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
One would have thought that the great age of the undermentioned
debtor would have protected him from his ruthless creditor, who,
however, was no gainer by his act. May 13th: "A few days since, a
poor infirm man, aged 103, from Yorkshire, was delivered into the
custody of the Marshal of the King's Bench, for a debt of _Twenty
Pounds_!! The poor man's apprehensions were so great on entering
the prison, that he was seized with a sudden and violent illness,
which induced the Marshal, on a representation of the case, to have
him removed to a comfortable apartment in Belvidere Place; but,
notwithstanding every alleviation which humanity could suggest, was
promptly administered, he expired the same evening."
Next "silly season"--London Newspapers please copy: "July 21: On
Saturday se'nnight was pulled, in the garden of Mr. Jones, at
Lodge-my-Loons, a little north from Glasgow, a strawberry, which
weighed fully one ounce, and measured 6-1/2 inches by 5."
Our Volunteer officers grumble somewhat at the expenses contingent
upon their position, but they had a harder time of it under the
Regency. August 14th: "At Lincoln Assizes an action was tried,
brought by the Landlord of the Bull Inn, at Market Deeping, against
the Cornet of the Ness Volunteers for the expenses of a dinner and
liquor for 54 of the corps. The party sat down to dinner about
half-past four o'clock, and mostly retired before ten. The quantity
of liquor charged was as follows: _One hundred and twenty-six bottles
of port, forty-eight of sherry, sixty-four half-crown bowls of punch,
and twenty of negus, besides ale and porter._ The Jury gave a verdict
in favour of the innkeeper, only taking off sixpence per bottle on
the port wine."
Have we yet forgotten "Brummy" and the "Man and Dog fight" so
graphically described in _The Daily Telegraph_ by Mr. James
Greenwood? Here is a variation on the brutal theme. October 25th:
"W. Moore of Loughborough, bricklayer, a few days ago, laid a wager
of three shillings, that he could, with his hands tied behind
him, _worry to death_ a hedgehog, with his face. He commenced his
extraordinary undertaking by prostrating himself on the ground, and
attacking the exterior of his prickly antagonist with his nose. In
a few minutes his face was covered with blood, and he appeared to
have little chance of success; however, at length having pressed the
little animal till it had protruded its head, he snatched at it, and
bit it off, thereby winning the wager, to the great amusement of the
brutal spectators."
Another illustration of there being nothing new under the sun, is
that Torpedoes were known early in the Century, nay, even before
that. _The Morning Chronicle_ of October 29th has an article upon
them, part of which I transcribe:--
"AMERICAN TORPEDOES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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