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FOOTNOTES:

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CHAP. IV.
ANECDOTES OF ECCENTRICITY.

To particularise every species of Eccentricity which has distinguished this great community would be useless; but the whims of certain individuals of it ought to be noticed, in order that a just estimate may be formed of the grand whole. In the month of November 1700 an old gentleman was found lifeless on the floor of his apartment in Dartmouth-street by his landlady, who had been alarmed by hearing him fall. He died intestate, and worth 600l. per annum; but his manner of living was penurious to the most extravagant degree, allowing nature barely four-penny worth of boiled meat and broth per day. When he went from home he was under the necessity of hiring a boy for a penny to lead him across the Park, as he was near-sighted; but this was almost the only intercourse he had with mankind, except to receive his rents, which may be imagined from the state of his clothing as he lay dead: the body had seven shirts on it, each dreadfully soiled, and that next the skin actually decayed; and his other clothing was tied on with cords, that had even lacerated the flesh.

Eccentricity may exist in the brain of the most exalted character; the best intentions are often marked by it; therefore the reader must not suppose that censure is implied when good actions are classed under this head: he that deviates from the common path is eccentric; but, if his purposes are virtuous, the good man will forgive the deviation.

Some Professors of Religion are very apt to be eccentric in their conduct. Joseph Jacobs was the leader of a set of enthusiasts in 1702, who preached to his votaries at Turners-hall: he was originally a Linen-draper. "Observator" says, his congregation were "the remnant of the tribe of Ishmael; for their hand is against every body, and every body's hand against them. By their bristles (they suffered their hair to flourish luxuriantly) one would take them to be a herd of the Gaderines swine into which the Devil has newly entered, from whom at latter Lammas we shall have great cry and little wool. They are compounded of Philadelphians, Sweet-singers, Seekers, and Muggletonians. Their system of Divinity is a hodge-podge of Jacobs' putting together, and their philosophy is that of Jacob Behmen's. If their women do not backslide from the truth, it is their native virtue keeps them steadfast; for their Pastor by trade is authorised to examine their clouts. He that has the longest whiskers amongst them is by so much the better member; but Jacobs measures their profession by the Mustachio, and not by the ell and yard, as he used to do his linen. By their look you would take them to be of the Society of Bedlam; madmen we found them, and so we leave them."

This eccentric preacher died in June 1722. He retained the name of Whisker Jacobs to the day of his death. As he was singular in his life, so was he at his departure, having given orders that no mourning should be used at his interment in Bunhill-fields. Accordingly his executors gave the company white gloves and rings, but no scarfs or hatbands.

It would be extremely wrong not to include Dr. Sacheverell in the list. This gentleman contrived to turn his talents in eccentricity to some account, and was the cause of a wonderful acquisition of members to the class of oddities. I shall leave the Doctor's "birth, parentage, and education," to the biographers who have treated of the subject; and introduce him as a singular character, and a willing instrument in the hands of faction, and as one that contrived to confound the State, rouse the passions, and raise a mob wherever he chose to exhibit himself; nay, even to animate the Rev. Mr. Palmer, preacher at Whitehall, at the risk of suspension, to pray for him by name as a patient sufferer under the persecution of the House of Lords, who brought him to trial, Feb. 27, 1709-10, on charges of having maintained that the necessary means used to bring about the Revolution were odious and unjustifiable; that resistance to the Supreme Power was illegal under any pretence whatever; that it was the duty of superior pastors to thunder out their ecclesiastical anathema's against persons entitled to the benefit of the toleration, &c. &c.; which they decreed the Commons had substantiated, contents 69, non-contents 52. After this event he became the idol of the mob, and of several well-meaning but weak people. His vanity led him to make a kind of triumphal journey through the country, where he was generally received as a conqueror, and in some instances by Corporations and the Clergy with flags displayed, ringing of bells, and bonfires. However disgraceful such conduct, he furnished the industrious of many classes with the means of enriching themselves: the Printers and Publishers fattened on his Sermons and his Trial; the Engraver on his physiognomy; and even the Fan-maker sold his "Emblematical fans with the true effigies of the Rev. Dr. Henry Sacheverell done to the life, and several curious hieroglyphicks in honour of the Church of England finely painted and mounted on extraordinary genteel sticks." After this summary of the Doctor's exploits, who will deny his claim to eccentricity, or that he was a most unworthy son of the Church, a teacher of bigotry, not of peace? But he is forgotten; and but one small marble lozenge shews his present resting-place.

In 1711 Gustavus Parker entertained the publick with a specimen of his eccentricity, exhibited in a "Monthly Weather-paper," or baroscopical prognosticks of the description of Weather to happen a month after his publication. He even pronounced whether there would be warm or cold rain, or be clear, for the day and night, and from which point the wind would blow. Though Mr. Parker entered into a laboured explanation of the principles on which he founded his infallible judgment, they were confuted most completely by the observations of an individual, who placed the real state of the weather opposite the anticipated; from which I pronounce him no conjurer.

Politicks had arrived to a dreadful state of effervescence in 1713. Many authors exerted themselves to fan the flames, and but few endeavoured to extinguish them. One eccentric person ("which lived at the sign of the Queen's-arms and Corn-cutter in King-street, Westminster, where a blue sign-board is fixed to the other that shews what cures I perform, viz. the scurvy in the gums, or tooth-ache, likewise the piles and all casual sores, and fasteneth loose teeth, and causeth decayed gums to grow firm and well again") with more zeal than ability collected a farrago of scraps of religion and moral sayings, and connected them in a way peculiar to himself by fervent wishes and pious ejaculations; which he published twice a-week under the title of the "Balm of Gilead, or the Healer of Divisions, by Thomas Smith, Operator."—I consider this Thomas Smith a worthy predecessor of many an Itinerant Methodist.

The public-house is a hot-bed for vulgar eccentricity; and without doubt the following mad exploit of four men in January 1715-16 originated in one of them, which is thus described in the London Post of the 21st. They solemnly bound themselves to support each other in every difficulty and danger that might occur during an excursion up the Thames on the ice for four days, in which they determined to avoid every track made by man, and to explore a way for themselves. They set out provided with poles from the Old Swan near London-bridge; and two of them were seen to fall through air-holes opposite Somerset-house and Lambeth, but the others were never heard of.

I am rather at a loss under what title to place the ignorance and absurdity displayed in the ensuing paragraph, copied from the News Letter of Feb. 25, 1716; but, as superstition is closely allied to folly, and eccentricity is a species of folly, I believe this to be the proper one. "The Flying Horse, a noted victualling-house in Moor-fields, next to that of the late Astrologer Trotter, has been molested for several nights past in an unaccountable manner; abundance of stones, glass bottles, clay, &c. being thrown into the back side of the house, to the great amazement and terror of the family and guests. It is altogether unknown how it happened, though all the neighbouring houses were diligently searched, and men appointed in proper places to find the occasion."

The unknown author of the Advertisement which follows appears to have been nearly related to Thomas Smith the Corn-cutter, but far more enlightened. The motives that dictated it must be approved, however extraordinary such a production may appear in the Postman of July 31, 1716. "Whoever you are to whose hands this comes, let the truth it contains abide upon your mind, as what is intended for your greatest benefit. The method taken I know is uncommon; yet, if there is the least probability of success, though it be only with a few, the design will be justified, as intending the glory of God in your salvation. Remember then that you were once told in this manner, that being zealous for names and parties is what will stand you in no stead at death, except you have the life in you that shall never die. Are you a Christian? or, have you only the name from education, as it is the professed Religion of your Country? If you can say on your conscience you have endeavoured to lay aside prejudice wherein you might have reason to suspect yourself of it, and, apprehending your lost condition without a Saviour as revealed in the Gospel, you have devoted yourself to God in him, and therefore hope you are a true Christian, it is well—give God the praise; but, if in your conscience you must say you have no more than the name, stay Man, Woman, whoever you be, consider, think before this go out of your mind or hand how you shall escape, if you neglect so great salvation."

The nobility and young men of fashion of most countries are rather eccentric in their amusements; and surely this observation may safely be applied to those of England in 1717, when a set of escape graces subscribed for a piece of plate, which was run for in Tyburn-road by six Asses rode by Chimney-sweepers; and two boys rode two Asses at Hampstead-heath for a wooden spoon attended by above 500 persons on horseback. Women running for Holland smocks was not uncommon; nay, a match was talked of for a race of women in hooped petticoats; and another actually took place in consequence of a wager of 1000l. between the Earl of Lichfield and Esquire Gage, that Gage's Chaise and pair would outrun the Earl's Chariot and four. The ground was from Tyburn to Hayes; and Gage lost through some accident. Vast sums were betted on all these eccentric operations.

In the month of February 1717-18, James Austin, inventor of the Persian Ink-powder, most extravagantly grateful to his customers, determined to do an act which renders him a fit subject for my groupe of oddities. He selected the Boar's-head in East-cheap for the reception of those persons, and provided for them a Pudding, to be boiled fourteen days, for which he allowed a chaldron of coals; and another baked, a cube of one foot; and nearly a whole Ox roasted. Such was the fare. The musick was commensurate with the vastness of the entertainment, at least in one particular; which was a drum, that had served as an alarm in some Turkish army, eighteen feet in length, and near four feet in diameter. Swift might have made good use of Austin in the travels of Lemuel Gulliver.

Mist's Journal notices the Austin feast a second time, and asserts that the copper for boiling the great pudding was then, April 19, erected at the Red-lion in Southwark Park, where crowds of people went to see it. Mist adds that the pudding would weigh 900lb.; and when boiled was to be conveyed to the Swan Tavern, Fish-street-hill, Monday, May 26, to the tune of "What lumps of pudding my mother gave me!"

Poor Austin boiled his pudding, and advertised that the company expected was so numerous, he should be under the necessity of carrying it to the Restoration-gardens in St. George's-fields, where he attempted to convey it, as appears from a second notice; but the rabble, attracted by the ridiculous cavalcade, broke through every restraint, and carried off banners, streamers, &c. &c. which he demanded should be restored by the 6th of June under pain of prosecution for robbery. He says nothing of the fate of his Pudding; I must therefore leave him, in order to pay attention to a fellow-labourer in the works of singularity—a poor Benedict, who declared in the Flying Post of July 8, 1718, "About two years ago I intermarried with the daughter of Ben Bound of Foster-lane, ironmonger, who agreed to give me 600l. Soon after he furnished me three rooms to the value of 50l., for which he pretended he gave 300l.; upon which I asked him for the remainder of the 600l.; but he answered, if I insisted upon any money, he would sue me for the goods. Whereupon I filed a bill in Chancery against him, and he owned in his answer he had given me the goods; but, being resolved to have them again at any rate, upon the 11th of June last he persuaded my wife to carry them away; and upon the 12th I was arrested in a sham action for 200l. at the suit of one Jeffery Sharpe (whom I never heard of before), and by 14 officers carried to prison; and in the mean time my house was ransacked; and, had it not been for an Attorney, I had not saved the value of one penny, most of my goods being carried away, and the rest packed up. And after they had kept my wife a fortnight, they were so barbarous to let her lie two nights upon chairs; so that she is returned to me again: and I hope if her father desist from giving her ill advice, and coveting the rest of my goods, she will still prove a good wife.

John Newall."

A woman who lived in great apparent poverty died in March 1718 within the parish of St. Dunstan in the East. Those who prepared her for burial are said to have found 8000l. concealed in her bed.

The malicious Miser deserves a niche in this temple of worthies. Such was Mr. Elderton, a farmer of Bow, who went by the name of the old Farmer of Newgate; where he was confined, and even died, because he had determined not to pay the assessments in common with his neighbours[406:A].

Another worthy was Mr. Dyche, whose singularity is thus mentioned in the Whitehall Evening-Post for August 1619: "Yesterday died Mr. Dyche, late School-master to the Charity Children of St. Andrew Holborn. He was a strict Nonjuror, and formerly amanuensis to the famous Sir Roger L'Estrange. It is said he wore a piece of the halter in which parson Paul was executed (in the rebellion of 1715, for carrying arms against the King) in his bosom; and some time before his death had made a solemn vow not to shift his linen till the Pretender was seated on the Throne of these Realms."

In the month of March 1720 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 Catholick 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.

When some decay in the draw-bridge on London-bridge had rendered it necessary to prevent the passage of persons and vehicles, in order to its repair in April 1722; the silence and desolate appearance of a place so much frequented at all other times attracted the attention of some wealthy tradesmen, who entered into the whimsical resolution to have a table set in the midst of the street, where they sat drinking for an afternoon, that they might be enabled to say at a future period, "however crowded the bridge is at present, I have drank punch on it for great part of a day."

An extraordinary method was adopted by a Brewer's servant in February 1723 to prevent his liability for the payment of the debts of a Mrs. Brittain whom he intended to marry. The lady made her appearance at the door of St. Clement Danes habited in her shift; hence her enamorato conveyed the modest fair to a neighbouring Apothecary's, where she was completely equipped with clothing purchased by him; and in these Mrs. Brittain changed her name at the church.

Eccentricity is generally a source of ridicule, but rarely one of profit. An instance of the latter is recorded in the London Journal: a Mr. Morrisco, an eminent Weaver, and a man of vast possessions, resident in Spital-fields, had a bill drawn on him from abroad of 80,000l. which was held by an Ambassador at our Court, and sent for acceptance. When the old gentleman made his appearance, the messenger was appalled at his figure, which exhibited penury personified; he therefore hurried back to the Ambassador, full of doubts and fears whether it could be possible such a man should be capable of raising even 800l. The representative of Sovereignty, terrified at the idea of his probable loss, resolved to satisfy himself by personal inspection; which he had no sooner done than Morrisco divined his thoughts, and to ease them, and turn his doubts to present profit, he offered to pay the bill immediately for a valuable consideration; the offer was gladly accepted, and Morrisco fairly pocketed 4000l. the produce of his shabby habiliments.

The name of Don Saltero, the odd collector and exhibitor of natural and artificial curiosities at Chelsea, made its first appearance in the newspapers June 22, 1723, whence the following whimsical account of himself and his rarities are extracted:

Don Saltero.

Chelsea Knackatory.

Several frolicsome gentlemen hired a hackney-coach in 1724, to which they affixed six horses; the coachman and postillion they habited as kennel-sweepers or scavengers; and they placed as many shoe-boys as could cling to the vehicle behind as footmen, with their stools on their heads and baskets of implements by their sides. Thus equipped they drove to the Ring in Hyde-park, and there entertained the company with this species of eccentricity.

There is a certain degree of whim in some of the wagers we find recorded in the newspapers, that, however absurd the bettors may appear, a smile is excited perforce.

In the above year two gentlemen, full of money and destitute of wit, had a dispute respecting the quantity that might be eaten at one meal. This ended in a bet of 5l. proposed by one of them, that himself and another would eat a bushel of tripe, and drink four bottles of wine, within an hour. The parties met at Islington, where the tripe was produced and the wine displayed; nothing remained but the introduction of the another; that another, gentle reader, proved a sharp-set Bear, who fully justified his friend's prognostick with the tripe diluted by three bottles of wine poured into it.

Applebee's Original Weekly Journal for November 19, 1726, has the following curious article, which fills another niche in our Pantheon of Eccentrics: "For the entertainment of our brother dumplineers, we shall inform them of a curiosity contrived for their accommodation at the Sun Tavern in St. Paul's Church-yard; which is the invention of Mr. Johnston, the master of the house; being a larder erected in the middle of his yard, which stands upon four pedestals, in a perfect round twelve feet in circumference, in the lower part whereof is three round shelves with cylindrical doors to open and shut; the same is covered with a curious slab of black and white marble three feet in diameter, and a direct circular figure, from whence the four pedestals are carried up, between each of which are two sliding sashes with convex glasses: the four pillars are adorned with curious iron-work and other ornaments, as well for beauty as use, and a shelf runs round the inside for containing proper provent for the stomach. In the midst hangs a crown of iron painted and gilt, and the top rises into a dome twelve feet in height, in the same manner as that of St. Paul's, which is leaded over with four round or port holes covered with wire for the conveniency of admitting the air and keeping out the flies. On the top of the dome is a globe, upon which sits Bacchus astride upon a tun, to signify his Godship is willing to lay a good foundation, that he may be the better able to contain his liquor; on his head is the Sun dispersing his rays; from the four sides are four sliding shelves which draw out for the accommodation of such dumplineers as desire to drink their wine at the fountain-head, or next the cellar door. The whole is neatly painted and gilt."

There is sometimes a degree of eccentricity blended with revenge; an instance of which occurred in 1727. The pastor of the parish of St. Andrew Undershaft had differed with a female of his flock to a very violent degree; in consequence, the lady renounced his spiritual governance while living, and solemnly declared her corpse should not receive the rites of burial from his lips when dead. This resolution was communicated by the executors to the undertaker, who provided a Clergyman to officiate at the funeral. As the Priest of the parish had notice of this strange proceeding, he determined to prevent the intruded Priest from performing the ceremony; but the latter, equally tenacious, insisted on his right, in compliance with the lady's will. A violent dispute succeeded, which terminated by both parties reading the burial service.

After this shameful scene of impiety, the Parish Priest retired to the Vestry-room, and enquired of the Clerk whether he had provided him a ticket for hat-bands and gloves, as usual. The Clerk replying in a surly manner that he had not, the Priest wreaked dire vengeance on his body by a thorough beating[414:A]. In short the offending Clerk by his

The St. James's Evening Post of January 1728 mentions a nameless oddity, who kept open house in his own way during the holidays at a Tavern near St. James's-market: "He treats all the company that comes, provided they appear fit for a gentleman to keep company with; pays his reckoning twice a day, and thinks no expence too great that their eating and drinking can put him to. He never quits his room, or changes his linen. The house has already received some hundreds of pounds from him, and is likely to receive many more, if his constitution can but do its duty. He proposes to hold it for three months; and it is said, this is not the first time he has done so."

Abraham Simmonds, a tobacconist, who retired to enjoy a handsome independence at Lewisham, died in 1728. His widow and executrix found, to her utter dismay, upon opening his will, that he had directed his body to be buried in his own orchard, wrapped in a blanket, without any of the usual religious ceremonies; and that his favourite dog after his natural decease should be deposited in the same grave. The lady seems to have been a sagacious wife, and a good hand at a quibble. She strictly complied with the eccentric wishes of Mr. Simmonds; but, as that gentleman neglected to say his body must remain in the Orchard, she had it conveyed into a handsome coffin, and thence to the church-yard, where the Parish Priest performed the burial rites.

Orator Henley, who is said to have restored the antient eloquence of the pulpit, was frequently mentioned in the Newspapers circa 1724 as appointed to preach Charity Sermons. He appears however in 1726 to have entered into the true spirit of eccentricity, and frequently advertised in the following style:

"On Sunday July 31 the Theological Lectures of the Oratory begin in the French Chapel in Newport-market, on the most curious subjects in Divinity. They will be after the manner and of the extent of the Academical Lectures. The first will be on the Liturgy of the Oratory, without derogating from any other, at half an hour after three in the afternoon. Service and Sermon in the morning will be at half an hour after ten. The subjects will be always new, and treated in the most natural manner. On Wednesday next, at five in the evening, will be an Academical Lecture on Education antient and modern. The chairs that were forced back last Sunday by the crowd, if they would be pleased to come a very little sooner, would find the passage easy. As the town is pleased to approve of this undertaking, and the institutor neither does nor will act nor say any thing in it that is contrary to the laws of God and his country; he depends on the protection of both, and despises malice and calumny." One of the writers of the Weekly Journal says, the fame of Henley led him to visit the Oratory, and adds, "About the usual hour of the Orator's entering the public scene of action, a trap-door gave way behind the pulpit, as if forced open by some invisible hand; and at one large leap the Orator jumped to the desk, where he at once fell to work. I eyed the person of the Orator thoroughly, and could point out in every lineament of his face the features and muscles of a Jew, with a strong tincture of the Turk. But, to come to his oration, which turned on the important subject of Education antient and modern—I had entertained hopes of meeting with something curious at least, if not just, on the great theme he had made choice of; though, instead of it, I heard nothing but a few common sentiments, phrases, and notions, beat into the audience with hands, arms, legs, and head, as if people's understandings were to be courted and knocked down with blows, and gesture and grimace were to plead and atone for all other deficiencies." The price of admission was one shilling.

Mr. Henley issued his notice of intended lectures in November 1728 in the ensuing strange manner: "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 relicks and panegyrick, 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 first to August last 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."

This eccentric gentleman, full of conceit and self-sufficiency, attracted the notice of the Grand Jury for the City and Liberty of Westminster January 9, 1725-9, who presented him thus:

"Whereas the Act, made in the first year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary, for exempting their Majesties' Protestant subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the penalties of certain laws, was wisely designed as an indulgence for the tender and scrupulous consciences of such Dissenters, and as a means to unite all the Protestant subjects in interest and affection: And whereas it is notorious, that John Henley, Clerk in Priest's orders according to the form of the Church of England, did about three years since hire a large room over the market-house in Newport-market within this City and Liberty of Westminster, and cause the said room to be registered in the court of the Archdeacon of Middlesex (pursuant to the said Act of Toleration) as a place for religious worship, to be performed therein by him the said John Henley, who pretended to dissent from the Church of England on account of Infant Baptism (although that has been the least of his exercises, nor are his audiences of that persuasion), and by his advertisements in the public newspapers invited all persons to come thither, and take seats for twelve-pence a-piece, promising them diversion under the titles of Voluntaries, Chimes of the Times, Roundelays, College-bobs, Madrigals, and Operas, &c.: And whereas it appears to us, by information upon oath, that the said John Henley, notwithstanding his professed dissention and separation from the Church of England, has usually appeared in the habit worn by Priests of the Church of England; and in that habit has for several months past upon one or more days in the week made use of the said room for purposes very different from those of religious worship; and that he has there discoursed on several subjects of burlesque and ridicule, and therein and in his comments upon the public newspapers, and in his weekly advertisements, has uttered several indecent, libertine, and obscene expressions, and made many base and malicious reflections upon the established Churches of England and Scotland, upon the Convocation, and almost all orders and degrees of men, and upon particular persons by name, and even those of the highest rank: And whereas it appears to us more particularly, by information upon oath, that he the said John Henley did, on the 12th day of December last, cause to be published in the Daily Post an advertisement, giving notice that on the evening of the next day he would pronounce King Lear's oration in an apology for madness, on which evening he did in the said room (called by him the Oratory) in the habit of a Clergyman of the Church of England repeat a speech out of the tragedy of King Lear, acting in such manner and with such gestures as are practised in the theatres; and that the said John Henley did, on the 17th day of the same month, cause to be published in the said Daily Post another advertisement, inviting such as went the following evening to the ball in the Haymarket to come first to his said room in their habits and masks for twelve-pence a-piece; and that according to such invitation several persons so dressed and masked did then and there appear, and were admitted upon paying the said moneys, for their seats:

"We the grand Jury for, &c. conceiving that this behaviour of the said John Henley is contrary to the intention of the said Act of Toleration, and tends to bring a disrepute upon the indulgence so charitably granted to truly scrupulous Dissenters, that it gives great offence to all serious Christians, is an outrage upon civil society, and of dangerous consequence to the State, and particularly that the said assemblies by him held as aforesaid are unlawful ones, his said room not being licensed for plays, interludes, or masquerades, do present the said John Henley, and his accomplices and assistants to us unknown, as guilty of unlawful assemblies, routs, and riots, &c. &c. &c."

Henley, actuated by the genuine spirit of perseverance and opposition, proceeded with his lectures. If any effect was observable from the presentment, it was that of threefold eccentricity and impropriety of subjects for his Orations. The bill of fare issued for Sunday September 28, 1729, contains a list of the fashions in dress of the time, and is therefore curious:

"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 man with God and good Spirits.

"II. At five: 1, The postill 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, peels, clocks, pantofles, buskins, pantaloons, garters, shoulder-knots, perriwigs, head-dresses, modesties, tuckers, farthingales, corkins, minikins, slammakins, ruffles, round-robbins, toilets, fans, patches; Dame, forsooth, Madam, My lady, the wit and beauty of my Grannum; Winifred, 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."

I believe the following curious advertisement to have been the production of the Lady Hamilton, widow of the Duke killed by Lord Mohun: "I Elizabeth duchess dowager of Hamilton acknowledge I have for several months been ill in my health, but was never speechless, as certain penny authors have printed; and so, to confute these said authors and their intelligence, it is thought by my most intimate friends, it is the very last thing that will happen to me. I am so good an Englishwoman that I would not have my countrymen imposed on by purchasing false authors; therefore, have ordered this to be printed, that they may know what papers to buy and believe, that are not to be bribed by those who may have private ends for false reports. The copy of this is left in the hands of Mr. Berington, to be shewn to any body who has a curiosity to see it signed by my own hand.

E. Hamilton[423:A]."

Another, published in September 1732, was inclosed by a deep border of black, and is strongly demonstrative of religious eccentricity, or, if you please, religious frenzy.

"Just published, Divine Inspiration; or a Collection of Manifestations to make known the Visitation of the Lord, and the Coming of his Kingdom in great power and glory, according to the Scripture promise, by the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, as Rev. xix. &c.

"Also, that the righteousness of God in his express sovereign power, wisdom, and love, may be known in the Divine word, the Sent of God to manifest and execute Divine will both in mercy and judgment, the two great witnesses, the messengers of God in this approaching day of the Lord upon us.

"Lastly, this is the earnest prayer of them that have known and tasted the power of the Divine word, and who, as a testimony of their knowing God, in his out-speaking word immediately revealing, and from universal love and charity wishing true knowledge may descend, and increase and multiply in and upon man of every order and every degree, and to be the voice and word of God, do here give and set their hands, believing he that now speaks will come, and that suddenly, according as hath been the voice of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter in the Anointed, saying, So come, O Lord."

This strange effusion is signed by twelve persons, four of whom were women.

"By the mouth of Hannah Wharton at Birmingham and Worcester."

Master Henley thus informed the publick in October 1732: "Before any person casts an imputation on me, in reference to the Oratory, wherein I know no fault but one, that it is a pattern of the truest principles of Religion, with the most various and assiduous endeavour to merit, in the capacity of a scholar and a clergyman, that is, or ever was in this island, or in the world; before I am reflected upon for this, I would desire every man who educates a son to orders, and him who is so educated, to consider this case, and to make it his own.

"I waited some years ago on a certain Prelate with a solicitation of a pulpit in town, signifying my resolution to cultivate and exert the talent of preaching which God had given me, in the most complete and public manner. His answer was, that I might be of use; but, before he could do for me, he must have a pledge of my attachment to the government. I was an entire stranger to politicks; but gave him that pledge.

"A pledge demanded, given, and accepted for a consideration, is a contract for that consideration; the hinge of my interest and fortune very much turned upon it. It was the year 1721-2, a tender crisis; and, doubtless, he made a job of it to the Government. When I applied for the consideration, he shifted off. Had he any possible exception to my intellectual or moral qualifications (though nothing can be more immoral, or sooner make the world Atheists than a perfidious prelate), he should, before he drew me in, have told me, that if he met with any such exception, he would not do what I solicited; and that he would take time to examine. This would have been fair. He assigned no exception at all during a whole year, till I had sacrificed my interest to him on his own demand; and it is easy to frame exceptions, if a person be inclined to break his word. My judgment is, he and his clergy even envied me in the pulpit, and were jealous of my advancement, timorous that at Court there might be a patron, or a patroness of learning, and apprehensive that I might outstrip them there. Was I on my death-bed, I would take the Sacrament, that I know the former part, and believe the latter part (without the least vanity for so poor a triumph as excelling them would be) of this advertisement to be a matter of fact.

J. Henley."

A Miss Jennings, or rather perhaps Mrs. Jennings, died in November 1736, who is said to have laid strong claims to eccentricity. This lady breathed her last at the Oxford-arms Inn, Warwick-lane; and was buried at Christ-church, Newgate-street; but the singularity of her conduct consisted in a predilection for Inns; she made them in short her constant residence, whether in the country or in London, where she had her steward, two female servants, a coachman and footman; and, though she sometimes remained several months stationary, her bills were regularly paid every night. At the same time her host was kept in utter ignorance of her name. Mrs. Jennings left a fortune of 80,000l. to five children, her first cousins; and appointed ——Jennings, Esq. of Northaw, her executor.

A Chair-woman, named Frances White, was interred at St. Margaret's, Westminster, in 1736; but the singularity of the circumstance is, that she should have been deposited before the Altar of the Church, which she thus accomplished: In the course of her pursuits she was observed to be remarkably assiduous and industrious, and often asked charitable assistance: this she frequently received, and so carefully preserved that her sister gained a bequest of 1150l. on the easy condition of procuring a grave for her body within the church, and affording it a handsome funeral. The above sum had been concealed in various hiding-places contrived in her chamber.

A writer in the Weekly Miscellany for August 7, 1736, pertinently observed, that "the attention of the good people of England is very frequently ingrossed by the bold pretensions of persons starting up from time to time in several sciences, but more particularly in those of Divinity and Physick; and with the more reason of hoping to succeed in their views, as the soul, in which the one is concerned, and the body, in which the other, are the two grand subjects which engage the human mind; and each of these pretenders respectively becomes in vogue for a certain period, and then generally dies away in a silence proportioned to the noise they once made. The Stroking Doctor in the reign of Charles II.; the French Prophets in the reign of Queen Anne; the Quicksilver lunacy lately; the itinerant preaching Quakeress since; and Mr. Ward's pill and drop, not yet quite gone off from its vogue—are signal instances of the truth of our observation. So it may be observed, that the Quicksilver fashion seems to have been beat out of doors by the pill and drop; and now the vogue of the pill and drop, which seem to owe their success to their violent operation in desperate cases, appears in a fair way of subsiding to a new object of the public attention, which really seems (beyond all that we have named) to deserve it, as it is attended with plain and unartificial fact, as it is neither violent or dangerous in the operation, and carries in every act the clearest demonstration along with it.—What we mean is the famous female Bone-setter of Epsom, who must be allowed as much to excel the others, as certainty does imagination, as simplicity does artifice, and as seeing and feeling do the other senses.

"This person, we are told, is daughter of one Wallin, a bone-setter of Hindon, Wilts, and sister of that Polly Peachem whom a gentleman of fortune married. Upon some family quarrel she left her father, and wandered up and down the country in a very miserable manner, calling herself Crazy Sally; and often, as it is presumed for grief, giving way to a practice that made her appear to have too good a title to the name. Arriving at last at Epsom, she has performed such wonderful cures, that we are told the people thereabout intend a subscription for 300l. a year to keep her among them."

Many of those cures are then described, which seem well attested, and are really surprising. "In fine, the concourse of people to Epsom on this occasion is incredible; and it is supposed she gets near 20 guineas a day, as she executes what she does in a very quick manner. She has strength enough to put in any mans shoulder without assistance; and this her strength makes the following story, which may be depended upon, the more credible.

"An impostor came to her, sent, as it is supposed, by some Surgeons, on purpose to try her skill, with his head bound up; and pretended that his wrist was put out; which, upon examination, she found to be false; but, to be even with him, she gave it a wrench, and really put it out, and bade him go to the fools who sent him, and get it sett again; or, if he would come to her that day month, she would do it herself."

This strange woman utterly ruined herself by giving way to that eccentricity, which too frequently in one way or other marks all our characters. The object of it was a Mr. Hill Mapp, on whom she fixed her affections, and to whom she was determined at all events to be married, though every effort was made by her friends to prevent the match. On the day appointed for the ceremony, Sir James Edwards, of Walton-upon-Thames, waited on her with the daughter of Mr. Glass, an Attorney, a poor afflicted child whose neck was dislocated and supported by steel instruments. Miss Wallin saw the girl, and said she could restore the parts, but would do nothing till she became Mrs. Mapp. A gentleman present, finding her resolute, lent her his chariot to convey her to Ewell, where she expected to obtain a conveyance to London with her intended husband, though in that expectation she was disappointed. "As she was going to Ewell, Mr. Walker, brazier, of Cheapside, met her, and returned with her to the Inn. He was carrying down his daughter to her, a girl about 12 years of age, whose case was as follows: the vertebræ, instead of descending regularly from the neck, deviated to the right scapula, whence it returned towards the left side, till it came within a little of the hip-bone, thence returning to the locus, it descended regularly upon the whole, forming a serpentine figure. Miss Wallin set her strait, made the back perfect, and raised the girl two inches. While this was doing, Sir James Edwards's chariot with two gentlemen in it, came to beg her to come back to Epsom, suspecting she might not return again; but all their persuasions availed nothing, and the best terms they could make with her were, that she should not go to London to be married, but have the chariot and go to Headley, about three miles from Epsom. As the coachman was driving her by Epsom, she was told that the Minister of Headley was suspended for marrying Mr. C. whereupon the coachman said he would carry her no further, unless it was to Epsom. She then alighted, and went into a cottage on the side of the town; presently after which, information being given that she was there, Mrs. Shaw and several other ladies of that place went to her on foot to importune her to return; but, to avoid any farther solicitation, she protested she would never come nigh the town, if they opposed her marriage any longer; and then walked on towards Banstead. Sir James Edwards, being informed how much she was affronted by his coachman, immediately ordered a pair of his horses to be put to a four-wheeled chaise, and sent them with another driver to offer their service to convey her where she pleased. Mr. Bridgwater in his chaise, and several other people on horseback, followed her also, and overtook her when she had walked about a mile over the Downs towards Banstead, where she had determined to be married. When she came there, the Minister having no licences, she returned to her first resolution of going to London; but, the horses having travelled that morning from Walton, and being harassed about without any refreshment, the coachman was afraid to venture so far as London with them, and desired to be excused; upon which Mr. Bridgwater, in regard to the child Sir James Edwards had brought, and other unhappy creatures who were in Epsom waiting for their cure, brought her in his chariot to London, saw her married, and conveyed her back again immediately after, being fully resolved to see her perform her promise." Mrs. Mapp was buried at the expence of the parish of St. Giles in 1737!!

The methods adopted by Lord and Lady Vane to render themselves conspicuous in the annals of their Country were so extremely eccentric, and are so well known, that their shades would feel indignant should I refuse the Viscount's advertisement a niche in this odd catalogue of worthies. His Lordship thus introduced himself to public notice January 24, 1737:

"Whereas Frances, wife of the right honourable the Lord Viscount Vane, has for some months past absented herself from her husband, and the rest of her friends, I do hereby promise to any person or persons who shall discover where the said lady Vane is concealed, to me or to Francis Hawes, Esq. her father, so that either of us may come to the speech of her, the sum of 100l. as a reward to be paid by me on demand at my lodgings in Piccadilly. I do also promise the name of the person, who shall make such discovery, shall be concealed, if desired. Any person concealing or lodging her after this advertisement, will be prosecuted with the utmost rigour. Or, if her Ladyship will return to me, she may depend upon being kindly received. She is about 22 years of age, tall, well-shaped, has light brown hair, is fair-complexioned, and has her upper teeth placed in an irregular manner. She had on when she absented a red damask French sacque, and was attended by a French woman, who speaks very bad English.

Vane."

The variety produced under this head is already so great that I shall desist, lest I tire my readers: besides, it will be difficult to select instances nearer our present time without offending individuals or their relatives.