The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England. A social sketch of the times ... With ... illustrations, etc

Preface

. THAT Sir Walter Scott, when he called his novel " Waverley ; or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since," thought that the time had come, Avhen the generation, then living, should be presented Avith a page of history, Avhich Avould bring to their remembrance the manners and cus toms of their grandfathers, must be my excuse for this book. For, never, in the world's history, has there been such a change in things social, as since the commencement of the Nineteenth Century ; it has been a quiet revolution — a good exemplar of Avhich may be found in the Frontispiece, Avhich is a type of things past, never to be recalled. The Watchman has long since given place to the Police ; the climbing boy, to chimney-SAveeping on a more scientific plan ; and no more is " Saloop " vended at street corners ; even the drummer-boys are things of the past, only fit for a Museum — and it is of these things that this book treats.

The times, compared Avith our OAvn, Avere so very different ; Arts, Manufactures, Science, Social Manners, Police, and all that goes to make up the sum of life, Avere

PREFACE.

. VI then so Avidely divergent, as almost to make one disbelieve, Avhilst reading of them, that such a state of things could exist in this Nineteenth Century of ours. In the first decade, of AA-hich I Avrite, Steam Avas in its very babyhood ; locomotives, and steamships, were only just beginning to be heard of; Gas Avas a novelty, and regarded more as an experiment, than the useful agent Ave have since found it ; Avhilst Electricity Avas but a scientific toy, Avhose principal use Avas to give galvanic shocks, and cause the limbs of a corpse to move, Avhen applied to its muscles. Commerce Avas but just developing, being hampered by a long and cruel Avar, Avhich, hoAvever, Avas borne Avith exemplary patience and fortitude by the nation — England, although mistress of the seas, having to hold her OAvn against all Europe in arms.

The Manners, Dress, and Food, Avere all so different to those of our day, that to read of them, especially Avhen the description is taken from undoubtedly contemporary sources, is not only amusing, but instructive. The NeAvspapers of the day are veritable mines of information ; and, although the Avork of minutely perusing them is someAvhat laborious and irksome, the information exhumed Avell repays the search. Rich sources, too, to furnish illustrations, are open, and I have availed myself largely of the privilege ; and I have endeavoured, as far as in my poAver lay, to give a faithful record of the DaAvn of the Nineteenth Century in England, taken absolutely from original, and authentic, sources. JOHN ASHTON. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

Retrospect of Eighteenth Century — Napoleon's letter to George III. — Lord Grenville's reply — French prisoners of war in England — Scarcity of provisions — Gloomy financial outlook — Loan from the Bank of England— Settlement of the Union with Ireland . . I

Chapter II

Accident at a Review— The King shot at, at Drury Lane Theatre- Behaviour of the Royal Family— Biography of Hadfield— His trial and acquittal— Grand Review of Volunteers on the King's birthday— The bad weather, and behaviour of the crowd . . . . S

Chapter III

High price of gold— Scarcity of food— Difference in cost of living 1773- 1800— Forestalling and Regrating— Food riots in the country— Riot in London at the Corn Market— Forestalling in meat . . .16

Chapter IV

Continuation of food riots in London— Inefficiency of Police— Riots still continue— Attempts to negotiate a Peace— A political meeting on Kennington Common— Scarcity of Corn— Proclamation to restrict its consumption— Census of the people CONTENTS. VIII 45 65

Chapter V. Page

The Union with Ireland — Proclamations thereon — Alteration of Great Seal — Irish Member called to order (footnote) — Discovery of the Planet Ceres— Proclamation of General Fast — High price of meat, and prosperity of the farmers — Suffering of the French prisoners — Political dissatisfaction — John Home Tooke — Feeding the French prisoners — Negotiations for Peace — Signing preliminaries — Illuminations — Methods of making the news known — Ratification of preliminaries — Treatment of General Lauriston by the mob — More Illuminations — Manifestation of joy at Falmouth — Lord Mayor's banquet ..... 32

Chapter VI

Disarmament and retrenchment— Cheaper provisions — King applied to Parliament to pay his debts — The Prince of Wales claimed the revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall — Parliament pays the King's debts — Abolition of the Income Tax — Signature of the Treaty of Amiens — Conditions of the Treaty — Rush of the English to France — Visit of C. J. Fox to Napoleon — Liberation of the French prisoners of war.

Chapter VII

Proclamation of Peace — Manner of the procession, &c. — Illuminations — Day of General Thanksgiving — General Election — A dishonoured Government bill — Cloth riots in Wiltshire — Plot to assassinate the King — Arrest of Colonel Despard — Tiial and sentence of the conspirators — Their fate ......... 55

Chapter VIII

Strained relations with France — Prosecution and trial of Jean Peltier for libel against Napoleon — Rumours of war — King's proclamation — Napoleon's rudeness to Lord Whitworth — Hoax on the Lord Mayor —Rupture with France— Return of Lord Whitworth, and departure of the French Ambassador

Chapter IX

Declaration of War against France— Napoleon makes all the English in France prisoners of war — Patriotic Fund— Squibs on the threatened invasion—" The New Moses "—Handbill signed " A Shopkeeper "— "Britain's War-song"— " Who is Bonaparte?"— " Shall Frenchmen rule over us ? " — " An Invasion Sketch " . . . .74

Chapter X

Invasion Squibs continued— " The Freeman's Oath"— "John Bull and Bonaparte "— " The Eve of Invasion "— " A Biography of Napoleon " — " Britons, strike home " — Enrolment of 400,000 Volunteers— CONTENTS. IX PAGE Napoleon at Calais — Apprehension of vagrants, and compulsorily recruiting the Army and Navy Avith them — Patriotism of the nation — Preparations in case of reverse — Beacons — Spies — The French prisoners — Emmett's rebellion in Ireland — Its prompt suppression — General Fast — Relief of the Roman Catholics . . . .89

Chapter XI

Caricatures of the Flotilla — Scarcity of money — Stamping Spanish dollars — Illness of the King — His recovery — General Fast — Fall of the Addington Ministry — Debate on the Abolition of the Slave Trade — Beacons — Transport — Election for Middlesex — Reconciliation between the King and the Prince of Wales . . . . . 104

Chapter XII

Doings of Napoleon — His letter to George III. — Lord Mulgrave's reply — War declared against Spain — General Fast — Men voted for Army and Navy — The Salt Duty — Withdrawal of " The Army of England " — Battle of Trafalgar and death of Nelson — General Thanksgiving . 112

Chapter XIII

Nelson's funeral — Epigrams — Death of Pitt — His funeral — General Fast — Large coinage of copper — Impeachment of Lord Melville — The Abolition of the Slave Trade passes the House of Commons — Death and funeral of Fox — His warning Napoleon of a plot against him — Negotiations for peace — Napoleon declares England blockaded . 120

Chapter XIV

Passing of the Slave Trade Bill— DoAvnfall of the " Ministry of all the Talents " — General Fast — Election for Westminster — Death of Cardinal York — Arrival in England of Louis XVIII. — Copenhagen bombarded, and the Danish- Fleet captured — Napoleon again proclaimed England as blockaded . . . . . . . 132

Chapter XV

Gloomy prospects of 1808 — King's Speech — Droits of the Admiralty — Regulation of Cotton Spinners' wages — Riots in the Cotton districts — Battle of Vimiera — Convention of Cintra — Its unpopularity — Articles of the Convention ' . . . 136

Chapter XVI

General Fast — The Jubilee — Costume — Former Jubilees — Release of poor prisoners for debt — Jubilee Song— Jubilee literature — Poetry — King pardons deserters from Army and Navy ...... CONTENTS. X PAGE 153 177 1S2

Chapter XVII

Common Council decide to relieve Small Debtors — Festivities at Windsor — Ox roasted whole— How it was done — The Queen and Royal Family present — Division of the ox, &c. — A bull baited — Fete at Frogmore — Illuminations — Return of the Scheldt Expedition

Chapter XVIII

The Scheldt Expedition— The Earl os Chatham and Sir Richard Strachan — The citizens of London and the King — General Fast — Financial disorganization — Issue of stamped dollars — How they were smuggled out of the country — John Gale Jones and John Dean before the House of Commons — Sir Francis Burdett interferes — Publishes libel in CohbetCs Weekly Political Register — Debate in the House — Sir Francis Burdett committed to the Tower 159

Chapter XIX

Warrant served on Sir Francis Burdett — He agrees to go to prison — Subsequently he declares the warrant illegal — His arrest — His journey to the Tower — The mob — His incarceration — The mob attack the military— Collision — Killed and wounded — Sir Francis's letter to the Speaker — His release — Conduct of the mob 168

Chapter XX

Good harvest — Thanksgiving for same — List of poor Livings — Another Jubilee— Illness and death of the Princess Amelia — Effect on the King— Prayers for his restoration to health — Funeral of the Princess — Curious position of the Houses of Parliament — Proposition for a Regency — Close of the first decade of the xixth Century

Chapter XXIV

Condition of the streets of London — Old oil lamps — Improvement in lamps — Gas — Its introduction by Murdoch — Its adoption in London by AA'insor — Opposition to it — Lyceum and other places lit with it — Its gradual adoption — The old tinder box — Improvements thereon . 201

Chapter XXV

Great fires in London — Number of Insurance Companies — Rates of insurance — Fire-engines and firemen — Scarcity of Avater — Supply of water to London — The streets — Their traffic — Shops — Watering the roads 210

Chapter XXVI

Daily life of the streets — The Chimney Sweep — Mrs. Montagu — Instances of the hard life of a "climbing boy" — The Milkmaid — Supply of milk to the Metropolis — " Hot loaves " — " Water cresses " — whence they came — Other cries ...... 216

Chapter XXVII

The Postman — His dress — The Post Office — Changes of site — Sir Robert Vyner — Rates of postage and deliveries — Mail coaches — Places of starting and routes — Number of houses in London — Description of them — Their furniture ......... 228

Chapter XXVIII

Food — Statistics as to quantity of meat consumed — Scarcity of fish and game — Supply of latter to London — Venison — A brewer's dinner — Beer — Quantity brewed — Wine — Its price — Supply of vegetables — Sardines and Harvey's Sauce — Scarcity of wheat — Forestalling — Rice from India— Bounties given for its shipment 235

Chapter XXIX

Parliamentary Committee on the high price of provisions — Bounty on imported corn, and on rice from India and America — The "Brown Bread Bill " — Prosecution of bakers for light weight — Punishment of a butcher for having bad meat— Price of beef, mutton, and poultry — Cattle shows— Supply of food from France— Great fall in prices here — Hotels, &c. — A clerical dessert 243

Chapter XXX

Men's dress — The " Jean de Bry" coat — Short coats fashionable at watering-places— " All Bond Street trembled as he strode "—Rules for the behaviour of a " Bond Street Lounger " CONTENTS. XII "AGE 256 *>3 275 295 313 CHAPTER XaXXI. "The three Mr. Wiggins's "— The " Crops "—Hair-powdering— The powdering closet — Cost of clothes — Economy in hats — Taxing hats — Eye-glasses — "The Green Man" at Brighton — Eccentricities in dress

Chapter XXXII

Ladies' dress — French costume — Madame Recamier — The classical style — " Progress of the toilet " — False hair— Hair-dresser's advertisement — The Royal Family and dress — Curiosities of costume

Chapter XXXIII

Diversions of people of fashion — Daily life of the King — Children — Education — Girls' education — Matrimonial advertisements — Gretna Green marriages — Story ofaAvedding ring — Wife selling — " A woman to let " *

Chapter XXXIV

Gambling — Downfall of Lady Archer, &c. — Card playing in the Royal Circle — Card money — High play — Play at the Clubs — Lotteries — ■ The method of drawing them — Horse racing — Turf and horses better than now — Curious names of race horses — Ladies Lade and Thornton — Lady Thornton's races — Tattersall and Aldridge . . . 285 CHAPTER XaXXV. Cock-fighting — Its illegality — Public recognition of it — Description of company at a cock-fight — High stakes — Bull-baiting — Debate thereon in the House of Commons — Prize-fighting — Famous pugilists — George IV. as a patron of the Ring — Attempts to put down prize-fighting — Female physical education — Cudgel-playing, and other sports

Chapter XXXVI

Hunting then, and now — Hunting near the Metropolis — The Epping Hunt — Fishing — Shooting then, and now— Guns — Methods of proving gun barrels — Big charges— Introduction of the Percussion Cap— Size of bags— Colonel Thornton's bet -or

Chapter XXXVII

A Cockney's account of the First of September— Pigeon shooting— Out-door games— Cricket— High stakes— Lord's cricket ground— Trap and ball— Billiards— Life of Andrews the billiard player . . CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter Xxxviii. Page

The Theatre — Number of theatres in London — Famous actors and actresses— Disturbances at a theatre — Master Betty, " The Infant Roscius" — His country experience — Puffs preliminary — His first appearance in London — Crowds to see him — Presented to the King and the Prince of Wales — Acts at Drury Lane — His subsequent career . .......... 322

Chapter XXXIX

Betty's imitators — Miss Mudie, " The Young Roscia " — Her first appearance in London — Reception by the audience — Her fate — Ireland's forgery of " Vortigern and Rowena" — Fires among the theatres — Destruction of Covent Garden and Drury Lane .... 333

Chapter XL

The O. P. Riots — Causes of — Madame Catalani — Kemble's refutation of charges — Opening of the theatre, and commencement of the riots — O. P. medals, &c. — " The house that Jack built " — A committee of examination — Their report — A reconciliation dinner — Acceptation of a compromise — " We are satisfied " — Theatre re-opens — Re-commencement of riots — The proprietors yield, and the riots end . . 339

Chapter XLI

"The Pic-nic Club" — Its supporters — Its entertainment — Its short life — Automata and wool pictures — Almack's — Pidcock's Menagerie — " The Invisible Girl " — Vauxhall — Sir Roger de Coverley — Price of admission, &c. — Ranelagh Gardens ...... 354

Chapter XLII

Music — Composers of the time — Mrs. Billington — Her salaries — Mdlle. Mara — Mrs. Crouch — Incledon — Braham — Chamber music — Musical societies — Commemoration of Dr. Arne — Competition of pipers — Dancing — The Valse 36l

Chapter XLIII

Painting — " The Royal Academy of Art " — The principal private Picture Galleries — Benjamin West — James Barry — Fuseli — Opie — Minor artists — Turner — Sir Thomas Laurence — Morland — Sale of his pictures — Sculptors — Engravers — Boydell — "The Exhibition of Paintings in Water Colours " — Its members — " The Associated Artists in Water Colours " — Literature — List of literary persons of the decade — Five-volume novels — Decyphering papyri — Major Ouseley's Oriental Library — The Pope and the Lord's Prayer — The Alfred Club CONTENTS. XIV 385 402

Chapter XLIV. Pace

The Yiess— Morning Post and Times— Duty on newspapers — Rise in price —The publication of circulation to procure advertisements— Paper warfare between the Times and the Morning Post— The British Museum— Its collection, and bad arrangement — Obstacles to visitors —Rules relaxed— The Lever Museum — Its sale by lottery— Analomical Museums of the two Hunters 379

Chapter XLV

Melical— The Doctor of the old School— The rising lights— Dr. Jenner— His discovery of vaccination for smallpox — Opposition thereto — Perkins's Metallic Tractors— The " Perkinean Institution "—His cures — Electricity and Galvanism — Galvanizing a dead criminal — Lunatic Asylums — Treatment of the insane — The Hospitals

Chapter XLVI

The Royal Society and the Royal Institution — Scientific men of the time — Society of Arts — Other learned Societies — Ballooning — Steam — Steamboats — Locomotives — Fourdrinier and the paper-making machine — Coals — Their price — Committee of the House of Commons on coal — Price of coals ........ 394

CHAPTER XLVI

I. The Navy — Sailor's carelessness — " The Sailor's Journal " — The sailor and "a dilly " — Dress of the sailors — Rough life both for officers and men — Number of ships in Commission — Pressing — A man killed by a press-gang — Mutinies — That of the Dande — Mutiny on board the Hermione, and cold-blooded slaughter of the officers — Mutiny in Bantry Bay — Pay of the officers — French prisoners of war

Chapter XLVIII

The Army— Number os men — Dress — Hair-powder — Militia— Commissions easily obtained — Price of substitutes — The Volunteers — Dress of the Honourable and Ancient Artillery Company — Bloomsbury Volunteers, and Rifle Volunteers— Review at Hatfield — Grand rising of Volunteers in 1803 ......... 412

Chapter XLIX

Volunteer Regulations — The Brunswick Rifle — " Brown Bess" — Volunteer shooting— Amount subscribed to Patriotic Fund — Mr. Miller's patriotic offer K CONTENTS. XV

Chapter L

l-AGE The Clarke Scandal — Biography of Mrs. Clarke — Her levees — Her scale of prices for preferments — Commission of the House of Commons — Exculpation of the Duke of York — His resignation — Open sale of places — Caution thereon — Duels — That between Colonel Montgomery and Captain Macnamara .......' 427

Chapter LI

Police — Dr. Colquhoun's book — The old Watchmen — Their inadequacy admitted — Description of them — Constables — " First new mode of robbing in 1S00 " — Robbery in the House of Lords — Whipping — Severe sentence — The Stocks — The Pillory — Severe punishment — Another instance ......... 435

Chapter LII

Smuggling — An exciting smuggling adventure — The Brighton fishermen and the Excise — "Body-snatching" — " Benefit of Clergy " — Tyburn tickets — Death the penalty for many crimes — "Last dying Speech" — The " condemned pew " at Newgate — Horrible execution at Jersey — The new drop — An impenitent criminal 444

Chapter LIII

Execution for treason — Burying a suicide at the junction of a cross-road — Supposed last such burial in London — The Prisons — List, and description of them — Bow Street Police Office — Expense of the Police and Magistracy — Number of watchmen, etc., in 1S04 — The poor, and provision for them — Educational establishments . . . . 451 INDEX ILLUSTRATIONS. TACE A STREET SCENE Frontispiece JAMES HADFIELD'S ATTEMPT TO KILL GEORGE III., MAY 15, iSoo II THE LOYAL DUCKING ; OR, RETURNING FROM THE REVIEW ON THE FOURTH OF JUNE, 1800 14 HINTS TO FORESTALLERS ; OR, A SURE WAY TO REDUCE THE PRICE OF GRAIN 1 8 JOHN EULL AND HIS FRIENDS COMMEMORATING THE PEACE 46 JOHN BULL AND HIS FAMILY TAKING LEAVE OF THE INCOME TAX 48 LONG-EXPECTED COME AT LAST ; OR, JOHN BULL DISAPPOINTED AT HIS CRIPPLED VISITOR 51 SKETCH OF THE INTERIOR OF ST. STEPHEN'S AS IT NOW STANDS 60 "DESPAIR" 6l THE FREEMAN'S OATH 90 BILLY IN THE SALT-BOX Il6 DEATH OF NELSON IiS NELSON'S FUNERAL CAR 1 23 EXTRAORDINARY NEWS 143 A STAGE COACH— 1804 183 THE STAGE WAGGON 1S4 \a ILL USTRA TLONS.

XX TACE AN IRON FOUNDRY — 1802 397 A COLLIERY — 1802 398 BRITISH SAILOR — 1805 404 BRITISH SOLDIER — 1805 414 SOLDIERS— 1806 414 DRESSING PIG-TAILS IN THE OPEN AIR— iSol .... 414 HON. ARTILLERY COMPANY — 1803 415 VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS — 1803 . . ... . . 415 BLOOMSBURY AND INNS OF COURT VOLUNTEER — 1803 . 416 MRS. CLARKE 428 MRS. CLARKE'S , LEVEE 429 MILITARY LEAP FROG; OR, HINTS TO YOUNG GENTLEMEN . 430 THE PRODIGAL SON'S RESIGNATION 43 1 WATCHMEN GOING ON DUTY — 1808 436 WATCH-HOUSE. MAR YLEBONE— 1808 437 CONSTABLES— 1805 438 PILLORY. CHARING CROSS 44I THE PILLORY 442 THE CONDEMNED SERMON. NEWGATE 447 THE LAST DYING SPEECH AND CONFESSION .... 448 INTERIOR OF FLEET PRISON 454 HOUSE OF CORRECTION. COLD BATH FIELDS . . . 456 BOW STREET POLICE OFFICE 43S THE DAWN OF THE XIX™ CENTURY IN ENGLAND. A SOCIAL SKETCH OF THE TIMES.

Chapter I

1 799-1 800. Retrospect of Eighteenth Century — Napoleon's letter to George III. — Lord Grenville's reply — French prisoners of war in England — Scarcity of provisions — Gloomy financial outlook — Loan from the Bank of England — Settlement of the Union with Ireland. HE old Eighteenth Century lay a-dying, after a comparatively calm and prosperous life. In its infancy, William of Orange brought peace to the land, besides delivering it from popery, brass money, and AA'Ooden shoes ; and, under the Georges, civil Avar Avas annihilated, and the prosperity, Avhich we have aften *ards enjoyed, Avas laid doAvn on a broad, and solid basis (i799-) THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 2 But in its last years, it fell upon comparatively evil days, and, although it Avas saved from the flood of revolution which SAvept over France, yet, out of that revolution came a Avar Avhich embittered its closing days, and Avas left as a legacy to the young Nineteenth Century, Avhich, as Ave knoAV, has grappled Avith and overcome all difficulties, and has shone pre-eminent over all its predecessors.

The poor old century had lost us America, Avhose chief son, General George Washington, died in 1799. In 1799 we Avere at Avar Avith France truly, but England itself had not been menaced — the Avar Avas being fought in Egypt. Napoleon had suddenly deserted his army there, and had returned to France post-haste, for affairs Avere happening in Paris Avhich needed his presence, if his ambitious schemes Avere ever to ripen and bear fruit. He arrived, dissolved the Council of Five Hundred, and the Triumvirate consisting of himself, Cambaceres, and Le Brun Avas formed. Then, Avhether in sober earnest, or as a bit of political by-play, he Avrote on Christmas day, 1799, the folloAving message of goodwill and peace : " Bonaparte, First Consul of the Republic, to His Majesty the King of Great Britain and Ireland.

"Paris, 5 Nivose, year VIII. of the Republic. " Called by the Avishes of the French nation to occupy the first magistracy of the French Republic, I deem it desirable, in entering on its functions, to make a direct communication to your Majesty. " Must the Avar, Avhich for four years has ravaged every part of the world, be eternal ? Are there no means of coming to an understanding? " How can the two most enlightened nations of Europe, more poAverful and stronger than is necessary for their safety and independence, sacrifice to the idea of a vain grandeur, the benefits of commerce, of internal prosperity, (I799-) LETTER FROM NAPOLEON. 3 and domestic happiness ? Hoav is it they do not feel that peace is as glorious as necessary ? " These sentiments cannot be strangers to the heart of your Majesty, Avho rules over a free nation, Avith no other view than tc render them happy.

" Your Majesty Avill only see in this overture, my sincere desire to effectually contribute to a general pacification, by a prompt step, free and untrammelled by those forms Avhich, necessary perhaps to disguise the apprehensions of feeble states, only prove, in the case of strong ones, the mutual desire to deceive. " France and England, by abusing their strength, may, for a long time yet, to the misery of all other nations, defer the moment of their absolute exhaustion ; but I Avill venture to say, that the fate of all civilized nations depends on the end of a Avar Avhich envelopes the Avhole Avorld. " (Signed) BONAPARTE." Fair as this looks to the eye, British statesmen could not even then, in those early days, implicitly trust Napo leon, Avithout some material guarantee. True, all Avas not couleur de rose Avith the French army and navy.

The battle of the Nile, and Acre, still Avere in sore remembrance. Italy had emancipated itself, and SuAvarroAv had materially crippled the French army. There were 140,000 Austrians hovering on the Rhine border, and the national purse Avas someAvhat flaccid. No doubt it Avould have been convenient to Napoleon to have patched up a temporary peace in order to recruit — but that Avould not suit England. On Jan. 4, 1800, Lord Grenville replied to Talleyrand, then Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a long letter, in Avhich he pointed out that England had not been the aggressor, and Avould ahvays be glad of peace if it could be secured on a sure and solid basis. He shoAved how France had behaved on the Continent, cited the United Provinces, the THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. (1800.) 4 SAviss Cantons, and the Netherlands ; hoAv Germany had been ravaged, and hoAv Italy, though then free, " had been made the scene of unbounded anarchy and rapine ; " and he Avound up thus : "His Majesty looks only to the security of his OAvn dominions and those of his Allies, and to the general safety of Europe.

Whenever he shall judge that such security can in any manner be attained, as resulting either from the internal situation of that country from Avhose in ternal situation the danger has arisen, or from such other circumstances of Avhatever nature as may produce the same end, His Majesty will eagerly embrace the opportunity to concert Avith his Allies the means of immediate and general pacification. " Unhappily no such security hitherto exists : no sufficient eA'idence of the principle by Avhich the neAV Government Avill be directed ; no reasonable ground by Avhich to judge of its stability. In this situation it can for the present only remain for His Majesty to pursue, in conjunction Avith other PoAvers, those exertions of just and defensive war, which his regard to the happiness of his subjects will never permit him either to continue beyond the necessity in which they originated, or to terminate on any other grounds than such as may best contribute to the secure enjoyment of their tranquillity, their constitution, and their independence." * So the Avar was to go on, that ever memorable struggle which cost both nations so much in treasure, and in men.

France has never recovered the loss of those hecatombs driven to slaughter. Nor Avere they alv/ays killed. We kept a feAv of them in durance. On Dec. 21, 1799, the French Government refused to provide any longer for their compatriots, prisoners in our hands, and, from a report then taken, we had in keeping, in different places, as fol- Ioavs, some 25,000 men.2 1 Morning Post, Jan. 7, 1800. s Annual Register, Jan. 25, 1800. (1S00.) FRENCH PRISONERS OF WAR. 5 Plymouth ... ... ... ... 7,477 Portsmouth ... ... ... io,i2S Liverpool ... ... ... ... 2,298 Stapleton ... ... ... ... 693 Chatham ... ... ... ... 1,754 Yarmouth... ... ... ... 50 Edinburgh ... ... ... ... 208 Norman Crocs 3i°38 25,646 There is no doubt but these poor felloAvs fared hard, yet their ingenuity enabled them to supplement their short com mons, and I have seen some very pretty baskets made in coloured straAv, and little implements carved out of the bones of the meat Avhich Avas served out to them as rations.

Their captors, hoAvever, Avere in someAvhat evil case for food, and gaunt famine began to stare them in the face. There never Avas a famine, but there Avas a decided scarcity of provisions, AA-hich got Avorse as time Avent on. The Government recognized it, and faced the difficulty. In February, 1800, a Bill passed into laAV which enacted "That it shall not be laAvful for any baker, or other person or persons, residing Avithin the cities of London and West minster, and the Bills of Mortality, and Avithin ten miles of the Royal Exchange, after the 26th day of February, 1800, or residing in any part of Great Britain, after the 4th day of March, 1S00, to sell, or offer to expose for sale, any bread, until the same shall have been baked tAventy-four hours at the least ; and every baker, or other person or persons, Avho shall act contrary hereto, or offend herein, shall, for every offence, forfeit and pay the sum of £5 for every loaf of bread so sold, offered, or exposed to sale."

By a previous Bill, hoAvever, neAV bread might be laAvfully sold to soldiers on the march. Hunger, hoAvever, although staring the people in the face, had not yet absolutely touched them, as it did later in the year. (1800.) THE NINETEENTH CENTUR Y. 6 The year, too, at its opening, Avas gloomy financially. The Civil List Avas five quarters in arrear ; and the King's servants Avere in such straits for money, that the grooms and helpers in the meAvs Avere obliged to present a petition to the King, praying the payment of their Avages. Some portion, undoubtedly, Avas paid them, but, for several years after\A*ards, the Civil List Avas ahvays three or six months in arrears. The Bank of England came fonvard, and on the 9th of January agreed to lend the Government three millions Avithout interest, but liable to be called in if the Three per Cent.