Some of the Fussy Windbags of the Regency

These three have each contributed greatly to their age but have also in one way or another provoked my ire.

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Matthew Gregory Lewis by Henry William Pickersgill

Matthew Gregory Lewis aka the Monk, a vain, pompous fusspot who was a part of the Duchess of York’s set. His work is credible enough that irritating college students, in grand shows of superiority, still hold to their bosoms copies of his Monk as a sign of their intelligence. I absolutely cannot abide the effect is work has on seemingly rational 20 somethings.

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Henry Hunt painter unknown

Henry Hunt ‘the Orator’ was a vain, irresolute ninny who talked himself in to the center of the tragedy at Peterloo massacre and should have, as far as I’m concerned, been flogged publicly for his carelessness. Fifteen people lost their lives and hundreds sustained serious injuries because of this fool and his idiot associates. He was, in the end, no more than an ignorant chatterbox out to further his own ends under the guise of a revolutionary.

Hannah More painting by H.W. Pickersgill, A.R.A.

Hannah More, instructing the ‘good poor’ to keep the Sabbath sacred, condemning them for pastimes she ignored in the rich and lordly. The poor hard working folk who had usually only the one day in the week to get out and amuse themselves had to abide these More Laws. ‘The amusements of a Christian must have nothing in them to excite the passions which it is his duty to subdue; they must not obstruct spiritual-mindedness, nor inflame the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and pride of life.’ In the end, it was nothing more than puritanical nonsense meant to oppress those most in need of light amusement, but I will give her credit for her opposition to the slave trade.

The truth is they are none of them so bad it's just some times one gets irritated by the madness one reads. I came across these three in J.B. Priestley book "The Prince of Pleasure" today and by the end I'd have enough of them. Yet here I am posting about the, which proves how very mad I am.

A lovely weekend to all,

Simone.