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
"On Tuesday, was given the third Masquerade, at the Theatre. The
characters were more numerous and better supported than at the
last, with the assistance of the dresses belonging to the house.
The principal were Vestals, without virtue, coquetting with frail
Friars. Knights, whose only claim to the title was, that they were
errant, excepting a chosen few, who claimed the distinction of the
Garter; Yorkshiremen with the dialect of the Weald of Kent; Farmers,
whose experience was derived from Mark Lane letters; together with
a profusion of ballad singers, Flower girls, Gipsies, and Servants
wanting places. Among the latter was an Irish woman, who, by the bye,
was a _man_, in the character of a Servant of all work; having lost
her own character, presented the following from Father Delany:
"'I, Father Delany, aver and declare,
This is Judy O'Cloggin's own true character.
She is never prophane, nor swears, by my troth--
Except, now and then, when she raps out an oath;
She is sober, indeed,--except when she's frisky,
With tasting her own Mother's Milk--_Irish Whiskey_;
She's as honest as any, with two legs to stand on--
She leaves nothing alone that she once lays her hand on:
She's Cook, Housemaid, and Scullion, or I am a dunce,
For sure, in my house, she was all these at once:
Besides Lady's Maid, so nate and so clane, aye,
To my beautiful wife, sweet Mrs. Delany:
Our mansion she scour'd with a new birchen broom,
Compos'd of a pig-stye, besides a large room.'
"The Assembly at the Rooms is fixed for to-night, and to-morrow is to
be given, at the same place, a grand Masqued Ball."
The gentleman mentioned in the following advertisement in _The
Kentish Gazette_, Sept. 11th, must have been a pleasant and kindly
country neighbour. "GAME AND RABBITS.--_A general invitation to
qualified Gentlemen._--Manor of Dennie, _alias_ Dane, in the parishes
of Chilham and Molash. The interest of agriculture on this manor,
and the surrounding country, being much injured by the great numbers
of hares, pheasants, and rabbits, the proprietor feels the necessity
of giving this GENERAL INVITATION to _Qualified Gentlemen_, to sport
at their pleasure. The manor-house is in the parish of Chilham, very
near to a place called Shottenton Thorn, and John Packman (a servant)
who resides there, has orders to accommodate gentlemen, as well as
he can, with stabling for their horses, and with any refreshment
for themselves, that his homely mode of living can offer. The house
is large, and a limited number of gentlemen, by sending their own
bedding, may be accommodated with house room in this and future
shooting seasons!!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account