Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign — John Shaqi
Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's ReignAshton, John
History
Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Mr. Minshull then desired him to come round in front of the bench,
and said to him: “I dare say, Sir, you have money enough at your
disposal, but I pray you not to entertain the notion that you can
therefore do as you think fit in the streets of this metropolis,
either by night, or by day. You were brought before me, recently,
for a similar offence, when I fined you £5, and I now warn you, that
if you should again appear before me, under circumstances like the
present, I shall, most assuredly, feel it to be my duty, not to
inflict a pecuniary fine upon you—for that is no punishment to a
person in your station—but I shall send you, at once, as I am
authorized to do, to hard labour in the House of Correction, and you
will then see that neither rank, nor riches, can entitle you to the
privilege of committing depredations upon the property of peaceable
and industrious persons, or of disturbing the peace and quiet of this
town with impunity.”
The noble Lord was then handed over to the custody of the gaoler, and his
two companions were discharged. It appeared that he had not sufficient
money about him to pay the fines, but his brother, the Marquis of
Waterford, after visiting him in “durance vile,” released him from his
ignoble captivity by paying the fines.
On the same day, his brother, Lord James Beresford, was arrested for
disgusting behaviour, and two “young men of genteel appearance,” who gave
false names, were taken in custody by the police for maliciously
upsetting a shell-fish stall.
One more illustration of the amusements and behaviour of the _jeunesse
dorée_ of that period will suffice. _Times_, 25 _Nov._
MARLBOROUGH STREET.—Lord Harley, of Chester Place, Capt. W. E.
Reynolds, of Jermyn Street, and Mr. Charles Lushington, of Tavistock
Hotel, were on Thursday (23 Nov.) brought before Mr. Chambers,
charged with having practised the fashionable amusement of ringing
door bells.
Mr. Young, surgeon, Piccadilly, said, about 5 o’clock that morning he
was roused by a violent ringing at his bell. He answered the summons
immediately.
Capt. Reynolds: It’s a --- lie. You have committed perjury.
Mr. Lushington (to the complainant): You are a --- liar. The fact
is, I hurt my fingers and wanted some diachylum plaister, and I
therefore rang the bell of the first surgeon I came to. This is the
truth. So help me, God.
Mr. Young continued: When he got to the door, he found that all the
three defendants had gone away; and he immediately followed them, and
demanded their reason for disturbing him. The defendants turned upon
him, and made use of language and epithets which he would not pollute
his lips by repeating.
Capt. Reynolds (shaking his stick at the witness): I wish I had you
elsewhere.
Mr. Lushington: I’d roll you in the kennel, if it was worth while.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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