CHAPTER XVI.
1809.
General Fast—The Jubilee—Costume—Former Jubilees—Release of poor prisoners for debt—Jubilee Song—Jubilee literature—Poetry—King pardons deserters from Army and Navy.
EARLY in the year 1809 (on February 8th) was a day of Fasting, and prayer, for the success of His Majesty’s arms.
Also, in January, began the celebrated Clarke Scandal, which ended in the Duke of York resigning his position as Commander-in-chief; but this will be fully treated of in another place, as will the celebrated O. P. Riots, which occurred in this year.
Socially, the only other important event which occurred in this year was “The Jubilee,” or the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of George III., he having succeeded to the throne on the 25th of October, 1760; and this Jubilee created quite a craze. A Jubilee Medal was struck by Bisset, of Birmingham, having, on the Obverse, a bust of the King, with the following legend: “King George the Third ascended the Throne of the Imperial Realms of Great Britain and Ireland, October 25, A.D. 1760. Grand National Jubilee, celebrated October 25, 1809.” On the Reverse, was the Guardian Genius of England, represented as Fame, seated in the clouds, and triumphing over Mortality; she displayed a centenary circle, one half of which showed the duration of the King’s reign up to that time, whilst rays from heaven illuminate a throne.
Not content with this, it was suggested that there should be a special costume worn on the occasion, and that gentlemen should dress in the “Windsor uniform,” i.e., blue frock coats, with scarlet collars, and the ladies’ dresses were to be of garter blue velvet, or satin, with head-dresses containing devices emblematical of the occasion.
It is no wonder that people went somewhat crazy over this Jubilee, for it was an event of very rare occurrence, only three monarchs of England having kept jubilees—Henry III., Edward III., and George III. Let us, however, hope that this generation may add yet another to the list in Queen Victoria. Edward III. celebrated the jubilee of his birth in a good and kindly manner in 1363, as we may learn from Guthrie: “Edward was now in the fiftieth year of his age, and he laid hold of that æra as the occasion of his performing many other popular acts of government. For he declared, in his parliament, by Sir Henry Green, that he was resolved to keep it as a jubilee; and that he had given orders to issue out general and special pardons, without paying any fees, for recalling all exiles, and setting at liberty all debtors to the Crown, and all prisoners for criminal matters. He further created his third son, Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and his fifth son, Edmund, Earl of Cambridge. The Parliament, on their parts, not to be wanting in gratitude, having obtained their petitions, on the day of their rising, presented the King with a duty of twenty-six shillings and eight pence upon every sack of wool, for three years, besides continuing the former duty upon wools, fells, and skins. This year being declared a year of jubilee, the reader is to expect little business, as it was spent in hunting throughout the great forests of England, and other magnificent diversions, in which the King laid out an immense sum. But we are not to close the transactions of this year before we inform the reader that it was from the jubilee then instituted, that the famous custom took its rise of our Kings washing, feeding, and clothing, on Maunday Thursday, as many poor people, as they are years old.”[31]
The whole of the country was determined to celebrate this occasion in a way worthy of it, and, of course, everyone had his own theory, and aired it; some were for a general illumination and feasting everybody, others to relieve poor debtors, and rejoice the hearts of the poor; others mingled the two. “Sir, benevolence is no less amiable for being attended with gaiety; without a general illumination the day would be like a public mourning, or fast; the shops shut, the bells tolling, the churches open, a cloudy night, a howling wind, a Jubilee!!! But no such dull Jubilee for John Bull.”
Perhaps one of the most popular ways for people to spend their money, in order to show their gratitude for the beneficent sway of the sovereign who had ruled them for fifty years, and who was much beloved of his subjects, was the release of prisoners for small debts. Their case was cruelly harsh, and it must have been felt as one of the hardest, and most pressing, of social evils. Take the following advertisement from the Morning Post, October 23, 1809: “Jubilee. Prisoners for Debt in the Prison of the Marshalsea of His Majesty’s Household. There are now confined in the above prison in the Borough, seventy-two persons (from the age of twenty-three to seventy-four, leaving fifty-three wives, and two hundred and three children) for various debts from seven guineas, up to £140. The total amount of the whole sum is £2092, many of whom (sic) are in great distress, and objects of charity, every way worthy the notice of a generous and feeling public, who are interesting themselves in the cause of suffering humanity against the approaching Jubilee. It is, therefore in contemplation to raise a sufficient sum, for the purpose of endeavouring to effect their release, by offering compositions to their respective creditors in the following proportions, viz., 10s. in the pound for every debt not exceeding £20; above that sum, and not exceeding £50, the sum of 7s. 6d.; and above £50, the sum of 5s. in the pound, in full for debt and costs. Subscriptions ... will be received by ... with whom are left lists containing the names of the unfortunate Persons immured within the Prison, and other particulars respecting them, for the inspection of such Persons as may be desirous of promoting so benevolent an undertaking.”
And that large sums were so raised, we have evidence in many instances. Take one case:
“At a meeting of Merchants and Bankers appointed to conduct the Entertainment to be given at Merchant Taylors’ Hall on the 25th inst., held this day—
“Beeston Long, Esq., in the Chair.
“Resolved, That since the advertisement published by this Committee on the 5th day of September last, various communications having been made to this Committee which lead them to imagine that a general Illumination will not be so acceptable to the Public as was at first supposed, and, wishing that the day may pass with perfect unanimity of proceeding, on so happy an Occasion, this Committee no longer think it expedient to recommend a general Illumination.
“Resolved, That it appears to this Committee that, instead of such general Illumination, it will be more desirable to open a Subscription for the Relief of Persons confined for Small Debts, and that the sums collected be paid over to the Treasurer of the Society established for that purpose.”
To show how warmly this idea of releasing the debtor was taken up, in this instance alone, considerably more than £2,000 was collected.
“JUBILEE SONG.
“For Wednesday, 25th October, 1809.
“Tune—‘God Save the King.’
“Britons! your Voices raise,
Join cheerful Songs of praise,
With grateful lay;
May all our Island ring,
Her Sons’ Orisons sing
For their Beloved King
On this bright day.
May he the vale of life
Close free from ev’ry strife;
His subjects see.
Bless’d with a lasting Peace,
May War for ever cease,
Pris’ners each Pow’r release,
And all be free.
King George’s Fiftieth Year
Of Sceptred greatness cheer
Each loyal Heart;
May the stain’d Sword be sheath’d;
Amity once more breath’d;
Commerce, with Plenty wreath’d,
Sweet Joy impart.
Thus may our Children find
Cause which will e’er remind
Them to agree,
That we with Justice sing.
God bless our good old King,
For him, our Noble King,
This Jubilee.”
This is not the sole attempt at a Jubilee literature. There was a satirical pamphlet called “The Jubilee; or, John Bull in his Dotage. A Grand National Pantomime. As it was to have been acted by His Majesty’s subjects on the 25th of October, 1809.” Another pamphlet, by Dr. Joseph Kemp, was entitled “The Patriotic Entertainment, called the Jubilee.” And yet another book of 203 pages printed in Birmingham, which had for title, “An Account of the Celebration of the Jubilee of 1809 in various parts of the Kingdom.” This was arranged in alphabetical order, and gave an account of the doings, on this occasion, in the various cities, towns, and villages of England. It was published by subscription, and the profits were to go to the “Society for the Relief of Prisoners for Small Debts.”
There was a poem, too, which is too long to be reproduced in its entirety, but which contains some pretty lines, such as would go home to a people who really loved their king—who had suffered when God had afflicted him, and yearned for his recovery, and who were then spending both blood, and treasure, to preserve his throne and their own country.
“Seculo festas referente luces,
Reddidi carmen.”—Horace.
“Oft (ah! how oft) has the revolving Sun
Smiled on Britannia’s joy at battles won?
How oft our bosoms felt the conscious glow
For brilliant triumph o’er the stubborn foe?
If, then, our patriot hearts could proudly feel
Such zealous transports at our Country’s weal,
Shall not the Bard his cheerful efforts lend
To praise that Country’s first and truest friend?
For such is George, the pride of England’s Throne,
True to his people’s rights as to his own.
•••••••
Mild is the Prince, and glorious were the arts,
That gave him sov’reign empire o’er our hearts.
Our love for him is such as ever flows
Spontaneous, warm, and strength’ning as it glows;
Unlike the smiles, and flattery of Courts,
Which int’rest prompts, and tyranny extorts;
A Monarch so belov’d has nought to fear
From mad ambition’s turbulent career;
For subjects ne’er from their allegiance swerve,
Who love his person they are bound to serve.
•••••••
History shall tell how deep was every groan
When ‘erst black sickness struck at England’s throne:
For her lov’d King was heard the Nation’s sigh,
While public horror star’d in ev’ry eye;
But, when restor’d, to many a daily pray’r,
What heartfelt joy succeeded to despair.
•••••••
Then oh! Thou King of Kings, extend thy arm
To shield thine own anointed George from harm;
Grant, if it so comport with thy behest,
For thy decrees must ever be the best;
Grant that he long may live, and long may stand
‘A tow’r of strength’ to guard our native land.”
The King, on the 18th of October, issued a proclamation pardoning all deserters from the Navy and Marines, but not allowing them any arrears of pay or prize-money; and he also pardoned all deserters from the Army, who should give themselves up within two months from the 25th of October, but then they must rejoin the Army. Not particularly inviting terms when they come to be analyzed, for the sailors would certainly be marked, and, eventually, pressed, and the soldiers were simply asked to exchange their present liberty, for their old slavery. But he really did a graceful, and, at the same time, a kindly action in sending through Mr. Perceval, to the Society for the Relief of Persons confined for Small Debts, £2,000 from his privy purse.
