1837

The Queen’s Accession—Proclamation—Funeral of the King—The Queen and Social Functions—Mr. Montefiore—Amusing Letter—Electric Telegraph—Knocker-wrenching: Amusements of the Young Aristocracy

1

Thames Tunnel Flooded—First Mention of the Nelson Column—Sale of the King’s Stud—Marriage by Registrar—Commencement of New Houses of Parliament—Lunatics and the Queen—The Queen’s Visit to the Guildhall—Lord Beaconsfield’s Maiden Speech

12

1838

Destruction of the Royal Exchange—Sale of the Salvage—Spring-heeled Jack and his Pranks—Lord John Russell’s Hat

23

Lords and Pugilists—“Penny Gaffs”—Steam between England and America—A Man-Woman—Designs for Nelson’s Monument—A Termagant—Scold’s Bridles, &c.

34

Thom, the Religious Fanatic—His Riots and Death—Delusions of his Followers

45

The Queen’s Coronation—The Carriages—The Fair and Festivities in Hyde Park—The Marquis of Waterford’s Drive: His Freaks at Melton Mowbray—Steam Carriages—Dog Carriages—Grand Dinner at Guildhall

53

Genesis of the “Charter”—London and North-Western Railway opened to Birmingham—Overland Route to India—A Bold Smuggler—Visitors to the Queen—“The Boy Jones”

65

1839

Death of Lord Norbury—Birth of Photography—Experimental Street Pavements—Forecast of the Queen’s Marriage—Sad Story of Lady Flora Hastings—Story of a Climbing Boy—Van Amburgh—Embanking the Thames—Victoria Park—Robbery of Gold Dust

77

Queen Elizabeth’s Statue—The Ladies of the Bed-chamber—The Queen hissed at Ascot Races—Land at Melbourne—Sunday Trading—New Way of Paying Church Rates

89

The Eglinton Tournament—Sale of Armour, &c.—The Queen of Beauty and the Cook—Newspapers and their Sales

100

The Chartists: Their going to Church—Dissolution of the Convention—Approaching Marriage of the Queen—The Queen and Lunatics—Raid on a Gaming House—Act of Penance

111

1840

Commencement of Penny Post—Postage Stamps—Prince Albert’s Allowance—The Times’ Comments on the Marriage—Royal Wedding Cake—Louis Napoleon’s Duel—Nelson Column—Noblemen’s Servants—Uproar at the Royal Italian Opera House

118

The Mulready Envelope—Plans of Royal Exchange decided on—Fire at York Minster—Queen shot at by Oxford—Oxford in Bedlam—Scientific Agriculture—Electro Metallurgy—Embossed Envelopes—Sale of Louis Napoleon’s Effects

130

Lord Cardigan and the “Black Bottle” Case—Lord Cardigan’s Duel with Lieut. Tuckett—Steam to India—Nelson Column—Mormonism—“The Boy Jones”—Napoleon’s Body transferred to France

142

1841

Death of Scott, “the American Diver”—Prince Albert’s Ducking—Monster Cheese—“The Boy Jones”—“Tracts for the Times”—Tract XC.—Earl of Cardigan flogs a Soldier on Sunday—Dispute as to the Discovery of the Electric Telegraph—Sale of Shakspere Autograph—The Census—Astley’s Amphitheatre Burnt—Behaviour of “Gentlemen”

152

Story of an Irish Informer—Steam Cars—Sale of Vauxhall Gardens—First Jewish Baronet—New Railway opened—High Tide—Fire at the Tower—Birth of Prince of Wales: His Patent as such—The Thames at length Tunnelled—Antiquities found in the Royal Exchange

165

1842

Foundation of Royal Exchange laid—Medal connected therewith—Father Mathew’s Miracle—Christening of the Prince of Wales—King Edward VII.—Hard Work of the King of Prussia—The Earthquake in London—The Queen drinking “Grog”—Photography—Talbotype—Sale at Strawberry Hill—Presents to the King of Prussia

177

The Royal “Bal CostumÉ”—The Queen shot at by Francis and by Bean—Duke of Cambridge’s Star—Chartism—Income Tax—Female Chartist Association—A Gipsy Trial—Closing of the Fleet Prison—Married in a Sheet—Enormous Damages in a Gambling Case

187

1843

Murder of Mr. Drummond—Rebecca and her Daughters—Spread of the Movement through Wales—Its End—Rebecca Dramatised—Rebecca in London

199

Gretna Green Parsons—Number of Marriages—Chinese Indemnity—Thames Tunnel—The Aerial Machine—Treasure Trove—Accident to Mr. Brunel—Arkwright’s Will—Secession in the Scotch Church—The “Gent”—Shakspere’s Autograph

209

Exhibition of Cartoons—A Duel—Gambling—The “Albert Hat”—Nelson’s Statue: Fun thereon—Soldier’s Savings Banks—A Post Boy and Lord Mayor’s Show—M. Jullien and his Orchestra—Prince Albert as a Farmer—George IV.’s Statue—Ojibbeway Indians

220

1844

A Child for Sale—Trial, &c. of Daniel O’Connell—General Tom Thumb: His Visit to the Queen—The Polka—How to dance it—“Jullien’s Grand Polka”

232

An English Dinner—Consols at Par—The “Running Rein” Case—Other Frauds—Royal Visitors—Opening Letters by Government—Duke of Wellington’s Statue—Barry on the Thames—Visit of Louis Philippe—Guano—Queen opens Royal Exchange—Lord Mayor Hissed

245

1845

Murder by Tawell—Curious Story—Statue of King William IV.—Visits by the Queen—Testimonial to Rowland Hill—Breaking the Portland Vase—Sad End of William Austin—Sale of Van Amburgh’s Stud—Hungerford Suspension Bridge—Accident at Yarmouth—An Excise Case—Beginning of the Railway Mania—Sailing of Sir John Franklin

256

The Queen’s Costume Ball—Copper Coinage of William IV.—New Oxford Street opened—Sale of Napoleon Relics—Story of Nelson’s Coat—Visit of the King of the Netherlands—Railway Speculation—Hire of Newspapers—Reverse of Fortune—Prince Albert and his Taxes—Waghorn’s Overland Route

267

The Railway Mania—Deposit of Plans

277

1846

Collapse of the Railway Mania—Sheriffs’ Officers—Hudson, the Railway King—First “Ethiopian Serenaders”—The Nigger Minstrel Craze—Commencement of Irish Famine—“The Battle of the Gauges”—Railway Surveyors—Suicide of Haydon, the Painter

284

The Last Post Office Bell-man—The “Corn Law” Act—Sir Walter Scott’s Monument—The Irish Famine—The Duke of Wellington’s Statue—Gun Cotton—Introduction of Ether—Model Dwelling Houses—Baths and Washhouses—Smithfield Cattle Market—“The Bull Fight of Smithfield”—The first Submarine Telegraph

296

1847

Medals for the Army and Navy—Grenville Library—Day of Fasting—“Binding of Satan”—Suspension of Transportation—New House of Lords—Jenny Lind—Bunn v. Lind—“Jenny Linden”—Death of O’Connell—Story of the Duke of Buccleugh—Abolition of Eton “Montem”

307