A.D. 1727.

ford's gate, were found guilty of forging writings, for which they were put in the pillory for an hour, and fined 20s. each, being very poor. Also one of Somersetshire for the like offence was put in the pillory and was fined forty pounds.

October 11th, Wednesday.-George II. and Queen Caroline were crowned. The council in scarlet met the mayor at the Council house, and in their coaches attended him to the mayor's chapel, where Dr. Creswick preached from 2 Samuel xxiii. 3 :"He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in ye fear of ye Lord." The incorporated companies waited on the mayor. Brigadier Kirke's regiment paraded on College green, and marched thence to Corn street, where they lined the way between the two Tolzeys whilst the procession passed through. The Blue boys had a loaf, cheese, and a cup of ale each at the mayor's house. The mayor gave a dinner, and in the evening entertained the officers of the regiments, &c., at the Council-house; this was followed by a ball and supper at the Merchants' hall. The soldiers fired volleys in the street; the guns from Brandon hill fired four times each forty-four rounds, being the number of years of his majesty's age, viz., one round early in the morning, the second when the corporation came to ye chapel, the third at their return, and the fourth in the evening. Also the guns from the Marsh, and ships at the Key, the city musick playing, the bells ringing, &c., &c. The High Cross was hung with scarlet, and several of the church towers were hung with scarlet cloth, as well as ships' colours from their tops. There was also a large

bonfire on Brandon hill. 1

Nov. 16th, 1727, Alderman Hicks died. November 29th, Robert Earl was elected alderman, and sworn in December 11th. On the 27th December the navigation to Bath was completed, and the first barge was sent to that city, laden with deals, lead, and meal. The Parliament having been dissolved by proclamation in August, there was an election in Bristol, the candidates being Abraham Elton, jun., and John Scrope, who were returned, and Joseph Earl and William Hart. One MS. states that Mr. Hart, who was a leading capitalist in the clothing trade, sold his election. In 1728 Scrope distinguished himself in the House of Commons by showing that the revenue from the civil list which was settled on the king did not amount to £800,000, and he proposed that it should be increased by £115,000 arrears, which after warm debate was carried. Great complaints were made during this year of the cruelties practised by the Spaniards in the West Indies, who, on various pretexts, seized English ships and most barbarously treated their crews. Captain Jenkins, of Bristol, appeared at the bar of the House, and the feeling against Spain was intensified by his evidence, which was supported by petitions from Bristol, Liverpool, and London.

In May, Bristol was gladdened by a visit from the Princess Amelia, who was received with great pomp. Sir A. Elton, bart., M.P. for the city, and Mr. Sheriff Bayley, waited upon her royal highness at Bath, on the 5th of May, with an address, and invited her to honour the city of Bristol with a visit. She determined to 1 H. Muggleworth's MS.

175

accede to their request, and to come by water, which she did on Thursday, the 9th of May. The house met in their scarlet robes at the Council-house at ten a.m., and, accompanied by many gentlemen, went to the house of Edward Bucklers, in Temple street, who had invited them to refresh themselves before her royal highness's landing. Thence they proceeded to the Slip, on Temple back, where a handsome stage covered with scarlet had been erected, which had a guard of honour from Lord Tyrawley's regiment. The procession was as follows:

Water bailiff, with silver oar, in his boat; the Earl marshall (Lord Sussex), Lord Glenorchy, and Dr. Tessire, her royal highness's physician; Her Royal Highness, in a wherry, attended by the Countess of Pomfret, Duchess of Rutland, and Lady Frances Manners. Her royal highness was received on landing by the following order :-Two gentlemen ushers and Dr. Tessire in one mayor and corporation, and the procession on land was in the of her royal highness's coaches, constables, city musick, mayor's and sheriff's and the city officers, corporation, gentlemen of the city, Lords Sussex and Glenorchy, sword-bearer with cap of maintenance, mayor (bareheaded), Her Royal Highness in Sedan chair, Countess Pomfret, Duchess of Rutland, and Lady Man

ners, in one of her royal highness's coaches. The route was by Counterslip, through Tucker street to Temple cross, ye right hand of Temple street, through ye Long row into Thomas street, over the Bridge, through High street, leaving the High cross on ye left hand, down Corn street, through Small street, where ye collector and officers stood ranged under the piazzas along ye Key, by ye Merchants' hall, by ye Custom house,

of the same; thence they went to Mr. Alderman Day's house, a guard of Lord Tyrawley's regiment attending.

The corporation formed a lane of approach, through which the princess entered into the hall and was carried up stairs. The town clerk read the following address:

The mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and common council of this city humbly crave leave to congratulate your royal highness upon your arrival here, heartily wishing you a long life, health and you have laid upon them, and do rejoice to see a princess of ye

happiness. They are truly sensible of the great obligation that

blood royal, a daughter of the most illustrious house of Hanover, honour the city with her presence.

To which her royal highness was pleased to return a handsome answer. The gentlemen of the corporation had the honour to kiss her royal highness's hand. (The sword-bearer had his cap of maintenance on and the sword in his hand when he kissed hands.) Then the mayor, aldermen, &c., went to the Merchants' hall, after which the Dean of Bristol and the clergy had the honour of kissing hands; then followed the officers of the regiment. In the afternoon her royal highness in her coach, attended by the Countess of Pomfret, Lord Sussex, Lord Glenorchy, Mr. Southwell and other gentlemen, in coaches, "proceeded through Queen square to ye Gibb, and at ye end of ye Key was shown where the rivers Avon and Froom met, and that part which brings ye ships to ye Key, &c. She then went over the Drawbridge to St. Austin's, round College green, and

back to ye Merchants' hall, where she was pleased to receive madam the mayoress and the ladies of the corporation and city, who kissed hands, the mayoress bringing her to the stair-foot, and the mayor and swordbearer to her coach, amidst complimentary speeches, expressive of her royal highness's gratification at the manner in which she had been received, which she would certainly express to her royal father." She then went to Alderman Day's, where she dined in private, two other tables being provided for her suite, and another, in another house, for her servants. Dinner over, the mayor and corporation in their scarlet robes waited on her royal highness in their coaches to take boat at the Slip a little after four o'clock, when she departed amid loud acclamations from the crowds of people on the banks. The evening finished with an entertainment at the Merchants' hall and a ball. At her landing a salute of twenty-one great guns from the river bank at Tower Harratz; the ways were lined with crowds of people; there was another salute from the guns in Queen square and the ships on the Quay, which were bedecked with flags; the churches were adorned with scarlet cloth, as were the High Cross and the Council-house. The fronts of the houses were gay with carpets, scarlet cloths, boughs, &c., and their doors, windows, and roofs, were crowded with spectators, who with loud huzzas proclaimed their joy.

"The following February Sir A. Elton died, and was buried in St. Philip's church with great pomp; the scabbard of the great sword, and the wearing sword as baronet, were placed upon his coffin."1 On February 21st, Peter Day was elected alderman in his stead, but he was not sworn in until July 20th.

The anniversary of the king's accession to the throne was celebrated in Bristol on June 11th with great rejoicings.

Lord Tyrawley's regiment, newly clothed, fired salutes in Queen square, and the evening was concluded with an entertainment of wine at the council house, at the expense of the city. 2

Saturday, July 20th, Sir R. Eyre, lord chief justice, resigned the recordership of Bristol; dated 13th inst. Monday, July 22nd, the Hon. John Scrope, esq., unanimously elected recorder. The same day Mr. Thomas Daniel was elected coroner, in the room of Mr. William Dickason, deceased. Thursday, August 29th, the Hon. John Scrope, esq., was elected a member of the common council, and doubts having arisen as to the legality of his election to the recordership-on the ground that Sir Robert Eyre had not, with his resignation of the office of recorder, resigned that of common councilman for

1 H. and R. Smith. 2 H. Muggleworth's MS.

the city-John Scrope, esq., was re-elected recorder on this day.

The picture of George II., now in the Council-house, was purchased this year.

In 1727-8 there was a great dearth throughout England, and grain was imported between January 1st and September 28th into Bristol in one hundred and six ships, amounting to 55,819 quarters, at a cost of £18,530 2s. 3d. This was followed by a further importation before March, 1729, in ninety-three ships, of 37,108 quarters, at a cost of £7,554. The greater part was imported from the Baltic and the Mediterranean, but New York and Philadelphia sent nine ships with wheat.

On June 25th, 1729, the Rev. Alexander Stopford Catcott was appointed reader in Mr. Mayor's chapel, at a salary of £20.

This year ye rails, floor and altar-piece at Mr. Mayor's chapel was made and sett up.

7. In 1729 John Price, merchant, was mayor, and Henry Lloyd and Abraham Elton, jun., merchant, sheriffs. At the close of the civic year, September 29th, whilst the corporation was at church preparatory to the swearing in of the new mayor, Samuel Stokes, soap boiler, a body of weavers, who demanded higher wages, and had riotously assembled in Kingswood that morning at seven o'clock, marched on the house of Stephen Feachem, a large manufacturer in Castle ditch, which they threatened to break into, level to the ground, and murder its owner, unless he would raise their pay from 78. to 8s. per piece. The house was defended by Feachem and a few of his friends; in the street in front of the house there were twenty soldiers and two sergeants of Lord Deloraine's regiment. The sheriffs, Lloyd and Elton, hastened to the spot, and, backed by Tyrawley's whole regiment, they read the Riot Act. The rioters, still refusing to disperse, were fired upon; seven were killed, and many others wounded; others were seized and committed to Newgate, but at the ensuing session they were discharged, as no one appeared to prosecute them. The sergeant in command of the detachment in front of the house was amongst those killed by the fire of his comrades whilst endeavouring to persuade the mob to retire.

In Vol. I., 282-3, of this work, we have recorded some curious items connected with the building of a corn market, the sinking a well, and erecting a pump in the centre of Wine street. In July, 1726, a house in Wine street was bought of Mrs. Elizabeth Stratton, widow, for £700, and it was ordered that the old corn market in Wine street should be pulled down. The house then "made an agreement with the feoffees of Trinity chapel

for the late 'Swan' inn, in St. Mary-le-port street, and the tenements thereunto adjoining, by paying a fee-farm rent for the same, and that the said buildings be pulled down and a convenient place for a corn market built on part of the said ground, and that the remainder thereof be built upon in such manner and at such times as the said committee shall think proper, and that they also shall have power to demolish the house lately bought of Mrs. Elizabeth Stratton, in Wine street, at such times as they shall think fit." Payments were made for this alteration, which made a new communication between Wine and Mary-le-port streets, in "1726-7 £500, in 1727-8

was read to the house.

177

days, and no more; and we do recommend it to the house to take proper and effectual measures, that the times of holding the said shall think fitt. two fairs may be so attended and settled as aforesaid, if this house

It was further decided that the standings comonly erected in Wine street in this city, for sale of goods and merchandises at the fair comonly called St. James' fair, are comon nusances, and do the said fair, and ought not to be suffered to be erected there again, much interrupt and hinder people passing the said street during and in regard all profit and advantage of such standings have time out of mind been granted to the sheriffs of this city (for the time being taking the fee-farm). It was ordered that in lieu thereof the said fair shall be held yearly in Broadmead, in the parish of St. James' in this city, the same number of standings being allowed for sale of goods and merchandizes as have hitherto been usually and customarily erected in Wine street at the time of the said fair.

At a meeting of the common council, 27th February, 1731, it

was decided that the times of holding the said two fairs shall be changed and settled as follows, viz. :-That the summer fair, now commonly called St. James' fair, shall always and for ever hereafter begin, be held and kept in the usual and accustomed place within this city on the first day of September yearly, unless it shall happen on a Sunday, and then to begin on the second day of the said month; and that the winter fair, now commonly called St. Paul's fair, shall always and for ever hereafter begin, be held and kept in the usual and accustomed place in this city on the first day of March yearly, unless it shall happen on a Sunday, and then to begin on the second day of the said month of March; and the times of holding each fair be limited to eight clear selling [VOL. III.]

In June,

1730, an Act of Parliament was obtained for the regulation of brokers in this city. On Tuesday, the first of September, the Hon. John Scrope came to Bristol to

sit as judge

of Oyer and Ter

miner; he was met by a great number of gentlemen on horseback, and forty or fifty coaches, to "shew ye respect to him as our recorder, and especially for the service he had done ye city in Parliament in respect to the African trade." On Thursday, October 1st, the Hon. Arthur Onslow, speaker of the House of Commons, visited Bristol, and was received with great ceremony at Temple gate by the mayor and corporation, who showed him the Tolzey, Council-house, and entertained him to dinner at Mr. Alderman Day's great house, where the bishop and dean of Bristol were also guests.

On June 19th, the sum of £200 was voted for the relief of the inhabitants of Blandford, sufferers by fire;

G 3

also £100 for the relief of the inhabitants of Tiverton, who had suffered severely by a great fire. On Wednesday, July 14th, William Cann was elected town clerk on the death of Henry Blaake.

In 1730, Redcliff gate was re-built, and another Turnpike Act was passed, under which colliers were exempted from payment of toll; the gates, however, shared the fate of their predecessors, and were soon cut down. Dr. Robert Booth, dean of Bristol, died on August 8th, and on the 21st Dr. Samuel Creswick kissed the king's hand on his appointment to the office.

8. Edward Foy, merchant, was mayor in 1730, and Edward Buckler, maltster, and William Barnsdale, merchant, were the sheriffs.

In the latter part of this year (1730) a set of villains made a practice of sending threatening letters to several persons, some thrown into shops, and others dropped in the streets, demanding money, from some eight guineas, from others ten, &c., to be left in certain places which they appointed, and threatening to murder them, burn their houses or otherwise ruin them, if they did not comply with their demands And this was commonly practiced in various parts of the kingdom, besides Bristol. The Tories attributed the blame to the ministry, who as Whigs were unwilling to enact laws sufficiently coercive. Mr. Clements, ship builder, and other gentlemen, had such letters sent to them during the winter. Mr. George Packer, living at the yard next to Mr. Clement's dock, below Trinity street, in the way to the Sea banks, had several letters of this kind sent to him, to which he paid no attention; and on Saturday, October 10th, at the dead of night, his house was burned to the ground. And still after this Mr. Packer had other letters, telling him that although he had escaped the fire, by which they intended to destroy him, yet they would have his life if he did not put the money where they ordered. The city was so alarmed by these villainies that a double watch was appointed until six o'clock in the morning. One Mr. Power, an attorney, lately from Dublin, a person of very gentlemanly appearance, was much suspected of being concerned in these enormities, and was on that suspicion committed to Newgate. On his trial he proved an alibi by the evidence of two ladies, in whose company he was sitting till twelve o'clock, 1

Packer's house adjoined his dock, and great fears were entertained lest the fire should reach a ship that lay there, which would have endangered all the shipping at the quay and a great part of the city, the wind being strong from the east, the tide being out, and the ships aground; it being also in the dead of the night, and no people or water near to extinguish the fire. 2

In 1731 there was a great drought; cattle had to be driven miles to water, the grass was burned up, and hay, which fetched £4 per ton, had to be brought from the north and west. This year Arthur Taylor, distiller, was mayor; he resided in the house now occupied by Messrs. Franklyn, Morgan, and Davey, on the Welsh back. Edward Cooper, merchant, and William Barnes, sugar baker, were sheriffs. With this year H. Muggleworth's handwriting ceases in the MS. (the worthy swordbearer being dead). Although the MS. is continued to Seyer II., 578-9.

1

2 H. Muggleworth's MS.

1785, it is a mere record of the names of the mayors and sheriffs, without giving their occupation.

This year it was proposed in the chamber to erect a statue to George II.; this was negatived, but another was passed:

December 8th, 1731, at a meeting of the common council, “a memorial, subscribed by a great number of gentlemen, setting forth that the memorialists, with many of the inhabitants, were willing at their own charge to erect a public statue to the memory of our great and glorious deliverer, the late King William III., praying the house to appoint a proper place to erect it," &c. The house decided upon Queen square, then the focus of merchant aristocracy, and "cheerfully" contributed £500; and £300 were given by the Merchants' hall "towards erecting in Queen square a fine equestrian statue in brass," &c.

1732, May 6th.—At a meeting of the common council, Alderman Beecher returned thanks to this house from the subscribers to the memorial for erecting a public equestrian statue of his late majesty, King William III., for the gracious donation of this house," &c.

1736, September 25th.—At a meeting of the common council, "Mr. Mayor acquainted the house that the publick statue in Queen square was finished in the handsomest manner, and that there was the sum of £769 10s. 3d. deficit."

December 3rd.-It was carried that £500 more be subscribed. Rysbrach, the sculptor, was paid £1,800; of this £1,000 was contributed by the corporation, and £300 by the Society of Merchants, leaving but little for the citizens.

From Free Briton, August 16th, 1733:-"It ought to be had in everlasting remembrance," says Mr. Walsingham, "that when the common council of London refused even to read a petition to erect a statue at the expense of the petitioners in honour of King William III., the city of Bristol of their own free will raised a statue, at their common charge, with a magnificence worthy of his fame and of their affection to his memory. The statue, sculptured by Mr. Rysbrach with infinite application and success, is worthy of public attention, not only as regards the memory of King William, but it is a work of genius, and will do honour to this nation. Methinks I see the spirit of antiquity sublimely expressed in every stroke. It was thus that senates dedicated statues to their gods and patriots; their private genius bore its part in private love."

It is accounted one of the finest equestrian statues in Europe; it was modelled by Rysbrach, but the operative artist was Van Oost. 1

Queen square, which was commenced on the visit of Queen Anne in 1702, and was named after her, was not completed until 1726. It was in 1710 planted with cross rows of lime trees, but these were cut down in 1776.

In 1731 Mr. James Purnell was elected coroner on the death of Mr. Daniels. Hay markets were appointed to be held at the end of Broadmead and Temple cross, for hay coming by land; at the head of the quay called "Timber key," on St. Augustine's back, and at the lower end of the quay, by the graving dock, for hay coming by water. The market days were on Tuesdays and Fridays. On December 8th Mr. James Holledge, the chamberlain, was presented with 150 guineas, as a free gift for his 1 Tovey's Local Jottings.

A.D. 1732.

179

good services to the city. It was ordered that Thomas Lewis and Co., common players at the Theatre, St. Augustine's back, be presented as a nuisance.

On May 6th, 1732, it was ordered that £100 be paid to the churchwardens of St. Stephen's church, as a free gift from the house towards repairing and beautifying the church and tower of St. Stephen's. Also that the mayor and surveyors of the city lands do carry on the Quay wall from the ferry at Redcliff back to a place called the Graving place. On June 11th, George II. and her majesty Queen Caroline, having honoured the city by sitting for their portraits, it was ordered that their pictures be set up in the Council chamber. On Sunday, November 5th, the house declined to go to the Cathedral; but the mayor, attended by

the corporation and the incorporated companies, went to the Mayor's chapel and heard a sermon by Mr. Smith.

On Monday, 10th January, 1733, the house resolved that if any excise be laid upon customable merchandise and home-manufactured goods, to send a resolution to their members to oppose the same in Parliament

warehouses for wines and tobacco, and to collect the duty from the inland dealers. His plan, he argued, would, without increasing the cost to the consumer, enable him to dispense altogether with the land tax, would make London a free port, and give to it the trade of the world. An unprecedented agitation set in against this scheme. It was argued in the House of Commons that already the sea-coast towns were looked upon as belonging to the Crown, the influence of its officers in

by all legal and dutiful methods. This year the great crane near Gib Taylor was erected by Mr. Padmore, and the Mud dock was completed at the expense of the Society of Merchant Venturers.

9. Walpole sought by a system of indirect taxation to free the land from all burdens. He contended that smuggling and fraud diminished the revenue immensely. The gross average amount of the Customs' tax on tobacco, for instance, was £750,000, the net produce only amounted to £160,000; he therefore proposed to transfer this revenue to the Excise, to establish bonded

sure.

In August this year the High Cross, which stood at the junction of Wine, High, Broad and Corn streets, was taken down and deposited in the Guildhall. It was worn and fretted through age, and was considered to be unsafe; an additional and weighty reason for its removal was the space which it occupied, impeding the greatly increased vehicular traffic in the centre of the city.

February 21st, 1734, William Henry Nassau, Prince of Orange, came to this city, pursuant to an invitation presented to him at Bath by Mr. Pope and Mr. Glisson, the sheriffs. He came to England in November last, in order to espouse the Princess Royal,