The Renaissance in the Eighteenth Century. 87 



the last scandal by the unusual concomitants. Pic-nics, 

 concerts, excursions, luncheons, were got up by private 

 persons ; and a visitor of fashion could spend both day 

 and night in an endless round of elegant gaiety. Coffee 

 houses were established for ladies, and proved very con- 

 venient lounges, whilst those for gentlemen were rebuilt or 

 improved. In one word the whole city was given up to the 

 decorous but eager pursuit of pleasure. 



^Ve have not stayed to chronicle the connection of Bath 

 with public events, because this was rather accidental than 

 real. William Pitt, for example, was a city member, not 

 because there was any particular political fellow-feeling be- 

 tween himself and the citizens, but rather because his election 

 was a compliment they were glad to pay to a well-known man. 

 GorJon Riots ^^^''^^ '^i however, one piece of serious history 

 which forces itself upon us in the midst of this 

 whirligig of merriment — the Gordon Riots. 



For a time Bath was completely under mob law. Dr. 

 Brewer was then the Catholic priest, and lived at Bell Tree 

 House, which had been the old Rectory house of St. James's 

 parish. There he had a little chapel, but as this was too 

 small for the growing requirements of his congregation, he 

 built a larger one on St. James's-parade. The building was 

 just finished, but before it was opened the mob plundered 

 and gutted it and the presbytery, burning the registers and a 

 valuable library and collection of manuscripts belonging to 

 the distinguished mathematician. Bishop Walmesley. Dr. 

 Brewer himself fled for his life, and, so terrified were the 

 citizens, that he went from door to door craving admittance 

 and protection without success, and was even refused an 

 asylum at the Guildhall. He would certainly have fallen a 

 victim to the fury of the mob, but the proprietor of the 



