from The Ladies’ Monthly Museum, Volume 21
Domestic News
The high winds, at the close of last month, were productive of the most disastrous consequences at home. At Deal, Brighton, Shoreham, Seaford, Southampton, Weymouth, Lyme, Plymouth, and other places on the southern coast, much damage has been done, both by sea and land. At Dorchester, houses were unroofed and chimneys blown down, by the fury of the gale. The Rev. H. J. Richman and his wife were killed, in bed, by the fall of a stack of chimneys. On the road between Salisbury and Weymouth, the Regulator Exeter coach was. twice overset, by the force of the wind. In various parts of the country, the effects of the storm have been, more or less, felt. It extended to Wales and Scotland. At Landrillo bay, a vessel was wrecked, and two of the crew drowned.
The execution of Mr. Fauntleroy took place on the day appointed, the 30th alt., when a vast concourse of people assembled in the street and houses of the Old Bailey, to view his exit. Measures had been adopted to obviate the danger, which the pressure of such a crowd might have occasioned; and, fortunately, no accident of consequence happened. The unhappy gentleman behaved with that decency and propriety which has characterized his conduct, ever since his apprehension for the offence for which he suffered. It is remarkable, that a person in a similar rank of life with Mr. Fauntleroy, has, since his execution, been taken into custody, on a charge of forgery. This person is a Mr. Savery, son of a banker at Bristol, and himself carrying on business in that city, as a sugar-baker, in partnership with another gentleman. The crime imputed to him is, forging bills with fictitious addresses; by means of which he had, for some time past, been raising money, to a large amount. Alarmed at the fate of Mr. Fauntleroy, he attempted to make his escape to America; but being followed by his partner, he was taken at Cowes, on board the vessel in which he had engaged a passage.
A man named Ledbitter, landlord of the Dolphin Tavern, Ludgate Hill, was tried on the 4th inst. at the Old Bailey, on the charge of taking a reward for the returning of stolen property. The culprit, on the present occasion, was found guilty; but recommended, by the jury, to mercy, on the score of his previous good character.
A girl of 18, living in service;, near Hungerford, jumped into a well, fifty yards deep, in a fit of temporary insanity, arising from the dread of punishment for some domestic offence.
A young lady was killed at Knightsbridge, by a fall from a one-horse chaise, owing to the horse taking fright.
Mrs. Fermon, a very aged lady, residing in Gravel-lane, being left alone reading by the fire-side, was soon after found enveloped in flames. She was taken to Guy’s Hospital, where she expired in a few hours.
An action has been brought by Miss Wharton, of Warborough, in Oxfordshire, against Mr. Lewis, a Lieutenant in the East India Company’s service, for a breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff obtained a verdict, with damages.
On the 21st occurred the interesting trial between Miss Maria Foote and Joseph Hayne, esq. on a prosecution against the latter for a breach of a matrimonial engagement. The damages were laid at ,£10,000; but the Jury gave the lady, with their verdict in her favour, the sum of £3000, as a compensation for her disappointment.
Epitome of Public Affairs, for December 1824.
Few occurrences have been announced during the past month which are likely to have any important influence on the state of affairs, either at home or abroad
The city of Petersburg has been visited by a terrible calamity. On the 19th alt. in consequence of a westerly wind, the waves of the Baltic, forced back into the channel of the river Neva, on the banks of which the place is built, and laid it almost entirely under water, At two o’clock the current flowed to the height of six or seven feet above the pavements, in every part of the city, which stands almost on one level. A multitude of houses, sentry-boxes, &c. were swept away, and more than 8000 persons are said to have perished: more recent accounts state the number of lives lost to have been 3,000. The violence of the torrent washed the corpses out of the graves. At Cronstadt, the port of Petersburgh, a ship of 100 guns was floated into the great square, where it remained when the water subsided; and two steam-boats were lying in the middle of the town. The wind, changing after two o’clock, the water rapidly subsided, and by the evening the river had retreated within its banks. The loss of property which has occurred, is immense; and the destruction of provisions has been such as to cause apprehensions of famine. The Exchange has been fitted up to receive some of the houseless sufferers.
The Drama
Drury-Lane Theatre. A new Drama, called ” Hafed the Gheber,” has been performed at this house. It is founded on a tale in Moore’s Lalla Rookh; and as a splendid spectacle, is deserving of praise! The music, by Cooke and Horn, is pleasing; and appropriate
Mr. Sapid has made his appearance here as the Seraskier, in “The Siege of Belgrade;” and though he had to contend with the reputation of Braham in that part, he acquitted himself very respectably, and displayed talents of no common order. He has since performed the character of Henry Bertram, in “Guy Mannering.” A new Farce, entitled “My Uncle Gabriel,” was exhibited on the 10th inst. It is a meager, trifling piece, apparently intended only as a vehicle for some very agreeable music.
Note: The image above is Drury Lane before it burned down in 1809. “A man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his own fireside,” owner and playwright Richard Sheridan said while drinking wine and watching the fire from the street.
Covent-Garden Theatre.The musical entertainment of “The Frozen Lake,” has been transferred hither, from the English Opera-house. It has had great success; much of which has been owing to the admirable acting of Jones and Keely, and the musical skill of Miss A. Tree. The scenery and dresses were tasteful and magnificent.
At the beginning, of the month, a new Tragedy was produced at this theatre, called ” Ravenna, or Italian Love.” This drama seems to be an imitation of Schiller’s ‘Cabal and Love;’- and it is said to be the production of Messrs. Clark and Bowes, two gentlemen not previously known as theatrical authors.
The language of this play is correct and animated, but enlivened by few sparks of original genius. As a drama, it may be enough to say, that its merits are much on a par with modern tragedies in general.
Young acted the hero, Miss F. H. Kelly, Giana; and Miss Lacey, the Princess Camilla, and by the exertion of their talents they did full justice to the characters they filled. The other performers acquitted themselves with credit, especially Mr. Yates, who enacted the coxcombical courtier, Count Gaudentio.
Note: Nancy Mayer has a listing of Drury Lane and Covent Garden performances for the years 1801 – 1814
The Mirror Of Fashion for January, 1826.
Morning Dress.
A Dress of violet coloured grot de Naples; high French body, with short, full sleeves, confined by straps; long sleeves of white mulled muslin.
The skirt of a moderate length, and very much gored. The border, of the dress is finished by three broad wadded tucks, above which is placed a full puffing of the same material, surmounted by three more tucks to correspond.
Cap of Urling’s patent lace, full trimmed, with a wreath of orange coloured flowers, and riband of the same -colour.
Evening Dress.
A Frock of white tulle, over a slip of bright pink grot tie Naples; the frock is ornamented with oriental pearls, twisted round a rouleau of white satin, in the form of a festoon, and completed by one of the same, laid flat, above the hem of the -dress, surmounted by rosettes of pink satin.
Short sleeves, trimmed to correspond with the skirt; a broad band of satin round the top of the dress, and a beading of satin trimming brought from each shoulder to the centre of the waist.
Ear-rings and bracelets of gold. Necklace formed of one row of large Oriental pearls. White satin shoes, and white kid gloves. A drapery scarf of blue crape, thrown carelessly over the arm, adds to the elegance of this costume.
Head-Dress
As the season for fashionable assemblies approaches, the hair is worn in a richer and more luxuriant style; very large full curls meet on the forehead; the braid elegantly arranged in small bows, interspersed with flowers, or surmounted with a plume of white ostrich feathers.
For the dresses we are, as usual, indebted to the taste of Miss Pierpoint, Edward-street, Portman-square; and for the Head-dresses to Mr. Coixev, Bishopsgate-street within.
General Monthly Statement Of Fashion.
Alpine cloaks are now a favourite envelope for out-door costume; they are chiefly of velvet, lined with taffety, and trimmed with the richest and most valuable fur. The carriage pelisses, even those trimmed with fur, still continue of gros de Naples; and for walking, cloth pelisses are becoming very general; these are mostly of a dark blue, and richly ornamented with braiding. The pelisses, of gros de Naples,are of very bright, but appropriate winter colours, such as Pomona green, Indian red, puce, and fire colour. Cachemere shawls and rich Angolas, are much worn with silk pelisses.
Velvet bonnets are almost universally worn. Those of black are trimmed with very broad striped ribands, generally of fire colour and amber: the strings are tied on one side, under the chin. Coloured flowers, of bright but wintry hue, are the favourite ornaments, but the flowers are mingled with small bunches of black cock’s, feathers; this novelty is considered a great improvement. Egyptian-brick is also a much admired colour for velvet bonnets: they are trimmed and lined with gold coloured satin, intermixed with the velvet. The new bonnets are rather large and wide; they are placed backward, although veils are not much worn. When the bonnet is lined with black, a small blond cornette is usually worn under the hat, and has a very becoming effect.
Evening dresses are trimmed in a variety of ways, with puffings of crape, fringes, and ornaments, of the richest patterns; they are formed in a zig-zag direction: small branches of flowers are, frequently, placed above these trimmings; the bodies are made low, but cut higher than usual round the bust. The ball-dresses are very elegant; the most admired are of white satin, trimmed at the border with treble puckerings of tulle, or with two broad blond flounces. Flowers form a very favourite ornament on ball dresses. The gowns are extremely well proportioned; the waists are of a moderate length. The bust is now more ornamented, than of late.
With coloured silk dresses long sleeves of white lace are much admired. The corsages of some dresses are laid in plaits down each side of the bust; others have ornaments across in the form of brandenburgks. The short sleeves and mancherons are full, and very much puffed out . Dresses of grot de Naples, are trimmed, at the bottom, by a very full puffing of the same material, between- two triple rows of bias folds: for home costume, the dresses are made high, without any collar: the part that covers the neck and shoulders is made plain, and the rest of the corsage in the form of a wheat-sheaf. A favourite trimming for the borders of morning gowns, consists of four flounces, of a moderate breadth, placed at equal distances; they are either scalloped or pointed, and have a beautiful effect, the points or scallops being edged with narrow silk beading: when the body is high, a double pelerine cape is edged round in the same way as the flounces, with a collar of fine lace, made quite plain, falling over.
Turbans, when worn in home or morning dress, have little or no ornament; in full-dress they are fluted, and surmounted by bird of Paradise feathers. Caps are more admired for home dress than turbans; they are of Urling’s lace, or blond, and tastefully trimmed with bows of satin or flowers. Dress hats are in great request for dinner and evening parties; they are mostly composed of black velvet, ornamented with rows of pearls, and surmounted by splendid plumes of white feathers. At the theatre, and evening parties, young ladies appear with their hair arranged in the most beautiful style; the clusters of curls are intermixed with light bows of gauze, of a damask rose and1 gold colour, with flowers and other ornaments tastefully mingled among the tresses.
The most fashionable colours, are, bright pink, violet, Egyptian brick, Indian rose, holly-leaf-green, amber, and fire-colour.
