devised for lessening the consumption of Flour, and soothing the
minds of the poor, at this interesting period, it is a matter of
no small astonishment to me, that that of sacrificing our
hair-powder, has not been more universally adopted. To the
antiquated virgin, indeed, who still sighs, and hopes, and whose
silvery locks might prove too sure an index of that worldly
experience, which, for certain prudential reasons, she might wish
to conceal, I confess the sacrifice is too great to be expected.
To the unhappy _hen-peck'd bald-pate_, whose lively wife
nauseates, and detests, the careless _brown-bob_, something may
be said in his behalf, also: but, to every other character,
whether the grave judge, or respectable grandmother, the buxom
widow, or the broad shouldered Irish fortune-hunter, the flirting
coquette, or her coxcomb colleague, the hardy veteran, or flashy
militia captain, the pert lawyer, or the young priggish parson:
and lastly, the smart apprentice, who _beflours_ his head to cut
a dash at the Dog and Duck, or Bagnigge Wells: all these, I say,
and every other character that I have omitted to name, can surely
have no possible excuse for thus insulting the feelings of the
poor. I repeat the word _insulting_, for it is the just and
proper epithet; for what can we term it but insult, to be thus
playing with the feelings of these poor wretches, at a moment
when they are suffering the greatest of all worldly
miseries--_want_."--(_Times, Aug. 10, 1795._)
* * * * *
"A morning Paper of yesterday, mentions by name, that a Nobleman
of the highest rank, in this country, was, last week, summoned to
the Police-Office, Queen's Square, for wearing powder without
being licensed. The defence set up that his Grace, being a
_Menial Servant_, in the King's Household, was exempt from the
Tax: which, being admitted, the matter was dismissed.--We trust
that this information is not authentic, for it would be a most
pitiful subterfuge to evade the payment of a tax, which is
generally allowed to be a proper one." (_Times, Feb. 1,
1797._)--(_Query, the Duke of Portland._)
All articles of luxury, and very many of absolute necessity, were
taxed to supply the drain of the war--and, doubtless, people had to be
economical--but the following advertisement reduces economy to a
science:--
"ADVANTAGEOUS HAT SUBSCRIPTION. Stamps included.
"Three Hats, value £1, 1s. each, at £1, 14s. 6d. per Ann.,
delivered as follows. Two on Subscription, the third at the end
of eight months, when the two first must be returned, and the
third at the end of the year. Four Hats, value £1, 4s. each, at
£2, 6s. per Ann., delivered as follows. Two on subscribing, and
two at the end of six months, when the two first must be
returned, and the other two at the end of the year. The Hats
changed as the Fashions vary during subscribing. To remove all
prejudices, Gentlemen may call at the Manufactory and see the
quality. Old Hats taken in part of the subscription money. Durant
and Pitra, Hat Manufactory, middle of Monmouth St."--(_Times,
Aug. 25, 1796._)
On Nov. 22, 1798, Pitt brought forward his annual statement, relating
to public finance--and proposed to raise £7,000,000, by a new tax
called a triple assessment--but, eventually, it turned out that it,
with the land tax, brought in but about 4-1/2 Millions. A Briton can
extract some fun, even out of his misfortunes, so they caricatured
this heavy tax. In Dec. 1797 appeared a picture entitled "More
visitors to John Bull; or the Assessed Taxes"--showing four little
imps coming to John Bull. He naturally asks, "What do you want, you
little devils?--ain't I plagued with enough of you already? more pick
pocket's work, I suppose?" But the _diablotins_ courteously reply,
"Please your honour, we are the Assessed Taxes."
On Dec. 3, 1798, Mr. Pitt again made his annual financial
statement--and, of course, he wanted more money--and the way by which
he proposed to raise the necessary funds--was by imposing a Tax on
Income. He proposed that no income under £60 a year should be
touched--and from that sum, to £200 per annum, should be on a smaller
scale than over £200--past which sum--a full tenth of all incomes
would be demanded. The returns were to be made by the person assessed,
subject to the inspection of a surveyor, who should lay before the
commissioners any grounds he might have for suspecting the return to
be false. The commissioners had no power to call for account books, or
to examine clerks, &c. But, if the individual did not clear himself,
and they thought he had not returned sufficient, they could make such
assessment as they thought fit. After a long debate it was carried by
183 to 17, and made law on 18th Mar. 1799. By the accompanying
caricature, "A Visitor to John Bull, for the year 1799, or the
Assessed Taxes taking their leave," it was evidently the public
impression that the Income Tax would supersede the Assessed Taxes. But
it was not so, as they were still kept on.
The little demons still behave courteously towards John Bull, who
looks in undisguised horror at the size of the awful fund (the Income
Tax) now taking possession of him.
The following paragraph would seem, at first sight, rather harsh--but
it must be borne in mind that the War was a cruel drain on our fiscal
resources--and not one penny that had been granted by parliament could
be bated.
[Illustration: The Assessed Taxes taking their departure.]
"The Commissioners of the Stamp Office having been informed that
the practice of letting out newspapers for hire, was carried on
to a very considerable extent, to the great injury of the
revenue, the Commissioners ordered a prosecution to take place,
and a newsman was yesterday summoned before the Lord Mayor, and
convicted in the penalty of £5, as the Act directs."--(_Times,
Oct. 23, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Lending Newspapers. James Berridge, a Newsman, was, on Saturday,
brought before Sir William Addington, and R. Ford, Esq., charged
with letting out Newspapers for hire, from house to house. This
was a prosecution instituted by the Commissioners of the Stamps.
A great number of complaints were brought forward against him,
and he was convicted in six penalties of £5 each. A variety of
others were about to be exhibited against him, but in
consideration of his having a large family, the Solicitor
declined going into them."--(_Times, Jan. 2, 1798._)
* * * * *
"The keepers of several reading-rooms in Fleet Street, and
Shoe-Lane, were, on Saturday, fined £5 for lending newspapers for
hire."--(_Times, Sept. 26, 1798._)
* * * * *
"Government intends to have one fixed standard for Weights, and
Measures, over the whole Kingdom; as the greatest frauds, for
want of that regulation, have, for ages, been practised with
impunity. These regulations are much needed, and are an excellent
subject for taxation. The lower orders of the community are
grievously imposed upon, for want of them, and, doubtless, it
will be a popular mode of taxation, and can give no offence to
any class of people, but those dishonestly employed."--(_Times,
Sept. 15, 1796._)
* * * * *
"The following curious view of the incredible loss sustained by
raising weekly loans of money, at the Pawnbrokers, it is hoped,
will prove an additional incitement to frugality; for certain it
is, that in many instances, 1/6th, and in some cases 1/5th, and
even as high as 1/4th, of the annual earnings of the more
thoughtless, and dissolute part, of the poor, is paid for
temporary accommodations. For instance,
"The person who borrows 3d. in pawn, pays 6d. a year, interest,
but, if taken out weekly, (a thing very common, particularly
during the Lottery),
It is 1/2d. per week, or 850 per cent. on the sum borrowed.
If 6d. it is the same " 425 do.
If 9d. do. " 285 do.
If 1s. do. " 215 do.
If 2s. do. " 107-1/2 do.
If 2s. 6d. do. " 87-1/2 do.
"This explanation should be a warning to those who are so
improvident, as to pawn their Sunday cloaths, every Monday
morning, or 52 times a year, a custom which too frequently
prevails, without reflecting that the Interest paid the
Pawnbroker would, probably, purchase two or three coats, gowns,
or silk cloaks, in the course of the year."--(_Times, Mar. 20,
1797._)
* * * * *
"ON PUBLIC-HOUSES. (Condensed.)
"In the City of London, and within the Bills of Mortality, there
are at present 5,204 licensed Public Houses, and it is calculated
that the Beer, and Spirits, which are consumed in these
receptacles of idleness, and profligacy, by the _labouring
people_, only, is little short of _three millions sterling a
year_. It has been lately discovered, that clubs of apprentice
boys are harboured in Public Houses, for the purpose of
supporting their brethren who run away from their masters, and of
indulging themselves early, in scenes of lewdness, and
drunkenness, which they generally do, by pilfering their masters
property, and disposing of it at the old iron shops.
"In a recent publication, the consumption of Ale, and Porter,
annually, in the metropolis, and its environs, is stated to
be 1,132,147 barrels, equal to 36,625,145 gallons, making
158,400,580 pots at 3-1/2d. £2,311,466 15 10
"And, by another calculation, the
average consumption of Gin, and
Compounds, in Public Houses, previous
to the stoppage of the distillery,
was about 3,000,000 of Gallons 975,000 0 0
----------------
£3,286,466 15 10
"If a conclusion may be drawn from the apparent greater degree of
sobriety, which is manifested, at present, by the labouring
people, and evinced by the number of quarrels, and assaults,
being very considerably diminished, and the pressure, with
respect to the means of living, apparently less than in the
spring of 1795, notwithstanding no charities have been
distributed, and bread is considerably higher, it would seem
reasonable to attribute this favourable change, to the high price
of Gin, which, being in a great measure inaccessible, the lower
ranks have it now in their power, to apply the money, formerly
spent in this way, to the purchase of provisions, perhaps to the
extent of some hundred thousands of Pounds a year, in the
metropolis, alone!"--(_Times, Oct. 4. 1797._)
[Illustration: John Bull and the Income Tax.]
FOOD.
The years 1795-6 were years of great scarcity, and the graphic daily
accounts of the want of food, and of the various substitutes for
bread--the abstinence of all classes, from the King, to the labourer,
bring very vividly to our minds, a state of things, which has never
since obtained in England--
"In consequence of the scarcity of Wheat, arising partly from
such quantities of it being used for hair-powder, several
regiments have, very patriotically, discontinued the use of
hair-powder, which, in these instances, was generally nothing but
flour."--(_Times, Feb. 10, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Parliamentary Board of Agriculture, in consideration of the
probable scarcity of wheat, have agreed to propose a premium of
One Thousand Pounds, to the person who will grow the largest
breadth of _Potatoes_, on lands never applied to the culture of
that plant before:--they have liberally excluded the Members of
their own Board from becoming candidates for this valuable
prize."--(_Times, Feb. 14, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The general failure of Wheat, throughout Europe, last year,
makes it proper to promote the culture of an increased quantity
of Potatoes, and, as one means of doing it, it is recommended to
Noblemen and Gentlemen, who have large Parks, to break up a part
of them to be planted with Potatoes, those grounds generally
lying dry, will be very proper for the purpose, and fit for
immediate planting with that root. It is hoped that so
benevolent, and patriotic, an object, will be a sufficient
incitement, without a consideration of profit
attached."--(_Times, March 20, 1795._)
* * * * *
"It is hinted by a benevolent mind, who has, on account of meat
being so dear, left off soup in his family, at present, that the
making of soup destroys a great deal of meat, and it is
recommended that the rich leave off making soups, as the meat is
generally wasted, it will relieve a great many poor families in
these dear times."--(_Times, April 27, 1775._)
* * * * *
"Friday, a Court of Common-Council was held at Guildhall: when
the Lord Mayor stated to the Court, the hardships the poor feel
on account of the high price of provisions, on which, Mr. Syms
moved, that a Committee of all the Aldermen, and one Commoner,
out of each Ward, be appointed, to consider the best method to be
adopted for reducing the price, which, after a few observations,
was agreed to.
"Mr. Dixon moved, that, for one year, neither the Corporation,
nor any Committee, be allowed public dinners. It was seconded by
Mr. Kemble, and supported by three, or four, other Members: but
some treated the motion as not seriously meant. Mr. Deputy Birch
moved an amendment, by adding, that the savings by such means, be
paid to the Committee now appointed, to be by them appropriated
for reducing the price of provisions--on which a previous
questioned was moved, and the question being put, there appeared
for it 26; against it 39; Majority against, 13."--(_Times, May
11, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Provisions continue to advance in price. Mutton, in the last
week, rose 4d. per stone of 8 lbs., which now costs the enormous
sum of 5s. in Smithfield Market, sinking the offal; ox beef is
4s. 4d., lamb 6s., veal 5s. 8d.
"If a bounty was to be given on mackarel brought to market, it
would, in a great measure, tend to lower the price of butchers
meat, which a ruinous plan of forestalling, and unfair buying and
selling, has raised to an alarming price.
"A report from the committee appointed at the last Court of
Common Council, to consider of the best means of reducing the
present high price of provisions, was read, giving it as their
opinion, that encouraging the bringing up fish to Billingsgate,
would, in a great measure, reduce the price of meat, with which
report the Court agreed, and £500 was granted for that
purpose."--(_Times, May 18, 1795._)
* * * * *
Advt.--"GUILDHALL, London, May 22, 1795.
"The Committee, appointed by the Court of Common Council, to use
the best Means to increase the Quantity of Fish brought to the
London Market, to reduce the price of Provisions, do hereby give
notice, that they have resolved to give a Bounty of Two Pounds
for every 1000 Mackarel, sold at Billingsgate, at the rate of
20s. per hundred of six score, with a sufficient proof of their
freshness: Four Pounds for every 2000: Six Pounds for every 3000:
Eight Pounds for every 4000, and Ten Pounds for every 5000
Mackarel, sold, as aforesaid. Also, they have resolved to give a
Bounty of Five Pounds per Ton, or Five Shillings for every
Hundred weight of Cod, and Haddock, sold at Billingsgate at the
rate of 2d. per lb., with a sufficient proof of their freshness.
The said Bounties to commence on Monday the 1st June next, and
be paid by applying at the Chamberlain's Office, on producing a
Certificate, of the number, goodness, and prices, of the said
Fish.
RIX."
--(_Times, May 25, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Among the numerous causes which may be assigned for the present
high prices of provisions, especially of poultry, the uniting of
many small farms into one great one, is not the least. It is a
well known fact, that, where three farms have been leased, or
let, to one tenant, which three farms, antecedently, had each a
separate tenant, no more poultry is produced by the union, than
each separately reared, when divided, so that two-thirds are, of
course, lost to the public. This mode of throwing many small
farms into one large farm, by having one, instead of a number of
tenants, however it may profit the landlord, is of very great
injury to the public, inasmuch as it gives a kind of Aristocracy
to the farmers, that enables them, in a great measure, to set
what price they please upon provisions, destroying that
competition, which is always the consequence, where the venders
are numerous. Thus it is that a great part of Oxfordshire has
been bought up by a noble Duke, who, by monopolizing so much
land, and destroying a number of small farms, has done a very
essential injury to the public."--(_Times, June 22, 1795._)
* * * * *
"We are sorry to learn that Wheat rose yesterday nine shillings
per quarter. It is, however, with great satisfaction, we
announce, that several ships, laden with corn, are arrived in the
Downs from Dantzic, and part of their produce is expected to
arrive in time for to-morrow's market."--(_Times, July 7, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Privy Council, whose constant attention has been directed,
for many months past, to provide the kingdom with a regular
supply of corn, propose to recommend to the country at large, the
use of Household Bread. It is further to be recommended, that
families should not have puddings, or pies, nor any such like
articles made of flour.
"The Magistrates of the General Quarter Sessions for Middlesex,
seem to be acting upon this principle in the resolution passed at
their last Court-day, which we trust will be followed by every
other public body in the kingdom. The disuse of pastry seems to
be a very important consideration.
"The Directors of the East India Co. have set a laudable example
of attention to the distresses of the times, in abridging the
customary expense of their dinners, on Court-days."--(_Times,
July 10, 1795._)
* * * * *
Advt.--"At a General Quarter Session of the Peace, for the County
of Middlesex, the Magistrates assembled, taking into
consideration the present High Prices of Provisions, with the
consequent inconveniences resulting therefrom, and, feeling the
propriety of a general retrenchment in the manner of furnishing
the Table, at this particular time, have come to the following
Resolution, viz., That during the remainder of the present
Session, and during the next Session, in September, no Puddings,
or Pies, nor any the like articles made of Flour, be served to
their table, nor any other provisions, whatsoever, than fish,
beef, mutton, or veal, with vegetables, and household bread.
"By the Court. Selby."
--(_Times, July 9, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Yesterday, the Directors of the Bank of England sent £500 to the
Lord Mayor, requesting he would apply that sum towards the relief
of the industrious poor, in the article of BREAD. The _Sun Fire
Office_ sent £100, to the same worthy Magistrate, for the like
purpose. The different Wards in the City have subscribed, very
liberally, towards the relief of the poor in their present
distress. Public subscriptions are about to be opened for the
same benevolent purpose. Pastry, and puddings, have been
abolished in a number of private houses. The Directors of the
Bank yesterday came to a resolution to have no more public
dinners, while the price of provisions continued so high. This
laudable resolution will, we trust, be followed by all the
corporate bodies in the kingdom."--(_Times, July 11, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Drapers Company voted the 200 guineas, for reducing the
price of Bread, after the _Court_ had been on a Survey, and, (to
use a technical term) returned to _dine upon a view_. The
following Epigram was put under the Master's plate:--
"In times so hard, how happy 'twere
If thousands, like to you,
Could glut their craving appetites
By _dining on--a view_.
But from your views such works of love
Such general good accrues,
That happier 'twere if each day brought
_New dinners and new views_."
--(_Times, July 11, 1795._)
* * * * *
Advt.--"MIDDLESEX.
"At the General Quarter Session of the Peace of our Lord the
King, holden in and for the County of Middlesex ... a Letter from
his Grace the Duke of Portland, one of her Majesty's Principal
Secretaries of State, was read, inclosing a copy of the following
engagement, entered into by several of the Lords of his Majesty's
most Hon. Privy Council, in the following words:
"In consideration of the present high Price of Wheat, and, in
order to diminish the Consumption thereof, in our respective
Families, so as to leave a larger Supply of this necessary
Article of Food, for the People in general, until the Corn of the
ensuing Harvest shall come into Consumption, and relieve them of
their present difficulties: We, whose Names are hereto
subscribed, being desirous of introducing into common use a
wholesome Bread, at a lower price than must be paid for the sort
of Bread now ordinarily used, do engage that we will not,
ourselves, consume, nor suffer to be consumed, in any of our
Families, until the First Day of October next, at any place where
the sort of Bread undermentioned can be procured, any sort of
Wheaten Bread finer than that which, in an Act of Parliament
passed in the 13th year of his present Majesty's Reign, is called
by the name of Standard Wheaten Bread: which is directed by the
said Act to be made of the Flour of Wheat, which Flour, without
any Mixture, or Division, shall be the whole Produce of the
Grain, the Bran or Hull thereof only excepted, and which shall
weigh three-fourths parts of the weight of the Wheat whereof it
shall be made. We further engage to diminish, as much as
possible, the use of Flour in other articles of Food consumed in
our respective Families. And we earnestly recommend to all our
Fellow Subjects, to adopt these Measures, and strictly adhere to
the same.
Loughborough.
Mansfield.
Chatham.
Portland.
Chesterfield.
J. Eyre.
A. Macdonald.
Spencer.
Hawkesbury.
W. Pitt.
Leicester.
Up. Ossory.
W. Windham.
Bathurst.
Grenville.
Amherst.
Winchelsea.
Stafford.
R. P. Arden.
Dudley Ryder.
C. Townshend.
Kenyon.
Sandwich.
Mornington.
Carlisle.
C. F. Greville.
"Resolved, that this Court, deeply impressed by the wisdom of
this measure, adopt the Regulations stated in the above
Engagement, and resolve strictly to adhere to them, earnestly
recommending them to the serious consideration, and practice, of
all Masters of Families, and other Inhabitants of this County,
&c., &c.
Selby."
--(_Times, July 14, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The want of bread is often more imaginary, than real. There are
many excellent substitutes for this article, which would in
themselves be preferred by many people, if it were a matter of
choice, only, between themselves. Unfortunately, the call for
bread will always be in proportion to the scarcity of it, from
the natural disposition of some to make grievances, and
complaints, and of others to provoke tumult, and riot.
"To make good bread. Take a pottle of fine oatmeal, and lay it in
water, to steep, all night: next morning, it will appear (if too
much water is not put to it) like hasty pudding. This break into
several parts of a peck and a half of barley-meal, to which add
warm water, and yeast, and knead it into dough, as all wheat meal
is commonly done: then mould it into loaves, and bake them. Thus,
a barley loaf may be made hollow, white, and sweet, so as
scarcely to be known from coarse wheaten bread. When skimmed milk
can be had, it will make the bread better still."--(_Times, July
15, 1795._)
* * * * *
"COMMON COUNCIL.
"Yesterday, a Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall, at
which the Lord Mayor, 6 Aldermen, and about 150 Commoners, were
present.
"The Lord Mayor informed the Court, that he had not yet received
any answer to the application made by desire of that Court to his
Majesty's Ministers, requesting them to prohibit the use of Hair
Powder, and Flour, in the Army. It was, however, generally
understood in the Court, that Government was acting in compliance
with the wishes of the Court.
"The Court then proceeded to take into consideration the
Resolutions of his Majesty's Hon. Privy Council, recommending the
use of standard wheaten Bread (see the Advertisement in the
_Times_ of Tuesday last 14th inst.). The Court resolved to adopt,
and to exert themselves to give force to, the Resolution of the
Privy Council, and earnestly recommend the same to their fellow
citizens. A Deputation was appointed to wait on the Privy
Council, relative to some regulations not clearly understood,
respecting the Millers forwarding the sort of Flour necessary for
the purpose to market. It was also the opinion of the Court, that
the said Deputation should recommend to the Privy Council, to
take into consideration the propriety of an indemnity to the
Bakers, in fixing a price to the said Household Bread.