Chapter I: Front Matter

This ebook was transcribed by Les Bowler.

_LIVERPOOL_
_A FEW YEARS SINCE_:

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BY
AN OLD STAGER.

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THIRD EDITION.

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LIVERPOOL:
ADAM HOLDEN, 48, CHURCH STREET.

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1885.

CONTENTS.

Page CHAPTER I. Liverpool fifty years since. Goree warehouses. The 1 docks. Extent of the town. Ships in dock. Ships for sea. Outward bound CHAPTER II. War. The old “Princess.” The Press-gangs—their 6 unpopularity—Jack’s race for life CHAPTER III. Captain Colquitt. Convoys. Privateers. Dublin packets. 12 The deserts of Cheshire CHAPTER IV. Volunteers. Captain Bolton. The Marquis of Londonderry. 18 General Benson. General Fisher CHAPTER V. Prince William of Gloucester. The Prince of Wales. The 23 Duke of Clarence. Scene at the Mayor’s dinner CHAPTER VI. Old stagers—Dr. Currie, John Foster, Dr. Brandreth, Sir 29 William Barton, John Bridge Aspinall, John Bolton CHAPTER VII. Moses Benson. Fashionables. Military beaux. Major 35 Brackenbury. Thomas Leyland. Pudsey Dawson CHAPTER VIII. Fletcher Raincock. James Clark. The Recorder non-suited. 41 George Rowe. Jack Shaw. The old Corporation CHAPTER IX. Sir George Dunbar. Tom Dunbar. Thomas Wilson. Edward 47 Houghton. Mr. Black’s white wig. Roger Leigh CHAPTER X. Joseph Leigh. Shakespeare Tom. William Harper. Bamber 54 Gascoigne CHAPTER XI. Society. Sets. Roscoe—how appreciated. Anecdote. Dr. 61 Shepherd CHAPTER XII. Sir Joseph Birch. Arthur Heywood. Tom Lowndes. Colonel 68 Nicholson. Rushton. Captain Crowe. Night Action. Peter Tyrer CHAPTER XIII. William James. Silvester Richmond. Anecdotes. Joseph 76 Daltera. Puns. Jokes. Sermon CHAPTER XIV. Practical Jokes and Jokers. Committee of Taste—their 83 doings and misdoings. Quarrel with Mr. Staniforth—how settled. Their Chairman. Improvement of the present age CHAPTER XV. The old tower in Water-street. Committee of Taste 90 again—more of their pranks. William Wallace Currie—his character and writings CHAPTER XVI. Sir John Gladstone—his character. Ottiwell Wood. Judge 97 Littledale. General D’Aguilar. Devaynes, the conjurer CHAPTER XVII. Old watchmen—tricks played upon them. Pigtails. The last 104 and very last of the pigtails. Hair powder. Barbers ruined. Marshall Blucher—preparing for the Battle of Leipsic CHAPTER XVIII. The old Corporation—their exclusive spirit—their doings. 113 Management of public affairs. Anecdotes. Corporation dinners—county guests. Honest John Watkins, and his defeat at Waterloo CHAPTER XIX. The Clergy. Blair’s sermons. The Rev. Thomas Kidd. The 122 Rev. Thomas Moss. Anecdotes. The Bottle and the Wood. Chat Moss CHAPTER XX. Rector Roughsedge. Anecdotes. The Bishop astonishing the 130 Clergy. The Rector’s one joke. St. George’s Church. The Mayor’s Procession. Maternal discipline. After Church. Lord Street. The Athenæum steps CHAPTER XXI. Jonas. Mr. Pitt. The Duke. Archdeacon Brooks. The Rev. 138 James Hamer. Dr. Hodgson—in Liverpool—in Oxford—his character, career, and brilliant talents CHAPTER XXII. An Election. Parties in the Town and Council. General 145 Tarleton. Old Freemen. General Gascoigne. Bamber Gascoigne. Conscience CHAPTER XXIII. Shops. Danson. Shower bath. The Liverpool Hunt. Peter 154 Carter and his gray horse. Abraham Lowe, the huntsman. Cheshire Squires. Sir Peter Warburton. Sir Harry Mainwaring CHAPTER XXIV. Old Coaches. Macadam. Coachmen. The Umpire. The 164 Bang-up. Pleasures of travelling on the old roads. Hours kept by our grandfathers and grandmothers. Visiting. Sedan Chairs. Routs. Going out and going home CHAPTER XXV. Theatres—the managers—actors—singers. Elliston. Lord 172 Nelson. George Bailey. Abolition of the Slave Trade. Liverpool ruined. Liverpool revived. Conclusion