Ribald scenes at Downing Street

It was January 6th. The Prime Minister had invited a select party of his dearest political connections to celebrate with him in a night of hilarity, alcohol and cake ...

Sometimes, when you are undertaking historical research, you stumble across some truly odd stories.

Despite the presence of hilarity, alcohol and cake, the Prime Minister at the heart of this story was not Boris Johnson at all  - but William Pitt the Younger.

The year was 1788. The cake was a “Twelfth-Cake”. And the Ministerial liquor was being passed around with great rapidity. Many of those present on this raucous evening bore names that are familiar to Australians ...

The hilarity of the evening commenced and Songs and Sentiments went round with unrivalled Harmony.

• Lord Hawkesbury gave “Peace, Plenty and Prerogative” – and sang “God Save the King”.
• The Duke of Richmond drank success to the Coal Trade and sang a laughable burlesque on the practice of duelling.
• Lord Sydney, when called upon to sing, apologised for his vocal deficiency by playing a tune upon his chin.
• Lord Mulgrave sang with great energy “Cease Rude Boreas, Blustering Railer etc”.

And so the night’s absurdities went on.

One of those present that night was Pepper Arden who, the previous month, had been elevated to Master of the Rolls, the second most senior judge in all of England. In that capacity, Arden had just confined Lord George Gordon in Newgate Prison without bail. Lord George, a truly incredible character, was infamous for his role in the Gordon Riots of 1780 and for being acquitted of high treason. He had converted to Judaism in 1787.

It was now near 12 o’clock and the company had arrived at the very zenith of hilarity when on a sudden, a servant abruptly entered the room with a countenance that bore visible marks of consternation …

The messsage, for Lord Sydney, was that Lord George had been rescued from Newgate and was on his way to Downing Street with a mob swearing vengeance and proposing to circumcise Pepper Arden.

The Attorney General was struck speechless …

... but it was agreed that Pepper Arden, under convoy of Lord Mulgrave and Mr Grenville should instantly make his escape down the backstairs of the Minister’s Mansion, through the Park and take shelter in the Paymaster General’s house.

Just before they departed, Lord Sydney, who had gone to investigate, returned

and with a smile on his face he assured the company that on enquiry the story was a d____d lie invented by some of the opposition …

The company resumed their seats to take the parting bottle and hear the concluding Glee, which was admirably sung by Lord Hawkesbury, Mr Pitt and Mr Dundas commencing

“How merrily we live that courtiers be!”

They broke up at half past twelve o’clock with heads full of wine and state tricks.

At the very moment those leaders of Britain were gulping down that last glass of liquor, the First Fleet, that these same men had sent off to the furthest end of the world, was 17 leagues off the "South Cape" of New Holland (i.e. Southern Tasmania) on its way to Botany Bay.

Ah! Indeed, how merrily do our courtiers live.

Reference: Morning Herald, 7 Jan. 1788.