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diff --git a/30665.txt b/30665.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3687683 --- /dev/null +++ b/30665.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11146 @@ +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: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***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 1 + the 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 53 + and 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 Costume"--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 220 + "Albert 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 267 + William 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 307 + 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" + + [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 2.30 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 levee, 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 pounds for unlawful possession of one of the knockers, and 5 + pounds 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 pounds 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 pounds, 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 +doree_ 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 pounds 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 pound 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 pounds. 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 "Actaeon," 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 pounds, and two sureties of 500 pounds 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 pounds, and another +firm nearly the same amount, whilst the value of plate lent by various +gentlemen was assessed at 400,000 pounds, 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 pounds + 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 pounds. 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 pounds + 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 pounds. 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 pounds 3/-; the two carved griffins, holding shields of the City arms, +facing the quadrangle, 35 pounds; the two busts of Queen Elizabeth, on +the east and west sides, 10 pounds 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 pounds; the corresponding alto relievo, +representing Britannia seated amidst the emblems of Commerce, accompanied +by Science, Agriculture, Manufactures, etc., 30 pounds; the carved +emblematical figures of Europe, Asia, Africa and America, 110 pounds. +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 doree_ 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 + pounds 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, 7.5 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 pounds. 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 Conde, 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 pounds 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 +pounds, 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 _elite_ 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 pound 12s. 6d; by the second-class carriages, open by day, +which is the cheapest, it will be 1 pound. The intermediate fares will +be 1 pound 10s. and 1 pound 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 pounds 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 Chalon sur Saone, 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 _regime_, 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 4.5 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 pounds, 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 pounds! + + + + +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 pounds, and from +27 to 930 pounds. + +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 manoeuvering 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 pounds. 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 pounds 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 a 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-a-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 pounds. + + [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 _melee_ 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 pounds. 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 pounds 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 pounds, which was lost by a +majority of 267. Col. Sibthorp then proposed a sum of 30,000 pounds, +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, _coeteris 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 _rentree_ 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 pounds + each, and two sureties in 250 pounds 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 pounds, would, perhaps, answer as + well as two in 250 pounds 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 pounds, and two + sureties in 50 pounds 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 pounds. + + 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 pounds. + + 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 +pounds! Total deficiency in the year, to be made up by new taxation, +2,000,000 pounds!" + +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 pounds, which was raised by subscription, and it was +estimated that the cost of the present repairs would amount to about +20,000 pounds. + + * * * * * + +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 _cortege_, 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 pounds 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 +pounds 4/-, and the original marble bust of Napoleon, when Consul, dated +1804, by Canova, fetched 232 pounds 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 pounds 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'oeuvre_ 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 pounds." + +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 pounds 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 pounds. 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 pounds. 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 pounds. 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 + _entree_ 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 tesserae, 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 amphorae, 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 "Anglioe 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 pounds 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 pounds 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 Costume"--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 archaeology 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 _cortege_ 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 resume 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 fete at Jesus College, Cambridge, for he lost the +diamond star from his breast, valued at 500 pounds. 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 foeminam_:--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 pounds. 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 pounds, 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 pounds 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 pounds reward for the apprehension of Rebecca, and 10 +pounds 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 pounds, 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 9.75 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 pounds. 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 pounds, but that he had spent, or lost it. The sum +recovered only amounted to 231 pounds 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 trachaea, 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 trachaeotomy 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 pounds; the stamp duty on the +probate of which was 15,000 pounds, which was the highest duty then +payable, when the testator's personal estate was 1,000,000 pounds or +upwards. In this case the deceased left behind him a fortune of nearly +3,000,000 pounds. + +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 +pounds 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 pounds. Among the contributors, are the Marchioness of +Breadalbane, 1,000 pounds; a Colonel in the Army, whose name we do not +remember, 6,000 pounds, in three yearly instalments of 2,000 pounds; Mr. +Henry Paul, a private gentleman, 2,000 pounds; Mr. Nisbet, bookseller, +London, 1,000 pounds; a Dissenter, 500 pounds; and there are various +other subscriptions of 2,000 and 1,000 pounds 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 pounds 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 pounds, 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 pounds 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 pounds each +were awarded to Armitage, Watts and Cope; of 200 pounds to Calcott, Bell +and Townsend; of 100 pounds 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 pounds in any one year, and to 200 +pounds in the whole. The rate of interest on deposits was fixed at 3 +pounds 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, Koenig, 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 pounds, 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 pounds, +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 Gothe 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 _soiree +dansante_, monopolised the professor, _par excellence_, of that +_specialite_ 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 _veritable_, 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 a +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-a-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 _seance 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 pounds for 100 pounds stock, for +the first time for nearly a century. The last time they were at 100 +pounds 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 pounds. 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 +pounds. In September, 1797, they fell to 47.375, 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 pounds 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 +feted, 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 pounds 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 +_dejeuner_ 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 cortege 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 pounds, 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 pounds 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 pounds, he was convicted of that offence, and +sentenced to pay 3 pounds, 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 employe 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 pounds 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 pounds; another, 6 +years old, 310 pounds; two lion cubs, eight months old, male and female, +sold, the one for 12 pounds 10/-, the other for 35 pounds. An elephant +realised 750 pounds, and a giraffe 400 pounds. + +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 pounds; but, by agreement, this was reduced to +76,000 pounds; and, finally, after an appeal from Mr. Smith, the +Government were content with a cheque for 10,000 pounds. + +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 pounds 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 pounds and +upwards; those who put down their names for less were supposed to be +holders of 21,386 pounds 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 _dejeuner_ 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 74.25 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 pound +10s. A drawing in sepia, by Debret, of Napoleon visiting the wounded on +the field, after the battle of Eylau, 5 pounds 5s. The pictures +illustrative of the principal events in the life of Napoleon, were almost +given away; the highest price obtained, being 12 pounds 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 pounds, 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 pounds 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 pounds, +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 pounds 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 pounds 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 pounds, 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 pounds, and that the last +rate, at 8d. in the pound, amounting to 15 pounds, 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 pounds, 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 pounds. + +_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 +_vised_ 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 pounds; during the month, there +were 357 new schemes announced, with an aggregate capital of 332,000,000 +pounds." + +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 pounds. "Take away," it said, "140,000,000 pounds +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 +pounds 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 pounds a week, from this source. The railway papers, on some +occasions, contained advertisements that must have netted 700 to 800 +pounds 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 pounds 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 pounds; 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 pounds, and who +was understood to be a half-pay officer, in the receipt of 54 pounds a +year, but who appeared as a subscriber in different railway schemes to +the amount of 41,500 pounds. The address of another, whose name was down +for 12,200 pounds, 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 +pounds, 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 pounds in +different projects, and stood for 10,000 pounds in this line. Another +individual, who was down for 25,000 pounds, was represented to be in poor +circumstances. A clerk in a public company was down for upwards of +50,000 pounds. 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 pounds, +and the other for 25,000 pounds; these two brothers, excellent persons, +no doubt, but who were receiving about a guinea and a half between them, +were down for 37,000 pounds." + +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 + pounds was received for deposits, which should have yielded 700,000 + pounds. + + "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 + pounds, 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 pounds, 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 pounds 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 pounds. + +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 pounds, 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, _a 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 depots, 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 pounds +in his passage, and before he settles, and that he has 10 pounds more to +establish himself, here is direct taking away, in hard cash, of 60,000 +pounds 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 8.5 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 pounds +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 pound 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 pounds; B. R. HAYDON, who has devoted 42 years to elevate their +taste, was honoured by the visits of 133.5, producing 5 pounds 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. + "_Tantae 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 pounds. 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 pounds. + +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 Schonbein, 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. +Schonbein, 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 anaesthetic. 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 anaesthetic, 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 anaesthetic. + +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 pounds, 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 pounds 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 debut 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 deshabille_, 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 pounds 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 pounds 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 pounds, +were sent out. Gresham Street issued 20, requiring 17,580,000 pounds. + +{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 pounds. The jury found a +verdict for the plaintiff, and the case was ultimately settled by a +payment of 2,000 pounds. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOSSIP IN THE FIRST DECADE OF +VICTORIA'S REIGN*** + + +******* This file should be named 30665.txt or 30665.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/6/6/30665 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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