CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE The King's Malady -- Former preparations for a Regency -- King's recovery -- The King at home -- His love of music -- Severe frost -- Lucien Buonaparte a prisoner of war -- French obstructions to commerce -- A gallant merchantman 1 CHAPTER II. A Regency inevitable -- Prince of Wales waited on -- He undertakes the Regency -- French and English prisoners of war -- Roman Catholic soldiers -- Roughness of manners -- Passing of Regency Bill -- The Prince's companions -- Inauguration of the Prince as Regent -- Improvement in the health of the King 17 CHAPTER III. Story of a crime -- The Shanavests and the Caravats -- Gluttony -- Smuggling bullion -- A Tar at the theatre -- Deposition of French Colours in Whitehall Chapel -- The Duke of York reinstated as Commander-in-Chief -- The Regency Fête -- Account of the entertainment 39 CHAPTER IV. Ladies' dresses at the Fête -- The banquet -- Carlton House thrown open to the public -- The crush -- Sir F. Burdett's action against the Speaker -- Relief of British Prisoners in France -- Scarcity of guineas -- Lord King and his tenants -- Stories respecting the Currency 57 CHAPTER V. A smuggler's victim -- Illness of Gilray -- A gallant highwayman -- A Witch -- Bartholomew Fair -- The Comet -- A practical joke on the Queen -- Woman's Cricket Match -- Ballooning -- French prisoners of war -- Luddite riots -- The King and his physicians -- His health 75 CHAPTER VI. 1812. The Regent's doings -- The Royal Sprain -- Colonel McMahon -- Luddite and Factory Riots -- Scarcity of Bullion -- Murder of Mr. Perceval 97 CHAPTER VII. French Prisoners of War -- Repeal of the "Orders in Council" -- Rejoicings for the Victory of Salamanca -- Saturnalia thereat 119 CHAPTER VIII. Chimney-sweeps -- Climbing boys -- Riot at Bartholomew Fair -- Duelling -- War with France -- Declaration of war between England and America -- Excommunication for bearing false witness -- Early Steam Locomotives -- Margate in 1812 -- Resurrection men -- Smithfield Cattle Club 133 CHAPTER IX. 1813. High price of provisions -- Luddites -- Smuggling -- Day of Humiliation -- The Cossack -- Mdlle. Platoff -- Discovery of body of Charles I. at Windsor -- The Queen and the mad woman -- The fasting woman of Tutbury -- Fight between the _Shannon_ and the _Chesapeake_ -- Rejoicings for the Victory at Vittoria -- Fête at Vauxhall--William Huntingdon, S.S. 149 CHAPTER X.