The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and MarriagesAshton, John
History
The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages
Ashton, John
Fleet Prison (London, England); Fleet, River (England)
The author of the Letter of "Fleta to the Lords, calling upon them
individually to Oppose the Bill _for transferring the Debtors in the
Fleet_ to the Queen's Prison, respectfully calls upon all Parties
interested in an _Opposition to the said Bill_, to render him such
pecuniary assistance in forwarding his Object, as may be consistent
with their Views or Convenience." A list of Subscriptions follows, but
although 25/-was promised, only 15/-appears to be paid. They held
meetings, a notice calling one of which is facsimiled; but it was of
no avail, and they had to go.
[Illustration:
_Notice_
The _Memorial_ to the Lord
High Chancellor, and to the
Judges of the Supreme
Courts of Law, will lie for
_Signatures_ at the Tap
from 12 till 2 o'Clock.
Fleet.
Wed. May. 4. 1842.]
One Philip Ball, a Chancery Prisoner, composed
"THE LAST DAYS OF THE FLEET!"
A melancholy Chaunt,
_Written by a_ COLLEGIAN, _on the occasion of the Queen's
Prison Bill receiving the Royal Assent._
Air. 'The Fine Old English Gentleman.'
1
I'll sing to you a bran new song
Made by my simple pate,
About the end of the good old Fleet,
Which on us now shuts its gate.
It has kept confin'd the choicest lads
That e'er together met--
Of merry, jolly, rattling dogs,
A regular slap up set.
Of jovial Fleet prisoners,
All of the present day.
2
This good old pris'n in every room
Contains a merry soul,
Who for his doings out of doors
Is now drop't 'in the hole.'
But surely this is better far
Than your simple plodding way,
Get deep in debt, go through the Court,
And whitewash it all away.
Like a jovial Fleet prisoner,
All of the present day.
3
Such right good hearts are rarely found,
As round me now I see;
With such, I'm 'most inclined to say,
Hang liberty for me.
For T----y, S----y, V----h,
In spirits who excel?
How could we better live than here,
Where friendship weaves her spell?
'Mongst jovial Fleet prisoners,
All of the present day.
4
To racquets, skittles, whistling shops,
We must soon say farewell;
The Queen's assent to her prison bill
Has rung their funeral knell;
And Bennett, Gray, and Andrew too
Must close their welcome doors,
For sing song and tape spinning now,
This damn'd new Act all floors,
For the jovial Fleet prisoner,
All of the present day.
5
But to her gracious Majesty
You'll long be loyal and true,
Although this latest act of hers
Must be felt by some of you.
Speed through the Court, or compromise
Like gallant Captain T----h,
Or else you'll soon be sent to grieve
Your guts out in the Bench.
All melancholy prisoners[153]
Unlike those of the present day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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