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
I have only space for the dresses of the Queen and Prince Albert. Her
Majesty’s dress was composed of gold tissue, brocaded in coloured
flowers, green leaves and silver, trimmed round the top, bottom and sides
(the upper dress being open in front) with point lace over red ribbon;
the dress looped up with red satin ribbons, and two large bows, in each
of which was a diamond bow and tassel. The stomacher was composed of two
large diamond bows, and a diamond point; the sleeves, which were tight,
finished with point lace ruffles, and trimmed with red ribbon; on the
left arm, the Garter in diamonds, and, on the right, a diamond rosette.
She wore the blue ribbon and diamond George as usual. The under
petticoat was of white and silver tissue, trimmed with a deep flounce of
rich point lace (which had belonged to Queen Charlotte), headed by a
quilling of red satin ribbon and bows; above, a narrower flounce of point
lace, trimmed like the other; in each ribbon bow, a diamond rosette.
Prince Albert wore a suit of the richest crimson velvet (of Spitalfields
manufacture); the coat lined with white satin, edged throughout with
gold; and the buttons were of gold. On his left breast His Royal
Highness wore a most splendid star of the order of the Garter, composed
of diamonds, with the exception of the cross, which was formed of rubies.
The badge of the Order was confined at the shoulder by an epaulette
composed of large brilliants, and a most splendid George was suspended
from the ribbon, wholly formed of brilliants. The Prince also wore the
insignia of the Golden Fleece, formed of opals and diamonds. The Garter
was set in brilliants, and the hilt of His Royal Highness’s sword was
covered with diamonds. The waistcoat was of white satin, richly and
elegantly embroidered with gold, the buttons being of gold. Shoe buckles
of diamonds. Hat, three cornered, edged with gold lace, with handsome
diamond ornament in the cockade in front.
The Earl of Cardigan could not masquerade as Bayard, but “he excited no
little attention. He wore the uniform of the 11th Dragoons at Culloden;
and, with the costume, which became him extremely, he contrived to assume
the portentous bearing, and the true jack-boot stride and swagger.”
The _Morning Chronicle_ is answerable for the following: “For some time
past the copper coinage of William IV. has been eagerly purchased by
persons who are stated to be Jews, and a report has, in consequence,
gained ground that gold is contained in it. What reason there may be for
this it is impossible to say; but it is a well-known fact, that agents
have been at work for the last two months buying up those particular
coins in Westminster, and they now fetch double the price of their legal
issue. The mania has extended eastward, and twopence for a penny piece,
and a penny for a halfpenny, etc., are now asked for the ‘precious
issue.’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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