Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

17 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

- ... - - AGO. j A HUNDRED…

Rhestrau Manwl, Canlyniadau a Chanllawiau
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

 AGO. j A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. I A GLANCE AT THE COURANT" FILES. We reproduce the following from the j pr"ulI wcok 'o Chester Courant "What thoughts dSt1 as one carries one's mind b-.rv hu-idred years! Then Chester was So very different place from what it is now, and it is if those who are continually eisfhia^ for the good old times" would care to revert tuck to the days when Chester was dimly lighted at night with oil lamps; when; the screens wern paved with the disagreeable cobble stones; when law and order were sup- pú,:d to be preserved by decrepid old watch- m,n; and .riea stage coaches were the most up-to-dare system of travelling. Our fore- I f a, h-rs \v,.>rp m w. stoical than we of the present generation, and judging from the" Courant" ) files of a century ago they did not excite th«mseiv 3 to-any considerable extent concern- ing the death or the eighteenth and the birth l G :1: M century. Indeed, the circum- stance was dismissed with a few editorial remarks, an anonymous poem, and an article relating to tt.e death of that celebrated characte r, M. Eighteenth Century, at the great ag* at 100 years." In view of the con- troversy that, raured so fiercely a few months ago as to wnea the twentieth century really commencai, it is interesting to recall that a similar problem vexed our forefathers, for it is stated ia tia 11 Courant" of a hundred years ago that il was reported that Mr. Eighteenth Century died on the 31st of December, 1799, but we al ways ccnsidered that report premature and unfounded." The C >uraat" boasts an uninterrupted weekly that few lournais in the country Cia iqui It w is founded in 1730 by John I A urn?, u i k-tr tbe title of "Adams's Weekly Cour ant," by which n:une it was known until 1793, vuen it became known as "The Chester Cour iat" a title it has since borne. The price of ciie p vp u- W13 originally 2d., from which it r" in 1795 to 2^1., and by degrees to 7d. in 1815, at wouiti price it was sold until 1837, when i" WAS reduced to 5d. At the beginning of the la^t century the price was 6d. This may seem a big sum in the days of halfpenny and penny papers, but as the publisher in a note to his readers at ihat time explained, the price of an: the duty on it were heavy, and in addition the Stamp Office required a con- st Uei-.it> ie payment for the publication of adver- [r, is surprising what little attention was paid in the olden times to local occurrences. In the Oourants of December 30, 1800, and J inmry 6. 1301, to the (features of which wo 'I propose now to refer at some length, the local an. 1 utoLjr:jt aevs occupies an astonishingly I smtli amount of space. Evidently in those days, as is lhe ctse now in many instances, no news 'I was considered .food news. A numtred years ago, as now, England was fc???ed in ho?tdities. and owing to the burden- some r?x?'ion??used by the war, the dearness of provV. ns and the hilure of harvests, keen tilju?s was experienced throughout the land. A, a r??lt br??d riots occurred in many parts of the country, and the Houses of Parliament, At?er Sbri?ujiy comideria? the matter, peti- I tioned Ge >rge III. to take some action. As a result his Majesty issued a proclamation ex- I hortm; h s people to exercise the greatest I economy in regard to food, and, among other I things, to couti.ie the consumption of bread to one quartern loaf each person per week. Cheshire patriotically observed the King's request, as will be seen from the following I advertii.-m-nt which appeared in the Courant:"— Knutsford, Dec. 20, 1800. CUUNTY OF <JH ESTER. ] whose names are hereunto subscribed, lamenting', in common with others, the general distress occasioned by the present high price of Tnr and being earnestly solicitous to pro- mote th" objects of His Majesty's gracious and texii.»i-.t-ui proclamation, do resolve unanimously tbat wo wili sutfer no wheaten bread to be used in oui families, hut such as is made of tit-- witote nour of the wheat, the broad bran only being taken out, except for the accommodation of invalids and children, and except where American hour is made use of. That we' will not suffer cakes of any sort to be used in our families—as litLe pasiry as is possible and of none but the coarsest riour, and that as far as is practicable rice shall be substituted in the place of lfour. That we will reduce the consumption of malt liquor in our 1 tunnies, by every means in our power. That there snail be as moderate "an" use of potatoes as is convenient, where other vegetables can be found to supply their place. That we will care- fuiiy restrict ti.e consumption of oats and other frr;i:n tor the subsistence of horses, particularly of those kept for pleasure, as far as circumstances per i £ That we win, in short, as much as in us nes, dimimsh the consumption of bread, and J of everything that constitutes the food of man, being persuaded that nothing will tend more etuciuai.y to aileviate the present difficulties, and to provide for the wants of the year, than an ex- tensive practice of such a system of frugality. We tj .encore pledge ourselves to the observance of it v»n bin this county, till the necessary articles of pro vision can be purchased at a reasonable price oy 'ower classes of society; and we do most sincerely recommend the adoption of the same or sirIJ: resolUtion to all the gentlemen, and to ti: nusokoiders of every description (to whom they may be applicable) in this most populous county. Ordered, That these resolutions be left at tne George, in Knutsford, to be signed by those who approve of them, and that they be printed twice m the "Sun," the "Star" and the two Chester papers, and that a thousand copies be priat)-J a id circulated throughout the county.— Edward Thomycroft, John Ashton, Maurice .Krai mere, T. B. Hall, Rev. P. Johnson, Trafford 'iraiioid, Rev. P. Halsted, Rev. O. Leycester, Thomas Parker, Rev. H. Cholmondeley, J. T. Si-an.ey, o ames Wilde, Isaac Blackburne, Wm. L orto i, Geo. J. Legh, Robert Brooke, Geo. W iJbraham, Thos. Taylor. Egerton Leigh, Geo. Leyaster, John Glegg, Sir Peter Warburton, C'as. Cholmondeley, Davies Davenport, Randle I'braiiam, Thos. Cholmondeley, Sir John Leicester, H. A. Leicester, Rev. Thos. Black- burne, Chas. W. J. Shakerley, T. L. Brooke, Francis ooddrell, Charles Leicester, Henry M. Mai iiwanng, Thomas Wright, Strethill Wright. -xv-rtig" price of grain (Winchester meisur. ) was, it appears, as follows at the Chester nt;lrk"t on December 27th, 1800:— Wb^at 176 71,1., oats 78. 41d. at Nantwich, whe tr, IS. 41., barley 15" 3icl. oats 8s. 5d.; and at St-x-kporfc "on Saturday fe'nnight," wheat 14s 2d., oatmeal 7d. 71d. and beans 10'. 61. IhH price of bread rose to famine prices, as will be seen from the following:— ASSIZE OF BREAD. I The following is the Assize and Price of Biead for tbi* city (after having been baked t-vunty-four hours) to take place this day and to be in force seven days. The price of the Winc::esr<»r bushel and baking R.1 Os. 9d. The rock 100M Wheaten (171b.) 7/11 ) Ditto boufphold. 5/11 The haf.peek loaf wheaten. 3/11 Virto honnchold. 2il1 The quartern loaf whe%ten 2/- Ditto househoid. 1/6 TUè rmlf-qlla.rttJrn lo",r wheaten. 1/- Vitt,) household 9d. tu is evidH.rr. wroat distress prevailed in Chesrer i<self. In the Courant" of Dec. 30, 1300, it is announced that the subscription for till [ cii r et the poor industrious inhabitants of this ciry is not closed, and that several considerable additions are expected to the undermentioned sums. We also hear that the elaiuis of 7,664 poor individuals to the r.l¡.i have been allowed." The appended fiur,s shewed that the gifts previously a-iverrised amounted to £1,465 14s., and the loans wnnout the interest to 93,100, and that the following amounts had been subscribed siuce :—i un Corporation of Chester, £ 105; the D.> in and Chapter of Chester, 9105; tile Right thn. Lord Viscount Kilmorey, 920; John of tvithington, Esq., £ 20; Sir G. W. Pi>w>ott, Bart., £ 10 10s.; Mr. J. Sorton Hughes, X10 10s. l'ho latter is also credited with;EIOO aa.f loan heading, bringing up the totals to £ 1,735 14h. L-ifts, and in the following week's was announced that further gifts of S50 aad £ 21 respectively had been made by G. H. Druiniu >nd, Enq., and Sir John Thomas Stanley, Bar t. Ia new of the distress that existed, the to! lowing letter, addressed to the Printer, which appeared m the "Courant" of January 6,1801, is vorth re publishing :—"Sir,—In these dread- ful and calamitous times, I think you will agree Y; ÍI h iik,- r, nAt every good and benevolent action ougnt (for tne sake of example) to be made as puoM „s possible; I have the pleasure there- tore to inform you that Wm. Egerton, Eeq., of .rat: on f irk, gave to the poor on Christmas Da- two bu!K cks; and on New Year's Day 3,2001b. of good wholesome bread, half a ten of and a large quantity of wearing apparel. f i- is truly a good man and a real patriot, and I hope you will favor this little piece of intelli- g. n.-e with a corner in your valuable paper, and YOU .via VERY much oblige—DOMESTICUS." An interesting personal paragraph in the paper of December 39th runs as follows :— inr Hyde Parker was married to Miss Onsiow, the daughter of his brother Admiral, The difference of their ages is exactly forcy-three years. Lady Parker has a settle- ment of two thousand pounds per annum." THE ADVERTISEMENTS. I Con-d Wable light is thrown on the manner Hid customs of chose times by the advertise- oiH r8 v appeared in the Courant." For instance, it; appears that Oswestry boasted, what 1 "• uose degenerate days would he caller I Vigilance Committee, but then was t tmed the Oswestry Asso- ciation for the Prosecution of Felons." Ir, seemed from the association's advertisement that wberea- several horses, sheep, and other c, to have beef, stolen, and frequent burglaries, felonies, and larcenies ot various kinds com- mitted m ihv several parishes of Oswestry, Whitfiugton, West-felton, Svlattin, St. Martin's, Kinnerley, and Llanyblodwell, in the county of Salop, and other neighbouring parishes, and the offenders have too often escaped justice for want of immediate pursuit and effectual prosecution: therefore the several persons whose names are hereunto subscribed, associating themselves together in order to prevent and suppress every kind of felony and larceny (so far as in them lie), have agreed to raise and maintain a fund for the prosecution of all such offences committed against the pro- perty of them or any or either of them." A committee was appointed to manage the affairs of the association, and the following rewards were offered to the person or persons who shall first give such information in the premises, as shall lead to the recovery of the stolen property, andjapprehension of the respective offenders in the undermentioned cases, to be paid on the conviction of such offenders." £ a. d. The felonious breaking and entering any house in the night time 5 5 0 The like in the day time. 3 3 0 The felonious stealing, killing, maiming or wounding any horse, mare or gelding 5 5 0 The like of any bull, ox, cow, steer, heifer, calf, sheep, lamb or hog 2 2 0 The stealing of any goose or other poultry < 10 6 Any other grand or petit larceny 110 Stealing any gate, pale or rail, or any iron work, or other thing belonging theretAt, or breaking, cutting down, or destroying the same, or any hedge or other fence. 0 10 6 Stealing, cutting down, breaking, destroy- ing, or damaging any trees, saplings, poles or underwood 110 Robbing any orchards, or gardens, or stealing, or maliciously pulling up or destroying any turnips, potatoes, par- snips, carrots, cabbages or peas growing in any enclosed ground. 0 10 6 A long list of names was appended. An advertisement, in which hunting men will be interested, ran as follows:— SHREWSBURY HUNT. I The members of the Shrewsbury Hunt are requested to meet at the Lion Inn on Monday, the 5th of January, 1801, to spend the week with the president. RICHARD LYSTER, Esq. N. B. -A pack of foxhounds will attend. Shrewsbury, Dec. 10, 1800. In another column Charles Potts, clerk to the trustees of turnpike roads," gave notice that on a certain date the tolls arising and to be collected at the several toll-gates erected on the turnpike road leading from Chester to Northop, called the Hough Green Gate and the Ewloe Gate, would be let by auction to the best bidder, at the Inner Pentice, in the city of Chester. He further mentioned that the said tolls produced in the previous year zE652 above the expenses of collecting them. Several adver- tisements related to the tickets and shares of the English State Lottery. The appended advertisement conveys an idea of the manner in which the authorities endeavoured to cope with the existing distress The public are respectfully informed that a cargo of herrings, provided by Government for supplying the poor in this part of the kingdom at a moderate price, is arrived at Liyerpool, and any order from magistrates or others, for the above purpose, addressed to the Collector of Customs, Liverpool, will meet with due atten- tion." In a subsequent advertisement instruc- tions were given for preparing and cooking the herringrs. GENERAL NEWS. Whatever may be said with regard to local news, the readers of the Courant" of those days were well catered for in respect of general news. The attempt on the life of the then Consul" Bonaparte in December, 1800, is described in the following terms :—" Another attempt of a most curious and extraordinary nature has been made upon the life of the Consul Bonaparte. As he was going to the opera on the evening of the 23rd instant with a slight military escort a waggon with a con- cealed machine placed in the street in such a manner as to obstruct his carriage, made a sudden explosion, broke all the glasses, killed five persons, and wounded fifteen others, all bystanders and inhabitants of the adjacent houses. The Consul, however, received no personal injury, but with the utmost composure proceeded to the opera, and sat out the whole of the performance of Haydyn's eratorio of the Creation." Madame Bonaparte, accompanied by her daughter and sister-in-law, (Madame Murat) followed very closely behind her husband. She was in the Carousal at the time the explosion took place. The glasses of her carriage also were broken; and the horses becoming frightened could not for some time be made to advance. She, however, ordered the coachman to proceed, that she might partake, if possible, of the perils of her husband; but her solicitude was happily soon calmed, on her meeting the Consular guards, who were sent back for the purpose of assuring her of the safety of the Chief Consul. On the senators expressing their horror and affliction to Bonaparte at the atrocious attempt he coolly answered thus:- What would you have ? It is id the first situations of the magistracy exactly as it is upon the field of battle." Among other general paragraphs of interest are the following :—" There are some who sup- pose that the mission of the Russian envoy now at Paris relates to an object of no less magnitude than the discussing and digesting a plan for a combined attack upon the Turkish empire—Russia attacking it on one side and France on the other."—" Mr. Shaw, the messenger, was sent off by ministers on Saturday, with despatches for Lord Carysfort, his Majesty's ambassador at the Court of Berlin. They are reported to contain proposals for the amicable adjustment of the existing differences between Great Britain and Russia, through the medium of his Prussian Majesty. Should this effort prove unsuccessful, the most vigorous measures will no doubt be immediately adopted on our part to chastise the flagrant insolence and revenge the daring aggressions of the capri- cious Autocrat of the North." An unfounded report has lately been circulated of an epi- demic disease having broken out amongst the troops under the command of Sir Ralph Aber- cromby. On December 3rd, 16,000 of these brave fellows sailed from Tetuan Bay tor Egypt in the most perfect state of health. General Craig is said to have departed from India with 10,000 Sepoys, exclusive of other troops to form a diversion on the side of Suez Little Englanders would not have been viewed with favour in these days, judging from I the following paragraph "Two of the Lough- borough Volunteers having given in their resignation and surrendered their arms, the corps have voted them cowards and dastards. that they be sent to Coventry, and their names be advertised three times in the Leicester papers. Here is a pathetic item :—" As the lady of Captain O Brien, of the 24th Regiment, was paying with one of her children a few days ago, at the Now London Inn, Exeter, her clothes caught fire. She was about to roll herself in the carpet, when she saw the flames com- municating to her infant. All regard to her own safety was lost in the more powerful consideration of saving her child, and rushing downstairs she preserved its life by the sacrifice of her own. The fla.mas were soon extinguished, but she was previously burnt to such excess that after languishing four days she then expired, in the nineteenth year of her age. Her remains were deposited in the Cathedral, and followed to the grave by all the officers and men of the regiment." IMPORTANT EVENTS OF 1800. I We take the folio wing from a lengthy chrono- logical list in the Courant" of the most I remarkable events in the year 1800 January 1. Overtures of peace received by the British Government from the First Consul of France, but rejected.-9th. The Bank of England agreed to advance three million pounds to the Government without interest for six years, in consideration of the renewal of its cbarter.-15th. The Irish Parliament met, and a long debate took place on the subject of the Union. 17th. Another overture of peace from the Consulate of France, which was also rejected.-23rd. An account re- ceived of the death of the celebrated General Washington in America on the 15th ult. at the age of 63.-27th. Strong resolutions entered into in different parts of Ireland against the proposed Union. February 5th. Accounts received from Jamaica of an alarming conspiracy of the negroes having been detected in that island.- j 5th. The Irish House of Commons, after a long debate, declared in favour of a Union with Great Britain by a majority of 158 to 115. Some popular dis- turbances took place on the occasion.— 7th. Advice received at the India House of a desperate action having taken place in the Straits of Babelmandel between his Majesty's ship Trincomalee and a French frigate, in which both vessels were unfortunately blown up and their respective crews entirely lost.-17th. The House of Commons resolved to grant a supply for raising troops in Germany to co-operate with the Austrian Army.-17th. The debates in the Irish House of Commons on the subject of the Union were so high and became so personal that a duel took place on the occasion, between Messrs. Grattan and Corry, in which the latter was wounded. March 6th. The Attorney-General of Ireland introduced in the House of Commons a Bill for continuing martial law in that country, which shortly atter passed into law.—10th. His Majesty's ship Repulse of 64 guns lost near Ushant. A few of the crew were drowned, some of them affected their escape, but the greater part were made prisoners by the enemy. -12th. A general fast and humiliation throughout England.—15th. His Majesty's ship Danae of 22 guns, commanded by Lord II Proby, carried into Brest by her mutinous crew and delivered up to the enemy. April 2nd. A message from his Majesty on the subject of the union with Ireland6 delivered to both Houses of the British Parliament.—7th. The Common Council of Dublin agreed to petition his Majesty against the union. May 5th. Bonaparte set out from Paris to superintend the operations of the Army and Reserve destined to act in Italy.—15th. While his Majesty was reviewing the first division of Grenadier Guards in Hyde Park, a bullet was discharged from a musket in the front rank, which passed through the thigh of a gentleman who stood but a few yards distant from the King. It appeared, however, upon strict enquiry, tuat the ball was not fired with any evil des.^ri. The accident was occasioned by the soldier inadvertently leaving a ball cart- ridge in his cartouch-box.—On the evening of the above day their Majesties and the Princesses went to Drury Lane Theatre. Just as the King entered the royal box, a pistol loaded with slugs was discharged at his sacred person from the pit. The assassin, whose name is Hadfield, was instantly secured, and shortly after brought to trial, but acquitted on the score of insanity. He is, however, detained in custody as a lunatic. June 7th. The French Army under the orders of General Maffena, evacuated Genoa by capitulation, having been literally starved.— 11th. The boats of Sir John Borlase Warren's squadron cut off from St. Croix eleven French ships laden with provisions and stores for the combined fleets in the harbour of Brest. July 15th. A smart action took place off Oatend between H.M.S. Nemesis and a Danish frigate called the Freija. The Dane first fired at the boats of the Nemesis, while going to examine the papers of her convoy. The conflict lasted an hour and twenty minutes, when the Dane struck, with her convoy, to the British flag, and was brought into the Downs.-28th. Preliminaries of peace signed between Austria and France at Paris by Count St. Julien and M. Talleyrand, which, however, the Emperor refused to ratify. August 29th. A Convention signed at Copenhagen by the British and Danish ministers, by which the differences between the two countries were partly adjusted, and the Danish convoy detained in the Downs was in consequence permitted to depart.-31st. A pro- posal made to our Government by the French Consulate for a naval armistice as a necessary preliminary to a pacific negotiation which, after an interchange of several despatches, was rejected by Ministers as incompatible with the honour or security of this country. September 15th. Serious commotions took place in London in consequence of the high price of provisions, and the misguided multi- tude committed in several parts some very unwarrantable outrages. The tumult con- tinued for six days, during the whole of which time the exertions of the Lord Mayor and the other magistrates were well supported by the gentlemen of the different Volunteer Associa- tions, who cheerfully came forward in defence of their fellow citizens, and continued on actual duty, day and night, till the morning of the 21st, when the metropolis was happily restored to its wonted tranquility.—21st. A fresh armistice concluded between Austria and France at Hohenlinden, in consequence of the former having agreed to surrender the important for- tresses of Ulm, Ingoldstadt, and Philiptburg. The Emperor also agreed to send a Plenipoten- tiary to Luneville, to treat of peace with France. October 9th. The Common Council of the city of London resolved to petition the King to convene Parliament to take into their con- sideration the high price of provisions. His Majesty returned a gracious answer, and the 12ch of November was fixed for the meeting of the great council of the natiou.-llth. The Park and Tower guns were fired on the occasion of the capture of Malta. November 8th. The Emperor of Russia, in consequence of the disappointment which he experienced in not having the island of Malta ceded to him by England, laid an embargo on all English vessels in his several ports, and ordered all property belonging to this country in his dominions to be sequestrated. The sailors belonging to the ships were all marched into the interior of the Empire.-27th. Mr. Sheridan made a motion in the House of Commons for a committee to inquire into the state of the nation, which, after a long debate, was negatived by a great majority. December 1st. Mr. Sheridan made a motion in the House of Commons to address His Majesty to omit no opportunity of entering into a separate treaty of peace with France, which, after a long debate, was negatived by a great majority.-5th. His Majesty issued a pro- clamation recommending to his subjects a necessary economy in the consumption of bread, &c., in consequence of the existing scarcity of corn.—10th. A dreadful fire broke out at Manchester which destroyed a great number of houses and goods to an immense value.—27th. The House of Lords agreed to a Bill sent up by the Commons prohibiting the making of bread from fine wheaten flour.

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