For lending upon the deposit of goods, stock, annuities, tallies, &c.
at Robin's, Exchange-alley, 1,200,000_l._
For settling and carrying on a trade to Germany, 1,200,000_l._ at the
Rainbow.
For insuring of houses and goods from fire, at Sadlers-hall,
2,000,000_l._
For carrying on a trade to Germany, 1,200,000_l._ at the Virginia
Coffee-house.
For securing goods and houses from fire, at the Swan and Rummer,
2,000,000_l._
For buying and selling of estates, public stocks, government
securities, and to lend money, 3,000,000_l._
For insuring ships and merchandize, 2,000,000_l._ at the Marine
Coffee-house, Birchin-lane.
For purchasing government securities, and lending money to merchants to
pay their duties with, 1,500,000_l._
For carrying on the _undertaking_ business, for _furnishing funerals_,
1,200,000_l._ at the Fleece-tavern, Cornhill.
For carrying on trade between Great-Britain and Ireland, and the
Kingdoms of Portugal and Spain, 1,000,000_l._
For carrying on the coal-trade from Newcastle to London, 2,000,000_l._
Cooper's Coffee-house.
For preventing and suppressing of thieves and robbers, and for insuring
all persons goods from the same, 2,000,000_l._ at Cooper's."
Here ceases the enumeration of the Journalist, but his hiatus shall be
supplied faithfully from other original advertisements.
A grand Dispensary, 3,000,000_l._ at the Buffaloe's-head.
Subscription for a sail-cloth manufactory in Ireland, at the Swan and
Hoop, Cornhill.
4,000,000_l._ for a trade to Norway and Sweden, to procure pitch, tar,
deals, and oak, at Waghorn's.
For buying lead mines and working them, Ship-tavern.
A subscription for manufacturing Ditties or Manchester stuffs of thread
and cotton, Mulford's.
4,000,000_l._ for purchasing and improving commons and waste lands,
Hanover Coffee-house.
A Royal fishery, Skinners-hall.
A subscription for effectually settling the Islands of Blanco and
Saltortugas.
For supplying the London-market with cattle, Garraway's.
For smelting lead-ore in Derbyshire, Swan and Rummer.
For manufacturing of muslins and calico, Portugal Coffee-house.
2,000,000_l._ for the purchase of pitch, tar, and turpentine,
Castle-tavern.
2,000,000_l._ for importing walnut-tree from Virginia, Garraway's.
2,000,000_l._ for making crystal mirrors, coach glasses, and for sash
windows, Cole's.
For purchasing tin and lead mines in Cornwall and Derbyshire, Half-moon
Tavern.
For preventing the running of wool, and encouraging the wool
manufactory, King's Arms.
For a manufactory of rape-seed oil, Fleece-tavern.
2,000,000_l._ for an engine to supply Deal with fresh water, &c. Black
Swan.
2,000,000_l._ at the Sun Tavern, for importing beaver fur.
For making of Joppa and Castile soap, Castle Tavern.
4,000,000_l._ for exporting woollen stuffs, and importing copper,
brass, and iron, and carrying on a general foundery, Virginia
Coffee-house.
For making pasteboard, packing-paper, &c. Montague Coffee-house.
A _Hair_ copartnership, permits 5_s._ 6_d._ each, at the Ship Tavern,
Paternoster-row; "_by reason all places near the Exchange are so much
crowded at this juncture_."
For importing masts, spars, oak, &c. for the Navy, Ship Tavern.
"This day, the 8th instant, at Sam's Coffee-house, behind the Royal
Exchange, at three in the afternoon, a book will be opened for
entering into a joint-copartnership for carrying _on a thing_ that
will turn to the advantage of the concerned."
For importing oils and materials for the woollen manufactory, permits
10_s._ each, Rainbow.
For a settlement in the Island of St. Croix, Cross Keys.
Improving the manufacture of silk, Sun Tavern.
For purchasing a Manor and Royalty in Essex, Garraway's.
5,000,000_l._ for buying and selling lands, and lending on landed
security, Garraway's.
For raising and manufacturing madder in Great Britain, Pennsylvania
Coffee-house.
2000 shares for discounting pensions, &c. Globe Tavern.
4,000,000_l._ for improving all kinds of malt-liquors, Ship Tavern.
2,500,000_l._ for importing linens from Holland, and Flanders lace.
A Society for landing and entering goods at the Custom-house on
commissions, Robin's.
For making of glass and bottles, Salutation Tavern.
The grand American fishery, Ship and Castle.
2,000,000_l._ for a friendly Society, for purchasing merchandize, and
lending money, King's-arms.
2,000,000_l._ for purchasing and improving Fens in Lincolnshire, Sam's.
Improving soap-making, Mulford's Coffee-house.
For making English pitch and tar, Castle Tavern.
4,000,000_l._ for improving lands in Great-Britain, Pope's-head.
A woollen manufactory in the North of England, Swan and Rummer.
A paper manufactory, Hamlin's Coffee-house.
For improving gardens, and raising fruit-trees, Garraway's.
For insuring Seamen's wages, Sam's Coffee-house.
The North-America Society, Swan and Rummer.
The gold and silver Society.
2,000,000_l._ for manufacturing baize and flannel, Virginia
Coffee-house.
For extracting silver from lead, Vine Tavern.
1,000,000_l._ for manufacturing China and Delft wares, Rainbow.
4,000,000_l._ for importing tobacco from Virginia, Salutation Tavern.
For trading to Barbary and Africa, Lloyd's.
For the clothing and pantile trade, Swan and Hoop.
Making iron with pit-coal.
A copartnership for buying and selling _live hair_, Castle Tavern.
Insurance office for horses, dying natural deaths, stolen, or disabled,
Crown Tavern, Smithfield.
A rival to the above for 2,000,000_l._ at Robin's.
Insurance office for servants' thefts, &c. 3000 shares of 1000_l._
each, Devil Tavern.
For tillage and breeding cattle, Cross-keys.
For furnishing London with hay and straw, Great James's Tavern.
For bleaching coarse sugars to a fine colour without fire or loss of
substance, Fleece.
1,000,000_l._ for a perpetual motion, by means of a wheel moving by
force of its own weight, Ship Tavern.
A copartnership for insuring and increasing children's fortunes,
Fountain Tavern.
4,000,000_l._ for manufacturing iron and steel, Black Swan Tavern.
2,000,000_l._ for dealing in lace, &c. &c. &c. Sam's.
10,000,000_l._ for a Royal fishery of Great-Britain, Black Swan.
2,000,000_l._ to be lent upon pledges, Blue-coat Coffee-house.
Turnpikes and wharfs, Sword-blade Coffee-house.
For the British alum works, Salutation.
2,000,000_l._ for erecting salt-pans in Holy Island, John's
Coffee-house.
2,000,000_l._ for a snuff manufactory, Garraway's.
3,000,000_l._ for building and rebuilding houses, Globe Tavern.
The reader will find that I have given him the titles of _ninety_
of these symptoms of public phrenzy, exclusive of the South-Sea
scheme[118:A]. Such of the projects as have not mentioned millions,
appear to have been forlorn wights, who were contented perforce to
receive the few loose pounds left in the pockets of the subscribers, by
those whose aggregate sums amount to _one hundred and ten millions_.
The sufferers in this monstrous scene of wickedness and folly could not
plead ignorance or deception; the baits were so clumsily affixed to the
hooks, that the Journalists were continually employed in warning the
publick, sometimes seriously, and frequently piercing them with the
keenest shafts of ridicule: Sir Richard Steele endeavoured to warn the
maniacs of the South-Sea Stock, fruitlessly.
"Notwithstanding what has been published, that the annuitants would
not subscribe their annuities in the South-Sea Stock, we find that
they now run in crowds to subscribe them, though they know not how
much Stock they are to have. Some people say as much as will make 30
years' purchase; but this is uncertain. It was, indeed, expected that
before the Company would take those subscriptions, they would have
given notice of it in the Gazette, and have put up advertisements at
their house and at the Royal Exchange, at least eight days before;
but it seems the Annuitants have such a good opinion of the Directors
of the South-Sea, that without this they come and surrender their
ALL as it were, leaving it to the pleasure, discretion, and
honour of the Directors, to give them as much Stock as they shall think
fit. The like, we suppose, never was heard of before. It is said there
has already been above 300,000_l. per annum_ subscribed. The reason
of people running to it in such haste is, that it has been whispered
the first subscribers would receive a greater advantage than those that
shall stay longer. A million has also been subscribed, at the rate of
400_l. per cent._ the money to be paid in three years' time, but they
are to have the benefit of the next half year's dividend; by this last
subscription the Company will get 3,000,000_l._ of money; and it is
said they will shortly take another subscription at 500_l._ to pay in
seven years, and to have the next half year's dividend; by which means
they will get, together with those before, above 11 millions of money.
In all appearance, the Company will carry every thing before them; for
we see that, notwithstanding what has been said against their Stock by
Sir Richard Steele and others, that people are as eager for it as if
nothing had been said against it. Those fine writers might as well have
attempted to stop the tide under London-bridge, as to stop the people
from buying or subscribing in that Stock: as to the first of these,
they know something of what they do, but the Annuitants run blindfold
into the hands of the Directors, as if they should say: 'Gentlemen, We
have so many 1000_l._ or 100_l. per annum_ in the annuities for 99
years; we know you to be both just and honourable, give us as much of
your South-Sea Stock as you please, we oblige ourselves to be content
with whatever you shall give us;' and this is, in short, the sum and
substance of the case." London Journal, May 7, 1720.
The Weekly Packet of the same date adds: "The subscriptions that were
lately carried on for raising more millions of money than all Europe
can afford, are not as yet quite dead, but are very much withered by
the breath of the Senate, or a nipping blast from Westminster. It is
observed, that many of those projects are so ridiculous and chimerical,
that it is hard to tell which is most to be wondered at, the impudence
of those that make the proposals, or the stupid folly of those that
subscribe to them; yet many a gudgeon hath been caught in the net,
though one would think that, with half an eye, they might discern the
cheat. When these bites can no longer go on with their bubbles, happy
will be the consequence to many honest but unthinking men that stand in
danger to be drawn in by them; but unhappy to themselves that they have
been used to such dishonest ways of living, and hardly will take up
with any course of life that is not so; insomuch that it is feared, as
one says, that many of them will go out a marauding; then stand clear
the Bristol Mail."
On the 4th of June, the Newspapers intimated the intentions of
Parliament, directed to the prevention of any farther mischief from
Schemes and Stock-jobbing; and yet, so willing were people to be
ruined, that the London Journal of the 11th declares: "The hurry of our
Stock-jobbing bubblers, especially, has been so great this week, that
it has even exceeded all that ever was known before. The subscriptions
are innumerable; and so eager all sorts of people have been to engage
in them, how improbable or ridiculous soever they have appeared, that
there has been nothing but running about from one Coffee-house to
another, and from one Tavern to another, to subscribe, and without
examining what the proposals were. The general cry has been, 'For G--'s
sake let us but subscribe to something, we do not care what it is!' So
that, in short, many have taken them at their words, and entered them
adventurers in some of the grossest cheats and improbable undertakings
that ever the world heard of: and yet, by all these, the projectors
have got money, and have had their subscriptions full as soon as
desired."
The auspicious 24th of June at length arrived, which gave the force
of law to the following words: "And it is further enacted, by the
authority aforesaid, that if any Merchant or Trader, after the 24th day
of June 1720, shall suffer any particular damage in his, her, or their
trade, commerce, or their lawful occasions, by occasion or means of
any undertaking, or attempt, matter, or thing, by this Act declared to
be unlawful as aforesaid, and will sue to be relieved therein: then,
and in every such case, such Merchant or Trader shall and may have his
remedy for the same, by an action or actions, to be grounded upon this
Statute, against the persons, societies, or partnerships, or any of
them, who, contrary to this Act, shall be engaged or interested in any
such unlawful undertaking or attempt; and any such action and actions
shall be heard and determined in any of His Majesty's Courts of Record,
wherein no Essoign shall be allowed."
This necessary Act was faintly opposed in an attempt to evade its
penalties, by the projectors terming themselves and their Subscribers
co-partners; but the interposition of the Legislature stamped all their
schemes with discredit, and the elopement of several principals utterly
destroyed the contrivances of those who dared popular vengeance by
keeping their posts.
"The destruction of the bubbles has been a very heavy blow to many
families here, and some are entirely ruined by them. There appeared
the utmost consternation in Exchange-alley, the day the Act for
suppressing them took place, which, because of the confusion and
terror it struck among those brethren in iniquity, they called the day
of judgment. It might be well indeed with many of them, if no future
inquisition would be made into their conduct in this matter, though, if
so, they would not wholly escape; for many of those who have been the
most assiduous in drawing other poor wretches in to their ruin have,
besides their wealth, acquired an infamy they can never wipe off; and
as the rage of those who have drunk deep of the delusion is at this
time pretty great, the others do not seem fond of appearing too much
in public for the present; they being followed with the reproaches,
threats, and bitterest curses, of the poor people they have deluded to
their destruction. So that if all of them escape the resentment of the
populace, it must be more owing to the care of the Magistracy, than the
want of will or desperation in the injured." London Journal, July 2.
A waggish Scale-maker ventured, at the same time, into Exchange-alley,
at the very height of business, with his right hand extended, holding
a pair of scales, exclaiming, "Make room for Justice: I sell Justice,
who buys Justice _here_?" And the butchers' boys, actuated by the same,
though less civilized principle, made a tumultuous sham funeral for the
entertainment of the vicinity.
Although this great point was accomplished, the grand fortress yet
remained to be subdued.
Applebee's Journal of August 5, says, "Our South-sea equipages increase
every day; the City ladies buy South-Sea jewels; hire South-Sea maids;
and take new country South-Sea houses; the gentlemen set up South-Sea
coaches, and buy South-Sea estates, that they neither examine the
situation, the nature or quality of the soil, or price of the purchase,
only the annual rent and the title: for the rest, they take all by
the lump, and give 40 to 50 years' purchase. This has brought so many
estates to market, that the number of land-jobbers begin to increase to
a great degree, almost equal to the Stock-jobbers we had before."
On the 10th of August, the Lords Justices gave positive orders to
the Attorney-General, to bring Writs of _scire facias_ against the
York-buildings Company, the Lustring, the English Copper, and Welsh
Copper and Lead Companies, or any others that persisted in their
endeavours to evade the Law; and the Royal proclamation issued in aid
of it.
Government received numberless adventitious aids in their exertions.
Pamphlets, paragraphs, and calculations, proving the losses that must
follow from the monstrous price of 1000 _per cent._ for South-Sea
Stock; issued in shoals from the press; and, as usual, much malignity
and some wit composed the ingredients. One scrap of doggrel may be
worth inserting:
In London stands a famous pile,
And near that pile an alley,
Where merry crowds for riches toil,
And Wisdom stoops to Folly.
Here sad and joyful, high and low,
Court Fortune for her graces,
And as she smiles or frowns, they show
Their gestures and grimaces.
Here stars and garters too appear
Among our lords the rabble;
To buy and sell, to see and hear,
The Jews and Gentiles squabble.
Here crafty Courtiers are too wise
For those who trust to Fortune:
They see the cheat with clearer eyes,
Who peep behind the curtain.
Our greatest ladies hither come,
And ply in chariots daily,
Oft pawn their jewels for a sum,
To venture it in the Alley,
Young harlots, too, from Drury-lane,
Approach the 'Change in coaches,
To fool away the gold they gain
By their obscene debauches.
Long heads may thrive by sober rules,
Because they think, and drink not;
But headlongs are our thriving fools,
Who only drink, and think not.
The lucky rogues, like spaniel dogs,
Leap into South-Sea water,
And there they fish for golden frogs,
Not caring what comes after.
'Tis said that Alchemists of old
Could turn a brazen kettle,
Or leaden cistern, into gold,
That noble tempting metal;
But if it here may be allow'd
To bring in great with small things,
Our cunning South-Sea, like a god,
Turns nothing into all things.
What need have we of Indian wealth,
Or commerce with our neighbours,
Our constitution is in health,
And riches crown our labours:
Our South-Sea ships have golden shrouds,
They bring us wealth, 'tis granted;
But lodge their treasure in the clouds,
To hide it till it's wanted.
O Britain, bless thy present state,
Thou only happy Nation,
So oddly rich, so madly great,
Since bubbles came in fashion.
Successful rakes exert their pride,
And count their airy millions;
Whilst homely drabs in coaches ride,
Brought up to town on pillions.
Few men who follow Reason's rules
Grow fat with South-Sea diet;
Young rattles and unthinking fools,
Are those that flourish by it.
Old musty jades and pushing blades,
Who've least consideration,
Grow rich apace, whilst wiser heads
Are struck with admiration.
A race of men who t'other day
Lay crush'd beneath disasters,
Are now by stock brought into play,
And made our lords and masters.
But should our South-Sea Babel fall,
What numbers would be frowning;
The losers then must ease their gall,
By hanging or by drowning.
Five hundred millions notes and bonds,
Our stocks are worth in value;
But neither lie in goods or lands,
Or money, let me tell you;
Yet, though our foreign trade is lost,
Of mighty wealth we vapour;
When all the riches that we boast,
Consist in scraps of paper.
October 1, South-Sea Stock had fallen to 370; on the 6th to 180. The
consternation occasioned by this event to those who had purchased at
980, may readily be conceived. The Saturday's Post of the 1st remarks:
"It is impossible to express the vast alterations made by the sudden
and unaccountable fall of the South-Sea Stock, as well as other Stocks;
some few of the dealers in them, indeed, had happily secured themselves
before the storm arose; but the far greater number who are involved in
this public calamity, appear with such dejected looks, that a man of
little skill in the art of physiognomy may easily distinguish them.
"Exchange-alley sounds no longer of thousands got in an instant; but,
on the contrary, all corners of the town are filled with the groans of
the afflicted; and they who lately rode in great state to that famous
mart of money, now condescend to walk the streets on foot, and, instead
of adding to their equipages, have at once lost their estates. And
even those of the trading rank who talked loudly of retiring into the
country, purchasing estates, there building fine houses, and in every
thing imitating their betters, are now become bankrupts, and have, by
necessity, shut up their shops, because they could not keep them open
any longer; however, for the comfort of such whose condition will admit
of a remedy, it is said, a gentleman has formed a scheme for the relief
of those concerned."
Mist's Journal contains a paragraph, said to have been copied from a
work, intituled, "The Lord knows what, by the Lord knows who;" which
seems to place the South-Sea Stock in a true light: "I shall make a
familiar simile, which every reader may carry in his mind without
the help of figures, and which, I think, has a very near resemblance
to the South-Sea scheme, as it has been executed: _viz._ A, having
100_l._ Stock in Trade, though pretty much in debt, gives it out to
be worth 300_l._ on account of many privileges and advantages to
which he is entitled. B, relying on his great wisdom and integrity,
sues to be admitted a partner on those terms, and accordingly brings
300_l._ into the partnership. The trade being afterwards given out or
discovered to be very improving, C comes in at 500_l._; and afterwards
D, at 1100_l._; and the capital is then completed to 2000_l._ If the
partnership had gone on no farther than A and B, then A had got and
B had lost 100_l._; if it had stopt at C, A had got and C had lost
200_l._; and B had been as he was before. But D also coming in, A
gains 400_l._ and B 200_l._ and C neither gains nor loses, but D loses
600_l._ Indeed, if A could show that the said capital was intrinsically
worth 4,400_l._, there would be no harm done to D, and B and C would
have been much obliged to him. But if the capital at first was worth
but 100_l._ and increased only by the subsequent partnerships, it must
then be acknowledged that B and C have been imposed on in their turns;
and that unfortunate, thoughtless D pays the piper."
I shall conclude my notices of the money-making schemes of 1720, with
a beautiful invocation written by Mr. Philips: "O Eunomius (Earl
Cowper), oraculous in thy speech! happy had it been for thy country
if thy wisdom and integrity could have prevailed over the rashness of
some, and the avarice of others! Hereafter may'st thou never speak
in vain; and may thy counsels help to remedy those evils they might
have prevented! may the King hasten his return to his deluded, abused
subjects, and the Council of the Nation be speedily summoned for the
redress of the land! In the mean time let us mutually bear with, and
assist one another in our present necessities: and since we are as
free, though not so rich, a people as we have been; and still claim,
as our birthright, the liberty to debate, to speak, to write manfully
for the public good; let us not be dejected like our neighbours, after
whose inventions we have gone astray, not sorrow, even as others who
have no hope.
"Have we been delivered from the curse of arbitrary power; have we
been preserved from the destruction of the sword, the rage of fire,
the scourge of pestilence, and the ghastly terrors of famine, to
suffer by the mean artifices of money-changers? O my fellow citizens,
you have joined with the spoilers; yet have you not added to your
stores. Let me print the remembrance of your past inadvertency upon
your hearts, that it may abide as a memorial to you and to your
children; that deceivers may not hereafter inherit your possessions.
And whereunto shall I liken our past inadvertency, that it may abide
as a memorial to us and to our children? O my fellow-citizens, we
have waged a civil war throughout the land; who hath not committed
hostilities against his neighbour, and what hath it profited? The
wealth, the inheritance of the Island, are transferred to the meanest
of the people; those chiefly have gained who had nothing to lose: the
nobility, the gentry, the merchants, have been a prey to the idle, the
licentious, the spendthrifts; men whose habitations were not known. All
the calamities have we felt of a civil war, bloodshed only excepted:
they who abounded suffer want. The industry, the trade of the Nation,
has been suspended, and even arts and sciences have languished in the
general confusion: the very women have been exposed to plunder, whose
condition is the more deplorable, because they are not acquainted with
the methods of gain to repair their broken fortunes. Some are driven
from their country, others forced into confinement, some are weary of
life; and others there are who can neither be comforted nor recovered
to the use of reason. Had his Majesty been present to see the wild
proceedings of the people, his goodness would have saved us from these
extremities; for though a King can, in his absence, delegate his power
and authority, yet can he not delegate his wisdom and his justice."
Immediately after the disclosure of the shocking villainy practised
by Stock-jobbers and the South-Sea Directors, another impostor was
exposed to public view, and the Charity that had voluntarily flown
into his pockets turned to more worthy channels. It is true, the
fellow was a little villain, but his arts may serve as a beacon to
the unwary. This wretch pretended to be subject to epileptic fits,
and would fall purposely into some dirty pool, whence he never failed
to be conveyed to a dry place, or to receive handsome donations;
sometimes he terrified the spectators with frightful gestures and
convulsive motions, as if he would beat his head and limbs to pieces,
and, gradually recovering, receive the rewards of his performance; but
the frequency of the exploit at length attracted the notice of the
Police, by whom he was conveyed in a dreadful fit to the Lord Mayor, in
whose presence the symptoms continued with the utmost violence; that
respectable Magistrate, undertaking the office of physician, prescribed
the Compter, and finally the Workhouse, where he had no sooner arrived,
than, finding it useless to counterfeit, he began to amend, and beat
his hemp with double earnestness.
A brother in iniquity went to as many as twenty taverns in one
afternoon, the landlords of which were ordered by him to prepare a
supper for three officers of the guards, and to pay him a shilling for
his trouble, and charge it to the officers.
The following Report of a Committee was made to his Majesty's Justices
of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, in their General Quarter
Sessions, assembled 1725.
"In pursuance of an order made in the last Quarter Sessions held for
this County; whereby it was referred to us, among others, to enquire
into the number of houses and places within such parts of this town
and county as are therein mentioned, where Geneva and other strong
waters are sold by retail, and the mischiefs occasioned thereby: We,
whose names are subscribed, do hereby certify, that by the returns of
the high and petty constables, made upon their oaths, it appears there
are within the weekly Bills of Mortality, and such other parts of this
County as are now by the contiguity of buildings become part of this
Town, exclusive of London and Southwark, 6187 houses and shops, wherein
Geneva or other strong waters are sold by retail. And, although this
number is exceeding great, and far beyond all proportion to the real
wants of the inhabitants (being in some parishes every tenth house, in
others every seventh, and in one of the largest every fifth house),
we have great reason to believe it is very short of the true number,
there being none returned but such who sell publicly in shops or
houses, though it is known there are many others who sell by retail,
even in the streets and highways, some on bulks and stalls set up for
that purpose, and others in wheelbarrows, who are not returned; and
many more who sell privately in garrets, cellars, back-rooms, and other
places not publicly exposed to view, and which thereby escaped the
notice of our officers; and yet there have been a considerable number
lately suppressed, or obliged to leave off, by the Justices within
their parishes, though it has proved of no effect, having only served
to drive those who before were used to these liquors into greater
shops, which are now to be seen full of poor people from morning to
night.
"But in this number of 6187 are included such victuallers who sell
Geneva or other strong waters, as well as Ale and Beer: though it is
highly probable, from the great and sudden decay of the brewing-trade,
without any diminution in the number of victuallers, that the
quantities of strong waters now drank in Alehouses is vastly increased
of late beyond what was usual; and it appears by the constables'
returns, where they are distinguished, that the number of Geneva and
other strong water shops are fully equal to the number of Alehouses,
and rather exceed than otherwise.
"It is with the deepest concern your Committee observe the strong
inclination of the inferior sort of people to these destructive
liquors; and yet, as if that were not sufficient, all arts are used to
tempt and invite them. All Chandlers, many Tobacconists, and several
who sell fruit or herbs in stalls or wheelbarrows, sell Geneva; and
many inferior tradesmen begin now to keep it in their shops for
their customers; whereby it is scarce possible for soldiers, seamen,
servants, or others of their rank, to go any where without being drawn
in, either by those who sell it, or by their acquaintance they meet
with in the streets, who generally begin with inviting them to a dram,
which is every where near at hand; especially where, of all other
places, it ought to be kept at the greatest distance; near churches,
work-houses, stables, yards, and markets.
"Your Committee, after having informed themselves as well as they were
able of the numbers of those houses, proceeded to enquire according
to your directions into the mischiefs arising from them, and from the
immoderate use of these liquors, and more especially Geneva; and those
appear to be endless and innumerable, affecting not only particular
persons and families, but also the trade of the Nation and the public
welfare.
"With respect to particular persons; it deprives them of their money,
time, health, and understanding, weakens and enfeebles them to the
last degree; and yet, while under its immediate influence, raises
the most violent and outrageous passions, renders them incapable of
hard labour, as well as indisposes them to it, ruins their health,
and destroys their lives; besides the fatal effects it has on their
morals and religion. And among the women (who seem to be almost equally
infected) it has this farther effect, by inflaming their blood, and
stupifying their senses, to expose them an easy prey to the attacks
of vicious men; and yet many of them are so blind to these dismal
consequences, that they are often seen to give it to their youngest
children, even to such whom they carry in their arms.
"With regard to their families, this pernicious liquor is still more
fatal: whilst the husband, and perhaps his wife also, are drinking and
spending their money in Geneva-shops, their children are starved and
naked at home, without bread to eat, or clothes to put on, and either
become a burden to their parishes, or, being suffered to ramble about
the streets, are forced to beg while they are children, and learn
as they grow up to pilfer and steal; which your Committee conceive
to be one of the chief causes of the vast increase of thieves and
pilferers of all kinds, notwithstanding the great numbers who have been
transported by virtue of the excellent law made for that purpose. Under
this head may also be added, the common practice of pawning their own
and children's clothes (which exposes them to all the extortions of
pawnbrokers), and their running in debt, and cheating by all the ways
and means they can devise, to get money to spend in this destructive
liquor, which generally ends in the husband's being thrown into a gaol,
and his whole family on the parish. And this your Committee conceive
to be one of the principal causes of the great increase of beggars and
parish poor, notwithstanding the high wages now given to all sorts of
workmen and servants.
"And lastly, with regard to trade, and the public welfare, the
consequences are yet more ruinous and destructive. It has been already
observed, that the constant use of strong-waters, and particularly
of Geneva, never fails to produce an invincible aversion to work and
labour; this, by necessary consequence, deprives us of great numbers
of useful hands, which would otherwise be employed to the advantage of
the publick. And as to those who yet do work sometimes, or follow any
employment, the loss of their time in frequent tippling, the getting
often drunk in the morning, and the spending of their money this way,
must very much cramp and straiten them, and so far diminish their
trade, and the profit which would accrue from thence to the publick, as
well as to themselves. But it is farther to be observed, that although
the retail trade of wine and ale is generally confined to Vintners and
Victuallers, this of Geneva is now sold, not only by Distillers and
Geneva-shops, but by most other inferior traders, particularly by all
chandlers, many weavers, and several tobacconists, dyers, carpenters,
gardeners, barbers, shoemakers, labourers, and others, there being in
the hamlet of Bethnal-green only above 40 weavers who sell this liquor;
and these and other trades which make our manufactures, generally
employing many journeymen and artificers under them, who having always
this liquor ready at hand, are easily tempted to drink freely of it,
especially as they may drink the whole week upon score, and perhaps
without minding how fast the score rises upon them, whereby at the
week's end they find themselves without any surplusage to carry home
to their families, which of course must starve, or be thrown on the
parish. And as this evil (wherein the masters may perhaps find their
own account, by drawing back the greatest part of their workmen's
wages) will naturally go on increasing, and extend to most other trades
where numbers of workmen are employed, your Committee apprehend, it may
(if not timely prevented) affect our manufactures in the most sensible
manner, and be of the last consequence to our trade and welfare.
"Under this head it may be proper also to take some notice of
the pernicious influence, the permitting of chandlers, and other
inferior trades, to deal in this destructive liquor, or any other
strong-waters, has in this town, on the servants of the nobility and
gentry; it being too common a practice among chandlers and others,
where servants are continually going on one occasion or other, to tempt
and press them to drink, and even to give them drams of this liquor,
which we may reasonably suppose must be paid for by the masters, either
in the price, weight, or measure of the goods they are sent for, and
which, besides the immediate damage, encourages them to wrong their
masters in greater matters, and, as we conceive, may be one cause of
the great complaints that are made against servants.
"And if we may judge what will happen in other workhouses now erecting,
by what has already happened by that of St. Giles's in the Fields,
we have reason to fear, that the violent fondness and desire of this
liquor, which unaccountably possesses all our poor, may prevent in
great measure the good effects proposed by them, and which in all
other respects seem very hopeful and promising; it appearing by the
return from Holborn division, wherein that workhouse is situate,
that notwithstanding all the care that has been taken, Geneva is
clandestinely brought in among the poor there, and that they will
suffer any punishment or inconveniences rather than live without it,
though they cannot avoid seeing its fatal effects by the death of those
amongst them who had drank most freely of it; and it is found by
experience there, that those who use this liquor are not only the most
lazy and unfit for work, but also the most turbulent and ungovernable,
and on that account several of them have been turned out, and left to
struggle with the greatest wants abroad, which they submit to, rather
than they will discover who brought in the Geneva to them, though they
have been offered to be forgiven on that condition.
"Your Committee, having thus laid before you the numbers of the houses
and places wherein Geneva and other strong-waters are sold, as also
some of the many mischievous effects derived from them, submit to the
consideration and judgment of the Sessions, how far it is in their
power, and by what means, to suppress this great nuisance; or whether
any, and what application to superiors may be proper in order to a more
effectual remedy.
"_Jan. 13, 1725._
"JOHN MILNER,
ISAAC TILLARD,
R. THORNHILL,
THOMAS PINDER,
JOHN MERCER,
WM. COTESWORTH,
JOHN ELLIS."
The Society for the Reformation of Manners published a Statement of
their proceedings almost immediately after, by which it appears, they
had prosecuted from December 1, 1724, to December 1, 1725, 2506
persons for keeping lewd and disorderly houses, swearing, drunkenness,
gaming, and proceeding in their usual occupations on Sundays. The total
amount of their prosecutions for 34 years amounted to the amazing
number of 91,899[141:A].
A grand masqued ball, given at the Opera-house in February 1726,
commenced at 12 o'clock on Monday night the 13th; deep play at Hazard
succeeded, when one of the company threw for 50_l._ and lost; and still
holding the box without paying, threw a second time for 150_l._ with no
better success; the winners then insisted upon a deposit of the money,
which was complied with in four supposed roleaus, of 50 guineas each;
but, some suspicions arising, they were opened and found to be rolls or
parcels of halfpence; the sharper was immediately seized and committed
to the custody of an officer of the guard, whom he soon terrified
into a release, by declaring he was a lawyer thoroughly acquainted
with the acts concerning unlawful games at Hazard, and, at the same
time, advising him not to incur the penalties usually inflicted on
those who committed trespasses on the liberty of the subject by false
imprisonment. When carried to a Magistrate, he obliged that respectable
guardian of the public peace to acknowledge that he could do nothing
with him, and he was discharged accordingly.