CONTENTS

PAGE

I

The Victorian age-Modern pessimism-Life without living—Sixty

years ago and now-Increase of amusements and of sport-

Anecdotes—The Press—Toby, M.P.-The “Keepsake"-A

letter from Carlyle-Demoralizing literature-Social progress

-A worthy use of artillery-Beneficent capital-Anecdotes-

The Crimean campaign-A public scandal—The Victoria

Cross

I

II

The progress of invention—The late Mr. Stead-His faith in

spiritualism-A séance that failed—The Great Eastern-

Old world travelling-Sir Tatton Sykes—Dangers and dis-

comforts of the road-Threadneedle Street biscuits—Turnpikes

and “Turnpike money"-Anecdotes-Railroad and Tramway

- A snob in office-Anecdotes—There's no place like home

28

III

The changing East-A strange bequest-Lord Palmerston's fore-

cast-Sir Robert Morier-Recollections—Travellers' tales~

Tiresome officials-A strange refuge-Il Conte Hulme -

Discomforts of old-fashioned hotels—Vicenza-A real romance

-The Palazzo Paciocchi-King Bomba and his cook Beppo-

Going to Rome in 1845-A faithless postmaster-Pio Nono

and his joke concerning Fanny Elsler-The late Mr. Watts

46

IV

A conversation with Mr. Hyndman-Why Unionism has lost

ground-Disastrous apathy-An apologetic party-Hedging

and quibbling-Lord Beaconsfield's methods of recruiting

clever young men-Enemies in the House of Commons, in-

timates in private life-Labour and capital-Semi-education

-Anecdotes-Setting class against class—Political renegades

-Mr. Lloyd George-Chartism-Misguided zeal-An out-

spoken divine-History repeats itself.

81

PAGE

V

Janus and his political devotees—Anecdote of Lord Palmerston

-Mr. Lowe-Lord Iddesleigh-Anecdote—The decay of

oratory-Jobbery and election tricks--The late Lord Lytton's

apt criticism of Parliamentary life—'eds of feathers and 'earts

of gold-Anecdote of Mr. Gladstone- The Parliament Bill-

Lord Halsbury's fearless British pluck-Sham Radicals and

shoddy titles—An amusing anecdote-Women's rights—My

own view—“Babes for men "-An old French tale-Victorian

women-Mademoiselle de Fauveau

114

VI

The rage for wealth-Madame de Castiglione-Anecdotes—Cutlet

for cutlet-Former contempt of the English for foreigners,

Modern cosmopolitanism-A vulgar Anglo-American habit

-Anecdote of Queen Victoria-Nouveaux riches—Anecdotes

Quizzes "_The power of fashion-West End tradesmen of

the past and their ways—Rotten Row in old days—Disappear-

ance of fine equipages-Some vanished figures-Modern

improvements in the Parks

144

VII

Disraeli as a dandy-Prince Louis Napoleon in his days of exile

and as Emperor-A stickler for etiquette-His gratitude-

Anecdotes—IIl-fated first-born-Beaux of other days—Count

d'Orsay and Prince Paul Esterhazy-Anecdotes-An official

“Sleepy Hollow"-New men and old acres—Sir Richard

Wallace-Sir John Murray Scott-The Admirable Crichton-

Esquires-King Edward VII and his high qualities--The

coronation of King George V

177

VIII

The old aristocracy-An adroit reply-Anecdotes of queer char-

acters-The last of the Gordons-Stories of the Iron Duke-

An ingenious subterfuge-Peers of the old school-Vicissitudes

of great families—“Finderne flowers ”_Curious old privileges

of actors at Drury Lane—Matrimonial alliances between the

aristocracy and the stage-Romances of the Peerage- The

purchase system-Ruthless discipline—The “Wolseley gang" 209

IX

PAGE

Bee-keeping-Strange beliefs-Ancient abodes—The absentee

landlord - Local gentry - Vandalism - All honour to Lord

Curzon—The curse of “Restoration "-Quaint customs-Old-

fashioned parsons—Anecdotes—The obsolete three-decker-

Ritualism and Dissent-Rustics of the past-Anecdotes—"A

way to get Wealth"

236

x

-

London sixty years ago-Fogs-Amusements-Improvement in

locomotion-Hackney coaches and hansoms-Street noises

and cries-Punch-Unmelodious music-Letters from Mark

Lemon and Dickens - Tolerated mendicity - The London

police in its early days and now—Impostors-Begging letters

-A curious specimen-London rivers—The Lord Mayor's

barge - London bridge and Free Trade – The Spitalfield

weavers — From Camisard to Cockney – The Reverend

Osborne Jay and his admirable work—The London hospital. 259

XI

Modern London—The Casino style of architecture-An original

scheme of decoration-Increase of unwieldy statuary-The

Allée Verte-Northumberland House-Open spaces_Colonel

Sibthorp—Berkeley Square-London fountains—The Albert

Memorial-Victory or Peace ?—Tombs of the Great Dead-

Architectural samples-James Gibbs and St. Martin's-in-the-

Fields-Mid-Victorian taste-London improvements-Temple

Bar-The mystery of its single room-Legal phraseology

changes but 6s. 8d. remains-Suburban health resorts of the

past-Travelling by canal-boat.

• 285

XII

The frugal past-Rise and fall in prices—Tea, oysters, and

sealskin-Before envelopes and postage stamps-Mulready-

A curious craze-Foolscap-Priceless MS$. at £7 a ton-An

astute collector-Gretna Green-Sir Henry Peyton's driving-

whips — “Amadio" portraits — Pins and fancy ware — The

White Lodge-Miss Braddon and her son—Teapots--Bomba

dollars-Anecdotes-Eridge

.

312

INDEX.

.

· 335

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

LADY DOROTHY NEVILL IN 1846 .

From a Miniature by Thorburn

. Frontispiece

FACING PAGE

LADY DOROTHY NEVILL (FRONTISPIECE TO “THE KEEPSAKE ”

1851)

After a Painting by Buckner

16

.

PARADISE LOST; OR, THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE PERI 132

(A Cartoon published in 1868)

228

DERBY AND JOAN (Miss FARREN AND LORD DERBY).

From a Print by Dighton, 1795

MARY, COUNTESS OF ORFORD

From a Crayon Drawing by Sir George Hayter

A DRAWING BY R. SEYMOUR

266

ERIDGE CASTLE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

From a scarce Lithograph

332