The Newspapers of the day are veritable mines of information; and, although the work of minutely perusing them is somewhat laborious and irksome, the information exhumed well repays the search. Rich sources, too, to furnish illustrations, are open, and I have availed myself largely of the privilege; and I have endeavoured, as far as in my power lay, to give a faithful record of the Dawn of the Nineteenth Century in England, taken absolutely from original, and authentic, sources.
JOHN ASHTON.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| PAGE | |
| Retrospect of Eighteenth Century—Napoleon’s letter to George III.—LordGrenville’s reply—French prisoners of war in England—Scarcityof provisions—Gloomy financial outlook—Loan from theBank of England—Settlement of the Union with Ireland | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Accident at a Review—The King shot at, at Drury Lane Theatre—Behaviourof the Royal Family—Biography of Hadfield—His trialand acquittal—Grand Review of Volunteers on the King’s birthday—Thebad weather, and behaviour of the crowd | [8] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| High price of gold—Scarcity of food—Difference in cost of living 1773-1800—Forestallingand Regrating—Food riots in the country—Riotin London at the Corn Market—Forestalling in meat | [16] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Continuation of food riots in London—Inefficiency of Police—Riots stillcontinue—Attempts to negotiate a Peace—A political meeting onKennington Common—Scarcity of Corn—Proclamation to restrict itsconsumption—Census of the people | [23] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| The Union with Ireland—Proclamations thereon—Alteration of GreatSeal—Irish Member called to order (footnote)—Discovery of thePlanet Ceres—Proclamation of General Fast—High price of meat,and prosperity of the farmers—Suffering of the French prisoners—Politicaldissatisfaction—John Horne Tooke—Feeding the Frenchprisoners—Negotiations for Peace—Signing preliminaries—Illuminations—Methodsof making the news known—Ratification of preliminaries—Treatmentof General Lauriston by the mob—MoreIlluminations—Manifestation of joy at Falmouth—Lord Mayor’s banquet | [32] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Disarmament and retrenchment—Cheaper provisions—King applied toParliament to pay his debts—The Prince of Wales claimed the revenuesof the Duchy of Cornwall—Parliament pays the King’s debts—Abolitionof the Income Tax—Signature of the Treaty of Amiens—Conditionsof the Treaty—Rush of the English to France—Visit ofC. J. Fox to Napoleon—Liberation of the French prisoners of war | [45] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Proclamation of Peace—Manner of the procession, &c.—Illuminations—Dayof General Thanksgiving—General Election—A dishonouredGovernment bill—Cloth riots in Wiltshire—Plot to assassinate theKing—Arrest of Colonel Despard—Trial and sentence of the conspirators—Theirfate | [55] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Strained relations with France—Prosecution and trial of Jean Peltier forlibel against Napoleon—Rumours of war—King’s proclamation—Napoleon’srudeness to Lord Whitworth—Hoax on the Lord Mayor—Rupturewith France—Return of Lord Whitworth, and departureof the French Ambassador | [65] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Declaration of War against France—Napoleon makes all the English inFrance prisoners of war—Patriotic Fund—Squibs on the threatenedinvasion—“The New Moses”—Handbill signed “A Shopkeeper”—“Britain’sWar-song”—“Who is Bonaparte?”—“Shall Frenchmenrule over us?”—“An Invasion Sketch” | [74] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| Invasion Squibs continued—“The Freeman’s Oath”—“John Bull andBonaparte”—“The Eve of Invasion”—“A Biography of Napoleon”—“Britons,strike home”—Enrolment of 400,000 Volunteers—Napoleonat Calais—Apprehension of vagrants, and compulsorilyrecruiting the Army and Navy with them—Patriotism of the nation—Preparationsin case of reverse—Beacons—Spies—The Frenchprisoners—Emmett’s rebellion in Ireland—Its prompt suppression—GeneralFast—Relief of the Roman Catholics | [89] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| Caricatures of the Flotilla—Scarcity of money—Stamping Spanish dollars—Illnessof the King—His recovery—General Fast—Fall of theAddington Ministry—Debate on the Abolition of the Slave Trade—Beacons—Transport—Electionfor Middlesex—Reconciliation betweenthe King and the Prince of Wales | [104] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| Doings of Napoleon—His letter to George III.—Lord Mulgrave’s reply—Wardeclared against Spain—General Fast—Men voted for Armyand Navy—The Salt Duty—Withdrawal of “The Army of England”—Battleof Trafalgar and death of Nelson—General Thanksgiving | [112] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| Nelson’s funeral—Epigrams—Death of Pitt—His funeral—General Fast—Largecoinage of copper—Impeachment of Lord Melville—TheAbolition of the Slave Trade passes the House of Commons—Deathand funeral of Fox—His warning Napoleon of a plot against him—Negotiationsfor peace—Napoleon declares England blockaded | [120] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| Passing of the Slave Trade Bill—Downfall of the “Ministry of all theTalents”—General Fast—Election for Westminster—Death ofCardinal York—Arrival in England of Louis XVIII.—Copenhagenbombarded, and the Danish Fleet captured—Napoleon again proclaimedEngland as blockaded | [132] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| Gloomy prospects of 1808—King’s Speech—Droits of the Admiralty—Regulationof Cotton Spinners’ wages—Riots in the Cotton districts—Battleof Vimiera—Convention of Cintra—Its unpopularity—Articlesof the Convention | [136] |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| General Fast—The Jubilee—Costume—Former Jubilees—Release of poorprisoners for debt—Jubilee Song—Jubilee literature—Poetry—Kingpardons deserters from Army and Navy | [146] |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| Common Council decide to relieve Small Debtors—Festivities at Windsor—Oxroasted whole—How it was done—The Queen and RoyalFamily present—Division of the ox, &c.—A bull baited—Fête atFrogmore—Illuminations—Return of the Scheldt Expedition | [153] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| The Scheldt Expedition—The Earl of Chatham and Sir Richard Strachan—Thecitizens of London and the King—General Fast—Financialdisorganization—Issue of stamped dollars—How they were smuggledout of the country—John Gale Jones and John Dean before theHouse of Commons—Sir Francis Burdett interferes—Publishes libelin Cobbett’s Weekly Political Register—Debate in the House—SirFrancis Burdett committed to the Tower | [159] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| Warrant served on Sir Francis Burdett—He agrees to go to prison—Subsequentlyhe declares the warrant illegal—His arrest—His journey tothe Tower—The mob—His incarceration—The mob attack themilitary—Collision—Killed and wounded—Sir Francis’s letter to theSpeaker—His release—Conduct of the mob | [168] |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| Good harvest—Thanksgiving for same—List of poor Livings—AnotherJubilee—Illness and death of the Princess Amelia—Effect on theKing—Prayers for his restoration to health—Funeral of the Princess—Curiousposition of the Houses of Parliament—Proposition for aRegency—Close of the first decade of the xixth Century | [177] |
| CHAPTER XXI. | |
| The roads—Modern traffic compared with old—The stage coach—Stagewaggons—Their speed—Price of posting—The hackney coach—Sedanchairs—Horse riding—Improvement in carriages | [182] |
| CHAPTER XXII. | |
| Amateur driving—“The Whip Club”—Their dress—“The Four inHand Club”—Their dress—Other driving clubs—“Tommy Onslow”—RottenRow | [189] |
| CHAPTER XXIII. | |
| “The Silent Highway”—Watermen—Their fares—Margate hoys—Areligious hoy—The bridges over the Thames—The Pool—Waterpageants—Necessity for Docks, and their building—Tunnel atGravesend—Steamboat on the Thames—Canals | [195] |
| CHAPTER XXIV. | |
| Condition of the streets of London—Old oil lamps—Improvement inlamps—Gas—Its introduction by Murdoch—Its adoption in Londonby Winsor—Opposition to it—Lyceum and other places lit with it—Itsgradual adoption—The old tinder box—Improvements thereon | [201] |
| CHAPTER XXV. | |
| Great fires in London—Number of Insurance Companies—Rates of insurance—Fire-enginesand firemen—Scarcity of water—Supply ofwater to London—The streets—Their traffic—Shops—Watering theroads | [210] |
| CHAPTER XXVI. | |
| Daily life of the streets—The Chimney Sweep—Mrs. Montagu—Instancesof the hard life of a “climbing boy”—The Milkmaid—Supplyof milk to the Metropolis—“Hot loaves”—“Water cresses”—whencethey came—Other cries | [216] |
| CHAPTER XXVII. | |
| The Postman—His dress—The Post Office—Changes of site—Sir RobertVyner—Rates of postage and deliveries—Mail coaches—Places ofstarting and routes—Number of houses in London—Description ofthem—Their furniture | [228] |
| CHAPTER XXVIII. | |
| Food—Statistics as to quantity of meat consumed—Scarcity of fish andgame—Supply of latter to London—Venison—A brewer’s dinner—Beer—Quantitybrewed—Wine—Its price—Supply of vegetables—Sardinesand Harvey’s Sauce—Scarcity of wheat—Forestalling—Ricefrom India—Bounties given for its shipment | [235] |
| CHAPTER XXIX. | |
| Parliamentary Committee on the high price of provisions—Bounty onimported corn, and on rice from India and America—The “BrownBread Bill”—Prosecution of bakers for light weight—Punishment ofa butcher for having bad meat—Price of beef, mutton, and poultry—Cattleshows—Supply of food from France—Great fall in prices here—Hotels,&c.—A clerical dessert | [243] |
| CHAPTER XXX. | |
| Men’s dress—The “Jean de Bry” coat—Short coats fashionable at watering-places—“AllBond Street trembled as he strode”—Rules for thebehaviour of a “Bond Street Lounger” | [250] |
| CHAPTER XXXI. | |
| “The three Mr. Wiggins’s”—The “Crops”—Hair-powdering—Thepowdering closet—Cost of clothes—Economy in hats—Taxing hats—Eye-glasses—“TheGreen Man” at Brighton—Eccentricities in dress | [256] |
| CHAPTER XXXII. | |
| Ladies’ dress—French costume—Madame Recamier—The classical style—“Progressof the toilet”—False hair—Hair-dresser’s advertisement—TheRoyal Family and dress—Curiosities of costume | [263] |
| CHAPTER XXXIII. | |
| Diversions of people of fashion—Daily life of the King—Children—Education—Girls’education—Matrimonial advertisements—GretnaGreen marriages—Story of a wedding ring—Wife selling—“A womanto let” | [275] |
| CHAPTER XXXIV. | |
| Gambling—Downfall of Lady Archer, &c.—Card playing in the RoyalCircle—Card money—High play—Play at the Clubs—Lotteries—Themethod of drawing them—Horse racing—Turf and horses betterthan now—Curious names of race horses—Ladies Lade and Thornton—LadyThornton’s races—Tattersall and Aldridge | [285] |
| CHAPTER XXXV. | |
| Cock-fighting—Its illegality—Public recognition of it—Description ofcompany at a cock-fight—High stakes—Bull-baiting—Debate thereonin the House of Commons—Prize-fighting—Famous pugilists—GeorgeIV. as a patron of the Ring—Attempts to put down prize-fighting—Femalephysical education—Cudgel-playing, and other sports | [295] |
| CHAPTER XXXVI. | |
| Hunting then, and now—Hunting near the Metropolis—The EppingHunt—Fishing—Shooting then, and now—Guns—Methods of provinggun barrels—Big charges—Introduction of the Percussion Cap—Sizeof bags—Colonel Thornton’s bet | [305] |
| CHAPTER XXXVII. | |
| A Cockney’s account of the First of September—Pigeon shooting—Out-doorgames—Cricket—High stakes—Lord’s cricket ground—Trapand ball—Billiards—Life of Andrews the billiard player | [313] |
| CHAPTER XXXVIII. | |
| The Theatre—Number of theatres in London—Famous actors andactresses—Disturbances at a theatre—Master Betty, “The InfantRoscius”—His country experience—Puffs preliminary—His firstappearance in London—Crowds to see him—Presented to the Kingand the Prince of Wales—Acts at Drury Lane—His subsequentcareer | [322] |
| CHAPTER XXXIX. | |
| Betty’s imitators—Miss Mudie, “The Young Roscia”—Her first appearancein London—Reception by the audience—Her fate—Ireland’sforgery of “Vortigern and Rowena”—Fires among the theatres—Destructionof Covent Garden and Drury Lane | [333] |
| CHAPTER XL. | |
| The O. P. Riots—Causes of—Madame Catalani—Kemble’s refutation ofcharges—Opening of the theatre, and commencement of the riots—O.P. medals, &c.—“The house that Jack built”—A committee ofexamination—Their report—A reconciliation dinner—Acceptation ofa compromise—“We are satisfied”—Theatre re-opens—Re-commencementof riots—The proprietors yield, and the riots end | [339] |
| CHAPTER XLI. | |
| “The Pic-nic Club”—Its supporters—Its entertainment—Its short life—Automataand wool pictures—Almack’s—Pidcock’s Menagerie—“TheInvisible Girl”—Vauxhall—Sir Roger de Coverley—Price ofadmission, &c.—Ranelagh Gardens | [354] |
| CHAPTER XLII. | |
| Music—Composers of the time—Mrs. Billington—Her salaries—Mdlle.Mara—Mrs. Crouch—Incledon—Braham—Chamber music—Musicalsocieties—Commemoration of Dr. Arne—Competition of pipers—Dancing—TheValse | [361] |
| CHAPTER XLIII. | |
| Painting—“The Royal Academy of Art”—The principal private PictureGalleries—Benjamin West—James Barry—Fuseli—Opie—Minorartists—Turner—Sir Thomas Laurence—Morland—Sale of hispictures—Sculptors—Engravers—Boydell—“The Exhibition ofPaintings in Water Colours”—Its members—“The Associated Artistsin Water Colours”—Literature—List of literary persons of the decade—Five-volumenovels—Decyphering papyri—Major Ouseley’sOriental Library—The Pope and the Lord’s Prayer—The AlfredClub | [369] |
| CHAPTER XLIV. | |
| The Press—Morning Post and Times—Duty on newspapers—Rise in price—Thepublication of circulation to procure advertisements—Paperwarfare between the Times and the Morning Post—The BritishMuseum—Its collection, and bad arrangement—Obstacles to visitors—Rulesrelaxed—The Lever Museum—Its sale by lottery—AnatomicalMuseums of the two Hunters | [379] |
| CHAPTER XLV. | |
| Medical—The Doctor of the old School—The rising lights—Dr. Jenner—Hisdiscovery of vaccination for smallpox—Opposition thereto—Perkins’sMetallic Tractors—The “Perkinean Institution”—Hiscures—Electricity and Galvanism—Galvanizing a dead criminal—LunaticAsylums—Treatment of the insane—The Hospitals | [385] |
| CHAPTER XLVI. | |
| The Royal Society and the Royal Institution—Scientific men of the time—Societyof Arts—Other learned Societies—Ballooning—Steam—Steamboats—Locomotives—Fourdrinier and the paper-making machine—Coals—Their price—Committee of the House of Commonson coal—Price of coals | [394] |
| CHAPTER XLVII. | |
| The Navy—Sailor’s carelessness—“The Sailor’s Journal”—The sailorand “a dilly”—Dress of the sailors—Rough life both for officers andmen—Number of ships in Commission—Pressing—A man killed bya press-gang—Mutinies—That of the Danäe—Mutiny on board theHermione, and cold-blooded slaughter of the officers—Mutiny inBantry Bay—Pay of the officers—French prisoners of war | [402] |
| CHAPTER XLVIII. | |
| The Army—Number of men—Dress—Hair-powder—Militia—Commissionseasily obtained—Price of substitutes—The Volunteers—Dressof the Honourable and Ancient Artillery Company—BloomsburyVolunteers, and Rifle Volunteers—Review at Hatfield—Grand risingof Volunteers in 1803 | [412] |
| CHAPTER XLIX. | |
| Volunteer Regulations—The Brunswick Rifle—“Brown Bess”—Volunteershooting—Amount subscribed to Patriotic Fund—Mr. Miller’spatriotic offer | [419] |
| CHAPTER L. | |
| The Clarke Scandal—Biography of Mrs. Clarke—Her levées—Her scaleof prices for preferments—Commission of the House of Commons—Exculpationof the Duke of York—His resignation—Open sale ofplaces—Caution thereon—Duels—That between Colonel Montgomeryand Captain Macnamara | [427] |
| CHAPTER LI. | |
| Police—Dr. Colquhoun’s book—The old Watchmen—Their inadequacyadmitted—Description of them—Constables—“First new mode ofrobbing in 1800”—Robbery in the House of Lords—Whipping—Severesentence—The Stocks—The Pillory—Severe punishment—Anotherinstance | [435] |
| CHAPTER LII. | |
| Smuggling—An exciting smuggling adventure—The Brighton fishermenand the Excise—“Body-snatching”—“Benefit of Clergy”—Tyburntickets—Death the penalty for many crimes—“Last dying Speech”—The“condemned pew” at Newgate—Horrible execution at Jersey—Thenew drop—An impenitent criminal | [444] |
| CHAPTER LIII. | |
| Execution for treason—Burying a suicide at the junction of a cross-road—Supposedlast such burial in London—The Prisons—List, anddescription of them—Bow Street Police Office—Expense of the Policeand Magistracy—Number of watchmen, &c., in 1804—The poor, andprovision for them—Educational establishments | [451] |
| ———— | |
| INDEX | [461] |