The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the timesAshton, John
History
The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the times
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
At night the illuminations were very fine, and there were many
transparencies, one or two of which were, to say the least, peculiar.
One in Pall Mall had a flying Cupid holding a miniature of Napoleon,
with a scroll underneath, “Peace and Happiness to Great Britain.”
Another opposite M. Otto’s house, in Hereford Street, Oxford Street,
had a transparency of Bonaparte, with the legend, “Saviour of the
Universe.” Guildhall displayed in front, a crown and G. R., with a
small transparency representing a dove, surrounded with olive. The Post
Office had over 6,000 lamps. The India House was brilliant with some
1,700 lamps, besides G. R. and a large PEACE. The Mansion House looked
very gloomy. G. R. was in the centre, but one half of the R was broken.
The pillars were wreathed with lamps. The Bank only had a double row of
candles in front.
Squibs, rockets, and pistols were let off in the streets, and the
noise would probably have continued all night, had not a terrible
thunder-storm cleared the streets about 11 p.m.
On the 12th, the illuminations were repeated with even more brilliancy,
and all went off well. One effect of the peace, which could not fail to
be gratifying to all, was the fact, that wheat fell, next marketday,
some 10s. to 14s. per quarter.
The popular demonstrations of joy occasionally took odd forms, for
it is recorded that at Falmouth, not only the horses, but the cows,
calves, and asses were decorated with ribands, in celebration of the
peace; and a publican at Lambeth, who had made a vow that whenever
peace was made, he would give away all the beer in his cellar, actually
did so on the 13th of October.
As was but natural, the Lord Mayor’s installation, on the 9th of
November, had a peculiar significance. The Show was not out of the way,
at least nothing singular about it is recorded, except the appearance
of a knight in armour with his page at the corner of Bride Lane, Bridge
Street, had anything to do with it; probably he was only an amateur, as
he does not seem to have joined the procession. In the Guildhall was a
transparency of Peace surrounded by four figures, typical of the four
quarters of the globe returning their acknowledgments for the blessings
showered upon them. There were other emblematic transparencies, but
the contemporary art critic does not speak very favourably of them. M.
Otto and his wife, an American born at Philadelphia, were _the_ guests
of the evening, even more than the Lord Chancellor, and the usual
ministerial following.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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