Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)Ashton, John
History
Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Regency -- England
In the end Lord Cochrane and Mr. Butt were condemned to pay to the
King a fine of a thousand pounds each, and J. P. Holloway five
hundred: and these three, together with De Berenger, Sandon, and
Lyte, were sentenced to imprisonment in the Marshalsea for twelve
Calendar Months. Further, Lord Cochrane, De Berenger, and Butt, were
to stand on the pillory for one hour before the Royal Exchange once
during their imprisonment. This latter part of their punishment was
afterwards remitted. Lord Cochrane's name was struck off the Navy
list, he was expelled from the House of Commons, his arms were taken
down from his stall as Knight of the Bath, his banner torn down, and
kicked ignominiously out of Henry VII.'s Chapel in Westminster Abbey.
By very many he was believed innocent, and, on his seat for
Westminster being declared vacant, he was enthusiastically
re-elected. He escaped from Custody, was captured, and had to serve
his time. On June 20, 1815, he was told that his imprisonment was at
an end if he would pay the fine imposed upon him; and on July 3rd he
reluctantly did so with a £1,000 bank note, on the back of which he
wrote:--"My health having suffered by long and close confinement, and
my oppressors being resolved to deprive me of property or life, I
submit to robbery, to protect myself from murder, in the hope that I
shall live to bring the delinquents to justice."
On the very day he was released, he took his seat again in the House
of Commons. It is not my province to follow his life, but in 1832 he
received a "free pardon"; he was restored to the Navy List, gazetted
a rear-admiral, and presented at a _levée_!
There is a little bit of domestic news chronicled on March 9th,
which is interesting when we contrast the prices at which we are
now supplied with the same commodities. "Covent Garden Market.--The
extreme severity of the weather has rendered all the fruits and
vegetables of the season dear beyond all precedent. The following are
the prices of some of the articles:--Asparagus, £1 4s. per hundred;
Cucumbers, £1 1s. per brace; best Pines, £2 12s. each; Grapes, £3 3s.
per pound; Endive, 8s. per dozen; best Brocoli, 16s. per bundle;
second ditto, 7s. per ditto; French Beans, 8s. per 100; Mushrooms,
5s. 6d. per pottle; best Kale, 12s. per basket; Nonpareil Apples,
8s. per dozen; Colmar Pears, £1 10s. per dozen; Cos Lettuce, 4s.
per dozen; Mint, 1s. 6d. per bunch; Greens, 16s. per dozen; Spanish
Onions, 12s. per dozen."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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