SOCIAL ENGLAND
UNDER
THE REGENCY.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

 Page

Anti-Corn Bill riots — Riots in the north — Ratification of the Treaty of Peace with America — Attempt to steal the Crown — Epithets applied to Napoleon — The Prince of Wales' debts 1

CHAPTER II.

News of the Battle of Waterloo — Rejoicings — After career of Napoleon — His abdication and flight — Goes on board the Bellerophon — Arrives at Torbay — His habits on board — Ordered to Plymouth — Crowds try to get a glimpse of him — His protest against being sent to St. Helena — Transferred to the Northumberland — Opinion as to the Prince Regent's conduct towards him — Sails for St. Helena 23

CHAPTER III.

Effects of Napoleon's capture — The Navy in 1815 — Margate and Ramsgate — French Prisoners of war — Treaty of Peace with France — Napoleon's house — A soldier's letter — A zealous Lord Mayor — Hotels and clubs in 1815 51

CHAPTER IV.
1816.

Day of Thanksgiving — "Battle for the Standard" — Return of the troops — Frozen game brought over by Esquimaux — The Regent's practical joke — Rejection of the Prince of Orange by the Princess Charlotte, and acceptance of Prince Leopold as her husband — Her marriage — "The R——l Whiskers" — The Regent's yacht 67

CHAPTER V.

Riots and agrarian outrages — Colliers, &c., coming to London — "England in 1816" — Riots in Newgate — Marriage of the Duke of Gloucester — A chimney sweep's wedding — Cruelty to a "climbing boy" — The Mortar at St. James's Park — Lighting by means of Gas — The Coinage 89

CHAPTER VI.

Smuggling — "Resurrection Men" — More riots — Orator Hunt — Meetings at Spa Fields — Riots arising therefrom — Execution of one of the rioters — The King's health 109

CHAPTER VII.
1817.

Visit of the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia — Stones thrown at the Regent — Issue of the new Silver Coinage — Riots and arrests for sedition — First issue of Sovereigns — The Case of Abraham Thornton and appeal by battle — The Queen at Bath — Death of the Princess Charlotte — Richard Owen and his scheme — "The Fortunate Youth" — "Caraboo" 133

CHAPTER VIII.
1818.

Distress among discharged Seamen — Finding the Scotch Regalia — Strathfieldsaye bought for the Duke of Wellington — The Kyrle Society — Royal Marriages — Annoying the Queen — Riotous schoolboys — The Regent mobbed — Death of Queen Charlotte 161

CHAPTER IX.
1819.

Sale of the Queen's effects — Duke of York has custody of the King — The "Dandy horse" — Loss of, and finding the King's jewellery — A public dinner — A Royal freak — Unqualified medical practitioners — Emigration to America — "The fair Circassian" — Birth of Queen Victoria — Napoleon's carriage — An Irish witness 171

CHAPTER X.

Reform Meetings — Peterloo — Orator Hunt's entry into London — The King's last illness and death 203

CHAPTER XI.

A foreigner's view of England — The packets — Roads — People — Posting — Mail and Stage Coaches — Amateur coachmen — Fast driving — Perils of travelling — A lioness attacks the Mail — Dog-carts and donkey-riding — The Streets and Houses 215

CHAPTER XII.

London improvements — The Country — Gleaning — Dairying and out-door Washing — The Gipsy 245

CHAPTER XIII.

Ladies' dresses — The Dandizette — Waltzing — The Quadrille — Almack's — Women's education — Women's work — Women Soldiers and Sailors — Female rowing match — Female pedestrian — Gretna Green Marriages — Some curious marriages 277

CHAPTER XIV.

The Man of the period — Drinking habits — Dandies — Lord Petersham — A Dandy's diary — Gaming — Prize fighting — Country Sports 303

CHAPTER XV.

Eating and drinking — Recipe for Punch — The Stage — Baron Geramb — Romeo