Annals of Bath, from the year 1800 to the passing of the new municipal act, etc

Front matter

THE j-VlBCIBCIE, Y CHURCH BATH. . ANNALS OF BATH, FROM THE YEAR 1 800 TO THE PASSING OF THE NEW MUNICIPAL ACT. DEDICATED (BY PERMISSION) TU VICE-ADMIRAL LORD JAMES O'BRYEN, G.C.H. BY CAPTAIN ROWLAND MAINWARING, R.N Author of " Instructive Ow£anings," &c " Amid the glories of thy beauteous streets, Empress of cities ! — Mercy glows to see The domes by Charity's fond hand uprear'd: Around them' breathes a hallow'd grace, that o'er Thy vanities, (which make our sages laugh,) fiedeeming influence shed : despairing Woe, Deserted Want, and Sickness, with her brood Of pale-faced martyrs seen, are shelter'd here ; And pure ascends their prayer of gratitude !" R. Montgomery's " Bath." BATH: PRINTED BY MARY MEYLER AND SON, {HERALD OFFICE,) ABBEY CHURCH-YARD. MDCCCXXXVIII. DEDICATION. TO VICE-ADMIRAL THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD JAMES O'BRYEN, K.C.B., G.C.H., &c, .Sic., &c. M y Lord, The interest which your Lordship has taken in the public Institutions, private Charities, and general welfare qf the City qf Bath, gives me a fair claim (even had I been unknown to your Lordship) to solicit the honour of dedicating to you the following " Annals of Bath."

But, associated as I have been with your Lordship, in many of those Institutions, and having observed your Lordship's zeal and ability in promoting their interests, I have a stronger desire to dedicate to you pages qf History, wherein your Lordship has borne so conspicuous a part. VI DEDICATION. If close attention to the interests qf the Poor, if zeal and activity in the promotion qf a good cause, claim the gratitude of the Bath public, it is eminently due to your Lordship, and those worthy men ivho, with yourself, jmss their hours in acts qf benevolence and Christian charity — men, on whom alone rest the welfare and prosperity qf Bath. I have the honour to be, My Lord. Your Lordship's obedient humble Servant, ROWLAND MAINWARING, CAPTAIN R.N. Whitmore Hall, Staffordshire, February, 1838. CONTENTS. 1801.

Great Scarcity and Distress — Measures pursued hy Government, in consequence — Measures adopted in this City — Beneficial Results — Prorogation of Parliament — His Majesty's Speech, in reference to the State of the Country — Average Price of Wheat during the Scarcity — The Harvest Months produce Great Abundance — Battle of Copenhagen — Collections for the Sufferers — Their Majesties expected — Preparations in consequence — Threats of Invasion — Precautions adopted — Bath Volunteers resume their Services — Intelligence of Preliminaries of Peace reach the City — Effect on the Inhabitants — Accident — Illuminations — Burglars and Shoplifters numerous and successful — Population — Civic Appointments. 1802. Definitive Treaty of Amiens confirmed — Subscriptions to augment the Funds of the Hospitals, instead of Illuminating on that occasion — Peace proclaimed — Volunteers throughout the kingdom disbanded — Thanks to that Force, from His Majesty, Parliament, and the Local Authorities — Ministerial Measures Discussed — Amusements of the City in a Prosperous State — Arrangements for Opening a Communication between the Upper and Lower Towns — City Boundaries Perambulated — Origin of that Custom — Parliament Dissolved — Members returned for the City — Civic Appointments.