Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original SourcesAshton, John
History
Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original Sources
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
In 1713 'the Curious Barril will be made a Spring Garden, entertaining
the Boxes and Pit with Cool Tankards, Spaw Waters, Bisquits, Milk,
Ale, Beer, Sullibubs, Cake, and Cheese Cakes, and Flowers Playing of
Water: And a very delightful part will be added to the 3 Parts that
are usually performed. There is Galuthetis's Flight from Polyheme, and
as she is carried in State by Neptune attended by many Figures playing
of Water, and some with Fire mingling with it; then will be a great
Tempest of Thunder and Lightning and burning Flames rolling in great
Cascades of Water, to the Expence of 300 Tun extraordinary.' In 1714,
'the Curious Barrel will be made a Dairy House, entertaining the Boxes
and Pit with Curds, several sorts of Creams, Milk, Whey, Cakes, Cheese
Cakes, Sullibubs, New Butter, Butter Milk, which a Woman will be seen
to churn, and a flying Zepherus, a Flora presenting the Spectators
with a Basket of Fruit.... There is Galathea's flight from Polypheme
guided by two flying Boys, with a flaming Torch playing Water through
the Flames: A flying fiery Dragon, out of whose Mouth comes great Fire
Balls, flames of Fire, a large sheet of Water, with many Cascades of
Water, to the expence of 800 Tuns extraordinary.' It was a very
popular exhibition, and ranked, as we see,[364] with the opera and the
play.
[Footnote 364: _Spectator_, No. 168.]
In 1710 the good folks of London were treated to a somewhat unusual
spectacle--that of four real live Indian chiefs or kings, as they were
called. They came over in April of that year, and were treated as
guests of the nation; apartments being obtained for them at an
upholsterer's in King Street, Covent Garden,[365] and they were taken
in two of the royal carriages to visit the Queen. Luttrell says: '20
Aprill. Four Indian Sachems, or Kings of the 5 Indian Nations, lately
arrived here, offering their services to assist her majestie against
all her enemies in those parts, and secure her from the French in and
about Canada in America, had yesterday audience of the queen, and
accepted very graciously; her majestie ordered them presents, the lord
Chamberlain to entertain them at her charge, and that they be shown
what is remarkable here.' On the 21st they visited, in a royal barge,
Greenwich Hospital and Woolwich Dockyard, and on the 22nd they saw the
Banqueting Hall and Chapel at Whitehall. On the 26th they were present
at a review of cavalry and infantry in Hyde Park. On the 28th the New
England and New York merchants gave them a feast, and the Archbishop
of Canterbury presented them each with an English Bible. On May 3 they
had their audience of leave, and then went by way of Hampton Court to
Windsor, from whence they travelled to Portsmouth, and, embarking on
board the _Dragon_, sailed from Spithead on the 8th May, and landed
safely at Boston July 15 of the same year.
[Footnote 365: _Tatler_, 171.]
[Illustration: The Four Indian Kings.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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