cats, and dogs, she expressed great attachment for infant children. Miss
Fraine, in 1780, frequently expressed to a very near neighbour her ardent
wish that a particular child were placed under her own sole and immediate
management. “I cannot safely marry,” she would often observe, “but I
shall undertake the charge of an infant’s education with delight.”
* * * * *
After making many serious colloquial attempts to reason against such an
intention, the Rev. Weeden Butler sent some sportive lines to the highly
gifted and unfortunate lady. It succeeded so far as to repress any
further application by the lady, but her feelings remained the same. The
following elegant jeu-d’esprit was written with similar effect. She
appears to have possessed great sensibility of feeling without adequate
reflection.
SALE OF A DAUGHTER,
In fairy guise and playful mood,
Euphrania, young and fair, and good,
Vows, if her friends a price would set
Upon their daughter Harriet,
Herself the gift of Heaven would buy,
And cherish it beneath her eye.
Does, then, Euphrania mean to say,
(If we would cast our young away,
Like ostriches) she’d prove a mother,
And rear the nestling of another?
Ye powers, it is a strange temptation!
Let us not treat it with flirtation.
Come, think upon it well, dear wife;
We love our offspring as our life.
Euphrania’s offer is adoption:
Take it, or leave it, is our option.
Heigho! I read your tearful eye,
“For the babe’s good we must comply.”
’Tis said, ’tis done. Now, in a trice,
Let us determine well the price;
And, shunning all superfluous joke,
Settle the worth of infant folk.
The bargain is as clear as water;
Full many a one has sold a daughter.
The consent of the parents having thus been obtained, the price to be
given for the infant daughter is the next consideration. The following
is a summary of the supposed value of the child:—
Imprimis. For a hazel eye, £52 10 0
And tongue that never told a lie, &c.
Item, for pranks and wanton wiles, 80 0 0
Nods and becks, and wreathed smiles, &c.
Item, for filial obedience, 100 0 0
One of our daughter’s chief ingredients, &c.
Then, item, for her race and name, 200 0 0
Nearly in value both the same, &c.
Item, for every hope and fear 67 10 0
That hitherto hath chequer’d care, &c.
£500 0 0
For such a sale, to us are due
A Bond, and final Judgment too;
From you the former may be given,
The latter must be left to . . . Heaven.
Advised, pressed, solicited, nay, perhaps, commanded by an anxious
father, this lady at last married. Soon afterwards she grew melancholy
and desponding, and fell by her own hand, at her residence at Richmond,
in the year 1785. She married Captain Fortescue.
* * * * *
DR. DOMINICETI’S BATHS.—The dwelling house afterwards occupied by the
Rev. Weeden Butler, a few doors from Flood Street, Cheyne Walk, was once
inhabited by one Dominiceti, an Italian physician, of very considerable
notoriety and talents. At this house he established medicinal baths for
the cure of all diseases; and it was fitted up with pipes, &c., for the
accommodation of numerous patients, who might choose to reside with him
while they were under his care. In 1765 it is described as a large,
pleasant, and convenient house, which contains four spacious and lofty
parlours, two dining rooms, and thirteen bed chambers. On the east side
of the garden, and directly communicating with the house, was erected an
elegant brick and wooden building, 100-ft. long, and 16-ft. wide, in
which were the baths and fumigatory stoves, etc. It appears, from his
own account, that he expended about £37,000 altogether in erecting,
contriving, and completing his house, and baths in Cheyne Walk.
* * * * *
Among his visitors and patients, at Chelsea, was his Royal Highness
Edward Duke of York, who entrusted the preservation of his life to
Dominiceti’s sole direction for above a month; and that in direct
opposition to the advice of the Physicians and Surgeons of the Royal
household. Sir John Fielding, having experienced the good effects, as he
considered, of these baths, wrote a “Vindication of Dr. Dominiceti’s
Practice of removing various afflicting diseases by medicated baths,
stoves, fumigations, and frictions, founded on facts.”
* * * * *
Dominiceti resided for several years in Chelsea. He became bankrupt in
the parish in 1782, and at length disappeared, overwhelmed with debt.
* * * * *
We will now notice one of the most distinguished scholars and clergymen
of the early part of the present century, the Rev. Weeden Butler, who
resided in the above-mentioned house for a great many years, and also one
of his sons, etc., until a comparatively recent period, and which cannot
fail to be highly interesting to a large number of readers.
* * * * *
The Rev. Weeden Butler was born at Margate, in 1742. When aged fourteen,
he lost both his parents; and with his own free will was articled as
clerk to Mr. Rosewell, a respectable solicitor, in Angel Court,
Throgmorton Street, London. At the expiration of his term, he was
offered by his considerate late master and constant friend till death, a
share in the business; but he had determined to renounce for ever the
profession of the law, and resolved, by intense study and application, to
improve his superior intellectual powers, and ardently to prepare himself
for holy orders. About this time, he frequented all the churches and
chapels within and around the vast metropolis, as an enquirer after
truth. The result of his search fixed his choice, and he devoted his
time thenceforth, as a firm member of the Establishment, upon the fullest
conviction of its excellence. The course of his classical and
theological reading was directed by that splendidly and variously gifted,
but most unhappy character, Dr. William Dodd, to whom, for a salary of
small extent, he acted as an assiduous amanuensis, till his patron’s
ignominious death, in 1777.
* * * * *
Dr. Dodd’s “Commentary on the Holy Bible,” was partly compiled, and
wholly written out for the press, by the then unknown Rev. Weeden Butler,
who also greatly assisted in editing the four last volumes of “The
Christian’s Magazine,” and corrected the proof sheets of the poem, in
blank vase, “Thoughts in Prison,” of which Dr. Dodd’s own MS. was in the
possession of Mr. Butler’s eldest son in 1829–30. In this last
singularly affecting composition occur lines indicative of the worth of
the person eulogized, and of the author’s gratitude:—
“But I am lost! a criminal adjudg’d!
A guilty miscreant! can’st thou think, my friend!
Oh! BUTLER ’midst a million faithful found;
Oh! can’st thou think, who know’st, who long hast known,
My inmost soul; oh! can’st thou think, that life,” &c.
Dr. Dodd resigned his office of Morning Preacher, in Charlotte Street
Chapel, Pimlico, in February, 1776, and at his strong recommendation, Dr.
Courtney nominated the deserving Reader, Mr. Butler, who was licensed
Morning Preacher accordingly; and afterwards by purchase he became
proprietor of the chapel, officiating therein up to the year 1814. When
the subject of the present article retired from Chelsea, to Gayton; where
he piously discharged the duties of curate to his second son, till his
increasing infirmities compelled him to resign this his last charge, and
he finally withdrew to Greenhill, in the neighbourhood of Harrow, where
he died.
* * * * *
He was master of the school in Cheyne Walk for forty years; where many
persons of considerable rank had been so thoroughly grounded in morality
and general learning as to become bright ornaments to their country.
Amongst other scholars, the Rev. Weeden Butler had the gratification of
seeing his two sons treading assiduously in his own paths. The Rev. G.
Butler, D.D., in 1805, was chosen Head Master of Harrow School, and
continued as such, with great reputation, for many years.
* * * * *
The elder Mr. Butler was one of the earliest institutors of the “Society
for the Discharge and Relief of Persons imprisoned for small debts,” and
most materially assisted James Neild, Esq., his next door neighbour, in
firmly establishing that excellent Institution. The friendship, indeed,
which existed between these two benevolent characters, cannot be better
exemplified and attested than by the following few extracts from a letter
written by Mr. Neild, dated Chelsea, January 1, 1808.
* * * * *
“When I look back to the distant period of our lives, and observe, that,
of the first Committee of the Society, you, Rev. Sir, and myself, remain
the only survivors, I cannot but feel the most powerful, and, at the same
time, the most humble gratitude to the Great Disposer of all human
events, for having suffered me to live and witness the happy result of
our early and well-meant endeavours. * * * * With growing and
well-merited esteem, Sir, I witnessed your successful exertions in behalf
of the Society, at its earliest institution. Often have I felt the
influence acknowledged by all who have heard the eloquent and impressive
discourses which you have delivered from the pulpit, in recommendation of
the objects embraced by this Charity, and never can the gratifying
recollection be effaced which beamed from every countenance around you,
when you mentioned the receipt of £100 from an eminent advocate for
suffering humanity.” Mr. Neild concludes by referring to the promotion
of Mr. Butler’s son (Dr. Butler), which he considers to be the reward of
his virtues; of those early advances which his father’s tuition enabled
him to make in literature, and to the purity of his Christian principles.
* * * * *
In 1787 he instituted the Chelsea Sunday Schools, with the sanction of
the Rev. W. B. Cadogan. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent had a great
regard for Mr. Butler, and appointed him one of his domestic chaplains.
Hardly one charitable Society in London existed, to which his popular
oratory did not essentially contribute credit and profit. He died in a
good old age, and his remains were placed in the family vault at Chelsea.
The Rev. Weeden Butler, his eldest son, occupied the same house for many
years afterwards, as also the son of the latter, Thomas Butler, Esq., who
was much esteemed by a numerous circle of friends while he resided in
Cheyne Walk. The whole of this family were remarkable for their
classical attainments and love of literature. The Rev. T. Helmore,
Precentor, St. Mark’s College, has since resided in Mr. Butler’s house.
* * * * *
A very fine portrait of Dr. Dodd, painted by Gainsborough, and a large
quarto volume of the doctor’s unedited poems, in MS., bound, including a
tragedy, called “The Syracusans,” and a comedy, called “Sir Roger de
Coverly,” were left by Mr. Butler, to his legatees. The portrait is the
only likeness extant The Rev. Philip Dodd, and the Rev. Weeden Butler
(eldest son of Mr. Butler), possessed all the Doctor’s unprinted sermons.
* * * * *
James Neild, Esq., who resided at No. 4, Cheyne Walk, was born in 1744,
at Knutsford, in Cheshire, in the neighbourhood of which his family had
some good estates. He came to London, and was placed with Mr. Hemming,
the King’s goldsmith, but after a short time, he removed to a jeweller’s.
In 1770 he settled in St. James’s Street, and continued there till the
year 1792, when finding his health declining, and having recently lost
his wife, he retired from business to Chelsea, with an ample fortune.
* * * * *
The attention of Mr. Neild, very early in life, was drawn to the
distressed state of persons imprisoned for debt; the endeavour to
alleviate which soon became his favorite pursuit, and one which he
followed with intense application.
* * * * *
In 1773, having previously visited most of the prisons in England, and
many on the continent, he was, together with his benevolent friends, Dr.
John C. Lettson, and the Rev. Weeden Butler, chiefly instrumental in
instituting the Society for the Relief and Discharge of Persons
imprisoned for small debts. In 1812 he published “The State of the
Prisons,” in a quarto volume, a work teeming with valuable information.
Mr. Neild died in 1814, and was buried in Battersea Church. He married a
daughter of John Camden, Esq., of that parish.
* * * * *
John Camden Neild, Esq., was a magistrate for the county, and the son of
the preceding. He resided in his late father’s house in Cheyne Walk, and
bequeathed half a million of money to Queen Victoria. He died in 1852.
* * * * *
John Goss, Esq., the present organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral, lived at
No. 3, Cheyne Walk. He was appointed Organist of St. Luke’s New Church,
when that sacred edifice was completed. His proficiency, even at that
early period of his musical life, excited general admiration, and large
portions of the congregation frequently waited in the Church, at the
close of Divine Service, to listen to his concluding performances.
* * * * *
There are several highly respectable families, who have for many years
resided in Cheyne Walk, of whom it would have been only an act of justice
to notice, but the strict rules of propriety prevent my discharging an
otherwise pleasing duty, which, in some instances especially, is much to
be regretted, as they take a deep interest in the promotion of whatever
tends to enhance the welfare of the parish.
DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE.
Mr. Thomas Doggett, a native of Ireland, was an actor, and made his first
appearance in Dublin; but his efforts not meeting with sufficient
encouragement he removed to London, where he performed with great
reputation, and by his talents, industry, and economy, acquired a
competent fortune, and quitted the stage some years before he died. He
was also a patentee and manager of the theatre with Wilks, Booth, and
Cibber; the latter of whom gives Doggett the following character:—“He was
the most original and the strictest observer of nature of all his
cotemporaries. He borrowed from none of them; his manner was his own, he
was a pattern to others, whose greatest merit was that they had sometimes
tolerably imitated him. In dressing a character to the greatest
exactness, he was remarkably skilful; the least article of whatsoever
habit he wore seemed in some measure to speak the different humour he
presented, a necessary care in a comedian, in which many have been too
remiss or ignorant. His greatest success was in characters of lower
life, which he improved from the delight he took in his observations of
that kind in the real world. In songs, and particular dances too of
humour, he had no competitor. Congreve was a great admirer of him, and
found his account in the characters he expressly wrote for him. In those
of Fondlewife in his Old Bachelor, and Ben in Love for Love, no author
and actor could be more obliged to their mutual masterly performances.
He was very acceptable to several persons of high rank and taste, though
he seldom cared to be the comedian, but among his more intimate
acquaintances.
* * * * *
He is highly spoken of in the Spectator. He wrote one play, called “The
Country Wake,” a comedy, acted with great applause; and out of this play
were made two farces, “Hob, or the Country Wake,” and “Hob’s Wedding.”
The first has been acted often with great success, and likewise several
songs have been added to it in imitation of the Beggar’s Opera, since
which it has been acted under the title of Flora.
* * * * *
In his political principles he was, in the words of Sir Richard Steele,
“a Whig up to head and ears;” and he took every occasion of demonstrating
his loyalty to the house of Hanover. One instance, among others, is well
known; which is, that in the year after King George I. came to the
throne, in 1715, Doggett gave a waterman’s orange-coloured coat and
silver badge to be rowed for; on the latter is represented the Hanoverian
horse.
* * * * *
This contest takes place on the 1st day of August, being the anniversary
of that King’s accession to the throne, between six young watermen, who
had just completed their apprenticeship; the claimants starting off on a
signal being given at that time of the tide when the current is strongest
against them, and rowing from the Old Swan, near London Bridge, to the
White Swan, at Chelsea. This tavern adjoined the Apothecaries’ Botanical
Garden, on the east, and enjoyed a great share of public favour for many
years; but in the year 1780, it was converted into a Brewhouse. Since
this period, the place of landing the victor has been at a house bearing
the same sign, near to Cheyne Walk. I have been favoured with the
following chorus, said to be written by a waterman:—
“Let your oars, like lightning flog it,
Up the Thames as swiftly jog it,
An’ you’d win the prize of Doggett,
The glory of the river!
Bendin’, bowin’, strainin’, rowin’,
Perhaps the wind in fury blowin’,
Or the tide agin you flowin’,
The coat and badge for ever!”
Mr. Doggett, at his death, left a sum of money, the interest of which was
to pay for the same for ever.
* * * * *
The “Yorkshire Grey” public house stood at the west corner of Old Manor
Street, opposite the river. It was a very old tavern, mostly frequented
of late years by the watermen who plied at the stairs opposite to it. It
has recently been pulled down, and two good private dwelling houses now
occupy the site.
* * * * *
In the year 1824, a new road was opened, connecting Old and New Manor
Street, forming a direct communication from Cheyne Walk to the King’s
Road, and St. Luke’s Church. Prior to that period a large garden crossed
the street, with a wall and iron railing, so that the two streets were
entirely detached.
* * * * *
With respect to the embankment of the shores of our parish, this was
certainly the work of ages, much posterior to the Norman Conquest, nor
was it even completed before the latter end of the seventeenth century,
for, from the manorial records, we find them to have been frequently
imperfect, whilst the keeping them in repair and good order, was a
subject of vexatious dispute between the Lord of this Manor and his
tenants; and hence sometimes by the parish and the turnpike trust;
sometimes by those persons who inhabited houses immediately in front of
the River, to the extent of their own frontages; and sometimes by the
Lords of the Manor themselves, to the extent of their frontages. This
uncertainty respecting the right of repair was attended with many evils,
the walls being often out of order, and in a dangerous state. In
December, 1822, upon the trial of an indictment on the prosecution of the
Kensington turnpike trust, against the Lords of the Manor, in the Court
of King’s Bench, the Chief Justice ruled at _nisi prius_, that the _onus_
rested on the latter, unless and until they could show on whom by right
of tenure, or otherwise, the burthen lay.
* * * * *
Having now arrived at the conclusion of Book I., in which are described
all that is worthy of special notice in a great portion of the western
extremity of the parish, I shall commence Book II., with a description of
that beautiful architectural structure, St. Luke’s Church.
BOOK II.
Consecration and other interesting particulars of St. Luke’s Church and
Burial Ground—Its Monuments, &c.—Rectors, Curates, and
Lecturers—Parochial National Schools, &c.—The Workhouse and the Old
Burial Ground—The Origin and Condition of the King’s Road in the “Olden
Times:”—Its state at the commencement of this Century, together with some
notices of the New Buildings, and its thriving Trade at the present
Time—Markham Square Congregational Church—Savings’ Bank—Chelsea
College—Charles II. and Nell Gwynne—The Royal Military Asylum—Old
Ranelagh—The Original Bunhouse—The whole interspersed with many other
interesting notices of Distinguished Residents, &c.
St. Luke’s Church and the Burial Ground.
IT will be necessary before we give a description of this beautiful
edifice to state some particulars respecting the Burial Ground, or, more
properly speaking, the Cemetery, in the centre of which the Church is
erected. The Act of Parliament for providing this additional Burial
Ground for the parish was passed in 1810, and certain Trustees therein
named were appointed to carry it into effect. They accordingly purchased
of Earl Cadogan, the Lord of the Manor, a piece of ground, in the present
central situation, containing rather more than four acres, and enclosed
it with a substantial wall and strong iron railing.
* * * * *
As I was present at the consecration of this Burial Ground, and also of
the Church, a brief account of which I published at the time, the
following particulars I can fully authenticate. With respect to many
circumstances which I shall mention, in connexion with the Church, they
may be relied upon as being accurately stated from my own personal
observation.
In November, 1812, the enclosure of the spacious new Burial Ground having
been in every respect completed, with a small Chapel erected close to the
entrance on the north side, designed exclusively for reading the Funeral
Service, on Saturday, the 21st of the above month, the same were
consecrated by the Bishop of London, accompanied by his Chaplains, the
Chancellor and Registrar of the Diocese, the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Wellesley,
rector, the Churchwardens, Trustees, and a large number of the
inhabitants.
* * * * *
The preliminary prayers were offered at the Old Church, and the Bishop
having declared his assent to the petition presented to him for
consecrating the new ground, the procession proceeded from the Church.
On their arrival there was an immense assemblage to witness the
consecration. The Bishop then perambulated the ground, reading such
portions of the Service as is specially appointed, and afterwards
completed the consecration in the Chapel.
* * * * *
In the year 1819, an Act of Parliament, 59 Geo. III., cap. 35, May 19,
was obtained for building a new Church, and the Rector and Churchwardens,
and 59 other inhabitants of the parish, were appointed to carry the same
into effect. The central portion of the new Burial Ground was
appropriated for this purpose, and on the 12th of October, 1820, the
first stone of the new Church was laid by the Hon. and Rev. Dr.
Wellesley, as proxy for his brother, the Duke of Wellington, who was
prevented from performing the ceremony by receiving “the King’s commands
to attend him on public business that day at his palace in Pall Mall.”
Many of the vast assemblage of spectators having waited a long time for
His Grace’s arrival felt somewhat disappointed, and some of them
attributed his absence to the political excitement which prevailed just
at that period, but this was far from being the general opinion.
* * * * *
A procession was at last formed in the following order:—His Royal
Highness the Duke of York’s Band; the Beadles of the Parish; Mr. James
Savage, the architect; the Builder, with a silver trowel on a crimson
velvet cushion; the Treasurer, with a metal box and sundry coins, and a
brass plate, on a velvet cushion. The Hon. and Rev. Dr. Wellesley,
rector, supported by the Churchwardens; the Curates and Lecturer of the
Parish, and the Trustees appointed under the Act of Parliament for
building the Church.
The service used on similar occasions having been read by the Rector, the
box with the coins, and the brass-plate were deposited by the Rector upon
the stone prepared for the purpose, which was then lowered down and
secured with the customary formalities. The inscription on the stone was
as follows:—“This stone was laid on the 12th day of October, A.D., 1820,
by Field Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington, the Hon. and Rev.
Gerald Valerian Wellesley, Rector; Richard Rattenbury and Richard Mann,
Churchwardens.” The day was remarkably fine, and the spectacle
altogether produced a very imposing effect, notwithstanding the
disappointment experienced by the absence of the Duke of Wellington. A
spacious amphitheatre was erected for the accommodation of ladies, and
the ceremony concluded with a beam of satisfaction on the countenances of
nearly all present.
* * * * *