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VESTIGES,

COLLECTED AND RECOLLECTED,

BY JOSEPH MOSER, ESQ

NUMBER V.

A SUNDAY AT WINDSOR *. ADDRESSED TO LIEUT.COL. POWNALL.

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day.

Windfor, Aug. 1793. As I know no perfon, my dear Sir, more obfervant of the precepts of our religion, or more strict and regular in the performance of the duties of Christianity, than yourself, and as we have frequently, in converfation, confidered the influence which a proper attention to the injunction which I have felested for the motto of this paper must have upon the civil as well as the fpiritual happinefs of the people, upon every fyftem of fociety, and every mode of life; I am tempted, as well as my feeble powers will permit, to delineate, for your infpection, a faint, though I flatter myself a tolerably correct and accurate,. fketch of the manner in which the Sabbath Day is celebrated, by the lower order of inhabitants and our London friends, in the town from which this is dated: but before I fully difplay to your view the fubject of which this is the outline, permit me to recall to your mind the opinion of that great commentator on the law of England, Sir William Blackftone, as I do conceive it will appear to you a proper foundation whereon to erect a watch-tower, whence I can obferve the infringements made upon it, and its frequent violation.

"The profanation of the Lord's Day, vulgarly, but improperly, called Sabbath breaking, is an offence againft God and religion, punished by the municipal law of England † for be

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fides the notorious indecency and fcandal of permitting any fecular bufinefs to be tranfacted on that day, in a country profeffing chriltianity, and the corruption of morals which follows its profanation, the keeping one day in feven holy as a time of relaxation and refreshment, as well as for public worthip, is of admirable fervice to the State, confidered merely as a civil inftitution." (4 Blackstone's Commentaries, 63.) And therefore by the 27 Hen. 6. c. 5. "All manner of fairs and markets on Sundays (the four Sundays in harveft excepted) fhall clearly ceafe, on pain of forfeiting the goods expofed to fale."

You, Sir, have frequently remarked, that upon the Continent, particularly in Holland, Flanders, Germany, and Switzerland, whether the religion of the country or district be Lutheran, Roman Catholic, or Calvinistical, even in cities or towns devoted at other periods to the greatest gaiety, or the most extenfive commerce, the Lord's Day is always confidered as a day of the utmoft decency, folemnity, and order. The dawn is announced by the found of the matin- bell, and all the inhabitants, who are able, are by the munici pal law, which is enforced by officers appointed for that purpofe, obliged to attend divine fervice, which, with the intermiffion of three hours, at different periods, continues until four in the afternoon. During this time the gates are locked, and if any one is obferved in the street, except he can prove that his abfence from church was abfolutely necellary, he is fubjected to a fine, and

It may be neceffary to hint to the reader, that the principal part of this fpeculation is extracted from a letter written in the year 1793, and which, of courte, has, until this period, remained unpublished. Some modern allufions, it will eafily be perceived, have been added, and the whole thrown into a form fomewhat different from what was intended if it had been fent to the prefs at that time. It muit alfo be observed, that the hints upon which it is founded are collected from periods when a very extraordinary influx of company was attracted to Windfor by the grand reviews, or other public occafions and celebrations.

+ Vide the ftatutes 1 Eliz. ch. 2. 23 Eliz. cho xe 1 Jac. 1, ch. 22. ch. 2. and 29 Car. 2. ch. 7. fect. 1, 2.

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3 Car. I.

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conveyed to the nearest place of public worship. At four the gates are thrown open, and every one is permitted to dedicate the evening, which is fuppofed to conclude at nine, to healthful amufement and innocent hilarity.

The Lord's Day is, as I have obferved, celebrated in a manner widely different in England, particularly in this elegant town, where, notwithftanding the people have before their eyes the highest and best of examples, it is, in fpite of municipal regulations, I am forry to ftate it, a day devoted to uproar and confufion, and fo I fear it will continue until there is a wall built around the metropolis, and its inhabitants are hindered from pouring themfelves out, and spreading their abund ant follies and vices over the adjacent counties. Devoutly as it is to be wifhed that this ftream of profligacy which now overflows its banks might be dried up at its fource, the period when this will happen is, I fear, at a great diftance. At prefent, I can affure you, Sir, that Wind for is happily free from all Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Calviniftical restraints, and Sunday, al though it is not with us quite what it was by divine commandment ordained to be, a day of devout meditation and corporeal reft, is certainly one in which the cares of this world feem to be thrown afide; a day which we honour by drawing forth to public view our gayeft apparel and moft fplendid equipages, and by affuming every appearance of fellivity, every trait of hilarity, that can mark a people, if not properly thankful for, at lealt refolved to enjoy, the abundant bleffings they receive.

Perhaps the best method I can take to convey to your mind the pleasure hebdomadally enjoyed in this town is, as I have already hinted, to place before you a sketch of a feptenary period. The picture of local manners, even

though unfkilfully drawn, is, if there be truth in the general outline, always interefting. You, I know, will receive this effort with your ufual candour; I therefore proceed to inform you that, as a proper preparation for the great duties of the Sabbath, many of the indefatigable tradefmen of this town fcarcely fuffer the fun to rife before they have opened the greater part of their fhops. Goods are exposed for fale at their doors, and chapmen and women are crowding to purchafe different articles, particularly provifions and apparel +. Every thing that was forgotten in the hurry, and perhaps inebriety, of Saturday night is now recollected, and our streets exhibit the appearance of a market day in a place of confiderable commerce. The inhabitants who are difengaged from this bustle are walking under the Town Hall, or taring out of their windows, as their curiofity, or perhaps their intereft, prompts them, eagerly expecting thofe Londoners who are fafhionable and rich enough to make an excurfion to Windfor.-Nor are their expectations difappointed! Before the hour of ten, carriages of every defcription rattle along the pavement of Park-ftreet, preceded and followed by troops of equeftrian fhopmen and apprentices, who are, I obferve, the efcort of Young Ladies that have, like themfelves, "been long in populous cities pent," and now iffue forth to fpend the day in ftyle.

The jockey carts which cross them contain nymphs and fwains from the neighbouring villages, who have had a touch of the Ton fufficient to make them refolve to do the fame. A long cavalcade now approaches, confitting of coaches, poft-chaifes, phaetons, whiskeys, fociables, in fhort every carringe, except fulkeys. These vehicles enclose the refpectable bodies of Mr. Deputy Dry, and his colleagues the

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It will easily be conjectured, that in this statement I glance with a retrospective eve to the fituation of the countries alluded to before thofe eminent reformers the French regiments had effected their converfion by planting the Tree of Liberty, the fruit of which has the property of thofe deleterious productions indigenous to tropical climates, and not only intoxicates but poifons thofe that tafle thereof. What the confequence of the fraternal embrace of the French Convention, or Confulate, has been to the harmless, nay virtuous, inhabitants of these countries, is too well known to need any further elucidation,

† A great reformation has, I have been juft informed, taken place in this relpect, in this truly beautiful and elegant town, fince the year ninety-three, when this was written,

Livery

Livery of one of the Twelve Companies, their Ladies, and friends.

In this inquifitive age, when the wilds of Africa have, from a garret at Leipfic, been explored by an Author who, as well as the great Abyllinian Traveller, is fufpected to be poffelfed of fecond fight, the worthy Deputy and Co. who wished, like thele and many other travellers, to fee the world, and rather to difperfe than discover mortuary gold, refolved, nem. con. on a voyage and journey for thefe laudable purpoles. They let out yesterday morning from a port known by the name of Black Friars, in their fuperb. barge, attended by another containing mufcians, who ferved as food for the mind, and two more of greater importance, and far more heavily laden, which were appointed victuallers to the larger vefiel. They landed at Richmond; and all their fea ftores (except water) being exhaufted, it was fortunate they made fo hofpitable a coat. There they dined; and having taken in a large stock of provifions, wine, &c. they went on board again, and founding all the way proceeded to Hampton Court, where their carriages met them. This morning, being affiduous in the purfuit of the object of their journey, they came to Windfor. "Mine Holt of the Garter" was ap prized of their intended vifit, and had provided accordingly; therefore I am happy to find, that there was a better realon for the scarcity and high price of provisions that prevailed in yesterday's market than is generally affigned.

But engaged with this interefting fubject, I have fuffered a number of carriages, &c. to flip by me. I now ob. ferve a coach and fix, which moves with the celerity of a broad-wheeled waggon and eight. In it a Nobleman lolis at his cafe: he feems to doze; people think him aileep; but we know that he huts his eyes to affift cogitation, and that he is pondering upon affairs of itate. His Lady has juft paffed in a phaeton two ftories high; therefore, as there will be more spirit in the chafe, we will purfue her. Obferve with what fury her four mettlefome tits fly up the Cattle Hill; while, ftanding in her vehicle, the turns in at the gate with the dexterity of a ftage coachman. See, the is followed by equeftrian nymphs, and female charioteers, who, though of inferior rank, are equally emulous of fame.

This fpeculation would fwell to a volume, if I were minutely to defcribe " hither the motley mixture that crowd to celebrate this weekly jubilee." I must not, Sir, however, forget to mention, what you will easily conceive, that the bustle, traffic, drinking, hallooing, fcolding, and fwearing, the natural concomitants of fo large an affemblage of heterogeneous characters, has kept the town alive, not only at the hour of early prayer in the Caftle, but while (with a piety truly exem plary, and which I could with to fee more frequently imitated) the Royal Family were repeating their devotion in the elegant and magnificent chapel of St. George.

We, Sir, have often spoken of the negligence and laxity of cathedral worship. Here I think the manner of performing the fervice would merit your approbation. We here fee Ca-, nons, Major and Minor, in their Stalls, Prebends, Chorifters, and Vicars Choral, obfervant of their duty. The be haviour of the Singing Boys, whom we have frequently oblerved to be, in other Choirs, at least inattentive, is in this extremely decent and decorous I wish I could bestow the fame unqualified praife upon the conduct of their occalional auditors. But the objects of our Sunday vifitants being curiofity and enjoyment, we the lefs wonder at the rudeness and avidity that is obfervable among them.

The hurrying in and out, from the Chapel to the Cattle and Terrace, and from the Caftle and Terrace to the

Chapel, the ftamping, whispering, crowding, and other enormities, which are practifed by the multitude, unchecked and unawed by the prefence of their Majesties, and indeed unreftrained by the ftill more awful idea that they are in the prefence of the King of Kings, I fhall pafs over, as I am confcious if they are repreffed it must be by stronger means than animadverfion.

But, my dear Sir, it is now time to return to the town, where the number of empty carriages that line the street block up and almolt impede the way of the full ones that ftill continue to arrive. Happy, indeed, were those who, like the provident Citizens, had bespoken their dinners a week before. Alas! it is plain that all our visitors have not been equally prudent. To this unpardonable want of forefight it is owing U u 2

that

that we fee large companies ftowed in fmall boxes, packed as close as eight in a stage, obliged to take their meal in bed-chambers, tap rooms, kitchens, bars, any where. The party of fixteen whom I have in my eye were peculiarly fortunate in finding accommodation wherein they might repofe, wherein, as Dr. Johnfon fays, they might luxuriate, as they had only two beds in the apartment in which they were obliged to dine, and as there was the immense space of five feet betwixt those and the chimney, and also a paucity of chairs, Neceffity, a goddess who is faid to be the Mother of Invention (his father, I believe, was Poverty), hinted to them, that it would be extremely convenient to make feats of the one bed, and a fideboard of the other. I was pleafed with the idea, because where there has been a mixture of young perfons of both fexes in fuch critical. circumftances, you know, Sir, beds have not always been ufed for fuch laudable purposes.

But of all the places in which the groupes feem molt congenial to the talents of Rowlandfon or Bunbury, the coffee-rooms at the different inns exhibit, taking them in a general point of view, the greatest variety of characters, fituations, and occupations. Here' a large and elegant party of London beaux and belles dining in great state. There a dozen farmers fmoking their pipes with valt compofure. At one table bucks and demireps drinking bumpers of brandy. At another Officers drinking tea. Two tired travellers afleep under the clock. Several hungry ones fwearing at the waiters, and calling for their dinners. Some of the parties laughing, others fcolding; the attendants inceffantly bawl. ing, "Coming! Coming, Sir !" Hand thofe jellies to Captain Limber!" "Pipes and tobacco for Mr. Juftice Puff!""Coffee for Mr. Snug and Lady, behind the Bar!" "Your dinner, Dr. Snap, will be ready in five minutes!" "Do you hear, you block. head, how the bells ring? they're playing the devil in the Angel!" Bottle and bill for No. 4!" and a hundred other exclamations. Thefe, Sir, with the noife of the carriages rattling in and out of the yard, the confufion fpreading from the hall, and the team afcending from the kitchens, combine to create an enjoyment which it is impoffible for my pen to do juftice to.

-The afternoon paffed in this agree able manner, let us now prepare for the Terrace. The Cattle Hill is with difficulty mounted amidst a crowd of carriages, horses, equestrians, and pedeftrians, tearing and running up and down it. But you know, Sir, that difficulty, and even danger, vanishes and melts into air at the touch of the rods of thofe magicians Curiosity and Fashion. We are at length arrived in the centre of this motley affembly; and did I not know the general principles of loyalty that pervade the bofoms of our countrymen, I fhould fuppofe that many here had, before they left their inns, taken "a glafs to confusion," and wished to practife that doctrine which has been with fuch pains inculcated in another country, whofe principal tenet is the Right of MAN to level all diftinctions. A barber or a tailor may be a worthy and refpectable tradefman, perhaps the Monarch of his club; but till I cannot conceive, that even this dignity, eminent as it certainly is, entitles him to tread either upon the toes of a Duke, or the train of a Dutchefs, nor indeed to behave with that indecorum which we frequently fee practifed by a great part of the company in the Sunday promenade at Windfor.

Well, Sir, after our London friends are fatiated with ftaring, and have, perhaps, caufed perfons of the-first confequence to retire from the Terrace, they think it time to retire alfo. They now hurry to their inns, where they fpend the evening in the enjoyment of every luxury, except quiet, which, as most of them came abroad to be merry, is deemed by them to be an enemy to conviviality, and confequently banifhed.

Having thus attended them through the day, and feen them crammed into two, three, and four-bedded rooms, or elfe difperfed in inconvenient and paltry lodgings,let us leave them to that repofe which feems to be neceflary, that they may collect fpirits for the enjoyment of the new pleasures that await the dawn of the enfuing morning. Attendance at Chapel, seeing the Castle, rides to the Foreft or perhaps an excurfion to the Review, the Races, or Camp, fo fully occupy the fhort period they can allot to each, that, like Banquo, they are obliged to borrow fome hours of darkness, and indeed to ride or drive hard to reach London by mid

night.

night. We muft, however, go back in idea to Windfor, as, before our guests can leave us, a point of fome importance remains to be fettled. "Then comes the rec'ning when the banquet's o'er,

"The dreadful rec'ning, when men fmile no more."

But this is by no means the cafe of our Sunday vifitants in general; for as molt of them are in bufinels, they are carelefs of the expence, fo that the thing be done genteelly. Perhaps their creditors would fmile no more," did they know with what elegant profufion their money was fquandered."

We well know that it is a vile bore, a fhabby veftige of the Old School, for a Gentleman to item, or even caft, a bill; no one would like to be treated fo unpolitely himself. All that a man of fpirit has to do with, is the total. Our waiters, oftlers, chaifeboys, chambermaids, bootcatchers, &c. &c. &c. are also such a difinterested and respectable community, that it is fcarcely poffible to reward their eminent fervices too liberally. Therefore you may obferve, Sir, that, as they know their patrons, they are prepared to pay their London friends the clofeft attention, who, when they ascend their vehicles, or mount their horfes, are fure to be furrounded by the whole houthold, with the matter and mittress at their head. Thefe ftand in the porch, bowing to the ground, until the carriages, &c. drive off; when the laugh, which they have with difficulty reftrained, bursts forth; and instead of commending their late guests for their liberality, you may gather from their jokes and ineers, that although they have largely benefited by their generofity, they are of opinion, that they have either foolithly parted with their own money, or knavishly with that of other perfons, in order to display their tafte, and make a blaze that renders folly and knavery more confpicuous.

It will be fcarcely worth the time that must be loft in the chafe, to purfue thefe our feptenary vifitants to London: We, Sir, can very easily withdraw the hypothetical curtain, and fuppofe them in due time to arrive at their feveral places of deftination. We may alfo fuppofe, that in the courfe of the week they have ingenuity fuffici ent to enable them to plan another excursion for the enfuing Sabbath, and,

without any extraordinary stretch of imagination, conjecture, that this elegant mode of life is continued until, notwithstanding the enormous taxes they lay upon their customers to fupport it, a WHEREAS, in the Gazette, confines their perfons, or at least circumfcribes their rambles.

This, Sir, is, in this age, confidered as a trifle tradefmen of genius and fpirit, though for a while enveloped in a cloud, frequently rife, like the phoenix, from the ashes of their former fortune, and instead of a hired carriage and hebdomadal frolic, jump all at once into an equipage of their own, and are perhaps driven to their elegant villa, where they vie with their most opulent neighbours in profufion, or, as they term it, hofpitality, whither they invite all their jovial companions, and furnish their tables in a style of luxury ridiculous in them, and indeed profufe, in my opinion, even in perfons of the largelt fortunes.

Arrived at this degree of confequence, when they make an excursion they blaze indeed. You, Sir, have, as well as myself, feen many of thele characters crowding the wateringplaces at the head of bands of emigrants, who, from the overgrown metropolis, difperfe themselves around the country; who, as I obferved at the beginning of this epiftle, spread their extravagance, follies, and vices, far and wide, and where foever they go render that day which both divine commandment and human laws hath ordained for a period of ceffation from labour, and fet apart for meditation, piety, and devotion, a feftival dedicated to noife, hurry, confufion, luxury, diffipation, and debauchery.

I have already too much exceeded the common limits of a letter to obtrude upon you any more observations refpecting our Sunday celebration. As you, Sir, have alfo been witness to the fcene of confufion which I have endea voured to delineate, your memory will furnish you with a far better idea of it than any which you can catch from the dathes of a pen that is not poffeffed of graphical power adequate to the fubject.

You know, my dear Sir, that I re. tired into the country to feek repose, and prudently endeavoured to find it amidst the noise, bustle, and business, of a market town, and the illuminations, iquibs, and crackers, of an elec

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