FOOTNOTES:

THE END.

LONDON: PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE AND PARLIAMENT STREET

Graphic Design

FOOTNOTES:[1]Life of Nollekens, vol. i. p. 79.[2]Venus Chiding Cupid, executed for Lord Yarborough. 'Nollekens was so provoked by an accident which happened to one of his figures during the Exhibition at Somerset House, that he threatened F. M. Newton, the Secretary, who made light of the affair, should this Venus be in any way injured, to break every bone in his skin.'—Nollekens and his Times, by John Thomas Smith.[3]'The mode of teaching turnspits their business was more summary than humane. The dog was put in a wheel, and a burning coal with him; he could not stop without burning his legs, and so was kept on the full gallop. These dogs were by no means fond of their profession; it was indeed hard work to them in a wheel for two or three hours, turning a piece of meat which was twice their own weight. It is recorded of the turnspit-dogs of Bath that one Sunday, when they had, as usual, followed their mistresses to church, the lesson of the day happened to be that chapter of Ezekiel wherein the self-moving chariots are described. When the first word "wheel" was pronounced all the curs pricked up their ears in alarm; at the second "wheel" they set up a doleful howl; and when the dreaded word was uttered a third time every one of them scampered out of church as fast as he could, with his tail between his legs.'—John Foster, in Hone'sEveryday Book, December 17, 1826.[4]'My Lord Loggerhead spells physician with an F, hem! hem!'—Doctor Pangloss,Heir at Law.[5]The advice offered in the concluding line of Daniel Lambert's advertisement must, however, be followed with certain reserve. The Leicester giant's premature end is hardly an encouragement to would-be imitators. After his first visit to London, in 1806, Daniel Lambert returned to his native place; the year following he repeated his visit, but feeling oppressed by the atmosphere of the metropolis, he made a tour through the principal provincial cities and towns, where he proved a great source of attraction. We are told 'his diet was plain, and the quantity moderate, and for many years he never drank anything stronger than water. His countenance was manly and intelligent; he possessed great information, much ready politeness, and conversed with ease and facility. He had a powerful and melodious tenor voice, and his articulation was perfectly clear and unembarrassed.... Lambert had, however, for some time shown dropsical symptoms. In June, 1809, he was weighed at Huntingdon, and, by the Caledonian balance, was found to be 52 stone 11 lb.; 10 stone 4 lb. heavier than Bright, the miller of Maiden, who only lived to the age of thirty.'A few days after this last weight was taken, on June 20, Lambert arrived from Huntingdon at the Wagon and Horses Inn, St. Martin's, Stamford, where preparations were made to receive company the next day and during the Stamford races. He was announced for exhibition; he gave his orders cheerfully, without any presentiment that they were to be his last. He was then in bed, only fatigued from his journey, but anxious to see company early in the morning. Before nine o'clock, however, the day following, he was a corpse! He died in his apartment on the ground-floor of the inn, for he had long been incapable of walking up stairs. As may be supposed from his immense bulk and weight, his interment was an arduous labour. His age was thirty-nine. At the Wagon and Horses Inn were preserved two suits of Lambert's clothes; seven ordinary-sized men were repeatedly enclosed within his waistcoat, without breaking a stitch or straining a button.[6]Francisco Caracci, and General Guise's collection (Somerset-House Gazette), from a note to Mr. Ephraim Hardcastle (Editor):—'Francisco Caracci was the younger brother of Augustino and Annibale; and Antonio, called from his deformity Il Gobbo, was the natural son of Augustino. These were the individuals who formed that celebrated family of painters. The father of Ludovico Caracci was a butcher (era macelago), and the father of Annibale and Augustino a tailor. Annibale resolved to mortify the pride of Ludovico, who despised him on account of his frequently reminding him of their low origin. He therefore privately painted the portraits of the Caracci, as large as life, in a butcher's shop, and showed his picture for the first time to Ludovico, when in company with Cardinal Farnese. It is now in the Guise collection, at Christ Church College, Oxford. Annibale is the butcher weighing the meat, which a soldier (Ludovico) is purchasing. Augustino stands near them. Antonio is lifting down a carcase, which conceals his deformity; and the old woman represents their mother. General Guise is said to have given 1,100l.for this picture, which was purchased for him at Venice. Talking of Oxford, did you ever see this collection? If the old General Guise had no more taste for fighting than for painting, I would have met him and his legions with wooden cannon. Yet I have heard certainbigwigsof the University crack up the Guise Gallery! They are nice social fellows at Christ Church for all this, and men of taste; a conversation on painting is brought to table in hall there, like the wine—devilishly well iced.'[7]A learned dancing-master in the University of Oxford, who taught politeness also, and published a book upon that subject, fixed the same period for passing a stile in some cases that is here judiciously recommended for the payment of an ostler. His precept was that a well-bred man meeting another on the opposite side of a stile ought on no account to be persuaded to go over first. The name of this ingenious author was Towle. Had two zealous pupils of his school met each other at a stile, it is supposed they must have concluded their lives on the premises.[8]James Ripley, many years ostler at the "Red Lion," who published a volume of letters.[9]George Stevens, the originator of the 'Lecture on Heads,' was a very indifferent actor, but a man of humorous parts, and in himself was considered, by his contemporaries, most entertaining company. The idea of the lecture was given him by a country carpenter, who made the character-blocks which formed the subjects of illustration. It proved an extraordinary success in the hands of the originator. He carried it about England, through the States of America, and, on his return, to Ireland; and managed to net some ten thousand pounds by this lucky venture. After he retired more than one actor attempted it, with poor results. Lewis was the most successful of Stevens's imitators, and he had made such arrangements with the author as entitled the latter to a royalty for the use of his 'Lecture on Heads.' It probably derived its principal charm from the style of its delivery. Read in cold blood, its brilliancy and point are by no means startling.[10]Mary Moser, the lively lady Royal Academician, and famous flower-painter, writing to Mrs. Lloyd, the first wife of the gentleman she subsequently honoured with her hand, conveys the following account of the reigning mode in town, to her friend in the country: 'Come to London and admire our plumes; we sweep the sky! a duchess wears six feathers, a lady four, and every milk-maid one at each corner of her cap! Your mamma desired me to inquire the name of something she had seen in the windows in Tavistock Street; it seemsshewas afraid to ask; butItook courage, and they told me they wererattle-snake tippets; however, notwithstanding their frightful name, they are not unlike abeaufong, only the quills are made stiff, and springy in the starching. Fashion is grown a monster! pray tell your operator that your hair must measure just three quarters of a yard from the extremity of one wing to the other.'[11]'Eighteen years before the date of the investigation (February 1809), Mrs. Clarke, then being about fourteen years of age, resided with her mother and step-father in Black Raven Passage, Cursitor Street. She was a very pretty, sprightly, gaily-disposed girl, being very fond of showing herself, and attracting attention. At this time Mr. Joseph Clarke, son of a respectable builder on Snow Hill (his father was the "great contractor" of his day, and aman reputed to be enormously rich) became enamoured of Miss Thompson, who readily received his addresses. She eloped with him, and they lived together about three years, when he married her. She conducted herself with propriety, and they lived together decently several years; in the course of which she bore him several children, four of whom are alive.'—Gentleman's Magazine, February, 1809.[12]The name of Mrs. Clarke's father was Thompson, and he, it appears, was a master printer of some respectability, residing in Bowl and Pin Alley, near White's Alley, Chancery Lane, where Miss Thompson was ushered into the world, as Sterne has it, with 'squalls of disapprobation at the journey she was compelled to perform.'Upon the death of Mr. Thompson, his widow married a Mr. Farquhar, who was engaged as a compositor in the printing house of Mr. Hughes. Miss Thompson was occasionally employed in reading copy to the person engaged as corrector of the press, in which situation she soon attracted the notice of the son of the overseer, who, recognising her abilities, had her placed at a boarding school at Ham, where the young lady, whose 'capacity for elegant improvements' was, if we trust her biographers, of an advanced order, soon acquired ornamental accomplishments; and, from the natural quickness of her parts, she returned, after an absence of two years, so completely altered in her ideas that she thought proper to despise and treat with coldness the attentions of Mr. Day, the well-meaning young gentleman who had been at the charge of finishing her education, it is said, with the view to a future union with this sprightly and promising female prodigy.Her biographers have hinted at least one flirtation, possibly of a harmless description, before she arrived at the age of seventeen, when she threw in her future with Mr. Joseph Clarke, the hopeful son of a wealthy builder and contractor in Snow Hill. After a union of many years, during which she had experienced various vicissitudes, we find that the misconduct of her husband, who seems, on the whole—from the accounts of some of his contemporaries—to have done his best to deserve the treatment he received, although there are two sides to this story, determined the fascinating Mary Ann to trust to her own resources for support.During her tenure of the 'neutral territory,' the name of more than one gentleman of gallant reputation and of rank was coupled with her own; but passing over the list of her admirers, we must mention a certain Mr. Dowler (whose name occurred frequently during the investigation), who seems to have had more faithful regard for the lady than her other doubtful lights of love. Mrs. Clarke further became ambitious of shining on a larger scale, and she had the honour of appearing on the boards of the Haymarket Theatre in the character of Portia. Great praise was awarded her performance; her natural abilities, with a certain vivacity, added to a well modulated voice and graceful action, were sufficient to qualify her for a successful actress; but she felt that her proper stage was the world, and she merely secured her introduction to the histrionic profession as an experiment towards promoting the foundation of her future fortunes, and her object in this regard seems to have been secured and her plans were successfully realised.[13]Minutes of Evidence; andAnnual Register, 1809.[14]Mr. Burton's defence.Minutes of Evidence.[15]Gentleman's Magazine.[16]Colonel Wardle had promised, or clearly given it to be understood by Mrs. Clarke, that he would furnish a house for her at Westbourne Place, in part payment for her services in the prosecution of the Duke of York. Colonel Wardle, afterwards finding it convenient to deny that he had come under any such obligation, was sued at law by an upholsterer who had furnished the house; and, on the evidence of Mrs. Clarke and the upholsterer's brother, obliged to pay about 2000l., with costs. The day after judgment was given in this cause, Colonel Wardle published, in several newspapers, a note addressed to the people of the three kingdoms, declaring before God and his country that a verdict had been obtained against him only through perjury. During the progress of the trial, the colonel had written to his men of law again and again, desiring that Major Dodd, Mr. James Glennie, heretofore of the corps of engineers, and other respectable witnesses, should be examined; but the lawyers thought this unnecessary. The evidence of Mrs. Clarke, and of the brother of the upholsterer, on oath, would be overthrown by that of the respectable witnesses whom he had to bring forward on a second trial for which he had made application. But if so, what is to be thought of the evidence of Mrs. Clarke against the Duke of York?—Annual Register, 1809.[17]March 23, 1809.—The Speaker put the question: 'That it is the opinion of this House that General Clavering in the said evidence is guilty of prevarication,' which was agreed to without a division; and General Clavering was ordered to be forthwith taken into the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms.March 24.—The Serjeant-at-Arms, having reported that General Clavering was in custody, Mr. W. Wynne moved, 'That, for his prevarication before the Committee of the whole House, General Clavering be now committed to Newgate, and the speaker do issue his warrant accordingly;' which was agreed to.March 27.—Mr. Fane presented a petition from Captain Sandon, which, after stating his services in the army for upwards of thirty years in various parts of the globe, concludes with apologising for his conduct at the Bar of that House, by attributing it to the hardships he had recently undergone in Spain, combined with an injury sustained on the brain some time since, and the novelty of his situation when called on to give evidence.March 28.—On the motion of Mr. Fane, Captain Huxley Sandon was called to the Bar; and, after a very impressive reprimand from Mr. Speaker, was ordered to be discharged out of custody on paying the fees.[18]Sometimes the word 'York' is erased from the plate 'Transforming a Footboy into a Captain.'[19]During the Parliamentary enquiry Mrs. Clarke appeared at the Bar of the House dressed in a pelisse and skirt of light blue silk, trimmed with white fur, with a white muff, and wearing a hat and veil of white, the latter turned up to show her face. Her features are described as more pleasing than handsome, according to recognised standards of regular types of countenance. Her complexion was remarkably clear and animated; and her eyes, which were blue, were large and full of light and vivacity. She was somewhat small in stature, her figure was well turned; and as her arms were much admired for their shapely form, she was partial to attitudes which showed them off to advantage.[20]The Duke of York was reinstated in the office of Commander-in-Chief, May 26, 1811.[21]Townshend, the Bow Street Runner.[22]The satirical humours of this sign, which dates back from a recondite period, find a place in Larwood's valuableHistory of Signboards, who gives us further particulars from his own exhaustive researches. 'In Holland, in the seventeenth century, it was used, but the king was left out, and a lawyer added. Each person said exactly the same as our signboards, but the farmer answered:—You may fight, you may pray, you may plead,But I am the farmer who lays the eggs—i.e.finds the money.'This enumeration of the various performances coupled with the wordallhas been used in numerous different epigrams; an address to James the First, in the Ashmolean MSS., No. 1730, has:-The Lordscraveth all,The Queenegranteth all,The Ladiesof honour ruleth all,The Lord-Keepersealed all,The Intelligencermarred all,The Parliamentpass'd all,He that is goneopposed himself to all,The Bishopssoothed all,The Judgespardoned all,The Lordsbuy, Rome spoil'd all,Now,Good King, mend all,Or elseThe Devilwill have all.'This again seems to have been imitated from a similar description of the state of Spain in Greene'sSpanish Masquerade, 1589:—The Cardinalssolicit all,The Kinggrauntes all,The Noblesconfirm all,The Popedetermines all,The Clergiedisposeth all,The Duke of Medinahopes for all,Alonzoreceives all,The Indiansminister all,The Soldierseat all,The Peoplepaie all,The Monks and Friarsconsume all,Andthe Devilat length will carry away all.'[23]It was here, in this same Westminster pit, that the celebrated dogBillydistinguished himself, and carried off the laurels of vermin-killing, by despatching a hundred rats at a time.[24]In his early career Chambers had visited China. He performed the voyage as supercargo of some Swedish ships trading there.[25]Bunbury died at Keswick, May 7, 1811, aged 61.[26]Now known as the Egyptian Hall.[27]Marcus Flaminius; or, the Life of the Romans, 1795.[28]While on a visit in the Hundreds of Essex being under the necessity of getting dead drunk every day to save your life.[29]VideBiography, vol. i. p. 67.[30]See account of theThree Tours of Dr. Syntax,ante, pp. 176, 247–252.[31]Another version of the drawing, in the possession of the Editor, reproduced (p. 20) as 'The Quay,' in the introductory biographical sketch to this work.[32]Antiquity Smith, Author of the 'Life of Nollekens;' once Keeper of the Prints and Drawings, British Museum, &c.[33]SeeGeorge Cruikshank: the Artist, the Humourist, and the Man, with some account of his brother Robert. A Critico-Bibliographical Essay. By William Bates. B.A., M.R.C.S.E., &c., Professor of Classics in Queen's College, Birmingham; Surgeon to the Borough Hospital, &c., with numerous illustrations by G. Cruikshank, including several from original drawings in the possession of the author. Houlston and Sons, 1879. AlsoThe 'Fraser' Portraits. A Gallery of Illustrious Literary Characters(1830–1838), drawn by the late Daniel Maclise, R.A., and accompanied by Notices chiefly by the late William Maginn, LL.D. Edited by William Bates, B.A., &c. Chatto and Windus, 1874, 4to.

[1]Life of Nollekens, vol. i. p. 79.

[2]Venus Chiding Cupid, executed for Lord Yarborough. 'Nollekens was so provoked by an accident which happened to one of his figures during the Exhibition at Somerset House, that he threatened F. M. Newton, the Secretary, who made light of the affair, should this Venus be in any way injured, to break every bone in his skin.'—Nollekens and his Times, by John Thomas Smith.

[3]'The mode of teaching turnspits their business was more summary than humane. The dog was put in a wheel, and a burning coal with him; he could not stop without burning his legs, and so was kept on the full gallop. These dogs were by no means fond of their profession; it was indeed hard work to them in a wheel for two or three hours, turning a piece of meat which was twice their own weight. It is recorded of the turnspit-dogs of Bath that one Sunday, when they had, as usual, followed their mistresses to church, the lesson of the day happened to be that chapter of Ezekiel wherein the self-moving chariots are described. When the first word "wheel" was pronounced all the curs pricked up their ears in alarm; at the second "wheel" they set up a doleful howl; and when the dreaded word was uttered a third time every one of them scampered out of church as fast as he could, with his tail between his legs.'—John Foster, in Hone'sEveryday Book, December 17, 1826.

[4]'My Lord Loggerhead spells physician with an F, hem! hem!'—Doctor Pangloss,Heir at Law.

[5]The advice offered in the concluding line of Daniel Lambert's advertisement must, however, be followed with certain reserve. The Leicester giant's premature end is hardly an encouragement to would-be imitators. After his first visit to London, in 1806, Daniel Lambert returned to his native place; the year following he repeated his visit, but feeling oppressed by the atmosphere of the metropolis, he made a tour through the principal provincial cities and towns, where he proved a great source of attraction. We are told 'his diet was plain, and the quantity moderate, and for many years he never drank anything stronger than water. His countenance was manly and intelligent; he possessed great information, much ready politeness, and conversed with ease and facility. He had a powerful and melodious tenor voice, and his articulation was perfectly clear and unembarrassed.... Lambert had, however, for some time shown dropsical symptoms. In June, 1809, he was weighed at Huntingdon, and, by the Caledonian balance, was found to be 52 stone 11 lb.; 10 stone 4 lb. heavier than Bright, the miller of Maiden, who only lived to the age of thirty.'A few days after this last weight was taken, on June 20, Lambert arrived from Huntingdon at the Wagon and Horses Inn, St. Martin's, Stamford, where preparations were made to receive company the next day and during the Stamford races. He was announced for exhibition; he gave his orders cheerfully, without any presentiment that they were to be his last. He was then in bed, only fatigued from his journey, but anxious to see company early in the morning. Before nine o'clock, however, the day following, he was a corpse! He died in his apartment on the ground-floor of the inn, for he had long been incapable of walking up stairs. As may be supposed from his immense bulk and weight, his interment was an arduous labour. His age was thirty-nine. At the Wagon and Horses Inn were preserved two suits of Lambert's clothes; seven ordinary-sized men were repeatedly enclosed within his waistcoat, without breaking a stitch or straining a button.

A few days after this last weight was taken, on June 20, Lambert arrived from Huntingdon at the Wagon and Horses Inn, St. Martin's, Stamford, where preparations were made to receive company the next day and during the Stamford races. He was announced for exhibition; he gave his orders cheerfully, without any presentiment that they were to be his last. He was then in bed, only fatigued from his journey, but anxious to see company early in the morning. Before nine o'clock, however, the day following, he was a corpse! He died in his apartment on the ground-floor of the inn, for he had long been incapable of walking up stairs. As may be supposed from his immense bulk and weight, his interment was an arduous labour. His age was thirty-nine. At the Wagon and Horses Inn were preserved two suits of Lambert's clothes; seven ordinary-sized men were repeatedly enclosed within his waistcoat, without breaking a stitch or straining a button.

[6]Francisco Caracci, and General Guise's collection (Somerset-House Gazette), from a note to Mr. Ephraim Hardcastle (Editor):—'Francisco Caracci was the younger brother of Augustino and Annibale; and Antonio, called from his deformity Il Gobbo, was the natural son of Augustino. These were the individuals who formed that celebrated family of painters. The father of Ludovico Caracci was a butcher (era macelago), and the father of Annibale and Augustino a tailor. Annibale resolved to mortify the pride of Ludovico, who despised him on account of his frequently reminding him of their low origin. He therefore privately painted the portraits of the Caracci, as large as life, in a butcher's shop, and showed his picture for the first time to Ludovico, when in company with Cardinal Farnese. It is now in the Guise collection, at Christ Church College, Oxford. Annibale is the butcher weighing the meat, which a soldier (Ludovico) is purchasing. Augustino stands near them. Antonio is lifting down a carcase, which conceals his deformity; and the old woman represents their mother. General Guise is said to have given 1,100l.for this picture, which was purchased for him at Venice. Talking of Oxford, did you ever see this collection? If the old General Guise had no more taste for fighting than for painting, I would have met him and his legions with wooden cannon. Yet I have heard certainbigwigsof the University crack up the Guise Gallery! They are nice social fellows at Christ Church for all this, and men of taste; a conversation on painting is brought to table in hall there, like the wine—devilishly well iced.'

[7]A learned dancing-master in the University of Oxford, who taught politeness also, and published a book upon that subject, fixed the same period for passing a stile in some cases that is here judiciously recommended for the payment of an ostler. His precept was that a well-bred man meeting another on the opposite side of a stile ought on no account to be persuaded to go over first. The name of this ingenious author was Towle. Had two zealous pupils of his school met each other at a stile, it is supposed they must have concluded their lives on the premises.

[8]James Ripley, many years ostler at the "Red Lion," who published a volume of letters.

[9]George Stevens, the originator of the 'Lecture on Heads,' was a very indifferent actor, but a man of humorous parts, and in himself was considered, by his contemporaries, most entertaining company. The idea of the lecture was given him by a country carpenter, who made the character-blocks which formed the subjects of illustration. It proved an extraordinary success in the hands of the originator. He carried it about England, through the States of America, and, on his return, to Ireland; and managed to net some ten thousand pounds by this lucky venture. After he retired more than one actor attempted it, with poor results. Lewis was the most successful of Stevens's imitators, and he had made such arrangements with the author as entitled the latter to a royalty for the use of his 'Lecture on Heads.' It probably derived its principal charm from the style of its delivery. Read in cold blood, its brilliancy and point are by no means startling.

[10]Mary Moser, the lively lady Royal Academician, and famous flower-painter, writing to Mrs. Lloyd, the first wife of the gentleman she subsequently honoured with her hand, conveys the following account of the reigning mode in town, to her friend in the country: 'Come to London and admire our plumes; we sweep the sky! a duchess wears six feathers, a lady four, and every milk-maid one at each corner of her cap! Your mamma desired me to inquire the name of something she had seen in the windows in Tavistock Street; it seemsshewas afraid to ask; butItook courage, and they told me they wererattle-snake tippets; however, notwithstanding their frightful name, they are not unlike abeaufong, only the quills are made stiff, and springy in the starching. Fashion is grown a monster! pray tell your operator that your hair must measure just three quarters of a yard from the extremity of one wing to the other.'

[11]'Eighteen years before the date of the investigation (February 1809), Mrs. Clarke, then being about fourteen years of age, resided with her mother and step-father in Black Raven Passage, Cursitor Street. She was a very pretty, sprightly, gaily-disposed girl, being very fond of showing herself, and attracting attention. At this time Mr. Joseph Clarke, son of a respectable builder on Snow Hill (his father was the "great contractor" of his day, and aman reputed to be enormously rich) became enamoured of Miss Thompson, who readily received his addresses. She eloped with him, and they lived together about three years, when he married her. She conducted herself with propriety, and they lived together decently several years; in the course of which she bore him several children, four of whom are alive.'—Gentleman's Magazine, February, 1809.

[12]The name of Mrs. Clarke's father was Thompson, and he, it appears, was a master printer of some respectability, residing in Bowl and Pin Alley, near White's Alley, Chancery Lane, where Miss Thompson was ushered into the world, as Sterne has it, with 'squalls of disapprobation at the journey she was compelled to perform.'Upon the death of Mr. Thompson, his widow married a Mr. Farquhar, who was engaged as a compositor in the printing house of Mr. Hughes. Miss Thompson was occasionally employed in reading copy to the person engaged as corrector of the press, in which situation she soon attracted the notice of the son of the overseer, who, recognising her abilities, had her placed at a boarding school at Ham, where the young lady, whose 'capacity for elegant improvements' was, if we trust her biographers, of an advanced order, soon acquired ornamental accomplishments; and, from the natural quickness of her parts, she returned, after an absence of two years, so completely altered in her ideas that she thought proper to despise and treat with coldness the attentions of Mr. Day, the well-meaning young gentleman who had been at the charge of finishing her education, it is said, with the view to a future union with this sprightly and promising female prodigy.Her biographers have hinted at least one flirtation, possibly of a harmless description, before she arrived at the age of seventeen, when she threw in her future with Mr. Joseph Clarke, the hopeful son of a wealthy builder and contractor in Snow Hill. After a union of many years, during which she had experienced various vicissitudes, we find that the misconduct of her husband, who seems, on the whole—from the accounts of some of his contemporaries—to have done his best to deserve the treatment he received, although there are two sides to this story, determined the fascinating Mary Ann to trust to her own resources for support.During her tenure of the 'neutral territory,' the name of more than one gentleman of gallant reputation and of rank was coupled with her own; but passing over the list of her admirers, we must mention a certain Mr. Dowler (whose name occurred frequently during the investigation), who seems to have had more faithful regard for the lady than her other doubtful lights of love. Mrs. Clarke further became ambitious of shining on a larger scale, and she had the honour of appearing on the boards of the Haymarket Theatre in the character of Portia. Great praise was awarded her performance; her natural abilities, with a certain vivacity, added to a well modulated voice and graceful action, were sufficient to qualify her for a successful actress; but she felt that her proper stage was the world, and she merely secured her introduction to the histrionic profession as an experiment towards promoting the foundation of her future fortunes, and her object in this regard seems to have been secured and her plans were successfully realised.

Upon the death of Mr. Thompson, his widow married a Mr. Farquhar, who was engaged as a compositor in the printing house of Mr. Hughes. Miss Thompson was occasionally employed in reading copy to the person engaged as corrector of the press, in which situation she soon attracted the notice of the son of the overseer, who, recognising her abilities, had her placed at a boarding school at Ham, where the young lady, whose 'capacity for elegant improvements' was, if we trust her biographers, of an advanced order, soon acquired ornamental accomplishments; and, from the natural quickness of her parts, she returned, after an absence of two years, so completely altered in her ideas that she thought proper to despise and treat with coldness the attentions of Mr. Day, the well-meaning young gentleman who had been at the charge of finishing her education, it is said, with the view to a future union with this sprightly and promising female prodigy.

Her biographers have hinted at least one flirtation, possibly of a harmless description, before she arrived at the age of seventeen, when she threw in her future with Mr. Joseph Clarke, the hopeful son of a wealthy builder and contractor in Snow Hill. After a union of many years, during which she had experienced various vicissitudes, we find that the misconduct of her husband, who seems, on the whole—from the accounts of some of his contemporaries—to have done his best to deserve the treatment he received, although there are two sides to this story, determined the fascinating Mary Ann to trust to her own resources for support.

During her tenure of the 'neutral territory,' the name of more than one gentleman of gallant reputation and of rank was coupled with her own; but passing over the list of her admirers, we must mention a certain Mr. Dowler (whose name occurred frequently during the investigation), who seems to have had more faithful regard for the lady than her other doubtful lights of love. Mrs. Clarke further became ambitious of shining on a larger scale, and she had the honour of appearing on the boards of the Haymarket Theatre in the character of Portia. Great praise was awarded her performance; her natural abilities, with a certain vivacity, added to a well modulated voice and graceful action, were sufficient to qualify her for a successful actress; but she felt that her proper stage was the world, and she merely secured her introduction to the histrionic profession as an experiment towards promoting the foundation of her future fortunes, and her object in this regard seems to have been secured and her plans were successfully realised.

[13]Minutes of Evidence; andAnnual Register, 1809.

[14]Mr. Burton's defence.Minutes of Evidence.

[15]Gentleman's Magazine.

[16]Colonel Wardle had promised, or clearly given it to be understood by Mrs. Clarke, that he would furnish a house for her at Westbourne Place, in part payment for her services in the prosecution of the Duke of York. Colonel Wardle, afterwards finding it convenient to deny that he had come under any such obligation, was sued at law by an upholsterer who had furnished the house; and, on the evidence of Mrs. Clarke and the upholsterer's brother, obliged to pay about 2000l., with costs. The day after judgment was given in this cause, Colonel Wardle published, in several newspapers, a note addressed to the people of the three kingdoms, declaring before God and his country that a verdict had been obtained against him only through perjury. During the progress of the trial, the colonel had written to his men of law again and again, desiring that Major Dodd, Mr. James Glennie, heretofore of the corps of engineers, and other respectable witnesses, should be examined; but the lawyers thought this unnecessary. The evidence of Mrs. Clarke, and of the brother of the upholsterer, on oath, would be overthrown by that of the respectable witnesses whom he had to bring forward on a second trial for which he had made application. But if so, what is to be thought of the evidence of Mrs. Clarke against the Duke of York?—Annual Register, 1809.

[17]March 23, 1809.—The Speaker put the question: 'That it is the opinion of this House that General Clavering in the said evidence is guilty of prevarication,' which was agreed to without a division; and General Clavering was ordered to be forthwith taken into the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms.March 24.—The Serjeant-at-Arms, having reported that General Clavering was in custody, Mr. W. Wynne moved, 'That, for his prevarication before the Committee of the whole House, General Clavering be now committed to Newgate, and the speaker do issue his warrant accordingly;' which was agreed to.March 27.—Mr. Fane presented a petition from Captain Sandon, which, after stating his services in the army for upwards of thirty years in various parts of the globe, concludes with apologising for his conduct at the Bar of that House, by attributing it to the hardships he had recently undergone in Spain, combined with an injury sustained on the brain some time since, and the novelty of his situation when called on to give evidence.March 28.—On the motion of Mr. Fane, Captain Huxley Sandon was called to the Bar; and, after a very impressive reprimand from Mr. Speaker, was ordered to be discharged out of custody on paying the fees.

March 24.—The Serjeant-at-Arms, having reported that General Clavering was in custody, Mr. W. Wynne moved, 'That, for his prevarication before the Committee of the whole House, General Clavering be now committed to Newgate, and the speaker do issue his warrant accordingly;' which was agreed to.

March 27.—Mr. Fane presented a petition from Captain Sandon, which, after stating his services in the army for upwards of thirty years in various parts of the globe, concludes with apologising for his conduct at the Bar of that House, by attributing it to the hardships he had recently undergone in Spain, combined with an injury sustained on the brain some time since, and the novelty of his situation when called on to give evidence.

March 28.—On the motion of Mr. Fane, Captain Huxley Sandon was called to the Bar; and, after a very impressive reprimand from Mr. Speaker, was ordered to be discharged out of custody on paying the fees.

[18]Sometimes the word 'York' is erased from the plate 'Transforming a Footboy into a Captain.'

[19]During the Parliamentary enquiry Mrs. Clarke appeared at the Bar of the House dressed in a pelisse and skirt of light blue silk, trimmed with white fur, with a white muff, and wearing a hat and veil of white, the latter turned up to show her face. Her features are described as more pleasing than handsome, according to recognised standards of regular types of countenance. Her complexion was remarkably clear and animated; and her eyes, which were blue, were large and full of light and vivacity. She was somewhat small in stature, her figure was well turned; and as her arms were much admired for their shapely form, she was partial to attitudes which showed them off to advantage.

[20]The Duke of York was reinstated in the office of Commander-in-Chief, May 26, 1811.

[21]Townshend, the Bow Street Runner.

[22]The satirical humours of this sign, which dates back from a recondite period, find a place in Larwood's valuableHistory of Signboards, who gives us further particulars from his own exhaustive researches. 'In Holland, in the seventeenth century, it was used, but the king was left out, and a lawyer added. Each person said exactly the same as our signboards, but the farmer answered:—You may fight, you may pray, you may plead,But I am the farmer who lays the eggs—i.e.finds the money.'This enumeration of the various performances coupled with the wordallhas been used in numerous different epigrams; an address to James the First, in the Ashmolean MSS., No. 1730, has:-The Lordscraveth all,The Queenegranteth all,The Ladiesof honour ruleth all,The Lord-Keepersealed all,The Intelligencermarred all,The Parliamentpass'd all,He that is goneopposed himself to all,The Bishopssoothed all,The Judgespardoned all,The Lordsbuy, Rome spoil'd all,Now,Good King, mend all,Or elseThe Devilwill have all.'This again seems to have been imitated from a similar description of the state of Spain in Greene'sSpanish Masquerade, 1589:—The Cardinalssolicit all,The Kinggrauntes all,The Noblesconfirm all,The Popedetermines all,The Clergiedisposeth all,The Duke of Medinahopes for all,Alonzoreceives all,The Indiansminister all,The Soldierseat all,The Peoplepaie all,The Monks and Friarsconsume all,Andthe Devilat length will carry away all.'

You may fight, you may pray, you may plead,But I am the farmer who lays the eggs—

i.e.finds the money.

'This enumeration of the various performances coupled with the wordallhas been used in numerous different epigrams; an address to James the First, in the Ashmolean MSS., No. 1730, has:-

'This again seems to have been imitated from a similar description of the state of Spain in Greene'sSpanish Masquerade, 1589:—

[23]It was here, in this same Westminster pit, that the celebrated dogBillydistinguished himself, and carried off the laurels of vermin-killing, by despatching a hundred rats at a time.

[24]In his early career Chambers had visited China. He performed the voyage as supercargo of some Swedish ships trading there.

[25]Bunbury died at Keswick, May 7, 1811, aged 61.

[26]Now known as the Egyptian Hall.

[27]Marcus Flaminius; or, the Life of the Romans, 1795.

[28]While on a visit in the Hundreds of Essex being under the necessity of getting dead drunk every day to save your life.

[29]VideBiography, vol. i. p. 67.

[30]See account of theThree Tours of Dr. Syntax,ante, pp. 176, 247–252.

[31]Another version of the drawing, in the possession of the Editor, reproduced (p. 20) as 'The Quay,' in the introductory biographical sketch to this work.

[32]Antiquity Smith, Author of the 'Life of Nollekens;' once Keeper of the Prints and Drawings, British Museum, &c.

[33]SeeGeorge Cruikshank: the Artist, the Humourist, and the Man, with some account of his brother Robert. A Critico-Bibliographical Essay. By William Bates. B.A., M.R.C.S.E., &c., Professor of Classics in Queen's College, Birmingham; Surgeon to the Borough Hospital, &c., with numerous illustrations by G. Cruikshank, including several from original drawings in the possession of the author. Houlston and Sons, 1879. AlsoThe 'Fraser' Portraits. A Gallery of Illustrious Literary Characters(1830–1838), drawn by the late Daniel Maclise, R.A., and accompanied by Notices chiefly by the late William Maginn, LL.D. Edited by William Bates, B.A., &c. Chatto and Windus, 1874, 4to.

Transcriber's Notes:In the text version, footnotes have been moved to the end of each chapter with the exception of a note in the summary table. In the html version, footnotes have been moved to the end of the text.Illustrations have been moved to paragragh breaks in a direction which brings them closer to their descriptions. In the html version this has left blank pages where page numbers are omitted.Obvious typos and punctuation errors have been corrected, but In as many cases as possible the original spelling is retained. It usually adds to the general hilarity.There are many instances of double choices for hyphenations. Some same words are hyphenated and some aren't. These have been left as printed.The names 'Billingsgatura', 'Billingsgatina' and 'Billingsgata' all seem to refer to the same print, left as printed.p.vii. 'An Essay on the Art of Ingeinously Tormenting'. Ingeinously changed to Ingeniously.p.127. 'The sale Room' changed to 'The Sale Room'.p.141. The end of the sentence in the original text reads,'Commander- in Chief'. The e-text will read all on the same line as, Commander-in-Chief.p.148. February 29, 1809. In 1809, February was not a leap year. This appears to be a typo for February 25.p.192. 'the Cossack is giving the fugitive a prog'. 'prog' is changed to prod'.p.309. Footnote 1: 'Now known a the Egyptian Hall' changed to 'Now known as the Egyptian Hall'.p.350. 'cortège' changed to 'cortége'.p.393. 'Delices de la Grand Bretagne. Two plates by by Rowlandson' extra 'by' removed. p.395. '4. Admiration with Astonishment. do.' an extra 'do' has been added.p.400. '4. Original Plan for a Popular Monument to be Erecte in Gloucester Place'. 'Erecte' changed to 'Erected'.p.422. The Castatrophe left as is.p.438. Index. Ferdinand Farquhar's 'Relics of a Saint,' ii. Page numbers added 312, 317.p.442. Index. Caricature Medallions for Screens, ii. Page number added 6.p 452. Index. Cockburn's Theatre on Fire, ii. 192. Dash added as this is a subpart.Index Plan for a Popular Monument to be Erected in Gloucester Place, ii. 156–7. Moved from "O" to "P".

In the text version, footnotes have been moved to the end of each chapter with the exception of a note in the summary table. In the html version, footnotes have been moved to the end of the text.

Illustrations have been moved to paragragh breaks in a direction which brings them closer to their descriptions. In the html version this has left blank pages where page numbers are omitted.

Obvious typos and punctuation errors have been corrected, but In as many cases as possible the original spelling is retained. It usually adds to the general hilarity.

There are many instances of double choices for hyphenations. Some same words are hyphenated and some aren't. These have been left as printed.

The names 'Billingsgatura', 'Billingsgatina' and 'Billingsgata' all seem to refer to the same print, left as printed.

p.vii. 'An Essay on the Art of Ingeinously Tormenting'. Ingeinously changed to Ingeniously.

p.127. 'The sale Room' changed to 'The Sale Room'.

p.141. The end of the sentence in the original text reads,'Commander- in Chief'. The e-text will read all on the same line as, Commander-in-Chief.

p.148. February 29, 1809. In 1809, February was not a leap year. This appears to be a typo for February 25.

p.192. 'the Cossack is giving the fugitive a prog'. 'prog' is changed to prod'.

p.309. Footnote 1: 'Now known a the Egyptian Hall' changed to 'Now known as the Egyptian Hall'.

p.350. 'cortège' changed to 'cortége'.

p.393. 'Delices de la Grand Bretagne. Two plates by by Rowlandson' extra 'by' removed. p.395. '4. Admiration with Astonishment. do.' an extra 'do' has been added.

p.400. '4. Original Plan for a Popular Monument to be Erecte in Gloucester Place'. 'Erecte' changed to 'Erected'.

p.422. The Castatrophe left as is.

p.438. Index. Ferdinand Farquhar's 'Relics of a Saint,' ii. Page numbers added 312, 317.

p.442. Index. Caricature Medallions for Screens, ii. Page number added 6.

p 452. Index. Cockburn's Theatre on Fire, ii. 192. Dash added as this is a subpart.

Index Plan for a Popular Monument to be Erected in Gloucester Place, ii. 156–7. Moved from "O" to "P".

Back to Index Next