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{Transcriber note - identification of italics not required - please see instructions} [[start large newsprint page top left]] [[Masthead]] THE COURT [[Image - royal crest]] JOURNAL: Gazette of the Fashionable World. No. 391. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1836. PRICE 8d. THIS JOURNAL, BEING STAMPED, CIRCULATES POSTAGE FREE TO ALL PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. [[end masthead]] [[start column 1 of 3]] THE VAUXHALL ADVENTURE; OR, ROMANCE IN A BALLOON. SURELY I must have been dreaming! It is incredible that, in this nineteenth and rational century, such an event could have happened as is now floating in my mind, like the balloon in the air; therefore my judgment shall be suspended, like the car thereunto attached, until I have the weight of the world's opinion thrown in, like the ballast sand-bags! For this purpose, I will simply relate how a beautiful young lady and an elegant young gentleman (well known in the world of fashion) met for the first time in a balloon; but, lest my narration may seem too extraordinary for belief, I mean to avoid all responsibility by saying "I dreamt." In the early part of the first week in October, 1836, then, I dreamt that Mr Green's extra-extraordinarily large balloon was to ascend from Vauxhall Gardens; and the eventful morning wore a determined appearance, intimating that the balloon had better not go up, because the rain wished to come down. But who ever talks even of the weather, in England? In defiance of the rain, I, and upwards of a thousand equally sensible individuals, assembled at the Gardens, about five o'clock, to witness this grand specimen of inflation, aerostation, and gyration; at which hour "places had been booked inside" for four individuals besides the Messrs Green. The silk was inflated, the car attached, the German Baron and Baroness T-b-t, and two gentlemen, seated therein; Mr Green, after casting around the lasciate-ogni-speranza look of a desponding conducteur d'omnibus, as he relinquished his last hope of discovering one more five-and-twenty-guinea passenger to complete his fare, had just decided to leave mother earth, when a slight stir appeared among the bystanders, and a youthful female, of prepossessing and ladylike appearance, advanced eagerly through the crowd, as though fearful of being "too late for her place." Having expressed to Mr Green her desire to join the party going in the balloon, that gentleman evinced his great satisfaction at the circumstance, delicately hinting, at the same time, the "preliminary step" of paying twenty-five guineas. For this the young lady seemed fully prepared, as she instantly placed the required amount in his hands, and stepped gracefully into the car, which now contained its full complement. The age of the fair heroine did not exceed nineteen summers; her countenance was interesting, her dress presented an appearance of simple elegance such as is usual among gentle- 391.--1836 [[end column]] [[continued column 2 of 3 this article]] women; and although she appeared quite alone, not a look or movement rendered her respectability questionable, notwithstanding her most singular intention. Nothing can describe the sensation caused by the enterprising choice of such a modest-looking person; and many gay and gallant hearts wished themselves in the place of the Messrs Green, or of the two gentlemanly individuals, or of the steady German Baron and Baroness, who were to bear the fair creature company to the skies. One group especially, consisting of three gentlemen, seemed to evince a particular degree of interest in the event; and they bore (in my dream) the semblance of the Earl of C--v--t--y, the Hon. T. C----y, and Capt. O----e of B---- square. They seemed to feel the most chivalric regret that the fair aeronaut should go unattended; and at length the gallant Captain O----, in the true spirit of knight-errantry, stepped forward and volunteered to become one of the adventurous party. While settling the "preliminary step" with Mr Green, Captain O---- endeavoured to elicit from him some information respecting the young lady; but all the intelligence he could gather was, that her name was Miss A----n, that she had come to the Gardens in a private carriage, and had given her coachman orders to wait at the entrance until he saw the balloon rise; then he was to drive off, and follow as much as possible the direction it seemed to take. This order was more easily given than executed in the clouds, as the coachman ultimately found even with high-trotting horses! One of the professional aeronauts having relinquished his place, so that Captain O---- might find room for his adventure, the balloon rose majestically, despite the rain, and after hesitating on its course, at length decided it, leaving Vauxhall Gardens and its thousand pair of upturned eyes, Miss A----n's puzzled coachman and the high-trotting horses, in the little world below. The varieties of prospect, and the alternations of good and bad weather, gratified our travellers according to their different degrees of enthusiasm; the steady German Baron felt pleased, Miss A----n enraptured! At one time a gleam of sunshine would brighten her new friend's large dark eyes, while in the next moment a friendly cloud, brimful of rain, gave them an expressive softness. Thus they went on, in sunshine and rain, like a courtship in April, until the shades of night thought proper to descend. So also did Mr Green; and then the rain determined not to be left behind, so it descended likewise - not in the [[end column]] [[continued, column 3 of 3]] ordinary colander, or shower-bath fashion, but in fountains, waterspouts, Niagaras! There was a world of labour and trouble in pushing about the sand-bags, letting the gas escape, and I cannot tell how many more scientific manœuvres, until at length the party safely landed, completely drenched with rain, in a ploughed, inundated field. No sign of human habitation was within their horizon; they tried in several directions, and at length discovered the high road, which, after a dreary walk of three long miles, conducted them to Uxbridge. The Baron and Baroness T----t very wisely sought the comfort of their rooms for the night, with a large fire; the Messrs Green and the two gentlemen started off together for town; so that none remained unprovided for, except the heroic Miss A----n, and the chivalrous Capt. O----, to whom, in departing, Mr Green had said, by way of consolation, "You see, sir, this undertaking was not fit for a lady!" Captain O---- felt the sad truth of this valediction as he looked at his dripping companion: clinging, wet silk stockings, and muddy satin shoes, clothed her feet; so his heart prompted the necessity of changing them for others not quite so damp. Accordingly they sought out a shop where "chaussures des dames" were sold; which they entered, and related their adventures. I know not whether the Uxbridge shopkeepers are noted for being credulous (perhaps they fancied it was a dream!) but the young lady found shoes and stockings, and several other elegant adjuncts of the female toilette, there: in these the woman of the house helped to array her; while Captain O---- procured a chaise, in which, after a most agreeable tête-à-tête of fifteen miles, he conveyed the fair traveller to her friends, according to the address she gave him. The following day, as in duty bound, he called to make enquiries after the health of his late compagnon de voyage: and he found her family living in a respectable, well-appointed house, not one hundred miles from Oxford street. Miss A----n's father and mother were indignant beyond description at the "flight," of which they had had no intimation until her return, as she had taken out the carriage under the excuse of shopping. But they were most grateful to Captain O---- for the considerate care he had bestowed on the youthful object of their wrath, whom he was not then enabled to see, as, from the combined effects of terror, rain, scolding, fatigue, and varieties of atmosphere, Mis A----n has ever since been confined to her bed. Did all this really happen the week before last? Or is it merely the dream of L. [[end column]] [[end clipping]] [[start new clipping]] THE LONDON SINGER'S MAGAZINE, AND RECITER's ALBUM. EDITED BY MR. T. PREST. [[Image - The basket of a balloon in flight, with five men and a woman as passengers, is tipping over and one man is falling out; another is reaching to grab him.]] [[Table of contents left-hand column]] The monster balloon ........... 113 Tallow-chandler's courtship ... 114 The beau ideal ................ 115 Beneath cool shades reposing ...... ib Again shall I behold him ....... ib The beggar's crest ............ 116 [[contents, centre column]] When the dew is on the grass ... ib The minstrel woo'd ............. ib Going to Greenwich by water .... ib Midnight stars are gleaming ... 117 Meet me to-night ............... ib To forget her, ah where ........ ib [[contents, right-hand column]] Strike the harp ............... 118 Joey, the barber ............... ib Music on the waters ............ ib The statue [[kings ?]] ......... 119 Postilion of Lonjumeau ........ 120 Drink to-night ................. ib [[end table of contents]] [[column 1 of 2 of song]] A TRIP IN THE MONSTER BALLOON. An Original Comic Song, written by J. Thomas, and sung at all the London Concerts with great applause. Air - 'The bailiffs are coming' Oh, have you not heard of this monster balloon, That means to take passengers up to the moon; If not, I'll describe as it now is my theme, The joys of a trip in this monster machine. I thought d'ye see, as the wonder was new, Of friends, I'd endeavour to rally a few; So all on us mustered one Monday at noon, To join in a trip in this monster balloon. Sam Veller, and I, and old Timothy Scroggs, Bedecked as we were in our holiday togs, No. 15.--Vol. 1. [[end column]] [[column 2 of 2 of song]] Together with charming Miss Barbara Boon, All met for a trip in this monster balloon. Our party was large so we started in fives, At Woxhall in werry good time we arrives, Tho' when we fust started our joy was in bloom, Now horrid to state it was turned into gloom. The moment we saw this enormous machine, The largest to eyesight that ever was seen; Mrs. B. tumbled off in a horrible swoon, At the werry fust sight of the monster balloon. Sam Veller and I, &c. At length Mrs. B. the dear cretur rewived, To stifle her feelings we all on us tried, [[end page/clipping]] [[right-hand column]] [[clipping 1 of 4 this column]] THE COURT JOURNAL. ^[[Nov. 12 1836 - handwritten in ink]] THREE APOSTROPHES TO THE AERONAUTS. (FOR THE PRESENT PERIOD.) Oh! Mr Green, Crosser of "azure main," and skimmer of "sky-blue!" Was ever mortal seen In car triumphal, loftier than you? Talk of sky-blue! thou'lt reach the milky way, Then evermore we'll put thy name "in stars;" Thou iron-hearted man! midnight and twilight grey To thy high "mettle" are but feeble bars! And we, like cats i' the dark, do prowl about To find you out o' nights, While you amuse our hopes by hanging out Gas lights! Are the fruits, gather'd from exploits like these, Won with less danger than the Hesperides? We only hear that now and then you find Some "currents" to your mind! Metals may be corroded - Fashions and colours change from year to year - But never let us changing mortals hear That Green, or his Balloon's, exploded! Oh! Mr Mason, The Music of the Spheres was thy attrition, To take thro' "fleecy" clouds an expedition, Somewhat like Jason; Who was attracted to the golden fleece, By strange attrition - "Greece!" What a strange Mason thou must be to build Thy fame upon a Car, - thy glory Upon a giant bubble - vapour fill'd! Where's the foundation of thy lofty story? Oh! Mr Holland Another "flying Dutchman" o'er the wave! Must thou have added to thy name - "the brave," Like famous Roland! Unlike the former sprite, A spirit, like to Holland's, seen afar Shall cheer the heart of every tar In stormiest night! 'Tis a main chance In crossing o'er the Main, That missing France, Holland shall pounce on Belgium once again! But pray, good Holland, let's have no more slaughter, And Ocean-spirits guard thy spirit from - the Water! E.L.J. [[end clipping]] [[clipping 2 of 4 this column]] THE BALLOON. - * * * Yet is this all to be done? Are the powers of this great machine to be wasted for ever on a holiday show? On dropping Dukes of Brunswick out and taking Cockneys in? On gathering guineas into the pocket of the future Mr. Grahams, and putting their future wives wide and wild between the sky and the earth? Are we never to have the power of traversing the deserts of the south, the forests of the west, and the snows of the north, without the slow travel, the long labour, and the torturing disease? Are we never to have the means of varying our climate without passing from our own land; of shooting up from the fervours of a feverish summer into regions where no cloud intercepts the sun, and yet where eternal freshness reigns? Of meeting the morning, not in the mists of our heavy capitals, but in the rosy lights of the ethereal Aurora? Of resting above the mountains, and looking down with philosophic delight on the infinite variety of form, life, and beauty below? Of sailing in our meteor-ship among the world of meteors, and floating among the golden and vermillion canopies of that "great soldan," the sun, as he slumbers on the west? What a vast, various, and lovely increase to the enjoyments, the knowledge, and the social affections of man would be given by this power of rapid transit, beyond all the harsh restraints of human domination, the difficulties of space, and almost the expenditure of time! * * * It is scarcely possible to conceive that so fine an invention as the balloon would have been placed in our hands to be for ever worthless; to tempt us by its apparent powers, and to disappoint us by its real inutility.- Blackwood's Magazine. ^[[Nov. 1836 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[clipping 3 of 4 this column]] ^[[Dec. 30, 1836]] [[insertion handwritten in ink]] THEATRES. DRURY LANE.--The "ryght pithy, pleasau[[nt?]] and merie comedie, intytuled Gammer [[Gurto?]] Needle," formed the peg whereon the pantomi[[me]?] is at this house hung. The characters in t[[he?]] preludium are for the most part those of the o[[?]] comedy; the Gammer, the Bedlam, Dame Chat[[?]] Dr Ratte, and Hodge, are legitimate actors on t[[he?]] scene, to which are added some others, to gi[[ve?]] the pantomime its necessary features of love a[[nd?]] hate, the great first causes of Harlequin, Colu[[m?]]bine, Clown, and Pantaloon. [[end clipping]] ^[[Aeronautikon - handwritten in pencil on under-page]] [[start clipping 4 of 4 this column]] hit in the piece. The scenic attractions centre chiefly in the Aeronautikon, or view from the "Monster Baloon," in the journey so recently performed. Mr Green appears in appropriate vernal costume - Mr Holland, as a Dutchman, with a long pipe and wide "blistered breeches," and Mr Monck Mason in the guise of a Benedictine. The balloon ascends a few feet above the stage, where it remains stationary, and the scenery, with a downward rotatory motion, passes beneath it. The flight beginning at Vauxhall, shows the track of the aeronauts over London, the Thames, Rochester, Dover, and across the Channel. It is then lost in night, and by daybreak re-appears above Cologne, which is very faithfully given, as are the well-known scenes upon the Rhine, the Gieben Gebirgen, Drachenfels, Coblentz, Ehrenbreitstein, Gutenfels, Bacharach, the Pfalz, and all those interesting spots so well known to tourists. By a slight poetical license, the course of the balloon varies from history and descends at Mayence, where the view of the city and the Dom Kirche is exquisitely painted Mr Blackmore made one of those terrific ascents from the stage to the gallery, and the backward descent, on the tight-rope, in seeing which, we scarcely knew which to fear for most, the "intrepid" funambulist, or the expectant Pittites, whose danger seems equally near. The fire-works, which blazed around Mr Blackmore, were a brilliant, but not his only reward for the daring attempt, which was universally applauded. Of the pantomimic characters, we have only to say that Mr Matthews is unquestionably an excellent Clown, Mr Sutton a most enduring Pantaloon, Mr Howell an agile Harlequin, and when Miss Fairbrother has had more practice - for it is her first attempt - she will be an accomplished Columbine. The pantomine is worth seeing. [[end clipping]] ^[[217 handwritten in pencil at bottom of page]] [[end page]]