    christened ‘Rebecca and her daughters.’  These men are nearly all
+    ably mounted, and are a terror to the neighbouring country.  The
+    Pwiltrap gate has been destroyed a great number of times and as
+    frequently replaced by the trustees of the road; but, immediately
+    after its re-erection, the fellows have invariably assembled in
+    greater force than before; and, riding up to the gate, the following
+    interesting colloquy has taken place.  The leader of the mob,
+    addressing the others in Welsh, says, ‘My children this gate has no
+    business here, has it?’ to which her children reply, that it has not;
+    the mother again asks, what is to be done with it, when the children
+    reply, that it should be levelled with the ground.  They then
+    immediately break it down, and disperse in different directions.
+
+    “This system has continued for a length of time; and, although a
+    reward of £50 has been offered, not one of the offenders has been
+    discovered.  About 100 constables have been sworn in, and three
+    constables from London are down there; but all precautions are
+    ineffectual; for so surely as the constables show the slightest
+    diminution of their vigilance, Rebecca and her daughters appear, and
+    level the gates.  A very short time ago, the policemen were after a
+    fellow whom they suspected to belong to the gang and, while at a
+    public house, baiting their horse, Rebecca and her daughters suddenly
+    came in sight, and the affrighted officers of the law were obliged to
+    fly for their lives.  The gates have now been re-erected, and no
+    fresh act of violence has occurred since the 16th ult., but the
+    organisation of the depredators still continues; and, it is feared,
+    will break out with fresh violence if the constabulary force be
+    removed.”
+
+That this movement was serious and no joke, is evidenced by the fact that
+I have, in my notes, 45 paragraphs in the _Times_ on the subject.
+
+From Pembroke and Caermarthen, it gradually spread to Cardiganshire, on
+one side, and to Radnorshire and Glamorganshire, on the other.
+Brecknockshire, alone of the South Wales counties, enjoyed exemption from
+these disturbances.  The destruction which the rioters effected in some
+of these districts was most extensive and unsparing.  There were, at the
+time of the outbreak, between 100 and 150 gates, including side bars and
+chains, in the county of Caermarthen; of these, no less than between 70
+and 80 were destroyed, the toll-houses, as well as the gates and posts,
+being, in many cases, razed to the ground; in some trusts not a single
+gate was left standing.  In Pembrokeshire, and in one of the divisions of
+Cardiganshire, the destruction was carried on in the same wholesale
+manner.  The trustees, at first, re-erected the gates which had been
+broken down, but they were again as speedily demolished by the rioters;
+again they were rebuilt, and again they were levelled with the ground.
+The trustees were, at length, compelled to desist, and the roads were
+left free of toll.  None of these counties, except Glamorgan, possessed a
+paid constabulary, or any other force which could be of avail in checking
+the proceedings of the rioters; and the magistrates finding all local
+efforts unavailing, were obliged to appeal to Government for protection
+and support.
+
+One of the boldest steps ventured on by the insurgents, whose confidence
+was, of course, much increased by their uninterrupted success, was an
+entry, which was made, at midday, into the town of Caermarthen, by a
+large body of persons on the 10th of June.  About noon, the rioters began
+to march into the town, through the Water Street gate, which they had
+destroyed some time before.  They were headed by a band.  The leading
+body consisted of some thousands on foot, many of whom were Chartists and
+rabble of the town; a large number of women was among the crowd, and men
+bearing inflammatory placards.  They were followed by a man in disguise,
+representing Rebecca; some bearing brooms with which to sweep the
+foundations of the tollhouse and the workhouse, and the rear was brought
+up by about 300 farmers on horseback.  They paraded the town, passing the
+Hall and hooting the magistrates, and proceeded to the workhouse, which
+they attacked.  They climbed over the high wall with which the building
+was surrounded, and then burst open the lodge gates and the porter’s
+door; the horsemen rode into the yard, and surrounded the premises; and
+the rioters on foot soon forced an entrance into the building, and
+commenced their work of destruction.  While the rioters were in the act
+of pulling down the inner doors and partitions of the Board Room, and
+other parts of the premises, and pitching the beds out of windows, the
+governor was ringing the alarm bell; and, in the midst of the tumult,
+came the military.
+
+Representations of the excited state of the neighbourhood had been sent
+to the Home Office, and a troop of the 4th Light Dragoons had been
+ordered from Cardiff.  An express from Caermarthen had met the Dragoons
+at four o’clock in the morning, just after they had passed through Neath,
+and were still 31 miles from their destination.  They pushed on, riding
+the last 15 miles in an hour and a half, two horses dying from fatigue as
+they entered the town.  They were met by one of the Magistrates, who led
+them to the Workhouse and read the Riot Act.  The rioters were summoned
+to surrender; but they made an attempt to rush on the military.  The
+Dragoons charged, using the flat of their swords, and soon put the
+rioters, outside the wall, to flight.  Those within offered some
+resistance; and, for a moment, the edge of the sword was turned upon
+them, when they succumbed.  Many escaped over the wall; but about 100
+were taken prisoners, and several horses were abandoned by their riders.
+The disturbance which menaced so seriously the safety of the town, was
+thus happily put an end to, without any bloodshed or calamitous result.
+
+As time advanced, the insurrection, which had at first been lightly
+thought of, and for which much allowance had been made, under the belief
+that the people had real grievances to complain of, assumed a more
+malignant and dangerous aspect.  The farmers and peasantry, who in their
+impatience under the vexations of the tolls, had commenced it, soon fell
+into the hands of ill-disposed and designing men, who aggravated the
+excitement that prevailed, and availed themselves of the name and
+disguise of “Rebecca,” in order to carry out their own evil and lawless
+purposes.  Threatening letters were one of the means most freely resorted
+to; and great numbers, under the signature of “Rebecca,” were sent about
+the country, conveying the most sanguinary menaces to those whose conduct
+had, in any way, given offence to the dastardly writers.  Certain rules
+were laid down by conclaves of the disaffected, respecting the occupation
+of farms; and all who presumed to contradict the edicts of this invisible
+authority, were marked out, and denounced as victims to the just
+vengeance of Rebecca.  The more active magistrates, as well as the
+tithe-owners and clergy, were made the special objects of this cowardly
+system of intimidation.  In some instances, the rioters proved that their
+threats were not without meaning.  Guns were fired into the houses of
+persons who had fallen under the popular displeasure.  Some had their
+property fired, or otherwise injured; and a growing feeling of alarm and
+insecurity began to pervade the peaceable and well-disposed portion of
+the community.  This feeling was further increased by a cold-blooded and
+shocking act of murder, committed on a poor old woman who kept a
+turnpike, called the Hendy gate, on the confines of Glamorganshire and
+Caermarthenshire.  A party of rioters came to attack the gate at which
+she lived, and one of the number, actuated by some motive which was not
+distinctly accounted for, fired at her, and shot her dead.  A coroner’s
+inquest sat upon the body, and all the facts attending the revolting
+transaction were fully and clearly stated in evidence; but, such was the
+excitement of feeling then prevailing in the neighbourhood, or such the
+influence of fear exercised over the minds of the jurymen who
+investigated the case, that they actually brought in a verdict: “That the
+deceased died from suffusion of blood, which produced suffocation, but
+from what cause, is, to the jurors, unknown!”
+
+By the continuance of these outrages, which threatened, ’ere long, to
+disorganise society, and render the tenure of life and property, in
+Wales, insecure, the Government were, at length, aroused to the necessity
+of adopting very vigorous measures for the enforcement and vindication of
+the law.  A large body of troops was sent down to Wales, and a general
+officer, of skill and experience, appointed to the command of the
+disturbed districts.  A strong body of London police was imported, to
+exercise their skill in ferreting out the actors in these lawless
+exploits, who had so long succeeded in eluding detection.  The districts
+most infested by the Rebeccaites were closely occupied by parties of
+soldiers, some of whom were quartered, at short intervals, in the
+villages and hamlets wherein mischief was suspected to lurk, and in the
+neighbourhood of turnpike gates, which had, previously, been the objects
+of attack.  It was not, however, the policy of the insurgents to place
+themselves in open collision with the soldiers; but the clandestine and
+shifting mode of warfare which they had adopted with so much success, was
+but imperfectly counteracted by the presence of a military force.  Under
+cover of the night, and with the advantages afforded by a knowledge of
+the country, and the sympathy of the population, they could sweep down a
+gate, which was but the work of a few minutes, with very little risk of
+interruption or discovery.  The presence of the police and soldiers, if
+it could not entirely put an end to the attacks on the turnpikes,
+prevented the disaffected from proceeding to further acts of violence,
+and checked the growth of a conspiracy which might, otherwise, have gone
+to the full length of open rebellion.  From this, and other causes, the
+spirit of disturbance in Wales began to decline, about the latter end of
+the summer.  The most obnoxious of the turnpike gates had been swept
+away; and, on some of the trusts, the trustees had announced their
+determination not to re-erect those which were most complained of as
+oppressive.  Some of the more active leaders of the riots were captured,
+in an affray with the County police, on the borders of Glamorganshire,
+and the terrors of a Special Commission impended over the Principality.
+
+The movement was even dramatised, and on 20 Sep., at the Royal
+Amphitheatre, Liverpool, was produced a new play, called: “Rebecca and
+her Daughters; or, Paddy the Policeman”; the programme of scenery etc.,
+as described on the play bill being: “Vigilance of the civil and military
+authorities; £100 reward for the apprehension of Rebecca, and £10 for
+each of her daughters; False alarm; Invincible courage of the Yeomanry;
+Arrival of the London Police in disguise; Paddy Whack undertakes to
+capture the delinquents; Admonitions to the Constabulary; The inspection;
+Mysterious appearance of Rebecca and her daughters in the Glen of
+Llandilo, at midnight; Tried before the Justice of the Peace; Happy
+_denouement_.”
+
+I can find only one reference to Rebecca in connection with London—and
+that refers to a bar in Gower Street, which was taken down some few years
+since.  It occurs in the _Times_ of 30 Sep.: “During the last two or
+three days, considerable excitement has prevailed in the northern suburbs
+of the Metropolis, in consequence of rumours obtaining circulation that
+threatening notices had been posted about, signed, ‘Rebecca,’ intimating
+that it was the intention of that lady and her daughters to destroy the
+various turnpike and other gates, which they were pleased to term ‘public
+obstructions.’  It appears that these rumours were not altogether
+unfounded; for, whether intended as a joke, or otherwise, the doings of
+the notorious Rebecca and her daughters in Wales, have, in reality, found
+persons foolhardy enough to follow their example in London.  A few
+evenings since, Mr. Hill, the porter and keeper of the gate at the London
+University College, which crosses Gower Street, and prevents carriages
+from passing along the front of University College Hospital, received a
+letter, with the signature of ‘Rebecca’ attached, declaring it to be the
+intention of herself and others to remove the ‘obstruction called a gate’
+on the following night.  Mr. Hill, thinking the matter a joke, took no
+notice of the circumstance; but, to his astonishment, early in the
+morning following the night on which the threatened attack was promised,
+he was awakened by the night porter, who informed him that the gate (a
+large wooden one, such as the ordinary toll bars) was gone.  On
+examination, it was found that not only had the large padlock by which it
+was fastened, been broken and carried away, but the gate had absolutely
+been filed off its hinges, and conveyed by the depredators into the
+College grounds, and hidden behind some shrubs.  The gate has again been
+re-instated; but, since the occurrence, Mr. Hill has received another
+threatening notice, informing him that it is the intention of Rebecca and
+her daughters, on Monday night next, to effect its entire destruction.
+What is most extraordinary in connection with the affair is, that the
+gate should have been removed without the knowledge of the police, the
+beats of two constables joining close to the spot, or that of the night
+porters, either at the College, or the Hospital.  It is to be remarked
+that frequent complaints have been made at the erection of the gate in
+question, as it interrupts the otherwise direct communication between
+Holborn and Broad Street, Bloomsbury, with the Hampstead Road, and
+compels carriages, etc., to go considerably out of the way round Sussex
+and University Streets, before they can get into the New Road.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+Gretna Green parsons—Number of marriages—Chinese indemnity—Thames
+tunnel—The aerial machine—Treasure trove—Accident to Mr.
+Brunel—Arkwright’s will—Secession in the Scotch Church—The
+“Gent”—Shakspere’s autograph.
+
+At this time, Gretna Green marriages were in full blast (they were only
+made unlawful in 1856), and we learn from the _Carlisle Journal_, copied
+into the _Times_ of 20 Feb., something about the Parsons: “We observe by
+announcement in some of the London papers, that some worthy gentlemen in
+London, are about to enlighten the public on the subject of Gretna Green
+marriages, by the publication of a book called _The Gretna Green
+Memoirs_, by Robert Elliott, with an introduction and appendix by the
+Rev. Caleb Brown.  In addition to this information, we have been honoured
+with a copy of what Mr. Elliott calls a ‘cercler,’ which he is desirous
+we should publish as a paragraph for the benefit of our readers.  From
+this ‘cercler’ we learn that ‘this interesting work contains an accurate
+account of remarkable elopements, pursuits, anecdotes, etc., never before
+published.’  Then we are further informed that there is ‘in the press,’
+to be published by subscription, _The Gretna Green Register_, containing
+the names of 7,744 persons married by Robert Elliott, the Gretna Green
+Parson.  It is added, that ‘the whole is being carefully printed from the
+original registers, written and kept by himself.’  The Gretna Green
+Parson, we suspect, has fallen into dishonest hands, or he would not have
+suffered it to be said that he was about to publish registers which never
+had existence.  The Gretna Green Parson is pretty well known in this
+neighbourhood.  He married a grand daughter of old Joe Paisley, the
+‘original’ blacksmith; and, after the death of that worthy ‘parson,’ he
+set up an opposition shop, in the marriage line to David Laing, who had
+acquired some notoriety in the business.  This was in 1811, and he
+continued to ‘trade’ until 1822, when it either fell away from him, or he
+from it.  His reverence subsequently condescended to act as horsekeeper,
+or hostler, at one of the inns in this city, and a few months ago was
+sent for to London, as a witness, in some marriage case, and is now set
+up as an author!  We suspect the whole thing is an attempt to gull the
+public into the purchase of a book of inventions.  If 7,000 were deducted
+from the names of those to be inserted in the ‘Register,’ the number
+would still exceed, by many a score, those who were actually ‘married,’
+as it is called, by ‘Robert Elliott, the Gretna Green Parson.’”
+
+The poor “Parson” could not stand this attack on his veracity, and wrote
+a letter to the _Times_, which appeared in its issue of 23 Feb., in which
+he does not deny the bulk of the paragraph taken from the _Carlisle
+Journal_, but gives his figures as to his matrimonial business: he says
+that in the following years; he married so many couples:
+
+1811             58  1821            152  1831            168
+1812             57  1822            178  1832            153
+1813             59  1823            188  1833            100
+1814             68  1824            196  1834            108
+1815             87  1825            198  1835            124
+1816             89  1826            187  1836             98
+1817             96  1827            188  1837             55
+1818            109  1828            186  1838             46
+1819            121  1829            180  1839             42
+1820            124  1830            179
+
+He says he married 7,744 persons, but, either his arithmetic, according
+to the above account, is faulty, or there is an inaccuracy in the _Times_
+figures.
+
+On 3 March arrived, in London, the first instalment of the Chinese
+indemnity—£1,000,000, all in silver.  I remember seeing the dock wagons
+guarded by soldiers, and wondering, until told, what they contained.
+Some more arrived on the 7th.
+
+The Thames Tunnel was opened to the public on 25 March, with as much
+ceremony as a private company could manage.  There were the Lord Mayor,
+the directors, and a host of scientific persons, who solemnly went in
+procession down the staircase on the Rotherhithe side, passed along the
+western archway of the Tunnel, ascended and descended the staircase at
+Wapping, and returned through the eastern archway.  In the evening there
+was a grand dinner at the “London Tavern,” where “Prosperity to the
+Thames Tunnel” was drunk in some wine which had been preserved from the
+commencement of the enterprise, to celebrate its completion.
+
+As with motor cars, so with aeronautics, the time of which I write, was
+well in advance.  We know of Sen. Santos Dumont’s performances with his
+motor balloon, in connection with the Eiffel Tower, but Mr. Samuel Henson
+was before him in applying mechanical power in aeronautics.  He took out
+a patent (No. 9,478), dated 29 Sep., 1842, for “Apparatus and machinery
+for conveying letters, goods and passengers, from place to place through
+the air.”
+
+It was an aeroplane.  The car which contained passengers, engineer,
+engines, etc., was suspended in the centre of a framework, which combined
+strength with lightness, covered with a light, but close, woven fabric.
+It was started by descending an inclined plane, the impetus from which
+caused it to rise in the air, when the steam engine was put in action, to
+continue its motion.  The area of the sustaining surface was some 4,500
+square feet, and the weight to be borne by it, including the carriage,
+etc., was estimated at 3,000lbs., which was claimed to be considerably
+less per square foot than that of many birds.
+
+In April, 1843—but on what exact date I do not know, an experimental
+voyage was made from the Hill of Dumbuck, near Glasgow, by Professor
+Geolls.  He successfully negotiated the descent of the inclined plane,
+and rapidly rose in the air, until he reached an altitude of nearly 3
+miles.  Feeling giddy, he determined to descend to a mile and a half
+above the earth.  “This I easily effected by depressing the tail of the
+machine, which, up to this moment, I had kept at an angle with the
+horizon of 9¾ degrees, to that of 45.  My course I had not varied since
+leaving the hill; it was, per compass, south-west, and by west,
+half-west, passing over Ayrshire, and in a direct line from Dumbuck to
+Ailsa Craig, whither, indeed, I was tending, with the view of landing,
+the latter being admirably suited for launching the machine in a similar
+way to that adopted at Dumbuck, on my return home again.
+
+“Daylight had now broken, and the scene was most gorgeous.  I passed many
+ships; and, in particular, one steamer, but whose paltry speed, in
+comparison with mine, was nothing.  Alas! however, this was not destined
+to last; for, just as I had shot ahead of the steamer, something went
+wrong with the machinery, and the fanners stopped.  This did not at all
+alarm me; for, as described by Mr. Henson, these fanners are only
+necessary for propulsion, and not at all requisite for maintaining the
+machine in the air.  Unfortunately, however, I perfectly forgot, in the
+hurry of the moment, to remove the weights from the safety valve, and the
+effects from this were disastrous in the extreme.  The great accumulation
+of steam that took place was too much for the pipes; and, consequently,
+bang went three of them, at the same instant.  The machine, at this exact
+moment, feeling its equilibrium altered, surged considerably, and the
+remaining pipes necessarily followed the example of the others:
+fizz—bizz—whizz, away they went, one after the other, like pop guns.
+Unfortunately, one of these pipes, in flying off, struck a bamboo
+stretcher, and shattered it so, that the machine, losing bearance on one
+side, toppled over and became perfectly unmanageable; she, in fact,
+whirled over and over in a way that may be imagined, but which it is
+altogether impossible to describe.
+
+“I, of course, was now descending with fearful rapidity, and nothing was
+left me to contemplate but death and destruction.  I can only compare my
+sensations at this moment to those experienced in a nightmare, which,
+everyone knows, are not the most agreeable in the world.  Sensibility now
+forsook me; and, indeed, this was not to be wondered at, in consequence
+of the whirling of the machine.  On coming to my senses again, I found
+myself in bed, with severe headache, nausea and vomiting, the usual
+accompaniments of such a flight through the air; but, thanks to
+Providence, I am now in a fair way of recovery, and willing to perform
+the same feat again.”
+
+Luckily for the aeronaut, the accident was seen by the master of a
+steamer, who sent a boat to his assistance, but the machine was lost.
+
+We often hear of “treasure trove,” but seldom find the owner.  However,
+here is a case: On 11 April, the magistrate at Clerkenwell Police Court
+had a man named Benjamin Thomas, and five other labourers, brought before
+him, under the following circumstances.  It seems they had been recently
+engaged in grubbing up the roots of some trees in Tufnell Park, Holloway,
+when they found, buried in the earth, two jars full of sovereigns,
+supposed to have amounted to £400.  They divided the money between them;
+but it was claimed by Mr. Henry Tufnell, as Lord of the Manor; and all of
+them consented to give up what they had, except Thomas, who said that his
+share was £51, but that he had spent, or lost it.  The sum recovered only
+amounted to £231 17s.  Thomas was remanded for a few days, but, in the
+interval, a new claimant appeared, in the person of Mr. Joseph Frost, of
+the firm of J. and J. Frost, brass founders in Clerkenwell.  It appeared
+that, some time in August last year, in a temporary fit of mental
+delusion, he had carried the money out at night, and buried it.  Mr.
+Tufnell waived his claim in favour of Mr. Frost, and Thomas was committed
+for trial, on the charge of feloniously appropriating the money to his
+own use.
+
+A very curious accident happened to Brunel, the eminent engineer.  He was
+playing with the child of a friend, pretending to swallow a
+half-sovereign, and bring it out at his ear, when it slipped, and stuck
+in his trachæa, whence it could not be disloged.  This must have been in
+the latter part of April, for it is mentioned in the _Times_ of 28 April,
+as having occurred some short time previously.  All efforts of the
+surgeons could not reach the coin, even though they constructed a machine
+which suspended him by the heels, when he was shaken and thumped.  On 27
+April Sir B. Brodie performed trachæotomy on the unfortunate gentleman,
+but without avail; so they waited until he had somewhat recovered, and
+again hung him up by his heels.  This was on 13 May, and, after a few
+gentle thumps, the half-sovereign quitted its place, and dropped out of
+his mouth, without causing him any pain or inconvenience.
+
+In these days, millionaires, and multi-millionaires are exceedingly
+common, but not so in the time of which I write, and much astonishment
+was created at the sum of money which Mr. Richard Arkwright, son of Sir
+Richard, the inventor of the spinning jinny, left behind him.  His will
+was proved, on 24 May, in Canterbury Prerogative Court, and his personal
+property was sworn to exceed £1,000,000; the stamp duty on the probate of
+which was £15,000, which was the highest duty then payable, when the
+testator’s personal estate was £1,000,000 or upwards.  In this case the
+deceased left behind him a fortune of nearly £3,000,000.
+
+The 18th of May is memorable in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, for
+the great secession of its members, and the foundation of the Free
+Church.  This was the day appointed for the opening of the General
+Assembly, and Dr. Welsh, the Moderator of the former Assembly, took the
+Chair.  As soon as business commenced, he read a protest from those who
+were dissatisfied with the then state of the Church.  It was a very long
+document, and having read it, the Doctor, and those who were of the same
+opinion, quietly left the Hall, forming a procession and marching four
+abreast, to a Hall in Canon-mills, where they elected Dr. Chalmers as
+their Moderator.
+
+A contemporary account of this movement is given in the _Observer_ of 29
+May: “The number of clergymen who have seceded from the Church of
+Scotland, is now 450; and it cannot be a question that, by the middle of
+the week, the number will be close on 500.  This is nearly the half of
+the entire clergy, the number being under 1,200.  Among the leaders will
+be found the name of almost every minister distinguished for talent,
+moral worth, or weight of character.  Nearly the whole of the people have
+left the Establishment with their ministers—so that the Free Presbyterian
+Church, instituted by those who have left the Establishment, may be
+considered the Church of Scotland.  The general impression in Scotland
+is, that the residuary church cannot long exist.  About £240,000 have
+been raised in less than ten weeks, for the erection of new churches, and
+for the support of the seceding clergy; and there can be no question
+that, in a few weeks, the amount will considerably exceed £300,000.
+Among the contributors, are the Marchioness of Breadalbane, £1,000; a
+Colonel in the Army, whose name we do not remember, £6,000, in three
+yearly instalments of £2,000; Mr. Henry Paul, a private gentleman,
+£2,000; Mr. Nisbet, bookseller, London, £1,000; a Dissenter, £500; and
+there are various other subscriptions of £2,000 and £1,000 each.  Mr. Fox
+Maule is to build and endow a church at his own expense; Mr. A. Campbell,
+member for Argyleshire, is to do the same.  In Elgin, the pious and
+spirited inhabitants have raised £1,000 to build a church for the Rev.
+Alexander Topp, a young and popular minister; and they will also
+liberally contribute to his support.  So that, in many instances,
+churches will be built, and ministers be provided for, solely by private
+munificence and local exertion, without requiring any aid from the
+general fund.  The General Assembly of the Establishment is now sitting
+in Edinburgh, but its proceedings excite little interest.  The General
+Assembly of the Free Church, which the people recognise as the Church of
+Scotland, is also sitting in Edinburgh, and its proceedings excite an
+intensity of interest hitherto unparalleled in the ecclesiastical history
+of Scotland.”
+
+About this time there arose an objectionable class of men, who tried to
+ape the gentleman, but could not, and they went by the generic term of
+“Gents.”  _Punch_ was death upon them, and I give one of the satirist’s
+onslaughts, as it reproduces the costumes and amusements of the day.
+First let us see the “Gent” pictorially, and then, afterwards, read what
+manner of animal he was.
+
+                    [Picture: Punch, vol. IV., p. 142]
+
+                                    AN ACT
+
+    _For amending the Public Deportment of certain individuals called_
+    “_Gents_,” _abiding in London and other places_.
+
+    WHEREAS it having been represented that there are, at present
+    existing in the Metropolis, as well as in the provincial districts,
+    certain individuals known and spoken of as “Gents,” whose bearing and
+    manners are perfectly at variance with the characters, which, from a
+    monomania, they appear desirous of assuming:
+
+    AND WHEREAS, in consequence of cheap clothes, imitative dispositions,
+    and intellectual poverty, this class is greatly on the increase, it
+    has been thought necessary that this Act should be framed to control
+    their vicious habits:
+
+    May it, therefore, please your Majesty, that it be enacted: AND BE IT
+    ENACTED henceforth, that all Gents, not actually in the employ of the
+    _Morning Post_, or Mr. Simpson, of the “Albion,” be prevented from
+    wearing white cravats at parties, the same being evidently an attempt
+    of sixth-rate individuals to ape the manners of first-class circles.
+    And that no Gent, who does not actually keep a horse, and is not in
+    the Army, be allowed to strut up and down the Burlington Arcade, with
+    a whip and moustachios, such imposition being exceedingly offensive,
+    and amounting to a passive swindling of the spectators.
+
+    AND BE IT ENACTED, that all such things as light-blue stocks, large
+    figured shawls, cheap primrose gloves, white Chesterfield coal sacks,
+    half-guinea Albert boots; in fact, all those articles ticketed in the
+    shop windows as “Gent’s last style,” be considered the distinctive
+    marks of the class, and condemned accordingly.  And that every
+    individual, moreover, smoking outside an omnibus, sticking large pins
+    in his cravat, wearing fierce studs in his shirt, walking with others
+    four abreast in Regent Street, reading slang publications, and
+    adopting their language, playing billiards in public rooms, sporting
+    dingy white gloves in the slips of the theatres, frequenting night
+    taverns, and being on terms of familiarity with the singers and
+    waiters, thinking great things of champagne, as if everything at a
+    party depended upon it; and, especially, wearing the hat on one side,
+    be the signs of most unmitigated Gents, and shunned equally with
+    hydrophobia.
+
+    AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED that no Gent be, in future, allowed to
+    cross a hired horse with a view to ten shillings worth of Sunday
+    display in the Parks, the turnout being always detected; nor shall be
+    permitted to drive a gig, in a fierce scarf, under similar
+    circumstances.  Nor shall any Gent imagine that an acquaintance with
+    all the questionable resorts of London is “knowing life”; or that
+    trousers of large check pattern are anything but exceeding Gentish.
+
+    SAVING ALWAYS that the Gents have not the sense to endeavour
+    bettering their condition, which is exceedingly probable; under which
+    circumstances they had better remain as they are, in ignorance of
+    their melancholy position.  But, on the other hand, it is commanded
+    that people of common intellect, henceforth cease to designate any of
+    their male friends as “Gents,” the word being one of exceedingly bad
+    style, and equally objectionable with “genteel,” which is, possibly,
+    derived from it.  And that if, after this, anyone speaks of a “Gent,”
+    or “Party” he knows, it is ordered that such speaker be immediately
+    set down as one of the unfortunate class in question.
+
+The Shakspere autograph which was sold on 24 May, 1841, came again into
+the market, and was bought on 19 May, for £145, by the Corporation of the
+City of London.  The _Patres Conscripti_ of the Common Council were not
+of one mind as to the eligibility of the purchase.  On the motion “that
+the Court agree to the report, and that the Chamberlain be instructed to
+pay the sum,” Mr. Warton rose to move, as an amendment, that the report
+should lie upon the table.  (A laugh, and loud cries of “Hear, hear.”)
+He had, he said, done all he could in the Committee, to prevail upon the
+members that the purchase of the autograph was a most wasteful and
+prodigal expenditure.  (“Hear, hear,” and “No, no.”)  The precedent was a
+most mischievous one.  If the Court sanctioned such a proceeding as that
+which the report had described, by and by the autographs of archbishops
+and bishops, and other individuals who had, in times long past,
+distinguished themselves, would supply apologies for wasting the City
+cash, in order to gratify gentlemen who were afflicted with that
+description of mania.  (Laughter.)  He hoped the Court would not catch
+the infection, but second his rational effort to check it, by condemning
+the report to its proper station on the table.  After all, the document
+was doubtful; but there was no doubt at all as to the profligacy of the
+expenditure.  (Laughter, and cries of “Hear, hear,” and “No, no.”)  Mr.
+Knott said it was quite ridiculous to think for a moment, of voting £145
+for a few doubtful, illegible, almost obliterated scratches of a pen.
+(Laughter, and cries of “Hear, hear.”)  He defied any man on earth to say
+what those scratches represented.  On a division there were, for the
+motion 41; for the amendment 31.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+Exhibition of cartoons—A duel—A monster—Gambling—The “Albert
+Hat”—Nelson’s statue—Fun thereon—Soldiers’ savings banks—A post boy and
+Lord Mayor’s show—M. Jullien and his orchestra—Prince Albert as a
+farmer—George IV.’s Statue—Ojibbeway Indians.
+
+The public exhibition of Cartoons for the frescoes for the new Palace of
+Westminster, took place in Westminster Hall, on 3 July.  There were 140
+subjects altogether, varying in size from 15ft. to 10ft. square, none
+being admitted over, or under those standards.  Prizes of £300 each were
+awarded to Armitage, Watts and Cope; of £200 to Calcott, Bell and
+Townsend; of £100 to Frost, Harris, Selous, Bridges and Severn; the
+judges being the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir R. Peel and Messrs. S. Rogers,
+Westmacott, Cook and Etty.  The Cartoons remained in Westminster Hall for
+6 months; and, in Nov. were removed to the Suffolk Street Gallery.  They
+were finally adjudicated upon by the Royal Commission of Fine Arts, on 12
+July, 1844, the successful artists chosen to execute frescoes were Cope,
+Horsley, Dyce, Maclise, Redgrave, and Cave Thomas.
+
+The practice of duelling was fast dying out, and I give the following
+case as being nearly one of the last, and one in which the seconds and
+surgeon were tried for being accessory to murder.  Two
+brothers-in-law—Lt.-Col. Fawcett of the 55th Regiment and Lt. Munro of
+the Royal Horse Guards—quarrelled, and on the morning of the 1st July
+fought a duel with pistols in a field at the back of the “Brecknock Arms
+Tavern,” in Camden Road.  Lt.-Col. Fawcett fell, mortally wounded, and
+died on the 3rd July.  The Coroner’s jury found Lt. Munro, and the two
+seconds, guilty of wilful murder, and the surgeon as guilty in the second
+degree only, as it was believed he was present only as medical attendant.
+Lieut. Munro and his second got out of the way, but Lt-Col. Fawcett’s
+second and the surgeon were tried at the Central Criminal Court on 25
+Aug.  No evidence was tendered against the surgeon, and he was at once
+discharged, and the jury found the second “Not Guilty.”  Lt. Munro’s
+second surrendered himself, was tried on 14 Feb., 1844, and acquitted.
+Lieut. Munro was cashiered from the Army for being absent without leave;
+he afterwards surrendered, and was tried, 18 Aug., 1847, found guilty,
+and sentenced to death; which sentence was commuted to 12 months’
+imprisonment in Newgate.
+
+The _Times_ of 30 June, quoting the _Reading Mercury_, has the following:
+“A MONSTER.—A day or two since, a gentleman travelling along the road
+near Colnbrook, had his attention attracted to the screams of a child in
+the care of a tramping woman, who had with her, two other children
+totally blind.  The cries of the child were so distressing, that he
+insisted on knowing the cause; but; not getting a satisfactory answer, he
+forcibly removed a bandage from its eyes, when, horrid to relate, he
+found these encased with two small perforated shells, in which were two
+live black beetles, for the purpose of destroying the sight.  The woman
+was instantly seized, and given into custody; and, at the magistrate’s
+meeting, at Eton, on Wednesday last, committed for trial.  There is too
+much reason to fear that the wretch produced the blindness of the other
+two children, by similar means.”  This was rendered into a street ballad.
+
+A correspondent pointed out that it was well known to all who pass
+through the parish of St. James’s, at night, that the district absolutely
+swarmed with gaming houses; there was, in fact, no concealment about the
+matter, as the keepers vied with each other in illuminating their doors
+and windows to attract the notice of their victims.  How was it that this
+disgrace was permitted to exist from season to season?  The police seemed
+satisfied with the occasional conviction of one or more minor delinquents
+from the neighbourhood of Leicester Square, but the Leviathans in crime
+were allowed to continue their nightly course of profligacy and plunder
+with impunity.  The French authorities, by a law which was strictly
+enforced, entirely swept away this nuisance from their capital,
+notoriously, for years, the very hotbed of the vice of gaming; but we
+were lamentably behind our neighbours; for, while we boasted of a Court
+pure in morals, and strict in the performance of every religious duty, we
+allowed the Sabbath to be desecrated, and the Palace of the Sovereign to
+be contaminated by the close vicinage of houses expressly open for the
+practice of this demoralising habit.—Are we much better now?
+
+At the latter end of October, a new headdress for the infantry was
+proposed, and Prince Albert was universally credited as being its
+godfather—but public opinion was so unequivocally expressed against it,
+that it was never likely to be popular.  It was neither soldier-like, nor
+appropriate, and bore a strong resemblance to the old Hessian cap, which
+was introduced into the German service.  This headgear was covered with
+black cloth, the crown and brim being of black-varnished leather; the
+band was of white worsted, as was the tuft, which was placed on a ball of
+red worsted.  Beneath this ball was a royal crown, underneath which was a
+Maltese cross, in the centre of which was inscribed the number of the
+regiment.
+
+_Punch_ was especially severe upon the Albert hat—and with the pictorial
+satire of “Prince Albert’s Studio” (by the way the hat is in no ways
+exaggerated), is the following: “Ever since the accession of Prince
+Albert to the Royal Husband-ship of these realms, he has devoted the
+energies of his mind, and the ingenuity of his hands to the manufacture
+of Infantry caps, Cavalry trousers, and Regulation sabretaches.  One of
+his first measures was to transmogrify the pantaloons of the Eleventh
+Hussars; and, as the regiment alluded to is “Prince Albert’s Own,” His
+Royal Highness may do as he likes with his own, and no one can complain
+of his bedizening the legs of the unfortunate Eleventh, with scarlet
+cloth and gold door leather.  When, however, the Prince, throwing the
+whole of his energies into a hat, proposed to encase the heads of the
+British soldiery in a machine which seemed a decided cross between a
+muff, a coal scuttle and a slop pail, then _Punch_ was compelled to
+interfere, for the honour of the British Army.  The result has been that
+the headgear has been summarily withdrawn, by an order from the War
+Office, and the manufacture of more of the Albert hat has been absolutely
+prohibited.
+
+        [Picture: Prince Albert’s Studio.  Punch, vol. V., p. 179]
+
+“Greatness of mind is shown in various ways by different individuals.
+Hannibal was a great cutter out, for he cut a passage through the Alps;
+but Prince Albert cuts out Hannibal, inasmuch as His Royal Highness
+devotes his talent to the cutting out of coats, and ‘things
+inexpressible.’  The Prince’s studio could not fail to be an object of
+interest to the readers of _Punch_.  We have, therefore, at an enormous
+sacrifice of time and specie, obtained a view of it.”
+
+                        [Picture: Nelson’s Statue]
+
+On the morning of Nov. 3, at 4 a.m., the raising of a portion of the
+colossal statue of Nelson, on the pillar in Trafalgar Square, commenced.
+This figure is 17 feet high from its base to the top of the hat, and is
+made of stone from the Granton quarry, belonging to the Duke of
+Buccleugh.  It weighs nearly 18 tons, and, needless to say, is made in
+segments.  These were put together before it was raised, to show the
+public—and during the two days it was on view, it was visited by 100,000
+persons.
+
+The building this column had seemed slow, but that was nothing compared
+to its completion; the bas reliefs were long in being placed, and it was
+not till 31 Jan., 1867, that Landseer’s four couchant lions were exposed
+to public gaze.  Of the progress of its building, _Punch_ (25 Nov., 1843)
+has some very fine fooling.
+
+                        “THE NELSON COLUMN DRAMA.
+
+The earliest announcement of the late Covent Garden management, was a
+piece entitled ‘Trafalgar Square, or the Nelson Monument.’  We have
+obtained the following slight information respecting it.  The drama is
+described as ‘a grand architectural and historical burletta,’ in two
+acts; and the prologue was to have been spoken by Mr. Widdicomb, as
+_Time_.  The two acts comprise the commencement and completion, and a
+lapse of twenty years is supposed to take place between them, in which
+time ‘the boy,’ who is the principal character, becomes a middle-aged
+man.  The following speech is very fine.  The boy enquires of the mason
+when the column will be finished, who replies, in an interval of the
+steak banquet, which they are enjoying together:
+
+    _Mason_.—I’ve asked that fearful question of the stars,
+    Who wink responding—of the Board of Works,
+    Whose works have bored us—of the misty moon,
+    Towards whose lodgings, after years of toil,
+    We rise no nearer.  All were still, but now,
+    Whilst gazing on that steak of beef,
+    Sent up to form our capital repast,
+    And cheer us in our lonely solitude,
+    I hope the best—the best can hope no more.
+    ’Twill rise, like College honours, by degrees,
+    And to our limbs a pillar be, of ease:
+    Our hearts are warm—although upon the frieze.
+
+The following duet is also introduced by the man and the boy in the
+second act:
+
+                                    BOY.
+
+   I remember, I remember,
+      When I was a little boy,
+   On the column, in November,
+      I was given some employ.
+
+   I helped the man to build it,
+      And we labour’d hard and long,
+   But the granite came up slowly,
+      For we were not very strong.
+
+            I remember, I remember,
+               How we raised its form on high,
+            With one block in December,
+               And another in July.
+
+                                    BOTH.
+
+   We remember, we remember,
+      When St. Martin’s bells were rung,
+   In the laying of the first stone, for
+      We both were very young.
+
+   But weary years have past, now,
+      Since we our work begun;
+   We fear we shall not last now,
+      To see our labour done.
+
+            We remember, we remember,
+               But we heard it on the sly,
+            ’Twon’t be finished next November,
+               Nor the subsequent July.”
+
+Very early in November, a War Office circular (dated 31 Oct.) was issued,
+to regulate and establish regimental savings banks, which have done so
+much to encourage thrift among our soldiers.  The maximum of each
+soldier’s deposit was limited to £30 in any one year, and to £200 in the
+whole.  The rate of interest on deposits was fixed at £3 15 s. per cent
+per annum, but no interest was to be allowed upon less than 6s. 8d. and
+13s. 4d., nor upon any sums that had not remained on deposit for at least
+one month, to be reckoned from the last monthly muster day.
+
+In the _Times_ of 10 Nov. is the following: “A rather amusing scene took
+place in Cheapside, yesterday, shortly before the Lord Mayor’s procession
+to Westminster.  Whilst the streets were blocked up against the passage
+of vehicles and horses, one of those sharp little urchins, known by the
+generic title of the ‘twopenny cavalry,’ who rattle through the streets
+with Her Majesty’s suburban mails, was stopped, opposite Bow Church, by a
+party of police, who told him they acted under the orders of the Lord
+Mayor.  The post-boy, with all the dignity of Her Majesty’s
+representative, assuming an air of great condescension, assured the
+police that he had the highest possible respect for the Lord Mayor, but,
+being express upon Her Majesty’s business, he was determined to proceed.
+The police persisted in stopping him, a crowd collected, and it was clear
+their sympathies sided with the post-boy, who carried himself, throughout
+the controversy, with great courage, calmness, and self-possession.  The
+police had, by this time, seized the bridle, whilst the boy endeavoured
+to force his way forward, backed by the strenuous exertions of his steed,
+who also appeared as if inspired by the authority of a Royal Commission.
+The post-boy, finding physical force insufficient, tried what authority
+would do, and threatened them with the vengeance of the Home Secretary,
+for attempting to stop Her Majesty’s mails.  This had the desired effect
+of bringing the police to a parley; and, as the post-boy was backed by
+popular applause, he gained momentarily in the discussion, but did not
+complete his advantage until he took out a memorandum book, and began,
+coolly, to note down the numbers of the constables.  This stroke was
+decisive; they, at once, capitulated, merely stipulating that they should
+have his address in return.  To this, he readily assented, and searched
+diligently for his cardcase, but that mark of gentility was not at hand.
+He, however, made a page from his memorandum book serve his purpose, and
+took his leave amid the loud congratulations of the applauding crowd,
+with the following pithy address to the constables: ‘I can’t well see
+what use you are.  A hundred years ago there were no police, and Lord
+Mayor’s shows went off better than they do now.  For my part, I can’t see
+what you do here at all, for you know’—he added with a significant
+grin—‘you know you don’t look so very well in a procession.’  Shouts of
+laughter followed the post-boy’s brief speech, as he rode on
+triumphantly.”
+
+It was about this time that M. Louis Antoine Jullien, to whom we owe so
+much for the popularisation of good music, and for the improvement of our
+orchestras, came into notoriety as a caterer for the public’s amusement,
+and for his promenade concerts.  These had been popular in the open air
+at Vauxhall, Ranelagh, Marylebone, and other public gardens; but the
+first, under cover, was given in 1838 at the Lyceum Theatre, or, as it
+was then called, The English Opera House, when the pit was boarded over,
+and an orchestra erected on the stage exactly as we are now so familiar
+with.  Jullien, in 1838, had been unlucky in Paris, was bankrupt, and
+came to London, where, in 1840, he was assistant to Eliason, the
+violinist and conductor of an orchestra of 100 performers, and a small
+chorus.  Next year Jullien was the conductor; and, in 1842, on 2 Dec., he
+started for himself, at the English Opera House, the series of promenade
+concerts with which his name will always be associated.
+
+He always would have the very best musicians that he could find for his
+orchestra, and in this year (1843) among them were Barrett, Baumann,
+Harper, Kœnig, Richardson, Hill, Lazarus, Patey, Howell and Jarrett, and
+in after years he had such, soloists as Ernst, Sivori, Bottesini
+Wieniawski and Sainton.  In 1857 he came, financially, to grief; he then
+went to Paris, was imprisoned for debt in Clichy, in 1859, and died in a
+lunatic asylum on 14 March, 1860.
+
+       [Picture: M. Jullien.  Ill. Lon. News, 25 Nov. 1843, p. 348]
+
+In his later years he became much stouter than he is here represented,
+and, as a conductor, posed a great deal too much.  Those of my readers
+who recollect him will acknowledge the truth of the following description
+of him, when conducting his British Army Quadrilles, taken from his
+biography in _Grove’s History of Music and Musicians_: “With coat thrown
+widely open, white waistcoat, elaborately embroidered shirt front,
+wristbands of extravagant length, turned back over his cuffs, a wealth of
+black hair, and a black moustache—itself a striking novelty—he wielded
+his baton, encouraged his forces, repressed the turbulence of his
+audience with indescribable gravity and magnificence, went through all
+the pantomime of the British Army or Navy Quadrilles, seized a violin or
+a piccolo at the moment of climax, and, at last, sunk exhausted into his
+gorgeous velvet chair.  All pieces of Beethoven’s were conducted with a
+jewelled baton, and in a pair of clean kid gloves, handed him, at the
+moment, on a silver salver.”
+
+               [Picture: Prince Albert, the British Farmer]
+
+Prince Albert took a great interest in Agriculture, and his Flemish Farm
+at Windsor was a model; but it was hard to make the average Englishman
+believe that a foreigner could ever do any good as a Farmer, and John
+Leech drew a fancy portrait of the prince in _Punch_, 25 Nov., where it
+illustrates a portion of a speech of Sir Robert Peel at Tamworth: “Prince
+Albert has turned his attention to the promotion of agriculture; and, if
+you have seen, as most probably you have, an account of the sale of
+Prince Albert’s stock, and the price they fetched, I have not the
+slightest doubt you will give one cheer more to Prince Albert, as a
+British Farmer.”
+
+In the beginning of December the bronze equestrian statue of George IV.
+was set up on a pedestal at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square.
+It is the work of Chantrey, and was intended to be mounted on the Marble
+Arch, which was, originally, the gateway to Buckingham Palace, until its
+removal to Cumberland Gate, Hyde Park, in 1851.
+
+In the very early part of December, some of Her Majesty’s subjects,
+Canadian Indians, from the north-eastern shores of Lake Huron, came to
+visit England.  They were of the Ojibbeway tribe, and were nine in
+number, two old chiefs, four warriors, two women, and a little girl, 10
+years old.  On the 20 Dec. they were presented to the Queen at Windsor,
+and received from Her Majesty a cheque for £20, and a quantity of
+gorgeous plaid, with which to astonish the other natives, on their
+return.  They afterwards exhibited themselves, danced war dances, etc.,
+at the Egyptian Hall, at an admission fee of half-a-crown.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+A child for sale—Trial, &c, of Daniel O’Connell—General Tom Thumb—His
+visit to the Queen—The Polka—How to dance it—“Jullien’s Grand Polka.”
+
+The _Times_ of 19 Jan. copies the following from the _Worcester
+Chronicle_: “A CHILD FOR SALE.—The following extraordinary letter was
+received, a short time ago, by a gentleman in the neighbourhood of
+Tewkesbury, from a person residing here.  The letter is dated from a
+certain court in this town, but we omit the precise locality, and the
+writer’s name, hoping that, without pursuing the exposure to that extent,
+it will be sufficient to teach him that natural affection is not to be
+made a matter of bargain and sale, and that it is the duty of a parent
+himself to cherish the child which he has been the means of bringing into
+the world:—‘Sir,—Having heard that you expressed a wish to have a child
+and did not mind giving a sum of money as an inducement i flatter myself
+that I have it in my power to furnish you with one to answer your purpose
+in every respect it is a boy 2 years old a good looking healthy spirited
+child and sound in wind and limb and that you can rair him up to suit
+your inclination you can send word by the bearer and appoint any time to
+inspect the child.’”
+
+With every wish, in this book of Gossip, to steer as clear of politics as
+possible, yet it would belie its name were the famous trial of Daniel
+O’Connell not to be mentioned.  “Repeal of the Union” was his watchword
+and perpetual cry, and with it he stirred up the Irish people to a pitch
+when he found it difficult to manage and restrain them.  On 16 March,
+1843, was held at Trim the first of great public meetings which he
+designed, but did not carry out; and on 15 Aug. was a monster meeting on
+the Hill of Tara; but the one to be held at Clontarf on 8 Oct. was to
+have eclipsed its predecessors.  But this was forbidden by the
+Government, and, a week later, warrants were issued for the arrest of
+O’Connell, his son John, and his chief colleagues, on a charge of
+conspiring to create discontent and disaffection among the liege subjects
+of the Queen, and with contriving, “by means of intimidation, and the
+demonstration of great physical force, to procure and effect changes to
+be made in the government, laws, and constitution of this realm.”
+O’Connell was allowed bail, but on 8 Nov. a true bill was found by the
+jury, yet the trial did not take place till the 15th Jan. of this year.
+On the 12th Feb., the jury returned a verdict of guilty of unlawful and
+seditious conspiracy, but judgment was not delivered till 30 May, when he
+was sentenced to imprisonment for twelve months, a fine of £2,000, and to
+find surety to keep the peace for seven years.  He had to go to prison,
+where he was well treated and allowed to see his friends; his sentence
+was appealed against, and reversed in the House of Lords, on 4 Sep.,
+1844, when he was instantly liberated.
+
+                         [Picture: Repeal button]
+
+During all this time there was great excitement, people wearing Repeal
+buttons, one of which is here delineated, and other emblems, while the
+uncrowned King of Ireland was presented, at Mullaghmast, with a velvet
+cap surmounted with shamrocks, and having a green tassel; the cap, in
+fact, with which readers of _Punch_ are so familiar.
+
+Of course, his release from prison was an occasion to be made the most
+of.  An amphitheatrical triumphal car was provided, and, upon it, were
+mounted O’Connell, his son, and the Rev. Dr. Miley, and this gimcrack
+piece of property was drawn by six horses ridden by postillions.  The
+following is an account by an eye witness:
+
+    “The ovation commenced at two o’clock.  First came the trades of
+    Dublin, each preceded by the banner of its body, and a band playing
+    such music as only temperance bands can play, and, generally, with
+    much discrimination, selecting rather difficult pieces for their
+    performance, and eschewing all national airs.  The banners were
+    usually displayed from coaches, intended to hold four, but contriving
+    to allow from sixteen to eighteen to fit into, and hang on by them.
+    Thus they came on: Bricklayers (with a painting of the Bank of
+    Ireland, and the superscription of ‘Our Old House at Home’); slaters,
+    woollen operatives (in a small open car); nailors (with a picture of
+    Brian Boroihme ‘nailing’ the Danes at Clontarf); coach makers,
+    tailors (with a very gorgeous equipage, six horses, postillions and
+    outriders); tinplate workers, displaying as their sign, a man with a
+    tin helmet on his head, and a dish cover of the same metal on his
+    arm—otherwise unassumingly attired in a blue coat and white trousers;
+    and other bodies of tradesmen too numerous to mention, with their
+    appropriate emblems and banners.
+
+                        [Picture: O’Connell’s Cap]
+
+    “Next came a number of Repeal wardens, bearing wands, and occupying
+    respectable-looking coaches and carriages.  After them drove the
+    committee of the political trades’ unions; the members of it attired
+    in green sashes and scarves, and bearing wands with green flags in
+    their hands.  Next in order were the various members of the
+    Corporation, aldermen, town councillors, and officers, dressed in
+    their robes of office and cocked hats, glittering with chains, and
+    furred from head to foot.  The majority of these gentlemen were in
+    their own carriages, into each of which were packed as many of the
+    owner’s friends as could find standing room, several private vehicles
+    being mixed up through the order of procession.  Then came the
+    private carriages of the Lord Mayor, who was in full dress; and then,
+    preceded by a confused mass of wand bearers, the triumphal chariot
+    itself, surrounded by a mob so dense that it was with great
+    difficulty that the six splendid dappled greys could force the
+    cumbrous vehicle along, which, every instant, seemed to become a
+    second Car of Juggernaut, and crush some of its adorers.  More
+    vehicles, a few horsemen, multitudes of hack cars and pedestrians, a
+    tail of old women and little boys, followed; and so the monster
+    procession, after winding its slow length along through the greater
+    part of Dublin, and causing a total cessation of business in the line
+    of its progress, terminated.”
+
+In February appeared, in London, at the Princess’s Theatre, “General Tom
+Thumb,” the most popular of modern dwarfs—thanks to the advertising
+qualities of his exhibitor, P. T. Barnum.  The real name of this mite was
+Charles S. Stratton, and he was said to have been born on 11 Jan., 1832,
+but this, as with all data connected with him, must be accepted with
+caution.  It was said of him, that, at his birth, he weighed 9 lbs. 2
+oz., somewhat more than the average weight of a newly born infant.  At
+about 5 months old, he weighed 15 lbs., and measured 25 inches in height;
+since which time he never increased in stature; and, at the time of his
+arrival in England, he weighed but 15 lbs. 2 oz.  He had, previously,
+been exhibited in New York and the principal cities of America, where his
+miniature palace, furniture and equipage excited considerable curiosity.
+When he embarked from New York for England, he was escorted to the packet
+by not less than 10,000 persons.
+
+On 1 April, he appeared, by command, before Her Majesty at Buckingham
+Palace, when the Queen presented him, _with her own hand_, with “a superb
+souvenir, of the most exquisite handicraft, manufactured of mother of
+pearl, and mounted with gold and precious stones.  On one side are the
+crown and Royal initials, V.R., and, on the reverse, bouquets of flowers
+in enamel and rubies.  In addition to this splendid gift, Her Majesty
+subsequently presented the General with a beautiful gold pencil case,
+with the initials of Tom Thumb, and his coat of arms, engraved on the
+emerald surmounting the case.”
+
+       [Picture: Tom Thumb.  Ill. Lon. News, 24 Feb., 1844, p. 124]
+
+Anent this, _Punch_ is exceedingly satirical: “Her Majesty has again
+commanded ‘the performances of _Tom Thumb_, the Yankee Dwarf.’  This,
+indeed, was to have been expected.  We have only to reflect upon the
+countless acts of patronage towards the Arts and Sciences—had only to
+remember a few of the numerous personal condescensions of the Queen
+towards men of letters, artists and philosophers—to be assured that even
+TOM THUMB would be welcomed with that graceful cordiality which has,
+heretofore, made Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle the homes of Poetry
+and Science.  _De minimis curat Regina_!  Continental monarchs stop short
+in their Royal favours at full-grown authors and artists; but the
+enthusiasm of Her Majesty QUEEN VICTORIA, not content with showering all
+sorts of favours and rewards upon the literary and artistic spirits of
+her own country and age, lavishes, with prodigal hand, most delicate
+honours upon an American TOM THUMB, whose astounding genius it is, to
+measure, in his boots, five-and-twenty inches!  To this, how small is
+VICTOR HUGO at the Tuileries; to this, how mean and petty Göthe at the
+Court of Saxe-Weimar!
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+“TOM THUMB being—according to the biography published by his showman,
+BARNUM—the son of a Yankee carpenter, we should much like to know the
+General’s arms.  Did Her Majesty, before the ‘performance,’ send to learn
+them, that they might be duly engraved? or were they, as MATHEW’S French
+Shoemaker made his little boot, struck off in ‘a moment of enthusiasm’?”
+
+About this time came to us “that sweet boon,” THE POLKA.  Originally a
+Bohemian Peasant dance, it was imported into fashionable saloons of
+Berlin and St. Petersburg.  It was, at this time, the rage in Paris, as
+the _Times_ observes: “The Paris papers are destitute of news.  Our
+private letters state that ‘politics are, for the moment, suspended in
+public regard, by the new and all-absorbing pursuit—the Polka—a dance
+recently imported from Bohemia, and which embraces in its qualities the
+intimacy of the waltz, with the vivacity of the Irish jig.  You may
+conceive how completely is ‘the Polka’ the rage, from the fact that the
+lady of a celebrated ex-minister, desiring to figure in it at a _soirée
+dansante_, monopolised the professor, _par excellence_, of that
+_specialité_ for three hours, on Wednesday morning last, at 200 francs
+the hour.’”
+
+On its first importation into England, it was used as a _ballet_, on the
+stage, with very fancy Bohemian costume, as we may see in the three
+following illustrations of Mdlle. Carlotta Grisi and M. Perrot, dancing
+their idea of it at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1844.
+
+ [Picture: The Polka.—Figure 2.  Ill. Lon. News, 27 April, 1844, p. 301]
+
+But it soon became a Drawing-room dance, and it is edifying to know
+exactly how it was danced then.  It was found too elaborate, and the
+number of steps had to be reduced in quantity, and curtailed in quality.
+But this is the dance as given in the _Illustrated London News_ of 11
+May:
+
+                         “THE DRAWING-ROOM POLKA.
+
+We are much gratified in being enabled to lay before our readers an
+accurate description of the _véritable_, or _Drawing-room Polka_, as
+danced at Almack’s, and at the halls of the nobility and gentry of this
+country.
+
+_La Polka_ having appeared amongst us under so many different guises, we
+determined to spare no pains to procure a true description of its
+_danse_; for which we are indebted to Mrs. James Rae, who has been
+fortunate enough to secure the details from M. Coralli, fils, the
+instructor of the young noblemen and gentry in Paris.
+
+_La Polka_, like its predecessors, the waltz and galop, is a _danse à
+deux_, couples following each other in the _salle de danse_, commencing
+at pleasure, and adopting, of the following figures, that which pleases
+them most at the moment.  All those anxious to shine in _La Polka_, will
+dance the whole of them, returning from time to time, by way of rest, to
+the first figure.
+
+_The measure_, or time, is 2–4; but, to facilitate our definition, we
+subdivide each measure, or bar, into one—two—three—four; the accent on
+the two, etc., to be played not so fast as the galop.
+
+_The steps_ are two, and the following description may, in some measure,
+convey them to our readers; we commence with the first, and most general.
+At the one, hop on the right leg, lifting, or doubling up your left leg
+at the same moment; at the two, put your left leg boldly forward on the
+ground; at the three, bring your right toe up to your left heel; at the
+four, advance your left foot a short step forward: now, at the one, in
+the next measure, or bar of the time, hop on the left leg, doubling, or
+lifting up your right leg, and so on, proceeding in this step, with your
+arm encircling your partner’s waist, round the room.  This may be termed
+the first figure.
+
+Figure 2.—Still adopting the same step, with your right arm round your
+partner’s waist, and her right hand in your left, you place your lady
+exactly before you, and back all round the room, your lady pursuing you
+(as shown in the sketch); you then reverse this figure, and let your
+partner do the back step, whilst you pursue her, and, at the same time,
+carefully guide her round the room.
+
+   [Picture: The Drawing-room Polka.—Figure 2.  Ill. Lon. News, 11 May,
+                              1844, p. 301]
+
+In backing, the leg which in figure one, you put boldly forward on the
+ground, you now fling boldly backward, and are thus enabled to effect
+your progress round the room.
+
+Figure 3.—With the same step you waltz round the room—in other words, you
+perform the Galop waltz, substituting the Polka step as described.
+
+Figure 4.—This is also a waltz with the second step, which we will now
+describe as “the Heel and Toe step.”   At the one, make a little hop on
+your right leg, dropping your left heel close to your right foot; at the
+two, another little hop on the right leg, pointing your left toe (not
+forward, but as close to your right foot as possible); at the tree,
+another little hop on the right leg, advancing one step forward with the
+left foot; at the four, bring up the right foot, turning at the same
+instant, and passing your partner over to your left arm from your right
+arm; in your next measure, return your lady to your left arm, and so on.
+
+               [Picture: The Drawing-room Polka.—Figure 5]
+
+Figure 5.—This is termed the back waltz.  The step adopted in it by
+yourself and partner, is the back step described in figure two, and you
+turn in this waltz exactly the contrary way to that in which you turn in
+all other waltzes—hence its name.
+
+In _La Polka_, before commencing the figures we have just described,
+there is a short introduction (of which we give a sketch), consisting of
+four measures, danced thus; leading your partner from her seat, and
+giving her her place in the circle, and placing themselves _vis-à-vis_,
+you take her left hand in your right, and make the first step four
+times—first forward, then backward, forward again, and then backward,
+taking care to gain ground in the forward steps; you then start with the
+first figure.
+
+             [Picture: The Drawing-room Polka.—Introduction]
+
+There was a furore about the Polka; not only in dancing it, but there was
+an absolute mania for naming articles of dress after it.  Ladies wore
+Polka hats, Polka jackets and Polka boots, and men had Polka ties.
+Jullien published a new Polka about every fortnight, and the whole people
+were Polka mad.  Here is a street ballad on the subject:
+
+                           “JULLIEN’S GRAND POLKA.
+
+    Oh! sure the world is all run mad,
+    The lean, the fat, the gay, the sad—
+    All swear such pleasure they never had,
+    Till they did learn the Polka.
+
+                                  _Chorus_.
+
+       First cock up your right leg—so,
+       Balance on your left great toe,
+       Stamp your heels, and off you go
+       To the Original Polka.  Oh!
+
+    There’s Mrs. Tibbs, the tailor’s wife,
+    With Mother Briggs is sore at strife,
+    As if the first and last of life
+    Was but to learn the Polka.
+
+    Quadrilles and waltzes all give way,
+    For Jullien’s Polkas bear the sway,
+    The chimney sweeps, on first of May,
+    Do, in London, dance the Polka.
+
+    If a pretty girl you chance to meet,
+    With sparkling eyes and rosy cheek,
+    She’ll say, young man, we’ll have a treat,
+    If you can dance the Polka.
+
+    A lady who lives in this town,
+    Went and bought a Polka gown,
+    And for the same she gave five pound,
+    All for to dance the Polka.
+
+    But, going to the Ball one night,
+    On the way she got a dreadful fright,
+    She tumbled down and ruined quite
+    The gown to dance the Polka.
+
+    A Frenchman has arrived from France,
+    To teach the English how to dance,
+    And fill his pocket—“what a chance”—
+    By gammoning the Polka.
+
+    Professors swarm in every street,
+    ’Tis ground on barrel organs sweet;
+    And every friend you chance to meet
+    Asks, if you dance the Polka.
+
+    Then over Fanny Ellsler came,
+    Brilliant with trans-Atlantic fame;
+    Says she, I’m German by my name,
+    So best I know the Polka.
+
+    And the row de dow she danced,
+    And in short clothes and red heels pranced,
+    And, as she skipped, her red heels glanced
+    In the Bohemian Polka.
+
+    But, now, my song is near its close,
+    A secret, now, I will disclose,
+    Don’t tell, for it’s beneath the rose,
+    A humbug is the Polka.
+
+    Then heigh for humbug France or Spain,
+    Who brings back our old steps again,
+    Which John Bull will applaud amain,
+    Just as he does the Polka.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+An English dinner—Consols at par—The “Running Rein” case—Other
+frauds—Royal visitors—Opening letters by Government—Duke of Wellington’s
+Statue—Barry on the Thames—Visit of Louis Philippe—Guano—Queen opens
+Royal Exchange—Lord Mayor hissed.
+
+As the length of time between this date, and the present writing is
+great, and our social habits have somewhat changed, it may be interesting
+to some of my readers to hear a Frenchman’s account of an upper-class
+dinner.  It is taken from the _Constitutionel_, the organ of M. Thiers:
+
+    “Madeira wine has been out of fashion, in England, for some time.
+    Sherry and Port (to which are occasionally added Bordeaux and
+    Champagne, Rhenish wines and Hermitage) are, now, the only wines to
+    be seen on the tables of the rich.  As for beer (the national drink),
+    it only makes its appearance at a banquet, for remembrance sake, and
+    in very small quantity.  Port wine is held in especial favour by the
+    English, because, while it is more impregnated with alcohol than any
+    other, it is, at the same time the least irritating, and facilitates,
+    more than all the rest, the important operations of the digestive
+    organs.  In order, however, to be possessed of all the requisite
+    qualities, it must not only be of the finest growth, or have been
+    eight or nine years in the cellar, but the regular connoisseurs
+    insist that it must cross the line several times, in order to be
+    first-rate.  Five or six servants, with powdered wigs, in silk
+    stockings and knee breeches, hover about the table.  The covers are
+    always changed at every successive course, and there is no fear of
+    eating off the dirty plate of one’s neighbour, or using his knife or
+    fork, the sideboard being laden with piles of plates and conveniences
+    of every description.  After fish, which always constitutes the first
+    course, the host invites one of his guests to drink a glass of wine
+    with him, desiring him to help himself to that which he likes best.
+    You take that which is offered you.  Your host then pours out a glass
+    for himself, and sends you the bottle by a servant.  You fill your
+    glass, you raise it to your lips with a half bow, and drink as much
+    of it as you feel inclined.  The same ceremony is repeated among the
+    other guests.  It should be mentioned that, if you ask a lady to take
+    wine, you always fill her glass before your own; but, if you invite a
+    gentleman so to do, you never fail to help yourself first.  This
+    custom was, formerly, very inconvenient to strangers, it being, then,
+    absolutely necessary to empty one’s glass; at present, you need only
+    drink a portion, and ladies may satisfy the rules of etiquette by
+    merely moistening their lips.  After fish, come roast meats, boiled
+    vegetables, and various delicate sauces, with which you make your
+    _cuisine_ upon your own plate; puddings and game of all sorts follow,
+    amongst which there is, always, to begin with, one dish, especially
+    appropriate to the season.  It is to the former article of diet
+    (puddings), that English children are indebted, it is said, for their
+    excellent health, and their magnificent rosy complexions.  The cloth
+    is at length removed, and the mahogany table shines forth in all its
+    splendour.  Dessert follows, consisting of a few sweetmeats, or
+    _confitures_, but abounding in fruits from all five parts of the
+    world, and the produce of all the four seasons, and including superb
+    pineapples, Portugal grapes, almonds, red nuts of a delicious
+    flavour, dates, figs, rich juicy oranges, etc., etc.  The wine is
+    brought on in glass decanters, ticketed and placed in silver stands.
+    These stands glide along the shining table, which is as smooth as
+    ice, in the midst of silver, or crystal vases filled with fruit, etc.
+    The host, after helping himself to wine, pushes about the whole
+    ‘battery’ of decanters, which, going the round of the table, soon
+    regain their original situation.  A quarter of an hour elapses, when
+    the mistress of the house rises and retires, followed by all the
+    ladies.  It is then that the _séance de vin_ begins.  The subject of
+    conversation soon changes, and political questions are discussed.
+    The conversation, without getting stormy, acquires that degree of
+    warmth and animation, which a good dinner, when one is blessed with a
+    strong head and a good digestion, generally inspires.  Hard drinking
+    has, generally speaking, fallen into desuetude.  It is only
+    foxhunters and country gentlemen who remain faithful, nowadays, to
+    that ignoble custom.  A gentleman who has any self-respect, never so
+    far forgets himself as to get tipsy, for he would certainly be looked
+    upon with an evil eye, by the company, if he were to enter the
+    drawing-room with an indistinct articulation, or with trembling legs.
+    Dinner is over about half-past nine.  The gentlemen then rejoin the
+    ladies to take tea and coffee, and the conversation turns, as before,
+    upon the news of the day.”
+
+On 8 April, Consols rose to par, or £100 for £100 stock, for the first
+time for nearly a century.  The last time they were at £100 was in 1749,
+the year after the peace of Aix la Chapelle; at which period the public
+debt was rather more than £78,000,000.  The highest price the Three per
+Cents, ever rose to, previously, was in June, 1737, and again, in May,
+1739, when they attained the high price of £107.  In September, 1797,
+they fell to 47⅜, which is the lowest price to which they have ever
+fallen.
+
+On 23 May, the Derby was won by a horse called _Running Rein_, which was
+the occasion of an Action in the Court of Exchequer, on 1 July, before
+Baron Alderson.  It was alleged that the horse had not been truly
+described, that he was not of the age which qualified him to run for the
+Derby, and that he ought not, therefore, to be deemed the winner of the
+race.  Colonel Peel, the owner of Orlando, the second horse, claimed the
+stakes, on the ground that Running Rein was not the horse represented;
+and Mr. Wood, the owner of Running Rein, brought this action against the
+Colonel.
+
+Mr. Cockburn, who conducted the plaintiff’s case, gave the pedigree of
+Running Rein, and his whole history.  Among other things, Mr. Cockburn
+mentioned that, in October, 1843, Running Rein won a race at Newmarket;
+that he was objected to on the score of age; but, eventually, the
+stewards had decided in his favour.  The horse was, originally, the
+property of Mr. Goodman; and, Mr. Cockburn said, it was because suspicion
+attached to some transactions of Goodman, and because certain persons had
+betted heavily against Running Rein, that opposition was raised against
+Mr. Wood receiving the stakes.  He made a severe attack on Lord George
+Bentinck, who, he asserted, was the real party in the cause.  Witnesses
+for the plaintiff described the horse at various periods of its career;
+it was of a bay colour, with black legs, and a little white on the
+forehead; its heels were cracked, and, in 1842, it broke the skin on one
+leg, which left a scar.  George Hitchcock, a breaker of colts, employed
+to break Running Rein in October, 1842, was cross-examined to this
+effect:
+
+    “I know George Dockeray, the trainer.  I never said to him, ‘Damn it,
+    this colt has been broken before; here is the mark of the pad on his
+    back.’  I showed him the mark, but I never said those words, or any
+    words to that effect.  I don’t know why I showed him the mark.  It
+    was not big enough for the mark of a pad, and it was not the place
+    for the saddle to make it.  I told Lord George Bentinck the same.
+    The mark of the pad never wears out.  I recollect being asked, in the
+    presence of Mr. Smith, what I had there? and I recollect answering, a
+    four-year-old.  I have not the slightest doubt of it.  Mr. Smith
+    struck me for it.  I did not say, afterwards, that I had forgotten
+    all about the horsewhipping, and that the marks of the pad had worn
+    out.  I never said, either, that somebody had behaved very well to
+    me.”
+
+At an early period of the examination of witnesses, Mr. Baron Alderson
+expressed a wish that he and the jury should see the horse; and Mr.
+Cockburn said he had no objection.  On the cross-examination of William
+Smith, a training groom residing at Epsom, it came out that the horse had
+been smuggled out of the way, that it might not be seen by the
+defendant’s agents.  The judge, animadverting on this, and on the evident
+perjury of the witness, said it would be better that the horse should be
+seen by him and other parties.  The Solicitor-General, who appeared for
+the defendant, was anxious that the horse should be seen by veterinary
+surgeons.  To which the other side objected, maintaining that the mark of
+mouth, by which, alone, those surgeons could judge of the age of a horse,
+was a fallible criterion.
+
+On the conclusion of the evidence for the plaintiff, the
+Solicitor-General, in addressing the jury for the defence, denounced the
+case as a gross and scandalous fraud on the part of the plaintiff.  The
+case for the defendant was, that the horse was not Running Rein at all,
+but a colt by Gladiator, out of a dam belonging originally to Sir Charles
+Ibbotson; and that it had the name, Running Rein, imposed upon it, being
+originally called Maccabeus, and having been entered for certain stakes
+under that designation.  But his allegations were against Goodman, not
+against Mr. Wood; the former had entered into a conspiracy with other
+persons to run horses above the proper age.  The Gladiator colt had been
+entered for races, under the name of Maccabeus, before Goodman purchased
+him; and to run these races while the colt was in training for the Derby,
+for which he was entered as Running Rein, Goodman hired an Irish horse,
+which he disguised as Maccabeus, though a year older than that horse.
+The Gladiator colt, the _soi-disant_ Running Rein, when he ran for the
+Derby, in 1844, was four years old, the race being for three-year-old
+horses.  After hearing some evidence in support of these statements, the
+case was adjourned till the following day.
+
+The next day, when Mr. Baron Alderson took his seat upon the Bench, a
+conversation ensued between Mr. Cockburn and the Judge, respecting the
+production of the horse.  Mr. Cockburn asserted that it had been taken
+away without Mr. Wood’s knowledge, and thus it was out of his power to
+produce it; he felt it would be vain to strive against the effect which
+must be felt by the non-production of the horse, after the remarks of the
+learned Judge on that point.  After some conversation, however, the case
+proceeded, and two witnesses for the defence were examined, whose
+evidence went to prove that Running Rein was, in fact, the Gladiator
+colt.  Mr. George Odell, a horse dealer at Northampton, said he could
+swear to that fact; the colt had two marks on one leg.
+
+Mr. Baron Alderson remarked: “Now, if we could see the horse, that would
+prove the case.  Who keeps him away?  It is quite childish to act in this
+manner.”
+
+Mr. Cockburn now stated that Mr. Wood was convinced that he had been
+deceived, and gave up the case.
+
+Mr. Baron Alderson then briefly addressed the jury with much warmth, and
+in a most emphatic manner; directing them to find a verdict for the
+defendant, observing:
+
+“Since the opening of the case, a most atrocious fraud has proved to have
+been practised; and I have seen, with great regret, gentlemen associating
+themselves with persons much below themselves in station.  If gentlemen
+would associate with gentlemen, and race with gentlemen, we should have
+no such practices.  But, if gentlemen will condescend to race with
+blackguards, they must expect to be cheated.”
+
+The jury found for the defendant, and the effect of their verdict was,
+that the Derby Stakes went to Orlando, and that Crenoline should be
+considered the winner of the Two-Year-Old Plate at Newmarket, run the
+previous year.
+
+_Punch_, in commenting upon Mr. Baron Alderson’s remarks, says: “They”
+(the gentlemen) “go among these knaves and swindlers, these low-bred
+ruffians, reeking of gin and the stables, _to make money of them_.  They
+associate with boors and grooms, Jew gambling-house keepers, boxers and
+bullies, for money’s sake to be sure.  What other motive could bring such
+dandies into communication with such scoundrels, any more than he would
+willingly incur an infection, unless he had some end in view.  And the
+noble patrons of the Turf _have_ a great end in view—that of money.”
+
+This ought to have been sufficient roguery, one would think, for one
+race, but it was not.  A horse, named Rattan, was so evidently “nobbled,”
+that two men connected with it, Rogers and Braham, were warned off all
+the Jockey Club’s premises.
+
+And yet another case.  A horse, named Leander, ran in this race, and so
+injured its leg, that it was shot.  Shortly afterwards, it was suspected
+that it was four, instead of three years old; and, on its being exhumed,
+_the lower jaw was missing_.  The resurrectionists, however, cut off the
+head, and veterinary experts confirmed the previous suspicions.  For
+this, the owners, Messrs. Lichtwald, were, for ever, disqualified from
+racing.  This case occupied much time before the Select Committee of the
+House of Lords.
+
+The Select Committee on Gaming, in the Commons, in 1844, report that:
+“Your Committee have some evidence to show that frauds are, occasionally,
+committed in Horse Racing, and in betting on the Turf; but they feel
+difficulty in suggesting any remedy for this evil, more stringent, or
+more likely to be effectual, than those already in existence.”
+
+On June 1, two Royal visitors arrived here, the Emperor of Russia and the
+King of Saxony.  They had to pay the usual penalty of hard labour for a
+week.
+
+In the House of Commons, on 14 June, Mr. T. Duncombe presented a petition
+from W. J. Linton, Joseph Mazzini, and two others, complaining of their
+letters being opened before delivery, and praying that “The House would
+be pleased to grant, without delay, a Committee to inquire and give
+immediate redress to the petitioners, and prevent the recurrence of so
+unconstitutional and infamous a practice.”  Sir James Graham (Home
+Secretary) replied that “the House must be aware that from as early a
+period as the reign of Queen Anne, power existed in the hands of the
+Principal Secretary of State, to detain and open letters passing through
+the Post Office; and the House would also be aware that this power had
+come under the review of Parliament, at so late a period as the year
+1837, and by the Act of 1 Vic., this power of issuing warrants to open
+and detain letters, continued still vested in the Secretaries of State.
+He must, for fear of creating misapprehension by his answer, state that
+the circumstances mentioned in the petition were, to a great extent,
+untrue.  As to three of the petitioners, he doubted if their letters had
+ever been detained, and no warrant as to them had been issued; but, as to
+one of the petitioners, he had to state, that, on his responsibility, a
+warrant had been issued as to the correspondence of that person, which
+warrant was no longer in force.”
+
+On 2 July, a Committee of Secrecy was appointed “to inquire into the
+state of the Law in respect to the detaining and opening of Letters at
+the General Post Office, and into the mode under which the authority
+given for such detaining and opening has been exercised, and to report
+their opinion and observations thereupon to the House.”  The Committee
+met, took evidence, and duly reported, when it being shewn that the
+privilege was not often exercised (the total number of warrants issued
+between 1799 and 1844 being only 372), and that, of late years, the
+average of warrants had decreased, the public were satisfied, and the
+subject dropped.
+
+Chantrey’s equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, which stands in
+front of the Royal Exchange, was uncovered, amidst much cheering.  It
+cost £9,000 besides the metal.
+
+                [Picture: Barry, the Clown, on the Thames]
+
+On 23 Sept. Barry, a clown at Astley’s, fulfilled his promise of sailing
+in a washing-tub drawn by geese, from Vauxhall to Westminster.  He
+successfully accomplished his voyage, and repeated it on Oct. 11, from
+the Red House, Battersea (where now is Battersea Park), to Vauxhall.
+
+On 8 Oct. Louis Philippe, the King of the French, landed at Portsmouth on
+a visit to the Queen.  He was made a Knight of the Garter, and generally
+fêted, and should have returned to France, from Portsmouth on the 12th,
+but the sea was too rough, and he had to cross from Dover, instead; but
+even this trip was delayed by a great conflagration at New Cross Station,
+so that he really did not depart until the 13th.
+
+I meet with the first mention of that eminent fertiliser, Guano, in a
+commercial point of view, in the _Times_ of the 18 Oct., where it says
+that on 16th were put up for sale, at Liverpool, in lots of 10 tons each,
+180 tons of the best African guano.  But one lot of five tons was sold,
+and that fetched £5 12s. 6d.  The next lot was not sold, in consequence
+of the price offered being under that, and the whole of the remaining
+lots were withdrawn, there being no probability of the reserved price
+being realised.  It was then being fetched from Ichaboe, an island off
+the south-west coast of Africa—but it was afterwards procured in large
+quantities from the Chincha Islands, off the coast of Peru.
+
+On 28 Oct. the Queen opened the New Royal Exchange, with great State, and
+the Lord Mayor (W. Magnay, Esq.) was made a baronet; the reading-room at
+Lloyd’s was made into a Throne room for the occasion, and a sumptuous
+_déjeuner_ was served in the Underwriters’ room.  It was a very imposing
+pageant and pretty sight; but, although the Exchange was formally opened,
+no merchants assembled within its quadrangle until the first of the
+following January.
+
+Whilst on matters civic I must mention the very rare fact of Sir William
+Magnay’s successor in the office of Lord Mayor (Mr. Alderman Gibbs),
+being hooted and yelled at, on 9 Nov., whilst going to Westminster, and
+returning thence.  He had been churchwarden of St. Stephen’s, Walbrook,
+and the popular mind was imbued with the idea that something was wrong
+with his accounts, so they virtuously insulted him.  He had a hard enough
+time of it both by land and water, when going, what his returning was, is
+best told by a contemporary:
+
+“The ceremony within the Court of Exchequer having terminated, similar
+uproarious shouts to those which had hailed the arrival of the new Lord
+Mayor, now marked his embarcation for the city; and, in his passage down
+the Thames, with but here and there a solitary exception, the civic barge
+was the target of repeated vollies of yells and groans, levelled by no
+unskilful, or ineffective voices at it, from the banks and bridges of the
+river.  The landing at Blackfriars was attended with a more concentrated
+attack of ‘public execration,’ for, there, an immense multitude was
+wedged together, anxious to be spectators of the scene, though not
+inactive ones.  On the procession passed amid the continued
+manifestations of public disapprobation of the present, and respect for
+the retiring Lord Mayor.  Many interrogations of a searching nature were
+repeatedly bawled forth, not that they could reach the right honourable
+ear, but they were exercises in that peculiar art, styled ‘talking at
+folks.’  The same description must apply to Ludgate Hill, St. Paul’s
+Churchyard, and Cheapside, in which place some merriment was created by a
+party chanting in appropriate style:
+
+    ‘Oh, Alderman Gibbs,
+    Pray dub up the dibbs!’
+
+“It was somewhat after 4 o’clock, when the cortège arrived at the bottom
+of King Street, where, immediately before Guildhall Yard, about 2,000
+persons had collected, and others pressing out of the several streets,
+caused a dense mass to be formed.  This was the place where a parting
+salutation was to be presented to the new Lord Mayor, by his pitiless
+persecutors, and a very good view of the scene was attainable from an
+upper window at the western angle of Gresham Street.  Hearty and
+continued cheering announced the progress of Sir William Magnay; but, as
+soon as the State coach with the new Lord Mayor arrived, the yells and
+groans which broke forth, were perfectly stunning.  Never was the manner
+in which the two Lord Mayors had been received throughout the day, marked
+with stronger contrast.  The accumulation of carriages in Guildhall Yard,
+caused the detention of the State coach for some minutes, during which a
+real tempest of execration was poured forth upon the unfortunate
+gentleman; and many persons did not hesitate to testify their dislike to
+him in a manner to be condemned, by spitting at the carriage, their
+distance from which, however, defeated their intention.  In truth, Mr.
+Gibbs had to endure a perpetual and pitiless storm of hisses, yells,
+groans, gibes, sneers and jeers; and at every stoppage where the crowd
+was in close proximity to his carriage, unusually furious bursts of
+indignation broke forth; yet no missile was thrown during any portion of
+the day.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+Murder by Tawell—Curious story—King William IV.’s Statue—Visits by the
+Queen—Testimonial to Rowland Hill—Breaking the Portland Vase—Sad end of
+William Austin—Sale of Van Amburgh’s stud—Hungerford Suspension
+bridge—Accident at Yarmouth—An Excise case—Beginning of the Railway
+Mania—Sailing of Sir J. Franklin.
+
+This year begins badly—with a murder—which I should not chronicle, were
+it not that it was the first case in which the electric telegraph lent
+its services for the detection of a crime.  A man named John Tawell, a
+member of the Society of Friends, and who occupied a decent position in
+life, poisoned a poor woman at Salt Hill.  A Quaker who seemed much
+confused had been met close by her house, and he went by train from
+Slough to Paddington.  Suspicion being aroused, a message was sent from
+Slough, giving a description of him, and asking that he should be
+shadowed on his arrival.  This was done, and, next day, he was arrested.
+He was tried, found guilty, and duly executed.  The case, at the time,
+created an immense sensation, mainly because the villain was a member of
+the Society of Friends.  _Apropos_ of this, the _Observer_ of 23 March is
+responsible for the following:
+
+    “THE MURDERER TAWELL.—The following strange statement has been made
+    by a person, who is a Quaker, living near Berkhampstead, and who is
+    acquainted with Tawell: About a year ago, the stillness and decorum
+    of the Quakers’ meeting at Berkhampstead, at which Tawell attended,
+    was disturbed by one of the male members, who suddenly rose from his
+    seat and exclaimed, with frantic earnestness, that there was then
+    present, a person who was, at that very moment, meditating a most
+    fearful crime.  His conviction was so strong, that he passionately
+    besought this individual, whoever, he might be, to reflect upon the
+    wickedness of his intention, and to implore his Maker’s pardon for
+    his murderous thoughts.  As may be imagined, the Friends were thrown
+    into great consternation by this strange and impetuous appeal, and
+    the meeting broke up in alarm and confusion.  Tawell was present at
+    the time.”
+
+Early in January the statue of King William IV., by Samuel Nixon, was
+placed on its pedestal, fronting London Bridge; but, as far as I know,
+there was no public ceremony at its inauguration, for the _Times_ of 1
+Feb. says: “That workmen are now actively employed in cleansing down the
+colossal figure of King William IV., preparatory to the hoarding being
+removed, and the statue thrown open to the view of the public.  The base
+will present a very novel and pleasing appearance, it being ornamented
+with numerous naval trophies.  The four cross footpaths leading to the
+figure will be lighted by four gas lamps, on massive granite pillars.  In
+a few days the whole work will be completed, when it will be inspected by
+Her Majesty, the Queen Dowager, and His Royal Highness Prince Albert,
+those illustrious personages having intimated their desire to view it
+when finished.”@
+
+On 15 January the Queen paid a visit to the Duke of Buckingham, at Stowe,
+and the magnificence of her reception had much to do with the financial
+collapse of the too generous Duke.  On leaving Stowe she went to
+Strathfieldsaye to stay with the Duke of Wellington.  It was on this
+occasion that the old Duke gave a lesson to the gentlemen of the Press,
+which the interviewers of our times might well take to heart:
+“Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr.
+---, and begs to say he does not see what his house at Strathfieldsaye
+has to do with the public press.”
+
+On 21 Jan. a National Testimonial was presented to Rowland Hill for his
+labours in connection with the introduction of the Penny Post, and Mr.
+Larpent, the Chairman of the City of London Mercantile Committee on
+Postage, handed him a cheque for £10,000, which handsome sum had been
+raised by a public subscription, which was not confined to the mercantile
+community alone, persons of every rank, and of both sexes, contributing
+amounts varying from large sums to a few pence.
+
+Just before the closing of the British Museum at 4 p.m. on 7 Feb., a
+crash was heard, and the famous Barberini, or Portland Vase, was found in
+pieces on the floor.  A man, named Lloyd, in a fit of delirium produced
+by drink, had smashed it out of pure wantonness.  The vase was valued at
+£1,000 by the Museum authorities, but, of course, that sum was purely
+nominal, as the vase was unique.  It was deposited in the British Museum
+in the year 1810 by the Duke of Portland, and was considered as his
+property; hence the name of the “Portland Vase.”  It was found about the
+middle of the 16th century, about two and a half miles from Rome, on the
+road leading from Frascati.  At the time of its discovery it was enclosed
+in a marble sarcophagus, within a sepulchral chamber, under the mount
+called Monte di Grano.  The material of which it is made is glass, the
+body being of a beautiful transparent dark blue, enriched with figures in
+relief, of opaque white glass.  For more than two centuries it was the
+principal object of admiration in the Barberini Palace.  It came into the
+possession of Sir William Hamilton, from whom it was purchased by the
+Duchess of Portland.
+
+On 11 Feb. the delinquent was brought before Mr. Jardine, at Bow Street,
+and the Museum authorities electing to prosecute him for the minor
+offence of breaking the glass case which held the vase, and which was
+under the value of £5, he was convicted of that offence, and sentenced to
+pay £3, or two months’ hard labour in the House of Correction.  He could
+not pay, and was committed to prison, in default, but on 13 Feb., someone
+paid the money, and the man was released.
+
+An employé of the British Museum, named Doubleday, undertook, and
+effected, the restoration of the Vase, and it may now be seen in the Gold
+Room of the British Museum, but, alas! “all the King’s horses, and all
+the King’s men,” can never make it as it was.  Wedgwood feebly reproduced
+it in ceramic ware, copies of which are now worth £200 each, and one
+copy, if not more, was made in silver.
+
+I come across a curious paragraph in the _Morning Post_ of March 13:
+“WILLIAM AUSTIN.—This person, whose name must be familiar to all who have
+had any acquaintance with the history of the Parliamentary proceedings in
+the case of the late Queen Caroline, or the eventful life of that unhappy
+Princess, arrived in London, last week, from Milan, where he has been
+residing for several years, for the most part, in a state of fatuity, the
+inmate of a lunatic asylum.  We understand that he has been removed to
+this country through the intervention of the British Government, under an
+authority from the Lord Chancellor, in whose care, his person, and some
+considerable property, left to him by the late Queen, have been placed by
+certain proceedings on the part of his relations.  He was conveyed hither
+from Milan under the charge of a medical and two other attendants; and
+immediately on his arrival, was visited by two London physicians, who,
+after an interview with him of some duration, at the hotel where he
+stopped, signed the necessary certificate for his detention in a private
+asylum, where he now remains.  Austin is a very good-looking man,
+apparently about 40 years of age; and though, beyond doubt, mentally
+enfeebled, has no betrayal of such imbecility in the expression of his
+face.  He has been in his present unfortunate condition since the year
+1830; and, for a great part of that time, he has maintained an immovable
+taciturnity.  No ingenuity has been able to extract a syllable from him.
+He answers no questions, nor asks any—enters into no conversation—and,
+even during the whole journey from Milan to London, he never spoke a word
+to his attendants, or any one else.  Neither could the medical gentlemen
+who waited upon him here induce him to reply to any of their inquiries;
+and no doubt, this fact, of itself, formed no inconsiderable ingredient
+in the judgment at which they arrived.  The unhappy man is extremely
+docile, has no disposition to violence, and readily understands and obeys
+any signs made to him.”
+
+Van Amburgh’s stud, lions, etc., were sold at Manchester on 17 March, and
+fetched high prices; a fine black maned lion, £350; another, 6 years old,
+£310; two lion cubs, eight months old, male and female, sold, the one for
+£12 10/-, the other for £35.  An elephant realised £750, and a giraffe
+£400.
+
+Hungerford Suspension Bridge, the first of its kind over the Thames, was
+opened on 1 May, and, although a toll was demanded, it was calculated
+that, before dusk, some 25,000 persons had crossed from one side of the
+Thames to the other.  It was taken down in July, 1862, to make room for
+the Charing Cross Railway Bridge.  It was transferred to Clifton, and
+there opened, on 8 Dec., 1864, and it now spans the Avon.
+
+On the next day (2 May) a terrible accident occurred at the Suspension
+bridge at Great Yarmouth.  A clown was to emulate Barry’s folly, and
+cross the river in a washing-tub drawn by geese; and thousands of people
+assembled to see him, of whom a great number (accounts vary from 300 to
+600), containing very many children, were on the bridge.  Some of the
+suspension rods snapped, and the crowd fell into the water.  Every
+assistance was rendered, but the number of recovered dead bodies, nearly
+all children, or young persons, was 77, and many are supposed to have
+been swept away by the current.
+
+On the 2nd of May, the famous Excise trial at Bar, _i.e._, before twelve
+judges, the Attorney General _v._ Smith, came to an end, after lasting
+eight days.  Mr. George Smith was a distiller, in a large way of
+business, at Whitechapel, and the premises of his brother James, who was
+a rectifier, adjoined his.  The law forbids the junction of the
+businesses of distilling and rectifying, or any communication between
+premises carrying on such businesses; and, in this case, it was presumed
+that all spirit would be conveyed from one to the other by means of the
+highway.  But the contention of the prosecution was, that the Excise
+officers, finding a great deficiency in the spirits ostensibly produced,
+as compared with the “wash,” had detected holes in a large receiver, and
+found, moreover, that they could themselves convey spirits from the
+distillery to the rectifying house, through pipes under ground, which
+were mixed up with those which supplied water, and so escaped detection.
+This the defendants denied, and brought forward evidence that the pipes
+were obsolete and disused.  In the end, the verdict of the jury was, “We
+find for the Crown; but we are anxious to express our opinion that there
+has not been any evidence adduced before us which shows that the pipe has
+been fraudently used by the defendant.”  The amount of damages claimed by
+the Crown was £150,000; but, by agreement, this was reduced to £76,000;
+and, finally, after an appeal from Mr. Smith, the Government were content
+with a cheque for £10,000.
+
+About this time commenced what is well termed “The Railway Mania,” or,
+rather, public attention was particularly called to it, as it was
+becoming a crying scandal.  So much so, that it attracted the notice of
+the legislature; and, if we look at a “Return to the Order of the
+Honourable the House of Commons, dated 8th April, 1845, for an
+alphabetical list of the Names, Description, and Places of Abode, of all
+Persons subscribing to the Amount of £2,000 and upwards to any Railway
+Subscription Contract deposited in the Private Bill Office during the
+present Session of Parliament,” we shall see that amongst the names will
+be found many of the leading nobility, large manufacturing firms, names
+well known in commerce and literature, mingled together in a most
+heterogeneous manner.  The same column shows a combination of peers and
+printers, vicars and vice-admirals, spinsters and half-pay officers,
+Members of Parliament and special pleaders, professors and cotton
+spinners, gentlemen’s cooks and KC.’s, attorneys’ clerks and college
+scouts, waiters at Lloyd’s, relieving officers and excisemen, editors and
+engineers, barristers and butchers, Catholic priests and coachmen,
+dairymen and dyers, braziers, bankers, beer sellers and butlers, domestic
+servants, footmen and mail guards, and almost every calling under the
+sun.
+
+And these, it must be remembered, were subscribers for £2,000 and
+upwards; those who put down their names for less were supposed to be
+holders of £21,386 6s. 4d. in Stock.
+
+Of course, _Punch_ could not overlook this mania for speculation, and we
+find the following in the number for 31 May:
+
+    “The night was stormy and dark.  The town was shut up in sleep;  Only
+    those were abroad who were out on a lark,  Or those, who’d no beds to
+    keep.
+
+       [Picture: “How many hundred shares have you wrote for?” Railroad
+                                 Speculators]
+
+    “I pass’d through the lonely street,  The wind did sing and blow;  I
+    could hear the policeman’s feet  Clapping to and fro.
+
+    “There stood a potato-man  In the midst of all the wet; He stood with
+    his ’tato can  In the lonely Haymarket.
+
+    “Two gents of dismal mien, And dank and greasy rags.  Came out of a
+    shop for gin,  Swaggering over the flags:
+
+    “Swaggering over the stones,  Those shabby bucks did walk;  And I
+    went and followed those needy ones,  And listened to their talk.
+
+    “Was I sober, or awake?  Could I believe my ears?  Those dismal
+    beggars spake  Of nothing but railroad shares.
+
+    “I wondered more and more; Says one, ‘Good friend of mine,  How many
+    shares have you wrote for  In the Diddlesex Junction Line?’
+
+    “‘I wrote for twenty,’ says Jim,  ‘But they wouldn’t give me one’;
+    His comrade straight rebuked him  For the folly he had done:
+
+    “‘Oh, Jim, you are unawares  Of the ways of this bad town;  _I_
+    always write for five hundred shares,  And _then_, they put me down.’
+
+    “‘And yet you got no shares,’  says Jim, ‘for all your boast’;  ‘I
+    _would_ have wrote,’ says Jack, ‘but where  Was the penny to pay the
+    post?’
+
+    “‘I lost, for I couldn’t pay  That first instalment up;  But, here’s
+    taters smoking hot, I say  Let’s stop, my boy, and sup.’
+
+    “And at this simple feast,  The while they did regale,  I drew each
+    ragged capitalist  Down on my left thumb nail.
+
+    “Their talk did me perplex,  All night I tumbled and tossed,  And I
+    thought of railroad specs,  And how money was won and lost.
+
+    “‘Bless railroads everywhere,’  I said, ‘and the world’s advance;
+    Bless every railroad share  In Italy, Ireland, France;  For never a
+    beggar need now despair,  And every rogue has a chance.’”
+
+And yet another extract.  Who does not remember Thackeray’s _Diary of C.
+Jeames de la Pluche_, _Esqre._? but few know how the idea was started.
+It was by W. M. T. himself in _Punch_ of Aug. 2:
+
+                           A LUCKY SPECULATOR.
+
+Considerable sensation has been excited in the upper and lower circles in
+the West End, by a startling piece of good fortune which has befallen
+JAMES PLUSH ESQ., lately footman in a respected family in Berkeley
+Square.
+
+One day, last week, MR. JAMES waited upon his master, who is a banker in
+the City; and, after a little blushing and hesitation, said he had saved
+a little money in service, and was anxious to retire, and invest his
+savings to advantage.
+
+His master (we believe we may mention, without offending delicacy, the
+well-known name of SIR GEORGE FLIMSY, of the firm of FLIMSY, DIDDLER AND
+FLASH) smilingly asked MR. JAMES what was the amount of his savings,
+wondering considerably how—out of an income of thirty guineas, the main
+part of which he spent in bouquets, silk stockings and perfumery—MR.
+PLUSH could have managed to lay by anything.
+
+MR. PLUSH, with some hesitation, said he had been _speculating in
+railroads_, and stated his winnings to have been thirty thousand pounds.
+He had commenced his speculations with twenty, borrowed from a
+fellow-servant.  He had dated his letters from the house in Berkeley
+Square, and humbly begged pardon of his master, for not having instructed
+the railway secretaries, who answered the applications, to apply at the
+area bell.
+
+SIR GEORGE, who was at breakfast, instantly arose, and shook Mr. P. by
+the hand; LADY FLIMSY begged him to be seated, and partake of the
+breakfast which he had laid on the table; and has, subsequently, invited
+him to her grand _déjeuner_ at Richmond, where it was observed that MISS
+EMILY FLIMSY, her beautiful and accomplished seventh daughter, paid the
+lucky gentleman _marked_ attention.
+
+We hear it stated that Mr. P. is of very ancient family (HUGO DE LA
+PLUCHE came over with the Conqueror); and the new Brougham which he has
+started, bears the ancient coat of his race.
+
+He has taken apartments at the Albany, and is a director of thirty-three
+railroads.  He purposes to stand for Parliament at the next general
+election, on decidedly conservative principles, which have always been
+the politics of his family.
+
+Report says that, even in his humble capacity, MISS EMILY FLIMSY had
+remarked his high demeanour.  Well, “none but the brave,” say we,
+“deserve the fair.”
+
+This we may call the commencement of the mania; in their proper places
+will be noticed its culmination and collapse.
+
+On 18 May sailed from Greenhithe the two Arctic discovery ships, the
+_Erebus_ and _Terror_, under the command of Sir John Franklin, whose
+instructions were “to push to the westward, without loss of time, in the
+latitude of about 74¼ degrees, till you have reached the longitude of
+that portion of land on which Cape Walker is situated, or about 98
+degrees west.  From that point we desire that every effort be used to
+endeavour to penetrate to the southward and westward, in a course as
+direct towards Behring’s Straits as the position and strength of the ice,
+or the existence of land, at present unknown, may admit.  We direct you
+to this particular part of the Polar Sea, as affording the best prospect
+of accomplishing the passage to the Pacific.”
+
+They were provisioned for three years, but when, in 1850, Captain
+Ommanney discovered, on Beechey Island, traces of the expedition having
+spent their first winter there, he found large stacks of preserved meat
+canisters, which, there is little doubt, contained putrid filth, and had
+been condemned by survey.
+
+As nothing was heard of the expedition, another was organised, in 1847,
+to start, for search and relief, from Hudson’s Bay; and, indeed, no one
+can say that the two exploring vessels were forgotten; for, from that
+date, till 1857, _thirty-nine different expeditions were sent to look
+after them_.  The first to find traces of them was that of Capt.
+Ommanney, in 1850; then, in April, 1854, Dr. Rae heard, from the natives,
+of a party of white men having been seen, four winters previously, and
+that their bodies had afterwards been seen.  From these Eskimo, Rae
+obtained some silver spoons and other small articles which left no doubt
+but that they had belonged to the ill-fated expedition.  But it was the
+_Fox_ yacht, which was fitted out by Lady Franklin, and commanded by
+Capt. McClintock, which settled the question of their fate.  Early in
+1859, a boat, a few skeletons, chronometers, clothing, instruments,
+watches, plate, books, etc., were discovered; and, towards the end of
+May, a written paper was found, which gave news of them up to 25 Apl.,
+1848, and told that “Sir John Franklin died on 11 June, 1847, and the
+total losses by deaths in the expedition has been, to this date, nine
+officers and 15 men; we start on, to-morrow, 26th, for Back’s Fish
+River.”  From the Eskimo was learned how one of the ships sunk in deep
+water, and the other was wrecked, after which they all perished
+miserably, some “falling down and dying as they walked,” as an old woman
+told Capt. McClintock.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+
+The Queen’s Costume Ball—Copper Coinage of William IV.—New Oxford Street
+opened—Sale of Napoleon’s relics—Story of Nelson’s coat—Visit of King of
+the Netherlands—Railway speculation—Hire of newspapers—Reverse of
+fortune—Prince Albert and his taxes—Waghorn’s overland route.
+
+The Queen gave a Costume Ball, at Buckingham Palace, on 6th June, which
+was a magnificent affair, and gave plenty of food for conversation.
+Every guest had to appear in a costume appropriate to the period of
+English history between 1740 and 1750; but, with the exception of the
+minuet, the dances were modern.
+
+I have only space for the dresses of the Queen and Prince Albert.  Her
+Majesty’s dress was composed of gold tissue, brocaded in coloured
+flowers, green leaves and silver, trimmed round the top, bottom and sides
+(the upper dress being open in front) with point lace over red ribbon;
+the dress looped up with red satin ribbons, and two large bows, in each
+of which was a diamond bow and tassel.  The stomacher was composed of two
+large diamond bows, and a diamond point; the sleeves, which were tight,
+finished with point lace ruffles, and trimmed with red ribbon; on the
+left arm, the Garter in diamonds, and, on the right, a diamond rosette.
+She wore the blue ribbon and diamond George as usual.  The under
+petticoat was of white and silver tissue, trimmed with a deep flounce of
+rich point lace (which had belonged to Queen Charlotte), headed by a
+quilling of red satin ribbon and bows; above, a narrower flounce of point
+lace, trimmed like the other; in each ribbon bow, a diamond rosette.
+
+Prince Albert wore a suit of the richest crimson velvet (of Spitalfields
+manufacture); the coat lined with white satin, edged throughout with
+gold; and the buttons were of gold.  On his left breast His Royal
+Highness wore a most splendid star of the order of the Garter, composed
+of diamonds, with the exception of the cross, which was formed of rubies.
+The badge of the Order was confined at the shoulder by an epaulette
+composed of large brilliants, and a most splendid George was suspended
+from the ribbon, wholly formed of brilliants.  The Prince also wore the
+insignia of the Golden Fleece, formed of opals and diamonds.  The Garter
+was set in brilliants, and the hilt of His Royal Highness’s sword was
+covered with diamonds.  The waistcoat was of white satin, richly and
+elegantly embroidered with gold, the buttons being of gold.  Shoe buckles
+of diamonds.  Hat, three cornered, edged with gold lace, with handsome
+diamond ornament in the cockade in front.
+
+The Earl of Cardigan could not masquerade as Bayard, but “he excited no
+little attention.  He wore the uniform of the 11th Dragoons at Culloden;
+and, with the costume, which became him extremely, he contrived to assume
+the portentous bearing, and the true jack-boot stride and swagger.”
+
+The _Morning Chronicle_ is answerable for the following: “For some time
+past the copper coinage of William IV. has been eagerly purchased by
+persons who are stated to be Jews, and a report has, in consequence,
+gained ground that gold is contained in it.  What reason there may be for
+this it is impossible to say; but it is a well-known fact, that agents
+have been at work for the last two months buying up those particular
+coins in Westminster, and they now fetch double the price of their legal
+issue.  The mania has extended eastward, and twopence for a penny piece,
+and a penny for a halfpenny, etc., are now asked for the ‘precious
+issue.’”
+
+On 9 June, the new street connecting Holborn with Oxford Street, and now
+called New Oxford Street, was thrown open for carriages.
+
+Messrs. Christie and Manson sold, at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, on 23
+June, the first portion of the “Napoleon Museum,” collected by Mrs.
+Sainsbury, and which had long been on exhibition.  The prices fetched
+were ridiculously low, as the following examples will show.  Among the
+bronzes, an infantine bust of the King of Rome, formerly in the
+possession of Josephine, at Malmaison, cost 20 guineas, sold for £1 10s.
+A drawing in sepia, by Debret, of Napoleon visiting the wounded on the
+field, after the battle of Eylau, £5 5s.  The pictures illustrative of
+the principal events in the life of Napoleon, were almost given away; the
+highest price obtained, being £12 for one by the great French painter
+David, of Napoleon, with the crown raised in both his hands, to place on
+the head of Josephine, at the Coronation in Notre Dame.  Twenty beautiful
+enamels by Lienard, of Napoleon, Ney, Berthier, Junot, Joseph, Lucien,
+Louis and Jerome Bonaparte, Murat, Caroline, the youngest sister of
+Napoleon, Cardinal Fesch, Marie Louise, etc., fetched but £76, and, on
+the other days’ sales, the lots went for far under their value.
+
+My readers may possibly remember how, on 8 Dec., 1900, a number of Nelson
+relics in the Painted Hall, at Greenwich Hospital, were stolen, during
+the night, by a burglar, who escaped; and may like to know the story of
+Nelson’s coat.  The _Times_ of 9 July, copies the following from the
+_Spectator_:
+
+    “An interesting relic of Nelson has been discovered; and some
+    interest also attaches to the manner in which it has been secured to
+    the nation.  Sir Harris Nicolas, in his laborious researches for
+    editing the hero’s Despatches, had satisfied himself that the coat
+    and waistcoat which Nelson wore when he fell at Trafalgar, were
+    carefully preserved.  In pursuance of the Admiral’s directions, they
+    were given, with several other things, by Sir Thomas Hardy, his
+    captain, to Lady Hamilton; by her, they were transferred, under
+    peculiar circumstances, to a late alderman of London, and they
+    remained in the possession of the alderman’s widow.  The lady is not
+    rich, and she asked £150 for the relic.  This sum being beyond his
+    own means, Sir Harris determined to raise it by subscription, in
+    order that the coat and waistcoat might be deposited, like the coat
+    which Nelson wore at the battle of the Nile, in Greenwich Hospital.
+    With that view, he put the proposition in writing, and had it printed
+    as a circular.  Before issuing this circular, however, he sent a copy
+    to Prince Albert, who immediately desired that the purchase might be
+    made for himself, as he should feel ‘pride and pleasure’ in
+    presenting the precious memorials to Greenwich Hospital.  Sir Harris
+    Nicolas took them to the Royal purchaser on Wednesday; and we
+    understand that the Prince manifested a very fine feeling on the
+    occasion.  There is kind and generous wisdom in this act; for nothing
+    could so help to identify the Queen’s husband with the British
+    people, as such little tributes to their maritime pride.  The coat is
+    thus described in Sir Harris Nicolas’s circular, and it will be seen
+    that it has an historic value: ‘The coat is the undress uniform of a
+    vice-admiral, lined with white silk, with lace on the cuffs, and
+    epaulettes.  Four stars—of the Order of the Bath, St. Ferdinand and
+    Merit, the Crescent, and St. Joachin—are sewn on the left breast, as
+    Nelson habitually wore them; which disproves the story that he
+    purposely adorned himself with his decorations on going into battle!
+    The course of the fatal ball is shewn by a hole over the left
+    shoulder, and part of the epaulette is torn away; which agrees with
+    Dr. Sir William Beattie’s account of Lord Nelson’s death, and with
+    the fact, that pieces of the bullion and pad of the epaulette adhered
+    to the ball, which is now in Her Majesty’s possession.  The coat and
+    waistcoat are stained in several places with the hero’s blood.”
+
+Further confirmatory evidence is given in the _Globe_, copied into the
+_Times_ of 22 July.  “It will scarcely be believed that the coat of the
+great naval hero, together with his cocked hat, and an immense quantity
+of his property, was, as it were, mortgaged for the sum of £120, yet such
+was the fact.  The late Alderman Jonathan Joshua Smith was executor of
+Lord Nelson with Lady Hamilton; and, prior to his death, goods sufficient
+to fill six crates (amongst which were the coat, hat, breeches, etc.),
+were placed in the Town Hall, Southwark, under the care of Mr. Kinsey,
+the chief officer, and who now attends the aldermen at the Central
+Criminal Court.  Kinsey was Alderman Smith’s confidential servant for a
+number of years, and to whom £120 was owing at his master’s death.
+Application was made to the Court of Aldermen, by some members of the
+Nelson family, for the restitution of the property; and, after a long
+discussion, Alderman Lucas consented to act as arbitrator between the
+family and Kinsey, and £30 was paid to the latter, in satisfaction of his
+claim, upon which, the things were repacked, and sent to Mrs. Smith, at
+Heron Court, Richmond, in whose possession they remained, until the
+purchase of the coat was made by Prince Albert.”
+
+The King of the Netherlands paid the Queen a visit on 24 July, and the
+good man must have thought well of us, inasmuch as he was very much let
+do as he liked.  In London he stopped at Mivart’s Hotel, went to the
+Opera, paid a few visits, was a guest of the Duke of Richmond for
+Goodwood Races, was made a Field Marshal, held a review in Hyde Park, and
+went back again; a far lighter sentence than is usually passed on Royalty
+when visiting this country.
+
+We now find the inflation of Railway speculation attracting attention;
+and, in the _Times_ of Aug. 1 is a letter, a column in length, of which I
+give the following extract, referring to the inquiry into the Dublin and
+Galway Railway:
+
+    “The next case is that of letters addressed to 1, Park Place,
+    Devonshire Street, Mile End Road.  So great is the number of letters
+    delivered here, that additional assistance has been given in the
+    duty.  Upwards of 1,000 letters have been delivered here within nine
+    months; only last week 120 were taken in on one day, of which, at one
+    time, no less than 16, and, at another, 30, letters were delivered.
+    This No. 1, Park Place, is up an obscure court, consisting of three
+    small houses, of about 5/6 rent per week.  No. 1 is occupied by a man
+    and woman, and the next door by their daughter.  The proceedings of
+    these persons have been closely watched.  Directly a packet of
+    letters has been received in the morning, off starts the old man and
+    woman, and, sometimes, the daughter, to the places appointed to meet
+    the receiver.  On the first occasion, the old woman, who had received
+    16 letters, evidently wanted to deposit her treasure at Crosby Hall
+    Chambers; for, opposite to them, she halted, carefully looking about
+    her; but, unfortunately, she found she was watched; and, escaping
+    through the Excise Office, hid herself somewhere, till her pursuer
+    lost her.  The next morning, another packet was received, with which
+    the old man was intrusted; he started immediately, and, after a most
+    circuitous route, to avoid detection as to where he deposited his
+    treasure, he was seen to enter the King’s Arms Tavern, Bishopsgate
+    Churchyard, where he was seen to deliver his despatches to a smart,
+    dapper Jew, well known, who, after a few moments’ deliberation, left
+    the house, and was speedily joined by several confederates at the top
+    of the churchyard, who, after dividing the letters, dispersed as
+    instantaneously as can be imagined.  The next day, it became
+    necessary to augment the detective force, for the old people became
+    more wary; the old man went out before post time, and the daughter
+    was selected as the messenger with despatches; she was fleet of foot,
+    but she had been carefully identified, therefore that did not avail
+    her much, as the detective force was divided, and stationed at such
+    places as were likely to succeed.  She took a most circuitous route,
+    but, eventually, found herself opposite the Auction Mart, evidently
+    looking out anxiously for someone; she saw she was watched, and away
+    she started, and, after a long round, found shelter in Maidenhead
+    Court, Aldersgate Street, in a little smith’s shop—which turned out
+    to belong to the identical party who resides at No. 1, Park Place,
+    where the letters were first delivered.  Here the pursuit was given
+    up.  No further attempt to trace the receiver was made, the inquiry
+    before the select committee coming on; but sufficient is shown to
+    exhibit the system existing to this hour.  How, it may be asked, do
+    they procure the signatures to the deed, one party holding so many
+    letters of allotment?  The system is this: one party signs the deed
+    as often as disguise will shield him from discovery; then the
+    practice is resorted to of procuring persons, from 15 years to 60, to
+    accompany the holder of the banker’s receipt to the Railway Office,
+    to sign the deed in such name as he may direct; for which, when done,
+    he receives remuneration, varying from one shilling to ten, according
+    to the premium the scrip may bear in the market.”  There were several
+    police cases as to writing and forging these bogus names, and prudent
+    people were beginning to look shy at railway scrip.
+
+Here is a case which we can hardly understand nowadays.  As long as
+Newspapers were stamped, it was a misdemeanour to allow anyone to read
+them, unless they purchased them, as it was considered a fraud upon the
+Revenue.  On 23 Aug., in the Court of Requests, Kingsgate Street, a case
+came before the Commissioners for adjudication, in which a newsvendor
+summoned a person for a small sum, for “reading” the various newspapers.
+The plaintiff, in stating the case, said the defendant had been in the
+habit of seeing the papers daily, for which a penny a day was charged,
+and the present proceedings were taken to recover a balance due on that
+account.  The Commissioners said that he could not recover, as he had
+been guilty of a gross fraud upon the Stamp Office in letting newspapers
+out for hire.  The plaintiff: But he was in the habit of coming to my
+shop, and seeing them.  The Commissioner: That don’t matter; it is a
+fraud upon the Stamp Office, and you render yourself liable to an
+information being laid against you for it.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Here is a little anecdote chronicled in the _Annual Register_ (6 Sep.):
+“REVERSE OF FORTUNE.—Edward Riley, living with his family in Hadley
+Street, Burton Crescent, having been proved next of kin to Maj.-Gen.
+Riley, who recently died at Madras, leaving property to the amount of
+£50,000, to the whole of which he has become entitled, has greatly amused
+the neighbourhood by his conduct.  From having been but a workman in the
+dust-yard in Maiden Lane, he has, now, become a man of independence.
+Some days after his sudden acquisition of wealth, he called, in his cab,
+on a tailor in Seymour Street, and, taking him to the dust yard, desired
+him to measure the whole of the men in the yard for a suit of clothes,
+which being accomplished, he ordered them to go to a bootmaker, where
+they were all served.  On the following Sunday, he ordered a butcher to
+supply each of them with a joint of meat.  Riley has taken a house in
+Argyle Square; and, upon entering it, purposes to give a dinner to all
+the dustmen in London, and illuminate the front of his house.”
+
+We have seen, in 1843, _Punch’s_ idea of Prince Albert as a farmer, and
+we next hear of him, in connection with this business, as refusing to pay
+parish rates for the Flemish Farm; so at a vestry meeting held at
+Windsor, on 18 Sep., the subject was brought forward.  It appeared that
+the estimated rental of the property was £450, and that the last rate, at
+8d. in the pound, amounting to £15, had not been paid.  It was stated
+that the Prince had refused to pay the rates on two grounds, first, that
+he had no “beneficial occupation,” and, secondly, that “the property
+belonged to the Queen.”  The reply to this was, that the Prince certainly
+had a beneficial occupation in the farm, for the two prize oxen sold by
+him, last year, at £70 and £80, were fatted on this farm, to say nothing
+of the crops and agricultural produce, from which His Royal Highness
+received great profits, and it was thought there was no reason why he
+should be let off, and the poorer farmers made to pay the rates.  It was
+settled that the collector should make application for the arrears,
+amounting to over £200.
+
+_Punch_ drew a harrowing picture, of the brokers being put into Windsor
+Castle, and of a paragraph which might appear in the _Court Circular_:
+“Yesterday, Her Gracious Majesty visited Prince Albert at her own Bench.”
+But matters did not go so far, for on 14 Jan. next following, the Prince
+vouchsafed an answer to the Vestry, in which he denied his liability _in
+toto_, acting on the advice of the Attorney and Solicitor General, and
+Sir Thomas Wilde; and, after crushing the poor vestry, the letter winds
+up thus: “And His Royal Highness feels himself at liberty to take the
+course which is most satisfactory to his own feelings, and to pay, as a
+voluntary contribution, a sum equal to the rate which would have been
+annually due, had the legal liability of His Royal Highness been
+established.  It is also His Royal Highness’s intention that the payment
+of the sum referred to should commence from the year 1841.”
+
+And so it has continued to the present day, if we may credit the
+authority quoted in the accompanying cutting from the _Globe_ of 8 June,
+1901: “HOW THE KING PAYS TAXES.—It is not generally known (says the _Free
+Lance_) that the King pays taxes under protest—that is to say, His
+Majesty, like Queen Victoria, claims to be exempt from impost, and yet is
+willing to contribute, without prejudice, to the rates.  For instance,
+part of the Windsor farm land lies within the radius of the borough.  The
+municipal authority issues demand notes for the rates.  The Royal
+officials respond by paying a sum just under the amount requested, and
+the collector is satisfied.  There is no question of going to law, for
+how can the King be summoned in his own Courts?”
+
+On 31 Oct. Lieut. Waghorn practically demonstrated the feasibility of his
+“Overland Route” to India.  The regular Mail and his Express arrived at
+Suez by the same steamer on 19 Oct.  The Express was given to a man on a
+dromedary, who, stopping nowhere, entered Alexandria on the 20th.  The
+Express was delivered to Mr. Waghorn, who started at 11 o’clock.  He had
+been waiting on board an Austrian steamer, which had remained in
+quarantine, so that he arrived at Trieste in free _pratique_.  He landed,
+however, at Divina, twelve miles nearer London than Trieste, and hurried
+through Austria, Prussia, Baden, and Bavaria, with a passport ready
+_viséd_ by the representatives of those countries.  He reached Mannheim
+in 84 hours, proceeded by a steamer to Cologne, thence by special train
+to Ostend, by boat to Dover, to London by railway, and arrived at 4.30 in
+the morning of the 31st.  The news from India thus brought, was published
+in all the London papers, which were in Paris before the Mail from
+Marseilles was on its way to London.
+
+                      [Picture: Punch Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+
+The Railway Mania—Deposit of plans.
+
+The accompanying illustration from _Punch_ (18 Oct.) justly holds up to
+ridicule the Railway Mania, which might then be said to have been at its
+height.  It is called “THE MARCH OF SPECULATION.—‘This is the young Gent,
+as takes my Business, Mem.  I’m agoin’ into the Railway—Director Line
+myself.’”
+
+As a proof of this Madness, see this paragraph: “Oct. 25.  During the
+past week there were announced, in three newspapers, eighty-nine new
+schemes, with a capital of £84,055,000; during the month, there were 357
+new schemes announced, with an aggregate capital of £332,000,000.”
+
+On 17 Nov. the _Times_ published a table of all the railway companies
+registered up to the 31st October, numbering 1,428, and involving an
+outlay of £701,243,208.  “Take away,” it said, “£140,000,000 for railways
+completed, or in progress, exclude all the most extravagant schemes, and
+divide the remainder by ten, can we add, from our present resources, even
+a tenth of the vast remainder?  Can we add £50,000,000 to the railway
+speculations we are irretrievably embarked in?  We cannot, without the
+most ruinous, universal and desperate confusion.”
+
+Here is a Parody on the situation, 1 Nov.:
+
+    “There was a sound, that ceased not day or night,
+       Of speculation.  London gathered then
+    Unwonted crowds, and moved by promise bright,
+       To Capel Court rushed women, boys and men,
+       All seeking railway shares and scrip; and when
+    The market rose, how many a lad could tell
+       With joyous glance, and eyes that spake again,
+    ’Twas e’en more lucrative than marrying well;—
+    When, hark, that warning voice strikes like a rising knell.
+
+    Nay, it is nothing, empty as the wind,
+       But a “bear” whisper down Throgmorton Street;
+    Wild enterprise shall still be unconfined;
+       No rest for us, when rising premiums greet
+       The morn, to pour their treasures at our feet;—
+    When, hark! that solemn sound is heard once more,
+       The gathering bears its echoes yet repeat—
+    ’Tis but too true, is now the general roar,
+    The Bank has raised her rate, as she has done before.
+
+    And then, and there were hurryings to and fro,
+       And anxious thoughts, and signs of sad distress,
+    Faces all pale, that, but an hour ago
+       Smiled at the thought of their own craftiness;
+       And there were sudden partings, such as press
+    The coins from hungry pockets, mutual sighs
+       Of brokers and their clients.  Who can guess
+    How many a “stag” already panting flies,
+    When upon times so bright, such awful panics rise?”
+
+Mr. Francis, in his _History of the English Railway_, says: “The daily
+press was thoroughly deluged with advertisements; double sheets did not
+supply space enough for them; double doubles were resorted to, and, then,
+frequently, insertions were delayed.  It has been estimated that the
+receipts of the leading journals averaged, at one period £12,000 and
+£14,000 a week, from this source.  The railway papers, on some occasions,
+contained advertisements that must have netted £700 to £800 on each
+publication.  The printer, the lithographer, and the stationer, with the
+preparation of prospectuses, the execution of maps, and the supply of
+other requisites, also made a considerable harvest.
+
+“The leading engineers were, necessarily, at a great premium.  Mr. Brunel
+was said to be connected with fourteen lines, Mr. Robert Stephenson with
+thirty-four, Mr. Locke with thirty-one, Mr. Rastrick with seventeen, and
+other engineers with one hundred and thirteen.
+
+“The novelist has appropriated this peculiar portion of commercial
+history, and, describing it, says gravely and graphically: ‘A colony of
+solicitors, engineers and seedy accountants, settled in the purlieus of
+Threadneedle Street.  Every town and parish in the Kingdom blazed out in
+zinc plates over the doorways.  From the cellar to the roof, every
+fragment of a room held its committee.  The darkest cupboard on the
+stairs contained a secretary, or a clerk.  Men, who were never seen east
+of Temple Bar before, or since, were, now, as familiar to the pavement of
+Moorgate Street, {279} as the stockbrokers; ladies of title, lords,
+Members of Parliament, and fashionable loungers thronged the noisy
+passages, and were jostled by adventurers, by gamblers, rogues and
+imposters.’
+
+“The advantages of competition were pointed out, with the choicest
+phraseology.  Lines which passed by barren districts, and by waste
+heaths, the termini of which were in uninhabitable places, reached a high
+premium.  The shares of one company rose 2,400 per cent.  Everything was
+to pay a large dividend; everything was to yield a large profit.  One
+railway was to cross the entire Principality without a single curve.
+
+“The shares of another were issued, the company formed, and the directors
+appointed, with only the terminal points surveyed.  In the Ely railway,
+not one person connected with the country through which it was to pass,
+subscribed the title deed.
+
+“The engineers who were examined in favour of particular lines, promised
+all and everything in their evidence.  It was humourously said of them,
+‘they plunge through the bowels of mountains; they undertake to drain
+lakes; they bridge valleys with viaducts; their steepest gradients are
+gentle undulations; their curves are lines of beauty; they interrupt no
+traffic; they touch no prejudice.’
+
+“Labour of all kinds increased in demand.  The price of iron rose from
+sixty-eight shillings to one-hundred-and-twenty per ton.  Money remained
+abundant.  Promoters received their tens and twenties of thousands.
+Rumours of sudden fortunes were very plentiful.  Estates were purchased
+by those who were content with their gains; and, to crown the whole, a
+grave report was circulated, that Northumberland House, with its princely
+reminiscences, and palatial grandeur, was to be bought by the South
+Western.  Many of the railways attained prices which staggered reasonable
+men.  The more worthless the article, the greater seemed the struggle to
+obtain it.  Premiums of £5 and £6 were matters of course, even where
+there were four or five competitors for the road.  One company, which
+contained a clause to lease it at three-and-a-half per Cent., for 999
+years, rose to twenty premium, so mad were the many to speculate.
+
+“Every branch of commerce participated in the advantages of an increased
+circulation.  The chief articles of trade met with large returns; profits
+were regular; and all luxuries which suited an affluent community,
+procured an augmented sale.  Banking credit remained facile; interest
+still kept low; money, speaking as they of the City speak, could be had
+for next to nothing.  It was advanced on everything which bore a value,
+whether readily convertible, or not.  Bill brokers would only allow
+one-and-a-half per cent. for cash; and what is one-and-a-half to men who
+revelled in the thought of two hundred?  The exchanges remained
+remarkably steady.  The employment of the labourer on the new lines, of
+the operative in the factory, of the skilled artisan in the workshop, of
+the clerk at the desk, tended to add to the delusive feeling, and was one
+of the forms in which, for a time, the population was benefitted.  But,
+when the strength of the Kingdom is wasted in gambling, temporary,
+indeed, is the good, compared with the cost.  Many, whose money was
+safely invested, sold at any price, to enter the share market.  Servants
+withdrew their hoards from the savings banks.  The tradesman crippled his
+business.  The legitimate love of money became a fierce lust.  The peer
+came from his club to his brokers; the clergyman came from his pulpit to
+the mart; the country gentleman forsook the calmness of his rural domain
+for the feverish excitement of Threadneedle Street.  Voluptuous tastes
+were indulged in by those who were previously starving.  The new men vied
+with the old, in the luxurious adornments of their houses.  Everyone
+smiled with contentment; every face wore a pleased expression.  Some,
+who, by virtue of their unabashed impudence, became provisional
+committee-men, supported the dignity of their position in a style which
+raised the mirth of many, and moved the envy of more.  Trustees, who had
+no money of their own, or who had lost it, used that which was confided
+to them; brothers speculated with the money of sisters; sons gambled with
+the money of their widowed mothers; children risked their patrimony; and
+it is no exaggeration to say, that the funds of hundreds were
+surreptitiously endangered by those in whose control they were placed.”
+
+But Railways had been projected, and, in order to carry them through, the
+plans must, by law, be deposited with the Board of Trade, before, or on
+30 Nov.; and, on this occasion, there was a scene, which is very well
+told in the _Annual Register_:
+
+“An extraordinary scene occurred at the office of the Railway Department
+of the Board of Trade on this day (Sunday, 30 Nov.), being the last day
+on which the plans of the new projects could be deposited with the
+Railway Board, in order to enable Bills to authorise them to be brought
+before Parliament, in compliance with the Standing Orders.
+
+“Last year, the number of projects, in respect of which plans were lodged
+with the Board of Trade, was 248; the number, this year, is stated to be
+815.  The projectors of the Scotch lines were mostly in advance, and had
+their plans duly lodged on Saturday.  The Irish projectors, too, and the
+old-established companies, seeking powers to construct branches, were
+among the more punctual.  But upwards of 600 plans remained to be
+deposited.  Towards the last, the utmost exertions were made to forward
+them.  The efforts of the lithographic draughtsmen and printers in London
+were excessive; people remained at work, night after night, snatching a
+hasty repose for a couple of hours, on lockers, benches, or the floor.
+Some found it impossible to execute their contracts; others did their
+work imperfectly.  One of the most eminent was compelled to bring over
+four hundred lithographers from Belgium, and failed, nevertheless, with
+this reinforcement, in completing some of his plans.  Post horses and
+express trains, to bring to town plans prepared in the country, were
+sought in all parts.  Horses were engaged days before, and kept, by
+persons specially appointed, under lock and key.  Some railway companies
+exercised their power of refusing express trains for rival projects, and
+clerks were obliged to make sudden and embarrassing changes of route, in
+order to travel by less hostile ways.  A large establishment of clerks
+were in attendance to register the deposits; and this arrangement went on
+very well, until eleven o’clock, when the delivery grew so rapid, that
+the clerks were quite unable to keep pace with the arrivals.  The
+entrance hall soon became inconveniently crowded, considerable anxiety
+being expressed lest twelve o’clock should arrive ’ere the requisite
+formalities should have been gone through.  This anxiety was allayed by
+the assurance that admission into the hall before that hour, would be
+sufficient to warrant the reception of the documents.
+
+   [Picture: Deposit of Railway Plans with the Board of Trade, 30 Nov.,
+               1845.  Ill. Lon. News, 6 Dec., 1845, p. 358]
+
+“As the clock struck twelve, the doors of the office were about to be
+closed, when a gentleman with the plans of one of the Surrey railways
+arrived, and, with the greatest difficulty, succeeded in obtaining
+admission.  A lull of a few minutes here occurred; but, just before the
+expiration of the first quarter of an hour, a post chaise, with reeking
+horses, drove up, in hot haste, to the entrance.  In a moment, its
+occupants (three gentlemen) alighted, and rushed down the passage,
+towards the office door, each bearing a plan of Brobdingnagian
+dimensions.  On reaching the door, and finding it closed, the
+countenances of all drooped; but one of them, more valorous than the
+rest, and prompted by the bystanders, gave a loud pull at the bell.  It
+was answered by Inspector Otway, who informed the ringer it was now too
+late, and that his plans could not be received.  The agents did not wait
+for the conclusion of the unpleasant communication, but took advantage of
+the door being opened, and threw in their papers, which broke the passage
+lamp in their fall.  They were thrown back into the street.  When the
+door was again opened, again went in the plans, only to meet a similar
+fate.
+
+“In the whole, upwards of 600 plans were duly deposited.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+
+Collapse of the Railway Mania—Sheriff’s Officers—Hudson, the Railway
+King—First “Ethiopian Serenaders”—The Nigger Minstrel Craze—Commencement
+of Irish Famine—“The Battle of the Gauges”—Railway Surveyors—Suicide of
+Haydon, the painter.
+
+Although the collapse of the Railway Mania really began in 1845, its
+effects were not fully felt until the commencement of this year, when 10
+per cent. on Railway Capital had to be lodged with the Accountant
+General, within seven days from the assembling of Parliament, which in
+this case meant the 29th Jan.  It really received its first serious wound
+when the Bank of England rose its rate of discount on 16 Oct., but it was
+only when the calls had to be paid, that it was found how rotten the
+whole concern was, as the Marquis of Clanricarde, in a speech, plainly
+exposed.  Said he: “One of the names to the deed, to which he was anxious
+to direct their attention, was that of a gentleman, said to reside in
+Finsbury Square, who had subscribed to the amount of £25,000; he was
+informed no such person was known at that address.  There was, also, in
+the Contract deed, the name of an individual who had figured in the
+Dublin and Galway Railway Case, who was down for £5,000, and who was
+understood to be a half-pay officer, in the receipt of £54 a year, but
+who appeared as a subscriber in different railway schemes to the amount
+of £41,500.  The address of another, whose name was down for £12,200, was
+stated to be in Watling Street, but it appeared he did not reside there.
+In the case of another individual down for £12,500, a false address was
+found to have been given.  Another individual, whom he would not name,
+was a curate in the parish in Kent; he might be worth all the money for
+which he appeared responsible in various railway schemes, but his name
+appeared for £25,000 in different projects, and stood for £10,000 in this
+line.  Another individual, who was down for £25,000, was represented to
+be in poor circumstances.  A clerk in a public company was down for
+upwards of £50,000.  There were several more cases of the same kind, but
+he trusted he had stated enough to establish the necessity of referring
+the matter to a Committee.  There were, also, two brothers, sons of a
+charwoman, living in a garret, one of whom had signed for £12,500, and
+the other for £25,000; these two brothers, excellent persons, no doubt,
+but who were receiving about a guinea and a half between them, were down
+for £37,000.”
+
+The story of the collapse is so admirably told by Mr. Francis, that I
+prefer giving his version than writing of it myself:
+
+    “Money was scarce, the price of stock and scrip lowered; the
+    confidence of the people was shaken, and a vision of a dark future on
+    every face.  Advertisements were suddenly withdrawn from the papers,
+    men of note were seen no more as provisional committeemen; distrust
+    followed the merchant to the mart and the jobber to the Exchange.
+    The new schemes ceased to be regarded; applications ceased to be
+    forwarded; premiums were either lowered, or ceased to exist.  Bankers
+    looked anxiously to the accounts of their customers; bill brokers
+    scrutinised their securities; and every man was suspicious of his
+    neighbour.
+
+    “But the distrust was not confined to projected lines.  Established
+    railways felt the shock, and were reduced in value.  Consols fell one
+    and a half per cent.; Exchequer bills declined in price, and other
+    markets sympathised.  The people had awoke from their dream, and
+    trembled.  It was a national alarm.
+
+    “Words are weak to express the fears and feelings which prevailed.
+    There was no village too remote to escape the shock, and there was,
+    probably, no house in town some occupant of which did not shrink from
+    the morrow.  The Statesman started to find his new Bank Charter so
+    sadly and so suddenly tried; the peer, who had so thoughtlessly
+    invested, saw ruin opening to his view.  Men hurried with bated
+    breath to their brokers; the allottee was uneasy and suspicious, the
+    provisional committeeman grew pale at his fearful responsibility;
+    directors ceased to boast their blushing honours, and promoters saw
+    their expected profits evaporate.  Shares which, the previous week,
+    were a fortune, were, the next, a fatality, to their owners.  The
+    reputed shareholders were not found when they were wanted;
+    provisional committeemen were not more easy of access.
+
+    “One Railway advertised the names and addresses of thirty—none of
+    whom were to be heard of at the residences ascribed to them.  Letters
+    were returned to the Post Office day after day.  Nor is this to be
+    wondered at, when it is said that, on one projected line, only £60
+    was received for deposits, which should have yielded £700,000.
+
+    “It was proved in the Committee of the House of Commons, that one
+    subscription list was formed of ‘lame ducks of the Alley’; and that,
+    in another, several of the Directors, including the Chairman, had,
+    also, altered their several subscriptions to the amount of £100,000,
+    the very evening on which the list was deposited, and that five
+    shillings a man was given to anyone who would sign for a certain
+    number of shares.
+
+    “Nothing more decidedly marked the crisis which had arrived, than the
+    fact that everyone hastened to disown railways.  Gentlemen who had
+    been buried in prospectuses, whose names and descriptions had been
+    published under every variation that could fascinate the public, who
+    had figured as Committeemen, and received the precious guineas for
+    their attendance, were eager to assure the world that they were
+    ignorant of this great transgression.  Men who, a month before, had
+    boasted of the large sums they had made by scrip, sent advertisements
+    to papers denying their responsibility, or appealed to the Lord Mayor
+    to protect their characters.  Members of Parliament who had remained
+    quiet under the infliction, while it was somewhat respectable, fell
+    back upon their privileges, when they saw their purses in danger.
+    There is no doubt that an unauthorised use of names was one feature
+    of fraudulent companies, and that, amidst a list of common names, it
+    was thought a distinguished one might pass unnoticed.  The
+    complaints, therefore, of those who were thus unceremoniously
+    treated, were just; but the great mass of denials emanated from
+    persons who, knowingly, encountered the risk, and, meanly, shrunk
+    from the danger.
+
+    “It is the conviction of those who were best informed, that no other
+    panic was ever so fatal to the middle class.  It reached every
+    hearth, it saddened every heart in the metropolis.  Entire families
+    were ruined.  There was scarcely an important town in England but
+    what beheld some wretched suicide.  Daughters, delicately nurtured,
+    went out to seek their bread; sons were recalled from academies;
+    households were separated, homes were desecrated by the emissaries of
+    the law.  There was a disruption of every social tie.  The debtors’
+    jails were peopled with promoters; Whitecross Street was filled with
+    speculators; and the Queen’s Bench was full to overflowing.  Men, who
+    had lived comfortably and independently, found themselves suddenly
+    responsible for sums they had no means of paying.  In some cases,
+    they yielded their all, and began the world anew; in others, they
+    left the country for the continent, laughed at their creditors, and
+    defied pursuit.  One gentleman was served with four hundred writs; a
+    peer, when similarly pressed, when offered to be relieved from all
+    liabilities for £15,000, betook himself to his yacht, and forgot, in
+    the beauties of the Mediterranean, the difficulties which had
+    surrounded him.  Another gentleman who, having nothing to lose,
+    surrendered himself to his creditors, was a director of more than
+    twenty lines.  A third was Provisional Committeeman to fifteen.  A
+    fourth, who commenced life as a printer, who became insolvent in 1832
+    and a bankrupt in 1837, who had negotiated partnerships, who had
+    arranged embarrassed affairs, who had collected debts, and turned his
+    attention to anything, did not disdain, also, to be a Railway
+    promoter, a Railway director, or to spell his name in a dozen
+    different ways.”
+
+The Sheriff’s Officers had a busy time of it, and _Punch_, in “GOING OUT
+ARRESTING,” gives the following colloquy between two of the fraternity:
+
+    “‘Vell, Aaron, my tear, have yer ’ad any sport?’
+
+    “‘Pretty vell, I’ve bagged four Allottees, and two Provisionals!’”
+
+                [Picture: Picture of two men in carriages]
+
+But a notice of the Railway Mania would be very incomplete without a
+mention of George Hudson, the Railway King.  He was born at Howsham, a
+village near York, in March, 1800; was apprenticed to a draper in York;
+and, subsequently, became principal in the business; thus, early in life,
+becoming well off, besides having £30,000 left him by a distant relative.
+In 1837, he was Lord Mayor of York; and, the same year, was made Chairman
+of the York and North Midland Railway, which was opened in 1839.  In
+1841, he was elected Chairman of the Great North of England Company; and,
+afterwards, held the same position in the Midland Railway Company.  He
+speculated largely in railways, and, in the Parliamentary return, already
+alluded to, his subscriptions appear as £319,835.
+
+He came to London, and inhabited the house at Albert Gate, Knightsbridge
+(now the French Embassy), where he entertained the Prince Consort, and
+the aristocracy generally.  He was elected M.P. for Sunderland in Aug.,
+1845, and again served as Lord Mayor of York in 1846.  The Railway smash
+came; and, year by year, things went worse with him, until, early in the
+year 1849, he had to resign the Chairmanship of the Eastern Central (now
+Great Eastern), Midland, York, Newcastle and Berwick, and the York and
+North Midland Railway Companies.  He went abroad, where he lived for some
+time, and tried, unavailingly, to retrieve his fortune.  In July, 1865,
+he was committed to York Castle for Contempt of the Court of Exchequer,
+in not paying a large debt, and was there incarcerated till the following
+October.
+
+He fell so low, that, in 1868, some friends took pity on him, and raised
+a subscription for him, thus obtaining £4,800, with which an annuity was
+purchased.  He died in London, 14 Dec., 1871.
+
+We have been so accustomed to have nigger minstrels with us that I
+suppose very few of us know when they began.  Of course, I do not mean
+the solitary minstrel like Rice of “Jump Jim Crow” fame, who was the
+first, coming over here in 1836; but the first troupe.  I find it in the
+_Illustrated News_ of 24 Jan., 1846, whence also comes this illustration:
+
+                   [Picture: The Ethiopian Serenaders]
+
+“A party of American minstrels, under the above designation, commenced on
+Wednesday night (21 Jan.), at the Hanover Square Rooms, a series of
+concerts, for the avowed purpose of affording an accurate notion of Negro
+character and melody.  These artists are remarkably clever, and admirably
+‘made up.’  They are painted jet black, with ruddy lips, and large
+mouths; and, being capital actors, the deception created is so great,
+that wagers have been offered that they are really ‘darkies.’  They dress
+in dandy costume, _à la Jullien_—that is, white waistcoated and
+wristbanded, turned up in the most approved D’Orsay fashion.  Of course,
+it is impossible to come to any right conclusion as to the authenticity
+of the African airs, especially as they have arranged the compositions of
+the great European masters in such a grotesque manner.  The executants
+are five in number; one plays the tambourine, Mr. Germon, who is the
+leader; another the bone castanet; the third, the accordion; and the two
+others, the banjo, or African guitar.  The castanet player does not sing;
+but his four colleagues have good voices, and, in glees, harmonize
+charmingly.  In a quartet, the parody on the Phantom Chorus, from
+Bellini’s ‘Sonnambula’; and in a glee, ‘You’ll See Them on the Ohio,’
+nothing can be more effective than the skilful blending of the parts.  It
+is, perhaps, the _buffo_ exhibition which will create the greatest
+sensation, and in this quality they are inimitable.  The tambourine
+performer affects a ludicrous air of pompous sentiment, while the
+castanet sable hero indulges in all kinds of buffoonery and antics.  He
+is a wonderful player—no Spaniard can rival him in rapidity, delicacy and
+precision.  A scene called a ‘Railway Overture,’ causes an explosion of
+laughter; they seem to be endowed with perpetual motion; and the scream
+of the whistle, at the same time as the noise of the engine, beggars all
+description.  The entertainment is quite a novelty, and will, no doubt,
+be attractive.  They have been provided with letters of recommendation
+from President Polk, and some leading persons in America, who must be
+better able to appreciate the accuracy of their African delineations than
+Europeans.”
+
+They _were_ popular, with a vengeance—for every little street arab had
+beef bones for castanets, and every new song was roared out in the
+streets until it nauseated.  _Punch_ drew policemen and dustmen as
+Ethiopian Serenaders, and even suggested that Lablache, Mario and
+Tamburini should adopt the style.
+
+                     [Picture: Picture of musicians]
+
+The Queen opened Parliament on 19 Jan., and in her speech, whilst
+deprecating “the very frequent instances in which the crime of deliberate
+assassination has been, of late, committed in Ireland,” she went on: “I
+have to lament that, in consequence of a failure of the potato crop in
+several parts of the United Kingdom, there will be a deficient supply of
+an article of food which forms the chief subsistence of great numbers of
+my people.  The disease by which the plant has been affected, has
+prevailed to the utmost extent in Ireland.  I have adopted all such
+precautions as it was in my power to adopt, for the purpose of
+alleviating the sufferings which may be caused by this calamity; and I
+shall confidently rely on your co-operation in devising such other means
+for effecting the same benevolent purpose, as may require the sanction of
+the Legislature.”
+
+On 13 March, Parliament talked somewhat about the matter, and Sir James
+Graham, the Home Secretary, confessed that distress “pervades the whole
+of Ireland.  It is to be found in every province, in every county, in
+every union; nay, almost in every parish in Ireland.  The course Her
+Majesty’s Government has taken, has been this.  We have, in particular
+parts of Ireland, established depôts, where food can be bought at an easy
+price, at the very lowest price, and, thinking that eleemosynary relief
+ought to be avoided as much as possible, we propose to afford, to the
+utmost possible extent, either by means of public works to be undertaken,
+or by works already established, the means by which the people may be
+enabled to earn wages, and so to purchase food at the moderate cost at
+which it will be supplied.”
+
+But, in spite of all the Government could do, with the very best
+intentions, gaunt famine was stalking through the land, and the hungry
+folk could not be quiet, with the sight of food before them.  They were
+not going to starve when they saw the bakers’ shops full of bread, and
+the butchers’, of meat.  Human nature and a hungry belly could not stand
+it—so we can scarcely wonder at the famine riots which ensued.  The shops
+were wrecked, the food was taken; they even laid their hands on a boat
+proceeding from Limerick to Clare with relief, and plundered it of its
+cargo of corn and maize flour.  But, alas! this was only the commencement
+of the sad story.
+
+There was an alternative, open to those who had the money—to emigrate—and
+this they did—see the following, from the _Cork Reporter_, copied into
+the _Times_ of 18 April: “For the last fortnight our quays have been
+daily thronged with the fine and stalwart peasantry of this and the
+adjoining counties, preparing to emigrate to various parts of the
+trans-Atlantic world.  Perhaps, upon no former occasion, even before the
+hope of railway employment was held out to the people, and when
+“Government grants” for their relief were never heard of, did the number
+of emigrants from this quarter exceed the proportion of this present
+year.  Besides the various large and full-freighted vessels, which have
+left the quays of Cork, direct for America, several ships were despatched
+to the west of the county, and had no difficulty in obtaining their full
+complement of passengers.  Two large ships went round to Berehaven, a few
+days ago, and have, since, left the shores of that bleak district, with
+over 200 passengers.  Several other vessels have proceeded, or are about
+to proceed, for Baltimore and Berehaven, localities in which the
+destitution of the present year has been severely felt.  Three hundred
+persons have been ready, for the last fortnight, to embark from Dingle;
+but, not being able to get a ship to visit them, sufficiently commodious
+for their accommodation, have been obliged to make the best of their way
+to Cork.  Several vessels, now lying at Passage, will sail this day,
+these taking five hundred and fifty passengers . . . At a moderate
+computation, about 9,000 emigrants have, or, within the next month, will
+have, left this port for America.  It is to be hoped their anticipations
+will be realised.  There can be little fear, however, that their
+condition could be worse, or their prospects more disheartening than
+those which the ‘potato famine’ in this country, little mended by the
+promise of Indian corn, had occasioned.  _La faim chasse le loup hors du
+bois_.  To starve, or emigrate, are the only alternatives of the people.”
+
+The _Waterford Chronicle_ thus comments: “There will have gone, after the
+season is over, upwards of 3,000 people, from this country, by this port
+alone.  Not to talk of the rearing of these people—the trouble and
+expense of bringing up a healthy man, woman, or child, and, especially,
+leaving out the irreparable loss to society, in this country, of their
+affections, hopes, and family ties—all, now, sundered and destroyed—not
+to talk of the countless living deaths of wholesale emigration from a
+feeling and warm-hearted mother country—the amount of capital taken by
+these 3,000 is immense.  Assuming that each individual spends £10 in his
+passage, and before he settles, and that he has £10 more to establish
+himself, here is direct taking away, in hard cash, of £60,000 gone out of
+the bleeding pores of Ireland, to increase the misery which is left
+behind.  We are in possession of facts which show that many cunning
+landlords are sending away their people yearly, but by degrees, and not
+in such a manner as to subject themselves to a ‘clearance notice.’  If
+this system be continued, we shall be tempted to give names.  After these
+things, who will blame the people for outbreaks occasioned by famine?
+There is nothing plentiful in the land but ruin!  Employment is
+scarce—money is scarce—the people are being thinned—farms are being
+consolidated—bullock land is progressing—
+
+    “Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
+    Where cows accumulate, and men decay.”
+
+For some long time there had been a conflict of opinion as to the merits
+of different sized gauges for railways.  Brunel, the magnificent,
+advocated a width of seven feet, and practised it on the Great Western;
+others wished for something far more modest.  Great was the wrangling
+over this “battle of the gauges,” and a Royal Commission was appointed to
+inquire into the matter.  They gave in their Report on 30 May, and the
+question was settled by “An Act for regulating the Gauge of Railways” (9
+and 10 Vic., c. 57—passed 18 Aug., 1846) by which it was settled that, in
+future, all Railway lines in England were to be 4 feet 8½ in. wide, and
+in Ireland, the width was to be 5 ft. 3 in.
+
+By the way, Railway surveyors were paid well, and almost everyone that
+had ever dragged a chain posed as a surveyor.  As a sample—on 23 Ap. is
+reported the case of White _v._ Koe and Maun—where a witness said
+“Levellers are always well paid.  I have received, before this £10 a
+mile, and I could level from seven to eight miles a day.  These are not
+extraordinary terms.  I had to find hands to help me.  I had three men at
+7s. a day each.”
+
+On 22 June poor Haydon, the painter, committed suicide.  He was extremely
+egotistical, and nothing could persuade him that he was not the best
+painter of his time.  His fixed idea was that he was without a peer—but
+no one else thought so.  His diary is very sad reading.  Here is an entry
+(Ap. 13) relative to the exhibition of his picture, “The Banishment of
+Aristides”: “Receipts £1 3s. 6d.  An advertisement of a finer description
+could not have been written to catch the public; but not a shilling more
+was added to the receipts.  They rush by thousands to see Tom Thumb.
+They push—they fight—they scream—they faint—they cry ‘Help!’ and
+‘Murder!’  They see my bills and caravans, but do not read them; their
+eyes are on them, but their sense is gone.  It is an insanity—a _rabies
+furor_—a dream—of which I would not have believed Englishmen could have
+been guilty.”  He even wrote to the _Times_ about it: “GENERAL TOM THUMB,
+last week, received 12,000 people, who paid him £600; B. R. HAYDON, who
+has devoted 42 years to elevate their taste, was honoured by the visits
+of 133½, producing £5 13s. 6d., being a reward for painting two of his
+finest works, ‘Aristides and Nero.’  HORACE VERNET, LA ROCHE, INGRES,
+CORNELIUS, HESS, SNORR, and SCHEFFER, hasten to this glorious country of
+fresco and patronage, and grand design, if you have a tender fancy to end
+your days in a Whig Union.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+
+The last Post Office Bellman—The “Corn Law” Act—Sir Walter Scott’s
+monument—The Irish famine—The Duke of Wellington’s statue—Gun
+cotton—Introduction of ether—Model dwelling houses—Baths and
+Wash-houses—Smithfield Cattle market—“The Bull Fight of Smithfield”—The
+first submarine telegraph.
+
+_The Illustrated London News_, of 27 June, gives us “THE LETTER CARRIER’S
+LAST KNELL.—We have just lost another of what poor Thomas Hood called,
+‘Those evening bells.’  The Postmaster General having issued his fiat for
+the abolition of ‘ringing bells’ by the Letter Carriers, the last knell
+was rung out on the evening of Wednesday last; and, as a memorial of the
+departure of what appeared to most persons, a very useful practice, our
+artist has sketched a Letter Carrier, on his last evening call at our
+office; and another hand has appended the following lament:
+
+   The Dustman was first to forego his brass clapper,
+      The Muffinboy speedily followed his shade;
+   And, now, ’tis the Postman—that double-tongued rapper—
+      Must give up his Bell for the eve’s promenade.
+   “_Tantæ Animis_?’ sage Legislators!
+      Why rage against trifles like these?  Prithee tell,
+   Why leave the solution to rude commentators,
+      Who say, that at home, you’ve enough in one _Belle_?”
+
+On 26 June the Royal Assent was given to an Act (9–10 Vic., c. 22),
+called “An Act to amend the Laws relating to the Importation of Corn.”
+This regulated the duty on corn by a sliding scale of prices, which was
+to be in force until 1 Feb., 1849, when it was fixed at 1s. per quarter.
+The passing of this Act caused general rejoicing throughout the country,
+and put an end to a great deal of political rancour.
+
+ [Picture: The last Post Office Bellman.  Ill. Lon. News, 27 June, 1846]
+
+The inauguration of Sir Walter Scott’s Monument, at Edinburgh, took place
+on 15 Aug., the anniversary of his birth.  It was erected in 1840–44,
+after designs by Mr. George M. Kemp, at a cost of £15,650.  It is
+cruciform, with a Gothic spire, chiefly modelled on the details of
+Melrose Abbey; and includes, beneath its basement arches, a Carrara
+marble sitting statue of Scott, with his dog _Maida_, by his side, which
+is the work of Mr. Steel, and cost £2,000.
+
+The potato crop utterly failed again in Ireland, and the outlook there
+was indeed black.  In the _Times_ of 2 Sep., its correspondent, writing
+from Dublin, on 31 Aug., says: “As it is now an admitted fact, on all
+sides, that the destruction of the early potato crop is complete, there
+can be no earthly use in loading your columns with repetitions of the sad
+details, as furnished day after day in the accounts published by the
+Irish newspapers.  It will, therefore, nearly suffice to say that,
+according to the reports from all quarters, the crisis of deep and
+general distress cannot be much longer averted, and that it will require
+all the energies of both Government and Landlords to mitigate the
+inevitable consequences of a calamity, of which both parties have been
+duly forewarned.  In the meantime, the following statement in a Limerick
+paper of Saturday, is another curious illustration of the Irish
+‘difficulty’.
+
+“‘In the Corn Market, this day, there appeared about 4,000 bushels of
+oats, and about an equal quantity of wheat.  All this grain was purchased
+up, principally for exportation, whilst the food of the people, as
+exhibited this day in the Potato Market, was a mass of disease and
+rottenness.  This is an anomaly which no intricacies of political
+economy—no legal quibbles, or crochets—no Government arrangements can
+reconcile.  In an agricultural country which produces the finest corn for
+the food of man, we have to record that the corn is sold and sent out of
+the country, whilst the individuals that raised it by their toil and
+labour, are threatened with all the horrors of starvation.’
+
+“From a multiplicity of concurrent statements respecting the pestilence,
+I shall merely subjoin one, which appears in the last _Tralee_ paper: ‘A
+man would hardly dig in a day, as much sound potatoes as himself would
+consume.  But that is not the worst of it.  Common cholera has set in
+among the people of the town, owing to the use of potatoes, which contain
+a large quantity of poisonous matter.  A professional gentleman in this
+town, of considerable experience and unquestioned integrity, assures me,
+that he has attended, within the last fortnight, in this town and
+neighbourhood, more than 12 cases of common cholera, and that he would
+think a person as safe in consuming a certain quantity of arsenic, as in
+using the potatoes now exposed for sale.’”
+
+This is how the Famine of 1846–7 began, and what followed is a matter of
+history, which everyone ought to know, and ponder well over, but it can
+hardly come under the name of Gossip.  There were, naturally, a few food
+riots in different parts of the country, but everyone tried to do their
+best, even in a blundering way, to alleviate the distress.  The
+Archbishop of Canterbury composed a Special Form of Prayer, to be used on
+Sunday, 11 Oct.
+
+On 29 Sep. the gigantic equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington,
+which used to crown the arch opposite Apsley House, and which was taken
+down 24 Jan., 1883, and then set up at Aldershot, was moved from the
+artist’s (Wyatt) studio, in Harrow Road, to Hyde Park.  It was 27 feet
+high, and weighed about 40 tons, being made of brass guns taken by the
+Duke in various victories.  Being of so great a weight, the appliances to
+remove it were on an equally massive scale, the carriage and framework in
+which it was placed weighing about 20 tons.  It took 100 soldiers to haul
+the statue out of the studio; and, when mounted on its carriage, it took
+29 huge dray horses, lent by Mr. Goding, of the Lion Brewery, Waterloo,
+to drag it to its destination.  It was escorted by soldiers and military
+bands, and did the distance in about an hour a half.  The next day was
+spent in preparing to hoist it; the day after, it was lifted some 50
+feet, and there remained all night—and the next day was safely landed and
+put in position.  From that time, until it was taken down, it was the
+butt of scoffs and jeers, and no one regretted its departure.
+
+Gun cotton was brought into public notice by some experiments by its
+inventor, Professor Schönbein, of Basel, before the chairman of the East
+India Company, and a number of scientists.  Professor Brande had
+previously lectured upon it, at the Royal Institution, on 15 Jan., when
+he stated that, about fifteen years before, Braconnot had ascertained
+that sawdust, wood shavings, starch, linen and cotton fabrics, when
+treated with concentrated nitric acid, produced a gelatinous substance,
+which coagulated into a white mass, on the addition of water; this
+substance, which he called “xyloidine,” was highly inflammable.
+Schönbein, however, made his explosive from purified cotton, steeped in a
+mixture of equal parts of nitric and sulphuric acids, which when
+carefully washed, and dried, kept its appearance of cotton wool.  In the
+_Times_ of 4 Nov., is a notice of Gun sawdust (a powder now much used),
+made by Mr. George Turner of Leeds.
+
+Whilst on the subject of Chemicals, I may as well mention, what was much
+talked of at the time—the discovery of sulphuric ether, when inhaled,
+being an anæsthetic.  Previous to this, Nitrous Oxide, or, as it was
+called, “Laughing Gas,” somewhat inadequately performed the same
+function.  This latter was discovered by Dr. Priestley, in 1776, and its
+use, as an anæsthetic, recommended by Sir H. Davey in 1880, was put into
+practice by Mr. Wells, in America, to lessen the pain in extracting teeth
+in 1844.
+
+The first notice of the inhalation of sulphuric ether that I know of, is
+in No. XLV. of the _British and Foreign Medical Review_, which says:
+“Just as our last proof was passing through our hands, we received from
+our medical friends in Boston, the account of a matter so interesting to
+surgeons, and, indeed to everyone, that we take the opportunity of
+introducing it here.  We know nothing more of this new method of
+eschewing pain than what is contained in the following extracts from two
+private letters, kindly written to us by our excellent friends Dr. Ware
+and Dr. Warren, of Boston—both men of the highest eminence in their
+profession in America—and, we may truly say, in Europe also.  It is
+impossible, however, not to regard the discovery as one of the very
+highest importance, not in the practice of operative surgery only, but,
+also, as Dr. Ware suggests, in practical medicine.  We trust our friends
+will forgive us for putting into print their private communications.  The
+importance of the subject, and the necessity of authenticating the
+statements, are our excuses.  The authors of the discovery are Dr. C. T.
+Jackson and Dr. Morton.
+
+Dr. Warren writes, under date of 24 Nov., that “In six cases, I have had
+it applied with satisfactory success, and no unpleasant sequel.”  And Dr.
+Ware (29 Nov.) says: “It was brought into use by a dentist, and is, now,
+chiefly employed by that class of practitioners.  He has taken out a
+patent for the discovery, and has despatched persons to Europe to secure
+one there also; so you will soon hear of it, and, probably, have an
+opportunity of witnessing its effects.”
+
+Then follows a long list of operations performed in America—wound up with
+this postscript: “Dec. 22.  Yesterday, we had, ourselves, this new mode
+of cheating pain put in practice by a master of chirurgery, on our own
+side of the Atlantic.  In the theatre of University College Hospital, Mr.
+Liston amputated the thigh of a man, previously narcotized by the
+inhalation of ether vapour.  Shortly after being placed on the operating
+table, the patient began to inhale, and became apparently insensible in
+the course of two or three minutes.  The operation was then commenced,
+and the limb was removed in, what seemed to us, a marvellously short
+time—certainly less than a minute; the patient remaining during the
+incisions and the tying of the arteries, perfectly still and motionless.
+While the vessels were being secured, on being spoken to, he roused up
+partially (still showing no signs of pain), and answered questions put to
+him, in a slow, drowsy manner.  He declared to us that at no part of the
+operation had he felt pain, though he seemed to be partially conscious;
+he had heard some words, and felt that something was being done to his
+limb.  He was not aware, till told, that the limb was off; and, when he
+knew it, expressed great gratification at having been saved from pain.
+The man seemed quite awake when removed from the operating room, and
+continued so.  Everything has since proceeded as usual, and very
+favourably.
+
+“Mr. Liston afterwards performed one of the minor—but most painful
+operations of surgery—the partial removal of the nail, in _onychia_, on a
+man similarly narcotised, and with precisely the same result.  The
+patient seemed to feel no pain; and, upon rousing up, after the
+operation, declared that he had felt none.”
+
+_Punch_ found another and more domestic use for this anæsthetic.
+
+Patient: “This is really most delightful—a most beautiful dream.”
+
+    [Picture: Wonderful effects of Ether in a case of a scolding wife]
+
+Not only was there advance in medicine, but, also, in social
+science—people began to think that the condition of the working classes
+might be ameliorated by giving them better dwellings.  As yet, little or
+nothing had been done, in this way, in London, but a grand opportunity
+occurred at Liverpool, in the building of Birkenhead, and an extensive
+range of model dwellings were erected, four-storied, with ornate
+exterior, the rents varying from 3s. to 5s. per set of rooms, according
+to position; but this included a constant supply of water, and the use of
+one gas burner in each set of rooms, and all rates and taxes; with,
+moreover, two iron bedsteads, a grate with an oven, and convenient
+fixtures; and they were found to answer financially.
+
+The Queen’s consent was given on 26 Aug. to an “Act to Encourage the
+Establishment of Public Baths and Wash-houses” (9–10 Vic., c. 74).  How
+it was appreciated by the animals called “Vestrymen” may be seen by the
+fact that at a Vestry meeting of the inhabitants of St. Leonard’s,
+Shoreditch, held 26 Oct., the subject was brought forward, when an
+amendment was moved “that it be taken into consideration that day six
+months.”  For the amendment, 28; against 20!
+
+The dangers of Smithfield Market were becoming too apparent, as we see by
+a letter in the _Times_ of 26 Nov.:
+
+                 [Picture: The Bull Fight of Smithfield]
+
+    “Sir,—Your paper of this morning again gives an account of more
+    accidents arising in consequence of cattle being driven along our
+    crowded streets, and we may expect to hear of numerous, probably some
+    fatal, injuries being sustained during the short, and, often, very
+    dark days, which are common for some months in the winter.  Everyone,
+    whose avocations call him into the city, has to complain of the delay
+    arising from the over-crowded state of the leading thoroughfares;
+    and, on Smithfield Market days, the obstruction is greatly increased
+    by the droves of cattle and sheep which, in a bewildered, and
+    frequently infuriated state, are being forced by crowds of men, boys,
+    and dogs, along the streets, to the great annoyance, and, often,
+    danger, of the passengers.  I do not here dwell on the revolting
+    scenes of cruelty to the animals, which everyone has to witness and
+    deplore; but, on the ground of danger to human life, and, also,
+    because of the seriously increased obstruction to the general
+    traffic, which is caused by having the cattle market in the heart of
+    the metropolis, I would urge the removal of Smithfield Market to some
+    more appropriate place.  When this has been effected—when _abattoirs_
+    have been constructed, where, alone, all the larger animals are
+    permitted to be slaughtered, and when cattle are allowed to be driven
+    through the streets only at hours before the business of the day has
+    commenced—then, and not before, will London be, in reference to its
+    cattle market and slaughter houses, what is required in the middle of
+    the nineteenth century.”
+
+_Punch_ gives us the following lyric on the subject:
+
+                        THE BULL FIGHT OF SMITHFIELD.
+
+    There’s trampling feet in Goswell Street, there’s row on Holborn
+    Hill,
+    There’s crush and crowd, and swearing loud, from bass to treble
+    shrill;
+    From grazier cad, and drover lad, and butcher shining greasy,
+    And slaughter men, and knacker’s men, and policemen free and easy.
+
+    ’Tis Monday morn, and onward borne to Smithfield’s mart repair
+    The pigs and sheep, and, lowing deep, the oxen fine and fair;
+    They’re trooping on from Islington, and down Whitechapel road,
+    To wild halloo of a shouting crew, and yelp, and bite, and goad.
+
+    From combs of distant Devonshire, from sunny Sussex wold,
+    From where their Durham pastures the stately short-horns hold;
+    From Herefordshire marches, from fenny Cambridge flat,
+    For London’s maw they gather—those oxen fair and fat.
+
+    The stunted stocks of Cambria’s rocks uneasily are lowing,
+    With redder blaze of wild amaze their eyes around them throwing;
+    And the unkempt stot of Galloway, and the Kyloe of the Mearns,
+    Whose hoof, that crush’d the heather tuft, the mild MACADAM spurns.
+
+    They may talk of _plaza mayors_, of _torero’s_ nimble feat,
+    Of MONTEZ, the famed _matador_ of _picadors_ so fleet;
+    But what is Spanish Bull fight to deeds which we can show,
+    When through the street, at all they meet, the Smithfield oxen go?
+
+    See there, see there, where, high in air, the nurse and nurseling
+    fly!
+    Into a first-floor window, see, where that old gent, they shy!
+    Now they’re bolting into parlours, now they’re tumbling into cellars,
+    To the great disgust and terror of the peaceable indwellers.
+
+    Who rides so neat down Chiswell Street?  A City Knight, I ween;
+    By girth and span an alderman, nor less by port and mien.
+    Look out, look out! that sudden shout! the Smithfield herd is nigh!
+    Now turn, Sir Knight, and boldly fight, or, more discreetly, fly.
+
+    He hath eased round on his saddle, all fidgetty and fast;
+    There’s another herd behind him, and the time for flight is past.
+    Full in his front glares a rabid runt, thro’ tears of pain that blind
+    him,
+    For the drover’s almost twisted off the tail that hangs behind him.
+
+    All lightly armed for such a shock was stout SIR CALIPEE,
+    But he couched his new umbrella, and “Police” aloud cried he!
+    Crash—smash—slap-dash!  The whalebone snaps, the saddle seat is bare,
+    And the Knight, in mazy circles, is flying thro’ the air!
+
+    The runt tears on, the rout is gone, the street is calm once more,
+    And to Bartlemy’s they bear him, extended on a door;
+    Now, gramercy, good SIR CALIPEE, to the turtle and the haunch,
+    That padded out thy civic ribs, and lined thy stately paunch.
+
+    No ribs are broke, but a shattering stroke thy system has sustain’d;
+    Any other than an alderman had certainly been brained.
+    And, soon as he had breath to swear, the Knight right roundly swore
+    That, straight, he’d put down Smithfield, and set up an _abattoir_.
+
+In this year there were sold at Smithfield 226,132 beasts, 1,593,270
+sheep and lambs, 26,356 calves, and 33,531 pigs—to deal with which there
+were about 160 salesmen.  Things went on very much in the same style as
+described in _Punch_ until 1851, when the contracted space of the market,
+the slaughtering places adjoining, and many other nuisances, gave grounds
+for general dissatisfaction, and after an investigation, an Act (14–15
+Vic., c. 61) was passed on 1 Aug. “For providing a Metropolitan Market,
+and conveniences therewith, in lieu of the Cattle Market at Smithfield.”
+A suitable site was found in Copenhagen Fields, Islington; the last
+market at Smithfield was held on 11 June, and the first at the new one on
+13 June, 1855.
+
+The _Hampshire Guardian_, copied into the _Times_ of 12 Dec., gives us
+the story of the first submarine Telegraph: “We are enabled to supply the
+following additional particulars respecting the submarine Telegraph laid
+down across our harbour.  It is now about three years since the telegraph
+from the Nine Elms terminus to the terminus at Gosport was first
+established.  Subsequently, from the inconvenience experienced at the
+Admiralty Office here, because of the distance to the telegraph station,
+the wires were continued from that place to the Royal Clarence Yard.
+With this addition, although the inconvenience was lessened, it was far
+from being removed, the harbour intervening, leaving a distance of
+upwards of a mile, to the Admiral’s house, unconnected; and,
+notwithstanding the wish of the authorities, both here and in London,
+that the telegraph should be carried to the Dockyard, no attempt has,
+hitherto, been made to do so, because it has been considered almost
+impossible to convey it under water.  An offer, indeed, was made to the
+Admiralty, to lay down a telegraph enclosed in metallic pipes, which were
+to be fixed under the water by the aid of diving bells.  This scheme,
+having been found to be impracticable, has been very prudently abandoned.
+Whatever difficulties may have hitherto interfered to prevent the
+establishment of submarine telegraphs, appear, now, to have been entirely
+overcome, for the time occupied from the commencement of carrying the
+telegraph from shore to shore, and transmitting signals, did not occupy a
+quarter of an hour.  The telegraph, which has the appearance of an
+ordinary rope, was coiled into one of the dockyard boats, one end of it
+being made fast on shore, and, as the boat was pulled across, the
+telegraphic rope was gradually paid out over the stern, its superior
+gravity causing it to sink to the bottom immediately. . . . Independently
+of the simplicity of this submarine telegraph, it has an advantage which
+even the telegraphs on land do not possess—in the event of an accident,
+it can be replaced in ten minutes.  The success of the trial here has, we
+understand, determined the inventors to lay down their contemplated line
+across the Channel, from England to France, under the sanction of the
+respective Governments.”
+
+Such was the germ of the multitudinous cables which now span every ocean.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+
+Medals for Army and Navy—Grenville library—Day of fasting—“Binding of
+Satan”—Suspension of transportation—New House of Lords—Jenny Lind—_Bunn
+v. Lind_—“Jenny Linden”—Death of O’Connell—Story of the Duke of
+Buccleugh—Abolition of Eton “Montem.”
+
+At this time, at all events, we did not plaster our soldiers with medals
+for every trifling deed of duty, and it was not until January of this
+year, that a Commission was appointed to decide upon the medals which
+were to be presented to the officers and men who served in the Peninsula,
+under Wellington and other commanders.  And it was not till the 1st of
+June, that an Order was issued from the Horse Guards, that claims might
+be sent in by those who were present in battles from 1793 to 1814—or,
+rather, the list began with Maida, 1806, and ended with Toulouse, 1814.
+The medals for naval service began with the “Glorious First of June,”
+1794, and ended with the fight between the Endymion and President on 25
+Jan., 1815.  The Medal for Waterloo was granted some long time
+afterwards.
+
+In January, the British Museum received the splendid bequest of the
+Library of Thomas Grenville, Esqre., who died 17 Dec., 1846.  This
+magnificent library of over 20,000 volumes, valued at the very low
+estimate of £50,000, contains two copies of the Mazarin bible, one on
+vellum, a first folio of Shakespere, Caxton’s “Reynard the Fox,” and
+countless other literary treasures and rarities.  He had intended to
+leave this library to the Duke of Buckingham—but, reflecting that as most
+of the books had been paid for with the proceeds of a sinecure office
+(Chief Justice in eyre, south of the Trent) of £2,000 a year, which he
+had held from 1800 to 1817, when it was abolished, he felt it only just
+that they should be given to the nation, who had virtually paid for them.
+With them came, as curator, his valet, Mr. Holden, who remained with his
+master’s beloved books until three or four years since.
+
+On 9 March a Royal Proclamation was issued for a day of Fasting and
+humiliation on account of the famine and distress in Ireland, and it was
+duly kept on the day set apart for it, 24 March.
+
+There is a curious paragraph in the _Times_ of 23 March: “BINDING OF
+SATAN.—During the past two or three weeks, a number of persons have been
+going round the streets, on the Surrey side of the water, wearing belts,
+like those worn by the fire brigade, on which passages from the
+Scriptures are painted, carrying with them an inkhorn and long sheets of
+paper, soliciting signatures to what they pretend to be a petition to
+Heaven, for the binding of Satan, the Prince of darkness.  So eager are
+those persons to get the paper signed, that men, women, and children are
+stopped indiscriminately, and requested to sign.  Those who are too young
+to sign, or unable to write their names, have the same done for them by
+the men, who do not attempt to disguise the fact of belonging to the
+followers of Joanna Southcote.  Upon several occasions, a great deal of
+confusion has been created by the parties, for they generally manage to
+go about with knots of forty or fifty persons; and, occasionally,
+discussions ensue, which are calculated to bring the Scriptures into
+perfect ridicule.  One person, more intelligent than the persons who are
+hawking the petitions about, inquired who it is that will present the
+petition? when the man replied, with the greatest coolness, that as soon
+as a sufficient number of names are attached to the petition, it will be
+presented to the Throne of Mercy by Joanna Southcote herself.  Surely it
+is high time that such exhibitions were put down by the police.”
+
+Early in April a circular from the Home Secretary was forwarded to the
+magistrates at the various gaols, telling them that, in consequence of
+the suspension of transportation of male convicts to Van Diemen’s Land,
+it would be requisite for them to make immediate provision for the
+confinement and employment, in this country, of a great number of such
+offenders.
+
+On the 14th of April the Queen paid a visit of inspection to the New
+House of Lords, and, on the next day, the Peers took possession of it,
+and transacted business there for the first time.
+
+Talk of Gossip, was there ever such food for it as the arrival of Jenny
+Lind—it was a furore, a madness.  She arrived in London late on the
+afternoon of Ap. 17, and was present in the evening at the performance at
+Her Majesty’s Theatre.  On May 4 she made her first appearance on the
+Stage in England—in this Theatre—where she played in “Robert le Diable,”
+and, from that moment, until the end of the season, nothing else was
+thought of—nothing else talked of—but Jenny Lind, and it was no
+short-lived fit of enthusiasm, for she was _the_ favourite of the public
+until her retirement; her beautiful voice and simplicity of manner
+charming everyone, from Royalty downwards.  Unfortunately her dêbut was
+somewhat marred by a pecuniary squabble between her and Bunn, the
+operatic poet, a rival _impresario_, Lumley, having secured her services.
+Here is Punch’s version of the squabble:
+
+                                “JENNY-LINDEN.
+
+    A DREADFUL ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE AND THE POET
+    BUNN.
+
+    On LIND, when Drury’s sun was low,
+    And bootless was the wild-beast show,
+    The lessee counted for a flow
+          Of rhino to the treasury.
+
+    But JENNY LIND, whose waken’d sight
+    Saw Drury in a proper light,
+    Refused, for any sum per night,
+          To sing at the Menagerie.
+
+    With rage and ire in vain display’d,
+    Each super drew his wooden blade,
+    In fury half, and half afraid
+          For his prospective salary.
+
+    BUNN in a flaming frenzy flew,
+    And speedily the goose quill drew,
+    With which he was accustomed to
+          Pen such a deal of poetry.
+
+    He wrote the maiden to remind
+    Her of a compact she had signed,
+    To Drury Lane’s condition blind,
+          And threatened law accordingly.
+
+    Fair as in face, in nature, she
+    Implored the man to set her free,
+    Assuring him that he should be
+          Remunerated handsomely.
+
+    Two thousand pounds she offered, so
+    That he would only let her go;
+    BUNN, who would have his bond, said NO!
+          With dogged pertinacity.
+
+    And, now, his action let him bring, {310}
+    And try how much the law will wring
+    From her to do the handsome thing,
+          Who had proposed so readily!
+
+    The Swedish Nightingale to cage,
+    He failed; she sought a fitting stage,
+    And left him to digest his rage,
+          And seek his legal remedy.
+
+    Then shook the House, with plaudits riven,
+    When JENNY’S opening note was given,
+    The sweetest songstress under heaven
+          Forth bursting into melody.
+
+    But fainter the applause shall grow,
+    At waning Drury’s wild-beast show,
+    And feebler still shall be the flow
+          Of rhino to the treasury.
+
+    The Opera triumphs!  LUMLEY brave,
+    Thy bacon thou shalt more than save;
+    Wave, London, all thy ’kerchiefs wave,
+          And cheer with all thy chivalry.
+
+    ’Tis night; and still yon star doth run;
+    But all in vain for treasurer DUNN,
+    And Mr. HUGHES, and poet BUNN,
+          And quadrupeds, and company.
+
+    For Sweden’s Nightingale so sweet,
+    Their fellowship had been unmeet,
+    The sawdust underneath whose feet
+          Hath been the Drama’s sepulchre.”
+
+Died on 15th May, at Genoa, on his route to Rome, aged 72, Daniel
+O’Connell, the erst “uncrowned King of Ireland,” who, during his
+lifetime, had been a thorn (and a very troublesome one) in the side of
+every English government.  His heart was forwarded to Rome, but his body
+was embalmed, and, in due time, was sent to Ireland for interment.
+
+The _Liverpool Albion_, quoted in the _Times_ of 14 May, is responsible
+for the following story: “Some time ago, the Duke of Buccleugh, in one of
+his walks, purchased a cow from a person in the neighbourhood of
+Dalkeith, and left orders to send it to his palace on the following
+morning.  According to agreement, the cow was sent, and the Duke, who
+happened to be _en déshabille_, and walking in the avenue, espied a
+little fellow ineffectually attempting to drive the animal to its
+destination.  The boy, not knowing the Duke, bawled out to him: ‘Hi! mun,
+come here an’ gi’us a han’ wi’ this beast.’  The Duke saw the mistake,
+and determined to have a joke with the little fellow.  Pretending,
+therefore, not to understand him, the Duke walked on slowly, the boy
+still craving his assistance.  At last, he cried in a tone of apparent
+distress: ‘Come here, mun, an’ help us, an’ as sure as onything, I’ll
+give ye half I get.’  This last solicitation had the desired effect.  The
+Duke went and lent a helping hand.  ‘And now,’ said the Duke, as they
+trudged along, ‘how much do you think you will get for this job?’  ‘Oh,
+dinna ken,’ said the boy, ‘but I am sure o’ something, for the folk up at
+the house are good to a’ bodies.’  As they approached the house, the Duke
+darted from the boy, and entered by a different way.  He called a
+servant, and put a sovereign into his hand, saying, ‘Give that to the boy
+that has brought the cow.’  The Duke returned to the avenue, and was soon
+rejoined by the boy.  ‘Well, how much did you get?’ said the Duke.  ‘A
+shilling,’ said the boy, ‘an’ there’s the half o’t to ye.’  ‘But, surely,
+you got more than a shilling,’ said the Duke.  ‘No,’ said the boy, with
+the utmost earnestness, ‘as sure’s death, that’s a’ I got—an’ d’ye not
+think it’s a plenty?’  ‘I do not,’ said the Duke; ‘there must be some
+mistake; and, as I am acquainted with the Duke, if you return, I think
+I’ll get you more.’  The boy consented; back they went.  The Duke rang
+the bell, and ordered all the servants to be assembled.  ‘Now,’ said the
+Duke to the boy, ‘point out the person who gave you the shilling.’  ‘It
+was that chap, there, with the apron,’ pointing to the butler.  The
+delinquent confessed, fell on his knees, and attempted an apology; but
+the Duke interrupted him, indignantly ordered him to give the boy the
+sovereign, and quit his service instantly.  ‘You have lost,’ said the
+Duke, ‘your money, your situation, and your character, by your
+covetousness; learn, henceforth, that honesty is the best policy.’  The
+boy, by this time, recognised his assistant, in the person of the Duke,
+and the Duke was so delighted with the sterling worth and honesty of the
+boy, that he ordered him to be sent to school, kept there, and provided
+for at his own expense.”
+
+Eton “Montem” was abolished this year.  It was a triennial custom, and
+had for its purpose the presentation of a sum of money to the Captain of
+the school on his departure to the University.  Every third year, on
+Whitsun Tuesday, some of the Eton boys, clad in fancy costume (as is here
+given from the Montem of 1844), went to Salt Hill, and the neighbourhood
+generally, and levied contributions, or “Salt,” from all passers-by.  The
+custom led to grave abuses, and the Provost and Head Master determined
+that it should end, but, that the boy who benefited by it should not be a
+loser, the latter, Dr. Hawtrey, gave him £200 out of his own pocket.  The
+following is an account of the death and burial of Eton “Montem”:
+
+    “Tuesday, 25 May.—This being the day on which the triennial festival
+    of ‘Montem’ would have been celebrated at Eton and Salt Hill, had it
+    not been abolished by the Provost and the authorities of Eton,
+    considerable excitement prevailed in the vicinity of the College from
+    an early hour this morning, in consequence (from rumours which had
+    been in circulation for some time past) of its being apprehended that
+    some ‘demonstration’ would be made by the boys, assisted by several
+    old Etonians from Oxford and Cambridge (who are strongly opposed to
+    the abolition of the ceremony), which might lead to a breach of the
+    peace.  With the exception of about a thousand small squares of glass
+    being demolished in the vicinity of the lower school, and similar
+    breakages, but to a much smaller extent, at the houses of parties who
+    were supposed to be in favour of the determination which had been
+    come to by the Provost, we have heard of no demonstration of a
+    riotous character on the part of the boys.  This being a ‘whole
+    holiday,’ several of the head boys had permission to proceed in
+    boats, up the Thames, for the day, as far as Cliefden.  Between 100
+    and 200 have, also, left for the Whitsun holidays; thus thinning the
+    number remaining at College to a considerable extent.
+
+                 [Picture: Dresses, Eton “Montem.”  1844]
+
+    “As soon as ‘absence’ had been called by the head master, the Rev.
+    Dr. Hawtrey, shortly after 12 o’clock, the boys, numbering between
+    200 and 300, formed in procession in the playing fields, and marched
+    across the fields, preceded by a black flag, to the celebrated mount
+    at Salt Hill.  They were joined by a great many of the old Etonians
+    from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, who arrived at Eton
+    this morning.  Each wore, on his left arm, a band and rosette of
+    black crape, and many had white hatbands and scarves.  As they were
+    seen wending their way towards Salt Hill, they had all the appearance
+    of mourners (merry though they might be) in a funeral procession.
+    Upon their arrival at the Mount, the black flag was waved in solemn
+    silence, and, afterwards, placed on the summit, drooping on the
+    ground, typical of the lost glories of Montem.  The large party then
+    proceeded to Botham’s, at the Windmill Hotel, whence, after partaking
+    of a luncheon, they again returned to the Mount, and, with the flag,
+    retraced their steps back to College.
+
+    “A match at cricket was played during the day, between the Oxonians
+    and the present Etonians, in the shooting fields attached to the
+    College.  A splendid cold collation was provided, in the evening, for
+    the players, by Mr. Clarke, of the Christopher Inn.  The waiters who
+    attended upon the guests were compelled to wear black crape around
+    their arms, ‘in keeping,’ as it was observed, ‘with the solemnity of
+    the occasion.’  Such were the fears entertained by some of the
+    College authorities that a disturbance might take place in the course
+    of the day, that a strong body of the Metropolitan A division of
+    police was stationed at Slough, in plain clothes (as we are
+    informed), to be in readiness to assist the local authorities, in the
+    event of their services being required, it being expected that a mob,
+    composed of the idle and lazy of the two towns, might, in the course
+    of the evening, show some disposition to create a disturbance.  The
+    abolition of Montem is not only considered to be a most unpopular
+    proceeding on the part of the old and present Etonians; but, also, by
+    the tradesmen of Eton and Windsor, amongst the former of whom a large
+    sum of money was triennially circulated, both before and during the
+    festival.”
+
+_Punch_ has a lament on it, of which I reproduce three verses:
+
+    “Say, Hill of Salt, for thou hast seen
+       Full many a noble race
+    Do what might be considered mean
+       In any other case—
+    With cap in hand, and courtly leg,
+    Waylay the traveller, and beg;
+       Say, was it not a pleasing sight
+    Those young Etonians to behold,
+    For eleemosynary gold,
+       Arrest the passing wight.
+
+    Whilst some, of more excursive bent,
+       Their vagrant arts to ply,
+    To all the various places went,
+       That in the neighbourhood lie;
+    To Datchet, Slough, or Horton they,
+    Or e’en to Colnbrook, took their way,
+       Or ancient Windsor’s regal town;
+    Stopp’d every body they could meet,
+    Knocked at each house, in every street,
+       In hopes of half a crown.
+
+    Gay clothes were theirs, by fancy made;
+       Some were as Romans drest,
+    Some in the Grecian garb array’d,
+       Some bore the knightly crest;
+    Theirs was attire of every hue,
+    Of every fashion, old, or new,
+       Various as Nathan’s ample store.
+    Angelic beings!  Ladies! say
+    Will ye let these things pass away?
+       Must Montem be no more?”
+
+From this, to the Accession of the Queen, there is no more Gossip to
+chronicle.
+
+            [Picture: Decorative picture of person with crown]
+
+
+
+
+Footnotes:
+
+
+{10}  Then a very active M.P.; afterwards Judge in the Admiralty and
+Probate Courts, Dean of Arches, &c.
+
+{23}  It is said that this was the last chime rung.
+
+{27}  Still in use on the Royal Exchange.
+
+{81a}  It is needless to say that the Queen’s Speech to Parliament on 5th
+Feb. was absolutely silent on the matter; indeed, the Queen did not
+inform her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, of her choice until October of
+this year.
+
+{81b}  Poems by the Lady Flora Hastings, edited by her sister.
+Edinburgh, 1841, 8vo.
+
+{84}  The Queen’s most intimate companion from her childhood.
+
+{119a}  This was preliminary, and was entitled “An Act for Exhibiting a
+Bill in this present Parliament for naturalising His Serene Highness
+Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.”
+
+{119b}  That of intermarriage with Protestants only.
+
+{128}  A private box, on the level of the stage, with which it
+communicated.
+
+{132}  Three Chartist leaders, who were condemned to death on 16 Jan.,
+1840, but were never executed, and subsequently pardoned.
+
+{151}  Handcuffs.
+
+{156}  The nautical way of writing “Oh, come to me.”
+
+                                                        _Printer’s Devil_.
+
+{159}  He put up for election at the Senior United Service Club, was
+balloted for on 6 June, 1840, when out of 194 balls, 166 were black.
+
+{163}  An action was brought against them at Reading, and on 24 Feb.,
+1843, the jury found for the plaintiff against all the defendants, and
+gave 1_s._ damages for the assault, and £55 for the injury done to the
+house and furniture.
+
+{169a}  It was held copyhold of the Queen, as Lord of the Manor.
+
+{169b}  Mr. Simpson had been a famous Master of the Ceremonies.
+
+{170a}  Ring Master at Astley’s.
+
+{170b}  George Robins, a famous auctioneer.
+
+{171}  A famous Rope dancer.
+
+{194}  A well known nick-name for Lord Palmerston.
+
+{279}  From Moorgate Street 83 prospectuses, demanding £90,175,000, were
+sent out.  Gresham Street issued 20, requiring £17,580,000.
+
+{310}  The case of _Bunn v. Lind_ came on, in the Court of Queen’s Bench,
+on 22 Feb., 1848.  Damages laid at £10,000.  The jury found a verdict for
+the plaintiff, and the case was ultimately settled by a payment of
+£2,000.
+
+
+
+
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