Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-02-24
ENGLAND ONE HUNDRED YEARS
AGO.


country one hundred wears ago. w.
imported nearly everything, except corn,
wool, and fax. Weinported the great
est part Of our iron from Spain, Swe-
den. Germany aud Russia. We i'm.
ported our pottery from Holland, our
hats from Flanders, our silks from
France, our cloths aud carpets from
Belgium. Our cotton manufactures,
our woolen and fax manufactures, our
machine manufactures, could scarcely
be said to exist. Coal could scarcely
be had, for the coal pits could not BE-
kept clear Of water.
A hundred years ago, we could not
build steam engine; we could scarcely
build bridge. Look at the churches
built hundred years ago. and behold
the condition of our architecture A
hundred years ago, We had fallen to al.
most the lowest condition as a nation.
We had not a barbor; we had not a
dock. The most extensive system Of
robbery prevailed on the River Thames.
The roads, such as they were, swarmed
with bighwaymen; and black ma il was lev
led by the Highlar ders upon the Low
land farmers down 10 the middle of the
last century.
A hundred years ago ships were rotten;
they were manned by prisoners taken
from the hulks, or by working men
pressed in tie streets in open day
When James Watt was learning his
trade Of an instrument maker in Lon
don, q hundred years age, he burst
scarcely walk abroad lest be should lie
seized and sent to India or the Ameri-
can plantations. Less than hundred
years ago, the colliers and salters of
Scotland were slaves 1t is not forty
years since women and children worked
In coal pits. Surely We nre not to 60
down upon our knees and pray for a
restoration of the horrible things that
existed hundred years ago.
A hundred years ago. ireland was
treated like slave country. and hang
ings and shootings of rebels were fre-
quent. The feet AT the More mutinied,
and the mutiny was put downhy blood
shed and executions. Towns and cities
swarmed with ruffians, and brutal sports
and brutal language existed to alright.
full degree. Criminals were hanged,
i've or six together. at yburn. Gilbets
existed at all the CROSSROADS throughout
the country. The people were grossly
ignorant, and altogether neglected.
bkepticism and irreligion prevailed un-
til Wesley and Whit..tieli sprung up to
protest against Journalism and atheism
They were pel,ed with rotten eggs,
sticks and stones. A Methodist preach
er was whipped out of Gloucester.
A hundred years ago, literature was
at very low ebb. The press was in a
miserable state. William Whitehead
was poet laureate! Who knows of
him nowf Gibbon had not written his
"Decline and Fall" Junins was the
popular writer; political corruption was
scarified in his letters. Theupper classes
were coarse, drunken and i'll hammered
Bribery and corruption on the grossest
scale were the principal means Of get
ting into Parliament. Mr.. Dowdeswell.
II. p. for Worcestershire. said to the
Commons, You have turned out a
member for impiety and obscenity-
What half-dozen members Of this House
ever meet over convivial bottle, that
their Discourse is entirely free from OBJ
scenity. impiety, or abuse Of Govern.
ment I"
Though drunkenness is bad enough
now, it was infinitely worse u hundred
years ago. The rublican's sign-hoard
announced, You may here get drunk
Tor . penny, dead-drunk for two-pence,
and have n clean straw for nothing."-
Drunkenness was considered manly
vice. To drink deep was the fashion Of
the day. SiX-bottle men were COIN mon.
Even drunken clergymen were not un-
known.
What were the popular amusements
Of the people hundred years aso:-
They consisted principally of man
fighting, dog-hghting, cock-6ghting.
bull-baiting, had dger-drawing. the ril-
lory. public whipping and public execu-
tions. MIR. Wyndham. vindica,ed the
rufianism Of the ring in his place in
Parliament, and held it up as school
In which Englishmen learned pluck and
''the manly art of self-defence." Bull
batting vas perhaps more brutal than
prise fighting, though wyndham de-
Tended II as calculated "',o stimulate the
noble courage Of Englishmen." The
bull was secured t. stake in the mar
ket-place or the bull-ring (the name
still survives in many towns). and there
the animal was baited by the rsbbls