5th March 1763

Went to see Adamses Curiositys spt. 9d


I can't find anything about this display!

EDIT: A mention to a friend about this told me that Sir John Soane's Museum has much of what Robert Adam himself referred to as his Curiosities. I have now spoken to the person at the museum who is working on the catalogue of these items. Much of the collection was drawings done by Robert Adam on his grand tour of Italy. They provided the inspiration for his architecture. There were other items besides the drawings but most are not in the museum collection. However, many of the drawings are shown online and you can see them just as Thomas did! Thomas saw them about 4 years after Robert Adam returned from Italy. Obviously anything later than 1763 was not there for Thomas to see on this visit.

23 February 1763

Went to Covent Garden to See and Oritorio of Alexanders Feast With the Coronation Anthem Violin Mr Hays organ Mr Stanley the King and Queen & all the Royal Family was their and Cost me 5/-


Alexander's Feast is by Handel, of course. This data base shows that there was another performance on the 25th with the same performers. It also tell us that Thomas sat in the first gallery, presumably what would be called the Dress Circle today.

And here is a link to tell you about the Coronation Anthem including a chance to hear the music!
There is a picture of Covent Garden Theatre at the right sort of date here.

The Monarch remains George III, pictures of him & Queen Charlotte here.

9 November 1762

Lord Mayor Show & went to see all the Companeys Barges & Lord Mayor & the State Coach.
Spt 6d Oysters & aples & pares 3

The Lord Mayor in 1762 was William Beckford. Thomas has mentioned him before, when he was elected to Parliament. Here is his portrait when he was Lord Mayor.

There is a statue of William Beckford in the Guildhall, London
The State Coach is in the Museum of London.

On a more personal level, Thomas is still shopping. He returned to the Triton for more porcelain and bought a Japan Tea chest (14/-) and his landlord, Mr Dale, has sold his business to Benjamin Wigglesworth, but I haven't found anything about either gentleman.

4th Oct 1762

Bot. 2 Sugar Basons 2/- on Board the Triton Indiaman Deptford & 6 Blue & white Coffee Cups 3/-

Thomas is still preparing for married life but he doesn't seem to be in any hurry, does he?
The Triton is interesting. She was built for the French East India company and captured by Captain James Cook RN in May 1756. There is an account online of how it happened. This contains the sentence "It does not appear to have been taken into service by the Navy. " No, she was sold to the East India Company!



13th Went to Baggenigee Wells & Garden Spt 6d



The mineral springs in the garden of Baggenige House were discovered in 1760, after which it became a famous spa/pleasure garden see here for more.

The site of the house, now 63 Kings Cross Road, is marked by a plaque

17th September 1762

Gave to see the Queen's African Ass which was made a present to her by one of our Captins. Its a most beautiful Creatur 6d

Thanks to a knowledgeable reader, I have found this "Creatur"!

It was a female zebra. Some sources claim it was a Quagga (now extinct) but there is a contemporary portrait of her.
This is a print held in the British Museum after a painting by Stubbs

The curator's notes say

"The zebra was kept at Buckingham House and caused great interest. For a contemporary account, see the London Magazine, July 1762; according to a note on an impression of the illustration in the magazine (1862,1011.556), when the animal died it was stuffed and displayed at the Leverian Museum, Blackfriars Road."

Other sources say she lived at Kew and yet more in St James's Park. Perhaps the zebra lived in different places at different times?

For comparison, here is a quagga

7th July 1762

went to VauxHall to see the Cheroque King and Two Chieffs it was said their was above Six Thousand pople there spt 18

Originally allied with the British against the French in North America, the Cherokee nation fought a war which they called "war against those in red coats" from 1758-61. Henry Timberlake brought 3 of the chiefs to London in 1762 to show their goodwill. They were Ostenaco (the "King"), Standing Turkey & Wood Pigeon. They dined with George III, met many important people and sat for Joshua Reynolds. Their interpreter died on the journey to England so no-one is quite sure what they said!!!

Henry Timberlake left memoirs and is much better known in the US than in UK as far as I can see from Google.

28th June 1762

Went to Woolidge & went on Board the Warwick Indiaman. Bout. a Silk Handkerchief 4/-
and See the Warren & all the Cannons morters Bum Shells & Cannon Balls came back through Hanging wood so to Charlton where Horne Fair is kept so to Greenwich Deptford & home spent their 12


Warwick was a Ship of course - belonging to the East India company. Read about such ships here. It would seem that the Warwick was not exactly new when Thomas went aboard on that June Monday. (Now he isn't at work, his trips out are not confined to Sundays as they were at the beginning of this blog). The ship is mentioned in the London Magazine for 1752.

The Warren is the old name for the Royal Arsenal

Hanging Wood - the remains and there is an interesting post abou it in the Greenwich Phantom's blog



The Horn Fair - this fair, suppressed in the 19th century has been revived