Sedans were in use at the same time; but I should imagine not generally, as the same writer describes a City Lady rendered sick, and dislocating her neck, by being carried in one, and rising too suddenly.
The ridiculous long Wigs of 1710 were very expensive: one was advertised as stolen in that
year, and said to be worth five guineas; and Duumvir's "fair Wig" in the Tatler, No. 54, "cost forty guineas." But, lest it should be supposed that the gentlemen only were extravagant in decorating the caput, take the prices from the Lace-chamber on Ludgate-hill: "One Brussels head at 40l.; one ground Brussels head at 30l.; one looped Brussels head at 30l."
The Tatler ludicrously advertises "A Stage Coach as departing from Nando's Coffee-house for Mr. Tiptoe's Dancing-school every evening;" and adds the following: "N. B. Dancing-shoes not exceeding four inches height in the heel, and Perriwigs not exceeding three feet in length, are carried in the Coach-box gratis."
Those unfortunate persons who were born with golden tresses, and those who had lived to bear the silver locks of Time, and did not choose to carry the weight of the above tremendous wigs, were not without their Tricosian fluid; for Mr. Michon, goldsmith, informed them in 1710, that he had "found out" "a clear water," which would convert them into brown or black locks.
Mr. Bickerstaff notices the extreme nakedness of the ladies' breasts at this time; and casually mentions the beau's pearl-coloured stockings and red-topped shoes, fringed gloves, large wigs, and feathers in the hat.
A lady's Riding-dress was advertised for sale in the Spectator of June 2, 1711, "of blue Camblet
well laced with silver; being a coat, waistcoat, petticoat, hat and feather." Another in 1712 mentions an Isabella coloured Kincob Gown, flowered with green and gold, a dark-coloured cloth (probably linen) Gown and Petticoat with two silver orrices, a purple and gold Atlas Gown; a scarlet and gold Atlas Petticoat edged with silver, a wrought Under-petticoat edged with gold, a black velvet Petticoat; Allejah Petticoat striped with green gold and white, a blue and silver silk Gown and Petticoat, a blue and gold Atlas Gown and Petticoat, and clogs laced with silver. These were the property of Mr. Peter Paggen of Love-lane near Eastcheap, brewer, who fined for Sheriff in 1712; and were probably the dresses of the females of his family. That they, or whoever wore such, were very gaudy, cannot be denied; but those rich coverings for the body were matched by the decorations of the head: if the hips had their scarlet, the seat of the understanding had its blue, yellow, pink, and green Hoods. The Spectator says, "When Melesinda wraps her head in flame colour, her heart is set upon execution." The majority of these fashions were doubtlessly from France, as the same work describes a Parisian Doll imported by the Milliners; a custom most religiously continued during the rare intervals of peace between the two Countries.
To the above list of finery pray let me add Mrs. Beale's loss in 1712. "A green silk knit Waistcoat with gold and silver flowers all over it, and about fourteen yards of gold and silver thick lace on it. And a Petticoat of rich strong flowered satin red and white, all in great flowers or leaves, and scarlet flowers with black specks brocaded in, raised high like Velvet or Shag." Surely if James I. had seen this Waistcoat and Petticoat, he would have sadly abused his two subjects who wore them; they even set the Stomachers of Queen Bess at defiance, except that they are deficient in Jewelry. And in 1714 Mr. John Osheal had the misfortune to be robbed of "a scarlet cloth Suit, laced with broad gold lace, lined and faced with blue; a fine cinnamon cloth Suit with plate buttons, the Waistcoat fringed with a silk fringe of the same colour, and a rich yellow flowered satin morning Gown lined with a cherry-coloured satin, with a pocket on the right side."
The extreme richness of the habits of those days were accompanied by equal extravagance in the furniture of Beds, advertised as stolen 1715, and thus described: "Four Curtains of damask, a blue ground and changeable flowers; the curtains lined with white satin, having a mixed fringe. A white satin Quilt to the said bed embroidered. Four flowered velvet Curtains of a yellowish ash-colour, in a border of the same