"Thomas Thames."
The thaw had now fairly set in, the ice, broken up, swept everything in the shape of light craft, barges, &c., irresistibly before it, and damage was done to the extent of many thousands of pounds. There was some loss of life, but it was small, and altogether every one was very well rid of "The Great Frost of 1814." Before I finish with the subject, I must quote some verses (which, although doggerel, are very original) attached to "A View of Frost Fair, as it appeared on the Ice on the River Thames, February 3, 1814."
"All you that are curious downright,
And fond of seeing every sight,
If to the Thames you had repair'd,
You might have seen a famous fair.
Diversions of every kind you'd see,
With parties drinking of coffee and tea,
And dancing too, I do declare,
Upon the Thames, they call Frost Fair.
It was really curious for to see
Both old and young, so full of glee,
The drinking booths they enter'd in
And call'd away for purl and gin,
Some play'd at Threadle my Needle, Nan,
The lasses slipt down as they ran,
Which made the men quite full of glee,
The young girls legs all for to see.
The Watermen, so neat and trim,
With bottle fill'd with Old Tom Gin,
And others bawl'd among the throng,
'Who's for a Glass of Sampson strong?'
'Here's Nuts, and Gingerbread, who buys?'
'Come, boys, and win my Mutton Pies.
Come, ladies, they're both hot and nice,
Fear not to eat them on the Ice.'
Boys and women, not a few,
Upon the Ice, they ventured too,
And swings there were, I do declare,
To take a ride up in the air.
And booths, wherein you might regale,
And have a pint of beer, or ale.
And skittle playing, I do declare,
Upon the Thames, they call Frost Fair.
Now to conclude my Icy song,
I'm glad to see the Frost is gone,
And ships, and barges, all afloat,
And watermen rowing of their boats,
Black diamond barges to appear,
That coals, they may not be so dear.
So, toss a bumper off with cheer,
And bid adieu to Frosty Fair."
With regard to this frost, for once, Justice was rendered to Ireland, and she shared its pleasures, with "the bloody Saxon" (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 84, part i. p. 189): "So completely suspended has been the internal intercourse between Dublin and the interior, that on 17th January, no fewer than fifteen hundred country mails were due in the Irish Capital; and, in consequence of the obstruction to the regular mails, arising from the severity of the weather, the accumulated newspapers, at the Post Office, amounted to no less than ten tons in weight."
On the same page it is recorded that "Fifty Gentlemen dined in a tent fixed on the ice on the river Tweed. One of the company was present at a similar fête held on the Tweed in 1740."
The Lords Lieutenant of the different counties had a circular sent them from Lord Sidmouth, conveying the Regent's wishes for their guidance in this juncture, part of which is as follows:—