~Regency Wednesday~ Bookseller

How neat is this book I just found on Google? The Book of English Trades. It's from 1818 (original printing 1811) and it lists the different trades at the time, just as the title suggests, including images of many of these professions. I selected the bookseller (wanna guess why? lol) for today's Regency Wednesday post. ☺ 

"The Bookseller of the present day is a person of considerable importance in the republic of letters, more especially if he combines those particular branches of the trade denominated Proprietor and Publisher: for it is to such men our men of genius take their productions for sale: and the success of works of genius very frequently depends upon their spirit, probity, and patronage."

I think that sums a bookseller up rather well, don't you? ☺

*Clipped from The Book of English Trades (1818), p. 35. Get the Google e-book HERE. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio (Nashville) ~ Why Can't I Say Goodnight?

~Regency Wednesday~ Speaking of Deception, Only My Timing Was Off

While writing Deception, I made reference to a certain historical person of note. At the time, I thought it was fine. Later, I looked up more info on that person and realized I could not make reference to a man who had yet to come into his fame. Who was that man? 

"Golden Ball" Hughes 

Golden Ball was best known for the significant inheritance he received from his stepfather, Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, in 1819. At the time, Golden Ball was plain old Edward Hughes Ball. Eventually, he took on his stepfather's name, becoming Edward Hughes Ball Hughes. It wasn't long before he became known as "Golden Ball" Hughes.* 

With £40,000 per annum, he was easily one of, if not the, richest man in Regency England. He made something of a name for himself as a gentleman of fashion and, according to the many sources I've encountered, was an all-around pleasing gentleman. Accounted quite a handsome man, he was nevertheless rejected by more than one young lady of Society. Apparently, no amount of money could overcome his plebeian roots.

His unfortunate love life came to an end in 1822 when he met Maria Mercandotti, a 15-year-old Spanish dancer. They caused a minor scandal in 1823 when little Maria failed to appear at a performance and rumor suggested they eloped. However, they had secretly married with the permission of her mother and Lord Fife, who rumor suggests was her natural father. As I read this, all I can think is, "How romantic!" 

I have scoured the internet for a print of Ball Hughes that I could include in this post and come up short. I found one on another site; the page may be of some interest to my readers, so I'll at least post the link to that. You have to scroll down quite a bit to reach the print of Ball Hughes but the page is all about Prinny's set so the whole thing is worth a look. Enjoy! 

Prinny's Set at GeorgianIndex.net 

Further reading: The Beaux of the Regency, Volume II, p 159, by Lewis Melville (1908); The Story of the London Parks, p 255, by Jacob Larwood (1881) 
*Disclaimer: There are differing versions of Golden Ball's parentage. Above, I have presented Melville's version as the accurate one. However, other sources claim Ball's uncle was Admiral Sir Alexander Ball and his father a slop-seller in Ratcliffe Highway. Melville maintains that these writers were wrong and that Ball was the son of Captain Ball of the Royal Navy. Golden Ball's widowed mother married Admiral Sir Edward Hughes but produced no more children. 

~Regency Wednesday~ Lady's Maid

Today's Regency post is about a very important person in an upper class household, the lady's maid.

The lady's maid was the personal servant of the mistress of the house. She was in charge of her mistress' clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics. She made sure her mistress was always presentable and attended to her every need.

In the servants' hierarchy, she was basically equivalent to the master's valet or "gentleman's gentleman". Hence, she had a bit of cache, as it were, among the lower servants, being addressed as Miss.

In the introduction to the section titled Lady's Maid in The Servants' Guide and Family Manual from 1831, it says:

"THE principal duty of the Lady's Maid is her personal attendance on her Mistress: she ought, therefore, to possess the qualifications of propriety and polite behaviour; and her conduct should be uniformly influenced by correct principles, and strict regard to religious and moral obligations. Although these ought, strictly speaking, to be the qualifications of every servant, yet in no instance will their necessity be more evident than in the situation of the Lady's Maid. Again, her education, and share of the useful and ornamental branches of female acquirements, ought to be considerable; neatness and gentility of person and address will be great recommendations; and cheerfulness of temper and mildness of manners will ensure her the esteem and respect of her superiors.

Her employment is extremely simple, and far from laborious, and is, in most instances, little more than an agreeable exercise of useful qualities. Simple and little varied as are her duties, taste will be regulated, and her services otherwise rendered valuable by her attention to particular instructions and connected with the toilette and the wardrobe, as well as the personal ornament, dress, and decoration of her mistress."*

Below is a book clip of the above quote. Clicking will take you to the Google book.

*The Servants' Guide and Family Manual, p 97 (1831)