Curialia Miscellanea, or Anecdotes of Old Times: Regal, Noble, Gentilitial, and Miscellaneous: Including Authentic Anecdotes of the Royal Household, and the Manners and Customs of the Court, at an Early Period of the English HistoryPegge, Samuel
History
Curialia Miscellanea, or Anecdotes of Old Times: Regal, Noble, Gentilitial, and Miscellaneous: Including Authentic Anecdotes of the Royal Household, and the Manners and Customs of the Court, at an Early Period of the English History
Pegge, Samuel
Anecdotes -- Great Britain; Great Britain -- Court and courtiers -- Early works to 1800; Pegge, Samuel, 1704-1796
The 5th of November is now gone and over, and they said I
acquitted myself very well. Indeed, I was in good spirits, and,
as my Son-in-law read the prayers, I went fresh into the pulpit.
The Duke of Devon was too late; but we had the Earl of Stamford
at church, with Lord George and Lord John Cavendish, Lord Danby
(Son of the Marquis of Carmarthen), and Lord Francis Osborne,
with their Preceptor Dr. Jackson, Prebendary of Westminster, &c.
The cavalcade from Whittington to Chesterfield, where we were
to dine at four o'clock, was amazingly grand, no less than 50
coaches and chaises with horses dressed with orange ribbons;
large and fine banners, with sundry bands of music. There were
about 1000 on foot, with orange cockades, and about 300 on
horseback, many of whom, besides cockades, were in blue, with
orange capes. At half past six the fireworks, by an Italian
artist, began, and very admirable they were; he had twenty
pounds given him by the _Managers_. The ball room, at nine, was
so crowded that, though it is large, there could be but little
dancing. The ball was given to the Ladies, with an entertainment
of cakes, sweetmeats, negus, &c. It was a fine day; and not the
least accident happened, though it is supposed not less than
30,000 people were assembled. Hogsheads of liquor were given by
the Managers at Whittington and Chesterfield, and the Duke of
Devon gave twenty-four guineas to the footmen mentioned above. I
saw nobody however in liquor; and when Mr. Rooke and I returned
to Whittington, at one o'clock or after, we had a sober driver.
It happened to be my birth-day; which being known to some
gentlemen at all the three great inns where the company dined,
they drank my health with three cheers, requesting me to print
my Sermon. This request I have complied with, and it is now
printed at Chesterfield; I will take care that a copy be sent to
you and Mr. Nichols. But I must observe to you on the occasion,
that the Sermon will not read so well as it was heard, because
having good command over myself at the time, I delivered it with
energy and emphasis.
There will be a monument erected at the Revolution House in
Whittington; a column I suppose; and 148 guineas are already
subscribed. N. B. The Duke of Devon and the Earl of Stamford
were excepted from subscribing, so they reluctantly desisted.
Sir H. Hunloke, a Catholic, is a subscriber, and went in the
cavalcade, but was not at church, as you may suppose.
We have a very fine time here, no signs of winter but the
absence of leaves; the want of water however is very wonderful,
considering the time of year, and is even distressing. I grow
very idle and good for nothing; but, such as I am, I remain your
very affectionate and much obliged servant,
S. PEGGE.
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