John Ashton - When William IV. Was King

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When
WILLIAM IV.
was King.

BY
JOHN ASHTON,
AUTHOR OF
"SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE," ETC., ETC., ETC.

WITH FORTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS.

LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL, LD.
1896.

PREFACE.

Several "Life and Times of William IV." have been written, but they all contain a great deal of "Life," and very little "Times." The present book reverses this, and deals, primarily, with the chief topics of conversation during the seven years of King William's reign, and, afterwards, with the social aspect of the times.

Although I treat of a period but sixty years since, it is a time of which much is to be said which is unknown to the present generation, and one which has had a deep and lasting influence on our own times. Then began the mighty reign of steam; then was inaugurated the first passenger railway, to which small beginning England owes so much. Then, too, steam navigation began to be general, developing that commerce which has been the making of the country. Science woke up, as did Art, whilst the introduction of the Railway caused our manufactures to progress by leaps and bounds.

Politics have been avoided as much as possible; and, although the book is necessarily somewhat discursive, I would fain hope it will be found interesting; and, in the words of the writer of Maccabees (Book II. xv. 38), I say, "Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is what I desired, but, if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me."

JOHN ASHTON.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.	PAGE
1830.
Illness of George IV. His death Sale of his clothes, etc. The new King His character
CHAPTER II.
1830.
Proclamation of William IV. The Beer Act The Queen and gas Burial of George IV. The King and the Duke of Cumberland The King as a soldier He meddles with the uniforms of the army
CHAPTER III.
1830.
The King as "bon bourgeois" Mobbed Street song about him A sailor in Guildhall Behaviour of the public at Windsor Charles X. in England The "New Police" A modest advertisement
CHAPTER IV.
1830.
Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Death of Mr. Huskisson Agricultural lawlessness Captain Swing Executions for riot Riots throughout the country Special Commissions Prayer to be used in churches and chapels
CHAPTER V.
1830.
Duke of Wellington mobbed and stoned Owing to riots, the King postponed his visit to the city No Lord Mayor's show, nor dinner Riots in the city Apsley House besieged Ireland proclaimed Ferment in the country Change of Ministry Royal succession Scotch regalia Curious story of a bank-note
CHAPTER VI.
1831.
Incendiary fires Captain Swing The result of Cobbett's lectures Special Commission Prosecution of Carlile Election expenses List of Close boroughs Collapse of Reform Bill The King stoned Debt of Princess Victoria The Times and the House of Lords Bribery at elections Action for libel "The King v. Cobbett" Prince Leopold made King of the Belgians
CHAPTER VII.
1831.
Opening of New London Bridge After the luncheon State of the waiters Provision for the Princess Victoria Sale of Sir Walter Scott's MSS. The coronation Its expenses A "half crownation" The Lord Mayor and his gold cup
CHAPTER VIII.
1831.
Scramble for coronation medals Bad weather Fireworks in Hyde Park Absence from the ceremony of the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria The Times thereon Story of a Great Seal Reform Bill rejected by the Lords Reform riots in the country and London Windows of Apsley House broken by the mob
CHAPTER IX.
1831.
Reform procession The Corporation of London and the King Dreadful riots at Bristol Riots in other parts of the kingdom Edward Irving and the "Gift of Tongues" The cholera Its spread State of Ireland Tithe agitation Scarcity of food Repeal of the Union Cases of violence
CHAPTER X.
1832.
Commissions at Bristol and Nottingham Executions Employment of children in factories Cholera in London Day of fast and humiliation Riot in Finsbury Cholera riot at Paisley A small one in London Decrease of cholera Number of deaths Cholera in Ireland A charm against it Its effect on rooks The police, City and Metropolitan
CHAPTER XI.
1832.
Reform Bill passes the Commons Scotch boys and the Reform Bill Proposed increase of the peerage Passed in the Lords "The Marylebone or Tory Hunt" The Duke of Wellington mobbed The King stoned The Queen hissed Archbishop of Canterbury stoned
CHAPTER XII.
1832.
The first reformed Parliament Steam communication with India State of Ireland Lawless behaviour Malversation of justice O'Connell and the Trades' Political Union Crime in Ireland
CHAPTER XIII.
1833.
Employment of children in factories Evidence Passing of Factory Act Gambling Crockford's club Gambling "hells" Police case
CHAPTER XIV.
1833.
The overland route to India The Government and Lieutenant Waghorn Police magistrate and the press Cobbett and the British Museum Prevalence of influenza "National Convention" riot Policeman killed The coroner and the jury Adulteration of tea
CHAPTER XV.
1833.
The Queen's visit to the City Her unpopularity King's dislike of the Duchess of Kent Hungerford Market opened Death and funeral of Wilberforce Abolition of slavery Synopsis of Act A Women's rowing match List of periodicals and their circulation Return of Captain Ross State of Ireland Passing of "Coercion Bill," etc.
CHAPTER XVI.
1834.
Corporation commission Curious advertisement Discovery of treasure Bribery at Liverpool Duke of York's statue Trades' unions Skit thereon Riot at Oldham Unionist oath Union meeting and monster petition Its fate Duke of Wellington made Chancellor of Oxford The Princess Victoria's lover
CHAPTER XVII.
1834.
Crockford's and game The chef in trouble Burning of the Houses of Parliament The tapestry in the House of Lords Story of one piece Temporary House of Lords Tithe riots in Ireland Change of Ministry
CHAPTER XVIII.
1835.
First cargo of ice to India Election riots at Halifax and in Scotland A female sailor The new temporary Houses of Parliament The King and others hissed Question of admitting ladies A political skit Deaths of Hunt and Cobbett
CHAPTER XIX.
1835.
Gambling house police case Curious superstition A cook's letter to her mistress Jews and public employment Fire at Hatfield House Curious discovery of jewels Scarcity in Ireland
CHAPTER XX.
1836.
Curious case of a girl stolen by gipsies Superstition re light at Christmas in the North of England Designs for New Houses of Parliament King William III. statue blown up Admission of ladies to the House of Commons Stuart impostors An inter-university boat race How Cambridge came to have light blue as a colour
CHAPTER XXI.

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