"A Crop, who had begun to let his hair grow, was accused of aristocracy, and had his head shaved in the form of a horse-shoe at Wooburn, by a verdict of his Peers."—(Times, Dec. 30, 1795.)
Clothes were dear in those days, as the following Tailor's bill shows—because we must reckon the value of money then at more than double what it is now:—
"Address to the Public.—Those Gentlemen who are inclined to a solicitude to their interests, the undermentioned prices will be found to be highly advantageous:—
"G. Brown & Co., Taylors, No. 17 Sun St., Bishopsgate.
"The above Prices are calculated for middle-sized men only, and the difference in all colours in grain, Blues and Greys, gilt or extra buttons, Waistcoat sleeves, &c., must be paid for extra."—(Times, April 16, 1795.)
Aping the Frenchman
Among the eccentricities of Costume, was a Coat devised by the then Earl Spencer. He made a bet that he would cut off the tails of the coat which he then wore, and appear in public in a jacket, which, within a week, should be the fashion. He did so, and won his bet. Gillray caricatured the Earl, in a picture 17th May, 1792. Earl Spencer wears (in the picture) a blue spencer red coat with brass buttons, yellow trousers, and blue and white stockings. The "Threadpaper" has a green coat and grey stockings. Both have plenty of powder on the backs of their coats.
The fashion is alluded to in a paragraph in the Times of 16th May 1795, and the "livery" therein alluded to is a covert satire on the "Windsor Uniform," which has been the semi-court dress, from George III.'s time to our own. It is said to have been taken from the uniform of a Berkshire Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, of which the King was Colonel:—