Today we complete our detailed look at an example of an 18th century Ladies Pocketbook, which we began in our last post.
What might potentially be the most interesting part of the pocketbook, – Fifty-two double Pages rules for Memorandums etc, in effect, the diary entries- is sadly missing in this example. (FX: Grinding teeth)
But what remains have is interesting, throwing a light on the frivolities and practicalities of life from a middling sort lady in the late 18th century.
First, Hints to Unmarried Ladies (Do remember you can enlarge all the photographs in this post in order to see the detail of the individual pages)
This is a conduct book warning regarding proprietary in the midst of all this practicality. This little essay is particularly florid in tone:
What is so analogous to the dangers of walking through burning plough-shares, in the fiery ordeal predicted by our ancestors, as the strong temptations the ladies are exposed to from the warm addresses of the gentlemen ….
Next, continuing the conduct book theme, An Essay on Modesty…
How many have been undone because they have not had impudence enough to deny the request of a profest friend?
Followed by An Ode to Health
A little warning about losing one’s bloom, something that Anne Elliot could write a heartfelt essay upon….Then, just in case one wanted to do something to rekindle one’s bloom, a very helpful Account of the Mineral Waters in England and Wales and the Amusements at the Watering Places
Next, Favourite New Songs Sung at Vauxhall Ranelagh and the other pubik places in 1777
The first The Nod, Wink and Smile sung by Mr Vernon at Vauxhall.
This section is a sort of Top Ten hits of the day. I find them fascinating, and I was very glad to be able to send copies of these to David Coke to add to his collection of songs sung at Vauxhall Gardens. More on his Vauxhall Exhibit at the Foundling Hospital Museum soon. Then, in keeping with the pleasure themes we have instructions for the New Country Dances for the year 1778
And finally…back to earth with A New Marketing Table
and A Table of Expences
and finally in this section, A Table of Interest, to help you with your calculations:
And just in case you are worried about social niceties, the Table of Precedency among Ladies
Sadly, the Chairmen and Watermen’s rates are missing from my little pocket-book, but that would have been essential information when visiting London, if you didn’t want to be taken advantage of by either promoters of both types of transport. And that ends this look at what was thought to be useful information for a woman of the late 18th century. I do hope you have found it interesting.
14 comments
May 22, 2012 at 1:43 pm
rebelhand
Fascinating posts, thank you! What a shame all her secrets are missing…
May 22, 2012 at 1:45 pm
jfwakefield
Thank you! I agree, I was so disappointed that I had no idea of 1778 from the original owner’s perspective. Even mundane entries would have satisfied me ;)
May 22, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Lyn Bailey
Absolutely fascinating! When you don’t have a smart phone, bring your information and advice with you. I do have a question about the Marketing Table. What do s. d. and q. stand for? I can usually make out equivalents, but here I’m stymied.
May 22, 2012 at 3:43 pm
jfwakefield
Hi Lyn,
The letters “s’, “d” and “g” represent pre-decimal currency: “s” stands for shillings, “d” for pence and “g” for Guineas-does that help?
May 22, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Lyn Bailey
Ahah! But are you sure it’s not a q (quarter) for farthing? If you look at the chart, it makes more sense that way. Now it all fits in. Shows that those ladies had as much difficulty with shillings and pence as I did.
May 22, 2012 at 4:01 pm
jfwakefield
And I am old enough to remember farthings…only just but still. Yes, it’s farthings, not quinesa. I praise the Money Gods who gave me decimal coinage in 1971: how on earth I would have managed with this complicated system I really hate to think.
May 22, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Lyn Bailey
You would have done just fine. It’s shopping. It’s amazing what one can do when necessary.
May 22, 2012 at 4:52 pm
jfwakefield
Ah yes, I never have trouble spending money…but reckoning it? It would not have been a pretty sight under the old coinage.
May 22, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Lyn Bailey
Think of all the sorts and conditions of people who did just fine with this system over the centuries. You’re law trained. You’d have lots of practice. If those people could do it, so could you. And you’d have the charts in your pocket book!
May 22, 2012 at 5:24 pm
jfwakefield
I lived with this system till I was 12….it was complex, and as a dyslexic, sometimes incomprehensible to me.I still thank goodness for decimalisation :)
May 22, 2012 at 9:49 pm
datadea
This little book is about the size of my paper check book register, and in the front there is a page of important dates, a tip calculator,conversions table and tiny calendars for ’12,’13, and ’14. Would lining the leather with fabric instead of the paper have been too expensive, or is it like a hard cover book with end papers? Mary Bennet would have treasured such sage advice on decorum and modesty!
May 22, 2012 at 11:15 pm
cathyallen
As everyone else has said, this is fascinating reading, thank you.
May 23, 2012 at 10:17 am
imogen88
Very good reading, Julie, and I can’t wait for the Vauxhall Gardens postings. I wonder how many women followed that advice to the letter, and how many disregarded it, I wish I could be a fly on the wall at the genuine old era, just to see how their “everyday” was.
May 24, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Tina
Such a great post! I confess, I tried to make our the dances, but ended up completely baffled. As for the ladies precedency, where did the wives of the younger sons of Dukes come in? I think there were some “positions” missing there. I’ll have to look up hierarchies, what with dukes, counts, viscounts and whatnot I get so lost! But all so very, very interesting. Thank you for being such a detail freak!! I assure you, it is appreciated!