France was convulsed by revolution in 1789, but here in Blighty all sorts of other hullaballoo was taking place. Here are some items from The Times Index 1785-1790. My thanks to Peter Ross for winkling them out.
Epping stag hunt ends in mangling of goat – 14th April 1789
Elopements : Dublin mechanic’s daughter elopes with nimble lamp lighter – 30th July 1789
Ink : Land-surveyor faints after mistaking red ink for blood – 26th December 1789
Irish people not yet refined enough for opera – 19th June 1789
Death and Burial : Peruke maker shouts for another drink just before coffin is nailed up – 27th June 1789
Poultry : Hen supposed to be descendant of that which laid golden eggs – 1st December 1789
Man traps joker who knocks on doors and rings bells by attaching electrical shock to bell – 29th June 1789 : Report of trap set for bell ringer contradicted – 6th July 1789: Report confirmed and clarified : incident leads to challenge to duel – 6th July 1789
Funerals : Clergyman criticised for eating filberts while reading burial service – 13th October 1789
Man drops down and expires while waiter collects coat – 5th January 1789
Warning given against sending girls to boarding schools which scientifically educate young to vice – 20th October 1789
Philosophical fireworks defended – 25th June 1789
Captain’s attempted adultery with farmer’s wife revealed after bear is let into chamber in wife’s place. – 12th January 1790
Norfolk Island Settlement : Lack of candles forces islanders to go to bed as soon as it is dark – 16th January 1790
Shipbuilder digging ground for dock discovers number of large trees and hazelnut hedge 12-14 ft below the surface. – 20th March 1790
Careers : Voracious bricklayer of St. Bride’s parish undertakes profession of stay maker. – 19th February 1790
Over-hurried blind bullock enters artists’ colour shop on Holborn Bridge after missing way; does considerable damage before returning to the street through the window; then goads windows at watchmaker’s shop, catches string of watches on its horns and disperses them among mob in street. – 13th October 1790
Poor man kills himself with drinking in a northern borough; vestry clerk suggests that master of the workhouse should let rest of poor out to kill themselves and ease parish of them. – 6th July 1790
Gentleman who offered twopence as reward for saving lady from drowning defends seeming want of generosity by declaring lady is wife. – 23rd August 1790
I like the little ‘category headings’ before the colons, as if to say, “This week’s Ink news, for all you followers of the latest Ink-related happenings: Land-surveyor faints after mistaking red ink for blood”.
Very impressive, that electrical bell in 1789. What did he use, a Leiden jar or a ready-rubbed piece of amber??
It’s like this post was sent to us from 1790! Top Georgian blogging