USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > The Ancient City.: A History of Annapolis, in Maryland, 1649-1887 > Part 16
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY. "'
gerel in the club's poetry, and of indelicacy in its conumdrums and jokes. The age was coarse and the club accurately reflected it."
The only permanent club left is the Arundel. It is of recent date, having been organized in 1883. It admits none but males to its mem- bership and festivities. Its diversions are suppers, billiards, cards, current literature, social converse and potations at the will of the in- dividual member, as it is a rule of the club that no one shall be invited to drink. There seems to be an exception to this in favor of visiting strangers.
To return to the Tuesday Club, let the records of its Secretary tell of its witty sallies and bacchanalian pleasures.
The history of the Tuesday Club, preserved in the rooms of the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, is dedicated "To the venerable the Chancellor of the ancient and honorable Tuesday Club and his successors in that honorable office," and dated from the author's- study September 9th, 1754, and in quaint style acknowledges all dedi- cations to be "at best but paltry stuff," in which truth is warped "either by the power of flattery or by the pestilent inclination to party, or pussillanimous fear of the anger and resentment of men in power."
The first volume contains the first decade of the transactions of that society comprehended in 239 sederunts, viz : from May 1745, to May 1755, inclusive, with the heads of the honorable the President, and the principal officers and members, and also figures of the most material transactions of the club-with an appendix of the club music composed by Signor Lardini, the most favourite songs used in clubs, etc. The laws provide that the club shall meet weekly at each other's dwellings by turns, every Tuesday, throughout the year, that the member appointed to serve as steward shall provide a "gammon of bacon," or any one other dish of vittles and no more. That no fresh liquor shall be made, prepared or produced after eleven o'clock at night and every member to be at liberty to retire at pleasure.
Here comes
THE CLUB IN SESSION.
"Long live the Tuesday Club, so wisely framed That 'mongst all those great Addison has named,
Not one so great-long may the members stand And still maintain their badge of hand in hand."
"'It is established as a rule of the society," "That immediately after supper the ladies shall be toasted, before any other toasts or healths go round. It is consented to-that such as are bachellor members of this society may be permitted to have a cheese instead of dressed vittles.
"Sederunt, June 18th, 1745. This night the great cheese or bachel- lor's was produced upon a side board. Passed into a law, That if any subject of what nature soever be discussed which levels at party mat- ters, or the administration of the Government of this Province, or be disagreeable to the club, no answer shall be given thereto, but after such discourse is ended, the society shall laugh at the member offend- ing in order to divert the discourse."
"June 25th, the gelastic law was this night put in execution against Mr. Secretary Marshe, who got into a prolix harangue about the con-
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
-sciences of lawyers. Ordered, that Mr. Secretary Marshe entertain this society upon Tuesday, the 2nd of July next ensuing."
July 25, 1745, "Resolved, That cheese is not any more to be deemed a dish of vittles. Therefore the use of it as such in the club is forbid." "July 23d. This night the society before breaking up was entertained by Mr. Charles Cole, steward, with a large bowl of rack-punch, and a catch song, "The Great Bell of Lincoln."
As the society developed, the insignia of office and various adjuncts of ceremony were adopted, badges of silver, double gilt, and engraved with the device and mottoes of the society were procured from London.
Here are some of the club's orders:
"There shall be a ball held at the Stadt-house for the entertain- ment of the ladies at the common expense of the club, etc." The term "Stadt-house," points to the Dutch reign of William and Mary, and is still termed the "State House."
"Ordered, That Wm. Thornton, Esq., frame a discourse to the society next meeting, upon that trite text "Omnia Vincit Amor." Next meeting or sederunt, Mr. William Thornton delivered a dis- course to the society upon the subject proposed last meeting, which met with the approbation of the society, and was so well liked, that he was desired to deliver it a second time, which he very complacently did with a singular good grace.
"Ordered, That the Rev. Mr. John Gordon prepare a discourse to be . delivered to the society at next meeting the subject, Ad libitum-other "orders" follow on such subjects as
"Government," "chearfullness," "charity," "clubs," or "pru- dence,"-"wisdom."
The entry is made that Wm. Thornton, Esq., on account of his un- common talent in singing, was by unanimous consent of the club ap- pointed proto-musicus or chief musician, and it is ordained that as often as he votes in club he is to sing his vote in a musical manner, else it is to go for nothing.
"The secretary delivered a speech the purport of which was an ac- cusation of Mr. Speaker Dorsey, of negligence in office, as not dis- playing his talents in oratory to the club, on such occasions as de- manded his elocution, but the club let him go without censure. The Rev. Mr. Gordon congratulated the Secretary upon the late event of his marriage, which speech the club approved of, etc. Then our Speaker Dorsey, rising with that gravity and action which is his pecu- liar talent on all such occasions discoursed, but little upon that sub- ject, delivering chiefly an encomium upon Mr. Gordon's discourse, in :a nervous and elegant style which is natural to that gentleman upon all occasions. "June 23rd, 1747. The chief musician was accused by the Secretary of negligence in his office, which accusation was slurred .over by the President and club on account of that gentleman's good performances at other times. As acknowledgement of the favour, he .entertained the club with two excellent new songs, the one solus and :the other in concerto with another voice, after which he had the privilege conferred on him of commanding any member of the club to sing after having first sung himself."
Here is :
"The humble petition and remonstrance of sundry of the single females of Annapolis, showeth,
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY."'
"That, whereas, it has been observed by sundry persons as well as your petitioners, that a singular and surprising success has all along attended such happy females as your honor has been pleased to pitch upon as the toasts of the honorable chair, every one of whom in a short time after having been adopted by your honor has successfully and happily been provided with a much more eligible state, your peti- tioners, therefore, earnestly pray, that your honor instead of con- ferring your favors in so partial a manner, would, in commisseration of our desperate situation, include us all in the circle of favor that the benign influence of your honors' maritiferous notice may henceforth equally shine upon us all. ® .
"To the honorable Charles Cole, Esq., President of the most worship- ful and ancient Tuesday Club."
"The honorable president was pleased to declare that he would grant- this petition as far as lay in his power."
The anniversaries were occasions of great ceremony. The members wearing their badges proceeded to the house of the President. "As they marched along in a solemn and stately manner they were honored by a great many spectators of all sorts and ranks, and when they came within twenty paces of the honorable the president's gate, his honor made his appearance and did each member the honor of a salute by manuquassation, upon which they halted a little, and Jonas Green, Esq., holding up the anniversary ode in his right hand, waved it around his head in a very graceful manner by way of salutation to his honor, who made several low bows which were respectfully returned by the master of ceremonies, Sir John, and the Chancellor. Then his honor taking his place between the two latter, the procession marched into his honor's court-yard, the way being all strewed with flowers and the ensign or flag displayed as usual. After some time sitting in the court-yard the members assembled in his honor's great saloon. As his honor went to take the chair with a grand pas, a martial time was played by the chief musicion or proto-musicus, and he took the chair with a plaudite."
The Secretary in his speech reflects the sentiment of the club. "This is not a time to speak much, but to act well-that our discourse and conversation be regular, orderly, free, humorous, and jocose, without reflexion, without passion, without reserve, without clamor, without noise,-let our songs be in tune, our puns and repartees apropos, and not too poignant or satirical, our toasts loyal and amorous, our stomachs keen to relish our fare and our punch-bowls always replete with nectarious liquor, for this cordial juice taken with temperance and moderation heightens the spirit, enlivens the wit, and will conduce not only to make me a more fluent orator, but, more jolly and benevolent, long-standing members.
"Whene'er we meet With bowl replete The loyal healths go round And in each toast We all can boast Wine honest, hearty, sound !"-
After the supper of which the "outward decoration and apparatus was as elegant and harmonious as the inward rhetoric and eloquence of the club was uncommon," several loyal healths were drank, as, his
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majesty King George the Second ; the Prince and Princess of Wales; the Duke, (of Cumberland) ; success to his majesty's arms ; a speedy and honorable peace ; prosperity to the province of Maryland, etc. Then they drank to the memory of the "South Sea Company," and sang "The Great Bell of Lincoln," and that favorite song, "the Hun- dords of Drury."
"A speech of a member being thought unseasonable, assuming, and unpolite, had the gelastic law put in force against him the whole company being seized with a most vociferous and roaring laugh in which the culprit himself, joined with most prodigious force of lungs -But he thinking to take the president upon his weak or blind side, knowing his enthusiastic fondness for old England, and everything appertaining to that happy country, he asked his honor to favour him at least, for country's sake ; that he was his countryman and the only Englishman now in club, besides himself and his honor's attorney, the rest of the members being either country-born or Scotsmen. To this his honor made reply 'that he set no value upon that and that he always judged of a man by his behaviour and not by his country.' This was an excellent sentiment and came from his honor unawares, he not being given to speak philosopically or justly when old England was introduced into conversation which evinces that even resentment at times may make a man utter philosophical truths."
On issuing commissions to new members January 30, 1749, "it is thought fit to affix seals of black wax, upon the occasion of the day being the martyrdom of that blessed Saint Charles I."
"The master of ceremonies, Mr. Jonas Green, and the Secretary are ordered to prepare each of them a conundrum, to be proposed in club immediately after all the toasts are drank-and in case the club should solve or answer them the above officers are expected to drink a bumper each to the prosperity of the club, in the opposite case the gentlemen are declared victors. The conundrums are ordered to be recorded."
"To drowsy man pray how can you compare A garment that is worn till quite thread-bare.
The answer's easy for we all must grant That both and each of them a nap does want.
Two minutes only by the watch was given to answer- Why is a dancing master like a shady tree ?
Because he is full of bows-boughs.
Why is a wizard like an Ethiopian ?
Because he is a necromancer-negroe man, sir.
A client who has lost his cause is like a winter stocking, be- cause he is worsted.
A pump in a well is like a firelock, because it depends upon springs.
An almanac is like a butcher, because he deals in wethers.
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''THE ANCIENT CITY. "'
Dried apples are like married people, because they are paired.
A scandalous story is like a church bell, because it is often told- toll-ed.
The city of Westminster is like a school-boy's horn-book, be- cause it has an Abbacy-A. B. C."
A motion being made to exclude the use of long pipes in the club, excepting the president's, the same was not assented to.
Mr. Jonas Green, the printer of the Maryland Gazette, in acknowl- edging the honor of admission to the club says :
"May good fellowship dispell every cloud that may threaten us ex- cepting only that of tobaccco, the dear specific condensator of politi- cal conceptions."
Although the circumspect and dignified Maryland publisher ad- vanced to high position in the club and "his titles were expressed in the manner of the ancient Romans by five capital p's, P. P. P. P. P. important sundry officers of trust and dignity, viz. poet, printer, punster, purveyor, and punchmaker, he did not escape indictment duly preferred in law-latin and a formal trial and conviction. "After reading the sentence during which Jonas Green, Esq., stood up. His lordship knocked upon the table with a little mallet after the manner of Sir Hugh McCarty, Esq., Lord President of the Monday Club, of New York, and this signal being given the Sergeant at Arms imme- diately took Jonas Green, Esq., into custody and he was confined for a full half hour, a languishing prisoner in a remote corner of the room, being deprived of all comfort and assistance from the spark- ling and enlivening board, a woeful and lamentable spectacle and a warning to all loyal members to be upon their good behavior."
What pleasure there could be in all this except only that of eating and drinking !
"After all impediments are removed and the club forms itself again around the great table to smoke and drink how dull and sleepy are the members, how flat their conversation, what yawning, what gap- ing, what nodding, what sleeping, what snoring ! How much better to have spent the time in witty conversation, such as punning, fram- ing of quaint conumdrums, cracking sly jokes, telling comical stories, singing old catches or composing quaint rhymes ; but alas ! all this is only preaching to the wind, and beating the air in vain for one may preach to eternity and never reform the manners of clubs.
"These quaint and lively volumes are embellished with rude draw- ings, not without merit in their sense of character, representing the most humorous and important events in the club's history, its anni- versaries, its frolics, and its disputes. There is a series of portraits of the members in which the likenesses are evidently, in the words of a certain limner, 'strong as pisen.' "
Before the Revolution the people of Annapolis were intensely loyal and preeminently convivial. The slightest pretext sufficed for an ex- hibition of the one and the enjoyment of the other.
Wednesday, the 23rd of April, 1746, being the festival of St. George, was observed "by a number of gentlemen of English birth, descent, and principle, in an elegant manner. The same day the exit of the rebellion (lately occurred in England,) was celebrated by firing of
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
guns, drinking loyal healths, and other den.onstrations of joy. There was a ball in the evening, the whole city was illuminated, and a great quantity of punch given amongst the populace at the bonfire, on this occasion."
It was again on October 30th, 1746, when this patriotic conviviality was exhibited, which the "Gazete" announced "as being the anniversery of the birth of his most sacred Majesty, our only rightful sovereign, King George the second, (who God long preserve, ) when his majesty completed his 63rd (a grand climaterical) year, the same was observed here (Annapolis) with firing of cannon, drinking loyal healths, &c. &c."
The domestic circle, as now, furnished the local column with items. Only then tie stately courtesy of sentiment and expression united to smooth down the indelicacy that has invaded the reports of modern journalism. On December 23rd, 1746, the editor of the "Gazette" announced : "At the dawn of the 21st instant, the wife of the printer of this paper, to the great joy of her husband, was safely de- livered of a son ; who is to have the honor of being named after that great general, his royal highness Duke William."
The arrival of dignitaries in the city was made the occasion of public and private courtesies and patriotic demonstrations. The faith- ful publisher of the capital, says in March 1747 :
"On Tuesday last, arrived within our Capes his Majesty's Ship, the Foulkstone, Capt. Greger, with Samuel Ogle, Esq., and Lady, on board. who, some short time after, disembarked, and went on board the Neptune, Capt. Grindall, bound for this place, where he arrived about ten in the evening, and was received at his Landing by a num- ber of gentlemen, &c., and saluted by the town guns, and from on board Sundry Ships in the river. And yesterday morning, his honor, attended by his Excellency Thomas Bladen, Esq., then Governor, and his Lordship's honorable Council, &c., went to the Council Chamber, where his commission, appointed him Lieutenant-General and Chief Governor of this Province and Avalon, was opened and published. After which his Excellency was pleased to issue his Proclamation for continuing all officers, both Civil and Military, in their respective offices, until further orders."
Although the bill of rights had not been written and the Maryland Code published, the Maryland Courts of the last century had an innate desire to adjudicate all causes before them "according to the very right and equity of the matter." For example :
On Tuesday, June 16th, 1747, "at the County Court, held here last Tuesday, Mrs. S. C. of Patapsco, was fined the sum of one penny, for whipping the R-d Mr. N-1 W -- R with a Hickory Switch, it being imagined by the court that he well deserved it."
In the same spirit, no doubt, the sword of justice was unsheathed in September 1747, when two servants, "Rebels lately imported," were found guilty of drinking the Pretender's health, together with "some other treasonable expressions," being incapable cf paying fines, were "well whip'd at the whipping post," and were stood in the pillory.
The times were writ, when during the second week in January, 1747, a negro man in Annapolis had one of his ears cut off by the sentence of the peace, "for offering to strike his overseer.
The court- then allowed no trifling with a lady's feelings, as was
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY. ''
proved on the 12th of April, 1748, when "a great case" was tried at An- napolis. "wherein a young gentle woman was plaintiff and a gentle- man defendant for breach of a promise of marriage. The trial lasted about nine hours, when the jury went out, and after a short stay, re- . turning with a verdict for the plaintiff and £50 damages."
On May 2nd, 1752, Mary W-n obtained from Joseph W-d. after a long trial and the examination of numerous witnesses, £50 damages for a breach of promise of marriage.
Electricity had its devotees nearly a century and a half ago, who had made some progress in the subtle sciene, as was proved on Friday, June 9th, 1749, when a gentleman with an electrical machine made some interesting experiments in Annapolis. He placed it on the South side of a creek, supposed the Spa, "and having set some spirits of wine in a small vessel, on a table on the North Side, he caused a spark of electrical fire to dart across in an instant, through 200 yards- of water, which set the spirits in a blaze in the first attempt, and several times afterwards ; and discharged a battery of eleven guns, to the surprise and great satisfaction of the spectators."#
The Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons were established in the city at this early date, and "on Wednesday, the 27th of December, 1749, the festival of St. John the Evangelist, and the anniversary of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, the Gentlemen of the Brotherhood, connected with lodge in Annapolis with several of the order from the country, celebrated the day.
At 12 o'clock, the whole company, 30 in number, "went in pro- cession with white gloves and aprons, from the House of their Brother Middleton, being preceded by their master, Wardens and Grand Stewards to the church, whers an excellent sermon, adapted to the occasion. was preached by their brother, the Rev. Mr. Brogden : After Sermon, they returned in the same manner from Church to the Indian King, where having dined elegantly, they elected their master and officers for the ensuing year, and then proceeded in the above order to the great Council Room, where they made a ball for the en- tertainment of the Ladies, and the evening was spent with innocent. mirth and gayety."
The hearth-stone again furnishes the Gazette with a local note. On Wednesday, January 24th, 1750, it says :
"Last Saturday, being the anniversary of the birthday of his royal highness the Prince of Wales, the wife of the printer of this paper was happily delivered of a son, who will be baptized the name of Frederick.'
For the curious the colonial printer had a well-developed apprecia- tion. There was a naivete in his quaint expressions that lent a charm to his descriptions. On December 5th, 1750, he says :
"We have an account that a few days ago, one J-W-e, in this county, as he was carrying home one of his neighbor's hogs, which he had killed with a design to make it his own, having tied the feet together, and put it over his neck, he went to rest himself by laying the hog on a dead tree, but laying it too far over, the string catch'd him by the throat and chock'd him, and they were there found ; so they proved executioner to each other."
Emigrants, from the continent continued to arrive in large num- bers, in Annapolis.
* Md. Gazette.
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On October 10th, 1752, the ship Friendship, Capt. James Lucas, arrived at Annapolis, with 300 German passengers called Palatines, who were consigned to Messrs. Alexander Lawson and James Johnson, merchants. Among them were husbandmen and tradesmen, who were offered for sale at Annapolis on the 14th of October to pay their passage money.
From business to pleasure the Annapolitans of the last century turned with a keen zest ; and the Annapolis Theatre is now found in full operation. Among the pieces played were The Busy Body, The Lying Valet, The Beggar's Opera, The Beaux Stratagem, The Virgin Unmasked, Recruiting Officer, The Beau in the Side, The London Merchant, The ballad Opera, Damon and Pythias. King Richard III was advertised to be played. Mr. Wyrell took the part of Richard.
In the early part of November, of the same year, 1752, Richard Buckell & Company exhibited at Annapolis, three wax figures, the queen of Hungary, her son, and a pandour in his military dress, also a curious brass piece of ordinance. that could be discharged twenty times in a minute, together with pictures of places of note in England, Scotland, France, and Italy.
A Court incident occurred about this time that does not reflect much credit upon the women jury system. At a late Provincial Court, Mary Perry, sentenced to die, pleaded that she was with child. A jury of matrons was summoned to examine her, "the foreman being an experienced midwife, which pronounced her not quick. A few days afterwards in Queen Anne's county jail, she gave birth to a lusty bov."
The intense loyalty to all that was British was constantly shown by the people of Annapolis. Saturday, the 17th of February, 1752, the birthday of Lord Baltimore, at which time he attained his majority, twenty-one, was warmly celebrated at Annapolis. "At noon cannons- were discharged, in the evening the President of the province gave a public ball where there was a handsome appearance of gentlemen and ladies. The Loyal Healths, Lordship's Prosperity to Maryland, &c., &c .. were drank, and the town was beautifully illuminated. There was a bonfire near the dock, and a hogshead of punch was given to the populace."
Again, on November 1st, 1759, their loyality cropped out when there was great rejoicing at Annapolis on account of the taking of Quebec .- guns were fired, illuminations made, and a public ball was given by the Governor. Much regret was felt for death of Gen. Wolfe.
The scenes shift, and the bright picture of filial affection is marred by the ominous clouds of disapproval on the brows of the Freeman of Maryland who had never submitted, and were determined never to submit, to the levying of any taxes upon them except such as were laid by their own deputies.
On December 21. (1769,) "at ten o'clock at a numerous meeting, by beat of the town-drum, at which were many of the gentlemen com- mittees from the several counties of this province, who in July last, entered into the articles for non-importation of British superfluities, and for promoting frugality, economy, and the use of American manu- factures, resolved unanimously, that the said articles be most strictly
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