International studio (15.1901/1902(1902))

Historic English Drinking Glasses

15

GLASS WITH PORTRAIT
OF ADMIRAL KEPPEL

words “ The land we live in,” a sentiment to which
few Britons would ever take exception. Another
glass which betrays a political feeling is the old
cider glass, No. 13 (it must have been strong
cider in those days, judging from the small size of
the glass), with the motto “No Excise.” Although
these specimens are rare, the feeling of which they
were the expression, that customs and excise
duties, and all thereunto pertaining, were utterly
anathema, was never very uncommon; indeed,
one can scarcely say, remembering the “ Queen’s
Pipe,” that it is extinct to-day !

There is a glass in the British Museum which is
partly political, as it very likely commemorates an
election, being inscribed “Sir I. Pole for Ever, 1754,”
but this one falls better into the group which is
devoted to hero-worship A later one, No. 16,
inscribed “ Wellington for Ever,” with the cavalry
sabre (the dove and olive branch on the other side
perhaps allude to the Peace of Paris), speaks for
itself, as does No. 15, with the portrait of Admiral
Keppel. The gallant admiral was not a handsome
man, as we know from Reynolds’ portraits of him,
but the poor glass engraver has made him a
monstrosity. Such a glass as this can be dated
almost exactly, for it is a relic of the wave of hero-
worship, of which Admiral Keppel was the idol,
that passed over the country after his trial and
acquittal in 1779. He was made a viscount in
1782, and the glass must obviously have been
made between these two dates; and this fact
enables us to place in their proper chronological

sequence other tumblers which bear the peculiar
cross-hatched and scalloped ornament which decor-
ates the lip of this specimen. The names of other
naval men are recorded on an ale glass known to
the writer—“ Duncan, St. Vincent, Howe, Nelson,”
runs the inscription; but this particular piece is of
later date than the heroes commemorated, and
would appear to have been used for the daily
silent toast of some patriot to the memory of the
great leaders, dead and gone, whose names
adorn it.

Still another class of naval healths are those in
which the ship was toasted and not the sailor.
Some of the glasses on which these inscriptions
were placed were loving cups, used probably
at the launching of the vessel, such as one
inscribed “God Bless the Ralf and Robert!”;
but others were ordinary ale or wine glasses. I
have one of the former inscribed “ Success to the
Renown,” while another (No. 18) is engraved
“ Success to the Eagle Frigate, John Knill,
Commander.” This does not appear to have
been a King’s ship, and is a little puzzling until
the inscription on No. 17 is read, “Success to the
Lyon Privateer,’’and then the circumstances become
clear. Privateering was a highly risky but very
profitable speculation, and both these vessels were
probably equipped by Bristol merchants and sailed
under letters of marque, and, since nothing can be
done by Englishmen without a dinner, it is not
unlikely that the venturers would meet to dine on

16

WELLINGTON GLASS