Life in London
Or, The
DAY AND NIGHT SCENES
OF
“Of Life in London, Tom, Jerry and Logic I sing.”
To the Strand then I toddled—the mob was great—
My watch I found gone—pockets undone:
I fretted at first, and rail’d against fate,
For I paid well to see “Life in London.”
In the early part of the year 1820, the British public were informed through the then existing usual advertising mediums that there was about to be published, in monthly parts, “Pierce Egan’s Life in London; or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq.; and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom, accompanied by Bob Logic, the Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees through the Metropolis. Embellished with thirty-six Scenes from Real Life, designed and etched by I. R. and G. Cruikshank, and enriched with numerous original Designs on Wood by the same Artists.”
Some time previous to its appearance a great taste had exhibited itself amongst fashionable bloods for sporting works—books upon the chase, upon racing, upon boxing, and ‘sport’ generally. The demand soon brought an excellent supply, and “Boxiana,” in its own peculiar department, at once became a great favourite. Artists, too, arose, who devoted all their powers to hunting subjects, to racing favourites, and pugilistic encounters. Amongst these the names of Alkén, Dighton, Heath, Brooke, Rowlandson, &c., became very popular. One day it occurred to the editor of ‘Boxiana’ that if Londoners were so anxious for books about country and out-of-door sports, why should not Provincials and even Cockneys themselves be equally anxious to know something of “Life in London?” The editor of ‘Boxiana’ was Mr. Pierce Egan, who as the literary representative of sport and high life, had already been introduced to George IV., the character of the proposed work was mentioned to the King and his Gracious Majesty seems to have heartily approved of it, for he at once gave permission for it to be dedicated to himself. The services of Messrs. George and Robert Cruikshank were secured as illustrators.
And on the 15th July, the first number, price one shilling, was published by Messrs. Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, of Paternoster Row. This sample, or first instalment, of the entire work was quite enough for society to judge by. It took both town and country by storm. It was found to be the exact thing in literature that the readers of those days wanted. Edition after edition was called for—and supplied, as fast as the illustrations could be got away from the small army of women and children who were colouring them. With the appearance of numbers two and three, the demand increased, and a revolution in our literature, in our drama, and even in our nomenclature began to develope itself. All the announcements from Paternoster Row were of books, great and small, depicting life in London; dramatists at once turned their attention to the same subject, and tailors, bootmakers, and hatters, recommended nothing but Corinthian shapes, and Tom and Jerry patterns.29
Immediately Messrs. Sherwood and Co. issued the first shilling number of Mr. Pierce Egan’s work, out came Jones and Co., of Finsbury Square, with the following in sixpenny numbers:—
REAL LIFE IN LONDON;
or, The Rambles and Adventures of Bob Tallyho, Esq., and his Cousin, the Hon. Tom Dashall, through the Metropolis. Exhibiting a Living Picture of Fashionable Characters, Manners, Amusements in High and Low Life, by an Amateur. Embellished and Illustrated with a Series of Coloured Prints, Designed and Engraved by Messrs. Heath, Alkén, Dighton, Rowlandson, &c.
As may be readily conceived, the stage soon claimed “Tom and Jerry.” The first drama founded upon the work was from the pen of Mr. Barrymore, and thus announced in the bill:—“Royal Amphitheatre. Extraordinary Novelty and Eccentric Production. Monday, September 17, 1821, at half-past six o’clock precisely, will be presented, never acted, an entirely New, Whimsical, Local, Melo-Dramatic, Pantomimical Drama, with new scenery, dresses, and mechanical changes, founded on Pierce Egan’s popular work, which has lately engrossed the attention of all London, called ‘Life in London;’ or, Day and Night Scenes of Tom and Jerry, in their Rambles and Sprees through the Metropolis.” The piece prepared for stage representation by Mr. W. Barrymore.30
“Corinthian Tom, Mr. Gomersal; Jerry Hawthorn, Mr. Jones; and Bob Logic, Mr. Herring.”
The second dramatic version was written for the Olympic Theatre, by Charles Dibden, and thus set forth in the bill:—“Olympic Theatre. On Monday, November 12, 1821, and following evenings, will be presented a New Extravaganza of Fun, founded on Pierce Egan’s highly popular work, and interspersed with a variety of Airs and Graces, called “Life in London.”
“Tom (a Capital of the Corinthian Order) Mr. Baker.
“Jerry Hawthorn (out of Order, and more of the Composite than Corinthian, never intended for the Church, though fond of a Steeple-chase). Mr. Oxberry.
“Logic (a Chopping Boy, ‘full of wise saws and modern instances’)., by Mr. Vale.”
A
Description of the Metropolis
Written and Set to Music by
CORINTHIAN TOM.
London Town’s a dashing place—For ev’ry thing that’s going,
There’s fun and gig in every face—so natty and so knowing.
Where Novelty is all the rage—From high to low degree,
Such pretty lounges to engage—Only come and see!:—
What charming sights—On gala nights,
Masquerades—Grand parades,
Famed gas lights—Knowing fights,
Randall and Cribb—Know how to fib.
Tothill-fields—Pleasure yields.
The Norwich bull—With antics full.
Plenty of news—All to amuse;
The Monkey “Jacco”—All the crack O!
Ambroghetti’s squall—Match girl’s bawl!
Put on the gloves—Playful as doves
Then show your forte—At the Fives’ Court;
Conjurors rare—At Bartlemy fair;
Polito’s beasts—See city feasts,
Lord Mayor’s day—Then the play,
Adelphi Theatre—Pretty feature!
Rotton Row—All the Go!
In the Bench—Keep your wench.
When next you roam—Mathew’s “At Home!”
Such prime joking—Lots of smoking;
Here all dash on—In the fashion.
Chorus—Dancing, singing, full of glee,
O London, London town for me!
From ev’ry part the natives run,
To view this spot of land;
All are delighted with the fun,
Astonish’d ’tis so grand!
To Vauxhall haste to see the blaze.
Such variegated lights;
The ladies’ charms are all the gaze—
No artificial sights!:—
Lovely Faces—Full of graces,
Heavenly charms—Create alarms!
Such glances—And dances.
To the sky—See Saqui fly—
In the blaze—All to amaze.
Cyprians fine—Kids full of wine,
Orchestre grand—Pandean band;
Charming singing—Pleasure bringing;
Great attraction—And satisfaction:
Plenty of hoaxing—Strong coaxing;
Beautiful shapes—Beaux and apes,
Prone to quiz—Every phiz!
Dashing glasses—Queering lasses;
Flashy cits—Numerous wits;
Loud talking—Thousands walking:
Rare treating—Numbers eating;
Punch and wine—Every thing prime,
Grand Cascade—Once displayed;
Duke and groom—In one room;
Here all dash on—In the fashion!
Chorus—Dancing, singing, full of glee,
O London, London town for me!
And various fancies there display’d,
To please and cheer the mind;
They captivate both man and maid,
All polite and kind,
See fashion driving through each street,
With splendour and renown:
Pedestrians, too, with shining feet;
O, what a charming town!:—
Four-in-hand—Down the Strand!
Funny gigs—With knowing wigs;
Baxter’s hats—That queer the flats;
Flashy whips—With silver tips,
Leathern breech—Pretty stitch!
High-bred cattle—Tittle tattle,
Tattersall sell—Peep into “Hell!”
Full of play—And make a stay;
Hear Kean speak, Grimaldi squeak!
Courts of law—Full of jaw;
Brougham plead—Macauley read;
And Old Borum—At the Forum;
To Opera prance—See Vestris dance,
At Free and Easy—Full and greasy;
Prime song and catch—The Trotting-match
London Cries—O rare hot pies!
Sadler’s Wells—In summer tells;
Quick approach—In Hackney-coach;
Take your Daffy—All be happy:
And then dash on—In the fashion.
Chorus—Dancing, singing, full of glee,
O London, London town for me!
Mr. W. T. Moncrieff—one of the most successful and prolific writers of the day—appeared as the third on the list of dramatists, and it was announced at the Adelphi Theatre in the following style:—“On Monday, Nov. 26th, 1821, will be presented for the first time, on a scale of unprecedented extent (having been many weeks in preparation, under the superintendence of several of the most celebrated Artists, both in the Ups and Downs of Life, who have all kindly come forward to assist the Proprietors in their endeavours to render this Piece a complete out-and-outer), an entirely new Classic, Comic, Operatic, Didactic, Aristophanic, Localic, Analytic, Panoramic, Camera-Obscura-ic, Extravaganza Burletta of Fun, Frolic, Fashion, and Flash, in three acts, called ‘Tom and Jerry; or, Life in London.’ Replete with Prime Chaunts, Rum Glees, and Kiddy Catches, founded on Pierce Egan’s well-known and highly popular work of the same name, by a celebrated extravagant erratic Author. The Music selected and modified by him, from the most eminent composers, ancient and modern, and every Air furnished with an attendant train of Graces. The costume and scenery superintended by Mr. I. R. Cruikshank, from the Drawings by himself and his brother, Mr. George Cruikshank, the celebrated Artists of the original work.”
TOM AND JERRY;
OR, LIFE IN LONDON.
AN OPERATIC EXTRAVAGANZA
BY W. T. MONCRIEFF.
HARK! the watchman springs his rattle,
Now the midnight lark’s begun.