much annoyed and frightened by a porcupine, which lay at my feet, and
its quills kept going off like squibs; and all attempts to get away
from it were vain: at last, I thought it burst suddenly open, and the
face of a very cross, ugly, old man came forth. I just then awoke, and
a dreadful fright I was in. By twelve o’clock the next day I was to
be at Brownlow Street, and it being a very hot day, I was much tired
with walking there, as omnibuses had not come up then. There were
several other women there, each of whom was called into the committee
room separately. When it came to my turn, I went in, and at the head
of the table, round which sat four or five gentlemen, there was (or,
at least, I thought so) the very cross, ugly face I saw in my dream
the night before. I was called forward, but all presence of mind and
self-possession had forsaken me: I trembled, and was much confused.
The gentleman (who, I think, they called Sir William Knatchbull, or
something like it) said in a stern manner,
“Why is this letter not signed by the Hon. Mrs. Percival, but by a Mr.
M.?—Pray, who and what is he?”
I stammered out that he was the head doctor of the Duke of York’s
School, and His Royal Highness’s medical attendant.
“We don’t care for the Duke of York, here, nor anybody else,” said he;
“the rules must be complied with. Where is Mrs. Percival?”
I replied, “Gone to Northumberland.”
The other gentlemen looked as if they were sorry for me, and one of
them said, “Why, I understand Mr. M. paid the yearly subscription of
five guineas, last week.”
Sir William then asked, in a very rude, coarse manner, when I expected
to be confined.
I said, “The latter end of the month.”
“Oh! plenty of time,” said he; “here, take it back to Mr. M., and tell
him to send it into the north, and have it signed by the lady in a
proper manner, and bring it back next week.”
Here another gentleman interposed, saying, that as Mr. M. paid
the money, and the lady was so far away, they might, without any
impropriety, accept his signature. But he was inexorable, and I left
Brownlow Street very much vexed; and, what was very annoying, the
other persons, whose letters had passed, went, as is customary, to
Bow Street to swear to their marriage certificates; and as they could
not tell what passed in the committee room, or why I did not go with
the rest, stared me quite out of countenance. I did not get home till
near tea-time; and whether the long walk and agitation I had undergone
made any difference, I do not know, but I was taken ill the next day;
and on Monday, the 17th of August, my first child, a female, was born.
The Brownlow Street letter had been sent off on the Saturday, and
was returned the next week—too late, of course; and the lady was so
much offended, that she placed her subscription to some of the other
hospitals.
At the latter end of the same week, an order was issued that every
part of the building should be made as clean and correct as possible,
as some of the Royal Family were coming to inspect it on Saturday, the
22nd instant. On the morning of that day, it was announced that it was
His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and his newly-married Duchess, who
were coming. As they were sure to visit the trade shops, and it was a
very hot day, I had the room door open; and being up and very well at
the time, I stood by the window, which was near, in order that I might
see them as they crossed the passage. As they passed on, I heard a
gentleman,—who, I afterwards found, was the Duke,—say to Mr. M.,—for
all the officers of the house accompanied them,—“Surely, that is not an
invalid in the room!”
As they went on, I did not hear what answer was made; but it appeared
that His Royal Highness, who was a most particular man, was very much
pleased with the order and regularity of the workshop, and made many
inquiries as to my husband’s regiment, if he had a family, and so on;
the result of which was, that on returning, the whole party came into
the room, and I was requested to take my little girl from the cradle,
that the Duchess might see her, as she had been born on her birthday:
they seemed much pleased, and spoke to me in the kindest manner
imaginable. After they had left the room, one of the gentlemen came
back, and said I was to name the baby Victoria Louisa Maria, after Her
Royal Highness, and left a present to place in her little hand. I had,
strangely enough, intended to name her Charlotte, in remembrance of
the Princess, who died just after my marriage. In three weeks after,
my late master, the clergyman of the place, went to Chelsea church and
christened my little girl by the names ordered.
When she was about nine months old, the mother of my late mistress, a
most amiable lady, called on me, and inquired if I had taken the baby
to Kensington Palace. I said, “No!” for I could not think of taking
her, unless sent for. She said that was nonsense; for, as the Duchess
was near her confinement, she was sure, as little Victoria was a fine
healthy child, she would be very glad to see her; and that if I let any
opportunity slip of reminding her royal godmother of her, I should be
standing in my own child’s light, which she would not forget to tell me
of, if she lived to grow up.
I thought over what the lady had said, and as it was only a pleasant
walk to the palace, I took her one day there; and the porter having
caused a communication to be made to a lady in waiting, I saw the
Duchess, and well she seemed pleased with her little namesake, and I
was delighted with the familiar and kind notice she took of her. This
was about a week before the birth of the Princess Victoria.
In the January of 1820, my husband was dangerously ill, and before he
recovered, on the 12th of February, late in the evening, I became aware
that I must procure assistance, for my husband was too ill to go; and
as I crossed the playground to call a neighbour, the bells were tolling
heavily for the funeral of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent; and I
could not help crying bitterly, when I thought of the only time I ever
saw him, when his extreme condescension was enough to inspire respect
and gratitude in any mind: then I had heard that his fine frame and
robust health had, like my own poor father’s, fallen a sacrifice to the
too free use of the lancet. The state of my own husband was such, that
my forebodings were of a very melancholy nature. At an early hour on
the morning of the 13th of February, I became the mother of a boy, whom
I named Edward, for my own pleasure, as I had named my girl Victoria
for theirs.
Time rolled on, and my family kept increasing, and my husband’s health
was very precarious; and I had no other prospect than that of being
left with his children to rear. I used to take Victoria to Kensington
about once a year, merely that the Duchess should remember her; as I
thought she might, at some future time, take her into her service, or
put her forward, without putting herself out of the way. Sometimes she
used to see her, and always seemed pleased to find that she grew and
was well taken care of; and finally, ordered that she should have a
present annually, on the Princess Victoria’s birthday, the 24th of May.
As I felt convinced that very few men would, while suffering almost
continually from a most painful complaint, have exerted themselves as
my husband did for the sake of his wife and children, I thought the
least I could do was to be as economical as possible, and to take every
opportunity of saving all I could against the evil day and heavy cloud
I saw ready to burst over me. One very good thing was, that my husband
and I were thoroughly agreed in everything that was essential. My plan
did not gain any approbation amongst those my lot was cast with; for,
with very few exceptions, military people, above all others, spend all
they get, be it little or much: but that I did not care a straw about.
We had been married above eleven years, and had four children, and
buried one at two years old.
My sixth child was born the 19th of February, 1829, and on the 21st
my husband took to his bed, from which he was never more to rise; and
having but one apartment, I was compelled to get up much sooner than
usual, and attend to him night and day till he died, on the 31st of
March, 1829. I had then an infant, six weeks old, and four besides, all
boys but Victoria, who was now about ten years and a half old. I had
been, as far as circumstances would allow, most kindly considered, and
my husband during his long illness had received the most unremitting
care and attention from Mr. Lawrence, the medical gentleman belonging
to the Institution; and, indeed, so at different times had all my
family—Victoria in particular, who had nearly lost her life in the
measles, and some years after in the hooping cough. And he allowed me
a week, which was longer time than is usual there, to prepare mourning
for my family before my husband was buried in Chelsea churchyard;
and in another week I had to leave Fairy Land, and seek an asylum
elsewhere. In the meantime some of my husband’s acquaintance set about
that I had got an immense sum of money; a report was raised to double
and treble what I really had; but as I did not choose to gratify their
curiosity, I merely said I should be very much obliged to any of them
who would tell me where I could find it.
My husband had an excellent private connection, and had I been in a
shop in the neighbourhood, and got a person who would have done me
justice into my employ, I could have supported my family well; but
that was out of the question. It so happened that I had never before
had to seek a lodging, and I took a small house a little way off,
and went to it in a fortnight after my husband’s death. I have often
thought that I should have gone into some country place, where rent and
provisions were cheap; then I thought, as my husband was sixteen years
in his place, and had he left it alive would have had some allowance
made him, that with my large young family I might get some assistance
from the commissioners of Fairy Land. But my application was refused
in a sneering sort of way, and I soon perceived that it was thought I
had got more than I had a right to, hard as I had strived to get it
together. I was advised by some who knew me to go into business, but as
I was quite ignorant of everything of the kind, I was afraid to risk
what was to bring my children up with. There was a little berth in
Fairy Land to supply the boys with fruit and cakes; this was likely to
become vacant by its possessor having become very infirm, and I applied
for it. Some time passed and I heard nothing of it, so I thought no
more about it. The time came that my girl received her yearly present,
and when the Duchess heard of my misfortune, she sent me a handsome
present, and Victoria’s yearly gift was to be increased. I felt very
grateful towards her, for hers seemed the only hand that was stretched
forth in kindness towards me. I saw an advertisement of a public house
to be let, and I went to Union Street, Southwark, according to the
address, and was referred to a street in Wapping. I went to the house,
but did not approve of it; and as I returned I thought I would go to
the counting-house of Barclay and Perkins, and inquire for a house a
little way out of town. Not knowing exactly where it was, I went into
a spirit shop to inquire, and the barmaid said it was at the bottom of
the street; but just then she looked at the clock, and told me that I
should be too late, as they never did any business after four o’clock;
and as it did not want above a minute or two, and with the child in my
arms, I could not get there in time, I went home, thinking to go again
in a day or two. But the next day I was informed that the little matter
I had applied for at Fairy Land was at my service. To accept this
humble occupation I had to crush all the pride I had, which was very
little, still it was a bitter pill; but I considered that if I gained
little, I could not lose much. Had I known the terms I was to have it
on, I certainly would not have accepted it; as another person who was
a maker of sweetmeats was admitted, and I stood no chance with such a
competition.
About that time I heard of a vacancy in an excellent foundation school
for a boy, and I set about trying to get one of mine in. It happened
to be Alderman Birch who had the presentation, and his son was rector
of St. Mary Woolnoth; and some of the inhabitants who had known me
when a child, took up my cause, and got a petition to the alderman,
signed by the bankers, and, indeed, all the influential gentlemen of
the neighbourhood. I succeeded in getting in my second boy Joseph, then
seven years old. Thus I received a benefit when a widow, where I had
been cast forth an orphan. This school had been the entire gift of a
lady in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and as one of the qualifications
was, that no person who was so poor as to receive parochial relief was
to have her children admitted, I considered my child quite eligible. If
it had been in the hands of any other alderman, I certainly should not
have got it; for there were many other competitors.
I have mentioned the serjeant tailor and his wife as being the only
persons present at my marriage, and they were my husband’s particular
acquaintance; the men, having been in the same regiment, were more like
brothers than anything else. I sustained a heavy loss in her death,
which took place when I had been about four years married. In due time
he married again to an elderly woman who had some inward complaint, of
which she died in two years an a half. After a time he married again to
a middle-aged woman, and she fell into ill health some time before my
husband died, and in a few months after he became a widower again. In
his second wife’s time, we had been neighbourly, but not so intimate
as before; and in the third wife’s time some differences had arisen
between the two friends, through my husband wishing to recommend him
a wife that he did not approve of. But this did not extend to me, and
I had remained on good terms with them both. After her death he was
very uncomfortably situated; the persons about him were of intemperate
habits, and he did not go out to get what would hurt him, but he had
not resolution to withstand it when brought to him, and his health
became much impaired. He proposed marriage to me, as he said he knew
I should do my duty by him, and he could assist me in rearing his old
comrade’s children. I thought this was true, and that it would be a
mutual benefit; and we were married at St. Margaret’s, Westminster, on
the 15th of June, 1830, after being a widow fifteen months. Directly
after, I was informed that I must not bring any of my children into
Fairy Land. This seemed very hard, for I did not wish to bring more
than two. My eldest boy was in the country, my second was at the
school, the baby had died in teething, and Victoria and a boy of five
years old were all I wished to live with me. As my husband was near
seventy years of age, and ailing, I wished to trouble him as little
as possible with them; but finding such harsh orders had been given,
I placed the boy to nurse, and Victoria went to school, and came to
me only for her meals; but this was thought too much indulgence, and
the gate porter had orders not to let her in, or if she came in to her
mother he was to follow her and turn her out, on account of her having
brought in five or six little halfpenny paper kites at the request of
the boys; at the same time there was scarcely a person in the place
but what had done the same, and indeed some people had sold them to
the children. My feelings on the occasion may be better imagined than
described. I had, for the sake of my children, entered what might
almost be termed a sepulchre; for I had seen three women, all of whom I
knew well, carried dead out of it; and it was hard indeed either to be
parted from my children, or my husband to give up his situation. From
what I heard I felt convinced that it was brought about in some measure
by some persons who wished to get hold of his berth; for he had said
to some one after the death of his wife, that he thought of going to
the country: and as I was considered to be the cause of his staying,
it was supposed that if I was vexed I should induce him to leave. But
this sort of treatment to me produced exactly an opposite effect, and I
determined to stand a siege.
My husband, who now got much better in health, used frequently to say,
“I cannot stay here much longer; I am sure to be dismissed.” At last
I asked him what he had done that he said so. “Oh,” said he, “it is
not for what I have done, but what I have not done; for before we were
married, and during the time I was in ill health, I sent in the usual
return of work done, and there are many pieces of cloth in the shop
that ought to be in the stores made up; and as soon as it is found out,
I am sure to be dismissed.” This was a serious matter, for he had been
there a long time, and provided he left in credit would be entitled to
a superannuation allowance, which of course he would forfeit if he was
dismissed for a fault. I told him, if he would allow me to come into
the shop in the working hours, I would not only work myself, but get
some of the best working boys round me, and if we had but time could
work it up. He shook his head, and said he thought we should never be
able to do it; at the same time he seemed pleased with the project, and
I commenced operations. It happened very fortunately that the number of
children was being reduced rapidly, which was much in our favour, as
the demand for clothing was proportionably less; and in about a year
he had all his numbers right. In the meantime my Victoria, who was
always a very good girl, said that she knew I was at a great expense,
for I had placed her to board with very respectable persons, and if I
would get her a place she would go to service. This I soon did; for I
was as badly off as ever as regarded my family; for if a child of mine
was seen inside the gates, either the quarter-master or his serjeant,
or may be a pioneer, came with positive orders that it must instantly
be sent away. This went on for some time, when a little change for the
better took place; and I received a hint from one of the officers’
ladies that I might venture to take my little boy home, which I was
glad to avail myself of; and we went on pretty well for some time.
We always knew that there were three or four candidates on the spot,
looking out for my husband’s place; but that did not trouble us much.
The reduction of the children from 1000 boys to about 300, which was to
be the complement (and it took some years to do it), at last came, and
the journeyman was discharged.
By this time my husband had as nearly as possible lost the use of his
right arm, to outward appearance by rheumatism; but the fact was,
the sinews had given way from cutting through a great many folds of
cloth together, with very large shears, for many succeeding years;
and he could cut no longer, and his returns of work sunk to a mere
nothing. One Tuesday the quarter-master came up to the shop to know
the reason so little work was done, and being informed, he went away,
and returned, saying, the officer in command said he must give up, and
get a letter written to lay before the commissioners, for something
to be done for him. After he was gone, my husband said he supposed
we should have time allowed, as in cases of the kind was customary;
sometimes a quarter or six weeks. But on the Thursday, two days after
the first notice, the same person came again, and said that a new
serjeant tailor had been written to, and was coming in on the Monday
following, being a notice of six days after a service of twenty-one
years and four months. This threw me into a sad dilemma; for a year
before I had purchased the lease of a house in an adjoining street,
and knowing from my husband’s increasing infirmities that we could not
remain long there, instead of letting it to a tenant who would have
required a long notice to quit, I let it in floors to weekly lodgers;
but a week’s notice I must give them, and we had but six days. And I
was obliged, much against my will, to beg for a week longer, to prevent
my having to remove twice on my husband’s account; for he was very ill
at the time, and his abrupt dismissal had made him much worse, and
deprived him of the power of all exertion. However, before the week I
had interceded for was out, we left Fairy Land altogether, I having
been there the last time about five years and as many months; and had I
but known what I should have had to endure in that time, I would have
gone miles off before I entered it. I have good reason for supposing
that a good deal of the disagreeables, to say the least of it, that I
met with, was from a person who for some years held a place a little
in rank above my husband, and who was on terms of intimacy with my
first husband. A little time before my second marriage, this man was
promoted to a very lucrative situation, and likewise one of a good deal
of authority, particularly over the trade shops. He borrowed some money
of me for a certain time, and when that was up I made free to ask him
for it; he paid me then, and a short time after asked me to lend him a
much larger sum; I hesitated, he said I did not seem willing to oblige
him. I observed, that I did not wish to disturb my property; as, by so
doing, I should lose my interest. He said, “Oh, never mind;” and became
from that moment my most inveterate enemy. My husband was likewise
very much to blame, as he put up with all sorts of annoyances without
complaining, as he might have done, to the proper authorities; and I
used to tell him that if we knew in what manner all our actions were
misrepresented, we might only be surprised that it was not worse. The
letter which contained an application for a superannuation allowance
was sent in, previous to which my husband had been examined, and a
certificate signed by the doctor to the effect that he was past labour;
and as we thought, everything was in a proper train as usual in such
cases, and in all public offices. But some months passed away, and
several boards and committees had been held, but we got no account of
anything having been done for him. During the time, Victoria left a
situation, and came home, where she had not been long when the wife of
the commanding officer of Fairy Land came to the house and asked her to
come and live with her as parlour maid. This did not look as if any of
us had done anything that could weaken his claim. But still time rolled
on, and we ventured to inquire by letter if anything had been settled
on my husband’s account. In a short time I received the following
document:——
“Extract from the minutes of a Committee of Commissioners for managing
the affairs of Fairy Land, held on the 2nd of April, 1836.
“Read the memorial of the Sergeant and Master Tailor of this
Institution, praying the Commissioners to recommend him for a small
pension. He is an out-pensioner of Chelsea Hospital, at one shilling
and a penny per day.
“Resolved, that the Commissioners have no authority to increase the
pension of the Sergeant Tailor, which appears to be one shilling and a
penny.” (A true Extract.)
I was quite thunderstruck at this wind up of affairs; for the
consequences bid fair to be most serious to me: my husband, who was now
seventy-six years old, was quite unable to do anything beyond dressing
and undressing himself; and my hands were in a manner tied; for I could
not leave him long together; and I saw no other prospect than that of
my own remnant of property being melted away, together with his own, in
sustaining us, if it should please God to spare his life long: and I
might be left at an advanced age to encounter the poverty I had always
endeavoured to avert. Another thing, he seemed to be so completely and
inwardly hurt, that he was quite melancholy. Victoria had left Fairy
Land, but it was with the daughter-in-law of her late mistress she had
gone; so that she still remained in the family.