The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages 29

The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages 29

In this illustration we find the prisoners by no means moody, but

playing at rackets and skittles. The Racket ground was under the

superintendence of a Racket Master, who was elected by the Collegians,

annually at Christmas. This post was eagerly sought after, as it was

one to which some pecuniary profit was attached, a small fee being

demanded from each person, the Racket Master having to find bats and

balls. I have before me three printed handbills of aspirants for the

post in 1841. One bases his claim on the fact that he is already Racket

Master, and says, "I feel the situation is one that requires attention

and unceasing exertion, not so much from the individual position, as

from the circumstance that the amusement, and (what is more vitally

important) the health of my fellow inmates is in some measure placed

in the hands of the person appointed." Another candidate pleads as a

qualification, that he has served as Watchman for Seven years, and

at last election for Racket Master, he only lost the appointment by

five votes. And the third publishes the caution "Collegians, Remember!

All Promises that have been (_sic_) before the Vacancy, are Null and

Void!!!" This gentleman was determined to secure, if possible, some of

the good things going about, for, at this very same Annual Election,

he issues another circular, "Having had many years experience in the

Tavern Department and Eating House Business, I beg leave to offer

myself for the Situation in the Public Kitchen, now about to become

vacant." He, too, had an opponent, who had been engaged for nine years

as a baker, and was, by profession, a Cook. The Office of Skittle

Master was also contested in that year; the holder of the place being

opposed by one whose claim to the position seems to be that he had a

wife and one child.

 

[Illustration: A WHISTLING SHOP IN THE FLEET, 1821.]

 

They made themselves merry enough in the Fleet, as we read in Egan's

"Life in London," where Jerry Hawthorn, and Corinthian Tom, visit Bob

Logic, who was detained in the Fleet. Among other places there, they

went to a Whistling Shop--of which the brothers Robert and George

Cruikshank have given a faithful representation. Here at a table,

screened off from the draught of the door we see, Tom, Jerry, and

the unfortunate Logic, whilst the other frequenters of the place are

excellently depicted. Spirits were not allowed in the prison, under any

circumstances, other than by the doctor's order; but it is needless

to say, the regulation was a dead letter. Of course it was not sold

openly, but there were rooms, known to the initiated where it could

be procured. It was never asked for, and if it were the applicant

would not have received it, but if you whistled, it would be at once

forthcoming.

 

[Illustration]

 

Says Logic to his Corinthian friends, "'In the evening I will introduce

you both to my friend the _Haberdasher_. He is a good _whistler_; and

his shop always abounds with some prime articles which you will like

to look at.' The TRIO was again complete; and a fine dinner, which the

CORINTHIAN had previously ordered from a Coffee house, improved their

feelings: a glass or two of wine made them as gay as larks; and a

_hint_ from JERRY to LOGIC about the _Whistler_, brought them into the

shop of the latter in a _twinkling_. HAWTHORN, with great surprise,

said, 'Where are we? this is no _haberdasher's_. It is a----' 'No

_nosing_, JERRY,' replied LOGIC, with a grin. 'You are wrong. The man

is a dealer in _tape_.'"[151]

 

[Illustration]

 

There was a class in the Fleet, who acted, as far as in their power

lay, up to the Epicurean "_dum vivimus vivamus_," and among them the

prison, however inconvenient it might have been, was made the best

of, and the door of the Cupboard which contained the skeleton was

shut as far as it would go. We have an exemplification of this in

Robert Cruikshank's water colour drawing of "The Evening after a Mock

Election in the Fleet Prison," June, 1835. In this drawing, which I

have simply outlined (see previous page), we get a graphic glimpse at

the uproarious fun that obtained among a certain set. The gradations in

Society of this singular mixture is well shown in the following key to

the picture:

 

1. Bennett the Candidate.

 

2. Mr. Fellowes of the Crown P. H. Fleet Street.

 

3. Mr. Houston, _alias_ Jack in the Green.

 

4. Mr. Perkins, _alias_ Harlequin Billy (Architect), who tried to sink

a shaft at Spithead to supply the Navy with Water.

 

5. Mr. Shackleford (Linen Draper).

 

6. Mr. Bennett, the Watchman.

 

7. Geo. Weston, Esqr. (Banker, of the Boro').

 

8. Mr. Hutchinson (Dr. at Liverpool).

 

9. L. Goldsmith, Esqre.

 

10. Mr. Thompson (Irishman).

 

11. Robert Barnjum _alias_ Rough Robin (Hammersmith Ghost).

 

12. Robert Ball, _alias_ Manchester Bob (wore a Murderer's Cap).

 

13. Captain Wilde, R.N.

 

14. Mr. Hales, the Cook.

 

15. Mr. Walker.

 

16. Captain McDonnough, 11th Hussars (real gentleman).

 

17. Mr. Halliday (Manchester Merchant).

 

18. Harry Holt the Prize Fighter.

 

19. Captain Penniment (Trading Vessel, Yorkshire).

 

20. Mr. Palmer, Cutler to Geo. III., near the Haymarket Theatre.

 

21. Mr. Scrivener (Landlord of the Tap).

 

22. Captain Oliver, Smuggler and Tapster. Capias, £117,000.

 

23. Mr. Goldsbury, _alias_ Jailsbury, driver of omnibus all round the

Fleet.

 

24. Mr. George Kent.

 

As a souvenir of the talented Isaac Robert Cruikshank, I append a

facsimile of his autograph, which was written in the Parlour, No. 16,

Hall, in the Fleet Prison, June 24, 1842. His method of utilizing the

blot of Ink is unique.

 

The remaining Notices of the Fleet must be taken as they come, as

far as possible, chronologically--and first of all let us look at

the enormous quantity of people who were imprisoned for debt. In the

_Mirror_, No. 615, vol. xxii. July 20, 1833, is a cutting from the

_Times_: "By the return of persons imprisoned for debt in 1832, in

England and Wales, just printed by order of the House of Commons, it

appears that the gross number was 16,470: of whom maintained themselves

4,093, so that three fourths of the whole were too poor to provide

themselves with bread."

 

The terrible destitution to which some prisoners were reduced is shown

in an extract from the _Morning Herald_ of August 12, 1833.

 

"_Guild hall._ A Gentleman complained that the Overseers of

St. Bride's had refused to relieve a distressed prisoner in

the Fleet. The Prisoner was Mr. Timothy Sheldvake, who had

been well known for his skill in treating deformities of the

body. He once kept his carriage, and obtained £4,000 a year by

his practice, but he was now quite destitute. He was eighty

years of Age, and of that temper that he would rather starve

than make a complaint. When applicant saw him he had actually

fasted forty-eight hours. St. Bride's Parish had assisted the

unfortunate Gentleman, but they denied that he was legally

entitled to such relief. The Applicant contended that, as the

Prison was in St. Bride's parish, and was rated at £70 a year,

St. Bride's was bound to afford casual relief to those within

the walls of the prison, and to recover it from the respective

parishes to which those who have been relieved belonged.

 

[Illustration: AUTOGRAPH DONE AT THE PARLOUR NO 1, PALAIS DE LA

FLETE, THIS 24 DAY JUNE.]

 

"The Vestry Clerk said, relief must be given out of the County

rate.

 

"Sir C. Marshall said he would take time to consider the Point,

but he thought a sufficient relief should be afforded out of the

County rate."

 

[Footnote 149: "_Memoirs of the Right Villanous John Hall_,"

&c.]

 

[Footnote 150: See next page.]

 

[Footnote 151: A cant word for gin.]

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXV.

 

 

In a Return of the number of persons in the several Gaols of England,

confined for Debt, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, May

13, 1835, we have an "Account of the Number of Persons confined for

Debt in the Fleet Prison during the following Years:

 

1830 1831 1832 1833 1834

Number confined 742 700 884 746 769

Number charged in Execution 105 136 134 126 156