pool. The opening of the Queen's Dock was preceded by a bull-bait, which took place in the excavation or bed of the dock. The annual wakes at West Derby village, near Liverpool, exhibited reprehensible scenes of drunkenness and brutality; and amongst other sports there usually was a bull baited there." He was confined by a rope or an iron chain fastened to a strong stake driven into the ground, and in this situation he was assailed by dogs, which were permitted to attack him one by one, that the courage of each might be fully proved. It has occurred, after the bull-bait was over, that the poor animal has been brought to Liverpool in triumph, on the evening of the last day of the wakes, his head being decorated with ribbons of different colours. On one occasion, a party of sailors went to West Derby and brought the bull to Liverpool, and resolved to conclude the frolic by showing him the play, and actually dragged him by means of ropes tied to his horns, into the theatre, and introduced his head into one of the centre boxes; and then, as he had seen (to use their own expression) the play, they led him out.(2) There was no great difficulty in getting him in or out, because the principal entrance door was in the middle of the front of the theatre, with an ascent from Williamsonsquare, of only two or three steps, and was exactly opposite the centre boxes. The amusement of horse racing had some votaries in Liverpool, and though it was not very keenly pursued, still some of all classes liked to partake of it. The races were held (1) Bull-baiting continued to be occasionally practised at the West Derby Wakes until not many years ago. (2) The Author's Father was in the Theatre at the time when this disgraceful and brutal occurrence took place, but he could not recollect the date. In Troughton's Liverpool, page 98, however, the date is given as 1783, which is probably at Crosby; they were first established in 1774. A race ball or assembly used to be held during the race week; and the company at the assembly, which was held in the (1) The following is a copy of an advertisement of the Races from Gore's General Advertiser, of July 7th, 1775 : "LIVERPOOL RACES, 1775." "To be run for on Crosby Marsh, near Liverpool, on Monday, the 10th day of July, Fifty pounds in specie by any Five, Six year old, and aged horses, &c. carrying Weight for Age and qualifications, viz: Five years old to carry 8st 71b. Six years old 9st, and Aged 9st 5lb. a Winner of one fifty pound plate in the present Season, to carry 3lb. extra; and a Winner of two to carry 5lb. On Tuesday, the 11th, will be run for on the same course £50, by any four, five, six years old, and aged horses, &c. that never won the value of £50, (matches and Sweepstakes excepted,) viz. four years old to carry 7st, five years old 8st, six years old 8st 8lb. and aged 9st. The same day will be run for on the same course, a Subscription Purse of Fifty Pounds only, by four year old colts, carrying 8st 3lb. and fillies 8st, the best of three twomile heats; a winner of one fifty in the present year to carry 3lb extra, and a winner of two or more fifties to carry 5lb. extra. On Wednesday, the 12th, £50, give and take, viz: 14 hands aged to carry 8st 71b, higher or lower weight in proportion, allowing seven pounds for every year under 7. A winner of one £50 plate in the present season, to carry 3lb. extra, and a winner of two to carry 5lb. The Turf upon Crosby Marsh is naturally fine, the Situation exceedingly pleasant, and the Marsh is now very much improved, and the course will be corded all round both inside and out. To run the best of three four mile heats each day, and the second best horse to be entitled to £10. To enter at Nanny Hesketh's, in Great Crosby, on Saturday, the 8th day of July, between the hours of three and seven o'clock in the evening, one guinea only to be paid to the Clerk of the races for weighing, &c. No entrance at the post without permission of the Stewards, and if any are permitted, to pay four guineas entrance. The Running to be subject to the King's Plate Articles, and the Plates paid without any deduction. Certificates of the Ages to be produced under the hands of the breeders at the time of entrance, otherwise to be deemed aged. To start each day precisely at twelve o'clock. All disputes and differences to be determined by the Stewards, or whom they shall appoint, and their determination to be final. No less than three reputed racers will be admitted to start for any of the above plates, and if only one horse enters to be entitled to £15, if two £10 each. For the greater certainty of distinguishing the horses, &c. and also to prevent disputes arising from not knowing the colours, each rider is desired to declare at the time of entering, the colour he will ride in, that it may be inserted in the list for each day, and it is hoped that the Gentlemen will give directions to their riders, strictly to observe this regulation, and not to mention one colour and afterwards ride in another. No person whatsoever to erect a Booth or Stand, or sell liquor on the course, except such person pay half a Guinea for each Booth, and one Guinea for each Stand. Stewards. SIR GEORGE WARRENSQUIRE,} Exchange, in August, 1774, amounted to upwards of 350 persons," which, with reference to the then population of the town and neighbourhood, was a very large number. The races, however, not being warmly supported, lost their attraction, and were finally abandoned in 1786. A dreadful thunder storm which occurred during Crosby races, in 1781, and which marred the amusements of the day, contributed its share to increase the indifference or distaste, which the Liverpool people experienced towards them. Until the Athenæum News-Room and Library were established, in 1798, there was not, strictly speaking, any public establishment of the nature of a news-room in Liverpool, but during most of the last quarter of the 18th century, there were, as has been before mentioned,(2) several taverns and coffee-houses of respectability, in each of which a room was furnished with newspapers, and called a news-room. Afterwards a large room was used for that purpose in Bates's Hotel, on the north side of Lord-street, and corner of Whitechapel; it is difficult to ascertain exactly when that hotel was opened, or the news-room in it established, but the hotel was certainly erected previous to 1785.(3) Music was a good deal cultivated in Liverpool, and the opening of the Music-Hall, in Bold-street, will be noticed in another chapter."") There is a large and commodious stand erected upon the Course, and the Theatre Royal will be open every night during the Races, and Assemblies as usual. There will be an Ordinary at Wrigley's on the Monday; Banner's on Tuesday; and George's Coffee House on Wednesday, and there will be a Public Breakfast at John Bridge's, St. James's Coffee House, on Thursday morning. The collecting after dinner at the Ordinaries being found very disagreeable to the Company, the Stewards will be obliged to the Gentlemen to send each Race day to the aforesaid places for Admission Tickets." (1) Troughton's Liverpool, page 153. (2) Chapter II, page 164. (3) It is laid down in Mr. Charles Eyes' Map of Liverpool, of 1785. (4) Chapter V. A Musical Festival was held in Liverpool, in September, 1784, and the following is a copy of an advertisement") announcing it : "The Committee for conducting the ensuing FESTIVAL OF MUSIC, wishing to render the Entertainment as easy to Individuals as was consistent with the Design of so benevolent an Institution, trusted that a Subscription of One Guinea would have been sufficient. Finding that Sum however, inadequate, considering the present state of the Charities of this Town; they flatter themselves that the generous Public will readily acquiesce in the propriety of altering the Terms of Admission to the following: Subscription to the Five Performances, One Guinea and a half. To the Selection of Sacred Music, and each of The Miscellaneous Concerts, Ten Shillings and Sixpence. Liverpool, July 24th, 1784. For the Benefit of the PUBLIC CHARITIES OF LIVERPOOL. On the Mornings of Tuesday, the 14th, Thursday, the 16th, and Friday, the 17th of September, Will be performed, In St. Peter's Church, Under the Direction of Mr. Isaac, of the MESSIAH JUDAS MACCHABÆUS, And the same SELECTION OF SACRED MUSIC, Which was performed in Westminster Abby, (1) Gore's General Advertiser of 2nd September, 1784. |