| Citation |
NYEP(D.749.021
14 Aug 1749:12,21 (221)
Extract of a letter from Manchester [England], April 21. On
Tuesday the 11th instant we had great rejoicings here,
ringing of bells, &c. which continued till two o'clock on
Wednesday morning, on account of Sir W. W. W.'s having a
son; but on Saturday the 15th instant the Duke of
Cumberland's birth-day, and on Sunday the 16th being the
anniversary of Culloden, not one bell stirred, excepting
only to call the congregation to church. In the evening of
the 16th, Major Johnson, the commanding officer here, a
young gentleman of great worth, affability, and politeness,
drew out the troops in the square, and made three fires in
commemoration of the blessings of the day. Wine was
ordered, by private gentlemen that attended to drink the
healths of the day, and money given to the private soldiers;
but all the officers of the town being sick on that day,
could neither attend in person, nor send their compliments
on the occasion.
Manchester, April 19. Whereas some ill-disposed persons
have from time to time abused the good people of Manchester,
upon account of their well-known loyalty and political
attachments; and whereas the same persons have now lately
been wounding our collegiate church through the sides of
some of its officers, I mean the fraternity of ringers; and
charging them with disaffection, and what not that is bad,
for not ringing a peal or two, either on the 15th or 16th of
April, or on both, to welcome the return of those two
auspicious days; as a brother of the bell-rope, I beg that
you'll indulge me with room in your paper to offer the
following justification of ourselves to the publick.
The fact then stands thus; On Tuesday the 11th inst. the
news arrived here of Sir W. W. W.'s lady being brought-to-
bed of a son. Now you must know Sir W. has an estate within
forty miles of this place, and has himself once if not
twice, visited this town in person; and therefore we owe him
a very distinguishing regard, not only as a patriot and
sincere lover of his country, but as a neighbour and
paritular friend of ours. These reasons induced us to
rejoyce on the news of his having an heir to his estate,
whom we hope, will likewise inherit his virtues: The bells
ecchoed our joys through the skies, and rung all Tuesday,
and till two o'clock on Wednesday morning, on this important
occasion: But as the strongest appetite must become
languid, if not cloyed, through the indelicacy of too oft
repeated enjoyment, so, in good truth, our honest fraternity
of ringers were so soundly tired with ringing on the
occasion above, that we had no manner of appetite for a
peal, either on the 15th, the Duke's birth-day, or on the
16th, the anniversary of Culloden. And what of this, may
not men be tired without treason? If fools will be on the
catch, let them.
We have been reflect on too, because the bells never
stirred on the arrival of the news of the Princess of Wales
being brought-to-bed, &c. But let me ask those gentlemen,
do they not know that ringers can no more ring without pay,
than a lawyer without a fee, or soldiers fight withought
plunder? Were these gentlemen sensors as impartial as they
would be thought to be, would they not instead of blaming
us, admire the oeconomy and prudent management of our
church-wardens, and other parish officers, who never suffer
parish money to be expended on such unnecessary, and I hope
there is no treason in adding, with us, unpopular occasions.
I am yours, &c. [signed] Timothy Ringwell.
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