Chapter III: Introduction: 1 (2)

"A few minutes after His Majesty had entered the palace, the mob attacked the state coach with stones, and did it great injury. In its way along Pall Mall to the Mews many things were also thrown at it. After a short time the King went, in his private coach, from St. James's to Buckingham House; but, on his way through the Park the mob surrounded the carriage, and prevented it from proceeding, crying out, 'Bread! Bread! Peace! Peace!'--The Guards were, however, speedily brought up, and they protected the carriage till His Majesty got safe into Buckingham House.

"When His Majesty entered the House of Peers, the first words he uttered were these, to the Lord Chancellor: 'My Lord, I have been shot at!' This alluded to the substance which had broke the window while passing the Ordnance Office.

"Three or four persons were apprehended on suspicion of having thrown stones, &c., at the King, and one of them was charged with having called out, 'No king,' and other such expressions. They were all examined at the Duke of Portland's office; and, waiting the result of this business, nothing was done in the House of Lords till near six o'clock, when Lord Westmoreland, who rode in the carriage with the King, having previously moved 'that strangers be ordered to withdraw,' stated the insult and outrage with which the King had been treated; and added that His Majesty, and those who had accompanied him, were of opinion that the glass of the coach had been broken by a ball from an air-gun, which had been shot from a bow window of a house adjoining the Ordnance Office, with a view to assassinate him.

"The King, through the whole of the riot, displayed the cool magnanimity for which the family have ever been distinguished. At the time that the glass of the coach was broken, he said to Lord Westmoreland, 'That is a shot;' and, instead of leaning back in the carriage, or striving to avoid the assassin, he pointed to the round hole in the pane, and examined it. But this was not all; he went into the private coach, to go from St. James's to the Queen's house, in the midst of the wildest commotions of the multitude, thereby exposing himself, almost without guards, to their fury; and then it was that His Majesty's person was most imminently in danger."

"_30th October._--Confident in the attachment of his people, notwithstanding the alarms of the preceding day, the King, accompanied by Her Majesty and three of the Princesses, visited Covent Garden Theatre, and, at their entrance, was received with the usual burst of applause. 'God save the King' was sung twice, and, by a considerable part of the house, over-zealously called for a third time; this, in a corner of the gallery, provoked a few hisses, which, however, were soon overruled, and one or two of the most active of the turbulent party were turned out; after which the performance went on."

Five persons were apprehended for this outrage, but with the exception of one, Kidd Wake, aged 27, a journeyman printer, who owned to his hissing and hooting at His Majesty, and who was committed to take his trial on 14th November, I cannot trace their fate; probably they were discharged for want of evidence.

A Royal Proclamation was issued, offering one thousand pounds reward to any one "who shall give information, so that any of such authors, actors, or abettors, as aforesaid, shall be apprehended and brought to justice."

In November there were fearful storms, especially on the 6th, which were extraordinarily destructive, both to life and property. One of these storms was so severely felt at Weymouth, that nearly 1600 dead bodies were, at different times, thrown up on the beach, 300 being buried at one time, and, had not the Gloucestershire Militia helped in burying them, there would, doubtless, have been a pestilence.

On 8th December Pitt, in the House of Commons, delivered a message from the King, in which occurs the following passage, which must have been hailed with thanksgiving throughout the length and breadth of the land:--"His Majesty, on this occasion, thinks proper to acquaint the House, that the crisis which was depending[2] at the commencement of the present session, has led to such an order of things in France, as will induce His Majesty (conformably to the sentiments which he has already declared) to meet any disposition to negotiation on the part of the enemy, with an earnest desire to give it the fullest and speediest effect, and to conclude a treaty for general peace, whenever it can be effected on just and suitable terms for himself and his allies."

[Footnote 2: (?) impending.]

At the commencement of 1796 the Royal Family were still in bad odour with a certain section of the public,--nor can it be wondered at by any one who has studied the satirical prints of the day. Every foible of Royalty was noted, exaggerated, engraved on "perennial brass," exhibited most freely in the shop windows, and most eagerly purchased. Farmer George, and his simple, and somewhat mean habits, the Queen's avarice, the Prince of Wales' licentiousness, and extravagance, and all the scandals (and they were many) appertaining to the rest of the Royal Family, were ruthlessly laid bare, and mercilessly exposed to the public gaze.

That this must have tended to lower the Royal Family in most men's eyes, there can be no doubt, so that we are not very much surprised at the occasional practical manifestations of the mob. On the night of 1st February, there was more stone-throwing on the part of the populace, which the _Times_ of 3rd February thus describes:--"On Monday night, as the Royal Family were returning from Drury Lane Theatre, just as they reached the middle of Pall Mall, a stone was flung at the coach in which were their Majesties and the lady-in-waiting, which broke the glass, and, entering the carriage, struck the Queen on the cheek, and fell into Lady Harrington's lap.

"A deposition of the circumstances was taken yesterday at the Duke of Portland's office, at which his Grace and some of the Bow Street Magistrates were present; when four of the footmen attending their Majesties were examined; a reward will be immediately offered to discover the offender." And so it was to the extent of £1000, but nothing came of it.

Whilst on the subject of the royal unpopularity, I may mention that Kydd Wake, who last year was apprehended for hissing and hooting at the King, was tried before Lord Kenyon, for "trespass, riot, and misdemeanour," and found guilty--sentence being deferred. This, however, was pronounced upon him by Mr. Justice Ashurst at the Court of King's Bench 7th May. His judgment was somewhat long-winded, and he concluded thus:--"It now becomes my duty to pronounce the sentence of the Court; which is, that you be committed to the custody of the keeper of the Penitentiary House, in, and for, the County of Gloucester, and be kept to hard labour for the space of five years; and, within the first three months of that time, that you stand in, and upon, the Pillory for one hour, between the hours of eleven and two o'clock in the afternoon, in some public street on a market day; and that you give sureties in £1000, for your good behaviour for the term of ten years, to be computed from the expiration of the said five years; and that you be further imprisoned till you find the said sureties."

On the 15th February, Mr. Grey, in the House of Commons, again ventilated the subject of peace, this time in the shape of an address to the King, praying him to communicate to the executive government of France, his readiness to meet any disposition to negotiate a general peace. Both Pitt and Fox spoke on the subject, but the motion was lost by 189 to 50.

There was one crumb of comfort to the nation, which had hitherto been suffering from a grievous scarcity of bread-stuffs, and this was the great fall in wheat, which took place on 31st March. On that date, owing to the large importations of foreign wheat, this grain fell 13s. per quarter.

Joy, too, must have sprung up in the national heart when the King made his speech on the opening of both Houses, 7th October. He said:--"I have omitted no endeavours for setting on foot negotiations to restore peace to _Europe_, and to secure, for the future, general tranquillity. The steps I have taken for this purpose have at length opened the way to an immediate and direct negotiation, the issue of which must either produce the desirable end of a just, honourable, and solid Peace for Us, and for Our Allies, or must prove, beyond dispute, to what cause alone the prolongation of the calamities of war must be ascribed. I shall immediately send a person to Paris with full powers to treat for this object, and it is My anxious wish that this measure may lead to the restoration of General Peace; but you must be sensible that nothing can so much contribute to give effect to this desire, as your manifesting that We possess both the determination and the resources to oppose, with increased activity and energy, the farther efforts with which We have to contend."

The "person" who was to go over to France as Plenipotentiary, was Sir James Harris, who had lately been made Lord Malmesbury--and he arrived at Paris on 22nd October. The usual diplomatic fencing took place, but this was brought to an end by a squabble respecting the annexation of the Netherlands to France. Lord Malmesbury wished to communicate with his Government on this point, but the Directory meant to force his hand, and required his ultimatum within twenty-four hours, and, as he still asked for time, he was told his presence in Paris was useless, and that he must depart within two days. He replied that he would leave next day, and demanded his passports. On the 20th December he left Paris for England, and so ended, for a while, all hopes of peace. That the French had but faint hopes of a successful end to the mission is evident, for, during the negotiations, on 2nd November, the Council of Five Hundred passed a decree, prohibiting the importation of British goods into the Republic.

As a proof of the patriotism of the English people, and their thorough reliance on the Government, Pitt asked for a loan of eighteen millions. This loan, called "The Loyalty Loan," was opened on 5th December, and in _15 hours 20 minutes_ it was all subscribed. The _Times_ of 6th December says--"Yesterday, soon after 11 o'clock, the SUBSCRIPTION for EIGHTEEN MILLIONS STERLING, for the services of the ensuing year, closed at the Bank; and such was the general desire to subscribe, that the Court Room was a scene of the utmost confusion. Many gentlemen were altogether disappointed; and those who could get near the books to put down their names, did so with the utmost difficulty. There was very little remaining to be subscribed; for a great number of orders had been received by Mr. Newland in the morning, from the country, which claimed a preference; and, accordingly, the doors were shut some time, until these commissions were written down. There is no doubt but that many millions more would have been subscribed, if the public service had required it. There cannot be a greater proof of the patriotism of all ranks of people in thus assisting Government, because, at the time the loan was opened, the other funds were considerably the cheapest purchase."

Nor was it money only, that our forefathers gave. In October 195,000 men were voted for the land service for the year 1797, and 120,000 seamen and marines for the navy. There was also a levy of 15,000 men, from the different parishes, for sea service, and recruiting the regiments of the line, and a supplementary militia was raised, of 60,000 men, not to be immediately called out, but to be enrolled, officered, and completely trained, so as to be ready in a moment of danger, and a force of 20,000 irregular cavalry was also embodied.

The year closed with a frost which exceeded in severity any known for many years. Many people were frozen to death, and the thermometer was 34, and 35 degrees below freezing point.

* * * * *

1797 opened very gloomily; finance, the backbone of a nation, was somewhat dislocated. People were alarmed at the rapid growth of the National Debt, and, selling out of the funds, found other investments for their capital: there had been an enormous drain of bullion to subsidise the allies, and Pitt had borrowed from the Bank in the most reckless manner. It was in vain that the Bank remonstrated with him, but still he borrowed, so that at last he had to be told that if he took any more, it would probably lead to the insolvency of the Bank. There was a run upon the country banks, and its effects were soon felt in London; and, on 26th, an order of the Privy Council was made, forbidding the Bank of England from making cash payments, until Parliament had been consulted. On inquiry, it was found that the Bank was not only perfectly solvent, but, after payment of all liabilities, its capital would amount to £9,660,290. Under these circumstances Mr. Pitt brought in a bill (37 George III. cap. 28), permitting the Bank to issue notes from 20s. upwards, in lieu of cash. This measure brought relief, and saved the National credit.

Perhaps one of the chief National events in the year, was the mutiny of the fleets. Looking at it from this distance of time, one can hardly wonder at it, especially when we consider the way in which the crews were procured, by impressment and otherwise, their hard fare, the bad accommodation for them, the frequent punishments, from 50 to 500 lashes, at the discretion of a possibly irate captain, frequently for venial offences; add to this, small pay, and constant work, and we are fain to acknowledge that the men who could stand such treatment tamely, were almost more than human.

Yet they stated their grievances very properly, and quietly, sending petitions, either in February, or March, to Lord Howe, begging him to use his influence with the Admiralty, to procure them an increase of wages, and an improvement in the quality, and quantity, of their provisions. No notice whatever was taken of this temperate remonstrance, so the men, finding no help came to them, tried to help themselves, and secret communication was opened between all the vessels of the fleet. No one can defend the gross breach of discipline of which they were guilty, but it must be remembered that they were ignorant men, smarting under a sense of injury, rendered especially galling, by their just complaints, and moderate demands, being utterly ignored.

Their plot to seize the ships, and expel the officers, came to be known, and, on 15th April, Admiral Lord Bridport, in obedience to orders from the Admiralty, signalled for the fleet to sail. But the men refused to put to sea (unless an enemy was known to be at sea), until their grievances had been examined into, and redressed. A deputation, of two men from each ship, met in the Admiral's cabin, and another petition was drawn up. On the 18th, a Committee of the Lords of the Admiralty went to Portsmouth, to investigate the seamen's claims; and the result was, that Admiral Bridport returned to his ship on 23rd April, and, having hoisted his flag, he told his crew that he brought with him the redress of all their grievances, and the King's pardon for all offenders.

One would imagine that this would satisfy them, coming as it did from the mouth of their "father and friend," but when, on the 7th of May, he signalled to put to sea, no ship would obey him. The fact is, the men were suspicious; they had been so badly treated with regard to the granting of their moderate demands, that they thought the order for sailing was only a ruse to get them away, and then faith would not be kept with them. This mutiny was unfortunately accompanied by bloodshed, and it lasted until the 14th May. On the 11th, Lord Howe visited the fleet, saw the delegates, and assured them, that before a Royal pardon could be proclaimed, they must express contrition for their conduct. This they did, but solemnly declared they would never again receive on board those officers they had sent on shore. This was agreed to, and Lord Howe, on the 14th of May, showed them an Act of Parliament, which granted what they wished, and the fleet at St. Helens were, for a time, content.

But, at the Nore, there was much discontent, or rather open mutiny; the men had forced the Admiralty to grant their demands, and now thought they could go in for more; and, to enforce it, they attempted to blockade the Thames, and prevent any vessel from entering or departing,--and they did fire on several that attempted to run the blockade. Of course, such a state of things could not last long, and the removal of all the buoys, by the Admiralty, helped to bring about a surrender. Their provisions began to run short, and the Government peremptorily refused to accede to their demands. Some of the fleet left, and returned to their duty, on the 9th June. On the 10th, more struck the red flag, and on the 12th, there were but seven left that were not flying the Union Jack; and next day, five of them sought the protection of Sheerness.

The mutiny was now at an end, and it only remained to deal with the ringleaders, the chief of whom was named Richard Parker, and he, and several others, were duly hanged. Many who were sentenced to death were, however, pardoned, and a general veil of oblivion was wisely thrown over the whole affair, as soon as the men returned to their duty.

Earlier in the year occurred a curious page in our history, nothing less than a practical invasion of England by the French, details of which can best be learned from contemporary accounts.

"London Gazette, Extraordinary, February 25.

"A letter this day received by the Duke of Portland, from Lord
Milford, Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Pembroke, dated
_Haverfordwest, February 23rd, 5_ P.M., contains information that
two frigates, a corvette, and a lugger, appeared off the coast of
Pembrokeshire the 22nd inst., and on the evening of that day
disembarked some troops reported by deserters to be about 1200,
but without field-pieces."

* * * * *

"London Gazette, Extraordinary, February 26.

"_Haverfordwest, February 24, 1797, 6 o'clock_ A.M.--Since I had
the honour of writing last to your Grace by Express, I have
received information of the French ships having sailed, and left
300 men behind, who have surrendered themselves prisoners. The
great Spirit and Loyalty that the Gentlemen and Peasantry have
shown on this occasion exceeds description. Many thousands of the
latter assembled, armed with pikes, and scythes, and attacked the
enemy, previous to the arrival of the Troops that were sent
against them."

"_February 24th, 9 o'clock_ P.M.--I have the honour and pleasure
to inform your Grace, that the whole of the French troops,
amounting to near 1400 men, have surrendered, and are now on
their march to Haverfordwest."

And so ends the invasion of England.

On 14th February, Admiral Sir John Jervis, with fifteen sail of the line, attacked the Spanish Fleet of twenty-seven sail of the line, off Cape St. Vincent, captured four large vessels, and dispersed the fleet. The news reached England on 3rd March, when London was brilliantly illuminated.

The Whigs moved heaven and earth in order to oust Pitt and his Government, but without success. On March 3rd the inhabitants of Westminster met in Palace Yard, and resolved to petition the King to dismiss his Ministry. In the City, too (the bones of whose _patres conscripti_ would shake with indignation, could they but know of the present wave of Conservatism, which has flowed over this Corporation), loud, and many, were the calls to the same purport. In vain were Common Halls convened, in vain did the Remembrancer, and the Sheriffs, wait upon his Majesty with petitions; he would have none of them, but would be glad to see them at a Levée; and so Pitt kept in, notwithstanding the growls all round.

France was making peace with its enemies, one by one, and it could easily be foreseen that, very shortly, England would have to bear all the brunt of the war; therefore, on the 1st June, a note from Lord Grenville was presented to M. de la Croix, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which was expressed the wish of the English Government to negotiate preliminaries of peace. Of course there was some diplomatic fence; but, finally, it was settled that Lord Malmesbury should again go as Plenipotentiary. He arrived at Lisle on 6th July, but the demands of the French were outrageous, and, after, in vain, combating their absurd requirements, he demanded his passports, and left Lisle on 18th September.

On 11th October, Admiral Duncan attacked the Dutch fleet off Camperdown, and, after a terrible action, defeated it, capturing eleven vessels, and sinking one.

About the last event of national interest, occurring in this year, is the formation of the French "Army of England," which was destined for our invasion, and which was to be under the command of General Buonaparte, which is about the first time our great enemy came into active collision with us.

* * * * *

At the commencement of 1798, the financial pressure on the nation, caused by the war, was very great. A triple assessed tax, a loan of £15,000,000, additional duties on salt, tea, dogs, horses and carriages, and a tax on armorial bearings, came home to every one. Yet, English patriotism was sound to the core, and the people helped the Government nobly, by means of voluntary contributions. A few examples will show how every class vied with each other in subscribing. They are taken from the _Times_.

_February 7th._--"Yesterday the Marquis of Buckingham subscribed at the Bank, the profits of one year's income from his Tellership of the Exchequer. On Monday the Duke of Marlborough subscribed £5000 at the Bank. The city of Oxford has subscribed £500 as a voluntary donation, to be continued for three years, if the war lasts so long."

_February 8th._--"The subscriptions yesterday at the Bank amounted to upwards of £30,000. Among the subscribers were--the Earl of Carlisle £4000, and the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry £1000. But the largest individual subscriptions are expected from Manchester, from whence letters were yesterday received, stating that three mercantile houses in that opulent town had subscribed Thirty-five Thousand Pounds, and that Mr. Peele's house gave £20,000."

On the 9th February a meeting, on this subject, was held at the Royal Exchange, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and most prominent citizens being present--and the result is thus stated in the _Times_, 10th February:--"As soon as the meeting was dissolved, four separate books were opened on the Hustings; and at the close of the day, the exact sum subscribed _in cash_, was _Forty-six Thousand, Five Hundred, and Thirty-four Pounds, Three Shillings and sixpence_, which, if calculated for the time the books were opened, is at the rate of £400 a minute. The number of subscribers was 218, and the subscriptions from one guinea to £3000, which last sum was the donation of Boyd, Benfield, & Co., with the promise of continuing it annually during the war."

_14th February._--"The City of London yesterday subscribed £10,000 towards the contributions to the Bank. Yesterday the sum of £18,900 was subscribed by the merchants on the Royal Exchange."

It would be wearisome to detail all the subscriptions, but yet two or three more may be recorded. The Bank of England gave £200,000, and the King and Queen £20,000, and £5000 respectively, out of their private purses; and on 20th September the amount of the voluntary contributions then subscribed, was £1,514,993, 12s. 9d.

Ireland, this year, was more than disaffected: it was in open rebellion, and, on 30th March, a proclamation was issued by the Lord-Lieutenant, for suppressing such rebellion. That it was a most serious one, is evidenced by a paper in Lord Edward Fitzgerald's handwriting, that, at a meeting held 26th February 1798, a return was made that there were in Ulster, Leinster, and Munster, 269,896 armed men, and that their treasurer had £1485, 4s. 9d. in hand. That this was not altogether an exaggeration, is shewn by the fact that, in the year 1797, there were seized by the Government, in the provinces of Leinster, and Ulster, alone, 49,109 guns, 1756 bayonets, 4463 pistols, 4183 swords, 248 blunder-busses, 119 musket-barrels, 106 sword-blades, 22 pieces of ordnance, and 70,630 pikes, besides other weapons voluntarily surrendered. In the same year, 14,973 pikes were surrendered in the county of Kildare alone, and in Dublin, on 11th May 1798, 5 pieces of cannon, and 500 pike handles, were seized.

On 24th May, seeing that war was being openly waged against the Government, the Lord-Lieutenant issued a proclamation warning the people that they were put under martial law, and, on the morrow, the rebels were defeated, with much loss, near Carlow, and, after the engagement, about 200 of them were hanged, or shot. Then the rebels gained a slight advantage, especially at Enniscorthy, where they compelled the garrison to retreat. This, and a few other small successes, were amply avenged by Lord Lake, on 21st June, at Vinegar Hill, a position which the Irish had held since the 28th May. Their rout was complete, and their slaughter must have been immense, for no quarter was given by the Royal troops. Then came the trials of the ringleaders, and the gibbet was in constant requisition.

And, now, the French must needs have a finger in this pie, although their attempt at invasion was simply ludicrous. The following is the first official news, and it is a letter from the Duke of Portland to the Lord Mayor:--"_27th August._ I think it right to inform your Lordship, that, by official accounts received this morning from the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, it appears that three French frigates, unaccompanied by any transports, appeared in the Bay of Killala, on the evening of the 22nd instant, and landed about 700 men, who immediately took possession of the town of Killala, and made a small party of the Prince of Wales' Fencible Regiment, consisting of an officer and 20 men, and some yeomen, prisoners; a large force is collecting from different quarters, and every necessary preparation making for attacking the enemy."

This expedition, consisting of 1030 privates and 70 officers under General Humbert, had sailed from Rochelle, with the intention of rendering material help to the Irish rebels--and, after the capture of Killala, they marched on Castlebar, where was a force of from 2000 to 3000 regulars, under Lord Lake. The English artillery, however, expended their ammunition too soon; a fact the French did not lose sight of, but, charging, put the English force to flight, and they then occupied Castlebar. But here was the end of their success--General Lake and Lord Cornwallis surrounded them, and the French had to surrender, but no quarter was given to the Irish. The number of French troops, on their surrender, was 96 officers, and 748 non-commissioned officers and privates, the rest having been lost since their landing at Killala. This force was intended to be the vanguard of a larger expedition, which was prevented joining, by want of funds.

Another little expedition set sail from France, to help General Humbert, consisting of one ship of the line, eight frigates, a schooner, and a brig. It was met by Sir John Borlase Warren, who was cruising, with seven sail of the line, off Lough Swilly. They engaged, and, after an action of three hours and forty minutes' duration, the French three-decker, and three of the frigates, hauled down their colours, and of the five frigates that then escaped, three were subsequently captured.

The rebellion in Ireland was now virtually at an end, the rebels were dispersed, and their leaders accounted for. Still, this result was not arrived at without a fearful expenditure of treasure and life; it being estimated that not less than 30,000 lives had been sacrificed. £1,000,000 was voted by Parliament, as compensation for injury done to the Loyalists in Ireland, and that sum was reckoned as only being a third of their actual losses.

On the 1st August of this year was fought the battle of the Nile; the news of which, however, did not reach the Admiralty until the 2nd October, and great were the rejoicings, and illuminations, on the 3rd. With this welcome news, the chronicle of the year may well end.

* * * * *

As far as we can judge, from the lights of history which are left to us, nothing was going particularly wrong with the national arms, or the national prosperity, considering we were at war, but the powers, that were, thought things might possibly go better, if they had a General Fast, so, on the 1st February, 1799, a proclamation was issued:--

"George R.--We, taking into Our most serious consideration the just and necessary War, in which We are engaged, for the Maintenance of the Independence of Our Crown, for the Defence and Protection of the Commerce, and of the Rights and Liberties, Civil and Religious, of Our Subjects, and putting Our trust in Almighty God, that He will graciously bless Our Arms, both by Sea and Land, have resolved, and do, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby command that a Publick Fast and Humiliation be observed throughout that part of Our Kingdom of _Great Britain_ called _England_, Our Dominion of _Wales_, and _Town of Berwick upon Tweed_, on _Wednesday_, the Twenty-seventh Day of this instant _February_; that so both We and Our People may humble Ourselves before Almighty God, in order to obtain Pardon of Our Sins; and may, in the most devout and solemn Manner, send up Our Prayers and Supplications to the Divine Majesty, for averting those Heavy Judgments which Our manifold Sins and Provocations have most justly deserved; and imploring His Blessing and Assistance on Our Arms, and for restoring and perpetuating Peace, Safety and Prosperity, to Us and Our Kingdoms," &c. &c. There were special forms of prayer for morning, communion, and evening services.

In January, and February, there was much agitation as to the union with Ireland, to which the Irish Parliament, by small majorities, was agreeable; but it was reserved till 1st January, 1801, to become an accomplished fact.

After besieging St. Jean d'Acre for sixty days, in vain, Napoleon determined to raise the siege, and, on the 20th May, his army began its return march to Egypt. He threw his heavy artillery into the sea, not being able to transport it across the desert, and the English had previously captured his battering train. It need scarcely be said that there was great rejoicing in England.

Volunteers had sprung up as if by magic, and it was felt that it would do good, if they received some direct recognition from royalty, and were reviewed by the King. Accordingly, the time was fixed for the 4th of June, and the place, Hyde Park. I know I shall be pardoned if I give a list of the corps who were then reviewed, as so many of the modern Volunteers must be ignorant that their progenitors were present on this occasion.

Cavalry.

Islington.
Westminster.
Clerkenwell.
Battersea.
Wimbledon.
Lambeth.
Deptford.
London and Westminster.
Southwark.
Surrey Yeomanry.
Clapham.

Infantry.

_Left Column._

Hon. Artillery Corps.
St. George's Regiment.
Hackney.
Westminster.
Islington.
Clerkenwell.
St. Sepulchre.
St. George's, Bloomsbury.
London Volunteers.
St. Luke's, Chelsea.
St. Margaret and St. John.
St. Mary-le-bonne.
St. Martin's.
Union.
Chiswick.
St. Paul, Covent Garden.
Brentford.
Fulham.
St. George's, Hanover Sq.
S.E. London Volunteers.

_Centre Column._

Bloomsbury, &c.
St. James's.
N.E. London Volunteers.
Hampstead.
Temple.
Pimlico.
Finsbury Square.
Somerset Place.
Knight Marshal.
Three Wards Association.

_Right Column._

Stoke Newington.
Tottenham.
Enfield.
Edmonton.
Hans Town.
St. Andrew and St. George.
St. Clement Danes.
Streatham.
Limehouse.
Ratcliffe.
Clapham.
Battersea.
St. Catherine's.
Poplar and Blackwall.
Whitechapel.
Highgate.
Lambeth.
St. Pancras.
Wapping.
Hendon.
St. Olave.
Eight Ward Association.
Shoreditch.

In all, there were 8193 effective men, and the Review was very successful, the only exception that was taken to it being, that some of the newly-embodied Corps did not fire with perfect regularity. Every Londoner is familiar with the statue in Pall Mall, of George III. on horseback, doffing his cocked hat. Well, that was how he appeared at this Review, which happened on his birthday. On the 21st, he, and all the young Princes, inspected some 12,200 men, in a very curious fashion. The Corps were not brigaded, as in Hyde Park, but were inspected in their different districts. The Royal party started at a quarter before 9 A.M., returned to Buckingham House at 6 P.M., and then set off for Windsor, a good day's work! especially as it all, with the exception of the journey to Windsor, had to be done on horseback. The King, and party, were to have gone to Leman Street, Whitechapel, to inspect the Shoreditch, Whitechapel, and Mile End Volunteers, but he could not get so far, so turned up Houndsditch, to Finsbury. The only refreshment, and rest, the Royal party seem to have had, was breakfast with the Lord Chancellor, at his house in Upper Guildford Street, where they remained an hour and a-half.

The history of the remainder of the year is centred in Napoleon Buonaparte. On 23rd of August, he suddenly left Egypt, affairs in France requiring his presence there, if he would look after his own interests. Had he not done so, it is probable that the world would never have heard so much of him; as it was, he was elected the First Consul of the three,--Cambacérès, and Le Brun, being his coadjutors.

On the 25th December of this year, Napoleon committed a solecism in diplomatic etiquette, by writing an autograph letter direct to George III., pointing out how each nation was wasting its strength and resources, and suggesting the possibility, and desirability, of peace. Lord Grenville replied to this letter, through Talleyrand, much to Napoleon's disgust, and expressed his regret that the English Government did not yet see its way to enter into negotiations for a peace, which would not, in all probability, be a lasting one.

This year will close with a report of the number of French prisoners in England, taken December 31, when they were delivered over to our Transport Board, the Consular Government refusing to provide for them any longer.

At Plymouth 7,477
" Portsmouth 10,128
" Liverpool 2,298
" Stapleton 693
" Chatham 1,754
" Yarmouth 50
" Edinburgh 208
" Norman Cross 3,038
------
Total 25,646

MEN'S DRESS.

The latter part of the last century was noticeable for the great, and grave, mutations which took place in masculine attire, and, most particularly, during the times here treated of. Previously, the wig, and dress (quaker cut) coat, had long had a successful run, but people visited the Continent more, especially France, and brought back French fashions, which at this time were particularly fantastic. The Prince of Wales, too, delighted in fine dress, and was "_arbiter elegantiarum_" of his sex. At every levée, and public appearance, his dress was always expatiated on, and the "gilded youth" of the period, dressed _up_ to him, and copied his manner, even to his bow.

We, in our days, cannot afford to jeer at the accompanying illustration, when we see, in the advertisement sheets of some of our periodicals, men's stays advertised, and even vividly depicted; and, therefore, we must not throw the first stone of laughter at the fashions of 1788.

Here we see the transition stage, the modification of the old courtly wig, with its accompanying powder, and black silk bag for the _queue_, now only to be seen pinned on to the coat collars of court officials, and extremely magnificent _major domos_, &c., and, also, we see the old court dress coat has now taken unto itself a collar, of that exaggerated description which was so much in vogue during the next twenty years. Frilled shirts, and ruffles, still existed, and the curious custom of wearing two watches was the fashion. Here, again, history has somewhat repeated itself in our modern double watch-chain, except that now only one watch is worn, the other side guarding a sovereign purse.

Brighthelmstone or Brighton--beloved of George the Magnificent, whether as Prince, Regent, or King--was the place where the fashionable youth congregated, and therefore we may take the following extract from the _Morning Post_ (the _doyen_ of the Daily Press) of 18th September, 1788:--

"Brighton Dress.

"The fashionable bathing dress, at Brighton, is chiefly a pair of
_buff trousers_, with a slight jacket.

"This is adopted by all the young men of the place, and a number
of idle, sauntering _land lubbers_ meet the eye every morning on
the Steyne, that one cannot help wishing for a sturdy _pressgang_
to give them useful employment, or at least keep them out of
mischief.

"After breakfast they are accoutred for the sports of the field.

"The _sporting dress_ is a _brown jacket_, with a multiplicity of
pockets, on each side, that reaches from the bottom to the top,
so that, from this appearance, it is somewhat difficult to
determine which the fashionable tribe most resemble--a set of
grooms, or a company of smugglers.

"When the dinner hour arrives, after these sprightly and heroic
gentlemen have '_slain their thousands, and ten thousands_,'
according to their own account, in the field, with as little
_winking and blinking_ as Major Sturgeon himself, they then
attire themselves in order to enjoy the pleasures of the table,
and, however deranged they may afterwards be by convivial excess,
they march or _stagger_ away to _the Rooms_, as circumstances may
determine, and entertain the Ladies with _elegant_ and _decent_
gallantry."

About this time flourished that curious being, the "_Macaroni_," but most of his portraits are evidently such gross caricatures, that I have not cared to reproduce them. I have been compelled to draw upon the satirical prints of the period, as a future historian would take the pictures from _Punch_, if he wanted to hit the passing folly of the day; but we must not forget that the satirical prints of the last century, did not their spiriting so gently as our modern caricaturists, but exaggerated in every way, in facial expression, and in costume.

The following brace of _Macaronis_ is taken from a print of the "_Mock Duel, or a trip to Flanders_," 26th May, 1789: and, although the costume is scrupulously correct, yet one can hardly help thinking that the designer of the wig, which was typical of the genus, has somewhat "drawn upon his imagination for his facts." The name _Macaroni_ was applied, in derision, to those youths who had made the _Grand Tour_, and were fond, on their return, of shewing off their superior graces, and extolling the polished manners, and superior civilization, of the countries they had visited. In those days you were nothing unless classical. Modern languages were rarely taught, Science was all but unknown, Latin and Greek were the chief branches of education, and rich men were keen collectors of everything classical, marble statues and busts, bronzes, and coins--so Italy was naturally the bourne of these travelled youths, and John Bull, who then was, in the aggregate, a very stay-at-home animal, derided them, when they came back, with the epithet _Macaroni_, an elegant title derived from the popular Italian dish.

The home-keeping youths imitated their brethren as well as they could, but it was at a very humble distance, and their dress, though partially modelled on that of their confrères, was much exaggerated, and did not display such simplicity or good taste.--John Bull had a name ready for him; a home-manufactured Macaroni was "a Jessamy."

These _Jessamies_ were, like the modern _Mashers_, effeminate, and comparatively harmless beings--entirely taken up with the contemplation of their external appearance, and the attempted subjugation of the other sex.

See the following quotation from the _Morning Post_ 4th July 1789:--"There is not a man in the nation, no not even Lord Effingham, who bestows so much time and attention in rendering the external appearance of his head, elegant in the extreme, than the Earl of Scarborough. It is said that his Lordship keeps six French frizeurs, who have nothing else to do than dress his hair. Lord Effingham keeps only Five!!!"

The _Jessamies_, however, were only one class among the youth of the time, and I fear, by far the smallest. The majority were what we now should term "fast." Animal spirits in young men must have vent somehow.

There were then no rowing, cycles, or other means of getting rid of the superfluous energy they possessed. Men's social habits were not at all of a "blue riband" nature, and, after dinner, the bottle circulated freely. So those who, like Charles Reade's description of modern athletic young men, knew "only one language, and lived principally in the open air," naturally became either "A choice Spirit," "A Buck," or "A Blood," descendants of the "Hectors," "Muns," "Titiretus," "Scourers," and "Mohocks"--men that hustled honest folk, sang roaring, maudlin, filthy songs--men from whom no woman was safe; who, armed with bludgeons, and going in company in large numbers, boxed the watch, set the constables at defiance, and made night hideous with their brawls and shouting.

Far be it from me to say that the whole youth of this age could be classed either in one, or other, of these two categories; there were good young men who probably "always came home to their tea," well dressed, well read, well mannered--such as "A Smart."

As a rule, even now-a-days, a man when in the country, very seldom, or never, carries an umbrella: to a Londoner it is part of his costume. In Anne's reign the use of the umbrella was strictly set apart for the softer sex, and then only for those whose avocations compelled them to be out, whatever the weather. As Gay says in his "_Trivia_"--

"The tuck'd-up sempstress walks with hasty strides,
While streams run down her oil'd umbrella's sides."

But for men, fie! he must be an effeminate coxcomb who would carry one. Hear what fun was made of him (_Female Tatler_, December 12):--"The Young Gentleman belonging to the Custom House, that for fear of rain borrowed the umbrella at Will's Coffee House in Cornhill of the _Mistress_, is hereby advertised that to be dry from head to foot on the like occasion, he shall be welcome to the _Maid's Pattens_."

One John Macdonald, a footman, who wrote his own biography, helps us to fix a date when the use of them, by men, was so rare as to make the user singular. He says that he had "a fine silk umbrella, which he brought from Spain; but he could not, with any comfort to himself, use it, the people calling out 'Frenchman! why don't you get a coach?'" However, he "persisted for three months, till they took no further notice of this novelty. Foreigners began to use theirs, and then the English." Macdonald wrote in 1778. Jonas Hanway, the philanthropist, who had travelled much in Persia and the East, is said to have been the first Englishman who habitually carried an umbrella whilst walking in the street. He died in 1786.

That it was not in general use in the year 1790, is evidenced by the somewhat sneering title of a "Rain Beau," or one that was afraid of a drop of rain. This illustration shews several modifications of fashion besides the use of the umbrella. The cocked hat had gone out--and the galling yoke of the "chimney pot" was being inaugurated. As yet it was limp, of felt, but there is the hideous head covering that has martyrised at least three generations.

Then we cannot but notice that the hair has lost all trace of the wig--and is allowed to be worn "_au naturel_." A huge cravat swathes the throat, the coat is cut shorter, and more fly-away than hitherto, that knee breeches are disappearing, and pantaloons coming in, to be in their turn superseded by the modern trouser. Lastly, the term _Macaroni_, or _Jessamy_, is replaced by _Beau_--which will soon have to give way to _Dandy_.

Jimmy Lincum Feadle shows us the Beau of 1791. Here the fashion is evidently imported from France--loud coloured striped coat--pantaloons, boots and all. The French Revolution was hastening on, rapidly, to its culmination, and, the younger Whigs, before the time came when they were utterly disgusted by the brutal excesses of the French, copied the dress of the Revolutionary party.

The accompanying illustration will show how far they succeeded. There is an elaborately studied negligence about the coat, and a height about the hat, which could never be of native production, whilst the bludgeon must have belonged to some "Merveilleux," (the class whom Bonaparte so cordially detested), and have been imported direct from Paris. The supercilious look, and the mincing gait, are warranted truly Parisian, and I have very little doubt but that Isaac Cruikshank sketched him from the life.

The term "a Crop," is indicative of Revolutionary and Republican sympathies. Lucius Junius Brutus, and all the ancient Romans, wore their hair cut short--and so we must needs copy them, and have a revolution in hair cutting, just to show the outer world what our thoughts are on the present position of political parties. The elaborate hair of the _Macaroni_ or the _Jessamy_, or even the negligent, but natural _chevelure_ of the _Beau_, would not suit Republican simplicity, and, as in our own Commonwealth, the men of the Republic cropped their heads, as a testimony against their political opponents, so did they in 1791. The Duke of Bedford, especially, attracted public attention, by having his hair cut short, and many are the allusions to him, with respect to it, in the public prints.

But with 1792 came another change of fashion, of which we get two views, back and front, and as they are by a lady (Miss Keate), they are probably not caricatured.

Here we see a return to a more natural style of dress, the colours of which, in "_Neck or Nothing_," are well chosen, and very becoming. Of course the awful cravat is of white cambric or muslin, and he wears a pink underwaistcoat, white over-waistcoat, and knee-breeches, a mulberry-coloured coat, and blue and white stockings; hair powdered.

"A back view of the cape" is not so felicitous as regards colour, being somewhat "_prononcé_." The coat is green, breeches yellow, necktie yellow, stockings grey, powdered hair, and a liberal supply of powder on the back of the coat.

In order to keep this hair powder on the hair, it was necessary to saturate it with some kind of grease, even if only a tallow dip, or rushlight, were used; but an advertisement in the _Times_, of 7th February 1793, gives us some notion as to the antiquity of Bears' Grease, which must have been undoubtedly genuine, if the last paragraph can be taken as a fact:--

"JUST KILLED, an extraordinary fine Fat Russian Bear, at Ross's
Ornamental Hair and Perfumery Warehouse, No. 119 Bishopsgate
Street (late Vickery's), three doors from the London Tavern.

"The excellent virtue which the fat of Bears possesses, has been
experienced by thousands of both sexes, and of all Ages, in this
Metropolis. To those who have used the real Bears' Grease, it is
evident no Grease whatever beside, retains its moisture so long
upon the head, it being the only thing possible to make the Hair
grow thick and long, recover it after illness, prevent it
falling off, or turning grey, during life: being the most
efficacious remedy for making the Hair grow on Horses' knees
when broken or chafed.

"It is sold at 1s. per ounce, or 16s. the pound, to be seen cut
off the Animal in the presence of the purchaser."

_Apropos_ of "cropping," take the following skit from the _Times_, January 21, 1794:--

"Sir Robert Mackworth is at Bath, and seems to be no otherways
distinguished than by the particularity of his equipage: he
drives four horses of different colours in his phaeton, which has
four wheels painted to correspond with the colours of the horses:
in the midst of his badge of distinction, the bloody hand, is the
figure of 4, which he explains in this way, four in hand. The
motto 'This is the Tippy.' If anything can add to the folly of
the whole it is that he intends to crop four opposite ears of his
horses, to make room for four monstrous roses, of different
colours, to match."

The Court dresses which the Nobility and Gentry then wore, were magnificent, and the following are only a few, taken as an example, from the _Times_, June 4, 1794:--

"KING'S BIRTHDAY.

"Yesterday, being the anniversary of the King's birthday, when
His Majesty entered into the 57th year of his age, a Drawing-Room
was held in the afternoon, and, at night, a Ball at St. James'.
The Gentlemen's dresses were in general embroidered silks and
silk cloths: but one half were dressed in Regimentals.

"His Majesty, as usual on his own Birthday, was in a plain suit
of clothes. The best dressed Gentlemen whom we saw at Court, and
indeed their dresses were very generally noticed for their taste
and splendour, were--

"Mr. Skeffington.

"A brown spotted silk coat and breeches, with a white silk
waistcoat richly embroidered with silver, stones, and shades of
silk: the design was large baskets of silver and stones, filled
with bouquets of roses, jonquilles, &c., the _ensemble_ producing
a beautiful and splendid effect.

"The Hon. Thomas Anson.

"A striped silk coat and breeches, with a white silk waistcoat,
richly embroidered with white silk and dentelle: the waistcoat
embroidered to match the coat.

"The Hon. Mr. Paget.

"A brown and blue striped silk coat and breeches, with a white
silk waistcoat, the suit elegantly embroidered with silver,
stones, and bouquets of flowers.

"Duke of Queensberry.

"A striped, and spotted silk coat, and breeches, with diamond
buttons, with a white silk waistcoat embroidered with silver,
stones, and silk.

"Marquis of Lorn.

"A blue and brown striped silk cloth coat, and breeches, with a
white silk waistcoat, embroidered with dentelle, and shades of
silk.

"Lord Willoughby de Broke.

"A dark olive spotted silk coat, and breeches, with a white silk
waistcoat, the suit richly embroidered in silver, coloured
stones, and shades of silk."

Anent Hair Powder, we have the following, which may be a libel:--

"As a Frenchman cannot exist without a powdered head, and meal
being so dear in France, the _Beaux_ are under the necessity of
wearing _powdered whiting_. Rouge is plenty enough, that article
not being put in requisition: the ladies therefore, as usual,
wear their faces under _red masks_. They go to bed as blooming as
_Sol_, when he retires to the _Lap of Thetis_: and rise as pale
as _Cynthia_, in her nocturnal visits to the earth."--(_Times,
Nov. 29, 1794._)

"_Mother of Pearl buttons_ are likely to take the lead in the
fashionable world, as they are both beautiful and ornamental, as
well as durable and economical: on the contrary, those made of
steel, and other metals, soon rust, and want frequent
cleaning."--(_Times, Dec. 16, 1794._)

By the 35 Geo. III., c. 49--a Duty was laid on Hair powder--and "the Crops," besides their (as we should term it) Radical tendencies, were extra unpopular among the Tories, because they evaded the Hair Powder duty, by wearing none:--

"A numerous club has been formed in Lambeth, called the _Crop
Club_, every member of which, on his entrance, is obliged to have
his head docked as close as the Duke of Bridgewater's old bay
coach-horses. This assemblage is instituted for the purpose of
opposing, or rather evading, the tax on powdered
heads."--(_Times, April 14, 1795._)

"The following Noblemen and Gentlemen were of the party with the
Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey, when a general cropping, and
combing out of hair powder took place: Lord W. Russell, Lord
Villiers, Lord Paget, &c., &c. They entered into an engagement to
forfeit a sum of money if any of them wore their hair tied, or
powdered, within a certain period. Many Noblemen and Gentlemen in
the county of Bedford have since followed the example: it has
become general with the Gentry in Hampshire, and the Ladies have
left off wearing powder."--(_Times, Sept. 25, 1795._)

"The Bedford Crops.--Something has at last fallen from this party
to entertain the Public. We hope they will find their heads
cooler for this salutary operation. Dr. Willis[3] is of opinion,
that more than one of them ought to have been _shaved_. If the
_Shavees_ think by publishing their names they will gain
proselytes, till their absurdity is lost in the crowd, they are
mistaken. Can it be supposed that a few drunken persons in a
frolic, will be followed by the sober part of the people of
England?

[Footnote 3: Dr. Willis was a Clergyman, who turned
Physician, and his specialty was treatment of the insane. He
attended George III. in his mental alienation, and was
handsomely rewarded.]