_Resolutions._
The committee appointed by the lords and gentlemen at the last
Chesterfield races, to conduct and manage the celebration of the
intended jubilee, on the hundredth anniversary of the glorious
revolution, at the Revolution-house in Whittington, in the county of
Derby, where measures were first concerted for the promotion of that
grand constitutional event, in these midland parts, have this day met,
and upon consideration come to the following resolutions:--
That general Gladwin do take the chair at this meeting. That the Rev.
Samuel Pegge be requested to preach a sermon on the occasion at
Whittington church, on the 5th day of November next. That the gentlemen
who intend to honour the meeting with their company do assemble at
Whittington church, exactly at eleven o’clock in the forenoon of that
day, to attend divine service. That immediately after service they meet
at the Revolution-house, where a cold collation will be provided. That
they go in procession from thence to Chesterfield, where ordinaries will
be provided at the Angel, Castle, and Falcon inns. That the meeting be
open to all friends of the revolution. That letters be written to the
dukes of Devonshire and Leeds, and the earl of Stamford, to request the
honour of their attendance at that meeting. That there be a ball for the
ladies in the evening at the assembly-room in Chesterfield. That a
subscription of one guinea each be entered into for defraying the
extraordinary expenses on the occasion, and that the same be paid into
the hands of Messrs. Wilkinson’s, in Chesterfield. That the committee do
meet again on Wednesday, the 8th of October next, at the Angel inn, in
Chesterfield, at one o’clock. That these resolutions be published in
the Derby and Nottingham newspapers, and in the St. James’s, Whitehall,
and Lloyd’s Evening Posts, and the London and English Chronicles.
HENRY GLADWIN, Chairman.
_Chesterfield, Sept. 27, 1788._
According to these resolutions, on Tuesday the 4th of November, the
committee appointed to conduct the jubilee had a previous meeting, and
dined together at the “Revolution-house” in Whittington. The duke of
Devonshire, lord Stamford, lord George and lord John Cavendish, with
several neighbouring gentlemen, were present. After dinner a
subscription was opened for the erecting of a monumental column, in
commemoration of the glorious revolution, on that spot where the earls
of Devonshire and Danby, lord Delamere, and Mr. John D’Arcy, met to
concert measures which were eminently instrumental in rescuing the
liberties of their country from perdition. As this monument was intended
to be not less a mark of public gratitude, than the memorial of an
important event, it was requested, that the representatives of the
above-mentioned families would excuse their not being permitted to join
in the expense.
On the 5th, at eleven in the morning, the commemoration commenced with
divine service at Whittington church. The Rev. Mr. Pegge, the rector of
the parish, delivered an excellent sermon from the words “This is the
day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Though
of a great age, having that very morning entered his eighty-fifth year,
he spoke with a spirit which seemed to have been derived from the
occasion; his sentiments were pertinent, well arranged, and his
expression animated.
The descendants of the illustrious houses of Cavendish, Osborne, Boothe,
and D’Arcy, (for the venerable duke of Leeds, whose age would not allow
him to attend, had sent his two grandsons, in whom the blood of Osborne
and D’Arcy united;) a numerous and powerful gentry; a wealthy and
respectable yeomanry; a hardy, yet decent and attentive peasantry; whose
intelligent countenances showed that they understood, and would be firm
to preserve, that blessing, for which they were assembled to return
thanks to Almighty God, presented a truly solemn spectacle, and, to the
eye of a philosopher, the most interesting that can be imagined.
After service the company went in succession to view the
“Revolution-house,” and the room called “The Plotting Parlour,” with the
old armed-chair in which the earl of Devonshire is said to have sitten;
and every one partook of an elegant cold collation, which was prepared
in the new rooms annexed to the cottage. Some time being spent in this,
then began
_The Procession._
Constables with long staves, two and two.
The eight clubs, four and four, with flags inscribed “The Protestant
Religion, and the Liberties of England, we will maintain,”--“Libertas;
quæ sera, tamen respexit inertem.” “Liberty secured.”--“The Glorious
Revolution 1688.”--“Liberty, Property, Trade, Manufactures.”--“In Memory
of the Glorious Assertors of British Freedom 1688.”--“Revolted from
Tyranny at WHITTINGTON 1688.”--“Bill of Rights.” “Willielmus Dux Devon.
Bonorum Principum Fidelis Subditus; Immicus et Invisus Tyrannis.”
[The members of the eight clubs were estimated at two thousand
persons, each having a white wand in his hand, with blue and orange
tops and favours, with the word “Revolution” stamped upon them.]
The Derbyshire militia’s band of music.
The corporation of Chesterfield in their formalities, who joined the
procession on entering the town.
The duke of Devonshire in his coach and six.
Attendants on horseback with four led horses.
The earl of Stamford in his post-chaise and four.
Attendants on horseback.
The earl of Danby and lord Francis Osborne in their post-chaise and
four.
Attendants on horseback.
Lord George Cavendish in his post-chaise and four.
Attendants on horseback. Lord John Cavendish in his post-chaise and
four.
Attendants on horseback.
Sir Francis Molyneux and sir Henry Hunloke, barts. in sir Henry’s
coach and six.
Attendants on horseback.
And upwards of forty other carriages of the neighbouring gentry, with
their attendants. Gentlemen on horseback, three and three.
Servants on horseback, ditto.
The procession paraded different parts of the town of Chesterfield to
the Castle, where the Derbyshire band of music formed in the centre,
and played “Rule Britannia,” “God save the King,” &c. The clubs and
corporation still proceeded in the same order to the mayor’s, and then
dispersed.
The whole was conducted with order and regularity. Notwithstanding there
were fifty carriages, four hundred gentlemen on horseback, two thousand
on foot, and an astonishing throng of spectators, not an accident
happened. All was joy and gladness, without a single burst of unruly
tumult and uproar. The sun shed auspicious beams, and blessed the happy
day with unusual splendour.
The company was so numerous as scarcely to be accommodated at the three
principal inns. The dinner at the Castle was served in a style of
unusual elegance. The first five toasts after the repast were:--