Adieus by Eurythmus
On the 13th of November, the death of Mr. Thomas Breeds occurred at 23 High street, where he had resided a quarter of a century. It was one of the best houses in the street, and was conveyed from Stephen Tutt (who lived on the opposite side) to Thomas Breeds in 1814. The pedigree and principal events of Mr. Breed's commercial career have been given in connection with the Swan Hotel - not because he was a permanent occupier, but because he was owner of that renowned hostelry and its extensive adjuncts in times of greater excitement than the present, and because an ancestor of his possessed the property long before.
It was in the year still under review (1839) that a gentleman visitor, then sojourning at Laurel Villa (now The Laurels) wrote his Adieu to Hastings and the Hastings people, which latter included "Old Thomas and Mr. James Breeds." The death of Old Thomas, as may be imagined, had not then taken place, nor had The Swan, which was also included in the metrical adieus of Euthymus disappeared from the spot it had occupied for about 300 years. It was, however, as already shown, later in the same year that Mr. Thomas Breeds passed over to the invisible majority. And, as all the sixty or seventy other persons and some of the other objects referred to by the rhyming visitor have also passed away, it may be useful as a reminiscence to reproduce the "Adieus" which appeared originally in the long since defunct Cinque Ports Chronicle. But, as some of the names were incorrectly spelt and the rythm (sic) was defective, it is hoped that the lines by Euthymus are nothing the worse for their reproduction here in revised form.
Madeira of England - sweet Hastings, adieu!
How mournful I feel while I'm parting from you.
In tracing thy beauties I'm bound by a spell,
But in doggerel verse I must bid thee farewell!
So lovely a place I shall never forget;
Dear Hastings I leave thee with pain and regret.
Adieu to the cliffs, the old Castle, and Towers,
The roar of the sea and the breath of the flowers;
Adieu to the woodlands, the glens and the lawns,
The crabs and the lobsters, the shrimps and the prawns!
Adieu to the fish that are taken in shoals!
Adieu to St. Clement's, All Saints and All Souls!
Adieu to the Chapel high up in The Croft,
And even the shots at St. Clement's aloft!
If shot from a cannon I cannot well say,
For no man is living who lived at that day.
To churchyard adieu - the last home of old age,
And youth by consumption, brought down by the Stage!
Adieu to the Hills - East and West - and the Down,
Commanding a beautiful view of the town!
Adieu to Fairlight, with its sunshine and fogs,‡
And also the farmer named Thorpe, and his dogs!
Adieu Ecclesbourne, once the smugglers' delight
For running their cargoes when dark was the night,
Regardless of coastguards, regardless of fear,
Determined their boats of their burdens to clear;
Then selling for profit to folk in the town;
Thus doing the Custom-house officers brown.
Adieu to the Fishponds, the pride of so many,
To Arkcoll, the owner, or sea-coal, if any;
Adieu the blue flag which is planted on high,
On Planta's abode, of Conservative dye!
Adieu to the mem’ry of Dugdale, who died
From kick of a horse which he happened to ride.
A favourite horse, too, oh! fatal disaster -
That kick of a horse on a kind hearted master.
Adieu to the Well of the name of The Dripping!
Adieu to the deep sea and farewell to the shipping!
Adieu to the spot where young maidens may meet,
And vows may be made at the famed Lover's Seat;
And bones may be broken, providing a tiff
Occasion a lover to jump from the cliff!
Adieu the green fields, so like velvet they seem!
Adieu the shoed bullocks that work in a team!
Adieu to the mills grinding corn on the Down,
Receiving the breath of the wind through the town!
Adieu to Town-Clerk, and good-bye to the Mayor!
Adieu to White Rock, and farewell to Rock Fair!
The shield from Quebec in the High-street Town Hall,
And also the Custom-house, rather too small!
Adieu to Collectors for Government till,
So ably defended by Bevill and Gill!
Adieu to Ore church, such a beautiful ride,
As told to the stranger by Ross's cheap Guide!
Adieu to F. Hoad and his mettlesome steeds!
Adieu to old Thomas and Mister "Jim" Breeds!
Farewell to the names that one sees in the town -
A Day and a Knight, and a Noon and a Brown;
A Green and a White, and a Lock and a Ball,
Who figure so Large or who figure so Small!
Adieu Mrs. Tooth, Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Fox!
Adieu Dr. Cooke, and farewell Dr. Knox!
Adieu Mr. Dunk, Doctors Dutton and Duke!
Adieu the sweet girls from Matilda to Suke!
Adieu to the tooth drawing pale Mr. Pam!
To Southdown good mutton and finest of Lamb!
Adieu to the chemists - Stubbs, Mason and Lea!
Adieu the delectable Councillor Tree!
Adieu Arthur Gride, known as "Cupid" by some!
Adieu William Piper, as big as a drum!
Adieu to the tides - both the ebb and the flood!
Good-bye to the butchers, accustomed to blood!
Farewell to the p'rade, where the visitors throng,
The music to hear - instrumental or song!
Adieu to the Crescent, the Chapel, the flys;
And also the Crier, who shockingly cries!
Adieu to the donkeys which constantly bray,
But seldom to trot or to gallop away!
Adieu to the Baths, whether hot, cold, or warm!
Good-bye to the pleasure-boats caught in a storm!
Adieu to the beach and remains of the Pier,
And also to lodgings in front-line or rear!
Adieu to the Albion, Castle and Swan -
Those Hastings hotels, each a premier Don!
Adieu to the wine merchant Tongee or Tonge,
Whose stores are the Pelham place houses among!
Adieu to the Battery, Watchouse (sic) and guard!
Good-bye to your hat when it blows very hard!
Adieu to policemen who look after thieves!
Adieu to September and all the green leaves!
Adieu to the views, as productions from stones!
Adieu to church bells with their funeral tones!
Adieu to St. Leonards, with buildings so grand!
Adieu the parade, which can never long stand;
For lest it be built with more durable stuff,
'Twill crumble away when it blows a hard puff!
Adieu to the lawyers, all gentle as lambs!
Adieu to the beggars, soliciting alms!
To Mr. J. Troup, and the harbour that may
At sometime be made in the Warrior bay!
Adieu to the Bank and good-bye to the Bourne!
Farewell to all such as may grievously mourn,
To Wesleyans, Baptists, and ministers all,
Who preach to their flocks 'bout the Rise and the Fall!
Farewell to the grocers - and Gallop is one,
Another is Amoore; and now I have done:
And if I've offended one soul by my rhyme,
The Saints will forgive me, I hope, for my crime.
I swear by the powers of paper and pen
I mean no offence, Be ye witness, all men!
So having concluded my verse with an oath,
I offer my blessing; and thus you have both.
In about 53 years from the above-named date I regretted to have to chronicle the death of Mr. Boykett Breeds, a grand-nephew of Thomas Breeds, the merchant whose death in 1839 is described above. The lately deceased Boykett Breeds was the son of Boykett, the grandson of Mark Boykett, and the great-grandson of Boykett. He was born on Oct. 30th, 1827, and died Sept. 25th, 1892. He was one of a family of three boys and three girls, and at the time of writing is survived by only one brother and one sister. His remains were interred in the family vault at Guestling. The deceased was highly respected, and the coffin was covered with floral wreaths in token of the same.
Another instalment of "Adieus" was contributed by Euthymus to the Cinque Ports Chronicle which is here reproduced; and, as with the first portion of the rhyming effusion, a little liberty has been taken by way of emendation or annotation by one who, even in 1839, had a more intimate knowledge of the town and its inhabitants.
The people of Hastings, I'm fain to believe,
Are heartily sick of the taking of leave;
And equally sick of "Farewell and Adieu,"
Expecting this week to behold something new.
Yet, ere that my rhyme without reason is done,
I'll bring to completion the task I've begun.
Euthymus leaves not your good town in a hurry
For his cottage ornee at sweet Peckham, in Surrey;
And long before Christmas, or snow's on the ground,
In Hastings again he's a wish to be found;
When, should his effusions have met with distaste
He hopes its remembrance will all be effaced.
Adieu Mr. Elliot, a plumber, who makes
The pump handles go with a couple of shakes!
Adieu Mr. Brown - also plumber and glazier!
Adieu to the wealthy top-booted old grazier!
Adieu Mr. Selden, who deals in "old traps" -
Related to Selden the learnëd, perhaps!
Adieu Mr. Hill! and farewell Mr. Harris!
Adieu to the fashions from London and Paris!
Adieu Hastings Arms and its keeper R. Harman
Adieu to his waiter, with legs like a carman!
Adieu Mrs. Braye and he school that would suit
All those who ideas in their children would shoot!
Adieu Sir J. Giblets, a poulterer funny, -
J. Phipps who looks thankless when taking your money;
A look not of wisdom; for, pleasantness gains
An increase of custom without any pains.
Adieu Samuel Stace, and adieu William Ranger,
Who well shoe the horses led out from the manger!
These two jolly blacksmiths are men of such size
That, shown as fat cattle, they'd each get a prize.
Adieu Mr. Challis, the "ladies' own man,"!
Of fast coach the driver as long as it ran;
But now, for some cause, it has quite given over,
And grieved are the people of Hastings and Dover!
Adieu Mr. Poole, who the Sussex did drive;
As long as that coach was considered alive,
But, sadly I say it, on Saturday morning
It gave up the ghost, and it gave us no warning.
Adieu the "Old Blue" which has weathered the breeze
For seventy years on the road - not the seas!
Adieu "handsome Charlie," so steady and neat!
For years he has driven on just the same seat;
And jolly old Holmes, who's the whip of "The White,"
With a good natured nose and the eye of a kite!
Adieu Mr. Honiss, the great auctioneer,
So pompous and proud as the races draw near!
Good-bye to the booth he erects at the fair;
Adieu to his hammer now worn very bare;
Farewell to his rostrum, his "gone" or his "going,"
Adieu to his knock down and looks very knowing!
Adieu the "Harmonic" that's held at the Swan,
'Twill, doubtless, return as the winter comes on.
When Bolingbroke, Bromley, and others will sing,
And good instrumentalists harmonies bring
Adieu to your excellent Councillor Ginner -
His coal for your fire, and his porter for dinner,
He's a man of great weight, which is easily shown
When kicking the beam at less twenty-one stone.
Adieu Johnny Glandfield! a "Jack of All Trades,"
A lodging-house agent, for widows and maids;
A help to Insurance, a Registrar too
Of those who are born or bid final adieu;
Inspector of coaches, conductor of hearses,
And forwarder too of my doggerel verses.
Adieu "Sir" John Moore! the Arcadian chief,
Who books the Arcade to its every leaf;
Adieu to "Young Norval," the swivel-eyed clerk,
As brisk as a bee and as gay as a lark!
Adieu to Will Wellerd! a flesher, and fat,
Who jumps o'er a man without touching his hat!
Adieu Mister Strong, and his next neighbour Bell,
Who sell "ready mades" and behave very well!
Adieu Mister Jeudwine! a grocer quite rich,
And warden of church, but I cannot tell which.
Adieu to the Nelson, and Wingfield, its host,
Factotum of Planta, and true to his post!
Adieu to John Wimble! who keeps a cook-shop,
And serves very quickly all those who in pop;
The man ought to thrive, for he sells the best meat,
Which seemeth to say "Come and eat, come and eat!"
Adieu honest Cousens! the host of the Ship,
Who makes the best punch and a luscious egg flip!
Adieu Jemmy Oakley! who bore off the bell,
And took the Two Cutters, and does very well.
Adieu to straw bonnets and wife of James Ives;
A saint in her bus'ness, and well she contrives.
Good-bye, for the present! - Euthymus has done;
His subject's at halt, and his lines have all run.
His ink will not flow, so he puts down his pen,
Exclaiming God bless you! again and again!
‡ As Euthymus bade "adieu to Fairlight, with its sunshine and fogs, and also the farmer named Thorpe, and his dogs," a view of Hastings, as seen in 1839 from Thorpe's grounds is here presented.
