The music of this dance, is the favourite Quadrille air of L'Horatia—The dance commences with the English figure of right and left all around. Each gentleman then performs the balancez to his partner and turns her round with both hands. The ladies take hands all round; then follows the demi promenade à quatre, and the figure finishes with half right and left, after an open chassez by each couple.*
I'm not sure what half of this means. I did look up the French words. I know they're dance terms, which probably means the French translations aren't entirely accurate. (Plus I used Bing Translator which isn't very accurate either.) Either way, here's what I discovered:
balancez = swing
demi promenade à quatre = a half walk to four chassez = hunt; chase
If any of my lovely readers are better acquainted with Regency dances, and my translations are way off, please let us know. I would appreciate it and I know my other readers would too. Thank you! ♥
*Taken verbatim from La Belle Assemblée, July 1820, p. 273. Get the Google e-book HERE.
Now playing in Jaimey's head: ♫♪ Skeeter Davis ~ The End of the World ♪♫
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"Bleaching is the art by which those manufactures, which have vegetable substances for their raw material, are freed from the colouring matter with which such substances are naturally combined, or accidentally stained; and the pure vegetable fibre, deprived of these coloured matters, is left to reflect the different rays of light in due proportion, so as to appear white."*
It goes on to list the various chemicals they used and includes a pretty detailed step-by-step process. Towards the very end, the author talks about the illustration in particular: "The plate represents the bleaching of cloth, as it is now sometimes practised, by pouring water upon it, as it lies exposed in the bleaching-ground, to whiten, by the united operations of the sun, the air, and moisture, the cloths having previously passed through proper alkaline leys: this is called the old method of bleaching, the new is by the more expeditious process of oxymuriatic acid, &c."*
Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely week! ♥
*Taken verbatim from The Book of English Trades (1818), p. 23-28. You can find the free Google e-book HERE.
 Ames Ace.
Within ames ace; nearly, very near. Buckles. Fetters. Cackling Farts. Eggs. Cant. Dark Cully. A married man that keeps a mistress, whom he only visits at night, for fear of discovery. Eves Dropper. One that lurks about to rob hen-roosts; also a listener at doors and windows, to hear private conversation.* *Taken verbatim from 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Get your free Kindle copy HERE. Gertrude has made her debut on Amazon! That's right, my lovelies! Gertrude's Grace is officially up on Amazon and eager for readers. :) This is my baby, my precious. I've never tried writing humor before and maybe I never will again, so this is a special story, even though it's a short one. That said, I hope you'll give Gertrude a chance. She's eager to meet you. All of you. ;)  Here's the back cover blurb: Ladies know how to behave in Society. Ladies never put a foot wrong, never say an inappropriate word, and never cause their parents a moment of distress. Ladies can overcome any embarrassment with grace and poise. ….and then there's Gertrude. Gertrude struggles in the bright light of Society, trying to keep her poise and not embarrass her adoring mother. But when she falls for the most eligible bachelor the Season has to offer, she literally falls. ….on him. Lord Chatterton survives Lady Gertrude's onslaught with dignity. While Society mocks her from the sidelines, Chatterton isn't laughing. He's falling, too. For Gertrude.
 Taken from The Book of English Trades, and the Library of Useful Arts. (I just ♥ that name!) "Bricklaying is the art of cementing bricks, by lime or some other cement, so as to form one body; hence its use and importance in building walls, houses, &c. In London this business includes tiling, walling, chimney work, and paving with bricks and tiles. Tilers and Bricklayers were incorporated, 10th of Elizabeth, under the name of master and wardens of the Society of Freemen of the mystery and art of Tilers and Bricklayers. In the country, plasterers' work is always joined to the business of a Bricklayer, and not unfrequently, stone-masons' work also."* It goes on to talk about how far back into antiquity the art of bricklaying goes and the tools commonly associated with the trade. I strongly urge you to grab this book for yourself. You can find the free Google e-book HERE. Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely week! ♥ *Taken verbatim from The Book of English Trades (1818), p. 54.
 Taken from the beginning of chapter three... England beckoned. Gabriel sat up in bed, breathing hard. He stared into nothing, the darkness complete. Sensation in his arm ranged from minor tingles to stabbing pains. Reaching over he discovered it wasn’t there, thus couldn’t possibly feel what it was feeling. Wiping his hand over his face, the limb trembled. He thought he’d be sick. Hélène slept the sleep of the innocent beside him. Her mind did not roil with half-memories of war and lost family. She didn’t need to fear her own thoughts, fear the hazy recollections teasing the edges of her consciousness. Some nights he’d wake, like now, an overwhelming desire to see England singing through his veins. He knew France could not claim his heritage, even if his French was flawless. Hélène knew his roots screamed of the British Isles; she accepted him despite such a huge flaw in his character. He smiled at the memory of their wedding night, when she’d declared as much to him. But now, the urge to return overwhelmed him. There were things there, people there, who knew him, would know who he was and what happened to him. He would know the truth. Rising as carefully as possible to avoid disturbing his wife, he pulled on his breeches and moved across the small chamber. He stepped around the neglected wash basin, his feet taking him to the one window in the room. Light seeped through the crack in the shutters. He pushed them wide. Dawn bled pink across the horizon, spilling its light into the room. The English Channel glimmered blue and green in the dawn light. Gabriel saw but didn’t see. What he saw, deep in his mind’s eye, was the same water but from a different shore. If you enjoyed that, you can get the complete book everywhere e-books are sold. Links to more excerpts can be found on Forgotten's page, here on this site. Thanx for stopping by!
Below you'll find word for word the original post I did on my old blog. This was originally posted September 2, 2009.
I have decided I will do themed blog posts on Wednesdays and Fridays. Today is Regency Wednesday, in honor of the fact that Almack's assemblies were held on Wednesday nights during the British Regency.
 I am not going to do a long post full of details. More along the lines of a simple explanation for those who may not know very much about the time period.
I will start with the place that inspired me to use Wednesday as my "Regency" themed day.
Almack's Assembly Rooms
Almack's was a social club attended only by the crème de la crème of Regency Society. Located in King Street, St James, London, it was ruled by six or seven patronesses at any given time during the Regency. In 1814, they were Mrs Drummond Burrell, Lady Esterházy (who was Princess Esterházy after 1833), Lady Jersey, Lady Cowper, Lady Castlereagh, Lady Sefton, and Lady Lieven (who was Princess Lieven after 1826).
To attend, one had to apply for vouchers at a cost of ten guineas. Eager attendees were allowed in only if they had one of these coveted vouchers. Being denied vouchers for any reason could ruin the social aspirations of the seeker. If one received vouchers only to lose them later, one may as well pack one's bags and leave London.
The outer appearance of Almack's was nothing special but neither was the interior. The patronesses wanted the focus to be on the Society within, the people and manners, not the amenities. It was a social club to the core, a place to see and be seen.
Dancing was the premiere entertainment at Almack's with gossip running a close second. Reputations were made and broken with shocking regularity.
Almack's was an important part of Regency history. The famed novelist Georgette Heyer often mentioned it in her Regency romances. At times, she is even credited with having invented Almack's. It was a real place, however.
If anyone has something about Almack's they'd like to share, please leave a comment. Even if all you want to do is point out where I've erred.
I remember this article fondly, as it was my very first in honor of a time period I've grown to love. ☺
There is some confusion, at least on my part, when it comes to Princess Esterhazy. One source claims she was a countess until 1833, when she became a princess. Other sources claim she was a princess from the start. If anyone can clear this up, I'm all ears! And thank you, in advance. Next week I'll try to post new content, time permitting. Thanx for stopping by!
 From chapter three... Gertrude knew the duchess felt no love for her. A glass of wine and a loose floorboard at a well-known Society matron’s rout was all it took to alienate the grand dame. Why the hostess had chosen to go against tradition and serve wine at a rout was beyond Gertrude’s understanding. It was as if the woman wanted something outrageous like that to happen. Gertrude’s silly mistake had made all the scandal sheets, the cartoonists having a grand time lampooning her and the icy duchess in their drawings. The Duchess of Chatterton would surely never forgive her for such humiliation. Gertrude’s gaze slid to Chatterton. She’d managed to humiliate him in quite the worst way yet he’d not avoided her, even going so far as to offer to escort her mother and her to Almack’s. Why did he not run from her the way everyone else did? I hope you enjoyed this little teaser. Watch for this book to be released soon. Thank you so much for stopping by! ♥
While perusing the 1815 edition of Ackermann's, I stumbled across this delightful window. I just adore this color! So of course, I had to share.
"The manufacture of silks on which devices are interwoven in gradation of tints, and in the way which is termed shot, in harmony with the colour of the ground, afford a tasteful material for the furniture of the drawing-room and the boudoir. It is introduced in the plate for this month, which is intended to exhibit the furniture of a window, possessing the various parts to which the fashion of the day has given sanction, and forming a whole of peculiarly chaste and elegant character. The drapery is of azure blue, edged with the bullion fringe, or one of those excellent imitations of it which so readily deceive the eye even of the connoisseur. The metal pins are omitted, and the curtains are festooned by silken cords, embellished by tassels, which pass behind the cornice hangings: the rod and its ornaments are of metal, and the ground on which it stands is of matt gilding."*
*Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, March 1815, p. 179. Get the Google e-book HERE.
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Let's Connect!Former BlogMy former author blog still exists and has a lot of Regency related posts, as well as story excerpts. Click HERE to check it out.
(Link will open in a new tab or window depending on your browser settings.) I am . . .a mother of two, a writer of Regency romance and short stories of various genres, a book cover designer, a gamer ...and chronic procrastinator. My StoriesConnected Regencies:
♥ My Lady Coward ♥ Honor ♥ Betrayal ♥ Deception ♥ Intrigue ♥ Entangled (Spellbound) ♥ Heartless ♥ Redemption ♥ Forgotten, and other Heartless tales Sable's Morbidly Dark Regency World:
• Crossing the Channel* • Unwilling Protector* • Assassin's Keeper Non-Regency Stories:
• The Dragon's Birth • Stalker • The Fold • Survival • Chosen* • Sunset* *Link will open in a new tab or window, taking you away from this site. Blog Followersadvertising...
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