Journeys of a German in England: Walking Tour of England in 1782 (Celtic Interest) - Softcover

Moritz, Carl Philip

Softcover

ISBN 10: 090787150X ISBN 13: 9780907871507

Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd, 1983

Synopsis

In 1782 an enthusiastic young German landed in England. Through the fresh eyes of a foreigner we get a wonderful insight into what has or hasn’t changed within the last two hundred years. In a series of letters home he describes his amazement at the number of English people who wore spectacles, the amount they drank, the dreadful food they ate, the expense of a simple salad, the drunkenness of the dons, the riotous behaviour in Parliament, and the high level of education among ordinary people.

About this title

Review

Here is a gift of a book for anyone interested in the Eighteenth Century. -- The Times Educational Supplement

Marvellously vivid, witty and at times lyrical... one almost feels one is walking with Moritz. -- Surrey Comet

The writing is so fresh that you are startled when a stage-coach appears. -- Byron Rogers, The Standard

This account of his travels has a clarity and freshness quite unsurpassed by any contemporary descriptions. -- Iain Hamilton, Illustrated London News

his account is shrewd, accurate and friendly, with someamusing sidelights. -- The Grimsby Evening Telegraph

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

I would advise anybody who wants to drink coffee in England to mention beforehand how many cupfuls should be made from half-an-ounce, otherwise he will get an atrocious mess of brown water set before him, such as I have not yet been able to avoid in spite of all my admonitions. Their fine wheaten bread, along with butter and Cheshire cheese, suffice for my meagre midday meal. Here they content themselves generally with a piece of half-boiled or roasted meat and a few green cabbages boiled in nothing else but water, on which is poured a sauce concocted of flour and butter. This, I assure you, is the general way they prepare vegetables in England.

Members of the House of Commons wear no special clothing. They enter the House in greatcoats, boots and spurs! It is not unusual to see a Member stretched out on one of the benches while the rest are in debate. One Member may be cracking nuts, another eating an orange or whatever fruit may be in season; they are constantly going in and out. Whenever one of them wishes to leave the chamber he stands first before the Speaker and makes him a bow, just like a schoolboy begging permission of his teacher.

Members address the House without any stiffness of speech. One of them simply rises from his seat, takes off his hat, turns towards the Speaker (to whom all speeches are directed), holds his hat and stick in one hand while he gesticulates with the other.

Whenever one of them speaks badly or the matter of his speech lacks interest for the majority, the noise and laughter are such that the Member can hardly hear his own words. This must be a very fearful time for him. It is amusing when the Speaker calls out from his chair, like a schoolmaster appealing against disorder: ‘To order! To order!’ Often without attracting much attention.

During the course of a good, purposive speech, however, absolute stillness reigns, and one Member after another shows his approval by shouting ‘Hear him!’ - a cry often taken up by the whole House, making so much noise that the Speaker is often again interrupted by this shout of approval. Yet notwithstanding its inconvenience this shout is always a great encouragement and I have often observed how a Member who had begun with little confidence, speaking without much spirit, would warm up under such incitement and end with a flashing display of oratory.

Edition details

• Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd
• Publication date: 1983
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 090787150X
• ISBN 13: 9780907871507
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224