| Citation |
BEP(P.783.048
13 Dec 1783:41 (3/113)
Smithfield fun: or, Bartholomew Fair for Ever!
The bustle began at this place on Tuesday afternoon; many
hands were at work clearing away window-frames; and erecting
stands; and the noise of the hammer did not cease till
yesterday at noon, when about 20 minutes past one, the Lord
Mayor made his appearance before Newgate, and Mr. Alderman,
as is customary, produced his goblet of nectar, which was
handed about; his Lordship next proceeded to Smithfield, and
proclaimed the Fair: Thousands of merry souls, well primed
for laugh and fun, shouted applause when they saw the state
coach enter the field. The proclamation being over, all was
FAIR above and below; the party coloured gentlemen appeared
in an instant, and the air resounded with the noise of
invitation. There was the most wonderful of all wonderful
things the world ever wondered at, to be seen at one corner;
and at another men and women eating fire, swallowing knives,
and broiling a steak on their tongues. There were tragedies
for grown people to laugh at, and Punch and his merry family
to diver the children; there were carts with wild beasts for
country lads to stare at, and round abouts and ups-and-downs
for those who wish to try the thickness of their sculls.
Coaches, landeaux, gigs, buggys, sedan-chairs, Scotch
hobbies, Blackheath Arabians, and machines drawn by the bow-
wow race, kept continually going round the Fair from morning
till night. One sedan-chair had four young sweeps within,
and another on the top. Old Wigs, alias Sir Jeffery
Dunstan, was mounted in a gig, and sold his picture and
speeches, as he passed through the croud.
The cows baby houses were turned into parlours, and
filled with ladies of the savory-pan and mustard-pot. No
smoaking was allowed during dinner, nor was any gentleman
suffered to lay his warm quid by the side of his plate, as
has been usual. One table was remarked for ugly nobs, and
brought to memory the club of ugly faces, where they drank
to each other in the following manner: . . . [14 lines]
When it was visible the evening set in for wet, the
fiddle and foot went to work at all the mug shops; and
thumbs up and handkerchiefs down, was all the go amongst the
flash blades of Barkleme. Before nine at night, many of the
dancing tribe had laid their hearts in soak, and fiddlers
were snoring in corners, with their squeakers under their
arms.
There were hand-bills to give notice of a ball in the
evening at the Prancer's Nab in Tumble-Gut Lane; but the
magistrates of the night took possession of the ball room,
and put a stop to the shake-tail assembly.
The Shurks were successful at many houses, and gulled
many Nickninnies and Rigmenoes out of their money.
|