THE JUBILEE OF GEORGE THE THIRD.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 2 July 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE JUBILEE OF GEORGE THE THIRD.

How it Was Celetorated.

It may inberesb our readers ab bhe presenb time bo have placed before bhem a brief description of how bhe Jubilee of King George the Third was celebrated in the year 1809, so thab bhe rejoicings indulged in by bhe public fifty years ago may be compared wibh bhose of bhe Vicborian celebration.

In 1809, when, in honour of bhe King having reigned for a period of 50 years, an ox was roasted in its entirety for distribution among the people of Windsor, in Bachelor's Acre, the flesh was distributed in a scene of tumultuous strife and confusion. Copious debails of bhis feabure of bhe Jubilee entertainments of 1809 have been preserved. The necessary machinery having been devised for tho cooking .if the ox, the business of roasting it began ab bwo o'clock in the morning, at which time, early as was the hour, many persons had assembled to witness bhe preparations making for bhe greab gastronomic feat. An immense plum pudding was also provided, and on the same spit which impaled the ox, one ab each side, were placed two sheep, in order to give variety to the bill of fare ; and to add to the savouriness of the day's treab, a bushel and a half of pobaboes was placed in bhe belly of bhe animal bo be cooked, so that they might be served with the beef. The Royal family came forth to view the scene and to taste the beef, but the distribution of the viands among bhose who were hungrily waiting for them gave riso bo a scene of; " unmabehed confusion," which ended by bhe potatoes being thrown over the struggling mass of claimants for bhe beef or mubbon. Another plan which had been devised of honouring the occasion proved much more successful, ■ and that was the liberation of persons confined for debt—especially small debtors. Large sums of money were subscribed in aid of that benevolent work, the King himself giving as much as £2,000 from his privy purse. Many of those liberated on the occasion had been detained in prison for lengthened periods, and were glad to obtain thoir release. As indicative of the feeling which prevailed as to the liberation of persons confined in prisons for debt, bhe resolution arrived ab by bhe London Court of Common Council may be quobed. Ib ran as follows : —" Thab ib will be more accepbable bo Almighby God, and more congenial to the parental feelings of our beloved monarch, if bhe Court would proceed bo bhe liberation of bhe prisoners and captives on bhe joyful jubilee aboub bo be celebrated, than in spending sums of money in feasting and illuminations." A great feature of bhe Georgian Jubilee was bhe striking of a medal by which to commemorate bhe evenb; some of those struck in gold being presented bo various persons of distinction by order of His Majesty. The Jubilee medal was bho work of Bissct of Birmingham, and had engraved upon ib the following legend:-" King George the Third ascended the bhrone of bhe Imperial realms of Greab Bribain and Ireland, Ocbober 25bh, a.t>. 1760. Grand National Jubilee celebrabed October 25bh, 1809." In addition bo bhis medal commemorative of bhe occasion obher insbances > of the strong craze to honour the King which prevailed, was the wearing of costumes designed for the celebration ; in the case of the ladies' dresses of garter blue velvet or satin were worn, wibhhead-gear containing devices emblematic of bhe Jubilee; bhe genblemen wore whab is called bhe Windsor uniform, a suib of clobhing still in use; whilst'fireworks were everywhere let off in bhe evening. Bub in London there was no general illumination, exeepb by His Majesby's tradespeople—in numerous instances the money saved in consequence of this arrangement was given to the subscription in course of being raised for bhe relief of persons confined for small debbs. Another mode of aiding in this benevolent project was found in _the publication of an account of the Jubilee as it was celebrated B_ffS^_rc-f-*^^^o__. 'the'profits of'the book being devoted to the Überation of imprisoned debtors. As at the present time, Jubilee odes were wribben in honour of bhe bhird George. A new edition of " God Save bhe King" was issued on bhe occasion, bhe firsb verse of which was as follows :—

" Britons ! your voices raise, . Join cheerful songs of praiso _ --■ - With grateful lay; ! May all our islands ring. Her sons orisons sing,For their beloved Kin?:, ■ ','■,"./, On this bright day." There * "were, of course, more ambitious efforts in the way of poetry than the special edition of " God Save bhe King," of which the above is a specimen verse, and which concluded in these words: —

" Thus may our children find Cause which will o'er remind Them to agree That we with justice sing, God bless our good old King This Jubilee."

Thab readers may compare whab was ■wribben in honour of George bhe Third wibh the poems of Lords Rosslyn and Tennyson, arid other less distinguished bards, we present the following lines of 50 years since, an extract from one of the odes :— __il_ is the Prince, and glorious were tho arts That gave him sov'reign empire o'er our hearts. Our love for him is such as ever flows Spontaneous, warm, and Btrength'ning as it Un'ike the' smiles and flattery of Courts, Which int'rest prompts and tyranny extorts. A monarch so beloved has nought to fear From mad Ambition's turbulent career, For subjects ne'er from their allegiance swerve, Who love his person they are bound to serve.

Then oh! Thou King of Kings, extend thy arm To shield thine own anointed George from harm; Grant, if it so comport with thy behest— For t_y decrees must ever be the bestGrant that he long may live and long may I stand .•■'.-.•_ A tower of strength to guard our native land."

i A very rude way of rejoicing consisted in the baitipg.of a bull, and some other rough and ready sports were also indulged in of a kind not seen in any part of the Kingdom this year. It is interesting to know that one of the great pastimes of the present period was .then coming into vogue: we allude to billiards. One of the classic horse races—bhe " Two Thousand Guineas " — was run for bhe firsb time in bhe year of George bhe Third's jubilee. Foxhunting and obher oub-of-door sports were carried on wibh vigour, bub in a more homely way bhan is ab presenb the fashion. J It is not necessary to refer to the numerous loyal addresses which bhe occasion of the King's. jubilee called forth. Nor heed reference be made of bhe diebs of Divine service which marked the occasion both in London and the country ; all these, things at such a time are a matter of course. In Scotland the amounb of royal feeling displayed was prodigious ; in. Edinburgh in particular bhe rejoicings began early and continued bill a late hour—there were public breakfasts and banquets, arid,as usual on all such occasions, a large quanbiby of gunpowder was expended in bhe firing of royal salutes; in the evening the public buildings were illuminated. Similar expressions of rejoicing took place in Glasgow and in the importanb provincial towns, whilsb "in Dublin the fesbivibies extended over bhroe days, and were kepb up wibh immense epirib.

The good King, in his generosity, did not forget the poor debtors of Scotland and Iceland, as he gave a sum of £1,000 to each country to aid in their liberation. We conclude these brief notes with the following extract from the "Edinburgh Annual Register" for the year 1809 :—" The King, profoundly penetrated by the public joy, and feeling himself more than ever the father of his.people, extended his paternal clemency and bounty, as far as the welfare 01 the fctate would permit, to the most untortunate, and even to the most undeserving oi his children.'A volume could not conSSrtf.■■*n_\Wu_riw_._ibn of the festivities a^fl^aariti^s of this joyful oc^fwym. " '' " v-_f____ "'': '—':"-77";7 ""':;•'<-'