204
NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. XIL SEPT. 12, 1903.
Coat, giving particular instructions to make it in
the most fashionable manner.
"Thursday [May 2nd]. This day the Princess Charlotte of Wales was married to his Highness, Leopold Prince of Saxe Coburg, and now created Duke of Kendal. The marriage ceremony was per- formed at 9 o'Clock at night at Carlton house ; and immediately after, the happy couple set off for Oatlands to spend the honeymoon.
" Sunday, May oth. A very wet day. Received an invitation from Mrs. Pownall to hear a Charity Sermon at Pentonville Chapele, and went accord- ingly. Was much edified by Mr. Sheppard's dis- course, and afterwards, most charitably, subscribed 1*. for the benefit of the Charity Children. N.B. This I consider well worth recording, as being a most extraordinary effort of mine.
" Monday, May 6th. Much fuss about this time with the Bazaars, new ones opening almost daily.
"Wednesday, May 8th. An advance took place about this time in articles of provision, such as Bread, Meat, c.
"Thursday, May 16th. The Anniversary for the benefit of the Sons of the Clergy. Went to St. Paul's with Mrs. P[ownall] and her three lovely daughters, and Mr. and Mrs. Syms, not forgetting to take a good supply of biscuits to support our delicate frames during so long a time, as is usually
taken by the Service, &c We took our seats (Mr.
and Mrs. Syms and Mrs. Pownall in the gallery, myself and the young ladies in one of the seats usually occupied by the choristers of St. Paul's) about 3 past ten and did not quit the Cathedral till after four o'Clock.
" [Friday, May 17th."] The Queen held a Drawing Room at Buckingham house, when the Prince of Saxe Coburg and his Spouse made their appearance for the first time after their Union.
'* Monday, May 20th. About h past eleven this night I serenaded the Ladies in our neighbourhood, and am fearfull I disturbed the peacefull slumbers of some of them for nearly an hour.
" Thursday, May 23rd. Opened an account with a Shoe Maker in Newgate St., by purchasing a pair of ready made at 10*. and ordering another pair, for which he should have a due sense of gratitude.
" Monday, May 27th. Composed a poem, entitled ' Ned and Eliza, or the lover in despair,' which will be shortly sent to the press.
"Tuesday, May 28th. Went with my Mother, Mrs. Freeman and her hopefull son John, to see Miss O'Neil in the character of ' The Jealous Wife '; after which we saw 'John of Paris.'
' Thursday, May 30th. This was the second day of the Epsom races, which, the weather being very fine, were well attended. But as I am not at all in that way, shall not take the trouble to relate any particulars.
" Sunday, June 9th. A total eclipse of the Moon this night, beginning about A past 11, and from the fineness of the night, we had a fine opportunity of viewing this Phenomenon.
"Tuesday, June llth. Made a purchase of 6 pennyworth of real Nelsons Balls in Pall Mall, which formed one of the dishes at supper.
"Wednesday, June 12th. Dined at Wood St. this day off i a pound of cold Beef. N.B. No pota- toes, but most fortunately I procured a little mus- tard from the next Room.
" Tuesday, June 18th. This day being the Anni- versary of the Battle of Waterloo a strong report having been in circulation, both in the newspapers
and otherwise, that a grand Review would take
place in commemoration of the same at Wimbledon,
thousands of persons of every denomination flocked
there early in the morning, in all manner of vehicles,
such as Gigs, donkey carts, waggons, coaches, &c.,
forming a complete cavalcade along every Road that
leads in that direction from the Metropolis. The
whole, however, proved to be a complete hoax, and
in the evening the whole procession returned in the
same order as it went, heartily ashamed of them-
selves, and completely sick of their day's excursion,
numbers of People being collected in the principal
streets leading to the scene of action, to welcome
home the weary travellers.
"Saturday, June 22nd. Went to Covent Garden Theatre with Misses Smith and Bryan to see Mrs. Siddons perform in the character of Lady Macbeth, by particular desire of Mr. and Mrs. Coburg [Prince Leopold and his wife] who honoured the Theatre by their presence. The house was greatly crowded from the time the doors were opened, and we were under the painful necessity of standing for a con- siderable time during the performance.
" Sunday, June 23rd. This evening a party of ten persons, of whom 4 were females, returning home from an excursion up the river, had occasion to pass under London Bridge, and being warned of the danger of so doing by some watermen, the women left the Boat, but the men resolved to go through. And, melancholy to relate, the Boat was upset and 4 out of the 6 met with a watery grave.
" Thursday, June 27th. About 2 o'Clock this morning the house of Mr. Dunkin of Aldersgate St., Tallow Chandler, was entered by some Irish- men, I believe, in his employ, who, after having tied the said Mr. Dunkin to his Bed, first demanded his keys, by which means they rob[b]ed him of con- siderable property and afterwards maliciously set fire to the premises, intending, no doubt, that he should perish in the flames, and thereby prevent the possibility of a discovery. But their horrid designs were frustrated by his cries, by which means he alarmed his servants as soon as the rascals had quitted the house. The whole of the premises are completely destroyed, and the adjoining house much damaged. What makes this case the more remarkable is, that about 12 months since the same man s premises were burnt down, and he had been at considerable expense just before in repairing them. These, also, were very capital premises, and no doubt Mr. D. will be a considerable loser."
(To be concluded.)
A. S.
THE PARLIAMENT OF 1626. It is well known
that shortly before the general election to
Lharles I. s second Parliament, the king in
order to disqualify for seats as many as possi-
ble ot the opposition leaders, appointed several
ot the more prominent amongst them to be
sheriffs of their respective counties. The late
John Forster, in his ' Life of Eliot,' says :
"9" t^ fudges presenting their usual list of sheriffs, the King with his own hand erased seven names and substituted seven others; whereby Wentworth Alford, Guy Palmes, and Fleetwood who submitted and did not present themselves to constituencies and Sir Edward Coke, Sir Robert Phillips, and bir Francis Seymour, who carried
