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 |
Events
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"The invitation was
accepted,
of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing room." |
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ILLUMINATIONS UPON
THE PROCLAMATION OF PEACE
(from Robert Southey’s “Letters from England,” written in 1802)
FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1802
THE DEFINITIVE treaty has arrived at last; peace was proclaimed yesterday, with the usual ceremonies, and the customary rejoicings have taken place. My expectations were raised to the highest pitch. I looked for a pomp and pageantry far surpassing whatever I had seen in my own country. Indeed every body expected a superb spectacle. The newspaper writers had filled their columns with magnificent descriptions of what was to be, and rooms or single windows in the streets through which the procession were to pass, were advertised to be let for the sight, and hired at prices so extravagant, that I should be suspected of exaggeration were I to say how preposterous.
The theory of the ceremony, for this ceremony, like an English suit at law, is founded upon a fiction, is, that the Lord Mayor of London, and the people of London, good people! being wholly ignorant of what has been going on, the king sends officially to acquaint them that he has made peace: accordingly the gates at Temple Bar, which divide London and Westminster, and which stand open day and night, are on this occasion closed; and Garter, king-at-arms, with all his heraldic peers, rides up to them and knocks loudly for admittance. The Lord Mayor, mounted on a charger, is ready on the other side to demand who is there. King Garter then announces himself and his errand, and requires permission to pass and proclaim the good news; upon which the gates are thrown open. This, which is the main part of the ceremony, could be seen by only those persons who were contiguous to the spot, and we were not among the number. The apartment in which we were was on the Westminster side, and we saw only the heraldic part of the procession. The heralds and the trumpeters were certainly in splendid costume; but they were not above twenty in number, nor was there any thing to precede or follow them. The poorest brotherhood in Spain makes a better procession on its festival. In fact these functions are not understood in England.
The crowd was prodigious. The windows, the leads, or unrailed balconies which project over many of the shops, the house tops, were full, and the streets below thronged. A very remarkable accident took place in our sight. A man on the top of a church was leaning against one of the stone urns which ornament the balustrade; it fell, and crushed a person below. On examination it appeared that the workmen, instead of cramping it with iron to the stone, or securing it with masonry, had fitted it on a wooden peg, which having become rotten through, yielded to the slightest touch. A Turk might relate this story in proof of predestination.
If, however, the ceremony of the morning disappointed me, I was amply rewarded by the illumination at night. This token of national joy is not, as with us, regulated by law; the people, or the mob, as they are called, take the law into their own hands on these occasions, and when they choose to have an illumination, the citizens must illuminate to please them, or be content to have their windows broken; a violence which is winked at by the police, as it falls only upon persons whose politics are obnoxious. During many days, preparations had been making for this festivity, so that it was already known what houses and what public buildings would exhibit the most splendid appearance. M. Otto’s, the French ambassador, surpassed all others, and the great object of desire was to see this. Between eight and nine the lighting-up began, and about ten we sallied on our way to Portman Square, where M. Otto resided.
In private streets there was nothing to be remarked, except the singular effect of walking at night in as broad a light as that of noon-day, every window being filled with candles, arranged either in straight lines, or in arches, at the fancy of the owner, which nobody stopped to admire. None indeed were walking in these streets except persons whose way lay through them; yet had there been a single house unlighted, a mob would have been collected in five minutes, at the first outcry. When we drew near Pall Mall, the crowd, both of carriages and of people, thickened; still there was no inconvenience, and no difficulty in walking, or in crossing the carriage road. Greater expense had been bestowed here. The gaming-houses in St. James’s street were magnificent, as they always are on such occasions; in one place you saw the crown and the G. R. in coloured lamps; in another the word Peace in letters of light; in another some transparent picture, emblematical of peace and plenty. Some score years ago, a woman in the country asked a higher price than she had used to do for a basket of mushrooms, and when she was asked the reason, said, it was because of the American war. As war thus advances the price of everything, peace and plenty are supposed to be inseparable connected; and well may the poor think them so. There was a transparency exhibited this night at a pot-house in the city, which represented a loaf of bread saying to a pot of porter, I am coming down; to which the porter-pot made answer, So am I.
The nearer we drew the greater was the throng. It was a sight truly surprising to behold all the inhabitants of this immense city walking abroad at midnight, and distinctly seen by the light of ten thousand candles. This was particularly striking in Oxford street, which is nearly half a league in length; --- as far as the eye could reach either way the parallel lines of light were seen narrowing towards each other. Here, however, we could still advance without difficulty, and the carriages rattled along unobstructed. But in the immediate vicinity of Portman square it was very different. never before had I beheld such multitudes assembled. The middle of the street was completely filled with coaches, so immovably locked together, that many persons who wished to cross passed under the horses bellies without fear, and without danger. The unfortunate persons within had no such means of escape; they had no possible way of extricating themselves, unless they could crawl out of the window of one coach into the window of another; there was no room to open a door. There they were, and there they must remain the greater part of the night, till the lights were burnt out, and the crowd clearing away left them at liberty.
We who were on foot had better fortune, but we laboured hard for it. There were two ranks of people, one returning from the square, the other pressing on to it. Exertion was quite needless; man was wedged to man, he who was behind you pressed you against him who was before; I had nothing to do but to work out elbow room that I might not be squeezed to death, and to float on with the tide. But his tide was frequently at a stop; some obstacle at the further end of the street checked it, and still the crowd behind was increasing in depth. We tried the first entrance to the square in vain; it was utterly impossible to get in, and finding this we crossed into the counter current, and were carried out by the stream. A second and a third entrance we tried with no better fortune; at the fourth, the only remaining avenue, we were more successful. To this, which is at the outskirts of the town, there was one way inaccessible by carriages, and it was not crowded by walkers, because the road was bad, there were no lamps, and the way was not known. By this route, however, we entered the avenue immediately opposite to M. Otto’s, and raising ourselves by the help of a garden-wall, overlooked the crowd, and thus obtained a full and interrupted sight, of what thousands and tens of thousands were vainly struggling to see. To describe it, splendid as it was is impossible; the whole building presented a front of light. The inscription was Peace and Amity; it had been Peace and Concord, but a party of sailors in the morning, whose honest patriotism did not regard trifling differences of orthography, instituted upon it that they were not conquered, and that no Frenchman should say so; and so the word Amity, which can hardly be regarded as English, was substituted in its stead.
Having effected our object, meaner sights had no temptation for us, and we returned. it was three in the morning before we reached home; we extinguished our lights and were retiring to bed, believing ourselves at liberty so to do. But it did not please the mob to be of the same opinion; they insisted that the house should be lit up again, and John Bull was not to be disobeyed. Except a few such instances of unreasonableness, it is surprising how peaceably the whole passed off. The pickpockets have probably made a good harvest; but we say no quarrelling, no drunkenness, and what is more extraordinary, prodigious as the crowd was, have heard of no accident.
So famous is this illumination of M. Otto, that one of the minor theatres has given notice to all such persons as were not fortunate enough to obtain a sight of it, that it will be exactly represented upon the stage for their accommodation, and that the same number of lamps will be arranged precisely in the same manner, the same person being employed to suspend them. Hundreds will go to see this, not recollecting that it is as impossible to do it upon a stage of that size, as it is to put a quart of water into a pint cup.
Illuminations are better managed at Rome. Imagine the vast dome of St. Peter’s covered with large lamps so arranged as to display its fine form; those lamps all kindled at the same minute, and the whole dome emerging, as it were, from total darkness, in one blaze of light. After this exhibition has lasted an hour, the dome as rapidly assumes the shape of a huge tiara, a change produced by pots of fire so much more powerful than the former light as at once to annihilate it. This, and the fireworks from St. Angelo, which, from their grandeur, admit of no adequate description, as you may well conceive, effectually prevent those persons who have beheld them from enjoying the twinkling light of half-penny candles scattered in the windows of London, or the crowns and regal chypers which here and there manifest the seal, the interest, or emulation of individuals.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF REMARKABLE EVENTS.
(From Ryder's British Merlin for 1784)
| Bef. Christ. | |||||
|
3949
|
CREATION of the World. |
1666
|
Dreadful Fire in London, Sept. 2,3,4,5,6. | ||
|
2893
|
Noah's Flood. |
1666
|
War declared against Denmark. | ||
|
1904
|
Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by Fire. |
1667
|
Peace with Holland, France, and Denmark. | ||
|
1184
|
The Destruction of Troy. |
1668
|
Peace with Spain proclaimed. | ||
|
1107
|
Brute entered this Island. |
1672
|
War declared against the Dutch. | ||
|
1107
|
The building of London. |
1672
|
Halfpence and Farthings first coined. | ||
|
1050
|
The building of Rome. |
1674
|
Peace with Holland proclaimed. | ||
|
1017
|
The building of the Temple at Jerusalem. |
1677
|
Prince of Orange married to the Princess Mary. | ||
|
987
|
The building of York. |
1678
|
The Discovery of the Popish Plot. | ||
|
280
|
The building of Cambridge. |
1679
|
The Habeas Corpus Act passed. | ||
| Aft. Christ. |
1680
|
The great Comet, December and January. | |||
|
613
|
CLOCKS and Dials first set up in Churches. |
1684
|
A Twelve Weeks Frost; a Fair on the Thames. | ||
|
670
|
Glasing and building with Stone in England. |
1685
|
King Charles II. died--James II. succeeded. | ||
|
1066
|
William the Norman conquered England. |
1688
|
Prince of Orange landed at Torbay, Nov. 4. | ||
|
1176
|
St. Paul's Church burnt. |
1688
|
K. James II. abdicated the Crown, Dec. 12. | ||
|
1185
|
Ireland conquered by the English. |
1689
|
K. William and Q. Mary crowned, April 11. | ||
|
1209
|
London-Bridge finished with Stone. |
1690
|
K. William went to Ireland, June 4. | ||
|
1214
|
London-Bridge burnt. |
1693
|
Bank of England established. | ||
|
1217
|
Tiling first used in London. |
1694
|
Lotteries first established. | ||
|
1274
|
A Frost from September to April. |
1695
|
The French Plot, an intended Invasion. | ||
|
1299
|
Windmills invented. |
1702
|
K. William died, and Q. Ann succeeded. | ||
|
1302
|
The Mariner's Compass invented. |
1702
|
War declared against France and Spain. | ||
|
1313
|
Gunpowder discovered by a Priest. |
1707
|
England and Scotland united. | ||
|
1369
|
Wickliff first began the Restoration. |
1713
|
Peace with France proclaimed. | ||
|
1379
|
The first use of Guns. |
1714
|
Q. Ann died, and K. Geo. I. succeeded. | ||
|
1441
|
Printing invented by a German. |
1715
|
The Rebellion in the North. | ||
|
1453
|
Printing first used in England. |
1726
|
Sir Isaac Newton died, March 20. | ||
|
1492
|
Columbus discovered America. |
1727
|
K. Geo. I. died, and Geo. II. Acc. | ||
|
1499
|
Register Books in every Parish. |
1730
|
The Bridge from Fulham to Putney built. | ||
|
1521
|
Engraving on Wood invented by Albert Durer. |
1738
|
Westminster-Bridge begun. | ||
|
1531
|
The Sweating Sickness. |
1739
|
War against Spain declared. | ||
|
1555
|
The first use of Coaches. |
1743
|
A splendid Comet, Dec. Jan. and Feb. | ||
|
1561
|
The last Firing of St. Paul's Steeple. |
1744
|
War against France declared. | ||
|
1566
|
A great Frost and sudden Thaw. |
1745
|
A Rebellion in Scotland. | ||
|
1571
|
The Royal Exchange finished. |
1746
|
The Rebels defeated at Culloden, April 16. | ||
|
1580
|
A Blazing Star in May. |
1748
|
Peace signed at Aix la Chapelle, Oct. 7. | ||
|
1590
|
Telescopes invented by Jansen, a Dutchman. |
1750
|
The British Fishery erected. | ||
|
1603
|
Q. Eliz. died--James I. crowned July 15. |
1752
|
The Old Stile changed. | ||
|
1603
|
A great Plague in London--died 56,570 |
1755
|
Lisbon destroyed by an Earthquake. | ||
|
1605
|
Gunpowder Plot, Nov. 5. |
1756
|
War declared against France, May 18. | ||
|
1614
|
The New River brought to London. |
1757
|
Militia Act passed. | ||
|
1616
|
Shakespeare the Poet died. |
1759
|
Kew-Bridge built. | ||
|
1625
|
K. James I. died--K. Charles I. succeeded. |
1760
|
Black-Friars Bridge begun. | ||
|
1625
|
A great Plague in London--died 34,517 |
1760
|
King George II. died, October 25. | ||
|
1632
|
A great Fire on London-Bridge, Feb. 11. |
1762
|
The American Philosophical Society instituted. | ||
|
1634
|
Old Parr died, aged 152; he lived in 10 Reigns. |
1763
|
A general Peace. | ||
|
1640
|
The Long Parliament began Nov. 3. |
1765
|
Otaheite in the South Seas discovered. | ||
|
1641
|
The cruel Irish Massacre, began October 23. |
1772
|
A Revolution in Denmark. | ||
|
1642
|
Sir Isaac Newton born, Dec. 25. |
1772
|
The Swedes forced to resign their liberties to the K. | ||
|
1643
|
Excise Office formed. |
1775
|
War declared against North America. | ||
|
1649
|
King Charles I. beheaded. |
1776
|
The Americans declare themselves independent | ||
|
1658
|
Oliver Cromwell died, Sept. 3. |
1778
|
The French sign a Treaty with the Americans. | ||
|
1660
|
K. Charles II. arrived at London, May 29. |
1778
|
War against France commenced. | ||
|
1662
|
The Royal Society instituted. |
1779
|
War against Spain begun. | ||
|
1664
|
Two Comets seen in December and March. |
1780
|
War against Holland begun. | ||
|
1665
|
Great Plague, whereof died 68,596 Persons. |
1783
|
A general Peace. |
BARTHOLOMEW
FAIR
(from Joshua White's "Letters on England,"
written in 1810)
Passing near West Smithfield, I observed a real bustle, and a vast number of booths erecting in all the streets leading towards it and St. Bartholomew’s square; and on enquiring the occasion, I was told the celebrated civic carnival of St. Bartholomew Fair was about to commence. This festival is of ancient origin; for it was prohibited in the year 1603 and in 1605, in consequence of the plague raging in London.
On this occasion, before the fair commences, the Lord Mayor, accompanied by sheriffs and constables, proceeds in his state coach to Old Bailey, and stopping at the door of Newgate, to partake, according to custom, of a cool tankard, which is presented by the keeper, he passes along Giltspur street to announce the fair. No sooner is the procession seen, than all the instruments sound such a salute, as would be almost sufficient to drown the noise of an hundred cannon. After the fair is proclaimed, at the great gate leading to the cloth fair, the procession returns in the same order it commenced.
The spectacle which is presented on such an occasion, defies description, and only such a pencil as that wielded by Hogarth, could delineate the motley crew who assemble here. Portable theatres are raised with the usual pageantry, and the most conspicuous characters, such as emperors, harlequins, columbines, and even the arch fiend himself, appear in all the trappings of their appropriate characters. While these humble mimics of the drama are exhibiting their performances in one place, mountebanks of various grades, fire-eaters, necromancers, and rope-dancers, attract the gaze of the multitude by the sublimest efforts of their skill, and while looking thus with the stupid stare, more cunning knaves are artfully and industriously removing watches, pocket-books, &c. from the pockets of the heedless throng.
Delicacies of every kind are provided to please every palate; and to suit the fashion of the times, dainties were to be had with appropriate names, such as Lord Wellington’s allo campaign, Burdett’s Scotch kisses, Percival’s game nuts, and a variety of others. The following were exhibited as:
|
“The most astonishing varieties in all the kingdom! |
A circumstance occurred about the commencement of the show, well calculated to arouse the fears of the most courageous and frighten the timid into convulsions. One of Pidcock’s waggons containing a tiger was overset in going to the fair, and the door accidentally burst open. The ferocious animal made his escape, but did not proceed far ere he stopped, when his keeper had the address to get him into his cage.
CHIMNEY SWEEPS
(from Robert Southey's "Letters from England," written in 1802)
Yesterday, I was amused by a spectacle which you will think better adapted to wild African negroes than to so refined a people as the English. Three or four boys of different ages were dancing in the street; their clothes seemed as if they had been dragged through chimneys, as indeed had been the case, and these sooty habiliments were bedecked with pieces of foil, and with ribbons of all gay colours, flying like streamers in every direction as they whisked round. Their sooty faces were reddened with rose-pink, and in the middle of each cheek was a patch of gold-leaf, the hair was frizzed out, and as white as powder could make it, and they wore an old hat cocked for the occasion, and in like manner ornamented with ribbons, and foil, and flowers. In this array were they dancing through the streets, clapping a wooden plate, frightening the horses by their noise, and still more by their strange appearance, and soliciting money from all whom they met.
The first days of May are the Saturnalia of these people,--a wretched class of men, who exist in no other country than England, and it is devoutly to be hoped, for the sake of humanity, will not continue to exist here. The soot of the earth-coal, which, though formerly used by only the lower classes, is now the fuel of the rich and poor alike, accumulates rapidly in the chimneys; and instead of removing it by firing a gun up, or dragging up a brush, as is sometimes practised in the country, and must have been in former times the custom everywhere, they send men up to sweep it away with a brush. These passages are not infrequently so crooked and so narrow, that none but little children can crawl up them; and you may imagine that cruel threats and cruel usage must both be employed before a child can be forced to ascend places so dark, so frightful, and so dangerous.
No objects can be more deplorable than these poor children. You meet them with a brush in the hand, a bag upon the shoulder, and a sort of woolen cap, or rather bandage swathed round their head; their skin and all their accoutrements equally ingrained with soot, every part being black except the whites of the eyes and the teeth, which the soot keeps beautifully clean. Their way of life produces another more remarkable and more melancholy effect; they are subject to a dangerous species of hydrocele, which is peculiar to them, and is therefore called the chimney-sweeper’s disease.
The festival of these poor people commences on May-day; it was perhaps the day of their patron saint, in times of yore, before the whole hierarchy of saints and angels were proscribed in England by the levelling spirit of a diabolical heresy. They go about in parties of four or five, in the grotesque manner which I have described. A more extraordinary figure is sometimes in company, whom they call Jack-in-the-Bush; as the name indicates, nothing but bush is to be seen, except the feet which dance under it. The man stands in a frame-work which is supported upon his shoulders, and is completely covered with the boughs of a thick and short-branched shrub; the heat must be intolerable, but he gets paid for his day’s purgatory, and the English will do any thing for money. The savages of Virginia had such a personae in one of their religious dances, and indeed the custom is quite in savage taste.
(from Joseph Ballard’s “England in 1815”)
1st May. This day the chimney sweeps have a grand jubilee. These sons of soot parade the streets fantastically dressed out in gilt paper jackets with gaudy wreaths around their heads, their faces besmeared with soot, and their hair powdered. They go from house to house begging money. Lady Montague, who had lost her son, and after a very long search found him apprenticed to a sweep, left by will a sum of money to purchase annually a dinner at Paddington for as many of these sable sons as choose to attend. The hackney coachmen also have abundance of ribbons on their hats in honor of the season.
Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The ceremony of putting the first spade into the ground of the intended line of the Regent's Canal, took place this day. A branch of the canal is projected to extend to certain places already marked out on the Eastern side of the Regent's Park, close to the New Road, for the site of three new markets, for meat, vegetables, and hay. The Act directs, that the part of the Canal extending through the Regent's Park, shall be executed in twelve months. The Company have purchased 120 acres of Finchly Common, for the purpose of forming a head of water, which is to feed the canal.
Saturday, Oct. 31.
The corner-stone of the Highgate Archway was laid by Mr. E. Smith, one of the directors. This arch (which is to be 35 feet high and 18 feet wide, surmounted by a bridge transversing the valley, over which the Hornsey road is to pass) is now dedicated to the Prince Regent, and is to have an inscription in brass letters to that effect.
[ the lot (a Venus)]
The auctioneer, animated with his subject, seems to be rapidly
pouring forth such a torrent of eloquence as cannot fail to operate on
the feelings of his auditors; indeed, having two of their senses enlisted
in his favour, there seems to be little doubt that he will succeed. The
eloquence of the rostrum is of a peruliar nature. Foote, who delineated
every object that he chose with an astonishing truth and felicity, has,
in his Minor, drawn an auctioneer with so much whim and drollery, and
which, if a little outre, posseses so many striking characteristics, that
it may serve a portrait for the whole. Our animated auctioneer, adorning
his Venus with all the flowers of rhetoric, seems to be saying, with Smirke
in the Minor, "A-going for five and forty,--no body more than
five and forty--Pray, ladies and gentlemen, look at this piece!--quite
flesh and blood, and only wants a touch from the torch of Prometheus,
to start from the canvass and fall a-bidding!" And these flowers
are not scatered in vain; "for," continues Smirke, "a
general plaudit ensued, --I bowed, and in three minutes knocked it down
at sixty-three--ten."
GERMANY
The art of rising and moving in the air by means of wings, continues to engage the attention of a number of persons in Germany. At Vienna, the watchmaker Degen, aided by a liberal subscription, is occupied in perfecting his discovery. He has recently taken several public flights in the Prater. At Berlin, Claudius, a wealthy manufacturer of oil-cloth, is engaged in like pursuits: he rises in the air without difficulty, and can move in a direct line at the rate of four miles an hour; but his wings are inwieldy, and he cannot turn round in them. At Ulm, a tailor named Berblinger, announced on the 24th of April, that he had, after great sacrifice of money, labour, and time, invented a machine in which he would, on the 12th of May, rise in the air and fly twelve miles.
DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.
Monday, August 12.
Mr. Sadler, our English aeronaut, made another aerial voyage from the gardens of the Mermaid Tavern, at Hackney. The filling of the balloon was rather slow: It began at nine o'clock, and was not completed till half-past two. The previous operations were carried on in an inclosed part of the garden; and the balloon, when filled, was moved forward upon the lawn. At a quarter before 3, Mr. Sadler, and Captain Paget, of the navy, stepped into the car, and rose into the air immediately with great rapidity, in evidently high spirits, and taking with them such refreshments as the keenness of the air to which they were ascending, might soon render necessary. The airy travellers were in sight for about a quarter of an hour. Thought the weather was fair, yet the day was not remarkably clear, or they would have been visible considerably longer. They took with them, besides life-preservers, grappling irons, clothing, and ballast, two purple flags, one of them bearing the arms, &c. of his Highness the Duke of Gloucester, and the other, those of the Earl of Hardwicke, which they continued to wave as they pursued their trackless path, in grateful testimony to the reiterated shouts and plaudits of the innumerable spectators. The wind being nearly due West, their intention was to come to their mother earth again somewhere on the Essex side of the Thames, near Tilbury or Hornchurch; unless, by some sudden shifting of the breeze, they should find it advisable to land on the coast of Kent. A brisker and finer ascent, it was universally agreed, has not been seen. Within the garden the number of persons was very considerable. Several scientific gentlemen were present. Outside, they exceeded calculation.
At 3 o'clock, the balloon continued to ascend: the aerial travellers observed beneath them what appeared to be two large cisterns of water, but which subsequent observation proved to them were the East India Docks. The thermometer now stood 52-1/2; but, from some accident which happened to the barometer, no observations on that could be made during the continuance of the voyage. The balloon being quite distended, it became necessary to let out some of the gas; and this was done at intervals, till the balloon descended. Ballast, however, was thrown out; the ascent of the balloon now became very rapid, and the travellers were soon at an immense height. At ten minutes past 3 they crossed the Thames at Galeon's-reach, and the sound of a piece of ordnance from Woolwich was distinctly heard by Mr. Sadler and his companion: they observed the smoke, which apparently rose from the earth. Mr. Sadler upon this waved his flag, and another piece of ordnance was discharged, as if to return the compliment as they passed. The city of London, the bridges, the Thames, and the German Ocean were then distinguishable to the aeronauts; and at this period Capt. Paget drew the cork of a bottle of Madiera, and the health of the Prince Regent was drank in a bumper. The prospect, which at this period, for the first time, presented itself to the view of Capt. Paget, was beyond the power of description; the capital was at the time pronounced by him to be a small village; nor could he be persuaded to the contrary, till the four bridges, namely, London, Westminster, Blackfriars, and Battersea, which from their intercepting the river were rendered more conspicuous than other objects, were pointed out to him by Mr. S. As the aeronauts continued their course down the river, they were saluted by the discharge of several more pieces of artillery, and at half-past three they drank the health of all their friends at Hackney. About this time Mr. Sadler, perceiving that the balloon was approaching the sea, felt it prudent to look out for a spot on which to effect a landing. They then descended till the ships in the river, from Woolwich to the Nore, became perfectly distinguishable. On crossing the river at St. Clement's-reach, the balloon descended so low, that the travellers distinctly heard persons conversing in the Gravesend boats, which were passing down the river. Mr. Paget threw out a loaf, which fell to leeward of one of the boats; the people on board answered it by three cheers. At ten minutes before 4, Tilbury Fort came in sight, and they had a perfect view of the town of Gravesend. Mr. Sadler, observing that the country round the fort was perfectly flat, remarked to his fellow-voyager, that it would be desirable to land on that side of the river; and measures were taken to accomplish that object. On their nearer approach to the earth, they saw several reapers at work in a wheat-field, and hailed them for assistance: an immediate chace commenced over hedges and ditches; the balloon, however, for some time took the lead. A brisk gale was now blowing, which rendered the descent extremely difficult; the grappling-irons were, however, now thrown out, and dragged along the ground: in their course, they caught the clothes of a labourer, who become so completely entangled, that he could not extricate himself, till his shirt was literally torn from his back. During this time the car frequently touched the ground, and rebounded again for several yards. By one of these shocks, Mr. Paget was thrown out of the car, but had sufficient presence of mind to catch hold of its rim, which he persevered in holding till assistance arrived, when his companion and himself were released from their perilous situation, and safely landed on terra firma. At this time it was 4 o'clock, and the travellers were within 300 yards of Tilbury Fort, and about 150 from the river, the voyage having occupied a space of one hour and 13 minutes. The balloon was soon secured, and, being placed in a boat, the aeronauts passed over the river to Gravesend, where they dined, and immediately after proceeded in a post-chaise and four to town, followed by a crowd of spectators, which increased to such a degree, that, long before their arrival in town, the chaise could only proceed at a walking pace. In this manner they arrived at ten minutes past 9 o'clock, in perfect health and spirits. The only extraordinary sensation which Captain Paget experienced, was an extreme pain in his ear when the balloon was it its greatest height, which gradually went off as it descended, and left him perfectly free from any inconvenience. The balloon is of larger dimensions than his Oxford vehicle, and is very handsomely painted; round it is an inscription commemorative of the election of the Royal Duke, to the chancellorship of Cambridge, and appropriate ornaments in honour of the Prince Regent. The car, which is supported by the net-work which covers the balloon, is richly adorned, and embellished at each end with the Prince of Wales triple plume in gold.
Wednesday, June 19.
A most splendid Féte was given by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent this evening, with a two-fold motive----first, in honour of the birth-day of his august Parent; and secondly, to benefit the numerous classes of British artists, who, by the illness of the Sovereign, and the discontinuance of the accustomed splendour of the Court, had been deprived of many advantages. The Regent, therefore, feeling for their interests, requested the attendance of his invited guests in habits of the manufacture of their native land. The company began to assemble at nine. The Royal Family, with the principle Nobility and Gentry, came early. The full bands of the three regiments of Foot Guards, and the Prince Regent’s band in their full state uniforms, played alternately the most delightful marches, &c. The Grecian Hall was adorned with shrubs, and an additional number of large lanthorns and patent lamps. The floor was carpeted; and two lines, composed of Yeomen of the Guard, the King’s, the Regent’s, the Queen’s, and Royal Dukes’ servants, in their grandest liveries, formed an avenue to the octagonal hall, where Yeomen were also stationed, and which was decorated with antique draperies of scarlet trimmed with gold-colour, and tied up by gold-colour cords and tassels. In the Hall were also assembled, to receive the company, Generals Keppel and Turner, Colonels Bloomfield, Thomas, and Tyrwhitt, together with Lords Moira, Dundas, Keith, Heathfield, and Mount Edgecombe.
The Prince entered the State Rooms at a quarter past nine. He was dressed in a Field Marshall’s uniform, wearing the riband and gorget of the Order of the Garter, and a diamond star. The Duke of York was dressed in a military, and the Duke of Clarence in a naval uniform. Just after the Prince came in, the Royal Family of France arrived, and were received most graciously. Louis XVIII appeared in the character of the Comte de Lisle. During the evening the Prince Regent passed from room to room, devoid of all ceremony, conversing with the utmost cheerfulness with his guests. The general amusement of the company for some time was perambulating the halls and apartments on the principal floor. The grand circular dining-room, in which the Knights of the Garter were recently entertained, excited particular admiration by its cupola, supported by columns of porphyry, and the superior elegance of the whole of its arrangements. The room in which the throne stands is hung with crimson velvet, with gold laces and fringes. The canopy of the throne is surmounted by golden helmets with lofty plumes of ostrich feathers, and underneath it stands the State Chair. Crimson and gold stools are placed round the room. It contains pictures of the King, Queen, Prince Regent, and Duke of York. We have not space to give a description of the other different apartments on this floor, all of which are of the most magnificent. The ball-room floors were chalked in beautiful arabesque devices. In the centre of the largest were the initials G. III. R. It was divided for two sets of dancers by a crimson silk cord; but owing to the great number of persons, and the excessive heat of the weather, no dancing took place in this room, nor were the dancers numerous in the ball-room. The first dance was led off by Earl Percy and Lady F. Montague---Supper was announced at two, when the company descended by the great staircase to the apartments below, and the temporary buildings on the lawn. The room at the bottom of the staircase represented a bower, with a grotto, lined with a profusion of shrubs and flowers.
The Grand Table extended the whole length of the Conservatory, and across Carlton-House, to the length of 200 feet. Along the centre of the table, about six inches above the surface, a canal or pure water continued flowing from a silver fountain, beautifully constructed at the had of the table. Its banks were covered with green moss and aquatic flowers; gold and silver fish swam and sported through the bubbling current, which produced a pleasing murmur where it fell, and formed a cascade at the outlet. At the head of the table, above the fountain, sat his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, on a plain mahogany chair, with a leather back. The most particular friends of the Prince were arranged on each side. They were attended by sixty Seriviteurs; seven waited on the Prince, besides six of the King’s, and six of the Queen’s footmen, in their state liveries, with one man in a complete suit of antient armour. At the back of the Prince’s seat appeared aureola tables, covered with crimson drapery, constructed to exhibit with the greatest effect a profusion of the most exquisitely wrought silver-gilt plate, consisting of fountains, tripods, epergnes, dishes, and other ornaments. Above the whole of this superb display appeared a Royal crown, and his Majesty’s cypher, G. R., splendidly illumined. Behind the Prince’s chair was most skillfully disposed a sideboard covered with gold vases, urns, massy salvers, &c. the whole surmounted by a Spanish urn, taken from on board the “invincible Armada.” Adjoining to this were other tables, running through the library and whole lower suite of rooms, the candelabras in which were so arranged, that the Regent could distinctly see and be seen from one end to the other.
The Regent’s table accommodated 122, including the Royal Dukes, the Bourbons, and principal Nobility. On the right hand of the Regent was the Duchess of Angouléme, on the left the Duchess of York, the Princess Sophia of Gloucester, &c. From the Library and rooms beyond branched out two great lines of tables under canvas far into the gardens, each in the shape of a cross, all richly served with silver plate, and covered with delicacies of the season. When the whole company was seated, there was a line of female beauty, more richly adorned, and a blaze of jewellry more brilliant, than England ever probably displayed before. Four handsome marquees were pitched on the lawn of Carlton House, with a chevaux de frise to prevent all intrusion; bands of music were stationed in the tents; and when dancing commenced, the gay throng stepped over floors chalked with mosaic devices, and moved through thickets of roses, , geraniums, and other fragrant sweets, illumined by variegated lights, that gleamed like stars through the foliage. The upper servants wore a costume of dark blue, trimmed with broad gold lace; the others wore state liveries. The assistants out of livery were dressed uniformly in black suits with white vests.
The company did not separate till six in the morning. His
Royal Highness was every where, and divided his attentions with the most
polished address. The company comprised all the Members of Administration,
the Foreign Ambassadors, the principal Nobility and Gentry in town, the
most distinguished Military and Naval Officers, the Lord and Lady Mayoress
and the principal Aldermen and Magistrates.---The Gentlemen wore court dresses,
and military and naval uniforms---The ladies wore all new dresses of English
manufacture, principally white satins, silks, lace, crape, and muslins,
ornamented with silver; head-dress, ostrich feathers and diamonds.--For
the gratification of the publick at large, the magnificent preparations
for the Féte were permitted to remain; and many thousands were delighted
by the sight; which, however, we are sorry to say, did not close without
some serious accidents.
