'THE FOLLY ON THE THAMES.'

Moored opposite Whitehall was a very large barge with a saloon, and promenade on the top, called the Folly, and this was a favourite place of entertainment. It was a fashionable resort in Pepys' time. He says, '13 Ap. 1668. Spent in the Folly 1s.'; and Queen Mary and some of her attendants paid it a visit. In Anne's reign it was used as a coffee-house, but it no longer was extremely fashionable, as the company was very mixed. As D'Urfey sung:—

When Drapers' smugged apprentices,
With Exchange girls most jolly,
After shop was shut and all,
Could sail up to the Folly.[574]

'Pray, says my Companion (pointing to the Folly), what noble Structure is that floating upon the Water? I have often heard of Castles in the Air, and this seems to me to be a kind of an Essay towards such a windy Project. That Whimsical piece of Architect, said I, was design'd as a Musical Summer House for the entertainment of Quality, where they might meet.... But the Ladies of the Town, finding it as convenient a Rendezvous for their purpose ... drove away their private Enemies, and entirely possess'd themselves of this moveable Mansion, which they have occupied ever since, very much to their advantage.... We no sooner enter'd but we had as many Ladies staring us in our Faces, as if we had been either handsom to admiration, or ugly to a Miracle ... some dancing as they mov'd to show the Airyness of their Temper; some ogling the Gallants, and others crowded into Boxes like Passengers into a Western Wherry, sat smoaking their Noses, and drinking Burnt Brandy, to defend their Stomachs from the chill Air upon the Water.... In short, it was such a confused Scene of Folly, Madness, and Debauchery, that we step'd again into our Boat without Drinking to avoid the Inconveniences that attend mixing with such a Swarm of Caterpillars, who are always dangerous to the Unwary, and destructive to the Innocent.'[575]

The ordinary freight barges were, both as to build and rig, extremely similar to those of the present day, and there was one passenger and freight sailing boat which went to the then Ultima Thule of a Londoner's experience—the Gravesend Tilt boat—of which we have an interesting reminiscence in the

'Rates for Carrying of Goods in the Tilt Boat between Gravesend and London[576]—

s.d.
An Half Firkin—1
An Whole Firkin—2
An Hogshead2—
An Hundred Weight of Cheese, Iron, or any Heavy Goods—4
Sack of Salt, or Corn, Ordinary Chest, Trunck or Hamper—6
Every Single Person in the Ordinary Passage—6
The Hire of the Whole Tilt Boat226

There was a horse ferry (from whence the name Horseferry Road) between Westminster and Lambeth for passengers, horses, coaches, etc. The rates were—

s.d.
For a Man and Horse—2
" Horse and Chaze1—
" Coach and 2 Horses16
" " " 4 "2—
" " " 6 "26
" a Cart Loaden26
" a Cart, or Waggon each2—

Whilst on the subject of the river Thames, mention of one of its tributaries, the Fleet Ditch, should not be omitted. Taking its rise in Hampstead it meandered along, until it fell into the river at Blackfriars, where it formed a wide and shallow mouth called a Fleet, which was once of such extent that ships of considerable burden could get up it some little distance. In Anne's time, however, it had become a black and fetid sewer. Nobody had a good word for it. Gay never mentions it without abuse.