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Bridewain
May 19.
Mr. URBAN,
AS a companion to the form of invitation to a Welch bidding,
p.99, I have herewith sent you the form of invitation to a
Cumberland bridewain, advertsied in the Cumberland Packet of
April 1. It is usual on these occasions to make the
new-married couple (generally about a fortnight after the
ceremony) a present of money, or some houshold utensil or
piece of furniture, or sometimes, even to this day, a small
portion of some kind of grain. This formerly, when the
circulation of coin was not so common in that country, was
the most usual offering.
J.H.
'BRIDEWAIN.
'There let Hymen oft appear,
In saffron robe, and taper clear,
And pomp, and feast, and revelry;
With mask and antick pageantry;
Such sights as youthful poets dream,
On summer's eves by haunted stream.
'George Hayton, who married Ann, the daughter of Joseph and
Dinah Collin of Crosby-mill, purposes having a bridewain at
his house at Crosby, near Maryport, on Thursday, the 7th day
of May next (1789), where he will be happy to see his
friends and well-wishers; for whose amusement there will be
a variety of races, wrestling matches, &c. &c.
&c. The prizes will be a saddle; two bridles; a pair of
gand-d'amour gloves, which whoever wins is sure to be
married within the twelvemonth; a belt (ceinture de Venus)
possessing qualities not to be described; and many other
articles, sports, and pastimes, too numerous to mention, but
which can never prove tedious in the exhibition.
'From Fashion's laws and customs free,
We follow sweet variety;
By turns we laugh, and dance, and sing,
Time for ever on the wing;
And nymphs and swains, on Cumbria's plain,
Present the Golden Age again.'
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