SOCIAL ENGLAND.
SOCIAL ENGLAND
UNDER
THE REGENCY.
BY
JOHN ASHTON,
AUTHOR OF "SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE," "OLD TIMES,"
"DAWN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY," ETC.
WITH 90 ILLUSTRATIONS.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
London:
WARD AND DOWNEY,
12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
MDCCCXC.
PREFACE.
Certainly, it is not the least part of an Author's reward, for allhis pains and trouble, to find that the Public appreciates hisefforts, and purchases, and reads his books.
This, I am happy to say, was specially the case with one of mine,"The Dawn of the Nineteenth Century." In it I wrote of Social Englandin the first decade of the century, leaving off at a time when GeorgeIII. was hopelessly incompetent to govern, and a Regency was inprogress of establishment.
The favour which the Public bestowed upon this book emboldens me tocontinue it, and sketch the men and manners of the Regency. Mostbooks of this class deal mainly with the great ones of the land,but I have only done so where necessary to illustrate the historyof the (p. vi) times, my aim being more to delineate the socialcondition of England, and her people; and this work will be foundperfectly reliable as history, nothing being taken at second hand,but all compiled, even down to the illustrations, from original andcontemporaneous authorities.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Page
The King's Malady — Former preparations for a Regency — King's recovery — The King at home — His love of music — Severe frost — Lucien Buonaparte a prisoner of war — French obstructions to commerce — A gallant merchantman1
CHAPTER II.
A Regency inevitable — Prince of Wales waited on — He undertakes the Regency — French and English prisoners of war — Roman Catholic soldiers — Roughness of manners — Passing of Regency Bill — The Prince's companions — Inauguration of the Prince as Regent — Improvement in the health of the King17
CHAPTER III.
Story of a crime — The Shanavests and the Caravats — Gluttony — Smuggling bullion — A Tar at the theatre — Deposition of French Colours in Whitehall Chapel — The Duke of York reinstated as Commander-in-Chief — The Regency Fête — Account of the entertainment39
CHAPTER IV.
Ladies' dresses at the Fête — The banquet — Carlton House thrown open to the public