Robert Bullock Scace,
Born September 17th, 1806;
Died March 30th, 1853.
How quickly the four dozen years passed away!
The joyful harvest being completed, it was arranged that I should be further detained to keep pigs and other stock in the fields from off which the corn had been taken. This employment I was engaged in for several weeks, being always supplied with a good dinner on each Sunday, sent to the field from the farmer’s table, which was very much enjoyed and welcomed, these and such-like comforts which came to me on the Day of Rest.
I know not how long I might have continued here, but Michaelmas drew on, and it was agreed that I should go into service, at a farm-house in the parish. This did not give to me at first a very favourable impression, but undoubtedly it was the right way into a “city of habitation.” Thenceforth, on the 11th day of October, 1820. I was received into the family of Mr. John Garrard, of Laxfield, to be trained and disciplined as a veritable farmer’s boy, and held myself ready to obey any instructions and orders that might be presented. My training commenced, I did not at all dislike my new acquaintances, and after a few days felt quite at home in my new position. There was plenty of work, plenty of food, and a goodly supply of company.
The family consisted of the master, mistress, four sons, and five daughters. There were also a man-servant, a maid servant, and myself. Later on there came into the family a nephew, who was called Jonathan, and frequently the master called him “Jonter.” His father was brother to the master, and having died April 22nd, 1811, aged 29 years, left him and a sister to the frowns of an ungodly world, as also to the care of their mother, who removed from Laxfield, to a place called Hartley Row, in the county of Hants, there to revive old associations or to form new ones, and in those engagements it did seem Jonathan could be spared from his mother, then being about sixteen years of age when he came to live with his uncle.
As regards myself, my business was to do what every one of the others left undone, and bear the blame for all; but was so far favoured, there was a standing rule that no stripes were to be administered but by the hands of the master, so that, on the whole, amongst bulls and cows, pigs and sows, children and chickens, and other bipeds, and quadrupeds, I was not very lonely, and sometimes felt, after having to endure some pain and privation, occasioned by the terrible sharp wintry storms that prevailed, I could go on my way rejoicing.
Things went on, as far as I could observe, pretty easy. The establishment was a hive of industry; all that were able must work, and good it was for us to be superintended by a good and careful master and mistress. About this time, the eldest son, John, was married, and left us. The second son, George, was bound apprentice to Mr. Kent, of Beetles, a brazier and tin-plate worker. The maid-servant was discharged at the next coming Michaelmas, and I had to learn to milk the cows, and carry the milk into the dairy, and empty it into the places assigned for its reception. Two of the daughters, Emma and Caroline, were now requested to assist their mother in the duties of the house, while the three youngest daughters and youngest son, Jesse, were continued at school, so being prepared to occupy the vacant places when the elder ones left.
But we must have a word or two respecting the new king, George IV. He had been so proclaimed in London and the provinces, but by reason of unhappy differences subsisting between the king and his royal consort, a fixed aversion and a formal separation had taken place. He had ordered her name to be struck off the Liturgy when Princess of Wales!
It was said she had raised a favourite Italian, in her employ, from an humble station, to one of honour; had instituted a new order of knighthood called the Order of St. Caroline; had decorated this person with the insignia of that order, and had in other respects acted in a manner unbecoming a British princess, which brought upon her the continued displeasure of the king. He ordered evidence to be taken against her, and it was determined she should be brought to trial by the peers of the realm. This trial, which lasted fifty-three days, being ended, violent debates took place in the House of Lords on the principle of the Bill, and the proposed measure of depriving the queen, of her title, prerogatives, rights, and privileges, formally abandoned. This was hailed as a complete acquittal by her friends, and was celebrated as such by public rejoicings and illuminations, reaching my parish.
But the King’s anger was not appeased. The 19th day of July, 1821, was the day fixed for the coronation service. It was said to have been a magnificent ceremony, surpassing anything that had ever occurred on former occasions. But the queen, who had repeatedly applied to have a place appointed for her to see the ceremony, on going to the Abbey was refused admittance by the door-keepers, they not daring to let anyone pass who had not a coronation ticket. Thus mortified and humbled, she returned to her house, and the impression it made on her mind was never eradicated. Harassed by severe and bitter trials, she was seized with a sudden illness, which baffled the skill of her physicians, and on the 7th August she breathed her last, being in the fifty-fourth year of her age, her body being conveyed to Brunswick, and deposited in the vault of her ancestors.