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 the 20th of July there was a grand public fête at Vauxhall, in
honour of the same event, which commenced with a dinner at 5 p.m.,
the Duke of York presiding, accompanied by all his brothers, except
the Prince Regent. At this dinner was shown Marshal Jourdain's
_baton_, which was picked up on the field of battle by a sergeant
of the 87th Regiment. Then the gardens were illuminated on a scale
of grandeur never before attempted, bands played, the visitors
promenaded, and there were three displays of fireworks, and the whole
closed with dancing, the company not separating until 2 a.m. Numbers
of tickets for the evening fête, not including the dinner, were sold
at from three to ten guineas each.
On the 1st of July, at Tunbridge Wells, died a curious character,
William Huntington (his proper name being Hunt), S. S., "Sinner
Saved," as he delighted to call himself, Minister of the Gospel
at Providence Chapel, Gray's Inn Lane. Born in the Weald of Kent,
of very poor parents, he had a rough early life, as errand boy,
labourer, and cobbler. Then he was "saved," and began preaching,
first at Thames Ditton, then in London, at Margaret Street Chapel,
and, by the power of faith and prayer, he finally built the Chapel of
Providence. In his "Bank of Faith" he tells his reader somewhat of
the commencement of this Chapel:--
"I will now inform my reader of the kind providence of my God at the
time of building the Chapel, which I named Providence Chapel (1788):
and also mention a few free-will offerings which the people brought.
They first offered about eleven pounds, and laid it on the foundation
at the beginning of the building. A good gentleman, with whom I had
but little acquaintance, and of whom I bought a load of timber, sent
it in with a bill and receipt in full, as a present to the Chapel of
Providence. Another good man came with tears in his eyes and blessed
me, and desired to paint my pulpit, desk, &c., as a present to the
Chapel. Another person gave me half-a-dozen chairs for the Vestry;
and my friends Mr. and Mrs. Lyons furnished me with a tea-chest
well stored, and a set of china. My good friends Mr. and Mrs.
Smith furnished me with a very handsome bed, bedstead, and all its
furniture and necessaries, that I might not be under the necessity
of walking home in the cold winter nights. A daughter of mine in the
faith gave me a looking-glass for my chapel study. Another friend
gave me my pulpit cushion and a bookcase for my study. Another gave
me a bookcase for the vestry. And my good friend Mr. E. seemed to
level all his displeasure at the devil; for he was in hopes I should
be enabled, through the gracious arm of the Lord, to cut Rahab in
pieces; therefore he furnished me with a sword of the Spirit--a new
Bible, with Morocco binding and silver clasps!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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