18th century “lonely hearts” add - of sorts.
I’m currently reading Julie Peakman’s “Lascivious Bodies - a Sexual History of th Eighteenth Century”, which covers far more than sexuality. The reader gains a rather baffling insight into the vices and virtues of the society in 18th century Britain. And it’s amazing how little times have changed. Here’s a contempary complaint about “gangs of young thugs”:
Drinking until drunk, they assaulted wohever crossed their path and terrorized the neighbourhood. At night, they would rampage through the streets, attack the watch and break into people’s homes.
A round of ASBOs, please! Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose…
I’m sure readers of the Daily Fail would find a reason why the behaviour of 18th century ruffians should be blamed on Labour and single mums, though.
But back to the “lonely hearts” of London. The most sought-after courtesans in London could pick-and-choose their gallants, and so it happened ever so often that a gentleman in need of comfort, but not necessarily a wedding ring (or already having one but still seeking for distraction) would place an add in one of the many papers, seeking discreetly for charming company.
Here’s one such example, printed in a London newspaper on 1 March 1754:
If the Lady that was at the last Masquerade, dress’d in a white Domino, trimm’d with the Purple, a Hat of the same, tall and genteel in Person, will be so obliging as to favour the Gentleman who ask’d her to dance, but was refused, with a Line when and where he may have the Pleasure of seeing her, by directing for C.G. at the Cocoa-Tree in Pall-Mall, he intends to propose her something greatly to her Advantage, and hopes it will meet with her Approbation. Note, A Coach and Six, and 7000 l. per Annum, at her Service if she don’t think the Gentleman too old.
Unfortunately, it’s not known if the gentleman in question was successful in his quest…
I’ll review “Lascivious Bodies” in separate parts, as it would be to difficult to squeeze all aspects of the books into one post.
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/303891.html. You can comment on LJ or DW, using OpenID.
Drinking until drunk, they assaulted wohever crossed their path and terrorized the neighbourhood. At night, they would rampage through the streets, attack the watch and break into people’s homes.
A round of ASBOs, please! Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose…
I’m sure readers of the Daily Fail would find a reason why the behaviour of 18th century ruffians should be blamed on Labour and single mums, though.
But back to the “lonely hearts” of London. The most sought-after courtesans in London could pick-and-choose their gallants, and so it happened ever so often that a gentleman in need of comfort, but not necessarily a wedding ring (or already having one but still seeking for distraction) would place an add in one of the many papers, seeking discreetly for charming company.
Here’s one such example, printed in a London newspaper on 1 March 1754:
If the Lady that was at the last Masquerade, dress’d in a white Domino, trimm’d with the Purple, a Hat of the same, tall and genteel in Person, will be so obliging as to favour the Gentleman who ask’d her to dance, but was refused, with a Line when and where he may have the Pleasure of seeing her, by directing for C.G. at the Cocoa-Tree in Pall-Mall, he intends to propose her something greatly to her Advantage, and hopes it will meet with her Approbation. Note, A Coach and Six, and 7000 l. per Annum, at her Service if she don’t think the Gentleman too old.
Unfortunately, it’s not known if the gentleman in question was successful in his quest…
I’ll review “Lascivious Bodies” in separate parts, as it would be to difficult to squeeze all aspects of the books into one post.
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/303891.html. You can comment on LJ or DW, using OpenID.