‘The Carmelite, Laylock, Pea-green, and Pink were the most fashionable colours.’
In the January of 1783, Sarah Maria Adcock also known as Mrs Wilson and below as ‘Sally the Small’, attended a Masquerade at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket. Later that year she and other members of the Cyprian Choir were seen in the vicinity of St James’s, while her lover attended the King’s Birthday Ball.
By this date the newspapers were eager to share accounts of such events with the public; the obsession with Royalty and celebrity had truly begun. Here the Public Advertiser gives it’s view of the occasion:
BIRTH DAY
‘ACCORDING to the usual Etiquette, Yesterday being his Majesty’s Birth Day, his Dress was plain, and lavish Decoration upon the Person of the Queen.
‘In Imitation of this Example, the Female Portion of the Circle was dressed with the most Study and Cost.
‘The Dresses of the Ladies were for the most Part of the Fancy Kind – Gause and Tiffany, Foil, natural and artificial Flowers variously disposed in Clumps, Wreathes, &c. &c.
‘The most prevailing Mode among the Gentlemen were Tabbinet, Poplins, and Silk, with Cuffs and Waistcoats of Embroidery.
‘The Carmelite, Laylock, Pea-green, and Pink were the most fashionable colours.
‘Lord and Lady Harrington, Lord Carlisle, Lord and Lady Lewisham, Marquis of Graham, Duke and Duchess of Hamilton, Lord Malden, Lady Glendore, the Duke of Dorset, Miss Woodley, and Miss Bouverie were among the Figures who struck us most.’
‘Dean Harley, as usual, Sported the most patient Grizzle in the Room, we mean a Peruke in the most distorted Friz.’
‘The Groupe of French Visitants at present in London was very brilliant and in the best Taste.
‘Mr Secretary F- looked unusually well. Lord Sandwich, Lord Denbigh, Lord Bathurst, Lord Hertford and above all Duke of Queensbury, any Time these forty Years the never-failing omni-present Make-weights of the Court, were as gay and well made up as ever – Immortal Youth! –
‘Dean Harley, as usual, Sported the most patient Grizzle in the Room, we mean a Peruke in the most distorted Friz.
‘Archbishop Moore appeared to have lost none of his good Countenance by his late Translation.
‘Bishop Hurd looked, to our Eye, more gracious and benign than ever – Adorned probably to our Sense with the uncommon Spirit of his late Refusal of the Metropolitan Mitre.’
‘Supplied with most of the Nonsense and Iniquity about London. The Bird of Paradise – her Potato-bred Cornuto, and his vagabond Brother – the Perdita – Sally the Small…’
‘The Drawing Room was filled, Solito de more, with the worst as well as best Company in the King’s Dominion; decayed serving Men, younger Sons of younger Brothers, Waiters, Vintners, Loan-hucksters, Taylors, and Sharpers.
‘The Rain at Noon, made the Day less intolerable than it often has been heretofore. The Approaches were less crowded with out-door Courtiers, and the Atmosphere of the Drawing Room, when we got into it, was less offensive, hot and foul.
‘The Avenues to St James’s were, in the old Way, Supplied with most of the Nonsense and Iniquity about London. The Bird of Paradise – her Potato-bred Cornuto, and his vagabond Brother – the Perdita – Sally the Small – Mrs. Read – Mrs. Lawrence – the New York Cleopatra without her Anthony. The Squadron of Fire Ships, from King’s Place mounted their Red Flags, &c. &c.
‘The only new Carriages we passed by, were Lord Peterborough’s, and a Coach of the Prince of Wales’s.’
Public Advertiser, 5th June 1783
MJ Holman @mishjholman
