The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the times

CHAPTER LIII.

Chapter 10610,210 wordsPublic domain

Execution for treason—Burying a suicide at the junction of a cross-road—Supposed last such burial in London—The Prisons—List, and description of them—Bow Street Police Office—Expense of the Police and Magistracy—Number of watchmen, &c., in 1804—The poor, and provision for them—Educational establishments.

BUT OF ALL brutal sentences, that for the crime of high treason, was the worst. When Colonel Despard was sentenced to death for conspiracy, on the 9th of February, 1802, the words used by the Judge, were as follow:—

“The only thing now remaining for me, is the painful task of pronouncing against you, and each of you, the awful sentence which the law denounces against your crime, which is, that you, and each of you (here his lordship named the prisoners severally), be taken to the place from whence you came, and from thence you are to be drawn on hurdles to the place of Execution, where you are to be hanged by the neck, but not until you are dead; for while you are still living, your bodies are to be taken down, your bowels torn out, and burnt before your faces! your heads are to be then cut off, and your bodies divided each into four quarters, and your heads and quarters to be then at the King’s disposal; and may the Almighty God have mercy on your Souls.”

In this case the disembowelling and dismemberment were remitted, but they were dragged to the place of execution on a _hurdle_, which, in this instance, was the body of a small cart, on which two trusses of clean straw were laid. They were hanged, and after hanging for about twenty-five minutes, “_till they were quite dead_,” they were cut down. “Colonel[80] Despard was first cut down, his body placed upon saw dust, and his head on a block. After his coat had been taken off, his head was severed from his body. The executioner then took the head by the hair, and carrying it to the edge of the parapet on the right hand, held it up to the view of the populace, and exclaimed, “This is the head of a traitor—EDWARD MARCUS DESPARD!... The bodies were then put into their different shells, and are to be delivered to their friends for interment.”

Another relic of barbarism was the driving a stake through the body of a suicide, and burying him at the junction of a cross road—_Morning Post_, April 27, 1810: “The Officers appointed to execute the ceremony of driving a stake through the dead body of _James Cowling_, a deserter from the London Militia, who deprived himself of existence, by cutting his throat, at a public-house in Gilbert Street, Clare Market, in consequence of which, the Coroner’s Jury found a verdict of Self-murder, very properly delayed the business until twelve o’clock on Wednesday night, when the deceased was buried in the cross roads at the end of Blackmoor Street, Clare Market.”

The motive for this practice was, that by fastening the body to the ground, by means of a stake, it rendered it “of the earth, earthy,” and thus prevented its perturbed spirit from wandering about. It is believed that the last burial of a suicide in London, at a cross road, was in June, 1823, when a man, named Griffiths, was buried about half-past one a.m., at the junction of Eaton Street, Grosvenor Place, and the King’s Road, but no stake was driven through the body.

The Prisons in London were fairly numerous, but several of them were for debtors, whose case was very evil. There they languished, many in the most abject poverty, for years, trusting to the charity of individuals, or to funds either bequeathed, or set aside, for bettering their condition. In 1804, an Act was passed (44 Geo. III. cap. 108, afterwards repealed by the Stat. Law. Rev. Act, 1872) for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, and they were not slow in taking advantage of it. Not only had they poverty, and loss of liberty, to contend with, but gaol fever, which carried them off at times, and cleared the prisons. So contagious was it, that in February, 1805, almost all the cadets at Woolwich suffered from it, and several died. It was imported into the school, by one of the cadets, who had been to visit some prison.

The prisons were as follow, in 1805:—

1. King’s Bench Prison, for debtors on process or execution, and for persons under sentence for misdemeanour, &c. This was in St. George’s Fields, Southwark, and was considered more wholesome than the London prisons. There were districts surrounding the prison both here, and at the Fleet, where prisoners could dwell, without going inside, by payment of fees. The prisoners inside the King’s Bench, could but obtain leave to go out once every term, or four times a year. There were 300 rooms in the prison, but it was always full, and decent accommodation was even more expensive to obtain, than at the Fleet.

2. The Fleet Prison was one belonging to the Courts of Common Pleas, and Chancery, to which debtors might remove themselves from any other prison, at the expense of six or seven pounds. A contemporary account says:

“It contains 125 rooms, besides a common kitchen, coffee and tap rooms, but the number of prisoners is generally so great, that two, or even three, persons are obliged to submit to the shocking inconvenience of living in one small room!! Those who can afford it, pay their companion to _chum_ off, and thus have a room to themselves. Each person so paid off, receives four shillings a week. The prisoner pays one shilling and threepence a week for his room without furniture, and an additional sevenpence for furniture. Matters are sometimes so managed, that a room costs the needy and distressed prisoner from ten to thirteen shillings a week.

“Those who have trades that can be carried on in a room, generally work, and some gain more than they would out of doors, after they become acquainted with the ways of the place. During the quarterly terms,[81] when the court sits, prisoners, on paying five shillings a day, and on giving security, are allowed to go out when they please, and there is a certain space round the prison, called the _rules_, in which prisoners may live, on furnishing two good securities to the warden for their debt, and on paying about 3 per cent. on the amount of their debts to the warden. The rules extend only from Fleet Market to the London Coffee House, and from Ludgate Hill to Fleet Lane, so that lodgings are bad, and very dear. Within the walls there is a yard for walking in, and a good racquet ground.”

3. Ludgate Prison, or Giltspur Street Compter, for debtors who were freemen of the City of London.

4. Poultry Compter—a dark, small, ill-aired dungeon—used as a House of Detention.

5. Newgate—which was the gaol both for Criminals, and Debtors, for the County of Middlesex. On the debtors’ side, the overcrowding was something terrible. The felons’, or State side, as it was called, was far more comfortable, and the criminals better accommodated. The prison might, then, be visited on payment of two or three shillings to the turnkeys, and giving away a few more to the most distressed debtors.

6. The New Prison, Clerkenwell, was also a gaol for the County of Middlesex, and was built in 1775. The fare here was very meagre—only a pound of bread a day.

7. Prison for the liberty of the Tower of London, Wellclose Square.

8. Whitechapel Prison, for debtors in actions in the Five Pounds Courts, or the Court of the Manor of Stepney.

9. The Savoy Prison, used as a Military prison, principally for deserters.

10. Horsemonger Lane Gaol, the County prison for Surrey.

11. The Clink, a small debtors prison in Southwark.

12. The Marshalsea Gaol, in Southwark, for pirates.

13. The House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields, which was built according to a plan of Howard, the philanthropist, on the basis of solitary confinement. At this time it was dreaded as a place of punishment, and went by the name of the Bastille. (Its slang name now is _the Steel_.)

The prisoners were not too well fed. A pound of bread, and twopenny worth of meat a day, and a very fair amount of work to do—was not calculated to make it popular among the criminal classes.

It was the only prison in which the inmates wore uniform. That of the men was blue jacket and trousers, with yellow stockings, whilst the women had a blue jacket and blue petticoat. They had clean linen every week; so that, probably, it was a healthy prison. One good thing about it was, that a portion of the prisoners’ earnings was reserved, and given to them when they quitted prison.

14. City Bridewell, Blackfriars, was a house of Correction for the City.

15. Tothill Fields, Bridewell, was a similar institution for Westminster.

16. New Bridewell, Southwark, for Surrey.

Besides these public prisons, were several private establishments used as provisional prisons—kept by the Sheriffs Officers, called _lock-up_, or, _sponging houses_, where for twelve, or fourteen shillings a day, a debtor might remain, either until he found the means to repay the debt, or it was necessary to go to a public prison, when the writ against him became returnable. They were nests of extortion and robbery.

The Police Offices in London were:

The Mansion House. Lambeth Street, Whitechapel. Guildhall. High Street, Shadwell. Bow Street. Union Street, Southwark. Hatton Garden. Queen’s Square, Westminster. Worship Street. Great Marlborough Street.

Wapping New Stairs, for offences committed on the Thames. Of those _extra_ the City, Bow Street was the chief, and the head magistrate there, was called the Chief Magistrate, and received a stipend of £1,000 per annum; a large sum in those days. He was assisted by two others, at a salary of £500 each.

Dr. Patrick Colquhoun called so much attention to the inefficiency of the police, that a Committee of the House of Commons, in the session of 1798, sifted the matter, and from the report of this Committee, only, can we gather the criminal statistics of the kingdom (at least with regard to its expense).

The amount of the general expense of the criminal police of the kingdom, is stated by the Committee as follows:

1st. The annual average of the total expense of the seven public offices in the Metropolis from their institution in 1792, to the end of the year 1797 £18,281 18 6

2nd. Total expenses of the office in Bow Street in the year 1797, including remuneration to the magistrates in lieu of fees, perquisites, &c., and the expense of a patrol of sixty-eight persons 7,901 7 7 ————————————————— Total for the Metropolis £26,183 6 1

The other expenses for the prosecution and conviction of felons, the maintenance, clothing, employment, and transportation of convicts, to which may be added the farther sums annually charged on the county rates, amounted in 1797 to £215,869 13 10½ ═════════════════

In 1804, it was estimated that there were 2,044 beadles and watchmen, and 38 patrols, on nightly duty in, and around the Metropolis. Of these, the City proper, with its 25 wards, contributed 765 watchmen, and 38 patrols.

The poor were pretty well taken care of. Besides the parochial workhouses, there were 107 endowed almshouses, and many other like institutions; the City Companies, it was computed, giving upwards of £75,000, yearly, away in charity. There were very many institutions for charitable, and humane purposes—mostly founded during the previous century—for the relief of widows and orphans, deaf and dumb persons, lunatics, relief of small debtors, the blind, the industrious poor, &c. And there were 1,600 Friendly Societies in the Metropolis, and its vicinity, enrolled under the Act, 33 George III. cap. 54. These had 80,000 members, and their average payments were £1 each per annum.

For education in London, there were:

16 Inns of Court and Chancery, for education in the law. 5 Colleges, viz., Zion College, Gresham, Physicians, Doctors Commons, and Herald’s College. 62 Schools or public Seminaries, such as Westminster, the Blue Coat, St. Paul’s, Merchant Taylors, Charterhouse, &c., educating some 5,000 children. 237 Schools, belonging to the different parishes, educating some 9000. 3,730 Private Schools. ————— 4,050 Total Seminaries of Education. ═════

This does not include nearly twenty educational establishments such as the Orphan Working School, the Marine Society, Freemasons School, &c.

And there were about the same number of Religious and Moral Societies, such as the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, Religious Tract Society, Missionary Societies, &c.; besides a number of Sunday Schools—so that we see education, and philanthropy, were hard at work in the DAWN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

THE END.

INDEX.

Abbot, Rt. Hon. Chas., elected Speaker, 47.

Abbot’s, Mr., M. P., plan for census, 29.

Abolition of Slave Trade, 132.

———— Debates on, 108, 127.

“Academy of Ancient Music”, 366.

Accident at Review in Hyde Park, 8.

Account of Walcheren Expedition, 159-160.

Acre, Battle of, 3.

Act against cockfighting, 297.

———— to relieve Roman Catholics, 103.

Actors, Child, 333.

———— Famous, 323.

Addington Ministry on its last legs, 107.

———— Mr. Chancellor, presents message to George III., 46.

Address of Sir Francis Burdett, 166.

Admiralty Droits, 140.

Age of dear books, 376.

Agricultural Shows, 247.

Aldridge’s and Tattersalls, 294.

Alfred Club, The, 378.

Almack’s, 357.

Almshouses, Endowed, 459.

Alteration of Great Seal, 33.

———— ” Prayer-book, 34.

Amateur driving, 189.

Amelia, Princess, Death of, 179.

American War, The, 12.

Amiens, Treaty of, 50, 53.

Andrews, billiard player, 319.

Androssi, General, Departure of, 319-321.

Antecedents of Napoleon, 73.

Antiquated Prosecutions, 93.

Antiquity of Cock-fighting, 22.

Appointments bought and sold, 295.

Argyle Rooms, Jubilee ball at, 432.

Armistice, Cost of, 49.

Army Estimates, Enormous expenditure, 59.

———— 50,000 men added to, 98.

“Army of England”, Withdrawal of the, 117.

———— 312,048 men voted for, 115.

Arrest of Sir F. Burdett, 170.

Arrival of brother of Louis XVIII., 110.

———— of Queen of France, 145.

Artists, 369-374.

Associated Artists in Water Colours, 375.

Attempt to assassinate George III., 9.

Attempts to stop war with France, 128.

Australia, Wheat imported from, 28.

Austria at war with France, 116.

Austrians on the Rhine, 3.

Authors, List of celebrated, 376.

Automaton Piano-player, 355.

Bad Harvest throughout Europe, 28.

Bag of Game, Large, 311.

Bakers fined for light weight, 245, 246.

Ballooning, 395.

Bank of England, Loans from, 6, 139.

Banks, Thomas, R.A., sculptor, 374.

Bantry Bay, Mutiny in, 410.

Barbadoes, Moravian missionaries in, 108.

Barouche Club, 191.

Barry, James, Professor of Painting, 370.

Bartolozzi, Francis, 374.

Base-ball match, 318.

Battle of Trafalgar, 118.

———— ” Vimiera, 142.

Beacons, Sea-side, affixed to churches, 99.

Beaumont, Sir Geo. H., Artist, 373.

Beaver Hats, 259.

Bedlam, 12, 391.

Beechey, Sir Wm., Portrait Painter, 372.

Beer made from sugar, 16.

———— Quantity brewed, 238.

———— the National beverage, 238.

“Benefit of Clergy”, 445.

Bets at Clubs, 288-289.

———— Curious, 192, 312.

Betty, W. H. W., Anecdotes of, 325, 326.

———— Career of, 332.

———— Crowds to see, 329.

———— Death of, 332.

———— First appearance in London, 326.

———— presented to Royal Family, 330.

———— Puff preliminary of, 325.

Billiards, 318-319.

———— Large sums lost at, 320.

Billington, Mrs., Salaries of, 361-363.

Bills, Increase of Stamp duty on, 36.

Blockade of England, Attempting to, 130, 131, 135.

Body-snatching, 445.

Bond Street lounger, Rules for, 251-255.

———— ” loungers, Three celebrated, 256.

Bone, Henry, enamel painter, 372.

Books, Age of dear, 376.

———— collection of first editions, 377.

Boulogne, Napoleon at, 96.

Bourgeois, Sir Francis, Artist, 371.

Bow Street Officers, 27.

Boydell’s Gallery in Cheapside, 375.

———— Shakespeare, 375.

Boys, Education of, 277, 278.

Braham, John, Vocalist, 375.

Bread, Consumption of, reduced, 28.

———— New, Sale of forbidden, 5.

———— Variation in price of, 26, 36, 44, 240.

Bridges, Thames, 198.

Britain’s War-Song, 81.

British Museum Gardens, 383.

———— ” Regulations of, 382.

———— Property, Confiscation of, 135.

“Broad-bottomed” Cabinet, 133.

“Brown Bread Bill”, 245.

Browne, Colonel, Death of, 102.

Bull-baiting, 156, 297.

———— Debate on, 298-300.

Bullion, Scarcity of, 105.

Burdett and Paull, Duel between, 133.

———— Sir Francis, Address of, 166.

———— ” ” Arrest of, 170.

———— ” ” Committal of, 167.

———— ” ” Imprisoned in the Tower, 172.

———— ” ” Release of, 174.

———— ” ” Riot after arrest of, 172, 173.

Burial, Last, at cross roads, 452.

Butchers, Prosecution of, 22, 247.

Calais, Inspection of by Napoleon, 96.

Calicoes, Duty on, 36.

Cannon, Transport Inefficient for, 98.

Card money, 286, 287.

Cardinal York, Death of, 134.

———— A pensioner of George III., 134.

Caricaturing the Royal Family, 24.

Carriages, Improvements in, 188.

———— Weights of, 188.

Catalani, Appearance in London, 341.

———— _Début_ of, 340.

———— Pay of, 341.

Catnach Press, The, 447.

Caution to Hatters, 259.

Census, The first, 30.

Ceres (Planet), discovery of, 35.

Certificate of identity of Mr. G. Garrick, 100.

Chantry, Sir Francis, R.A., Sculptor, 374.

Chatham, Earl of, Indignation against, 160.

———— Appointed Governor of Gibraltar, 163.

Child actors, 333.

Children “seen and not heard”, 277.

Chimney sweeps, 216-219.

Christie the Auctioneer, 274.

Chronology of last Century, Rectification of, 30.

Cintra, Convention of, 142-145.

City subscribe liberally to Patriotic Fund, 97.

Civil List five quarters in arrear, 6.

Claim by Prince of Wales, 47.

———— for Revenues of Duchy of Cornwall, 47.

Clarke, Mrs., before House of Commons, 431.

———— Biography of, 427.

———— Her Levees, 429.

———— Mistress of Duke of York, 427.

Clarke, Mrs., mansion described, 427, 428.

———— prices for preferment, 430.

Clergymen prevented from sitting in House of Commons, 37.

Clerical dinner, A, 249.

———— livings, 178.

“Climbing boys”, 216.

Clothes, Mens’, Prices for, 258, 259.

Cloth-working machines, Introduction of, 61.

———— Men hanged for destroying, 62.

Clubs, Bets at, 288, 289.

———— Gambling at, 290.

Coalition Ministry, Downfall of, 132.

Coals, Parliamentary Committee on, 399.

———— Price of, 396-401.

Coaches, Hackney, 187.

———— Mail, List of, 231.

———— ” Rates of, 232.

———— Stage, 184.

Cobbett, W., tried and found guilty, 108.

Cock Pitt, Royal Description of, 295.

Cock-fighting, Act against, 297.

———— Antiquity of, 295.

Cockney’s Account of September first, 313-317.

Codrington, Sir Edw., Early life of, 404.

Coinage, copper, Deterioration of, 126.

———— New, 126.

Colonies, to France, a secondary object, 113.

Commerce, Development of, 200.

Committal of Sir F. Burdett, 167.

Common Council, Relief of debtors by, 152.

Compensation of Prince of Orange, 50.

Competition of Pipers, 367.

“Concert of ancient music”, 366.

Concerts, Open-air, 361.

Condemned Pew, The, 447.

———— Sermon, The, 447.

Condition of London Streets, 201.

Conditions of Peace, 49.

Confiscation of British Property, 135.

Conspirators, Meeting of, 27.

———— dispersed ” ” 28.

———— Raid on, 63.

Constitutional liberty, Supporters of, 28.

Consumption of Bread reduced, 28.

Convention of Cintra, 142.

Conveyance, deeds of, Duty on, 37.

Cooper’s Hall, Lotteries drawn at, 291.

Copley, John Singleton, Artist, 373.

Copper coinage, Deterioration of, 126.

Corn Riots, 19.

———— Scarcity of, 16.

Cornwallis, Marquis, Treaty of peace signed by, 48.

Cost of Armistice, 49.

———— ” Living, 16.

Costume, Eccentricity of, 261, 262.

Cotton spinners, Distress among, 141.

———— Wages, Regulation of, 141.

Council of Five Hundred, 2.

———— ” Nice, 30.

Country, Feeling of the, 65.

———— Sports, 303.

Courage conspicuous in Royal Family, 96.

Covent Garden Theatre, Burning of, 337.

———— Description of, 343, 344.

———— _Fracas_ at, 323.

Covent Garden Theatre, Foundation Stone laid by Prince of Wales, 337.

Crewel work, Marvels of, 357.

Cricket Ground, Lord’s, 318.

———— Matches, 317, 318.

Cries, Street, 219-227.

Criminal, An impenitent, 450.

———— Dead, Galvanizing a, 391.

Criminals, Fugitive, restored to respective powers, 50.

Cross Roads, Last burial at, 452.

Crouch. Mrs., Prima donna, 365.

Curious bets, 192, 312.

———— Dinner, A, 237.

Daily life of George III., 276, 277.

———— ” Royal Family, 276, 277.

Dancing, 367.

Dead Criminal, Galvanizing a, 391.

Death and burial of Fox, 127.

———— ” Funeral of Pitt, 126.

———— at a prize fight, 301.

———— of Cardinal York, 134.

———— ” George Morland, 373.

———— ” ” Washington, 2.

———— ” Nelson, 118.

———— ” Princess Amelia, 179.

Debate on Bull-Baiting, 293.

———— ” war with Spain, 115.

———— ” Abolition of Slave Trade, 108.

———— ” the Union, 7.

Debtors, poor, Release of, 148.

———— Prisons, 453-457.

———— Relief of, by Common Council, 153.

———— Scheme for pay creditors of poor, 148, 149.

Deciphering papyri, 377.

Declaration of war with France, 74.

Deeds of Conveyance, Duty on, 37.

Defeat of Junot’s Army, 142.

Defiance Club, 191.

De Loutherbourg, Artist, 371.

Demonstration at Kennington, 26, 27.

Departure of Nelson in the _Victory_, 75.

Description of a gun, 309.

———— of London houses, 232, 234.

Deserters pardoned, 152.

Despard, Colonel, Arrest of, 63.

———— Committal of, 37.

———— before Privy Council, 63.

———— Execution of, 64, 152.

———— Trial of, 63.

Destroying cloth-working machines, 62.

Detention of visitors in France, 74.

Difference in value of money, 29.

Dinner, A clerical, 249.

———— ” curious, 237.

Disarmament and Retrenchment, 45.

Discovery of Planet Ceres, 35.

Distress among cotton-spinners, 141.

Diversions of people of fashion, 275, 276.

Doctor Jenner, 387.

Doctors, List of famous, 386.

———— Old school, 385.

“Doggett’s Coat and Badge”, 195.

Dollars, Re-stamping of, 163.

Driving, Amateurs, 189.

Droits of the Admiralty, 140.

Drury Lane Theatre, Burning of, 338.

———— George III. at, 9.

———— “Lord Nelson” played at, 119.

Duchy of Cornwall, Claim for Revenues, 47.

Duel between Montgomery and Macnamara, 433.

———— between Pauli and Burdett, 133.

———— Cause of, between Montgomery and Macnamara, 433.

Duke of Richmond Bill, 7.

Eccentricity of costume, 261.

Economy in use of grain, 28.

Education of boys, 277.

———— ” girls, 278.

———— ” Physical, of women, 303.

Educational Establishments, 460.

Egypt, War in, 2.

Election, Middlesex, 58, 109.

Elections, General, 58, 133.

Electricity and Galvanism, 389-391.

Emmett, Robert, Antecedents of, 101.

———— Execution of, 102.

End of Walcheren Expedition, 157.

England and Wales, First census, 29.

Engravers, 374.

Enormous expenditure on Army, 59.

Entertainment by the “Pic-nic Club”, 354.

Enthusiasm of the people, 78-88.

Estimates, Army, 59.

“European Museum”, The, 375.

Evacuation of Naples by French troops, 50.

Excitement on Stock Exchange, 72.

Execution, Accident at an, 449.

———— for treason, 452.

———— Horrible, at Jersey, 449.

———— of Colonel Despard, 64, 452.

———— of ringleaders of Irish Rebellion, 102.

———— of Robert Emmett, 102.

Exhibition of Needlework, 357.

———— ” Paintings in Water, Colours, 375.

Expenditure on Army, 59.

Extravagance of Farmers, 35.

Eye-glasses, 260.

Fall of Napoleon, 135.

False hair, 268-272.

———— rumours, Fluctuation of Stocks, through, 39.

Famous actors, 323.

Farmers, Extravagance of, 35.

———— Prosperity of, 35.

Fashion, People of, Diversions of, 275, 276.

Fasts, General, 103, 107, 115, 126, 133, 146, 163.

Fearful odds, Victories gained against, 81.

Feeling of the country, 65.

Fête at Frogmore, 156.

———— ” Windsor, 154-156.

Fifty thousand men added to Army, 98.

Fire among theatres, 337.

———— engines, Manual, 211.

Firemen, London, 212.

Fires, Great, in London, 210.

First census, 30.

———— of September, Account of, 311-317.

———— street gas lamps, 205.

Fish, Scarcity of, 235.

Fishing, 307.

Fishmongers’ Hall, 20.

Five Hundred, Council of, 2.

Five-volume novels, 376.

Flaxman, John, R.A., Sculptor, 374.

Fleet of Portugal against England, 137.

Flotilla practically useless, 116.

Flour, Paste a substitute for, 44.

Food, Plainness of, 235.

———— Riots, 19-26.

———— Scarcity of, 5, 16.

———— Supply of, from France, 248.

“Forestallers and Regraters”, 240.

“Forestalling and Regrating”, Act against, 16.

———— in meat, 22.

Forgery of “Vortigern and Rowena”, 336.

Four-in-hand Club, 191.

Fox, Courtesy of, 128.

———— and his wife introduced to Napoleon, 52.

———— Death and burial of, 127.

———— Elected for Westminster, 52.

———— Letter to Talleyrand, 128, 129.

———— Napoleon’s admiration for, 53.

———— Visit of, to Paris, 52.

———— Mrs., publicly acknowledged as Fox’s wife, 52.

_Fracas_ at Covent Garden Theatre, 323, 324.

France, Austria at war with, 116.

———— Colonies to, a secondary object, 113.

———— Declaration of war with, 74.

———— Failure of peace negotiations with, 130.

———— Greatness of, 113.

———— Queen of, Arrival of, 145.

———— Rupture with, 65.

———— Supply of Food from, 248.

———— Trade with, 45.

———— Wild rush of English over, 51.

Fraud at a lottery, 291.

Freedom of Speech, 82.

Freedom of the Press, 82.

Freeman’s oath, The, 90-91.

French Ambassador, Departure of, 73.

———— Army crippled, 3.

———— Government, O’Connor in treaty with, 52.

———— more than doubted, 26.

———— Press, England libelled by, 65.

———— Prisoners break parole, 100.

———— ” fed at expense of English Government, 38.

———— ” Ingenuity of, 5.

———— ” Liberation of, 54.

———— ” Maintenance of, 49.

———— ” Number of, 5, 38, 417.

———— ” Offer to feed, by French Government, 38.

———— ” Proposed disposal of, 100.

———— ” Question of feeding, 37, 38.

———— ” Refusal of French Government to provide for, 4.

———— ” Some, confined for eight years, 38.

———— ” Stoppage of supplies to, by French Government, 38.

———— ” Sufferings of, 36.

———— Refugees, 101.

———— Refusal of, to supply clothes to compatriots, 36.

———— Republic, 2.

———— Revolution, 26.

———— Troops, Evacuation of Naples by, 50.

Friendly Societies, 459.

Frogmore fête, 156.

Fugitive criminals restored to respective powers, 50.

Funeral of Nelson, Prices given to view, 120.

Furniture, Style of, 234.

Fuseli, Henry, Artist, 371.

Galloway, Committal of, 37.

Galvanism and Electricity, 390, 391.

———— Cure of insane by, 391.

Galvanizing dead criminal, 391.

Gambling in the Royal circle, 286.

———— Universal, 285-287.

———— Vice of women, 285.

Game, Bags of, large, 311.

———— Quantity of, 311.

———— Scarcity of, 236.

———— Supply of, 236.

Gaol Fever, Woolwich Cadets ill with, 453.

Garrick, George, Certificate of identity of, 100.

Gas introduced by Murdoch, 204.

———— ” into London, 204.

———— lamps, First Street, 205.

———— ridiculed, 205.

General elections, 58, 133.

———— Fasts, 103, 107, 115, 126, 133, 146, 163.

Geological Society, 395.

George III. and Royal Family, 98.

———— and Walcheren Expedition, 161.

———— Attempt to assassinate, 9.

———— Cardinal York, a pensioner of, 134.

———— convalescent, 107.

———— Daily life of, 276, 277.

———— Expenses of household of, 47.

———— greatly in debt, 47.

———— Illness of, 179.

———— Jubilee of, 146-152.

———— Messages to House of Commons, 46, 66.

———— pardons deserters, 152.

———— Parliament opened by, 114.

———— Proclamation of peace by, 55.

———— Reference to Napoleon’s letter, 114.

———— Reconciliation between Prince of Wales and, 110.

———— Review of Volunteers by, 417.

———— Sanction of peace by, 39.

George III. seriously ill, 106.

———— W. H. W. Betty presented to, 330.

George III.’s Jubilee, Medal struck to commemorate, 146.

———— servants, petition for wages, 6.

———— sixty-third birthday, 12.

George Washington, Death of, 2.

Germany ravaged, 4.

Girls, Education of, 278-280.

Gold coinage, Smuggling of, 164.

———— High price of, 163.

———— Scarcity of, 16.

Government bill dishonoured, 60, 61.

———— formed by Pitt, 107.

———— Insolvency of, 61.

———— Lotteries, 290, 291.

———— vigilant and watchful, 109.

Grain, Consumption of, restricted, 29.

Grand Junction Canal, Opening of, 208.

Great Britain and Ireland, Union between, 6.

———— fall in wheat, 43.

———— fires in London, 211.

———— seal, Alteration of, 33.

Greatness of France, 113.

Gregory XIII., 30.

Grenville’s, Lord, letters to M. Otto, 26.

———— Reply to Napoleon, 3, 4.

Gretna Green Marriages, 280, 281.

Grouse shooting, 311.

Guildhall, Lotteries at, 291.

Guineas, Temptation to melt, 16.

Gun, Description of a, 309.

———— How to load a, 310.

Gymnastic exercises, 303.

Habeas Corpus Act, Suspension, 37, 102.

Hadfield, James, Acquitted, 12.

———— Biography of, 10.

———— Escape and capture of, 12.

———— Would-be assassin of George III., 9.

Hackney coaches, 187.

Hair-dresser’s Advertisement, 270, 272.

———— False, 268, 272.

———— powdering, 256, 257.

Handbills, Inflammatory, 26.

———— Patriotic, 89-93.

Hanging, 446-450.

Harvest, Bad, throughout Europe, 28.

———— Good and plentiful, 177.

Harvey’s Sauce, Advertisement of, 240.

Hatfield, Review at, 417.

Hats, Beaver, 259.

———— Tax on, 259.

Hatters, Caution to, 259.

Hawkesbury, Lord, Letter to Lord Mayor, 40.

Hawkesbury, Lord, Peace preliminaries signed by, 40.

Head-dresses, 268-272.

Hesitation to evacuate Malta, 64.

Highland Society of London, 367.

Highwaymen, 184.

Hoax on the Lord Mayor, 71.

Home, Privations at, 50.

Honourable Artillery Company, Uniform of, 417.

Hoppner, John, R.A., 372.

Horse Guards, New standard hoisted at, 32.

———— Riding, 193, 194.

Horses, Quality of, 193.

———— Taxes on, 36, 115.

Horticultural Society, The, 395.

Hospitals, Medical, 393.

Hostility of Austria and Prussia, 138.

Hotels, &c., 248, 249.

House of Lords, Robbery from, 440.

House-keeping, Cost of, 16.

Houses in London, Description of, 232.

———— in London, Number of, 232.

———— Pattern of the, 232.

“Hoys”, Margate, 196.

Hunters’ Museums, The, 384.

Hunting Breakfast, A, 306.

———— then and now, 305.

Hyde Park, Review in, accident at, 8.

Illness of George III., 106, 180, 181.

Illuminations, Jubilee, 156, 157.

———— Accident at, 58.

———— Peace, 40, 41, 43.

Impeachment of Lord Melville, 126, 127.

Improvements in Carriages, 188.

Improvements on old tinder-box, 208.

Incledon, vocalist, 265.

Income Tax on £200, 17.

———— ” Repeal of, 47.

Increase of stamp duty, 36.

India, Rice from, 241.

———— Wheat from, 28.

Inefficiency of Police, 24.

“Infant Roscius”, The, 324.

Inflammatory handbills, 26.

Insane, Cure of, by galvanism, 391.

Insolvency of Government, 61.

Insolvent Debtors’ Act, 453.

Insurance Companies, List of, 211.

Intellect, Retarding march of, 62.

Introduction of the Percussion Cap, 310.

Invasion expected on Kent and Sussex coasts, 99.

———— Possibility of, treated lightly, 92.

———— scare dying out, 109.

———— signals, 99.

———— squibs, 78-88.

———— Threatened, of England, 76, 96.

Invisible lady, The, 358.

Ireland, First Census of, 30.

———— Union with, 6, 32.

Ireland’s forgery of “Vortigern and Rowena”, 336.

Irish Rebellion, 101.

———— ” Execution of ringleaders of, 102.

“Jean de Bry” coats, 250.

Jersey, Horrible execution in, 449.

Jews, Jubilee celebrated by, 156.

Jockeys, Lady, 293, 294.

Jubilee Ball at Argyle Rooms, 178.

———— celebrated by Jews, 156.

———— George III.’s, 146-152.

———— illuminations, 156, 157.

———— Pamphlets on, 150, 151.

———— Poem on, 151.

———— Song, 150.

Julian Calendar, The, 30.

Junot’s Army, Defeat of, 142.

Kauffman, Angelica, Artist, 173.

Kennington, Demonstration at, 26, 27.

Kent Coast, Invasion expected on, 99.

Kilwarden, Lord, Murder of, 102.

King of Prussia’s rudeness, 69.

“King’s concerts”, 367.

———— servants petition for wages, 6.

Ladies’ costumes, Eccentricity of, 261.

———— out-door dress, 272.

Lady jockeys, 293, 294.

Lamps, Street, 203.

Large Bags of Game, 311.

Lawrence, Sir Thomas, Artist, 372.

Lauriston, General, Arrival of, 42.

————- ” Treatment of by mob, 42.

Law to prevent sale of new bread, 5.

Lead, Tax on, 36.

Legacies, Duty on, 115.

Letters, Postage of, 232.

———— Tax on, 115.

Leverean Museum, 38.

Liberation of French Prisoners, 54.

Liberty of English Press, 39.

License of the Press, 65.

Linnæan Society, 395.

List of celebrated Authors, 376.

———— of famous doctors, 386.

Living, Cost of, 16.

Livings, Clerical, 178.

Lloyd’s Coffee House a great power, 40.

Lloyd’s, Meeting at, 75.

Loaf, Quartern, Price of, 29.

Loans from Bank of England, 6, 139.

Locomotives, 395.

London Docks, Laying of first stone, 200.

———— Firemen, 212.

———— Great fires in, 211.

———— not beautiful, 232.

———— streets, Condition of, 201.

———— ” Description of, 214.

———— water supply, 212-214.

Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Murder of, 102.

———— Mayor Combe, Proclamation by, 23.

———— Mayor hoaxed, 71.

———— Mayor’s show, 44.

Lord’s Cricket ground, 318.

Loss of Trade, 50.

Lotteries, Government, 290, 291.

Lottery, Fraud at a, 291.

———— Last public, 292.

Louis XVIII., Arrival of brother of, 110.

Lunatics, Treatment of, 391-393.

Luxurious travelling, 186.

Lyceum Theatre, 357.

Lying in state of Nelson, 121, 122.

Machinery, Introduction of into cloth-working, 61.

Madhouses, Public, 391.

Mail Coaches, List of, 231.

———— ” Routes of, 231.

Malcontents, Political, lightly dealt with, 37.

Malta, Evacuation of, 50.

———— Hesitation of England to evacuate, 64.

Mara, Mdlle., Salary of, 365.

March of intellect, Retarding, 62.

Margate “Hoys”, 196.

Marriage of Prince of Wales, 47.

Marshalsea, Prison of the, 148, 456.

Martin, Mr., M.P., called to order, 35.

Mary-le-bone Cricket Club, 318.

Matrimonial Advertisements, 280.

Maunday Thursday, 148.

Meat, Forestalling in, 22.

———— Quantity consumed, 235.

Medical Hospitals, 393.

Meeting at Lloyd’s, 75.

Meetings held all over the country, 98.

———— met with vigorous repression, 28.

Melville, Lord, Impeachment of, 126, 127.

Middlesex Elections, 58-109.

Militia almost permanently embodied, 413.

———— reviewed at Hatfield, 417.

Milk, Prices of, 220.

Miller, Patrick, Esq., Offer of, 426.

Ministry jealous of England’s honour, 68.

Mobbing Quakers, 19.

Modified Postal arrangements, 37.

Montagu, Mrs., friend of “climbing boys”, 216.

Money, Difference in value of, 29.

———— Scarcity of, 105.

———— thrown to the mob, 42.

Moravian missionaries in Barbadoes, 108.

Morland, George, Death of, 373.

_Morning Post_ and _Times_, 380-382.

———— Number printed, 380.

———— Rise in price of, 380.

Mudie, Miss, Description of, 334.

———— ” Fate of, 336.

———— First appearance in London, 334.

———— Reception of, 335.

Mulgrave’s, Lord, Reply to Napoleon, 114.

Murder of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, 102.

———— of Lord Kilwarden, 102.

———— ” Rev. Richard Wolfe, 102.

Murdoch, Gas introduced by, 204.

Mutinies on board ship, 408-410.

Mutiny in Bantry Bay, 410.

———— on board _Hermione_, 408.

Names of race-horses, 293.

Naples, Evacuation of, by French Troops, 50.

Napoleon, Ambition of, 65.

———— at Boulogne, 96.

———— Caricature on, 72.

———— cordially hated, 39.

———— Coronation of, the Pope at, 377.

———— crowned King of Italy, 112.

———— distrusted, 3, 26, 68.

———— elected Emperor, 112.

———— English proposal accepted by, 39.

———— Fall of, 135.

———— Fox introduced to, 52.

———— Letters from, 2, 3, 112, 114.

———— Lord Mulgrave’s Reply to, 114, 115.

———— Plot to assassinate, 128, 129.

———— Treaty of Peace signed by, 49.

———— Unjust conduct of, 74.

———— unpleasant to deal with, 65.

Napoleon’s admiration for Fox, 53.

———— antecedents, 93.

———— ignorance of our laws, 65.

———— inspection of Calais, 96.

———— insult to Lord Whitworth, 69.

———— movements well known, 96.

———— power crippled in Portugal, 142.

———— threatened invasion, 82.

National Beverage, Beer the, 238.

———— Debt, Total of, 181.

Naval force completely equipped, 98.

Navy a rough school, 404.

———— 120,000 men voted for, 115.

———— Officers, Increase of pay of, 417.

———— State of, 402.

Needlework, Exhibition of, 357.

Negotiation See-saw, 39.

Negotiations at Tilsit, 136.

———— Peace, Failure of, 130.

Nelson, cost of funeral of, 126.

———— Death of, 118.

———— Departure in the _Victory_, 74.

Nelson, Funeral of, 120-124.

———— lying in state, 121.

Nelson’s Signal serves trade advertisements, 121.

New Bread, Sale of, forbidden, 5.

———— Coinage, 126.

———— Drop, the first used, 449.

———— Standard hoisted at Horse Guards, 32.

———— Standard hoisted at the Tower, 32.

Newspapers and Advertisements, 380.

———— Heavily taxed, 379.

Nice, Council of, 30.

Nile, Battle of the, 3.

Nollekens, Sculptor, 374.

Northcote, James, R.A., 371.

Notes, Increase of Duty on, 36.

Novels, Five-volume, 376.

Number of houses in London, 232.

———— of Theatres, 323.

Oath, The Freeman’s, 301.

Offer by Patrick Miller, 426.

———— of Messrs. Pickford & Co., 98.

Officers, Navy, Increase of pay of, 417.

Old Sarum, a rotten borough, 37.

———— tinder-box, description of, 208.

One quartern loaf a week, 28.

Open-air concerts, 361.

Opening of Parliament by George III., 114.

Opie, John, Artist, 371.

O. P. Riots, 146, 339-353.

Orange, Prince of, compensated, 50.

Otto, M., and his wife, guests of Lord Mayor, 44.

———— An unofficial agent, 26.

———— Commissary for exchange of prisoners, 38.

———— Peace preliminaries signed by, 40.

Otto’s, M., house illuminated, 58.

———— letter to French prisoners, 58.

Ouseley’s, Major, Library, 377.

Out-door dress, Ladies’, 272.

Ox roasted at Windsor, 154.

Paddington Canal, opening of, 200.

Painters, 370-373.

Pall Mall, First gas-lamps in, 205.

Paper, Tax on, 36.

———— making machine, 396.

Papyri, Deciphering, 377.

Paris Fashions, 265.

———— Fox’s visit to, 52.

———— to London, rapid journey, 194.

Parisot, Mdme., Famous ballet-dancer, 355.

Parliament, Message from George III. to, 6.

———— on price of provisions, 243.

———— Printers before, 165.

Parliamentary Impeachment, 126.

Parliaments opened by George III., 35, 152.

Parole Regulations, 100.

Partridge Shooting, 311.

Paste a substitute for bread, 44.

Patriotic Fund, The, 119, 425.

———— Fund, City subscribes to, 97.

———— Handbills, 89-93.

Paull and Burdett, Duel between, 133.

Peace, Conditions of, 49.

———— Definite treaty of, 48.

———— Negotiations, Failure of, 130.

———— Preliminaries signed, 40.

———— procession, 55-57.

———— ” in the City, 57.

———— Proclamation of, 56.

———— ” Reading of, 56-58.

Peace, Public thanksgiving for, 55, 58.

———— rejoicings, 41-43.

———— Treaties of, 39.

Peltier, Jean, Editor of _L’Ambigu_, 65.

———— Found guilty, 68.

———— Trial of, 65-68.

Penny post to be twopence, 37.

Pensions to late Ministers, 47.

People, Arming the, 98.

People of Fashion, Diversions of, 275, 276.

Pepper, Tax on, 36.

Pepusch, Dr. John Christopher, musician, 365.

Percussion Cap, Introduction of, 310.

Perkinean Institution, 390.

Perkins’s Metallic Tractors, 389.

Phantasmagoria at the Lyceum Theatre, 357.

Phenomenon, A theatrical, 324.

Philanthropic Societies, 460.

Physical education of women, 303.

Piano, Automaton, player on, 355.

Piazzi, Italian Astronomer, 35.

Pickford and Co., Offer of, 98.

“Pic-nic Club”, Entertainment by, 354.

———— Club, Supporters of the, 355.

Picture Galleries, Private, 369.

Pidcock’s Menagerie, Sale of, 357.

Pigeon Shooting, 310.

Pigott Diamond Bill, 7.

Pillory, Treatment of prisoners in, 440-443.

Pitt, Cost of funeral of, 125.

———— Death of, 125.

———— Government formed by, 107.

Pitt’s Budget, 36.

Plainness of food, 235.

Plot to assassinate George III., 62.

———— to assassinate Napoleon, 128.

Police authorities, 435.

———— Criminal, expense of, 459.

———— Inefficiency of, 24.

———— officers, List of, 457.

Political Caricatures, 65.

———— dissatisfaction, 37.

———— malcontents lightly dealt with, 37.

Poor’s Rates, 17.

Portugal, Fleet of, against England, 137.

Portugal, Napoleon’s power crippled in, 142.

Possibility of invasion treated lightly, 92.

Post Office, Chief, in Cloak Lane, 229.

Post Office, General, First stone laid, 230.

———— Office, Rules of, 230.

Postage of letters, 232.

Postal Arrangements, 37.

Postmen, Uniform of, 228.

Poultry, supply of, 236.

Prayer-book, Alteration of, 34.

Preliminaries of peace signed, 40.

Press, Freedom of the, 82.

———— French, England libelled by, 65.

———— Liberty of, 39.

———— License of the, 65.

———— Gang, man killed by a, 408.

———— Gangs, 406-408.

Price, High, of Gold, 163.

———— of Bread, 36, 44, 240.

———— of Corn, 29.

———— of Milk, 220.

Prices of Wheat, 21, 35, 43.

Primitive state of Manufactures, 396.

Prince of Orange compensated, 50.

———— of Wales, First stone of Covent Garden Theatre laid by, 337.

———— of Wales, Claim by, 47.

———— ” Regency of, 180.

———— ” Marriage of, 47.

Princess Amelia, death of, 179.

Printers before Parliament, 165.

Prints, Satirical, 65, 72.

Prisoners of war, Release of, 53.

———— Treatment of, in pillory, 440-443.

Prisons, list and descriptions of, 453-457.

Privations at home, 50.

Privy Council, Colonel Despard before, 63.

Prize-fight, death at a, 301.

Prize-fighting discountenanced, 302.

Prize-fights, Prince of Wales at, 301.

Proclamation of Peace, 56.

Proclamations of George III., 28, 32.

Progression, Rate of, 17.

Proposals accepted by Napoleon, 39.

Prosecutions, Antiquated, 22.

Provisions, Prices of, 45, 239-243.

Public Madhouses, 391.

———— Roads, State of, 182, 183.

———— thanksgiving for Peace, 55, 58.

———— whipping, 440.

Quakers mobbed, 19.

Quartern loaf, Price of, 29.

Queen of France, arrival of, 145.

Race-horses, names of, 293.

Raid on Conspirators, 63.

Raisins, Tax on, 36.

Ranelagh Gardens, Description of, 360.

Rapid journey from Paris to London, 194.

Rate of Progression, 17.

Rates, Poor’s, 17.

Reconciliation between George III. and Prince of Wales, 110.

Recruiting, Rough and ready method of, 97.

Rectification of Chronology, 30.

Refusal of Bank of England to take back Spanish dollars, 106.

Regency of Prince of Wales, 180.

Regulations, Volunteer, 419-424.

Reinagle, Artist, 372.

Release of debtors, 148.

———— ” prisoners of war, 53.

———— ” Sir F. Burdett, 174.

Relief of debtors by Common Council, 152.

Repeal of Income Tax, 47.

Re-stamping dollars, 163.

Retarding march of intellect, 62.

Retrenchment, 44.

Review at Hatfield, 417.

———— by Prince of Wales, 417.

———— in Hyde Park, 8.

———— of Volunteers, 12-15, 417.

Rice from India, 241.

Riot Act read by Lord Mayor, 20.

Riot after arrest of Sir F. Burdett, 172.

Riots, Corn, 19.

———— Food; Attempt to wreck a house, 24.

———— Food, Termination of, 26.

———— in Cotton districts, 142.

———— in Wiltshire, 61.

———— O. P., 146.

———— ” Caricatures on, 347-349.

———— ” Committee on, 350.

———— ” Compromise agreed on, 351.

———— O.P., Defence of Proprietors, 342, 343.

———— ” End of, 353.

———— ” Kemble’s appearance at, 345.

———— ” Kemble’s windows broken, 357.

———— ” Medals struck, 346.

———— ” Revived, 352.

———— ” Riot Act read at, 344.

Roads, Public, State of, 182, 183.

Robbery, Impudent, 439.

Roman Catholics, Act to relieve, 103.

Rotten Row, Horses in, 193.

Rough and ready method of Recruiting, 97.

Royal Academy of Art, 369.

———— Assent given to the Union, 7.

———— Circle, Gambling in the, 286.

———— Family and dress, 272.

———— ” caricatured, 24.

———— ” Courage conspicuous in, 96.

———— ” Daily life of the, 276, 277.

———— ” W. H. W. Betty presented to, 330.

———— Institution, The, 394.

———— Society, The, 394.

Rupture with France, 65.

Rusby, Trial of, 17.

Rusby’s house sacked, 21.

Rush of English over France, 51.

Russia, Emperor of, Strong proofs of wisdom of, 115.

Safety of George III. and Royal Family, 98.

Sailor, Typical, 403.

Sailors’ Food, 404.

Sailors, Full uniform of, 403.

St. Clement Danes Association, 25.

St. James’s, New Standard hoisted at, 32.

Salt Duty Bill, Fierce debate on, 116.

Scarcity of Bullion, 105.

———— ” Corn, 16, 28.

———— ” Fish, 235.

———— ” Food, 5, 16.

———— ” Game, 236.

———— ” Gold, 16.

Scheldt Expedition, 412.

———— ” select committee on, 162.

Scheme for payment of prisoners’ debts, 148, 149.

Scientific men of the time, 394, 395.

Scotland, First Census of, 30.

Sculptors, 374.

Seal, Great, Alteration of, 33.

Sedan Chairs, Rates of hire, 187.

Shakespeare Gallery Lottery, 375.

Shee, Sir Martin A., P.R.A., 372.

Sheep roasted at Windsor, 154-155.

Sheridan, Anecdote of, 338.

Ships, Number in commission, 405.

Shooting, A day’s, 308.

———— Pigeon, 310.

Shows, Agricultural, 247.

Sick and Hurt Office, 61.

“Silent Highway”, The, 195.

Sinews of War, The, 75.

Skittles, 304.

Slave Trade, Debates on Abolition, 108-127.

———— Trade prohibited, 132.

Smirke, Thos., R.A., 58, 372.

Smuggling Adventure, 444.

———— of Gold coinage, 164.

———— Wholesale, 445.

Societies, Philanthropic, 460.

Society of Antiquaries, The, 395.

———— ” Arts, 395.

Soldiers, Uniform of, 412.

Spain, War against, Debate on, 115.

———— War declared against, 115.

Spanish dollars called in, 106.

Speech, Freedom of, 82.

“Spinning-Jenny”, 62.

Sponging-houses, 457.

Sports, Country, 303.

Sportsmen, Cockney, 313-317.

Spy craze, 99.

Squibs, Invasion, 78-88.

Stage coaches, 184.

———— waggons, 185.

———— ” Speed of, 186.

Stamp duty, Increase of, 36.

Stamping Spanish dollars, 163.

Standard, New, hoisted at Horse Guards, 32.

———— New, hoisted at Tower, 32.

Steam, 395, 396.

Stock Exchange, Excitement on, 72.

———— Exchange _ruse_, 71.

Stocks, Fluctuation through false rumours, 39.

———— used for minor offences, 440.

Storace, _prima donna_, 365.

Stothard, Thos., R.A., 371.

Street cries, 219-227.

———— lamps, 203.

Streets, London, Description of, 214.

———— London, Superiority of, 236.

———— vendors, 219-226.

———— watering, 215.

Sugar, Beer made from, 16.

———— Tax on, 36.

Suicides, Burial of, 452.

Superiority of London Streets, 236.

Supply of Game, 236.

———— ” Poultry, 236.

Suspension of Habeas Corpus Act, 37, 102.

Sussex Coast, Invasion expected on, 99.

Tandem Club, The, 191.

Tattersall’s and Aldridge’s, 294.

Tax, Extra, on letters, 115.

———— ” ” salt, 115.

———— Income, on £200, 17.

———— ” Repeal of, 47.

———— on hats, 259.

———— ” horses, 36, 115.

———— ” lead, 36.

———— ” paper, 36.

———— ” pepper, 36.

———— ” raisins, 36.

———— ” sugar, 36.

———— ” tea, 36.

———— ” timber, 36.

Tea, Tax on, 36.

Thames, Appearance of, 199.

———— as a means of traffic, 195.

———— Bridges, 198.

———— dock accommodation needed, 199.

———— Early steamboat on, 200.

———— watermen, 195.

———— ” Fares of, 196.

Thanksgiving, Public, for peace, 55-58.

“The Horns”, Kennington, 26.

Theatres burnt, 337, 338.

———— Number of, 323.

Theatrical Phenomenon, A, 324.

Thornton, Colonel, Bet of, 312.

Threatened Invasion, 76, 96.

Three Mr. Wiggins’s, The, 356.

Tilsit, Negotiations at, 136.

Timber, Tax on, 36.

_Times_ and _Morning Post_, 380-382.

Tinder-box, Old, Description of, 208.

———— Old, Improvements on, 208.

“Tommy Onslow”, 191.

Tooke, Rev. J. H., partizan of Wilkes, 37.

Total of National Debt, 181.

Tower, New Standard hoisted at, 32.

Townsend, Bow Street runner, 345.

Trade, Loss of, 50.

———— with France, 45.

Trafalgar, Battle of, 118.

Trafalgar, Battle of, London illuminated in honour of, 118.

———— Thanksgiving for victory of, 119.

Traffic in slaves prohibited, 132.

———— Thames as a means of, 195.

Transport defective, 98, 109.

Travelling, Luxurious, 186.

———— Old and new styles compared, 183.

Treason, Execution for, 452.

Treaties of Peace, 39.

Treaty of Amiens, 50, 53.

———— with United States, 138.

Trinidad, Island of, 49.

Turf purer than now, 292.

Turner, Joseph Mallord Wm., 371.

Tyburn, Last person hanged at, 447.

“Tyburn Tickets”, 446.

Union between Great Britain and Ireland carried in Irish House of Lords, 6.

———— Debate on the, 7.

———— Royal assent given to, 7.

“United Britons”, The, 37.

United States, Treaty with, 138.

Unlawful to sell new bread, 5.

Vaccination, 387.

———— Pamphlets, 387.

Valse, The, 367.

Value of money, Difference in, 29.

Variation in price of bread, 26, 36, 44, 240.

Vauxhall Gardens, 358, 359.

Vegetables, Supply of, 239.

Vendors, Street, 219-226.

Venison an epicurean dish, 237.

Vernal Equinox, 30.

Victories gained against fearful odds, 81.

_Victory_, Departure of Nelson in, 74.

Vimiera, Battle of, 142.

Visitors, Detention of, in France, 74.

Volunteer movement, 12, 417.

———— regulations, 419-424.

Volunteer reviews, 12-15, 417.

Volunteers, Arms of, 424.

———— Dinner to, 417.

———— in plenty, 97.

———— Pay of, 421.

———— serve as police, 419.

“Vortigern and Rowena”, Forgery of, 336.

Vyner, Sir Robert, Anecdote of, 229.

Wages, George III.’s servants petition for, 6.

Waggons, Stage, 185.

———— ” Speed of, 186.

Wales, Prince of, Claim by, 47.

———— First stone of Covent Garden Theatre laid by, 337.

———— Marriage of, 47.

———— Regency of, 180.

———— Review by, 417.

Walcheren Expedition, Account of, 159, 160.

———— Citizens of London and, 161.

———— End of, 157.

———— George III. and, 161.

Walter, Mr., Proprietor of the _Times_, 400.

War, Attempts to stop the, 128.

———— declared against Spain, 115.

———— France and Austria at, 116.

———— in Egypt, 2.

———— song, 81.

———— with France, Declaration of, 74.

Washington, George, Death of, 2.

Watch-house, The, 437.

Watchmen, Old London, 435.

———— Practical jokes on, 438.

Water Colours, Associated artists in, 375.

Water Colours, Exhibition of paintings in, 375.

———— supply, London, 212, 214.

Watering streets, 215.

Wedding-ring, Story of a, 281.

Weights of carriages, 188.

West, Benj., P.R.A., 370.

West India Docks Bill passed, 199.

Westell, Artist, 372.

Westmacott, Sir Richard, R.A., 474.

Wheat, Importation of, 28.

———— Prices of, 21, 35, 43.

Whip Club, Description of the, 189-191.

Whipping, Public, 440.

Whitworth, Lord, and his recall, 76.

———— Despatches from, 69-73.

———— insulted by Napoleon, 69.

———— Return of, 73.

Wife-selling, 282, 283.

Wilkes, Rev. J. H. Tooke a partizan, 37.

Wiltshire, Riots in, 61.

Windsor, Bull baited at, 156.

———— Fête at, 154-156.

———— Ox and sheep roasted at, 155.

Wines, Prices of, 239.

Wolfe, Rev. Richard, Murder of, 102.

“Women to let”, 284.

Workhouses, Parochial, 459.

York, Cardinal, A Pensioner of George III., 134.

———— Death of, 134.

———— Duke of, Exculpation of, 430.

———— Resignation of, 432.

York’s, Duke of, letter to Speaker, 431.

UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Morning Post_, Jan. 7, 1800.

[2] _Annual Register_, Jan. 25, 1800.

[3] “Parliamentary History,” vol. xxxv. pp. 25, 26

[4] By Colley Cibber.

[5] By James Cobb.

[6] Silver medals in commemoration of the King’s escape were struck by order of Sheridan. The Obverse represents Providence protecting the King from the attempt upon his life, figuratively displayed by a shield and shivered arrows, portraying the Sovereign’s safety; and encircled are the words “GOD SAVE THE KING.” On the Reverse is the British Crown in the centre of a wreath of laurel, the radiant beams of glory spreading their influence over it, with the words, “_Preserved from Assassination, May 15, 1800_;” and on the knot of the wreath, “_Give God Praise_.” Hadfield died in Bedlam.

[7] The barrels and locks of the muskets of that date were bright and burnished. Browning the gun-barrels for the army was not introduced till 1808.

[8] _Annual Register_, vol. xlii. p. 94.

[9] A comb is four bushels, or half a quarter.

[10] G. Fr. Kolb, “The Condition of Nations,” &c.

[11] W. Toone, “The Chronological Historian.”—[When the Julian Calendar was introduced, the Vernal Equinox fell on the 25th of March. At the time of the Council of Nice, A.D. 325, it had retrograded to the 21st of March; and when the reformation was made in 1582, to the 11th of March. Pope Gregory XIII., to restore it to its place, directed ten days to be suppressed in the calendar; and as the use of the Julian intercalation was found to be three days in 400 years, he ordered the intercalation to be omitted in all the centenary years except those which were multiples of 400. According to Gregorian rule, therefore, every year of which the number is divisible by four, without a remainder, is a leap year, excepting the centenary years, which are only leap years when divisible by four, on suppressing the units and tens. Thus—

16(00) is a leap year. 17(00), 18(00), 19(00), are not leap years. 20(00) is a leap year.

The shifting of days caused great disturbance in festivals dependent on Easter. Pope Gregory, in 1582, ordered the 5th of October to be called 15th of October; the Low Countries made 15th of December 25th of December. Spain, Portugal, and part of Italy, accepted the Gregorian change, but the Protestant countries and communities resisted up to 1700. In England the ten days’ difference had increased to eleven days, and the Act of 24 Geo. II. was passed to equalize the style in Great Britain and Ireland to the method now in use in all Christian countries, except Russia. In England, Wednesday, September 2, 1752, was followed by Thursday the 14th of September, and the New Style date of Easter-day came into use in 1753.—_Note by John Westby Gibson, Esq., LL.D._]

[12] The Great Seal in use in 1800, was the fifth made during the reign of George III. Its Obverse was the King, in Roman costume, with flying mantle, on horseback, facing left hand. In his right hand he holds a marshal’s baton. Legend—both Obv. and Rev. “Georgius III. D.G. BRIT. FR. REX. F.D. BRVNS. ET. LVN. DVX. S.R.I.A.T. ET. PR. ELECT. ETC.” The Reverse has the King royally robed and crowned, seated on a throne, on the back of which is emblazoned the Royal arms. He holds the sceptre in his right, the orb in his left hand. He is surrounded by allegorical figures. On his right (heraldically) stand Hercules, typical of Power, Minerva, of Wisdom, and Justice with sword and scales; on his left are Britannia with spear, shield, and palm branch, and a female, figurative of piety, carrying the model of a church. The Seal of 1801 is identical, except that BRITANNIANUM is substituted for BRIT., and FR. is left out. Also in the Royal arms on the throne, the French _fleur de lys_ is omitted, and the harp of Ireland is introduced. It is worthy of note, that the medallist has omitted the Cross of St. Patrick in Britannia’s shield, although proclaimed.

[13] There is verily “nothing new under the sun.” On January 22nd, the first Parliament of the United Kingdom met. Addington was chosen Speaker, and members were sworn in. On the 2nd of February the King opened the Session with a speech, and on the very next day, 3rd of February, _an Irish member was twice called to order by the Speaker_. He was a Mr. Martin of Galway, a gentleman who afterwards complained of his speech being reported in italics, and plaintively asked, “Mr. Speaker, did I speak in italics?”

[14] Signed by the Marquis Cornwallis for England, Joseph Bonaparte for France, Azara for Spain, and Schimmelpenninck for Holland.

[15] “Memoirs of the Later Years of the Right Hon. Charles James Fox.” By John Bernard Trotter, Esq., late private secretary to Mr. Fox. London. 1811.

[16] “Parliamentary History,” vol. xxxvi. p. 346, &c.

806. k. 1. [17] Notably the following, —————————— Squibs on Bonaparte’s 1——154 threatened Invasion; 1890 e. Miss Banks’ Collection, Threatened Invasion; and 554 f. 25 Squibs on the Threatened French Invasion.

[18] On the site of which The Grand Hotel, Charing Cross, now stands.

[19] In two advertisements only of voluntary offers of horses and carriages, in August, we find they amount to 2,370 horses and 510 carriages.

[20] _Morning Herald_, February 18, 1804.

[21] Pitt says, as he looks from the Salt-box, “How do you do, cookey?” She exclaims, “Curse the fellow, how he has frightened me. I think in my heart he is getting in everywhere! Who the deuce would have thought of finding him in the Salt-box!!!”

[22] September 11, 1805.

[23] _Morning Post_, January 8, 1806.

[24] _Morning Post_, January 3, 1806.

[25] _Morning Post_, January 26, 1806

[26] Ibid., January 21, 1806.

[27] _Annual Register_, vol. xlviii. p. 916.

[28] “Parliamentary Debates,” vol. x.

[29] Napoleon met the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia at Tilsit. His historical meeting with the former took place on the 25th of June, 1807, on a barge, or raft, sumptuously appointed, moored in the middle of the river Niemen.

[30] The King of Portugal, and his family, fled to the Brazils, protected by a British squadron, November 29, 1807.

[31] “A General History of England from the Landing of Julius Cæsar to the Revolution of 1688,” by William Guthrie, London, 1744 1751, vol. ii. p. 213.

[32] The Bachelors had provided about twenty bushels of plum pudding.

[33] This version is taken from “The Life of the Right Hon. George Canning,” by Robert Bell, London, 1846. The first line, however, is generally rendered, “The Earl of Chatham, with his sword drawn.”

[34] The number of dollars issued by the Bank of England to February 8, 1810, inclusive, was:

Dollars stamped in 1797 and issued 2,325,099 ” ” 1804 ” 1,419,484 ” ” 1809 and 1810 ” 1,073,051 ————- Total 4,817,634

[35] The account of Sir F. Burdett’s arrest, &c., is mainly taken from the _Annual Register_, vol. lii.

[36] A number of persons on horseback, who met at Moorfields.

[37] “A View of London; or, The Stranger’s Guide, 1803-4.”

[38] “The Picture of London for 1802.”

[39] The generic name for coachman.

[40] _Morning Post_, June 9, 1808.

[41] _Annual Register_, vol. lix. p. 883.

[42] Sculls, as being lighter, were always cheaper than the heavy oars.

[43] _Par parenthèse._ This Mr. Waddington, whilst in the King’s Bench Prison, gave away a ton of potatoes a day, about Christmas time. They were first of all sold at one halfpenny a pound, and the produce in money was put in the poor’s box, for the benefit of the poor prisoners.

[44] Owing to the war, it was found safer for many merchant vessels to sail in company, and these fleets usually had two or three men-of-war in attendance to act as guards, and to protect them; they were called “the Convoy.”

[45] This probably was the shop of _Owen and Bradley_ whose names first appear in the _London Directory_ of 1812, as fruiterers, 77, New Bond Street.—J.A.

[46] “The grand Dramatic Romance of Blue Beard; or, Female Curiosity.” The Words by George Colman the younger—the Music composed and selected by M. K. (Michael Kelly). London, 1798.

[47] This word has two meanings, which are here played upon. One is _spirit_ or _pluck_; the other is the name indifferently for match splints, or dry, rotten wood.

[48] “Slight Reminiscences of a Septuagenarian,” by Emma Sophia, Countess of Brownlow, p. 2. London, 1867.

[49] _Sic in orig._

[50] “Old Times.” London: Nimmo, 1885.

[51] From the _Globe_, January 26, 1885:

“WEST END GAMBLING HOUSES.

“TO THE EDITOR OF THE GLOBE.

SIR,—Can it be true—as rumour has it—that in an old-established gambling club, not 100 miles from St. James’s Street, enormous sums are nightly staked, and that fortunes rapidly change hands? I hear that three men sat down a few nights ago to play écarté in this said club, and that one of their number was at a certain period of the evening a loser of the enormous sum of £100,000. That when this very impossible figure was reduced to limits within which the winners considered the loser could pay, play ceased and the party broke up. The next day—so runs the story—one of the winners called with bills to the amount of £26,000, drawn on stamped paper, for the loser to accept. This gentleman, however, though he freely admits having played, states that, having dined not wisely but too well, he has no sort of recollection of losing any specific sum, but merely a hazy idea that fabulously large amounts were recklessly staked all round, and no accounts kept. In other words, he repudiates, and finally, after a lengthened discussion, has consented to place himself in the hands of a friend to decide what he is to pay. If this is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, I can only stigmatize the whole affair as a public scandal, and the police should promptly interfere and shut up a club where such disgraceful things occur. When Jenks’s baccarat ‘hell’ was closed, and Mr. J. Campbell Wilkinson and his six associates were each fined £500 (hence the very excellent _bon mot_ which appeared in the _Sporting Times_ that ‘Jenks’ babies’ had become ‘Jenks’ monkeys’), the public were justified in believing that, at last, there was not to be one law for the rich and another for the poor, and that in future men who broke the law by gambling for thousands, would have the same justice meted out to them as those who did so by tossing for coppers. However, it appears such hopes were premature, and before this happy state of things is arrived at, further attention must be drawn to the matter, hence this letter, for which I sincerely trust you will be able to find space.—I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

“A HATER OF PROFESSIONAL GAMBLERS.

“January 24th.”

[52] In May, 1775, a Bluecoat boy confessed that he had been tampered with, and had concealed a ticket, which was afterwards drawn. A man was arrested as the accomplice, but was discharged; but the Lottery Committee, in order to prevent a similar fraud, moved the following resolution (December 12, 1775), which was afterwards always adhered to: “That it be requested of the _Treasurer of Christ’s Hospital_, not to make known who are the twelve boys nominated for drawing the lottery till the morning the drawing begins; which said boys are all to attend every day, and the two who are to go on duty at the wheels, are to be taken promiscuously from amongst the whole number, by either of the Secretaries, without observing any regular course, or order; so that no boy shall know when it will be his turn to go to either wheel.”

[53] “Parliamentary History,” vol. xxxvi.

[54] There is a story told of a Lord Mayor in times long past, who went a-hunting in Epping Forest. Some one riding past him saluted him with, “My Lord! the Hare comes this way.” His lordship bravely drew his trusty sword, and, flourishing it, exclaimed, “Let him come! let him come! I thank my God, I fear him not.”

[55] Joseph Manton was at that time _the_ great gun maker.

[56] “The Confessions of William Henry Ireland, containing the Particulars of his Fabrication of the Shakespeare Manuscripts.” London, 1805.

[57] “Talk of the Town,” by James Payn.

[58] A famous _Bow Street Runner_, and one in great favour with, and attendance on, Royalty.

[59] _John_ Kemble.

[60] Townsend—a very good likeness.

[61] Supposed to be Madame Catalani’s husband. She died at Paris, of cholera, 12th of June, 1849.

[62] He was afterwards reinstated.

[63] Used also for the concerts of Ancient Music.

[64] This marks, as much as anything, the manners of the times. Fancy the _upper ten_, nowadays, ordering their supper from a tavern!

[65] The famous ballet-dancer of that time.

[66] Otherwise Willis’s Rooms.

[67] This Collection was sold in March, 1810—_vide_ _Morning Post_, March 22, 1810: “The sale at Pidcock’s, Exeter ’Change, has been well attended. The skeleton of the famous elephant was put up at 20 guineas, and knocked down at 55. The skeleton of the spermaceti whale, sixty-six feet long, which formerly appeared in Rackstraw’s Museum, sold for nine guineas. Many scarce and beautiful birds sold at low prices, and the whole collection, consisting of 205 lots, produced about £140.”

[68] Afterwards known as “The Rotunda.”

[69] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society—the “guinea stamp” of a scientific man, _at the age of_ 21.

[70] See “A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanic Arts” by Dr. Thomas Young. 2 vols. 1807.

[71] Thirty-six bushels, similar to the sealed measure kept at the Guildhall, heaped up; average weight, 28½ cwt. The Newcastle chaldron weighed 53 cwt.

[72] That part of the Thames from the east side of London Bridge is called “The Pool.”

[73] Edited by his daughter, Lady Bourchier. London, 1872.

[74] Lord St. Vincent had a lawsuit which was decided in March, 1801, for an eighth share of two Spanish ships captured in 1799. Its value was £9,674, and he won his case.

[75] So called from the brown barrel. At one time all gun barrels were not only bright, but burnished—the date of the abolition of which, is fixed by the following—_Morning Post_, October 3, 1808: “The system of cropping the hair of the soldiers is on the point of being followed up by the adoption of a plan which will, no doubt, give equal satisfaction to the whole army: we mean the abolition of that absurd practice of polishing the arms, which, in some regiments, has been carried to such an excess as materially to injure the piece, and render it totally unfit for use in half the time estimated for fair wear in usual service. Fire-locks upon a new principle, with brown locks and barrels, have been already issued to the light companies of several regiments, and the Board of Ordnance have received orders to complete the issue to the remainder of the army, with all the expedition possible; in consequence of which, a requisition has been made of the gunsmiths in the several regiments to repair, without loss of time, to the Royal Manufactory of Arms at Lewisham.”

[76] Dalswinton is in county Dumfries, and the estate was about 5,000 acres, formerly belonging to the Comyns, but it came into the possession of Patrick Miller, Esq., who built a fine mansion on the site of the old castle. He was a man well up to his time, for here, in 1788, he launched, on a lake, the first steamboat ever attempted.

[77] Mrs. Clarke is saying:

“Ye Captains and ye Colonels, ye parsons wanting place, Advice I’ll give you gratis, and think upon your case, If there’s any possibility, for you I’ll raise the dust, But then you must excuse me, if I serve myself the first.”

[78] Commonly known as Colonel Wardell, or Wardle. His real military rank was Major, in which capacity he served in Sir W. W. Wynne’s regiment during the rebellion in Ireland.

[79] The italics are mine.—J. A.

[80] The _Times_, February 22, 1805.

[81] These days amounted to 80 or 90 in the year.