Royal Humane Society’s Receiving House--Boats and bathing--The
Dell--Chelsea Water Works
reservoir--Walnut-trees--Flower-walk--Military executions--The
Magazine, Whip, Four in Hand and Coaching Clubs--Their
dress--Satire on coaching--The Park as a military centre--The first
review--Fort at Hyde Park Corner--Guard-house--Camp in Hyde
Park--Insubordinate troops.
On the north bank of the Serpentine, nearly on the site of the
Cheesecake House, is the Receiving House of the Royal Humane Society,
built in 1834 (the Duke of Wellington laying the first stone), on the
site of a former one, which was erected forty years previously, George
III. having given the Society a piece of ground for the purpose.
Needless to say, it is a very useful institution, especially during
severe frosts, being a convenient place where fractures, contusions and
immersions can be properly attended to.
Near the Receiving House, boats can be hired for diversion on the lake,
and on the opposite, or southern side, is a very fine bathing place,
which is most extensively patronized, both in early morning and late
evening, in the summer--nay, all the year round come some bathers, be
the weather what it will, regardless of rain or frost. A boat rows up
and down to rescue any swimmer who should be suddenly seized with cramp.
On the same side,
[Illustration: FROM “ROQUE’S SURVEY,” 1741-1745.
Face page 120.
]
but nearer the eastern end, is the favourite place for sailing miniature
vessels, some of them being beautiful models, exquisitely fitted and
very costly.
At the eastern end of the Serpentine, its water overflows in a miniature
cascade into a very pretty little dell, in which are rabbits disporting
themselves, together with pheasants, and in 1890 there was a squirrel.
As the public are not allowed to invade this portion, but only to look
at it, the small zoological domain increases and multiplies, and the
animals become exceedingly tame. In this dell is a monolith, which came
from Moorswater, in the parish of Liskeard, Cornwall, where it was
quarried on Jan. 3, 1862. One of the excavators employed in the work was
accidentally killed, and his death was the cause of the publication of
two books, _William Sandy, who died by an accident at Moorswater_,
_etc._, and _The grace of God manifested in the life and death of
William Sandy_, _etc._ This monolith, although obviously only placed in
the Dell for ornamental purposes, was, by a correspondent in _Notes and
Queries_,[40] declared to be a phallic symbol.
Between Stanhope Gate and Grosvenor Gate, close by the flower-walk, may
be noticed a circular basin having in its centre a fountain. This, which
is shown in Roque’s Map, was a reservoir of the Chelsea Water Works
Company, and it stood, as the same map well shows, in a double avenue of
walnut-trees. These, ultimately, became very decayed, and about 1811
they were cut down, and their timber made into gun-stocks for the army.
The flower-walk is a worthy successor to the avenue, and gives great
scope to the gardener’s skill and sense of colour, from early spring,
with its hyacinths, daffodils, narcissi and tulips, to late autumn, when
the bedding out plants, which have afforded innocent delight to hundreds
of thousands, are distributed among the poor, and thus continue their
sphere of usefulness by brightening the homes of the recipients.
If the reader will turn to Roque’s Map, he will see, just where the
Marble Arch now stands, a “Stone where soldiers are shot.” And it was a
place for military executions, and the shooting of two sergeants for
desertion, etc., is thus described by Draper in 1751:--
“Avaunt _Silenus_! thy lewd revels vile!
Cold _Russia’s_ troops, in a more Northern clime,
Are disciplined far better than to waste
Their strength in fev’rish _Gin_; is this the scene
Of execution military? more
It seems _Silenus’_ Banquet. Ah! ’tis done,
No mercy meets the wretch; it is not due
If _George_ can give it not, whose royal breast
Glows with forgiveness.”[41]
The _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1747 gives an account of a military
execution here. “Thursday, 26th Nov. A court-martial was held at
_Whitehall_, general _Wade_ president, on the trial of Sergeant _Smith_,
who was lately bought from _Scotland_, for deserting into the service of
the _French_, and, afterwards, to that of the rebels; and after hearing,
and the facts being proved, he was found guilty.
“Friday, Dec. 11. Sergeant _Smith_ was conducted from the Savoy to the
Parade in _St. James’s Park_, and from thence by a party of the
Foot-guards, commanded by Col. _Dury_, attended by the minister of the
Savoy, to _Hyde Park_, where he was hang’d on a gibbet erected for that
purpose, and bury’d near it: he seemed not much concerned, and professed
himself a protestant. He had been in the service of several princes, and
abus’d them all by desertion. Having thus acquir’d divers languages, he
was of great service to our officers in _Germany_, as interpreter, who
treated him as a companion, and promoted him to be paymaster sergeant,
by which, and other perquisites, he had above £200 per annum; but he
could not overcome his propensity to change.”
Anent this stone, Larwood says, that when Cumberland Gate was built, and
the ground prepared for that purpose, this stone was found so deeply
imbedded in the earth, that it was thought more convenient to cover than
to remove it. The earth was consequently thrown over it, and it now lies
buried in its original resting-place.
On the north-west side of the Serpentine, and close by the bridge, which
there crosses it, is a magazine for gunpowder, generally known as “The
Magazine,” a singularly exposed position for the storage of such
destructive material. It now forms the starting place, at the
commencement of the season, of the “Four-in-Hand” and “Coaching” Clubs,
either of which, if the weather is propitious, is a very pretty sight.
The first of these clubs was started as the “Whip Club,” and in the
_Morning Post_, June 9, 1808, is a description of a “Meet.”
“The _Whip Club_ met on Monday morning in Park Lane, and proceeded from
thence to dine at Harrow-on-the-Hill. There were fifteen
barouche-landaus, with four horses to each; the drivers were all men of
known skill in the science of charioteering. Lord Hawke, Mr. Buxton, and
the Hon. Lincoln Stanhope were among the leaders.
“The following was the style of the set out: Yellow bodied carriages,
with whip springs and dickey boxes; cattle of a bright bay colour, with
plain silver ornaments on the harness, and rosettes to the ears. Costume
of the drivers: a light drab colour cloth coat made full, single breast,
with three tiers of pockets, the skirts reaching to the ankles: a
mother-of-pearl button of the size of a crown piece. Waistcoat blue and
yellow stripe, each stripe an inch in depth. Small clothes corded with
silk plush, made to button over the calf of the leg, with sixteen
strings and rosettes to each knee. The boots very short, and finished
with very broad straps, which hung over the tops and down to the ankle.
A hat three inches and a half deep in the crown only, and the same depth
in the brim exactly. Each wore a large bouquet at the breast, thus
resembling the coachmen of our nobility, who, on the natal day of our
beloved sovereign, appear, in that respect, so peculiarly distinguished.
The party moved along the road at a smart trot; the first whip gave some
specimens of superiority at the outset, by ‘cutting a fly off a leader’s
ear.’”
In the _Annual Register_, vol. 51, p. 883 (1809), is the following
satire “ON THE WHIP CLUB:--
“Two varying races are in Britain born,
One courts a nation’s praises, one, her scorn;
Those pant her sons o’er tented fields to guide,
Or steer her thunders thro’ the foaming tide;
Whilst these, disgraceful born in luckless hour,
Burn but to guide with skill a coach-and-four.
To guess their sires each a sure clue affords,
These are the coachman’s sons, and those, my Lord’s!
Both follow fame, pursuing different courses;
Those, Britain, scourge thy foes--and these, thy horses;
Give them their due, nor let occasion slip;
On those, thy laurels lay--on these, the whip!”
The _Morning Post_, April 3rd, 1809, says that the title of the “Whip
Club,” had then been changed to the “Four-in-Hand-Club,” and their first
meet took place in Cavendish Square on April 28th of that year. The
dress of the drivers was altered, and was as follows. A single-breasted
blue coat, with a long waist, and brass buttons, on which were engraved
the words “Four-in-Hand-Club,” waistcoat of kerseymere, ornamented with
stripes alternately of blue and yellow; small clothes of white corduroy,
made moderately high, and very long over the knee, buttoning in front
over the shin-bone. Boots very short, with long tops, only one outside
strap to each, and one at the back; the latter were employed to keep the
breeches in their proper longitudinal shape. Hat with a conical crown,
and the _Allen_ brim(?); box, or driving coat of white drab cloth, with
fifteen capes, two tiers of pockets, and an inside one for the Belcher
handkerchief; cravat of white muslin spotted with black. Bouquets of
myrtle, pink and yellow geraniums were worn. In May of the same year,
the club button had already gone out of fashion, and “Lord Hawke sported
yesterday, _as buttons_, Queen Anne’s shillings; Mr. Ashurst displayed
crown pieces.”
Possibly this “Four-in-Hand-Club” was dissolved, for Captain Gronow
says[42] that amongst his papers he found a list of the original members
of the club, which met at Richmond on Saturday, June 2nd, 1838, and
passed a series of resolutions, that formed the basis of the regulations
which were observed during its existence: and he relates how “In the
days of which I speak there were amateur coachmen, who drove with
unflinching regularity, and in all weathers, the public stage-coaches,
and delighted in the opportunity of assimilating themselves with
professional jehus. Some young men then, heirs of large landed
proprietors, mounted the box, handled the ribbons, and bowled along the
high road; they touched their hats to their passengers, and some among
them did not disdain even the tip of a shilling or half-crown, with
which it was the custom to remunerate the coachman.
“Many persons liked travelling to Brighton in ‘The Age,’ which was
tooled along by Sir Vincent Cotton, whilst others preferred Charley
Tyrrwhit. On the Holyhead, Oxford, and the Bath and Bristol roads, Lord
Harborough, Lord Clonmel, Sir Thomas Mostyn, Sir Charles Bamfylde, Sir
Felix Agar, Sir Henry Parnell, Sir Bellingham Graham, Mr. Clutterbuck,
Sir John Lade, and other members of the Four-in-Hand-Club, were seen,
either driving the coach, or sitting cheek-by-jowl with the coachman,
talking about horses and matters relating to ‘life upon the road.’ One
of the members of the Four-in-Hand-Club, Mr. Akers, was so determined to
be looked upon as a regular coachman, that he had his front teeth so
filed, that a division between them might enable him to expel his
spittle in the true fashion of some of the most knowing stage-coach
drivers.”
In the Park, and close by the path which leads from Grosvenor Gate to
the Magazine, are some small barracks for the use of the guards of the
Magazine--but Hyde Park has been for more than two centuries the _Campus
Martius_ of London, and the first review recorded as having been held
there was by Lord Hunsdon, the then Ranger, when as Stow says in his
_Annales_, on the 28th of March, 1569, “The Pensioners well appointed in
armour on horsebacke, mustered before the Queen’s Maiestie in Hide Park
beside Westminster.”
In _The Bow-man’s Glory_, 1682, is “A Brief Relation of the several
appearances of Archers, since His Majesties Restauration.--On March the
21st _Anno Domini_, 1661. Four hundred archers, with their bows and
arrows, made a splendid and glorious show in _Hide Park_, with flying
colours, and cross-bows to guard them. _Sir Gilbert Talbot_, Baronet,
was their Colonel, Sir _Edward Hungerford_, Knight of the Bath, their
Lieutenant-Colonel; Mr. _Donne_ was their Major. Great was the
appearance both of the nobility, gentry and commonalty: several of the
archers shot near twenty score yards within the compass of a hat with
their cross-bows; and many of them, to the amazement of the spectators,
hit the mark; there were, likewise, three showers of whistling arrows.
So great was the delight, and so pleasing the exercise, that three
Regiments of Foot laid down their arms to come and see it.”
In the early days of the Commonwealth, London was fortified by the
Parliament, and so urgent were they on this matter that we read in _A
Perfect Diurnall of the Passages in Parliament_, April 24th to May 1st,
1643, “An order was made by the common Councell of London, that the
Ministers in the severall Parishes of the Citie should stir up the
Parishioners in their severall churches the next day to send such of
their servants and children as are fit to labour, with spades, shovells
and other necessary tooles to helpe and assist the raising of the
out-workes for the defence of the Citie, which is very needeful to be
finished with all expedition, in regard two great Armies are now on
foote near the Citie, and that they would begin the work by Wednesday
next.”
Nay, the very women helped in this work, as Butler tells us in
_Hudibras_ (part ii. cant. 2.):--
“Women, who were our first Apostles,
Without whose aid we ’ad all been lost else;
Women, that left no stone unturn’d
In which the cause might be concern’d;
Brought in their children’s spoons and whistles,
To purchase swords, carbines and pistols.
* * * * *
What have they done, or what left undone,
That might advance the cause at London?
March’d rank and file, with drum and ensign,
T’ intrench the City for defence in;
Rais’d Rampiers with their own soft hands,
To put th’ Enemy to stands;
From Ladies down to Oyster-wenches,
Labour’d like Pioneers in Trenches,
Fall’n to their pickaxes, and tools,
And help’d the Men to dig like Moles.”
In a very fine copy of _Hudibras_ (ed. 1793), with voluminous notes by
T. R. Nash, he thus elucidates the line “Rais’d Rampiers with their own
soft hands.” “When London was expected to be attacked, and in several
sieges during the civil war, the women, and even the ladies of rank and
fortune, not only encouraged the men, but worked with their own hands.
Lady Middlesex, Lady Foster, Lady Anne Waller, and Mrs. Dunch, have been
particularly celebrated for their activity.” The probability is that he
took the names of these ladies from a not very scarce satirical tract
printed in 1647, called _The Parliament of Ladies, or Divers remarkable
passages of Ladies_ in Spring Gardens; in _Parliament Assembled_, etc.,
which was never meant to be taken seriously. They are mentioned in the
following resolution:--
“The House considered in the next place, that divers weake persons have
crept into places beyond their abilities, and to the end that men of
greater parts might be put into their rooms, they appointed the Lady
_Middlesex_, Mistris _Dunce_, the Lady _Foster_, and the Lady _Anne
Waller_, by reason of their great experience in Souldery in this
Kingdome, to be a Committee of Tryers for the businesse.”
When London was fortified, in 1643, a large fort, with four bastions,
was raised at Hyde Park Corner, where Hamilton Place now stands, and
there it remained for four years, being pulled down in 1647. There was
also at the north-east corner of the Park, where now stands the Marble
Arch, a Guard House, to watch travellers on the Oxford Road, which was
also defended by a large fort with four bulwarks, at the corner of
Wardour Street. There was also in the neighbourhood of Hyde Park a small
redoubt and battery on Constitution Hill; whilst another gives its name
to Mount Street.
The guard at Cumberland Gate were especially watchful, for we read in _A
Perfect Diurnall of the Passages in Parliament_, of 28th January, 1643:
“There was also a Gentleman this day intercepted by the Courts of Guard
of Hyde Parke, going to Oxford to the King, and being searched, there
was divers letters found about him, which were brought to the
Parliament and read, and found to be of very dangerous consequence,
making a discovery of the state of things here, and the proceedings of
the Lord Generall’s army.” And, also, in _A Continuation of certain
Speciall and Remarkable Passages from both Houses of Parliament, and
other parts of the Kingdome_, March 2-9, 1643. “Wednesday (8th March): a
hat-full of Letters being intercepted by the Court of Guard at Hide
Parke Corner, which came out of _Wiltshire_, (some of them being
directed to persons disaffected to the Parliament,) they were brought to
the House, and ordered that the Committee should take a view of them,
that if any were of ill consequence, the same might be discovered, and
the party found out.”
On August 6, 1647, Fairfax and the Parliamentary army marched, with
laurel branches in their hats, through Hyde Park, where they were met by
the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, to the City.
In December, 1648, there was a camp of the Parliamentarians in Hyde
Park; and Cromwell there reviewed two regiments of horse, on 9th May,
1649, which is thus described in _Perfect Occurrences of every Daie
iournall in Parliament_, etc., May 4-11, 1649: “The Lord Generall
commanding a Randezvous this day (9th May) in _Hide-parke_, of his
Regiment, and the Lieutenant-Generalls of Horse. The Lieutenant Generall
made Speeches, declaring the Parliament’s great care and paines: 1. In
execution of Justice against the grand Delinquents. 2. In their
Declaration and Resolution to put an end to this and future Parliaments.
3. Their care for settling trade, by setting forth a gallant Navy at
Sea. And 4. Their proceedings for payment of Souldiers Arreares. And as
for Martiall law, those that thought it a burden, should have liberty to
lay down their Armes, receive their Tickets, and bee payd as those that
stay. There was one Trooper made some objections, and was bold, for
which he was committed, but at the solicitations of some of his
followers, the Lieut.-Gen. ordered his freedome, and to be received in
againe. The Levelers colours were pulled out of three or four of their
hats.”
This was the Parliamentary account--now let us see the other side, as
expressed in _Mercurius Pragmaticus_ (_for King Charles II._), May 8-15,
1649, which is specially jocose on the Lord Protector’s red nose. “Newes
at _London_ this _Wednesday_ Generall _Tom_ (Fairfax) drew his Regiment
and _Cromwel’s_ to a Randevouz in _Hide-Parke_, where Lieutenant-Gen.
_Nose_ made a Speech to them, setting forth very eloquently the good
_Acts_ his _brethren_ were now about to doe for the destruction of the
_Subject_: the particulars of his _Oration_ would be too tedious to
relate. _Fairfax_ sayd nothing, save _nodded_ with the _head_, and made
_mouths_ at the Souldiers. There was one _Trooper_ made some bold
demands and objections against _Rubinose_, for which he was committed,
whereupon there began to be some grudging, or shew of _mutiny_, which
made _Nol_ to pull in his _Nose_, and give _Liberty_ to the _Trooper_
againe; yet those who had _Sea greene_ Colours received some affronts,
having their fancies taken from them, to which they said little,
whatever they thought.”
[Illustration: decorative bar]