Yet, forsooth, the great baby must have another toy at the expense of the nation—a yacht, all over gilding. William Hone published a single-sheet broadside (August 26, 1816) with a picture and description of this rococo vessel. Here is his 'Description of the Regent's New Gilt Yacht:
'This superb yacht, the Royal Sovereign, was launched from Deptford Yard on Thursday, the 8th of August, 1816, having been newly copper bottomed, and entirely new gilt, and fitted up throughout.—She is between three and four hundred tons burthen, has three masts, is ship rigged, and is the most splendid vessel, beyond all comparison, ever launched in England.—The bust of his Majesty forms the head, richly gilt; surmounted by a canopy, painted crimson, with fringe and tassels in gold.—The head rails have carved figures of Peace and Plenty(!) which support the bust, with a frieze of devices to the bows, carved and gilt.—Above the channels is a frieze—boys supporting the Cardinal Virtues, united by festoons of laurel, all gilt. The quarter badge, representing the Star and Garter, supported by the Lion and Unicorn, is a complete blaze of gilding. The stern is most superbly gilt—in the centre of the taffrel is a King's Coat of Arms, supported by Prudence and Fame, carved and gilt. Fortitude and Truth are carved at the sides of the stern, richly gilt. The lower counter is an emblematical painting, gilt. On the right of the rudder is Neptune, drawn by four Sea Horses, a painting, gilt. On the left of the rudder is Britannia, pointing to the Arts, a painting, gilt. Above the rudder is a Star, presumed to be the Star of Brunswick, as if presiding,—gilt. The upper counter is Cupids with laurel, painted and gilt. Over the poop are three magnificent lanterns, in blue and gold, with stars on the top, gilt. The quarter deck is separated from the main deck by a rich carved breast rail, gilt. The sides of the quarter deck are devices painted in compartments, gilt.
'The gallery is fitted up for a kitchen, with steam boilers and other cooking apparatus. Adjoining it is the Lord's room, in white, with panel mouldings gilt—the roof supported by fluted pilasters, with Ionic caps, all gilt. The passages are white and gold. The roof of the King's room is panelled mahogany and gold; the sides crimson damask panels, the framings gold; twenty carved emblematical figures, the four Elements, etc., are on pedestals with Ionic caps of mahogany and gold. Round the rudder case are three beautiful plates of looking glass, entirely concealing the wood, in frames to correspond, gilt. The Queen's room is fitted up, in every respect, with the same grandeur as to materials and gilding. The descent to the State rooms is by a superb mahogany winding staircase, the balustrades richly carved and gilt; the sides panelled with mahogany and gold. The ceilings and doors to the State rooms are of the finest mahogany, in panels, with carved borders, richly gilt. The doors in the centre cabin are covered with mirrors. The chairs and sofas are of crimson damask, in mahogany frames, gilt. The windows are of plate glass, and draw up and down, like those of a coach, the sides painted a deep vermilion, the edges gilt. To suspend the tables, that they may swing with the vessel, chains descend from the ceilings, as if for lamps, elegantly gilt. The side windows, one on each side the stern, are two immense concaves of plate glass, like mirrors; from each of which, on the outside the vessel, rays diverge, to form a splendid star, superbly gilt. The predominant feature of the decorations is costly gilding; even the blocks carrying the ladders and the rigging, are fully gilt. The vessel has been put in its present state, for the Prince Regent, at an estimated expence of Sixty Thousand Pounds; the gilding, alone, is supposed to have cost nearly Thirteen Thousand, Five Hundred Pounds! She now lies off the Dockyard at Deptford, with the workmen on board; and, when completed, will, with the Divine permission, sail to Brighton, for his Royal Highness's use. Her apparatus for roasting, baking, boiling, frying, stewing, broiling, etc., is complete. And it is remarkable that the Cardinal Virtues are amongst the most prominent decorations outside.'
This new plaything was at Brighton in the summer of 1817, and we read in a newspaper cutting that:
'On the 10th September, for the Regent's especial delectation, a sham fight took place at sea, immediately off the town, the vessels taking part in it being the Inconstant and Tigris frigates, the Grecian armed schooner, and the Rosario brig. The Channel was thickly dotted with packets and pleasure boats, and every species of floating craft, each and all crowded with spectators, anxious to witness the coming conflict; the cliffs from one end of the town to the other were also thronged. The Prince Regent embarked at 10 a.m., and, as soon as the Royal barge was afloat, simultaneous salutes were fired from the ships of war, and were repeated as soon as his Royal Highness was on board his yacht was announced, by the Royal standard being hoisted at the main.
'The order of battle was, that the Inconstant and the Grecian were to defend the yacht against the designs of the supposed enemy, in the Tigris and the Rosario. The vessels, respectively, were most skilfully manœuvred, and broadside after broadside sent their rattling reports to land. At length, the escape of the yacht was effected; but the enemy still stood to their guns. In fact, the conflict between the frigates became still more severe, during which, within pistol shot of each other, many discharges of musketry marked the apparently determined progress of the action. The spectacle was grand, and wrought the feelings of the spectators to the highest pitch. The battle over, which ended in the retreat of the enemy, the Royal George stood in, and the whole returned to the roadstead about 2 p.m. In the evening a boat was sent ashore, to announce the Regent's intention of remaining on board all night.'
Apropos of this naval engagement, a humorous print was published in October, 1817, entitled, 'Fun at Sea—the sham fight off Brighton, and the capture of the Knight of the Larder, Privateer, or, the Alderman in Chains.' Alderman Sir William Curtis is brought on board the Regent's yacht a prisoner, bound in chains of sausages,[94] accompanied by sailors bearing turtles, fowls, soup, etc., whilst an officer exhibits a scroll of Ammunition Stores taken in the Larder Sloop. Ammunition—500 Forced meat balls, 5 Barrels Curry Powder, 2 casks whole Pepper, 200 Bottles Sauce piquant.—Stores—1 whole Calf, 25 Sheep, 12 dozen Capons, 50 Haunches of Venison,—Westphalia Hams, 2 cwt. of Sausages, 100 Rounds of Beef, 100 Sir Loins, 150 doz. of Pigeons, 50 Sucking pigs.' Sir William Curtis is kneeling, and, offering the Regent a carving knife and ladle, he says:
'Great conqueror, see your captive kneel;
Your clemency now let him feel!
Here's all my arms, upon my life,