The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages 17

The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages 17

This PANTHEON was a large circular building surmounted by a statue of

Fame. It was well warmed by a stove in its centre, and the grounds

were prettily laid out. There were the usual walks, flower-beds,

and pond, in the centre of which was a statue of Hercules, and, of

course, the usual out-of-door refreshment boxes, or arbours. But

it is just possible that it was owing to its somewhat disreputable

conduct that the landlord became bankrupt in 1774, and the Pantheon

was offered for sale. It was closed as a place of amusement in 1776,

and the famous Countess of Huntingdon had some idea of utilizing it

for the propagation of her peculiar religious views. However, the sum

necessary for alterations, proved too much for her ladyship, yet by

a strange mutation of fortune, somewhat akin to what we have seen in

our time, in the Grecian Theatre in the City Road, being taken by the

Salvation Army, the Pantheon was turned into a Proprietary Chapel,

called Northampton Chapel, which was served by clergymen of the Church

of England of strictly Evangelical principles, and it filled so well,

that the incumbent of the parish church asserted his right to preach

there whenever he liked, and also to nominate its chaplains. This the

proprietors did not quite see, and they closed the chapel. Then Lady

Huntingdon bought it, and, henceforth, it was called Spa Fields Chapel.

 

The illustration[53] is taken from the _New Spiritual Magazine_, and

I do not think that an uglier building could be produced. Probably

the statue of Fame was obliged to be removed, but the ventilator in

its place was certainly not an improvement. However, it is now pulled

down; but, before its demolition, it had to pass through the ordeal of

more proceedings at law. As long as the chapel was served by clergy,

nominally belonging to the Church of England, so long did the incumbent

of St. James's, Clerkenwell, assert his right to the patronage of it.

The Countess relied on her privilege as a peeress, to appoint her own

Chaplain, but this was overridden by competent legal opinion, and

nothing was left but for the officiating clergy to secede from the

Church of England, and take the oath of allegiance as Dissenting

Ministers. This the Countess did not relish; she would fain be in

the fold, and yet not of the fold, as do many others of this age, but

she had to eat the leek. She had the proud privilege of founding a

religious sect, and she left the bulk of her large property, after very

generous legacies, to the support of sixty-four chapels which she had

established throughout the kingdom. She died at her house in Spa Fields,

and was buried at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, "dressed in the

suit of white silk which she wore at the opening of a chapel in

Goodman's Fields."[54]

 

[Illustration: VIEW OF NORTHAMPTON OR SPA FIELDS CHAPEL, WITH THE

COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S HOUSE ADJOINING.]

 

[Footnote 47: Conduit.]

 

[Footnote 48: This, I take it, refers to a practice mentioned

in a pamphlet, "A Step to the Bath" (London, 1700), which I

think is by Ned Ward. "The usual time being come to forsake

that fickle Element, _Half Tub Chairs_, Lin'd with Blankets,

Ply'd as thick as _Coaches_ at the _Play House_, or _Carts_ at

the _Custom House_." It has been suggested that the Chair was

used for debilitated patients; but, knowing the use of the

term "Chair" at that epoch, I venture to propose my solution.]

 

[Footnote 49: Such pleasure.]

 

[Footnote 50: Harl. MSS., 5961.]

 

[Footnote 51: Noorthouck (book i. p. 358) says, "It is to be

observed that in 1746, an hospital was founded by subscription

between London and Islington, for relieving poor people

afflicted with the smallpox, and for inoculation. This is said

to be the first foundation of the kind in Europe, and

consisted of three houses; one in Old Street for preparing

patients for inoculation; another in Islington" (Lower Street)

"when the disease appeared, and the third in Cold Bath fields

for patients in the natural way."]

 

[Footnote 52: See p. 89.]

 

[Footnote 53: See next page.]

 

[Footnote 54: _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. lxi. (1791), p.

589. The Chapel was pulled down in January or February, 1887.]

 

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XI.

 

 

It is almost impossible to write about anything connected with Spa

Fields, without mentioning the famous "Spa Fields Riots," which

occurred on Dec. 2, 1816. In every great city there will always be a

leaven of disquietude: demagogues who have nothing to lose, but all to

gain, will always find an audience for their outpourings; and, often,

the ignorant, and unthinking, have only to be told, by any knave, that

they are underpaid, downtrodden, or what not, and they are ready to

yell, with their sweet breaths, that they are. So was it then in 1816.

 

And it is also remarkable how history repeats itself; for, part of the

scheme proposed by the agitators on that day, was exactly similar to

the proposals of certain Irishmen and Socialists of our time--_teste_

the following handbill, taken from the _Times_, the newspaper of Dec.

7, 1816.

 

"SPENCE'S PLAN. For Parochial Partnerships in the Land, is

the only effectual Remedy for the Distresses and Oppression

of the People. The Landowners are not Proprietors in Chief;

they are but the _Stewards_ of the Public; For the LAND is the

PEOPLE'S FARM. The Expenses of the Government do not cause the

Misery that surrounds us, but the enormous exactions of these

'_Unjust Stewards_.' Landed Monopoly is indeed equally contrary

to the benign spirit of Christianity, and destructive of the

Independence and Morality of Mankind.

 

"'The Profit of the Earth is for all.'

 

"Yet how deplorably destitute are the great Mass of the People!

Nor is it possible for their situations to be radically

amended, but by the establishment of a system, founded on the

immutable basis of Nature and Justice. Experience demonstrates

its necessity and the rights of mankind require it for their

preservation.

 

"To obtain this important object, by extending the knowledge

of the above system, the Society of Spencean Philanthropists

has been instituted. Further information of it's principles

may be obtained by attending any of it's sectional meetings,

where subjects are discussed, calculated to enlighten the human

understanding, and where, also, the regulations of the society

may be procured, containing a Complete development of the

Spencean system. Every individual is admitted free of expense,

who will conduct himself with decorum.

 

First Section every Wednesday at the Cock, Grafton Street, Soho.

Second " " Thursday " Mulberry Tree, Mulberry Ct.,

Wilson Street, Moorfields.

Third " " Monday " Nag's Head, Carnaby Mrkt.

Fourth " " Tuesday " No. 8, Lumber St., Mint, Borough."

 

There! does not that read exactly like a modern speech delivered in

Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, or Dublin? Of course it was the old story

of Demagogy. The pot boiled, the scum came to the top, and it boiled

over, so that, one fine day, there was a riot. It was a period of

distress for the working classes, who did not then, as now, swarm into

London from all parts of England, and expect Jupiter to help them; but

then, as now, the rich were ever willing to help their poorer brethren,

for, in the very same _Times_ newspaper that gives an account of this

Spa Fields Riot, there is a list of subscriptions towards the relief of

distress in Spitalfields alone, amounting to over £18,000.

 

The story is one that should be told, because it has its lesson and its

parallel in all time. The ruling spirit of the movement was Henry Hunt,

generally called Orator Hunt, a man fairly well to do, and who did not

agitate for the sake of his daily bread. The occasion of the meeting in

Spa Fields, at which some 10,000 people were present, was to receive

the answer of the Prince Regent to a petition from the distressed

mechanics of London and its vicinity for relief. It was held first

of all in front of the "Merlin's Cave" (a name which still survives

at 131, Rosomon Street, Clerkenwell), and afterwards in the adjacent

fields. The following account of the riots is from the _Times_ of Dec.

3, 1816:

 

"As a prelude to the scene that followed, and with the spirit

of the ruling demagogue, a person mounted a coal waggon with

three flags, on which were inscribed certain mottoes; and,

after having harangued a small audience, draughted off from the

general body, proceeded to the city, where the acts of violence

were perpetrated, which will be found in another part of our

paper.

 

"The speech of this orator, and the conduct of his audience, we

shall give in an extract from an evening paper as we were not

present at the first part of the drama ourselves.

 

"'In the field was a Coal waggon, upon which were mounted about

twenty persons, chiefly in the dress of sailors. Several flags

were displayed; two tricoloured ones, on one of which was the

following inscription:

 

"'Nature, Truth, and Justice! Feed the Hungry! Protect the

Oppressed! Punish Crimes!'

 

"'On a second tricoloured flag, no inscription.

 

"'On a third white flag was inscribed in red letters the

following:

 

"'The brave Soldiers are our Brothers; treat them kindly.'

 

"'Many had bludgeons, and others pockets full of stones. One

person in the waggon then addressed the meeting in the following

strain:--"I am sorry to tell you that our application to the

Prince has failed. He, the father of his people, answered--'My

family have never attended to Petitions but from Oxford and

Cambridge, and the City of London.' And is this Man the father

of the people? No. Has he listened to your petition? No. The day

is come--(_It is, It is_, from the mob.) We must do more than

words. We have been oppressed for 800 years since the Norman

Conquest. If they would give ye a hod, a shovel, a spade, and a

hoe, your mother earth would supply you. (_Aye, aye, she would._

Loud Applause.) Country men, if you will have your wrongs

redressed, follow me. (_That we will._ Shouts.) Wat Tyler would

have succeeded had he not been basely murdered by a Lord Mayor,

William of Walworth. Has the Parliament done their duty? No.

Has the Regent done his duty? No, no. A man who receives one

million a year public money gives only £5,000 to the poor. They

have neglected the starving people, robbed them of everything,

and given them a penny. Is this to be endured? Four millions

are in distress; our brothers in Ireland are in a worse state,

the climax of misery is complete, it can go no farther. The

Ministers have not granted our rights. Shall we take them?

(_Yes, yes_, from the mob.) Will you demand them? (_Yes, yes._)

If I jump down will you follow me? (_Yes, yes_, was again vociferated.)."