VOL. 4.] Remarks on Inns, &c.-Cross Keys-Crown-Merchant. out. 143 of the camel drivers exclaiming, "This was bastinadoed, and had his eye put is he who wanted to be the King." He was mocked and insulted by the people, The strong coincidence between these turned into ridicule by the Looties or details, and the most affecting part of Buffoons, who forced him to dance and our own scripture history, is a striking play antics against his will; whoever illustration of the permanence of Easchose spit in his face; and, finally, he tern manners. REMARKS ON INNS, &c. From the Gentleman's Magazine. THE CROSS KEYS. kept a station or shop, is now confined INN-keepers, who were tenants or to a seller of pens, ink, and paper; and had been servants to Religious hous- a Mercer, which formerly was synonies or persons would naturally assume for mous with Merchant, is now applied their sign some significant device; and to a mere dealer in silks. The word to this cause in many instances may be Millener, one who sells ribands and ascribed the common signs of the Cross, dresses for women, is a corruption of the Cross Keys, the Lamb, the Cardinal's Cap, the Crosier, and the Mitre. The Keys are the well known emblem of St. Peter, derived from the metaphorical saying of our Saviour, Matt. xvi. 19; and crossed saltirewise, their wainer, the common legal apeilation of usual forms on sign-boards, are borne a shoe-maker, as I have before menin the arms of the Archbishops of York and Cashel, the Bishops of Exeter, Peterborough, Gloucester, Limerick, Dromore, and Down. One of our antient theatres was distinguished by this sign. Milainer, by which name the incorporated company of Haberdashers in London was originally known, and was so called from dealing in merchandize chiefly imported from Milan. Cord tioned in the article " Crispin," is derived from Cordovan, a peculiar kind of leather, originally made at Cordova in Spain. There are two trading companies of the city of London, the names of which are becoming obsolete, viz Fletchers or arrow-makers, from flêche, Signs, now almost exclusively confi- an arrow; and Loriners or horse-acned to publicans, were formerly com- coutrement makers, from the French mon to other tradesmen also. The Lormiers, derived from the Latin loCrown then, as at present, was a favour- rum, a bridle or horse-harness. THE CROWN. ite; and such was the jealous tyranny "Only for saying he would make his son CHAP AND CHAPMAN. Cheapside, where Waiker the grocer lived, obtains its appellation from Cheap or Cheaping, the antient name of a market. A Chapman, therefore, is a market-man, and its abbreviation Chap is often used by the vulgar for any person of whom they mean to speak with freedom or disrespect. CROWN-AND-BELL, ANCHOR, &c. The Crown is often joined on our sign-boards with some other representation. The Crown and Anchor in the Strand, is a tavern much celebrated for GROCER, STATIONER, MERCHANT, MILLINER, CORDWAINER, &c. A Grocer at present merely designates a seller of sugar, tea, plums, and spices; but its original signification was a wholesale merchant, one who dealt in large quantities of any merchandize, or public meetings. The Bell and Crown in the gross. By a similar use of the is a large coach inn in Holborn. figure synecdoche, or putting the whole Rose and Crown is a very frequent sign. for a part, the general name of Stationer, The principal inn at Leicester is called which originally meant any one that the Three Crowns. The 144 Inns, Old Sayings, &c.—The Cup- A Peg lower-The Bowl. [voL.4 The following anecdote was related troduced therefore the custom of markby Horace Walpole: "Queen Caroline ing or pegging their cups at certain disspoke of shutting up St. James's Park, tances, to prevent one man taking a and converting it into a noble garden greater draught than his companions. for the palace of that name. She asked Some of these peg or pin cups or bowls, my father what it might probably cost, and pin or peg tankards, are yet to be who replied, only three crowns." This found in the cabinets of Antiquaries *; reply has been erroneously attributed to and we are to trace from their use some Lord Chesterfield. common terms yet current among us. Gallot derives the word corona, When a person is much elated, we say whence crown, from the Latin cornu, he is" in a merry pin," which no doubt horn, because the antient crowns were originally meant he had reached that pointed in the manner of horns, which mark which had deprived him of his both by Jews and Gentiles were of old usual sedateness and sobriety: we talk esteemed as marks of power, strength, of taking a man "a peg lower," when authority, and empire. Hence in the we imply we shall check him in any Holy Scriptures horns are used for the forwardness, a saying which originated Regal dignity, and accordingly horn and from a regulation that deprived all those crown in the Hebrew are expressed by of their turn of drinking, or of their peg, the same word. who had become troublesome in their The English crown is adorned with liquor: from the like rule in society four Maltese crosses, between which came also the expression of "he is a peg are fleurs de lys. From the top of the too low," i. e. has been restrained too crosses arise four circular bars, which far, when we say that a person is not meet at a little globe supporting a cross, in equal spirits with his company; It is of gold, enriched with diamonds, whilst we also remark of an individual rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and pearls. that he is getting on " peg by peg," or, It is kept at the Tower with the other in other words, he is taking greater freeRegalia, which are altogether valued at doms than he ought to do, which formabove two millions sterling. erly meant, he was either drinking out THE WASSEL BOWL. Henry V. fought in his crown at of his turn, or, contrary to express reguAgincourt, which preserved his life by lation, did not confine him to his sustaining a stroke from a battle axe, proper portion or peg, but drank on to which cleft it. Richard III. also fought the next, thereby taking a double quanat Bosworth field in his crown, which tity. was picked up by a private soldier, who secreted it in a bush, most probably in- Our custom of drinking healths, and tending to secure it for himself; but, the Wassel bowl, appear to have originbeing discovered, it was delivered to ated in the introduction of the British Sir Reginald Bray, who gave it to Lord monarch Vortigern to Rowena the beauStanley, who placed it on Richmond's tiful blue-eyed daughter (or, according head and hailed him "King" on the to other writers, niece) of the Saxon field. Hence arises the device of a Hengist. She kneeled down, and precrown in a hawthorn bush at each end senting to the King a cup of spiced of Henry VII's tomb in Westminster wine, said, "Lord King, Waes heil," Abbey. THE CUP. THE THREE CUPS. Health be to you; to which Vortigern, These certainly are appropriate signs. Brady, in his Clavis Calendaria," says, "The Saxons were remarkable for inmoderate drinking, and when intoxicated with their favourite ale, were guilty of the most outrageous violences. Dunstan endeavoured to check this vicious habit, but durst not totally obstruct their much-loved intemperance; he in- venerable and reverend Dr. Samuel Pegge.—Edit. ̧ Waes-heil from that period not unnaturally became the name of the drin *We recollect one in the possession of the late VOL. 4.] The Hermit in London, No. 5. 145 king-cups of the Anglo-Saxons; and this day it is the constant custom in the word Wassel is only a corruption of Glamorganshire for the country people the antient Waes hael or Wish health to bring a cup of spiced ale, which they bowl. The term Wassel occurs often call Wassel, and sing gratulatory songs in Shakspeare, and is sometimes used for at the doors of their more opulent general intemperance or festivity. To neighbours at Christmas. HINYBORO. From the Literary Gazette, Aug. 1818. THE HERMIT IN LONDON, No. V. OR SKETCHES OF ENGLISH MANNERS. THE FEMALE CHARIOTEER. During our short colloquy, one of her beautiful horses became what she called fidgetty, for which she promised to Qui cupit optatum cursu contingere metam. Sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum Ibid. starting, shewed symptoms of great friskiness, for which she gave him a few dexterous cuts, distorting, in a small degree, AFTER waiting an hour at the her features at the same time, as much your mas Mount for an old Officer returned as to say," Will you? I'll be from India, whom I had not seen for ter (not mistress, there is no such term many years, I was proceeding across in coachmanship yet ;) I'll teach you Bond Street, full of my disappointment, better manners; I'll bring you to a sense and looking back to the days of our of your duty : or something to that childhood, when first our intimacy com- purpose. menced. Filled with these melancholy pleasing thoughts, I was almost stunned by the cry of, Hoy! I turned round, and perceived a Groom advancing to wards me on horseback, and a curricle coming on me at the rate of nine miles per hour. The female charioteer pulled up with difficulty; and, in doing so, quite altered the lines of a very comely countenance, for all was tugging and muscular exertion.. I turned about, to view her as she went along. She had a small round riding-hat on; she sat in the most coachmanlike manner, handled her whip in a very masterly style, and had, altogether, something quite gentlemanlike in her appearance. She was going at a bold and brisk trot; and as she passed her numerous acquaintances, she was so intent upon the good management of her reins, and her eyes so fixed upon her high-mettled cattle, that she gave a familiar, knowing, sideway, nod of her head, very similar to what I have seen stage coachmen, hackneymen, and fashionable Ruffians,, their copies, give a brother Whip, passing on the road, or when they almost graze another's wheel, or cut out a carriage, when they are turning round, with a nod, which means, There's for you, what a flat you must be !" I was now just out of the line of danger, and the vehicle was abreast of me, when the other Groom touching his hat, and the lady recognizing me and smiling, I perceived that it was Lady --, one of my best friends, who had nearly run over me. She apologized, was quite shocked, but could not conceive how I could be so absent; and lastly, laid the blame on her horses, observing, that they had had so little work of late, that they were almost too much for her. A few This led me to general reflections civilities passed between us, with the on female charioteers in general. And, usual barometrical and thermometrical first, to acquire any talent, it is necessaobservations of an Englishman, which ry to learn the art. How is the know!are his great auxiliaries in conversation, edge of driving otbained by the fairer sex? and we parted. If a lady take the reins from her hus T ATHENEUM. Vol. 4. 146 Sketches of Manners-The Hermit in London, No. 5. [VOL. 4 band, her brother, or her lover, it is a found that I never could esteem one of strong emblem of assuming the mastery. them. A certain titled lady, who shall If she have no courage, no muscular be nameless, since she is no more, used strength, and no attention to the domin- to excel in driving four milk-white horation and guidance of her studs, she be- ses in hand. Her face was a perfect encomes no driver, no whip, and runs the amel, something like china, from the risk of breaking the neck of self and paint which she used; and to see the friends daily. If she do excel in this thong of her whip fly about the leaders, study, she becomes, immediately, mas- to behold her gather up her reins and culine and severe she punishes, when square her elbows, was the delight of occasion requires, the animals which the ostlers and hackney-coachmen about come under her lash, assumes a grace- town, who nevertheless spoke very lightless attitude, heats her complexion by ly of her at the same time. I confess exertion, loses her softness by virtue of that she became a complete object of her office, runs the risk of hardening her disgust to myself, aud to many thinking hands, and may perchance harden her men of my acquaintance. She used heart--at all events, she gains unfemi- frequently to drive out a male relation, nine habits, and such as are not easily got which made the picture still more prerid of. posterous in my eyes; whilst the very praise of the lower classes alluded to, sunk her in my estimation. If she learn of the family coachman, it must be allowed that it is not likely that he should give her any peculiar And why do coachinen and pugilists, grace, nor teach her any thing polite. grooms and jockeys, praise the superior The pleasure of his company, whilst ranks of society for excelling in driving, superintending her lesson, cannot much in boxing, in horse racing, or in riding improve her mind; and the freedom of like post-boys? Because it reduces the these teachers of coachmanship may highest to the level of the lowest, beprove offensive to her, which a gradual cause (to adopt their own expression, so loss of feeling, done away by the pride often made use of by the bargemen on of excelling as a Whip, can alone render palatable. the Thames, towards a certain Duke) he's not proud, he is just like one of us, When the accomplishment of driv- he can tug at his oar, smoke and drink ing is acquired, what does it tend to? beer "like a man," aye, and take his A waste of time, a masculine enjoyment, own part. That such qualities may, and loss of (I will not say moral, but) upon an emergency, prove useful, I adfeminine character-of that sweet, soft, mit, but His Grace, as well as all female and overpowering submission to and charioteers, must excuse me from condependance on man, which whilst it sidering them as any way ornamental. claims our protection and awakens our To return to my female driving dearest sympathies, our tenderest inter- friends. A certain fair daughter of ests, enchants, attaches and subdues us. green Erin used formerly to drive me I have known ladies so affected by an out in her curricle: She is a perfect inordinate love for charioteering, that it whip; and has, from conversing so has completely altered them, and they much on the subject, and from seeing so at last became more at home in the sta- much stable company, assumed a tone, ble than in the drawing-room. The an attitude, and a language, most forvery lady in question is so different eign to her sex. Driving one day in when dressed for dinner, that her driv- the Circular Road, near Dublin, her ing-dress is a complete masquerade dis- horses pulled very hard, and would guise, which I should never wish to see have blistered common fingers, but, proher in, and which certainly is not calcu- tected by the stiff York tan, and hardenlated to captivate a lover, nor to gain a ed by the management of the whip, she husband, unless the latter be a slave, stood up and punished them, crying, who gives the whip-hand to his lady. I'll take the shine out of you before I I now began to recollect the female have done with you!" then "keeping Whips of my acquaintance; and I them up to their work," as she called it, 147 and fanning furiously along, she exult- seemly, when clad in its rough coat of ingly exclaimed, all in a heat and flurry earth, and of uncouthness: 'tis the high polish which it receives, which displays its hidden lustre, and which, reflecting its real worth, makes it so brilliant, and so eminently valuable. herself, "There, and be (I looked thunder-struck)-be hanged to you!" concluded she, smiling at me, and resuming her sang froid. ACommoner's lady was my third driv- Thus it is with woman: every thing ing acquaintance: She was very bold; which tends to divest her of the asperity given to the joys of the table; got light- and ruggedness of the inferior part of ly spoken of as to reputation; and, af- our sex, augments her attractions: every ter all, overturned herself once, and thing which can assimilate her to the broke her arm. My inquiries as to the harshness of man, despoils her of her character of the other celebrated female richest ornaments, and lowers her in our Whips, have not obtained any informa- estimation. I remember once passing tion which could change my opinion as a lady in the King's Road, one of whose to the advantages of a lady's becoming outriders had dismounted, and was ada good Whip. It militates against the justing something about the reins, whilst softness, the delicacy, the beauty, and the other was holding his horse behind. attractions, of the sex. I would ask The Lady, and the Groom, who appearany amateur, the greatest possible ad- ed to be her instructor in the art of coachmirer of lovely woman, whether, her complexion being heated, her lips dry, and her features covered with dust, as she returns from a horse-race or from a morning drive, are circumstances of improvement to her in any way? I doubt if our forefather Adam could have been captivated with Eve, had she appeared to him either in a dream, or in coarse reality, with a masculine expression of countenance, and with a fourhorse whip in her hand; nor was it ever intended that "those limbs, formed for the gentler offices of love," should be displayed behind prancing coach-horses, with an unwieldy whip in one hand, and a gross mass of leather in the other. The very diamond itself is scarcely manship, had much conversation respecting the cattle. The latter said, "Give him his hiding, my Lady, and don't spare him." To which, she elegantly replied, D-n the little horse.' This gave the finishing confirmation to my former opinion. I know that it will be objected to me, that these vulgarities are not general in high coachwomen, and that they are not necessary; but to this I beg leave to answer, that their existence is preposvery terous, and that if on the one hand these vices are not absolutely a part of coachmanship, coachmanship or charioteering is not at all necessary to a woman's accomplishments, nor even to her amusement. THE FRIENDS. THE HERMIT IN LONDON. A POEM. BY THE REV. FRANCIS HODGSON. 1818. From the Literary Gazette, Aug. 1818. WERE we called on to divine the the Muse in her wilder moods and source of this production, we sublimer phantasies. It is then that should trace it to private feeling rather the soul plunges into a creation of its than to poetical inspiration. There is own, the images of which, though a locality about its scenes, a verisimili- formed after the model of natural retude about its incidents, and a sincerity collections, are far more ethereal and about its sentiments, which do not vivid: that "the voice is Jacob's voice, seem to belong to imagination, and, but the hands are the hands of Esau ;' perhaps, the truth with which both the semblance belongs to the earth, scenes and incidents are painted, pre- but the lineaments are divine. vents either that soul subduing pathos or loftiness of flight which pertain to The era of this production is from the middle till towards the close of the last |