[Illustration: Fashions for 1797]
OLD TIMES.
[Illustration: The Ballantyne Press
Ballantyne & Hanson
Edinburgh London]
OLD TIMES
A Picture of Social Life at the End of the Eighteenth Century
_COLLECTED, AND ILLUSTRATED FROM THE SATIRICAL AND OTHER SKETCHES OF
THE DAY_
BY
JOHN ASHTON
AUTHOR OF "SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE" ETC. ETC.
With Eighty-eight Illustrations
NEW YORK
SCRIBNER & WELFORD
743 & 747 BROADWAY
1885
PREFACE.
Of the period of which this book treats, there have been political
histories, and scurrilous books written anent the Royal Family, _ad
nauseam_: and the Diaries which have been published, bearing on this
time, deal only with the acts, and sayings, of the higher
classes--leaving the life of the vastly greater proportion of the
population--the middle classes--untouched. No better source of
information as to their mode of living, their amusements, the tattle,
and passing follies of the times, can possibly be found, than in the
Newspapers of the day; and I selected the commencement of the _Times_,
1 Jan. 1788, as the starting point of a picture of the Social Life at
the end of the Eighteenth Century.
The copies of the _Times_, however, are very imperfect,--nay, in some
years, totally missing--until 1793-1794--from which date they are
perfect; so that, when anything noteworthy occurred, I have drawn from
another source; and, to establish the undoubted authenticity of each
quotation, I have given the title of the Newspaper, with its date. The
daily Newspapers of those times were totally different to those to
which we are accustomed. The absence of Railways, Steamships, and
Electric Telegraphs, combined with a very high rate of Postage,
prevented the publication of all News, either from foreign or
provincial sources, except it were of real importance; and, as the
daily sheets must be filled, it followed, as a matter of course, that
a substitute was found in detailing the social life of the
Metropolis--and the daily Newspapers, which now give us the latest
news from all parts of the globe--had to be filled with social
paragraphs, anecdotal, satirical, or otherwise. They were as open to
correction, or contradiction, then, as now; so that we may put trust
in them; and when these paragraphs are collected, and somewhat
classified, they afford a view of the daily life of the period, such
as is utterly unattainable elsewhere. This collection must, of
necessity, be valuable to the student of those times, besides being of
great interest to the general reader.
The difficulty of obtaining contemporary illustrations, fitted for
this work, from books, or pictures, has compelled me to draw freely on
the satirical prints of the period--which are abundant, and perfectly
well suited to the purpose, if the reader will only bear in mind, that
they are sometimes a little exaggerated. Still, on the whole, they so
truthfully represent the manners, costume, &c., of the age, that they
could not be omitted; and that they are faithful reproductions of the
originals, I can guarantee, for I drew them all myself.
JOHN ASHTON.
CONTENTS.
Page
INTRODUCTION 1
MEN'S DRESS 51
WOMEN'S DRESS 69
NAVY AND ARMY 80
SOCIAL ECONOMY 114
GAMING, ETC. 166
THE THEATRE 187
OPERA AND BALLET 204
MASQUERADES, CONCERTS, ETC. 215
MONETARY 232
LAW AND POLICE 243
POLITICAL 280
ROYALTY 293
VARIETIES 297
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page
EDMUND BURKE 16
THE PRINCE'S BOW 51
TIGHT-LACING, 1788 51
MACARONIS, 1789 53
A JESSAMY, 1790 54
A CHOICE SPIRIT--A BUCK 54
A SMART, 1790 55
A RAIN-BEAU 56
JIMMY LINCUM FEADLE, 1791 56
A SCARAMOUCH 56
APING THE FRENCHMAN 57
NECK OR NOTHING--A BACK VIEW OF THE CAPE, 1792 57
A SPENCER AND A THREAD PAPER, 1792 63
"A JEAN DEBRY" (MR. SKEFFINGTON) 66
FRENCH TAILOR FITTING JOHN BULL WITH A "JEAN DEBRY" 66
A COTILLION, 1788 69
FASHIONS FOR 1788 69
INDOOR COSTUMES, 1788 70
THE DUCHESS OF YORK 70
THE DUCHESS 70
FRAILTIES OF FASHION, 1793 70
THE HEIGHT OF FASHION, 1793 70
THE TOILETTE, NO. 1 71
DO. NO. 2 71
DO. NO. 3 71
A SCARECROW, 1793 71
"SHEPHERDS! I HAVE LOST MY WAIST" 1794 72
FOLLOWING THE FASHION, "ST. JAMES'S GIVING THE TON" 73
FOLLOWING THE FASHION, "CHEAPSIDE APING THE MODE" 74
CROPS 73
A LADY PUTTING ON HER CAP, 1795 73
CHARACTERS IN HIGH LIFE 75
A MODERN BELLE GOING TO THE ROOMS OR BALLS, 1796 75
WAGGONER'S FROCK, OR NO BODYS OF 1795 75
THE FASHION, DEC. 1795 76
FASHIONABLE MODESTY, 1796 76
HIGH CHANGE IN BOND STREET, 1796 76
FASHIONS FOR 1797 (SEE FRONTISPIECE) 78
MY POLL, AND MY PARTNER JOE, 1796 80
BRITISH LADIES PATRIOTIC PRESENTS TO THE ARMY, 1793 95
KIDNAPPING, OR A DISGRACE TO OLD ENGLAND 99
MODERN MODE OF BEATING UP FOR VOLUNTEERS 104
HEROES RECRUITING AT KELSEY'S, 1797 108
INSTALLATION SUPPER, NO. 1 114
DO. NO. 2, SIR F. JOHNSTON AND
LADY, LORD BATHURST, MAJOR TOPHAM 114
INSTALLATION SUPPER, NO. 3, SIR GEORGE YOUNG AND
LADY 114
INSTALLATION SUPPER, NO. 4, LORD AMHERST 114
DO. NO. 5, LORD SANDWICH, DR.
BRILLAND, DR. PAIR 114
THE ASSESSED TAXES TAKING THEIR DEPARTURE 132
JOHN BULL AND THE INCOME TAX 133
A PRETTY BAR MAID 135
A LADY AT A CARD PARTY WHO DOES NOT PLAY, 1788 166
GAMBLING, 1792 166
A KICK UP AT A HAZARD TABLE, NO. 1, 1790 167
DO. NO. 2, 1790 167
MODERN HOSPITALITY 168
DIVIDING THE SPOIL, ST. JAMES'S, 1796 177
DO. ST. GILES'S, 1796 177
FARO'S DAUGHTERS 177
DISCIPLINE À LA KENYON, 1797 179
THE THEATRE 187
MACKLIN AS "SHYLOCK"--HOLMAN AS "RICHARD" 190
POPE AS "HOTSPUR"--JOHNSTONE AS "APOLLO" 190
QUICK AS "SCRUB"--RYDER AS "FALSTAFF" 190
KEMBLE AS "HAMLET"--KEMBLE AS "LEAR" 190
MRS. BELLAMY--MRS. ABINGTON AS "LAPPET" 190
MRS. SIDDONS AS "ANDROMACHE"--MRS. JORDAN AS "VIOLA" 190
MRS. BILLINGTON AS "ROSETTA"--MRS. MARTYR AS
"EUPHROSYNE" 190
MISS BRUNTON AS "JULIET "--MISS FIELD AS "ARIEL" 190
AT THE OPERA--AT CHURCH 204
THE CELEBRATED MADEMOISELLE G--M--RD 211
BALLET AT THE KING'S THEATRE-PANTHEON, 1791 211
THE OPERATICAL FINALE TO THE BALLET OF "ALONZO
E CARO" 212
MDLLE PARISOT 213
DURHAM MUSTARD TOO POWERFUL FOR ITALIAN CAPERS, 1798 213
ECCLESIASTICAL SCRUTINY, OR, THE DURHAM INQUEST
ON DUTY, 1798 214
MADAME CORNELYS 217
THE FEMALE COTERIE 221
A COUNTRY CONCERT, OR AN EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT
IN SUSSEX 225
SAVOYARDS OF FASHION, 1799 226
SEEN HOME BY THE WATCH, 1792 243
THE MONSTER CUTTING A LADY, 1790 248
RENWICK WILLIAMS, 1790 256
PROTECTION FROM THE MONSTER 258
BOXING MADE EASY, OR HUMPHREYS GIVING A LESSON, 1788 274
JEFFREY DUNSTAN--ORDINARY COSTUME 292
SIR JEFFREY DUNSTAN--COURT DRESS 293
TREATMENT OF LUNATICS 298
_Memorandum.--For binder's purposes some of the illustrations will not
be found on the pages named, but a few pages further on._
OLD TIMES.
Although this book does not pretend to be a history of the times of
which it treats, still, it will materially help the reader, if, at the
outset, some of the principal events which occurred during the period
are succinctly narrated.
We start with the year 1788--and one of the first items of importance
is the founding of the colony of New South Wales; for Captain
Phillips, on 28th January, landed the first batch of convicts,
consisting of 561 men, 192 women, and 18 children, also a military
force of 212 men. As soon as they were all on shore, Phillips ordered
the King's Commission to be read, and assumed the office of Governor.
Such was the modest foundation of our great Australian Empire. On the
same day at home, Lord George Gordon, of Protestant rioting memory,
was brought before the judges of the King's Bench, to receive sentence
on two libels, one against the Queen of France, and another on the
criminal justice of the country. His sentence for the former, was
three years' imprisonment, for the latter, two years, to pay a fine of
£500, and find security for his good behaviour for fourteen years. He
fled to Holland, was arrested, brought back, and lodged in Newgate. He
did not live to regain his liberty, but death set him free 1st
November 1793.
An all-absorbing topic of conversation in this year was the trial of
Warren Hastings, for his conduct whilst Governor-General of Bengal.
The trial commenced on the 13th of February, and it took place in
Westminster Hall, which was fitted up with a throne and canopy, having
the woolsack for the Lord Chancellor in front. On either side the
throne was a private box, one for the use of the King, the other for
the Queen: the King never used either throne or box, but, when he went
to the trial, he went _incognito_.
There were seats covered with green baize for the accommodation of
members of the House of Commons, but all the rest of the hall was
glowing with red baize. Boxes were also provided for the Ambassadors
and _Corps Diplomatique_. The grand show commenced at eleven A.M. with
the entrance of the committee appointed to manage the impeachment, all
of them in full dress, followed by Burke, who headed the members of
the House of Commons.
Hardly had they taken their seats when a buzz of excitement filled the
hall, for no one less than the Queen, attended by all her daughters,
entered. She did not go to the royal box, but sat in part of the Duke
of Newcastle's Gallery. This attracted the attention of all, until the
coming in of the peers, including the judges, and the Bishops, the
string of Dukes being closed by the Prince of Wales (as Duke of
Cornwall), and the Dukes of York, Gloucester, and Cumberland. Lord
Thurlow, the Lord Chancellor, came last. The peers all wore their
robes and collars, the robes of the royal dukes being borne by pages.
Then the Chancellor's mace-bearer cried "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez," and
notified to all, that Warren Hastings had come to take his trial, and
that his accusers might come forth and make good their charges against
him. The Lord Chancellor addressed the prisoner, and told him to be
prepared with his defence, to which Hastings replied, "My Lords, I am
come to this high tribunal equally impressed with a confidence in my
own integrity and in the justice of the court before which I stand."
As this trial will not again be mentioned, I may state the fact, that
it lasted seven years and three months, and ended in his acquittal,
17th April 1795.
Another remarkable event happened in this year, for on 31st January
there died at Rome, at the age of sixty-seven, the young Pretender,
Prince Charles Edward Louis Casimir Stuart, grandson of James II.;
and, with him, died all hope for the Jacobite party, for he left
behind him but one natural daughter, on whom he conferred the empty
title of Duchess of Albany. It is true that he left his pretensions to
the throne of England to his brother, Cardinal York, but all this
Prince did to claim regal honours was to strike a medal, on which he
styled himself Henry the IXth. He knew there was no use in continuing
the struggle, so accepted a pension from George III., which was paid
him until his death.
There is little worth chronicling until we come to the (to Englishmen)
most painful event of the year, namely, the King's illness. In July
his physicians remarked symptoms in him which gave them grave concern,
but he visited Cheltenham, and improved in his health. In October,
however, rumours began to get about that all was not well. The
_Morning Post_ of 30th October mentions that "On 28th His Majesty
complained of a pain in his bowels, and by the advice of his
physicians, and the rest of His Majesty's attendants, he is not
expected to leave Windsor for the course of a week or a fortnight."
Next day we hear that "the chief symptom is said to be a swelling in
the legs." Then news is brought, that on the 4th November he had a
relapse; on the 7th he is reported better, though, as a matter of
fact, he was delirious at dinner on the 5th. On the 9th they say he is
better; on the 10th he is MUCH BETTER, and HOPES ARE ENTERTAINED OF
HIS RECOVERY. The bulletins of the 11th are vague; that of the 12th
reports that he "was not better," and the newspapers of the 13th
openly speak of a Regency. In the _Morning Post_ of November 14th it
plainly states that "his mental faculties were more deranged." Then
his physicians quarrelled amongst themselves as to his treatment, and
wrote daily contradictory bulletins, until Dr. Willis took his patient
under his sole charge, with good effect. And so ends 1788.
* * * * *
1789 opens with a great frost, one of the heaviest on record. It
commenced on the 24th November 1788, and continued, with one
intermission (from December 24th to December 26th) until 13th January
1789. On 10th January the Thames at Irongate--which is below London
Bridge, by the Tower, was frozen over, and several booths were erected
on the ice. The day previously an ox was roasted whole, and eagerly
bought by the people who were skating and sliding. The _Annual
Register_ thus describes the sight:--"The scene on the Thames is very
entertaining; from Putney Bridge upwards, the river is completely
frozen over, and people walk to and from the different villages on the
face of the deep. Opposite to Windsor Street booths have been erected
since Friday last, and a fair is kept on the river. Multitudes of
people are continually passing and repassing; puppet shows,
roundabouts, and all the various amusements of Bartholomew Fair are
exhibited. In short, Putney and Fulham, from the morning dawn till the
dusk of returning evening, is a scene of festivity and gaiety. On the
12th a young bear was baited on the ice, opposite to Redriffe
(Rotherhithe), which drew multitudes, and fortunately no accident
happened to interrupt their sport." The outward-bound vessels at
Deptford and Gravesend cleared out with all despatch, lest they should
be caught in the ice and detained or damaged.
The usual royal gift of £1000 to the poor of London was this year not
forthcoming, so the Prince of Wales ordered that sum to be given from
his own treasury. He also sent large sums to the poor of Edinburgh
and Brighton.
A Bill to make the Prince of Wales Regent had been introduced in both
Houses of Parliament at the latter end of 1788, but was negatived in
each; in the Commons by 251 to 178. There had been great squabbling
over this Bill, especially between the rival leaders, Fox and Pitt;
the former asserting that the Prince of Wales had an _absolute right_
to succeed to the Regency, and the latter would only admit that he had
an _irresistible claim_.
But the King did not get better, and something must be done, yet it
was not thought fit to invest the Prince of Wales with altogether
regal powers: there must be some limitation. Therefore Pitt wrote to
His Royal Highness, detailing the plan intended to be pursued, which
was, that the Queen should have the care of the King's person, and the
disposition of the royal household, by which means she would enjoy the
patronage of 400 places, amongst which were the offices of Lord
Steward, Lord Chamberlain, and Master of the Horse: but the Prince
should have no power of granting any office, reversion, or pension,
for any other term than during the King's pleasure, nor might he
confer any peerage.
This, no doubt, was prudent, but was extremely distasteful to the
Prince, who wrote a dignified remonstrance to Pitt, at the end of
which, however, he consented to accept the terms, being convinced of
the evils which might arise were there no Regency. Fifty-five peers,
together with the Dukes of York and Cumberland, signed a protest
against the limitations, but the Commons cared but little for it. They
went on with their work, and, on the 12th February, sent up the Bill
to their Lordships for consideration; and they were debating it when
the proverb of "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip" was
fulfilled. On the 19th February the Lord Chancellor announced to the
House that the physicians reported that the King was rapidly
recovering from his malady. On this the House adjourned, and
practically no work was done, either by Lords or Commons, for three
weeks.
On 27th February the prayer for his recovery was discontinued, and, in
its stead, a form of prayer, and thanksgiving for his restoration to
health, was ordered to be read in all churches and chapels throughout
England and Wales. So completely had he recovered, that he ordered
Parliament to be opened by Commission, which was done on 10th March.
The 23rd April was appointed for a general thanksgiving, and his
Majesty, accompanied by the Queen and the Royal Family, went in solemn
state to Saint Paul's, to render thanks to the Almighty for His great
mercy.
The following account is much condensed from the report in the
_Morning Post_ of 24th April 1789:--"They started early, for,
precisely at eight o'clock in the morning, the first carriage that led
the procession reached St. Clement's Church in the Strand. After the
usual state pioneers, came the members of the House of Commons,
followed by the peers according to their several degrees, then the
Archbishops, and the princes of the blood royal, after whom came the
Prince of Wales, whose equipage outshone all others. Their Majesties'
Household came next, and lastly their Majesties themselves.
"The Queen seemed inexpressibly happy: the loud huzzas, which from
every quarter rent the air, testified to her, that _he_ who was
dearest to her was dearest to the people.
"The King, as if impressed by the weight of the obligation which he
owed to Heaven for his recovery, and full of the religious solemnity
with which he was going, _publicly_, to acknowledge that obligation to
the Almighty, seemed to be unusually grave and silent; and behaved, at
this first appearance in public since his recovery, in a manner which
filled the spectators with reverence and awe.
"His Majesty appeared to be much reduced in point of size, but he
looked as if in perfect health."
It was a quarter-past three when the procession, on its return,
reached Temple Bar, and it was noted that the King looked more
cheerful, whilst the Queen was in high spirits.
London was, of course, brilliantly illuminated at night.
This is the principal event of the year, and with it we will close
1789.
* * * * *
As far as England, and its social economy, is concerned, 1790 is very
barren. In France, there was the commencement of that dreadful
revolution which terrorised all Europe, yet strangely enough all
allusion to France was omitted in the Royal Speeches to Parliament,
either on 21st January or 26th November.
The navy sadly wanted manning, so much so that a proclamation was
issued for encouraging seamen, and landsmen, to enter themselves on
board His Majesty's ships of war; that officers on foreign stations
should join their respective corps, and recalling, and prohibiting
seamen from serving foreign princes, and states. This was all very
well, for the fleet was in urgent need of men, owing to the number of
ships being put in commission, and ordered to be got ready for sea
with the greatest expedition: for instance--
At Deptford, 3;
" Woolwich, 3;
" Chatham, 3;
" Sheerness, 3;
" Portsmouth, 10 (one 100, and another 98 guns);
" Plymouth, 7 (one 100 another 80 guns);
besides others which were expected to be commissioned in a few days.
Ordinary means were not sufficient to provide men, and resort was made
to impressment, a mode of obtaining seamen which is of ancient
practice. In 1378 a statute of 2 Richard II. speaks of it as being
well known, and so it must have been, for the first commission for its
use was issued 29 Edward III., 1355. In 1641, Parliament declared the
practice illegal, either for the land or sea service; but this has
always been ignored when the necessity for seamen arose. It has been
regulated by Parliament even so lately as 1835, when, by the statute 5
and 6 William IV., compulsory service is restricted to five years.
How should we feel if some day, in reading our morning paper, we
should come across such a passage as the following:--"A very hot press
took place in the river Thames, and at all the outports"?--Would you
like to know what a "hot press" means?--then learn from the following
excerpts from the _St. James's Chronicle_, May 4-6, 1790:--
"The report of the number pressed in the river on Tuesday night was
delivered to the Lords of the Admiralty yesterday morning, which
amounted to about 1500 taken in Wapping, and in Southwark, &c., more
than 600; amounting in the whole to upwards of 2100 men, besides those
at the different seaport towns, reports of which were not received."
"Four tenders went down the river yesterday morning, crowded with
impressed men, to be shipped on board a vessel of war lying in
Long-reach, ready to receive them. The same tenders were expected up
again with the return of the tide, upon the same errand."
_Extract of a letter from Chatham, May 5._--"Yesterday morning,
between six and seven o'clock, an express arrived from the Lords of
the Admiralty to Commodore Pasley, at this port, containing impress
warrants: accordingly, a great press commenced about twelve o'clock
last night, both in this town, Rochester, &c. &c., and on the river
Medway, when many persons were taken, four of whom were lodged in the
guardhouse in the yard, and this morning sent on board the 'Scipio,'
of 64 guns, lying as guardship at this port, and commanded by
Commodore Pasley. A great press likewise commenced last night at
Sheerness."
"In consequence of the press warrants, stocks felt a most
extraordinary depression yesterday; the Consols opened at 76, and
fluctuated from that price to 75-1/4 until very nearly three o'clock."
This then, was a "hot press"--but very little was ever said about it,
except a passing notice. The impressed men themselves accepted their
fate as inevitable, and, according to the testimony of an old seaman
whom I once knew (himself a pressed man), he assured me that, after
the first shock was over, they set to work with a will, and did their
duty as well as the volunteers. There were supposed to be exceptions,
such as apprentices, who were exempt, but I fear, when once in the
hands of the pressgang, it was a very poor chance of any one's getting
off.
A social note worthy of being recorded, in this year, was that a man
named John Frith, lieutenant of the second battalion of Royals, threw
a stone at His Majesty's coach. He seems to have done no harm, and was
evidently a lunatic, for no one in their senses would have endeavoured
to injure a king who was just then in the zenith of his popularity.
That he was insane the jury thought, for, on his trial for high
treason on 21st May, he was acquitted as being of unsound mind, but he
was put under safe watch and ward in Newgate, and only liberated on
11th December 1791, on bail being given to take proper care of him.
* * * * *
The year 1791 is remarkable for its uneventfulness, nothing of
national importance occurring during the twelve-month. Impressment
still went on, as we see by the _St. James's Chronicle_, April
16-19.--"Friday night the press in the Thames, and on both sides the
river, was the warmest that has been at all since press warrants were
last issued. No fewer than eleven gallies were rowing about between
London Bridge and Deptford. Every one of His Majesty's frigates and
sloops on Channel service, as well as those in the North Sea and on
the Irish coast, have received orders to proceed upon the impress
service. The smaller vessels, as soon as they have procured forty
seamen each, are to deliver them over to the receiving ships at
Spithead and the Nore."
In 1787 a society was formed in England having for its object the
suppression of slavery, under the auspices of Granville Sharpe,
Clarkson, and others, and Mr. Wilberforce (by whose untiring efforts
its downfall was at last obtained) joined it. On the 18th April 1791,
the House of Commons resolved itself into a committee "to consider of
the African slave trade." Wilberforce made an eloquent speech, in
which he depicted the horrors of the trade. Among other barbarities he
mentioned the whipping, and holding red-hot coals, to the mouths of
those (in order to compel them to eat) who were desirous of putting an
end to their existence, by starving themselves to death; and, to prove
the preference given by those unhappy creatures of death to slavery,
he quoted part of the evidence, which told how they took every
opportunity of leaping overboard, and that, in the agonies of death,
when drowning, they would hold up their hands for joy in having
escaped from their tormentors.
He mentioned many cruelties which had passed unpunished, and
particularly one, which was committed by a master upon his female
slave, a girl about six years old, by cutting her mouth from ear to
ear; he showed how injurious the slave trade was to our mercantile
navy, quoting from the muster rolls of Liverpool and Bristol, that in
one year, out of 12,263 seamen employed in the slave trade, 2643 had
died.
After many other arguments, he concluded with a motion, "That the
Chairman be directed to move for leave to bring in a Bill for
preventing the further importation of African negroes into the British
colonies and plantations."
The debate was continued, and adjourned until the next day--when the
battle _pro_ slavery or its abolition waxed fierce; but when it came
to a decision, the numbers were--for the motion, 88; against,
163--majority against the abolition, 75.
* * * * *
1792 opened, as we would fain have our financial years open
now-a-days, with an increase of revenue over the preceding year of
£300,000, and a surplus of more than £900,000, besides paying the
annual million in reduction of the national debt. Pitt repealed
£200,000 of burdensome taxes, added £400,000 to the million to
extinguish the debt, and discreetly kept the balance in hand for
eventualities. Trade had vastly increased, as we may see from the
following figures:--In 1783 the exports were valued at £14,741,000;
and, in 1791, they had risen to £20,120,000.
On 2nd April, the House of Commons being in Committee, Mr. Wilberforce
again brought forward the question of the slave trade, and, after an
eloquent speech, wound up with the motion:--"That it is the opinion of
the Committee, that the trade carried on by British subjects, for the
purpose of procuring slaves from Africa, ought to be abolished." After
a debate, Mr. Secretary Dundas moved as an amendment, to insert the
word "_gradually_" immediately before the word "abolished."
This was carried by a majority of 68, and the motion, so altered,
being put, the numbers were--Ayes, 230; Noes, 85--majority for the
motion, 145. The Chairman was then ordered to move the House for leave
to bring in a Bill, pursuant to the said resolution.
England could not but be affected by the French Revolution. At the
commencement of the movement there was some sympathy shown by the
Whigs to a people who were struggling to free themselves from the
trammels of despotism, but that sympathy rapidly grew cold, and faded,
on witnessing the excesses committed by the people of Paris, and some
other large cities, until the capture, and imprisonment of the Royal
family, turned it to absolute loathing, and hatred.
There was great uneasiness throughout the country as to whether the
tide of anarchy might not reach us, especially as numbers of fugitives
were daily reaching our shores. Take, for example, two instances
quoted in the _Annual Register_, both of the date 12th September:--
"_Southampton._--One Ayland, a fisherman of Hamble, a village about
seven miles from Southampton, was fishing for lobsters on the coast of
France on Thursday last, and had taken in about half his cargo, when
he espied two boats full of men, seemingly in great distress; on which
he bore down, and received them on board. They had swam to their boats
to get away from the coast, and many of them were much bruised and
pelted with stones by others on shore. They begged the fisherman to
land them somewhere in England, to prevent their being murdered; which
he promised to do, and offered them subsistence till he had completed
his lading. They represented the danger of being intercepted, if he
did not immediately proceed to sea, and offered him any sum he should
ask, to land them as soon as possible. He waived his own interest, set
sail, and landed them at the above village; but with a spirit of
humanity, which does honour to human nature, he absolutely refused any
reward whatever, although he had not completed his fishing, which is
the maintenance of his family."
"_Lewes._--Upwards of 500 unfortunate emigrants were, last week,
landed on our coast, who have had the fury of the elements to contend
with, after escaping that of their countrymen. The Brighton packets,
heavily laden with them, were driven by the winds far eastward off
their usual track, and with difficulty made Hastings, Pevensey, and
Eastbourne. At the former place, on Wednesday morning, 76, all
ecclesiastics, came on shore, among whom were the Bishop of
Auvranches, the Dean of Rouen, and several other dignitaries. The
Bishop with great difficulty escaped from Auvranches by the assistance
of one of his grand vicars, who, with domestics, accompanied him to
Rouen, where they were for some days concealed. The populace having
again discovered them, they were again obliged to travel on foot, in
disguise, to Dieppe. They arrived in the night, took refuge a few
hours in an hotel; and, at the time appointed for the departure of the
packet, ran to the sea side, and, it providentially being high water,
were enabled to get out of reach of the rabble, who, in one minute
after, pursued them to the shore."
Take again an extract or two from the _St. James's Chronicle_ of
11-13th September 1792. "Between daybreak and eight o'clock yesterday
morning, thirteen broad-wheeled waggons, crowded with _French
emigrants_, passed through the Borough. During the night, and the
whole of yesterday forenoon, waggons, carts, and chaises, and
carriages of almost every other description, continued arriving in
town with emigrants, by way of Westminster, Blackfriars, and London
Bridges."
"It is a known fact, that upwards of _forty thousand French_ men,
women, and children, are at this moment in England: two-thirds of them
of the lowest class, who, taking advantage of the convulsed state of
their native country, come over under the plausible title of _exiled
aristocrats_."
"There are three powerful reasons why the very great number of
arrivals here from France should excite the immediate attention of
Government. One, that it may occasion a rapid rise in the price of
provisions, already at a height that occasions much complaint among
the lower orders of people. Second, lest under the appellation of
fugitives, a multitude of insidious and evil-designing persons should
intrude themselves, with the intention of raising similar disturbances
in this kingdom. Third, lest it should be the means of introducing a
great number of rascals, thieves, and villains, who are always
cowards, and cannot have principle enough to take any side; these,
therefore, are the first to run. An inundation of them, added to the
bad among our own people, might not only render private property very
precarious, but even prove dangerous to the state."
The Government was fully alive to this great influx of Frenchmen, and
the possible effect it might have on the people of England; so they
introduced, and passed, the "Act for establishing Regulations
respecting Aliens arriving in this kingdom, or resident therein, in
certain cases," 33 Geo. III. cap. 4. After the preamble, the gist of
which has been given, this Act enacts that all masters of vessels are
to give to the officer of the Custom, at the port of arrival, a
written declaration specifying the names, &c., of foreigners on board.
All aliens arriving after 10th January 1793 were to give to the port
officer of the Customs a written declaration of their names, rank, &c.
If they failed in so doing, they were to depart out of the realm, or
be transported for life. The officer of Customs had to furnish them
with a certificate, and, if they wished to change their abode, they
were to have a passport, which they were to show, or be committed for
trial. They must also depart from the realm when ordered by His
Majesty's proclamation, &c. &c. &c.
[Illustration: Edmund Burke.]
This was a somewhat severe ordinance, but as far as I know, it was
never acted on, for the French _emigrés_ were a quiet, law-abiding
people, thankful for the refuge they had received. It was during the
debate on this Bill that Burke made his historical _coup de theatre_,
the dagger scene in the House of Commons. I quote from the _St.
James's Chronicle_ 27-29th December 1792:--Burke _loquitur_. "It had
been declared by a noble Lord (Granville) in another place, that there
were known to be _nineteen assassins_ in this country with daggers
for the extirpation of kings--but it had been said that nineteen were
of no consequence; he thought differently, for there were in that
number seven more than necessary to destroy the whole Royal family;
the number to him was alarming, for he knew not how many apprentices
those murderers might have, nor how many encouragers in this country;
the knowledge of nineteen French murderers having arrived, was a full
justification of the present Bill. He thanked His Majesty's Ministers
for having brought it forward; it might prevent the arrival of
nineteen times nineteen of those monsters, and it might counteract the
intentions of that Englishman who had ordered the manufacture of 5000
daggers at Birmingham--how many for exportation, or how many for home
consumption, he knew not. He had, however, strong reasons to believe
that they were intended to introduce _French fraternity_ into the
bosoms of Englishmen--to introduce murder and desolation, for '_there!
there!_' exclaimed Mr. Burke, _throwing a dagger upon the floor of the
House_, 'is the _fraternity of freedom_; that is the fraternity they
wish to plunge into the heart of our Sovereign; into the heart of
every virtuous Englishman who was loyal to his King, or worshipped his
God,'" &c. &c.
This rodomontade was only provocative of mirth, and it is said that
Sheridan asked--"You have thrown down the knife--where is the fork?"
which convulsed the House with laughter.
* * * * *
1793 opened gloomily with the trial, sentence, and decapitation of
Louis XVI. (sentenced 17th January, beheaded 21st January); and our
national sympathy towards the martyred King was shown by an order for
a general mourning, which it was hoped would be universal. "As our
Court has ordered an etiquette mourning for Louis XVI., there can be
little doubt that the people will, as one man, clothe themselves in a
garb expressive of their detestation of his murtherers."
Our relations with France had been very strained, for some time past,
and war had long been expected. In December 1792 a proclamation had
been issued, embodying and calling out the militia. Vessels were being
hurriedly equipped, and commissioned, and nobody was surprised, when,
on 1st February, Parliament received a message from the King,
informing his people that M. Chauvelin had left this country, and that
there was an urgent necessity for augmenting the sea and land forces.
The number of French in England became a source of uneasiness, and an
Order of Council was issued on 2nd February, directing all aliens,
save such as were excepted by the Alien Act, to reside within fifty
miles of the standard on Cornhill, and ten miles from the sea coasts,
and dockyards.
The French had already begun hostilities, by laying an embargo on all
British shipping in French ports, and, on 5th February, we retaliated
by acting in the same manner; but the terms were not equal, for there
were but six, or eight, French vessels in our ports, whilst it was
reckoned that the French had got hold of over 1000 of our seamen. But
sailors were forthcoming to man the fleet, for we read, under 7th
February, that "Upwards of 2000 sailors entered the Royal Navy last
week."
On 11th February, the King sent the following message to Parliament:--
"George R.--His Majesty thinks proper to acquaint the House of
Commons, that the Assembly now exercising the powers of Government in
France have, without previous notice, directed acts of hostility to
be committed against the persons and property of His Majesty's
subjects, in breach of the law of nations, and of the most positive
stipulations of treaty, and have since, on the most groundless
pretensions, actually declared war against His Majesty and the United
Provinces; under the circumstances of this wanton and unprovoked
aggression, His Majesty has taken the necessary steps to maintain the
honour of his Crown, and to vindicate the rights of his people; and
His Majesty relies with confidence on the firm and effectual support
of the House of Commons, and on the zealous exertions of a brave and
loyal people, in prosecuting a just and necessary war, and
endeavouring, under the blessing of Providence, to oppose an effectual
barrier to the farther progress of a system which strikes at the
security and peace of all independent nations, and is pursued in open
defiance of every principle of moderation, good faith, humanity, and
justice.
"In a cause of such general concern, His Majesty has every reason to
hope for the cordial co-operation of those Powers who are united with
His Majesty by the ties of alliance, or who feel an interest in
preventing the extension of anarchy and confusion, and in contributing
to the security and tranquillity of Europe.
G. R."
The Government was determined to do nothing by halves, and, as the law
of nations had not yet condemned the practice, they (on the 12th
February) caused to be issued, by the Admiralty, letters of marque,[1]
and reprisals against the French shipping--whilst pressgangs scoured
the streets and boarded all vessels for seamen. As, for instance (16th
February), "A press broke out in the river yesterday morning, all the
seamen were taken from the colliers, and the gangs were very
successful." And every means were taken to get sailors to volunteer,
vide the following extract out of a letter from Rochester, 15th
February:--"Three guineas are given to an able-bodied seaman, two
guineas to an ordinary seaman, and one guinea to a landsman (above the
King's bounty), to those who shall enter within a month in this city;
being the voluntary generosity of the Mayor and corporation here." And
this example was followed by many other corporations.
[Footnote 1: Power, license, or extraordinary commission,
granted by a State to its subjects, to make reprisals at sea
on the subjects of another, under pretence of
indemnification for injuries received.]
War being declared, preparations for it were carried on with the
utmost vigour. The Duke of York, colonel of the Guards (afterwards on
12th April made general), addressed the three regiments on parade,
told them that he would accompany them to Holland, and asked for
volunteers. This met with an unanimous response, but the number
required being limited, such men, only, were selected, who were judged
fittest for the service, and they started on their expedition on 25th
February, after having been inspected by the King.
It is no part of the scheme of this book to follow the fortunes of the
war, and, as there is little else noteworthy in the year 1793, we pass
to the next year.
* * * * *
On the 22nd February, 1794, His Majesty sent a message to Parliament,
calling attention to the expediency of increasing the land forces,
and, consequently, a large increase in the militia, and an addition to
the fencible corps, were voted, and the Secretary of State sent a
circular to all the Lords-lieutenant of Counties, recommending them to
solicit voluntary contributions towards carrying on the war.
Wilberforce still continued to agitate the slave question, although
not on the same lines as formerly. He changed his tactics, and, as the
sense of the House, on a previous occasion, was in favour of gradually
doing away with it, he introduced a Bill for abolishing that part of
the slave trade which related to the supply of foreign plantations. Of
course it met with opposition, Sir William Young moving that it be
read a second time this day (26th February) six months, but it was
carried in the Lower House, the numbers for the second reading being
56 against 38--majority, 18. The Bill, however, was thrown out in the
Lords, owing to the opposition of Lord Grenville, who argued that such
a Bill should not be introduced whilst the House was instituting
inquiry into the whole question. And so, for a time, it dropped,
perforce.
Many amongst us seem to think that Sir Rowland Hill originated the
penny post, but such is not the fact. That it was mainly through his
instrumentality that letters could be sent to all parts of England,
Scotland, and Ireland, at the uniform price of one penny, and that he
did much to re-organise the vast establishment of the post-office, is
beyond doubt; but the penny post existed long before that. There is a
squabble between Dockwra and Murray as to which of them commenced it
in 1683; at all events, the Government took it from Dockwra in 1690,
and afterwards gave him a pension of £500 a year, and he was made
Controller of the District Post; but he was finally discharged, on
account of some charges of malversation, &c., brought against him.
In 1711 an Act was passed abolishing the penny post, and on June 23rd
of that year a proclamation was issued, putting it in force. But it
was resuscitated, for we find, in the Parliamentary intelligence of
the _Times_, 26th February, 1794: "House of Commons, 25th February.
The House having gone into Committee, Mr. Long proposed some
resolutions to be adopted as an improvement on the mode of carrying
letters by the penny post. It was proposed that letters sent by the
penny post should be carried six times every day, and that an
additional duty of one penny should be paid to the King,--that is, as
we understand it, that the person who receives the letter shall pay a
penny in all cases, as well as he who sends it. Another resolution
was, that the postage of letters in the islands of Guernsey and Jersey
should be the same as in England." Pitt explained that the extra penny
would, probably, only cover the extra cost involved in having six
deliveries, and, after a short debate, the resolutions passed the
Committee.
The _Times_ (28th February 1794), commenting thereon says--"The new
Penny Post Office is likely to prove such a very great accommodation
to the public, that the only wonder is, it has been so long neglected.
Instead of the numbers of deliveries, and the hours of despatch
varying in different parts of the town, as at present, there will be
six deliveries each day in all parts of the town; by which means a
person living at Mary-le-Bonne may send letters to, or receive letters
from, Limehouse, a distance of seven miles, five times a day....
Persons putting in letters by nine in the morning, at the distance of
ten miles from the chief Penny Post Office, and later, at less distant
parts, may receive answers from London the same afternoon."
The Revolution in France still continued, as did then emigration, for
a return was made of the number of _emigrés_, who had been brought off
from Toulon by the British Fleet, and this report avers that they
numbered 14,877 men, women, and children. No wonder, then, at the
passing of the Alien Act.
The French Revolution, no doubt, stirred up the discontented, and
disaffected, in England: the perusal of Paine's "Rights of Man" in no
ways tended to soothe a rebellious feeling, and the mob, on several
occasions, was very riotous. Societies, like the "Corresponding
Society" and the "Society for Constitutional Information," were
founded in London, and the Government, feeling itself strong enough,
was determined to strike a blow and crush them: so, on the 12th May,
the King sent a message to Parliament, saying, that "having received
information that the seditious practices, which have been for some
time carried on by certain societies in different parts of the
country, have lately been pursued with increased activity and
boldness," &c.... he "has given directions for seizing the books and
papers of the said societies in London, which papers have been seized
accordingly, and these books and papers appear to contain matter of
the greatest importance." He directed them to be laid before
Parliament for consideration, so that they might take "measures
thereupon, as may appear to be necessary, for effectually guarding
against the further prosecution of these dangerous designs."
John Thelwall (political lecturer), Daniel Adams, and Thomas Hardy
were taken into custody. The latter two were examined before the Privy
Council on the 13th, the former on the 14th, on which date a Royal
Messenger went to Earl Stanhope's house, and arrested his lordship's
private secretary, the Rev. Jeremiah Joyce. A famous agitator, the
Rev. John Horne Tooke, was also taken. Their trials took place in
October, November, and December 1794, and ended in the acquittal of
the prisoners, after which the Government abandoned similar
prosecutions.
But a patriotic feeling was abroad, more than enough to
counterbalance these turbulent spirits. The vast majority of the
population was loyal, and volunteers hastened to band together for the
defence of their country. One or two instances will suffice. "On the
17th April the Court of Common Council of the City of London agreed to
open a subscription for raising, and disciplining, a regiment of
infantry and a troop of cavalry for the defence of the city, to be
called the 'Loyal London Volunteers.'"--"_Rutland Volunteers Troops of
Cavalry._ On the 5th instant, 154 men and horses, consisting of the
high sheriff, the noblemen, gentlemen, and yeomen, who intend forming
this corps, met at Oakham.... Uniform, French gray and buff. Every
person who belongs to this corps binds himself, under £50 penalty, to
attend when called upon."--_Times_, 21st April. These two instances
shew the wide range the volunteers' movement--then in its very
infancy--took.
The feeling, however, of the nation was not altogether unanimous in
favour of war. There was then, as now, a peace party. On 6th March Mr.
Whitbread moved an address to the King, strongly disapproving of the
policy of the Government, and of their conduct, not only preceding,
but succeeding the war. The Earl of Guildford did the same in the
Lords, but in both Houses the motions were negatived by large
majorities. Nothing daunted by this, on 30th May, the Duke of Bedford,
in the House of Lords, reviewed the causes which led to the war, and
also the foreign policy of the Government, ending by moving fourteen
resolutions, of which the most material were the two following:--"That
it appeared expedient to that House, that it should recommend to His
Majesty to adopt such measures as might lead to a negotiation for
peace."
Or that, "if His Majesty, in his wisdom, thought it advisable still
to prosecute the war, that he would be most graciously pleased to
state what the object of it was."
After a debate, which lasted till half-past one o'clock, it was
adjourned till the following Monday.
In the Commons, Fox took the same tone, winding up with--"The
advantages we had gained by sea and land were favourable for the
negotiation of a peace, as they served as so many funds to induce the
enemy to treat; and, should we fail, we should thereby justify our
pacific intentions to the world." He concluded by moving resolutions
similar to those of the Duke of Bedford. The result was--For the
previous question, 208; for Mr. Fox's resolutions, 55--majority, 153.
And no more was heard of the Duke of Bedford's resolutions.
The next, and last, great incident was, Lord Howe's great naval
victory over the French off the coast of Ushant, on "the glorious
first of June." Two 80 and five 74 gun ships were the substantial
fruits of this victory, although "Le Vengeur," one of the 74's, sunk
soon after capture, drowning some 300 men. No one knows the French
loss in this battle, but we do know, that on board the prizes taken
there were found 1200 dead bodies. Our total loss was 904. The news
travelled very fast, for that day; Sir Roger Curtis, Howe's first
captain, arrived at the Admiralty with despatches on the evening of
the 10th June.