Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
12th August 1837
Windsor Revel
We have perused a list of the sports chosen by the bachelors for Thursday, and we do not think they could possibly have made a better selection, or one more calculated to suit the temper and tastes of all parties. The procession will be formed, as usual, in the Acre, and with the band perambulate the town, at the conclusion of which the sports will commence. Since our last the Committee have received liberal subscriptions from the Hon and Rev.Dr.Hobart, Dean of Windsor, Mrs.Hobart, and Sir Jeffrey Wyatville.
Theatre Royal, Windsor
This theatre opened for the season on Monday under the excellent management of Mr.Penley, and with a very well selected company, several of whom were new to us, but we were happy to see some of the old favourites. We have not room this week for criticism, and must therefore be brief in our notice. Of the acting of Miss Penley, it is sufficient to say that she fully supports the justly formed estimate of her talents by the public. Miss Mayoss is as pretty a singer as ever she was and Mrs.Loveday as lively and busy in her characters as we have been wont to see her. Mrs.Mulford, who we do not remember to have seen on the Windsor stage before, displays considerable knowledge of her business, as especially as 'Miss.Melford', in the "Deserter," she exhibited proofs of good acting. Mr.E.Green, Mr.Moulton, Mr.Loveday, and Mr.Yarnold, played their respective parts exceedingly well, but especially Messrs. Moulton and Loveday, both of whom elicited great applause, and in some of their most comic scenes, which they know so well how to turn to good account with their audience, they created roars of merriment. Mr.Moulton's comic songs also are given in an admirable style.
Shocking Accident
On Thursday a shocking accident occurred to a man who was employed as a navigator on the railroad between Salthill and Maidenhead. In endeavouring to get out of the way of a train which was coming towards him, he fell down, when the engine passed over one of his legs from the ankle to the knee, crushing it in a most dreadful manner. The poor fellow was instantly taken up and carried to the Dumb Bell public-house, near Maidenhead Bridge, where he was speedily attended by Mr.Bellowes, surgeon, of Maidenhead, who deemed it necessary to amputate the limb, which operation he performed in a most skilful manner. We understand that the unfortunate man is in a fair way of recovery.
High Wycombe, August 11.
The superintendent registrar of the Wycombe Union (Chas.Harman, Esq.) granted his first marriage certificate on Tuesday last, to the Rev.James.Rutherford, of Chinnor, whose marriage, which was solemnized on the following day in his own chapel, is recorded in another part of this paper.
Education
The annual meeting and public examination of the Wycombe British School for boys was held in our Town-hall on Monday, the Hon.R.Smith, M.P., in the chair. The meeting, which was most numerously and highly respectably attended, was ably and eloquently addressed by G.H.Dashwood, Esq., the Rev.Messrs. Hayden and Lacey, R.Wheeler, Esq., J.G.Tatem, Esq., and John Rumsey, Esq. The examination of the boys proved highly satisfactory, and reflected the greatest credit on their master, Mr.Drewett, whose care and attention to their morals and general improvement have always been unremitting. The children were then regaled with cake and wine, and the chairman in the kindest manner presented all of them (in number 160) with a shilling each; 60 caps were also distributed to those who had been the longest time in the school. Previous to the examination the boys
walked in a procession round the town, preceded by a band of music, and the bells of our church also ringing merrily, and we have great pleasure in stating the services both of the ringers and the musicians were given voluntarily. This clearly shows the progress the love on knowledge is every where making, and the importance which all classes of persons are beginning to attach to that golden rule of Solomon, viz., "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart therefrom."
Chertsey, August 11.
The Fair, on Wednesday, was well supplied with horses, which, however, went off very slowly. There was a more than usual supply of lambs, which fetched good prices. The cow fair was rather bare, but, for the wonder-loving portion of the visitors, there were the learned pigs, white haired ladies, Indian chiefs, sea serpents, &c.; but the great attraction of the evening was the descent of the balloon, which we describe below.
Decent of the Nassau Balloon
During the fair, about half past seven o'clock in the evening, the inhabitants were thrown into unusual excitement by the appearance of the great Nassau balloon, evidently on the descent, which had gone up that afternoon from Vauxhall, with a party of seven gentlemen, for the benefit of the widow of the late unfortunate Mr.Cocking. Immediately on seeing it, multitudes set off in all directions, and the fair was quite deserted, the very "show-folk" joining in the race, finding their exhibitions eclipsed by a much grander one, which had the advantage of being gratis. The huge machine came gently down in a field adjoining the ferry at Laleham, on the Chertsey side of the Thames; and when we got there we found nearly 1,200 people assembled, including our scientific neighbours from Staines, Littleton, Laleham, Shepperton, and the vicinities, who hailed the adventurous aeronauts with loud enthusiastic shouts. The dexterity which Mr.Green accomplished the nice process of landing his passengers was much admired, as well as the enormous balloon itself,
whose fine proportions were shewn off to great advantage by the proportionate pigmies round it. One of the voyagers informed us they had had a most delightful journey - passing over Hampton Court, and a very fine country; their greatest elevation being about 4,300 feet, and the whole distance being accomplished in about 45 minutes. The balloon was soon emptied, rolled up, and packed in its car, with the assistance of the numerous bystanders, and on crossing the ferry on its way home, three farewell cheers were given by the spectators, who dispersed highly gratified with the interesting sight they had witnessed.