A HISTORIC HANDKERCHIEF 73
My best catch recently has been a good series of the
Large Wainscot moth (Rhizedra lutosa Hubn.). I went with a
friend on October 25th to a locality where I knew it was found
but which I had never worked. We saw over a hundred of every
colour from white to dark brick-red, including one or two of a
form which I had never seen—cream with rose-coloured streaks
on the nervures of the upper wings. My old series from
Gravesend does not show half this range of variation.
A HISTORIC HANDKERCHIEF
BY PERCY THOMPSON
[Read November 29th, 1947]
THE Essex Museum, Stratford, has recently acquired, by the
gift of Mr. Paul Baker, a large printed handkerchief,
measuring 321/2 inches by 301/2 inches, issued as a memorial of
the unsavoury cause celebre of 1820, when Caroline, wife of
the newly succeeded King George IV, was accused of adultery
and tried on that charge by the wish of her husband. A Bill
of Divorce was introduced into the House of Lords but met
with determined opposition, both in the House (where the
majority for the Bill on the third reading fell to nine) and from
the general public, whose sympathies with the unfortunate
Queen took the form of noisy street demonstrations and pro-
cessions. The Government, alarmed by this public feeling and
doubtful of the success of the Divorce Bill in the Commons,
decided to drop the measure forthwith.
The handkerchief now exhibited was the expression of the
public joy at this victory, and is of special interest to us in Essex,
as some of the Queen's chief supporters figured thereon had
close connections with our county. It is entitled,
To the / Loyal and Independent Addressers / of Her Majesty / this
Handkerchief representing the Queen surrounded by her / and the
Countrys true friends, the firm and able supporters of the / British
Constitution / Is most respectfully dedicated /.
queen Caroline, "whom God protect," occupies the central
position : her portrait, together with those of her supporters, are
enclosed in oval frames bearing each an inscription, laudatory
of the individual or else quoting his speech in the Lords during
the trial. The supporters are as under:—
Ald. wood. "The honest and faithful friend of his Queen and
zealous Protector of his fellow citizens' rights."
Alderman Matthew Wood, M.P., afterwards Sir Matthew
Wood, first Baronet and twice Lord Mayor of London, was