The Illnessof George III -- 1804

I can't read a great deal right now, because of my eye surgery, but I can't just stop reading, either! I was browsing The Lady's Magazine for 1804 the other day, and found some interesting facts about George III's illness in that year.

Many of the magazines of the Regency era published, at year's end, a list of that year's most interesting events. I have one such list from the Scots Magazine for the year 1800, The National Register for 1808, and several from The Lady's Magazine.

In 1804, The Lady's Magazine "Chronological Table of the Most remarkable Occurrences of the Year one Thousand eight Hundred and four" relates the government's difficulty in ascertaining the exact condition of the king's health. Reports are recounted throughout the month of March on the vagaries of his illness and efforts to determine what steps, if any, the government should take.

George II by Gainsborough 1781

 

 

March 2, 1804 Discussion in the house of lords respecting the royal indisposition. --Lord Grenville solicits some communication on the subject from the lord chancellor, who refuses to say anything further than that he would not think it consistent with his duty to affix the great seal to any commission without taking his majesty's opinion upon it. --Lord Grenville insisted upon the right of the legislature to be informed whether his majesty could come to his parliament and transact business.

Miniature by Richard Collins 1790

 March 3, 1804 Mr. Grey, in the house of commons, asked the chancellor of the exchequer, whether his information relative to his majesty's health was derived from personal access to his majesty, or from the report of the physicians. The chancellor the of exchequer replied, that it was from the report of the physicians; upon which, Mr. Grey gave notice of a motion on the subject.

George III by Stroehling, 1807

 March 6, 1804 The lord chancellor, in the house of lords, intimates his having seen his majesty, and obtained his consent to the passing of a bill in which his interest was concerned.

March 7, 1804 His majesty's indisposition continues, with no material alteration.

March 10, 1804 The lord chancellor affirms that his majesty is in a state of health that rendered him fully competent to exercise the royal functions.

1811

 

 

 March 12, 1804 His majesty stated to be considerably better.

March 24, 1804 The chancellor and Mr. Addington had audiences of his majesty, who advances in his recovery. --Bulletins discontinued.

George III in happier, heathier times, pre1800

This crisis of health for George III was followed by a period of improvement, but his health continued to be variable and in 1810 he suffered a severe collapse. The Regency Bill of 1811 followed, and the sick old king lingered until 1820.

It is easy to overlook the extreme difficulty which the king's illness caused for the Parliament of Great Britain. Those governing the country were dependant upon the monarchy's seal of approval for their actions. When the king could not function, the whole country suffered.

Certainly the sons of George III and their contemporaries lived in uncertain times, complicated by George III's illness. The dukes of Regency fiction surely could not have been quite so carefree as they are portrayed!

'Til next time,

Lesley-Anne

Mourning/Memorial Cards

I apologize for being unable to post a new blog this week! I had cataract surgery on Monday, and I hoped I would be able to see well enough to complete the blog I had started last weekend. However....I can't see well yet! So I offer you an article which is posted on my website; one more probably suited to Victorian times but, after all, young Regency folk did become Victorians!

The memorial cards used in this article are taken from a scrap album that came to me from my husband's family--I particularly find fascinating the card which features the young sailor. How terribly evocative it is of the age of sail.

You can read the complete article here http://www.lesleyannemcleod.com/articlemourningcards.html

And do please visit agin next week--hopefully, I will be able to see better by then!

'Til next time,

LesleypAnne

Feeding London -- The Market Gardens

In the spring, my thoughts always turn to gardening. I prefer flower gardening to vegetable gardening, but I've done my share of food production. As my gardening thoughts wandered to history and to the Regency, I began to wonder where all the vegetables and fruits that filled the Covent Garden markets were grown.

From The Gardener's Pocket Journal 1808

I discovered that they came from the market gardens that surrounded the original 'City' and its satellite communities. In the mid 17th century, Marylebone was home to several such gardens, as was Islington to the north. Those continued through the 18th century, and were augmented by those to the east around Dagenham.

By the time of the Regency, some 10,000 acres of market gardens supplied London's needs for fresh vegetables, and fruits. One of these gardens--of about 200 acres--was the Neat House Market Garden, just north of the Thames across from Vauxhall, the famous pleasure gardens.

From A-|Z of Regency London

The area had been known as the "Neat" for centuries, possibly named after an original owner. It now lies under Warwick Square and part of Chelsea.

There is a book, which I intend to read, called The Neat House Gardens: Early Market Gardening Around London by Malcolm Thick. It seems as if it might answer all one's questions about the process of this food supply.

But, in brief, the vegetable cultivation began shortly after Christmas, the crops rotating through radishes, spinach and onions, followed by cauliflowers, cabbages, and celery. Then the many other seed crops begun in January came ready for planting out. The crops were fertilized by manure from the streets of London.

In addition, many of the gardens grew fruit crops; they realized an income of 400,000 pounds per annum, only a little less than the 645,000 pounds that vegetables brought in.

The encroachment of the residential areas, and the incorporation of the villages surrounding London into the 'Greater' area pushed the market gardens further and further afield. Improved transportation methods facilitated this change, and the markets of New Covent Garden Market still overflow with produce.

The tidy fields of the Neat House Garden on the map above continue to fascinate me however. I wonder about the people who owned the land, grew the plants and operated this thriving industry. There are stories there...I just know it.

'Til next time,

Lesley-Anne

Source: Much of the information in this post came from an excellent on-line article "London's Early Market Gardens" at http://www.gardenhistoryinfo.com/gardenpages/marketgardens.html