CHAPTER XXVIII.

GEORGE III.

“ In clothes, cheap handsomeness doth bear the bell,

Wisdome’s a trimmer thing than shop e’er gave.

Say not then, This with that lace will do well ;

But, This with my discretion will be brave.

Much curiousnesse is a perpetual wooing,

Nothing with labour, fully long a doing.”

Berbert, The Church Porch.

In 17GO commences the reign of George III. The king waspatriotic, and did his best to encourage the fabrics of his country.

From the year 17 61, various acts were passed for the benefitof the lace-makers : the last, that of 1806, “ increases the dutieson foreign laces.” 1

Queen Charlotte, on her first landing in England, wore, incompliment to the subjects of her royal consort, a fly cap richlytrimmed with lappets of British lace, and a dress of similar manu-facture.

The Englishman, however, regardless of the Anti-Gallicans,preferred his “ Macklin ” and his Brussels to all the finest pro-ductions of Devonshire or Newport Pagnel.

Baffles, 2 according to the fashion of Tavistock Street and St.James’s, in May 1773, still continued long, dipped in the saucealike by clown and cavalier. 3

“ The beau,

A critic styled in point of dress,

Harangues on fashion, point, and lace.”

A man was known by his “ points; he collected lace, as, inthese more athletic days, a gentleman prides himself on his

1 If imported in smaller quantities 2 “Let the ruffle grace his hand,than twelve yards, the duty imposed was Ruffle, pride of Gallic land.”

21. per yard. 1755.

3 “ And dip your wristbands(For cuffs you've none) ns comely in the sauceAs any courtier.” Beaumont and Fletcher.