Volltext Seite (XML)
318 HISTORY OF LACE. It appears somewhat strange that patriotism, as regards native manufactures, should have received an impulse during the reign of that most uninteresting though gallant little monarch, the second George of Brunswick. 12 But patriotism has its evils, for, writes an essayist, “ some ladies now squander away all their money in fine laces, because it sets a great many poor people to work.” 13 Ten years previous to the death of King George II. was founded, with a view to correct the prevalent taste for foreign manufactures, 14 the Society of the Anti-Gallicans, who held their quarterly meetings, and distributed prizes for bone, point lace, and other articles of English manufacture. 15 This society, which continued in great activity for many years, proved most beneficial to the lace-making trade. It excited also a spirit of emulation among gentlewomen of the middle class, who were glad in the course of the year to add to a small income by making the finer kinds of needle-point, which, on account of their elaborate workmanship, could be produced only in foreign con vents, or by persons whose maintenance did not entirely depend upon the work of their hands. Towards the year 1756, certain changes in the fashion of the day now again mark the period, for— “ Dress still varying, most to form confined, Shifts like the sands, the sport of every wind.” 12 He was a martinet about his own dress, for his biographer relates during the last illness of Queen Caroline (1737), though the king was “ visibly affected,” remembering he had to meet the foreign ministers next day, he gave particular directions to his pages “to see that new ruffles were sewn on his old shirt sleeves, whereby he might wear a decent air in the eyes of the representatives of foreign majesty.” 13 “ By a list of linen furnished to the Drincesses Louisa and Mary, we find their night-dresses were trimmed with lace at 10s. per yard, and while their Royal Highnesses were in bibs, they had six suits of broad lare for aprons at from 501. to 60?. each suit.”—Corr. of the Countess of Suffolk, 'Lady of the Bed chamber to Queen Caroline. Observe also the lace-trimmed aprons, ruffles, tuckers, &c., in the pretty picture of the family of Frederick, Prince of Wales, at Hampton Court Palace. 14 The laws regarding the introduction of lace during this reign continued much the same until 1749, when the royal assent was given to an act preventing the importation or wear of gold, silver, and thread lace manufactured in foreign parts. 15 In the meeting of Nov. 10, 1752, at the “Crown, behind the Royal Ex change,” the Hon. Edward Vernon, grand president, in the chair, it was agr<ed that the following premiums should be awarded: “lor the best pair of men’s needlework ruffles, to be produced to the committee in the first week of May next, five guineas; to the second, three guineas; to the third, two guineas And for the best pair of English bone lace for ladies’ lappets, to be produced to the committee in August next, fifteen guineas; to the second, ton guineas ; to the third, five guineas.”—Gentleman’s Magazine.