"From my own Apartments in Spring Gardens.
"Though I do not belong to the Fraternity mentioned in the following piece, and therefore am little concerned in the annual disputes, I think it my duty, as a Watchman of the city of Westminster, to preserve the memory of the late extraordinary Cavalcade, the like to which hath never happened since I have been in office. As more solemn processions have of late years been very rare, it cannot surely be taken amiss, either by the Free Masons, or the Scald-Miserables, that I give so much distinction to this.
"T. Touchit.
"The Free Mason's Downfall, or the Restoration of the Scald-Miserables."
After the print follows: "A Key, or Explanation of the solemn and stately Procession of the Scald-Miserable Masons, as it was martial'd on Tuesday the 27th past, by their Scald-Pursuivant Black Mantle—set forth by Order of the Grand Master Poncy."—Printed by J. Mechell, at The Kings Arms in Fleet-street, and sold by the Pamphlet-shops, &c. Price Two-pence.
Extracts from The London Daily Post, March 20, 1740-1, &c. "Yesterday some mock Free-Masons marched through Pall-Mall and The Strand, as far as Temple-Bar, in procession; first went fellows on jack-asses, with cows horns in their hands; then a kettle-drummer on a jack-ass, having two butter-firkins for kettle-drums; then followed two carts drawn by jack-asses, having in them the stewards with several badges of their order; then came a mourning coach drawn by six horses, each of a different colour and size, in which were the grand master and wardens; the whole attended by a vast mob. They stayed without Temple Bar till the Masons came by, and paid their compliments to them, who returned the same with an agreeable humour that possibly disappointed the witty contriver of this mock scene, whole misfortune is, that though he has some wit, his subjects are generally so ill chosen, that he loses by it as many friends as other people of more judgement gain."
Again, April 28, 1742. "Yesterday being the annual feast of the ancient and honourable society of Free and Accepted Masons, they made a grand procession from Brook-street to Haberdashers Hall, where an elegant entertainment was provided for them, and the evening was concluded with that harmony and decency peculiar to the society."
"Some time before the society began their cavalcade, a number of shoe-cleaners, chimney-sweepers, &c. on foot and in carts, with ridiculous pageants carried before them, went in procession to Temple-Bar, by way of jest on the Free-Masons, at the expence, as we hear, of one hundred pounds sterling, which occasioned a great deal of diversion."
Again, May 3, 1744. "Yesterday several of the mock masons were taken up by the constable empowered to impress men for his Majesty's service, and confined till they can be examined by the justices."
24. Sancho, at the magnificent feast, &c. starved by his Physician. On the top of this plate are the following words: "This original print was invented and engraved by William Hogarth. Price 1 s." At bottom we read, W. Hogarth inv. & sculp. Printed for H. Overton and J. Hoole. Perhaps this design was meant as a rival to that of Coypel on the same subject; or might be intended by way of specimen of a complete set of plates for Don Quixote. Mr. S. Ireland has the original drawing.