the noble Marquis came into power, he emphatically said "the
Sun of England's Glory was set for ever," and many grave
people entertained that opinion during the short time his
Lordship was Minister of this Country.]
* * * * *
"No less than eighty four actions of _bribery_ are brought on the
business of the _Stockbridge_ election; the penalties sued for
amount to £42,000."--(_Times, Feb. 28, 1793._)
* * * * *
"'Want of information is our bane,' says the female politician in
the _Humourist_: but the following anecdote, which is a fact,
will prove that want of information is not numbered among the
wants of Administration. A Young Gentleman, Clerk in an Office
under Government, in consequence of strong entreaties from a
friend, accompanied him to a meeting of about thirty, at a
tavern, when, after dinner, several very seditious toasts were
given, the visitor was called on, and gave the King; this toast,
however, being rejected, and all expostulations proving in vain,
he left the company soon after, and the next day, by the advice
of his friends, waited on Mr. Pitt, to tell his story. But, judge
his surprise, when the Minister, interrupting him, produced a
paper, in which was written the names of the parties, the order
in which they sate, the toasts drank, and here, sir, added Mr.
Pitt, observe your own name placed at the bottom!!!"--(_Times,
March 5, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Diamond cut Diamond.--Dr. Priestly, we will not say lately, gave
'the _Sans Culottes of England_' at a dinner party. A Clergyman
of the Church of England, willing to get rid of politics, archly
exclaimed--'Yes, with all my heart, I presume you mean the single
ladies, for the married ones generally wear the breeches.' The
wit being called upon in his turn, Dr. Priestley desired the
President to be on his guard, for he saw plainly that the
Clergyman, if presented with an INCH, would take an ELL. 'Thank
you for the hint, Doctor,' replied the Clerical Humourist. 'Yes,
I'll take three L's, so here's Liberty, Loyalty, and Lawn
Sleeves!' The room, of course, was in a roar, and the Doctor,
quite SHOCKED, went off like lightning without a
CONDUCTOR."--(_Times, March 4, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The late contest at _Wycombe_, between Sir F. Baring and Mr.
Dashwood, was carried on to a very high pitch by the mob. Lord
Wycombe was thrown down in the mud. Mr. Dashwood lost his hat in
the affray, and all was confusion and riot. The _Lansdowne_
interest, however, prevailed, and Sir Francis was
returned."--(_Times, Feb. 7, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Sir Francis Baring is elected Member for _High Wycombe_, in the
room of Sir John Jervis. Sir Francis was opposed by Sir John
Dashwood. The votes were, for Sir F. B. 29, Sir John D.
22."--(_Times, Feb. 5, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The _Society for Constitutional Information_, held a meeting at
the Crown and Anchor, in the Strand, on Friday last, where toasts
of the most seditious tendency were drunk, and sentiments
expressed which ought to send the speakers to Botany Bay. The
number of seditionists who met on the above occasion, amounted to
300 persons; among whom were not to be found above three who
possessed an acre of land in this country. They were men mostly
in desperate circumstances, who had everything to gain, and
nothing to lose, by a Revolution. They toasted success to the
French, sung the _Marseillois treasonable Hymn_, and _Ça ira_,
arraigned the justice of the law that had punished traitors in
Scotland, Ireland, and England, and gave the health of those
traitors. They abused and vilified the House of Commons, called
the Royal Family, and the Nobility of Great Britain, beggars:
said it was the interest of the people to join with those
struggling in the cause against which our Country was fighting.
In short they did everything short of _active
rebellion_."--(_Times, May 5, 1794._)
* * * * *
"On a lamp post, in the Westminster-Road, is a paper with the
Title of Public Notice, respecting some parish business, and
immediately underneath it, is Sir Joseph Mawbey's late speech at
Epsom. Two sailors stopping on Sunday to read it, when one had
began, the other cried out--'Stop, Jack: you're wrong, don't you
see it is _beneath_ Public Notice?' alluding to the paper above
it: and they both walked away."--(_Times, Nov. 3, 1794._)
A Reform Bill was sorely needed in the matters of Elections.
"Election for _Launceston, Cornwall_. Candidates, Hon. Mr.
Rawdon, Mr. Brogden. The numbers were as follows:--
Hon. Mr. Rawden and Mr. Brogden, 12.
Dalkeith and Garthshore, 11.
"This contest here was a hard fought battle between the Duke of
Northumberland and the Duke of Buccleugh. Both parties have spent
a great deal of money: but the former has carried the
day."--(_Times, June 6, 1796._)
* * * * *
"_Shrewsbury Election._--The state of the Poll on Monday was as
follows:--Sir W. Pulteney, 1607; John Hill, Esq., 834; Hon. W.
Hill, 832. The Election, it is thought, will cost Sir Richard
Hill £100,000. The expence to each party is about £1000 per
day."--(_Times, June 9, 1796._)
* * * * *
"A certain new Member for a Borough in the West of England, is
indebted to the family Jewels of his wife for bearing the expence
of his Election. Not only her diamonds, but the greater part of
her cloaths have been withheld. Those that were returned to her,
would have disgraced her waiting woman."--(_Times, July 4,
1796._)
* * * * *
"Yesterday conformable to an ancient ridiculous custom, came on
the Election, at Wandsworth, for a Mayor of Garratt. The
candidates were two--Sir _George Cooke_, Greengrocer and
Inhabitant of Lambeth: and Sir _Harry Dimsdale_, a Muffin Baker.
Sir _George_ set off from his house in the morning, surrounded by
all the appendages of grandeur, and placed in an open landau,
drawn by six beautiful horses, with postillions on the first
four, elegantly attired in red. A coach and four preceded him all
the way in equal style.
"After he had arrived at the entrance of Wandsworth, his horses
were taken out by the mob, and he was drawn by them to the
Hustings, where he joined his opponent, who was little short of
Sir _George_ in point of _etiquette_. After a long preamble from
each party, promising unremitting attention to the duties of the
office, the honours of the day were conferred on Sir George
Cooke."--(_Times, Aug. 25, 1796._)
* * * * *
"Garrat Election.--Most of the Morning Prints of yesterday
misstated this business. It was Sir _Harry Dimsdale_, and not Sir
_George_ Cooke, who was returned. Those who supported Sir George,
did not even put him in nomination. He was drawn there, it is
true, but he made no stand: he gave up the contest, and Sir Harry
was crowned with a green bough, and the horses taken from his
carriage by the populace, who drew him in triumph to the Bull, at
East Sheen, to dinner, where above six hundred people sat down to
a plentiful dinner. After dinner, it was proposed that Sir Harry
should go, on Friday, in State, to the Royal Circus, in St.
George's Fields, and this motion being carried, we understand the
Muffin Knight will actually be there this evening."--(_Times,
Aug. 26, 1796._)
This was the last of these mock elections--and we may well pause for a
while, and examine this curious institution--unique in its way--not
thoroughly well-known--and whose origin, even, is in dispute.
Not far from Wandsworth, on the road to Tooting, is found the hamlet
of Garrett, or Garrat, which, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, appears
to have consisted of a single house, called "the Garvett." This was,
at the time of its destruction, about the year 1760, in the possession
of the Broderick family, and its grounds were then let to a market
gardener. Lyson's, writing in 1792, says the hamlet consisted of about
50 houses--but it grew until it became incorporated into Wandsworth,
and its site is still known by "Garret Lane," "Garret Green," "Garret
Hill," &c.
As regards the curious mock election which took place here with each
new Parliament, nothing certain is known, and opinions are divided, as
to its origin. Dr. Ducarel, an antiquary, writing in 1754, tells us,
that as far as he can find out, it began, some 60 or 70 years
previously, with some Wandsworth Watermen, who went to a public house,
called the Leather Bottle, at Garrat, to spend a merry day--and, it
being a general election, they, in fun, chose one of their number as
Member for Garrat.
[Illustration: Jeffrey Dunstan,--Ordinary Costume.]
Another version is given in the "Gentleman's Magazine" for 1781, in
which a writer says he was told, that about thirty years previously,
several persons who lived near that part of Wandsworth which adjoins
to Garrat Lane, had formed a kind of Club, not merely for the
pleasures of the table, but to concert measures for removing the
encroachments made on that part of the Common; and to prevent any
others being made, for the future. When a sufficient sum of money had
been subscribed amongst them, they brought an action against the
encroacher, in the name of the president (or, as they called him,
Mayor,) of the Club. They gained their suit, with costs, and, ever
after, the president, was called "the Mayor of Garrat." This event
happening at the time of a general election, the ceremony, which took
place every new parliament, of choosing _outdoor_ members for the
borough of Garrat, was continued.
The earliest record of Members being chosen, is in 1747, when three
Candidates for the honour appeared. Lord Twankum Squire Blow me down
(Willis, a Waterman) and Squire Gubbins, (one Simmonds, a publican.)
The "Clerk," and "Recorder," issued from an imaginary Town Hall. There
were proper Hustings, at which an oath was administered to the
electors which, according to Grose, was sworn on a brick bat--and the
qualification was, that the juror had had an amour in the surrounding
open fields.
There was a great deal of rough wit in the candidate's speeches, and
Foote, Garrick, and Wilkes, were credited with writing their
addresses. Foote even wrote a play, called "the Mayor of Garratt,"
which was produced at Drury Lane. There were elections in 1761, 1763,
1768, &c. That of 1781--was famous for the magnificence of its
procession--having a real live man in armour. In 1784, Sir Jeffrey
Dunstan (they all dubbed themselves knights) was elected to the
honourable post, and he held it till his death in 1796.
This worthy needs a passing notice. His birth, and education, were but
humble, for he was found, wrapped in a cloth, on the door step of a
Church warden, of St. Dunstan's in the East--hence his name of
Dunstan. He grew up deformed, and rickety, and, at the age of 12, was
apprenticed to a greengrocer, for 9 years--but the servitude galled
him, and he ran away, finding employment at Birmingham. He returned to
London in 1776 and soon afterwards married--and had two daughters, who
were really fine young women. He was squalid, and filthy, in his
dress, and got his living by buying, and selling, old wigs. His
humour, however, gained him his election for Garrett. The accompanying
illustrations shew him in his ordinary dress, as "Old Wigs," and in
the superb court suit which he sported at election times.
The Election, at last, led to such disgraceful scenes, that even the
publicans, who were its chief mainstay, would no longer support it:
and Sir Harry Dimsdale, holds the proud pre-eminence of being the last
elected Member.
[Illustration: Sir Jeffrey Dunstan,--Court Dress.]
ROYALTY.
Lives of the Georges, and their families, have been written _ad
nauseam_, and I did not intend making any notes upon the Royal
personages, then living--but I found some few paragraphs, which lie
outside regular history, and may interest my readers.
"It was rather unfortunate for the Prince of Wales's proxy at the
Court of Brunswick, that he should be attacked with the Gout, on
the night of the marriage ceremony! Lord Malmesbury continued to
be confined to his room when the last accounts came from
Brunswick."--(_Times, Dec. 15, 1794._)
* * * * *
"TO LORD MALMESBURY,
"On his being attacked by the Gout, the day he represented the
Prince of Wales, in marriage with the Princess of Brunswick:--
"At such a time, the Gout to have,
Is much to be lamented,
What must the Royal Bride conceive
Of him you represented?
CUPID."
--(_Times, Dec. 16, 1794._)
* * * * *
"LORD MALMESBURY'S GOUT.
"His Lordship's sent to _Brunswick's_ Court
By Proxy, there to wed
A Royal Princess: as Consort
To George, our Prince's, bed.
But charms like hers, in bloom of life,
Too strong for age to meet:
As he approached th' intended wife:
_Deprived him of his feet._"
--(_Times, Dec. 17, 1794._)
* * * * *
"THE LAME LOVER, or BRITISH AND FRENCH SYNONIMY.
"With coach and six, with servants eight,
With liveries spic and span;
Too sure, alas! a wretched fate
Befel the splendid, _happy_ man.
At such a time, as this, the Gout!
'Twas pity, Sirs, and yet 'tis true:
The _Proxy's_ good, if Fame's not out--
His Royal Highness has a _Gout_."
--(_Times, Dec. 18, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Her Majesty is very busily employed in embroidering a coat and
waistcoat, for his Majesty, which are to be worn at the
approaching nuptials of the Prince, and Princess of Wales. The
coat is made of garter blue, broad cloth, and the waistcoat of
white satin. The ornamental part is spoken of as being extremely
beautiful."--(_Times, Jan. 13, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The usual dress liveries of the Prince of Wales, while a
bachelor, cost fifty guineas each: those, in which they will
appear before the Princess, have cost one hundred guineas
each."--(_Times, March 17, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Amidst the _curious bills_ which are daily being brought to
light, under the investigation of the Prince's Trustees, is one
of Mr. Layton the _farrier_, which, for the last seven years,
amounts to no less than £17,500!"--(_Times, Aug. 29, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The King being prevented, by the severity of the weather, from
taking his usual diversion of hunting, at Windsor, his Majesty,
with his usual suite, makes daily pedestrian excursions, some of
which amount to a route little short of 20 miles."--(_Times, Dec.
9, 1796._)
The _Times_ of Jan. 17, 1798, contains a paragraph, showing the
domesticity, and simplicity of life, in the Royal Family.
"The Princess of Wirtemberg expects to lie in, towards the latter
end of next month; and her Majesty, and the Princesses, are very
busily employed in making the childbed linen, which is to be a
present from the Queen."
* * * * *
(The Queen's Birthday.)
"The BALL-ROOM. The Ball was the thinnest, in company, that we
have ever witnessed, there being only two Ladies on the benches
allotted for those who dance. Neither the Prince, nor Princess,
of Wales, the Duke, or Duchess of York, were present. Soon after
nine o'clock, their Majesties entered the Ball-room. The Duke of
Clarence danced the two first minuets with the Princess Augusta,
and two more with the Princess Elizabeth, which is very unusual.
Prince William danced the next two with the Princess Mary, and
two more with the Princess Sophia. Lord Morton then danced two
dances with Lady Murray, daughter to the Duke of Athol, and two
more with Lady M. Thynne. There were four country Dances, but
only six couple. The Ball broke up soon after 11
o'clock."--(_Times, Jan. 19, 1798._)
Here is a specimen of Royal economy, which was certainly unpopular:--
"Some of the cream-coloured horses formerly attached to the Royal
Coach, and which were only used on state days, are now employed
in the daily drudgery of hackney coaches. The present proprietor
values them very highly, and thinks, from their great receipt of
custom, that they will draw him into an easy fortune."--(_Times,
Aug. 10, 1796._)
* * * * *
"To the CONDUCTOR of the TIMES.
"Sir,--Among many others, I was yesterday a spectator of what you
notice in your paper of this morning. A pair of those noble
animals, which, for several years, have drawn his Majesty's State
Coach, degraded to a hack. The spectacle really gave me concern,
and must certainly reflect disgrace somewhere. It necessarily
suggests two considerations, one relative to the dignity of
Majesty itself, the other to the natural emotions of sensibility.
What! say the vulgar, are the _King's_ State Horses come to this?
Oh! what a pity! says the man of sensibility, that these poor
creatures recently, and habitually, so caressed, and pampered,
should experience such a lamentable reverse! How fallen, how
abused, how galled! I assure you, Mr. Editor, they are
_literally_, and _grievously_, _galled_. Surely his Majesty must
be a stranger to all this: and it would be of no dis-service to
him, to let the Public know that he is so. Those who love him,
cannot but feel for his horses, nor refrain from thinking that
his sensibility, as a man, must be hurt, at hearing of the
sufferings of those stately animals, which once contributed to
his most magnificent public appearance.
A Dutiful Subject."
--(_Times, Aug. 12, 1796._)
Here is a bit of Satire on the Prince of Wales, who was notoriously at
variance with both his father and mother.
"An illustrious Personage is now engaged in making a collection
of the profile likenesses of his friends. The number already
collected is stated to amount to _fifty_. His friends are
certainly more numerous than those of almost any Prince we ever
heard of, except our own Sovereign. The wealthy Croesus had but
one friend, and that was his son."--(_Times, Nov. 6, 1799._)
VARIETIES.
The year 1788 begins well, with an account of a coming of age, which
seems to have been conducted in the classical taste peculiar to this
period.
"The late celebration of Miss Pulteney coming of age, bore much
the appearance of idolatrous sacrifice. The procession headed by
an _ox_, adorned with _flowers_, his horns painted _blue_, and
_tipped with gold_, preceded by a band of music, and afterwards
offered up, were all so much in character, that could the _High
Priest_, himself, of Rome been present, and beheld the charming
object of their veneration, he would have mistaken her for a
_Venus_, and joined the throng, with all that ardour the
immediate presence of a divinity ought to inspire."--(_Morning
Post, Jan. 1, 1788._)
The following advertisement from the _Morning Post_ of March 13, 1788,
gives us perhaps the earliest glimmer of reform on the old tinder box,
flint and steel, and matches, Lucifer Matches not being generally used
till 1834:--
"For Travellers, Mariners, &c.
"Promethean Fire and Phosphorus.
"G. Watts respectfully acquaints the public, that he has prepared
a large variety of machines of a portable, and durable kind, with
Promethean fire, paper and match inclosed, most admirably
calculated to prevent those disagreeable sensations, which
frequently arise in the dreary hour of midnight, from the sudden
alarm of thieves, fire, or sickness; as, by procuring an
instantaneous light, the worst calamities and depredations might
often be prevented in families. Experience has likewise proved
this invention to be of the first utility to the traveller,
mariners, and those people who frequently rise in the
night-time, as they can, with one of these matches procure light
instantly, without the great expence, and danger, of burning a
lamp or candle."
Anything that illustrates the Social Life of "Old Times," must needs
be of interest, even though, as in the accompanying engraving, the
subject be painful. It is by Rowlandson, and shews, better than words
can convey, the then treatment of that saddest of all human
maladies--mental aberration.
Chained by the neck to a wall--scantily clothed--barefoot, and with
but straw to lie on, was hardly the usage by which the alienated
intellect could be restored to its proper tone--yet so it was, in too
many cases, that mad people were treated: the whip, and even harsher
punishment following, should they show any signs of rebellion.
"The bet of his Grace of Bedford, that Lord Barrymore will not
eat a live Cat, is not without precedent on the records of
sporting. On a wager of fifty pounds, a fellow who lived near the
race-course of Kildare, in Ireland, devoured five fox cubs, and
literally began eating each while alive. It is, however, to be
observed, that the devourer was a natural fool, having been born
deaf, dumb, and without a palate."--(_Morning Post, Mar. 15,
1788._)
* * * * *
"A fine topaz sold at Tenducci's sale for seven guineas; the
finest in the kingdom: is the property of Mrs. More of Stockwell,
and what, perhaps, would increase its value in the estimation of
many people, this topaz once belonged to Queen Anne. It is near
an inch in diameter, and of most uncommon brilliancy."--(_Morning
Post, Ap. 17, 1788._)
That Agriculture was not neglected, we can well imagine, for England
had to be almost self contained, as regarded food for her
population--but few know to what a pitch of perfection sheep breeding
was carried--nor the enormous prices paid for the hire of stud rams.
[Illustration: Treatment of Lunatics.]
"Mr. Bakewell, the famous grazier, has lost one of his most
remarkable rams. It was of such value, that he let it out to
hire, and received £400 for the season."--(_Morning Post, Sept.
12, 1788._)
This was the far famed agriculturist. Robert Bakewell--who brought his
father's famous "Dishley" sheep to such perfection, that in 1787, he
let three rams, for a year, for £1250, and was offered, but refused,
£1050 for twenty ewes. When we think of the difference of the value of
Currency, then, and now, these prices are fairly staggering. These
Dishley sheep had good qualities, they were quiet--they fattened
quickly, and well--and they had small bones. But Bakewell, even in his
cattle, as well as his sheep, always kept in view, what, even now, are
the guiding principles in our Cattle shows--Perfection of form--the
most meat from the least food--the least offal--and large joints with
small bones.
"The following is a copy of a hand bill, which was a few days ago
distributed in the city of Edinburgh:--
"'_Thou shalt not steal_--All persons whom it may concern are
desired to take notice, that _steel traps of the largest sort_,
for catching breakers of the eighth Commandment, are, every
night, placed in the garden at St. Bernard's, between Stockbridge
and the Water of Leith, on the North side of the water: That
_spring guns_ are set to rake the Walls with shot, upon a touch
of a wire; and, that a _tent, having in it an armed Watchman_, is
pitched in the middle, with orders to fire without mercy.
"'If, therefore, any evil disposed unhappy person or persons,
shall attempt to break into the ground of St. Bernard's, their
blood be upon their own heads.
"'Of the fruit of the garden thou shalt not eat; for in the day
that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die,'" _Gen. 2.
27._--(_Morning Post, Sept. 17, 1788._)
"One day last week a Sub distributor of Stamps, who resides a few
miles from London, and who is also a Glover, was convicted in the
penalty of Eighty Pounds, before the Sitting Magistrates at the
Public Office, in St. Martin's Lane, for selling Four Pair of
Gloves without Stamps." Probably under 25 Geo. 3, cap. 55.
(1785.)--(_Morning Post, Oct. 20, 1788._)
The following singular inscription is literally taken from a sign in
the vicinity of Reading:--
"Beards taken off and registered.
"_By Isaac Fac-totum._
"Barber, Peri-wig maker, Surgeon, Parish Clerk, Scool master, and
Man midwife.
"Shaves for a penne, cuts hare for toopense and oyld and powdird
into the bargain--Young Ladys genteely edicated, Lamps lited by
the hear or quarter. Young Gentlemen also taut their Grammer
Langwage in the neetest maner and great cear takin of their
Morels and Spelin--Also Saline singing and horse Shewin by the
real maker! Likewise makes and mends all sorts of Butes and
Shoes, Teches the Ho-boy and Jews-harp, Cuts corns bledes and
blisters on the lowes Terms; Glisters and purgis at a penne
apiece. Cow-tillions and other dances taut at home and abrode.
Also deals holesale and retale pirfummery in all its branchis.
Sells all sorts of Stationary wair twogether with blackin balls
red herrins gingerbred Coles scrubbin brushes traycle mouce traps
and other swetemetes.