A Scaramouch.
By the 35 Geo. III., c. 49—a Duty was laid on Hair powder—and "the Crops," besides their (as we should term it) Radical tendencies, were extra unpopular among the Tories, because they evaded the Hair Powder duty, by wearing none:—
"A numerous club has been formed in Lambeth, called the Crop Club, every member of which, on his entrance, is obliged to have his head docked as close as the Duke of Bridgewater's old bay coach-horses. This assemblage is instituted for the purpose of opposing, or rather evading, the tax on powdered heads."—(Times, April 14, 1795.)
"The following Noblemen and Gentlemen were of the party with the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey, when a general cropping, and combing out of hair powder took place: Lord W. Russell, Lord Villiers, Lord Paget, &c., &c. They entered into an engagement to forfeit a sum of money if any of them wore their hair tied, or powdered, within a certain period. Many Noblemen and Gentlemen in the county of Bedford have since followed the example: it has become general with the Gentry in Hampshire, and the Ladies have left off wearing powder."—(Times, Sept. 25, 1795.)
"The Bedford Crops.—Something has at last fallen from this party to entertain the Public. We hope they will find their heads cooler for this salutary operation. Dr. Willis[3] is of opinion, that more than one of them ought to have been shaved. If the Shavees think by publishing their names they will gain proselytes, till their absurdity is lost in the crowd, they are mistaken. Can it be supposed that a few drunken persons in a frolic, will be followed by the sober part of the people of England?
"The new Crop is called the Bedford Level.
"An Irish Member once proposed in the House of Commons of that Country, to encourage the breed of Crops. We believe no such proposition is likely to be renewed upon the present occasion."—(Times, Sept. 29, 1795.)
"The price of hair is considerably fallen. The wig-makers declare people are so afraid of having anything from the crops, that they can't sell a single peruke."—(Times, Nov. 23, 1795.)
We get a curious insight into the manners of the young men of that day, in the following cutting from the Times, Dec. 14, 1795:—
"If the young men of the present day have not much wit in their heads, they have it at least in their hats. Amongst the pleasantries we have seen in this way, are the following: 'Not yours.'—'Hands off'—'No vermin'—and 'Rip this as you would a hot potato'—and other charming sallies of refined and elegant vivacity. But the wittiest linings are the political ones: Upon a table, the other day we observed one perfectly clean, in which was written 'Avaunt, Guinea Pig!' and on the lining, in a very powdery hat, that lay in a window in the same room, were inscribed the two following monosyllables, 'Off Crop.'"