Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century; Vol. 1 (of 2)

Chapter VII: Preface (7)

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"I am sorry to inform you, Gentlemen, that it appears from our Calendar, that there are a number of persons in confinement charged with felonies of different degrees, but it is a melancholy truth; probably some of these unfortunate fellow-creatures may suffer ignominious punishments; but, as prevention is far superior to punishment, permit me to call forth to your attention some of those public offences which first corrupt, and then precipitate the unwary to infamy and destruction. I mean the keeping of gaming-houses, disorderly houses, bawdy-houses, for it is these seminaries of vice, these polluted fountains, that first poison the moral spring of our youth, and consequently make footpads, highwaymen, and housebreakers, of those who might otherwise have been useful, nay, perhaps honourable members of society; and although I am convinced it is in the power of many of the inhabitants of this City and Liberty to remove, by prosecution, some of these nuisances; yet I am aware that they are deterred from it by the hateful idea indiscriminately annexed to the name of an informer; and thus, gentlemen, the parties injured, by a criminal cowardice, neglect their duty to the publick, whilst the ignorant and abandoned slanderer unjustly reviles the Magistrate for the continuation of these evils; but, if public spirit should produce any prosecutors of the keepers of such houses, I hope you will do your utmost to bring such miscreants to condign punishment, that the publick may have a fair opportunity of judging in what a detestable light the Magistrates of this Bench consider such offenders and offences. Let the inhabitants but complain, and if the Justice neglect his duty, may contempt and confusion overtake him! But till then, place confidence, and pay respect to that authority where confidence and respect are due.

"And now, gentlemen, give me leave to take notice of one public offence, so alarming in its nature, and so mischievous in its effects, that, like a pestilence, it does not only stand in need of your immediate assistance, but that of all good men, to stop its corroding progress; I mean the exposing to sale, and selling such indecent and obscene prints and books as are sufficient to put impudence itself to the blush. Surely, gentlemen, Providence has placed too strong propensions in our nature to stand in need of such inflammatory aids as these; on the contrary, in this particular, we rather require restraints than encouragements; but, if at that period of life when our children and apprentices stand in need of a parent to advise, a master to restrain, or a friend to admonish and check the first impulse of passion, pictures like these are held forth to meet their early feelings, what but destruction must be the event? Indeed, by care, you may prevent youth in some degree from frequenting bad company; you may accustom them to good habits, afford them examples worthy imitation, and by shutting your doors early, may oblige them to keep good hours; but, alas! what doors, what bolts, what bars, can be any security to their innocence, whilst Vice in this deluding form counteracts all caution, and bids defiance to the force of precept, prudence, and example, by affording such foul but palatable hints as are destructive to modesty, sobriety, and obedience? But, what is still more shocking, I am informed that women, nay mothers of families, to the disgrace of their sex, are the cruel dispensers of this high-seasoned mischief; but, if duty or humanity should spirit up any one to prosecute such offenders, I conjure you as fathers, masters, and subjects, to afford them the best assistance in your power, to put a stop to this shameful and abominable practice.

"I am very sensible that I have already trespassed much on your time, but cannot take my leave without acquainting you that our Courts of Judicature of late have abounded with prosecutions for wilful and corrupt perjury--dreadful offence! But, as oaths are the foundation of all our judicial proceedings, and the negligent administration of these oaths is one great cause of perjury, I do earnestly recommend it to you, Mr. Foreman, not to permit any witness to give his testimony without reminding him that he is about to speak under the sacred influence of an oath, and that he has called the great God himself to witness that he is speaking truth."

An Act, passed in 1774, has operated through the following clause, in suppressing some of the enormities which lead to the crimes Sir John deprecated. "That every watchman, as well patroles as others, and every beadle, shall, during his respective time of watching, to the utmost of his power endeavour to prevent as well all mischiefs happening by fire, as all murders, burglaries, robberies, affrays, and other outrages and disorders; _and to that end_, during the time of watching, each and every of them shall and may, and are hereby authorised and impowered to arrest and apprehend _all night-walkers_, malefactors, rogues, vagabonds, and other loose, idle, and disorderly persons, and all persons lying or loitering in any street, square, court, mews, lane, alley, or elsewhere; to apprehend and bring them as soon as convenient before the constable of the night. And if any person or persons shall assault or resist any watchman in the execution of his office, they shall pay any sum not exceeding five pounds."

The publication of obscene prints and books (though so justly reprobated by Sir John Fielding) had proceeded with very little interruption, almost through the space of time which elapsed between his charge and the termination of the century. A few prosecutions were instituted, but nothing systematic in opposition took place, till the Society for the Suppression of Vice attacked the enemies of virtue and decency with vigour, and obtained almost a complete victory. For this essential service rendered to the community they deserve every praise; and, however the publick may be divided in opinion as to their methods of proceeding, and the propriety of some of their operations, all will agree that vending obscene books and prints, riotous and disorderly houses, lotteries, and little-goes, and cruelty to animals, ought to be finally prevented. I shall close this article with a summary of their convictions during the first year of their establishment, ending in April 1803.

_Profanation of the Sabbath._

_Vending Obscene Books and Prints._

* _N.B._ This man, in connection with many others, went
about the City selling obscene books and prints, at
boarding-schools of both sexes.

_Riotous and Disorderly Houses_, &c.

Lotteries and Little Goes._

_Cruelty to Animals._

_Total Convictions._

Profanation of the Sabbath 440
Vending Obscene Books and Prints 7
Riotous and Disorderly Houses, &c. 11
Lotteries and Little Goes 26
Cruelty to Animals 3
---
487

Mr. Carlton, Deputy Clerk of the Peace, and Clerk to the Justices for Westminster, stated to a Committee of the House of Commons in 1782, that E-O tables were very numerous; that one house in the parish of St. Anne, Soho, contained five, and that there were more than 300 in the above parish and St. James's; those were used every day of the week, and servants enticed to them by cards of direction thrown down the areas.

I have hitherto noticed those general circumstances of depravity, which ever have and ever will prevail in a greater or less degree in every Metropolis; and shall conclude the black list with mentioning the _monster_, who terrified the females of London in 1790, by cutting at their clothes with a sharp instrument, and frequently injuring their persons. Renwick Williams was at length apprehended, tried, and convicted, for cutting the garments and person of Miss Anne Porter; and the horrid acts were never repeated.

QUACKS--1700.

The man who, without experience or education, undertakes to compound drugs, and, when compounded, to administer them as remedies for diseases of the human body, may justly be pronounced a dishonest adventurer, and an enemy to life and the fair proportions of his fellow-citizens. Quackery is an antient profession in London. Henry VIII. despised them, and endeavoured to suppress their nostrums by establishing Censors in Physick; but I do not profess to meddle with them before 1700.

"At the Angel and Crown, in Basing-lane, near Bow-lane, lives J. Pechey, a Graduate in the University of Oxford, and of many years standing in the College of Physicians, London; where all sick people that come to him may have, _for sixpence_, a faithful account of their diseases, and plain directions for diet and other things they can prepare themselves; and such as have occasion for medicines may have them of him at reasonable rates, without paying any thing for advice; and he will visit any sick person in London or the Liberties thereof, in the day-time, for 2_s._ 6_d._ and any where else within the Bills of Mortality for 5_s._; and if he be called by any person as he passes by in any of these places, he will require but 1_s._ for his advice."

The ridiculous falsehoods of Quacks have long been detested by the sensible part of the Community; but every thing that has been said and written against them avails nothing: thousands of silly people are yet duped, nay, are bigoted in their belief of the efficacy of nostrums. Be it my task to shew the reader a few of the contrivances and schemes of a Century, and to bring before him _genuine_ effusions of impudence which have daily insulted and deceived the inhabitants of London.

"April 12, 1700.

A satisfactory experiment for the curious.

"If you please to pour one part of _Sal volatile oleosum_, or any other oily salts into a narrow-bottomed wine-glass, and near the like quantity of Stringer's Elixir, _febrifugium martis_, there will be a pleasant conflict: the elixir will immediately make a preparation of and precipitate those oily volatile salts into a fixed armoniac salt in the bottom, and receive the spirituous aromatic oily parts into itself, and yet retain its own virtues, colour, and taste. There is no other true and genuine elixir but Mr. Stringer's that is exposed to sale; for those called _Elixir proprietatu_ and _Elixir salutis_, &c. are mere tinctures drawn by brandy or nasty spirits; but this is a perfect elixir or quintessence, whose perfect principles of spirits, oil, and salt, are so inseparably united, that it can neither decay, putrefy, nor die, _no more than the glass that contains it_; and is so far from being a harsh corrosive, that it feels like oil, yet dries like a spirit, cleanses the skin like soap, and not only allays all putrefactive ferments in a moment, _but immediately cures the most malignant fevers_, takes away all _sorts of corns and hardness_ in the skin, and makes the roughest hands smooth and white, only by anointing with it morning and night for a month together: which medicine with his other called Salt of Lemons, _in despite of all opposers_, will approve themselves nearest of affinity to an _universal medicine_."

In this admirable medicine the Londoner of 1700 had an internal and an external application, and materials to cleanse and soften the hands, which would at the same time enable him to walk the streets in comfort and ease, in defiance of corns and _horny_ excrescences. Happy Londoners! possessing such men as Dr. Pechey and Mr. Stringer, aided by Dr. Case, whose _unguentum panchrestum_, prepared by the _Spagyrick art_, might justly be called the _Golden Mine_. This wonderful preparation cured by its _sympathetical_ powers; in short, the Doctor found "it more infallible than the _Zenexton_ of _Paracelsus_." This great Doctor was the means of informing us that Quacks were then in the habit of employing persons to thrust bills into the hands of passengers in the streets. For example: "Your old friend, Dr. Case, desires you not to forget him, although he has left the _common way of bills_."

A _brother Quack_ this year issued the following notice: "John Poley, at Broken-wharf, over-against the Water-mill in Thames-street, next door to the Bell, will undertake to cure any smokey chimneys. _No cure, no money._"

I very much doubt whether even the lowest class of ignorants would be deceived at present by the ensuing impudent falsehood. "Whereas it has been industriously reported, that _Doctor_ Herwig, who _cures madness_ and most distempers by _sympathy_, has left England, and returned to Germany: This is to give notice, that he lives at the same place, _viz._ at Mr. Gagelman's, in Suffolk-street, Charing-cross, about the middle of the street, _over-against_ the _green_ balcony."

The reader will undoubtedly admire the modesty of Mr. Bartlett, who, in 1704, advertised, "Bartlett's inventions of Steel Trusses, Instruments, Medicines, and methods to cure Ruptures and other faults of those parts, and to make the weak strong, and crooked strait, most of which I could help with the twentieth part of the trouble and charge occasioned only by delay. I reduce desperate ruptures in a few minutes, though likely to be mortal in a few hours, and have made the only true discovery of cause and cure. Infants and others born so, and to men of fifty or sixty years, in a few weeks cured. I sell strait stockings, collars, and swings, and such like things. Advice and medicines to the poor _gratis_."

Of all the inventions for the amendment and recovery of the human frame from disease _and death_, none equals the Dutch stiptick, _seriously_ mentioned in the Supplement, printed by John Morphew, April 27, 1709; but which I suspect proceeded from the waggish pen of Mr. Bickerstaff, or some other wit, who sent their effusions to the publisher of the Tatler. "There is prepared by a person of quality in Holland a stiptick water; for the receipt of which, exclusive of all others, the French King has offered 150,000 pistoles; but the proprietor refused to take the same. It was tried upon a Hen, before his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, on board the Peregrine galley. The feathers being all plucked from her head, a large nail was drove through her brains, gullet, tongue, &c. and fastened her head to a table, where it was left near a minute; after which, drawing out the nail and touching the part immediately with the aforesaid stiptick, she was laid upon the deck, and in half an hour's time recovered, and began to eat bread. Several as extraordinary experiments have been made upon dogs, cats, calves, lambs, and other animals, by cutting their guts in several places, the nut of the thigh, and other parts; and it is affirmed, that this stiptick cures any part of the body, except the heart or bladder."

John Marten, with his "Attila of the Gout," and specifick, seemed determined in 1712, to expel that disorder from every human body in the Kingdom. Those who in 1807 read his advertisement, and are not thenceforward converts, must be stubborn unbelievers indeed. "I should be wanting (saith Mr. Marten) as well to the publick as myself, did I not reveal the _stupendious_ effects of my specifick in the gout, which daily experience more and more confirms. And whatever mean opinion any who are strangers to its excellency may entertain of it, either through unbelief, or being prejudiced by those whose interest it is to explode it; let them remember, _I tell_ them (as will many reputable people I will refer them to who have tried it), that if they ever expect certain and speedy relief, without the least detriment to their healths, they _must_ have it. I say they _must_, because the surprising benefit all receive by it indicates that nothing else _can_ more intimately dilute, and friendly and instantly obtrude and subdue by its soft balmy alterative nature, the acrimony of the humours that distend and torture the joints, and gently lead them away by urine, the only sensible operation it has. And as it is a medicine that will make its own way, it cannot but come (by degrees) to be as universally used and approved of in that distemper, as the Jesuits' bark is for agues, if not more; for none that shall drink it in time will ever be confined a day with the gout, nor others continue in pain an hour after drinking it, though they have lain for weeks together upon the _wreck_. Any may be further satisfied, and have all objections answered, _by word of mouth_, or by consulting the book I lately published, intituled, "The Attila of the Gout," being a peculiar account of that distemper, in which _the vanity of all_ that has hitherto been writ and practised to remove it, and an infallible method to cure it, are demonstrated; with ample testimonies of patients cured by John Marten, Surgeon, in Hatton-garden."

I have before observed, that every profession has its Quacks, or persons who deviate from established rules. Such was the _Quack writer_ who inserted the ensuing advertisement in the Evening Post of January 22, 1717. "Whereas a certain pretender to Penmanship has, in an ill_e_terate manner, _fell_ upon my late performance, let him know _I look down upon him_, yet thus give him his answer: if I did keep monsters for my diversion, that does not affect me in my art; and it is well known that I have not now a deformed creature in my house, which is more than he can say _while he is within doors_. I pass by the unworthy reflections on my N and O, which I could return upon his R and T; but his own ink will blacken him enough, while it appears in his own irregular scrawls.

While Cross of Paul's shines in the middle sky,
_Thy_ name shall _stink_, but _mine_ shall never die."

The above elegant production has a parallel in the following modest notice of August 1717. "This is to give notice, that Dr. Benjamin Thornhill, sworn servant to his Majesty King George, _seventh son_ of _the seventh son_, who has kept a stage in the Rounds of West-Smithfield for several months past, will continue to be advised with every day in the week, from eight in the morning till eight at night, at his lodgings at the Swan Tavern, in West-Smithfield, till Michaelmas, for the good of all people that lie languishing under distempers, he knowing that _Talenta in agro non est abscondita_, that a talent ought not to be hid in the Earth; therefore he exposes himself in public for the good of the poor. The many cures he had performed has given the world great satisfaction, having cured 1500 people of the King's evil, and several hundreds that have been blind, lame, deaf, and diseased. God Almighty having been pleased to bestow upon him so great a talent, he thinks himself bound in duty to be helpful to all sorts of persons that are afflicted with any distemper. He will tell you in a minute what distemper you are troubled with, and whether you are curable or not; if not curable, he will not take any one in hand, if he might have 500_l._ for a reward.

"N. B. The Doctor has an infallible cure for the Gout, which in a few hours gives ease, and in a short time makes a perfect cure; likewise a never-failing remedy for the wind colic in the stomach and bowels."

The Original Weekly Journal of December 28, 1723, contains a set of queries, which seem better suited to the ideas of a person despising Quacks than to have been written by one. "An appeal to the judicious part of mankind, if it is not the grossest imposition imaginable to cram the public prints in so fulsome a manner with infallible specificks, arcana's, Italian boluses, and innumerable Quack-medicines put to sale at Toy-shops and other places, only to hide the shame, and screen from the resentment of injured people, the preparers of such notorious cheats. Are the best physicians or most eminent surgeons ashamed of their prescriptions? Can men of sense be gulled out of their money by the severe affliction of another's pocket (though, in his own words, of their body), because his pretended charity to their deplorable circumstances has induced him to publish what he does not own? Are not the degrees of distempers and the constitutions of men various? Was ever any one thing infallible? Can all people eat the most innocent food with equal advantage? Have we not ingenious Physicians and Surgeons, who act in public, not only to their own honour, but that of their country, and are, by their transcendant skill, become inimitable in all the world? Are not some disappointed in the success of a prescription from the most judicious hand? and will they depend upon what has no known author, and who refers them to the advice of some able Surgeon after cheating them himself? Shall any man's misery prevail upon his credulity to make him more miserable? or will any Surgeon expose his patient? For your _own sake_, apply to some man of ingenuity and probity, who appears to justify his practice by his success; _one of which invites you to his house_, at the Golden-heart and Square-lamp, in Crane-court, near Fetter-lane. Ask for the Surgeon, who is to be advised with every morning till 11 o'clock, and from two till nine at night, in any distemper."

After the above interrogatories, it would be absurd to attempt the application of any argument against Quackery. The queries of this extraordinary Quack are absolutely unanswerable; but it will be necessary to add, for the _information of posterity_, that the daily papers are still filled with false advertisements and false testimonies of cures performed; and that the angles of the streets, walls, and fences of London, are covered with bills issued by Quacks, while, perhaps, upwards of an hundred persons obtain a livelihood by handing them to passengers in every street.

This method of proceeding may be pronounced one of the customs which distinguish London; and, as I purpose tracing those, the reader will forgive my entering upon the subject without any other preliminary observation, than that I am afraid he will find some of the number trench very closely upon the rights of the articles under the head of Depravity.

FOOTNOTES:

[90:A] The gentleman who reviews this work in the European Magazine, mentions 'the Royal Oak Lottery,' on the authority of Congreve's "Love for Love," as particularly ruinous.

[92:A] Mark the regularity of the gradations.

[92:B] Gazette.

[96:A] Original proposals.

[97:A] The artist against whom this advertisement was levelled, "was Bat Pigeon, whose sign of a Bat and a Pigeon once attracted much attention, and of whom honourable mention has been made both by Steele and Addison. Honest Bat had a very handsome house and shop on the North side of the Strand, a few doors from St. Clement's Church Yard." European Magazine.

[104:A] Newspapers.

[118:A] A writer in the European Magazine says, he could add _sixty other schemes_ to my list; I should however imagine my readers are already satisfied.

[141:A] This amount seems impossible; but the authority from which it was taken is correctly copied.

[170:A] Poems for Children six feet high, 1757.

[185:A] In other words a Ventriloquist.

[191:A] The worthy Magistrate was right in his conjecture, for highway robbery is very uncommon at present in the neighbourhood of London.

CHAP. III.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INHABITANTS OF LONDON FROM 1700 TO
1800.

A Weekly Paper, intituled "The Dutch Prophet," was published at the commencement of the Century. The Author, in one of those, gives the outlines of each day in the week as employed by different persons; it is a filthy publication, and the following is almost the only decent part. "Wednesday, several Shop-keepers near St. Paul's will rise before six, _be upon their knees at chapel_ a little after; promise God Almighty to live soberly and righteously before seven; _take half a pint of Sack and a dash of Gentian before eight_; tell fifty lies behind their counters by nine; and spend the rest of the morning over _Tea and Tobacco_ at Child's Coffee-house."

"Sunday, a world of women, with _green aprons_, get on their pattens after eight; reach Brewers-hall and White-hart court by nine; are ready to burst with the Spirit a minute or two after, and delivered of it by ten. Much sighing at Salters-hall about the same hour; great frowning at St. Paul's while the service is singing, tolerable attention to the Sermon, but no respect shewn at all to the Sacrament," &c. &c.

These extracts inform us that Tradesmen were in the habit of attending Matins, which is certainly not the case at present; that they breakfasted upon sack and the root Gentian, and drank tea and chewed tobacco at the Coffee-house. Mark the change of 100 years: they now breakfast upon tea, and never chew tobacco; nor do many of them enter the Coffee-house once in a year.

The Halls of the different Companies appear to have been used at the above period for almost every public purpose, but particularly for the sighings of grace and over-righteousness, and to reverberate in thrice dissonant thunder the voices of the Elect, who saved themselves, and dealt eternal misery to all around them. Here again is a change: I believe not one Hall is now used for such purposes. The Cathedral service is admired, the Sermon neglected, and the Sacrament received with awe and devotion.

The effect of the Queen's proclamation against Vice and Debauchery in 1703 is thus noticed by Observator in his 92d number; some of the customs of the lower classes may be collected from the quotation. He says, the Vintners and their wives were particularly affected by it, some of the latter of which "had the profit of the Sunday's claret, to buy them pins, and to enable them every now and then to take a turn with the Wine-merchant's eldest 'prentice to _Cupid's_[231:A] garden, or on-board the _Polly_[231:B]. The Whetters are very much disobliged at this Proclamation, who used on Sundays to meet on their parade at the Quaker's meeting-house, in Gracechurch-street, and adjourn from thence through the Tavern back-door to take a whet of white and wormwood, and to eat a bit of the Cook-maid's dumpling, and then home to their dinner with their dear spouses, and afterwards return to the Tavern to take a flask or two for digestion. They tell me, all the Cake-houses at Islington, Stepney, and the suburbane villages, have hung their signs in mourning: every little kennel of debauchery is quite dismantled by this Proclamation; and the beaux who sit at home on Sundays, and play at piquet and back-gammon, are under dreadful apprehension of a thundering prohibition of stage-playing."

The Grand Jury, impanneled July 7, 1703, renewed their presentment against the Play-houses, Bartholomew-fair, &c. and clearly demonstrated that the elasticity of Vice had recovered from its temporary depression by the weight of Justice. Upon this presentment, _Heraclitus Ridens_ made the following observations, which will point out a new scene in the customs of the Londoners:

"_Earnest._ But the Grand Jury tell you, in their presentment, that the toleration of these houses corrupts the City youth, makes them dissolute and immoral, and entices them to take lewd courses.

"_Jest._ I am sorry to hear the Citizens' instructions bear so little weight with them, and am apt to think they are not so exemplary in their lives and conversations as they have been supposed to be. Would their masters keep a strict hand over them, there would be no reasons for complaints; and I dare be persuaded, there is more debauchery _occasioned by pretending to eat Custards_ towards Hampstead, Islington, and Sir George Whitmore's[232:A], in a week, than is possible to be brought about by a Playhouse in a twelvemonth."

The reader of this work who has visited St. Paul's or Westminster-abbey within the present Century, will subscribe to the faithful representation of the manners of a certain class of Citizens, that seem to have survived the usual period of life, or have scrupulously transmitted them to their posterity, in a dialogue between Jest and Earnest, 1703[233:A].

"_Jest._ Certainly you have never been at St. Paul's. The flux of people there would cause you to make use of your handkerchief; and the largest Meeting-house in London bears no proportion to it.

"_Earnest._ And what should I do there, where men go out of curiosity and interest, not for the sake of religion? Your shop-keepers assemble there as at full 'Change, and the buyers and sellers are far from being cast out of the Temple. _The body of the Church every Lord's-day contains three times the number of the choir_; and when _the organ_ has done playing _an adieu to devotion_, _the greatest_ part of the audience give you their room rather than their company."

If an advertisement frequently published about this time may be credited, Dram-drinking prevailed rather more than a sound moralist would have approved of. Mr. Baker, a bookseller at Mercers Chapel, offered his Nectar and Ambrosia, "prepared from the richest spices, herbs, and flowers, and done with right French Brandy;" and declares that, "when originally invented, it was designed only for ladies' closets, to entertain visitors with, and for gentlemen's private drinking, _being much used that way_;" but, becoming more common, he then offered it in two-penny dram glasses, which were sold, inclosed in gilt frames, by the gallon, quart, or two-shilling bottles.

One of the _customs_ of the Police of 1708, was the sending a Constable through the streets at night, with proper assistants, to apprehend offenders of all descriptions, but particularly idle men, who were immediately dispatched to the receptacles of _this species_ of recruits for her Majesty's service; but it was a hazardous employment; and one of those peace-officers, named Dent, lost his life in endeavouring to convey a woman to Covent-garden watch-house, by the cuts and stabs of three soldiers, who were all seized, and committed to Newgate. The above Mr. John Dent was buried at St. Clement's Danes, March 24, 1708-9, when a Sermon was pronounced by Thomas Bray, D. D. Minister of St. Botolph, Aldgate, and afterwards published under the title of "The good Fight of Faith, in the cause of God, against the Kingdom of Satan," by desire of the Justices and the Societies for the Reformation of Manners, who were present at the solemnity.

Mrs. Crackenthorpe, the Female Tatler of 1709, justly reprehends the practice of pew-opening for money during Divine service; and thus describes "A set of gentlemen that are called Sermon-tasters: They peep in at 20 different churches in a service, which gives disturbance to those united in devotion; where, instead of attention, they stare about, make some ridiculous observations, and are gone." And the same lady informs us that the fashionable young men were quite as much at a loss how to _kill_ time as those of the present day; they played at quoits, nine-pins, threw at cocks, wrestled, and rowed upon the Thames. Nor were ridiculous wagers unknown: they betted upon the Walking Dutchman; and Mrs. C. adds, that "four worthy Senators lately threw their hats into a river, laid a crown each whose hat should swim first to the mill, and ran hallooing after them; and he that won the prize was in a greater rapture than if he had carried the most dangerous point in Parliament."

To this voluble Tatler I am indebted for an illustration of the manners of the _male_ shopmen of 1709; and I will consent to be accounted an _ignoramus_ if it can be proved that the shopmen of 1809 are not an improved race. "This afternoon some ladies, having an opinion of my fancy in clothes, desired me to accompany them to Ludgate-hill, which I take to be as agreeable an amusement as a lady can pass away three or four hours in. The shops are perfect gilded theatres, the variety of wrought silks so many changes of fine scenes, and the Mercers are the performers in the Opera; and, instead of _vivitur ingenio_, you have in gold capitals, '_No trust by retail_.' They are the sweetest, fairest, nicest, dished-out creatures; and, by their elegant address and soft speeches, you would guess them to be Italians. As people glance within their doors, they salute them with--Garden-silks, ladies Italian silks, brocades, tissues, cloth of silver, or cloth of gold, very fine mantua silks, any right Geneva velvet, English velvet, velvet embossed. And to the meaner sort--Fine thread satins both striped and plain, fine mohair silk, satinnets, burdets, Persianets, Norwich crapes, anterines, silks for hoods and scarves, hair camlets, druggets, or sagathies, gentlemen's night-gowns ready made, shallons, durances, and right Scotch plaids.

"We went into a shop which had three partners: two of them were to flourish out their silks; and, after an obliging smile and a pretty mouth made, Cicero like, to expatiate on their goodness; and the other's sole business was to be gentleman usher of the shop, to stand completely dressed at the door, bow to all the coaches that pass by, and hand ladies out and in.

"We saw abundance of gay fancies, fit for Sea-captains' wives, Sheriffs' feasts, and Taunton-dean ladies. This, Madam, is wonderful charming. This, Madam, is so diverting a silk. This, Madam--my stars! how cool it looks! But this, Madam--ye Gods! would I had 10,000 yards of it! Then gathers up a sleeve, and places it to our shoulders. It suits your Ladyship's face wonderfully well. When we had pleased ourselves, and bid him ten shillings a-yard for what he asked fifteen; 'Fan me, ye winds, your Ladyship rallies me! Should I part with it at such a price, the Weavers would rise upon the very shop. Was you at the Park last night, Madam? Your ladyship shall abate me sixpence. Have you read the Tatler to-day?' &c.

"These fellows are positively the greatest fops in the Kingdom; they have their toilets and their fine night-gowns; their _chocolate in the morning_, and their _green tea two hours after_; turkey-polts for their dinner; and their perfumes, washes, and clean linen, equip them for the Parade."

It is not improbable that many of those effeminate drivelers composed part at least of the various Clubs held at different Taverns: the _Beaux_ was an attractive title for them; and if they were not _Virtuoso's_, the _Beefsteak_ had irresistible charms; besides, they had the choice of many others, such as the Kit-cat, Knights of the Golden-fleece, Florists, Quacks, &c. &c. which were supplied by no less than fifty-five newspapers weekly.

The Fashionables of 1709 dined by candle-light, and visited on Sundays; and their footmen announced them in the same ridiculous manner upon the doors of their friends as at present. A quotation from the Tatler will confirm this assertion: "A very odd fellow visited me to-day at my lodgings, and desired encouragement and recommendation from me for a new invention of knockers to doors, which he told me he had made, and professed to teach rustic servants the use of them. I desired him to shew me an experiment of this invention; upon which he fixed one of his knockers to my parlour-door. He then gave me a complete set of knocks, from the _solitary_ rap of the dun and beggar, to the _thunderings_ of the saucy footmen of quality, with several flourishes and rattlings never yet performed. He likewise played over some private notes, distinguishing the familiar friend or relation from the most modish visitor, and directing when the reserve candles are to be lighted. He has several other curiosities in this art. He waits only to receive my approbation of the main design. He is now ready to practise to such as shall apply themselves to him; but I have put off his public licence till next Court-day.

"N. B. He teaches _under ground_."

It appears from the lucubrations of Mr. Bickerstaff, that the idea of obtaining a wife by advertisement was not unknown in 1710; there is a specimen in the Tatler of September 23. It will be remembered that the hint has been pretty well improved upon.

There was a paper published in 1711, called The Growler. True to the assumed character, this modern Diogenes snarled at the vices and follies of the day. One of his subjects was the Mercers, who are thus introduced: "Alas! a handsome young Mercer cannot carry on his business with any reputation without an embroidered coat to stand at the shop-door in, instead of a sign or a footman in a laced livery, to invite in his customers."

The Tatler of May 1, 1711, speaks of the strange infatuation then and at present prevalent, of walking in the Park during the Spring. He says that "No frost, snow, nor East wind, can hinder a large set of people from going to the Park in February; no dust, nor heat in June. And this is come to such an intrepid regularity, that those agreeable creatures that would shriek at an hind-wheel in a deep gutter, are not afraid in their proper sphere of the disorder and danger of seven rings."

Perfumes scented the air, and rendered the paths of fashion delightful and inviting, long before the period at which I date my review. The votaries of this fickle Goddess distributed their money so liberally amongst the inventors and combiners of sweets, that they had become very conspicuous persons by the reign of Queen Anne; as Mr. Charles Lillie will serve to prove, who had the good fortune to be celebrated by Sir Richard Steele in his Tatlers, and by the authors of the original numbers of the Spectator. But, that this gentleman may not monopolize all the fame of his day, I shall proceed to exhibit the flowing periods of another retailer of essences, who points out in which way they were generally used by the belles and beaux of the time. "Incomparable perfuming drops for handkerchiefs, and all other linen, clothes, gloves, &c. being the most excellent for that purpose in the Universe; for they stain nothing that is perfumed with them any more than fair water; but are the most delectable, fragrant, and odoriferous perfume in nature, good against all diseases of the head and brain. By their delicious smell, they comfort, revive, and refresh all the senses, _natural_, _vital_, and _animal_, enliven the _spirits_, cheer the heart, and drive away melancholy; they also perfume rooms, beds, presses, drawers, boxes, &c. making them smell surprizingly fine and odoriferous. They perfume the hands excellently, are an extraordinary scent for the pocket, and, in short, are so exceeding pleasant and delightful, so admirably curious and delicate, _and of such general use_, that nothing in the world can compare with them. Sold only at Mr. Payn's Toy-shop, at the Angel and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, near Cheapside, at 2_s._ 6_d._ a bottle, with directions."

One of the most inconsiderate and provoking customs prevalent in the lower classes of the community was the peal rattled in the ears of a new-married pair on the morning after their nuptials. The Spectator mentions drums on such occasions; those, though they were continued till within these very few years, are not now used; and I believe the practice is confined to the procession of Butchers' men and boys, who ring their discordant cleavers with leg-bones of oxen in a sort of chime, which may be prevented by a few pence, and is always a _day-light_ operation.

Another of the customs of the Londoners is thus accidentally noticed in the British Mercury, October 1712, "who plied there to be hired, like Chimney-sweepers, at Cheapside Conduit."

The Peace of 1713 gave great satisfaction to the Citizens; and the Proclamation of it was honoured with the usual State ceremonies, the responses of shouts and bonfires, and with general illuminations. Although many eccentric methods may have been taken by individuals to express their joy, one only of those has been recorded, which was the thought of the keeper of the Spread Eagle Inn, in Gracechurch-street, who advertized one shilling tickets for a _Peace_ Pudding, nine feet in length, twenty inches in breadth, and six inches deep.

The ingenuity of Mr. Winstanley, exhibited at his Winter Theatre by his widow on the same occasion, may be worthy notice. That lady advertised, as a specimen of their skill in Hydraulicks, "six sorts of wine and brandy coming out of the famous barrel, to drink the Queen's health, and Peace. Being enlarged, there will be an addition of claret, pale ale, and stout, playing out of the head of the barrel when it is in the pully, and water at the same time, &c. &c."

"A Coach-maker, of Long-acre, actuated by mistaken zeal, provided the effigies of Dr. Burges, just then deceased, which he placed in an old chariot, with a pipe in the mouth, and two tapers before him. Thus represented, as if in his pulpit, he gave the whole to the mob to burn, which they did in due time, much to his shame."

The tenth number of the Lover, published March 18, 1714, treats on the absurdity of filling the best rooms of the houses of fashionable females with china. The author says, that the venders of articles of this description usually bartered them for rejected clothing, a custom now faintly discernible amongst certain Jews, who exchange with servants glass, earthen-ware, and a little china, for old clothes. Mr. Addison, who wrote the paper, adds, that he remembered when the largest article of china was a coffee-cup; but that it had then swelled to vases as large as a half-hogshead, and that those useless jars were accompanied by a variety of absurd representations, arranged, I suppose, in cupboards and on mantle-pieces, as the reader may have seen in some _old-fashioned_ apartments of the present day: indeed, I believe some of the jars may be found in corners yet; but it would perhaps puzzle the owners to designate their use, or to prove in what respect they are even ornamental.

The year 1714 gave rise to the practice of a contrariety of customs. The Queen died, and the Nation outwardly mourned in black habits. Custom was thus complied with in relation to Death. But the joyful entry of George the First required the gayest apparel and the appearance of happiness. Surely the publick must have been puzzled how to express these opposite feelings; to-day all grief and sables, to-morrow all splendour, laces, scarlet, gold, and jewels; and the third, a recurrence to mourning.

As the public entry of this King undoubtedly secured the succession in the Protestant line, I shall be diffuse upon the ceremonies attending it; and those will be best explained by the ensuing original orders, published by the Earl of Suffolk.

"A Ceremonial for the Reception of his most sacred Majesty
GEORGE, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain,
&c. upon his arrival from Holland to his Kingdom of Great
Britain.

"The King being arrived at Greenwich, and the day fixed for his Majesty's Royal Entry; public notice thereof is to be given by the Lord Marshal of the times and places where the Nobility, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London, &c. are to meet, in order to attend his Majesty. And some of the Officers of Arms, being appointed by the Lord Marshal, to go to Greenwich early that morning, to rank the coaches of the Great Officers, the Nobility, and others, in order, the juniors first, which are to assemble by ten of the clock in the morning in the Park there, in order to precede the King's coach: And notice being given to the Officers of Arms when his Majesty is ready to set out: His Majesty, preceded as aforesaid, and attended by his _guard du corps_, is to proceed from thence in his coach towards London, in the following order; _viz._

Four of the Knight Marshal's Men on
Horseback.

Coaches[244:A] of Esquires with six horses each.

Coaches of Knights Bachelors.

Baronets of Ireland, Nova Scotia, and
Great Britain.

The King's Solicitor. The King's Attorney.

Younger Sons of Barons of Ireland and
Great Britain.

Younger Sons of Viscounts of Ireland and
Great Britain.

Barons of the Exchequer and } according to their
Justices of both Benches } Seniority.

Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas
(may go as a Baron.)

Master of the Rolls, } may go as Privy
Lord Chief Justice of the } Counsellors.
King's-bench, }

Privy Counsellors not Peers.

Eldest Sons of Barons of Ireland and
Great Britain.

Younger Sons of Earls of Ireland and
Great Britain.

Eldest Sons of Viscounts of Ireland and
Great Britain.

The Speaker of the House of Commons.

Barons of Ireland and Great Britain.

Bishops of England.

Younger Sons of Marquisses.

Eldest Sons of Earls of Ireland and Great Britain.

Viscounts of Ireland and Great Britain.

Younger Sons of Dukes of Great Britain.

Eldest Sons of Marquisses of Great Britain.

Earls of Ireland and Great Britain.

Earl Poulet Lord Steward of the King's Household.

Earl of Suffolk and Bindon, as exercising the
Office of Earl Marshal of England.

Eldest Sons of Dukes of Great Britain.

Marquisses of Great Britain.

Marquis of Lindsey, Lord Great Chamberlain
of England.

Dukes of Ireland and Great Britain.

The Lord Chamberlain (who appears as Treasurer.)

The Great Officers, _viz._

The Lord Privy Seal.

The Lord President of the Council.

The Lord High Treasurer.

The Lord Archbishop of York.

Lord Chancellor.

Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.

His Royal Highness the Prince, (if not in the
Coach with his Majesty.)

The KING's Majesty in his Coach.

The King's Guards of Horse, commanded by
the Captains of the Guards.

In this manner his Majesty, preceded by the Nobility and others in their Coaches as aforesaid, is to be attended from the Queen's House in the Park through Greenwich and Deptford to Kent-street end, and from thence to St. Margaret's-hill in Southwark, where the Lord Mayor of London and others wait his arrival.

And upon notice that the Nobility, &c. are arrived near to St. Margaret's-hill in their coaches, the Officers of Arms are to begin to draw out the grand proceeding, in the following order; _viz._

A detachment of the Artillery Company
in buff-coats, &c.

The two City Marshals on Horseback, with their
men on foot to make way.

Two of the City Trumpets on horseback.

The Sheriffs' Officers on foot, with javelins in
their hands.

The Lord Mayor's Officers in black gowns, on
foot, two and two.

Two more of the City Trumpets on horseback.

The City Banner borne by the Water-bailiff on horseback, with
a servant on foot in a coloured livery.

Then the City Officers on horseback, in their proper gowns,
each attended by a servant on foot in coloured liveries.

The four Attorneys, two and two.

The Solicitor, and the Remembrancer.

The two Secondaries.

The Comptroller.

The four Common Pleaders.

The two Judges.

The Town-clerk.

The Common Serjeant, and the Chamberlain.

Two more of the City Trumpets on horseback.

The King's Banner, borne by the Common Hunt on horseback,
with a servant on foot in a coloured livery.

The Common Cryer in his gown, and the City Sword-bearer in
his black damask gown and gold chain, both on horseback, each
having a servant on foot in coloured liveries.

Then those who have fined for Sheriff or Alderman, or
served the office of Sheriff or Alderman, in scarlet gowns
on horseback, according to their seniorities, two and two,
the juniors first, each attended by two servants on foot in
coloured liveries.

The two Sheriffs in scarlet gowns on horseback, with their
gold chains, and their white staves in their hands, each
attended by two servants on foot in coloured liveries.

The Aldermen below the Chair on horseback in scarlet gowns,
two and two, each attended by his beadle and two servants on
foot in coloured liveries.

Then the Recorder in a scarlet gown on horseback, attended by
two servants on foot.

Then the Aldermen above the Chair in scarlet gowns, on
horseback, wearing their gold chains, attended by their
beadles, and two servants each, in coloured liveries.

Then the coaches of the Nobility, Great Officers, &c. in the
order they come from Greenwich.

The Knight Marshal's Men on horseback,
two and two.

The Knight Marshal, or his Deputy, on horseback.

The King's Kettle-drums.

The Drum-major.

The King's Trumpets, two and two.

Serjeants The Serjeant Trumpet with his mace. Serjeants
at Arms at Arms
with Pursuivants of Arms uncovered, with
their two and two. their
Maces, Maces,
bare-headed. Heralds of Arms, as before. bare-headed.

Kings of Arms, as before.

The PRINCE in his Coach.

Gentleman Usher The Lord-mayor of London Garter King
of the Black-rod, in his Crimson Velvet of Arms, or
on his left-hand, Gown on horseback, his Deputy,
uncovered. wearing his rich collar on the right
and jewel, uncovered, hand, uncovered.
bearing the City-sword
by his Majesty's
permission, with only
four servants on foot,
bareheaded, in coloured
liveries.

Yeomen of the Yeomen of the
guard, Footmen, The KING in his Coach. guard, Footmen,
Equerries. Equerries.

His Majesty's Horse-guards as before,
to close the proceeding.

Thus the KING is to pass from St. Margaret's-hill (after the
Recorder has made his speech, and the Lord Mayor received
the City sword from his Majesty) to his Royal-palace of St.
James's.

The Trained-bands of Southwark, by order of the
Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, are to line the way from
Kent-street end, to the foot of London-bridge.

Three regiments of the City Trained-bands are to make a guard
from the Bridge to the Stocks-market.

The several Companies of London, with their Ensigns, are to
line the streets on both sides, from the Stocks-market to St.
Paul's Church-yard; at the East-end whereof, the Children of
Christ's-hospital are to stand, and one of the King's boys
makes a speech to his Majesty.

And the other three regiments of the City Trained-bands are
to guard the way from St. Paul's Church-yard to Temple-bar.
From Temple-bar, the Steward, High-bailiff, and Burgesses
of Westminster, in their gowns, attended by all the
Constables and Beadles with their respective staves: and the
High-bailiff's officers, with their ensigns of office, are
to line the way: and next to them the Militia of Westminster
make a guard, leaving a space between them and his Majesty's
Foot-guards (who line the way from St. James's into the
Strand) for the Artillery-company to draw up in.

Against St. Alban's-street in the Pall-mall, the Sheriffs'
officers and Lord Mayor's officers are to make a stand on the
right-hand.

Those who have served, or fined for Sheriffs or Aldermen of
London, are to make their stand between the passages into St.
James's-square.

The Sheriffs and Aldermen make their stand towards the
upper-end of the Pall-mall, on the right-hand leading to St.
James's-gate.

The Nobility, and others who go in their coaches, are to
alight at St. James's-gate; and the coaches to pass by St.
James's Meuse into St. James's-park, and go out again at the
upper gate by Hyde-park.

The Knight-marshal's men, kettle-drums, trumpets, and
serjeant-trumpet, are to make a stand on the right-hand side
from the end of the Pall-mall, by the Gloucester-tavern.

The Officers of arms and Serjeants at arms are to pass on to
the second gate-way, and there alight.

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Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century; Vol. 1 (of 2)Chapter VII: Preface (7)

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