This post is about everything except today (tomorrow, actually, as of the time I write this).

For example, later on I will update this post to include the winner(s) of last week’s contest. Maybe even by the time you’re reading this. I’m starting to think there really should be a Jewel Prize.

ETA:  The winners of Last Wednesday’s contest are:

• cissikat
• Carol L
• librarypat

Please email me at carolyn AT carolynjewel.com and we will arrange your prizes . . .

Next Wednesday, I will be interviewing Elizabth Hoyt and asking her all kinds of Risky questions. Are there any questions I should ask her? Let me know in the comments.

Stuff that Happened on Wednesdays

Forasmuch as cleanliness will contribute to the health, civilization and good manners of our children, the Society do strictly enjoin all the Masters and Mistresses of their several Schools and Nurseries, to cause the children under their care to wear constantly shoes and stockings; to allow them clean linen twice a week, viz. on Sundays and Wednesdays ; to keep their clothes in a proper state of repair, and to be careful that the children are in all respects accustomed to that neatness and cleanliness. . .
Report, 1809-1912 By Great Britain. Commissioners of the Board of Education in Ireland

On Wednesday, February 24,1796 Trial of Patrick Hart for Treason

Here’s some interesting legal matters from The European magazine, and London review, Volumes 77-78 By Philological Society (Great Britain) This strongly suggests how people found out when legal matters could be heard.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Mr. Justice Richardson.
Berkshire—Monday, February 28, at Reading.
Oxfordshire—Wednesday, March 1, at Oxford.
Worcestershire—Saturday, March 4, at Worcester. ‘
City of Worcester—The same day, at the City of Worcester.
Staffordshire—Thursday, March 9, at Stafford.
Shropshire—Wednesday, March 15, at Shrewsbury.
Herefordshire—Monday, March 20, at Hereford.
Monmouthshire—Saturday, March 25, at Monmouth.
Gloucestershire—Wednesday, March 29, at Gloucester.
City of Gloucester—The same day, at the, City of Gloucester.

For anyone interested in the debate about whether births and marriages were published in our period, from the same source above:

So there. They were.

Letters from Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, to Mrs. Montagu, between the …, Volume 3 By Elizabeth Carter, Mrs. Montagu (Elizabeth), Montagu Pennington

I saw Mr. Montagu on Wednesday at Mrs. Garrick’s, and he seemed as well as it is possible for a lover to be in his condition ; fretting most heartily, at the slowness and unfeelingness of lawyers. Lord Southampton is quite reconciled to his son’s marriage with Miss Keppel, and has behaved kindly and liberally to the young people, which I am glad of, for they were much attached.

Every body is preparing for the commemoration of the birth-day, after which the town will probably grow very empty. As neither commemoration nor drawing-room form any part of my system, I propose, in all quietness and simplicity, to set out for the sea-shore on Monday next.

I am just returned from our poor suffering friend; would to God it was all over. I thought before I closed my letter, I should inform you of the conclusion of poor Mr. Vesey’s twilight of mortal existence; but it is not yet total darkness, though very near it; he is quite insensible, and cannot swallow, yet she cannot be prevailed on to quit him. She desires her love to you, and has often expressed a deep sense of your kindness in the assistance you offered her, though she is determined not to accept any from any person whatever. I hope all will turn out well; but the will is in Ireland, and I have fearful doubts. Adieu, my dear friend; if either you or Mr. Montagu want a trust-worthy servant, the man who has gone through so much, with such fidelity and affectionate care with Mr. Vesey, will soon be at liberty. AH their servants are exemplary ; but our dear friend is the charm that moves them, it is impossible to resist not only her will but her wishes; and her conduct through this trying time has been most admirable. Once more adieu.

And then this:

Sporting anecdotes: original and selected; including numerous characteristic … By Pierce Egan

SINGULAR CRICKET MATCHES AND RACES BETWEEN ELEVEN MEN WITH ONE LEG AGAINST THE SAME NUMBER WITH ONE ARM, ALL OF THE MEN GREENWICH PENSIONERS.

From the novelty of an advertisement announcing a Cricket-Match to be played’ by eleven Greenwich Pensioners with one leg against eleven with one arm, for one thousand guineas, at the new Cricket-Ground, Montpelier-Gardens, Walworth, in 1790, an immense concourse of people assembled. About nine o’clock the men arrived in three Greenwich stages; about ten the wickets were pitched, and the match commenced. Those with but one leg had the first innings, and got ninety-three runs. About three o’clock, while those with but one arm were having their innings, a scene of riot and confusion took place, owing to the pressure of the populace to gain admittance to the ground: the gates were forced open, and several parts of the fencing were brake down, and a great number of persons having got upon the roof of a stable, the roof broke in, and several persons falling among the horses were taken out much bruised. About six o’clock the game was renewed, and those with one arm got but forty-two runs during their innings. The one legs commenced their second innings, and six were bowled out after they got sixty runs, so that they left off’ one hundred and eleven more than those with one arm.

The match was played again on the Wednesday following, and the men with one leg beat the one arms by one hundred and three runnings. After the match was finished, the eleven one-legged men ran one hundred yards for twenty guineas. The three first divided the money.

I’ll leave you to thoughts of Wednesdays.