Mercuriosities

Social care for paupers provided by some villages in Rutland was championed by some as a paradigm to be copied throughout the country, not least because of the savings in poor relief it afforded.  Yet not all were of this opinion; the New Poor Law, characterised by the Union workhouse and the abolition of outdoor relief, was just around the corner.

“PAUPERISM.–In an able article in the new number of the Quarterly Review, on the “condition of the English Peasantry,” it is recommended as the most efficient means of preventing pauperism, to attach 2 or 3 acres of land to each poor man’s cottage, to fill up the whole of his spare time and employ his children, which by being cultivated under spade husbandry would yield abundant means of keeping a cow, pigs, and poultry, besides garden-stuff, sufficient with the produce of his daily labour to prevent the necessity of application for parochial relief.  Instances are adduced to exhibit the benefits of this system, in villages where it has always been in operation, (which villages are all in the county of Rutland, viz. Hambleton, Egleton, Greetham, and Burley on the Hill,) the average of the poor-rates of which parishes is only 9d. in the pound-rent, whilst at four other parishes where no employment is afforded to the labourers beyond their mere earnings, the rates average 10s. 3d. in the pound.–The whole of the article merits the attention of magistrates and agriculturists.”

Stamford Mercury, 24th July 1829.

When women were not financially independent, husbands were much sought after and married women were envied.  This is another example of an article quickly becoming an advertisement.

” ‘USBANDS, MA’AM.”

A lady who has recently taken charge of a Sunday Bible-class for servants in the West End of London gives an amusing instance of questioning on the lesson.

She had chosen the subject of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and observed :

‘Yes, Hope and Charity are grand things.  But what is the first thing we all need to make us happy ?’

There was a pause, when one of the girls said :–‘ ‘Usbands, Ma’am !’

Well, the girl was right so far.  No doubt she thought she wouldn’t be happy until she got a ‘usband.  She might not be happy then, for some husbands are not worth cutting up for mops, and richly deserve a holy thrashing.  Certainly good health is essential to Happiness, and good Health is secured by taking Page Woodcock’s Wind Pills, which, for the cure of Indigestion, Wind on the Stomach, Liver Complaints, Sick Headache, Costiveness, Nervous Debility, Palpitation of the Heart, Biliousness, &c., are invaluable.

Mrs. Martha Vickers, Langworth, Lincoln, writes :– ‘For several months I suffered severely from Indigestion and Liver Complaint, accompanied by extreme Nervous Debility.  For a long while I dared not eat solid food, but had recourse to bread and biscuit sop.  My Doctor failed to give any relief.  I was advised to try your Wind Pills.  The results were well nigh miraculous.  The pains have left me, I can eat any kind of food, and enjoy the best of health.’

Mr H. J. Whitehead, Eagle, Newark, states :– ‘So popular have your famous Wind Pills become that we seldom sell any other kind.  This speaks well for their great curative properties, as a remedy for Indigestion, Biliousness, &c.’  Mr. Whitehead has not been paid to say this.–P.W.

All Medicine Vendors at 1s. 1 1/2d., 2s. 6d., and 4s. 6d., post free for price from Page Woodcock, Lincoln.”

Stamford Mercury, 7th February 1902

The fascination with the aches, pains and other “ailments peculiar to ladies” provided an income for many.  At this time almost any behaviour a woman demonstrated could be construed as hysteria.  This article advocates that women cure themselves by administering “harmless” and “very pleasant” electric shocks.

“A NEW MEDICAL WORK FOR LADIES ONLY.

It is well that ladies should know something about the various ailments peculiar to their sex, and we, therefore, strongly recommend them to send at once for a copy of Mr. Harness’ new medical work on “The Rational Electropathic Treatment of the Diseases of Women,” and read every line of it very carefully.  They will then know how to speedily cure themselves without physic, and effectually avoid the many distressing symptoms of internal weakness, hysteria, functional irregularities, weak back, &c.

Electricity–as imperceptibly applied to the system by the aid of Mr. Harness’ beautifully-designed and scientifically-constructed Electropathic Belt Appliances–is not only a perfectly harmless remedy, but is also a very pleasant and sure one, which is strongly recommended by the most eminent authorities, including Dr. Anna Kingsford, M.D.  A copy of this interesting brochure will be sent (under cover) to any address, free by post, on application to the Lady Superintendent, the Electropathic and Zander Institute, 52 Oxford-street, London, W.”

Stamford Mercury, 7th July 1893

The Rose Noble, generally regarded as the first English gold coin to be produced in quantity, was 33mm in diameter (roughly the size of an old half-crown) and valued at the time of minting at 6 shillings and 8 pence (6/8) which is equivalent in today’s money to about 33p.  NB: the ploughman didn’t keep the coin.

“A labourer ploughing last week on a farm in the East Fen, near Boston, turned up with the ploughshare a  piece of shining metal, which, on minute examination, turns out to be a gold Rose Noble of the reign of Edward III.  The coin is in a beautiful state of perfection, the inscription and device being perfectly legible.  Antiquarians will know how to properly appreciate this coin : the Rose Nobles were indisputably the first gold coins of England, and they are as beautiful as they are rare.  Even in the time of Rapin these coins were so scarce, that he speaks of them as being rarely met with ; and at the present day, they are sought for with avidity by the curious in these matters.  The finding of this coin may be adduced as another proof that this district of Lincolnshire was at an early period in a state of high cultivation, although civil wars which racked the country generally, caused this part to be neglected, and ruin ensued.  The coin is now in the possession of Mr. Porter, bookseller, of Boston.–Another valuable antique was found in the same vicinity a few weeks ago.  It is a large silver ring,–the characters are nearly obliterated, but from the faint remains, and the peculiar shape of the ring, it is believed to be what was termed a signet ring, used by noblemen and other official personages as a token of authority, or covenant.  It is now in the possession of Mr. Elsam, ironmonger, of Boston.”

Stamford Mercury, 17th July 1829.

At Westminster School the move from teaching classical subjects only to a more modern-style syllabus prompted this 1829 article.  Prizes to be given for excellence in English and arithmetic, who would have thought ?

“Westminster School no longer limits itself to the teaching of Latin and Greek ; it now gives instruction in “English, writing, and arithmetic ;” and they are so much honoured, now that they are received into goodly company, as to be the subjects of prizes, and promotion to upper forms.  And Merchant Tailors’ School (where also every thing was rejected but Greek and Latin, and consequently despised by the scholars as vulgar and unnecessary) has followed Westminster’s example, or has announced that it is about to be adopted.  The “march of intellect” is making sad havoc with the monastic institutions and systems.  The parents and friends of the youths at Westminster School have expressed their approbation of the enlarged system of instruction, and the reign of avarice, indolence, and fraud, is sinking before the common sense of the age.”

Stamford Mercury, 20 November 1829

Forming the centrepiece of the diamond bandeau tiara worn by Meghan Markle on her wedding to Prince Harry in May was a detachable diamond brooch.  The brooch was presented 125 years ago to Princess May* of Teck, the queen’s grandmother, by Lord Brownlow on behalf of the county of Lincoln.  The brooch is being recreated, to be set in a similar tiara and will be on display in Lincoln Castle later this summer.

“LINCOLNSHIRE’S PRESENT.– On Wednesday, July 5th, Earl Brownlow, Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, with the Countess Brownlow, waited on H.S.H. Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (now the Duchess of York) at Buckingham Palace to present, on behalf of the county of Lincoln, the county wedding gift, consisting of a large single diamond surrounded by other fine diamonds.  The jewel was enclosed in a case of ‘Lincoln green’ with the arms of the county, and quotation from the late Lord Tennyson, the great Lincolnshire poet, “God bless ’em.  Marriages are made in Heaven.”  The gift was most graciously received and greatly admired by Her Serene Highness, who expressed her warm appreciation of the kind and loyal feeling which prompted the gift.”

Stamford Mercury,  14th July 1893

* Informally known as “Princess May” after the month in which she was born.

Fear of the resurrection men and of being accidentally buried alive were two considerations very much at the forefront of a rich, old gentleman’s mind when it came to making his will.

“The will of an eccentric old gentleman, Wm. Hunt, Esq., who died lately in London, was proved on the 24th of September, and the property sworn to be under 250,000l.  The testator expresses great anxiety not to be buried alive, and also to escape the resurrection men.  An advertisement, cut out of a newspaper, of patent self-closing and unopenable iron coffins, is gummed on the top of the first sheet of his will, and he directs that he shall be buried in an iron or stone coffin, but not until undoubted signs of putrefaction appear upon his body.  Other characteristic marks of peculiarity of opinion are scattered through the will.  One legacy to a friend is afterwards revoked on account of the said friend’s “extreme bigotry and ignorance, in burning the Philosophical Dictionary of Voltaire, because he could not refute it.”  The principal feature of the will, however, is the magnificent bequest to Guy’s Hospital, being the residue of the testator’s property, after a few legacies to executors and friends, and other charities, and estimated at upwards of 200,000l.  For this he binds the governors to build and fit up accommodation for one hundred more patients than the original founder provided for.  To St. Thomas’s Hospital, the Refuge for the Destitute at Hackney, and the Philanthropic Charity, St. George’s Fields, he has left 1000l. each ; with other contingent benefits in the very improbable case of the governors of Guy’s declining to comply with the conditions of his bequest to that hospital.  The vault at Guy’s Hospital he selects as the place of sepulture, in lieu of Bunhill-fields, on the ground that his late brother, Theodore Hunt, who had used him ill, lies there above their two uncles, and he is determined “not to mix his bones” with those of the person alluded to.”

Stamford Mercury, 2nd October 1829

Shawnawdithit (or Shanawdithit) was supposed to be the last of the Beothuk or red indians of Newfoundland.  She died in her late 20s of tuberculosis in 1829.

“Died, at St. John’s, Newfoundland, on the 6th of June last, in the 29th year of her age, Shawnawdithit, supposed to be the last of the Red Indians or Boeothicks.  This interesting female lived six years a captive among the English, and when taken notice of latterly, exhibited extraordinary strong natural talents.  She was niece to Mary March’s husband, a chief of the tribe, who was accidentally killed in 1819, at the Red Indians’ Lake, in the interior, while endeavouring to rescue his wife from the party of English who took her, the view being to open a friendly intercourse with his tribe.  This tribe, the aborigines of Newfoundland, presents an anomaly in the history of man.  Excepting a few families of them soon after the discovery of America, they never held intercourse with the Europeans by whom they have been ever since surrounded, nor with the other tribes of Indians since the introduction of fire-arms among them.”

Stamford Mercury, 18th September 1829

From time to time, the customs of other nations find their way into the paper; this article describes a possible dialogue, by way of salutation in Russia, when it must have been very cold.

“In Russia it is by no means an uncommon circumstance to hear two people accost each other in the following dialogue, by way of salutation : ‘I beg leave to acquaint you that your nose is freezing’ — to which the other probably answers, ‘I was just going to observe to you that your’s is already frozen.’  On such occasions both the sufferers stop, and reciprocally perform on each other the operation of rubbing the afflicted part with a piece of stuff, or sometimes with a handful of snow, in order to restore the circulation of the blood.  After this service mutually rendered, the parties separate with the usual ceremonial of bows and salutations. —Lit. Gaz.”

Stamford Mercury, 18 September 1829.

When a new colony was established at Swan River, New Holland in June 1829, it was envisaged from the outset as a free settlement.  Unfortunately, an earlier convict settlement was located nearby.  The free settlers of Swan River objected to their presence, so all the convicts were withdrawn in March 1831.  ‘New Holland’ continued in popular use as the name for the whole continent of Australia until the mid-1850s.

“For the NEW SETTLEMENT on SWAN RIVER, NEW HOLLAND, To sail on the 1st of August, in lieu of the Emma, THE fine A.l. Snow TRANBY, about 500 Tons burthen, —- Commander, now lying in the Old Dock.  She will be newly coppered, and fitted up in a superior manner with a capacious round-house, &c. for the accommodation of passengers, many of whom are engaged ; she has capital heights, being 6 feet 10 inches between decks, and will carry an experienced Surgeon.

Immediate application is desired ; and the terms of passage, &c., also important information relative to the colony, may be had by applying (if by letter, post paid) to

GEORGE LOCKING, 12 High-street, or JAMES and ROBERT WAKE, 26, High-street, Hull, June 10th 1829.”

Stamford Mercury, 24th July 1829.