"Over the Prince near the sweep of the circle was the figure of Fame, holding a trumpet in her right-hand, with which she celebrates the glorious actions of heroes; now flying abroad with this joyful motto:
"On the right-hand of Fame was represented Diana, the goddess of chastity and sister of Apollo, with a crescent on her forehead and lance in her hand; her dress, though careless, yet decent, and behaviour modest and unaffected.
"On the other side of Fame, is seen the figure of Divine Justice, a winged woman with a crown on her head, her hair dishevelled, a sword in the right-hand, and a shield in her left, from which shines the piercing eye of Justice; she flying thus to the assistance of Hercules, the emblem of heroic Virtue, who is chasing away faction, envy, malice, and tyranny, in the defence of Britannia, who is seated leaning upon the British arms, holding those of Nassau in her right hand.
"On the fore-ground, on the left-hand of the circle, stood Peace, a young woman winged, crowned with olive and ears of corn; having seated by her on the ground, Plenty crowned with a garland, holding a cornucopiæ in her right hand, denoting the affluence of all things necessary for human life.
"Lastly, on the left-hand and on the foremost ground were Thame and Isis, whose united streams, as they flow with a long and easy course
2000 lamps were used for the above transparencies: the monument was singularly ornamented with lamps suspended on the urn and flame, and the Duke of Newcastle caused a large bonfire to be lighted before his door in Lincoln's-inn-fields, where he regaled the populace with strong-beer.
The humane Act for the transportation of felons had saved 6000 lives in the Metropolis alone, from the date of its commencement till 1734.
The Beau of 1734 "was like the cinnamon-tree; his bark is worth more than his body. A creature of the doubtful gender, masculine in habit, and feminine in manners; one who has so little manners, that he himself doth not regard it half so much as his body. All his reading has been the academy of compliments; and his heels have profited as much by it as his head. The cut of his clothes he learnt at Paris, the tone of his voice in Italy, and his affectation every where. In his dressing he shews his industry; for he spends four hours a day constantly in it without being fatigued or out of patience. His genius appears in the variety of his suits, and his generosity in his taylor's bills; his delicacy in not so much as bearing a breath of wind to blow on him, and his innocency in being seen with ladies at all hours, and never once suspected of doing an uncivil thing. When he is dressed, the business of the day is over; when he is undressed, he grows invisible, for his clothes are all that is seen of him; when he dies, they are his only valuable remains, and hung up as trophies in Monmouth-street."
The customs and manners of a part of the community of 1735 are satirically detailed in a "Covent-garden Eclogue:"
The St. James's Evening Post of August 21, 1735, contains the following paragraph: "Yesterday the antient company of Archers of this City met at the Pied Horse, at the Artillery-ground, where a grand entertainment was provided for them, after which they performed their exercise with bows and arrows. This company is of several hundred years standing, and used formerly to muster at this time of the year in the Artillery-ground, as our Trained Bands do now. Some time after the invention of fire-arms the City voted them useless; but they have ever since kept up the company and their annual meeting, having a Marshal handsomely equipped in a green livery with a large silver badge."
Michaelmas or Mile-end fair was presented as a nuisance by the Grand Jury of Middlesex in 1735, which had been extended to seven days continuance beyond the original grant.
Another Royal marriage was celebrated in 1736, which is so amply described by Read in his Weekly Journal of May 1, that I cannot do better than give it in his own words:
"Monday between one and two in the afternoon his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales set out from St. James's, and crossing the water at Whitehall, went on horseback to Greenwich, where he dined with the Princess, and returned in the evening to St. James's in his barge.
"The crowd of people at Greenwich was the greatest that had ever been seen; it is thought there was not less than 10,000 persons at one time in the Park: and her Highness had the goodness to shew herself for upwards of half an hour from the gallery of the Palace, which drew the loudest acclamations.
"On Tuesday the King's leading coach, followed by his Majesty's body coach, drawn by his cream-coloured horses, brought her Highness and her retinue to Lambeth, where the King's barge waited, and carried her over to Whitehall, and from thence in the King's own chair through the Park to St. James's house, where the Court was in the Drawing-rooms, and appeared in their new clothes to receive her with all imaginable splendor.
"When her Royal Highness the Princess came to St. James's, she was dressed in a suit of rich silk; deep ground, trimmed with gold; and embroidered with green, scarlet, and purple flowers: in which manner her Highness was so condescending, that she shewed herself in several of the windows of the Prince of Wales's apartments, to gratify the curiosity of the people, who expressed their joy and satisfaction with the loudest acclamations.
"About four o'clock her Highness dined with the Prince of Wales and the Princess Amelia and Caroline, in his Royal Highness's apartment.
"Between six and seven o'clock her Highness, dressed in her wedding-clothes, which were of silver tissue, and all over white, with her hair curled and stuck with jewels, after the German fashion, was presented to her Majesty, who presented her to the Prince; whose clothes were of silver tissue, with white shoes and stockings.
"In the evening the ceremony of the marriage was performed; and the procession from the King's apartments down the great stairs, under the Piazza, to the Chapel Royal, was as follows: Four drums, drum-major, eight trumpets, four and four. Kettle-drum. Serjeant-trumpeter in his collar of SS. bearing his mace. The master of the ceremonies, with the Right Honourable the Lord Carnarvon, Gentleman Usher, between the two senior heralds. The Prince of Wales in his nuptial apparel, invested with the collar of the garter, conducted by the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain, and supported by two Lords Bachelors. The officers attendant upon the Prince followed by pairs.
"Upon the entry into the Chapel, the Master of the Ceremonies, with the Gentleman Usher, went to the seats assigned them; and the Bridegroom was brought to the stool placed for his Highness, fronting his Majesty's Throne.
"The Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain returned to conduct the Bride; and the two Heralds returned with them to perform other functions, as did the Drums and Trumpets.
Procession of the Bride.
"Gentleman Usher to the Bride, between two Provincial Kings at Arms. The Bride, in her nuptial habit, with a coronet, conducted by the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain, and supported by the Duke of Cumberland; her train borne by ten young ladies.
"Upon the entry, the Bride was conducted to her stool, below her Majesty's Chair of State, opposite to the Prince; the Duke sat on a stool near the Altar; and the ladies who bore the train stood near the Bride, to perform their duties while the Marriage was solemnizing.
"The Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain returned, with the Provincial Kings, to wait upon his Majesty.
His Majesty proceeded in this manner.
"Knight Marshal. Pursuivants. Heralds. Sir Robert Walpole, Knight of the Garter, with his collar. The Comptroller of the Household. The Bishop of London, &c. Two Provincial Kings at Arms. Lord Privy Seal. Lord Chancellor. Garter Principal King at Arms, between two Gentlemen Ushers. The Earl Marshal with his gold staff. The Sword of State carried by the Duke of Portland. His Majesty in the Great Collar of the Garter. The Lord of the Bed-chamber in waiting.
"Her Majesty, preceded by Mr. Coke, Vice Chamberlain, and supported by the Earl of Grantham, her Lord Chamberlain, and the Earl of Pomfret, her Master of the Horse.
"The Princesses Amelia, Carolina, Mary, and Louisa, supported severally by two Gentlemen Ushers.
"The Ladies of her Majesty's Bed-chamber, Maids of Honour, and Women of the Bed-chamber.
"Upon the entry into the Chapel, none of the persons in this procession remained upon the Hautpas, except the Lord of the Bed-chamber in waiting behind the King, the Lord who bore the Sword, who continued holding it erect upon his Majesty's right-hand, and the Lord Chamberlain, who stood upon the left-hand of his Majesty, having the Vice Chamberlain next to him.
"His Majesty was seated in his Chair of State in the upper angle of the Hautpas, on the right side.
"Her Majesty was seated in her Chair of State, on the other side of the Hautpas.
"And the four Princesses on stools placed next the Duke at the side of the Altar.
"Her Majesty's Lord Chamberlain, Master of the Horse, and Vice Chamberlain, stood upon the Hautpas behind her.
"The Ladies of the Bed-chamber, &c. went to the places assigned them.
"During all this time the organ played; but, as soon as the persons were thus seated, the organ ceased, and Divine Service began.
"After the Bishop of London and Dean of the Chapel had given the Blessing, their Majesties removed to the Throne, erected on the right-hand of the Altar of crimson velvet, richly laced with gold.
"Then the Prince of Wales, leading the Princess of Wales, went up to the Altar, and kneeled there.
"When the Dean had finished the Divine Service, the married pair rose, and retired back to their stools upon the Hautpas; where they remained while an Anthem composed by Mr. Handel was sung by his Majesty's band of musick, which was placed in a gallery over the Communion-table.
The Return was in the manner following.
"The drums, &c. as before.
"The Prince of Wales, supported by two married Dukes, &c.
"The Princess, supported as before.
"Then their Majesties and the Princesses, in the same manner as they went to the Chapel.
"As soon as the Procession came back to the door of the latter Drawing-room, the company stopped; but their Majesties, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and the Princesses, went in, when the Prince and Princess received their Majesties' blessing.
"About half an hour after ten the Royal Family supped in public, in the Great State Ballroom. Their Majesties were placed at the upper end of the table under a canopy: on the right-hand the Prince of Wales and the Duke; and on the left the Princess of Wales, and the Princesses Amelia, &c.
"The first course consisted of fifteen dishes cold and fifteen hot, the second of thirty dishes hot; and then came the dessert, which formed a fine garden rising to a terrace, the ascent to which was adorned with the resemblance of fountains, grottoes, groves, flowers, &c. In the middle was the Temple of Hymen, the dome of which was supported on transparent columns three foot high. As the meats were the most exquisite and rare that could be procured, so the dessert contained a profusion of the finest fruits, amongst which were cherries in great perfection, apricots, pine-apples, &c. At the end of the first course, their Majesties drank to the Bride and Bridegroom; and soon after, the Prince and Princesses rising up, drank the healths of their Majesties, during which the Duke and Princesses stood likewise. When the Royal Family rose from table, the sweetmeats were distributed amongst the Quality.
"Their Majesties retired to the apartments of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; the Bride was conducted to her bed-chamber, and the Bridegroom to his dressing-room, where the Duke undressed him, and his Majesty did his Royal Highness the honour to put on his shirt. The Bride was undressed by the Princesses; and being in bed in a rich undress, his Majesty came into the room, and the Prince following soon after in a night-gown of silver stuff, and cap of the finest lace, the Quality were admitted to see the Bride and Bridegroom sitting up in the bed, surrounded by all the Royal Family.
"His Majesty was dressed in a gold brocade turned up with silk, embroidered with large flowers in silver and colours, as was the waistcoat; the buttons and star were diamonds. Her Majesty was in a plain yellow silk, robed and laced with pearl diamonds, and other jewels of immense value.
"The Dukes of Grafton, Newcastle, and St. Alban's, the Earl of Albemarle, Lord Hervey, Colonel Pelham, and many other noblemen, were in gold brocades of 3 to 500l. a suit. The Duke of Marlborough was in a white velvet and gold brocade, upon which was an exceeding rich Point d'Espagne; the Earl of Euston, and many others, were in cloths flowered or sprigged with gold; the Duke of Montague in a gold brocaded tissue. The waistcoats were universally brocades, with large flowers. It is assured that most of the rich cloths were the manufacture of England; and it must be acknowledged, in honour of our own Artists, that the few which were French did not come up to these in richness, goodness, or fancy, as may be seen by the Royal Family, which are all of the British Manufacture.
"The ladies were principally in brocades of gold and silver, with large flowers, and wore their sleeves much lower than had been done for some time.
"Some worthy Citizens, on this further strengthening the Protestant Succession, a truly joyful occasion, finely illuminated the Monument (as was indeed the whole City), to shew their regard to his Majesty, and his most illustrious Family, the great protectors of it.
"At the Drawing-room on Wednesday morning his Royal Highness saluted all the ladies, and afterwards the Princess Amelia presented them to her Royal Highness, to kiss her hand; when the Honourable Colonel Townshend informed her Royal Highness of the names of every particular lady as they came up.
"His Royal Highness presented all his chief officers and servants himself to his Royal Consort; and they had severally the honour of kissing her Royal Highness's hand.
"Wednesday at noon there was the greatest appearance of the Nobility, Quality, and Gentry at Court, that has been known in the memory of man, to congratulate their Royal Highnesses on their nuptials.
"The ladies were variously dressed, though with all the richness and grandeur imaginable; many of them had their heads dressed English of fine Brussels lace, of exceeding rich patterns, made up on narrow wires, and small round rolls, and the hair pinned to large puff caps, and but a few without powder; some few had their hair curled down on the sides: pink and silver, white and gold, were the general knots wore. There were a vast number in Dutch heads, their hair curled down in short curls on the sides and behind; and some had their hair in large ringlets behind, all very much powdered, with ribbands frilled on their heads variously disposed, and some had diamonds set on ribbands on their heads; laced tippets were pretty general, and some had ribbands between the frills; treble-laced ruffles were universally worn, though abundance had them not tacked up. Their gowns were either gold stuffs, or rich silks, with gold or silver flowers, or pink or white silks, with either gold or silver nets, or trimmings; the sleeves to the gowns were middling (not so short as formerly) and wide, and their facings and robings broad; several had flounced sleeves and petticoats, and gold or silver fringe set on the flounces; some had stomachers of the same sort of the gown, others had large bunches of made flowers at their breasts; the gowns were variously pinned, but in general flat, the hoops French, and the petticoats of a moderate length, and a little sloped behind. The ladies were exceeding brilliant likewise in jewels, some had them in their necklaces and ear-rings, others with diamond solitaires to pearl necklaces of three or four rows; some had necklaces of diamonds and pearls intermixed, but made up very broad; several had their gown-sleeves buttoned with diamonds, others had diamond sprigs in their hair, &c. The ladies' shoes were exceeding rich, being either pink, white, or green silk, with gold or silver lace and braid all over, with low heels, and low hind-quarters, and low flaps, and abundance had large diamond shoe-buckles.
"The gentlemen's clothes were generally gold stuffs, flowered velvets, embroidered or trimmed with gold, or cloth trimmed, the colours various. Their waistcoats were also exceeding rich silks flowered with gold, of a large pattern, all open sleeves, and longer than formerly, and the cuff broader; the clothes were longer waisted than of late, and the plaits of the coat were made to stick out very much (in imitation of the ladies hoops) and long. The wigs were of various sorts; the tyes, higher foretops than formerly, and tied behind with a large flat tye; the bag-wigs, &c. as usual. White stockings were universally worn by the gentlemen as well as the ladies.
"Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales left 100 guineas to be distributed among Sir John Jennings's servants at Greenwich.
"The officers of the horse and foot-guards that mounted on Tuesday at St. James's wore Ramellie periwigs by his Majesty's order."
The now almost obsolete practice of giving strong-beer to the populace on public rejoicings always occasioned riots instead of merriment. This assertion is supported by the behaviour of the mob in August 1737, when the present Duchess of Brunswick was born. The Prince of Wales ordered four loads of faggots and a number of tar-barrels to be burnt before Carleton-house as a bonfire, to celebrate the event; and directed the Brewer to his household to place four barrels of beer near it, for the use of those who chose to partake of the beverage, which certain individuals had no sooner done, than they pronounced the liquor of an inferior quality: this declaration served as a signal for revolt, the beer was thrown into each other's faces, and the barrels into the fire, "to the great surprize of the spectators; it being perhaps the first instance of Sir John Barleycorn's being brought to the stake, and publicly burnt by the rabble in Great Britain."
The Prince had the good-nature to order a second bonfire on the succeeding night, and procured the same quantity of beer from another brewer, with which the populace were pleased to be satisfied. Such was the strange disposition of the collected mind of the lower classes; a mind compounded of insensibility of kindness, pride, and independence, that condescended to accept of an entertainment, and that had the ill-nature to condemn the provision even in the presence of their Prince, who must have been ignorant that the beer was bad—if it really was so.
An instance of blind folly arising from a better motive occurred very soon after, during the exercise of an antient custom practised by the mob at that period, though now discontinued.
Two loose women had seized upon an inebriated gentleman, and were conveying him to their lodgings at noon-day: the populace concluded he would at least be robbed, and determined to rescue him immediately; which they did, and severely ducked the women in the Chequers Inn yard. Thus far justice proceeded in its due channel; but an unfortunate journeyman cutler happened to exert himself rather too outrageously, and attracted notice: he was observed to hold the woman or women in a manner that might be supposed real efforts of anger, or as efforts intended to mask an intention to release them; the word was instantly given to duck him as their bully—the women were released, and escaped; the cutler was thrown into the horse-pond in defiance of his protestations of innocence; and when his wife endeavoured to rescue him, she underwent the same discipline.
Many of the follies committed in this wanton manner must doubtlessly have originated from the excessive use of beer and gin; to suppress which, every possible effort was then making; but such was the demand for the latter, that no less than 587 persons were convicted, and paid a penalty of 100l. each, between September 1736 and August 1737, for retailing it, besides 127 committed to Bridewell.
Practical jokes sometimes distinguished the manners of the Citizens of London: those were generally innocent, and generally very silly; but one of a contrary description marked the Autumn of the year just mentioned. A well-dressed man rode down the King's road from Fulham at a most furious rate, commanding each turnpike-gate to be thrown open, as he was a Messenger, conveying the news of the Queen's sudden death. The alarm instantly spread into every quarter of the City; the Trained-bands, who were on their parade, desisted from their exercise, furled their colours, and returned home with their arms reversed. The shop-keepers began to collect sables; when the jest was discovered, but not the author of it.
The following ballad gives a pleasant review of the customs, or, if you please, fashions of the Citizens, previous to 1737, in care of their health:
One of the strange and perverse customs practised by the Society of Quakers is, their determination to open their shops on those days held sacred by other classes of Religion. On the Fast-day of February 1757, the Lord Mayor sent the proper officers to close their windows per force, which they did to the number of 70: yet a person of this persuasion had the presumption to wait on the Chief Magistrate with an anonymous letter he had received, threatening to destroy his house if his windows were opened, at the same time soliciting him to go there and read the Riot Act; thus demanding protection from the vengeance he provoked, by insulting the piety of others, exclusive of the impiety of opposing respect and supplication, directed to the same Divinity he worships.
Curiosity may be said to have become so prevalent throughout all classes of the inhabitants of London, that it is actually a distinguishing trait in their general character; nor is it by any means a new one, an assertion that might be supported by many proofs. An essayist of 1757 says: "I have that opinion of the ladies and gentlemen of the present age, that if the French were in full march along the New-road, and they had no engagement of pleasure on their hands, they would go out to see a new army, as, indeed, there would be a variety in it; the clothes, standards, &c. being different; nor do I believe that any one person would put off their intended pleasure, even though they heard the enemy's drums beating."
PORTRAIT OF A BEAU, 1757.
TERMS—VACATIONS.
The reader who has waded through my Londinium will find that several thousands of our vast community are of that profession which might furnish matter for a very considerable number of pages—Lawyers; but what can I say of their manners or customs, without incurring a charge of fixing upon a single class, and of thus appearing particular in praising or censuring? In this dilemma I have very fortunately met with the "Long Vacation, by Jemmy Copywell, of Lincoln's-Inn;" which the writer and the editor of the London Chronicle, foreseeing the use I should make of it, have kindly preserved for the present purpose.
The conduct of both sexes, when mixed in what are generally termed parties, can only be known by the person who actually views it. How then am I (who had not received the breath of life in 1758) to draw a faithful picture of the manners of that period? There is but one way, quotation from contemporary moralists. The Craftsman says, "A Frenchman has no more idea of a party of pleasure without ladies, than an Englishman can entertain the least conception of enjoying himself until they retreat. From those opposite dispositions it arises, that the first introduces himself with a becoming unconcern into company, and master of that bienseance which distinguishes the gentleman, and performs all offices of life without the least embarrassment; whereas nothing is more common among us, than to find gentlemen of family and fortune, who know nothing of the fair sex but what they have collected from the most abandoned part of it, and can scarce reckon a virtuous family within the scope of their whole acquaintance. It is not unpleasant to observe one of this class, when chance or necessity has brought him in a room with ladies of reputation. An awkward restraint hangs about him, and he is almost afraid to speak, lest he should inadvertently bolt out something, which, though extremely suitable to the dialect of Covent-garden, would be grossly offensive to those females who had not received their rudiments of education in that seminary. The gloom that hangs over an English company while the ladies remain, and the reciprocal restraint that each sex seems to be upon the other, has been frequently a subject of ludicrous observation to foreigners; and, indeed, the fair-ones themselves, though natives, and to the manner born, frequently express astonishment, what mysteries the men can have to celebrate, so opposite to those of the bona dea, that no female must be present at the ceremony.
"At the same time that I condemn my countrymen for separating themselves from those who have the art of refining every joy this world affords; I am sorry to be obliged to observe, that the ladies themselves do in some measure contribute to this great evil. The scandalous practice so prevalent at present of giving up their whole thoughts as well as time to cards, has made the company of women, pardon the expression, extremely insipid to those who would willingly consider them as rational creatures, and do not depend upon superior skill in the game of whist for a subsistence. Is it to be imagined that a man, whose mind is the least raised above the vulgar, will devote that time which he may employ in conversing agreeably, either with the dead or the living, to those assemblies, where no ideas enter beyond the respective excellences of Garrick and Cibber; and the several possible cases so profoundly calculated by the incomparable Mr. Hoyle? Yet, from declining these places, I know many intimate friends who have acquired the odious character of women-haters; though at the same time they entertain the highest esteem for that amiable sex, and sincerely regret that the tyrant Fashion has put it out of their power to enjoy more of their company than a bare view of their persons, agitated by the various and uncertain revolutions of Fortune's wheel."
EDUCATION OF YOUTH.
Foreigners very justly conceive that a double advantage may be accomplished in teaching their languages to youth and adults, by introducing them into their families; the latter pronounce nothing but what is to be acquired, and the teacher obtains a handsome sum for lodgings and board. It may be supposed that this was a modern invention. Who is there that doth not recollect the Advertisements of Monsieur Du M——d; but Monsieur Switterda precedes him a whole century; and proves that the rage for acquiring French was in full vigour when our grandfathers were infants. "Mr. Switterda has lately given, in the Postman, a very kind and candid invitation to the nobility and gentry to learn of him to speak Latin, French, and High Dutch fluently, with as good grace as if it were natural to them, and no wise pednatick, according to Grammar rules, and to explain any author, as Erasmus, C. Nepos, &c.; but few noblemen and ladies of quality have taken notice of his proposals, which, if he had sent them in any Country beyond Sea, had been well accepted, to his great advantage. He intends to dispose of two Copper-plates, containing the grounds of the Latin tongue. Those who will study in Divinity, Law, or Physick, may but come twice a-week to him to learn Latin. He can be aspersed by none, but by slanderous and interested persons, who have need to lodge a competent dose of hellebore in themselves. Youth may board with him at his house in Arundel-street, next to the Temple passage, where you may have the grounds of the Latin tongue in three sheets of paper, or grammatical, and Latin and French historical cards, and a packet to learn Copiam Verborum and Syntaxim ornatam. He teacheth also in Drury-lane, within two doors of the Dog-tavern, at Mr. Peache's house, or at any place where ladies and gentlemen will appoint him, if it be worth his acceptance. Thursdays and Saturdays, from five till eight, he teacheth at the Cock and Bottle in the Strand, next to Salisbury-street. Invidiam solertia et virtute vincam." 1699.
Ladies boarding-schools were in high reputation at the same period, and had been so for many years before. Mrs. Bellpine, daughter to Mr. La Marre, a French Minister, who had kept one for thirty years, hired Mary-le-bon house, near the church, where she professed to teach every thing then taught in boarding-schools, together with musick, dancing, and singing.
Observers frequently attacked the general system of female education, and as frequently exposed the frivolous pursuits taught in the various schools near the Metropolis; even in the year 1759, two or three houses might be seen in almost every village, with the inscription, "Young Ladies boarded and educated," where every description of tradesmen sent their children to be instructed, not in the useful attainments necessary for humble life, but the arts of coquetry and self-consequence—in short, those of a young lady. The person who received the children had then the sounding title of Governess; and French and Dancing-masters prepared the girl for the hour when contempt for her parents' deficiencies was to be substituted for affection and respect. Instead of reading their native language with propriety and just emphasis, it was totally neglected, and in place of nervous sentences and flowing periods, the vulgarisms of low life were continued; while the lady repeated familiar words of the French language with a sound peculiar to Boarding-schools, and quite unintelligible to a native of France: the pleasing labours of the needle were thrown aside, and the young lady soon became an adept in imitating laces and spoiling the beauty of coloured silks.
Such were the follies of 1759; and they so nearly resemble those of 1807, that I really dread I shall be supposed to criticise the moderns, when I am in truth repeating the animadversions of an author probably long since deceased.
"Jan. 29, 1759.
"At a meeting of the Society for Reformation of Manners, especially with respect to the Lord's-day: Ordered, that the thanks of the Society be returned to the worthy person, unknown, for his kind present of ten guineas. They also hereby give notice to all grocers, chandlers, butchers, publicans, pastry-cooks, and others whom it may concern; that they are resolved to put the laws in execution against all such as shall continue to offend, by exercising their callings on the Lord's day, in such a manner as may most effectually suppress that great and growing evil, whether by indictments or otherwise, of which they are desired to take this friendly public warning."
The reader will observe, that it has long been customary for tradesmen of the above description to sell on Sundays; but it should be recollected that the lowest classes of the community are sometimes paid very late on Saturday evenings, and that they have it not always in their power to arrange their time, so as to procure every necessary for the only holiday they have. When such wants are supplied by the tradesman before the hour of Divine service, he must be a rigid moralist indeed who would prosecute the offender. If persons in opulent circumstances were in the practice of purchasing on Sundays, it could be attributed to no other cause than mere indolence in themselves and servants, and they would deserve punishment; but I cannot help thinking a grocer or chandler would find very little account from opening his shop for such, as I do not believe there are five in each parish throughout London. For the pastry-cooks and publicans I have no excuse.
There were people in the middle of the last Century who had so little regard for decency, that they even interrupted those solemn hours of silence which are devoted, in our Courts of Justice, to ascertaining the guilt or innocence of persons whose lives are in question. Would it be credited that when an evidence was speaking, a Jury and a Judge listening, spectators should be seen in deep discourse upon some irrelevant subject, others quarrelling about places, and young ladies actually sewing each other's clothes together amidst titters and suppressed laughter—yet such was the fact. Surely this practice cannot now prevail.
Illegal concerts were held in 1759, and the conductors of them collected innocent young men and apprentices, by declaring that the receipts were intended for charitable purposes. When assembled, notorious Procuresses made their appearance, attended by the Cyprians, their progeny; and the consequence to the manners of youth may be imagined. Sir John Fielding, acting under the authority of the following clause in a very salutary Act of Parliament, and supported by a party of guards, dispersed one of those riotous assemblies in April of the above year, and sent the ladies to Bridewell:
"Any house, room, garden, or other place, kept for public dancing, music, or other public entertainment of the like kind, in London and Westminster, or within 20 miles thereof, without a licence had for that purpose, shall be deemed a disorderly house or place; and that it shall be lawful for any person, authorised by warrant from a Justice, to enter such house, and seize every person found therein; and that every person keeping such house, &c. without such licence shall forfeit 100l. and be otherwise punishable as the Law directs in case of disorderly houses."
Since Sir John Fielding's time, the publick have frequently had occasion to applaud the vigilance of the Police in their attempts to prevent illegal assemblies, whether under the title of concerts or dances; and instances might be related when dancing-masters and groupes of their pretended scholars have visited the watch-house; but the most obstinate places of vicious amusement were the Dog and Duck, and the Apollo-gardens, in St. George's-fields; the latter of which is not only now suppressed, but the site has become a mere level, and the Dog and Duck served for several years as a public kitchen for charitable purposes, after the keeper had been expelled.
At the latter place there was a long room furnished with tables and benches, and at the upper-end an organ. The company who assembled in the evening, consisted of some of the finest women of the town of the middle rank, their bullies, and such young men as could, without reflection, condescend to supply the thirsty palates of the women with inflaming liquids: the conversation was—Reader, imagine what!
The Apollo-gardens might accidentally receive decent visitors, but I presume their stay to have been short. These places flourished much too long; infinite injury was done by them. But we have now the consolation to reflect, that Vice is compelled to hide her fascinating visage; and though it is impossible to dive into all her haunts, we do not find them blazoned with large characters in the public ways, where her votaries however contrive intimations which are passed unobserved by the virtuous, but understood by the vicious; and these Bagnio's, Seraglio's, or whatever else the reader pleases to term them, are in many instances large and handsome houses.
The lady who trades upon her own account can never be at a loss for a sign to indicate her profession, as long as her own sweet person is permitted to appear at a window, either in elegant disorder, or habited fit for a drawing-room. How shall I number these signs, or the streets where they most abound? The Reader would disbelieve the enumeration.
When some concurring circumstances have prevented the rapid letting of new houses in parts of the parish of St. Mary-le-bon, I believe it might be safely asserted, that builders have admitted persons into them who had a girl in almost every room as a distinct lodger; but they are generally dislodged as respectable inhabitants approach, and they return to their previous haunts in more obscure situations. Exeter-street was dreadfully infested with wretched women and thieves in 1759, and great difficulty occurred in driving them from it; that it has been accomplished, may serve as a hint for some modern unfortunate neighbourhoods.
There are but few of our Essayists who have not reprobated the distribution of vales to the domesticks of those to whom visits were paid. When the custom was in full vigour, the office of a footman became very lucrative, and the division of the profits arising from the contributions of a large company, was a matter of no small importance to the parti-coloured mendicants; who arranged themselves in their Master's hall in double ranks, prepared to affront those who infringed their rights, and were barely civil when they received sums which would have procured meals for fifty poor families. Card-money, or money deposited under the candlesticks for the servants where card-parties were held, deserved less reprehension, as it was in every one's power to avoid gaming; but when a man in moderate circumstances was insulted for not giving that which was necessary for his own existence, or was compelled to decline an invitation to his injury, we cannot but wonder that such a custom should have prevailed for a year, much less a Century or more. It was meanness in the master to suffer such an exaction, and folly to comply with it when himself a visitor. Some serious attempts were made about 1760 to abolish Vales, which has been at length gradually accomplished, though there are still unthinking people who give where it is not expected.
Cock-fighting, Cudgel-playing, and Boxing, were practised in some parts of the Metropolis in 1761; and most of the promoters of those elegant customs escaped punishment. Higginson, master of the Tennis-court and Little Theatre in James-street, near the Haymarket, less fortunate, was tried at the bar of the King's-bench, and convicted of encouraging this species of brutality; however, Mr. Higginson contrived either to set the verdict at defiance, or to evade future penalties, for subsequent newspapers contained long accounts of a battle between Meggs, a collier, and the celebrated Nailor, at the Tennis-court, where the seats let at 5s. and 10s. 6d. to an overflowing audience. The reader will forgive me, if I at once proceed to notice this hateful custom of Boxing in its present state; he need not be informed that it has been encouraged by persons of the highest rank, who have been and are now known to disgrace their situation in life, by witnessing the infliction of blows which sometimes produce death, and always disfigure the human form, for the avaricious purpose of betting on either party, to the injury at least of their fortunes.
The Magistracy, well aware of the wiles and power of their antagonists in the race between Justice and Depravity, made but few movements for a considerable length of time, by which means they gained to their support all well-disposed persons; in consequence, their exertions have been so far successful, that when matches are made for battles, cavalcades of Lords, Knights, Commoners, dustmen, and the rabble in general, may be observed in motion, destined for an arena—they know not where, as the spot fixed upon for the scene of combat is frequently occupied by a party of Officers of the Police previous to their arrival. Thus defeated, they have been known to traverse the roads and fields for miles, to enter some jurisdiction independent of their persecutors. Cock-fighting is yet permitted to be publicly advertised, though but seldom; and Cudgel-playing has lately exhibited some strong symptoms of revival.