The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-20
THRCEERAY'S LECTURES ON THE GEORGES
GEORGE TIE sBOOND.
ICOntinued from the last Issue Of THE EVE
.r.1.l 4


must fancy II playing at cards tor many hours
every day. The custom is wel-nigh gone out
among US now, put hfty years ago was general
htty years DeIOre that almost universal--ln the
country. "Gaming has become so much the
fashion, writes Seymour, the author OF the
Court Gdrnester, " that he who in company
should be Ignorant OF the games in vogue would
be reckoned low-bred, and hardly ft for CONVEX
satlon.n There were cards everywhere. 1t
was considered ill.bred to read in company.
"Books were not it articles for drawing rooms
old ladies used to say. People were jealous, as
il were, and angry with them. You will find In
Hervey that George ii was always furious at the
sight of books, and his queen, who loved read
ing, had to practice It in secret in her closet
But cards were the resource of all the world.
Every night, for hours, kings and queens of
England sat down and handled their maiesties
of spades and diamonds. In European courts,
believe, the practise still remains-not for
gambling, but for pastime. Our ancestors gene
rally adopted 1t. "Books prithee, don't talk
to me about books" said old Sarah Marlborough.
The only books know are men and cards."
"Dear old Sir ROGER de Coverley sent all his
tenants a string of hogs puddings and pack OF
cards at Christmas" says the Spectator, wishing
to depict a kind landlord. One of the good ola
lady writer's in whose letters have been dip
ping cries out, "Sure cards have kept us wo-
men from q great deal OF scandalp Wise old
johnson regretted that he had not learned to
play, "It is very useful in llfe,n be says; lit
generates kindness and Consolidates society"
David Hume never went to bed without his
whist We have Walpole, in one of his letters,
in transport of gratitude for the cards. II
shall build an altar to PAM says he, In his
pleasant, dandifed way "for the escape OF my
charming Duchess OF Grafton The duchess
had been playing cards at Rome, when sue
ought to have been at cardinals concert,
where the roof fell in, and all the mousignors
were precipltated into the cellar. Even the
NoncontOrmist clergy looked not unkindly on
the practice. 81 do not Think says one of
them, that honest Martin Luther committed
sin by playing at backgammon for an hour or
dinner. order. DpndinU
mind. to promote Question: As for the High
Church parsons, they all played-bishops and
all. On Twelfth-day the court used to play IN
state. "Ths being Twelfthday, his majesty,
the Prince of Wales, and the Knights Com
panions of the Garter, Thistle, and Bath, ap-
peared in the collars of their respective orders.
Their majesties the Prince OF Wales, and three
eldest prlncesses, went to the Chapel Royal,
preceded by the heralds. The Duke of Man
chester carried the sword of state. The king
and prince made offering at the altar OF gold,
trankincense, and myrrh, according to the
annual custom. At niGht their maiestes played
at hazard with the nobility for the benefit of
the groom-porter; and twas said the king won
600 guineas; the queen, 800; Princess Amelia,
20; Princess Caroline, 10; the Duke OF Grafton
and the Earl of POrtmore, several thousands
Let us glance at the same chronicle, which is
of the year 1871, and see how others of our fore
lat fathers were @ engaged. Cork, 10Th January.
and robbery of Mr.. st. Leger and his wife, SEN
fenced to be hanged two minutes, then his head
to be cut off, and his body divided in four quar-
tiers, to be placed in four cross-ways. He was
servant to Mr.. st. Leger, and committed the
murder with the privity of the servant maid,
who was sentenced to be burned; also of the
gardener, whom he knocked on the head, to
deprive him of his share of the booty"
January 3. A post-boy was shot by an Irish
gentleman on the road near Stone, in Stafford
shire, who died in two days, for which the
gentleman was imprisoned.n
"A poor man was found hanging in gentle
mans stables at Bungay, in Norfolk, by per-
son who cut him down, and, running tor assist
ance, lett his penknife behind him. The poor
man recovering, cut his throat with the knie,
and river being nigh, jumped into 1t; but
company coming, he was dragged out alive,
and was like to remain so.n
"The honorable Thomas Finch, brother to the
Earl of Nottingham, is appointed ambassador at
the Hague, in the room OF the Earl of Chester
field, who is on his return home"
"William Cowper, ESQ.,, and the Rev. Mr.
John Cowper, chaplain in ordinary to her ma
jesty, and rector of Great Berkhampstead, in
the county of Hertiord, are appointed clerks OF
the commissioners of bankruptcy"
"Charles Creagh ESQ.,, and - Mcnamara
Esq, between whom an old grudge of three
years had subsisted, which had occasioned their
being bound over about fifty times for breaking
the peace, meeting in company with Mr.. Eyres,
OF Galloway, they discharged their pistols, and
all three were killed on the spot-to the great
JOY of their peaceful neighbors, say the Irish
papers,"
''Wheat is 26s. to 2ss., and barley 2Os. to 22s.
quarter; three per cents, 92 best loaf sugar
94d.; Bohea, l2s. to l4s.; Pekoe, 2Ss.; and Hyson
34s. per pound"
"At Exon was celebrated with great magnif-
cence the birthday OF the son of Sir W. Courtney,
Bart, at which more than 1000 persons were
present bullock was roasted whole; butt
OF wine and several tuns of beer and cider were
given to the populace At, the same time Sir
William delivered to his son, then of age, Pow
dram Castle and great estate"
'CharleswOrth and Cox, two solicitors, con-
ylcted OF forgery, stood on the pillory at the
Royal Exchange. The first was severely
handled by the populace, but the ether was
very much favored, and protected by six or
seven fellows who got on the pillory to protect
him from the insults of the mob"
"A boy killed by falling upon iron spikes from
a lamp-post, which he climbed to see Mother
Needham stand in the pillory.n
MARY Lynn was burned to ashes at the
stake for being concerned in the murder OF her
mistIess.n
Alexander Russell, the footsoIdier, who was
capitally convicted TOR street robbery, in jan
uary session, was reprieved for transportation;
but having an estate fallen to him, obtained a
free PARDON
''The Lord John Russell married to the Lady
Diana Spencer at Marlborough House. He has
fortune OF ESQ, 600 down. and is to have fl00, 600
at the death OF the Duchess Dowager of Marl-
borough, his grandmother"
"March being the anniversary of the queens
birthday when her majesty entered the forty
ninth year OF her age, there was q splendid APP
pearance OF nobility at St. James. Her majesty
was magnidcently dressed aud wore howered
muslin head edging, as did also her royal high
ness. The Lord Portmore was said to have had
the richest dress, tn ough an Italian count had
| twenty-four diamonds instead OF buttons.N
New clothes on the birthday were the fashion
| Tor all loyal people. Swift mentions the custom
several times. Walpole is constantly speaking
Oh ~; laughing at the practice, but having the
nI M has NUagu D.. IL