THE RECORDS OF A LIVERPOOL "FIRESIDE," 1775-1781. By C. F. Birbeck Wilson. Read 13th February, 1896. AN the N interesting side-light is thrown upon the life and habits of the latter end of last century, by the entries in the record or minute-book of a social club which used to meet each evening at an ale house known as the "Three Tuns," in Strand Street, Liverpool, during the year 1775 and the five following years. The members of the club were a convivial body of friends, principally sea captains, with a sprinkling of local tradesmen, and they were accustomed to assemble together to discuss matters of great or little importance, and to consume ale by the "nipperkin.” There is no doubt that many similar convivial gatherings, locally called "firesides," were held in Liverpool as elsewhere during this period, and of some, evidence still remains; but, so far as we know, this is the only local one (apart from such important bodies as the "Mock Corporation of 66 Sephton"), whose full and voluminous records are still in existence. The value and interest of these records, vividly picturing as they do certain phases of the social life of the time, will be apparent from a perusal of the extracts that are given below. Half a century earlier, Steele wrote, "Man is "said to be a sociable animal, and as an instance "of it, we may observe that we all take occasions "and pretensions of forming ourselves into those "little nocturnal assemblies which are known by 'the name of clubs," and this "fireside" at the "Three Tuns" was just such a club as Steele had in mind, having a pretence for its nightly meetings in that its members claimed to be empowered by Æolus, the god of the winds, to act on his behalf at the port of Liverpool, in selling favourable winds to such intending voyagers as were inclined to pay for their purchase. The power of the club in this respect would appear to be fully recognised, inasmuch as there was no lack of customers who willingly paid the price demanded; but seeing that the money so obtained was expended in ale, which was forthwith consumed by the company present, it was probably rather good fellowship than superstition that prompted the transactions. The minute book is a long and narrow, brown leather-bound volume, the leaves discoloured and the ink faded with age. There is no heading to the first entry, but the writer plunges in medias res forthwith, which looks as though the volume were a continuation from a previous minute book. Inside the cover is written "Three Tuns, Strand Street," and below a more recent note to the effect that the volume comes from the collection of the late Joseph Mayer, of Bebington, and the following inexplicit remark, "Some curious rarebits of Hu"mour of Club Members were a hundred years "ago." There are 257 pages of writing, and from three to six entries upon each page. Each entry bears a signature, evidently that of the chairman elected for the evening. Of the Three Tuns," at the present day, no trace remains. The configuration of Strand Street has completely altered since the year 1775. At the present time it consists of a single row of buildings facing the Canning Dock, and running from the foot of James Street to Canning Place. A hundred years ago there were two sides to the street, and, moreover, there was a mass of houses and small streets of low reputation intervening between Strand Street and the river. At that time another dock, known as the Old Dock, ran inland at the end of Strand Street, but it has since been filled in, and its site is now occupied by the Custom House and the General Post Office. The "Three Tuns" was not a house of sufficient importance to be mentioned by name in the Liverpool Directories of the period, nor to be included in the list of hotels. It was evidently a humble, though possibly a snug and homely ale house, close to the docks and to the streets of ill repute. The name of the hostess, Mistress Catherwood, is twice mentioned in the minute book, and from this clue we trace the house in Gore's Liverpool Directory for the year 1777, where the only reference to it is as follows" Catherwood Mary, Victualler, 31, Strand Street." The number of the house in Strand Street gives no clue to the exact position of the house, as the numbers were at this period altered from year to year at the inclination of the compilers of directories ; so it is even doubtful whether the house stood upon the side of Strand Street which still exists, or whether its actual site is now traversed by the Overhead Railway. The minute book contains a very large number of entries relating to the sales of fair winds mentioned above. The following are a few typical examples : "Captain Nehemiah Holland hath bought a fair wind this 25th Jany. 1776, on his voyage to Jamaica. May he prosper." "Success to the Jenny. Captn. Eastham hath bought a fare wind for his present voyage to Guinea. May he prosper. IS. J. Dunbabin." "Captain Charles Wilson has paid 2s. 6d. for a fair wind (pr the hand of Mr. Isaac Hind) for the Snow "Lydia" to Barbadoes. Young." 66 Cap. Jeffreys has paid 1s. for a fair wind as far as the Head. May he be lucky. Young." "Captn. Perry having bought a fair Wind for the Bess, may he have a prosperous Voyage is the wish of the gentlemen present this 13th Novr. 1776. Clay.' This sequence of entries is amusing: 1776. Capt. Geo. Water has pd. 1/ for a fair wind for the ship Hope, may she have a prosperous Voyage, which is the wish of all present. 24th Novr. W. Coulborn." Then comes this note : "Not authorised by Eolus, therefore the ship returned this Decr." Shortly afterwards occurs the following entry :"Decr. 9th, Cap. John Bennett has paid two shillings for a fair wind purchased from the original Eolus. Young." There was one member, a Mr. John Banks, who was in the habit of making frequent journeys to Dublin, and he apparently never omitted to purchase a fair wind for his journey. Doubtless he shewed wisdom in this, seeing that this was before the days of steamships, and a passage across the channel in a sailing vessel during adverse winds was apt to be tedious and unpleasant. This Mr. Banks is described in Gore's Directory for the period as a merchant, living at 27, Strand Street, so he was a near neighbour to the "Three Tuns," which he doubtless found very convenient. He was certainly a very frequent attendant at the evening meetings. He bought a fair wind on the 20th September, 1776, as testified by the following entry :"Mr. John Banks has bought 12d. worth wind for his passage to Dublin." Then, under date the 28th September, occurs the following lengthy entry: "A copy of a letter from Dublin. Gentlemen,-Having just come to an anchor in this place, I take this earliest opportunity of returning you thanks for the very agreeable passage I have had. The Captain and people on board all declare they never remember so fine a one at this season of the year, which they all attribute to the purchase I made before I left your place on that account. I desire you will spend the sum of one shilling in ale and re-imburse old Lady Catterwood (to whom this goes under cover) the expense |