Reynard. Each to his own Inclinations—Beaus Raffle and Dance—Citts play at Nine Pins, Bowls, and Backgammon—Rakes, scoure the Walks, Bully the Shop keepers, and beat the Fidlers—Men of Wit rally over Claret, and Fools get to the Royal Oak Lottery, where you may lose Fifty Guineas in a Moment, have a Crown returned to you for Coach Hire, a Glass of Wine, and a hearty wellcome. In short, 'tis a Place wholly dedicated to Freedom, no Distinction, either of Quality or Estate, but ev'ry Man that appears well Converses with the Best.
People, however went to Tunbridge to drink the waters, not to bathe in them. So was it with Epsom Wells, which was decidedly lower in tone. From its easy access to London, it was crowded with citizens—and some very questionable characters. If Bath allowed some licence to its frequenters, Epsom gave more. 'But if you were not so monstrous lewd, the freedom of Epsom allows almost nothing to be scandalous.'[548]
The Epsom season began on Easter Monday, and one advertisement will sufficiently indicate its character. 1707. 'The New Wells at Epsom, with variety of Raffling Shops, will be open'd on Easter Monday next. There are Shops now to be Let, at the said Wells for a Bookseller, Pictures, Haberdasher of Hats, Shoemaker, Fishmonger, and Butcher; with conveniences for several other Trades. ☞ It's design'd that a very good Consort of Musick shall attend and play there Morning and Evening during the Season; and nothing will be demanded for the Waters drunk there.' Pinkethman would take his performing dogs down there, and Mr. Clinch, with the wonderful voice, would spend the season there. Morris-dancing and other sports were got up, and at last they had races, which have since evolved that national saturnalia the Derby.
They had not yet analysed these purgative waters, and consequently 'Epsom salts' were unknown, so that people, did they wish for them, must either go to Epsom, or buy the water in London, where almost all the other 'Spaw' waters could be procured. It is astonishing how they could drink the quantity they are recorded to have done—i.e. if those accounts are trustworthy. Brown, in one of his 'Letters from the Dead to the Living,' talks of a lady 'that has drank two Quarts of Epsom Waters for her Mornings draught'; and Shadwell, in 'Epsom Wells,' says:—
Brisket. I vow it is a pleasurable Morning: the Waters taste so finely after being fudled last Night. Neighbour Fribbler, here's a Pint to you.
Fribbler. I'll pledge you, Mrs. Brisket; I have drunk eight already.
Mrs. Brisket. How do the Waters agree with your Ladyship?
Mrs. Woodly. Oh, Soveraignly: how many Cups have you arrived to?
Mrs. Brisket. Truly Six, and they pass so kindly.
There was, and even yet is, a mildly chalybeate spring at Hampstead, which made that beautiful northern suburb very fashionable. The well has been lately altered, and the old Assembly Rooms, which had lasted from Anne's time, were pulled down in the early part of 1882. Old gardens have been grubbed up, and fine new villas set a-top of them. It is only a question of time as to when the trees in Well Walk will die and be no more, and but a few houses will remain to attest the glory of Hampstead in Queen Anne's time, when the Kit Cats made it their summer meeting-place. Like all places of amusement then, the spirit of gambling had invaded it, and either Swift or Steele notices that: 'By letters from Hampstead which give me an account, there is a late institution there under the name of a Raffling Shop; which is, it seems, secretly supported by a person who is a deep practitioner in the law, and out of tenderness of conscience, has, under the name of his maid Sisly, set up this easier way of conveyancing and alienating estates from one family to another.'[549] Concerts of music were frequent here in the season, as they were also at Richmond Wells, which opened in the middle of May.