Tag Archives: Poverty

A Disturbed Night

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Roger Pocock

Snippets 122. In 1815 George Head, the assistant commissary-general of the commissariat of the 3rd division of the Spanish army, undertook a journey across North America, snappily titled Forest Scenes and Incidents in the Wilds of North America, Being a … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, Books, History, Humor, Humour, People, Snippets, Travel | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Pennies for the Poor (Christmas History 17)

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Roger Pocock

Mary Howitt (1799-1888) is best remembered nowadays for her poem The Spider and the Fly, with that memorable first line, “Will you walk into my parlour? said the Spider to the Fly.”  She also wrote many books, some co-authored with … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, Books, Christmas, Christmas History, History | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Chaos in Naples (Snippets 39)

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Roger Pocock

A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Naples and the surrounding area for the first time and spent a pleasant morning relaxing at what seemed like a very tranquil harbour.  Almost exactly 100 years before my visit … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century, Books, History, Snippets, Travel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Journals 4.2 – Man and Manners by Grant Thorburn (Part 2)

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Roger Pocock

This is the second part of my article on Grant Thorburn’s journal.  For the first part please see the earlier entry from 1st July 2015. On 9th October 1833, Grant Thorburn departed from New York in the ship George Washington. … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, Books, Britain, England, History, Journals, London, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Journals 3.4 – A Year Abroad by Willard C. George (Part 4)

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Roger Pocock

This is the final part of my article on George’s journal.  For the first, second and third parts, please see the entries posted on 15th June , 19th June and 23rd June 2015. The remainder of George’s journal takes on … Continue reading →

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Journals 3.2 – A Year Abroad by Willard C. George (Part 2)

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Roger Pocock

This is the second part of my article on George’s journal.  For the first part, please see the entry posted on 15th June 2015. George offered his opinions as to the state of Ireland in general, attributing much of their … Continue reading →

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Journals 3.1 – A Year Abroad by Willard C. George (Part 1)

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Roger Pocock

Willard George’s journal represents a crossroads in his life. A reverend in Norway, Maine since 1836, his health was in decline and he became convinced that a change of occupation was the only way to save his life. So, in … Continue reading →

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Journals 2.2 – Journal of Travels by G.E. Winants (Part 2)

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Roger Pocock

The following is a continuation of my essay on Winants’s journal.  See the earlier entry from 30th May 2015 for the first part. After a very brief look at the ‘beautiful boulevards and promenades’ of Brussels, the next country Winants … Continue reading →

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Too Much Debt… in 1864 (Snippets 3)

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Roger Pocock

In 1864 the magnificently named Amos W. Stetson wrote Is our Prosperity a Delusion?  Our National Debt and Currency (published by A. Williams & Co, Boston).  He argued that the debt being accumulated by the Civil War (1861-1865) was unsustainable.  For … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, American Civil War, Britain, England, History, Snippets, USA | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Journals 1.2 – England in 1815 by Joseph Ballard (Part 2)

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Roger Pocock

The following is a continuation of my essay on Ballard’s journal.  See the earlier entry from 14th May 2015 for the first part.  Ballard’s tour of the North of England continued with a visit to Manchester. Although he admired the … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, Britain, England, History, Joseph Ballard, Journals, Stagecoaches, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment