GUINEA OF GEORGE II.
rose and the fleur-de-lis, but no thistle—probably expressive of the feeling of these monarchs towards Scotland, on account of the Jacobitism and rebellions there. The most remarkable coins of George I.'s reign, however, were the Irish halfpence
WOOD’S HALFPENCE.
coined by Wood, and against which, as we have related, dean Swift, as a means of popularity, raised such a storm. To such a condition had the Irish been reduced for small coin, that they were obliged to circulate counterfeits called "raps," of so base a metal that they were not worth a fifth of the value they passed for; and even these were so scarce, that manufacturers and tradesmen paid their workmen and gave change to customers in tallies, and even cards with their nominal value written on them. A greater boon to Ireland could scarcely have been given than a good copper coinage; and this was not merely good, it was confessedly much superior in value and beauty to that of England. "They were," says Leake, "undoubtedly the best copper coin ever made for Ireland;" so also says Ruding, in his "Annals of Coinage;" yet Swift, by his unblushing lies, persuaded the Irish to reject them, and they almost deified him for the serious mischief he did them.
SILVER PENNY OF GEORGE I.
During the reign of George II., upon the gold coin the arms were not placed as on the silver ones—in a cross—but united in one shield. Silver groats, threepenny, twopenny, and even penny pieces were coined. The condition of the shillings and sixpences was deplorable, being worn down to mere thin blank bits of metal. As for the crowns and half-crowns, they were melted down and disappeared, and foreign money was obliged to be used in lack of these.
FURNITURE AND DECORATIONS.
The houses of the wealthy at this period were furnished in a style of luxuriance to which succeeding times have been able to add little, except in point of convenience and completeness, and that chiefly in hardware and glass. The style was almost wholly French, of the reigns of Louis XIV. and Louis XV., and abounded in such elegant and picturesque forms and richness of inlaying, and of cushions and drapery, that no succeeding fashion has been able to surpass it. The inlaying of cabinets, the flowing lines of the legs of chairs, tables, fauteuils, and the graceful designs of candelabras, framing of mirrors, brackets, girandoles, mantelpieces, &c., gave a peculiarly rich and artistic air to finely-furnished rooms. And this was greatly increased by the introduction of fine porcelain, and Japan cabinets and screens, embellished with the brightest colours and with much gilding. The rage for china and porcelain of all kinds, as teacups, large and extremely expensive dishes, jars, teapots of the quaintest forms, animals and birds, and even monsters, became so extravagant as to be the constant source of satire on the stage. Besides the genuine Chinese porcelain, France, Germany, and Holland produced each their own manufacture, some of which became almost as much esteemed. Glass was manufactured in England now, and was becoming used in much greater profusion in the houses of the moderately wealthy, in the shape of drinking-glasses, decanters, salt-cellars, &c. A manufacture of plate-glass, founded by the duke of Buckingham in 1673 at Lambeth, had not succeeded, and we still bought that article from Venice. Carpets were now extensively woven at Kidderminster, and by the end of the reign of George II. were in use in almost all houses of any respectability.
Mahogany was also introduced at the commencement of this period, and wonderfully took the public fancy. It rapidly came into general use, and has maintained its place as the favourite material of furniture in this country to our time, when rose, walnut, maple, and other woods have contended with it for pre-eminence of favour.
COSTUME.
The costumes of the reign of William and Mary remained very much the same as that of the reign of James II. The petticoat breeches were discarded, and some close-fitting ones, gathered below the knee, were substituted, but the stockings were still drawn over them to the middle of the thigh. The coats were square-cut with full skirts, and the waistcoats of a length reaching to the knee. Long neck-cloths, of rich Flanders or Spanish lace, were worn by the nobles and gentlemen, the ends often passing through the button-holes of the waistcoat.
COSTUME OF LADY AND GENTLEMAN IN THE TIME OF WM. AND MARY.
Those who wore bands, instead of the broad-falling ones, used small Geneva ones, such as our clergymen and barristers wear. The full bottomed wig was grown monstrous, and the beaux used to carry large combs of ivory or tortoise-shell, curiously chased
