A copper plate representing London Bridge on the right hand, and a line
of tents on the left, leading from Temple Stairs. In front, another
line of tents, marked “Thames Street,” and the various sports, &c.,
before them: below the print are alphabetical references, with the words
“Printed on the Thames, 1715-16;” and above it, “Frost Fair on the River
Thames.”
A copper-plate of much larger dimensions, representing London at St.
Paul’s, with the tents, &c., and with alphabetical references; “Printed
and sold by John Bowles, at the Black Horse, in Cornhill.” In the
right-hand corner above, the arms and supporters of the City; and on the
left a cartouche, with the words “Frost Fayre, being a True Prospect
of the Great Varietie of Shops and Booths for Tradesmen, with other
Curiosities and Humors, on the Frozen River of Thames, as it appeared
before the City of London, in that memorable Frost in yᵉ year of the
Reigne of Our Sovereigne Lord King George, Anno Domini 1716.”
“An exact and lively View of the Booths, and all the variety of Shows,
&c., on the ice, with an alphabetical explanation of the most remarkable
figures, 1716.” A copper-plate.
“Frost Fair; or a View of the Booths on the Frozen Thames in the 2nd year
of King George, 1716.” A wood-cut.
[Sidenote: 1739]
The following is a list of the most important memorials of this famous
frost fair:--
A copper-plate, representing a view of the Thames at Westminster, with
the tents, sports, &c., and alphabetical references, entitled “Ice
Fair.” Printed on yᵉ River Thames, now frozen over. Jan. 31, 1739-40.
“Amidst yᵉ arts yᵗ on yᵉ Thames appear,
To tell yᵉ wonders of this frozen year.
Sculpture claims prior place, since yᵗ alone,
Preserves yᵉ image when yᵉ prospect’s gone.”
A coarse copper-plate, entitled “The view of Frost Fair,”--scene taken
from York-buildings Water Works; twelve verses beneath.
A small copper-plate, representing an altar-piece with ten commandments,
engraven between the figures of Moses and Aaron; and beneath, on a
cartouche, “Printed on the Ice, on the River of Thames, Janʳʸ 15, 1739.”
A small copper-plate, representing an ornamental border with a female
head, crowned at the top; and below two designs of the letter press
and rolling press. In the centre, in type, “Upon the Frost in the year
1739-40,” six verses, and then, “Mr. John Cross, aged 6. Printed on the
ice upon the Thames, at Queen-Hithe, January the 29th, 1739-40.”
“Behold the liquid Thames now frozen o’er,
That lately ships of mighty burden bore;
Here you may print your name, tho’ cannot write,
’Cause numb’d with cold; ’tis done with great delight.
And lay it by, that ages yet to come,
May see what things upon the ice were done.”
A coarse copper-plate engraving, looking down the river, entitled “Frost
Fair,” with eight lines of verse beneath, and above, “Printed upon the
River Thames when frozen, Janu. the 28, 1739-40.”
“An Extract Draught of Frost Fair on the River Thames, as it appears
from Whitehall Stairs, in the year 1740,” with twelve lines of verse
underneath. “Printed and sold by Geoᵉ Foster, Printseller, in St. Paul’s
Church-yard, London.”
“The English Chronicle, or Frosty Kalender; a broadside containing a
memorial of the principal frosts, with a view of the fair from the
Southwark side of the river, opposite St. Paul’s. Printed on the Thames,
1739-40.”
[Sidenote: 1739-40]
The winter of 1739-40 was one of great severity. The frost commenced on
Christmas-day, and lasted until the 17th February following. It caused
much distress amongst the poor, coals could hardly be obtained for
money, and water was equally scarce. It is recorded that “the watermen
and fishermen, with a peterboat in mourning, and the carpenters,
bricklayers, &c., with their tools and utensils in mourning, walked
through the streets in large bodies, imploring relief for their own and
families’ necessities; and, to the honour of the British character, this
was liberally bestowed. Subscriptions were also made in the different
parishes, and great benefactions bestowed by the opulent, through which
the calamities of the season were much mitigated. A few days after the
frost had set in, great damage was done among the shipping in the river
Thames by a high wind, which broke many vessels from their moorings, and
drove them foul of each other, while the large sheets of ice that floated
on the stream, overwhelmed various boats and lighters, and sunk several
corn and coal vessels. By these accidents many lives were lost; and many
others were also destroyed by the intensity of the cold, both on land and
water.
Above the Bridge, the Thames was completely frozen over, and tents and
numerous booths were erected on it for selling liquors, &c., to the
multitudes that daily flocked thither for curiosity or diversion. The
scene here displayed was very irregular, and had more the appearance of
a fair on land, than of a frail exhibition, the only basis of which was
congealed water.”
Sports were enjoyed on the ice, and shops opened for the sale of fancy
articles, food and drink. A printing press was in active operation, and
amongst the papers printed was the following:
The noble Art and mystery of Printing, was first invented by
J. Faust, 1441, and publicly practised by John Gottenburgh, a
soldier of Mentz, in High Germany, anno. 1450. King Henry VI.
(anno. 1457) sent two private messengers with fifteen hundred
marks, to procure one of the workmen. These prevailed on
Frederick Corsellis to leave the Printing-house in disguise; who
immediately came over with them, and first instructed the English
in this most famous Art, at Oxford, in the year 1459.