The Express.
London, England, 1857-04-11 00:00:00

MANNERS AND MORALS OF OUR ANCESTORS.

So completely during the Snit querterof thelast cen-
tury had society organised itself into clubs, that the Speeletor
tells us of " Street Clubs " formed by the inhatetants of
the same street. The social qualities of the Street Club were
considered as an element in determining the desirableness
of lodgings. It is true that the streets were so unsafe that
the nearer home a man's club lay, the better fur hie clothes
and his purse. Even riders in coat hes were not rate from
mounted footpads and from the danger of upsets in the
huge ruts and pits which intersected the streets The pea-
tenger who could not afford a coach had to pick his way
after dark along the dimly-lighted ill-paved thoroughfares,
seamed by filthy open kennel*, besprinkled from projecting
spout., bordered by gaping cellars, guarded by feeble old
watchmen, and beset with daring street robbers. But there
were worse terrors of the night than the chances of •
splashing ore sprain—risks beyond those of an interrogw-
tory by the watch, or of a " stand and deliver " from a foot-
pW. As Gay sings in his " Trivia ;'
" Now is the time that rakes their revels keep ;
Kindler' of riot, enemies of sleep.
/lie scattered pence the flying Nicker flings,
And with the copper-shower the casement tinge.
Who has sot beard the Seowrer's midnight fame?
Who has not trembled at the Mobock's name ?
Was there a watchmen took his hourly round*
Safe from their blow., or new-invented wounds?
I plus their desperate deeds and mischief., dune
R here from Snow-hill block sleepy torrent. run
How matrons hooped within the hogshead's womb,
Were tumbled furious thence; the rolling tomb
O'er the stones thunders, bounds from side to side ;
So Regulus, to save his country, died."
It was no Imaginary danger that convoked the
lusty escort which attended Sir Roger de Coverley
from his lodgings in Nerfolk-street' to the play-
bosses end back sesta from the playhouse to his
lodglag• Imagine, in them days of prompt police-
-4.1 = - cabs, 7droiii:;—,„',‘"lrt.-cobvizlerrl. til
Captain 's antediluvian coach, the fore-wheds new
mended, with r. Spectator on his left, the captain before
him, his Steinkirk sword by his side, and in the rear Sir
Roger's faithful butler at the head of a troop of stalwart
footmen, armed with " good oaken plants." Sir Roger, we
are told, had thought himself fallen into the hands of the
Mohair" but the night before. These Hawks must not be
omitted from any record of London club.. They were a
society formed by rakehells of the town,—enccessors to
the . Huns" " Tityre-tua. of the Restoration—when
. • man could not go from the Rose Tavern to the Piazza
once, but he must venture his life twies"—and the
" Hector." and " Senders," who inherited the follies of the
wild bloods in King Charles's merry days. Tho Hawkabites
were • society of the moue kidney ; as were " the Edda-
dindies" in Dublin. The Spatater tells us that the presi-
dent of this nocturnal club was celled . the Emperor of the
Mohocke," and wore as his badge of office "a crescent, in a
very extraordinary manner enginven upon his forehead."
The avowed design of the institution was mischief ; and the
only qualification required in its members was, an outrageous
ambition of doing all possible hurt to their fellow-creatures.
After drinking themselves mad, thee° pleasant fellows would
sally forth, knock down, stab, cut. and carbonado all peacefulpassenger. they could overtake. They had special
barbari-
tie., with peculiar names for them. " Tipping the lion" was
opmesing the nose flat to the face, and boring out the eyes
with the fingers. " Dancing-marten" were those " who
taught their scholars to cut capers by running swords
through their legs." . The Tumblers" unwed themselves
by setting women on their heads, and worse indecencies.
' The Sweaters" worked in parties ofludf-a-dozen, nu-round-
ing their victims with the points of their swords; which
done, the Sweater towards whom the patient was so rude as
to turn his brick pricked him in . that part whereon
schoolboys are punished;" and se he veered round from
the smart, each Sweater repeated this pinking operation.
" After this jig has gone two or three times round, and
the patient is thought to have sweat sufficiently,
he is very handsomely rubbed down by sonic attmd-
ants, who carry with them instruments for that purpose!
—(' oaken towels,' we presume)—and so discharged.'
A royal proclamation against the l'dobocks was issued on
the 18th March, 1712. This blackinerdisen was not
short-lived. It had originated with the Restoration. It
continued till nearly the end of George the First's reign.
Smollett attributes the peculiar profaneness and profligacy of
that period to the demordiaation produced by the South Sea
bubble. The successors of the Mohocks added blasphemy to
riot. In 1721, an order in council was issued " for the sup-
pression of blaspheming dulls." l'ecuharlv distinguished
among these club, for the rampancy of its debauchery and
the daring of its wickedness wee . the Hell-are Club," of
which the Duke of Wharton (l'ope's Duke) was one of the
leading spirits. So high did the tide of profaneness nun
at this time that a bill was brought into the House of Lords
for its euppreesion. It was in the debate on this bill that
the Earl of Peterborough declared that though he was for
a parlisanentary king, he was against a parliarnentsey reli-
gion ; and that the Duke of Wharton pulled an old family
bible out of his pocket in order to controvert certain argu-
ments delivered from the erdecopsl benda.—Nationd Bert( sr.

CECILTAN .SOCIETY.—On Thursday evening a
of Randers Messiah was given by the Cecaian
Mtny're, ;Aim Hall, London-wall. The solo parts wem
sustained by Mn. John Roe, Miss Anne Cox, Mrs. W.
Dixon, Mr. George Tedder, and Mr. Lawler. Mrs. Roe
was in good yoke, end delivered the fine ernes of
recitatives, beginning " There were shepherds ebilinlrri
n
the Said," with mach effect. The execution of the air, "He
shall feed his dock," by Miss Cox, was excellent. Her
voice Is • mezzo-soprano of very fine quality, and we
think it likely that the day is not for distant when she will
appear before the public as one of our most accomplished
Handallan awe' iv. Mn,. Dixon, Mr. Tedder, and Mr.
Lawler ware also very effective ie their several parts. The
choruses were well delivered.

ANAGRAM.—Yesterday, a crowd was
gathered it Xleg'sserom, to wonder at an immense bill
puled blank wall, and announcing to passers-by that a
“Nwedheitisostivel" was to tare place at our largest
Sartre. Wise it was discovered that du mysterious com-
bination of Mews was the anagram of " Mentlelstohn Fu-
llest" awithatally produced by a miscarriage of the bill-
Micker's art, the larger kinds of posters being printed in
several parts.
JOHN BULL AND BAD BRANDY.—ThePAiladegia
Beillinn, remarking on the re-importation into England,
and the name of French brandy, of corn spirit previously
exported from these shores to France, exclaims .—" Unfor-
tunate John I We can trul sympathise with you in the
misery resulting from exporting native spirits at a smaller
price and importing brandy at a high ono. During the same
year, John, we also exported much whiskey, nobody
bow much, while we imported I,74ipamoi
of French 'brandy, bearfing all sorts of °mpg
ow—. swami& COSIMIC MoreotogaAela,' or- ' Cbnl—
by some oversight was =Mei.. • Tkenbes,
forthjohNNalishillingthwee akinmn,
sad it theitviinfih"thyforeou.maoPennreWeiiYdtiilloi7b4fl"k:e4ateurytheftwotaine
CZup in the mysteries of distilling, 114 &IR forth by
, hrows that we might just as well lulu, our ova
fighting nine end' sky-rocket corn brandy' et. Lame is let
brawl make It for 1111:.

THE `WEEKLY PRESS.

THE NEE PO rm IN laltOPE.
- -

Men the Spada.)
The present state of again ea the Continent sug-
gests the esissoco of woo Mop which is not
stead
rorogrand, think its power easel be ovwraliag and its
otheatith PPP. It is not on, yet it nvereos the
peed. nothreamate shark, miser to be swine; it
thorenards epolly yet& Palos aad Ors islands of the
dates 'lda it kr Its spats. fn. theserary
ean of rl4Ollll NW et Kurihara imp base Pes-
tles thee mete to the triennial. and dangerous
opowahtioa PP the thset peartal se be. Burp
Nis thia io au is; It wall seam that there is some
yeas roam Pa la brespeadtie, sad absobab, ;
owl trim w• tars to swathe& the het, pme set hag is
hthatheten at bait Pink to Pate sausithes ad to de-
pad saraday. We praive esnamtiv• pert that
se& as Wheats ion Pea that its peer laraien
prep that it is sew &dig =Whist, sal that it any bor•
ear daaisnaa date ths PPM Pak& the political
isdeporliatto, sad the therstio 'Pr et *aim Nor are Ire
spedring at gay isenhary er mere " ward"
weak ot a piped caelanatha pee that pratioal, some
pop' this a Ppm plosieddi se priaoir.
The Sapp yak low Ps raped in the se.
dram Is any eth the ramprise at hi PPP ; ad the
▪ tionglivit hop le groat. hay PPP Is the most
sathrian pothole perceives a therrutsbie thane is the es-
peat„estioa, owl paddies; at Ur proyl• TM Plias darn,
•• wed the ladsoloiel deep are asimtel by • opleit
of
as
easqry 'PP ashaews to the Coble pep tide& They
lath Pad met only to limb, tisk thee with there vigour,
bat to milky their savinp—to thalue dot whiff day
ease liestheil Is that asetherdoll ma Faroe wee
arid • •Imils au% mai the meet is escribid by the
*war as immilin• ter s Pap Hat
look Ppd. The they athibilide tai It dry dM
emailAP the Ws is the thostid stet Moe.dnd the
pie syratarsayb pojest thetheththe kr dr helm de-
adaptheet et @PM its pawed pear Pity. TM peat
epocehtor di ems KIP In sthadogras frith theorthsary
Odic The missernowdrist 'Wash, path entirely froth
thesisqls iket otaships. sad be does SI War vlralwr the
wrintad ham ore Fithian is the Inseselioa sr ad. H.
'my be *skiff botwootwo epannider wb. thernimiog
eashetka, sad PIM his ibetnno spa theirdawahl.
lathithel mesh this sertheadhe Pala hetipted Path
Oh by tha PM to pop Pp owl peep peas Ha is
mg • Nth ethaddisr be theme who Pe la amp the pram
Pt Pere& et Plea Tee N. wallow* el t • •••••••My,
lommaly ••••.••1•1114 wealth, ltsenle it /old an net a
..arid as thill-dilliard osighis of the notemeries al We
sad to Popes& lima the ore Protheat Path 'mesa
Mph@ to the ompaiel "kit to Treare wade the Urged
afasian that the weeti Me sew Pa Ms breath thavethent
et post pitadste; sod they Mee maid it Atineelat
thread poportisas which tons joisMeeth esailthatleth
both allthenlin Tamp the lisepthe Wimpodded mile-
", 10" loud do* re" aPiii a that dine.
they lave hie
lop petals aillasiddin Impala ;

TrWe ilia merement pee en.
The emthe
emenial dieseeel laths ivrelegneet et ma
Irak weld with es mei deelheass se tepidity Wefts* the
iteellable neer et *shied peegie; treeld mike them son
-see. ee.eedeleeettheseeeme—Temeli mike thin

4.410 Y. =re vend ot 1011.1111Illi
Oak mkt. Ire elbeileme to hie &ems& It Is wally is be
walersleed why the Swam Ifspelesa delves is ski that
sismatefltaglikeverr baths sdklemyeeyeblalet awl amp
hake rani Ife las is red yen sawasdail Ilet thee:taw
of speseissios invoked by thew who bars stood reeky le take
adveatege el the impales ken, mph la the peersmi samemeat ma it
did la ear Wu= el balyaw,thiseleasitalelbatthe Impose-
weal by ovor4eing it; mad we la leabal we oar ant
comemeerekl mom whisk Timid es b the aim. At
W ems 1404 there snows le be we tampers la davelop-
tag, eateakei, emml sewAt*lewo the unease Jelet-otork
ecablastkaa vitae the Pm& Earyeree bee ealhawmand
to wank; *oath et melt s lime mark spondees east to
be Wisely mawyeafak. Ws am ea the duke tba la-
isnstisail Meekly ef Ceememwelel ONLI, wkomelassiers
are
reasereed with*, past wary seryarelkewo la every 004
litrega—the bake of Plea Eaaleak, Ametenlaa, km.
Tb. het 4tb Candi of Arladabbratica of the gnat Cas-
par lies bin ea Of the Cheat Itemelea Railway Coo-
pay self 4 the ammembete short der ors Semler, eat the
pear caber la Ad Ulf ewe wreamil/aes of late mai di-
cers to the metes of the Itreperwr Alszenier. la that lee-
as INK however, Ise ems the mow of" Thome Darla&
beaker la lawita." The other Ulf stawits ef lama wham
wow ems wit knows in miry snack : I. Owyer, swan
a the Omni of Commas ; Itrm.w Man • peen is ths
hem a Nor ea Co. a Antonin; Gaines NIA
brier is Amend= ; Finn Brisig, brim Lease;
Ewa Ilettigen loan to Perk; lame Porn% simile
neer a ths Into ad lone Limy ; Beres Seine.
Man he Reis; M. Annie Thweepen thrsithethwa
the Wee 1 Yeses Ilallwey; ad M. Usk Fenn bean
a the wil-limews fide boar r. lose of these no
He ray we as eemehmethl emereeter Im
sompendvely art Yet of mos who we 4alikr
tee the peen agentiore is Pelk
Time, fit Itemobery, Ameheime, aed Lance. The
thee of tin sown Is to tek• forty-Ile
ei
Yee 1 meila—• nen which weld ashy be need In I
repedenne wren bet wash they kind to IN ash
waye thressh the inns dart; whim the weal Ask
the whole tread —of Ramps, Eagles& Amewlea, oak des fir
leet—privos the we newt nen thet kertypin intent
sot nem the fret theepluthe al
hove
detersim Yet then het
whop rob the nail prmset, it del
be tam, ben the imposer of the FeuNL, the Beth et
or the commeela patio of this emirs.
It is aid shot the peeks of W. is Mom Is sot nit-
fade" Mbar to ths Lehr 1 m 1 ths Fria or le the
leposer of the Peal; amt X. is thorn is talThig
crew nip* beelosems Isiesedist of amino. He Ye
attended kneel to the Oren Cassell al fles Inematemel
linen en it is that Greed Coma st pore 'Ake et-
erns the thin 1 the woad by the rear a the pane, be
peenkten eel perliameste thin an they .ay. Its it
pew al tits Tenth to to peewit =pp& is sitastftba
to neerthe ths we of flettlisse tike—oessin
capeetke, lieresise--beelies et tank the rathormay
wog* =sr Imes. The power of that win walk le the
mace pones* been tie membere we empereavely
lined, noose& he he min isdepenemtly al these
oedl-
se7 politica movements, emi thews Wei powase ile
wens sabdwroga, niece* anew may be the ekle
a the comemprollwwld, whatever say be He ..& a the
=.ein, winner a 4 be the win of ataismy
We an met ocatiikiing the ineeke at onkel, the
dawn Ha may ern Met .wages* is, the nth
Het may Wit drinitokka s fa Has hap Jeint-sloot a_
lean trom whirl the dareenre awns withdrew ban the
auk. We an sot oossidong the weemercia istortemse,
wonted by ths wag whisk Is braid nee imp
Jaw at prat, of eminent • Ink rats 1 Moran
kr warn osuoirala wecao•••••&•, wide ice
Wand arm the Amen or the mimes dine tai.
earammer. We we imply emeldney the memielle
en the ladopeskeo.f thet power of craned ism It
fe • sew oaks, e7sew administration to the weeiL The
moms most ceseplores is It we emembehle far wren
cherepoteriike lea dee esds—beitaehill,
thaelite, him Hotthener, Toad; nth • nogg
oath, toe naing the Wareis, the Ears, taf the
Siam They Arm • pun email of nth .shay
that wad ail be ammomeild tam roase. nay the
aneelark kr Mtn comfy with the ipPWIr
IMO el d the prima* 'taw to the Welk
idle a the lame *tee thw en ma dolly NM
mend with entente. emir then esowenels. Tw
weld sot accept • Bean as bong eopeniethe
a Inked; yea west abeam rep ellthellinobsin
the inesis the Iliethrys, the Is the Commiirs. Cab-
dna, an Trio. :Frames wethl end* mot be rope-
-117 rombe."•o eseatzipsy • Reieddld ; a theiglits is
by rates. suasively Zemke, my ewe ass Pad is
Pee& The one is elks bay portivalse tountry, sad
Pat b Om* 'NW b the anasinthe atemok twenty. It
ea emirml at may a saw at capita monk to Learn nip
ef • imesimet, the snows at Mee
et AO ben bet II an 'mimeos, lemeltholly or
kelly, the wine of nude, by tenni nos en tee
Lath the emmlinel slam of wink from nips Wee-
nies, est en Who en peennee of Immo aim War ea
mad ark the penis day as reeks
- ame of the tn. Datagram* nor
peen the • I s warttier le Os
Ise the week westeles. It to
the embeemen day oestiry,
mw past, to& thwahre ..is.
as imletwery. Canoe way .she

.nzir- :w amid ert
d idliamoss"las
row skialdidisal
tismarg
detsid, Om toy a