Masquerade at Vauxhall

Sporting Magazine July 1812 at 181-184

A Grand Masquerade was given at this delightful place of entertainment on Monday, the 20th instant which excited, in a very considerable degree, the curiosity and attention of the metropolis. Upwards of 5,000 tickets were disposed of; but in consequence of the threatening appearance of the weather, not more than 2500 persons assembled, comprising the great body of the Nobility and Gentry remaining in London. The gardens were illuminated in the most splendid style; and the walks, at its extremity, having been partitioned off, the Promenade was confined to the square surrounding the orchestra. The effect was beyond description, whimsical and entertaining. The promenade presents to the eye a sort of moving panorama, in which were assembled representatives of every description of character of which imagination can form an idea, from the chimney-sweeper to the Duke–from the inhabitant of the frozen regions of Siberia, to the native of the more benign and salubrious climate of Italy. Here the Devil walked arm-in-arm with a Reverend Prelate–there, Mercury, the tutelar God of Thieves, appeared in deep conversation with a Chief Justice–and, in a third quarter, a holy Friar might be observed paying his devoirs to the Cytherean Goddess. The greater proportion of the company, however, as is customary on such occasions, were dressed in dominos, many of them extremely splendid. The prevalence of those habits was much to be regretted, as they are a sort of drawback on the general fund of mirth and good humour, to which every person should contribute his share; and, from the lively sallies which occasionally escaped from those nondescripts, many of them possessed sufficient ability to have supported characters very effectively. In the early part of the evening, the lowering aspect of the heavens threatened to destroy the anticipated pleasure. But, after eleven o’clock, this fear subsided, and all was bustle and vivacity. In different parts of the garden, military and pandean hands were stationed and reels and contre dances became the great source of attraction and amusement, not only to those who engaged in them but to the surrounding spectators, whose risible faculties were frequently excited by the singular combinations of character which presented themselves. At one o’clock the supper bell rang, and the boxes and apartments from which, previous to that hour, the company had been excluded, were thrown open, and a scene truly ludicrous, was exhibited, in the scramble which took place to procure a share in the rich viands which the Proprietor had provided most liberally. Dustmen and Dowagers, Peers and Plebeians, all rushed to the nearest table, and fell to, sans ceremonie. The supper, which was under the superintendent of Mr. Ward, of New Bond-street, presented a profusion of the delicacies of the season, and consisted of:

150 dozens of fowls.

150 dishes of lamb.

200 tongues and hams.

300 lobsters.

100 raised pies.

200 Savoy cakes.

350 dishes of pastry.

300 jellies.

400 quarts of ice creams

500 pottles of strawberries.

300 cwt., of cherries.

Besides a vast variety of other fruits, which formed the dessert. The wines were of the most rare vintage.

After supper, due devotion having been paid to the jolly god, the company returned with increased spirits to the promenade. Amongst the multiplicity of characters, we particularly noticed the following:

Mr. and Miss Brown, the former a winged Mercury, the latter as “sable Night.” Both admirably dressed.

Mr. Broadley as a Waggoner, handled his whip with much dexterity, and gave the language of the stable with great effect.

Miss Edwards, a very good Ballad-singer, entertained the company with several excellent songs.

Mr. Watson, a Sailor–very well skilled in nautical phrases.

Mr. Dixon, as a Member of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, delivered several very humorous lectures on morality.

A Blind Irish Piper–a well-dressed and highly amusing character. His performance on the pipes attracted around him a very numerous auditory, who were much pleased with his musical talents as well as his humorous remarks.

Peter Snip, Tailor and Habit-maker–one of the best characters in the Garden–his wit was as sharp and polished as his needle; and he very soon sewed up those who essayed the “wordy war” with him. His card, in which he stated himself to be “Tailor to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent,” concluded with–N.B. Coats turned on the shortest notice.

A Quack Doctor, very well dressed and supported. He handed about an essay in praise of his Lethean draught, a single dose of which would eradicate from the mind all disagreeable recollections of “early friends' ' and ill-considered promises, the remembrance of which might be in any wise inconvenient.

A group of Yorkshire Fox-hunters. The costume perfectly characteristic and supported with great spirit.

A Coster-monger mounted on a donkey. This representative of Tothill-fields occasioned much laughter.--He was ultimately dismounted by one of the Fox-hunters, who ascended in his place, and made the gardens resound with “Yoicks! Yoicks! Tally-ho!”

A “Peaceable Subject” attracted much attention. He was rolled about on a sort of carriage, his eyes being blindfolded, his mouth gagged, and his legs and arms fastened. He afterwards appeared as a Local Militiaman, and made a very respectable member of the awkward squad.

A Bashaw of Three Tails was extremely well-dressed.--A Mischievous Barber, by cutting off two of his insignia of dignity excited his wrath and a short set-to a-la-Crib, was the consequence.

A Chinese Merchant, most appropriately habited, excited much attention.

A very good Tony Lumpkin–The mask, an excellent likeness of Mr. Mathews, the Comedian.

Punch and Judy, a very humorous couple. They executed a pas deux in a truly comic style.

A group of Sweeps, who, from their conduct, we believe really were what they seemed to be. They dirtied the elegant dresses of several of the ladies; and became at length so indecorous that they were expelled from the garden.

Some smart repartees occasionally took place between a Rabbi and one of the elect from the Tabernacle. They mutually charged each other with violating their creed, by visiting such a naughty receptacle for sinners.--An old Clothesman, by the uniform dullness of his deportment, proved that his brains and his bag were alike empty. There was only one Barrister present but luckily for his slender qualifications, there were no disputes to settle of any importance. He had evidently emerged from the Courts below. A stock-broker, whose wit was never above par, but who impudently demanded a slice of omnium round the upper tables, was a good butt for the better sort of wits as they sat at table.--There was a tolerable Turk, who preserved a due gravity of manners but his Sultana was like the rest of her sex, garrulous in the extreme, and profiting by the laxity of English manners frequently “threw the handkerchief” from a pair of killing black eyes.

Among the best supported groups was a Wild Man of the Woods, with his keeper or showman, holding him by a rope attached to his middle. Both were excellent imitations–the former astonished the company by the rapidity and agility of his movements, and imitated the grimaces and chirping of an ape most naturally. His leader was perfectly au fait in his part, and described the wonderful qualifications of the man-monster to the curious, with the true science of a caravan naturalist.

A silly fellow went in the character of a crow’s nest. He placed himself in one of the trees, and after amusing himself, imitating the noise of a crow, he was soon put to flight by an active Harlequin.

As is usual on such occasions, there were many Sailors, whose only merit consisted in swearing–Harlequins, who could scarcely jump over a joint-stool–Clowns, without any pretensions to humour–Peers without dignity–and Vestals, not remarkable for their modesty.

The night was passed with very little exception, in the utmost harmony, and the company did not separate till a late hour on the Tuesday morning.

Account from the National Register July 20, 1812

VAUXHALL.

The Masquerade which has been some time announced, took place on Monday night and notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, attracted a great number of visitors. Among them were a variety of characters, several of which were supported with great merit and humour. The place was decorated in the most beautiful style, and excited a vivid conception of all the splendour of Oriental magnificence. But the visitors had not only full reason to be delighted with what was intended to gratify the sight, but the most solid entertainment of an excellent supper which was served up in a very orderly and regular manner, and was plentiful in a degree bordering on profusion. This is an occurrence the more entitled to notice, as it is one that does not happen often at entertainments of this kind. The Managers had very judiciously closed the dark walks so that all the vagaries of the motley group were brought, almost at the same instant, under the view of the spectator. A number of persons of distinction were present; and among them we ought, perhaps to notice Mr. Cock-a-doodle Coates, who had the satisfaction to reap the harvest of that popularity which his extraordinary talents have procured him; at being recognized, he was followed by a crowd of masks, who entertained him with crowing, and exclamations of “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo.”--With a variety of other exclamations, accompanied with action which the hero did not appear to think the most graceful in the world, and which ultimately forced him to quit the garden.

In the course of the evening, a skirmish took place between a Carman and a Spanish Grandee, which was rather more than a jest. This was the only drawback upon the entertainment of the night that came to our observation. With this exception, harmony seemed universally to prevail, and the votaries of Pleasure did not quit the mirthful scene until long after ‘The grey-eyed Morn” had begun to peep.