Opening
Social Life in Queen Anne's Reign
The Daily Courant.
Wednesday, March 11, 1702.
From the Harlem Courant, Dated March 18. N. S.
Naples, Feb. 22.
On Wednesday last, our New Viceroy, the Duke of Escalona, arriv'd here with a Squadron of the Galleys of Sicily. He made his Entrance drest in a French habit; and to give us the greater Hopes of the King's coming hither, went to Lodge in one of the little Palaces, leaving the Royal One for his Majesty. The Marquis of Grigni is also arriv'd here with a Regiment of French.
Rome, Feb. 25. In a Military Congregation of State that was held here, it was Resolv'd to draw a Line from Ascoli to the Borders of the Ecclesiastical State, thereby to hinder the Incursions of the Transalpine Troops. Orders are sent to Civita Vecchia to fit out the Galleys, and to strengthen the Garrison of that Place. Signior Casali is made Governor of Perugia. The Marquis del Vasto, and the Prince de Caserta continue still in the Imperial Embassador's Palace; where his Excellency has a Guard of 50 Men every Night in Arms. The King of Portugal has desir'd the Arch-Bishoprick of Lisbon, vacant by the Death of Cardinal Sousa, for the Infante his second Son, who is about 11 Years old.
Vienna, Mar. 4. Orders are sent to the 4 Regiments of Foot, the 2 of Cuirassiers, and to that of Dragoons, which are broke up from Hungary, and are on their way to Italy, and which consist of about 14 or 15000 Men, to hasten their March thither with all Expedition. The 6 new Regiments of Hussars that are now raising, are in so great a forwardness, that they will be compleat, and in a Condition to march by the middle of May. Prince Lewis of Baden has written to Court, to excuse himself from coming thither, his Presence being so very necessary, and so much desir'd on the Upper-Rhine.
Francfort; Mar. 12. The Marquiss d'Uxelles is come to Strasburg, and is to draw together a Body of some Regiments of Horse and Foot from the Garisons of Alsace; but will not lessen those of Strasburg and Landau, which are already very weak. On the other hand, the Troops of His Imperial Majesty, and his Allies, are going to form a Body near Germeshein in the Palatinate, of which Place, as well as of the Lines at Spires, Prince Lewis of Baden is expected to take a View, in three or four days. The English and Dutch Ministers, the Count of Frise, and the Baron Vander Meer; and likewise the Imperial Envoy Count Lowenstein, are gone to Nordlingen, and it is hop'd that in a short time we shall hear from thence of some favourable Resolutions for the Security of the Empire.
Liege, Mar. 14. The French have taken the Cannon de Longie, who was Secretary to the Dean de Mean, out of our Castle, where he has been for some time a Prisoner, and have deliver'd him to the Provost of Maubeuge, who has carry'd him from hence, but we do not know whither.
Paris, Mar. 13. Our Letter from Italy say, That most of our Reinforcements were Landed there; that the Imperial and Ecclesiastical Troops seem to live very peaceably with one another in the Country of Parma, and that the Duke of Vendome, as he was visiting several Ports, was within 100 Paces of falling into the Hands of the Germans. The Duke of Chartres, the Prince of Conti, and several other Princes of the Blood, are to make the Campaign in Flanders under the Duke of Burgundy; and the Duke of Maine is to Command upon the Rhine.
From the Amsterdam Courant, Dated Mar. 18.
Rome, Feb. 25. We are taking here all possible Precautions for the Security of the Ecclesiastical State in this present Conjuncture, and have desir'd to raise 3000 Men in the Cantons of Switzerland. The Pope has appointed the Duke of Berwick to be his Lieutenant-General, and he is to Command 6000 Men on the Frontiers of Naples: He has also settled upon him a Pension of 6000 Crowns a year during Life.
From the Paris Gazette, Dated Mar. 18. 1702.
Naples, Febr. 17. 600 French Soldiers are arrived here, and are expected to be follow'd by 3400 more. A Courier that came hither on the 14th. has brought Letters by which we are assur'd that the King of Spain designs to be here towards the end of March; and accordingly Orders are given to make the necessary Preparations against his Arrival. The two Troops of Horse that were Commanded to the Abruzzo are posted at Pescara with a Body of Spanish Foot, and others in the Fort of Montorio.
Paris, March. 18. We have Advice from Toulon of the 5th instant, that the Wind having long stood favourable, 22000 Men were already sail'd for Italy, that 2500 more were Embarking, and that by the 15th it was hoped they might all get thither. The Count d'Estrees arriv'd there on the Third instant, and set all hands at work to fit out the Squadron of 9 Men of War and some Fregats, that are appointed to carry the King of Spain to Naples. His Catholick Majesty will go on Board the Thunderer, of 110 Guns.
We have Advice by an Express from Rome of the 18th of February, That notwithstanding the pressing Instances of the Imperial Embassadour, the Pope had Condemn'd the Marquis del Vasto to lose his Head and his Estate to be confiscated, for not appearing to Answer the Charge against him of Publickly Scandalizing Cardinal Janson.
ADVERTISEMENT.
It will be found from the Foreign Prints, which from time to time, as Occasion offers, will be mention'd in this Paper, that the Author has taken Care to be duly furnish'd with all that comes from Abroad in any Language. And for an Assurance that He will not, under Pretence of having Private Intelligence, impose any Additions of feign'd Circumstances to an Action, but give his Extracts fairly and Impartially; at the beginning of each Article he will quote the Foreign Paper from whence 'tis taken, that the Publick, seeing from what Country a piece of News comes with the Allowance of that Government, may be better able to Judge of the Credibility and Fairness of the Relation: Nor will he take upon him to give any Comments or Conjectures of his own, but will relate only Matter of Fact; supposing other People to have Sense enough, to make Reflections for themselves.
This Courant (as the Title shews) will be Publish'd Daily; being design'd to give all the Material News as soon as every Post arrives: and is confin'd to half the Compass, to save the Publick at least half the Impertinences, of ordinary News-Papers.
LONDON. Sold by E. Mallet, next Door to the King's-Arms Tavern at Fleet-Bridge.
SOCIAL LIFE
IN THE
REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE
TAKEN FROM ORIGINAL SOURCES
BY JOHN ASHTON
AUTHOR OF 'CHAP-BOOKS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY' ETC.
A NEW IMPRESSION
WITH 84 ILLUSTRATIONS FROM CONTEMPORARY PRINTS
LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1919
Preface
From the time of Dean Swift downwards to our own days many Political Histories of the Reign of Queen Anne have been written, but its Social Life we have been left to gather mainly from the efforts of novelists, who have been more or less conscientious, according to their knowledge, in placing it before us.
No doubt the drudgery of the work, the wading through all the newspapers, and reading all the literature of the time, has deterred many from attempting what, in its execution, has proved a very pleasant task; for in doing it, one has got to be thoroughly identified with the age--its habits and customs--which, being taken from the very words of the people, then living, writing for living people, who could contradict their statements, if false or exaggerated, a charm was lent to the task, which fully compensated for its labour.
All history, unless it is contemporary, must necessarily, if honest, be a compilation, and my idea is, that it should honestly be avowed as such, and the authorities given for all facts; and this I have done, even at the risk of proving wearisome.
In compiling it, my task has been similar to one who, having a necklace of old beads, finds it broken, and the beads scattered hither and thither. His business, naturally, is to gather them together, and string them so as to satisfy criticism. He may not pick them all up, and he may not please everyone's taste in his arrangement, but his course is clear--he should not add new beads of his own to supply deficiencies, but should confine himself to putting together all he can find in the best manner he possibly can.
The almost total absence of domestic news in the newspapers has compelled me to draw largely on the essays and descriptive books of the time, and in one or two instances I have ventured to transcribe (as in the case of Misson) from works published, or written, two or three years before Anne actually reigned--but the facts were precisely the same as then obtained, so that much has been gained thereby.
The Illustrations might, undoubtedly, have been made more artistic and unreal--but I have carefully taken them from contemporary prints, and prefer to present them in all their uncouthness and reality.
JOHN ASHTON.
I. CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION (BOYS)
Page
The Duke of Gloucester -- The Queen's refusal to marry again -- Treatment of children after birth -- Baptismal feasts -- A christening -- 'Daffy's Elixir' -- Treatment of infantile diseases -- The nursery -- Toys -- Children's books -- Horn-books -- Private tuition -- Boarding and day schools -- Free schools -- Classical education -- School-books -- Penmanship -- Runaway boys -- College education -- Charity schools 1
II. CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION (GIRLS)
Boarding schools -- Town and country educations -- Pastry schools -- Dancing -- Toasts -- 'The Little Whig' -- Madame Spanheim 17
III. MARRIAGE
Eloping with heiresses -- Marriage between children -- Tax on bachelors -- Valentines -- Marriage settlements -- Pin money -- Posies -- Drummers -- Private marriages -- Irregular marriages -- Fleet parsons -- Marriage Act -- Facility of marriage -- Liability of husbands -- Public marriages -- Marriage customs -- Bride's garters -- Throwing the stocking -- The Posset -- Honeymoon 22
IV. DEATH AND BURIAL
Longevity -- Undertakers' charges -- Costliness of funerals -- Mourning -- Burial in woollen -- Burial Societies -- Burial by night -- A cheat -- Mourning rings -- Funeral pomp -- Monuments -- Description of a funeral -- A Roman Catholic funeral -- Widows 35
V. HOUSES, FURNITURE, ETC
'Queen Anne' houses -- Vanbrugh's house -- Real 'Queen Anne' houses -- Hangings and wall papers -- Letting and rent -- Prevention of fire -- A fire -- Insurance companies -- Water supply -- Thames Water Works -- New River -- Coals -- Furniture -- China -- Bedsteads 46
VI. SERVANTS
Number of servants -- Footmen -- Wages -- Liveries -- 'How d'ye' -- The Upper Gallery -- Footmen's Parliament -- Accomplishments -- White slaves from Barbary -- Negro slaves -- Runaways -- Apprentices 58
VII. DAILY LIFE (MEN)
Out-of-door amusements -- A holiday -- Hatred of French fashions -- Beaus' oaths -- Kissing -- Fops: their daily life 63
VIII. DAILY LIFE (WOMEN)
Receiving in bed -- A lady's life -- A fine lady's diary -- Walking -- Visiting -- Tea-table scandal -- Shopping -- Daily church -- Pets -- Dancing -- Books on ditto -- A dancing-master 68
IX. GAMBLING AND SPECULATION
Games at cards -- Curious cards -- Price -- Tax on cards -- Female passion for gambling -- The Groom Porter's -- Gaming houses -- Gamesters -- Noted gamesters -- Debts of honour -- Speculation -- Life insurances -- Marine and other insurances -- Shopkeepers' lotteries -- Government lotteries -- Prizes and winners 78
X. SUPERSTITION
Astrologers -- Their advertisements -- Their tricks -- Witchcraft -- Cases of witchcraft 89
XI. COSMETICS, ETC
Habit of snuff-taking -- Perfumes -- Charles Lillie -- List of Scents -- Soaps -- Wash-balls -- 'Complections' -- Tooth powder -- Hair-dye -- Spectacles 95
XII. TRADE, ETC
The penny post -- Dockwra's vindication of himself -- Abolition of penny post -- Post days and rates -- Halfpenny post -- Method of doing business -- The Exchange -- Description of frequenters -- Bankers -- Curious advertisement of Sir Richard Hoare's 99
XIII. MEN'S DRESS
A beau -- An inventory of him -- Hats -- Wigs: their price: varieties -- Hair powder -- Robbery of wigs -- Natural hair -- Neck-cloths -- Shirts -- Open waistcoats -- Colonel Edgworth -- Coats -- Cheap clothiers -- Stockings -- Boots and shoes -- Shoeblacks and blacking -- Handkerchiefs -- Muffs -- Swords -- Walking-sticks -- Watches -- Overcoats -- Night-caps -- Night-gowns 104
XIV. WOMEN'S DRESS
The Commode -- Description of ladies' dress -- The Petticoat -- The Bodice -- A costly wardrobe -- Underlinen -- Dressing like men -- Scents -- Patches -- Patching Whig and Tory -- Masks -- The hood -- High-crowned hats -- Furs -- Umbrellas -- Pattens -- The fan -- Mobs -- Shopping -- Stuffs -- List of Indian stuffs -- Lace -- Linens -- Tallymen -- Jewellery -- Diamonds -- Plate -- Children's jewellery 123
XV. FOOD (SOLID)
English fare -- Time of dining -- Pontack's -- Other ordinaries -- Books on cookery -- Receipts -- Pudding -- Fish -- Oysters -- Poultry -- Assize of bread -- Markets -- Vegetables -- Lambeth gardeners -- Fruit -- Dried fruit 141
XVI. FOOD (LIQUID)
Beer -- Hard drinking -- 'Whetters' -- Wines -- List of French and Spanish wines -- Wines of other countries -- Duties on wines -- Spirits -- Liqueurs -- Homemade wines -- Prices of tea -- Adulteration -- Price of coffee -- Chocolate -- Its price -- Duty on 150
XVII. TOBACCO
Habit of smoking -- Women and children smoking -- Prices of tobacco -- Customs duty -- Origin of snuff-taking -- The Vigo expedition -- Snuff-rasps -- Ladies taking snuff -- Proper use of the snuff-box -- Use of a spoon -- Prices of snuffs -- List of ditto -- Duty on snuff 156
XVIII. COFFEE-HOUSES AND TAVERNS
Universal use of coffee-houses -- Their convenience -- Company -- First coffee-house -- Number of them -- Anecdote of Bishop Trelawney -- Description of interior -- The news -- Advance in price -- Chocolate-houses -- Famous coffee-houses -- Button's Lion -- Lloyd's -- Sales by candle -- Jenny Man -- Don Saltero's collection -- Taverns -- Noblemen frequenting them -- Drinking own wine -- Purl houses -- List of old taverns 161
XIX. CLUBS
Origin -- October Club -- Calves' Head Club -- Kit Cat Club -- Other clubs -- Suggested clubs 179
XX. SIGHT-SEEING AND FAIRS
Royal visits to the City -- Lord Mayor's show -- The lions at the Tower -- The Armoury -- Tombs at Westminster -- Bartholomew Fair -- Description -- Shows -- Tight-rope dancing -- Natural curiosities -- Theatrical performances, etc. -- Abolition -- May Fair -- Lady Mary -- Pinkethman -- Shows -- Visit to -- Abolition -- Southwark Fair -- Its Shows 185
XXI. OTHER SIGHTS
The Lincolnshire ox -- The large hog -- The whale -- Monkeys and wild beasts -- 'The Lest Man and Hors in the World' -- Performing horse Dwarfs and giants -- Human curiosities -- Helen and Judith -- Conjurers -- Posture masters -- Mr. Clinch -- Waxwork -- Mrs. Salmon, etc. -- Westminster Abbey wax-figures -- Powell's puppets -- Moving pictures -- Glass-blowing -- Miraculous fountain -- Winstanley -- His waterworks -- The four Indian chiefs 201
XXII. ROUGH SPORTS
Bear-baiting -- Bear-gardens -- Bull-baiting -- Description -- Extraordinary bull-bait -- Cock-fighting -- Cock-pits -- Value of matches -- Training 223
XXIII. HORSE-RACING, HUNTING, SHOOTING, ETC
The Queen's love of racing -- Visit to Newmarket -- Queen's plates -- Value of matches -- Race meetings -- Tregonwell Frampton -- His horse Dragon -- The Queen's love of hunting -- Sir Roger de Coverley -- Fox-hunting -- Stag-hunting -- Hare-hunting -- Coursing -- Packs of hounds -- Fishing -- Hawking -- Netting -- The Game Act -- Shooting sitting and flying -- Match shooting -- Archery 228
XXIV. SWORD-PLAY AND OTHER SPORTS -- GARDEN, ETC
Challenges -- The stakes -- The combatants -- Description of fights -- General combativeness -- Boxing -- Cudgel-playing -- Pedestrianism -- Tennis -- Cricket -- Football -- Skating -- Billiards -- Country wakes -- Bowling -- Bowling greens -- Formal gardening -- Clipping trees -- Books on gardening -- Trees and Flowers -- Town and country life -- Country labourers 237
XXV. THE DRAMA
The theatres -- Dorset Gardens -- Its demolition -- Performances -- Lincoln's Inn Fields -- Theatre Royal, Drury Lane -- Its company -- Mrs. Tofts -- The Queen's Theatre, Haymarket -- Its foundation stone -- Its operas -- Pinkethman's theatre at Greenwich -- The Queen and the stage -- Her reforms -- Strolling players -- Behaviour at the theatre -- Orange wenches -- Stage properties -- Actors -- Betterton -- Verbruggen -- Cave Underhill -- Estcourt -- Dogget -- Colley Cibber -- Wilks -- Booth -- Pinkethman -- Minor Actors -- Actresses -- Mrs. Barry -- Mrs. Bracegirdle -- Mrs. Oldfield -- Mrs. Verbruggen -- The ballet 243
XXVI. OPERAS -- CONCERTS -- MUSIC
Introduction of Italian opera -- Its rapid popularity -- Mixture of Languages -- Handel -- His operas, and visit here -- Singers -- Abel -- Hughs -- Leveridge -- Lawrence -- Ramondon -- Mrs. Tofts -- Her madness -- Foreign singers -- Margherita de l'Epine -- Nicolino Grimaldi -- Isabella Girardeau -- Composers -- Dr. Blow -- Jeremiah Clarke -- Dean Aldrich -- Tom D'Urfey -- Henry Carey -- Britton, the small coal man -- His concerts -- His death -- Concerts and concert rooms -- Gasparini, the violinist -- Musical instruments -- Musical scores 268
XXVII. PAINTERS AND ARCHITECTS
Wollaston -- Murray -- Hugh Howard -- Lewis Crosse -- Luke Craddock -- Charles Jervas -- Richardson -- Sir James Thornhill -- Sir Godfrey Kneller -- Closterman -- Pelegrini -- Sebastian Ricci -- Vander Vaart -- Laguerre -- Dahl -- Boit -- Class of pictures in vogue -- Water Colours -- Drawings -- Engravings -- Sculpture -- Grinling Gibbons -- Architects: Sir C. Wren -- Vanbrugh 279
XXVIII. SCIENCE, ETC
Its infancy -- Virtuosi -- Gresham College -- Visit to the Royal Society's Museum -- Their curiosities -- Their new house -- Geology -- Experimental philosophy -- Courses of chemistry -- Mathematics -- List of patents -- Hydraulic machinery -- Savery's steam-engine -- Description 286
XXIX. LITERATURE, THE PRESS, ETC
Authors -- Public libraries -- Their condition -- George Psalmanazar -- Hack writers -- Poverty of authors -- Their punishment -- The Press -- Daily Courant -- List of newspapers -- London Gazette -- Postboy -- Postman -- Dawk's News Letter -- Dyer's -- Evening papers -- Dearth of domestic news -- Amenities of the press -- Roper and Redpath -- Tutchin -- His trial -- Press remuneration -- Mrs. Manley -- 'The Essay Papers' -- The half-penny stamp -- Its effect -- Advertising -- Almanacs -- List of them -- Moore's -- 'The Ladies' Diary' -- 'Poor Robin's Almanack' -- 'Merlinus Liberatus' -- The Essayists and Partridge -- His false death -- His elegy and epitaph -- An amateur magazine 293
XXX. MEDICAL
List of diseases -- Quackery -- Bleeding, etc. -- Physicians -- Surgeons -- Apothecaries -- Dissension between the physicians and apothecaries -- The Dispensary -- Pharmacopœias -- Some nostrums -- Prescriptions -- Cupping -- Treatment of lunatics -- Physicians' carriages -- Dr. Radcliffe -- Sir Samuel Garth -- Sir Hans Sloane -- Dr. Mead -- His duel with Woodward -- Study of anatomy -- Surgical instruments -- Oculists -- Sir William Read -- Roger Grant -- The Queen touching for the evil -- Description of the ceremony -- Quack remedies -- Quacks' harangues 313
XXXI. SPAS AND BATHING
Bath -- Manners of the company there -- Description of Bath -- Its gaieties -- Sale of the water -- Tunbridge -- Epsom -- Hampstead -- Other spas -- Turkish baths -- Controversy on hot and cold bathing -- The Hummums -- Description of a Turkish bath -- Other bagnios -- Cold bathing and baths 329
XXXII. RELIGIONS
Inactivity of the Church -- Dulness of Sunday -- Contempt of the clergy -- Low estimation of a chaplain -- Dress of the clergy -- Church furniture -- Traffic in benefices -- Forged Orders -- Dr. Sacheverell -- 'The Modern Champions' -- Queen Anne's Bounty -- Its history -- Fifty new churches -- Protestant tone of Church feeling -- The effigies on Queen Elizabeth's birthday -- Oppression of Roman Catholics -- Religious sects -- Eminent Nonconformists -- Daniel Burgess -- Dislike to Quakers -- Examples -- William Penn 337
XXXIII. LEGAL
The different branches of the law -- Briefless barristers -- Green bags -- Forensic wigs -- Attorneys -- Knights of the Post -- Lord Somers -- Lord Cowper -- His abolition of New Year's gifts 353
XXXIV. THE RIVER
Use as a highway -- River slang -- Rates of watermen -- Description of wherries -- Pleasure parties and barges -- The Folly -- Its frequenters -- Gravesend tilt boat -- Fares at the Horse Ferry -- The Fleet Ditch 356
XXXV. THE STREETS
Size of London -- Pall Mall -- London in wet weather -- Early morning -- Street cries -- A list of them -- Roguery in the streets -- Orderly regulations -- State of the roads -- Rule of the road -- Street signs -- Description of the streets -- Milkmaids on May Day -- Hyde Park -- Its regulations -- Lighting the streets -- The streets at night 362
XXXVI. CARRIAGES, ETC
Smithfield -- Horse coursers -- Waggons -- Stage coaches -- Travelling in them described -- Bad roads -- Posting -- Hackney coaches -- Their fares -- Hackney coachmen -- State coaches -- Other carriages -- Suburban drives -- Mechanical coach -- Mourning coaches -- Harness -- Sedan chairs -- Chairmen 372
XXXVII. THE MOHOCKS
Scourers, etc. -- Bully Dawson -- Two outbreaks -- That in 1712 -- Hawkubites -- Exploits of the Mohocks -- Sir Roger de Coverley -- Swift's fear of them -- Emperor of the Mohocks -- Gog and Magog -- The Queen's proclamation -- Decline of the scare -- Constables and watchmen 382
XXXVIII. DUELLING
Its prevalence -- Bullying -- Fielding's duels -- Favourite localities -- Its illegality -- Col. Thornhill and Sir Cholmley Dering -- Their quarrel and duel -- Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun -- Story of their duel 390
XXXIX. THE ARMY AND NAVY
Sale of commissions -- General practice -- Its illegality -- Arrears of pay -- Descriptions of officers -- Army chaplains -- The rank and file -- Description of them -- Irregularity of pay -- Rations -- Recruiting -- Bounty -- Gaol birds -- Vagrants -- Desertions -- Story of seditious drummers -- Train bands -- The navy -- Its deeds -- Unpopularity of the service -- Pressing -- Desertion -- Rewards for capture -- Pay -- Description of Admiralty -- Mercantile marine 396
XL. CRIME
Capital punishment -- Its frequency -- An execution described -- Behaviour on the scaffold and way to execution -- Revival after hanging -- 'Peine forte et dure' -- Hanging in chains -- Highwaymen -- Claude du Val lying in state -- Ned Wicks and Lord Mohun -- Their swearing match -- A highwayman hanged -- Highwaymen in society -- Highway robberies -- Footpads -- Burglars -- John Hall -- Benefit of clergy -- Coining -- Pickpockets -- Robbery from children -- Perjury -- Sharpers -- Begging impostors -- Gipsies -- Constables -- Private detectives -- Commercial frauds -- 'Society for the Reformation of Manners' -- Statistics of their convictions -- The pillory -- Ducking stool 407
XLI. PRISONS
Dreadful condition of prisons -- Bridewell -- Description of -- Flogging -- Houses of Correction -- Compters -- Description of the Poultry Compter -- 'Garnish' -- Newgate -- Description of -- Marshalsea -- Queen's Bench -- Fleet and Ludgate -- Poor Debtors -- Kidnappers -- Country prisons -- Bankrupts 425
XLII. WORKHOUSES, HOSPITALS, ETC
The London Workhouse -- Life therein -- Bedlam -- Its building -- Regulations -- Description of interior -- Governors -- Bartholomew Hospital -- St. Thomas's -- Almshouses 435
Appendix
Lilli-Burlero 439
Hunt the Squirll 439
Moll Peatley 440
A List of all the Persons to whom Rings and Mourning were presented upon the occasion of Mr. Pepys's Death and Burial 441
Lord Mayor's Delight 444
Walsingham 445
The Children in the Wood 445
A List of some of the Coffee-houses in London during Queen Anne's Reign, 1702-14 448
Chocolate-houses 453
Sir Roger de Coverley 453
Roger of Coverly 453
Christ Church Bells in Oxon 454
Cheshire Rounds 455
The Nightingale 455
INDEX 459
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page
THE 'DAILY COURANT,' March 11, 1702 Frontispiece
THE NURSERY (Steele's 'Ladies' Library,' ed. 1714) 8
'TROOPE, EVERY ONE' (Lauron's 'Habits and Cryes of the City of London,' ed. 1709) 9
A RAREE SHOW ('Cris de Paris,' 1700. Print Room, B. M.) 10
'OH, RAREE SHOW!' (Lauron) 10
'RIPE STRAWBERRYES!' (Lauron) 11
'SIX PENCE A POUND FAIR CHERRYES' (Lauron) 11
A CORPSE (Undertaker's Bill, Harl. MSS. 5931, 129) 36
INVITATION TO A FUNERAL (Harl. MSS. 5931, 186) 37
LYING IN STATE (Fletcher's 'The Tamer Tamed,' ed. 1711) 43
A WIDOW ('Ladies' Library') 45
A FIRE ('Verses of John Hall, Bellman of Canterbury,' 1708) 51
'NEW RIVER WATER!' (Lauron) 52
'SMALL COALE!' (Lauron) 55
FIREPLACE AND UTENSILS (Harl. MSS. 5961, 220) 56
A BED (Harl. MSS. 5961, 180) 58
'THE MERRY FIDLER' (Lauron) 65
MEN KISSING (from a Contemporary View of Marlborough House--Guildhall) 67
A TEA PARTY (Satirical Prints, No. 1555. 1710? B. M.) 72
A LADY AND FOOTMAN (View of Marlborough House--Guildhall) 74
RIDING PILLION (From a View of Whitehall--1713--Guildhall) 76
A BOURÉE AND A CONTRETEMPS (Weaver's 'Orchesography') 77
A SISSONE (Siris' translation of Feuillet's book on Dancing) 77
A CARD TABLE (Mrs. Centlivre's 'Basset Table,' ed. 1706) 79
A GAMBLING SCENE (Lucas's 'Memoirs, &c., of the most famous Gamesters, &c.,' ed. 1714) 81
A LOTTERY (Steele's 'A Good Husband for Five Shillings,' ed. 1710) 88
AN ASTROLOGER (Harl. MSS. 5931, 12) 92
'4 PAIRE FOR A SHILLING, HOLLAND SOCKS!' (Lauron) 115
A JACK-BOOT 117
SHOE-BLACK ('Cris de Paris') 118
A WATCH RIBAND (Harl. MSS. 5961, 222) 121
'OLD CLOAKS, SUITS, OR COATS!' (Lauron) 122
'OLD SATIN, OLD TAFFETY OR VELVET!' (Lauron) 122
A COMMODE (Anna Sophia of Hanover--Playing Cards, 1707, B. M.) 124
COIFFURE (Princess Royal of Prussia--Playing Cards, 1707, B. M.) 128
PATCHING (Lauron) 129
A MASK OR VIZARD (Harl. MSS. 5996, 3) 131
AN UMBRELLA (Gay's 'Trivia,' 1st ed.) 132
COSTUME OF A LADY 140
'FOUR FOR SIXPENCE, MACKERELL!' (Lauron) 144
'TWELVE PENCE A PECK, OYSTERS!' (Lauron) 146
A COFFEE HOUSE ('Vulgus Britannicus,' 1710) 162
THE LION AT BUTTON'S (Ireland's 'Graphic Illustrations of Hogarth') 169
A TAVERN SCENE (Satirical Prints, No. 1582. B. M. 1712) 176
A LEOPARD (Harl. MSS. 5961, 327) 203
'THE LEST MAN AND HORS IN THE WORLD' (Harl. MSS. 5996, 1) 206
HUNGARIAN YOUTH (Harl. MSS. 5931, 280) 209
A POSTURE MASTER (Harl. MSS. 5961, 5) 211
PORTRAIT OF POWELL (from 'A Second Tale of a Tub,' ed. 1715) 215
GLASS-BLOWING (Harl. MSS. 5961, 224) 218
WONDERFUL FOUNTAIN (Harl. MSS. 5961, 331) 220
THE FOUR INDIAN KINGS (Hand Bill, B. M. 816. m. 19/26) 222
BILLIARDS (Cotton's 'Compleat Gamester,' ed. 1709) 243
SAVERY'S STEAM ENGINE (from 'The Miner's Friend,' 1702) 291
A PRINTING PRESS (Harl. MSS. 5915, 215) 296
'LONDON GAZETTES HERE!' (Lauron) 298
A NEWS MAN ('Cris de Paris') 301
NEWSPAPER STAMP (Newspapers of and after 1 Aug. 1712) 307
PARTRIDGE AND BICKERSTAFF (Harl. MSS. 5931, 10) 310
SIR WILLIAM READ OPERATING (Handbill B. M. 778. K. 15/13) 324
A QUACK (Harl. MSS. 5931, 147) 327
A CLERGYMAN'S WALKING COSTUME (Satirical Prints, B. M. No. 1546--A.D. 1702) 341
A BISHOP'S WALKING COSTUME (Satirical Prints, B. M. No. 1546--A.D. 1702) 342
A PREBEND'S WALKING COSTUME (Satirical Prints, B. M. No. 1546--A.D. 1702) 342
'THE MODERN CHAMPIONS' (Banks' Collection, B. M. 1890 e) 344
A NONCONFORMIST MINISTER (Lauron) 350
A QUAKERS' MEETING ('The Quaker's Art of Courtship,' 1710) 351
Ditto. (Satirical Prints, B. M. No. 1554, by Heemskirk, A.D. 1710) 352
'THE FOLLY ON THE THAMES' (View of White Hall--Guildhall) 360
A STREET SCENE (Gay's 'Trivia,' 1st ed.) 363
MILKMAID ON MAY DAY (Lauron) 369
HACKNEY COACH (View of Westminster Abbey--Guildhall) 375
A STATE COACH (Thanksgiving at St. Paul's for Peace, July 7, 1713--Guildhall) 377
Ditto (Thanksgiving at St. Paul's for Peace, July 7, 1713--Guildhall) 378
A SEDAN CHAIR (Vue du Palais Royall de White Hall--Guildhall) 381
THE WATCH (Bell Man's Verses, 1708) 388
A CONSTABLE (WARD'S 'Nuptial Dialogues') 389
A DUEL (Playing Cards, 1707, B. M.) 391
DUEL BETWEEN DUKE OF HAMILTON AND LORD MOHUN (Historical Prints, B. M. 1712) 394
SOLDIERS (Historical Prints, B. M. 1709) 400
AN ADMIRAL 404
'PEINE FORTE ET DURE' ('Newgate Chronicle'--Wm. Spigott, Pressed 1721) 411
BEATING HEMP (Bell Man's Verses, 1708) 428
FLOGGING A WOMAN (ibid) 428
'REMEMBER THE POOR PRISONERS!' (Lauron) 433
SOCIAL LIFE
IN THE
REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE.
I. CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION
(BOYS.)
The Duke of Gloucester -- The Queen's refusal to marry again -- Treatment of children after birth -- Baptismal feasts -- A christening -- 'Daffy's Elixir' -- Treatment of infantile diseases -- The nursery -- Toys -- Children's books -- Horn books -- Private tuition -- Boarding and day schools -- Free schools -- Classical education -- School books -- Penmanship -- Runaway boys -- College education -- Charity schools.
In all climes, and in all ages, since Man's creation, he has been subject to the same conditions, modified only by circumstances. He has been born--has had to receive some education (if only taught to fish and hunt for his subsistence), which was to fit him for the position he was to occupy in this life. This was absolutely necessary, for it is scarcely possible to imagine a more helpless being than an infant. In most cases he married, and so helped to preserve his species, and most certainly he died.
The scheme of existence in Queen Anne's time was no exception to the normal state of things--only, as the ways of people then were not exactly similar to ours, it will be interesting to note the differences attending childhood, education, marriage, and death. The Queen herself had more than once been a mother;[1] but only one child, the Duke of Gloucester, lived any length of time, and in his infancy he was indebted for his life to a young Quakeress, who acted as his wet nurse. Poor little fellow! his brief stay on earth was not a pleasant one. He suffered from hydrocephalus (water on the brain), and his head was so big that at five years of age his hat was large enough for an ordinary man. He could hardly toddle about, and felt himself unable to go upstairs without being led. His father and mother seemed to think that this assistance was not necessary; and, shutting themselves in a room with the poor little boy, Prince George gave him such a severe thrashing with a birch rod, that sheer pain made him move, and from that time he managed to get up and down stairs without help. Coddled by the women, and with somewhat rough playmates of his own sex, he amused himself by drilling his company of boy soldiers, even reviewing them on his eleventh birthday, the day before he sickened with scarlet fever, of which he speedily died. His mother grieved sorely for him, but never had another child to supply his place.
[Footnote 1: Seventeen times, in fact.]
On her accession to the throne, the succession (failing her issue) was unsettled, and most anxious was the whole nation that she should yet be the mother of their future sovereign. In 'The form of prayer with thanksgiving to Almighty God to be used in all churches and chapels within this realm, every year upon the eighth day of March (being the day upon which Her Majesty began her happy reign),' in the prayer at the Communion service, immediately before the reading of the epistle, 'for the Queen as supreme Governor of this Church,' was the following petition: 'And that these Blessings may be continued to after Ages, make the Queen, we pray thee, an happy Mother of Children, who being Educated in Thy true Faith and Fear may happily succeed Her in the Government of these Kingdoms.' Her husband, Prince George, died October 28, 1708; and it was not until January 13 of the next year, that the Council struck out this portion of the service, some one evidently remembering that the 8th of March was approaching. On January 28, 1709, both Houses of Parliament petitioned Her Majesty to marry again; but her wounds were too recent and too sore. She replied that the provision she had made for the Protestant succession would always be a proof of her hearty concern for the happiness of the nation; but that the subject of their address was of such a nature that she was persuaded they did not expect a particular answer.[2]
[Footnote 2: The Chronological Historian, &c., by W. Toone ed. 1826.]
Ignorantly as the little Duke of Gloucester was treated, what was the condition of ordinary babies? Let a contemporary tell the tale. Steele,[3] writing as if his familiar Pacolet was speaking, and giving an experience of his sensations, says: 'The first thing that ever struck my senses was a noise over my head of one shrieking; after which, methought I took a full jump, and found myself in the hands of a sorceress, who seemed as if she had been long waking, and employed in some incantation. I was thoroughly frightened, and cried out; but she immediately seemed to go on in some magical operation, and anointed me from head to foot. What they meant I could not imagine: for there gathered a great crowd about me, crying, "An heir! an heir!" upon which I grew a little still, and believed this was a ceremony only to be used to great persons, and such as made them what they called heirs.
[Footnote 3: Tatler, No. 15.]
'I lay very quiet, but the witch, for no manner of reason or provocation in the world, takes me, and binds my head as hard as possibly she could; then ties up both my legs, and makes me swallow down an horrid mixture. I thought it an harsh entrance into life, to begin with taking physic; but I was forced to it, or else must have taken down a great instrument in which she gave it to me. When I was thus dressed, I was carried to a bedside, where a fine young lady (my mother, I wot) had liked to have hugged me to death. From her they faced me about, and there was a thing with quite another look from the rest of the company, to whom they talked about my nose. He seemed wonderfully pleased to see me; but I know since, my nose belonged to another family.
'That into which I was born is one of the most numerous among you; therefore crowds of relations came every day to congratulate my arrival; amongst others, my cousin Betty, the greatest romp in nature; she whisks me such a height over her head, that I cried out for fear of falling. She pinched me and called me squealing chit, and threw me into a girl's arms that was taken in to tend me. The girl was very proud of the womanly employment of a nurse, and took upon her to strip and dress me anew, because I made a noise, to see what ailed me; she did so, and stuck a pin in every joint about me. I still cried; upon which she lays me on my face in her lap; and to quiet me, fell to a-nailing in all the pins, by clapping me on the back, and screaming a lullaby. But my pain made me exalt my voice above hers, which brought up the nurse, the witch I first saw, and my grandmother. The girl is turned downstairs, and I stripped again, as well to find what ailed me as to satisfy my granam's farther curiosity. This good woman's visit was the cause of all my troubles. You are to understand that I was hitherto bred by hand, and anybody that stood next me gave me pap if I did but open my lips; insomuch, that I was grown so cunning as to pretend myself asleep when I was not, to prevent my being crammed.
'But my grandmother began a loud lecture upon the idleness of this age, who, for fear of their shapes, forbear suckling their own offspring; and ten nurses were immediately sent for; one was whispered to have a wanton eye, and would soon spoil her milk; another was in a consumption; the third had an ill voice, and would frighten me instead of lulling me to sleep. Such exceptions were made against all but one country milch-wench, to whom I was committed and put to the breast. This careless jade was perpetually romping with the footman, and downright starved me; insomuch that I daily pined away, and should never have been relieved had it not been that on the thirtieth day of my life a Fellow of the Royal Society,[4] who had writ upon "Cold Baths," came to visit me, and solemnly protested I was utterly lost for want of that method; upon which he soused me head and ears into a pail of water, where I had the good fortune to be drowned.'
[Footnote 4: Probably Sir John Floyer, who wrote several books on the wonderful cures made by cold-water bathing.]
After its birth the babe was soon baptized, but there does not seem to have been a great social fuss made about the event. That most entertaining and observant traveller Henri Misson, who visited England at the very close of the seventeenth century, and whose book was translated into English in 1719,[5] says, 'The custom here is not to make great feasts at the birth of their children. They drink a glass of wine and eat a bit of a certain cake, which is seldom made but upon these occasions.'
[Footnote 5: M. Misson's Memoirs and Observations in his Travels over England, &c., translated by Ozells, 1719.]
Ward,[6] however, has left us a humorous description of a private christening. He was asked by a relation to stand Godfather to his newborn Child, and 'I, wanting ill-Nature enough to resist his Importunities, submitted to his Requests; and engag'd for once to stand as a Tom Doodle for an hour or two, to be banter'd by a Tittle-Tattle Assembly of Female Gossips. The time appointed for the Solemnisation of this Ancient piece of Formality being come, after I had put on a clean Band, and bestow'd Two Penniworth of Razorridge on the most Fertile part of my Face, whose Septuary Crop requir'd Mowing, away I Trotted towards the Joyful Habitation of my Friend and Kinsman, but with as aking a Heart as a Wise Man goes to be Married, or a Broken Merchant comes near the Counter.... As soon as we came into the Room, and had bow'd our Backs to the old Cluster of Harridans, and they in return had bent their knees to us, I sneak'd up to the Parson's Elbow, and my Partner after me ... whilst Old Mother Grope stood rocking of the Bantling in her Arms, wrap'd up in so Rich a Mantle as if both Indias had club'd their utmost Riches to furnish out a Noble covering for my little Kinsman, who came as callow into the world as a Bird out of an Eggshell.
[Footnote 6: The London Spy, ed. 1703.]
'At last the Babe was put into my hands to deliver, tho' not as my Act and Deed, to the Parson, who having consecrated some New River water for his purpose, wash'd away Original Sin from my new Nephew, and brought him amongst us Christians into a state of Salvation. But when my froward Godson felt the Cold Water in his face, he threaten'd the Priest with such a parcel of Angry Looks, that if he had been strong enough I dare swear he would have serv'd him the same Sauce, and under the same Ignorance would have return'd him but little thanks for his Labour. After we had joined together in a Petition for the good of the infant Christian, the Religious part was concluded.... As soon as the Parson had refreshed his Spirits with a bumper of Canary, dedicated to the Mother; and the Clerk had said Amen to his Master's good Wishes, after the like manner, each of 'em accepted of a Paper of Sweetmeats for his Wife or his Children, and away they went, leaving the Company behind.' They then seem to have drunk a full quantity of wine, and the women having eaten, drank, and gossiped sufficiently, were each presented with 'a Service of Sweetmeats, which every Gossip carried away in her Handkerchief.... Having now struggled through every difficult part of these Accustomary Formalities, I had nothing to do but to Thank them for our Liberal Entertainment, Wish the Women well again, and both much Happiness in their Male Offspring, and so take my Leave, which I did accordingly; and was as greatly overjoyed when I got out of the House as ever Convict was that had broke Gaol or Detected Pick Pocket that had Escaped a Horse Pond.'
Having launched our baby thus far in life, we will see how he was treated when suffering from any of the numerous ailments which infancy is subject to. The marvel is that so many grew up. It was eminently 'the survival of the fittest.' Sanitary arrangements were extremely rudimentary; little care being taken either as to the purity of the water supply, or the efficiency of drainage. Fever was always in their midst, and, neither inoculation nor vaccination being known, or practised, smallpox was rampant, and spared no class, from the Queen (Mary) to the beggar. Was the child fretful, there was that cordial dear to old nurses of the Gamp school--Daffy's Elixir. This remedy, which has survived as a popular nostrum to our own time, was not new in Queen Anne's reign. It must even then have been a profitable property, for rivals could afford to quarrel over it, as the following advertisements show:--
'DAFFY'S FAMOUS ELIXIR SALUTIS,[7]
PREPARED BY KATHARINE DAFFY.
[Footnote 7: Harl. 5931, 336.]
The Finest now expos'd to Sale, prepar'd from the best Druggs, according to Art, and the Original Receipt, which my Father Mr. Thomas Daffy, late Rector of Redmile, in the Valley of Belvoir, having experienc'd the Virtue of it, imparted to his Kinsman Mr. Anthony Daffy, who publish'd the same to the Benefit of the Community, and his own great Advantage. This Very Original Receipt is now in my possession, left to me by my Father aforesaid, under his own Hand. My own Brother Mr. Daniel Daffy, formerly Apothecary in Nottingham, made this ELIXIR from the same Receipt, and Sold it there during his Life. Those who know me will believe what I Declare; and those who do not may be convinc'd that I am no counterfeit, by the Colour, Tast, Smell, and just Operation of my ELIXIR. To be had at the Hand and Pen in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London; and many other Places in Town and Country.'
Primâ facie, the lady would seem to have made out her case; but there were other aspirants to fame--as the following notice[8] will show:--
[Footnote 8: Ibid. 121.]
'ADVERTISEMENT.
'Forasmuch as Mrs. Elizabeth Daffy has lately Published an Advertisement containing Invidious Reflections upon me, in relation to my Elixir Salutis, I should be wanting to my Self if I should not obviate them in the like public manner, to let the World see they are Malicious, unreasonable, and false.
'In the first place she charges me with Clandestinely taking the House in Prugeon's Court; which, by her leave, is equally absurd and unjust; for the House was to be Lett a long time before I took it (nor had she any lease of the House, or any Power to Lett it), so consequently any one else might have taken the same. As for my pretending to have been her Husband's Assistant in preparing the Elixir, I will only say this is just as true as the former Story; and I challenge her to produce one single Evidence of Refutation to prove her Assertion: nor had I need of any such trifling pretence, having known the Secret some time before the Death of his Father Dr. Anthony Daffy; which I presume was before the said Elias Daffy was privy to the preparing of the said Elixir (he being then a Cambridge scholar), and the same was communicated to me in the year 1684, at the time I was going to travel beyond Sea, where, in divers Countries, considerable Quantities of my Elixir has been taken by Persons of the greatest Rank, Quality, and Note, to their great Satisfaction.
'And whereas the said Mrs. Daffy is pleased to call my Elixir Spurious, and Insinuates as if it were hazardous to the Lives of Men; the numerous Instances of Good it has done, both here and abroad, do manifestly evince the Contrary. And I appeal to all who have taken it in this City, or elsewhere, whether they have not found at least as much Benefit from This as from any Thing of the like Nature they have ever taken; insomuch that I am well assured that those who have tried mine will apply themselves to nobody else for Elixir Salutis.
'JOHN HARRISON.
'From my House in Prujean's Court in the Great Old Baly (The Original and famous Elixir Salutis) being wrote in Golden Characters over the Door fronting the Court Gate. March the 31st, 1709.'
One doctor at least (John Pechy) made the diseases of infants and children his study, and wrote upon the subject. I have been unable to get his book, but a few remedies from the medical works then in vogue will show how these diseases were then treated. Here is a recipe for a child's cough.[9]
[Footnote 9: Collectanea Medica, by Wm. Salmon, M.D.]
Horehound, ℥ix; Liquorice, Maidenhair, Hyssop, Wild Thyme, Coltsfoot, Penny royal, ana ℥iij. Aniseeds and Fennel seeds ana ℥iss. Raisins of the Sun ℥vj. Figs, Jujubes ana ℥iv. Elecampane ℥ij, boil all in lb. vj. of water to 1/2. Strain, and add Honey, Sugar, ana lb. j. Boil to a Syrup; and when almost cold add Orrice, Woodlice, both in fine powder, ana ℥j.'
This mixture might not have been bad, but why add powdered woodlice?
Worms in children were to be treated with 'Prevotius's Oyl to kill Worms.[10] Take--Wormwood, Carduus, Scordium, Tobacco, ana Mj, Roots of Sow bread ℥fs, Coloquintida, ℥ij, Oyl, Vinegar, ana lb. j: boil to the consumption of the vinegar, then add Myrrh in powder ℥j; mix, and boil to the dissolution of the Myrrh. The Title shows the Virtues, anoint it upon the Stomach and Belly.' If this was not effective, the child might be given some lozenges made as follows--'Take Rhubarb, Citron seeds husked, Worm seeds, seeds of Purslain, of Coleworts, Broom finely powdered, ana ʒiij ☿ dulcis ʒij, White Sugar ʒxvj, all being in fine pouder; mix and incorporate with mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, made with Orange-flower water, of which Past make Lozenges each weighing ʒj. They kill all Worms in the Stomach and Bowels, and you may give one or two of the lozenges at a time to a Child in the Morning fasting, but some suppose that the best time is the last three days of the Moon.'
[Footnote 10: Collectanea Medica.]
The Measles were simply treated--the patient only had a draught to soothe any cough, 'Let the sick keep their bed two days after the first coming forth of the spots.'[11]
[Footnote 11: The Family Physitian, by Geo. Hartman.]
In teething, a child should be soothed every four hours with a spoonful of black cherry water, in which two, three, or four drops of Spirits of Hartshorn have been mixed.[12]
[Footnote 12: Ibid.]
There is[13] 'An experimented Remedy for the Rickets. Take roots of Smallage, Parsly, Fennel, and Angelica Roots, slice and boil them in distilled water of Angelica, unset Hyssop and Coltsfoot, of each one part, till they are tender, then strain it, and boil it up to a syrup, with white Honey. Then take a stick of Liquorice, scrape it, and bruise one end of it, and give the Child with it of the syrup one spoonful in the Morning, at four of the Afternoon, and at night.'
[Footnote 13: Ibid.]
There was also advertised 'A necklace that cures all sorts of Fits in children occasioned by Teeth or any other Cause; as also all fits in Men and Women. To be had at Mr. Larance's in Somerset Court, near Northumberland House in the Strand; price 10_s._ for 8 days, though the cure will be performed immediately;' and there was a palatable medium for the little ones in 'the so-much approved Purging Sugar Plumbs.'
Of the Nursery we know very little; indeed children are very seldom mentioned. It is most likely that, in well-to-do families, they were relegated to the nursery, and the care of their mothers, until they were of fit age to go to school. The accompanying illustration, taken from 'The Ladies' Library,' ed. 1714, by Steele, gives us an excellent view of the nursery.
The very babies were amused much as now--for Addison, Spectator, No. 1, speaking of his natural gravity, says, 'I threw away my rattle before I was two Months old, and would not make use of my Coral till they had taken away all the Bells from it.' Some of these corals were very beautiful and costly, even being made of gold.
We know how, from the earliest ages, a doll has been the favourite toy with girls, and the reign of 'Good Queen Anne' was no exception to the general rule--but they were not then called Dolls, but 'Babies'; so, indeed, were Powel's Marionettes--as also the milliner's models. 'On Saturday last, being the 12th instant, there arrived at my House in King Street, Covent Garden, a French Baby for the year 1712' &c. Some were made of wax, but these were, of course, of the expensive sort, as must also have been those in Widow Smith's raffle--'large joynted dressed Babies.' Probably, dolls were the girls' only playthings. As to the boys, history records very little of their amusements. Give a boy in the nursery a whip, or a stick, to beat somebody, or something, he generally is content. How superlatively happy, however, must he have been in the possession of one of these wonderful horses?--warranted chargers--troop horses, every one! They also had card-board windmills on the end of sticks. We hear nothing of marbles, tops, or any other toys; but, doubtless, children's ingenuity supplied any defects that way, then as now, and made shift to play, and amuse themselves, until the time of enfranchisement came, and the boy could wander in the streets and see the marvels of the raree show, and buy 'hot baked wardens--hot,' or some of old 'Colly Molly Puffe's' pastry--or, should his tastes be simpler, there were 'Ripe Strawberryes,' or 'Sixpence a pound fair Cherryes.'
These little folk, however, had their special literature. For there was compiled and printed 'A Play book for Children, to allure them to read as soon as they can speak plain; composed of small Pages so as not to tire children; printed with a fair and pleasing Letter, the Matter and Method plainer and easier than any yet extant.' The price of this was fourpence, and it must have been a favourite, for it is advertised as being in its second edition in 1703. Certainly, the little ones then lacked many advantages in this way that ours possess--but, on the other hand, so much was not required of them. There was no dreaded 'Exam.' to prepare for--no doing lessons all day long, and then working hard at night to get ready for the next day's toil. They were not taught half a dozen languages, and all the ologies, whilst still in the nursery; but, were the suggestions and advice given to 'the Mother' in Steele's 'Lady's Library' thoroughly carried out, they would grow up good men and women.
The boys, however, had strong meat provided for them in such tales as 'Jack and the Giants,' &c. Steele, in Tatler 95, says, speaking of a little boy of eight years old, 'I perceived him a very great historian in "Æsop's Fables," but he frankly declared to me his mind "that he did not delight in that learning, because he did not believe they were true," for which reason I found he had very much turned his studies for about a twelvemonth past unto the lives and adventures of Don Bellianis of Greece, Guy of Warwick, the Seven Champions, and other historians of that age.... He would tell you the mismanagements of John Hickerthrift, find fault with the passionate temper in Bevis of Southampton, and loved Saint George for being the champion of England.... I was extolling his accomplishments, when his mother told me that the little girl who led me in this morning was in her way a better scholar than he. "Betty," says she, "deals chiefly in Fairies and Sprights; and sometimes in a winter night will terrify the maids with her accounts, until they are afraid to go up to bed."'
In all probability the child learned his letters in the first instance from a 'Hornbook,' such as were then commonly used and sold--as the following excerpt from an advertisement shows: 'Joseph Hazard at the Bible, in Stationers Court, near Ludgate, sells ... Spelling books, Primers, Hornbooks, &c.' Hornbooks are now very scarce indeed, and the man lucky enough to possess a genuine one must feel proud of his rarity. It consisted of a small sheet of paper, generally about 4 in. × 3 in. or so--sometimes smaller--on which was printed the alphabet, both in capitals and small text, the vowels, and a few simple combinations, such as ab, eb, ib, ob, ub,--ba, be, bi, bo, bu, &c., and the Lord's Prayer. This was laid on a flat piece of board with a roughly shaped handle, and covered with a thin plate of horn, fastened to the board by copper tacks driven through an edging of thin copper. It therefore would stand a vast amount of rough usage before it would be destroyed--a fact of great importance in elementary education.
Private tuition existed then as now. 'A Grave Gentlewoman of about 50 years of age desires to be Governess to any Gentleman's Children; she can give a very good account of herself,' and 'Whereas in this degenerate Age Youth are kept for so many Years in following the Latin Tongue, and many of them are quite discourag'd, Mr. Switterda (who was formerly recommended to the late King William, and well known by their Excellences my Lord Sparkein and my Lord Methuen) offers a very easy and delightful Method, by which any Person of tolerable Capacity, who can but spare time to be twice a Week with him, and an Hour at a Time, nay, Children of ten Years of Age, may in one Year learn to speak Latin and French fluently, according to the Grammar rules, and to understand a Classical Author; and if they are not compleat in that time, he will teach them without any farther Charge, provided they will be manag'd.' Another gentleman, living in Abchurch Lane, offered to do the same, and, moreover, 'he offereth to be bound to every one for the performance thereof, and to give a Month's trial.'
But a Day School was the normal institution for a boy, although there were Boarding Schools. Judging by the advertisements, these must have been but few in the beginning of the reign, as they gradually become more numerous towards its close. A record of one or two will suffice to show what kind of education they gave. 'At the upper end of Knights Bridge, near the Salutation, there is a Boarding School for young Gentlemen, where, besides French, are carefully taught, after the best English method, Latin, Greek, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, &c.' And again, 'At Lady Day next will be open'd a Boarding School for young Gentlemen at Kensington Gravel Pits, by Richard Johnson, A.M., author of the Grammatical Commentaries.... There will be taught also French, Writing, Arithmetick, and Mathematicks;' whilst another takes a wider range: 'A boarding School will be open'd after Easter, at Chertsey ... for the Instruction of Youth in the English, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew Tongues, besides Geography, History, Mathematicks, Writing, and Accompts; to fit 'em either for the University, Study of the Law, or other Business.'
In London, too, were many free schools. There were Westminster, Merchant Taylors', Paul's, Greyfriars, Christ's Hospital, and St. Olave's, Southwark. There were three free schools in Westminster besides the Queen's School; these were, Palmer's in Tuttlefields, Almery School, and Hill's School. Besides which were Lady Owen's School, Islington, and Bunhill School--and there were free schools in Cherrytree Alley, Castle Street (Tennyson's), Great Queen Street, Parker's Lane, Church Entry, Old Jewry, Whitechapel, Ratcliffe, Foster Lane, Hoxton, St. Saviour's, Southwark, Plough Yard, Rotherhithe, and East Smithfield--and this probably is not an exhaustive list.
Although French, High Dutch, and Italian were taught, it was a Classical age, and every gentleman was bound to be a fair, if not a good, classical scholar; indeed, other branches of education were neglected for this, as Steele complains (Spectator, No. 147) that boys at school, 'When they are got into Latin, they are looked upon as above English, the reading of which is wholly neglected, or at least read to very little purpose.' We might look a long time now-a-days for an advertisement such as the following: 'At Hogarth's[14] Coffee House in St. John's Gate, the mid-way between Smithfield Bars and Clerkenwel, there will meet every day at 4 o'clock some Learned Gentlemen who speak Latin readily, where any Gentleman that is either skilled in that Language, or desirous to perfect himself in speaking thereof, will be welcome. The Master of the House, in the absence of others, being always ready to entertain gentlemen in the Latin Tongue.' It is much to be doubted if that literary society, the Urban Club, which till lately held its meetings at the same place, St. John's Gate, could do the same.
[Footnote 14: Father of the celebrated painter.]
Let us glance at a few of the school books then in vogue. First of all is one of the immortal Cocker, 'according to' whom all correct calculations should be made. Although he had been long dead (since 1677), his works lived after him; and there were also other works on Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and the use of the Globes. (By the way, a pair of 9-in. diam. globes only cost a guinea.) There were Latin Dictionaries, Lilly's Latin Grammar, and an abridgment of it for the use of Blackheath School. There was that English Grammar which 'Isaac Bickerstaff' (Steele) puffed up so: 'That as grammar in general is on all hands allow'd the foundation of all arts and sciences, so it appears to me that this grammar of the English tongue has done that justice to our language which, 'till now, it never obtained;' and there was 'A Guide to the English Tongue, by Thos. Dyche, schoolmaster in London,' the second edition of which was published in 1710, but which has been so popular that a revised edition of it was published as late as 1816; and there were any quantity of books on writing--notably the 'Paul's Scholar's Copy Book, by John Rayner,' immortalised in Tatler 138. The writing of the age was very good--and many are the specimens of elaborate caligraphy in the 'Bagford Collection': for unassuming and yet good writing, perhaps, however, the best are in Harl. MS. 5995, 211, &c.[15] In the eighteenth century penmanship was held in higher estimation than now, and in 1763 W. Massey published 'The Origin and Progress of Letters,' in which he gave the lives of the most famous writing masters during the preceding hundred years. He mentions some half-dozen or more, as living in Anne's reign, but Charles Snell seems to have been the most famous.
[Footnote 15: Harl. MSS., British Museum.]
As may be supposed, when so much pains was taken in writing, there were many curiosities of caligraphic art. Here is one: 'A piece of close Knotting, viz. 2 Boys holding Circles in their Hands, either being less than a Silver Penny, in which are perspicuously wrote the Lords Prayer in Latin and English. Invented and perform'd by John Dundas (who will shortly publish a Copy book with about 50 new Fancies).... N.B. Any Gentleman or Lady that desires small Writing for a Ring, Locket, or other Curiosity, may be furnished by the Author.'
That pens other than quill were in use is evidenced by an advertisement re a lost pocket-book, which contained 'a Brass Pen.'
Stenography was practised somewhat extensively, to judge by the numerous advertisements; but William Mason, living at the Hand and Pen, in the Poultry, claimed to be 'the Author and Teacher of the shortest Shorthand extant.'
And yet, with all these scholastic advantages, some boys would not be happy; but, as boys have done ever since boarding schools have been invented, they sometimes ran away. Vide the following advertisements: 'A Gentleman's only Child is run from School; he is about 12 years of Age, with light Cloaths lin'd with red, a well favour'd brisk Boy, with a fair old Wig: speaks a little thro' the Scots, his Name Alex Mackdonald: he has been in Spain and Portugal, which makes his Parents fear that some Ship may entertain him.' Whoever captured this lad was to be 'sufficiently rewarded,' whilst the next runaway was only valued at 'half a guinea and charges,' although he was dressed so smartly: 'A little slim, fair hair'd handsome English Boy, who speaks French very well, between 11 and 12 Years of Age, with a sad colour, coarse Kersay Coat trim'd with flat new Gilded Brass Buttons, with a whitish Calla-manca Waistcoat with round Plate Silver Buttons, and a little Silver Edging to his Hat, with fine white Worsted rowl'd Stockings, and with Silver Plate Buttons to his sad colour Sagathy Stuff Britches: went away from School on Thursday, the 6th Inst. Supposed to be gone towards Wapping, Rotherif, Greenwich, or Gravesend, he having been seen near the Thames Side asking for a Master to go to sea.' Curious how, in every century since Elizabeth's time, the runaway English boy naturally flies to the water. Always the same tale: ran away and went to sea. Here were two well-nurtured lads, more than ordinarily accomplished, yet they were bitten by this same tarantula.
Let the Spectator describe the rising generation of that time after they had finished their academic career and had gone to the university. In No. 54, attributed to Steele, speaking of Cambridge, he says, 'Now for their manner of living: and here I shall have a large field to expatiate in; but I shall reserve particulars for my intended discourse, and now only mention one or two of their principal exercises. The elder proficients employ themselves in inspecting mores hominum multorum, in getting acquainted with all the signs and windows in the town. Some have arrived to so great knowledge, that they can tell every time a butcher kills a calf, every time any old woman's cat is in the straw; and a thousand matters as important. One ancient philosopher contemplates two or three hours every day over a sun-dial; and is true to the dial.
As the dial to the sun, Although it be not shone upon.
Our younger students are content to carry their speculation as yet no further than bowling greens, billiard tables, and such like places.'
Of the reading men, he says, 'They were ever looked upon as a people that impaired themselves more by their strict application to the rules of their order than any other students whatever. Others seldom hurt themselves any further than to gain weak eyes, and sometimes headaches; but these philosophers are seized all over with a general inability, indolence, and weariness, and a certain impatience of the place they are in, with an heaviness in removing to another.
'The loungers are satisfied with being merely part of the number of mankind, without distinguishing themselves from amongst them. They may be said rather to suffer their time to pass than to spend it, without regard to the past or prospect of the future. All they know of life is only in the present instant, and do not taste even that. When one of this order happens to be a man of fortune, the expense of his time is transferred to his coach and horses, and his life is to be measured by their motion, not his own enjoyments or sufferings. The chief entertainment one of these philosophers can possibly propose to himself is to get a relish of dress. This, methinks, might diversify the person he is weary of, his own dear self, to himself. I have known these two amusements make one of these philosophers make a tolerable figure in the world; with variety of dresses in public assemblies in town, and quick motion of his horses out of it, now to Bath, now to Tunbridge, then to Newmarket, and then to London, he has, in process of time, brought it to pass, that his coach and his horses have been mentioned in all these places.' And this description, with a little alteration, would pass as a fair reflex of modern undergraduate existence at either Oxford or Cambridge.
Before closing the question of male education, we must not forget that in Queen Anne's time was inaugurated that system of charity schools which has played so prominent a part in our national system of education, and which has not yet been superseded by our Board Schools. Steele (Spectator, 380) notices this movement--
'St. Bride's, May 15, 1712.
'Sir,--'Tis a great deal of Pleasure to me, and I dare say will be no less Satisfaction to you, that I have an Opportunity of informing you that the Gentlemen and others of the Parish of St. Brides have raised a Charity School of fifty Girls as before of fifty Boys. You were so kind to recommend the Boys to the Charitable World, and the other Sex hope you will do them the same Favour in Fridays Spectator for Sunday next, when they are to appear with their humble Airs at the Parish Church of St. Brides. Sir, the Mention of this may possibly be serviceable to the Children: and sure no one will omit a good Action attended with no expence.
'I am, Sir, 'Your very humble Servant, 'THE SEXTON.'
At the public thanksgiving for peace in 1713,[16] the charity children were placed in rising rows of seats in the Strand to see the procession pass, and the Queen go to St. Paul's to return thanks--and bitter must have been the disappointment of the little ones at the Queen's absence, on account of illness.
[Footnote 16: There is a very large and beautiful engraving of this scene, from which are taken the illustrations of carriages, post.]
A contemporary account of this festival says: 'Upon the Thanksgiving day for the Peace, about Four Thousand Charity Children (Boys and Girls), new Cloath'd, were placed upon a Machine in the Strand, which was in Length above 600 Foot, and had in Bredth Eight Ranges of seats one above another, whereby all the Children appear'd in full View of both Houses of Parliament, in the solemn Procession they made to St. Paul's upon that joyful Occasion, and who, by their singing Hymns of Prayer and Praise to God for her Majesty, as well as by their Appearance, contributed very much to adorn so welcome a Festival; and gave great Satisfaction to all the Spectators, not without some Surprize to Foreigners who never had beheld such a glorious Sight. The Trustees of the several Charity Schools in and about London and Westminster readily agreed upon Measures for placing the Children in the expected View of Her Majesty, as a Testimony of their great Duty and Humble Thankfulness to Her Majesty for the particular Countenance and Encouragement Her Majesty hath always vouchsafed to give to the Charity Schools,[17] whereby She may be truly stiled their Patron and Protector. Her Majesty not being present, the Hymns were both sung and repeated during the whole Procession, which lasted near Three Hours; and for the Satisfaction and Entertainment of the Publick they are printed as follows:--
[Footnote 17: The Queen recommended the design of charity schools to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, in a letter dated August 20, 1711: 'And forasmuch as the pious Instruction and Education of Children is the surest Way of preserving and propagating the Knowledge and Practice of true Religion, it hath been very acceptable to US to hear, that for the Attaining these good Ends, many Charity Schools are now Erected throughout the Kingdom, by the liberal Contributions of OUR Good subjects; WE do therefore earnestly recommend it to you, by all proper Ways, to encourage and promote so excellent a Work, and to countenance and assist the Persons principally concerned in it, as they shall always be sure of Our Protection and Favour.']
'Hymns to be sung by the Charity Children upon the 7th of July, 1713, being the Thanksgiving Day for the PEACE.
'As Her MAJESTY goes to St. Paul's--
Lord give the QUEEN Thy saving Health, Whose Hope on Thee depends: Grant Her Increase of Fame and Wealth, With Bliss that never ends! Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah! Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah!
For Her our fervent Vows aspire, Our Praises are Address'd; Thou hast fulfill'd Her Heart's Desire And granted Her Request. Allelujah, &c.
A Nursing Mother to Thy Fold, Long, long may She remain, And then with Joy Thy Face behold, And with Thee ever Reign. Allelujah, &c.
As Her MAJESTY returns from St. Paul's--
Glory to GOD who Reigns on High, Whom Saints and Angels praise; Who from His Throne above the Sky, The Sons of Men surveys. Allelujah, &c.
PEACE, His best Gift, to Earth's return'd, Long may it here remain; As we too long its Absence mourn'd, Nor sigh'd to Heav'n in vain. Allelujah, &c.
Good Will, Fair Friendship (Heavenly Guest!) And Joy and Holy Love, Make all Mankind completely bless'd, Resembling Those above. Allelujah, &c.
II. CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION
(GIRLS.)
Boarding schools -- Town and country educations -- Pastry schools -- Dancing -- Toasts -- 'The Little Whig' -- Madame Spanheim.
Girls were not all educated at home--though, doubtless, the majority of them were, with the exception of their dancing lessons--but had boarding schools of their own; and the schoolmistresses seem always to have been harassed by malicious reports. For instance: 'Whereas it is reported that Mrs. Overing who keeps a Boarding School at Bethnal Green near Hackney, is leaving off; this is to give Notice that the said Report is false, if not Malicious. And that she continues to take sober young Gentlewomen to board, and teaches whatsoever is necessary to the Accomplishment of that Sex.' Take another: 'Mrs. Elizabeth Tutchin[18] continues to keep her School at Highgate, notwithstanding Reports to the contrary. Where young Gentlewomen may be soberly Educated, and taught all sorts of Learning fit for young Gentlewomen.' Observe the stress that was then laid on the sobriety inculcated in these establishments. Read the plays--read the essays of the time--and then, if they are to be taken at all as a just standard of feminine conduct, you will, undoubtedly, come to the conclusion that sobriety of conduct was just the very quality that required instilling into the heads of the maidenhood of the time. Pert little hoydens--ogling the men, flirting their fans, their thoughts always running on a husband--the schoolmistresses of that time must have had hard work to keep them serious, and need of most dragon-like guardianship. They were not taught much, these girls; 'the Needle, Dancing, and the French tongue,' says one--'a little Music, on the Harpsichord, or Spinet, to read, write, and cast accounts in a small way'--this was the sum of their education. Essentially were they to be housekeepers. Here is the description an exceptionally accomplished young lady gives of her own education:[19] 'You know my father was a tradesman, and lived very well by his traffick; and I, being beautiful, he thought nature had already given me part of my portion, and therefore he would add a liberal education, that I might be a complete gentlewoman; away he sent me to the boarding school; there I learned to dance and sing, to play on the bass viol, virginals, spinet, and guitar. I learned to make wax work, japan, paint upon glass, to raise paste, make sweetmeats, sauces, and everything that was genteel and fashionable.' Here we see the best obtainable education of the town-bred lady. What was a girl's education in the country like?[20]
[Footnote 18: She was sister of Tutchin, of the Observator.]
[Footnote 19: The Levellers, a dialogue between two young ladies concerning matrimony, &c.]
[Footnote 20: The Scowrers, by Shadwell.]
Priscilla. Did she not bestow good breeding upon you there?
Eugenia. Breeding! what, to learn to feed Ducklings, and cram Chickens?
Clara. To see Cows milk'd, learn to Churn, and make Cheese?
Eugen. To make Clouted cream, and whipt Sillabubs?
Clara. To make a Caraway Cake and raise Py Crust?
Eugen. And to learn the top of your skill in Syrrup, Sweetmeats, Aqua mirabilis, and Snayl water.
Clara. Or your great Cunning in Cheese cakes, several Creams and Almond butter.
Prisc. Ay, ay, and 'twere better for all the Gentlemen in England that Wives had no other breeding, but you had Musick and Dancing.
Eugen. Yes, an ignorant, illiterate, hopping Puppy, that rides his Dancing Circuit thirty Miles about, lights off his tyred Steed, draws his Kit[21] at a poor Country Creature, and gives her a Hich in her Pace, that she shall never recover.
[Footnote 21: A pocket violin.]
Clara. And for Musick an old hoarse singing man riding ten miles from his Cathedral to Quaver out the Glories of our Birth and State, or it may be a Scotch Song more hideous and barbarous than an Irish Cronan.
Eug. And another Musick Master from the next town to Teach one to twinkle out Lilly burlero[22] upon an old pair of Virginals, that sound worse than a Tinker's Kettle that he cries his work on.
[Footnote 22: See Appendix. 'Lilli burlero' and 'Bullen a lah' are said to have been the watchwords used by the Irish Papists in their massacre of the Protestants in 1641. The ballad to this tune was written in 1686, when James II. made the Earl of Tyrconnel, a bigoted papist, Lieutenant of Ireland. The words are nonsensical, but the tune is catching, and became very popular. This song is said to have contributed greatly in bringing about the Revolution of 1688.]
We saw that even the accomplished town young lady was taught how to raise paste, &c.; indeed that was a regular branch of a girl's education, and all housewifely gifts were thoroughly appreciated.
Niece. Good madam, don't upbraid me with my Mother Bridget, and an excellent housewife.
Aunt. Yes, I say, she was, and spent her time in better Learning than ever you did. Not in reading of Fights and Battels of Dwarfs and Giants; but in writing out receipts for Broths, Possets, Caudles and Surfeit Waters, as became a good Country Gentlewoman.[23]
[Footnote 23: The Tender Husband (Steele).]
But, if girls could not learn pastry-making at home, or wanted a higher class of education therein, there were the forerunners of our 'Schools of Cookery' in the shape of 'Pastry Schools,' where the professor demonstrated. Here is one of them. 'To all Young Ladies at Edw. Kidder's Pastry School in little Lincoln's Inn Fields, are taught all Sorts of Pastry and Cookery, Dutch hollow works, and Butter Works, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the Afternoon, and on the same days, in the Morning, at his School in Norris Street in St. James's Market, and at his School in St. Martin's Le Grand, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Afternoon. And at his School at St. Mary Overies Dock, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12.'
But one branch of a girl's education seems never to have been neglected--her dancing. Steele says,[24] 'When a girl is safely brought from her nurse, before she is capable of forming one simple notion of anything in life, she is delivered to the hands of her dancing master, and with a collar round her neck, the pretty wild thing is taught a fantastical gravity of behaviour, and forced to a particular way of holding her head, heaving her breast, and moving with her whole body; and all this under pain of never having a husband, if she steps, looks or moves awry.'
[Footnote 24: Spectator, 66.]
He gives a humorous description of the dancing master:[25] 'There was Colonel Jumper's Lady, a Colonel of the Train Bands, that has a great Interest in her Parish; she recommends Mr. Trott for the prettiest Master in Town, that no Man teaches a Jigg like him, that she has seen him rise Six or Seven Capers together with the greatest Ease imaginable, and that his Scholars twist themselves more ways than the Scholars of any Master in Town; besides there is Madam Prim, the Alderman's Lady, recommends a Master of her Own Name, but she declares he is not of their Family, yet a very extraordinary Man in his Way; for, besides a very soft Air he has in Dancing, he gives them a particular Behaviour at a Tea-Table, and in presenting their Snuff Box: to twirl, flip or flirt a Fan, and how to place Patches to the best advantage, either for Fat or Lean, Long or Oval Faces.
[Footnote 25: Ibid., 376.]
Indeed, dancing was much thought of as an accomplishment, and more will be said of it in its place among the social habits of the time. One book alone, 'The Dancing Master' for 1713, 15th ed., contains 358 different figures and tunes for country dances. It got to be a fine art, and books were written on 'Chorography' and 'Orchesography,' illustrated with wonderful and most perplexing diagrams. A contemporary sketch of a dancing academy is interesting. It is by Budgell.[26] 'I am a Man in Years, and by an honest Industry in the World have acquired enough to give my Children a liberal Education, tho' I was an utter Stranger to it myself. My eldest Daughter, a Girl of Sixteen, has for some time past been under the Tuition of Monsieur Rigadoon, a Dancing Master in the City; and I was prevailed upon by her and her Mother to go last Night to one of his Balls. I must own to you, Sir, that having never been at any such Place before, I was very much pleased and surprized with that Part of his Entertainment which he called French Dancing. There were several young Men and Women, whose limbs seemed to have no other Motion but purely what the Musick gave them. After this Part was over, they began a Diversion which they call Country Dancing, and wherein there were also some things not disagreeable, and divers Emblematical Figures, compos'd, as I guess, by Wise Men for the Instruction of Youth.
[Footnote 26: Spectator, 67.]
'Amongst the rest, I observed one, which I think they call[27] Hunt the Squirrel, in which while the Woman flies, the Man pursues her; but as soon as she turns, he runs away, and she is obliged to follow.
[Footnote 27: See Appendix.]
'The Moral of this Dance does, I think, very aptly recommend Modesty and Discretion to the Female Sex.
'But as the best Institutions are liable to Corruptions, so, Sir, I must acquaint you, that very great Abuses are crept into this Entertainment. I was Amazed to see my Girl handed by, and handing young Fellows with so much Familiarity; and I could not have thought it had been in the Child. They very often made use of a most impudent and lascivious Step called Setting, which I know not how to describe to you, but by telling you that it is the very reverse of Back to Back. At last an impudent young Dog bid the Fiddlers play a Dance called Mol Patley,[28] and after having made two or three Capers, ran to his Partner, locked his Arms in hers, and whisked her round Cleverly above Ground in such manner that I, who sat upon one of the lowest Benches, saw further above her Shoe than I can think fit to acquaint you with. I could no longer endure these Enormities; wherefore, just as my Girl was going to be made a Whirligig, I ran in, seized on the Child, and carried her home.'
[Footnote 28: See Appendix.]
Poor Budgell! what would have been his feelings could he have but seen a galop, or a valse à deux temps?
We may now consider the girl's education complete, and, as she may be 'sweet seventeen' or so, she naturally would be, if either pretty or witty, 'a TOAST' among her male friends. This peculiar institution has its rise in Queen Anne's time, and is aptly described[29] as 'a new name found out by the Wits, to make a lady have the same effect, as burridge in the glass when a man is drinking.' Pope, even, could hardly make it out.
[Footnote 29: Tatler, 31.]
Say why are beauties prais'd and honour'd most, The wise man's passion, and the vain man's toast? Why deck'd with all that land and sea afford, Why angels call'd, and angel-like adored?
It was an old English custom to put a toast, a roasted pippin or so, in a hot drink, such as a tankard of spiced ale, or of sack; and this is whimsically applied as the derivation of the word used to express the slavish adulation and worship of the fair sex, as embodied in this custom. [30]'Many of the Wits of the last age will assert that the word, in its present sense, was known among them in their youth, and had its rise from an accident at the town of Bath, in the reign of Charles the Second. It happened that, on a public day, a celebrated beauty of those times was in the Cross Bath, and one of the crowd of her admirers took a glass of the water in which the fair one stood and drank her health to the Company. There was in the place a gay fellow half fuddled, who offered to jump in, and swore, though he liked not the liquor, he would have the Toast. He was opposed in his resolution; yet this whim gave foundation to the present honour which is done to the lady we mention in our liquors, who has ever since been called a TOAST. Though this institution had so trivial a beginning, it is now elevated into a formal order; and that happy virgin, who is received and drunk to at their meetings, has no more to do in this life but to judge and accept of the first good offer. The manner of her inauguration is much like that of the choice of a Doge in Venice: it is performed by balloting; and when she is so chosen, she reigns indisputably for that ensuing year; but must be re-elected anew to prolong her empire a moment beyond it. When she is regularly chosen, her name is written with a diamond on a drinking glass. The hieroglyphic of the diamond is to shew her that her value is imaginary; and that of the glass to acquaint her, that her condition is frail, and depends on the hand which holds her.' Many of the members of the 'Kit Cat Club'--Lords Halifax, Wharton, Lansdowne, and Carbury, Mr. Maynwaring and others--thus immortalised their Toasts. One, by Lord Lansdowne, will amply serve as an illustration--
[Footnote 30: Ibid., 24.]
Love is enjoyn'd to make his favourite toast, And HARE'S the goddess that delights him most.
There were two very famous toasts in Queen Anne's time; one in particular was Lady Sunderland, a daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, who was known by the sobriquet of 'The Little Whig.' She was the toast of her party, and her nickname was so well known that it is said the first stone of Sir John Vanbrugh's theatre in the Haymarket had 'Little Whig' cut upon it. The other was Mademoiselle Spanheim, the daughter of Baron Spanheim, Ambassador Extraordinary from the Court of Prussia. She was very lovely; indeed, her good looks were proverbial, as the current expression, 'as beautiful as Madam Spanheim,' shows. She was married early in the year 1710 to the Marquis de Montandre. Her father died here in November of the same year, aged 81; and the Queen presented the Marchioness de Montandre with a thousand guineas, which was the usual present then given to an ambassador on taking his leave.
III. MARRIAGE
Eloping with heiresses -- Marriage between children -- Tax on bachelors -- Valentines -- Marriage settlements -- Pin money -- Posies -- Drummers -- Private marriages -- Irregular marriages -- Fleet parsons -- Marriage Act -- Facility of marriage -- Liability of husbands -- Public marriages -- Marriage customs -- Bride's garters --Throwing the stocking -- The posset -- Honeymoon.
We will suppose our toast to escape the perils to which her position exposed her, and not forcibly carried off by some bold knight, as had been known in this reign[31]--'Same evening Sir Alexander Cumming, Knight of the Shire for Aberdeen, carried off from the Ring in Hyde Park madam Dennis and married her; she is said to be worth about £16,000.' Probably his position stood him in good stead, for it fared differently with one Haagen Swendsen,[32] who was, in 1702, convicted and executed for stealing Mrs. Rawlins, an heiress. Nowadays, he would have been unhesitatingly acquitted, even if he had ever been prosecuted, as there was no real case against him, and Mrs. Rawlins married him of her own free will.
[Footnote 31: Luttrell's Diary, Sept. 12, 1710.]
[Footnote 32: British Museum, 515, l. 2, 196.]
That people could be married young enough is rendered sufficiently evident by the very painful case of Sir George Downing and Mary Forester, which excited much interest in the last year of Anne's reign. It is very lucidly put as a case for counsel's opinion.[33]
[Footnote 33: The Counsellor's Plea for the Divorce of Sir G. D. and Mrs. F., 1715.]
'THE CASE.
'1. G. D. without the Knowledge and Consent of his Father (then alive, but accounted not of sound Judgment) was at the Age of Fifteen, by the Procurement and Persuasion of those in whose Keeping he was, Marry'd, according to the Church form, to M. F. of the Age of Thirteen.
'2. This young Couple was put to Bed, in the Day time, according to Custom, and continu'd there a little while, but in the Presence of the Company, who all testify they touched not one the other; and after that, they came together no more;--the young Gentleman going immediately Abroad, the young Woman continuing with her Parents.
'3. G. D., after Three or Four Years Travel, return'd home to England, and being sollicited to live with his lawful Wife, refus'd it, and frequently and publickly declar'd he never would compleat the Marriage.
'4. Fourteen Years have pass'd since this Marriage Ceremony was perform'd, each Party having (as is natural to think) contracted an incurable Aversion to each the other, is very desirous to be set at liberty; and accordingly Application is made to the Legislative power to dissolve this Marriage, and to give each Party leave, if they think fit, to Marry elsewhere.
'The Reasons against such Dissolution are:--
'First. That each Party was Consenting to the Marriage, and was Old enough to give such Consent, according to the known Laws of the Kingdom; the Male being Fifteen Years Old, the Female Thirteen; whereas the Years of Consent are, by Law, Fourteen and Twelve.
'Secondly. They were actually Marry'd according to the Form prescrib'd by the Church of England; the Minister pronouncing those solemn Words us'd by our Saviour, Those whom God has joyn'd let no Man put asunder. They are therefore Man and Wife both by the Laws of God and of the Land; and, since nothing but Adultery can dissolve a Marriage, and no Adultery is pretended here, the Marriage continues indissoluble.'
And, in the course of some very able pleading, the author says, 'My Lords, the Years of Consent are not fix'd to Fourteen or Twelve either by Nature, Reason, or any Law of God; but purely and meerly by the positive Laws of the Land, which may change them to Morrow;[34] and if they were chang'd to Day, no Man in England would, I dare affirm it, be dissatisfy'd; it seems so senseless and unreasonable to give our Children the Power of disposing of their Persons for ever, at an Age when we will not let them dispose of Five Shillings without Direction and Advice.'
[Footnote 34: But it never has been changed, and is now in force.]
However, no pleading could prevail against the actual law, and this singularly married couple remained, legally, man and wife.
In 1690 there was a pamphlet issued by 'A Person of Quality,'[35] advocating a tax on bachelors, and on April 22, 1695, William III. gave his assent to an Act intituled 'An Act for granting his Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages, Births, and Burials, and upon Batchelors and Widowers for the term of five years, for carrying on the War with Vigour.'
[Footnote 35: Marriage Promoted, &c.]
£ s. d. For the Burial of every person 0 4 0 " of a Duke (above the 4_s._) 50 0 0 " of a Marquess, &c. &c., in proportion. " of every person having a real estate £50 " per annum or upwards, or a personal " estate of £600 or upwards 1 0 0 " of the Wife of such person having such estate 0 10 0 For and upon the Birth of every person and Child, except the children of those who receive Alms 0 2 0 For and upon the birth of the eldest son of a Duke 30 0 0 " of a Marquess and so forth. Upon the Marriage of every person 0 2 6 " of a Duke 50 0 0 " " Marquess 40 0 0 " " Earl 30 0 0 and so forth. Bachelors above 25 years old, yearly 0 1 0 Widowers above 25 years old, yearly 0 1 0 A Duke being Bachelor or Widower, yearly 12 10 0 A Marquess " " " 10 0 0
By the Act 8 & 9 Will. III., 'For making good the Deficiencies of Several Funds therein mentioned,' these taxes were kept on, and were to be paid until Aug. 1, 1706, so that they were in force during four years of Anne's reign.
In a most amusing tract[36] this Act is alluded to as a law discouraging marriage, and proposes to make bachelors of 24 and widowers of 50 pay 20_s._ per annum, and estimates that a revenue of 2-1/2 millions sterling would accrue.
[Footnote 36: The Levellers.]
There was every freedom of intercourse allowed between the young of both sexes: they visited, and we have seen that they mixed in the dancing academies. There was also the custom of valentines, now become obsolete and unmeaning. Misson describes it well, as indeed he did everything he saw in England: 'On the Eve of the 14th of Feb., St. Valentine's Day, a Time when all living Nature inclines to couple, the Young Folks in England, and Scotland too, by a very ancient Custom, celebrate a little Festival that tends to the same End. An equal Number of Maids and Batchelors get together, each writes their true or some feign'd Name upon separate Billets, which they Roll up, and draw by way of Lots, the Maids taking the Men's Billets, and the Men the Maids; so that each of the Young Men lights upon a Girl that he calls his Valentine, and each of the Girls upon a young Man which she calls hers: By this means each has two Valentines; but the Man sticks faster to the Valentine that is fallen to him, than to the Valentine to whom he is fallen. Fortune having thus divided the Company into so many Couples, the Valentines give Balls and Treats to their Mistresses, wear their Billets several Days upon their Bosoms or Sleeves, and this little Sport often ends in Love. There is another kind of Valentine; which is the first young Man or Woman that Chance throws in your Way in the Street, or elsewhere, on that Day.'
The whole of the literature of the day speaks of the tendency of young men to avoid the trammels of matrimony. Most probably the wild blood engendered in Charles the Second's time had not yet cooled down, and the licence then habitual, had hardly been superseded by decorum; but there were other causes, one of which was the introduction of marriage settlements. These were comparatively new. Steele calls attention to it:[37] 'Honest Coupler, the Conveyancer, says "He can distinguish, upon sight of the parties before they have opened upon any point of their business, which of the two has the daughter to sell." Coupler is of our Club, and I have frequently heard him declaim upon this subject, and assert "that the Marriage Settlements, which are now used, have grown fashionable even within his memory."'
[Footnote 37: The Tatler, 199.]
When the theatre, in some late reigns, owed its chief support to those scenes which were written to put matrimony out of countenance and render that state terrible, then it was that pin money first prevailed; and all the other articles were inserted, which create a diffidence, and intimate to the young people that they are very soon to be in a state of war with each other; though this has seldom happened, except the fear of it had been expressed. Coupler will tell you also 'that jointures were never frequent until the age before his own; but the women were contented with the third part of the estate the law allotted them, and scorn'd to engage with men whom they thought capable of abusing their Children.' He has also informed me 'that those who are the oldest Benchers when he came to the Temple told him, the first Marriage Settlement of considerable length was the invention of an old Serjeant, who took the opportunity of two testy fathers, who were ever squabbling, to bring about an alliance between their Children. These fellows knew each other to be knaves, and the Serjeant took hold of their mutual diffidence, for the benefit of the Law, to extend the Settlement to three skins of parchment.' This was undoubtedly the substance of a genuine conversation with a lawyer, and is further referred to in a subsequent paper. Nor did Steele like pin money: he not only declaims against it in his essays, but in his dramatic works--in 'The Tender Husband,' where two fathers are squabbling over settlements. One, Sir Harry Gubbin, says--
Look y', Mr. Tipkin, the main Article with me is that Foundation of Wives Rebellion--that cursed Pin Money--Five hundred Pounds per annum Pin Money.
Tipkin. The Word Pin Money, Sir Harry, is a Term----
Sir H. It is a Term, Brother, we never had in our Family, nor ever will. Make her Jointure in Widowhood accordingly large, but Four hundred Pounds a Year is enough to give no account of.
Tipkin. Well, Sir Harry, since you can't swallow these Pins, I will abate to Four Hundred Pounds.
Sir H. And to Mollifie the Article, as well as Specifie the Uses, we'll put in the Names of several Female Utensils, as Needles, Knitting Needles, Tape, Thread, Scissors, Bodkins, Fans, Playbooks, with other Toys of that Nature.
Addison, too, must needs have a fling at it, and wrote a whole essay on pin money,[38] and, in a letter therein, gives a doleful case. 'The education of these my Children, who, contrary to my expectation, are born to me every Year, straightens me so much that I have begged their Mother to free me from the Obligation of the above mentioned Pin Money, that it may go towards making a Provision for her family. This Proposal makes her Noble Blood swell in her Veins, insomuch, that finding me a little tardy in her last Quarter's Payment, she threatens every Day to arrest me: and proceeds so far as to tell me, that if I do not do her Justice, I shall die in a Jayl. To this she adds, when her Passion will let her argue calmly, that she has several Play Debts on her Hand, which must be discharged very suddenly, and that she cannot lose her Money as becomes a Woman of her Fashion, if she makes me any Abatements in this Article.'
[Footnote 38: Spectator, 295.]
Supposing the vexed question of settlements or no settlements disposed of, a thing of primary importance before marriage was to provide the ring, and that, according to the custom of the day, must have a posy on it.[39] 'He has likewise promised me to get the measure of his Mistress's marriage finger, with a design to make a posy in the fashion of a ring which shall exactly fit it.' The posy was mostly a couplet--and as not much sentiment or poetry can be compressed into two lines, the posies, as far as we can judge, are not very brilliant efforts of genius. The appended examples are all genuine of the time, as they are taken from the newspaper advertisements of things lost.
[Footnote 39: Ibid. 59.]
Two made one By God alone.
God's Providence Is our Inheritance.
God decreed Our Unity.
This in Love Join our Hearts To God Above.
Vertuous love Will never remove.
And now a word or two as to the Marriages of those times, and one is fairly surprised at the very little fuss that was generally made about them. On the Stage, a clergyman coupled the pair presently, or the young people just left the room and came back in a few minutes, duly married. And this really was somewhat like real life, and not a travesty. 'Aunt, Aunt, run for Doctor Dromedary, and let us be Married before the Sun reposes,'[40] was a not unnatural request for a young lady to make. A custom had grown up to avoid the noise and riot of a public wedding, which, besides, was very expensive--open house being but a small part of it; so it used to be, that the young people would get married with just sufficient legal witness, and with the full consent of the parents. Even the middle class were glad to get rid of the noise of drums, etc. (which still survives in the marrow bones and cleavers--the rough music of a lower-class wedding).
[Footnote 40: Tunbridge Walks, by Thos. Baker, 1703.]
Here Rows of Drummers stand in Martial File, And with their Vellom Thunder shake the Pile, To greet the new made Bride;[41]
[Footnote 41: Trivia, by Gay.]
and in one of Steele's Spectators (364) is a letter commencing 'I was marry'd on Sunday last, and went peaceably to Bed; but, to my Surprize, was awaken'd the next Morning by the Thunder of a Set of Drums.' For this noise the unfortunate bridegroom had to pay pretty smartly.
These private marriages had their inconveniences, as the following advertisement[42] shows: 'Whereas, for several Reasons, the Marriage of Mrs. Frances Herbert to Capt. James Price, Son to Brigadier Price of Ireland, was kept private for some time, which has occasioned some insolent People to censure her Virtue; to prevent which Censures for the future, it is thought proper to give this Publick Notice that she was marry'd to the said Capt. James Price on the 18th Day of June last at the Parish Church of St. Bennet's, Pauls Wharf, London, by License and before Witnesses.'
[Footnote 42: Post Boy, May 24/27, 1712.]
Misson adverts to this custom of private marriage as being very common. 'In England, a Boy may marry at fourteen Years old, and a Girl at twelve, in spight of Parents and Guardians, without any Possibility of dissolving their Marriage, tho' one be the Son of a Hog-driver, and the other a Duke's Daughter.[43] This often produces very whimsical Matches. There is another thing in it odd enough; for those Children by this means not only become their own Masters, but obtain this Advantage at a very easy Rate. If to be marry'd it were necessary to be proclaim'd three Times in a full Congregation, their Friends would be inform'd of the Matter, and might find a Way to disswade a little Girl, that had taken it into her Head to have a Husband, by giving her fine Cloaths, pretty Babies, and every Thing else that might amuse her; but the Wedding is clapp'd up so privately, that People are amaz'd to see Women brought to Bed of legitimate Children, without having heard a Word of the Father. The Law, indeed, requires that the Bans should be publish'd; but the strange Practice of a dispensing Power makes the Law of no Manner of Use. To proclaim Bans is a Thing no Body now cares to have done; very few are willing to have their Affairs declar'd to all the World in a publick Place, when for a Guinea they may do it Snug, and without Noise; and my good Friends the Clergy, who find their Accounts in it, are not very zealous to prevent it. Thus, then, they buy what they call a Licence, and are marry'd in their Closets, in Presence of a couple of Friends, that serve for Witnesses; and this ties them for ever: Nay, the Abuse is yet greater, for they may be marry'd without a Licence in some Chappels, which have that Privilege.... Hence comes the Matches between Footmen and young Ladies of Quality, who you may be sure live no very easy Life together afterwards: Hence, too, happen Polygamies, easily conceal'd, and too much practised.'
[Footnote 43: There was a law against marrying the heiress of a noble family before the age of twenty-one years without the consent of her guardians.]
Sometimes they were married at a tavern.[44] 'Whereas a Couple was marryed at the Ship Tavern without Temple Barr, London, in March, 1696. The Parson, or any other that was then Present, is desired to come or send to the Publisher of this Paper, and give an account of the said Marriage, and shall be satisfied for their charges of coming or sending, and loss of time.'
[Footnote 44: Postman, August 28/31, 1703.]
The irregular marriages were a crying evil of the times--in spite of legislative efforts to stop them. There was an Act passed, 6 and 7 Wm. III. cap. 7, sec. 52, for the better levying the 5_s._ duty on licences, and imposing a penalty of 100_l._ for marrying without one--and the 7 and 8 Wm. III. cap. 35 recites this Act, and says it was ineffectual, because the penalty of 100_l._ was not extended to every offence of the same parson--because the parsons employed poor and indigent ministers, without benefices, or settled habitations, and because many ministers, being in prison for debt or otherwise, married persons for lucre and gain.
There have been certain churches and chapels[45] exempted from the visitation of the ordinary--and the ministers of such, usually married without licence or banns--and these were called 'lawless churches.' In Anne's reign there was one famous one, St. James', Duke's Place, by Aldgate. Another was Holy Trinity, Minories, which exercised the same privilege. The Savoy had not yet been much heard of, and they did a good business. In the former case, privilege was claimed, because the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of London were lords of the manor and patrons of the church, and therefore set up an exemption from the jurisdiction (in matters ecclesiastical) of the Bishop of London. In the latter, it was pleaded that the living was held direct from the Crown, in whose gift it was, and that the minister held the same by an instrument of dotation, under the Great Seal of England, and that it was neither a rectory nor vicarage institutive. However, the arm of the ecclesiastical law did once reach Adam Elliott, rector of St. James', and on Feb. 17, 1686, he was suspended for three years, ab officio et beneficio, for having married, or having suffered persons to be married, at the said church, without banns or licence. He was, however, reinstituted on May 28, 1687, after having petitioned the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; but he began his old trade very shortly afterwards, in fact the next day, as appears in the marriage register of the church--'There were no marriages from the tenth of March till y{e} 29 day of May' 1687.
[Footnote 45: Judging by the 8th and 9th Wm. III. cap. 26, which took away their pretended privileges, these were White Friars, the Savoy, Salisbury Court, Ram Alley, Mitre Court, Fuller's Rents, Baldwin's Gardens, Montague Close, the Minories, Mint and Clink or Dead Man's Place; but there were many others.]
People could be, and were, married without licence, both in the Fleet and Queen's Bench Prisons. It is probable that prisoners there were duly and properly married by banns in the prison chapel, long before 1674, which is the date of the earliest illicit Fleet Register in the Bishop of London's registry; for, in a letter, Sept. 1613, we read:[46] 'Now I am to enform you that an ancyentt acquayntance of y{rs} and myne is yesterday maryed in the Fleette, one Mr. Georg Lestor, and hath maryed M{ris} Babbington, Mr. Thomas Fanshawe mother-in-lawe. It is sayed she is a woman of good wealthe so as nowe the man wylle able to lyve and mayntayn hymself in prison, for hether unto he hath byne in poor estate.' But, at all events, the law was set at nought in Anne's reign, as it was for many a long year afterwards. In 1702 the chaplain was Robert Elborough, who married but few without banns or licence, 'but under a colour doth allow his clerk Bartholomew Basset to do what he pleases,' and in 1714 Mr. John Taylor filled the same office, but he does not seem to have solemnised matrimony at the Fleet. There was, however, a low clergyman, named John Gaynam, otherwise Doctor Gaynam, who did a large trade there in marriages, from 1709 to 1740. A little anecdote of him, though not in Queen Anne's time, may not be amiss. He was giving evidence at the Old Bailey on the trial of Robert Hussey for bigamy, in 1733.
[Footnote 46: Lansdowne MSS., 93-17.]
Dr. Gainham. The 9th of September, 1733, I married a couple at the Rainbow Coffee House, the corner of Fleet Ditch, and entered the marriage in my register, as fair a register as any church in England can produce. I showed it last night to the foreman of the jury, and my Lord Mayor's Clerk, at the London Punch House.
Counsel. Are you not ashamed to come and own a clandestine marriage in the face of a court of justice?
Dr. Gainham (bowing). Video meliora, deteriora sequor.
The same practice was followed by others during this reign. Wm. Wyatt, who moved from the Two Sawyers, at the corner of Fleet Lane, to the Hand and Pen near Holborn Bridge, married from 1713 to 1750. John Floud, who was for some years a prisoner in the Fleet, married from 1709 to 1729. John Mottram, from 1709 to 1725. He was convicted, in 1716, in the Consistory Court, for marrying illegally, and was suspended from his ministerial functions for three years. Jerome Alley, from 1681 to 1707, when he left off marrying 'for some other preferment.' Draper, from 1689 to 1716. John Evans, from 1689 to 1729. Henry Gower, 1689 to 1718. Thos. Hodgkins, 1674 to 1728. Ed. Marston, 1713 to 1714. Oswald, 1712. Nehemiah Rogers, a prisoner, but rector of Ashingdon, Essex, married between 1700 and 1703. He seems to have been a specially bright specimen of the Fleet parson. 'He is a Prisoner, but goes at larg to his P. Living in Essex, and all places else; he is a very wicked man as lives, for drinking, whoring, and swearing, he has struck and boxed y{e} bridegroom in y{e} Chapple, and damned like any com'on soldier, he marries both within and without y{e} Chapple like his brother Colton.' This was James Colton, who had been deprived of his living for evil practices, and married from 1681 to 1721. Benj. Bynes, 1698 to 1711. Walter Stanhope, 1711. Jo. Vice, 1689 to 1713; and J. Wise, in 1709.
The Queen's Bench was not behind its brother of the Fleet, but there even greater abuses existed--laymen officiating.[47] ''Tis expected that a Bill to prevent clandestine Marriages, under a severe Corporal Penalty, will be brought in very early next Session of Parliament. For which 'tis said too just Occasion has been given by a Discovery lately made that Laymen have been suffer'd to marry at the Queen's Bench; and that John Sarjeant, who now acts there again as Clerk, has forg'd Certificates of pretended Marriages, for which he keeps Register books, with large blanks almost in every Page, whereby very mischievous Frauds are practicable. For preventing whereof, the late Chaplain labour'd hard with the most proper Person to command the said books out of the Clerk's Custody, and not prevailing, resign'd his Office, which he had discharg'd among the Prisoners, both in the House and in the Rules, above five years, charitably, having never receiv'd one Farthing of the Fees thereto annexed.--WILLIAM TIPPING.'
[Footnote 47: The Postboy, October 13/16, 1711.]
This evidently refers to the Marriage Act of Queen Anne (10 Anne, c. 19), which received the royal assent on May 22, 1712. This was a short Act smuggled in in a long money bill about duties on 'Sope' and paper, linen, silks, calicoes, stampt vellom, &c. It renewed, from June 24, 1712, the penalty of 100_l._ attaching to the performance of illegal matches, giving half the penalty to the informer, and, 'if any gaoler or keeper of any prison shall be privy to, or knowingly permit, any marriage to be solemnised in his said prison, before publication of banns, or license obtained as aforesaid, he shall for every such offence forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds to be recovered and distributed as aforesaid.' There, then, was an extra duty of 5_s._ imposed upon every marriage licence, or certificate of marriage.
Marriages were made easy. You could go a country walk and pop in and get married. A newly built church at Hampstead thus[48] advertises: 'As there are many weddings at Sion Chapel, Hampstead, five Shillings only is required for all the Church fees of any Couple that are married there, provided they bring with them a license or Certificate, according to the Act of Parliament. Two Sermons are continued to be preached in the said Chapel every Sunday, and the place will be given to any Clergyman that is willing to accept of it, to be approved of.' Early in George the First's time, in 1716, they offered 'that all persons, upon bringing a licence, and who shall have their wedding dinner in the gardens, may be married in the said Chapel, without giving any fee or reward whatsoever.'
[Footnote 48: The Postboy, April 18/20, 1710.]
Whilst on the subject of curious marriages, the following may well be noticed, extracted from the Parish Register: 'John Bridmore and Anne Sellwood, both of Chiltern All Saints, were married October 17, 1714.
'The aforesaid Anne Sellwood was married in her Smock, without any clothes or head gier on.'
This is not uncommon, the object being, according to a vulgar error, to exempt the husband from the payment of any debts his wife may have contracted in her ante-nuptial condition. This error seems to have been founded on a misconception of the law, as it is laid down[49] that 'the husband is liable for the wife's debts, because he acquires an absolute interest in the personal estate of the wife,' etc. An unlearned person from this might conclude, and not unreasonably, that if his wife had no estate whatever, he could not incur any liability.
[Footnote 49: Bacon's Abridgment, Tit. Baron and Feme.]
Anyhow, after marriage they were liable, as the following gentlemen knew: 'Whereas Elizabeth Stephenson, Wife of George Stephenson, late of Falken Court, near the Queen's Bench, in Southwark, hath Eloped from her said Husband, and since hath contracted several Debts with a design to Ruin her said Husband. These are therefore to give notice to the Publick, That the said George Stephenson will not on any Account whatever Pay or allow of any Debt so Contracted by the said Elizabeth Stephenson, either before or since her elopement.' 'Whereas Isabella Goodyear, the Daughter of Rich. Cliffe of Brixhome in the County of Devon, and Wife of Aaron Goodyear of London, Merchant, about 18 months since abandon'd and forsook the Bed and since the Board of Aaron her said Husband, carrying with her in Goods, Plate, and other Goods to the value of £200 and upwards, and whereas the said Isabella hath as well been sollicited by the said Aaron her Husband, as also by several of his acquaintance, to return to and Cohabit with him, under all assurances of being civilly receiv'd and maintain'd according to his quality and circumstances, which the said Isabella hath, and still doth obstinately refuse. These are therefore to give notice to all Traders, and all other persons whatsoever, that from and after this present Notice they do not maintain, sustain, or detain the said Isabella from the said Aaron her Husband, or any of his Goods or Plate carryed off by the said Isabella, either by lending her Money or Selling her Goods, or by any other ways whatsoever, under penalty of the law, and forfeiture of the credit, if any, given to the said Isabella from the Notice hereof.'
Having discussed the private hole-and-corner, and clandestine marriages, it may be well to inquire the reasons why these were preferred to the more ceremonious ones. Mainly on the score of expense, and to get rid of the uproarious and senseless festivities which accompanied them. Let Misson describe what one was like: 'One of the Reasons that they have for marrying secretly, as they generally do in England, is that thereby they avoid a great deal of Expence and Trouble.... Persons of Quality, and many others who imitate them, have lately taken up the Custom of being marry'd very late at Night in their Chamber, and very often at some Country House.[50] They increase their Common Bill of Fare for some Days; they dance, they play, they give themselves up for some small Time to Pleasure; but all this they generally do without Noise, and among very near Relations. Formerly in France they gave Livrées de Nôces, which was a knot of Ribbands, to be worn by the Guests upon their Arms; but that is practised now only among Peasants. In England it is done still among the greatest Noblemen. These Ribbands they Call Favours,[51] and give them not only to those that are at the Wedding, but to five hundred People besides; they send them about, and distribute them at their own houses.... Among the Citizens and plain Gentlemen (which is what they call the Gentry) they sometimes give these Favours; but it is very Common to avoid all Manner of Expence as much as Possible. When those of a middling Condition have a mind to be so extravagant as to marry in Publick (which very rarely happens) they invite a Number of Friends and Relations; every one puts on new Cloaths,[52] and dresses finer than ordinary; the Men lead the Women, they get into Coaches, and so go in Procession, and are marry'd in full Day at Church. After Feasting and Dancing, and having made merry that Day and the next, they take a Trip into the Country, and there divert themselves very pleasantly. These are extraordinary Weddings. The Ordinary ones, as I said before, are generally incognito. The Bridegroom, that is to say, the Husband that is to be, and the Bride, who is the Wife that is to be, conducted by their Father and Mother, or by those that serve them in their room, and accompany'd by two Bride men and two Bride maids, go early in the Morning with a Licence[53] in their Pocket and call up Mr. Curate and his Clerk, tell him their Business; are marry'd with a low Voice, and the Doors shut; tip the Minister a Guinea, and the Clerk a Crown; steal softly out, one way, and t'other another, either on Foot or in Coaches; go different Ways to some Tavern at a Distance from their own Lodgings, or to the House of some trusty Friend, there have a good Dinner, and return Home at Night as quietly as Lambs. If the Drums and Fiddles have notice of it they will be sure to be with them by Day break, making a horrible Racket, till they have got the Pence; and, which is worst of all, the whole Murder will come out. Before they go to bed they take t other Glass, &c., and when Bedtime is come the Bride men pull off the Bride's Garters, which she had before unty'd that they might hang down, and so prevent a Curious Hand coming too near her knee. This done, and the Garters being fastened to the Hats of the Gallants, the Bride maids carry the Bride into the Bed chamber, where they undress her,[54] and lay her in Bed. The Bridegroom, who by the Help of his Friends is undress'd in some other Room, comes in his Night-gown as soon as possible to his Spouse, who is surrounded by Mother, Aunt, Sisters, and Friends, and without any farther Ceremony gets into Bed. Some of the Women run away, others remain, and the Moment afterwards they are all got together again.[55] The Bridemen Take the Bride's Stockings, and the Bridemaids the Bridegroom's; both sit down at the Bed's Feet and fling the Stockings over their Heads, endeavouring to direct them so as that they may fall upon the marry'd Couple. If the Man's stockings, thrown by the Maids, fall upon the Bridegroom's Head, it is a Sign she will quickly be marry'd herself; and the same Prognostick holds good of the Woman's Stockings thrown by the Man. Oftentimes these young People engage with one another upon the Success of the Stockings, tho' they themselves look upon it to be nothing but Sport. While some amuse themselves agreeably with these little Follies, others are preparing a good Posset, which is a kind of Cawdle, a Potion made up of Milk, Wine, Yolk of Eggs, Sugar, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, etc. This they present to the young Couple, who swallow it down as fast as they can to get rid of so troublesome Company; the Bridegroom prays, scolds, entreats them to be gone, and the Bride says ne'er a Word, but thinks the more. If they obstinately continue to retard the Accomplishment of their Wishes, the Bridegroom jumps up in his Shirt, which frightens the Women, and puts them to Flight. The Men follow them, and the Bridegroom returns to the Bride.
[Footnote 50: Usually at the father's or guardian's of the lady.]
[Footnote 51: This custom partially survives, and originated in a division among the guests of the ribbons worn by the bride and bridegroom. These favours were worn for some weeks in the hat, and were made of a pretty large knot of ribbons of various colours--gold, silver, carnation, and white.]
[Footnote 52: This was absolutely necessary, and mourning was also temporarily left off, unless for a very near relation recently deceased.]
[Footnote 53: The licence was generally shown the clergyman the day before the wedding, and an appointment made for the ceremony.]
[Footnote 54: There was then, and may be now, a curious superstition that every pin about the bride must be thrown away and lost. There would be no luck if one remained. Nor must the bridesmaid keep one, for should she do so she certainly would not be married before Whitsuntide.]
[Footnote 55: Pepys tells of a frolic Lady Castlemaine and the beautiful Frances Terese Stuart (the original of the Britannia on the copper coinage) had: 'That they two must be married--and married they were--with ring and all other ceremonies of Church service, and ribbands, and a sack posset in bed, and flinging the stocking.']
'They never fail to bring them another Sack Posset next Morning, which they spend in such Amusements as you may easily imagine. The young Woman, more gay and more contented than ever she was in her Life, puts on her finest Cloaths (for she was married only in a Mob[56]), the dear Husband does the same, and so do the young Guests; they laugh, they dance, they make merry; and these Pleasures continue a longer or shorter time, according to the several Circumstances of Things.'
[Footnote 56: A mob was a déshabillé dress, scarcely ever mentioned in terms of commendation.]
There was no going away for the honeymoon for the newly married couple. That trying season was spent at home, in a somewhat stately manner--receiving company, and must have been excessively irksome, as the following amusing account of a citizen's honeymoon shows:[57] 'I have lately married a very pretty body, who being somewhat younger and richer than myself, I was advised to go a wooing to her in a finer suit of clothes than ever I wore in my life: for I love to dress plain, and suitable to a man of my rank. How ever, I gained her heart by it. Upon the wedding day I put myself, according to custom, in another suit, fire new, with silver buttons to it. I am so out of Countenance among my neighbours, upon being so fine, that I heartily wish my clothes well worn out. I fancy every body observes me as I walk the street, and long to be in my own plain geer again. Besides, forsooth, they have put me in a Silk Night gown and a gaudy fool's cap, and make me now and then stand in the window with it. I am ashamed to be dandled thus, and cannot look in the glass without blushing to see myself turned into such a pretty little master. They tell me I must appear in my wedding suit for the first month at least; after which I am resolved to come again to my every day's clothes, for at present every day is Sunday with me.... I forgot to tell you of my white gloves, which they say, too, I must wear all the first month.'
[Footnote 57: Guardian, No. 113.]
I am afraid some of these good gentlemen beat their wives sometimes; and even the gallant Sir Richard Steele says:[58] 'I cannot deny but there are perverse Jades that fall to Men's Lots, with whom it requires more than common Proficiency in Philosophy to be able to live. When these are joined to Men of warm Spirits, without Temper or Learning, they are frequently corrected with Stripes; but one of our famous Lawyers is of opinion, That this ought to be used sparingly.' On the other hand, we hear much of hen-pecked men--so that it is probable, so far as matrimonial jars were concerned, the world wagged then much as now--without the facility for separation and divorce which now exists.
[Footnote 58: Spectator, 479.]
IV. DEATH AND BURIAL
Longevity -- Undertakers' charges -- Costliness of funerals -- Mourning -- Burial in woollen -- Burial societies -- Burial by night -- A cheat -- Mourning rings -- Funeral pomp -- Monuments -- Description of a funeral -- A Roman Catholic funeral -- Widows.
That some lived to a good old age there can be no doubt; but a patriarch died in this reign at Northampton, April 5, 1706:[59] 'This Day died John Bales of this Town, Button Maker Aged 130 and some Weeks; he liv'd in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, King James the First, King Charles the First, Oliver, King Charles the Second, King James the Second, King William the Third, and Queen Anne.'
[Footnote 59: Daily Courant, April 9, 1706.]
And this brings us--
Where the brass knocker, wrapt in flannel band, Forbids the thunder of the footman's hand; Th' upholder, rueful harbinger of death, Waits with impatience for the dying breath; As vultures o'er a camp, with hovering flight, Snuff up the future carnage of the fight.[60]
[Footnote 60: Trivia.]
Nay, if Steele is to be believed, they even feed heavily for early information of death.[61]
[Footnote 61: This and the following quotations are from The Funeral or Grief à la Mode, by Steele, ed. 1702.]
Sable. You don't consider the Charges I have been at already.
Lord Brampton. Charges? For what?
Sable. First, Twenty Guineas to my Lady's Woman for notice of your Death (a Fee I've, before now, known the Widow herself go halfs in), but no matter for that. In the next place, Ten Pounds for watching you all your long Fit of Sickness last Winter.
Lord B. Watching me? Why I had none but my own Servants by Turns.
Sable. I mean attending to give notice of your Death. I had all your long fit of Sickness last Winter, at Half a Crown a day, a fellow waiting at your Gate, to bring me Intelligence, but you unfortunately recovered, and I Lost all my Obliging pains for your Service.
This, of course, is exaggeration, but although, as we have seen, people were sparing in expense over births or marriages, they were absolutely lavish over funerals, and the undertaker could well afford to disgorge some of his gains. Was it the funeral of a rich man, the corpse must straightway be embalmed, roughly though it may be. 'Have you brought the Sawdust and Tar for embalming? Have you the hangings and the Sixpenny nails for my Lord's Coat of Arms?' The hatchment must be put up, and mutes must be stationed at intervals from the hall door to the top of the stairs. 'Come, you that are to be Mourners in the House, put on your Sad Looks, and walk by Me that I may sort you. Ha you! a little more upon the Dismal. This Fellow has a good Mortal look, place him near the Corps; That Wanscoat Face must be o' top of the Stairs: That Fellow's almost in a Fright (that looks as if he were full of some strange misery) at the Entrance of the Hall. So!--but I'll fix you all myself. Let's have no Laughing now on any Provocation; Look Yonder, at that Hale, Well looking Puppy! You ungrateful Scoundrel, Did not I pity you, take you out of a Great Man's Service, and show you the Pleasure of receiving Wages? Did not I give you Ten, then Fifteen and Twenty Shillings a Week to be Sorrowful? and the more I give you, I think the Glader you are!'
The undertaker issued his handbills--gruesome things, with grinning skulls and shroud-clad corpses, thigh bones, mattocks and pickaxes, hearses, and what not. 'These are to Notice, that Mr. John Elphick, Woollen Draper, over against St. Michael's Church in Lewes, hath a good Hearse, a Velvet Pall, Mourning Cloaks, and Black Hangings for Rooms to be Lett at Reasonable Rates.
'He also Sells all sorts of Mourning and Half Mourning, all sorts of Black Cyprus for Scarfs and Hatbands, and White Silks for Scarfs and Hoods at Funerals; Gloves of all sorts and Burying Cloaths for the Dead.
'He sells likewise all sorts of Woollen Cloth Broad and Narrow, Silks and Half Silks, Worsted Stuffs of all Sorts, and Prices of the Newest Fashions, and all sorts of Ribbons, Bodies and Hose, very good Penny worths.'
'Eleazar Malory, Joiner at the Coffin in White Chapel, near Red Lion Street end, maketh Coffins, Shrouds, letteth Palls, Cloaks, and Furnisheth with all other things necessary for Funerals at Reasonable Rates.'
The dead were then buried in woollen, which was rendered compulsory by the Acts 30 Car. II. c. 3 and 36 ejusdem c. 1. The first Act was entitled 'An Act for the lessening the importation of Linnen from beyond the Seas, and the encouragement of the Woollen and Paper Manufactures of the Kingdome.' It prescribed that the curate of every parish shall keep a register, to be provided at the charge of the parish, wherein to enter all burials and affidavits of persons being buried in woollen; the affidavit to be taken by any justice of the peace, mayor, or such like chief officer in the parish where the body was interred; and if there be no officer, then by any curate within the county where the corpse was buried (except him in whose parish the corpse was buried), who must administer the oath, and set his hand gratis.
No affidavit to be necessary for a person dying of the plague. It imposed a fine of 5_l._ for every infringement, one half to go to the informer, and the other half to the poor of the parish.
This Act was only repealed by 54 Geo. III. c. 108, or in the year 1815.
The material used was flannel, and such interments are frequently mentioned in the literature of the time, and Luttrell mentions in his diary (Oct. 9, 1703) that the Irish Parliament had just brought in bills 'for encouraging the linnen manufacture, and to oblige all persons to bury in woollen.'
'Odious! in woollen! 'twould a saint provoke,' Were the last words that poor Narcissa spoke; 'No, let a charming chintz and Brussels lace Wrap my cold limbs and shade my lifeless face: One would not, sure, be frightful when one's dead-- And, Betty, give this cheek a little red.'[62]
[Footnote 62: Pope's Moral Essays, Epistle i. This is said to refer to Mrs. Oldfield, the famous actress of Anne's reign, who (vide Gentleman's Magazine for March 1731) 'was buried in Westminster Abby, in a Brussels lace Head dress, a Holland Shift, with Tucker and double Ruffles of the same Lace, and a Pair of new Kid Gloves.' 'Betty' was her old and faithful servant, Mrs. Saunders, herself an actress, taking widows' and old maids' parts.]
Funeral invitations were sent out--ghastly things, such as the foregoing.
Elegies, laudatory of the deceased, were sometimes printed and sent to friends: these were got up in the same charnel-house style. Indeed, no pains were spared to make a funeral utterly miserable and expensive. Hatbands were costly items. 'For the encouragement of our English silk called Alamodes, His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark, the Nobility, and other persons of Quality appear in Mourning Hatbands made of that Silk, to bring the same in fashion, in the place of Crapes, which are made in the Pope's Country where we send our Money for them.' Gloves, of course, had to be given to every mourner. Indeed it is refreshing among the universal spoiling of the deceased's survivors to find that one man advertises cheap mourning and funeral necessaries. 'For the good of the Publick, I Edward Evans, at the Four Coffins in the Strand, over against Somerset House; Furnish all Necessaries for all sorts of Funerals, both great and small. And all sorts of set Mourning both Black and Gray and all other Furniture sutable to it, fit for any person of Quality. Which I promise to perform 2_s._ in the Pound cheaper than any of the Undertakers in Town or elsewhere.'
Of course these remarks do not apply to the poor: they had already started burial clubs or societies, and very cheap they seem to have been. 'This is to give Notice, that the Office of Society for Burials, by mutual Contribution of a Halfpenny or Farthing towards a Burial, erected upon Wapping Wall, is now removed into Katherine Wheel Alley in White Chappel, near Justice Smiths, where subscriptions are taken to compleat the number, as also at the Ram in Crucifix lane in Barnaby Street, Southwark; to which places notice is to be given of the death of any Member, and where any Person may have the Printed Articles after Monday next. And this Thursday about 7 o'clock Evening will be Buried by the Undertakers the Corpse of J. S., a Glover over against the Sun Brewhouse, in Golden Lane; as also a Child from the Corner of Acorn Alley in Bishopsgate Street, and another Child from the Great Maze Pond, Southwark.'
We see in the invitation to Mr. Newborough's funeral that it was to take place on an evening in January. This probably was so arranged by the Undertaker (indeed, the custom was general) to increase his costs, for then the mourners were furnished with wax tapers. These were heavy, and sometimes (judging from the illustrations to undertakers' handbills) were made of four tapers twisted at the stem and then branching out. That these wax candles were expensive enough to excite the thievish cupidity of a band of roughs the following advertisement will show: 'Riots and Robberies. Committed in and about Stepney Church Yard, at a Funeral Solemnity, on Wednesday the 23rd day of September; and whereas many Persons, who being appointed to attend the same Funeral with white Wax lights of a considerable Value, were assaulted in a most violent manner, and the said white Wax lights taken from them. Whoever shall discover any of the Persons, guilty of the said Crimes, so as they may be convicted of the same, shall receive of Mr. William Prince, Wax Chandler in the Poultry, London, Ten Shillings for each Person so discover'd,' &c.[63]
[Footnote 63: Daily Courant, Sept. 30, 1713.]
We get a curious glimpse of the paraphernalia of a funeral in the Life of a notorious cheat, 'The German Princess' who lived, and was hanged, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, and the same funeral customs therein described obtained in Anne's time. She took a lodging at a house, in a good position, and told the landlady that a friend of hers, a stranger to London, had just died, and was lying at 'a pitiful Alehouse,' and might she, for convenience sake, bring his corpse there, ready for burial on the morrow. The landlady consented, and 'that Evening the Corps in a very handsome Coffin was brought in a Coach, and plac'd in the Chamber, which was the Room one pair of Stairs next the street and had a Balcony. The Coffin being cover'd only with an ordinary black Cloth, our Counterfeit seems much to dislike it; the Landlady tells her that for 20_s._ she might have the Use of a Velvet Pall, with which being well pleas'd, she desir'd that the Landlady would send for the Pall, and withal accommodate the Room with her best Furniture, for the next Day but one he should be bury'd; thus the Landlady perform'd, getting the Velvet Pall, and placing on a Side-Board Table 2 Silver Candlesticks, a Silver Flaggon, 2 Standing gilt Bowls, and several other Pieces of Plate; but the Night before the intended Burial, our counterfeit Lady and her Maid within the House, handed to their Comrades without, all the Plate, Velvet Pall, and other Furniture of the Chamber that was Portable and of Value, leaving the Coffin and the suppos'd Corps, she and her Woman descended from the Balcony by Help of a Ladder, which her Comrades had brought her.' It is needless to say that the coffin contained only brickbats and hay, and a sad sequel to this story is, that the undertaker sued the landlady for the loss of his pall, which had lately cost him 40_l._
Another very costly item in funerals was the giving of mourning rings. We see[64] the number of rings given at Pepys' funeral in 1703, and their value, 20_s._ and 15_s._, especially when we consider the extra value of the currency at that period, must have been a sore burden to the survivors. Thoresby[65] shows to what a prodigal extent this custom might be carried. 'Afternoon, at the Funeral of my excellent and dear friend, Dr. Thomas Gale, Dean of York, who was interred with great solemnity: lay in state, 200 rings (besides scarfs to bearers and gloves to all) given in the room where I was, which yet could not contain the company.'
[Footnote 64: Appendix.]
[Footnote 65: Diary of Ralph Thoresby, April 15, 1702.]
Naturally, a great many must have come to a man in the course of his life, as we may see by the contents of a box lost out of a waggon between Stamford and London: '3 Hair Rings, 6 with a Death's Head, about 2 penny weight apiece the Posie (Prepared be to follow me); 3 other mourning rings with W. C. ob. 18 Dec. 1702; 1 Ennamelled Ring, 3 Pennyweight twelve grains. W. Heltey, ob. 5 July, Æt. 61.' And their value may be guessed from 'Lost on Thursday, the 8th Instant one of the late Lord Huntingdon's Funeral Rings. Whoever brings it to Mr. White's at the Chocolate House in St. James's shall have two Guineas reward.'
Besides the rings, hatbands, scarves, and gloves, there was another tax; for Evelyn,[66] noting Pepys' death and burial, says, 'Mr. Pepys had been for neare 40 years so much my particular friend that Mr. Jackson sent me compleat mourning, desiring me to be one to hold up the pall at his magnificent obsequies, but my indisposition hinder'd me from doing him this last office.'
[Footnote 66: Diary, May 26, 1703.]
The pomp of funerals was outrageous. Gay, observant as he always was, notes this in 'Trivia,' book 3:--
Why is the Herse with 'Scutcheons blazon'd round, And with the nodding Plume of Ostrich crown'd? No, the Dead know it not, nor profit gain: It only serves to prove the Living vain. How short is Life! how frail is human Trust! Is all this Pomp for laying Dust to Dust?
No wonder he exclaimed against these mortuary extravagances. Take an alderman's funeral as an example: 'On Wednesday last the Corps of Sir William Prichard, Kt., late Alderman, and sometime Lord Mayor of the City of London, (Who died Feb. 18) having lain some days in State, at his House in Highgate, was convey'd from thence in a Hearse, accompanied by several Mourning Coaches with 6 Horses each, through Barnet and St. Albans to Dunstable; and the next day through Hockley (where it was met by about 20 Persons on Horseback) to Woburn and Newport Pagnel, and to his seat at Great Lynford (a Mile farther) in the county of Buckingham: Where, after the Body had been set out, with all Ceremony befitting his Degree, for near 2 hours, 'twas carried to the Church adjacent in this order, viz. 2 Conductors with long Staves, 6 Men in Long Cloaks two and two, the Standard 18 Men in Cloaks as before, Servants to the Deceas'd two and two, Divines, the Minister of the Parish and the Preacher, the Helm and Crest, Sword and Target, Gauntlets and Spurs, born by an Officer of Arms; the Surcoat of arms born by another Officer of Arms, both in their rich Coats of Her Majesty's Arms embroider'd; the Body, between 6 Persons of the Arms of Christ's Hospital, St. Bartholomew's, Merchant Taylors' Company, City of London, empaled Coat and Single Coat; the Chief Mourner and his 4 Assistants, follow'd by the Relations of the Defunct, &c. After Divine Service was perform'd and an excellent Sermon suitable to the Occasion, preach'd by the Reverend Lewis Atterbury, LL.D., Minister of Highgate aforesaid, the Corps was interr'd in a handsome large Vault, in the Ile on the North side of the Church, betwixt 7 and 8 of the clock that Evening.'[67]
[Footnote 67: Daily Courant, March 5, 1705.]
But there was one thing they did not spend so much money upon as their forefathers did, i.e. on monumental statuary, &c. In this age the bust, or 'busto,' was used in preference to the recumbent, or half-figures, of the previous century; but by far the greater number of mortuary memorials took the form of mural tablets, more or less ornate, according to the taste and wealth of the parties concerned. As a rule the epitaph was in Latin--this classical age, and the somewhat pedantic one that followed, could brook no meaner tongue in which to eulogise its dead; and their virtues were pompously set forth in that language which is common to the whole of the civilised world.
No account of the funerals of this age would be complete without seeing what Misson says on the subject:--'As soon as any Person is dead, they are oblig'd to give Notice thereof to the Minister of the Parish, and to those who are appointed to visit dead Bodies. This Custom of visiting dead Bodies was establish'd after the dreadful Plague that ravag'd London in 1665, to the Intent that it might be immediately known if there was any Contagious Distemper, and proper Methods taken to put a Stop to it. They are generally two Women that do this. The Clerk of the Parish receives their Certificate, and out of these is form'd an Abridgment that is publish'd every Week. By this Paper you may see how many Persons of both Sexes dy'd within that Week, of what Distemper, or by what Accident.
'There is an Act of Parliament which ordains, That the Dead shall be bury'd in a Woollen Stuff, which is a Kind of a thin Bays, which they call Flannel; nor is it lawful to use the least Needleful of Thread or Silk. (The Intention of this Act is for the Encouragement of the Woollen Manufacture.) This Shift is always White; but there are different Sorts of it as to Fineness, and consequently of different Prices. To make these Dresses is a particular Trade, and there are many that sell nothing else; so that these Habits for the Dead are always to be had ready made, of what Size or Price you please, for People of every Age and Sex. After they have wash'd the Body thoroughly clean, and shav'd it, if it be a Man, and his Beard be grown during his Sickness, they put it on a Flannel Shirt, which has commonly a Sleeve purfled about the Wrists, and the Slit of the Shirt down the Breast done in the same Manner. When these Ornaments are not of Woollen Lace, they are at least edg'd, and sometimes embroider'd with black Thread. The Shirt shou'd be at least half a Foot longer than the Body, that the Feet of the Deceas'd may be wrapped in it as in a Bag. When they have thus folded the End of the Shirt close to the Feet, they tye the Part that is folded down with a Piece of Woollen Thread, as we do our Stockings; so that the End of the Shirt is done into a Kind of Tuft.
'Upon the Head they put a Cap, which they fasten with a very broad Chin Cloth, with Gloves on the Hands, and a Cravat round the Neck, all of Woollen. That the Body may ly the softer, some put a Lay of Bran, about four inches thick, at the Bottom of the Coffin. Instead of a Cap, the Women have a Kind of Head Dress, with a Forehead Cloth. The Body being thus equipp'd and laid in the Coffin (which Coffin is sometimes very magnificent), it is visited a second time, to see that it is bury'd in Flannel, and that nothing about it is sowed with Thread. They let it lye three or four Days in this Condition; which Time they allow, as well to give the dead Person an Opportunity of Coming to Life again, if his Soul has not quite left his Body, as to prepare Mourning, and the Ceremonies of the Funeral.
'They send the Beadle with a List of such Friends and Relations as they have a Mind to invite; and sometimes they have printed Tickets, which they leave at their Houses. A little before the Company is set in Order for the March, they lay the Body into the Coffin upon two Stools, in a Room where all that please may go and see it; they then take off the Top of the Coffin, and remove from off the Face a little square Piece of Flannel, made on Purpose to cover it, and not fastened to any Thing; Upon this Occasion the rich Equipage of the Dead does Honour to the Living. The Relations and chief Mourners are in a Chamber apart, with their more intimate Friends; and the rest of the Guests are dispersed in several Rooms about the House.
'When they are ready to set out, they nail up the Coffin, and a Servant presents the Company with Sprigs of Rosemary: Every one takes a Sprig and carries it in his Hand 'till the Body is put into the Grave, at which Time they all throw their Sprigs in after it. Before they set out, and after they return, it is usual to present the Guests with something to drink, either red or white Wine, boil'd with Sugar and Cinnamon, or some such Liquor. Butler, the Keeper of a Tavern,[68] told me there was a Tun of Red Port drank at his Wife's Burial, besides mull'd White Wine. Note, no Men ever go to Women's burials, nor the Women to the Men's; so that there were none but Women at the drinking of Butler's Wine. Such Women in England will hold it out with the Men, when they have a Bottle before them, as well as upon t'other Occasion, and tattle infinitely better than they.
[Footnote 68: The Crown and Sceptre in St. Martin's Street.]
'The Parish has always three or four Mortuary Cloths of different Prices,[69] to furnish those who are at the Charge of the interment. These Cloths, which they Call Palls, are some of black Velvet, others of Cloth with an edge of white Linnen or Silk, a foot broad, or thereabouts; For a Batchellor or Maid, or for a Woman that dies in Child Birth, the Pall is white. This is spread over the Coffin, and is so broad that the Six or Eight Men that carry the Body are quite hid beneath it to their Waste, and the Corners and Sides of it hang down low enough to be born by those[70] who, according to Custom, are invited for that purpose. They generally give Black or White Gloves and black Crape Hatbands to those that carry the Pall; sometimes also white Silk Scarves.
[Footnote 69: The handsomest was let out on hire for twenty-five or thirty shillings.]
[Footnote 70: Called Pall-bearers--some six friends or so--and accounted a special honour.]
'Every Thing being ready to move (it must be remember'd that I always speak of middling People, among whom the Customs of a Nation are most truly to be learn'd), one or more Beadles march first, each carrying a long Staff, at the End of which is a great Apple or Knob of Silver. The Minister of the Parish, generally accompany'd by some other Minister, and attended by the Clerk, walks next; and the Body carry'd as I said before, comes just after him. The Relations in close Mourning, and all the Guests two and two, make up the rest of the Procession. The Common Practice is to carry the corpse thus into the Body of the Church, where they set it down upon two Tressels, while either a Funeral Sermon is preach'd, containing an Eulogium upon the deceased, or certain Prayers said, adapted to the Occasion. If the Body is not bury'd in the Church, they carry it to the Church Yard belonging to the same, where it is interr'd in the Presence of the Guests, who are round the Grave, and they do not leave it 'till the Earth is thrown in upon it. Then they return Home in the same order that they came, and each drinks two or three Glasses more before he goes Home. Among Persons of Quality 'tis customary to embalm the Body, and to expose it for a Fortnight or more on a Bed of State. After which they carry it in a Sort of a Waggon[71] made for that Purpose, and cover'd with black Cloth, to the Place appointed by the Deceased. This Cart is attended by a long train of Mourning Coaches belonging to the Friends of the Dead Person.'
[Footnote 71: A hearse.]
A notice of a Roman Catholic funeral must conclude this subject. It is taken from the will of 'Mr. Benjamin Dod, Citizen and Linnen Draper, who fell from his Horse, and dy'd soon after.'[72] 'I desire Four and Twenty Persons to be at my Burial ... to every of which Four and Twenty Persons ... I give a pair of white Gloves, a Ring of Ten Shillings Value, a Bottle of Wine at my Funeral, and Half a Crown to be spent at their Return that Night, to drink my Soul's Health, then on her Journey for Purification in order to Eternal Rest. I appoint the Room, where my Corps shall lie, to be hung with Black, and four and twenty Wax Candles to be burning; on my Coffin to be affixed a Cross, and this Inscription, Jesus, Hominum Salvator. I also appoint my Corps to be carried in a Herse drawn with Six white Horses, with white Feathers, and followed by Six Coaches, with six Horses to each Coach, to carry the four and twenty Persons.... Item I give to Forty of my particular Acquaintance, not at my Funeral, to every one of them a Gold Ring of Ten Shillings Value.... As for Mourning I leave that to my Executors hereafter nam'd; and I do not desire them to give any to whom I shall leave a legacy.' Here follows a long list of legacies. 'I will have no Presbyterian, Moderate Low Churchmen, or Occasional Conformists, to be at or have anything to do with my Funeral. I die in the Faith of the True Catholic Church. I desire to have a Tomb stone over me, with a Latin Inscription, and a Lamp, or Six Wax Candles, to burn Seven Days and Nights thereon.'
[Footnote 72: The Flying Post and Medley, July 27, 1714.]
Widows wore black veils, and a somewhat peculiar cap, and had long trains--allusions to which are very frequent in the literature of the time. That they were supposed to seclude themselves for six weeks, and debar themselves of all amusement for twelve months, is shown by the two following extracts from Steele's 'Funeral, or Grief à la Mode.'
'But, Tatty, to keep house 6 weeks, that's another barbarous Custom.'
'Oh, how my head runs my first Year out, and jumps to all the joys of widowhood! If, Thirteen Months hence, a Friend should haul one to a Play one has a mind to see!'
V. HOUSES, FURNITURE, ETC
'Queen Anne' houses -- Vanbrugh's house -- Real 'Queen Anne' houses -- Hangings and wall papers -- Letting and rent -- Prevention of fire -- A fire -- Insurance companies -- Water supply -- Thames Water Works -- New River -- Coals -- Furniture -- China -- Bedsteads.
Although for the purpose of this work it is necessary to say somewhat of the houses of the period, it is not worth while discussing the so-called revival of the architecture of Queen Anne's time. The modern houses are quaint and pretty, but they are innocent of any close connection with her reign. Artists' and architects' holiday rambles in Holland are provocative of most of them; 'sweet little bits' having been brought home in sketch-books from Dordrecht and kindred happy hunting-grounds for the picturesque. The style was not even adopted for mansions--vide Marlborough House and Blenheim; and the exterior of the ordinary town houses, even of the better class, was singularly unpretentious. Hatton[73] is struck with admiration of Queen Square (now Queen Anne's Gate), and says it is 'a beautiful New (tho' small) Square, of very fine Buildings.' If he could thus eulogise its architecture, what must have been the plainness of the exterior of ordinary houses! It was not that there was a lack of good architects, for Wren and Vanbrugh were alive, but the houses and furniture were in conformity with the spirit of the times--very dull, and plain, and solid. We must never forget that during nearly the whole of this queen's reign a cruel war exhausted the people's finances, that trade was circumscribed, and that there were no mushroom parvenus, with inflated fortunes made from shoddy or the Stock Exchange, to spend their wealth lavishly on architecture or art in any shape.
[Footnote 73: A New View of London, 1708.]
A dull mediocrity in thought and feeling prevailed, and if any originality in architecture was attempted, it would certainly have been satirised, as it was in the very little-known poem of 'The History of Vanbrugh's House.'[74]
[Footnote 74: See Meditations upon a Broomstick and Somewhat Beside, Swift, ed. 1710.]
When Mother Clud[75] had rose from Play, And call'd to take the Cards away; VAN Saw, but seem'd not to regard, How MISS pickt ev'ry Painted Card; And Busie both with Hand and Eye, Soon Rear'd a House two Story high; VAN's Genius without Thought or Lecture, This hugely turn'd to Architecture. He view'd the Edifice, and smil'd, Vow'd it was pretty for a Child; It was so perfect in its Kind, He kept the Model in his Mind.
But when he found the Boys at Play, And Saw 'em dabling in their Clay; He stood behind a Stall to lurk, And mark the Progress of their Work; With true Delight observ'd 'em All Raking up Mud to build a Wall; The Plan he much admir'd, and took The Model in his Table-Book; Thought himself now exactly skill'd, And so resolv'd a House to build. A real House, with Rooms and Stairs, Five Times at least as big as Theirs; Taller than MISS'S by two Yards; Not a sham Thing of Clay, or Cards; And so he did: For in a while, He built up such a monstrous Pile, That no two Chairmen cou'd be found, Able to lift it from the Ground; Still at White Hall it Stands in View, Just in the Place where first it grew; There all the little School Boys run, Envying to see themselves outdone.
From such deep Rudiments as these, VAN is become by due Degrees, For Building Fam'd, and justly Reckon'd At Court, Vitruvius the Second;[76] No wonder, since wise Authors show, That Best Foundations must be Low; And now the Duke has wisely ta'en him To be his Architect at Blenheim: But Railery for once apart, If this Rule holds in ev'ry Art; Or, if his Grace was no more Skill'd in The Art of Batt'ring Walls, than Building, We might expect to find next Year A Mouse trap Man, Chief Engineer.
[Footnote 75: The same lady satirised in The Reverse.]
[Footnote 76: Vanbrugh was Comptroller General of Works.]
But should any reader wish to see good specimens of real Queen Anne's houses, I would recommend a visit to Nos. 10 and 11 Austinfriars. They are undoubtedly genuine (mark the date 1704 on the waterspout); and the staircase of No. 10, with its beautifully turned and carved balusters, and boldly yet easily carved soffits, is a real treat to see; and were it to be cleansed from its many coats of paint, and appear in its original state, it would be an almost matchless specimen of the domestic building of the time. The ceiling, too, at the top of the staircase is very beautifully painted, and was most probably the work either of Laguerre or Thornhill. It is good enough for either of them. No. 11 is inferior to No. 10, but were its neighbour away it would be looked upon as a very good type of a house in the reign of Queen Anne. See also an old house, now used as a Ward School, formerly the residence of Sir C. Wren, in a courtyard in Botolph Lane, Eastcheap.
But a good plan is to judge of the houses by contemporary evidence and description. 'To be Let, a New Brick House, Built after the Newest Fashion, the Rooms wainscotted and Painted, Lofty Stories, Marble Foot paces to the Chimneys, Sash Windows, glaised with fine Crown Glass, large half Pace Stairs, that 2 People may go up on a Breast, in a new pleasant Court planted with Vines, Jesamin, and other Greens, next Door to the Crown near the Sarazen's Head Inn in Carter Lane, near St. Paul's Church Yard, London.' So we see even as late as 1710 that a staircase capable of accommodating two people abreast was a novelty, only to be found in 'the last thing out' in houses. The windows of these houses were long but narrow; the smallness of the panes being rendered necessary by the fact that no large size could be made in window-glass, it being only of late years that the manufacture has improved to that extent. Here is another house described, temp. 1712. 'To be Lett, near Cheapside, A large new-built House that fronts two Streets of great Trade: The Shop is lined with Deal all round, and is about 60 Foot deep one way. There is under the Shop a very good dry Warehouse that is brickt at Bottom. Joyce and boarded over it, the Sides and Top is lined with Deal, it is 9 foot between Floor and Top. There is above Stairs 4 Rooms on a Floor, almost all Wainscotted, and a large Staircase all Wainscotted. All the Flat is covered with very thick Lead, with Rails and Bannisters round the Leads and a large Cupolo on the Top. Inquire of Mr. Richard Wright at the Perriwig in Bread Street.'
This must have been an extra good house, for they were mostly roofed with tiles, a fact which has practical demonstration, for after the terrible storm of Nov. 26, 1703, which damaged London alone to the extent of a million sterling, and cost us many men-of-war, the loss of over 1,500 sailors of the navy, and an unnumbered quantity of merchant seamen, the price of tiles rose tremendously. On Dec. 7 'there is to be sold Plain Tiles 50_s._ a Thousand, and Pan Tiles for 6_l._ a Thousand.' The plain tiles went still higher, for on Dec. 24 they were 65_s._ a thousand.
As a rule the rooms were fairly lofty, and the walls of the better class were mostly wainscotted with oak, walnut, chestnut, or cedar, and sometimes beautifully carved, and in the lower-class houses with deal, painted. But wall papers were coming in.[77] 'At the Blue Paper Warehouse in Aldermanbury (and nowhere else) in London, are sold the true sorts of figur'd Paper Hangings, some in pieces of 12 yards long, others after the manner of real Tapistry, others in imitation of Irish Stitch, flower'd Damasks, Sprigs and Branches; others yard Wide, in imitation of Marble and other coloured Wainscoats; others in yard wide, Emboss'd work, and a curious sort of Flock work in imitation of Caffaws, and other Hangings of curious figures and colours. As also Linnen Cloath, Tapestry Hangings, with a variety of Skreens and Chimney pieces, and Sashes for Windows, as transparent as Sarconet.' And another advertisement in next year gives 'imitation of Marbles and other Coloured Wainscoats, which are to be put in Pannels and Mouldings made for that purpose, fit for the Hanging of Parlours, Dining Rooms, and Stair Cases; and others in Yard wide Emboss'd work, in imitation of Gilded Leather.' The old style of hangings did not go out at once, for in 1704 was advertised 'Three Suites of Hanging: one of Forrest Tapistry, one of clouded Camlet, and one of blue Printed Linsey; the 2 first very good, scarce the worse for wearing--to be sold very reasonable.'
[Footnote 77: Postman, December 10/12, 1702.]
Stained glass was not used, generally, for decorative purposes, save for coats of arms; indeed, the art seems to have been in a bad way, judging from the following advertisement:[78] 'Whereas the ancient Art of Painting and Staining Glass has been much discouraged, by reason of an Opinion generally received, That the Red Colour (not made in Europe for many Years) is totally lost; These are to give Notice, That the said Red, and all other Colours are made to as great a Degree of Curiosity and Fineness as in former Ages by William and Joshua Price, Glasiers and Glass Painters near Hatton Garden in Holborn, London, where any Gentlemen, who have the Curiosity, may be convinc'd by Demonstration, there being a large Window just now finished for his Grace the Duke of Leeds, which will be sent into the Country in a few days.'
[Footnote 78: The London Gazette, June 14/18, 1705.]
Houses were not always let by Agreement, but the leases were sold; and it is by means of such advertisements that we are able to get at the rents, which seem to have been very low--even reckoning the difference of value in money. Certainly they had none of our modern appliances and conveniences, which add so considerably to the cost of buildings, nor do they seem to have been saddled with exorbitant ground rents. 'To be sold a lease of 33 years to come in 5 Houses standing together on the North side of the Pall Mall, whereon 25_l._ per Ann. Rent is reserved. The Houses are let at 200_l._ a year.' 'A Gentleman has occasion for a lightsome fashionable House in some Genteel part of the Town, or very nigh the Town, and if accommodated with Coach House and Stables it will be better lik'd, of about 30_l._, 40_l._, or 50_l._ a year Rent.'
A little way out of town rents were even cheaper than this. Here would be a boon for rowing men. 'To be let at Barns adjoyning to Mortlack, fronting the River Thames, is a convenient little New House, 2 rooms on a floor, so well situated that it may be shut up, and the Furniture Safe. The benefit of the air may be had at pleasure, for 6_l._ 10_s._ per Ann.' 'Also another House for more private Dwelling, well accommodated with a Garden, River Water, etc., well situated for a Gentleman belonging to the Custom, East India, or African House, or Navy or Victualling Office, and the rent but 10_l._ per Annum. Also a Brick House in the Country, 2 Miles off, standing pleasantly in a good Air, and but 5_l._ per Annum to be Lett.' These instances clearly prove that house rent was cheap in those days, which makes the price paid for apartments seem rather high. When Swift came to London in 1710, he says:[79] 'I lodge in Bury Street, where I removed a week ago. I have the first floor, a dining room and bed chamber, at eight shillings a week; plaguy deep, but I spend nothing on eating,' etc. When he removed to Chelsea he had to pay more. 'I got here in the stage coach with Patrick and my portmantua for sixpence, and pay six shillings a week for one silly room, with confounded coarse sheets.'[80] On one of Ralph Thoresby's visits from Leeds to London[81] he 'was surprised with the old gentlewoman's (Mr. Atkin's mother) demand of 4_s._ per week for my lodgings;' but then that could only have been a bedroom, for the old gentleman was always out the whole day.
[Footnote 79: Journal to Stella, letter 4.]
[Footnote 80: Ibid. letter 21.]
[Footnote 81: Diary of Ralph Thoresby, August 22, 1712.]
It is needless to say that there was more danger of fire then than now; and the inhabitants of London, very many of whom must have had a vivid remembrance of that awful fire in 1666, were not altogether neglectful of their interests in this matter. In 1710 an Act was passed amending an Act made in the sixth year of Anne's reign, 'for the better preventing of Mischiefs that may happen by Fire.' This Act dealt with parochial fire-engines, rewards, rates for water supply and maintenance of same, the thickness of party walls,' etc., and contained one very useful little clause. 'It is further enacted, That there shall be left at the House, upon which there is a Notice of a Fire Plug, a Key to open the Stop Cock, and also a Pipe for the Water to come thereout, to be made use of as Occasion shall require.'
They were also fully alive to the necessity of keeping life-saving appliances in their houses. 'This is to give Notice, That the Rope Ladders and other Ropes, so useful for preserving whole Families from the dismal Accidents of Fire, are to be sold,' etc.
There were three fire insurance companies, whose leaden badges used to be nailed on to the houses, to show they were insured, and in what office; and a reward was offered by the Friendly Society on July 14, 1705, for the discovery of persons who had stolen some of them.
These three insurance companies were: first, the Phœnix, which was at the Rainbow Coffee House, Fleet Street, and also by the Royal Exchange, established about the year 1682, and the assurers in 1710 numbered about 10,000. The system was to pay 30_s._ down, and insure 100_l._ for seven years. Second, the Friendly Society, in Palsgrave Court, without Temple Bar, which was the first (in 1684) that insured by mutual contribution, where you could insure 100_l._ for seven years by paying 6_s._ 8_d._ down, and an annual subscription of 1_s._ 4_d._ In 1710 the number of assured was 18,000. And thirdly, the Amicable Contributors, at Tom's Coffee House in St. Martin's Lane (commenced about 1695). Here a payment of 12_s._ would insure 100_l._ for seven years, at the expiration of which time 10_s._ would be returned to the assured--who in 1710 numbered over 13,000. This society seems to have changed its name to the Hand-in-Hand Fire Office, who gave up their two establishments at Tom's Coffee House and the Crown Coffee House, behind the Exchange, for more suitable premises in Angel Court, Snow Hill, and notified the change in the Gazette of Jan. 1, 1714.
All these employed several men in liveries, and with badges on their arms, to extinguish fire. The accompanying contemporary illustration is very rude, but it gives a vivid representation of a fire at that time.
Gay gives the following graphic description of a fire, so that we may almost fancy we see the firemen at work.
But hark! Distress with Screaming Voice draws nigh'r, And wakes the slumb'ring Street with Cries of Fire. At first a glowing Red enwraps the Skies, And borne by Winds the scatt'ring Sparks arise; From Beam to Beam, the fierce Contagion spreads; The Spiry Flames now lift aloft their Heads, Through the burst Sash a blazing Deluge pours, And splitting Tiles descend in rattling Show'rs. Now with thick Crouds th' enlighten'd Pavement swarms, The Fire-man sweats beneath his crooked Arms, A leathern Casque his vent'rous Head defends, Boldly he climbs where thickest Smoak ascends; Mov'd by the Mother's streaming Eyes and Pray'rs, The helpless Infant through the Flame he bears; With no less Virtue, than through hostile Fire, The Dardan Hero bore his aged Sire. See forceful Engines spout their levell'd Streams, To quench the Blaze that runs along the Beams; The grappling Hook plucks Rafters from the Walls, And Heaps on Heaps the smoaky Ruine falls. Blown by strong Winds the fiery Tempest roars, Bears down new Walls, and pours along the Floors: The Heav'ns are all a blaze, the Face of Night Is cover'd with a sanguine dreadful Light. .............................................. Hark! the Drum thunders! far, ye Crouds retire; Behold the ready Match is tipt with Fire, The Nitrous Store is laid, the smutty Train With running Blaze awakes the barrell'd Grain; Flames sudden wrap the Walls; with sullen Sound, The shatter'd Pile sinks on the smoaky Ground.
The sanitary arrangements of these houses were very defective, and the streets at night time must have been anything but pleasant walks.
'We had not walk'd the usual distance between a Church and an Alehouse, but some Odoriferous Civet Box perfum'd the Air, and saluted our Nostrils with so refreshing a Nosegay, that I thought the whole City (Edenborough-like) had been over-flow'd with an inundation of Surreverence.'[82]
[Footnote 82: The London Spy.]
The water supply, too, was not good. Old-fashioned wells and pumps, sunk in a crowded city full of cesspools and graveyards, could not have furnished a healthy supply. Of course there was the water brought by the city from Highgate and Hampstead, and there was the New River, but it evidently was not sufficient for the use of the inhabitants, or it would not have been hawked about.
More was furnished by the Thames Water Works by means of a huge water-wheel, which worked many force-pumps, and which was erected by a Dutchman named Peter Morrice, in 1582. This occupied a position on the old bridge, similar to its being placed close to the stairs by Fishmongers' Hall at the present time. Although the river was infinitely purer than at present, yet, being tidal, and the supply being taken from in shore, it could not have been good for drinking purposes. There was a new company formed to work this machine, and in the London Gazette, Oct. 28/ Nov. 1, 1703, is an advertisement: 'This is to give Notice to such Persons as have subscribed for Shares in the Thames Water, That the Transfers of the said Shares will be ready to be made to the respective Subscribers to-morrow the 2nd Instant, being the last day limited in the Contract, at Mr. Nicholas Opie's in Bartholomew Lane, where the said Contract or Subscription Roll now lies.'
Hatton says in his 'New View of London' that 'besides the old work erected by Mr. Morris, the New placed in the 4th Arch of the Bridge consists of 2 Wheels with 7 Engines set up about the Year 1702, so there are in all 13 Engines.
'They are the contrivance of that great English Engineer Mr. Sorocold, whereby the Thames Water is raised from the N. end of the Bridge to a very great altitude, by which means many parts of the City &c. are served with the Thames Water. The Flux and Reflux of the Water worketh the Engine. Here are several Proprietors who serve Houses for the most part at 20_s._ per Ann. paid quarterly, and they have proportionately more from Brewhouses, &c., according to what they Consume. To this Company also belongs the Works at Broken Wharf and the City Conduit Water.
'The Old Stock was 500 Shares, and valued at 500_l._ a Share, since which those Shares were divided into 1,500 Shares, each valued at about 100_l._ per Share. They pay the City 700_l._ per Ann. for the Conduit Water, and about 10_l._ per Ann. for the Bridge; Also 300_l._ to Sir Benj. Ayloff or his Assignees for the Broken Wharf, to which place 2 of the Engines at the Bridge do Work, and there are also at that Wharf 2 Horse Works.
'They chiefly serve Goodman's Fields, Minories, Houndsditch, White Chapel, and Birchin Lane.
'Merchant's Water Works are in Hart's Horn Lane.[83] He serves with the Thames Water by Horse Work and Engines. His Rates are 20_s._ per Ann.
[Footnote 83: Afterwards Northumberland Street, Strand.]
'Mill Bank Water is raised and laid into Houses in the Parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster, from the Thames. The Water House is situate on the E. side of Mill Bank, for which the Proprietors, who are in Number 5, had a Patent granted them by K. Charles 2 about the Year 1673. Their Stock and Income is divided into 8 Shares. Rates are at least 10_s._ per Ann., but commonly 20_s._, and for Brewers and extraordinary Occasions more than so many Pounds.'
The water was supplied in primitive pipes of wood, some being of the very small bore of one inch. 'The Governor and Company of the New River, being inclined to contract for Wooden Pipes of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 Inches Diameter in the Bore, to be delivered at any Place within the Bills of Mortality, as occasion shall require, do hereby give notice, that they shall be ready to receive proposals for that purpose, any Thursday, at their Office at Puddle Dock.'[84]
[Footnote 84: London Gazette, Feb. 27/Mar. 1, 1714.]
An adventurer's share in the New River Water Company was then worth 4,500 guineas; and Hatton, in his 'New View of London,' says: 'They now Let the Water to most Houses without Fine or Lease, according as they Consume Water, to none less than 22_s._ 8_d._ per Ann., but to some Brewers, &c., for 40_l._ per Ann., which, and all common Cocks, they Let by Lease and Fine.'
The river was scoured out twice a year, and a staff was kept of '12 Walkers between Ware and London (who daily take care that no Infectious or other thing be thrown into the River that might in any way prejudice it, whereby it is kept Sweet and Wholesome).'
The following advertisement appears in the London Gazette, April 20/May 3, 1703: 'The Governor and Company of the New River brought from Chadwell and Amwell to London, having from time to time made several Orders and Regulations for the Ease and Benefit of those who make use of their Water; but being informed, that several Misrepresentations are Industriously spread abroad to their Prejudice, they have thought fit to publish the following Orders, which have been made from time to time since at several Courts. Viz:
'Ordered. That no Private Family that is served with the Water of the New River, shall be required to take a Lease of the said Water; but that what Rent shall be agreed on with the Collectors to be paid, shall be received by them without the Charge of a Lease.
'Whereas Strict Charge hath been given to the Collectors, and all other Officers of the said New River, That they behave themselves Civilly and Respectfully to such as use the said Water: If any do otherwise
'Ordered. That upon any Complaints to the Meetings of the Company every Thursday at Three in the Afternoon, at their Office at Puddle Dock, Reparation shall forthwith be made to the Party grieved.
'Ordered. That any Tenant may employ their own Plummer to do their Work in mending, or laying any Branch, such Plummer first acquainting the Collector, and making use of the Company's Paviour of that Walk to dig the same.'
The leaden cisterns for holding the family supply were often very artistically and elaborately ornamented, either with flowers or classical subjects, and are nearly all dated. The few now spared in London are of course extremely curious, as being exemplars of the art manufactures of the time.
The houses were principally heated by coals, except in the bedrooms, and, coals being all sea-borne, prices were sometimes very high; thus, latter end of April 1702--'Coals are at 33_s._ per Chaldron in the Pool, because of the great Impress. No Ships are to sail till the Fleet is compleatly mann'd.' Besides this there was a tax of 2_s._ per chaldron, 'to be applyed towards finishing St. Paul's Cathedrall,' which was, on Nov. 26, 1702, ordered to be continued till after the year 1708.[85] This high price was partly fictitious, a 'ring' having been formed in coals; but they managed those things better then than now, and held public inquiry on 'forestalled and regraters.'[86] 'The lords ordered several persons to attend upon account of engrossing Coals, and among them two noted quakers; 'tis said the chief reason of their being so dear is, that several persons in the north, and some Londoners, have farmed most of the Coal pits about Newcastle, with design to sell them at what price they please.' It was even suggested that Government should take the matter up. ''Tis said a proposal is made to the parliament, that the queen be the free importer of Coals, and that they shal never exceed 25_s._ per Chaldron, nor be under 20_s._'[87]
[Footnote 85: Luttrell's Diary, Nov. 26, 1702.]
[Footnote 86: Luttrell's Diary, Nov. 13, 1703.]
[Footnote 87: Ibid. Nov. 20, 1703.]
Not only were they dear, but at times poor in quality. 'The late Common Practice at Sunderland of mixing bad sorts of Coals with the right Lumley Coals, giving such Mixtures the Name of 'pure Lumley Coals,' &c., was counteracted by certificates being given of their genuineness. In Oct. 1711 coals in the Pool were 25_s._ to 26_s._ a chaldron. Scotch coals had, however, been introduced, for we find an advertisement: 'At Mr. Folley's Warehouse on White Fryers Wharf, are a parcel of Scotch Coals to be Sold Reasonably, being the best that have come to London for many Years, and out of the Earl of Marrs Collyary.'[88]
[Footnote 88: Daily Courant, Jan. 21, 1713.]
But if they were this high price, ex ship, and wholesale, those who bought in small quantities had to pay very heavily. Swift in his letters to Stella is always grumbling at the expense of his modicum of coals, and would stop longer in, and go earlier to, bed, in order to save. Then was it that the cry of 'Small coale!' was heard in the streets--a cry that will always be associated with the memory of Thomas Britton, the 'musical small coal man,' who died Sept. 14, 1714.
The stoves used to burn coal were small and portable, taking the place of the old andirons, and standing unfixed in the somewhat wide chimney-pieces. It is needless to say that the modern 'Queen Anne' stoves bear very little likeness to the genuine article. The back plates were frequently very ornamental, sometimes having the arms of the owner of the house upon them. The accompanying illustration, being taken from an ironmonger's handbill, is probably copied from one he had in stock--if not, it most certainly represented those in use.
Of the furniture of the time--the houses were, to our idea, very scantily furnished. Take any of the very few engravings of social life in this reign, and one is astonished at the bare look of the apartments: a table in the centre, a few high-backed and clumsy chairs, a square, box-like settee, are all that are movable; on the walls a picture or two, sometimes, not always, a looking-glass, occasionally an alcove with shelves for china and bric-a-brac, and window curtains--always curtains,--the possession of which must have entailed much trouble on many housekeepers. Vide the following advertisement:[89] 'London, Nov. 24.--Having no longer since than last Night had the misfortune (with other of my Neighbours in Leicester Fields) to be robb'd by a very uncommon method; I desire you would (for the Good of the Publick) incert in your Paper the underwritten Advertisement, that Persons may thereby be put upon their Guard, and make such provision as may prevent the like Robberies.
[Footnote 89: Daily Courant, Nov. 27, 1704.]
'The Thieves observe those Houses whose Window-shutters, either outward or inward, reach not up to the top of the Windows; and taking out some Quaries of the Glass, put their Hands in and rob the Houses of their Window Curtains.'
Without doubt, the houses of the wealthy were better furnished, and more artistically. The virtuoso would bring with him on his return from his 'grand tour' some specimens, both of pictures and furniture, of the lands he visited. Of the former, they were invariably originals or copies of the Caracci, Titian, Palma, Van Dyck, etc., and they were always being imported or changing hands; but of good furniture we seldom find any to be sold, such as, for instance, 'Two Cabinets, the one of 48 drawers, containing great variety of curious Shells, Agates, Corals, Mocus's' (the Mocha or Moco Stone), 'Medals, Minerals, and other Rarities. The other finely inlaid with Flowers and Birds of Stone by Baptist.'
And the merchants and well-to-do people undoubtedly had furniture almost invented to show off their china:[90] 'Whereas the New East India Company did lately sell all their China Ware, These are to Advertise, that a very large parcel there of (as Broken and Damag'd) is now to be sold by Wholesale and Retail, extreamly Cheap, at a Warehouse in Dyer's Yard. Note.--It's very fit to furnish Escrutores, Cabinets, Corner Cupboards or Sprigs, where it usually stands for Ornament only.'
[Footnote 90: Harl. 5996, 147.]
Naturally, almost all the ornamental ceramics came from China or Japan--for the state of our own ceramic art was at a very low ebb; in fact, it was only in its infancy in the middle of the last century. Some pottery was made in Staffordshire and York, but it was near London that the manufacture of the best, such as it was, was seated. The potteries at Fulham were at work, as also Lambeth and Vauxhall. Thoresby tells us of this latter:[91] 'We went by water to Foxhall and the Spring Garden: I was surprised with so many pleasant walks &c. so near London. After dinner there, we viewed the pottery and various apartments there; was most pleased with that where they were painting divers colours, which yet appear more beautiful, and of different colours when baked.'
[Footnote 91: Thoresby's Diary, May 24, 1714.]
None of these wares were remarkable at that time for their beauty, and so the oriental porcelain was naturally the most admired, and consequently bore away the palm, both for beauty of form and design. The use of tea, too, largely helped the consumption of oriental China. The cups and teapots were home articles for the Chinese to make, and it was very many years before we, in England, were even nearly rivalling them.
Tea necessitated a smaller and more elegant table, so we find the want supplied by tea and Dutch tables. Lacquer ware was also in much request, as well for 'Tea Tables, Bowls, Dressing Suites, Cabinets, and Bellows Boards,' as for screens to keep off draughts.
But perhaps the most glorified piece of furniture in the house, was the bed, which could be had at all prices, from the[92] 'new sacking bottom'd Bedsteads at 11_s._ a piece' to that imperial couch which was a prize in a lottery 'by her Majesty's permission,'[93] 'A Rich Bed, 7 Foot broad, 8 foot long, and about 14 foot high, in which is no less than Two Thousand Ounces of Gold and Silver wrought in it; Containing four Curtains Embroidered on both sides alike, on a white Silk Tabby, Three Vallains with Tassels, three Basses, two Bone-graces, and four Cantoneers Embroider'd on Gold Tissue Cloth, cost 3,000_l._, put up at 1,400_l._' This, of course, was an extraordinary bed; but the price of bed Furniture really seems to have been 'from 6_l._ or 7_l._ per Bed to 40_l._ per Bed, with all sorts of fine Chain Stitch Work.' Velvet, both in crimson and other colours, was also a favourite for bed-hangings, and cost 40_l._ at least. One quilt is described, but I fairly give it up--'Stole out of the house of John Barnes, &c., a Culgee quilt.'
[Footnote 92: Harl. 5996, 87.]
[Footnote 93: Ibid. 5961, 326.]
VI. SERVANTS
Number of servants -- Footmen -- Wages -- Liveries -- 'How d'ye' -- The Upper Gallery -- Footmen's Parliament -- Accomplishments -- White slaves from Barbary -- Negro slaves -- Runaways -- Apprentices.
The quantity of servants in vogue at that time, especially of male servants, seems to us to be excessive, but when we look how useful they were, apart from their menial duties, as guards, and assistants when the carriage stuck in a deep rut when travelling, and remember that the old feudal system of having retainers about one for show was then only moribund (it is not yet dead), their number is accounted for. First on the list stands my lord's page, who wore his livery, although of more costly material than that worn by the footman. He served his apprenticeship as 'a little foot page,' but it was always understood that, afterwards, his rise in life should be looked to by his patron. It was very much the same relation that existed between knight and squire. How he accompanied his lord on state occasions is shown in one of the illustrations of carriages. Steele speaks disparagingly of the lad's position.[94] 'I know a Man of good Sense who put his Son to a Blacksmith, tho' an Offer was made him of his being received a Page to a Man of Quality.'
[Footnote 94: Spectator, 214.]
But it was the footman of that age, and indeed of the whole of the early Georgian era, who was the perpetual butt of the satirist--probably not without reason. 'There's nothing we Beaus take more Pride in than a Sett of Genteel Footmen. I never have any but what wear their own Hair, and I allow 'em a Crown a Week for Gloves and Powder; if one shouldn't, they'd Steal horridly to set themselves out, for now, not one in ten is without a Watch, and a nice Snuff Box with the best Orangerie; and the Liberty of the Upper Gallery, has made 'em so confounded pert, that, as they wait behind one at Table, they'll either put in their Word, or Mimick a body, and People must bear with 'em or else pay 'em their Wages.'[95] Steele, of course, could not resist such a tempting theme for his pen, and, consequently, devotes a whole Spectator (No. 88) to footmen. He says: 'They are but in a lower Degree what their Masters themselves are; and usually affect an Imitation of their Manners; and you have in Liveries, Beaux, Fops, and Coxcombs, in as high perfection, as among People that keep Equipages. It is a common Humour among the Retinue of People of Quality, when they are in their Revels, that is when they are out of their Master's Sight, to assume in a humourous Way the Names and Titles of those whose Liveries they wear.'
[Footnote 95: Tunbridge Walks, ed. 1703.]
Indeed, the footmen of that age must have had a good time of it, for the custom of feeing them, or, as it was called, of giving them 'vails,' was very prevalent. It got worse later on--indeed, it became such a nuisance that it was obliged to be stopped. Yet even now it has to be done, like feeing waiters. Certainly their wages were not great. 'I love punctual Dealings, Sir; Now my Wages comes to at Six Pound per Annum, Thirty two Pounds the Five Years and four Months, the odd Week two Shillings Sixpence, the two Hours one halfpenny,' etc.[96] This, certainly, even at the then enhanced value of money, was not a great yearly wage, and to a certain extent must plead excuse for the custom of giving vails. As a rule they were treated like dogs by their masters, and were caned mercilessly for very trivial faults. They were very far from being faultless, and Swift's man Patrick seems to have been a specimen of his kind. How humorously Swift used to describe his faults to Stella! how he was always going to get rid of him, and never did!
[Footnote 96: The Perplexed Lovers, by Mrs. Centlivre, ed. 1712.]
Their liveries were, perhaps, not so gorgeous as in the later Georgian time, but they liked fine clothes. 'Her footmen, as I told you before, are such Beaus, that I do not much care for asking them Questions; when I do, they answer me with a sawcy Frown, and say that every thing, which I find fault with, was done by my Lady Mary's Order. She tells me that she intends they shall wear Swords with their next Liveries, having lately observed the Footmen of two or three Persons of Quality hanging behind the Coach with Swords by their Sides.'[97]
[Footnote 97: Spectator, No. 299.]
One part of their duty was to call on their master's or mistress's acquaintances, and ask, with their compliments, 'How do ye?'--equivalent to our sending in a card; and this custom is frequently mentioned in contemporary literature. 'And I'll undertake, if the How d'ye Servants of our Women were to make a Weekly Bill of Sickness,' &c.,[98] 'While she sleeps I'm Employ'd in Howdee's,'[99] 'We have so many come with How-dee's, I never mind 'em.'
[Footnote 98: Ibid. 143.]
[Footnote 99: The Basset Table, sc. i., ed. 1706.]
The upper gallery at the play was theirs by prescriptive right; their verdict greatly influenced the success or failure of a play, and they were worth conciliating. Pinkethman, who played to the gallery, knew this, and in Mrs. Centlivre's comedy of 'The Basset Table,' where he took a footman's part, spoke the prologue, in which he not only addressed them in preference to the other portion of the audience, but showed his power over them by making them rattle their sticks and clap their hands at his command.
Therefore dear Brethren (since I am one of you) Whether adorn'd in Grey, Green, Brown or Blue, This day stand all by me, as I will fall by you; And now to let-- The poor Pit see how Pinky's Voice Commands, Silence--Now rattle all your Sticks and clap your grimy Hands. I greet your Love, and let the vainest Author show, } Half this command on cleaner hands below, } Nay, more to prove your Interest, let this Play live by you. } So may you share good Claret with your Masters, Still free in your Amours from their Disasters; Free from poor Housekeeping, where Peck is under Locks. Free from Cold Kitchings, and no Christmas Box: So may no long Debates i' th' House of Commons, Make you in the Lobby starve, when hunger summons; But may your plenteous Vails come flowing in, Give you a lucky Hit, and make you Gentlemen; And thus preferr'd, ne'er fear the World's Reproaches, But shake your Elbows with my Lord, and keep your Coaches.
Whilst waiting in the House of Commons, as alluded to in the foregoing, the footmen used to form a parliament of their own, and discussed politics like their masters. As a joke upon the poverty of the Scotch lords, it used to be said that, in the footmen's House of Lords, many questions were lost to the court party, which were carried in the real House, owing to there being so few footmen belonging to them. Swift alludes to this practice[100]: 'Pompey, Colonel Hill's black, designs to stand speaker for the footmen. I am engaged to use my interest for him, and have spoken to Patrick to get him some votes.'
[Footnote 100: Journal to Stella, letter 10.]
'Give you a lucky Hit' shows that the spirit of Chawles Jeames Yellow Plush was then in existence, and that he sometimes speculated; and, if the following newspaper paragraph is reliable, he sometimes won: and would be in a position to realise the last line in the prologue: 'The Ticket which entitled the Bearer to 10,000_l._ drawn in this present Lottery, belongs to a Brewer's Man and Maid Servant.'[101]
[Footnote 101: Postboy, Jan. 21/23, 1714.]
The accomplishments of male servants seem to have been varied. Addison says,[102] 'I remember the time when some of our well-bred Country Women kept their Valet de Chambre, because, forsooth, a Man was much more handy about them than one of their own Sex. I myself have seen one of these Male Abigails tripping about the Room with a looking glass in his Hand, and combing his Lady's Hair a whole Morning together.' And another of the fraternity advertises thus: 'A likely sober Person, who can give a very good Account of himself, by several Gentlemen and others: He has a Mind to serve a Gentleman as a Valet de Chambre or Buttler; or to wait on a single Gentleman in Town or Country; he is known to shave well, and can make Wigs; he well understands the Practice of Surgery, which may be of great Use to a Family in the Country or elsewhere; he is a Sportsman; he understands shooting flying, Hunting and Fishing, and all other Sports relating thereunto; he well understands a Horse.'
[Footnote 102: Spectator, No. 45.]
But (and it is a curious little revelation of social life) men did not monopolise the position of body servants to their masters. Steele, writing as Isaac Bickerstaff, about his club, says:[103] 'This may suffice to give the world a taste of our innocent conversation, which we spun out until about ten of the clock, when my maid came with a lantern to light me home.'
[Footnote 103: The Tatler, No. 132.]
There was, however, another class of servants--black slaves; for the children of Ham were still in their cruel bondage here--and many are the advertisements respecting them, from 'a parcel of beads for the Guinea trade' to a 'Mulatto Maid missing.' It seems curious to us, now, to think of the somewhat inconsequent behaviour of those times, keeping black slaves with one hand, and redeeming white ones from Barbary with the other. One thing is, the poor whites only changed their method of slavery, for they were draughted into the navy, and in the long war that followed, there was very little hope of their release. The papers of March 10, 1702, tell of 143 out of 190 of these poor wretches going to St. Paul's, where the Bishop of London gave them 70_l._ between them, and the dean, Dr. Sherlock, 'admonished them to return thanks to the Government for their Deliverance, and to the People for their Charity, and that they should not pursue the Practices to which Sailers, &c., are too much addicted, viz. Swearing and Cursing. There are about 42 left behind, as 'tis said because some of the Powder, which was carried thither, happened not to be Proof.' And the London Post, March 11/13, tells a touching little romance of this event: 'This day the Slaves lately arrived from Barbary, went in a Body to the Admiralty Office, in order to enter themselves on Board the Queen's Ships; And 'twas observable, that when they came Yesterday out of Paul's, one of them was spy'd out by 2 of his Daughters who came thither only out of Curiosity, and so soon as they saw their Father, run with open Arms, imbraced and kissed him.'
It is needless to say that the negro slaves were always running away, and being advertised for; but, as the rewards given were not high, it is probable that recapture was almost certain. One or two instances will suffice: 'A Slender middle sized India Black, in a dark grey Livery with Brass Buttons, went from Mrs Thwaits, in Stepney, the 4th of June, and is suppos'd to be gone on board some Ship in the Downs; whosoever secures and gives notice of him to Mrs. Thwaits or Mr. Tresham, two doors within Aldgate, shall have 10_s._ reward and reasonable Charges.' 'Went away from his Master's House in Drury Lane, upon Monday the 6th Instant, and has since been seen at Hampstead, Highgate and Tottenham Court, an Indian Black Boy, with long Hair, about 15 Years of Age, speaks very good English; he went away in a brown Fustian Frock, a blew Wastecoate, and scarlet Shag Breeches, and is called by the name of Morat; Whoever brings him to, or gives Notice of him, so as he may be brought to Mr. Pain's House in Prince's Court, Westminster, shall have a Guinea Reward, and the Boy shall be kindly received.' Judging by his 'long Hair,' this boy was not a negro--indeed it would seem that it only needed a dark skin to constitute a slave; for 'an East India young man, named Cæsar,' ran away. 'A Negro Maid, aged about 16 Years, much pitted with the Small Pox, speaks English well, having a piece of her left Ear bit off by a Dog; She hath on a strip'd Stuff Wastcoat and Petticoat ... they shall have a Guinea Reward and reasonable Charges.' Sometimes (indeed it was rather fashionable) the poor wretches had collars round their necks. 'A Tall Negro young fellow commonly known as Jack Chelsea, having a Collar about his Neck (unless it be lately filed off), with these Words; Mr. Moses Goodyeare of Chelsea his Negro, ran away from his Master last Tuesday evening.' This habit of wearing collars is noticed by Steele,[104] who inserts a letter from 'a blackamoor boy--Pompey.' 'Besides this, the shock dog has a collar that cost almost as much as mine.' Sometimes these collars were of silver. 'Run away from his Master about a Fortnight since, a lusty Negroe Boy about 18 years of Age, full of pock holes, had a Silver Collar about his Neck engrav'd Capt. Tho. Mitchel's Negroe, living in Griffith Street in Shadwel.'
[Footnote 104: Tatler, No. 245.]
They were rarely advertised to be sold--indeed, I have only found one instance in all the newspapers of the twelve years of Anne's reign, and that is very simple. 'A Negro boy about 12 years of age, that speaks English, is to be sold. Enquire of Mr. Step Rayner, a Watchmaker, at the sign of the Dial, without Bishopsgate.'
Another kind of servant must not be forgotten, although his servitude was but a limited one--and that is the apprentice, of whom Misson says: 'An Apprentice is a sort of a Slave; he wears neither Hat nor Cap in his Master's presence: he can't marry, nor have any Dealings on his own Account. All he earns is his Masters.' Misson is slightly in error in one part of this description, but it is a piece of delicate etiquette, which probably escaped a foreigner's eye: the apprentice might wear his cap in his master's presence during the last year of his time. A branch of industry then existed--although probably it was practised by very few:--'Attendance will be given at the Sun Coffee House in Queen Street, very near Cheapside, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, where Youth may be furnished with Masters to go Apprentices to Merchants, Wholesale or Retale Trades, or Handicraft Trades.'
VII. DAILY LIFE
(MEN.)
Out-of-door amusements -- A holiday -- Hatred of French fashions -- Beaus' oaths -- Kissing -- Fops: their daily life.
Passing to the social habits of the people, it is difficult where to commence the description. The men of the time were humdrum and prosaic--they went nowhere, at least according to our ideas--a journey to York or so was really fraught with peril and hardship, consequently no one ever moved about unless they were compelled. The suburbs were sparsely inhabited, and there was nothing much to see when one got there except at Hampstead or Highgate. 'Your Glass Coach will go to Hide Park for Air. The Suburb fools trudge to Lambs Conduit or Totnam; your sprucer sort of citizen gallop to Epsom, your Meckanick gross Fellows, showing much conjugal affection, strut before their wives, each with a Child in his Arms, to Islington or Hogsdon.'[105] What a suburban holiday was like we may see in the following description, which, however, is somewhat condensed and revised:[106] 'Fearing Time should be Elaps'd and cut short our intended Pastime, we Smoak'd our Pipes with greater Expedition, in order to proceed on our Journey, which we began about Eleven a Clock; and marching thro' Cheapside, found half the People we either met, or overtook, equip'd for Hunting; walking backwards and forwards, as I suppose, to shew one another their Accoutrements. The City Beaus in Boots as black as Jet, which shin d, by much rubbing, like a stick of Ebony; their Heels arm'd with Spurs, the travelling weapons to defend the Rider from the Laziness of his Horse, carefully preserv'd bright in a Box of Cotton, and dazzled in the eyes of each beholder like a piece of Looking glass; their Wastes hoop'd round with Turkey Leather Belts, at which hung a Bagonet, or short Scymitar, in order to cut their Mistresses Names upon the trees of the Forest: In the right Hand a Whip, mounted against the Breast like the Scepter of a King's Statue upon the Change, adorn'd with twisted Wiggs and crown'd with edg'd Casters; being all over in such Prim and Order, that you could scarce distinguish them from Gentlemen. Amongst 'em were many Ladies of the same Quality, ty'd up in Safeguards so be-knotted with their two penny Taffaty, that a Man might guess by their Finery, their Fathers to be Ribbond Weavers. We crowded along, mix'd among the Herd, and could not but fancy the major part of the Citizens were Scampering out of town to avoid the Horse Plague. We mov'd forward, without any discontinuance of our Perambulation, till we came to the Globe at Mile End, where a Pretious Mortal made us a Short hand complement, and gave us an Invitation to a Sir-Loine of Roast Beef, out of which Corroborating Food we renew'd our Lives; and strengthening our Spirits with a flask of rare Claret, took leave of my Friend's Acquaintance and so proceeded.
[Footnote 105: The Virtuoso, ed. 1704.]
[Footnote 106: The London Spy.]
'By this time the Road was full of Passengers, every one furnish'd with no small Appetite to Veal and Bacon. Citizens in Crowds, upon Pads, Hackneys, and Hunters; all upon the Tittup, as if he who Rid not a Gallop was to forfeit his Horse. Some Spurring on with that speed and chearfulness, as if they intended never to come back again: Some Double, and some Single. Every now and then drop'd a Lady from her Pillion, another from her Side Saddle; Sometimes a Beau would tumble and dawb his Boots, which, to shew his Neatness, he would clean with his Handkerchief. In this order did we march, like Aaron's Proselites, to Worship the Calf, till we came to the New rais'd Fabrick call'd Mob's Hole, where the Beast was to be Eaten. We press'd hard to get into the House, which we found so full, that when I was in, what with the smell of Sweat, Stinking Breaths and Tobacco, I thought there was but a few Gasps between the Place and Eternity. Some were Dancing to a Bag pipe; others Whistling to a Base Violin, two Fidlers scraping Lilla burlero,[107] my Lord Mayor's[108] Delight, upon a Couple of Crack'd Crowds[109], and an old Oliverian trooper tootling upon a Trumpet.' After a rest and some liquid refreshment, they chatted and bantered with the holiday folk, until 'from thence went into the Kitchin, Built up of Furzes, in the Open Air, to behold their Cookery; where the Major part of the Calf was Roasting upon a Wooden Spit: Two or three great Slivers he had lost off his Buttocks, his Ribs par'd to the very Bone, with holes in his Shoulders, each large enough to bury a Sevil Orange, that he look'd as if a Kennel of Hounds had every one had a Snap at him. Under him lay the Flitch of Bacon of such an Ethiopian Complection, that I should rather have guess'd it the side of a Blackamore; It looking more like a Cannibal's Feast than a Christian Entertainment. Being soon glutted with the view of this unusual piece of Cookery, we departed from thence, and hearing a great bustle in the Upper Room of an Outhouse, we went up Stairs to see what was the matter, where we found a poor Fidler, scraping over the tune of Now Ponder Well you Parents Dear;[110] and a parcel of Country People Dancing and crying to 't. The Remembrance of the Uncles Cruelty to the poor Innocent Babes, and the Robin Red Breasts Kindness, had fix'd in their very Looks such Signs of Sorrow and Compassion, that their Dancing seem'd rather a Religious Worship, than a Merry Recreation. Having thus given ourselves a Prospect of all that the place afforded, we return'd to Stratford, where we got a Coach, and from thence to London.'
[Footnote 107: See Appendix.]
[Footnote 108: See Appendix.]
[Footnote 109: Fiddles.]
[Footnote 110: See Appendix.]
This stay-at-home lot naturally disliked all who differed from them; and their especial hatred, on whom all their vials of wrath was poured out, and who provoked their most pungent satire, was the travelled fop who had brought back with him Continental ideas and fashions. In this matter John Bull, until he began to move about a bit, has always been most conservative. Anything 'un-English' was certain of condemnation, and of course, during the war the French, and all belonging to them, were especially hated.
Our Native Speech we must forget, ere long, To learn the French, that much more Modish Tongue. Their Language smoother is, hath pretty Aires; But ours is Gothick, if compar'd with theirs. The French by Arts of smoother Insinuation, Are now become the Darlings of the Nation; His Lordship's Valet must be bred in France, Or else he is a Clown without Pretence: The English Blockheads are in Dress so coarse, They're fit for nothing, but to rub a Horse, Her Ladyship's ill-manner'd or ill-bred, Whose Woman, Confident, or Chamber Maid, Did not in France suck in her first breath'd Air, Or did not gain hir Education there; Our Cooks in dressing have no Skill at all. They're only fit to serve an Hospital, Or to prepare a Dinner for a Camp; French Cooks are only of the Modish Stamp.[111]
[Footnote 111: The Baboon A-la-mode, A Satyr against the French, ed. 1704.]
These affectations offended our insularity, and, probably, the following sketch was not at all ungenerous or uncalled for:--
And he who to his Fancy puts no Stop, Goes out a Fool, and may return a Fop; And after he Six Months in France has been, Comes home a most Accomplish'd Harlequin, Drest in a tawdry Suit at Paris made, For which he more than thrice the Value paid. French his Attendants, French alone his Mouth Can speak, his native Language is uncouth. If to the Ladies he does make Advance, His very Looks must have the Air of France, The English are so heavy and so dull, As if with Lead, not Brains, their Heads were full. But the brisk Frenchman, by his subtil Art, Soon finds Access to any Lady's Heart.
And again,[112] 'Then before they can Conster and Pearse,[113] they are sent into France with sordid illiterate Creatures, call'd Dry'd Nurses, or Governours; Engines of as little use as Pacing Saddles, and as unfit to Govern 'em as the Post Horses they ride to Paris on; From whence they return with a little smattering of that mighty Universal Language, without being ever able to write true English.'
[Footnote 112: The Virtuoso.]
[Footnote 113: Construe and parse.]
If these descriptions be true, and they are so numerous and widely scattered as to leave little doubt of it, the young fellow came back a fribble, an emasculated nothing, except as regards his periwig, his clothes, and his snuff-box.
[114]But Art surpasses Nature; and we find Men may be transform'd into Womankind
[Footnote 114: Almonds for Parrots, ed. 1708.]
--a creature who 'can Sing, and Dance, and play upon the Guitar; make Wax Work, and Fillagree, and Paint upon Glass'[115]--who swore pretty little oaths--odsbodikins![116] oh me! and never stir alive! or blister me![117] impair my vigour! enfeeble me! or could say to a lady,[118] Madam, split me, you are very impertinent! who painted himself[119] 'purely to oblige the ladies,'--and who, when he met a friend, must needs fall a-kissing him, described in one old play as 'the Embracing[120] and the fulsome Trick you Men have got of Kissing one another.' Or, as in another play, one of those travelled pretty dears says,[121] 'Sir--You Kiss Pleasingly--I love to Kiss a Man, in Paris we kiss nothing else.'
[Footnote 115: Tunbridge Walks.]
[Footnote 116: Tatler, No. 13.]
[Footnote 117: The Beau's Duel.]
[Footnote 118: Tatler, No. 2.]
[Footnote 119: St. James's Park, a Satyr, 1709.]
[Footnote 120: Tunbridge Walks.]
[Footnote 121: Love Makes a Man.]
What was their life composed of, and how did they spend it? Naturally they got up late, breakfasted en déshabillé, held a sort of levée, till it was time to go to White's or the Cocoa Tree, or else lounged in the Mall, where Ward describes the scene as 'It seem'd to me as if the World was turn'd Top-Side turvy; for the ladies look'd like undaunted Heroes, fit for Government or Battle, and the Gentlemen like a parcel of Fawning, Flattering Fops, that could bear Cuckoldom with Patience, make a Jest of an Affront, and swear themselves very faithful and humble Servants to the Petticoat; Creeping and Cringing in dishonour to themselves, to what was decreed by Heaven their Inferiours; as if their Education had been amongst Monkeys, who (as it is said) in all cases give the Pre-eminence to their Females.' Or perhaps he would lounge down to the Exchange to buy a pair of gloves or a sword knot, and, under any circumstances, to ogle the shop girls. Ward's language may be a little rough, but it is sound, and it touches one of the social cankers of the day. Then dinner at Pontac's, or some ordinary; then a little more coffee-house, and a wind up at some side box--favourite haunt of beaus--at the play, where probably other of the jeunesse dorée--this time those who had received a home education--would arrive; would-be men-about-town, things of sixteen years old or so--whose future development would be first Mohock, then sot:[122] 'Such as come Drunk and Screaming into a Play House, and stand upon the Benches, and toss their full Perriwigs and empty Heads, and with their shrill unbroken Pipes, cry Dam me, this is a Damn'd Play.' A little Tunbridge or Bath in the season, and this was the sum of their existence, which, if the money held out, lasted until they either physically rotted, or settled down to married life! sated and blasé; or, if it was soon spent, and the brilliant meteor had flashed its course across the heavens, there was nothing but the living death of the debtors' gaol, from which release was next to impossible.
[Footnote 122: The Virtuoso.]