_SOCIAL ENGLAND._
NEW ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.
A COLONIAL TRAMP: Travels and Adventures in Australia and New Guinea.
By HUME NISBET. Profusely Illustrated by the Author. 2 vols., demy
8vo.
BRAYHARD: The Strange Adventures of One Ass and Seven Champions. By
F. M. ALLEN. Illustrated by HARRY FURNISS. Crown 8vo, 6s.
_THE ÉDITION DE LUXE OF_ AS IN A LOOKING GLASS. By F. C. PHILIPS.
Illustrated by G. DU MAURIER. Extra crown quarto, 31s. 6d.
_MRS. PANTON'S HOUSEHOLD MANUALS._ FROM KITCHEN TO GARRET. Crown 8vo,
6s.
NOOKS AND CORNERS. Crown 8vo, 6s.
THE FLOATING PRINCE, and other Fairy Tales. By the Author of "Rudder
Grange." With Forty Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 6s.
PERFERVID: The Career of Ninian Jameison. By JOHN DAVIDSON.
Illustrated by HARRY FURNISS. Crown 8vo, 6s.
PICTURESQUE LONDON. By PERCY FITZGERALD. With about 100
Illustrations. Extra crown 4to.
SOCIAL ENGLAND UNDER THE REGENCY. By JOHN ASHTON. Profusely
Illustrated. 2 vols., demy 8vo, 30s.
UP AND DOWN: Sketches of Travel. By G. MACQUOID. Illustrated by THOS.
R. MACQUOID. Demy 8vo, 10s. 6d.
MEMORIES OF THE MONTH. By HUME NISBET. With Photogravure
Frontispiece, twelve whole-page, and numerous smaller Illustrations.
Foolscap 4to, 21s.
TING-A-LING TALES. By FRANK R. STOCKTON. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.
AN ARTIST'S TOUR IN NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA AND IN THE SANDWICH
ISLANDS. By B. KROUPA. Profusely Illustrated by the Author. Royal
8vo, 21s.
FOLK AND FAIRY TALES. By Mrs. BURTON HARRISON. With 24 whole-page
Illustrations by WALTER CRANE. Crown 8vo, 6s.
WARD AND DOWNEY, PUBLISHERS, LONDON.
SOCIAL ENGLAND
UNDER
_THE REGENCY_.
BY
JOHN ASHTON,
AUTHOR OF "SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE," "OLD TIMES,"
"DAWN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY," ETC.
_WITH 90 ILLUSTRATIONS._
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
London:
WARD AND DOWNEY,
12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
MDCCCXC.
PREFACE.
Certainly, it is not the least part of an Author's reward, for all
his pains and trouble, to find that the Public appreciates his
efforts, and purchases, and reads his books.
This, I am happy to say, was specially the case with one of mine,
"The Dawn of the Nineteenth Century." In it I wrote of Social England
in the first decade of the century, leaving off at a time when George
III. was hopelessly incompetent to govern, and a Regency was in
progress of establishment.
The favour which the Public bestowed upon this book emboldens me
to continue it, and sketch the men and manners of the Regency.
Most books of this class deal mainly with the great ones of the
land, but I have only done so where necessary to illustrate the
history of the times, my aim being more to delineate the social
condition of England, and her people; and this work will be found
perfectly reliable as history, nothing being taken at second hand,
but all compiled, even down to the illustrations, from original and
contemporaneous authorities.
JOHN ASHTON.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
The King's Malady -- Former preparations for a Regency --
King's recovery -- The King at home -- His love of music --
Severe frost -- Lucien Buonaparte a prisoner of war -- French
obstructions to commerce -- A gallant merchantman 1
CHAPTER II.
A Regency inevitable -- Prince of Wales waited on -- He
undertakes the Regency -- French and English prisoners of war
-- Roman Catholic soldiers -- Roughness of manners -- Passing
of Regency Bill -- The Prince's companions -- Inauguration of
the Prince as Regent -- Improvement in the health of the King 17
CHAPTER III.
Story of a crime -- The Shanavests and the Caravats --
Gluttony -- Smuggling bullion -- A Tar at the theatre --
Deposition of French Colours in Whitehall Chapel -- The Duke
of York reinstated as Commander-in-Chief -- The Regency Fête
-- Account of the entertainment 39
CHAPTER IV.
Ladies' dresses at the Fête -- The banquet -- Carlton House
thrown open to the public -- The crush -- Sir F. Burdett's
action against the Speaker -- Relief of British Prisoners in
France -- Scarcity of guineas -- Lord King and his tenants --
Stories respecting the Currency 57
CHAPTER V.
A smuggler's victim -- Illness of Gilray -- A gallant
highwayman -- A Witch -- Bartholomew Fair -- The Comet --
A practical joke on the Queen -- Woman's Cricket Match --
Ballooning -- French prisoners of war -- Luddite riots -- The
King and his physicians -- His health 75
CHAPTER VI.
1812.
The Regent's doings -- The Royal Sprain -- Colonel McMahon --
Luddite and Factory Riots -- Scarcity of Bullion -- Murder of
Mr. Perceval 97
CHAPTER VII.
French Prisoners of War -- Repeal of the "Orders in Council"
-- Rejoicings for the Victory of Salamanca -- Saturnalia
thereat 119
CHAPTER VIII.
Chimney-sweeps -- Climbing boys -- Riot at Bartholomew Fair
-- Duelling -- War with France -- Declaration of war between
England and America -- Excommunication for bearing false
witness -- Early Steam Locomotives -- Margate in 1812 --
Resurrection men -- Smithfield Cattle Club 133
CHAPTER IX.
1813.
High price of provisions -- Luddites -- Smuggling -- Day of
Humiliation -- The Cossack -- Mdlle. Platoff -- Discovery of
body of Charles I. at Windsor -- The Queen and the mad woman
-- The fasting woman of Tutbury -- Fight between the _Shannon_
and the _Chesapeake_ -- Rejoicings for the Victory at Vittoria
-- Fête at Vauxhall--William Huntingdon, S.S. 149
CHAPTER X.
Emperor of Russia invested with the Garter -- The Poet
Laureate -- French Prisoners of War -- Joy over Napoleon's
defeat at Leipsic -- "Orange boven" -- The Allies and the War
with France -- The War with America -- The Princess Charlotte
and her establishment -- The Prince of Orange her suitor --
The King's Health 179
CHAPTER XI.
A Cat in a Conflagration -- Scramble for Exchequer Bills --
A Matrimonial Dispute -- An old Debtor -- A Volunteer Dinner
-- A Man and Hedgehog -- Torpedoes -- Slavery -- Gambling on
Napoleon's Life -- Gas Lighting 199
CHAPTER XII.
1814.
The Fog -- Condition of Ireland -- State of the Navy -- The
Regent at Belvoir -- Coming of age of Princess Charlotte --
Day of Thanksgiving -- Great Snowstorm -- Thames frozen over
-- Sports thereon -- Frost fair -- The Country and the Snow 209
CHAPTER XIII.
Burning of the Custom House -- De Berenger's fraud on the
Stock Exchange -- Lord Cochrane inculpated -- Price of
provisions -- Arrival of the Duchess of Oldenburgh -- The
Capitulation of Paris, and fall of Napoleon -- Papa Violette
-- Elba 233
CHAPTER XIV.
Illuminations for Peace -- Ovation to Louis XVIII. --
His departure for France -- Peace with France -- Cheaper
provisions -- Distinguished foreign guests in London --
Arrival of Emperor of Russia and King of Prussia -- Movements
of the great folk -- Popularity of General Blücher 251
CHAPTER XV.
Royal festivities -- The Emperor of Russia, the King of
Prussia, and General Blücher at Oxford -- Banquet at Guildhall
-- Departure of the Allied Sovereigns -- Signature of Treaty
of Peace -- Proclamation of Peace -- State Thanksgiving at St.
Paul's Cathedral 277
CHAPTER XVI.
City banquet to the Duke of Wellington -- Costly vegetables --
The Princess Charlotte -- Squabbles about her presentation at
Court -- The Regent hooted -- The Princess Charlotte and the
Prince of Orange -- Her future husband, Prince Leopold -- Her
flight from Warwick House, and return 299
CHAPTER XVII.
State of Ireland -- The Regent _fêtes_ the Duke of Wellington
-- The Jubilee in the Parks -- Public opinion thereon -- The
Celebration 329
CHAPTER XVIII.
The celebration of the Jubilee continued -- Sale of the
Properties -- Continuation of the Fair -- Departure of Queen
Caroline for the Continent -- Scarcity of Gold -- French
prisoners of war -- State of the streets -- Red tape in the
Navy -- English visit France -- The War with America -- Treaty
of peace with America 351
CHAPTER XIX.
1815.
Health of the King -- Extension of the Order of the Bath --
Wife selling -- A Sailor's frolic -- "Nelson's Lady Hamilton"
-- "The Pig-faced Lady" -- The advantage of being able to play
the violin -- Napoleon's escape from Elba 371
ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. I.
PAGE
ROBEING THE REGENT; OR, THE ROAD TO PREFERMENT 27
THE SOLDIER'S WELCOME HOME!!! 47
GUDGEON FISHING À LA CONSERVATORY 59
JEW ---- DEPRECIATING BANK NOTES 70
THE COMET OF 1811 82
RURAL SPORTS; OR, A CRICKET MATCH EXTRAORDINARY 86
RURAL SPORTS; BALLOON HUNTING 89
1812; OR, REGENCY À LA MODE 96
PRINCELY AGILITY; OR, THE SPRAINED ANCLE 101
THE PRIVY PURSE AND POLITICAL BEGGARS 105
MR. PERCEVAL ASSASSINATED IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS, MAY 11, 1812 115
ZEMLANOWHIN, THE BRAVE RUSSIAN COSSACK, AS HE APPEARED AT THE
ROYAL EXCHANGE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1813 154
A TIT-BIT FOR A COSSACK; OR, THE PLATOFF PRIZE FOR THE HEAD OF
BUONAPARTE 158
MEDITATIONS AMONG THE TOMBS 165
BRITISH VALOUR AND YANKEE BOASTING 171
SHANNON _v._ CHESAPEAKE 173
PART OF TRANSPARENCY AT ACKERMANN'S 186
"THE SEA IS OPEN, TRADE REVIVES" 189
THE FROST FAIR 222
VIOLETTES 249
"PEACE AND PLENTY; OR, GOOD NEWS FOR JOHN BULL!!!" 259
BLÜCHER GREETED BY HIS NUMEROUS FRIENDS IN THE PARK, 1814 270
BLÜCHER SURVEYING HIMSELF AS A D.C.L. 283
DOCTOR BLÜCHER 285
RUSSIAN CONDESCENSION; OR, THE BLESSINGS OF UNIVERSAL PEACE 292
MISS ENDEAVOURING TO EXCITE A GLOW WITH HER DUTCH PLAYTHING 310
THE DEVONSHIRE MINUET 313
THE R----T KICKING UP A ROW; OR, WARWICK HOUSE IN AN UPROAR 319
PLEBEIAN SPIRIT; OR, COACHEE AND THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE 322
THE FORTRESS 335
THE TEMPLE OF CONCORD 348
A WHOLE FAMILY LOST 361
THE FATE OF WASHINGTON; OR, MADDY IN FULL FLIGHT 368
WALTZING A COURTSHIP 379
SOCIAL ENGLAND UNDER THE REGENCY.
CHAPTER I.
The King's Malady -- Former preparations for a Regency --
King's recovery -- The King at home -- His love of music --
Severe frost -- Lucien Buonaparte a prisoner of war -- French
obstructions to commerce -- A gallant merchantman.
"STATE OF HIS MAJESTY'S HEALTH.
"Windsor Castle, January 1, 1811.
"His Majesty has passed a quiet night, without much sleep, and
continues the same as he was yesterday.
"H. HALFORD.
"W. HEBERDEN.
"R. WILLIS."
Such was the announcement contained in _The Times_ of 2nd of January,
1811, and, for some time, the subjects of George III. were fed with
daily news of the King's health. By and by, as his mental disease
was confirmed, they grew fewer, until they were furnished just once a
month, and then only the very scantiest intelligence of his condition
was vouchsafed to his people.
This was not the first time that his mind had given way. In the early
part of October, 1788, he had decided symptoms of mental aberration,
and was totally incapable of undertaking any of the affairs of State;
but his physicians were hopeful of his recovery--and their hopes
were gratified. But the Ministry thought differently, and, after
suggesting that the Government should be carried on by a Commission,
on the 30th of December, 1788, Pitt wrote a letter to the Prince
of Wales, stating that his Majesty's Ministers had come to the
conclusion to offer him the Regency of the kingdom under certain
restrictions.
The Prince of Wales replied at once, expressing his sorrow at
the occasion of his proposed elevation, but accepting the trust.
Of course, this suggestion of the Government could not be acted
upon without mature deliberation, and it was not until the 30th
of January, 1789, that the following resolutions of the Lords and
Commons were presented to the Prince of Wales--"That his Royal
Highness be empowered to exercise the royal authority under the title
of Regent." "That the power given, should not extend to the granting
of any peerage, except to the Royal issue." "Nor to the grant of
any office in reversion, or any office, salary, or pension, than
during his Majesty's pleasure; or to the granting his Majesty's real
or personal estates." "That the Care of his Majesty be committed to
the Queen, who should nominate all persons to the offices in the
household."
Needless to say, the Prince made no objections, and by the 12th
of February, the Regency Bill had gone through all its stages in
the House of Commons, and was ordered to be sent to the Lords.
But the proverbial "slip 'twixt cup and lip" occurred. On the
19th of February the Lord Chancellor informed the House of Lords
that, according to the report of his physicians, the King's health
was steadily mending, and they therefore abstained from further
consideration of the Regency Bill.
The physicians' hopes were fully justified; the King got better
rapidly, and, on the 27th of February, his perfect recovery was
announced, the prayer for the same was discontinued, and a form of
prayer of thanksgiving for his restoration to health, was ordered to
be read in all Churches and Chapels throughout England and Wales.
Rejoicings and illuminations were the order of the day, and, on the
23rd of April, the day of general thanksgiving, the King, Queen, and
Royal family went in state to St. Paul's Cathedral, to return thanks
to God for his mercy in giving the King his reason and health once
more.
Years went on, and the King did not suffer from mental disease,
until the year 1810, when to bodily illness of his own, was added
the death of his daughter, the Princess Amelia. This shock,
his intellect, perhaps never too strong, could not stand, and,
although his condition was concealed for some little time from the
people--under the pretence that he had a cold--the truth was obliged
to come out; and we read in _The Morning Post_ of October 31st--"It
is with heartfelt sorrow we announce that His Majesty's indisposition
still continues. It commenced with the effect produced upon his
tender parental feelings on receiving the ring[1] from the hand of
his afflicted beloved daughter, the affecting inscription upon which,
caused him, blessed, and most amiable of men, to burst into tears,
with the most heart-touching lamentations on the present state, and
approaching dissolution of the afflicted and interesting Princess.
His Majesty is attended by Drs. Halford, Heberden, and Baillie,
who issue daily bulletins of the state of the virtuous and revered
monarch, for whose speedy recovery the prayers of all good men will
not fail to be offered up."
[Footnote 1: The Princess Amelia, when dying, ordered a
valuable stone she possessed, to be set in a ring, for a
keepsake of her to her father, and so urgent was she that
it might be made before she died, that a jeweller was sent
for, express, from London to make it. It contained a lock
of her hair, and, on it, was her name, and, "_Remember me
when I am gone_."]
This time the Physicians held out no hopes of the King's recovery,
or if they did, it was at some vague, indefinite future, the date
of which none could prognosticate, and Parliament found itself in
a serious situation. It met on the 1st of November, to which date
it had been prorogued, only to find that there was no King to open
the session, and no Commission for so doing had been named. So, in
default of any other recognized authority, the Lord Chancellor, and
the Speaker, took the lead in their different assemblies, and, after
vainly trying to find out how they should act, an Order in Council
cut the Gordian Knot, adjourning Parliament to the 29th of November,
a decision which was confirmed in the House of Commons by a majority
of 285. When they again met, they, after discoursing of the King, set
to work to concoct a Regency.
But that may wait for a while, and come in its proper place, for King
George is passing away from this history, and the full blaze of the
Regency leaves very little room for the shadow of the old King to
show: yet, before he disappears altogether, it may be as well if we
can recall a reminiscence of him, as late as possible, before his sad
malady overtook, and mastered him. Not in his public capacity, but as
it were _en famille_, let us see him; and we get a good view of him
through the medium of the Rev. John Evans, LL.D., of Islington, who
wrote "An excursion to Windsor," and thus describes what he saw on
the 10th of July, 1810:--
"We entered Windsor about six o'clock, and, having refreshed
ourselves at the inn with a cup of tea, hastened to _The Terrace_,
where we found a considerable portion of genteel company. Intent on
the gratification of a laudable curiosity, we felt peculiarly happy
in joining them on this occasion. It was seven o'clock, and the good
old King soon made his appearance with his accustomed punctuality.
"A little door in the Castle was thrown open, when two attendants
were seen leading this _venerable personage_ with great care down a
flight of steps till he safely alighted upon the terrace. Then the
Princesses _Elizabeth_ and _Augusta_, who were present, accompanied
him, one on each side, or rather took hold of his arm; they paced
backwards and forwards for an hour, two bands of music playing
alternately; and the fine tones of the several instruments being
heightened by the stillness of the closing day.
"The King was dressed neatly: blue coat with gilt buttons and blue
star, white waistcoat and small clothes, white stockings, and gold
buckles in his shoes. His hat somewhat resembled that worn by the
clergy, with the addition of a gold button and loop, mounted by a
black cockade, which marks him out conspicuously from the rest of the
company. His Majesty looked ruddy and full; his voice is sonorous,
and he converses with cheerfulness, though, when he attempts to speak
rather hastily, it is with hesitation.
"His want of sight is very apparent, for his hat is drawn over the
upper part of his face, and he feels about with his cane, especially
ascending or descending a step. It is affecting to see him, though
he appears cheerful when he speaks, and seems as if nothing were
the matter with him. He now and then stops to converse either with
the officers, or with the nobility and gentry. We saw him several
times on the Terrace; but on this first evening there was a more
than ordinary degree of conversation. He was full of inquiries
respecting the _installation_ of Lord Grenville as Chancellor of
the University of Oxford, which had taken place during the week. He
inquired also about the _balloon_ in which Mr. Sadler[2] had ascended
on this occasion, and was particularly anxious to know how long it
continued in the air, and where it had alighted; Harrow-on-the-Hill
was mentioned, though the spot had not then been ascertained. He
conversed at all times on a variety of topics with the utmost freedom
and even hilarity.
[Footnote 2: Then the principal Aëronaut in England.]
"This daily promenade must benefit both his mind and body: while
the presence, as well as the attention, of so many of his subjects,
some coming from distant parts, must yield him no inconsiderable
gratification. The countenances of the Princesses are replete with
good nature, and most exemplary is their attention to their aged
parent....
"It should be mentioned that the King, in returning back to his
apartments in the Castle, passing by the _band of musicians_ on
the steps, always touched his hat, and said, in an audible voice,
'_Gentlemen, good night, I thank you_.' Indeed, his Majesty, during
the whole time, seemed in perfect good humour with all the company.
"The only etiquette observed on _the Terrace_ is, that when the
King passes, the ladies and gentlemen withdraw on either side, the
latter merely uncovering the head; bows and curtsies being dispensed
with on the occasion. A police officer is in attendance, who, with
a little switch, keeps individuals from pressing too much on the
_King_, when he stops to converse; but this is done with the greatest
urbanity. Owing to a slight indisposition, the Queen did not make her
appearance on the Terrace; but we saw her on other occasions. His
Majesty was regular in his attendance at Chapel every morning, and
seemed seriously engaged in his devotions.
"About ten o'clock, when the weather is fine (Sundays excepted), the
King rides out on horseback; and, considering his age, he mounted
his horse with wonderful agility. He is, in his ride, accompanied
by two of the Princesses, who have some of their _maids of honour_
following in a landau or phaeton. The King has several attendants,
two of whom are close by him, and one has a little stick, the crooked
end of which catches that part of the bridle nearest the curb, so
that should the animal, on which his Majesty rides, stumble, instant
assistance might be given."
Music was his greatest solace from his latter seizure till his death,
and we learn of him in the beginning of the year 1811 (_Morning
Chronicle_, Jan. 8th):--
"Windsor, January 6th,--The Bulletin of to-day is of a very cheering
nature, and for these five days past his Majesty has been gradually
improving, both in mental and bodily strength. His Majesty has
become more tranquillized in his general deportment, and there are
daily visible signs that his malady is on the decline. His Majesty
now uses the sitting-room in the Blenheim Tower; takes his meals
regularly, and at intervals amuses himself with playing the most
familiar tunes on the harpsichord, with a correctness surpassing the
most sanguine expectations. As a striking proof of this fact, on
some very recent occasions, when his Majesty, in consequence of his
defective sight, struck a wrong key, he instantly corrected the error
by modulating the tune, and finishing it with his accustomed science
and judgment....
"The Harpsichord on which his Majesty plays, formerly belonged to the
great Handel, and is supposed to have been manufactured at Antwerp
in the year 1612. Handel's music is highly esteemed by his Majesty,
and many of his most favourite compositions are now played by his
Majesty from recollection." And so let us leave him, for a while, to
be soothed by his music.
The year 1811 came in bitterly cold, and sad were the tales told in
consequence. As to the Coaches, they suffered severely. On the 4th
of January the fall of snow was so great, that the Northern roads
were all but impassable, and the Mail Coach from Boston could only be
dragged four miles through the snow, the guard having to do the best
he could, on horseback, with the mails, and the mails from London to
Boston had to be conveyed in the same manner. The Leicester Coach,
on the way to Stamford, was upset in the snow at Burton-Lazarus,
and several of the passengers were hurt; the Carlisle Mail was dug
out of the snow at Tickencote, and with difficulty got to Stamford
with eight horses, three hours later than usual; but it could not
proceed further than Thornhaugh, whence the guard was obliged to
take the letter-bags on horseback. Three coaches from the north lay
all night in the snow about a mile from Stamford, and as many near
Winsford. Oh! for the good old Coaching days! when Pulman's Cars were
unknown, and people with slender purses had to ride outside in all
weathers--and it was recorded that on the 5th of January, 1811, on
the arrival of the Carlisle Coach in London two poor women, outside
passengers, were frozen to death. The Coachman supposed them to be
asleep, and did not attempt to disturb them until he arrived at his
destination, when they were found stiff in death. Two persons near
Lincoln perished in the snow, and the cold was so great, even so far
south as London, that the Thames was nearly frozen over.
Tender hearts felt for the Poor Debtors, and those in Ludgate record
their thanks to M. A. Taylor, Esq., M.P., for his annual benevolent
gift of two Chaldrons of Coals, 158 lbs. Beef, and 23 half-peck
loaves; and to Alderman Wood, the friend of Queen Caroline, for
his present of £5; and an unknown donor for 40 lbs. Beef. The poor
debtors in Newgate had very many large sums to acknowledge, and were
duly grateful for the kindly and thoughtful assistance thus rendered
them. Sad, however, is it to find that during the Severe Frost, on
the 7th of January, a poor prisoner died of Cold and Want in the
Marshalsea prison. At this time we learn there were about 320 debtors
in Newgate alone; and those that were without private means, had to
subsist on the prison allowance of 2d. worth of bread (the quartern
loaf being, in January, 1s. 3d.), so that their relief during the
inclement winter, was a work of necessity, as well as of benevolence.
In 1811 was living amongst us an illustrious Prisoner of War, no
less than Lucien Buonaparte, Prince de Canino (his son, Prince
Louis Lucien still lives at Norfolk Terrace, Bayswater), who, not
altogether falling in with his brother's policy, was on his way to
the United States, when, on the 1st of August, 1810, he was taken
and made prisoner by a British Cruiser. After some detention at
Malta, he was sent on to England, and Ludlow was assigned as his
place of detention; and there he lived for some time, inhabiting
Dinham House, the seat of the Earl of Powis. He seems to have
accepted the inevitable cheerfully, according to _The Times_ of
Friday, January 4th:--
"Lucien Buonaparte arrived at Ludlow about 4 o'clock on the evening
of Wednesday, sen'night, accompanied by his nephew, an interpreter,
secretary, Mr. Mackenzie, and a few servants. He drove to the Angel
Inn where he dined and slept. On Thursday morning he walked about
the town, viewed the Castle, and some of the principal streets; but,
as the weather was rather unfavourable, and public curiosity great,
he did not stay out long. On that evening, one of the Winter Dancing
Assemblies took place, which Lucien, his nephew, and some of his
friends attended. Some of the latter danced, but Lucien did not. He
continued in the room till supper was announced; he then attended
Countess Powis to the supper rooms, and sat at her Ladyship's right
hand during supper: after which he returned to the ball and card
rooms. On Saturday he went to Stone-house, a seat of Lord Powis,
about five miles from Ludlow, where Lucien is in future to reside,
and from thence proceeded to Walcot, the principal residence of his
Lordship, where he stayed a day or two, and returned to Ludlow."
The next day's _Times_ says: "Madame Lucien Buonaparte, with her
family, and a numerous train of servants, occupying, in all, four
carriages, arrived at Ludlow on Wednesday; having performed the
journey from Plymouth, in a week. Lucien removed, on the preceding
day, from the Inn to Lord Powis's residence in that town, called
Dinham-house; his Lordship's seat in the neighbourhood (Stone-house)
being found too small for the reception of so numerous a suite."
In another Newspaper the ladies are described with almost American
frankness: "Madame Buonaparte is extremely handsome and fascinating;
Lucien's daughter, of whom so much has been said, has great claims to
a genteel figure, and elegant demeanour, but she is not beautiful.
The motto on Lucien's carriage is an extraordinary one, _Luceo, non
uro_, 'I shine without burning,'" On this motto the following Epigram
was made:--
"A Wag, requested to translate
The Motto, on the Coach of State
That sets all Wales into a wonder.
'It means,' said he, and scratcht his pole,
'It means _I shine_, with what I stole;
My foolish brother _burns_ his plunder."
He afterwards, bought the estate of Thorngrove, near Worcester, and
there lived until the restoration in 1814, when he went to Rome.
Some explanation is needed, to elucidate the last line of the above
epigram. Napoleon was determined to do the utmost damage to England,
and endeavoured to injure her in her most vulnerable part, her
commerce--so, whenever the goods of Great Britain, or her Colonies,
were found, they were burnt. That this was not an idle threat is
shown by the following excerpts from _The Times_ of January 7th and
8th:--
"A Gentleman who has arrived within these three days from the
Continent, and has been present at several burnings of British
manufactures, informs us that in every place where the decrees to
that effect were put in force, it was done at the point of the
bayonet: French Soldiers being always present to prevent tumults and
disorder, which, on such occasions, manifested themselves everywhere."
"At the beginning of December, a number of French Officers of the
Customs, with a detachment of the 17th regiment of Infantry, arrived
at Brandenburg, to make searches for Colonial produce, which they
immediately began with great strictness."
"Parma, December 12th. Yesterday, there were burnt in this town 24
bales of spun cotton, 150 pieces of cotton handkerchiefs, and 74
pieces of stuffs of the same manufacture; the whole being English
manufactures, and seized by the Custom House agents on the frontiers
of the department of the Po."
But, at sea, sometimes a Merchantman could look after its cargo
itself, without need of the strong arm of a Convoy, as in the case
of the good ship _Cumberland_, Barrett, master, bound from Quebec to
England. On the 13th of January, 1811, she arrived in the Downs under
a jury foremast and bowsprit, having lost both foremast and bowsprit
in a heavy gale of wind off the banks of Newfoundland.
This, one would have thought, would have been sufficient excitement
for one voyage, but no! when close home, between Deal and Folkestone,
about seven and eight in the morning, she was attacked by four French
lugger privateers, who approached under the pretence of knowing
whether Captain Barrett wanted a pilot. But he was wary, and replied
in the negative, whereupon the privateers declared themselves in
their true colours, and poured in a volley of musketry.
Captain Barrett ordered his men down below, arming them with boarding
pikes, and as soon as about twenty of the enemy were aboard, his
crew attacked them, and cleared the decks, killing most of them;
the others jumping overboard. Five times were they boarded, (the
Frenchmen ceasing firing, for fear of hurting their own men), and
five times the enemy experienced a crushing defeat. Captain Barrett
then discharged three of his Carronades, loaded with round shot
and Canister. One shot carried away the mainmast of one of the
privateers; the second, the bowsprit of another, and doubtless
injured some of their men, as there was a great cry heard. This
proved enough for "Mounseer," and the four luggers sheered off.
The Crew of the _Cumberland_ was twenty-six men, and the force of
the enemy was estimated at two hundred and seventy according to the
statements of the prisoners taken. The loss to the _Cumberland_
was one man killed, and the chief mate wounded; the French loss is
set down as about sixty. And what think you was the reward of the
gallant crew? "The Lords of the Admiralty have, as a mark of their
satisfaction at the gallantry exhibited on this occasion, expressed
their intention _to grant to each of the crew of the_ Cumberland, _a
protection from the impress, for the space of three Years_."!!!