Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign
by John Ashton · English · Gutenberg #30665 · 630,807 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign
Author: John Ashton
Release date: December 13, 2009 [eBook #30665]
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30665
Credits: Transcribed from the 1903 Hurst and Blackett edition by David Price
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOSSIP IN THE FIRST DECADE OF VICTORIA'S REIGN ***
Transcribed from the 1903 Hurst and Blackett edition by David Price,
email ccx074@pglaf.org
[Picture: Susannah and the elders]
GOSSIP
IN THE FIRST DECADE OF
VICTORIA'S REIGN
By
John Ashton
AUTHOR OF
"_Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne_"
ILLUSTRATED BY REPRODUCTIONS FROM CARTOONS
AND OTHER DRAWINGS
LONDON
HURST AND BLACKETT, LIMITED
13, Gt. Marlborough St., W.
1903
_All rights reserved_
PRINTED BY KELLY'S DIRECTORIES LTD.
LONDON AND KINGSTON.
[Picture: Decorative flower]
PREFACE.
I have written this Gossip not only for the edification of those to whom
a portion, more or less, may be news, but for those who, like myself,
have lived through the whole of Queen Victoria's reign, to whom the
remembrance of things, almost forgotten, may bring pleasure and excite
interest. The items, herein displayed, have been gathered from many
sources, and their authenticity is guaranteed by giving the name of the
authority whence they were taken, in very many instances _ipsissima
verba_, as paraphrasing would rob them of their freshness and
individuality. All the illustrations are contemporaneous, and, good or
bad, belong to the text and should not be altered.
JOHN ASHTON.
[Picture: Decorative flower]
CONTENTS.
[Picture: Decorative flower]
CHAPTER I.
1837 The Queen's Accession--Proclamation--Funeral of 1
the King--The Queen and Social Functions--Mr.
Montefiore--Amusing Letter--Electric
Telegraph--Knocker-wrenching: Amusements of the
Young Aristocracy
CHAPTER II.
Thames Tunnel Flooded--First Mention of the Nelson 12
Column--Sale of the King's Stud--Marriage by
Registrar--Commencement of New Houses of
Parliament--Lunatics and the Queen--The Queen's
Visit to the Guildhall--Lord Beaconsfield's Maiden
Speech
CHAPTER III.
1838 Destruction of the Royal Exchange--Sale of the 23
Salvage--Spring-heeled Jack and his Pranks--Lord
John Russell's Hat
CHAPTER IV.
Lords and Pugilists--"Penny Gaffs"--Steam between 34
England and America--A Man-Woman--Designs for
Nelson's Monument--A Termagant--Scold's Bridles,
&c.
CHAPTER V.
Thom, the Religious Fanatic--His Riots and 45
Death--Delusions of his Followers
CHAPTER VI.
The Queen's Coronation--The Carriages--The Fair 53
and Festivities in Hyde Park--The Marquis of
Waterford's Drive: His Freaks at Melton
Mowbray--Steam Carriages--Dog Carriages--Grand
Dinner at Guildhall
CHAPTER VII.
Genesis of the "Charter"--London and North-Western 65
Railway opened to Birmingham--Overland Route to
India--A Bold Smuggler--Visitors to the
Queen--"The Boy Jones"
CHAPTER VIII.
1839 Death of Lord Norbury--Birth of 77
Photography--Experimental Street
Pavements--Forecast of the Queen's Marriage--Sad
Story of Lady Flora Hastings--Story of a Climbing
Boy--Van Amburgh--Embanking the Thames--Victoria
Park--Robbery of Gold Dust
CHAPTER IX.
Queen Elizabeth's Statue--The Ladies of the 89
Bed-chamber--The Queen hissed at Ascot Races--Land
at Melbourne--Sunday Trading--New Way of Paying
Church Rates
CHAPTER X.
The Eglinton Tournament--Sale of Armour, &c.--The 100
Queen of Beauty and the Cook--Newspapers and their
Sales
CHAPTER XI.
The Chartists: Their going to Church--Dissolution 111
of the Convention--Approaching Marriage of the
Queen--The Queen and Lunatics--Raid on a Gaming
House--Act of Penance
CHAPTER XII.
1840 Commencement of Penny Post--Postage Stamps--Prince 118
Albert's Allowance--_The Times_' Comments on the
Marriage--Royal Wedding Cake--Louis Napoleon's
Duel--Nelson Column--Noblemen's Servants--Uproar
at the Royal Italian Opera House
CHAPTER XIII.
The Mulready Envelope--Plans of Royal Exchange 130
decided on--Fire at York Minster--Queen shot at by
Oxford--Oxford in Bedlam--Scientific
Agriculture--Electro Metallurgy--Embossed
Envelopes--Sale of Louis Napoleon's Effects
CHAPTER XIV.
Lord Cardigan and the "Black Bottle" Case--Lord 142
Cardigan's Duel with Lieut. Tuckett--Steam to
India--Nelson Column--Mormonism--"The Boy
Jones"--Napoleon's Body transferred to France
CHAPTER XV.
1841 Death of Scott, "the American Diver"--Prince 152
Albert's Ducking--Monster Cheese--"The Boy
Jones"--"Tracts for the Times"--Tract XC.--Earl of
Cardigan flogs a Soldier on Sunday--Dispute as to
the Discovery of the Electric Telegraph--Sale of
Shakspere Autograph--The Census--Astley's
Amphitheatre Burnt--Behaviour of "Gentlemen"
CHAPTER XVI.
Story of an Irish Informer--Steam Cars--Sale of 165
Vauxhall Gardens--First Jewish Baronet--New
Railway opened--High Tide--Fire at the
Tower--Birth of Prince of Wales: His Patent as
such--The Thames at length Tunnelled--Antiquities
found in the Royal Exchange
CHAPTER XVII.
1842 Foundation of Royal Exchange laid--Medal connected 177
therewith--Father Mathew's Miracle--Christening of
the Prince of Wales--King Edward VII.--Hard Work
of the King of Prussia--The Earthquake in
London--The Queen drinking
"Grog"--Photography--Talbotype--Sale at Strawberry
Hill--Presents to the King of Prussia
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Royal "Bal Costume"--The Queen shot at by 187
Francis and by Bean--Duke of Cambridge's
Star--Chartism--Income Tax--Female Chartist
Association--A Gipsy Trial--Closing of the Fleet
Prison--Married in a Sheet--Enormous Damages in a
Gambling Case
CHAPTER XIX.
1843 Murder of Mr. Drummond--Rebecca and her 199
Daughters--Spread of the Movement through
Wales--Its End--Rebecca Dramatised--Rebecca in
London
CHAPTER XX.
Gretna Green Parsons--Number of Marriages--Chinese 209
Indemnity--Thames Tunnel--The Aerial
Machine--Treasure Trove--Accident to Mr.
Brunel--Arkwright's Will--Secession in the Scotch
Church--The "Gent"--Shakspere's Autograph
CHAPTER XXI.
Exhibition of Cartoons--A Duel--Gambling--The 220
"Albert Hat"--Nelson's Statue: Fun
thereon--Soldier's Savings Banks--A Post Boy and
Lord Mayor's Show--M. Jullien and his
Orchestra--Prince Albert as a Farmer--George IV.'s
Statue--Ojibbeway Indians
CHAPTER XXII.
1844 A Child for Sale--Trial, &c. of Daniel 232
O'Connell--General Tom Thumb: His Visit to the
Queen--The Polka--How to dance it--"Jullien's
Grand Polka"
CHAPTER XXIII.
An English Dinner--Consols at Par--The "Running 245
Rein" Case--Other Frauds--Royal Visitors--Opening
Letters by Government--Duke of Wellington's
Statue--Barry on the Thames--Visit of Louis
Philippe--Guano--Queen opens Royal Exchange--Lord
Mayor Hissed
CHAPTER XXIV.
1845 Murder by Tawell--Curious Story--Statue of King 256
William IV.--Visits by the Queen--Testimonial to
Rowland Hill--Breaking the Portland Vase--Sad End
of William Austin--Sale of Van Amburgh's
Stud--Hungerford Suspension Bridge--Accident at
Yarmouth--An Excise Case--Beginning of the Railway
Mania--Sailing of Sir John Franklin
CHAPTER XXV.
The Queen's Costume Ball--Copper Coinage of 267
William IV.--New Oxford Street opened--Sale of
Napoleon Relics--Story of Nelson's Coat--Visit of
the King of the Netherlands--Railway
Speculation--Hire of Newspapers--Reverse of
Fortune--Prince Albert and his Taxes--Waghorn's
Overland Route
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Railway Mania--Deposit of Plans 277
CHAPTER XXVII.
1846 Collapse of the Railway Mania--Sheriffs' 284
Officers--Hudson, the Railway King--First
"Ethiopian Serenaders"--The Nigger Minstrel
Craze--Commencement of Irish Famine--"The Battle
of the Gauges"--Railway Surveyors--Suicide of
Haydon, the Painter
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Last Post Office Bell-man--The "Corn Law" 296
Act--Sir Walter Scott's Monument--The Irish
Famine--The Duke of Wellington's Statue--Gun
Cotton--Introduction of Ether--Model Dwelling
Houses--Baths and Washhouses--Smithfield Cattle
Market--"The Bull Fight of Smithfield"--The first
Submarine Telegraph
CHAPTER XXIX.
1847 Medals for the Army and Navy--Grenville 307
Library--Day of Fasting--"Binding of
Satan"--Suspension of Transportation--New House of
Lords--Jenny Lind--_Bunn v. Lind_--"Jenny
Linden"--Death of O'Connell--Story of the Duke of
Buccleugh--Abolition of Eton "Montem"
[Picture: Decorative flower]
ILLUSTRATIONS.
[Picture: Decorative flower]
Susannah and the Elders (_Frontispiece_)
Suggested Monument to the Marquis of Waterford 7
Spring-heeled Jack 31
Death of Sir William Courtenay (_Thom_) 48
"Child's Play" 94
The Eglinton Tournament 107
The Mulready Envelope 131
The Mulready Envelope (_H. B. Caricature_) 132
Rebecca and her Daughters 201
"The Gent" 216
Prince Albert's Studio 223
Nelson's Statue 224
M. Jullien 229
Prince Albert, the British Farmer 230
"Repeal" Button 233
O'Connell's Cap 234
Tom Thumb 236
The Stage Polka (_Three Illustrations_) 238
The Drawing Room Polka (_Three Illustrations_) 240-41-42
Barry, the Clown, on the Thames 252
Railway Speculators 262
The March of Speculation 276
Deposit of Railway Plans 282
Sheriffs' Officers 288
The Original Ethiopian Serenaders 289
Lablache, Mario, and Tamburini 291
The Last Post Office Bell-man 297
Wonderful effects of Ether in a case of a 302
Scolding Wife
The Bull Fight of Smithfield 303
Eton "Montem" Costumes 314
[Picture: Decorative flower]
CHAPTER I.
[Picture: Decorative flower]
The Queen's Accession--Proclamation--Funeral of the King--The Queen and
social functions--Mr. Montefiore--Amusing letter--Electric
telegraph--Knocker wrenching--Amusements of the young aristocracy.
King William the Fourth was as sincerely fond of his niece, Alexandrina
Victoria, as he cordially detested her mother, and he earnestly hoped
that she might obtain her majority, which took place on the 24th of May,
1837, before he died, for he had a horror of the Duchess of Kent having
even the shadowy power of a Regent. Greville, in his _Memoirs_, writing
on 23rd of May, says: "The King prayed that he might live till the
Princess Victoria was of age, and he was very nearly dying just as the
event arrived. He is better, but supposed to be in a very precarious
state. There has been a fresh squabble between Windsor and Kensington
about a proposed allowance to the Princess."
The old King lived but a very short time after the desired event, for he
expired at 2.12 on the morning of the 20th of June, 1837, and how the sad
news was broken to the young Sovereign may best be told in the words of
that mine of anecdote, Miss Frances Williams Wynn, the daughter of Sir
Watkin Williams Wynn (the fourth baronet):
"On Monday we were listening all day for the tolling of the bells,
watching whether the guests were going to the Waterloo dinner at
Apsley House. On Tuesday, at 2.30 a.m., the scene closed, and in a
very short time the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham, the
Chamberlain, set out to announce the event to their young Sovereign.
They reached Kensington Palace at about five; they knocked, they
rang, they thumped for a considerable time before they could rouse
the porter at the gates; they were again kept waiting in the
courtyard, then turned into one of the lower rooms, where they seemed
forgotten by everybody. They rang the bell, desiring that the
attendant of the Princess Victoria might be sent to inform H.R.H.
that they requested an audience on business of importance. After
another delay, and another ringing to enquire the cause, the
attendant was summoned, who stated that the _Princess_ was in such a
sweet sleep, she could not venture to disturb her. Then they said,
'We come to the _Queen_ on business of State, and even her sleep must
give way to that.' It did; and, to prove that _she_ did not keep
them waiting, in a few minutes she came into the room in a loose
white night-gown and shawl, her nightcap thrown off, and her hair
falling upon her shoulders, her feet in slippers, tears in her eyes,
but perfectly collected and dignified."
Lord Melbourne was summoned to Kensington Palace by the Queen at 9 a.m.,
and a Privy Council was called for 11 a.m., but the notice was so short
that several of the Privy Councillors had no time to put on their
official costume, and were obliged to attend in undress. Amongst others
who made their appearance at Court in this novel fashion were the Duke of
Cumberland (then, by the fact of the King's death, King of Hanover) and
Lord Glenelg.
The Queen was proclaimed the next day, but there is no need to detail the
ceremony, as we have all experienced a similar scene lately. The
existing ministry was retained, and things settled down in their places,
yet not quite all at once, for _The Western Luminary_, a paper long since
defunct, says, "In one writ which came down to this city, a ludicrous
mistake was made in the date, as follows: 'In the year of Our Lady 1837,'
instead of 'Our Lord.'" And the Royal Arms had to be altered from those
borne by Her Majesty's five predecessors. Being a female, they had to be
borne on a lozenge, instead of a shield; the crest of a lion surmounting
a crown was discontinued, as was also the escutcheon of pretence bearing
the arms of Hanover, surmounted by the crown of that country.
The preparations for the funeral of the late King were at once commenced;
and, in connection therewith, I cannot help quoting from _The Times_'
Windsor Correspondent (28 June): "In the platform erected for the
interment of George IV., there were more than 70,000 superficial feet of
boarding, and 49,000 feet of quartering. The quantity of black cloth
used for covering the floor of, and the roof over, amounted to more than
10,000 yards. I understand that, after the interment, it becomes the
perquisite of the clergy of the chapel, as do, also, many of the
decorative ornaments placed on, and suspended over, the coffin. You
will, perhaps, recollect what some people would willingly have you
forget--I mean the squabbling which occurred respecting the velvet
cushion upon which the coronet of the late Princess Charlotte rested at
her funeral, and the scramble which took place for the real or supposed
baton of the Duke of York, on the occasion of his burial. Care was taken
to prevent the occurrence of any such indecent proceedings at the funeral
of George IV., and, hence, I do not anticipate any such scenes on the
present occasion."
The King was buried with great pomp on the night of the 8th of July, the
Duke of Sussex being chief mourner, and Queen Adelaide occupying the
Royal Closet. At the close of the ceremony, the members of the
procession, who were much fatigued by the toil they had undergone and by
the sultry heat of the chapel, proceeded to quit as quickly and as
quietly as possible, but nothing like order was observed in the return to
the Palace. In fact, it was, for a considerable time, a scene of
indescribable confusion. Arrangements had been made, by orders of the
Earl Marshal, for the places at which the carriages of those who had to
take part in the procession were to set down and take up; but, owing to
the immense number of the carriages, the ignorance of many of the
coachmen as to the prescribed regulations, and the obstinacy of others,
the rules very soon became a dead letter, and every man seemed disposed
to take his own way. This, as might be expected, caused such confusion
that it was long past midnight before anything like order was restored.
There were smashed panels and broken windows in abundance, but no serious
accidents were recorded.
The Queen soon had plenty of business on her hands, and on 30th June she
gave her assent to forty Bills, one of which (a remarkably short one),
the 7 Gul., iv. and i. Vic., c. 23, enacted: "That from and after the
passing of this Act, Judgment shall not be given and awarded against any
Person or Persons convicted of any Offence that such Person or Persons do
stand in, or upon the Pillory." Owing to the recent change in
Sovereigns, there were a few slips in "Her Majesty," and "La Reine le
veult." On the 13th July the Queen and her mother left Kensington Palace
and took up their residence in Buckingham Palace. On the 17th, the Queen
dissolved Parliament in person, dressed in white satin, decorated with
gold and jewels, wearing the Order of the Garter and a rich diadem and
necklace of diamonds. She bore the function remarkably well, although
one evening paper said that "Her emotion was plainly discernible in the
rapid heaving of her bosom, and the brilliancy of her diamond stomacher,
which sparkled out occasionally from the dark recess in which the throne
was placed, like the sun on the swell of the smooth ocean, as the billows
rise and fall"! On the 19th July she held her first levee, and on the
20th her first drawing room.
Having dutifully chronicled the doings of Royalty, let us do the same by
meaner folk. On 24th June, Mr. Moses Montefiore, the celebrated Jewish
philanthropist, who lived over one hundred years, was elected Sheriff of
London, and, on the 9th Nov. following, he received the honour of
Knighthood. He was the first Jew who ever served the office of Sheriff,
or who had been made a Knight, in England.
Of course, there were no Board Schools in those days, and education was
somewhat lax, but it will do no harm to note a piece of orthography,
which will show the standard at which the middle lower class had then
arrived. It is copied from _The Times_ of 29 June, 1837. "(_From an
Evening Paper_)--Last autumn, Mrs. C---, of London, during a visit to ---
House, in the West of Scotland, called one day, along with some other
ladies, in the family carriage, at the Golden Arms Inn, of a sea bathing
place on the coast, and stopped for about an hour. Some time after the
party had returned to D--- House, Mrs. C--- discovered that she had lost
a very fine boa, which she supposed she must have left at the Inn. On
enquiry, no trace of the boa could be found; but, about two months after
Mrs. C---'s return to London, she received a parcel with a boa somewhat
torn, accompanied by the accompanying (_sic_) epistle, which we give as
rather a curiosity of its kind:--
"Golden Arms Inn--29 Oct., 1836.
"Mrs. C---, London,
"MADUM,--I was sorry to heer that when you lost your Bowa in my huse,
that the Bowa was stole by my sarvant lasses; and the sarvants at
D--- House spred a report against my huses karakter, which no person
ever questioned afore. My wiffe, Peggy, was muckle vexed at the
report, and sershed the trunks of all the lasses, but did not find
your Bowa; she fund in Jenny McTavish's kist half a pund of tea which
Jenny had stole from my wiffes cupboard. Jenny denied taking your
Bowa; but not doubting that you would tell a lee, and as Jenny tuke
the tea, my wife thocht she must have taken your Bowa too, so I
turned off Jeny for your satisfaction. She went home to her mithers
house in ---, and four Sundays after, wha should be cocken in the
breist of the laft, all set round with ribbons in her heed, but Miss
Jeny with your Bowa on her shoulders, like a sow with a saddle on its
back. I stopped her coming out of the kirk. So So, Miss Jeny (says
I) hae ye stumped the cow of her tale, or is this the ladies Bowa ye
have on your sholders? The brazen faced woman had the impudence to
deny the Bowa was yours, and said her sweetheart had bot it for her
in a secondhand shop in the Salt Market of Glasgow. But I cut
matters short wi' Jeny; I een, as if by your authority, tuke the law
in my own hand, and tore the Bowa from her sholders; it was torn a
little in the scuffle wi' Jeny and me afore the congregation in the
kirk yard, but I carried it off in spite of her, and now send it to
you, hopping you will put a letter in the newspaper of Lundon
cleering the karacter of me and my wiffe Peggy, and my Inn of the
Golden Arms. As for Miss Jeny ye may mak her as black as auld nick,
for over and above Peggies half pund of tea, and your Bowa, Jeny (I
hae good reason to believe) is no better than she should be. I am,
Madum, your vera humbel sarvint,
"John ---."
It will hardly be credited that at the commencement of 1837 there was
only one railway running out of London, and that was the Greenwich
railway, which, however, only went as far as Deptford, where it deposited
its passengers in the midst of market gardens, leaving them to walk or
ride to Greenwich. But there were several running in the midlands (six
railways in all England), and what was then called "The Grand Junction
Railway," from Liverpool to Birmingham, was opened on the 4th July of
this year. Cognate with railways is the practical working of the
Electric Telegraph, now so necessary to their being. On 12 June, 1837, a
patent was granted (No. 7390) to William Fothergill Cooke, of Breeds
Place, Hastings, and Charles Wheatstone, of Conduit Street, Hanover
Square, for their invention of "Improvements in giving signals and
sounding alarums at distant places by means of electric currents
transmitted through metallic circuits." This hitherto scientific toy was
first tried on 25 July by permission of the London and North Western
Railway (then in progress) between Euston and Camden Town stations, and
its successful operation was witnessed with delight by Fox and R.
Stephenson, amongst many others.
A great feature in this year was the "Tom and Jerryism" (so called from
Pierce Egan's "Life in London," 1821) that existed, especially among the
upper class of young men. Foremost of all was the Marquis of Waterford,
whose delight was in the company of prize fighters, _et hoc genus omne_,
and whose idea of amusement consisted in visiting the lowest public
houses, and treating everybody with liquor, even pails full of gin being
distributed to whoever would partake of it--being never so happy as when
the debauch ended in a fight. Knocker wrenching and similar pranks were
his delight, and _Punch_, at the very commencement of vol. i., gives a
suggestion for a monument to him. His pranks would fill a volume, and in
August of this year (during a yachting trip), whilst at Bergen, he
received a blow on the head from a stalwart watchman that nearly killed
him.
[Picture: Punch, vol. I., p. 14. July, 1841]
Here is a specimen police case. _Times_, 10 _July_, 1837:
BOW STREET.--On Saturday (8th July) three persons were brought before
Mr. Minshull, charged with twisting knockers off hall doors,
assaulting the police, and other disorderly conduct; and, it having
been rumoured that one of the parties charged was the Marquis of
Waterford, a great crowd of persons assembled in front of the Office
to catch a glimpse of his Lordship. It proved, however, that the
gentleman alluded to was not the noble Marquis himself, but his
brother, Lord William Beresford, who gave the name of Charles
Ferguson. Two other persons were placed in the dock besides his
Lordship, one of whom gave the name of Edward Hammersley, of 41, St.
James's Street, and the other, who was equipped in the garb of a
waterman, said his name was George Elliott, and that he was his
Lordship's coxswain.
William Dodds, a police constable of the E division, No. 9, then
stated that he was on duty in Museum Street, between 1 and 2, on the
previous night, when he saw the two gentlemen at the bar go up to the
house, No. 49, and wrench the knocker from the door. Witness
expostulated with them, and, seeing another knocker in the hand of
the prisoner Elliott, he took him by the collar, upon which the
prisoner Hammersley dropped the knocker which he had just carried
off. The prisoner Ferguson then came up, and said, "It's all right,
old boy," and offered him money, which witness refused to take. The
two gentlemen then ran away, but were soon apprehended, witness still
retaining hold of Elliott. They were then conveyed to the police
station, where Ferguson refused to be searched, declaring that he
would not submit to such a rascally degradation, and, having said so,
he struck witness. The prisoners were then locked up.
Mr. William Gibson, of 49, Museum Street, proved that one of the
knockers produced belonged to him, and had been wrenched off his
street door.
Ferguson, in his defence, said he had been up the river on a boating
excursion, and had taken "rather too much wine." The other two
prisoners also pleaded having taken a drop too much.
Mr. Minshull observed that there were two charges against Ferguson,
whom he should consider as the principal offender, and should fine
him 5 pounds for unlawful possession of one of the knockers, and 5
pounds for assaulting the police constable in the execution of his
duty. He should not fine the other two.
Ferguson said he had no objection to pay 5 pounds for the knocker,
but, as he denied the assault, he should appeal against the fine.
Mr. Minshull informed him that there was no appeal in the case, but
he intimated that Mr. Ferguson might go to prison, if he pleased,
instead of paying the fine.
Ferguson: Oh, there's no occasion for that; I shall pay the fine.
Mr. Minshull then desired him to come round in front of the bench,
and said to him: "I dare say, Sir, you have money enough at your
disposal, but I pray you not to entertain the notion that you can
therefore do as you think fit in the streets of this metropolis,
either by night, or by day. You were brought before me, recently,
for a similar offence, when I fined you 5 pounds, and I now warn you,
that if you should again appear before me, under circumstances like
the present, I shall, most assuredly, feel it to be my duty, not to
inflict a pecuniary fine upon you--for that is no punishment to a
person in your station--but I shall send you, at once, as I am
authorized to do, to hard labour in the House of Correction, and you
will then see that neither rank, nor riches, can entitle you to the
privilege of committing depredations upon the property of peaceable
and industrious persons, or of disturbing the peace and quiet of this
town with impunity."
The noble Lord was then handed over to the custody of the gaoler, and his
two companions were discharged. It appeared that he had not sufficient
money about him to pay the fines, but his brother, the Marquis of
Waterford, after visiting him in "durance vile," released him from his
ignoble captivity by paying the fines.
On the same day, his brother, Lord James Beresford, was arrested for
disgusting behaviour, and two "young men of genteel appearance," who gave
false names, were taken in custody by the police for maliciously
upsetting a shell-fish stall.
One more illustration of the amusements and behaviour of the _jeunesse
doree_ of that period will suffice. _Times_, 25 _Nov._
MARLBOROUGH STREET.--Lord Harley, of Chester Place, Capt. W. E.
Reynolds, of Jermyn Street, and Mr. Charles Lushington, of Tavistock
Hotel, were on Thursday (23 Nov.) brought before Mr. Chambers,
charged with having practised the fashionable amusement of ringing
door bells.
Mr. Young, surgeon, Piccadilly, said, about 5 o'clock that morning he
was roused by a violent ringing at his bell. He answered the summons
immediately.
Capt. Reynolds: It's a --- lie. You have committed perjury.
Mr. Lushington (to the complainant): You are a --- liar. The fact
is, I hurt my fingers and wanted some diachylum plaister, and I
therefore rang the bell of the first surgeon I came to. This is the
truth. So help me, God.
Mr. Young continued: When he got to the door, he found that all the
three defendants had gone away; and he immediately followed them, and
demanded their reason for disturbing him. The defendants turned upon
him, and made use of language and epithets which he would not pollute
his lips by repeating.
Capt. Reynolds (shaking his stick at the witness): I wish I had you
elsewhere.
Mr. Lushington: I'd roll you in the kennel, if it was worth while.
Mr. Young continued: The altercation attracted the notice of the
police, and witness gave them into custody. When they got to the
station house, and witness was proceeding to make the charge, the
defendants repeated their disgusting epithets and language.
It is impossible to do more than to remark that the language was of a
description hitherto presumed to be confined to the vilest class of
the community.
Mr. Young added that all the defendants appeared to be intoxicated.
Lord Harley: I beg pardon, I was sober.
Inspector Beresford was sworn to the fact.
Inspector: His Lordship was more intoxicated than the others.
Mr. Lushington (falling on his knees, and holding up his hands): I
was not drunk this night--so help me, C---t.
The Inspector swore that none of the defendants were sober.
Mr. Lushington: The case shall be carried to a higher court.
Mr. Chambers: Then, to give you an opportunity of taking your case
elsewhere, I shall make you all find bail; and Mr. Young, if he
pleases, may prefer an indictment against you.
Mr. Chambers asked Mr. Lushington if he was a relative of Dr.
Lushington, {10} and received a reply in the affirmative.
Capt. Reynolds said, if his language had been offensive towards the
bench, he was sorry for having used it.
Mr. Chambers said, personally, he was indifferent to the language
used to him.
The parties having left the box, Mr. Young told Mr. Chambers that he
had no wish to press the case further. He wished an arrangement
could be made, so that the bench could decide the matter summarily.
The defendants were acquainted with this very handsome conduct on the
part of the complainant, and, after some discussion, Capt. Reynolds
and Mr. Lushington agreed to pay 5 pounds each to a charity.
Lord Harley was fined 5/- for being intoxicated.
When Mr. Chambers was inflicting the latter fine, he said to Lord
Harley that he hoped he would exert his influence, if he had any,
with some members of the Legislature, to get the fine for drunkenness
increased to 1 pound where the party was a gentleman.
The defendants paid the fines, and went away.
CHAPTER II.
Thames Tunnel flooded--First mention of the Nelson
column--Moustaches--Sale of the King's stud--Marriage by
Registrar--Commencement of New Houses of Parliament--Lunatics and the
Queen--The Queen's visit to the Guildhall--Lord Beaconsfield's maiden
speech.
Nowadays very little is thought of making a tunnel under the Thames, but
the first one, designed and carried out by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, was
regarded, and rightly so, as a most wonderful feat of engineering. One
was proposed in 1799, and a shaft was sunk in 1804, but the work went no
further. The one now spoken of was approved by Act of Parliament 24
June, 1824, and the shaft was begun and the first brick laid on 2 March,
1825. It suffered several times from irruptions of water; one, on 18
May, 1827; another, in which six lives were lost, on 12 Jan. 1828. In
1837 there were two irruptions, the first taking place on 23 August, and
it is thus described by one of Brunel's assistants: "We were at work
about two o'clock on Wednesday, when we found the water coming in faster
than usual. At first, we observed a quantity of loose sand falling near
the gallery, which changed to thin, muddy drops. This convinced us that
the _stratum_ in which the men were working was bad, loose soil. The
increase of water made it necessary to withdraw the men, which was done
by a passage under the crown of the arch, made for their safety in case
of accidents. No injury was sustained by any of the men. I was not
satisfied, at the time, of the real extent of the bad soil, and I ordered
a boat to be brought, with a rope of sufficient length to enable us to
float to the shield. The boat was brought, but the rope attached to it,
and by which we were to be hauled into the shaft, was shorter than we had
ordered it. This deficiency probably saved our lives. We had not
proceeded far in the boat when I perceived, by the twinkling of the
lights in the tunnel, and other indications of inundation, that the
waters came in with increased rapidity. I then gave the signal to be
hauled into the shaft, and had scarcely done so when I observed the
ground above give way, and the water descending in a thousand streams,
like a cascade, or the Falls of Niagara. We were rescued, but, had the
rope by which we were relieved from our perilous situation been of a
length to allow the boat to go to the extremity of the tunnel, in all
probability we should have been drowned. This happened about four
o'clock, and, soon after five, the tunnel was entirely filled. No lives
were lost. The only injury done is the suspension of the works. The
steam engine, when the leak is stopped, will throw out a ton of water per
minute; and, in three days and nights, the whole of the tunnel may be
pumped dry."
The second irruption, on 3 Nov., also filled the Tunnel, but on this
occasion one man lost his life.
In the _Times_ of 9 Sep. of this year I find the first suggestion of a
monument to Nelson, in Trafalgar Square:
"Sir, I observe in your paper of Tuesday last, that a correspondent
has commented upon the proposed plan for laying out Trafalgar Square.
"Allow me to suggest through your columns the favourable opportunity
and most appropriate situation, now afforded, of erecting in the
centre of the Square some worthy trophy, or statue, commemorating the
glorious victories of the immortal Nelson. Whilst other great
commanders and statesmen are honoured with suitable public monuments
to their fame, surely the British nation would be eager, if called
on, to pay this tribute to the valour, intrepidity and success of
this illustrious hero. Yours, etc.--J. B."
In those days every man went clean shaven, or only had side whiskers, a
full beard being unknown, and moustaches were confined to foreigners and
to a few cavalry regiments, so that for a working man to sport them
(although now so exceedingly common) would probably lead to derision and
persecution, as in the following police case reported in the _Times_ of
21 Sep.:
MARLBOROUGH STREET.--Yesterday, a young man, "bearded like the pard,"
who said he was a carpenter employed on the London and Birmingham
Railroad, applied to Mr. Rawlinson, the sitting magistrate, for an
assault warrant, under the following ludicrous circumstances:
Mr. Rawlinson: What do you want the warrant for?
Applicant: I'll tell your worship, and you'll say it's the most
haggrawating and provoking thing as ever was heard on. Veil, then, I
goes to my vork, as usual, this 'ere morning, ven one of my shopmates
said to me, "Bill, you arn't shaved your hupper lip lately." "Don't
mean it," says I. "Vy?" says he. "'Cos," I replied, "I intends
vearing mustachios to look like a gentleman." "Vell, then," says he,
"as you intends to become a fashionable gentleman, p'raps you'll have
no objection to forfeit half-a-gallon of ale, as it's a rule here
that every workman vot sports mustachios, to have them vetted a bit."
Veil, has I refused to have my mustachios christened, they made game
of them, and said they weren't half fledged; and, more nor all that,
they hustled me about, and stole my dinner out of the pot, and
treated me shameful, and so I want your advice respecting my
mustachios.
Mr. Rawlinson: My advice is, to go to a barber and have them shaved
off without loss of time.
Applicant: Can't part with a single hair.
Mr. Rawlinson: You want to look like a grenadier, I suppose?
Applicant: My granny-dear (God bless her old soul!), she never had
such a fashionable and warlike appendage in her life.
Mr. Rawlinson: What business has a carpenter with a quantity of long
hair hanging from his lip?
Applicant: The reason vy I vears it is 'cos it's fashionable, and
makes me look like a man of some courage.
Mr. Rawlinson: Fashionable, indeed! I wish, with all my heart, that
the fashion was discontinued. Why need an Englishman make a Jew of
himself? It is disgusting to see persons strutting through the
streets with mustachios, and, sometimes, a fringe of hair round the
face and chin, which is dignified by the name of whiskers. As you
won't take my advice, I can't assist you.
Applicant: Vot! not for striking me on the hupper lip?
Mr. Rawlinson: Then your mustachios must have saved you.
Applicant: No, they didn't.
Mr. Rawlinson: How's that?
Applicant: 'Cos the hair ain't long and thick enough; they're only
young 'uns as yet. There was no occasion to strike me.
Mr. Rawlinson: And there's no occasion for you to wear mustachios.
You may have a warrant, if you like, but I think you had better not.
The man with mustachios then withdrew.
The late King's stud at Hampton was doomed to be sold, and the sale
thereof created something of a sensation. On this subject there is, in a
little twopenny weekly magazine, called _The Torch_, 9 Sep., '37 (vol.
i., p. 19), a periodical now long forgotten, a poem by Tom Hood, which I
have not seen in any collection of his poems. It is a
PETITION TO HER MAJESTY FOR PRESERVING THE ROYAL STUD AT HAMPTON COURT.
BY THOMAS HOOD.
I.
LIEGE LADY, all the nation's in high dud-
geon that Lord Melbourne's brains should be so muddy
As to advise you sell your royal _stud_,
Which to preserve, should be your royal study.
II.
Poor nags you would not in your stable find,
Like cavalry of Evans called De Lacey,
No! I do rather hope your royal mind
Is naturally fond of something racy.
III.
Pray, what has Hampton done that you should trounce ill-
naturedly its prancers and its sport?
You have a breed of _asses_ in the _Council_,
Do keep a breed of _horses_ in the _Court_.
IV.
His truth who says that you should sell them, fails.
Believe me, Lady liege, he tells a crammer;
You'll set your people biting all their _nails_,
If you put up your horses to the _hammer_.
V.
I like these money-turning Whigs, indeed;
Who, into coin, change everything they're able.
You're just installed, and they would sell _the steed_,
It doesn't make me think they're very _stable_.
VI.
I daresay they believe they're very knowing,
I think they're close to their official shelves:
And, when they set the horses "Going, going,"
It's nearly time they should be gone themselves.
VII.
The nation quite in Hampton Court rejoices,
What! sell its stud of steeds beyond all praise!
_Nay_, shout the people with indignant voices,
And the stud echoes with a hundred _neighs_.
VIII.
Then sell them not, dear lady, I implore ye;
Of tears 'twill set your people shedding floods;--
I tell ye what will make 'em all adore ye,--
Kick out your ministers and keep your bloods!
But Hood must have laboured under a misapprehension, for the horses were
the private property of the late King, and his executors had no option
but to sell them. It was said that William IV. in his lifetime wished
the country to take the stud over, at a valuation, and, after his death,
it was offered to Queen Victoria for 16,000 pounds. The sale took place
on Oct. 25, and there were 80 lots, which did not fetch particularly high
prices, the highest being "The Colonel," who was bought, after winning
the St. Leger, by George IV. for 4,000 guineas; but the horse broke down
after running a dead heat at Ascot in 1831. He only realised 1,150
guineas, and was bought by the auctioneer, Mr. Tattersall. The next
highest price given was for "Actaeon," which fetched 920 guineas. The
total proceeds of the sale was 15,692 guineas.
In October a great change was made in the matter of marriage, which had,
hitherto, been a purely ecclesiastical affair, but by the 6 & 7 Gul. iv.,
cap. 85, Registrars of births and deaths were empowered to marry couples,
and it became a purely civil contract. This Act was to have come into
force on the first day of March; but a subsequent Act postponed it to the
last day of June, and it really only became effective in October. It
surprised people by its simplicity, and the gist of the Act is in Section
xx.: "And be it enacted, That after the expiration of the said Period of
Twenty-one Days or of Seven Days, if the Marriage is by Licence,
Marriages may be solemnized in the registered Building stated as
aforesaid in the notice of such Marriage, between and by the Parties
described in the Notice and Certificate, according to such form and
ceremony as they may see fit to adopt: Provided nevertheless, that every
such Marriage shall be solemnized with open doors, between the Hours of
Eight and Twelve in the Forenoon, in the Presence of some Registrar of
the District in which such registered Building is situated, and of Two,
or more, credible Witnesses; provided also, that in some Part of the
Ceremony, and in the Presence of such Registrar and Witnesses, each of
the Parties shall declare:
"'I do solemnly declare, That I know not of any lawful Impediment why I,
A. B., may not be joined in Matrimony to C. D.'
"And each of the Parties shall say to the other:
"'I call upon these Persons here present to witness that I, A. B., do
take thee, C. D., to be my lawful wedded Wife [or Husband].'
"Provided also, that there be no lawful Impediment to the Marriage of
such Parties."
The old House of Commons was destroyed by fire on 16 Oct., 1834, and it
was not until September, 1837, that the first contracts for the
commencement of the construction of the new works, in connection with the
present building, were entered into. They were for the formation of an
embankment 886 feet in length, projecting into the river 98 feet further
than that then existing, to be faced with granite, and a terrace 673 feet
long next the river, and 35 feet wide, in front of the new Houses, with
an esplanade at each end 100 feet square, with landing stairs from the
river 12 feet wide. The whole surface of the front building was to be
excavated, and filled in with concrete 12 feet thick, thus forming a
permanent and solid foundation for the superstructure. Towards the end
of this year, the Queen was somewhat pestered with lunatics. On Nov. 4,
as she was going through Birdcage Walk on her return from Brighton, a man
of respectable appearance went near the Queen's carriage, held up his
fist, and made use of most insulting language towards Her Majesty and the
Duchess of Kent, declaring that the Queen was an usurper, and he would
have her off her Throne before a week was out. He was afterwards
arrested, and turned out to be Mr. John Goode, a gentleman of large
property in Devonshire, who had been previously in custody on 24th of May
(Her Majesty's birthday) for creating a disturbance and forcibly entering
the enclosure of Kensington Palace. He was taken before the Privy
Council, and when examined, declared that he was a son of George IV. and
Queen Caroline, born at Montague House, Blackheath, and that, if he could
but get hold of the Queen, he would tear her in pieces. He was told to
find bail, himself in 1,000 pounds, and two sureties of 500 pounds each;
but these not being forthcoming, he was sent to prison. On entering the
hackney coach, he instantly smashed the windows with his elbows, and
screamed out to the sentinels: "Guards of England, do your duty, and
rescue your Sovereign." He was, after a very short imprisonment,
confined in a lunatic asylum.
The other case was a German baker, but he only uttered threats against
the Queen and her mother, and he, too, was put in an asylum.
A great event, and a very grand sight, was the Queen's visit to the City
of London on 9 Nov., when Alderman Cowan inaugurated his mayoralty. The
Queen went in State, attended by all her Court, her Ministers, the
Judges, etc. The procession started from Buckingham Palace soon after 2
p.m. and reached Guildhall about 3.30.
The interior of the Guildhall was "exceeding magnifical." There was a
canopy of carved gilt, with draperies of crimson velvet and gold fringe
and tassels, its interior, being also of crimson velvet, was relieved by
ornaments in silver and a radiated oval of white satin with golden rays.
The back was fluted in white satin, enriched with the Royal Arms in
burnished gold. The State chair was covered with crimson velvet with the
Royal Arms and Crown, with the rose, thistle and shamrock tastefully
interwoven.
At each end of the Hall, the walls were covered with immense plates of
looking-glass. The window at the eastern end of the Hall, above the
throne, having been removed, a gigantic wooden framework was substituted,
on which was erected a gorgeous piece of gas illumination. Above the
mouldings of the windows, and over the City Arms, waved the Royal
Standard and the Union Jack. Above was the Royal cypher, V.R., in very
large characters, surmounted by the appropriate word "Welcome," the whole
being encircled by an immense wreath of laurels, which terminated, at the
lower extremity of the framework, with the rose, thistle and shamrock.
Over the clock at the western end, and reaching nearly the whole breadth
of the Hall, with Gog and Magog on the right and left, was placed an
immense stack of armour, with upwards of 30 furled flags as an
appropriate background. Immediately above was the magnificently radiated
star of the Order of the Garter, surrounded by crimson drapery, and the
scroll "God save the Queen" entirely composed of cut glass, which, when
lit up, seemed, literally, one continued blaze of diamonds. The whole
was surmounted by the imperial crown and wreaths of laurel, intermingled
with the rose, thistle and shamrock, covering the entire outline of the
window. Where, formerly, was the musicians' gallery, on the opposite
side, was occupied by three stacks of armour; complete coats of mail
were, likewise, suspended in other parts of the Hall; two knights in
complete armour guarded the entrance of the Hall and Council Chamber,
which latter was fitted up for the Queen's reception room, and hung
throughout with crimson fluted cloth, finished with gold mouldings and
festoons of red and white flowers. Upon a platform stood a chair of
state, splendidly gilt and covered with crimson velvet, and there was no
other chair nor seat of any kind in the apartment. The Queen's
retiring-room was the Aldermen's Court, and was superbly decorated,
having a magnificent toilet table covered with white satin, embroidered
with the initials V.R., a crown and wreath in gold, and looped with gold
silk rope and tassels.
After the Queen's arrival at the Guildhall, and having spent some little
time on her toilet, her Majesty was conducted to the Council Chamber,
where--seated on her throne, and surrounded by Royal Dukes and Duchesses,
etc.--she listened to a dutiful address read by the Recorder, and, at its
conclusion, she was graciously pleased to order letters patent to be made
out conferring a baronetcy on the Lord Mayor and knighthood on the two
Sheriffs, John Carroll and Moses Montefiore, Esquires, the latter, as
before mentioned, being the first Jew who had received that honour.
At 20 minutes past 5 the Queen entered the Hall, in which was the
banquet, wearing a rich pink satin dress, ornamented with gold and
silver, a splendid pearl necklace, diamond earrings, and a tiara of
diamonds. She occupied the centre of the Royal table, having on her
right the Duke of Sussex, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of
Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sutherland; and
on her left, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Kent, the Princess
Augusta of Cambridge and the Countess of Mulgrave. As a specimen of the
magnificence of this banquet, it may be mentioned that at the Royal table
the whole of the service was of gold, as were the candelabra, epergnes,
soup tureens, cellarets, etc.; one firm furnished gold plate for the
Queen's table and sideboard to the value of 115,000 pounds, and another
firm nearly the same amount, whilst the value of plate lent by various
gentlemen was assessed at 400,000 pounds, besides which there was the
Civic plate. The china dessert plates at the Queen's table cost 10
guineas each, and all the glass decanters and china were specially made
for the occasion.
At 20 minutes past 8, the Queen left the Hall, and in her retiring room
was served with tea from a splendid gold service made for the occasion,
and she reached Buckingham Palace about half-past 9--highly delighted
with her entertainment.
There is nothing more of interest in this year, if we except the maiden
speech of Lord Beaconsfield, in the House of Commons, which took place on
7th Dec. Mr. Disraeli (as he then was) had the disadvantage of following
O'Connell, in a noisy debate on the legality of the Irish Election
Petition Fund. He was not listened to from the first, and, in the middle
of his speech, as reported by _Hansard_, after begging the House to give
him five minutes, he said: "He stood there to-night, not formally, but,
in some degree, virtually, as the representative of a considerable number
of Members of Parliament (_laughter_). Now, why smile? Why envy him?
Why not let him enjoy that reflection, if only for one night?" All
through his speech he was interrupted, and this is its close, as reported
in _Hansard_. "When they recollected the 'new loves' and the 'old loves'
in which so much passion and recrimination was mixed up between the noble
Tityrus of the Treasury Bench, and the learned Daphne of Liskeard--(_loud
laughter_)--notwithstanding the _amantium ira_ had resulted, as he always
expected, in the _amoris integratio_--(_renewed
laughter_)--notwithstanding that political duel had been fought, in which
more than one shot was interchanged, but in which recourse was had to the
secure arbitrament of blank cartridges--(_laughter_)--notwithstanding
emancipated Ireland and enslaved England, the noble lord might wave in
one hand the keys of St. Peter, and in the other--(_the shouts that
followed drowned the conclusion of the sentence_). Let them see the
philosophical prejudice of Man. He would, certainly, gladly hear a cheer
from the lips of a popular opponent. He was not at all surprised at the
reception which he had experienced. He had begun several things many
times, and he had often succeeded at last. He would sit down now, but
the time would come when they would hear him. (_The impatience of the
House would not allow the hon. member to finish his speech_; _and during
the greater part of the time the hon. member was on his legs_, _he was so
much interrupted that it was impossible to hear what the hon. member
said_)."
CHAPTER III.
Destruction of Royal Exchange--Sale of the salvage--Spring-heeled Jack
and his pranks--Lord John Russell's hat.
As a sad pendant to the Civic festivities at the close of 1837 comes the
destruction by fire of the Royal Exchange on the night of the 10th of
January following.
It was first noticed a little after 10 p.m., when flames were observed in
Lloyd's Coffee Room in the north-east corner of the building, opposite
the Bank, the firemen of which establishment were soon on the spot, as
well as many other of the metropolitan engines. But, before any water
could be thrown upon the building, it was necessary to thaw the hose and
works of the engines by pouring hot water upon them, as the frost was so
very severe; so that, by 11 p.m., all Lloyd's was a mass of flame.
Nothing could be done to stop the conflagration, it having got too great
a hold, and great fears were entertained that it would spread to the Bank
and surrounding buildings, the which, however, was fortunately prevented.
The Lord Mayor was present, and a large body of soldiers from the Tower
assisted the Police in keeping the crowd away from the immediate scene.
It must have been a magnificent sight, and somewhat curious, for amidst
the roar of the flames, and until the chiming apparatus was destroyed,
and the bells dropped one by one, the chimes went on pealing "There's nae
luck about the house," {23} "Life let us cherish," and "God save the
Queen." The fire was not completely got under until noon the next day,
but, practically, the building was destroyed by 5 am., and, so bright was
the conflagration, that it was visible at Windsor--twenty-four miles off,
and at Theydon, in Essex, a distance of eighteen miles; whilst from the
heights of Surrey on the south, and Highgate and Hampstead on the north,
the progress of the fire was watched by crowds of people.
The following account of the Exchange after the fire is taken from the
_Times_ of 13 Jan.:
"Yesterday afternoon the ruins of the Exchange were sufficiently
cooled to allow the firemen and a party of gentlemen, amongst whom we
noticed the Lord Mayor, Mr. Alderman Copeland, several members of the
Gresham Committee, and other persons connected with the mercantile
interest, to inspect them. In consequence of the loose fragments of
stone work belonging to the balustrades and ornamental parts of the
building being covered over with ice, the difficulty of walking over
the ruins was very great, and the chief magistrate fell more than
once, receiving sundry bumps. The lofty chimnies standing appeared
to be in such a dangerous condition, that they were hauled down with
ropes, to prevent their falling on the people below. The iron chests
belonging to the Royal Exchange Assurance Company could be distinctly
seen, from the area, inserted in the walls. Ladders were raised, and
they were opened, when it was discovered that their contents,
consisting of deeds and other papers connected with the Company and
their insurances, were uninjured. This afforded much satisfaction to
the directors. Another iron safe, belonging to Mr. Hathway, whose
office, under the tower, was consumed, which was also in a recess in
the wall, was opened at the same time, and a considerable sum in
francs and bank-notes was taken out.
"The walls of the west wing of the building, which seemed to bulge
outward, were shored up in the afternoon, and they are not, now,
likely to fall. Cornhill presented a most desolate appearance, the
shops, from Finch Lane to the termination of the street near the
Mansion House, were all closed, and the place presented a deserted
and desolated appearance; which, contrasted with the bustle hitherto
observed during business hours, and the sight of the ruins, forced
very unpleasant reflections on the mind. Barriers were placed at the
Mansion House end of Cornhill, and across that part of the street
between Finch and Birchin Lanes, and no person was allowed to pass
except the firemen and persons on business. All the avenues leading
to Cornhill were also blocked up in like manner; and, at each
barrier, police officers and ward constables were placed to prevent
people passing. Various schemes were devised, by numerous
individuals, to pass these barriers, and sums were, occasionally,
offered to the police to be allowed to visit the ruins, but without
effect. The City police kept the thieves away by their presence and
activity, and the conduct of the people was, yesterday, very quiet,
forming a contrast with the disorder got up by the swell mob on
Thursday last. Those who viewed the ruins at a distance appeared to
wear an air of melancholy, and no fire has occurred, for centuries,
which has caused more universal regret.
"On searching the ruins under the Lord Mayor's Court Office, the
great City seal was picked up, with two bags, containing 200 pounds
in gold, uninjured. On this discovery being communicated to the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen, it caused much gratification, it having been
rumoured that the Corporation would lose their Charter by the loss of
the seal, but we did not hear it explained how this could be.
"Owing to the great body of fire underneath the ruins at the
north-east angle of the Exchange, it was impossible for the firemen
to ascertain, until a late hour, whether any injury had been done to
Lloyd's books, which were deposited in a large iron safe inserted in
the wall. Two engines had been playing on it during the latter
portion of the day. In the presence of several of the Committee it
was opened, when it was discovered that the fire had reached the
books, and partially consumed them. In the drawers were cheques on
the Bank of England to a large amount, and also Bank of England notes
to the amount of, it is said, 2,560 pounds. The notes were reduced
to a cinder, and, on the drawers being opened, the air rushing in on
the tender fragments blew them over the Exchange. They were,
however, very carefully collected, and the cinders of the notes were,
with much trouble and caution, put into a tin case, which was taken
to the Bank, and the words 'Bank of England,' with the numbers and
dates, were distinctly traced. The amount will, in consequence, be
paid to the owners. From what information could be obtained from the
gentlemen who took possession of the box, and who were understood to
be underwriters, it was the usual custom of the secretary not to
leave any money or notes in the safe, but to deposit the money in the
Bank, which was done on the evening the fire took place. The money
and notes above mentioned, and which were found in the safe, belonged
to a subscriber who, on the afternoon of Wednesday, asked permission
to deposit his money in the safe until the next day, which was
acceded to by the secretary. Some idea may be formed of his state of
mind on arriving at the Exchange on the following morning, to see it
on fire, and he was in a state of distraction until the finding of
the cinders of the notes yesterday, which has, in some measure,
calmed his feelings. The underwriters are severe sufferers, having
left sums of money, to a large amount, in their desks, which, no
doubt, will never be recovered.
"During the confusion on the discovery of the fire, in removing some
books from a room in the north-east corner, in addition to 500 pounds
in Bank of England notes, which were taken to St. Michael's Church,
twenty sovereigns, in a bag, were thrown out of the windows. The bag
broke, and the sovereigns rolled about the pavement; they were all
picked up by the mob, who appropriated them to their own use.
"It is firmly believed that the overheating of the stoves caused the
disaster which the nation has now to deplore. Wednesday was an
exceedingly cold day, and large fires had been kept up from morning
till night in the building. There is no doubt the fire had been
spreading, to some extent, in Lloyd's rooms, long before it was seen
in the street. Some few months back, two watchmen were on the
premises all night, but, on the miserable plea of economy, they were
discharged, and the sacrifice of one of the finest buildings in the
Kingdom has been the consequence. We believe that most of our
cathedrals and large public buildings are left without watchmen
during the night, and we hope that the fate of the Royal Exchange
will bring about a change in this respect."
The merchants, who used to congregate "on 'Change," were accommodated in
the Guildhall, and the members of Lloyd's met at the Jerusalem Coffee
House--but these arrangements were, afterwards, modified. The Royal
Exchange Insurance Coy. took Sir James Esdaile's house, in Lombard
Street.
_Times_, 4 Ap., 1838:--"THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.--Yesterday, the first day's
sale of the materials of the Royal Exchange took place. It produced
nearly 2,000 pounds. The porter's large hand-bell (rung every day at
half-past four p.m. to warn the merchants and others that 'Change ought
to be closed), with the handle consumed, and valued at 10/-, was sold for
3 pounds 3/-; the two carved griffins, holding shields of the City arms,
facing the quadrangle, 35 pounds; the two busts of Queen Elizabeth, on
the east and west sides, 10 pounds 15/-; the copper grasshopper vane,
{27} with the iron upright, was reserved by the Committee; the alto
relievo, in artificial stone, representing Queen Elizabeth proclaiming
the Royal Exchange, 21 pounds; the corresponding alto relievo,
representing Britannia seated amidst the emblems of Commerce, accompanied
by Science, Agriculture, Manufactures, etc., 30 pounds; the carved
emblematical figures of Europe, Asia, Africa and America, 110 pounds.
The sale of the remainder of the materials, etc., it is understood, will
take place in about a month."
In the Mansion House Police Court, on 10 Jan., the Lord Mayor announced
that he had received five letters relative to an individual who was going
about the metropolitan suburbs frightening females to such an extent that
they were afraid to go out at night, as they were met by a man, who,
under different disguises, would suddenly appear before them, and as
suddenly disappear with terrible bounds, which earned him the name of
"Spring-heeled Jack," and he inspired such terror, that the recital of
the victim had to be taken with caution. Whoever he was, or why he so
acted, was never known, as he was never taken; but, certainly, robbery
had no part in his escapades, for he was quite content with paralysing
the poor women with fright.
The first facts I can gather about Jack are at the latter end of 1837, at
Barnes, where he appeared as a large white bull; at East Sheen he was a
white bear; he then visited Richmond, and after having terrorised that
town, he went to Ham, Kingston and Hampton, where he was clad in brass
armour, with large claw-like gloves. Teddington, Twickenham and Hounslow
were all visited by him, and at Isleworth we hear of him wearing steel
armour, in which he seems to have been attired when seen at Uxbridge,
Hanwell, Brentford and Ealing. At Hammersmith he took the form of a huge
baboon, and as such was seen in the moonlight, dancing at Kensington
Palace, ever and anon climbing over the forcing houses. He varied his
localities frequently, one day being at Peckham, another at St. John's
Wood, and anon at Forest Hill.
This about brings up to the time of its being mentioned by the Lord
Mayor, the consequence of which was that a Committee was formed at the
Mansion House for the purpose of receiving subscriptions and deciding
upon the best means of capturing this erratic genius. Probably feeling
that he had sufficiently terrorised the districts before mentioned, he
turned his attention to the East end of London, and particularly favoured
Bow. A case is given in the _Times_ of 23 Feb. A gentleman named Alsop,
living between Bow and Old Ford, appeared before the police magistrate at
Lambeth Street (then the Thames Police Office) accompanied by his three
daughters, one of whom stated that at about a quarter to nine o'clock on
the evening of the 21st February, 1838, she heard a violent ringing at
the front gate of the house, and, on going to the door to see what was
the cause, she saw a man standing outside, of whom she enquired what was
the matter. The person instantly replied that he was a policeman, and
said, "For God's sake bring me a light, for we have caught Spring-heeled
Jack here in the lane." She returned to the house, and brought a candle,
and handed it to the man, who was enveloped in a large cloak: The instant
she had done so, he threw off his outer garments, and, applying the
lighted candle to his breast, presented a most hideous and frightful
appearance, vomiting forth a quantity of blue and white flame from his
mouth, his eyes resembling red balls of fire. From the hasty glance
which her fright enabled her to get at his person, she observed that he
wore a large helmet, and his dress, which appeared to fit him very
tightly, seemed to her to resemble white oilskin. Without uttering a
sentence, he darted at her, and catching her partly by her dress and the
back part of her neck, placed her head under one of his arms, and
commenced tearing her clothes with his claws, which she was certain were
made of some metallic substance. She screamed out as loud as she could
for assistance, and, by considerable exertion, got away from him, and ran
towards the house to get in. Her assailant followed, and caught her on
the doorstep, when he again used considerable violence, tore her neck and
arms with his claws, as well as a quantity of hair from her head; her
story was fully corroborated by her parents and sisters, and her
injuries, which were very considerable, bore unmistakable testimony to
the truth of the assault.
At the same police court, on 8 Mar., 1838, a Miss Scales deposed that as
she and her sister were walking in Limehouse, about half-past eight in
the evening, on coming to Green Dragon Alley, they observed some person
standing in an angle in the passage. She was in advance of her sister at
the time, and just as she came up to the person, who was enveloped in a
large cloak, he spirted a quantity of blue flame right in her face, which
deprived her of sight, and so alarmed her, that she instantly dropped to
the ground, and was seized with violent fits, which continued for several
hours. In this case no violence to the person was done.
He had a literature of his own. I know of three pamphlets on the
subject; one, from which is taken the accompanying illustration, is
entitled "Authentic particulars of the awful appearance of the London
Monster, alias Spring-heeled Jack, together with his extraordinary life,
wonderful adventures and secret amours. Also an account of his horrible
appearance to Miss N--- and his singular letter to the Lord Mayor of
London."
[Picture: Spring-heeled Jack. Awful representation of the London
monster]
There is much more to be related of Jack, but space will not permit; but,
whether too much attention was beginning to be paid to him with a view to
his capture, or whether his love of mischief had died out, cannot be
told; but certain it was that nothing was known publicly of this singular
being after April, 1838, having kept London in a ferment of excitement
and terror for about six months.
There is an amusing police case anent Lord John Russell's hat.--_Times_,
8 Feb.:
THAMES POLICE COURT.--Yesterday, a poor woman, named Mary Ann Blay,
who stated that she resided at Limehouse, applied to Mr. Ballantyne
and Mr. Broderip, the magistrates, to request their interference
under very odd circumstances. The applicant stated that, about three
or four months ago, she was on her way home from Poplar, where she
had been purchasing some vegetables, when she saw something black
lying on the ground. She first supposed it was a piece of coal, but,
on stooping to pick it up, discovered it was a hat. She walked
onward, with the hat in her right hand, until she reached the
Commercial Road, when she was met by a policeman, who asked her where
she had got the hat. She informed him that she had picked it up at
the corner of the New Road, and the policeman looked at it, and saw
the name of Lord John Russell in the inside. He demanded the hat of
her, and, on her refusing to give it up to him, he seized the hat,
and took her into custody. She was locked up in the station houses
and, on the following morning, was brought before the sitting
magistrate at that office. The justice, after hearing the
policeman's statement, directed her to be discharged, and gave orders
that the hat should be detained for a certain time, in the station
house; and, if no owner was discovered, that it should be given up to
her. She had, since, made repeated inquiries of the police, but
could obtain no information from them, nor any redress for the false
imprisonment she had suffered.
Mr. Ballantyne asked the applicant if she was sure the hat belonged
to Lord J. Russell.
The woman said there had been a whitebait Cabinet dinner at Mr.
Lovegrove's, West India Dock Tavern, Blackwall, on the night she
found the hat, and Lord John Russell was one of the party.
Mr. Ballantyne: Well, I don't understand how his Lordship could lose
his hat at the corner of the New Road.
The woman said it was supposed that Lord J. Russell had put his head
out of the carriage window, and looked back to see if his friends
were following him, when his hat fell off his head, and, as he was a
Lord, he would not stop until it was picked up again (laughter).
Mr. Ballantyne: What do you want me to do in the matter?
The applicant said she wanted to know to whom the hat belonged.
Mr. Ballantyne: Why, I should say it belonged to Lord John Russell.
The woman said the hat was worth a guinea, and that if she had
accepted 5/- from the policeman, and given it up to him, he would not
have taken her into custody. She thought it was very hard to be
subject to such tyranny because she had picked up Lord John Russell's
hat, for she had done no harm to the crown of it. She supposed Lord
John Russell was in liquor, or he would have ordered his carriage to
stop, and picked up his hat. (Roars of laughter, in which the
magistrates could not help joining.) "You may laugh," said the
woman; "but it's all true what I say; you may depend upon it, the
Ministers don't eat whitebait without drinking plenty of wine after
it, you may be sure. (Increased laughter.) I don't know why the
gentlemen laugh, I am sure. I was locked up all night away from my
husband and children."
Mr. Ballantyne said it was very singular the woman could not
recollect what night it was she picked up the hat, and the number and
letter of the policeman who took her into custody.
The applicant said she was too much alarmed at being locked up in the
station house, and brought before the magistrate, to recollect what
night it was, or the policeman's identity.
Mr. Ballantyne said it was a very odd affair, and he would direct the
books to be searched to ascertain when the woman was brought before
the magistrate.
Soon afterwards, the woman was again brought up.
Mr. Ballantyne said, it appeared from the minutes that she was
brought before him on Tuesday, the 3rd of October last, on suspicion
of stealing a hat, and that the policeman said that he had stopped
her at two o'clock in the morning with the hat in her possession. It
appeared that he had discharged her, but no mention was made of the
hat belonging to Lord John Russell. If that fact had been mentioned
to him, he would have ordered the hat to be restored to his Lordship
immediately.
The Applicant: I am sure it is his Lordship's hat. There is Lord
John Russell inside of it, quite plain; it's a new one.
Mr. Ballantyne: Very well; an inquiry shall be made about the hat,
and you can attend here to-morrow, and we will let you know what has
become of it. I think Lord John Russell has the best claim to the
hat, if he has not already got it.
The sequel:
_Times_, 10 Feb.:--On Thursday, Mary Ann Blay again appeared before
Mr. Ballantyne upon the subject of Lord John's hat. She adhered to
her old story, that the hat had the noble Home Secretary's name in it
when she picked it up, but it had, subsequently, been torn out, after
it was taken out of her possession. Mr. Ballantyne examined the hat,
and said it was a dirty, greasy hat--a boy's hat, and that he would
not give 6d. for it. The policeman who took the woman in custody
declared that the woman's statement was, altogether, a fabrication,
and that the hat never had the name of Lord John Russell in it. Mr.
Ballantyne said he would make no order about the hat; and, if the
woman thought she had been wrongly imprisoned, she might seek her
remedy elsewhere.
CHAPTER IV.
Lords and pugilists--Penny "Gaffs"--Steam between England and America--A
man-woman--Designs for Nelson Monument--A termagant--Scold's bridles, &c.
I must give another police case, as showing the manners and customs of
the _jeunesse doree_ of this period.
_Times_, 19 Feb.:
MARLBOROUGH STREET.--On Saturday, Samuel Evans, better known as
"Young Dutch Sam," a pugilist, was brought before Mr. Conant, charged
with having committed an unprovoked and violent assault on policeman
Mackenzie, C 182, and Lord Waldegrave was also charged with
attempting to rescue Evans from the police.
The defendant Evans, when sober, is civil and well-conducted, but,
when drunk, is one of the most dangerous ruffians connected with the
prize-fighting gang. Lord Waldegrave is a very young nobleman, with
a fund of native simplicity in his countenance, rendered the more
conspicuous by the style of dress he had adopted, namely, a large
coloured shawl round his neck, and a rough pilot coat. Both parties
exhibited unquestionable proofs of the effect of their previous
night's potations.
Policeman Mackenzie, who had his arm in a sling, made the following
statement: About a quarter-past six that morning, after he had come
off duty, he went to the Standard public house, in Piccadilly, for
the purpose of getting some refreshment, but, on perceiving some of
the saloon frequenters there, to whom he was personally obnoxious, in
consequence of having taken disorderly persons of their acquaintance
into custody, he was about to go back, when he found himself suddenly
pushed into the house, with sufficient violence to cause his cape to
fall off. While engaged in folding up his cape, the defendant Evans
said, "Will any gentleman like to see a policeman put on his back?"
Complainant had not exchanged a single word with anybody; he,
however, found himself suddenly and quite unexpectedly seized by the
defendant, who had come behind him, and then thrown with violence
upon the floor; the defendant Evans fell upon him at the same time;
and, as complainant lay almost stunned and unable to rise, some
persons called out "Shame!" Complainant was then helped up and
assisted out of the house. He went immediately to the station house,
and mentioned what had occurred to Inspector Beresford, who instantly
sent a sufficient force to take the offenders into custody.
Complainant went and pointed out Dutch Sam to his comrades, and the
defendant was taken into custody. Lord Waldegrave, who was in the
pugilist's company, declared the police should not take his friend,
and he attempted to prevent the police from doing their duty.
Complainant, feeling his shoulder pain him very much, went to the
surgeon, and, by that gentleman's advice, proceeded to the Charing
Cross Hospital. When he was examined, it was ascertained that one of
the bones of his shoulder was broken.
Another policeman stated that Lord Waldegrave was very drunk, and,
when his Lordship attempted to resist the police, he was,
accidentally, thrown down on the pavement, and witness picked him up.
Lord Waldegrave: He! he! he! Picked me up, did you? Oh! He! he!
he!
Mr. Conant: This is no laughing matter, I can tell you; and it is
quite improper of you to make it a subject of merriment.
Lord Waldegrave: He! he! he! I beg pardon, but I can't help
laughing.
Mr. Conant asked Evans what he had to say in his defence?
Evans: Why, you see, Lord Waldegrave and me had been supping
together--hadn't we, my Lord?
Lord Waldegrave: Yes, we had.
Evans: And when we went into the public house there, we saw the
policeman, who was drunk, and who had been drinking purl in the
house. The policeman asked me to wrestle with him, and, as I thought
I could throw him, I accepted the challenge.
The Inspector proved that there was not one word of truth in Evans's
defence as far as regarded the sobriety of Mackenzie. The assault
took place within a few minutes after Mackenzie had come off duty,
and, certainly, before he could have time to get refreshment.
The policeman declared what the defendant asserted was entirely
false. He had taken nothing to drink; and, as to challenging a man
like the defendant to wrestle, the assertion was improbable.
Inspector Beresford, on being asked if he was certain Evans was
drunk, answered that he was decidedly drunk.
Evans: Silence, sweep, let a gentleman speak. I can get a dozen
oaths for half-a-crown.
Mr. Conant said the assault on the policeman was wanton and
unprovoked, and the matter was further aggravated by the fact that a
person of the defendant's well-known pugilistic powers had chosen to
attack an unoffending party. He should, therefore, call on the
defendant Evans to put in good bail.
Evans: Serve his Lordship the same; for I like to have such a pal.
Mr. Conant directed that Lord Waldegrave should be put back until a
second magistrate arrived.
Mr. Dyer having, soon afterwards, taken his seat on the bench, Lord
Waldegrave was placed at the bar.
Policeman Filmer, C 130, stated that he went with others to the
Standard public house, and took Evans into custody. Lord Waldegrave
threw his arms round his friend, and swore he should not be taken.
Witness swung his Lordship away, and, in doing so, his Lordship fell
down. Witness picked him up, and would have let him go had his
Lordship abstained from repeating his conduct. As he would not allow
the police to do their duty, he took him into custody.
Mr. Conant asked his Lordship what he had to say?
Lord Waldegrave: I have nothing to say. Perhaps I had taken too much
that night.
Policeman: His Lordship was very drunk.
Lord Waldegrave: Not very.
Mr. Conant: There has been no complaint of your conduct at the
station house, and I daresay your Lordship feels hurt at being in the
company of a person of the other defendant's description. Taking
into consideration the violence of the outrage committed by Evans, as
a warning, we must inflict a heavy fine. You must, therefore, pay 5
pounds to the Queen.
Mr. Dyer: And because--in our summary jurisdiction--we cannot go
beyond that sum, we inflict it as being the highest penalty in our
power.
The sum was paid, and the noble defendant discharged.
The whole social tone was low, from the highest to the lowest, and if the
police court gives us occasional glimpses of aristocratic amusement, so
it affords us a view of the entertainments provided for the lower
classes. Let us take one.
_Times_, 10 March:
HATTON GARDEN.--For some time past, numerous complaints have been
made to the magistrates of this office of two penny theatres, one in
Mortimer Market, Tottenham Court Road, and the other in a field
adjacent to Bagnigge Wells Road, where gangs of young thieves nightly
assembled. On Wednesday last, several inhabitants of Mortimer Market
attended at the Office to complain of the former establishment, when
Mr. Rogers granted a warrant to apprehend the whole of the parties
concerned, and on Thursday night, Duke, Baylis and Halls, of this
Office, in company with Inspector Jenkins and a body of constables,
proceeded to the theatre, and captured the manager, performers, and
musicians, and the whole of them were, yesterday, brought to the
office, and placed at the bar, when the office was excessively
crowded.
There were twelve prisoners, some of whom were attired in their
theatrical habiliments, with their countenances painted, which made a
very grotesque appearance.
Duke being sworn, stated that, in consequence of a warrant, on
Thursday night last, about 9 o'clock, he proceeded, with other
officers, to a penny theatre in Mortimer Market, St. Pancras, where
he found the whole of the prisoners, some of whom were engaged in
performing their parts, whilst Ewyn, the manager, was employed in
taking money at the doors, and the woman, Green, was acting as check
taker. Campbell and Lewis were enacting their parts upon the stage,
and Joseph Burrows was in his theatrical dress between them, with his
face painted and wearing a huge pair of moustaches. John Pillar was
in a temporary orchestra with a large violoncello, scraping away most
melodramatically, whilst the players were endeavouring to humour the
sounds, and to suit their action to the word, and the word to the
action; and just at that part of the performance when Burrows had to
exclaim, "The officers of justice are coming," witness and his
brother officers rushed upon the stage, and apprehended the whole of
them.
Mr. Rogers: What description of audience was there?
Duke: A dirty, ragged set, principally consisting of boys and girls;
two of them were barefooted, and had scarce a rag to cover them, and
did not seem to have been washed for a month. The theatre was of the
most wretched description; there was a temporary stage, and bits of
scenery. The boys said they were errand boys and servants. Brierly
and Smith said they were country actors out of an engagement, and had
visited the place out of curiosity.
Mr. Mallett: Had they an inscription that they were "Licensed
pursuant to Act of Parliament"?
Duke: They had not. On the gates was written up, "For this evening's
performance The Spectre of the Grave; after which, a comic song by
Mr. Ewyn; to conclude with The Key of the Little Door." They found
various theatrical dresses and other properties, with stars, swords,
etc., now produced.
Baylis proved having paid 1d. for admission. He paid the money to
the woman Green. Ewyn was at the door, and he confessed that he was
the manager. He took him into custody, and, subsequently, he
apprehended Lewis and Campbell, at the back of the stage, in their
theatrical dresses.
Mr. Rogers: Have you got "The Spectre of the Grave" here?
Inspector Jenkins: No, your Worship, he vanished. The other male
performers were dressed in sandals and armour, with their helmets up.
Hall and the other officers corroborated the above evidence. Several
inhabitants of Mortimer Market proved that they were, every night,
alarmed by firing off guns, cries of "Fire," clashing of swords, the
most boisterous ranting and shrieks from the voices of the ladies of
the _corps dramatique_, and the place was a perfect nuisance to the
neighbourhood.
The owner of the place stated that, on the 24th of January, he let
the place to a person named Summers, for chair making, when it was
turned into a theatre.
Ewyn said he had engaged with Summers to divide the profits of the
theatrical speculation. Summers agreed to take the place, and he
(Ewyn) to provide the scenery and wardrobe; "and proud I am to say,
that I have conducted the consarn respectably, which some of the
neighbours can testify. This is the head and front of my
offending--no more."
Inspector Jenkins said that, about a month ago, he called on Ewyn and
cautioned him, but he said that the magistrates had nothing to do
with the matter.
Mr. Rogers, addressing the prisoners, said they had received a
warning which they did not heed. He should not order them to find
bail, but would discharge them; and, if they dared to repeat their
performances after this admonition, he would grant a warrant for
their apprehension, and every one of them should find bail, or be
committed. They held out temptation to the children of poor persons,
some of whom, it appears, were without shoes and nearly naked, who
robbed their parents, or others, for the purpose of procuring the
penny for admission. He would order their paraphernalia to be
restored to them, but, on condition that they would remove their
fittings, and desist from any future performances.
Ewyn: You must give me time to take down the seats and decorations.
Mr. Rogers: You must take them down this day.
Ewyn (with a start): What! this day? Impossible.
Mr. Rogers directed Inspector Jones to see the mandate obeyed.
The month of April is famous for the inauguration of steam traffic
between England and America. A vessel named the _Savannah_ had in 1819
crossed from America to England, but her steam was only intended to be
auxiliary to her sailing power, for her boilers had only a pressure of 20
lbs. to the square inch. She sailed from New York on 28 Mar., 1819,
reached Savannah on 7 Ap., and anchored at Liverpool on 19 June; on her
return home her engines were taken out, and she was finally lost off Long
Island. In 1836 the Great Western Railway founded the Great Western
Steam Co., whose vessels were intended to run from Bristol in
co-operation with the railway, and the first ship built was the Great
Western, the largest steamer then afloat. She was 236 feet long and her
engines showed 750 indicated horse power, her registered tonnage being
1,300. She was intended to be the pioneer ship, and was ready for sea in
April, 1838; but competition was as keen then as now, and the St. Georges
Steam Packet Coy. started their s.s. Sirius, for the voyage to New York,
from London, on the 29th March. She had a tonnage of 700 tons, and her
engines were of 320 horse-power. She was elegantly fitted-up, and
started with 22 passengers, whose number was increased at Cork, and,
being intended solely for a passenger boat, carried no cargo. On going
down the Thames, she encountered her rival, the Great Western, which had
a pleasure party on board, and a trial of speed took place between the
two, resulting in favour of the Sirius. She sailed from Cork on 9th
April. The Great Western sailed from Bristol on the 12th April, and both
reached New York on the same day, the Sirius being first. The Great
Western made, in all, 64 passages between the two countries, her fastest
passage occupying 12 days, 7.5 hours. At the present writing, the record
voyage for an English steamer (the _Lucania_) is 5 days, 7 hours, 23
minutes.
The _Manchester Guardian_ of 14th April gives an account of a woman
living in that city, who for many years passed as a man, which has
occurred before, but the extraordinary part of this story is that she
_married another woman_.--"Subsequent inquiries confirm the truth of the
statements made in the _Guardian_ of Wednesday last, as to this singular
case. This woman man, who, for probably more than 25 years, has
succeeded in concealing her sex, and in pursuing a trade of more than
ordinarily masculine and hazardous description, with a degree of skill
and ability which has led to her establishment in a good business in this
town, bound herself apprentice, at the age of 16 or 17 years, to a Mr.
Peacock, a bricklayer and builder, at Bawtry, a small market town in the
West Riding of Yorkshire. She did not remain with Mr. Peacock during the
whole period of her apprenticeship, but was 'turned over,' as it is
called, to another person in the same business. It was during her
apprenticeship that she met with her present wife; and they were married
at the old parish church of Sheffield, in the year 1816, when the wife
was only 17 years old. Since the investigation and disclosure of the
circumstances, on Thursday week, the wife and husband have separated.
She was, for many years, a special constable in the 13th division of that
body, acting for this town; and we are assured that, on all occasions
when the services of the division were required, as at elections, Orange
processions, and meetings of trades' unions, turn-outs, etc., so far from
absenting herself from what, as in the case of well founded apprehension
of a riot, must have been, to a woman, a post of some unpleasantness, she
is remembered to have been one of the most punctual in attendance, and
the most forward volunteer in actual duty, in that division. We
understand that she is no longer a special constable, because she did
not, on the last annual special session, held for that purpose at the New
Bailey, present herself to be resworn. She was not discarded or
discharged; there was no complaint against her; and, probably, the
extension of her own business was her only motive for not resuming the
duties of this office. Altogether, this is the most singular case of the
kind which has ever reached our knowledge."
The following is an advertisement which appeared in the _Times_ of 27th
April:--"NELSON MONUMENT.--The Committee for erecting a Monument to the
Memory of Lord Nelson hereby give notice that they are desirous of
receiving from architects, artists, or other persons, DESIGNS for such a
MONUMENT, to be erected in Trafalgar Square.
"The Committee cannot, in the present state of the subscriptions, fix
definitely the sum to be expended, but they recommend that the estimated
cost of the several designs should be confined within the sums of 20,000
and 30,000 pounds. This condition, and that of the intended site, are
the only restrictions to which the artists are limited."
In the same newspaper of 16 May, we read of a punishment which might,
occasionally, be revived with advantage, as being less dangerous than the
ducking stool, and, probably, quite as efficacious, although we have the
authority of St. James, "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of
serpents, and of things of the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of
mankind, but the tongue can no man tame." It relates how, "at the
Mayor's Court, Stafford, last week, Mary, wife of Thomas Careless, of the
Broad Eye, a perfect termagant, was ordered to pay 1/- penalty, and 7/6
costs, for an unprovoked assault on Mary, the wife of Lewis Bromley.
During the investigation, her garrulity was so incessant that the mayor
was under the necessity of sending for the 'scold's bridle,' an iron
instrument of very antique construction, which, in olden times, was
occasionally called into use. It is formed of an elliptical bow of iron,
enclosing the head from the lower extremity of one ear to the other, with
a transverse piece of iron from the nape of the neck to the mouth, and
completely covers the tongue, preventing its movement, and the whole
machinery, when adjusted, is locked at the back of the head. The bridle
is to be put in thorough repair, and hung _in terrorem_ in the Mayor's
office, to be used as occasion may call it forth."
These "scold's bridles," or "branks," as they are sometimes called, are
not uncommon. The earliest dated one is preserved at Walton-on-Thames,
and bears the date 1633, with the inscription:
"Chester presents Walton with a bridle,
To curb women's tongues that talk to idle."
Brayley, in his "History of Surrey," says that it was given by a
gentleman named Chester, who lost a valuable estate through a gossiping,
lying woman; but, as there are several examples of branks in the
Palatinate, one being kept in the gaol at Chester, some people think it
was a present from that city. There is one at Leicester, and another at
Newcastle-on-Tyne, which used to hang in the mayor's parlour, and
tradition has it that many cases of disputes between women have been
speedily and satisfactorily settled on his worship's pointing to these
branks.
There is one in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, which is very tender as
far as the gag is concerned, but which has a leading chain fastened
between the eyes. Hainstall, Ridware, Lichfield, Morpeth, Shrewsbury,
Holme, Kendal, Altrincham, Macclesfield, Congleton (where it was last
used in 1824), all have examples, whilst Chester has four! There are
several in Scotland, and there are some in private hands, notably one
which used to be in the Mayer Museum, Liverpool, which came from
Warrington, where, however, the brank formerly used at Carrington is
preserved, and there are several places--Newcastle-under-Lyne (now in the
Mayer Collection), Manchester, and others--where they have existed.
There is a very grotesque one in Doddington Park, which is a mask, having
eyeholes, and a long funnel-shaped peak projecting from the mouth; and
there are some very terribly cruel ones, with fearful gags; but these can
scarcely come under scold's or gossip's bridles. There was one at
Forfar, with a spiked gag, which pierced the tongue, and an even more
severe one is at Stockport; whilst those at Ludlow and Worcester are,
also, instruments of torture.
CHAPTER V.
Thom, the religious fanatic--His riots and death--Delusions of his
followers.
From the earliest ages of Christianity _pseudo-Christoi_, or false
Christs, existed. Simon Magus, Dositheus, and the famous Barcochab were
among the first of them, and they were followed by Moses, in Crete, in
the fifth century; Julian, in Palestine, _circa_ A.D. 530; and Screnus,
in Spain, _circa_ A.D. 714. There were, in the 12th century, some seven
or eight in France, Spain and Persia; and, coming to more modern times,
there was Sabbatai Zewi, a native of Aleppo, or Smyrna, who proclaimed
himself to be the Messiah, in Jerusalem, _circa_ 1666. A list of
religious fanatics would be a long one, but the _pseudo-Christos_ of
modern times was, certainly, John Nicholl Thom, of St. Columb, Cornwall,
_alias_ Sir William Percy Honeywood Courtenay, Knight of Malta, and King
of Jerusalem; who also claimed to be Jesus Christ, in proof of which he
shewed punctures in his hands, and a cicatrice on his side.
He was first introduced to public notice in Michaelmas, 1832, when he
paid a visit to Canterbury, and took up his abode, for some time, at the
"Rose Inn," where he was remarkable for his eccentric behaviour, passing
under the name of Rothschild. His countenance and costume denoted
foreign extraction, while his language and conversation showed that he
was well acquainted with almost every part of the kingdom. He often
dressed in a fine suit of Italian clothing, and, sometimes, in the gayer
and more imposing costume of the east. In December of the same year, he
surprised the inhabitants of Canterbury by proposing himself as a
candidate for the representation of that city in Parliament, under the
name of Sir W. P. H. Courtenay. His canvass proceeded with extraordinary
success; and, such were his persuasive powers, that people of all ranks
felt an interest in his society; some, however, considered him insane,
while others were of a contrary opinion, and he did not succeed in his
ambition.
He next got mixed up in a smuggling affair, H.M. sloop _Lively_ having
captured a smuggling craft (the _Admiral Hood_) off the Goodwin Sands.
He attended the examination of the smugglers before the magistrates at
Rochester, attired in a fancy costume, and having a small scimitar
suspended from his neck, by a massive gold chain. He defended one of the
men, who, despite his advocacy, was convicted. He then offered himself
as a witness, swore that he had seen the whole transaction, that there
was no smuggling, and that the _Lively_ was to blame. This the
prosecution could not stand; he was indicted for perjury, and was tried
at Maidstone on 25 July, 1833. The sentence of the Court was
imprisonment and transportation, but, being proved to be insane, this was
commuted to confinement in the lunatic asylum, at Barming Heath. After
about four years spent in this establishment, he was released, on
security being given for his future good behaviour. He then went to live
at the residence of Mr. Francis, of Fairbrook, in the neighbourhood of
Boughton, near Canterbury. Owing to some misunderstanding with the
family, he removed to an adjoining cottage, and, at the time of which I
write, he lived at a farm-house, called Bossenden farm, occupied by a
person named Culver.
The influence obtained, by this maniac, over the small farmers and
peasantry in his neighbourhood, is most astonishing. They believed in
all he told them; first that he should be a great chieftain in Kent, and
that they should all live rent free on his land, and that if they would
follow his advice, they should have good living and large estates, as he
had great influence at Court, and was to sit at the Queen's right hand,
on the day of her Coronation. It would seem as if his madness, then, was
personal and political, but the religious mania speedily developed
itself. He told his deluded followers that they were oppressed by the
laws in general, but more particularly by the new poor law; and called
upon them to place themselves under his command. Nearly 100 at once
joined him, and as they marched through the neighbouring parishes their
numbers increased. It was then that he proclaimed his divinity--assuring
them that both he and they were not only invincible, but bullet proof,
and that they could never die.
[Picture: Death of Sir Wm. Courtenay. (Thom). 1838]
The following account, which appears to me to be the most succinct of
those I have seen, is from the _Times_ of 1 June:
"On Monday (28 May) they sallied forth from the village of Boughton,
where they bought bread, and proceeded to Wills's house, near
Fairbrook. A loaf was broken asunder, and placed on a pole, with a
flag of white and blue, on which was a rampant lion. Thence they
proceeded to Goodnestone, near Faversham, producing throughout the
whole neighbourhood the greatest excitement, and adding to their
numbers by the harangues occasionally delivered by this ill-fated
madman. At this farm Courtenay stated that 'he would strike the
bloody blow.' A match was then taken from a bean stack, which had
been introduced by one of the party. They next proceeded to a farm
at Herne Hill, where Courtenay requested the inmates to feed his
friends, which request was immediately complied with. Their next
visit was at Dargate Common, where Sir William, taking off his shoes,
said, 'I now stand on my own bottom.' By Sir William's request, his
party went to prayers, and then proceeded to Bossenden farm, where
they supped, and slept in the barn that night. At 3 o'clock, on
Tuesday morning they left, and proceeded to Sittingbourne to
breakfast, where Sir William paid 25s.; they then visited Newnham,
where a similar treat was given at the 'George.' After visiting
Eastling, Throwley, Selwich Lees and Selling, and occasionally
addressing the populace, holding out to them such inducements as are
usually made by persons desirous of creating a disturbance, they
halted, in a chalk pit, to rest, and, on Wednesday evening, arrived
at Culver's farm, called Bossenden, close to the scene of action.
Mr. Curling, having had some of his men enticed from their work,
applied for a warrant for their apprehension. Mears, a constable, in
company with his brother, proceeded to Culver's house, when, on
application being made for the men alluded to, Sir William
immediately shot the young man who accompanied his brother in the
execution of his duty. Such was the excitement, and the desperate
menaces of Sir William and his party, that it became necessary for
the magistrates to interfere to put a stop to the proceedings, by the
capture of the ringleader of the party, from whose advice to his
followers the most serious consequences were likely to ensue. At 12
o'clock, they assembled at a place called the Osier Bed, where every
means were resorted to, to quell the disturbance, but without
success. Sir William defied interruption to his men, and fired on
the Rev. William Handley, of Herne Hill, who, with his brother, was
assisting to take him into custody. They then made their way to
Bossenden Wood, where they lay in ambush; but, as no means appeared
to present themselves, by which the ringleader could safely be
secured, he being evidently mad, and in possession of loaded
firearms, threatening to shoot the first man who interfered with him,
it became necessary to apply for the assistance of the 45th regiment,
stationed in Canterbury barracks. On the arrival of a detachment of
this regiment, they proceeded to the wood, where the party was
awaiting their arrival.
"A few minutes previous to the attack, Sir William loudly halloed to
his companions, supposed for the purpose of getting them prepared for
the fight.
"Sir William, on perceiving his opponents, advanced with the greatest
_sang froid_, and deliberately shot Lieutenant Bennett of the
regiment, before his own men. This occasioned a return from the man
covering his officer, who advanced, and shot Sir William, who fell,
and died instantly. The excitement, at that period, occasioned by
each party losing its commander, caused a desperate attack, which
terminated in the death of ten persons, besides the brother of the
constable shot in the morning, and several others seriously wounded,
of some of whom little hopes are entertained of their recovery. The
weapons in the hands of the followers of Sir William, were chiefly,
if not altogether, heavy bludgeons."
The following, from a correspondent, goes far to show the delusions
shared by this maniac and his followers:
"The mention of this lad's name, reminds me that his mother is said
to have done more than any other person in the parish to foster and
encourage the belief which she herself entertained, that Thom was our
blessed Redeemer and Saviour. So steadfast was she in her belief,
that when, after the battle in the wood, a neighbour went to tell her
'the awful news,' that Thom was killed, and her own son wounded, she
would not credit the information. 'Sir William killed!' said she,
'no, no, you can't kill him; it is not the truth, it is not
possible.' The reply to her was: 'It is the truth, and it is
possible.' She again asserted that it was not possible. Again the
reply was: 'It is possible, and it is as true as that your poor boy
has got a shot in his thigh.' Then, and not till then, would she
credit that her son was hurt. But as to Sir William, she still
remained incredulous, saying: 'Mind, three days will show you and all
the world what Sir William is. When that time is elapsed, you will
see whether he is not that which he professes to be.'
"Of the general belief in the neighbourhood that he was the Saviour,
I saw a strong proof in some writing which I found on the parsonage
barn at Herne Hill. It has been there for the last ten days, and is
said to be in the handwriting of Wills. On the left side of the door
is written, in one long line, these words, with spelling and capitals
just as I have copied them:--'If you newho was on earth your harts
Wod turn'; then in another: 'But dont Wate to late'; and then, in a
third, 'They how R.' On the right side of the door is the following:
'O that great day of gudgment, is close at hand'; in another: 'it now
peps in the dor every man according to his woks'; and in a third:
'Our rites and liberties We Will have.' I mentioned some of them in
a former communication. At one of the places where he ordered
provisions for his followers, it was in these words: 'Feed my sheep.'
To convince his disciples of his divine commission, he is said to
have pointed his pistol at the stars, and told him that he would make
them fall from their spheres. He then fired at some particularly
bright star; and, his pistol having been rammed down with tow steeped
in oil, and sprinkled over with steel filings, produced, on being
fired, certain bright sparkles of light, which he immediately said
were falling stars. Again, in the early part of his progress on
Monday, he went away from his followers with a man named Wills, and
two of the other rioters, saying to them, 'Do you stay here, whilst I
go yonder,' pointing to a bean stack, 'and strike the bloody blow.'
When they arrived at the stack, to which they marched with a flag,
the flag bearer laid his flag on the ground, and knelt down to pray.
The others then put in, it is said, a lighted match; but Thom seized
it and forbade it to burn, and the fire was not kindled. This, on
their return to the company, was announced as a miracle worked by the
Saviour. There is another of his acts, which he mentioned as one of
the proofs of his Divinity, that I confess myself at a loss to
understand. After he had fired one shot at the constable, Mears, and
subsequently chopped at him with his dirk, he went into the house,
seized a loaded pistol, and on coming out, said: 'Now, am I not your
Saviour?' The words were scarcely out of his mouth, when he pulled
the trigger of his pistol, and shot Mears a second time."
He administered a parody on the blessed Sacrament, in bread and water to
his followers, before the encounter and harangued them. He told them on
this occasion, as he did on many others, that there was great opposition
in the land, and, indeed, throughout the world, but, that if they would
follow him, he would lead them on to glory. He told them he had come to
earth on a cloud, and that, on a cloud, he should some day be removed
from them; that neither bullets nor weapons could injure him, or them, if
they had but faith in him as their Saviour: and that if 10,000 soldiers
came against them, they would either turn to their side, or fall dead at
his command. At the end of his harangue, Alexander Foad, a respectable
farmer, and one of his followers, knelt down at his feet and worshipped
him; and so did another man named Brankford. Foad then asked Thom
whether he should follow him in the body, or go home and follow him in
heart. To this Thom replied: "Follow me in the body." Foad then sprang
on his feet in an ecstasy of joy, and, with a voice of great animation,
exclaimed: "Oh, be joyful! Oh, be joyful! The Saviour has accepted me.
Go on--go on, till I drop, I'll follow thee!" Brankford was also
accepted as a follower, and exhibited the same enthusiastic fervour,
while Thom uttered terrific denunciations of eternal torture in hell fire
against all who should refuse to follow him.
With the death of Thom and his deluded followers, the excitement calmed
down, and entirely subsided after the trial of nine prisoners, which took
place at Maidstone, on the 9th of August, before Lord Denman. They were
charged on two counts: first, with aiding and abetting John Thom, _alias_
Courtenay, in the murder of Nicholas Mears, on the 31st of May, and
second, with being principals in the murder. Lord Denman charged the
jury that, if they were of opinion that Thom was of unsound mind, so
that, if he had been put upon his trial, he could not have been convicted
of murder, the principal being acquitted, the accessories must also be
acquitted, and the prisoners could not be found guilty on the first
count. This, the jury acquiesced in, and brought in a verdict of
"guilty" on the second count, with a strong recommendation to mercy on
account of the infatuation under which they were led astray by Courtenay.
Lord Denman pronounced sentence of death upon the prisoners, but added,
that their lives would be spared. Two were sentenced to transportation
for life; one to transportation for ten years; and the remainder to be
imprisoned for one year, and kept to hard labour in the House of
Correction, one month in solitary confinement.
CHAPTER VI.
The Queen's Coronation--The Carriages--The fair and festivities in Hyde
Park--The Marquis of Waterford's drive--His pranks at Melton
Mowbray--Steam carriages--Dog carriages--Grand dinner at Guildhall.
The next event which occupied the public attention was the Queen's
Coronation, which took place on the 28th of June. It was, like the "Half
Crownation" of William IV., a much plainer affair than that of George the
Magnificent, the walking procession of all the estates of the realm, and
the banquet in Westminster Hall, with all the feudal services thereunto
belonging, being wholly dispensed with. The day began badly, with a cold
shower about 8 a.m., but it cleared off, and the sun shone out fitfully,
throughout the time the ceremony occupied--the head of the procession
starting from Buckingham Palace at 10 a.m., and the Queen reaching
Westminster Abbey at half-past eleven. Next to the Queen herself, the
principal attraction in the procession was the equipages and liveries of
the Ambassadors Extraordinary, chief among which was the carriage of
Marshal Soult (who represented France), which had formerly belonged to
the last great prince of the House of Conde, the father of the Duc de
Bourbon, and which, by its superior magnificence, eclipsed all other
vehicles. Besides which, it held the Duke of Dalmatia, Wellington's old
foe, who had now come to visit, in peace, the country he had so manfully
fought against.
Of the ceremony itself, I say nothing--everything was done decorously and
in order. It took a long time, for it was a quarter to four when the
royal procession reformed and took its way through the nave of the abbey.
The Queen entertained a party of 100 at dinner; and, in the evening,
witnessed, from the roof of her palace, the fireworks discharged in the
Green Park. The Duke of Wellington gave a grand ball at Apsley House,
for which cards of invitation were issued for 2,000 persons.
As an indication of the numbers of people set down at the Abbey, I may
mention that the carriages which were ordered to proceed (after setting
down) to the south side of Westminster Bridge, occupied a line from the
bridge to Kennington Cross (more than a mile). The carriages which were
to proceed, after setting down their company, to the west side of London,
formed a line nearly to Kensington (a mile and a half). Those ordered to
wait in the Strand extended, in double lines, to St. Mary le Strand, and
those directed to wait in Bird Cage Walk, St. James's Park, occupied (in
double rows) the whole line to Buckingham Palace.
There was a balloon ascent from Hyde Park, which was a comparative
failure, for it descended in Marylebone Lane, quite done up with its
short journey, and another sent up from Vauxhall, which was more
successful. There were grand displays of fireworks in the Green and Hyde
Parks, and all London was most beautifully and brilliantly illuminated.
But the great thing was the Fair in Hyde Park, which had official leave
to exist for two days--but which, in fact, lasted four. The area
allotted to it comprised nearly one third of the Park, extending from
near the margin of the Serpentine to within a short distance of Grosvenor
Gate. The best account I know of this Fair is in _The Morning Chronicle_
of 29 June, and I here reproduce it:
"Of all the scenes which we witnessed, connected with the Coronation,
probably this was the most lively, and that in which there was the
least confusion, considering the mass of persons collected together.
Our readers are already aware that the Fair was permitted to take
place by the Government, on the petition of the present holders of
the show which formerly belonged to the celebrated Richardson; and it
was to their care, together with that of Mr. Mallalieu, the
Superintendent of Police, that its general management was entrusted.
In justice to those gentlemen, we must say that the arrangements made
for the accommodation of the public were admirable, while they were
carried out with the very greatest success. The booths were arranged
in a square form, and covered a space of ground about 1,400 feet long
and about 1,000 feet broad.
"They were arranged in regular rows, ample space being allowed
between them for the free passage of the people; and they consisted
of every variety of shape, while they were decked with flags of all
colours and nations. One portion of the fair was set apart
exclusively for ginger-bread and fancy booths, while those rows by
which these were surrounded were appropriated to the use of showmen,
and of persons who dealt in the more substantial articles of
refreshment. Of the latter description, however, the readers would
recognize many as regular frequenters of such scenes; but, probably,
the booth which attracted the greatest attention, from its magnitude,
was that erected by Williams, the celebrated boiled beef monger of
the Old Bailey. This was pitched in the broadest part of the fair,
and immediately adjoining Richardson's show; and, at the top of it
was erected a gallery for the use of those who were desirous of
witnessing the fireworks in the evening, and, to which, access was to
be procured by payment of a small sum.
"While this person, and the no less celebrated Alger, the proprietor
of the Crown and Anchor, were astonishing the visitors with the
enormous extent of the accommodation which they could afford the
public, others set up claims of a character more agreeable to the age
in the exceedingly tasty mode in which they had decorated their
temporary houses. Of these, that which struck us as most to be
admired, was a tent erected by a person named Bull, of Hackney, the
interior of which, decorated with fluted pillars of glazed calico,
had a really beautiful appearance. It would be useless, however, to
attempt to particularize every booth, for each held out its alluring
attractions to the gaping crowd with equal force, and each appeared
to be sufficiently patronized by the friends of its proprietor.
"Not a few, in addition to the solid attractions of eating and
drinking, held out those of a more 'airy' description, and, in many,
it was announced that a 'grand ball' would be held in the evening,
'to commence at six o'clock'; whilst, in others, bands of music were
heard 'in full play,' joining their sweet sounds to the melodious
beatings of gongs and shouting through trumpets of the adjoining
shows. In attractions of this kind we need only say that the fair
was, in most respects, fully equal to any other at which we ever had
the good fortune to be present, whether at Greenwich, or Croydon, or
in any other of the suburban or metropolitan districts. Beef and
ham, beer and wine, chickens and salad, were all equally plentiful,
and the taste of the most fastidious might be pleased as to the
quality, or the quantity, of the provisions provided for him. In the
pastry cooks' booths, the usual variety of gingerbread nuts, and gilt
cocks in breeches, and kings and queens, were to be procured; while,
in some of them, the more refined luxury of ices was advertised, an
innovation upon the ancient style of refreshment which we, certainly,
had never expected to see introduced into the canvas shops of the
fair pastry cooks.
"While these _marchands_ were holding out their various attractions
to the physical tastes of the assembled multitude, the showkeepers
were not less actively employed in endeavouring to please the eye of
those who were willing to enjoy their buffooneries, or their wonders.
Fat boys and living skeletons, Irish giants and Welsh dwarfs,
children with two heads, and animals without any heads at all, were
among the least of the wonders to be seen; while the more rational
exhibition of wild beasts joined with the mysterious wonders of the
conjuror and the athletic performances of tumblers, in calling forth
expressions of surprise and delight from the old, as well as from the
young, who were induced to contribute their pennies 'to see the
show.'
"Nor were these the only modes of procuring amusement which presented
themselves. On the Serpentine river a number of boats had been
launched, which had been procured from the Thames, and watermen were
employed, during the whole day, in rowing about those who were
anxious to enjoy the refreshing coolness of the water after the
turmoil and heat of the fair. Ponies and donkeys were in the
outskirts of the fair, plentiful, for the use of the young who were
inclined for equestrian exercise, while archery grounds and throw
sticks held out their attractions to the adepts in such practices,
and roundabouts and swings were ready to gratify the tastes of the
adventurous. Kensington Gardens were, as usual, open to the public,
and not a few who were fearful of joining in the crowd, contented
themselves here, in viewing the gay scene from a distance. Timorous,
however, as they might be, of personal inconvenience, they did not
fail to enjoy the opportunities which were afforded them of looking
into the book of fate; and we observed many of the fairest parts of
the creation busily engaged in deep and private confabulations with
those renowned seers, the gypsies.
"With regard to those persons who visited the fair, we must say we
never saw a more orderly body. From an early hour the visitors were
flocking in; but it was not until Her Majesty had gone to Westminster
Abbey that the avenues approaching Hyde Park became crowded. Then,
indeed, the countless thousands of London appeared to be poured
forth, and all seemed to be bound for the same point of destination.
Thousands who had taken up their standing places at Hyde Park Corner,
poured through the gate; whilst many who had assumed positions at a
greater distance from the Parks, passed through the squares and
through Grosvenor Gate. Every avenue was soon filled, every booth
was soon crammed full of persons desirous of procuring refreshment
and rest after the fatigue of standing so long in the crowd to view
the procession.
"These, however, were not the only persons who joined the throng.
Every cab, coach, or omnibus which had been left disengaged, appeared
to be driving to the same point, full of passengers. Fulham, Putney,
Mile End and Brixton alike contributed their vehicles to carry the
people to the Parks, and thousands from the very extremity of the
City were to be seen flocking towards the Fair. All seemed bent on
the same object, that of procuring amusement, and work seemed to have
been suspended, as if by common consent. While the East-end thrust
forth her less aristocratic workmen, the West-end was not altogether
idle in furnishing its quota to the throng, and we noticed many
really elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen alight from their
carriages to view the enlivening scene; and many of them, who were,
apparently, strangers to such exhibitions, were, evidently, not a
little amused at the grotesque imitations of those amusements in
which the aristocracy delight.
"Carriages of every description were admitted into the Parks, and the
splendid carriage of an aristocrat was not unfrequently followed by
the tilted waggon of some remover of furniture, with its load of men,
women and children, who had come to 'see the fun.' All seemed,
alike, bent on amusement; all, alike, appeared to throw aside those
restraints which rank, fashion, or station had placed upon them, and
to enter fully into the enjoyment of the busy scene in which they
were actors. The delightful locality of the Fair, the bright
sunbeams playing upon the many-coloured tents, the joyous laughter of
the people, untouched by debauchery, and unseduced by the gross
pleasures of the appetite; the gay dresses of the women, all in their
best; joined in making the scene one which must live long in the
recollection of those who witnessed it. All appeared to remember
that this was the day of the Coronation of a Queen, so youthful, so
beautiful, so pure, and all appeared to be determined that no act of
insubordination or of disorder on their part should sully the bright
opening of a reign so hopeful, and from which so much happiness is to
be expected.
"We have already said that the arrangements of the fair were
excellent; but, while these called forth our admiration, the
exceeding attention paid to the public by the police force appeared
to prevent the possibility of accident or robbery. All gambling
booths and thimble riggers had, of course, been necessarily excluded,
but we fear it was not possible to shut out all those persons whose
recollection of the laws of _meum_ and _tuum_ was somewhat blunted.
We heard of numerous losses of small sums, and of handkerchiefs and
other trifles, but, throughout the day, we gained no information of
any robbery which was of sufficient extent to produce more than a
temporary inconvenience to the person robbed. A temporary police
station was erected in the grounds, in which Mr. Mallalieu and a
considerable portion of his men were in attendance during the day;
but, although there were, necessarily, some cases in which slight
acts of intemperance were visible, nothing of any serious importance
occurred during the whole of the early part of the day.
"The orderly conduct of the people, which we have already described
as having been observable during the morning, was maintained through
the rest of the day. Notwithstanding that the crowd, at three
o'clock, had increased tenfold, no disturbance nor riot occurred.
The return of Her Majesty attracted a few from the crowd, but nearly
every one returned, and all remained for the grand attraction of this
part of the day's amusement--the fireworks. As evening closed in,
the fatigue of the people rendered rest, as well as refreshment,
necessary, and every booth was, in a short time, crowded with eager
inquiries for eatables and drinkables. The dancing booths were
crowded to suffocation, and the viands of the purveyors of grog were
soon put into requisition."
The next day was stormy and wet at first, but afterwards turned out fine,
and the Fair was crowded. On the third day, a booth caught fire, but no
great damage was done. On the fourth, and last day, the Queen drove as
close to it as she well could do, and all the booths were cleared away
that night.
The Marquis of Waterford still continued his mad pranks, and he was
brought before Mr. Dyer, the Magistrate at Marlborough Street, on 30
June, charged with being drunk and disorderly in Piccadilly at 5 o'clock
in the morning.
Policeman Ellis, C 91, saw the Marquis, with two or three other persons
and a woman in his cab, driving down the Haymarket, and committing the
insane freak of making the foot pavement his road. The policeman had no
hope of overtaking the Marquis, from the speed at which his lordship was
driving; he, however, followed as fast as he could, and, when the Marquis
turned into Piccadilly, he saw his lordship again pull his horse on the
pavement, and drive on, to the imminent danger of foot passengers. The
cab went against some posts, and this brought the horse to a standstill.
The policeman ran up, and after much difficulty and opposition on the
part of the Marquis's friends, he succeeded in lodging his lordship in
the station house. His lordship was too drunk to allow his being
enlarged on bail.
In explanation, the Marquis said he had a young horse in his cab, which
was very difficult to drive. The animal, having a heavy load behind him,
became unmanageable, and went, in spite of all he could do, on the
pavement.
The policeman, in the most positive manner, said he saw the Marquis pull
his horse upon the foot pavement, and whip the animal to make him go the
faster.
The Marquis declared, "upon his honour," he did not go more than five
yards upon the pavement.
The policeman declared the Marquis drove about 100 yards on the pavement
in the Haymarket, and about 100 yards more upon the pavement in
Piccadilly. The concussion against the post was so great, that the woman
was thrown six yards out of the cab.
Marquis: I was thrown out myself. The fact is, I consider this charge to
be quite unwarranted. No one was hurt, and the policeman exceeded his
duty in taking me to the station house.
Mr. Dyer: The policeman states you were intoxicated.
Marquis: Why, I had been about all night, and I don't think I was very
sober.
Policeman: You had your collar and shirt open, and your chest was quite
exposed.
Marquis: I was dressed just as I am at present.
Policeman: Your coat is now buttoned up; it was not so when I took you in
charge. You said, when I took you, you would defy your brother to drive
your horse.
Marquis: I might have said so because none of my brothers are in town.
But the horse is only four years old, has never had a collar on before,
and I'll defy any man to drive him the length of this street.
Mr. Dyer: It was the more imprudent on your lordship's part to bring such
an unsafe animal into the public streets, especially at the present time,
when the streets are more than usually thronged. Have you any witnesses?
Marquis: Yes, I can bring them, but I had rather not.
Mr. Dyer: If they can allege anything in contradiction of the charge of
wilful driving on the footpath, I am willing to hear it.
Marquis: No. It will be a fine, I suppose, and I had rather pay it than
trouble my friends to come forward. I'll call my horse, if your Worship
thinks proper.
Mr. Dyer then inflicted a fine of 40s.
The Marquis paid the money, and, turning to the policeman, made some
unhandsome remarks on his evidence.
Mr. Dyer said the policeman bore an excellent character, and, as far as
the magistrates could judge, had always done his duty fairly and
respectably.
The Marquis took the arm of his friend, the Earl of Waldegrave, and left
the office.
We hear of him again very shortly afterwards, for on 31 July, at Derby
assizes, came on an indictment charging the Marquis of Waterford, Sir F.
Johnstone, Hon. A. C. H. Villiers, and E. H. Reynard, Esq., with a riot
and assault. On the 5th April were the Croxton Park races, about five
miles distance from Melton Mowbray. The four defendants had been dining
out at Melton on the evening of that day; and about two in the morning of
the following day, the watchmen on duty, hearing a noise, proceeded to
the Market Place, and near Lord Rosebery's house saw several gentlemen
attempting to overturn a caravan, a man being inside; the watchmen
succeeded in preventing this, when the Marquis of Waterford challenged
one of them to fight, which the watchmen declined. Subsequently, hearing
a noise in the direction of the toll bar, they proceeded thither, and
found the gate keeper had been screwed up in his house, and he had been
calling out "Murder!"
On coming up with the gentlemen a second time, it was observed that they
had a pot of red paint with them, while one carried a paint brush, which
one of the constables wrested from the hand of the person who held it;
but, subsequently, they surrounded the man, threw him on his back, and
painted his face and neck with red paint. They then continued their
games, painting the doors and windows of different persons; and, when one
of their companions (Mr. Reynard) was put in the lock up, they forced the
constable to give up the keys, and succeeded in getting him out. The
jury found the defendants (who were all identified as having taken part
in the affray) guilty of the common assault, and they were sentenced to
pay a fine of 100 pounds each, and to be imprisoned till such fine be
paid.
Motor cars are not the modern invention we are apt to imagine them,
except as regards the power used--which, until lately, was always steam.
As far back as 1769, a Frenchman, named Cugnot, made a steam carriage
which carried four people, and attained a speed of two and a quarter
miles an hour! But it was unfortunate to its inventor--for it came to
grief in a street in Paris, and the unhappy man was imprisoned. In
England our engineers exercised their inventive power in making steam
carriages--Murdock in 1782, Watt in 1784, Symington in 1786--and others
made models, but the first which actually ran in England was made by
Trevithick and Vivian in 1803, and this, in the streets of London (which
were very far from being as good as they are now), attained a speed of
eight or nine miles an hour. Between the years 1827-34 there were
numerous steam carriages built and tried, proving more or less
successful. One made by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney ran for three months in
1831 with passengers between Cheltenham and Gloucester, while Hancock's
steam omnibuses (carrying 14 to 16 passengers) ran in London pretty
constantly during the years 1833-36, and often at a speed of 10 or 12
miles an hour; some of his coaches ran long journeys, such as from London
to Brighton, and he was the most successful of all inventors in this
line, unless we except Scott Russell, who, in 1834, ran six steam coaches
between Glasgow and Paisley.
We read in the _Standard_ of 21 June, 1838, that "Yesterday afternoon,
Hyde Park presented a more than usually gay appearance, in consequence of
a crowd of fashionables being assembled to witness the trial of a
newly-constructed steam cab. Among the many splendid equipages were
observed those of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis of
Salisbury, the Marquis of Northampton, the Earl of Winchilsea, Lord
Howick, Lord Holland, and many other distinguished personages. About 3
o'clock the object of attraction moved forward at a slow pace from the
old Foot Guard Barracks, Knightsbridge, and threaded its way through the
various vehicles into the Park, passing through the centre gate of the
triumphal arch, and making, in the open space opposite the statue,
several turns within its own length. The vehicle after the date hereof,
will render themselves liable to be hours round the Park, and, from the
slight noise it made, the horses passing did not appear to be frightened.
The average speed of the cab was about twelve miles an hour. The vehicle
was guided by Mr. Hancock, the inventor."
But, if mechanical science had advanced as far as motor cars, we were, in
other ways, still as backward as Belgium and Germany are at the present,
in using dogs as draught animals. This practice had increased to such an
extent that it was found necessary to placard the walls of the metropolis
with the following notice. "Notice is hereby given, that all persons
using dogs under carts or trucks, as beasts of burden, after the date
hereof, will render themselves liable to be prosecuted, and fined 2
pounds, according to the provisions of an obsolete Act lately discovered.
London, 18 Aug., 1838." This scandal did not last long, for in "an Act
for further improving the Police in and near the Metropolis," 2 and 3
Vict., c. 47 [17 Aug., 1839], we find that Section LVI. says, "And be it
enacted, That after the First Day of _January_ next, every person who,
within the Metropolitan Police District, shall use any Dog for the
purpose of drawing, or helping to draw any Cart, Carriage, Truck, or
Barrow, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than Forty Shillings for
the first offence, and not more than Five Pounds for the Second, or any
following offence." This act was extended to all parts of the Kingdom by
the 17 and 18 Vict., c. 60.
On the 13th July the Corporation of the City of London gave a grand
banquet, at the Guildhall, to the foreign Princes, Ambassadors
extraordinary, and _Corps Diplomatique_, then in the metropolis, in
honour of the Queen's Coronation; and in order to completely divest the
occasion of anything like a political aspect, care was taken to invite,
besides the Ministers, an equal number of the _elite_ of both parties in
the State. The principal guests went in their state carriages, and the
streets were crowded with sightseers who especially welcomed the Duke of
Wellington and Marshal Soult. The arrangements and decorations in the
Hall were almost the same as those used for the Royal banquet in the
previous November, the tables and sideboards were ablaze with plate lent
by the various City Companies, and the General Bill of Fare was as
follows:
One hundred and twenty tureens of turtle soup, of five pints each; 17
dishes of fish, consisting of salmon, turbot, whitings, tench and eels;
40 haunches of venison; 80 dishes of fowls, capons and pullets; 40
cherry, gooseberry and currant tarts; 30 strawberry tarts; 40 dishes of
potatos; 60 dishes of French beans; 30 French pies; 30 pigeon pies; 30
hams; 30 tongues; 2 barons of beef; 37 Chantilly baskets; 30 dishes of
peas; 10 sirloins, ribs and rumps of beef; 45 dishes of shell fish; 30
ribs, chines and legs of lamb; 40 dishes of ducklings; 20 turkey poults;
80 jellies; 20 creams; 40 salads and cucumbers; 20 dishes of
cauliflowers. DESSERT.--Seventy-five pine apples of 2lbs each; 100
dishes of hothouse grapes; 20 melons; 30 dishes of cherries; 100 dishes
of strawberries; 40 dishes of currants and gooseberries; 120 cream and
water ices, various; 40 dishes of dried fruit; 35 ornamented Savoy cakes;
30 dishes of preserves, biscuits and olives.
Marshal Soult stopped for some time in England, and visited many of the
manufacturing towns.
CHAPTER VII.
Genesis of "The Charter" - L. & N. W. Railway opened to
Birmingham--Overland route to India--A bold smuggler--Bull
baiting--Visitors to the Queen--"The Boy Jones."
Probably nearly all my readers have heard of the "Chartists," but it is
equally probable that few know when the agitation commenced, and the
reason for its existence. The "Charter," as it was called, was the
Radical outcome of the Reform Bill of 1832. For a time, after the
passing of that Bill, the land had peace, for all reasonable reforms had
been granted, but the demagogues were not going to be quietly
annihilated, and an agitation for more trenchant reform was got up, and a
mass meeting in its favour was held at Birmingham, on the 6th of August,
and at it were inaugurated the principles of "The People's Charter," as
it was called. It is currently reported that this "Charter" was drawn up
by William Lovett, a carpenter and cabinet maker, who took an active part
in getting rid of the stamp tax upon newspapers; and it is very likely
that it was so, for he drew up most of the petitions and addresses for
the movement, and, in connection with it, he, the following year,
suffered 12 months' imprisonment. He died Aug. 1877. The demands of
this "Charter" were six, and they were familiarly known as the six
points. They were:
Universal Suffrage.
Vote by Ballot.
Annual Parliaments.
Payment of the Members.
Abolition of the Property Qualification.
Equal Electoral Districts.
The meeting was got up by T. Atwood, Esq., M.P., and the site chosen for
it was a large vacant piece of ground, at Birmingham, on the north-west
side of the town, and there drinking booths galore were erected. The
morning began very wet, and the different divisions from the neighbouring
country marched bemired and bedraggled to the rendezous. There they soon
filled the drinking booths, in which they abode; hence, probably, the
very diverse statements as to the numbers present at the meeting, which
vary from 10,000 to 200,000. The ground chosen was a natural
amphitheatre, and, if the weather had been finer, it would have been a
pretty sight, enlivened by the bright banners of the different Trades'
Societies. However, Mr. Atwood read the Petition, which embodied the
above six points, and moved its adoption. Feargus O'Connor, a well-known
firebrand, seconded it in a violent speech, in which occurred the
following balderdash.
"On with your green standard rearing,
Go, flesh every sword to the hilt;
On our side is Virtue and Erin,
On yours is the _parson_ and guilt."
Of course the Motion was enthusiastically carried, and then a very heavy
shower of rain terminated the proceedings. The petition was afterwards
presented to Parliament by Mr. Atwood on the 14th of June, 1839.
On 17th Sept the London and North Western Railway (then called the London
and Birmingham Rly.) was opened throughout to Birmingham; the first
train, containing Directors and their friends, leaving Euston at 7.15
a.m. The times of this train are useful for comparing with the present
time. "The train left Euston at 15 minutes past 7, but did not take on
locomotive until 20 minutes past. It arrived at Tring station at 25
minutes past 8, where there was five minutes' delay. Arrived at
Wolverton at 6 minutes past 9, where the directors alighted and changed
engines. The train arrived at Rugby at 11 o'clock, where the Duke of
Sussex and his suite alighted, and proceeded by carriage to the place of
his destination. The directors remained at Rugby 10 minutes, and arrived
at Birmingham 3 minutes past 12, having performed the whole journey,
including stoppages, in 4 hours 48 minutes, and, exclusive of stoppages,
in 4 hours 14 minutes. This is, unquestionably, the shortest time in
which the journey from London to Birmingham has ever been performed,
being upwards of two hours less than the time occupied by Marshal Soult
and attendants a few weeks ago."
"The fare for one person from London to Birmingham, or back, by the 'four
inside' carriages, by day, or the first class, 'six inside' by night,
will be 1 pound 12s. 6d; by the second-class carriages, open by day,
which is the cheapest, it will be 1 pound. The intermediate fares will
be 1 pound 10s. and 1 pound 5s."
It is not generally known that the two lodges at the entrance of Euston
Station, were the original ticket office and waiting room.
People were beginning to wake from the torpor in which they had hitherto
slumbered, with regard to locomotion, and on 12th October an influential
meeting of merchants and others was held at the Jerusalem Coffee House to
hear a Captain Barber unfold his scheme for a quicker communication with
India. This was that passengers and goods should be taken by steam to
Cairo, and thence, by omnibuses and vans to Suez--as was afterwards done
by Waghorn, who was already forming an Overland Mail (see _Times_, 29
Nov., 1838).
With the very heavy duties on foreign goods, of course smuggling was very
rife, and the Inland Revenue was defrauded on every possible occasion by
the sharp wits opposed to it; and the difficulty of conviction, unless
the smuggler was caught red-handed, was very considerable. The following
is a case in point, and for sheer impudence, it bears the palm. 17 Oct.:
MANSION HOUSE.--A Scotchwoman, named Frances Bodmore, the wife of a
Frenchman, who has been engaged in smuggling, appeared to answer for
her husband, on a charge of having two two-gallon bottles of French
brandy in his possession, without having paid the duty thereon.
Child, the constable, said he went into the house of the Frenchman,
in Sugarloaf Court; and, while searching for other things, found the
bottles under the pillows of the bed.
The Lord Mayor: Why don't your husband attend?
Woman: Why, because he knows nothing at all about the business. I
think he'd be a great fool to come here without knowing for what.
The Lord Mayor: How do you get your living?
Woman: Why, as well as I can. I don't get it without running some
risk for it, you may depend.
The Lord Mayor: We know you to be a consummate smuggler.
Woman: Whatever my business may be, I generally get through it like a
trump. There's no nonsense about me.
The Lord Mayor (to the Revenue officer): She is constantly backward
and forward between this and France, I daresay.
Woman: Yes, my Lord, I travel a good deal for the benefit of my
health, and I always come back stouter than I go. (Laughter.)
Officer: She's perfectly well known, my Lord, as one of a number that
are commissioned by parties in London. They are all very clever, and
elude us in every possible way, and the steamers afford them great
facilities.
The Lord Mayor: I can't send this woman to prison, and she knows it
well, but I shall punish every experienced smuggler I catch as
severely as I can. They cheat the fair trader, they endanger the
vessel in which they come over, and they cheat the Government.
Woman: Ay, my Lord, that's the cleverest thing of all. Only think of
cheating the Government! Well, well, I wonder where the villainy of
man will end! (Laughter.)
The Lord Mayor: Take care of yourself. You think you are secure.
You may go now.
Woman: Good morning, my Lord. Although you are so kind, I hope I
shall never have the pleasure of seeing your face again.
The Lord Mayor was informed that great quantities of lace were
brought over by women. Some had been found stitched up in the skins
of wildfowl, and there was scarcely an article, dead or alive, that
was not suspected of being a depository of contraband goods. It was
but a short time ago, that a wretched-looking object was discovered
to be the carrier of a large stock of lace. He had an old bedstead,
which, in his trips to Boulogne, he used to take with him. At last,
somebody on board expressed his surprise, why a ricketty piece of
furniture, which looked as if it was the tenement of living animals,
should be so frequent a passenger. Upon close examination, it was
found that the several pieces of the bedstead had been hollowed and
stuffed with lace.
The cruel old English sport of bull baiting was still continued at
Stamford, in Lincolnshire, where it is said to have existed since the
year 1209, in the reign of King John. The story goes that, in that year,
William, Earl Warren, lord of the town, standing on the walls of his
castle, saw two bulls fighting for a cow, in the castle meadow, till all
the butchers dogs pursued one of the bulls (maddened by the noise and
multitude) clean through the town. This sight so pleased the Earl, that
he gave the castle meadow, where the bulls' duel began, for a common, to
the butchers of the town, after the first grass was mown, on condition
that they should find a mad bull the day six weeks before Christmas
Day--for the continuation of that sport, for ever.
But the time had come for putting an end to this barbarous practice, and
it was this year put down by direct interference of the Secretary of
State. At Stamford, and elsewhere, it was believed that this bull
baiting was legal, being established by custom; but the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with a view of setting the question at
rest by the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench, caused an indictment
to be preferred against several of the ringleaders. The indictment was
tried at Lincoln, before Mr. Justice Park and a special jury, when
several of them were found guilty; and, upon their being brought up for
judgment in the Court of Queen's Bench, the Court unanimously declared
the practice to be illegal; the Chief Justice, in particular, said: "It
was supposed there was some matter of law--at first, there was a supposed
old Charter--for the future, it must be considered as an illegal
practice."
In consequence of this decision, a troop of the 14th Dragoons, together
with 12 Metropolitan policemen, were sent into the town of Stamford.
Placards, apprising the public of the illegality of the bull baiting,
were posted in the town and neighbourhood, and the threatened and
attempted repetition of this barbarous scene was prevented without any
loss of life or serious injury. The _bullards_ (as they were called)
mustered in strong numbers. They had provided two fierce bulls to be
hunted and tormented; but the bulls were seized and pounded by the
police; and, although the ruffian mob remained in considerable numbers,
no serious breach of the peace took place. But they were determined not
to be altogether baulked of their _sport_; for a bull calf, enclosed in a
cart, and followed by its lowing mother, entered the town, and was
immediately seized on as a substitute for a bull. It was taken out, and
hunted through the town for some time, until rescued by the police.
Every lunatic seems to have wanted to say something to the young Queen,
and visitors to Buckingham Palace were very frequent, although the object
of their wishes was never attained. To show the nuisance involved by
these fools let me give one paragraph out of the _Times_, 19 Dec.:
VISITORS TO HER MAJESTY.--On Saturday night, about 9 o'clock, a very
respectably dressed young man rang the bell at the tradesmen's
entrance of the new Palace, and, upon being asked the nature of his
business, he said he had come for the direction of his house, as he
was tired, and wished to go home. Upon being asked to explain
himself, he said he had just come from Sydney, and had been desired
to call at the Palace by the Queen, who told him he should have a
house to live in, and 150 pounds a year, for some very important
spiritual communication he had made to her. The young man, whose
every action showed he was a lunatic, was then told the Queen was not
in town, when he turned away, observing that he would go immediately
to Lord Hill, and lay his case before him. Visits of the preceding
kind are very frequent at the Palace, and the tales told by the
visitants are of the very strangest nature. It is only a few weeks
since, an elderly man, having the appearance of a farmer, called at
the Palace, and handing to the porter the certificate of his birth,
requested him to let Her Majesty sign it. From inquiries made
concerning this man, it was discovered that he was a respectable
farmer in the neighbourhood of Exeter, from which distant place he
had wandered on so strange an errand.
But of all visitors to the Royal Palace, THE BOY JONES was the most
frequent and successful. Who, in this generation, knows anything about
THE BOY JONES? Yet his escapades were very daring and his story is very
true--but so strange is it that, in order to be believed, I must, at
least, in part, give the chapter and verse for it:
_The Times_, 15 Dec.:
QUEEN SQUARE.--Yesterday, a lad about 15 years of age, who gave his
name as Edward Cotton, whose dress was that of a sweep, but who was
stated to be the son of a respectable tradesman in Hertfordshire, was
charged with being found in the Marble hall of Buckingham Palace,
under circumstances of an extraordinary nature. It should be stated
that Buckingham Palace, even during the absence of the Queen, is
guarded by the gentlemen porters of the establishment, two inspectors
of the A division of police, and sentries from the Foot Guards. In
spite of this, a number of cases have lately occurred at this office,
where persons have been found in the interior of the Palace under
unaccountable circumstances.
George Cox, one of the porters, having been sworn, said, that at five
o'clock yesterday morning he saw the prisoner in the Marble hall.
The latter endeavoured to make his escape into the lobby, but he
pursued him, and he then took a contrary direction, across the lawn
at the back of the Palace. Witness called for the sentry at the
gate, and a policeman of the B Division who was on duty in James
Street, caught the lad, after a long chase over the lawn. Mr. Cox
added, that he found, in the lobby, a regimental sword, a quantity of
linen, and other articles, all of which had been purloined from the
Palace. The sword was the property of the Hon. Augustus Murray, a
gentleman attached to the Queen's establishment. Witness went into
that gentleman's bedroom, and the bedding was covered with soot. The
prisoner had, evidently, endeavoured to get up the chimney, in order
to effect his escape; there was a valuable likeness of Her Majesty,
in the Marble hall, which was broken, and covered with soot; and it
was supposed that the lad, in the first instance, had descended from
the top of the building, and had endeavoured to make his way back
again in the same manner.
James Stone, 31 B, deposed that he was called upon by the last
witness to secure the prisoner. There were marks of soot in several
of the bedchambers, as well as in one of the corridors of the Palace,
and the Grand (or Marble) hall. He found upon him two letters, one
addressed to Her Majesty, and the other to the Hon. Mr. Murray.
These letters had been placed underneath Her Majesty's portrait, and
had, no doubt, been taken by the prisoner at the time the picture was
destroyed. Part of the scabbard of the sword was discovered in one
of the beds, and a quantity of bear's grease, part of which he had
placed upon his flesh, was taken from him--it belonged to one of the
servants of the Palace. Upon being taken to the station house, he
said he came from Hertfordshire, and that his father was a
respectable man.
Mr. White, the sitting magistrate, observed that it was a most
extraordinary thing that persons could get into the Palace under such
circumstances.
Several persons belonging to the Palace said that every inquiry had
been made, but it could not be accounted for.
Mr. White (to the prisoner): Where do you come from?
Prisoner: I came from Hertfordshire 12 months ago, and I met with a
man in a fustian jacket, who asked me to go with him to Buckingham
House. I went, and have been there ever since. I got my victuals in
the kitchen, and I thought myself very well off, because I came to
London to better myself.
Mr. White: Well, you could not go to a higher place.
Prisoner: I declare it to be the case, and I lived very well. To be
sure, I was obliged to wash my shirt now and then.
Mr. White: You fared, then, altogether, pretty well?
Prisoner: Very well indeed, Sir, and I was always placed, when the
Queen had a meeting with the Ministers, behind a piece of furniture
in the room; but I, certainly, did live well.
Mr. White: Indeed! And which was your favourite apartment?
Prisoner: The room in front of the gardens; but I was always in the
secret when the Ministers came.
Mr. White: Do you mean to tell me that you have lived in the Palace
upwards of 11 months, and been concealed when Her Majesty held a
Council?
Prisoner: I do.
Mr. White: Were you hid behind a chair?
Prisoner: No. But the tables and other furniture concealed me.
Mr. White: Then you could hear all Her Majesty said?
Prisoner: Oh, yes! and her Ministers too.
The prisoner's answers to the questions of the magistrate were given
in the most shrewd manner possible, and he evidently appeared to be a
lad of some education, but nothing further could be elicited from
him.
Mr. White said it was a most singular affair, and that it should be
strictly inquired into. For the present, he should remand the
prisoner until Wednesday next. The magistrate also told Cox that, as
he should be sitting there every day, he should be glad to receive
any information upon the subject.
The letters found upon the prisoner were directed to be sent to the
Palace, under seal of the Office, the prisoner having broken them
open.
The case excited great interest, and, in the first instance, was sent to
Bow Street; but Sir Frederick Roe being out of town, it was ordered to be
heard at this office.
_The Times_, 20 Dec.--Yesterday, the lad found in Buckingham Palace,
who had given his name as Edward Cotton, and described himself as the
son of a respectable tradesman living in the town of Hertford, was
brought before Messrs. White and Gregorie for final examination. It
will be recollected that he had purloined, amongst other articles,
two letters, which were immediately sealed up, and sent back to the
Palace. The prisoner turns out to be the son of an industrious
tailor, named Jones, residing in York Street, Westminster; and, it
appears, had frequently expressed his intention to enter the Palace,
under any circumstances. He had often stated that he wished to see
the grand staircase, in order to take a sketch of it, and had often
expressed his determination to see the Queen, and to hear her
sentiments when Her Majesty and her Ministers were assembled in
Council.
Frederick Blume now deposed that he was valet to the Hon. Mr. Murray,
and that a sword, a quantity of linen and other articles, had been
stolen from that gentleman's apartments in the Palace.
Mr. White: When were they stolen?
Witness: I can't recollect.
Mr. White: Was it a week, a month, or three or four months ago?
Witness: I cannot say.
Mr. White: Where was your master's sword at the time you saw it last?
Witness: When I went to Windsor.
Mr. White: When was that?
Witness: I cannot exactly recollect, and then he added, that about a
week since, he had sent from Windsor to the Palace, a portmanteau
containing his linen, and three pairs of trousers, four of stockings,
and three cravats were missing. The padlock of the portmanteau had
been forced by the sword having been applied to it. The sword had
broken in the attempt. He had also lost five 10 sous pieces, which
had been found upon the prisoner.
Mr. White: What is the value of the articles you have lost?
Witness: I don't know; but I should like to give three guineas to get
them back.
Mr. White: Can you swear to the French coin found upon the prisoner
as being yours?
The witness was then shown the coin, and he said that he certainly
could. They had been taken from his bedroom.
* * * * *
Mr. White: Can any information be given as to the manner in which the
prisoner gained access to the Palace? Cox, one of the porters to the
Palace, said that the principal entrance door was always locked, and
the key in his possession. At 5 o'clock on Saturday morning, just as
he was about to get out of bed, the prisoner opened the door of his
room, as witness considered, to obtain the key; his face and hands
were disguised with soot and bear's grease, and he was asked whether
he came to sweep a chimney: he did not make any answer, but
endeavoured to escape.
Inspector Steed, A division, said that upon examining the gates of
the principal entrance of the Palace, he found that, at the Marble
Arch, there was a vacuum sufficient to admit a boy into the Palace,
without any inconvenience.
Mr. White: And is there no sentry at this gate?
Witness: There are two.
The inspector said that he had examined the boy's boots, and the
gravel upon them corresponded with that lately laid down close to the
Marble Arch. The boots had been taken off by the prisoner, and left
in one of the apartments appropriated to the use of the porters of
the Palace.
Mr. Griffiths, builder, Coventry Street, said that the lad had been
in his employment for a few months; he had always expressed his
intention to get into the interior of the Palace by some means or
other; he was a clever lad, and had made a sketch of the exterior,
and a view of the enclosure fronting the Palace. He had left his
service two days since, and witness was very much distressed, as were
his parents, to know what had become of him. Upon reading the
accounts in the newspapers, he immediately went to Tothill Fields,
and identified him, much to the gratification of his father, who
supposed that he had drowned himself, the latter having, on account
of his son's bad conduct, turned him out of doors.
The Magistrate, after telling the boy that he would, most likely, be
committed for trial, asked him what he could say in his defence.
Prisoner: I wished to see the Palace, and I went in with a man in a
fustian jacket. I had the whole range of the Palace for a day or
two, but the money found upon me I picked up in one of the rooms.
Mr. White: Tell me the truth, for I am about to send you for trial.
Prisoner: Oh, very well; with all my heart.
He was fully committed to the Westminster Sessions, and all parties
bound over to prosecute.
He was tried on 28 Dec., and was most ably defended by his Counsel, Mr.
Prendergast, who turned everything to ridicule, and the jury returned a
verdict of Not Guilty, regarding the escapade in the light of a youthful
folly, and being, also, mindful of the fact that the boy did not enter
the Palace for the purpose of theft.
But we shall hear of THE BOY JONES again.
CHAPTER VIII.
Death of Lord Norbury--Birth of photography--Experimental street
pavements--Forecast of the Queen's marriage--Sad story of Lady Flora
Hastings--Story of a climbing boy--Van Amburgh--Embanking the
Thames--Victoria Park--Robbery of gold dust.
In a book, professedly of Gossip, politics should be strictly kept in the
background--but at this time Ireland was seething with sedition. Still I
should hardly have adverted to it, had not the deliberate and brutal
murder of the Earl of Norbury, on 1 Jan., set all tongues wagging. His
Lordship was walking in the shrubbery, near his own house at Kilbeggan,
in the county of Meath, talking to his steward, and pointing out to him
some trees he wished to have cut down, when some miscreant, behind a
hedge, fired a blunder-buss loaded with swan shot at him, and he fell,
mortally wounded. He lived for 43 hours afterwards--but his assassin ran
away and escaped; nor, in spite of large rewards offered, was he ever
discovered.
Photography may be said to have been practically born early in this year,
for, on 7 Jan., the French Academy reported on the invention of M.
Daguerre, by which the pictures of the camera lucida were rendered
permanent. All former attempts may be regarded as scientific
dilletanteism and nothing more. The earliest known pictures caused by
light on a sensitive surface were made by Thomas Wedgwood (a son of
Josiah, the famous potter), whose researches were published in 1802 in
the _Journal of the Royal Institution_, under the title: "An account of a
Method of copying Paintings upon Glass, and making Profiles by the agency
of Light upon Nitrate of Silver: with Observations by H. Davy."
Afterwards, came Nicephore Niepce, of Chalon sur Saone, who produced
permanent light pictures in 1814, and he and Daguerre went into
partnership in this matter, in 1829. Fox Talbot was the first to invent
a negative photograph, and he read a paper on "Photogenic Drawings"
before the Royal Society, on 31 Jan., this year; and that scientific
investigation of the new wonder excited the attention, even of amateurs,
is shown by a letter in the _Times_ of 21 Feb.:
"SIR,--Seeing in a newspaper, last week, that a German had found out M.
Daguerre's secret, I was so impressed with that testimony to the
possibility of _seizing a shadow_, that I thought over all the little I
knew of light, colours and chymistry. The next day, I took a piece of
writing paper, hastily prepared by myself, placed it behind the lens of a
_camera obscura_, made on the spur of the moment, and obtained a
satisfactory result; for the trees, in front of my house, were produced,
but not the parts agitated by the wind. Since that, I have obtained,
progressively improving, several landscapes, which may be called, most
appositely, 'lucigraphs.' I mention my humble effort as corroborative of
the reality, or feasibility of M. Daguerre's beautiful discovery; and I
can readily conceive that, in a very short time, the traveller's
portmanteau will not be complete without the very portable means of
procuring a lucigraph at pleasure.--Yours, etc., CLERICUS, Welney,
Wisbeach." This gentleman's prophecy has, long since, been verified, as
the "Kodakers" all over the world can testify. But the first public
experiment in England (if we exclude Wedgwood's) was made, on Sept. 13,
1839, when M. St. Croix exhibited the whole process of Daguerreotype, in
presence of a select party of scientific men and artists. He also
succeeded in producing a picture of the place of meeting; No. 7,
Piccadilly.
* * * * *
People were beginning to wake up as to social improvements, and the
better paving of, at least, the most public thoroughfares, was loudly
called for. Hitherto people had been content with the old cobble stones,
and wide kennels, or gutters--but henceforth there was to be inaugurated
a newer and better _regime_, as we learn from the _Observer_ of 6 Jan.:
"EXPERIMENTAL PAVEMENT OF OXFORD STREET.--This, doubtless, the most
extraordinary and novel undertaking which has ever been attempted in
the annals of road making, is, to the gratification, not only to the
respectable inhabitants of Oxford Street, but to a curious public, at
last, completed. On Friday (4 Jan.) at 2 o'clock, the line of this
great thoroughfare, occupied by the various specimens of paving,
extending from Charles Street to Tottenham Court Road, presented a
most animated spectacle, being thronged by thousands of spectators
anxious to witness its opening to the public. Shortly after 2
o'clock, the Paving Committee appointed by the Marylebone Vestry to
superintend the arrangement of this work of art, headed by the parish
beadles, in full uniform, with their maces; and accompanied by the
respective projectors and the parochial authorities, arrived on the
spot in procession, and passed over the ground, followed by 21
omnibuses, after which, the road was thrown open to the public. From
time to time, during the progress of the work, many erroneous
statements have gone the rounds of our daily contemporaries, with
respect to the extent of ground allotted to the experiments, and on
other matters connected with the arrangements. The following,
however, being obtained from an official source, may be fully relied
upon as correct: The whole space between Charles Street and Tottenham
Court Road is occupied by 12 different specimens, which are completed
in the following order, commencing at Charles Street: viz.--40 feet
of Robinson's Parisian bitumen--24 feet laid in straight courses, and
16 feet diagonally; 74 feet of parish stone paving, 54 feet of which
is laid in straight courses, the stones 9 inches deep, and the
interstices filled up with Claridge's asphalte; the remaining 20 feet
consisting of stones only 4.5 inches deep, but laid diagonally, and
filled up with the same composition; 60 feet of the Bastenne and
Gaujac bitumen, partly laid in straight courses, and partly
diagonally: 135 feet of parish stone paving, divided into three
sections, in the following order--1st, 70 feet of dressed Aberdeen
granite, with concrete bottom, and the joints grouted with lime and
sand; 2nd, 40 feet of the same, laid diagonally; and 3rd, 25 feet of
dressed Aberdeen granite, without concrete bottom, the joints filled
in with fine gravel; this is followed by 50 feet of the Scotch
asphaltum, which is entirely the produce of this country, laid down
in straight courses: 60 feet of Mr. Stead's pavement, of wooden
blocks, of a sexagonal form, 12 inches deep, divided into three
compartments, one prepared with Kyan's patent, part dipped in, and
joints run with asphalte, and part without any preparation whatever:
the last specimen, at Tottenham Court Road, is 60 feet of the Val de
Travers bitumen, a portion of which consists of square blocks, laid
in straight courses, and the remainder consisting of a layer of clean
Guernsey chippings cemented together by boiling asphalte, run among
them nearly to the surface, and a face made with asphalte, merely
showing the chippings, here and there, in patches. The whole work
presents a most even and beautiful road, and, yesterday, during the
day, attracted the notice of many hundreds of persons. The portion,
however, it is but justice to add, to which attention was more
particularly directed, was that of the wooden blocks, the noiseless
tendency of which, made the vehicles passing along, appear to be
rolling over a thick carpet or rug. The time allowed by the Vestry
of St. Marylebone for the test of these experiments, is until the
last Saturday of June next, when the official report of the surveyors
will be laid before that body, and upon which the fate of Oxford
Street depends."
People began to feel that it was high time that the Queen should
marry--but, as yet, no signs of such a thing, and no speculations, as far
as I can see, were hazarded as to who her future consort should be. At
length, one newspaper, the _Sun_, seems to have been inspired, by
authority, and is thus quoted in the _Times_ of 24 Jan.:--"'MARRIAGE OF
HER MAJESTY.--The country will learn with delight that the most
interesting part of the speech from the throne {81a} to both Houses of
Parliament, and the country at large, will be the announcement of Her
Majesty's intended marriage. The happy object of Queen Victoria's choice
is Prince Albert, son of the reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg, and cousin of
Her Majesty. Prince Albert is handsome, and about 22 years of age. He
has resided, for some time, in this country, on a visit to his Royal
relatives. How soon the happy event is to take place, we are not
prepared to say, but our readers may depend upon the authenticity of our
information.'--_The Sun_. Has not some wag been hoaxing the editor? We
suspect so, though, at the same time, we do not profess to have any
knowledge on the subject."
* * * * *
Indeed, it was about time that the Queen married, and got out of the
leading strings of the women folk who surrounded her. Had she been
married, we should, probably, have never heard of the sad episode of Lady
Flora Hastings.
This lady, who was highly accomplished, and the authoress of some pretty
poems, {81b} which were published after her death, was the eldest
daughter of Francis, Marquis of Hastings, and Flora, Countess of Loudon,
and was lady of the bedchamber to the Duchess of Kent. Two old
busybodies, the Ladies Portman and Tavistock, spread the vile and
unfounded rumour that the unfortunate lady was _enceinte_, and the Queen
forbade Lady Flora to appear at Court until she had submitted to the
indignity of a medical examination. The case called forth some very
strong feeling--and a vast quantity of correspondence was published on
the subject, especially the indignant letters of the poor lady's mother
to the Queen; but, perhaps, the most temperate account of the whole
affair, is in a letter from Lady Flora's uncle, Mr. Hamilton Fitzgerald,
which was published in the _Examiner_ of Sunday, 24th of March, and,
afterwards, copied into all the daily papers.
"SIR,--Many false and contradictory reports of the deplorable insult
which has been lately offered to my niece, Lady Flora Hastings, at
Buckingham Palace, having appeared in the public papers, I, as her
ladyship's nearest connection, feel it my duty to request of you to
publish the following account of the transaction, for the correctness
of which I vouch.
"Lady Flora arrived, some weeks since, from Scotland, very unwell.
She immediately consulted Sir James Clark, the physician to both Her
Majesty and the Duchess of Kent. One symptom of her complaint was a
swelling of the stomach. By dint of exercise and medical treatment,
she was getting better; the swelling had considerably subsided, and
she had every hope of a speedy recovery; when, on or about the 1st of
March, Sir James Clark went to her room, and announced to her the
conviction of the ladies of the Palace that she was pregnant. In
answer to all his exhortations to confession, 'as the only means of
saving her character,' Lady Flora returned an indignant, but steady
denial that there was anything to confess. Upon which, Sir James
Clark told her, 'that nothing but her submitting to a medical
examination would ever satisfy them, or remove the stigma from her
name.' Lady Flora found that the subject had been brought before the
Queen's notice, and that all this had been discussed, arranged and
denounced to her, without one word having been said on the subject to
her own mistress, the Duchess of Kent; who had no suspicion of what
was going on, and whose sanction was not sought for the humiliating
proposition which had been made to Lady Flora. On leaving Lady
Flora's room, Sir James Clark went to the Duchess of Kent, and
announced his conviction that Lady Flora was with child; and was
followed by Lady Portman, who conveyed a message from Her Majesty to
her mother, that the Queen would not permit Lady Flora to appear till
the examination had taken place. Lady Portman (who, with Lady
Tavistock, are mentioned as most active against Lady Flora) expressed
to the Duchess of Kent, her conviction of Lady Flora's guilt.
"'Her beloved mistress' never, for a moment, doubted Lady Flora's
innocence. She said that she knew her, her principles, and her
family too well to listen to such a charge. However, the edict was
given; and, the next day, Lady Flora having obtained the Duchess of
Kent's very reluctant consent--'for Her Royal Highness could not bear
the idea of her being exposed to such a humiliation'--but, Lady
Flora, 'feeling it her duty to Her Royal Highness, to herself, and to
her family, that a point blank refutation should be instantly given
to the lie,' submitted herself to the most rigid examination; and now
possesses a certificate, signed by Sir James Clark, and also by Sir
Charles Clark, stating, as strongly as language can state it, that
there are no grounds for believing that pregnancy does exist, or ever
has existed. Lord Hastings, though, at the time very ill from
influenza, went to London immediately, and demanded, and obtained,
from Lord Melbourne, a distinct disavowal of his participation in the
affair; and demanded, and obtained, an audience of Her Majesty, in
which, while he disclaimed all idea that the Queen had any wish to
injure his sister, he plainly, though respectfully, stated his
opinion of those who had counselled her, and his resolution to find
out the originator of the slander, and bring him, or her, to
punishment. Lady Flora is convinced that the Queen was surprised
into the order which was given, and that Her Majesty did not
understand what she was betrayed into; for, ever since the horrid
event, Her Majesty has shown her regret by the most gracious kindness
to Lady Flora, and expressed it warmly, with 'tears in her eyes.'
"The Duchess of Kent's conduct was perfect; 'a mother could not have
been kinder.' 'She immediately dismissed Sir James Clark from her
service, and refused to see Lady Portman'; and has crowned her
goodness by a most beautiful letter she has written to the Dowager
Lady Hastings, from whom the accounts were kept, till all hope of
avoiding publicity was impossible."
Her brother, the Marquis of Hastings, was indefatigable in trying to
unearth the promoters of the scandal, but, from the published letters,
without much result; but the unfortunate affair involved the whole Court,
for a time, in unpopularity--Lady Loudon, her mother, demanded from the
Queen, Sir James Clark's dismissal, but was not successful. Meantime,
the object of all this agitation, after resuming, for a time, the duties
of her situation, grew gradually worse, and, at length, expired, on the
5th July, at the age of 33. By the desire of Lord Hastings, a _post
mortem_ examination of the body took place, the particulars of which,
attested by five of the most eminent surgeons of the metropolis, were
published in the papers, and fully established the unfortunate lady's
complete innocence of the charge brought against her, the cause of death
being clearly shown to be enlargement of the liver.
Lady Flora's remains were removed from the palace, at an early hour in
the morning, to be conveyed, by steamboat, to Scotland. Even as early as
two o'clock, a considerable number of spectators were assembled, which
increased in every street through which the procession passed. Four
Royal carriages, including those of the Queen and the Queen Dowager, and
many belonging to the nobility, accompanied the hearse. Lady Flora's
body was interred, on the 15th of July, in the family vault at Loudon,
Ayrshire.
There were many books and pamphlets published with regard to this affair,
among which were her mother's letters to the Queen: "The Lady Flora
Hastings, a Brief Sketch"--"A Warning to the Baroness Lehzen, {84}
etc."--"The Palace Martyr, a Satire"--"The Dangers of Evil Council,
etc."--"A Dirge on the Death of Lady Flora Hastings"--"The late Lady
Flora Hastings: Statements of the Marquis of Hastings, etc."--"The Victim
of Scandal."
* * * * *
At the time of which I write, climbing boys were still employed to sweep
chimneys, and as a sample of the manner in which they were treated by
their masters, I give the following police case. 25 Jan.:
MARLBOROUGH STREET.--Henry Riddle, foreman to Robert Towser, a
chimney sweep, appeared before the magistrates on a summons charging
him under the 4 & 5 Wil. IV., c. 35, with the following act of
cruelty towards James Arnold, a boy about 12 years of age, and who,
for some time past, had been in Towser's employ.
Mr. Rice, a baker, of 31, Up. Seymour St., Portman Sq., deposed that,
on the afternoon of the 18th instant, his kitchen chimney, by some
accident, caught fire; and, in consequence of information thereof
being communicated to the defendant Riddle, he, soon afterwards, came
to the house, bringing with him the boy Arnold, whom he, at once,
desired to ascend, notwithstanding that the lighted soot was, at the
time, coming down into the grate in large flakes.
Mr. Rawlinson: Did you remonstrate with Riddle upon the inhumanity of
his conduct?
Complainant: I did, and begged of him not to send the boy up, as he
would, inevitably, be suffocated; to which he replied, "Oh, d---n it,
I've many a time been up a chimney ten times worse than that, myself,
and why can't he do it?" At this period, I had occasion to go
upstairs, and made my way on to the roof, just as a friend of mine
was about to pour down a quantity of water, when I begged of him not
to do so, as I fancied I heard the voice of someone within a short
distance of the top of the chimney; we both listened, and heard
someone faintly say, "For God's sake, take the chimney pot off, or I
shall be suffocated." With some difficulty we tore away the mortar,
and, having removed the pot, we beheld the poor boy Arnold, who kept
crying out, "Oh! pull me up, pull me up!" My friend then thrust down
his arm, and, laying hold of the little sufferer, succeeded in
extricating him from his perilous situation.
Mr. Rawlinson: Was the chimney, at the time, still on fire?
Complainant: It was, Sir.
Mr. Rawlinson: In what condition did the boy seem when lifted out of
the chimney?
Complainant: He seemed almost in a lifeless state, and when carrying
him in my arms downstairs, I was fearful he would not recover. After
the lapse of a little time, I gave him a small quantity of brandy,
and he, in a great measure, revived; Riddle then took hold of him,
and leading him to the roof of the house, insisted upon his
descending from the top to the bottom of the chimney, which he did,
and he and Riddle then left the place.
Mr. Rawlinson (to Riddle): What answer have you to make for
ill-treating this poor boy in so shameful a manner?
Riddle: The boy is not an apprentice, and he was not sent up the
chimney until a quantity of water had been thrown down.
Mr. Rawlinson, after remarking upon the atrocious nature of the
offence, ordered Riddle to find bail to answer the charge at the
Sessions; at the same time expressing a hope that a severe example
would be made of him.
From 1838 to 1841, there was exhibiting in London a famous lion tamer
named Van Amburgh, and, in January, 1839, the Queen went to Drury Lane
Theatre to witness his performance, with which she was so pleased, that
she commissioned Sir Edwin Landseer to paint a picture of Van Amburgh and
his lions, which was exhibited in 1839, and is now in the Royal
Collection at Osborne. If I am not very much mistaken there is another,
by the same artist, of the same subject, in the Duke of Wellington's town
mansion, at Apsley House.
We can see how long it takes to carry out well-known and wanted
improvements--take the Thames Embankment for example. Originally
suggested by Wren after the great fire of London in 1666, and afterwards
by William Paterson, the founder of the Bank of England, about 1694, the
matter slumbered until 1767, when the Corporation of the City of London
embanked one mile of the river. The question arose spasmodically until
1838, when the Corporation consulted with the Government as to the
advisability of embanking the Thames all the way between London and
Vauxhall Bridges, and, in Jan., 1839, the Government sanctioned surveys
being made and estimates prepared; the whole correspondence concerning
which may be found in the _Times_ of 2 Feb., 1839. But no practical
steps were taken in the matter until 1860, when the Metropolitan Board of
Works memorialised the House of Commons, and a Committee was appointed
which sat for the first time on 30 Ap., 1861. An Act for carrying out
the scheme was passed on 7 Aug., 1862, and the work was commenced in Nov.
of the same year. The northern (Victoria) embankment, which terminated
at Whitehall Stairs, was opened (as far as the footway went) to the
public on 30 July, 1868.
Victoria Park took a shorter time to mature. The first mention of it,
that I can find, is in the _Times_ of March, 1839: "The inhabitants of
St. Mary, Whitechapel, are bestirring themselves to obtain the formation
of a Royal Park in their neighbourhood, and the Vestry of the parish are
about to bring the matter before the public." And they did so with such
good effect that an Act was passed on 21 June, 1841 (4 & 5 Vic., c. 27),
"To enable Her Majesty's Commissioners of Works to complete the Contract
for the Sale of York House, and to purchase certain lands for a Royal
Park." York House was sold to the Duke of Sutherland, and with the
whole, or part, of the purchase money, the Commissioners were to purchase
certain lands or hereditaments containing about 290 acres, which "shall
for ever, thereafter, be taken and be a Royal Park, by the name of
'Victoria Park.'" The Park was completed, and opened to the public, in
1845.
On Monday, 25 March, occurred a most daring robbery of gold dust valued
at 4,600 pounds, which, at the time, created a great sensation. It seems
that two boxes of gold dust were brought to this country from Mexico, in
the Sea Gull Packet, consigned to the Brazilian Mining Co., and were
landed at Falmouth. They were, subsequently, transshipped on board the
City of Limerick steamer, which arrived at Dublin on Sunday afternoon.
The boxes were not landed at the wharf until Monday morning, and, at noon
on that day, the stranger who obtained possession of them drove up to the
wharf in a cab which he had hired in the city. The letter which he
presented to the wharfinger for the delivery of the boxes was in the same
handwriting as one which the wharfinger had received from Falmouth, and
which bore the postmark of that place, in the morning. It gave
particular directions respecting the boxes, and that they were only to be
delivered to a gentleman who would call in the course of the day, and
present a letter in the same handwriting for their delivery. The person
who obtained the boxes accurately described their contents, the marks on
them, and the time they were landed at Falmouth. The wharfinger, as
might be expected, was completely put off his guard by the ingenuity and
cunning of the thief, and delivered them over to him.
On 3 April, two Jews, Ellis and Lewis Caspar, father and son, were
brought up at Lambeth Street Police Station for being concerned in the
robbery; afterwards, two other prisoners, Emanuel Moses and his daughter,
Alice Abrahams, were arrested, and all were committed for trial, the
Caspars for stealing the gold, the other two for feloniously receiving
the same, well knowing it to be stolen. They were tried at the Central
Criminal Court on 24 June, the trial lasting eight days. The jury found
them all guilty, but recommended Alice Abrahams to mercy, believing that
she acted under the advice and influence of her father. Judgment was not
pronounced on them until 3 Feb., 1840, when the three male prisoners were
sentenced to fourteen years' transportation, and the female to four
months' hard labour. The Jewish community tried all their influence to
get these sentences modified, but the convicts sailed for Sydney in the
following October. The expenses of the prosecutor in connection with the
trial amounted to 2,900 pounds!
CHAPTER IX.
Queen Elizabeth's Statue--The Ladies of the Bedchamber--The Queen hissed
at Ascot Races--Land at Melbourne--Sunday Trading--New way of paying
Church Rates.
_Times_, 25 Ap.--"The workmen engaged some time since in taking down an
old public house adjoining St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet St., discovered
in one of the cellars the ancient stone statue of Queen Elizabeth, which
formerly stood in the nave of the old church. The parochial authorities
have resolved to place it on the east end of the church, fronting Fleet
Street." An unfortunate position, for many raw, unlettered Irishmen, or
women, have mistaken it, owing to its environment, to be a statue of the
Virgin Mary, and have devoutly crossed themselves, and said their "Aves."
About this time occurred a political complication which afforded great
scope for gossip, and which showed that it was about time that the Queen
was freed from her female _entourage_, and had the protective advice of a
husband. On the 7th May, Lord Melbourne, having been beaten, by a small
majority, on the Bill concerning the Suspension of the Constitution in
Jamaica, resigned, and Sir Robert Peel was commissioned by the Queen to
form a new Ministry. He did so, but, for valid reasons, he required the
resignation, as was, and is, usual, of the ladies of the household. In
order that there shall be no bias on this divergence of opinion between
the Sovereign and her Minister, I quote a portion of Sir Robert Peel's
speech in the House of Commons, on 13 May, taking it from the authorised
version of _Hansard_. Sir Robert said that there was but one subject of
disunion between himself and Her Majesty.
"The difficulty arose with respect to certain portions of that part of
the establishment which is filled by the Ladies of the household. Sir, I
think it infinitely better, on this point--the one on which the
difficulty arose--I think it infinitely better, after mature
consideration--that I should not enter--in the first instance, at least,
nor unless invited by the noble Lord (John Russell)--into any statement
whatever of impressions on my own mind with respect to what took
place--but that I should refer exclusively to the letters which passed on
the subject; because if I were to state, here, impressions of my own, I
must detail verbal communications that passed, where two parties only
were present; and myself one of the party, being alone in this House to
offer explanations of what occurred. I approach, then, that point with
respect to which the difficulty, on this occasion, arose; and, for the
purpose of enabling the House to form a judgment with respect to the
nature of that difficulty, I shall confine myself, altogether, to the
written documents which passed on the occasion, in which are conveyed the
impressions on the mind of Her Majesty, and the impressions on my own
mind, with regard to the purport and effect of the communications which
passed between Her Majesty and myself, in respect to certain appointments
in the household, which are held by Ladies. Now, whatever blame may
attach on account of imperfect explanations, I am content to bear it;
whatever consequences may result from misconception, let them be visited
on me; but, as to my intentions in regard to the Ladies of the household,
I must not only state them, but I must prove them by most unequivocable
testimony.
"On the Wednesday evening--that is, the day before I saw Her Majesty on
this particular point--I had an opportunity of conferring with all those
whom I proposed to submit to Her Majesty as Ministers. I saw them on
Wednesday night, at my own house, about ten o'clock. I then stated to
them--and there are four of them now present, who heard the
communication, and can give their evidence upon it--I stated to them, and
to the peers whom I have before named, the course which I meant to pursue
with respect to the household, and had very little considered the matter
(I am speaking of the female part of it); I, really, scarcely knew of
whom it consisted. I took the 'Red Book' into my hand, and saw there the
different appointments of the household. I said to those who were
intended to be my future colleagues, that, with respect to all the
subordinate appointments--meaning every appointment, without exception,
below the rank of a Lady of the Bedchamber--I should propose to Her
Majesty no change whatever with respect to those. With respect to the
superior classes, I stated, that those Ladies who held offices of that
class, and who were immediate relatives of _our_ political opponents,
would, I took it for granted, relieve us from any difficulty by, at once,
relinquishing their offices. But, I stated, at the same time, that I did
think it of great importance, as conveying an indication of Her Majesty's
entire support and confidence, that certain offices in the household, of
the higher rank, if not voluntarily relinquished by the Ladies holding
them, should be submitted to some change Even with respect to the higher
offices, namely, the Ladies of the Bedchamber, I did state, however, that
there were some instances, in which, from the absence of any strong
party, or political, connection, I thought it would be wholly unnecessary
to propose a change. My noble and Right Hon. friends will confirm what I
assert. This passed on the evening of Wednesday; and I mention it only
in complete proof of my intentions, being perfectly willing, as I have
before observed, to have transferred, exclusively to me, whatever blame
may be attached to the imperfect explanation of my views.
"I saw Her Majesty on Thursday, and verbal communications took place on
this subject. As I stated before, into the nature of those
communications I shall not now enter in the slightest degree. I shall
merely read the two letters which passed; one conveying the impressions
of Her Majesty, and the other my own. The letter which I had the honour
of receiving from Her Majesty is dated May the 10th, 1839. I received it
at an early hour on Friday morning, and it is as follows:
"'Buckingham Palace.--May 10, 1839.
"'The Queen, having considered the proposal made to her, yesterday,
by Sir Robert Peel, to remove the Ladies of her Bedchamber, cannot
consent to adopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to
usage, and which is repugnant to her feelings.'
"Immediately--that is, in two or three hours after having received the
letter from Her Majesty, I addressed to Her Majesty a letter, of which
this is a copy:
"'Whitehall.--May 10, 1839.
"'Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
had the honour of receiving your Majesty's note of this morning.
"'In respectfully submitting to your Majesty's pleasure, and humbly
returning into your Majesty's hands the important trust which your
Majesty had graciously pleased to commit to him, Sir Robert Peel
trusts that your Majesty will permit him to state to your Majesty his
impression with respect to the circumstances which have led to the
termination of his attempt to form an Administration for the conduct
of your Majesty's service.
"'In the interview with which your Majesty honoured Sir Robert Peel,
yesterday morning, after he had submitted to your Majesty the names
of those whom he proposed to recommend to your Majesty for the
principal executive appointments, he mentioned to your Majesty his
earnest wish, to be enabled, with your Majesty's sanction, so to
constitute your Majesty's household, that your Majesty's confidential
servants might have the advantage of a public demonstration of your
Majesty's full support and confidence; and that, at the same time, as
far as possible, consistently with that demonstration, each
individual appointment in the household should be entirely acceptable
to your Majesty's personal feelings.
"'On your Majesty's expressing a desire that the Earl of Liverpool
should hold an office in the household, Sir Robert Peel requested
your Majesty's permission at once to offer to Lord Liverpool the
office of Lord Steward, or any other which he might prefer.
"'Sir Robert Peel then observed, that he should have every wish to
apply a similar principle to the chief appointments which are filled
by the Ladies of your Majesty's household; upon which your Majesty
was pleased to remark, that you must reserve the whole of those
appointments, and that it was your Majesty's pleasure, that the whole
should continue as at present, without any change.
"The Duke of Wellington, in the interview to which your Majesty
subsequently admitted him, understood, also, that this was your
Majesty's determination, and concurred with Sir Robert Peel in
opinion that, considering the great difficulties of the present
crisis, and the expediency of making every effort, in the first
instance, to conduct the public business of the country with the aid
of the present Parliament, it was essential to the success of the
commission with which your Majesty had honoured Sir Robert Peel, that
he should have that public proof of your Majesty's entire support and
confidence, which would be afforded by the permission to make some
changes in that part of your Majesty's household, which your Majesty
resolved on maintaining entirely without change.
"Having had the opportunity, through your Majesty's gracious
consideration, of reflecting upon this point, he humbly submits to
your Majesty that he is reluctantly compelled, by a sense of public
duty, and in interest of your Majesty's service, to adhere to the
opinion which he ventured to express to your Majesty."
In a later portion of his speech, Sir Robert remarks:
"I, upon that very question of Ireland, should have begun in a
minority of upwards of twenty members. A majority of twenty-two had
decided in favour of the policy of the Irish Government. The chief
members of the Irish Government, whose policy was so approved of,
were the Marquis of Normanby and Lord Morpeth. By whom are the two
chief offices in the household at this moment held? By the sister of
Lord Morpeth, and the wife of Lord Normanby. Let me not, for a
moment, be supposed to say a word not fraught with respect towards
those two ladies, who cast a lustre on the society in which they
move, less by their rank than their accomplishments and virtues; but
still, they stand in the situation of the nearest relatives of the
two Members of the Government, whose policy was approved by this
House, and disapproved by me. Now, I ask any man in the House,
whether it is possible that I could, with propriety and honour,
undertake the conduct of an Administration, and the management of
Irish affairs in this House, consenting previously, as an express
preliminary stipulation, that the two ladies 1 have named, together
with all others, should be retained in their appointments about the
court and person of the Sovereign? Sir, the policy of these things
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