Mercuriosities

In the 19th century, when we all lived more leisurely lives, fatal accidents caused by driving while intoxicated still occurred. Drunk in charge of a blind horse and a light cart was the cause of death of a farmer from Bourne Fen. Nowadays, it continues to be an offence under the 1872 Licensing Act to drink and ride a horse or cattle.

“A fatal accident occurred to Mr. Mason, farmer, of Bourn Fen, on Thursday night the 27th ult.  The deceased had been to Spalding, and was returning home, somewhat inebriated, with a light cart and a blind horse, when, after having proceeded 300 yards from the Hurn bar near Guthram, the whole were precipitated in one of the drains by the road side.  He was discovered the following morning quite dead, as well as the horse, although there was not more than two feet of water in the drain.  Verdict of the inquest, accidental death.”

Stamford Mercury, 4th April, 1834

Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. This mermaid wasn’t left in peace for very long before someone took a potshot at her.

“MERMAID.–We extract the following article from a respectable Irish newspaper, The Galway Advertiser.

‘Naturalists have hitherto doubted of the existence of Mermaids and Mermen : we have it now in our power to set at rest the doubts of sceptics upon this duplex order of animals, one having been lately discovered basking upon the rock of Derrygimla, in Errisbeg (Cunnemara), after the ebbing of the tide.  It was discovered by a female of the lower order, who was then about four months pregnant ; she was suddenly startled by a kind of scream, which was followed by the plunging of an animal half female and half fish, her lower extremities having the conformation of a dolphin,  This woman was so terrified as to miscarry, and has never been able to leave her bed since.  The tide being out, the animal had some difficulty in reaching the water.  Thos. Evans, Esq. of Cleggan, a gentleman well known to many of our readers, just arrived upon the coast in time to witness her last plunges.  Having gained the water, she disappeared for a few moments, but again appeared, perfectly composed.  Mr. Evans now had a favourable opportunity of examining this so long doubted genus ; it was about the size of a well-grown child of ten years of age ; a bosom prominent as a girl of 16 ; a profusion of long dark brown hair ; full dark eyes ; hands and arms formed like the human species, with a slight web connecting the upper part of the fingers, which were frequently employed throwing back her hair ; her movements in the water seemed principally directed by the finny extremity ; for near an hour she remained in apparent tranquillity, in view of upwards of 300 persons, until a musket was levelled at her, which having flashed in the pan, she immediately dived, and was not afterwards seen.  Mr. Evans declares she did not appear to him to possess the power of speech, for her looks appeared vacant, and there was an evident want of intelligence.  As this is the season of the fishery, we are in hopes some of our fishermen may draw her in their nets, as it is extremely probable, at the time she was first discovered, she was in search of some place to deposit her young.  We understand several depositions upon oath as to this animal’s appearance are to be made.  We are promised a more minute description, which we shall be happy to lay before our readers.'”

Stamford Mercury, 1st October, 1819.

Napoleon’s carriage became a highly prized possession after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. After accompanying him on many military campaigns, it was seized as one of the spoils of war and later exhibited in London. Other memorabilia from the Battle were also in great demand.

“On Friday, Buonaparté’s carriage taken at Waterloo, recently brought to this country, was exhibited to the Regent at Carlton-house, in its complete state, accompanied by the officers who took it, and a number of English and foreigners of distinction.  The driver, in his full dress, sitting on the near pole horse, drives the four horses with a whip, the thong of which is about three yards long ; but he manages the horses principally by talking to them.  The two leading horses are at such a distance from the other two, that there is nearly room for two more.  The horses are good stout dark bays, of English cut and appearance, very like a mail-coach set of the best description.”

Stamford Mercury, 10th November 1815

Translation is a tricky business, with false friends and idiomatic phrases just waiting to catch us out. We all know the Inuit have more words for snow than we have, rather more even than national rail services, but who would have interpreted ‘Felicissima notte‘ to mean anything other than ‘Good night’, without knowing local customs?

“THE ITALIAN GOOD NIGHT.– In Northern Europe, we may, without impropriety, say, ‘good night’ to departing friends at any hour of darkness ; but the Italians utter their ‘Felicissima Notte‘ only once.  The arrival of candles marks the division between day and night, and when they are brought in, the Italians thus salute each other.  How impossible it is to convey the exact properties of a foreign language by translation !  Every word, from the highest to the lowest, has a peculiar significance, determinable only by an accurate knowledge of national and local attributes and peculiarities.–Goethe.”

Stamford Mercury, 14th August, 1829

Although taking multiple husbands is quite rare, a case of polyandry was heard at the Old Bailey in 1829. The Court found the woman’s manner to be ‘most audacious’ before sentencing her to transportation.

“At Bow-street last week, Hannah Andrews, alias Goodman, alias Eagles, alias Reynolds, a good-looking, stout Welsh woman, about 28 years of age, was charged with poligamy, having, it is said, no fewer than six husbands !  Two of the men attended to prove the case against the lady.  The first was Henry Goodman, a tall, handsome man, about 30 years of age, who has respectable connections at Worcester and Birmingham.  He was attending Wolverhampton market in May last, when the lady introduced herself to him, and by dint of insinuating manners soon wooed herself into his good graces : they touched upon marriage, and having apprised him that she had property at Cheltenham worth 1400l., besides a tolerable sum in ready cash, she said she was a widow, and of all men she had seen he was most to her fancy.  Mr Goodman soon became equally pleased with her, and her attractions had so blinded him, that she actually took him to the Wolverhampton bank, and contrived by a bold manoeuvre to persuade him that she had 395l. lodged there !–Within a month they were married, and soon after the happy pair proceeded to Worcester, to visit Mr. G.’s brother, a professional man ; whence they were to proceed to Cheltenham, to view the property there, but at Worcester the fair dame feigned illness, and to Cheltenham Mr. G. proceeded alone, and soon found (to use his own words) that all her estate was in the ‘Isle of Sky !’  It was true that she had hired some premises, which she had never occupied, and during her visit to Cheltenham, she had contrived, by some well-managed tears, to dupe a lawyer of 20l.  Upon his return to Worcester, the husband found that his frail rib had left that place within an hour after his departure for Cheltenham, and had proceeded to Birmingham, where she had obtained property of tradesmen, in his name, to a considerable extent, had carried off from his house all the portable property he possessed, and had then decamped.  He had afterwards the satisfaction of finding that she had three other husbands.–A similar ‘tale of woe’ was told by a Mr. Eagles, another husband, whom she plundered to a much greater extent.  The woman conducted herself in the most audacious manner during the examination, laughing loudly, and ogling first one man and then another.– She was convicted on two indictments at the Old Bailey sessions, and sentenced to seven years’ transportation for each offence.”

Stamford Mercury, 30th January, 1829.

Wife-selling didn’t always go to plan as one local Rutland man discovered.  Four further articles in our occasional series on the custom of wife-selling in the UK during the 18th and 19th centuries.

“From a Correspondent.–‘The system of trading in human flesh seems not confined to the shores of Africa–for, to the shame of all parties, a few days ago a husband absolutely sold his faithful rib at Sutterton, near Boston, for the pitiful sum of three farthings ; and delivered into the bargain her paraphernalia, a shoulder of mutton, basket, &c.–The ridicule and the detestation which attend such transactions admit of no mitigation.’

A man recently appeared in Macclesfield market with his wife, whom he brought there for sale with a halter round her neck ; a bargain was soon struck, and she was disposed of for a sum somewhere between three and four shillings; which coming to the ears of the worthy Mayor of that borough, he caused the parties to be apprehended, and the husband, wife, and purchaser (who strove to show he was only an agent in the business), have each been committed to Middlewich house of correction until the next quarter sessions for the county of Chester. ”

Stamford Mercury, 7 November 1817.

“A short time since, William Would, of Toynton St. Peter’s, sold his wife to a labouring banker, for two guineas.  She was delivered in a halter ; and in consideration of the purchaser’s taking an infant child, Would provided a leg of mutton and plum pudding, gave the banker one bed and bedding, and spent the day in getting drunk.”

Stamford Mercury, 9th July 1813.

“A very curious cause was tried on Monday ! A man sold his wife to another man, for one guinea, and delivered her up with a halter about her neck. Some time after he demanded his wife, and the buyer refused the demand ; whereupon the husband who sold her took out an action against the buyer for detaining his wife.– The jury gave a verdict in favour of the buyer, and the fool of a husband lost his wife, and had costs of suit to pay also.”

Stamford Mercury, 17th March 1786.

“At the late quarter sessions for the county of Rutland, a very proper example was afforded of proceedings to punish the infamous disregard of public decency, the sale (as it is called) of a wife.  A short time ago, we noticed a disgraceful transfer of this sort which had occurred in the parish of Clipsham : at the sessions at Oakham, an indictment for the misdemeanor was preferred, at the instance of the Minister of the parish, against Mr. Richard Hack, the purchaser, and the Grand Jury found it a true bill.  The trial was traversed by the defendant till next sessions. –Though, in this instance, the purchaser is selected for prosecution, it is only, we believe, because he is the more opulent man, and therefore the fitter person to make an example of : the seller, with every other person concerned in the disgraceful proceeding, is equally liable to prosecution for the breach of public decorum.”