Eighteenth-Century Popular Culture A Selection

by Mullan, John; Reid, Christopher

• ISBN13: 9780198711353
• ISBN10: 0198711352
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-21
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This collection makes available what was once popular but has long been buried. During the eighteenth century, popular culture assumed a peculiar importance. In the early part of the century, high and low cultures often collided. Later in the century, politeness more and more required thedistancing of genteel from vulgar amusements. This carefully annotated selection rediscovers some of the energies of the low and the vulgar in the period. It examines particular themes (crime, religious enthusiasm, popular politics, for example) by telling particular stories (the career of anotorious criminal, the exploits of a religious sect, John Wilkes and the crowd). It also illustrates how the very idea of popular culture was formed in the period, providing examples of the ways in which it was discussed both by those who were fearful of it and those who were fascinated byit.

Author Biography

John Mullan is Senior Lecturer in English, University College, London
Christopher Reid is Senior Lecturer in English, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	xiv
Introduction	1	(28)
Using the Selection	29	(2)
EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY VIEWS OF POPULAR CULTURE	31	(55)
Urban Low Life	41	(13)
From Ned Ward, The London Spy, Part XIV (1703)	42	(3)
From Tom Brown, Amusements, Serious and Comical (1700)	45	(1)
From The Town Spy: or, A View of London and Westminster (1729)	46	(2)
From T. Legg, Low-Life (1752?)	48	(2)
From Richard King, The Frauds of London Detected (1770?)	50	(2)
From The Complete Modern Spy (1781)	52	(2)
Thieves and their Argot	54	(12)
From The Life and Death of the English Rogue (n.d.)	55	(2)
From The Triumph of Wit: or, the Canting Dictionary (n.d.)	57	(3)
From A New Canting Dictionary (1725)	60	(3)
From Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785)	63	(3)
Antiquarianism	66	(12)
From Henry Bourne, Antiquitates Vulgares (1725)	67	(2)
From John Brand, Observations on Popular Antiquities (1777)	69	(4)
From Francis Grose, A Provincial Glossary (1787)	73	(3)
From Joseph Strutt, Glig-gamena (1801)	76	(2)
Ballads	78	(8)
From William Wagstaffe, A Comment Upon the History of Tom Thumb (1711)	79	(1)
From John Dennis, `To H---C---Esq; Of Simplicity in Poetical Compositions', Original Letters, Familiar, Moral and Critical (1721)	80	(1)
From A Collection of Old Ballads (1723)	81	(1)
From David Herd, Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs (1776)	82	(1)
From John Aikin, Essays on Song-Writing (1777)	83	(1)
From Joseph Ritson, Pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry (1791)	84	(2)
RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM: THE FRENCH PROPHETS, 1707-1711	86	(29)
Inspiration	89	(5)
From The French Prophet's Declaration (1707)	90	(1)
From The Prophetical Warnings of John Lacy (1707)	90	(1)
From A Warning Concerning the French Prophets (1707)	91	(1)
From The French Prophets Mad Sermon (1707)	92	(2)
Mockery	94	(3)
The French Prophet: Or, a New Touch of the Times (n.d.)	94	(2)
From The Rehearsal, 3 December 1707	96	(1)
From The Rehearsal, 17 January 1707	97	(1)
The Resurrection of Thomas Emes	97	(16)
From Predictions Concerning the Raising the Dead Body of Mr. Thomas Emes (1707)	99	(3)
From The Mighty Miracle; or, The Wonder of Wonders at Windmill-Hill (1708)	102	(2)
From Esquire Lacy's Reasons Why Doctor Emms Was Not Raised from the Dead (1708)	104	(1)
From The Prophets: An Heroic Poem (1708)	105	(2)
The French Prophets Confounded (n.d.)	107	(1)
From Thomas d'Urfey, The Modern Prophets (1708)	108	(2)
From N. Spinckes, The New Pretenders to Prophecy Re-examined (1710)	110	(3)
Aftermath	113	(2)
From A Letter from John Lacy (1711)	113	(2)
FAIR-GOERS AND REFORMERS: THE STRUGGLE FOR BARTHOLOMEW FAIR	115	(31)
Observing the Fair	120	(6)
From Ned Ward, The London Spy, Part X (1703)	122	(1)
From Bartholomew Fair: An Heroi-Comical Poem (1717)	123	(3)
The Theatre in the Fair	126	(9)
From Wat Tyler and Jack Straw; Or, The Mob Reformers (1730)	128	(7)
Regulating the Fair	135	(11)
Order of the Court of the Common Council (1700)	136	(1)
From `A Letter from an Actress of the Play-House, to a Stroler in the Country', A Pacquet from Will's (1701)	137	(3)
From Reasons Formerly Published for the Punctual Limiting of Bartholomew Fair (1711)	140	(1)
The Pigs Petition against Bartholomew-Fair (1712?)	141	(2)
Account of Lady Holland's Mob, from William Hone, The Every-Day Book (1826-7)	143	(3)
ALMANACS: ASTROLOGY AND POPULAR PROTESTANTISM	146	(33)
Quarrelling Almanacs	151	(10)
From George Parker, An Ephemeris of the Cælestial Motions for 1699	153	(2)
From John Partridge, Merlinus Liberatus for 1699	155	(2)
From The Post-Boy, 7-9 May 1700	157	(1)
From The London Spy, May 1700	158	(1)
From George Parker, A Double Ephemeris for 1701	159	(1)
From George Parker, A Double Ephemeris for 1703	160	(1)
Astrology Advertised and Attacked	161	(7)
From The Festing Astrologer, 24 February - 3 March 1701	161	(2)
A Broadside Advertisement (n.d.)	163	(1)
From Tom Brown, A Comical View of the Transactions That Will Happen in the Cities of London and Westminster (1705)	164	(3)
From London Journal, 4 July 1724	167	(1)
Advertisement, undated (c.1724?)	167	(1)
After the Jacobite Rebellion	168	(11)
From William Andrews, Great News from the Stars or, an Ephemeris for 1716	168	(1)
From Henry Coley, Merlinus Anglicus Junior: or, the Starry Messenger for 1716	169	(1)
From Henry Coley, Merlinus Anglicus Junior: or, the Starry Messenger for 1717	170	(1)
From Vox Stellarum for 1717	171	(1)
From Merlinus Liberatus for 1717	172	(2)
From Olympia Domata for 1717	174	(1)
From Parker's Ephemeris for 1717	175	(1)
From John Gadbury, Ephemeris for 1717	176	(3)
CRIME: THE FORTUNES OF JACK SHEPPARD	179	(29)
Sheppard's Exploits	185	(8)
From The Original London Post, 3 August 1724	187	(1)
From The Original London Post, 26 August 1724	188	(1)
From The London Journal, 5 September 1724	188	(1)
From Applebee's Journal, 5 September 1724	189	(1)
From The London Journal, 24 October 1724	190	(1)
From Read's Journal, 31 October 1724	190	(2)
From Read's Journal, 21 November 1724	192	(1)
From Mist's Journal, 21 November 1724	192	(1)
From The London Journal, 21 November 1724	192	(1)
Sheppard's Posthumous Fame	193	(8)
From Authentic Memoirs of the Life and Surprising Adventures of John Sheppard (1724)	195	(1)
An Epistle from Jack Sheppard to the Late L---d C---U---r of E---d (n.d.)	196	(1)
From The Quaker's Opera (1728)	197	(2)
From The Tyburn Chronicle (1768)	199	(2)
John Applebee and the Ordinary of Newgate	201	(7)
Thomas Purney, The Ordinary of Newgate his Account, of the Behaviour Confession and Last Dying Speeches of the Four Malefactors (1725)	204	(2)
From James Guthrie, The Ordinary of Newgate his Account, of the Behaviour, Confession, and Dying Words of the Malefactors, who were executed at Tyburn, on Monday the 11th of this Instant November, 1728	206	(2)
CUSTOM AND THE CALENDAR: THE GREGORIAN REFORM AND ITS OPPONENTS	208	(29)
Christmas 1752	213	(7)
From The London Daily Advertiser, 5 January 1753	214	(1)
From The Worcester Journal, 11 January 1753	214	(2)
From The Public Advertiser, 13 January 1753	216	(1)
From The Ipswich Journal, 13 January 1753	216	(1)
From a letter from George Woodward to George London, 13 January 1753	216	(1)
From The Gloucester Journal, 2 January 1753	217	(1)
From The Ipswich Journal, 20 January 1753	218	(1)
From The Kentish Post, 27-30 December 1752	218	(1)
From The Kentish Post, 31 January-3 February 1753	218	(1)
From Berrow's Worcester Journal, 16 January 1755	219	(1)
Chapbook and Essay	220	(4)
From The Wonderful Works of God (1753)	220	(2)
From The World, 8 March 1753	222	(2)
Clerical Instruction	224	(3)
From Francis Blackburne, A Sermon Preached to a Large Congregation (1753)	225	(2)
The New Style in the Almanacs	227	(3)
From Henry Season, Speculum Anni Redivivum for 1752	228	(1)
From Henry Season, Speculum Anni Redivivum for 1754	228	(1)
From Henry Season, Speculum Anni Redivivum for 1755	229	(1)
From Henry Season, Speculum Anni Redivivum for 1763	229	(1)
The Expedition of John Jackson	230	(7)
From John Jackson, An Exact Journal...Containing an Account of...ye Antiquities of Glastenbury (1756)	231	(6)
POPULAR POLITICS: JOHN WILKES AND THE CROWD, 1768-1770	237	(34)
The Wilkite Cavalcade	240	(6)
From The Middlesex Journal, 11-13 April 1769	241	(3)
From The Middlesex Journal, 13-15 April 1769	244	(1)
From The Middlesex Journal, 19-21 April 1770	245	(1)
Popular Burlesque: The Mock Election at Garrat	246	(8)
From A Description of the Mock Election at Garrat (1768)	247	(7)
The Symbolism of Riot	254	(7)
From The whole Proceedings on the King's Commission of the Peace (1768)	254	(5)
From The Public Advertiser, 23 March 1769	259	(1)
From The Political Register (1769)	260	(1)
From The Public Advertiser, 29 March 1769	260	(1)
A Female Wilkite	261	(3)
From a letter from Charlotte Forman to John Wilkes, 2 March 1769	262	(2)
Popular Projections of Wilkes	264	(7)
From Britannia's Intercession for the Deliverance of John Wilkes (1768)	264	(4)
`Wilkes, and Liberty. A New Song' (1768?)	268	(2)
`A New Song' (1769?)	270	(1)
POPULAR PERCEPTIONS OF EMPIRE: NATIVE AMERICANS IN BRITAIN IN THE 1760s	271	(32)
The Cherokee Embassy of 1762	276	(9)
From The Public Advertiser, 5 July 1762	277	(1)
From The St. James's Chronicle, 3-6 July 1762	278	(1)
From The St. James's Chronicle, 10-13 July 1762	278	(1)
From The Public Advertiser, 17 July 1762	278	(1)
From The Public Advertiser, 23 July 1762	278	(1)
From The London Chronicle, 24-7 July 1762	279	(1)
From Lloyd's Evening Post, 26-8 July 1762	280	(1)
From The St. James's Chronicle, 29-31 July 1762	281	(1)
From The St. James's Chronicle, 5-7 August 1762	282	(3)
From The Public Advertiser, 6 August 1762	285	(1)
From The Public Advertiser, 7 August 1762	285	(1)
Songs and Theatricals	285	(7)
From Henry Howard, A New Humorous Song, on the Cherokee Chiefs (1762)	286	(2)
From Robert Sayer, Harlequin Cherokee (1772)	288	(4)
Mohawks on Show	292	(2)
From The Public Advertiser, 3 January 1759	292	(1)
`Proceedings in the Lords on a Complaint of advertising Two Indian Warriors' (1765), from The Parliamentary History of England (1806-20)	292	(2)
Samson Occom, Mohegan Preacher	294	(9)
Extracts from Samson Occom's Diary (1766)	296	(4)
From A Cry from the Wilderness: Or, a Converted Indian's Address (1767)	300	(3)
Index	303