Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
19th August 1837
The Duchess of Kent's Birth-Day
The birth day of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent (who was born on the 17th of August 1789), was on Thursday ushered in at Kensington, as at Windsor, by the ringing of the church bells. At Kensington her Royal Highness's tradespeople, and a number of other inhabitants, sat down to a sumptuous dinner at the King's Arms Tavern, where the conviviality was kept up till a late hour. Many of the inhabitants also illuminated their houses. At Windsor the bachelors of the town celebrated the day by a revel in their Acre, at the same time celebrating the accession of Her Majesty to the throne. The day for this annual revel, which, during the reign, of his late Majesty, was the King's birth-day, has this year been altered to that of the Duchess of Kent's birth-day. Early in the morning the day was greeted by a salvo of artillery stationed near the Acre, and at nine o'clock a procession was formed, which, preceded by a band of music, and accompanied by several very handsome banners, paraded the town, and finally stopped in the Acre, when the sports commenced with a cricket match between a party of boys. To that succeeded
a variety of sports which lasted all the day, such as climbing soaped poles for a beaver hat; winding a straw six yards long round a peg for a pair of shoes; back-swording and wrestling for prizes of money; a gingling match for a smock frock; foot-ball for a cheese; a sack race for a hat; and many others. The concourse of persons in the Acre was very great, and the amusements were so admirably conducted by the managing committee as to give the greatest satisfaction to the public. In various parts of the Acre were also booths and shows. In the evening there was a very splendid display of fireworks, under the superintendence of Mr.Southby, of Lambeth, the pyrotechnist of Vauxhall Gardens. The whole of the amusements passed off with the greatest eclat. The town was also partially illuminated in the evening.
Theatre Royal
Several very interesting pieces have this week been produced at our theatre, and the performances, upon the whole, have been excellent. We are sorry, however to perceive that the want of patronage which has generally prevailed towards this place of amusement, at the early part of its opening, is still visible. The praise worthy exertions of Mr.Penley, the manager, to cater for the public amusement, and the talents and exertions of the performers deserve ample encouragement, which we hope they will ere long receive from a Windsor audience.
Uxbridge, August 18.
An inquest was held this day on the body of a female, who had lived for some years as a servant in the family of Mr.Darvell, a harness-maker at Rickmansworth, who had been shooting on the previous day, and placed his gun in its usual place, taking off the cap, but neglecting to discharge it. The deceased simply asked Mr.D to show her how he discharged his gun with those caps (it being a percussion gun), and to satisfy her curiosity, he put one on and snapped the trigger; she accidentally turning round at the time, received the contents in her body, and immediately fell a corpse. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." Mr.Darvell is so much effected at the accident that it is feared his intellect will not sustain the shock.
High Wycombe, August 18.
In pursuance of the Municipal Corporations Act, Mr.John Young was on Monday unanimously elected a member of the Town-council, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the late lamented Mr.John.Jaques.
The children, teachers, and friends of the Crendon-lane chapel Sunday-school drank tea together in the chapel , on Tuesday afternoon last.
The harvest in this neighbourhood commenced about three weeks since, and seldom has the farmer been blessed with more luxurious or abundant crops.
Maidenhead, August 18.
On Tuesday the neat and commodious chapel at White Waltham, which has been erected under the pastoral care of the Rev.Mr.Pearce, was opened for Divine Worship, when two very similar discourses were delivered, one by the Rev.John Stoughton, of Windsor, and the other by the Rev.Mr.Harry, of London. The Rev. Gentlemen and their friends afterwards assembled together under a large tent, which was erected in an adjoining meadow, and partook of tea. Upwards of �20 was collected after the services towards defraying the expense of the erection of the chapel.