thought no more derogatory in a fine gentleman to assist, by his
presence, at a "Mill," than to be present at a Cock fight. It was
patronised by Royalty, as we see by the following Newspaper Cutting.
Indeed, the Prince of Wales attended several prize fights, until a man
was killed, and then he left the ring to itself.
"On Friday, a battle was fought at Blackheath between Crabbe, a
Jew, and Oliver, commonly called _Death_; in which the former was
victorious. All the great patrons, and distinguished professors
of this _fine art_ were present, and many bets were laid. The
battle was honoured, in particular, by the attendance of his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."--(_Morning Post, April 18,
1788._)
Even those "feeble folk," those superfine gentlemen, the Macaronis,
learned to use their fists, as we see by this illustration.
Any one caring for such particulars will well know that this was the
golden age for pugilism. There were Tom Johnson, 1783-1791. Benjamin
Brain (Big Ben), 1786-1791. Daniel Mendoza, a Jew, 1784-1820. Richard
Humphries, "the Gentleman boxer," 1784-1790. John Jackson, 1788-1795.
Bill Hooper (the Tin man), 1789-1797. Tom Owen, 1796-1799-1820. Tom
Jones (Paddington Jones), 1786-1805. Bill Warr (of Bristol),
1787-1792. Will Wood, the Coachman, 1788-1804. George Ingleston, the
Brewer, 1789-1793. Bob Watson, of Bristol, 1788-1791. Tom Tyne, "the
Tailor," 1788-1792. Symonds (the Ruffian), 1791-1795. Jem Belcher,
1798-1809. This is the list of the Chief Gladiators of the period.
"Mendoza's terms for teaching are reasonable enough--eight
lessons for a guinea."--(_Morning Post, May 26, 1788._)
* * * * *
"_Mendoza_ and _Ward_, finding that the blackguard exercise of
boxing had fallen into disrepute, took up the _genteel_ trade of
crimping, and became acting serjeants, at a house in St. George's
Fields, until a stop was put to that nefarious business by
authority. We are sorry to find that these notorious blackguards
have since returned to their former occupation."--(_Times, April
16, 1795._)
[Illustration: Boxing made easy, or Humphreys giving a lesson.--1788.]
Duels were of as common occurrence, as highway robberies, and need as
much comment. Still, I give two, or three, instances to show on what
trifles, men, then, ventured their lives.
The first is an ordinary duel between two officers, reported in the
_Morning Post_ of 22nd June 1788--in which one of them was wounded in
the thigh. This report brings a letter from some one, probably a
second, who gives his version thus:--"Sir, in your account of the duel
between Captains Tonge and Paterson, in your Paper of the 22nd, there
is a mistake or two, which, for the sake of truth, I beg leave to
correct. You say, 'that _Capt. T. wished to apologise for the injury
he had done_.' The truth is, Captain T. being not quite himself when
the affray happened, remembered very little of what had passed, except
that, on some provocation, he had struck Capt. P. Considering himself,
therefore, as having, _palpably_ broken the peace, he was ready to ask
Capt. P.'s pardon.
"This was not deemed sufficient satisfaction, and the duel took place.
You tell us, that _Capt. T.'s ball passed Capt. P._, thereby implying
that Capt. T. actually fired at his antagonist. Now, Sir, I can
positively affirm that Capt. T. was determined not to fire his pistol,
and that it was involuntarily discharged, after he was wounded, and
not levelled at Capt. P. You tell us then, that Capt. T., upon
falling, declared that '_he had merited his fate, and begged Capt.
P.'s pardon_.' His words were, _Are you satisfied? I fear I am
dangerously wounded, I therefore advise you to fly._
"To enable the Public to judge properly of this affair, it is
necessary they should be told, that the first offence was, Capt. T.'s
treading accidentally on Capt. P.'s heel, who, though he saw Capt. T.
was intoxicated, continued to follow him.
Rich. Weeks."
"Captain Parkhurst and a Mr. Kelly, are the names of the
gentlemen who exchanged blows at the Opera House on Saturday
evening."--(_Times, March 11, 1794._)
* * * * *
"On Sunday morning a duel was fought in Hyde Park between Mr.
Parkhurst and Lieut. Kelly of the Navy. The dispute originated in
some difference about places at the Opera pit on the preceding
night. A brace of pistols was discharged, and the latter
gentleman wounded in the shoulder. The seconds then interfered,
and brought the matter to a termination."--(_Times, March 13,
1794._)
* * * * *
"Friday morning a duel was fought in a field on the Uxbridge
Road, between Mr. Duke, surgeon, and Captain D----s, in
consequence of an old dispute revived a few nights ago in the
Haymarket Theatre. The parties discharged a brace of pistols
without effect, but upon Mr. D. discharging his second pistol, a
ball was lodged in Capt. D.'s arm--upon which the seconds
interfered, and a reconciliation took place."--(_Times, Feb. 18,
1793._)
FRENCH EMIGRANTS.
We have seen how, at the outbreak of the French Revolution, the French
came over here in thousands--escaping here as to a haven of refuge.
For the most part they were of the better class; still there were, as
in 1870, a large number of very suspicious characters (to use the
mildest term) among them--and the government was compelled to keep a
very jealous eye on their movements. Taken, however, as a whole, they
behaved wonderfully well, and in no ways abused the asylum, and
protection, they had sought.
"Government is ridding the country very fast of Jacobins: and in
doing so, it is taking only a proper precaution during a time of
war. Some hundreds have been already either expelled, or have
quitted the country through apprehension; but many more still
remain here: and we recommend very strongly to the notice of the
Police Department, the general body of _French Dancing Masters_
practising in London, who are the veriest Jacobins in existence.
An exportation of some of these Hop Merchants, and certain French
Milliners, whom we could name, might be permitted without a
drawback, and without doing any injury to the Revenue."--(_Times,
Feb. 15, 1793._)
* * * * *
"The _Maitre d'Hotel_ of the _Duke of York_ was, on Saturday
last, ordered to quit the country. We some time since remarked
that there were several rank Jacobins in his Royal Highness's
household."--(_Times, Feb. 16, 1793._)
He was sent out of the Country either for theft or embezzlement.
"The Jermyn-Street _Gun_, which is filled with combustible
matter, should be unloaded, and spiked, or it may become more
dangerous than it is even at present. A clause ought to be added
to the _Alien Bill_, interdicting Frenchmen to meet, either in
public, or private, houses, in a greater number than 5, at one
and the same time. We cannot be too strict at this moment: and,
being sojourners here, as objects of public bounty, they cannot
complain of any regulations which Government may deem necessary
to make."--(_Times, Feb. 16, 1793._)
* * * * *
"The French Emigrants.[17]
[Footnote 17: On March 6, there was a letter from the agents
of the owners of the ship, putting a different complexion on
the matter: the mutinous conduct of the emigrants being the
cause of all the trouble.]
"Some of the papers have circulated very idle reports relative to
the arrival, in London, of 140 French soldiers; the story is
precisely as follows: These unfortunate Emigrants, most of them
descended from opulent, and illustrious, families in France,
having saved themselves, with the French Princes, from the
daggers of assassins, were necessitated, at the end of the
campaign, to enter the service of Spain. They embarked, on the
4th Dec., at _Bois le Duc_, for _Rotterdam_, and from thence,
they sailed in the ship _David and Abraham_, commanded by Captain
_Riendirk_. It would be impossible to describe the bad usage they
received on board. Obliged to lay upon the bare deck, without a
bed, and fed with mouldy biscuit, and beer, mixed with salt
water; in this lamentable situation they remained five weeks.
These miserable men were covered with vermin, most of them,
dreadfully galled with sores, and ulcers. Some had not changed
their linen for two years and an half: others had no linen of any
kind, and the clothes of the whole troop were in tatters. There
is reason to believe that the Captain of the vessel proposed to
sell them as malefactors, to be sent to Batavia. The ship,
however, was driven on our coast, and as soon as our Government
was apprized that these poor men were at anchor in Sheerness,
they took every measure to soften the rigour of their fate. Two
of their countrymen were dispatched to bring them to London. The
barbarous inhumanity of the Dutch Captain was notoriously
conspicuous, and we hope some measures will be taken to bring him
to justice, and make him an example to others, to avoid similar
acts of inhumanity."--(_Times, Feb. 28, 1793._)
* * * * *
"It is said that Lord Moira, notwithstanding the strange part he
acts in domestic politics, distributes the amount of £10,000
annually amongst the French Emigrants, who are only known to him
by their distresses."--(_Times, Dec. 27, 1797._)
* * * * *
"A French Emigrant was, yesterday, examined before Mr. Ford, at
the Duke of Portland's Office, on a charge of being a Spy. The
circumstances adduced were on the information of a Journeyman
Shoemaker, against his Master, a Mr. Deboo, for making a pair of
boots with a Cavity between the Soles; covered with sheet lead to
prevent the wet perforating, for letters of a secret nature.
After a long examination, it was proved that he was employed by
the Duke d'Harcourt, on a mission to the officers of his corps in
Germany, and, his papers containing nothing improper, he was
discharged: but, the maker of the boots having been, for some
time, considered a disaffected person, is to be sent out of the
Kingdom under the Alien Bill."--(_Times, Jan. 6, 1798._)
* * * * *
"In order to obtain a correct information of all the Foreigners
who reside in this vast metropolis, and whose numbers are said to
amount to 80,000, and upwards, Government has ordered the parish
Officers to go from house, to house, and to take down the name of
any foreigner who resides in the parish. This measure, we
conceive, would become still more efficacious, if every landlord,
or tenant, of a house, who lets out lodgings, were obliged to
inform the Justice of the Peace, of every Foreigner who comes to
lodge in his house, or leaves it. None but suspicious persons
will have to complain of the severity of these
measures."--(_Times, March 11, 1797._)
POLITICAL.
With Politics I had no intention of dealing, but the book would be
incomplete if there were no indication of the party strife of the
period, so that I have been tempted to make a few extracts
principally of 1793-4, when party spirit ran very high. The
revelations as to Elections, will, probably, somewhat astonish the
next generation.
"The Marquis of Lansdowne's carriage conveyed the whole phalanx
of opposition, in the house of Lords, to their respective homes,
after the debate of Friday night: and even then, one corner of
the coach was unoccupied.
"The opposition in the Commons, who are a little more numerous,
were all bundled into Mr. Fox's coach, and that of Michael Angelo
Turner, with the assistance of a hackney-coach for Jack Courtney,
and Jekyll.
"Opposition, sunk to a minority that is insignificant in the
extreme, was afraid to try the question, on Friday, in either
House, well knowing that they could not reckon more than a dozen,
in the Commons, and three in the House of Lords. Must not this
convince the French of the unanimity of the people of
England?"--(_Times, Feb. 4, 1793._)
* * * * *
"All the Members of the Opposition, in both Houses of Parliament,
are to have a grand civic feast on Saturday next. Dinner is
bespoke for FOURTEEN!!!"--(_Times, Feb. 5, 1793._)
* * * * *
"The Irish papers are full of information of indictments on the
part of the Crown, against the printers of newspapers in Ireland.
Thirty or forty names are mentioned in one of the latest Gazettes
from thence."--(_Times, Feb. 6, 1793._)
COUNTY OF LEICESTER.--Dec. 19, 1792.
"It appearing to be the unanimous opinion of all true friends of
the Constitution, that, in order to prevent the mischievous
consequences attending a misrepresentation of their sentiments,
either at home, or abroad, some public avowal of their principles
is become necessary; We, whose names are hereunto subscribed,
adopting the resolutions of the Society, at the Saint Alban's
Tavern, do hereby declare, that we are unanimously, and
decidedly, of opinion, that, for the security and happiness of
all classes of our fellow-subjects, for the maintenance of our
own rights, and liberties, and, for the dearest interests of our
posterity, it is, in the present moment, incumbent upon us to
give to the Executive Government, a vigorous, and effectual,
support, in counteracting the numerous efforts of sedition, in
detecting, and bringing to legal punishment, the persons
concerned therein, and in suppressing, in their beginning, all
tumults, or riots, on whatever pretence they may be excited: do
hereby publicly declare our determination to take all such steps
for these purposes, as are within the limits of our duty, in the
several stations in which the Constitution of our country has
placed us, and to afford, by our individual exertions, that
active assistance to the authority of the lawful Magistrate, and
to the maintenance of the Established Government, which is at all
times due from the subject of this realm; but which we feel to be
more particularly necessary, under the circumstances of the
present time.
"For these purposes, and to this intent, we are resolved, and do
declare--
1. "That we will jointly, and individually, use our utmost
endeavours to discover the Authors, Publishers, and Distributors,
of all Seditious Writings, which shall be published, and
distributed, within the County of Leicester, and particularly,
all persons who shall be engaged in any illegal Associations, or
Conspiracies, for the Publication, and Distribution, of such
writings, or for the exciting Tumults, and Riots, within the said
County.
2. "That, in order to carry the above resolutions into effect, we
do hereby, mutually, bind ourselves to each other, that whenever
it shall come to our Knowledge, that any person, or persons,
have, within the said County, Published, or Distributed,
Seditious Writings, or engaged themselves in such Associations,
or Conspiracies, for the purposes aforesaid, we will do our
utmost endeavours to put the laws strictly in force against him,
or them.
3. "That we will, on every occasion, exert ourselves, on the
first appearance of Tumult, or Disorder, to maintain the public
peace, and to act in support of the civil authority, for
suppressing all Riots, and for bringing the promoters of them to
legal punishment.
"Those who agree in the principles here stated, are invited to
set their names to this Declaration--Copies of which will be
sent, for that purpose, to every town, and village, in the
county, at the Banks of Boultbee & Co., and Bensley & Co., in
Leicester, and at the Post Offices, in the several Market Towns
of the county, Subscriptions will be received, from such persons,
as may be willing to contribute, towards defraying the expenses,
which may be incurred in carrying into execution the measures
here stated, and in counteracting the mistaken, and pernicious,
notions which are so industriously circulated."--(_Times, Feb. 7,
1793._)
* * * * *
"ST. MARY, ISLINGTON, Mitre Tavern, opposite the Church, Jan. 23.
We, the undersigned, being PUBLICANS within this Parish, from a
sense of duty we owe to the present Constitution, and Government
of this country; and, having a desire to preserve to the utmost
of our Power, Peace, and Good Order, by preventing the assembling
of Persons as Societies, or Clubs, for seditious purposes, in our
several Houses--have this day met, and resolved, and, by this, do
pledge ourselves, to give immediate Information to the Committee
appointed at the Church, on the 8th Day of Dec. last, for the
preservation of the Public Peace, &c., of any Person, or Persons,
making use of disloyal Expressions or otherwise offending against
the Peace of the Parish, whereby he, or they, may be brought to
Punishment for the same. Agreed, That this Resolution be signed
by as many Publicans within this Parish, as shall approve the
same, and that it may be advertised in the daily Papers.
"_N.B._--The signatures contain the whole Number of Publicans in
this Parish."--(_Times, Feb. 7, 1793._)
* * * * *
"It is rather extraordinary, that the Whig Club should forget to
drink the Duke of Portland's health last Tuesday, and the House
of Cavendish. There was a time, when the Whig Club was
respectable; but that is over, and perhaps never to return. The
last meeting was _a-la-mode D'Egalité_."--(_Times, Feb. 7,
1793._)
* * * * *
"As the Members of the National Convention are so very fond of
_Pain_, it cannot be deemed _unfeeling_ to express a sincere wish
that they all felt it."--(_Times, Feb. 7, 1793._)
* * * * *
"Lady Dover's house, it is confidently said, was set on fire by a
_Frenchman_. The person's name has been publicly mentioned. What
may, and must, surprise a number of Britons is, that in most of
the late Opposition families of eminence, the principal servants
are Frenchmen:--and it is necessary to make public, that these
foreigners, under the roofs of those who give them bread, utter
the most treasonable blasphemies against the present Government
of this country. As some new tax may be requisite, to assist the
necessary resources of Government, a most heavy impost on French
servants would be extremely popular. The Steward, the Butler, the
Cook, the Valet, and the rest of the principal servants in one of
the first families of Opposition, are French. Does this accord
with national friendship?"--(_Times, Feb. 8, 1793._)
* * * * *
"There are no patriotic gifts now made for carrying on the war in
France!--no bodkins, scissors, thimbles, rings, and necklaces!
The Army is left to shift for itself: and, if they cannot plunder
a day's subsistence, they must fast."--(_Times, Feby. 9, 1793._)
* * * * *
"In the year 1782, when Mr. Fox gave notice of motion on the
state of the nation, the House was filled at an early hour to an
overflow. But on a similar notice, from the same person, in 1793,
there were not sufficient Members to make a House, and the
Speaker adjourned to next day. Tempora mutantur."--(_Times, Feb.
9, 1793._)
* * * * *
"QUERIES.
"Why is opposition like a stumbling horse?
Because it is broken down.
Why is Lord Lansdowne like a man with the gout?
Because his mind is engrossed by _Paine_.
Why is the National Assembly of France like a Crocodile?
Because it deceives, in order to destroy.
Why is Mr. Courtney like an apothecary's bill?
Because he is _ditto repeated_ on all occasions.
Why is Mr. Erskine like the first two words of the beginning of
the Eclogues of Virgil?
Because he commences with _Ille Ego_.
Why is _Michael Angelo Taylor_ like a barrel organ?
Because any person can play upon him.
Why is Lord Courtney like Narcissus?
Because he is in love with himself.
Why is Mrs. Sturt like a young kitten?
Because she is fond of play.
Why is the Club at _Brookes's_ like cannibals?
Because they prey one upon another.
Why is Mrs. Siddons like the late Sir Joshua Reynolds?
Because she deceives the public into a belief that art is nature.
Why is Lord Wycombe an advocate for peace?
Because his father made _nothing_ until he put an end to the war.
Why are the Members of Opposition like the live stock of a
Register Office?
Because they _want places_."--(_Times, Feb. 9, 1793._)
* * * * *
"In days of yore, Lady Wallace would have been burnt for a witch
from the prophecies, now verified, which she published a year
ago, in a letter to her son:--She foretold that the _Prince_
would soon throw off the corrupt ministers to his youthful
pleasures, and shew himself the protector of that happy
Government, which alone can insure the wealth, freedom, and
glory, of England! She says, "he will emerge in all the splendour
which attends the noon-day sun, after having dispersed the clouds
exhaled from foul vapours beneath him." She foretold that the
united forces would not succeed in their attack upon France: that
England must inevitably be speedily involved in war, from the
convulsed state of the Continent:--She said, that if foreign
Powers would take no hostile part against the French, that they
would prey like wolves upon each other, and do more towards a
Counterrevolution, by their frenzy being vented in internal
discord, than all Europe would ever force them to do. It was her
Ladyship who first boldly exposed to a great personage, and
society, _Egalité's_ crimes, and foretold, that, after having
washed his daggers in Royal blood at Paris, he would send his
hireling ruffians to attempt like horrors here! truths which are
well known now, although they appeared then incredible. Her
information when on the Continent, and knowledge of foreign
politics, are most accurate, and valuable."--(_Times, Feb. 12,
1793._)
* * * * *
"The _first speech_ Mr. Grey ever delivered in Parliament, was on
the subject of the Commercial Treaty with France. _At that time_
Mr. Grey expressed, in very forcible language, his abhorrence of
any connexion _whatever_ with the French, and, strongly insisting
on their inbred hatred to this country, declared, they were a
perfidious, and treacherous, people, and on no account to be
trusted."--(_Times, Feb. 14, 1793._)
* * * * *
"On Mr. Grey, being the only Man not in Mourning in the House of
Commons, on a late melancholy occasion."--(_Times, Feb. 14,
1793._)
"'Twas unfeeling forsooth,
Every Man in the House
Was in mourning, but one who drest gay;
As he would not be Black,
He'll be made to look Blue,
A mixture which forms a bad Grey."
* * * * *
"It is said that there have been one hundred and twenty-one
Changes in the Peerage since the commencement of Mr. Hastings's
trial in 1788."--(_Times, Feb. 18, 1793._)
* * * * *
"An Expostulation with John Bull, in favour of the Marquis of
L--nsd--n:--
"Of the Candidates John for thy favour of late,
Among all who are noble, and wish to be great,
Sure L--nsd--n, with reason may fairly complain,
That his merits could never your confidence gain!
The Moralists too, will confess with a tear,
That Virtue performs but a Pilgrimage here!
Else had L--nsd--n long since been possess'd of that pow'r
Which England took from him, in splenetic hour.
He was always a Friend to his Country's Cause,
The prop of her Church, the support of her Laws;
He ne'er with Republicans chose to accord,
And his Foes never call'd him the Levelling Lord.
He made the fam'd Peace of the year Eighty Three,
A Peace, John, as good for himself, as for thee.
In his speech he is open, and candid no doubt,
For which side he espouses, no man can find out;
Whether Whig, whether Tory, of High Church, or Low;
You may puzzle your brains, but you never will know.
As a proof that the Marquis is no Partizan,
Let the world call six persons his Friends--if it can.[18]
Great Jekyll, that man so renowned at the Bar,
More witty than Fielding, more learned than Parr,
Who punning despises, as L--nsd--n does place,
Says, his Patron's pure mind, is as fair as his face,
That his Bounty and Eloquence equally flow,
To comfort the Weak, and to succour the Low.
Yet this eloquent speaker, this statesman so just,
No Sect will confide in, no Party will trust;
And I speak it, alas! with reproach to mankind,
To his Merits and Virtue, his Country is blind!
And when full of honours and Years he shall die,
Ungrateful Britannia, will not heave a sigh;
Nay, perhaps with a sneer, she may scoffingly say,
The Sun of my Glory, is faded away!![19]
"ZTIF."
--(_Times, Feb. 16, 1793._)
[Footnote 18: We imagine Political Friends must here be
alluded to--for the amiable and endearing qualities of the
Marquis's sympathising heart, must have insured him, in
private life, the warm affections of all his relations and
dependants.]