"The officers of the horse and foot-guards that mounted on Tuesday at St. James's wore Ramellie periwigs by his Majesty's order."
The now almost obsolete practice of giving strong-beer to the populace on public rejoicings always occasioned riots instead of merriment. This assertion is supported by the behaviour of the mob in August 1737, when the present Duchess of Brunswick was born. The Prince of Wales ordered four loads of faggots and a number of tar-barrels to be burnt before Carleton-house as a bonfire, to celebrate the event; and directed the Brewer to his household to place four barrels of beer near it, for the use of those who chose to partake of the beverage, which certain individuals had no sooner done, than they pronounced the liquor of an inferior quality: this declaration served as a signal for revolt, the beer was thrown into each other's faces, and the barrels into the fire, "to the great surprize of the spectators; it being perhaps the first instance of Sir John Barleycorn's being brought to the stake, and publicly burnt by the rabble in Great Britain."
The Prince had the good-nature to order a second bonfire on the succeeding night, and procured the same quantity of beer from another brewer, with which the populace were pleased to be satisfied. Such was the strange disposition of the collected mind of the lower classes; a mind compounded of insensibility of kindness, pride, and independence, that condescended to accept of an entertainment, and that had the ill-nature
to condemn the provision even in the presence of their Prince, who must have been ignorant that the beer was bad—if it really was so.
An instance of blind folly arising from a better motive occurred very soon after, during the exercise of an antient custom practised by the mob at that period, though now discontinued.
Two loose women had seized upon an inebriated gentleman, and were conveying him to their lodgings at noon-day: the populace concluded he would at least be robbed, and determined to rescue him immediately; which they did, and severely ducked the women in the Chequers Inn yard. Thus far justice proceeded in its due channel; but an unfortunate journeyman cutler happened to exert himself rather too outrageously, and attracted notice: he was observed to hold the woman or women in a manner that might be supposed real efforts of anger, or as efforts intended to mask an intention to release them; the word was instantly given to duck him as their bully—the women were released, and escaped; the cutler was thrown into the horse-pond in defiance of his protestations of innocence; and when his wife endeavoured to rescue him, she underwent the same discipline.
Many of the follies committed in this wanton manner must doubtlessly have originated from the excessive use of beer and gin; to suppress which, every possible effort was then making;
but such was the demand for the latter, that no less than 587 persons were convicted, and paid a penalty of 100l. each, between September 1736 and August 1737, for retailing it, besides 127 committed to Bridewell.
Practical jokes sometimes distinguished the manners of the Citizens of London: those were generally innocent, and generally very silly; but one of a contrary description marked the Autumn of the year just mentioned. A well-dressed man rode down the King's road from Fulham at a most furious rate, commanding each turnpike-gate to be thrown open, as he was a Messenger, conveying the news of the Queen's sudden death. The alarm instantly spread into every quarter of the City; the Trained-bands, who were on their parade, desisted from their exercise, furled their colours, and returned home with their arms reversed. The shop-keepers began to collect sables; when the jest was discovered, but not the author of it.
The following ballad gives a pleasant review of the customs, or, if you please, fashions of the Citizens, previous to 1737, in care of their health: