The Prince goes to Brighton for his health--Description of Brighton in
1784--Royal visitors--The Prince takes a house--Weltje--Sam House--Fox
and the Prince--Brighton in 1785.
In 1784 the Prince of Wales had a somewhat serious illness, and we read
in the _Morning Herald_ of July 16 that 'His Royal Highness, the Prince
of Wales, having been advised by his Physicians to sea bathing, we are
informed from good authority, that his Royal Highness will set out on
Monday next for Brighthelmstone. Mr. Weltje, the Clerk of the Kitchen,
and Mr. Gill, the Purveyor of the Stables, are now at Brighthelmstone,
preparing everything for his Royal Highness's reception.'
He left London on the evening of July 22, and the following are some
newspaper cuttings which describe his visit and the general gaieties of
that season at Brighton:
'_Brighthelmstone_ will certainly prove the summer residence of the
_loves_ and _graces_, on account of the temporary residence there
of the Heir apparent: not a cock loft but what is taken by some
_expectant fair_, who means to make an _innocent conquest_, or an
_illicit sacrifice_!--The _Knights of the Dice box_ are collecting
there from all quarters, hoping for a plentiful harvest in so singular
a season for universal _gul-_ as well as _cul-libility_! A pretty
sprinkling of Princes of the _Gallic blood_ is, likewise, hourly
expected to complete the curious _dramatis personæ_.'[30]
'_Extract from a letter from Brighthelmstone, July 25._ The Prince
of Wales is here quite as a private gentleman, attended by Colonel
Leigh, etc. He walks frequently upon the Steine, and behaves with great
affability and politeness.'[31]
'BRIGHTHELMSTONE INTELLIGENCE. _Brighthelmstone_ is the center
_luminary_ of the _system_ of pleasure: Lymington, Southampton and
all other places within the _sphere_ of its _attraction_, lose their
gayest visitants, who fly to that resort:--the women, the pretty women,
all hasten to see the _Paris_ of the day!--On Monday last, the Dukes
of _Chartres_ and _Lauzun_, the Marquis _de Conflans_, the Comte _de
Seguir_, and others, arrived to be present at the races. They came
from France by the way of Dover, but had all their equipage sent over
from _Dieppe_. The lively and engaging Comtesse _de Coniac_ was to
have met them by the latter route at Brighthelmstone; but some dæmon,
unfriendly to gallantry, and to this place, interposed, and procured
an _arret_ to be expedited from the Queen of France's bedchamber,
just as the sprightly belle was casting a longing eye from _Dieppe_
over to the British coast, and preparing to step into the pacquet.
This is a prodigious disappointment to the company, and particularly
to the _Prince_. His Highness gave an elegant dinner at his house on
the _Steine_. The _Duc de Chartres_ and his friends were present: the
meeting was festive and social. In the evening, this convivial party
visited the Rooms: the company was genteel and numerous. The Prince
danced with Lady _Elizabeth Conway_, and was acknowledged the best
performer present.
'On Tuesday, the _Brighton Races_ began, which afforded but very
little sport. The Duke of Queensberry's was the favourite horse, but
lost; and the _Duc de Chartres_, who betted him against the field,
got rid of a good deal of money on the occasion. The sport was not
better the next day, but rather worse, on account of the badness of
the weather. All the Ladies attended both days, mostly in carriages.
Lady _Charlotte Bertie_ was the Constellation, or superior luminary of
the course. _Micavit inter omnes, quantum inter ignes Luna minores._
Lady _Lincoln_, and her sister Lady _Betty Conway_, drove about in a
phaeton, to the great annoyance of the beaux.
'The public entertainments at Brighthelmstone are, balls at the rooms
twice a week, alternately at the _Ship_, and _Castle_, and plays,
the other four nights, at the theatre. The balls are on Monday and
Thursday; and no dress is required except in those that dance minuets.
The rooms are, besides, open all the other nights for card parties, and
on _Sunday_ for a promenade. The Prince has not yet missed the Play
house once, when there has been a performance at it, since his arrival.
The pleasurable daughters of the place, have at their head, Mrs.
_Smith_, Mrs. _Elliot_, and Mrs. _Walker_; between whom an equipoise
of rivalship and jealousy prevails, and what one has in a _dimple_, is
counteracted by the lip, or the eye of the others.'[32]
'LEWES RACES. The _Prince of Wales_ is so regardless of weather,
that a shower of rain is never known to interrupt his excursions.
His Highness's indifference on this head, reminds us of a remark of
_Henry the Great_, "that fate does not depend upon a sunbeam!"--The
example of the British prince was followed by his _insular_ friends
and _Parisian_ visitors. The road from Brighthelmstone to Lewes, was
crowded by _gentlemen jockies_ and _jockey sharpers_; carriages of
various denominations, and a company of all descriptions. The _Steine_
was depopulated of all save a few _living caricatures_, consisting of
antique Females, and _balloonified_ squires from the City, too awkward
and unwieldy to wear boots, or venture on horseback: to this class of
beings, the ball room was relinquished.
'The Course ground continued, during the races, frequented by
fashionable guests. Besides the English and French princes, were
present the Duc _de Lauzun_, Marquis _de Conflans_, Count _Seguir_, the
Russian minister, and several others from the Continent. The Duke of
Queensberry, Lord Cholmondeley, Lord Foley, and many more of the Jockey
Club were on the ground.
'The Bets were high, though the sport was indifferent; the Duke de
Chartres, Duke of Queensberry and Sir Charles Bunbury, were principally
engaged in the success of the day. The _Gallic Duke_ was in such
spirits, that it was said his Highness would have mounted an _Air
balloon_ had one been present.
'A _Pedestrian Race_ was, also, proposed between a _fat gentleman_, and
a _lean one_: but the former complaining that the atmosphere was low,
gave up the contest as he was fearful he should be _hard blowed_!'[33]
The Prince being at Brighton made all the difference in the gaiety
of the place, and his occasional absence in London is thus commented
upon: 'Brighthelmstone, comparatively speaking, within these few days,
has become almost a desert; scarce a person of fashion remains; the
whole company now consists of _antiquated virgins_, _emaciated beaux_,
and wealthy citizens, with their wives and daughters; the latter of
whom have some _weight_ in continuing a few needy adventurers, who are
as watchful as lynxes, for an opportunity of carrying off the golden
prizes.'[34]
Note how this all changes when he returns. 'Extract from a Letter from
Brighthelmstone, dated Sep. 5. We are all alive and merry here. Besides
the honour of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's company, we are
favoured with those of the Duchess of Ancaster, Lady Charlotte Bertie,
Lady Mary Brudenell, the Bishop of Winchester, Lord and Lady Beauchamp,
the Right Hon. Mr. Fox, with many others; and, last night, the Right
Hon. Mr. Pitt, accompanied by Mr. Steele, of the Treasury, arrived here.
'The Prince of Wales was, last night, at the Theatre, accompanied by
the Hon. Mr. Erskine, and the Hon. Mr. Onslow, to see the Beggar's
Opera, the principal parts of which were represented by gentlemen, and
well represented they were. Captain Ash's _Macheath_ much exceeded
many of the professional men on either of your London theatres. It was
succeeded by a well-timed address, written and spoken by Mr. Bonner,
craving the friendly attendance of the company to the future benefits
of the several performers.'[35]
We also learn by a newspaper paragraph[36] that 'the house that the
Prince of Wales has at Brighthelmstone, is that which formerly belonged
to Lord Egremont's brother, Mr. Wyndham. The Duke of Cumberland had it
last year. The house is, or ought to be, the best in the place.'
This is the house which we have seen was negotiated for the Prince by
Weltje, his clerk of the kitchen; at least, this was his nominal title,
but in reality he was the Prince's purveyor of his household, and was
much mixed up in his financial matters. Louis Weltje was a German
of obscure origin, and it is said, at one time, sold cakes in the
streets. However, he must have had something in him, and must also have
been thrifty, for in the newspapers of 1782 and 1783 we find several
mentions of Weltje's Club, and he had a famous pastry-cook's shop and
restaurant in St. James Street, and afterwards in Pall Mall. In the
satirical prints in the British Museum for 1783, drawn by Captain
Hays, is 'Mr. Weltjee's Fruit Shop, Pall Mall.' Madame Weltje, a large
woman, is seated at a horseshoe counter, on which is a variety of
fruit. In the window are displayed pines, grapes, bottles, and jars. A
manuscript note says her shop was 'next door neighbour to Mr. Neville.'
He served the Prince for some years, but was at last superseded. On
his retirement he bought a large house at Hammersmith, formerly in
the occupation of Lord Allington, the supporters of whose arms, two
talbots, decorated the gate-posts. In this house, which he bequeathed
to his brother Christopher, he died, probably of apoplexy, in 1810,
and was buried in Hammersmith Churchyard. His name still exists in the
neighbourhood in Weltje Road, which runs from the Upper Mall to King
Street West, and consists of sixty-eight houses.
We have seen that Fox was at Brighton in 1784. Fox, who was the 'guide,
philosopher, and friend' of Prince Florizel, was at this time a man
of about thirty-five or thirty-six, having been born in 1749. By his
birth, education, and talents he should have been a fitting companion
for the Prince, but he was lax in his morals, an inveterate gambler,
and a hard drinker, and a worse comrade for a young man could scarcely
be found. Indeed, at the end of the Westminster election of 1784
Gillray caricatured him in a satirical print entitled 'Preceptor and
Pupil' as a loathsome toad with a fox's brush, who is whispering into
the ear of the sleeping (or drunken) Prince: 'Abjure thy country and
thy parents, and I will give thee dominion over many powers. Better to
rule in Hell than serve in Heaven!'
Apropos of this election, which lasted forty days, and brought Fox in
second at the poll, it is perhaps as famous as any in our electoral
history. Much to the disgust of his parents, the Prince threw himself
heart and soul into the fray, wearing a 'Fox cockade' at Ranelagh, and
allowing members of his household to canvas for his boon companion.
During the election, Gillray produced a satirical print (April 18,
1784) called 'Returning from Brooks's,' where the Prince, exceedingly
drunk, and wearing the 'Fox cockade,' is being helped along by Fox and
Sam House, a publican who kept a house, called The Intrepid Fox, at the
corner of Peter Street and Wardour Street. 'Honest Sam House,' as he
was called, was a violent politician and Whig, and during this election
kept open house at his own expense. House figures in many caricatures
of the time, and his fame was even enshrined in verse:
'See the brave Sammy House, he's as still as a mouse,
And does canvas with prudence so clever;
See what shoals with him flocks, to poll for brave Fox:
Give thanks to Sam House, boys, for ever, for ever, for ever!
Give thanks to Sam House, boys, for ever!
'Brave bald-headed Sam, all must own, is the man,
Who does canvas for brave Fox so clever:
His aversion, I say, is to _small beer_ and _Wray_:[37]
May his bald head be honour'd for ever, for ever, for ever!
May his bald head be honour'd for ever!'
There is another satirical print, which is dated January, 1785, by an
unknown artist, called 'Fox singing a Song to the P----e of W--l--s.'
Fox and the Prince are playing cards and drinking. Fox sings:
1.
'Tho' matters at present go cross in the realm,
You will one day be K--g, Sir, and I at the helm;
So let us be jovial, drink, gamble and sing,
Nor regard it a straw, tho' we're not yet the thing.
Tol de rol, tol, tol, tol de rol.
2.
'The proverb informs us, each dog has his day,
So those that oppose us, this fate must obey;
But time's on our side, Sir, and now on the wing,
To make me a statesman, and you, Sir, the K--g.
Tol de rol, etc.
3.
'In vain are harangues, I as well may be dumb,
And let motions alone, till our day, Sir, is come;
Then Thurlow and Pitt from their state we will fling,
They may go below stairs, Sir, so we are the thing.
Tol de rol, etc.
4.
'Thus seated in state, Sir, we'll fill all our soul,
At the fountain of Venus, at Bacchus's bowl;
In all that we please, Sir, we'll take a full swing,
For who's to controul a Prime Statesman and K--g?
Tol de rol, etc.'
The Prince remarks: 'Fox, are you not the shuffler?'
[Illustration: RETURNING FROM BROOKS'S.]
'The Prince of Wales has again taken a house at Brighton for the
season,' says the _Morning Post_ of June 11, 1785, and he left
London for his seaside residence on the 22nd of the same month. The
same newspaper of June 28 reports that 'the visit of a certain gay,
illustrious character at Brighton, has frightened away a number of
old maids, who used constantly to frequent that place. The history of
the gallantries of the last season, which is in constant circulation,
has something in it so voluminous, and tremendous to boot, that the
old tabbies shake in their shoes whenever his R----l H----ss is
mentioned.'
'_Lewes, July 2._--The Prince of Wales, on Monday last, at
Brighthelmstone, amused himself for some time, in attempting to shoot
doves with single balls, but with what success, we have not learnt;
though we hear that his Royal Highness is esteemed a most excellent
shot, and seldom presents his piece without doing some execution. The
Prince, in the course of his diversion, either by design, or accident,
lowered the tops of several of the chimnies of the Hon. Mr. Wyndham's
house.'[38]
A few paragraphs from the _Morning Post_ of this year will give us a
good insight into the Brighton of the period.
_July 6._--'The _Brighthelmstone intelligence_ has no novelty to
recommend it; merely a repetition of the old story; _morning rides_,
_champaigne_, _dissipation_, _noise_ and _nonsense_: jumble these
phrases together, and you have a complete account of all that's passing
at _Brighthelmstone_!'
_July 8._--'A correspondent says, Brighthelmstone is much altered from
what it was last season. Neither money, nor any speculating jewellers
who give good _tick_, and discount upon a _gentle feeling_. The ---- has
been tried and found wanting--all about him is not sterling--but one
good _endorser_ in the whole set, and he abroad. Times are bad.
'Mrs. Johnson and Windsor have undertaken to provide for the
necessities of Brighton this year. The _female adventurers_ of last
season were totally ruined: even _Bet Cox_, who made as good a hand of
it as any, swears she will not run the risk again, and that, _though as
how_ she was with the Prince, one night when he was drunk, yet that did
not compensate her for the wear and tear with his attendants. We have
not yet heard Mrs. _Smith's_ opinion on the subject; but, as she was
nearer the fire, she could not well escape being scorched.'
_August 4._--'Brighthelmstone is at present very thin of company,
few females arriving there but the _corps d'amour_. Women of virtue
and character shun these scenes of debauchery and drunkenness, ever
attendant on the spot which is the temporary residence of a----.'
_August 18._--'His Royal Highness the Prince is so attached to his
bathing residence, Brighthelmstone--he has so many sea nymphs there,
rising from Old Ocean every morning to greet him; that, in the true
spirit of an _English Prince_, his sole desire appears to _rule the
waves_: and, when he comes to Town, he is actually like _a fish out of
water_.'
_August 25._--'Plague upon the _skippers_ that they do not understand
the navigation of their own coasts! for, surely, some of the Margate
Hoys have blundered by both the North and South Foreland, and landed
their cargoes on the Sussex Shore. Never were there such a set
of curmudgeonly knaves and dowdies, before, in Brighton, say the
conscientious keepers of the subscription books! The lodging-houses
are full, the streets well frequented, and the Steyne crowded--but who
bathes, who raffles, and who subscribes? They vow that they never had
so little Gold in their Autumn crop, since they were obliged to content
themselves with the profits of their fishing, to wash their smocks upon
the beach, and to live on crabs and pickled herrings!
'In fact, the visitors of this place are either a wiser, or a poorer
sort than formerly. _Snug_ is the word with most of them; they give as
little into amusements, dissipation and extra expences, as they can
well avoid--hence, the obvious policy of the inhabitants to render
the necessary ones as high and as productive as possible--they treat
Londoners in their town as we treat Dutchmen and others, in our charge
for lights and landmarks--make them come down handsomely, as it is
to be done but seldom. The innkeepers here, are a kind of beasts of
prey, whose rapacity is in proportion to their former abstinence: they
are leeches, who think a plethora of the purse is no less dangerous
than that of the body; and, though you come here only to have your
constitution put to rights, they will, also, gladly take charge of your
property.
'An Irish gentleman being asked, the other day, by a friend, which
Inn he thought the best, observed that they were both bad enough; at
one you were _imposed upon_; at the other, _cheated_. The Rooms have
been pretty well frequented on a Sunday, when it is the Vauxhall price
of admission. The play house must, long since, have shut up, were it
not for the _extraordinary abilities_ and _fertile resources_ of Mr.
_Fox_,[39] and the patronage of the fair emigrants from Cleveland Row,
Jermyn Street, and King's Place--there have been no gentlemen enactors,
this year; so much the worse. With deference, be it said, to the
judgement of certain titled ladies, who, adding to their _purity_ by
every successive plunge into the salt water, pronounced the mixture of
gentlemen with professed actors, a perfect contamination. Better sense,
however, and more extra liberality prevail at present; for ladies now
ride to the Downs to see Earls and great folks play at cricket, with
footmen and drivers, without having their delicacy wounded, or their
finer feelings deranged. That game has become the favourite amusement
with the young men of fashion here. Mr. _St. John_ is the best bowler;
Lord _Darnley_ and _George Hanger_ the best bats; _Bob_ the postillion,
the best stopper behind the wicket. As to his Royal Highness, he is but
a young cricketer; the ladies, however, commend his agility; and, since
M^{rs} _J--n's_ squad arrived, he has been famous for catching and
running.
'On Saturday last, the _Marquis de Conflans_ took his departure for
_Dieppe_. The Prince and his company went to see the Marquis embark,
when a very extraordinary and humorous scene was presented. It being
low water, the boat could not approach the shore--the Marquis was
anxious to get on board, and stood, for some time, in suspence, when
the Prince, to show him that persons of their rank should not have
the propensities of cats, or the frippery of _petits maîtres_, taking
one of his companions by the hand, rushed at once into the water.
The Marquis, _pour l'honneur de la France_, could not do otherwise
than follow him; the line advanced with resolution, but could not
long withstand the force of the waves, which overset them; they then
rolled like porpoises in the water, till they got the Marquis aboard
the packet; when they despatched him, in a proper state, to pay his
respects to the _Dauphin_. _Vive l'amour et l'allegresse, et bon
voyage, M. le Marquis!_'
_September 10._--'The flux and reflux of company not being so great
here as at some other places, there has been very little novelty since
my last intelligence. The lodging-houses are, still, in general, full,
though there are some occasionally to be disposed of at the following
reasonable rates: for a house upon the Steine, eight guineas a week,
or the same faced with blue and buff,[40] for the trifling addition of
two guineas (for which you may have the credit of being a member of
that party).[41] Two beds, with a dining-room or parlour (the former,
perhaps, being supplied with a good _live stock_) for three guineas;
and, for a guinea per week, a single gentleman may be accommodated
with an apartment, where, if he finds himself streightened for want
of room, he may be gratified, at least, with a prospect of better
things, and have the view of a large piece of water, commonly called
the English Channel. Hence, too, he may form some idea of our naval
grandeur, by contemplating the fleet, as it lies at anchor before the
town, consisting, at least, of an hundred sail--of fishing smacks;
or, he may indulge in a peep of the ladies dipping into the water, or
bobbing at a wave in rough weather; for the Master of the Ceremonies
has judiciously assigned them the place nearest to the houses, and has
sent the gentlemen, for _decency's sake_, two hundred yards further to
the westward.
'If we may believe _the printed list_, half the fashionable persons,
and about one-fourth of the w----s of London, have visited Brighton
in the course of the summer; but, for those of the most consideration,
who are to be seen in their shoes, as well as upon the List of the
Company, take the following names: His Royal Highness and suite, more
respectable, though not as numerous as last year; the Earl and Dowager
Countess of Darnley, with her family; Earl and Countess of Clermont;
Lord and Lady Beauchamp; the Countess of Shaftesbury and family; Baron
and Baroness Nolcken; Lord Belgrave; Lord Lucan, with his family; Lord
and Lady Lisle; Lord Gage; Sir Sampson and Lady Gideon; Sir Eardley
Wilmot; Earl and Countess of Sefton; Lord Herbert; Sir Godfrey Webster;
Mr. Wyndham; Mr. T. Townsend; Mr. St. John. Some city beaux sport their
gigs upon the downs, and their persons upon the Steine: they would fain
be thought men of fashion, but their very best airs in the ballroom
partake of Coachmaker's Hall; the City dancing-masters being ten years
behindhand in the refinements of their profession. There is very little
show of beauty in the Rooms. Among the young ladies of family, _Miss
Bingham_, daughter of Lord Lucan, is almost the only one that deserves
notice in that particular; and, however singular, in this place, it
is a fact that one of the ladies who has been most distinguished for
elegance, is a Miss I----s, from _Cow Lane_, West Smithfield!
'The Rooms, as I hinted before, have been almost deserted, except
on particular nights. At the last ball but one, at the _Ship_, only
seven couple stood up, and the lady who took the lead, according to
the etiquette established in pride and folly, was _pro_ NUMMORUM
_atque hominum fidem credite_!--no less a person than Mrs. Tr----d,
daughter of the naval baronet, who, in his lifetime, gained many signal
advantages over the tribes of Benjamin and Levi. The _Castle_ has been
somewhat more fortunate. But Fox, the manager, has been so successful,
as to excite the envy of his rivals, who have it in contemplation to
set up a theatre in opposition to his. It was for this purpose that
_Signor Grimaldi's_ journey was undertaken, which, by the newspaper
accounts, proved so fatal to him; and, as he, with Mr. _Spencer_, the
harlequin, is to have the principal concern, we may expect that the
prime parts of the entertainment at the new Theatre, will be pantomime,
with _grinning_ and _jumping_ in abundance. If Mr. _Grimaldi_ should
bring down his young pupils from the Circus, it will, perhaps, be
necessary for Mr. Fox to engage the General Jackoo, or the Dancing
Dogs. At present, he confines his attempts to Comic Opera, Comedy, and
Farce; and, for these, it must be confessed, he has good materials. His
company may be called a good one--for the country--though the greatest
part are recruits, and want drilling. Yet, why for _the country_, when
there are so many London performers without engagements in the summer.
'The most extraordinary event that has happened lately, was a violent
gale on Tuesday, which caused many sad accidents. The wind blew with
prodigious force from the southward, and brought an uncommonly high
tide with it. This rendered it necessary to draw up all the small
craft, and the machines upon the Steine, where most of the Company,
particularly the Londoners, assembled to gaze at a sea storm. The
Prince's curiosity got him a ducking, and an old man and his ass were
drowned under the Cliff.'
[Illustration: Decorative motif]
FOOTNOTES:
[30] _Morning Herald_, July 27.
[31] _Parker's General Advertiser_, July 28.
[32] _Morning Herald_, August 9.
[33] _Morning Herald_, August 10.
[34] _Ibid._, August 21.
[35] _Morning Herald_, September 9.
[36] _Ibid._, August 27.
[37] Sir Cecil Wray, one of the candidates.
[38] _Morning Post_, July 8, 1785.
[39] The lessee and manager.
[40] The builders have, since last year, erected a row of houses on the
Steyne, with bricks of these colours, in compliment, I imagine, to the
Prince's uniform.
[41] Whig.
[Illustration: Decorative panel]