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.
The Allegorical paintings on the Temple were by Howard, Stothard,
Smirke, Woodforde, Dawe, Hilton, &c.
Sadler had a really perilous voyage, for the network of his balloon
got out of order and the balloon nearly collapsed; in fact, it was
only saved by his hanging on to the pipe of the balloon: then,
wanting to descend, the valve would not work because it was frozen,
and, when it did work, did not let out the gas fast enough, and would
have carried him into the river, at Sea Reach, had he not cut a gash
in the balloon, and landed in Mucking Marshes, on the Essex Coast,
sixteen miles below Gravesend.
There was a metrical account of this fête, which shows the popular
feeling on the subject, which was called
"THE REGENT'S REMONSTRANCE TO JOHN BULL.
Oh, JOHNNY, most ungrateful JOHNNY!
But just escap'd from fangs of BONEY,
You still must growl and grumble;
The peace just made, and all things right,
The bread quite cheap, and taxes light,
And I, your servant humble.
What would you have? You growling elf,
You think of nothing but yourself;
Nay, show your teeth,--you cannot bite,
What could be done for love or money,
All that is comical or funny,
Has been my study and delight.
Your peevish humours to destroy all,
Did I not ask the Allies Royal
To come to London here to see you?
And did you not, for days and nights,
Stare yourself almost blind with sights?
I'd fain, I vow, twice _double d_ ye.
Then to add further to your glee,
I give you a grand Jubilee,
'Cause we have reigned a hundred years;
I put my hands in both your pockets,
And, in return, you've Congreve's rockets,
And booths for all your pretty dears.
Besides, if you were not a lout,
You'd smile to see the roundabout,[32]
And all the pretty pictures in it;
With all the fireworks blazing forth!
Some east, some west, some south, some north,
And pop-guns bursting every minute.
Why, surely, JOHN, you 'gin to dote,
Come, take a ride in this cock boat!
See how it _floats_ on _real_ water!
A race! A race! I vow there is!
I see a smile upon your phiz,
I'll go and call my _vife_ and _darter_!
Nay, patience, JOHNNY, do not fidget,
You have not seen our little bridge yet,
And _top on_ it the grand _Pagoda_;
Then, whilst you're walking on the lawn,
You'll bless the day when you were born,
To see such sights, and call for soda.
Come, take another walk with me,
To view the ships upon the sea,
I mean the Carlton--Hyde Park ocean;
Full twenty vessels _of the line_
Now sail upon the Serpentine,
To give of _Nile_ a brilliant notion!
But see! they're close engaged in battle,
Hark! how the thund'ring cannons rattle!
A broadside now from _Victory_!
Behold the shade of Nelson rise!
Would he were here to _feast_ his eyes,
And grace the days of _Regency_!
Then independent of my fleets,
I've planned some palaces and streets,
Th' expense is small--some paltry millions;
But lo! the pyrotechnicalities,
And gin and gingerbread hilarities,
With all the hornpipes and _cow_tillions.
If, after this, I hear complaints,
I swear, by all the priests and saints,
New taxes must your spirit humble,
If VANSITTART[33] can find _one_ out,
(Which once I heard the rascal doubt),
Unless you're tax'd whene'er you grumble."
[Footnote 32: The revolving Temple of Concord.]
[Footnote 33: Then Chancellor of the Exchequer.]
On the 11th of October, the _Temple of Concord_ was sold, and the
following is a contemporary account of its sale:
"The _Temple of Concord_, was on Tuesday, _knocked down_ in
ninety-one lots by Mr. Creaton.
"The sale commenced with the _flag-staff_ on the top of the _Upper
Temple_. The brokers viewed it as a common piece of _fir_, which
might be converted into excellent _firewood_, and it was knocked down
at 14s.
"Four _rainbows_, in spite of the scriptural allusions which they
drew forth, produced only £4. 3s.
"Eight _Vestals_ were sold for £14 8s.
"Eight pair of _Ionic Columns_ coloured to imitate Sienna marble,
produce £21 8s. 6d.
"The _Doric columns_, of which there were sixteen pairs, painted in
imitation of porphyry, averaged £1 12s. 6d. per pair.
"The four _pyramidal pillars_ (shaped like Cannon) ornamenting the
corners of the first platform, were purchased by an individual, with
all their appurtenances, for £16 9s.
"The _Cornices_, doorways, &c., with the inscriptions, on which Mr.
Creaton sported many patriotic remarks, went off as follows:--
£ s. d.
The Regency (_proh pudor_) 0 7 0
Peace Returning 0 7 0
Europe rescued 0 8 0
Strife descending 0 8 0
The Triumph of Britannia 2 10 0
The Golden Age restored 3 10 0
The Sceptre of the Bourbons restored 3 3 0
War desolating the earth 3 3 0
Frederick and Blücher 2 12 6
Francis and Schwartzenberg 2 12 6
The Regent and Wellington 3 0 0
Alexander and Kutusoff 2 15 0
The Arms of England and France 2 2 0
" Austria and Holland 2 0 0
" Russia and Prussia 2 0 0
" Spain and Portugal 2 0 0
"The mechanical fountains, which are eight in number, sold for £10
16s.
"The sale of the exterior of the Temple of Concord concluded at five
o'clock. It produced the gross sum of £200 2s. 6d. We should be
glad to know what was the prime cost of the materials used in this
structure, as well as the sum expended in preparing and setting them
up."
There were, unfortunately, many accidents during the Celebration of
this Jubilee. At the burning of the Pagoda one man was killed on the
spot, six others injured, and one of them died shortly afterwards.
The cause of the burning of this ill-fated building was that there
was not room for a rocket wheel to revolve; the consequence was that
the fierce fire played on one part of the woodwork and ignited the
whole building. In Hyde Park, lads and men climbed the trees, whose
branches would not bear their weight, but broke, and not only did the
climbers injure themselves, but those on whom they fell.
At Kensington Gardens, just at the close of the fireworks, two
rockets, instead of behaving properly, and rising skywards, took an
horizontal direction, one striking a gentleman in the calf of his
leg, the other, another gentleman in the body--and he was borne,
apparently much injured, by four men, into a neighbouring marquee.
The rocket sticks falling caused minor accidents, which is not to be
wondered at, when we consider that they were from six to eight feet
long, an inch broad, and half an inch thick.[34] However, people
sheltered themselves under the trees, some in the numerous Marquees,
where the safest were those under the tables--and some put their
umbrellas up, as a protection.
[Footnote 34: In a _jeu d'esprit_ on the Jubilee--the
Serpentine was called "The River Styx."]
After this fête, the booths were not removed, and a regular fair
sprung up, with its usual accompaniments of swings, roundabouts,
wild-beast shows, fat women, and dramatic entertainments, to which
were added the attractions of _E.O. tables_--_Black and White
Cocks_--_Dice Tables_--and a game with dice, called _Under and
over Seven_. This gambling the police did not even make a show of
stopping. There were donkey racing, jumping in sacks, running for
smocks, &c.,--and there were printing presses, where, on payment,
people had the privilege of themselves pulling off a typographical
souvenir of the fair. Nay, it was even contemplated to print a
_Jubilee Fair Journal_.
It was anticipated that this fair would last until the 12th, and so
it possibly might have done, had it been conducted with anything
like decency and order; but as these were conspicuously absent,
Lord Sidmouth, Secretary of State for the Home Department, ordered
it to be closed on the night of Saturday the 6th. This order, the
booth-keepers petitioned against, on the plea that, on the strength
of its being open for a longer time, they had laid in a large stock
of provisions, liquor, toys, &c., which would be thrown upon their
hands. Lord Sidmouth's order not being enforced, they kept on, so
that it was found necessary to issue another--which was acted on--and
the fair ceased with the night of August 11th.
A contemporary newspaper speaking of it, says, "Never, within the
memory of man, has there been witnessed such scenes of drunkenness
and dissipation as these fooleries have given rise to, and the
misery they have brought upon thousands is extreme. A report from
the pawnbrokers would be an awful lesson to governments how they
encourage such riot. Since the delirium, from the example of the
highest quarter, began, the pawnbrokers have more than trebled their
business; clothes, furniture, and, worst of all, _tools_, have been
sacrificed for the sake of momentary enjoyment; industry of every
kind has been interrupted, and many hundreds of starving families
will long have to remember the _æra_ of the Park Fêtes."
I wind up this account of the Jubilee with the following "Epigram on
the P---- R----'s expressing a wish for the continuance of the Fair
in Hyde Park:
"The R---- we have oft been told,
Prefers the _Fair_ when _stout_ and _old_;
Now, here we've cause to think him wrong,
For liking _any Fair too long_."
And now, having exhausted the chief events of this memorable year,
I must fill up my account of the remainder of its existence with
notices of passing events, as they occur, a course which must
naturally be discursive.
First of all, the Princess of Wales, left England for the Continent
on the 9th of August, in the _Jason_ Frigate, landing at Hamburg on
the 16th. She was weary of the petty persecutions and slights she
had perpetually to undergo; and, refusing to use the extra allowance
granted her by Parliament, went into voluntary exile, against the
advice of her sincere friends, who, however, could not feel as she
did; for, in her position, she could not help feeling the social
indignities that were heaped upon her. From these, at least, she
could be free when away from England. She left its shores in a very
modest and unassuming manner, being driven to the sea shore in a
pony-cart--(the Chronicler giving, as a saving clause, "by her own
coachman"). Her dress might, at the present time, perhaps, be thought
rather _prononcée_, but it was only fashionable then. She wore a dark
cloth pelisse, with large gold clasps, and a cap of violet and green
satin, of the Prussian Hussar Costume, with a green feather, which we
should think rather a fetching costume for a lady of forty-six.
We have heard of the scarcity of gold coin, and how, during the
War-time it used to be smuggled out of the Country; it must have
gladdened some hearts to have read, under date of August 19th,
"_Guineas_ may shortly be expected to reappear. Seven-shilling
pieces, which should be considered as their _avant couriers_, already
peep out!" Anent this lack of gold coin there was an amusing skit
published thereon in this year, which I reproduce, partly for the
illustration which represents a beadle in all his glory,--a being
that is fast fading away. The Cocked hat has already gone, and I
know not now where to find what would be termed, heraldically, "a
beadle in his pride."
The following is entitled "A Whole Family Lost."
[Illustration: A Whole Family Lost.--_November 24, 1814._]
"O Yes! If any of the relatives or next of kin of one Mr. Guinea,
who about the year 1800 was much seen in England, and is supposed to
be an Englishman, will give information where he can be met with,
they will be handsomely rewarded, on application to Mr. John Bull,
_Growling Lane_ opposite _Threadneedle Street_. A proportionate
reward will be given for information relative to his son Mr.
Half-Guinea; or his Grandson, young Seven Shilling piece. Papers
innumerable have been issued in consequence of their disappearance,
but all in vain; and they are believed by many persons to have left
the kingdom; though others shrewdly suspect they lie hid somewhere
in the Country waiting for more favourable times before they dare
make their appearance, as they have reason to suppose they would be
instantly _taken up_, and put in _close Confinement_. Their sudden
disappearance is particularly to be regretted, as they were in great
favour with the people, and enjoyed the _King's Countenance_ to such
a degree that they actually bore the _Royal Arms_. Notwithstanding
they are people of real worth, yet it must be confessed that, by
getting occasionally into bad Company, they have lost some of their
weight in society, yet, if they will return, all faults will be
forgiven; no questions will be asked, but they may depend upon
being received with open arms by their disconsolate friends, who, by
this temporary separation have learnt to appreciate their sterling
worth. They resemble each other very closely, and may very easily be
known by their _round faces_, and by their complexion, which is of
_bright yellow_; for though they, it is true, were born, and acquired
their polish in London, yet it is well ascertained that the family
originally came, and derived their name, from the Coast of _Guinea_,
a place too well known in _Liverpool_ to require any description.
GOD SAVE THE KING."
"LINES SUGGESTED BY HEARING IT SAID THAT THE R--G--T WAS IN THE ARMS
OF MORPHEUS.
In Morpheus's arms as the R--g--t once lay,
'Ecod!' said the God, 'this old boy is no feather;
If he slept but as soundly by night as by day,
I should envy e'en ATLAS himself this hot weather.'"
Under date of August 31st, we find that "the number of French
prisoners who have been sent to France since the conclusion of
the peace, exceeds sixty-seven thousand men. It is said that only
nineteen continental prisoners of war (who are Poles) now remain in
this country. The American prisoners in England already amount to
three thousand eight hundred. They are chiefly seamen."
A newspaper cutting of September 3rd, shows us the state of the
Streets of London in 1814: "The shameful manner in which the
Contractors for lighting the streets perform the duty, has long been
the subject of complaint. After the shops are shut, and consequently
the lamps in their windows extinguished, the streets are almost in
a state of utter darkness. An attempt is to be made, we observe, to
light Fleet Street with _gas_. We hope the experiment will succeed.
"The same complaint may be made against the paving,--for the defects
of the paving are more owing to the way in which the paviours do
their work, than to the water companies. The stones sent from
Aberdeen, are no longer square, but conical. They have a broad top,
and narrow to the bottom--so that these inverted cones have no
bond--and the streets being improperly laid too convex, so as to
make every waggon incline to one side, the stones are constantly
disturbed; and, a hole once made, every wheel increases it. The
Commissioners ought to reform the system altogether."
Here is a little anecdote of red tape in the Navy: "According to an
established form in the Navy, when a ship is paid off, no officer
must quit the port, or consider himself discharged, until the pennant
is struck, which can be done only by the cook, as the last officer,
at sunset; and, should he be absent, no other person can perform
the office, however desirous the Officers may be of taking their
departure, and although there may not be a single seaman or marine on
board. A curious instance of this took place last week, at Plymouth,
on the _Caledonia's_ being paid off. When the time arrived for
hauling down the pennant, no Cook could be found, from which cause
the officers were under the necessity of waiting a day or two, until
he made his appearance."
Immediately on the Restoration of the Bourbons it was the proper
thing for every English man and woman who could afford it, to pay
a visit to Paris, and a motley group, I fancy they were, a jumble
of the Aristocracy, and the Cheap Tourist. Captain Gronow thus
describes this "irruption of the Goths and Vandals": "Thousands of
oddly dressed English flocked to Paris immediately after the war: I
remember that the burden of one of the popular songs of the day was,
'All the world's in Paris;' and our countrymen and women having been
so long excluded from French Modes, had adopted fashions of their
own, quite as remarkable, and eccentric as those of the Parisians,
and much less graceful. British beauties were dressed in long strait
pelisses of various colours; the body of the dress was never of the
same colour as the skirt; and the bonnet was of beehive shape, and
very small. The characteristic of the dress of the gentleman was a
coat of light blue, or snuff colour, with brass buttons, the tail
reaching nearly to the heels; a gigantic bunch of seals dangled from
his fob, whilst his pantaloons were short, and tight at the knees;
and a spacious waistcoat, with a voluminous muslin cravat and a
frilled shirt completed the toilette."
The end of this year leaves the Congress of Vienna, which met to
settle all International matters arising out of the war, still
sitting, and I cannot refrain from quoting the following epigram upon
it:
"SISTEME DU CONGRÉS.
L'Espagne est cause de tout,
L'Allemagne prétend tout,
La France assiste tout,
L'Angleterre embrouille tout,
La Hollande souffre tout,
Venise consulte tout,
Le Portugal écoute tout,
La Suede a perdu tout,
Le Danemarc craint tout,
La Sardaigne trompe tout,
Les Jésuites sont par tout,
Le Pape bénit tout,
Si Dieu ne pourvoit à tout,
Le Diable emporte tout."
When treating of the American War we left the Americans at the end
of 1813 retiring into winter quarters. This year the fortunes of
this silly war were somewhat unequal. The absurd system of reprisals
was abolished, and the hostages exchanged, as other prisoners of
war--altogether, things looked like coming to a close. The great
feature of this year's campaign, was the Capture and burning of
Washington, on 24th of August, which, virtually, ended the War.
The Capitol, the Arsenal, the Dockyard, with a frigate ready to be
launched, Treasury, War Office, President's Palace, the Rope Walk,
and the Great bridge across the Potomac were all destroyed.
[Illustration: The Fate of Washington; or, Maddy in Full Flight.
(_Published October 4, 1814, by Fores._)]
There seems to have been a great joke about President Madison losing
his supper on this occasion, as, for instance, in the _Morning
Chronicle_ of October 15th, is the following: "Although MADISON
was deprived of his _supper_ in consequence of the British troops
entering his mansion at Washington, yet it must be some consolation
to him that he did not lose his _desert_." The same occurs in the
dialogue accompanying this illustration which is entitled "The Fall
of Washington, or Maddy in full flight."
The three bystanders say, respectively, "Jonathan, where thinkest
thou our President will run now?"--"Why, verily, to Elba, to his
Bosom friend!"--"The great Washington fought for Liberty, but we are
fighting for shadows, which, if obtained, could do us no Earthly
good, but this is the blessed effect of it." Madison, who carries
under his arm "A plan for laying England under Contribution,"
"Project for the Conquest of Canada," "Correspondence with Boney,"
&c.,--says "Who would have thought of this, Man? To oblige us to run
from the best Cabinet Supper I ever order'd--I hope you have taken
care of Boney's promissory notes--The people won't stand anything
after this." His companion says, "D--n his Notes! what are they good
for, now? We should get nothing but Iron, he hasn't any of his stock
of Brass left, or some of that would have helped us through!"
Two bystanders say, "I suppose this is what Maddis calls benefiting
his Country!"--"Why it will throw such a light on affairs that we
shall find it necessary to change both _men_ and _measures_."
Two English Men-of-War's men standing by, say to each other, "I say,
Jack! what is that there man of war that was to nihilate us, as
Master Boney used to say?"--"Aye, Messmate, he is a famous fighter
over a bottle of Shampain; why he'd have played Hell with us if we
had let him sit down to supper."
Proposals of peace were made, and a treaty signed at Ghent, on the
24th of December, thus making out the Christmas "Peace on earth and
good will towards men," and a happy ending to this year.