State of Ireland -- The Regent _fêtes_ the Duke of Wellington
-- The Jubilee in the Parks -- Public opinion thereon -- The
Celebration.
Among other Home topics, just at this time, was one so familiar to
us--the disturbed state of Ireland. Take this one month of July. Mr.
Long, of Ardmayle, was shot almost on his threshold. Two men with
blackened faces entered a cottage at Woodhouse, Co. Waterford, and
shot (gallant fellows!) a girl of twenty years of age. Here is the
account of a riot arising out of an Orange demonstration, taken from
_The Belfast Commercial Herald_:--
"A dreadful riot, attended with very melancholy circumstances, took
place at the Race Course of Downpatrick. It appears that a very great
and unusual assembling of country people, all armed with sticks, and
some with pistols, was observed on the Race Course on Friday (July
15th), and it was understood that a preconcerted disturbance was to
be the consequence, as, for several days before, it was said without
hesitation that 'the Orangemen had their day on the 12th of July,
and they (the Threshers, or whatever name they go by) should have
theirs on the Friday of the Races.' About four o'clock on that day, a
quarrel (many present say a sham fight) took place between two men,
which, in an instant, attracted a great crowd, apparently on the
watch, and a disturbance ensued, and continued for a considerable
time, till it became so alarming, that the magistrates found it
necessary to send to Down for a detachment of the Middlesex Militia
quartered there.
"When the military were drawn up, the rage of the assembled crowd
was directed almost wholly against them, and they were assailed with
volleys of stones from behind the tents, and many opprobrious names.
The Militia, all this time, kept their ground with the greatest
coolness; the great mass (some thousands, it is said), emboldened by
the quiet manner in which the soldiers acted, advanced so near as to
bid them defiance, pelting them with stones, by which some of them
were injured and knocked down. The soldiers were then ordered to fire
with blank cartridge; but this only made the mob more riotous. They
were then ordered to fire with ball; two men instantly fell, and a
great many were wounded; four or five are in the Infirmary. A number
of the rioters were taken prisoners, and lodged in jail; one of
them, we have heard, had four pistols in his possession, another had
two."
On July 21st the Prince of Wales gave a _fête_ in honour of the Duke
of Wellington, which, in magnificence, rivalled that famous one with
which he celebrated his becoming Regent. Two thousand five hundred
persons were invited, and the Queen, the Princesses, and all the
available Royal Family were present.
About this time the English prisoners of war were returning from
France; but, although they, naturally, had sad tales to tell of
their sufferings in the French prisons and hulks, yet many came
back materially benefited by their incarceration; for the British
Government arranged that those with good education should teach those
who were ignorant, for which they received a small recompense, and,
consequently, many came home able not only to read and write, but
instructed in mathematics sufficiently to be of great assistance to
them in their future life as sailors.
Truly I said this was an _Annus mirabilis_, for now, on the 1st of
August, was to be the public Celebration of Peace, and the date was
fixed because it was the Centenary of the Accession of George I.,
founder of the present dynasty in England: and this public rejoicing
was christened "The Jubilee." The following is, substantially, a
correct programme, but it was published in a newspaper a fortnight
before, and, afterwards there were some slight modifications; but I
think it is the best contemporaneous short account, of the amusement
provided for the people.
"THE GRAND JUBILEE.
"OFFICIAL PROGRAMME.
"These amusements will begin with the ascent of a magnificent balloon
of sufficiently large dimensions to take up two persons in the car
affixed to it. It will ascend about five o'clock; later in the day,
a smaller balloon, of 20 feet in diameter, will also ascend, and a
copious display of fireworks from it will be exhibited in the higher
regions of the air: it will then be made to descend; and, upon its
second ascension, another display of brilliant fireworks will also
take place at a great elevation from the ground. Still later in
the evening, several other balloons, upon a smaller scale, will be
dispatched towards the clouds, charged with various fire-works, which
will be seen with effect at a lofty height, and, after these are
expended, the hydrogen contained in these balloons will be inflamed,
and will produce a brilliant appearance, resembling in splendour the
most striking meteoric phenomenon.
"Over the Canal[29] has been thrown a beautiful Chinese bridge, upon
the centre of which has been constructed an elegant and lofty pagoda,
consisting of seven pyramidal stories. The Pagoda will be illuminated
with the gas[30] lights, and brilliant fireworks, both fixed and
missile, will be displayed from every division of this lofty Chinese
structure. Copious and splendid girandoles of rockets will also
be occasionally displayed from the summit, and from other parts
of the towering edifice, which will, at times, be so covered with
jerbs, Roman candles, and pots de brin, as to become in appearance
one column of brilliant fire. Various smaller temples and columns
constructed upon the bridge, will, also, be vividly illuminated;
and fixed fire-works of different devices, on the balustrade of the
bridge, will contribute to heighten the general effect.
[Footnote 29: The Ornamental Water in St. James's Park.]
[Footnote 30: Our ordinary Gas (Carburetted Hydrogen) was
always then, and long after, called "_the_ Gas."]
"The Canal will also be well provided with handsomely decorated
boats, at the disposal of those who wish to add this amusement to the
numerous pleasures.
"The whole margin of the lawn will be surrounded with booths for
refreshment, which will be illuminated in the evening, interspersed
with open marquees provided with seats for the accommodation of the
company.
"The Malls of the Park will be illuminated with Chinese lanterns,
ornamented with picturesque and grotesque devices, and every tree
will have variegated lights intermingled with its foliage. Bands
of music will be stationed at various distances, and spaces will be
provided at different parts of the lawn, for those who delight in
the pleasures of the dance; the whole forming a Vauxhall on the most
magnificent scale.
"In addition to the foregoing list of amusements, the Public will
have a full view of the Royal Booth, and of the grand fire-works in
the Green Park, which will be displayed from a fortress or Castle,
the ramparts of which are 100 feet square, surmounted by a round
tower in the centre, about 60 feet in diameter, and rising to the
height of over 50 feet above the ramparts. Four grand changes of
fire-works will be exhibited from this stupendous Castle, the whole
elevation of which exceeds 90 feet.
"To secure to every one a complete view of this edifice and its
decorations, notwithstanding its great height and dimensions, it is
so constructed as to revolve on its centre, so that each side will be
successively presented to the assemblage of the Company. The Castle,
thus exhibiting the appearance of a grand military fortification,
is intended, allegorically, to represent War, and the discharges of
artillery, small arms, maroons, &c., may be regarded as descriptive
of the terrors of a siege. On a sudden, this will cease: in the
midst of flames, clouds of smoke, and the thunder of artillery,
the lofty fortress, the emblem of destructive war, is transformed
into a beautiful temple, the type of glorious peace. The lower
and quadrangular compartment is embellished with Doric columns
of porphyry; the circular edifice which surmounts it is decorated
with the lighter Ionic columns of Sienna marble. The whole will be
brilliantly illuminated, and adorned with allegorical transparencies,
executed by the masterly pencils of artists of the first eminence."
[Illustration: The Fortress.]
What fun was made of this childish Exhibition! These were the _panem
et circenses_ to reward the people for their having lavishly given
of their blood and gold; and its conception was pretty universally
put down to the Prince Regent: the Chinese bridge and Pagoda were so
highly suggestive of Brighton. Many were the verses on this Jubilee
and its putative author.
"THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY.
Princes of old, if wise and good,
Were _Fathers_ called--and so they should--
And give the little girls and boys
Plenty of gingerbread and toys.
'_Our_ Pa,' says Biddy to her brother,
'Is quite as good as a _Grandmother_!'
'Grandmother! hush! 'tis treason stark!'
Cries Jacky, 'Say a _Grand-Monarque_!'"
One of the greatest sources of ridicule connected with this Jubilee
was "the Naumachia," a mimic combat on the Serpentine, between an
English and French fleet. Of course, the Three Deckers and Frigates
must necessarily be small, so they were manufactured at Woolwich,
out of ship's-boats: and the following lines give a very fair idea of
popular opinion on the fête:--
"JOHN BULL, the other day, in pensive mood,
Near to the Serpentine Flotilla stood;
His hands were thrust into his emptied pockets,
And much of ships he muttered, and of rockets;
Of silly Fêtes--and Jubilees unthrifty--
And Babies overgrown, of _two-and-fifty_;
I guess'd the train of thought which then possess'd him,
And deem'd th' occasion fit, and thus address'd him:
Be generous to a fallen foe,
With gratulations meet,
On Elba's _Emperor_ bestow
Thy Lilliputian fleet;
For with his Island's narrow bounds
That navy might agree,
Which, laugh'd at daily here--redounds
In ridicule to thee.
Says JOHN, 'Right readily I'll part
With these, and all the gay things,
But it would break the R----'s heart
To take away his playthings.'"
The chaff was great about these ships--see under:--
"A simple Angler, throwing flies for trout,
Hauled the main mast, and lugg'd a First Rate out."
"A crow in his _fright_, flying over the Fleet,
Dropped something, that covered it all, like a sheet."
The Chinese Bridge, and even the Fire-works were made fun of.
"I overheard a silly Cambridge Clerk,
Thus mutter, as he passed St. James's Park:
'What's this? A Bridge? How hard to be got over!
Oh! 'tis the ASS'S BRIDGE, I do discover.'"
"The R---- thinks to make us stare,
By raising rockets in the air;--
His scheme to please will fail, he'll find,
Since we for it must _raise the wind_."
The pseudo Peter Pindar (_C. F. Lawler_?) has a great deal to do
with the Jubilee, and published divers satirical poems thereon.
"Liliputian Navy!!! The R----t's Fleet, or, John Bull at the
Serpentine." "The P----e's Jubilee." "The R----l Showman." "The
R----l Fair, or Grande Galante Show," and one on the sale of the
Temple of Concord--"The Temple knock'd down; or R----l Auction. The
last lay of the Jubilee."
The following short account of the Jubilee is taken from a
contemporary morning journal.
"Yesterday being the Centenary of the Accession of the House
of Brunswick, and the Anniversary of the glorious Victory of
the Nile, was selected as the day for a Jubilee in celebration
of the Peace. The plan of the arrangements for the Show in the
Parks, has already been given, together with a description of the
preparations. Considerable uncertainty hung over the public mind
as to the actual day of exhibition, in consequence of the notice
advertised, and posted up, stating, that it would depend upon the
state of the weather; an uncertainty not a little heightened by the
unpromising appearance of the morning. Numbers, however, regardless
of notification, or weather, and determined to have a day of it,
particularly those who lived at a distance from the scene of
operations, set out from home, and were seen flocking, at an early
hour, to the Parks. At length the firing of cannon announced that the
day was considered favourable, and that the Jubilee would commence.
The population of the Metropolis then poured forth in a continued
stream, or, rather flood, to witness the exhibition. Shops were shut,
business was suspended, houses were left to take care of themselves,
and the Strand, Oxford Street, and Piccadilly, were nearly blocked up
by masses of people of all descriptions, including many women with
infants in their arms, all hurrying on to see the Show.
"It had been previously understood, and the public notices posted
up certainly led to that impression, that all the entrances to
St. James's Park, save those leading into the space allotted to
the holders of tickets, would have been opened to the public. It
turned out, however, that counter orders had, in the meantime,
been given, and the passages by the Horse Guards, and the Spring
Garden-gate were alone opened for persons without tickets to enter
the Park. The gate at New Street, although a notice was posted up
at its side, intimating that it had been deemed expedient to open
it to the public, remained shut. This, of course, greatly increased
the pressure; numbers flocked to the Stable-yard; but there, all
admittance to the Park, without tickets, was refused. Some relief,
however, was afforded by allowing an egress by this gate to the
persons in the Park.
"Hyde Park, and the Green Park, except the place in the latter
railed off, were opened _ad libitum_ to the public, and the view
of the numerous and varied groups in these two Parks, formed an
enlivening _coup d'oeil_. Booths and flying barracks (as they were
called) and open stands of a more humble description, appeared in
every direction, with all sorts of refreshments; liquors and liquids,
to satisfy the hunger, cheer the spirits, and allay the thirst of
the almost innumerable crowd that pressed upon all points where
anything was to be seen. A number of marquees, as has already been
stated, were pitched upon the lawn on both sides of the canal in St.
James's Park,[31] for the use of the holders of tickets, that being
the principal part of the space allotted to them, and these were
interspersed with several booths and flying barracks for furnishing
refreshments. A number of benches were also placed in this space,
besides those in the marquees.
[Footnote 31: Pepys speaks of this on more than one
occasion, notably, "1660, Sept. 16. To the Park, where I
saw how far they had proceeded in the Pall Mall, and in
making a river through the Park, which I had never seen
before since it was begun." Evelyn also mentions it: "1662,
Dec. 1. Having seen the strange and wonderful dexterity of
the sliders on the New Canal in St. James's Park," &c.]
"For the public at large, who had the range of the Parks, there was
little accommodation in the shape of seats. Those who were tired of
promenading were glad to lean against a tree, or find seats upon the
ground: many brought their provisions with them, and partook of a
family or a picnic collation, the earth alike their table, and their
seat. In this manner the time was passed till the hour arrived. On
the commencement of the grand shew, the first object of attraction
was the ascent of a Balloon.
"The Balloon was placed in the ground in front of the Queen's Palace.
The operation of filling it commenced as early as nine o'clock in
the morning, but it was not sufficiently inflated till a few minutes
before six in the evening. About four o'clock, the immense body of
spectators assembled in St. James's Park, and in the Green Park,
being in the more immediate vicinity of the spot whence the balloon
was to ascend, were surprised and gratified by the appearance of a
balloon of small dimensions, coming, as it were, from Hyde Park, or
Kensington Gardens. This contributed, for some time, to suspend any
feeling of impatience which might have shewn itself in consequence of
the large balloon not being ready to ascend at the stated hour (five
o'clock).
"Some time before six o'clock, a report of the firing of guns, as
of the promised naval engagement on the Serpentine River, reached
the ears of the same persons, many of whom seemed to be actuated
by a momentary desire to change the scene of action, and to share
in the fight, the report of which they had heard from afar. The
manifestation of this spirit, however, was merely momentary; they
quickly became more peaceably inclined; and, whether apprehensive
that they might only come in to witness the _conclusion_ of the sea
fight, or resolved, on more mature deliberation, to be satisfied
spectators of an aerial flight, and of the destruction of 'a
Fortified Castle,' which (strange to tell) was, through the aid
of fire, to be transformed into the '_Temple of Peace_'--they,
with a few exceptions, took the advice given them in the printed
recommendations, and remained on the ground they had originally
occupied.
"About twenty minutes before six, the Balloon, being then
sufficiently inflated, was elevated from the situation it had
hitherto occupied, and the car, which was extremely splendid and
brilliant, being affixed to it, Mr. Sadler, junior, mounted into
the car, which was decorated with four flags. Being supplied with
the necessary quantity of ballast, of cards for signals, &c., the
youthful and intrepid Aëronaut, being liberated from the chains by
which his chariot was confined to the ground, began to ascend in
a most solemn and majestic manner, so far as the observers were
concerned, yet with a degree of rapidity which must have unstrung the
nerves of any one entirely unused to such lofty excursions.
"The Balloon took a direction inclining towards the south-east, and
was in sight for about half an hour. It was generally reported that
Mrs. Henry Johnston was to have accompanied Mr. Sadler, but we could
not perceive that either she, or any other lady mounted the car.
"Between eight and nine o'clock, the Grand Sea Fight took place
on the Serpentine River, where ships of the line, in miniature,
manoeuvred and engaged, and the Battle of the Nile, was represented
in little. Of this mock naval engagement on the great Serpentine
Ocean, it would be extremely difficult to give any adequate
description. It is, perhaps, sufficient to observe, that it was
about on a par with spectacles of a similar nature, which have been
frequently exhibited at the Theatres.
"After the ascent of the Balloon, one part of the company in the
sacred enclosure, sauntered about the brown banks of the Canal,
while the rest disturbed the green surface of the water in wherries.
No attempt at amusement presented itself for a long time, except a
species of boat race between two watermen, but this did not attract,
nor was it deserving of much attention. While the crowd within the
enclosure were thus languishing for want of amusement, the people
in the Mall, although they had been kindly forewarned that the best
amusements would take place in Hyde Park, thought it desirable, on
the principle by which sin first began, to attempt an incursion on
the space within. Several lads jumped over the enclosure, but they
were immediately pursued by the Artillerymen who guarded the rails,
at small distances from each other, and ejected from this supposed
seat of bliss, after some rough treatment from their pursuers. The
mob, without, endeavoured to vent their anger against the envied
occupiers of the enclosure, and, especially, against the soldiers, by
a very liberal and ingenious application of all the slang at their
command. As it grew dark, these incursions were effectually prevented
by an increased number of guards.
"At the same time the lamps and the Chinese lanterns were lighted;
the former were dispersed over the lawn in crescents and moons,
elevated to a small distance from the ground. The Chinese lanterns
hung in the walks midway between the trees, and were decorated
with a great variety of objects, though not with much taste; some
represented Mr. Sadler's balloon, others the Ark of Noah; on one was
painted the Tower of Babel, on another the Pagoda; on some, Mr. Kean
as _Richard_, on others the Great Mogul.
"The Bridge, with the Pagoda, was soon entirely lighted; and the
reflection of the lights gave to the whole Canal the appearance of
a lake of fire. Notwithstanding the beautiful object, yawning was
very prevalent for an hour or two, and great strife arose concerning
the possession of the benches, but the attention of the Combatants
was soon diverted to the loud cannonade which commenced in the
Green Park. The firing continued for a long time, and, immediately
it ceased, an immense flight of rockets arose from the top of the
Pagoda, on the Canal, and traced a thousand brilliant paths through
the sky, which the smoke of the cannonade had rendered brown and
opake.
"From this time a contest in brilliancy arose between the Fortress
in the Green Park, and the Pagoda on the Canal. An incessant variety
of wheels and stars appeared at intervals on both these structures,
and, at other times, immense flights of rockets rapidly succeeded
each other, and, now spent themselves in the air, now fell slowly as
showers of fire. Large numbers of Roman candles threw forth to a vast
distance blue stars in rapid succession, and balls of fire shot to an
immense height, burst into innumerable sparks.
"In the intervals of the fire-works, the Pagoda, which was entirely
covered with lamps, shewed a calm mass of uniform light. Large masses
of fire, we understand, fell in George Street, and other adjacent
streets, but they extinguished themselves as they touched the ground,
and, we believe, no mischief was done.
[Illustration: The Temple of Concord.]
"We were as heartily glad when the cockle-shell fight was over, as
we had been tired of waiting for it. We were afraid, at one time,
that it would have neither beginning nor end. Indeed, there had been
a wretched skirmish between four and five in the afternoon, between
an American and an English frigate, at the conclusion of which,
the English colours were triumphantly hoisted on the rebel Yankee.
After this, followed a dreary interval of some hours, in which no
one seemed to know what was to come, or what had gone before, and in
which we at last sought refuge among our old friends, the booths of
Bartholomew Fair.
"While here we had nearly missed the battle of the Nile altogether,
something like the old woman who went to see a ship launched, and,
while she was stooping down to buckle her shoe, the ship went off!
After the Naumachia, the moon rose, and the Chinese lanterns were
lighted. At a signal given, the fire-works in the Green Park were let
off, and four of the little fleet in the Serpentine were set on fire.
The swans screamed, and fluttered round the affrighted lake. But it
is in vain to deny the beauty of the scene that followed, nor have we
room to do justice to it.
"After the conclusion of the Fire-works, the Grand Metamorphosis took
place of the Fortress into the Temple of Concord, by the removal
of all the Canvas fortifications, thus displaying the Temple
brilliantly illuminated, moving upon an axis, and exhibiting the
transparencies of which a description has already been given. The
lateness of the hour at which the Show concluded, renders it utterly
impossible for us to give the particulars more in detail. The Parks
continued crowded long after midnight.
"The Pagoda, at about twelve o'clock, took fire, and after continuing
burning for about a quarter of an hour, fell in with a great crash,
in a slanting direction towards the Mall. The Catastrophe surprised
no one but the Contrivers of the erection."