Mercuriosities

People who frequented Stamford Race-Course or the Theatre were warned that they would not be passed for confirmation into the Church of England in an excited rant by the curate of St Michael’s.

“Great excitement had been occasioned amongst the parishioners of St. Michael’s in Stamford by what occurred in the church on Sunday evening last. Immediately after the close of the service in the reading-desk by the Rev. J. N. Peill (the curate), that Rev. Gentleman, under very visible perturbation of feeling, thus expressed himself:- “The Bishop of this Diocese will hold a confirmation here tomorrow week. I shall attend in this church tomorrow and Tuesday between the hours of 12 and 2, to examine candidates; and on Thursday evening I shall deliver a discourse on the subject: service to commence at half-past six. It has been reported in this town that I intend refusing my certificate to any candidate who has attended either the Theatre or the Race-course: It is true: but I hop I shall not have to refuse, as I trust none who have attended either of those places will offer themselves as candidates. I can explain my reasons for this in private, to any person who will favor me with a call. This much I will say in public – I consider the person who attends with the Theatre or the Race-course is an enemy to God.” – In the delivery of the sermon which followed, Mr. Peill’s nervous excitement continues in a remarkable way: he mis-read his matter, and mispronounced his words, giving to almost every person in the congregation an impression that he was labouring under indisposition from indulgence; and on Monday, we understand, a respectable parishioner deemed it his duty to call upon him, and to suggest that it was due to the Rev. Gentlemen’s congregation that some explanation of the circumstance should be given. Mr. Peill assured him that he had drunk nothing to justify the supposition that he was intoxicated, and appealed to some persons at his lodgings to confirm this; which they did. Here the matter rests.”

The Stamford Mercury, 25th August, 1837.

These two sonnets by ‘an Agricultural Laborer, of Helpstone, near Stamford’ were the first works of John Clare ever published. Clare’s first collection, entitled Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery, was published in 1820. 

'SONNETS
By J. CLARE, an Agricultural Laborer, of Helpstone, near Stamford.

TO A PRIMROSE.

Welcome pale primrose, starting up between
 Dead matted leaves of oak and ash that strew
 The ev'ry lawn, the wood, and spinney through,
Mid creeping moss, and ivy's darker green.
 How much thy presence beautifies the ground;
How sweet thy modest unaffected pride
Glows on the sunny bank and wood's warm side;
 And where thy fairy flow'rs in groups are found,
The schoolboy roams enchantedly along,
 Plucking the fairest with a rude delight;
While the meek shepherd stops his simple song,
 To gaze a moment on the pleasing sight;
O'er joy'd to see the flow'rs that truly bring
The welcome news of sweet returning Spring.

~~~~~~~~~~

THE SETTING SUN.

This scene how beauteous to the musing mind!
 That now swift slides from my enchanting view - 
The Sun, sweet setting yon far hills behind,
 In other worlds his visit to renew.
What spangling glories all around him shine,
 What nameless colors cloudless and serene,
(A heavenly prospect brightest in decline)
 Attend his exit from this lovely scene.

So sets the Christian's sun in glories clear;
So shines his soul at his departures here;
 No cloudy doubts nor misty fears arise,
  To dim Hope's golden rays of being forgiven;
 His sun sweet setting in the clearest skies,
In safe assurance wings the soul to Heaven.'

The Stamford Mercury, 12th November, 1819.

Atkinson’s was a well-known brand of Bear’s Grease, believed to help reduce hair loss. It seems that some unscrupulous manufacturers were hi-jacking the brand name and logo to promote their own inferior products, probably made of lard.

FOR THE GROWTH OF THE HAIR.

CAUTION.

‘The Gentry resident in Stamford and its vicinity are respectfully cautioned against some very near imitations of the above article. Some of them say Atkins, instead of Atkinson, others William, &c., instead of James, and many of them are very deleterious. The genuine has a Bear printed on the top of the pot, (not a printed label,) and is enclosed in wrappers with the proprietor’s signature, and a small address label of difficult construction, pasted on the side of the pot. This article is now well-known for regenerating the hair, and is also very pleasant for dressing it, giving great strength to the curl, and making it beautifully soft and glossy. Price 2s. 6d. and 4s., – and perfumed with Otto*, 3s. and 5s.. Sold by the Importer, Jas. Atkinson, perfumer, – wholesale 44, Gerard-street, and retail, 39, New Bond-street; by appointment by Mr. Wilson, Stationer, Stamford and Mr. Parker, perfumer, Boston, and most perfumers and hair-dressers.

Also, ATKINSON’S BROWN WINDSOR SOAP, made by a new process, which frees it from all irritating qualities, and renders it peculiarly emollient in use.’

Drakard’s Stamford News, 1st February, 1828.

*Otto (or attar) was an essential oil (i.e. distilled). The perfume added to Bear’s Grease probably smelled of roses.

A very sad tale of a french lover and his mistress who carried out a suicide pact because they were not allowed to marry.

“A remarkable Suicide which happened in Lyon in 1770. – A young man well known in that City, handsome, well-made, of an amiable disposition, and very accomplished, fell in love with a young woman whose parents refused their consent to his proposal of marriage.

The lover in an agonizing fit, broke a blood vessel; the surgeon declared there was no remedy to stop the bleeding. His Mistress found the means of getting an interview with her lover, and presented him with a brace of pistols and two poignards, that in case the former should fail, the latter might certainly dispatch them. They embraced each other tenderly, for the last time. The triggers of both pistols were fastened to rose coloured ribbands. The lover took hold of the ribband of that pistol which was designed to dispatch his Mistress, she held that designed for her lover; at a signal agreed upon, they both fired at the same time, and both instantly fell down dead.”

The Stamford Mercury, 27th July, 1780.

Serial tankard thieves hit two Stamford pubs one night. We presume the pubs in question were The Crown at Great Casterton and The Bull and Swan in St. Martins.

TANKARDS STOLEN

“WHEREAS on Wednesday Evening the 14th of June, 1780, two Men came on Horseback to the Home of Mr. MICHAEL WOODS, the Sign of the Rose and Crown, at Bridge Casterton, Rutland, called for a Tankard of Ale, and rode off with the Tankard, being a Silver one, marked in Cypher with M. S. W. And the same Evening the above two Men (as supposed) stopped at the House of Mr. RICHARD TURTLE, the Swan and Bull, St. Martin’s, Stamford-Baron, and from his Door also rode off with a Silver Tankard, marked with the Words Walter Robinson.

If any Person will give Information of the Men who stole the above Tankards, shall receive Two Guineas Reward, and all expenses paid on Conviction, by applying to the above Mr. WOODS or Mr. TURTLE.

If the above Tankards are offered for Sale, pray stop the Parties, and give Information as above.”

The Stamford Mercury, 22nd June, 1780.

A phenomenon seen in the dark October skies, inspired a star-gazing correspondent to write about the meteor and shooting stars he had observed.

NORTHERN LIGHTS. – On Tuesday evening a re-appearance of the meteor was observed in the north and north-west parts of the hemisphere. Below the wain in Ursa Major, the blaze resembled the sheet lightning so frequently seen after a hot summer’s day, though it was more steady than the electric fluid. One most elegant silvery flame, about the breadth of the rainbow, proceeded from the western horizon, and crossed the meridian south-west of the zenith, extending to an altitude of nearly 45 ͦ. During the phenomenon, several falling or shooting stars were observed; and the wind (which in the forepart of the day had been blowing a gale) was gentle at S.W.: the external thermometer 46 ͦ, and the barometer 29.3 inches. Of late the Aurora Borealis have been more frequently observed in this country then formerly; for several years they were not at all noticed, and none previous to 1544. They perhaps obey the same laws as do the winds, and the variations in the orbits of the planets. – W.F.

The Stamford Mercury, 14th October, 1836.

Goldsworthy Gurney‘s interests led him to work in many fields, from boiler systems to improving the ventilation system of the House of Commons and developing the Limelight used in theatres. He took out many patents, including one in 1827 for his new steam carriage.

‘Mr. GOLDSWORTHY GURNEY, whose name is already familiar to most of our readers, after a variety of experiments, during the last two years, has completed a STEAM CARRIAGE on a new principle. The boiler is tubular, constructed upon philosophical principles, and upon a plan totally distinct from any thing previously in use. It is composed of a succession of welded iron pipes screwed together in the manner of the common gas-pipes, forming a sort of inverted horse-shoe, and the space between is the furnace ; the whole being enclosed with sheet-iron. A contemporary journal states, “Mr. Gurney, who was educated a medical man, has actually made the construction of the human body, and of animals in general, the model of his invention.”

Coke or charcoal are to form the fuel, by which means smoke will be avoided. The carriage would carry six inside and fifteen outside passengers. In front of the coach is a very capacious boot ; while behind, that which assumes the appearance of the boot is the case for the boiler and the furnace. The length of the vehicle is fifteen feet, and with the pole and pilot-wheels, twenty feet ; of the front wheel three feet nine inches ; and of the pilot-wheels three feet. There is a treble perch by which the machinery is supported, and beneath which two propellers, in going up a hill, would be set in motion, somewhat similar to the action of a horse’s legs under similar circumstances. In descending a hill, there is a break fixed on the hind wheel to increase the friction ; but independent of this, the guide has the power of lessening the force of the steam to any extent. By this means also he regulates the rate of progress on the road, going at a pace of two miles or ten miles per hour, or even quicker if necessary. There is another lever also by which he can stop the vehicle instanter, and in a moment reverse the motion of the wheels, so as to prevent accident, as is the practice with the paddles of steam-vessels. The guide keeps the vehicle in its proper course, by means of the pilot-wheels acting upon the pole, like the handle of a garden-chair.

The weight of the carriage and its apparatus is estimated at 1½ ton, and its wear and tear of the road, as compared with a carriage drawn by four horses, is as one to six. When the carriage is in progress the machinery is not heard, nor is there so much vibration as in an ordinary vehicle, from the superior solidity of the structure. The engine has a twelve-horse power, but may be increased to sixteen : while actual power in use, except in ascending a hill, is but eight-horse.

Mr. Gurney has already secured a patent for his invention ; and he has our best wishes for his permanent success. If the steam carriage can be made general, its effects will be more important than even those of the steam-boat, as being applicable to a greater variety of purposes, more easy of employment, and involving less expence.

Mr. Gurney’s steam coach has been running every day last week in the Regent’s Park and the New Road. On Thursday, amongst other distinguished personages, besides Don Miguel, the Duke of Athol visited the carriage, as was so delighted with its appearance, that he insisted on being allowed to ride in the interior. As there are no steps yet fixed, and his grace is somewhat advanced in years it became necessary to lift him in. He remained in it for half an hour, and when he descended, acknowledged that he had never been driven better.’

This is a précis of a much longer article appearing in Drakard’s Stamford News, 18th January, 1828.

David Copperfield was the popular prize for these children’s (known as ‘Guilders’) Christmas activities. It was apparently worth one guinea, which is equivalent of £72.68 today – well worth winning!

‘How to Win £1 1s. Volume of ‘David Copperfield’.

LOTS OF OTHER PRIZES.

FOR GUILDERS OVER NINE

A beautifully bound £1 1s. 0d. volume of Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield” is offered as a prize to the Guilder who sends in the nicest hand drawn or painted Christmas card. Several other prizeds also offered.

Volumes of “David Copperfield” and other books are offered as prizes for the crossword puzzle to be found elsewhere on this page.

Special prizes are offered for the correct solution of the following jumbled words, all of which are names of countries or towns: ONONLD, ISPRA; UBDINL; INBRHGUES; HNETAS; BISONL; EACNFR; CEREGE; OCSLTNDA; RLIEDNA; NDNGELA; PRTOULAG.’

The Stamford Mercury, 2nd December, 1932.

Would the war impact the availability of spruce trees? Such fears were allayed by this small article. Note that ‘buying early for Christmas’ in 1940 meant mid December – not early November as it seems to today!

‘Here’s good news for the children. There will be ample supplies of Christmas trees available this year. As a matter of fact, substantial consignments have been in the hands of the retailers for some days. A wholesale fruiterer and florist told me at the week-end that the trees, which in pre-war days were largely imported from Germany will be quite as plentiful as they were last Christmas. Prices, too, should be fairly reasonable.

“It’s a fact,” he added, “that people will spend money at Christmas, particularly where there are children. So far as Christmas trees are concerned, transport will not prove much of a problem, but intending purchasers should buy them as soon as they can.

“Shop early for Christmas applies as much to Christmas trees as to anything else this year.”‘

The Stamford Mercury, 13th December, 1940.

An exhortation to people shopping and preparing for Christmas to consider employing others during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

“A fortnight tomorrow will be Christmas-eve.

It is always difficult to keep pace with the silent march of time, and it becomes necessary to ask ourselves whether we are preparing for the inevitable Christmas rush.

In particular, let every householder and every potential employer who may be able to give out any sort of odd job think about it now. Let institutions and authorities who can organise these highly desirable attempts to make Christmas happier ask themselves what is being done and what degree of energy they are contributing to the special effort.

It is quite possible to bring a measure of brightness into many homes by a combined movement to give our temporary work which benefits also the persons for whom it is performed. A Christmas dinner earned will be doubly satisfying.

But the days are slipping by. Now is the time to make preparations.

There is a special interest this year in providing extra jobs. This is a particular appeal.

We may also help our neighbours by getting ahead with the Christmas shopping.

If we begin this week, we shall be encouraging the retailers and the wholesalers to realise that there is a brisk seasonal sale for goods and a reasonb for putting on extra hands. This means additional employment.

It is necessary to create the Christmas Shopping atmosphere as early as possible.

Crowding out the shops two or three days before the 25th does not help employment. It is too late then. Customers simply jostle each other and shop assistants get very little chance of exercising the art of real salesmanship.

Begin shopping today.

Don’t say “Christmas is coming.”

Try to think that Christmas is practically here!”

The Stamford Mercury, 9th December, 1932.