1794. Lord Howe’s memorable victory by sea over the French fleet.
1814. A newspaper of this day notices that the Tuesday preceding was
observed at Burton, in Dorsetshire, as a great festival, in consequence
of the arrival at that place of a vat of Hambro’ yarn, from London,
being the first that had come into the town for many years. The
inhabitants met the waggon, took out the horse, decorated the vat with
ribands, and various emblems of peace, plenty, trade and commerce, and
drew the same through the village, preceded by a flag and band of music,
amidst the acclamations of thousands, many of whom were regaled with
bread, cheese, and strong beer: one loaf (among others) baked for the
occasion, claimed the admiration of every one present; its length being
six feet three inches, breadth twenty-one inches, depth fourteen inches,
and its weight considerably above 100 lbs. To explain the occasion of
this rejoicing, it is necessary to state that Burton, as a manufacturing
place, had suffered under the privation which was felt more or less
throughout the British dominions, by Buonaparte declaring them to be in
a state of blockade. By this decree, from the continent of Europe being
within his power, he was enabled to injure and derange the industry and
commerce of our artisans and merchants to an extent that was not
contemplated. They have happily been liberated by an unlooked-for, and
wonderful, combination of circumstances; nor so long as good faith and
wise dispositions prevail, can they be prevented from arriving to a
height of prosperity unparalleled in our annals.
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