THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| Vol. XIV. No. 383. | SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1829. | [PRICE 2d. |
TUNBRIDGE WELLS.
With sketches of Dr. Johnson, Cibber, Garrick, Lyttleton,Richardson, &c. &c. For Explanation, see the annexedpage.
References to the Characters in the Engraving.
1. Dr. Johnson.—2. Bishop of Salisbury (Dr.Gilbert.)—3. Lord Harcourt.—4. Cotley Cibber.—5.Mr. Garrick.—6. Mrs. Frasi, the singer.—7. Mr.Nash.—8. Miss Chudleigh (Duchess of Kingston.)—9. Mr.Pitt (Earl of Chatham.)—10. A. Onslow, Esq. (theSpeaker.)—11. Lord Powis.—12. Duchess ofNorfolk.—13. Miss Peggy Banks—14. LadyLincoln—15. Mr. (afterwards Lord) Lyttleton.—16. TheBaron (a German gamester.)—17. Samuel Richardson.—18.Mrs. Onslow.—20. Mrs. Johnson (the Doctor's wife.)—21.Mr. Whiston—22. Loggan, the artist.—23. Woman of theWells.
Tunbridge, or as old folks still call it, "the Wells," was agay, anecdotical resort of the last century, and about as differentfrom the fashionable haunts of the present, as St. James's is toRussel Square, or an old English mansion to the egg-shellarchitecture of yesterday. In its best days, it was second only toBath, and little did its belles and beaux dream of the fishifiedvillage of Brighthelmstone, in the adjoining county, spreading to acity, and being docked of its syllabic proportions to theBrighton of ears polite.
The annexed Engraving represents Tunbridge Wells about 80 yearsago, or in the year 1748. It is copied from a drawing whichbelonged to Samuel Richardson, the novelist, and was found amonghis papers at his death in 1761. The original is in the possessionof Sir Richard Phillips, who published Richardson'sCorrespondence, in 1804; it contains portrait figures of allthe celebrated characters who were at Tunbridge Wells, in August,1748, at which time Richardson was likewise there, and beneath thedrawing is the above key, or the names of the characters, in thehand-writing of the novelist.
But the pleasantest illustration that we can supply is thefollowing extract from one of Richardson's Letters to MissWestcomb, which represents the gaiety and flirtation of the placein very attractive colours. At this time Richardson was atTunbridge Wells for the benefit of his health; but he says, "I hadrather be in a desert, than in a place so public and so giddy, if Imay call the place so from its frequenters. But these waters werealmost the only thing in medicine that I had not tried; and, as mydisorder seemed to increase, I was willing to try them. Hitherto, Imust own, without effect is the trial. But people here, who slidein upon me, as I traverse the outermost edges of the walks, that Imay stand in nobody's way, nor have my dizziness increased by theswimming triflers, tell me I shall not give them fair play under amonth or six weeks; and that I ought neither to read nor write; yetI have all my town concerns upon me here, sent me every post andcoach, and cannot help it. Here are great numbers of people gottogether. A very full season, and more