As Danced at Bath
Tuesday 18 June 2024
Miss Hobson Conductress of the Quadrilles
Wednesday 24 April 2024
A Charity Ball in Bath in 1801
A Ball, suggested by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, (then a visitor in this city,) was given at the Upper Assembly Rooms for the benefit of the brave men who were wounded, and the widows and families of those who fell on that occasion. The notice was short, but the cause was patriotic, and found immediate way to every grateful British bosom. The room was crowded with all that was noble, loyal, and beautiful in the city. The amount of the clear profits was £536, which sufficiently indicates the number and liberality of the company who attended. One of the most heartfelt pleasures of the evening resulted from the presence of the venerable father of Nelson. His dress and demeanour were as unassuming as the bravery of his noble son was conspicuous, and it is needless to say he claimed and received every mark of respect and veneration."
The Battle of Copenhagen of 1801, also known as the First Battle of Copenhagen to distinguish it from the Second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807, was a naval battle in which a British fleet fought and defeated a smaller force of the Dano-Norwegian Navy anchored near Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. The battle arose over British fears that the powerful Danish fleet would ally with France and a breakdown in diplomatic communications on both sides.
The Duchess of York started life as Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, the eldest daughter of King Frederick William II. She became the wife of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, second son of King George III.
The marriage was not a happy one, after three years, it had become apparent that the Duke and Duchess of York would have no issue. Frederica Charlotte and Frederick separated. The Duchess retired to Oatlands Park, Weybridge, where she lived until her death in 1820. Their relationship after separation appears to have been amicable, but there was never any question of reconciliation.
She is described as: "clever and well-informed; she likes society and dislikes all form and ceremony, but in the midst of the most familiar intercourse she always preserves a certain dignity of manner", and :"probably no person in such a situation was ever more really liked." In 1827 (after her death), she was called: "a harmless but an eccentric little woman, with an extraordinary fondness for cats and dogs, some indications of the German severity of family etiquette, which gave her household the air of Potsdam, and but a slight share of those attractions which might retain the regards of a husband—young, a soldier, and a prince." High-stakes gambling is reported to have taken place at Oatlands. Frederica kept many dogs and was apparently very devoted to monkeys.
In a letter in May of 1801, Jane Austen shared her hope that with the Duchess's departure from Bath, food would become cheaper, particularly fish.
Nelson's father was the Reverend Edmund Nelson a Norfolk Rector from an old Norfolk family. He regularly wintered in Bath often sharing accommodation with Nelson, Nelson's wife Fanny and one of Nelson's sisters. Edmund would die the next year 1802.
Tuesday 16 April 2024
Countess of Moira’s Lilt
A Lilt was a Scottish term for a cheerful tune.
Elizabeth Rawdon, Countess of Moira in the Peerage of Ireland (23 March 1731 – 11 April 1808), was a literary patron and antiquarian; she also held five English peerages in her own right. She was born at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England and died in Moira, County Down, Ireland.
Born as Elizabeth Hastings, she was the daughter of Theophilus Hastings, 9th Earl of Huntingdon and Selina Shirley, founder of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion religious denomination. Elizabeth was 16th Baron Botreaux and 15th Baron Hungerford, in her own right (suo jure), inheriting the titles on the death of her brother Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon. She was the third wife of John Rawdon, 1st Earl of Moira.
Her husband was Earl of Moira and Baron Rawdon of Moira, in the Irish Peerage; as his wife, she was Countess of Moira and Baroness Rawdon. She also inherited five English baronies from her brother Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon: Baroness Botreaux, Baroness Hungerford, Baroness de Moleyns, Baroness Hastings of Hastings and Baroness Hastings of Hungerford.
In 1780, Lady Moira archaeologically investigated the remains of a bog body found on her husband's land and published her findings in 1785 in the periodical Archaeologia. It was the first documented scientific investigation of the remains of a bog body find ever.
After she died in 1808, her son inherited the baronies and proved his right to be Baron Hastings - he had also taken the family name of Rawdon-Hastings according to his uncle's will.
He was born in Germany and was said to have been a musical prodigy. He found himself in London in July 1803, just as the French took possession of Hanover. He decided to remain in London and worked as a jobbing composer and arranger. Over time, he built a substantial reputation in the world of dance music and collaborated with a number of the leading music publishers of the period.
Saturday 6 April 2024
A Derby rematch in Bath in 1780
Starting on the 19th of September 1780, there was a four-day race meeting on Claverton Down.
The first day started with a race for a £50 plate, which only attracted two runners.
The next race was a 50 Guinea sweepstakes for four-year-olds, which was cancelled.
This was followed by a race for three-year-olds over one 2-mile course. The entries advertised before the race were:
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland’s colt Polydore, by Eclipse out of a Spectator Mare
The Duke of Cumberland |
Mr Luttrell’s bay colt Tetrarch, by Herod, dam by Careless
Mr R. Brereton’s chestnut colt by Lycurgus, out of an unknown mare
Mr. Davis’s chestnut colt by Conundrum, dam by Chrysolite
Sir John Lade’s brown filly Lady Ann, by Eclipse, dam by Snap
Mr. C Pigott’s bay filly by Cardinal Puff, out of Duenna’s dam
Mr O’Kelly’s colt Budroo by Eclipse, out of a Sweeper mare
Dennis O'Kelly, gambler, pimp, horse breeder and dealer |
Mr Brereton, Mr Davis, Sir John Lade, and Mr Pigott decided to pay a forfeit and withdraw their horses from an impressive entry.
On this day, Budroo won, and Polydore came last.
The following year, Budroo beat the winner of the first Derby, Sir Charles Bunbury's Diomed, at a 300 guinea rematch at Newmarket.
Budroo and Polydore were both the progeny of Eclipse, a remarkable animal who changed racehorse breeding and from whom most modern thoroughbreds are descended. Eclipse also connects O'Kelly, who owned him, with The Duke of Cumberland, whose uncle bred him.
Sunday 11 February 2024
Another Dancer Sparks a Riot
The theatres of the eighteenth century often suffered from audience riots, and popular dancers failing to appear was often the trigger event.
An example is recounted in the 'Life of Mr James Quin', [1] Quin was a well-known actor-manager who retired to Bath.
"A new pantomime brought out at Drury Inne Theatre, which was to end with a grand dance; Madam Chateauneuf, the head dancer at that time was to have been the principal performer; but she being taken ill, the dance was necessarily set aside, though the managers published her name three successive nights, without making any apology for the omission. The first night the audience remained pretty quict: the second, they only hissed; but on the third night, they ushered out the ladies and began demolishing the house. The first motion that was made, and by a noble marquis, was to fire it, but that being carried in the negative, they began with the orchestra, broke the harpsichord and bass viols, together with the looking glasses, scenes and chandeliers, pulled up the benches in the pit, broke down the boxes, and even the royal arms."
Madam Chateauneuf was born in France on 15 April. 1721 and was orphaned while very young. She was adopted and brought up by. a dancer named Chateauneuf, who later married her.
She first appeared in London under the name "Mlle" Chateauneuf, dancing in the French company managed by Francisque Moylin, which played at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket about 116 times from 26 October 1734 through 3 June 1735. How many times did Mlle Chateauneuf dance that season is not recorded
1. Quin, James. The Life of Mr. James Quin, Comedian, with the History of the Stage from His Commencing Actor to His Retreat to Bath Illustrated with Many Curious and Interesting Anecdotes of Several Persons of Distinction, Literature and Gallantry. To Which Is Added a Supplement of Original Facts and Anecdotes Arranged from Authentic Sources Together with His Trial for the Murder of Mr. Bowen. London: Reader, 1887. Print.
Wednesday 3 January 2024
Proper positioning for dancing or conversing
"Let us, therefore, to draw nearer to the Subject in hand, inquire into the Nature of those Positions that must be observed, in order to attain this sine [sic] and becoming Presence: And that our Readers may be furnished with proper Directions to arrive at the fame, tho' perhaps, our Rules may not be so perfect as could have been wished, we flatter ourselves they will be of no small Use and Advantage; wherefore, without farther Apology, I shall enter upon the Description of Possum in general.
“The Positions, from which Dancing dates its Original, consist of five Principles: As, first, when the Toes turning outwards, the two Heels are equally placed together. Secondly, when both Heels are ”
confidently separated or open. Thirdly, when the Poise rests upon one Foot, the other being inclosed or placed before the Ancle of that Foot by which the Weight is supported. Fourthly, when the inclosed Foot is advanced upon a right line, about the Length of a Step in Walking. And, Fifthly, when, the Heel of the advanced Foot is so crossed and placed before the Toe of that Foot on which the Body rests, as that the Turning may be made, and yet one Foot not. in the lead, interrupt the other.
Wednesday 6 September 2023
France in an Uproar
- London : T. Cahusac, [1790]