CRISPIN."

T1he whimsical manner in which the above customs are reprehended, was fairly matched by the following notice from the Publick Advertiser, issued in downright serious earnest.

2"To the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Faith.

3"I have observed of late years, that the London meeting-houses of all Sectaries have crowded audiences, and that the Prayers of our established Church are read, and the Sermons of her Ministers preached, to empty seats, unless at places where some new-fangled doctrines are propagated to captivate weak minds. It becomes me as an honest man, and agreeable to the oath I have taken, earnestly to admonish you to attend the service of the Church on Sundays, unless prevented by occasions that are lawful.

4"It requires I should give you this notice publicly, that no person may have reason to think me over-officious, if he finds his name among the presentments my oath obliges me to exhibit before the Ecclesiastical Court at the expiration of my office.

5DAVID RICE, _Churchwarden_."

6CELEBRATION OF THE PRESENT MONARCH'S ACCESSION--MARRIAGE--AND VISIT TO GUILDHALL.

7The spirits of the Community were never more exhilarated than at the auspicious period which gave England her present King and Queen. The Coronation was necessarily similar to those described in _Londinium Redivivum_; and the simplicity of our Church in the article of marriage admits of little more splendour than that of dress, at all times superb on such occasions in the British court. The fireworks, illuminations, and behaviour of the populace, who were in some instances regaled with beer round a bonfire, was generally decorous, and in some measure compels me to silence as to incidents, except in one particular case, when an odd scene of _midnight gratitude_ was exhibited to Earl Temple and Mr. Pitt, who were returning _incog._ from Guildhall, where they had dined on the 9th of November 1761. The instant those Patriots were recognized, the multitude crowded round the carriage, impeded its progress, and shouted with so much ardour, that the sleeping neighbours were roused, and, when they had discovered the cause of the tumult, heartily joined in the shouts with nightcaps instead of hats in hand.

8The report of the Committee appointed to provide the entertainment on the above day, will evince how well they performed their duty.

9"At a Court of Common Council held June 17, 1762, the following Report was presented to the Court:

10"_To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled._

11"We your Committee, appointed by your order, of the third day of October last, to manage the entertainment for their Majesties at the Guildhall of this City, on the then ensuing Lord Mayor's Day, beg leave to report, that duly sensible of the great honour done us in this appointment, we cheerfully devoted our time and utmost endeavours to prepare and regulate the said entertainment, so as best to answer the intention of this honourable Court.

12"In the preparations for the intended feast, your Committee omitted no expence that might serve to improve its splendour, elegance, or accommodation: whilst on the other hand they retrenched every charge that was not calculated to that end, however warranted by former precedents. Their Majesties having expressed their Royal inclinations to see the Procession of the Lord Mayor to Guildhall, the Committee obtained Mr. Barclay's house in Cheapside for that purpose, where proper refreshments were provided, and every care taken to accommodate their Majesties with a full view of the whole cavalcade.

13"The great hall and adjoining apartments were decorated and furnished with as much taste and magnificence as the shortness of the time for preparation and the nature of a temporary service would permit: the Hustings where their Majesties dined, and the new Council Chamber, to which they retired both before and after dinner, being spread with Turkey carpets, and the rest of the floors over which their Majesties were to pass with blue cloth, and the whole illuminated with near three thousand wax tapers in chandeliers, lustres, girandoles, and sconces.

14"A select band of music, consisting of fifty of the best hands, placed in a superb gallery, erected on purpose at the lower end of the Hall, entertained their Majesties with a concert during the time of dinner, under the direction of a gentleman justly celebrated for his great musical talents; whilst four other galleries (all covered with crimson, and ornamented with festoons) exhibited to their Majesties a most brilliant appearance of five hundred of the principal Citizens of both sexes.

15"Their Majesties table was served with a new set of rich plate, purchased on this occasion, and covered with all the delicacies which the season could furnish, or expence procure, and prepared by the best hands.

16"A proportionable care was taken of the several other tables provided for the Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers; the Lords and Gentlemen of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council; the Lord Chancellor and Judges; the Lords and Ladies in waiting; the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Common Council; and many others, both of the Nobility and Gentry: the whole number of guests within the Hall, including the galleries, being upwards of twelve hundred; and that of the Gentlemen Pensioners, Yeomen of the Guard, Horse and Horse-Grenadier Guards, and servants attendant upon their Majesties, and the Royal Family, and who were entertained at places provided in the neighbourhood, amounting to seven hundred and twenty-nine.

17"And that this Court may form some judgment of the manner of the entertainment, your Committee have hereunto subjoined the bill of fare of their Majesty's table, and the totals of the several bills on this occasion, amounting to 6898_l._ 5_s._ 4_d._; which, your Committee have the satisfaction to acquaint this Honourable Court, have been all ordered for payment.

18"Your Committee, likewise, having provided a great variety of the choicest wines, took care that every guest should be supplied with plenty and dispatch; and yet the various services performed without hurry or confusion.

19"For this purpose your Committee issued no more tickets for admission than what (considering the necessary number of attendants, amounting to two hundred and forty persons) would fill the Hall without incommoding the Royal Personages for whom the feast was intended.

20"And to prevent as much as possible the intrusion of strangers (too frequent on such occasions) your Committee directed a temporary porch to be erected in the front of the Hall, where gentlemen of trust were placed at three several bars.

21"Upon the whole, your Committee omitted no care or pains to render the entertainment as commodious and agreeable as possible to the Royal Guests, and in some measure expressive of the zeal and veneration of this Honourable Court for their august Sovereign, his most amiable Consort, and illustrious Family, and of their sense of his gracious condescension in honouring this City with his Royal Presence: happy if they have in any degree answered expectation, and are allowed to have done justice to the honourable trust reposed in them. Signed this 15th day of June, 1762.

22"_S. Fludyer_, _Robert Alsop_, _Richard Glyn_, _Francis Gosling_, _Thomas Long_, _Robert Wilsonn_, _Francis Ellis_, _Henry Kent_, _James Walton_, _Charles Meredith_, _John Rivington_, _Thomas Cogan_, _Edward Waldo_, _W. Reeves_, _Samuel Freeman_, _William Tyser_, _John Paterson_."

23THE KING'S TABLE.

24FIRST SERVICE*.

25£. _s._ _d._ 12 Dishes of Olio, Turtle, Pottages, and Soups 44 2 0 12 Ditto Fish; _viz._ John Dories, Red Mullet, &c. 44 2 0 7 Ditto roast Venison 10 0 0 3 Westphalia Hams consume, and richly ornamented 6 6 0 2 Dishes Pullets à la Royale 2 2 0 2 Ditto Tongues Espagniole 3 3 0 6 Ditto Chickens à la Reine 6 6 0 1 Ditto Tondron de Vaux à la Danzie 2 2 0 1 Harrico 1 1 0 1 Dish Popiets of Veale Glasse 1 4 0 2 Dishes Fillets of Lamba la Conte 2 2 0 2 Ditto Comports of Squabs 2 2 0 2 Ditto Fillets of Beef Marinate 3 0 0 2 Ditto of Mutton à la Memorance 2 2 0 32 Ditto fine Vegetables 16 16 0

26* The orthography of the French words in the following items is wrong in almost every instance; but it must be remembered that it is _culinary_ orthography!

27SECOND SERVICE.

286 Dishes fine Ortolans 25 4 0 10 Ditto Quails 15 0 0 10 Ditto Notts 30 0 0 1 Ditto Wheat-ears 1 1 0 1 Goodevau Patte 1 10 0 1 Perrigoa Pye 1 10 0 1 Dish Pea-chicks 1 1 0 4 Dishes Woodcocks 4 4 0 2 Ditto Pheasants 3 3 0 4 Ditto Teal 3 3 0 4 Ditto Snipes 3 3 0 2 Ditto Partridges 2 2 0 2 Ditto Patties Royal 3 0 0

29THIRD SERVICE.

301 Ragout Royal 1 1 0 8 Dishes fine green Morells 8 8 0 10 Ditto fine green peas 10 10 0 3 Ditto Asparagus Heads 2 2 0 3 Ditto fine fat Livers 1 11 6 3 Ditto fine Combs 1 11 6 5 Ditto green Truffles 5 5 0 5 Ditto Artichoaks à la Provincale 2 12 6 5 Ditto Mushroons au Blanc 2 12 6 1 Dish Cardons à la Bejamel 0 10 6 1 Ditto Knots of Eggs 0 10 6 1 Ditto Ducks Tongues 0 10 6 3 Dishes of Peths 1 11 6 1 Dish of Truffles in Oil 0 10 6 4 Dishes of Pallets 2 2 0 2 Ditto Ragout Mille 2 2 0

31FOURTH SERVICE.

322 Curious ornamented Cakes 2 12 0 12 Dishes Blomanges, representing different figures 12 12 0 12 Ditto Clear Marbrays 14 8 0 16 Ditto fine Cut Pastry 16 16 0 2 Ditto Mille Fuelles 1 10 6

33_The Centre of the Table._

341 Grand Pyramid of Demies of Shell Fish of various sorts 2 2 0 32 Cold things of sorts; _viz._ Temples, Shapes, Landscapes in Jellies, savoury Cakes, and Almond Gothes 33 12 0 2 Grand Epergnes, filled with fine Pickles, and garnished round with Plates of Sorts, as Laspicks, Rolards, &c. 6 6 0 ----------------- Total of the King's Table 374 1 0

35Totals of the several BILLS.

36Mr. George Dance, Clerk of the Works 65 4 6 Mr. Richard Gripton, Coffee-man 56 10 0 Ditto, Coffee, Tea, &c. for the Committee 31 13 0 Mr. John Read, Carpenter 876 6 0 Mr. Kuhff, Confectioner 212 1 0 Mr. Wilder, ditto 121 14 0 Mr. Scott, ditto 91 14 0 Messrs. Kuhff, Wilder, and Scott, ditto 174 9 0 Mr. Baughan, Wax Chandler 31 0 0 Mr. Garrard, ditto 30 12 0 Mrs. Jones, ditto 30 12 0 Mr. Cotterel, Chinaman 30 11 0 Mr. Vere, ditto 18 12 0 Mr Wylde, Paul's-head Tavern 47 13 0 Mr. Edward Wix, Bricklayer 147 16 0 Mr. Charles Easton, Mason 6 4 0 Messrs. Alexander and Shrimpton, Smiths 300 11 0 Mr. Peter Roberts, Remembrancer 63 0 0 Messrs. Wareham, Oswald, Angel, Horton and Birch, Cooks 1600 0 0 Mr. Stanley, Band of Musick 115 0 0 Mr. Thomas Pattle, Hall-keeper 126 0 0 Messrs.

37Chesson, Saunders, and Woodroffe, Upholsterers 458 19 0 Mr. Allan, Wine 178 12 0 Mr. Francis Magnus, ditto 175 8 0 Mr. Frederick Standert, Hock 116 8 0 Messrs. Brown and Righton, Wine 48 5 0 Mr. Thomas Burfoot and Son, Woollen-drapers 258 5 0 Messrs. Pistor and Son, ditto 74 13 0 Mr. Thomas Gilpin, Plate 57 17 0 Mr. Deputy Samuel Ellis and Richard Cleeve, Pewterers 264 3 0 Mr. Christopher Dent, Butler 190 0 0 Mr. Robert Dixon, Baker 8 0 10 Mrs. Rachel Stephens, Brewer 8 8 0 Messrs. Barber and Shuttleworth, Fruiterers 100 0 0 Messrs. Mason and Whitworth, Ribbands 7 3 0 Mr. Charles Gardner, Engraver 23 13 0 Artillery Company 20 0 0 Mr. Charles Rivington, Printer 3 3 0 City Musick 13 3 0 Mr. Bromwich, Papier Maché 70 14 0 Mr. James Dobson, Bear Inn, Basinghall-street 42 15 0 Mr.

38John Handford, Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane 20 15 0 Mr. John Greenhow, Castle, in Wood-street 29 5 0 Mr. Richard Overhall, Blossom's-inn, in Lawrence-lane 34 5 0 Mr. Thomas Whaley, Bell-inn, in Wood street 12 10 0 Mr. Richard Walkden, Stationer 6 15 0 City Marshal 100 0 0 Mrs. Mary Harrington, Glazier 15 16 0 Messrs. Willis and Machel, Plumber 63 12 0 Messrs. Pope and Son, Painters 27 18 0 Heron Powney, Esq. Sword-bearer's claim 5 0 0 Mr.

39William Palmer, Senior Attorney of the Mayor's Court, claim 2 0 0 Serjeants of the Chamber, for delivery of the Tickets, &c. 4 10 0 Yeomen of the Chamber's claim 4 0 0 Peter Denny, for lighting the Chandeliers 20 0 0 Sir James Hodges, Town-clerk, for attending the Committee 157 10 0 William Rix, Clerk to Sir James Hodges, for ditto 15 15 0 Andrew Boson, Hall-keeper's man 10 10 0 Six Marshal's-men 1 10 0 Six Necessary Women 6 6 0 Town-clerk's Servants 5 5 0 Chamberlain's Household Servants 5 5 0 Messrs. Chesson, Woodroffe, and Saunders, Extra Bill 10 10 0 Mr. Thomas Gilpin, for the use of Plate 20 0 0 Mr. Chamberlain's Clerks 5 5 0 Daniel Philpot, Esq. Cook to his Majesty 10 10 0 Thomas Denny, for attending the Committee 1 1 0 ------------------ Total 6898 5 4 ------------------

40It was ordered that the said Report be entered in the Journal of the Court; and the following motion being made, was unanimously agreed to:

41"That the thanks of this Court be, and are hereby given, to the Committee appointed to conduct the entertainment of their Majesties and the Royal Family at Guildhall, on Lord Mayor's day last, for their constant and spirited attention, in that service, to the honour of the Crown, and the dignity of this City."

42A futile plan has long been in use, intended to lessen the number of women of the town; and particularly in 1762, when the Society for the Reformation of Manners followed an old and unprofitable example, by sending some of their constables through the streets to apprehend those miserable young persons; 40 were taken to Bridewell, eleven were whipped, one sent to the Magdalen, and the remainder are said to have been returned to their friends. Such has been the practice at long intervals ever since, perhaps with some variations in the punishment inflicted, and I am afraid an omission of enquiring for their friends. One need only pass through the Strand and Fleet-street late in the evening, to perceive how ineffectual this method of reformation has been.

43It appears from a very solemn address to the publick inserted in the Newspapers for 1762, that the brutal custom of throwing at Cocks on Shrove Tuesday was not then so uncommon as it happily is at present.

44When we are passing through the streets of London, it but too frequently happens that our ears are offended by hearing shocking oaths, repeated with an emphasis which indicates violent irritation; but, upon observing the parties thus offending against the laws of morality and of the realm more closely, it may be immediately perceived that nothing particular has occurred to produce anger, and that the vice has become so much a custom, that oaths are now mere flowers of rhetorick with the vulgar.

45However _unpleasant_ the reflection, we may console ourselves in the certainty that we are not more reprehensible than our predecessors have been; as a proof, I present the reader with an excellent Charge delivered by Sir John Fielding, April 6, 1763, at Guildhall, Westminster.

46"A Charge delivered to the Grand Jury, at the General Quarter Session of the Peace, held at Guildhall, Westminster, on Wednesday, April 6, 1763, by Sir John Fielding, Knight, Chairman of the said Session. Published at the unanimous Request of the Magistrates then present, and the Grand Jury."

47In order to remind the Grand Jury of their duty, rather than to inform them of it, Sir John Fielding considers, 1st, the object of the enquiry they are expected to make, and 2dly, the manner in which it might be made.

48The object of it is, offences towards God, the King, to one another, and to the publick in general.

49Speaking of the offences against God, "I cannot sufficiently lament (says this devout Magistrate) that shameful, inexcusable, and almost universal practice of prophane swearing in our streets: a crime so easy to be punished, and so seldom done, that mankind almost forget it is an offence; and, to our dishonour be it spoken, it is almost peculiar to the English nation! I beg, Gentlemen, you would use your utmost endeavours to suppress this dreadful evil wherever you can; but this you will best do by your own example, as the offence is punishable in a judicial way before a Magistrate. Nor should I mention it here, was I not sensible that I am speaking in the presence of a great number of peace-officers, whose immediate duty it is to apprehend such miscreants, and carry them before a Magistrate; and who are not only blameable, but punishable, for the neglect of this duty.

50"The last offence I shall mention on this subject is, the breach of the Sabbath; a practice as shameful as it is common: but, as these are unworthy members of the Church, and not only disgraceful, but noxious members of society, they will therefore, I doubt not, meet with the detestation of all honest and pious men, and consequently with every punishment due to such an insolent crime, which it may be in your power to inflict; for this sort of impious neglect partakes of the deepest ingratitude from the creature to the Creator."

51With regard to offences committed against the Publick in general; "Of these (says this diligent Magistrate) there are a great variety, but I shall confine myself to the three following, _viz._ public lewdness, bawdy-houses, gaming-houses. And first, as to public lewdness:

52"It is the observation of a moral writer of eminence, 'That there is some degree of virtue in a man's keeping his vices to himself:' for, as example is allowed to be more efficacious than precept in recommendation of virtue, where men act as it were in opposition to the depravity of human nature, how must the open and public example of lewdness draw men into the tide of wickedness, when their own passions and inclinations serve as winds to carry them down the stream! Men like these deserve punishment as public as their crimes. But, as this offence belongs to none but the most abandoned mind, I thank God it is not common; and perhaps it would be much less seen, were those persons punished, who exposed to sale the most abandoned prints of lewdness, and the most infamous books of bawdry, which are considerably bought by curious youths, to the danger of their modesty, the hazard of their morals, and too often to the total destruction of their virtue.

53"As to bawdy-houses, they are the receptacles of those who still have some sense of shame left, but not enough to preserve their innocence.

54"These houses are all sufficiently injurious, and do great mischief. But those I would particularly point out to your attention, are the open, avowed, low, and common bawdy-houses, where vice is rendered cheap, and consequently within the reach of the common people, who are the very stamina of the constitution.

55"These are the channels through which rottenness is conveyed into the bones of the artificer, labourer, soldier, and mariner; by this means weakness and distemper are entailed on their offspring, whose utility to the publick depends on their health and strength. These are the houses that harbour and protect undutiful children, idle servants, and disobedient apprentices. Let me then intreat you, as fathers, as masters, and as tradesmen, to put an end to these sinks of vice in your respective neighbourhoods.

56"Let not that common vulgar error, of being afraid of these people, because they are litigious, desperate, and full of threats (for these fears are groundless, and should not, nay, I hope will not) deter you from this particular duty. You present; and we will punish.

57"As to gaming-houses; such numbers of persons of all ranks have brought themselves, some to the greatest distresses, and others to most shameful and ignominious ends, by frequenting these houses, where gentlemen, sharpers, highwaymen, tradesmen, their servants, nay, often their apprentices, are mixed together; that, when I mention the very name of a gaming-house, I am persuaded that it conveys to your minds such ideas of mischief to society, that you will not suffer any of them to escape that come to your knowledge: and by a particular attention to the last-mentioned offences, you may be the happy means of preventing frauds, thefts, and robberies; most of which take their rise from these impure fountains of extravagance."

58What the Justice, speaking of the manner of the enquiry, remarks with regard to the contempt of oaths, is but too just, and alarming:

59"When I mention the word Oath; where shall I find language to express the hearty concern I feel, when I consider with what shameful insensibility this great defence of our lives, this barrier of our liberties, this security of our properties, an oath, is treated by the lower rank of the community! I too much fear, that one of the principal causes of this contempt is the slovenly manner in which this solemn obligation is administered; which does not only take off the awe, but even the very idea, of the presence of Almighty God."

60A facetious writer presented the following observations to the Editor of the London Chronicle, in June 1765. I think the Reader will find they promote the object of this work.

61"It is common with the old men to assert, that times alter for the worse, and that every age increases in ignorance and folly. At the Theatres, they will tell you, that Garrick and Mrs. Cibber are tolerable performers, but they will not allow them to be equal to Booth and Mrs. Oldfield. 'When I was a boy, things were otherwise,' is their common expression. Now, Mr. Printer, in despite of all this, I affirm, that instead of altering for the worse, we daily improve, not only in Commerce, but also in Manners and the Polite Arts. Think not by the Polite Arts I mean only the Exhibitions in Spring-gardens and Maiden-lane. No, Sir, my inference is a general one; I include artists of every denomination, from the genteel Mr. Pencil, the Portrait-painter, to honest Brush, the Sign-painter; both Mr.

62Heeltap, the Shoemaker of St. James's, and plain Crispin, the Cobler of London-house-yard. And that we only began to improve of late years, is evident from the sarcastic sneer of a shop-keeper at Epping, who, about ten years ago, had painted over his door, 'All sorts of Manchester stuffs sold here; also cardinals, nails, and hats.' The force of the witticism is too plain to need an explanation. This, I imagine, gave rise to the number of Dancing-masters, who have of late filled England; and that we are, since that time, greatly polished, no one, I dare say, will attempt to deny; but that it may not be thought that I assert what I am unable to prove, I will only remind your readers of the revolution that common things have undergone in their names. Have we now any shops?

63Are they not all turned into warehouses? Have we not the English warehouse, the Scotch warehouse, the Irish warehouse, the shirt warehouse, the stocking warehouse, the shoe warehouse, the hat warehouse, nay, even the buckle and button warehouse? In like manner our drinking-houses are refined: they no longer go under the vulgar denominations of gin-houses, purl-houses, ale-houses, and porter-houses, but are all turned into coffee-houses without coffee, taverns without wine, and inns without a stable-yard.

64Not content with this, they even left off the showy sign-post and exuberant sign, which formerly distinguished the best-accustomed houses: convinced of their own merit, they have come to a right understanding of the words _simplex munditiis_; and therefore only put up a black board with the name of their _quondam_ sign upon it.

65But I would just hint to them, that it would be something more grammatical, if, instead of '_This is_ the Boar's-head,' they were to say, '_This was_ the Boar's-head.' Indeed I cannot help thinking, that a very great improvement might be made by one of these alehouse innkeepers on the Essex road, who has a board with a large punch-bowl painted on it, and under it these words: 'The Boar's-head Inn.' Surely he would have more custom, if (like the man at Bath, who changed his sign of the Royal Oak into that of the Owl in the Ivy-bush, and wrote under it, 'This is not the Royal Oak') he would say under his punch-bowl, 'This is not the Punch-bowl Inn.'"

66The impropriety and folly of employing young and vigorous men to serve female customers with articles of dress, and those silly catch-pennies idly supposed ornaments to the person now so prevalent, is by no means a new trait in our customs; that it should be continued, though severely reprehended even so long since as 1765, is astonishing. At that time the antient sisterhood of _tire-women_ were almost extinct; but now what head can be dressed fit to be seen without the assistance of a smart male hair-dresser? or what lady will purchase her bandeaus, her ribbands, gloves, &c. &c. from the hands of a young woman, when the same shop contains--a young _man_? Unfortunately this is a fatal custom to many fine blooming females, who, thus consigned to idleness and temptations, often fall victims to seduction.

67A strange infatuation prevailed for many years in that class of the community which might be termed demi-fashionables, of sending their daughters to Convents in France for education; if that could be so termed, which amounted to nothing more than speaking the French language tolerably correct, cutting and pasting coloured paper together in silly shapes, and learning tambour, or working in imitation of lace. To mention the disadvantages attending the practice would be futile; the Revolution in France, the dissolution of Monasteries, and our endless wars, have totally abolished the custom, at least as far as relates to Convents; though I have no doubt that, should Peace ever again smile on us, French boarding-schools will be preferred to British.

68Many of the pernicious customs which disgrace the populace of London may, and indeed must be continued, by their attendance at the various Fairs still held near the Metropolis; some that are now suppressed, and that of St. Bartholomew's London, will be noticed hereafter. As long as the Legislature think proper to permit the exhibition of wild beasts, and the anticks of human brutes, the wicked and the curious will attend them: thus the profligate receives legal authority to continue his baneful and licentious manners, and the curious innocent learns to imitate them without restraint as something very worthy of imitation.

69It is well known that the passions of human nature require the utmost coercion, even in families of undoubted honour and virtue: is it then prudent, much less wise, to send apprentices, youth from schools, girls the offspring of the lower classes, and servants, into these regular scenes of riot and systematic violations of order and decency, where customs must be acquired which will not bear repetition? The very tradition of the origin of _Horn_ fair, held at Charlton and Blackheath, though ridiculously unfounded, was a sufficient cause for its abolition, when we recollect the absurd reference it had to a shocking offence against the laws of society.

70The frequenters of this fair went to it prepared to laugh at those injured by seduction; and the exhibition of articles made of Horn invited constant inuendos and vulgar _double entendre_.

71Accident this very day afforded me other arguments against Fairs. Entering the Kingsland-road, I was astonished at the scene before me: the foot-paths and the carriage-way were crowded with pedestrians and vehicles, from the humble dung-cart to the hackney-coach; the two latter filled with every description of persons, and the whole rushing, impelled by one governing mind, to Edmonton fair.

72Hundreds of carts and waggons, provided with seats placed on the sides, and others lengthways in the midst, were stationed by the owners in the neighbourhood of Shoreditch church, where several principal streets communicate with the road to Edmonton; and were immediately filled by the infant, its sisters, brothers, parents, the journeyman, the apprentice, and the master, and the female servant, all dressed in their best clothing; many of the latter and the daughters of tradesmen in white muslin, silk spencers, and new straw bonnets, worth at least 30_s._ each.

73I would ask what the conversation of five-and-twenty persons thus assembled in a cart or waggon, some of whom consisted of the very dregs of society, could well be at noon-day, when sober; but what _at night_ on their return, when some at least were intoxicated? We will say nothing of the _fun_ of the Fair.

74The succeeding letters which were published in 1768 require no comment.

75"To the Inhabitants of the three united Parishes of St. Mary-le-Bow, St. Pancras, and Allhallows Honey-lane.

76"Gentlemen,

77"It is a pain and grief to me, after having been your Minister four-and-twenty years, to have any occasion to make any complaint of your behaviour; but complain of you I must, for suffering the subscription for the daily prayers to be so diminished, and reduced almost to nothing; a manifest sign that your Parishes are much poorer or less religious than they were, for either of which I should be very sorry, but more especially for the latter; for the former may be your misfortune, the latter must be your fault.

78"The former Inhabitants were so convinced of the reasonableness, the propriety, the expediency, and necessity of the daily prayers, that they thought it just and fitting to make an extraordinary allowance for this extraordinary duty, and entered into a voluntary annual subscription for this purpose, which contributions have in some measure been continued from the first building and opening of your church till within these few years. And will you, Gentlemen, suffer so good a work, which hath been carried on so many years, to perish in your hands?

79Have you so little concern for the honour of your Church, one of the first and most conspicuous in the City, the principal of the Archbishop of Canterbury's peculiars, the chief Court of Arches, where so many Bishops are confirmed, and so much public business is transacted? And shall such a Church, that ought to be a pattern of regular devotion to others, be the first to set an example of irreligion? I hope you have too much sense of honour, too much sense of religion, to bring such a load of reproach and infamy upon your names and characters: for it would be an eternal reproach and infamy to you in this world and in the world to come; and the piety of your predecessors would 'rise up in the judgment against you, and condemn you.'

80"You will say, perhaps, that you have not time to attend the daily prayers. But why have you not time? What are you doing better? Ask God and your own conscience. Scarce more than half an hour is taken up in the daily prayers: and depend upon it, you will find the time not lost, or ill employed; you will proceed to business with the greater cheerfulness, and prosper the better for it. But if you cannot or will not attend the prayers yourselves, yet why should you hinder others who would attend? Why not rather, to make some amends for your own deficiency, contribute something, that others may have opportunities for praying for a blessing upon the community? For what will avail all your care and attention, all your labour and pains, without the blessing of God to prosper them? And how can you ever expect the blessing of God upon your undertakings, if you neglect and despise, and in effect destroy and abolish his service? The neglect of public worship is soon followed by the neglect of other duties, and it behoves you seriously to consider, whether this may not be the first source and origin, the principal cause and occasion, of so many failures and bankruptcies among you.

81"You will urge perhaps that other charges and taxes lie heavy upon you, the price of every thing is advanced, and you cannot afford to do as you have done. But of all charges and expences why must this of the daily prayers be the first to be retrenched? Retrench every vanity and folly, retrench every idle pleasure and diversion, retrench all your superfluous, all your unnecessary expences, rather than what you contribute to the public service of God. But no great matter is required or expected from you. As but a very short portion of your time is taken up in the daily prayers, so a very small part of your substance will be sufficient to support so pious and useful an institution.

82All that I desire of you is, that of the better sort, every one would subscribe ten shillings a-year, that is half a crown a quarter, and of those in lower circumstances every one would subscribe five or four shillings a year, that is, at least a shilling a quarter. Some few (to their honour be it spoken) have all along continued to do the very thing that I desire; but I wish the thing to be general, and every one of you to do the same. You cannot surely think so small and inconsiderable a sum any loss or burden to you. You may easily make it otherwise, by riding out a Sunday or two less in a year, or by going an evening or two less in a year to Vauxhall or Ranelagh, to the Tavern or the Play.

83This you will do, if you are not 'lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God;' and what you thus 'lend unto the Lord,' will be _paid_ you in blessings _again_.

84"But I would rather prefer another proposal to your consideration, which probably may be more easy and agreeable to you, as it would be taking nothing immediately out of your own pockets, and certainly would be more easy and agreeable to your Ministers, as it would be less precarious and uncertain, though perhaps not altogether so beneficial. Whatever may be the case of some few individuals, your parishes are in general very wealthy. Your poor's-rate is low in comparison to that of many other parishes, where it is nearly equal to that of the land-tax.

85You are in possession of several considerable estates left you by the piety and charity of former inhabitants, amounting to 300_l._ a year or more: and these estates being left without any appropriation but to the best uses of your parishes, how can any part of them be applied to a better use, or more agreeably to the intention of the pious and charitable donors, than for the public benefit of men in the public service of God?

86Let me therefore recommend it to you, out of these estates, or in any other method that you may think more proper, to allow to your Rector, that is, not to your Rector properly, but to your Rector for his Curate and Reader of the daily prayers, a salary of _five-and-twenty pounds_ a year, which is no more than three shillings and three-half-pence in a year from every house: and surely you cannot refuse so small a boon for the honour and credit of your parishes, for your own character and reputation, for the good of your own souls and the souls of others. You see I am very moderate and reasonable in my demands, and I hope you will be as reasonable in your compliance. This is not making _godliness a gain_.

87Only _the labourer is worthy of his hire_: and you would not pay to a Clergyman for double service in a day, less than you would pay to a porter.

88"Though I have now been your Rector, as I said, these four-and-twenty years, yet I have never in all that time asked any thing of you. I have not sent any person to collect your Easter offerings, as other City Rectors do, and I might also justly have done. I have received nothing from you but what is strictly my due, and what you are obliged by law to pay: and I shall think I have very little weight and interest with you, I shall think that either I have preached the word of God, or you have heard it, to very little purpose, if after all my services I cannot obtain this favour from you; not that it is any favour to me, but as it is a real benefit to yourselves, and may prove the happy means of your salvation.

89Your not complying with this request would be such a disparagement and discouragement to my ministry, that I should almost despair of ever doing any further good among you, and could only leave you to your own reflections upon that solemn commination of Christ unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, Rev. ii. 5: 'Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.' God forbid that this should ever be your case! On the contrary I wish to say with the Apostle, Heb. vi. 9, 10, 11: 'Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

90For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed towards his name, in that ye have ministered unto the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end:' And with this trust and confidence in you, I remain, Gentlemen,

91"Your loving Friend, and faithful Servant in Christ Jesus,