Some special attractions were occasionally offered to the quality who frequented the Bowling Green; thus, in 1718 there were illuminations there, and a consort of musick to celebrate the King’s birthday. In 1736 we hear of scaffolding, 135 feet high, that was erected in the gardens for the Flying Man who was to fly down it by a rope with a wheelbarrow before him.
§ 2. Marylebone Gardens under Gough and Trusler. 1738–1763.
Daniel Gough, who was proprietor of the Rose and its gardens in 1737, first made a regular charge for admission,[94] and in the summer of 1738 (July 12) advertised and opened “Marybone[95] Gardens” as a place of evening entertainment. He selected a band from the Opera and the Theatres to play, from six to ten, eighteen of the best concertos, overtures and airs; erected a substantial garden-orchestra, in which was placed (1740) an organ by Bridge; and built (1739–1740) the House or Great Room for balls and suppers. Gough was succeeded as manager (in 1751?) by John Trusler,[96] who being by profession a cook paid attention to the commissariat of the Gardens. The rich seed and plum cakes, and the almond cheese-cakes made by his daughter, Miss Trusler, became a spécialité of the place. Sir John Fielding, the magistrate, was of opinion that Londoners should not want Mrs. Cornelys’s entertainments in Soho, when they had Ranelagh with its music and fireworks and Marybone Gardens with their music, wine and plum-cakes.
During this period (1738–1763) Marybone Gardens were opened in the morning for public breakfasting in the Great Room, and for a concert, beginning at twelve, to which the admission was two shillings, or one shilling. The admission for the evening entertainment was the same, but was raised on exceptional nights to three shillings.
In August 1738, there were introduced “two Grand or Double Bassoons, made by Mr. Stanesby, junior, the greatness of whose sound surpass that of any other bass instrument whatsoever.” In 1741 a grand martial composition was performed by Mr. Lampe in honour of Admiral Vernon. In 1744 Knerler, the violinist, was the principal executant; and Mr. Ferrand performed on “the Pariton, an instrument never played on in publick before.”
In 1747 Miss Falkner made her appearance and remained the principal female singer[97] till about 1752.
Wm. Defesch.
Mary Ann Falkner (or Faulkner),[98] was the niece of George Faulkner, the Dublin printer, and was a vocalist of celebrity in her day, though she never aspired beyond such songs as “Amoret and Phillis,” “The Happy Couple,” “Fair Bellinda,” “Delia,” and “The Faithful Lover.” She had many admirers, among whom were the Earl of Halifax (the second Earl), Lord Vane, and Sir George Saville; but she behaved circumspectly, and bestowed her hand upon a young man named Donaldson, the son of a linendraper. Unfortunately, her husband, who had been brought up in what Dr. Trusler calls “the line of a gentleman,” was extravagant and idle, and consented (about 1753) to a base arrangement by which his wife was taken under the protection of Lord Halifax.
The Earl built a house for Mrs. Donaldson at Hampton Court Green, where she seems to have lived quietly. At a later time when Halifax was contemplating marriage with the wealthy daughter of General Drury, she surprised him one evening in the walks at Vauxhall Gardens, and so exerted her influence that the Earl not only left his Vauxhall friends without an apology, but broke off his engagement with Miss Drury.[99]