Regency Times Herald

Dove Cottage

2011-05-13T22:41:00.001-07:00

I had the privilege of visiting Dove Cottage in March of 2011, in the Lake District. And I have to point out that I was both impressed and humbled by the way Poet Laureate, William Wordsworth lived during his most prolific years. He and his sister, Dorothy, lived in this dark and tiny cottage between the years of 1799-1808. During his time spent at Dove Cottage, Wordsworth composed some of his most memorable writings, such as "Ode to Duty", "My Heart Leaps Up" and "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud". His great friend, Samuel Coleridge, also spent much of his time with Wordsworth and his sister in this very cottage. I was especially surprised how frugally this literary great lived. I have seen the homes of many timeless British authors, but Wordsworth's was the most modest by far.

Regency Vocabulary

2011-05-13T21:51:00.002-07:00

Ever wonder what it would be like to have a discussion with a Regency lady or gentleman? So much of the English language of the Regency Era has been lost in translation and although Jane Austen is a reigning favorite of England and my bookshelf, much of the dialogue in her beloved novels fall on confused and ignorant ears. With a deeper understanding of the innuendo and subtlety that goes with any time in history, comes a deeper appreciation for, and enjoyment of any (already) timeless author. With no prior understanding of what a libertine is, it is difficult to discern what Colonel Brandon truly believes of the character of Mr. Willoughby. Sure, we get the gist that Willoughby is a nasty and egotistial young man, but what is that indefinable characteristic that wraps him up in a nutshell?

"I have described Mr. Willoughby as the worst of libertines." - Colonel Brandon

In order to better follow the in depth analysis of Jane Austen's characters, I am providing the following link for a Regency Lexicon...

http://www.thenonesuch.com/lexicon.html

Regency Architecture

2010-12-27T21:33:00.000-08:00

So taking a break from the "interesting" Regency story I have been attempting at (writing is really hard!) I thought I would focus on the architecture that drove the era. Though it is not my typical style, I love it! I think I've decided it's because the style in classical and very clean. Just look at the lovely city of Bath. What an architectural cupcake. Of course because I am limited in my understanding in architecture in general and the specifics in regards to the Regency era, I will quote http://www.britainexpress.com:

...Regency architecture, was classical in nature. That is, it used the philosophy and traditional designs of Greek and Roman architecture. The typical Regency upper or middle-class house was built in brick and covered in stucco or painted plaster. Fluted Greek columns, painted and carefully moulded cornices and other decorative touches, were all reproduced in cheap stucco. The key words to describe the overall effect are "refined elegance".
Regency villa
The Regency period saw a great surge of interest in classical Greece, popularized by men like Lord Byron and his outspoken advocacy of greek nationalism. A whole generation of aristocratic amateur archaeologists from Britain scoured the Greek world - and occassionally absconded with classical Greek remains. The resulting popularity of Greek style reached beyond architecture to include painting, furniture, interior decoration, and even dress design.
Regency Terraces. First a mundane definition: a terrace is a fanciful term for row housing, that is, a string of houses, each sharing a wall with the house beside it. The most characteristic Regency designs survive today in terrace housing.
Many of the more upper class terraces, such as those designed by John Nash surrounding Regents Park in London, are entered through triumphal arches reminiscent of ancient Rome, These arches, generally in stucco, lead to grand rows of houses, with carefully balanced pediments fronted by massive pilaster columns. The best remaining terraces built in this grand style are in London, Cheltenham, and Brighton.
Regency terrace doors
Characteristics. Windows are tall and thin, with very small glazing bars separating the panes of glass. Balconies are of extremely fine ironwork, made of such delicate curves as to seem almost too frail to support the structure. Proportions are kept simple, relying on clean, classical lines for effect rather than decorative touches.
Windows and doors, particularly those on the ground floors, are often round-headed. Curved bow windows are popular, and detached villas often featured garden windows extending right down to the ground.

Story... Part 3

2010-09-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

As Wexley and Mr. Mardling stood facing one another with the facts laid out, Miss Endicott swiftly rounded the corner with her unfortunate companion looking somewhat miffed. In a perplexed voice she wondered, "My Lord Wexley, who was that grinning buffoon I just had the misfortune of tripping over in the garden?"

Before Thomas or Mr. Mardling had the opportunity to inquire, the most ridiculous looking of men came gamboling down the corridor.

"My dear Mardling I have just been to the location where the body was found and simply could not bring myself to investigate the scene any further! The frog population of that pond is markedly high today, and amphibians en mass can inflict ghastly injuries indeed! Since I was a child I have known them to be particularly aggressive and hostile this time of year and I shall not be the target of their rampage today! There will not be two corpses in the water this morn! I say good day sir!" With that, the foppish man lollied back from whence he came, murmuring to himself, snippets of the need for him to thoroughly cleanse his hands and feet of pond scum coming back to their ears.

With a look of dismay Miss Endicott once again turned to the two and queried, "Seriously, who was that?!?"

Without looking from the notepad in his hand, Mardling replied, "Oh that was just Luis. Have no fear Miss, I will be replacing him henceforth."

To be continued...

A Regency Story... Part 2

2010-06-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

As the fur flew and tall, gangly legs intermingled with short, stubby ones, Wexley attempted to differentiate his own dog from the distasteful canine. In a moment of sheer will and determination, Miss Endicott disentangled her companion from George in what can only be termed brute strength. With a look of admiration and awe, his glance slid from his wretched pointer to the other dog and then to the efficient companion, as she reprimanded him leaning down and looking sternly into his eyes and pronouncing, “No, No!” then pulling herself up and keeping eye contact with Hastings, she murmured something under her breath that was mostly indiscernible with the exception of one very decipherable word ~ superior.
“I did not catch that Miss Endicott. Were you just referring to that portly, unfortunate swine as superior?”
“Of course not My Lord, I would never insult the master of the house or his creature,” was her tart response. Wexley could not help but feel that he was being both grandly insulted and laughed at as she pulled on the lead with a snort of her own. Yes, she most certainly was laughing at him. He watched as companion and companion led one another back to the direction they had been heading before his interruption. Who was leading whom, he could not say.
Coughing to catch her attention, Thomas pointed out that if they wanted to get to the garden, she would have to head the other direction and pointed behind him in the opposite direction.
“How does one get to the outdoors Lord Wexley?” she asked with exasperation. “Your home is a veritable maze.”
He pointed out that there was another corridor she had passed a few paces back that she could take to doors leading to the hothouse, and then to the private garden from there.
“Thank you my Lord,” with a small nod, Miss Endicott once again led a somewhat reluctant Hastings away. He watched as the mongrel took several glances back toward George, tongue lolled to the side of its mouth, before turning the corner. Wexley looked down at his unfortunate dog, as he began to back into the cozy and safe confines of his office. Dear Lord, George was cowering, actually cowering. What in heaven had just happened that had his regal pointer retreating and had he thoroughly vexed?
As he was attempting to sort out the absurdity of such an impertinent duo, he heard the voices of the magistrate, just arrived from London and that of his butler, Brackett.
“…doing in the East Wing Brackett?” Wexley caught the last part of the query as the two moved toward him and Brackett made eye contact with him.
Without taking his eye from Wexley, Brackett answered with a very even, “as she always has Mr. Mardling, tending to the needs of Master George.”
As Mardling took note of Wexley for the first time with a nod, he continued to scratch in his notepad and inquired, “and Master George is somehow related to Lord Wexly?” this done while making eye contact with Wexley as they stopped before him.
Before Brackett could make a reply, Thomas jumped in and rejoined, “Yes Mr. Mardling, George is a very integral part of this family, but unfortunately we are not linked by blood. George is my dog.”
Surprise was quickly concealed with indifference as the magistrate further scratches to his pad. “So the evening before the slaying of Miss Davies, she was last seen tending to the needs of George the dog?” this last more of a statement than a question.
“Mr. Mardling, please understand that we are not assuming that Miss Davies was murdered with deviousness in mind, but made an unfortunate slip,” Wexley responded.
“My Lord, I have been in your home for less than a day and based on the evidence I collected thus far, there is doubt in my mind that your housemaid was indeed murdered,” Mr. Mardling flatly responded.
Somewhat miffed, Wexly demanded, “what evidence would that be sir?”
“point A, (holding up one finger) she was found in your pond, a place she avoided at all times due to irrational fear of water, point B (finger number 2) she was further found dressed in full livery, and point C (third finger raised) the report given by all witnesses thus far points to her untimely , and involuntary death.”
Wexly knew this to be the case but sighed inwardly as the facts were laid out before him in rational detail. Damn!
To be continued…

A Regency Story... Part I

2010-05-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

Lord Wexley stared out his window at nothing in particular. There was not much to gaze upon; after all it was a dreary October day with not a hint of sunshine. The garden that his study overlooked was showing evidence that it would soon be winter and everything would go dormant. How perfect the weather outside should reflect the pensive mood he currently felt…things would only grow bleaker. He solemnly turned from the view outside back to the decanter set with an excellent brandy ready to be consumed. He slowly poured a glass and swilled the amber liquid as he lazily gazed at the variety of color the fire in the fireplace cast and danced on the opposite wall. With a satisfied sigh as the liquid warmed him from the inside out, he allowed a moment of tranquility to wash over him. In the calm of the small and cozy study tucked in the back of his rather impressive country manor, Thomas could almost convince himself that he was enjoying a lazy autumn day. But alas, the illusion was only a thin veneer that was abruptly shattered as his furry companion lying curled by the fire in a deep and contented sleep became immediately alert and emitted a deep warning growl. Lord Wexley’s and the dog’s ears’ were both instantly perked and alert to a scuttling sound just outside the study door. Curious and attentive to the strange scratching and...was that grunting or snorting crossing the study and heading down the corridor? Odd that someone should be in this very private part of the home, since all guests were quartered in the west wing. Making his way to the door, Wexley gingerly turned the knob and poked his head out the door and craned his neck to the left, where he heard the bizarre sound fading down the passageway. Ah, the impish companion with Miss Hearnshaw’s fat, beastly dog. Who brought a dog to a house party anyhow? Wexley pondered this as he noticed the youngish woman turn around, seemingly lost in her trek to… god knew where. Clearing his throat in an obvious fashion to capture her attention, she crisply turned on her heel and nodded her acknowledgment. She swiftly headed back in his direction, with the beast, very much the leader of the two, excitedly and impatiently turning and leading the poor woman on this new mission.
As they loudly moved toward him, Lord Wexley inquired, “Are you enjoying a stroll with your dog Miss, or may I be of help in directing you someplace specifically?”
“Endicott.”
At his confused demeanor, she clarified, “Miss Endicott. That is my name. I am walking Miss Hearnshaw’s dog. She needs a bit of a walk Lord Wexley and I was attempting to find the lovely garden I viewed from her room.”
“Ah, I presume you mean the private family garden with the charming fountain at its center?” the viscount wryly inquired.
With an air of nonchalance, she waved a hand in the air and announced, “the exact same. If you could only point me in the correct direction, I may peacefully make my way.” This said as the round mongrel at her heels took stock of the lord of the manor and summarily hopped on its rather stunted hind quarters and smiled on him as if he were some sort of demigod, resting its equally stunted front legs on his calf.
“I dislike being the bearer of bad news, but I believe you are breaking all rules and deserting your rooms?” Wexley asked with irony laced in his voice.
“Sir?” was the only response.
Clearing his throat once more and lacing his fingers with the dog’s enormous ears, giving the swine great amounts of pleasure with his unknowing strokes, Wexley replied that, “indeed Miss … um… Endicott. We are all of us, incarcerated.”
Having focused all of her attention to the beast she had on a lead as it made its official olfactory acquaintance of him, Miss Endicott finally snapped her eyes to Lord Wexley’s .
“I understand Sir, that we are all to be sentenced to our rooms for an afternoon of an indeterminate interval, but there are needs only the outdoors can see to for my lady’s companion,” Miss Endicott replied without a moment’s hesitation and only a slight flush beginning to stain her cheeks. “So if you will only help me find my way, I was only hoping for a change of scenery with my duties these last several days. Afterward, Hastings and I plan to make our way immediately back to the guest quarters and safely back to where we can patiently await the questioning of the local magistrate. But I can promise you as a guest and a lady that neither Hastings nor I would ever presume to murder one of your staff for any reason.”
“Well”, Wexley thought and was about to reply in kind, when the battle of the beasts began, with the flash of something resembling his own well bred pointer dashed past him and the bread loaf of a dog with Miss Endicott began to tussle…

To be continued.

War of 1812

2010-05-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

While Britain was fearful of Napoleon's attack on British soil with the Napoleonic Wars raging across Europe, especially with the terrible and sad invasion of Russia... there was a slightly different war being waged on the home front. The War of 1812 was the only war declared by The United States of America (by President James Madison) that was lost. Apparently Britain declared restrictions on trade that America protested. After a time of American trade ships being captured by England, we declared war and lost terribly. The major events that occurred during this great American loss were the British retaliation with the burning of the newly constructed Presidential White House and Capital Building in Washington D.C.

Another American tradition spurred from this infamous war was The Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. While the British Navy was attempting to attack Fort McHenry , Francis Scott Key (an amateur poet witnessing the attack) was inspired to write the verse to this, then popular British drinking song, while witnessing the famous flag being raised made by our triumphant Americans... sadly, as stated before, we did not win the war!

Bath, England

2010-04-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Twice now I have been to Bath, England. What a charming and quintessentially Georgian/Regency city. This first time I visited, I was sure to tour all the major tourist spots, including the Pump Rooms (where we had high tea and terrible water) and Bath Abbey. We rode the Brit-rail in to the city and I remember feeling exhilarated and overwhelmed with my first steps into the city included double decker buses whizzing by and the view of the Avon River and the beautiful hotel which overlooks the cascades of the river. Later, after easily meandering through the streets and making our way to the Royal Crescent and back down and across Pulteney Bridge (I loved the tiny tourist shops that flanked the street) we decided to stop for a bite to eat and headed back on the train with sheep dotted views of the picturesque countryside to London. This trip was actually my honeymoon, which included London and a short flight to Bavaria, Germany.
Upon the second, and somewhat accidental trip to Bath, we chose to drive and stayed at a small Inn just outside of Bath, called Lower Limpley Stoke. It was a charming Regency Era Inn with all the modern amenities.

We did not have as much time in the city of Bath the second time around unfortunately. I revisited the Pump rooms and enjoyed the Jane Austen Center for the first time, but I spent more time exploring more of the details of the city before heading out once again.
This is a city not to be missed if you ever have the opportunity to travel through England. Bath holds a charm that is an architectural flashback to the Georgian Era with its beautiful limestone uniformity.

Corn Laws

2010-01-10T01:04:00.000-08:00

The "Corn Laws" were introduced initially as a means of protecting profits by taxing importing corn. The statement below is directly cut and pasted from Wikipedia regarding this Regency era tax law:

Origins

In 1813, a House of Commons Committee recommended excluding foreign-grown corn until domestically grown corn reached £4 (£2,520:2007) per quarter (a quarter is a unit of eight bushels). The political economist Thomas Malthus believed this to be a fair price, and that it would be dangerous for Britain to rely on imported corn as lower prices would reduce labourers' wages, and manufacturers would lose out due to the fall in purchasing power of landlords and farmers.[3] However David Ricardo believed in free trade so Britain could use its capital and population to her comparative advantage.[3] With the advent of peace in 1814, corn prices dropped, and the Tory government of Lord Liverpool passed the 1815 Corn Law. This led to serious rioting in London[4] and - alongside the issue of suffrage - the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester.

This foreshadowed a growing tide of radicalism which was repressed by such measures as the Six Acts.
[edit] Opposition

In 1820 the Merchants' Petition, written by Thomas Tooke, was presented to the Commons demanding free trade and an end to protective tariffs. Lord Liverpool claimed to be in favour of free trade but argued that complicated restrictions made it difficult to repeal protectionist laws. He added, though, that he believed Britain's economic dominance grew in spite of, not because of, the protectionist system.[5] In 1821 the President of the Board of Trade, William Huskisson, drew up a Commons Committee report which called for a return to the "practically free" trade of the pre-1815 years.[6] The Importation Act 1822 decreed that corn could be imported when domestically harvested corn reached 80 shillings but imported corn was prohibited when the price fell to 70 shillings per quarter. After the passing of this Act until 1828 the corn price never rose to 80 shillings. In 1827 the landlords rejected Huskisson's proposals for a sliding scale and in the next year Huskisson and the new Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, devised a new sliding scale for the Importation of Corn Act 1828 whereby when domestic corn was 52 shillings per quarter or less, the duty would be 34 shillings, 8 pence and when the price rose to 73 shillings the duty declined to 1 shilling.[7]
Robert Peel became Conservative Prime Minister in 1841 and his government succeeded in repealing the tariffs.

The Whig governments in power for most of the years 1830–41 decided not to repeal the Corn Laws. In 1841 Sir Robert Peel became Conservative Prime Minister and Richard Cobden, a leading free trader, was elected for the first time. Peel had studied the works of Adam Smith, David Hume and Ricardo and proclaimed in 1839: "I have read all that has been written by the gravest authorities on political economy on the subject of rent, wages, taxes, tithes".[8] In 1842 he modified the sliding scale by reducing the top duty to 20 shillings when the price fell to 51 shillings or less.[7]

The landlords claimed that manufacturers like Cobden wanted cheap food so they could drive down wages and thus maximise their profits, a view shared by the socialist Chartist movement. Karl Marx[9] said: "The campaign for the abolition of the Corn Laws had begun and the workers' help was needed. The advocates of repeal therefore promised, not only a Big Loaf (which was to be doubled in size) but also the passing of the Ten Hours Bille" (i.e. to reduce working hours).

The Anti-Corn Law League, founded in 1838, was peacefully agitating for repeal. They funded writers like William Cooke Taylor to travel the manufacturing regions of northern England to research their cause.[10] Cook Taylor published a number of books as an Anti-Corn Law propagandist, most notably, The Natural History of Society (1841), Notes of a tour in the manufacturing districts of Lancashire (1842) and Factories and the Factory System (1844). Cobden and the rest of the Anti-Corn Law League believed in the view that cheap food meant higher wages and Cobden praised a speech by a working man who said:

When provisions are high, the people have so much to pay for them that they have little or nothing left to buy clothes with; and when they have little to buy clothes with, there are few clothes sold; and when there are few clothes sold, there are too many to sell, they are very cheap; and when they are very cheap, there cannot be much paid for making them: and that, consequently, the manufacturing working man's wages are reduced, the mills are shut up, business is ruined, and general distress is spread through the country. But when, as now, the working man has the said 25s. left in his pocket, he buys more clothing with it (ay, and other articles of comfort too), and that increases the demand for them, and the greater the demand...makes them rise in price, and the rising price enables the working man to get higher wages and the masters better profits. This, therefore, is the way I prove that high provisions make lower wages, and cheap provisions make higher wages.[11]

The Economist was founded in September 1843 by James Wilson with help from the Anti-Corn Law League; his son-in-law Walter Bagehot later became the editor of this newspaper.

Jane Austen and Modern Day Romance

2009-11-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

I found the following video on Channel 4 News website, which is titles, "Histories Lessons for the Present". The article features Samuel Johnson, John Ruskin and Jane Austen and how they might have reacted to modern social and political issues.
The video is a "Jane Austen" take on modern day marriages/romances...

The Regency Stratified

2009-11-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

I found the following chart of Regency England stratum, on "Jane Austen's World" Blogger...

Movie Review - Bright Star

2009-10-31T22:49:00.000-07:00

Only a couple of weeks ago I took the rare opportunity to enjoy a leisurely, popcorn enhanced Sunday Matinee at the Theater. My choice of such luxury, over finishing laundry and making a quick trip to the grocery store... Bright Star.

Although my sister was the one who chose to write her high school senior English thesis on the genius of John Keats, I have never had a greater appreciation for the romantic writer than now. Based on other reviews and the context of the story itself, I knew I had to take time out of my very busy, and important life to experience this work of art.

Not only did I gain a greater appreciation for this long dead poet, but Jane Campion truly captured the time and place, on the fields of Hampstead Heath, all of what the audience is privy to takes place in this area of London. And what a visual pallet. It was beautifully dreamlike as Keats climbs a tree and lies within the limbs to find the sensual imagery he wanted to convey to the rest of his audience.
The rest of the story takes place in this visual perception of quintessential Regency.

Battle of Waterloo Final Chapter

2009-10-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

Battle of Waterloo #5

2009-10-02T21:28:00.001-07:00

Battle of Waterloo #4

2009-09-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Battle of Waterloo 3rd installment

2009-09-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Waterloo Continued...

2009-08-14T23:48:00.000-07:00

Waterloo

2009-07-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

Although I am not the biggest fan of military history, the Battle of Waterloo cannot be denied as an imperative to the Regency:

more to come on the history and build up to this great battle...

Economy

2009-07-15T21:37:00.001-07:00

I took the following photo from the Jane Austen Bath Musuem. What a wonderful bit of compartmental "fanancial" information. If you look closely at the photo, there is prime opportunity to survive (albeit comfortably).

Let's explore the income of the Regency / Georgian Era. Take any number that might equate to your annual income... because I was once a teacher, and therefore making an annual income that was laughable, we will be using the annual income of an elementary teacher of the time and multiply this by the number 80. So if a governess made an annual salary of 50 pounds per year, she was doing well.
It has only been brought to my attention from one source that you take any annual income and multiply it by 80, but this seems to make sense with all the ridiculous poverty that one had to contend with!

Luddites

2009-06-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

The Luddites are an interesting movement of people. From my limited understanding, they were a group protesting the Industrial Revolution as early as the late 18th century. The mechanization of mills and factories was the cause of such upheaval due to the massive loss of jobs by so many individuals.

It was purportedly led by a man known as Ned Ludd, whether fictional or real, he became an icon that helped unify the movement. Today, we are still witness to those who, "rage against the machine", and the very rapid pace at which technology is forced on us. That, or this is a sign of my irritability and age!
Wikipedia may have a better explanation for this fascinating genre who were the original of its kind:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

Regency Recipe

2009-06-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

Two-Penny Pudding Recipe

Taken from, "A Jane Austen Household Book: with Martha Lloyd's Recipes".

Take 2 spoonfuls of flour (wetted with cold milk). The add near a pint of boiling milk with a little grated lemon peel. Four eggs well beat, to be put to it when cold with a spoonful of powder sugar. Boil it about 3 quarters of an hour.

Quotable Percy

2009-04-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

I love the following quote by a very talented poet of the Romantic Genre, Percy Bysshe Shelley:

A man, to be greatly good, must imagine intensely and comprehensively; he must put himself in the place of another and of many others; the pains and pleasures of his species must become his own.

-Percy Bysshe Shelley

King George III

2009-01-22T21:07:00.000-08:00

The following article on King George III, from Britainexpress.com is very succinct:

George III

Unlike his grandfather, George III (1760-1820) could at least speak the language of the country he ruled, but he was troubled by periods of insanity that rendered him unfit to rule. Several times Parliament considered putting his son (imaginatively named George also) on the throne, only to have the king recover his faculties before the deed was done.

George III's reign saw the loss of the American colonies in the American Revolution (1775-83). Closer to home the Gordon Riots of 1780 began as a protest against the spectre of Catholic emancipation and ended with London in the hands of an uncontrollable mob for three days of rioting and violence.

In 1799 the United Irishmen rebelled on behalf of Irish autonomy, but they were defeated at Vinegar Hill. Two years later Ireland was officially unified with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom. In the meantime the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) with France occupied centre stage. Fighting was sporadic, punctuated by English naval victories at the Battle of the Nile (1798) and Trafalgar (1805), where England's one-armed naval commander, Horatio Nelson, died in action. On land the armies under the control of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, gradually pushed Napoleon out of the Iberian peninsula and brought him to bay at Waterloo, near Brussels, Belgium.

The Luddite Protests. Industrial unrest grew as new machines threw manual labourers out of work. Agitators known as Luddites (after their imaginary leader, Ned Ludd), broke into factories and smashed machinery in an attempt to preserve their jobs. It was a vain attempt. The advantages of the new steam-driven machines were only too clear, at least to the factory owners.

The Early Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution intensified class distinctions. Under the Enclosure Acts of the late 18th century wealthy landowners built large farms and introduced improved farming methods. This meant that fewer agricultural workers were needed, so most moved to the towns and became the work force of the Industrial Revolution.

Social Unrest. Contrary to expectation the end of the Napoleonic Wars brought economic disaster, depression, and mass unemployment. The Corn Law of 1815 excluded foreign grain temporarily, which had the effect of driving up prices. Agitation for social reform grew. The government's response to the agitation was repression, and in 1819 at Peterloo, near Manchester, protests were answered by armed force, resulting in several dead and hundreds injured. This "Peterloo Massacre" was followed by the repressive Six Acts, aimed at squashing dissent.

One result of these government moves was the "Cato Street Conspiracy", a rather far-fetched plot to assassinate the whole cabinet, occupy the Bank of England, and establish a new government. The plot was stopped, and when the details became known many moderates turned away from the reformers' cause.

The Regency. It finally became clear that George III was no longer fit to rule, and his son was established as Prince Regent (1810-20). "Prinnie", as he was called by his intimates, was an impulsive, Bacchanalian character, given to extravagance and excess.

A Regency Christmas

2008-12-23T19:40:00.000-08:00

The following article, from the December 2008 Jane Austen newsletter with the Jane Austen Centre in Bath England, is an interesting bit of Regency Christmas history:

Christmas Day with the Austen Family

In came a fiddler with a music-book, and went up to the lofty desk, and made an orchestra of it, and tuned like fifty stomach-aches. In came Mrs. Fezziwig, one vast substantial smile. In came the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and lovable. In came the six young followers whose hearts they broke. In came all the young men and women employed in the business. In came the housemaid, with her cousin, the baker. In came the cook, with her brother’s particular friend, the milkman. In came the boy from over the way, who was suspected of not having board enough from his master; trying to hide himself behind the girl from next door but one, who was proved to have had her ears pulled by her mistress. In they all came, one after another; some shyly, some boldly, some gracefully, some awkwardly, some pushing, some pulling; in they all came, anyhow and everyhow. Away they all went, twenty couple at once; hands half round and back again the other way; down the middle and up again; round and round in various stages of affectionate grouping; old top couple always turning up in the wrong place; new top couple starting off again, as soon as they got there; all top couples at last, and not a bottom one to help them! When this result was brought about, old Fezziwig, clapping his hands to stop the dance, cried out, “Well done!” and the fiddler plunged his hot face into a pot of porter, especially provided for that purpose. But scorning rest, upon his reappearance, he instantly began again, though there were no dancers yet, as if the other fiddler had been carried home, exhausted, on a shutter, and he were a bran-new man resolved to beat him out of sight, or perish.

There were more dances, and there were forfeits, and more dances, and there was cake, and there was negus, and there was a great piece of Cold Roast, and there was a great piece of Cold Boiled, and there were mince-pies, and plenty of beer. But the great effect of the evening came after the Roast and Boiled, when the fiddler (an artful dog, mind! The sort of man who knew his business better than you or I could have told it him!) struck up “Sir Roger de Coverley.”
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Christmas did not become a national holiday in England until 1834--Seventeen years after Jane Austen left the world. However, it had been growing in popular observance for much longer, and during Jane's lifetime was already a greatly anticipated holiday of wistful longings and merry-making; replete with customs, rituals, rites and superstitions, church-going and devotion—much like the holiday portrayed by Dickens in A Christmas Carol. In fact, the one thing Victorian--and modern life have to offer that was lacking in Jane's day (with regard to Christmas) is commercialism and unashamed exuberance, which only came with national recognition and a growing middle class, later in the nineteenth century.

In other words, Christmas was not yet commercialized, so that Jane Austen (and many others of her day) viewed it primarily as a sacred holiday. As the daughter of a pious clergyman she was schooled to understand it in all its Christian significance and beauty. (Being a man of the church did not necessarily mean that one was devout, but in Mr. Austen's case, it did, and Jane herself appears to have taken her readings in The Book of Common Prayer quite seriously.)

Though the Victorians are usually credited with “inventing” our modern-day Christmases, it is more accurate to say they popularized it commercially. They did not invent any of the age-old traditions that had long been in place such as the Yule log, the roast goose and potatoes, or the Christmas pudding. Likewise, carols and caroling (called, “wassailing” or singing by “the waits”) were already long-entrenched customs, as were many others, including mistletoe , feasting, gift-exchanging, decorating with evergreens, and the like. What then, did the Victorians add? Primarily, “respectability” (by making it fashionable to observe Christmas); the Christmas “cracker” (still popular today), and the use of tall trees. Additionally, technology grew and enabled Christmas cards and prints to be exchanged, fueling the popularity of the holiday.

what was Jane's Christmas like?
She most likely made tea for her family in the morning as was her custom; then went to church with them; helped with the great Christmas dinner, if she were to eat at home (rather than at Godmersham or another relative's house), enjoyed a gift exchange with her siblings and close relatives and a good friend or two; participated in parlour games (Charades was a family favorite), with perchance a good card game, or even a dance, if it were held. She may have played carols on the pianoforte, joined the others to sit 'round the fire for storytelling or reading aloud; and she may have joined the family in prayer, perhaps reading one of her own making, aloud.

The family would have enjoyed special food and a favorite brew, such as mulled cider or wassail at some point in the evening; and if company stopped by, all the better. In short, Jane and the Austen family enjoyed a festive day, and in fact welcomed all festivities during the full twelve days of Christmas. May you and yours do likewise!

http://www.janeausten.co.uk/

The Real Jane Austen - Part VIII

2008-12-17T18:59:00.001-08:00

Part VII - The Real Jane Austen

2008-12-12T22:38:00.001-08:00

Part VI - The Real Jane Austen

2008-12-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

Part V - The Real Jane Austen

2008-11-26T22:00:00.001-08:00

Part IV - The Real Jane Austen

2008-11-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

Part III - The Real Jane Austen

2008-11-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

Part II - The Real Jane Austen

2008-11-05T18:17:00.000-08:00

Part I of The Real Jane Austen

2008-10-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is the first of 8 posts on the life of Jane Austen...

King George IV

2008-10-18T20:10:00.000-07:00

King George IV "Prinny" was a controversial figure in British history. As a young prince he fell in love with an older Roman Catholic, Maria Fitzherbert and married her in secret. The marriage was soon discovered by his father George III and dissolved under the Royal Marriages Act which would not allow a marriage without the consent of the king. By his early 20's Prinny had become a profligate gambler, drinker and deeply in debt. He finally fulfilled his obligations and married Caroline of Brunswick in 1795 with pressure from his father who would only help him with his outrageous and ever mounting debt if he agreed to the marriage. Although the two were very ill suited they produced a daughter, Princess Charlotte in 1796 and promptly separated. He did have his own following, but most of British society sympathized with Caroline.
By 1811 Prinny's father George III was deemed unqualified to continue his reign due to an ongoing bout of madness caused by porphyria. He was appointed Regent at this time and continued to rule in this vein until 1820 when he ascended the throne when George III died. One the greater political follies he made was denouncing the Catholic Emancipation Bill for Ireland which he had originally strongly supported.
By the end of his life, George was a laughing stock and suffered from many health issues and illnesses. He rarely appeared in public and became a recluse. He died at Windsor castle on June 26, 1830.
Although he was touted one of the most infamous rulers of England he did leave England with a few of its more well recognized architectural structures, including Buckingham Palace and Brighton Pavilion.

British Slang

2008-10-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered where a certain turn of phrase originated? The following site is an interesting resource to satisfy your curiosity about folk etymologies:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~genepool/sayings.htm

An Elegant Madness - A Book Review

2008-10-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

"An Elegant Madness" was an informative and enjoyable read. Here is a review by amazon.com

Amazon.com Review

Regency England was, according to Venetia Murray, a "glorious paradox": High society placed a premium on civilized living, yet vulgarity, gluttony, and moral vicissitude were considered fashionable--and socially acceptable--vices. In An Elegant Madness, Murray examines this polarity, providing readers with an accurate, entertaining, easy-to-read portrayal that conveys the mood of the period, focusing primarily on the oft-paradoxical social practices and attitudes of the English aristocracy.

Generally understood as a 50-year period beginning, as with the French Revolution, just before the dawn of the 19th century, Regency England (or, more precisely, its uppermost stata) remained, in many ways, oblivious to and safely distanced from the ravages of the Napoleonic Wars consuming the continent. The tone of society, according to Murray, tends to be set by its titular head; thus, the paradox and political detachment of the Regency Period emanated primarily from its leader, the Prince Regent. The carefree Regent, who would reign as King George IV from 1820 to 1830, was known not only as "The First Gentleman of Europe," but also as a dedicated hedonist, drunkard, and lecher. Elegance and vulgarity characterized the rest of the English aristocracy, as well, and Murray's chapters clearly illustrate how Regency high society appropriated for itself the same duality as their leader's. Her chapters, each a freestanding study of its own, examine fashions of the period, the (exorbitant) cost of living, London high society, clubs and taverns, the common practice of taking a mistress, the country home, and the seaside resort. She embellishes her study with cartoons, prints, and caricatures of the period, all of which contribute to our understanding of this unique period of English history. --Bertina Loeffler Sedlack --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Regency Women

2008-10-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

A beautiful compilation of Regency Women with music by Felix Mendelssohn - Andante sostenuto, in G minor Op. 19 No. 6 "Venetian Gondola Song"

Sandwiched in history

2008-10-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

One big reason I find the Regency Era so interesting is that it is sandwiched between two very opposing times in history. Although the Georgian Era (which I think Regency was technically a part of) had its moments, it was its own time of slowly transitioning away from the Reformation to Enlightenment. Then came the Victorian Era with its strong moral code and the excitement of the Industrial Revolution.
So here is the Regency, stuck in the middle with a war raging across Europe which starred one of the more crazed egotists in written history. That really makes a great mix for crazy fun!

Regency Times!

2008-10-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Regency Era Blogger, even if it is inaccurate most of the time! I've created this blog to throw out on the world wide web, my very limited understanding and view of this amazing era in England. Although it may seem prosaic at times, I will be thrilled to know that anyone has viewed and possibly even enjoyed this site. Because it would come as a pleasant shock, please leave any comments you'd like (whether positive or negative). I'd especially appreciate any words of advice or corrections of any mistakes I may have made!

Hope you enjoy!