And thus it proved the French were nought of use
In keeping out the English from Toulouse.
But the grandest pyrotechnic display that had been witnessed on land and sea in front of Powell's and Barry's libraries, under the management of chief-gunner Ross, was on Tuesday the 28th of June, 1814, in celebration of the proclamation of peace. Then it was that bands paraded the town, men sang patriotic songs, houses were decorated and illuminated, bells rang and guns were discharged, the inhabitants drank tea in the streets, favoured with beautiful weather, and a surplus collection of £102 distributed among the poor of All Saints and St. Clements. In no town, probably, was there more enthusiastic loyalty evinced than in Hastings. It was only nine days after the display last described that a general thanks-giving was observed, when, after the morning service at church, the secular rejoicings were repeated. One incentive, probably, to the marked enthusiasm of the Hastings people over the achievements of the Duke of Wellington and his valiant army was the circumstance that General Wellesley, had been in command of the troops at Hastings, and had relinquished that command to take the field against the powerful forces of Napoleon. His numerous successes throughout the Peninsular campaign were therefore hailed with the greater exuberance of gratification. On Friday the 26th of June, 1815 there was another joyous manifestation on the receipt
Of gladsome news that on the eighteenth day,
Napoleon felt the force of keen dismay,
As from his carriage he betook to flight,
Completely beaten in his three days' fight.
'Twas valiant Wellington, and Blucher, too,
Who drove him from the plains of Waterloo.
The Peace celebrations of 1815 being well over the influx of visitors from France, and an increase of visitors from London and other places filled the town to such an extent as to vastly exceed the hitherto limited accommodation, and men of capital began in real earnest to speculate in the erection of a better class of houses. The arrivals in the autumn of 1815 were incessant, and such persons as Sir Hildebrand Oakes, Lady Manley, Lord and Lady Thurlow, Sir Andrew Corbet, and others we could name from a long list in our possession, were obliged to locate themselves in the farm-houses and cottages of the neighbourhood. Mr. Powell was so well patronised as to be induced to reconstruct his library, bringing the 1st and 2nd storeys out to, and in harmony with, the semi-circular reading room and carrying the whole building a storey higher, much as it appears at the present day. This enabled Mrs. Powell to take boarders, while Mr. Powell had additional space in the library to hold evening concerts. He also built in the Fishmarket for the accommodation of the increasing number of visitors the "New Warm Baths."
So enterprising a man was Mr. Peter Malipert Thuillier Powell (an offspring of Spanish and English parents) and so energetic in providing for the literary and musical wants of visitors and thereby securing their patronage for the town, that I have regarded him as one of the Hastings worthies, and as such, have placed him among my "Historico-Biographies", where will be found his pedigree, his clandestine marriage, his career in Hastings and his ultimate departure for America. Also the movements of his numerous family in their new home, where their wealth and influential descendants are still known and honoured.
His death occurred on the 10th March, and in the following June there died at the Library House, Hastings, Samuel Powell, aged 23, and Louisa Powell, his sister. When this History was first ventured upon in Brett's Gazette it was there stated that these were a son and daughter of the Librarian, P. M. Powell, and the inference was natural, seeing that the deaths took place at his house; but later information shows the statement to have been erroneous. Curious as may have been the coincidence, the brother and sister who there died, within four days of each other, and buried at Fairlight, were not related to Mr. or Mrs. Powell, so far as is ‡ known,but were probably visitors, the dwelling appartments (sic) attached to the Library being fitted up for the reception of boarders and lodgers.
