Rules of the Bath Assemblies

When Beau Nash came to Bath, he entered a world where the cream of British society came to socialise and address health issues. They all knew each other and had access to almost limitless resources. They were used to and quite capable of organising their own amusements, limited only by the rather primitive facilities and infrastructure that Bath afforded.

Even after Nash took charge, the rules of the Assemblies were very ill-defined. As Goldsmith says, "If the company liked each other, they danced till morning; if any person lost at cards, he insisted on continuing the game till luck should turn.”

Beau Nash’s rules for the company assembled at Bath were a feature of the Pump Room from at least the early 1720s and are quoted in Whatley’s “Characters at the Hot-Well Bristol and at Bath” in October 1723.  There is some evidence that, as early as 1715, Nash was using a popular local puppetry show to ridicule affectations he disapproved of, in particular, gentlemen appearing in boots and other riding attire at the Assemblies. The published rules quoted by Whatley are:

1. That a Visit of Ceremony at coming at Bath, and another at going away, is all that is expected or desired by Ladies of Quality and Fashion:- Except Impertinents.
2. That Ladies, coming to the Ball, appoint a time for their footmen’s coming to wait on them home; to prevent disturbances and inconveniences to themselves and others.
3. That Gentlemen of Fashion never appearing in a Morning before the Ladies in Gowns and Caps shew Breeding and Respect.
4. That no Person take it ill that any one goes to another’s Play, or Breakfast, and not theirs. Except Captious by Nature.
5. That no Gentlemen Gave his ticket for the Balls to any but Gentlewomen. N.B. Added in an unknown Hand: Unless he has none of his Acquaintance.
6. That all whisperers of lies and scandal, be taken for their authors.That all repeaters of such lies and scandal, be shun'd by all company; except such as have been guilty of the same crime.

These rules tell us something about the challenges Nash faced in bringing order to the aristocrats of the fashionable Ton. Bringing order was essential if those who had invested in the necessary improvements to facilities and infrastructure were to make a return on their investment. 

Goldsmith and others suggest that these written regulations were supplemented by a range of verbal instructions and commands, such as banning the wearing of swords, which was probably less intended to reduce acts of violence but to remove a symbol of status as part of a strategy to make access to Bath society easier for those of lesser status but ample funds.

In his biography of Nash, Elgin provides another example of rules designed to generate revenue for his collaborators, colleagues, and sponsors. These rules concern standards of dress such as those above, combined with early "Visits of Ceremony," which meant that visitors often found themselves in a position where they were faced with either appearing in their travelling clothes or acquiring the proper attire from local suppliers, as their luggage often arrived sometime after they did.

In his “Essay towards a Description of Bath”, published in 1765, John Wood tells us that the rules were revised and extended upon the completion of the Grand Parade and quotes those published in 1742. These show that the earlier rules had acquired three new ones, namely:

1. That no Gentleman or Lady take it ill that another dances before them:- except such as have no pretence to dance at all.
2. That the Elder Ladies and Children be content with a second bench at the Ball, as being past, or not come to perfection.
3. That Gentlemen crowding before the ladies at the ball, shew ill manners; and that none do soft the future:- Except such are respect no body but themselves.

Additionally, the original Rule 7 acquired an explanatory note as follows:

N.B. Several old women and young ones of questioned reputation are great authors of lies in this place.

The first of these rules suggested that Nash had to address a problem documented in relation to London assemblies. This problem derived from the convention that couples stood up for country dances in order of social status. This led to few issues where the company consisted of people with recognised titles. However, as the organisation of balls was delegated to commercial operators, who, in return, invested in new facilities and infrastructure, there was a financial incentive to increase attendance at balls among wealthy people whose relative social status was more difficult to establish.

The ladies' complete pocket-book,1758, repeats the amended list but adds an additional rule:

That the younger ladies shall take notice of how many eyes observe them. N.B. This do not extend to the Have-at-alls.

It also rewrites the note of clarification to the original rule 7 as follows:

N.B. Several Men of no character, Old Women and Young Ones, of questio’d Reputation, are great authors of lies in this place.

Following the Ball held to celebrate the Queen’s birthday in 1765, the newspapers reported that.

"The Master of the Ceremonies at Bath finds himself under the necessity to republish the following rules.

1. That no Gentleman present himself  for a minuet, except in full dress; or at least in a full dress French frock suit. Regimentals are an exception, being every where a proper dress.

2, That no Lady can dance minuets, without a full dress hoop and lappet head.

3. That no Lady can dance country dances with A HOOP OF ANY KIND, and no lady that attempts it cannot be angry at being desired to sit down, her standing up being against rule:"

Bearing in mind the restricted space and the large numbers, the reiteration and emphasis of this rule suggest that then Master of the Ceremonies Samual Derrick and his assistants must have faced some very awkward situations on the night.

He goes on to point out to Ladies that:

"there is a retirement, always ready, and a maid-servant to assist those that chuse [sic] to put off their hoops."

The last rule is is an additional more formal reinteration of Nash's verbal objections to riding clothes.

"4, Gentlemen in LEATHER-BREECHES must undergo the same fate with the country dancers hoops; there being no servant to assist them.”

These rules begin to reflect a trend that continued throughout the Georgian era, for the rules designed to cajole the rich into behaviour, which facilitated broadening the demographic and creating marketing opportunities, to change into rules designed to enforce conformance with behaviour and dress that maintained the illusion that the Bath social scene was for a fashionable elite, when this was increasingly not the case.

The first full list of his rules of rules we have from Samuel Derricks' reign as "the King of Bath" is from a letter by a visitor to Bath in 1766, as follows:

1. No Chair or Bench can be called on Ball Nights for any person, who does not rank as a Peer or Peeress of Great Britain or Ireland

2. No Lady can be permitted to dance Minuets, without Lappet head, and full-dress long Hoop, such as permitted to dance Minuets at Court.

3. No Lady can be permitted to dance Country Dances with an Hoop of any kind: and those that cause to put them off, will always find a servant maid ready to assist them and a proper Place to retire to for that purpose. The Master of the Ceremonies is under the Necessity of causing all Ladies infringing this rule to, sit down.

4. No Lady, be her Rank or Quality ever so high, has a Right to take place in Country Dances after they have been begun.

5. Every Gentleman chusing to dance Minuets, must present himself in a full Dress, or a French Frock Suit compleat, and a Bag wig. Officers Regimentals are a exception to this rule, being everywhere proper; but every other kind of Lapel is improper for a minuet at Bath.

6. It is recommended to the Gentlemen frequenting the Rooms to remember that leather Breeches are by no means suitable to the Decorum of the Place

7. Before the French Dances begin, such Ladies as chase to dance minuets, are desired to acquaint the Master of the Ceremonies with their Names and Intentions

8. Gentlemen are requested not to stand between the Ladies sitting down and the Country Dancers, the Benches being brought forward solely for the use of the Ladies and sufficient space left behind for the Gentlemen to pass thro’ behind.

9. The Music is always to be dismissed as soon as the Clock strikes Eleven.

10. No Ladies with Hats can be admitted to the Rooms at Bath, be their rank or Quality ever so high, during the season.

11. No large Screens can be brought into any Card-Party in the Rooms on any account, as they not only divide the company into secluded Setts, which is against the fundamental Institution of these Places, but occasions such a Draught of Air, as is not only disagreeable to the rest of the Company, but often detrimental. There are small Screens provided for such Individuals as complain of Cold. 

Evenings in Bath in 1798

Letters from Elizabeth Canning to her mother [1]

In her letter of Monday, November 19th 1798, she recounts the events of the previous Friday.

'I went to dress & made ourselves very smart before half past seven, when we took ourselves off to Mrs Leman's party. I wore a beautiful wreath of white jasmine which Mrs Leigh gave me & looked remarkably well. We have uncommon good fun at our party, - & I have some choice stories in store for you, concerning Letitia and Mr Cobbe, - Do not you admire the idea Tish & me flourishing about tete-a-tete - she demeans herself very prettily as a chaperon - & is altogether much improved, in my opinion - Between eight and nine we left Mrs Lehman's & returned to Milsom Street - where we paid our compliments to Mrs Leigh & Mr Frere & told our comical adventures - then we took chair again & proceeded to the lower-rooms where Major Powlett was waiting for us. - It was too late for much dancing - my partner for the little time there was - was nothing extraordinary therefore I shall not introduce him - I had a flirtation with Captain Hill of the Guards - who was grieved at having engaged himself before my arrival, - Home at eleven, as usual - & our little supper party was very pleasant.'

The next day, Saturday evening.

'The Powletts & I went to the Play In the evening, We were to have had a number of gay folks In our party - Miss Newenham Miss Barry & Major Peacock but some unlucky accident or another obliged them all to make excuses & we were obliged to content ourselves with the Trio above-mentloned. "The Castle / Spectre," [by Matthew George ("Monk")] Lewis,with music by Michael Kelly was very well performed - & entertained / us very much indeed - and

what do you / think was the farce? Why the very thing I have heard you name of an hundred times - "The Old

Mald" [by Alexander Murphyl - It answered my / expectations fully - so that the evening's amusement was complete. My Beau, Captaln Hill, as usual was In the way to hand me out.

On Sunday evening.

'It was time to dress for Lady Trimlestown's where we had promised to pass the evening. It was nothing very brilliant - I sung a good deal & quite made an end of the heart of poor Captain Hill, of the Guards - who in consequence was forced to say so many tender things, that I was quite overpowered; and the end of the matter was my being under the necessity of promising to dance with him this evening. - Do you know Mrs L & they all row me so much for writing long letters.'

Mrs Legh was Elizabeth's aunt and host at Bath.

Mrs Leman was probably Frances (d. 1818), daughter and heiress of William Nind, barrister, and widow of Colonel Alexander Champion of Bath, who was married to Rev. Thomas Leman (29 March 1751 – 17 March 1826), an English antiquarian. The Lemans were prominent residents of Bath who lived in the Royal Crescent.

Captain Hill of the Guards, may have been the future Sir Robert Chambre Hill (1778-1860). He later became a distinguished cavalry officer, commanding the Royal Horse Guards at the Battle of Waterloo.

Lady Trimlestown was born Alicia Eustace, daughter of General Charles Eustace and Alice McAusland and the second wife of Nicholas Barnewall, 14th Baron Trimlestown (8 June 1726 – 16 April 1813) an Irish landowner in County Dublin, Ireland.

1. Bath Archive ref ALB. 2169 Autograph Letter Canning Afterwards Barnett

A Young Girls first visit to Bath in the 1790's

In November 1792, when she was about 15, Elizabeth Canning visited Bath in the company of her Aunt Bess and her Aunt Fanny, where they were the guests of her wealthy Uncle Rev. William Leigh and her Aunt Harriet Canning Leigh, who had taken a house for the season in Marlborough Buildings.

In one of her first letters, Elizabeth tells her mother that she is finding her Uncle a little hard to live with, as he was a Tory and opposed to proposals for Parliamentary Reform, while her family were Whigs. Indeed, her mother was a close friend of Richard Sheridan, a keen supporter of reform. In the same letter, she relates how she spent the previous weekend. On Friday evening, her Aunts had been invited to a party, to which they went at about seven O’clock, leaving Elizabeth at home with two young female companions who occupied themselves with crafts, card games, and, of course, gossip until nine O’clock, when they had supper and then sat in front of a blazing fire telling stories until bed. 

On Saturday, she and her Aunt Fan passed the day by drawing while her cousin Letitia read. In the evening, her Aunts went to another party, but her Uncle stayed at home with the girls. 

On Sunday, Elizabeth could not accompany her family to Church as she had a cold, so she "lost the pleasure of hearing Mr Leigh’s Sermon which they tell me was very much approved", This sermon was subsequently published as “A sermon preached in Bath, during the month of December 1792, at the parish church of Walcot, and the chapels of St Margaret and Queen-square pointing out the necessity of building a free church”. In the evening, the party was joined by Miss Linley (probably Sheridan’s wife's sister Jane Nash Linley, a noted singer), and after they had dined, they had "Music all the Evening."

On Monday, they were at home all day. The morning was spent studying, and in the evening, they played music, read, did needlework, and played their favourite card game, Casino, at which Elizabeth tells us she is "grown, a most knowing hand."

On Wednesday, Jenny Linley joined them at breakfast. Jenny was a sister to the famous singer Elizabeth Linley and the daughter of leading Bath musician Thomas Linley, who had died earlier that year. Jenny was a fine musician and teacher in her own right and lent Elizabeth Haydn’s lessons for practising.

The next day, the party were keenly anticipating a visit from Dr Bain, who had attended Elizabeth Linley Sheridan during her final illness.

'Miss L [Linley] leaves this place tomorrow morning with her father; it is very provoking she should be going so soon – who do you think we expect at any moment? No less a person than, than the charming Doctor; - when I heard he was expected today, I began to lament, the remains of Scabby Mouth, which I have so often mentioned, but lo! Just as I was beginning these lamentations, Miss [Jane Nash] Linley observed, that Dr Bain intended, going abroad, when he was married.  Married! We all cried and pray who has carried of[f] this prize, this soft, this [illegible]  Doctor. La Lady grin as much as you please of large fortune was the answer well the Scabby Mouth said I, since my chance is gone, you may grin as much as you please, there’s a story to tell the King of _______________ I was most agreeably surprised Yesterday (on returning from a jolting in the carriage) by your letter. You were a very good old lady for telling me all your manoeuvres at Isleworth so soon. I am sorry about the things, but it can not be helped – they took me to the [Lower Assembly] Rooms last Night [this was the first of the Fancy Balls which replaced the Cotillion Balls] but for the Novelty of the thing, I should have thought it very stupid, I saw a good many faces that I had seen before, among the rest Mrs Smith and one of the Miss Scots, who is turned into a Mrs Mc-Somebody, to the great delight of her Mama, my three Aunts, played Cards, & were all successful the little one [Bess Patrick?] brought home her Louis d’or, Jassun [sic] you. I was very much amused looking over the Table of Cassino, at which Aunt Fan played, and observing the faces & vexation of the losing party. We came home at ten o’clock – tomorrow I am to go to the undress Ball [a Fancy Ball]. .'

“at length a little past seven arrived and we set sail, were soon safe landed, at the Upper Rooms. By that time I felt all impatience to be in the Ball room, & was picturing to myself all the charms I could conceive, such a place to have, when we entered it. I was fully gratified, for to be sure I never saw so brilliant an assembly. It was amazingly crowded, although the minuets had not begun, so much so that we found some difficulty to get seats.”

After watching the Minuets

“there was a great humming & hawing whether or no I should dance. If I could get a partner, I felt at first as if I should be afraid but the sound of the music did so insinuate itself into my ears, that all idea of fear took itself off & I declared to Mrs Leigh  that I should like to dance, if I could get some mighty smart partner”

After a break for tea

“Mrs Leigh was not unmindful of her little niece, for she sent her good man to look for some dapper little personage for me & indeed he succeeded very well, for he soon brought us a Young Gentleman of about fifteen the smartest little mister you ever saw. When I perceived the gentleman I began to fear lest I should be obliged to accept him, but might have saved myself that trouble, for the pride of the old aunts was up at the idea of my making my first company with a lump of a boy”

After this unfortunate start

“Mr Leigh was dispatched after two or three dapper people that Mrs L had in her mind’s eye for me, among the rest Sir William Andre.”

Sir William was 32 and had become a Baronet when his brother was executed as a spy by the Americans.

“we were standing on the upper bench, so that we could all around the room to where we saw Mr Leigh rushing about till he got to Sir W and there was a little parleying and then they walked together as if coming towards us. Then my heart began to palpitate half afraid and yet wishing to dance but after being kept in suspense for some time Mr Leigh returned to us unsuccessful as for Sir William he had refused several ladies already & could not possibly dance then without offending them, another was engaged, & a third was tired, so among them your poor little pixie was obliged to content herself without cutting capers. Which indeed I did not much lament as, as the heat was so great that I almost doubt I should not have been able to have got down the dance, but the next time I go to a Ball now that I know the manoeuvres of it I shall get them to look out for a partner earlier in the evening, and then I shall have a better chance. Altogether I was very well satisfied with the evening’s amusements and came home in very good spirits, to supper, between eleven and twelve. I slept very well & dreamt all night of the fine rooms.”

Adolphe, Vicomte du Barry

"Buried in the church yard (St Nicholas Bathampton) is the body of the French aristocrat, Adolphe, Vicomte du Barry, a nephew-by-marriage and close personal friend of, Louis XV's legendarily beautiful mistress. The Vicomte had been living in nearby Bath when he was killed in a duel with an Irish adventurer, Captain Rice." - Wikipedia

Adolphe was the son of Jean-Baptiste DuBarry, comte du Barry-Cérès, vidame de Châlons-en-Champagne (1723 - 17 January 1794), a French nobleman. He is most notable as the lover and pimp of Jeanne Bécu (later better known as Madame du Barry, Louis XV's last official mistress), later becoming her brother-in-law by arranging a marriage-of-convenience between her and his younger brother Guillaume Dubarry at the église Saint-Laurent de Paris on 1 September 1768. Through that union, both the brothers benefited from royal largesse. 

Adolphe first met Jean Becu at age 14, when he joined his father in Paris after spending his early life with his mother. Jeanne and Adolphe seem to have enjoyed a close friendship from the start; she was only six years older than he.

Jean-Baptiste was determined to get his son installed as a page at the court of Versailles. To achieve this, he needed the backing of the all-powerful Duc de Richelieu. To achieve this, he was ready to sell Jeanne's "services" to the minister. 

Towards the end of 1765, there seems to have been a rift between Jean-Baptiste and Jeanne caused by his jealousy of the close relationship that had developed between his son and his mistress. However, they were soon reconciled, and Jean-Baptiste saw advantage in having his son, who had now been promoted to being a subaltern in the King’s infantry, explain court customs and the complicated protocols and etiquette of the court to Jeanne.

Once Jeanne was established at court, Adolphe's mother used the situation to try to secure an advantageous marriage for her son. After meeting considerable resistance to having a pimp and brothel operator as a father-in-law for their daughters, the Du Barrys had to satisfy themselves with a penniless, but beautiful, seventeen-year-old relation of the Prince Rahan de Soubise. 

Her name was Helene de Tournon, and she arrived in Paris totally ignorant of the background to her marriage. 

Adolphe du Barry was honoured to have his marriage witnessed by the entire Royal family. However, the Dauphine Marie Antoinette showed her disapproval by giving orders that effectively excluded Helene from her court. This left her trapped in the company of her husband’s aunt and the elderly women who formed her court. This experience explains why she quickly grew to detest both her husband and his family.

Following the king's death and his grandson's ascension to the throne as Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette had Jeanne exiled to the Abbey du Pont-aux-Dames.

As a young man with little to recommend him other than a handsome face, Adolphe now found himself without employment. He had inherited from his father a passion for and some skill at gambling. 
With the fall of his aunt, Adolphe had been forced to resign his commission and was forbidden to appear at court. This was the ultimate humiliation for his wife. 

Adolphe recognised he had no future in Paris and so decided to try his luck at the gambling tables of Spa. 
By 1777, Adolphe and his wife, building on their success in Spa, had moved to Bath, where they hired one of the largest houses in the Royal Crescent and kept open house for some of the smartest society in town. With them was an Irish adventurer, one Count Rice, whom they had met in the gambling houses of Spa. Rice was a soldier of fortune who had fought in the Imperial armies and had been given the title of Count by the Emperor. 

The Du Barrys seem to have used their seat address to run Faro tables. 

Faro houses were notorious for bilking their customers. Indeed, the odds of the game are such that the house could only ensure profits by cheating.

The sort of money that could be made from this game by Faro house operators is illustrated by a court case reported in the Bath newspapers in 1787.

Gambling was always central to the entertainment that drew the Ton to Bath, and repeated attempts by the law to regulate it failed in the face of the Georgian obsession with gaming and the large sums of money to be made catering to it.

As the Bath Chronicle of 12th April 1787 reported:

"Yesterday Mr. John Twycross and Mr Richard Weternall were convicted before the Mayor, on several counts, of keeping a Faro and other Gambling Table and sentenced to pay, Twycross four hundred, and Wettenall fourteen hundred pounds"

The article goes on to say:
"Eighteen hundred pounds [approximately the equivalent £100,000 today] is a seemingly large sum; but when the various arts of seduction to support this Faro Table, and its immense profits, are considered, it will appear a mere trifle. Every allurement of expensive eating and the richest wines are ever speciously ready, to invite the convivial. The hounds are principally, if not solely, supported to take in country gentlemen; and the present culprits are only the ostensible members of a numerous co-partnership, amongst whom the money may be easily raised; and who, like the Syrens of old, are unceasingly employed to draw devoted victims into this dreadful vortex of destruction.”

One is tempted to see parallels with the card parties that Adolphe’s father ran in his notorious 
Parisian home and his use of the beautiful Jeane Becu, then known as Madam de Vaubernier, to lure young men to lose their money at his Faro tables. Certainly, the beautiful Helene and her fifteen-year-old sister were reported to have been seen at every ball in town.

It is unclear what sparked the dispute that led Rice and Du Barry to fight a duel, but possible causes include disagreements over the allocation of funds and the treatment of Du Barry’s wife and sister-in-law.
The local newspaper reported on the duel which took place on Claverton Down as follows:

‘On arriving at the ground the Viscount gave Count Rice his sword, which he had brought with his own; and previous to his firing declared, that let what would happen he would neither give nor take quarter; he rested his pistol on his sword, fired first at Count Rice, at the distance of thirteen yards and shot him through the upper part of the thigh. Count Rice was almost brought to the ground, but soon recovered and fired at the same distance. 

A letter published in Aris’s Birmingham post recounts the Dual as follows.

“They came to the Tuns, 'with their two Seconds, Capt. R-- and Mr. T--, about two o'clock in the Morning. Capt. R. ordered a Post-Chaise and Four, drove to Claverdon , where they all dismounted, and ordered the Drivers to wait behind a Wail, beside which a Clump of Firs stood between this spot and the Ground on which the fought. The Surgeon declined accompanying them to the spot, saying, he should within call if wanted; buy the Boys having secured their Horses, got within the Firs, and saw the whole. They were between two and three hours upon the the Down waiting for daylight, and just about seven o’clock the ground was marked (eight paces) and each was provided with four brace of pistols; they each discharged their first shot as nearly together as possible. Count Rice missed his aim, but Du Barry lodged his ball in Rice’s groin, or rather thigh, which made him stagger, and as he was about to drop, he took the pistol out of his left hand, levelled it and the ball entered Du Barry’s body just below the right breast, when he gave a most extraordinary spring into the air, fell down and expired immediately. The two seconds called the surgeon to the assistance of Count Rice; but what is most extraordinary, left him while while they made the best of their way to Bath. The body of the Count Du Barry lay all day unnoticed and unguarded by his friends, and scarce a man or boy in Bath; who had time of curiosity, but what listed the handkerchief of his face, opened his waistcoat, and fingered the wound. Count Rice lies at York House, and they say is now out of danger. The two seconds are off, and Cadby the Surgeon, refuses to say a word till called upon at trial if their should be one. It is very strange, that though this fatal affair was very publicly talked of in Bath as early as between seven and eight in the Morning, Count Barry’s Lady heard nothing of it till near one o’clock, when she was told of it by the Duke of Northumberland’s chaplain, which occasioned a distress easier to be conceived than described. The cause of this unhappy quarrel is said to be gaming and jealousy.”

The trial of Count Rice for the death of Viscount Du Barry started with the prosecution making the case for his conviction for the murder of Du Barry. Rice, in response, made the following statement:

‘My acquaintance with Viscount Du Barry originated in Paris in the year 1774. His family were then soliciting some favour at Vienna, and my connexion at that Court, which he thought might be serviceable to him, engaged his attention to me. We lived from that period, till the day before his death, in an intercourse of mutual good offices and civility. An expensive line of life, and considerable losses at play, frequently involved him in difficulties, to extricate himself from which he often borrowed large sums of money of me. I have in my possession letters which I shall now produce, acknowledging the receipt of various sums of money, as well as bills and notes of hand, to the amount of some thousand pounds still unpaid, and which from the embarrassed state of his affairs, I must look on as a total loss.

A gouty humour, which fell upon his bowels and legs last summer, induced some English Physicians he met at Spa to recommend the use of Bath waters. Determined as it appears by these letters written a few days before he set off for England, to play no more, and to regulate his affairs with prudence; he resolved upon this excursion in order to attend to his health and restore his peace of mind. He frequently solicited me to accompany him, to which I at last consented; and accordingly we came to England together, at mutual and proportional expense. We took a house in Bath; and lived there upon the same terms. For some weeks we continued to live in our former and accustomed intimacy; and, though the Viscount Du Barry was a man of impetuous temper, without any material disagreement till the unfortunate dispute which terminated in the loss of his life, and the imminent hazard of mine. It is needless here to enter into the origins of that dispute, or impute blame to the deceased who can no longer vindicate his conduct.”
The Count, after some pathetic observation on the suffering he had undergone from his wound, concluded by referring to the evidence already given, as some reasons, he said prevented his calling the Seconds before the Court with propriety, and committed himself with confidence into the hands of his Jury; persuaded, to use his own words, that in order to determine justly upon his conduct in the crime imputed to him, they would put themselves in his situation, and adopt those feelings by which he was necessarily actuated on the unfortunate occasion. 

Mr Justice Nares addressed the jury in an affecting speech; remarked to them in particular the unusual backwardness the prisoner had shown in this transaction, and his humanity to the unfortunate Viscount after his fall, and directed a verdict for manslaughter.

How to walk

 Kellom Tomlinson's dancing manual The Art of Dancing Explained (London, 1735).

Of WALKING.   

WALKING consists of Motion and a Change of Place, by transferring the Weight or Poise of the Body from one Foot to the other, by stepping or advancing the disengaged Foot (whichsoever it be) from the first Position to the fourth advanced, and so alternately, concluding as at first, but always on the contrary Foot In order to walk  gracefully, it is to be observed, that, during the Step or Motion made by the disengaged Foot, as above, the-whole Weight of the Body shall rest on the fame Foot as at commencing it, until the stepping Foot is advanced its due Length of Step; and, on its receiving the Poise or Weight on the Ball or full Part of the Heel, upon fetting it to the Ground or Floor, the now disengaged Foot, which at first fupported the Weight, becoming by this means released, attends the Poise in a gentle and easy Motion, until it arrive in its former Position; but on the contrary Foot for the Step next ensuing, which is made in like Manner, and so on; for if, inftead of the Body's waiting or attending the Motion of the stepping Foot, as above described, it should either go before or along with it, the Grace that ought to accompany our Steps, in walking,  is lost, because the Foot must constantly go before the Body, to receive it, other wise it will always reprefent the Body in a falling Posture.     

And it is farther to be noted, that, in  Walking with a good Grace, Time and Harmony must be observed, as well as in  Dancing.  For Example, the setting down or receiving the Poise, at the End of the Step, is upon  One;  the taking up the disengaged Foot, by a gentle and easy raising the Heel and pointing the Toe, in one intire Motion, which is the Manner of taking up the Foot to step, is upon  Three;  and Two is in the coming up of the disengaged Foot after the Step has been made, which may be continued faster or slower, but must always be in one certain Time, counting  One, Two,  and  Three,  as in Music. And, by this Method, the Body with a good Grace resting or landing, 'till two Thirds of the Three we count, must necessarily add great Beauty to our to our walking, which is the Case under Consideration; for the Step is made upon  One, the Preparation or Taking up the Foot, to make the Step,  Three,  and Two is in the coming up of the released Foot, to continue our walking.        

And, as to the Motion of the Arms in  Walking,  they will naturally have their due Course or Swing, in a continual Contrast or Opposition to the Feet; for, when the right Foot steps forward wards, the left Arm advances, in Contradi&ion, as the right Ann does, when the left Foot ileps forwards (g), and fo alter* nately; and the like in  Walking backwards, in Relation to the Contrail, but not with Refpe& to the Arms, beeaufe, in  Waiting backwards, the Contradi&on is between the fame Arm and Foot; for, when the right Foot ileps back (h), the right Arm advances in Oppofitioh, as, when the left Foot ileps backwards (i), the left Arm advances, as aforefaid, and fo on, if continued. Having, I hope, offered what will prove satisfactory

A Charity Ball in Bath in 1801

We learn from the Annals of Bath from 1801 that "The Battle of Copenhagen had been fought, and, while all who were blest with the means, had been recently straining every nerve to relieve their famished townsmen, yet they were not unmindful of those brave fellows who had fought and suffered in their country's cause, before the walls of that city.

"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 was born 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.

Countess of Moira’s Lilt

"A Selection of Elegant & Fashionable Country Dances Reels Waltzes &co for the ensuing season 1808 including those much admired Neapolitan & Maltese Pandean Airs, arranged for the Piano Forte or Harp also Flute or Patent Flageolet, with an accompaniment for the piano forte or harp by August Voigt" included the dance, the 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 the 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 a bog body 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.

Augustus Voigt was a German composer who lived in London early in the nineteenth century. He composed many popular tunes, but he was better known for his skill in improving an existing melody. 

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.