THE LAVATORIES AND CLOISTERS OF PETERBOROUGH. THE fragments of ancient architecture which from time to time arrest the eye are viewed by every lover of letters with reverential awe, in some degree approaching to the feelings so finely described by Shakspere, as inspired by contemplation of "Those holy fields, Over whose acres walked those blessed feet, Which fourteen hundred years ago were nailed, For our advantage, on the bitter cross." Such remains carry the mind back to pious and illustrious characters who are "no more on earth." The beautiful proportions and the splendid whole of the palace, or the three towers symbolical of the triune Godhead, the transept imaging the cross, the long range of massy columns, and the elevated choir of the cathedral, are not necessary to invite solemn meditation. The mutilated ruin wakes reflection to No. 1207.] M what must have been the splendour and the magnitude of the mouldering edifice in its palmy days, which, even in its subordinate parts, is found "magnificent in decay." When such meet the eye, we indeed must regret that the earnest injunction of Cardinal Baronius, which he caused to be placed in a church he had repaired at Rome, has not been more respected. We mean that which ran thus :"Presbiter, Card., successor quisquis fueris, Rogo te per gloriam Dei et Per merita horum martyrum, Nihil demito, nihil minuito, nec mutato; Restitutam antiquitatum piè servato: Sic te Deus Martyrum suorum precibus Semper adjuvet." It is, however, something in a case like that of which we speak, to find the venerated ruins have not been repaired and embellished, like Waltham Abbey Church, in the modern taste. And it is in this spirit we submit to the readers of the Mirror' the lavatories to the cloisters of Peterborough. Even in their present condition they will be interesting to many. In Britton's Pictu[VOL. XLIV. resque Antiquities of the English Cities' they are thus introduced : "The buildings of the palace covered a large space, and, as may be reasonably expected, consist of various incongruous parts; for the successive occupants of this, as well as of other episcopal houses, having but a temporary interest in the premises, consulted only their immediate wants or pleasures in the alterations they effected. It is true the abbots did the same in their time, for in the present dwelling we see evidences of three or four different styles or eras of genuine monastic architecture. The oldest part is most probably of the age of Abbot Sais, or Seez, who laid the foundation of the new church in 1117, and in whose time nearly the whole of the monastery of the adjoining village had been consumed by fire. According to the credulous or crafty chronicler, this event was a direct interposition of heaven to punish the blasphemy of the abbot and one of his servants for cursing and invoking the devil to "come and blow the fire." Another part, now the entrance hall, was probably raised in the time of Henry the Second by William de Waterville, who was certainly the greatest builder and most liberal benefactor to the abbey. This hall is a vaulted room, supported by five columns, with bold ribs springing from circular capitals and from corbels in the walls. An apartment, built by Abbot Kirton, as shown by a monogram or device signifying Kirk-ton, by the figure of a church or kirk, and a cask or ton, bears the name of Heaven-chamber, and is adorned and lighted by two small oriel windows in the north wall, and by one larger and more enriched to the south. The embattled parapet of the chamber is rather singular in design. At the western side of the palace are some ornamental panels, with shields, mitres, &c., marking another style and date of architecture. In the gardens of the palace are some mutilated remains of other palatial buildings. On the south side of the cathedral are the shattered walls of two sides of the cloister, which in former times was not only much ornamented in its order, but its windows were richly adorned with painted glass. These walls have four or five doorways of different dates and of various designs, also numerous architectural mouldings, brackets, columns, &c. Near the south-west angle are two recesses with ornamented panelling, which were formerly used as lavatories. They are stated to have been built by Robert de Lyndesey in 1220, but the ornaments of this part are much later. In the inventory taken at the dissolution of the monasteries is an item of "one conduit or lavatory of tynned, with divers coffers and seats there." "The walls on the south and west of the cloister quadrangle remain, but those to the east and north are entirely destroyed except the church wall. In this are two ancient doorways with semi-circular heads, adorned with the chevron and other Norman ornaments. Opposite to these, on the south wall, are two doorways with pointed arches, having enriched mouldings and capitals, indicating the union of the earliest pointed style with that of the circular." The cloister was once very highly decorated. Gruntou, in his 'History of Peterborough,' says, "The windows were all complete and fair, adorned with glass of excellent painting. In the south cloister was a history of the Old Testament; in the east, of the new; in the north, the figures of the successive kings from Penda; in the west was the history from the first foundation of the monastery to the restoring of it by King Edgar: at the bottom of each picture was a history of it in verse." "A HIND LET LOOSE."-Under this title, in 1687, a fierce attack was made on James II. 'It professed to be written by "A Lover of true Liberty." The writer was a Mr John Shields. His criticism on the doings of James runs thus :-"In the beginning of this killing time, as the country calls it, the first author and authorizer of all these mischiefs, Charles II, was removed by death. Then one would have thought the severity would have stopped; and the Duke of York succeeding, in his late proclamation would make the world believe that it never was his principle, nor will he ever suffer violence to be offered to any man's conscience, nor use force or invincible necessity against any man on the account of his persuasion: smooth words to cover the mischiefs of his former destructions, and the wickedness of his future designs. To which, his former celebrated saying, 'that it would never be well till all the south-syd of Forth were made a hunting-field,' and his acts and actings designed to verify it, since his unhappy succession, do give the lie. For immediately on his mounting the throne, the executions and acts prosecuting the persecution of the poor wanderers, were more cruel than ever. There were more butchered and slaughtered in the fields, without all shadow of law, or trial, or sentence, than in all the former tyrant's reign; who were murdered without time given to deliberate upon death, or space to conclude their prayers, but either in the instant when they were praying shooting them to death, or surprising them in their caves, and murdering them there, without any grant of prayer at all; yea, many of them murdered without taking notice of anything to be laid against them, according to the worst of their oun lawes, but slain and cut off without any pity, when they were found at their labour in the field, or travelling upon the road." ENGLISH LIFE OF THE EIGHTEENTH of the world. Military and naval com CENTURY. CHAPTER I.-INTRODUCTORY. DID any one inquire from what particular source I had obtained the information on which the following remarks are founded, I should be puzzled for a reply. I will, however, give one, and with as little circumlocution as may be. I have not, like the historian, sought for it in musty records or black-letter chronicles; nor have I, like the antiquary, traced it in illegible characters or half-obliterated inscriptions. The critic may smile when I say that it is culled from the magazines and newspapers, the dramas and farces, the prologues and epilogues, of the time. "What!" he will exclaim, "depend on the information which a newspaper contains? And that newspaper, too, one of the fictitious penny-a-line journals of the eighteenth century!" But, most sapient judge, remember that I do not inquire into minute details of occurrences, but into the general manners of the people; and the newspaper which exaggerated the accounts of a battle, or put forth imaginary narratives of an earthquake in a distant land, may be relied on for its accuracy when it alludes to circumstances open to the observation of all its readers. The dramas, too, frequently contained sly allusions to, and pointed satires on, men and manners, and the prologues and epilogues were made the vehicles for describing and ridiculing the prevailing fashions, and exposing the follies and the vices of the age. From these ample sources and productive materials, then, aided by the reminiscences of certain respectable grandmothers and nurses, we may occasionally obtain a glimpse of the real manners and customs of the last century: and, as most of these sources-newspapers, dramas, and (in my case) grandmothers and nurse-had their origin in London or its neighbourhood, it is principally notices of London life which they furnish. Occasionally I may glean from them details of the general life in England at the time-political, literary, and domestic; anecdotes tending to illustrate the characters of the principal statesmen, poets, or actors; or facts and scraps which may throw some light on the manners and customs of the age. The eighteenth century was one of the most eventful to England that has revolved. It produced some of the greatest poets, philosophers, and historians that the world ever saw. The drama attained its zenith of popularity, and performers who had never had their equal since the days of Shakspere, trod the English stage. Statesmen and politicians contributed, by their extraordinary talent, towards rendering Britain at once the wonder and the terror manders, combining the qualities of bravery and discretion, extended their country's fame and empire to the very limits of the globe; and England stood proudly forth, the queen of nations and sovereign of the world; the measure of her glory was full, and science was making rapid strides to add to her wealth. Triumph succeeded triumph and victory followed victory, and the eighteenth century closed upon as brilliant a train of conquests as gilds the page of our history. But the abstract details of the principal occurrences of the century have already been recorded: the character of the people, their manners and customs; their general tastes and mode of life, of business and of pleasure, yet remain to be described. Under such circumstances an attempt, however humble and however imperfect, to elucidate these particulars, may not prove totally uninteresting; and it is this hope that has encouraged the writer in his task. Affect not the lofty disdainful smile, ye moderns, for after all that has been said and written, your grandfathers who are gone before, were not so very far behind you. It is true, they had not discovered the various applications of steam and electricity; neither did they practise phrenology or mesmerism: yet, for all that, they were not the uncivilized race which the imagination of some would-be sages of the day would picture them. Barbarous as they were, and refined as we are, we are not ashamed to copy them. We are not ashamed to wear the ruffles, the trains, or the stomachers which our grandmothers wore. Neither are we ashamed to borrow our scheme of an income tax or a penny post from our uncivilized grandsires. In some of our habits, indeed, we are far behind them; and while they were contented with the rural beauties of "Merrie Islington," and the other suburbs, and considered an evening spent at Copenhagen house a rational enjoyment, we seek for pleasure in the gin shop or saloon; they patronized the legitimate British drama, we encourage foreign puppets; they derived instruction from the books which they read, we seek only for amusement. Whether the colours in which the following sketches are painted are favourable or dark, they are, I hope, just. I have not sought to represent our grandsires anything else than what they were. I have not dared to raise them above, or place them below, their just standard, but have attempted to draw their character as accurately as possible; and if its development bé rather favourable than otherwise, I have merely given them their due. The observations which I have mademy remarks on "English Life in the Eighteenth Century," do not pretend to be a connected series; they do not form a history or a description, or even a narrative, but are simply loose sketches of the principal features of English life-rough notes on the subject, which a cursory glance or incidental reference to some old newspaper or magazine has suggested to me. The Daily Courant,' and the 'Public Ledger,' the Tatler,' the Spectator,' and the Guardian,' the Rambler,' and the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' Times,' Telescope,' and the Annual Register,' have each contributed their portion-each and all have been referred to for an explanation of some "unconsidered trifle," and from the details which they furnished, has been compiled this too imperfect sketch of the men and manners of the last age. PARTIALITY OF ANIMALS FOR WINES, SPIRITS, &c. Mr W. G. Barker states that domestic rabbits will eagerly drink ale, though two FRANKLIN observes, in one of his Letters, or three spoonfuls satisfy them. The that the only animals created to drink elephant is so fond of wines, spirits, and water are those which, on their confor- arrack, that when he is required to make mation, are able to lap it from the surface any greater speed or exertion of his of the earth, whereas all those that can strength, his driver promises him some for carry their hands to their mouths were his reward, and it is dangerous to neglect destined to enjoy the juice of the grape. the performance of such promise, for eleThis appears to be true, for no animals are phants have been known to kill the driver so remarkably fond of good liquor as apes, who has deceived them in such cases. baboons, and others possessing hands, Gay, in his Fables,' describes a SOW though many devoid of those organs are intoxicated by eating the brewer's grains, partial to it. The pigmy apes which in- not an unfrequent occurrence with pigs. habit most parts of Africa, the East Indies, In Hutchinson's Travels in Columbia' we and the island of Ceylon, are captured by read that Dr Solo, on hearing of the the natives placing vessels containing glorious victory obtained by Bolivar, was strong spirits near the haunts of those determined that every bird and beast that animals, who, assembling to enjoy it, he possessed should get drunk on that become inebriated, fall asleep altogether, glorious occasion. For this purpose he and in this situation are easily taken. A gave his pigs, horses, cows, and poultry as female ourang-outang in Holland stealthily much juice of the sugar cane as they could got hold of a bottle of Malaga, drank drink, and it was very amusing to see the every drop of it, and then returned the pigs jump about in the most frolicsome empty bottle to its proper place. The manner; a rhinoceros, exhibited in Exeter berbe is called by Europeans the wine- Change some years ago, was very fond of bibber, from its great fondness for palm sweet wines, of which he would often wine. A mandrill baboon, at Wombwell's drink three or four bottles in the course of menagerie, was very partial to fermented a few hours; the Emperor Caligula inliquors and ginger beer; the large dog. dulged his horse with wine served in golden faced baboon, that died at the Tower in cups; Buffon states that oxen and cows 1828, would toss off a pot of porter with are fond of wine; the Rev. Rees Pritchard, great relish, and was such an excessive celebrated as "the Vicar of Llandovery," toper that he at last sunk under a con- who died in 1644, is said to have been firmed dropsy; a young ruffed lemur, at cured of a habit of excessive tippling by the Paris Museum of Natural History, observing that a goat which he had once was partial to spirits; a large East Indian made tipsy with ale, could never afterwards vampire, kept by Mr Bullock, was fond be persuaded to partake of that drink. of white wine, lapping it up like a cat,- This induced the vicar to resolve to abstain half a glass of it was sufficient to make from a propensity of which even the the creature extremely diverting and fro- ignorant goat seemed ashamed. licsome, though without attempting to bite. The Marquis of Hertford had a Russian black bear, called Toby, at his seat at Sudbourne, and the animal would readily Some birds evince a bacchanalian taste. Maplet, an ancient British naturalist, says of parrots, "give them wine and they will be wanton enough." To induce a capon to HISTORIANS have generally passed over, as of very little moment, the story of the consort of George the First. The following authentic particulars will interest many readers: "Sophia, at the time of their marriage, was only sixteen years of age, and was a princess of great personal charms and mental endowments, yet her attractions did not retain the affections of her husband. After she had brought him a son and a daughter, he neglected his amiable consort, and attached himself to a favourite mistress. "Such was the situation of Sophia when Count Konigsmark, a Swedish nobleman, arrived at Hanover. He was a man of good figure, and professed gallantry; had been formerly enamoured of Sophia at Zell, and was supposed to have made some impression on her heart. On the sight of her his passion, which had been diminished by absence, broke out with increasing violence; he had the imprudence publicly to renew his attentions; and as George was absent at the army, he made his solicitations with redoubled ardour. Information of his attachment, and of his success, was conveyed to Ernest Augustus; and one evening, as the Count came out of her apartment, and was crossing a passage, he was put to death by persons placed to intercept him, in the presence of the Elector; and tradition still marks the spot where this murder was committed. Sophia was immediately put under arrest; and though she solemnly protested her innocence, yet circumstances spoke strongly against her. 66 George, who never loved his wife, gave implicit credit to the account of her infidelity, as related by his father; consented to her imprisonment, and obtained from the ecclesiastical consistory a divorce, which was passed on the 28th of December, 1694. And even her father, the Duke of Zell, who doated on his only daughter, does not seem to have entertained any doubts of her guilt, for he always continued upon the strictest terms of friendship with Ernest Augustus, and his son-in-law. "The unfortunate Sophia was confined in the castle of Alden, situated on the small river Aller, in the duchy of Zell. She terminated her miserable existence, after a long captivity of thirty-two years, on the 13th of November, 1726, in the sixty-first year of her age, only seven months before the death of George the First; and she was announced in the 'Gazette' under the title of the Electress Dowager of Han over. "During her whole confinement she behaved with no less mildness than dignity; and on receiving the sacrament once every week, never omitted, on that awful occasion, making the most solemn asseverations that she was not guilty of the crime laid to her charge. Subsequent circumstances have come to light, which appear to justify her memory; and reports are current at Hanover that her character was basely defamed, and that she fell a sacrifice to the jealousy and perfidy of the Countess of Platen, favourite mistress of Ernest Augustus. Being enamoured of Count Konigsmark, who slighted her overtures, jealousy took possession of her breast; she determined to sacrifice both the lover and the princess to her vengeance, and circumstances favoured her design. "The prince was absent at the army; Ernest Augustus was a man of warm passions and violent temper, easily irritated, and, when irritated, incapable of control. Sophia herself had treated Count Konigsmark with regard and attention, and the lover was hot-headed, self-sufficient, priding himself on his personal accomplishments, and accustomed to succeed in affairs of gallantry. "Those who exculpate Sophia assert either that a common visit was construed into an act of criminality, or that the Countess of Platen, at a late hour, summoned Count Konigsmark in the name of the princess, though without her connivance; that on being introduced Sophia was surprised at his intrusion, that on quitting the apartment he was discovered by Ernest Augustus, whom the countess had placed in the gallery, and was instantly assassinated by persons whom she had suborned for that purpose. * * * * "Many persons of credit at Hanover have not scrupled, since the death of Ernest Augustus and George the First, to express their belief that the imputation cast on Sophia was false and unjust. It is also reported that her husband having made an offer of reconciliation, she gave this noble and disdainful answer of haughty virtue unconscious of stain: If what I am accused of is true, I am unworthy of his bed; and if my accusation is false, he is unworthy of me. I will not accept his offers." |