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.
And now, for a while, we will leave Royalty alone, and note anything
particular that occurred--not that there ever was much general
news recorded--there were no country correspondents to the London
Newspapers, which were but of small size, and with very little space
to spare for what we call News. As these little scraps of information
will be scattered throughout this book, I may at once say that they
will, perforce, have no sequence one to another except that of
Chronological order.
At the beginning of February, as a dragoon was returning from
duty to his quarters, which were at a small public-house called
"Barndean Hut," near Petersfield, in the New Forest, his attention
was arrested by the cries of some person in distress, which induced
him to ride up to the spot from whence they proceeded, where his
humanity was shocked on beholding a woman tied to a tree, with the
tears, which her situation and suffering had produced, actually
frozen to her cheeks, and, horrid to relate, quite naked, having
been stripped and robbed of every article of dress, by two villains,
who, afterwards, left her in that deplorable condition. The dragoon
instantly cut the cords that bound her hands and feet to the tree,
and, having in some measure restored her to the use of her limbs by
rubbing them, wrapped her up in his cloak, placed her on his horse,
and proceeded on to his quarters, where he soon after arrived; and,
as he was conducting the shivering object of his care into the house,
she looked through a window that commanded a view of the kitchen,
and, in a faint voice, exclaimed, "There are the two men that robbed
me of my all, and used me so cruelly." The soldier, in consequence,
entered the kitchen and secured the men, who were the next day taken
before a magistrate, and, after the necessary examination, fully
committed to Winchester jail, for trial at the next assizes.
Ireland has always been a sweet boon to England ever since the
Union; and faction fights used to abound. Among others were those
of the Caravats and Shanavests--the Capulets and Montagues of their
time; and the etymon of the names of two formidable factions, which
embraced the greater part of the lower order of people in the two
counties of Tipperary and Limerick, is thus given:--
It was at a trial of some of these at a Special Commission at
Clonmel, and _James Slattery_ was under examination.
_Chief Baron._ What is the cause of quarrel between these two
parties--the Shanavests and the Caravats?
_A._ I do not know.
_Q._ What's the true reason?
_A._ I cannot tell.
_Q._ So, then, according to your account, I am to understand that
each party attacks each other by way of defence.
_Q._ (_by a juror_). Were the men who were concerned in the affray
in the month of August, the same that were concerned at the races of
Coolmoyne?
_A._ They were.
_Q._ Do you know a man of the name of Pauddeen Car?
_A._ I do.
_Q._ He is your uncle; was not he the principal ringleader and
commander of the army of Shanavests?
_A._ He is a poor old man, and not able to take command.
_Q._ (_by Lord Norbury_). What was the first cause of quarrel?
_A._ It was the same foolish dispute made about May-poles.
_Q._ (_by the Chief Baron_). Which is the oldest party?
_A._ The Caravats were going on for two years before the Shanavests
stirred.
_Q._ Why were they called Caravats?
_A._ A man of the name of Hanly was hanged; he was prosecuted by the
Shanavests, and Pauddeen Car said he would not leave the place of
execution until he saw the Caravat about the fellow's neck, and from
that time they were called Caravats.
_Q._ For what offence was Hanly hanged?
_A._ For burning the house of a man who had taken land over his
neighbour's head.
_Q._ Hanly was the leader of the Caravats?
_A._ Before he was hanged, his party was called the Moyle Rangers.
The Shanavests were called Pauddeen Car's party.
_Q._ Why were they called Shanavests?
_A._ Because they wore old waistcoats.
We occasionally hear of feats of gluttony, but, as a piece of
downright lunacy, the following can scarcely be matched.
_Morning Chronicle_, Mar. 26th: "A blacksmith at Strout ate on
Tuesday, for a trifling wager, a pint of periwinkles with the shells,
in the space of ten minutes. Being desired to repeat this disgusting
feat he readily did it, but he is now so dangerously ill that he is
not expected to recover."
Bullion both Gold and Silver got scarcer and scarcer, so much was
exported: and, early in 1810, large quantities of Dollars were
stamped at Birmingham with the image and superscription of George
III.; in fact, the dollars stamped in 1797 and down to 1810,
inclusive, were about five millions--but they were smuggled out of
the kingdom wholesale. On the 19th of March an official rise of 10
per cent. in their value took place, in the hopes that raising them
to 5s. 6d. would be prohibitory to their exportation, but it was not:
more still were needed, and on April 15th 300,000 dollars were sent
to Boulton and Watts, Soho Works, Birmingham, to be stamped, "and the
same quantity are to be forwarded in a few days." The price fell on
the 25th of April to 5s. 1d. per dollar.
On the 27th of March, the Duke of Gloucester was elected Chancellor
of the University of Cambridge, by a majority of 114 over his
opponent, the Duke of Rutland.
We may take the following as an example of how Jack fooled away
his prize-money:--"A Tar, who had just received his prize-money,
lately engaged a small provincial Theatre entirely to himself: he
took his seat in the centre of the pit, furnished himself with an
inordinate quantity of beer, punch, and tobacco, &c., and requested
the performances to commence, as no one should enter the Theatre
but himself; at the close of every speech which pleased him, he
presented the Actor with a glass, and when the curtain dropped, he
transferred his stores to the stage, and invited the whole of the
_Dram. Per._, to partake."
Under date of the 8th of April, we read: "A very singular discovery
has been made at Colchester, respecting the sex of a servant who had
lived thirty years in a family in that town, as housemaid and nurse.
Having lately paid the debt of Nature, it was discovered that the
deceased was a man."
On the 5th of May, the Court of Common Council voted the Regent, the
freedom of the City of London in _an Oak box_, but the presentation
was abandoned as it was found that etiquette forbade the Regent
accepting the Freedom, as he then stood in the position of Sovereign.
On March 5th the English troops under the command of General Graham,
engaged and defeated a much superior French force under the command
of Marshal Victor, at Barrosa in Andalusia, after a severe conflict.
How thoroughly the French were then beaten, may be judged by the fact
that an Eagle and twelve standards were taken from them. A sergeant
of the 87th, or Prince's Own Royal Irish Volunteers, who took the
Eagle, was promoted to an Ensigncy, and ordered to be removed to his
own regiment, on the first Vacancy. On the 18th of May, these Colours
were taken, with great military ceremony, from the Parade in St.
James's Park, to Whitehall Chapel, and deposited on each side of the
Altar. It was a fine sight, and three Royal Dukes, York, Cambridge,
and Gloucester, were present, besides many generals, and the Spanish
and Portuguese Ambassadors.
_Apropos_ of the Duke of York, he formerly had a mistress named
Mary Anne Clarke, who abused her position by selling Commissions in
the Army at a cheap rate, and using her influence over the Duke to
confirm them. In 1809, Mr. Wardell, M.P. for Oakhampton, brought
the scandal before the House of Commons, and, although the House
eventually found that there was nothing in the evidence to prove
personal corruption, or criminal connivance on the part of his Royal
Highness--yet public opinion against him was so strong, that he had
to resign his position as Commander-in-Chief.
The Regent and the Duke of York were tied together by strong bonds
of fraternal feeling, and the first important act of the Regent
was to re-appoint his brother to his old position on the 25th of
May. This naturally created great dissatisfaction, for his former
resignation only saved the Duke from the ignominy of being cashiered,
and Viscount Milton moved in the House of Commons on the 6th of June:
"That upon a deliberate consideration of the recent circumstances
under which his Royal Highness the Duke of York retired from the
Command of the Army in March, 1809, it appears to this House that it
has been highly improper and indecorous in the advisers of the Prince
Regent to have recommended to his Royal Highness the re-appointment
of the Duke of York to the Office of Commander-in-Chief." It is
astonishing how the opinion of the House of Commons varied during
two years, for this motion, when put, was only supported by 47
members--against 296.
But although he obtained the post, he had to run the gauntlet of
public opinion, and which way that went is shown by the accompanying
Satirical print, "The Soldier's Welcome Home!!!" where the Duke
of York amid the Cheers of his friends, Buckingham, Temple, and
Grenville, is leaping into the portals of the Horse Guards, the
Regent standing just inside to welcome him. A figure, I presume meant
to be John Walter, is pointing to _The Times_ Newspaper. There were
several others, but this is best suited to this book.
[Illustration: The Soldier's Welcome Home!!!
(_Published June 4, 1811, by W. Holland._)]
The next event of public note, and next to the appointment of the
Prince of Wales to the Regency, it was the principal topic of
conversation of the year, was a grand fête given to upwards of 2,000
of the Nobility and gentry, including the French Royal Family, the
foreign Ambassadors, &c.--at an estimated cost of £15,000. For
fully six weeks previously all the available weavers, tailors,
mantua-makers, and milliners, were put under requisition for it,
and ample work was found for architects, upholsterers, painters,
carpenters, cooks, and confectioners, and diamonds were borrowed for
the night at 11 per cent.
This wonderful fête took place on the 19th of June, and the company
began to arrive between 9 and 10 o'clock. The whole of Carlton House,
even down to the basements, which were utilized as supper rooms,
was thrown open to the guests, but failed to afford sufficient
accommodation, so a large portion of the garden was canvassed over
and used for supper. It is impossible, in the limits of this book, to
describe the luxury with which this palace was furnished, but I must
be excused, as Carlton House has long been numbered with the things
of the past, if I revive the description of the Throne and Ball
Rooms, simply that my readers may form some idea of the splendour in
which "the first gentleman in Europe" lived.
The first was hung with crimson velvet, with embroidered ornaments
in pure gold, and most massive gold fringes and laces. The Canopy,
superbly carved and gilt, was surmounted by four helmets of real
gold, having plumes of the finest white ostrich feathers, many of
them 17 inches in height. On each side the Canopy, were magnificent
antique draperies; decorated to correspond with it, and forming
back-grounds to two superb candelabra, after the antique, executed
in the finest manner, with lions _couchant_, and other appropriate
ornaments. Under the Canopy stood a grand state chair and foot-stool.
The compartments of the room were decorated with the richest gold
ornaments on a crimson velvet ground, with draperies enriched with
gold fringes, _en suite_. There were two superb glasses about twelve
feet high, with oriental alabaster tables, on frames, carved and
gilt, in the most magnificent style. On a chimney, decorated with
_or-molu_ foliage of the richest sculpture, was placed a large glass
in a superb frame; and on the chimney-piece and tables, were fine
French girandoles of _or-molu_. In this room were no other seats
than stools gilt and covered with crimson velvet. Here were whole
length portraits in grand gold frames, of their Majesties, the
Prince Regent, and the Duke of York. Through a door at one end of
this room, a temporary staircase presented itself to view, which
communicated with the Conservatory; this erection was intended as
a private passage for the Prince Regent and his particular friends
to pass down to the head of the tables, when supper was announced.
Opposite the above door, a door leading to the Throne room being
removed, and a large glass being placed in the opposite door, on the
further side beyond the Throne, the whole range of Candelabra, and
the throne itself were reflected in it; and a striking _coup d'oeil_
was thereby produced.
The Ball room was decorated with Arabesque ornament, and figures,
painted in the finest style imaginable, on gold grounds, in panels,
between pilasters richly carved and gilt; the ceiling was decorated
in compartments. The windows and recesses have circular tops,
and they were decorated with rich blue velvet draperies, with
massive gold fringes, lace, tassels, and ropes--the latter were
likewise of gold. In the recesses were magnificent French plates
of looking-glass, in gold frames, having sofas under them, richly
carved and covered with blue velvet; the chairs to suit. Before each
pilaster was placed a rich gilt pedestal, on which was a superb
French girandole, carrying eight wax-lights, executed in _or-molu_.
The two chimney-pieces of Statuary marble, were ornamented with
foliage and figures in bronze and _or-molu_, and, over them, were
glasses in gold frames, and French Candelabra, worthy of the _tout
ensemble_.
The Prince Regent entered the State apartments about a quarter
past nine, dressed in a scarlet coat, most richly and elegantly
ornamented, in a very novel style, with gold lace, and a brilliant
star of the Order of the Garter; and he arrived just at the same
time as the dethroned Louis XVIII.--who was present as the Comte
de Lille--and his family. Dancing began about half past eleven or
twelve, and at half past two supper was announced. As one account
says: "Upon no previous occasion, and at no Court in Europe, was
ever the experiment made to sit down 2,000 of the principal nobility
and gentry of a kingdom to a regular supper, as was the case at
the Prince Regent's fête. The largest entertainment, at the most
brilliant period of the French Monarchy, was that given by the Prince
of Condé at Chantilli, to the King of Sweden, when 400 covers were
laid. Here covers were laid for 1,600 under canvas, and 400 in the
house."
_The Times_ gives a short, but succinct, account of this brilliant
fête, and being so, I take it, as well fitted for this book, as all
accounts, more or less, are by press correspondents, and relate only
to the internal arrangement and decoration of Carlton House.
"It was totally impossible, capacious as the Mansion of the Prince
is, to accommodate such a number of persons in the rooms of the
Mansion itself. From the central apartment of the lower range, which
we have mentioned, on the south, or garden front, proceeded a broad
and lofty wall, towards the southern wall of the garden, adjoining
St. James's Park, which was crossed by three similar walks, from
east to west, lengthwise in the garden. All these walks were closed
in by walls, and covered over by awnings made for the occasion. In
each of these cross walks were placed long supper tables, and at
the end of each walk were communications to circular marquées, in
which were tables containing all the necessary refreshments for the
company, with space for the numerous servants, and assistants in
attendance. The Great Walk from the house southward had in it six
tables, leaving those spaces quite open where other walks crossed
it. The intermediate spaces between these, were lawns, which
communicated to the walks by suitable openings. The interior sides
of these grand walks were lined with festoons of flowers, yielding
the most odoriferous perfumes, and relieved by the verdant and softer
beauties that more towering plants and shrubs could bestow. The
arched roofs were ornamented in the liveliest manner, and, from them,
were suspended thousands of lights, in all the different forms and
fashions by which illumination can be produced. The _coup d'oeil_ of
the whole, especially from the central south entrance to the gardens,
was inexpressibly delightful, and even magically impressive. The
entrance was under an illuminated arch, and the southern end of the
walk was filled by an immense mirror, and ornamented at the top and
sides with a superb drapery, and with artificial flowers and costly
candelabra: particularly the long range of supper rooms on the grand
level, at the head of which the Regent sat, at the west end of the
Conservatory, inspired the highest ideas of real magnificence.
"This range, beginning from the east end, comprises the new
Gothic rooms, not yet entirely finished, but temporarily hung with
crimson, and the Library, beautifully ornamented with marbles. In
these apartments there were two rows of tables, elegantly adorned.
The centre room was left open. To the west, the eating room, &c.,
and the Conservatory had one long table running through both. The
appearance of the Conservatory was truly striking and brilliant.
The architecture of it is of the most delicate Gothic. The upper
end was a kind of circular buffet surmounted by a Medallion, with
the initials G. P. R. lined by festoons and antique draperies of
pink and silver, and partly filled by mirrors, before which, on
ornamented shelves, stood a variety of vases, candlesticks, &c., of
the most gorgeous gold plate. Supplied, as indeed all the tables
were, with every attainable delicacy and luxury which wealth and rank
could command, or ingenuity suggest, and embellished by all the art
and skill of the confectioner, with emblematical devices of every
conceivable appropriate description, this table displayed a still
more splendid exuberance.
"In the front of the Regent's seat there was a circular basin of
water, with an enriched Temple in the centre of it, from whence there
was a meandering stream to the bottom of the table, bordered with
green banks. Three or four fantastic bridges were thrown over it, one
of them with a small tower upon it, which gave the little stream a
picturesque appearance. It contained also a number of gold and silver
fish. The excellence of design, and exquisiteness of workmanship
could not be exceeded; it exhibited a grandeur beyond description;
while the many and various purposes for which gold and silver
materials were used were equally beautiful and superb in all their
minute details.[4]
[Footnote 4: Nearly a waggon load of the family plate of
the late Sir William Pulteney decorated the Tables at
Carlton House. It is said that the weight of the whole of
the gold and silver plate used on this occasion, was Six
Tons.]
"The Company, who continued to arrive from nine till half-past
twelve, were ushered into the state rooms, and soon filled the house.
The hall was crowded with Peers and Peeresses, and was made the same
use of, as the apartments of State. Under the grand arched doorway
between the halls, was a most elegant scarlet and gold drapery, after
the antique.
"The male part of the nobility and gentry, were habited in court
suits, many richly embroidered, or in naval and military uniforms.
The waving plumes, the elegant, variegated dresses, the sparkling
diamonds, and, still more, the native beauty and grace of the ladies,
gave a sort of enchanting perfection to the whole of this brilliant
courtly exhibition. The _Vieille Cour de Versailles_, with all its
proud pretensions, could never have more attractively set forth the
elegant fascinations of fashionable life, and exalted rank.
"The upper servants of his Royal Highness' household wore a rich
costume of dark blue, trimmed with very broad gold lace; the others
wore their state liveries. A considerable number of the Yeomen
of the Guard attended in different parts. The assistants, out of
livery, were dressed uniformly, in black suits with white vests. Two
of the bands of the Guards, in state uniforms, played various airs
throughout the night. Parties of the Foot-guards protected all the
immediate avenues, and the Horse-guards were stationed in Pall Mall,
St. James's Street, St. James's Square, Piccadilly, &c. Everything
was managed, with the assistance of the Police, with unexampled care
and convenience."