FOOTNOTES:

[113:A] Gent. Mag.

2[13:B] Jour. of House of Commons.

3[15:A] See the plate of the North side of the Foundling.

4[15:B] Gent. Mag. The origin of the Welsh Society, and the subsequent charity school, may perhaps be dated from the celebration of the birth-day of the Princess of Wales, Feb. 1715, when several distinguished sons of St. David heard a Sermon preached in their native language, by Dr. Lewis, at St. Paul's, Covent-garden; whence they adjourned to Haberdashers hall, where, invigorated by repletion, the Antient British Society was planned for the double celebration of the Prince's birth-day, and the commemoration of their Patron Saint.

5[23:A] Original proposal.

6[24:A] Statement of the trustees.

7[24:B] Newspapers.

8[25:A] This Royal donation is still annually repeated; and a collection under the King's letters patent is also made in all the parishes within the Bills of Mortality.

9[27:A] All these statements are from the Daily papers.

10[31:A] Statements in Newspapers.

11[44:A] Newspapers.

12[45:A] Treasurer's statement.

13[47:A] See the view of this superb structure--Seymour's London.

14[57:A] London Chronicle.

15[64:A] London Chronicle.

16[74:A] London Chronicle.

17[78:A] London Chronicle.

18[84:A] The worthy Doctor died in December 1808. See a Tribute to his Memory in Gent. Mag. vol. LXXVIII. p. 1121.

19CHAP. II.

20ANECDOTES OF DEPRAVITY, FROM 1700 TO 1800.

21Mankind may be universally divided into two classes, the honest and dishonest; for I admit of no medium. That those distinctions have existed from the very remotest periods, I believe no one will deny; therefore it is perfectly natural to suppose, that depraved and idle wretches, who would rather steal the effects of another than labour to acquire property for themselves, have infested London, from the hour in which an hundred persons inhabited it in huts or caverns. How those depredators on Society were treated by the Cits of very very very antient times is not worth enquiry; but that death was often inflicted cannot be doubted; and that might be effected by twenty different methods. Strangulation was certainly used before the time of Henry I. in London: punishment for crimes of inferior magnitude are always species of torture; to repeat the probable modes would be far from pleasant.

22Whatever may have been the other inventions of the idle to obtain bread, that of begging in all its ramifications was the most antient; the fraternity of mendicants have resisted every attempt to dissolve their body, nor will they vanish till the last day shall remove every living creature from the surface of the earth. After the establishment of Christianity, flocks of Christians determined to devote themselves to the service of the Lord _in their way_, and work no more; such were some orders of Monks and Friars mendicants! The monasteries afterwards, acting upon a mistaken idea of charity, gave alms, and fed the poor and idle indiscriminately at their gates: thus a wretch might invigorate his body with the viands of the Abbots and Monks in the day, and pass the night in attacks upon the defenceless traveller, perhaps often relieved in presence of the depredator by the blind religious.

23In vain have the Monarch, the Law, and the Judge, from the days of the Aborigines down to the present moment, exerted their authority and terrors; and I am compelled, for brevity's sake, to confine myself to the disgraceful acts of a single century. To mention the numbers who were condemned at the Old Bailey in 14 years from 1700, will be sufficient, without particularizing their crimes.

24Years. Condemned. Executed. 1701 118 4 died after conviction 66 1702 49 13 1703 38 18 1704 35 17 1705 44 16 1706 33 5 1707 23 18 1708 34 18 1709 39 10 1710 36 8 1711 36 13 1712 43 15 1713 60 25 1714 108 59 --- --- 696 Reprieved 391 301

25In the mayoralty of Sir Francis Child, 1732, 502 persons were indicted at the Old Bailey; 70 of whom received sentence of death; 208 of transportation; eight fined, imprisoned, or pilloried; four burnt in the hand; four whipped; and 288 acquitted.

26In 1722, ten pounds reward was offered by the Clerk of the New River Company, for the apprehension of persons who had wantonly tapped the pipes, and others that had cut the banks to let water on their own possessions.

27Lotteries.--These pernicious contrivances to raise money were in full vigour at the commencement of the century. There was the "Greenwich Hospital adventure," sanctioned by an Act of Parliament, which the managers describe as "liable to none of the objections made against other Lotteries, _as to the fairness_ of the drawing, it being not possible there should be any deceit in it, _as it has been suspected in others_." Mr. Sydenham's Land Lottery, who declared it was "found very difficult and troublesome for the adventurers for to search and find out what prizes they have come up in their number tickets, _from the badness of the print_, the _many errors in them_, and the _great quantity of the number of the prizes_:" the Twelve-penny or Nonsuch: and "the Fortunatus."

28Esquire Sydenham's lady's gentlewoman obtained an estate worth 600_l. per annum_, in her master's Lottery; but the unfortunate holders of blanks, suspecting foul play, advertized an intended meeting on the 11th January 1700, for the purpose of entering into an investigation of their real or fancied wrongs. This produced a denial on the part of his Trustees, but did not prevent the meeting from taking place, when it was unanimously resolved to appoint an eminent goldsmith in Lombard-street cashier, for the receipt of subscriptions to carry their purposes into effect; which being accomplished, they exhibited a Bill in Chancery against the unfortunate Squire[90:A].

29Guinea-dropping was practised in 1700; and it was customary for thieves to carry cocks into retired or vacant places to throw at them, in order to collect spectators, and empty their pockets. The following extract from the Protestant Mercury of February 14, 1700, point out three of those places of iniquity: "Last Tuesday, a Brewer's servant in Southwark took his walks round _Tower-hill_, _Moor-fields_, and _Lincoln's-Inn-fields_, and knocked down so many cocks, that, by selling them again, he returned home twenty-eight shillings odd pence a richer man than he came out."

30In collecting materials for this portion of my review of London, order and regularity are unnecessary; cheats, impostors, knaves, and thieves, members of one great family, will be indiscriminately introduced, with their schemes and crimes to mark _them_, and the cullibility of the good Citizens of London, a large portion of whom are ever ready to catch at the most silly and absurd baits, provided they happen to agree with their pursuits.

31Money-lenders, those excellent members of Society, the friends of youth, the alleviators of distress, who hold forth their thousands to the publick, merely with a view to accommodate the wants of their countrymen, and without the least wish of private advantage to themselves, were known to the inhabitants of this Metropolis at the period from which I date my present researches. The reader will find a wonderful similarity in the ensuing advertisement to some of very recent date. "From our house, New Tuttle-street, near the Royal-oak, Westminster, or Young Man's Coffee-house, at Charing-cross, in the morning. All gentlemen and others that have business in Treasury, Admiralty, or Navy offices, or any of the Courts of Law or Equity, may have it faithfully solicited.

32We buy and sell estates, _help persons to money_ on good security. We help persons to employments, &c. and have now several to be disposed of, of 400_l._ 100_l._ 80_l._ 60_l._ 40_l. per annum_[92:A]; any that shall give in timely notice of places to be disposed of shall be rewarded for the same. _And because many have been defrauded of considerable sums of money_ by one that lately printed from Salisbury-court, Fleet-street; that none may be served so that apply themselves to us, _nor the reputation of this undertaking ruined, because ill men have had the management of it_, we shall not take our gratuity, _till we have done their business_; which must be allowed to be a candid acknowledgment of _our intention_."

33In so populous a City as London, no place is sacred from the contrivances of Sharpers. Even plate used at the Coronation feast of Queen Anne, in Westminster-hall, April 1702, was stolen, with table-linen and a great deal of pewter[92:B].

34To second the operations of the Royal Proclamation for the Suppression of Vice, certain well-disposed Citizens entered into the following agreement, to promote the Reformation of Manners.

35"We whose names are hereunto subscribed, out of a sense of the duty we owe to Almighty God, in pursuance of His Majesty's Proclamation for the discouragement and prosecution of debauchery and prophaneness, and for the suppressing of them, do agree as followeth:

36"That we meet weekly at ----, under the penalty of ---- each default without a just cause; to consult how we may be most serviceable in promoting the execution of the Laws against prophaneness and debauchery. That we use all proper means to prevail with men of all ranks to concur with us in this design, especially such as are under the obligation of oaths to do so; and in order to their acting vigorously therein, that we endeavour to persuade them to form themselves into Societies, at least to have frequent meetings for this purpose.

37"That we encourage and assist officers in the discharge of their duty, of discovering disorderly houses, of taking up of offenders, and carrying them before the magistrates, and, moreover, endeavour to assist both magistrates and officers, by giving information ourselves as we have opportunity.

38"That, for order sake, every Member in his turn be Chairman (unless any desire to be excused) for four successive days of meeting; that as soon as four members are met, the Chairman, or, in his absence, the next in order upon the list (that shall be made for that purpose) shall take his place: and that from that time to the breaking up of the meeting, we forbear all discourse of public news or our private affairs, as also all unnecessary disputes upon speculative and controversial points of Religion.

39"That when any thing is proposed and seconded, the Chairman shall put it to the question, which shall be determined by the majority; and such determination shall remain till altered by a majority upon another meeting.

40"That, if upon any matter in debate the voices are equal, the question shall be again proposed by the Chairman at the same meeting, if more of the members come in, or otherwise at the next or some other meeting.

41"That it be part of the office of the Chairman to take notice of the breach of any of our orders, to enquire of every member how he hath discharged the business that was allotted him at the last meeting, and what difficulties he hath met with, in order to find out proper remedies. To read over the agreement of this Society once a month. To read over the minutes of what hath been resolved upon at the end of every meeting, and the list of the members; and to go or send to such as have been absent twice successively, without a just excuse known to some member of the Society; and, the next time any such persons shall be present, the Chairman for the time being shall put them in mind of the great importance of the business they are engaged in, and of the obligations they have laid themselves under by their subscriptions to attend the meetings of this Society.

42"That we endeavour to find out proper persons to be brought into this Society; and that no member shall be proposed for a member but when four or more of the Society are present; and that none shall be admitted into this Society till he hath been proposed by three several meetings, and are thought to be men of piety and temper; and that after any person hath been proposed a second time for a member, two persons shall be appointed by the major part of the Society to make enquiry concerning his life and conversation.

43"That in cases of difficulty that shall occur, we consult the learned in the Law, or other proper persons, that we by no means go further than the Law will warrant us.

44"That we keep an exact account of our proceedings in a book kept for that purpose.

45"That the debates and resolutions of the Society be kept secret; and, therefore, no person shall be admitted to be present at any debate, in any meeting, that is not a member, unless upon special occasion, and by agreement of the majority present.

46"That we look upon ourselves as under a peculiar obligation to pray for the Reformation of the Nation in general, and to implore the Divine direction and blessing upon this our undertaking in particular[96:A]."

47Every man may be considered as included within this class, who hazards a falsehood to forward his views, whether they are in the course of trade, or deviate into cheating. Mr. Sheridan, in the Critick, forcibly exposes the various kinds of puffs used by Tradesmen and Authors; and he classes them very justly into the puff direct, indirect, &c. The first instance which occurs of a case in point, after 1700, is the following from a Hair-dresser, which fraternity is notorious for extreme modesty and truth in their addresses to the publick: "Whereas a pretended Hair-cutter, between the Maypole in the Strand and St.

48Clement's church, hath, without any provocation, maliciously abused Jenkin Cuthbeartson behind his back, at several persons' houses, and at his own shop, which hath been very much to his disadvantage, by saying that he was a pitiful fellow and a blockhead, and that he did not understand how to cut hair or shave: I therefore, the said Jenkin Cuthbeartson, think myself obliged to justify myself, and _to let the world know_ that I do understand my trade so far, that I challenge the aforesaid pretended hair-cutter, or any that belongs to him, either to shave or cut hair, or any thing that belongs to the trade, for five or ten pounds, to be judged by two sufficient men of our trade, as witness my hand this 9th day of November, 1702, Jenkin Cuthbeartson, King-street, Westminster[97:A]."

49Fellows who pretended to calculate Nativities were to be met with in several parts of London at the same period: they sold ridiculous inventions which they termed _Sigils_; and the possessor of those had but to fancy they would protect themselves and property, and the object of the Conjurer was accomplished. Almanack John obtained great celebrity in this art. It appears that he was a Shoe-maker, and resided in the Strand. This fellow, and others of his fraternity, preyed upon fools or very silly people only; their losses were therefore of little moment, and the turpitude of Almanack John was not quite so great as that of the villains who affected illness and deformity, thus to rob the charitable, whose gifts would otherwise have been directed to the relief of the _real_ sufferer.

50The reader will presently perceive that, in one instance, the depravity of the community of Beggars is but too stationary since 1702. "That people may not be imposed upon by Beggars who pretend to be lame, dumb, &c. which really are not so; this is to give notice, that the President and Governors for the poor of London, pitying the case of one Richard Alegil, a boy of 11 years of age, who pretended himself lame of both his legs, so that he used to go shoving himself along on his breech; they ordered him to be taken into their workhouse, intending to make him a taylor, upon which he confessed that his brother, a boy of 17 years of age, about four years ago, by the advice of other beggars, contracted his legs, and turned them backwards, so that he never used them from that time to this, but followed the trade of begging; that he usually got 5_s._ a day, sometimes 10_s._; that he hath been all over the counties, especially the West of England, where his brother carried him on a horse, and pretended he was born so, and cut out of his mother's womb.

51He hath also given an account that he knows of other beggars that pretend to be dumb and lame, and of some that tie their arms in their breeches, and wear a wooden stump in their sleeve. The said President and Governors have caused the legs of the said Alegil to be set straight; he now has the use of them, and walks upright; they have ordered him to be put to spinning, and his brother to be kept to hard labour. Several other able beggars are by their order taken up and set to work, and when brought into the Workhouse have from 10_s._ to 5_l._ in their pockets."

52A person during the fair of 1703 had the audacity to advertise, that the spoils taken at Vigo were to be seen for sixpence at his booth; and he imposed upon the public curiosity by exhibiting fictitious representations of an Altar-piece of silver, with six Angels in full proportion, four Apostles supporting the four pillars, and four Angels attending them, with each a lamp for incense in their hands; also a Crown set with valuable stones, a Holy-water pot garnished with filligree-work, &c. &c. "_all brought from Vigo_, having been first lodged in the Tower, _and never exposed before but in the Tower_."

53John Bonner, of Short's Gardens, had the barefaced effrontery, in 1703, to offer his assistance, by necromancy, to those who had lost any thing at Sturbridge Fair, at Churches or other assemblies, "he being paid for his labour and expences."

54The Corporation of London aimed a severe blow, in the same year, at impostors and sturdy beggars, by offering a reward of one shilling each for such as were apprehended, and sent to the Workhouse in Bishopsgate-street.

55The Post-boy of July 21, 1711, contains the following paragraph: "It is thought proper to give notice of a common notorious cheat frequently practised by men who pretend to be soldiers, and others, in a game by them called Cups and Balls, particularly at the wall next the Mewsgate, within the Verge of the Court."

56At a petty Sessions for Westminster held in April 1714, an account was returned from the proper officers of the receipt of 42_l._ in the preceding six months, as penalties for profanations of the Sabbath, swearing, and drunkenness.

57There was a place of resort for the vicious, called the Cave, at Highgate, which was indicted, and the indictment opposed by the proprietors, in a trial before Lord Chief Justice Parker, December 1714; but the defendants lost the cause, and the Cave was suppressed, to the satisfaction, as a paragraph expresses it in the Flying Post, of those "who are enemies to such a nursery of profaneness and debauchery."

58A shocking instance of depravity occurred in March 1718. A Quaker potter, of the name of Oades, who resided in Gravel-lane, Southwark, had four sons, whom he admitted into partnership with him, and at the same time suffered them to carry on business on their own account. This method of proceeding naturally led to jealousies and envy on both sides, which increased to a degree of rancour, that the father and sons appear to have acted towards each other as if no connection subsisted between them. The immediate cause of the horrid event that renders the tale odious, was the arrest of Oades by his sons, for the violation of the peace, which they had bound him in a penalty to observe, and the consequent expulsion of their mother from her dwelling.

59This act attracted the notice of the populace, who seldom fail to adopt the right side of a question of justice, and as usual they began to execute summary vengeance on the house. The sons, an attorney, and another person, secured themselves within it, whence they read the Riot Act, and fired immediately after; a bullet entered the head of a woman, who fell dead; the assault then became more furious, and persons were sent for Mr.

60Lade, a Justice; that gentleman bailed the father, and commanded the sons to submit in vain: he therefore found it necessary to send for a guard of Soldiers, who arrived and commenced a regular siege, but the fortress was not stormed till two o'clock in the morning, when a courageous fellow scaled a palisade on the back part of the house, and admitted his party, who rushed in, and secured the garrison. The son of Oades, who shot the woman, was tried for the murder, found guilty, but pardoned on his father's intercession, provided he banished himself.

61The villain who occasioned the ensuing advertisement mixed cruelty with his fraud. "Whereas a person who went by the name of Dr. Cock, did about two months since come to Mrs. Robinson, in Putney, being indisposed; he pretended to come from an acquaintance of hers from London to give her advice; accordingly he applied a plaster to her stomach, by which she has received a great deal of injury. He had for his fee ten shillings, and demanded six shillings for his plaster; it is supposed he took a handkerchief with him and a shirt. It appearing that nobody sent him, whoever can give notice of him, &c."

62The next Sharper upon _public_ record worthy notice was Jones, a footman, who had contrived to attract the favours of the lady of Esquire Dormer, of Rousam, Oxfordshire, a gentleman worth 3500_l. per annum_; which being discovered by the injured husband, an action was commenced for Crim. Con. against the party-coloured enamorato, and pursued to conviction; but, just as sir Thomas Cross, the foreman of the Jury, was about to pronounce the tremendous sound of 5000_l._ damages, or, in other words, imprisonment for life, master Jones rushed through the Hall, flew to a boat, was rowed across the Thames, and took sanctuary in the Mint, before the Lord Chief Justice's Tip-staff could prevent him.

63An escape accomplished by a still greater villain in 1716, was far more extraordinary: a highwayman, named Goodman, had been apprehended with great exertion and difficulty, and brought to trial at the Old Bailey, where the Jury pronounced him guilty; but, at the instant their verdict was given, he sprang over the enclosure, and eluded every endeavour to arrest his progress.

64Such was the daring folly of this man, that he frequently appeared in public, and presuming on his supposed security, actually went to Mackerel's Quaker Coffee-house in Bartlett's-buildings, for the purpose of procuring the arrest of a Carrier, to whom he had intrusted 16_l._ to be conveyed to his wife in the country, and who, supposing Goodman would be hanged, had converted it to his own use: there he met an Attorney by appointment, and stationed four desperadoes at the door armed with pistols, in order to repel any attempt at seizing him. The Attorney, aware of his precaution, listened to the case of the Carrier, and studiously avoided betraying him; but the instant Goodman departed, he declared who his client was, upon which several persons watched the wretch to his place of concealment, where they attacked him, and he them, with the utmost resolution; after a severe conflict, in which the assailants were compelled to bruise him dreadfully, he was secured; but, throwing himself down in the streets, they were at last compelled to bind and carry him in a cart to prison: he was hanged not long after[104:A].

65The Mistress of Child's Coffee-house was defrauded of a considerable sum, in September 1716, by an artful stratagem. She received a note by the Penny-post, which appeared to come from Dr. Mead, who frequented her house; saying, that a parcel would be sent there for him from Bristol, containing choice drugs, and begging her to pay the sum of 6_l._ 11_s._ to the bearer of it. The reader will probably anticipate the _denouement_; the bundle was brought, the money paid; the Doctor declared his ignorance of the transaction, the parcel was opened, and the contents found to be ---- rags[104:A].

66It is not often that thefts can be narrated which are calculated to excite a smile; and yet I am much mistaken if the reader doth not relax his risible faculties, when he is informed of a singular method of stealing wigs, practised in 1717. This I present him _verbatim_ from the Weekly Journal of March 30. "The Thieves have got such a villainous way now of robbing gentlemen, that they cut holes through the backs of Hackney coaches, and take away their wigs, or fine head-dresses of gentlewomen; so a gentleman was served last Sunday in Tooley-street, and another but last Tuesday in Fenchurch-street; wherefore, this may serve for a caution to gentlemen or gentlewomen that ride single in the night-time, to sit on the fore-seat, which will prevent that way of robbing."

67The first notice of Mr. Law, the chief Director of the Royal Bank at Paris, that I have met with, was in August 1717; when it was said he had betted that the French State-bills would not fall 10 _per cent._ within a year, and given 10 Louis to receive 100 if he won; he offered the earl of Stair 100 for 1000 in the same way, which was refused; and the event proved, that the bills fell 50 _per cent._

68Gaming was dreadfully prevalent in 1718. This will be demonstrated by the effect of one night's search by the Leet Jury of Westminster, who presented no less than 35 houses to the Justices for prosecution.

69The Society for the Reformation of Manners published the ensuing effects of their labours for one year, ending in December 1718.

70Prosecuted for lewd and disorderly practices, 1253.

71Keeping of bawdy and disorderly houses, 31.

72Exercising their trades or callings on the Lord's-day, 492.

73Profane swearing and cursing, 202.

74Drunkenness, 17.

75Keeping common gaming-houses, 8.

76We have now arrived at a grand æra of villainy, the golden harvest of scheming, in which Mr. Law acted the first part in France. A person under the signature of Publicus, in the Thursday's Journal of December 17, 1719, very justly observes: "If any of the days of us or our forefathers might be called the _projecting_ age, I think this is the time. If ever there was a nation that had been 23 years ruining itself and recovered in a moment, this is the time. If ever a government paid its debts without money, and exchanged all the cash in the kingdom for bits of paper, which had neither anybody to pay them for, or any intrinsic fund to pay themselves, this is the time. If ever a credit was raised without a foundation, and built up to a height that not only was likely to fall, but indeed was impossible to stand, this is the time."

77Speaking of Mr. Law, he says, "First, he has entirely restored credit in France; or, as it may be said, he has planted credit in a soil where credit never could thrive, and never did thrive before; I mean in a tyrannic absolute government, a thing inconsistent with credit, and the very name of it; for when was ever credit established to any degree, where the Sovereign was able to seize upon the foundation on which it stood, by his absolute power, and at his pleasure.

78"2dly, He has established such a bank, and so fortified it with an established settlement, and on such a stock, as nothing can come up to it in the world, except only the Banks of London and Amsterdam.

79"3dly, He has erected a Company immense and inimitable on a trifling fund, and the trifle made up of the most precarious things that could be then imagined, being State bills, Town-house rents, and public funds, which in their own esteem were not at that time to be rated at above 35 or 40 _per cent._ nor would they have fetched more to have been sold then in open market; and these has he brought up to be worth 2000_l. per cent._ in the same market where they were under 40 _per cent._ before. The man that has done all this was here but a contemptible person, a Silversmith's son at Edinburgh, then a rake, then a soldier, then a kind of bully, then a murderer; he was tried at the Old Bailey for killing Mr.

80Wilson, commonly called _Beau_ Wilson, in a duel; he was condemned to be hanged, but found means to break out of Newgate; some say he got out by a silver key, and from thence made his escape into France: there he lived without character and without employment, till entering into the schemes which he has since laid open, and talking freely of them, it came to the ears of the Regent, who employing some men to talk with him, and they finding his head turned for great projects, he was heard by more considerable persons, and finally by the Regent himself, with whom he established these just maxims as fundamentals; namely: That a fund of credit was equal to a fund of money. That credit might be raised upon personal funds, not upon the publick, because the power was absolute.

81Upon these foundations he first erected the Royal bank; which, having been done by a subscription, and having a sufficient fund in specie to answer all the bills on demand, began to take, and having stood several severe shocks from the attempts of merchants and others to ruin its reputation, established itself upon the punctual discharge of its first credit, till by time it increased to such a magnitude as we now see it, being able to pay bills as was tried by its enemy for a million and a quarter, sterling, in one day. This Bank, being thus past the first hazards, stands too fast for the power of art to shake it; and immense sums being lodged with them, their payments are much safer than the money in any man's pocket.

82"This raised Mr. Law's fame to the pitch it is now at, and set him above the power of all his enemies. From thence he grounded his Mississippi project, got it filled up, joined it to the East-India Company; undertook the whole coinage, embraced several other projects, as a Royal fishery, the Tobacco farm, and at last the trade to Norway for naval stores, deals, timber, &c.

83"It is true that a stock advanced to 2000 _per cent._ may undertake any thing; but depend upon it, a stock advanced to 2000 _per cent._ upon no foundation, must at last come to nothing, and the only use is to raise estates upon the first advance of it; and perhaps it may appear at last, that the imaginary value of the stock declining in the humours of the times, it will by no means be able to support itself, which, whenever it happens, blows it up all at once."

84Such were the prophetic reasonings of our observer, which the event fully justified by the ruin of thousands in England. To authenticate this assertion, I shall present the reader a succession of paragraphs from the Newspapers, pointing out the ramifications from the parent _stock_, and the facility with which the publick were imposed upon.

85"Here has been the oddest bite put upon the Town that ever was heard of. We having of late had several new subscriptions set on foot, for raising great sums of money for erecting Offices of Insurance, &c.; at length, some gentlemen, to convince the world how easy it was for projectors to impose upon mankind, set up a pretended office in Exchange-alley, for the receiving subscriptions for raising a million of money to establish an _effectual_ Company of Insurers as they called it. Upon which, the day being come to subscribe, the people flocked in, and paid down 5_s._ for every 1000_l._ they subscribed, pursuant to the Company's proposals; but, after some hundreds had so subscribed (that the thing might be fully known), the gentlemen were at the expence to advertise, that the people might have their money again without any deductions; and to let them know that the persons who paid in their money, contented themselves with a fictitious name, set by an unknown hand to the receipts delivered out for the money so paid in; and that the said name was composed only of the first letters of six persons names concerned in the said publication." Weekly Packet, January 2, 1719-20.

86The original Weekly Journal immediately after observes: "It was the observation of a very witty knight many years ago, that the English people were something like a flight of birds at a barn door; shoot among them and kill ever so many, the rest shall return to the same place in a very little time, without any remembrance of the evil that had befallen their fellows. Thus the English, though they have had examples enough in these latter times of people ruined by engaging in Projects, yet they still fall in with the next that appears. Thus, after Neal's Lottery, how many were trumped up in a year or two's time, till the Legislature itself was fain to suppress them.

87Sometime after this, there was a new project set on foot for the prodigious improvement of small sums of money, in which they who put in, for example, 5_l._ must by the proposal make above 100_l._ of it in a year's time. People never examined how they could perform this proposal; but, blind with the hopes of gain, threw their money into the Denmark-court Office in so extravagant a manner, that, if the humour could have gone on, they must have had passed through their hands in a few months half the cash of the nation. The success of this Office begot many more in all parts of the Town, all which ended in the ruin of many families.

88"Our cunning men are now carrying on a cause very much like these that are past, but infinitely more extravagant than all of them; though I believe it will prove less detrimental than any of them, because they are already multiplied to that degree, that the sharpers, _alias_ projectors, are infinitely too numerous for the bubbles; since the Stocks they have proposed to raise amounts to 28,000,000_l._; above twice as much as the current coin of the Nation, nay more than the third-part of all the payments the circulation of that current coin performs in the whole kingdom; but, because the placing these projects all in one view must certainly be useful to your readers, I here send you an abstract of them.

89"For a general insurance on houses and merchandize, at the three Tuns, Swithin's-alley, 2,000,000_l._

90For building and buying ships to let or freight, at Garraway's, Exchange-alley, 1,200,000_l._

91To be lent by way of Loan on Stock at Garraway's, 1,200,000_l._

92For granting annuities by way of survivorship, and providing for widows, orphans, &c. at the Rainbow, Cornhill, 1,200,000_l._

93For the raising the growth of raw silk, 1,000,000_l._

94For lending upon the deposit of goods, stock, annuities, tallies, &c. at Robin's, Exchange-alley, 1,200,000_l._

95For settling and carrying on a trade to Germany, 1,200,000_l._ at the Rainbow.

96For insuring of houses and goods from fire, at Sadlers-hall, 2,000,000_l._

97For carrying on a trade to Germany, 1,200,000_l._ at the Virginia Coffee-house.

98For securing goods and houses from fire, at the Swan and Rummer, 2,000,000_l._

99For buying and selling of estates, public stocks, government securities, and to lend money, 3,000,000_l._

100For insuring ships and merchandize, 2,000,000_l._ at the Marine Coffee-house, Birchin-lane.

101For purchasing government securities, and lending money to merchants to pay their duties with, 1,500,000_l._

102For carrying on the _undertaking_ business, for _furnishing funerals_, 1,200,000_l._ at the Fleece-tavern, Cornhill.

103For carrying on trade between Great-Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdoms of Portugal and Spain, 1,000,000_l._

104For carrying on the coal-trade from Newcastle to London, 2,000,000_l._ Cooper's Coffee-house.

105For preventing and suppressing of thieves and robbers, and for insuring all persons goods from the same, 2,000,000_l._ at Cooper's."

106Here ceases the enumeration of the Journalist, but his hiatus shall be supplied faithfully from other original advertisements.

107A grand Dispensary, 3,000,000_l._ at the Buffaloe's-head.

108Subscription for a sail-cloth manufactory in Ireland, at the Swan and Hoop, Cornhill.

1094,000,000_l._ for a trade to Norway and Sweden, to procure pitch, tar, deals, and oak, at Waghorn's.

110For buying lead mines and working them, Ship-tavern.

111A subscription for manufacturing Ditties or Manchester stuffs of thread and cotton, Mulford's.

1124,000,000_l._ for purchasing and improving commons and waste lands, Hanover Coffee-house.

113A Royal fishery, Skinners-hall.

114A subscription for effectually settling the Islands of Blanco and Saltortugas.

115For supplying the London-market with cattle, Garraway's.

116For smelting lead-ore in Derbyshire, Swan and Rummer.

117For manufacturing of muslins and calico, Portugal Coffee-house.

1182,000,000_l._ for the purchase of pitch, tar, and turpentine, Castle-tavern.

1192,000,000_l._ for importing walnut-tree from Virginia, Garraway's.

1202,000,000_l._ for making crystal mirrors, coach glasses, and for sash windows, Cole's.

121For purchasing tin and lead mines in Cornwall and Derbyshire, Half-moon Tavern.

122For preventing the running of wool, and encouraging the wool manufactory, King's Arms.

123For a manufactory of rape-seed oil, Fleece-tavern.

1242,000,000_l._ for an engine to supply Deal with fresh water, &c. Black Swan.

1252,000,000_l._ at the Sun Tavern, for importing beaver fur.

126For making of Joppa and Castile soap, Castle Tavern.

1274,000,000_l._ for exporting woollen stuffs, and importing copper, brass, and iron, and carrying on a general foundery, Virginia Coffee-house.

128For making pasteboard, packing-paper, &c. Montague Coffee-house.

129A _Hair_ copartnership, permits 5_s._ 6_d._ each, at the Ship Tavern, Paternoster-row; "_by reason all places near the Exchange are so much crowded at this juncture_."

130For importing masts, spars, oak, &c. for the Navy, Ship Tavern.

131"This day, the 8th instant, at Sam's Coffee-house, behind the Royal Exchange, at three in the afternoon, a book will be opened for entering into a joint-copartnership for carrying _on a thing_ that will turn to the advantage of the concerned."

132For importing oils and materials for the woollen manufactory, permits 10_s._ each, Rainbow.

133For a settlement in the Island of St. Croix, Cross Keys.

134Improving the manufacture of silk, Sun Tavern.

135For purchasing a Manor and Royalty in Essex, Garraway's.

1365,000,000_l._ for buying and selling lands, and lending on landed security, Garraway's.

137For raising and manufacturing madder in Great Britain, Pennsylvania Coffee-house.

1382000 shares for discounting pensions, &c. Globe Tavern.

1394,000,000_l._ for improving all kinds of malt-liquors, Ship Tavern.

1402,500,000_l._ for importing linens from Holland, and Flanders lace.

141A Society for landing and entering goods at the Custom-house on commissions, Robin's.

142For making of glass and bottles, Salutation Tavern.

143The grand American fishery, Ship and Castle.

1442,000,000_l._ for a friendly Society, for purchasing merchandize, and lending money, King's-arms.

1452,000,000_l._ for purchasing and improving Fens in Lincolnshire, Sam's.

146Improving soap-making, Mulford's Coffee-house.

147For making English pitch and tar, Castle Tavern.

1484,000,000_l._ for improving lands in Great-Britain, Pope's-head.

149A woollen manufactory in the North of England, Swan and Rummer.

150A paper manufactory, Hamlin's Coffee-house.

151For improving gardens, and raising fruit-trees, Garraway's.

152For insuring Seamen's wages, Sam's Coffee-house.

153The North-America Society, Swan and Rummer.

154The gold and silver Society.

1552,000,000_l._ for manufacturing baize and flannel, Virginia Coffee-house.

156For extracting silver from lead, Vine Tavern.

1571,000,000_l._ for manufacturing China and Delft wares, Rainbow.

1584,000,000_l._ for importing tobacco from Virginia, Salutation Tavern.

159For trading to Barbary and Africa, Lloyd's.

160For the clothing and pantile trade, Swan and Hoop.

161Making iron with pit-coal.

162A copartnership for buying and selling _live hair_, Castle Tavern.

163Insurance office for horses, dying natural deaths, stolen, or disabled, Crown Tavern, Smithfield.

164A rival to the above for 2,000,000_l._ at Robin's.

165Insurance office for servants' thefts, &c. 3000 shares of 1000_l._ each, Devil Tavern.

166For tillage and breeding cattle, Cross-keys.

167For furnishing London with hay and straw, Great James's Tavern.

168For bleaching coarse sugars to a fine colour without fire or loss of substance, Fleece.

1691,000,000_l._ for a perpetual motion, by means of a wheel moving by force of its own weight, Ship Tavern.

170A copartnership for insuring and increasing children's fortunes, Fountain Tavern.

1714,000,000_l._ for manufacturing iron and steel, Black Swan Tavern.

1722,000,000_l._ for dealing in lace, &c. &c. &c. Sam's.

17310,000,000_l._ for a Royal fishery of Great-Britain, Black Swan.

1742,000,000_l._ to be lent upon pledges, Blue-coat Coffee-house.

175Turnpikes and wharfs, Sword-blade Coffee-house.

176For the British alum works, Salutation.

1772,000,000_l._ for erecting salt-pans in Holy Island, John's Coffee-house.

1782,000,000_l._ for a snuff manufactory, Garraway's.

1793,000,000_l._ for building and rebuilding houses, Globe Tavern.

180The reader will find that I have given him the titles of _ninety_ of these symptoms of public phrenzy, exclusive of the South-Sea scheme[118:A]. Such of the projects as have not mentioned millions, appear to have been forlorn wights, who were contented perforce to receive the few loose pounds left in the pockets of the subscribers, by those whose aggregate sums amount to _one hundred and ten millions_.

181The sufferers in this monstrous scene of wickedness and folly could not plead ignorance or deception; the baits were so clumsily affixed to the hooks, that the Journalists were continually employed in warning the publick, sometimes seriously, and frequently piercing them with the keenest shafts of ridicule: Sir Richard Steele endeavoured to warn the maniacs of the South-Sea Stock, fruitlessly.

182"Notwithstanding what has been published, that the annuitants would not subscribe their annuities in the South-Sea Stock, we find that they now run in crowds to subscribe them, though they know not how much Stock they are to have. Some people say as much as will make 30 years' purchase; but this is uncertain.

183It was, indeed, expected that before the Company would take those subscriptions, they would have given notice of it in the Gazette, and have put up advertisements at their house and at the Royal Exchange, at least eight days before; but it seems the Annuitants have such a good opinion of the Directors of the South-Sea, that without this they come and surrender their ALL as it were, leaving it to the pleasure, discretion, and honour of the Directors, to give them as much Stock as they shall think fit. The like, we suppose, never was heard of before. It is said there has already been above 300,000_l. per annum_ subscribed. The reason of people running to it in such haste is, that it has been whispered the first subscribers would receive a greater advantage than those that shall stay longer.

184A million has also been subscribed, at the rate of 400_l. per cent._ the money to be paid in three years' time, but they are to have the benefit of the next half year's dividend; by this last subscription the Company will get 3,000,000_l._ of money; and it is said they will shortly take another subscription at 500_l._ to pay in seven years, and to have the next half year's dividend; by which means they will get, together with those before, above 11 millions of money. In all appearance, the Company will carry every thing before them; for we see that, notwithstanding what has been said against their Stock by Sir Richard Steele and others, that people are as eager for it as if nothing had been said against it.

185Those fine writers might as well have attempted to stop the tide under London-bridge, as to stop the people from buying or subscribing in that Stock: as to the first of these, they know something of what they do, but the Annuitants run blindfold into the hands of the Directors, as if they should say: 'Gentlemen, We have so many 1000_l._ or 100_l. per annum_ in the annuities for 99 years; we know you to be both just and honourable, give us as much of your South-Sea Stock as you please, we oblige ourselves to be content with whatever you shall give us;' and this is, in short, the sum and substance of the case." London Journal, May 7, 1720.

186The Weekly Packet of the same date adds: "The subscriptions that were lately carried on for raising more millions of money than all Europe can afford, are not as yet quite dead, but are very much withered by the breath of the Senate, or a nipping blast from Westminster. It is observed, that many of those projects are so ridiculous and chimerical, that it is hard to tell which is most to be wondered at, the impudence of those that make the proposals, or the stupid folly of those that subscribe to them; yet many a gudgeon hath been caught in the net, though one would think that, with half an eye, they might discern the cheat. When these bites can no longer go on with their bubbles, happy will be the consequence to many honest but unthinking men that stand in danger to be drawn in by them; but unhappy to themselves that they have been used to such dishonest ways of living, and hardly will take up with any course of life that is not so; insomuch that it is feared, as one says, that many of them will go out a marauding; then stand clear the Bristol Mail."

187On the 4th of June, the Newspapers intimated the intentions of Parliament, directed to the prevention of any farther mischief from Schemes and Stock-jobbing; and yet, so willing were people to be ruined, that the London Journal of the 11th declares: "The hurry of our Stock-jobbing bubblers, especially, has been so great this week, that it has even exceeded all that ever was known before. The subscriptions are innumerable; and so eager all sorts of people have been to engage in them, how improbable or ridiculous soever they have appeared, that there has been nothing but running about from one Coffee-house to another, and from one Tavern to another, to subscribe, and without examining what the proposals were. The general cry has been, 'For G--'s sake let us but subscribe to something, we do not care what it is!' So that, in short, many have taken them at their words, and entered them adventurers in some of the grossest cheats and improbable undertakings that ever the world heard of: and yet, by all these, the projectors have got money, and have had their subscriptions full as soon as desired."

188The auspicious 24th of June at length arrived, which gave the force of law to the following words: "And it is further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that if any Merchant or Trader, after the 24th day of June 1720, shall suffer any particular damage in his, her, or their trade, commerce, or their lawful occasions, by occasion or means of any undertaking, or attempt, matter, or thing, by this Act declared to be unlawful as aforesaid, and will sue to be relieved therein: then, and in every such case, such Merchant or Trader shall and may have his remedy for the same, by an action or actions, to be grounded upon this Statute, against the persons, societies, or partnerships, or any of them, who, contrary to this Act, shall be engaged or interested in any such unlawful undertaking or attempt; and any such action and actions shall be heard and determined in any of His Majesty's Courts of Record, wherein no Essoign shall be allowed."

189This necessary Act was faintly opposed in an attempt to evade its penalties, by the projectors terming themselves and their Subscribers co-partners; but the interposition of the Legislature stamped all their schemes with discredit, and the elopement of several principals utterly destroyed the contrivances of those who dared popular vengeance by keeping their posts.

190"The destruction of the bubbles has been a very heavy blow to many families here, and some are entirely ruined by them. There appeared the utmost consternation in Exchange-alley, the day the Act for suppressing them took place, which, because of the confusion and terror it struck among those brethren in iniquity, they called the day of judgment. It might be well indeed with many of them, if no future inquisition would be made into their conduct in this matter, though, if so, they would not wholly escape; for many of those who have been the most assiduous in drawing other poor wretches in to their ruin have, besides their wealth, acquired an infamy they can never wipe off; and as the rage of those who have drunk deep of the delusion is at this time pretty great, the others do not seem fond of appearing too much in public for the present; they being followed with the reproaches, threats, and bitterest curses, of the poor people they have deluded to their destruction. So that if all of them escape the resentment of the populace, it must be more owing to the care of the Magistracy, than the want of will or desperation in the injured." London Journal, July 2.

191A waggish Scale-maker ventured, at the same time, into Exchange-alley, at the very height of business, with his right hand extended, holding a pair of scales, exclaiming, "Make room for Justice: I sell Justice, who buys Justice _here_?" And the butchers' boys, actuated by the same, though less civilized principle, made a tumultuous sham funeral for the entertainment of the vicinity.

192Although this great point was accomplished, the grand fortress yet remained to be subdued.

193Applebee's Journal of August 5, says, "Our South-sea equipages increase every day; the City ladies buy South-Sea jewels; hire South-Sea maids; and take new country South-Sea houses; the gentlemen set up South-Sea coaches, and buy South-Sea estates, that they neither examine the situation, the nature or quality of the soil, or price of the purchase, only the annual rent and the title: for the rest, they take all by the lump, and give 40 to 50 years' purchase. This has brought so many estates to market, that the number of land-jobbers begin to increase to a great degree, almost equal to the Stock-jobbers we had before."

194On the 10th of August, the Lords Justices gave positive orders to the Attorney-General, to bring Writs of _scire facias_ against the York-buildings Company, the Lustring, the English Copper, and Welsh Copper and Lead Companies, or any others that persisted in their endeavours to evade the Law; and the Royal proclamation issued in aid of it.

195Government received numberless adventitious aids in their exertions. Pamphlets, paragraphs, and calculations, proving the losses that must follow from the monstrous price of 1000 _per cent._ for South-Sea Stock; issued in shoals from the press; and, as usual, much malignity and some wit composed the ingredients. One scrap of doggrel may be worth inserting:

196In London stands a famous pile, And near that pile an alley, Where merry crowds for riches toil, And Wisdom stoops to Folly. Here sad and joyful, high and low, Court Fortune for her graces, And as she smiles or frowns, they show Their gestures and grimaces.

197Here stars and garters too appear Among our lords the rabble; To buy and sell, to see and hear, The Jews and Gentiles squabble. Here crafty Courtiers are too wise For those who trust to Fortune: They see the cheat with clearer eyes, Who peep behind the curtain.

198Our greatest ladies hither come, And ply in chariots daily, Oft pawn their jewels for a sum, To venture it in the Alley, Young harlots, too, from Drury-lane, Approach the 'Change in coaches, To fool away the gold they gain By their obscene debauches.

199Long heads may thrive by sober rules, Because they think, and drink not; But headlongs are our thriving fools, Who only drink, and think not. The lucky rogues, like spaniel dogs, Leap into South-Sea water, And there they fish for golden frogs, Not caring what comes after.

200'Tis said that Alchemists of old Could turn a brazen kettle, Or leaden cistern, into gold, That noble tempting metal; But if it here may be allow'd To bring in great with small things, Our cunning South-Sea, like a god, Turns nothing into all things.

201What need have we of Indian wealth, Or commerce with our neighbours, Our constitution is in health, And riches crown our labours: Our South-Sea ships have golden shrouds, They bring us wealth, 'tis granted; But lodge their treasure in the clouds, To hide it till it's wanted.

202O Britain, bless thy present state, Thou only happy Nation, So oddly rich, so madly great, Since bubbles came in fashion. Successful rakes exert their pride, And count their airy millions; Whilst homely drabs in coaches ride, Brought up to town on pillions.

203Few men who follow Reason's rules Grow fat with South-Sea diet; Young rattles and unthinking fools, Are those that flourish by it. Old musty jades and pushing blades, Who've least consideration, Grow rich apace, whilst wiser heads Are struck with admiration.

204A race of men who t'other day Lay crush'd beneath disasters, Are now by stock brought into play, And made our lords and masters. But should our South-Sea Babel fall, What numbers would be frowning; The losers then must ease their gall, By hanging or by drowning.

205Five hundred millions notes and bonds, Our stocks are worth in value; But neither lie in goods or lands, Or money, let me tell you; Yet, though our foreign trade is lost, Of mighty wealth we vapour; When all the riches that we boast, Consist in scraps of paper.

206October 1, South-Sea Stock had fallen to 370; on the 6th to 180. The consternation occasioned by this event to those who had purchased at 980, may readily be conceived. The Saturday's Post of the 1st remarks: "It is impossible to express the vast alterations made by the sudden and unaccountable fall of the South-Sea Stock, as well as other Stocks; some few of the dealers in them, indeed, had happily secured themselves before the storm arose; but the far greater number who are involved in this public calamity, appear with such dejected looks, that a man of little skill in the art of physiognomy may easily distinguish them.

207"Exchange-alley sounds no longer of thousands got in an instant; but, on the contrary, all corners of the town are filled with the groans of the afflicted; and they who lately rode in great state to that famous mart of money, now condescend to walk the streets on foot, and, instead of adding to their equipages, have at once lost their estates. And even those of the trading rank who talked loudly of retiring into the country, purchasing estates, there building fine houses, and in every thing imitating their betters, are now become bankrupts, and have, by necessity, shut up their shops, because they could not keep them open any longer; however, for the comfort of such whose condition will admit of a remedy, it is said, a gentleman has formed a scheme for the relief of those concerned."

208Mist's Journal contains a paragraph, said to have been copied from a work, intituled, "The Lord knows what, by the Lord knows who;" which seems to place the South-Sea Stock in a true light: "I shall make a familiar simile, which every reader may carry in his mind without the help of figures, and which, I think, has a very near resemblance to the South-Sea scheme, as it has been executed: _viz._ A, having 100_l._ Stock in Trade, though pretty much in debt, gives it out to be worth 300_l._ on account of many privileges and advantages to which he is entitled. B, relying on his great wisdom and integrity, sues to be admitted a partner on those terms, and accordingly brings 300_l._ into the partnership.

209The trade being afterwards given out or discovered to be very improving, C comes in at 500_l._; and afterwards D, at 1100_l._; and the capital is then completed to 2000_l._ If the partnership had gone on no farther than A and B, then A had got and B had lost 100_l._; if it had stopt at C, A had got and C had lost 200_l._; and B had been as he was before. But D also coming in, A gains 400_l._ and B 200_l._ and C neither gains nor loses, but D loses 600_l._ Indeed, if A could show that the said capital was intrinsically worth 4,400_l._, there would be no harm done to D, and B and C would have been much obliged to him.

210But if the capital at first was worth but 100_l._ and increased only by the subsequent partnerships, it must then be acknowledged that B and C have been imposed on in their turns; and that unfortunate, thoughtless D pays the piper."

211I shall conclude my notices of the money-making schemes of 1720, with a beautiful invocation written by Mr. Philips: "O Eunomius (Earl Cowper), oraculous in thy speech! happy had it been for thy country if thy wisdom and integrity could have prevailed over the rashness of some, and the avarice of others! Hereafter may'st thou never speak in vain; and may thy counsels help to remedy those evils they might have prevented! may the King hasten his return to his deluded, abused subjects, and the Council of the Nation be speedily summoned for the redress of the land! In the mean time let us mutually bear with, and assist one another in our present necessities: and since we are as free, though not so rich, a people as we have been; and still claim, as our birthright, the liberty to debate, to speak, to write manfully for the public good; let us not be dejected like our neighbours, after whose inventions we have gone astray, not sorrow, even as others who have no hope.

212"Have we been delivered from the curse of arbitrary power; have we been preserved from the destruction of the sword, the rage of fire, the scourge of pestilence, and the ghastly terrors of famine, to suffer by the mean artifices of money-changers? O my fellow citizens, you have joined with the spoilers; yet have you not added to your stores. Let me print the remembrance of your past inadvertency upon your hearts, that it may abide as a memorial to you and to your children; that deceivers may not hereafter inherit your possessions. And whereunto shall I liken our past inadvertency, that it may abide as a memorial to us and to our children? O my fellow-citizens, we have waged a civil war throughout the land; who hath not committed hostilities against his neighbour, and what hath it profited?

213The wealth, the inheritance of the Island, are transferred to the meanest of the people; those chiefly have gained who had nothing to lose: the nobility, the gentry, the merchants, have been a prey to the idle, the licentious, the spendthrifts; men whose habitations were not known. All the calamities have we felt of a civil war, bloodshed only excepted: they who abounded suffer want. The industry, the trade of the Nation, has been suspended, and even arts and sciences have languished in the general confusion: the very women have been exposed to plunder, whose condition is the more deplorable, because they are not acquainted with the methods of gain to repair their broken fortunes.

214Some are driven from their country, others forced into confinement, some are weary of life; and others there are who can neither be comforted nor recovered to the use of reason. Had his Majesty been present to see the wild proceedings of the people, his goodness would have saved us from these extremities; for though a King can, in his absence, delegate his power and authority, yet can he not delegate his wisdom and his justice."

215Immediately after the disclosure of the shocking villainy practised by Stock-jobbers and the South-Sea Directors, another impostor was exposed to public view, and the Charity that had voluntarily flown into his pockets turned to more worthy channels. It is true, the fellow was a little villain, but his arts may serve as a beacon to the unwary. This wretch pretended to be subject to epileptic fits, and would fall purposely into some dirty pool, whence he never failed to be conveyed to a dry place, or to receive handsome donations; sometimes he terrified the spectators with frightful gestures and convulsive motions, as if he would beat his head and limbs to pieces, and, gradually recovering, receive the rewards of his performance; but the frequency of the exploit at length attracted the notice of the Police, by whom he was conveyed in a dreadful fit to the Lord Mayor, in whose presence the symptoms continued with the utmost violence; that respectable Magistrate, undertaking the office of physician, prescribed the Compter, and finally the Workhouse, where he had no sooner arrived, than, finding it useless to counterfeit, he began to amend, and beat his hemp with double earnestness.

216A brother in iniquity went to as many as twenty taverns in one afternoon, the landlords of which were ordered by him to prepare a supper for three officers of the guards, and to pay him a shilling for his trouble, and charge it to the officers.

217The following Report of a Committee was made to his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, in their General Quarter Sessions, assembled 1725.

218"In pursuance of an order made in the last Quarter Sessions held for this County; whereby it was referred to us, among others, to enquire into the number of houses and places within such parts of this town and county as are therein mentioned, where Geneva and other strong waters are sold by retail, and the mischiefs occasioned thereby: We, whose names are subscribed, do hereby certify, that by the returns of the high and petty constables, made upon their oaths, it appears there are within the weekly Bills of Mortality, and such other parts of this County as are now by the contiguity of buildings become part of this Town, exclusive of London and Southwark, 6187 houses and shops, wherein Geneva or other strong waters are sold by retail.

219And, although this number is exceeding great, and far beyond all proportion to the real wants of the inhabitants (being in some parishes every tenth house, in others every seventh, and in one of the largest every fifth house), we have great reason to believe it is very short of the true number, there being none returned but such who sell publicly in shops or houses, though it is known there are many others who sell by retail, even in the streets and highways, some on bulks and stalls set up for that purpose, and others in wheelbarrows, who are not returned; and many more who sell privately in garrets, cellars, back-rooms, and other places not publicly exposed to view, and which thereby escaped the notice of our officers; and yet there have been a considerable number lately suppressed, or obliged to leave off, by the Justices within their parishes, though it has proved of no effect, having only served to drive those who before were used to these liquors into greater shops, which are now to be seen full of poor people from morning to night.

220"But in this number of 6187 are included such victuallers who sell Geneva or other strong waters, as well as Ale and Beer: though it is highly probable, from the great and sudden decay of the brewing-trade, without any diminution in the number of victuallers, that the quantities of strong waters now drank in Alehouses is vastly increased of late beyond what was usual; and it appears by the constables' returns, where they are distinguished, that the number of Geneva and other strong water shops are fully equal to the number of Alehouses, and rather exceed than otherwise.

221"It is with the deepest concern your Committee observe the strong inclination of the inferior sort of people to these destructive liquors; and yet, as if that were not sufficient, all arts are used to tempt and invite them. All Chandlers, many Tobacconists, and several who sell fruit or herbs in stalls or wheelbarrows, sell Geneva; and many inferior tradesmen begin now to keep it in their shops for their customers; whereby it is scarce possible for soldiers, seamen, servants, or others of their rank, to go any where without being drawn in, either by those who sell it, or by their acquaintance they meet with in the streets, who generally begin with inviting them to a dram, which is every where near at hand; especially where, of all other places, it ought to be kept at the greatest distance; near churches, work-houses, stables, yards, and markets.

222"Your Committee, after having informed themselves as well as they were able of the numbers of those houses, proceeded to enquire according to your directions into the mischiefs arising from them, and from the immoderate use of these liquors, and more especially Geneva; and those appear to be endless and innumerable, affecting not only particular persons and families, but also the trade of the Nation and the public welfare.

223"With respect to particular persons; it deprives them of their money, time, health, and understanding, weakens and enfeebles them to the last degree; and yet, while under its immediate influence, raises the most violent and outrageous passions, renders them incapable of hard labour, as well as indisposes them to it, ruins their health, and destroys their lives; besides the fatal effects it has on their morals and religion. And among the women (who seem to be almost equally infected) it has this farther effect, by inflaming their blood, and stupifying their senses, to expose them an easy prey to the attacks of vicious men; and yet many of them are so blind to these dismal consequences, that they are often seen to give it to their youngest children, even to such whom they carry in their arms.

224"With regard to their families, this pernicious liquor is still more fatal: whilst the husband, and perhaps his wife also, are drinking and spending their money in Geneva-shops, their children are starved and naked at home, without bread to eat, or clothes to put on, and either become a burden to their parishes, or, being suffered to ramble about the streets, are forced to beg while they are children, and learn as they grow up to pilfer and steal; which your Committee conceive to be one of the chief causes of the vast increase of thieves and pilferers of all kinds, notwithstanding the great numbers who have been transported by virtue of the excellent law made for that purpose.

225Under this head may also be added, the common practice of pawning their own and children's clothes (which exposes them to all the extortions of pawnbrokers), and their running in debt, and cheating by all the ways and means they can devise, to get money to spend in this destructive liquor, which generally ends in the husband's being thrown into a gaol, and his whole family on the parish. And this your Committee conceive to be one of the principal causes of the great increase of beggars and parish poor, notwithstanding the high wages now given to all sorts of workmen and servants.

226"And lastly, with regard to trade, and the public welfare, the consequences are yet more ruinous and destructive. It has been already observed, that the constant use of strong-waters, and particularly of Geneva, never fails to produce an invincible aversion to work and labour; this, by necessary consequence, deprives us of great numbers of useful hands, which would otherwise be employed to the advantage of the publick. And as to those who yet do work sometimes, or follow any employment, the loss of their time in frequent tippling, the getting often drunk in the morning, and the spending of their money this way, must very much cramp and straiten them, and so far diminish their trade, and the profit which would accrue from thence to the publick, as well as to themselves.

227But it is farther to be observed, that although the retail trade of wine and ale is generally confined to Vintners and Victuallers, this of Geneva is now sold, not only by Distillers and Geneva-shops, but by most other inferior traders, particularly by all chandlers, many weavers, and several tobacconists, dyers, carpenters, gardeners, barbers, shoemakers, labourers, and others, there being in the hamlet of Bethnal-green only above 40 weavers who sell this liquor; and these and other trades which make our manufactures, generally employing many journeymen and artificers under them, who having always this liquor ready at hand, are easily tempted to drink freely of it, especially as they may drink the whole week upon score, and perhaps without minding how fast the score rises upon them, whereby at the week's end they find themselves without any surplusage to carry home to their families, which of course must starve, or be thrown on the parish.

228And as this evil (wherein the masters may perhaps find their own account, by drawing back the greatest part of their workmen's wages) will naturally go on increasing, and extend to most other trades where numbers of workmen are employed, your Committee apprehend, it may (if not timely prevented) affect our manufactures in the most sensible manner, and be of the last consequence to our trade and welfare.

229"Under this head it may be proper also to take some notice of the pernicious influence, the permitting of chandlers, and other inferior trades, to deal in this destructive liquor, or any other strong-waters, has in this town, on the servants of the nobility and gentry; it being too common a practice among chandlers and others, where servants are continually going on one occasion or other, to tempt and press them to drink, and even to give them drams of this liquor, which we may reasonably suppose must be paid for by the masters, either in the price, weight, or measure of the goods they are sent for, and which, besides the immediate damage, encourages them to wrong their masters in greater matters, and, as we conceive, may be one cause of the great complaints that are made against servants.

230"And if we may judge what will happen in other workhouses now erecting, by what has already happened by that of St.

231Giles's in the Fields, we have reason to fear, that the violent fondness and desire of this liquor, which unaccountably possesses all our poor, may prevent in great measure the good effects proposed by them, and which in all other respects seem very hopeful and promising; it appearing by the return from Holborn division, wherein that workhouse is situate, that notwithstanding all the care that has been taken, Geneva is clandestinely brought in among the poor there, and that they will suffer any punishment or inconveniences rather than live without it, though they cannot avoid seeing its fatal effects by the death of those amongst them who had drank most freely of it; and it is found by experience there, that those who use this liquor are not only the most lazy and unfit for work, but also the most turbulent and ungovernable, and on that account several of them have been turned out, and left to struggle with the greatest wants abroad, which they submit to, rather than they will discover who brought in the Geneva to them, though they have been offered to be forgiven on that condition.

232"Your Committee, having thus laid before you the numbers of the houses and places wherein Geneva and other strong-waters are sold, as also some of the many mischievous effects derived from them, submit to the consideration and judgment of the Sessions, how far it is in their power, and by what means, to suppress this great nuisance; or whether any, and what application to superiors may be proper in order to a more effectual remedy.

233"_Jan. 13, 1725._