Mercuriosities

Little Waddington thought he could get away with selling a seditious and blasphemous book, because he could not be seen by the purchaser. The Magistrate thought differently!

“On Saturday that well-known character, Little Waddington, who has opened a shop for the sale of seditious and blasphemous works on Carlile’s plan by machinery, was arrested and carried before the Magistrates at Bow-street for the sale of some works of that description. He was ordered to find bail, himself in 100l. and two sureties of 50l. each, and to give 24 hours’ notice of the bail offered; and was committed until this should be done. He endeavoured to shield himself behind his contrivance of the book having been sold through a hole, so that the purchaser could not see the person who sold it to him ; and he pleaded that he himself was in the front of the Temple, and of course had nothing to do with the selling of the book. – The Magistrates held that this signified nothing – it was sufficient that his name was over the door of his shop, and he was present when the book was sold. – ‘Little Waddy’ was dumbfounded at this constuction of the matter – it was a complete explosion of his ‘new-inwented inwizzable publisher;’ and for some minutes he remained holding his peace, and ‘wrapped in dismal thinkings.’ until carried off to prison! It was but last week he placarded the town, announcing that he was about to bring out a periodical work, entitles ‘Waddington’s Frying-Pan,’ in which he promised to fry all the contemners* of Radicalism, and ‘serve them up so highly seasoned that they should stimulate the stomachs of his friends even to ecstasy!’ – Truly he is now himself in the frying-pan, and it is a hundred to one that he will tumble out of it into the fire.”

The Stamford Mercury, 10th May, 1822.

*Those held in contempt of court.

That is, a cake for Twelfth Night (which, this year, fell on Sunday, 5th January), The ‘first day of Christmas’ being Christmas Day. The ornaments referred to were very elaborate and presumably in this particular year an element of them contained something not very nice at all.

This could well have been arsenic poinsoning, because the green dyes used in those days contained that element. Or perhaps white arsenic (a white powder which was often used to control rodents) was used instead of flour

It seem the appearance was more important than the taste of the cake!

“Twelfth Cakes. – The ornaments which are generally used for twelfth-cakes have been nearly attended with fatal consequence in this town: several persons are suffering from partaking of this highly deleterious compound. Surely the parties preparing them should have some thought for the health of others. Of several persons poisoned, all are believed to be now out of danger, although some are suffering extremely from the effects.”

The Stamford Mercury, 6th February, 1846.

Mary Berry’s recipe for the cake can be found here. And it definitely does not contain anything nasty!

Seasonal tales of noblesse oblige, feasting and charity for the poor and the usual problems brought by icy weather.

“On the 23d inst. Lady Anne Noel gave to the poor and small tradespeople of North Luffenham, and to a few others where it was thought charity, two fat oxen (weighing 110 stone), and 220 quartern loaves of wheaten bread.

Lady Sophia Whichcote, of Glaston, gave a dinner of roast beef, plum pudding, and ale, as usual, on Christmas day, at the Horse Shoes Inn, to upwards of 70 poor people of that place: her Ladyship also distributed a large quantity of wearing apparel amongst them. The parishes of Thistleton, Ayston, and Wardley have been made happy with the annual Christmas donation of Mr. and Lady Mary Fludyer, consisting of a very bountiful supply of beef, bread, and money, to every poor family.”

The Stamford Mercury, 31st December, 1824.

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“Long Sutton. – The science of bell-ringing is at a very low ebb here. The bells when acted upon resemble more the cry of a pack of hounds suffering from a severe cold, than any thing else earthly. A frieind of our’s concluded that our bells must be either of lead or of timber. Certainly more dolorous notes never ushered in merry Christmas to poor sinners than fo the ding-ding notes of Sutton bells. We hope something may be done to mend their voices.”

The Stamford Mercury, 1st January, 1847.

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“The severity of late frost having ‘locked-up’ the navigation, the arrangements for bringing coals to Stamford via the railway have been impeded. As soon, however, as the river Nene is clear, a supply may be expected from Sutton Bridge; and the present exorbitant price (26s. to 29s. per ton) must be materially reduced. We have good authority for stating that a company is being formed who will carry on the trade with ample means and in a liberal spirit, it being the determination of the parties to sell this necessary of life at the lowest possible profit.”

The Stamford Mercury, 1st January, 1847.

A wide variety of Christmas celebrations can be found in the newspaper from the 1820s – from Christmas markets to the theft of Christmas presents.

“Crowland Market. – We hear with pleasure that the market and show at Crowland on the 18th inst. were well attended by graziers and others of the first respectability. The stock, and particularly the sheep, were peculiarly good – equal, some say superior, to any in Smithfield. – The Lord of the Manor, we understand, has given a considerable impulse to the general feeling, by expressing his approbation of the exertions made by his numerous respectable tenantry, – who, as will be seen in another part of our paper, have set on foot a subscription for the ensuing Chrismas show.”

The Stamford Mercury, 26th December, 1824.

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“A remarkably beautiful ox was slaughtered in Stamford on Friday last, by Mr. Joshua Lumby, butcher, in the Highstreet, and furnished a bonne bouche at the Christmas dinner-table of many families. It was a four-year-old home-bred ox, fed by Sir John Trollope, Bart., upon his Casewick farm: it weighed 97 stone, and was allowed by competent judges to be one of the completest oxen, inside and outside, ever slaughtered in Stamford.”

The Stamford Mercury, 30th December, 1825.

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“A gentleman of Stafford, a short time ago, forwarded a quantity of fine pork pies and some choice brawn by the Chester mail; unfortunately on the very day a lot of convicted felons were travelling to the hulks by the same conveyance. Towards evening, these worthies, whose scent had been improved, and whose appetites had been sharpened by the day’s ride, discovered and devoured the savoury viands, which were intended as a luxurious relish for more dainy palates, and a Christmas present for more valued friends.”

The Stamford Mercury, 16th December, 1825.

Ether was the first anesthesia to be used in surgery. Before it became available, surgery was a prospect that few people were willing to undergo.

“The inhalation of ether as a means of rendering patients unconscious of pain during surgical operations, was tried at the Stamford Infirmary on Wednesday the 17th inst. Two cases were subjected to the process, and the apparatus used was that invented by Professor Fergusson, of King’s College, London. The first patient was an agricultural labourer, 36 years of age, who that morning had had his hand crushed by a thrashing-machine, making it necessary that one of the fingers should be amputated. After he had inhaled the ether for three minutes and a half, he appeared to be under its influence, uttering a disagreeable moaning noise, his eyes being fixed, and his face livid. The operation was quickly performed. When it was over, he was asked whether he had been aware of what was going on? – to which he promptly repliee (sic), ‘Oh yes, I felt you all the while.’ – The second case was that of a young woman, one of whose teeth was to be drawn; and with her the effect of the ether was more quick and more complete, for in a minute and a half she was evidently unconscious, and the tooth was soon extracted. It then becamse necessary to use stimulants, and to dash cold water in her face to restore her. On her reviving, she was asked whether she would have the tooth drawn? to which she answered rather archly, ‘I think it is out.’ In this instance the effects of the ether did not go off so happily as had been hoped for; the girl continued in a comatose somnolent state till the Friday following, taking no notice of anything, but answering questions when put in a loud tone. Some active means being then used, she began to improve, and his now recovered her usual state of health. – From this case, we may infer that the propriety of using an agent so powerful as the ether inhalation in the minor operations of surgery is doubtful; for it is uncertain whether a greater evil may not be inflicted than is avoided by it.”

The Stamford Mercury, 26th February, 1847.

These Stamford Printers supplied not only writing paper, but some interesting books about Queen Anne, the trial of Charles I and horticulture.

“To be sold, by the printers hereof, at Stamford in Lincolnshire, being Imported from Holland:

All sorts of fine Writing-Paper, from 5 d. to 1 s. 6 d. the Quire. Those that want a Quantity, will have it cheaper by the Ream. The following B O O K S may also be had of the Printers aforesaid, viz. T H E Life of Queen Anne. In which is contained, the most considerable actions of her Reign, both at Home and Abroad; her Character, Vertues and private Devotions. Also a particular Relation of her sickness and Death; with some Account of the Differences at Court which then happened. Illustrated with all her Speeches, Messages, Letters, &c. to her Parliaments and Allies; The Honours and Preferments bestow’d during her Reign, and other considerable Events. – The Florists Vade-Mecum. Being a choice Compendium of whatever worthy Notice hath been Extant, for the Propagation, Raising, Planting, Encreasing, and Preserving the rarest Flowers and Plants that our Climate and Skill will perswade to live with us. Together with Directions what to do each Month throughout the Year, in both Orchard and Flower-Garden. By Sam. Gilbert, Phileremus. – England’s Black Tribunal. Set forth in the Tryal of King Charles I by the then High Court of Justice in Westminster-Hall, Jan. 20, 1648. Together with his Majesty’s Speech on the Scaffold, and a perfect Relation of the Sufferings and Death of divers of the Nobiity and Gentry, for their Loyalty, with their several Dying Speeches, &c. Note, The Price of each is affix’d in the first Leaf of the Book.”

The Stamford Mercury, 11th February, 1720.

We probably think of ‘grog’ as a cocktail of rum with hot water, lemon and a sweetener (sugar or honey), rather like a ‘hot toddy’. But, in fact, its name came from grogram, a type of coarse fabric of silk, mixed with wool or mohair.

“Until the time of Admiral Vernon*, the British sailors had their allowance of brandy or rum# served out to them unmixed with water. This plan was found to be attended with inconvenience on some occasion; and the Admiral, therefore, ordered that in the fleet he commanded, the spirit should be mixed water before it was given to the men. This innovation, at first, gave great offence to the sailors, and rendered the Commander very unpopular. The Admiral, at that time, wore a grogram coat, and was nicknamed ‘Old Grog‘. This name was afterwards given to the mixed liquor he compelled them to take; and it has since universally obtained the name of grog.”

The Stamford Mercury, 15th November, 1822.

#The rum ration survived until 1970. By then ships’ systems and weapons had become increasingly complex and the Admiralty was worried that a tot of alcohol could impair the sailors’ ability to operate them.

*Admiral Edward Vernon, 1684 – 1757, Royal Navy officer and politician.

Warning – this is not a nice story! Two children were attacked in their bed by the family ferret, which had escaped from its cage. Ferrets were generally used for hunting rabbits (for the pot) as they were thin and could go down into the warren. Nowadays, they are used to help control rabbit numbers.

“On Friday evening, two girls of the ages of four and five years, belonging to a person named Howard, living in the Old Londond road, St., Alban’s, were attacked by a ferret while asleep in bed. The mother of the children, after she had put them to bed, between eight and nine o’clock in the evening, went into a neighbouring house, where hearing the screams of her children, she came home, and on going up stairs, to her astonishment and alarm, found the bed clothes covered with blood, the children crying, and a ferret fastened to the eye-lid of one of them. The woman was greatly agitated, but removed the dangerous animal as speedily as possible. One examining the children, their eye-lids and hands were found bitten in several places : on the latter, the injuries were received in the attempts to drive the ferret away. The affected parts soon became much swollen and showed symptoms of inflammation, and the children were deprived for a few days of their sight, but they are both fast recovering. The ferret belongs to Howard, the father of the children, who kept it in a hutch down stairs, from which place it made its escape, and found its way up stairs to the children’s bed.” – Essex Herald.

The Stamford Mercury, 8th January, 1847.

Actually, this is not a piece of fancy – there are some mouse species which sing, notably Alston’s Brown Mouse (Scotinomys teguina), found in Central America. Perhaps this one stowed away aboard a ship that landed at Dover!

“In our journal of May 4th, 1844*, we recorded the capture of a singing mouse, which was exhibited at the Exchange public house Charlton; and we have now to record that a similar lusus naturae# has been caught at the residence of a laboring man named Samuelson, living in Strond-lane, Dover. It appears tha the family have for the past 3 months heard a chirping behind the fire-place, which was supposed to be from a cricket. The gude wife, however, one evening saw a mouse run into a hole, and at night set up a live trap: in the morning she was much surprised at hearing a singing noise proceed from the trap in which the mouse was caught. It was then transferred to a more roomy cage, and has since daily amused numbers who have been to visit this musical genius, which at times sings very loud, and much like a bird. The animal is very similar to the common mouse, except that the tail is much longer, and the head smaller, with very sharp eyes.” – Dover Telegraph.

The Stamford Mercury, 8th January, 1847.

*i.e. in The Dover Telegraph.

#Freak of nature.

Cribbage is sometimes considered a rather an old-fashioned game, but great fun and sometimes, strategically challenging! This piece describes a strange game and with interesting results.

“Curious case at Four-Handed Cribbage – where not any of the four parties can hold a single first point in hand, and yet the dealers shall win the game the first show:-

Example. – Let A and B deal against C and D, each person to hold a three, four, six, seven, with any tenth card, and each to lay out their tenth card for the crib; D then cuts the card for the turn-up, which proving to be a knave, A and B mark two points. It being C’s first play, he leads with pitching his four, which B pairs, and marks two points; D then plays his four and marks six points for a pair royal*; A then plays his four, making a double pair royal, for which he scores twelve points; C then plays again with his three, which is paired by B, who marks two points more; D plays his three, and marks six for a pair royal; and A comes in with his three likewise, which making a double pair royal, and the end hole, he marks for such thirteen points; C then plays off again with his seven, and marks six points: and A, playing his seven, makes a double pair royal, for which, and the end hole, he marks thirteen points more; here again C plays his six, which is paired by B, who scores two points; D plays his six and marks six points; and A, who is the last player, makes a double pair royal with his six, for which and the end hold, he marks thirteen points, which, with the various other points played by A and B, complete the game, or sixty-one points; while C and D have only been able to play twenty-four points. Thus the game is won by A and B without holding a single point.”

The Stamford Mercury, 30th January, 1824.

*a pair royal – that is, three cards of the same rank.

(Did you know that there is a thriving Cribbage League in the Stamford Area? If you would like to know more about it or to join one of the teams, contact Sarah on 07495 567643.)