"The trial of Capt. F. Arthur of the Yeoman Artillery, commenced on Saturday, at Limerick, and terminated, on Monday, the 25th, when he was sentenced by the Court-Martial, to be transported for life, and to pay a fine to the King of £5000."—(Times, July 2, 1798.)
"Some accounts of our present Volunteer Associations will, no doubt, when read a few years hence, excite no small degree of surprise. Of this class are the following paragraphs. 'The Reverend Doctor F—— gave the word of command.'—'Counsellor G—— led his detachment to the charge with uncommon spirit and vigour.'—'An Anthem was sung by Captain-Lieutenant Sale,' &c."—(Times, Sept. 5, 1798.)
"Lewes.—Last week the Volunteers for regular Service from the Derby, Westminster, North Gloucester, and Surrey regiments of Militia, marched into this town, from their respective stations, on their routes to the grand depot, at Horsham. The large bounties which these men have received, enable them to keep up a scene of drunkenness, and insubordination, which it is very difficult to restrain. After parade here, on Saturday evening, Sir Joseph Mawbey, and other Officers, commanding the Surrey Volunteers, were compelled to have recourse to their drawn swords, to enforce order, and maintain their command, which was for some time powerfully resisted, on their ordering a man to the guard-house. And, on dismissing the parade, yesterday evening, a similar disturbance took place. No swords were then drawn, but the clamour demanded the interference of General Hulse, who, in consequence, ordered out a piquet guard of infantry, and a patrole of horse, by which tranquillity was restored, and preserved. Others who have passed through this town, in their drunken frolics, distinguished themselves by swallowing Bank-notes between slices of bread and butter, and lighting their pipes with them, to the no small advantage of the Bankers."—(Times, July 31, 1799.)
SOCIAL ECONOMY.
Under this head are placed many matters which could scarcely be classified.
Take, for instance, the series of groups copied from a long picture of the "Installation Supper, as given at the Pantheon, by the Knights of the Bath, on the 26th of May 1788."
In looking at this series, we must never lose sight of the fact, that, here, we are getting a peep at haut ton—none of your common folk—and, if the picture be a true one, they must have been contented with the roughest accommodation. Hard seats, plain tables, with no Plate, nor floral decorations, no napkins; Knives and forks brandished in a most reckless, and uncouth manner; an utter disregard for the proprieties of the table, even to drinking the gravy out of a plate; and intoxication, in its various phases, passing, seemingly, unchallenged. A tankard of beer admitted to such a banquet, and two people sharing the same "dish of tea," are all, to us, astounding revelations of the social manners of our grandfathers.
Installation Supper.
