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diff --git a/42060.txt b/42060.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 86ab062..0000000 --- a/42060.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,21942 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Town, by Leigh Hunt - -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: The Town - Its Memorable Characters and Events - -Author: Leigh Hunt - -Release Date: February 10, 2013 [EBook #42060] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TOWN *** - - - - -Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note: - - Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have - been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - The quote starting with "The piety and order" on page 95 should - perhaps start on the previous page with "My first recollection of - him." - - On page 263, "February 1661-2" is perhaps a typo for "February 1662." - - On page 131, "vill a" is probably a typo. - - - - - [Illustration: LONDON, FROM SOUTHWARK, BEFORE THE GREAT FIRE.] - - - - - THE TOWN - ITS MEMORABLE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS - - BY LEIGH HUNT - - _WITH FORTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS_ - - A NEW EDITION - - LONDON - SMITH, ELDER, & CO., 15 WATERLOO PLACE - 1889 - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -In this volume entitled "THE TOWN," the reader will find an account of -London, partly topographical and historical, but chiefly recalling the -memories of remarkable characters and events associated with its -streets between St. Paul's and St. James's; being that part of the -great metropolis which may be said to have constituted "THE TOWN" when -that term was commonly used to designate London. - -The present edition comprises the entire contents, unabridged, with -the Illustrations. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - INTRODUCTION. - - Different Impressions of London on different Passengers and - Minds -- Extendibility of its Interest to all -- London before - the Deluge! -- Its Origin according to the fabulous Writers and - Poets -- First historical Mention of it -- Its Names -- - British, Roman, Saxon, and Norman London -- General Progress of - the City and of Civilization -- Range of the Metropolis as it - existed in the Time of Shakspeare and Bacon -- Growth of the - Streets and Suburbs during the later Reigns -- "Merry London" - and "Merry England" -- Curious Assertion respecting Trees in - the City 1 - - - CHAPTER I. - - ST. PAUL'S AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. - - The Roman Temple of Diana: the first Christian Church -- Old - St. Paul's -- Inigo Jones's Portico -- Strange Usages of former - Times -- Encroachments on the Fabric of the Cathedral -- Paul's - Walkers -- Dining with Duke Humphrey -- Catholic Customs -- The - Boy-Bishop The Children of the Revels -- Strange Ceremony on - the Festivals of the Commemoration and Conversion of St. Paul - -- Ancient Tombs in the Cathedral -- Scene between John of - Gaunt and the Anti-Wickliffites -- Paul's Cross -- The Folkmote - -- The Sermons -- Jane Shore -- See-Saw of Popery and - Protestantism -- London House -- The Charnel -- The Lollards' - Tower -- St. Paul's School -- Desecration of the Cathedral - during the Commonwealth -- The present Cathedral -- Sir - Christopher Wren -- Statue of Queen Anne 23 - - - CHAPTER II. - - ST. PAUL'S AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. - - The Church of St. Faith -- Booksellers of the Churchyard -- Mr. - Johnson's -- Mr. Newberry's -- Children's Books -- Clerical - Names of Streets near St. Paul's -- Swift at the top of the - Cathedral -- Dr Johnson at St. Paul's -- Paternoster Row -- - Panyer's Alley -- Stationers' Hall -- Almanacks -- - Knight-Riders' Street -- Armed Assemblies of the Citizens -- - Doctor's Commons -- The Heralds' College -- Coats of Arms -- - Ludgate -- Story of Sir Stephen Forster -- Prison of Ludgate -- - Wyatt's Rebellion -- The Belle Sauvage Inn -- Blackfriars -- - Shakspeare's Theatre -- Accident at Blackfriars in 1623 -- - Printing House Square -- The Times -- Baynard's Castle -- Story - of the Baron Fitzwalter -- Richard III. and Buckingham -- - Diana's Chamber -- The Royal Wardrobe -- Marriages in the Fleet - -- Fleet Ditch -- The Dunciad 52 - - - CHAPTER III. - - FLEET STREET. - - Burning of the Pope -- St. Bride's Steeple -- Milton -- - Illuminated Clock -- Melancholy End of Lovelace the Cavalier -- - Chatterton -- Generosity of Hardham, of Snuff Celebrity -- - Theatre in Dorset Garden -- Richardson, his Habits and - Character -- Whitefriars, or Alsatia -- The Temple -- Its - Monuments, Garden, &c. -- Eminent names connected with it -- - Goldsmith dies there -- Boswell's first Visit there to Johnson - -- Johnson and Madame de Boufflers -- Bernard Lintot -- Ben - Jonson's Devil Tavern -- Other Coffee-houses and Shops -- - Goldsmith and Temple-bar -- Shire Lane, Bickerstaff, and the - Deputation from the Country -- The Kit-Kat Club -- Mrs. Salmon - -- Isaac Walton -- Cowley -- Chancery Lane, Lord Strafford, and - Ben Jonson -- Serjeant's Inn -- Clifford's Inn -- The Rolls -- - Sir Joseph Jekyll -- Church of St. Dunstan in the West -- - Dryden's House in Fetter Lane -- Johnson, the Genius Loci of - Fleet Street -- His Way of Life -- His Residence in Gough - Square, Johnson's Court, and Bolt Court -- Various Anecdotes of - him connected with Fleet Street, and with his favourite Tavern, - the Mitre 84 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - THE STRAND. - - Ancient State of the Strand -- Butcher Row -- Death of Lee, the - dramatic Poet -- Johnson at an Eating-House -- Essex Street -- - House and History of the favourite Earl of Essex -- Spenser's - Visit there -- Essex, General of the Parliament -- Essex Head - Club -- Devereux Court -- Grecian Coffee-House -- Twining, the - accomplished Scholar -- St. Clement Danes -- Clement's Inn -- - Falstaff and Shallow -- Norfolk, Arundel, Surrey, and Howard - Streets -- Norfolk House -- Essex's Ring and the Countess of - Nottingham -- William Penn -- Birch -- Dr. Brocklesby -- - Congreve, and his Will -- Voltaire's Visit to him -- Mrs. - Bracegirdle -- Tragical End of Mountford the Player -- Ancient - Cross -- Maypole -- New Church of St. Mary-le-Strand -- Old - Somerset House -- Henrietta Maria and her French Household -- - Waller's Mishap at Somerset Stairs -- New Somerset House -- - Royal Society, Antiquarian Society, and Royal Academy -- Death - of Dr. King -- Exeter Street -- Johnson's first Lodging in - London -- Art of living in London -- Catherine Street -- - Unfortunate Women -- Wimbledon House -- Lyceum and Beef-steak - Club -- Exeter Change -- Bed and Baltimore -- The Savoy -- - Anecdotes of the Duchess of Albemarle -- Beaufort Buildings -- - Lillie, the Perfumer -- Aaron Hill -- Fielding -- Southampton - Street -- Cecil and Salisbury Streets -- Durham House -- - Raleigh -- Pennant on the Word Place or Palace -- New Exchange - -- Don Pantaleon Sa -- The White Milliner -- Adelphi -- Garrick - and his Wife -- Beauclerc -- Society of Arts, and Mr. Barry -- - Bedford Street -- George, Villiers, and Buckingham Streets -- - York House and Buildings -- Squabble between the Spanish and - French Ambassadors -- Hungerford Market -- Craven Street -- - Franklin -- Northumberland House -- Duplicity of Henry, Earl of - Northampton -- Violence of Lord Herbert of Cherbury -- Percy, - Bishop of Dromore -- Pleasant mistake of Goldsmith 131 - - - CHAPTER V. - - LINCOLN'S INN AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. - - Lincoln's Inn -- Ben Jonson's Bricklaying -- Enactments against - Beards -- Oliver Cromwell, More, Hale, and other eminent - Students of Lincoln's Inn -- Lincoln's Inn Fields, or Square -- - Houses there built by Inigo Jones -- Pepys's Admiration of the - Comforts of Mr. Povey -- Surgeons' College -- Sir Richard and - Lady Fanshawe, and Lord Sandwich -- Execution of the patriotic - Lord Russell, with an Account of the Circumstances that led to - and accompanied it, and some Remarks on his Character -- - Affecting Passages from the Letters of his Widow -- Ludicrous - Story connected with Newcastle House 192 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - Great Queen Street -- Former fashionable Houses there -- Lewis - and Miss Pope, the Comedians -- Martin Folkes -- Sir Godfrey - Kneller and his Vanity -- Dr. Radcliffe -- Lord Herbert of - Cherbury -- Nuisance of Whetstone Park -- The Three Dukes and - the Beadle -- Rogues and Vagabonds in the Time of Charles II -- - Former Theatres in Vere Street and Portugal Street -- First - appearance of Actresses -- Infamous deception of one of them by - the Earl of Oxford -- Appearance of an avowed Impostor on the - Stage -- Anecdotes of the Wits and fine Ladies of the Time of - Charles, connected with the Theatre in this Quarter -- - Kynaston, Betterton, Nokes, Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Mountford, and - other Performers -- Rich -- Joe Miller -- Carey Street and Mrs. - Chapone -- Clare Market -- History, and Specimens, of Orator - Henley -- Duke Street and Little Wild Street -- Anecdotes of - Dr. Franklin's Residence in those Streets while a Journeyman - Printer 225 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - DRURY LANE, AND THE TWO THEATRES IN DRURY LANE AND COVENT - GARDEN. - - Craven House -- Donne and his vision -- Lord Craven and the - Queen of Bohemia -- Nell Gwynn -- Drury Lane Theatre -- Its - antiquity, different eras, and rebuildings -- The principal - theatre of Dryden, Wycherley, Farquhar, Steele, Garrick, and - Sheridan -- Old Drury in the time of Charles II. -- A visit to - it -- Pepys and his theatrical gossip, with notes -- Hart and - Mohun -- Goodman -- Nell Gwynn -- Dramatic taste of that age -- - Booth -- Artificial tragedy -- Wilks and Cibber -- Bullock and - Penkethman -- A Colonel enamoured of Cibber's wig -- Mrs. - Oldfield -- Her singular position in society -- Not the Flavia - of the Tatler -- Pope's account of her last words probably not - true -- Declamatory acting -- Lively account of Garrick and - Quin by Mr. Cumberland -- Improvement of stage costume -- King - -- Mrs. Pritchard -- Mrs. Clive -- Mrs. Woffington -- Covent - Garden -- Barry -- Contradictory characters of him by Davies - and Churchill -- Macklin -- Woodward -- Pantomime -- English - taste in music -- Cooke -- Rise of actors and actresses in - social rank -- Improvement of the audience -- Dr. Johnston at - the theatre -- Churchill a great pit critic -- His Rosciad -- - His picture of Mossop -- Mrs. Jordan and Mr. Suett -- Early - recollections of a play-goer 257 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - COVENT GARDEN CONTINUED AND LEICESTER SQUARE. - - Bow Street once the Bond Street of London -- Fashions at that - time -- Infamous frolic of Sir Charles Sedley and others -- - Wycherly and the Countess of Drogheda -- Tonson the Bookseller - -- Fielding -- Russell Street -- Dryden beaten by hired - ruffians in Rose Street -- His Presidency at Will's - Coffee-House -- Character of that Place -- Addison and Button's - Coffee-House -- Pope, Philips, and Garth -- Armstrong -- - Boswell's introduction to Johnson -- The Hummums -- Ghost Story - there -- Covent Garden -- The Church -- Car, Earl of Somerset - -- Butler, Southern, Eastcourt, Sir Robert Strange -- Macklin - -- Curious Dialogue with him when past a century -- Dr. Walcot - -- Covent Garden Market -- Story of Lord Sandwich, Hackman, and - Miss Ray -- Henrietta Street -- Mrs. Clive -- James Street -- - Partridge, the almanack-maker -- Mysterious lady -- King Street - -- Arne and his Father -- The four Indian Kings -- Southampton - Row -- Maiden Lane -- Voltaire -- Long Acre and its Mug-Houses - -- Prior's resort there -- Newport Street -- St. Martin's Lane, - and Leicester Square -- Sir Joshua Reynolds -- Hogarth -- Sir - Isaac Newton 306 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - CHARING CROSS AND WHITEHALL. - - Old Charing Cross, and New St. Martin's Church -- Statue of - Charles I. -- Execution of Regicides -- Ben Jonson -- - Wallingford House, now the Admiralty -- Villiers, Duke of - Buckingham; Sir Walter Scott's Account of him -- - Misrepresentation of Pope respecting his Death -- Charles's - Horse a Satirist -- Locket's Ordinary -- Sir George Etherege -- - Prior and his Uncle's Tavern -- Thomson -- Spring Gardens -- - Mrs. Centlivre -- Dorset Place, and Whitcombe Street, &c., - formerly Hedge Lane -- The Wits and the Bailiffs -- Suffolk - Street -- Swift and Miss Vanhomrigh -- Calves' Head Club, and - the Riot it occasioned -- Scotland Yard -- Pleasant - Advertisement -- Beau Fielding, and his Eccentricities -- - Vanbrugh -- Desperate Adventure of Lord Herbert of Cherbury 355 - - - CHAPTER X. - - WOLSEY AND WHITEHALL. - - Regal Character of Whitehall -- York Place -- Personal and - Moral Character of Wolsey -- Comparison of him with his Master, - Henry -- His Pomp and Popularity -- Humorous Account of his - Flatterers by Sir Thomas More -- Importance of his Hat -- - Cavendish's Account of his household State, his goings forth in - Public, and his entertainments of the King 382 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - Henry the Eighth -- His Person and Character -- Modern - Qualifications of it considered -- Passages respecting him from - Lingard, Sir Thomas Wyatt, and others -- His additions to - Whitehall -- A Retrospect at Elizabeth -- Court of James - resumed -- Its gross Habits -- Letter of Sir John Harrington - respecting them -- James's Drunkenness -- Testimonies of - Welldon, Sully, and Roger Coke -- Curious Omission in the - Invective of Churchill the Poet -- Welldon's Portrait of James - -- Buckingham, the Favourite -- Frightful Story of Somerset -- - Masques -- Banqueting House -- Inigo Jones and Ben Jonson -- - Court of Charles the First -- Cromwell -- Charles the Second -- - James the Second 395 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - St. James's Park and its Associations -- Unhealthiness of the - Place and Neighbourhood -- Leper Hospital of St. James -- Henry - the Eighth builds St. James's Palace and the Tilt-Yard -- - Original State and Progressive Character of the Park -- Charles - the First -- Cromwell -- Charles the Second; his Walks, - Amusements, and Mistresses -- The Mulberry Gardens -- Swift, - Prior, Richardson, Beau Tibbs, Soldiers, and Syllabubs -- - Character of the Park at present -- St. James's Palace during - the Reigns of the Stuarts and two first Georges -- Anecdotes of - Lord Craven and Prince George of Denmark -- Characters of Queen - Anne and of George the First and Second -- George the First and - his Carp -- Lady Mary Wortley Montague and the Sack of Wheat -- - Horace Walpole's Portrait of George the First -- The Mistresses - of that King and of his Son -- Mistake of Lord Chesterfield -- - Queen Caroline's Ladies in Waiting -- Miss Bellenden and the - Guineas -- George the Second's Rupture with his Father and with - his Son -- Character of that Son -- Buckingham House -- - Sheffield and his Duchess -- Character of Queen Charlotte -- - Advantages of Queen Victoria over her Predecessors 431 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - -ENGRAVED BY C. THURSTON THOMPSON, FROM DRAWINGS BY J. W. ARCHER AND C. -T. THOMPSON. - - - PAGE - - London from Southwark, before the Great Fire. From a - Print by Hollar (_Frontispiece_) - - West Front of Old St. Paul's, with Inigo Jones's Portico 26 - - "Paul's Cross and Preaching there" 51 - - Ludgate 69 - - Baynard's Castle, from the River, 1640 78 - - Stone in Panyer Alley, marking the highest Ground in the City 83 - - Interior of the Round Part of the Temple Church, previous - to the recent Restorations 101 - - House in Bolt Court, Fleet Street, the last Residence of - Dr. Johnson, 1810 125 - - Old Somerset House, from the River 167 - - The Savoy Palace, from the River 172 - - Inigo Jones's Water Gate, York Stairs 183 - - Old Northumberland House, from the River. Temp. Charles I. 186 - - Exeter Change as it appeared just before it was pulled down 192 - - Newcastle House, N. W. corner of Lincoln's Inn Fields, 1796 222 - - Old Palace of Whitehall, from the River. Temp. Charles I., - from a Print of the Period 225 - - Old Houses in Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, - 1817 226 - - The Theatre in Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, 1810 236 - - Printing Press at which Franklin worked 256 - - Craven House, Drury Lane, 1800 258 - - Entrance Front of Old Drury Lane Theatre in Brydges - Street, erected by Garrick 266 - - Entrance to old Covent Garden Theatre, 1794 305 - - Inigo Jones's Church and Covent Garden. Temp. James II. - From a Print of the Period 325 - - House in St. Martin's Street, Leicester Square, formerly the - Residence of Sir Isaac Newton, 1810 354 - - The Village of Charing. From Aggas's Map, 1578 356 - - Scotland Yard, as it appeared in 1750. From a Print after - Paul Sandby 374 - - Old Gate of Whitehall Palace, designed by Holbein. From - a Print by Hollar 401 - - The Banqueting House, Whitehall 419 - - St. James's Palace, 1650, from a Print by Hollar 435 - - - The Initial Letters and Tail-pieces designed by J. W. ARCHER - and C. T. THOMPSON. (The Initial Letter to Chapter XII. - represents the Conduit at St. James's.) - - - - -THE TOWN. - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - Different impressions of London on different passengers and - minds -- Extendibility of its interest to all -- London before - the Deluge! -- Its origin according to the fabulous writers and - poets -- First historical mention of it -- Its names -- - British, Roman, Saxon, and Norman London -- General progress of - the city and of civilisation -- Range of the Metropolis as it - existed in the time of Shakspeare and Bacon -- Growth of the - streets and suburbs during the later reigns -- "Merry London" - and "Merry England" -- Curious assertion respecting trees in - the city. - - -In one of those children's books which contain reading fit for the -manliest, and which we have known to interest very grave and even -great men, there is a pleasant chapter entitled _Eyes and no Eyes, or -the Art of Seeing_.[1] The two heroes of it come home successively -from a walk in the same road, one of them having seen only a heath and -a hill, and the meadows by the water-side, and therefore having seen -nothing; the other expatiating on his delightful ramble, because the -heath presented him with curious birds, and the hill with the remains -of a camp, and the meadows with reeds, and rats, and herons, and -kingfishers, and sea-shells, and a man catching eels, and a glorious -sunset. - -In like manner people may walk through a crowded city, and see nothing -but the crowd. A man may go from Bond Street to Blackwall, and unless -he has the luck to witness an accident, or get a knock from a porter's -burden, may be conscious, when he has returned, of nothing but the -names of those two places, and of the mud through which he has -passed. Nor is this to be attributed to dullness. He may, indeed, be -dull. The eyes of his understanding may be like bad spectacles, which -no brightening would enable to see much. But he may be only -inattentive. Circumstances may have induced a want of curiosity, to -which imagination itself shall contribute, if it has not been taught -to use its eyes. This is particularly observable in childhood, when -the love of novelty is strongest. A boy at the Charter House, or -Christ Hospital, probably cares nothing for his neighbourhood, though -stocked with a great deal that might entertain him. He has been too -much accustomed to identify it with his schoolroom. We remember the -time ourselves when the only thought we had in going through the -metropolis was how to get out of it; how to arrive, with our best -speed, at the beautiful vista of home and a pudding, which awaited us -in the distance. And long after this we saw nothing in London, but the -book-shops which have taught us better. - - "I have often," says Boswell, with the inspiration of his great - London-loving friend upon him, "amused myself with thinking how - different a place London is to different people. They whose - narrow minds are contracted to the consideration of some one - particular pursuit, view it only through that medium. A - politician thinks of it merely as the seat of government in its - different departments; a grazier as a vast market for cattle; a - mercantile man as a place where a prodigious deal of business - is done upon 'Change; a dramatic enthusiast as the grand scene - of theatrical entertainments; a man of pleasure as an - assemblage of taverns, &c. &c.; but the intellectual man is - struck with it as comprehending the whole of human life in all - its variety, the contemplation of which is inexhaustible." - -It does not follow that the other persons whom Boswell speaks of are -not, by nature, intelligent. The want of curiosity, in some, may be -owing even to their affections and anxiety. They may think themselves -bound to be occupied solely in what they are about. They have not been -taught how to invigorate as well as to divert the mind, by taking a -reasonable interest in the varieties of this astonishing world, of -which the most artificial portions are still works of nature as well -as art, and evidences of the hand of Him that made the soul and its -endeavours. Boswell himself, with all his friend's assistance, and -that of the tavern to boot, probably saw nothing in London of the -times gone by--of all that rich aggregate of the past, which is one of -the great treasures of knowledge; and yet, by the same principle on -which Boswell admired Dr. Johnson, he might have delighted in calling -to mind the metropolis of the wits of Queen Anne's time, and of the -poets of Elizabeth; might have longed to sit over their canary in -Cornhill with Beaumont and Ben Jonson, and have thought that Surrey -Street and Shire Lane had their merits, as well as the illustrious -obscurity of Bolt Court. In Surrey Street lived Congreve; and Shire -Lane, though nobody would think so to see it now, is eminent for the -origin of the Kit-Kat Club (a host of wits and statesmen,) and for the -recreations of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., of Tatler celebrity, at his -_contubernium_, the Trumpet. - -It may be said that the past is not in our possession; that we are -sure only of what we can realise, and that the present and future -afford enough contemplation for any man. But those who argue thus, -argue against their better instinct. We take an interest in all that -we understand; and in proportion as we enlarge our knowledge, enlarge, -_ad infinitum_, the sphere of our sympathies. Tell the grazier, whom -Boswell mentions, of a great grazier who lived before him--of -Bakewell, who had an animal that produced him in one season the sum of -eight hundred guineas; or Fowler, whose horned cattle sold for a value -equal to that of the fee-simple of his farm; or Elwes, the miser, who, -after spending thousands at the gaming table, would haggle for a -shilling at Smithfield; and he will be curious to hear as much as you -have to relate. Tell the mercantile man, in like manner, of Gresham, -or Crisp, or the foundation of the Charter House by a merchant, and he -will be equally attentive. And tell the man, _par excellence_, of -anything that concerns humanity, and he will be pleased to hear of -Bakewell, or Crisp, or Boswell, or Boswell's ancestor. Bakewell -himself was a man of this sort. Boswell was proud of his ancestors, -like most men that know who they were, whether their ancestors were -persons to be proud of or not. The mere length of line flatters the -brevity of existence. We must take care how we are proud of those who -may not be fit to render us so; but we may be allowed to be anxious to -live as long as we can, whether in prospect or retrospect. Besides, -the human mind, being a thing infinitely greater than the -circumstances which confine and cabin it in its present mode of -existence, seeks to extend itself on all sides, past, present, and to -come. If it puts on wings angelical, and pitches itself into the grand -obscurity of the future, it runs back also on the more visible line of -the past. Even the present, which is the great business of life, is -chiefly great, inasmuch as it regards the interests of the many who -are to come, and is built up of the experiences of those who have gone -by. The past is the heir-loom of the world. - -Now in no shape is any part of this treasure more visible to us, or -more striking, than in that of a great metropolis. The present is -nowhere so present: we see the latest marks of its hand. The past is -nowhere so traceable: we discover, step by step, the successive abodes -of its generations. The links that are wanting are supplied by -history; nor perhaps is there a single spot in London in which the -past is not visibly present to us, either in the shape of some old -buildings or at least in the names of the streets; or in which the -absence of more tangible memorials may not be supplied by the -antiquary. In some parts of it we may go back through the whole -English history, perhaps through the history of man, as we shall see -presently when we speak of St. Paul's Churchyard, a place in which you -may get the last new novel, and find remains of the ancient Britons -and of the sea. There, also in the cathedral, lie painters, patriots, -humanists, the greatest warriors and some of the best men; and there, -in St. Paul's School, was educated England's epic poet, who hoped that -his native country would never forget her privilege of "teaching the -nations how to live." Surely a man is more of a man, and does more -justice to the faculties of which he is composed, whether for -knowledge or entertainment, who thinks of all these things in crossing -St. Paul's Churchyard, than if he saw nothing but the church itself, -or the clock, or confined his admiration to the abundance of Brentford -stages. - -Milton, who began a history of England, very properly touches upon the -fabulous part of it; not, as Dr. Johnson thought (who did not take the -trouble of reading the second page), because he confounded it with the -true, but, as he himself states, for the benefit of those who would -know how to make use of it--the poets. In the same passage he alludes -to those traces of a deluge of which we have just spoken, and to the -enormous bones occasionally dug up, which, with the natural -inclination of a poet, he was willing to look upon as relics of a -gigantic race of men. Both of these evidences of a remote period have -been discovered in London earth, and might be turned to grand account -by a writer like himself. It is curious to see the grounds on which -truth and fiction so often meet, without knowing one another. The -Oriental writers have an account of a race of pre-Adamite kings, not -entirely human. It is supposed by some geologists, that there was a -period before the creation of man, when creatures vaster than any now -on dry land trampled the earth at will; perhaps had faculties no -longer to be found in connection with brute forms, and effaced, -together with themselves, for a nobler experiment. We may indulge our -fancy with supposing that, in those times, light itself, and the -revolution of the seasons, may not have been exactly what they are -now; that some unknown monster, mammoth or behemoth, howled in the -twilight over the ocean solitude now called London; or (not to fancy -him monstrous in nature as in form, for the hugest creatures of the -geologist appear to have been mild and graminivorous), that the site -of our metropolis was occupied with the gigantic herd of some more -gigantic spirit, all good of their kind, but not capable of enough -ultimate good to be permitted to last. However, we only glance at -these speculative matters, and leave them. Neither shall we say -anything of the more modern elephant, who may have recreated himself -some thousands of years ago on the site of the Chapter Coffee House; -or of the crocodile, who may have snapped at some remote ancestor of a -fishmonger in the valley of Dowgate. - -By the fabulous writers, London was called Troynovant or New Troy, and -was said to have been founded by Brutus, great-grandson of AEneas, from -whom the country was called Brutain, or Britain. - - For noble Britons sprong from Trojans bold, - And Troynovant was built of old Troye's ashes cold. - -(This is one of Spenser's fine old lingering lines, in which he seems -to dwell on a fable till he believes it.) Brutus, having the -misfortune to kill his father, fled from his native country into -Greece, where he set free a multitude of Trojans, captives to King -Pandrasus, whose daughter he espoused. He left Greece with a numerous -flotilla, and came to an island called Legrecia, where there was a -temple of Diana. To Diana he offered sacrifice, and prayed her to -direct his course. The prayer, and the goddess's reply, as told in -Latin by Gildas, have received a lustre from the hand of Milton. He -gives us the following translation of them in his historical -fragment:-- - - "Diva potens nemorum:" - - "Goddess of Shades, and Huntress, who at will - Walk'st on the rolling sphere, and through the deep, - On thy third reign, the earth, look now; and tell - What land, what seat of rest, thou bidst me seek; - What certain seat, where I may worship thee, - For aye, with temples vowed, and virgin quires." - -"To whom, sleeping before the altar," says the poet, "Diana in a -vision that night, thus answered:-- - - "Brute, sub occasum solis:" - - "Brutus, far to the west, in th' ocean wide, - Beyond the realm of Gaul, a land there lies, - Sea-girt it lies, where giants dwelt of old: - Now void, it fits thy people. Thither bend - Thy course: there shalt thou find a lasting seat; - There to thy sons another Troy shall rise, - And kings be born of thee, whose dreaded reign - Shall awe the world, and conquer nations bold."[2] - -According to Spenser, Brutus did not find England cleared of the -giants. He had to conquer them. But we shall speak of those personages -when we come before their illustrious representatives in Guildhall. - -This fiction of Troynovant, or new Troy, appears to have arisen from -the word Trinobantes in Caesar, a name given by the historian to the -inhabitants of a district which included the London banks of the -Thames. The oldest mention of the metropolis is supposed to be found -in that writer, under the appellation of _Civitas Trinobantum_, the -city of the Trinobantes; though some are of opinion that by _civitas_ -he only meant their government or community. Be this as it may, a city -of the Britons, in Caesar's time, was nothing either for truth or -fiction to boast of, having been, as he describes it, a mere spot -hollowed out of the woods, and defended by a ditch and a rampart. - -We have no reason to believe that the first germ of London was -anything greater than this. Milton supposes that so many traditions of -old British kings could not have been handed down without a foundation -in truth; and the classical origin of London, though rejected by -himself, was not only firmly believed by people in general as late as -the reign of Henry the Sixth (to whom it was quoted in a public -document), but was maintained by professed antiquaries,--Leland among -them.[3] It is probable enough that, before Caesar's time, the affairs -of the country may have been in a better situation than he found them; -and it is possible that something may have once stood on the site of -London, which stood there no longer. But this may be said of every -other place on the globe; and as there is nothing authentic to show -for it, we must be content to take our ancestors as we find them. In -truth, nothing is known with certainty of the origin of London, not -even of its name. The first time we hear either of the city or its -appellation is in Tacitus, who calls it Londinium. The following list, -taken principally from Camden, comprises, we believe, all the names by -which it has been called. We dwell somewhat on this point, because we -conclude the reader will be pleased to see by how many _aliases_ his -old acquaintance has been known. - -Troja Nova, Troynovant, or New Troy. - -Tre-novant, or the New City, (a mixture of Latin and Cornish). - -Dian Belin, or the City of Diana. - -Caer Ludd, or the City of Ludd.--These are the names given by the -fabulous writers, chiefly Welsh. - -Londinium.--_Tacitus, Ptolemy, Antoninus._ - -Lundiniuin.--_Ammianus Marcellinus._ - -Longidinium. - -Lindonium, ([Greek: Lindonion]).--_Stephanus_ in his Dictionary. - -Lundonia.--_Bede._ - -Augusta.--The complimentary title granted to it under Valentinian, as -was customary with flourishing foreign establishments. - -Lundenbyrig. - -Lundenberig. - -Lundenberk. - -Lundenburg. - -Lundenwic, or wyc. - -Lundenceastre (that is, London-_castrum_ or camp). - -Lundunes. - -Lundene, or Lundenne. - -Lundone.--Saxon names. Lundenceastre is Alfred the Great's translation -of the Lundonia of Bede. - -Luddestun. - -Ludstoune.--Saxon translations of the Caer Ludd of the Welsh. - -Londres.--French. - -Londra.--Italian. The letter _r_ in these words is curious. It seems -to represent the _berig_ or _burgh_ of the Saxons; _quasi_ Londrig, -from Londonberig; in which case _Londres_ would mean London-borough. - -The disputes upon the derivation of the word London have been -numerous. In the present day, the question seems to be, whether it -originated in Celtic British, that is, in Welsh, and signified "a city -on a lake," or in Belgic British (old German), and meant "a city in a -grove." The latest author who has handled the subject inclines to the -latter opinion.[4] Mr. Pennant being a Celt, was for the "city on a -lake," the Thames in the early periods of British history having -formed a considerable expanse of water near the site of the present -metropolis. _Llyn-Din_ is Lake-City, and _Lun-Den_ Grove-City. -Erasmus, on the strength of those affinities between Greek and Welsh, -which can be found between most languages, fetched the word from -_Lindus_, a city of Rhodes; Somner, the antiquary, derived it from -_Llawn_, full, and _Dyn_, man, implying a great concourse of people; -another antiquary, from _Lugdus_, a Celtic prince; Maitland from -_Lon_, a plain, and _Dun_ or _Don_, a hill; another, we know not who, -referred to by the same author, from a word signifying a ship and a -hill[5]; Camden from _Llong-Dinas_, a City of Ships; and Selden, -"seeing conjecture is free,"[6] was for deriving it from _Llan-Dien_, -or the temple of Diana, for reasons which will appear presently. -Pennant thinks that London might have been called Lake-City first, and -Ship-City afterwards. The opinion of the editor of the _Picture of -London_ seems most plausible--that Lun-Den, or Grove-City was the -name, because it is compounded of Belgic British, which, according to -Caesar, must have been the language of the district; and he adds, that -the name is still common in Scandinavia.[7] It may be argued, that -London might have existed as a fortress on a lake before the arrival -of settlers from Belgium; and that Grove-City could not have been so -distinguishing a characteristic of the place as Lake-City, because -wood was a great deal more abundant than water. On the other hand, all -the rivers at that time were probably more or less given to -overflowing. Grove-City might have been the final name, though -Lake-City was the first; and the propensity to name places from trees, -is still evident in our numerous Woot-tons, or Wood-towns, Wood-fords, -Woodlands, &c. But of all disputes, those upon etymology appear the -most hopeless. Perhaps the word itself was not originally what we take -it to be. Who would suspect the word _wig_ to come from _peruke_; -_jour_ from _dies_; _uncle_ from _avus_; or that _Kensington_ should -have been corrupted by the despairing organs of a foreigner, into -_Inhimthorp_?[8] - -Whether London commenced with a spot cleared out in the woods by -settlers from Holland, (Gallic Belgium,) as conjecture might imply -from Caesar, or whether the germ of it arose with the aboriginal -inhabitants, we may conclude safely enough with Pennant, that it -existed in some shape or other in Caesar's time. - - "It stood," says he, "in such a situation as the Britains would - select, according to the rule they established. An immense - forest originally extended to the river side, and even as late - as the reign of Henry II. covered the northern neighbourhood of - the city, and was filled with various species of beasts of - chase. It was defended naturally by fosses, one formed by the - creek which ran along Fleet Ditch; the other, afterwards known - by that of Walbrook. The south side was guarded by the Thames; - the north they might think sufficiently protected by the - adjacent forest."[9] - -In this place, then, seated on their hill, (probably that on which St. -Paul's Cathedral stands, as it is the highest in London,) and -gradually exchanging their burrows in the ground for huts of wicker -and clay, we are to picture to ourselves our metropolitan ancestors, -half-naked, rude in their manners, ignorant, violent, vindictive, -subject to all the half-reasoning impulses--their bodies tattooed like -South Sea Islanders--but brave, hospitable, patriotic, anxious for -esteem--in short, like other semi-barbarians, exhibiting energies -which they did not yet know how turn to account, but possessing, like -all human beings, the germs of the noblest capabilities. The accounts -given of them by Caesar and other ancient writers appear to be -inconsistent, perhaps because we do not enough consider the -inconsistencies of our own manners. According to their statements, the -Britons had found out the art of making chariots of war, and yet had -not learnt how to convert grain into flour, or to make a solid -substance of milk. They rode, as it were, in their coaches, and yet -had not arrived at the dignity of bread and cheese. Probably their -chariots were magnified both in number and construction. The scythes -which modern fancy has turned into proper haymaking sabres, and which -some antiquaries have found so convenient for cutting through "a woody -country" (a strange way of keeping them sharp), may have been nothing -but spikes. We know not so easily what to say to the bread and cheese, -except that in more knowing times people are not always found very -ready to improve upon old habits, even with reasons staring them in -the face; though, on the other hand, lest habits should be thought -older than they are, and reformers be too impatient, it is worth while -to consider, not how _long_, but how _short_, a period has elapsed -(considering what a little thing a few centuries are in the progress -of time) since in the very spot where a Briton sat half-naked and -savage, unpossessed of a loaf or a piece of cheese, are to be found -gathered together all the luxuries of the globe. Fancy the soul of an -ancient Briton visiting his old ground in St. Paul's Churchyard, and -hardly staring more at the church and houses, than at the bread in the -baker's window, and the magic leaves in that of the bookseller. In one -respect, an ancient City-Briton differed _toto coelo_ with a modern. -He would not eat goose! He had a superstition against it. - -London, in Caesar's time, was most probably a City of Ships; that is to -say it traded with Gaul, and had a number of boats on its marshy -river. Caesar's pretence for invading England, was, that it was too -good a provider for Gaul, and rendered his conquest of that country -difficult. But it is doubtful whether he ever beheld or even alludes -to the infant metropolis. His countrymen are supposed to have first -taken possession of it about a hundred years afterwards, in the reign -of Claudius. They had heard of a pearl-fishery, says Gibbon. At all -events they found oysters; for Sandwich (Rutupium) became famous with -them for that luxury. - -It is not our design, in this Introduction, to give anything more -than a sketch of the rise and growth of the metropolis; we shall leave -the rest to be gathered as we proceed. Our intention is to go through -London, quarter by quarter, and to notice the memorials as they arise; -a plan, which, compared with others (at least if we are to judge of -the effect which it has had on ourselves), seems to possess something -of the superiority of sight over hearsay. When we read of events in -their ordinary train, we pitch ourselves with difficulty into the -scenes of action--sometimes wholly omit to do so; and there is a want -of life and presence in them accordingly. When we are placed in the -scenes themselves, and told to look about us--such and such a thing -having happened in _that_ house--_this_ street being one in which -another famous adventure took place, and _that_ old mansion having -been the dwelling of wit or beauty, we find ourselves comparatively at -home, and enjoy the probability and the spectacle twice as much. We -feel (especially if we are personally conversant with the spot) as if -Shakspeare and Milton, Pope, Gay, and Arbuthnot, the club at the -Mermaid, and the beauties at the court of White-Hall, were our -next-door neighbours. - -We shall take the reader, then, as speedily as possible among the -quarters alluded to, and trouble him very little beforehand with dry -abstracts and chronologies, or with races of men almost as -uninteresting. The most patriotic reader of our history feels that he -cares very little for his ancestors the Britons; of whom almost all he -knows is, that they painted their skins, and made war in chariots. Nor -do the Romans in England interest us more. They are men in helmets and -short skirts, who have left us no memorial but a road or two, and an -iron name. That is all that we know of them, and we care accordingly. -Perhaps the Saxons, after having destroyed the Roman architecture as -much as possible, and repented of it, took their own from what had -survived. The greatest relic of Caesar's countrymen in the metropolis -was the piece of wall which ran lately south of Moorfields, in a -street still designated as London Wall. The Romans had a vast material -genius, not so intellectual as that of the Greeks, nor so calculated -to move the world ultimately, but highly fitted to prepare the way for -better impressions, by showing what the hand could perform; and as -they built their wall in their usual giant style of solidity, it -remained a long while to testify their magnificence. Small relics of -it are yet to be seen in Little Bridge Street, behind Ludgate Hill; on -the north of Bull-and-Mouth Street, between that street and St. -Botolph's Churchyard; and on the south side of the Churchyard of -Cripplegate. There was another in the garden of Stationer's Hall, but -it has been blocked up. - -ANCIENT BRITISH LONDON was a mere space in the woods, open towards the -river, and presenting circular cottages on the hill and slope, and a -few boats on the water. As it increased, the cottages grew more -numerous, and commerce increased the number of sails. - -ROMAN LONDON was British London, interspersed with the better -dwellings of the conquerors, and surrounded by a wall. It extended -from Ludgate to the Tower, and from the river to the back of -Cheapside. - -SAXON LONDON was Roman London, despoiled, but retaining the wall, and -ultimately growing civilized with Christianity, and richer in -commerce. The first humble cathedral church then arose, where the -present one now stands. - -NORMAN LONDON was Saxon and Roman London, greatly improved, thickened -with many houses, adorned with palaces of princes and princely -bishops, sounding with minstrelsy, and glittering with the gorgeous -pastimes of knighthood. This was its state through the Anglo-Norman -and Plantagenet reigns. The friar then walked the streets in his cowl -(Chaucer is said to have beaten one in Fleet Street), and the knights -rode with trumpets in gaudy colours to their tournaments in -Smithfield. - -In the time of Edward the First, houses were still built of wood, and -roofed with straw, sometimes even with reeds, which gave rise to -numerous fires. The fires brought the brooks in request; and an -importance which has since been swallowed up in the advancement of -science, was then given to the _River of Wells_ (Bagnigge, Sadler's, -and Clerkenwell), to the _Old Bourne_ (the origin of the name of -Holborn,) to the little river Fleet, the Wall-brook, and the brook -Langbourne, which last still gives its name to a ward. The conduits, -which were large leaden cisterns, twenty in number, were under the -special care of the lord mayor and aldermen, who, after visiting them -on horseback on the eighteenth of September, "hunted a hare before -dinner, and a fox _after_ it, in the _Fields near St. Giles's._"[10] -Hours, and after-dinner pursuits, must have altered marvellously since -those days, and the _body_ of aldermen with them. - -It was not till the reign of Henry the Fifth, that the city was -_lighted at night_. The illumination was with lanterns, slung over the -street with wisps of rope or hay. Under Edward the Fourth we first -hear of _brick houses_; and in Henry the Eighth's time of _pavement in -the middle of the streets_. The general aspect of London then -experienced a remarkable change, in consequence of the dissolution of -religious houses; the city, from the great number of them, having -hitherto had the appearance "of a monastic, rather than a commercial -metropolis."[11] The monk then ceased to walk, and the gallant London -apprentice became more riotous. London, however, was still in a -wretched condition, compared with what it is now. The streets, which -had been impassable from mud, were often rendered so with filth and -offal; and its homeliest wants being neglected, and the houses almost -meeting at top, with heavy signs lumbering and filling up the inferior -spaces, the metropolis was subject to _plagues_ as well as fires. Nor -was the interior of the houses better regarded. The people seemed to -cultivate the plague. "The floors," says Erasmus, "are commonly of -clay, strewed with rushes, which are occasionally renewed; but -underneath lies unmolested an ancient collection of beer, grease, -fragments of fish, &c., &c., and everything that is nasty."[12] The -modern Englishman piques himself on his cleanliness, but he should do -it modestly, considering what his ancestors could do; and he should do -it not half so much as he does, considering what he still leaves -undone. It is the disgrace of the city of London in particular, that -it still continues to be uncleanly, except in externals, and even to -resist the efforts of the benevolent to purify it. But time and -circumstance ultimately force people to improve. It was plague and -fire that first taught the Londoners to build their city better. We -hope the authorities will reflect upon this; and not wait for cholera -to complete the lesson. - -Erasmus wrote in the time of Henry the Eighth, when the civil wars had -terminated in a voluptuous security, and when the pride of the court -and nobility was at its height. Knighthood was becoming rather a show -than a substance; and the changes in religion, the dissolution of the -monasteries, and above all, the permission to read the Bible, set men -thinking, and identified history in future with the progress of the -general mind. Opinion, accidentally set free by a tyrant, was never to -be put down, though tyranny tried never so hard. Poetry revived in the -person of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; and, by a maturity natural to -the first unsophisticated efforts of imagination, it came to its -height in the next age with Shakspeare. The monasteries being -dissolved, London was become entirely the commercial city it has -remained ever since, though it still abounded with noblemen's -mansions, and did so till a much later period. There were some in the -time of Charles the Second. The manners of the citizens under Henry -the Eighth were still rude and riotous, but cheerful; and manly -exercises were much cultivated. Henry was so pleased with one of the -city archers, that he mock-heroically created him Duke of Shoreditch; -upon which there arose a whole suburb peerage of Marquisses of Hogsdon -and Islington, Pancras, &c. - -In Elizabeth's time the London houses were still mostly of wood. We -see remains of them in the Strand and Fleet Street, and in various -parts of the city. They are like houses built of cards, one story -projecting over the other; but unless there is something in the art of -building, which may in future dispense with solidity, the modern -houses will hardly be as lasting. People in the old ones could at -least dance and make merry. Builders in former times did not spare -their materials, nor introduce clauses in their leases against a jig. -We fancy Elizabeth hearing of a builder who should introduce such a -proviso against the health and merriment of her buxom subjects, and -sending to him, with a good round oath, to take a little less care of -his purse, and more of his own neck. - -In this age, ever worthy of honour and gratitude, the illustrious -Bacon set free the hands of knowledge, which Aristotle had chained up, -and put into them the touchstone of experiment, the mighty mover of -the ages to come. This was the great age, also, of English poetry and -the drama. Former manners and opinions now began to be seen only on -the stage; intellect silently gave a man a rank in society he never -enjoyed before; and nobles and men of letters mixed together in clubs. -People now also began to speculate on government, as well as religion; -and the first evidences of that unsatisfied argumentative spirit -appeared, which produced the downfall of the succeeding dynasty, and -ultimately the Revolution, and all that we now enjoy. - -The governments of Elizabeth and James, fearing that the greater the -concourse the worse would be the consequences of sickness, and -secretly apprehensive, no doubt, of the growth of large and -intellectual bodies of men near their head-quarters, did all in their -power to confine the metropolis to its then limits, but in vain. -Despotism itself, even in its mildest shape, cannot prevail against -the spirit of an age; and Bacon was at that minute foreseeing the -knowledge that was to quicken, increase, and elevate human -intercourse, by means of the growth of commerce. Houses and streets -grew then as they do now, not so quickly indeed, but equally to the -astonishment of their inhabitants; and the latter had reason to -congratulate themselves on a pavement to walk upon; a luxury for which -a lively Parisian, not half a century ago, is said to have gone down -on his knees, when he came into England, thanking God that there was a -country "in which some regard was shown to foot passengers." In -Charles the First's reign the suburbs of Westminster and Spitalfields -were greatly enlarged, and the foundation of Covent Garden was -commenced, as it now stands. Symptoms of a future neighbourhood -appeared also in Leicester Fields, though the place continued to be -what the name imports, as late as the beginning of the last century. -The progress of building received a check from the Civil Wars, but -only to revive with new spirit; and the great Fire--which was a great -blessing--swallowed up at once both the deformity and the disease of -old times, by widening the streets, and putting an end to the -liability to pestilence. London has not had a "_plague_" since, unless -it be indigestion; which, however, is the great disease of modern -sedentary times, and will never be got rid of, till we grow mental -enough to have more respect for our bodies. - -Towards the end of the reign of Charles the Second the metropolis -began to increase in the direction of Holborn; Hatton Garden, Brook, -and Greville Streets were built; and Ormond Street ran towards the -fields. In this and the following reigns the mansion-houses of the -nobility on the river side began to give way to the private houses and -streets, still retaining the name of the Strand. Pall Mall and St. -James's increased also; and Soho Square, on its first building, -received the name of the Duke of Monmouth. But particulars of that -nature will be better noticed in the body of our work. The nobility, -gentry, and the wits, were now mixed up together. City taverns were -still frequented by them; and city marriages began to be sought after, -to mend the fortunes of the debauched cavaliers. Elizabeth's -successor, James, was the first king who entered into anything like -domestic familiarity with the monied men of the city. Charles the -Second took "t'other bottle" with them (see the _Spectator_); and Lord -Rochester played the buffoon on Tower Hill, as a quack doctor. - -The streets about St. Martin's-in-the-fields and St. -Giles's-in-the-fields, those of Clerkenwell, the neighbourhood of Old -Street and Shoreditch, Marlborough Street, Soho, &c., successively -arose in the time of Queen Anne, as well as a good portion of Holborn, -beginning from Brook Street and including the neighbourhood of Bedford -Street and Red Lion Square. St. Paul's, too, was completed as it now -stands. This, and the succeeding times of the Hanover succession, were -the times of Whig and Tory, of the principal wit-poets, of writers -upon domestic manners, and of what may be called an ambition of good -sense and reason,--"sense" being the favourite term in books, as "wit" -had been in the age of Charles. Clubs were multiplied _ad infinitum_ -by the more harmless civil wars between Whig and Tory; and ale and -beer brought the middle classes together, as wine did the rich. -_Mug-house_ clubs abounded in Long Acre, Cheapside, &c.; "where -gentlemen, lawyers, and tradesmen used to meet in a great room, seldom -under a hundred," if we are to believe the _Journey through England_, -in the year 1724. - -At the commencement of the last century the village of St. -Mary-le-bone was almost a mile distant from any part of London; the -nearest street being Old Bond Street, which scarcely extended to the -present Clifford Street. Soon after the accession of George the First, -New Bond Street arose, with others in the immediate neighbourhood, and -the houses in Berkeley Square and its vicinity. Hanover Square and -Cavendish Square were open fields in the year 1716. They were built -about the beginning of the reign of George the Second, at which time -the houses arose on the north side of Oxford Street, which then first -took the name. The neighbourhood of Cavendish Square, and Oxford -Market, Holles Street, Margaret Street, Vere Street, &c., are of the -same date; and the grounds for Harley, Wigmore, and Mortimer Streets -were laid out; the village and church of Mary-le-bone being still -separated from them all by fields. At the same period the legislature -ordered the erection of the three parishes of St. George's Bloomsbury, -St. Anne's Limehouse, and St. Paul's Deptford, London having, at that -time, extended further in the last quarter than any other, by reason -of the trade on the river. - -So late, nevertheless, as this period, Fleet Ditch was a sluggish, -foul stream, open as far as Holborn Bridge, and admitting small -vessels for trade, coal barges, &c. It had become such a nuisance, -that it was now arched over, and the late Fleet Market soon appeared -on the covering. About the year 1737, the west end of the town was -improved by the addition of Grosvenor Square and its neighbourhood. - -The increase of the metropolis on all sides was in proportion to the -length of the reign of George the Third. The space between -Mary-le-bone was filled in; Southwark became a mass of houses united -with Westminster; and new towns rather than suburbs, appeared in all -quarters; some with the names of towns, as Camden and Somers Town; to -which have been added, since the death of that prince, Portland Town; -a good half of Paddington, now joined with Kilburn; a world of new -streets between Paddington and Notting Hill; Notting Hill itself -including Shepherd's Bush; another new world of streets, called -Belgravia, between Knightsbridge and Pimlico; others out by Peckham -and Camberwell, including Clapham and Norwood; and others again on the -east, reaching as far as the skirts of Epping Forest! Indeed, every -village which was in the immediate and even the remote neighbourhood -of London, and was quite distinct from one another at the beginning of -the reign of George the Third, is now almost, if not quite, joined -with it, including Highgate and Hampstead themselves on the north, -Norwood on the south, Turnham Green and Parson's Green on the west, -and Laytonstone on the east. The whole of this enormous mass of houses -now presents us, more or less, in all quarters, with handsome streets, -and even with squares; and the two sides of the river are united by a -series of noble bridges. New churches also have risen in every -direction; and though the architecture is none of the best, they -contribute to a general air of neatness and freshness, which the -increase of education and politeness promises to keep up. There is an -old prophecy that Hampstead is to be in the middle of London; a -phenomenon that London would really seem inclined to bring about. But -a metropolis must stop somewhere; and the very causes of its growth -(we mean the facilities of carriage, &c.) will ultimately, perhaps -sooner than is looked for, prevent it. Railways now allow numbers to -reside at a distance, who a few years ago would have remained in -London. - -Ancient British London is conjectured to have been about a mile long, -and half a mile wide. Modern London occupies an area of above eighteen -square miles; and all this space, deducting not quite two miles for -the river, is filled up with houses and public buildings, with a -population of perhaps two million of souls, and with riches from all -parts of the globe. In this respect London may justly be said to be -the "metropolis of the world;" though Paris has the advance of it in -some others. - -During the reign of George the Third, the whole mind of Europe was -shaken up more vehemently than ever by the French Revolution; and, as -the consequence is after such tempestuous innovations, men began to -look about them, to see what had stood the test of it, and how they -might improve their condition still farther. After a great many -disputes, natural on all sides, and a singular proof of the -omnipotence of public opinion over the most extraordinary military -power, it may be safely asserted, that the essence of that opinion, or -the intellectual part of it is secretly acknowledged as the great -regulator of society, even by those who appear to regulate it -themselves; and who never show their sense to more advantage, than -when they lead where they must have followed. This is the most -remarkable era, perhaps, in the history of mankind; and experiment, -and promise, are of a piece with it. Everybody is now more or less -educated; the extension of the graces of life does away with -sordidness, and teaches people that men do not live by "bread alone;" -there is a reading public, let the jealousies of secluded scholarship -say what they will; the mighty hands which Bacon set free are in full -action; the Press reports and assists them, and utters a thousand -voices daily, not to be put an end to by anything short of a -convulsion of the globe. Time and space themselves are comparatively -annihilated by the inventions of the steam-carriage and the electric -telegraph. The corn-laws have gone, opening still wider the prospects -of mankind; and improvements may be looked for in society, so much to -the benefit of all classes, that the most reasonable observer will -decline stating the amount of his expectations, lest they should be -thought as extravagant, as old times would have thought the telegraph -just mentioned, or the publication of those thousands of volumes a day -called Newspapers.[13] - -A word or two more on health, and our modes of living. London was once -called "Merry London," the metropolis of "Merry England." The word did -not imply exclusively what it does now. Chaucer talks of the "merry -organ at the mass." But it appears to have had a signification still -more desirable--to have meant the best condition in which anything -could be found, with cheerfulness for the result. Gallant soldiers -were "merry men." Favourable weather was "merry." And London was -"merry," because its inhabitants were not only rich, but healthy and -robust. They had sports infinite, up to the time of the -Commonwealth--races and wrestlings, archery, quoits, tennis, -foot-ball, hurling, &c. Their May-day was worthy of the burst of the -season; not a man was left behind out of the fields, if he could help -it; their apprentices piqued themselves on their stout arms, and not -on their milliners' faces; their nobility shook off the gout in tilts -and tournaments; their Christmas closed the year with a joviality -which brought the very trees in-doors to crown their cups with, and -which promised admirably for the year that was to come. In everything -they did, there was a reference to Nature and her works, as if nothing -should make them forget her; and a gallant recognition of the duties -of health and strength, as the foundation of their very right to be -fathers. - -We are aware of the drawbacks that accompanied this physical wisdom; -of the comparative ignorance of the people, and the abuses they -suffered accordingly; of slaveries, and star-chambers; of plagues, -fires, and civil wars; of the burnings in Smithfield; of the -murderings of wretched old women, supposed to be witches; and of other -domestic superstitions, of which we are, perhaps, now-a-days unable to -calculate the mischief. Surely we desire to see no more of them; and -we are heartily willing that the same progress of thought which has -swept them away, should have done us _a disservice meanwhile_, which -_more thinking_ shall put an end to. Far are we from desiring to go -back. But we would hasten the time when reflection shall recover the -good for us, without bringing back the evil. And this surely it may. -This it must--for real knowledge could not make its progress without -it. The labour would not end in the reward. It has been supposed, that -the poorer orders cannot have their enjoyments again--cannot have -their old Christmas, for example, unless the rich supply them with the -means of enjoyment, and so renew their charter of dependence. But this -is to suppose that times are not changing in other respects, and that -knowledge is not spreading. Riches and poverty themselves are modified -by the progress of society; means are increased, however, to their -apparent detriment at first, among the poor; and the knowledge of -enjoyment becomes no longer confined to the rich, any more than the -enjoyment of knowledge. Men may surely learn how to stouten their -legs, as well as to improve their stockings. Now of all pleasures, -those are the cheapest which are bought of nature--such as air and -exercise, and manly sports; and though we allow that the poor, in -order to relish them, must be free from the melancholier states of -poverty, it is desirable _meanwhile_ that the dispensers of knowledge -should assist in hastening more cheerful times by preparing for them, -and that all classes should be told how much the cultivation of their -bodily health increases the ability, both of rich and poor, to get out -of their troubles. You may steep a _gipsey_ in trouble, and he shall -issue out of it laughing. It would not be easy to do this with an -epicurean, or a fund-holder, or with one of the parish poor; but -neither need any one despair; for neither can the might of mechanical -inventions, nor the greater might of opinion, be put down, whether in -their first awful issuing forth, or in their final beneficence. And he -that shall keep this oftenest in his mind, and be among the first to -prepare for their enjoyment, by administering what helps he can to the -encouragement of manly exercises among us, will assist in reviving the -good old epithets of "merry England," and "merry London," _in a sense -they never have had yet_. The progress of society has put an end to -the melancholy absurdity of inquisitions, and star-chambers, and civil -wars. The ground, therefore, is more clear for us to make England -merrier in all respects than she was before. These things, we are -aware, must result from other changes; but the changes themselves are -in the reasonable and inevitable course of events. - -As a link of a very pleasing description between old times and new not -unconnected with what we have been speaking of, we shall conclude our -introduction by observing, that there is scarcely a street in the -_city_ of London, perhaps not one, nor many out of the pale of it, -from some part of which the passenger may not discern a _tree_. Most -persons to whom this has been mentioned have doubted the accuracy of -our information, nor do we profess hitherto to have ascertained it; -though since we heard the assertion, we have made a point of -endeavouring to do so whenever we could, and have not been -disappointed. The mention of the circumstance generally creates a -laughing astonishment, and a cry of "impossible!" Two persons, who -successively heard of it the other day, not only thought it incredible -as a general fact, but doubted whether half a dozen streets could be -found with a twig in them; and they triumphantly instanced -"Cheapside," as a place in which it was "out of the question." Yet in -Cheapside is an actual, visible, and even ostentatiously visible tree, -to all who have eyes to look about them. It stands at the corner of -Wood Street, and occupies the space of a house. There was a solitary -one the other day in St. Paul's Churchyard, which has now got a -multitude of young companions. A little child was shown us a few years -back, who was said never to have beheld a tree but that single one in -St. Paul's Churchyard. Whenever a tree was mentioned, she thought it -was that and no other. She had no conception even of the remote tree -in Cheapside! This appears incredible; but there would seem to be no -bounds, either to imagination or to the want of it. We were told the -other day, on good authority, of a man who had resided six-and-thirty -years in the square of St. Peter's at Rome, and then for the first -time went inside the Cathedral. - -There is a little garden in _Watling Street_! It lies completely open -to the eye, being divided from the footway by a railing only. - -In the body of our work will be found notices of other trees and green -spots, that surprise the observer in the thick of the noise and smoke. -Many of them are in churchyards. Others have disappeared during the -progress of building. Many courts and passages are named from trees -that once stood in them, as Vine and Elm Court, Fig-tree Court, -Green-arbour Court, &c. It is not surprising that _garden-houses_, as -they were called, should have formerly abounded in Holborn, in -Bunhill Row, and other (at that time) suburban places. We notice the -fact, in order to observe how fond the poets were of occupying houses -of this description. Milton seems to have made a point of having one. -The only London residence of Chapman which is known, was in Old Street -Road; doubtless at that time a rural suburb. Beaumont and Fletcher's -house, on the Surrey side of the Thames (for they lived as well as -wrote together), most probably had a garden: and Dryden's house in -Gerard Street looked into the garden of the mansion built by the Earls -of Leicester. A tree, or even a flower, put in a window in the streets -of a great city (and the London citizens, to their credit, are fond of -flowers,) affects the eye something in the same way as the -hand-organs, which bring unexpected music to the ear. They refresh the -common-places of life, shed a harmony through the busy discord, and -appeal to those first sources of emotion, which are associated with -the remembrance of all that is young and innocent. They seem also to -present to us a portion of the tranquillity we think we are labouring -for, and the desire of which is felt as an earnest that we shall -realise it somewhere, either in this world or in the next. Above all, -they render us more cheerful for the performance of present duties; -and the smallest seed of this kind, dropt into the heart of man, is -worth more, and may terminate in better fruits, than anybody but a -great poet could tell us. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] See Evenings at Home, by Dr. Aikin and Mrs. Barbauld. - -[2] History of England, 4to. 1670, p. 11. - -[3] We learn this from Selden's notes to the Polyolbion of Drayton. - -[4] Picture of London, 1824, p. 3. - -[5] These etymologies are to be found in Maitland's History and Survey -of London. Fol. 1756. Vol. i. Book i. - -[6] In the notes to Drayton's Polyolbion, Song viii. - -[7] There is a Lunden in Sweden, mentioned by Maitland, vol. i. _ubi -sup._ It is the capital of the province of Schonen. Another town of -the name is in Danish Holstein. - -[8] "We have one word," says Dr. Pegge, "which has not a single letter -of its original, for of the French _peruke_, we got _periwig_, now -abbreviated to _wig_. _Earwig_ comes from _eruca_, as Dr. Wallis -observes, _Anonymiana_, p. 56. The French word _jour_ (day) comes from -_dies_, through _diurnus_, _diurno_, _giorno_; so _giornale_, journal. -_Uncle_ is from _avus_, through _avunculus_. For _Inhimthorpe_, and -other impossibilities, see Cosmo the Third's Travels through England, -in the reign of Charles II." - -[9] Pennant's London, third edition, 4to., p. 3. - -[10] Picture of London, p. 12. - -[11] Picture of London, p. 14. For a larger account of this and other -matters briefly touched upon in the present introduction, see -Brayley's London and Middlesex, vol. i. The spirit of them, however, -will appear in our work, together with particulars hitherto unnoticed. - -[12] Id. p. 13. - -[13] Since this paragraph was written, the wonderful events have taken -place in France, which have so agitated the whole of Europe, and which -promise to open a new epoch in human history. May all benefit from -them, as we believe all may, without real injury to any one! - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ST. PAUL'S, AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. - - The Roman Temple of Diana -- The first Christian Church -- Old - St. Paul's -- Inigo Jones's Portico -- Strange Usages of Former - Times -- Encroachments on the Fabric of the Cathedral -- Paul's - Walkers -- Dining with Duke Humphrey -- Catholic Customs -- The - Boy-Bishop -- The Children of the Revels -- Strange Ceremony on - the Festivals of the Commemoration and Conversion of St. Paul - -- Ancient Tombs in the Cathedral -- Scene between John of Gaunt - and the Anti-Wickliffites -- Paul's Cross -- The Folkmote -- The - Sermons -- Jane Shore -- See-saw of Popery and Protestantism - -- London House -- The Charnel -- The Lollards' Tower -- St. Paul's - School -- Desecration of the Cathedral during the Commonwealth - -- The present Cathedral -- Sir Christopher Wren -- Statue of - Queen Anne. - - -As St. Paul's Churchyard is probably the oldest ground built upon in -London, we begin our perambulations in that quarter. The cross which -formerly stood north of the cathedral, and of which Stowe could not -tell the antiquity, is supposed by some to have originated in one of -those sacred stones which the Druids made use of in worship; but at -least it is more than probable that here was a burial-ground of the -ancient Britons; because when Sir Christopher Wren dug for a -foundation to his cathedral, he discovered abundance of ivory and -wooden pins, apparently of box, which are supposed to have fastened -their winding sheets. The graves of the Saxons lay above them, lined -with chalk-stones, or consisting of stones hollowed out: and in the -same row with the pins, but deeper, lay Roman horns, lamps, -lachrymatories, and all the elegancies of classic sculpture. Sir -Christoper dug till he came to sand, and sea-shells, and to the London -clay, which has since become famous in geology; so that the single -history of St. Paul's Churchyard carries us back to the remotest -periods of tradition; and we commence our book in the proper style of -the old Chroniclers, who were not content, unless they began with the -history of the world. - -The Romans were thought to have built a Temple to Diana on the site of -the modern cathedral, by reason of a number of relics of horned -animals reported to have been dug up there. Sir Christopher Wren -asserts that there was no ground for the supposition. There was a -similar story of a temple of Apollo at Westminster, built on the site -of the present abbey, and said to have been destroyed by an -earthquake. "Earthquakes," observed Sir Christopher, "break not stones -to pieces; nor would the Picts be at that pains; but I imagine that -the monks, finding the Londoners pretending to a Temple of Diana, -where now St. Paul's stands (horns of stags and tusks of boars having -been dug up in former times, and it is said also in later years), -would not be behindhand in antiquity; but I must assert, that having -changed all the foundations of old St. Paul's, and upon that occasion -rummaged all the ground thereabouts, and being very desirous to find -some footsteps of such a temple, I could not discover any, and -therefore can give no more credit to Diana than to Apollo."[14] - -Woodward, on the other hand, insisted on the Temple of Diana. He -asserted, that a variety of the relics alluded to, in his own -possession, were actually dug up on the spot, together with -sacrificing vessels sculptured with beasts of chase, and with figures -of Diana. In digging between the Deanery and Blackfriars a small brass -figure of the goddess had also been found.[15] - -Woodward was an enthusiast, eager to find what he fancied. Wren was -willing to find also, but with cooler eyes. It is at the same time -worth observing, that though Sir Christopher appears to have rejected -the Pagan story with reason, he could not find it in his heart to -refuse credit to the gratuitous traditions of old writers in favour of -a Christian church "planted here by the Apostles themselves."[16] He -calls the traditions "authentic testimony." - -It is barely possible that the relics mentioned by Woodward might have -been all dug up by the time Sir Christopher set about his inquiry; but -let them have been what they might, they would have proved nothing in -favour of a Roman Temple, because the Romans never buried under their -temples; neither did their legions remain long enough in this country -to see the character of the place altered. It was sufficiently -remarkable, that proofs had been discovered even of their burying -there at all; for, at Rome, none but very extraordinary persons were -suffered to be buried within the walls; and the Roman cemeteries in -England are proved to have been without them. It can only be accounted -for on the supposition that, as no great men are so great as the great -men of colonies, the Prefects and their officers at London decreed -themselves an honour, which was to be attained at Rome by nothing -short of the merits of a Fabricius or a Publicola. - -The first authentic account of the existence of a Christian church on -this spot is that of Bede, who attributes the erection of it to King -Ethelbert, about the year 610, soon after his conversion by St. -Augustine. The building, which was probably of wood, was burned down -in 961, but was restored the same year--a proof that, notwithstanding -the lofty terms in which it is spoken of by the old historian, it -could not have been of any great extent. This second church lasted -till the time of William the Conqueror, when it, too, was destroyed by -a conflagration, which burned the greater part of the city. Bishop -Maurice, who had just been appointed to the see, now resolved to -rebuild the cathedral on a much grander scale than before, at his own -expense. To assist him in accomplishing this object, the King granted -him the stones of an old castle, called the Palatine Tower, which -stood at the mouth of the Fleet River, and which had been reduced to -ruins in the same conflagration. The Bishop's design was looked upon -as so vast, that "men at that time," says Stowe, "judged it wold never -have bin finished; it was then so wonderfull for length and -breadth."[17] This was in the year 1087; and the people had some -reason for their astonishment, for the building was not completed till -the year 1240, in the reign of Henry the Third. Some even extend the -date to 1315, which is two hundred and twenty-eight years after its -foundation; but this was owing rather to repairs and additions than to -anything wanting in the original edifice. The cathedral thus patched, -altered, and added to, over and over again, with different orders and -no orders of architecture, and partially burned, oftener than once, -remained till the Great Fire of London, when it was luckily rendered -incapable of further deformity, and gave way to the present. - -It was, indeed, a singular structure, and used for singular purposes. - - "The _exterior_ of the building," says an intelligent writer, - himself an architect, "presented a curious medley of the - architectural style of different ages. At the western front - Inigo Jones had erected a portico of the Corinthian order; thus - displaying a singular example of that bigotry of taste, which, - only admitting one mode of beauty, is insensible to the - superior claims of congruity. This portico, however, singly - considered, was a grand and beautiful composition, and not - inferior to any thing of the kind which modern times have - produced: fourteen columns, each rising to the lofty height of - forty-six feet, were so disposed, that eight, with two - pilasters placed in front, and three on each flank, formed a - square (oblong) peristyle, and supported an entablature and - balustrade, which was crowned with statues of kings, - predecessors of Charles the First, who claimed the honour of - this fabric. Had the whole front been accommodated to Roman - architecture, it might have deserved praise as a detached - composition; but though cased with rustic work, and decorated - with regular cornices, the pediment retained the original - Gothic character in its equilateral proportions, and it was - flanked by barbarous obelisks and ill-designed turrets." - - [Illustration] - - "The whole of the exterior body of the church had been cased - and reformed in a similar manner, through which every detail of - antiquity was obliterated, and the general forms and - proportions only left. The buttresses were converted into - regular piers, and a complete cornice crowned the whole: of the - windows, some were barely ornamented apertures, whilst others - were decorated in a heavy Italian manner, with architrave - dressings, brackets, and cherubic heads. The transepts - presented fronts of the same incongruous style as the western - elevation, and without any of its beauties."[18] - -In its original state, however, old St. Paul's must have been an -imposing building. Its extent at least was very great. The entire mass -measured 690 feet in length, by 130 in breadth, and it was surmounted -by a spire 520 feet high. The spire was of timber. It bore upon its -summit not only a ball and cross, but a large gilded eagle, which -served as a weathercock. But the church having been nearly burned to -the ground in June, 1561, owing to the carelessness of a plumber who -left a pan of coals burning near some wood-work while he went to -dinner, it was hastily restored without the lofty spire; so that in -Hollar's engraving, given by Dugdale, of the building as it appeared -in 1656, it stands curtailed of this ornament. Only the square tower, -from which the spire sprang up, remains. "The old cathedral," says Mr. -Malcolm, on the authority of a note with which he was furnished by the -Rev. Mr. Watts, of Sion College, "did not stand in the same direction -with the new, the latter inclining rather to the south-west and -north-east; and the west front of the Old Church came much farther -towards Ludgate than the present."[19] - -It is of the Cathedral, as thus renovated, that Sir John Denham speaks -in the following passage of his Cooper's Hill:-- - - "That sacred pile, so vast, so high, - That whether it's a part of earth or sky, - Uncertain seems, and may be thought a proud - Aspiring mountain, or descending cloud; - Paul's, the late name of such a muse whose flight - Has bravely reach'd and soar'd above thy height; - Now shalt thou stand, though sword, or time, or fire, - Or zeal, more fierce than they, thy fall conspire, - Secure, whilst thee the best of poets sings, - Preserv'd from ruin by the best of kings." - -"The best of poets" is his brother courtier Waller, who had some time -before written his verses "Upon his Majesty's repairing of St. -Paul's," in which he compares King Charles, for his regeneration of -the Cathedral, to Amphion and other "antique minstrels," who were said -to have achieved architectural feats by the power of music, and who, -he says, - - "Sure were Charles-like kings, - Cities their lutes, and subjects' hearts their strings; - On which with so divine a hand they strook, - Consent of motion from their breath they took." - -Jones's first labour, the removal of the various foreign encumbrances -that had so long oppressed and deformed the venerable edifice, Waller -commemorates by a pair of references to St. Paul's history, not -unhappily applied: he says the whole nation had combined with his -Majesty - - "to grace - The Gentiles' great Apostle, and deface - Those state-obscuring sheds, that like a chain - Seem'd to confine and fetter him again; - Which the glad Saint shakes off at his command, - As once the viper from his sacred hand." - -Denham's prediction did no credit to the prophetic reputation of -poetry. Of the fabric which was to be unassailable by zeal or fire the -poet himself lived to see the ruin, begun by the one and completed by -the other; and he himself, curiously enough, a short time before his -death, was engaged as the King's surveyor-general in (nominally at -least) presiding over the erection of the new Cathedral--the successor -of the "sacred pile," of which he had thus sung the immortality. - -When Jones began the repairs and additions of which his portico formed -a part, in 1633, the rubbish that was removed was carried, Mr. Malcolm -informs us, to Clerkenwell fields, where, he suggests, "some curious -fragments of antiquity may still remain."[20] The very beauty of this -portico, surmounted with its strange pediment and figures, and -dragging at its back that heap of deformity, completed the monstrous -look of the whole building, like a human countenance backed by some -horned lump. But this was nothing to the moral deformities of the -interior. Old St. Paul's, throughout almost the whole period of its -existence, at least from the reign of Henry the Third, was a -thoroughfare, and a "den of thieves." The thoroughfare was occasioned -probably by the great circuit which people had been compelled to make -by the extent of the wall of the old churchyard--a circumference a -great deal larger than it is at present. There is a principle of -familiarity in the Catholic worship which, while it excites the -devotional tenderness of more refined believers, is apt to produce the -consequence, though not the feelings, of contempt among the vulgar. -Fear hinders contempt; but when license is mixed with it, and the fear -is not in action, the liberties taken are apt to be in proportion. We -have seen, in a Catholic chapel in London, a milk-maid come into the -passage, dash down her pails, and having crossed herself, and applied -the holy water with reverence, depart with the same air with which she -came in. The next thing to setting down the pails, under the -circumstances above mentioned, would have been to creep with them -through the church. Porters and loiterers would follow; and by degrees -the place of worship would become a place of lounging and marketing, -and intrigue, and all sorts of disorder. In the reign of Edward the -Third, the King complains to the Bishop that the "eating-room of the -canons" had "become the office and work-place of artisans, and the -resort of shameless women." The complaint turned out to be of no -avail; nor had the mandate of the Bishop a better result in the time -of Richard the Third, though it was accompanied with the penalty of -excommunication. An Act was passed to as little purpose in the reign -of Philip and Mary; and in the time of Elizabeth the new opinions in -religion seem to have left the place fairly in possession of its -chaos, as if in derision of the old. The toleration of the abuse thus -became a matter of habit and indifference; and a young theologian, -afterwards one of the witty prelates of Charles the Second (Bishop -Earle), did not scruple to make it the subject of what we should now -call a "pleasant article." - - "It must appear strange," says a note in Brayley's _London and - Middlesex_ (vol. ii. p. 219), "to those who are acquainted with - the decent order and propriety of regulation now observed in - our cathedral churches, and other places of divine worship, - that ever such an extended catalogue of improper customs and - disgusting usages as are noticed in various works, should have - been formerly admitted to be practised in St. Paul's church, - and more especially that they should have been so long - habitually exercised as to be defended on the plea of - prescription. - - "These nuisances had become so great, that in the time of - Philip and Mary the Common Council found it necessary to pass - an act, subjecting all future offenders to pains and penalties. - From that act, the church seems to have been not only made a - common passage-way for all--beer, bread, fish, flesh, fardels - of stuffs, &c., but also for mules, horses, and other beasts. - This statute, however, must have proved only a temporary - restraint (excepting, probably, as to the leading of animals - through the church); for in the reign of Elizabeth, we learn - from _Londinium Redivivum_ (vol. iii. p. 71), that idlers and - drunkards were indulged in lying and sleeping on the benches at - the choir door; and that other usages, too nauseous for - description, were also frequent." - -Among the curious notices relating to the irreverent practices pursued -in this church in the time of Elizabeth, collected by Mr. Malcolm -from the manuscript presentments on visitations preserved at St. -Paul's, are the following:-- - - "In the upper quier wher the comon [communion] table dothe - stande, there is much unreverente people, _walking_ with _their - hatts on their heddes_, comonly all the service tyme, no man - reproving them for yt." - - "Yt is a greate disorder in the churche, that porters, - butchers, and water-bearers, and who not, be suffered (in - special tyme of service) to carrye and recarrye whatsoever, no - man withstandinge them, or gainsaying them," &c. - - "The notices of encroachments on St. Paul's, in the same reign, - are equally curious. The chantry and other chapels were - completely diverted from their ancient purposes; some were used - as receptacles for stores and lumber; another was a school, - another a glazier's shop; and the windows of all were, in - general, broken. Part of the vaults beneath the church was - occupied by a carpenter, the remainder was held by the bishop, - the dean and chapter, and the minor canons. One vault, thought - to have been used for a burial-place, was converted into a - wine-cellar, and a way had been cut into it through the wall of - the building itself. (This practice of converting church vaults - into wine-cellars, it may be remarked, is not yet worn out. - Some of the vaults of Winchester Cathedral are now, or were - lately, used for that purpose.) The shrowds and cloisters under - the convocation house, 'where not long since the sermons in - foul weather were wont to be preached,' were made 'a common - lay-stall for boardes, trunks, and chests, being lett oute unto - trunk-makers, where, by meanes of their daily knocking and - noyse, the church is greatly disturbed.' More than twenty - houses also had been built against the outer walls of the - cathedral; and part of the very foundations was cut away to - make offices. One of those houses had literally a closet dug in - the wall; from another was a way through a window into a - wareroom in the steeple; a third, partly formed by St. Paul's, - was lately used as a _play-house_; and the owner of the fourth - baked his _bread_ and _pies_ in an _oven_ excavated within a - buttress."[21] - -The middle of St. Paul's was also the Bond Street of that period, and -remained so till the time of the Commonwealth. The loungers were -called Paul's Walkers. - - "The young gallants from the inns of court, the western and the - northern parts of the metropolis, and those that had spirit - enough," says our author, "to detach themselves from the - counting-houses in the east, used to meet at the central point, - St. Paul's; and from this circumstance obtained the - appellations of _Paul's Walkers_, as we now say, _Bond-street - Loungers_. However strange it may seem, tradition says that the - great Lord Bacon used in his youth to cry, _Eastward ho!_ and - was literally a Paul's Walker."[22] - -Lord Bacon had a taste for display, which was afterwards exhibited in -a magnificent manner, worthy of the grandeur of his philosophy; but -this, when he was young, might probably enough have been vented in -the shape of an exuberance, which did not yet know what to do with -itself. Who would think that the late Mr. Fox ever wore red-heeled -shoes, and was a "buck about town?" - -But to conclude with these curious passages:-- - - "The Walkers in Paul's," continues our author, "during this and - the following reigns, were composed of a motley assemblage of - the gay, the vain, the dissolute, the idle, the knavish, and - the lewd; and various notices of this fashionable resort may be - found in the old plays and other writings of the time. Ben - Jonson, in his _Every man out of his Humour_, has given a - series of scenes in the interior of St. Paul's, and an - assemblage of a great variety of characters; in the course of - which the curious piece of information occurs, that it was - common to affix _bills_, in the form of advertisements, upon - the columns in the aisles of the church, in a similar manner to - what is now done in the Royal Exchange: those bills he - ridicules in two affected specimens, the satire of which is - admirable. Shakspeare also makes Falstaff say, in speaking of - Bardolph, 'I bought him in _Paul's_, and he'll buy me a horse - in Smithfield: if I could get me but a wife in the stews, I - were mann'd, hors'd, and wiv'd.'" - -To complete these urbanities, the church was the resort of -pickpockets. Bishop Corbet, a poetical wit of the time of Charles the -First, sums up its character, as the "walke - - "Where all our Brittaine sinners sweare and talk."[23] - -Only one reformation had taken place in it since the complaint made by -Edward the Third: no woman, at the time of Earle's writing, was to be -found there; at least not in the crowd. "The visitants," he says, "are -all men without exception."[24] A commonwealth writer insinuates -otherwise; but the visitation was not public. The practice of "walking -and talking" in St. Paul's appears to have revived under James the -Second, probably in connection with Catholic wishes; for there was an -Act of William and Mary, by which transgressors forfeited twenty -pounds for every offence; and, what is remarkable, the Bishop -threatened to enforce this Act so late as the year 1725; "the custom," -says Mr. Malcolm, "had become so very prevalent."[25] - -A proverb of "dining with Duke Humphrey," has survived to the present -day, owing to a supposed tomb of Humphrey, the good Duke of -Gloucester, which was popular with the poorer frequenters of the -place. They had a custom of strewing herbs before it, and sprinkling -it with water. The tomb, according to Stow, was not Humphrey's, but -that of Sir John Beauchamp, one of the house of Warwick. Men who -strolled about for want of a dinner, were familiar enough with this -tomb; and were therefore said to dine with Duke Humphrey. - -While some of the extraordinary operations above-mentioned were going -on (the intriguing, picking of pockets, &c.), the sermon was very -likely proceeding. It is but fair, however, to conclude, that in the -Catholic times, during the elevation of the host, there was a show of -respect. We have heard a gentleman say, who visited Spain in his -childhood, that he remembered being at the theatre during a fandango, -when a loud voice cried out "_Dios_" (God); and all the people in the -house, including the dancers, fell on their knees. A profound silence -ensued. After a pause of a few seconds, the people rose, and the -fandango went on as before. The little boy could not think what had -happened, but was told that the host had gone by. The Deity (for so it -was thought) had been sent for to the house of a sick man; and it was -to honour him in passing, that the theatre had gone down on their -knees. Catholics reform as well as other people, with the growth of -knowledge, especially when restrictions no longer make their -prejudices appear a matter of duty. We know not how it is in Spain at -this moment, with regard to the devout interval of the fandango; but -we know what would be thought of it by thousands of the offspring of -those who witnessed it on this occasion; and certainly in no Catholic -church now-a-days can be seen the abominations of old St. Paul's. - -The passenger who now goes by the cathedral, and associates the idea -of the inside with that of respectful silence and the simplicity of -Protestant worship, little thinks what a noise has been in that spot, -and what gorgeous processions have issued out of it. - -Old St. Paul's was famous for the splendour of its shrine, and for its -priestly wealth. The list of its copes, vestments, jewels, gold and -silver cups, candlesticks, &c., occupies thirteen folio pages of the -_Monasticon_. The side aisles were filled with chapels to different -saints and the Virgin; that is to say, with nooks partitioned off one -from another, and enriched with separate altars; and it is calculated, -that, taking the whole establishment, there could hardly be fewer than -two hundred priests. On certain holidays, this sacred multitude, in -their richest copes, together with the lord mayor, aldermen, and city -companies, and all the other parish priests of London, who carried a -rich silver cross for every church, issued forth from the cathedral -door in procession, singing a hymn, and so went through Cheapside and -Cornhill to Leadenhall, and back again. The last of these spectacles -was for the peace of Guisnes, in 1546; shortly after which Henry the -Eighth swept into his treasury the whole glories of Catholic -worship--copes, crosses, jewels, church-plate, &c.--himself being the -most bloated enormity that had ever misused them. - -Among other retainers to the establishment, Henry suppressed a -singular little personage, entitled the Boy-Bishop. The Boy-Bishop -(_Episcopus Puerorum_) was a chorister annually elected by his fellows -to imitate the state and attire of a bishop, which he assumed on St. -Nicholas's day, the sixth of December, and retained till that of the -Innocents, December the twenty-eighth. - - "This was done," says Brayley, "in commemoration of St. - Nicholas, who, according to the Romish Church, was so piously - fashioned, that even when a babe in his cradle he would fast - both on Wednesdays and Fridays, and at those times was 'well - pleased' to suck but once a-day. However ridiculous it may now - seem, the Boy-Bishop is stated to have possessed episcopal - authority during the above term; and the other children were - his prebendaries. He was not permitted to celebrate mass, but - he had full liberty to preach; and however puerile his - discourse might have been, we find they were regarded with so - much attention, that the learned Dean Colet, in his statutes - for St. Paul's school, expressly ordained that the scholars - shall, on 'every _Childermas_ daye, come to Paule's Churche, - and hear the Chylde Bishop's sermon, and after be at the hygh - masse, and each of them offer a penny to the Chylde Bishop; and - with them the maisters and surveyors of the scole.' Probably," - continues Mr. Brayley, "these orations, though affectedly - childish, were composed by the more aged members of the church. - If the Boy-Bishop died within the time of his prelacy, he was - interred _in pontificalibus_, with the same ceremonies as the - real diocesan; and the tomb of a child-bishop in Salisbury - Cathedral may be referred to as an instance of such - interment."[26] - - "From a printed church-book," says Mr. Hone, "containing the - service of the boy-bishops set to music, we learn that, on the - eve of Innocents'-day, the Boy-Bishop, and his youthful clergy, - in their copes, and with burning tapers in their hands, went in - solemn procession, chanting and singing versicles, as they - walked into the choir by the west door, in such order that the - dean and canons went foremost, the chaplains next, and the - Boy-Bishop with his priests in the last and highest place. He - then took his seat, and the rest of the children disposed - themselves on each side of the choir, upon the uppermost - ascent, the canons resident bearing the incense and the book, - and the petit-canons the tapers, according to the rubrick. - Afterwards he proceeded to the altars of the Holy Trinity and - All Saints, which he first censed, and next the image of the - Holy Trinity, his priests all the while singing. Then they all - chanted a service with prayers and responses, and, in the like - manner taking his seat, the Boy-Bishop repeated salutations, - prayers, and versicles; and in conclusion gave his benediction - to the people, the chorus answering _Deo Gratias_."[27] - -The origin of customs is often as obscure as that of words, and may be -traced with probability to many sources. Perhaps the boy-bishop had a -reference, not only to St. Nicholas, but to Christ preaching when a -boy among the doctors, and to the divine wisdom of his recommendations -of a childlike simplicity. The school afterwards founded by Dean Colet -was in honour of "the child Jesus." There was a school attached to the -cathedral, of which Colet's was, perhaps, a revival, as far as -scholarship was concerned. The boys in the older school were not only -taught singing but acting, and for a long period were the most popular -performers of stage-plays. In the time of Richard the Second, these -Boy-Actors petitioned the King to prohibit certain ignorant and -"inexpert people from presenting the History of the Old Testament." -They began with sacred plays, but afterwards acted profane; so that -St. Paul's singing-school was numbered among the play-houses. This -custom, as well as that of the boy-bishop, appears to have been common -wherever there were choir-boys; and it doubtless originated, partly in -the theatrical nature of the catholic ceremonies at which they -assisted, and partly in the delight which the more scholarly of their -masters took in teaching the plays of Terence and Seneca. The annual -performance of a play of Terence, still kept up at Westminster school, -is supposed by Warton to be a remnant of it. The choristers of -Westminster Abbey, and of the chapel of Queen Elizabeth, (who took -great pleasure in their performances), were celebrated as actors, -though not so much so at those of St. Paul's. A set of them were -incorporated under the title of Children of the Revels, among whom are -to be found names that have since become celebrated as the -fellow-actors of Shakspeare--Field, Underwood, and others. It was the -same with Hart, Mohun, and others, who were players in the time of -Cibber. It appears that children with good voices were sometimes -_kidnapped_ for a supply.[28] Tusser, who wrote the Five Hundred -Points of Good Husbandry, is thought to have been thus pressed into -the service; and a relic of the custom is supposed to have existed in -that of pressing drummers for the army, which survived so late as the -accession of Charles the First. The exercise of the right of might -over children, and by people who wanted singers--an effeminate -press-gang--would seem an intolerable nuisance; but the children were -probably glad enough to be complimented by the violence, and to go to -sing and play before a court. - -Ben Jonson has some pretty verses on one of these juvenile actors: - - Weep with me, all you that read - This little story; - And know, for whom a tear you shed, - Death's self is sorry. - - 'Twas a child that so did thrive - In grace and feature, - As heaven and nature seemed to strive - Which owned the creature. - - Years he numbered, scarce thirteen, - When fates turned cruel; - Yet three filled zodiacs had he been - The stage's jewel; - - And did act (what now we moan) - Old men so duly, - As, sooth, the Parcae thought him one, - He played so truly. - - Till, by error of his fate, - They all consented; - But viewing him since (alas! too late) - They have repented; - - And have sought (to give new birth) - In baths to steep him! - But being so much too good for earth, - Heaven vows to keep him. - -This child, we see, was celebrated for acting old men. It is well -known that, up to the Restoration, and sometimes afterwards, boys -performed the parts of women. Kynaston, when a boy, used to be taken -out by the ladies an airing, in his female dress after the play. This -custom of males appearing as females gave rise, in Shakspeare's time, -to the frequent introduction of female characters disguised; thus -presenting a singular anomaly, and a specimen of the gratuitous -imaginations of the spectators in those days; who, besides being -contented with taking the bare stage for a wood, a rock, or a garden, -as it happened, were to suppose a boy on the stage _to pretend to be -himself_. - -One of the strangest of the old ceremonies, in which the clergy of the -cathedral used to figure, was that which was performed twice a year, -namely, on the day of the Commemoration and on that of the Conversion -of St. Paul. On the former of these festivals, a fat doe, and on the -latter, a fat buck, was presented to the Church by the family of Baud, -in consideration of some land which they held of the Dean and Chapter -at West Lee in Essex. The original agreement made with Sir William Le -Baud, in 1274, was, that he himself should attend in person with the -animals; but some years afterwards it was arranged that the -presentation should be made by a servant, accompanied by a deputation -of part of the family. The priests, however, continued to perform -their part in the show. When the deer was brought to the foot of the -steps leading to the choir, the reverend brethren appeared in a body -to receive it, dressed in their full pontifical robes, and having -their heads decorated with garlands of flowers. From thence they -accompanied it as the servant led it forward to the high altar, where -having been solemnly offered and slain, it was divided among the -residentiaries. The horns were then fastened to the top of a spear, -and carried in procession by the whole company around the inside of -the church, a noisy concert of horns regulating their march. This -ridiculous exhibition, which looks like a parody on the pagan -ceremonies of their predecessors the priests of Diana, was continued -by the cathedral clergy down to the time of Elizabeth. - -The modern passenger through St. Paul's Churchyard has not only the -last home of Nelson and others to venerate, as he goes by. In the -ground of the old church were buried, and here, therefore, remains -whatever dust may survive them, the gallant Sir Philip Sydney (the -_beau ideal_ of the age of Elizabeth), and Vandyke, who immortalised -the youth and beauty of the court of Charles the First. One of -Elizabeth's great statesmen also lay there--Walsingham--who died so -poor, that he was buried by stealth, to prevent his body from being -arrested. Another, Sir Christopher Hatton, who is supposed to have -danced himself into the office of her Majesty's Chancellor,[29] had a -tomb which his contemporaries thought too magnificent, and which was -accused of "shouldering" the altar. There was an absurd epitaph upon -it, by which he would seem to have been a _dandy_ to the last. - - Stay and behold the mirror of a dead man's house, - Whose lively person would have made thee stay and wonder. - - * * * * * - - When Nature moulded him, her thoughts were most on Mars; - And all the heavens to make him goodly were agreeing; - Thence he was valiant, active, strong, and passing comely; - And God did grace his mind and spirit with gifts excelling. - Nature commends her workmanship to Fortune's charge, - Fortune presents him to the court and queen, - Queen Eliz. (O God's dear handmayd) his most miracle. - _Now hearken, reader, raritie not heard or seen_; - This blessed Queen, mirror of all that Albion rul'd, - Gave favour to his faith, and precepts to his hopeful time; - First trained him in the stately band of pensioners; - - * * * * * - - And for her safety made him Captain of the Guard. - Now doth she prune this vine, and from her sacred breast - Lessons his life, makes wise his heart for her great councells, - And so, _Vice-Chamberlain_, where foreign princes eyes - Might well admire her choyce, wherein she most excels. - -He then aspires, says the writer, to "the highest subject's seat," and -becomes - - Lord Chancelour (measure and conscience of a holy king:) - _Robe_, _Collar_, _Garter_, dead figures of great honour, - Alms-deeds with faith, honest in word, frank in dispence, - The poor's friend, not popular, the church's pillar. - This tombe sheweth one, the heaven's shrine the other.[30] - -The first line in italics, and the poetry throughout, are only to be -equalled by a passage in an epitaph we have met with on a Lady of the -name of Greenwood, of whom her husband says:-- - - "Her graces and her qualities were such - That she might have married a bishop or a judge; - But so extreme was her condescension and humility, - That she married _me_, a poor doctor of divinity; - _By which heroic deed_, she stands confest, - Of all other women, the phoenix of her sex." - -Sir Christopher is said to have died of a broken heart, because his -once loving mistress exacted a debt of him which he found it difficult -to pay. It was common to talk of courtiers dying of broken hearts at -that time; which gives one an equal notion of the Queen's power, and -the servility of those gentlemen. Fletcher, Bishop of London, father -of the great poet, was another who had a tomb in the old church, and -is said to have undergone the same fate. It was he that did a thing -very unlike a poet's father. He attended the execution of Mary Queen -of Scots, and said aloud, when her head was held up by the -executioner, "So perish all Queen Elizabeth's enemies!" He was then -Dean of Peterborough. The Queen made him a bishop, but suspended him -for marrying a second wife, which so preyed upon his feelings, that it -is thought, by the help of an immoderate love of smoking, to have -hastened his end--a catastrophe worthy of a mean courtier. He was -well, sick, and dead, says Fuller, in a quarter of an hour. Most -probably he died of apoplexy, the tobacco giving him the _coup de -grace_.[31] - -Dr. Donne, the head of the metaphysical poets, so well criticised by -Johnson, was Dean of St. Paul's, and had a grave here, of which he has -left an extraordinary memorial. It is a wooden image of himself, made -to his order, and representing him as he was to appear in his shroud. -This, for some time before he died, he kept by his bed-side in an open -coffin, thus endeavouring to reconcile an uneasy imagination to the -fate he could not avoid. It is still preserved in the vaults under the -church, and is to be seen with the other curiosities of the cathedral. -We will not do a great man such a disservice as to dig him up for a -spectacle. A man should be judged of at the time when he is most -himself, and not when he is about to consign his weak body to its -elements. - -Of the events that have taken place connected with St. Paul's, one of -the most curious was a scene that passed in the old cathedral between -John of Gaunt and the Anti-Wickliffites. It made him very unpopular at -the time. Probably, if he had died just after it, his coffin would -have been torn to pieces; but subsequently he had a magnificent tomb -in the church, on which hung his crest and cap of state, together with -his lance and target. Perhaps the merits of the friend of Wickliff and -Chaucer are now as much overvalued. The scene is taken as follows, by -Mr. Brayley, out of Fox's Acts and Monuments. - - "One of the most remarkable occurrences that ever took place - within the old cathedral was the attempt made, in 1376, by the - Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, under the - command of Pope Gregory the Eleventh, to compel Wickliff, the - father of the English Reformation, to subscribe to the - condemnation of some of his own tenets, which had been recently - promulgated in the eight articles that have been termed the - Lollards' Creed. The Pope had ordered the above prelates to - apprehend and examine Wickliff; but they thought it most - expedient to summon him to St. Paul's, as he was openly - protected by the famous John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster; and - that nobleman accompanied him to the examination, together with - the Lord Percy, Marshall of England. The proceedings were soon - interrupted by a dispute as to whether Wickliff should sit or - stand; and the following curious dialogue arose on the Lord - Percy desiring him to be seated:-- - - "_Bishop of London._--'If I could have guessed, Lord Percy, - that you would have played the master here, I would have - prevented your coming.' - - "_Duke of Lancaster._--'Yes, he shall play the master here for - all you.' - - "_Lord Percy._--'Wickliff, sit down! You have need of a seat, - for you have many things to say.' - - "_Bishop of London._--'It is unreasonable that a clergyman, - cited before his ordinary, should sit during his answer. He - shall stand!' - - "_Duke of Lancaster._--'My Lord Percy, you are in the right! - And for you, my Lord Bishop, you are grown so proud and - arrogant, I will take care to humble your pride; and not only - yours, my lord, but that of all the prelates in England. Thou - dependest upon the credit of thy relations; but so far from - being able to help thee, they shall have enough to do to - support themselves.' - - "_Bishop of London._--'I place no confidence in my relations, - but in God alone, who will give me the boldness to speak the - truth.' - - "_Duke of Lancaster_ (_speaking softly to Lord - Percy_).--'Rather than take this at the Bishop's hands, I will - drag him by the hair of the head out of the court!'"[32] - -Old St. Paul's was much larger than now, and the churchyard was of -proportionate dimensions. The wall by which it was bounded ran along -by the present streets of Ave Maria Lane, Paternoster Row, Old Change, -Carter Lane, and Creed Lane; and therefore included a large space and -many buildings which are not now considered to be within the precincts -of the cathedral. This spacious area had grass inside, and contained a -variety of appendages to the establishment. One of these was the cross -which we have alluded to at the beginning of this chapter, and of -which Stow did not know the antiquity. It was called PAUL'S CROSS, and -stood on the north side of the church, a little to the east of the -entrance of Cannon Alley. It was around Paul's Cross, or rather in the -space to the east of it that the citizens were wont anciently to -assemble in Folkmote, or general convention--not only to elect their -magistrates and to deliberate on public affairs, but also, as it would -appear, to try offenders and award punishments. We read of meetings of -the Folkmote in the thirteenth century; but the custom was -discontinued, as the increasing number of the inhabitants, and the -mixture of strangers, were found to lead to confusion and tumult. In -after times the cross appears to have been used chiefly for -proclamations, and other public proceedings, civil as well as -ecclesiastical; such as the swearing of the citizens to allegiance, -the emission of papal bulls, the exposing of penitents, &c., "and for -the defaming of those," says Pennant, "who had incurred the -displeasure of crowned heads." A pulpit was attached to it, it was not -known when, in which sermons were preached, called Paul's Cross -Sermons, a name by which they continued to be known when they ceased -in the open air. Many benefactors contributed to support these -sermons. In Stow's time the pulpit was an hexagonal piece of wood, -"covered with lead, elevated upon a flight of stone steps, and -surmounted by a large cross." During rainy weather the poorer part of -the audience retreated to a covered place, called the shrowds, which -are supposed to have abutted on the church wall. The rest, including -the lord mayor and aldermen, most probably had shelter at all times; -and the King and his train (for they attended also) had covered -galleries.[33] Popular preachers were invited to hold forth in this -pulpit, but the Bishop was the inviter. In the reign of James the -First, the lord mayor and aldermen ordered, that every one who should -preach there, "considering the journies some of them might take from -the universities, or elsewhere, should at his pleasure be freely -entertained for five days' space, with sweet and convenient lodging, -fire, candle, and all other necessaries, viz., from Thursday before -their day of preaching, to Thursday morning following."[34] "This good -custom," says Maitland, "continued for some time. And the Bishop of -London, or his chaplain, when he sent to any one to preach, did -actually signify the place where he might repair at his coming up, and -be entertained freely." In earlier times a kind of inn seems to have -been kept for the entertainment of the preachers at Paul's Cross, -which went by the name of the _Shunamites' House_. - - "Before the cross," says Pennant, "was brought, divested of all - splendour, Jane Shore, the charitable, the merry concubine of - Edward the Fourth, and, after his death, of his favourite, the - unfortunate Lord Hastings. After the loss of her protectors, - she fell a victim to the malice of crooked-backed _Richard_. He - was disappointed (by her excellent defence) of convicting her - of witchcraft, and confederating with her lover to destroy him. - He then attacked her on the weak side of frailty. This was - undeniable. He consigned her to the severity of the church: she - was carried to the Bishop's palace, clothed in a white sheet, - with a taper in her hand, and from thence conducted to the - cathedral and the cross, before which she made a confession of - her only fault. Every other virtue bloomed in this ill-fated - fair with the fullest vigour. She could not resist the - solicitations of a youthful monarch, the handsomest man of his - time. On his death she was reduced to necessity, scorned by the - world, and cast off by her husband, with whom she was paired in - her childish years, and forced to fling herself into the arms - of Hastings." - - "In her penance she went," says Holinshed, "in countenance and - pace demure, so womanlie, that albeit she were out of all - araie, save her kertle onlie, yet went she so faire and - lovelie, namelie, while the wondering of the people cast a - comlie rud in her cheeks (of which she before had most misse), - that hir great shame wan hir much praise among those that were - more amorous of hir bodie, than curious of hir soule. And manie - good folks that hated her living (and glad were to see sin - corrected), yet pitied they more hir penance, than rejoiced - therein, when they considered that the Protector procured it - more of a corrupt intent than any virtuous affection." - - "Rowe," continues Pennant, "has flung this part of her sad - story into the following poetical dress; but it is far from - possessing the moving simplicity of the old historian."[35] - - Submissive, sad, and lonely was her look; - A burning taper in her hand she bore; - And on her shoulders, carelessly confused, - With loose neglect her lovely tresses hung; - Upon her cheek a faintish flush was spread; - Feeble she seemed, and sorely smit with pain; - While, barefoot as she trod the flinty pavement, - Her footsteps all along were marked with blood. - Yet silent still she passed, and unrepining; - Her streaming eyes bent ever on the earth, - Except when, in some bitter pang of sorrow, - To heaven she seemed, in fervent zeal, to raise, - And beg that mercy man denied her here. - - "The poet has adopted the fable of her being denied all - sustenance, and of her perishing with hunger, but that was not - a fact. She lived to a great age, but in great distress and - miserable poverty; deserted even by those to whom she had, - during prosperity, done the most essential services. She - dragged a wretched life even to the time of Sir Thomas More, - who introduces her story in his Life of Richard the Third. The - beauty of her person is spoken of in high terms; 'Proper she - was, and faire; nothing in her body that you would have - changed, but if you would have wished her somewhat higher. Thus - sai they that knew hir in hir youth. Albeit, some that now see - hir, for she yet liveth, deem hir never to have been well - visaged. Now is she old, leane, withered, and dried up: nothing - left but shrivelled skin and hard bone; and yet, being even - such, whoso well advise her visage, might gesse and devise, - which parts how filled, would make it a faire face.'"[36] - -To these pictures, which are all drawn with spirit, may be added a -portrait in the notes to Drayton's _Heroical Epistles_, referring to -the one by Sir Thomas More. - - "Her stature," says the comment, "was mean; her hair of a dark - yellow, her face round and full, her eye grey, delicate harmony - being betwixt each part's proportion, and each proportion's - colour; her body fat, white, and smooth; her countenance - cheerful, and like to her condition. That picture which I have - seen of her, was such as she rose out of her bed in the - morning, having nothing on but a rich mantle, cast under her - arm, over her shoulder, and sitting in a chair on which her - naked arm did lie. What her father's name was, or where she was - born, is not certainly known; but Shore, a young man of right - goodly person, wealth, and behaviour, abandoned her bed, after - the King had made her his concubine."[37] - -Richard, in the extreme consciousness of his being in the wrong, made -a sad bungling business of his first attempts on the throne. The -penance of Jane Shore was followed by Dr. Shawe's sermon at the same -cross, in which the servile preacher attempted to bastardise the -children of Edward, and to recommend the "legitimate" Richard, as the -express image of his father. Richard made his appearance, only to -witness the sullen silence of the spectators; and the doctor, arguing -more weakness than wickedness, took to his house, and soon after -died.[38] - -In the reign of the Tudors, Paul's Cross was the scene of a very -remarkable series of contradictions. The government, under Henry the -Eighth, preached for and against the same doctrines in religion. Mary -furiously attempted to revive them; and they were finally denounced by -Elizabeth. Wolsey began, in 1521, with fulminating, by command of the -Pope, against "one Martin Eleutherius" (Luther). The denouncement was -made by Fisher (afterwards beheaded for denying the King's supremacy); -but Wolsey sate by, in his usual state, censed and canopied, with the -pope's ambassador on one side of him, and the emperor's on the other. -During the sermon a collection of Luther's books was burnt in the -churchyard; "which ended, my Lord Cardinal went home to dinner with -all the other prelates."[39] About ten years afterwards the preachers -at Paul's Cross received an order from the King to "teach and declare -to the people, that neither the pope, nor any of his predecessors, -were anything more than the simple Bishops of Rome." On the accession -of Mary, the discourses were ordered to veer directly round, which -produced two attempts to assassinate the preachers in sermon-time; and -the moment Elizabeth came to the throne, the divines began -recommending the very opposite tenets, and the pope was finally -rejected. At this Cross Elizabeth afterwards attended to hear a -thanksgiving sermon for the defeat of the Invincible Armada; on which -occasion a coach was first seen in England--the one she came in. The -last sermon attended there by the sovereign was during the reign of -her successor; but discourses continued to be delivered up to the time -of the Civil Wars, when, after being turned to account by the Puritans -for about a year, the pulpit was demolished by order of Parliament. -The "willing instrument" of the overthrow was Pennington, the -lord-mayor. The inhabitants who look out of their windows now-a-days -on the northern side of St. Paul's may thus have a succession of -pictures before their mind's eye, as curious and inconsistent as those -of a dream--princes, queens, lord-mayors, and aldermen, - - A court of cobblers, and a mob of kings, - -Jane's penance, Richard's chagrin, Wolsey's exaltation, clergymen -preaching for and against the pope; a coach coming as a wonder, where -coaches now throng at every one's service; and finally, a puritanical -lord-mayor, who "blasphemed custard," laying the axe to the tree, and -cutting down the pulpit and all its works. - -The next appendage to the old church, in point of importance, was the -Bishop's or London House, the name of which survives in that of London -House Yard. This, with other buildings, perished in the Great Fire; -and on the site of it were built the houses now standing between the -yard just mentioned and the present Chapter House. The latter was -built by Wren. The old one stood on the other side of the cathedral, -where the modern deanery is to be found, only more eastward. The -bishop's house was often used for the reception of princes. Edward the -Third and his queen were entertained there after a great tournament in -Smithfield; and there poor little Edward the Fifth was lodged, -previously to his appointed coronation. To the east of the bishop's -house, stretching towards Cheapside, was a chapel, erected by the -father of Thomas Becket, called Pardon-Church-Haugh, which was -surrounded by a cloister, presenting a painting of the Dance of Death -on the walls, a subject rendered famous by Holbein.[40] - -Another chapel called the Charnel, a proper neighbour to this -_fresco_, stood at the back of the two buildings just mentioned. It -received its name from the quantity of human bones collected from St. -Paul's Churchyard, and deposited in a vault beneath. The Charnel was -taken down by the Protector Somerset about 1549, and the stones were -employed in the building of the new palace of Somerset House. On this -occasion it is stated that more than a thousand cart-loads of bones -were removed to Finsbury Fields where they formed a large mount, on -which three windmills were erected. From these Windmill Street in that -neighbourhood derives its name. The ground on which the chapel stood -was afterwards built over with dwellings and warehouses, having sheds -before them for the use of stationers. Immediately to the north of St. -Paul's School, and towards the spot where the churchyard looks into -Cheapside, was a campanile, or bell-house; that is to say, a belfry, -forming a distinct building from the cathedral, such as it is -accustomed to be in Italy. It was by the ringing of this bell that the -people were anciently called together to the general assemblage, -called the Folkmote. The campanile was very high, and was won at dice -from King Henry the Eighth by Sir Miles Partridge, who took it down -and sold the materials. On the side of the cathedral directly the -reverse of this (the south-west), and forming a part of the great pile -of building, was the parish church of St. Gregory, over which was the -Lollards' Tower, or prison, infamous, like its namesake at Lambeth, -for the ill-treatment of heretics. - - "This," says Brayley, on the authority of Fox's Martyrology, - "was the scene of at least one 'foul and midnight murder,' - perpetrated in 1514, on a respectable citizen, named Richard - Hunne, by Dr. Horsey, chancellor of the diocese, with the - assistance of a bell-ringer, and afterwards defended by the - Bishop Fitz-James and the whole body of prelates, who protected - the murderers from punishment, lest the clergy should become - amenable to civil jurisdiction. Though the villains, through - this interference, escaped without corporal suffering, the King - ordered them to pay 1,500_l._ to the children of the deceased, - in restitution of what he himself styles the 'cruel - murder.'"[41] - -The clergy, with almost incredible audacity, afterwards commenced a -process against the dead body of Hunne for heresy; and, having -obtained its condemnation, they actually burned it in Smithfield. The -Lollards' Tower continued to be used as a prison for heretics for some -time after the Reformation. Stow tells us that he recollected one -Peter Burchet, a gentleman of the Middle Temple, being committed to -this prison, on suspicion of holding certain erroneous opinions, in -1573. This, however, is, we believe, the last case of the kind that is -recorded. - -It remains to say a word of St. Paul's School, founded, as we have -already mentioned, by Dean Colet, and destined to become the most -illustrious of all the buildings on the spot, in giving education to -Milton. We have dwelt more upon the localities of St. Paul's -Churchyard than it is our intention to do on others. The dignity of -the birth-place of the metropolis beguiled us; and the events recorded -to have taken place in it are of real interest. Milton was not the -only person of celebrity educated at this school. Bentley, his critic, -was probably induced by the like circumstance to turn his unfortunate -attention to the poet's epic in after life, and make those gratuitous -massacres of the text, which give a profound scholar the air of the -most presumptuous of coxcombs. Here also Camden received part of his -education; and here were brought up, Leland, his brother antiquary, -the Gales (Charles, Roger, and Samuel), all celebrated antiquaries; -Sir Anthony Denny, the only man who had the courage and honesty to -tell Henry the Eighth that he was dying; Halley, the astronomer; -Bishop Cumberland, the great grandfather of the dramatist; Pepys, who -has lately obtained so curious a celebrity, as an annalist of the -court of Charles the Second; and last, not least, one in whom a -learned education would be as little looked for as in Pepys, if we are -to trust the stories of the times, to wit, John Duke of Marlborough. -Barnes was laughed at for dedicating his _Anacreon_ to the duke, as -one to whom Greek was unheard of; and it has been related as a slur on -the great general (though assuredly it is not so), that having alluded -on some occasion to a passage in history, and being asked where he -found it, he confessed that his authority was the only historian he -was acquainted with, namely, William Shakspeare. - -Less is known of Milton during the time he passed at St. Paul's -School, than of any other period of his life. It is ascertained, -however, that he cultivated the writing of Greek verses, and was a -great favourite with the usher, afterwards master, Alexander Gill, -himself a Latin poet of celebrity. At the back of the old church was -an enormous rose-window, which we may imagine the young poet to have -contemplated with delight, in his fondness for ornaments of that cast; -and the whole building was calculated to impress a mind, more -disposed, at that time of life, to admire as a poet, than to quarrel -as a critic or a sectary. Gill, unluckily for himself, was not so -catholic. Some say he was suspended from his mastership for severity; -a quality which he must have carried to a great pitch, for that age to -find fault with it; but from an answer written by Ben Johnson to a -fragment of a satire of Gill's, it is more likely he got into trouble -for libels against the court. Aubrey says, that the old doctor, his -father, was once obliged to go on his knees to get the young doctor -pardoned, and that the offence consisted in his having written a -letter, in which he designated King James and his son, as the "old -foole and the young one." There are letters written in early life from -Milton to Gill, full of regard and esteem; nor is it likely that the -regard was diminished by Gill's petulance against the Court. In one of -the letters, it is pleasant to hear the poet saying, "Farewell, and on -Tuesday next expect me in London, among the booksellers."[42] - -The parliamentary soldiers annoyed the inhabitants of the churchyard, -by playing at nine-pins at unseasonable hours--a strange misdemeanour -for that "church militant." They hastened also the destruction of the -cathedral. Some scaffolding, set up for repairs, had been given them -for arrears of pay. They dug pits in the body of the church to saw the -timber in; and they removed the scaffolding with so little caution, -that great part of the vaulting fell in, and lay a heap of ruins. The -east end only, and a part of the choir continued to be used for public -worship, a brick wall being raised to separate this portion from the -rest of the building, and the congregation entering and getting out -through one of the north windows. Another part of the church was -converted into barracks and stables for the dragoons. As for Inigo -Jones's lofty and beautiful portico, it was turned into "shops," says -Maitland, "for milliners and others, with rooms over them for the -convenience of lodging; at the erection of which the magnificent -columns were piteously mangled, being obliged to make way for the ends -of beams, which penetrated their centres."[43] The statues on the top -were thrown down and broken to pieces. - -We have noticed the lucky necessity for a new church, occasioned by -the Great Fire. An attempt was at first made to repair the old -building--the work, as we have already mentioned, being committed to -the charge of Sir John Denham (the poet), his Majesty's -surveyor-general. But it was eventually found necessary to commence a -new edifice from the foundation. Sir Christopher Wren, who -accomplished this task, had been before employed in superintending the -repairs, and was appointed head surveyor of the works in 1669, on the -demise of Denham. Unfortunately, he had great and ungenerous trouble -given him in the erection of the new structure; and, after all, he did -not build it as he wished. His taste was not understood, either by -court or clergy; he was envied (and towards the close of his life -ousted) by inferior workmen; was forced to make use of two orders -instead of one, that is to say, to divide the sides and front into two -separate elevations, instead of running them up and dignifying them -with pillars of the whole height; and during the whole work, which -occupied a great many years, and took up a considerable and anxious -portion of his time, not unattended with personal hazard, all the pay -which he was then, or ever to expect, was a pittance of two hundred -a-year. A moiety of this driblet was for some time actually suspended, -till the building should be finished; and for the arrears of it he was -forced to petition the government of Queen Anne, and then only -obtained them under circumstances of the most unhandsome delay. Wren, -however, was a philosopher and a patriot; and if he underwent the -mortification attendent on philosophers and patriots, for offending -the self-love of the shallow, he knew how to act up to the spirit of -those venerable names, in the interior of a mind as elevated and -well-composed as his own architecture. Some pangs he felt, because he -was a man of humanity, and could not disdain his fellow-creatures; but -he was more troubled for the losses of the art than his own. He is -said actually to have shed tears when compelled to deform his -cathedral with the side aisles--some say in compliance with the will -of the Duke of York, afterwards James the Second, who anticipated the -use of them for the restoration of the old Catholic chapels. Money he -despised, except for the demands of his family, consenting to receive -a hundred a-year for rebuilding such of the city churches (a -considerable number) as were destroyed by the fire! And when finally -ousted from his office of surveyor-general, he said with the ancient -sage, "Well, I must philosophise a little sooner than I intended." -(_Nunc me jubet fortuna expeditius philosophari_). The Duchess of -Marlborough, in resisting the claims of one of her Blenheim surveyors, -said, "that Sir C. Wren was content to be dragged up in a basket three -times a-week to the top of St. Paul's, at a great hazard, for 200_l._ -a-year." But, as a writer of his life has remarked, she was perhaps -"little capable of drawing any nice distinction between the feelings -of the hired surveyor of Blenheim, and those of our architect, in the -contemplation of the rising of the fabric which his vast genius was -calling into existence: her notions led her to estimate the matter by -the simple process of the rule of three direct; and on this principle -she had good reason to complain of the surveyor."[44] The same writer -tells us, that Wren's principal enjoyment during the remainder of his -life, consisted in his being "carried once a year to see his great -work;" "the beginning and completion of which," observes Walpole, "was -an event which, one could not wonder, left such an impression of -content on the mind of the good old man, that it seemed to recall a -memory almost deadened to every other use." The epitaph upon him by -his son, which Mr. Mylne, the architect of Blackfriars' bridge, caused -to be rescued from the vaults underneath the church, where it was -ludicrously inapplicable, and placed in gold letters over the choir, -has a real sublimity in it, though defaced by one of those plays upon -words, which were the taste of the times in the architect's youth, and -which his family perhaps had learnt to admire. - - Subtus _conditur_ - Hujus ecclesiae et urbis _conditor_ - Ch. Wren, - Qui vixit annos ultra nonaginta, - Non sibi sed bono publico. - Lector, si monumentum requiris, - Circumspice. - -We cannot preserve the pun in English, unless, perhaps, by some such -rendering as, "Here found a grave the founder of this church;" or -"Underneath is founded the tomb," &c. The rest is admirable: - - "Who lived to the age of upwards of ninety years, - Not for himself, but for the public good. - Reader, if thou seekest his monument, - Look around." - -The reader _does_ look around, and the whole interior of the -cathedral, which is finer than the outside, seems like a magnificent -vault over his single body. The effect is very grand, especially if -the organ is playing. A similar one, as far as the music is concerned, -is observable when we contemplate the statues of Nelson and others. -The grand repose of the church, in the first instance, gives them a -mortal dignity, which the organ seems to waken up and revive, as if in -the midst of the - - "Pomp and threatening harmony,"[45] - -their spirits almost looked out of their stony and sightless eyeballs. -Johnson's ponderous figure looks down upon us with something of -sourness in the expression; and in the presence of Howard we feel as -if pomp itself were in attendance on humanity. It is a pity that the -sculpture of the monuments in general is not worthy of these emotions, -and tends to undo them. - -A poor statue of Queen Anne, in whose reign the church was finished, -stands in the middle of the front area, with the figures of Britain, -France, Ireland, and America, round the base. Garth, who was a Whig, -and angry with the councils which had dismissed his hero Marlborough, -wrote some bitter lines upon it, which must have had double effect, -coming from so good-natured a man. - - Near the vast bulk of that stupendous frame, - Known by the Gentiles' great apostle's name, - With grace divine great Anna's seen to rise, - An awful form that glads a nation's eyes: - Beneath her feet four mighty realms appear, - And with due reverence pay their homage there. - Britain and Ireland seem to own her grace, - And e'en wild India wears a smiling face. - But France alone with downcast eyes is seen, - The sad attendant on so good a queen. - Ungrateful country! to forget so soon - All that great Anna for thy sake has done, - When sworn the kind defender of thy cause, - Spite of her dear religion, spite of laws, - For thee she sheath'd the terrors of her sword, - For thee she broke her gen'ral--and her word: - For thee her mind in doubtful terms she told, - And learn'd to speak like oracles of old: - For thee, for thee alone, what could she more? - She lost the honour she had gain'd before; - Lost all the trophies which her arms had won, - (Such Caesar never knew, nor Philip's son;) - Resign'd the glories of a ten years' reign, - And such as none but Marlborough's arm could gain: - For thee in annals she's content to shine, - Like other monarchs of the Stuart line. - -Many irreverent remarks were also made by the coarser wits of the day, -in reference to the position of her Majesty, with her back to the -church and her face to a brandy shop, which was then kept in that part -of the churchyard. The calumny was worthy of the coarseness. Anne, who -was not a very clever woman, had a difficult task to perform; and -though we differ with her politics, we cannot, even at this distance -of time, help expressing our disgust at personalities like these, -especially against a female. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[14] Parentalia, p. 290, quoted in the work next mentioned. - -[15] Brayley's London and Middlesex, vol. i. p. 87. - -[16] Parentalia, p. 27. - -[17] Survey of London, p. 262. First edition. - -[18] Fine Arts of the English School, quoted in Brayley, vol. ii. p. -217. - -[19] Londinium Redivivum, iii., p. 134. - -[20] Londinium Redivivum, iii., p. 81. - -[21] Londinium Redivivum, vol. iii., pp. 71, 73. - -[22] Moser, in the European Magazine, July, 1807. - -[23] Poems. Gilchrist's edition, 1807, p. 5. - -[24] Microcosmographie, quoted in Pennant. - -[25] Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the -Eighteenth Century, vol. i. p. 281. - -[26] London and Middlesex, vol. ii., p. 229. - -[27] Ancient Mysteries described, &c., 1823, p. 195. - -[28] _Purvey'd_ is the word of Mr. Chalmers; who says, however, that -he knows not on what principle the right of "purveying such children" -was justified, "except by the maxim that the king had a right to the -services of all his subjects." See Johnson and Steeven's Shakspeare, -Prolegomena, vol. ii., p. 516. - -[29] - - "His bushy beard, and shoe-strings green, - His high-crown'd hat, and satin doublet, - Mov'd the stout heart of England's queen, - Though Pope and Spaniard could not trouble it."--GRAY. - - -[30] Maitland's History of London, vol. ii., p. 1170. - -[31] The Bishop's second wife was a Lady Baker, who is said, by Mr. -Brayley, to have been young as well as beautiful, and probably did not -add to the prelate's repose. - -[32] London and Middlesex, vol. ii., p. 231. - -[33] The active habits of our ancestors enabled them to bear these -out-of-door sermons better than their posterity could; yet, as times -grew less hardy, they began to have consequences which Bishop Latimer -attributed to another cause. "The citizens of Raim," said he, in a -sermon preached in Lincolnshire, in the year 1552, "had their -burying-place without the city, which, no doubt, is a laudable thing; -and I do marvel that London, being so great a city, hath not a -burial-place without, for no doubt it is an unwholesome thing to bury -within the city, especially at such a time when there be great -sickness, and many die together. I think, verily, that many a man -taketh his death in Paul's Churchyard, and this I speak of experience; -for I myself, when I have been there on some mornings to hear the -sermons, have felt such an ill-savoured unwholesome savour, that I was -the worse for it a great while after; and I think no less, but it is -the occasion of great sickness and disease."--Brayley, vol. ii., p. -315. After all, the Bishop may have been right in attributing the -sickness to the cemetery. We have seen frightful probabilities of the -same kind in our own time; and nothing can be more sensible than what -he says of burial-grounds in cities. - -[34] Maitland, vol. ii., p. 949. - -[35] The reader, perhaps, will agree with us in thinking, that the -last three lines of this poetry are unworthy of the rest, and put Jane -in a theatrical attitude which she would not have effected. - -[36] Some account of London, third edition, p. 394. - -[37] Chalmers's British Poets, vol. iv., p. 91. - -[38] "After which, once ended," says Stow, "the preacher gat him home, -and never after durst look out for shame, but kept him out of sight -like an owle; and when he once asked one that had been his olde -friende, what the people talked of him, all were it that his own -conscience well shewed him that they talked no good, yet when the -other answered him, that there was in every man's mouth spoken of him -much shame, it so strake him to the hart, that in a few daies after, -he withered, and consumed away."--Brayley, vol. i., p. 312. - -[39] From a MS. in the British Museum, quoted by Brayley, vol. ii., p. -312. - -[40] A Dance of Death (for the subject was often repeated) is a -procession of the various ranks of life, from the pope to the peasant, -each led by a skeleton for his partner. Holbein enlarged it by the -addition of a series of visits privately paid by Death to the -individuals. The figurantes, in his work, by no means go down the -dance "with an air of despondency." The human beings are unconscious -of their partners (which is fine); and the Deaths are as jolly as -skeletons well can be. - -[41] Brayley, vol. ii., p. 320. - -[42] See Todd's Milton, vol. vii.; Aubrey's Letters and Lives; and Ben -Jonson's Poems. Gill's specimen of a satire is very bad, and the great -laureate's answer is not much better. The first couplet of the latter, -however, is to the purpose:-- - - "Shall the prosperity of a pardon still - Secure thy railing rhymes, infamous Gill?" - - -[43] History of London, vol. ii., p. 1166. - -[44] Life of Sir Christopher Wren, in the Library of Useful Knowledge, -No. 24, p. 27. - -[45] Wordsworth. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -ST. PAUL'S AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. - - The Church of St. Faith -- Booksellers of the Churchyard -- Mr. - Johnson's -- Mr. Newberry's -- Children's Books -- Clerical Names - of Streets near St. Paul's -- Swift at the top of the Cathedral - -- Dr. Johnson at St. Paul's -- Paternoster Row -- Panyer's Alley - -- Stationers' Hall -- Almanacks -- Knight-Riders' Street -- Armed - Assemblies of the Citizens -- Doctor's Commons -- The Heralds' - College -- Coats of Arms -- Ludgate -- Story of Sir Stephen - Forster -- Prison of Ludgate -- Wyatt's Rebellion -- The Belle - Sauvage Inn -- Blackfriars -- Shakspeare's Theatre -- Accident at - Blackfriars in 1623 -- Printing House Square -- The Times - -- Baynard's Castle -- Story of the Baron Fitzwalter -- Richard - III. and Buckingham -- Diana's Chamber -- The Royal Wardrobe - -- Marriages in the Fleet -- Fleet Ditch -- The Dunciad. - - -We remember, in our boyhood, a romantic story of a church that stood -under St. Paul's. We conceived of it, as of a real good-sized church -actually standing under the other; but how it came there nobody could -imagine. It was some ghostly edification of providence, not lightly to -be inquired into; but as its name was St. Faith's, we conjectured that -the mystery had something to do with religious belief. The mysteries -of art do not remain with us for life, like those of Nature. Our -phenomenon amounted to this: - - "The church of St. Faith," says Brayley, "was originally a - distinct building, standing near the east end of St. Paul's; - but when the old cathedral was enlarged, between the years 1256 - and 1312, it was taken down, and an extensive part of the - vaults was appropriated to the use of the parishioners of St. - Faith's, in lieu of the demolished fabric. This was afterwards - called the church of St. Faith in the Crypts (_Ecclesia Sanctae - Fidei in Cryptis_) and, according to a representation made to - the Dean and Chapter, in the year 1735, it measured 180 feet in - length, and 80 in breadth. After the fire of London, the parish - of St. Faith was joined to that of St. Augustine; and on the - rebuilding of the cathedral, a portion of the churchyard - belonging to the former was taken to enlarge the avenue round - the east end of St. Paul's, and the remainder was inclosed - within the cathedral railing."[46] - -The parishioners of St. Faith have still liberty to bury their dead in -certain parts of the churchyard and the Crypts. Other portions of the -latter have been used as storehouses for wine, stationery, &c. The -stationers and booksellers of London, during the fire, thought they -had secured a great quantity of their stock in this place; but on the -air being admitted when they went to take them out, the goods had been -so heated by the conflagration of the church overhead, that they took -fire at last, and the whole property was destroyed. Clarendon says it -amounted to the value of two hundred thousand pounds.[47] - -One of the houses on the site of the old episcopal mansion, now -converted into premises occupied by Mr. Hitchcock the linendraper, was -Mr. Johnson's the bookseller--a man who deserves mention for his -liberality to Cowper, and for the remarkable circumstance of his never -having seen the poet, though his intercourse with him was long and -cordial. Mr. Johnson was in connection with a circle of men of -letters, some of whom were in the habit of dining with him once a -week, and who comprised the leading polite writers of the -generation--Cowper, Darwin, Hayley, Dr. Aikin, Mrs. Barbauld, Godwin, -&c. Fuseli must not be omitted, who was at least as good a writer as a -painter. Here Bonnycastle hung his long face over his plate, as glad -to escape from arithmetic into his jokes and his social dinner as a -great boy; and here Wordsworth, and we believe Coleridge, published -their earliest performances. At all events they both visited at the -house. - -But the most illustrious of all booksellers in our boyish days, not -for his great names, not for his dinners, not for his riches that we -know of, nor for any other full-grown celebrity, but for certain -little penny books, radiant with gold and rich with bad pictures, was -Mr. Newberry, the famous children's bookseller, "at the corner of St. -Paul's churchyard," next Ludgate Street. The house is still occupied -by a successor, and children may have books there as formerly--but not -the same. The gilding, we confess, we regret: gold, somehow, never -looked so well as in adorning literature. The pictures also--may we -own that we preferred the uncouth coats, the staring blotted eyes, and -round pieces of rope for hats, of our very badly drawn contemporaries, -to all the proprieties of modern embellishment? We own the superiority -of the latter, and would have it proceed and prosper; but a boy of our -own time was much, though his coat looked like his grandfather's. The -engravings probably were of that date. Enormous, however, is the -improvement upon the morals of these little books; and there we give -them up, and with unmitigated delight. The good little boy, the hero -of the infant literature in those days, stood, it must be -acknowledged, the chance of being a very selfish man. His virtue -consisted in being different from some other little boy, perhaps his -brother; and his reward was having a fine coach to ride in, and being -a King Pepin. Now-a-days, since the world has had a great moral -earthquake that set it thinking, the little boy promises to be much -more of a man; thinks of others, as well as works for himself; and -looks for his reward to a character for good sense and beneficence. In -no respect is the progress of the age more visible, or more -importantly so, than in this apparently trifling matter. The most -bigoted opponents of a rational education are obliged to adopt a -portion of its spirit, in order to retain a hold which their own -teaching must accordingly undo: and if the times were not full of -hopes in other respects, we should point to this evidence of their -advancement, and be content with it. - -One of the most pernicious mistakes of the old children's books, was -the inculcation of a spirit of revenge and cruelty in the tragic -examples which were intended to deter their readers from idleness and -disobedience. One, if he did not behave himself, was to be -shipwrecked, and eaten by lions; another to become a criminal, who was -not to be taught better, but rendered a mere wicked contrast to the -luckier virtue; and, above all, none were to be poor but the vicious, -and none to ride in their coaches but little Sir Charles Grandisons, -and all-perfect Sheriffs. We need not say how contrary this was to the -real spirit of Christianity, which, at the same time, they so much -insisted on. The perplexity in after life, when reading of poor -philosophers and rich vicious men, was in proportion; or rather virtue -and mere worldly success became confounded. In the present day, the -profitableness of good conduct is still inculcated, but in a sounder -spirit. Charity makes the proper allowance for all; and none are -excluded from the hope of being wiser and happier. Men, in short are -not taught to love and labour for themselves alone or for their little -dark corners of egotism; but to take the world along with them into a -brighter sky of improvement; and to discern the want of success in -success itself, if not accompanied by a liberal knowledge. - -The _Seven Champions of Christendom_, _Valentine and Orson_, and other -books of the fictitious class, which have survived their more rational -brethren (as the latter thought themselves), are of a much better -order, and, indeed, survive by a natural instinct in society to that -effect. With many absurdities, they have a general tone of manly and -social virtue, which may be safely left to itself. The absurdities -wear out and the good remains. Nobody in these times will think of -meeting giants and dragons; of giving blows that confound an army, or -tearing the hearts out of two lions on each side of him, as easily as -if he were dipping his hands into a lottery. But there are still -giants and wild beasts to encounter, of another sort, the conquest of -which requires the old enthusiasm and disinterestedness; arms and war -are to be checked in their career, and have been so, by that new might -of opinion to which every body may contribute much in his single -voice; and wild men, or those who would become so, are tamed, by -education and brotherly kindness, into ornaments of civil life. - -The neighbourhood of St. Paul's retains a variety of appellations -indicative of its former connection with the church. There is Creed -Lane, Ave-Maria Lane, Sermon Lane[48], Canon Alley, Pater-Noster Row, -Holiday Court, Amen Corner, &c. Members of the Cathedral establishment -still have abodes in some of these places, particularly in Amen -Corner, which is enclosed with gates, and appropriated to the houses -of prebendaries and canons. Close to Sermon Lane is Do-little Lane; a -vicinity which must have furnished jokes to the Puritans. Addle Street -is an ungrateful corruption of Athelstan Street, so called from one of -the most respectable of the Saxon kings, who had a palace in it. - -We have omitted to notice a curious passage in Swift, in which he -abuses himself for going to the top of St. Paul's. "To-day," says he, -writing to Stella, "I was all about St. Paul's, and up at the top like -a fool, with Sir Andrew Fountain, and two more; and spent seven -shillings for my dinner, like a puppy." "This," adds the doctor, "is -the second time he has served me so: but I will never do it again, -though all mankind should persuade me--unconsidering puppies!"[49] The -being forced by richer people than one's self to spend money at a -tavern might reasonably be lamented; but from the top of St. Paul's -Swift beheld a spectacle, which surely was not unworthy of his -attention; perhaps it affected him too much. The author of Gulliver -might have taken from it his notions of little bustling humankind. - -Dr. Johnson frequently attended public worship in St. Paul's. Very -different must his look have been, in turning into the chancel, from -the threatening and trampling aspect they have given him in his -statue. We do not quarrel with his aspect; there is a great deal of -character in it. But the contrast, considering the place, is curious. -A little before his death, when bodily decay made him less patient -than ever of contradiction, he instituted a club at the Queen's Arms, -in St. Paul's Churchyard. "He told Mr. Hook," says Boswell, "That he -wished to have a _City Club_, and asked him to collect one; but, said -he, don't let them be patriots."[50] (This was an allusion to the -friends of his acquaintance Wilkes.) Boswell accompanied him one day -to the club, and found the members "very sensible well-behaved men:" -that is to say Hook had collected a body of decent listeners. This, -however, is melancholy. In the next chapter we shall see Johnson in -all his glory. - -St. Paul's Churchyard appears as if it were only a great commercial -thoroughfare; but if all the clergy could be seen at once, who have -abodes in the neighbourhood, they would be found to constitute a -numerous body. If to the sable coats of these gentlemen be added those -of the practisers of the civil law, who were formerly allied to them, -and who live in Doctors' Commons, the churchyard increases the clerkly -part of its aspect. It resumes, to the imagination, something of the -learned and collegiate look it had of old. Paternoster Row is said to -have been so called on account of the number of Stationers or -Text-writers that dwelt there, who dealt much in religious books, and -sold horn-books, or A B C's, with the Paternoster, Ave-Maria, Creed, -Graces, &c. And so of the other places above-named. But it is more -likely that this particular street (as indeed we are told) was named -from the rosary or paternoster-makers; for so they were called, as -appears by a record of "one Robert Nikke, a paternoster-maker and -citizen, in the reign of Henry the Fourth." - -It is curious to reflect what a change has taken place in this -celebrated _book-street_, since nothing was sold there but rosaries. -It is but rarely the word Paternoster-Row strikes us as having a -reference to the Latin Prayer. We think of booksellers' shops, and of -all the learning and knowledge they have sent forth. The books of -Luther, which Henry the Eighth burnt in the neighbouring churchyard, -were turned into millions of volumes, partly by reason of that -burning. - -Paternoster-Row, however, has not been exclusively in possession of -the booksellers, since it lost its original tenants, the -rosary-makers. Indeed it would appear to have been only in -comparatively recent times that the booksellers fixed themselves -there. They had for a long while been established in St. Paul's -Churchyard, but scarcely in the Row, till after the commencement of -the last century. - - "This street," says Maitland, writing in 1720, "before the fire - of London, was taken up by eminent mercers, silkmen, and - lacemen; and their shops were so resorted unto by the nobility - and gentry in their coaches, that ofttimes the street was so - stopped up, that there was no passage for foot passengers. But - since the said fire, those eminent tradesmen have settled - themselves in several other parts; especially in Ludgate - Street, and in Bedford Street, Henrietta Street, and King - Street, Covent Garden. And the inhabitants in this street are - now a mixture of tradespeople, such as tire-women, or - milliners, for the sale of top-knots, and the like dressings - for the females." - -In a subsequent edition of his history, published in 1755, it is -added, "There are now many shops of mercers, silkmen, eminent -printers, booksellers, and publishers."[51] The most easterly of the -narrow and partly covered passages between Newgate Street and -Paternoster Row is that called Panyer's Alley, remarkable for a stone -built into the wall of one of the houses on the east side, supporting -the figures of a pannier or wicker basket, surmounted by a boy, and -exhibiting the following inscription:-- - - "When you have sought the city round, - Yet still this is the highest ground." - -We cannot say if absolute faith is to be put in this asseveration; but -it is possible. It has been said that the top of St. Paul's is on a -level with that of Hampstead. - -We look back a moment between Paternoster Row and the churchyard, to -observe, that the only memorial remaining of the residence of the -Bishop of London is a tablet in London-House Yard, let into the wall -of the public house called the Goose and Gridiron. The Goose and -Gridiron is said by tradition to have been what was called in the last -century a "music house;" that is to say, a place of entertainment with -music. When it ceased to be musical, a landlord, in ridicule of its -former pretensions, chose for his sign "a goose stroking the bars of a -gridiron with his foot," and called it the Swan and Harp.[52] - -Between Amen Corner and Ludgate Street, at the end of a passage from -Ave-Maria Lane, "stood a great house of stone and wood, belonging in -old time to John, Duke of Bretagne, and Earl of Richmond, cotemporary -with Edward II. and III. After him it was possessed by the Earls of -Pembroke, in the time of Richard II. and Henry IV., and was called -Pembroke's Inn, near Ludgate. It then fell into the possession of the -title of Abergavenny, and was called Burgavenny House, under which -circumstances it remained in the time of Elizabeth. To finish the -anti-climax," says Pennant, "it was finally possessed by the Company -of Stationers, who rebuilt it of wood, and made it their Hall. It was -destroyed by the Great Fire, and was succeeded by the present plain -building."[53] Of the once-powerful possessors of the old mansion -nothing now is remembered, or cared for; but in the interior of the -modern building are to be seen, looking almost as if they were alive, -and as if we knew them personally, the immortal faces of Steele and -Richardson, Prior in his cap, and Dr. Hoadley, a liberal bishop. There -is also Mrs. Richardson, the wife of the novelist, looking as prim and -particular as if she had been just chucked under the chin; and Robert -Nelson, Esq., supposed author of the Whole Duty of Man, and prototype -of Sir Charles Grandison, as regular and passionless in his face as if -he had been made only to wear his wig. The same is not to be said of -the face of Steele, with his black eyes and social aspect; and still -less of Richardson, who, instead of being the smooth, satisfied-looking -personage he is represented in some engravings of him (which makes his -heartrending romance appear unaccountable and cruel), has a face as -uneasy as can well be conceived--flushed and shattered with emotion. -We recognise the sensitive, enduring man, such as he really was--a -heap of bad nerves. It is worth anybody's while to go to Stationers' -Hall, on purpose to see these portraits. They are not of the first -order as portraits, but evident likenesses. Hoadley looks at once -jovial and decided, like a good-natured controversialist. Prior is not -so pleasant as in his prints; his nose is a little aquiline, instead -of turned up; and his features, though delicate, not so liberal. But -if he has not the best look of his poetry, he has the worst. He seems -as if he had been sitting up all night; his eyelids droop: and his -whole face is used with rakery. - -It is impossible to see Prior and Steele together, without regretting -that they quarrelled: but as they did quarrel, it was fit that Prior -should be in the wrong. From a Whig he had become a Tory, and showed -that his change was not quite what it ought to have been, by avoiding -the men with whom he had associated, and writing contemptuously of his -fellow wits. All the men of letters, whose portraits are in this hall, -were, doubtless, intimate with the premises, and partakers of -Stationers' dinners. Richardson was Master of the Company. Morphew, a -bookseller in the neighbourhood, was one of the publishers of the -_Tatler_; and concerts as well as festive dinners used to take place -in the great room, of both of which entertainments Steele was fond. It -was here, if we mistake not, that one of the inferior officers of the -Company, a humourist on sufferance, came in, one day, on his knees, at -an anniversary dinner when Bishop Hoadley was present, in order to -drink to the "Glorious Memory."[54] The company, Steele included, were -pretty far gone; Hoadley had remained as long as he well could; and -the genuflector was drunk. Steele, seeing the Bishop a little -disconcerted, whispered him, "Do laugh, my lord; pray laugh:--'tis -_humanity_ to laugh." The good-natured prelate acquiesced. Next day, -Steele sent him a penitential letter, with the following couplet:-- - - Virtue with so much ease on Bangor sits, - All faults he pardons, though he none commits. - -The most illustrious musical performance that ever took place in the -hall was that of Dryden's Ode. A society for the annual commemoration -of St. Cecilia, the patroness of music, was instituted in the year -1680, not without an eye perhaps to the religious opinions of the heir -presumptive who was shortly to ascend the throne as James the Second. -An ode was written every year for the occasion, and set to music by -some eminent composer; and the performance of it was followed by a -grand dinner. In 1687, Dryden contributed his first ode, entitled, "A -Song for Saint Cecilia's Day," in which there are finer things than in -any part of the other, though as a whole it is not so striking. Ten -years afterwards it was followed by "Alexander's Feast," the dinner, -perhaps, being a part of the inspiration. Poor Jeremiah Clarke, who -shot himself for love, was the composer.[55] This is the ode with the -composition of which Bolingbroke is said to have found Dryden in a -state of emotion one morning, the whole night having been passed, -_agitante deo_, under the fever of inspiration. - -From Stationers' Hall once issued all the almanacks that were -published, with all the trash and superstition they kept alive. -Francis Moore is still among their "living dead men." Francis must now -be a posthumous old gentleman, of at least one hundred and fifty years -of age. The first blunder the writers of these books committed, in -their cunning, was the having to do with the state of the weather; -their next was to think that the grandmothers of the last century were -as immortal as their title-pages, and that nobody was getting wiser -than themselves. The mysterious solemnity of their hieroglyphics, -bringing heaven and earth together, like a vision in the Apocalypse, -was imposing to the nurse and the child; and the bashfulness of their -bodily sympathies no less attractive. We remember the astonishment of -a worthy seaman, some years ago, at the claim which they put into the -mouth of the sign Virgo. The monopoly is now gone; almanacks have been -forced into improvement by emulation; and the Stationers (naturally -enough at the moment) are angry about it. This fit of ill humour will -pass; and a body of men, interested by their very trade in the -progress of liberal knowledge, will by and by join the laugh at the -tenderness they evinced in behalf of old wives' fables. It is -observable, that their friend Bickerstaff (Steele's assumed name in -the _Tatler_) was the first to begin the joke against them. - -Knight-Riders' Street (Great and Little), on the south side of St. -Paul's Churchyard, is said to have been named from the processions of -Knights from the Tower to their place of tournament in Smithfield. It -must have been a round-about way. Probably the name originated in -nothing more than a sign, or from some reference to the Heralds' -College in the neighbourhood. The open space, we may here notice, -around the western extremity of the Cathedral, was anciently used by -the citizens for assembling together "to make shew of their arms," or -to hold what was called among the Scotch "a _weapon shaw_." A -complaint was made by the Lord Mayor and the Ward, in the reign of -Edward I., against the Dean and Chapter for having inclosed this -ground, which they insisted was "the soil and lay-fee of our lord the -King," by a mud wall, and covered part of it with buildings.[56] The -houses immediately to the west of Creed Lane and Ave-Maria Lane -probably occupy part of the space in question. - -Behind Great Knight-Riders' Street is Doctors' Commons, so called from -the Doctors of Civil Law who dined together four days in each term. -The Court of Admiralty is also there. The Admiralty judge is preceded -by an officer with a silver oar. There is something pleasing in the -parade of a civil officer, thus announced by a symbol representing the -regulation of the most turbulent of elements. - -The civil and ecclesiastical lawyers, who connect the law with the -church, had formerly much more to do than they have at present. The -proctors (or attorneys) are said to have been so numerous and so noisy -in the time of Henry VII., that the judge sometimes could not be heard -for them. They thrust themselves into causes without the parties' -consent, and shouldered the advocates out of their business. The -diminution of their body was owing to Cranmer. Doctors' Commons are of -painful celebrity in the annals of domestic trouble. We have hardly -perhaps among us a remnant of greater barbarism than "an action for -damages,"[57] whether considered with a view to recompense or -prevention. Doctors' Commons bind as well as set loose. "Hence -originates," says the facetious Mr. Malcolm, "the awful scrap of -parchment, bearing the talismanic mark of _John Cantuar_ (the -Archbishop of Canterbury), which constitutes thousands of Benedicts -the happiest or most miserable of married men: in short, it is the -grand lottery of life, in which, fortunately, there are far more -prizes than blanks."[58] The community ought to be thankful to Mr. -Malcolm for this last piece of information, as there is a splenetic -notion among them to the contrary. - -A history deeply interesting to human nature might be drawn up from -the documents preserved in this place; for besides cases of personal -infidelity, here are to be found others of _infidelity religious_, of -blasphemy, simony, &c., together with romantic questions relative to -kindred and succession; and here are deposited those last specimens of -human strength or weakness--last wills and testaments, together with -cases in which they have been contested. It was these records that -furnished us with accounts of the latest days of Milton; and that set -the readers of Shakspeare speculating why he should make no mention of -his wife, except to leave her his "second best bed;"--a question most -unexpectedly as well as happily cleared up by Mr. Charles Knight, who -shows that the bequest was to the lady's honour. Of the practisers in -the civil courts, we can call to mind nothing more worthy of -recollection than the strange name of one of them, "Sir Julius Caesar," -and the ruinous volatility of poor Dr. King, the Tory wit, who is -conjectured to have been the only civilian that ever went to reside in -Ireland, "after having experienced the emoluments of a settlement in -Doctors' Commons." The doctor unfortunately practised too much with -the bottle, which hindered him from adhering long to anything. - -Behind Little Knight-Riders' Street, to the east of Doctors' Commons, -is the Heralds' College. A gorgeous idea of colours falls on the mind -in passing it, as from a cathedral window, - - "And shielded scutcheons blush with blood of queens and kings." - _Keats._ - -The passenger, if he is a reader conversant with old times, thinks of -bannered halls, of processions of chivalry, and of the fields of -Cressy and Poictiers, with their vizored knights, distinguished by -their coats and crests; for a coat of arms is nothing but a -representation of the knight himself, from whom the bearer is -descended. The shield supposes his body; there is the helmet for his -head, with the crest upon it; the flourish is his mantle; and he -stands upon the ground of his motto, or moral pretension. The -supporters, if he is noble, or of a particular class of knighthood, -are thought to be the pages that waited upon him, designated by the -fantastic dresses of bear, lion, &c., which they sometimes wore. -Heraldry is full of colour and imagery, and attracts the fancy like a -"book of pictures." The Kings at Arms are romantic personages, really -crowned, and have as mystic appellations as the kings of an old -tale--Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy. Norroy is King of the North, -and Clarencieux (a title of Norman origin) of the South. The heralds, -Lancaster, Somerset, &c., have simpler names, indicative of the -counties over which they preside; but are only less gorgeously dressed -than the kings, in emblazonment and satin; and then there are the four -pursuivants, Rouge Croix, Rouge Dragon, Portcullis, and Blue Mantle, -with hues as lively, and appellations as quaint, as the attendants on -a fairy court. For gorgeousness of attire, mysteriousness of origin, -and in fact for similarity of origin (a knave being a squire), a knave -of cards is not unlike a herald. A story is told of an Irish King at -Arms,[59] who, waiting upon the Bishop of Killaloe to summon him to -Parliament, and being dressed, as the ceremony required, in his -heraldic attire, so mystified the bishop's servant with his -appearance, that not knowing what to make of it, and carrying off but -a confused notion of his title, he announced him thus: "My lord, here -is the King of Trumps." - -Mr. Pennant says, that the Heralds' College "is a foundation of great -antiquity, in which the records are kept of all the old blood in the -kingdom." But this is a mistake. Heralds, indeed, are of great -antiquity, in the sense of messengers of peace and war; but in the -modern sense, they are no older than the reign of Edward III., and -were not incorporated before that of the usurper Richard. The house -which they formerly occupied was a mansion of the Earls of Derby. It -was burnt in the Great Fire, and succeeded by the present building, -part of which was raised at the expense of some of their officers. As -to their keeping records of "all the old blood in the kingdom," they -may keep them, or not, as they have the luck to find them; but the -blood was old, before they had anything to do with it. Men bore arms -and crests when there were no officers to register them. This, as a -writer in the _Censura Literaria_ observes, justly diminishes the -pretension they set up, that no arms are of authority which have not -been registered among their archives. - - "If this doctrine," says he, "were just, the consequence would - be, that arms of comparatively modern invention are of better - authority than those which a man and his ancestors have borne - from times before the existence of the College of Arms, and for - time immemorial, supported by the evidence of ancient seals, - funeral monuments, and other authentic documents. Surely this - is grossly absurd; and the more absurd, if we consider that the - heralds seem originally not to have been instituted for the - manufacturing of armorial ensigns, but for the recording those - ensigns which had been borne by men of honourable lineage, and - which might, therefore, be borne by their posterity. Perhaps it - would not be too much to presume, that it will be found on - inquiry, that there are no grants of arms by the English - Heralds of any very high antiquity; and that the most ancient - which can be produced, either in the original or in - well-authenticated copies, are of a date when the general use - of seals of arms, circumscribed with the names and titles of - the bearers, was wearing away."[60] - -We learn from the same writer, that the value of "a painted shield of -parchment" is fifty pounds. Of the spirit in which these things have -been done, the reader may judge from a letter written by an applicant -to one of the most respectable names in the college list. His object -was to get the illegitimate coat of a female friend changed to one by -which it was to appear she was not illegitimate. He offers five pounds -for it; and adds, that there is another friend of his, "an alderman's -son, in Chester, whose great-grandfather was baseborn, whom I have -bine treating with severall tymes about the alteration of his coat, -telling him for 10li and not under, it may be accomplished; five he -is willing to give, but not above; if you please to accept of that -sume, you may writt me a line or two. I desire that you will send the -scroll down again, as soon as you can."[61] - -The truth is, that, except as far as their records go, and as they -can be turned to account in questions of kindred and inheritance, the -heralds are of no importance in modern times. Nor have they anything -to do with the spirit and first principles of the devices, of which -they assume the direction. We think this is worth notice, because -heraldry itself, or at least the discussion of coats of arms, of which -most people are observed to be fonder than they choose to confess, -might be reconciled to the progress of knowledge, or made, at any -rate, the ground of a pleasing and not ungraceful novelty. To a coat -of arms no man, literally speaking, has pretensions, who is not the -representative of somebody that bore arms in the old English wars; but -when the necessity for military virtue decreased, arms gave way to the -gown; and _shields_ had honourable, but fantastic augmentations, for -the peaceful triumphs of lawyers and statesmen. Meanwhile commerce was -on the increase, and there came up a new power in the shape of pounds, -shillings, and pence, which was to be represented also by its coat of -_arms_; how absurdly, need not be added: though the individuals who -got their lions and their shields behind the counter, were often -excellent men, who might have cut as great a figure in battle as the -best, had they lived in other times. At length, not to have a military -coat was to be no gentleman; and then the heralds fairly sold -achievements at so much the head. They received their fees, put on -their spectacles, turned over their books like astrologers, and found -that you were deserving of a bear's paw, or might clap three puppies -on your coach. "Congreve," says Swift, in one of his letters to -Stella, "gave me a Tatler he had written out, as blind as he is, for -little Harrison. 'Tis about a scoundrel that was grown rich, and went -and bought a coat of arms at the heralds', and a set of ancestors at -Fleet Ditch." And this is the case at present. Numbers of persons do -not, however, stand on this ceremony with the heralds. Many are -content to receive their exploits, at half-a-guinea the set, from -pretenders who undertake to "procure arms;" and many more assume the -arms nearest to their name and family, or invent them at once; -naturally enough concluding, that they might as well achieve their own -glories, as buy them of an old gentleman or a pedlar. - -Now arms were not originally given; they were assumed. Men in battle, -when armies fought pell-mell, and bodily prowess was more in request -than it is now, wished to have their persons distinguished; and -accordingly they put a device on their shield, or some towering symbol -on their helmet. This at once served to mark out the bearer, and to -express the particular sentiment or alliance upon which he was to be -understood as priding himself. The real spirit of heraldry consisted, -therefore, and must always consist, in distinguishing one person from -another, and in expressing his individual sentiments; and as the -adoption of some device is both an elegant exercise of the fancy, and -acts as a kind of memento to the conscience, tending to keep us to -what we profess, people who have no certain arms of their own, or who -do not care for them if they have, might not ungracefully or even -uselessly entertain themselves with doing, in their own persons, what -the old assumers of arms did in theirs; that is to say, invent their -own distinctions. The emblazonment might amuse their fancies, and be -put in books, or elsewhere, like other coats of arms; and a little -difference in the mode of it could easily set aside the interference -of the heralds. People might thus express their views in life, or -their particular tastes and opinions; and the "science of heraldry," -which has been so much laughed at, not always with justice, be made to -accord with the progress of knowledge--or, at all events, with the -entertaining part of it. - -As to coats of arms really ancient, or connected with old virtue, or -with modern, we have already shown that we are far from pretending to -despise anything which indulges the natural desire of mortality to -extend or to elevate its sense of existence. We have no respect for -shields of no meaning, or for bearers of better shields that disgrace -them; but we do not profess to look without interest on very old -shields, if only for the sake of their antiquity, much less when they -are associated with names, - - Familiar in our mouths as household words. - -The lions and stags, &c., of the Howards and Herberts, of the -Cavendishes, Russells, and Spencers, affect us more than those of -Cuvier himself, especially when we recollect they were borne by great -writers as well as warriors, men who advanced not only themselves but -their species in dignity. The most interesting coats of arms, next to -those which unite antiquity with ability (that is to say, duration -backward with duration and utility in prospect), are such as become -ennobled by genius, or present us with some pleasing device. Such is -the spear of Shakspeare, whose ancestors are thought to have won it -in Bosworth field;[62] the spread eagle of Milton--a proper epic -device; the flower given to Linnaeus for a device when he was ennobled; -the philosophical motto of the great Bacon, _Mediocria firma_ -(Mediocre things firm--the Golden Mean); the modest, yet -self-respecting one, first used, we believe, by Sir Philip Sydney, -_Vix ea nostra voco_ (I scarcely call these things one's own); and -those other mottoes, taken from favourite classics, which argue more -taste than antiquity. We are not sorry, however, for mere antiquity's -sake, to recognise the ship of the Campbells; the crowned heart (a -beautiful device) of Douglas; and even the checquers of the -unfortunate family of the Stuarts. They tell us of names and -connections, and call to mind striking events in history. Indeed, all -ancient names naturally become associated with history and poetry. The -most interesting coat in Scottish heraldry, if we are to believe -tradition, is that of Hay, Earl of Errol; whose ancestors, a couple of -peasants, with their father, rallied an army of their countrymen in a -narrow pass, and led them back victoriously against the Danes. Two -peasants are the supporters of the shield. But unquestionably the most -interesting sight in the whole circle of heraldry, British or foreign, -if we consider the rational popularity of its origin, and the immense -advance it records in the progress of what is truly noble, is that of -the plain English motto assumed by Lord Erskine, _Trial by Jury_. The -devices of the Nelsons and Wellingtons, illustrious as they are, are -nothing to this; for the world might relapse into barbarism, as it has -formerly done, notwithstanding the exploits of the greatest warriors; -but words like these are trophies of the experience of ages, and the -world could not pass them, and go back again, for very shame. It is -the fashion now-a-days to have painted windows; and a very beautiful -fashion it is, and extremely worthy of encouragement in this climate, -where the general absence of colours renders it desirable that they -should be collected wherever they can, so as to increase a feeling of -cheerfulness and warmth. When the sun strikes through a painted -window, it seems as if Heaven itself were recommending to us the -brilliance with which it has painted its flowers and its skies. It is -a pity we have no devices invented for themselves by the great men of -past times, otherwise what an illustrious window would they make! We -should like to have presented the reader with such of the escutcheons -above mentioned as have been created or modified in some respect by -their ennoblers; and to have shown him how different the old parts now -appear, with which the individuals had nothing to do, compared with -those of their own achievement, or adoption, even when nothing better -than a motto. Sir Philip's motto almost rejects his coat.[63] If all -persons, ambitious of good conduct and opinions, were to adopt our -suggestion, and assume a device of their own, windows of this kind -might abound among friends; and many of them would become as -interesting to posterity, as _such_ "coats of arms" would, above all -others, deserve to be. - -The most eminent names in the Heralds' College are Camden, the great -antiquary; Dugdale (whose merits, however, are questionable); King, a -writer on political arithmetic; and Vanbrugh, the comic writer, who -wore a tabard for a short time, as Clarencieux. Gibbon had an -ancestor, a herald, who took great interest in the profession. He had -another progenitor, who, about the reign of James the First, changed -the scallop shells of the historian's coat "into three ogresses or -female cannibals, with a design of stigmatising three ladies, his -kinswomen, who had provoked him by an unjust lawsuit."[64] A good -account of heraldry, its antiquities and its freaks, is a desideratum, -and would make a very amusing book. - - [Illustration] - -We move westward from St. Paul's, because, though the metropolis -abounds with interest in every part of it, yet the course this way is -the most generally known; and readers may choose to hear of the most -popular thoroughfares first. The origin of the word Ludgate is not -known. The old opinion respecting King Lud has been rejected, and some -think it is the same word as Flud or Fludgate, meaning the Gate on the -Fleet, Floet, or Flood, F being dropt, as in _leer_ for Fleer, Lloyd -for Floyd or Fluyd, &c. It may be so; but it is not easy to see, in -that case, why Fleet Street should not have been called Lud Street. -Perhaps the old tradition is right, and some ancient Lud, or Lloyd, -was the builder of an "old original" gate, whether king or not. Its -successor (which formerly crossed the street by St. Martin's church), -was no older than the reign of King John. It was rebuilt in 1586, and -finally removed in 1760. Pennant says, he remembered it "a wretched -prison for debtors." The old chroniclers tell us a romantic story of a -lord-mayor, Sir Stephen Forster, who enlarged this prison, and added a -chapel to it. He had been confined in it himself, and, begging at the -grate, was asked by a rich widow what sum would purchase his liberty. -He said, twenty pounds. She paid it, took him into her service, and -afterwards became his wife. One of our old dramatists (Rowley), in -laying a scene in this prison, has made use of the name of Stephen -Forster in a different manner; and probably his story had a -foundation in truth. According to him, Stephen, who had been a -profligate fellow, was relieved by the son of his brother, with whom -he was at variance. Stephen afterwards becomes rich in his turn, and -seeing his brother become poor and thrust into the same prison, -forbids his nephew Robert, whom he had adopted on that condition, to -relieve his father. The nephew disobeys, and has the misfortune to -incur the hatred of both uncle and parent, for his connection with -either party, but ultimately finds his virtue acknowledged. The -following scene is one of those in which these old writers, in their -honest confidence in nature, go direct to the heart. The reader will -see the style of begging in those days. Robert Forster, who has been -cursed by his father, comes to Ludgate, and stands concealed outside -the prison, while his father appears above at the grate, "a box -hanging down." - - _Forster._ Bread, bread, one penny to buy a loaf of bread, for - the tender mercy. - - _Rob._ O me! my shame! I know that voice full well; - I'll help thy wants, although thou curse me still. - - [_He stands where he is unseen by his father._ - - _Fors._ Bread, bread, some Christian man send back - Your charity to a number of poor prisoners. - One penny for the tender mercy-- [_Robert puts in money._ - The hand of Heaven reward you, gentle sir! - Never may you want, never feel misery; - Let blessings in unnumbered measure grow, - And fall upon your head, where'er you go. - - _Rob._ Oh, happy comfort! curses to the ground - First struck me; now with blessings I am crowned. - - _Fors._ Bread, bread, for the tender mercy; one penny for a - loaf of bread. - - _Rob._ I'll buy more blessings: take thou all my store: - I'll keep no coin and see my father poor. - - _Fors._ Good angels guard you, sir; my prayers shall be, - That Heaven may bless you for this charity. - - _Rob._ If he knew me sure he would not say so: - Yet I have comfort, if by any means - I get a blessing from my father's hands.[65] - -The prison of Ludgate was anciently considered to be not so much a -place of confinement as a place of refuge, into which debtors threw -themselves to escape from their creditors--"a keep, not so much of the -wicked as of the wretched"--("non sceleratorum carcer, sed miserorum -custodia"), as it is expressed in a Latin speech which was addressed -by the inmates to King Philip of Spain, when he passed through the -city, in 1554, and which the celebrated Roger Ascham was employed to -compose. As it does not appear, however, that the persons who took up -their abode here were allowed to come out again until they had -discharged their debts, the distinction attempted to be drawn seems to -be a somewhat shadowy one. A writer, nevertheless, quoted by Maitland, -who in 1659 published a description of the house in which he had -himself been for a long time a resident, expresses great indignation -against the authorities for having "basely and injuriously caused to -be taken down" the old inscription, affixed by Sir Stephen Forster, of -_Free Water and Lodging_, "and set up another over the outward street -door with only these words engraven: _This is the_ PRISON _of_ -LUDGATE."[66] The prison of Ludgate stood on the south side of the -street, and extended back till it almost joined a portion of the old -London Wall, which ran nearly parallel to Ludgate Hill. About the year -1764 this wall is described as being eight feet and a half thick.[67] -Bits of it (as before noticed) still remain in this neighbourhood. - -At this gate a stop was put to the insurrection of Sir Thomas Wyatt -against Queen Mary, at the time when her marriage with Philip was in -contemplation. Sir Thomas was son of the poet who had been a friend of -the Earl of Surrey, and a warm partisan of Anne Bullen. He led his -forces up the Strand and Fleet Street in no very hopeful condition, -after suffering a loss in his rear; and on arriving at Ludgate, found -it shut against him, and strongly manned. The disappointment is said -to have affected him so strongly, that he threw himself on a bench -opposite the Bell-Savage Inn, and mourned the rashness of his hopes. -He retired, only to find his retreat cut off at Temple Bar; and being -summoned by a herald to submit, requested it might be to a gentleman; -upon which his sword was received by a person of his own rank. He was -beheaded. It is worth observing, that Mary, alarmed at this -insurrection, had pretended, in a speech at Guildhall, that she would -give up the marriage, provided it were seriously and properly objected -to: she only called upon the citizens to stand by her against rebels. -When the rebels, however, were put down, the marriage, though -notoriously unpopular, was concluded. - -The Bell-Savage is an inn of old standing. The name is now learnedly -written over the front--Belle Sauvage. The old sign was a bell with a -savage by it. Stow derived the name from Isabella Savage, who had -given the house to the company of Cutlers; and most likely this was -its origin; but as the inn was formerly one of those in which plays -were acted, and as the players had dealings with romance, and sign -painters varied their hieroglyphics according to the whim of the -moment, Pennant might have reasonably found one derivation in the -_Spectator_, without objecting to the other. A sight of the passage to -which he refers will leave the immediate derivation beyond all doubt. -"As for the Bell-Savage," says Addison (for the paper is his), "which -is the sign of a Savage Man standing by a Bell, I was formerly very -much puzzled upon the conceit of it, till I accidentally fell into the -reading of an old romance translated out of the French; which gives an -account of a very beautiful woman who was in a wilderness, and is -called in the French _la belle Sauvage_; and is everywhere translated -by our countrymen the Bell-Savage."[68] This was one of the inns at -which the famous Tarlton used to perform. London has a modern look to -the inhabitants; but persons who come from the country find as odd and -remote-looking things in it as the Londoners do in York or Chester; -and among these are a variety of old inns, with corridors running -round the yard. They are well worth a glance from anybody who has a -respect for old times. The play used to be got up in the yard, and the -richer part of the spectators occupied "the galleries."[69] - -The wall in which Lud-gate stood was the occasion of the hill's -having two names, which is still the case, the upper part, between the -Bell-Savage and St. Paul's Churchyard, being called Ludgate Street, -and only the rest Ludgate Hill. This latter portion went anciently by -the name of Bowyers' Row, no doubt from its being principally -inhabited by persons of that trade. On Ludgate Hill lived the cobbler -whom Steele mentions as a curious instance of pride.[70] He had a -wooden figure of a beau, who stood before him in a bending posture, -humbly presenting him with his awl, or bristle, or whatever else his -employer chose to put in his hand, after the manner of an obsequious -servant. Steele seems to have thought the man mad; otherwise the -conceit would have been an agreeable one. Ludgate Street, as if to -keep up and augment the didactic reputation of the neighbourhood, was -not long since the head-quarters of the Society for the Diffusion of -Knowledge, at least as far as regarded their publications. And, -curiously enough, the house was next door to old "Newberry's." - -Between Ludgate Hill and the Thames, in the district more properly -retaining the name, was the monastery of the Black Friars, an order of -Dominicans, in which parliaments were sometimes held. The Emperor -Charles V. was lodged in it when he visited Henry VIII., in 1522; and -in a hall of the same building, seven years after, the cause was tried -between Henry and his queen, Catherine. Shakspeare has given us the -opening scene. In Elizabeth's time, the desecrated tenements and -neighbourhood of Blackfriars became the resort of the world of -fashion--a court end of the city; and close at hand, on the site -retaining the name of Play-house Yard, was the famous Theatre in -Blackfriars, where Shakspeare's, Ben Jonson's, and Beaumont and -Fletcher's plays were performed, and where many of them came out. It -was what they called at that time a "private" theatre, the peculiarity -of which is not exactly understood. All that is known of it is, that -it was smaller than the public ones; but it was open to public -admission. Perhaps a private theatre meant a theatre more select than -the others, and frequented by politer company; for such, at any rate, -the present one appears to have been. It is conjectured also to have -been a winter theatre, and its performances took place by candlelight. -The gallants and ladies of the courts of Elizabeth and James took -their dinner at noon, and after riding or lute-playing till evening, -went to their snug little theatre in the neighbourhood, to laugh or -weep over the divine fancies of Shakspeare. Shakspeare himself must -often have been on the spot; a certainty which an intellectual -inhabitant will be glad to possess. The theatre, at one time, was -partly his property. - -A part of the monastery of the Blackfriars was, in 1623, the scene of -a frightful accident, which made a great noise at the time. Mr. -Malcolm has enumerated several of the publications recording it; and -from these it appears that on Sunday, the 5th of November in that -year, a congregation of about three hundred individuals had assembled -in a small gallery over the gateway of the lodgings of the French -Ambassador in this building, in order to hear a sermon from a Jesuit, -named Father Drury, who enjoyed considerable reputation as a preacher. -Under the floor of the chamber where they were assembled was an empty -apartment, and under that another, making together a height of -twenty-two feet from the ground; and the floor itself, as it -afterwards turned out, was mainly supported by a single beam, which in -the centre was not more than three inches thick. The people had been -in their seats for about half-an-hour, when this beam suddenly gave -way, and the whole of them were instantly precipitated, mixed with the -timber, plaster, and rubbish of the floors, into the vacant depth -below. Drury, and another priest, named Redgate, were both killed, as -were also a Lady Webbe, and the daughter of a Lady Blackstone, -together with, it is supposed, between ninety and a hundred persons. -Many more were seriously injured. "Several people," says Mr. Malcolm, -"escaped in a very extraordinary manner, particularly Mrs. Lucy -Penruddock, who was preserved by a chair falling hollow over her; and -a young man, who lay on the floor, overwhelmed by people and rubbish, -yet untouched by them, through the resting of fragments on each other, -and thus leaving a space round him. In this horrible situation he had -the presence of mind to force his way through a piece of the ceiling, -and he shortly after had the indescribable happiness of assisting in -the liberation of others."[71] There were many persons, it would -appear, foolish and wicked enough to represent this calamity as a -token of the displeasure of heaven against the Roman Catholic faith. -The pamphlets noticed by Mr. Malcolm are some of those that were -published by the parties in a violent controversy which raged for -some time on the subject. The day on which this accident happened was -long remembered under the name of the Fatal Vespers; and the -circumstance that it was the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot was not -forgotten by the judgment-mongers. Most of the bodies of those who -were killed on this occasion were buried without either the ceremony -of a funeral service, or the decency of a coffin or winding-sheet, in -two large pits or trenches, dug, the one in the court before, and the -other in the garden behind the house, in which the accident had taken -place. - -Printing-house Square, close to Playhouse-yard, marks out the site of -the ancient King's Printing-House, whence bibles, prayer-books, and -proclamations were issued. It was rebuilt in the middle of the last -century, and became, according to Maitland, "the completest -printing-house in the world." The king's printer now lives elsewhere; -but in the same spot is a house, which may be called the world's -printing-house, seeing the enormous multitude of newspapers which the -mighty giant of steam daily throws forth out of his iron lap, full of -interest to all quarters of the globe. We need not say that we allude -to the _Times_ newspaper. There is knowing, in this and other -instances, what bounds to put to human expectation, when mechanical -and intellectual force are thus joined in a common object. - -On the other side of the way, in Bridge Street, stood, and stands now, -though hidden by the new houses, and much altered, the former palace -of Bridewell, now known as a house of industry and correction. In -ancient times the King used frequently to reside here; and when such -was the case, the courts of law sometimes attended him. The building, -having fallen into decay, was restored about the year 1522, by Henry -VIII.; and here the attendants of the Emperor Charles V. were lodged -while the emperor himself occupied the Blackfriars, a communication -being formed between the two palaces by a gallery carried over the -Fleet Ditch, and through the old city wall. Both Henry and Catherine, -also, were lodged here, while the cause between them was proceeding at -Blackfriars. In 1553 Edward VI. granted the palace, on the -solicitation of Bishop Ridley, for the purposes to which it has been -since applied; an act of benevolence which was recorded, with more -precision than elegance, in the following lines under a portrait of -his majesty, that used to hang near the pulpit in the old chapel:-- - - "This Edward of fair memory the sixth. - In whom with greatness, goodness was commixt, - Gave this Bridewell, a Palace in old times, - For a chastising house of vagrant crimes." - -Bridewell having been burnt down in the Great Fire was rebuilt -immediately after that calamity, and it has since been frequently -repaired, and partially renovated. Henry the Eighth ("sturdy rogue!") -would have been a fit personage to lodge in it still, though under -somewhat different circumstances. - -One of the steep and gloomy descents from Thames Street still -preserves the name of Castle Street; and immediately to the west of -this stood in ancient times, on the banks of the river, a large -building called Baynard's Castle. Baynard, by whom it was originally -erected in the eleventh century, was one of the Conqueror s Norman -followers. His descendant, William Baynard, however, soon after the -commencement of the next century, forfeited his inheritance to the -crown, by which it was bestowed upon the family of Clare. The -representative of this family, and the possessor of Baynard's Castle, -in the reign of King John, was the Baron Robert Fitzwalter, a portion -of whose history, as related by some of our old chroniclers, gives an -interest to the spot. Among the beauties of the time, one of the -fairest was Matilda, the daughter of Fitzwalter. The licentious -monarch, who may have seen her at some high festival held in this very -castle, was smitten, after his fashion, by her charms; but his suit -was rejected with indignation, both by herself and her father. His -"love" now turned into hatred and thirst of revenge; he soon after -resorted to open force, and having first driven Fitzwalter to seek -refuge in France, easily got the unhappy girl into his custody, and, -if we are to believe the story, despatched her by poison. He at the -same time ordered Castle Baynard to be demolished. The next year the -armies of the English and French Kings lay encamped during a truce on -the opposite sides of a river in France, when an English knight, -impatient, as it would seem, of the bloodless inactivity that -prevailed, thought fit to challenge any one of the enemy who chose to -come forth and break a lance with him. It was not long before a -champion appeared making his way across the water, who, unattended as -he was, had no sooner reached the land, than he mounted a horse and -rode up to meet his challenger. The duel took place in the sight of -King John and his troops, but it did not last long: for both the -English knight and his horse were thrown to the ground by the first -thrust of his antagonist's spear, which was also broken to shivers in -the shock. "By God's troth," exclaimed John, as he beheld this heroic -exploit, "he were a king indeed who had such a knight." The words were -caught by some of the bystanders, who had observed more narrowly than -the monarch the figure of the unknown victor, and who suspected him to -be no other than their old acquaintance, the Baron Fitzwalter. It was, -in fact, no other. The next day, the praise which the King had -bestowed upon his prowess being reported to him, he returned to the -English camp, and throwing himself at the feet of his sovereign, was -re-admitted to favour, and restored to all his former possessions and -honours. We may observe, however, that this narrative is scarcely -detailed with sufficient precision to entitle it to be received as a -piece of authentic history, and that especially it does not seem to be -very easy to reconcile some parts of it, as commonly given, with the -ascertained dates and course of the events of King John's reign. This -Robert Fitzwalter is placed by Matthew Paris at the head of his list -of the Barons, who, in 1215, came armed in a body to the King, at the -Temple, and made those demands which led to the concession of the -Great Charter at Runnymede. Indeed, in the short military contest -which preceded the King's submission, Fitzwalter was appointed by his -brother barons the commander-in-chief of their forces, and dignified -in that capacity with the title of Marshal of the Army of God and of -Holy Church. On his return to England, he is said to have rebuilt or -repaired his castle in London which the King had thrown down, and the -edifice continued for a long time to be the principal fortress within -the city. The family of Fitzwalter, in consequence of their possession -of Baynard's Castle, held the office of Chastilians and Bannerets, or -Banner-bearers of London; and the reader who is curious upon such -matters may consult Stow, or those who have copied him, for an account -of the rights, services, and ceremonial customs appertaining to that -dignity. The punishment of a person found guilty of treason within the -banneret's jurisdiction is worth noticing: he was to be tied to a post -in the Thames, at one of the wharfs, and left there for two ebbings -and two flowings of the tide. After this, there was certainly little -chance of his committing more treason. - - [Illustration] - -It is not known how Baynard's Castle, and the privileges belonging to -the lordship, got out of the hands of this family; but in 1428, in the -reign of Henry the Sixth, the building, having been burned down, is -stated to have been restored by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. After -the duke's death it came once more into the possession of the crown; -and here it was that the great council assembled in the beginning of -March, 1461, which proclaimed the Earl of March King, by the title of -Edward IV. It was here also, twenty-two years after, that the solemn -farce was enacted in which Richard III. assumed the royal dignity on -the invitation of Buckingham, and in obedience to the pretended wishes -of the citizens. Shakspeare has given this scene with an exact -conformity, in all the matters of fact, to the narratives of the old -chroniclers; the crafty Protector, it will be remembered, being made -to present himself in the gallery above, supported by a bishop on each -side, while Buckingham, the lord mayor, the aldermen, and the -citizens, occupy the court of the castle below. Baynard's Castle was -once more rebuilt in 1487, by Henry VII., with a view to its answering -better the purpose of a royal palace; and the King occasionally lodged -there. Some time after this we find the place in possession of the -Earls of Pembroke, who made it their common residence; and it was here -that the Earl of that name, on the 19th of July, 1553, about a -fortnight after the death of Edward VI., assembled the council of the -nobility and clergy, at which the determination was taken, on the -motion of Lord Arundel, to abandon the cause of Lady Jane Grey, and to -proclaim Queen Mary, which, accordingly, was instantly done in -different parts of the city. This is supposed to have been the -building which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. It is -represented in an old print of London as a square pile surrounding a -court, and surmounted with numerous towers. A large gateway in the -middle of the south side led to the river by a bridge of two arches -and stairs. This ancient fortress was never rebuilt after the fire; -and its site has been since occupied by wharfs, timber-yards, -workshops, and common dwelling-houses. The ward, however, in which it -was situated, and which embraces also St. Paul's Churchyard, and -nearly all the localities we have as yet noticed, still retains the -name of the Ward of Baynard's Castle. - -Upon Paul's Wharf Hill, to the north-east of Baynard's Castle, were a -number of houses within a great gate, which are said by Maitland to -have been designated, in the leases granted by the dean and chapter, -as the _Camera Dianae_, or Diana's Chamber, and to have been so -denominated from a spacious building in the form of a labyrinth, -constructed here by Henry II. for the concealment of the fair Rosamond -Clifford. We need scarcely say that this tradition has all the air of -a fable. The author we have just named, however, assures us that "for -a long time there remained some evident testifications of tedious -turnings and windings, as also of a passage under ground from his -house to Castle Baynard; which was no doubt the King's way from thence -to the _Camera Dianae_,"[72] or the chamber of his "brightest Diana." -What the testifications may in question really have amounted to, we -cannot pretend to say; but Diana, not being a family name, as in the -case of another royal favourite, Diana of Poitiers, seems a strange -one to have been given to the lady already christened by so poetical -an appellation as Rosamond, and so different in her reputation from -the chaste goddess. We should, for our parts, rather suppose that the -dean and chapter had been moved to call the place Diana's chamber by -some tradition, or a conceit of their own, connecting it with the -temple of that goddess, said to have formerly stood on the site of the -neighbouring cathedral; or if the name was really a very ancient one, -and in popular use, it may perhaps be taken as lending some slight -confirmation to the notion of the actual existence of that heathen -edifice, and may "help," as Iago phrases it, "to thicken other proofs -that also demonstrate thinly." Diana's Chamber, however, may have been -so called from its being hung with painted tapestry, representing some -story of the goddess. Inigo Jones, by the way, is said by Lord Orford -to be buried in the church of St. Bennet, Paul's Wharf, which stands -immediately to the south of the spot where we now are, at the corner -formed by the meeting of Thames Street and St. Bennet's Hill. - -Another building which formerly existed in this neighbourhood was the -Royal Wardrobe. It occupied the site of the present Wardrobe Court, -immediately to the north of the church of St. Andrew's and gave to the -parish the name of St. Andrew's Wardrobe, by which it is still known. -This building was erected about the middle of the fourteenth century, -by Sir John Beauchamp, Knight of the Garter, a son of Guido, Earl of -Warwick, by whose heirs it was sold to Edward III. Mr. Malcolm has -printed some extracts from the Manuscript Account Book, since -preserved in the Harleian collection, of a keeper of this Wardrobe, -from the middle of April to Michaelmas 1481, (towards the close of the -reign of Edward IV.), which are interesting and valuable as memorials, -both of the prices and of the fashions of that time. During the -period, of less than six months, over which the accounts extend, the -sum of 1,174_l._ 5_s._ 2_d._ appears to have been received by the -keeper, for the use of his office. Of this the most considerable -portion seems to have been expended in the purchase of velvet and -silks from Montpellier. The velvets cost from 8_s._ to 16_s._ per -yard; black cloths of gold, 40_s._; what is called velvet upon velvet, -the same; damask, 8_s._; satins, 6_s._ 10_s._ and 12_s._, camlets, -30_s._ a-piece; and sarcenets for 4_s._ to 4_s._ 2_d._ Feather beds, -with bolsters, "for our sovereign lord the King," are charged 16_s._ -8_d._ each. A pair of shoes, of Spanish leather, double soled, and not -lined, cost 1_s._ 4_d._; a pair of black leather boots, 6_s._ 8_d._; -hats 1_s._ a-piece; and ostrich feathers, each 10_s._ The keeper's -salary appears to have been 100_l._ per annum--that of his clerk 1_s._ -a-day; and the wages of the tailors 6_d._ a-day each. The King -sometimes lodged at the Wardrobe; on one of which occasions the -washings of the sheets which had been used is charged at the rate of -3_d._ a pair. Candles cost 1_d._ a pound. All the money disbursed by -the keeper of the wardrobe, however, was not expended in decorating -the persons of his Majesty and the royal household. Among other items -we find 20_s._ paid to Piers Bauduyn (or Peter Baldwin, as we should -now call him), stationer, "for binding, gilding, and dressing of a -book called Titus Livius;" for performing the same offices to a Bible, -a Froisard, a Holy Trinity, and the Government of Kings and Princes, -16_s._ each; for three small French books, 6_s._ 8_d._; for the -Fortress of Faith, and Josephus 3_s._ 4_d._; and for what is -designated "the Bible Historical," 20_s._ So that in those days, we -see the binding a book was conceived to be a putting of it into -breeches, and the artist employed for that purpose looked upon as a -sort of literary tailor. - -How impossible it would now be in a neighbourhood like this, for such -nuisances to exist, as a fetid _public_ ditch, and scouts of degraded -clergymen asking people to "walk in and be married!" Yet such was the -case a century ago. At the bottom of Ludgate Hill the little river -Fleet formerly ran, and was rendered navigable. Adjoining the site of -Fleet Market is Sea-coal Lane, so called from the barges that landed -coal there; and Turnagain Lane, at the bottom of which the unadvised -passenger found himself compelled by the water to retrace his steps. -The water gradually got clogged and foul; and the channel was built -over and made a street, as we have noticed in our introduction. But -even in the time we speak of, this had not been entirely done. The -ditch was open from Fleet Market to the river, occupying the site of -the modern Bridge Street; and in the market, before the door of the -Fleet prison, men plied in behalf of a clergyman, literally inviting -people to walk in and be married. They performed the ceremony inside -the prison, to sailors and others, for what they could get. It was the -most squalid of Gretnas, bearding the decency and common-sense of a -whole metropolis. The parties retired to a gin shop to treat the -clergyman; and there, and in similar houses, the register was kept of -the marriages. Not far from where the Fleet stood is Newgate; so that -the victims had their succession of nooses prepared, in case, as no -doubt it often happened, one tie should be followed by the other. -Pennant speaks of this nuisance from personal knowledge. - - "In walking along the streets in my youth," he tells us, "on - the side next this prison, I have often been tempted by the - question, '_Sir, will you be pleased to walk in and be - married_.' Along this most lawless space was frequently hung up - the sign of a male and female hand conjoined, with _Marriages - performed within_, written beneath. A dirty fellow invited you - in. The parson was seen walking before his shop; a squalid, - profligate figure, clad in a tattered plaid night-gown, with a - fiery face, and ready to couple you for a dram of gin or roll - of tobacco. Our great chancellor, Lord Hardwicke, put these - demons to flight, and saved thousands from the misery and - disgrace which would be entailed by these extemporary - thoughtless unions." - -This extraordinary disgrace to the city, which arose most likely from -the permission to marry prisoners, and one great secret of which was -the advantage taken of it by wretched women to get rid of their debts, -was maintained by a collusion between the warden of the Fleet and the -disreputable clergymen he became acquainted with. "To such an extent," -says Malcolm, "were the proceedings carried, that twenty and thirty -couple were joined in one day, at from ten to twenty shillings each;" -and "between the 19th Oct., 1704, and the 12th Feb., 1705, 2,954 -marriages were celebrated (by evidence), besides others known to have -been omitted. To these neither licence nor certificate of banns were -required, and they concealed, by private marks, the names of those who -chose to pay them for it." The neighbourhood at length complained; and -the abuse was put an end to by the Marriage Act, to which it gave -rise. - -Ludgate and Fleet ditch figure among the scenes of the Dunciad. It is -near Bridewell, on the site of the modern Bridge Street, that the -venal and scurrilous heroes of that poem emulate one another, at the -call of Dulness, in seeing who can plunge deepest into the mud and -dirt. - - "This labour past, by Bridewell all descend, - (As morning prayer and flagellation end[73]), - To where Fleet ditch, with disemboguing streams, - Rolls the large tribute of dead dogs to Thames; - The king of dykes! than whom no sluice of mud - With deeper sable blots the silver flood. - Here strip, my children! here at once leap in; - Here prove who best can dash through thick and thin; - And who the most in love of dirt excel, - And dark dexterity of groping well."[74] - -This part of the games being over, - - "Through Lud's famed gates, along the well-known Fleet, - Rolls the black troop and overshades the street; - Till showers of sermons, characters, essays, - In circling fences whiten all the ways: - So clouds replenished from some bog below, - Mount in dark volumes and descend in snow." - -The "well-known Fleet" is the prison just mentioned, the side of -which appears to have been visible at that time in Ludgate Hill, and -where it was a joke (too often founded in truth) to suppose authors -incarcerated. - - "Few sons of Phoebus in the courts we meet; - But fifty sons of Phoebus in the Fleet," - -says a prologue of Sheridan's. The Fleet having "rules," like the -King's Bench, authors were found in the neighbourhood also. Arthur -Murphy, provoked by the attacks of Churchill and Lloyd, describes them -as among the poor hacks, - - "On Ludgate Hill who bloody murders write, - Or pass in Fleet Street supperless the night." - -Booksellers' shops were then common as now in Fleet Street and the -Strand, in Paternoster Row, and St. Paul's Churchyard. This is -pleasant to think of; for change is not desirable without improvement. -One feels gratified, where difference is not demanded of us, in being -able to have the same association of ideas with such men as Pope and -Dryden, even if it be upon no higher ground than the quantity of books -in Paternoster Row, or the circumstance that Ludgate Hill still leads -into Fleet Street. - - [Illustration: THE STONE IN PANYER ALLEY.] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[46] Brayley, vol. ii., p. 303. - -[47] In his Life, vol. iii., p. 98. Edit. 1827. - -[48] Unless, indeed, we are to suppose, as has been suggested, that -_Sermon_ Lane is a corruption of _Sheremoniers_ Lane, that is, the -lane of the money clippers, or such as cut and rounded the metal which -was to be coined or stamped into money. There was anciently a place in -this lane for melting silver, called the _Blackloft_--and the Mint was -in the street now called Old Change, in the immediate neighbourhood. -See Maitland, ii., 880 (edit. of 1756.) - -[49] Letters to Stella, in the duodecimo edition of his works, 1775, -Letter vi., p. 43. - -[50] Boswell's Life of Johnson, eighth edition, vol. iv., p. 93. - -[51] History of London, vol. ii., p. 925. - -[52] The Tatler. With notes historical, biographical, and critical -8vo. 1797. Vol. iv., p. 206. - -[53] Pennant's London, p. 377. - -[54] Of William III. - -[55] The genius of Clarke, which, agreeably to his unhappy end, was -tender and melancholy, was unsuited to the livelier intoxication of -Dryden's feast, afterwards gloriously set by Handel. Clarke has been -styled the musical Otway of his time. He was organist at St. Paul's, -and shot himself at his house in St. Paul's Churchyard. Mr. John -Reading, organist of St. Dunstan's, who was intimately acquainted with -him, was going by at the moment the pistol went off, and upon entering -the house "found his friend and fellow-student in the agonies of -death." Another friend of his, one of the lay vicars of the cathedral, -relates of him, that a few weeks before the catastrophe, Clarke had -alighted from his horse in a sequestered spot in the country, where -there was a pond surrounded by trees, and not knowing whether to hang -or drown himself, tossed up a piece of money to see which. The money -stuck in the earth edgeways. Of this new chance for life, poor Clarke, -we see, was unable to avail himself. - -[56] See Maitland, vol. ii., p. 949. - -[57] Since this was written, the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical -Court in Doctors' Commons on matters of divorce has been transferred -to a new "Court of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes," sitting at -Westminster. - -[58] Londinium Redivivum, vol. ii., p. 473. - -[59] On the authority of Langton, Johnson's friend. See Memoirs, -Anecdotes, &c., by Letitia Matilda Hawkins, vol. i., p. 293. - -[60] Censura Literaria, vol. iii., p. 254. - -[61] Life, Diary, and Correspondence of Sir William Dugdale, by -Hamper. Lond. 1827. Our memorandum has omitted the page. The letter -was written to Dugdale by Randall Holme, a brother herald. - -[62] Another opinion, however, is that the spear had been given to one -of his ancestors as having been a magistrate of some description. This -supposition seems to be supported by the grant of arms to John -Shakspeare in 1599, which has been printed by Mr. Malcolm. But -Shakspeares in Warwickshire are as plentiful as blackberries, and -perhaps the name originated in the stout arms of a whole tribe of -soldiers. - -[63] _Vix ea nostra voco_--(as above translated). The effect is -stronger if the whole passage is called to mind. It is Ovid; - - Nam genus, et proavos, et quae non fecimus ipsi, - Vix ea nostra voco.--_Metamor_. lib. 13. v. 140. - For birth, and rank, and what our own good powers - Have earned us not, I scarcely call them ours. - -Ovid, himself a man of birth, puts this sentiment in the mouth of -Ulysses, a king. But then he was a king whose talents were above his -royalty. - -[64] Life of Gibbon, in the Autobiography, vol. i. - -[65] Lamb's Specimens of English Dramatic Poets, p. 147. - -[66] Maitland, vol. i., p. 28. - -[67] Malcolm, Londinium Redivivum, iv., p. 367. - -[68] Spectator, vol. i., No. 28. - -[69] Malone, in his Historical Account of the English Stage, has an -ingenious parallel between these inn-theatres and the construction of -the modern ones. "Many of our ancient dramatick pieces," he observes, -"were performed in the yards of carriers' inns, in which, in the -beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, the comedians, who then first -united themselves in companies, erected an occasional stage. The form -of these temporary play-houses seems to be preserved in our modern -theatre. The galleries in both are ranged over each other on three -sides of the building. The small rooms under the lowest of these -galleries answer to our present boxes; and it is observable, that -these, even in theatres which were built in a subsequent period -expressly for dramatick exhibitions, still retained their old name, -and were frequently called _rooms_ by our ancient writers. The yard -bears a sufficient resemblance to the pit, as at present in use. We -may suppose the stage to have been raised in this arena, on the fourth -side, with its back to the gateway of the inn, at which the money for -admission was taken. Thus in fine weather, a play-house, not -incommodious, might have been formed." Reed's Edition of Johnson's and -Steevens's Shakspeare, vol. iii., p. 73. - -[70] Tatler, No. 127. - -[71] Londinium Redivivum, ii., 375. - -[72] History of London, ii., 880. - -[73] The whipping of the criminals in Bridewell took place after the -church service. - -[74] Dunciad, book ii., v. 269. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -FLEET STREET. - - Burning of the Pope -- St. Bride's Steeple -- Milton - -- Illuminated Clock -- Melancholy End of Lovelace the Cavalier - -- Chatterton -- Generosity of Hardham, of Snuff Celebrity - -- Theatre in Dorset Garden -- Richardson, his Habits and - Character -- Whitefriars, or Alsatia -- The Temple -- Its - Monuments, Garden, &c. -- Eminent names connected with it - -- Goldsmith dies there -- Boswell's first Visit there to Johnson - -- Johnson and Madame de Boufflers -- Bernard Lintot -- Ben - Jonson's Devil Tavern -- Other Coffee-houses and Shops - -- Goldsmith and Temple-bar -- Shire Lane, Bickerstaff, and the - Deputation from the Country -- The Kit-Kat Club -- Mrs. Salmon - -- Isaac Walton -- Cowley -- Chancery Lane, Lord Strafford, and - Ben Jonson -- Serjeant's Inn -- Clifford's Inn -- The Rolls -- Sir - Joseph Jekyll -- Church of St. Dunstan in the West -- Dryden's - House in Fetter Lane -- Johnson, the Genius Loci of Fleet Street - -- His Way of Life -- His Residence in Gough Square, Johnson's - Court, and Bolt Court -- Various Anecdotes of him connected with - Fleet Street, and with his favourite Tavern, the Mitre. - - -We are now in Fleet Street, and pleasant memories thicken upon us. To -the left is the renowned realm of Alsatia, the Temple, the Mitre, and -the abode of Richardson; to the right divers abodes of Johnson; -Chancery Lane, with Cowley's birth-place at the corner; Fetter Lane, -where Dryden once lived; and Shire or Sheer Lane, immortal for the -_Tatler_. - -Fleet Street was, for a good period, perhaps for a longer one than can -now be ascertained, the great place for shows and spectacles. Wild -beasts, monsters, and other marvels, used to be exhibited there, as -the wax-work was lately; and here took place the famous ceremony of -burning the Pope, with its long procession, and bigoted -anti-bigotries. However, the lesser bigotry was useful, at that time, -in keeping out the greater. Roger North has left us a lively account -of one of these processions, in his _Examen_. It took place towards -the close of the reign of Charles the Second, when just fears were -entertained of his successor's design to bring in Popery. The day of -the ceremony was the birth-day of Queen Elizabeth, the 17th March. - - "When we had posted ourselves," says North, "at windows - expecting the play to begin" (he had taken his stand in the - Green Dragon Tavern), "it was very dark; but we could perceive - the street to fill, and the hum of the crowd grew louder and - louder; and at length, with help of some lights below, we could - discern, not only upwards towards the bar, where the squib-war - was maintained, but downwards towards Fleet Bridge; the whole - street was crowded with people, which made that which followed - seem very strange; for about eight at night we heard a din from - below, which came up the street, continually increasing till we - could perceive a motion; and that was a row of stout fellows, - that came, shouldered together, cross the street, from wall to - wall on each side. How the people melted away, I cannot tell; - but it was plain those fellows made clear board, as if they had - swept the street for what was to come after. They went along - like a wave; and it was wonderful to see how the crowd made - way: I suppose the good people were willing to give obedience - to lawful authority. Behind this wave (which, as all the rest, - had many lights attending), there was a vacancy, but it filled - apace, till another like wave came up; and so four or five of - these waves passed, one after another; and then we discerned - more numerous lights, and throats were opened with hoarse and - tremendous noise; and with that advanced a pageant, borne along - above the heads of the crowd, and upon it sat an huge Pope, _in - pontificalibus_, in his chair, with a seasonable attendance for - state: but his premier minister, that shared most of his ear, - was Il Signior Diavolo, a nimble little fellow, in a proper - dress, that had a strange dexterity in climbing and winding - about the chair, from one of the Pope's ears to the other. - - "The next pageant was a parcel of Jesuits; and after that (for - there was always a decent space between them) came another, - with some ordinary persons with halters, as I took it, about - their necks; and one with a stenterophonic tube, sounded - 'Abhorrers! Abhorrers!' most infernally; and, lastly, came one, - with a single person upon it, which some said was the - phamphleteer, Sir Roger L'Estrange, some the King of France, - some the Duke of York; but, certainly, it was a very - complaisant, civil gentleman, like the former, that was doing - what everybody pleased to have him; and, taking all in good - part went on his way to the fire." - -The description concludes with a brief mention of burning the -effigies, which, on these occasions, appear to have been of -pasteboard.[75] - -One of the great figurers in this ceremony was the doleful image of -Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, a magistrate, supposed to have been killed by -the Papists during the question of the plot. Dryden has a fine -contemptuous couplet upon it, in one of his prologues;-- - - "Sir Edmondbury first in woful wise, - Leads up the show, _and milks their maudlin eyes_." - -We will begin with the left side, as we are there already; and first -let us express our thanks for the neat opening by which St. Bride's -church has been rendered an ornament to this populous thoroughfare. -The steeple is one of the most beautiful of Wren's productions, though -diminished, in consequence of its having been found to be too severely -tried by the wind. But a ray now comes out of this opening as we pass -the street, better even than that of the illuminated clock at night -time; for there, in a lodging in the churchyard, lived Milton, at the -time that he undertook the education of his sister's children. He was -then young and unmarried. He is said to have rendered his young -scholars, in the course of a year, able to read Latin at sight, though -they were but nine or ten years of age. As to the clock, which serves -to remind the jovial that they ought to be at home, we are loth to -object to anything useful; and in fact we admit its pretensions; and -yet as there is a time for all things, there would seem to be a time -for time itself; and we doubt whether those who do not care to -ascertain the hour beforehand, will derive much benefit from this -glaring piece of advice. - -"At the west end of St. Bride's Church," according to Wood, was buried -Richard Lovelace, Esq., one of the most elegant of the cavaliers of -Charles the First, and author of the exquisite ballad beginning-- - - "When Love with unconfined wings - Hovers within my gates, - And my divine Althea brings - To whisper at my grates. - - "When I lie tangled in her hair, - And fetter'd in her eye, - The birds that wanton in the air, - Know no such liberty. - - * * * * * - - "Stone walls do not a prison make, - Nor iron bars a cage, - Minds innocent and quiet take - That for an hermitage." - -This accomplished man, who is said by Wood to have been in his youth -"the most amiable and beautiful person that eye ever beheld," and who -was lamented by Charles Cotton as an epitome of manly virtue, died at -a poor lodging in Gunpowder Alley, near Shoe Lane, an object of -charity.[76] He had been imprisoned by the Parliament and lived -during his imprisonment beyond his income. Wood thinks that he did so -in order to support the royal cause, and out of generosity to -deserving men, and to his brothers. He then went into the service of -the French King, returned to England after being wounded, and was -again committed to prison, where he remained till the King's death, -when he was set at liberty. "Having then," says his biographer, -"consumed all his estate, he grew very melancholy (which brought him -at length into a consumption), became very poor in body and purse, and -was the object of charity, went in ragged clothes, (whereas, when he -was in his glory, he wore cloth of gold and silver,) and mostly lodged -in obscure and dirty places, more befitting the worst of beggars than -poorest of servants," &c.[77] "Geo. Petty, haberdasher in Fleet -Street," says Aubrey, "carried 20 shillings to him every Monday -Morning from Sir ---- Manny, and Charles Cotton, Esq., for ---- -months: but was never repaid." As if it was their intention he should -be! Poor Cotton, in the excess of his relish of life, lived himself to -be in want; perhaps wanted the ten shillings that he sent. The -mistress of Lovelace is reported to have married another man, -supposing him to have died of his wounds in France. Perhaps this -helped to make him careless of his fortune: but it is probable that -his habits were naturally showy and expensive. Aubrey says he was -proud. He was accounted a sort of minor Sir Philip Sydney. We speak -the more of him, not only on account of his poetry (which, for the -most part, displays much fancy, injured by want of selectness), but -because his connection with the neighbourhood probably suggested to -Richardson the name of his hero in Clarissa. Grandison is another -cavalier name in the history of those times. It was the title of the -Duchess of Cleveland's father. Richardson himself was buried in St. -Bride's. He was laid, according to his wish, with his first wife, in -the middle aisle, near the pulpit. Where he lived, we shall see -presently. - -Not far from Gunpowder Alley, in the burying-ground of the workhouse -in Shoe Lane, lies a greater and more unfortunate name than -Lovelace--Chatterton. But we shall say more of him when we come to -Brook Street, Holborn. We have been perplexed to decide, whether to -say all we have got to say upon anybody, when we come to the first -place with which he is connected, or divide our memorials of him -according to the several places. Circumstances will guide us; but upon -the whole it seems best to let the places themselves decide. If the -spot is rendered particularly interesting by the division, we may act -accordingly, as in the present instance. If not, all the anecdotes may -be given at once. - -On the same side of the way as Shoe Lane, but nearer Fleet Market, was -Hardham's, a celebrated snuff-shop, the founder of which deserves -mention for a very delicate generosity. He was numberer at Drury Lane -Theatre, that is to say, the person who counted the number of people -in the house, from a hole over the top of the stage; a practice now -discontinued. Whether this employment led him to number snuffs, as -well as men, we cannot say, but he was the first who gave them their -distinctions that way. Lovers of - - "The pungent grains of titillating dust" - -are indebted to him for the famous compound entitled "37." "Being -passionately fond of theatrical entertainments, he was seldom," says -his biographer, "without embryo Richards and Hotspurs strutting and -bellowing in his dining-room, or in the parlour behind his shop. The -latter of these apartments was adorned with heads of most of the -persons celebrated for dramatic excellence; and to these he frequently -referred in the course of his instructions." - - "There is one circumstance, however, in his private character," - continues our authority, "which deserves a more honourable - rescue from oblivion. His charity was extensive in an uncommon - degree, and was conveyed to many of its objects in the most - delicate manner. On account of his known integrity (for he once - failed in business, more creditably than he could have made a - fortune by it,) he was often entrusted with the care of paying - little annual stipends to unfortunate women, and others who - were in equal want of relief; and he has been known, with a - generosity almost unexampled, to continue these annuities, long - after the sources of them had been stopped by the deaths or - caprices of the persons who at first supplied them. At the same - time he persuaded the receivers that their money was remitted - to them as usual, through its former channel. Indeed his purse - was never shut even to those who were casually recommended by - his common acquaintance."[78] - -This admirable man died in 1772; and by his will bequeathed the -interest of 20,000_l._ to a female acquaintance, and at her decease -the principal, &c., to the poor of his native city, Chichester. - -Returning over the way we come to Dorset Street and Salisbury Court, -names originating in a palace of the Bishop of Salisbury, which he -parted with to the Sackvilles. Clarendon lived in it a short time -after the Restoration. At the bottom of Salisbury Court, facing the -river, was the celebrated play-house, one of the earliest in which -theatrical entertainments were resumed at that period. The first -mention we find of it is in the following curious memorandum in the -manuscript book of Sir Henry Herbert, master of the revels to King -Charles I. "I committed Cromes, a broker in Longe Lane, the 16th of -Febru., 1634, to the Marsalsey, for lending a church robe with the -name of _Jesus_ upon it to the players in Salisbury Court, to present -a Flamen, a priest of the heathens. Upon his petition of submission, -and acknowledgment of his fault, I released him, the 17 Febru., -1634."[79] - -It is not certain, however, whether the old theatre in Salisbury -Court, and that in Dorset Garden, were one and the same; though they -are conjectured to have been so. The names of both places seem to have -been indiscriminately applied. Be this as it may, the house became -famous under the Davenants for the introduction of operas and of a -more splendid exhibition of scenery; but in consequence of the growth -of theatres in the more western parts of the town, it was occasionally -quitted by the proprietors, and about the beginning of the last -century abandoned. This theatre was the last to which people went in -boats. - -In a house, "in the centre of Salisbury Square or Salisbury Court, as -it was then called," Richardson spent the greater part of his town -life, and wrote his earliest work, Pamela. Probably a good part of all -his works were composed there, as well as at Fulham, for the pen was -never out of his hand. He removed from this house in 1755, after he -had written all his works; and taking eight old tenements in the same -quarter, pulled them down, and built a large and commodious range of -warehouses and printing offices. "The dwelling-house," says Mrs. -Barbauld, "was neither so large nor so airy as the one he quitted, and -therefore the reader will not be so ready, probably, as Mr. Richardson -seems to have been, in accusing his wife of perverseness in not -liking the new habitation as well as the old."[80] This was the second -Mrs. Richardson. He calls her in other places his "worthy-hearted -wife;" but complains that she used to get her way by seeming to -submit, and then returning to the point, when his heat of objection -was over. She was a formal woman. His own manners were strict and -formal with regard to his family, probably because he had formed his -notions of life from old books, and also because he did not well know -how to begin to do otherwise (for he was naturally bashful), and so -the habit continued through life. His daughters addressed him in their -letters by the title of "Honoured Sir," and are always designating -themselves as "ever dutiful." Sedentary living, eternal writing, and -perhaps that indulgence in the table, which, however moderate, affects -a sedentary man twenty times as much as an active one, conspired to -hurt his temper (for we may see by his picture that he grew fat, and -his philosophy was in no respect as profound as he thought it); but he -was a most kind-hearted generous man; kept his pocket full of plums -for children, like another Mr. Burchell; gave a great deal of money -away in charity, very handsomely too; and was so fond of inviting -friends to stay with him, that when they were ill, he and his family -must needs have them to be nursed. Several actually died at his house -at Fulham, as at an hospital for sick friends. - -It is a fact not generally known (none of his biographers seem to have -known of it) that Richardson was the son of a joiner, received what -education he had (which was very little, and did not go beyond -English), at Christ's Hospital.[81] It may be wondered how he could -come no better taught from a school which had sent forth so many good -scholars; but in his time, and indeed till very lately, that -foundation was divided into several schools, none of which partook of -the lessons of the others; and Richardson, agreeably to his father's -intention of bringing him up to trade, was most probably confined to -the writing-school, where all that was taught was writing and -arithmetic. It was most likely here that he intimated his future -career, first by writing a letter, at eleven years of age, to a -censorious woman of fifty, who pretended a zeal for religion; and -afterwards, at thirteen, by composing love-letters to their -sweethearts for three young women in the neighbourhood, who made him -their confidant. To these and others he also used to read books, their -mothers being of the party; and they encouraged him to make remarks; -which is exactly the sort of life he led with Mrs. Chapone, Miss -Fielding, and others, when in the height of his celebrity. "One of the -young women," he informs us, "highly gratified with her lover's -fervour, and vows of everlasting love, has said, when I have asked her -direction, 'I cannot tell you what to write, but (her heart on her -lips) you cannot write too kindly;' all her fear was only that she -should incur a slight for her kindness." This passage, with its pretty -breathless parenthesis, is in the style of his books. If the writers -among his female coterie in after-life owed their inspiration to him, -he only returned to them what they had done for himself. Women seem to -have been always about him, both in town and country; which made Mrs. -Barbauld say, very agreeably, that he "lived in a kind of -flower-garden of ladies." This has been grudged him, and thought -effeminate; but we must make allowance for early circumstances, and -recollect what the garden produced for us. Richardson did not pretend -to be able to do without female society. Perhaps, however, they did -not quiet his sensibility so much as they charmed it. We think, in his -Correspondence, a tendency is observable to indulge in fancies, not -always so paternal as they agree to call them; though doubtless all -was said in honour, and the ladies never found reason to diminish -their reverence. A great deal has been said of his vanity and the -weakness of it. Vain he undoubtedly was, and vanity is no strength; -but it is worth bearing in mind, that a man is often saved from -vanity, not because he is stronger than another, but because he is -less amiable, and did not begin, as Richardson did, with being a -favourite so early. Few men are surrounded, as he was, from his very -childhood, with females; and few people think so well of their species -or with so much reason. In all probability too, he was handsome when -young, which is another excuse for him. His vanity is more easily -excused than his genius accounted for considering the way in which he -lived. The tone of Lovelace's manners and language, which has created -so much surprise in an author who was a city printer, and passed his -life among a few friends between Fleet Street and a suburb, was -caught, probably, not merely from Cibber, but from the famous -profligate Duke of Wharton, with whom he became acquainted in the -course of his business. But the unwearied vivacity with which he has -supported it is wonderful. His pathos is more easily accounted for by -his nerves, which for many years were in a constant state of -excitement, particularly towards the close of his life; which -terminated in 1761, at the age of seventy-two, with the death most -common to sedentary men of letters, a stroke of apoplexy.[82] He was -latterly unable to lift a glass of wine to his mouth without -assistance. - -At Fulham and Parson's Green (at which latter place he lived for the -last five or six years), Richardson used to sit with his guests about -him, in a parlour or summer-house, reading, or communicating his -manuscripts as he wrote them. The ladies made their remarks; and -alterations or vindications ensued. His characters, agreeably to what -we feel when we read of them (for we know them all as intimately as if -we occupied a room in their house), interested his acquaintances so -far that they sympathised with them as if they were real; and it is -well known that one of his correspondents, Lady Bradshaigh, implored -him to reform Lovelace, in order "to save a soul." In Salisbury Court, -Richardson, of course, had the same visitors about him; but the -"flower-garden" is not talked of so much there as at Fulham. In the -evening the ladies read and worked by themselves, and Richardson -retired to his study; a most pernicious habit for a man of his bad -nerves. He should have written early in the morning, taken good -exercise in the day, and amused himself in the evening. When he walked -in town it was in the park, where he describes himself (to a fair -correspondent who wished to have an interview with him, and who -recognised him from the description) as "short, rather plump, about -five feet five inches, fair wig, one hand generally in his bosom, the -other a cane in it, which he leans upon under the skirts of his coat, -that it may imperceptibly serve him as a support when attacked by -sudden tremors or dizziness, of a light brown complexion, teeth not -yet failing." "What follows," observes Mrs. Barbauld, "is very -descriptive of the struggle in his character, between innate -bashfulness and a turn for observation:"--"Looking directly forwards, -as passengers would imagine, but observing all that stirs on either -hand of him, without moving his short neck; a regular even pace, -stealing away ground rather than seeming to rid it; a grey eye, too -often overclouded by mistiness from the head, by chance lively, very -lively if he sees any he loves; if he approaches a lady, his eye is -never fixed first on her face, but on her feet, and rears it up by -degrees, seeming to set her down as so and so."[83] - -Latterly Richardson attended little to business. He used even to give -his orders to his workmen in writing; a practice which Sir John -Hawkins is inclined to attribute to stateliness and bad temper, but -for which Mrs. Barbauld finds a better reason in his bad nerves. His -principal foreman also was deaf, as the knight himself acknowledges. -Richardson encouraged his men to be industrious, sometimes by putting -half-a-crown among the types as a prize to him who came first in the -morning, at others by sending fruit for the same purpose from the -country. Agreeably to his natural bashfulness, he was apt to be -reserved with strangers. Sir John Hawkins tells us, that he once -happened to get into the Fulham stage when Richardson was in it (most -likely he got in on purpose); and he endeavoured to bring the novelist -into conversation, but could not succeed, and was vexed at it. But Sir -John was one of that numerous class of persons who, for reasons better -known to others than to themselves, - - "Deemen gladly to the badder end," - -as the old poet says; and Richardson probably knew this pragmatical -person, and did not want his acquaintance. - -Johnson was among the visitors of Richardson in Salisbury Court. He -confessed to Boswell, that although he had never much sought after -anybody, Richardson was an exception. He had so much respect for him, -that he took part with him in a preposterous undervaluing of Fielding, -whom he described in the comparison as a mere writer of manners, and -sometimes as hardly any writer at all. And yet he told Boswell that he -had read his _Amelia_ through "without stopping:" and according to -Mrs. Piozzi she was his favourite heroine. In the comparison of -Richardson with Fielding, he was in the habit of opposing the nature -of one to the manners of the other; but Fielding's manners are only -superadded to his nature, not opposed to it, which makes all the -difference. As to Richardson, he was so far gone upon this point, in a -mixture of pique and want of sympathy, that he said, if he had not -known who Fielding was, "he should have taken him for an ostler." -Fielding, it is true, must have vexed him greatly by detecting the -pettiness in the character of Pamela. Richardson, as a romancer, did -not like to have the truth forced upon him, and thus was inclined to -see nothing but vulgarity in the novelist. This must have been -unpleasant to the Misses Fielding, the sisters, who were among the -most intimate of Richardson's friends. Another of our author's -visitors was Hogarth. It must not be forgotten that Richardson was -kind to Johnson in money matters; and to use Mrs. Barbauld's phrase, -had once "the honour" to be bail for him. - -We conclude our notice, which, on the subject of so original a man, -has naturally beguiled us into some length, with an interesting -account of his manners and way of life, communicated by one of his -female friends to Mrs. Barbauld. "My first recollection of him," says -she, "was in his house in the centre of Salisbury Square, or Salisbury -Court as it was then called; and of being admitted as a playful child -into his study, where I have often seen Dr. Young and others; and -where I was generally caressed and rewarded with biscuits or _bonbons_ -of some kind or other; and sometimes with books, for which he, and -some more of my friends, kindly encouraged a taste, even at that early -age, which has adhered to me all my long life, and continues to be the -solace of many a painful hour. I recollect that he used to drop in at -my father's, for we lived nearly opposite, late in the evening to -supper; when, as he would say, he had worked as long as his eyes and -nerves would let him, and was come to relax with a little friendly and -domestic chat. I even then used to creep to his knee and hang upon his -words, for my whole family doated on him; and once, I recollect that -at one of these evening visits, probably about the year 1753, I was -standing by his knee when my mother's maid came to summon me to bed; -upon which, being unwilling to part from him and manifesting some -reluctance, he begged I might be permitted to stay a little longer; -and, on my mother's objecting that the servant would be wanted to wait -at supper (for, in those days of friendly intercourse and _real_ -hospitality, a decent maid-servant was the only attendant at _his own_ -and many creditable tables, where, nevertheless, much company was -received), Mr. Richardson said, 'I am sure Miss P. is now so much a -woman, that she does not want anyone to attend her to bed, but will -conduct herself with so much propriety, and put out her own candle so -carefully, that she may henceforward be indulged with remaining with -us till supper is served.' This hint and the confidence it implied, -had such a good effect upon me that I believe I never required the -attendance of a servant afterwards while my mother lived; and by such -sort of ingenious and gentle devices did he use to encourage and draw -in young people to do what was right. I also well remember the happy -days I passed at his house at North End; sometimes with my mother, but -often for weeks without her, domesticated as one of his own children. -He used to pass the greatest part of the week in town; but when he -came down, he used to like to have his family flock around him, when -we all first asked and received his blessing, together with some small -boon from his paternal kindness and attention, for he seldom met us -empty-handed, and was by nature most generous and liberal. - - "The piety, order, decorum, and strict regularity that - prevailed in his family were of infinite use to train the mind - to good habits and to depend upon its own resources. It has - been one of the means which, under the blessing of God, has - enabled me to dispense with the enjoyment of what the world - calls pleasures, such as are found in crowds, and actually to - relish and prefer the calm delights of retirement and books. As - soon as Mrs. Richardson arose, the beautiful Psalms in Smith's - Devotions were read responsively in the nursery, by herself and - daughters standing in a circle: only the two eldest were - allowed to breakfast with her and whatever company happened to - be in the house, for they were seldom without. After breakfast, - we younger ones read to her in turns the Psalms and Lessons for - the day. We were then permitted to pursue our childish sports, - or to walk in the garden, which I was allowed to do at - pleasure; for, when my father hesitated upon granting that - privilege for fear I should help myself to the fruit, Mrs. - Richardson said, 'No, I have so much confidence in her, that, - if she is put upon honour, I am certain that she will not touch - so much as a gooseberry.' A confidence I dare safely aver that - I never forfeited, and which has given me the power of walking - in any garden ever since, without the smallest desire to touch - any fruit, and taught me a lesson upon the restraint of - appetite, which has been useful to me all my life. We all dined - at one table, and generally drank tea and spent the evening in - Mrs. Richardson's parlour, where the practice was for one of - the young ladies to read while the rest sat with mute attention - round a large table, and employed themselves in some kind of - needle-work. Mr. Richardson generally retired to his study, - unless there was particular company. - - "These are trifling and childish anecdotes, and savour, perhaps - you may think too much of egotism. They certainly can be of no - further use to you than as they mark the extreme benevolence, - condescension, and kindness of this exalted genius, towards - young people; for, in general society, I know _he_ has been - accused as being of few words and of a particularly reserved - turn. He was, however, all his lifetime the patron and - protector of the female sex. Miss M. (afterwards Lady G.) - passed many years in his family. She was the bosom friend and - contemporary of my mother; and was so much considered as - _enfant de famille_ in Mr. Richardson's house, that her - portrait is introduced into a family piece. - - "He had many _protegees_;--a Miss Rosine, from Portugal, was - consigned to his care; but of her, being then at school, I - never saw much. Most of the ladies that resided much at his - house acquired a certain degree of fastidiousness and delicate - refinement, which, though amiable in itself, rather - disqualified them from appearing in general society to the - advantage that might have been expected, and rendered an - intercourse with the world uneasy to themselves, giving a - peculiar air of shyness and reserve to their whole address; of - which habits his own daughters partook, in a degree that has - been thought by some a little to obscure those really valuable - qualifications and talents they undoubtedly possessed. Yet this - was supposed to be owing more to Mrs. Richardson than to him; - who, though a truly good woman, had high and Harlowean notions - of parental authority, and kept the ladies in such order, and - at such a distance, that he often lamented, as I have been told - by my mother, that they were not more open and conversable with - him. - - "Besides those I have already named, I well remember a Mrs. - Donellan, a venerable old lady, with sharp piercing eyes; Miss - Mulso, &c., &c.; Secker, Archbishop of Canterbury; Sir Thomas - Robinson (Lord Grantham), &c., &c., who were frequent visitors - at his house in town and country. The ladies I have named were - often staying at North End, at the period of his highest glory - and reputation; and in their company and conversation his - genius was matured. His benevolence was unbounded, as his - manner of diffusing it was delicate and refined."[84] - -Richardson was buried in the nave of St. Bride's Church; and a stone -was placed over his remains, merely recording his name, the year of -his death, and his age. In this church were also interred Wynken de -Worde, the famous printer; the bowels of Sackville the poet, whom we -shall presently have occasion to mention again; and Sir Richard Baker, -the author of the well-known book of English Chronicles. De Worde -resided in Fleet Street. - -Between Water Lane and the Temple, and leading out of Fleet Street by -a street formerly called Whitefriars, which has been rebuilt, and -christened Bouverie Street, is one of these precincts which long -retained the immunities derived from their being conventual -sanctuaries, and which naturally enough became as profane as they had -been religious. The one before us originated in a monastery of White -Friars, an order of Carmelites, which formerly stood in Water Lane, -and it acquired an infamous celebrity under the slang title of -Alsatia. The claims, however, which the inhabitants set up to protect -debtors from arrest, seem to have originated in a charter granted to -them by James I., in 1608. For some time after the Reformation and the -demolition of the old monastery, Whitefriars was not only a -sufficiently orderly district, but one of the most fashionable parts -of the city. Among others of the gentry, for instance, who had houses -here at this period, was Sir John Cheke, King Edward VI.'s tutor, and -afterwards Secretary of State. The reader of our great modern novelist -has been made almost as well acquainted with the place in its -subsequent state of degradation and lawlessness, as if he had walked -through it when its bullies were in full blow. The rags of their -Dulcineas hang out to dry, as if you saw them in a Dutch picture; and -the passages are redolent of beer and tobacco. The sanctuary of -Whitefriars is now extremely shrunk in its dimensions; and the -inhabitants retain but a shadow of their privileges. The nuisance, -however, existed as late as the time of William III., who put an end -to it; and the neighbourhood is still of more than doubtful virtue. -One alley, dignified by the title of Lombard Street, is of an infamy -of such long standing, that it is said to have begun its evil courses -long before the privilege of sanctuary existed, and to have maintained -them up to the present moment. The Carmelites complained of it, and -the neighbours complain still. In the Dramatis Personae to Shadwell's -play called the _Squire of Alsatia_, we have a set of characters so -described as to bring us, one would think, sufficiently acquainted -with the leading gentry of the neighbourhood; such as-- - - "_Cheatley._ A rascal, who by reason of debts dares not stir - out of _White-fryers_, but there inveigles young heirs in tail, - and helps them to goods and money upon great disadvantages; is - bound for them, and shares for them till he undoes them. A - lewd, impudent, debauch'd fellow, very expert in the _cant_ - about the town. - - "_Shamwell._ Cousin to the Belfonds; an heir, who being ruined - by Cheatley, is made a decoy-duck for others: not daring to - stir out of Alsatia, where he lives: is bound with Cheatley - for heirs, and lives upon 'em a dissolute, debauched life. - - "_Capt. Hackman._ A block-head bully of Alsatia; a cowardly, - impudent, blustering fellow; formerly a sergeant in Flanders, - run from his colours, retreated into White-fryers for a very - small debt, where by the Alsatians he is dubbed a Captain, - marries one that lets lodgings, sells cherry brandy, &c. - - "_Scrapeall._ A hypocritical, repeating, praying, - psalm-singing, precise fellow, pretending to great piety, a - godly knave, who joins with Cheatley, and supplies young heirs - with goods and money." - -But Sir Walter, besides painting the place itself as if he had lived -in it (vide _Fortunes of Nigel_, vol. ii.), puts these people in -action, with a spirit beyond anything that Shadwell could have done, -even though the dramatist had a bit of the Alsatian in himself--at -least as far as drinking could go, and a flood of gross conversation. - -Infamous, however, as this precinct was, there were some good houses -in it, and some respectable inhabitants. The first Lord Sackville -lived there; another inhabitant was Ogilby, who was a decent man, -though a bad poet, and taught dancing; and Shirley another. It appears -also to have been a resort of fencing-masters, which probably helped -to bring worse company. They themselves, indeed, were in no good -repute. One of them, a man of the name of Turner, living in -Whitefriars, gave rise to a singular instance of revenge recorded in -the State Trials. Lord Sanquire, a Scotch nobleman, in the time of -James I., playing with Turner at foils, and making too great a show of -his wish to put down a master of the art (probably with the insolence -common to the nobility of that period), was pressed upon so hard by -the man, that he received a thrust which put out one of his eyes. -"This mischief," says Wilson, "was much regretted by Turner; and the -baron, being conscious to himself that he meant his adversary no good, -took the accident with as much patience as men that lose one eye by -their own default use to do for the preservation of the other." "Some -time after," continues this writer, "being in the court of the late -great Henry of France, and the King (courteous to strangers), -entertaining discourse with him, asked him, 'How he lost his eye:' he -(cloathing his answer in a better shrowd than a plain fencer's) told -him 'It was done with a sword.' The King replies, 'Doth the man live?' -and that question gave an end to the discourse, but was the beginner -of a strange confusion in his working fancy, which neither time nor -distance could compose, carrying it in his breast some years after, -till he came into England, where he hired two of his countrymen, Gray -and Carliel, men of low and mercenary spirits, to murther him, which -they did with a case of pistols in his house in Whitefriars many years -after."[85] For many years--read five--enough, however, to make such a -piece of revenge extraordinary. Gray and Carliel were among his -followers. Gray, however, did not assist in the murder. His mind -misgave him; and Carliel got another accomplice, named Irweng. "These -two, about seven o'clock in the evening (to proceed in the words of -Coke's report), came to a house in the Friars, which Turner used to -frequent, as he came to his school, which was near that place, and -finding Turner there, they saluted one another; and Turner, with one -of his friends, sat at the door asking them to drink; but Carliel and -Irweng, turning about to cock the pistol, came back immediately, and -Carliel, drawing it from under his coat, discharged it upon Turner, -and gave him a mortal wound near the left pap; so that Turner, after -having said these words, 'Lord, have mercy upon me! I am killed,' -immediately fell down. Whereupon Carliel and Irweng fled, Carliel to -the town, Irweng towards the river; but mistaking his way, and -entering into a court where they sold wood, which was no thoroughfare, -he was taken. Carliel likewise fled, and so did also the Baron of -Sanchar. The ordinary officers of justice did their utmost, but could -not take them; for, in fact, as appeared afterwards, Carliel fled into -Scotland, and Gray towards the sea, thinking to go to Sweden, and -Sanchar hid himself in England."[86] - -James, who had shown such favour to the Scotch as to make the English -jealous, and who also hated an ill-natured action, when it was not to -do good to any of his favourites, thought himself bound to issue a -promise of reward for the arrest of Sanquire and the others. It was -successful; and all three were hung, Carliel and Irweng in Fleet -Street, opposite the great gate of Whitefriars (the entrance of the -present Bouverie Street), and Sanquire in Palace Yard, before -Westminster Hall. He made a singular defence, very good and penitent, -and yet remarkably illustrative of the cheap rate at which plebeian -blood was held in those times; and no doubt his death was a great -surprise to him. The people, not yet enlightened on these points, -took his demeanour in such good part, that they expressed great pity -for him, till they perceived that he died a Catholic! - -This and other pretended sanctuaries were at length put down by an Act -of Parliament passed about the beginning of the last century. It is -curious that the once lawless domain of Alsatia should have had the -law itself for its neighbour; but Sir Walter has shown us, that they -had more sympathies than might be expected. It was a local realisation -of the old proverb of extremes meeting. We now step out of this old -chaos into its quieter vicinity, which, however, was not always as -quiet as it is now. The Temple, as its name imports, was once the seat -of the Knights Templars, an order at once priestly and military, -originating in the crusades, and whose business it was to defend the -Temple at Jerusalem. How they degenerated, and what sort of vows they -were in the habit of making, instead of those of chastity and -humility, the modern reader need not be told, after the masterly -pictures of them in the writer from whom we have just taken another -set of ruffians. The Templars were dissolved in the reign of Edward -II., and their house occupied by successive nobles, till it came into -the possession of the law, in whose hands it was confirmed "for ever" -by James I. We need not enter into the origin of its division into two -parts, the Inner and Middle Temple. Suffice to say, that the word -Middle, which implies a third Temple, refers to an outer one, or third -portion of the old buildings, which does not appear to have been ever -occupied by lawyers, but came into possession of the celebrated Essex -family, whose name is retained in the street where it was situated, on -the other side of Temple Bar. There is nothing remaining of the -ancient buildings but the church built in 1185, which is a curiosity -justly admired, particularly for its effigies of knights, some of -whose cross legs indicate that they had either been to the Holy Land, -or have been supposed to or vowed to go thither. One of the band is -ascertained to have been Geoffrey de Magnavile, Earl of Essex, who was -killed at Benwell in Cambridgeshire, in 1148. Among the others are -supposed to be the Marshals, first, second, and third Earls of -Pembroke, who all died in the early part of the thirteenth century. -But even these have not been identified upon any satisfactory grounds; -and with regard to some of the rest, not so much as a probable -conjecture has been offered. - - [Illustration: TOMBS OF KNIGHTS IN TEMPLE CHURCH.] - -As it is an opinion still prevailing, that these cross-legged knights -are Knights Templars, we have copied below the most complete -information respecting them which we have hitherto met with. And the -passage is otherwise curious.[87] - -The two Temples, or law colleges, occupy a large space of ground -between Whitefriars and Essex Street; Fleet Street bounding them on -the north, and the river on the south. They compose an irregular mass -of good substantial houses, in lanes and open places, the houses being -divided into chambers, or floors for separate occupants, some of which -are let to persons not in the profession. The garden about forty years -ago was enlarged, and a muddy tract under it, on the side of the -Thames, converted into a pleasant walk. This garden is still not very -large, but it deserves its name both for trees and flowers. There is a -descent into it after the Italian fashion, from a court with a -fountain in it, surrounded with trees, through which the view of the -old walls and buttresses of the Middle Temple Hall is much admired. -But a poet's hand has touched the garden, and made it bloom with roses -above the real. It is the scene in Shakspeare, of the origin of the -factions of York and Lancaster. - - PLANTAGENET. - - "Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loth to speak, - In dumb significence proclaim your thoughts; - Let him that is a true born gentleman, - And stands upon the honour of his birth, - If he suppose that I have pleaded truth, - From off this brier pluck a white rose with me. - - SOMERSET. - - Let him that is no coward nor no flatterer, - But dare maintain the party of the truth, - Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me. - - WARWICK. - - I love no colours; and, without all colour - Of base insinuating flattery, - I pluck this white rose with Plantagenet. - - SUFFOLK. - - I pluck this red rose with young Somerset; - And say withal I think he held the right." - -There were formerly rooks in the Temple trees, a colony brought by Sir -Edward Northey, a well-known lawyer in Queen Anne's time, from his -grounds at Epsom. It was a pleasant thought, supposing that the -colonists had no objection. The rook is a grave legal bird, both in -his coat and habits; living in communities, yet to himself; and -strongly addicted to discussions of _meum_ and _tuum_. The -neighbourhood, however, appears to have been too much for him; for, -upon inquiring on the spot, we were told that there had been no rooks -for many years. - -The oldest mention of the Temple as a place for lawyers has been -commonly said to be found in a passage of Chaucer, who is reported to -have been of the Temple himself. It is in his character of the -Manciple, or Steward, whom he pleasantly pits against his learned -employers, as outwitting even themselves: - - "A gentle manciple was there of a temple, - Of which achatours (purchasers) mighten take ensample, - For to ben wise in buying of vitaille. - For whether that be paid, or took by taille, - Algate he waited so in his achate, - That he was ay before in good estate; - Now is not that of God a full fair grace, - That such a lewed (ignorant) mannes wit shall pass - The wisdom of a heap of learned men?"[88] - - -Spenser, in his epic way, not disdaining to bring the homeliest images -into his verse, for the sake of the truth in them, speaks of-- - - ---- "those _bricky_ towers - The which on Thames' broad aged back do ride, - Where now the studious lawyers have their bowers; - There whilom wont the Templar Knights to bide, - Till they decayed through pride."[89] - -The "studious lawyers," in their towers by the water side, present a -quiet picture. Yet in those times, it seems, they were apt to break -into overt actions of vivacity, a little excessive, and such as the -habit of restraint inclines people to, before they have arrived at -years of discretion. In Henry VIII.'s time the gentlemen of the Temple -were addicted to "shove and slip-groats,"[90] which became forbidden -them under a penalty; and in the age in which Spenser wrote, so many -encounters had taken place, of a dangerous description, that Templars -were prohibited from carrying any other weapon into the hall (the -dining room), "than a dagger or knife,"--"as if," says Mr. Malcolm, -"those were not more than sufficient to accomplish unpremeditated -deaths."[91] We are to suppose, however, that gentlemen would not kill -each other, except with swords. The dagger, or carving knife, which it -was customary to carry about the person in those days, was for the -mutton.[92] - -A better mode of recreating and giving vent to their animal spirits, -was the custom prevalent among the lawyers at that period of -presenting masques and pageants. They were great players, with a -scholarly taste for classical subjects; and the gravest of them did -not disdain to cater in this way for the amusement of their fellows, -sometimes for that of crowned heads. The name of Bacon is to be found -among the "getters up" of a show at Gray's Inn, for the entertainment -of the sovereign; and that of Hyde, on a similar occasion, in the -reign of Charles I. - -A masque has come down to us written by William Browne, a disciple of -Spenser, expressly for the society of which he was a member, and -entitled the _Inner Temple Masque_. It is upon the story of Circe and -Ulysses, and is worthy of the school of poetry out of which he came. -Beaumont wrote another, called the _Masque of the Inner Temple and -Gray's Inn_. A strong union has always existed between the law and the -belles-lettres, highly creditable to the former, or rather naturally -to be expected from the mode in which lawyers begin their education, -and the diversity of knowledge which no men are more in the way of -acquiring afterwards. Blackstone need not have written his farewell to -the Muses. If he had been destined to be a poet, he could not have -taken his leave; and, as an accomplished lawyer, he was always within -the pale of the _literae humaniores_. The greatest practical lawyers, -such as Coke and Plowden, may not have been the most literary, but -those who have understood the law in the greatest and best spirit -have; and the former, great as they may be, are yet but as servants -and secretaries to the rest. They know where to find, but the others -know best how to apply. Bacon, Clarendon, Selden, Somers, Cowper, -Mansfield, were all men of letters. So are the Broughams and Campbells -of the present day. Pope says, that Mansfield would have been another -Ovid. This may be doubted; but nobody should doubt that the better he -understood a poet, the fitter he was for universality of judgment. The -greatest lawyer is the greatest legislator. - -The "pert Templar," of whom we hear so much between the reigns of the -Stuarts and the late King, came up with the growth of literature and -the coffee-houses. Every body then began to write or to criticise; and -young men, brought up in the mooting of points, and in the confidence -of public speaking, naturally pressed among the foremost. Besides, a -variety of wits had issued from the Temple in the reign of Charles -and his brother, and their successors in lodging took themselves for -their heirs in genius. The coffee-houses by this time had become cheap -places to talk in. They were the regular morning lounge and evening -resource; and every lad who had dipped his finger and thumb into -Dryden's snuff-box, thought himself qualified to dictate for life. In -Pope's time these pretensions came to be angrily rejected, partly, -perhaps, because none of the reigning wits, with the exception of -Congreve, had had a Temple education. - - "Three college sophs, and three pert Templars came, - The same their talents, and their tastes the same; - Each prompt to query, answer, and debate, - And smit with love of poetry and prate."[93] - -We could quote many other passages to the same purpose, but we shall -come to one presently which will suffice for all, and exhibit the -young Templar of those days in all the glory of his impertinence. At -present the Templars make no more pretensions than other well-educated -men. Many of them are still connected with the literature of the day, -but in the best manner and with the soundest views; and if there is no -pretension to wit, there is the thing itself. It would be endless to -name all the celebrated lawyers who have had to do with the Temple. -Besides, we shall have to notice the most eminent of them in other -places, where they passed a greater portion of their lives. We shall -therefore confine ourselves to the mention of such as have lived in it -without being lawyers, or thrown a grace over it in connection with -wit and literature. - -Chaucer, as we have just observed, is thought, upon slight evidence, -to have been of the Temple. We know not who the Mr. Buckley was, that -says he saw his name in the record; and the name, if there, might have -been that of some other Chaucer. The name is said to be not unfrequent -in records under the Norman dynasty. We are told by Thynne, in his -_Animadversions_ on Speght's edition of the poet's works (published a -few years ago from the manuscript by Mr. Todd, in his _Illustrations -of Chaucer and Gower_), that "it is most certain to be gathered by -circumstances of records that the lawyers were not in the Temple until -towards the latter part of the reign of King Edward III., at which -time Chaucer was a grave man, holden in great credit, and employed in -embassy." "So that methinketh," adds the writer, "he should not be of -that house; and yet, if he then were, I should judge it strange that -he should violate the rules of peace and gravity in those years." - -The first English tragedy of any merit, _Gorbuduc_, was written in the -Temple by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville, afterwards the -celebrated statesman, and founder of the title of Dorset. He was -author of a noble performance, the _Induction for the Mirrour of -Magistrates_, in which there is a foretaste of the allegorical _gusto_ -of Spenser. Raleigh was of the Temple; Selden, who died in -Whitefriars; Lord Clarendon; Beaumont; two other of our old -dramatists, Ford and Marston (the latter of whom was lecturer of the -Middle Temple); Wycherly, whom it is said the Duchess of Cleveland -used to visit, in the habit of a milliner; Congreve, Rowe, Fielding, -Burke, and Cowper. Goldsmith was not of the Temple, but he had -chambers in it, died there, and was buried in the Temple Church. He -resided, first on the Library Staircase, afterwards in King's Bench -Walk, and finally at No. 2, Brick Court, where he had a first floor -elegantly furnished. It was in one of the former lodgings that, being -visited by Dr. Johnson, and expressing something like a shame-faced -hope that he should soon be in lodgings better furnished, "Johnson," -says Boswell, "at the same time checked him, and paid him a handsome -compliment, implying that a man of talent should be above attention to -such distinctions. 'Nay, sir, never mind that: _Nil te quaesiveris -extra_.'[94] (It is only yourself that need be looked for). He died in -Brick Court. It is said that when he was on his deathbed, the -landing-place was filled with inquirers, not of the most mentionable -description, who lamented him heartily, for he was lavish of his money -as he went along Fleet Street. We are told by one of the writers of -the life prefixed to his works (probably Bishop Percy, who contributed -the greater part of it), that "he was generous in the extreme, and so -strongly affected by compassion, that he has been known at midnight to -abandon his rest in order to procure relief and an asylum for a poor -dying object who was left destitute in the streets." This, surely, -ought to be praise to no man, however benevolent: but it is, in the -present state of society. However, the offices of the good Samaritan -are now reckoned among the things that may be practised as well as -preached, without diminution of a man's reputation for common-sense; -and this is a great step. We will here mention, that Goldsmith had -another residence in Fleet Street. He wrote his Vicar of Wakefield in -Wine Office Court. Of the curious circumstances under which this -delightful novel was sold, various inaccurate accounts have been -given. The following is Boswell's account, taken from Dr. Johnson's -own mouth:-- - - "I received one morning," said Johnson, "a message from poor - Goldsmith, that he was in great distress, and as it was not in - his power to come to me, begging that I would come to him as - soon as possible. I sent him a guinea, and promised to come to - him directly. I accordingly went to him as soon as I was - dressed, and found that his landlady had arrested him for his - rent, at which he was in a violent passion. I perceived that he - had already changed my guinea, and had a bottle of Madeira and - a glass before him. I put the cork into the bottle, desired he - would be calm, and began to talk to him of the means by which - he might be extricated. He then told me that he had a novel - ready for the press, which he produced to me. I looked into it, - and saw its merit; told the landlady I should soon return, and - having gone to a bookseller, sold it for sixty pounds. I - brought Goldsmith the money, and he discharged his rent, not - without rating his landlady in a high tone for having used him - so ill."[95] - -Johnson himself lived for some time in the Temple. It was there that -he was first visited by his biographer, who took rooms in Farrar's -Buildings in order to be near him. His appearance and manners on this -occasion, especially as our readers are now of the party, are too -characteristic to be omitted. "His chambers," says Boswell, "were on -the first floor of No. 1, Middle Temple Lane--and I entered them with -an impression given me by the Rev. Dr. Blair, of Edinburgh, who had -been introduced to him not long before, and described his having -'found the giant in his den,' an expression which, when I came to be -pretty well acquainted with Johnson, I repeated to him, and he was -diverted at this picturesque account of himself.... - - "He received me very courteously; but it must be confessed that - his apartment, and furniture, and morning dress, were - sufficiently uncouth. His brown suit of clothes looked very - rusty; he had on a little shrivelled unpowdered wig, which was - too small for his head; his shirt-neck and knees of his - breeches were loose; his black worsted stockings ill-drawn up; - and he had a pair of unbuckled shoes by way of slippers. But - all these slovenly particularities were forgotten the moment he - began to talk. Some gentlemen, whom I do not recollect, were - sitting with him; and when they went away, I also rose; but he - said to me, 'Nay, don't go.'--'Sir,' said I, 'I am afraid that - I intrude upon you. It is benevolent to allow me to sit and - hear you.' He seemed pleased with this compliment which I - sincerely paid him, and answered, 'Sir, I am obliged to any man - who visits me.'"[96] (He meant that it relieved his - melancholy.)" - -It was in a dress of this sort, and without his hat, that he was seen -rushing one day after two of the highest-bred visitors conceivable, in -order to hand one of them to her coach. These were his friend -Beauclerc, of the St. Albans family, and Madame de Boufflers, mother -(if we mistake not) of the Chevalier de Boufflers, the celebrated -French wit. Her report, when she got home, must have been -overwhelming; but she was clever and amiable, like her son, and is -said to have appreciated the talents of the great uncouth. Beauclerc, -however, must repeat the story:-- - - "When Madame de Boufflers," says he, "was first in England, she - was desirous to see Johnson. I accordingly went with her to his - chambers in the Temple, where she was entertained with his - conversation for some time. When our visit was over, she and I - left him, and were got into Inner Temple Lane, when all at once - I heard a noise like thunder. This was occasioned by Johnson, - who, it seems, on a little recollection, had taken it into his - head that he ought to have done the honours of his literary - residence to a foreign lady of quality; and eager to show - himself a man of gallantry, was hurrying down the stairs in - violent agitation. He overtook us before we reached the - Temple-gate, and brushing in between me and Madame de - Boufflers, seized her hand and conducted her to the coach. His - dress was a rusty-brown morning suit, a pair of old shoes by - way of slippers, a little shrivelled wig sticking on the top of - his head, and the sleeves of his shirt and the knees of his - breeches hanging loose. A considerable crowd of people gathered - round, and were not a little struck by his singular - appearance."[97] - -It was in the Inner Temple Lane one night, being seized with a fit of -merriment at something that touched his fancy, not without the -astonishment of his companions, who could not see the joke, that -Johnson went roaring all the way to the Temple-gate; where, being -arrived, he burst into such a convulsive laugh, says Boswell, that in -order to support himself he "laid hold of one of the posts at the side -of the foot-pavement, and sent forth peals so loud, that in the -silence of the night, his voice seemed to resound from Temple-bar to -Fleet-ditch. This most ludicrous exhibition," continues his follower, -"of the awful, melancholy, and venerable Johnson, happened well to -counteract the feelings of sadness which I used to experience when -parting from him for a considerable time. I accompanied him to his -door, where he gave me his blessing."[98] - -Between the Temple-gates, at one time, lived Bernard Lintot, who was -in no better esteem with authors than the other great bookseller of -those times, Jacob Tonson. There is a pleasant anecdote of Dr. Young's -addressing him a letter by mistake, which Bernard opened, and found it -begin thus:--"That Bernard Lintot is so great a scoundrel."--"It must -have been very amusing," said Young, "to have seen him in his rage: he -was a great sputtering fellow."[99] - -Between the gates and Temple-bar, but nearer to the latter, was the -famous Devil Tavern, where Ben Jonson held his club. Messrs. Child, -the bankers, bought it in 1787, and the present houses were erected on -its site. We believe that the truly elegant house of Messrs. Hoare, -their successors, does not interfere with the place on which it stood. -We rather think it was very near to Temple-bar, perhaps within a house -or two. The club-room, which was afterwards frequently used for balls, -was called the Apollo, and was large and handsome, with a gallery for -music. Probably the house had originally been a private abode of some -consequence. The _Leges Conviviales_, which Jonson wrote for his club, -and which are to be found in his works, are composed in his usual -style of elaborate and compiled learning, not without a taste of that -dictatorial self-sufficiency, which, notwithstanding all that has been -said by his advocates, and the good qualities he undoubtedly -possessed, forms an indelible part of his character. "Insipida -poemata," says he, "nulla _recitantur_" (Let nobody repeat to us -insipid poetry); as if all that he should read of his own must -infallibly be otherwise. The club at the Devil does not appear to have -resembled the higher one at the Mermaid, where Shakspeare and Beaumont -used to meet him. He most probably had it all to himself. This is the -tavern mentioned by Pope:-- - - "And each true Briton is to Ben so civil, - He swears the Muses met him at the Devil." - -It was in good repute at the beginning of the last century. "I dined -to-day," says Swift, in one of his letters to Stella, "with Dr. Garth -and Mr. Addison at the Devil Tavern, near Temple-bar, and Garth -treated: and it is well I dine every day, else I should be longer -making out my letters; for we are yet in a very dull state, only -inquiring every day after new elections, where the Tories carry it -among the new members six to one. Mr. Addison's election has passed -easy and undisputed; and I believe if he had a mind to be chosen king, -he would hardly be refused."[100] Yet Addison was a Whig. Addison had -not then had his disputes with Pope and others; and his intercourse, -till his sincerity became doubted, was very delightful. It is -impossible to read of those famous wits dining together and not -lingering upon the occasion a little, and wishing we could have heard -them talk. Yet wits have their uneasiness, because of their wit. Swift -was probably not very comfortable at this dinner. He was then -beginning to feel awkward with his Whig friends; and Garth, in the -previous month of September, had written a defence of Godolphin, the -ousted Minister, which was unhandsomely attacked in the _Examiner_ by -their common acquaintance Prior, himself formerly a Whig. - -There was a multitude of famous shops and coffee-houses in this -quarter, all of which make a figure in the _Tatler_ and other works, -such as Nando's coffee-house; Dick's (still extant as Richard's); the -Rainbow (which is said to have been indicted in former times for the -_nuisance_ of selling coffee); Ben Tooke's (the bookseller); Lintot's; -and Charles Mather's, _alias_ Bubble-boy, the Toyman, who, when Sir -Timothy Shallow accuses him of selling him a cane "for ten pieces, -while Tom Empty had as good a one for five," exclaims, "Lord! Sir -Timothy, I am concerned that you, whom I took to understand canes -better than anybody in town, should be so overseen! Why, Sir Timothy, -yours is a true _jambee_, and esquire Empty's only a plain -dragon."[101] - -The fire of London stopped at the Temple Exchange coffee-house; a -circumstance which is recorded in an inscription, stating the house to -have been the last of the houses burnt, and the first restored. The -old front of this house was taken down about a century ago; but on its -being rebuilt, the stone with the inscription was replaced. - -But we must now cross over the way to Shire Lane, which is close to -Temple Bar on the opposite side. - -Here, "in ancient times," says Maitland, writing in the middle of the -last century, "were only posts, rails, and a chain, such as are now at -Holborn, Smithfield, and Whitechapel bars. Afterwards there was a -house of timber erected across the street, with a narrow gateway, and -an entry on the south side of it under the house." The present gate -was built by Wren after the great fire, but although the work of so -great a master, is hardly worth notice as a piece of architecture. It -must be allowed that Wren could do poor things as well as good, even -when not compelled by a vestry. As the last of the city gates, -however, we confess we should be sorry to see it pulled down, though -we believe there is a general sense that it is in the way. If it were -handsome or venerable we should plead hard for it, because it would -then be a better thing than a mere convenience. The best thing we know -of it is a jest of Goldsmith's; and the worst, the point on which the -jest turned. Goldsmith was coming from Westminster Abbey, with Dr. -Johnson, where they had been looking at the tombs in Poets' Corner, -and Johnson had quoted a line from Ovid:-- - - "Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur istis." - (Perhaps, some day, our names may mix with theirs.) - -"When we got to Temple Bar," says Johnson, "Goldsmith stopped me, -pointed to the heads upon it, and slily whispered to me ('in -allusion,' says Boswell, 'to Dr. Johnson's supposed political -opinions, and perhaps to his own,') - - "'Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur _istis_.'" - (Perhaps, some day, our names may mix with _theirs_.) - -These heads belonged to the rebels who were executed for rising in -favour of the Pretender. The brutality of such spectacles, which -outrage the last feelings of mortality, and as often punish honest -mistakes as anything else, is not likely to be repeated. Yet such an -effect has habit in reconciling men's minds to the most revolting, and -sometimes the most dangerous customs, that here were two Jacobites, -one of whom made a jest of what we should now regard with horror. -However, Johnson must often have felt bitterly as he passed there; and -the jesting of such men is frequently nothing but salve for a wound. - -Shire Lane still keeps its name, and we hope, however altered and -improved, it will never have any other; for here, the upper end, is -described as residing, old Isaac Bickerstaff, the Tatler, the more -venerable but not the more delightful double of Richard Steele, the -founder of English periodical literature. The public-house called the -Trumpet, now known as the Duke of York, at which the Tatler met his -club, is still remaining. At his house in the lane he dates a great -number of his papers, and receives many interesting visitors; and here -it was that he led down into Fleet Street that immortal deputation of -"twaddlers" from the country, who, as a celebrated writer has -observed, hardly seem to have settled their question of precedence to -this hour.[102] - -In Shire Lane is said to have originated the famous Kit-Kat Club, -which consisted of "thirty-nine distinguished noblemen and gentlemen, -zealously attached to the Protestant succession of the house of -Hanover." "The club," continues a note in Spence by the editor, "is -supposed to have derived its name from Christopher Katt, a -pastry-cook, who kept the house where they dined, and excelled in -making mutton-pies, which always formed a part of their bill of fare; -these pies, on account of their excellence, were called Kit-Kats. The -summer meetings were sometimes held at the Upper Flask on Hampstead -Heath."[103] - - "You have heard of the Kit-Kat Club," says Pope to Spence. "The - master of the house where the club met was Christopher Katt; - Tonson was secretary. The day Lord Mohun and the Earl of - Berwick were entered of it, Jacob said he saw they were just - going to be ruined. When Lord Mohun broke down the gilded - emblem on the top of his chair, Jacob complained to his - friends, and said a man who would do that, would cut a man's - throat. So that he had the good and the forms of the society - much at heart. The paper was all in Lord Halifax's handwriting - of a subscription of four hundred guineas for the encouragement - of good comedies, and was dated 1709, soon after they broke up. - Steele, Addison, Congreve, Garth, Vanbrugh, Manwaring, Stepney, - Walpole, and Pulteney, were of it; so was Lord Dorset and the - present Duke. Manwaring, whom we hear nothing of now, was the - ruling man in all conversations; indeed, what he wrote had very - little merit in it. Lord Stanhope and the Earl of Essex were - also members. Jacob has his own, and all their pictures, by Sir - Godfrey Kneller. Each member gave his, and he is going to build - a room for them at Barn Elms."[104] - -It is from the size at which these portraits were taken (a -three-quarter length), that the word Kit-Kat came to be applied to -pictures. The society afterwards met in higher places; but humbleness -of locality is nothing in these matters. The refinement consists in -the company, and in whatever they choose to throw a grace over, -whether venison or beef. The great thing is, not the bill of fare, -but, as Swift called it, the "bill of company." - -We cross to the south side of the street again, and come to Mrs. -Salmon's. It is a curious evidence of the fluctuation of the great -tide in commercial and growing cities, that, a century ago, this -immortal old gentlewoman, renowned for her wax-work, gives as a reason -for removing from St. Martin's-le-Grand to Fleet Street, that it was -"a more convenient place for the coaches of the quality to stand -unmolested."[105] Some of the houses in this quarter are of the -Elizabethan age, with floors projecting over the others, and looking -pressed together like burrows. The inmates of these humble tenements -(unlike those of great halls and mansions) seem as if they must have -had their heights taken, and the ceiling made to fit. Yet the builders -were liberal of their materials. Over the way, near the west corner of -Chancery Lane, stood an interesting specimen of this style of -building, in the house of the famous old angler, Isaac Walton. - -Walton's was the second house from the lane, the corner house being an -inn, long distinguished by the sign of the Harrow. He appears to have -long lived here, carrying on the business of a linen-draper about the -year 1624. Another person, John Mason, a hosier, occupied one-half of -the tenement. Walton afterwards removed to another house in Chancery -Lane, a few doors up from Fleet Street, on the west side, where he -kept a sempster's, or milliner's shop. - -A great deal has been said lately of the merits and demerits of -angling, and Isaac has suffered in the discussion, beyond what is -agreeable to the lovers of that gentle pleasure. Unfortunately the -brothers of the angle do not argue ingenuously. They always omit the -tortures suffered by the principal party, and affect to think you -affected if you urge them; whereas their only reason for avoiding the -point is, that it is not to be defended. If it is, we may defend, by -an equal abuse of reason, any amusement which is to be obtained at -another being's expense; and an evil genius might angle for ourselves, -and twitch us up, bleeding and roaring, into an atmosphere that would -stifle us. But fishes do not roar; they cannot express any sound of -suffering; and therefore the angler chooses to think they do not -suffer, more than it is convenient to him to fancy. Now it is a poor -sport that depends for its existence on the want of a voice in the -sufferer, and of imagination in the sportsman. Angling, in short, is -not to be defended on any ground of reflection; and this is the worst -thing to say of Isaac; for he was not unaware of the objections to his -amusement, and he piqued himself upon being contemplative. - -Anglers have been defended upon the ground of their having had among -them so many pious men; but unfortunately men may be selfishly as well -as nobly pious; and even charity itself may be practised, as well as -cruelty deprecated, upon principles which have a much greater regard -to a man's own safety and future comfort, than anything which concerns -real Christian beneficence. Doubtless there have been many good and -humane men anglers, as well as many pleasant men. There have also been -some very unpleasant ones--Sir John Hawkins among them. They make a -well-founded pretension to a love of nature and her scenery; but it is -a pity they cannot relish it without this pepper to the poor fish. -Walton's book contains many passages in praise of rural enjoyment, -which affect us almost like the fields and fresh air themselves, -though his brethren have exalted it beyond its value; and his lives of -his angling friends, the Divines, have been preposterously over-rated. -If angling is to be defended upon good and manly grounds, let it; it -is no longer to be defended on any other. The best thing to be said -for it (and the instance is worthy of reflection) is, that anglers -have been brought up in the belief of its innocence, and that an -inhuman custom is too powerful for the most humane. The inconsistency -is to be accounted for on no other grounds; nor is it necessary or -desirable that it should be. It is a remarkable illustration of what -Plato said, when something was defended on the ground of its being a -trifle, because it was a custom. "But custom," said he, "is no -trifle." Here, among persons of a more equivocal description, are some -of the humanest men in the world, who will commit what other humane -men reckon among the most inhuman actions, and make an absolute -pastime of it. Let one of their grandchildren be brought up in the -reverse opinion, and see what he will think of it. This, to be sure, -might be said to be only another instance of the effect of education; -but nobody, the most unprejudiced, thinks it a bigotry in Shakspeare -and Steele to have brought us to feel for the brute creation in -general; and whatever we may incline to think for the accommodation of -our propensities, there will still remain the unanswered and always -avoided argument, of the dumb and torn fish themselves, who die -agonised, in the midst of our tranquil looking on, and for no -necessity. - -John Whitney, author of the _Genteel Recreation, or the Pleasures of -Angling_, a poem printed in the year 1700, recommends the lovers of -the art to bait with the eyes of fish, in order to decoy others of the -same species. A writer in the _Censura Literaria_ exclaims, "What a -Nero of Anglers doth this proclaim John Whitney to have been! and how -unworthy to be ranked as a lover of the same pastime, which had been -so interestingly recommended by Isaac Walton, in his _Contemplative -Man's Recreation_."[106] - -But Isaac's contemplative man can content himself with impaling live -worms, and jesting about the tenderness with which he treats -them--using the worm, quoth Isaac, "as if you loved him." Doubtless -John thought himself as good a man as Isaac. He poetizes, and is -innocent with the best of them, and probably would not have hurt a -dog. However, it must be allowed that he had less imagination than -Walton, and was more cruel, inasmuch as he could commit a cruelty that -was not the custom. Observe, nevertheless, that it was the customary -cruelty which led to the new one. Why must these contemplative men -commit any cruelty at all? The writer of the article in the _Censura_ -was, if we mistake not, one of the kindest of human beings, and yet he -could see nothing erroneous in torturing a worm. "A good man," says -the Scripture, "is merciful to his beast." Therefore "holy Mr. -Herbert" very properly helps a horse out of a ditch, and is the better -for it all the rest of the day. Are we not to be merciful to fish as -well as beasts, merely because the Scripture does not expressly state -it? Such are the inconsistencies of mankind, during their very -acquirement of beneficence. - -On the other side of the corner of Chancery Lane was born a man of -genius and benevolence, who would not have hurt a fly--Abraham Cowley. -His father was a grocer; himself, one of the kindest, wisest, and -truest gentlemen that ever graced humanity. He has been pronounced by -one, competent to judge, to have been "if not a great poet, a great -man." But his poetry is what every other man's poetry is, the flower -of what was in him; and it is at least so far good poetry, as it is -the quintessence of amiable and deep reflection, not without a more -festive strain, the result of his sociality. Pope says of him-- - - "Forgot his epic, nay pindaric art; - Yet still we love the language of his heart."[107] - -His prose is admirable, and his character of Cromwell a masterpiece of -honest enmity, more creditable to both parties than the zealous -royalist was aware. Cowley, notwithstanding the active part he took in -politics, never ceased to be a child at heart. His mind lived in books -and bowers--in the sequestered "places of thought;" and he wondered -and lamented to the last, that he had not realised the people he found -there. His consolation should have been, that what he found in himself -was an evidence that the people exist. - -Chancery Lane, "the most ancient of any to the west," having been -built in the time of Henry the Third, when it was called New Lane, -which was afterwards altered to Chancellor's Lane, is the greatest -legal thoroughfare in England. It leads from the Temple, passes by -Sergeants' Inn, Clifford's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, and the Rolls, and -conducts to Gray's Inn. Of the world of vice and virtue, of pain and -triumph, of learning and ignorance, truth and chicanery, of impudence, -violence, and tranquil wisdom, that must have passed through this -spot, the reader may judge accordingly. There all the great and -eloquent lawyers of the metropolis must have been, at some time or -other, from Fortescue and Littleton, to Coke, Ellesmere, and Erskine. -Sir Thomas More must have been seen going down with his weighty -aspect; Bacon with his eye of intuition; the coarse Thurlow; and the -reverend elegance of Mansfield. In Chancery Lane was born the -celebrated Lord Strafford, who was sent to the block by the party he -had deserted, the victim of his own false strength and his master's -weakness. It is a curious evidence of the secret manners of those -times, which are so often contrasted with the licence of the next -reign, that Clarendon, in speaking of some love-letters of this lord, -a married man, which transpired during his trial, calls them "things -of levity." What would he have said had he found any love letters -between Lady Carlisle and Pym? Of Southampton Buildings, on the site -of which lived Shakspeare's friend, Lord Southampton, we shall speak -immediately; and we shall notice Lincoln's Inn when we come to the -Western portion of Holborn. But we may here observe, that on the wall -of the Inn, which is in Chancery Lane, Ben Jonson is said to have -worked, at the time he was compelled to assist his father-in-law at -his trade of bricklaying. In the intervals of his trowel, he is said -to have handled his Horace and Virgil. It is only a tradition, which -Fuller has handed down to us in his _Worthies_; but tradition is -valuable when it helps to make such a flower grow upon an old wall. - -Sergeants' Inn, the first leading out of Chancery Lane, near Fleet -Street, has been what its name implies for many generations. It was -occasionally occupied by the Sergeants as early as the time of Henry -the Fourth, when it was called Farringdon's Inn, though they have -never, we believe, held possession of the place but under tenure to -the bishops of Ely, or their lessees. Pennant confounds this inn with -another of the same name, now no longer devoted to the same purpose, -in Fleet Street.[108] Sergeants' Inn in Fleet Street was reduced to -ruins in the great fire, but was soon after rebuilt in a much more -uniform style than before. It continued after this to be occupied by -the lawyers in 1730, when the whole was taken down, and the present -court erected. The office of the Amicable Annuitant Society, on the -east side of the court, occupies the site of the ancient hall and -chapel. All the judges, as having been Sergeants-at-law before their -elevation to the bench, have still chambers in the inn in Chancery -Lane. The windows of this house are filled with the armorial bearings -of the members, who, when they are knighted, are emphatically _equites -aurati_ (knights made golden), at least as far as rings are concerned, -for they give rings on the occasion, with mottoes expressive of their -sentiments upon law and justice. As to the _equites_, learned -"knights" or horsemen (till "knight" be restored to its original -meaning--servant) will never be anything but an anomaly, especially -since the brethren no longer even ride to the Hall as they used. The -arms of the body of Sergeants are a golden shield with an ibis upon -it; or, to speak scientifically, "Or, an Ibis proper;" to which Mr. -Jekyll might have added, for motto, "_In medio tutissimus_." The same -learned punster made an epigram upon the oratory and scarlet robes of -his brethren, which may be here repeated without offence, as the -Sergeants have had among them some of the best as well as most -tiresome of speakers: - - "The Sergeants are a grateful race; - Their dress and language show it; - Their purple robes from Tyre we trace, - Their arguments go to it." - -One of the customs which used to be observed so late as the reign of -Charles I. in the creation of sergeants, was for the new dignitary to -go in procession to St. Paul's, and there to choose his pillar, as it -was expressed. This ceremony is supposed to have originated in the -ancient practice of the lawyers taking each his station at one of the -pillars in the cathedral, and there waiting for clients. The legal -sage stood, it is said, with pen in hand, and dexterously noted down -the particulars of every man's case on his knee. - -Clifford's Inn, leading out of Sergeants' Inn into Fleet Street and -Fetter Lane, is so called from the noble family of De Clifford, who -granted it to the students-at-law in the reign of Edward III. The word -inn (Saxon, chamber), though now applied only to law places, and the -better sort of public-houses in which travellers are entertained, -formerly signified a great house, mansion, or family palace. So -Lincoln's Inn, the mansion of the Earls of Lincoln; Gray's Inn, of the -Lords Gray, &c. The French still use the word _hotel_ in the same -sense. Inn once made as splendid a figure in our poetry, as the -palaces of Milton: - - "Now whenas Phoebus, with his fiery waine, - Unto his inne began to draw apace;"[109] - -says Spenser; and his disciple Browne after him: - - "Now had the glorious sun tane up his inne."[110] - -There are three things to notice in Clifford's Inn: its little bit of -turf and trees; its quiet; and its having been the residence of Robert -Pultock, author of the curious narrative _Peter Wilkins_, with its -Flying Women. Who he was, is not known; probably a barrister without -practice; but he wrote an amiable and interesting book. As to the -sudden and pleasant quiet in this little inn, it is curious to -consider what a small remove from the street produces it. But even in -the back room of a shop in the main street, the sound of the carts and -carriages becomes wonderfully deadened to the ear; and a remove, like -Clifford's Inn, makes it remote or nothing. - -The garden of Clifford's Inn forms part of the area of the ROLLS, so -called from the records kept there, in rolls of parchment. It is said -to have been the house of an eminent Jew, forfeited to the crown; that -is to say, it was most probably taken from him, with all that it -contained, by Henry III., who made it a house for converts from the -owner's religion. These converted Jews, most likely none of the best -of their race (for board and lodging are not arguments to the -scrupulous), appear to have been so neglected, that the number of them -soon came to nothing, and Edward III. gave the place to the Court of -Chancery to keep its records in. There is a fine monument in the -chapel to a Dr. Young, one of the Masters, which, according to Vertue, -was executed by Torregiano, who built the splendid tomb in Henry -VII.'s Chapel. Sir John Trevor, infamous for bribery and corruption, -also lies here. "Wisely," says Pennant, "his epitaph is thus confined: -'Sir J. T. M.R. 1717.' "Some other Masters," he adds, "rest within the -walls; among them Sir John Strange, but without the quibbling line, - - 'Here lies an honest lawyer, that is Strange.'" - -Another Master of the Rolls, who did honour to the profession, was Sir -Joseph Jekyll, recorded by Pope as an - - ... "odd old Whig, - Who never changed his principles or wig." - -When Jekyll came into the office, many of the houses were rebuilt, and -to the expense of ten of them he added, out of his own purse, as much -as 350_l._ each house; observing, that "he would have them built as -strong and as well as if they were his own inheritance."[111] The -Master of the Rolls is a great law dignitary, a sort of under-judge in -Chancery, presiding in a court by himself, though his most ostensible -office is to take care of the records in question. He has a house and -garden on the spot, the latter secluded from public view. The house, -however, has not been used as a residence by the present holder of the -office or his predecessor. - -Between Chancery and Fetter Lane is the new church of St. Dunstan's in -the West--a great improvement upon the old one, though a little too -plain below for the handsome fretwork of its steeple. The old building -was eminent for the two wooden figures of wild men, who, with a -gentleness not to be expected of them, struck the hour with a little -tap of their clubs. At the same time they moved their arms and heads, -with a like avoidance of superfluous action. These figures were put up -in the time of Charles II., and were thought not to confer much honour -on the passengers who stood "gaping" to see them strike. But the -passengers might surely be as alive to the puerility as any one else. -An absurdity is not the least attractive thing in this world. They who -objected to the gapers, probably admired more things than they laughed -at. It must be remembered also, that when the images were set up, -mechanical contrivances were much rarer than they are now. Two -centuries ago, St. Dunstan's Churchyard, as it was called, being the -portion of Fleet Street in front of the church, was famous for its -booksellers' shops. The church escaped the great fire, which stopped -within three houses of it, and consequently was one of the most -ancient sacred edifices in London. It was supposed to have been built -about the end of the fourteenth century, but had undergone extensive -repairs. Besides the clock with the figures, it was adorned by a -statue of Queen Elizabeth, which stood in a niche over the east end, -and had been transferred thither about the middle of last century from -the west side of old Ludgate, which was then removed. - -The only repute of Fetter Lane in the present days is, or was, for -sausages. But at one time it is said to have had the honour of -Dryden's presence. The famous Praise God Barebones also, it seems, -lived here, in a house for which he paid forty pounds a year, as he -stated in his examination on a trial in the reign of Charles II.[112] -He paid the above rent, he says "except during the war:" that is, we -suppose, during the confusion of the contest between the King and the -Parliament, when probably this worthy contrived to live rent free. In -this neighbourhood also dwelt the infamous Elizabeth Brownrigg, who -was executed in 1767 for the murder of one of her apprentices. Her -house, with the cellar in which she used to confine her starved and -tortured victims, and from the grating of which their cries of -distress were heard, was one of those on the east side of the lane, -looking into the long and narrow alley behind, called Flower-de-Luce -Court. It was some years ago in the occupation of a fishing-tackle -maker. - -Johnson once lived in Fetter Lane, but the circumstances of his abode -there have not transpired. We now, however, come to a cluster of his -residences in Fleet Street, of which place he is certainly the great -presiding spirit, the _Genius loci_. He was conversant for the greater -part of his life with this street, was fond of it, frequented its -Mitre Tavern above any other in London, and has identified its name -and places with the best things he ever said and did. It was in Fleet -Street, we believe, that he took the poor girl up in his arms, put her -to bed in his own house, and restored her to health and her friends; -an action sufficient to redeem a million of the asperities of temper -occasioned by disease, and to stamp him, in spite of his bigotry, a -good Christian. Here, at all events, he walked and talked, and -shouldered wondering porters out of the way, and mourned, and -philosophised, and was "a good-natured fellow" (as he called himself), -and roared with peals of laughter till midnight echoed to his roar. - - "We walked in the evening," says Boswell, "in Greenwich Park. - He asked me, I suppose by way of trying my disposition, 'Is not - this very fine?' Having no exquisite relish of the beauties of - nature, and being more delighted with the busy hum of men, I - answered, 'Yes, sir; but not equal to Fleet Street.' _Johnson._ - 'You are right, sir.'"[113] - -Boswell vindicates the tastes here expressed by the example of a "very -fashionable baronet," who, on his attention being called to the -fragrance of a May evening in the country, observed, "This may be very -well, but I prefer the smell of a flambeau at the playhouse." The -baronet here alluded to was Sir Michael le Fleming, who, by way of -comment on his indifference to fresh air, died of an apoplectic fit -while conversing with Lord Howick (the late Earl Grey), at the -Admiralty.[114] However, Johnson's _ipse dixit_ was enough. He wanted -neither Boswell's vindication, nor any other. He was melancholy, and -glad to be taken from his thoughts; and London furnished him with an -endless flow of society. - -Johnson's abodes in Fleet Street were in the following order:--First, -in Fetter Lane, then in Boswell Court, then in Gough Square, in the -Inner Temple Lane, in Johnson's Court, and finally, and for the -longest period, in Bolt Court, where he died. His mode of life, during -a considerable portion of his residence in these places, is described -in a communication to Boswell by the Rev. Dr. Maxwell, assistant -preacher at the Temple, who was intimate with Johnson for many years, -and who spoke of his memory with affection. - - "About twelve o'clock," says the doctor, "I commonly visited - him, and found him in bed, or declaiming over his tea, which he - drank very plentifully. He generally had a levee of morning - visitors, chiefly men of letters; Hawkesworth, Goldsmith, - Murphy, Langton, Steevens, Beauclerk, &c., &c., and sometimes - learned ladies; particularly, I remember, a French lady of wit - and fashion doing him the honour of a visit. He seemed to me to - be considered as a kind of public oracle, whom everybody - thought they had a right to visit and consult; and, doubtless, - they were well rewarded. I never could discover how he found - time for his compositions. He declaimed all the morning, then - went to dinner at a tavern, where he commonly staid late, and - then drank his tea at some friend's house, over which he - loitered a great while, but seldom took supper. I fancy he must - have read and wrote chiefly in the night; for I can scarcely - recollect that he ever refused going with me to a tavern, and - he often went to Ranelagh, which he deemed a place of innocent - recreation. - - "He frequently gave all the silver in his pocket to the poor, - who watched him between his house and the tavern where he - dined. He walked the streets at all hours, and said he was - never robbed, for the rogues knew he had little money, nor had - the appearance of having much. - - "Though the most accessible and communicative man alive, yet - when he suspected that he was invited to be exhibited, he - constantly spurned the invitation. - - "Two young women from Staffordshire visited him when I was - present, to consult him on the subject of Methodism, to which - they were inclined. 'Come (said he), you pretty fools, dine - with Maxwell and me at the Mitre, and we will talk over that - subject'; which they did, and after dinner he took one of them - on his knees, and fondled them for half an hour together."[115] - -This anecdote is exquisite. It shows, that however impatient he was of -having his own superstitions canvassed, he was loth to see them -inflicted on others. He is here a harmless Falstaff, with two innocent -damsels on his knees, in lieu of Mesdames Ford and Page. - -In Gough Square, Johnson wrote part of his Dictionary. He had written -the Rambler and taken his high stand with the public before. "At this -time," says Barber, his servant, "he had little for himself, but -frequently sent money to Mr. Shiels when in distress." (Shiels was one -of his amanuenses in the dictionary.) His friends and visitors in -Gough Square are a good specimen of what they always were--a -miscellany creditable to the largeness of his humanity. There was -Cave, Dr. Hawkesworth, Miss Carter, Mrs. Macauley (two ladies who must -have looked strangely at one another), Mr. (afterwards Sir Joshua) -Reynolds, Langton, Mrs. Williams (a poor poetess whom he maintained in -his house), Mr. Levett (an apothecary on the same footing), Garrick, -Lord Orrery, Lord Southwell, and Mrs. Gardiner, wife of a tallow -chandler on Snow-hill--"not in the learned way," said Mr. Barber, "but -a worthy good woman." With all his respect for rank, which doubtless -he regarded as a special dispensation of Providence, his friend -Beauclerk's notwithstanding,[116] Johnson never lost sight of the -dignity of goodness. He did not, however, confine his attentions to -those who were noble or amiable; though we are to suppose, that -everybody with whom he chose to be conversant had some good quality or -other; unless, indeed, he patronised them as the Duke of Montague did -his ugly dogs, because nobody would if he did not. The great secret, -no doubt, was, that he was glad of the company of any of his -fellow-creatures who would bear and forbear with him, and for whose -tempers he did not care as much as he did for their welfare. And he -was giving alms; which was a catholic part of religion, in the proper -sense of the word. - - "He nursed," says Mrs. Thrale, in her superfluous style, - "_whole nests_ of people in his house, where the lame, the - blind, the sick, and the sorrowful found a sure retreat from - all the evils whence his little income could secure them, and - commonly spending the middle of the week at our house, he kept - his numerous family in Fleet Street upon a settled allowance; - but returned to them every Saturday to give them three good - dinners and his company, before he came back to us on the - Monday night, treating them with the same, or perhaps more, - ceremonious civility, than he would have done by as many people - of fashion, making the Holy Scripture thus the rule of his - conduct, and only expecting salvation as he was able to obey - its precepts."[117] - -Johnson's female inmates were not like the romantic ones of -Richardson. - - "We surely cannot but admire," says Boswell, "the benevolent - exertions of this great and good man, especially when we - consider how grievously he was afflicted with bad health, and - how uncomfortable his home was made by the perpetual jarring of - those whom he charitably accommodated under his roof. He has - sometimes suffered me to talk jocularly of his group of - females, and call them his _seraglio_. He thus mentions them, - together with honest Levitt, in one of his letters to Mrs. - Thrale: 'Williams hates everybody; Levett hates Desmoulins, and - does not love Williams; Desmoulins hates them both; Poll loves - none of them.'"[118] - - [Illustration: JOHNSON'S HOUSE IN BOLT COURT.] - -Of his residence in Inner Temple Lane we have spoken before. He lived -there six or seven years, and then removed to Johnson's Court, No. 7, -where he resided for ten. Johnson's Court is in the neighbourhood of -Gough Square. It was during this period that he accompanied his friend -Boswell to Scotland, where he sometimes humorously styled himself -"Johnson of that _ilk_" (that same, or Johnson of Johnson), in -imitation of the local designations of the Scottish chiefs. In 1776, -in his sixty-seventh year, still adhering to the neighbourhood, he -removed into Bolt Court, No. 8, where he died eight years after, on -the 13th December, 1784. In Bolt Court he had a garden, and perhaps in -Johnson's Court and Gough Square: which we mention to show how -tranquil and removed these places were, and convenient for a student -who wished, nevertheless, to have the bustle of London at hand. -Maitland (one of the compilers upon Stow), who published his history -of London in 1739, describes Johnson and Bolt Courts as having "good -houses, well inhabited;" and Gough Square he calls fashionable.[119] - -Johnson was probably in every tavern and coffee-house in Fleet Street. -There is one which has taken his name, being styled, _par excellence_, -"Doctor Johnson's Coffee-house." But the house he most frequented was -the Mitre tavern, on the other side of the street, in a passage -leading to the Temple. It was here, as we have seen, that he took his -two innocent theologians, and paternally dandled them out of their -misgivings on his knee. The same place was the first of the kind in -which Boswell met him. "We had a good supper," says the happy -biographer, "and port wine, of which he then sometimes drank a -bottle." (At intervals he abstained from all fermented liquors for a -long time.) "The orthodox, high-church sound of the Mitre, the figure -and manner of the celebrated Samuel Johnson, the extraordinary power -and precision of his conversation, and the pride arising from finding -myself admitted as his companion, produced a variety of sensations, -and a pleasing elevation of mind beyond what I had before -experienced."[120] They sat till between one and two in the morning. -He told Boswell at that period that "he generally went abroad at about -four in the afternoon, and seldom came home till two in the morning. I -took the liberty to ask if he did not think it wrong to live thus, and -not to make more use of his great talents. He owned it was a bad -habit." - -The next time, Goldsmith was with them, when Johnson made a remark -which comes home to everybody, namely, that granting knowledge in some -cases to produce unhappiness, "knowledge _per se_ was an object which -every one would _wish_ to attain, though, perhaps, he might not take -the trouble necessary for attaining it." One of his most curious -remarks followed, occasioned by the mention of Campbell, the author -of the _Hermippus Redivivus_, on which Boswell makes a no less curious -comment. "Campbell," said Johnson, "is a good man, a pious man. I am -afraid he has not been in the inside of a church for many years; but -he never passes a church without pulling off his hat. This shows that -he has good principles." On which, says Boswell in a note, "I am -inclined to think he was misinformed as to this circumstance. I own I -am jealous for my worthy friend Dr. John Campbell. For though _Milton_ -could without remorse absent himself from public worship, _I_ -cannot."[121] - -It was at their next sitting in this house, at which the Rev. Dr. -Ogilvie, a Scotch writer, was present, that Johnson made his famous -joke, in answer to that gentleman's remark, that Scotland has a great -many "noble wild prospects." _Johnson._ "I believe, sir, you have a -great many. Norway, too, has noble, wild prospects; and Lapland is -remarkable for prodigious, noble, wild prospects. But, sir, let me -tell you, the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high -road that leads him to England!" "This unexpected and pointed sally," -says Boswell, "produced a roar of applause. After all, however" (he -adds), "those who admire the rude grandeur of nature, cannot deny it -to Caledonia."[122] - -Johnson had the highest opinion of a tavern, as a place in which a man -might be comfortable, if he could anywhere. Indeed, he said that the -man who could not enjoy himself in a tavern, could be comfortable -nowhere. This, however, is not to be taken to the letter. Extremes -meet; and Johnson's uneasiness of temper led him into the gayer -necessities of Falstaff. However, it is assuredly no honour to a man, -not to be able to "take his ease at his inn." "There is no private -house," said Johnson, talking on this subject, "in which people can -enjoy themselves so well as at a capital tavern. Let there be ever so -great a plenty of good things, ever so much grandeur, ever so much -elegance, ever so much desire that everybody should be easy, in the -nature of things it cannot be: there must always be some degree of -care and anxiety. The master of the house is anxious to entertain his -guests; the guests are anxious to be agreeable to him; and no man, but -a very impudent dog indeed, can as freely command what is in another -man's house as if it were his own. Whereas, at a tavern, there is a -general freedom from anxiety. You are sure you are welcome; and the -more noise you make, the more trouble you give, the more good things -you call for, the welcomer you are. No servants will attend you with -the alacrity which waiters do, who are incited by the prospect of an -immediate reward in proportion as they please. No, sir, there is -nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much -happiness is produced, as by a good tavern or inn." He then repeated -with great emotion Shenstone's lines:-- - - "Whoe'er has travelled life's dull round, - Where'er his stages may have been, - May sigh to think he still has found - The warmest welcome at an inn."[123] - -"Sir John Hawkins," says Boswell in a note on this passage, "has -preserved very few _memorabilia_ of Johnson." There is, however, to be -found in his bulky tome, a very excellent one upon this subject. "In -contradiction to those who, having a wife and children, prefer -domestic enjoyments to those which a tavern affords, I have heard him -assert, that _a tavern chair was the throne of human felicity_. 'As -soon' (said he), 'as I enter the door of a tavern, I experience an -oblivion of care, and a freedom from solicitude: when I am seated, I -find the master courteous, and the servants obsequious to my call, -anxious to know and ready to supply my wants: wine there exhilarates -my spirits, and prompts me to free conversation, and an interchange of -discourse with those whom I most love; I dogmatise, and am -contradicted; and in this conflict of opinion and sentiments I find -delight.'" - -The following anecdote is highly to Johnson's credit, and equally -worthy of every one's attention. "Johnson was known to be so rigidly -attentive to the truth," says Boswell, "that even in his common -conversation the slightest circumstance was mentioned with exact -precision. The knowledge of his having such a principle and habit made -his friends have a perfect reliance on the truth of everything that he -told, however it might have been doubted if told by many others. As an -instance of this I may mention an odd incident, which he related as -having happened to him one night in Fleet Street. 'A gentlewoman' -(said he) 'begged I would give her my arm to assist her in crossing -the street, which I accordingly did; upon which she offered me a -shilling, supposing me to be the watchman. I perceived that she was -somewhat in liquor.' This, if told by most people, would have been -thought an invention; when told by Johnson, it was believed by his -friends, as much as if they had seen what passed."[124] - -The gentlewoman, however, might have taken him for the watchman -without being in liquor, if she had no eye to discern a great man -through his uncouthness. Davies, the bookseller, said, that he -"laughed like a rhinoceros." It may be added he walked like a whale; -for it was rolling rather than walking. "I met him in Fleet Street," -says Boswell, "walking, or rather, indeed, moving along; for his -peculiar march is thus described in a very just and picturesque -manner, in a short life of him published very soon after his -death:--'When he walked the streets, what with the constant roll of -his head, and the concomitant motion of his body, he appeared to make -his way by that motion independent of his feet.' That he was often -much stared at," continues Boswell, "while he advanced in this manner, -may be easily believed; but it was not safe to make sport of one so -robust as he was. Mr. Langton saw him one day, in a fit of absence, by -a sudden start, drive the load off a porter's back, and walk forwards -briskly, without being conscious of what he had done. The porter was -very angry, but stood still, and eyed the huge figure with much -earnestness, till he was satisfied that his wisest course was to be -satisfied and take up his burden again."[125] - -There is another remark on Fleet Street and its superiority to the -country, which must not be passed over. Boswell, not having Johnson's -reasons for wanting society, was a little over-weening and gratuitous -on this subject; and on such occasions the doctor would give him a -knock. "It was a delightful day," says the biographer; "as we walked -to St. Clement's Church, I again remarked that Fleet Street was the -most cheerful scene in the world; 'Fleet Street,' said I, 'is in my -mind more delightful than Tempe.' _Johnson._--'Ay, sir, but let it be -compared with Mull.'"[126] - -The progress of knowledge, even since Johnson's time, has enabled us -to say, without presumption, that we differ with this extraordinary -person on many important points, without ceasing to have the highest -regard for his character. His faults were the result of temperament; -perhaps his good qualities and his powers of reflection were, in some -measure, so too; but this must be the case with all men. Intellect -and beneficence, from whatever causes, will always command respect; -and we may gladly compound, for their sakes, with foibles which belong -to the common chances of humanity. If Johnson has added nothing very -new to the general stock, he has contributed (especially by the help -of his biographer) a great deal that is striking and entertaining. He -was an admirable critic, if not of the highest things, yet of such as -could be determined by the exercise of a masculine good sense; and one -thing he did, perhaps beyond any man in England, before or since--he -advanced, by the powers of his conversation, the strictness of his -veracity, and the respect he exacted towards his presence, what may be -called the personal dignity of literature. The consequence has been, -not exactly what he expected, but certainly what the great interests -of knowledge require; and Johnson has assisted men, with whom he -little thought of co-operating, in setting the claims of truth and -beneficence above all others. - -East from Fetter Lane, on the same side of the street, is Crane -Court--the principal house in which, facing the entry, was that in -which the Royal Society used to meet, and where they kept their museum -and library before they removed to their late apartments in Somerset -House. The society met in Crane Court up to a period late enough to -allow us to present to our imaginations Boyle and his contemporaries -prosecuting their eager inquiries and curious experiments in the early -dawn of physical science, and afterwards Newton presiding in the -noontide glory of the light which he had shed over nature. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[75] See Walter Scott's edition of Dryden, vol. x., p. 372. -"Abhorrers" were addressers on the side of the court, who had avowed -"abhorrence" of the proceedings of the Whigs. The word was a capital -one to sound through a trumpet. - -[76] Aubrey says that his death took place in a cellar in Long Acre; -and adds; "Mr. Edm. Wylde, &c., had made a collection for him, and -given him money." But Aubrey's authority is not valid against Wood's. -He is to be read like a proper gossip, whose accounts we may pretty -safely reject or believe, as it suits other testimony. - -[77] Wood's Athenae Oxonienses, fol. vol. ii., p. 145. - -[78] Baker's Biographia Dramatica. Reed's edition, 1782, vol. i., p. -207. - -[79] Malone in the Prolegomena to Shakspeare, as above, vol, iii., p. -287. - -[80] Correspondence of Samual Richardson, &c., by Anna Letitia -Barbauld, vol. i., p. 97. - -[81] Our authority (one of the highest in this way) is Mr. Nichols, in -his Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, vol. iv., p. 579. - -[82] - - "---- Apoplexy cramm'd intemperance knocks - Down to the ground at once, as butcher felleth ox;"-- - -says Thomson, in his Castle of Indolence. It was the death which the -good-natured, indolent poet probably expected for himself, and which -he would have had, if a cold and fever had not interfered; for there -is an apoplexy of the head alone, as well as of the whole body; and -men of letters who either exercise little, or work overmuch, seem -almost sure to die of it, or of palsy; which is a disease analogous. -It is the last stroke, given in the kind resentment of nature, to the -brains which should have known better than bring themselves to such a -pass. In the biography of Italian literati, "Mori' d' apoplessia"--(he -died of apoplexy)--is a common verdict. - -[83] Correspondence, as above, vol. i., p. 177. - -[84] Correspondence, &c., by Mrs. Barbauld, vol.i., p. 183. - -[85] Life and Reign of King James I., quoted in Howell's State Trials, -vol. ii., p. 745. - -[86] State Trials, _ut supra_, p. 762. - -[87] "It is an opinion which universally prevails with regard to those -cross-legged monuments," says Dr. Nash, "that they were all erected to -the memory of Knights Templars. Now to me it is very evident that not -one of them belonged to that order; but, as Mr. Habingdon, in -describing this at Alve church, hath justly expressed it, to Knights -of the Holy Voyage. For the order of Knights Templars followed the -rule of the Canons regular of St. Austin, and, as such, were under a -vow of celibacy. Now there is scarcely one of these monuments which is -certainly known for whom it is erected; but it is as certain, that the -person it represented was a married man. The Knights Templars always -wore a white habit, with a red cross on the left shoulder. I believe, -not a single instance can be produced of either the mantle or cross -being carved on any of these monuments, which surely would not have -been omitted, as by it they were distinguished from all other orders, -had these been really designed to represent Knights Templars. Lastly, -this order was not confined to England only, but dispersed itself all -over Europe: yet it will be very difficult to find one cross-legged -monument anywhere out of England; whereas they would have abounded in -France, Italy, and elsewhere, had it been a fashion peculiar to that -famous order. But though, for these reasons, I cannot allow the -cross-legged monuments to have been for Knights Templars, yet they had -some relation to them, being the memorials of those zealous devotees, -who had either been in Palestine, personally engaged in what was -called the Holy War, or had laid themselves under a vow to go thither, -though perhaps they were prevented from it by death. Some few, indeed, -might possibly be erected to the memory of persons who had made -pilgrimages there merely out of private devotion. Among the latter, -probably, was that of the lady of the family of Mepham, of Mepham in -Yorkshire, to whose memory a cross-legged monument was placed in a -chapel adjoining to the one collegiate church of Howden, in Yorkshire, -and is at this day remaining, together with that of her husband on the -same tomb. As this religious madness lasted no longer than the reign -of Henry III. (the tenth and last crusade being published in the year -1268), and the whole order of Knights Templars was dissolved by Edward -II., military expeditions to the Holy Land, as well as devout -pilgrimages there, had their period by the year 1312; consequently -none of those cross-legged monuments are of a later date than the -reign of Edward II., or beginning of Edward III., nor of an earlier -than that of King Stephen, when these expeditions first took place in -this kingdom."--_History and Antiquities of Worcestershire_, fol. vol. -i., p. 31. Since Dr. Nash wrote, however, it has been denied that even -the cross legs had any thing to do with crusades. - -[88] Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. We quote no edition, because -where we could we have modernised the spelling; which is a justice to -this fine old author in a quotation, in order that nobody may pass it -over. With regard to Chaucer being of the Temple, and to his beating -the Franciscan in Fleet Street, all which is reported, depends upon -the testimony of a Mr. Buckley, who, according to Speght, had seen a -Temple record to that effect. - -[89] Prothalamion. - -[90] "Shove-groat, named also Slyp-groat, and Slide-thrift, are sports -occasionally mentioned by the writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth -centuries, and probably were analogous to the modern pastime called -Justice Jervis, or Jarvis, which is confined to common pot-houses, and -only practised by such as frequent the tap-rooms."--_Strutt's Sports -and Pastimes of the People of England_, 1828, chap, i., sect. xix. It -is played with halfpence, which are jerked with the palm of the hand -from the edge of a table, towards certain numbers described upon it. - -[91] Londinium Redivivum, vol. ii., p. 290. - -[92] Sir John Davies, who was afterwards Lord Chief Justice of the -King's Bench, and wrote a poem on the Art of Dancing (so lively was -the gravity of those days!) "bastinadoed" a man at dinner in the -Temple Hall, for which he was expelled. The man probably deserved it, -for Davies had a fine nature; and he went back again by favour of the -excellent Lord Ellesmere. - -[93] Dunciad, book ii. - -[94] Boswell's Life of Johnson, eighth edit., 8vo. 1816, vol. iv., p. -27. - -[95] Boswell's Life of Johnson, eighth edit. 1816, vol. i., p. 398. - -[96] Boswell's Life of Johnson, eighth edit. 1816, vol. i., p. 378. - -[97] Ibid., vol. ii., p. 421. - -[98] Ibid., vol. ii., p. 271. - -[99] Spence's Anecdotes, Singer's edit. p. 355. - -[100] Swift's Works, _ut supra_, vol. iv., p. 41. - -[101] _Tatler_, No. 142. According to the author of a lively rattling -book, conversant with the furniture of old times, Arbuthnot was a -great amateur in sticks. "My uncle," says he, "was universally allowed -to be as deeply skilled in caneology as any one, Dr. Arbuthnot not -excepted, whose science on important questions was quoted even after -his death; for his collection of the various headed sticks and canes, -from the time of the first Charles, taken together, was -unrivalled."--_Wine and Walnuts_, vol. i., p. 242. - -[102] Tatler, No. 86. - -[103] Spence's Anecdotes, by Singer, p. 337. - -[104] Ibid. - -[105] Tatler, as above, vol. iv., p. 600. - -[106] Censura Literaria, vol. iv., p. 345. - -[107] Imitations of Horace, Ep. i., book ii. - -[108] Pennant, _ut supra_, p. 172. - -[109] Faerie Queen, book vi., canto iii. - -[110] Britannia's Pastorals, book i., song iii. - -[111] Londinium Redivivum, vol. ii., p. 279. - -[112] See Malcolm's Londinium Redivivum, vol. iii., 453. - -[113] Boswell, _ut supra_, vol. i., p. 441. - -[114] Malone, on the passage in Boswell, ibid. - -[115] Boswell, vol. ii., p. 117. - -[116] Beauclerk, of the St. Alban's family, was a descendant of -Charles II., whom he resembled in face and complexion, for which -Johnson by no means liked him the less. - -[117] Anecdotes of Samuel Johnson, &c. Allman, 1822, p. 69. - -[118] Boswell, vol. iii., p. 398. - -[119] Johnson's Court runs into Gough Square, "a place lately built -with very handsome houses, and well inhabited by persons of -fashion."--_Maitland's History and Survey of London_, by Entick, -folio, 1756 p. 961. - -[120] Boswell, vol. i., p. 384. - -[121] Boswell, vol. i., p. 400. - -[122] Id., p. 408. - -[123] Boswell, vol. ii., p. 469. - -[124] Boswell, vol. ii., p. 455. - -[125] Ibid., vol. iv., p. 77. - -[126] Ibid., vol. iii., p. 327. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE STRAND. - - Ancient State of the Strand -- Butcher Row -- Death of Lee, the - dramatic Poet -- Johnson at an Eating-House -- Essex Street -- - House and History of the favourite Earl of Essex -- Spenser's - Visit there -- Essex, General of the Parliament -- Essex Head - Club -- Devereux Court -- Grecian Coffee-House -- Twining, the - accomplished Scholar -- St. Clement Danes -- Clement's Inn -- - Falstaff and Shallow -- Norfolk, Arundel, Surrey, and Howard - Streets -- Norfolk House -- Essex's Ring and the Countess of - Nottingham -- William Penn -- Birch -- Dr. Brocklesby -- - Congreve, and his Will -- Voltaire's Visit to him -- Mrs. - Bracegirdle -- Tragical End of Mountford the Player -- Ancient - Cross -- Maypole -- New Church of St. Mary-le-Strand -- Old - Somerset House -- Henrietta Maria and her French Household -- - Waller's Mishap at Somerset Stairs -- New Somerset House -- - Royal Society, Antiquarian Society, and Royal Academy -- Death - of Dr. King -- Exeter Street -- Johnson's first Lodging in - London -- Art of living in London -- Catherine Street -- - Unfortunate Women -- Wimbledon House -- Lyceum and Beef-steak - Club -- Exeter Change -- Bed and Baltimore -- The Savoy -- - Anecdotes of the Duchess of Albemarle -- Beaufort Buildings -- - Lillie, the Perfumer -- Aaron Hill -- Fielding -- Southampton - Street -- Cecil and Salisbury Streets -- Durham House -- - Raleigh -- Pennant on the Word Place or Palace -- New Exchange - -- Don Pantaleon Sa -- The White Milliner -- Adelphi -- Garrick - and his Wife -- Beauclerc -- Society of Arts, and Mr. Barry -- - Bedford Street -- George, Villiers, and Buckingham Streets -- - York House and Buildings -- Squabble between the Spanish and - French Ambassadors -- Hungerford Market -- Craven Street -- - Franklin -- Northumberland House -- Duplicity of Henry, Earl of - Northampton -- Violence of Lord Herbert of Cherbury -- Percy, - Bishop of Dromore -- Pleasant mistake of Goldsmith. - - -In going through Fleet Street and the Strand, we seldom think that the -one is named after a rivulet, now running under ground, and the other -from its being on the banks of the river Thames. As little do most of -us fancy that there was once a line of noblemen's houses on the one -side, and that, at the same time, all beyond the other side, to -Hampstead or Highgate, was open country, with the little hamlet of St. -Giles's in a copse. So late as the reign of Henry VIII. we have a -print containing the vill a of Charing. Citizens used to take an -evening stroll to the well now in St. Clement's Inn. - -In the reign of Edward III. the Strand was an open country road, with -a mansion here and there, on the banks of the river Thames, most -probably a castle or stronghold. In this state it no doubt remained -during the greater part of the York and Lancaster period. From Henry -VII.'s time the castles most likely began to be exchanged for mansions -of a more peaceful character. These gradually increased; and in the -reign of Edward VI. the Strand consisted, on the south side, of a line -of mansions with garden walls; and on the north, of a single row of -houses, behind which all was field. The reader is to imagine wall all -the way from Temple Bar to Whitehall, on his left hand, like that of -Kew Palace, or a succession of Burlington Gardens; while the line of -humbler habitations stood on the other side, like a row of servants in -waiting. - -As wealth increased, not only the importance of rank diminished, and -the nobles were more content to recollect James's advice of living in -the country (where, he said, they looked like ships in a river, -instead of ships at sea), but the value of ground about London, -especially on the river side, was so much augmented, that the -proprietors of these princely mansions were not unwilling to turn the -premises into money. The civil wars had given another jar to the -stability of their abodes in the metropolis; and in Charles the -Second's time the great houses finally gave way, and were exchanged -for streets and wharfs. An agreeable poet of the last century lets us -know that he used to think of this great change in going up the -Strand. - - "Come, Fortescue, sincere, experienc'd friend, - Thy briefs, thy deeds, and e'en thy fees suspend; - Come, let us leave the Temple's silent walls; - Me, business to my distant lodging calls; - Through the long Strand together let us stray; - With thee conversing, I forget the way. - Behold that narrow street which steep descends, - Whose building to the slimy shore extends; - Here Arundel's fam'd structure rear'd its fame: - The street alone retains the empty name. - Where Titian's glowing paint the canvass warmed, - And Raphael's fair design with judgment charmed, - Now hangs the bellman's song; and pasted here - The coloured prints of Overton appear. - Where statues breathed, the works of Phidias' hands, - A wooden pump, or lonely watch-house stands. - There Essex's stately pile adorned the shore, - There Cecil's, Bedford's, Villiers',--now no more."[127] - - -As the aspect in this quarter is so different from what it was, and -the quarter is one of the most important in the metropolis, we may add -what Pennant has written on the subject:-- - - "In the year 1353, that fine street the Strand was an open - highway, with here and there a great man's house, with gardens - to the water's side. In that year it was so ruinous, that - Edward III., by an ordinance, directed a tax to be raised upon - wool, leather, wine, and all goods carried to the staple at - Westminster, from Temple Bar to Westminster Abbey, for the - repair of the road; and that all owners of houses adjacent to - the highway should repair as much as lay before their doors. - Mention is also made of a bridge to be erected near the royal - palace at Westminster, for the conveniency of the said staple; - but the last probably meant no more than stairs for the landing - of the goods, which I find sometimes went by the name of a - bridge. - - "There was no continued street here till about the year 1533; - before that it entirely cut off Westminster from London, and - nothing intervened except the scattered houses, and a village, - which afterwards gave name to the whole. St. Martin's stood - literally in the fields. But about the year 1560 a street was - formed, loosely built, for all the houses on the south side had - great gardens to the river, were called by their owners' names, - and in after times gave name to the several streets that - succeeded them, pointing down to the Thames; each of them had - stairs for the conveniency of taking boat, of which many to - this day bear the names of the houses. As the court was for - centuries either at the palace at Westminster, or Whitehall, a - boat was the customary conveyance of the great to the presence - of their sovereign. The north side was a mere line of houses - from Charing-cross to Temple Bar; all beyond was country. The - gardens which occupied part of the site of Covent Garden were - bounded by fields, and St. Giles's was a distant country - village. These are circumstances proper to point out, to show - the vast increase of our capital in little more than two - centuries."[128] - -The aspect of the Strand, on emerging through Temple Bar, is very -different from what it was forty years ago. "A stranger who had -visited London in 1790, would on his return in 1804," says Mr. -Malcolm, "be astonished to find a spacious area (with the church -nearly in the centre) on the site of Butcher Row, and some other -passages undeserving of the name of streets, which were composed of -those wretched fabrics, overhanging their foundations, the receptacles -of dirt in every corner of their projecting stories, the bane of -ancient London, where the plague, with all its attendant horrors, -frowned destruction on the miserable inhabitants, reserving its forces -for the attacks of each returning summer."[129] - -The site of Butcher Row, thus advantageously thrown open, is called -Pickett Street, after the alderman who projected the improvements. -Unfortunately they turned out to be on too large a scale; that is to -say, the houses were found to be too large and expensive for the right -side of the Strand in this quarter; the tide of traffic between the -city and Westminster flowing the other side of the way. The -consequence is, that the houses are under-let, and that something of -the old squalid look remains in the turning towards Clement's Inn, in -spite of the pillared entrance. - -Butcher Row, however squalid, contained houses worth eating and -drinking in. Johnson frequented an eating-house there; and, according -to Oldys, it was "in returning from the Bear and Harrow in Butcher -Row, through Clare Market, to his lodgings in Duke Street, that Lee, -the dramatic poet, overladen with wine, fell down (on the ground, as -some say--according to others, on a bulk), and was killed, or stifled -in the snow. He was buried in the parish church of St. Clement Danes, -aged about thirty-five years."[130] "He was a very handsome as well as -ingenious man," says Oldys, "but given to debauchery, which -necessitated a milk diet. When some of his university comrades visited -him, he fell to drinking out of all measure, which, flying up into his -head, caused his face to break out into those carbuncles which were -afterwards observed there; and also touched his brain, occasioning -that madness so much lamented in so rare a genius. Tom Brown says, he -wrote, while he was in Bedlam, a play of twenty-five acts; and Mr. -Bowman tells me that, going once to visit him there, Lee showed him a -scene, 'in which,' says he, 'I have done a miracle for you.' 'What's -that?' said Bowman. 'I have made you a good priest.'" - -Oldys mentions another of his mad sayings, but does not tell us with -whom it passed. - - "I've seen an unscrewed spider spin a thought, - And walk away upon the wings of angels!" - - "What say you to that, doctor?" "Ah, marry, Mr. Lee, that's - superfine indeed. The thought of a winged spider may catch - sublime readers of poetry sooner than his web, but it will need - a commentary in prose to render it intelligible to the - vulgar."[131] - -Lee's madness does not appear to have been melancholy, otherwise these -anecdotes would not bear repeating. There are various stories of the -origin of it; but, most probably, he had an over-sanguine -constitution, which he exasperated by intemperance. Though he died so -young, the author of _A Satyr on the Poets_ gives us to understand -that he was corpulent. - - "Pembroke loved tragedy, and did provide - For the butchers' dogs, and for the whole Bank-side: - The bear was fed; but dedicating Lee - Was thought to have a greater paunch than he."[132] - -This Pembroke, who loved a bear-garden, was the seventh earl of that -title. His daughter married the son of Jefferies. Lee, on a visit to -the earl at Wilton, is said to have drunk so hard, that "the butler -feared he would empty the cellar." The madness of Lee is almost -visible in his swelling and overladen dramas; in which, however, there -is a good deal of true poetic fire, and a vein of tenderness that -makes us heartily pity the author. - -The social Boswell, in speaking of Johnson's eating-house in Butcher -Row, does not approve of establishments of that sort. We shall see, by -and by, that he was wrong. - - "Happening to dine," says he, "at Clifton's eating-house in - Butcher Row, I was surprised to see Johnson come in and take - his seat at another table. The mode of dining, or rather being - fed, at such houses in London, is well known to many to be - peculiarly unsocial, as there is no ordinary or united company, - but each person has his own mess, and is under no obligation to - hold any intercourse with any one. A liberal and full-minded - man, however, who loves to talk, will break through this - churlish and unsocial restraint. Johnson and an Irish gentleman - got into a dispute concerning the cause of some part of mankind - being black. 'Why, sir (said Johnson), it has been accounted - for in three ways: either by supposing that they are the - posterity of Ham, who was cursed; or that God at first created - two kinds of men, one black and another white; or that, by the - heat of the sun, the skin is scorched, and so acquires a sooty - hue. This matter has been much canvassed among naturalists, but - has never been brought to any certain issue.' What the Irishman - said is totally obliterated from my mind; but I remember that - he became very warm and intemperate in his expressions; upon - which Johnson rose, and quietly walked away. When he had - retired, his antagonist took his revenge, as he thought, by - saying, 'He has a most ungainly figure, and an affectation of - pomposity unworthy of a man of genius.'"[133] - -The ungainly figure might have been pardoned by the Irishman; who, we -suppose, was equally fiery and elegant. As to Johnson's pompous -manner, the most excusable part of it originated, doubtless, in his -having decided opinions. The rest may have been an instinct of -self-defence, arising from the "ungainly figure," not without a sense -of the dignity of his calling. He certainly lost nothing by it, upon -the whole. At all events, one is willing to think the best of what was -accompanied by so much excellence. Affectation it was not; for nobody -despised pretension of any kind more than he did. Johnson was a sort -of born bishop in his way, with high judgments and cathedral notions -lording it in his mind; and _ex cathedra_ he accordingly spoke. - -In Butcher Row, one day, Johnson met, in advanced life, a -fellow-collegian, of the name of Edwards, whom he had not seen since -they were at the university. Edwards annoyed him by talking of their -age. "Don't let us discourage one another," said Johnson. It was this -Edwards, a dull but good man, who made that _naive_ remark, which was -pronounced by Burke and others to be an excellent trait of -character:--"You are a philosopher, Dr. Johnson," said he: "I have -tried in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, -cheerfulness was always breaking in."[134] - -Before we come to St. Clement's, we arrive, on the left-hand side of -the way, at Essex Street; a spot once famous for the residence of the -favourite Earl of Essex. We have mentioned an Outer Temple, which -originally formed a companion to the Inner and Middle Temples, the -whole constituting the tenements of the knights. This Outer Temple -stretched beyond Temple Bar into the ground now occupied by Essex -Street and Devereux Court; and after being possessed (Dugdale -supposes) by the Prior and Canons of the Holy Sepulchre, was -transferred by them, in the time of Edward III., to the Bishops of -Exeter, who occupied it till the reign of Henry VI., and called it -Exeter House. Sir William Paget (afterwards Lord Paget) then had it, -and did "re-edify the same," calling it Paget Place. After this it was -occupied by the Duke of Norfolk, who was executed for his dealings -with Mary, Queen of Scots; then by Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the -favourite, who called it Leicester House, and bequeathed it to his -"son, Sir Robert;" and then by the other favourite, Leicester's -son-in-law, Essex, from whom it retained the name of Essex House. It -was occasionally tenanted by men of rank till some time after the -Restoration, when it was pulled down, and the site converted into the -present street and court. The only remnant of it supposed to exist is -the present Unitarian Chapel, which, before it became such, was -called Essex House, and latterly contained an auction room.[135] - -The repose enjoyed in this precinct since the Restoration has been -like silence after a succession of storms, for the house was of a -turbulent reputation. The first bishop who had it after the Templars, -being a favourite of Edward II., was seized by the mob, hurried to -Cheapside, where they beheaded him, and then carried back a corpse, -and buried in a heap of sand at his door. Lord Paget got into trouble, -together with his friend the Duke of Somerset, who was accused of -intending to assassinate Northumberland and others at this house. -Norfolk possessed it while he formed his designs on Mary, Queen of -Scots, for which he was brought to the scaffold; Leicester was always -having some ill design or other--perhaps poisoned a visitor or so -occasionally (for he is said to have thought nothing of that gentle -expediency); and Essex made the house famous by standing a siege in it -against the troops of his mistress. The siege was not long, nor any of -his actions in the business very wise, though he was a man of an -exalted nature. Essex got into his troubles partly from heat and -ambition, partly from the inferior and more cunning nature of some of -his rivals at court. There is no doubt that all these causes, together -with his confidence in Elizabeth's inability to proceed to -extremities, conspired to lead him into rebellion. His first offence -that we hear of, next to a general petulance of manner, which the -Queen's own mixture of fondness and petulance was calculated enough to -provoke, was a quarrel with some young lords for her favour; the -second, his joining the expedition to Cadiz without leave; and the -third, his marriage with the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham: for -Elizabeth never thought it proper that her favourites should be -married to any thing but her "fair idea." - -His next dispute with her, which was on the subject of an assistant in -the affairs of Ireland, to which he was going as lord deputy, -terminated in the singular catastrophe of his receiving from her a box -on the ear, with the encouraging addition of bidding him "Go, and be -hanged." It is said to have been occasioned by his turning his back -upon her. He clapped his hand to his sword, and swore he would not -have put up with such an insult from her father. His fall is generally -dated from this circumstance, and it is thought he never forgave it. -But surely this is not a correct judgment: for the blow which might -have been intolerable from the hand of a king, implied, in its very -extravagance, something not without flattery and self-abasement from -that of a princess. It was as if Elizabeth had put herself into the -situation of a termagant wife. The quarrel preceded the violence. -Essex went to Ireland against the rebels, but apparently with great -unwillingness, calling it, in a letter to the Queen, the "cursedest of -all islands," and insinuating that the best thing that could happen -both to please her and himself was the loss of his life in battle. The -conclusion of this letter is a remarkable instance of the mixture of -romance with real life in those days. It is in verse, terminating with -the following pastoral sentiment. Essex wishes he could live like a -hermit, "in some unhaunted desert most obscure"-- - - "From all society, from love and hate - Of worldly folk; then should he sleep secure, - Then wake again, and yield God every praise, - Content with hips and hawes, and bramble-berry; - In contemplation parting out his days, - And change of holy thoughts to make him merry. - Who when he dies, his tomb may be a bush, - Where harmless robin dwells with gentle thrush. - - Your Majesty's exiled servant, - "ROBERT ESSEX." - -Think of this being a letter from a lord lieutenant of Ireland to his -sovereign! Warton says, from the evidence of some sonnets preserved in -the British Museum, that although Essex was "an ingenious and elegant -writer of prose," he was no poet. There is an ungainliness in the -lines we have just quoted, and he was probably too much given to -action to be a poet; but there is something in him that relished of -the truth and directness of poetry, when he had to touch upon any -actual emotion. Poetry is nothing but the voluntary power to get at -the inner spirit of what is felt, with imagination to embody it. It -was supposed that Essex's enemies first got him into the office of -lord lieutenant, and then took advantage of his impatience under it -to ruin him. He was accused of tampering with the rebels, and -meditating his return into England with the troops under his charge; -with a view to which object he is said to have described his army as a -force with which he "would make the earth to tremble as he went." He -came over, with the passion of an injured man, and presented himself -before the Queen, who gave him a tolerable reception, but afterwards -confined him to the house of the lord keeper. It was then, according -to his confession before his death, that he first contemplated violent -measures against the throne, though always short of treason. Before -his liberation, he was soured by his ineffectual attempts to renew his -facility of admission to the presence chamber; and he let fall an -expression which his enemies greedily seized at, to wit, that the -"Queen grew old and cankered, and that her mind was become as crooked -as her carcase." This was exactly in his style, which was off-hand and -energetic, with a gusto of truth in it. Meantime he began to have his -friends about him more than ever, and to affect a necessity for it; -and a summons being sent him to attend the council, he was driven by -anger and fear to decline it, and to fortify himself in his house. His -chief and most generous companion on this occasion was Henry, Earl of -Southampton, the friend of Shakspeare. There was some little -resistance; and the Lord Keeper, with the Lord Chief Justice and the -Earl of Worcester, coming to summon him to his allegiance, he locked -them up in a room, on pretence of taking care of their persons, and -then sallied through Fleet Street into the city, where he expected a -rising in his favour; for he was the most popular noble, perhaps, that -England had ever seen, and the city had been disgusted by repeated -levies on its purse, under pretence of invasions from Spain: though, -according to Essex, Spain had never been so much in favour. The -levies, in truth, were made against himself. He was disappointed: -heard himself proclaimed a traitor by sound of trumpet in Gracechurch -Street, and after a little more scuffling on the part of his -adherents, returned by water from Queenhithe, and surrendered himself; -being partly moved, he said, by the "cries of ladies." It is clear -that he did not know what to be at. He expected, most likely, every -moment, that the Queen's tenderness would interfere, fearful of seeing -her once beloved favourite in danger. But the Cecils and others aided -her good sense in keeping her quiet. Essex had certainly acted in a -way incompatible with the duty of a subject, and such as no sovereign -could tolerate. He was tried in Westminster Hall, and convicted of an -intention to seize the court and the Tower, to surprise the Queen in -her apartments, and then to summon a parliament for a "redress of -grievances;" which, he said, should give his enemies "a fair trial." -Southampton was acquitted, no doubt from a sense that he intended -nothing but a romantic adherence to his friend. - -How a man of Essex's understanding could give into these preposterous -attempts, it would be difficult to conceive, if every day's experience -did not show how powerful a succession of little circumstances is to -bring people into situations which themselves might have least looked -for. Essex evidently expected pardon to the last. When Lord Grey's -name was read over among the peers who were to try him, he smiled and -jogged the elbow of Southampton, for offending whom Grey had been -punished. He was at his ease throughout the trial. He said to the -Attorney-General (Coke), who had told him in the course of his speech -that he should be "Robert the Last" of an earldom, instead of "Robert -the First" of a kingdom--"Well, Mr. Attorney, I thank God you are not -my judge this day, you are so uncharitable." - - "_Coke._ Well, my lord, we shall prove you anon, what you are; - which your pride of heart, and aspiring mind, hath brought you - unto. - - _Essex._ Ah, Mr. Attorney, lay your hand upon your heart, and - pray to God to forgive us _both_."[136] - -And when sentence was passed, though it is not true that he refused to -ask for mercy, for he did it after the best fashion of his style, -"kneeling (he said) upon the very knees of his heart," yet he seemed -to threaten Elizabeth, in a tender way, with his resolution to die. -She left him, like a politic sovereign, to his fate; but is thought -never to have recovered it, as a friend. The romantic story of her -visiting the Countess of Nottingham, who had kept back a ring which -Essex sent her after his condemnation, of her shaking her on her -deathbed, and crying out that "God might forgive, but she could not," -is more and more credited as documents transpire. The ring, it is -said, had been given to Essex, with a promise that it should serve him -in need under any circumstances, if he did but send it. It is supposed -that the non-appearance of it hurt the proud heart of Elizabeth, and -finally allowed her to let him die. Yet she was a great sovereign, and -might have suffered the law to take its course, with whatever sorrow. -She was jealous of her reputation with the old and cool-headed lords -about her. When the death, however, had taken place, she might have -fancied otherwise. Something preyed strongly on her mind towards her -decease, which happened within two years after his execution. She -refused to go to bed for ten days and nights before her death, lying -upon the carpet with cushions about her, and absorbed in the -profoundest melancholy. To be sure, this may have been disease. A -princess like Elizabeth, possessed of sovereign power, which had been -sharply exercised on some doubtful occasions, might have had -misgivings when going to die. Two certain causes of regret she must -have had for Essex. She must have been well aware that she had -alternately encouraged and irritated him over much; and she must have -known that he was a better man than many who assisted in his -overthrow, and that if he had been less worthy of regard, he probably -would have survived her, as they did. - -It may easily be imagined that Essex was a man for whom a strong -affection might be entertained. He excited interest by his character, -and could maintain it by his language. In everything he did there was -a certain excess, but on the liberal side. When a youth, he plunged -into the depths of rural pleasures and books; he was lavish of his -money and good words for his friends; he said everything that came -uppermost, but then it was worth saying, only his enemies were not as -well pleased with it as his friends, and they never forgot it: in -fine, he was romantic, brave, and impassioned. He is so like a _preux -chevalier_, that till we call to mind other gallant knights who have -not been handsome, we are somewhat surprised to hear that he was not -well made, and that nothing is said of his face but that it looked -reserved--a seeming anomaly, which deep thought sometimes produces in -the countenances of open-hearted men. These were no hindrances, -however, to the admiration entertained of him by the ladies; and he -was so popular with authors and with the public, that Warton says he -could bring evidence of his scarcely ever quitting England or even the -metropolis, on the most frivolous enterprise, without a pastoral or -other poetical praise of him, which was sold and sung in the streets. -He was the friend of Spenser, most likely of Shakspeare too. being -the friend of Southampton. Spenser was well acquainted with Essex -House. In his '_Prothalamion_,' published in 1596, he has left -interesting evidence of his having visited Leicester there; and he -follows up the record with a panegyric on Leicester's successor, which -was probably his first hint to Essex that he was still in want of such -assistance as he had received from his father-in-law. The two passages -taken together render the hint rather broad, and such as would make -one a little jealous for the dignity of the great poet, were not the -manners of that time different in this respect from what they are now. -Speaking of the Temple, in the lines quoted in our last chapter, he -goes on to say-- - - "Next whereunto there stands a stately place, - Where oft I gayned giftes and goodly grace - Of that great lord, which therein wont to dwell. - Whose want too well now feels my friendless case: - But, ah! here fits not well - Olde woes, but ioyes, to tell - Against the bridale daye, which is not long: - Sweet Themmes! runne softly till I end my song. - - Yet therein now doth lodge a noble peer, - Great England's glory, and the world's wide wonder, - Whose dreadful name late through all Spaine did thunder, - And Hercules' two pillars standing near - Did make to quake and feare: - Faire branch of honour, flower of chevalrie; - That fillest England with thy triumph's fame, - Joy have thou of thy noble victorie." - -Essex no doubt took the poet at his word, both for his panegyric and -his hint: for it was he that gave Spenser his funeral in Westminster, -and he was not of a spirit to treat a great poet, as poets have -sometimes been treated--with neglect in their lifetime, and -self-complacent monuments to them after their death. - -We shall close this notice (in which we have endeavoured to -concentrate all the interest we could) of the once great and applauded -Essex, whose memory long retained its popularity, and gave rise to -several tragedies, with a letter of his to the Lord Keeper Egerton, in -which there is one of his finest sentiments expressed with his most -passionate felicity. Egerton's eldest son had accompanied Essex into -Ireland, and died there, which is the subject of the letter. As -Spenser's death also happened just before the earl set out for that -country, at a moment when he might have been of political as well as -poetical use to him (for Spenser was a politician, and had been -employed in the affairs of Ireland), Mr. Todd thinks, that among the -friends alluded to, part of the regret may have been for him: - - "Whatt can you receave from a cursed country butt vnfortunate - newes? whatt can be my stile (whom heaven and earth are agreed - to make a martyr) butt a stile of mourning? nott for myself - thatt I smart, _for I wold I had in my hart the sorow of all my - frends_, but I mourn that my destiny is to overlive my deerest - frendes. Of yr losse yt is neither good for me to write nor - you to reade. But I protest I felt myself sensibly dismembered, - when I lost my frend. Shew yr strength in lyfe. Lett me, yf yt - be God's will, shew yt in taking leave of the world, and - hasting after my frends. Butt I will live and dy - - "More yr lp's then any - "man's living, - "ESSEX." - - "_Arbrachan, this last day of August_" [1599]. - - "Little,"[137] says Mr. Todd, "did the generous but unfortunate - Essex then imagine, that the learned statesman, to whom this - letter of condolence was addressed, would be directed very soon - afterwards to issue an order for his execution. The original - warrant, to which the name of Elizabeth is prefixed, is now in - the possession of the Marquis of Stafford; and the queen has - written her name, not with the firmness observable in numerous - documents existing in the same and other collections, but with - apparent tremor and hesitation." - -In Essex House was born another Robert, Earl of Essex, son of the -preceding, well known in history as general of the Parliament. He was -a child when his father died; and was in the hands, first, of his -grandmother, Lady Walsingham, and, secondly, of Henry Saville -(afterwards Sir Henry), under whose severe discipline he was educated -at Eton. We mention these circumstances, because they tended to keep -him in that Presbyterian interest, which his father patronised out of -a love of toleration and popularity. Perhaps, also, they did him no -good with his wives; for he married two, and was singularly -unfortunate in both. To the first, Lady Frances Howard, he was -betrothed when a boy. He travelled, returned, and married her, with -little love on his own side, and none on hers. Her connection with -Car, Earl of Somerset, and all the infamy, crime, and wretchedness it -brought upon her, are well known. Her best excuse, which is the -ordinary one in cases of great wickedness (and it is a comfort to -human nature that it is so), is, that she was a great fool. Her -dislike of her first husband was not, perhaps, the least excusable -part of her conduct, first, because she was a child like himself when -they were betrothed; and secondly, because his second wife appears to -have liked him no better. The latter was divorced also. After this, -Essex took to a country retirement, and subsequently to an active part -in the Civil Wars, during which his love of justice and affability to -his inferiors rendered him extremely popular. He was of equivocal -service, however, to the Parliament. He was a better general than -politician, not of a commanding genius in any respect, and was -suspected, not without reason, of an overweening desire to accommodate -matters too much, partly out of ignorance of what the nature of the -quarrel demanded, and partly from an affectation of playing the part -of an amicable dictator for his own aggrandisement. So the Parliament -got rid of him by the famous self-denying ordinance. Clarendon says, -that when he resigned his commission, the whole Parliament went the -day following to Essex House, to return him thanks for his great -services; but a late historian of the commonwealth says, there is no -trace of this compliment on the journals.[138] Next year they attended -him to his grave. Essex's character was a prose-copy of his father's, -with the love and romance left out. - -Dr. Johnson, the year before he died, founded in Essex Street one of -his minor clubs. The Literary Club did not meet often enough for his -want of society, was too distant, and perhaps had now become too much -for his conversational ambition. He wanted a mixture of inferior -intellects to be at ease with. Accordingly, this club, which was held -at the Essex Head, then kept by a servant of Mr. Thrale, was of a more -miscellaneous nature than the other, and made no pretension to -expense. One cannot help smiling at the modest and pensive tone of the -letter which Johnson sent to Sir Joshua, inviting him to join it. "The -terms are lax, and the expenses light. We meet thrice a-week; and he -who misses, forfeits two-pence."[139] This stretch of philosophy seems -to have startled the fashionable painter, who declined to become a -member. When we find, however, in the list the names of Brocklesby, -Horsley, Daines Barrington, and Windham, Boswell has reason to say -that Sir John Hawkins's charge of its being a "low ale-house -association" appears to be sufficiently obviated. But the names might -have been subscribed out of civility without any further intention. -The club, nevertheless, was in existence when Boswell wrote, and went -on, he says, happily. Johnson said of him, when he was proposed, -"Boswell is a very _clubable_ man." - -In Devereux Court, through which there is a passage round into the -Temple, is the Grecian Coffee House, supposed to be the oldest in -London. We should rather say the revival of the oldest, for the -premises were burnt down and rebuilt. The Grecian was the house from -which Steele proposed to date his learned articles in the _Tatler_. - -In this court are the premises of the eminent tea-dealers, Messrs. -Twining, the front of which, surmounted with its stone figures of -Chinese, has an elegant appearance in the Strand. We notice the house, -not only on this account, but because the family have to boast of a -very accomplished scholar, the translator of the _Poetics_ of -Aristotle. Mr. Twining was contemporary with Gray and Mason at -Cambridge; and besides his acquirements as a linguist (for, in -addition to his knowledge of Greek and Latin, he wrote French and -Italian with idiomatic accuracy), was a musician so accomplished as to -lead the concerts and oratorios that were performed during term-time, -when Bate played the organ and harpsichord. He was also a lively -companion, full of wit and playfulness, yet so able to content himself -with country privacy, and so exemplary a clergyman, that for the last -forty years of his life he scarcely allowed himself to be absent from -his parishioners more than a fortnight in a year. - -The church of St. Clement Danes, which unworthily occupies the open -part of the Strand, to the west of Essex Street, was the one most -frequented by Dr. Johnson. It is not known why this church was called -St. Clement _Danes_. Some think because there was a massacre of the -Danes thereabouts; others because Harold Harefoot was buried there; -and others, because the Danes had the quarter given them to live in, -when Alfred the Great drove them out of London, the monarch at the -same time building the church, in order to assist their conversion to -Christianity. The name _St. Clement_ has been derived with probability -from the patron saint of Pope Clement III., a great friend of the -Templars, to whom the church at one time belonged. St. Clement's was -rebuilt towards the end of the century before last by Edward Pierce, -under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren, but is a very incongruous -ungainly edifice. Its best aspect is at night-time in winter, when -the deformities of its body are not seen, and the pale steeple rises -with a sort of ghastliness of grandeur through the cloudy atmosphere. -The chimes may still be heard at midnight, as Falstaff describes -having heard them with Justice Shallow. If they did not execute one of -Handel's psalm-tunes, we should take them to be the very same he -speaks of, and conclude that they had grown hoarse with age and -sitting-up; for to our knowledge they have lost some of their notes -these twenty years, and the rest are falling away. A steeple should -set a better example. - -A few years back, when the improvements on the north side, in this -quarter, had not been followed by those on the south, Gay's picture of -the avenue between the church and the houses was true in all its -parts. We remember the "combs dangling in our faces," and almost -mourned their loss for the sake of the poet. - - "Where the fair columns of St. Clement stand, - Whose straiten'd bounds encroach upon the Strand; - Where the low penthouse bows the walker's head, - And the rough pavement wounds the yielding tread; - Where not a post protects the narrow space, - And, strung in twines, combs dangle in thy face; - Summon at once thy courage, rouse thy care, - Stand firm, look back, be resolute, beware. - Forth issuing from steep lanes, the collier's steeds - Drag the black load; another cart succeeds; - Team follows team, crowds heap'd on crowds appear, - And wait impatient till the road grow clear." - -Everybody can testify to the truth of this description. A little -patience, however, is well repaid by the sight of the noble creatures -dragging up the loads. The horses of the colliers and brewers of -London are worth notice at all times for the magnificence of their -_build_. Gay proceeds to other particulars, now no longer to be -encountered. He cautions you how you lose your sword; and adds a -pleasant mode of theft, practised in those times:-- - - "Nor is the flaxen wig with safety worn: - High on the shoulder, in a basket borne, - Lurks the sly boy, whose hands, to rapine bred, - Plucks off the curling honours of thy head."[140] - - -Clement's Inn is named from the church. The device over the gate, of -an anchor and the letter C, is supposed to allude to the martyrdom of -St. Clement, who is said to have been tied to an anchor and thrown -into the sea, by order of the Emperor Trajan. - - "The hall is situated on the south side of a neat but small - quadrangle. It is a Tuscan diminutive building, with a very - large Corinthian door, and arched windows, erected in 1715. - Another irregular area is surrounded by convenient houses, in - which are the possessor's chambers. Part of this is a pretty - garden, with a kneeling African, of considerable merit, - supporting a dial, on the eastern side."[141] - -In Knox's _Elegant Extracts_ are some lines on this negro, which have -often been repeated:-- - - "In vain, poor sable son of woe, - Thou seek'st the tender tear; - For thee in vain with pangs they flow; - For mercy dwells not here. - - From cannibals thou fledst in vain; - Lawyers less quarter give; - The first won't eat you till you're slain, - The last will do't alive." - -This inn, like all the other inns of court, is of great antiquity. -Dugdale states it to have been an inn of Chancery in the reign of -Edward II. Some have conjectured, according to Mr. Moser, "that near -this spot stood an inn, as far back as the time of King Ethelred, for -the reception of penitents who came to St. Clement's Well; that a -religious house was in process of time established, and that the -church rose in consequence." Be this as it may, the holy brotherhood -was probably removed to some other institution; the Holy Lamb, an inn -on the west side of the lane, received the guests; and the monastery -was converted, or rather perverted, from the purposes of the gospel to -those of the law, and was probably, in this profession, considered as -a house of considerable antiquity in the days of Shakspeare; for he, -who with respect to this kind of chronology may be safely quoted, -makes in the second act of Henry IV. one of his justices a member of -that society:-- - - "He must to the Inns of Court. I was of Clement's once myself, - where they talk of Mad Shallow still." - -A pump now covers St. Clement's Well. Fitzstephen, in his description -of London, in the reign of Henry II., speaks of certain "excellent -springs at a small distance" from the city, "whose waters are sweet, -salubrious, and clear, and whose runnels murmur o'er the shining -stones: among these," he continues, "Holywell, Clerkenwell, and St. -Clement's Well may be esteemed the principal, as being much the most -frequented, both by the scholars from the school (Westminster) and the -youth from the city, when on a summer's evening they are disposed to -take an airing." - -Six hundred years and upwards have elapsed since Fitzstephen wrote. It -is pleasant to think that the well has lasted so long, and that the -place is still quiet. - -The Clare family, who have left their name to Clare Market, appear to -have occupied Clement's Inn during part of the reign of the Tudors. -From their hands it reverted to those of the law. It is an appendage -to the Inner Temple. We are not aware of any greater legal personage -having been bred there, than the one just mentioned. Shallow takes -delight in his local recollections, particularly of this inn. In one -of the masterly scenes of this kind, Falstaff's corroboration of a -less pleasant recollection, and Shallow's anger against the cause of -it, after such a lapse of time, are very ludicrous. - - "_Shallow._ Oh, Sir John, do you remember since we lay all - night in the windmill in St. George's Fields? - - "_Fals._ No more of that, good Master Shallow, no more of that. - - "_Shal._ Ha, it was a merry night. And is Jane Nightwork alive? - - "_Fals._ She lives, Master Shallow. - - "_Shal._ She never could away with me. - - "_Fals._ Never, never; she would always say she could not abide - Master Shallow. - - "_Shal._ By the mass. I could anger her to the heart. She was - then a bonaroba. Doth she hold her own well?--and had Robin - Nightwork by old Nightwork, before I came to Clement's Inn. - - "_Silence._ That's fifty-five years ago. - - "_Shal._ Ha, Cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that that - this knight and I have seen! Ah, Sir John, said I well? - - "_Fals._ We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master Shallow. - - "_Shal._ That we have, that we have, that we have; in faith, - Sir John, we have; our watchword was, _Hem, boys_! Come, let's - to dinner: come, let's to dinner: Oh, the days that we have - seen! Come, come."[142] - -The sites of Arundel, Norfolk, Surrey, and Howard Streets (the last of -which crosses the others), were formerly occupied by the house and -grounds originally constituting the town residence of the Bishop of -Bath and Wells, then of the Lord High Admiral Seymour, and afterwards -of the Howards Earls of Arundel, from whom it came into possession of -the Duke of Norfolk. It was successively called Bath's Inn (Hampton -Place, according to some, but we know not why), Seymour Place, Arundel -House, and Norfolk House. It was a wide low house, but according to -Sully, who lodged in it when he was ambassador to James I., very -convenient, on account of the multitude of rooms on the same floor. - -In this house the Lord High Admiral, Thomas Seymour, brother of the -Protector Somerset, in the reign of Edward VI., contrived to place the -Princess (afterwards Queen) Elizabeth, with a design of possessing her -person, and sharing her succession to the Crown. No doubt is -entertained of these views by the historians. Elizabeth was not averse -to him, though he had lately married the Queen Dowager (Catherine -Parr); and some gossipping stories transpired of the evidences of -their good-will. Catherine's death increased the suspicion, and she -herself expressed it on her death-bed. Seymour's ambition, however, -shortly brought him to the scaffold, and saved us from a King Thomas -I., who would probably, as Pennant thinks, have been a very bad one. - -We have mentioned the Countess of Nottingham who withheld from -Elizabeth the ring sent her by Essex. It was in this house she died. -Her husband was a Howard, and, probably, she was on a visit there. We -take an opportunity, therefore, of relating the particulars of that -romantic story, as collected by the accurate Dr. Birch, and repeated -in the _Memoirs of the Peers of England during the reign of James I._ -"The following curious story," says the compiler of this work, "was -frequently told by Lady Elizabeth Spelman, great grand-daughter of Sir -Robert Carey, brother of Lady Nottingham, and afterwards Earl of -Monmouth, whose curious memoirs of himself were published a few years -ago by Lord Corke." - - "When Catherine, Countess of Nottingham, was dying (as she did, - according to his lordship's own account, about a fortnight - before Queen Elizabeth), she sent to her Majesty to desire that - she might see her, in order to reveal something to her Majesty - without the discovery of which she could not die in peace. Upon - the Queen's coming, Lady Nottingham told her, that, while the - Earl of Essex lay under sentence of death, he was desirous of - asking her Majesty's mercy, in the manner prescribed by - herself, during the height of his favour; the Queen having - given him a ring, which being sent to her as a token of his - distress, might entitle him to her protection. But the earl, - jealous of those about him, and not caring to trust any of them - with it, as he was looking out of his window one morning, saw a - boy, with whose appearance he was pleased; and engaging him by - money and promises, directed him to carry the ring, which he - took from his finger and threw down, to Lady Scroope, a sister - of the Countess of Nottingham, and a friend of his lordship, - who attended upon the Queen; and to beg of her that she would - present it to her Majesty. The boy, by mistake, carried it to - Lady Nottingham, who showed it to her husband, the admiral, an - enemy of Lord Essex, in order to take his advice. The admiral - forbid her to carry it, or return any answer to the message; - but insisted upon her keeping the ring. - - "The Countess of Nottingham, having made this discovery, begged - the Queen's forgiveness; but her Majesty answered, '_God may - forgive you, but I never can_,' and left the room with great - emotion. Her mind was so struck with the story that she never - went into bed, nor took any sustenance from that instant, for - Camden is of opinion, that her chief reason for suffering the - earl to be executed, was his supposed obstinacy in not applying - to her for mercy."[143] - - "In confirmation of the time of the countess's death," - continues the compiler, "it now appears from the parish - register of Chelsea, extracted by Mr. Lysons (_Environs of - London_, vol. ii., p. 120), that she died at Arundel House, - London, February 25, and was buried the 28th, 1603. Her funeral - was kept at Chelsea, March 21st; and Queen Elizabeth died three - days afterwards." - -Clarendon gives a singular character of this house and its master when -it was in possession of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel. He says that -the earl - - "Seemed to live, as it were, in another nation, his house being - a place to which all people resorted, who resorted to no other - place; strangers, or such as affected to look like strangers, - and dressed themselves accordingly. He was willing to be - thought a scholar, and to understand the most mysterious parts - of antiquity, because he made a wonderful and costly purchase - of excellent statues whilst in Italy and in Rome (some whereof - he could never obtain permission to remove out of Rome, though - he had paid for them), and had a rare collection of medals. As - to all parts of learning, he was almost illiterate, and thought - no other part of history so considerable as what related to his - own family, in which, no doubt, there had been some very - memorable persons. It cannot be denied that he had in his own - person, in his aspect and countenance, the appearance of a - great man, which he preserved in his gait and motion. He wore - and affected a habit very different from that of the time, such - as men had only beheld in pictures of the most considerable - men; all which drew the eyes of most, and the reverence of - many, towards him, as the image and representative of the - ancient nobility, and native gravity of the nobles, when they - had been most venerable; but this was only his outside, his - nature and true humour being much disposed to levity and - delights, which indeed were very despicable and childish." - -The marbles here mentioned, now at Oxford, were collected at Arundel -House. This character from the pen of Clarendon has been thought too -severe. Perhaps the earl had given the noble historian a repulse when -he was nothing but plain Mr. Hyde; for personal resentments of this -sort are apparent in his writings. The last Duke of Norfolk but one, -who wrote anecdotes on the Howard family, asks how the man who -collected the Oxford marbles could be the slave of such family -self-love as Clarendon describes, and how it was that he held the -first places in the state, and the most important commissions abroad. -It is well-known, however, that a man may do all this, and yet be more -fortunate than wise. Arundel was certainly proud, if not dull; and the -proudest men are not apt to be the brightest. It was he that, in a -dispute with Lord Spenser, in the Upper House, when the latter spoke -of the treason of the earl's ancestors, said, "My lord, my lord, while -my ancestors were plotting treason, yours were keeping sheep." He -little thought that his marbles would help to bring about a time, when -an historian, by no means indifferent to rank and title, should regard -a romantic poem as the "brightest jewel" in a ducal coronet, and that -coronet be a Spenser's.[144] - -At the south-west corner of Norfolk Street lived at one time the -famous Penn, who from being a coxcomb in his youth became a Quaker and -a founder of a state. However, his coxcombry was a falling-off from -early seriousness. His father was a rough admiral, who could not for -the life of him conceive why his son should relapse into a preciseness -so unlike the rest of the world, and so unfitted to succeed at court. -Voltaire says,[145] that young Penn (for he was little more than -twenty years of age) appeared suddenly before his father in a Quaker -dress, and to the old man's astonishment and indignation said, without -moving his hat, "Friend Penn, how dost thee do?" But, according to -more serious biographers, the change was not so sudden. The hat, -however, was a great matter of contention between them, the admiral -wishing to stipulate that his son should uncover to the King (Charles -II.), the King's brother, and himself; but Penn having recourse to -"fasting and supplication," found that his hat was not to be moved. -These were the weaknesses of a young enthusiast. His enthusiasm -remained for greater purposes; but he is understood to have grown -wiser with regard to the rest, though he continued a Quaker for life. -Penn, though a legislator, never seems to have given up a taste for -good living. His appearance in the portraits of him, notwithstanding -his garb, is fat and festive; and he died of apoplexy. - -In the same house, we believe, that had been occupied by Penn[146], -resided an author who must not be passed over in a work of this kind; -to wit, the indefatigable and honest antiquary, Dr. Birch. He came of -a Quaker stock. Birch astonished his friends by going a great deal -into company; but the secret of his uniting sociality with labour, was -his early rising. This, which appears to be one of the main secrets of -longevity, ought to have kept him older, for he died at the age of -sixty-one: but he was probably festive as well social, and should have -taken more exercise. Being a bad horseman, he was thrown on the -Hampstead road, and killed on the spot; but the doctors were uncertain -whether apoplexy had not a hand in the disaster. In speaking of Birch, -nobody should omit a charming billet, written to him by his first -wife, almost in the article of death. The death took place within a -year after their marriage, and was accelerated by childbed. - - "This day I return you, my dearest life, my sincere hearty - thanks for every favour bestowed on your most faithful and - obedient wife. - - "_July 31, 1729._" "HANNAH BIRCH."[147] - -In Norfolk Street, for upwards of thirty years, lived Dr. Brocklesby, -the friend and physician of Dr. Johnson. Physicians of this class may, -_par excellence_, be styled the friends of men of letters. They -partake of their accomplishments, understand their infirmities, -sympathise with their zeal to do good, and prolong their lives by the -most delicate and disinterested attentions. Between no two professions -has a more liberal and cordial intimacy been maintained than between -literature and medicine. Brocklesby was an honour to the highest of -his calling. - - "In the course of his practice," we are told that "his advice, - as well as his purse, was ever accessible to the poor, as well - as to men of merit who stood in need of either. Besides giving - his advice to the poor of all descriptions, which he did with - an active and unwearied benevolence, he had always upon his - list two or three poor widows, to whom he granted small - annuities; and who, on the quarter-day of receiving their - stipends, always partook of the hospitalities of his table. To - his relations, who wanted his assistance in their business or - professions, he was not only liberal, but so judicious in his - liberalities as to supersede the necessity of a repetition of - them. To his friend Dr Johnson (when it was in agitation - amongst his friends to procure an enlargement of his pension, - the better to enable him to travel for the benefit of his - health), he offered an establishment of one hundred pounds per - year during his life; and upon Dr. Johnson's declining it - (which he did in the most affectionate terms of gratitude and - friendship), he made him a second offer of apartments in his - own house, for the more immediate benefit of medical advice. To - his old and intimate friend Edmund Burke, he had many years - back bequeathed by will the sum of one thousand pounds; but - recollecting that this event might take place (which it - afterwards did) when such a legacy could be of no service to - him, he, with that judicious liberality for which he was always - distinguished, gave it to him in advance, '_ut pignus - amicitae_:' it was accepted as such by Mr. Burke, accompanied - with a letter, which none but a man feeling the grandeur and - purity of friendship like him could dictate."[148] - -If it be dangerous in the present condition of society, to incur -pecuniary obligations, particularly for those who are more qualified -to think than to act, and who may ultimately startle to find -themselves in positions in which they can neither prove the benefit -done them, nor the good feelings which allowed them to receive it, -nobody can doubt the generosity of such a man as Brocklesby; who, so -far from being a mere patron, jealous of being obliged himself, was -equally as prepared to receive kindness as to show it. Proposing just -before he died to go down to Burke's house at Beaconsfield, and -somebody hinting to him the danger of being fatigued, and of lying out -of his own bed, he replied with his usual calmness, "My good friend, -I perfectly understand your hint, and am thankful to you for it; but -where's the difference, whether I die _at a friend's house_, at an -inn, or in a postchaise? I hope I am every way prepared for such an -event, and perhaps it is as well to elude the expectation of it." This -was said like a man, and a friend. Brocklesby was not one who would -cant about giving trouble at such a moment--the screen of those who -hate to be troubled; neither would he grudge a friend the melancholy -satisfaction of giving him a bed to die in. He better understood the -first principles which give light and life to the world, and left -jealousy and misgiving to the vulgar. - -Dr. Brocklesby died at his house in the street above mentioned, and -was buried in the churchyard. Lee was buried, "at St. Clement Danes;" -probably, therefore, in the churchyard also. There are now in that -spot some trees, by far the best things about the church. The reader -may imagine them to shade the places where the poet and the physician -lie. - -Arundel or Norfolk House, after the great fire, became the temporary -place of meeting for the Royal Society, previously to its return to -Gresham College. It was pulled down on their leaving it, the century -before last, and the streets before mentioned built in its room. They -appear to have been favourite places of residence with persons -connected with the drama. Congreve lived in Surrey Street, Mountford -the player in Norfolk Street, Mrs. Bracegirdle in Howard Street, and -Mrs. Barry somewhere near her. - -Congreve died where he had lived (Jan. 29, 1728-9), after having been -for several years afflicted with blindness and gout; of which, -however, he seems to have made the best he could, by the help of good -sense and naturally good spirits. If his wits ever failed him, it was -in the propensity to a love of rank and fashion, which, in spite of -all that he had seen in the world, never forsook him. It originated -probably in the need he thought he had of them, when he first set out -in life. The finest sense of men of his cast does not rise above a -graceful selfishness. It was most probably in Surrey Street (for he -had come to the "verge of life"), that he had a visit paid him by -Voltaire, who has recorded the disgust given him by an ebullition of -his foppery: for the Frenchman had a great admiration of him as a -writer. "Congreve spoke of his works," says Voltaire, "as of trifles -that were beneath him; and hinted to me, in our first conversation, -that I should visit him upon no other foot than upon that of a -gentleman, who led a life of plainness and simplicity. I answered, -_that had he been so unfortunate as to be a mere gentleman_, I should -never have come to see him; and I was very much disgusted at so -unseasonable a piece of vanity."[149] Our readers will admire the -fineness of this rebuke. - -But the most glaring instance of this propensity was his leaving the -bulk of his fortune to a duchess, when he had poor relations in want -of it. - - "Having lain in state," says Johnson, "in the Jerusalem - Chamber, he was buried in Westminster Abbey, where a monument - is erected to his memory by Henrietta, Duchess of Marlborough, - to whom, for reasons either not known or not mentioned, he - bequeathed a legacy of about ten thousand pounds, the - accumulation of attentive parsimony, which, though to her - superfluous and useless, might have given great assistance to - the ancient family from which he descended; at that time, by - the imprudence of his relation, reduced to difficulties and - distress."[150] - - "Congreve," says Dr. Young, "was very intimate for years with - Mrs. Bracegirdle, who lived in the same street--his house very - near hers; until his acquaintance with the young Duchess of - Marlborough. He then quitted that house. The duchess showed me - a diamond necklace (which Lady Di. used afterwards to wear), - that cost seven thousand pounds, and was purchased with the - money Congreve left her. How much better would it have been to - have given it to poor Mrs. Bracegirdle!"[151] - -Yet this dramatist, throughout his life, had had the good word of -everybody. All parties praised him: all parties kept him in office (he -had some places that are said to have produced him twelve hundred a -year): Pope dedicated his _Iliad_ to him; called him, after his death, -_Ultimus Romanorum_; and added that "Garth, Vanbrugh, and he were the -three most honest-hearted, real good men of the Kit-Kat Club!"[152] - -The secret of this is, that Congreve loved above all things to be at -ease, and spoke politicly of everybody. He had a bad opinion of -mankind, as we may see by his comedies; and he made the best of it, by -conversing with them as if he took heed of their claws. The only -person, we believe, that he ever opposed, was Collier, who attacked -the stage with more spirit than elegance, and who was at enmity with -the whole world of wit and fashion. We are far from thinking with -Collier, that the abuses of the stage outweigh the benefit it does to -the world; nor do we think the world by any means so bad as Congreve -supposed it, nor himself either: but it is useful to know the -tendencies of those who have a habit of thinking otherwise. - -Congreve's bequest created a good deal of gossip. Curll, the principal -scandal-monger of those times, got up a catch-penny life of him, -professing to be written by "Charles Wilson, Esq.," but supposed to be -the work of Oldmixon. There is no relying upon Charles Wilson; but, -from internal evidence, we may take his word occasionally; and we may -believe him when he says that the duchess and her friends were alarmed -at the threatened book. The picture which he draws of her manner has -also an air like a woman of quality. She had demanded a sight of the -documents on which the book was founded; and being refused, asked what -authority they had, and what pieces contained in it were genuine. -"Upon being civilly told there would be found several essays, letters, -and characters of that gentleman's writing," says Mr. Wilson, "she, -with a most affected, extraordinary, dramatic drawl, cried out, 'Not -one single sheet of paper, I dare to swear.'"[153] Mr. Wilson's own -grand air in return is very amusing. He speaks of Arbuthnot's coming -with "expresses," probably to Curll's; and adds, that if he be -despatched with any more, "he may, if he please, come to me, who am as -easily to be found in Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, _when in -town_, as he is in Burlington Gardens.--Cha. Wilson." - -Mr. Wilson's book opens with a copy of the will, in which 500_l._ are -left among the Congreves; about 500_l._ more to friends and domestics, -&c. (not omitting 200_l._ to Mrs. Bracegirdle); and all the rest (with -power to annul or increase the complimentary part of the legacies) to -the Duchess of Marlborough. We know not that anybody could have -brought forward grounds for objecting to this will, had the duchess -been poor herself; for his relations may or may not have had claims -upon him--relations, as such, not being of necessity friends, though -it is generally fit that they should partake of the family prosperity. -We except, of course, a man's immediate kindred, particularly those -whom he has brought into the world. But here was a woman, rolling in -wealth, and relatives neither entirely forgotten, nor yet, it seems, -properly assisted. The bequest must, therefore, either have been a -mere piece of vanity, or the consequence of habitual subjection to a -woman's humours. The duchess was not ungrateful to his memory. She -raised him, as we have seen, a monument; and it is related in Cibber's -_Lives of the Poets_,[154] we know not on what authority, that she -missed his company so much, as to cause "an image of him to be placed -every day on her toilet-table, to which she would talk as to the -living Mr. Congreve, with all the freedom of the most _polite_ and -_unreserved_ conversation." There is something very ludicrous in this -way of putting a case, which might otherwise be affecting. It is as if -there had been a sort of polite mania on both sides. - -Congreve's plays are exquisite of their kind, and the excessive -heartlessness and duplicity of some of his characters are not to be -taken without allowance for the _ugly ideal_. There is something not -natural, both in his characters and wit; and we read him rather to see -how entertaining he can make his superfine ladies and gentlemen, and -what a pack of sensual busybodies they are, like insects over a pool, -than from any true sense of them as "men and women." As a companion he -must have been exquisite to a woman of fashion. We can believe that -the duchess, in ignorance of any tragic emotion but what was mixed -with his loss, would really talk with a waxen image of him in a -peruke, and think the universe contained nothing better. It was -carrying wit and politeness beyond the grave. Queen Constance in -Shakspeare makes grief put on the pretty looks of her lost child: the -Duchess of Marlborough made it put on a wig and jaunty air, such as -she had given her friend in his monument in Westminster Abbey. No -criticism on his plays could be more perfect. Congreve's serious -poetry is a refreshment, from its extreme insipidity and common-place. -Everybody is innocent in some corner of the mind, and has faith in -something. Congreve had no faith in his fellow-creatures, but he had a -scholar's (not a poet's) belief in nymphs and weeping fauns; and he -wrote elegies full of them, upon queens and marquisses. If it be true -that he wrote the character of Aspasia (Lady Elizabeth Hastings), in -the _Tatler_ (No. 42), he had indeed faith in something better; for in -that paper is not only given an admiring account of a person of very -exalted excellence, but the author has said of her one of the finest -things that a sincere heart could utter; namely, that "to love her was -a liberal education." We cannot help thinking, however, that the -generous and trusting hand of Steele is very visible throughout this -portrait; and in the touch just mentioned, in particular. - -The engaging manners of Mrs. Bracegirdle gave rise to a tragical -circumstance in Howard Street--the death of Mountford her -fellow-player. Mrs. Bracegirdle, one of the most popular actresses of -that time, was a brunette, not remarkable for her beauty, but so much -so for the attractiveness superior to beauty, that Cibber calls her -the "darling of the stage," and says it was a kind of fashion for the -young men about town to have a tenderness for her. This general regard -she preserved by setting a value on herself, not so common with -actresses at that time as it has been since. Accordingly, some made -honourable proposals, which were then still more remarkable. In Rowe's -poems, there is a bantering epistle to an Earl of S----, advising him -not to care for what people might think, but to pursue his -inclinations to that effect. Among others a Captain Hill made -desperate love, professing the same intentions; but he was a man of -bad character, and the lady would have nothing to say to him. The -captain, like a proper coxcomb, took it into his head that nothing -could have prevented his success, but some other person; and he fixed -upon Mountford as the happy man. Mountford was the best lover and -finest gentleman then on the stage, as Mrs. Bracegirdle was the most -charming heroine; but it does not appear that Hill had any greater -ground for his suspicion than their frequent performance in the same -play, which, however, to a jealous man, must have been extremely -provoking. They used to act Alexander and Statira together. In -Mountford's Alexander, according to Cibber, there were seen "the -great, the tender, the penitent, the despairing, the transported, and -the amiable, in the highest perfection;" and "if anything," he said, -"could excuse that desperate extravagance of love, that almost frantic -passion," it was when Mrs. Bracegirdle was the Statira. Imagine a -dark-souled fellow in the pit thinking himself in love with this -Statira, and that the passion between her and the Alexander was real. -This play was acted a few nights before the catastrophe which we are -about to relate. - -Hill was intimate with another man of bad character, Lord Mohun; who -agreed to assist him in carrying off Mrs. Bracegirdle. The captain had -often said that he would be "revenged" upon Mountford; and dining with -Lord Mohun on the day when they attempted the execution of their plot, -he said, further, that he would "stab" him "if he resisted;" upon -which Mohun said that he would "stand by his friend." - -Mohun and Hill met at the playhouse at six o'clock, changed clothes -there, and waited some time for Mrs. Bracegirdle; but not finding her -come, they took a coach which they had ordered to be ready, drove -towards her lodgings in Howard Street, and then back to Drury Lane, -where they directed the coach to stop near Lord Clare's house (by the -present Craven Buildings). Mrs. Bracegirdle had been supping at a Mr. -Page's, in Princess Street, Drury Lane. She came out, accompanied by -her mother, brother, and Mr. Page, and was seized by Hill, who, with -the aid of a number of soldiers, endeavoured to force her into the -coach. In the coach was Lord Mohun, with seven or eight pistols. Old -Mrs. Bracegirdle threw her arms round her daughter's waist; her other -friends, and at length the passengers, interfered; and our heroine -succeeded in getting into her lodgings in Howard Street, Hill and -Mohun following them on foot. When they all came to the door, Hill -would have spoken with Page, but the latter refused; and the door was -shut. A witness, at the trial of Lord Mohun, deposed, that they -knocked several times at the door, and then the captain entreated to -beg pardon of Mrs. Bracegirdle for having affronted her, but in vain. - -Hill and Mohun remained in the street. They sent to a tavern for a -bottle of wine, and perambulated before the door with drawn swords. -Mrs. Browne, the mistress of the house, came out to know what they did -there; upon which Hill said that he would light upon Mountford some -day or other, and that he would be revenged on him. The people -in-doors, upon this, sent to Mountford's house in Norfolk Street, to -inform his wife; and she despatched messengers to all the places where -he was likely to be found, to warn him of his danger, but they could -not meet with him. Meanwhile the constables and watchmen come up and -ask the strangers what they mean. They say they are drinking a bottle -of wine. Lord Mohun adds that he is ready to put up his sword, -remarking, withal, that he is a "peer of the realm." Upon asking why -the other gentleman did not put up his, his lordship tells them, that -his friend had lost the scabbard. The watchmen, like "ancient and -quiet watchmen," go away to the tavern to "examine who they are;" and -in the meantime Mountford makes his appearance coming up the street. -Mountford lived in Norfolk Street, but he turned out of the path that -led to his own house, and was coming towards Mrs. Bracegirdle's--whether -to her house, or to any other, does not appear. By this time two hours -had elapsed. Mrs. Browne, who seems to have remained watching at the -door, caught sight of Mountford, and hastened to warn him how he -advanced. She was either not quick enough, or Mountford (which appears -most likely) pressed on in spite of what she said, and, according to -her statement, the following dialogue took place between him and Lord -Mohun:-- - - "Your humble servant, my lord." - - "Your servant, Mr. Mountford. I have a great respect for you, - Mr. Mountford, and would have no difference between us; but - there is a thing fallen out between Mr. Hill and Mrs. - Bracegirdle." - - "My lord, has my wife disobliged your lordship? if she has, she - shall ask your pardon. But Mrs. Bracegirdle is no concern of - mine: I know nothing of this matter; I come here by accident. - But I hope your lordship will not vindicate Hill in such - actions as these are." - -Upon this, according to Mrs. Browne's statement, Hill bade Mountford -draw; which the other said he would; but whether he received his wound -before or after she could not tell, owing to its being night-time. - -Another female witness, who lived next door, gives the dialogue as -follows. Lord Mohun begins:-- - - "Mr. Mountford, your humble servant. I am glad to see you" - (embracing him). - - "Who is this? my Lord Mohun?" - - "Yes, it is." - - "What bringeth your lordship here at this time of night?" - - "I suppose you were sent for, Mr. Mountford?" - - "No, indeed; I came by chance." - - "You have heard of the business of Mrs. Bracegirdle?" - - _Hill_ (interfering). "Pray, my lord, hold your tongue, This is - not a convenient time to discuss this business." (On saying - which, the witness adds, that he would have drawn Mohun away.) - - _Mountford._ "I am very sorry, my lord, to see that your - lordship should assist Captain Hill in so ill an action as - this: pray let me desire your lordship to forbear." - -As soon as he had uttered these words Hill, according to the witness, -came up and struck Mountford a box on the ear; upon which the latter -demanded with an oath, "what that was for;" and then she gives a -confused account of the result, which was the receipt of a mortal -wound by the poor actor. It was agreed that Mountford's sword was not -drawn in the first instance, and that Hill's was; and the question was -settled by the dying deposition of Mountford, who stated several times -over, that Lord Mohun offered him no violence, but that Hill struck -him with his left hand, and then ran him through the body, before he -had time to draw in defence. - -Mountford died next day. Hill fled at the time, and we hear no more of -him. Mohun was tried for his life, but acquitted, for want of -evidence, of malice prepense. The truth is, he was a great fool, and -Hill appears to have been another. The captain himself, probably, did -not know what he intended, though his words would have hung him had he -been caught. They were a couple of box-lobby swaggerers, who had -heated themselves with wine; and Hill, who told the constables "they -might knock him down if they liked," and was for drawing Mohun away on -Mountford's appearance, was most likely overcome with rage and -jealousy at hearing the latter speak of him with rebuke. Mohun was at -that time very young. He never ceased, however, hankering after this -sort of excitement to his dulness, till he got killed in a duel about -an estate with the Duke of Hamilton, who was at the same time mortally -wounded. Swift, in a letter about it, calls Mohun a "dog." Pennant -says, that when his body was taken home bleeding (to his house in -Gerrard Street), "Lady Mohun was very angry at its being flung upon -the best bed."[155] - -In front of the spot now occupied by St. Mary-le-Strand, commonly -called the New Church, anciently stood a cross, at which, says Stowe, -"in the year 1294, and other times, the justices itinerant sat without -London." In the place of this cross was set up a May-pole, by a -blacksmith named John Clarges, whose daughter Ann became the wife of -Monk, Duke of Albemarle. It was for a long time in a state of decay, -and having been taken down in 1713, a new one was erected opposite -Somerset House. This second May-pole had two gilt balls and a vane on -the summit, and was decorated on holidays with flags and garlands. -The races in the "Dunciad" take place - - "Where the tall May-pole overlook'd the Strand." - -It was removed in 1718, probably being thought in the way of the new -church, which was then being finished. Sir Isaac Newton begged it of -the parish, and afterwards sent it to the Rector of Wanstead, who set -it up in Wanstead Park to support the then largest telescope in -Europe. The gift of John Clarges came a day too late. In old times, -May had been a great holiday in the streets of London. We shall speak -further of it when we come to the parish of St. Andrew Undershaft, so -called from a May-pole higher than the church. But though the holiday -returned with the Restoration, it never properly recovered the disuse -occasioned by the civil wars, and the contempt thrown on it by the -spirit of puritanism. We gained too many advantages by the -thoughtfulness generated in those times to quarrel with their -mistakes; and have no doubt that the progress of knowledge to which -they gave an impulse, will bring back the advantages they omitted by -the way.[156] - -The New Church, or, more properly, the Church of St. Mary-le-Strand, -was built by Gibbs, the architect of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. It was -one of the "fifty," improperly so called, that are said to have been -built in the reign of Queen Anne; for though fifty were ordered, the -number was not completed. The old church in this quarter, which stood -at a little distance to the south, was removed by the Protector -Somerset, to make way for Somerset House, and has never been restored. -The parishioners went to the neighbouring churches. The New Church is -in the pretty, over-ornamented style, very different from that of St. -Martin's with its noble front: and though far better than St. -Clement's, and as superior to many places of worship built lately[157] -as art is superior to ignorance, yet it surely is not worthy of its -advantageous situation. It is one of those toys of architecture which -have been said to require glass cases. For the superfluous height of -the steeple, Gibbs offered an excuse. A column was to have been -erected near the church in honour of Queen Anne, but, as the Queen -died, she was no longer thought deserving the column, and the -architect was ordered to make a steeple with the materials, whereas he -had intended only a belfry. Now, to render the steeple fitting, the -church should have had a wider base; but the structure was already -begun, and there was no changing the plan of it. It might be still -argued, that the steeple should not have been made so high: but then, -what was to be done with the stones? This, in the mouth of parish -virtu, was a triumphant reply. After all, however, the artist need not -have spoilt his church with ornament. He said, that being situated in -a very public place, "the parishioners" spared no cost to beautify it; -but to beautify a church is not to make it a piece of confectionery.[158] - -Somerset House occupies the site of a princely mansion built by -Somerset the Protector, brother of Lady Jane Seymour, and uncle to -King Edward VI. His character is not sufficiently marked to give any -additional interest to the spot. He was great by accident; lost and -gained his greatness, according as others acted upon it; and -ultimately resigned it on the scaffold. The house he left became the -property of the Crown, and was successively in possession of Queen -Elizabeth and of the queens of James I., Charles I., and Charles II. - -The rooms in this house witnessed many joyous scenes and many anxious -ones. Somerset had not long inhabited it when he was taken to the -scaffold. Elizabeth, in her wise economy, lent it to her cousin Lord -Hunsdon, whom she frequently visited within its walls. - -During its occupation by James's queen, Anne of Denmark (from whose -family it was called Denmark House), Wilson says, that a constant -masquerade was going on, the Queen and her ladies, "like so many -sea-nymphs, or nereids," appearing in various dresses, "to the -ravishment of the beholders."[159] - -Here began the struggle for mastery between Charles I. and Henrietta -Maria, which terminated in favour of the latter, though the King -behaved himself manfully at first. Henrietta had brought over with her -a meddling French household which, after repeated grievances, his -Majesty was obliged to send "packing." He summoned them all together -one evening in the house, and addressed them as follows:-- - - "Gentlemen and ladies, - - "I am driven to that extremity, as I am personally come to - acquaint you, that I very earnestly desire your return into - France. True it is, the deportment of some amongst you hath - been very inoffensive to me; but others again have so dallied - with my patience, and so highly affronted me, as I cannot, and - will not, longer endure it."[160] - - "The King's address, implicating no one, was immediately - followed by a volley of protestations of innocence. An hour - after he had delivered his commands, Lord Conway announced to - the foreigners, that early in the morning carriages and carts - and horses would be ready for them and their baggage. Amidst a - scene of confusion, the young Bishop (he was scarcely of age) - protested that this was impossible; that they owed debts in - London, and that much was due to them. On the following day, - the _procureur-general_ of the Queen flew to the keeper of the - great seal at the privy council, requiring an admission to - address his Majesty, then present at his council, on matters - important to himself and the Queen. This being denied, he - exhorted them to maintain the Queen in all her royal - prerogatives; and he was answered, 'So we do.' - - "Their prayers and disputes served to postpone their departure. - Their conduct during this time was not very decorous. It - appears, by a contemporary letter-writer, that they flew to - take possession of the Queen's wardrobe and jewels. They did - not leave her a change of linen, since it was with difficulty - her Majesty procured one. Everyone now looked to lay his hand - on what he might call his own. Everything he could touch was a - perquisite. One extraordinary expedient was that of inventing - bills to the amount of ten thousand pounds, for articles and - other engagements in which they had entered for the service of - the Queen, which her Majesty acknowledged, but afterwards - confessed that the debts were fictitious."[161] - -"In truth," continues the writer, "the breaking up of this French -establishment was ruinous to the individuals who had purchased their -places at the rate of life annuities." Charles now grew indignant, and -sent the following letter to Buckingham:-- - - "Steenie,[162] - - "I have receaved your letter by Dic Greame (Sir Richard - Grahame). This is my answer: I command you to send all the - French away to-morrow out of the towne, if you can by fair - meanes (but stike not long in disputing), otherways force them - away, dryving them away lyke so manie wilde beastes, until ye - have shipped them, and so the devil goe with them. Let me heare - no answer, but of the performance of my command. So I rest, - "Your faithful, constant, loving friend, - "C. R." - "Oaking, - "The seventh of August, 1626." - - "This order put an end to the delay, but the King paid the - debts, the fictitious ones and all--at the cost, as it appears, - of fifty thousand pounds. Even the haughty beauty, Madame St. - George, was presented by the king on her dismission with - several thousand pounds and jewels." - -Still the French could not go quietly. "The French bishop," says -D'Israeli, "and the whole party having contrived all sorts of delays -to avoid the expulsion, the yeomen of the guard were sent to turn them -out of Somerset House, whence the juvenile prelate, at the same time -making his protest and mounting the steps of the coach, took his -departure 'head and shoulders.' In a long procession of near forty -coaches, _after four days' tedious travelling_, they reached _Dover_; -but the spectacle of these impatient foreigners so reluctantly -quitting England, gesticulating their sorrows or their quarrels, -exposed them to the derision, and stirred up the prejudices, of the -common people. As Madame St. George, whose vivacity is always -described as extremely French, was stepping into the boat, one of the -mob could not resist the satisfaction of flinging a stone at her -French cap. An English courtier who was conducting her, instantly -quitted his charge, ran the fellow through the body, and quietly -returned to the boat. The man died on the spot, but no further notice -appears to have been taken of the inconsiderate gallantry of the -English courtier." - -Henrietta had a magnificent Catholic chapel in Somerset House, and a -cloister of Capuchins. The former has given occasion to some -interesting descriptions of papal show and spectacle in the -commentaries just quoted.[163] - -Cromwell's body lay in state at Somerset House, as Monk's did -afterwards, probably on that account. - -Pepys, the prince of gossips, gives an edifying picture of the -presence chamber in this palace, when the queens of the two Charleses -were there together, a little after the Restoration: - - "Meeting Mr. Pierce the chyrurgeon," says he, "he took me into - Somerset House, and there carried me into the Queene-mother's - presence chamber, where she was with our own queene sitting on - her left hand, whom I did never see before, and though she be - not very charming, yet she hath a good, modest, and innocent - look, which is pleasing. Here I also saw Madame Castlemaine; - and, which pleased me most, Mr. Crofts, the King's bastard, a - most pretty sparke of about fifteen years old, who, I perceive, - do hang much upon my Lady Castlemaine, and is always with her; - and, I hear, the queenes both are mighty kind to him. By and - by, in comes the King, and anon the duke and his duchesse; so - that they being all together, was such a sight, as I never - could almost have happened to see, with so much ease and - leisure. They staid till it was dark and then went away; the - King and his Queene, and my Lady Castlemaine and young Crofts, - in one coach, and the rest in other coaches. Here were great - stores of great ladies, but very few handsome. The King and - Queene were very merry; and he would have made the - Queene-mother believe that his Queene was with child, and said - that she said so, and the young Queene answered, 'You lye;' - which was the first English word that I ever heard her say: - which made the King good sport."[164] - -After this we shall not wonder at the following:-- - - "30th (Dec., 1662). Visited Mrs. Ferrer and staid talking with - her a good while, there being a little proud, ugly, talking - little lady there, that was much crying up the Queene-mother's - court at Somerset House above our own Queene's; there being - before her no allowance of laughing and the mirth that is at - others; and, indeed, it is observed that the greatest court - now-a-days is there."[165] - -The following print represents Old Somerset House, as it appeared in -the reign of Charles II. We have seen, but in vain endeavoured to -procure for this book, a scarce one by Hollar, in which the towers in -the back ground mark out the front in the Strand, and a tall May-pole -to the right was the May-pole of John Clarges. The front, looking on -the river, was added by Charles II. Inigo Jones was the architect. In -Hollar's print it gives us a taste of the banqueting room at Whitehall -in its elevation, and in the harmonies of the windows and pilasters. -Below is a portico; and there is another to the right. The chapel, -with an enclosure to the left, was the Catholic one; the houses by it, -the cloisters of the Capuchins. There was a figure walking in the -chapel garden, whom, by his gesticulating arm, we might imagine to be -the queen's confessor, studying his to-morrow's sermon, or thinking -how he shall get the start of the king's chaplain in saying grace. A -curious scene of this kind is worth extracting. "Once," Mr. D'Israeli -informs us, "when the king and queen were dining together in the -presence, Hacket being to say grace, the queen's confessor would have -anticipated him, and an indecorous race was run between the Catholic -priest and the Protestant chaplain, till the latter shoved him aside, -and the king pulling the dishes to him, the carvers performed their -office. Still the confessor, standing by the queen, was on the watch -to be before Hacket for the after-grace, but Hacket again got the -start. The confessor, however, resounded the grace louder than the -chaplain, and the king, in great passion, instantly rose, taking the -queen by the hand." The bowling-green that we read of is probably -between the two rows of trees to the right, in front of the right -portico (the left, if considered from the house). The garden is in the -most formal style of the parterre, where - - ---- "each alley has its brother, - And half the platform just reflects the other;" - -a style, however, not without its merits, particularly in admitting so -many walks among the flowers, and inviting a pace up and down between -the trees. Milton, though he made a different garden for his Eden, -spoke of "trim gardens," as enjoyed by "retired leisure." In this -back front were the apartments of the court. The scene we have just -been reading in Pepys must have passed in one of them. Here Charles -the First's widow lived with her supposed husband, the Earl of St. -Albans; though she was not so constant to the place as Waller -prophesied she would be. She had been used to too much power as a -queen, and found she had too little as a dowager. Poor Catherine -remained as long as she could. She lived here till she returned to -Portugal, in the reign of William III. Speaking of Waller, we must not -quit the premises without noticing a catastrophe that befel him at the -water-gate, or Somerset-stairs (also, by the way, the work of Inigo -Jones). Waller, according to Aubrey, had but "a tender weak body, but -was always very temperate." ---- (we know not who this is) "made him -damnable drunk at Somerset House, where, at the water stayres, he fell -down, and had a cruel fall. 'Twas a pity to use such a sweet swan so -inhumanly."[166] Waller, who, notwithstanding his weak body, lived to -be old, was a water-drinker; but he had a poet's wine in his veins, -and was excellent company. Saville said, "that nobody should keep him -company without drinking, but Ned Waller." - - [Illustration] - -Subsequently to Catherine's departure, old Somerset House was chiefly -used as a residence for princes from other countries when on a visit. -It was pulled down towards the end of the last century, and the -present structure erected by Sir William Chambers, but left -unfinished. The unfinished part, which is towards the east, is now in -a state of completion, as the King's College. The only memorial -remaining of the old palace and its outhouses is in the wall of a -house in the Strand, where the sign of a lion still survives a number -of other signs, noticed in a list made at the time, and common at that -period to houses of all descriptions. - -The area of New Somerset House occupies a large space of ground, the -basement of the back-front being in the river. Three sides of it are -appropriated to a variety of public offices, connected with trade, -commerce, and civil economy; and the front was lately dignified by the -occupancy of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies and the Royal Academy -of Painting. The structure was an ambitious one on the part of the -architect, and upon the whole is elegant but timid. There is a look of -fragility in it. It has the extent, but not the majesty, of a -national emporium. Rules are violated in some instances for the sake -of trifles, as is the case of pillars "standing on nothing and -supporting nothing;" and in others, it would seem out of a dread of -the result, as in the instance of the huge basement over the water, -supporting a cupola, which is petty in the comparison. Sir William did -well in wishing to have an imposing front towards the river; but he -might have had another towards the Strand, nobler than the present -one. The lower part is nothing better than a pillared coachway. -However, the front of the story is, perhaps, the best part of the -whole building. It present a graceful harmony in the proportions. - -The Royal Society, which originated in the college rooms of Dr. -Wilkins, afterwards bishop of Chester, met, when it was incorporated, -at Old Gresham College in Aldersgate Street; then at Arundel House (on -account of the fire); then returned to Gresham College; and, after a -variety of other experiments upon lodging, was settled by the late -king in New Somerset House. This society, on its foundation, was much -ridiculed by the wits. Though its ends were great, it naturally busied -itself with little things; pragmatical and pedantic persons naturally -enough got mixed up with it; some of its members had foibles of -enthusiasm and pedantry, which were easily confounded with their -capacities; and the jokes were most likely encouraged by the king -(Charles II.), who, though fond of scientific experiments, and wearing -a grave face in presence of the learned body (of which he declared -himself a member), was not a man to forego such an opportunity of -jesting. Wilkins wrote a book to show that a man might go to the moon; -and the ethical common-places of Boyle (who was as great a natural -philosopher as he was a poor moralist) were the origin of Swift's -_Essays on the Tritical Faculties of the Mind_. Then there was the -good Evelyn with his hard words, wondering sentimentally at every -thing; and jolly Pepys marvelling like Sancho Panza. The readers of -Pepys' _Diary_ have been surprised at his not liking _Hudibras_. -Perhaps one reason was, that Butler was the greatest of the jesters -against the society. It was impossible not to laugh at the jokes, in -which he charges them with attempting to - - "Search the moon by her own light; - To take an inventory of all - Her real estate and personal;-- - To measure wind, and weigh the air, - And turn a circle to a square; - And in the braying of an ass, - Find out the treble and the bass; - If mares neigh _alto_, and a cow - In double diapason low."[167] - -Evelyn got angry, and pretended to be calm. Cowley expressed his anger -with a generous indignation. The following passage in his _Ode to the -Society_ concludes with a fine, appropriate simile. "Mischief and true -dishonour," says he, - - ---- "fall on those - Who would to laughter and to scorn expose - So virtuous and so noble a design, - So human for its use, for knowledge so divine. - The things which these proud men despise and call - Impertinent, and vain, and small, - Those smallest things of Nature let me know, - Rather than all their greatest actions do! - Whoever would deposed Truth advance - Into the throne usurped from it, - Must feel at first the blows of Ignorance, - And the sharp points of envious Wit. - So, when, by various turns of the celestial dance - In many thousand years - A star, so long unknown, appears, - Though Heaven itself more beauteous by it grow, - It troubles and alarms the world below, - Does to the wise a star, to fools a meteor, show."[168] - -Perhaps a part of the jealousy against the Royal Society arose from a -notion which has since become not uncommon, that bodies of this -nature, incorporated by kings, are calculated rather to limit inquiry, -than to enlarge it. Without stopping to discuss this point, we shall -merely observe, that the real greatness of all such bodies, like those -of nations themselves, must arise from the greatness of individuals; -and that whether the bodies give any lustre to them or not, there is -no denying that the individuals give lustre to the bodies. When Sir -Isaac Newton became president, jesting ceased. - -It is pleasant to think, while passing Somerset House, in the midst of -the noise of a great thoroughfare, that philosophical speculation is, -perhaps, going on within those graceful walls; that in the midst of -all sorts of new things, sight is not lost of the venerable beauties -of old; and that art, as well as philosophy, is considering what it -shall do for our use and entertainment. The Antiquarian Society -originated as far back as the sixteenth century (about the year 1580), -and held its first sittings in a room in the Herald's College; but it -did not receive a charter till the year 1751. Neither Elizabeth nor -James would give it one, fearful, perhaps, of bringing up discussions -on matters connected with politics and religion. Elizabeth has now -become one of the most interesting of its heroines. There is no -society, we think, more likely to increase with age, and to outgrow -half-witted objection. The growth of time adds daily to its stock; and -as reflecting men become interested in behalf of ages to come, they -naturally turn with double sympathy towards the periods that have gone -by, and to the multitudes of beating hearts that have become dust. We -should like to see the society in a venerable building of its own, -raised in some quiet spot, with trees about it, and with painted -windows reflecting light through old heraldry. - -The Royal Academy of Painters, now removed to Trafalgar Square, first -met in Saint Martin's Lane, under the title of the Society of Artists -of Great Britain. They had a division among them, which gave rise to -the establishment as it now stands; and are a flourishing body, we -believe, in point of funds. Of the deceased members who have done them -honour, we shall speak when we come to their abodes. - -The Turk's Head Coffeehouse, near Somerset House, was frequented by -Dr. Johnson. - -In a lodging opposite Somerset House, died the facetious Dr. King, -whom we have mentioned in speaking of Doctors' Commons. He had been -residing in the house of a friend in the garden-grounds between -Lambeth and Vauxhall, where he stuck so close to his books and bottle, -that he began to decline with the autumn, and shut himself up from his -friends. Lord Clarendon, who resided in Somerset House, and was his -relation, sent his sister to fetch him to a lodging he had prepared -for him over the way, where he died before the lapse of many hours, -while all the world were busy with the meats and mince-pies he had so -often celebrated; for it was Christmas-day. Dr. King was the author of -an _Art of Cookery_, in which he pleasantly bantered a learned -Kitchener of his time; though no man had a livelier relish of their -subjects than he. But he wished the relish to be lively in others. At -least, he wished them to be _leviter in modo_, if _graviter in re_. -Though occasionally coarse, he had the right style of banter, and was -of use to the Tories. In return, they would have been of use to him, -if his habits would have let them. Swift procured him the place of -Gazetteer; but he soon got rid of it. - -The precinct called the Savoy was anciently the seat of Peter, Earl of -Savoy, who came into England to visit his niece Eleanor, Queen to -Henry III. It is not known whether the house was built or appointed -for him, but on his death it became the property of the queen, who -gave it to her second son Edmund, afterwards Earl of Lancaster; and -from his time the Savoy was reckoned part and parcel of the earldom -and honour of Lancaster, afterwards the duchy. Henry VII. converted -the palace into an hospital for the poor; and it remained so till the -time of Charles II.; though the master and other officers, by an abuse -which grew into a custom, appear to have had no regular inmates, -except themselves. The poor were to apply, as it might happen; and -what they got depended on the generosity of the master. In answer to a -question put by Government in the reign of Queen Anne, it was stated -by the lawyer and four chaplains, that "the statutes relating to the -reception of the poor had not been observed within the memory of -man."[169] Charles II. put wounded soldiers and sailors into the -hospital; and since his time it appears to have been used for the -reception of soldiers and prisoners. Latterly, it was a prison for -deserters. - - [Illustration] - -The Savoy was the scene of a conference in Charles II.'s reign, -between the Church and the Presbyterians, in which possession was -proved to be nine points of the Gospel, as well as law. The -Presbyterians thought so when it was their turn to rule, and would -have thought so again; and the progress of genuine Christianity has -been a gainer by the mild sway of the Church of England. - -In the chapel was buried old Gawen Douglas, the Chaucer of Scotland; -and Anne Killegrew, celebrated by Dryden's ode for her poetry and -painting. She was the daughter of one of the masters, Dr. Henry -Killegrew, brother of the famous jester, and himself a man of talent. - -Mrs. Anne Killegrew, - - A grace for beauty, and a muse for wit, - -had probably the honour, some day, of dining with her washerwoman's -daughter, in the guise of Duchess of Albemarle; for John Clarges, the -blacksmith, who lived in the Savoy, had a wife who was a washerwoman, -and the washerwoman had a daughter, who took linen to Monk, when he -was in the Tower, and married him. It is not commonly known that the -validity of this marriage was contested. Upon the trial of an action -at law between the representatives of Monk and Clarges, some curious -particulars, says an article in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, came out -respecting the family of the duchess. - - "It appeared that she was the daughter of John Clarges, a - farrier, in the Savoy, and farrier to Colonel Monk, in 1632. - She was married in the church of St. Lawrence Pountney, to - Thomas Ratford, son of Thomas Ratford, late a farrier, servant - to Prince Charles, and resident in the Mews. She had a daughter - who was born in 1634, and died in 1638. Her husband and she - 'lived at the Three Spanish Gypsies, in the New Exchange, and - sold wash-balls, powder, gloves, and such things, and she - taught girls plain work. About 1647, she, being a sempstress to - Colonel Monk, used to carry him linen.' In 1648 her father and - mother died. In 1649, she and her husband 'fell out and - parted.' But no certificate from any parish register appears, - reciting his burial. In 1652, she was married in the church of - St. George, Southwark, to 'General George Monk;' and in the - following year was delivered of a son, Christopher, (afterwards - the second and last Duke of Albemarle), who was suckled by - Honour Mills, who sold apples, herbs, oysters, &c. One of the - plaintiff's witnesses swore, 'that a little before the - sickness, Thomas Ratford demanded and received of him the sum - of twenty shillings; that his wife saw Ratford again after the - sickness, and a second time after the Duke and Duchess of - Albemarle were dead.' A woman swore, 'she saw him on the day - his wife (then called Duchess of Albemarle) was put into her - coffin, which was after the death of the duke her second - husband, who died the 3rd of January, 1669-70.' And a third - witness swore, that he saw Ratford about July, 1660.' In - opposition to this evidence, it was alleged, that 'all along, - during the lives of Duke George and Duke Christopher, this - matter was never questioned,' that the latter was universally - received as only son of the former, and that 'this matter had - been thrice before tried at the bar of the King's Bench, and - the defendant had three verdicts.' A witness swore that he owed - Ratford five or six pounds, which he had never demanded. And a - man, who had married a cousin to the Duke of Albemarle, _had - been told by his wife_, that Ratford _died five or six years_ - before the duke married. Lord Chief Justice Holt told the jury, - 'If you are certain that Duke Christopher was born while Thomas - Ratford was living, you must find for the plaintiff. If you - believe he was born after Ratford was dead, or that nothing - appears what became of him after Duke George married his wife, - you must find for the defendant.' A verdict was given for the - defendant, who was only son to Sir Thomas Clarges, knight, - brother to the illustrious duchess in question, who was created - a baronet October 30, 1674, and was ancestor to the baronets of - his name."[170] - -It does not appear on which of these accounts the jury found a verdict -for the defendant--whether because Ratford was dead, or because -nothing had been heard of him; so that the duchess, after all, might -have been no duchess. However, she carried it with as high a hand as -if she had never been anything else, and Monk had been a blacksmith. -There are some amusing notices of her in Pepys. - - "8th (March, 1661-2). At noon, Sir W. Batten, Col. Slingsby, - and I, by coach to the Tower, to Sir John Robinson's, to - dinner, where great good cheer. High company, and among others - the Duchess of Albemarle, who is ever a plain homely - dowdy."[171] - - "9th (Dec. 1665). My Lord Brouncker and I dined with the Duke - of Albemarle. At table, the duchess, a very ill-looked woman, - complaining of her lord's going to sea next year, said these - cursed words:--'If my lord had been a coward, he had gone to - sea no more; it may be then he might have been excused, and - made an ambassador,' (meaning my Lord Sandwich). This made me - mad, and I believe she perceived my countenance change, and - blushed herself very much. I was in hopes others had not minded - it, but my Lord Brouncker, after we came away, took notice of - the words to me with displeasure."[172] - -Lord Sandwich, the famous admiral, who has such light repute with -posterity, was a relation of Pepys, and much connected with him in -affairs. There does not appear to have been the least foundation for -the duchess's charge; except, perhaps, that Sandwich had brains enough -to know the danger which he braved, while Monk knew nothing but how to -fight and lie. - - "4th (Nov. 1666)." Pepys says that Mr. Cooling tells him, "the - Duke of Albemarle is grown a drunken sot, and drinks with - nobody but Troutbecke, whom nobody else will keep company with. - Of whom he told me this story; that once the Duke of Albemarle - in his drink taking notice, as of a wonder, that Nan Hide - should ever come to be Duchess of York: 'Nay,' says Troutbecke, - 'ne'er wonder at that, for if you will give me another bottle - of wine, I will tell you as great, if not greater, miracle.' - And what was that, but that our dirty Besse (meaning his - duchess) should come to be Duchess of Albemarle."[173] - - "4th (April, 1667). I find the Duke of Albemarle at dinner with - sorry company, some of his officers of the army; dirty dishes - and a nasty wife at table, and bad meat, of which I made but an - ill dinner. Colonel Howard asking how the Prince (Rupert) did - (in the last fight); the Duke of Albemarle answering, 'Pretty - well,' the other replied, 'but not so well as to go to sea - again.'--'How!' says the duchess, 'what should he go for, if he - were well, for there are no ships for him to command? And so - you have brought your hogs to a fair market,' said she."[174] - - "29th (March 1667-8). I do hear by several, that Sir W. Pen's - going to sea do dislike the Parliament mightily, and that they - have revived the Committee of Miscarriages, to find something - to prevent it; and that he being the other day with the Duke of - Albemarle, to ask his opinion touching his going to sea, the - duchess overheard and came into him; and asked W. Pen how he - durst have the confidence to go to sea again to the endangering - of the nation, when he knew himself such a coward as he was; - which, if true, is very severe."[175] - -The habit of charging cowardice against the first officers of the -time, which was not confined to the Duchess, is characteristic of the -grossness of that period, the refinements of which were entirely -artificial and modish. No people talked or acted more grossly than the -finest gentlemen of the day, or believed more ill of one another; and -it was not to be expected that the uneducated should be behindhand -with them. - -The Duchess of Albemarle is supposed to have had a considerable hand -in the Restoration. She was a great loyalist, and Monk was afraid of -her; so that it is likely enough she influenced his gross -understanding, when it did not exactly know what to be at. Aubrey -says, that her mother was one of the "five women barbers." How these -awful personages came up we know not--but he has quoted a ballad upon -them:-- - - "Did you ever hear the like, - Or ever hear the fame, - Of five women barbers, - That lived in Drury Lane?"[176] - -After all, the father, John Clarges, must have been a man of -substance in his trade, to be enabled to set up the enormous May-pole -which we see in the picture. But this did not prevent the daughter -from growing up vulgar and foul-mouthed, and a very different person -from the _Belles Ferronieres_ of old. - -The Savoy, on the one side, with its Gothic gate and flint wall, and -the splendid mansion called Exeter House on the other, appear in -former times to have narrowed the highway hereabouts, as much as -Exeter 'Change did lately. - -At the corner of Beaufort Buildings flourished Mr. Lillie, the -perfumer so often mentioned in the _Tatler_. He was secretary to Mr. -Bickerstaff's Court of Honour, in Shire Lane, where people had actions -brought against them for pulling out their watches while their -superiors were talking; and for brushing feathers off a gentleman's -coat, with a cane "value fivepence." Lillie published two volumes of -Contributions, of which the _Tatler_ had made no use. We believe they -had no merit. In Beaufort Buildings lived Aaron Hill, and at one time -Fielding. - -Southampton Street, a little to the west, on the other side of the -way, has been much inhabited by wits and theatrical people. Congreve -once lived there, Mrs. Bracegirdle, and Garrick. It was called -Southampton Street from the noble family of that title, who are allied -to the Bedford family, the proprietors. - -On the ground of Cecil and Salisbury Streets, opposite Southampton -Street, stood the mansion of Robert Cecil, first Earl of Salisbury, -the cunning son of a wise father. It was he who, contriving to keep up -to the last his interest with the queen Elizabeth, and to oust his -rivals, Essex and others, was the first to make secret terms with her -successor James, and to prepare the way for his reception in England: -of which, perhaps, Elizabeth was aware, when she lay moaning on the -ground. - -Where the Adelphi now stands, was Durham Place, originally a palace of -the Bishops of Durham, who resigned it to Henry VIII. Henry made it -the scene of magnificent tournaments. The Lord High Admiral Seymour -caused the Mint to be established in this house, with a view to coin -money for his designs on the throne. It was afterwards inhabited by -Dudley, Earl of Northumberland, who here married his son to Lady Jane -Grey. But its most illustrious tenant was Raleigh, to whom it was -lent by Queen Elizabeth, and who lived in it during the attempt made -at Essex House. The four turrets of the mansion, under the roof of -which lived and speculated that romantic but equivocal person, have -been marked out in an engraving from Hollar. Durham Place, though it -got into royal hands during the fluctuation of religious opinions, -never seems to have been reckoned out of the pale of the bishopric of -Durham; for Lord Pembroke bought it of that see in 1640, and pulled it -down for the erection of houses on its site. - - "Be it known," says the lively Pennant, speaking of the word - 'place,' as applied to great mansions, and interpreted by him - to mean palace, "that the word is only applicable to the - habitations of princes, or princely persons, and that it is - with all the impropriety of vanity bestowed on the houses of - those who have luckily acquired money enough to pile on one - another a greater quantity of stones or bricks than their - neighbours. How many imaginary _parks_ have been formed within - precincts where deer were never seen! And how many houses - misnamed _halls_, which never had attached to them the - privilege of a manor."[177] - -This is true; but unless the words _palazzo_ and _piazza_ are -traceable to the same root, palatium (as perhaps they are), _place_ -does not of necessity mean _palace_; and palace certainly does not -mean exclusively the habitation of princes or princely persons (that -is to say, supposing princeliness to exclude riches,) for in Italy, -whence it comes, any large mansion may be called a palace; and many -old palaces there were built by merchants. Palatium, it is true, with -the old Romans, though it may have originally meant any house on Mount -Palatine, yet in consequence of that place becoming the court end of -the city, and containing the imperial palace, may have come ultimately -to mean only a princely residence. Ovid uses it in that sense in his -_Metamorphoses_.[178] But custom is everything in these matters. Place -is now used as a variety of term, either for a large house or street. -Perhaps in both cases it ought to imply something of the look of a -palace, or at least an openness of aspect analogous to that of a -_square_--square in England, corresponding with _place_, _piazza_, and -_placa_ on the Continent. The Piazza in Covent Garden, properly means -the place itself, and not the portico. - - "To the north of Durham Place, fronting the street," says - Pennant, "stood the _New Exchange_, which was built under the - auspices of our monarch in 1608, out of the rubbish of the old - stables of _Durham House_. The King, Queen, and Royal Family, - honoured the opening with their presence, and named it - Britaine's Burse. It was built somewhat on the model of the - Royal Exchange, with cellars beneath, a walk above, and rows of - shops over that, filled chiefly with milliners, sempstresses, - and the like. This was a fashionable place of resort. In 1654, - a fatal affair happened here. Mr. Gerard, a young gentleman, at - that time engaged in a plot against Cromwell, was amusing - himself in a walk beneath, when he was insulted by _Don - Pantaleon de Saa_, brother to the Ambassador of Portugal, who, - disliking the return he met with, determined on revenge. He - came there the next day with a set of bravoes, who, mistaking - another gentleman for Mr. Gerard, instantly put him to death, - as he was walking with his sister in one hand and his mistress - in the other. _Don Pantaleon_ was tried, and with impartial - justice condemned to the axe. Mr. Gerard, who about the same - time was detected in the conspiracy, was likewise condemned to - die. By singular chance, both the rivals suffered on the - scaffold, within a few hours of each other: Mr. Gerard with - intrepid dignity; the _Portuguese_ with all the pusillanimity - of an assassin. - - "Above stairs," continues Pennant, "sat, in the character of a - milliner, the reduced Duchess of Tyrconnel, wife to Richard - Talbot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, under James II.; a bigoted - Papist, and fit instrument of the designs of the infatuated - prince, who had created him Earl before his abdication, and - after that, Duke of Tyrconnel. A female, suspected to have been - his duchess, after his death, supported herself for a few days - (till she was known and otherwise provided for) by the little - trade of this place; but had delicacy enough to wish not to be - detected. She sat in a white mask, and a white dress, and was - known by the name of the White Widow. This Exchange has long - since given way to a row of good houses, with uniform front, - engraved in Mr. Nichols's _Progresses of Queen Elizabeth_, - which form a part of the street."[179] - -The houses in the quarter behind these, built by the Earl of Pembroke, -made way, sixty years back, for the present handsome set of buildings -called the Adelphi, from the Messrs. Adam, brothers, who built -it.[180] The principal front faces the Thames, and is almost the only -public walk left for the inhabitants of London on the river side. The -centre house was purchased when new, by Garrick in 1771, and was his -town house for the rest of his life. He died there about nine years -after; but Mrs. Garrick possessed it till a late period. Mrs. Garrick -had been a dancer in her youth, with a name as vernal as need -be--Mademoiselle Violette: she died a venerable old lady, at the age -of ninety odd. Boswell has recorded a delightful day spent with -Johnson and others at her house, the first time she re-opened it after -Garrick's death. Sir Joshua Reynolds was there, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. -Boscawen, and others. "She looked well," says Boswell; "talked of her -husband with complacency; and while she cast her eyes at his portrait, -which was hung over the chimney-piece, said, that 'death was now the -most agreeable object to her.'"[181] It is no dishonour to her, that -her constitution was too good for her melancholy. She spoke -enthusiastically of her husband to the last, and used to decide on -theatrical subjects, by right of being his representative. - -On the same terrace had lived their common friend Beauclerc. On coming -away after the party just mentioned, Boswell tells us that Johnson and -he stopped a little while by the rails of the Adelphi, looking on the -Thames; "and I said to him," says Boswell, "with some emotion, that I -was now thinking of two friends we had lost, who once lived in the -buildings behind us, Beauclerc and Garrick." "Ay, sir," said he -tenderly, "and two such friends as cannot be supplied."[182] - -When Beauclerc was labouring under the illness that carried him off, -Johnson said to Boswell, in a faltering voice, that he "would walk to -the extent of the diameter of the earth to save him." It does not -appear what Beauclerc had in his nature to excite this tenderness; but -it is observable, that Johnson had a kind of speculative regard for -rakes and men of the town, if he thought them not essentially vicious. -He seemed willing to regard them as evidences of the natural virtue of -all men, bad as well as good, and of the excuse furnished for -irregularity by animal spirits. It is not impossible even that he -might have thought them rather conventionally than abstractedly -vicious. He had a similar regard for Hervey, a great rake, who was -very kind to him. "Sir," said he, "if you call a dog 'Hervey,' I shall -love him." At the same time it is not to be forgotten, that these -rakes were fine gentlemen and men of birth; representatives, in some -respect, of the license assumed by authority. Beauclerc, however, like -Hervey, had a taste for better things than he practised, and could -love scrupulous men. Boswell has given an interesting account of his -first intimacy with Johnson. Langton and Beauclerc had become intimate -at Oxford. "Their opinions and mode of life," we are told, "were so -different, that it seemed utterly impossible they should at all -agree;" but Beauclerc "had so ardent a love of literature, so acute an -understanding, such elegance of manners, and so well discerned the -excellent qualities of Mr. Langton, a gentleman eminent not only for -worth and learning, but for an inexhaustible fund of entertaining -conversation, that they became intimate friends." - - "Johnson, soon after this acquaintance began, passed a - considerable time at Oxford. He at first thought it strange - that Langton should associate so much with one who had the - character of being loose, both in his principles and practice, - but by degrees, he himself was fascinated. Mr. Beauclerc's - being of the St. Albans family, and having, in some - particulars, a resemblance to Charles the Second, contributed, - in Johnson's imagination, to throw a lustre upon his other - qualities; and, in a short time, the moral, pious Johnson, and - the gay, dissipated Beauclerc were companions. 'What a - coalition!' said Garrick, when he heard of this: 'I shall have - my old friend to bail out of the round-house.' But I can bear - testimony that it was a very agreeable association. Beauclerc - was too polite, and valued learning and wit too much, to offend - Johnson by sallies of infidelity or licentiousness; and Johnson - delighted in the good qualities of Beauclerc, and hoped to - correct the evil. Innumerable were the scenes in which Johnson - was amused by these young men. Beauclerc could take more - liberty with him than any body with whom I ever saw him; but, - on the other hand, Beauclerc was not spared by his respectable - companion, when reproof was proper. Beauclerc had such a - propensity to satire, that at one time, Johnson said to him, - 'You never open your mouth but with intention to give pain, and - you have often given me pain, not from the power of what you - said, but from seeing your intention.' At another time, - applying to him, with a slight alteration, a line of Pope, he - said-- - - 'Thy love of folly, and thy scorn of fools'-- - - Every thing thou dost shows the one, and every thing thou - say'st the other.' At another time he said to him, 'Thy body is - all vice, and thy mind all virtue.' Beauclerc not seeming to - relish the compliment, Johnson said, 'Nay, sir, Alexander the - Great, marching in triumph into Babylon, could not have desired - to have had more said to him.'"[183] - -The streets in the Adelphi--John, Robert, Adam, &c.--are named from -the builders. In this instance, the names are well bestowed; but the -"fond attempt," on the part of bricklayers and builders in general to -give a "deathless lot" to their names in the same way, is very idle. -Wherever we go now-a-days, among the new buildings, especially in the -suburbs, we meet with names that nobody knows anything about, nor ever -will know. Probably, as knowledge increases, this custom will go out. -With this exception, streets in the British metropolis have hitherto -been named after royalty or nobility, or from local circumstances, or -from saints. Saints went out with popery. The reader of the -_Spectator_ will recollect the dilemma which Sir Roger de Coverley -underwent in his youth, from not knowing whether to ask for Marylebone -or Saint Marylebone. In Paris they have streets named after men of -letters. There is the _Quai de Voltaire_; and one of the most -frequented thoroughfares in that metropolis, for it contains the -Post-Office, is _Jean Jacques Rousseau Street_. It is not unlikely -that a similar custom will take place in England before long. A -nobleman, eminent for his zeal in behalf of the advancement of -society, has called a road in his neighbourhood, Addison Road.[184] - -In John Street, Adelphi, are the rooms of the Society for the -Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. This society -originated in 1753, at the suggestion of Mr. Shipley, an artist, and, -as the title implies, is very miscellaneous in its object; perhaps too -much so to make sufficient impression. It gives rewards for -discoveries of all sorts, and for performances of youth in the fine -arts. It is, however, one of those combinations of zealous and -intelligent men, which have marked the progress of latter times, and -which will have an incalculable effect on posterity. Its great room is -adorned with the celebrated pictures of Mr. Barry, which he painted in -order to refute the opinion that Englishmen had no genius for the -higher department of art, no love of music, &c., nor a proper relish -of anything, "even life itself." The statement of these positions was -not so discreet as the paintings were clever. Mr. Barry was one of -those impatient, self-willed men who, with a portion of genuine power, -think it greater than it is, and will not take the pains to make -themselves masters of their own weapons. His pictures in the Adelphi, -which are illustrations of the progress of society, are striking, -ingenious, with great elegance here and there, and now and then an -evidence of the highest feeling; as in the awful pity of the -retributive angel who presides over the downfall of the wicked and -tyrannical. But the colouring is bad and "foxy;" his Elysium is -deformed with the heterogeneous dresses of all ages, William Penn -talking in a wig and hat with Lycurgus, &c. (which, however -philosophically such things might be regarded in another world, are -not fitly presented to the eye in this); and by way of disproving the -bad taste of the English in music, he has put Dr. Burney in a coat and -toupee, floating among the water nymphs! The consequence is, that -although these pictures are, perhaps, the best ever exhibited together -in England by one artist, they fall short of what he intended to -establish by them, as far as England is concerned. - -Between Adam Street and George Street, on the other side of the -Strand, is Bedford Street, the site of an old mansion of the Earls and -Dukes of Bedford. - -With George Street commence the precincts of an ancient "Inn," or -palace, originally belonging to the Bishops of Norwich; then to -Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; then to the Archbishops of York, -from whom it was called York House; then to the Crown, who let it to -Lord Chancellor Egerton and to Bacon; then to the Duke of Buckingham, -the favourite, who rebuilt it with great magnificence, and at whose -death it was let to the Earl of Northumberland; and finally to the -second Duke of Buckingham, who pulled it down and converted it into -the present streets and alleys, the names of which contain his -designation at full length, even to the sign of the genitive case, for -there is an "_Of_ Alley:" so that we have George, Villiers, Duke, Of, -Buckingham. - -Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, was the man who, on his marriage with Henry -VIII.'s sister, appeared at a tournament on a horse that had a cloth -half frieze and half gold, with that touching motto-- - - Cloth of gold, do not thou despise, - Though thou be matched with cloth of frize: - Cloth of frize, be not thou too bold, - Though thou be matched with cloth of gold. - -Bacon belongs to Gray's Inn, and the second Duke of Buckingham to -Wallingford House, where he chiefly resided (on the site of the -present Admiralty): but the reader, who should go down Buckingham -Street, and contemplate the spot which Inigo Jones and the trees have -beautified, will not fail to be struck with the many different spirits -that have passed through this spot--the romantic Suffolk; the correct -Egerton; the earth-moving Bacon; the first Buckingham with a spirit -equal to his fortunes; the second, witty but selfish, who lavished -them away; and all the visitors, of so many different qualities, which -these men must have had, crowding or calmly moving to the gate across -the water, in quiet or in jollity, clients, philosophers, poets, -courtiers, mistresses, gallant masques, the romance of Charles the -First's reign, and the gaudy revelry of Charles II. A little spot -remains, with a few trees, and a graceful piece of art, and the river -flowing as calmly as meditation. - - [Illustration: WATER-GATE OF YORK HOUSE.] - -The only vestige now remaining of the splendid mansion of the -Buckinghams is the Water-Gate at the end of Buckingham Street, called -York Stairs,[185] and built by Inigo Jones. It has been much admired, -and must have admitted, in its time, the entrance of many -extraordinary persons. - -York Buildings affords us another name, not unworthy to be added to -the most useful and delightful of these, Richard Steele, who lived -here just before he retired into Wales. The place in his time was -celebrated for a concert-room. We must not omit the termination of a -curious dispute at the gate of York House, to which Pepys was a -witness. - - "30th (September 1661). This morning up _by moonshine_, at five - o'clock," (here was one of the great secrets of the animal - spirits of those times), "to Whitehall, to meet Mr. More at the - Privy Seale, and there I heard of a fray between the two - embassadors of Spaine and France, and that this day being the - day of the entrance of an embassador from Sweeden, they - intended to fight for the precedence. Our King, I heard, - ordered that no Englishman should meddle in the business, but - let them do what they would. And to that end, all the soldiers - in town were in arms all the day long, and some of the train - bands in the city, and a great bustle through the city all the - day. Then we took coach (which was the business I came for) to - Chelsey, to my Lord Privy Seale, and there got him to seal the - business. Here I saw by daylight two very fine pictures in the - gallery, that a little while ago I saw by night; and did also - go all over the house, and found it to be the prettiest - contrived house that ever I saw in my life. So back again; and - at Whitehall light, and saw the soldiers and people running up - and down the streets. So I went to the Spanish embassador's and - the French, and there saw great preparations on both sides; but - the French made the most noise and ranted most, but the other - made no stir almost at all; so that I was afraid the other - would have too great a conquest over them. Then to the wardrobe - and dined there; and then abroad, and in Cheapside hear, that - the Spanish hath got the best of it, and killed three of the - French coach-horses and several men, and is gone through the - city next to our King's coach; at which, it is strange to see - how all the city did rejoice. And, indeed, we do naturally all - love the Spanish and hate the French. But I, as I am in all - things curious, presently got to the water side, and there took - oars to Westminster Palace, and ran after them through all the - dirt, and the streets full of people; till at last, in the - Mews, I saw the Spanish coach go with fifty drawn swords at - least to guard it, and our soldiers shouting for joy. And so I - followed the coach, and then met it at York House, where the - embassador lies; and there it went in with great state. So then - I went to the French house, where I observe still, that there - is no men in the world of a more insolent spirit where they do - well, nor before they begin a matter, and more abject if they - do miscarry, than these people are; for they all look like dead - men, and not a word among them, but shake their heads. The - truth is, the Spaniards were not only observed to fight more - desperately, but also they did outwitt them; first in lining - their own harnesse with chains of iron that they could not be - cut, then in setting their coach in the most advantageous - place, and to appoint men to guard every one of their horses, - and others for to guard the coach, and others the coachman. - And, above all, in setting upon the French horses and killing - them, for by that means the French were not able to stir. There - were several men slaine of the French, and one or two of the - Spaniards, and one Englishman by a bullet. Which is very - observable, the French were at least four to one in number, and - had near one hundred cases of pistols among them, and the - Spaniards had not one gun among them, which is for their honour - for ever, and the others' disgrace. So having been very much - daubed with dirt, I got a coach and home; where I vexed my wife - in telling her of this story, and pleading for the Spaniards - against the French."[186] - -In James the Second's time, the French embassy had the house of their -rival, and drew the town to see Popish devices in wax-work. - - "The fourth of April," says Evelyn (1672), "I went to see the - fopperies of the Papists at Somerset House and York House, - where now the French ambassador had caused to be represented - our Blessed Saviour at the Pascal Supper with his disciples, in - figures and puppets made as big as the life, of wax-work, - curiously clad and sitting round a large table, the room nobly - hung, and shining with innumerable lamps and candles; this was - exposed to all the world; all the city came to see it: such - liberty had the Roman Catholicks at this time obtained."[187] - -They have obtained more liberty since, and can dispense with these -"fopperies." At least they would do well to think so. - -Hungerford Market takes its name from an old Wiltshire family, who had -a mansion here in the time of Charles II., which they parted with, -like others, to the encroachments of trade. It used to be an -inconvenient and disagreeable place, little frequented, but has lately -been converted into a handsome market, and put an end to the monopoly -of Billingsgate. - -No. 7 in Craven Street is celebrated as having been, at one time, the -residence of Franklin. What a change along the shore of the Thames in -a few years (for two centuries are less than a few in the lapse of -time), from the residence of a set of haughty nobles, who never dreamt -that a tradesman could be anything but a tradesman, to that of a -yeoman's son, and a printer, who was one of the founders of a great -state! - - [Illustration: OLD NORTHUMBERLAND HOUSE.] - -Northumberland House is the only one remaining of all the great -mansions which lorded it on the river side. It was built by Henry -Howard, Earl of Northampton, son of the famous Henry Howard, Earl of -Surrey, the poet; but a very unworthy son, except in point of -capacity. He was one of those men, who, wanting a sense of moral -beauty, are in every other respect wise in vain, and succeed only to -become despised and unhappy. He was the grossest of flatterers; paid -court to the most opposite rivals, in the worst manner; and seems to -have stuck at nothing to obtain his ends. His perception of what was -great, extrinsically, led him to build this princely abode; and his -worship of success and court favour degraded him into an accomplice of -Carr, Earl of Somerset. It is thought by the historians, that he died -just in time to save him from the disgraceful consequences of the -murder of Sir Thomas Overbury.[188] - -Northumberland House was built upon the site of the old hospital of -St. Mary Roncesvaux--Osborne says, with Spanish gold. "Part of the -present mansion," says the _Londinium Redivivum_, "is from the designs -of Bernard Jansen, and the frontispiece or gateway from those of -Gerard Christmas. This gateway cannot possibly be described correctly, -as the ornaments are scattered in the utmost profusion, from the base -to the attic, which supports a copy of Michael Angelo's celebrated -lion. Double ranges of grotesque pilasters inclose eight niches on the -sides, and there are a bow window and an open arch above the gate. The -basement of the whole front contains fourteen niches, with ancient -weapons crossed within them; and the upper stories have twenty-four -windows, in two ranges, with pierce battlements. Each wing terminates -in a cupola, and the angles have rustic quoins. The quadrangle within -the gate is in a better style of building, but rather distinguished by -simplicity than grandeur; and the garden next the Thames, with many -trees, serves to screen the mansion from those disagreeable objects -which generally bound the shores of the river in this vast trading -city." - - "Northumberland House was discovered to be on fire, March 18, - 1780, at five o'clock in the morning, which raged from that - hour till eight, when the whole front next the Strand was - completely destroyed. Dr. Percy's apartments were consumed; but - great part of his library escaped the general ruin."[189] - -We have been the more particular in laying this extract before our -readers, because, though the house still exists, the public see little -of it. All they behold, indeed, is the screen or advanced guard, which -is no very fine sight, and only serves to narrow the way. Of the -quadrangle inside the public know nothing; and thousands pass every -day without suspecting that there is such a thing as a tree on the -premises. - -The Percys had this house in consequence of a marriage with the -daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, who was Northampton's nephew. During -the Earl's possession it was called Suffolk House, and furnished an -escape to a person of the name of Emerson from one of the mad pranks -of Lord Herbert of Cherbury, who was for fighting everybody. His -lordship had had sundry fits of ague, which brought him at last to be -"so lean and yellow, that scarce any man," he says, "did know him." - - "It happened," he continues, "during this sickness, that I - walked abroad one day towards Whitehall, where, meeting with - one Emerson, who spoke very disgraceful words of Sir Robert - Harley, being then my dear friend, my weakness could not hinder - me to be sensible of my friend's dishonour; shaking him, - therefore, by a long beard he wore, I stept a little aside, and - drew my sword in the street; Captain Thomas Scrivan, a friend - of mine, not being far off on one side, and divers friends of - his on the other side. All that saw me wondered how I could go, - being so weak and consumed as I was, but much more that I would - offer to fight; howsoever, Emerson, instead of drawing his - sword, ran away into Suffolk House, and afterwards informed the - Lords of the Council of what I had done; who, not long after - sending for me, did not so much reprehend my taking part with - my friend, as that I would adventure to fight, being in such a - bad condition of health."[190] - -The disgraceful words spoken by Emerson were very likely nothing at -all, except to his lordship's ultra-chivalrous fancy; but this is a -curious scene to imagine at the entrance of the present quiet -Northumberland House--Emerson slipping into the gate with horror in -his looks, and the lean and yellow ghost of the knight-errant behind -him, sword in hand. - -Mr. Malcolm has spoken of the apartments of Dr. Percy. This was Dr. -Percy, Bishop of Dromore, who gave an impulse to the spirit of the -modern muse by his _Reliques of Ancient English Poetry_. He was a -kinsman of the Northumberland family. We believe it was in -Northumberland House that his friend Goldsmith, stammering out a fine -speech of thanks to a personage in a splendid dress whom he took for -the Duke, was informed, when he had done, that it was his Grace's -"gentleman." - -A little way up Catherine Street is Exeter Street, where Johnson first -lodged when he came to town. His lodgings were at the house of Mr. -Morris, a stay-maker. He dined at the Pine-apple in New Street, "for -eightpence, with very good company." Several of them, he told Boswell, -had travelled. "They expected to meet every day; but did not know one -another's names." The rest of his information is a curious and -interesting specimen of his disposition. "It used," said he, "to cost -the rest a shilling, for they drank wine: but I had a cut of meat for -sixpence, and bread for a penny, and gave the waiter a penny; so that -I was quite as well served, nay, better than the rest, for they gave -the waiter nothing." Johnson drank at this time no fermented liquors. -Boswell supposes that he had gained a knowledge of the art of living -in London from an Irish painter, whom he knew at Birmingham, and of -whom he gave this account. - - "Thirty pounds a year," according to this economical - philosopher, "was enough to enable a man to live there without - being contemptible. He allowed ten pounds for clothes and - linen. He said a man might live in a garret at eighteen pence a - week; few people would inquire where he lodged: and if they - did, it was easy to say, 'Sir, I am to be found at such a - place.' By spending three pence at a coffee-house, he might be - for some hours every day in very good company; he might dine - for sixpence, breakfast on bread and milk for a penny, and do - without supper. _On clean shirt day_ he went abroad and paid - visits."[191] - -The Strand end of Catherine Street is mentioned in Gay's "Trivia" for -a notoriety which it now unfortunately shares with too many places to -render it remarkable. His picture of one of the women he speaks of -possesses a literal truth, the characteristic of the whole of this -curious poem. - - "'Tis she who nightly strolls with sauntering pace; - No stubborn stays her yielding shape embrace; - Beneath the lamp her tawdry ribands glare, - The new scower'd manteau, and the slattern air; - High draggled petticoats her travels show, - And hollow cheeks with artful blushes glow. - In riding-hood, near tavern door she plies, - Or muffled pinners hide her livid eyes. - With empty band-box she delights to range, - And feigns a distant errand from the 'Change." - -Gay contents himself with a picture, and a warning. In our times, we -have learnt to pity the human beings, and to think what can be done to -remedy the first causes of the evil. - -The houses between Catherine Street and Burleigh Street stand upon -ground formerly occupied by Wimbledon House, a mansion built by Sir -Edward Cecil, whom Charles I. created Viscount Wimbledon. It was -burnt down; and Stow says, that the day before, his lordship's country -house at Wimbledon was blown up. - -The late Lyceum was built about the year 1765, as an academy and -exhibition-room, in anticipation of the royal one then contemplated. -It did not succeed; and part of it was converted into a theatre for -musical performances. It then became a place of exhibition for large -panoramic pictures, among which we remember with pleasure the battle -pieces of Robert Ker Porter (Seringapatam, Acre, &c.) A species of -entertainment then took place in it, which has justly been called -"useful and liberal," presenting, on a regular stage, pictures or -scenes of famous places, while a person read accounts of them from a -desk. We remember the AEgyptiana, or description of AEgypt, and, if we -mistake not, an attempt, not quite so well founded, to illustrate the -scenes of Milton's Allegro and Penseroso. Neither of the attempts met -with success; but the former, perhaps, might be tried again with -advantage, now that information and the thirst for it have so -wonderfully increased. The panorama, however, may have realised all -that can be done in this way. Visitors to those admirable contrivances -may be almost said to become travellers; and a reader at hand might -disturb them, like an impertinence. We recollect being so early one -morning at a panorama, that we had the place to ourselves. The room -was without a sound, and the scene Florence; and when we came out, the -noise and crowd of the streets had an effect on us, as if we had been -suddenly transported out of an Italian solitude. The Lyceum has since -been handsomely rebuilt as a new English Opera House, under the -management of Mr. Arnold, who has done much to cultivate a love of -music in this country. Over the former theatre, we believe, was a room -built by him for the members of the famous Beef-Steak Club, equally -celebrated for loving their steaks and roasting one another.[192] - -The little crowded nest of shop-counters and wild beasts, called -Exeter Change, which has lately been pulled down, took its name from a -mansion belonging to the Bishop of Exeter, whether on the south or -north side of the street does not appear. It is not necessary that the -spot should have been the same. Any connection with a large mansion, -or its neighbourhood, is sufficient to give name to a new house. -Pennant thinks, we know not on what authority, that the great Lord -Burleigh had a mansion on the spot; and he adds, that he died here. -Exeter Change was supposed to have been built in the reign of William -and Mary, as a speculation. The lower story, at the beginning of the -last century, was appropriated to the shops of milliners; and -upholsterers had the upper. In the year 1721, the town were invited to -this place to look at a _bed_. - - "Mr. Normond Cony," saith the historian, "exhibited a singular - bed for two shillings and sixpence each person, the product of - his own ingenuity; the curtains of which were woven in the most - ingenious manner, with feathers of the greatest variety and - beauty he could procure; the ground represented white damask, - mixed with silver and ornaments of various descriptions, - supporting vases of flowers and fruits. Each curtain had a - purple border a foot in breadth, branched with flowers shaded - with scarlet, the valence and bases the same. The bed was - eighteen feet in height; and from the description must have - been a superior effort of genius, equally original with the - works of the South Sea Islanders, whose cloaks, mantles, and - caps, grace the collection formed by Captain Cook, now - preserved in the British Museum."[193] - -This was a gentle exhibition enough. Sixty years ago, instead of the -bed, was presented the right honourable body of Lord Baltimore, a -personage who ran away with young ladies against their will. The body -lay "in state," previously to its interment at Epsom. Lord Baltimore -was succeeded by the wild beasts, who kept possession in their narrow -unhealthy cages till the death of the poor elephant in 1826, which -conspiring with the new spirit of improvement to call final attention -to this excresence in the Strand, it was adjudged to be rooted out. -The death of this unfortunate animal, who seems to have had just -reason enough to grow mad, had its proper effect, in exciting the -public to guard against similar evils; nor is it likely that these -intelligent and noble creatures, nor indeed any others, will undergo -such a monstrous state of existence again. - - [Illustration] - -Passing one day by Exeter Change, we beheld a sight strange enough to -witness in a great thoroughfare--a fine horse startled, and pawing the -ground, at the roar of lions and tigers. It was at the time, we -suppose, when the beasts were being fed. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[127] Gay's Trivia, or the Art of Walking the Streets of London, book -ii. - -[128] Pennant, _ut supra_, p. 139. - -[129] Londinium Redivivum, vol. iii., p. 397. - -[130] Biographia Dramatica, from Oldys's MS. Notes on Langbaine. - -[131] Censura Literaria, vol. i., p. 176. - -[132] State Poems, vol. ii., p. 143, - -[133] Boswell, vol. i., p. 383. - -[134] Boswell, vol. iii., p. 331. - -[135] Dugdale's Antiquities of Westminster. Heraldic MS. in the -Museum, quoted in Londinium Redivivum (vol. ii., p. 282). Brydges's -Collins's Peerage. Belsham's Life of Lindsey. We have been thus minute -in tracing the occupancies of this house, from the interest excited by -some of the members connected with it. Pennant says, upon the -authority of the Sydney Papers, that Leicester bequeathed it to his -son-in-law, which appears probable, since the latter possessed it. -Perhaps the herald was confused by the name of Robert, which belonged -both to son and son-in-law. - -[136] Howell's State Trials, vol. i., p. 1343. - -[137] Todd's edit. of Spenser, vol. i., p. cxli. - -[138] Godwin's History or the Commonwealth, vol. i., p. 410. - -[139] Boswell, vol. iv., p. 276. - -[140] Trivia; or the Art of Walking the Streets of London, book iii. -Of a similar, and more perplexing facetiousness was the trick of -extracting wigs out of hackney coaches. "The thieves," says the -_Weekly Journal_ (March 30, 1717), "have got such a villanous way now -of robbing gentlemen, that they cut holes through the backs of hackney -coaches, and take away their wigs, or fine head-dresses of -gentlewomen; so a gentleman was served last Sunday in Tooley Street, -and another but last Tuesday in Fenchurch Street; wherefore this may -serve as a caution to gentlemen and gentlewomen that ride single in -the night-time, to sit on the fore-seat, which will prevent that way -of robbing."--Malcolm's Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London -during the Eighteenth Century, second edit., vol. i., p. 104. - -[141] Londinium Redivivum, vol. ii. - -[142] Second Part of Henry IV. act 3. sc. 2. - -[143] Birch's Negotiations, pp. 206, 207, quoted in the work above -mentioned, p. 189. Whenever we quote from any authorities but the -original, we beg the reader to bear in mind, first, that we always -notice our having done so; and, secondly, that we make a point of -comparing the originals with the report. Both Monmouth and Birch, for -example, have been consulted in the present instance. - -[144] We allude to the celebrated saying of Gibbon respecting the -Fairy Queen. - -[145] In his Letters on the English Nation. But we quote from memory. - -[146] We conclude so from our authorities in both instances. Mr. -Malcolm's Londinium Redivivum, vol. iii., p. 398. - -[147] See his life in Chalmers's General Biographical Dictionary, vol. -v., p. 280. - -[148] General Biographical Dictionary, 8vo., 1812, vol. vii. - -[149] Letters on the English Nation. - -[150] Life, in Chalmers's English Poets, p. 26. - -[151] Spence's Anecdotes, p. 376. - -[152] Idem, p. 46. - -[153] Memoirs of the Life, Writings, &c., of William Congreve, Esq., -1730, p. xi. Curll discreetly omits his name in the titlepage. [On -reconsidering this interview (though we have no longer the book by us, -and therefore speak from memory) we are doubtful, whether the lady was -not Mrs. Bracegirdle, instead of the duchess.] - -[154] Lives of the Poets, &c., by Mr. Cibber and others, 1753. - -[155] Pennant's London, _ut supra_, p. 124. Swift's Letters to Stella. -The particulars of the case are taken from Howell's State Trials. vol. -xii., p. 947. - -[156] "Captain Baily, said to have accompanied Raleigh in his last -expedition to Guiana, employed four hackney coaches, with drivers in -liveries, to ply at the May-pole in the Strand, fixing his own rates, -about the year 1634. Baily's coaches seem to have been the first of -what are now called hackney-coaches; a term at that time applied -indiscriminately to all coaches let for hire." The favourite -Buckingham, about the year 1619, introduced the sedan. The -post-chaise, invented in France, was introduced by Mr. Tull, son of -the well-known writer on husbandry. The stage first came in about the -year 1775; and mail-coaches appeared in 1785.--See a note to the -_Tatler_, as above, vol. iv., p. 415. - -[157] This was written in 1834. - -[158] The faults of the New Church are, that it is too small for the -steeple; that it is divided into two stories, which make it still -smaller; that the entablature on the north and south parts is too -frequently interrupted; that pediments are "affectedly put over each -projection;" in a word, that a little object is cut up into too many -little parts, and rendered fantastic with embellishment. See the -opinions of Gwynn, Ralph, and Malton, quoted in Brayley's London and -Middlesex, vol. iv., p. 199. - -[159] Life of James I. quoted in Pennant, p. 155. - -[160] L'Estrange's Life of Charles I., quoted in D'Israeli's -Commentaries on the Life and Reign of Charles I., vol. ii., p. 218. - -[161] L'Estrange's Life of Charles I. - -[162] Steenie--a familiarisation of Stephen. The name was given -Buckingham by James I., in reference to the beauty of St. Stephen, -whose face, during his martyrdom, is described in the New Testament as -shining like that of an angel. - -[163] See the account of the Paradise of Glory, in vol. ii., p. 225. - -[164] Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq., 2nd edition, vol. i., p. 309. - -[165] Id., p. 357. - -[166] Lives and Letters, as above. - -[167] See three Poems in his Genuine Remains.--_Chalmers's British -Poets_, vol. viii., p. 187. - -[168] British Poets, vol. vii., p. 101. - -[169] Londinium Redivivum, vol. iv., p. 410. - -[170] Gentleman's Magazine for 1793, p. 88. - -[171] Memoirs and Correspondence, as above, vol. i., p. 182. - -[172] Vol. ii., p. 348. - -[173] Memoirs and Correspondence, as above, vol. iii., p. 75. - -[174] Id., p. 185. - -[175] Vol. iv., p. 81. - -[176] Granger's Biographical History of England, 1824, vol. v., p. -356. - -[177] Pennant, _ut supra_, p. 144. - -[178] Where he likens Jupiter's house in the Milky Way to the palace -of Augustus:-- - - "Hic locus est, quem, si verbis audacia detur, - Haud timeam magni dixisse Palatia coeli." - Lib. i. v. 175. - -Which Sandys, by a felicitous conceit in the taste of his age (and of -Ovid too), has transferred to the palace of Charles the First, and -rendered still more applicable to the Milky Way:-- - - "This glorious roofe I would not doubt to call, - Had I but boldness giv'n me, Heaven's _White-Hall_" - - -[179] Pennant, p. 147. - -[180] It was a joke, probably invented, against a late festive -alderman, that some lover of Terence, at a public dinner, having -toasted two royal brothers, who were present, under the title of the -Adelphi (the Greek word for "brothers"), the Alderman said, that as -they were on the subject of streets, "he would beg leave to propose -'Finsbury Square.'" - -[181] Boswell, iv., p. 102. - -[182] Id., p. 106. - -[183] Boswell, vol. i., p. 225. - -[184] Near Holland House, Kensington. Addison died in that house. - -[185] "York Stairs," says the author of the 'Critical Reviews of -Public Buildings,' quoted in 'Brayley's London and Middlesex,' "form -unquestionably the most perfect piece of building that does honour to -Inigo Jones: it is planned in so exquisite a taste, formed of such -equal and harmonious parts, and adorned with such proper and elegant -decorations, that nothing can be censured or added. It is at once -happy in its situation beyond comparison, and fancied in a style -exactly suited to that situation. The rock-work, or rustic, can never -be better introduced than in buildings by the side of water; and, -indeed, it is a great question whether it ought to have been made use -of anywhere else. On the side next the river appear the arms of the -Villiers family; and on the north front is inscribed their motto: -_Fidei Coticula Crux_,--The Cross is the touch-stone of faith. On this -side is a small terrace, planted with lime-trees; the whole supported -by a rate raised upon the houses in the neighbouring streets; and -being inclosed from the public, forms an agreeable promenade for the -inhabitants." - -[186] Diary, vol. i., p. 221. - -[187] "Memoirs of John Evelyn, Esq." Second edit. vol. ii., p. 364. - -[188] In 1596, Northampton writes thus to Lord Burghley (Essex's great -enemy), upon presenting to him a _devotional_ composition. "The weight -of your lordship's piercing judgment held me in so reverend an awe, as -before I were encouraged by two or three of my friends, who had a -taste, I durst not present this treatise to your view: but since their -partiality hath made me thus bold, my own affection to sanctify this -labour to yourself hath made me impudent." - -Yet in the year succeeding, our authority observes, he has the -following passage in a letter to Essex:--"Some friend of mine means -this day, before night, to merit my devotion and uttermost gratitude -by seeking to do good to you; the success whereof my prayers in the -meantime shall recommend to that best gale of wind that may favour it. -Your lordship, by your last purchase, hath almost enraged the -dromedary that would have won the Queen of Sheba's favour by bringing -pearls. If you could once be as fortunate in dragging old Leviathan -(Burghley) and his cub, _tortuosum colubrum_ (Sir Robert Cecil), as -the prophet termeth them, out of this den of mischievous device, the -better part of the world would prefer your virtue to that of -Hercules." See "Memoirs of the Peers of James I." p. 240. Such "wise -men" are the worst of fools. And here he was acting, as such men are -apt to do, like one of the commonest fools, in saying such -contradictory things under his own hand. - -[189] Vol. iv., p. 308. - -[190] "Life of Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury," in the -"Autobiography," p. 110. - -[191] Boswell, vol. i., p. 81. - -[192] The author of a "History of the Clubs of London" (vol. ii. p. -3.), says that this is not the Beef-Steak Club of which Estcourt, the -comedian, was steward, and Mrs. Woffington president. He derives its -origin from an accidental dinner taken by Lord Peterborough in the -scenic room of Rich the Harlequin, over Covent Garden Theatre. The -original gridiron, on which Rich broiled the Peer's beef-steak, is -still preserved, as the palladium of the club; and the members have it -engraved on their buttons. It has generally, we believe, admitted the -leading men of the day, of whatever description, provided they can -joke and bear joking. The author just mentioned says, that Lord -Sandwich's and Wilkes's days are generally quoted as the golden period -of the society. - -[193] Londinium Redivivum, vol. iv., p. 302. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -LINCOLN'S INN, AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. - - Lincoln's Inn -- Ben Jonson's Bricklaying -- Enactments against - Beards -- Oliver Cromwell, More, Hale, and other eminent - Students of Lincoln's Inn -- Lincoln's Inn Fields, or Square -- - Houses there built by Inigo Jones -- Pepys's Admiration of the - Comforts of Mr. Povey -- Surgeons' College -- Sir Richard and - Lady Fanshawe, and Lord Sandwich -- Execution of the patriotic - Lord Russell, with an Account of the Circumstances that led to - and accompanied it, and some Remarks on his Character -- - Affecting Passages from the Letters of his Widow -- Ludicrous - Story connected with Newcastle House. - - -Lincoln's Inn, upon the side of Chancery Lane, presents a long, old -front of brick, more simple than clean. It is saturated with the -London smoke. Within is a handsome row of buildings, and a garden, in -which Bickerstaff describes himself as walking, by favour of the -Benchers, who had grown old with him.[194] It will be recollected that -Bickerstaff lived in Shire Lane, which leads into this inn from -Temple-bar. The garden-wall on the side next Chancery Lane is said by -Aubrey to have been the scene of Ben Jonson's performance as a -bricklayer. We have spoken of it in our remarks on that lane; but -shall now add the particulars. "His mother, after his father's death," -says Aubrey, "married a bricklayer; and 'tis generally said that he -wrought for some time with his father-in-law, and particularly on the -garden-wall of Lincoln's Inn, next to Chancery Lane." Aubrey's report -adds, that "a knight, or bencher, walking through and hearing him -repeat some Greek names out of Homer, discoursing with him, and -finding him to have a wit extraordinary, gave him some exhibition to -maintain him at Trinity College in Cambridge."[195] Fuller says, that -he had been there before at St. John's, and that he was obliged by the -family poverty to return to the bricklaying.[196] "And let them not -blush," says this good-hearted writer, "that have, but those who have -not a lawful calling. He helped in the building of the new structure -of Lincoln's Inn, where, having a trowell in his hand, he had a book -in his pocket." A late editor of Ben Jonson rejects these literary -accounts of the poet's bricklaying as "figments."[197] And he brings -his author's own representations to prove that he left the business, -not for the University, but the continent. As this writer has nothing, -however, to oppose to what Aubrey and Fuller believed respecting the -rest, the reports, so far, are worth as much as they were before. -Nobody was more likely than Ben Jonson to carry a Greek or Latin book -with him on such occasions: nor, as far as that matter goes, to let -others become aware of it. - -Pennant's sketch of Lincoln's Inn continues to be the best, -notwithstanding all that has been said of it since his time. He begins -with observing, that "the gate is of brick, but of no small ornament -to the street." This is the gate in Chancery Lane. - - "It was built," he continues, "by Sir Thomas Lovel, once a - member of this inn, and afterwards treasurer of the household - to Henry VII. The other parts were rebuilt at different times, - but much about the same period. None of the original building - is left, for it was formed out of the house of the Black - Friars, which fronted Holborn end of the palace of Ralph Nevil, - Chancellor of England, and Bishop of Chichester, built by him - in the reign of Henry III., on a piece of ground granted to him - by the king. It continued to be inhabited by some of the - successors in the see. This was the original site of the - Dominicians or Black Friars, before they removed to the spot - now known by that name. On part of the ground, now covered with - buildings, Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, built an Inne, as it - was in those days called, for himself, in which he died in - 1312. The ground did belong to the Black Friars; and was - granted by Edward I. to that great Earl. The whole has retained - his name. One of the Bishops of Chichester, in after times, did - grant leases of the buildings to certain students of the law, - reserving to themselves a rent, and lodgings for themselves - whenever they came to town. This seems to have taken place - about the time of Henry VII." - - "The chapel," continues our author, "was designed by Inigo - Jones; it is built upon massy pillars, and affords, under its - shelter, an excellent walk. This work evinces that Inigo never - was designed for a Gothic architect. The Lord Chancellor holds - his sittings in the great hall. This, like that of the Temple, - had its revels, and great Christmasses. Instead of the Lord of - Misrule, it had its King of the Cocknies. They had also a Jack - Straw; but in the time of Queen Elizabeth he, and all his - adherents, were utterly banished. I must not omit, that in the - same reign sumptuary laws were made to regulate the dress of - the members of the house; who were forbidden to wear long hair, - or great ruffs, cloaks, boots, or spurs. In the reign of Henry - VIII. beards were prohibited at the great table, under pain of - paying double commons. His daughter, Elizabeth, in the first - year of her reign, confined them to a fortnight's growth, under - penalty of 3s. 4d.: but the fashion prevailed so strongly, that - the prohibition was repealed, and no manner of size limited to - that venerable excrescence."[198] - - 'Tis merry in the hall, - When beards wag all, - -says the proverb; but the lawyers in those days had already so many -refreshments to their solemnity, in masks and revels, that it was -thought necessary to provide for decency of mastication in ordinary. -Attempts to regulate trifles of this sort, however, have always been -found more difficult than any others, the impertinence of the -interference being in proportion. Think of the officers watching the -illegal growth of the beard; the vexation of the "dandies," who wanted -their beards out of doors; and the resentment of the unservile part of -the elders! He that parted with his beard, rather than his three and -fourpence, would be looked upon as an alien. - -In the hall of Lincoln's Inn is Hogarth's celebrated failure of "Paul -preaching before Felix." It seems hard upon a great man to exhibit a -specimen of what he could not do. However, the subject does not appear -to have been of the society's choosing. A bequest had been made them -which produced a commission to Hogarth, probably in expectation that -he would illustrate some of the consequences of good laws in his usual -manner. - -Old Fortescue was of Lincoln's Inn; Spelman, the great antiquary; Sir -Thomas More; Cromwell; Sir Mathew Hale; Lord Chancellor Egerton, -otherwise known by his title of Lord Ellesmere; Shaftesbury, the -statesman; and Lord Mansfield. Dr. Donne also studied there for a -short time, but left the Inn to enjoy an inheritance, and became a -clergyman. However, he returned to it in after life as preacher of the -lecture; which office he held about two years, to the great -satisfaction of his hearers. Tillotson was another preacher. It is -difficult to present to one's imagination the venerable judges in -their younger days; to think of Hale as a gay fellow (which he was -till an accident made him otherwise); or fancy that Sir Thomas More -had any other face but the profound and ponderous one in his pictures. -His face, indeed, must have been full of meaning enough at all times; -for at twenty-one he was a stirring youth in Parliament; and at twenty -he took to wearing a hair-shirt, as an aid to his meditations. It is -interesting to fancy him passing us in the Inn square, with a glance -of his deep eye; we (of posterity) being in the secret of his -hair-shirt, which the less informed passengers are not. - -The account of Hale's change of character, on his entrance into -Lincoln's Inn, merits to be repeated. - - "At Oxford," says his biographer, "he fell into many levities - and extravagances, and was preparing to go along with his - tutor, who went chaplain to Lord Vere, into the Low Countries, - with a resolution of entering himself into the Prince of - Orange's army, when he was diverted from his design by being - engaged in a lawsuit with Sir William Whitmore, who laid claim - to part of his estate. Afterwards, by the persuasions of - Serjeant Glanville, who happened to be his counsel in this - case, and had an opportunity of observing his capacity, he - resolved upon the study of the law, and was admitted of - Lincoln's Inn, November 8, 1629. Sensible of the time he had - lost in frivolous pursuits, he now studied at the rate of - sixteen hours a-day, and threw aside all appearance of vanity - in his apparel. He is said, indeed, to have neglected his dress - so much, that, being a strong and well-built man, he was once - taken by a press-gang, as a person very fit for sea-service, - which pleasant mistake made him regard more decency in his - clothes for the future, though never to any degree of - extravagant finery. What confirmed him still more in a serious - and regular way of life was an accident, which is related to - have befallen one of his companions. Hale, with other young - students of the Inn, being invited out of town, one of the - company called for so much wine, that notwithstanding all Hale - could do to prevent it, he went on in his excess till he fell - down in a fit, seemingly dead, and was with some difficulty - recovered. This particularly affected Hale, in whom the - principles of religion had been early implanted; and, - therefore, retiring into another room, and falling down upon - his knees, he prayed earnestly to God, both for his friend, - that he might be restored to life again, and for himself, that - he might be forgiven for being present and countenancing so - much excess; and he vowed to God, that he would never again - keep company in that manner, nor drink a health while he lived. - His friend recovered; and from this time Mr. Hale forsook all - his gay acquaintance, and divided his whole time between the - duties of religion, and the studies of his profession." - -Cromwell is supposed to have been about two years in Lincoln's Inn, -and while he was there attended to anything but the law, the future -devout Protector being, in fact, nothing more or less than a gambler -and debauchee. However, he is supposed to have run all his round of -dissipation in that time. Mansfield's residence in Lincoln's Inn, when -Mr. Murray, gave rise to a singular reference in Pope. It is in the -translation of Horace's ode, "Intermissa Venus diu," where the poet -says to the goddess-- - - "I am not now, alas! the man - As in the gentle reign of my Queen Anne. - To _number five_ direct your doves, - There spread round Murray all your blooming loves; - Noble and young, who strikes the heart - With every sprightly, every decent part; - Equal the injured to defend, - To charm the mistress, or to fix the friend." - -This _number five_ to which Venus is to go with her doves, points out -Murray's apartments in Lincoln's Inn. Pope, as we have mentioned -elsewhere, thought that nature intended his noble acquaintance for an -Ovid; a notion partly suggested, perhaps, by Ovid's having been a -lawyer. It was during his residence in Lincoln's Inn, that the future -Lord Chief Justice is said to have drunk the Pretender's health on his -knees; which he very likely did. The charge was brought up twenty -years afterwards, to ruin his prospects under the Hanover succession; -but it came to nothing. One dynasty has no dislike to a strong -prejudice in favour of a preceding dynasty, when the latter has ceased -to be formidable. The propensity to adhere to royalty is looked upon -as a good symptom; and the event generally answers the expectation. -The favourite courtiers under the house of Brunswick have come of -Jacobite families. - -A century ago, according to a passage in Gay, Lincoln's Inn and the -neighbourhood were dangerous places to walk through at night. - - "Where Lincoln's Inn, wide space, is railed around, - Cross not with venturous step; there oft is found - The lurking thief, who while the daylight shone, - Made the wall echo with his begging tone: - That crutch, which late compassion moved, shall wound - Thy bleeding head, and fell thee to the ground. - Though thou art tempted by the linkman's call, - Yet trust him not along the lonely wall; - In the midway he'll quench the flaming brand, - And share the booty with the pilfering band. - Still keep the public streets, where oily rays, - Shot from the crystal lamp, o'erspread the ways." - -The wall here mentioned is probably that which was not long since -displaced by the new one, and the elegant structure that now adorns -the east side of Lincoln's Inn Fields. - -Lincoln's Inn Fields, now a handsome square, set more agreeably than -most others, with grass plat and underwood, were first disposed into -their present regular appearance by Inigo Jones, under the auspices of -a committee of gentry and nobility, one of whom was Bacon. Inigo built -some of the houses, and gave to the ground-plot of the square the -exact dimensions of the base of one of the pyramids of Egypt. He could -not have hit upon a better mode of conveying to the imagination a -sense of those enormous structures. If the passenger stops and -pictures to himself one of the huge slanting sides of the pyramid, as -wide as the whole length of the square, leaning away up into the -atmosphere, with an apex we know not how high, it will indeed seem to -him a kind of stone mountain. - -The houses in Lincoln's Inn Fields built by Inigo Jones are in Arch -Row (the western side), and may still be distinguished. Pennant speaks -of one of them as being "Lindesey House, once the seat of the Earls of -Lindesey, and of their descendants, the Dukes of Ancaster." They are -probably still a great deal more handsome inside, and more convenient, -than any of the flimsy modern houses preferred to them; but London has -grown so large, that everybody who can afford it lives at the -fashionable outskirts for the fresh air. It is probable that Inigo's -houses created an ambition of good building in this quarter. Pepys -speaks of a Mr. Povey's house in Lincoln's Inn Fields as a miracle of -elegance and comfort. His description of it is characteristic of the -snug and wondering Pepys. - - "Thence (that is to say, from chapel and the ladies) with Mr. - Povey home to dinner; where extraordinary cheer. And after - dinner up and down to see his house. And in a word, methinks, - for his perspective in the little closet; his room floored - above with woods of several colours, like, but above the best - cabinet-work I ever saw; his grotto and vault, with his bottles - of wine, and a well therein to keep them cool; his furniture of - all sorts; his bath at the top of the house, good pictures, and - his manners of eating and drinking; do surpass all that ever I - did see of one man in all my life."[199] - -The Country and City Mouse, in Pope's imitation of Horace, go - - To a tall house near Lincoln's Inn, - -which had - - Palladian walls, Venetian doors, - Grotesco roofs, and stucco floors. - -The house of a late architect (Sir John Soane) is observable in -Holborn Row (the north side of the square), and has a singular but -pleasing effect, though not quite desirable perhaps in this northern -climate, where light and sun are in request. It presents a case of -stone, added to the original front, and comprising a balcony and -arcade. Shrubs and plate-glass complete the taste of its appearance. -On the opposite side of the way (called Portugal Row, most likely from -our connection with Portugal in Charles the Second's time), the -inhabitant of the above house had the pleasure, we believe, of -contemplating his own work in the handsome front and portico of -Surgeon's College. This mode of giving a new front to a house, and -fetching it out into a portico, is an ingenious way of getting up an -ornament to the metropolis at little expense. Surgeons' College, -instead of being two or three old houses with a new face, looks like a -separate building. In Portugal Row sometime lived Sir Richard -Fanshawe, in whose quaint translation of the Camoens there is -occasionally more genuine poetry, than in the less unequal version of -Mickle. This accomplished person was recalled from an embassy in -Spain, on the ground that he had signed a treaty without authority; -which was fact; but the suspicious necessity of finding some -honourable way of removing Lord Sandwich from his command in the navy, -induced Lady Fanshawe and others to conclude that he was sacrificed to -that convenience. He died on the intended day of his return, of a -violent fever, aggravated, not improbably, perhaps caused, by this -awkward close of his mission: for such things have been, with men of -sensitive imaginations. His wife, a very frank and cordial woman, has -left interesting memoirs of him, in which she countenances a clamour -of that day, that Lord Sandwich was a coward. She adds, "He neither -understood the custom of the (Spanish) court, nor the language, nor -indeed anything but a vicious life; and thus (addressing her children) -was he shuffled into your father's employment, to reap the benefit of -his five years' negotiation."[200] We quote this passage here, because -Lord Sandwich was himself an inhabitant of Lincoln's Inn Fields. His -want of courage (a charge shamefully bandied to and fro between -officers at that time) is surely not to be taken for granted upon the -word of his enemies, considering the testimonies borne in his favour -by the Duke of York and others, and his numerous successes against the -enemy. It is possible, however, that the pleasures of Charles's court -might have done him no good. Sandwich had been one of Cromwell's -council. He appears afterwards to have been a gallant of Lady -Castlemaine's; was a great courtier; and probably had as little -principle as most public men of that age. Pepys, who was his relation, -describes him as being a lute-player. - -On Lady Fanshawe's return to England, she took a house for twenty-one -years in Holborn Row (the north side of the Fields), where the -contemplation of the houses opposite must have been very sad. Her -account of the circumstances under which she returned is of a -melancholy interest. - - "I had not," she says, "God is my witness, above twenty-five - doubloons by me at my husband's death, to bring home a family - of three score servants, but was forced to sell one thousand - pounds' worth of our own plate, and to spend the Queen's - present of two thousand doubloons in my journey to England, not - owing nor leaving one shilling debt in Spain, I thank God; nor - did my husband leave any debt at home, which every ambassador - cannot say. Neither did these circumstances following prevail - to mend my condition, much less found I that compassion I - expected upon the view of myself, that had lost at once my - husband, and fortune in him, with my son, but twelve months - old, in my arms, four daughters, the eldest but thirteen years - of age, with the body of my dear husband daily in my sight for - near six months together, and a distressed family, all to be by - me in honour and honesty provided for; and, to add to my - afflictions, neither persons sent to conduct me, nor pass, nor - ship, nor money to carry me one thousand miles, but some few - letters of compliment from the chief ministers, bidding 'God - help me!' as they do to beggars, and they might have added, - 'they had nothing for me,' with great truth. But God did hear, - and see, and help me, and brought my soul out of trouble; and, - by his blessed providence, I and you live, move, and have our - being, and I humbly pray God that that blessed providence may - ever relieve our wants, Amen."[201] - -Lady Fanshawe was no coward, whatever her foes may have been. During a -former voyage with her husband to Spain, when she had been married -about six years, the vessel was attacked by a Turkish galley, on which -occasion she has left the following touching account of her -behaviour:-- - - "When we had just passed the straits, we saw coming towards us, - with full sails, a Turkish galley well manned, and we believed - we should be all carried away slaves, for this man had so laden - his ship with goods from Spain, that his guns were useless, - though the ship carried sixty guns; he called for brandy, and - after he had well drunken, and all his men, which were near two - hundred, he called for arms, and cleared the deck as well as he - could, resolving to fight rather than lose his ship, which was - worth thirty thousand pounds; this was sad for us passengers, - but my husband bid us be sure to keep in the cabin, and not - appear--the women--which would make the Turks think we were a - man-of-war, but if they saw women they would take us for - merchants and board us. He went upon the deck, and took a gun - and bandoliers, and sword, and, with the rest of the ship's - company, stood upon deck, expecting the arrival of the Turkish - man-of-war. This beast, the captain, had locked me up in the - cabin; I knocked and called long to no purpose, until at length - the cabin-boy came and opened the door; I, all in tears, - desired him to be so good as to give me his blue thrum cap he - wore, and his tarred coat, which he did, and I gave him - half-a-crown, and putting them on, and flinging away my - night-clothes, I crept up softly, and stood upon the deck by my - husband's side, as free from sickness and fear, as, I confess, - from discretion; but it was the effect of that passion which I - could never master. - - "By this time the two vessels were engaged in parley, and so - well satisfied with speech and sight of each other's forces, - that the Turks' man-of-war tacked about, and we continued our - course. But when your father saw it convenient to retreat, - looking upon me, he blessed himself, and snatched me up in his - arms, saying, 'Good God, that love can make this change!' and - though he seemingly chid me, he would laugh at it as often as - he remembered that voyage." - -We now come to an event, uniting the most touching circumstances of -private life with the loftiest utility of public, and the benefits of -which we are this day enjoying, perhaps in every one of our comforts. -In this square, now possessed by inhabitants who can think and write -as they please on all subjects, and the centre of which is adorned -with roses and lilacs, was executed the celebrated patriot, Lord -Russell. We should ill perform any part of the object of this work, if -we did not dwell at some length upon a scene so interesting, and upon -the circumstances that led to it. - -Lord Russell (sometimes improperly called Lord William Russell, for he -had succeeded to the courtesy-title by the decease of his elder -brothers,) was son of William, Earl of Bedford, by Lady Ann Carr, -daughter of Carr, Earl of Somerset; and he was beheaded in the year -1683, the last year but two of the reign of King Charles II., for an -alleged conspiracy to seize the King's guards and put him to death. -The conspiracy was called the Rye House Plot, but incorrectly as far -as Lord Russell was concerned; for it is not proved that he ever heard -of the house which occasioned the name; and he was condemned upon -allegations which would have destroyed him, had no such place existed. -The Rye House was a farm near Hoddesdon, in Hertfordshire, belonging -to one of the alleged conspirators, and it had a bye-road near it -through which Charles was accustomed to pass in returning from the -races at Newmarket. It was said that the King was to have been -assassinated in this road, but that a fire at Newmarket, which put the -town into confusion, hastened his return to London before the -conspirators had time to assemble. - -Charles II., and his brother, the Duke of York, afterwards James II., -in the prosecution of those designs against the liberty and religion -of the state, which are now acknowledged by all historians, had lately -succeeded in producing a strong re-action against the party opposed to -them. This party, the Whigs, in their dread of arbitrary power and -popery, had attempted with great pertinacity to exclude the Duke of -York, an avowed papist, from the succession. They had indicted him as -a popish recusant: they had listened, with too great credulity, to the -story of a Popish Plot, for which several persons were executed: and -while these strong measures were going forward, to which the general -dread of popery encouraged them, they were inquiring into the King's -illegal connections with France, and putting the last sting to his -vexation by refusing him money. Charles's gambling and debaucheries -kept him in a perpetual state of poverty. He was always endeavouring -to raise money upon every shift he could devise, and misappropriating -all he obtained, which completed the ingloriousness of his reign by -rendering him a pensioner of France. He had a strong party of -corruptionists in the House of Commons; but the public feeling against -the Duke gave the elections a balance the other way; and the poor King -was compelled, from time to time, to purchase what money he wanted, by -the surrender of a popular right. - -Driven thus from loss to loss, and not knowing where the diminution of -his resources would end, Charles at length expressed himself willing -to limit the powers of a Popish successor, though he would not consent -to exclude him. The Whigs, strong in their vantage-ground, and backed -by the voice of the country, rejected what they would formerly have -agreed to, and insisted on the exclusion. And here the reaction -commenced in Charles's favour. The Whigs had allied themselves to the -dissenters, whose toleration they advocated in proportion as they -opposed that of the Catholics. It was a contradiction natural enough -at that time, when the remembrance of Protestant martyrdom was still -lively, and the growth of philosophy had not neutralised the papal -spirit, or, at least, was not yet understood to have done so; but by -means of this alliance between the Whigs and Presbyterians Charles -succeeded in awakening the fears of the orthodox. A secret treaty with -the French King enabled him to reckon for a time on being able to -dispense with the contributions of Parliament; and when the latter -again pressed the exclusion bill, he dissolved them, with high -complaints of their inveteracy against government, and artful -insinuations of the favour they showed the dissenters. This -declaration was read in all the churches and chapels, and produced the -reaction he looked for. The Whig leaders, withdrawing into retirement, -seemed to give up the contest for the present; but this was no signal -to power to abstain from pursuing them. Charles, to secure himself a -Parliament that should give him money without inquiry, and to indulge -his brother in his love of revenge (not omitting a portion on his own -account), set himself heartily about influencing the elections for a -new House of Commons. The dissenters were persecuted all over the -country; the Whig newspapers put down; one man, for his noisy zeal -against Popery, put to death by means of the most infamous witnesses, -who had sworn on the other side; and Shaftesbury's life was aimed at, -but saved by the contrivances of the city authorities. The liberties -of the city were then assailed, with but too great success, by means -of judges placed on the bench for that purpose. Other corrupt law -officers were brought into action; a servile lord-mayor was induced to -force two sheriffs upon the city, in open defiance of law and a -majority; in short, every obstacle was removed which accompanied the -existence of properly constituted authorities, and of that late -anti-popery spirit of the nation, which was now comparatively silent, -for fear of being confounded with disaffection to the church. - -For an account of what took place upon this corruption of church and -bench, and neutralisation of the popular spirit, we shall now have -recourse to the pages of the latest writer on the subject; who, though -a descendant of Lord Russell, has stated it with a truth and -moderation worthy of the best spirit of his ancestor. The narrative of -the execution we shall take from an eye-witness, and intersperse such -remarks as a diligent inquiry into the conduct and character of Lord -Russell has suggested to our own love of truth. - - "The election of the sheriffs," says our author, "seemed to - complete the victory of the throne over the people. It was - evident, from the past conduct of the court, that they would - now select whom they pleased for condemnation. - - "Lord Russell received the news with the regret which, in a - person of his temper, it was most likely to produce. Lord - Shaftesbury, on other hand, who was provoked at the apathy of - his party, received with joy the news of the appointment of the - sheriffs, thinking that his London friends, seeing their necks - in danger, would join with him in raising an insurrection. He - hoped at first to make use of the names of the Duke of Monmouth - and Lord Russell, to catch the idle and unwary by the respect - paid to their characters; but when he found them too cautious - to compromise themselves, he endeavoured to ruin their credit - with the citizens. He said that the Duke of Monmouth was a tool - of the court; that Lord Essex had also made his bargain, and - was to go to Ireland; and that, between them, Lord Russell was - deceived. It is a strong testimony to the real worth of Lord - Russell, that, when he made himself obnoxious, either to the - court or to the more violent of his own party, the only charge - they ever brought against him was, that of being deceived, - either by a vain air of popularity or too great a confidence in - his friends. - - "Lord Shaftesbury, finding himself deserted, then attempted to - raise an insurrection, by means of his own partisans in the - city. The Duke of Monmouth, at various times, discouraged these - attempts. On one of these occasions, he prevailed on Lord - Russell, who had come to town on private affairs, to go with - him to a meeting, at the house of Sheppard, a wine-merchant. - - "Lord Shaftesbury, being concealed in the city at this time, - did not dare to appear himself at this meeting, but sent two of - his creatures, Rumsey and Ferguson. Lord Grey and Sir Thomas - Armstrong were also there; but nothing was determined at this - meeting. - - "Soon after this, Lord Shaftesbury, finding he could not bring - his friends to rise with the speed he wished, and being in fear - of being discovered if he remained in London any longer, went - over to Holland. He died in January, 1683. - - * * * * * - - "After Shaftesbury was gone, there were held meetings of his - former creatures in the chambers of one West, an active, - talking man, who had got the name of being an atheist. Colonel - Rumsey, who had served under Cromwell, and afterwards in - Portugal; Ferguson, who had a general propensity for plots; - Goodenough, who had been under-sheriff; and one Holloway, of - Bristol, were the chief persons at these meetings. Lord Howard - was, at one time, among them. Their discourse seems to have - extended itself to the worst species of treason and murder; but - whether they had any concerted plan for assassinating the King - is still a mystery. Amongst those who were sounded in this - business was one Keeling, a vintner, sinking in business, to - whom Goodenough often spoke of their designs. This man went to - Legge, then made Lord Dartmouth, and discovered all he knew. - Lord Dartmouth took him to Secretary Jenkins, who told him he - could not proceed without more witnesses. It would also seem - that some promises were made to him, for he said in a tavern, - in the hearing of many persons, that 'he had considerable - proffers made him of money, and a place worth 100_l._ or 80_l._ - per annum, to do something for them;' and he afterwards - obtained a place in the Victualling office, by means of Lord - Halifax. The method he took of procuring another witness was, - by taking his brother into the company of Goodenough, and - afterwards persuading him to go and tell what he had heard at - Whitehall. - - "The substance of the information given by Josiah Keeling, in - his first examination, was, that a plot had been formed for - enlisting forty men, to intercept the King and Duke on their - return from Newmarket, at a farm-house called Rye, belonging to - one Rumbold, a maltster; that this plan being defeated by a - fire at Newmarket, which caused the King's return sooner than - was expected, the design of an insurrection was laid; and, as - the means of carrying this project into effect, they said that - Goodenough had spoken of 4,000 men and 20,000_l._ to be raised - by the Duke of Monmouth and other great men. The following day, - the two brothers made oath, that Goodenough had told them, that - Lord Russell had promised to engage in the design, and to use - all his interest to accomplish the killing of the King and the - Duke. When the Council found that the Duke of Monmouth and Lord - Russell were named, they wrote to the King to come to London, - for they would not venture to go farther without his presence - and leave. In the meantime, warrants were issued for the - apprehension of several of the conspirators. Hearing of this, - and having had private information from the brother of Keeling, - they had a meeting, on the 18th of June, at Captain Walcot's - lodging. At this meeting were present Walcot, Wade, Rumsey, - Norton, the two Goodenoughs, Nelthrop, West, and Ferguson. - Finding they had no means either of opposing the King or flying - into Holland, they agreed to separate, and shift each man for - himself. - - "A proclamation was now issued for seizing on some who could - not be found; and amongst these, Rumsey and West were named. - The next day West delivered himself, and Rumsey came in a day - after him. Their confessions, especially concerning the - assassinations at the Rye-house, were very ample. Burnet says, - they had concerted a story to be brought out on such an - emergency. - - "In this critical situation, Lord Russell, though perfectly - sensible of his danger, acted with the greatest composure. He - had long before told Mr. Johnson, that 'he was very sensible he - should fall a sacrifice; arbitrary government could not be set - up in England without wading through his blood.' The day before - the King arrived, a messenger of the Council was sent to wait - at his gate, to stop him if he had offered to go out; yet his - back-gate was not watched, so that he might have gone away, if - he had chosen it. He had heard that he was named by Rumsey; but - forgetting the meeting at Sheppard's, he feared no danger from - a man he had always disliked, and never trusted. Yet he thought - proper to send his wife amongst his friends for advice. They - were at first of different minds; but as he said he apprehended - nothing from Rumsey, they agreed that his flight would look too - like a confession of guilt. This advice coinciding with his own - opinion, he determined to stay where he was. As soon as the - King arrived, a messenger was sent to bring him before the - Council. When he appeared there, the King told him, that nobody - suspected him of any design against his person; but that he had - good evidence of his being in designs against his government. - He was examined upon the information of Rumsey, concerning the - meeting at Sheppard's, to which Rumsey pretended to have - carried a message, requiring a speedy resolution, and to have - received for answer that Mr. Trenchard had failed them at - Taunton. Lord Russell totally denied all knowledge of this - message. When the examination was finished, Lord Russell was - sent a close prisoner to the Tower. Upon his going in, he told - his servant Taunton that he was sworn against, and they would - have his life. Taunton said, he hoped it would not be in the - power of his enemies to take it. Lord Russell answered, 'Yes; - the devil is loose!' - - "From this moment he looked upon himself as a dying man, and - turned his thoughts wholly upon another world. He read much in - the Scriptures, particularly in the Psalms; but whilst he - behaved with the serenity of a man prepared for death, his - friends exhibited an honourable anxiety to preserve his life. - Lord Essex would not leave his house, lest his absconding might - incline a jury to give more credit to the evidence against Lord - Russell. The Duke of Monmouth sent to let him know he would - come in and run fortunes with him, if he thought it could do - him any service. He answered, it would be of no advantage to - him to have his friends die with him. - - "A committee of the Privy Council came to examine him. Their - inquiries related to the meeting at Sheppard's, the rising at - Taunton, the seizing of the guards, and a design for a rising - in Scotland. In answer to the questions put to him, he - acknowledged he had been at Sheppard's house divers times, and - that he went there with the Duke of Monmouth; but he denied all - knowledge of any consultation tending to an insurrection, or to - surprise the guards. He remembered no discourse concerning any - rising in Taunton; and knew of no design for a rising in - Scotland. He answered his examiners in a civil manner, but - declined making any defence till his trial, when he had no - doubt of being able to prove his innocence. The charge of - treating with the Scots, as a thing the council were positively - assured of, alarmed his friends; and Lady Russell desired Dr. - Burnet to examine who it could be that had charged him; but - upon inquiry, it appeared to be only an artifice to draw - confession from him; and notwithstanding the power which the - court possessed to obtain the condemnation of their enemies, by - the perversion of law, the servility of judges, and the - submission of juries, Lord Russell might still have contested - his life with some prospect of success, had not a new - circumstance occurred to cloud his declining prospects. This - was the apprehension and confession of Lord Howard. At first, - he had talked of the whole matter with scorn and contempt; and - solemnly professed that he knew nothing which could hurt Lord - Russell. The King himself said, he found Lord Howard was not - amongst them, and he supposed it was for the same reason which - some of themselves had given for not admitting Oates into their - secrets, namely, that he was such a rogue they could not trust - him. But when the news was brought to Lord Howard that West had - delivered himself, Lord Russell, who was with him, observed him - change colour, and asked him if he apprehended any thing from - him? He replied that he had been as free with him as any man. - Hampden saw him afterwards under great fears, and desired him - to go out of the way, if he thought there was matter against - him, and he had not strength of mind to meet the occasion. A - warrant was now issued against him on the evidence of West, and - he was taken, after a long search, concealed in a chimney of - his own house. He immediately confessed all he knew and more. - - * * * * * - - "Hampden and Lord Russell were imprisoned upon Lord Howard's - information; and, four days afterwards, Lord Russell was - brought to trial: but, in order to possess the public mind with - a sense of the blackness of the plot, Walcot, Hone, and Rouse - were first brought to trial, and condemned upon the evidence of - Keeling, Lee, and West, of a design to assassinate the - King."[202] - -It is not necessary to enter at large into the trial. We shall give -the main points of it, on which sentence was founded; but when it is -considered that the bench had lately had an accession of accommodating -judges; that Jeffries was one of the counsel for the prosecution; that -the jury, illegally returned, were not allowed to be challenged; that -the witnesses were perjured, contradicted themselves, and swore to -save their lives; that one of them (Lord Howard) was a man of such -infamous character, that the King said, "he would not hang the worst -dog he had, upon his evidence;" that nevertheless the testimonies of -the most honourable men against him were not held to injure his -evidence, and that a crowd of them in Lord Russell's favour were of as -little avail in giving the prisoner the benefit of a totally different -reputation, it will be allowed, that our pages need not be occupied -with details, which in fact had nothing to do with his condemnation. - -The ground on which Lord Russell was sentenced to death was, that he -had violated the law in conspiring the death of the King. He argued, -that granting the charge to be true (which he denied), it was not that -of conspiring the death of the King, but "a conspiracy to levy war;" -that this was not treason within the statute (which it was not); and -that if it had been, a statute of Charles II. made the accusation null -and void, because the time had expired to which the operation of it -was limited. The lawyers, who in fact had been compelled by their -imperfect enactment to lay the charge on the ground of conspiring the -King's death, had so worded the statute of Charles, that, like the -oracles of old, it was capable of a double construction. But not to -observe that the prisoner ought to have had the benefit of the doubt -(and it has been generally thought that the statute was clearly the -other way), they could never get rid of the necessity of assuming that -the King's death was intended; whereas, nothing can be more plain, not -only from their own enactments, but from all history, that an -insurrection, though against a King himself, may have no such object; -so that here was a man to be sacrificed to the _spirit_ of the law -(which by its very nature should have saved him,) while the court, in -this and a thousand other instances, was violating the letter of it. - - "Of the Rye House Plot," says Mr. Fox, "it may be said, much - more truly than of the Popish, that there was in it some truth, - mixed with much falsehood. It seems probable, that there was - among some of the accused a notion of assassinating the King; - but whether this notion was ever ripened into what may be - called a design, and much more, whether it were ever evinced by - such an overt act as the law requires for conviction, is very - doubtful. In regard to the conspirators of higher ranks, from - whom all suspicion of participation in the intended - assassination has been long since done away, there is - unquestionable reason to believe that they had often met and - consulted, as well for the purpose of ascertaining the means - they actually possessed, as for that of devising others, for - delivering their country from the dreadful servitude into which - it had fallen; and thus far their conduct appears clearly to - have been laudable. If they went further, and did anything - which could be really construed into an actual conspiracy to - levy war against the King, they acted, considering the - disposition of the nation at that time, very indiscreetly. But - whether their proceedings had ever gone this length, is far - from certain. Monmouth's communications with the King, when we - reflect on all the circumstances of those communications, - deserve not the smallest attention; nor, indeed, if they did, - does the letter which he afterwards withdrew prove anything - upon this point. And it is an outrage to common-sense to call - Lord Grey's narrative, written as he himself states in his - letter to James II., while the question of his pardon was - pending, an authentic account. That which is most certain in - this affair is, that they had committed no overt act, - indicating the imagining the King's death, even according to - the most strained construction of the statute of Edward III.; - much less was any such act legally proved against them. And the - conspiracy to levy war was not treason, except by a recent - statute of Charles II., the prosecutions upon which were - expressly limited to a certain time, which in these cases had - elapsed; so that it is impossible not to assent to the opinion - of those who have ever stigmatised the condemnation and - execution of Russell as a most flagrant violation of law and - justice."[203] - -The truth respecting Lord Russell seems to be, that he was a man of -the highest character and the best intentions, who suffered himself, -not very discreetly, to listen to projects which he disapproved, in -the hope of seeing better ones substituted. There can be no doubt that -he wished to make changes in an illegal government, short of -interfering with the King's possession of the throne. He had a right, -by law, to endeavour it. He had openly shown himself anxious to do so; -and the doubt can be as little, that the Duke of York, from that -moment marked him out for his revenge. Russell implied as much in the -paper he gave the sheriff; showing, indeed, such a strong sense of it, -as (considering the truly Christian style of the paper in general) is -very affecting. It has been justly said of him, that he was a man -rather eminent for his virtues than his talents. We cannot help -thinking that the paucity of words, to which he repeatedly alludes -himself, and which was very evident during his trial, did him serious -injury, both then and before. We mean, that if he had had a greater -confidence, he might have advocated his cause to very solid advantage, -perhaps to his entire acquittal. It is touching to observe, in the -account of his behaviour after sentence, how the excitement of the -occasion loosened his tongue, and inspired him with some turns of -thought, more lively, perhaps, than he had been accustomed to. His -character has been respectfully treated by all parties since the -Revolution, and his death lamented. A startling charge, however, was -brought against him and Sidney, in consequence of the discovery of a -set of papers belonging to Barillon, the French Ambassador of that -time, in which Sidney's name appears set down for five hundred pounds -of secret service money from the French Government, and Russell is -described as having interviews with Barillon's agent, Rouvigny, -tending to prevent a war disagreeable both to Louis and the English -patriots. The vague allusions of some modern writers, together with an -unsupported assertion of Ralph Montague, the intriguing English -Ambassador in France, that money was to be distributed in Parliament -"by means of William Russell, and other discontented people," have -tended to lump together in the public mind the two charges occasioned -by these documents. But they are quite distinct. Lord Russell had -nothing to do with the money-list, in which the name of Sidney -appears. The amount of the matter is this. Charles II. was always -pretending to go to war with France, chiefly to get money for his -debaucheries, and partly to raise an army which he might turn against -the constitution. The nation, in their hatred of Louis's -anti-protestant bigotry, and their old and less warrantable propensity -to fight with those whom they publicly considered as their natural -enemies (a delusion, we trust, now going by), were always in a state -to be deceived by Charles on this point; and the patriots were as -regularly perplexed how to agree to the wishes of the King and people, -knowing as they did, the former's insincerity, loth to give him more -money to squander, and yet anxious to show their dislike of an -arbitrary neighbour, and afraid of his being in collision with their -prince. Their greatest fear, however, was upon this last point: it was -very strong at the juncture in question; and therefore, when Louis -gave them to understand, through his agent, that he himself was -desirous of avoiding a war, Russell certainly does appear to have -allowed the agent to talk with him on the subject, and to have -expressed a willingness to influence the votes of Parliament -accordingly. There was a further understanding that Louis was to -complete the mutual favour, by assisting to obtain a dissolution of -Parliament, in case the peace should continue; for the patriots -expected very different things from a dissolution at that time (1678), -than what it produced afterwards. Russell's noble biographer justly -observes, that for the truth of these statements we are to trust -Rouvigny's report, coming through the hands of Barillon: but granting -them to be true, he thinks there was nothing criminal in the -intercourse. He observes, that, in the first place, Russell was -Rouvigny's kinsman by marriage, being first cousin to his wife, which -accounts for the commencement of the intercourse; and, secondly, - - "The imminent danger," he says, "which threatened us from the - conduct of France abetting the designs of Charles, cannot, at - this day, be properly estimated. At the very time when - Parliament was giving money for a war, Lord Danby was writing, - by his master's order, to beg for money as the price of peace. - We shall presently see, that five days after the House of - Commons had passed the act for a supply, Lord Danby wrote to - Paris, that Charles expected six millions yearly from France. - Had Louis been sincere in the project of making Charles - absolute, there can be no doubt that it might have been easily - accomplished. Was not this sufficient to justify the popular - party in attempting to turn the battery the other way? The - question was not, whether to admit foreign interference, but - whether to direct foreign interference, already admitted, to a - good object. The conduct of Lord Russell, therefore, was not - criminal; but it would be difficult to acquit him of the charge - of imprudence. The object of Louis must have been, by giving - hopes to each party in turn, to obtain the command of both. - Charles, on the other hand, was ready to debase himself to the - lowest point, to maintain his alliance with France; any - suspicion, therefore, of a connection between Louis and the - popular party would have rendered him more and more dependent; - till the liberties of England might at last have been set up to - auction at Versailles."[204] - -This is impartial. But surely an imprudence so extremely dangerous, -and an intercourse on any terms with an envoy's agent, the nature of -which it must have been necessary to conceal, partook of a -disingenuousness and selfwill that cannot be held innocent. That Lord -Russell had the best intentions is granted; but his principles were -specially opposed by the doctrine of "doing evil, that good might -come;" and if it be argued that good men are sometimes defeated in -their intentions by not imitating the less scrupulous conduct of evil -ones, it is to be replied, that there is no end of the re-actions -consequent on such imitations, nor any bounds, on the other hand, to -be put to the good consequences of a perfect example, even should its -very perfection retard them. Good causes are not lost for want of -passion and energy, but for that defect of faith and openness, which -is the worst destroyer of both, and the loss of which is the worst -hazard produced by a defect of example. We should be surprised that -the patriots, while they were about it, did not denounce Charles's -anti-constitutional behaviour more than they did, and openly demand -their rights as a matter of course; but it is easy to account for it -upon the supposition that they were hampered with court connections, -and not sure of one another. - -The worst thing to be said of Lord Russell (for as to the letters he -wrote for pardon, they must be considered as obtained from him by his -friends and a tender wife) is, that when Lord Stafford, the victim of -a plot charged on the papists, was sentenced to death, Russell opposed -the King's privilege of dispensing with a barbarous part of the -execution; so unworthy the rest of their character can men be rendered -by party feeling, and so little do they foresee what they may -themselves require in a day of adversity. When Charles II. was applied -to on the same point in behalf of Lord Russell, he is reported to have -said, "Lord Russell shall find I am possessed of that prerogative, -which in the case of Lord Stafford he thought fit to deny me." The -sarcasm (if made--for there is no real authority for it) was cruel; -but it is not to be denied, that Lord Stafford, a man old and feeble, -whose protestations of innocence called forth tears from the -spectators when he was on the scaffold, might have thought Russell's -conduct equally so. Let us congratulate ourselves, that the fiery -trials which men of all parties have gone through, have enabled us to -benefit by their experience, to be grateful for what was noble in -them, and to learn (with modesty) how to avoid what was infirm. - -Lord Russell, besides the general regard of posterity, has left two -glorious testimonies to his honour--his behaviour in his last days, -and the inextinguishable grief of one of the best of women. The -latter, the celebrated Lady Rachael Russell, the daughter of Charles's -best servant, Southampton, threw herself at the King's feet, "and -pleaded," says Hume, "with many tears, the merit and loyalty of her -father, as an atonement for those errors into which honest, however -mistaken, principles had seduced her husband. These supplications were -the last instance of female weakness (if they deserve the name) which -she betrayed. Finding all applications vain, she collected courage, -and not only fortified herself against the fatal blow, but endeavoured -by her example to strengthen the resolution of her unfortunate -lord."[205] - -Echard says, that Charles refused her a reprieve of six weeks. If so, -he probably feared some desperate attempt in Russell's favour; which, -in fact, was proposed, as we shall see; and it is possible, that -remembering what had happened to Charles I., and conscious of his own -deserts, he might really have thought that Lord Russell would -willingly have seen him put to death; for Rapin tells us that he said, -in answer to Lady Rachael, "How can I grant that man six weeks, who, -if it had been in his power, would not have granted me six -hours?"[206] And Lord Dartmouth in his notes upon Burnet, tells us -that when his (Dartmouth's) father represented to the King the -obligations which a pardon would lay upon a great family, and the -regard that was due to Southampton's daughter and her children, the -King answered, "All that is true; but it is as true, that if I do not -take his life, he will soon have mine;" "which," says Dartmouth, -"would admit of no reply."[207] Some, however, have said, that the -King would have granted Russell his life, if he had not been afraid of -his brother, the Duke of York; and as an instance of what was thought -of the characters of these two princes, whether the story is true or -not, it was added, that Charles did not like to hear any discourses -about the pardon, because he could not grant it; whereas James would -hear anything, though he resolved to grant nothing. - -Every other effort was made to save the life of Russell. - - "Money," says Burnet, "was offered to the Lady Portsmouth, and - to all that had credit, and that without measure. He was - pressed to send petitions and submissions to the King and to - the Duke; but he left it to his friends to consider how far - these might go, and how they were to be worded. All that he was - brought to was, to offer to live beyond sea, in any place that - the King should name; and never to meddle any more in English - affairs. But all was in vain. Both King and Duke were fixed in - their resolutions; but with this difference, as Lord Rochester - afterwards told me, that the Duke suffered some, among whom he - was one, to argue the point with him, but the King could not - bear the discourse. Some said, that the Duke moved that he - might be executed in Southampton Square before his own house, - but that the King rejected that as indecent. So Lincoln's Inn - Fields was appointed for the place of his execution."[208] - -As a last resource Lord Cavendish offered to attack the coach on -either side with a troop of horse, and take his friend out of it; but -Russell would not consent to bring any one into jeopardy on his -behalf. - -It has been said that Lincoln's Inn Fields was chosen, in order that -the people might witness the triumph of the Court, in seeing him led -through the city; but others have reasonably observed upon this, that -as he was to be taken from Newgate, the desire of making him a -spectacle to the citizens would have been better gratified by his -being carried to the old place of execution, the Tower. It is most -probable, that Lincoln's Inn Fields was selected, as being the nearest -feasible spot to the great town property of the Bedford family; -Bloomsbury lying opposite, and Covent garden on one side. - -The following is the letter addressed to the King by Russell's father, -followed by that of Russell himself, which Burnet has mentioned as -being drawn from him by his friends. - - "To the King's most Excellent Majesty. - "The humble petition of William, Earl of Bedford: - "Humbly sheweth; - - "That could your petitioner have been admitted into your - presence, he would have laid himself at your royal feet, in - behalf of his unfortunate son, himself, and his distressed and - disconsolate family, to implore your royal mercy, which he - never had the presumption to think could be obtained by any - indirect means. But shall think himself, wife, and children, - much happier to be left but with bread and water, than to lose - his dear son for so foul a crime as treason against the best of - princes; for whose life he ever did, and ever shall pray, more - than for his own. - - "May God incline your Majesty's heart to the prayers of an - afflicted old father, and not bring grey hairs with sorrow to - my grave. - - "BEDFORD." - - "To the King's most Excellent Majesty. - "The humble petition of William Russell: - "Most humbly sheweth; - - "That your petitioner does once more cast himself at your - Majesty's feet, and implores, with all humility, your mercy and - pardon, still avowing that he never had the least thought - against your Majesty's life, nor any design to change the - government; but humbly and sorrowfully confesses his having - been present at those meetings, which he is convinced were - unlawful, and justly provoking to your Majesty; but being - betrayed by ignorance and inadvertence, he did not decline them - as he ought to have done, for which he is truly and heartily - sorry; and, therefore, humbly offers himself to your Majesty, - to be determined to live in any part of the world which you - shall appoint, and never to meddle any more in the affairs of - England, but as your Majesty shall be pleased to command me. - - "May it therefore please your Majesty to extend your royal - favour and mercy to your petitioner, by which he will be for - ever engaged to pray for your Majesty, and to devote his life - to your service. - - "WILLIAM RUSSELL." - -The third is to the Duke of York. It is certainly to be regretted, -that these letters were drawn from a patriot, willing, there is no -doubt, to have endured all extremities without compromising the -dignity of conscious right: but the reader will bear in mind what has -been said of them; and we shall see presently what the writer said of -the present one. - - "May it please your Highness; - - "The opposition I have appeared in to your Highness's interest - has been such, as I have scarce the confidence to be a - petitioner to you, though in order to the saving of my life. - Sir, God knows what I did did not proceed from any personal - ill-will, or animosity to your royal Highness, but merely - because I was of opinion, that it was the best way for - observing the religion established by law, in which, if I was - mistaken, yet I acted sincerely, without any ill end in it. And - as for any base design against your person, I hope your Royal - Highness will be so just to me as not to think me capable of so - vile a thought. But I am now resolved, and do faithfully engage - myself, that if it shall please the King to pardon me, and if - your Royal Highness will interpose in it, I will in no sort - meddle any more, but will be readily determined to live in any - part of the world which his Majesty shall prescribe, and will - never fail in my daily prayers, both for his Majesty's - preservation and honour, and your Royal Highness's happiness, - and will wholly withdraw myself from the affairs of England, - unless called by his Majesty's orders to serve him, which I - shall never be wanting to do, to the uttermost of my power. And - if your Royal Highness will be so gracious to me, as to move on - my account, as it will be an engagement upon me, beyond what I - can in reason expect, so it will make the deepest impressions - on me possible; for no fear of death can work so much with me, - as so great an obligation will for ever do upon me. May it - please your Royal Highness, your Royal Highness's most humble - and most obedient servant, - - "W. RUSSELL." - "Newgate, July 16th, 1683." - -Burnet says of this last letter, which he tells us was written at the -"earnest solicitations" of Lady Rachael, that as Russell was folding -it up, he said to him, "This will be printed, and will be selling -about the streets as my submission, when I am led out to be hanged." - -All efforts failed, and the patriot and husband composed himself to -die. The touching particulars of his last days we shall extract from -the account of his friend Bishop Burnet. It is one that, as it -contains no disputed points, may be safely relied on; and indeed, if -we had not wished to show how interested we are in the case of this -advancer of public right, and how anxious to spare no proper trouble -for our readers, we might safely have copied the whole case from the -lively pages of that historian, whose writings, whatever may have been -his faults of partizanship and complexion, have risen in value, in -proportion as documents come to light. A great modern statesman, -equally qualified to judge of it, both as a politician and a man, -alludes with interesting emotion to Burnet's account of his last -hours. Speaking of the dying behaviour of Russell and Sidney, he says, -"In courage they are equal, but the fortitude of Russell, who was -connected with the world by private and domestic ties, which Sidney -was not, was put to the severer trial; and the story of the last days -of this excellent man's life fills the mind with such a mixture of -tenderness and admiration, that I know not any scene in history that -more powerfully excites our sympathy, or goes more directly to the -heart."[209] - - "The last week of his life," says Burnet, "he was shut up all - the morning as he himself desired. And about noon I came to - him, and staid with him till night. All the while he expressed - a very Christian temper, without sharpness or resentment, - vanity or affectation. His whole behaviour looked like a - triumph over death. Upon some occasions, as at table, or when - his friends came to see him, he was decently cheerful. I was by - him when the sheriffs came to show him the warrant for his - execution. He read it with indifference; and when they were - gone he told me it was not decent to be merry with such a - matter, otherwise he was near telling Rich (who, though he was - now on the other side, yet had been a member of the House of - Commons, and had voted for the exclusion), that they should - never sit together in that house any more to vote for the bill - of exclusion. The day before his death he fell a bleeding at - the nose; upon that he said to me pleasantly, I shall not now - let blood to divert this: that will be done to-morrow. At night - it rained hard, and he said, such a rain to-morrow will spoil a - great show, which was a dull thing in a rainy day. He said, the - sins of his youth lay heavy upon his mind; but he hoped God had - forgiven them, for he was sure he had forsaken them, and for - many years he had walked before God with a sincere heart. If in - his public actings he had committed errors, they were only the - errors of his understanding; for he had no private ends, nor - ill designs of his own in them; he was still of opinion that - the King was limited by law, and that when he broke through - those limits, his subjects might defend themselves and restrain - him. He thought a violent death was a very desirable way of - ending one's life; it was only the being exposed to be a little - gazed at, and to suffer the pain of one minute, which, he was - confident, was not equal to the pain of drawing a tooth. He - said he felt none of those transports that some good people - felt; but he had a full calm in his mind, no palpitation at - heart, nor trembling at the thoughts of death. He was much - concerned at the cloud that seemed to be now over his country; - but he hoped his death would do more service than his life - could have done. - - "This was the substance of the discourse between him and me. - Tillotson was oft with him that last week. We thought the party - had gone too quick in their consultations, and too far; and - that resistance in the condition we were then in was not - lawful. He said he had leisure to enter into discourses of - politics; but he thought a government limited by law was only a - name, if the subjects might not maintain those limitations by - force; otherwise all was at the discretion of the Prince: that - was contrary to all the notions he had lived in of our - government.[210] But, he said, there was nothing among them but - the embryos of things that were never like to have any effect, - and they were now quite dissolved. He thought it was necessary - for him to leave a paper behind him at his death: and, because - he had not been accustomed to draw such papers, he desired me - to give him a scheme of the heads fit to be spoken to, and of - the order in which they should be laid; which I did. And he was - three days employed for some time in the morning to write out - his speech. He ordered four copies to be made of it, all which - he signed; and gave the original with three of the copies to - his lady, and kept the other to give to the sheriffs on the - scaffold. He writ it with great ease, and the passages that - were tender he writ in papers apart, and showed them to his - lady and to myself, before he writ them out fair. He was very - easy when this was ended. He also writ a letter to the King, in - which he asked pardon for every thing he had said or done - contrary to his duty, protesting he was innocent as to all - designs against his person or government, and that his heart - was ever devoted to that which he thought was his Majesty's - true interest. He added that, though he thought he had met with - hard measures, yet he forgave all concerned in it, from the - highest to the lowest; and ended, hoping that his Majesty's - displeasure at him would cease with his own life, and that no - part of it should fall on his wife and children. The day before - his death he received the sacrament from Tillotson with much - devotion: and I preached two short sermons to him, which he - heard with great affection; and we were shut up till towards - the evening. Then he suffered his children that were very - young, and some few of his friends, to take leave of him; in - which he maintained his constancy of temper, though he was a - very fond father. He also parted from his lady with a composed - silence; and as soon as she was gone, he said to me, 'The - bitterness of death is passed;' for he loved and esteemed her - beyond expression, as she well deserved it in all respects. She - had the command of herself so much that at parting she gave him - no disturbance. He went into his chamber about midnight, and I - stayed all night in the outward room. He went not to bed till - about two in the morning, and was fast asleep at four, when, - according to his order, we called him. He was quickly dressed, - but would lose no time in shaving, for, he said, he was not - concerned in his good looks that day." - - * * * * * - - "Lord Russell," continues Burnet, "seemed to have some - satisfaction to find that there was no truth in the whole - contrivance of the Rye Plot; so that he hoped that infamy, - which now blasted their party, would soon go off. He went into - his chamber six or seven times in the morning, and prayed by - himself, and then came out to Tillotson and me; he drank a - little tea and some sherry. He wound up his watch, and said, - now he had done with time, and was going to eternity. He asked - what he should give the executioner: I told him ten guineas: he - said, with a smile, it was a pretty thing to give a fee to have - his head cut off. When the sheriffs called him about ten - o'clock, Lord Cavendish was waiting below to take leave of him. - They embraced very tenderly. Lord Russell, after he had left - him, upon a sudden thought came back to him, and pressed him - earnestly to apply himself more to religion, and told him what - great comfort and support he felt from it now in his extremity. - Lord Cavendish had very generously offered to manage his - escape, and to stay in prison for him while he should go away - in his clothes; but he would not hearken to the motion. The - Duke of Monmouth had also sent me word to let him know, that if - he thought it could do him any service, he would come in and - run fortunes with him. He answered, it would be of no advantage - to him to have his friends die with him. Tillotson and I went - in the coach with him to the place of execution. Some of the - crowd that filled the streets wept, while others insulted; he - was touched by the tenderness that the one gave him, but did - not seem at all provoked by the other. He was singing psalms a - great part of the way, and said, he hoped to sing better very - soon.[211] As he observed the great crowds of people all the - way, he said to us, 'I hope I shall quickly see a much better - assembly.' When he came to the scaffold, he walked about it - four or five times. Then he turned to the sheriffs, and - delivered his paper. He protested that he had always been far - from any designs against the King's life or government. He - prayed God would preserve both, and the Protestant religion. He - wished all Protestants might love one another, and not make way - for Popery by their animosities." - -Of the paper given by Russell to the sheriffs, Burnet has given the -following honest abridgment. This testament to patriotism made a great -sensation. To posterity, who have so benefited by its spirit, it is -surely still of great interest. - - "The substance of the paper he gave them," says Burnet, "was, - first, a profession of his religion, and of his sincerity in - it; that he was of the Church of England, but wished all would - unite together against the common enemy; that churchmen would - be less severe, and dissenters less scrupulous. He owned he had - a great zeal against Popery, which he looked on as an - idolatrous and bloody religion; but that, though he was at all - times ready to venture his life for his religion or his - country, yet that would never have carried him to a black or - wicked design. No man ever had the impudence to move to him - anything with relation to the King's life: he prayed heartily - for him, that in his person and government he might be happy, - both in this world and the next. He protested that in the - prosecution of the Popish Plot he had gone on in the sincerity - of his heart, and that he never knew of any practice with the - witnesses. He owned he had been earnest in the matter of the - exclusion, as the best way, in his opinion, to secure both the - King's life and the Protestant religion, and to that he imputed - his present sufferings; but he forgave all concerned in them, - and charged his friends to think of no revenges. He thought his - sentence was hard, upon which he gave an account of all that - had passed at Shepherd's. From the heats that were in choosing - the sheriffs, he concluded that matter would end as it now did, - and he was not much surprised to find it fall upon himself; he - wished it might end in him; killing by forms of law was the - worst sort of murder. He concluded with some very devout - ejaculations. - - "After he had delivered this paper, he prayed by himself; then - Tillotson prayed with him. After that he prayed again by - himself, and then undressed himself and laid his head on the - block, without the least change of countenance; and it was cut - off at two strokes." - -The following additional particulars are from Burnet's "Journal:"-- - - "When my lady went, he said he wished she would give over - beating every bush, and running so about for his preservation. - But when he considered that it would be some mitigation of her - sorrow afterwards, that she left nothing undone that could have - given any probable hopes, he acquiesced: and, indeed, I never - saw his heart so near failing him, as when he spake of her. - Sometimes I saw a tear in his eye, and he would turn about and - presently change the discourse. - - "At ten o'clock my lady left him. He kissed her four or five - times; and she kept her sorrows so within herself, that she - gave him no disturbance by their parting. After she was gone, - he said, 'Now the bitterness of death is passed,' and ran out a - long discourse concerning her--how great a blessing she had - been to him; and said what a misery it would have been to him, - if she had not had that magnanimity of spirit, joined to her - tenderness, as never to have desired him to do a base thing for - the saving of his life; whereas, otherwise, what a week should - I have passed, if she had been crying on me to turn informer, - and be a Lord Howard; though he then repeated what he often - before said, that he knew of nothing whereby the peace of the - nation was in danger; and that all that ever was, was either - loose discourse, or at most embryos that never came to - anything, so that there was nothing on foot to his knowledge. - - "As we came to turn into Little Queen Street, he said, 'I have - often turned to the other hand with great comfort, but now I - turn to this with greater,' and looked towards his own house; - and then, as the Dean of Canterbury, who sat over against him, - told me, he saw a tear or two fall from him. - - "When he had lain down, I looked once at him and saw no change - in his looks; and though he was still lifting up his hands, - there was no trembling, though, in the moment in which I - looked, the executioner happened to be laying the axe to his - neck to direct him to take aim. I thought it touched him, but - I am sure he seemed not to mind it." - -The widow of Lord Russell, daughter of the Lord Southampton above -mentioned, the most honest man ever known to have been in the service -of Charles the Second, was grand-daughter of Shakspeare's Southampton, -and appears to have united in her person the qualities of both. She -was at once a pattern of good sense, and of romantic affection. Nor -are the two things incompatible, when either of them exist in the -highest degree, as she proved during the remainder of her life; for -though she continued a widow all the rest of it, and it was a very -long one, and though she never ceased regretting her lord's death, and -had great troubles besides, yet the high sense she had of the duties -of a human being enabled her to enjoy consolations that ordinary -pleasure might have envied; first, in the education of her children, -and secondly, in the tranquillity which health and temperance _forced_ -upon her. Her letters, with which the public are well acquainted, are -not more remarkable for the fidelity they evince to her husband's -memory, than for the fine sense they display in all matters upon which -the prejudices of education had left her a free judgment, and -especially for their delightful candour. It has been thought that the -blindness into which she fell in her old age was owing to weeping; but -Mr. Howell, the judicious editor of the "State Trials," informs us, -upon the authority of "a very learned, skilful, and experienced -physiologist," "that a cataract, which seems," he says, "to have been -the malady of Lady Rachael's eyes, is by no means likely to be -produced by weeping."[212] - -We will here insert a few of the most touching passages from the -"Letters of Lady Russell" (seventh edition, 1819). On the 30th of -September, she writes thus to her friend. Dr Fitzwilliam:-- - - "I endeavour to make the best use I can of both (a letter and - prayer which the Doctor sent her); but I am so evil and - unworthy a creature, that though I have desires, yet I have no - disposition, or worthiness, towards receiving comfort." And - again:--"I know I have deserved my punishment, and will be - silent under it; but yet secretly my heart mourns, and cannot - be comforted, because I have not the dear companion and sharer - of all my joys and sorrows. I want him to talk with, to walk - with, to eat and sleep with; all these things are irksome to me - now; all company and meals I could avoid, if it might be. Yet - all this is, that I enjoy not the world in my own way, and this - same hinders my comfort. When I see my children before me, I - remember the pleasure he took in them; this makes my heart - shrink." - -On the 21st July, 1685, the anniversary of her husband's death, two -years after it, she writes thus:-- - - "My languishing weary spirit rises up slowly to all good; yet I - hope by God's abundant grace, in time, your labours will work - the same effect in my spirits: they will, indeed, in less time - on others better disposed and prepared than I am, who in the - day of affliction seem to have no remembrance with due - thankfulness of prosperity." - -In a letter written the 4th October, 1686, she says, speaking of a -recovery of one of her children from sickness,-- - - "I hope this has been a sorrow I shall profit by; I shall, if - God will strengthen my faith, resolve to return him a constant - praise, and make this the season to chase all secret murmurs - from grieving my soul for what is past, letting it rejoice in - what it should rejoice, his favour to me, in the blessings I - have left, which many of my betters want, and yet have lost - their chiefest friend also. But, oh, Doctor! the manner of my - deprivation is yet astonishing." - -The following is dated five years after her loss. She is speaking of a -letter she wrote once a week to Dr. Fitzwilliam. Her grief had now -begun to taste the sweets of patience and temperance; but we see still -how real it is:-- - - "I can't but own there is a sort of secret delight in the - privacy of one of those mournful days; I think, besides a - better reason, one is, that I do not tie myself up as I do on - other days; for, God knows, my eyes are ever ready to pour out - marks of a sorrowful heart, which I shall carry to the grave, - that quiet bed of rest." - -In 1692, Lady Russell writes less patiently, but shortly afterwards -appears to have regained her composure; and in Letter 134, there is a -remark on the blessings of health, and on the comfort of being able to -do one's duty, if we aim at it. In 1711, she lost her only son, the -Duke of Bedford, in his 31st year; and six months afterwards was -deprived of one of her daughters, who died in childbed. It was on this -occasion that an affecting anecdote is told. She had another daughter -who happened to be in childbed also; and as it was necessary to -conceal from her the death of her sister, this admirable woman assumed -a cheerful air, and in answer to her daughter's anxious inquiries, -said, with an extraordinary colouring of the fact, for which a martyr -to truth could have loved her, "I have seen your sister out of bed -to-day." - -We intended not to omit the following charming passage from her -letters, and therefore add it here. It is in the letter last quoted:-- - - "My friendships have made all the joys and troubles of my life; - and yet who would live and not love? Those who have tried the - insipidness of it would, I believe, never choose it. Mr. Waller - says, 'tis (with singing) all we know they do above! And 'tis - enough; for if there is so charming a delight in the love, and - suitableness in humours, to creatures, what must it be to the - clarified spirits to love in the presence of God!" - -The passage from Waller is,-- - - "What know we of the blest above, - But that they sing and that they love?" - -Certainly, if ever there was an angel upon earth this woman was one. -Compare the above extracts with a letter from her to her husband, -written in the year 1681, and published in the work of Lord John -Russell, vol. ii., p. 2. It is a true, loving, happy wife's letter, -and renders the contrast inexpressibly affecting. - -The present ducal family of Bedford have the honour to be lineally -descended from these two excellent persons, and to derive their very -dukedom from public virtue--a rare patent. And they have shown that -they estimate the honour. What must not Lady Russell have felt when -James II., within six years after the destruction of her husband, was -forced to give up his throne? And what, above all, must she not have -felt, when she heard of the answer given by her aged father-in-law to -the same prince, who had the meanness, or want of imagination, to -apply to him in his distress? "My Lord," said James to the Earl of -Bedford, "you are an honest man, have great credit, and can do me -signal service." "Ah, sir," replied the Earl, "I am old and feeble, -but I once had a son." The King is said to have been so struck with -this reply, that he was silent for some minutes. With this anecdote we -may well terminate our account of the patriot Russell.[213] - -One remark, however, we must make. It has been asserted, that the -great reason why the Whigs of those days wished to keep the Catholics -out of power was the dread of losing their estates as well as -political influence, and of being obliged to give up the Abbey lands. -There may have been a good deal of truth in this, and yet the rest of -their feelings have been very sincere. Men may be educated in undue -notions of the value of wealth and property, and yet prove their -possession of nobler thoughts, when brought to heroical issues of life -and death. - -The house in this square (Lincoln's Inn,) at the corner of Great Queen -Street, with a passage under its side, was once called Newcastle -House, and was occupied by the well-known fantastical duke of that -name, Minister of George II. Pennant says it was built about the year -1686, "by the Marquis of Powis, and called Powis House, and afterwards -sold to the late noble owner." The architect was Captain William -Winde. "It is said," he adds, "that government had it once in -contemplation to have bought and settled it officially on the great -seal. At that time it was inhabited by the lord keeper, Sir Nathan -Wright." It is at present occupied by the Society for the diffusion of -the Bible. - - [Illustration: NEWCASTLE HOUSE.] - -The Marquis of Powis, here mentioned, had scarcely built his house in -the square where Lord Russell was beheaded, when he saw his lordship's -destroyer forced to leave his throne. The Marquis followed his -fortunes, and was created by him Duke of Powis. - -A laughable, and, we believe, true story, connected with the Duke of -Newcastle's residence in this house, is told in a curious miscellany -intitled the "Lounger's Common-Place Book." - - "This nobleman," says the writer, "with many good points, and - described by a popular contemporary poet as almost eaten up by - his zeal for the house of Hanover, was remarkable for being - profuse of his promises on all occasions, and valued himself - particularly on being able to anticipate the words or the wants - of the various persons who attended his levees before they - uttered a word. This sometimes led him into ridiculous - embarrassments; but it was his tendency to lavish promises, - which gave occasion for the anecdote I am going to relate. - - "At the election of a certain borough of Cornwall, where the - opposite interests were almost equally poised, a single vote - was of the highest importance; this object, the Duke, by - _well-applied arguments_, and personal application, at length - attained, and the gentleman _he_ recommended gained his - election. - - "In the warmth of gratitude, his Grace poured forth - acknowledgments and promises without ceasing, on the fortunate - possessor of the casting vote; called him his best and dearest - friend; protested that he should consider himself as for ever - indebted; that he would serve him by night or by day. - - "The Cornish voter, an honest fellow, as things go, and who - would have thought himself sufficiently paid, but for such a - torrent of acknowledgments, thanked the Duke for his kindness, - and told him, 'The supervisor of excise was old and infirm, and - if he would have the goodness to recommend his son-in-law to - the commissioners in case of the old man's death, he should - think himself and his family bound to render Government every - assistance in his power, on any future occasion.' - - "'My dear friend, why do you ask for such a trifling - employment?' exclaimed his Grace, 'your relation shall have it - at a word's speaking, the moment it is vacant.'--'But how shall - I get admitted to you my Lord? for, in London, I understand, it - is a very difficult business to get a sight of you great folks, - though you are so kind and complaisant to us in the - country.'--'The instant the man dies,' replied the premier, - used to and prepared for the freedom of a contested - election,--'the moment he dies, set out post-haste for London; - drive directly to my house, by night or by day, sleeping or - waking, dead or alive, thunder at the door; I will leave word - with my porter to show you up-stairs directly, and the - employment shall be disposed of according to your wishes.' - - "The parties separated; the Duke drove to a friend's house in - the neighbourhood, where he was visiting, without a wish or a - design of seeing his new acquaintance till that day seven - years; but the memory of a Cornish elector, not being loaded - with such a variety of subjects, was more retentive. The - supervisor died a few months after, and the ministerial - partisan relying on the word of a peer, was conveyed to London - post-haste, and ascended with alacrity the steps of a large - house, now divided into three, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, at the - corner of Great Queen Street. - - "The reader should be informed that precisely at the moment - when the expectations of a considerable party of a borough in - Cornwall were roused by the death of a supervisor, no less a - person than the King of Spain was expected hourly to depart; an - event in which the Minister of Great Britain was particularly - concerned. - - "The Duke of Newcastle, on the very night that the proprietor - of the decisive vote was at his door, had sat up anxiously - expecting despatches from Madrid: wearied by official business - and agitated spirits, he retired to rest, having previously - given particular instructions to his porter not to go to bed, - as he expected every minute a messenger with advices of the - greatest importance, and desired he might be shown up-stairs - the moment of his arrival. - - "His Grace was sound asleep; for, with a thousand - singularities, of which the rascals about him did not forget to - take advantage, his worst enemies could not deny him the merit - of good design, that best solace in a solitary hour. The - porter, settled for the night in his chair, had already - commenced a sonorous nap, when the vigorous arm of the Cornish - voter roused him from his slumbers. - - "To his first question, 'Is the Duke at home?' the porter - replied, 'Yes; and in bed, but has left particular orders that - come when you will, you are to go up to him directly.'--'God - for ever bless him, a worthy and honest gentleman,' cried our - applier for the vacant post, smiling and nodding with - approbation at a Prime Minister's so accurately keeping his - promise; 'how punctual his Grace is! I knew he would not - deceive me. Let me hear no more of lords and dukes not keeping - their words. I believe, verily, they are as honest and mean as - well as other folks, but I can't always say the same of those - who are about them.' Repeating these words as he ascended the - stairs, the burgess of ---- was ushered into the Duke's - bedchamber. - - "'Is he dead?' exclaimed his Grace, rubbing his eyes, and - scarcely awaked from dreaming of the King of Spain, 'Is he - dead?' 'Yes, my lord,' replied the eager expectant, delighted - to find that the election promise, with all its circumstances, - was so fresh in the Minister's memory. 'When did he die?' 'The - day before yesterday, exactly at half-past one o'clock, after - being confined three weeks to his bed, and taking a _power of - doctor's stuff_; and I hope your Grace will be as good as your - word, and let my son-in-law succeed him.' - - "The duke, by this time perfectly awake, was staggered at the - impossibility of receiving intelligence from Madrid in so short - a space of time, and perplexed at the absurdity of a king's - messenger applying for his son-in-law to succeed the King of - Spain: 'Is the man drunk or mad; where are your despatches?' - exclaimed his Grace, hastily drawing back his curtain; when, - instead of a royal courier, his eager eye recognised at the - bedside the well-known countenance of his friend in Cornwall, - making low bows, with hat in hand, and 'hoping my lord would - not forget the gracious promise he was so good as to make in - favour of his son-in-law at the last election at ----.' - - "Vexed at so untimely a disturbance, and disappointed of news - from Spain, he frowned for a few seconds, but chagrin soon gave - way to mirth at so singular and ridiculous a combination of - opposite circumstances. Yielding to the irritation, he sank on - the bed in a violent fit of laughter, which, like the - electrical fluid, was communicated in a moment to his - attendants."[214] - - - [Illustration: OLD PALACE OF WHITEHALL, FROM THE RIVER.] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[194] Tatler, No. 100. - -[195] "Lives and Letters," _ut supra_. - -[196] "Worthies of England," _ut supra_. - -[197] Gifford's "Works of Ben Jonson," vol. i., p. ix. - -[198] Pennant, _ut supra_, p. 176 - -[199] Diary, _ut supra_, vol. ii., p. 185. - -[200] "Memoires of Lady Fanshawe, &c., written by herself." 1729, p. -267. - -[201] "Memoires of Lady Fanshawe, &c., written by herself." 1729, p. -298. - -[202] "Life of William Lord Russell, with some Account of the Times in -which he lived." By Lord John Russell, 3rd edition, 1820, vol. ii., p. -18, &c. - -[203] "History of the Reign of James the Second." Introductory -Chapter. It is worth while, as a puzzle for the reader, to give here -the contested point in the statute, which Lord Russell's enemies -thought so clear against him, and his friends so much in his favour. -13 Car. II. "Provided always, that no person be prosecuted for any of -the offences in this act mentioned, other than such as are made and -declared to be high treason, unless it be by order of the King's -Majesty, his heirs or successors, under his or their sign manual, or -by order of the Council Table of his Majesty, his heirs or successors, -directed unto the attorney-general for the time being: or some other -counsel learned to his Majesty, his heirs or successors, for the time -being: nor shall any person or persons, by virtue of this present act, -incur any of the penalties herein before-mentioned, unless he or they -be prosecuted within six months next after the offence committed, and -indicted thereupon within three months after such prosecution; -anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding." - -[204] Life, as above, vol. i., p. 121. - -[205] Hume's History of England, vol. x. chap. 69. - -[206] Rapin's History of England, 1731, vol. xiv., p. 333. - -[207] Burnet's History of his Own Times. - -[208] Burnet's History of his Own Times, 12mo., 1725, vol. ii., p. -260. - -[209] Mr. Fox, in his history above-mentioned. - -[210] Burnet and Tillotson thought so too, when James II. afterwards -forced the church to declare one way or other. - -[211] In his Journal, Burnet says that he often sung "within himself," -but that the words were not audible. When his companion asked him what -he was singing, he said the beginning of the 119th Psalm. It is stated -in the Life by his descendant (who has added some original passages -from papers at Woburn), that "just as they were entering Lincoln's Inn -Fields, he said, 'This has been to me a place of sinning, and God now -makes it the place of my punishment.'" He had lived freely in his -youth, though he is not the Russell spoken of in the Memoirs of -Grammont, as many are led to believe by the engravings of him inserted -in that work. The person there mentioned was a cousin. - -[212] For complete reports of all the trials connected with the Rye -House Plot, and for several pamphlets written _pro_ and _con_ upon -Lord Russell's case, see the "State Trials," vol. ix., beginning at p. -357. - -[213] We quote the Earl of Bedford's reply from Granger's Biographical -History of England, not being able to refer to Orrery, who we believe -is the authority for it. Burnet's Journal is to be found at the end of -Lord Russell's Life, by his descendants. - -[214] Lounger's Common-Place Book, 1805. 8vo. vol. i., p. 301. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - Great Queen Street -- Former fashionable Houses there -- Lewis - and Miss Pope, the Comedians -- Martin Folkes -- Sir Godfrey - Kneller and his Vanity -- Dr. Radcliffe -- Lord Herbert of - Cherbury -- Nuisance of Whetstone Park -- The Three Dukes and - the Beadle -- Rogues and Vagabonds in the Time of Charles II -- - Former Theatres in Vere Street and Portugal Street -- First - appearance of Actresses -- Infamous deception of one of them by - the Earl of Oxford -- Appearance of an avowed Impostor on the - Stage -- Anecdotes of the Wits and fine Ladies of the Time of - Charles, connected with the Theatre in this Quarter -- - Kynaston, Betterton, Nokes, Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Mountford, and - other Performers -- Rich -- Joe Miller -- Carey Street and Mrs. - Chapone -- Clare Market -- History, and Specimens, of Orator - Henley -- Duke Street and Little Wild Street -- Anecdotes of - Dr. Franklin's Residence in those Streets while a Journeyman - Printer. - - -Great Queen Street, in the time of the Stuarts, was one of the -grandest and most fashionable parts of the town. The famous Lord -Herbert of Cherbury died there. Lord Bristol had a house in it, Lord -Chancellor Finch, and the Conway and Paulet families. Some of the -houses towards the west retain pilasters and other ornaments, probably -indicating, as Pennant observes, the abodes in question. Little -thought the noble lords that a time would come, when a player should -occupy their rooms, and be able to entertain their descendants in -them; but in a house of this description, lately occupied by Messrs. -Allman the booksellers, died Lewis, the comedian, one of the most -delightful performers of his class, and famous to the last for his -invincible airiness and juvenility. Mr. Lewis displayed a combination -rarely to be found in acting, that of the fop and the real gentleman. -With a voice, a manner, and a person, all equally graceful and light, -and features at once whimsical and genteel, he played on the top of -his profession like a plume. He was the Mercutio of the age, in every -sense of the word mercurial. His airy, breathless voice, thrown to the -audience before he appeared, was the signal of his winged animal -spirits; and when he gave a glance of his eye, or touched his finger -at another's ribs, it was the very _punctum saliens_ of playfulness -and inuendo. We saw him take leave of the public, a man of -sixty-five, looking not more than half the age, in the character of -the Copper Captain; and heard him say, in a voice broken by emotion, -that "for the space of thirty years, he had not once incurred their -displeasure." - -Next door but one to the Freemasons' Tavern (westward), for many years -lived another celebrated comic performer, Miss Pope, one of a very -different sort, and looking as heavy and insipid as her taste was -otherwise. She was an actress of the highest order for dry humour; one -of those who convey the most laughable things with a grave face. -Churchill, in the _Rosciad_, when she must have been very young, -mentions her as an actress of great vivacity, advancing in a "jig," -and performing the parts of Cherry and Polly Honeycomb. There was -certainly nothing of the Cherry and Honeycomb about her when older; -but she was an admirable Mrs. Malaprop. - - [Illustration: OLD HOUSES IN GREAT QUEEN STREET.] - -Queen Street continued to be a place of fashionable resort for a -considerable period after the Revolution. As we have been speaking of -the advancement of actors in social rank, we will take occasion of the -birth of Martin Folkes in this street, the celebrated scholar and -antiquary, to mention that he was one of the earliest persons among -the gentry to marry an actress. His wife was Lucretia Bradshaw. It may -be thought worth observing by the romantic, that the ladies who were -first selected to give this rise to the profession, had all something -peculiar in their Christian names. Lord Peterborough married Anastasia -Robinson, and the Duke of Bolton, Lavinia Fenton. - -Sir Godfrey Kneller, and Radcliffe the physician, lived in this -street. We mention them together because they were neighbours, and -there is a pleasant anecdote of them in conjunction. The author of a -book lately published, describes their neighbourhood as being in Bow -Street; but Horace Walpole, the authority for the story, places it in -the street before us; adding, in a note, that Kneller "first lived in -Durham Yard (in the Strand), then twenty-one years in Covent Garden -(we suppose in Bow Street), and lastly in Great Queen Street, -Lincoln's Inn Fields." "Kneller," says Walpole, "was fond of flowers, -and had a fine collection. As there was great intimacy between him and -the physician, he permitted the latter to have a door into his garden; -but Radcliffe's servants gathering and destroying the flowers, Kneller -sent him word he must shut up the door. Radcliffe replied peevishly, -'Tell him he may do anything with it but paint it.' 'And I,' answered -Sir Godfrey, 'can take anything from him but physic.'"[215] - -Kneller, besides being an admired painter (and it is supposed from one -of his performances, the portrait of a Chinese, that he could have -been admired by posterity, if he chose), was a man of wit; but so -vain, that he is described as being the butt of all the wits of his -acquaintances. They played upon him undoubtedly, and at a great rate; -but it has been suggested by a shrewd observer, that while he -consented to have his vanity tickled at any price, he humoured the -joke himself, and was quite aware of what they were at. Nor is this -inconsistent with the vanity, which would always make large allowances -for the matter of fact. The extravagance it would limit where it -pleased; the truth remained; and Sir Godfrey, as Pope said, had a -large appetite. With this probability a new interest is thrown upon -the anecdotes related of his vanity, with the best of which the reader -is accordingly presented. Kneller was a German, born at Lubec, so that -his English is to be read with a foreign accent. - -The younger Richardson tells us, that Gay read Sir Godfrey a copy of -verses, in which he had pushed his flattery so far, that he was all -the while in dread lest the knight should detect him. When Kneller had -heard this through, he said, in his foreign style and accent, "Ay, Mr. -Gay, all what you have said is very fine, and very true; but you have -forgot one thing, my good friend; by G--, I should have been a -general of an army; for when I was at Venice, there was a _girandole_, -and all the place of St. Mark was in a smoke of gunpowder, and I did -like the smell, Mr. Gay; should have been a great general, Mr. Gay!" - -Perhaps it was this real or apparent obtuseness which induced Gay to -add "engineering" to his other talents, in the verses describing -Pope's welcome from Greece:-- - - "Kneller amid the triumph bears his part, - Who could (were mankind lost) a new create: - What can the extent of his vast soul confine? - A painter, critic, engineer, divine." - -The following is related on the authority of Pope:-- - - "Old Jacob Tonson got a great many fine pictures, and two of - himself, from him, by this means. Sir Godfrey was very - covetous, but then he was very vain, and a great glutton; so he - played these passions against the others; besides telling him - that he was the greatest master that ever was, sending him, - every now and then, a haunch of venison, and dozens of - excellent claret. 'O, my G--, man,' said he once to Vander - Gucht, 'this old Jacob loves me; he is a very good man; you see - he loves me, he sends me good things; the venison was fat.' Old - Geekie, the surgeon, got several fine pictures of him too, and - an excellent one of himself; but then he had them cheaper, for - he gave nothing but praises; but then his praises were as fat - as Jacob's venison; neither could be too fat for Sir Godfrey." - -Pope related the following to Spence:-- - - "As I was sitting by Sir Godfrey Kneller one day, whilst he was - drawing a picture, he stopt, and said, 'I can't do as well as I - should do, unless you flatter me a little, Mr. Pope! You know I - love to be flattered.' I was for once willing," continues Pope, - "to try how far this vanity would carry him; and after - considering a picture which he had just finished, for a good - while very attentively, I said to him in French (for he had - been talking for some time before in that language), 'On lit - dans les Ecritures Saintes, que le bon Dieu faisoit l'homme - apres son image: mais, je crois, que s'il voudroit faire un - autre a present, qu'il le feroit apres l'image que voila.' Sir - Godfrey turned round, and said very gravely, 'Vous avez raison, - Monsieur Pope; par Dieu, je le crois aussi.'" - -It must not be omitted that Kneller was a kind-hearted man. At -Whitton, where he had a seat, he was justice of the peace, and, - - "Was so much more swayed," says Walpole, "by equity than law, - that his judgments, accompanied with humour, are said to have - occasioned those lines by Pope:-- - - "I think Sir Godfrey should decide the suit, - Who sent the thief (that stole the cash) away, - And punish'd him that put it in his way." - - "This alluded to his dismissing a soldier who had stolen a - joint of meat, and accused the butcher of having tempted him - by it. Whenever Sir Godfrey was applied to, to determine what - parish a poor man belonged to, he always inquired which parish - was the richer, and settled the poor man there; nor would he - ever sign a warrant to distrain the goods of a poor man who - could not pay a tax."[216] - -Poor Radcliffe, after reigning as a physician so despotically, that -Arbuthnot, in his projected map of diseases, was for putting him up at -the corner of it disputing the empire of the world, became a less -happy man than Sir Godfrey, by reason of his falling in love in his -old age. He set up a coach, adorned with mythological paintings,--at -least, Steele says so; but soon had to put it in mourning for the -death of his flame, who was a Miss Tempest, one of the maids of -honour. Radcliffe was the Tory physician, and Steele, in the "Tatler," -with a party spirit that was much oftener aggrieved than provoked in -that good-natured writer, was induced, by some circumstance or other, -perhaps Radcliffe's insolence, to make a ludicrous description of him, -"as the mourning Esculapius, the languishing, hopeless lover of the -divine Hebe." Steele accuses him of avarice. Others have said he was -generous. He was the founder of the Radcliffe Library at Oxford, and -made other magnificent bequests; which prove nothing either way. But -it is not favourable to a reputation for generosity, to own (as he -did), that he was fond of spunging, and to avoid the paying of bills. -However, when he lost 5,000_l._ in a speculation, he said "he had -nothing to do but to go up so many pair of stairs to make himself -whole again." He was undoubtedly a very clever physician, though he -made little use of books. Like many men who go upon their own grounds -in this way, he had an abrupt and clownish manner, which he probably -thought of use. According to Richardson, he one day said to Dr. Mead, -"Mead, I love you; now I will tell you a sure secret to make your -fortune. Use all mankind ill." It is worth observing, that Mead acted -on the reverse principle, and made double the fortune of his adviser. -Radcliffe is said have attended the lady of Judge Holt, in a bad -illness, with unusual assiduity, "out of pique to her husband;" a very -new kind of satire. He used to send huffing messages to Queen Anne, -telling her that he would not come, and that she only had the vapours; -and when King William consulted him on his swollen ankles and thin -body, Radcliffe said he "would not have his Majesty's two legs for -his three kingdoms;" a speech which it was not in the nature of -royalty to forgive. His death is said to have been hastened by his -refusal to attend on Queen Anne in her last illness; which so -exasperated the populace that he was afraid to leave his country house -at Carshalton, where he died. He lived in Bow Street when he first -came to London; and afterwards in Bloomsbury Square. - -But the most remarkable inhabitant of Queen Street was Lord Herbert of -Cherbury, one of those extraordinary individuals who, with a touch of -madness on the irascible side, and subject to the greatest blindness -of self-love, possess a profound judgment on every other point. Such -persons are supposed to be victims of imagination; but they are rather -mechanical enthusiasts (though of a high order), and, for want of an -acquaintance with the imaginative, become at the mercy of the first -notion which takes their will by surprise. Lord Herbert, who in the -intellectual part was intended for a statist and a man of science, was -unfortunately one of the hottest of Welchmen in the physical. Becoming -a Knight of the Bath, he took himself for a knight-errant, and fancied -he was bound to fight everybody he met with, and to lie under trees in -the fields of Holland. He thought Revelation a doubtful matter, and so -he had recourse to the Deity for a revelation in his particular favour -to disprove it. We have related an anecdote of him at Northumberland -House, and shall have more to tell; but the account of his having -recourse to Heaven for the satisfaction of his doubts of its -interference, must not be omitted here. Perhaps it took place in this -very street. His Lordship was the first Deist in England that has left -an account of his opinions. Speaking of the work he wrote on this -subject, he says:-- - - "My book 'De Veritate prout distinguitur a Revelatione - verisimili, possibili, et a falso,' having been begun by me in - England, and formed there in all its principal parts, was about - this time finished; all the spare hours which I could get from - my visits and negotiations being employed to perfect this work; - which was no sooner done, but that I communicated it to Hugo - Grotius--that great scholar, who, having escaped his prison in - the Low Countries, came into France, and was much welcomed by - me and Monsier Tieleners, also one of the greatest scholars of - his time; who, after they had perused it, and given it more - commendations than is fit for me to repeat, exhorted me - earnestly to print and publish it; howbeit, as the frame of my - whole work was so different from anything which had been - written heretofore, I found I must either renounce the - authority of all that I had written formerly, concerning the - method of finding out truth, and consequently insist upon my - own way, or hazard myself to a general censure concerning the - whole argument of my book; I must confess it did not a little - animate me, that the two great persons above-mentioned did so - highly value it; yet, as I knew it would meet with much - opposition, I did consider whether it was not better for me for - a while to suppress it. - - "Being thus doubtful in my chamber one fair day in the summer, - my casement being open towards the south, the sun shining - clear, and no wind stirring, I took my book, 'De Veritate,' in - my hand, and kneeling on my knees, devoutly said these words:-- - - "'Oh, thou eternal God, author of the light which now shines - upon me, and giver of all inward illuminations, I do beseech - thee of thy infinite goodness to pardon a greater request than - a sinner ought to make; I am not satisfied enough whether I - shall publish this book 'De Veritate;' if it be for thy glory, - I beseech thee give me some sign from heaven; if not, I shall - suppress it.' - - "I had no sooner spoken these words, but a loud though gentle - noise came from the heavens (for it was like nothing on earth) - which did so comfort and cheer me, that I took my petition as - granted, and that I had the sign I demanded; whereupon also I - resolved to print my book. This (how strange soever it may - seem) I protest, before the eternal God, is true; neither am I - any way superstitiously deceived herein; since I did not only - hear the noise, but, in the serenest sky that ever I saw, being - without all cloud, did to my thinking see the place from whence - it came."[217] - -"How could a man," justly observes Walpole on this passage, "who -doubted of partial, believe individual revelation! What vanity to -think his book of such importance to the cause of truth, that it could -extort a declaration of the Divine will, when the interest of half -mankind could not!" Yet the same writer is full of admiration of him -in other respects. It is well observed by the editor of the -_Autobiography_ (in reply to the doubts thrown on his lordship's -veracity respecting his chivalrous propensities, the consequences of -which always fell short of duels), that much of the secret might be -owing "to his commanding aspect and acknowledged reputation; and a -little more to a certain perception of the Quixote in his character, -with which it might be deemed futile to contend. His surprising -defence of himself against the attack of Sir John Ayres, forcibly -exhibits his personal strength and mastery; and his spirited treatment -of the French Minister, Luynes, and the general esteem of his -contemporaries, sufficiently attest his quick feeling of national and -personal dignity, and general gallantry of bearing." There is no -doubt, in short, that Lord Herbert of Cherbury was a brave, an honest, -and an able man, though with some weaknesses, both of heat and vanity, -sufficient to console the most common-place. - -With all this elegance of neighbourhood, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the -time of Charles II., had one eyesore of an enormous description, in a -place behind Holborn row, entitled Whetstone Park. It is now a decent -passage between Great and Little Turnstiles. - - "It is scarcely necessary," says Mr. Malcolm, "to remind the - reader of a well-known fact, that all sublunary things are - subject to change:--he who passes through the Little Turnstile, - Holborn, at present, will observe on the left hand, near - Lincoln's Inn Fields, a narrow street, composed of small - buildings, on the corner of which is inscribed Whetstone Park. - The repose and quiet of the place seem to proclaim strong - pretensions to regular and moral life in the inhabitants; and - well would it have been for the happiness of many a family, had - the site always exhibited the same appearance. On the contrary, - Whetstone Park contributed to increase the dissoluteness of - manners which distinguished the period between 1660 and 1700. - Being a place of low entertainment, numerous disturbances - occurred there, and rendered it subject to the satire and - reprehension even of 'Poor Robin's Intelligencer,' a paper - almost infamous enough for the production of a keeper of this - theatre of vice. The publication alluded to says, in 1676, - 'Notwithstanding the discourses that have been to the contrary, - the boarding-school is still continued here, where a set of - women may be readily untaught all the studies of modesty or - chastity; to which purpose they are provided with a two-handed - volume of impudence, loosely bound up in greasy vellum, which - is tied by the leg to a wicker chair (as you find authors - chained in a library), and is always ready to give you plain - instructions and directions in all matters relating to - immorality or irreligion.' * * - - "Incomprehensible as it certainly is," continues our author, - "the brutal acts of a mob are sometimes the result of a just - sense of the ill consequences attending vice; and, although - almost every individual composing it is capable of performing - deeds which deserve punishment from the police, they cannot - collectively view long and deliberate offences against the laws - of propriety, without assuming the right of reforming them. - 'The Loyal and Impartial Mercury' of Sept. 1, 1682, has this - paragraph:--'On Saturday last, about 500 apprentices, and such - like, being got together in Smithfield, went into Lincoln's Inn - Fields, where they drew up, and marching into Whetstone Park, - fell upon the lewd houses there, where, having broken open the - doors, they entered, and made great spoil of the goods; of - which the constables and watchmen having notice, and not - finding themselves strong enough to quell the tumult, procured - a party of the King's guards who dispersed them, and took - eleven, who were committed to New Prison; yet on Sunday night - they came again, and made worse havoc than before, breaking - down all the doors and windows, and cutting the featherbeds and - goods in pieces.' Another newspaper explains the origin of the - riot by saying, 'that a countryman who had been decoyed into - one of the houses alluded to, and robbed, lodged a formal and - public complaint against them to those he found willing to - listen to him in Smithfield, and thus raised the - ferment.'"[218] - -In the "State Poems" is a doggrel set of verses on a tragical -circumstance occasioned by a frolic of three of Charles's natural sons -in this place. It is entitled "On the three Dukes killing the Beadle -on Sunday morning, Feb. the 26th, 1671." A great sensation was made by -this circumstance, which was naturally enough regarded as a signal -instance of the consequences of Charles's mode of life. Our Grub -Street writer selected his title well--the "Dukes," the "Beadle," and -the "Sunday." His first four lines might have been put into Martinus -Scriblerus, as a specimen of the Newgate style. - - "Near Holborn lies a park of great renown, - The place, I do suppose, is not unknown: - For brevity's sake the name I shall not tell, - Because most genteel readers know it well." - -The three Dukes pick a quarrel with one poor damsel, and "murder" was -cried. - - "In came the watch, disturbed with sleep and ale, - By noises shrill, but they could not prevail - T' appease their Graces. Strait rose mortal jars, - Betwixt the night blackguard and silver stars; - Then fell the beadle by a ducal hand, - For daring to pronounce the saucy stand. - - * * * * * - - See what mishaps dare e'en invade Whitehall, - This silly fellow's death puts off the ball, - And disappoints the Queen, poor little chuck; - I warrant t'would have danced it like a duck. - The fiddlers, voices, entries, all the sport, - And the gay show put off, where the brisk court - Anticipates, in rich subsidy coats, - All that is got by necessary votes. - Yet shall Whitehall, the innocent, the good, - See these men dance, all daubed with lace and blood."[219] - -The "subsidy coats" allude to Charles's raising money for his -profligate expenditure under pretence of the public service. The last -couplet would have done credit to a better satire. - -As we are upon the subject of a neighbourhood to which they apply, we -shall proceed to give a few more extracts from Mr. Malcolm, highly -characteristic of the lower orders of desperadoes in Charles's reign. - - "The various deceivers," he tells us, "who preyed upon the - public at this time were exposed in a little filthy work called - the 'Canting Academy,' which went through more than one edition - (the second is dated 1674). I shall select from it enough to - show the variety of villany practised under their various - names. The _Ruffler_ was a wretch who assumed the character of - a maimed soldier, and begged from the claims of Naseby, - Edgehill, Newbury, and Marston Moor. Those who were stationed - in the city of London were generally found in Lincoln's Inn - Fields and Covent Garden; and their prey was people of fashion, - whose coaches were attacked boldly; and if denied, their owners - were told, ''Tis a sad thing that an old crippled cavalier - should be suffered to beg for a maintenance, and a young - cavalier that had never heard the whistle of a bullet should - ride in his coach.' - - "There were people called _Anglers_, from the nature of their - method of depredating, which was thus.--They had a rod or - stick, with an iron hook affixed: this they introduced through - a window, or any other aperture, where plunder might be - procured, and helped themselves at pleasure; the day was - occupied by them in the character of beggars, when they made - their observations for the angling of the night. - - "_Wild Rogues_ were the offspring of thieves and beggars, who - received the rudiments of the art even before they left their - mothers' backs: "To go into churches and great crowds, and to - _nim_ golden buttons off men's cloaks; and being very little - are shown how to creep into cellar windows, or other small - entrances, and in the night to convey out thereat whatever they - can find to the thievish receivers, who wait without for that - purpose; and sometimes do open the door to let in such who have - designed to rob the house; if taken, the tenderness of their - age makes an apology or an excuse for their fault, and so are - let alone to be hanged at riper years.' - - "_Palliards_ or _Clapperdogeons_, were those women who sat and - reclined in the streets, with their own borrowed or stolen - children hanging about them, crying through cold, pinching, or - real disease, who begged relief as widows, and, in the name of - their fatherless children, gaining by this artifice, 'a great - deal of money, whilst her comrogue lies begging in the fields, - with climes or artificial sores.' The way they commonly take to - make them is by sperewort or arsenic, which will draw blisters; - or they take unslacked lime and soap, mingled with the rust of - old iron: these being well tempered together, and spread thick - upon two pieces of leather, they apply to the leg, binding it - thereunto very hard, which in a very little time would fret the - skin so that the flesh would appear all raw, &c. &c. - - "_Fraters_ were impostors who went through the country with - forged patents for briefs, and thus diverted charity from its - proper direction. - - "_Abram men_ were fellows whose occupations seem to have been - forgotten. They are described in the 'Canting Academy' in these - words:--'Abram men are otherwise called Tom of Bedlams; they - are very strangely and antickly garbed, with several coloured - ribands or tape in their hats, it may be instead of a feather, - a fox tail hanging down, a long stick with ribands streaming, - and the like; yet for all their seeming madness they have wit - enough to steal as they go.'[220] - - "The _Whip-Jacks_ have left us a specimen of their fraternity. - They were counterfeit mariners, whose conversations were - plentifully embellished with sea-terms, and falsehoods of their - danger in the exercise of their profession. Instead of securing - their arms and legs close to their bodies, and wrapping them in - bandages (as the modern _whip-jack_ is in the habit of doing, - to excite compassion for the loss of limbs and severe wounds), - the _ancients_ merely pretended they had lost their all by - shipwreck, and were reduced to beg their way to a sea-port, if - in the country; or to some remote one, if in London. - - "_Mumpers._--The persons thus termed are described as being of - both sexes: they were not solicitors for food, but money and - cloathes. 'The male mumper, in the times of the late - usurpation, was clothed in an old torn cassock, begirt with a - girdle, with a black cap, and a white one peeping out - underneath.' With a formal and studied countenance he stole up - to a gentleman, and whispered him softly in the ear, that he - was a poor sequestered parson, with a wife and many children. - At other times, they would assume the habit of a decayed - gentleman, and beg as if they had been ruined by their - attachment to the royal cause. Sometimes the mumper appeared - with an apron before him, and a cap on his head, and begs in - the nature of a broken tradesman, who, having been a long time - sick, hath spent all his remaining stock, and so weak he cannot - work! The females of this class of miscreants generally - attacked the ladies, and in a manner suited to make an - impression on their finer feelings. - - "_Domerars_ are such as counterfeit themselves dumb, and have a - notable art to roll their tongues up into the roof of their - mouth, that you would verily believe their tongues were cut - out; and, to make you have a stronger belief thereof, they will - gape and show you where it was done, clapping in a sharp stick, - and, touching the tongue, make it bleed--and then the ignorant - dispute it no further.' - - "_Patricos_ are the strolling priests: every hedge is their - parish, and every wandering rogue their parishioner. The - service, he saith, is the marrying of couples, without the - Gospel, or Book of Common Prayer, the solemnity whereof is - thus: the parties to be married find out a dead horse, or any - other beast, and standing the one on the one side and the other - on the other, the patrico bids them to live together till death - them part; and, so shaking hands, the wedding is ended.'"[221] - - [Illustration: OLD THEATRE IN PORTUGAL STREET.] - -On the southern side of Lincoln's Inn Fields, at the back of Portugal -Row, is Portugal Street, formerly containing a theatre, as celebrated -as Covent Garden or Drury Lane is now. This was the Duke's Theatre, so -called from the Duke of York, afterwards James II., who, at the -Restoration, patronised one of the principal companies of players, as -his brother Charles did the other. The latter was the Drury Lane -company. Readers of theatrical history are generally led to conclude -that there was only one theatre in the Lincoln's Inn quarter; but this -is a mistake. There were at least two successive houses in two -different places, though usually confounded under the title of "the -theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields." The first was in Gibbon's -tennis-court, in Vere Street, Clare Market, where the actors who had -played at the Red Bull opened their performances in the year of the -Restoration, under the direction of Killigrew, and with the title of -King's Company. These in 1663 removed to Drury Lane. The Duke's, or -Sir William Davenant's company, removed in 1662 from Salisbury Court -(see Fleet Street) to a new theatre "in Portugal Row," says Malone, -"_near_ Lincoln's Inn Fields."[222] Malone is a correct inquirer: so -that he makes us doubt whether the name of Portugal Row did not -formerly belong to Portugal Street. The latter is certainly meant, or -he would describe it as _in_ and not _near_ the Fields. Davenant's -company performed here till 1671, when they quitted it to return to -the renovated theatre in Salisbury Court, under the management of his -son, Charles Davenant (the father being dead), and the famous -Betterton, who had been Sir William's first actor. The two companies -afterwards came together at Drury Lane, but again fell apart; and in -1695 the Duke's company (if its altered composition could still -warrant the name), with Betterton remaining at its head, and Congreve -for a partner, again opened "the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields," -which was rebuilt for the purpose, and is described as being in "the -Tennis-court." Was this the tennis-court theatre in Vere Street? or -were there two tennis-courts, one in Vere Street, and one in Lincoln's -Inn Fields? We confess ourselves, after a diligent examination, unable -to determine. At all events, the latest theatre of which we hear in -Lincoln's Inn Fields, was not in Vere Street. It stood in Portugal -Street, on the east end of the present burial ground, just at the back -of Surgeons' College, and was subsequently the china warehouse of -Messrs. Spode and Copeland.[223] This theatre, which was built of red -brick, and had a front facing the market, is the one generally meant -by the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. It finally became celebrated -for the harlequinades of Rich; but, on his removal to Covent Garden, -was deserted, and, after a short re-opening by Gifford from Goodman's -Fields, finally ceased to be a theatre about the year 1737. Since that -period Covent Garden and Drury Lane playhouses have had this part of -the town to themselves. - -It is conjectured, that the first appearance of an actress on the -English stage, to the scandal of the Puritans, and with many apologies -for the "indecorum" of giving up the performances of female characters -by boys, took place in the theatre in Vere Street, on Saturday, Dec. -8, 1660. The part first performed was certainly that of Desdemona; a -very fit one to introduce the claims of the sex.[224] - -Mr. Malone has given us the prologue written for this occasion by -Thomas Jordan; which, as it shows the "sensation" that was made, sets -us in a lively manner in the situation of the spectators, and gives a -curious account of some of the male actors of gentle womanhood, we -shall here repeat. It is entitled "A Prologue, to introduce the first -Woman that came to act on the Stage, in the Tragedy called the Moor of -Venice:" - - "I came unknown to any of the rest, - To tell the news; I saw the lady drest: - The woman plays to-day; mistake me not, - No man in gown, or page in petticoat: - A woman to my knowledge, yet I can't, - If I should die, make affidavit on't. - Do you not twitter, gentlemen? I know - You will be censuring: do it fairly, though; - 'Tis possible a virtuous woman may - Abhor all sorts of looseness, and yet play; - Play on the stage--where all eyes are upon her: - Shall we count that a crime France counts an honour? - In other kingdoms husbands safely trust 'em; - The difference lies only in the custom. - And let it be our custom, I advise; - I'm sure this custom's better than th' excise, - And may procure _us_ custom: hearts of flint - Will melt in passion, when a woman's in't. - But, gentlemen, you that as judges sit - In the Star-chamber of the house--the pit, - Have modest thoughts of her; pray, do not run - To give her visits when the play is done, - With '_damn me, your most humble servant, lady_;' - She knows these things as well as you, it may be; - Not a bit there, dear gallants, she doth know - Her own deserts,--and your temptations too. - But to the point:--in this reforming age - We have intents to civilize the stage. - Our women are defective, and so sized, - You'd think they were some of the guard disguised; - For to speak truth, men act, that are between - Forty and fifty, wenches of fifteen; - With bone so large, and nerve so incompliant, - When you call Desdemona, enter giant. - We shall purge everything that is unclean, - Lascivious, scurrilous, impious, or obscene; - And when we've put all things in this fair way, - Barebones himself may come to see a play."[225] - -The epilogue, "which consists of but twelve lines, is in the same -strain of apology." - - "And how do you like her; Come, what is't ye drive at? - She's the same thing in public as in private, - As far from being what you call a whore, - As Desdemona injured by the Moor; - Then he that censures her in such a case, - Hath a soul blacker than Othello's face. - But, ladies, what think _you_? for if you tax - Her freedom with dishonour to your sex, - She means to act no more, and this shall be - No other play, but her own tragedy. - She will submit to none but your commands, - And take commission only from your hands."[226] - -From the nature of this epilogue, and the permission accorded by the -ladies, the women actors appear to have met with all the success they -could wish; yet a prologue to the second part of Davenant's "Siege of -Rhodes," acted in April, 1662, shows us that the matter was still -considered a delicate one upwards of a year afterwards. - - "Hope little from our poet's withered wit, - From infant players scarce grown puppets yet; - Hope from our women less, whose bashful fear - Wondered to see me dare to enter here: - Each took her leave, and wished my danger past, - And though I came back safe and undisgraced, - Yet when they spy the wits here, then I doubt - No amazon can make them venture out, - Though I advised them not to fear you much, - For I presume not half of you are such."[227] - -It was in the Theatre at Vere Street that Pepys first saw a woman on -the stage.[228] One of the earliest female performers mentioned by him -was an actress whose name is not ascertained, but who attained an -unfortunate celebrity in the part of Roxana in the "Siege of Rhodes." -She was seduced by Aubery de Vere, the last Earl of Oxford of that -name, under the guise of a private marriage--a species of villany -which made a great figure in works of fiction up to a late period. The -story is "got up" in detail by Madame Dunois, in her "History of the -Court of Charles II.;"[229] but it is told with more brevity in -Grammont; and as the latter, though apocryphal enough, pretends to say -nothing on the subject in which he is not borne out by other writers, -his lively account may be laid before the reader. - - "The Earl of Oxford," says one of his heroines, "fell in love - with a handsome, graceful actress, belonging to the Duke's - theatre, who performed to perfection, particularly the part of - Roxana in a very fashionable new play; insomuch that she ever - after retained that name. This creature being both very - virtuous and very modest, or, if you please, wonderfully - obstinate, proudly rejected the presents and addresses of the - Earl of Oxford. The resistance inflamed his passion; he had - recourse to invectives and even spells; but all in vain. This - disappointment had such an effect upon him, that he could - neither eat nor drink; this did not signify to him; but his - passion at length became so violent, that he could neither play - nor smoke. In this extremity, Love had recourse to Hymen; the - Earl of Oxford, one of the first peers of the realm, is, you - know, a very handsome man: he is of the order of the Garter, - which greatly adds to an air naturally noble. In short, from - his outward appearance, you would suppose he was really - possessed of some sense; but as soon as ever you hear him - speak, you are perfectly convinced to the contrary. This - passionate lover presented her with a promise of marriage, in - due form, signed with his own hand; she would not, however, - rely upon this; but the next day she thought there could be no - danger, when the Earl himself came to her lodgings attended by - a clergyman, and another man for a witness; the marriage was - accordingly solemnized with all due ceremonies, in the presence - of one of her fellow-players, who attended as a witness on her - part. You will suppose, perhaps, that the new countess had - nothing to do but to appear at court according to her rank, and - to display the earl's arms upon her carriage. This was far from - being the case. When examination was made concerning the - marriage, it was found to be a mere deception: it appeared that - the pretended priest was one of my lord's trumpeters, and the - witness his kettle-drummer. The parson and his companion never - appeared after the ceremony was over; and as for the other - witness, he endeavoured to persuade her that the Sultana Roxana - might have supposed, in some part or other of a play, that she - was really married. It was all to no purpose that the poor - creature claimed the protection of the laws of God and man; - both which were violated and abused, as well as herself, by - this infamous imposition: in vain did she throw herself at the - king's feet to demand justice; she had only to rise up again - without redress; and happy might she think herself to receive - an annuity of one thousand crowns, and to resume the name of - Roxana, instead of Countess of Oxford."[230] - -This scoundrel Earl (whose alleged want of sense is extremely -probable, and was his best excuse, as well as the worst thing to say -for the lady), died full of years and honours, and was buried in -Westminster Abbey. - -In 1664, Mr. Pepys witnessed a scene in the theatre in Portugal -Street, which shows the extremity to which the speculation of managers -and the curiosity of the British public can go. This was no other than -the appearance of an imposter, called the German Princess, in the part -of her own character, after having been tried for it at the Old -Bailey. She was tried for bigamy, and acquitted; but she had inveigled -a young citizen into marriage under pretence of being a German -Princess, the citizen pretending at the same time to be a nobleman. -The impudence of the thing was completed by the badness of her -performance. Granger, however, who appears to have read a vindication -of her, which she published, thinks she had great natural abilities. - -The following is curious:--4th (Feb. 1666-7). - - "Soon as dined," says Pepys, "my wife and I out to the Duke's - playhouse, and there saw Heraclius, an excellent play, to my - extraordinary content; and the more from the house being very - full, and great company; among others Mrs. Stuart,[231] very - fine, with her locks done up in puffes, as my wife calls them: - and several other great ladies had their hair so, though I do - not like it, but my wife do mightily; but it is only because - she sees it is the fashion. Here I saw my Lord Rochester[232] - and his lady, Mrs. Mallet, who hath after all this ado married - him; and, as I hear some say in the pit, it is a great act of - charity, for he hath no estate. But it was pleasant to see how - everybody rose up when my Lord John Butler, the Duke of - Ormond's son, came into the pit, towards the end of the play, - who was a servant to Mrs. Mallett, and now smiled upon her, and - she on him."[233] - -One little thinks, now-a-days, in turning into Portugal Street, that -all the fashionable world, with the wits and poets, once thronged into -that poor-looking thoroughfare, with its bailiffs at one end, and its -butchers at the other. The difference, however, between beaux and -butchers was not so great at that time as it became afterwards; though -none arrogated the praise of high breeding more than the fine -gentlemen of Charles II. Next year Pepys speaks of a fray at this -house between Harry Killigrew and the Duke of Buckingham, in which the -latter beat him, and took away his sword. Another time, according to -his account, Rochester beat Tom Killigrew, at the Dutch Ambassador's, -and in the King's presence. Blows from people of rank do not appear to -have been resented as they would be now. - -In the following passage we have an author's first night before us, -and that author the gallant Etherege, with dukes and wits about him in -the pit. He makes, however, a very different figure in our eyes from -what we commonly conceive of him, for he is unsuccessful and -complaining. - - "My wife," says Pepys, "being gone before (6th Feb. 1667-8), I - to the Duke of York's playhouse, where a new play of - Etheridge's, called 'She would if she could;' and, though I was - there by two o'clock, there was one thousand people put back - that could not have room in the pit; and I at last, because my - wife was there, made shift to get into the 18_d._ box, and - there saw. But Lord! how full was the house, and how silly the - play, there being nothing in the world good in it, and few - people pleased in it. The King was there; but I sat mightily - behind, and could see but little, and hear not at all. The play - being done, I into the pit to look for my wife, it being dark - and raining; but could not find her, and so staid, going - between the two doors and through the pit, an hour and a half, - I think, after the play was done, the people staying there till - the rain was over, and to talk one with another. And among the - rest here was the Duke of Buckingham to-day openly sat in the - pit; and there I found him with my Lord Buckhurst, and Sedley, - and Etheridge the poet; the last of whom I did hear mightily - find fault with the actors, that they were out of humour and - had not their parts perfect, and that Harris did do nothing, - nor could so much as sing a catch in it; and so was mightily - concerned; while all the rest did through the whole pit blame - the play as a silly, dull thing, though there was something - very roguish and witty; but the design of the play and end - mighty insipid. At last I did find my wife." - -The ensuing is a specimen of the manners of one of the fine ladies:- - - "5th (May, 1668), Creed and I to the Duke of York's playhouse; - and there, coming late, up to the balcony-box, where we find my - Lady Castlemaine (the King's mistress) and several great - ladies; and there we sat with them, and I saw the - 'Impertinents' once more than yesterday! and I for that reason - like it, I find, the better too. By Sir Positive At-all I - understand is meant Sir Robert Howard. My lady pretty well - pleased with it; but here I sat close to her fine woman, - Wilson, who indeed is very handsome, but they say with child by - the King. I asked, and she told me this was the first time her - lady had seen it, I having a mind to say something to her. One - thing of familiarity I observed in my Lady Castlemaine; she - called to one of her women, another that sat by this, for a - little patch off of her face, and put it into her mouth and - wetted it, and so clapped it upon her own by the side of her - mouth; I suppose she feeling a pimple rising there."[234] - -More manners of this gallant reign. Pepys says he went to see a woman -with a great bushy beard, "which pleased him mightily." - - "Thence to the Duke's playhouse, and saw 'Macbeth.' The King - and Court there; and we sat just under them and my Lady - Castlemaine, and close to a woman that comes into the pit, a - kind of a loose gossip, that pretends to be like her, and is so - something. And my wife, by my troth, appeared, I think, as - pretty as any of them; I never thought so much before; and so - did Talbot and W. Hewer, as they said, I heard, to one another. - The King and Duke of York minded me, and smiled upon me, at the - handsome woman near me; but it vexed me to see Moll Davies, in - the box over the King and my Lady Castlemaine, look down upon - the King and he up to her; and so did my Lady Castlemaine once - to see who it was; but when she saw Moll Davies, she looked - like fire; which troubled me."[235] - -Modes of thinking. Mr. Pepys is of opinion that the "Tempest," which -he saw at this house, is an "innocent" play; "no great wit, but yet -good above ordinary plays." This appears to have been his general -opinion of Shakspeare. That year he says, - - "After dinner to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw - 'Sir Martin Mar-all,' which I have seen so often, and yet am - mightily pleased with it, and think it mighty witty, and the - fullest of proper matter for mirth that was ever writ; and I do - clearly see that they do improve in their acting of it. Here a - mighty company of citizens, 'prentices, and others; and it - makes me observe, that when I began first to be able to bestow - a play on myself, I do not remember that I saw so many by half - of the ordinary 'prentices and mean people in the pit, at 2_s._ - 6_d._ a piece, as now; I going for several years no higher than - the 12_d._ and then the 18_d._ places, though I strained hard - to go in them when I did: so much the vanity and prodigality of - the age is to be observed in this particular."[236] - -What he calls the vanity of the age, was one of the best signs of its -advancement. Plays, at the time above mentioned, began as early as -they did before the civil wars; and when they were over, people rode -out in their coaches to take the air. Our author, when the King -visited the theatre, speaks of being there by one o'clock to get a -seat. Kynaston, a favourite actor at this house, used to be taken out -airing by the ladies, in the dress which he wore as a female. Cibber -mentions this particular among others in an entertaining account of -Kynaston, whom the ladies do not appear to have spoiled:-- - - "Though women," he says, "were not admitted to the stage till - the return of King Charles, yet it could not be so suddenly - supplied with them, but that there was still a necessity, for - some time, to put the handsomest young men into petticoats, - which Kynaston was then said to have worn with success; - particularly in the part of Evadne, in the 'Maid's Tragedy,' - which I have heard him speak of; and which calls to my mind a - ridiculous distress that arose from these sort of shifts, which - the stage was then put to. The King, coming a little before his - usual time to a tragedy, found the actors not ready to begin, - when his Majesty, not choosing to have as much patience as his - good subjects, sent to them to know the meaning of it; upon - which the master of the company came to the box, and rightly - judging that the best excuse for their default would be the - true one, fairly told his Majesty that the queen was not - _shaved_ yet: the King, whose good humour loved to laugh at a - jest as well as to make one, accepted the excuse, which served - to divert him till the male queen could be effeminated. In a - word, Kynaston, at that time, was so beautiful a youth, that - the ladies of quality prided themselves in taking him with them - in their coaches to Hyde Park in his theatrical habit, after - the play; which in those days they might have sufficient time - to do, because plays then were used to begin at four o'clock: - the hour that people of the same rank are now going to dinner. - Of this truth I had the curiosity to inquire, and had it - confirmed from his own mouth, in his advanced age: and, indeed, - to the last of him, his handsomeness was very little abated; - even at past sixty his teeth were sound, white and even, as one - would wish to see in a reigning toast of twenty. He had - something of a formal gravity in his mien, which was attributed - to the stately step he had been so early confined to, in a - female decency. But even that, in characters of superiority, - had its proper graces; it misbecame him not in the part of - Leon, in Fletcher's 'Rule a Wife,' &c., which he executed with - a determined manliness, and honest authority, well worth the - best actor's imitation. He had a piercing eye, and, in - characters of heroic life, a quick imperious vivacity in his - tone of voice, that painted the tyrant truly terrible. There - were two plays of Dryden in which he shone with uncommon - lustre; in 'Aurengzebe' he played Morat, and in 'Don - Sebastian,' Muley Moloch; in both these parts he had a fierce, - lion-like majesty in his port and utterance, that gave the - spectator a kind of trembling admiration."[237] - -Pepys does not speak much of Betterton, the chief performer at the -Portugal-street playhouse. The reason must be, either that Betterton -played chiefly in tragedy, or that his comic talent (which is -probable) was not equal to his tragic. He was the great actor of his -time, as Garrick was of the last century, and Mr. Kean lately. His -most admired character appears to have been that of Hamlet; though -Steele, in a paper to his memory in the '_Tatler_,' seems to have been -most impressed by his performance of Othello. If an actor's Othello is -really fine, perhaps it must be his best part, as in Mr. Kean's -instance, owing to the nature of the character. Hamlet speaks to the -reflecting part of us; Othello to the sensitive. We will not present -the reader with extracts from Cibber which contain little respecting -this actor that might not be said of others; only it may be observed, -that in the better parts of the performances of the old players we -have something perhaps handed down to us of the manner of these -ancient ornaments of the stage. The liveliest idea remaining of the -genius of Betterton is furnished by an anecdote of Booth, who, when he -first performed the Ghost to Betterton's Hamlet, is said to have been -so astonished at the other's look of surprise, that for some moments -he was unable to speak. Betterton died old and poor, rather, it should -seem, from misfortune than imprudence. The actors in those times, -though much admired, were not rewarded as they have been since; nor -received anything like the modern salaries. His death is said to have -been hastened by tampering with the gout, in order to perform on his -benefit night. His person was rather manly than graceful. He was a -good-natured man; and, like Moliere, would perform when he was ill, -rather than hinder the profits of his brother actors.[238] At Caen -Wood, Hampstead, the seat of Lord Mansfield, there is a portrait of -him by Pope, who was an amateur in painting. They became acquainted -when the latter was young, and the actor old; and took such a liking -to one another, that Pope is supposed to have had a hand in a volume -of pieces from 'Chaucer,' purporting to have been modernised by -Betterton. - -Another celebrated actor in Portugal Street during the reign of -Charles II. was Nokes, who appears, from Cibber's account of him to -have been something between Liston and Munden. By a line in one of -Dryden's Epistles, the town seem to have thought a comedy deficient in -which he did not make his appearance. The poet says to Southern on his -play of the '_Wives' Excuse_'-- - - "The hearers may for want of Nokes repine, - But rest secure, the readers will be thine." - -Nokes was one of those actors who create a roar the moment they are -seen, and make people ache with laughter. - -These were among the older performers in Portugal Street. When -Congreve took a share in the theatre, some others had joined it, and -become celebrated, two of whom, Mr. Mountford and Mrs. Bracegirdle, we -have already described. Another two, whose names remain familiar with -posterity, are Mrs. Mountford and Mrs. Barry. Mrs. Mountford was a -capital stage coquette; besides being able to act male coxcombs and -country dowdies. Mrs. Barry was a fine tragedian, both of the heroic -and tender cast. Dryden pronounced her the best actress he had seen. -It is said she was a mistress of Lord Rochester's when young; that it -was to her his love-letters were addressed; and that she owed her -celebrity to his instructions. She was not handsome, and her mouth was -a little awry, but her countenance was very expressive. This is the -actress, who, in the delirium of her last moments, is said to have -alluded in an extempore blank verse to a manoeuvre played by Queen -Anne's ministry some time before:-- - - "Ha! ha! and so they make us lords by dozens!" - -Cibber's sketch of Mrs. Mountford, in the character of Melantha is the -masterpiece of his book, and presents a portrait sufficiently distinct -to be extracted. - - "Melantha," says our lively critic (himself a coxcomb of the - first water), "is as finished an impertinent as ever fluttered - in a drawing-room, and seems to contain the most complete - system of female foppery that could possibly be crowded into - the tortured form of a fine lady. Her language, dress, motion, - manners, soul and body, are in a continual hurry to do - something more than is necessary or commendable. And though I - doubt it will be a vain labour to offer you a just likeness of - Mrs. Mountford's action, yet the fantastic impression is still - so strong in my memory, that I cannot help saying something, - though fantastically, about it. The first ridiculous airs that - break from her are upon a gallant, never seen before, who - delivers her a letter from her father, recommending him to her - good graces, as an honourable lover. Here now, one would think, - she might naturally show a little of the sex's decent reserve, - though never so slightly covered. No, sir, not a tittle of it; - modesty is the virtue of a poor-souled country gentlewoman; she - is too much a court lady to be under so vulgar a confusion; she - reads the letter, therefore, with a careless dropping lip, and - an erected brow, humming it hastily over, as if she were - impatient to outgo her father's commands, by making a complete - conquest of him at once; and that the letter might not - embarrass her attack, crack! she scrambles it at once into her - palm, and pours upon him her whole artillery of airs, eyes, and - motion; down goes her dainty diving body to the ground, as if - she were sinking under the conscious load of her own - attractions; then launches into a flood of fine language and - compliment, still playing her chest forward in fifty falls and - risings, like a swan upon waving water; and to complete her - impertinence, she is so rapidly fond of her own wit, that she - will not give her lover leave to praise it: silent assenting - bows, and vain endeavours to speak, are all the share of the - conversation he is admitted to, which, at last, he is relieved - from, by her engagements to half-a-score visits, which she - swims from him to make, with a promise to return in a - twinkling."[239] - -Three of Congreve's plays, '_Love for Love_,' the '_Mourning Bride_,' -and the '_Way of the World_,' came out at the theatre in Portugal -Street. In the first paper of the '_Tatler_,' Steele gives a criticism -on the performance of '_Love for Love_,' which contains one or two -curious points of information respecting the customs of play-goers in -the reign of Anne. The "article" begins like that of a modern -newspaper. - - "On Thursday last was acted, for the benefit of Mr. Betterton, - the celebrated comedy called 'Love for Love.' Those excellent - players, Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Bracegirdle, and Mr. Dogget, though - not at present concerned in the house, acted on that occasion. - There has not been known so great a concourse of persons of - distinction as at that time: the stage itself was covered with - gentlemen and ladies; and when the curtain was drawn, it - discovered even there a very splendid audience. This unusual - encouragement, which was given to a play for the advantage of - so great an actor, gives an undeniable instance that the true - relish for manly entertainments and rational pleasures is not - wholly lost. All the parts were acted to perfection: the actors - were careful of their carriage, and no one was guilty of the - affectation to insert witticism of his own; but a due respect - was had to the audience for encouraging this accomplished - player. It is not now doubted but plays will revive, and take - their usual course in the opinion of persons of wit and merit, - notwithstanding their late apostacy in favour of dress and - sound. The place is very much altered since Mr. Dryden - frequented it; where you used to see songs, epigrams, and - satires, in the hands of every man you met, you have now only a - pack of cards; and instead of the cavils about the turn of the - expression, the elegance of the style, and the like, the - learned now dispute only about the truth of the game." - -The last proprietor of this theatre was Rich, the famous harlequin, -who, having a poor company, unable to compete with Drury Lane, -introduced that love of show and spectacle which has ever since been -willing to forego the regular drama, however reproached by the -critics. Pope has hitched him into the 'Dunciad,' (book iii.), as one -of the ministers of Dulness. - - "Immortal Rich! how calm he sits at ease, - 'Midst snows of paper, and fierce hail of pease; - And proud his mistress' order to perform, - Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm." - -He had the merit, however, of producing the 'Beggar's Opera,' which -was acted scores of nights together all over England, and finally -rendered its heroine a duchess, and is said to have made "Gay Rich, -and Rich Gay." Rich had no education. He was in the habit, when -conversing, of saying mister, instead of sir. - -One of Rich's actors was Quin, of whom more by and by. Garrick was -never at this theatre. It closed a little before his time, and was -never reopened. The vulgar attributed its desertion to a supernumerary -devil, who made his appearance in the pantomine of '_Harlequin and Dr. -Faustus_,' and took his exit through the roof instead of the door; -which so frightened the manager that he had not the courage to open -the theatre again. The only memorial now remaining in Portugal Street -of theatres and play-goers, and all their lively generation, is a -table set up in the burial-ground to the memory of the famous Joe -Miller, author of so many posthumous good things. He was an actor in -Congreve's time, and has the reputation of having been an honest, as -well as a pleasant fellow. The jest-book, which passes for his -publication, was collected by a companion of his, who is thought to -have owed to him nothing but his name. It is but reasonable to -conclude, however, that many of the jests were of the comedian's -relating. - -In Carey Street, when she was first married, lived Mrs. Chapone. She -afterwards resided in Arundel Street. When we have no greater names to -mention, we think it our duty to avail ourselves of those of any -intelligent and amiable persons who are really worth mention, though -they may not be of the first order. They will be welcome to the -inhabitants of the street, and perhaps serve to throw a grace over -neighbourhoods that want it. It is better to think of Mrs. Chapone in -going along Carey Street, than of bailiffs and lock-up houses--unless, -indeed the latter should make us zealous to reform the debtor and -creditor laws; and even then we might be glad of the refreshment. Mrs. -Chapone was one of the disciples of Richardson, and is well known for -her '_Letters on the Improvement of the Mind_.' Ten months after her -marriage she lost her husband, to whom she was greatly attached, and -then she left Carey Street; so that the pleasantest part of her life -was probably spent there. - -Clare Market stands on a spot formerly called Clement's Inn Fields, -the property of the Earls of Clare, one of whom built the market about -the year 1657. He is said to have lived close by, in a style of -magnificence. The names of the family, Denzel, Holles, &c., are -retained in some of the neighbouring streets. - -Clare Market became notorious in the time of Pope, for the -extravagance of Orator Henley, a clever, but irregular-minded man, who -overrated himself, and became, it may be said, mad with impudence. -Some describe his Oratory as being in the Market, others in Duke -Street, which is the street going out of the western side of Lincoln's -Inn Square through the archway. Another writer says it was the old -theatre of Sir William Davenant, in Gibbon's Tennis Court, of which we -have just spoken, and which is said to have been in Vere Street. Most -likely all these accounts are to be reconciled. A tenement is often -described as existing in a certain street, when the street presents -nothing but a passage to it; and we take Henley's Oratory to have been -the old theatre, with a passage to it from the market, from Vere -Street, and from Duke Street. Having settled this magnificent point, -we proceed with the no less magnificent orator. - -He was a native of Melton Mowbray, in the county of Leicester, the son -of a clergyman, and after going to St. John's College, Cambridge, -returned to his native place, and became master of the school there. - - "Feeling, or fancying," says the author of the 'Lounger's - Common-Place Book,' "that a genius like his ought not to be - buried in so obscure a situation, having been long convinced - that many gross errors and impostures prevailed in the various - institutions and establishments of mankind; being also - ambitious of restoring ancient eloquence, but as his enemies - asserted, to avoid the scandalous embarrassments of illicit - love, he repaired to the metropolis, and for a short time - performed clerical functions at St. John's Chapel, near Bedford - Row, with the prospect of succeeding to the lectureship of an - adjoining parish (Bloomsbury), which soon became vacant. - - "Several candidates offering for this situation, a warm contest - ensued; probation sermons were preached; and Henley's - predominating vanity made him expect an easy victory. - - "We may guess at his disappointment, when this disciple of - Demosthenes and Cicero was informed that the congregation had - no objection to his language or his doctrine, but that he threw - himself about too much in the pulpit, and that another person - was chosen. - - "Losing his temper as well as his election, he rushed into a - room where the principal parishioners were assembled, and thus - addressed them, in all the vehemence of outrageous passion:-- - - "'Blockheads! are _you_ qualified to judge of the degree of - action necessary for a preacher of God's word? Were you able to - read, or had you sufficient sense, you sorry knaves, to - understand the renowned orator of antiquity, he would tell you, - almost the only requisite of a public speaker was action, - action, action. - - "'But I despise and defy you; _provoco ad populum_; the public - shall decide between us.' He then hastily retired, and, to - vindicate his injured fame, published the probationary - discourse he had delivered. - - "Thus disappointed in the regular routine of his profession, he - became a quack divine; for this character he was eminently - qualified, possessing a strong voice, fluent language, an - imposing magisterial air, and a countenance, which no violation - of propriety, reproach, or self-correction, was ever known to - embarrass or discompose. - - "He immediately advertised that he should hold forth publicly, - two days in the week, and hired for this purpose, a large room - in or near Newport Market, which he called the Oratory; but - previous to the commencement of his 'academical discourses,' he - chose to consult Mr. Whiston, a learned clergyman of - considerable mathematical and astronomical research, but who - had rendered himself remarkable by eccentric simplicity of - heart, and the whimsical heterodoxy of his creed. - - "In a letter to this gentleman he desired to be informed, - whether he should incur any legal penalties by officiating as a - separatist from the Church of England. Mr. Whiston did not - encourage Henley's project, and a correspondence took place, - which, ending in virulence and ill-language, produced, a few - years after, the following letter:-- - - "'To Mr. William Whiston, - - 'Take notice, that I give you warning not to enter my room in - Newport Market, at your peril. - - 'JOHN HENLEY.'"[240] - -Henley succeeded in his speculation, by lecturing, in the most -important manner, on all sorts of subjects, from the origin of evil -down to a shoe. He also published a variety of pamphlets, and a -periodical farrago called the 'Hyp Doctor,' for which he is said to -have had pay from Sir Robert Walpole; and as his popularity rapidly -increased in consequence of his addressing himself to uneducated -understandings, he removed from his Oratory in Newport Market to the -more capacious room in Clare Market; for he seems to have had a -natural propensity to the society of butchers, and they were fond of -his trenchant style. He sometimes threatened his enemies with them. -Pope, in answering the assertions of those who charged him with -depriving people of their bread, asks whether Colley Cibber had not -"still his lord," and Henley his butchers. - - "And has not Colley still his lord---- - His butchers Henley, his freemasons Moore." - -Pope had been attacked by him. The poet speaks of him again, several -times, in the 'Dunciad:' - - "Imbrown'd with native bronze, lo! Henley stands, - Tuning his voice, and balancing his hands. - How fluent nonsense trickles from his tongue! - How sweet the periods, neither said nor sung! - Still break the benches, Henley! with thy strain, - While Sherlock, Hare, and Gibson preach in vain. - O great restorer of the good old stage, - Preacher at once and zany of the age! - O worthy thou of Egypt's wise abodes, - A decent priest where monkeys were the gods." - - Book iii., v. 199. - -Pope says he had a "gilt tub," and insinuates that he sometimes got -drunk. Among the sleeping worthies in the 'Dunciad,' - - "---- Henley lay inspired beside a sink, - And to mere mortals seemed a priest in drink." - -A contemporary journalist, who says that the fame of Henley induced -him to be present at one of the lectures in Newport Market, describes -him as entering like a harlequin by a door behind the pulpit, and "at -one large leap jumping into it, and falling to work." "His notions," -he says, "the orator beat into the audience with hands, arms, legs, -and head, as if people's understandings were to be courted and knocked -down with blows." The price of admission was a shilling. The following -are samples of Henley's extraordinary advertisements:-- - - "At the Oratory in Newport Market, to-morrow, at half-an-hour - after ten, the sermon will be on the Witch of Endor. At - half-an-hour after five, the theological lecture will be on the - conversion and original of the Scottish nation, and of the - Picts and Caledonians; St. Andrew's relics and panegyric, and - the character and mission of the Apostles. - - "On Wednesday, at six, or near the matter, take your chance, - will be a medley oration on the history, merits, and praise of - confusion, and of confounders, in the road and out of the way. - - "On Friday, will be that on Dr. Faustus and Fortunatus, and - conjuration; after each, the Chimes of the Times, No. 23 and - 24. N.B. Whenever the prices of the seats are occasionally - raised in the week days, notice will be given of it in the - prints. An account of the performances of the Oratory from the - 1st of August is published, with the Discourse on Nonsense; and - if any bishop, clergyman, or other subject of his Majesty, or - the subject of any foreign prince or state, can at my years, - and in my circumstances and opportunities, without the least - assistance or any patron in the world, parallel the study, - choice, variety, and discharge of the said performances of the - Oratory by his own or any others, I will engage forthwith to - quit the said Oratory. - - "J. HENLEY."[241] - -In the bill of fare issued for Sunday, September 28, 1729, the most -extraordinary theological speculations are followed by a list of the -fashions in dress. - - "At the Oratory, the corner of Lincoln's Inn Fields, near Clare - Market, to-morrow, at half-an-hour after ten: 1. The postil - will be on the turning of Lot's wife into a pillar of salt. 2. - The sermon will be on the necessary power and attractive force - which religion gives the spirit of a man with God and good - spirits. - - "II. At five: 1. The postil will be on this point: in what - language our Saviour will speak the last sentence on mankind. - 2. The lecture will be on Jesus Christ's sitting at the right - hand of God; where that is; the honours and lustre of his - inauguration; the learning, criticism, and piety of that - glorious article. - - "The Monday's orations will shortly be resumed. On Wednesday, - the oration will be on the skits of the fashions, or a live - gallery of family pictures in all ages; ruffs, muffs, puffs - manifold; shoes, wedding-shoes, two-shoes, slip-shoes, heels, - clocks, pantofles, buskins, pantaloons, garters, - shoulder-knots, periwigs, head-dresses, modesties, tuckers, - farthingales, corkins, minikins, slammakins, ruffles, round - robins, tollets, fans, patches; dame, forsooth, madam, my lady, - the wit and beauty of my grannum; Winnifred, Joan, Bridget, - compared with our Winny, Jenny, and Biddy; fine ladies, and - pretty gentlewomen; being a general view of the _beau monde_, - from before Noah's flood to the year 29. On Friday will be - something better than last Tuesday. After each, a bob at the - times."[242] - -Henley must have lectured a long while; for one of his "bobs at the -times" was occasioned by the dismissal of Dr. Cobden, a chaplain to -George II. in the year 1748, for preaching from the following text: -"Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be -established in righteousness." The wicked, we believe, meant the -king's mistresses. Next Saturday, Henley's advertisement appeared -with an epigram on this text for a motto:-- - - "Away with the wicked before the king, - And away with the wicked behind him; - His throne it will bless - With righteousness, - And we shall know where to find him." - -This must be what the reviewers call a "favourable specimen." - - "Sometimes," says the 'Lounger's Common-Place Book,' "one of - his old Bloomsbury friends caught the speaker's eye; on these - occasions, he could not resist the temptation to gratify his - vanity and resentment; after a short pause he would address the - unfortunate interloper in words to the following effect: 'You - see, sir, all mankind are not exactly of your opinion; there - are, you perceive, a few sensible people in the world, who - consider me as not wholly unqualified for the office I have - undertaken.' - - "His abashed and confounded adversaries, thus attacked in a - public company, a most awkward species of distress, were glad - to retire precipitately, and sometimes were pushed out of the - room by Henley's partizans."[243] - -It is probable that Henley's partizans were sometimes necessary to -secure him from the results of his imprudence, though his boldness -appears to have been on a par with it. He once attracted an audience -of shoemakers by announcing that he could teach them a method of -making shoes with wonderful celerity. The secret consisted in cutting -off the tops of old boots. His motto to the advertisement (_omne majus -continet in se minus_, the greater includes the less) had a pleasantry -in it, which makes the disappointment of the poor shoemakers doubly -ludicrous. - -Henley, on one occasion, was for several days in the custody of the -King's messenger, having incurred the displeasure of the House of -Lords. "Lord Chesterfield, at that time secretary of state," says the -'Lounger,' "amused himself and his associates in office by sporting -with the hopes and fears of our restorer of ancient eloquence; during -his examination before the privy council, he requested permission to -sit, on account of a real, or, as it was supposed, pretended -rheumatism. Occasioning considerable merriment by his eccentric -answers, and sometimes by the oddity of his questions, he was observed -to join heartily and loudly in the laugh he had himself created. - - "The Earl having expostulated with him on the impropriety of - ridiculing the exertions of his native country, at the moment - rebellion raged in the heart of the kingdom, Henley replied, 'I - thought there was no harm, my Lord, in _cracking a joke on a - red-herring_:' alluding to the worthy primate of that name, who - proposed, and, I believe, had actually commenced, arming and - arraying the clergy. - - "Many disrespectful and unwarrantable expressions he had - applied to persons high in office, being mentioned to him, he - answered, without embarrassment, 'My Lords, I must live.' - - "'I see no kind of reason for that,' said Lord Chesterfield, - 'but many against it.' The council were pleased, and laughed at - the retort; the prisoner, somewhat irritated, observed, 'That - is a good thing, but it has been said before.' - - "A few days after, being reprimanded for his improper conduct, - and cautioned against repeating it, he was dismissed, as an - impudent, but entertaining fellow."[244] - -To complete the history of this man, he struck medals for his tickets, -with a star rising to the meridian; over it the motto, _Ad summa_ (to -the height), and below, _Inveniam viam aut faciam_ (I will find a way -or make one). As might be expected, he found no way at last, but that -of falling into contempt. He appears to have been too imprudent to -make money by his vagaries; and his manners, probably in consequence, -became gross and ferocious. He died in 1756. His person makes a -principal figure in two humorous plates, attributed to Hogarth. - -Duke Street and Little Wild Street have had an inhabitant, as -illustrious afterwards as he was then obscure, in the person of -Benjamin Franklin, who, when he was first in England, worked in the -printing office of Mr. Watts, in the latter street, and lodged in the -former. When he came to England afterwards, as the agent of -Massachusetts, he went into this office, "and going up," says his -biography, "to a particular press [now in America], thus addressed the -two workmen: 'Come, my friends, we will drink together: it is now -forty years since I worked like you at this press, as a journeyman -printer.'" The same publication gives an account of him during this -period, which, besides containing more than one curious local -particular, is highly worth the attention of those who confound -stimulus with vigour. - - "After the completion," says the writer, "of twelve months at - Palmer's" (in Bartholomew Close), "Franklin removed to the - printing-office of Mr. Watts, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, where he - continued during the whole of his subsequent stay in the - British metropolis. He found a contiguous lodging with a widow - lady in Duke Street, opposite the Catholic chapel, for which - he paid at his old rate of three and sixpence weekly, and - received no new impressions in favour of Christians from his - occasional notices of the Romish superstitions in this family - and neighbourhood. His landlady was a clergyman's daughter, - who, marrying a Catholic, had abjured Protestantism, and became - acquainted with several distinguished families of that - persuasion. She and Franklin found mutual pleasure in each - other's society. He kept good hours, and she was too lame - generally to leave her room; frugality was the habit of both; - half an anchovy, a small slice of bread and butter each, with - half a pint of ale between them, furnished commonly their - supper. So well pleased was the widow with her inmate, that - when Franklin talked of removing to another house, where he - could obtain the same accommodation as with her for two - shillings per week, she became generous in his favour, and - abated her charge for his room to that sum. He never paid her - more during the rest of his stay with her, which was the whole - time he continued in London. In the attic, was a maiden - Catholic lady, by choice and habit a nun. She had been sent - early in life to the Continent to take the veil; but the - climate disagreeing with her health, she returned home; devoted - her small estate to charitable purposes, with the exception of - about 12_l._ a-year; practised confession daily; and lived - entirely on water gruel. Her presence was thought a blessing to - the house, and several of its tenants in succession had charged - her no rent. Her room contained a mattress, table, crucifix, - and stool, as its only furniture. She admitted the occasional - visits of Franklin and her landlady; was cheerful, he says, and - healthful: and while her superstition moved his compassion, he - felt confirmed in his frugality by her example, and exhibits it - in his journal as another proof of the possibility of - supporting life, health, and cheerfulness on very small means. - - "During the first weeks of his engagement with Mr. Watts, he - worked as a pressman, drinking only water, while his companions - had their five pints of porter each, per day; and his strength - was superior to theirs. He ridiculed the verbal logic of strong - beer being necessary for strong work; contending that the - strength yielded by malt liquor could only be in proportion to - the quantity of flour or actual grain dissolved in the liquor, - and that a pennyworth of bread must have more of this than a - pot of porter. The Water-American, as he was called, had some - converts to his system; his example, in this case, being - clearly better than his philosophy.[245] - - "Franklin was born to be a revolutionist, in many good senses - of the word. He now proposed and carried several alterations in - the so-called _chapel_-laws of the printing office; resisted - what he thought the impositions, while he conciliated the - respect of his fellow-workmen; and always had cash and credit - in the neighbourhood at command, to which the sottish part of - his brethren were occasionally, and sometimes largely indebted. - He thus depicts this part of his prosperous life:--'On my - entrance, I worked at first as a pressman, conceiving that I - had need of bodily exercise, to which I had been accustomed in - America, where the printers work alternately, as compositors - and at the press. I drank nothing but water. The other workmen, - to the number of about fifty, were great drinkers of beer. I - carried occasionally a large form of letters in each hand, up - and down stairs, while the rest employed both hands to carry - one. They were surprised to see by this and many other - examples, that the _American aquatic_, as they used to call me, - was stronger than those that drank porter. The beer-boy had - sufficient employment during the whole day in serving that - house alone. My fellow-pressman drank every day a pint of beer - before breakfast, a pint with bread and cheese for breakfast, - one between breakfast and dinner, one at dinner, one again - about six o'clock in the afternoon, and another after he had - finished his day's work. This custom appeared to me abominable; - but he had need, he said, of all this beer, in order to acquire - strength to work. - - "'I endeavoured to convince him, that the bodily strength - furnished by the beer could only be in proportion to the solid - part of the barley dissolved in the water of which the beer was - composed; that there was a larger portion of flour in a - penny-loaf, and that, consequently, if he ate this loaf, and - drank a pint of water, he would derive more strength from it - than from a pint of beer. This reasoning, however, did not - prevent him from drinking his accustomed quantity of beer, and - paying every Saturday night a score of four or five shillings - a-week for this cursed beverage; an expense from which I was - wholly exempt. Thus do these poor devils continue all their - lives in a state of voluntary wretchedness and poverty. - - "'My example prevailed with several of them to renounce their - abominable practice of bread and cheese with beer; and they - procured, like me, from a neighbouring house, a good basin of - warm gruel, in which was a small slice of butter, with toasted - bread and nutmeg. This was a much better breakfast, which did - not cost more than a pint of beer, namely, three halfpence, and - at the same time preserved the head clearer. Those who - continued to gorge themselves with beer, often lost their - credit with the publican, from neglecting to pay their score. - They had then recourse to me to become security for them, - _their light_, as they used to call it, _being out_. I attended - at the table every Saturday evening to take up the little sums - which I had made myself answerable for, and which sometimes - amounted to near thirty shillings a-week. - - "'This circumstance, added to the reputation of my being a - tolerable good _gabber_, or, in other words, skilful in the art - of burlesque, kept up my importance in the chapel. I had, - besides, recommended myself to the esteem of my master by my - assiduous application to business, never observing Saint - Monday. My extraordinary quickness in composing always procured - me such work as was most urgent, and which is commonly best - paid; and thus my time passed away in a very pleasant - manner.'"[246] - - [Illustration: THE PRINTING PRESS AT WHICH FRANKLIN WORKED.] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[215] Anecdotes of Painting, in his Works, 4to. vol. iii., p. 364. - -[216] Walpole's Works, _ut supra_, vol iii., p. 364. - -[217] Life of Edward Lord Herbert, of Cherbury, in the Autobiography -p. 145. It is an honour to Grotius, who wrote a book, De Veritate, on -the other side of the question, that he encouraged so renowned an -antagonist to publish: though, perhaps, he saw less danger in it than -singularity. At all events, he could anticipate no harm from the -close. - -[218] Malcolm's Customs and Manners of London, from the Roman Invasion -to the Year 1700, vol. i., p. 318. - -[219] Poems on Affairs of State, from the Time of Oliver Cromwell to -the Abdication of King James the Second, vol. i., p. 147. - -[220] It is still a phrase with the vulgar to say, a man "shams -Abram." - -[221] Manners and Customs, vol. i., p. 322. - -[222] Historical Account of the English Stage, p. 320. - -[223] It has recently been pulled down to make room for the -enlargement of the museum of the College of Surgeons. - -[224] See Malone, pp. 135, 136. - -[225] Malone, p. 135. - -[226] Ibid., p. 136. - -[227] Malone, p. 136. - -[228] Memoirs, _ut supra_, vol. i., p. 167. - -[229] Memoirs of the English Court in the Reign of Charles II., &c., -by the Countess of Dunois, part ii., p. 71. - -[230] Memoirs of Count Grammont, 8vo. 1811, vol. ii. p. 142. - -[231] With whom Charles II. was in love--afterwards Duchess of -Richmond. - -[232] The famous wit and debauchee. - -[233] Pepys' Memoirs, vol. iii., p. 136. - -[234] Pepys' Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 99. - -[235] Id. p. 222. - -[236] Pepys' Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 2. - -[237] Cibber's Apology, chap. v., &c. - -[238] See Tatler, No. 167. - -[239] Cibber's Apology, 2d edit. p. 138. - -[240] "Lounger's Common Place Book," vol. ii., p. 137. - -[241] Malcolm's Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during -the Eighteenth Century, vol. i., p. 417. - -[242] Malcolm, _et seq._, p. 421. - -[243] Lounger's Common-Place Book, vol. ii., p. 139. - -[244] Lounger's Common-Place Book, vol. ii., p. 141. - -[245] "For," says the note, "while the mucilaginous qualities of -porter may form one criterion of the nourishment it yields, it does -not follow that mere nourishment is or ought to be the only -consideration in a labouring man's use of malt liquor, or any other -aliment. It is well known that flesh-meats yield chyle in greater -abundance than any production of the vegetable kingdom; but Franklin -would not have considered this any argument for living wholly upon -meat. The fact is, that the stimulating quality of all fermented -liquors (when moderately taken) is an essential part of the -refreshment, and therefore of the strength they yield. - - 'We curse not wine--the vile excess we blame.'" - -[To this Franklin might have answered, that the want of stimulus is -generally produced by a previous abuse of it, and that the having -recourse to fermented liquors is likely to continue the abuse, -whatever may be said about moderation. The moderation is so difficult, -that it is better to abstain than to hazard it. It is true (not to -quote the words irreverently) "man does not live by bread alone," but -by sociality and good-humour; and that even a little excess -occasionally is not to be narrowly considered; but for the purposes of -labour we may surely gather from the recorded experience of those who -have laboured most, whether physically or mentally, first, that the -more temperate our _habits_, the more we can perform; and, secondly, -that an habitual abstinence from some kinds of refreshment is the only -way to secure them.] - -[246] Life of Benjamin Franklin, 1826, p. 31. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -DRURY LANE, AND THE TWO THEATRES IN DRURY LANE AND COVENT GARDEN. - - Craven House -- Donne and his vision -- Lord Craven and the - Queen of Bohemia -- Nell Gwynn -- Drury Lane Theatre -- Its - antiquity, different eras, and rebuildings -- The principal - theatre of Dryden, Wycherley, Farquhar, Steele, Garrick, and - Sheridan -- Old Drury in the time of Charles II. -- A visit to - it -- Pepys and his theatrical gossip, with notes -- Hart and - Mohun -- Goodman -- Nell Gwynn -- Dramatic taste of that age -- - Booth -- Artificial tragedy -- Wilks and Cibber -- Bullock and - Penkethman -- A Colonel enamoured of Cibber's wig -- Mrs. - Oldfield -- Her singular position in society -- Not the Flavia - of the Tatler -- Pope's account of her last words probably not - true -- Declamatory acting -- Lively account of Garrick and - Quin by Mr. Cumberland -- Improvement of stage costume -- King - -- Mrs. Pritchard -- Mrs. Clive -- Mrs. Woffington -- Covent - Garden -- Barry -- Contradictory characters of him by Davies - and Churchill -- Macklin -- Woodward -- Pantomime -- English - taste in music -- Cooke -- Rise of actors and actresses in - social rank -- Improvement of the audience -- Dr. Johnston at - the theatre -- Churchill a great pit critic -- His Rosciad -- - His picture of Mossop -- Mrs. Jordan and Mr. Suett -- Early - recollections of a play-goer. - - -Drury Lane takes its name from "the habitation of the great family of -the Druries," built, "I believe," says Pennant, "by Sir William Drury, -knight of the garter, a most able commander in the Irish wars, who -unfortunately fell in a duel with Sir John Burroughs, in a foolish -quarrel about precedency. Sir Robert, his son, was a great patron of -Dr. Donne, and assigned to him apartments in his house. I cannot, -learn into whose hands it passed afterwards. During the time of the -fatal discontents of the favourite, Essex, it was the place where his -imprudent advisers resolved on such counsels as terminated in the -destruction of him and his adherents."[247] - -Drury House stood at the corner of Drury Lane and Wych Street, upon -the ground now included in Craven Buildings in the one thoroughfare, -and the Olympic Pavilion in the other. - -Pennant proceeds to say, that it was occupied in the next century by -"the heroic William Lord Craven, afterwards Earl Craven," who rebuilt -it in the form standing in his time. He describes it as "a large brick -pile,"--a public-house with the sign of the Queen of Bohemia,--a head -which still mystifies people in some parts of the country. The remains -were taken down in 1809, and the Olympic Pavilion built on part of the -site. But the public-house was only a portion of it. - - [Illustration: CRAVEN HOUSE.] - -Who would suppose, in going by the place now, that it was once the -habitation of wit and elegance, of a lord and a queen, and of more -than one "romance of real life?" Yet the passenger acquainted with the -facts can never fail to be impressed by them, especially by the -romantic history of Donne. This master of profound fancies (whom -Dryden pronounced "the greatest wit, though not the best poet," of our -nation) had in his youth led a gay imprudent life, which left him -poor. He became secretary to Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, and fell in -love with his lordship's niece, then residing in the house, daughter -to a Sir George Moor or More, who, though Donne was of an ancient -family, was very angry, and took the young lady away into the country. -The step, however, was too late; for, the passion being mutual, a -private marriage had taken place. The upshot was, that Sir George -would have nothing to say to the young couple, and that they fell into -great distress. After a time, Sir Robert Drury, a man of large -fortune, who possessed the mansion above described, invited Donne and -his wife to live with him, and this too in a spirit that enabled all -parties to be the better for it. But for this, and the curious story -connected with it, we shall have recourse to the pages of our angling -friend Walton, who was a good fellow enough when he was not "handling -a worm as if he loved him." - - "Sir Robert Drury," says Walton, "a gentleman of a very noble - estate, and a more liberal mind, assigned him and his wife an - useful apartment in his own large house in Drury Lane, and not - only rent free, but was also a cherisher of his studies, and - such a friend as sympathised with him and his, in all their joy - and sorrows. - - "At this time of Mr. Donne's and his wife's living in Sir - Robert's house, the Lord Hay was, by King James, sent upon a - glorious embassy to the then French King, Henry IV., and Sir - Robert put on a sudden resolution to accompany him to the - French Court, and to be present at his audience there. And Sir - Robert put on a sudden resolution to solicit Mr. Donne to be - his companion in that journey. And this desire was suddenly - made known to his wife, who was then with child, and otherwise - under so dangerous a habit of body as to her health, that she - professed an unwillingness to allow him any absence from her; - saying, 'her divining soul boded her some ill in his absence,' - and, therefore, desired him not to leave her. This made Mr. - Donne lay aside all thoughts of his journey, and really to - resolve against it. But Sir Robert became restless in his - persuasions for it, and Mr. Donne was so generous as to think - he had sold his liberty when he received so many charitable - kindnesses from him, and told his wife so; who did, therefore, - with an unwilling-willingness, give a faint consent to the - journey, which was proposed to be but for two months; for about - that time they determined their return. Within a few days after - this resolve, the ambassador, Sir Robert, and Mr. Donne, left - London; and were the twelfth day got all safe to Paris. Two - days after their arrival there, Mr. Donne was left alone in - that room, in which Sir Robert, and he, and some other friends - had dined together. To this place Sir Robert returned within - half an hour; and as he left, so he found Mr. Donne alone; but - in such an ecstacy and so altered in his looks, as amazed Sir - Robert to behold him; insomuch that he earnestly desired Mr. - Donne to declare what had befallen him in the short time of his - absence. To which Mr. Donne was not able to make a present - answer; but, after a long and perplexed pause, did at last say, - 'I have seen a dreadful vision since I saw you: I have seen my - dear wife pass twice by me in this room, with her hair hanging - about her shoulders, and a dead child in her arms: this I have - seen since I saw you.' To which Sir Robert replied, 'Sure, sir, - you have slept since I saw you; and this is the result of some - melancholy dream, which I desire you to forget, for you are now - awake.' To which Mr. Donne's reply was, 'I cannot be surer that - I now live, than that I have not slept since I saw you; and am - as sure, that at her second appearing she stopped and looked me - in the face, and vanished.' Rest and sleep had not altered Mr. - Donne's opinion the next day; for he then affirmed this vision - with a more deliberate, and so confirmed a confidence, that he - inclined Sir Robert to a faint belief that the vision was true. - It is truly said, that desire and doubt have no rest; and it - proved so with Sir Robert; for he immediately sent a servant to - Drewry House, with a charge to hasten back, and bring him - word, whether Mrs. Donne were alive; and, if alive, in what - condition she was in as to her health. The twelfth day the - messenger returned with this account:--That he found and left - Mrs. Donne very sad, and sick in her bed; and that, after a - long and dangerous labour, she had been delivered of a dead - child. And, upon examination, the abortion proved to be the - same day, and about the very hour, that Mr. Donne affirmed he - saw her pass by him in his chamber. - - "This is a relation," continues Walton, "that will beget some - wonder, and it well may; for most of our world are at present - possessed with an opinion, that visions and miracles are - ceased. And, though it is most certain, that two lutes being - both strung and tuned to an equal pitch, and then one played - upon, the other that is not touched, being laid upon a table at - a fit distance will--like an echo to a trumpet--warble a faint - audible harmony in answer to the same tune; yet many will not - believe that there is any such thing as the sympathy of souls; - and I am well pleased that every reader do enjoy his own - opinion. But if the unbelieving will not allow the believing - reader of this story a liberty to believe that it may be true, - then I wish him to consider, that many wise men have believed - that the ghost of Julius Caesar did appear to Brutus, and that - both St. Austin, and Monica his mother, had visions in order to - his conversion. And though these, and many others--too many to - name--have but the authority of human story, yet the - _incredible_ reader may find in the sacred story, that Samuel, - &c."[248] - -We may here break off with the observation of Mr. Chalmers, that "the -whole may be safely left to the judgment of the reader."[249] Walton -says he had not this story from Donne himself, but from a "Person of -Honour," who "knew more of the secrets of his heart than any person -then living," and who related it "with such circumstance and -asseveration," that not to say anything of his hearer's belief, Walton -did "verily believe," that the gentleman "himself believed it." - -The biographer then presents us with some verses which "were given by -Mr. Donne to his wife at the time he then parted from her," and which -he "begs leave to tell us" that he has heard some critics, learned -both in languages and poetry, say, that "none of the Greek or Latin -poets did ever equal." - -These lines are full of the wit that Dryden speaks of, horribly -misused to obscure the most beautiful feelings. Some of them are among -the passages quoted in Dr. Johnson to illustrate the faults of the -metaphysical school. Mr. Chalmers and others have thought it probable, -that it was upon this occasion Donne wrote a set of verses, which he -addressed to his wife, on her proposing to accompany him abroad as a -page; but as the writer speaks of going to Italy, which appears to -have been out of the question in this two months' visit to Paris, they -most probably belong to some other journey or intended journey, the -period of which is unknown. The numbers of these verses are sometimes -rugged, but they are full of as much nature and real feeling, as -sincerity ever put into a true passion. There is an awfulness in the -commencing adjuration:-- - - "By our first strange and fatal interview, - By all desires which thereof did ensue; - By our long striving hopes; by that remorse - Which my words' masculine persuasive force - Begot in thee, and by the memory - Of hurts which spies and rivals threaten me, - I calmly beg: but by thy father's wrath, - By all pains which want and divorcement hath, - I conjure thee, and all the oaths which I - And thou have sworn to seal joint constancy, - I here unswear, and overswear them thus: - Thou shalt not love by means so dangerous. - Temper, O fair Love! love's impetuous rage; - Be my true mistress, not my feigned page. - I'll go; and by thy kind leave, leave behind - Thee, only worthy to nurse in my mind - Thirst to come back. O! if thou die before, - My soul from other lands to thee shall soar: - Thy (else almighty) beauty cannot move - Rage from the seas, nor thy love teach them love, - Nor tame wild Boreas' harshness: thou hast read - How roughly he in pieces shivered - Fair Orithea, whom he swore he loved. - Fall ill or good, 'tis madness to have proved - Dangers unurged: feed on this flattery, - That absent lovers one in the other be; - Dissemble nothing, not a boy, nor change - Thy body's habit, nor mind; be not strange - To thyself only: all will spy in thy face - A blushing womanly discovering grace. - - * * * * * - - When I am gone dream me some happiness, - Nor let thy looks our long-hid love confess; - Nor praise nor dispraise me, nor bless nor curse - Openly love's force; nor in bed fright thy nurse - With midnight's startings, crying out, Oh! oh! - Nurse! oh, my love is slain! I saw him go - O'er the white Alps alone; I saw him, I, - Assailed, taken, fight, stabbed, bleed, fall, and die. - Augur me better chance; except dread Jove - Think it enough for me to have had thy love." - -Drury House, when rebuilt by Lord Craven, took the name of Craven -House. To this abode, at the restoration of Charles II., his lordship -brought his royal mistress, the Queen of Bohemia, to whose interest he -had devoted his fortunes, and to whom he is supposed to have been -secretly wedded. She was daughter to James I., and, with the reluctant -consent of her parents (particularly of her mother, who used to twit -her with the title of Goody Palsgrave), was married to Frederick, the -Elector Palatine, for whom the Protestant interest in Germany erected -Bohemia into a kingdom, in the vain hope, with the assistance of his -father-in-law, of competing with the Catholic Emperor. Frederic lost -everything, and his widow became a dependent on the bounty of this -Lord Craven, a nobleman of wealthy commercial stock, who had fought in -her husband's cause, and helped to bring up her children. It is -through her that the family of Brunswick succeeded to the throne of -this kingdom, as the next Protestant heirs of James I. James's -daughter, being a woman of lively manners, a queen, and a Protestant -leader, excited great interest in her time, and received more than the -usual portion of flattery from the romantic. Donne wrote an -epithalamium on her marriage, in which are those preposterous lines -beginning-- - - "Here lies a she sun, and a he moon there." - -Sir Henry Wotton had permission to call her his "royal mistress," -which he was as proud of as if he had been a knight of old. And when -she lost her Bohemian kingdom, it was said that she retained a better -one, for that she was still the "Queen of Hearts." Sir Henry wrote -upon her his elegant verses beginning-- - - "You meaner beauties of the night," - -in which he gives a new turn to the commonplaces of stars and roses, -and calls her - - "Th'eclipse and glory of her kind." - -It is doubtful, nevertheless, whether she was ever handsome. None of -the Stuarts appear to have been so, with the exception of Henrietta, -Duchess of Orleans, who resembled, perhaps, her mother. Pepys, who saw -the Queen of Bohemia at the Restoration, "thought her a very -debonaire, but plain lady." This, it is true, was near her death; but -Pepys was given to admire, and royalty did not diminish the -inclination. Had her charms ever been as great as reported, he would -have discovered the remains of them. It has been beautifully said by -Drayton, that - - "Even in the aged'st face, where beauty once did dwell, - And nature, in the least, but seemed to excel, - Time cannot make such waste, but something will appear - To show some little tract of delicacy there." - -Pepys saw the queen afterwards two or three times at the play, and -does not record any alteration of his opinion. Her Majesty did not -survive the Restoration many months. She quitted Craven House for -Leicester House (afterwards Norfolk House, in the Strand,) seemingly -for no other purpose than to die there; which she did in February -1661-2. Whether Lord Craven attended her at this period does not -appear; but she left him her books, pictures, and papers. Sometimes he -accompanied her to the play. She and her husband, King Frederick, -appear to have been lively, good-humoured persons, a little vain of -the royalty which proved such a misfortune to them. The queen had the -better sense, though it seems to have been almost as much over-rated -as her beauty. But all the Stuarts were more or less clever, with the -exception of James II. - -The author of a _History and Antiquities of the Deanery of Craven in -Yorkshire_, gives it as a tradition, that Lord Craven's father, a -lord-mayor, was born of such poor parents that they sent him when a -boy by a common carrier to London, where he became a mercer or draper. -His son was a distinguished officer under Gustavus Adolphus, was -ennobled, attached himself to the King and Queen of Bohemia, and is -supposed, as we have seen, to have married the king's widow. He was -her junior by twelve years. He long resided in Craven House, became -Colonel of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, and was famed for -his bustling activity. He so constantly made his appearance at a fire, -that his horse is said to have "smelt one as soon as it happened." -Pepys, during a riot against houses of ill-fame (probably the houses -in Whetstone Park, as well as in Moorfields, for he talks of going to -Lincoln's Inn Fields to see the 'prentices,) describes his lordship as -riding up and down the fields, "like a madman," giving orders to the -soldiery. It was probably in allusion to this military vivacity that -Lord Dorset says, in his ballad on a mistress,-- - - "The people's hearts leap, wherever she comes, - And beat day and night, like my Lord Craven's drums." - -When there was a talk in his old age of giving his regiment to -somebody else, Craven said, that "if they took away his regiment they -had as good take away his life, since he had nothing else to divert -himself with." The next king, however, William III., gave it to -General Talmash; yet the old lord is said to have gone on, busy to the -last. He died in 1697, aged nearly 89 years. He was intimate with -Evelyn, Ray, and other naturalists, and delighted in gardening. The -garden of Craven House ran in the direction of the present Drury Lane; -so that where there is now a bustle of a very different sort, we may -fancy the old soldier busying himself with his flower-beds, and Mr. -Evelyn discoursing upon the blessings of peace and privacy.[250] - -The only other personage of celebrity whom we know of as living in -Drury Lane, is one of another sort; to wit, Nell Gwynn. The ubiquitous -Pepys speaks of his seeing her there on a May-morning. - - "May 1st, 1667. To Westminster, in the way meeting many - milk-maids with garlands upon their pails, dancing with a - fiddler before them; and saw pretty Nelly standing at her - lodging's door in Drury Lane in her smock sleeves and boddice, - looking upon one. She seemed a mighty pretty creature." - -Lodgings in this quarter, though Nell lived there, must have been of -more decent reputation than they became afterwards. It is curious that -the old English word Drury, or Druerie, should be applicable to the -fame we allude to. It has more or less deserved it for a long period, -though we believe the purlieus rather warrant it now, than the lane -itself. Pope and Gay speak of it. Pope describes the lane also as a -place of residence for poor authors:-- - - "'Keep your piece nine years.' - 'Nine years!' cries he, who high in Drury Lane, - Lull'd by soft zephyrs through the broken pane, - Rhymes ere he wakes, and prints before term ends, - Obliged by hunger and request of friends." - -The existence of a theatre in Drury Lane is as old as the time of -Shakspeare. It was then called the Phoenix; was "a private," or more -select house, like that of Blackfriars; and had been a cock-pit, by -which name it was also designated. Phoenix generally implies that a -place has been destroyed by fire, a common fate with theatres; but the -first occasion on which we hear of the present one is the destruction -of it by a Puritan mob. This took place in the year 1617, in the time -of James; and was doubtless caused by the same motives that led to the -demolition of certain other houses, which it was thought to resemble -in fame. In Howe's Continuation of Stowe, it was called a "new -play-house;" so that it had lately been either built or rebuilt. This -theatre stood opposite the Castle tavern. There is still in existence -a passage, called Cockpit Alley, into Great Wild Street; and there is -a Phoenix Alley, leading from Long Acre into Hart Street. - -The Phoenix was soon rebuilt: and the performances continued till -1648, when they were again stopped by the Puritans who then swayed -England, and who put an end to playhouses for some time. In the -interval, some of the most admired of our old dramas were produced -there, such as Marlowe's _Jew of Malta_; Heywood's _Woman killed with -Kindness_; _The Witch of Edmonton_, by Rowley, Decker, and Ford; -Webster's _White Devil_, or _Vittoria Colombona_, Massinger's _New Way -to Pay Old Debts_, and indeed many others.[251] It does not appear -that Shakspeare or his immediate friends had any pieces performed -there. He was a performer in other theatres; and the pressure of -court, as well as city, lay almost exclusively in their direction, -till the growth of the western part of the metropolis divided it. The -Phoenix known in his time was probably nearly as select a house as -the Blackfriars. The company had the title of Queen's Servants -(James's Queen), and the servants of the Lady Elizabeth (Queen of -Bohemia). - -A few years before the Restoration, Davenant, supported by some of the -less scrupulous authorities, ventured to smuggle back something like -the old entertainments, under the pretence of accompanying them with -music; a trick understood in our times where a license is to be -encroached upon. In 1656, he removed with them from Aldersgate Street -to this house; and, after the fluctuation of different companies -hither and thither, the Cockpit finally resumed its rank as a royal -theatre, under the direction of the famous Killigrew, whose set of -players were called the King's company, as those under Sir William -Davenant had the title of the Duke's. Killigrew, dissatisfied with -the old theatre at the Cockpit, built a new one nearly on the site of -the present, and opened it in 1663. This may be called the parent of -Drury Lane theatre as it now stands. It was burnt in 1671-2, rebuilt -by Sir Christopher Wren, and opened in 1674, with a prologue, from the -pen of Dryden, from which time it stood till the year 1741. There had -been some alterations in the structure of this theatre, which are said -to have hurt the effect contemplated by Sir Christopher Wren, and -perhaps assisted its destruction; for seventy years is no great age -for a public building. Yet old Drury, as it was called, was said to -have died of a "gradual decline." It was rebuilt, and became Old Drury -the second; underwent the usual fate of theatres in the year 1809; and -was succeeded by the one now standing. - - [Illustration: ENTRANCE FRONT OF DRURY LANE THEATRE, ERECTED BY - GARRICK.] - -It is customary to divide the eras of theatres according to their -management; but, as managers become of little consequence to -posterity, we shall confine ourselves in this as in other respects to -names, with which posterity is familiar. In Shakspeare's time, Drury -Lane appears to have been celebrated for the best productions of the -second-rate order of dramatists, a set of men who would have been -first in any other age. We have little to say of the particulars of -Drury Lane at this period, no memorandums having come down to us as -they did afterwards. All we can imagine is, that, the Phoenix being -much out of the way, with fields and country roads in the interval -between court and city, and the performances taking place in the day -time, the company probably consisted of the richer orders, the poorer -being occupied in their labours. The court and the rich citizens went -on horseback; the Duke of Buckingham in his newly-invented sedan. In -the time of the Puritans we may fancy the visitors stealing in, as -they would into a gambling-house. - -The era of the Restoration, or second era of the Stuarts, is that of -the popularity of Ben Jonson's and Beaumont and Fletcher's plays, -compared with Shakspeare's, though Davenant tried hard to revive him; -of the plays of Dryden, Lee, and Otway; and finally of the rise of -comedy, strictly so called, in those of Wycherly, Congreve, Farquhar, -and Vanbrugh. All these writers had to do with Drury Lane Theatre, -some of them almost exclusively. Nineteen out of Dryden's twenty-seven -plays were produced there; seven out of Lee's eleven; all the good -ones of Wycherly (that is to say, all except the 'Gentleman -Dancing-Master'); two of Congreve's (the 'Old Bachelor' and 'Double -Dealer'), and all Farquhar's, except the 'Beaux' Stratagem.' Otway's -best pieces came out at the Duke's Theatre; and Vanbrugh's in the -Haymarket.[252] This may be called the second era of Drury Lane, or -rather the second and third; the former, which is Dryden's and Lee's, -having for its principal performers Hart, Mohun, Lacy, Goodman, Nell -Gwynn, and others; the latter, which was that of Congreve and -Farquhar, presenting us with Cibber, Wilks, Booth, Mrs. Barry, and -Mrs. Bracegirdle. The two, taken together, began with the Restoration -and ended with George II. - -Sir Richard Steele and the sentimental comedy came in at the close of -the third era, and may be said to constitute the fourth; which, in his -person, did not last long. Steele, admirable as an essayist, and -occasionally as humorous as any dramatist in a scene or two, was -hampered in his plays by the new moral ambition now coming up, which -induced him to show, not so much what people are, as his notions of -what they ought to be. This has never been held a legitimate business -of the stage, which, in fact, is nothing else than what its favourite -metaphor declares it, a glass of men and manners, in which they are -to see themselves as they actually exist. It is the essence of the wit -and dialogue of society brought into a focus. Steele was manager of -Drury Lane Theatre, and made as bad a one as improvidence and animal -spirits could produce. - -The sentimental comedy continued into the next or fifth Drury Lane -era, which was that of Garrick, famous for his great reputation as an -actor, and for his triumphant revival of Shakspeare's plays, which -have increased in popularity ever since. Not that he revived them in -the strictest sense of the word; for the attempt was making when he -came to town; but he hastened and exalted the success of it. - -The last era before the present one was that of Sheridan, who, though -he began with Covent Garden, produced four out of his seven pieces at -this theatre; where he showed himself a far better dramatist, and a -still worse manager than Steele. - -We shall now endeavour to possess our readers with such a sense of -these different periods, as may enable them to "live o'er each scene," -not indeed of the plays, but of the general epochs of Old Drury; to go -into the green-room with Hart and Nell Gwyn; to see Mrs. Oldfield swim -on the stage as Lady Betty Modish; to revive the electrical shock of -Garrick's leap upon it, as the lively Lothario;--in short, to be his -grandfather and great-grandfather before him, and make one of the -successive generations of play-goers, now in his peruke _a la Charles -II._, and now in his Ramillie wig, or the bobs of Hogarth. Did we -introduce him to all this ourselves, we should speak with less -confidence; but we have a succession of play-goers for his -acquaintance, who shall make him doubt whether he really is or is not -his own ancestor, so surely shall they place him beside them in the -pit. - -And first, for the immortal and most play-going Pepys. To the society -of this jolliest of government officers, we shall consign our reader -and ourselves during the reign of Charles II.; and if we are not all -three equally intimate with old Drury at that time, there is no faith -in good company. By old Drury, we understand both the theatres; the -Cockpit or Phoenix and the new one built by Killigrew, which took -the title of "King's Theatre." There was a cockpit at Whitehall, or -court theatre, to which Pepys occasionally alludes; but after trying -in vain to draw a line between such of his memorandums as might be -retained and omitted, we here give up the task as undesirable, the -whole harmonizing in one mass of theatrical gossip, and making us -acquainted collaterally, even with what he is not speaking of. We have -not, indeed, retained everything, but we have almost. - -We now, therefore, pass Drury House, proceed up the lane by my Lord -Craven's garden, and turn into Russell Street amongst a throng of -cavaliers in flowing locks, and ladies with curls _a la Valliere_. -Some of them are in masks, but others have not put theirs on. We shall -see them masquing as the house grows full. It is early in the -afternoon. There press a crowd of gallants, who have already got -enough wine. Here, as fast as the lumbering coaches of that period can -do it, dashes up to the door my lord Duke of Buckingham, bringing with -him Buckhurst and Sedley. There comes a greater, though at that time a -humbler man, to wit, John Dryden, in a coat of plain drugget, which by -and by his fame converted into black velvet. He is somewhat short and -stout, with a roundish dimpled face and a sparkling eye; and, if -scandal says true, by his side is "Madam" Reeves, a beautiful actress; -for the ladies of the stage were so entitled at that time. Horses and -coaches throng the place, with here and there a sedan; and, by the -pulling off of hats, we find that the king and his brother James have -arrived. The former nods to his people as if he anticipated their -mutual enjoyment of the play; the latter affects a graciousness to -match, but does not do it very well. As soon as the king passes in, -there is a squeeze and a scuffle; and some blood is drawn, and more -oaths uttered, from which we hasten to escape. Another scuffle is -silenced on the king's entrance, which also makes the gods quiet; -otherwise, at no period were they so loud. The house is not very -large, nor very well appointed. Most of the ladies masque themselves -in the pit and boxes, and all parties prepare for a play that shall -render it proper for the remainder to do so. The king applauds a new -French tune played by the musicians. Gallants, not very sober, are -bowing on all sides of us to ladies not very nice; or talking to the -orange girls, who are ranged in front of the pit with their backs to -the stage. We hear criticisms on the last new piece, on the latest -panegyric, libel, or new mode. Our friend Pepys listens and looks -everywhere, tells all who is who, or asks it; and his neighbours think -him a most agreeable fat little gentleman. The curtain rises: enter -Mistress Marshall, a pretty woman, and speaks a prologue which makes -all the ladies hurry on their masks, and convulses the house with -laughter. Mr. Pepys "do own" that he cannot help laughing too, and -calls the actress "a merry jade;" "but, lord!" he says, "to see the -difference of the times, and but two years gone." And then he utters -something between a sigh and a chuckle, at the recollection of his -Presbyterian breeding, compared with the jollity of his expectations. - -But let us hear our friend's memorandums:-- - - "29th (September 1662). To the King's Theatre, where we saw - 'Midsummer's Night's Dream,' which I had never seen before, nor - shall ever again, for it is the most insipid, ridiculous play - that ever I saw in my life. [The gods certainly had not made - Pepys poetical, except on the substantial side of things.] - - "5th (January 1662-3). To the Cockpit, where we saw - 'Claracilla,' a poor play, done by the King's house; but - neither the king nor queen were there, but only the duke and - duchess. - - "23d (February, 1662-3). We took coach and to court, and there - we saw 'The Wilde Gallant,' performed by the King's house, but - it was ill acted. The king did not seem pleased at all, the - whole play, nor anybody else. My Lady Castlemaine was all worth - seeing to-night, and little Stewart. [This is Miss, or as the - designation then was, Mrs. Stewart, afterwards Duchess of - Richmond. 'The Wild Gallant' was Dryden's first play, and was - patronised by Lady Castlemaine, afterwards not less notorious - as Duchess of Cleveland. Miss Stewart and she were rival - beauties.] - - "1st (February, 1663-4). To the King's Theatre, and there saw - the 'Indian Queen' (by Sir Robert Howard and Dryden); which - indeed is a most pleasant show, and beyond my expectation the - play good, but spoiled with the rhyme, which breaks the sense. - But above my expectation most, the eldest Marshall did do her - part most excellently well as I have heard a woman in my life; - but her voice is not so sweet as Ianthe's: but, however, we - come home mightily contented. - - "1st (January, 1664). To the King's house, and saw 'The Silent - Woman' (Ben Jonson's); but methought not so well done or so - good a play as I formerly thought it to be. Before the play was - done, it fell such a storm of hayle, that we in the middle of - the pit were fain to rise, and all the house in a disorder. - - "2nd (August, 1664). To the King's playhouse, and there saw - 'Bartholomew Fayre' (Ben Jonson's), which do still please me; - and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the world, I - believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that - he is setting up a nursery; that is, is going to build a house - in Moorfields, wherein we will have common plays acted. But - four operas it shall have in the year, to act six weeks at a - time: where we shall have the best scenes and machines, the - best musique, and everything as magnificent as in Christendome, - and to that end hath sent for voices and painters, and other - persons from Italy. - - "4th (August, 1664). To play at the King's house, 'The Rivall - Ladies' (Dryden's), a very innocent and most pretty witty play. - I was much pleased with it, and it being given me, I look upon - it as no breach of my oath. [Pepys means that he had made a vow - not to spend money on theatres, but that he was now treated to - a play.] Here we hear that Clun, one of their best actors, was, - the last night, going out of town after he had acted the - Alchymist (wherein was one of his best parts that he acts), to - his country house, set upon and murdered; one of the rogues - taken, an Irish fellow. It seems most cruelly butchered and - bound. The house will have a great miss of him. [Clun's body - was found at Kentish Town in a ditch. Pepys went to see the - place.] - - "11th (October, 1664). Luellin tells me what an obscene loose - play this 'Parson's Wedding' is (by Tom Killigrew), that is - acted by nothing but women at the King's house. - - "14th (January, 1664-5). To the King's house, there to see - 'Vulpone,' a most excellent play (Ben Jonson's); the best, I - think, I ever saw, and well acted. - - "19th (March, 1666). After dinner we walked to the King's - playhouse, all in dirt, they being altering of the stage to - make it wider. But God knows when they will begin to act again; - but my business here was to see the inside of the stage, and - all the tiring-rooms and machines; and, indeed, it was a sight - worthy seeing. But to see their clothes, and the various sorts, - and what a mixture of things there was; here a wooden leg, - there a ruff, here a hobby-horse, there a crown, would make a - man split himself to see with laughing; and particularly Lacy's - wardrobe and Shotrell's. But then again to think how fine they - show on the stage by candlelight, and how poor things they are - to look at too near hand, is not pleasant at all. The machines - are fine, and the paintings very pretty. - - "7th (December, 1666). To the King's playhouse, where two acts - were almost done when I came in; and there I sat with my cloak - about my face, and saw the remainder of 'The Mayd's Tragedy;' a - good play, and well acted, especially by the younger Marshall, - who is become a pretty good actor; and is the first play I have - seen in either of the houses, since before the great plague, - they having acted now about fourteen days publickly. But I was - in mighty pain, lest I should be seen by anybody to be at the - play. [The plague seems to have made it an indecorum to resume - visits to the theatre very speedily. Pepys had been educated - among the Commonwealth-men, for whom he never seems to have got - rid of a respect. The contrast aggravated his festivity.] - - "8th (December, 1666). To the King's playhouse, and there did - see a good part of 'The English Monsieur' (by James Howard), - which is a mighty pretty play, very witty and pleasant. And the - women do very well; but above all, little Nelly. [Nell Gwynn, - not long entered upon the stage.] - - "27th (December, 1666). By coach to the King's playhouse, and - there saw 'The Scornful Lady' (Beaumont and Fletcher's), well - acted; Doll Common doing Abigail most excellently, and Knipp - the widow very well (and will be an excellent actor, I think). - In other parts the play not so well done as need be by the old - actors. - - "3rd (January, 1666-7). Alone to the King's house, and there - saw 'The Custome of the Country' (Beaumont and Fletcher's), the - second time of its being acted, wherein Knipp does the widow - well; but of all the plays that ever I did see, the worst, - having neither plot, language nor anything on the earth that is - acceptable; only Knipp sings a song admirably. [Mistress Knipp - was a particular acquaintance of our friend's.] - - "23rd (January, 1666-7). To the King's house, and there saw the - 'Humourous Lieutenant' (Beaumont and Fletcher's), a silly play, - I think; only the spirit in it that grows very tall, and then - sinks again to nothing, having two heads breeding upon one, and - then Knipp's singing did please us. Here in a box above we - spied Mrs. Pierse; and going out they called us; and so we - staid for them; and Knipp took us all in and brought us to - Nelly (Nell Gwynn), a most pretty woman, who acted the great - part of Coelia to-day very fine, and did it pretty well: I - kissed her, and so did my wife; and a mighty pretty soul she - is. We also saw Mrs. Ball, which is my little Roman-nose black - girl, that is mighty pretty; she is usually called Betty. Knipp - made us stay in the box, and see the dancing preparatory to - to-morrow for the 'Goblins,' a play of Suckling's, not acted - these twenty years; which was pretty. - - "5th (February, 1666-7). To the King's house to see 'The - Chances' (Beaumont and Fletcher's). A good play I find it, and - the actors most good in it. And pretty to hear Knipp sing in - the play very properly, 'All night I weepe;' and sung it - admirably. The whole play pleases me well: and most of all, the - sight of many fine ladies; among others, my lady Castlemaine - and Mrs. Middleton: the latter of the two hath also a very - excellent face and body, I think. And so home in the dark over - the ruins with a link. [The ruins are those of the city, - occasioned by the fire. Mr. Pepys lived in Creed Lane, where - the Navy Office then was, in which he had an appointment.] - - "18th (February, 1666-7). To the King's house, to 'The Mayd's - Tragedy' (Beaumont and Fletcher's); but vexed all the while - with two talking ladies and Sir Charles Sedley; yet pleased to - hear the discourse, he being a stranger. And one of the ladies - would and did sit with her mask on all the play, and being - exceedingly witty as ever I heard a woman, did talk most - pleasantly with him; but was, I believe, a virtuous woman and - of quality. He would fain know who she was, but she would not - tell; yet did give him many pleasant hints of her knowledge of - him, by that means setting his brains at work to find out who - she was, and did give him leave to use all means to find out - who she was, but pulling off her mask. He was mighty witty, and - she also making sport with him mighty inoffensively, that more - pleasant rencontre I never heard. But by that means lost the - pleasure of the play wholly, to which now and then Sir Charles - Sedley's exceptions against both words and pronouncing were - very pretty. [This is the famous wit and man of pleasure. We - have him before us, as if we were present, together with a - curious specimen of the manners of these times. The pit, though - subject to violent scuffles, greatly occasioned by the wearing - of swords, seems to have contained as good company as the opera - pit does now.] - - "2nd (March, 1666-7). After dinner with my wife to the King's - house, to see 'The Mayden Queen,' a new play of Dryden's, - mighty commended for the regularity of it, and the strain and - wit: and the truth is, there is a comical part, played by Nell, - which is Florimell, that I never can hope to see the like done - again by man or woman. The King and Duke of York were at the - play. But so great performance of a comical part was never, I - believe, in the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad - girl, then most and best of all when she comes in like a young - gallante; and hath the motions and carriage of a spark the most - that ever I saw any man have. It makes me, I confess, admire - her. - - "25th (March, 1666-7). To the King's playhouse, and by and by - comes Mr. Lowther and his wife and mine, and into a box, - forsooth, neither of them being dressed, which I was almost - ashamed of. Sir W. Pen and I in the pit, and here saw the - 'Mayden Queen' again; which, indeed, the more I see the more I - like, and is an excellent play, and so done by Nell her merry - part, as cannot be better done in nature. - - "9th (April, 1667). To the King's house, and there saw the - 'Taming of the Shrew,' which hath some very good pieces in it, - but generally is but a mean play; and the best part 'Sawny,' - done by Lacy; and hath not half its life, by reason of the - words, I suppose, not being understood, at least by me. [This - was one of the _rifacimentos_ of Shakspeare, by which he was to - be rendered palatable.] - - "15th (April, 1667). To the King's house, by chance, where a - new play: so full as I never saw it; I forced to stand all the - while close to the very door till I took cold, and many people - went away for want of room. The King and Queene and Duke of - York and Duchesse there, and all the court, and Sir W. - Coventry. The play called 'The Change of Crownes;' a play of - Ned Howard's, the best that I ever saw at that house, being a - great play and serious; only Lacy did act the country gentleman - come up to court with all the imaginable wit and plainness - about the selling of places, and doing everything for money. - The play took very much. - - "16th (April, 1667). Knipp tells me the King was so angry at - the liberty taken by Lacy's part to abuse him to his face, that - he commanded they should act no more, till Moone (Mohun) went - and got leave for them to act again, but not in this play. The - King mighty angry; and it was bitter indeed, but very fine and - witty. I never was more taken with a play than I am with this - 'Silent Woman' (Ben Johnson's) as old as it is, and as often as - I have seen it. [Ned Howard, the author of 'The Change of - Crownes,' was one of the sons of the Earl of Berkshire, and - though of a family who helped to bring in the King, was - probably connected with the Presbyterians, and disgusted, like - many of the royalists on that side, by the disappointments they - had experienced in church and state. Dryden, who married one of - his sisters, was of a Presbyterian stock. Ned, however, who - afterwards became the butt of the wits, was not very nice, and - might have 'committed himself,' as the modern phrase is, in his - mode of conducting his satire]. - - "20th (April, 1667). Met Mr. Rolt, who tells me the reason of - no play to-day at the King's house--that Lacy had been - committed to the porter's lodge, for his acting his part in the - late new play; and being thence released to come to the King's - house, he there met with Ned Howard, the poet of the play, who - congratulated his release; upon which Lacy cursed him, as that - it was the fault of his nonsensical play that was the cause of - his ill-usage. Mr. Howard did give him some reply, to which - Lacy answered him that he was more a fool than a poet; upon - which Howard did give him a blow on the face with his glove; - on which Lacy, having a cane in his hand, did give him a blow - over the pate. Here Rolt and others, that discoursed of it in - the pit, did wonder that Howard did not run him through, he - being too mean a fellow to fight with. But Howard did not do - anything but complain to the King; so the whole house is - silenced: and the gentry seem to rejoice much at it, the house - being become too insolent. - - "1st (May, 1667). Thence away to the King's playhouse, and saw - 'Love in a Maze:' but a sorry play; only Lacy's clown's part, - which he did most admirably indeed; and I am glad to find the - rogue at liberty again. Here was but little, and that ordinary - company. We sat at the upper bench, next the boxes; and I find - it do pretty well, and have the advantage of seeing and hearing - the great people, which may be pleasant when there is good - store. - - "15th (August, 1667). And so we went to the King's house, and - there saw 'The Merry Wives of Windsor;' which did not please me - at all, in no part of it. - - "17th (August, 1667). To the King's playhouse, where the house - extraordinary full; and there the King and Duke of York to see - the new play, 'Queene Elizabeth's Troubles, and the History of - Eighty-eight.' I confess I have sucked in so much of the sad - story of Queene Elizabeth from my cradle, that I was ready to - weep for her sometimes; but the play is the most ridiculous - that sure ever came upon stage, and, indeed, is merely a show, - only shows the true garb of the Queene in those days, just as - we see Queene Mary and Queene Elizabeth painted; but the play - is merely a puppet play, acted by living puppets. Neither the - design nor language better; and one stands by and tells us the - meaning of things: only I was pleased to see Knipp dance among - the milkmaids, and to hear her sing a song to Queene Elizabeth, - and to see her come out in her nighte-gown with no lockes on, - but her bare face, and hair only tied up in a knot behind; - which is the comeliest dress that ever I saw her in to her - advantage. - - "22nd (August, 1667). With my lord Brouncker and his mistress - to the King's playhouse, and there saw 'The Indian Emperour;' - where I find Nell come again, which I am glad of; but was most - infinitely displeased with her being put to act the Emperour's - daughter, which is a great and serious part, which she does - most basely. - - "14th (September, 1667). To the King's playhouse, to see 'The - Northerne Castle, (quaere _Lasse_, by Richard Brome?) which I - think I never did see before. Knipp acted in it, and did her - part very extraordinary well; but the play is but a mean sorry - play. - - "----, my wife, and Mercer, and I, away to the King's - playhouse, to see 'The Scornful Lady' (Beaumont and - Fletcher's), but it being now three o'clock, there was not one - soul in the pit; whereupon, for shame, we could not go in; but - against our wills, went all to see 'Tu Quoque' again (by John - Cooke), where there was pretty store of company. Here we saw - Madame Morland, who is grown mighty fat, but is very comely. - Thence to the King's house, upon a wager of mine with my wife, - that there would be no acting there to-day, there being no - company: so I went in and found a pretty good company there, - and saw their dance at the end of the play. [There is a - confusion in the memorandum under this date.] - - "20th (September, 1667). By coach to the King's playhouse, and - there saw 'The Mad Couple' (by Richard Brome), my wife having - been at the same play with Jane in the 18_d._ seat. - - "25th (September, 1667). I to the King's playhouse, my eyes - being so bad since last night's straining of them, that I am - hardly able to see, besides the pain that I have in them. The - play was a new play; and infinitely full; the King and all the - court almost there. It is 'The Storme,' a play of Fletcher's; - which is but so-so, methinks; only there is a most admirable - dance at the end, of the ladies, in a military manner, which - indeed did please me mightily. - - "5th (October 1667.) To the King's house; and there going in - met with Knipp, and she took us up into the tireing-rooms; and - to the women's shift, where Nell was dressing herself, and was - all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than I thought. And - into the scene-room, and there sat down, and she gave us fruit; - and here I read the questions to Knipp, while she answered me, - through all her part of 'Flora's Figarys,' which was acted - to-day. But, lord! to see how they were both painted, would - make a man mad, and did make me loath them, and what base - company of men comes among them, and how lewdly they talk. And - how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a show they make - on the stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see - how Nell cursed, for having so few people in the pit, was - strange; the other house carrying away all the people at the - new play, and is said now-a-days to have generally most - company, as having better players. By and by into the pit, and - there saw the play, which is pretty good. - - "19th (October 1667). Full of my desire of seeing my Lord - Orrery's new play this afternoon at the King's house, 'The - Black Prince,' the first time it is acted; where, though we - came by two o'clock, yet there was no room in the pit, but were - forced to go into one of the upper boxes at 4s. a piece, which - is the first time I ever sat in a box in my life. And in the - same box came by and by, behind me, my Lord Barkely and his - lady; but I did not turn my face to them to be known, so that I - was excused from giving them my seat. And this pleasure I had, - that from this place the scenes do appear very fine indeed, and - much better than in the pit. The house infinite full, and the - King and Duke of York there. The whole house was mightily - pleased all along till the reading of a letter, which was so - long and so unnecessary, that they frequently began to laugh, - and to hiss twenty times, that had it not been for the King's - being there, they had certainly hissed it off the stage. - - "23d (October 1667). To the King's playhouse, and saw 'The - Black Prince;' which is now mightily bettered by that long - letter being printed, and so delivered to everybody at their - going in, and some short reference made to it in the play. - [This is in the style of what Buckingham called "insinuating - the plot into the boxes."] - - "1st (November 1667). To the King's playhouse, and there saw a - silly play and an old one, 'The Taming of the Shrew.' - - "2d (November 1667). To the King's playhouse, and there saw - 'Henry the Fourth;' and, contrary to expectation, was pleased - in nothing more than in Cartwright's speaking of Falstaffe's - speech about 'What is honour?' The house full of - parliament-men, it being holyday with them: and it was - observable how a gentleman of good habit sitting just before - us, eating of some fruit in the midst of play, did drop down - as dead, being choked; but with much ado Orange Moll did thrust - her finger down his throat, and brought him to life again. - - "26th (December 1667). With my wife to the King's playhouse, - and there saw 'The Surprizall' by Sir Robert Howard, brother of - Ned; which did not please me to-day, the actors not pleasing - me; and especially Nell's acting of a serious part which she - spoils. - - "28th (December 1667). To the King's house, and there saw 'The - Mad Couple,' which is but an ordinary play; but only Nell's and - Hart's mad parts are most excellent done, but especially hers: - which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any - serious part, as, the other day, just like a fool or - changeling; and, in a mad part, do beyond all imitation almost. - It pleased us mightily to see the natural affection of a poor - woman, the mother of one of the children brought on the stage; - the child crying, she by force got upon the stage, and took up - her child, and carried it away off the stage from Hart. Many - fine faces here to-day. - - "7th (January 1667-8). To the Nursery [qy. in Barbican, for - children performers?], but the house did not act to-day; and so - I to the other two playhouses, into the pit to gaze up and - down, and there did, by this means, for nothing, see an act in - 'The Schoole of Compliments' at the Duke of York's house, and - 'Henry the Fourth' at the King's house; but not liking either - of the plays, I took my coach again, and home. [It would here - seem, that a man who did not choose to pay for a _seat_, might - witness a play for nothing.] - - "11th (January 1667-8). To the King's house, to see 'The - Wild-Goose Chase' (Beaumont and Fletcher's). In this play I met - with nothing extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and - designs. Knipp came and sat by us, and her talk pleased me a - little, she telling me how Miss Davies is for certain going - away from the Duke's house, the King being in love with her; - and a house is taken for her, and furnishing; and she hath a - ring given her already worth 600_l._: that the King did send - several times for Nelly, and she was with him; and I am sorry - for it, and can hope for no good to the state from having a - prince so devoted to his pleasure. She told me also of a play - shortly coming upon the stage, of Sir Charles Sedley's, which, - she thinks, will be called 'The Wandering Lady's,' a comedy - that she thinks will be most pleasant; and also another play - called 'The Duke of Lorane;' besides 'Cataline,' which she - thinks, for want of the clothes which the King promised them, - will not be acted for a good while. - - "20th (February 1667-8). Dined, and by one o'clock to the - King's house; a new play, 'The Duke of Lerma,' of Sir Robert - Howard's, where the King and court was; and Knipp and Nell - spoke the prologue most excellently, especially Knipp, who - spoke beyond any creature I ever heard. The play designed to - reproach our King with his mistresses, that I was troubled for - it, and expected it should be interrupted; but it ended all - well; which salved me. - - "27th (February 1667-8.) With my wife to the King's house, to - see 'The Virgin Martyr' by (Massinger), the first time it hath - been acted a great while: and it is mighty pleasant; not that - the play is worth much, but it is finely acted by Beck - Marshall. But that which did please me beyond anything in the - world, was the wind-musique when the angel comes down; which is - so sweet that it ravished me, and, indeed, in a word, did wrap - up my soul so that it made me really sick, just as I have - formerly been when in love with my wife; that neither then, nor - all the evening going home, and at home, I was able to think of - anything, but remained all night transported, so as I could not - believe that ever any musique hath that real command over the - soul of a man, as this did upon me; and makes me resolve to - practise wind-musique, and to make my wife do the like. - [Pepys's use of the word "sick," and his resolution to make his - wife practise the hautboy, are very ludicrous. His love of - music, however, is genuine. He was an amateur composer. On the - 23d Feb. 1666, he has the following memorandum: "Comes Mrs. - Knipp to see my wife, and I spent all the night talking with - this baggage, and teaching her my song of 'Beauty retire,' - which she sings and makes go most rarely, and a very fine song - it seems to be."] - - "6th (March 1667-8.) After dinner to the King's house, and - there saw part of the 'Discontented Colonell' (Sir John - Suckling's 'Brennoralt'). - - "7th (April 1668). To the King's house, and there saw 'The - English Monsieur,' (sitting for privacy sake in an upper box): - the play hath much mirth in it, as to that particular humour. - After the play done, I down to Knipp, and did stay her - undressing herself; and there saw the several players, men and - women, go by; and pretty to see how strange they are all, one - to another, after the play is done. Here I hear Sir W. Davenant - is just now dead, and so, who will succeed him in the - mastership of the house is not yet known. The eldest Davenport - is, it seems, gone from this house to be kept by somebody; - which I am glad of, she being a very bad actor. Mrs. Knipp - tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is mighty in love with Hart - of their house, and he is much with her in private, and she - goes to him and do give him many presents; and that the thing - is most certain, and Beck Marshall only privy to it, and the - means of bringing them together: which is a very odd thing; and - by this means she is even with the King's love to Mrs. Davies. - - "28th (April 1668). To the King's house, and there did see - 'Love in a Maze,' (the author is not mentioned in Baker); - wherein very good mirth of Lacy the clown, and Wintershell, the - country-knight, his master. - - "1st (May 1668). To the King's playhouse, and there saw the - 'Surprizall;' and a disorder in the pit by its raining in from - the cupola at top. - - "7th (May 1668). To the King's house; where going in for Knipp, - the play being done, I did see Beck Marshall come dressed off - of the stage, and look mighty fine, and pretty and noble; and - also Nell in her boy's clothes mighty pretty. But lord! their - confidence, and how many men do hover about them as soon as - they come off the stage, and how confident they are in their - talk. Here was also Haynes, the incomparable dancer of the - King's house. - - "16th (May 1668). To the King's playhouse, and there saw the - best part of 'The Sea Voyage' (Beaumont and Fletcher), where - Knipp did her part of sorrow very well. - - "18th (May 1668). It being almost twelve o'clock, or little - more, to the King's playhouse, where the doors were not then - open; but presently they did open, and we in, and find many - people already come in by private ways into the pit, it being - the first day of Sir Charles Sedley's new play so long - expected 'The Mulberry Garden,' of whom, being so reputed a - wit, all the world do expect great matters. I having sat here a - while and eat nothing to-day, did slip out, getting a boy to - keep my place; and to the Rose Tavern (Will's, in Russell - Street), and there got half a breast of mutton off the spit, - and dined all alone. And so to the playhouse again, where the - King and Queene by and by come, and all the court, and the - house infinitely full. But the play, when it come, though there - was here and there a pretty saying, and that not very many - neither, yet the whole of the play had nothing extraordinary in - it at all, neither of language nor design; insomuch that the - King I did not see laugh nor pleased from the beginning to the - end, nor the company; insomuch that I have not been less - pleased at a new play in my life, I think. - - "30th (May 1668). To the King's playhouse, and there saw - 'Philaster;' where it is pretty to see how I could remember - almost all along, ever since I was a boy, Arethusa, the part - which I was to have acted at Sir Robert Cooke's; and it was - very pleasant to me, but more to think what a ridiculous thing - it would have been for me to have acted a beautiful woman. - - "22nd (June 1668). To the King's playhouse, and saw an act or - two of the new play, 'Evening Love' again (Dryden's) but like - it not. - - "11th (July 1668). To the King's playhouse, to see an old play - of Shirley's, called 'Hyde Parke,' the first day acted; where - horses are brought upon the stage; but it is but a very - moderate play, only an excellent epilogue spoken by Beck - Marshall. - - "31st (July 1668). To the King's house, to see the first day of - Lacy's 'Monsieur Ragou,' now new acted. The King and court all - there, and mighty merry: a farce. - - "15th (September 1668). To the King's playhouse to see a new - play, acted but yesterday, a translation out of French by - Dryden, called 'The Ladys a la Mode' [probably the Precieuses, - but not translated by Dryden]: so mean a thing as when they - came to say it would be acted again to-morrow, both he that - said it (Beeston) and the pit fell a-laughing. - - "19th (September 1668). To the King's playhouse, and there saw - the 'Silent Woman;' the best comedy, I think, that ever was - wrote: and sitting by Shadwell the poet, he was big with - admiration of it. Here was my Lord Brouncker and W. Pen and - their ladies in the box, being grown mighty kind of a sudden; - but, God knows, it will last but a little while, I dare swear. - Knipp did her part mighty well. - - "28th (September 1668). To the King's playhouse, and there saw - 'The City Match' (by Jasper Maine), not acted these thirty - years, and but a silly play; the King and court there; the - house, for the women's sake, mighty full. - - "14th (October 1668). To the King's playhouse, and there saw - 'The Faithful Shepherdess' (Fletcher's), that I might hear the - French eunuch sing; which I did to my great content; though I - do admire his actions as much as his acting, being both beyond - all I ever saw or heard. - - "2nd (December 1678). So she (Mrs. Pepys) and I to the King's - playhouse, and there saw 'The Usurper;' a pretty good play in - all but what is designed to resemble Cromwell and Hugh Peters, - which is mighty silly. [The Usurper was by Ned Howard, who - seems to have wished to show how impartial he could be.] - - "19th (December 1678). My wife and I by hackney to the King's - playhouse, and there, the pit being full, sat in the box above, - and saw 'Cataline's Conspiracy' (Ben Jonson's), yesterday being - the first day: a play of much good sense and words to read, but - that do appear the worst upon the stage, I mean the least - diverting, that ever I saw any, though most fine in clothes; - and a fine scene of the senate and of a fight as ever I saw in - my life. We sat next to Betty Hall, that did belong to this - house, and was Sir Philip Howard's mistress; a mighty pretty - wench. - - "7th (January 1668-9). My wife and I to the King's playhouse, - and there saw 'The Island Princesse' (Beaumont and Fletcher's), - the first time I ever saw it; and it is a pretty good play, - many good things being in it, and a good scene of a town on - fire. We sat in an upper box, and the merry Jade Nell came in - and sat in the next box; a bold slut, who lay laughing there - upon people, and with a comrade of hers, of the Duke's house, - that came to see the play. - - "11th (January 1668-9). Abroad with my wife to the King's - playhouse, and there saw 'The Joviall Crew' (by Richard Brome), - ill acted to what it was in Clun's time, and when Lacy could - dance. - - "19th (January 1668-9). To the King's house to see 'Horace' - (translated from Corneille by Charles Cotton); this is the - third day of its acting; a silly tragedy; but Lacy hath made a - farce of several dances--between each act one; but his words - are but silly, and invention not extraordinary as to the - dances. [Pepys adds, with seeming approbation, an instance of - satire on the Dutch, too gross to extract, and highly - disgraceful to that age of "fine ladies and gentlemen."] - - "2nd (February 1668-9). To dinner at noon, where I find Mr. - Sheres; and there made a short dinner, and carried him with us - to the King's playhouse, where 'The Heyresse,' notwithstanding - Kynaston's being beaten, is acted; and they say the King is - very angry with Sir Charles Sedley for his being beaten, but he - do deny it. But his part is done by Beeston, who is fain to - read it out of a book all the while, and thereby spoils the - part, and almost the play, it being one of the best parts in - it: and though the design is, in the first conception of it, - pretty good, yet it is but an indifferent play; wrote, they - say, by my Lord Newcastle. But it was pleasant to see Beeston - come in with others, supposing it to be dark, and yet forced to - read his part by the light of the candles; and this I observing - to a gentleman, that sat by me, he was mightily pleased - therewith and spread it up and down. But that that pleased me - most in the play, is the first song that Knipp sings (she sings - three or four); and indeed it was very finely sung, so as to - make the whole house clap her. - - "6th (February 1668-9). To the King's playhouse, and there in - an upper box (where come in Colonel Poynton and Doll Stacey, - who is very fine, and by her wedding-ring I suppose he hath - married her at last), did see the 'Moor of Venice:' but ill - acted in most parts. Moon (which did a little surprise me) not - acting Iago's part by much so well as Clun used to do: nor - another Hart's, which was Cassio's; nor indeed Burt doing the - Moor's so well as I once thought he did. - - "9th (February 1668-9). To the King's playhouse, and there saw - the 'Island Princesse,' which I like mighty well as an - excellent play; and here we find Kynaston to be well enough to - act again; which he do very well, after his beating by Sir - Charles Sedley's appointment. [Kynaston is generally supposed - to have been taken for Sedley, and beaten for some offence of - the baronet's. He affected to be Sedley's double.] - - "26th (February 1668-9). To the King's playhouse, and saw the - 'Faithful Shepherdesse.' But, lord! what an empty house, there - not being, as I could see the people, so many as to make up - above 10_l._ in the whole house! But I plainly discern the - musick is the better, by how much the house the emptier." [The - same thing was said by the great Handel, to console himself - once, when he found a spare audience.] - -Of the performers mentioned in this curious theatrical gossip, one of -them, Hart, had been a captain in the civil wars; another, Mohun, a -major; and there was a third a quarter-master; all on the royal side. -Hart and Mohun were old actors, when Betterton was young; and they -lived to see him reckoned superior to either. The two were accustomed -to act together, Hart generally in the superior character, as Brutus -to the other's Cassius; and both, like Betterton, acted in comedy as -well as tragedy. They performed, for instance, Manly and Horner in -'The Country Wife,' and there appears to have been less distinction in -their styles of acting than is customary. If Hart shone in the -Dorimant of 'Sir Fopling Flutter,' Mohun was highly applauded in -Davenant's Valentine, in 'Wit without Money.' Mohun, however, appears -to have excelled in the more ferocious parts of tragedy, as Catiline; -and Hart in the mixture of gaity with boldness, as in Hotspur and -Alexander. His Alexander was particularly famous. Upon the whole, we -should conclude, Mohun's to have the more artificial acting of the -two, more like "the actor," in Partridge's sense of the word, but very -fine nevertheless, otherwise Rochester would hardly have admired him, -as he is said to have done; unless, indeed, it was out of spite to -some other actor; for he was much influenced by feelings of that kind. -Perhaps, however, it was out of some chance predilection, The Duke of -Buckingham is said to have preferred Ben Jonson to Shakspeare, for no -other reason than his having been introduced to him when a boy. The -best compliment ever known to have been paid to Hart, is an anecdote -recorded of Betterton. Betterton acted Alexander after Hart's time; -and "being at a loss," says Davies, "to recover a particular emphasis -of that performer, which gave a force to some interesting situation of -the part, he applied for information to the players who stood near -him. At last, one of the lowest of the company repeated the line -exactly in Hart's key. Betterton thanked him heartily, and put a piece -of money into his hand, as a reward for so acceptable a service."[253] -Hart had the reputation of being the first lover of Nell Gwyn, and one -of the hundreds of the Duchess of Cleveland. - -Goodman was another of the favoured many. He was one of the Alexanders -of his time, but does not appear to have been a great actor. He was a -dashing impudent fellow, who boasted of his having taken "an airing" -on the road to recruit his purse. He was expelled from Cambridge for -cutting and defacing the portrait of the Duke of Monmouth, Chancellor -of the University, but not loyal enough to his father to please -Goodman. James II. pardoned the loyal highwayman, which Goodman (in -Cibber's hearing) said "was doing him so particular an honour, that no -man could wonder if his acknowledgement had carried him a little -further than ordinary into the interest of that prince. But as he had -lately been out of luck in backing his old master, he had now no way -to get home the life he was out, upon his account, but by being under -the same obligations to King William."[254] The meaning of this is -understood to be, that Goodman offered to assassinate William, in -consequence of his having had a pardon from James; but the plot not -succeeding, he turned king's evidence against James, in order to -secure a pardon from William. This "pretty fellow" was latterly so -easy in his circumstances, owing, it is supposed, to the delicate -Cleveland, that he used to say he would never act Alexander the Great, -but when he was certain that "his duchess" would be in the boxes to -see him. - -The stage in that day was certainly not behind-hand with the court; -and as it had less conventional respectability in the eyes of the -world, its private character was never so low. But we must do justice -and not confound even the disreputable. Poor Nell Gwynn, in a quarrel -with one of the Marshalls, who reproached her with being the mistress -of Lord Buckhurst, said she was mistress but of one man at a time, -though she had been brought up in a bad house "to fill strong waters -to the gentlemen;" whereas her rebuker, though a clergyman's -daughter, was the mistress of three. This celebrated actress, who was -as excellent in certain giddy parts of comedy as she was inferior in -tragedy, was small of person, but very pretty, with a good-humoured -face, and eyes that winked when she laughed. She is the ancestress of -the ducal family of St. Albans, who are thought to have retained more -of the look and complexion of Charles II. than any other of his -descendants. Beauclerc, Johnson's friend, was like him; and the black -complexion is still in vigour. The King recommended her to his brother -with his last breath, begging him "not to let poor Nelly starve." -Burnet says she was introduced to the King by Buckingham, to supplant -the Duchess of Cleveland; but others tell us, he first noticed her in -consequence of a hat of the circumference of a coach-wheel, in which -Dryden made her deliver a prologue, as a set-off to an enormous hat of -Pistol's at the other house, and which convulsed the spectators with -laughter. If Nelly retained a habit of swearing, which was probably -taught her when a child (and it is clear enough from Pepys that she -did), the poets did not discourage her. One of her epilogues by Dryden -began in the following startling manner. It is entitled "An Epilogue -spoken by Mrs. Ellen, when she was to be carried off dead by the -Bearers." - - "Hold, are you mad, you damn'd confounded dog? - I am to rise and speak the epilogue." - -The poet makes her say of herself, in the course of the lines, that -she was "a harmless little devil," and that she was slatternly in her -dress. Lely painted her with a lamb under her arm. Mr. Pegge -discovered that Charles made her a lady of the chamber to his queen. -Pennant seems to think this was only a title; but it is plain from -Evelyn's Memoirs that she had apartments in Whitehall.[255] She died a -few years after the King, at her house in Pall Mall. Nell was much -libelled in her time, and among others by Sir George Etherege;[256] -very likely out of some personal pique or rejection, for such revenges -were quite compatible with the "loves" of that age.[257] But she was a -general favourite, nevertheless, owing to a natural good-heartedness -which no course of life could overcome. Burnet's character of her is -well known. "Guin," says he, "the indiscreetest and wildest creature -that ever was in a court, continued, to the end of that king's life, -in great favour and was maintained at a vast expense. The Duke of -Buckingham told me that when she was first brought to the King, she -asked only five hundred pounds a year; and the King refused it. But -when he told me this, about four years after, he said, she had got of -the King above sixty thousand pounds. She acted all persons in so -lively a manner, and was such a constant diversion to the King, that -even a new mistress could not drive her away. But after all he never -treated her with the decencies of a mistress."[258] Nell Gwynn is said -to have suggested to her royal lover the building of Chelsea Hospital, -and to have made him a present of the ground for it. - -Upon the whole the dramatic taste during the greater part of Charles's -reign was false and artificial, particularly in tragedy. Etherege -produced one good comedy, the precursor of Wycherly and Congreve; but -Dryden, the reigning favourite, was not as great in dramatic as he was -in other writing; his heroic plays, and Lee's "Alexander," were -admired, not so much for the beauties mixed with their absurdity, as -for the improbable air they gave to a serious passion; and the -favourite plays of deceased authors were those of the most equivocal -writers of the time of James, not the pure and profound nature of -Shakspeare and his fellows. Otway flourished, but was not thought so -great as he is now; and even in Otway there is a hot bullying smack of -the tavern, very different from the voluptuousness in Shakspeare. -Towards the close of this reign comedy came to its height with -Wycherly, who, almost as profligate in point of dialogue as any of his -contemporaries, nevertheless hit the right vein of satire. Wycherly -lived at the other end of Russell Street, in Bow Street, where we -shall see him shortly. - -We are now come to the time of Congreve, Mrs. Bracegirdle, and -others; Betterton remaining. Of these individually we have spoken -before; and therefore shall only observe that by the more serious -examples of James II. and King William, the manners of the day were -reforming, and those of the stage with them. We now find ourselves -among audiences more composed, and witness plays less coarse, though -with an abundance of double meaning and exuberantly witty. Coquetry -and fashion are now the reigning stage goddesses, as mere wantonness -was that of the age preceding. - -Farquhar and Vanbrugh succeeded, together with Cibber, Wilkes, Booth, -and latterly Steele and Mrs. Oldfield. Vanbrugh does not belong to -Drury Lane, but Farquhar does, with the rest; and a lively place he -made of it. He is _Captain_ Farquhar, has a plume in his hat, and -prodigious animal spirits, with invention at will, and great good -nature. Captains abounded among the wits and adventurers of those days -down to Captains Macheath and Gibbet. Vanbrugh was a captain; Steele -at one time was Captain Steele; and Mrs. Oldfield's father, though the -son of a vinter, became Captain Oldfield, and genteelly ran out an -estate. This is still the age of genuine comedy, and the stage is -worthy of it. The tragedy was proportionably bad. Booth, indeed, was a -good tragic actor, but he suited the age in being declamatory. He was -the hero of Addison's Cato, once the favourite tragedy of the critics, -now of nobody. - -Rowe was another artificial writer of tragedy, but not without a vein -of feeling. It seems to have been thought in those times, as we may -see by these authors, and by the tragedies of Banks and Lillo, that to -be natural, an author was to be prosaical; while, if he had any -pretensions to be poetical, it was his business to-- - - "---- wake the soul by tender strokes of _art_." - -The gradual approach, also, of this period to our own times, which are -more critical in costume, and the pictures left to us of favourite -performers in Hamlet and Hermione, dressed in wigs and hoop -petticoats, render those outrages upon propriety still stranger to -one's imagination. They set tragedy in a mock-heroical light. Cato -wore a long peruke; Alexander the Great a wig and jack-boots; and it -was customary, down to Garrick's time, to dress Macbeth and other -tragic general-officers in a suit of brick-dust. "Booth enters," says -Pope:-- - - ---- "Hark, the universal peal! - But has he spoken? Not a syllable. - What shook the stage and made the people stare? - Cato's long wig, flowered gown, and lackered chair." - -The stare was not that of ridicule, but of admiration. All this makes -the comedy of that period shine out the more as the only truth extant. -Cherry, and Archer, and Sir Harry Wildair, and Sir John Brute, and my -Lady Betty Modish, were like the age, and like the performers. - -To return to these. Wilks was the fine gentleman of that period. He -was a friend of Farquhar's, and came to London with him from Dublin. -Cibber, though he wrote a good comedy, would appear, by some accounts -of him, to have been little more on the stage than a mimic of past -actors. Steele, however, has a criticism on him and Wilks, in which he -speaks of them both as perfect actors in their kinds. - - "Wilks," he tells us, "has a singular talent in representing - the graces of nature; Cibber the deformity in the affectation - of them. Were I a writer of plays, I should never employ either - of them in parts which had not their bents this way. This is - seen in the inimitable strain and run of good humour which is - kept up in the character of Wildair, and in the nice and - delicate abuse of understanding in that of Sir Novelty. Cibber, - in another light, hits exquisitely the _flat_ civility of an - affected gentleman usher, and Wilks the easy frankness of a - gentleman.... To beseech gracefully, to approach respectfully, - to pity, to mourn, to love, are the places wherein Wilks may be - made to shine with the utmost beauty. To rally pleasantly, to - scorn artfully, to flatter, to ridicule, and to neglect, are - what Cibber would perform with no less excellence."[259] - -This criticism produced a letter to Steele from two inferior actors of -that time, Bullock and Penkethman, who, rather than not be noticed at -all, were willing to be bantered. They knew it would be done -good-naturedly. Accordingly the "Tatler" says, - - "For the information of posterity I shall comply with this - letter, and set these two great men in such a light as Sallust - has placed his Cato and Caesar. Mr. William Bullock and Mr. - William Penkethman are of the same age, profession, and sex. - They both distinguish themselves in a very particular manner - under the discipline of the crab tree, with this only - difference, that Mr. Bullock has the more agreeable squall, and - Mr. Penkethman the more graceful shrug. Penkethman devours cold - chick with great applause; Bullock's talent lies chiefly in - asparagus. Penkethman is very dexterous at conveying himself - under a table; Bullock is no less active at jumping over a - stick. Mr. Penkethman has a great deal of money; but Mr. - Bullock is the taller man."[260] - -Off the stage, and behind the scenes, Cibber performed the part of a -coxcomb of the first order. We shall not be properly acquainted with -Drury Lane at this period if we do not repeat his story of the wig. - -This was a peruke of his, famous in the part of Sir Fopling Flutter. -It was so much admired, that Cibber used to have it brought upon the -stage in a sedan, and put it on publicly, to the great content of the -beholders. A set of curls so applauded was the next thing to a toast; -and accordingly Colonel, then Mr. Brett, whom the toasts admired, -could not rest till he had taken possession of it. - - "The first view," says Colley, "that fires the head of a young - gentleman of this modish ambition, just broke loose from - business, is to cut a figure (as they call it) in a side box at - the play, from whence their next step is to the green-room - behind the scenes, sometimes their _non ultra_. Hither at last, - then, in this hopeful quest of his fortune, came this - gentleman-errant, not doubting but the fickle dame, while he - was thus qualified to receive her, might be tempted to fall - into his lap. And though, possibly, the charms of our - theatrical nymphs might have their share in drawing him - thither; yet, in my observation, the most visible cause of his - first coming was a more sincere passion he had conceived for a - fair full-bottomed periwig, which I then wore in my first play - of the 'Fool in Fashion,' in the year 1695. For it is to be - noted that the _beaux_ of those days were of a quite different - cast to the modern stamp, and had more of the stateliness of - the peacock in their mien, than (which now seems to be their - highest emulation) the pert of a lapwing. Now, whatever - contempt philosophers may have for a fine periwig, my friend, - who was not to despise the world, but to live in it, knew very - well, that so material an article of dress upon the head of a - man of sense, if it became him, could never fail of drawing to - him a more partial regard and benevolence than could possibly - be hoped for in an ill-made one. This, perhaps, may soften the - grave censure which so youthful a purchase might otherwise have - laid upon him. In a word, he made his attack upon this periwig, - as your young fellows generally do for a lady of pleasure; - first, by a few familiar praises of her person, and then a - civil inquiry into the price of it. But on his observing me a - little surprised at the levity of his question about a fop's - periwig, he began to rally himself with so much wit and humour - upon the folly of his fondness for it, that he struck me with - an equal desire of granting anything in my power to oblige so - facetious a customer. This singular beginning of our - conversation, and the mutual laughs that ensued upon it, ended - in an agreement to finish our bargain that night over a - bottle."[261] - -Colonel Brett, being a man of "_bonnes fortunes_," married Savage's -mother! - -Mrs. Oldfield made such an impression in her day, and has been noticed -by so many writers, that she must have a passage to herself. She was -the daughter of Captain Oldfield above-mentioned, and went to live -with her aunt, who kept the Mitre tavern in St. James's Market. Here, -we are told, Captain Farquhar, overhearing Miss Nancy read a play -behind the bar, was so struck "with the proper emphasis and agreeable -turn she gave to each character, that he swore the girl was cut out -for the stage." As she had always expressed an inclination for that -way of life, and a desire of trying her fortune in it, her mother, on -this encouragement, the next time she saw Captain Vanbrugh (afterwards -Sir John), who had a great respect for the family, acquainted him with -Captain Farquhar's opinion, on which he desired to know whether her -bent was most tragedy or comedy. Miss, being called in, informed him -that her principal inclination was to the latter, having at that time -gone through all Beaumont and Fletcher's comedies; and the play she -was reading when Captain Farquhar dined there having been 'The -Scornful Lady.' Captain Vanbrugh, shortly after, recommended her to -Mr. Christopher Rich, who took her into the house at the allowance of -fifteen shillings per week. However, her agreeable figure and -sweetness of voice soon gave her the preference, in the opinion of the -whole town, to all the young actresses of that time; and the Duke of -Bedford, in particular, being pleased to speak to Mr. Rich in her -favour, he instantly raised her to twenty shillings per week. After -which her fame and salary gradually increased, till at length they -both attained that height which her merit entitled her to.[262] - -The new actress had a silver voice, a beautiful face and person, great -good-nature, sprightliness, and grace, and became the fine lady of the -stage in the most agreeable sense of the word. She also acted heroines -of the sentimental order, and had an original part in every play of -Steele. But she was particularly famous in the part of Lady Betty -Modish, in "_The Careless Husband_." The name explains the character. -Cibber tells us that he drew many of the strokes in it from her lively -manner. - - "Had her birth," he says, "placed her in a higher rank of life, - she had certainly appeared in reality what in this play she - only excellently acted, an agreeable gay woman of quality, a - little too conscious of her natural attractions. I have often - seen her in private societies, where women of the best rank - might have borrowed some part of their behaviour, without the - least diminution of their sense or dignity. And this very - morning, where I am now writing, at the Bath, November 11th, - 1738, the same words were said of her by a lady of condition, - whose better judgment of her personal merit in that light has - emboldened me to repeat them. After her success in this - character of higher life, all that nature had given her of the - actress seemed to have risen to its full perfection: but the - variety of her power could not be known till she was seen in a - variety of characters, which, as fast as they fell to her, she - equally excelled in. Authors had much more from her performance - than they had reason to hope for, from what they had written - for her; and none had less than another, but as their genius, - in the parts they allotted her, was more or less elevated. - - "In the wearing of her person she was particularly fortunate; - her figure was always improving to her thirty-sixth year; but - her excellence in acting was never at a stand; and the last new - character she shone in (Lady Townly) was a proof that she was - still able to do more, if more could have been done for _her_. - She had one mark of good sense, rarely known in any actor of - either sex but herself. I have observed several, with promising - dispositions, very desirous of instruction at their first - setting out; but no sooner had they found their best account in - it, than they were as desirous of being left to their own - capacity, which they then thought would be disgraced by their - seeming to want any farther assistance. But this was not Mrs. - Oldfield's way of thinking; for to the last year of her life - she never undertook any part she liked, without being - importunately desirous of having all the helps in it that - another could possibly give her. By knowing so much herself, - she found how much more there was of nature yet needful to be - known. - - "Yet it was a hard matter to give her any hint, that she was - not able to take or improve. With all this merit, she was - tractable, and less presuming in her station than several that - had not half her pretensions to be troublesome. But she lost - nothing by her easy conduct; she had everything she asked, - which she took care should be always reasonable, because she - hated as much to be grudged as denied a civility. Upon her - extraordinary action in the '_Provoked Husband_,' the managers - made her a present of fifty guineas more than her agreement, - which never was more than a verbal one; for they knew she was - above deserting them to engage upon any other stage, and she - was conscious they would never think it their interest to give - her cause of complaint. In the last two months of her illness, - when she was no longer able to assist them, she declined - receiving her salary, though by her agreement she was entitled - to it. Upon the whole she was, to the last scene she acted, the - delight of her spectators."[263] - -This charming actress (Mrs. Oldfield) is said to have been the Flavia -of "_The Tatler_" (No. 212). The catch-penny writer of her memoirs -equivocally speaks of it as her "_vera effigies_," and on his -authority the assertion has been repeated. But as a Flavia mentioned -in the same work (No. 239) turns out to be Miss Osborne, afterwards -the wife of Bishop Atterbury (upon whom he wrote the lines on a fan -there inserted, beginning - - "Flavia the least and slightest toy - Can with resistless art employ,") - -and as the first Flavia is praised for her quality and the extreme -simplicity of her manners (which, according to Cibber, was not exactly -one of the charms of Mrs. Oldfield,) the supposition, we think, falls -to the ground. We need have less hesitation in admitting that Steele, -who knew her well, alludes to her in another paper under her favourite -title of Lady Betty Modish. Speaking of the effects of love upon a -generous temper, in refining the manners, he says, "There is Colonel -Ranter, who never spoke without an oath until he saw the Lady Betty -Modish, now never gives his man an order, but it is, 'Pray, Tom, do -it.' The drawers where he drinks live in perfect happiness. He asked -Will at the George the other day, how he did? Where he used to say, -'Damn it, it is so;' he now 'believes there is some mistake; he must -confess, he is of another opinion; but, however, he will not -insist.'"[264] This Colonel Ranter is supposed by the commentators to -have been Brigadier-General Churchill, one of the Marlborough family, -who lived with Mrs. Oldfield after the death of Mr. Maynwaring. Steele -elsewhere speaks of a "General" (supposed to be the same) "weeping for -her, in the character of Indiana in his '_Conscious Lovers_;'" upon -which he said Mr. Wilks observed (for he had made all the fine -gentlemen tender) that the General "would fight ne'er the worse for -that." - -Mrs. Oldfield's position in life was singular. With all her beauty and -attraction, and the license of stage manners, she is understood to -have attached herself but to two persons successively, and on the -footing of a wife. The first was Mr. Maynwaring, a celebrated Whig -writer, to whom one of the volumes of "The Spectator" is dedicated, -and by whom she had a son; and, after his death, she lived with -General Churchill, by whom she had a son also. "She left," says '_The -General Biography_,' "the bulk of her substance to her son Maynwaring, -from whose father she had received it; without neglecting, however, -her other son Churchill, and her own relations." - -During the period of these two connections, Mrs. Oldfield appears to -have been received into the first circles, where she is described as -being a pattern of good behaviour; and yet the feeling of Mr. -Maynwaring's friends against the connection was so strong, that she -herself, though she is understood to have had a sincere affection for -him, is said to have often remonstrated with him against it as -injurious to his interest. Marriage with an actress, though the -example had been set by a duke, appears in neither case to have been -thought of. The feeling of society seems to have been this:--"Here is -a woman bred up to the stage, and passing her life upon it. It is -therefore impossible she should marry a gentleman of family; and yet, -as her behaviour would otherwise deserve it, and the examples of -actresses are of no authority for any one but themselves, some license -may be allowed to a woman who diverts us so agreeably, who attracts -the society of the wits, and is so capital a dresser. We will treat -her profession with contempt, but herself with consideration." Upon -these curious grounds Mrs. Oldfield lived in every respect like a -woman of fashion, and as she became rich (which was, perhaps, not the -least of her recommendations), she was admitted into the best society, -and went to court. The pretence among her visitors during both her -connections probably was, that she was privately married; but she was -too sincere to warrant the deception. The Princess of Wales -(afterwards queen of George II.) asked her one day at a levee if her -marriage with General Churchill was true. "So it is said, may it -please your highness, but we have not owned it yet."--"It may appear -singular," says Mr. Chalmers, who tells us this story, "to quote the -late pious Sir James Stonhouse for anecdotes of Mrs. Oldfield; yet in -one of his letters we are informed, that she always went to the house -in the same dress she had worn at dinner in her visits to the houses -of great people; for she was much caressed on account of her -professional merit and her connection with Mr. Churchill, the Duke of -Marlborough's brother; that she used to go to the playhouse in a -chair, attended by two footmen; that she seldom spoke to any one of -the actors; and was allowed a sum of money to buy her own -clothes."[265] Mrs. Oldfield's generosity was much admired in giving -a pension to Savage, which he received regularly as long as she lived. -This is what has given posterity a liking for her. When she died she -lay in state in the Jerusalem Chamber, and her funeral in Westminster -Abbey was attended by several noblemen, among others, as pall-bearers. -Mr. Chalmers has repeated, with other biographers, that, "at her own -desire," she was elegantly dressed in her coffin; on which account, it -is added, Pope introduced her in the character of Narcissa: - - "Odious! in wollen! 'twould a saint provoke, - (Were the last words that poor Narcissa spoke); - No, let a charming chintz and Brussels lace - Wrap my cold limbs and shade my lifeless face: - One would not sure be frightful when one's dead-- - And, Betty, give this cheek a little red." - -But it does not appear that there is any authority for this speech, -except the poet's. A letter written to her first biographer by an -attendant during her last illness says, that "although she had no -priest," she "prayed without ceasing," which does not look like an -attention to dress; but the biographer adds, that "as the nicety of -dress was her delight when living, she was as nicely dressed after her -decease; being, by Mrs. Saunders' direction, thus laid in her coffin." -The nicety here mentioned was, to be sure, "mortal fine."--"She had -on," says the writer, "a very fine Brussels lace-head, a Holland shift -with tucker, and double ruffles of the same lace; a pair of new kid -gloves, and her body wrapt up in a winding sheet."[266] Yet we are of -Montaigne's opinion, and know not why death should be rendered more -melancholy than it is. When a tomb was opened in Greece, supposed to -be that of Aspasia, there was found in it a sprig of myrtle in gold. - -The next batch of players, with Garrick at their head, are Quin, -Macklin, Barry, King, Woodward, Gentleman Smith, and others; with Mrs. -Clive, Pritchard, Cibber, and Woffington. Garrick's later -contemporaries are Parsons, Dodd, Quick, the Palmers, Miss Pope, Mrs. -Abingdon, and others, who bring us down to Mrs. Siddons, Miss Farren, -&c., the commencers of our own time. Of Steele and the sentimental -comedy we need say no more. Goldsmith belongs to Covent Garden; Foote -to the Haymarket; and Cumberland, though an elegant writer, does not -call for any particular mention in an abstract like this. - -When Garrick first appeared, a declamatory grandeur prevailed in -tragedy, which we conceive to have arisen in the time of Charles II. -It was probably handed down by Booth; and imitated, with the usual -deterioration, from Betterton, who, though a true genius and a -universal one, may not have been uncorrupted by the taste of the -times; not to mention that it is doubtful, till Garrick appeared, -whether the art of acting was not identified with something too much -of an art, and the delicacy of verses expected to partake more of -recitation and musical accompaniment than we now look for. Our -suspicion to this effect arises from the traditional habits of the -stage, one generation handing down the manner of another, and -Betterton himself having been educated in the school of those who were -bred up in the recollection of Burbage and Condell. Shakspeare -himself, from custom, or even from some subtlety of reason, might have -approved of something of this kind; though, on the other hand, in the -celebrated directions of Hamlet to the players, there appears to be a -secret dissatisfaction with the most applauded actors of that time, as -not being exactly what was desirable. If this notion is just, and the -great poet of nature was as much advanced beyond his time in this as -in other respects, he might indeed have hailed such an actor as -Garrick, however hyperbolically they have been sometimes put together. -The best performers whom Garrick found in possession of public -applause, though some of them are described as excelling in all the -varieties of passion (as Mrs. Cibber, for instance, notwithstanding -the different impression given of her in the following quotation), -appear to have been more or less of the old declamatory school. Quin -in particular, then at the head of the profession, was an avowed -declaimer, having the same notions of tragedy in the delivery which -his friend Thomson had in the composition. Posterity respects Quin as -the friend of Thomson, and laughs with him as an epicure and a wit. -Garrick and he ultimately became friends. Of the first reception of -the new style introduced by Garrick, its electrical effects upon some, -and the natural hesitation of others to give up their old favourites, -a lively picture has been left us by Cumberland. - -Speaking of himself, who was then at Westminster school, he says,-- - - "I was once or twice allowed to go, under proper convoy, to the - play, where, for the first time in my life, I was treated by - the sight of Garrick in the character of Lothario. Quin played - Horatio; Ryan, Altamont; Mrs. Cibber, Calista; and Mrs. - Pritchard condescended to the humble part of Lavinia. I enjoyed - a good view of the stage from the front row of the gallery, and - my attention was rivetted to the scene. I have the spectacle - even now, as it were, before my eyes. Quin presented himself, - upon the rising of the curtain, in a green velvet coat, - embroidered down the seams, an enormous full-bottomed periwig, - rolled stockings, and high-heeled, square-toed shoes. With very - little variation of cadence, and in a deep, full tone, - accompanied by a sawing kind of action, which had more of the - senate than of the stage in it, he rolled out his heroics with - an air of dignified indifference, that seemed to disdain the - plaudits that were bestowed upon him. Mrs. Cibber, in a key - high pitched, but sweet withal, sung, or rather recitatived, - Rowe's harmonious strain, something in the manner of the - improvisatore's; it was so extremely wanting in contrast, that, - though it did not wound the ear, it wearied it; when she had - once recited two or three speeches, I could anticipate the - manner of every succeeding one; it was like a long, old, - legendary ballad of innumerable stanzas, every one of which is - sung to the same tune, eternally chiming in the ear without - variation or relief. Mrs. Pritchard was an actress of a - different cast, had more nature, and, of course, more change of - tone, and variety both of action and expression: in my opinion - the comparison was decidedly in her favour; but when, after - long and eager expectation, I first beheld little Garrick, then - young and light and alive in every muscle and in every feature, - come bounding on the stage, and pointing at the wittol Altamont - and heavy-paced Horatio--heavens, what a transition!--it seemed - as if a whole century had been swept over in the transition of - a single scene; old things were done away and a new order at - once brought forward, bright and luminous, and clearly destined - to dispel the barbarisms and bigotry of a tasteless age, too - long attached to the prejudices of custom, and superstitiously - devoted to the illusions of imposing declamation. This - heaven-born actor was then struggling to emancipate his - audience from the slavery they were resigned to; and though, at - times, he succeeded in throwing in some gleams of newborn light - upon them, yet, in general they seemed to _love darkness better - than light_, and, in the dialogue of altercation between - Horatio and Lothario, bestowed far the greater _show of hands_ - upon the master of the old school than upon the founder of the - new. I thank my stars, my feelings in those moments led me - right; they were those of nature, and therefore could not - err."[267] - - -It is needless to add that Garrick excelled in comedy as well as -tragedy, and in the lowest comedy too--in Abel Drugger as well as -Hamlet. He was first at Goodman's Fields; then appeared both at Covent -Garden and Drury Lane; but in a short time settled for life at Drury -Lane as actor, manager, and author. He was a sprightly dramatist, a -man of wit, and no doubt a generous man, though the endless matters of -business in which he was concerned, and the refusals of all kinds -which he must have been often forced into, got him, with many, a -character for the reverse. Johnson, who did not spare him, pronounced -him generous. Fine as his tragedy must have been, we suspect his -comedy must have been finer; because his own nature was one of greater -sprightliness than sentiment. We hear nothing serious of him -throughout his life; and his face, with a great deal of acuteness, has -nothing in it profound or romantic. - -Garrick has the reputation of improving the stage costume: but it was -Macklin that did it. The late Mr. West, who was the first (in his -picture of the "Death of Wolfe") to omit the absurdity of putting a -piece of armour instead of a waistcoat upon a general officer, told -us, that he himself once asked Garrick why he did not reform the stage -in that particular. Garrick said the spectators would not allow it; -"they would throw a bottle at his head." Macklin, however, persevered, -and the thing was done. The other, with all his nature, seems to have -had a hankering after the old dresses. He had first triumphed in them, -and they suited his propensity to the airy and popular. Garrick had a -particular dislike to appearing in the Roman costume. Probably in this -there was a consciousness of his small person. There are many -engravings of him extant, in which his tragic characters are seen in -coats and toupees. His appearance as Hotspur, in a laced frock and -Ramillie wig, was objected to, not as being unsuitable to the time, -but as "too insignificant for the character."[268] - -Of Barry, the most celebrated antagonist of Garrick, we shall speak at -Covent Garden. King, according to Churchill, by the force of natural -impudence as well as genius, excelled in "Brass;" and Churchill's -opinions are worth attending to, though he expresses them with -vehemence, and by wholesale. _Gentleman_ Smith explains his character -by his title. We should entertain a very high opinion of Mrs. -Pritchard, even had she left us nothing but the face in her portraits. -She seems to have been a really great genius, equally capable of the -highest and lowest parts. The fault objected to her was, that her -figure was not genteel; and we can imagine this well enough in an -actress who could pass from Lady Macbeth to Doll Common. She seems to -have thrown herself into the arms of sincerity and passion, not, -perhaps, the most refined, but as tragic and comic as need be. As -Churchill says, - - "Before such merits all objections fly, - Pritchard's genteel, and Garrick six feet high." - -Clive was an admirable comic actress, of the wilful and fantastic -order, and a wit and virago in private life. She became the neighbour -and intimate of Horace Walpole, and always seems to us to have been -the _man_ of the two. Mrs. Woffington was an actress of all work, but -of greater talents than the phrase generally implies. Davies says she -was the handsomest woman that ever appeared on the stage, and that -Garrick was at one time in doubt whether he should not marry her. She -was famous for performing in male attire, and openly preferred the -conversation of men to women--the latter she said, talking of "nothing -but silks and scandal." She was the only woman admitted into one of -the beef-steak clubs, and is said to have been president of it. These -humours, perhaps, though Davies praises her for feminine manners, as -contrasted with her antagonist Mrs. Clive, frightened Garrick out of -his matrimony. - -We now pass at once to Covent Garden Theatre, which lies close by. -Many old play-goers who are in the habit of associating the two -theatres in their fancy, like twins, will be surprised to hear that -the Covent Garden establishment is very young, compared with her -sister, being little more than a hundred years old. It was first built -by Rich, the harlequin, and opened in 1733 under the patent granted to -the Duke's company. The Covent Garden company may therefore be -considered as the representatives of the old companies of Davenant and -Betterton; while those at Drury Lane are the successors of Killigrew, -and more emphatically the King's actors. Indeed, they exclusively -designate themselves as "his Majesty's servants;" and, we believe, -claim some privileges on that account. Covent Garden theatre was -partly rebuilt in 1772, and wholly so in 1809, having undergone the -usual death by conflagration. The new edifice was a structure in -classical taste, by Mr. Smirke, the portico being a copy from the -Parthenon of Athens.[269] - -Actors have seldom been confined to any one house; and those whom we -are about to mention performed at Drury Lane as well as Covent Garden; -but as they were rivals or opponents of Garrick, and may be supposed -to have made the greatest efforts when they acted on a different -stage, we shall speak of them apart under the present head. The first -of them is Barry, who at one time almost divided the favour e -town with Garrick, and in some characters is said to have excelled -him, especially in love parts. How far this was owing to superiority -of figure, and to a reputation for gallantry, it is impossible to say; -and never were judgments more discordant than those which have been -left us on the subject of Barry's merits. For instance, his character -is thus summed up by Davies:-- - - "Of all the tragic actors who have trod the English stage for - these last fifty years, Mr. Barry was unquestionably the most - pleasing. Since Booth and Wilks, no actor had shown the public - a just idea of the hero or the lover; Barry gave dignity to the - one and passion to the other: in his person he was tall without - awkwardness; in his countenance, handsome without effeminacy; - in his uttering of passion, the language of nature alone was - communicated to the feelings of an audience." - -Davies proceeds to tell us, that Barry could not perform such -characters as Richard and Macbeth, though he made a capital Alexander. -"He charmed the ladies by the soft melody of his love-complaints, and -the noble ardour of his courtship. There was no passion of the tender -kind so truly pathetic and forcible in any actor as in Barry, except -in Mrs. Cibber, who, indeed, excelled, in the expression of love, -grief, tenderness, and jealous rage, all I ever knew. Happy it was for -the frequenters of the theatre, when these two genuine children of -nature united their efforts to charm an attentive audience. Mrs. -Cibber, indeed, might be styled the daughter or sister of Mr. Garrick, -but could be only the mistress or wife of Barry."[270] Our author -afterwards calls him the "Mark Antony of the stage," whether his -amorous disposition was considered, or his love of expense. He -delighted in giving magnificent entertainments, and treated Mr. -Pelham, who once invited himself to sup with him, in a style so -princely, that the Minister rebuked him for it; which was not very -civil. An actor has surely as much right to do absurd things as a -statesman. - -Now, as a contrast to this romantic portrait by Davies, take the -following from the severer but masterly hand of Churchill:-- - - "In person taller than the common size, - Behold where Barry draws admiring eyes; - When lab'ring passions in his bosom pent, - Convulsive rage, and struggling heave for vent, - Spectators, with imagined terrors warm, - Anxious expect the bursting of the storm: - But, all unfit in such a pile to dwell, - His voice comes forth like Echo from her cell; - To swell the tempest needful aid denies, - And all a-down the stage in feeble murmur dies. - What man, like Barry, with such pains, can err - In elocution, action, character? - What man could give, if Barry was not here, - Such well-applauded tenderness to Lear? - Who else can speak so very, very fine, - That sense may kindly end with every line? - Some dozen lines, before the ghost is there, - Behold him for the solemn scene prepare. - See how he frames his eyes, poises each limb, - Puts the whole body into proper trim,-- - From whence we learn, with no great stretch of art, - Five lines hence comes a ghost, and lo! a start. - When he appears most perfect, still we find - Something which jars upon and hurts the mind. - Whatever lights upon a part are thrown, - We see too plainly they are not his own: - No flame from nature ever yet he caught, - Nor knew a feeling which he was not taught; - He raised his trophies on the base of art, - And conn'd his passions, as he conn'd his part."[271] - -The probability, we fear, is that Barry was one of the old artificial -school, who made his way more by person than by genius. Davies, who -was a better gossip than critic, though he affected literature, was an -actor himself of the mouthing order, if we are to believe Churchill; -and his criticisms show him enough inclined to lean favourably to that -side. - -We have spoken of Quin, who acted much at this house in opposition to -Garrick. It was here that he delivered the prologue to the memory of -his friend Thomson; and affected the audience by shedding real -tears.[272] - -Macklin was celebrated in Shylock; and in some other sarcastic parts, -particularly that of Sir Archy, in his comedy of "Love-a-la-Mode." We -take him to have been one of those actors whose performances are -confined to the reflection of their own personal peculiarities. The -merits of Shuter, Edwin, Quick, and others who succeeded one another -as buffoons, were perhaps a good deal of this sort; but pleasant -humours are rare and acceptable. Macklin was a clever satirist in his -writing, and embroiled himself, not so cleverly, with a variety of his -acquaintances. He foolishly attempted to run down Garrick; and once, -in a sudden quarrel, poked out a man's eye with his stick and killed -him; for which he narrowly escaped hanging. However, he was sorry for -it; and he is spoken of, by the stage historians, as kind in his -private relations, and liberal of his purse. A curious specimen of his -latter moments we reserve for our mention of the house where he died. - -Woodward seems to have been a caricature anticipation of Lewis, and -was a capital harlequin. But nobody in harlequins beat Rich, the -manager of this theatre. His pantomimes and spectacles produced a -re-action against Garrick, when nothing else could; and Covent Garden -ever since has been reckoned the superior house in that kind of -merit,--"the wit," as Mr. Ludlow Holt called it, "of goods and -chattels." However, a considerable degree of fancy and observation may -be developed in pantomime: it is the triumph of animal spirits at -Christmas, for the little children; and for the men there is -occasionally some excellent satire on the times, reminding one, in its -spirit, of what we read of the comic buffoonery of the ancients. -Grimaldi, in his broad and fugitive sketches, often showed himself a -shrewder observer than many a comic actor who can repeat only what is -set down for him. Covent Garden has, perhaps, been superior also in -music, at least since the existence of the two houses together: for -Purcell was before its time. Many of Arne's pieces came out here; and -the famous Beard, a singer as manly as his name, the delight both of -public and private life, was one of the managers. - -Among the Covent Garden actors must not be forgotten Cooke, who came -out there in Richard III. For some time he was the greatest performer -of this and a few other characters. He was a new kind of Macklin, and -like him, excelled in Shylock and Sir Archy M'Sarcasm; a confined -actor, and a wayward man, but highly impressive in what he could do. -His artful villains have been found fault with for looking too artful -and villanous; but men of that stamp are apt to look so. The art of -hiding is a considerable one; but habit will betray it after all, and -stand foremost in the countenance. They who think otherwise are only -too dull to see it. Besides, Cooke had generally to represent -bold-faced, aspiring art; and to hug himself in its triumph. This he -did with such a gloating countenance, as if villany was pure luxury in -him, and with such a soft inward retreating of his voice--a wrapping -up of himself, as it were, in velvet--so different from his ordinary -rough way, that sometimes one could almost have wished to abuse him. - -John Kemble, who, like the whole respectable family of that name, -contributed much to maintain the rising character of the profession, -may be considered the last popular actor of the declamatory school. -His sister was a far greater performer, a true theatrical genius, -especially for the stately and dominant; and had a great effect in -raising the character of the profession. The growth of liberal opinion -is nowhere more visible than in the different estimation in which -actors and actresses are now held, compared with what it was. -Individuals, it is true, always made their way into society by dint of -the interest they excited; but still they were upon sufferance. -Anybody could insult an actor, could even beat him, without its being -dreamt that he had a right to retaliate; and the most amiable and -lady-like actresses were thought unfit for wives, as we have seen in -the case of Mrs. Oldfield. Things are now upon a different footing. -Talent is allowed its just pretensions, whether coming from author or -performer, and actresses have taken such a step, in ascension, that -nobility almost seems to look out for a wife among them, as in a -school that will inevitably furnish it with some kind of grace and -intellect. The famous Lord Peterborough, who was the first nobleman -that married an actress, kept the union concealed as long as he -could, and only owned it just before his death. The Duke of Bolton, -who married Miss Fenton, the Polly of Gay's opera, had first had -several children by her as his mistress; so that this is hardly a case -in point; and the marriage of Beard, the singer, with a lady of the -Waldegrave family, though he was one of the most excellent of men, was -looked upon as such a degradation, that they have contrived to omit -the circumstance in the peerage-books to this day! Martin Folkes's -marriage with Mrs. Bradshaw probably made the world consider the case -a little more rationally, as he was a clever man; but Lord Derby's -marriage with Miss Farren, who was eminently the gentlewoman, as well -as of spotless character, seems to have been the first that rendered -such unions compatible with public opinion. Lord Craven's with Miss -Brunton followed, though at a considerable interval; and since that -time, the town are so far from being surprised at the marriages of -actresses with people of rank or fashion, that they seem to look for -them. Lord Thurlow, not long afterwards, married Miss Bolton; another -noble lord was lately the husband of an eminent singer; and several -other favourites of the town, Miss Tree, Miss O'Neill, &c., have -become the wives of men of fortune. We remember even a dancer, Miss -Searle (but she was of great elegance, and had an air of delicate -self-possession), who married into a family of rank. - -The whole entertainment of a theatre has been rising in point of -accommodation and propriety for the last fifty years. The scenery is -better, the music better--we mean the orchestra--and last, not least, -the audiences are better. They are better behaved. Garrick put an end -to one great nuisance--the occupation, by the audience, of part of the -stage. Till his time, people often sat about a stage as at the sides -of a room, and the actor had to make his way among them, sometimes -with the chance of being insulted; and scuffles took place among -themselves. Dr. Johnson, at Lichfield, is said to have pushed a man -into the orchestra who had taken possession of his chair. The pit, -also, from about Garrick's time, seems to have left to the galleries -the vulgarity attributed to it by Pope. There still remains, says he-- - - ---- "to mortify a wit, - The many-headed monster of the pit, - A senseless, worthless, and unhonoured crowd, - Who, to disturb their betters mighty proud, - Clattering their sticks before ten lines are spoke, - Call for the farce, the bear, or the black-joke." - -This would now be hardly a fair description of the galleries; and yet -modern audiences are not reckoned to be of quite so high a cast as -they used, in point of rank and wealth; so that this is another -evidence of the general improvement of manners. Boswell, in an -ebullition of vivacity, while sitting one night in the pit by his -friend Dr. Blair, gave an extempore imitation of a cow! The house -applauded, and he ventured upon some attempts of the same kind which -did not succeed. Blair advised him in future to "stick to the cow." No -gentleman now-a-days would think of a freak like this. There is one -thing, however, in which the pit have much to amend. Their destitution -of gallantry is extraordinary, especially for a body so ready to -accept the clap-traps of the stage, in praise of their "manly hearts," -and their "guardianship of the fair." Nothing is more common than to -see women standing at the sides of the pit benches, while no one -thinks of offering them a seat. Room even is not made, though it often -might be. Nay, we have heard women rebuked for coming without securing -a seat, while the reprover complimented himself on his better wisdom, -and the hearers laughed. On the other hand, a considerate gentleman -one night, who went out to stretch his legs, told a lady in our -hearing that she might occupy his seat "till he returned!" - -A friend of ours knew a lady who remembered Dr. Johnson in the pit -taking snuff out of his waistcoat pocket. He used to go into the -green-room to his friend Garrick, till he honestly confessed that the -actresses excited too much of his admiration. Garrick did not much -like to be seen by him when playing any buffoonery. It is said that -the actor once complained to his friend that he talked too loud in the -stage box, and interrupted his feelings: upon which the doctor said, -"Feelings! Punch has no feelings." It was Johnson's opinion (speaking -of a common cant of critics), that an actor who really "took himself" -for Richard III., deserved to be hanged; and it is easy enough to -agree with him; except that an actor who did so would be out of his -senses. Too great a sensibility seems almost as hurtful to acting as -too little. It would soon wear out the performer. There must be a -quickness of conception, sufficient to seize the truth of the -character, with a coolness of judgment to take all advantages; but as -the actor is to represent as well as conceive, and to be the character -in his own person, he could not with impunity give way to his emotions -in any degree equal to what the spectators suppose. At least, if he -did, he would fall into fits, or run his head against the wall. As to -the amount of talent requisite to make a great actor, we must not -enter upon a discussion which would lead us too far from our main -object; but we shall merely express our opinion, that there is a great -deal more of it among the community than they are aware. - -Goldsmith was a frequenter of the theatre: Fielding and Smollett, -Sterne, but particularly Churchill. "His observatory," says Davies, -"was generally the first row of the pit, next the orchestra." His -"Rosciad," a criticism on the most known performers of the day, made a -great sensation among a body of persons who, as they are in the habit -of receiving applause to their faces, and in the most victorious -manner, may be allowed a greater stock of self-love than most -people--a circumstance which renders an unexacting member of their -profession doubly delightful. "The writer," says Davies, "very warmly, -as well as justly, celebrated the various and peculiar excellencies of -Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. Cibber, and Clive; but no one has, except -Garrick, escaped his satirical lash." Poor Davies is glad to say this, -because of the well-known passage in which he himself is mentioned:-- - - "With him came mighty Davies! On my life - That Davies hath a very pretty wife." - -We will make one more quotation from this poem, because it describes a -class of actors, who are now extinct, and who carried the artificial -school to its height:-- - - "Mossop, attached to military plan, - Still kept his eye fixed on his right-hand man. - Whilst the mouth measures words with seeming skill, - The right hand labours, and the left lies still; - For he resolved on scripture grounds to go, - What the right doth, the left hand shall not know. - With studied impropriety of speech, - He soars beyond the hackney critic's reach; - To epithets allots emphatic state, - Whilst principals, ungraced, like lackeys, wait; - In ways first trodden by himself excels, - And stands alone in indeclinables; - Conjunction, preposition, adverb join, - To stamp new vigour on the nervous line: - In monosyllables his thunders roll; - HE, SHE, IT, and WE, YE, THEY, fright the soul." - -Mr. Barrymore (of whom we have no unpleasing recollection) had -something of this manner with him; but the extremity of the style is -now quite gone out. - -The only capital performers we remember, that are now dead and gone, -with the exception of two or three already mentioned, were Mrs. -Jordan, a charming cordial actress, on the homely side of the -agreeable, with a delightful voice; and Suett, who was the very -personification of weak whimsicality, with a laugh like a peal of -giggles. Mathews gives him to the life. - -We shall conclude this chapter with some delightful play-going -recollections of the best theatrical critic now living[273]--the best, -indeed, as far as we know, that this country ever saw. He is one who -does not respect criticism a jot too much, nor any of the feelings -connected with humanity, or the imitation of it, too little. We here -have him giving us an account of the impression made upon him by the -first sight of a play, and concluding with a good hint to those older -children, who, because they have cut their drums open, think nothing -remains in life to be pleased with. A child may like a theatre, -because he is not thoroughly acquainted with it; but if he become a -wise man, he will find reason to like it, because he is. - -Life always flows with a certain freshness in these quarters; nor, -with all their drawbacks, have we more agreeable impressions from any -neighbourhood in London, than what we receive from the district -containing the great theatres. It is one of the most social and the -least sordid. - - "At the north end of Cross Court," says Mr. Lamb, "there yet - stands a portal, of some architectural pretensions, though - reduced to humble use, serving at present for an entrance to a - printing-office. This old door-way, if you are young, reader, - you may not know was the identical pit entrance to old - Drury--Garrick's Drury--all of it that is left. I never pass it - without shaking some forty years from off my shoulders, - recurring to the evening when I passed through it to see _my - first play_. The afternoon had been wet, and the condition of - our going (the elder folks and myself) was, that the rain - should cease. With what a beating heart did I watch from the - window the puddles, from the stillness of which I was taught to - prognosticate the desired cessation. I seem to remember the - last spurt, and the glee with which I ran to announce it. - - * * * * * - - "In those days were pit orders. Beshrew the uncomfortable - manager who abolished them!--with one of these we went. I - remember the waiting at the door--not that which is left--but - between that and an inner door, in shelter. Oh, when shall I be - such an expectant again!--with the cry of nonpareils, an - indispensable playhouse accompaniment in those days. As near as - I can recollect, the fashionable pronunciation of the - theatrical fruiteresses was, '_chase_ some oranges, _chase_ - some nonpareils, _chase_ a bill of the play:' chase _pro_ - chuse. But when we got in and I beheld the green curtain that - veiled a heaven to my imagination, which was soon to be - disclosed--the breathless anticipations I endured! I had seen - something like it in the plate prefixed to 'Troilus and - Cressida,' in Rowe's 'Shakspeare,'--the tent scene with - Diomede; and a sight of that plate can always bring back, in a - measure, the feeling of that evening. The boxes at that time - full of well-dressed women of quality, projected over the pit; - and the pilasters, reaching down, were adorned with a - glittering substance (I know not what) under glass (as it - seemed), resembling--a homely fancy--but I judged it to be - sugar-candy--yet, to my raised imagination, divested of its - homelier qualities, it appeared a glorified candy! The - orchestra lights at length arose, those 'fair Auroras!' Once - the bell sounded. It was to ring out yet once again; and, - incapable of the anticipation, I reposed my shut eyes in a sort - of resignation upon the maternal lap. It rang the second time. - The curtain drew up--I was not past six years old--and the play - was 'Artaxerxes!' - - "I had dabbled a little in the 'Universal History'-the ancient - part of it--and here was the court of Persia. It was being - admitted to a sight of the past. I took no proper interest in - the action going on, for I understood not its import; but I - heard the word Darius, and I was in the midst of Daniel. All - feeling was absorbed in vision. Gorgeous vests, gardens, - palaces, princes, passed before me--I knew not players. I was - in Persepolis for the time, and the burning idol of their - devotion almost converted me into a worshipper. I was - awe-struck, and believed those significations to be something - more than elemental fires. It was all enchantment and a dream. - No such pleasure has ever since visited me but in dreams. - Harlequin's invasion followed; where, I remember, the - transformation of the magistrates into reverend beldames seemed - to me a piece of grave historic justice, and the tailor - carrying his own head to be as sober a verity as the legend of - St. Denys. - - "The next play to which I was taken, was the 'Lady of the - Manor,' of which, with the exception of some scenery, very - faint traces are left in my memory. It was followed by a - pantomime called 'Lun's Ghost'--a satiric touch, I apprehend, - upon Rich, not long since dead--but to my apprehension (too - sincere for satire) Lun was as remote a piece of antiquity as - Lud--the father of a line of harlequins--transmitting his - dagger of lath (the wooden sceptre) through countless ages. I - saw the primeval Motley come from his silent tomb in a ghastly - vest of white patch-work, like the apparition of a dead - rainbow. So harlequins (thought I) look when they are dead. - - "My third play followed in quick succession. It was 'The Way of - the World.' I think I must have sat at it as grave as a judge; - for, I remember, the hysteric affectations of good Lady - Wishfort affected me like some solemn tragic passion. 'Robinson - Crusoe' followed, in which Crusoe, Man Friday, and the Parrot - were as good and authentic as in the story. The clownery and - pantaloonery of these pantomimes have clean passed out of my - head. I believe I no more laughed at them, than at the same age - I should have been disposed to laugh at the grotesque gothic - heads (seeming to me then replete with devout meaning) that - gape and grin, in stone, around the inside of the old round - church (my church) of the Templars. - - "I saw these plays in the season of 1781-2, when I was from six - to seven years old. After the intervention of six or seven - years (for at school all play-going was inhibited) I again - entered the doors of a theatre. That old Artaxerxes' evening - had never done ringing in my fancy. I expected the same - feelings to come again with the same occasion. But we differ - from ourselves less at sixty and sixteen, than the latter does - from six. In that interval what had I not lost! At the first - period I knew nothing, understood nothing, discriminated - nothing. I felt all, loved all, wondered all-- - - 'Was nourished I could not tell how.' - - I had left the temple a devotee, and was returned a - rationalist. The same things were there materially; but the - emblem, the reverence was gone! The green curtain was no longer - a veil drawn between two worlds, the unfolding of which was to - bring back past ages, to present a 'royal ghost,' but a certain - quantity of green baize, which was to separate the audience for - a given time from certain of their fellow-men who were to come - forward and pretend those parts. The lights--the orchestra - lights--came up, a clumsy machinery. The first ring, and the - second ring, was now but a trick of the prompter's bell, which - had been like the note of the cuckoo, a phantom of a voice, no - hand seen or guessed at, which ministered to its warning. The - actors were men and women painted. I thought the fault was in - them; but it was in myself, and the alteration which those many - centuries--of six short twelvemonths--had wrought in me. - Perhaps it was fortunate for me that the play of the evening - was but an indifferent comedy, as it gave me time to crop some - unreasonable expectations, which might have interfered with the - genuine emotions with which I was soon after enabled to enter - upon the first appearance, to me, of Mrs. Siddons in Isabella. - Comparison and retrospection soon yielded to the present - attraction of the scene; and the theatre became to me, _upon a - new stock_, the most delightful of recreations."--ELIA, p. 221. - - [Illustration: ENTRANCE DOOR, OLD COVENT GARDEN.] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[247] P. 160. - -[248] Lives of Dr. John Donne, Sir Henry Wotton, Hooker, &c. by Izaac -Walton, 1825, p. 22. - -[249] Life of Donne, in Chalmers's "British Poets." - -[250] For complete particulars of the history of James's daughter and -son-in-law, and their gallant adherents, see "Memoirs of Elizabeth -Stuart, Queen of Bohemia," by Miss Benger, and "Collins's Peerage," by -Sir Egerton Brydges, vol. v., p. 446. Miss Benger is as romantic as if -she had lived in the queen's time, but she is diligent and amusing. -The facts can easily be separated from her colouring. - -[251] See Baker's Biographia Dramatica, vol. ii. - -[252] See Baker, _passim_. - -[253] Dramatic Miscellanies, vol. iii., chap. 24. Most of the above -particulars respecting Hart and Mohun have been gathered from that -work. There are scarcely any records of them elsewhere. - -[254] Cibber's 'Apology,' _ut supra_, p. 226. - -[255] "March 1st (1671). I thence walked with him through St. James's -Parke to the garden, where I both saw and heard a very familiar -discourse between ... and Mrs. Nellie, as they called an impudent -comedian, she looking out of her garden on a terrace at the top of the -wall, and ... standing on ye greene walke under it. I was heartily -sorry at this scene. Thence the King walked to the Duchess of -Cleveland, another lady of pleasure, and curse of our nation."--Evelyn's -'Memoirs,' _ut supra_, vol. ii., p. 339. It would be curious to know -how Mr. Evelyn conducted himself during this time, if he and the King -saw one another. - -[256] Miscellaneous Works of the Duke of Buckingham and others. 1704, -vol. i., p. 34. - -[257] The verses are attributed to Etherege; but, from a Scotch rhyme -in them of _trull_ and _will_, are perhaps not his. - -[258] History of His own Times, Edin. 1753, vol. i., p. 387. - -[259] Tatler, No. 182. - -[260] Tatler, No. 188. See also No. 7. - -[261] Apology, p. 303. - -[262] Baker's Biographia Dramatica, Art. Farquhar, vol. i., p. 155. -Faithful Memoirs, &c., of Mrs. Anne Oldfield, by Egerton, p. 76. - -[263] Apology, p. 250. - -[264] Tatler, No. 10. - -[265] Letters from the Rev. J. Orton and the Rev. Sir John Stonhouse, -quoted in the "General Biographical Dictionary," vol. xxiii. p. 326. - -[266] Memoirs, p. 144. - -[267] Memoirs of Richard Cumberland, written by himself, 4to. p. 59. -Davies, in his "Life of Garrick," vol. i. p. 136, gives us a different -idea of the preference awarded by the audience. To be sure, upon his -knowledge, he says only that Quin was defeated "in the opinion of the -best judges;" but he adds, from report, an anecdote that looks as if -the general feeling also was against him. "When Lothario," he says, -"gave Horatio the challenge, Quin, instead of accepting it -instantaneously, with the determined and unembarrassed brow of -superior bravery, made a long pause, and dragged out the words, - - 'I'll meet thee there!' - -in such a manner as to make it appear absolutely ludicrous. He paused -so long before he spoke, that somebody, it was said, called out from -the gallery, 'Why don't you tell the gentleman whether you will meet -him or not?'" - -[268] Davis's Miscellanies, _ut supra_, vol. i., p. 126. - -[269] Since this was written, Covent Garden has been converted into an -Italian Opera House, has been a second time burnt, and a third time -rebuilt; the architect being Mr. Barry, a son of Sir Charles Barry, -who designed and erected the New Houses of Parliament. - -[270] Alluding to her performance of Cordelia, &c., with the one, and -of Juliet, Belvidera, &c., with the other. - -[271] The Rosciad. - -[272] "He (Thomson) left behind him the tragedy of 'Coriolanus,' which -was, by the zeal of his patron, Sir George Lyttleton, brought upon the -stage for the benefit of his family, and recommended by a prologue, -which Quin, who had long lived with Thomson in fond intimacy, spoke in -such a manner as showed him 'to be,' on that occasion, 'no actor.' The -commencement of this benevolence is very honourable to Quin; who is -reported to have delivered Thomson, then known to him only for his -genius, from an arrest, by a very considerable present; and its -continuance is honourable to both, for friendship is not always the -sequel of obligation." Life, by Dr. Johnson, in Chalmers's 'Poets,' p. -409. - -[273] Alas! now dead. This passage was written before the departure of -our admirable friend. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -COVENT GARDEN CONTINUED AND LEICESTER SQUARE. - - Bow Street once the Bond Street of London -- Fashions at that - time -- Infamous frolic of Sir Charles Sedley and others -- - Wycherly and the Countess of Drogheda -- Tonson the Bookseller - -- Fielding -- Russell Street -- Dryden beaten by hired - ruffians in Rose Street -- His Presidency at Will's - Coffee-House -- Character of that Place -- Addison and Button's - Coffee-House -- Pope, Philips, and Garth -- Armstrong -- - Boswell's introduction to Johnson -- The Hummums -- Ghost Story - there -- Covent Garden -- The Church -- Car, Earl of Somerset - -- Butler, Southern, Eastcourt, Sir Robert Strange -- Macklin - -- Curious Dialogue with him when past a century -- Dr. Walcot - -- Covent Garden Market -- Story of Lord Sandwich, Hackman, and - Miss Ray -- Henrietta Street -- Mrs. Clive -- James Street -- - Partridge, the almanack-maker -- Mysterious lady -- King Street - -- Arne and his Father -- The four Indian Kings -- Southampton - Row -- Maiden Lane -- Voltaire -- Long Acre and its Mug-Houses - -- Prior's resort there -- Newport Street -- St. Martin's Lane, - and Leicester Square -- Sir Joshua Reynolds -- Hogarth -- Sir - Isaac Newton. - - -Bow Street was once the Bond Street of London. Mrs. Bracegirdle began -an epilogue of Dryden's with saying-- - - "I've had to-day a dozen billet-doux - From fops, and wits, and cits, and Bow-street beaux; - Some from Whitehall, but from the Temple more: - A Covent-garden porter brought me four." - -Sir Walter Scott says, in a note on the passage, "With a slight -alteration in spelling, a modern poet would have written _Bond Street_ -beaux. A billet-doux from Bow Street would now be more alarming than -flattering."[274] - -Mrs. Bracegirdle spoke this epilogue at Drury Lane. There was no -Covent Garden theatre then. People of fashion occupied the houses in -Bow Street, and mantuas floated up and down the pavement. This was -towards the end of the Stuart's reign, and the beginning of the next -century--the times of Dryden, Wycherly, and the Spectator. The beau of -Charles's time is well-known. He wore, when in full flower, a peruke -to imitate the flowing locks of youth, a Spanish hat, clothes of -slashed silk or velvet, the slashes tied with ribands, a coat -resembling a vest rather than the modern coat, and silk stockings, -with roses in his shoes. The Spanish was afterwards changed for the -cocked hat, the flowing peruke for one more compact; the coat began to -stiffen into the modern shape, and when in full dress, the beau wore -his hat under his arm. His grimaces have been described by Dryden-- - - "His various modes from various fathers follow; - One taught the toss, and one the new French wallow; - His sword-knot this, his cravat that designed; - And this the yard-long snake that twirls behind. - From one the sacred periwig he gained, - Which wind ne'er blew, nor touch of hat profaned. - Another's diving bow he did adore, - Which with a shog casts all the hair before, - Till he, with full decorum, brings it back, - And rises with a water-spaniel shake."[275] - -One of these perukes would sometimes cost forty or fifty pounds. The -fair sex at this time waxed and waned through all the varieties of -dishabilles, hoop-petticoats, and stomachers. We must not enter upon -this boundless sphere, especially as we have to treat upon it from -time to time. We shall content ourselves with describing a set of -lady's clothes, advertised as stolen in the year 1709, and which would -appear to have belonged to a belle resolved to strike even Bow Street -with astonishment. They consisted of "a black silk petticoat, with a -red-and-white calico border; cherry-coloured stays, trimmed with blue -and silver; a red and dove-coloured damask gown, flowered with large -trees; a yellow satin apron, trimmed with white Persian; muslin -head-cloths, with crowfoot edging; double ruffles with fine edging; a -black silk furbelowed scarf, and a spotted hood!"[276] It is probable, -however, the lady did not wear all these colours at once. - -A tavern in Bow Street, the Cock, became notorious for a frolic of Sir -Charles Sedley, Lord Buckhurst, and others, frequently mentioned in -the biographies, but too disgusting to be told. There was an account -of it in Pepys' manuscript, but it was obliged to be omitted in the -printing. Anthony a Wood found it out, and first gave it to the -public. It was not commonly dissolute, there was a filthiness in it, -which would have been incredible if told of any other period than that -of the fine gentlemen of the court of Charles. What can be repeated -has been told by Johnson in his life of Sackville, Lord Dorset. - - "Sackville, who was then Lord Buckhurst, with Sir Charles - Sedley, and Sir Thomas Ogle, got drunk at the Cock, in Bow - Street, by Covent Garden, and going into the balcony, exposed - themselves to the company in very indecent postures. At last, - as they grew warmer, Sedley stood forth naked, and harangued - the populace in such profane language, that the public - indignation was awakened; the crowd attempted to force the - door, and being repulsed, drove in the performers with stones, - and broke the windows of the house. For this misdemeanour they - were indicted, and Sedley was fined five hundred pounds; what - was the sentence of the others is not known. Sedley employed - Killegrew and another to procure a remission of the King, but - (mark the friendship of the dissolute!) they begged the fine - for themselves, and exacted it to the last groat." - -Opposite this tavern lived Wycherly, with his wife, the Countess of -Drogheda. Charles paid him a visit there, before Wycherly knew the -lady; and showed him a kindness which his marriage is said to have -interrupted. The story begins and ends with Bow Street, and, as far as -concerns the lady, is curious. - - "Mr. Wycherly," says the biographer, "happened to be ill of a - fever at his lodgings in Bow Street, Covent Garden: during his - sickness, the King did him the honour of a visit: when, finding - his fever indeed abated, but his body extremely weakened, and - his spirits miserably shattered, he commanded him to take a - journey to the south of France, believing that nothing could - contribute more to the restoring his former state of health - than the gentle air of Montpelier during the winter season: at - the same time, the King assured him, that as soon as he was - able to undertake the journey, he would order five hundred - pounds to be paid him to defray the expenses of it. - - "Mr. Wycherly accordingly went to France, and returned to - England the latter end of the spring following, with his health - entirely restored. The King received him with the utmost marks - of esteem, and shortly after told him he had a son, who he - resolved should be educated like the son of a king, and that he - could make choice of no man so proper to be his governor as Mr. - Wycherly; and that, for this service, he should have fifteen - hundred pounds a-year allotted to him; the King also added, - that when the time came that his office should cease, he would - take care to make such a provision for him as should set him - above the malice of the world and fortune. These were golden - prospects for Mr. Wycherly, but they were soon by a cross - accident dashed to pieces. - - "Soon after this promise of his Majesty's, Mr. Dennis tells us - that Mr. Wycherly went down to Tunbridge, to take either the - benefit of the waters or the diversions of the place, when, - walking one day upon the Wells-walk with his friend, Mr. - Fairbeard, of Gray's Inn, just as he came up to the - bookseller's, the Countess of Drogheda, a young widow, rich, - noble, and beautiful, came up to the bookseller and inquired - for the 'Plain Dealer.' 'Madam,' says Mr. Fairbeard, 'since you - are for the "Plain Dealer," there he is for you,' pushing Mr. - Wycherly towards her. 'Yes,' says Mr. Wycherly, 'this lady can - bear plain-dealing, for she appears to be so accomplished, that - what would be a compliment to others, when said to her would be - plain-dealing.' 'No, truly, sir,' said the lady, 'I am not - without my faults more than the rest of my sex: and yet, - notwithstanding all my faults, I love plain-dealing, and am - never more fond of it than when it tells me of a fault.' 'Then, - Madam,' says Mr. Fairbeard, 'you and the plain dealer seem - designed by heaven for each other.' In short, Mr. Wycherly - accompanied her upon the walks, waited upon her home, visited - her daily at her lodgings whilst she stayed at Tunbridge; and - after she went to London, at her lodgings in Hatton Garden: - where, in a little time, he obtained her consent to marry her. - This he did, by his father's command, without acquainting the - King; for it was reasonably supposed, that the lady's having a - great independent estate, and noble and powerful relations, the - acquainting the King with the intended match would be the - likeliest way to prevent it. As soon as the news was known at - court, it was looked upon as an affront to the King, and a - contempt of his Majesty's orders; and Mr. Wycherly's conduct - after marrying made the resentment fall heavier upon him: for - being conscious he had given offence, and seldom going near the - court, his absence was construed into ingratitude. - - "The Countess, though a splendid wife, was not formed to make a - husband happy; she was in her nature extremely jealous; and - indulged in it to such a degree, that she could not endure her - husband should be one moment out of her sight. Their lodgings - were in Bow Street, Covent Garden, over against the Cock - Tavern, whither, if Mr. Wycherly at any time went, he was - obliged to leave the windows open, that his lady might see - there was no woman in the company."[277] - -"The Countess," says another writer, "made him some amends by dying in -a reasonable time." His title to her fortune, however, was disputed, -and his circumstances, though he had property, were always -constrained. He was rich enough however to marry a young woman a few -days before he died, in order to disappoint a troublesome heir. In his -old age he became acquainted with Pope, then a youth, who vexed him by -taking him at his word, when asked to correct his poetry. Wycherly -showed a candid horror at growing old, natural enough to a man who had -been one of the gayest of the gay, very handsome, and a "Captain." He -was captain in the regiment of which Buckingham was colonel. We have -mentioned the Duchess of Cleveland's visits to him when a student in -the Temple. Wycherly is the greatest of all our comic dramatists for -truth of detection in what is ill, as Congreve is the greatest painter -of artificial life, and Farquhar and Hoadley the best discoverers of -what is pleasant and good-humoured. When the profligacy of writers -like Wycherly is spoken of, we should not forget that much of it is -not only confined to certain characters, but that the detection of -these characters leaves an impression on the mind highly favourable to -genuine morals. A modern critic, as excellent in his remarks on the -drama as the one quoted at the conclusion of our last chapter is upon -the stage, says on this point, speaking of the comedy of the "Plain -Dealer,"--"The character of Manly is violent, repulsive, and uncouth, -which is a fault, though one that seems to have been intended for the -sake of contrast; for the portrait of consummate, artful hypocrisy in -Olivia, is, perhaps, rendered more striking by it. The indignation -excited against this odious and pernicious quality by the masterly -exposure to which it is here subjected, is 'a discipline of humanity.' -No one can read this play attentively without being the better for it -as long as he lives. It penetrates to the core; it shows the -immorality and hateful effects of duplicity, by showing it fixing its -harpy fangs in the heart of an honest and worthy man. It is worth ten -volumes of sermons. The scenes between Manly, after his return, -Olivia, Plausible, and Norel, are instructive examples of unblushing -impudence, of shallow pretensions to principle, and of the most -mortifying reflections on his own situation, and bitter sense of -female injustice and ingratitude on the part of Manly. The devil of -hypocrisy and hardened assurance seems worked up to the highest pitch -of conceivable effrontery in Olivia, when, after confiding to her -cousin the story of her infamy, she, in a moment, turns round upon her -for some sudden purpose, and affecting not to know the meaning of the -other's allusions to what she had just told her, reproaches her with -forging insinuations to the prejudice of her character, and in -violation of their friendship. 'Go! you're a censorious woman.' This -is more trying to the patience than anything in the Tartuffe." - -Tonson, the great bookseller of his time, had a private house in Bow -Street. Rowe, in an amusing parody of Horace's dialogue with Lydia, -has left an account of old Jacob's visitors here, and of his style of -language. - -Tonson got rich, but he was penurious; and his want of generosity -towards Dryden (to say the least of it) has done him no honour with -posterity. It may be said that he cared little for posterity or for -anything else, provided he got his money; but a man who cares for -money (unless he is a pure miser) only cares for power and -consideration in another shape; and no man chooses to be disliked by -his fellow-creatures, living, or to come. In the correspondence -between Tonson and Dryden, we see the usual painful picture (when the -bookseller is of this description) of the tradesman taking all the -advantages, and the author made to suffer for being a gentleman and a -man of delicacy. This is the common, and, perhaps, the natural order -of things, till society see better throughout; though there have been, -and still are, some handsome exceptions, as in the instances of -Dodsley, the late Mr. Johnson, and others. The bookseller generally -behaves well, in proportion to his intelligence; nothing being so -eager to catch all petty advantages as the consciousness of having no -other ground to go upon. It may be answered that Dryden's patience -with Tonson sometimes got exhausted, and he became "captious and -irritable:" and it is always to be remembered that the bookseller need -not pretend to be anything more than a tradesman seeking his allowed -profits; but he should not on every occasion retreat into the -strongholds of trade, and yet claim the merit of acting otherwise; and -Tonson, who undertook to be the familiar friend of Rowe and Congreve, -ought not to have been able to insult the man whom they both -respected, because he was not so well off as they. The following -passage of mingled amusement and painfulness is out of Sir Walter -Scott:-- - - "Dryden," says Sir Walter, in his life of the poet, "seems to - have been particularly affronted at a presumptuous plan of that - publisher (a keen whig, and Secretary to the Kit-Cat Club) to - drive him into inscribing the translation of 'Virgil' to King - William. With this view Tonson had an especial care to make the - engraver aggravate the nose of Eneas in the plates into a - sufficient resemblance of the hooked promontory of the - Deliverer's countenance, and foreseeing Dryden's repugnance to - his favourite plan, he had recourse, it would seem, to more - unjustifiable means to further it; for the poet expresses - himself as convinced that, through Tonson's means, his - correspondence with his sons, then at Rome, was intercepted. I - suppose Jacob, having fairly laid siege to his author's - conscience, had no scruple to intercept all foreign supplies, - which might have confirmed him in his pertinacity. But Dryden, - although thus closely beleagured, held fast his integrity; and - no prospect of personal advantage, or importunity on the part - of Tonson, could induce him to take a step inconsistent with - his religious and political sentiments. It was probably during - the course of these bickerings with his publisher, that Dryden, - incensed at some refusal of accommodation on the part of - Tonson, sent him three well-known coarse and forcible - satirical lines descriptive of his personal appearance:-- - - 'With leering looks, bull-faced, and freckled fair, - With two left legs, and Judas-coloured hair, - And frouzy pores, that taint the ambient air.' - - "'Tell the dog,' said the poet to the messenger, 'that he who - wrote these can write more.' But Tonson, perfectly satisfied - with this single triplet, hastened to comply with the author's - request, without requiring any further specimen of his poetical - powers. It would seem, on the other hand, that when Dryden - neglected his stipulated labour, Tonson possessed powers of - animadversion, which, though exercised in plain prose, were not - a little dreaded by the poet. Lord Bolingbroke, already a - votary of the Muses, and admitted to visit their high-priest, - was wont to relate, that one day he heard another person enter - the house. 'This,' said Dryden, 'is Tonson; you will take care - not to depart before he goes away, for I have not completed the - sheet which I promised him; and if you leave me unprotected, I - shall suffer all the rudeness to which his resentment can - prompt his tongue.'"[278] - -Fielding lived some time in Bow Street, probably during his -magistracy. - -We turn out of Bow Street into Russell Street, so called from the -noble family of that name, who possess great property in this quarter. -It is pleasant to think that the name is accordant with the reputation -of the place, for we are more than ever in the thick of wits and men -of letters, especially of a race which was long peculiar to this -country, literary politicians. At the north-east corner of the two -streets was the famous Will's coffee-house, formerly the Rose, where -Dryden presided over the literature of the town; and on the other side -of the way, on a part of the site of the present Hummums, stood -Button's coffee-house, no less celebrated as the resort of the wits -and poets of the time of Queen Anne. - -Dryden is identified with the neighbourhood of Covent Garden. He -presided in the chair at Russell Street; his plays came out in the -theatre at the other end of it; he lived in Gerrard Street, which is -not far off; and, alas! for the anti-climax! he was beaten by hired -bravos in Rose Street, now called Rose Alley. Great men come down to -posterity with their proper aspects of calmness and dignity; and we do -not easily fancy that they received anything from their contemporaries -but the grateful homage which is paid them by ourselves. "But the life -of a wit," says Steele, "is a warfare upon earth." Sir Walter Scott, -speaking of the beautiful description given by Dryden of the Attic -nights he enjoyed with Sir Charles Sedley and others, observes, "He -had not yet experienced the disadvantages attendant on such society, -or learned how soon literary eminence becomes the object of -detraction, of envy, of injury, even from those who can best feel its -merit, if they are discouraged by dissipated habits from emulating its -flight, or hardened by perverted feeling against loving its -possessors."[279] - -The outrage perpetrated upon the sacred shoulders of the poet was the -work of Lord Rochester, and originated in a mistake not creditable to -that would-be great man and dastardly debauchee. The following is Sir -Walter's account of the matter. - - "The 'Essay on Satire' (by Lord Mulgrave, afterwards Duke of - Buckinghamshire), though written, as appears from the - title-page of the last edition, in 1675, was not made public - until 1679, with this observation:--I have sent you herewith a - libel, in which my own share is not the least. The king having - perused it, is no way dissatisfied with his. The author is - apparently Mr. Dr[yden], his patron Lord M[ulgrave], having a - panegyric in the midst. From hence it is evident that Dryden - obtained the reputation of being the author; in consequence of - which, Rochester meditated the base and cowardly revenge which - he afterwards executed; and he thus coolly expressed his - intention in another of his letters:--'You write me word that I - am out of favour with a certain poet, whom I have admired for - the disproportion of him and his attributes. He is a rarity - which I cannot but be fond of, as one would be of a hog that - could fiddle, or a singing owl. If he falls on me at the blunt, - which is his very good weapon in wit, I will forgive him if you - please, and _leave the repartee to black Will with a cudgel_.' - - "In pursuance of this infamous resolution, upon the night of - the 18th December, 1679, Dryden was waylaid by hired ruffians, - and severely beaten, as he passed through Rose Street, Covent - Garden, returning from Will's coffee-house to his own house in - Gerrard Street. A reward of fifty pounds was in vain offered in - the 'London Gazette' and other newspapers, for the discoverers - of the perpetrators of this outrage. The town was, however, at - no loss to pitch upon Rochester as the employer of the bravos, - with whom the public suspicion joined the Duchess of - Portsmouth, equally concerned in the supposed affront thus - avenged. In our time, were a nobleman to have recourse to hired - bravos to avenge his personal quarrels against any one, more - especially a person holding the rank of a gentleman, he might - lay his account with being hunted out of society. But in the - age of Charles, the ancient high and chivalrous sense of honour - was esteemed Quixotic, and the civil war had left traces of - ferocity in the manners and sentiments of the people. - Encounters, where the assailants took all advantages of number - and weapons, were as frequent, and held as honourable, as - regular duels. Some of these approached closely to - assassination; as in the famous case of Sir John Coventry, who - was waylaid and had his nose slit by some young men of rank, - for a reflection upon the King's theatrical amours. This - occasioned the famous statute against maiming and wounding, - called the Coventry Act, an Act highly necessary, for so far - did our ancestors' ideas of manly forbearance differ from ours, - that Killegrew introduces the hero of one of his comedies, a - cavalier, and the fine gentleman of the piece, lying in wait - for, and slashing the face of a poor courtezan, who had cheated - him. - - "It will certainly be admitted, that a man, surprised in the - dark, and beaten by ruffians, loses no honour by such a - misfortune. But if Dryden had received the same discipline from - Rochester's own hand, without resenting it, his drubbing could - not have been more frequently made a matter of reproach to him: - a sign, surely, of the penury of subjects for satire in his - life and character, since an accident, which might have - happened to the greatest hero that ever lived, was resorted to - as an imputation on his honour. The Rose Alley ambuscade became - almost proverbial; and even Mulgrave, the real author of the - satire, and upon whose shoulders the blows ought in justice to - have descended, mentions the circumstance in his 'Art of - Poetry,' with a cold and self-sufficient sneer:-- - - 'Though praised and punished for another's rhymes, - His own deserve as great applause _sometimes_.' - - To which is added in a note, 'A libel for which he was both - applauded and wounded, though entirely ignorant of the whole - matter.' This flat and conceited couplet, and note, the noble - author judged it proper to omit in the corrected edition of his - poem. Otway alone, no longer the friend of Rochester, and, - perhaps, no longer the enemy of Dryden, has spoken of the - author of this dastardly outrage with the contempt it - deserved:-- - - 'Poets in honour of the truth should write, - With the same spirit brave men for it fight; - And though against him causeless hatreds rise, - And daily where he goes of late, he spies - The scowls of sudden and revengeful eyes; - 'Tis what he knows with much contempt to bear. - And serves a cause too good to let him fear, - He fears no poison from incensed drab, - No ruffian's five-foot sword, nor rascal's stab; - Nor any other snares of mischief laid, - _Not a Rose-alley cudgel ambuscade_; - From any private cause where malice reigns, - Or general pique all blockheads have to brains.'"[280] - -We dismiss this specimen of the times, that we may enjoy the look of -Dryden as posterity sees it,--that is to say, as that of the first -poet of his class, presiding over the tastes and aspirations of the -town. Milton sat in his suburban bower, equally removed from outrage -and compliment, and contemplating a still greater futurity. In the -following passage from the 'Country and City Mouse,' by Prior and -Montagu, Dryden, it is true, is spoken of with hostility, but his -acknowledged predominance shines through it. Prior's instinct misgave -him in writing against his natural master. - - "Then on they jogg'd; and since an hour of talk - Might cut a banter on the tedious walk, - As I remember, said the sober mouse, - I've heard much talk of the Wits' Coffee-house; - Thither, says Brindle, thou shalt go and see - Priests supping coffee, sparks and poets tea; - Here rugged frieze, there quality well drest, - These baffling the grand Senior, those the Test, - And there shrewd guesses made, and reasons given, - That human laws were never made in heaven; - But, above all, what shall oblige thy sight, - And fill thy eye-balls with a vast delight, - Is the poetic judge of sacred wit, - Who does i' th' darkness of his glory sit; - And as the moon who first receives the light, - With which she makes these nether regions bright, - So does he shine, reflecting from afar - The rays he borrowed from a better star; - For rules, which from Corneille and Rapin flow, - Admired by all the scribbling herd below, - From French tradition while he does dispense - Unerring truths, 'tis schism, a damned offence, - To question his, or trust your private sense."[281] - -Will's Coffee-house was at the western corner of Bow Street. It first -had the title of the Red Cow, then of the Rose; and we believe is the -same house alluded to in the pleasant story in the second number of -the 'Tatler:'-- - - "Supper and friends expect we at the Rose." - -The Rose, however, was a common sign for houses of public -entertainment. The company, of which our poet was the arbiter, sat -up-stairs in what was then called the dining, but now the -drawing-room; and there was a balcony, to which his chair was removed -in summer from its prescriptive corner by the fire-side in winter. -"The appeal," says Malcolm, "was made to him upon every literary -dispute. The company did not sit in boxes, as at present, but at -various tables which were dispersed through the room. Smoking was -permitted in the public room: it was then so much in vogue that it -does not seem to have been considered a nuisance. Here, as in other -similar places of meeting, the visitors divided themselves into -parties; and we are told by Ward, that the young beaux and wits, who -seldom approached the principal table, thought it a great honour to -have a pinch out of Dryden's snuff-box."[282] - -A lively specimen of a scene with Dryden in this coffee-house has been -afforded us by Dean Lockier. "I was about seventeen when I first came -up to town," says the Dean, "an odd-looking boy, with short rough -hair, and that sort of awkwardness which one always brings up at first -out of the country with one. However, in spite of my bashfulness and -appearance, I used, now and then, to thrust myself into Will's, to -have the pleasure of seeing the most celebrated wits of that time, who -then resorted thither. The second time that ever I was there, Mr. -Dryden was speaking of his own things, as he frequently did, -especially of such as had been lately published. 'If anything of mine -is good,' says he, ''tis "Mac-Flecno;" and I value myself the more -upon it, because it is the first piece of ridicule written in -heroics.' On hearing this I plucked up my spirit so far as to say, in -a voice but just loud enough to be heard, 'that "Mac-Flecno" was a -very fine poem, but that I had not imagined it to be the first that -was ever writ that way.' On this, Dryden turned short upon me, as -surprised at my interposing; asked me how long 'I had been a dealer in -poetry; and added, with a smile, 'Pray, sir, what is it that you did -imagine to have been writ so before?'--I named Boileau's 'Lutrin,' and -Tassoni's 'Secchia Rapita,' which I had read, and knew Dryden had -borrowed some strokes from each. ''Tis true,' said Dryden, 'I had -forgot them.' A little after, Dryden went out, and in going, spoke to -me again, and desired me to come and see him the next day. I was -highly delighted with the invitation; went to see him accordingly; -and was well acquainted with him after, as long as he lived."[283] - -Dryden's mixture of simplicity, good-nature, and good opinion of -himself, is here seen in a very agreeable manner. It must not be -omitted, that it was to this house Pope was taken when a boy, by his -own desire, on purpose to get a sight of the great man; which he did. -According to Pope, he was plump, with a fresh colour and a down look, -and not very conversable. It appears, however, that what he did say -was much to the purpose; and a contemporary mentions his conversation -on that account as one of the few things for which the town was -desirable. He was a temperate man; though, for the last ten years of -his life, Davies informs us that he drank with Addison a great deal -more than he used to do, "probably so far as to hasten his end." - -It is curious, considering his peculiar sort of reputation with -posterity, that Addison's name should be found so connected in his own -time with this species of irregularity. The same cause is supposed to -have hastened his own end; and it is related by Pope, that he was -obliged to avoid the Russell Street Coffee-house, and the bad hours of -Addison, otherwise they might have hastened his. - -Will's Coffee-house was the great emporium of libels and scandal. The -channels that have since abounded for the dregs of literature had -scarcely then begun to exist; and, instead of purveying for periodical -publications, the retailers of obloquy attended among the minor wits -of this place, and distributed the last new lampoon in manuscript. -There was a drunken fellow of that time, named Julian, who acquired an -infamous celebrity in this way. Sir Walter Scott, in his edition of -Dryden, has given the following account of him and his vocation. - - "The extremity of license in manners necessarily leads to equal - license in personal satire, and there never was an age in which - both were carried to such excess as in that of Charles II. - These personal and scandalous libels acquired the name of - lampoons, from the established burden formerly sung to them:-- - - 'Lampone lampone, camerada lampone,' - - "Dryden suffered under these violent and invisible assaults, as - much as any of his age; to which his own words in several - places of his writing, and also the existence of many of the - pasquils themselves in the Luttrel Collection, bear ample - witness. In many of his prologues and epilogues, he alludes to - this rage for personal satire, and to the employment which it - found for the half and three-quarter wits and courtiers of the - time! - - 'Yet these are pearls to your lampooning rhymes; - Ye abuse yourselves more dully than the times; - Scandal, the glory of the English nation, - Is worn to rags, and scribbled out of fashion: - Such harmless thrusts, as if, like fencers wise, - They had agreed their play before their prize. - Faith, they may hang their harp upon the willows; - 'Tis just like children when they box their pillows.' - - "Upon the general practice of writing lampoons, and the - necessity of finding some mode of dispersing them, which should - diffuse the scandal widely while the authors remained - concealed, was founded the self-erected office of Julian, - Secretary, as he calls himself, to the Muses. This person - attended Will's, the Wits' Coffee-house, as it was called; and - dispersed among the crowds who frequented that place of gay - resort copies of the lampoons which had been privately - communicated to him by their authors. 'He is described,' says - Mr. Malone, 'as a very drunken fellow, and at one time was - confined for a libel.' Several satires were written, in the - form of addresses to him as well as the following. There is one - among the 'State Poems,' beginning-- - - 'Julian, in verse, to ease thy wants I write, - Not moved by envy, malice or by spite, - Or pleased with the empty names of wit and sense, - But merely to supply thy want of pence: - This did inspire my muse, when out at heel, She saw her needy - secretary reel; - Grieved that a man, so useful to the age, - Should foot it in so mean an equipage; - A crying scandal that the fees of sense - Should not be able to support the expense - Of a poor scribe, who never thought of wants, - When able to procure a cup of Nantz.' - - "Another, called a 'Consoling Epistle to Julian,' is said to - have been written by the Duke of Buckingham. - - "From a passage in one of the letters from the 'Dead to the - Living,' we learn, that after Julian's death, and the madness - of his successor, called Summerton, lampoon felt a sensible - decay; and there was no more that 'brisk spirit of verse, that - used to watch the follies and vices of the men and women of - figure, that they could not start new ones faster than lampoons - exposed them."[284] - -These "brisk spirits" have still their descendants, and always will -have till their betters cease to set the example of railing, or to -encourage it. There is a difference, indeed, between the lampoons of -such men and those of Dryden, or the literary personalities to which -some ingenious minds will give way, before they well know what they -are about, out of mere emulation, perhaps, of the names of Pope and -Boileau. But it is not to be expected that the others will stop where -they do, or refine with the progress of their years and knowledge. The -most generous sometimes find it difficult to leave off saying -ill-natured things of one another, out of shame of yielding, or the -habit of indulging their irritability. They endeavour to reconcile -themselves to it by trying to think that the abuse has a utility; but -when they come to this point, the doubt is a proof that they ought to -forego it, and help to teach the world better. Honest contention, -however, is one thing, and scandal is another. The dealer in the -latter has always a petty mind and inferior understanding, most likely -accompanied with conscious unworthiness; the great secret of the love -of scandal lying in the wish to level others with the calumniators. - - "Will's continued to be the resort of the wits at least till - 1710," says Mr. Malcolm. "Probably Addison established his - servant [Button] in a new house about 1712, and his fame after - the production of 'Cato,' drew many of the Whigs thither."[285] - - "Addison," says Pope, "passed each day alike; and much in the - manner that Dryden did. Dryden employed his mornings in - writing, dined _en famille_, and then went to Will's: only he - came home earlier a'nights." And again: "Addison usually - studied all the morning; then met his party at Button's; dined, - and staid there five or six hours; and sometimes far into the - night. I was of the company for about a year, but found it too - much for me: it hurt my health, and so I quitted it."[286] - -Button had been a servant of the Countess of Warwick, whom Addison -married. It is said that when the latter was dissatisfied with the -Countess (we believe during the period of his courtship), he used to -withdraw the company from her servant's coffee-house. Unfortunately it -is as easy to believe a petty story of Addison as a careless one of -Steele. Addison, intellectually a great man, was complexionally a -little one. He was timid, bashful, and reserved, and instinctively -sought success by private channels and disingenous measures. - -Under the influence of these eminent persons, Button's became the -head-quarters of the Whig literati, as Will's had been that of the -Tory. Steele, however, dated his poetical papers in the 'Tatler' from -Will's, as the old haunt of the town muse. Perhaps the Whiggery of -Button's was one of the reasons why Pope left off going there, as he -did not wish to identify himself with either party. Ambrose Philips is -said to have hung up a rod at that coffee-house, as an intimation of -what Pope should receive at his hands, in case the satirist chose to -hazard it. A similar threat is related of Cibber. The behaviour of -both has been cried out against as unhandsome, considering the little -person and bodily infirmities of the illustrious offender: but as the -threateners were so much his inferiors in wit, and he exercised his -great powers at their expense, it might not be difficult to show that -their conduct was as good as his. Why attack a man, if he is to be -allowed no equality of retaliation? The truth is, that personal satire -is itself an unhandsome thing, and a childish one, and there will be -no end to childish retorts, till the more grown understandings reform. -Pope accused Philips of pilfering his pastorals, and of "turning a -Persian tale for half-a-crown;" the one an offence not very likely, -unless, indeed, all common-places may be said to be stolen; the other -no offence at all, though it might have been a misfortune. These -littlenesses in great men are a part of the childhood of society. They -show us how young it still is, and what a parcel of wrangling -schoolboys (in that respect) a future period may consider us. - -One of the most agreeable memories connected with Button's is that of -Garth, a man whom, for the sprightliness and generosity of his nature, -it is a pleasure to name. He was one of the most amiable and -intelligent of a most amiable and intelligent class of men--the -physicians. - -Armstrong, another poet and physician and not unworthy of either -class, for genius and goodness of heart, though he had the weakness of -affecting a bluntness of manners, and of swearing, drew his last -breath in this street. He is well known as the author of the most -elegant didactic poem in the language,--the 'Art of Preserving -Health.' The affectations of men of genius are sometimes in direct -contradiction to their best qualities, and assumed to avoid a show of -pretending what they feel. Armstrong, who had bad health, and was -afraid perhaps of being thought effeminate, affected the bully in his -prose writings; and he was such a swearer, that the late Mr. Fuseli's -indulgence in that infirmity has been attributed to his keeping -company with the Doctor when a youth. We never met with a habitual -swearer in whom the habit could not be traced to some feeling of -conscious weakness. Fuseli swore as he painted, in the hope of making -up for the defects of his genius by the violence of his style. - -At No. 8, Russell Street, Boswell was introduced to his formidable -friend of whom he became the biographer. The house then belonged to -Davies the bookseller. The account given us of his first interview is -highly characteristic of both parties. Boswell had a thorough specimen -of his future acquaintance at once, and Johnson evidently saw -completely through Boswell. - - "Mr. Thomas Davies, the actor," saith the particular Boswell, - "who then kept a bookseller's shop in Russell Street, Covent - Garden, told me that Johnson was very much his friend, and came - frequently to his house, where he more than once invited me to - meet him; but by some unlucky accident or other he was - prevented from coming to us. - - "Mr. Thomas Davies was a man of good understanding and talents, - with the advantage of a liberal education. Though somewhat - pompous, he was an entertaining companion; and his literary - performances have no inconsiderable share of merit. He was a - friendly and very hospitable man. Both he and his wife (who had - been celebrated for her beauty), though upon the stage for many - years, maintained an uniform decency of character, and Johnson - esteemed them, and lived in as easy an intimacy with them as - any family which he used to visit. Mr. Davies recollected - several of Johnson's remarkable sayings, and was one of the - best of the many imitators of his voice and manner, while - relating them. He increased my impatience more and more to see - the extraordinary man whose works I highly valued, and whose - conversation was reported to be so peculiarly excellent. - - "At last," continues Mr. Boswell, "on the 16th of May, when I - was sitting in Mr. Davies's back parlour, after having drank - tea with him and Mrs. Davies, Johnson unexpectedly came into - the shop, and Mr. Davies having perceived him through the - glass-door in the room in which we were sitting, advancing - towards us--he announced his awful approach somewhat as an - actor in the part of Horatio, when he addresses Hamlet on the - appearance of his father's ghost, 'Look, my lord, it comes.' I - found that I had a very perfect idea of Johnson's figure, from - the portrait of him painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds soon after - he had published his 'Dictionary,' in the attitude of sitting - in his easy chair in deep meditation; which was the first - picture his friend did for him, which Sir Joshua very kindly - presented to me, and from which an engraving has been made for - this work. Mr. Davies mentioned my name, and respectfully - introduced me to him; I was much agitated, and recollecting his - prejudice against the Scotch, of which I had heard much, I said - to Davies, 'Don't tell where I come from.'--'From Scotland,' - cried Davies, roguishly. 'Mr. Johnson,' said I, 'I do indeed - come from Scotland, but I cannot help it.' I am willing to - flatter myself that I meant this as light pleasantry to soothe - and conciliate him, and not as a humiliating abasement at the - expense of my country. But however that might be, this speech - was somewhat unlucky; for with that quickness of wit for which - he was so remarkable, he seized the expression 'come from - Scotland!' which I used in the sense of being of that country; - and, as if I had come away from it, or left it, retorted, - 'That, sir, I find, is what a great many of your countrymen - cannot help.' This stroke stunned me a good deal; and when we - had sat down, I felt myself not a little embarrassed, and - apprehensive of what might come next. He then addressed - himself to Davies: 'What do you think of Garrick? he has - refused me an order for the play for Miss Williams, because he - knows the house will be full, and that an order will be worth - three shillings.' Eager to take any opening to get into - conversation with him, I ventured to say, 'O, sir, I cannot - think Mr. Garrick would grudge such a trifle to you.' 'Sir - (said he, with a stern look,) I have known David Garrick longer - than you have done; and I know no right you have to talk to me - on the subject.' Perhaps I deserved this check; for it was - rather presumptuous in me, an entire stranger, to express any - doubt of the justice of his animadversion upon his old - acquaintance and pupil. I now felt myself much mortified, and - began to think that the hope I had long indulged of obtaining - his acquaintance was blasted. And, in truth, had not my ardour - been uncommonly strong, and my resolution uncommonly - persevering, so rough a reception might have deterred me for - ever from making any further attempts. Fortunately, however, I - remained upon the field, not wholly discomfited." * * * "I was - highly pleased with the extraordinary vigour of his - conversation, and regretted that I was drawn away from it by an - engagement at another place. I had, for a part of the evening, - been left alone with him, and had ventured to make an - observation now and then, which he received very civilly; so - that I was satisfied that, though there was a roughness in his - manner, there was no ill-nature in his disposition. Davies - followed me to the door, and when I complained to him a little - of the hard blows which the great man had given me, he kindly - took upon him to console me by saying, 'Don't be uneasy. I can - see he likes you very well.'"[287] - -The Hummums Hotel and Coffee-house which occupies the south-west -corner of this street, and stretches round into Covent Garden market, -is so called from an eastern word signifying baths. It was one of the -earliest houses set up in England of that kind, and thence called -bagnios; and one of the few that retained their respectability. The -generality were so much the reverse, that the word bagnio came to mean -a brothel. It appears from a story we are about to relate, that people -went to the Hummums not only to bathe, but to get themselves cupped. -Bathing is too much neglected in this country; but the consequences of -our sedentary habits have forced upon us a greater degree of attention -to it, and the imitation of the Turkish system of cleanliness has been -carried further in vapour baths and the startling luxury of -shampooing, which makes people discover that they have in general two -or three skins too many. Englishmen, in the pride of their greater -freedom, often wonder how Eastern nations can endure their servitude. -This is one of the secrets by which they endure it. A free man in a -dirty skin is not in so fit a state to endure existence as a slave -with a clean one; because nature insists, that a due attention to the -clay which our souls inhabit, shall be the first requisite to the -comfort of the inhabitant. Let us not get rid of our freedom; let us -teach it rather to those that want it; but let such of us as have -them, by all means get rid of our dirty skins. There is now a moral -and intellectual commerce among mankind, as well as an interchange of -inferior goods; we should send freedom to Turkey as well as clocks and -watches, and import not only figs, but a fine state of the pores. - -Of the Hummums there is a ghost-story in Boswell, a thing we should as -little dream of in this centre of the metropolis, as look for a ghost -at noonday. The reader will see how much credit is to be given it, by -the style of the narrator, who, with all his good-will towards -superstition (and it is no less a person that speaks than Dr. -Johnson), had an inveterate love of truth, which led him to defeat his -own object. - - "Amongst the numerous prints," says Boswell, "pasted on the - walls of the dining-room at Streatham, was 'Hogarth's Modern - Midnight Conversation.' I asked him what he knew of Parson - Ford, who makes a conspicuous figure in the riotous group. - _Johnson._ 'Sir, he was my acquaintance and relation,--my - mother's nephew. He had purchased a living in the country, but - not simoniacally. I never saw him but in the country. I have - been told that he was a man of great parts, very profligate, - but I never heard he was impious.' _Boswell._ 'Was there not a - story of his ghost having appeared?' _Johnson._ 'Sir, it was - believed. A waiter at the Hummums, in which house Ford died, - had been absent some time, and returned, not knowing that Ford - was dead. Going down to the cellar, according to the story, he - met him; going down again he met him a second time. When he - came up, he asked some people of the house what Ford could be - doing there. They told him Ford was dead. The waiter took a - fever, in which he lay for some time. When he recovered he said - he had a message to deliver to some women from Ford; but he was - not to tell what, or to whom. He walked out; he was followed; - but somewhere about St. Paul's they lost him. He came back, and - said he had delivered the message, and the women exclaimed, - 'Then we are all undone!' Dr. Pellett, who was not a credulous - man, inquired into the truth of this story, and he said, the - evidence was irresistible. My wife went to the Hummums (it is a - place where people get themselves cupped). I believe she went - with intention to hear about this story of Ford. At first they - were unwilling to tell her; but after they had talked to her, - she came away satisfied that it was true. To be sure the man - had a fever; and this vision may have been the beginning of it. - But if the message to the women, and their behaviour upon it, - were true as related, there was something supernatural. That - rests upon his word: and there it remains.'"[288] - -At the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth, Covent Garden (or, as it -would be more properly spelt, _Convent_ Garden[289]) extended from -Drury Lane to St. Martin's Lane, and was surrounded by a brick wall. -It had lately belonged to the abbots of Westminster, whom it supplied, -doubtless, with fruit and vegetables, as it has since done the -metropolis, and hence its appellation. The reader will see it in the -old print of London by Aggas. There was a break into it on the -south-west, made by the garden of Bedford House, which stood facing -the Strand between the present Bedford and Southampton Streets. On the -dissolution of the monasteries, Covent Garden was given to the Duke of -Somerset, and on his fall, to John, Earl of Bedford, whose family -converted it into a pasture ground, including Long Acre, then part of -the fields leading to St. Giles's. His descendant Francis, about -seventy years afterwards, let the whole pasture on a building lease, -and built the old church for the intended inhabitants. The architect -was Inigo Jones. To the same hand we are indebted for the portico of -the north-eastern quarter, which still remains. There was a -continuation of it on the south-east, which was burnt down. It was to -have been carried all round the square, and the absence of it might be -regretted on the score of beauty; but porticoes are not fit for this -climate, unless where the object is to furnish a walk during the rain. -Covered walks devoted to that purpose, and conveniently distributed, -might be temptations to out-of-door exercise in bad weather. If they -succeeded, they would effect a very desirable end. But covered walks, -however beautiful, which are not used in that way, are rather to be -deprecated in this cold and humid climate. In Italy, where the summer -sun at noon-day burns like a cauldron, they are much to the purpose; -but the more sun we can get in England the better. Luckily, there is a -convenience in this portico, as far as the theatre is concerned; -otherwise the circuit would be more agreeable without it, and the -coffee-houses of the place more light and cheerful. - -Of the style of building observed in the church there is a well-known -story. "The Earl is said to have told Inigo Jones he wished to have as -plain and convenient a structure as possible, and but little better -than a barn; to which the architect replied, he would build a barn, -but that it should be the handsomest in England."[290] - -Inigo Jones's church was burnt down in the year 1795, owing to the -carelessness of some plumbers who were mending the roof. "When the -flames were at their height," says Malcolm, "the portico and massy -pillars made a grand scene, projected before a back-ground of liquid -fire, which raged with so much uncontrolled fury, that not a fragment -of wood, in or near the walls, escaped destruction."[291] - - [Illustration: INIGO JONES'S CHURCH, AND OLD COVENT GARDEN.] - -The barn-like taste, or in other words the Grecian (for usefulness and -simplicity are the secrets of it, and the Temple of Theseus and a -common barn have the same principles of structure), was copied in the -new edifice. By a passage quoted in the _Londinium Redivivum_ from the -_Weekly Journal_ of April 22, 1727, it appears that the portico of the -old church had been altered by the inhabitants, and restored by the -Earl of Burlington, "out of regard to the memory of the celebrated -Inigo Jones, and to prevent our countrymen being exposed for their -ignorance." The spirit of this portico has been retained, and the -church of St. Paul's Covent garden is one of the most pleasing -structures in the metropolis. - -A great many actors have been buried in this spot; among them, -Eastcourt the famous mimic, Edwin, Macklin, and King. We shall speak -of one or two of them presently, but it is desirable, especially in a -work of this kind, to observe a chronological order. The mere -observance itself conveys information. Among the variety of persons -buried here may be mentioned, first: - -Car, Earl of Somerset, in the old church. His burial in Covent Garden -was, doubtless, owing to his connection with the family of Russell, -his daughter having married William, afterwards Earl and Duke of -Bedford, father of the famous patriot. It is said that his lady was -bred up in such ignorance of the dishonour of her parents, that having -met by accident with a book giving an account of it, she fainted away, -and was found in that condition by her domestics. Her lover's family -were very averse to the match, but wisely allowed it upon due trial, -and had no reason to repent their generosity. To read the history of -the foolish and unprincipled Countess of Somerset, who would suppose -that her daughter was to give birth to the conscientious martyr for -liberty? But the blood which folly makes wicked, a good education may -render noble. - -Butler in the church-yard. The popular notion that he was starved is -unfounded; but he was very ill-treated by a court whom his wit -materially served. It is said that Charles, once and away, gave him a -hundred pounds. This is possible; but it is at least as possible that -he gave him nothing, though he would willingly have done it, perhaps, -had his debaucheries left him the means. Charles, in his way, was as -poor as Butler, though not as honourably so, for it does not appear -that the poet was unwilling to labour for his subsistence. There is a -mystery, however, in Butler's private affairs. He once appears to have -had some office in the family of the Countess of Kent. Perhaps he was -not a very good man of business, though the learning exhibited in -'Hudibras' showed how he could work on a favourite subject. When men -succeed to this extent in what nature evidently designs them for, -great allowance is to be made for their disinclination to other tasks; -and Butler had no children to render the neglect of his fortune -criminal. The Duke of Buckingham, who once undertook to "do something -for him," and had a meeting for the purpose at a coffee-house, saw a -pander of his go by the window with a "brace of ladies," and going -after him, we hear no more of his Grace. Luckily, to prevent him from -starvation, Butler found a friend in the excellent Mr. Longueville of -the Temple, a scholar and a real gentleman, who did not confine his -generosity to an admiration of him in books. The poet is understood to -have been indebted to him for support during the latter part of his -life; and it was he who buried him in this church-yard. It is to Mr. -Longueville that we are indebted for the publication of Butler's -"Remains," which are quite worthy of the wit of "Hudibras," and -deserve to be more generally known. Butler was the greatest wit that -ever wrote in verse; perhaps the greatest that ever wrote at all, -meaning by wit the union of remote ideas. He was undoubtedly the most -learned. His political poem is out of date; and much of the humour -that delighted the cavaliers must, of necessity, be lost to us; but -passages of it will always be repeated; and it is difficult to hear -his name mentioned, without quoting some of his rhymes. He was the -first man that gave rhyme itself an air of wit. His couplets are not -only witty themselves, but seem to add a new idea to their imagery in -the very sounds at the end of them. His startling turns of thought are -accompanied by as surprising a turn in the cadence, as if the echo -itself could not help laughing. Thus his doctor's shop is - - "---- stored with deletery medicines, - Which whosoever took is dead since:" - -his sour religionists - - "Compound for sins they are inclined to, - By damning those they have no mind to:" - -and again, - - "Synods are mystical bear-gardens, - Where elders, deputies, church-wardens, - And other members of the court, - Manage the Babylonish sport; - For prolocutor, scribe, and bear-ward, - Do differ only in a mere word: - Both are but several synagogues - Of carnal men, and bears, and dogs: - Both antichristian assemblies - To mischief bent, as far's in them lies." - -His most quoted rhyme, when - - "---- Pulpit, drum ecclesiastic, - Was beat with fist instead of a stick, - -is, singularly enough, no rhyme at all; but the surprise of the echo, -and the truth conveyed in it, affect us as if it were perfect. Here -are one or two more of the wilful order, very ludicrous:-- - - "---- The captive knight - And pensive squire, both bruised in body - And conjured into safe custody. - - ---- in all the fabrick - You could not see one stone or a brick. - - Who deals in destiny's dark counsels, - And sage opinions of the moon sells. - - Those wholesale critics that in coffee- - Houses cry down all philosophy." - -Mrs. Pilkington tells us that Swift took down a "Hudibras" one day, -and ordered her to examine him in the book, when, to her great -surprise, she found he remembered "every line, from beginning to end -of it."[292] Mrs. Pilkington is a lady whose word is to be taken _cum -multis granis_; nor is it very likely she should ever have heard the -Dean repeat a whole volume through; but if Swift knew any author -entire, Butler is likely to have been the man. Butler had the same -politics, the same love of learning, the same wit, the same apparent -contempt of mankind, the same charity underneath it, and the same -impatient wish to see them wiser. His style of writing is evidently -the origin of Swift's. If the reader is not yet acquainted with his -'Remains,' the following sample or two will give him a desire to be -so:-- - - "The truest characters of ignorance - Are vanity, and pride, and arrogance; - As blind men use to bear their noses higher, - Than those who have their eyes and sight intire." - - * * * * * - - "There needs no other charm, nor conjuror, - To raise infernal spirits up, but fear; - That makes men pull their horns in like a snail, - That's both a prisoner to itself, and jail; - Draws more fantastic shapes than in the grains - Of knotted wood, in some men's crazy brains, - When all the cocks they think they see, and bulls, - Are only in the inside of their skulls." - -Sir Peter Lely, the painter of the meretricious beauties of the court -of Charles II.--Pope's couplet on him is well known:-- - - "Lely on animated canvass stole - The sleepy eye that spoke the melting soul." - -The canvass is more sleepy than animated, and the ladies more like -what they were in inclination than in features. However, there is a -great likeness on that very account. They are all of a sisterhood;-- -_qualem_ non _decet esse sororum_. A master of pictorial criticism has -said of the collection of them at Windsor Castle, that "they look just -like what they were, a set of kept-mistresses, painted, tawdry, -showing off their theatrical or meretricious airs and graces, without -one trace of real elegance or refinement, or one spark of sentiment to -touch the heart. Lady Grammont is the handsomest of them; and though -the most voluptuous in her attire and attitude, the most decent. The -Duchess of Portsmouth (Cleveland), in her helmet and plumes, looks -quite like a heroine of romance, or modern Amazon; but for an air of -easy assurance, inviting admiration, and alarmed at nothing but being -thought coy, commend us to my Lady ---- above, in the sky-blue -drapery, thrown carelessly over her shoulders. As paintings, these -celebrated portraits cannot rank very high. They have an affected -ease, but a real hardness of manner and execution; and they have that -contortion of attitude and setness of features, which we afterwards -find carried to so disgusting and insipid an excess in Kneller's -portraits. Sir Peter Lely was, however, a better painter than Sir -Godfrey Kneller--that is the highest praise that can be accorded to -him. He had more spirit, more originality, and was the livelier -coxcomb of the two! Both these painters possessed considerable -mechanical dexterity, but it is not of a refined kind. Neither of them -could be ranked among great painters, yet they were thought by their -contemporaries and themselves superior to every one. At the distance -of a hundred years we see the thing plainly enough."[293] Sir Peter -was a Westphalian, of a family named Vander Vaas. His father was an -officer in the army, who, having been born in a perfumer's house which -had a lily for its sign, got the name of Captain Du Lys, or Lely, and -the cognomen was retained by his son. He aimed at magnificence in his -style of living, probably in imitation of his predecessor at the -English court, Vandyke; but there was a certain coarseness about him -which showed the inferiority of his taste in that particular, as well -as in the rest. - -Wycherly in the Church. See Bow Street. - -Southern, one of those dramatic writers who, without much genius, -succeed in obtaining a considerable name, and justly, by dint of -genuine feeling for common nature. He began in Dryden's time, who knew -and respected his talents, was known and respected by Pope, and lived -to enjoy a similar regard from Gray. "I remember," says Oldys, "this -venerable old gentleman, when he lived in Covent Garden, and used to -frequent the evening prayers in the church there. He was always neat -and decently dressed, commonly in black, with his silver sword, and -silver locks." Gray, in a letter to Walpole, dated Burnham, in -Buckinghamshire, 1737, says, "We have old Mr. Southern at a -gentleman's house, a little way off, who often comes to see us; he is -now seventy-seven years old, and has almost wholly lost his memory; -but is as agreeable an old man as can be; at least I persuade myself -so when I look at him, and think of Isabella and Oroonoko." Southern -died about nine years after this period, aged about eighty-five. With -all the respect he obtained, probably a great deal more by the decency -and civility of his habits than by his genius, Southern, it appears, -was not above making application to the nobility and others to buy -tickets for his plays. - -Joe Haines, the comedian. See Drury Lane. - -Eastcourt, the comedian--or mimic, rather--for, like most players who -devote themselves to mimicry, which is a kind of caricature -portrait-painting, his comedy or general humour was inferior to it. He -was, however, a man of wit as well as a mimic; and, in spite of a -talent which seldom renders men favourites in private, was so much -regarded, that, when the Beef-steak Club was set up (which a late -author says must not be confounded with the Beef-steak Club held in -Covent Garden Theatre and the Lyceum), Eastcourt was appointed -_provveditore_ or _caterer_, and presented as a badge of distinction -with a small gridiron of gold, which he wore about his neck fastened -to a green ribbon. He is said at one time to have been a -tavern-keeper, in which quality (unless it was in the other) Parnell -speaks of him in the beginning of one of his poems:-- - - Gay Bacchus liking Estcourt's wine - A noble meal bespoke us, - And for the guests that were to dine - Brought Comus, Love, and Jocus.[294] - - -But his greatest honour is the following remarkable testimony borne to -his merits by Sir Richard Steele, whose own fineness of nature was -never more beautifully evinced in any part of his writings:-- - - "Poor Eastcourt! the last time I saw him we were plotting to - show the town his great capacity for acting in his full light, - by introducing him as dictating to a set of young players, in - what manner to speak this sentence and utter t'other passion. - He had so exquisite a discerning of what was defective in any - object before him, that in an instant he could shew you the - ridiculous side of what would pass for beautiful and just, even - to men of no ill judgment, before he had pointed at the - failure. He was no less skilful in the knowledge of beauty; - and, I dare say, there is no one who knew him well, but can - repeat more well-turned compliments, as well as smart repartees - of Mr. Eastcourt's, than of any other man in England. This was - easily to be observed in his inimitable faculty of telling a - story, in which he would throw in natural and unexpected - incidents to make his court to one part, and rally the other - part of the company. Then he would vary the usage he gave them, - according as he saw them bear kind or sharp language. He had - the knack to raise up a pensive temper and mortify an - impertinently gay one, as he saw them bear kind or sharp - language. - - "It is an insolence natural to the wealthy, to affix, as much - as in them lies, the character of a man to his circumstances. - Thus it is ordinary with them to praise faintly the good - qualities of those below them, and say, it is very - extraordinary in such a man as he is, or the like, when they - are forced to acknowledge the value of him whose lowness - upbraids their exaltation. It is to this humour only that it is - to be ascribed, that a quick wit in conversation, a nice - judgment upon any emergency that could arise, and a most - blameless inoffensive behaviour, could not raise this man above - being received only upon the foot of contributing to mirth and - diversion. But he was as easy under that condition as a man of - so excellent talents was capable; and since they would have it - that to divert was his business, he did it with all the seeming - alacrity imaginable, though it stung him to the heart that it - was his business. Men of sense, who could taste his - excellencies, were well satisfied to let him lead the way in - conversation, and play after his own manner; but fools, who - provoked him to mimicry, found he had the indignation to let it - be at their expense who called for it; and he would show the - form of conceited heavy fellows as jests to the company at - their own request, in revenge for interrupting him from being a - companion, to put on the character of a jester. - - "What was peculiarly excellent in this memorable companion was, - that in the accounts he gave of persons and sentiments, he did - not only hit the figure of their faces, and manner of their - gestures, but he would in his narration fall into their very - way of thinking, and this when he recounted passages wherein - men of the best wit were concerned, as well as such wherein - were represented men of the lowest rank of understanding. It is - certainly as great an instance of self-love to a weakness, to - be impatient of being mimicked, as any can be imagined. There - were none but the vain, the formal, the proud, or those who - were incapable of mending their faults, that dreaded him; to - others he was in the highest degree pleasing, and I do not know - any satisfaction of any indifferent kind I ever tasted so much - as having got over an impatience of seeing myself in the air he - could put me when I have displeased him. _It is indeed to his - exquisite talent this way, more than any philosophy I could - read on the subject, that my person is very little of my care; - and it is indifferent to me what is said of my shape, my air, - my manner, my speech, or my address. It is to poor Eastcourt I - chiefly owe that I am arrived at the happiness of thinking - nothing a diminution to me_, BUT WHAT ARGUES A DEPRAVITY OF MY - WILL. - - "I have been present with him among men of the most delicate - taste a whole night, and have known him (for he saw it was - desired) keep the discourse to himself the most part of it, and - maintain his good humour with a countenance and in a language - so delightful, without offence to any person or thing upon - earth, still preserving the distance his circumstances obliged - him to; I say, I have seen him do all this in such a charming - manner, that I am sure none of those I hint at will read this - without giving him some sorrow for their abundant mirth, and - one gush of tears for so many bursts of laughter I wish it were - any honour to the pleasant creature's memory that my eyes are - too much suffused to let me go on."[295] - -Closterman in the church-yard. He was an indifferent, but once popular -artist, whom we mention on account of his painful domestic end. He had -a mistress, whom he thought devoted to him. She robbed him of -everything she could lay her hands on, money, plate, jewels, and -moveables, and fled out of the kingdom. He pined away with an impaired -understanding, and was soon brought to the grave. Closterman was once -set in competition with Sir Godfrey Kneller. He painted the family of -the Duke of Marlborough, and had so many disputes about the picture -with the Duchess, that Marlborough said to him, "It has given me more -trouble to reconcile my wife and you, than to fight a battle." - -Arne, the celebrated musician, in the church-yard. See King Street. - -Sir Robert Strange, the greatest engraver, perhaps, this country has -seen; that is to say, supposing the merits of an engraver to be in -proportion to his relish for and imitation of his originals. Other men -may have drawn a finer mechanical line, but none have surpassed -Strange in giving the proper diversity of surfaces, or equalled him in -transferring to hard copper the roundness and delicacy of flesh. His -engravings from Titian almost convey something of the colours of that -great painter. Like all true masters, Strange took pains with whatever -he did, and bestowed attention on every part of it; so much indeed, -that his love for his art appears to have been an exhausting one, and -he was anxious to keep the burin out of the hands of his children. He -had seen a great deal of the world, and was a very amiable as well as -intelligent man. When young he was a great Jacobite, and fought -sword-in-hand for the Pretender; though it is said that a main cause -of his ardour was the hope of attaining the hand of a fair friend, -equally devoted to the cause. It is pleasant to add, that he did -attain it, and that she made him a good wife. Sir Robert was a -Scotchman of a good family; but his knighthood came from George the -Third, a few years before the artist's death. - -Macklin, the comedian, in the church-yard, at the age of one hundred -and seven, and upwards. We have spoken of him before in his stage -character. His long age in the midst of cities and theatres is very -remarkable. It seems to have been owing to the inheritance of a robust -constitution--the great cause of longevity next to temperance, perhaps -the greatest, unless contradicted by the reverse. Most persons who -have been long-lived have had long-lived progenitors; but somebody -must begin. The foundation is always temperance. Macklin must have -been very lucky in his physical advantages, for he did not keep any -very strict rein over his temper; nor does he appear to have followed -any regimen, till latterly, and then he consulted the immediate ease -of his stomach, and not the quality of what he took. However, his -habits, whatever they were, were most likely regular. "It had been his -constant rule," says his biographer, "for a period of thirty years and -upwards, to visit a public-house called the Antelope, in White Hart -Yard, Covent Garden, where his usual beverage was a pint of beer -called _stout_, which was made hot and sweetened with moist sugar, -almost to a syrup. This, he said, balmed his stomach, and kept him -from having any inward pains."[296] The same writer, in a report of a -conversation he had with Mr. Macklin, has left us an affecting but not -unpleasing picture of the decay of faculties, remarkable to the very -last for their shrewdness and vivacity. It is the liveliest picture of -old mortality we ever met with. - - _Question._ "Well, Mr. Macklin, how do you do to-day?" - - _Answer._ "Why, I hardly know, sir; I think I am a little - better than I was in the morning." - - _Q._ "Why, sir, did you feel any pain in the morning?" - - _A._ "Yes, sir, a good deal." - - _Q._ "In what part?" - - _A._ "Why, I feel a sort of a--a--a--" (shaking his head), "I - forget everything; I forget the word: I felt a kind of pain - here" (putting his hand upon his left breast),--"but it is gone - away, and I am better now." - - _Q._ "How do you sleep, sir?" - - _A._ "Not so well as I could wish; I am becoming more wakeful - than usual; I awoke last night two or three times: I got up - twice, walked about my room here, and then went to bed again." - - _Q._ "Do you always get up when you awake, sir?" - - _A._ "No, sir, not always; but I get up and walk about as soon - as I feel myself--there, now, it is all gone" (putting his hand - upon his forehead). - - _Q._ "You get up, sir, I suppose, as soon as you feel yourself - uneasy in bed?" - - _A._ "Yes, sir, when I begin to be troublesome to myself." - - _Q._ "Do not you, sir, find it unpleasant to walk about here - alone, and to have nobody to converse with?" - - _A._ "Not at all, sir, I get up when I am tired abed, and I - walk about till I am tired, and then I go to bed again; and so - forth." - - _Q._ "But does it not afford you great pleasure when any person - comes to see you?" - - _A._ "Why, not so much as one would expect, sir." - - _Q._ "Are you not pleased when your friends come and converse - with you?" - - _A._ "I am always very happy to see my friends, and I should be - very happy to hold a--a--a, see there now...." - - _Q._ "A conversation you mean, sir?" - - _A._ "Ay, a conversation. Alas! sir, you see the wretched state - of my memory--see there now, I could not recollect that common - word--but I cannot converse. I used to go to a house very near - this where my friends assemble ... it was a--a--a [a company] - no, that's not the word, a--a--club, I mean. I was the father - of it, but I could not hear all; and what I did hear, I did - not--a--a--under--under--understand; they were all very - attentive to me, but I could not be one of them. I always feel - an uneasiness, when I don't know what the people are talking - about. Indeed, I found, sir, that I was not fit to keep - company--so I stay away." - - _Q._ "Have you been reading this morning, sir?" - - _A._ "Yes, sir." - - _Q._ "What book?" - - _A._ "I forget:--here, look at it;"--handing the book. - - _Q._ "I see, it is Milton's 'Paradise Lost.'" - - [He then took the book out of my hand and said:--"I have only - read this much" (about four pages) "these two days--but what I - read yesterday, I have forgot to-day." He next read a few lines - of the beginning inimitably well, and laying down the book, - said] "I understand all that, but if I read any farther, I - forget that passage which I understood before." - - _Q._ "But I perceive with satisfaction, sir, that your sight is - very good." - - _A._ "Oh, sir, my sight, like everything else, begins to fail - too; about two days ago I felt--a--a--there now ... I have lost - it--a pain just above my left eye, and heard something give a - crack, and ever since, this eye (pointing to the left) has been - painful." - - _Q._ "I think, sir, it would be advisable for you to refrain - from reading a little time." - - _A._ "I believe you are in the right, sir." - - _Q._ "I think you appear at present free from pain?" - - _A._ "Yes, sir, I am pretty comfortable now: but I find - my--my--my strength is all gone. I feel myself going - gradually." - - _Q._ "But you are not afraid to die?" - - _A._ "Not in the least, sir--I never did any person any serious - mischief in my life:--even when I gambled, I never cheated:--I - know that a--a--a--see, now--death, I mean, must come, and I am - ready to give it up" (meaning the ghost). - - _Q._ "I understand you were at Drury Lane theatre last night?" - - _A._ "Yes, sir, I was there." - - _Q._ "Yes, sir, the newspapers of this morning take notice of - it." - - _A._ "Do they?" - - _Y._ "Yes, sir;--the paragraph runs thus:--'Among the numerous - visitors at Drury Lane Theatre last night, we observed the Duke - of Queensbury and the veteran Macklin, whose ages together - amount to one hundred and ninety-six." - - _Mr. Macklin._ "The Duke of who?" - - _A._ "The Duke of Queensbury, sir." - - _Mr. Macklin._ "I don't know that man. The Duke of Queensbury! - The Duke of Queensbury! Oh! ay, I remember him now very - well:--The Duke of Queensbury old! Why, sir, I might be his - father! ha! ha! ha!" - - _Q._ "Well, sir, I understand that you went to the Haymarket - Theatre to see the 'Merchant of Venice?'" - - _A._ "I did, sir." - - _Q._ "What is your opinion of Mr. Palmer's Shylock?" - - [This question was answered by a shake of the head. Being - desirous of hearing his opinion I asked him the second time.] - - _Mr. Macklin._--"Why, sir, my opinion is, that Mr. Palmer - played the character of Shylock in _one style_. In this scene - there was a sameness, in that scene a sameness, and in every - scene a sameness: it was all same! same! same!--no variation. - He did not look the character, nor laugh the character, nor - speak the character of Shakspeare's Jew. In the trial scene, - where he comes to cut the pound of flesh, he was no Jew. - Indeed, sir, he did _not hit_ the _part_, nor the _part_ did - _not hit_ him."[297] - -This conversation took place in September 1796: in July 1797 he died. - -Dr. Walcot, better known by the name of Peter Pindar. He was a coarse -and virulent satirist, and content to write so many common-places, -that they will stifle his works with posterity, with the exception of -a few pieces. His humour, however, was genuine of its kind. His -caricatures are striking likenesses; and the innocent simplicity which -he is fond of affecting makes a ludicrous contrast with his impudence. -Dr. Walcot's largest poems are worth little, and his serious worth -nothing. What we think likely to last in the collections, are his -"Bozzy and Piozzi," his 'Royal visit to Whitbread's Brewhouse,' one or -two more of that stamp, some of his "Odes to Academicians," and the -immortal "Pilgrims and the Peas," the hero of which is assuredly -hobbling to this day, and will never arrive. Dr. Walcot was a man of -taste in the fine arts, and produced some landscapes, which we believe -do credit to his pencil. We have never seen them. His critical good -taste is not to be disputed, though the Academicians, at one time, -would have given a great deal to find it wanting. He was latterly -blind, but maintained his spirits to the last. He had a fine skull, -which he was not displeased to be called upon to exhibit, taking his -wig off, and saying "There," with a lusty voice; which formed a -singular contrast with the pathos attached to the look of blind eyes. - -Covent Garden market has always been the most agreeable in the -metropolis, because it is devoted exclusively to fruit, flowers, and -vegetables. A few crockery-ware shops make no exceptions to this -"bloodless" character. The seasons here regularly present themselves -in their most gifted looks,--with evergreens in winter, the fresh -verdure of spring, all the hues of summer, and whole loads of desserts -in autumn. The country girls who bring the things to market at early -dawn are a sight themselves worthy of the apples and roses; the -good-natured Irish women who attend to carry baskets for purchasers -are not to be despised, with the half-humorous, half pathetic tone of -their petitions to be employed; and the ladies who come to purchase, -crown all. No walk in London, on a fine summer's day, is more -agreeable than the passage through the flowers here at noon, when the -roses and green leaves are newly watered, and blooming faces come to -look at them in those cool and shady avenues, while the hot sun is -basking in the streets. On these occasions we were very well satisfied -with the market in its old state. The old sheds, and irregular -avenues, when dry, assorted well with the presence of leaves and -fruits. They had a careless picturesque look, as if a bit of an old -suburban garden had survived from ancient times. - -Nothing, however, but approbation can be bestowed on the convenient -and elegant state into which the market has been raised by the -magnificence of the noble proprietor, whose arms we are glad to see on -the side next James Street. They are a real grace to the building and -to the owner, for they are a stamp of liberality. In time we hope to -see the roofs of the new market covered with shrubs and flowers, -nodding over the balustrades, and fruits and red berries sparkling in -the sun.[298] As an ornament, nothing is more beautiful in combination -than the fluctuating grace of foliage and the stability of -architecture. And, as a utility, the more air and sun the better. -There is never too much sun in this country, and every occasion should -be seized to take advantage of it. - -The space between the church and the market is the scene of Hogarth's -picture of the 'Frosty Morning.' Here in general take place the -elections for Westminster. Sheridan has poured forth his good things -in this spot, and Charles Fox won the hearts of multitudes. It would -be an endless task to trace the recollections connected with the -coffee-houses under the portico. Perhaps there is not a name of -celebrity in the annals of wit or the stage, between the reigns of -Charles II. and the present sovereign, which might not be found -concerned in the clubs or other meetings which they have witnessed, -particularly those of Garrick, Hogarth, and their contemporaries. _Sir -Roger de Coverley_ has been there, a person more real to us than -nine-tenths of them. When in town he lodged in Bow Street. - -Opposite the Bedford Coffee-house a tragical scene took place, the -particulars of which are interesting. The Earl of Sandwich, grandson -of Charles II.'s Earl of Sandwich, and first Lord of the Admiralty -during the North administration, had for his mistress a Miss Ray, whom -he had rendered as accomplished as she was handsome. Some say that she -was the daughter of a labourer at Elstree, others of a stay-maker in -Covent Garden. Her father is said to have had a shop in that way of -business in Holywell Street in the Strand. Miss Ray was apprenticed at -an early age to a mantua-maker in Clerkenwell Close, with whom she -served her time out and obtained a character that did her honour. A -year or two after the expiration of this period she was taken notice -of by Lord Sandwich, who gave her a liberal education; rendered her a -proficient in his favourite arts of music and singing; and made her -his mistress. He was old enough to be her father. - -Lord Sandwich was in the habit of having plays and music at his house, -particularly the latter. At Christmas the musical performance was an -oratorio, for, "to speak seriously," says Mr. Cradock, "no man was -more careful than Lord Sandwich not to trespass on public decorum." -This gentleman, in his Memoirs, has furnished us with accounts which -will give a livelier idea of the situation of Miss Ray in his -Lordship's house than any formal abstract of them. - - "Plays at Hinchinbrook had ceased before I had ever been in - company with Lord Sandwich, and oratorios for a week at - Christmas had been substituted. Miss Ray, who was the first - attraction, was instructed in music both by Mr. Bates and - Signor Giardini. Norris and Champness regularly attended the - meetings, and there were many excellent amateur performers; the - Duke of Manchester's military band assisted, and his Lordship - himself took the kettle-drums to animate the whole. 'Non nobis, - Domine,' was sung after dinner, and then catches and glees - succeeded; all was well conducted, for whatever his Lordship - undertook he generally accomplished, and seemed to have adopted - the emphatic advice of Longinus, 'always to excel.' Miss Ray, - in her situation, was a pattern of discretion; for when a lady - of rank, between one of the acts of the oratorio, advanced to - converse with her, she expressed her embarrassment; and Lord - Sandwich, turning privately to a friend, said, 'As you are well - acquainted with that lady, I wish you would give her a hint, - that there is a boundary line in my family I do not wish to see - exceeded; such a trespass might occasion the overthrow of all - our music meetings.' - - "From what I have collected, Miss Ray was born in - Hertfordshire, in 1742, and that his lordship first saw her in - a shop in Tavistock Street where he was purchasing some - neckcloths. This was all that Mr. Bates seemed to have - ascertained, for both his lordship and the lady were equally - cautious of communicating anything on the subject. From that - time her education was particularly attended to, and she proved - worthy of all the pains that were taken with her. Her voice was - powerful and pleasing, and she has never been excelled in that - fine air of Jephtha, 'Brighter scenes I seek above;' nor was - she less admired when she executed an Italian bravura of the - most difficult description."[299] - - Again:--"I did not know his lordship in early life; but this I - can attest, and call any contemporary to ratify who might have - been present, that we never heard an oath, or the least - profligate conversation at his lordship's table in our lives. - Miss Ray's behaviour was particularly circumspect. Dr. Green, - Bishop of Lincoln, always said, 'I never knew so cautious a man - as Lord Sandwich.' The Bishop came too soon once to an - oratorio; we went to receive him in the dining-room, but he - said, 'No; the drawing-room is full of company, and I will go - up and take tea there.' Lord Sandwich was embarrassed, as he - had previously objected to Lady Blake speaking to Miss Ray - between the acts; and as the Bishop would go up, a consequence - ensued just as I expected. Some severe verses were sent, which - Mr. Bates intercepted. - - * * * * * - - "The elegant Mrs. Hinchcliffe, lady of the Bishop, attended one - night with a party. She had never seen Miss Ray before, and she - feelingly remarked afterwards, 'I was really hurt to sit - directly opposite to her, and mark her discreet conduct, and - yet to find it improper to notice her. She was so assiduous to - please, was so very excellent, yet so unassuming, I was quite - charmed with her; yet a seeming cruelty to her took off the - pleasure of my evening.'"[300] - -While Miss Ray was thus situated, his lordship, through the medium of -a neighbour, Major Reynolds, became acquainted with a brother officer -of the major's, a Captain Hackman, and invited him to his house. The -Captain fell in love with Miss Ray, and Miss Ray is understood not to -have been insensible to his passion. He was her junior by several -years, though the disparity was nothing like the reverse one on the -part of Lord Sandwich. Sir Herbert Croft, who wrote a history of their -intimacy and correspondence, under the title of "Love and Madness," -represents the attachment as mutual. According to his statement, -Hackman urged her to marry him, and Miss Ray was desirous of doing so, -but fearful of hurting the feelings of the man who had educated her, -and who is represented as a sort of Old Robin Gray. In this sentiment, -Hackman with all his passion is represented as partaking. Sir -Herbert's book, though founded on fact, and probably containing more -truth than can now be ascertained, is considered apocryphal; and Mr. -Cradock, who is as cautious in his way as his noble acquaintance, -doubts whether any man was really acquainted with the particulars. All -that he could call to mind relative to either party was, that for -three weeks after the Captain's introduction, till his military -pursuits led him to Ireland, he was observed to bow to Miss Ray -whenever she went out; and that Miss Ray, during the latter part of -her time at the Admiralty, did not continue to speak of her situation -as before. "She complained," he says, "of being greatly alarmed by -ballads that had been sung, or cries that had been made, directly -under the windows that looked into the park; and that such was the -fury of the mob, that she did not think either herself or Lord -Sandwich was safe whenever they went out; and I must own that I heard -some strange insults offered; and that I with some of the servants -once suddenly rushed out, but the offenders instantly ran away and -escaped. One evening afterwards, when sitting with Miss Ray in the -great room above stairs, she appeared to be much agitated, and at last -said, 'she had a particular favour to ask of me; that, as her -situation was very precarious, and no settlement had been made upon -her, she wished I would hint something of the kind to Lord Sandwich.' -I need not express my surprise, but I instantly assured her, 'that no -one but herself could make such a proposal, as I knew Lord Sandwich -never gave any one an opportunity of interfering with him on so -delicate a subject.' She urged that her wish was merely to relieve -Lord Sandwich as to great expense about her; for as her voice was then -at the best, and Italian music was particularly her forte, she was -given to understand she might succeed at the Opera-house, and as Mr. -Giardini then led, and I was intimate with Mrs. Brooke and Mrs. Yates, -she was certain of a most advantageous engagement. I then instantly -conjectured who one of the advisers must have been; and afterwards -found that three thousand pounds and a free benefit had been -absolutely held out to her, though not by the two ladies who managed -the stage department. Whether any proposals of marriage at that time -or afterwards were made by Mr. Hackman, I know not."[301] Be this as -it may, Hackman's passion was undoubted. He was originally an -apprentice to a merchant at Gosport; was impatient of serving at the -counter; entered the army at nineteen, but during his acquaintance -with Miss Ray, exchanged the army for the church, "as a readier road -to independence;" and was presented to the living of Wyverton in -Norfolk. - -Whatever was the nature of the intimacy between these unfortunate -persons, a sudden stop appears to have been put to Hackman's final -expectations, and he became desperate. By what we can gather from the -accounts, Lord Sandwich, either to preserve her from her lover or -herself, thought proper to put Miss Ray under the charge of a duenna. -Hackman grew jealous either of him or of some other person; he was -induced to believe that Miss Ray had no longer a regard for him, and -he resolved to put himself to death. In this resolution a sudden -impulse of frenzy included the unfortunate object of his passion. - -On the evening of the fatal day, Miss Ray went with her female -attendant to Covent Garden Theatre to see "Love in a Village." Mr. -Cradock thinks she had declined to inform Hackman how she was engaged -that evening. Hackman, who appears to have suspected her intentions, -watched her, and saw the carriage pass by the Cannon Coffee-house -(Cockspur Street, Charing Cross), in which he had posted himself. -Singularly enough, Mr. Cradock happened to be in the same -coffee-house, and says that he wondered to see the carriage go by -without Lord Sandwich. This looks as if there was more in Hackman's -suspicion than can now be shown. Hackman followed them. - - "The ladies sat in a front box," says Mr. Cradock; "and three - gentlemen, all connected with the Admiralty, occasionally paid - their compliments to them; Mr. Hackman was sometimes in the - lobby, sometimes in an upper side box, and more than once at - the Bedford coffee-house to take brandy and water, but still - seemed unable to gain any information; and I can add, as a - slight circumstance, that in the afternoon I had myself been at - the coffee-house (Cockspur Street, Charing Cross), and, - observing the carriage pass by, had remarked to my friend that - I wondered at seeing the ladies on their way to the theatre - without Lord Sandwich; that I meant to have dined at the - Admiralty, but had been prevented; so that it appears now that - most of the circumstances must have been accidental. The - dreadful consummation, however, was, that at the door of the - theatre, directly opposite the Bedford coffee-house, Mr. - Hackman suddenly rushed out, and as a gentleman was handing - Miss Ray into the carriage, with a pistol he first destroyed - this most unfortunate victim, and, though not at the time, fell - a most dreadful sacrifice himself."[302] - - "Miss Ray," says the Introduction to 'Love and Madness,' "was - coming out of Covent Garden Theatre in order to take her coach, - accompanied by two friends, a gentleman and a lady, between - whom she walked in the piazza. Mr. Hackman stepped up to her - without the smallest previous menace or address, put a pistol - to her head, and shot her instantly dead. He then fired another - at himself, which, however, did not prove equally effectual. - The ball grazed upon the upper part of the head, but did not - penetrate sufficiently to produce any fatal effect; he fell, - however, and so firmly was he bent on the entire completion of - the destruction he had meditated, that he was found beating his - head with the utmost violence with the butt-end of the pistol, - by Mr. Mahon, apothecary, of Covent Garden, who wrenched the - pistol from his hand. He was carried to the Shakspeare, where - his wound was dressed. In his pocket were found two letters; - the one a copy of a letter which he had written to Miss Ray, - and the other to Frederic Booth, Esq., Craven Street, Strand. - When he had so far recovered his faculties as to be capable of - speech, he inquired with great anxiety concerning Miss Ray; and - being told she was dead, he desired her poor remains might not - be exposed to the observation of the curious multitude. About - five o'clock in the morning, Sir John Fielding came to the - Shakspeare, and not finding his wounds of a dangerous nature, - ordered him to Tothill Fields Bridewell. - - "The body of the unhappy lady was carried into the Shakspeare - Tavern for the inspection of the coroner."[303] - -The whole of the circumstances connected with this catastrophe are -painfully dramatic. - - "The next morning," says Mr. Cradock, "I made several efforts - before I had resolution enough to see any one of the Admiralty; - at last old James, the black, overwhelmed with grief, came down - to me, and endeavoured to inform me, that when he had mentioned - what had occurred, Lord Sandwich hastily replied, 'You know - that I forbad you to plague me any more about those ballads: - let them sing or say whatever they please about me!' 'Indeed, - my lord,' I said, 'I am not speaking of any ballads; it is all - too true.' Others then came in, and all was a scene of the - utmost horror and distress. His lordship for a while stood, as - it were, petrified, till, suddenly seizing a candle, he ran - up-stairs and threw himself on the bed; and in an agony - exclaimed, 'Leave me for a while to myself--I could have borne - anything but this!' The attendants remained for a considerable - time at the top of the staircase, till his lordship rang the - bell and ordered that they should all go to bed. They assured - me that at that time they believed fewer particulars were known - at the Admiralty than over half the town besides; indeed all - was confusion and astonishment; and even now I am doubtful - whether Lord Sandwich was ever aware that there was any - connection between Mr. Hackman and Miss Ray. His lordship - continued for a day or two at the Admiralty, till, at the - earnest request of those about him, he at last retired for a - short time to a friend's house in the neighbourhood of - Richmond."[304] - -Hackman was executed at Tyburn. He confessed at the bar that he had -intended to kill himself, but he protested that but for a momentary -frenzy he should not have destroyed her, "who was more dear to him -than life." It appears, however, that he was furnished with two -pistols; which told against him on that point. - - "On Friday," says Boswell, "I had been present at the trial of - the unfortunate Mr. Hackman, who, in a fit of frantic jealous - love, had shot Miss Ray, the favourite of a nobleman. Johnson, - in whose company I dined to-day, with some other friends, was - much interested by my account of what passed, and particularly - with his prayer for mercy of heaven. He said in a solemn, - fervent tone, 'I hope he _shall_ find mercy.' In talking of - Hackman, Johnson argued as Judge Blackstone had done, that his - being furnished with two pistols was a proof that he meant to - shoot two persons. Mr. Beauclerk said, 'No; for that every wise - man who intended to shoot himself, took two pistols, that he - might be sure of doing it at once. Lord ----'s cook shot - himself with one pistol, and lived ten days in great agony. Mr. - ----, who loved buttered muffins, but durst not eat them - because they disagreed with his stomach, resolved to shoot - himself, and then he ate three buttered muffins for breakfast - before shooting himself, knowing that he should not be troubled - with indigestion; _he_ had two charged pistols: one was found - lying charged upon the table by him, after he had shot himself - with the other.' 'Well (said Johnson with an air of triumph), - you see here one pistol was sufficient.' Beauclerk replied - smartly, 'Because it happened to kill him.'"[305] - -It is impossible to settle this point. The general impression will be -against Hackman; but, perhaps, the second pistol, though not designed -for himself, might have been for Miss Ray. His victim was buried at -Elstree, where she had been a lowly and happy child, running about -with her blooming face, and little thinking what trouble it was to -cost her. - -In Mr. Cradock's book we hear again of Lord Sandwich on whom this -story has thrown an interest. On his return from Richmond, Mr. Cradock -went to see him, and was admitted into the study where the portrait of -Miss Ray, an exact resemblance, still hung over the chimney-piece. "I -fear," says Mr. Cradock, "I rather started on seeing it, which Lord -Sandwich perceiving, he instantly endeavoured to speak of some -unconnected subject; but he looked so ill, and I felt so much -embarrassed, that as soon as I possibly could, I most respectfully -took my leave." - - "His lordship rarely dined out anywhere; but after a great - length of time he was persuaded by our open-hearted friend, - Lord Walsingham, to meet a select party at his house. All - passed off exceedingly well for a while, and his lordship - appeared more cheerful than could have been expected; but after - coffee, as Mr. and Mrs. Bates were present, something was - mentioned about music, and one of the company requested that - Mrs. Bates would favour them with, 'Shepherds, I have lost my - love.' This was, unfortunately, the very air that had been - introduced by Miss Ray at Hinchinbrook, and had been always - called for by Lord Sandwich. Mr. Bates immediately endeavoured - to prevent its being sung, and by his anxiety increased the - distress, but it was too late to pause. Lord Sandwich for a - while struggled to overcome his feelings, but they were so - apparent that at last he went up Mrs. Walsingham, and in a very - confused manner said, he hoped she would excuse his not staying - longer at that time; but that he had just recollected some - pressing business, which required his return to the Admiralty, - and bowing to all the company, rather hastily left the room. - Some other endeavours to amuse him afterwards did not prove - much more successful."[306] - -His lordship afterwards lived in retirement, and died in 1792. - -It does not appear that Lord Sandwich's disinclination to be amused -arose from excessive sensibility. Mr. Cradock represents him in his -political character as bearing "daily insults and misrepresentations -as a stoic rather than an injured and feeling man," and he describes -his calmness of mind in retirement, and his enjoyment of solitude. -The same writer who calls him "a steady friend," speaks highly of his -classical attainments, and his accomplishments as a modern linguist -and an amateur, to which he added great caution (as the Bishop said), -a love of "badgering," and an incompetency for the personal graces. -When he played his part in the oratorios, it was on the kettle-drum. -He related the following anecdote of himself. - - "When I was in Paris, I had a dancing-master; the man was very - civil, and on taking leave of him, I offered him any service in - London. 'Then,' said the man, bowing, 'I should take it as a - particular favour, if your lordship would never tell any one of - whom you have learned to dance.'" - - "Hurd once said to me," adds Mr. Cradock, "there is a line in - the Heroic Epistle that I do not at all comprehend the meaning - of; but you can, perhaps, acquaint me. It alludes to Lord - Sandwich, I suppose; but one word, _shambles_, I cannot guess - at,-- - - 'See Jemmy Twitcher _shambles_--stop, stop, thief.' - - 'That, sir,' said I, 'alludes to his lordship's shambling - gait.'"[307] - -Upon the whole we have no doubt that he was a cold and superficial -person, and that Miss Ray would not have been sorry had Hackman -succeeded in retaining her heart; for, as to Hackman, the great cause -of his mischance, according to the passage in Boswell, appears to have -been the violence of his temper,--the common secret of most of these -outrageous love stories. He was not a bad-hearted man, merely selfish -and passionate, otherwise he would have meditated no mischief against -himself. - - "He that beats or knocks out brains, - The devil's in him, if he feigns," - -says the poet. But he was weak, wilful, and, by his readiness to -become a clergyman from a Captain, perhaps not very principled. The -truest love is the truest benevolence; it acquires an infinite -patience out of the very excess of its suffering, and is content to -merge its egotism in the idea of the beloved object. He that does not -know this, does not know what love is, whatever he may know of -passion. - -In Henrietta Street Mrs. Clive once resided. She was the favourite -Nell of the stage in the "Devil to Pay," and similar characters; and, -according to Garrick, there was something of the Devil to Pay in all -her stage life. She might have been Macklin's sister for humour, -judgment, and a sturdiness of purpose amounting to violence, not -unmixed with generosity. The latter part of her life she spent in -retirement at Strawberry Hill, where she was a neighbour and friend to -Horace Walpole, whose effeminacy she helped to keep on the alert. It -always seems to us, as if she had been the man of the two, and he the -woman. - -Henrietta Street was most probably named after the queen of Charles -I., and James Street after her father-in-law. In both these streets -lived the egregious almanack-maker, and quack doctor, the butt of the -wits of his time. He died in Salisbury Street, Strand, which is the -scene of his posthumous behaviour,--his pretending to be alive, when -Bickerstaff had declared him dead. Partridge had foretold the death of -the French king. Swift, under the name of Bickerstaff, foretold -Partridge's, and, when the time came, insisted he was dead. Partridge -gravely insisted that he was alive. The wits, the friends of Swift, -maintained the contrary, wondering at the dead man's impudence and the -whole affair was hawked about the streets, to the ludicrous distress -of poor Partridge, who not only highly resented it, and repeatedly -advertised his existence, but was fairly obliged to give up -almanack-making. "He persisted, indeed, sturdily in his refusal to be -buried till 1715: but he actually died as an almanack-maker in 1709, -his almanack for that year being the last, and the only one he wrote -after this odd misfortune befell him."[308] - -The following are specimens of the way in which Partridge resisted his -death and burial. In the almanack for 1709, he says, - - "You may remember there was a paper published predicting my - death on the 29th of March at night, 1708, and after that day - was passed the same villain told the world I was dead, and how - I died, and that he was with me at the time of my death. I - thank God, by whose mercy I have my being, that I am still - alive, and, excepting my age, as well as ever I was in my life, - as I was on that 29th of March. And that paper was said to be - done by one Bickerstaff, Esq., but that was a sham name, it was - done by an impudent lying fellow. But his prediction did not - prove true. What will he say to excuse that? for the fool had - considered the star of my nativity, as he said. Why, the truth - is, he will be hard put to it to find a salvo for his honour. - It was a bold touch, and he did not know but it might prove - true. - - "Feb. 1709. Much lying news dispersed about this time, and also - scandalous pamphlets; perhaps we may have some knavish - scribbler, a second Bickerstaff, or a rascal under that name - for that villain, &c. It is a cheat, and he a knave that did - it, &c. - - "Whereas, it has been industriously given out by Bickerstaff, - Esq., and others, to prevent the sale of this year's almanack, - that John Partridge is dead; this may inform all his loving - countrymen, that, blessed be God, he is still living in health, - and they are knaves who reported otherwise. 'Merlinus - Liberatus, with an almanack [printed by allowance for 1710]. By - John Partridge, student in Physic and Astrology.'" - -In James Street, towards the beginning of the last century, lived a -mysterious lady, who will remind the reader of the Catholic lady in -the "Fortunes of Nigel." - - "In the month of March 1720," says Mr. Malcolm, "an unknown - lady died at her lodgings in James Street, Covent Garden. She - is represented to have been a middle-sized person, with - dark-brown hair, and very beautiful features, and mistress of - every accomplishment peculiar to ladies of the first fashion - and respectability. Her age appeared to be between thirty and - forty. Her circumstances were affluent, and she possessed the - richest trinkets of her sex, generally set with diamonds. A - John Ward, Esq., of Hackney, published many particulars - relating to her in the papers; and amongst others, that a - servant had been directed by her to deliver him a letter after - her death; but as no servant appeared, he felt himself required - to notice those circumstances, in order to acquaint her - relations of her decease, which occurred suddenly after a - masquerade, where she declared she had conversed with the King, - and it was remembered that she had been seen in the private - apartments of Queen Anne; though after the Queen's demise she - had lived in obscurity. This unknown arrived in London from - Mansfield, in 1714, drawn by six horses. She frequently said - that her father was a nobleman, but that, her elder brother - dying unmarried, the title was extinct; adding, that she had an - uncle then living, whose title was his least recommendation. - - "It was conjectured that she might be the daughter of a Roman - Catholic, who had consigned her to a convent, whence a brother - had released her and supported her in privacy. She was buried - at St. Paul's, Covent Garden."[309] - -Perhaps she had some connection with Queen Anne's brother, the -Pretender. - -In King Street lived the father of Arne and Mrs. Cibber. He was an -upholsterer, and is said to have been the original of the Quid-nunc in -the _Tatler_, and the hero of Murphy's farce of the _Upholsterer, or, -What News?_ His name is connected also with that of the four "Indian -Kings," as they were called, who came into this country in Queen -Anne's time, to ask her assistance against the French in Canada. - - "They were clothed and entertained," says a note in the - 'Tatler', "at the public expense, being lodged, while they - continued in London, in an handsome apartment," perhaps in the - house of Mr. Arne, as may be inferred from 'Tatler,' 155, and - note. Certainly their landlord was an upholsterer in Covent - Garden, in a new street, which seems at that time to have - received the name of King Street, which it retains to this day, - in common with many other streets so called, in honour of - Charles II. The figures of these four Indian kings or chiefs - are still preserved in the British Museum. The names and titles - of their Majesties are recorded there and in the 'Annals of - Queen Anne,' but with the following differences from the - account of them in this paper: _Tee Yee Neen Ho Ga Prow_, and - _Sa Ga Yean Qua Prah Ion_, of the _Maquas_;--_Elow Oh Kaom_, - and _Oh Nee Yeath Ion No Prow_, of the river _Sachem_, and the - _Ganajoh-hore Sachem_. On the 18th of April 1710, according to - Salmon, on the 19th according to Boyer, these four illustrious - personages were conveyed in two of the Queen's coaches to St. - James's, by Sir Charles Cotterel, master of the ceremonies, and - introduced to their public audience by the Duke of Shrewsbury, - then Lord Chamberlain. They made a speech by an interpreter, - which Major Pidgeon, an officer who came over with them from - America, read in English to her Majesty. "They had (they said) - with one consent hung up the kettle and taken up the hatchet, - in token of their friendship to their great queen and her - children, and had been, on the other side of the great water, a - strong wall of security to their great queen's children, even - to the loss of their best men. For the truth of what they - affirmed, and their written proposals, they referred to Colonel - Scuyder and Colonel Nicholson, whom they called, in their - language, Brother Queder, and Anadgargaux, and, speaking of - Colonel Vetch, they named him Anadiasia. They said they always - considered the French as men of falsehood, and rejoiced in the - prospect of the reduction of Canada; after which they should - have free hunting, and a great trade with their great queen's - children, and as a token of the sincerity of the six nations, - in the name of all, they presented their great queen with the - belts of wampum. They concluded their speech with recommending - their very hard case to their great queen's gracious - consideration, expressing their hopes of her favour, and - requesting the mission of more of her children to reinforce and - to instruct, for they had got, as they said, since their - alliance with her children, some knowledge of the Saviour of - the world. The curious may see this speech at full length in - the 'Annals of Queen Anne,' year 9th, p. 191, _et seq._, 8vo. - On the same day, according to Boyer, a royal messenger of the - Emperor of Morocco, Elhadge Guzman, was likewise introduced by - the Duke of Shrewsbury to a private audience, and delivered - letters to the Queen from Mula Ishmael, his master; the same - emperor, probably, who sent an ambassador to our court in 1706, - mentioned in the 'Tatler,' No. 130, and note, vol. iii., p. 44. - The Indian Kings continued about a fortnight longer in London, - during which time they were hospitably entertained by some of - the lords commissioners of the Admiralty, by the Duke of - Ormond, and several persons of distinction. They were carried - to see Dr. Flamstead's house and the mathematical instruments - in Greenwich Park, and entertained with the sight of the - principal curiosities in and about the metropolis; then - conveyed to Portsmouth through Hampton Court and Windsor, and - embarked with Colonel Frances Nicholson, commander-in-chief of - the forces appointed to the American service, on board the - Dragon, Captain Martin, Commodore, who, with about eighteen - sail under his convoy, sailed from Spithead on the 18th of May, - and landed their Majesties safe at Boston, in New England, July - 15th, 1710."[310] - -Their names are like a set of yawns and sneezes. - -Young Arne, who was born in King Street, was a musician against his -father's will, and practised in the garret, on a muffled spinnet, when -the family had gone to bed. He was sent to Eton, which was probably of -use to him in confirming his natural refinement, but nothing could -hinder his devoting himself to the art. It is said the old man had no -suspicion of his advancement in it, till, going to a concert one -evening, he was astonished to see his son exalted, bow in hand, as the -leader. Seeing the praises bestowed on him, he suffered him to become -what nature designed him for. Arne was the most flowing, Italian-like -musician of any we have had in England; not capable of the grandeur -and profound style of Purcell, but more sustained, continuous, and -seductive. His "Water parted" is a stream of sweetness; his song, -"When Daisies pied" is truly Shaksperian, full of archness and -originality. Like many of his profession, who feel much more than they -reflect, he became, in some measure, the victim of his sense of -beauty, being excessively addicted to women. His sister, Mrs. Cibber, -whose charming performances on the stage we have before noticed, did -not escape without the reputation of a like tendency; but she had a -bad husband (the notorious Theophilus Cibber); and on the occasion -that gave rise to it, is understood to have been the victim of his -mercenary designs. - -Southampton Street we have noticed in speaking of the Strand. -Godfrey's, the chemist's, in this street, is an establishment of old -standing, as may be seen by the inscription over the door. A hundred -years ago, Mr. Ambrose Godfrey, who lived here, proposed to extinguish -fire by a new method of "explosion and suffocation;" that is to say, a -mixture of water and _gunpowder_. Tavistock Street (where Lord -Sandwich first saw Miss Ray) was once the great emporium of millinery -and mantua-making. Macklin died there. He lived many years in Wyld -Street. In Maiden Lane, Voltaire lodged, when in England, at the sign -of the White Peruke, probably the house of a fashionable French -peruquier. In "Swift's Works" (vol. xx. of the duodecimo edition, p. -294), there is a letter to him, in English, by Voltaire, and dated -from this house. The English seems a little too perfect. There is -another following it which looks more authentic. But there is no doubt -that Voltaire, while in England, made himself such a master of the -language, as to be able to write in it with singular correctness for a -foreigner. He was then young. He had been imprisoned in the Bastile -for a libel; came over here, on his release; procured many -subscriptions for the "Henriade;" published in English "An Essay on -Epic Poetry," and remained some years, during which he became -acquainted with the principal men of letters--Pope, Congreve, and -Young. He is said to have talked so indecently at Pope's table -(probably no more than was thought decent by the belles in France), -that the good old lady, the poet's mother, was obliged to retire. -Objecting, at Lord Chesterfield's table, to the allegories of Milton, -Young is said to have accosted him in the well-known couplet:-- - - Thou art so witty, profligate, and thin, - Thou seem'st a Milton, with his Death and Sin. - -But this story has been doubted. Young, though not so thin, was as -witty and profligate in his way as Voltaire: for, even when affecting -a hermit-like sense of religion, he was a servile flatterer and -preferment-hunter. The secret of the gloomy tone in his -"Night-Thoughts" was his not having too much, and his missing a -bishopric. This is the reason why the "Night-Thoughts" are overdone, -and have not stood their ground. Voltaire left England with such a -mass of subscriptions for his "Henriade" as laid the foundation of his -fortunes, and with great admiration of English talent and genius, -particularly that of Newton and Locke, which, with all his -insinuations against our poetry, he took warm pains to extend, and -never gave up. He was fond to the last of showing he had not forgotten -his English. Somebody telling him that Johnson had spoken well of his -talents, he said, in English, "He is a clever fellow;" but the -gentleman observing that the doctor did not think well of his -religion, he added, "a superstitious dog." - -During his residence in Maiden Lane, there is a story of Voltaire's -having been beset, in one of his walks, by the people, who ridiculed -him as a Frenchman. He got upon the steps of a door-way and harangued -them in their own language in praise of English liberty and the -nation; upon which, the story adds, they hailed him as a fine fellow, -and carried him to his lodgings on their shoulders. The treatment of -foreigners at this time in the streets of London (and every foreigner -was a Frenchman) was very much the reverse of what the inhabitants -took it for. Thanks to the progress of knowledge, nations have learnt -to understand one another's common cause better, and to suspect that -the most ridiculous thing they could do is to forget it. - -Long Acre is a portion of the seven acres before mentioned. The great -plague of London began there in some goods brought over from Holland; -but as that calamity made its principal ravages in the city, we shall -speak of it under another head. During the battles of the Whigs and -Tories, Long Acre was famous for its Mug-houses, where beer-drinking -clubs were held, and politics "sung or said." Cheapside was another -place of celebrity for these meetings. There is a description of them -in a Journey through England in 1724, quoted by Mr. Malcolm in his -"Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century." -"Gentlemen, lawyers, and tradesmen," says the account, "used to meet -in a great room, seldom under a hundred." - - "They had a president, who sat in an arm-chair some steps - higher than the rest of the company, to keep the whole room in - order. A harp played all the time at the lower end of the room, - and every now and then one or other of the company rose and - entertained the rest with a song, and (by the by) some were - good masters. Here was nothing drank but ale, and every - gentleman had his separate mug, which he chalked on the table - where he sat as it was brought in; and every one retired when - he pleased, as from a coffee-house. - - "The rooms were always so diverted with songs, and drinking - from one table to another one another's healths, that there was - no room for anything that could sour conversation. - - "One was obliged to be there by seven to get room, and after - ten the company were for the most part gone. - - "This was a winter's amusement, agreeable enough to a stranger - for once or twice, and he was well diverted with the different - humours when the mugs overflow. - - "On King George's accession to the throne, the Tories had so - much the better of the friends to the Protestant succession, - that they gained the mobs on all public days to their side. - This induced this set of gentlemen to establish mug-houses in - all the corners of this great city, for well-affected tradesmen - to meet and keep up the spirit of loyalty to the Protestant - succession, and to be ready upon all tumults to join their - forces for the suppression of the Tory mobs. Many an encounter - they had, and many were the riots, till at last the Parliament - was obliged by law to put an end to this city strife, which had - this good effect, that, on pulling down the mug-houses in - Salisbury Court, for which some boys were hanged on this Act, - the city has not been troubled with them since."[311] - -One of the mistresses whom Prior celebrates, under the name of Chloe, -and compares to Venus and Diana, lived in Long Acre, and was the wife, -some say, of a common soldier, others of a cobbler, others of the -keeper of an ale-house. Perhaps she was all these, or there were three -mistresses whose alliances were confounded. Spence says that the -ale-house keeper was the first husband, and the cobbler the second. -"Everybody knows," says Pope, "what a wretch she was." And -again:--"Prior was not a right good man. He used to bury himself, for -whole days and nights together, with a poor mean creature, and often -drank hard. He turned from a strong Whig (which he had been when most -with Lord Halifax) to a violent Tory; and did not care to converse -with any Whigs after, any more than Rowe did with Tories."[312] "I -have been assured," says Pope's friend, Richardson, the painter, "that -Prior, after having spent the evening with Oxford, Bolingbroke, Pope, -and Swift, would go and smoke a pipe, and drink a bottle of ale, with -a common soldier and his wife, in Long Acre, before he went to -bed."[313] After the poet's death, Arbuthnot says something to the -same effect; but we forget what. - -None of the wits of that time seem to have known much about love as a -sentiment. There is no end of the misconceptions of what is called -love. Prior would probably have retorted upon Pope, that his own taste -was not very delicate; and upon Arbuthnot, that the doctor was a -sensualist in his way, and of a lower order.[314] He would have quoted -Propertius, Raphael, and others, for the impartiality of his taste; -and the woman, though in low life, might have had wit and beauty. The -secret of these inequalities has been explained by Fielding.[315] - -Sir Joshua Reynolds lived successively in St. Martin's Lane, and on -the north side of Great Newport Street, before he settled finally in -Leicester Square. In Newport Street was born the celebrated Horne -Tooke, the son of a poulterer in the adjoining market; which made him -say, that his father was a "Turkey merchant." He was, perhaps, the -hardest-headed man that ever figured in the union of literature and -politics; meaning, by that epithet, the power to discuss, and -impenetrability to objection. He died at his house at Wimbledon, and -was buried at Ealing. His history trenches too closely on the politics -of our own day, to allow us to expatiate upon it in a work expressly -devoted to the past. - -St. Martin's Lane (see Charing Cross, for a notice of the church,) was -once as famous for artists as Newman Street has been since. In -Salisbury Court and in St. Martin's Lane the Royal Academy may be said -to have originated, for in those places successively its original -members first came together as a society established by themselves. -Perhaps there was not a single artist, contemporary with Sir Joshua, -who was unconnected with St. Martin's Lane, either as a lodger, -student, or visitor. Old Slaughter's coffee-house, in the same lane, -became celebrated on the same account, and as a resort of the -contemporary wits, especially Hogarth, who may be said to have -amalgamated in his works the wit and the painter. St. Martin's Lane -and Leicester Square are the head-quarters of the memory of English -art. In the annals of the former we meet with the names of Wilson and -Gainsborough: in the latter flourished and died Hogarth and Sir Joshua -Reynolds. - -Sir Joshua's house in Leicester Square was on the eastern side, four -doors from Sydney's Alley.[316] It was there he kept a handsome table, -and was visited by Johnson and Goldsmith, and had the whole round of -the fashionable world fluttering before him, and steadying itself to -become immortal in his pictures: if, indeed, immortal they are to be, -in the ordinary meaning of that word; for, out of certain misgivings, -which perhaps argued a want of perfect claim to that destiny, he -dabbled in experiments upon colours which have failed; and his -pictures, though but of yesterday, already look old and worn out, -while Titian's are as blooming as Apollo. - -Hogarth, the greatest name in English art, lived in one of the two -houses which now form Sabloniere's hotel. It was the one to the north. -He was a little bustling man, with a face more lively than refined, a -sort of knowing jockey look; and was irritable and egotistical, but -not ungenerous. As a painter, he did what no man ever did before or -since--brought out the absurdities of artificial life, - - "Showed vice her own features, scorn her own image," - -and fairly painted even goods and chattels with a meaning! His -intentions were less profound than his impulses; that is to say, he -sometimes had an avowed common-place in view, as in the instance of -the Industrious and Idle Apprentice, while the execution of it was -full of much higher things and profounder humanities. As to the rest, -if ever there was a wit on canvass, it was he. To take one instance -alone, his spider's web over the poor's box is a union of remote -ideas, coalescing but too perfectly.[317] - -Leicester Square, formerly Leicester Fields, was not built upon till -towards the restoration of Charles II. It took its name from a family -mansion of the Sydneys, Earls of Leicester, which stood on the north -side, on the site of the present houses and of Leicester Place. - - [Illustration: RESIDENCE OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON.] - - "It was for a short time," says Pennant, "the residence of - Elizabeth, daughter of James I., the titular Queen of Bohemia, - who, on February 13th, 1661, here ended her unfortunate life. - It has been tenanted for a great number of years. It was - successively the pounting-place of princes. The late King - [George II.], when Prince of Wales, after he had quarrelled - with his father, lived here several years. His son Frederic - followed his example, succeeded him in his house, and in it - finished his days." - - "Behind Leicester House," the same author informs us, "stood, - in 1658, the Military-yard, founded by Henry Prince of Wales, - the spirited son of our peaceful James. M. Faubert afterwards - kept here his academy for riding and other gentlemanlike - exercises, in the reign of Charles II., which, in later years, - was removed to Swallow Street, opposite the end of Conduit - Street. Part is retained for the purpose of a riding-house; the - rest is converted into a workhouse for the parish of St. - James's."[318] - -But the glory of the neighbourhood of Leicester Fields is in St. -Martin's Street, where the house is still remaining which was occupied -by the great Newton. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[274] Scott's 'Dryden,' vol. viii., p. 178. - -[275] In the prologue to Etherege's play of the 'Man of Mode.' Scott's -'Dryden,' vol. x., p. 340. - -[276] Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century, -vol. ii., p. 317. - -[277] Cibber's 'Lives of the Poets' vol. iii., p. 252. - -[278] Works of Dryden, vol. i., p. 387. Sir Walter thus notices a -letter of Tonson's on the subject of Dryden's contribution to one of -the volumes known under the title of his Miscellanies:--"The -contribution, although ample, was not satisfactory to old Jacob -Tonson, who wrote on the subject a most mercantile expostulatory -letter to Dryden, which is fortunately still preserved, as a curious -specimen of the minutiae of a literary bargain in the seventeenth -century. Tonson, with reference to Dryden, having offered a strange -bookseller six hundred lines for twenty guineas, enters into a -question in the rule of three, by which he discovers and proves, that -for fifty guineas he has only 1,446 lines, which he seems to take more -unkindly, as he had not counted the lines until he had paid the money; -from all which Jacob infers, that Dryden ought, out of generosity, at -least to throw him in something to the bargain, especially as he had -used him more kindly in Juvenal, which, saith old Jacob, is not -reckoned so easy to translate as Ovid."--Vol. i., p. 379. - -[279] Dryden, vol. i., p. 114. - -[280] Dryden, vol. i., p. 203. - -[281] Poems on State Affairs, vol. i., p. 99. - -[282] Spence's 'Anecdotes,' p. 263. - -[283] Spence's 'Anecdotes,' p. 59. - -[284] Vol. xv., p. 218. - -[285] Spence, p. 263. - -[286] Ibid., p. 286. - -[287] Boswell, vol. i., p. 373. - -[288] Boswell, vol. iii., p. 378. - -[289] It is still so called by many of the poorer orders, who are -oftener in the right in their old English than is suspected. Some of -them call it Common Garden, which is a better corruption than its -present one. - -[290] Londinium Redivivum, vol. iv., p. 213. - -[291] Londinium Redivivum, vol. iv., p. 219. - -[292] Memoirs of Mrs. Letitia Pilkington. Dublin, 1748, vol. i., p. -136. - -[293] Hazlitt's 'Picture Galleries of England,' p. 80. - -[294] The best account we are acquainted with of the various -Beef-steak Clubs has been given us by the good-humoured author of -'Wine and Walnuts.' His book is an antiquarian fiction, but not -entirely such; and the present account, among others, may be taken as -fact. George Lambert, Rich's scene-painter at Covent Garden, says he, -"being a man of wit, and of repute as an artist, was frequently -visited by persons of note while at his work in the scene-room. In -those days it was customary for men of fashion to visit the -green-room, and to indulge in a morning lounge behind the curtain of -the theatre. Lambert, when preparing his designs for a pantomine or -new spectacle (for which exhibitions the manager, Rich, was much -renowned), would often take his chop or steak cooked on the German -stove, rather than quit his occupation for the superior accommodation -of a neighbouring tavern. Certain of his visitors, men of taste, -struck with the novelty of the thing perhaps, or tempted by the -savoury dish, took a knife and fork with Lambert, and enjoyed the -treat. Hence the origin of the Beef-steak Club, whose social feasts -were long held in the painting-room of this theatre, which, from its -commencement, has enrolled among its members persons of the highest -rank and fortune, and many eminent professional men and distinguished -wits. The Club subsequently met in an apartment of the late theatre; -then it moved to the Shakspeare Tavern; thence again to the theatre; -until, being burnt out in 1812, the meetings adjourned to the Bedford. -At present the celebrated convives assemble at an apartment at the -English Opera House in the Strand. - -"At the same time this social club flourished in England, and about -the year 1749, a Beef-steak Club was established at the Theatre Royal, -Dublin, of which the celebrated Mrs. Margaret Woffington was -president. It was begun by Mr. Sheridan, but on a very different plan -to that in London, no theatrical performer, save one _female_, being -admitted; and though called a Club, the manager alone bore all the -expenses. The plan was, by making a list of about fifty or sixty -persons, chiefly noblemen and members of Parliament, who were invited. -Usually about half that number attended, and dined in the manager's -apartment in the theatre. There was no female admitted but this _Peg -Woffington_, so denominated by all her contemporaries, who was seated -in a great chair at the head of the table, and elected president for -the season. - -"'It will readily be believed,' says Mr. Victor, who was joint -proprietor of the house, 'that a club where there were good -accommodations, such a _lovely president_, full of wit and spirit, and -_nothing to pay_, must soon grow remarkably fashionable.' It did -so--but we find it subsequently caused the theatre to be pulled to -pieces about the manager's head. - -"Mr. Victor says of Mrs. Margaret, 'she possessed captivating charms -as a jovial, witty bottle companion, but few remaining as a mere -female.' We have Dr. Johnson's testimony, however, who had often -gossipped with Mrs. Margaret in the green-room at old Drury, more in -the lady's favour. - -"This author (Victor) says, speaking of the Beef-steak Club, 'It was a -club of ancient institution in every theatre; when the principal -performers dined one day in the week together (generally Saturday), -and authors and other geniuses were admitted members.' - -"The _club_ in Ivy Lane, celebrated by Dr. Johnson, was originally a -_Beef-steak_." - -[295] From a paper of Steele's in the 'Spectator,' No. 468. - -[296] Memoirs of the Life of Charles Macklin, Esq., &c., by James -Thomas Kirkman, vol. ii., p. 419. - -[297] Memoirs of the Life of Charles Macklin, Esq., by James Thomas -Kirkman, vol. ii., p. 416. - -[298] A few days after writing this passage, we saw the shrubs making -their appearance. - -[299] Literary and Miscellaneous Memoirs, by J. Cradock, Esq., M.A., -F.S.A., vol. i., p. 117. - -[300] Literary and Miscellaneous Memoirs, by J. Cradock, Esq., M.A., -F.S.A., vol. iv., p. 166. - -[301] Literary and Miscellaneous Memoirs, by J. Cradock, Esq., M.A., -F.S.A., vol. i., p. 143. - -[302] Cradock, as above, p. 144. - -[303] Love and Madness, a Story too True, in a series of Letters, &c. -1822, p. 11. - -[304] Cradock's Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 166. - -[305] Boswell, vol. iii., p. 414. - -[306] Cradock's Memoirs, vol. i., p. 146. - -[307] Cradock's Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 166. - -[308] Account of John Partridge, in the Appendix to the Tatler, vol. -iv., p. 613. - -[309] Anecdotes, Manners, and Customs of London during the Eighteenth -Century, vol. i., p. 407. - -[310] Tatler, _ut supra_, vol. iii., p. 397. - -[311] Anecdotes, Manners, &c. _ut supra_, vol. iii., p. 239. - -[312] Spence, _ut supra_, pp. 2, and 49. - -[313] Johnson's Life of Prior. - -[314] Arbuthnot was a lover of the table, and is understood to have -embittered his end by it; a charge which has been brought against -Pope. Perhaps there is not one that might be brought with more safety -against ninety men out of a hundred. - -[315] Journey to the Next World. - -[316] The house was probably on the site now occupied by the -south-east corner of New Coventry Street. - -[317] For masterly criticisms on Hogarth, see the "Works of Charles -Lamb," vol. ii., p. 88, and the "Picture Galleries of England," p. -181. - -[318] Pennant, p. 120. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -CHARING CROSS AND WHITEHALL. - - Old Charing Cross, and New St. Martin's Church -- Statue of - Charles I. -- Execution of Regicides -- Ben Jonson -- - Wallingford House, now the Admiralty -- Villiers, Duke of - Buckingham; Sir Walter Scott's Account of him -- - Misrepresentation of Pope respecting his Death -- Charles's - Horse a Satirist -- Locket's Ordinary -- Sir George Etherege. - -- Prior and his Uncle's Tavern -- Thomson -- Spring Gardens -- - Mrs. Centlivre -- Dorset Place, and Whitcombe Street, &c., - formerly Hedge Lane -- The Wits and the Bailiffs -- Suffolk - Street -- Swift and Miss Vanhomrigh -- Calves' Head Club, and - the Riot it occasioned -- Scotland Yard -- Pleasant - Advertisement -- Beau Fielding, and his Eccentricities -- - Vanbrugh -- Desperate Adventure of Lord Herbert of Cherbury. - - -In the reign of Edward I., on the country road from London to -Westminster, stood the hamlet of Charing; a rustic spot, containing a -few houses, and the last cross set up by that Prince in honour of the -resting-places of his wife's body on its way to interment in the -Abbey. The Cross was originally of wood, but afterwards of stone. The -reader may see it in the old map of London by Aggas. He will there -observe, that towards the beginning of Elizabeth's reign Charing -Cross was united with London on the Strand side, and at little -intervals with Whitehall; but Spring Gardens was then and long after -what its name implies; and, in the reign of Charles II., Hedge Lane -(now Whitcomb Street) and the Haymarket were still real lanes and -passages into the fields. In Elizabeth's time, you might set out from -the site of the present Pall-mall, and, leaving St. Giles in the -Fields on the right hand, walk all the way to Hampstead without -encountering perhaps a dwelling-place. Lovers plucked flowers in -Cranbourne Alley, and took moonlight walks in St. James's market. - - [Illustration: THE VILLAGE OF CHARING FROM AGGAS'S MAP.] - -On this spot, in Dr. Johnson's opinion, is to be found the fullest -"tide of human existence" in the metropolis. We know not how that may -be at present when the tide is so full everywhere; but Charing Cross -has long been something the reverse of a rural village, and is now -exhibiting one of the newest and grandest evidences of an improving -metropolis. By way of north front, the Mews (formerly the mews of the -King's falcons) has given way to a sorry palace for the Fine Arts; on -the west is a handsome edifice including the new college of -Physicians; on the east St. Martin's church has obtained its long -desired opening: and in the midst of these buildings and of the -Strand-end is a new square, named after the greatest of our naval -victories, adorned with a column surmounted by their hero, and -disgraced by a couple of shabby fountains. Here also is an equestrian -statue of George the Fourth. What for? - - "In the reign of Henry VIII.," says Pennant, speaking of St - Martin's, "a small church was built here at the King's expense, - by reason of the poverty of the parishioners, who possibly were - at that period very poor. In 1607 it was enlarged because of - the increase of buildings. In 1721 it was found necessary to - take the whole down, and in five years from that time this - magnificent temple was completed at the expense of near - thirty-seven thousand pounds. This is the best performance of - Gibbs, the architect of the Radcliffe Library. The steeple is - far the most elegant of any of that style which I named the - _pepper-box_; and with which (I beg pardon of the good people - of Glasgow) I marked their boasted steeple of St. Andrew."[319] - -Our lively biographer seems chiefly to admire the steeple of this -church. The Corinthian portico, we believe, is the usual object of -praise. Both of them may deserve praise separately; nor, indeed, will -their size and situation allow them to be regarded with indifference -in conjunction; but the elevation of the steeple on the neck of the -church, or without any apparent or proper base to rest upon, is a -fault not to be denied; and Mr. Pennant perhaps would not have been in -the wrong, had he found an ill name for steeples in general, as well -as for the species which he "peppered." Steeples, however noble, and -porticoes, however Greek, can never truly coalesce. The finest steeple -with a portico to it is but an excrescence and an anomaly, a horn -growing out of the church's neck. The Italians felt this absurdity so -much, that they have often made a separate building of the steeple, -converting it into a beautiful tower aloof from the church, as in the -instances of the famous Hanging Tower in Pisa, and the Campanile in -Florence. Suppose a shaft like the Monument, in a space near St. -Martin's church, and the church itself a proper building with a -portico, like St. Paul's Covent Garden, and you have an improvement in -the Italian style. The best thing to say for - - ---- sharped steeples high shot up in air - -(as Spenser calls them) is, that they seem to be pointing to heaven, -or running up into space like an intimation of interminability. An -idea of this kind is supposed to have given rise to them. But they -always have a meagre, incongruous look, considered in their union with -the body to which they are attached. Their best appearance is at a -distance, and when they are numerous, as in the view of a great city; -but even then, how inferior are they to the massive dignity of such -towers as those of Westminster Abbey, or to a dome like that of St. -Paul's! - -The origin of the word Charing is unknown. The cross was destroyed -during the Reformation. The spot where it stood is occupied by the -statue of Charles I. originally the property of the Earl of Arundel, -for whom it was cast by Le Soeur in 1633. It was not placed in its -present situation till the decline of the reign of Charles II. The -pedestal is the work of Grinling Gibbons. The statue had been -condemned by Parliament to be sold and broken in pieces; "but John -River, the brazier, who purchased it," says Pennant, "having more -taste or more loyalty than his masters, buried it unmutilated and -showed to them some broken pieces of brass in token of his obedience. -M. D'Archenholz gives a diverting anecdote of this brazier, and says -that he cast a vast number of handles of knives and forks in brass, -which he sold as made of the broken statue. They were bought with -great eagerness by the royalists, from affection to their monarch; by -the rebels as a mark of triumph over the murdered sovereign."[320] The -sovereign now faces Whitehall as if in triumph: yet behind the -Banquetting house lurks a statue of another of this unfortunate race, -who lost his throne for attempting to renew the dictatorial spirit -which cost his ancestor his head. The omission of the horse's girth in -this statue has been thought a singular instance of forgetfulness in -the artist. But it is hardly possible he could have forgotten it. Most -likely he took a poetical license, and rejected what might have hurt -the symmetry of his outline. - -Charles's memory, like his life, was destined to be connected with -tragedies. On this spot, before the statue was erected, a number of -the regicides were executed with tortures; and, till of late years, it -was a place for the pillory. Harrison died there, Scrope, Colonel -Jones, Hugh Peters, and others of those extraordinary men, who, in -welcoming a bloody death, gave the last undoubted proofs that they -were real patriots as well as bigots. The spirit in which they died -(bold and invincible, though in the very glow and loquacity evincing -that lingering love of life which is so affecting to one's own -mortality,) had such an effect on the public, that the king was -advised not to have any more such executions near the court, and the -scaffold was accordingly removed to Tyburn. A ghastly story is related -of Harrison;--that after he was cut down alive (according to his -sentence), and had his bowels removed and burnt before his face by the -executioner, he rose up and gave the man a box on the ear. He had -behaved with great patience before this half-death; so that there -appears to have been something of delirium in this action,--the -action, perhaps, of a being feeling himself to be no longer under the -ordinary condition of his species. - -The particular sort of religious enthusiasm evinced by these men is -now as obsolete as some of the absurdities which they fought against, -and as others which they would have upheld; but there are passages of -lasting interest in the account of their last moments, which the -reader will perhaps expect to see. - -As Harrison was going to suffer, "one in derision called to him and -said, 'Where is your Good Old Cause?' He with a cheerful smile clapt -his hand on his breast, and said 'Here it is, and I am going to seal -it with my blood?' And when he came to the sight of the gallows, he -was transported with joy, and his servant asked him how he did; he -answered 'Never better in my life.' His servant told him, 'Sir, there -is a crown of glory ready prepared for you.' 'O yes,' said he, 'I -see.' When he was taken off the sledge, the hangman desired him to -forgive him. 'I do forgive thee,' said he, 'with all my heart, as it -is a sin against me;' and told him he wished him all happiness. And -further said, 'Alas, poor man, thou dost it ignorantly; the Lord grant -that this sin may not be laid to thy charge!' And putting his hand -into his pocket gave him all the money he had, and so parting with his -servant, hugging of him in his arms, he went up the ladder with an -undaunted countenance. - - "The people observing him to tremble in his hands and legs, he, - taking notice of it, said:-- - - "'Gentlemen, by reason of some scoffing that I do hear, I judge - that some do think I am afraid to die, by the shaking I have in - my hands and knees; I tell you no, but it is by reason of much - blood I have lost in the wars, and many wounds I have received - in my body, which caused this shaking and weakness in my - nerves; I have had it this twelve years: I speak this to the - praise and glory of God; he hath carried me above the fear of - death; and I value not my life, because I go to my Father, and - am assured I shall take it again. - - "'Gentlemen, take notice, that for being instrumental in that - cause and interest of the Son of God, which hath been pleaded - amongst us, and which God hath witnessed to my appeals and - wonderful victories I am brought to this place to suffer death - this day, and if I had ten thousand lives, I could freely and - cheerfully lay them down all, to witness to this matter.'"[321] - -The time of Colonel Jones's departure being come "this aged -gentleman," says the account, "was drawn in one sledge with his aged -companion Scroope, whose grave and graceful countenances, accompanied -with courage and cheerfulness, caused great admiration and compassion -in the spectators, as they passed along the streets to Charing Cross, -the place of their execution; and, after the executioner had done his -part upon three others that day he was so drunk with blood, that, like -one surfeited, he grew sick at stomach; and not being able himself, he -set his boy to finish the tragedy upon Col. Jones." The night before -he died he "told a friend he had no other temptation but this, lest he -should be too much transported, and carried out to neglect and slight -his life, so greatly was he satisfied to die in that cause." - - "The day he suffered, he grasped a friend in his arms, and said - to him with some expressions of endearment, 'Farewell: I could - wish thee in the same condition with myself, that thou mightest - share with me in my joys.'"[322] - -The famous Hugh Peters, the commonwealth preacher, whom Burnet speaks -of as an "enthusiastical buffoon," and a very "vicious man," is -thought by a greater loyalist (Burke) to have had "hard measures dealt -him at the Restoration." He calls him a "poor good man." Peters was -afraid at first he should not behave himself with the proper courage, -but rallied his spirits afterwards, and, according to the account -published by his friends (and all the accounts, it should be observed, -emanate from that side), no man appears to have behaved better. Burnet -says otherwise, and that he was observed all the while to be drinking -cordials to keep him from fainting, and Burnet's testimony is not to -be slighted, though he seems too readily to have taken upon trust some -evil reports of Peters' life and manners, which the "poor man," -expressly contradicted in prison. Be this as it may, "Being carried," -says the account, "upon the sledge to execution, and made to sit -thereon within the rails at Charing Cross to behold the execution of -Mr. Cook, one comes to him and upbraided him with the death of the -King, bidding him (with opprobrious language) to repent; he replied, -'Friend, you do not well to trample upon a dying man; you are greatly -mistaken, I had nothing to do in the death of the King.'" - - "When Mr. Cook was cut down and brought to be quartered, one - they called Colonel Turner called to the Sheriff's men to bring - Mr. Peters near that he might see him; and by and by the - hangman came to him all besmeared in blood, and rubbing his - bloody hands together, he tauntingly asked, 'Come, how do you - like this, how do you like this work?' To whom he replied, 'I - am not, I thank God, terrified at it; you may do your worst.' - - "When he was going to his execution, he looked about and espied - a man, to whom he gave a piece of gold (having bowed it first), - and desired him to go to the place where his daughter lodged, - and to carry that to her as a token from him, and to let her - know that his heart was as full of comfort as it could be, and - that before that piece should come into her hands he should be - with God in glory. - - "Being upon the ladder, he spake to the Sheriff, saying, 'Sir, - you have here slain one of the servants of God before mine - eyes, and have made me to behold it on purpose to terrify and - discourage me; but God hath made it an ordinance to me for my - strengthening and encouragement.' - - "When he was going to die, he said, 'What! flesh, art thou - unwilling to go to God through the fire and jaws of death? Oh' - (said he), 'this is a good day; he is come that I have long - looked for, and I shall be with him in glory;' and so smiled - when he went away. - - "What Mr. Peters said farther at his execution, either in his - speech or prayer, it could not be taken, in regard his voice - was low at that time, and the people uncivil."[323] - -Ben Jonson is supposed to have been born in Hartshorn Lane, Charing -Cross, where he lived when a little child. "Though I cannot," says -Fuller, "with all my industrious inquiry, find him in his cradle, I -can fetch him from his long coats. When a little child he lived in -Hartshorn Lane, Charing Cross, when his mother married a bricklayer -for her second husband. He was first bred in a private school in St. -Martin's Court; then in Westminster school." But we shall have other -occasions of speaking of him. - -The famous reprobate Duke of Buckingham, Villiers, the second of that -name, was born in Wallingford House, which stood on the site of the -present Admiralty. "The Admiralty Office," says Pennant "stood -originally in Duke Street, Westminster: but in the reign of King -William was removed to the present spot, to the house then called -Wallingford, I believe, from its having been inhabited by the Knollys, -Viscounts Wallingford. From the roof the pious Usher, Archbishop of -Armagh, then living here with the Countess of Peterborough, was -prevailed on to take the last sight of his beloved master Charles I., -when brought on the scaffold before Whitehall. He sank at the horror -of the sight, and was carried in a swoon to his apartment." -Wallingford House was often used by Cromwell and others in their -consultations. - -"The present Admiralty Office," continues Pennant, "was rebuilt in the -late reign, by Ripley; it is a clumsy pile, but properly veiled from -the street by Mr. Adam's handsome screen." Where the poor Archbishop -sank in horror at the sight of the misguided Charles, telegraphs have -since plied their dumb and far-seen discourses, like spirit in the -guise of mechanism, telling news of the spread of liberty and -knowledge all over the world. Of the Villierses, Dukes of Buckingham, -who have not heard? The first one was a favourite not unworthy of his -fortune, open, generous, and magnificent; the second, perhaps because -he lost his father so soon, a spoiled child from his cradle, wilful, -debauched, unprincipled, but witty and entertaining. Here, and at York -House in the Strand, he turned night into day, and pursued his -intrigues, his concerts, his dabblings in chemistry and the -philosopher's stone, and his designs on the Crown: for Charles's -character, and the devices of Buckingham's fellow quacks and -astrologers, persuaded him that he had a chance of being king. When a -youth, he compounded with Cromwell, and married Fairfax's -daughter;--he was afterwards all for the king, when he was not "all -for rhyming" or ousting him;--when an old man, or near it (for these -prodigious possessors of animal spirits have a trick of lasting a long -while), he was still a youth in improvidence and dissipation, and his -whole life was a dream of uneasy pleasure. He is now best known from -Dryden's masterly portrait of him in the "Absalom and Achitophel." - - "A man so various, that he seemed to be, - Not one, but all mankind's epitome; - Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, - Was everything by starts, and nothing long; - But in the course of one revolving moon, - Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon; - Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, - Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking. - Blest madman! who could every hour employ - With something new to wish or to enjoy. - Railing and praising were his usual themes; - And both, to show his judgment, in extremes, - So very violent, or over civil, - That every man with him was God or devil. - In squandering wealth was his peculiar art; - Nothing went unrewarded but desert. - Beggar'd by fools, whom still he found too late, - He had his jest, and they had his estate. - He laugh'd himself from court; then sought relief - By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief; - For spite of him, the weight of business fell - On Absalom, or wise Achitophel; - Thus wicked but in will, of means bereft, - He left not faction, but of that was left." - - "This inimitable description," observes Sir Walter Scott, in a - note on the subject, "refers, as is well known, to the famous - George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, son of the favourite of - Charles I., who was murdered by Felton. The Restoration put - into the hands of the most lively, mercurial, ambitious, and - licentious genius who ever lived, an estate of 20,000_l._ a - year, to be squandered in every wild scheme which the lust of - power, of pleasure, of license, or of whim, could dictate to an - unrestrained imagination. Being refused the situation of - President of the North, he was suspected of having favoured the - disaffected in that part of England, and was disgraced - accordingly. But in 1666 he regained the favour of the King, - and became a member of the famous Administration called the - Cabal, which first led Charles into unpopular and arbitrary - measures, and laid the foundation for the troubles of his - future reign. Buckingham changed sides about 1675, and becoming - attached to the country party, made a most active figure in all - proceedings which had relation to the Popish plot; intrigued - deeply with Shaftesbury, and distinguished himself as a - promoter of the bill of exclusion. Hence, he stood an eminent - mark for Dryden's satire; which we may believe was not the less - poignant, that the poet had sustained a personal affront, from - being depicted by his grace under the character of Bayes in the - "Rehearsal." As Dryden owed the Duke no favour, he has shown - him none. Yet even here the ridiculous rather than the infamous - part of his character is touched upon; and the unprincipled - libertine, who slew the Earl of Shrewsbury while his adulterous - countess held his horse in the disguise of a page, and who - boasted of caressing her before he changed the bloody clothes - in which he had murdered her husband, is not exposed to hatred, - whilst the spendthrift and castle builder are held up to - contempt. So just, however, is the picture drawn by Dryden, - that it differs little from the following sober historical - account. - - "'The Duke of Buckingham was a man of great parts, and an - infinite deal of wit and humour; but wanted judgment, and had - no virtue, or principle of any kind. These essential defects - made his whole life one train of inconsistencies. He was - ambitious beyond measure, and implacable in his resentments; - these qualities were the effects or different faces of his - pride; which, whenever he pleased to lay aside, no man living - could be more entertaining in conversation. He had a wonderful - talent in turning all things into ridicule; but, by his own - conduct, made a more ridiculous figure in the world than any - which he could, with all his vivacity of wit and turn of - imagination, draw of others. Frolic and pleasure took up the - greatest part of his life: and in these he had neither any - taste nor set himself any bounds: running into the wildest - extravagances and pushing his debaucheries to a height, which - even a libertine age could not help censuring as downright - madness. He inherited the best estate which any subject had at - that time in England; yet his profuseness made him always - necessitous, as that necessity made him grasp at every thing - that would help to support his expenses. He was lavish without - generosity, and proud without magnanimity; and though he did - not want some bright talents, yet no good one ever made part of - his composition; for there was nothing so mean that he would - not stoop to, nor anything so flagrantly impious but he was - capable of undertaking.'" - - "Buckingham's death," concludes the commentator, "was as awful - a beacon as his life. He had dissipated a princely fortune, and - lost both the means of procuring and the power of enjoying the - pleasures to which he was devoted. He had fallen from the - highest pinnacle of ambition into the last degree of contempt - and disregard." His dying scene, in a paltry inn, in Yorkshire, - has been immortalized by Pope's beautiful lines:-- - - "In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half hung; - The floors of plaister and the walls of dung; - On once a flock bed, but repaired with straw, - With tape-tied curtains never meant to draw, - The George and Garter, dangling from that bed, - Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red, - Great Villiers lies! Alas! how changed from him! - That life of pleasure and that soul of whim; - Gallant and gay in Cliefden's proud alcove, - The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love; - Or just as gay at council, in a ring - Of mimicked statesmen and a merry king; - No wit to flatter left of all his store, - No fool to laugh at, which he valued more; - There victor of his health, of fortune, friends, - And fame, this lord of useless thousands ends!"[324] - -"The worst inn's worst room," however, is a poetical fiction. -Buckingham died at the house of one of his tenants at Kirby Mallory, -where he was overtaken with illness. He had wasted his fortune to a -comparative nothing; but was not reduced to such necessity as the poet -would imply.[325] - -Andrew Marvel makes the statue of Charing Cross the speaker in one of -his witty libels on Charles and his brother. There was an equestrian -statue of Charles II. at Woolchurch, the horse of which is made to -hold a dialogue with this other. The poet fancies that the riders, -"weary of sitting all day," stole off one evening, and the two horses -came together. The readers at Will's must have been a little -astonished at the boldness of such passages as the following:-- - - "Quoth the marble horse, It would make a stone speak, - To see a Lord Mayor and a Lombard Street beak, - Thy founder and mine, to cheat one another, - When both knaves agreed to be each other's brother. - Here Charing broke forth, and thus he went on-- - My brass is provoked as much as thy stone - To see church and state bow down to a ---- - And the King's chief ministers holding the door, - The money of widows and orphans employed, - And the bankers quite broke to maintain the ----'s pride. - - WOOLCHURCH. To see _Dei Gratia_ writ on the throne. - And the King's wicked life says God there is none. - - CHARING. That he should be styled Defender of the Faith, - Who believes not a word what the Word of God saith. - - WOOLCHURCH. That the Duke should turn Papist, and that church defy, - For which his own father a Martyr did die. - - CHARING. Tho' he changed his religion, I hope he's so civil, - Not to think his own father has gone to the Devil. - - * * * * * - - CHARING. Pause, brother, awhile, and calmly consider - What thou hast to say against my royal rider. - - WOOLCHURCH. Thy priest-ridden King turned desperate fighter - For the surplice, lawn-sleeves, the cross, and the mitre; - Till at last on the scaffold he was left in the lurch, - By knaves, who cried themselves up for the church, - Archbishops and bishops, archdeacons and deans. - - CHARING. Thy King will ne'er fight unless for his Queens. - - WOOLCHURCH. He that dys for ceremonys, dys like a fool. - - CHARING. The King on thy back is a lamentable tool. - - WOOLCHURCH. the Goat and the Lion I Equally Hate, - And Freemen alike value life and estate: - Tho' the father and son be different rods, - Between the two scourgers we find little odds; - Both infamous stand in three kingdoms' votes, - This for picking our pockets, that for cutting our throats. - - * * * * * - - What is thy opinion of James Duke of York? - - CHARING. The same that the frogs had of Jupiter's stork. - With the Turk in his head, and the Pope in his heart, - Father Patrick's disciples will make England smart. - If e'er he be king, I know Britain's doom, - We must all to a stake, or be converts to Rome. - Ah! Tudor, ah! Tudor, of Stuarts enough; - None ever reigned like old Bess in the ruff. - - * * * * * - - WOOLCHURCH. But canst thou devise when things will be mended? - - CHARING. When the reign of the line of the Stuarts is ended." - -And these very lampoons had a hand in ending them. - -In the days of Buckingham there was a famous house of entertainment in -Charing Cross, called Locket's Ordinary. Where it exactly stood seems -to be no longer known: we suspect by the great Northumberland -Coffee-house. "It is often mentioned," says a manuscript in Birch's -collection, "in the plays of Cibber, Vanbrugh, &c., where the scene -sometimes is laid." It was much frequented by Sir George Etherege, as -appears from the following anecdotes, picked up at the British Museum. -Sir George Etherege and his company, "provoked by something amiss in -the entertainment or attendance, got into a violent passion and abused -the waiters. This brought in Mrs. Locket: 'We are so provoked,' said -Sir George, 'that even I could find in my heart to pull the nose-gay -out of your bosom, and throw the flowers in your face.' This turned -all their anger into jest." - - "Sir G. Etherege discontinued Locket's Ordinary, having run up - a score which he could not conveniently discharge. Mrs. Locket - sent one to dun him, and to threaten him with a prosecution. He - bid the messenger tell her that he would kiss her if she - stirred a step in it. When this answer was brought back, she - called for her hood and scarf, and told her husband, who - interposed, that 'she'd see if there was any fellow alive who - had the impudence.' 'Pr'ythee, my dear, don't be so rash,' said - her husband, 'you don't know what a man may do in his - passion.'"[326] - -The site of the tavern is now also unknown, where Prior was found, -when a boy, reading Horace. It was called the Rummer. Mr. Nichols has -found that, in the year 1685, it was kept by "Samuel Prior," and that -the "annual feasts of the nobility and gentry living in the parish of -St. Martin" were held there, October 14, in that year. "Prior," says -Johnson, "is supposed to have fallen, by his father's death, into the -hands of his uncle, a vintner near Charing Cross, who sent him for -some time to Dr. Busby, at Westminster; but, not intending to give him -any education beyond that of the school, took him, when he was well -educated in literature, to his own house, where the Earl of Dorset, -celebrated for patronage of genius, found him by chance, as Burnet -relates, reading Horace, and was so well pleased with his proficiency, -that he undertook the care and cost of his academical education."[327] - -It is doubtful, however, from one of Prior's epistles to Fleetwood -Shepherd, whether the poet was more indebted to the Lord Dorset or to -that gentleman for his first advancement in life, though the Earl -finally became his great patron. He says to Shepherd,-- - - "Now, as you took me up when little - Gave me my learning and my vittle, - Asked for me, from my lord, things fitting - Kind, as I 'ad been your own begetting, - Confirm what formerly you've given, - Nor leave me now at six and seven, - As Sunderland has left Mun Stephen." - -And again:-- - - "My uncle, rest his soul! when living, - Might have contrived me ways of thriving; - Taught me with cider to replenish - My vats, or ebbing tide of Rhenish; - So, when for hock I drew pricked white-wine, - Swear 't had the flavour, and was right-wine; - Or sent me with ten pounds to Furni- - Val's Inn, to some good rogue attorney; - Where now, by forging deeds and cheating, - I 'ad found some handsome ways of getting. - All this you made me quit to follow - That sneaking, whey-fac'd god Apollo; - Sent me among a fiddling crew - Of folks, I 'ad never seen nor knew, - Calliope, and God knows who. - I add no more invectives to it, - You spoiled the youth to make a poet." - -Johnson says "A survey of the life and writings of Prior may exemplify -a sentence which he doubtless understood well when he read Horace at -his uncle's; 'the vessel long retains the scent which it first -receives.' In his private relaxation he revived the tavern, and in his -amorous pedantry he exhibited the college. But on higher occasions and -nobler subjects, when habit was overpowered by the necessity of -reflection, he wanted not wisdom as a statesman, or elegance as a -poet." It is doubtful whether the general colour of everybody's life -and character might not be found in that of his childhood; but there -is no more reason to think that Prior's tavern propensities were owing -to early habit than those of his patrician companions. No man was -fonder of his bottle than Lord Dorset, and of low company than many a -lord has been. According to Burke, who was a king's man, kings are -naturally fond of low company. Yet they are no nephews of -tavern-keepers. Nor does it appear that Prior did anything in his -uncle's house but pass the time and read. - -Thomson wrote part of his "Seasons" in the room over the shop of Mr. -Egerton, bookseller, where he resided when he first came to London. He -was at that time a raw Scotchman, gaping about town, getting his -pocket picked, and obliged to wait upon great men with his poem of -"Winter." Luckily his admiration of freedom did not hinder him from -acquiring the highest patronage. He obtained an easy place, which -required no compromise with his principles, and passed the latter part -of his life in a dwelling of his own at Richmond, writing in his -garden, and listening to nightingales. He was of an indolent -constitution, and has been seen in his garden eating peaches off the -trees, with his hands in his waistcoat pockets. But his indolence did -not hinder him from writing. He had the luck to have the occupation he -was fond of; and no man perhaps in his native country, with the -exception of Shakspeare, has acquired a greater or more unenvied fame. -His friends loved him, and his readers love his memory. - -In Spring Gardens, originally a place of public entertainment, died -Mrs. Centlivre, the sprightly authoress of the "Wonder," the "Busy -Body," and the "Bold Stroke for a Wife." She was buried at St. -Martin's. She is said to have been a beauty, an accomplished linguist, -and a good-natured friendly woman. Pope put her in his "Dunciad," for -having written, it is said, a ballad against his "Homer" when she was -a child! But the probability is that she was too intimate with Steele -and other friends of Addison while the irritable poet was at variance -with them. It is not impossible, also, that some raillery of hers -might have been applied to him, not very pleasant from a beautiful -woman against a man of his personal infirmities, who was naturally -jealous of not being well with the sex. Mrs. Centlivre is said to have -been seduced when young by Anthony Hammond, father of the author of -the "Love Elegies," who took her to Cambridge with him in boy's -clothes. This did not hinder her from marrying a nephew of Sir Stephen -Fox, who died a year thereafter; nor from having two husbands -afterwards. Her second was an officer in the army, of the name of -Carrol, who, to her great sorrow, was killed in a duel. Her third -husband, Mr. Centlivre, who had the formidable title of Yeoman of the -Mouth, being principal cook to Queen Anne, fell in love with her when -she was performing the part of _Alexander the Great_, at Windsor; for -she appears at one time to have been an actress, though she never -performed in London. Mrs. Centlivre's dramas are not in the taste of -Mrs. Hannah More's, but the public still have a regard for them. All -the plays above-mentioned are stock pieces. The reason is, that, -careless as they are in dialogue, and not very scrupulous in manners, -they are full of action and good-humour. - -Hedge Lane retained its name till lately, when, ceasing to be a heap -of squalidity, it was new christened and received the appellation of -Dorset Place. Part of it is merged in Pall Mall East. It is now the -handsomest end of the thoroughfare which runs up into Oxford Road, and -takes the successive names of Whitcomb, Princes, and Wardour Streets. -Not long ago the whole thoroughfare appears to have been called Hedge -Lane. It is related of Steele, Budgel, and Philips, that, issuing from -a tavern one day in Gerrard Street, they were about to turn into Hedge -Lane, when they were told that some suspicious-looking persons were -standing there as if in wait. "Thank ye," said the wits, and hurried -three different ways. - -It is not pleasant to have old places altered which are connected with -interesting recollections, even if the place or recollection be none -of the pleasantest. When the houses in Suffolk Street were pulled -down, we could not help regretting that the abode was among them in -which poor Miss Vanhomrigh lived, who died for love of Swift. She -resided there with her mother, the widow of a Dutch merchant, and had -a small fortune. Swift while in England, upon the affairs of the Irish -Church, was introduced to them, and became so intimate as to leave his -best gown and cassock there for convenience. He found the coffee also -very pleasant, and gradually became too much interested in the -romantic spirit and flattering attentions of the young lady, whose -studies he condescended to direct, and who, in short, fell in love -with him at an age when he was old enough to be her father. Unluckily -he was married; and most unluckily he did not say a word about the -matter. It is curious to observe in the letters which he sent over to -Stella (his wife), with what an affected indifference he speaks of the -Vanhomrighs and his visits to them, evidently thinking it necessary -all the while to account for their frequency. When he left England, -Miss Vanhomrigh, after the death of her mother, followed him, and -proposed that he should either marry or refuse her. He would do -neither. - -At length both the ladies, the married and unmarried, discovered their -mutual secret: a discovery which is supposed ultimately to have -hastened the death of both. Miss Vanhomrigh's survival of it was -short--not many weeks. For what may remain to be said on this painful -subject the reader will allow us to quote a passage from one of the -magazines. - - "There was a vanity, perhaps, on both sides, though it may be - wrong to attribute a passion wholly to that infirmity, where - the object of it is not only a person celebrated, but one full - of wit and entertainment. The vanity was certainly not the less - on his side. Many conjectures have been made respecting the - nature of this connection of Swift's, as well as another more - mysterious. The whole truth, in the former instance, appears - obvious enough. Swift, partly from vanity, and partly from a - more excusable craving after some recreation of his natural - melancholy, had suffered himself to take a pleasure, and - exhibit an interest, in the conversation of an intelligent - young woman, beyond what he ought to have done. An attachment - on her part ensued, not greater, perhaps, than he contemplated - with a culpable satisfaction as long as it threatened no very - great disturbance of his peace, but which must have given him - great remorse in after-times, when he reflected upon his - encouragement of it. On the occasion of its disclosure his - self-love inspired him with one of his most poetical fancies:-- - - 'Cadenus many things had writ; - Vanessa much esteemed his wit, - And called for his poetic works: - Meanwhile the boy in secret lurks, - And while the book was in her hand - The urchin from his private stand, - Took aim, and shot with all his strength - A dart of such prodigious length, - It pierced the feeble volume through, - And deep transfixed her bosom too. - Some lines more moving than the rest, - Stuck to the point that pierced her breast, - And borne directly to the heart, - With pains unknown increased her smart. - Vanessa, not in years a score, - Dreams of a gown of forty-four, - Imaginary charms can find - In eyes with reading almost blind: - Cadenus now no more appears - Declined in health, advanced in years, - She fancies music in his tongue, - Nor farther looks, but thinks him young.' - - "A reflection ensues which it is a pity he had not made - before:-- - - 'What mariner is not afraid - To venture in a ship decayed? - What planter will attempt to yoke - A sapling with a fallen oak? - As years increase she brighter shines, - Cadenus with each day declines; - And he must fall a prey to time - While she continues in her prime.' - - "If he had thought of this when he used to go to her mother's - house in order to change his wig and gown and drink coffee, he - would have avoided those encouragements of Miss Vanhomrigh's - sympathy and admiration, which must have given rise to very - bitter reflections when she read such passages as the lines - that follow:-- - - 'Cadenus, common forms apart, - In every scene had kept his heart; - Had sighed and languished, vowed and writ, - For pastime, or to show his wit.' - - "It was sport to him, but death to her. His allegations of not - being conscious of anything on her part, are not to be trusted. - There are few men whose self-love is not very sharp-sighted on - such occasions,--men of wit in particular; nor was Swift, - notwithstanding the superiority he assumed over fopperies of - all sorts, and the great powers which gave a passport to the - assumption, exempt, perhaps, from any species of vanity. The - more airs he gives himself on that point, the less we are to - believe him. He was fond of lords and great ladies, and levees, - and canonicals, and of having the verger to walk before him. He - saw very well, we may be assured, the impression which he made - on the young lady; but he hoped, as others have hoped, that it - would accommodate itself to circumstances in cases of - necessity; or he pretended to himself that he was too modest to - believe it a great one; or sacrificing her ultimate good to her - present pleasure and to his own, he put off the disagreeable - day of alteration and self-denial till it was too late. There - are many reasons why Swift should have acted otherwise, and why - no man, at any time of life, should hazard the peace of another - by involvements which he cannot handsomely follow up. If he - does, he is bound to do what he can for it to the last."[328] - -The famous Calves' Head Club (in ridicule of the memory of Charles I.) -was held at a tavern in Suffolk Street; at least the assembly of it -was held there which made so much noise in the last century, and -produced a riot. At this meeting it was said that a bleeding calf's -head had been thrown out of the window, wrapt up in a napkin, and that -the members drank damnation to the race of the Stuarts. This was -believed till the other day, and has often been lamented as a -disgusting instance of party spirit. To say the truth, the very name -of the club was disgusting, and a dishonour to the men who invented -it. It was more befitting their own heads. But the particulars above -mentioned are untrue. The letter has been set right by the publication -of "Spence's Anecdotes," at the end of which are some letters to Mr. -Spence, including one from Lord Middlesex, giving the real account of -the affair. By the style of the letter the reader may judge what sort -of heads the members had, and what was reckoned the polite way of -speaking to a waiter in those days:-- - - Whitehall, Feb. ye 9th, 1735. - - "Dear _Spanco_, - - "I don't in the least doubt but long before this time the noise - of the riot on the 30 of Jan. has reached you at Oxford, and - though there has been as many lies and false reports raised - upon the occasion in this good city as any reasonable man could - expect, yet I fancy even those may be improved or increased - before they come to you. Now, that you may be able to defend - your friends (as I don't in the least doubt you have an - inclination to do), I'll send you the matter of fact literally - and truly as it happened, upon my honour. Eight of us happened - to meet together the 30th of January, it might have been the - 10th of June, or any other day in the year, but the mixture of - the company has convinced most reasonable people by this time - that it was not a designed or premeditated affair. We met, - then, as I told you before, by chance upon this day, and after - dinner, having drunk very plentifully, especially some of the - company, some of us going to the window unluckily saw a little - nasty fire made by some boys in the street, of straw I think it - was, and immediately cried out, 'Damn it, why should not we - have a fire as well as anybody else?' Up comes the drawer, - 'Damn you, you rascal, get us a bonfire.' Upon which the - imprudent puppy runs down, and without making any difficulty - (which he might have done by a thousand excuses, and which if - he had, in all probability, some of us would have come more to - our senses), sends for the faggots, and in an instant behold a - large fire blazing before the door. Upon which some of us, - wiser, or rather soberer, than the rest, bethinking themselves - then, for the first time, what day it was, and fearing the - consequences a bonfire on that day might have, proposed - drinking loyal and popular healths to the mob (out of the - window), which by this time was very great, in order to - convince them we did not intend it as a ridicule upon that day. - The healths that were drank out of the window were these, and - these only: The King, Queen, and Royal Family, the Protestant - Succession, Liberty and Property, the present Administration. - Upon which the first stone was flung, and then began our siege: - which, for the time it lasted, was at least as furious as that - of Philipsbourgh; it was more than an hour before we got any - assistance; the more sober part of us, doing this, had a fine - time of it, fighting to prevent fighting; in danger of being - knocked on the head by the stones that came in at the windows; - in danger of being run through by our mad friends, who, sword - in hand, swore they would go out, though they first made their - way through us. At length the justice, attended by a strong - body of guards, came and dispersed the populace. The person who - first stirred up the mob is known; he first gave them money, - and then harangued them in a most violent manner; I don't know - if he did not fling the first stone himself. He is an Irishman - and a priest, and belonging to Imberti, the Venetian Envoy. - This is the whole story from which so many calves' heads, - bloody napkins, and the Lord knows what has been made; it has - been the talk of the town and the country, and small beer and - bread and cheese to my friends the Garretters in Grub Street, - for these few days past. I, as well as your friends, hope to - see you soon in town. After so much prose, I can't help ending - with a few verses:-- - - O had I lived in merry Charles's days, - When dull the wise were called, and wit had praise; - When deepest politics could never pass - For aught, but surer tokens of an ass; - When not the frolicks of one drunken night - Could touch your honour, make your fame less bright, - Tho' mob-form'd scandal rag'd, and Papal spight. - - "MIDDLESEX." - -The author of a "Secret History of the Calves' Head Club, or the -Republicans Unmasked" (supposed to be Ned Ward, of ale-house memory), -attributes the origin to Milton and some other friends of the -Commonwealth, in opposition to Bishop Juxon, Dr. Sanderson, and -others, who met privately every 30th of January, and had compiled a -private form of service for the day, not very different from that now -in use. - - "After the Restoration," says the writer, "the eyes of the - Government being upon the whole party, they were obliged to - meet with a great deal of precaution; but in the reign of King - William they met almost in a public manner, apprehending no - danger." The writer farther tells us, he was informed that it - was kept in no fixed house, but that they moved as they thought - convenient. The place where they met when his informant was - with them was in a blind alley near Moorfields, where an axe - hung up in the club-room, and was reverenced as a principal - symbol in this diabolical sacrament. Their bill of fare was a - large dish of calves' heads, dressed several ways, by which - they represented the king and his friends who had suffered in - his cause; a large pike, with a small one in his mouth, as an - emblem of tyranny; a large cod's head by which they intended to - represent the person of the king singly; a boar's head with an - apple in its mouth, to represent the king by this as bestial, - as by their other hieroglyphics they had done foolish and - tyrannical. After the repast was over, one of their elders - presented an _Icon Basilike_, which was with great solemnity - burnt upon the table, whilst the other anthems were singing. - After this, another produced Milton's _Defensio Populi - Anglicani_, upon which all laid their hands, and made a - protestation in form of an oath for ever to stand by and - maintain the same. The company only consisted of Independents - and Anabaptists; and the famous Jeremy White, formerly chaplain - to Oliver Cromwell, who no doubt came to sanctify with his - pious exhortations the ribaldry of the day, said grace. After - the table-cloth was removed, the anniversary anthem, as they - impiously called it, was sung, and a calf's skull filled with - wine, or other liquor; and then a brimmer went about to the - pious memory of those worthy patriots who had killed the tyrant - and relieved their country from his arbitrary sway: and, - lastly, a collection was made for the mercenary scribbler, to - which every man contributed according to his zeal for the cause - and ability of his purse." - - "Although no great reliance," says Mr. Wilson, from whose life - of De Foe this passage is extracted, "is to be placed upon the - faithfulness of Ward's narrative, yet, in the frighted mind of - a high-flying churchman, which was continually haunted by such - scenes, the caricature would easily pass for a likeness." "It - is probable," adds the honest biographer of De Foe, "that the - persons thus collected together to commemorate the triumph of - their principles, although in a manner dictated by bad taste, - and outrageous to humanity, would have confined themselves to - the ordinary methods of eating and drinking, if it had not been - for the ridiculous farce so generally acted by the royalists - upon the same day. The trash that issued from the pulpit in - this reign, upon the 30th of January, was such as to excite the - worst passions in the hearers. Nothing can exceed the grossness - of language employed upon these occasions. Forgetful even of - common decorum, the speakers ransacked the vocabulary of the - vulgar for terms of vituperation, and hurled their anathemas - with wrath and fury against the objects of their hatred. The - terms rebel and fanatic were so often upon their lips, that - they became the reproach of honest men, who preferred the - scandal to the slavery they attempted to establish. Those who - could profane the pulpit with so much rancour in the support of - senseless theories, and deal it out to the people for religion, - had little reason to complain of a few absurd men who mixed - politics and calves' heads at a tavern; and still less, to - brand a whole religious community with their actions."[329] - - [Illustration: SCOTLAND YARD IN 1750.] - -Scotland Yard is so called from a palace built for the reception of -the Kings of Scotland when they visited this country. Pennant tells us -that it was originally given to King Edgar, by Kenneth, Prince of that -country, for the purpose of his coming to pay him annual homage, as -Lord Paramount of Scotland. Margaret, widow of James V. and sister of -Henry VIII., resided there a considerable time after the death of her -husband, and was magnificently entertained by her brother on his -becoming reconciled to her second marriage with the Earl of -Angus.[330] When the Crowns became united, James I. of course waived -his right of abode in the homage-paying house, which was finally -deserted as a royal residence. We know not when it was demolished. -Probably it was devoted for some time to Government offices. Scotland -Yard was the place of one of Milton's abodes during the time he served -the Government of Cromwell. He lost an infant son there. The eccentric -Beau Fielding died in it at the beginning of the last century, and -Vanbrugh a little after him. There was a coffee-house in the yard, -which seems, by the following pleasant advertisement, to have been -frequented by good company:-- - - "Whereas six gentlemen (all of the same honourable profession), - having been more than ordinarily put to it for a little - pocket-money, did, on the 14th instant, in the evening, near - Kentish Town, borrow of two persons (in a coach) a certain sum - of money, without staying to give bond for the repayment: And - whereas fancy was taken to the hat, peruke, cravat, sword, and - cane, of one of the creditors, which were all lent as freely as - the money: these are therefore to desire the said six worthies, - how fond soever they may be of the other loans, to un-fancy the - cane again and send it to Well's Coffee House in Scotland Yard; - it being too short for any such proper gentlemen as they are to - walk with, and too small for any of their important uses; and - withal, only valuable as having been the gift of a - friend."[331] - -Beau Fielding was thought worthy of record by Sir Richard Steele, as -an extraordinary instance of the effects of personal vanity upon a man -not without wit. He was of the noble family of Fielding, and was -remarkable for the beauty of his person, which was a mixture of the -Hercules and the Adonis. It is described as having been a real model -of perfection. He married to his first wife the dowager Countess of -Purbeck; followed the fortunes of James II., who is supposed to have -made him a major-general and perhaps a count; returned and married a -woman of the name of Wadsworth, under the impression that she was a -lady of fortune; and, discovering his error, addressed or accepted the -addresses of the notorious Duchess of Cleveland, and married her, who, -on discovering her mistake in turn, indicted him for bigamy and -obtained a divorce. Before he left England to follow James, "Handsome -Fielding," as he was called, appears to have been insane with vanity. -On his return, he had added, to the natural absurdities of that -passion, the indecency of being old; but this only rendered him the -more perverse in his folly. He always appeared in an extraordinary -dress: sometimes rode in an open tumbril, of less size than ordinary, -the better to display the nobleness of his person; and his footmen -appeared in liveries of yellow, with black feathers in their hats, and -black sashes. When people laughed at him, he refuted them, as Steele -says, "by only moving." Sir Richard says he saw him one day stop and -call the boys about him, to whom he spoke as follows:-- - -"Good youths,--Go to school, and do not lose your time in following my -wheels: I am loth to hurt you, because I know not but you are all my -own offspring. Hark ye, you sirrah with the white hair, I am sure you -are mine, there is half-a-crown for you. Tell your mother, this, with -the other half-crown I gave her ... comes to five shillings. Thou hast -cost me all that, and yet thou art good for nothing. Why, you young -dogs, did you never see a man before?" "Never such a one as you, noble -general," replied a truant from Westminster. "Sirrah, I believe thee: -there is a crown for thee. Drive on, coachman." Swift puts him in his -list of Mean Figures, as one who "at fifty years of age, when he was -wounded in a quarrel upon the stage, opened his breast and showed the -wound to the ladies, that he might move their love and pity; but they -all fell a laughing." His vanity, which does not appear to have been -assisted by courage, sometimes got him into danger. He is said to have -been caned and wounded by a Welsh gentleman, in the theatre in -Lincoln's Inn Fields; and pressing forward once at a benefit of Mrs. -Oldfield's, 'to show himself,' he trod on Mr. Fulwood, a barrister, -who gave him a wound twelve inches deep. His fortune, which he ruined -by early extravagance, he thought to have repaired by his marriage -with Mrs. Wadsworth, and endeavoured to do so by gambling; but -succeeded in neither attempt, and after the short-lived splendour with -the Duchess of Cleveland, returned to his real wife, whom he pardoned, -and died under her care. During the height of his magnificence, he -carried his madness so far, according to Steele, as to call for his -tea by beat of drum; his valet got ready to shave him by a trumpet to -horse; and water was brought for his teeth, when the sound was changed -to boots and saddle." If this looks like a jest, there is no knowing -how far vanity might be carried, especially when the patient may -cloak it from himself under the guise of giving way to a humour.[332] - -Vanbrugh, comic poet, architect, and herald, was comptroller of the -royal works. His house in Whitehall, built by himself, was remarkable -for its smallness. Swift compared it to a goose-pie. On the other -hand, his Blenheim and public buildings are ridiculed for their -ponderous hugeness. The close of Dr. Evans's epitaph upon him is well -known:-- - - Lie heavy on him earth, for he - Laid many a heavy load on thee. - -When he was made Clarencieux king-at-arms, Swift said he might now -"build houses." The secret of this ridicule was, that Vanbrugh was a -Whig. Sir Joshua Reynolds has left the following high encomium on his -merits as an architect. "In the buildings of Vanbrugh, who was a poet -as well as an architect, there is a greater display of imagination -than we shall find, perhaps, in any other; and this is the ground of -the effect we feel in many of his works, notwithstanding the faults -with which many of them are charged. For this purpose, Vanbrugh -appears to have had recourse to some principles of the Gothic -architecture, which, though not so ancient as the Grecian, _is more so -to our imagination_, with which the artist is more concerned than with -absolute truth." "To speak of Vanbrugh (adds Sir Joshua), in the -language of a painter, he had originality of invention; he understood -light and shadow, and had great skill in composition. To support his -principal object, he produced his second and third groups or masses. -He perfectly understood in his art, what is the most difficult in -ours, the conduct of the back-ground, by which the design and -invention are set off to the greatest advantage. What the back-ground -is in painting, in architecture is the real ground on which the -building is erected; and no architect took greater care that his work -should not appear crude and hard; that is, that it did not abruptly -start out of the ground without expectation or preparation. This is a -tribute which a painter owes to an architect who composed like a -painter, and was defrauded of the due reward of his merit by the wits -of his time, _who did not understand the principles of composition in -poetry better than he, and who knew little or nothing of what he -understood perfectly--the general ruling principles of architecture -and painting_. Vanbrugh's fate was that of the great Perrault. Both -were the objects of the petulant sarcasms of factious men of letters, -and both have left some of the fairest monuments which, to this day, -decorate their several countries;--the facade of the Louvre; Blenheim, -and Castle Howard."[333] Perrault, however, had a worse fate than -Vanbrugh, for the Frenchman was ridiculed not only as an architect but -as a man of letters, whereas our author's pretensions that way were -acknowledged. - -In the front of Scotland Yard an extraordinary adventure befell Lord -Herbert of Cherbury--(_see_ Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields), who -relates it in a strain of coxcombry (particularly about the ladies) -which would have brought discredit upon such a story from any other -pen. There is no doubt, however, that the story is true. - - "There was a lady," says his lordship, "wife to Sir John Ayres, - knight, who finding some means to get a copy of my picture from - Larkin, gave it to Mr. Isaac, the painter, in Blackfriars, and - desired him to draw it in little, after his manner; which being - done, she caused it to be set in gold and enamelled, and so - wore it about her neck so low that she hid it under her - breasts, which I conceive, coming afterwards to the knowledge - of Sir John Ayres, gave him more cause of jealousie than - needed, had he known how innocent I was from pretending to - anything that might wrong him or his lady, since I could not so - much as imagine that either she had my picture, or that she - bare more than ordinary affection to me. It is true, that as - she had a place in court, and attended Queen Anne, and was - beside of an excellent wit and discourse, she had made herself - a considerable person. Howbeit, little more than a common - civility ever passed betwixt us; though I confess I think no - man was welcomer to her when I came, for which I shall allege - this passage:-- - - "Coming one day into her chamber, I saw her through the - curtains lying upon her bed with a wax candle in one hand, and - the picture I formerly mentioned in the other. I coming - thereupon somewhat boldly to her, she blew out the candle and - hid the picture from me: myself thereupon being curious to know - what that was she held in her hand, got the candle to be - lighted again, by means whereof I found it was my picture she - looked upon with more earnestness and passion than I could - easily have believed, especially since myself was not engaged - in any affection towards her. I could willingly have omitted - this passage, but that it was the beginning of a bloody history - which followed: howsoever, yet I must before the eternal God - clear her honour. And now in court a great person sent for me - divers times to attend her; which summons, though I obeyed, yet - God knows I declined coming to her as much as conveniently I - could without incurring her displeasure; and this I did, not - only for very honest reasons, but, to speak ingenuously, - because that affection passed between me and another lady (who - I believe was the fairest of her time) as nothing could divert - it. I had not been long in London, when a violent burning fever - seized upon me, which brought me almost to my death, though at - last I did by slow degrees recover my health. Being thus upon - my amendment, the Lord Lisle, afterwards Earl of Leicester, - sent me word, that Sir John Ayres intended to kill me in my - bed; and wished me to keep guard upon my chamber and person. - The same advertisement was confirmed by Lucy, Countess of - Bedford, and the Lady Hobby, shortly after. Hereupon I thought - fit to entreat Sir William Herbert, now Lord Powis, to go to - Sir John Ayres, and tell him that I marvelled much at the - information given me by these great persons, and that I could - not imagine any sufficient ground hereof; howbeit, if he had - anything to say to me in a fair and noble way, I would give him - the meeting as soon as I had got strength enough to stand on my - legs. Sir William hereupon brought me so ambiguous and doubtful - an answer from him, that, whatsoever he meant, he would not - declare yet his intention, which was really, as I found - afterwards, to kill me any way that he could." The reason, Lord - Herbert tells us, was, that Sir John, though falsely, accused - him of having seduced his wife. "Finding no means thus to - surprise me," continues the noble lord, "he sent me a letter to - this effect; that he desired to meet me somewhere, and that it - might so fall out as I might return quietly again. To this I - replied, that if he desired to fight with me on equal terms, I - should, upon assurance of the field and fair play, give him - meeting when he did any way specify the cause, and that I did - not think fit to come to him upon any other terms, having been - sufficiently informed of his plots to assassinate me. - - "After this, finding he could take no advantage against me, - then in a treacherous way he resolved to assassinate me in this - manner;--hearing I was to come to Whitehall on horseback with - two lacqueys only, he attended my coming back in a place called - Scotland Yard, at the hither end of Whitehall, as you come to - it from the Strand, hiding himself here with four men armed to - kill me. I took horse at Whitehall Gate, and, passing by that - place, he being armed with a sword and dagger, without giving - me so much as the least warning, ran at me furiously, but - instead of me, wounded my horse in the brisket, as far as his - sword could enter for the bone; my horse hereupon starting - aside, he ran him again in the shoulder, which, though it made - the horse more timorous, yet gave me time to draw my sword: his - men thereupon encompassed me, and wounded my horse in three - places more; this made my horse kick and fling in that manner, - as his men durst not come near me, which advantage I took to - strike at Sir John Ayres with all my force, but he warded the - blow both with his sword and dagger; instead of doing him harm, - I broke my sword within a foot of the hilt; hereupon, some - passenger that knew me, observing my horse wounded in so many - places, and so many men assaulting me, and my sword broken, - cried to me several times, 'Ride away, ride away;' but I - scorning a base flight upon what terms soever, instead thereof - alighted as well I could from my horse; I had no sooner put one - foot upon the ground than Sir John Ayres, pursuing me, made at - my horse again, which the horse perceiving, pressed on me on - the side I alighted, in that manner, that he threw me down, so - that I remained flat upon the ground, only one foot hanging in - the stirrup, with that piece of a sword in my right hand. Sir - John Ayres hereupon ran about the horse, and was thrusting his - sword into me, when I, finding myself in this danger, did with - both my arms reaching at his legs pull them towards me, till he - fell down backwards on his head; one of my footmen hereupon, - who was a little Shropshire boy, freed my foot out of the - stirrup, the other, who was a great fellow, having run away as - soon as he saw the first assault; this gave me time to get upon - my legs and to put myself in the best posture I could with that - poor remnant of a weapon; Sir John Ayres by this time likewise - was got up, standing betwixt me and some part of Whitehall, - with two men on each side of him, and his brother behind him, - with at least twenty or thirty persons of his friends, or - attendants on the Earl of Suffolk; observing thus a body of men - standing in opposition against me, though to speak truly I saw - no swords drawn but Sir John Ayres' and his men, I ran - violently against Sir John Ayres, but he, knowing my sword had - no point, held his sword and dagger over his head, as believing - I could strike rather than thrust, which I no sooner perceived - but I put a home thrust to the middle of his breast, that I - threw him down with so much force, that his head fell first to - the ground and his heels upwards; his men hereupon assaulted - me, when one Mr. Mansel, a Glamorganshire gentleman, finding so - many set against me alone, closed with one of them; a Scotch - gentleman also, closing with another, took him off also: all I - could well do to those that remained was to ward their thrusts, - which I did with that resolution that I got ground upon them. - Sir John Ayres was now got up a third time, when I making - towards him with intention to close thinking, that there was - otherwise no safety for me, put by a thrust of his with my left - hand, and so coming within him, received a stab with his dagger - on my right side, which ran down my ribs as far as my hips, - which I feeling, did with my right elbow force his hand, - together with the hilt of the dagger, so near the upper part of - my right side, that I made him leave hold. The dagger now - sticking in me, Sir Henry Carey, afterwards Lord of Faulkland, - and Lord Deputy of Ireland, finding the dagger thus in my body, - snatched it out; this while I, being closed with Sir John - Ayres, hurt him on the head and threw him down a third time, - when kneeling on the ground and bestriding him, I struck at him - as hard as I could with my piece of a sword, and wounded him in - four several places, and did almost cut off his left hand; his - two men this while struck at me, but it pleased God even - miraculously to defend me, for when I lifted up my sword to - strike at Sir John Ayres, I bore off their blows half a dozen - times; his friends now finding him in this danger, took him by - the head and shoulders and drew him from betwixt my legs, and - carrying him along with them through Whitehall, at the stairs - whereof he took boat, Sir Herbert Croft (as he told me - afterwards) met him upon the water vomiting all the way, which - I believe was caused by the violence of the first thrust I gave - him; his servants, brother, and friends, being now retired - also, I remained master of the place and his weapons, having - first wrested his dagger from him, and afterwards struck his - sword out of his hand. - - "This being done, I retired to a friend's house in the Strand, - where I sent for a surgeon, who, searching my wound on the - right side, and finding it not to be mortal, cured me in the - space of some ten days, during which time I received many noble - visits and messages from some of the best in the kingdom. Being - now fully recovered of my hurts, I desired Sir Robert Harley to - go to Sir John Ayres, and tell him, that though I thought he - had not so much honour left in him, that I could be in any way - ambitious to get it, yet that I desired to see him in the field - with his sword in his hand; the answer that he sent me was - (repeating the charge above mentioned) 'that he would kill me - with a musket out of a window.' - - "The Lords of the Privy Council, who had at first sent for my - sword, that they might see the little fragment of a weapon with - which I had so behaved myself, as perchance the like had not - been heard in any credible way, did afterwards command both him - and me to appear before them; but I, absenting myself on - purpose, sent one Humphrey Hill with a challenge to him in an - ordinary, which he refusing to receive, Humphrey Hill put it - upon the point of his sword, and so let it fall before him and - the company then present. - - "The Lords of the Privy Council had now taken order to - apprehend Sir John Ayres, when I, finding nothing else to be - done, submitted myself likewise to them. Sir John Ayres had now - published everywhere that the ground of his jealousie, and - consequently of his assaulting me, was drawn from the - confession of his wife, the Lady Ayres. She, to vindicate her - honour, as well as free me from this accusation, sent a letter - to her aunt, the Lady Crook, to this purpose: that her husband, - Sir John Ayres, did lie falsely, ... but most falsely of all - did lie when he said he had it from her confession, for she had - never said any such thing. - - "This letter the Lady Crook presented to me most opportunely, - as I was going to the Counsell table before the Lords, who, - having examined Sir John Ayres concerning the cause of his - quarrel with me, found him still to persist on his wife's - confession of the fact; and now, he being withdrawn, I was sent - for, when the Duke of Lennox, afterwards of Richmond, telling - me that was the ground of his quarrel, and the only excuse he - had for assaulting me in that manner, I desired his lordship to - peruse the letter, which I told him was given me as I came into - the room; this letter being publicly read by a clerk of the - Counsell, the Duke of Lennox then said, that he thought Sir - John Ayres the most miserable man living, for his wife had not - only given him the lie, as he found by the letter, but his - father had disinherited him for attempting to kill me in that - barbarous fashion, which was most true, as I found - afterwards;--for the rest, that I might content myself with - what I had done, it being more almost than could be believed, - but that I had so many witnesses thereof; for all which - reasons, he commanded me in the name of his Majesty, and all - their lordships, not to send any more to Sir John Ayres, nor to - receive any message from him, in the way of fighting, which - commandment I observed: howbeit, I must not omit to tell, that - some years afterwards Sir John Ayres, returning from Ireland by - Beaumaris, where I then was, some of my servants and followers - broke open the doors of the house where he was, and would, I - believe, have cut him into pieces, but that I, hearing - thereof, came suddenly to the house and recalled them, sending - him word also that I scorned to give him the usage he gave me, - and that I would set him free of the town, which courtesie of - mine (as I was told afterwards) he did thankfully - acknowledge."[334] - -FOOTNOTES: - -[319] Page 143. - -[320] Pennant, p. 112. He quotes Archenholz's Tableau d'Angleterre, -183. - -[321] State Trials, _ut supra_, vol. v., p. 1236. - -[322] Id. pp. 1284, 1286. - -[323] State Trials, vol. v., p. 1282. - -[324] Scott's Edition of "Dryden," vol. ix., p. 270. - -[325] See the life of him by his retainer Fairfax, and the account of -him on his deathbed in the "Collection of Letters of several Persons -of Quality and others." - -[326] MSS. Birch, 4221, quoted in the Notes of the Tatler, _ut supra_, -vol. i., p. 208. - -[327] Life of Prior in the "Lives of the Poets." - -[328] New Monthly Magazine, vol. xvii., p. 140. - -[329] Memoirs of the Life and Writings of De Foe, 1829, vol. ii., p. -116. - -[330] Pennant, p. 110. - -[331] Extracted from Salisbury's Flying Post, of October 27, 1696, in -Malcolm's Manners and Customs of London to the year 1700, vol. i., p. -396. - -[332] See State Trials, _ut supra_, "Egerton's Memoirs of Mrs. -Oldfield;" "Swift's Great and Mean Figures," vol. xvii., 1765; and the -"History of Orlando the Fair, in the Tatler," as above, Nos. 50 and -51. "The author of Memoirs of Fielding in the Select Trials," says a -note on the latter number, "admits, that for all the ludicrous air and -pleasantry of this narration (Steele's), the truth of facts and -character is in general fairly represented." - -[333] Discourses delivered at the Royal Academy. Sharpe's Edition, -vol. ii., pp. 113, 115. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -WOLSEY AND WHITEHALL. - - Regal Character of Whitehall -- York Place -- Personal and - Moral Character of Wolsey -- Comparison of him with his Master, - Henry -- His Pomp and Popularity -- Humorous Account of his - Flatterers by Sir Thomas More -- Importance of his Hat -- - Cavendish's Account of his household State, his goings forth in - Public, and his entertainments of the King. - - -The whole district containing all that collection of streets and -houses, which extends from Scotland Yard to Parliament Street, and -from the river side, with its wharfs, to St. James's Park, and which -is still known by the general appellation of Whitehall, was formerly -occupied by a sumptuous palace and its appurtenances, the only relics -of which, perhaps the noblest specimen, is the beautiful edifice built -by Inigo Jones, and retaining its old name of the Banqueting House. - -As this palace was the abode of a series of English sovereigns, -beginning with Henry the Eighth, who took it from Wolsey, and -terminating with James the Second, on whose downfall it was destroyed -by fire, we are now in the very thick of the air of royalty; and so -being, we mean to lead a princely life with the reader for a couple of -chapters,--whether he take the word "princely" in a good or ill sense, -as first in magnificence and authority, or in wilfulness and -profusion. Cavendish, Holinshed, and the poets, will enable us to live -with Wolsey, with Henry, and with Elizabeth; Wilson and the poets, -with James the First; Clarendon, Pepys, and others with Charles the -First, Cromwell, Charles the Second, and his brother. We shall eat and -drink, and swell into most unapostolical pomp, with the great -Cardinal; shall huff and fume with Henry, and marry pretty Anne Bullen -in a closet (Lingard says in a "garret"); send her to have her head -cut off as if nothing had happened; be an everlasting young old -gentlewoman with Queen Elizabeth, enamouring people's eyes at seventy; -drink and splutter, and be a great baby, with King James; have a -taste, and be henpecked, and not very sincere, yet melancholy and much -to be pitied, with poor Charles the First; be uneasy, secret, and -energetic, and like a crowned Methodist preacher, or an old dreary -piece of English oak (choose which you will) with Oliver Cromwell; -saunter, squander, and be gay, and periwigged, and laughing, and -ungrateful, and liked, and despised, and have twenty mistresses, and -look as grim and swarthy, and with a face as full of lines, as if we -were full of melancholy and black bile, with Charles the Second; and, -finally, have all his melancholy, and none of his wit and mirth, with -his poor, dreary, bigoted brother James. - - "Now, this is worshipful society." - -Whether it be happy or not, or enviable by the least peasant who can -pay his way and sleep heartily, will be left to the judgment of the -reader. - -The site of Whitehall was originally occupied by a mansion built by -Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent, and Chief Justice of England in the -reign of Henry the Third, one of the ancestors of the present Marquess -of Clanricarde. De Burgh bequeathed it to the Brotherhood of the Black -Friars, near "Oldborne," in whose church he was buried; the -Brotherhood sold it to Walter Gray, Archbishop of York, who left it to -his successors in that see as the archiepiscopal residence, which -procured it the name of York Place; and under that name, two -centuries and a half afterwards, it became celebrated for the pomp and -festal splendour of the "full-blown" priest, Wolsey, the magnificent -butcher's son. Wolsey, on highly probable evidence, is thought to have -so improved and enlarged the mansion of his predecessors, as to have -in a manner rebuilt it, and given it its first royalty of aspect: but, -as we shall see by and by, it was not called Whitehall, nor occupied -anything like the space it did afterwards, till its seizure by the -Cardinal's master. - -We have always thought the epithet of "full-blown," as applied to -Wolsey, the happiest poetical hit ever made by Dr. Johnson: - - "In full-blown dignity see Wolsey stand, - Law in his voice, and fortune in his hand." - -His ostentation, his clerical robes, his very corpulence, and his -subsequent _fading_, all conspire to render the image felicitous. -Wolsey is the very flower of priestly prosperity--fat, full-blown, -gorgeous, called into life by sunshine; the very odours he was fond of -carrying in his hand, become a part of his efflorescence; one imagines -his cheek florid, and his huge, silken vestments expanding about him, -like bloated petals. Anon, the blast blows from the horrid royal -mouth: the round flower hangs its head; it lays its dead neck on the -earth; and in its room, is a loathed weed. - -Wolsey, however, did not grow to be what he was with the indolence of -a flower. He began his career with as much personal as mental -activity, rendered himself necessary to the indolence of a young and -luxurious Sovereign,--in fact, became his Sovereign's will in another -shape, relieving the royal person of all trouble, and at the same time -securing all his wishes, from a treaty down to a mistress; and hence, -as he himself intimated, the whole secret of his prosperity. He had -industry, address, eloquence, the power of pleasing, the art (till -success spoilt him) of avoiding whatever was unpleasant. He could set -his master at ease with himself, in the smallest points of discourse, -as well as on greater occasions. Henry felt no misgiving in his -presence. He beheld in his lordly and luxurious agent a second self, -with a superior intellect, artfully subjected to his own, so as to -imply intellectual as well as royal superiority; and he loved the -priestly splendour of Wolsey, because, in setting the church so high, -and at the same time carrying himself so loyally, the churchman only -the more elevated the Prince. The moment the great servant appeared as -if he could do without the greater master, by a fortune superior to -failure in his projects, Henry's favour began to give way; and when -the princely churchman, partly in the heedlessness arising from long -habits of security, and partly in the natural resentment of a superior -mind, expressed a doubt whether his Sovereign was acting with perfect -justice towards him, his doom was sealed. Kings never forgive a wound -to their self-love. They have been set so high above fellowship by -their fellow-creatures, that they feel, and in some measure they have -a right to feel, the least intimation of equality, much more of -superiority, as an offence, especially when it is aggravated by a -secret sense of the justice of the pretension; and all Wolsey's -subsequent self-abasements could not do away with that stinging -recollection, pleased as Henry was to widen the distance between them, -and recover his own attitude of self-possession by airs of princely -pity. Wolsey was a sort of Henry, himself--wilful, worldly, and fat, -but with more talents and good-nature; for he appears to have been a -man of rare colloquial abilities, and, where he was not opposed in -large matters, of a considerate kindliness. He was an attached as well -as affable master; and his consciousness of greater merit in himself -would never have suffered him to send a couple of poor light-hearted -girls to the scaffold, for bringing the royal marriage-bed into some -shadow of a doubt of its sacredness. He would have sent them to a -nunnery, and had a new marriage, without a tragedy in it, like a -proper Christian Sultan! Had Henry been in Wolsey's place, he would -have proposed to set up the Inquisition; and King Thomas would have -reproved him, and told him that such severities did not become two -such fat and jolly believers as they. - -The people appear to have liked Wolsey much. They enjoyed his pomp as -a spectacle, and pitied his fall. They did not grudge his pomp to one -who was so generous. Besides, they had a secret complacency in the -humbleness of his origin, seeing that he rose from it by real merit. -Those that quarrelled with him for his pride, were proud nobles and -grudging fellow-divines. It is pretty clear that Shakspeare, who was -such a "good fellow" himself, had a regard for Wolsey as another. He -takes opportunities of echoing his praises, and dresses his fall in -robes of pathos and eloquence. As to a true feeling of religion, it is -out of the question in considering Wolsey's history and times. It was -not expected of him. It was not the fashion or the morality of the -day. It was sufficient that the Church made its way in the world, and -secretly elevated the interests of literature and scholarship along -with it. A king in those times was regarded as a visible God upon -earth, not thoroughly well behaved, but much to be believed in; and if -the Church could compete with the State, it was hoped that more -perfect times would somehow or other ensue. A good deal of license was -allowed it on behalf of the interests of better things--a singular -arrangement, and, as the event turned out, not likely to better itself -quite so peaceably as was hoped for; but it was making the best, under -the circumstances, of the old perplexity between "the shows of things, -and the desires of the mind." Wolsey (as the prosperous and the upper -classes are apt to do in all ages) probably worshipped success itself -as the final proof of all which the divine Governor of the world -intended, in his dealings with individuals or society. Hence his proud -swelling while possessed of it, and his undisguised tears and -lamentations during his decline. He talks with his confidants about -the King and good fortune, like a boy crying for a cake, and they -respectfully echo his groans, and evidently think them not at all -inconsistent, either with manliness or wisdom. - -There was a breadth of character in all that Wolsey thought, did, and -suffered--in his strength and in his weakness. In his prosperity he -set no bounds to his pomp; in adversity he cries out and calls upon -the gods, not affecting to be a philosopher. When he was angry he -huffed and used big words, like his master; when in good humour, he -loaded people with praise; and he loved a large measure of it himself, -he issued forth, with his goodly bulk and huge garments, and expected -a worship analogous to his amplitudes. There is a passage written with -great humour by Sir Thomas More, which, according to Dr. Wordsworth -(the poet's brother), is intended, "no doubt, to represent the -Cardinal at the head of his table." What reasons the doctor has for -not doubting the application, we cannot say, and therefore do not -think ourselves any more justified than inclined to dispute them. The -supposition is highly probable. Wolsey must have offered a fine -dramatic spectacle to the eyes of a genius like More. We shall -therefore copy the passage for the reader's entertainment, from a note -in Mr. Singer's excellent edition of the Cardinal's Life by -Cavendish:-- - - "_Anthony._ I praye you, Cosyn, tell on. _Vincent._ Whan I was - fyrste in Almaine, Uncle, it happed me to be somewhat favoured - _with a great manne of the churche, and a great state_, one of - the greatest in all that country there. And in dede whosoever - might spende as muche as hee mighte in one thinge and other, - were a ryght great estate in anye countrey of Christendom. But - _glorious_ was hee verye farre above all measure, and that was - great pitie, for it dyd harme, and made him abuse many great - gyftes that God hadde given him. Never was he saciate of - hearinge his owne prayse. - - "So happed it one daye, that he had in a great audience made an - oracion in a certayne matter, wherein he liked himselfe so - well, that at his dinner he sat, him thought, on thornes, tyll - he might here how they that sat with hym at his borde, woulde - commende it. And whan hee had sitte musing a while, devysing, - as I thought after, uppon some pretty proper waye to bring it - in withal, at the laste for lacke of a better, lest he should - have letted the matter too long, he brought it even blontly - forth, and asked us al that satte at his bordes end (for at his - owne messe in the middes there sat but himself alone) how well - we lyked his oracion that he hadde made that daye. But in - fayth, Uncle, whan that probleme was once proponed, till it was - full answered, _no manne (I wene) eate one morsell of meate - more_. Every manne was fallen in so depe a studye, for the - fyndynge of _some exquisite prayse_. For he that shoulde have - broughte out but a vulgare and a common commendacion, woulde - have thoughte himself shamed for ever. Then sayde we our - sentences by rowe as wee sat, from the lowest unto the hyghest - in good order, _as it had bene a great matter of the common - weale, in a right solemne counsayle_. Whan it came to my parte, - I wyll not say it, Uncle, for no boaste, mee thoughte, by oure - Ladye, for my parte, I quytte my selfe metelye wel. And I lyked - my selfe the better because mee thoughte my words beeinge but a - straungyer, wente yet with some grace in the Almain tong; - wherein lettyng my latin alone me listed to shewe my cunnyng, - and I hoped to be lyked the better, because I sawe that he that - sate next mee, and should saie his sentence after mee, was an - unlearned Prieste, for he could speake no latin at all. But - whan he came furth for hys part with my Lordes commendation, - the wyly fox hadde be so well accustomed in courte with the - crafte of flattry, that he wente beyonde me to farre. - - "And then might I see by hym, what excellence a right meane - witte may come to in one crafte, that in al his whole life - studyeth and busyeth his witte about no mo but that one. But I - made after a solempne vowe unto my selfe, that if ever he and I - were matched together at that boarde agayne, whan we should - fall to our flattrye, I would flatter in latin, that he should - not contende with me no more. For though I could be contente to - be out runne by an horse, yet would I no more abyde it to be - out runne of an asse. But, Uncle, here beganne nowe the game; - he that sate hyghest, and was to speake, was a great beneficed - man, and not a Doctour only, but also somewhat learned in dede - in the lawes of the Churche. A worlde it was to see howe he - marked every mannes worde that spake before him. And it seemed - that every worde _the more proper it was, the worse he liked - it, for the cumbrance that he had to study out a better to - passe it_. The manne even swette with the laboure, so that he - was faine in the while now and than to wipe his face. Howbeit - in conclusion whan it came to his course, we that had spoken - before him, hadde so taken up al among us before, that we hadde - not lefte him one wye worde to speake after. - - "_Anthony._ Alas good manne! amonge so manye of you, some good - felow shold have lente hym one. _Vincent._ It needed not, as - happe was, Uncle. For he found out such a shift, that in hys - flatterying _he passed us all the many_. _Anthony._ Why, what - sayde he, Cosyn? _Vincent._ By our Ladye, Uncle, _not one - worde_. But lyke as I trow Plinius telleth, that when Appelles - the Paynter in the table that he paynted of the sacryfyce and - the death of Iphigenia, hadde in the makynge of the sorrowefull - countenances of the other noble menne of Greece that beehelde - it, spente out so much of his craft and hys cunnynge, that whan - he came to make the countenance of King Agamemnon her father, - which hee reserved for the laste ... he could devise no maner - of newe heavy chere and countenance--but to the intent that no - man should see what maner countenance it was, that her father - hadde, the paynter was fayne to paynte him, holdyng his face in - his handkercher--the like pageant in a maner plaide us there - _this good aunciente honourable flatterer_. For whan he sawe - that he coulde fynde no woordes of prayse, that woulde passe al - that hadde bene spoken before all readye, the wyly Fox woulde - speake never a worde, _but as he that were ravished unto - heavenwarde with the wonder of the wisdom and eloquence that my - Lordes Grace had uttered in that oracyon, he fette a long syghe - with an Oh! from the bottome of his breste, and helde uppe - bothe hys handes, and lyfte uppe both his handes, and lyfte - uppe his head, and caste up his eyen into the welkin and - wept_." - -But if Wolsey set store by his fine speaking, he knew also what -belonged to his _hat_; he was quite alive to the effect produced by -his office, and knew how to _get up_ and pamper a ceremony--to cook up -a raw material of dignity for the public relish. It should be no fault -of his, that any toy of his rank should not be looked up to with awe. -Accordingly, a most curious story is told of the way in which he -contrived that the Cardinal's hat, which was sent him during his -residence in York Place, should make its first appearance in public. -Cavendish says, that the hat having been sent by the Pope through the -hands of an ordinary messenger, without any state, Wolsey caused him -to be "stayed by the way," newly dressed in rich apparel, and met by a -gorgeous cavalcade of prelates and gentry. But a note in Mr. Singer's -edition, referring to Tindal and Fox, tells us that the messenger -actually reached him in York Place, was clothed by him as aforesaid, -_and sent back with the hat to Dover_, from whence the cavalcade went -and fetched him. The hat was then set on a sideboard full of plate, -with tapers round about it, "and the greatest Duke in the lande must -make curtesie thereto." - -Cavendish has given a minute account of the household at York Place, -from which the following are extracts. Compare them with the -recollection of "the disciples plucking ears of corn:"-- - - "He had in his hall, daily, three especial tables furnished - with three principal officers; that is to say, a Steward, which - was always a dean or a priest; a Treasurer, a knight; and a - Comptroller, an esquire; which bore always within his house - their white staves. Then had he a cofferer, three marshals, two - yeoman ushers, two grooms, and an almoner," &c., &c., &c.... - "In his privy kitchen, he had a master-cook, who went daily in - damask, satin, or velvet, with a chain of gold about his - neck."... In his chapel, he had "a Dean, who was always a great - clerk and a divine; a Sub-dean; a Repeater of the quire; a - Gospeller, a Pisteller (separate men to read the Gospels and - the Epistles), and twelve singing Priests; of Scholars, he had - first, a Master of the children; twelve singing children; - sixteen singing men; with a servant to attend upon the said - children. In the Revestry, a yeoman and two grooms: then were - there divers retainers of cunning singing men, that came - thither at divers sundry principal feasts. But to speak of the - furniture of this chapel passeth my capacity to declare the - number of the costly ornaments and rich jewels, that were - occupied in the same continually. For I have seen there, in a - procession, worn forty-four copes of one suit, very rich, - besides the sumptuous crosses, candlesticks, and other - necessary ornaments to the comely furniture of the same. Now - shall ye understand that he had two cross-bearers, and two - pillar-bearers; and in his chamber, all these persons; that is - to say: his High Chamberlain; his Vice-Chamberlain; twelve - Gentlemen Ushers, daily waiters; besides two in his Privy - Chamber; and of Gentlemen waiters in his Privy Chamber he had - six; and also he had of Lords nine or ten, who had each of them - allowed two servants; and the Earl of Derby had allowed five - men. Then had he of Gentlemen, as cup-bearers, carvers, sewers, - and Gentlemen daily waiters, forty persons; of yeomen ushers he - had six; of grooms in his chamber he had eight; of yeomen of - his chamber he had forty-six daily to attend upon his person; - he had also a priest there which was his Almoner, to attend - upon his table at dinner. Of doctors and chaplains attending in - his closet to say daily mass before him, he had sixteen - persons: and a clerk of his closet. Also he had two - secretaries, and two clerks of his signet: and four counsellors - learned in the laws of the realm. - - "And, for as much as he was Chancellor of England, it was - necessary for him to have divers officers of the Chancery, to - attend daily upon him, for the better furniture of the same. - That is to say, first, he had the Clerk of the Crown, a Riding - Clerk, a Clerk of the Hanaper, a Chafer of Wax. Then had he a - Clerk of the Check, as well to check his chaplains, as his - yeomen of the chamber; he had also four Footmen, which were - apparelled in rich running coats, whensoever he rode any - journey. Then had he an Herald at Arms, and a Serjeant at Arms; - a Physician; an Apothecary; four Minstrels; a Keeper of his - Tents; an Armourer; an Instructor of his Wards; two Yeomen in - his Wardrobe; and a Keeper of his chamber in the court. He had - also daily in his house the Surveyor of York, a Clerk of the - Green Cloth; and an auditor. All this number of persons were - daily attendant upon him in his house, down-lying and - up-rising. And at meals, there was continually in his chamber - a board kept for his Chamberlains, and Gentlemen Ushers, having - with them a mess of the young Lords, and another for gentlemen. - Besides all these, there was never an officer and gentleman, or - any other worthy person in his house, but he was allowed some - three, some two servants; and all other one at the least; which - amounted to a great number of persons." - -Such was the style in which Wolsey grew fat, in-doors. When he went -out of doors, to Westminster Hall for instance, as Chancellor, or -merely came into an anteroom, to speak with his suitors, the following -was the state which he always kept up. Think of Lord Brougham or Lord -Lyndhurst in our own times, modestly eschewing notice, and going down -to the House in a plain hat and trowsers, and then look on the -following picture:-- - - "Now will I declare unto you," says the worthy Cavendish, - striking up a right gentleman-usher note (and out of this very - gentleman-usher's family came the princely house of Devonshire, - which has lasted with so much height and refinement ever - since,)--"Now will I declare unto you his order in going to - Westminster Hall, _daily_ in the term season. First, before his - coming out of his privy chamber, he heard most commonly every - day two masses in his private closet; and there then said his - daily service with his chaplain; and, as I heard his chaplain - say, being a man of credence and of excellent learning, that - the Cardinal, what business or weighty matters soever he had in - the day, he never went to his bed with any part of his divine - service unsaid, yea, not so much as one collect; wherein I - doubt not but he deceived the opinion of divers persons. And - after mass he would return in his privy chamber again, and - being advertised of the furniture of his chambers without, with - noblemen, gentlemen, and other persons, would issue out into - them, apparelled all in red, in the habit of a cardinal; which - was either of fine scarlet, or else of crimson satin, taffety, - damask, or caffa, the best that he could get for money; and - upon his head a round pillion, with a noble of black velvet set - to the same in the inner side; he had also a tippet of fine - sables about his neck; holding in his hand a very fair orange, - whereof the meat or substance within was taken out, and filled - up again with the part of a sponge, wherein was vinegar, and - other confections against the pestilent airs; the which he most - commonly smelt unto, passing among the press, or else when he - was pestered with many suitors. There was also borne before - him, first, the great seal of England, _and then his cardinal's - hat, by a nobleman or some worthy gentleman, right solemnly, - bareheaded_. And as soon as he was entered into his chamber of - presence, where there was attending his coming to await upon - him to Westminster Hall, as well noblemen and other worthy - gentlemen, as noblemen and gentlemen of his own family; thus - passing forth with two great crosses of silver borne before - him; with also two great pillars of silver, and his pursuivant - at arms with a great mace of silver gilt. Then his gentlemen - ushers cried, and said: 'On, my lords and masters, on before; - make way for my Lord's Grace!' Thus passed he down from his - chamber through the hall; and when he came to the hall door, - there was attendant for him his mule, trapped altogether in - crimson velvet, and gilt stirrups. When he was mounted, with - his cross bearers, and pillow bearers, also upon great horses - trapped with [fine] scarlet, then marched he forward, with his - train and furniture in manner as I have declared, having about - him four footmen, with gilt poll-axes in their hands; and thus - he went until he came to Westminster Hall door. And there - alighted and went after this manner, up through the hall into - the chancery; howbeit he would most commonly stay awhile at a - bar, made for him, a little beneath the chancery [on the right - hand], and there commune some time with the judges, and some - time with other persons. And that done he would repair into the - chancery, sitting there till eleven of the clock, hearing - suitors, and determining on divers matters. And from thence, he - would divers times go into the star chamber, as occasion did - serve; where he spared neither high nor low, but judged every - estate according to their merits and demerits." - -But this style of riding abroad was not merely for official occasions. -He went through Thames Street every Sunday, in his way to the court at -Greenwich, with his crosses, his pillars, his hat, and his great seal. -He was as fond of his pomp out of doors, as a child is of its new -clothes. - -The description of the way in which he used to receive the visits of -the King at York Place, has acquired a double interest from the use -made of it by Shakspeare, by whom it has been, in a manner, copied, in -his play of "Henry the Eighth:" - - "Thus in great honour, triumph, and glory," says Cavendish, "he - reigned a long season, ruling all things within this realm, - appertaining unto the King, by his wisdom, and also all other - weighty matters of foreign regions with which the King of this - realm had any occasion to intermeddle. All Ambassadors of - foreign potentates were always dispatched by his discretion, to - whom they had always access for their dispatch. His house was - also always resorted and furnished with noblemen, gentlemen, - and other persons, with going and coming in and out, feasting - and banqueting all Ambassadors divers times, and other - strangers right nobly. - - "And when it pleased the King's Majesty, for his recreation, to - repair unto the Cardinal's house, as he did divers times in the - year, at which time there wanted no preparations, or goodly - furniture, with viands of the finest sort that might be - provided for money or friendship, such pleasures were then - devised for the King's comfort and consolation, as might be - invented, or by man's wit imagined. The banquets were set - forth, with masks and mummeries, in so gorgeous a sort, and - costly a manner, that it was a heaven to behold. _There wanted - no dames, or damsels, meet or apt to dance with the maskers, or - to garnish the place for the time, with other goodly disports._ - Then was there all kind of music and harmony set forth, with - excellent voices both of men and children. I have seen the King - suddenly come in thither in a mask, with a dozen of other - maskers, all in garments like shepherds, made of fine cloth of - gold and fine crimson satin paned, and caps of the same, with - visors of good proportion of visnomy; their hairs, and beards, - either of fine gold wire, or else of silver, and some being of - black silk; having sixteen torch-bearers, besides their drums, - and other persons attending upon them, with visors, and clothed - all in satin, of the same colours. And at his coming, and - before he came into the hall, ye shall understand, that he came - by water to the water gate, without any noise: where, against - his coming, were laid charged, many chambers[335], and at his - landing they were all shot off, which made such a rumble in the - air, that it was like thunder. It made all the noblemen, - ladies, and gentlewomen, to muse what it should mean coming so - suddenly, they sitting quietly at a solemn banquet; under this - sort: First, ye shall perceive that the tables were set in the - chamber of presence, banquet-wise covered, my Lord Cardinal - sitting under the cloth of estate, and there having his service - all alone; and then was there set a lady and a nobleman, or a - gentleman and gentlewoman, throughout all the tables in the - chamber on the one side, which were made and joined as it were - but one table. All which order and device was done and devised - by the Lord Sands, Lord Chamberlain to the King; and also by - Sir Henry Guildford, Comptroller to the King. Then immediately - after this great shot of guns, the Cardinal desired the Lord - Chamberlain and Comptroller to look what this sudden shot - should mean, as though he knew nothing of the matter. They - thereupon looking out of the windows into Thames, returned - again, and showed him that it seemed to them there should be - some noblemen and strangers arrived at his bridge, as - ambassadors from some foreign prince. With that, quoth the - Cardinal, 'I shall desire you, because ye can speak French, to - take the pains to go down into the hall to encounter and to - receive them, according to their estates, and to conduct them - into this chamber, where they shall see us, and all these noble - personages sitting merrily at our banquet, desiring them to sit - down with us, and to take part of our fare and pastime.' Then - [they] went incontinent down into the hall, where they received - them with near twenty new torches, and conveyed them up into - the chamber, with such a number of drums and fifes as I have - seldom seen together at one time, in any masque. At their - arrival into the chamber, two and two together, they went - directly before the Cardinal where he sat, saluting him very - reverently; to whom the Lord Chamberlain for them said; 'Sir, - for as much as they be strangers, and can speak no English, - they have desired me to declare unto your Grace thus: they, - having understanding of this your triumphant banquet, where was - assembled such a number of excellent fair dames, could do no - less, under the supportation of your good Grace, but to repair - hither to view as well as their incomparable beauty, as for to - accompany them at mumchance[336], and then after to dance with - them, and so to have of them acquaintance. And, sir, they - furthermore require of your Grace license to accomplish the - cause of their repair.' To whom the Cardinal answered, that he - was very well contented that they should do so. Then the - maskers went first and saluted all the dames as they sat, and - then returned to the most worthiest, and there opened a cup - full of gold, with crowns and other pieces of coin, to whom - they set divers pieces to cast at. Thus in this manner perusing - all the ladies and gentlewomen, and to some they lost, and of - some they won. And this done, they returned unto the Cardinal, - with great reverence, pouring down all the crowns into the cup, - which was about two hundred crowns. 'At all,' quoth the - Cardinal, and so cast the dice, and won them all at a cast; - whereat was great joy made. Then quoth the Cardinal to my Lord - Chamberlain, 'I pray you,' quoth he, 'show them that it seemeth - me that there should be among them some noble man, whom I - suppose to be much more worthy of honour to sit and occupy this - room and place than I; to whom I would most gladly, if I knew - him, surrender my place, according to my duty.' Then spake my - Lord Chamberlain unto them in French, declaring my Lord - Cardinal's mind, and they rounding him again in the ear, my - Lord Chamberlain said to my Lord Cardinal, 'Sir, they confess,' - quoth he, 'that among them there is such a noble personage, - whom, if your Grace can appoint him from the other, he is - contented to disclose himself, and to accept your place most - worthily.' With that the Cardinal, taking a good advisement - among them, at the last, quoth he, 'me seemeth the gentleman - with the black beard should be even he.' And with that he arose - out of his chair, and offered the same to the gentleman in the - black beard, with his cap in his hand. The person to whom he - offered then his chair was Sir Edward Neville, _a comely knight - of a goodly personage_,[337] that much more resembled the - King's person in that mask than any other. The King, hearing - and perceiving the Cardinal so deceived in his estimation and - choice, could not forbear laughing; but plucked down his visor, - and Master Neville's also, _and dashed[338] out with such a - plesant countenance and cheer_, that all noble estates there - assembled, seeing the King to be there amongst them, rejoiced - very much. The Cardinal eftsoons desired his highness to take - the place of estate, to whom the King answered, that he would - go first and shift his apparel; and so departed, and went - straight into my lord's bedchamber, where was a great fire made - and prepared for him; and there new apparelled him with rich - and princely garments. And in the time of the King's absence - the dishes of the banquet were clean taken up, and the tables - spread again with new and sweet perfumed clothes; every man - sitting still until the King and his maskers came in among them - again, every man being newly apparelled. Then the King took his - seat under the cloth of state, commanding no man to remove, but - sit still, as they did before. Then in came a new banquet - before the King's majesty, and to all the rest through the - tables, wherein, I suppose, were served two hundred dishes or - above, of wondrous costly meats and devices, subtilly devised. - Thus passed they forth the whole night with banqueting, - dancing, and other triumphant devices, to the great comfort of - the King, and pleasant regard of the nobility there assembled. - - "All this matter I have declared at large, because ye shall - understand what joy and delight the Cardinal had to see his - Prince and sovereign Lord in his house so nobly entertained and - pleased, which was always his only study, to devise things to - his comfort, not passing of the charges or expenses. It - delighted him so much, to have the King's pleasant princely - presence, that nothing was to him more delectable than to cheer - his sovereign lord, to whom he owed so much obedience and - loyalty, as reason required no less, all things well - considered. - - "Thus passed the Cardinal his life and time, from day to day, - and year to year, in such great wealth, joy, and triumph, and - glory, having always on his side the King's especial favour; - until Fortune, of whose favour no man is longer assured than - she is disposed, began to wax something wroth with his - prosperous estate [and] thought she would devise a mean to - abate his high port; wherefore she procured Venus, the - insatiate Goddess, to be her instrument. To work her purpose, - she brought the King in love with a gentlewoman, that, after - she perceived and felt the King's goodwill towards her, and how - diligent he was both to please her, and to grant all her - requests, she wrought the Cardinal much displeasure; as - hereafter shall be more at large declared." - -Pretty Anne Bullen completed the ruin of Wolsey for having thwarted -her, and not long afterwards was sent out of this very house from -which she ousted him, to the scaffold, herself ruined by another -rival. On the Cardinal's downfall, Henry seized his house and goods, -and converted York Place into a royal residence, under the title of -Westminster Place, then, for the first time, called also Whitehall. - - "It is not impossible," says Mr. Brayley (Londiniana, vol. ii., - p. 27.) "that the Whitehall, properly so called, was erected by - Wolsey, and obtained its name from the newness and freshness of - its appearance, when compared with the ancient buildings of - York Place. Shakspeare, in his play of King Henry VIII., makes - one of the interlocutors say, in describing the coronation of - Queen Anne Boleyn:-- - - 'So she parted, - And with the same full state paced back again - To York Place, where the feast is held.' - -To this is replied-- - - 'Sir, you - Must no more call it York Place--that is past. - For since the Cardinal fell, that title's lost. - 'Tis now the King's, and called Whitehall.'" - -It is curious to observe the links between ancient names and their -modern representatives, and the extraordinary contrast sometimes -exhibited between the two. The "Judge," who by Henry's orders went to -turn Wolsey out of his house, without any other form of law--a -proceeding which excited even the fallen slave to a remonstrance--was -named Shelly, and was one of the ancestors of the _poet_! the most -independent-minded and generous of men. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[334] Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury, in the "Autobiography," p. 79. - -[335] _Chambers_, short guns, or cannon, standing upon their breaching -without carriages, chiefly used for festive occasions; and having -their name most probably from being little more than _chambers_ for -powder. It was by the discharge of these _chambers_ in the play of -Henry VIIIth. that the Globe Theatre was burnt in 1613. Shakspeare -followed pretty closely the narrative of Cavendish.--_Singer._ - -[336] _Mumchance_ appears to have been a game played with dice, at -which silence was to be observed.--_Singer._ - -[337] Probably a handsomer figure than the King. This (though not the -subtlest imaginable) would be likely to be among Wolsey's -court-tricks, and modes of gaining favour. - -[338] This "dashed out" is in the best style of bluff King Hal, and -capitally well said by Cavendish. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - Henry the Eighth -- His Person and Character -- Modern - Qualifications of it considered -- Passages respecting him from - Lingard, Sir Thomas Wyatt, and others -- His additions to - Whitehall -- A Retrospect at Elizabeth -- Court of James - resumed -- Its gross Habits -- Letter of Sir John Harrington - respecting them -- James's Drunkenness -- Testimonies of - Welldon, Sully, and Roger Coke -- Curious Omission in the - Invective of Churchill the Poet -- Welldon's Portrait of James - -- Buckingham, the Favourite -- Frightful Story of Somerset -- - Masques -- Banqueting House -- Inigo Jones and Ben Jonson -- - Court of Charles the First -- Cromwell -- Charles the Second -- - James the Second. - - -We have said more about Wolsey than we intend to say of Henry the -Eighth; for the son of the butcher was a great man, and his master was -only a king. Henry, born a prince, became a butcher; Wolsey, a -butcher, became a prince. And we are not playing upon the word as -applied to the king; for Henry was not only a butcher of his wives, he -resembled a brother of the trade in its better and more ordinary -course. His pleasures were of the same order; his language was coarse -and jovial; he had the very straddle of a fat butcher, as he stands in -his doorway. Take any picture or statue of Henry the Eighth--fancy its -cap off, and a knife in its girdle, and it seems in the very act of -saying, "What d'ye buy? What d'ye buy?" There is even the petty -complacency in the mouth, after the phrase is uttered. - -And how formidable is that petty unfeeling mouth, in the midst of -those wide and wilful cheeks! Disturb the self-satisfaction of that -man, derange his bile for an instant, make him suppose that you do not -quite think him - - "Wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best," - -and what hope have you from the sentence of that mass of pampered -egotism? - -Let us not do injustice, however, even to the doers of it. What better -was to be looked for, in those times, from the circumstances under -which Henry was born and bred--from the son of a wilful father, and an -unfeeling state marriage--from the educated combiner of church and -state, instinctively led to entertain the worldliest notions of both, -and of heaven itself--from the inheritor of the greatest wealth, and -power, and irresponsibility, ever yet concentrated in an English -sovereign? It has been attempted of late by various writers (and the -attempt is a good symptom, being on the charitable side,) to make out -a case for Henry the Eighth, as if he were a sort of rough but honest -fellow, a kind of John Bull of that age, who meant well upon the -whole, and thought himself bound to keep up the conventionalities of -his country. We know not what compliment is intended to be implied by -this, either to Henry or his countrymen; but really when a man sends -his wives, one after the other, to the scaffold, evidently as much to -enable him to marry another as to vindicate any propriety--when he -"cuts" and sacrifices his best friends and servants, and pounces upon -their goods--when he takes every license himself, though he will not -allow others even to be suspected of it--when he grows a brute beast -in size as well as in habits, and dies shedding superfluous blood to -the last--we cannot, for our parts, as Englishmen, but be glad of some -better excuses for him of the kind above stated, than such as are to -be found in the roots of the national character, however jovial. -Imagine only the endearments that must have passed between this man -and Anne Bullen, and then fancy the heart that could have sent the -poor little, hysterical, half-laughing, half-crying thing to the -scaffold! The man was _mad_ with power and vanity. That is his real -excuse. - -It has been said, that all which he did was done by law, or at least -under the forms of it, and by the consent, sometimes by the -recommendation, of his statesmen. The assertion is not true in all -instances; and where it is, what does it prove but that his tyrannical -spirit had helped to make his statesmen slaves? They knew what he -wished, and notoriously played the game into his hands. When they did -not, their heads went off. That circumstances had spoilt them -altogether, and that society, with all its gaudiness, was but in a -half-barbarous state, is granted; but it is no less true, that his -office, his breeding, and his natural temper, conspired to make Henry -the worst and most insolent of a violent set of men; and he stands -straddling out accordingly in history, as he does in his pictures, an -image of sovereign brutality. - -Excessive vanity, aggravated by all the habits of despotism and -luxury, and accompanied, nevertheless, by that unconscious misgiving -which is natural to inequalities between a man's own powers and those -which he derives from his position, is the clue to the character of -Henry the Eighth. Accordingly, no man gave greater ear to tale-bearers -and sowers of suspicion, nor resented more cruelly or meanly the -wounds inflicted on his self-love, even by those who least intended -them, or to whom he had shown the greatest fondness. The latter, -indeed, he treated the worst, out of a frenzy of egotistical -disappointment; for his love arose, not from any real regard for their -merits, but from what he had taken for a flattery to his own. Sir -Thomas More knew him well, when, in observation to some one who had -congratulated him on the King's having walked up and down with his arm -around his neck, he said that he would have that neck cut in two next -day, if the head belonging to it opposed his will. He not only took -back without scruple all that he had given to Wolsey, but he went to -live in the houses of his fallen friend and servant--places which a -man of any feeling and kindly remembrance would have avoided. He was -very near picking a murderous quarrel with his last wife, Catherine -Parr, on one of his theological questions. And how did he conduct -himself to the memory of poor Anne Bullen, even on the day of her -execution? Hear Lingard, who, though no partizan of his, thinks he -must have had some heinous cause of provocation, to induce him to -behave so roughly:-- - - "Thus fell," says the historian, "this unfortunate Queen within - four months after the death of Catherine. To have expressed a - doubt of her guilt during the reign of Henry, or of her - innocence during that of Elizabeth, would have been deemed a - proof of disaffection. The question soon became one of - religious feeling, rather than of historical disquisition. - Though she had departed no farther than her husband from the - ancient doctrine, yet, as her marriage with Henry led to the - separation from the communion of Rome, the Catholic writers - were eager to condemn, the Protestant to exculpate her memory. - In the absence of those documents which alone could enable us - to decide with truth, I will only observe that the King must - have been impelled by some powerful motive to exercise against - her such extraordinary, and, in one supposition, such - superfluous vigour. Had his object been (we are sometimes told - that it was) to place Jane Seymour by his side on the throne, - the divorce of Anne without execution, or the execution without - the divorce, would have effected his purpose. But he seemed to - have pursued her with insatiable hatred. Not content with - taking her life, he made her feel in every way in which a wife - and a mother could feel. He stamped on her character the infamy - of adultery and incest; he deprived her of the name and right - of wife and Queen; and he even bastardized her daughter, though - he acknowledged that daughter to be his own. If then he were - not assured of her guilt, he must have discovered in her - conduct some most heinous cause of provocation, which he never - disclosed. He had wept at the death of Catherine (of Arragon); - but, as if he sought to display his contempt for the character - of Anne, he dressed himself in white on the day of her - execution, and was married to Jane Seymour the next - morning."[339] - -Now, nothing could be more indecent and unmanly than such conduct as -this, let Anne have been guilty as she might; and nothing, in such a -man, but mortified self-love could account for it. Probably he had -discovered, that in some of her moments of levity she had laughed at -him. But not to love him would have been offence enough. It would have -been the first time he had discovered the possibility of such an -impiety towards his barbarous divinityship: and his rage must needs -have been unbounded. - -What Providence may intend by such instruments, is one thing: what we -are constituted to think of them, is another: charitably, no doubt, -when we think our utmost; but still with a discrimination, for fear of -consequences. As to what was thought of Henry in his own time or -afterwards, we must not rely on the opinion of Baker, Holinshed, and -other servile chroniclers, of mean understanding and time-serving -habits, who were the least honourable kind of "waiters upon -Providence," taking the commonest appearances of adversity and -prosperity (so to speak) for vice and virtue, and flattering every -arbitrary and conventional opinion, as though it were not to perish in -its turn. We are to recollect what More said of him (as above) in his -confidential moments and Wolsey in his agony, and Pole and others, -when, having got to a safe distance, they returned him foul language -for his own bullying, and blustered out what was thought of him by -those who knew him thoroughly. Observe also the manifest allusions in -what was written upon the court of those days, by one of the wisest -and best of its ornaments, Sir Thomas Wyat--a friend of Anne Bullen's. -The verses are entitled, "Of a Courtier's Life," and it may be -observed, by the way, that they furnish the second example, in the -English language, of the use of the Italian _rime terzette_, or -triplets, in which Dante's poem is written, and which had been first -introduced among us by Sir Thomas's friend, the Earl of Surrey -(another of Henry's victims):-- - - Mine owne John Poynes, sins ye delight to know - The causes why that homeward I me draw - And flee the prease of courtes whereso they goe, - Rather than to live thrall _under the awe_ - _Of lordly lookes_, wrapped within my cloke, - _To will and lust_ learning to set a law, - It is not, that because I storme or mocke - The power of those whom fortune here hath lent - Charge over us, of right to strike the stroke; - But true it is, that I have alway ment - Less to esteeme them, than the common sort - Of outward thinges that judge in their entent; - - * * * * * - - My Poynes, I cannot frame my tong to fayn, - To cloke the truth, for praise, without desert, - Of them that list all vice for to retayne; - I cannot _honour_ them that set theyr part - _With Venus and with Bacchus their life long_, - Nor hold my peace of them although I smart - I cannot crouch, nor _kneele_ to such a wrong, - TO WORSHIP THEM LIKE GOD ON EARTH ALONE, - _That are as wolves these sely lambs among_. - -(Here was a sigh perhaps to the memory of his poor friend Anne):-- - - I cannot wrest the law to fyll the coffer - With innocent blood to feed myselfe _fat_, - And do most hurt where that most help I offer - I am not he that can allow the state - Of hye Caesar, and damn Cato to die; - -(an allusion probably to Sir Thomas More). - - Affirm that favill (fable-lying) hathe a goodly grace - In eloquence, and _cruelty to name_ - _Zeale of justice_, and change in time and place; - And he that suffreth offence without blame, - Call him pitiefull, _and him true and playne - That raylest reckless unto each man's shame_; - Say he is rude, that cannot lye and fayne, - _The lecher a lover_, AND TYRANNY - TO BE RIGHT OF A PRINCE'S RAIGNE; - I cannot, I;--no, no;--it will not be; - This is the cause that I could never yet - Hang on their sleeves, that weigh, as thou maist see, - A chippe of chaunce more than a pound of wit; - This makes me at home to hunt and hawke, - And in foul weather at my book to sit; - In frost and snowe, then with my bowe stalke; - No man doth marke whereso I ryde or goe; - In lustie leas at libertie I walke. - -Towards the conclusion, he says he does not spend his time among those -who have their wits _taken away_ with _Flanders cheer and -"beastliness:"_-- - - Nor I am not, where truth is given in prey - For money, and prison and treason of some - A common practice used night and day; - But I am here in Kent and Christendom, - Among the Muses, where I read and ryme; - Where if thou list, mine owne John Poynes, to come, - Thou shalt be judge how I do spend my time. - -Among the poems of Surrey, is a sonnet in reproach of "Sardanapalus," -which probably came to the knowledge of Henry, and may have been -intended to do so. - -It was in Whitehall that Henry made his ill-assorted marriage with -Anne Bullen; Dr. Lingard says in a "garret;" Stowe says in the royal -"closet." It is likely enough that the ceremony was hurried and -sudden;--a fit of will, perhaps, during his wine; and if the closet -was not ready, the garret was. The clergyman who officiated was -shortly afterwards made a bishop. - -Henry died in Whitehall; so fat, that he was lifted in and out his -chamber and sitting-room by means of machinery. - -He was "_somewhat_ gross, or, as we tearme it, bourlie," says -time-serving Holinshed.[340] - -"He _laboured_ under the _burden_ of an extreme fat and unwieldy -body," says noble Herbert of Cherbury.[341] - - "The king," says Lingard, "had long indulged without restraint - in the pleasures of the table. At last he grew so _enormously - corpulent_, that he could neither support the weight of his own - body, nor remove without the aid of machinery into the - different apartments of his palace. Even the fatigue of - subscribing his name to the writings which required his - signature, was more than he could bear; and to relieve him from - this duty, three commissioners were appointed, of whom two had - authority to apply to the paper a dry stamp, bearing the - letters of the king's name, and the third to draw a pen - furnished with ink over the blank impression. An inveterate - ulcer in the thigh which had more than once threatened his - life, and which now seemed to baffle all the skill of the - surgeons, added to the irascibility of his temper."[342] - - [Illustration: HOLBEIN'S GATE OF WHITEHALL PALACE.] - -It was under this Prince (as already noticed) that the palace of the -Archbishop of York first became the "King's Palace at Westminster," -and expanded into that mass of houses which stretched to St. James's -Park. He built a gate-house which stood across what is now the open -street, and a gallery connecting the two places, and overlooking a -tilt-yard; and on the park-side he built a cockpit, a tennis-court, -and alleys for bowling; for although he put women to death, he was -fond of manly sports. He was also a patron of the fine arts; and gave -an annuity and rooms in the palace to the celebrated Holbein, who is -said to have designed the gate, as well as decorated the interior. It -is to Holbein we are indebted for our familiar acquaintance with his -figure. - -The reader is to bear in mind, that the street in front of the modern -Banqueting-house was always open, as it is now, from Charing Cross to -King Street, narrowing opposite to the south end of the -Banqueting-house, at which point the gate looked up it towards the -Cross. Just opposite the Banqueting-house, on the site of the present -Horse Guards, was the Tilt-yard. The whole mass of houses and gardens -on the river side comprised the royal residence. Down this open street -then, just as people walk now, we may picture to ourselves Henry -coming with his regal pomp, and Wolsey with his priestly; Sir Thomas -More strolling thoughtfully, perhaps talking with quiet-faced Erasmus; -Holbein, looking about him with an artist's eyes; Surrey coming -gallantly in his cloak and feather, as Holbein has painted him; and a -succession of Henry's wives, with their flitting groups on horseback -or under canopy;--handsome, stately Catherine of Arragon; laughing -Anne Bullen; quiet Jane Seymour; gross-bodied but sensible Anne of -Cleves; demure Catherine Howard, who played such pranks before -marriage; and disputatious yet buxom Catherine Parr, who survived one -tyrant, to become the broken-hearted wife of a smaller one. Down this -road, also, came gallant companies of knights and squires, to the -tilting-yard; but of them we shall have more to say in the time of -Elizabeth. - -We see little of Edward the Sixth, and less of Lady Jane Grey and -Queen Mary, in connection with Whitehall. Edward once held the -Parliament there, on account of his sickly condition; and he used to -hear Latimer preach in the Privy garden (still so called), where a -pulpit was erected for him on purpose. As there are gardens there -still to the houses erected on the spot, one may stand by the rails, -and fancy we hear the voice of the rustical but eloquent and honest -prelate, rising through the trees. - -Edward has the reputation usually belonging to young and untried -sovereigns, and very likely deserves some of it; certainly not all--as -Mr. Sharon Turner, one of the most considerate of historians, has -shown. He partook of the obstinacy of his father, which was formalised -in him by weak health and a precise education; and though he shed -tears when prevailed upon to assign poor Joan of Kent to what he -thought her eternity of torment, his faults assuredly did not lie on -the side of an excess of feeling, as may be seen by the cool way in -which he suffered his uncles to go to the scaffold, one after another, -and recorded it in the journal which he kept. He would probably have -turned out a respectable, but not an admirable sovereign, nor one of -an engaging character. Years do not improve a temperament like his. - -Even poor Lady Jane Grey's character does not improve upon inspection. -The Tudor blood (she was grand-daughter of Henry's sister) manifested -itself in her by her sudden love of supremacy the moment she felt a -crown on her head, and her preferring to squabble with her husband and -his relations (who got it her), rather than let him partake her -throne. She insisted he should be only a Duke, and suspected that his -family had given her poison for it. This undoes the usual romance of -"Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley;"--and thus it is that the -possession of too much power spoils almost every human being, -practical or theoretical. Lady Jane came out of the elegancies and -tranquillities of the schools, and of her Greek and Latin, to find her -Platonisms vanish before a dream of royalty. She rediscovered them, -however, when it was over; and that is something. She was brought up a -slave, and therefore bred to be despotic in her turn; but habit, -vanity, and good sense alike contributed to restore her to the better -part of herself at the last moment. - -We confess we pity "Bloody Mary," as she has been called, almost as -much as any unfortunate sovereign on record. She caused horrible and -odious suffering, but she also suffered horribly herself, and became -odious where she would fain have been loved. She had a bigoted -education and a complexional melancholy; was stunted in person, plain -in face, with impressive but gloomy eyes; a wife with affections -unrequited; and a persecuting, unpopular, but conscientious sovereign. -She derived little pleasure apparently from having her way, even in -religious matters; but acted as she did out of a narrow sense of duty; -and she proved her honesty, however perverted, by a perpetual anxiety -and uneasiness. When did a charitable set of opinions ever inflict -upon honest natures these miseries of an intolerant one? - -It was under Elizabeth that Whitehall shone out in all its romantic -splendour. It was no longer the splendour of Wolsey alone, nor of -Henry alone, or with a great name by his side now and then; but of a -Queen, surrounded and worshipped through a long reign by a galaxy of -the brightest minds and most chivalrous persons ever assembled in -English history. - -Here she comes, turning round the corner from the Strand, under a -canopy of state, leaving the noisier, huzzaing multitude behind the -barriers that mark the precincts of the palace, and bending her eyes -hither and thither, in acknowledgment of the kneeling obeisances of -the courtiers. Beside her are Cecil and Knolles, and Northampton, and -Bacon's father; or, later in life, Leicester, and Burleigh, and Sir -Philip Sidney, and Greville, and Sir Francis Drake (and Spenser is -looking on); or, later still, Essex, and Raleigh, and Bacon himself, -and Southampton, Shakspeare's friend, with Shakspeare among the -spectators. We shall see her by and by, at that period, as brought to -life to us in the description of Heutzner the traveller. At present -(as we have her at this moment in our eye) she is younger, of a large -and tall, but well-made figure, with fine eyes, and finer hands, which -she is fond of displaying. We are too apt to think of Elizabeth as -thin and elderly, and patched up; but for a good period of her life -she was plump and personable, warranting the history of the robust -romps of the Lord Admiral, Seymour; and till her latter days (and even -then, as far as her powers went), we are always to fancy her at once -spirited and stately of carriage, impulsive (except on occasions of -ordinary ceremony), and ready to manifest her emotions in look and -voice, whether as woman or Queen; in a word, a sort of Henry the -Eighth corrected by a female nature and a better understanding--or -perhaps an Anne Bullen, enlarged, and made less feminine, by the -father's grossness. The Protestants have represented her as too staid, -and the Catholics as too violent and sensual. According to the latter, -Whitehall was a mere sink of iniquity. It was not likely to be so, for -many reasons; but neither, on the other hand, do we take it to have -been anything like the pattern of self-denial which some fond writers -have supposed. Where there is power, and leisure, and luxury, though -of the most legitimate kind, and refinement, though of the most -intellectual, self-denial on the side of enjoyment is not apt to be -the reigning philosophy; nor would it reasonably be looked for in any -court, at all living in wealth and splendour. - -Imagine the sensations of Elizabeth, when she first set down in the -palace at Whitehall, after escaping the perils of imputed -illegitimacy, of confinement for party's sake and for religion's, and -all the other terrors of her father's reign and of Mary's, danger of -death itself not excepted. She was a young Queen of twenty-five years -of age, healthy, sprightly, good-looking, with plenty of will, power, -and imagination; and the gallantest spirits of the age were at her -feet. How pitiable, and how respectable, become almost all sovereigns, -when we consider them as human beings put in possession of almost -superhuman power; and when we reflect in general how they have been -brought up, and what a provocative to abuse at all events becomes the -possession of a throne! We in general spoil them first;--we always -tempt them to take every advantage, by worshipping them as if they -were different creatures from ourselves;--and then we are astonished -that they should take us at our word. How much better would it be to -be astonished at the likeness they retain to us, even in the kindlier -part of our weaknesses. - -By a very natural process, considering the great and chivalrous men of -that day, Elizabeth became at once one of the greatest of Queens and -one of the most flattered and vain of women. Nor were the courtiers so -entirely insincere as they are supposed to have been, when they -worshipped her as they did, and gave her credit for all the beauty and -virtue under heaven. On the contrary, the power to benefit them went -hand-in-hand with their self-love to give them a sincere though -extravagant notion of their mistress; and the romantic turn of the age -and its literature, its exploits, its poetry, all conspired to warm -and sanction the enthusiasm on both sides, and to blind the admiration -to those little outward defects, and inward defects too, which love at -all periods is famous for overlooking--nay, for converting into noble -grounds of denial, and of subjection to a sentiment. Thus Elizabeth's -hook nose, her red hair, nay, her very age and crookedness at last, -did not stand in the way of raptures at her "beauty" and "divine -perfections," any more than a flaw in the casket that held a jewel. -The spirit of love and beauty was there; the appreciation of the soul -of both; the glory of exciting, and of giving, the glorification;--and -all the rest was a trifle, an accident, a mortal show of things, which -no gentleman and lady can help. The Queen might even swear a good -round oath or so occasionally; and what did it signify? It was a -pleasant ebullition of the authority which is above taxation; the -Queen swore, and not the woman; or if the woman did, it was only an -excess of feeling proper to balance the account, and to bring her -royalty down to a level with good hearty human nature. - -It has been said, that as Elizabeth advanced in life, the courtiers -dropped the mention of her beauty; but this is a mistake. They were -more sparing in the mention of it, but when they spoke they were -conscious that the matter was not to be minced. When her Majesty was -in her sixty-second year, the famous Earl of Essex gave her an -entertainment, in the course of which she was complimented on her -"_beauty_" and _dazzling outside_, in speeches written for the -occasion by Lord, then "Mr. Francis, Bacon."[343] Sir John Davies, -another lawyer, who was not born till she was near forty, and could -not have written his acrostical "Hymns" upon her till she was elderly, -celebrates her as awakening "thoughts of young love," and being -"beauty's rose indeed;"[344] and it is well known that she was at a -reverend time of life when Sir Walter Raleigh wrote upon her like a -despairing lover, calling her "Venus" and "Diana," and saying he could -not exist out of her presence. - -At the entrance from Whitehall to St. James's Park, where deer were -kept, was the following inscription, recorded by Heutzner, the German -traveller:-- - - "The fisherman who has been wounded learns, though late, to beware: - But the unfortunate Actaeon always presses on. - The chaste Virgin naturally pitied; - But the powerful Goddess revenged the wrong. - Let Actaeon fall a prey to his dogs, - An example to youth, - A disgrace to those that belong to him! - May Diana live the care of Heaven, - The delight of mortals, - The security of those that belong to her." - -Walpole thinks that this inscription alluded to Philip the Second, -who courted Elizabeth after her sister's death, and to the destruction -of his Armada. It might; but it implied also a pretty admonition to -youth in general, and to those who ventured to pry into the goddess's -retreats. - -It was about the time of Essex's entertainment that the same traveller -gives the following minute and interesting account of her Majesty's -appearance, and of the superhuman way in which her very dinner-table -was worshipped. He is describing the manner in which she went to -chapel at Greenwich:-- - - "First went Gentlemen, Barons, Earls, Knights of the Garter, - all richly dressed and bare-headed; next came the Chancellor, - bearing the seals in a silk purse, between two, one of which - carried the royal sceptre, the other the sword of state in a - red scabbard, studded with golden fleurs-de-lis, the point - upwards; next came the Queen, in the fifty-sixth year of her - age (as we were told), very majestic; her face oblong, fair but - wrinkled; her eyes small, yet black and pleasant; her nose a - little hooked, her lips narrow, and her teeth black (a defect - the English seem subject to, from their too great use of - sugar); she had in her ears two very rich pearls with drops; - she wore false hair, and that red: upon her head she had a - small crown, reported to have been made of some of the gold of - the celebrated Lunebourg table; her bosom was uncovered, as all - the English ladies have it till they marry; and she had on a - necklace of exceeding fine jewels; her hands were small, her - fingers long; and her stature neither tall nor low; her air was - stately; her manner of speaking mild and obliging. The day she - was dressed in white silk, bordered with pearls of the size of - beans, and over it a mantle of black silk shot with silver - threads; her train was very long, the end of it borne by a - Marchioness; instead of a chain, she had on an oblong collar of - gold and jewels. As she went along in all this state and - magnificence, she spoke very graciously, first to one and then - to another (whether foreign ministers, or those who attended - for different reasons), in English, French, or Italian; for - besides being very well skilled in Greek and Latin, and the - languages I have mentioned, she is mistress of Spanish, Scotch, - and Dutch. Whoever speaks to her, it is kneeling; now and then - she raises some with her hand. While we were there, William - Slawater, a Bohemian Baron, had letters to present to her, and - she, after pulling off her glove, gave him her right hand to - kiss, sparkling with rings and jewels, a mark of particular - favour. Whenever she turned her face as she was going along, - everybody fell down on their knees. The ladies of the court - followed next to her, very handsome and well shaped, and for - the most part dressed in white. She was guarded on each side by - the Gentlemen Pensioners, fifty in number, with gilt - battle-axes. In the ante-chamber next the hall, where we were, - petitions were presented to her, and she received them most - graciously, which occasioned the acclamation of 'God Save the - Queen Elizabeth!' She answered it with 'I thanke youe, myne - good peupel.' In the chapel was excellent music; as soon as it - and the service was over, which scarce exceeded half an hour, - the Queen returned in the same state by water, and prepared to - go to dinner. - - "A gentleman entered the room bearing a rod, and along with him - another bearing a table-cloth, which, after they had both - kneeled three times with the utmost veneration, he spread upon - the table, and after kneeling again they both retired; then - came two others, one with the rod again, the other with a - salt-cellar, a plate, and bread; when they had kneeled as the - others had done, and placed what was brought upon the table, - they too retired with the same ceremonies performed by the - first: at last came an unmarried lady, (we were told she was a - Countess), and along with her a married one, bearing a tasting - knife; the former was dressed in white silk, who when she had - prostrated herself three times in the most graceful manner, - approached the table, and rubbed the table with bread and salt, - with as much awe as if the Queen had been present. When they - had waited there a little while, the Yeoman of the Guard - entered, bare headed, clothed in scarlet with golden roses upon - their backs, bringing in each turn a course of dishes, served - in plate, most of it gilt. These dishes were received by a - gentleman in the same order they were brought, and placed upon - the table, while the lady taster gave to each guard a mouthful - to eat of the particular dish he had brought, for fear of any - poison. During the time that this guard (which consist of the - tallest and stoutest men that can be found in all England, - being carefully selected for this service), were bringing - dinner, twelve trumpets and two kettle drums made the hall ring - for half an hour together. At the end of all this ceremonial a - number of unmarried ladies appeared, who with particular - solemnity lifted the meat from the table and conveyed it to the - Queen's inner and more private chamber, where after she had - chosen for herself, the next goes to the ladies of the court. - - "The queen dines and sups alone, with very few attendants; and - it is very seldom that anybody, foreigner or native, is - admitted at that time, and then only at the intercession of - somebody in power."[345] - -A "Character of Queen Elizabeth," written by Edmund Bohun, Esq., -published in "Nichols's Progresses," has given the following account -of her daily habits:-- - - "Before day, every morning, she heard the petitions of those - that had any business with her, and, calling her secretaries of - state, and masters of requests, she caused the order of - councils, proclamations, patents, and all other papers relating - to the public, to be read, which were then depending; and gave - such order in each affair as she thought fit, which was set - down in short notes, either by herself, or her secretaries. As - often as anything happened that was difficult, she called her - great and wise men to her; and proposing the diversity of - opinions, she very attentively considered and weighed on which - side the strongest reason lay, ever preferring that way which - seemed most to promote the public safety and welfare. When she - was thus wearied with her morning work, she would take a walk, - if the sun shined, into her garden, or otherwise in her - galleries, especially in windy or rainy weather. She would then - cause ---- Stanhop, or Sir Henry Savill, or some other learned - man, to be called to walk with her, and entertain her with some - learned subject; the rest of the day she spent in private, - reading history, or some other learning, with great care and - attention; not out of ostentation, and a vain ambition of being - always learning something, but out of a diligent care to enable - herself thereby to live the better, and to avoid sin; and she - would commonly have some learned man with her, or near her, to - assist her; whose labour and industry she would well reward. - Thus she spent her winter. - - "In the summer time, when she was hungry, she would eat - something that was of light and easy digestion, in her chamber, - with the windows open to admit the gentle breezes of wind from - the gardens or pleasant hills. Sometimes she would do this - alone, but more commonly she would have her friends with her - then. When she had thus satisfied her hunger and thirst with a - moderate repast, she would rest awhile upon an Indian couch, - curiously and richly covered. In the winter time she observed - the same order; but she omitted her noon sleep. When her day - was thus spent, she went late to supper, which was ever - sparing, and very moderate. At supper she would divert herself - with her friends and attendants; and if they made her no - answer, she would put them upon mirth and pleasant discourse - with great civility. She would also then admit Tarleton, a - famous comedian and a pleasant talker, and other such like men, - to divert her with stories of the town, and the common jests or - accidents; but so that they kept within the bounds of modesty - and chastity. In the winter time, after supper, she would - sometimes hear a song, or a lesson or two played upon the lute; - but she would be much offended if there was any rudeness to any - person, any reproach or licentious reflection used. Tarleton, - who was then the best comedian in England, had made a pleasant - play; and when it was acted before the Queen, he pointed at Sir - Walter Rawleigh, and said,--'See, the knave commands the - Queen;' for which he was corrected by a frown from the Queen; - yet he had the confidence to add, that he was of too much and - too intolerable a power; and going on with the same liberty was - so universally applauded by all that were present, that she - thought fit for the present to bear these reflections with a - seeming unconcernedness. But yet she was so offended, that she - forbad Tarleton and all her jesters from coming near her table, - being inwardly displeased with this impudent and unreasonable - liberty. She would talk with learned men that had travelled, in - the presence of many, and ask them many questions concerning - the government, customs, and discipline used abroad. She loved - a natural jester, that would tell a story pleasantly, and - humour it with his countenance, and gesture, and voice; but she - hated all those praters who made bold with other men's - reputation, or defamed them. She detested, as ominous and - unfortunate, all dwarfs and monstrous births. She loved little - dogs, singing birds, parrots, and apes; and when she was in - private, she would recreate herself with various discourses, a - game at chess, dancing, or singing. Then she would retire into - her bedchamber, where she was attended by married ladies of the - nobility, the Marchioness of Winchester, then a widow, the - Countess of Warwick, and the Lord Scroop's Lady, whose husband - was governor of the West Marshes. She would seldom suffer any - one to wait upon her there, except Leicester, Hatton, Essex, - Nottingham, and Sir Walter Rawleigh, who were more intimately - conversant with her than any other of the courtiers. She - frequently mixed serious things with her jests and her mirth; - and upon festival-days, and especially in Christmas time, she - would play at cards and tables, which was one of her usual - pastimes; and if any time she happened to win, she would be - sure to demand the money. When she found herself sleepy, she - would take her leave of them that were present with much - kindness and gravity, and so betake her to her rest; some lady - of good quality, and of her intimate acquaintance, always lying - in the same chamber. And besides her guards, that were always - upon duty, there was a gentleman of good quality, and some - others, up in the next chamber, who were to wake her in case - anything extraordinary happened. - - "Though she was endowed with all the goods of nature and - fortune, and adorned with all those things which are valuable - and to be desired, yet there were some things in her that were - capable of amendment, nor was there any mortal, whose virtues - were not eclipsed by the neighbourhood of some vices or - imperfections. She was subject to be vehemently transported - with anger; and when she was so, she would show it by her - voice, her countenance, and her hands. She would chide her - familiar servants so loud, that they that stood afar off might - sometimes hear her voice. And it was reported, that for small - offences she would strike her maids of honour with her hand: - but then her anger was short, and very innocent; and she - learned from Xenophon's book of the Institution of Cyrus, the - method of curbing and correcting this unruly and uneasy - passion. And when her friends acknowledged their offences, she - with an appeased mind easily forgave them many things. She was - also of opinion, that severity was safe, and too much clemency - was destructive; and, therefore, in her punishments and - justice, she was the more severe." - -Some of the panegyric in this account must be taken with allowance; -as, for instance, in what is said of the maiden modesty of Elizabeth's -ears. It would be far easier than pleasant to bring proofs to the -contrary from plays and other entertainments performed in her -presence, and honoured with her thanks. Some of the licenses in them -would be held much too gross for the lowest theatre in our days. -Allowance, however, is to be made for difference of times; and -considering the grave assumptions that must have been practised at -court in more than one respect, and made most likely a matter of -conscience towards the community, it may have been none of the least -exquisite of them, that what was understood to all the masculine ears -present, was unintelligible to those of "Diana," even though she had a -goddess's knowledge as well as beauty. - -Of one thing, it surprises us that there could ever have been a -question; namely, that Elizabeth was a great as well as fortunate -sovereign,--a woman of extraordinary intellect. To the undervaluing -remark that she had wise Ministers, it was well answered that she -chose them; and if, like most other people, she was less wise and less -correct in her conduct than she had the reputation of being, nothing, -on that very account, can surely be thought too highly of the -wonderful address with which she succeeded in sitting upon the top of -the Protestant world as she did throughout her whole reign, supreme -over her favourites as well as her Ministers--the refuge of struggling -opinion, and the idol of romance. - -Enter James I., on horseback, fresh from hunting, clad all in grass -green, with a green feather, shambling limbs, thick features, a spare -beard, and a tongue too big for his mouth. He looks about him at the -by-standers, half frightened; yet he has ridden boldly, and been "in -at the death." - -The sensations of James the First on getting snugly nestled in the -luxurious magnificence of Whitehall must, if possible, have been still -more prodigious than those of Elizabeth in her triumphant safety. -Coming from a land comparatively destitute, and a people whose -contentiousness at that time was equal to their valour, and suddenly -becoming rich, easy, and possessor of the homage of Elizabeth's sages -and cavaliers, the lavish and timid dogmatist must have felt himself -in heaven. There are points about the character of this prince, which -it is not pleasant to canvass; but we think the whole of it (like that -of other men, if their history were equally known,) traceable to the -circumstances of his birth and breeding. He was the son of the -accomplished and voluptuous Mary, and the silly and debauched Darnley; -his mother, during her pregnancy, saw Rizzio assassinated before her -face; Buchanan was his tutor, and made him a pedant, "which was all," -he said, "that he could make of him;" he was a king while yet a -child;--and from all these circumstances it is not to be wondered at -that he was at once clever and foolish--confident, and, in some -respects, of no courage--the son of handsome people, and yet -disjointedly put together--and that he continued to be a child as long -as he existed. - -Granger, a shrewd man up to a certain pitch, makes a shallow remark -upon what Sir Kenelm Digby has said on one of these points in James's -history. "Sir Kenelm Digby," says he, "imputes the strong aversion -James had to a drawn sword, to the fright his mother was in, during -her pregnancy, at the sight of the sword with which David Rizzio, her -secretary, was assassinated in her presence. 'Hence it came,' says -this author, 'that her son, King James, had such an aversion, all his -life-time, to a naked sword, that he could not see one without a great -emotion of the spirits, although otherwise courageous enough; yet he -could not over-master his passion in this particular. I remember, when -he dubbed me knight, in the ceremony of putting the point of a naked -sword upon my shoulder, he could not endure to look upon it, but -turned his face another way; insomuch, that, in lieu of touching my -shoulder, he had almost thrust the point into my eyes, had not the -Duke of Buckingham guided his hand aright.' 'I shall only add," -continues Granger, "to what Sir Kenelm has observed, that James -discovered so many marks of pusillanimity, when the sword was at a -distance from him, that it is needless in this case to allege that an -impression was made upon his tender frame before he saw the -light."[346] And then he makes another objection, which, though not so -obviously unfounded, is perhaps equally so; for effects must have -causes of some sort; and among the mysteries of our birth and being, -what is more probable, than that the same wonders by which we exist at -all, should cause the peculiarities of our existence? The same "tender -frame" would produce the general pusillanimity, as well as the -particular. - -Before we continue our remarks on the court of James the First, we -must look back a moment at that of Elizabeth, to say, that Tallis, -Bird, and others, gave dignity to the service of Elizabeth's chapel at -Whitehall, by their noble psalmody and organ-playing. Her Majesty, one -day, not in quite so appropriate a strain, looked out of her closet in -the chapel, and lectured a preacher out loud, for talking indiscreetly -of people's age and dress in a sermon! - -The Court of James the First was a great falling off from that of -Elizabeth, in point of decency. It was Sir Toby keeping house after -the death of Olivia; or a fox-hunting squire succeeding to the estate -of some courtly dame, and mingling low life with high. The open habit -of drinking to intoxication, so long the disgrace of England, seems -first to have come up in this reign; yet James, who indulged in it, -was remarkable for his edicts against drunkenness. Perhaps he issued -them during his fits of penitence; or out of a piece of his boasted -"kingcraft," as a blind to his subjects; or, at best, as intimations -to them, that the vulgar were not to take liberties like the gods. -James's court was as great in inconsistency as himself. His father's -grossness, his mother's refinement, and the faults common to both, -were equally to be seen in it--drunkenness and poetry, dirt and -splendour, impiety with claims to religion, favouritism without -principle, the coarsest and most childish buffoonery, and the -exquisite fancies of the masque. - -When Christian IV. of Denmark, brother of James's queen, came into -England to visit him, both the kings got drunk together. Sir John -Harrington the wit, translator of Ariosto (the best English version of -that poet, till Mr. Stewart Rose's appeared), has left a letter on the -subject of the court revels of those days, which makes mention of -these royal elegancies, and is on every account worth repeating:-- - - SIR JOHN HARRINGTON TO MR. SECRETARY BARLOW. - - [From London] 1606. - - "My good Friend, - - "In compliance with your asking, now shall you accept my poor - accounte of rich doings. I came here a day or two before the - Danish King came, and from the day he did come till this hour, - I have been well nigh overwhelmed with carousal and sports of - all kinds. The sports began each day in such manner and such - sorte, as well nigh persuaded me of Mahomet's paradise. We had - women, and indeed wine too, of such plenty, as would have - astonished each beholder. Our feasts were magnificent, and the - two royal guests did most lovingly embrace each other at table. - I think the Dane hath strangely wrought on our good English - nobles; for those whom I could never get to taste good liquor, - now follow the fashion, and wallow in beastly delights. The - ladies abandon their sobriety, and are seen to roll about in - intoxication. In good sooth, the parliament did kindly to - provide his Majestie so seasonably with money, for there have - been no lack of good livinge, shews, sights, and banquetings - from morn to eve. - - "One day a great feast was held, and after dinner the - representation of Solomon, his temple, and the coming of the - Queen of Sheba was made, or (as I may better say) was meant to - have been made before their Majesties, by device of the Earl of - Salisbury and others. But, alas! as all earthly things do fail - to poor mortals in enjoyment, so did prove our presentment - thereof. The lady who did play the Queen's part did carry most - precious gifts to both their Majesties; but forgetting the - steppes arising to the canopy, overset her caskets into his - Danish Majestie's lap, and fell at his feet, though I think it - was rather in his face. Much was the hurry and confusion; - cloths and napkins were at hand to make all clean. His Majestie - then got up, and would dance with the Queen of Sheba; but he - fell down and humbled himself before her, and was carried to an - inner chamber, and laid on a bed of state, which was not a - little defiled with the presents of the Queen, which had been - bestowed on his garments; such as wine, cream, jelly, - beverage, cakes, spices, and other good matters. The - entertainment and show went forward, and most of the presenters - went backward or fell down; wine did so occupy their upper - chambers. Now did appear, in rich dress, Hope, Faith, and - Charity. Hope did essay to speak, but wine rendered her - endeavours so feeble that she withdrew, and hoped the king - would excuse her brevity. Faith was then all alone, for I am - certain she was not joyned to good works, and left the court in - a staggering condition. Charity came to the King's feet, and - seemed to cover the multitude of sins her sisters had - committed; in some sorte she made obeyance, and brought giftes, - but said she would return home again, as there was no gift - which heaven had not already given his Majesty. She then - returned to Hope and Faith, who were both sick ... in the lower - hall. Next came Victory, in bright armour, and presented a rich - sword to the King, who did not accept it, but put it by with - his hand; and by a strange medley of versification, did - endeavour to make suit to the King. But Victory did not triumph - long; for, after much lamentable utterance, she was led away - like a silly captive, and laid to sleep in the outer steps of - the anti-chamber. Now did Peace make entry, and strive to get - foremoste to the King; but I grieve to tell how great wrath she - did discover unto those of her attendants; and much contrary to - her semblance, made rudely war with her olive-branch, and laid - on the pates of those who did oppose her coming."[347] - -We suspect that some excuse might be found for James's tendency to -drinking, in the same lax and ricketty constitution which made him -timid and idle. His love of field sports might indeed have given him -strength enough to counteract it, had he been forced into greater -economy of living; but the sportsman is seldom famous for eschewing -the pleasures of the table; he thinks he has earned, and can afford, -excess; and so he can, more than most men. James would have died of -idleness and repletion at half the age he did, had he not been a lover -of horseback; but when he got to his table he loved it too well; one -excess produced another; the nerves required steadying; and the poor -disjointed, "ill-contrived" son of Mary (to use a popular, but truly -philosophic epithet,) felt himself too stout and valiant by the help -of the bottle, not to become overfond of it when he saw it return. All -his feelings were of the same incontinent maudlin kind, easily flowing -into temptation, and subjecting themselves to a ruler. The bottle -governed him; the favourite governed him; his horse and dogs governed -him; pedantry governed him; passion governed him; and when the fit was -over, repentance governed him as absolutely. - -Sir Anthony Welldon (a discharged servant of James's for writing a -banter upon Scotland, and therefore of doubtful authority concerning -him, but credible from collateral evidence, and in some respects -manifestly impartial,) says that there was an organised system of -buffoonery for the King's amusement, at the head of which were Sir -Edward Souch, singer and relater of indecent stories, Sir John Finet, -composer of ditto, and Sir George Goring, master of the practical -jokes! Sir George sometimes brought two fools riding on people's -shoulders, and tilting at one another till they fell together by the -ears. The same writer says that James was not addicted to drinking; -but in this he is contradicted by every other authority, and indeed a -different conclusion may be drawn from what Sir Anthony himself -subsequently remarks. Sully (Henry the Fourth's Sully, who was at one -time ambassador to James, and who tells us that the English monarch -usually spent part of the afternoon in bed, "sometimes the whole of -it,") says that his custom was "never to mix water with his -wine;"[348] and Sir Roger Coke says he was-- - - "Excessively addicted to hunting and drinking, not ordinary - French and Spanish wines, but strong Greek wines; and though he - would _divide_ his hunting from drinking those wines (that is - to say, have set times for them, apart), yet he would - _compound_ his hunting with drinking those wines; and to that - purpose he was attended with a special officer, who was, as - much as could be, always at hand to fill the King's cup in his - hunting when he called for it. I have heard my father say that, - being hunting with the King, after the King had drank of the - wine, he also drank of it, and though he was young and of a - healthful constitution, it so disordered his head that it - spoiled his pleasure, and disordered him for three days after. - Whether it was from drinking these wines, or from some other - cause, the King became so lazy and unwieldy, that he was thrust - on horseback, and as he was set, so he would ride, without - otherwise poising himself on his saddle; nay, when his hat was - set on his head, he would not take the pains to alter it, but - it sat as it was upon him."[349] - -Perhaps Sir Anthony was fond of the bottle himself, and thought the -King drank no more than a gentleman should. It is curious, that -Churchill, in his long and laboured invective against James,[350] does -not even allude to this propensity. The poet drank himself; probably -wrote the very invective with the bottle at his side. However, it is -strange, nevertheless, he did not turn the habit itself against the -Scottish monarch, as a virtue which failed to redeem him and make him -a good fellow. - -Sir Anthony Welldon's account of James's person and demeanour is so -well painted that we must not omit it. It carries with it its own -proofs of authenticity, and is one of those animal likenesses which, -in certain people, convey the best evidence of the likeness moral:-- - - "He was of a middle stature, more corpulent through his clothes - than in his body, yet fat enough, his clothes being made large - and easie, the doublets quilted for steletto proofe, his - breeches in great pleits and full stuffed. He was naturally of - a timorous disposition, which was the reason of his quilted - doublets; his eyes large, ever rolling after any stranger that - came in his presence, insomuch as many for shame have left the - roome, as being out of countenance; his beard was very thin; - his tongue too large for his mouth, which ever made him speak - full in the mouth, and made him drink very uncomely, as if - eating his drink, which came out into the cup of each side of - his mouth; his skin was as soft as taffeta sarsnet, which felt - so because he never washt his hands, onely rubb'd his fingers' - ends slightly with the wet end of a napkin; his legs were very - weake, having had (as was thought) some foul play in his youth, - or rather before he was born, that he was not able to stand at - seven years of age, that weaknesse made him ever leaning on - other men's shoulders. His walke was ever circular, his fingers - ever in that walke fiddling about."--"In his dyet, apparell, - and journeys, he was very constant; in his apparell so - constant, as by his good-will he would never change his - clothes, until worn out to ragges; his fashion never--insomuch, - as one bringing to him a hat of a Spanish block, he cast it - from him, swearing he neither loved them nor their fashions. - Another time, bringing him roses on his shooes, he asked, If - they would make him a ruffe-footed dove? One yard of sixpenny - ribbon served that turn. His diet and journeys were so - constant, that the best observing courtier of our time was wont - to say, were he asleep seven yeares, and then awakened, he - would tell where the King every day had been, and every dish he - had had at his table."[351] - -Sir Anthony tells us, that James could be as pleasant in speech, and -"witty," as any man, though with a grave face; and that he never -forsook a favourite, not even Somerset, till the "poisoning" stories -about the latter forced him. It may be added, that he did not even -then forsake Somerset, as far as he could abide by him; for he gave a -pardon to him and his wife for the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, -though he hanged their agents. This is the greatest blot on James's -character; for though it was a very mean thing in him to put Raleigh -to death, we really believe Raleigh "frightened" him; and as to his -discountenance of the "mourning" for Queen Elizabeth, it appears to -us, that, instead of telling against him, and being a thing -"ungrateful," it was the least evidence he could give of something -like a feeling for his own mother whom Elizabeth had put to death. -James owed no "gratitude" to Elizabeth. She would manifestly have -hindered him from succeeding her, could she in common policy, or regal -feeling, have helped it; and she kept him, or tried to keep him, in -doubt of his succession to the last. - -James's style of evincing his regard for his favourites was of a -maudlin and doating description, not necessary to be dwelt upon; and -it was traceable perhaps to the same causes as his other morbid -imperfections; but the horrible injustice which he would allow these -favourites to perpetrate, and his open violation of his own solemn -oaths and imprecations of himself to the contrary, deepen the -suffocating shadow which is thrown over this part of the history of -Whitehall by the perfumes of effeminacy and the poisons of murderous -incontinence. James's lavish bestowal of other people's money upon his -favourites (for it was all money of the State which he gave away, not -his own; though, indeed, he might have bestowed it in a less generous -style upon himself) was the fault of those who let him give it. There -was something hearty and open in the character of Buckingham, though -he was a "man of violence" after his fashion, and made Whitehall the -scene of his "abductions." But the sternest and most formidable -testimony we know against the spirit of this prince's favouritism, and -the horrors with which it became mixed up, probably against his will, -but still with a connivance most weak and guilty, is in the verses -entitled the "Five Senses," the production of his countryman, admirer, -and panegyrist, and one of the most loyal of men to his -house--Drummond of Hawthornden, who had formerly written a beautiful -eulogium upon him, in a poem which Ben Jonson wished had been his own, -the "River of Forth Feasting." It is clear by these verses that -Drummond believed in the worst stories related of Somerset and the -Court. The history of that unhappy favourite is well known. The -Countess of Essex, the young and beautiful wife of the subsequent -parliamentary general, fell in love with him, and got divorced from -her husband under circumstances of the most revolting indelicacy. Sir -Thomas Overbury, an agent of Somerset's, and one of those natures that -puzzle us by the extreme inconsistency of a fine and tender genius, -combined with a violent worldliness (with such at least is he -charged), was to be got rid of for stopping short in his furtherance -of their connection after the divorce. He was poisoned, and Somerset -and his new wife were tried for the murder. Somerset denied it, but -was found guilty; the Countess confessed it; yet both were pardoned, -while other agents of theirs were hung. There is no rescuing James, -after this, from the imputation of the last degree of criminal -weakness, to say the least of it. It is said that the other guilty -parties (the victims, most likely, of a bad bringing-up,) grew at last -as hateful to one another, as they had been the reverse--the -dreadfulest punishment of affections destitute of all real regard, and -furthered by hateful means. - -We gladly escape from these subjects into the poetical atmosphere of -the Masque, the only glory of King James's reign, and the greatest -glory of Whitehall. - -But the Masque, in which James's Queen was a performer, reminds us -that we must first say a word or two of herself and the other princely -inmates of Whitehall during this reign. The Queen, Anne of Denmark, -has been represented by some as a woman given to love intrigues, and -by others to intrigues political. We take her to have been a -common-place woman, given as much perhaps to both as her position and -the surrounding example induced;--the good-natured wife (after her -fashion) of a good-natured husband, sympathising with him in his -pleasures of the table, and dying of a dropsy. She danced and -performed in the Masques at court, not, we should guess, with any -exquisite grace. Her daughter Elizabeth, who married the Elector -Palatine, afterwards struggling King of Bohemia, and who has found an -agreeable biographer and panegyrist in the late Miss Benger, appears -to have partaken of her good nature, with more levity, and was very -popular with the gentry for her affable manners and her misfortunes. -When she accompanied the Elector to the altar, in the chapel at -Whitehall, she could not help laughing out loud, at something which -struck her fancy. Her brother Henry, Prince of Wales, who died in the -flower of his youth, and who, like all princes who die early, has been -extolled as a person of wonderful promise, obtained admiration in his -day for frequenting the tilt-yard while his father was lying in bed, -and for announcing himself as the opponent of his anti-warlike -disposition. There was probably quite as much of the opposition of -heirs apparent in this, as anything more substantial; for Henry seems -to have exhibited his father's levity and inconsistency of character. -He was thought to be no adorer of the fair sex, yet has the credit of -an intrigue with the Countess of Essex; and though he reprobated his -father's swearing, made no scruple of taunting his brother Charles for -his priestly education, and "quizzing" him for not being straight in -the legs. As to poor Charles ("Baby Charles," as his father called -him, for he was a fond parent, though not a wise one), he became at -once the ornament of his family, and the most unfortunate of its -members; but he seems from an early age to have partaken of the -weakness of character, and the consequent mixture of easiness and -obstinacy, common to the family. Buckingham lorded it over him like a -petulant elder brother. He once rebuked him publicly, in language -unbefitting a gentleman; and at another time, threatened to give him a -knock on the head. - - [Illustration: BANQUETING HOUSE, WHITEHALL.] - -We have seen court mummeries in the time of Henry the Eighth, and -pageants in that of Elizabeth. In the time of James, the masquings of -the one, and the gorgeous shows of the other, combined to produce the -Masque, in its latest and best acceptation; that is, a dramatic -exhibition of some brief fable or allegory, uniting the most fanciful -poetry and scenery, and generally heightened with a contrast of -humour, or an anti-masque. Ben Jonson was their great poetical master -in the court of James; and Inigo Jones claimed to be their no less -masterly and important setter-forth in scene and show. The poet and -artist had a quarrel upon this issue, and Inigo's memory suffers from -divers biting libels in the works of his adversary. The noble -Banqueting-house remains to show that the architect might have had -some right to dispute pretensions, even with the author of the -"Alchemist" and the "Sad Shepherd;" for it is a piece of the very -music of his art (if we may so speak)--the harmony of proportion. -Within these walls, as we now see them, rose, "like a steam of rich -distilled perfumes," the elegant lines of Ben Jonson, breathing court -flowers,--the clouds and painted columns of Jones--and the fair faces, -gorgeous dresses, and dances, of the beauties that dazzled the young -eyesight of the Miltons and Wallers. Ben's burly body would then break -out, as it were, after his more refined soul, in some burlesque -anti-masque, now and then not a little coarse; and the sovereign and -the poet most probably concluded the night in the same manner, though -not at the same table, in filling their skins full of wine. - -The Court of Charles I. was decorum and virtue itself in comparison -with that of James. Drunkenness disappeared; there were no scandalous -favourites; Buckingham alone retained his ascendency as the friend and -assistant; and the King manifested his notions of the royal dignity by -a stately reserve. Little remained externally of the old Court but its -splendour; and to this a new lustre was given by a taste for painting, -and the patronage of Rubens and Vandyke. Charles was a great collector -of pictures. He was still fonder of poetry than his father, retained -Ben Jonson as his laureate, encouraged Sandys, and May, and Carew, and -was a fond reader of Spenser and Shakspeare; the last of whom is -styled by Milton (not in reproach, as Warton strangely supposed; for -how could a poet reproach a King with loving a poet?) the "closet -companion" of the royal "solitudes." Walpole, as Mr. Jesse observes, -was of opinion, that-- - - "The celebrated festivals of Louis XIV. were copied from the - shows exhibited at Whitehall, in its time the most polite court - in Europe." Bassompierre, in mentioning his state introduction - to Charles and Henrietta, says, "I found the King on a stage - raised two steps, the Queen and he on two chairs, who rose on - the first bow I made them on coming in. The company was - magnificent, and the order exquisite." "I never knew a duller - Christmas than we have had this year," writes Mr. Gerrard to - the Earl of Strafford: "but one play all the time at Whitehall, - and no dancing at all. The Queen had some little infirmity, the - bile or some such thing, which made her keep in; only on - Twelfth Night she feasted the King at Somerset House, and - presented him with a play newly studied, the _Faithful - Shepherdess_ (Fletcher's) which the King's players acted in the - robes she and her ladies acted their pastoral in last year. I - had almost forgot to tell your Lordship, that the dicing night, - the King carried away in James Palmer's hat 1,850_l._ The Queen - was his help, and brought him that luck; she shared presently - 900_l._ There are two masques in hand; first, the Inns of - Court, which is to be presented on Candlemas-day; the other, - the King presents the Queen with on Shrove Tuesday, at night: - high expenses; they speak of 20,000_l._ that it will cost the - men of the law."[352] - - "Charles was not only well informed," says Mr. Jesse, "in all - matters of court etiquette, and in the particular duties of - each individual of his household, but enjoined their - performance with remarkable strictness. Ferdinand Masham, one - of the esquires of his body, has recorded a curious anecdote - relative to the King's nice exaction of such observances. 'I - remember,' he says, 'that coming to the King's bedchamber door, - which was bolted in the inside, the Earl of Bristol, then being - in waiting and lying there, he unbolted the door upon my - knocking, and asked me "What news?" I told him I had a letter - for the King. The earl then demanded the letter of me, which I - told him I could deliver to none but to the King himself; upon - which the King said, "The esquire is in the right: for he ought - not to deliver any letter or message to any but myself, he - being at this time the chief officer of my house; and if he had - delivered the letter to any other, I should not have thought - him fit for his place."' It seems, that after a certain hour, - when the guard was set, and the 'all right' served up, the - royal household was considered under the sole command of the - esquire in waiting. 'The King,' says Lord Clarendon, 'kept - state to the full, which made his court very orderly, no man - presuming to be seen where he had no pretence to be.'"[353] - -The truth is, that both from greater virtue and a less jovial -temperament, Charles carried his improvement upon the levity of his -father's court too far. Public opinion had long been quitting the old -track of an undiscerning submission; and, though it was the King's -interest to avoid scandal, it was not so to provoke dislike. It was on -the side of manner in which he failed. His reformations, the more -scandalous ones excepted, appear to have been rather external than -otherwise. Mrs. Hutchinson, while she speaks of them highly, intimates -that there was still a good deal of private licence; and though it is -asserted that Charles discountenanced swearing, perhaps even this was -only by comparison. It is reported of Charles II., that in answer to a -remonstrance made to him on the oaths in which he indulged, he -exclaimed in a very irreverent and unfilial manner, "Oaths! why, your -Martyr was a greater swearer than I am." It has been questioned also, -whether in other respects Charles's private conduct was so -"immaculate," to use Mr. Jesse's phrase, as the solemnity of his -latter years and his fate has led most people to conclude. Indeed, it -is a little surprising how anybody, partisans excepted, could have -supposed, that a prince, brought up as he was, and the friend of -Buckingham, should be entirely free from the licence of the time. His -manners and speeches to women, though not gross for that age, would be -thought coarse now; and, at all events, were proofs of a habit of -thinking quite in unison with custom. But the present age has been far -stricter in its judgment on these points than any which preceded -it--at least up to the time of George III. It was not the question of -his gallantries, or of his freedom with them, that had anything to do -with Charles's unpopularity. The people will pardon a hundred -gallantries sooner than one want of sympathy. Charles I. would not -have been unpopular in the midst of court elegancies, if he had not -been stiff and repulsive in his manners. Unfortunately he wanted -address; he had a hesitation in his speech; and his consciousness of a -delicate organization and of infirmity of purpose, with the addition -of a good deal of the will common to most people, and particularly -encouraged in princes, made him afraid of being thought weak and easy. -He therefore, in what he thought self-defence, took to an offensive -coldness and dryness of behaviour, and gradually became not unwilling -even to wreak upon other people the irritability occasioned by it to -himself. He got into unseemly passions with ambassadors, and neither -knew how to refuse a petition gracefully, nor to repel an undue -assumption with real superiority. Even his troubles did not teach him -wisdom in these respects till the very last. He was riding out one day -during the wars, when a "Dr. Wykes, dean of Burian in Cornwall," says -Mr. Jesse, "an inveterate punster, happened to be near him, extremely -well mounted. 'Doctor,' said the King, 'you have a pretty nag under -you; I pray, how old is he?' Wykes, unable to repress, even in the -presence of majesty, the indifferent conceit which presented itself, -'If it please your Majesty' he said, 'he is in the second year of his -reign' (rein). Charles discovered some displeasure at this unlicensed -ribaldry. 'Go,' he replied, 'you are a fool!'" Now that the dean was a -fool there can be no doubt; but that this blunt, offensive, and -never-to-be-forgotten word was the only one which a king in a state of -war with his subjects could find, in order to discountenance his -folly, shows a lamentable habit of subjecting the greater -consideration to the less. - -Unluckily for Charles's dignity in the eyes of his attendants, and for -his ultimate welfare with the people, there was a contest of -irritability too often going forward between him and his consort -Henrietta; in which the latter, by dint perhaps of being really the -weaker of the two, generally contrived to remain conqueror. Swift has -recorded an extraordinary instance of her violence in his list of -_Mean and Great Fortunes_. He says, that one day Charles made a -present to his wife of a handsome brooch, and gallantly endeavouring -to fix it in her bosom, happened unfortunately to wound the skin, upon -which her Majesty, in a fit of passion, and in the presence of the -whole court, took the brooch out and dashed and trampled it on the -floor. The trouble that Charles had to get rid of Henrietta's noisy -and meddling French attendants, not long after his marriage, is well -known; but not so, that, having contrived to turn the key upon her in -order that she might not behold their departure, "she fell into a rage -beyond all bounds, tore the hair from her head, and cut her hands -severely by dashing them through the glass windows."[354] - -When not offended, however, the Queen's manners were lively and -agreeable. We are to imagine the time of the court divided between her -Majesty's coquetries, and accomplishments, and Catholic confessors, -and the King's books, and huntings, and political anxieties; -Buckingham, as long as he lived, being the foremost figure next to -himself; and Laud and Strafford domineering after Buckingham. In the -morning the ladies embroidered and read huge romances, or practised -their music and dancing (the latter sometimes with great noise in the -Queen's apartments), or they went forth to steal a visit to a -fortune-teller, or to see a picture by Rubens, or to sit for a -portrait to Vandyke, who married one of them. In the evening there was -a masque, or a ball, or a concert, or gaming; the Sucklings, the -Wallers, and Carews repeated their soft things, or their verses; and -"Sacharissa" (Lady Dorothy Sydney) doubted Mr. Waller's love, and -glanced towards sincere-looking Henry Spencer; Lady Carlisle flirted -with the Riches and Herberts; Lady Morton looked grave; the Queen -threw round the circle bright glances and French _mots_; and the King -criticised a picture with Vandyke or Lord Pembroke, or a poem with Mr. -Sandys (who, besides being a poet, was gentleman of his Majesty's -chamber); or perhaps he took Hamilton or Strafford into a corner, and -talked, not so wisely, against the House of Commons. It was, upon the -whole, a grave and a graceful court, not without an under-current of -intrigue. - -It seems ridiculous to talk of the court of Oliver Cromwell, who had -so many severe matters to attend to in order to keep himself on his -throne; but he had a court, nevertheless; and, however jealously it -was watched by the most influential of his adherents, it grew more -courtly as his protectorate advanced; and it must always have been -attended with a respect which Charles knew not sufficiently how to -insure, and James not at all. Its dinners were not very luxurious, and -the dishes appear to have been brought in by the heavy gentlemen of -his guard. In April, 1654, we read of the "grey coats" of these -gentlemen, with "black velvet collars, and silver lace and -trimmings"--a very sober effort at elegance. Here his daughters would -pay him visits of a morning, fluttering betwixt pride and anxiety; and -his mother sit with greater feelings of both, starting whenever she -heard a noise: flocks of officers came to a daily table, at which he -would cheerfully converse; and now and then ambassadors or the -Parliament were feasted; and in the evening, perhaps after a portion -of a sermon from his Highness, there would be the consciousness of a -princely presence, and something like a courtly joy. In the circle -Waller himself was to be found (making good the doubts of -"Sacharissa"), and Lord Broghill, the friend of Suckling, who refused -to join him; and Lady Carlisle, growing old, but still setting her -beauty-spots at the saints; and Richard Cromwell, heir-apparent, whom -Dick Ingoldsby is forcing to die with laughter, though severe -Fleetwood is looking that way; and the future author of Paradise Lost -talking Italian with the envoys from the Apennines; and Marvel, his -brother secretary, chuckling to hear from the Swedish ambassador the -proposal of a visit from Queen Christina; and young Dryden, bashfully -venturing in under the wing of his uncle Sir Gilbert Pickering, the -chamberlain. There was sometimes even a concert; Cromwell's love of -music prevailing against the un-angelical denouncements of it from the -pulpit. The Protector would also talk of his morning's princely -diversion of hunting; or converse with his daughters and the foreign -ambassadors, some of which latter had that day paid their respects to -the former, as to royal personages, on their arrival in England; or -if the evening were that of a christening or a marriage, or other -festive solemnity, his Highness, not choosing to forget the rough -pleasures of his youth, and combining, perhaps, with the recollection -something of an hysterical sense of his present wondrous condition, -would think it not unbecoming his dignity to recall the days of King -James, and bedaub the ladies with sweetmeats, or pelt the heads of his -brother generals with the chair cushions. Nevertheless, he could -resume his state with an air that inspired the pencil of Peter Lely -beyond its fopperies; and Mazarin at Paris trembled in his chair to -think of it. - -But how shall we speak of the court of Charles II.? of that unblushing -seminary for the misdirection of young ladies, which, occupying the -ground now inhabited by all which is proper, rendered the mass of -buildings by the water's side, from Charing Cross to the Parliament, -one vast--what are we to call it?-- - - "Chi mi dara le voci e le parole - Convenienti a si nobil soggetto?" - -Let Mr. Pepys explain. Let Clarendon explain. Let all the world -explain, who equally reprobate the place and its master, and yet -somehow are so willing to hear it reprobated, that they read endless -accounts of it, old and new, from the not very bashful _expose_ of the -Count de Grammont, down to the blushing deprecations of Mrs. Jameson. -Mr. Jesse himself begins with emphatically observing, that "a -professed apology either for the character or conduct of Charles II. -might almost be considered as an insult to public rectitude and female -virtue;" yet he proceeds to say, that there is a charm nevertheless in -"all that concerns the 'merry monarch,' which has served to rescue him -from entire reprobation;" and accordingly he proceeds to devote to him -the largest portion given to any of his princes, not omitting -particulars of all his natural children; and winding up with separate -memoirs of the maids of honour, the mistresses, and those confidential -gentlemen--Messrs. Chiffinch, Prodgers, and Brouncker. - -Upon the reason of this apparent contradiction between the morals and -toleration of the reading world, we have touched before; and we think -it will not be expected of us to enter further into its metaphysics. -The court is before us, and we must paint it, whatever we may think of -the matter. We shall only observe in the outset, that the "merry -monarch," besides not being handsome, had the most serious face, -perhaps, of any man in his dominions. It was as full of hard lines as -it was swarthy. If the assembled world could have called out to have a -specimen of a "man of pleasure" brought before it, and Charles could -have been presented, we know not which would have been greater, the -laughter or the groans. However, "merry monarch" he is called; and -merry doubtless he was, as far as his numerous cares and headaches -would let him be. Nor should it be forgotten that cares, necessities, -and bad example, conspired, from early youth, to make him the man he -was. We know not which did him the more harm--the jovial despair of -his fellow exiles, or the sour and repulsive reputation which morals -and good conduct had acquired from the gloominess of the Puritans. - -Charles was of good height as well as figure, and not ungraceful. -Andrew Marvel has at once painted and intimated an excuse for him, in -an exordium touching upon the associates of his banishment. His -allusion to the filial occupation of Saul is very witty:-- - - "Of a tall stature and a sable hue, - Much like the son of Kish, that lofty Jew; - Ten years of need he suffer'd in exile, - And kept his father's asses all the while." - -He was a rapid and a constant walker, to settle his nerves; talked -affably with his subjects; had a parcel of little dogs about him, -which did not improve the apartments at Whitehall; hated business; -delighted to saunter from one person's rooms at court to another's, in -order to pass the time; was fond of wit, and not without it himself; -drank and gamed, and was in constant want of money for his mistresses, -which ultimately rendered him a scandalous pensioner upon the King of -France; in short, was a selfish man, partly by temperament, and partly -from his early experience of others; but was not ill-natured; and, -like his grandfather James, would live and let live, provided his -pleasures were untouched. His swarthiness he got from the Italian -stock of the Medici, and his animal spirits from Italy or France, or -both: they were certainly not inherited from his father. - -The man thus constituted was suddenly transferred from an exile full -of straits and mortifications into the rich and glorious throne of -England. The people, sick of gloom and disappointment, were as mad to -receive him as he was to come. It was May, and all England dressed -itself in garlands and finery. Crowds shouted at him; music floated -around his steps; young females strewed flowers at his feet; gold was -poured into his pockets; and clergymen blessed him. He receives the -homage of Church and State; and goes the same night to sup with Mrs. -Barbara Palmer, at a house in Lambeth. - -Such was the event which, by an epithet that has since acquired a -twofold significancy, has been called the "blessed Restoration." -Orthodoxy and loyalty had obtained an awkward champion. - -Mrs. Palmer soon restored the King to Whitehall by coming there -herself, where she became in due time Countess of Castlemain, Duchess -of Cleveland, and mother of three dukes and as many daughters. This -was for the benefit of the peerage. But Charles, for the benefit of -royalty, was unfortunately compelled to have a wife; though, as an -alleviation of the misfortune, his wife, he reflected, would have an -establishment, with ladies of the bedchamber; nay, with a pleasing -addition of maids of honour. He therefore put what face he could on -the matter, and wedded Catharine of Braganza. When Lady Castlemain was -presented to her as one of the ladies, the poor Queen burst out -a-bleeding at the nose. It took a good while to reconcile the royal -lady to the "other lady" (Clarendon's constant term for her), but it -was done in time, to the astonishment of most, and disgust of some. -Clarendon was one of the instruments that effected the good work. From -thenceforth the Queen was contented to get what amusement she could, -and was as merry as the rest. She was not an ill-looking woman; was as -fond of dancing as her husband; and he used good-naturedly to try to -make her talk improper broken English, and would not let her be -persecuted. - -Whitehall now adjusted itself to the system which prevailed through -this reign, and which may be described as follows: we do not paint it -at one point of time only, but through the whole period. - -Charles walked a good deal in the morning, perhaps played at ball or -tennis, chatted with those he met, fed his dogs and his ducks, looked -in at the cockpit, sometimes did a little business, then sauntered -in-doors about Whitehall; chatted in Miss Wells' room, in Miss Price's -room, in Miss Stuart's room, or Miss Hamilton's; chatted in Mr. -Chiffinch's room, or with Mr. Prodgers; then dined, and took enough -of wine; had a ball or a concert, where he devoted himself to Lady -Castlemain, the Duchess of Portsmouth, or whoever the reigning lady -was, the Queen talking all the while as fast as she could to some -other lady; then, perhaps, played at riddles, or joked with Buckingham -and Killigrew, or talked of the intrigues of the court--the great -topic of the day. Sometimes the ladies rode out with him in the -morning, perhaps in men's hats and feathers; sometimes they went to -the play, where the favourite was jealous of the actresses; sometimes -an actress is introduced at court and becomes a "madam" herself--Madam -Davis, or Madam Eleanor Gwyn. Sometimes the Queen treats them with a -cup of the precious and unpurchasable beverage called tea, or even -ventures abroad with them in a frolicsome disguise. Sometimes the -courtiers are at Hampton, playing at hide-and-seek in a labyrinth; -sometimes at Windsor, the ladies sitting half-dressed for Sir Peter -Lely's voluptuous portraits. - -Lady Castlemain, the Duchess of Portsmouth, and Nell Gwyn, all have -their respective lodgings in Whitehall, looking out upon gardens, -elegant with balconies and trellises. By degrees the little dukes grow -bigger, and there is in particular a great romping boy, very handsome, -called Master Crofts, afterwards Duke of Monmouth, who is the protege -of Lady Castlemain, though his mother was Mrs. Walters, and who takes -the most unimaginable liberties in all quarters. He annoys exceedingly -the solemn Duke of York, the King's brother, who heavily imitates the -reigning gallantries, stupidly following some lady about without -uttering a word, and who afterwards cut off the said young gentleman's -head. The concerts are French, partly got up by St. Evremond and the -Duchess of Mazarin, who come to hear them; and there, in addition to -the ladies before mentioned, come also the Duchess of Buckingham, -short and thick, (daughter of the old Parliamentary general, Fairfax,) -and Lady Ossory, charming and modest, and the Countess of Shrewsbury, -who was neither, and Lady Falmouth, with eyes at which Lord Dorset -never ceased to look, and the Duchess of York (Clarendon's daughter), -eating something, and divine old Lady Fanshawe, who crept out of the -cabin in a sea-fight to stand by her husband's side. The Queen has -brought her there, grateful for a new set of sarabands, at which Mr. -Waller is expressing his rapture--Waller, the visitor of three courts, -and admired and despised in them all. Behind him stands Dryden, with -a quiet and somewhat down-looking face, finishing a couplet of -satire. "Handsome Sydney" is among the ladies; and so is Ralph -Montague, who loved ugly dogs because nobody else would; and Harry -Jermyn, who got before all the gallants, because he was in earnest. -Rochester, thin and flushed, is laughing in a corner at Charles's grim -looks of fatigue and exhaustion; Clarendon is vainly flattering -himself that he is diverting the king's ennui with a long story; -Grammont is shrugging his shoulders at not being able to get in a -word; and Buckingham is making Sedley and Etherege ready to die of -laughter by his mimicry of the poor Chancellor. - -The following delicate morceaux from the pages of our friend Pepys -will illustrate the passages respecting my Lady Castlemain and others. - - "1660--Sept. 14.--To White Hall Chappell, where one Dr. Crofts - made an indifferent sermon, and after it an anthem, ill sung, - which made the King laugh. Here I first did see the Princesse - Royall since she came into England. Here I also observed, how - the Duke of York (James II.) and Mrs. Palmer (Lady Castlemaine) - did talk to one another very wantonly through the hangings that - part the king's closet and the closet where the ladies sit. - - "May 21.--My wife and I to Lord's lodgings, where she and I - staid talking in White Hall Garden. And in the Privy-garden saw - the finest smocks and linnen petticoats of my Lady - Castlemaine's, laced with rich lace at the bottom, that ever I - saw; and did me good to look at them. Sarah told me how the - King dined at my Lady Castlemaine's, and supped, every day and - night the last week; and that the night that the bonfires were - made for joy of the Queene's arrival, the King was there; but - there was no fire at her door, though at all the rest of the - doors almost in the street; which was much observed; and that - the King and she did send for a pair of scales and weighed one - another; and she being with child, was said to be heaviest. But - she is now a most disconsolate creature, and comes not out of - doors, since the King's going (to meet his wife). - - "August 23d.--Walked to White Hall, and through my Lord's - lodgings we got into White Hall Garden, and so to the - Bowling-greene, and up to the top of the new Banqueting House - there, over the Thames, which was a most pleasant place as any - I could have got; and all the show consisted chiefly in the - number of boats and barges; and two pageants, one of a king, - and the other a queene, with her maydes of honour sitting at - her feet very prettily; and they tell me the queene is Sir - Richard Ford's daughter. Anon come the King and Queene in a - barge under a canopy with 1,000 barges and boats I know, for - they could see no water for them, nor discern the King nor - Queene. And so they landed at White Hall Bridge, and the great - guns on the other side went off. But that which pleased me best - was, that my Lady Castlemaine stood over against us upon a - piece of White Hall. But methought it was strange to see her - lord and her upon the same place walking up and down without - taking notice one of another, only at first entry he put off - his hat, and she made him a very civil salute, but afterwards - took no notice one of another; but both of them now and then - would take their child, which the nurse held in her armes, and - dandle it. One thing more; there happened a scaffold below to - fall, and we feared much hurt, but there was none, but she of - all the great ladies only run down among the common rabble to - see what hurt was done, and did take care of a child that - received some little hurt, which methought was so noble. Anon, - there come one there booted and spurred that she talked long - with, and by and by, she being in her haire, she put on his - hat, which was but an ordinary one, to keep the wind off. But - it become her mightily, as everything else do." - -What Pepys thought "noble" was probably nothing more than the -consequence of a habit of doing what she pleased, in spite of -appearances. The "hat" is a comment on it, to the same effect. - - "December 25th.--Christmas Day.--Had a pleasant walk to White - Hall, where I intended to have received the communion with the - family, but I come a little too late. So I walked up into the - house and spent my time looking over pictures, particularly the - ships in King Henry the VIIIth's Voyage to Bullonn[355], - marking the great difference between those built then and now. - By and by, down to the chapel again, where Bishop Morley - preached upon the song of the angels, 'Glory to God on high, on - earth peace, and good-will towards men.' Methought he made but - a poor sermon, but long, and reprehending the common jollity of - the court for the true joy that shall and ought to be on these - days; particularized concerning their excess in playes and - gaming, saying, that he whose office it is to keep the - gamesters in order and within bounds, serves but for a second - rather in a duell, meaning the groome-porter. Upon which it was - worth observing how far they are come from taking the - reprehensions of a bishop seriously, that they all laugh in the - chapel when he reflected on their ill actions and courses. He - did much press us to joy in these publick days of joy, and to - hospitality. But one that stood by whispered in my ear that the - bishop himself do not spend one groate to the poor himself. The - sermon done, a good anthem followed with violls, and the King - come down to receive the sacrament. - - "1662-3--February 1st.--This day Creed and I walking in White - Hall did see the King coming privately from my Lady - Castlemaine's; which is a poor thing for a Prince to do: and so - I expressed my sense of it to Creed in terms which I should not - have done, but that I believe he is trusty in that point." - -The court of James II. is hardly worth mention. It lasted less than -four years, and was as dull as himself. The most remarkable -circumstance attending it was the sight of friars and confessors, and -the brief restoration of Popery. Waller, too, was once seen there; the -_fourth_ court of his visiting. There was a poetess also, who appears -to have been attached by regard as well as office to the court of -James--Anne Kingsmill, better known by her subsequent title of -Countess of Winchilsea. The attachment was most probably one of -feeling only and good-nature, for she had no bigotry of any sort. -Dryden, furthermore, was laureate to King James; and in a fit of -politic, perhaps real, regret, turned round upon the late court in his -famous comparison of it with its predecessor. - -James fled from England in December, 1688, and the history of -Whitehall terminates with its conflagration, ten years afterwards. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[339] Lingard, vol. iv., p. 246. (Quarto Edit.) - -[340] Vol. iii., p. 862, Edit. 1808. - -[341] Folio edit - -[342] _Ut supra_, p. 347. Henry had been afflicted with this ulcer a -long while. He was in danger from it during his marriage with Anne -Bullen. It should be allowed him among his excuses of temperament; but -then it should also have made him more considerate towards his wives. -It never enters the heads, however, of such people that _their_ faults -or infirmities are to go for anything, except to make others -considerate for them, and warrant whatever humours they choose to -indulge. - -[343] Nicholls's "Progresses and Public Processions of Queen -Elizabeth," year 1595, pp. 4-8. "He will ever bear in his heart the -picture of her beauty." "He now looks on his mistress's outside with -the eyes of sense, which are dazzled and amased." - -[344] See the poems in Anderson's Edition, vol. ii., p. 706. - -[345] From an article in the second volume of that elegant and -interesting publication, the "Retrospective Review;" the -discontinuance of which, some years back, was regretted by every lover -of literature. - -[346] Biographical History of England. Vol. ii., p. 7. Fifth Edition. - -[347] _Nugae Antiquae_, Ed. 1804, vol i., p. 348, _et seq._ (Quoted in a -note to Peyton's "Catastrophe of the Stuarts," in "Secret History of -the Court of James I." Vol. ii., p. 387.) - -[348] Harris, vol. i., p. 17. - -[349] Harris, vol. i., p. 79. - -[350] See the Poem of "Gotham" in Churchill's works. - -[351] Secret History, &c., as above, vol. ii., p. 1. - -[352] Jesse's Memoirs of the Court of England during the Reign of the -Stuarts, vol. ii., p. 91. - -[353] Ibid., p. 94. - -[354] Jesse, vol. ii., p. 79. - -[355] Boulogne. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - St. James's Park and its associations. -- Unhealthiness of the - Place and neighbourhood. -- Leper Hospital of St. James. -- - Henry the Eighth builds St. James's Palace and the Tilt Yard. - -- Original State and Progressive Character of the Park. -- - Charles the First. -- Cromwell. -- Charles the Second; his - Walks, Amusements, and Mistresses. -- The Mulberry Gardens. -- - Swift, Prior, Richardson, Beau Tibbs, Soldiers, and Syllabubs. - -- Character of the Park at present. -- St. James's Palace - during the Reigns of the Stuarts and two first Georges. -- - Anecdotes of Lord Craven and Prince George of Denmark. -- - Characters of Queen Anne and of George the First and Second. -- - George the First and his Carp. -- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and - the Sack of Wheat. -- Horace Walpole's Portrait of George the - First. -- The Mistresses of that King, and of his Son. -- - Mistake of Lord Chesterfield. -- Queen Caroline's Ladies in - Waiting. -- Miss Bellenden and the Guineas. -- George the - Second's Rupture with his Father, and with his Son. -- - Character of that Son. -- Buckingham House. -- Sheffield and - his Duchess. -- Character of Queen Charlotte. -- Advantages of - Queen Victoria over her predecessors. - - -St. James's Park is associated in contemporary minds with nothing but -amusing recollections of bands of music, marching soldiers, -maid-servants and children, drinkings of "milk from the cow," the -hoop-petticoats of the court days of George the Third, and fading -images of passages in novels, or of shabby-genteel debtors sitting -lounging on the benches. A little further back in point of time we see -a novelist himself, Richardson, walking in it, with other invalids, -for his health; then Swift crossing it from Suffolk Street in his way -to Chelsea, or thinking of the _Spectator_ and _Rosamond's Pond_; then -the gallants of the time of Charles the Second, with Charles himself -feeding his ducks and playing at mall; then his unhappy father led -through it from St. James's Palace on his way to the scaffold at -Whitehall; and then the chivalresque sports of the Tudors in the -famous tilt-yard, which occupied the site of the Horse Guards. To all -these points we shall return for the purpose of entering into a few -particulars; but as geographers begin their accounts of a place with -the soil, we shall first make a few remarks of a like nature. - -The site of this park, which must always have been low and wet, is -said in the days before the Conquest to have been a swamp. Yet so -little understood, not only at that time but any time till within -these few years, were those vitalest arts of life which have been -disclosed to us by the Southwood Smiths and others, that the good -citizens of London in those days built a hospital upon it for lepers -(by way of purifying their skins), and people of rank and fashion have -been clustering about it more and more ever since, especially of late -years. "If a merry-meeting is to be wished," says the man in -Shakspeare, "may God prohibit it." If our health is to be injured -while in town by luxury and late nights, say the men of State and -Parliament, let us all go and make it worse in the bad air of -Belgravia. Nay, let us sit with our feet in the water, while in -Parliament itself, and then let us aggravate our agues in Pimlico and -the park.--There is no use in mincing the matter, even though the -property of a great lord be doubled by the mistake. The fashionable -world should have stuck to Marylebone and the good old dry parts of -the metropolis, or gone up hill to Kensington gravel-pits, or into any -other wholesome quarter of the town or suburbs, rather than have -descended to the water-side, and built in the _mush_ of Pimlico. -Building and house-warming doubtless make a difference; and wealth has -the usual advantages compared with poverty: but the malaria is not -done away. A professional authority on the subject gave the warning -five and twenty years ago in the _Edinburgh Review_; but what are -warnings to house-building and fashion? "It is not suspected," he says -(vol. xxxvi. p. 341) "that St. James's Park is a perpetual source of -malaria, producing frequent intermittents, autumnal dysenteries, and -various derangements of health, in all the inhabitants who are subject -to its influence. The cause being unsuspected, the evil is endured, -and no further inquiries are made." The malaria (he tells us in -another passage of the same article) "spreads even to Bridge Street -and Whitehall. Nay, in making use of the most delicate _miasmometer_ -(if we may coin such a word) that we ever possessed, an officer who -had suffered at Walcheren, we have found it reaching up to St. James's -Street even to Bruton Street, although the rise of ground is here -considerable, and the whole space from the nearest water is crowded -with houses." - -This statement, corroborated as it is by the obvious nature of the -soil and air in the park, where the people to any eye coming from -higher ground seem walking about only in a thinner kind of water--a -perpetual haze and _mugginess_--ought to settle the question -respecting the doom of Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty, whose life and -comfort are precious to her subjects, should have her town residence -in quite another sort of place. Almost everything indeed, artificial -as well as natural, conspires to render the spot unwholesome. See what -the royal lungs receive on all sides of the present abode whichever -way the windows are opened. In front of it is the steam of the mushy -ground and the canal; on the left comes draining down the wet of -Constitution Hill; and on the right and at the back are the vapours of -the river and the pestilential smokes of the manufactories. What an -air in which to set forth the colours of the royal flag and refresh -the anxieties of the owner! We never look down on the flag from -Piccadilly, but we long to see it announcing the royal presence on -higher ground and in a healthy breeze. - -The Leper Hospital, being the ancientest known domicile in the spot -before us, stood on the site of the present St. James's Palace; so -that where state and fashion have congregated, and blooming beauties -come laughing through the trees, was once heard the dismal sound of -the "cup and clapper," which solicited charity for the most revolting -of diseases. The spot was probably selected for the hospital, not only -as being at the greatest convenient distance from the habitations of -the good citizens its founders (lepers being always put as far as -possible out of the way), but because it suggested itself to the -imagination as possessed of an analogous dreariness and squalidity. -Unfavourable circumstances in those days were only thought fit for one -another, not for the super-induction of favourable ones. The lunatic -was to be exasperated by whips and dark-keeping, and the leper thrust -into the ditch. The world had not yet found out that light, -cleanliness, and consolation were good for all. Imagine this "lake of -the dismal swamp," now St. James's Park, with not another house nearer -to it than the walls at Ludgate, presenting to the timid eyes of the -Sunday pedestrian its lonely spital, which at once attracted his -charity and repelled his presence (for leprosy was thought -infectious), the wind sighing through the trees, and the rain mingling -with the pestilential-looking mud. - -The endowment of St. James's Hospital is said to have been originally -for women only, fourteen in number, to whom were subsequently added -eight brethren "to administer divine service." They were probably, -however, in a good condition of life--"leper ladies," as an old poem -styles the companions of Cressida; but ladies, according to the poem, -were not exempt from the duty of asking alms with the "cup and -clapper;" and as it was probably a part of their business and -humiliation to watch for the appearance of wayfarers, and accost them -with cries and clamour, scenes of that kind may have taken place in -the walk now constituting the Mall. - -The hospital was exchanged with Henry the Eighth for "a -consideration;" and upon its site, or near it, that soul of leprosy -built a manor, and transferred into it his own bloated and corrupted -body. He was then in the forty-third year of his age, and in the same -year (1532) he married poor Anne Boleyn. The town-residences (as they -would now be called) of the kings of England had hitherto been at -Kensington, or on the banks of the Thames at London and Westminster -(such as the Tower, Westminster Hall, &c.) What it was that attracted -Henry to the Leper Hospital it is difficult to conceive; though the -neighbourhood, no doubt, had become a little cleansed and refined by -the growth of Westminster and Whitehall. Much neatness was not -required by a state of manners, which, according to Erasmus, must have -been one of the dirtiest in Europe, and which allowed the refuse of -meats and drinks, in gentlemen's houses, to collect under the rushes -in the dining-rooms. Perhaps the new palace was to be a place of -retirement for the King and his thoughtless victim, whom four years -afterwards he put to death. Most likely, however, his great object was -to grasp all he could, and add to the number of his parks and -amusements; for the whole of the St. James's Fields (as they were -called) fell into his hands with the house, and he stocked them with -game, built a tilt-yard in front of Whitehall, on the site of the -present Horse Guards, together with a cock-pit in its neighbourhood; -and on the downfall of Wolsey took possession of Whitehall itself, -which thenceforth became added to the list of royal abodes. The new -palace could never have been handsome. It had the homely look which it -retains to this day, as the reader will see in the print before him; -the gateway looking up St. James's Street being evidently a remnant of -it. - - [Illustration: ST. JAMES'S PALACE. 1650.] - -The Tilt Yard, as its name implies, was the chief scene of knightly -amusement in the reigns of the Tudors. Here Henry jousted till he grew -too fat; and here Elizabeth sat at the receipt of chivalrous -adulation. The spot is full of life and colour in the eyes of one's -imagination, with heralds and coats of arms, plumed champions, -caparisoned steeds, and courts looking on from draperied galleries. -The present tranquil exercises on parade may be considered as a -remnant of the old military shows. But the people had no admittance -within the court grounds, except on favour. - -The new park seems to have remained strictly enclosed as a nursery for -game till the period of the civil wars of the Commonwealth. A new -palace by Inigo Jones was intended to overlook it at Whitehall, of -which only the Banqueting House was erected. Charles the First was -brought to this house across the Park, from St. James's Palace, in -order to suffer death. Cromwell is then discerned in the park grounds -taking the air in a sedan; but its popular history does not commence -till the Restoration, when Charles the Second, who seems not to have -known what to do with the quantity of life and animal spirits that had -been suppressed during his exile, took to improving and enjoying it -with great vivacity. The walks with him became real walks, for he was -a great pedestrian. He had got the habit, perhaps, when he could not -afford a horse. He let the people in to see him feed his ducks in the -canal, a branch of which, called Duck Island, he pleasantly erected -into a "Government" for the French wit and refugee, St. Evremond. He -made an aviary on the south-east side of the park, thence called -Birdcage Walk; turned the north side into a mall for the enjoyment of -the pastimes so called, in which he excelled; introduced skating from -Holland on the canal and Rosamond's Pond (which was another branch of -it on the south-west); had mistresses in lodgings east and west of him -(Cleveland at Whitehall and Nell Gwyn in Pall Mall); and saw, in the -course of his reign, new streets rising and old places of -entertainment flourishing in other quarters of his favourite district; -Spring Gardens (which became famous for the tavern called -"Lockett's"), at Charing Cross, and the Mulberry Gardens and -noblemen's mansions between Pimlico and Piccadilly. It has been a -question whether the site of the Mulberry Gardens was on the spot now -occupied by Arlington Street, or on that of the Queen's Palace. We -suspect it is difficult to say which, and that they extended along the -whole space between the two. Particular sites are too often confounded -with places near them; and houses are said to displace one another, -which only occupied successive neighbourhoods. By some writers, for -instance, the sites of Arlington and Old Buckingham Houses are -considered as identical, while others represent them in one another's -vicinity. At all events, the Mulberry Gardens appear to have included -the site of both those houses. Ladies came there in masks to eat -syllabubs, and converse with their lovers. Sedley made them the scene -of a play. The whole park, indeed, in Charles's reign, may be said to -have been the scene of a play, especially towards evening, when the -meetings took place which Sedley and Etherege dramatised. In the -morning all was duck-feeding and dog-playing and playing at mall; in -the evening all intrigue and assignation. At one time Waller is -admiring the King's masterly use of the small stick; at another Pepys -is asking questions of the park-keepers, or transported at sight of -the court ladies on horseback; at another Evelyn is horrified (though -he seems to have sought occasions for such horrors) at overhearing a -"very familiar discourse" between his Majesty and that "impudent -comedian," Nelly Gwyn, who is standing at her garden-wall at the back -of Pall Mall (near the present Marlborough House). - -Matters in this respect mended, though not suddenly, at the -Revolution. Whitehall Palace was then accidentally burnt down, and -that of St. James's becomes one of the chief residences of the -sovereign, which it remains till the reign of the present. Swift and -Prior are now seen walking for their health in the park,--Swift to get -thin, and Prior to get fat. The heroes and hungry debtors of the -novelists (for the park was privileged from arrest) make their -appearance, the former with their wives or friends, the latter sitting -starving on the benches. Staid ladies have Sunday promenades under the -eye of staid sovereigns. Something of a new license returns with the -first and second Georges; but it comes from Germany, is discreet, and -makes little impression. The greatest assignation we read of is an -innocent one of Richardson with a Lady Bradshaigh, who is "mighty -curious" to know what sort of man he is, and accordingly moves him to -describe himself in the formal terms of an advertisement, in order -that he may be recognised when she meets him. Goldsmith's Beau Tibbs, -who "blasts himself with an air of vivacity" at seeing "nobody in -town," is now the pleasantest fellow we encounter in the park for many -a day. The ducks, and the dogs, and the birdcages, and Rosamond's -Pond, dismal for drowning lovers, have long vanished; and the place -begins to look as it used to do forty years ago. The gayest -entertainment in it is "the soldiers," with their bands of music; and -the most sensual pleasure a glass of milk from the cow. A mad woman -(Margaret Nicholson) makes a sensation, by attempting to stab George -the Third at the palace door; but all is quiet again, sedate and -orderly, even when court-days bring together a crowd of beauties. -George the Fourth just lives long enough to turn Buckingham Palace -into a toy, and the site of Carlton Gardens into something better. -With his successors comes the greatest of all the park improvements--the -conversion of the poor fields and canal into a public pleasure-ground -and an ornamental piece of water. Upon this King Charles's ducks have -returned, equally improved; and if it did but possess a good -atmosphere, St. James's Park would now be as complete a place of -recreation for the promenaders of its neighbourhood, as it is handsome -and well-intended. - -One of the most popular aspects of St. James's Park is that of a -military and music-playing and milk-drinking spot. The milk-drinkings, -and the bands of music, and the parades, are the same as they used to -be in our boyish days; and, we were going to add, may they be -immortal. But though it is good to make the best of war as long as war -cannot be helped, and though music and gold lace, &c., are wonderful -helps to that end, yet conscience will not allow us to blink all we -know of a very different sort respecting battlefields and days after -the battle. We say, therefore, may war turn out to be as mortal, and -speedily so, as railroads and growing good-sense can make it; though -in the meantime, and the more for that hope, we may be allowed to -indulge ourselves as we did when children, in admiring the pretty -figures which it cuts in this place--the harmlessness of its glitter -and the transports of its beholders. Will anybody who has beheld it -when a boy ever forget how his heart leaped within him when, having -heard the music before he saw the musicians, he issued hastily from -Whitehall on to the parade, and beheld the serene and stately regiment -assembled before the colonel, the band playing some noble march, and -the officers stepping forwards to the measure with their saluting -swords? Will he ever forget the mystical dignity of the band-major, -who made signs with his staff; the barbaric, and as it were, -Othello-like height and lustre of the turbaned black who tossed the -cymbals; the dapper juvenility of the drummers and fifers; and the -astounding prematureness of the little boy who played on the triangle? -Is it in the nature of human self-respect to forget how this little -boy, dressed in a "right earnest" suit of regimentals, and with his -hair as veritably powdered and plastered as the best, fetched those -amazing strides by the side of Othello, which absolutely "kept up" -with his lofty shanks, and made the schoolboy think the higher of his -own nature for the possibility? Furthermore, will he ever forget how -some regiment of horse used to come over the Park to Whitehall, in the -midst of this parade, and pass the foot-soldiers with a sound of -clustering magnificence and dancing trumpets? Will he ever forget how -the foot then divided itself into companies, and turning about and -deploying before the colonel, marched off in the opposite direction, -carrying away the school-boy himself and the crowd of spectators with -it; and so, now with the brisk drums and fifes, and now with the -deeper glories of the band, marched gallantly off for the court-yard -of the palace, where it again set up its music-book, and enchanted the -crowd with Haydn or Mozart? What a strange mixture, too, was the crowd -itself--boys and grown men, gentlemen, vagabonds, maid-servants--there -they all went listening, idling, gazing on the ensign or the -band-major, keeping pace with the march, and all of them more or less, -particularly the maid-servants, doting on the "sogers." We, for one, -confess to having drunk deep of the attraction, or the infection, or -the balmy reconcilement (whichever the reader pleases to call it). -Many a holiday morning have we hastened from our cloisters in the city -to go and hear "the music in the park," delighted to make one in the -motley crowd, and attending upon the last flourish of the hautboys and -clarionets. There we first became acquainted with feelings which we -afterwards put into verse (if the recollection be not thought an -impertinence); and there, without knowing what it was called, or who -it was that wrote it, we carried back with us to school the theme of a -glorious composition, which afterwards became a favourite with -opera-goers under the title of _Non piu andrai_, the delightful march -in _Figaro_. We suppose it is now, and has ever since been played -there, to the martialisation of hundreds of little boys, and the -puzzlement of philosophy. Everything in respect to military parade -takes place, we believe, in the park just as it used to do, or with -little variation. The objects also which you behold, if you look at -the parade and its edifices, are the same. The Admiralty, the -Treasury, the back of the Minister's house in Downing Street, and the -back-front of the solid and not inappropriate building, called the -Horse Guards, look as they did fifty years ago; and there also -continue to stand the slender Egyptian piece of cannon, and the dumpy -Spanish mortar, trophies of the late war with France. The -inscriptions, however, on those triumphant memorials contain no -account of the sums we are still paying for having waged it. - -"The soldiers" and the "milk from the cow" do not at all clash in the -minds of boyhood. The juvenile imagination ignores what it pleases, -especially as its knowledge is not very great. It no more connects the -idea of village massacre with guns and trumpets, than it supposes the -fine scarlet coat capable of being ragged and dirty. Virgil may say -something about ruined fields, and people compelled to fly for their -lives; but this is only part of a "lesson," and the calamities but so -many nouns and verbs. The maid-servants, and indeed the fair sex in -general, till they become wives and mothers, enjoy the like happy -exemption from ugly associations of ideas; and the syllabub is taken -under the trees, with a delighted eye to the milk on one side, and the -military show on the other. - -The late Mr. West, the painter, was so pleased with this pastoral -group of cows and milk-drinkers in the park, that he went out of the -line of his art to make a picture of it. - -Saint James's Palace was not much occupied by the Tudor and Stuart -sovereigns. Their principal town residence was Whitehall. The first of -the Stuarts may have intended to make St. James's the residence of the -Princes of Wales; for he gave it his son Henry, who died there. We -have spoken of this prince and his doubtful "promise" already. The -best thing known of him is the astonishment he expressed at his -father's keeping "such a bird" as Walter Raleigh locked up in a cage. - -Charles the First spent the three last days of his life in this -palace, occupying himself in devotion, and preparing to fall with -dignity;--happy if he had but known how to value the dignity of truth, -which would have saved him from the necessity. The Stuarts, -unfortunate everywhere in proportion to the gravity of their -pretensions, had their customary bad fortune in this palace; at least -the male portion of them. James the Second's daughters, who got his -throne, were born and married there; but here also was born his son, -the first Pretender, whose mother's chamber being situate near some -backstairs gave colour to the ridiculous story of his having been a -spurious child smuggled into the palace in a warming pan; and here his -unlucky and narrow-minded father partly resided when he _per force_ -invited his ouster and son-in-law William to take up his abode in it, -and received in return notice to quit his throne. The old romantic -Lord Craven, who was supposed to have been privately married to James -the First's daughter, the luckless Queen of Bohemia, and who was thus -destined to witness the whole of the troubles of the English dynasty -of the Stuarts, happened to be on duty at St. James's when the Dutch -troops were coming across the park to take possession of it. Agreeably -to his chivalrous character, and to his habit of taking warlike steps -to no purpose, the gallant veteran would have opposed their entrance; -but his master forbade him; and he marched away, says Pennant, "with -sullen dignity." - -"_Est-il-possible_" got the house after James;--we mean his daughter -Anne's husband, George of Denmark, who being no livelier a man than -his father-in-law, made no other comment than these three words (_Is -it possible?_) on the accounts given him by the poor King of every -successive desertion from his cause. In due time the man of one remark -followed the deserters; upon which James observed to one of the few -friends left him, "Who do you think is gone now? Little -_Est-il-possible_ himself." - -St. James's was given to Anne and her husband by the new sovereign -William the Third. She made it her chief palace when she came to the -throne, and such it continued to be with the sovereigns of England -till the reign of George the Third, with whom its occupation was -divided with Buckingham house. Lady Strafford, the wild daughter of -Rochester, who lived in France because England, she said, was "too -dull" for her, used to relate stories of the "orgies" in Anne's -palace. Palaces for the most part have been places of greater license -than the world supposes, owing to the natural results of luxury, -privilege, and the bringing of idle and agreeable people together; but -the orgies which the rattle-headed Lady Strafford talked of, were -probably never anything much greater than a drinking-bout of her -husband, who unluckily taught his wife to drink too. Anne, between her -Protestant accession and her exiled Popish kindred, her imperious -favourite the Duchess of Marlborough, and her quarrelling and -fluctuating Administrations, had an anxious time of it. There is an -old French story of a sage but ugly cavalier, who married a handsome -fool, in the persuasion that his children would inherit their mother's -beauty and his own wisdom. Unfortunately, they turned out to be -specimens of his own ugliness, combined with the mother's folly. We do -not say that Queen Anne was a fool, though she was not very wise; but -when her grandfather, Lord Clarendon, saw the match between his clever -daughter and the future James the Second, he probably hoped that their -offspring would possess the father's figure combined with the mother's -wit; whereas neither Mary nor Anne possessed the latter, and Anne -inherited the mother's fat with the father's dulness. She was a -well-meaning and fond, but sluggish-minded woman, with no force of -character; her temperament was heavy and lax; she did not know what to -do with her political perplexities; and the screw-up of her nerves -with strong waters appears to have become irresistible. Swift gives a -curious account of her levees, in which she would sit with a parcel of -courtiers about her, silently giving glances at them, and putting the -end of her fan in her mouth for want of address. She was glad to get -the whole set away, that she might sink into her easy chair, and -complain of the troubles of human life. - -St. James's thus began with being a dull court, and dull for the most -part it remained to the last--quite worthy of its external appearance. -George the First and Second were both dull gentlemen, with a -difference; the former a pale round-featured man, content to appear -the insipid personage he was; the latter, aquiline-nosed, affecting -spirit and gallantry, and attaining only to rudeness. They were people -of the then German schools of breeding, very different from the -present; and St. James's at that time combined a tasteless air of -decorum with gallantries equally unengaging. George the First had two -German mistresses, one as lean as the other was fat; and George the -Second another, remarkable for nothing but making money. Lady Wortley -Montagu and Horace Walpole have given some amusing notices of the -palace in connection with their Majesties and the court. - -"This is a strange country," said George the First on his coming to -England. "The first morning after my arrival at St. James's, I looked -out of the window and saw a park with walks, a canal, &c., which they -told me were mine. The next day, Lord Chetwynd, the ranger of _my_ -park, sent me a fine brace of carp out of _my_ canal; and I was told I -must give five guineas to Lord Chetwynd's servant for bringing me _my -own_ carp out of _my own_ canal in _my own_ park." - -We are not to suppose that the King delivered this speech in the smart -good English of its reporter, or in any English; for he was not -acquainted with the language. He and his Minister Sir Robert Walpole -used to converse, even on the most important matters of state, in such -Latin as their school recollections furnished, the Minister -understanding German or French as little as the King did English. - -His Majesty, in the first days of his new court, was more agreeably -surprised one evening by the sudden return of Lady Mary Wortley to the -party which were assembled in his rooms, and which she had somewhat -strangely pleaded a previous engagement for quitting. She returned, -borne in the arms of Mr. Secretary Craggs, junior, who had met her -going away, and seized hold of the fugitive. He deposited her in the -ante-room; but the doors of the presence-chamber being hastily thrown -open by the pages, she found herself so astonished and fluttered that -she related the whole adventure to the no less astonished king; who -asked Mr. Craggs whether it was customary in England to carry ladies -about "like sacks of wheat." "There is nothing," answered the adroit -secretary, "which I would not do for your Majesty's satisfaction." - -Towards the close of this monarch's reign, the future court historian, -Horace Walpole, then a boy of ten years of age, had a longing "to see -the King;" and as he was the son of the Minister, his longing was -gratified in a very particular manner. A meeting was arranged on -purpose the day before his Majesty took his last journey to Hanover:-- - - "My mother," says Walpole, "carried me at ten at night to the - apartments of the Countess of Walsingham, on the ground floor, - towards the garden of St. James's, which opened into that of - her aunt the Duchess of Kendal's; apartments occupied by George - the Second after his Queen's death, and by his successive - mistresses, the Countesses of Suffolk and Yarmouth. Notice - being given that the King was come down to supper, Lady - Walsingham took me alone into the Duchess's ante-room, where we - found alone the King and her. I knelt down and kissed his hand. - He said a few words to me, and my conductress led me back to my - mother. The person of the King is as perfect in my memory as if - I saw him but yesterday. It was that of an elderly man, rather - pale, and exactly like his pictures and coins, not tall, of an - aspect rather good than august, with a dark tie-wig, a plain - coat, waistcoat, and breeches, of snuff-coloured cloth, with - stockings of the same colour, and a blue ribband over all. So - entirely was he my object that I do not believe I once looked - at the Duchess; but as I could not avoid seeing her on entering - the room, I remember that just beyond his Majesty stood a very - tall, lean, ill-favoured old lady." - -This lady, the Duchess of Kendal, a German, was the king's lean -mistress. The fat one, another German, whom he made Countess of -Darlington, was "as corpulent and ample as the duchess was long and -emaciated." Walpole, who gives this account of her, adds, that he -remembered being "terrified" in his infancy at her enormous figure. -She had "two fierce black eyes, large and rolling between two lofty -arched eyebrows, two acres of cheeks spread with crimson, an ocean of -neck," &c., "and no part restrained by stays." "It was not," says -Horace, "till the last year or two of his reign, that this foreign -sovereign paid the nation the compliment of taking openly an English -mistress." This was Miss Brett, daughter of Savage's reputed mother -the Countess of Macclesfield, by her second husband, Colonel Brett, -whom we have seen, in our accounts of the Streets of London, keeping -company with Addison. Miss Brett was a very lively and aspiring -damsel. During the visit to Hanover just mentioned, she took it upon -herself to break out a door from her apartments in St. James's Palace -into the Royal garden. The eldest of the king's grand-daughters, also -a very spirited person, ordered it to be closed up again. Miss Brett, -more spirited, again broke it open, and we hear of the matter no -further. But the king died on his journey, and the new mistress's -empire was over. - -The new King, George the Second, while Prince of Wales, had quarrelled -with his father, and had been ordered to quit St. James's with all his -household. Though a great formalist, he was also a great, and indeed -somewhat alarming, pretender to gallantry, being of opinion, according -to Lady Wortley Montagu, that men and women were created solely to be -"kicked or kissed" by him at his pleasure. It is of him that stories -were told of the King's cuffing his ministers, and kicking his hat -about the room; and he is understood to be the King Arthur of -Fielding's Tom Thumb. He had a wife, however, of some real pretensions -to liveliness of mind, afterwards Queen Caroline, the friend of men of -letters, and a very excellent wife too, for she was charitable to her -husband's irregularities, and is said to have even shortened her life -by putting her rheumatic legs into cold water in order to be able to -accompany him in his walks. Here, in St. James's Palace, as well as at -Kensington, she held her literary and philosophico-religious levees -(being fond of a little theological inquiry); and here also she had -brought together the handsomest and liveliest set of ladies in waiting -ever seen on these sober-looking premises before or since. For, though -Lady Winchelsea, the poetess, was among those of James the Second, the -ladies about that sombre personage and his Queen seem, for the most -part, to have been both dull and ugly. His first Queen, Anne Hyde, had -been a maid of honour herself, and did not encourage the sisterhood; -and his second Queen, the young and handsome Mary of Modena, who had -heard of the doings at Whitehall when her husband was Duke of York, -condescended to be jealous of him, in spite of their difference of -years; James being comparatively an old gentleman, while she was not -out of her teens. Indeed, he gave cause for the jealousy, and added no -hopes of amendment; for being a Papist as well as a solemn gallant, he -divided his time between the ugly mistresses he was fond of, and the -priests who absolved him from the offence; an absolution that was -superfluous, according to his brother Charles; the "merry monarch" -having been of opinion that the mistresses themselves were penance -enough. - -George the Second's German mistress was a Baroness de Walmoden. On the -death of Queen Caroline, he brought her over from Germany, and created -her Countess of Yarmouth. She had two sons, the younger of whom was -supposed to be the King's; and a ludicrous anecdote connected with the -supposition and with the abode before us, is related of the famous -Lord Chesterfield. On the countess's settlement in her state -apartments, his lordship found one day in the palace ante-chamber a -fair young gentleman, whom he took for the son in question. He was -accordingly very profuse in his compliments. The shrewd lad received -them all with a grave face, and then delightfully remarked, "I suppose -your lordship takes me for 'Master Louis;' but I am only Sir William -Russell, one of the pages." Chesterfield piqued himself on his -discernment, particularly in matters of intercourse; and it is -pleasant to catch the heartless man of "the graces" at a disadvantage -that must have extremely mortified him. - -There is another St. James's anecdote of Chesterfield, which shows him -in no very dignified light. Mrs. Howard, afterwards Countess of -Suffolk, a very amiable woman, supposed to have been one of the -mistresses of George the Second, was thought to have more influence -with his Majesty than she possessed. Sir Robert Walpole told his son -Horace that Queen Caroline saw Lord Chesterfield one night, after -having won a large sum of money at court, steal along a dark passage -under her window that was lighted only by a single lamp, in order to -deposit it in Mrs. Howard's apartment, for fear of carrying it home in -the dark. Sir Robert (his son adds) thought that this was the occasion -of Chesterfield's losing his credit with the Queen; but the conclusion -has shown it to be unfounded. Chesterfield, however, though really a -very sharp-sighted man, was rendered liable by his bad principles to a -failure in what he thought his acutest views; and Caroline's better -nature may have seen through his lordship's character without the -help of the lamp and the dark passage. - -The Queen's ladies above alluded to were the famous bevy of the -Howards, Lepells, and Bellendens, celebrated in the pages of Swift and -Pope. They have become well known to the public by the appearance of -the _Suffolk Correspondence_, and _Lady Hervey's Letters_. George the -Second, when Prince of Wales, and living in this palace with his -father, had probably made love to them all, fluttering more than -flattering them, between his attentions as a prince and his unengaging -qualities as a brusque and parsimonious man. Miss Bellenden, who -became Duchess of Argyle, is said to have observed one day to him as -he was counting his money in her presence (probably with an intimation -of his peculiar sense of the worth of it), "Sir, I cannot bear it. If -you count your money any more, I will go out of the room." Another -version of the story says that she tilted the guineas over, and then -ran out of the room while the Prince was picking them up. This is -likely, for she had great animal spirits. When the Prince quarrelled -with his father, and he and his household were ordered to quit St. -James's, Miss Bellenden is described, in a ballad written on the -occasion, as taking her way from the premises by jumping gaily -down-stairs. - -The occasion of this rupture between George the First and his son was -curious. Palaces are very calm-looking things outside; but within, -except in very wise and happy, or very dull reigns, are pampered -passions, and too often violent scenes. George the First and his son, -like most sovereigns and heirs apparent, were not on good terms. The -Princess of Wales had been delivered of a second son, which was to be -christened; and the Prince wished his uncle the Duke of York to stand -godfather with his Majesty. His Majesty, on the other hand, -peremptorily insisted on dividing the pious office with the officious -Duke of Newcastle. The christening accordingly took place in the -Princess's bed-chamber; and no sooner had the bishop shut the book -than the Prince, furiously crossing the foot of the bed, and heedless -of the King's presence, "held up his hand and forefinger to the Duke -in a menacing attitude (as Lady Suffolk described the scene to -Walpole) and said, 'You are a rascal, but I shall find you' (meaning -in his broken English, 'I shall find a time to be revenged')." The -next morning Lady Suffolk (then Mrs. Howard), while about to enter the -Princess's apartment, was surprised to find her way barred by the -yeomen with their halberds; and the same night the Prince and Princess -were ordered to quit so unexpectedly, that they were obliged to go to -the house of their chamberlain, the Earl of Grantham, in Albemarle -Street. The father and son were afterwards reconciled, but they never -heartily agreed. - -Nor was the case better between George the Second and the new Prince -of Wales, his son Frederick. If George the First was a common-place -man of the quiet order, and George the Second of the bustling, -Frederick was of an effeminate sort, pretending to taste and -gallantry, and possessed of neither. He affected to patronise -literature in order to court popularity, and because his father and -grandfather had neglected it; but he took no real interest in the -literati, and would meanly stop their pensions when he got out of -humour. He passed his time in intriguing against his father, and -hastening the ruin of a feeble constitution by sorry amours. - -Not long after the marriage of George the Third, Buckingham House was -settled on his young Queen in the event of her surviving him; and the -King took such a liking to it as to convert St. James's Palace wholly -into a resort for state occasions, and confine his town residence to -the new abode. Buckingham House was so called from John Sheffield, -Duke of Buckinghamshire, who built it. It was a dull though ornamented -brick edifice, not unworthily representing the mediocre ability and -stately assumptions of the owner, who was a small poet and a -fastidious grandee, nearly as mad with pride as his duchess. This lady -was a natural daughter of James the Second (if indeed she was even -that, for a Colonel Godfrey laid claim to the paternity), and she -carried herself so loftily in consequence, as to wish to be treated -seriously as a princess, receiving visitors under a canopy, and going -to the theatre in ermine. She and the Duchess of Marlborough, who had -a rival palace next door to St. James's, used to sit swelling at one -another with neighbourly spite. Sheffield, her husband, is said to -have first made love to her sister Anne (afterwards Queen), for which -her uncle, Charles the Second, has been accused of sending him on an -expedition to Tangier in a "leaky vessel." The duke wrote a long -complacent description of Buckingham House, that has often been -reprinted, recording, among other things, the classical inscriptions -which he put upon it and the princely chambers which it contained for -the convenience of the births of his illustrious house. The births -came to nothing in consequence of the death of his only legitimate -child; a natural son inherited the property, and Government bought it -for Queen Charlotte. Henceforward it divided its old appellation of -Buckingham House with that of the "Queen's House;" almost all the -Queen's children were born there; and there, as at Kew and Windsor, -she may be said to have secreted her husband as much as she could from -the world, partly out of judicious consideration for his infirmities, -and partly in accordance with the pride as well as penuriousness that -were at the bottom of manners not ungentle, and a shrewd though narrow -understanding. The spirit of this kind of life was very soon announced -to the fashionable world after her marriage by the non-appearance of -certain festivities; and it continued as long as her husband lived, -and as far as her own expenditure was concerned; though when her son -came to the throne she astonished the public by showing her -willingness to partake of festivities in an establishment not her own. -A deplorable exhibition of her tyrannous and unfeeling habits of -exaction of the attentions of those about her is to be found in the -_Diary of Madame d'Arblay_ (Miss Burney), whom they nearly threw into -a consumption. It is clear that they would have done so, had not the -poor waiting-gentlewoman mustered up courage enough to dare to save -her life by persisting in her request to be set free. Queen Charlotte -was a plain, penurious, soft-spoken, decorous, bigoted, shrewd, -over-weening personage, "content" through a long life "to dwell on -decencies for ever," inexorable "upon principle" to frailty, but not -incapable of being bribed out of it by German prepossessions, and -whatever else might assist to effect the miracle, as was seen in the -instance of Mrs. Hastings, who had been Warren Hastings's mistress, -and who was, nevertheless received at court. Pleasant as her Majesty -might have been to Miss Burney, who seems to have loved to be -"persecuted," she was assuredly no charmer in the eyes of the British -nation; nor was she in the slightest degree lamented when she died. -Nevertheless she was a very good wife, for such we really believe her -to have been; we mean not merely faithful, (for who would have tempted -her?) but truly considerate, and anxious, and kind; and besides this -she had another merit, not indeed of the same voluntary description, -but one for which the nation is strongly indebted to her, though we -are not aware that it has ever been mentioned. We mean that her cool -and calculating brain turned out to be a most happy match for the -warmer one of her husband, in ultimate as well as immediate respects; -for it brought reason back into the blood of his race, and drew a -remarkable line in consequence between him and his children; none of -whom, however deficient in abilities, partook of their father's -unreasonableness, while some went remarkably counter to his want of -orderliness and self-government. The happy engraftment of the Cobourg -family on the stock, completed this security in its most important -quarter; and if ever a shade of more than ordinary sorrow for the -necessity should have been brought across the memory in that quarter -by a ridiculous pen, the sense of the security ought to fling it to -the winds, with all the joy and comfort befitting the noblest brow and -the wisest reign that have yet adorned the annals of its house. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[349] Harris, vol. i., p. 79. - -[350] See the Poem of "Gotham" in Churchill's works. - - - PRINTED BY - SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE - LONDON - - - - -SMITH, ELDER, & CO.'S POPULAR LIBRARY. - -_Fcp. 8vo. Limp Cloth._ - - -By the Sisters BRONTE. - -_2s. 6d. each_. - -JANE EYRE. By Charlotte Bronte. - -SHIRLEY. By Charlotte Bronte. - -VILLETTE. By Charlotte Bronte. - -THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL. By Anne Bronte. - -WUTHERING HEIGHTS. By Emily Bronte. AGNES GREY. By Anne Bronte. 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