Chapter I: Front Matter

_SOCIAL ENGLAND._

SOCIAL ENGLAND
UNDER
_THE REGENCY_.

BY

JOHN ASHTON,

AUTHOR OF "SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE," "OLD TIMES,"
"DAWN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY," ETC.

_WITH 90 ILLUSTRATIONS._

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

London:
WARD AND DOWNEY,
12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

MDCCCXC.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Anti-Corn Bill riots -- Riots in the north -- Ratification of
the Treaty of Peace with America -- Attempt to steal the Crown
-- Epithets applied to Napoleon -- The Prince of Wales' debts 1

CHAPTER II.

News of the Battle of Waterloo -- Rejoicings -- After career
of Napoleon -- His abdication and flight -- Goes on board the
_Bellerophon_ -- Arrives at Torbay -- His habits on board --
Ordered to Plymouth -- Crowds try to get a glimpse of him -- His
protest against being sent to St. Helena -- Transferred to the
_Northumberland_ -- Opinion as to the Prince Regent's conduct
towards him -- Sails for St. Helena 23

CHAPTER III.

Effects of Napoleon's capture -- The Navy in 1815 -- Margate
and Ramsgate -- French Prisoners of war -- Treaty of Peace with
France -- Napoleon's house -- A soldier's letter -- A zealous
Lord Mayor -- Hotels and clubs in 1815 51

CHAPTER IV.

1816.

Day of Thanksgiving -- "Battle for the Standard" -- Return of
the troops -- Frozen game brought over by Esquimaux -- The
Regent's practical joke -- Rejection of the Prince of Orange by
the Princess Charlotte, and acceptance of Prince Leopold as her
husband -- Her marriage -- "The R----l Whiskers" -- The Regent's
yacht 67

CHAPTER V.

Riots and agrarian outrages -- Colliers, &c., coming to London
-- "England in 1816" -- Riots in Newgate -- Marriage of the
Duke of Gloucester -- A chimney sweep's wedding -- Cruelty to a
"climbing boy" -- The Mortar at St. James's Park -- Lighting by
means of Gas -- The Coinage 89

CHAPTER VI.

Smuggling -- "Resurrection Men" -- More riots -- Orator Hunt --
Meetings at Spa Fields -- Riots arising therefrom -- Execution
of one of the rioters -- The King's health 109

CHAPTER VII.

1817.

Visit of the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia -- Stones thrown
at the Regent -- Issue of the new Silver Coinage -- Riots and
arrests for sedition -- First issue of Sovereigns -- The Case of
Abraham Thornton and appeal by battle -- The Queen at Bath --
Death of the Princess Charlotte -- Richard Owen and his scheme
-- "The Fortunate Youth" -- "Caraboo" 133

CHAPTER VIII.

1818.

Distress among discharged Seamen -- Finding the Scotch Regalia
-- Strathfieldsaye bought for the Duke of Wellington -- The
Kyrle Society -- Royal Marriages -- Annoying the Queen --
Riotous schoolboys -- The Regent mobbed -- Death of Queen
Charlotte 161

CHAPTER IX.

1819.

Sale of the Queen's effects -- Duke of York has custody of the
King -- The "Dandy horse" -- Loss of, and finding the King's
jewellery -- A public dinner -- A Royal freak -- Unqualified
medical practitioners -- Emigration to America -- "The fair
Circassian" -- Birth of Queen Victoria -- Napoleon's carriage
-- An Irish witness 171

CHAPTER X.

Reform Meetings -- Peterloo -- Orator Hunt's entry into London
-- The King's last illness and death 203

CHAPTER XI.

A foreigner's view of England -- The packets -- Roads -- People
-- Posting -- Mail and Stage Coaches -- Amateur coachmen -- Fast
driving -- Perils of travelling -- A lioness attacks the Mail --
Dog-carts and donkey-riding -- The Streets and Houses 215

CHAPTER XII.

London improvements -- The Country -- Gleaning -- Dairying and
out-door Washing -- The Gipsy 245

CHAPTER XIII.

Ladies' dresses -- The Dandizette -- Waltzing -- The Quadrille
-- Almack's -- Women's education -- Women's work -- Women
Soldiers and Sailors -- Female rowing match -- Female pedestrian
-- Gretna Green Marriages -- Some curious marriages 277

CHAPTER XIV.

The Man of the period -- Drinking habits -- Dandies -- Lord
Petersham -- A Dandy's diary -- Gaming -- Prize fighting --
Country Sports 303

CHAPTER XV.

Eating and drinking -- Recipe for Punch -- The Stage -- Baron
Geramb -- Romeo Coates -- Actors and Actresses -- Mrs. Jordan 327